New Canaan Country School Bulletin Spring 2020

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL

Spring 2020

a great teacher

GOES THE DISTANCE

New Canaan Country School Bulletin Spring 2020

CONTENTS

Head of School: Aaron Cooper Editors: Brooke Arthur Kent Findlay ’80 Contributors: Brooke Arthur Susan Barr Renee Bornstein Diane Briggs Elizabeth Carroll Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 Kojo Clarke Aaron Cooper

Kent Findlay ’80 Nanette Gantz Jen Gifford Liz Keogh Mark Macrides Whitney Mallozzi Moina Noor Reshan Richards

Design: Good Design, LLC gooddesignusa.com Printer: J.S. McCarthy Printers jsmccarthy.com Photography: Brooke Arthur Aron Back Kent Findlay ’80 Joan Guzzetti Katherine Lantuch-Rizzo Christopher Lawler Meaghan Mallin Catherine Mendoza ’98 Moina Noor Chi Chi Ubiña Address changes: communications@countryschool.net On the cover: Upper School Teacher Andrew Johnson uses technology and creativity to deliver a math lesson to seventh graders, including Oliver Johnson (inset).

Photo credit: Cooper Johnson; Eila Johnson (inset)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2019–2020 President: Randall M. Salvatore Vice Presidents: Stephanie Bowling Zeigler ’81 Sarah M. Irwin Treasurer: F. Tucker Golden ’90 Secretary: Tara J. Coniglio Members-at-Large: Christopher T. Baker Yolanda Seals-Coffield Michael J. DiBiasio ’90

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Strategic Plan Design Teams Shape Country School’s Future

4

Connected Even When We Are Apart

12

New Athletics & Wellness Center Coming Soon!

17

Learning to LEAD

20

Peers, Projects, Passion + Play: Coding at Country School

24

Q&A: Getting to Know Kojo Clarke

12 40

Alumni Events

42

Class Notes

27

Around Campus

55

Celebrating Our Faculty & Staff

30

Follow Us Online!

61

Milestones

33

Parents’ Association

62

In Memoriam

38

Horizons

65

A Look Back

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.

Aaron C. Cooper, Head of School Susan M. Barr Dr. Christopher M. Bogart Arlety Bowman Lynne F. Byrne Drew Casertano Gary D. Engle Arman C. Gokgol-Kline Mariko G. LeBaron Monique S. Mims John M. Ryan Douglas A. Ryder Brennen Strine Sharon Gibbons Teles ’88 Caitlin A. Walsh Wilson S. Warren Faculty Representatives: Hannah M. Liu Lauren A. Romeo

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 2019–2020 President: Susan Barr President-Elect: Liz Keogh Treasurer: Jennifer Kearney Secretary: Beth Gosk VP Community, Diversity & Inclusion: Michelle Saldivar VP Community Service: Jennifer Kline VP Volunteers: Gwen Golden

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ALUMNI COUNCIL 2019–2020 President: Tucker Golden ’90 Vice President: Sanny Burnham Warner ’88 Dan Bergfeld ’58 Matt Bloom ’98 Dick Colligan ’01 Michael DiBiasio ’90 Taylor Gould ’06 Marshall Johnson ’04 Sarah Young Kilcullen ’98 Taryn Jones Laeben ’95 Caitlin Maguire ’04 Suzy Gibbons Owen ’94 Elena Kavanagh Phillips ’91

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 Ryan Smith, Senior 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: It has been quite a spring. Like school communities throughout much of the world, we have been staying at home, doing our part to flatten the curve.

There is no doubt that distance learning is hard. For children, being away from their peers and the familiarity of school routines is challenging. For families, juggling careers and assisting their children is a heavy load. Nevertheless, Country School has approached these times — as with all that we do — anchored by our mission and values.

Over the last 100 years, Country School has weathered many challenging times, but the strength and constancy of our values and the direction they provide have ensured again and again that NCCS not only can survive, but thrive even during difficult times. And the reason is simple: Our focus is unwavering.

Childhood — with its promise of joy and potential — is at the root of our beliefs.

Community — the feeling of connection students have with each other and their teachers — is essential to an excellent education. Kindness, curiosity and courage round out the foundation that helps our students reach their potential in every way and sets them up to live lives of impact and purpose.

Throughout these pages, containing stories from our time on campus and since we have moved to distance learning, you will see those values in action

To read more of Aaron’s reflections, visit www.countryschool.net/lettersfromaaron

through it all, both for our current students and our curriculum and in the actions and accomplishments of our alumni. As the world changes and we adapt, the timelessness of our values centers us and points us forward. I hope you enjoy reading about all that has been happening in the Country School community this year, and I hope that it all resonates with your Country School

Editor’s note: Please keep in mind as

experiences at the corner of Frogtown and Ponus.

you enjoy reading our spring issue that many of these articles were written prior to the global challenges

Be well,

of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aaron Cooper, Head of School

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S T R ATEGIC P L A N D E S I G N TE A MS SH A P E

Country School’s Future N

early 70 members of the NCCS community, representing a variety of perspectives, met several times this winter to help chart the school’s strategic road map for the next three to five

years. They divided into three Design Teams, each focused on a key strategic focus area: Redefining Childhood Education for the Future, Cultivating our Community and Scaling for a Sustainable Future.

At the kickoff in February, Head of School Aaron Cooper highlighted the depth and breadth of the group, which included the school’s entire Leadership Team, 12 classroom teachers,

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25 trustees, 43 current parents, 23 parents who have had children graduate and 10 alumni.

“The person in the group who first became a member of our community did so in the fall of 1970 as a kindergartener,” said Mr. Cooper. “The person who most recently joined our community did so this past fall as a member of our leadership team. Such diversity of perspective, of role, of experience with Country School, and of personal and professional background lends great breadth and depth to this phase of strategy.”

Mr. Cooper shared that his favorite analogy for strategic planning is the famous quote by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who said, “I do not skate to where the puck is; I skate to where the puck is going to be.”

“It is this forward-thinking spirit in our dynamic world, with such a talented and diverse cross-section of our community, that gives me great optimism and excitement 2

for this strategic plan, for the future of our school, and most importantly, for the ever greater impact Country School will have on its students,” said Mr. Cooper.

The strategic planning process began with a parent survey in spring 2019, and included focus groups convened by the school’s consultant, Ian Symmonds, as well as significant external demographic and market analysis.

At the conclusion of the six-week Design Team process, each team delivered a set of five to eight objectives to the full Strategic Plan Steering Committee, which will integrate and synthesize the plan and then present it to the Board of Trustees for adoption.

“The goals and initiatives we develop collectively will form the backbone of our strategic plan and help NCCS be its strongest over the next five years and beyond,” said Strategic Planning Co-Chair Sarah Irwin.

1. Director of Studies Reshan Richards led a brainstorming session for the Redefining Childhood Education for the Future Design Team, co-led by Director of Academic Technology & Innovation Aron Back (left) and Head of Lower School Meaghan Mallin (middle).

2. Director of Enrollment Management & Financial Aid Pamela Safford, Executive Director of Horizons at NCCS Nancy von Euler and Upper School Teacher Will McDonough joined in a conversation with the Cultivating Our Community Design Team.

3. Upper School Teacher Hannah Liu (middle) led the Cultivating Our Community Design Team.

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

“It is this forward-thinking spirit in our dynamic world, with such a talented and diverse cross-section of our community, that gives me great optimism and excitement for this strategic plan, for the future of our school, and most importantly, for the ever greater impact Country School will have on its students.”

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Strategic Plan Design Teams

(Strategic Plan Steering Committee members listed in bold.)

— HE A D O F SCH O O L A A RO N CO O PER

Aaron Cooper P ’23, ’21, Head of School, Co-Chair Sarah Irwin P ’25, ’25, Vice President, Board of Trustees, Co-Chair

R EDEFINE EDUC AT I O N FOR THE FUTURE T E AM :

C U LT IVAT E O UR CO MMUN IT Y T E A M:

S C A LE FO R A S US TA IN A BLE F UT UR E T E AM:

Elizabeth Anderson P’24, P’26, P’28 Aron Back P’23, P’26, Director of Innovation and Academic Technology Chris Baker P’18, P’20, Trustee Arlety Bowman P’23, P’26, Trustee Vanessa Brown P’22, P’25 Anne Burleigh P’02, P’03, P’06 Greg Diorio P’19 Raphe Elkind P’11, P’14, Grade 5 Teacher Samantha Gault P’28, P’30 Arman Gokgol-Kline P’25, P’27, Trustee Chris Lawler P’15, Visual Arts Teacher Meaghan Mallin P’25, P’29, Head of Lower School Karl Palmgren, Head of Upper School Julie Porter P’26, P’29, Grade 5 Teacher Lindsay Regan P’23, P’24, P’26 Reshan Richards P’26, P’29, Director of Studies Lauren Romeo P’21, P’24, Language Arts Department Co-Chair, Trustee Kirsten Rosolen P’20, P’22, Head of Middle School John Ryan P’20, P’23, Trustee Valerie Schirmer P’97, P’04, P’07, Grade 3 Teacher Victoria Vartanian P’25, P’28

Susan Barr P’19, P’22, P’24, Trustee Jeannie Stauton Bean ’83, P’14, P’15, P’17, Beginners 4/5 Teacher Gail Bindley-Taylor P’07, Past Trustee Chris Bogart, Trustee Diane Briggs, Associate Director of Advancement Lynne Byrne P’14, P’16, P’18, P’21, Trustee Kojo Clarke, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Yolanda Coffield P’18, P’21, Trustee Beth Golden P’90, P’94, P’98, GP’22, GP’26, Past Trustee Mariko LeBaron P’17, P’18, P’20, P’24, P’26, Trustee Hannah Liu, Upper School World Languages Teacher, Trustee Will McDonough P’26, P’27, P’29, History Dept Co-Chair, Upper School English & History Teacher Bob Mueller, Chief Financial Officer Pam Safford, Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid Maria Sette ’92, P’27, Grade 4 Teacher Brennen Strine P’20, P’22, P’23, Trustee Sharon Gibbons Teles ’88, P’21, P’23, P’26, Trustee Miguel Triay P’21 Caitlin Walsh P’18, P’19, P’21, Trustee Josh Ziac ’86, P’15, P’17, Director of Safety and Security

Brooke Arthur P’24, P’28, Director of Marketing and Communications Holly Donaldson Casella ’04, Director of Alumni Affairs Tara Coniglio P’21, P’23, P’23, Trustee Michael DiBiasio ’90, P’22, P’24, P’28, Trustee Gary Engle P’20, P’24, Trustee Kent Findlay ’80, P’20, Marketing and Communications Associate Tucker Golden ’90, P’22, P’26, Trustee Jenny Harrington P’23, P’24 Kathy Kravec P’10, Director of Plus Program Heidi Locke-Simon P’27 Margaret Mackey, Middle School and Upper School Science Teacher Mark Macrides, Visual Arts Department Chair Monique Mims P’18, P’22, Trustee Beth O’Brien P’25, Head of Early Childhood Matt Rumilly P’27 Doug Ryder P’26, Trustee Shiva Sarram P’18, P’21 Ryan Smith, Senior Director of Advancement Gretchen Tapscott P’15, P’15, Director of Teacher and Apprentice Training Rebecca Thornton ’92, P’27, P’30 Wil Warren P’17, P’20, Trustee Liz Zea P’19, P’19

Read more: www.countryschool.net/stratplan discover more countryschool.net

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“Even with so many questions unanswered — unsurprisingly — our community came together with a sense of great purpose and intentionality to

best serve our students.”

—AARON COOPER, HEAD OF SCHOOL

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Connected Even When We Are Apart

By Brooke Arthur, Director of Marketing & Communications

It all happened quickly, but Lower School Librarian Jean

When it was clear that school would resume from a distance,

Stevens made sure to grab Dewey, the giant stuffed puppy,

the Facilities Department swiftly and efficiently organized

out of the bathtub (yes, you read that right — the beloved

a safe — and one might dare say “joyful” given the tenor of

claw-footed fixture in the reading nook of the Lower School

those early days — curbside pick-up. Throughout their entire

Library) before leaving campus on March 12. Now when

spring break, faculty and staff began to create the best

Mrs. Stevens records read-alouds and hosts Zoom lunches

possible version of an NCCS education from a distance.

with her young readers and researchers, Dewey is a familiar

“Even with so many questions unanswered — unsurprisingly

face on their screens. She also took care to set her Zoom

— our community came together with a sense of great purpose

background to look like the Lower School Library.

and intentionality to best serve our students,” said Mr. Cooper.

It is this type of attention to the details — and not just any

“In order to plan for an uncertain return to campus date, we

details, but the ones that give children a sense of comfort and

knew we needed to create a flexible system,” explained Director

familiarity — that stands out most in NCCS’s response to the

of Studies Reshan Richards. “We used a bridge as a mental

global pandemic this spring.

model for understanding our design choices. We could build a

When Head of School Aaron Cooper announced just two

rigid bridge that is intended to get from point A to point B and it

days prior to the school’s scheduled spring break that school

would feel safe and familiar. Imagine a suspension bridge over a

would close two days early, and it was possible that following

body of water. However, it was clear to us that external condi-

spring break school would need to resume online, it was

tions were changing and unpredictable and we could not actually

unclear (and still is as of this publishing) when the community

determine where point B might be. So instead, our bridge had

would be able to return to campus.

to be one that we could continue to extend and adjust while

You could almost feel the weight of the worry and a sense

we were on it. Now imagine a floating raft bridge that can be

of responsibility sweep across campus. Early Childhood

extended as the end point changes and that moves as the water

teachers filled tote bags to the brim with learning materials,

beneath it moves. This requires getting on more carefully and

while the Technology Department got to work loading iPads

being comfortable with the motion and uneasiness that comes

with age-appropriate apps to be sent home. Teachers all across

with being on a moving object. This is hard — especially for

campus gave their students big smiles and words of encour-

families and teachers — but it’s better for children.”

agement as they packed up their cubbies and lockers, silently wondering, How long will it be until I see you again? And when I do, will it be in a tiny box on a computer screen?

(Opposite) Upper School Teacher Will McDonough shares an example of a mini-magazine to illustrate elements of Chinese history and culture. (Opposite Inset) Derrick Francis and Reece and Ava Lenhard show their NCCS pride as the first day of distance learning launched with a spirit day. (Right) Lower School Librarian Jean Stevens shares read-alouds with her young readers and researchers with their trusted friend Dewey by her side.

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Community Well-Being First

As school began in a distance learning model, administrators were focused on identifying how different families might

“When we look back later, I believe these themes will tell a story of this time,” said Mr. Cooper.

Throughout the first month, the spirit of the community

be impacted. School Psychologist Rebecca Comizio and

shone through. Students reunited with their homerooms and

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Kojo Clarke issued

advisories. Members of the Faculty & Staff Chorus recorded

a Community Needs Assessment Survey that, in a confidential

the school song to lift spirits. Many teachers and administra-

context, helped identify families’ needs and match them

tors (and even Head of Lower School Meaghan Mallin’s dog,

with resources inside and outside the school. They offered

Scout!) began recording read-alouds, which quickly became

drop-in sessions online, and quickly were able to understand

popular with parents and grandparents alike. Dining Services

the scope of the challenges and respond accordingly. The

staff shared weekly recipes and trivia with the community. The

Parents’ Association joined in by creating a mentorship

Athletics Department launched a #NCCSStrongerTogether

program, pairing younger students with older ones to

physical fitness challenge on Instagram, and cross-country

meet virtually a few times a week.

coaches and teachers Sean Robb and Will McDonough

The Parents’ Association also had to shift several of its planned

conceived of a “QuaranTEAM” virtual run/walk that invited the

events, including the annual Kyle A. Markes Day of Service, which

NCCS and Horizons communities (including alumni, parents

was quickly reimagined as a virtual event, helping to raise critical

of alumni, former faculty staff, grandparents and friends) to

funds for local nonprofit organizations, including a special emer-

log their mileage for the month of May to see how far they

gency response fund for the school’s Horizons program. The

could collectively go together. They got the idea after partici-

annual Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day had already been on

pating in a national relay marathon “quaranteam” alongside

the calendar for the following week, so the Parents’ Association

seventh grader Oliver Johnson, his brother, Jack Johnson ’18,

launched a virtual “Gratitude Wall” and posts from appreciative

James Randon ’09, an avid runner and co-founder of Recover

families, alumni, grandparents and friends soon began filling

Athletics (read more on page 50), Head of School Aaron Cooper

the digital wall. (See Gratitude Wall, page 37).

and his daughter, eighth grader Julia.

“The timing was perfect because we knew how hard everyone was working to bring our program online,” said warming to see the messages start flooding in. It gave us a

Great Teaching Goes the Distance

way to connect even though we can’t be on campus together

than I thought it would,” said ninth grader Ben Herdeg, who

delivering cards and flowers to teachers.”

described daily Zoom Advisory calls as featuring the same

Parents’ Association President Susan Barr. “It was so heart-

“It was weird at first, but it started to feel normal faster

laughter and fun of the Stevens Building. “It’s weird not being

Staying Connected

As a way of testing and familiarizing families — and more importantly, students — with the technology tools that would help keep

mates while you’re learning stuff, but we all just had to get used to it, and at this point, we have.”

Teachers approached distance learning with their character-

them connected, during the first day of online learning Mr. Cooper

istic creativity, humor and risk-taking, always with the

invited students — by grade — to meet him in a “Zoom Room” just

goal of maintaining their close connections among their

to say hello. Mr. Cooper also read the children’s book The Invisible

classroom communities.

String by Patrice Karst in a video message to families. Each week

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able to be in the same room as your teacher and your class-

“I think my colleagues and I quickly realized that the only

throughout distance learning, Mr. Cooper set a theme. Connection,

way for us to get through this is to try to have fun and make

routine, balance, resilience and adaptability were the first five.

each other and our students laugh,” said Grade 2 Teacher

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Abigail Manny Newport ’89, who wrote a variation on the theme song from “The Brady Bunch” with her second grade team to launch their Zoom classes for students.

Teachers across all grades went the extra mile to make learning joyful. The fourth grade team introduced their Greek study dressed in togas to read together from The Odyssey.

Beginners classes held weekly Friday dress-up theme parties.

World Language Teacher Abby Cali even delivered cards and candy to fifth grade Spanish BINGO winners’ homes.

Many of the beloved community traditions migrated online as well. Middle Schoolers recorded and shared lunch announcements including jokes, riddles and birthday shout-outs.

Pre-recorded Lower School assemblies included sing-alongs, student poetry readings and special guest visitors. Beginners 4/5 continued the tradition of taking the star “home” but instead it came through the mail. They also continued their May Day tradition of delivering surprise flowers at their homes and around their neighborhoods. Ninth graders continued to deliver their “This I Believe” speeches during online Upper School assemblies on topics including “Appreciating What You Have” by Rett Zeigler, “Living Life to the Fullest” by Annika Mannix, and “Believing in Yourself and Your Ability to Overcome Challenge” by Garrett Cannon.

“One Assembly announcement that doesn’t seem to get old is: ‘Lunch today... is whatever you can find in the fridge,’” shared Head of Upper School Karl Palmgren, whose keen sense of humor helped keep spirits lifted, too.

(Top) NCCS teachers have found countless ways to keep students feeling engaged with their learning. From left, Early Childhood and Lower School Spanish Teacher Catherine Mendoza ’98, Upper School Science Teacher Sanj Maliakal, Grade 2 Teacher Abigail Manny Newport ’89, Grade 6 Teacher Brooke Kelley, Grade 6 Teacher Brayden Henry, and Upper School Teacher Liz Carroll. (Middle) The fourth grade team launched their Odyssey study. (Above) Beginners Teacher Carin Walden created festive Fridays for her young learners.

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New traditions were launched: Kindergarten classes enjoyed

“I’ve had about 100 percent attendance,” said Grade 6 Teacher

theme days (such as Pajama Day and Crazy Hair Day) on commu-

Fraser Randolph. “They want to be here. They want to do well.

nity Zooms. In Middle School, weekly “Move + Groove” sessions,

These kids are really impressive. They just don’t miss a beat.”

lunchtime trivia meet-ups and online study halls gave students

Maker, science, woodshop, art, music and physical educa-

various opportunities to connect with peers. Lower School

tion classes were all delivered in creative ways. In sixth-grade

students received personalized birthday video messages from

art, students were asked to replicate famous works of art

Scout, Head of Lower School Meaghan Mallin’s talking dog.

using objects (and people!) from around the house. In Early

With these important personal connections reestablished,

Childhood and Lower School science, students observed

students were able to engage deeply with the curriculum and

remotely as chicks hatched from eggs being incubated in the

continue the lessons they had begun on campus. Meeting via

homes of Beginners 3/4 Teacher Lisa Ingraham and Lower

Zoom in small groups, students completed daily Foundations

School Assistant Science Teacher Timber Pech.

and Bridges Math lessons, listened to both live and recorded

“We’ve learned so much,” said fourth grader Caroline Irwin.

literature read-alouds and Spanish lessons, and met online to

“I’m even learning more about things like how I work best. I

read books, rehearse speeches, complete research reports,

like to get my hardest work out of the way in the morning and

revise essays and much more.

then have the afternoon for things like PE, art and Maker. It’s

We’ve really kept pace with the curriculum,” said Mrs. Newport. “The kids are submitting their assignments on

also nice to have my parents around and my teachers available on Zoom if I need extra help.”

SeeSaw (a digital portfolio app) so we can monitor their

Opportunities for experiential learning, a hallmark of the

progress. They’re staying excited about things like their

Country School education, were obviously more limited in a

Second Grade States projects. I’m really proud of them.”

distance learning environment, but that did not stop teachers from coming up with creative ways to engage their students.

Upper School Science Teacher Sanj Maliakal took his seventhgrade life sciences classes on a virtual field trip to the NCCS vernal pond located in the woods on campus. Throughout the year, they had studied ecology and environmental science; this field trip, delivered live with the assistance of Zoom and an underwater GoPro camera, allowed students to explore the unique habitat of a vernal pond and how it compares to other ecosystems and food webs they had already studied.

Other virtual field trips included a fourth-grade visit with the Wolf Conservation Center, and to conclude a life sciences unit on classification, Kindergarteners had a virtual visit with Chris Evers from Animal Embassy and learned about various animals, reptiles, amphibians and birds.

Hands-on learning continued as well. In eighth-grade science, students were challenged to create “puff cars” to explore Newton’s laws of motion, an extension of their study on forces and friction. The students had to use their understanding of these concepts to design, build and test a car that would go as far as possible using only air to propel it forward. Many of the students used the air from a blow dryer or a fan as the force to move their car. Eighth-grader Frances Chandor used a homemade baguette as the body of her car. She said her dad had been cooking a lot, so it was easily accessible; in addition, its low mass and aerodynamic shape allowed for greater acceleration and less air resistance.

She used old CDs as her wheels, finding that they worked

(Top) Sasha Valdez recreates a masterpiece with her pet ferret.

(Above) Fourth grade science students Eva Juarez-Lace, Matthias Yoo, Madsie MacLear, Caroline Irwin and Lucy Anne Kurtz were part of a grade-wide virtual field trip to the Wolf Conservation Center.

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

surprisingly well! Students were asked at various points in the project to share ideas and present to their class using FlipGrid (a visual sharing app) and also iterate on their design after getting feedback from peers.

The Grade 6 Probability Fair took on a new form in its “At-Home Edition.” Math students created games of chance using materials they found around their homes. The rule was that nothing could be purchased for this activity. Once the games were made, students uploaded self-demonstration videos to FlipGrid and commented on each other’s work. In the fifth-grade science Optical Illusion Project, students interviewed friends and family members by phone, email, text, Facetime and Zoom to see how their subjects responded to optical illusions.

They then created graphs of their data and wrote a lab report.

In order to build real-world connections, teachers brought in guest speakers to connect to their curriculum. As sixthgraders were working on their capstone persuasive speeches, they watched a TEDx Talk by Caryn Antonini ’87 about the importance of children learning multiple languages (See Alumni Class Notes, page 45) as well as a video she had prepared with speech writing tips. Students then had the opportunity to meet with her via Zoom to ask follow-up questions.

Upper School English and History Teacher Bart Fredo’s eighthgrade English class had been reading Learning to Bow, a nonfiction book in which author Bruce Feiler examines Japanese culture through the eyes of an American teaching English at a Japanese school in the early 1990s. They had the opportunity to Zoom with Morgan Hearne, a graduate of Greenwich Academy who is currently teaching at a Japanese junior high school in a program similar to Mr. Feiler’s. NCCS students asked Ms. Hearne about the lives of Japanese teenagers, about Japan’s response to COVID-19, and how it was impacting her students and their education. They were surprised to hear that due to limited availability of technology, Ms. Hearne’s students were not enjoying the same opportunities as they were for distance learning.

Lifelong Learners in Action

“Many teachers and students were already comfortable with apps like SeeSaw, FlipGrid, Dreambox, and RazKids,” said Director of Innovation and Academic Technology Aron Back.

The 1:1 iPad program allowed the school to send home schoolissued iPads with each student in Grades 1–5 (older students all already had laptops). “But I am so impressed with how enthusiastic they have been and how quickly they have mastered things they previously thought they wouldn’t possibly be able to do.”

“I am learning so much,” said Mr. Randolph.

“I’ve been at this for 45 years and I’m learning things I never knew I could do, but at Country School I’ve always had a sense that I was encouraged to take risks, and I think that is very important in teaching. I think that is the atmosphere we create for students. If you fall, you will fall gracefully, and someone will be there to catch you.”

Virtually

Community Joins Together for Sixth Annual Kyle A. Markes Day of Service

Students and their families found a creative way to hold the sixth annual Kyle A. Markes Day of Service, April 3 and 4. In a unique twist, this year volunteers performed their service virtually, online or in their own homes. The event, which is held in honor of a beloved sixth grade student who passed away, served the wideranging needs of more than 10 local nonprofit organizations.

Volunteers individually made fleece blankets for babies in the NICU comforted by The Tiny Miracles Foundation (New Canaan); made sandwiches and supplied food items to restock the food pantry at New Covenant Center (Stamford); and fulfilled the online wishlists of non-profit organizations including Building One Community (Stamford), Filling in the Blanks (Norwalk), the Horizon Family Fund Emergency Fund (New Canaan), Person-to-Person (Norwalk), Family & Children’s Agency (Norwalk) and Inspirica (Stamford).

Members of the school community also participated in a family-friendly yoga experience. Donations collected through this virtual exercise event will specifically support the Horizons Family Emergency Center, Family & Children’s Agency and Open Door Shelter.

On Friday, April 3, students and young alumni participated in “Markes Madness,” also held annually and which traditionally features a 3x3 basketball tournament in recognition of Kyle’s great love of the sport. This year, Middle and Upper School students were able to participate without leaving home. In honor of some of the attributes and passions that defined Kyle (basketball, cheer, dance, joy, service and Country School spirit), students were asked to create pieces of art, writing, music or video around these themes. Once finished, students submitted their completed projects for inclusion in a large, celebratory “mash-up,” shared digitally within the school and Horizons community.

The two days of activities were organized by event Co-Chairs Rochelle Charnin and Lauren Ryder in coordination with the school’s Service Learning Co-Directors, Kathy Kravec and Will McDonough, and Horizons at NCCS Family & Program Director Nehemie Moise.

(Above) Oliver, James, Tucker ’90 and Gwen Golden made sandwiches for the New Covenant Center. discover more countryschool.net

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Our Alumni Respond Arjun Dayal ’18 Creates Equipment for COVID-19 Frontliners Arjun Dayal ’18 has been 3D-printing hundreds of face masks and shields for hospitals around the country. Arjun, who is currently a junior at Hackley School, said his interest in robotics and 3D printing began at Country School. When COVID-19 hit, he knew he had the skills to help.

After reading an article by Dr. Peter Slavin from Mass General, in which he appealed for 3D printing, calling the situation “dire,” Arjun says he knew exactly what he needed to do. He researched and tested different mask designs before settling on one and later added face shields. At the time of this writing, he had sent

(Above) Ninth-graders Ben Herdeg and Maren Frey organized a virtual book club. (Below right) Kieran and Blaire Williamson found a creative way to express their thanks on Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day.

out about 30 face shields and masks and had new orders coming in from hospitals in Washington, DC, Westchester County and Chicago. He is not charging for his services. He says he just wants to keep his own morale up and help those on the front lines.

“We live in one of the most advanced countries in the world, and to see doctors running out of these necessary materials that they need to treat people — it’s just sad to see,” he said.

Ali Jaffe ’07 Cooks with Grandmother in The New York Times Ali Jaffe ’07, a segment producer at “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” cooks in her Brooklyn kitchen with guidance from her grandmother using FaceTime. She has chronicled her cooking adventures under quarantine on The New York Times “The Daily” podcast, “A Bit of Relief: Soup Is Soup,” and a March 24 New York Times article.

Zach Iscol ’94 Plays Key Role in Creation of Javits Medical Center

Upper School English and History Teacher Liz Carroll found that she could replicate many of her classroom methods online.

“I love the breakout rooms feature in Zoom, so students can continue to discuss and collaborate in small groups. Best of all, I can pop in and join the conversations. We can even peer-edit each other’s daily reader responses by safely sharing screens. Every day I learn a new tool that makes distance learning work that much better!” she said. She has even discovered some tools that she plans to keep when we return to a classroom setting, such as Google forms to give quizzes. The format allows students to see their results and learn from their corrections in real time.

Many grade-level teams discovered new ways of working together, sharing tech tips, creating video content and dividing up lesson plans.

“My teaching will never be the same because of what I have learned from my colleagues. This process has drawn the fourth grade team into even greater collaboration,” said Grade 4 Teacher John Hastings.

Zach Iscol ’94, a member of the New York National Guard and the Deputy Director of Javits Medical Center, was part of a team that established a medical facility in the expansive Jacob Javits Convention Center on the west side of Manhattan over the course of a week in March, establishing its first 1,000-bed facility as a response to the medical demands of COVID-19. For more news about Zach, see page 46.

Lauren Oakes ’96 Offers a Personal Account in Scientific American Lauren Oakes ’96 wrote a first-person account in Scientific American about being a scientist, a mother, and wife to a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases and outbreak response, titled, “Calculating the Incalculable, Fighting the Pandemic from Home and for Home.”

To read more Alumni News, please visit www.countryschool.net/alumni.

10

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Silver Linings

Students and teachers alike recognized the silver linings that came with distance learning: more family time, a renewed appreciation for nature or hobbies, the simple gifts of childhood such as picking flowers, playing a board game or planting a family garden.

“I get to spend a lot of time with my family,” said eighthgrader Kat Thompson. “I’m learning so much about them. It may sound silly but I’m enjoying doing small things, like fixing things around the house with my dad and playing soccer in the backyard with my brother.”

Mrs. Mallin’s first assignment was for Lower School students to share their silver linings.

“As I read through the nearly 200 ‘silver linings,’ they were profound in their simplicity,” she said. “Time with family, riding bikes, family movie nights, time to play outside, not having to rush.

Our children are telling us something in this moment.

would on campus, getting dressed up and ultimately delivering

There is a clear message here: It does not need to be

their speeches via Zoom to an audience that included class-

perfect to be meaningful.”

mates, teachers, parents, grandparents and others.

In a survey sent at the end of the third week of distance

“I’m so proud of my students,” said Grade 6 Teacher Mauricia

learning, Middle and Upper School students were asked,

Gardiner. “This is why I love sixth grade. I just love watching

What have you learned about yourself during distance learning?

them grow up before my very eyes. Of course we want them to revel in their childhoods, but I am really impressed by how

The following are a handful of their answers:

they are emotionally and intellectually capable of processing

• “I work better with breaks outside.”

this, all of it, from the disappointment and then resilience

• “I can’t go this long without seeing friends.”

around their speeches, to understanding how life has changed

• “I have learned not to be wasteful and to be grateful for

in their families and around the world.”

what you have.”

• “I am gonna make mistakes and that’s okay!”

• “That I don’t do well without sports.”

And, of course, many thoughts turned to the ninth grade class.

“Sure, I’m disappointed,” said ninth-grader Ben Herdeg. “But as I saw other countries going through this, I kind of knew that it would happen to us. So that was kind of to be expected, but

They were also asked what they had learned about their

it makes me happy knowing that we’re doing all these things

families. Here are some responses:

for the right reason and that it’s really not just our school or our

• “My dog is a lot smarter than we thought!”

grade experiencing this. It’s really the entire world. That’s what a

• “I’ve learned about how strong my family is.”

pandemic is. And yeah, it happened in a not ideal year, but hope-

• “My dad really likes Lady Gaga.”

fully things will go back to normal as soon as possible. It feels

• “I have learned that my sister is even more fun than I

weird to live in a time that is going to be written in, like, history

thought and I love helping her do her online learning.”

• “It’s hard to live with some people sometimes.”

textbooks later on. It’s kind of the first time that I felt like I was a part of history. And as annoying as it is, it is pretty cool.”

As of this writing, plans were being developed for a

Making History

uniquely Country School Closing Exercises along with a

While many adults in the community immediately felt disap-

grades. By the time this magazine arrives in your hands,

pointment and worry on behalf of their children and students,

many of our closing celebrations likely will have taken

and wondered how they would experience spring academic

place; please visit www.countryschool.net to see how we

traditions such as the sixth grade speeches, students took a

wrapped up the year.

number of end-of-year celebrations for students in all

fairly optimistic view.

“We’re actually making history,” said sixth grader Julia Coniglio.

“We will be the first class ever to give our speeches online.”

They took the assignment very seriously, rearranging furniture to create a “stage” at home, rehearsing as diligently as they

To read more highlights and watch videos of our Distance Learning program, please visit www.countryschool.net/distancelearning.

discover more countryschool.net

11

New Athletics & Wellness Center

COMING SOON! AN EDUCATION FOR A NEW CENTURY OF LEADERS Our new Athletics & Wellness Center will serve students at every grade level and will function as a space for the entire community to come together. Our Athletics and PE programs foster a lifelong culture of fitness and wellness, and develop mission-critical skills such as teamwork, leadership and resilience. Our new facilities will match the caliber of our program.

(Above) Coach Steve Willson and members of the boys’ varsity basketball team

12

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

“This center will be so much more than a building. We have envisioned a space where our students will truly achieve their full potential — a place where they will not only hone their athletic skills, but where they will also learn valuable lessons in character such as teamwork and resilience, and where they will form the roots of lifelong friendships.”—HEAD OF SCHOOL AARON COOPER

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OUR FUTURE CAMPUS In January 2016, the Board of Trustees

adopted a long-range campus master plan.

Significant progress has been made during the past three years.

Middle School renovation

1

COMPLETED 2016 Lower School renovation COMPLETED 2017 Grace House renovation COMPLETED 2018 Susan Haigh Carver ’51 Dining Hall & Commons (new construction) COMPLETED 2018 

Athletics & Wellness Center TO OPEN FALL 2020



Playing Fields INCLUDING A NEW TURF FIELD

2

4 5 3 1.

2.

3.

4.

Artist rendering of the squash courts Varsity squash players Cece Salvatore and Connor McNamara Public spaces will feature natural light and ample space for spectators.

Ryan Pauta (with the ball) and Middle School teammates will have two volleyball courts for practice and games.

5. State-of-the-art equipment will be available in the training and workout rooms.

6. The Athletics & Wellness Center, exterior view 7. Varsity basketball players Sabina Cherry (with the ball), Fiona Gosk and Miller Burr

14

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

6

7

ATHLETICS & WELLNESS CENTER Opening for the start of the 2020–21 school year, this new facility will:

• •

Serve students at all grade levels Greatly reduce off-campus travel and increase practice time by bringing all of our athletic and wellness programs under one roof

•

Strengthen our sense of community by encouraging different teams and grade levels to intersect and support each other

•

Enhance programmatic offerings, including yoga and fitness, to further promote the principles of health and wellness across all grades

•

Serve as a community gathering space where we can strengthen our ties with each other and host large and small events for students, teachers, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and many others

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15

WHY ATHLETICS MATTERS TO MY FAMILY AND ME Sharon Gibbons Teles ’88 is an alumna, current parent and Trustee of New Canaan Country School. After NCCS, she

Tom and Sharon Teles ’88 with their children Harper, William and Ashley.

graduated from Phillips Academy Andover and Hamilton College, where she received a B.A. in English. Sharon worked as an editor

experience — to love it. When I went on from Country School to

at Simon & Schuster and in marketing at Morgan Stanley.

Andover, I had the confidence to give ice hockey a shot in 10th

She serves as Vice President of the Women’s Committee of the

grade having never played it. I attribute that to the confidence I

Central Park Conservancy, on the Board of the New Canaan

gained from continuous exposure to a varied sports curriculum

Lacrosse Association, and on the New Canaan Library Capital

over my seven years at Country School.

Campaign steering committee. She is in her second year as a member of the Board of Trustees, and is a co-chair, along with Wil Warren, of the Boldly Forward Capital Campaign.

Q: What excites you about the new Athletics & Wellness Center?

A: We are really excited about what this new building will mean

Q: Is it true that the Athletics Program is one of the reasons you came to NCCS as a student?

for students. No longer will our children lose precious time

A: Yes! The athletics program is the reason my family

contend with the constraints and condition of the Watson Gym.

discovered Country School. When we moved to New Canaan

The new building will offer two full-size basketball courts, four

in 1979, there weren’t as many youth sports options for girls

squash courts, new locker rooms, an expanded fitness center,

as there are today. My mom felt strongly that team sports

additional parking and more. The space itself will be uplifting

were great for girls’ confidence. It drove her crazy that I was

and practical, with lots of natural light, campus views and easy

watching more of my brother’s games than playing in my

access to the playing fields. And it will bring the community

own. When she heard that at New Canaan Country School

together in many new ways: There will be space large enough

“all the girls play team sports — it’s required,” I was as good

for the entire NCCS community to gather. Athletics staff,

as enrolled. My older brother and younger sister soon

currently scattered across campus, will be together in a central

followed, and to this day we are so grateful for it.

hub. And there will finally be spectator stands for games so

traveling off campus for practices. No longer will we have to

students can cheer on their peers — and we can sit together

Q: What did you learn from your experience?

and cheer on our children. We are embarking on a new chapter

A: We all know that New Canaan Country School is about

in Country School’s history. This new Athletics Center will be a

educating the whole child, and I’m so proud of how well NCCS

major enhancement to the campus and the athletics program,

does that. Part of that is, of course, physical fitness, and some

and to the Country School experience as a whole.

of my best memories from Country School are of the sports program. There was so much camaraderie. It was another way to connect with your peers and teachers, to get to know them in a completely different light, and to stretch yourself person-

Learn more www.countryschool.net/boldlyforward

ally. You didn’t have to be a star athlete — which I can say from

16

We are 70 percent of the way toward our fundraising goal — but we still need your help! THANK YOU to our early donors who have already made gifts and pledges to the Campaign. We look forward to engaging with the entire community in support of this important project.

To learn more about the Boldly Forward Campaign, please contact Senior Director of Advancement Ryan Smith at (203) 801-5633.

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

LEAD Learning to

new program that brings together eighth and ninth grade students from Horizons and NCCS is far surpassing the expectations of the educators who helped bring it to life less than two years ago.

Why has it been so successful? According to Horizons at NCCS Executive Director Nancy von Euler and the team that helped get it launched, the answer is simple: When the adults step back, the

(Above) NCCS and Horizons students in Grades 8 and 9 start their meeting with an ice-breaker activity.

students will take the lead. The result is an organic, authentic collaboration.

“It is truly student-centric,” said Mrs. von Euler.

“The students helped design it from the ground up, and when they meet, they run the show.”

It started from an observation Nehemie Moise, Family and Program Director for Horizons, made during a training session that paired older students with

“It is truly student-centric. The students helped design it from the ground up, and when they meet, they run the show.” —Nancy von Euler, Horizons at NCCS Executive Director

younger buddies. Ms. Moise noticed that the dynamic among the eighth and ninth grade students was very different when no younger students were around.

“It was more genuine, more connected. There was synergy and energy we hadn’t seen before,” she said. She saw that the

religious and socioeconomic backgrounds, hometowns and schools, on Saturdays throughout the school year.

From the beginning, educators overseeing the program knew

students were eager for leadership training and excited about

their goal was to build capacity within the students to lead

their shared purpose. “The students were having conversations

through personal development, the creation of authentic and

about what leadership looks like.”

trusting relationships, and a shared exploration of issues facing

That was the seed that grew into the LEAD (Leadership, Exploration, Action, and Development) Program, which now brings

their communities.

“In the past we have struggled to find ways to authentically

together a group of 20 students in Grades 8 and 9, an equal mix

bring two communities together. This felt like an important

from NCCS and Horizons, representing a variety of racial, ethnic,

step forward. That both communities benefited and one is discover more countryschool.net

17

“I was so impressed by how incredibly thoughtful and reflective they were. It blew me away.” —Nancy von Euler

1 not servicing the other,” said Mrs. von Euler. “Each person is a valued member of the team with a common cause.”

Organizers, who also included Marshall Johnson ’04, an NCCS Upper School teacher, and Tremaine Gilmore, a Horizons academic coach, were intentional about creating the right environment in which the students would flourish.

“We wanted to have a space where every participant felt they belonged, were represented and could feel safe speaking their mind,” said Ms. Moise. “When we facilitated conversations, we made sure that every voice was included,” added Mr. Johnson. “In that way, we succeeded in creating an equi2

table and inclusive environment.”

Beyond that, the shape and structure of the program would be designed by the students.

Currently in its second year, the program has followed a deliberate sequence — conceived by the first pilot group of nine participating students — which began with a session on identifying one’s leadership style. They took a self-assessment that would identify their leadership style as north, south, east, west, and then buffalo, bear, eagle and deer.

“They put themselves in the quadrants and then discussed

that I take more of the group’s ideas into account, listening and factoring them in.”

Megan Mitchell, an NCCS ninth grader, was not surprised to find out she was more of the “deer” leadership style.

“I don’t really think of myself as a leader. If there is a group of people, I’d rather listen to what everyone else wants to do,” said Megan. Ironically, during the third session, when it was

what surprised them, what resonated, and reflected on what

time for one person to lead, her peers chose her. By the end

they would need from others in a group. I was so impressed by

of the second year, Megan said she had a noticeable increase

how incredibly thoughtful and reflective they were. It blew me

in confidence. She was not nearly as nervous to give her ninth

away,” said Mrs. von Euler. “They really internalized it.”

grade “This I Believe” speech as she thought she would be.

Ben Balsley, an eighth grader at NCCS, fell into the “buffalo” leadership category.

“I’m the type of person who tries to take control and lead the group, and when I don’t get my way, then I back off too much,”

18

said Ben. “I’ve been learning to combat that and make it so

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

“I have learned that I can really do anything that I set my mind to. Now I feel like my voice is heard more. I know that my opinion counts, that everyone’s voice counts, because we are all equally important,” she said.

Understanding their own personal leadership styles was

PAWS, did presentations about their organizations and how

a good foundation for the work that came in the following

the students might be able to help. They also shared their

sessions, when they collectively decided which causes they

personal leadership philosophies and gave the students

wanted to support.

advice about leadership.

In one session, the students shared with one another

Finally, the students devised plans to engage with both

causes they cared about, and through a collaborative process

organizations through service projects they would design them-

narrowed their focus to five, then four: poverty, animal

selves. The group has begun to plan for what LEAD will look

welfare, women’s rights and climate change. Everyone was

like next year, and the adult facilitators are hopeful that it will

asked to choose an area where they felt most aligned and

continue to grow and evolve.

then worked in groups of five to research the issue — in

“One of the things I hope will be a piece of development in

under 45 minutes — and develop a “Shark Tank”-like pitch to

the next phase of LEAD is that the students begin to look at

persuade the others to ultimately choose their cause. Jason

the issues they care about not just through the lens of service.

Beltran, a ninth grader attending Brien McMahon High School

When I think about some of the most untenable issues we

in Norwalk, came into LEAD with a commitment to address

have in our country and in our world, part of what prevents

hunger and poverty and argued for that issue. “I just see a lot

us from making progress on them is the lack of civil dialogue

of people on the streets who don’t have food and are always

and the lack of relationships between the people who

asking for food and people who don’t have homes, and it’s just

experience injustice and those who wittingly or unwittingly

a need I want to see fixed,” he said.

perpetuate the injustice. One way forward is to develop

The result was a tie between animal welfare and poverty

leaders who understand how important it is to develop

and they voted to keep both. Next, speakers from local

relationships, dialogue and understanding among diverse

organizations working on these issues, Person-to-Person and

people,” said Mrs. von Euler.

Ms. Moise agreed. “We asked ourselves: In our bubble here, what can we do that will trickle outward? If we can work with 20 future leaders — who could not come from more different back-

“I have learned that I can really do anything that I set my mind to. Now I feel like my voice is heard more.

I know that my opinion counts, that everyone’s voice counts, because we are all equally important.”

grounds — this could be the foundation for something bigger.”

Nancy von Euler and Nehemie Moise presented on the topic of “bridging communities” at the Horizons National Conference in February. See Faculty News, page 56.

3

—Megan Mitchell

1. This year’s LEAD cohort at a rewarding volunteer day they planned at Person-to-Person 2. LEAD participants Jaeon Anglin, Jamie Staniar and Ryland Strine work together to develop a proposal to present to the group.

3. Megan Mitchell presents her team service proposal to the full LEAD group. discover more countryschool.net

19

Peers Projects Passion + Play

g n i d Co Olivia Parker creates games using Kodable, a programming app for students to learn how to code.

l o o h c S y r t n u at Co

by Moina Noor, Digital Communications Manager

20

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Fourth graders Fletcher Londa, Matthias Yoo, Connor Mallin and Paul Vartanian code Dash and Dot robots.

On a February afternoon, in the Schlesinger

statements (if, then, else) and Boolean Logic (and, or,

Library Amicus Innovation Lab, fourth grade

not). As students move from the Lower School into the

students were on the floor in partner groups, many of

upper grades, Scratch is used with increasing sophistication.

them lying on their bellies focused intently on iPads that

By Upper School, some students are ready to take on

controlled Dot and Dash, two blue robots. They were coding

Swift, a programming language created by Apple that is

the robots’ movements to complete a series of commands:

friendly to new programmers.

turn left, stop, make a U-turn. Some students experimented

The ability to think like a coder, however, is not what

with sound sensors — stopping the robots with a clap.

is driving children’s enthusiasm as they learn to code.

They returned frequently to their iPads to fix their coding

Educational experts recognize that a child’s desire to

mistakes and experiment with new movements. It was a

create something with their imagination pushes them

playful afternoon of code, test, tweak, run and repeat.

to familiarize themselves with the tools they need to

Over the course of the year, fourth graders met regularly

bring their vision to life.

to learn the fundamentals of coding. They used Scratch, a

“It’s challenging and fun,” said fourth grader Matthias

visual block-based programming language created by MIT,

Yoo, who has made several games using Scratch. “And the

to make games, stories and animations. They also used

best part is you get to make your own projects.”

Blockly, a similar coding language created by Google, to program their robots.

“In the process of creating projects and ‘playing’ with robots,

This idea is affirmed in Lifelong Kindergarten, a bestselling book by Mitchel Resnick, Director of the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab. The book, popular

students develop as computational thinkers,” said Technology

among Country School’s faculty and administrators, espouses

Teacher Bruce Lemoine. “They begin to understand concepts

ideas that are at the heart of Country School’s approach to

that allow them to express themselves in code.”

teaching programming and coding. Resnick emphasizes the

“We teach coding in elementary school because it’s a modern skill and is relevant to today’s world,” said Head of

importance of play, projects, peers and passion.

“By providing young people with opportunities to work

©ASTAFJEVA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

School Aaron Cooper. “However, our view is broader and

on projects, based on their passions, in collaboration with

longer-term than that. We are first and foremost teaching

peers, in a playful spirit, we can help them prepare for a

the concepts that are the underpinning of coding — logical,

world where creative thinking is more important than

progressional thought.”

ever before,” writes Resnick.

Students also use Kodable, an online coding curriculum, to learn skills such as sequencing, looping, conditional

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21

“I see students — sometimes alone, sometimes in a group

objects. In Tech clubs and electives, they use Hummingbird

— stopping by the Innovation Lab at recess, during lunch and

programmable robotics kits and LEGO robotics, and fly drones

after school, just to get a tip on how to fix a bug or trouble-

working with programs like LEGO EV3. They design digital

shoot projects,” said Director of Innovation and Academic

prototypes of furniture in Tinkercad and complex anima-

Technology Aron Back. “They work on these projects in class

tions in Blender. In Fabrication Lab, they take a deep dive into

and on their own time, and are driven by their interests.”

augmented reality and are experimenting with a laser cutter.

At the students’ request, Mr. Back hosts a Lunchtime

“I just love the making process and am getting exposure

Coding Club where Upper School students come to work on

to a bunch of tools,” said eighth grader Waverly Walters,

a project, learn a new coding language or tinker with a robot

who is taking several electives to further her burgeoning

or drone. They look over each other’s shoulders to ask for a

interests in engineering and animation. “Coding, engi-

tip or see their classmate’s latest creation.

neering, making, art: to me it all goes hand-in-hand.”

Mr. Back begins “pre-coding” lessons as early as first

Last year, Waverly made a robot of a penguin with a class-

grade with a “Move It” exercise. Using symbols, students

mate. She used Hummingbird circuitry, cardboard, Scratch

write on the Innovation Lab’s write-able tables: One student

and sensors to create an almost life-sized penguin, which

charts a path out for a partner, and the partner follows the

had a beak that opened and closed and a hat that spun.

instructions of his or her “friend” in the square boxes laid

“That was my favorite project. I just loved making it,” she said.

out on the floor. The program continues through Lower

“Creativity, collaboration and risk-taking are at the heart

School using object-based coding apps such as Lightbot,

of what we teach,” said Mr. Lemoine, who teaches Middle

Sprite Box and Scratch Jr., which use puzzles and reading

and Upper School students a variety of elective classes.

challenges to move through a coding curriculum.

“I tell the students, first build, test and rebuild. It’s about

“I want the kids to understand that the ideas behind coding are in our everyday life as well as the apps they play on iPads,” said Mr. Back. He explains to children that even moving to

precision and flexibility, design and function, and breaking down complex challenges into solvable parts.”

“We expect that many students will go on to do advanced

Morning Meeting and sitting “criss-cross applesauce” is a kind

coding and engineering in high school and college,” said Mr.

of “algorithm” that they have been programmed to do when

Cooper. “And although we don’t know the jobs of the future,

they hear a teacher’s bell, for example.

we do know that during these foundational years the habits

In Middle and Upper School, coding is integrated with digital arts and design. Students learn how to design 3D

of mind and problem-solving mindset required by coding will be necessary as students progress through school and life.”

Eighth graders Julia Cooper and Waverly Walters participate in the Lunchtime Coding Club.

Skills Learned > Sequencing > Looping > Conditional statements > Functions > Boolean logic > Variables

22

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Our

Favorite Tools > > > > > > > > >

SpriteBox Scratch & Scratch Jr. Kodable Blockly Tinkercad Fusion 360 Blender Swift AR Reality Composter

Second grader Major Hasbrouck ‘sequence g the codes’ his friends usin r. blue boxes on the floo

“I just love the making process and am getting exposure to a bunch of tools.

Fifth graders Kaitlyn Buda and Annsley Leclerc show their work to Aron Back, Director of Innovation and Academic Technology.

Coding, engineering, making, art: to me it all goes hand-in-hand.”

—Waverly Walters

www.countryschool.net/technology

discover more countryschool.net

23

Getting to Know

KOJO CLARKE, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

What inspires you about our work?

“I believe that when one embraces diversity, equity and inclusion as a community, there naturally becomes a way to provide space and opportunities for positive outcomes to thrive.”

—MARIA SETTE ’92, Lower School DEI Liaison Maria Sette ’92 began her NCCS experience in seventh grade, after an amazing opportunity to join the Horizons

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Andrew Bevan is in his second year

community in the summer of 1989. She

teaching Grade 5 and serving

is a former apprentice teacher, in her

as Middle School DEI Liaison at

17th year as a fourth grade teacher, and

Country School. He is currently

a current parent. Country School truly is

studying Private School Leadership

a circle, making new friends and keeping

at the Klingenstein Center at Teachers

the old, especially when you’ve been

College at Columbia University.

here as long as she has.

24

“Working on the DEI team gives us a unique opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in all divisions and Grace House. I enjoy working to structure adult learning opportunities that will benefit the growth of our teachers and community.”

—ANDREW BEVAN, Middle School DEI Liaison

Kojo Clarke joined NCCS in fall 2019 as Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Most

and respect for their own culture, as

recently, Mr. Clarke was a French teacher at Choate Rosemary Hall. In addition to

well as for cultures that may be new and

teaching French, Mr. Clarke advised the Choate Diversity Student Association and for the

unfamiliar to them. My own opportunity

past two years had led SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) seminars for his

to live abroad when I was the age of some

colleagues, focusing on topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Mr. Clarke was a

of our Early Childhood students showed

faculty member on the Diversity Education Committee , whose work led to the creation

me firsthand the importance of humility

of the school’s first Director of Equity & Inclusion position. Mr. Clarke has also facilitated

and openness especially in cross-cultural

affinity group conversations at the national People of Color Conference (PoCC). Before

situations. My hope is that every child at

joining Choate, Mr. Clarke taught high school and middle school in public and interna-

Country School develops this capacity as

tional schools in Illinois and in Ghana. Mr. Clarke holds an MS.Ed. from Northwestern

an intentional part of their education.

University and a B.A. in Psychology and French from Franklin & Marshall College.

Q

Before coming to NCCS, you had been working at a high school.

What inspires you about working with children ages 3–15?

the high school level were responding to already existing situations. My hope and goal in working with younger students is for them to learn that they can actively contribute to “creating” a more just world,

Students in high school are often

A

one in which their contributions shape

responding to a social climate that

equitable and reflective practices. Our

they may not feel they were involved in

students are so open at this age that I

actively creating but still find themselves

want them to also embody the cultural

a part of. For this reason, many diversity

humility that enables them to move

initiatives with which I was involved at

through the world with an appreciation

“It has been powerful to engage with my colleagues in self-reflection and conversation about our identities and unconscious biases. By doing so, we foster a culture of empathy in which all children and adults thrive.”

—MOINA NOOR, Staff DEI Liaison

“The innate curiosity of a young child leads to their discovery of the world. It is completely natural for them to notice similarities, and differences and to ask questions and I believe this is the most natural place to begin modeling acceptance and appreciation of diversity.”

—CARIN WALDEN, Early Childhood DEI Liaison

Q

In recent years the title for your position has evolved from Director of Diversity to Director of Diversity & Inclusion, and most recently Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. What is the importance of each of these words?

A

To me, diversity represents a community’s composition of people

of different identities. Therefore with our school, diversity is reflected across

“I’m inspired by the confidence I see developing in some of our youngest children as they explore self and others.

We laugh, cry, wonder and question as we learn and play with each other, and engage in deep classroom conversations surrounding identity and justice.”

—JESS MCKINNEY, Early Childhood DEI Liaison

As Digital Communications Manager, Moina Noor enjoys making sure that

Carin Walden has been a teacher in

Inspired by the natural curiosity of young

the community is informed and inspired

the Beginners program for 17 years.

children and motivated by her interest

through emails, newsletters, the website,

Her daily interactions with young

in human development, Jess McKinney,

social media and more. She feels fortu-

children inspire her to see the world

became a teacher 14 years ago and

anew through their energetic

has grown alongside Country School

nate to tell the story of Country School.

conversations, inquisitive questions

kindergarteners for the past four years.

and thought-provoking processes.

She loves being a part of friendships developing, risk-taking and silly senses of humor in her classroom community. discover more countryschool.net

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ability, gender, race, ethnicity, family struc-

When intent and the resulting impact are

consists of several multicultural realities,

ture, socioeconomic realities and so on. It

aligned, that shared sense of ownership

mainstream culture pushes us to view

is really about ensuring the representation

and belonging can be considered inclu-

life through a monocultural lens. For this

of different groups within our community,

sion. It is my hope that this series of name

reason, there are many experiences that

which brings several perspectives to every

changes captures NCCS’s intentionality in

inadvertently go unvalidated, and anyone

interaction and enriches the whole. Equity,

fostering a socially just environment.

who doesn’t fit into the mainstream can

on the other hand, involves recognizing

feel invisible, unheard and uncared for.

the needs that different people have,

“Increasing capacity” is about learning to

Q

One of the strategic goals for the school has been to “increase capacity” within the community. What does that mean? And where do we begin?

see through multiple lenses in order to

To me “increasing capacity” has two

A

standing that we can weave when the

parts to it: Firstly, developing a shared

threads of valuing different cultures form

understanding of what challenges play out

the fabric of who we are. The possibilities

be responsive and empathetic citizens.

in society with regards to social justice, and

garnered from multicultural understanding

I think of “Inclusion” as an intentionally

secondly, developing one’s own tools in

loom vast in such a space, and we can

cultivated two-part system. First, we

order to intentionally disrupt inequality and

expose our students to even richer and

make an individual and collective effort

make sustained contributions to efforts of

more multilayered understandings of our

to include others in our decision-making

inclusion and equity. I heard an influential

world. This starts with each of us devel-

and practices. Second, anyone intention-

researcher describe that one limitation in

oping our capacity and then supporting

ally included feels the sense of belonging.

America is — that while the United States

others to develop theirs.

and the degree to which we are able to help meet those needs, as a means to help each person achieve success. It is about removing obstacles to success, and

ways we model equity in our own practices will model for our students how they can

“I admire the work of my colleagues from all parts of Country School who love the students as they are, and work every day to create a school environment that is safe and inclusive for all children.

We gently shepherd the earnest curiosity of children who are hungry to know more about the world around us and how we all link together.”

—HANNAH LIU, Upper School DEI Liaison

the world, for our own benefit and for the benefit of those with whom we work and interact. Imagine the rich tapestry of under-

creating thoughtful practices and opportunities to support and empower people. The

create a richer and fuller appreciation of

“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work requires more than an institutional commitment or promise — it must be driven by the desire, belief and heart of each individual. Every person, in every part of the institution, has a piece of this work, and that’s what inspires me. Being able to teach, support, grow and learn together as a community to ensure that DEI is embedded in the genetic makeup of our school, and not just something we do, but who we are.”

—NEHEMIE MOISE, Horizons at NCCS DEI Liaison Nehemie Moise has been Family and Program Director for Horizons since October 2016. Prior to returning to Horizons where she had been a student, Mrs. Moise worked as a supervisor overseeing an after-school Middle School program called ASPIRE. She

Hannah Liu has been teaching Latin

enjoys watching sunsets, doing arts and crafts and planning parties.

at Country School for four years, and continues to find new ways to teach a dead language to lively children. She loves the energy and curiosity of her students, and learns from them every day.

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Find out more about DEI and how to get involved: www.countryschool.net/DEI

AROUND CAMPUS

Author, Illustrator Jerry Craft Wins Newberry Gold Medal for New Kid Author, illustrator and former Country School parent Jerry

Medal, the first graphic novel to receive the prize for the most

Craft (Aren ’15, Jaylen ’13) returned to campus to speak with

outstanding contribution to children’s literature.

Middle School students and faculty about his graphic novel

“His messages echoed those that Country School shares with

New Kid. Created specifically for children in the middle grades,

children — to stick with things that may seem hard, find and

the story follows seventh-grader Jordan Banks’ struggle to

explore your interests and passions, and to remain open to new

adjust to a school with little diversity and, as a light-skinned

connections,” said Head of Middle School Kirsten Rosolen.

African-American, within his home community.

Widely praised for its honest portrayal of what it means to be “other,” New Kid was recently awarded the 2020 Newberry

(Above) Front row: Matt Silver, Capone Andrade, Consuelo Bowman, Marcus Ortiz and Ben Cali; back row: Sydni Francis, the author, Jerry Craft, and Kayla Mouzon.

Faculty v. Ninth Graders: A Tradition of Friendly Competition A long-standing school tradition, this good-natured rivalry sees the ninth grade class challenge the faculty-staff in various contests throughout the year, most notably in soccer, basketball and softball, followed typically by a springtime cookout.

Regardless of the outcome, a strong sense of camaraderie between students and adults prevails.

Some of the faculty and staff who participated in this year’s soccer game included Assistant Athletic Director Stefan Borowski, Maintenance Assistant Michael McGovern, Physical Education Coordinator, Teacher and Coach Chantal Angelis, Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04, Upper School Teacher Matthew McDonald, Technical Systems Analyst Freddy Gavidia, Maintenance Assistant Jimmy Torres, Physical Education Teacher and Coach Meegan Horn, Physical Education Apprentice Abigail Cerone, Middle School Apprentice Ian Coupe, Physical Education Teacher and Coach Steve Willson, Upper School Teacher Charles Khuen, Head of School Aaron Cooper, Facilities Supervisor John Neill, World Language Teacher Sean Robb, Maintenance Assistant Marc Keneally, Upper School Teacher Scott Lilley and Head of Middle School Kirsten Rosolen.

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Spotlight on Visual & Performing Arts Middle School Produces Original Play, ‘Café Catastrophe’

were capably choreographed by students, especially eighth

There were no scripted lines or stage directions when Middle

graders Tess Boosin and Elsa Franks. Perhaps the greatest

School drama students began preparing production for their

moment of hilarity came with the song “Les Poissons,” in which

Winter Musical. Over the course of 10 weeks, 25 students

Katey Charnin proved that there is no such thing as a small part.

worked intensely to write and stage their very own play, “Café

The eighth grader all but stole the show as a terrifyingly funny

Catastrophe.” Filled with elaborate dance numbers and hand-

French chef with an overly active cleaver.

made sets, the play entertained the school community during evening and daytime performances on Feb. 12 and 13.

In the play, two high school girls, Hannah and Phoebe, deal

Throughout the production, the song and dance numbers

Ninth grader Sasha Coughlin and eighth graders Izzy Goldberg and Tess Boosin also played character roles with great aplomb. The silliness was well balanced by eighth grader Elsa

with popularity and jealousy. It’s a story about the challenges of

Franks’ heartfelt and soaring vocals as Ariel on such numbers as

friendship and the role of social media in young people’s lives.

“Part of Your World.”

While the main plot takes place on stage, a subplot took place

Thanks to the considerable talents of Visual Arts Teachers

on the floor. Students practiced their improvisational skills

Karen Wappler and Chris Lawler, the auditorium was trans-

during flashbacks and school newspaper club scenes.

formed into a multi-level seascape, complete with colorful

In addition to writers and actors, students were the stage

corals and luminous jellyfish. Librarian Mary Ann Lansdale and

runners, costume designers and lighting crew. For cast member

Upper School Teacher Liz Carroll added back-stage and costume

sixth grader Celia Baliotti, the play was an incredible bonding

support, while Director of Plus Program Kathy Kravec joined

experience: “Everybody had an important role in the success of

returning guest musicians for spirited live accompaniment.

the play. Everyone chipped in. We were a drama family.”

Additional crew kudos go to eighth grader Julia Cooper for managing the lighting board. It was truly an all-hands-on-deck

Upper School Musical: ‘The Little Mermaid’

effort that went off...swimmingly!

The Upper School musical made a big splash in February with its production of “The Little Mermaid.” Under the direction of Music Teachers Andy Tyson and Lindy Toczko, a tight cast of 13 students pulled together a spectacular short run of the beloved musical.

The fantastic costumes by Ms. Toczko included rainbowhued mer-sisters (Alanna Gribin, Daisy Fichthorn, Fiona Burton, Katey Charnin, Maddie Hasbrouck and Meg Lewis), a regal King Triton (Riya Punjabi), a gorgeously wicked Ursula, the sea witch (Alanna Gribin), the hilariously crabby crustacean Sebastian (Maren Frey), and of course, the star couple Ariel (Elsa Franks) and Prince Eric (Oliver Jellinek).

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

1. The Middle School play was filled with elaborate dance numbers and handmade sets.

2. “Café Catastrophe” cast and crew included sixth graders Lillian Back, Celia Baliotti, Consuelo Bowman, Ella Charron, Caroline Coniglio, Julia Coniglio, Emily Fonner, Harry Jellinek, Daley Keogh, Salman Memon, Simeran Samra, Kayla Sanon and Addy McNear, and fifth graders Molly Barr, Jack Beauclair, Jack Busby, Ceci Calia, Sydni Francis, Aubry Grant, Jack Harrington, Lillian Kanter, Annsley Leclerc, Marcus Ortiz, Opal Thompson and Lucy Ward.

3. Rainbow-hued mer-sisters Alanna Gribin, Daisy Fichthorn, Fiona Burton, Katey Charnin, Maddie Hasbrouck and Meg Lewis 4. Sebastian (Maren Frey), Ariel (Elsa Franks) and Scuttle (Tess Boosin)

AROUND CAMPUS

Fourth Graders Celebrate American Indian Culture & History Fourth graders spent the first half of their year immersed in the rich culture of the many local American Indian tribes. Working in partnership with the Institute of American Indian Studies in Washington, CT, teachers developed a new social studies curriculum last year that relies heavily on primary sources.

“Last year we shifted our focus to exploring the culture and history of Native Americans who once lived in Connecticut through a social justice lens,” explained fourth grade teacher Maria Sette ’92, who also serves as the Lower School’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Liaison. “We want to instill in the fourth graders an appreciation of cultures, and specifically those who have been misrepresented in the media or books.”

In order to gain the most accurate representation of the history and culture of the Native Americans who once lived in the very place where they now live, the students visited the Institute of American Indian Studies on a field trip in October, where they met Darlene Kascak, Educational Outreach Facilitator, who became their guide throughout their study this fall and winter. Students had the opportunity to compare the lives of Native Americans years ago to life in the Northeast today. They learned about family life, homes, tool innovations, as well as indigenous peoples’ interactions with the woodland environment and their progression through time.

She helped students write a land acknowledgment, which they shared at an assembly, along with reenactments of myths and stories, in the oral tradition.

“These stories are passed on by repeated tellings,” explained fourth grader Ella Agulay. “To be allowed to tell these stories to others is a great honor.”

(Above) Fourth graders were honored to share stories from Indigenous people with younger students in Lower School during an Assembly. They also wrote and presented a land acknowledgment.

Student Photos Exhibited at Bartlett Arboretum An exhibit of photographs from the fall trimester eighth and ninth grade Digital Photography Class was held at the Bartlett Arboretum on March 8.

The work is a sample of a 10-week elective course. The focus of the class was to improve students’ skills with the camera as well as with digital editing techniques.

Assignments around topics such as abstraction, shadow, reflection and water encouraged students to be more aware of the camera as a tool to capture what the eye sees and interprets. Editing lessons created opportunities to improve an image or abstract it further depending upon the assignment. At the end of the trimester, students completed a final project on a topic of their choice. Photo credit: Alanna Gribin

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FOLLOW US ONLINE!

The Beginners’ sunflower study — look closely, observe and document @nccsec #nccsscientists

Fifth graders are in it together. @CampBeckett2019

Ninth graders reach new horizons on the OAT trip. #nccstradition @nccsus

The Lower School Arts Assembly! A beautiful expression of unbridled childhood. #onlyatcountryschool @nccsls

#nccsms

@nccsus #goboldly

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

©COSMIC_DESIGN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ninth grade leadership in action #sdlc2019

Why Grendel, why? #beowulf @nccsms #nccstraditions

Reflecting and honoring with a #communityquilt on

Kindergarten and Grade 1 hit the ice! #nccstraditions

#mlkday @nccsls #nccsdei

#preserverance

Exploring light and shadows at Beginners’ Lantern Walk

and advocates. @nccsms #nccstradition #goboldly

@nccsec #nccstradition #nccsmagic

Upper School students in Ms. Pepe’s Spanish class wrote letters The multi-talented Performing Arts Teacher to Spanish-speaking senior citizens through an organization

Mr. Tyson participated in the #NCCSStrongerTogether

called Love for the Elderly. #nccskindness

Athletics Challenge!

@NCCountrySchool

Bravo to our sixth graders! Such confident public speakers

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#TakeOverTuesdays Thank you to the many teachers who have shared their classroom adventures with us! Contributors have included Aron Back, Chris Lawler, Will McDonough, Catherine Mendoza ’98, Abigail Manny Newport ’89, Timber Pech, Julie Porter, Maria Sette ’92, Meegan Horn and Darby Webber.

CATHERINE MENDOZA ’98 • EARLY CHILDHOOD AND LOWER SCHOOL SPANISH Buenos Dias! Every

Time for Español for

morning we start our class

the first graders in the

with our good morning

Lower School Spanish

song and share how we

Room. ¡Hola Señor R!

are feeling.....feliz, triste,

#nccstakeovertuesday

con hambre, enfermo(a), #nccstakeovertuesday

In Beginners Spanish we

Ending the day in

continue to learn about

Extended Day Plus

our symbols in Español.

Program. The rain didn’t

We keep them safe in the

hold us back from having

Beginners 4/5 autobús

fun #nccstakeovertuesday

#nccstakeovertuesday

CHRIS LAWLER • VISUAL ARTS TEACHER Seensibaukwut, “drawn from the wood” sugaring off time marked the return of

Adventure time! Working together in nature.

spring to the earth for Native

#nccstakeovertuesday

Americans and First Nations in Eastern North America. #nccstakeovertuesday

Boil till it’s done with Drilling, tapping, collecting. #nccstakeovertuesday

the arch and the pan.

40:1 sap to syrup ratio.

Syrup finishes at 2200F #nccstakeovertuesday

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

2019–2020 PA Executive Council Susan Barr, President Liz Keogh, President-Elect Jen Kearney, Treasurer Beth Gosk, Secretary Michelle Saldivar, VP, Community, Diversity & Inclusion Jen Kline, VP, Community Service

The Parents’ Association had an exciting start to the 2019–2020 school year.

We hosted community-building events, held fundraisers, continued our Parent Education 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.

Gwen Golden, VP, Volunteers

PA Committees & Events • Admission Ambassadors • Annual Fund Ambassadors • Annual Meeting & Dinner • Auction • Campus Beautification • Class Representative Program • Community Service • Cougar Run

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• Logo — NCCS Spiritwear

In Appreciation for Our Faculty & Staff: Pie Day!

• Mothers at Work

and joyful conversation as faculty and staff picked

• Nominating & Appointments

out their pies to take home for Thanksgiving. The

• PA Coffees

inaugural event, immediately nicknamed “Pie Day,”

• PA Committee & Volunteer Fair

was created by the Parents’ Association to show

• Parent Gatherings

their gratitude and appreciation to the faculty

• Parent Education

and staff for all they do every day.

• Faculty & Staff Appreciation • Festival of Books • Frogtown Fair • Greenery • Host Family Program • Kyle A. Markes Day of Service

Grace House lobby was full of delicious smells

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• PJs & Pizza • Upper School Dinners: Celebration of Boys & Celebration of Girls

1. Parents Michelle Saldivar and Liz Arredondo were among a team of volunteers to organize the event and personally thank faculty and staff for all they do.

2. Head of School Aaron Cooper, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Kojo Clarke, Horizons Office Manager Ginny Pracilio and Director of Secondary School Counseling Lisa Schultz were among the faculty and staff who selected pies for their Thanksgiving holiday.

3. Visual Arts Teacher Chris Lawler and Upper School Teacher Will McDonough review some of the 200 pies provided by parent volunteers as they make their selections. discover more countryschool.net

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Campus Beautification

For five years, our amazing Campus Beautification Chairs Julie Aliapoulios and Brennen Strine have guided volunteers to create beautiful flowerpots and window boxes at the entrances of Grace House and divisional buildings. They have also planted approximately 2,000 bulbs around campus, including daffodils, tulips, allium, scilla, hyacinths and muscari,

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and even apple trees by the Middle School.

1. David and Ryland Strine worked together to beautify the outside of Thacher Building.

2. Jen Kline, Evren Gokgol-Kline and Michael Faugno dug in to help with bulbs.

3. Happy gardeners Ellie Levinson, Keeley Strine, Olivia Spain, Sam Aliapoulios and Daley Keogh enjoyed time together after planting outside Grace House.

4. Students Liv Londa, Annie Harrigan, Graysen Strine, Aoife Flanagan, Katie Barr, Emily Behr and Emma Cannon planted bulbs together.

5. A fabulous group of parent and student volunteer gardeners planted flower pots and painted birdhouses.

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Many of the bulbs for campus beautification are generously donated annually

by Ann Gamble in memory of her son Robert Gamble ’82, who passed away in June 1978, when he was in fifth grade.

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Around Campus

34

1. Logo Co-Chairs Carina Calia and Cathy Jefferson helped parent Arlety Bowman shop for spirit wear.

2. Cougar Run Co-Chair Laura Cramer explained how parents could get involved in the school community at the annual PA Volunteer & Committee Fair.

3. Class Representatives shared ideas and planned events.

4. Community Service volunteers helped Middle and Upper School students deliver and sort food at Person-to-Person in Stamford.

5. Greenery Co-Chairs Becky Palmer and Heidi LockeSimon worked with Parent Volunteer Deborah Majmudar to unpack and distribute holiday greenery.

6. Parents welcomed Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Kojo Clarke to campus and shared thoughts about DEI initiatives over breakfast.

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

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And They’re Off! Annual Cougar Run, Fun for All Ages Several hundred members of the school community gathered for the annual Cougar Run 5K race,

a Chase the Cougar Fun Run and a children’s obstacle course on the school’s 75-acre campus on Sept. 21.

2019 Cougar Run 5K Winners Lower School Division: Ben Kelsey and Emma Stern Middle School Division: Camilla Calderwood and Arthur Lilley Upper School Division: Daisy Fichthorn and Oliver Johnson Adult Division: Erin Kanter and James Randon ’09

1. The race begins!

2. Race organizers included Upper School Teacher Will McDonough, parent volunteer Maija Judelson, Event Co-Chairs Laura Cramer and Steve Petricone, together with Head of School Aaron Cooper.

3. James Randon ’09 led the 5K and is pictured here with Amitav Nott ’19 and Oliver Johnson. Read more about James Randon ’09 on page 50.

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Festival of Books

A three-day celebration of literacy, this event is one of the Parents’ Association’s largest fundraisers.

1. Books authored by NCCS alumni, parents, faculty and staff such as Make Yourself Clear by Director of Studies Reshan Richards and New Kid by parent of alumni Jerry Craft were prominently featured at the book fair. See also Around Campus, page 27.

2. Parent volunteer Laura DeRemer helped two students pick out books.

3. Festival of Books Co-Chairs Lisa Pannone, Molly Winn and Tory Vartanian 4. Parent volunteer Claire Londa set up book displays.

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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.

PJs & Pizza

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A festival favorite, this event brings together Horizons and Lower School students for an evening of pizza, games, crafts, BINGO and storytelling with our faculty and staff.

5. PJs & Pizza Co-Chairs Hilary Flanagan and Devon Suozzi 6. Head of School Aaron Cooper read to a full room of Lower School students.

7. Lower School Teacher Maria Sette ’92 with students Wiley O’Connor, Ben Cali, Lucy Anne Kurtz and Emma Stern 8. Middle School Teacher Fraser Randolph read aloud to a captivated audience.

9. Horizons staff members who got into the spirit of the evening included Nehemie Moise, Sara Charney, Andrea Cantos, Lavone Roberson, Ginny Pracilio and Whitney Mallozzi.

10. Lower School Teacher John Hastings led students in a spirited game of BINGO.

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

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Parent Talk Series Covers Everything from Tech to Poetry

The Parents’ Association hosted a variety of informative Parent Education offerings. Poet Naomi Shihab Nye (left) visited campus for two days of talks with students, faculty and parents, and reminded us that “poetry is at the center of the universe.” Josh Lutkus (middle) of The Social Institute offered students, parents, faculty and staff a positive approach to social media on Nov. 21. Full house for Andree Palmgren’s (right) excellent talk titled “Be the Calm in the Storm: Parenting with Purpose and Confidence,” on Feb. 21st.

Showing Our Gratitude for NCCS!

Thank you to everyone who showered our amazing faculty and staff with gratitude. The posters, personal emails and your entries on our new digital gratitude wall made all the faculty and staff feel special. The gratitude wall remained open throughout the distance learning experience. To read more on distance learning, see story on page 4.

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Building Brighter Futures Since 1964 Hosted at New Canaan Country School

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HORIZONS WINTER PROGRAM:

Project-Based Learning in Action

More than 90 Horizons students in Grades 1–10 participated in academic and enrichment project-based learning during the Horizons Winter Program. The five-week program, which met on Saturdays during January and February, had something educational or enriching for everyone. Students were also thrilled to be back on the Country

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School campus and to have the opportunity to reunite with friends, teachers and staff.

Six Horizons high school seniors also returned to serve as teaching assistants, a great training experience for future jobs in education (such as the Summer Program).

Students in Grades 1–4 participated in literacy, physical education and art, while students in Grades 9–10 participated in enrichment programs such as cooking, woodshop and theater. The Winter Program culminated with a potluck meal, and families had the opportunity to review student projects and celebrate being together as a community.

1. Noelle and Josiah whipped up healthy egg muffins in cooking class.

2. Camila and Aracely worked on matching shapes and colors.

3. Andrew, Siaretta and Adrian received coaching during physical education class from Teaching Assistant Sofia.

4. Janelly and Jorge crafted cabinets in woodshop class.

5. Grade 1 Teacher Lilani Balasuriya worked on literacy skills with Aaron and Christopher.

6. Jeinner, Jason, Kevin, Marcelo, Melany, Aiden, Axel, Dayana, Michelle and Noah presented cabinets they made in woodshop with NCCS Creative Arts Teacher Chris Lawler.

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

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

New Horizons Pool TO OPEN SUMMER 2020

a sunny spot behind the woodshop, and will be 25 feet longer than the current pool and able to accommodate more students

Swimming has always been a cornerstone of the Horizons

at one time. The design

Summer Program. Swimming is a life and safety skill that

includes a larger shallow end to provide

many disadvantaged children fail to acquire. In predomi-

more instructional space, four lanes

nantly minority communities, the youth drowning rate is

for competitive swimming, and a pool

two to three times higher than the national average. In

house with restrooms and showers.

addition, swimming provides a perfect vehicle for social-

Horizons graduates repeatedly cite

emotional learning — giving students an opportunity to

that learning to swim at Horizons gave

overcome fear, build confidence, and become emotionally

them confidence that they carried into the

and physically more fit.

classroom and beyond. Horizons students look forward to diving into the new pool.

As a result of the Country School long-range campus

For more information on Horizons or the pool,

master plan, the existing Horizons pool will be taken down by the end of the school year. Construction of a new and

reach out to Executive Director Nancy von Euler at

improved pool began in the fall. The new pool is located in

nvoneuler@horizonskids.org.

Oh, What a Night!

HORIZONS COMEDY NIGHT FUNDRAISER More than 280 Horizons at NCCS supporters enjoyed an evening of laughter, picnic-style food and drinks and

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inspirational speeches on Jan. 24. Entertainment was provided by stand-up comedians Bob DiBuono and Adam Muller, and prizes were awarded to acknowledge the fun and festive decorations provided by those who purchased tables.

Emcee Kevin Thompson (Horizons ’02), captivated the audience with his story of facing and overcoming childhood challenges, and described how Horizons helped shape him into the successful educator, athlete, artist and parent he is today. His testimonial illustrated for all in attendance the transformational impact of the Horizons program upon the lives of underserved children and youth.

Funds raised from the event will support the Horizons at Country School program.

1. The evening’s Committee Chairs Sue Mackey, Mandi Morgan and Kelly DeGulis.

2. Kevin Thompson (Horizons ’02) emceed the fundraiser.

3. David Kieske, Kristie Godina, Brian McCormick, Shannon Kieske, Katie McCormick and Jennifer Nelson

4. James Knowles ’94 and Maureen Knowles, Tucker Golden ’90 and Gwen Golden, Elena Kavanagh Phillips ’91 and Nick Phillips and Sean Flanagan 5. The winner for Most Creative Table Décor featured a campout theme and a cleverly handcrafted centerpiece complete with campfire and a fishing pond with running water.

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ALUMNI events 1

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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 the Classes of 2019, 2018 and 2017. Members of the faculty and staff were thrilled to spend time catching up with the returning students, as were the ninth graders who also attended.

1. Members of the Class of 2017 2. Members of the Class of 2020 who returned for the reunion included Brian Collins, Walker Blair, Paul Schilcher and Beau Johnson.

3. Members of the Class of 2020 who returned for the reunion included Ava Gizzie and Charlotte Calderwood, with Megan Meyerson ’17.

4. Members of the Class of 2018 5. Jennifer Llamas ’18 greets a classmate.

6. Members of the Class of 2018 Dillon Mims, Anna Hernandez, Sydney Coffield, Brian Villalta, Aaron Watkins, Shane Carbin and Will Seiden 7. Members of the Class of 2019 Anthony Crossman, Alex Almeida, Ravi Conway and Cody Comyns 8. Members of the Class of 2017 Brynn McClymont, Katie Stevens and Sloane Latimer 9. Members of the Class of 2019

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

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Save the Date!

November 23

Thanksgiving Reunion (Classes of 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021)

New York City Reception

We were excited to see so many young alumni at our New York City reception on Nov. 7. Attendees included Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04, Marshall Johnson ’04 and Meg Cratty, Caitlin Maguire ’04 and Kesal Patel, Taylor Gould ’06, Alex Gould ’07, Hadley Holmes ’07, Dick Colligan ’01, Luke Montgomery ’10, Callie Taylor ’10 and Alex Azer, Henry Eifler ’10 and Erin Ceconi, Emma Merrill ’10, Mackenzie Lewis ’12, Phebe Wong ’10, Emily Upson ’10, Oliver Lowe ’09, Andres Soto ’10, Hadley Merrill ’10, Mara Upson ’06 and Brianna Cummings ’12.

Life Beyond Country School

One of our favorite events, a panel of three recent graduates returned to campus Nov. 25 to answer questions and share with current parents their perspective of the transition through Country School and beyond. A big thank you to members of the Classes of 2017 and 2018, panelists Sloane Latimer ’17, Dillon Mims ’18 and Nina Stoops ’18, as well to moderators Upper School Teacher Marshall Johnson ’04 and Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04.

“Country School taught me a lot of really good habits. Time management and resilience have been important this year in both academics and sports.”

—Sloane Latimer ’17 Darien High School

“I was surprised to discover how well prepared I was in writing analytical essays. More so than many of my classmates.”

“Knowing how to build relationships with teachers and to self-advocate turned out to be my most valuable skills.”

—Dillon Mims ’18 Phillips Exeter Academy

—Nina Stoops ’18 The Berkshire School

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Class Notes

(Pictured above) Alumni at the wedding of Caitlin Maguire ’04. Back row: Argo Caminis ’93, Caroline Nisenson ’05, Lucy Bostwick ’11, Kit O’Brien Rohn ’78, Ryann Tookes ’04, Christian Tookes ’02, Tessa Tookes ’10, Alice Huck ’04, Averill Roberto ’02, Kesal Patel, Julia Maguire Henderson ’05, Channing Tookes ’04, Honor Sargent ’12, Cam Sargent ’09 and Charlie Huck ’04. Front row: Caroline Downer ’04, James Maguire ’12, Charlotte Maguire ’10, Caitlin Maguire ’04, Laura Bostwick ’04 and Kathryn Bostwick ’05.

Editor’s note: Please keep in mind, as you enjoy reading these Class Notes, that they were submitted to the Bulletin back in late February, well before the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

1942

Patricia Edwards Dennis, formerly of Old Lyme and New Canaan, CT, passed away on August 12, 2019. Please see In Memoriam.

1945

Ellen Wadsworth Vestergaard writes, “In August I had the rare treat of being with my three siblings (including Katharine Wadsworth Wilson ’43) for a family reunion in Dingle, Ireland. Most of our children and grandchildren and my two great-grandchildren were with us!”

1946

Ruth Shedden Crane visited campus in the fall of 2019 to share her memoir titled Kicking the Can on Frogtown Pond, which depicts her childhood spent in New Canaan and at New Canaan Country School. For more please see page 43.

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.

42

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Virginia “Kip” Macdonald Farrell writes, “I am taking a 10-week course at the Silvermine Art School in abstract painting — really looking forward to it!”

1949

Pamela Miller Gerard of New York, NY, passed away on August 18, 2019. Please see In Memoriam.

1951

Louise Clark Smith writes, “Life at Kendal, a retirement community in Ithaca, NY, continues to be very busy, with concerts, lectures and movies. I am well.”

1953

Joan Abernethy Wright is still showing and selling work at the Art Space Gallery in Rockland. She is a member of the City Harbor Trail Committee, while enjoying small town living. Joan writes, “Daughter Eden Wright ’84 and her husband were here for Thanksgiving!”

1954

Edward Tuckerman Esty of Chevy Chase, MD, passed away on August 23, 2019.

Please see In Memoriam.

1955

For information about Reunion please visit countryschool.net/reunion or reach out to Reunion Chairs Caroline DuBois Hutton (huttonbooks@hotmail.com) and Cathy Cody (clcody@webtv.net).

Susan Carr Pickett writes, “In love and charity with our neighbors in my home since 1976 — with my husband and my maid from Algeria. Have had great joy with classmates Cathy Cody and Caroline DuBois Hutton.”

1958

Late classmate and NCCS Alumni Award winner Hardy Jones Jr.’s final film, Dolphins in Danger, is now available through Amazon Prime Video.

1960

For information about Reunion please visit countryschool.net/reunion or reach out to Reunion Chairs Rick Ackerly (rackerly@gmail.com), Lyn Bremer Chivvis (lchivvis@earthlink.net), Peggy Hubby Heck (dandpheck@gmail.com) and Seeley Hubbard (dseeleyhubbard@sbcglobal.net) 1 Lyn Bremer Chivvis writes, “I’m still doing my massage practice, and I’m still on the board of Staying Put in New Canaan — the organization that helps our elders stay safely

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

Giving techniques called planned gifts allow you to create win-win

Ruth Shedden Crane ’46: Kicking the Can on Frogtown Pond Even at 89 years young, Ruth Shedden Crane vividly recalls first grade in 1937. In fact, she remembers so many aspects of her childhood and the five formidable years she spent at Country School that she decided to commit all

solutions for you and Country

of it to print in her self-published book,

School. To join The Welles Society

Kicking the Can on Frogtown Pond. The

or to ask a question about estate

thin paperback is chockablock with

planning, please contact Associate Director of Advancement Diane Briggs at dbriggs@countryschool.net or (203) 801-5619.

anecdotes and memories, some a bit foreign to readers today while others remain surprisingly familiar.

Ruth, a member of the Class of 1946, recounts for example, her fondness for woodshop classes with the warm and affable Harold Dean (1933–1944), who she discovered, in a delightful turn of events, to be the husband of her homeroom teacher, the seemingly stricter Margaret Dean (1933–1944). “Mr. Dean

and as long as possible in their homes — and I’m involved in a few things at church, as well as enjoying family and friends. Beecher is teaching MBA students at Baruch.”

1962

Susan “Susie” Gerli Smith of Old Greenwich, CT, passed away on December 16, 2019. Please see In Memoriam.

1966

Richard “Ben” Bensen writes,”Still trying to figure out retirement, staying busy and fully enjoy almost everything. Spinning wheels in all directions, including desultory attempts to keep track of the Class of ’66.

Lots of volunteering, not enough travel, but some great hiking on the AT this fall. I’ve completed about a third of it to date; does that mean I only have to live to be 200?”

showed us how much easier it was when you first made a small hole with a nail and hammer and then switched to the screw and screwdriver. Sharing carpentry secrets like that endeared him to me forever.”

She goes on to share recollections of second grade teacher Margaret Lataday (1938–1941); her fashionable but slightly shocking dress and modern demeanor, shoulder-length hair (not worn in a bun!), shoes (with heels!) and her classroom on the second floor of the Main Building (currently Grace House’s Accounting and Technology offices). It was during this period that she fell in love with books, being located as she was in such close proximity to the Lower School library, then at the other end of the hall.

This being the age of aviation, she recalls running excitedly with classmates to the large windows every time they heard the noise of an aircraft approaching.

Fourth grade teacher Dorothy Upton (1937–1946) is remembered by Ruth as “absolutely forthright.”

“She didn’t put up with any nonsense, was totally fair and treated everybody the same. There was absolute control in the room at all times. A child of ten could feel safe in this controlled atmosphere,” she writes.

It was also during this time that organized games such as red rover, dodge ball and kick ball began to take precedence in Ruth’s life.

“I loved all these playground games, and I suppose I was about average in my ability to do them, but my great love in the fourth grade was the chance to run across the downsloping meadow from the main building to Frogtown Road and then across to Frogtown Pond (Hardon Pond). On winter afternoons, we would skate on the pond and play a wonderful game called Kick the Can. It was a simple but wonderful game. It just never got any better than that.”

1 The Chivvis clan in December 2019: Beecher Chivvis P’86, ’89, ’96, Usha Chivvis, Lyn Bremer Chivvis ’60 P’86, ’89, ’96, Christopher Chivvis ’86, Kiran Chivvis, Dana Chivvis ’96, Rachel Hammerman, Uma Chivvis, Sumona Chivvis, Devon Chivvis ’89

(Pictured above) Ruth Shedden Crane ’46 joined us on campus in the fall to share with Lower School students memories of her time at Country School and to drop off copies of her self-published book, Kicking the Can on Frogtown Pond, which we are pleased to make available in our Schlesinger Library.

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Send Us Your

Nominations!

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.

Sarah Andrews Brown of Graton, CA, passed away on July 24, 2019.

Sarah was the author of the Em Hansen mystery series and her books are now available on the Alumni Author bookshelf in the John Christophe Schlesinger ’89 Library. Please see In Memoriam.

Carl Rohde writes, “Life is great. Nora and I are moving this spring to 15 Teahouse Lane, Ridgefield, CT 06877.”

To find out about previous New Canaan Country School Alumni Award recipients, visit

1970

For information about Reunion please visit countryschool.net/reunion.

www.countryschool.net/ alumniaward.

1972

Will Speers and his wife, Heidi Rowe, after 40 years of teaching, coaching and administering at St. Andrew’s School in Delaware, have retired and moved to Center Sandwich, MA.

1973

Kendall Lione Gleason of Gwynn Island, VA, passed away on Sept. 29, 2019.

Please see In Memoriam.

Tom Speers is an interim minister at Green Hill Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE, where his wife is Head of Tower Hill School, 700+ students from pre-K through Grade 12.

2 Ebit Speers ’77 and husband David McCormick at the Pan-Mass Challenge

ALUMNI AWARD WINNER We are pleased to announce that Eric Woolworth ’80 is the recipient of the 2020 Alumni Award. Eric will accept the honor and share with students, alumni and guests highlights of his career in professional basketball and as a leader in diversity and inclusion initiatives in Fall 2020. The 2019–20 Miami Heat season marks Eric’s 25th year with The HEAT Group and 19th at the helm of the organization as President, Business Operations.

44

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

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.

1975

Sam Speers continues as Director of the Office of Religious, Spiritual and Contemplative Practices at Vassar College, where his wife, Lisa Brawley, teaches in the Department of Urban Studies.

1977

Andrea Kahn Fisher writes, “I am still living in New York City with my husband, Ken, who pens the comic strip “Tom the Dancing Bug” under the pen name Reuben Bolling, and our youngest daughter Zoe, who is a junior in high school. Our eldest Katie graduated from MIT in June and our son Jake is a sophomore at Columbia. After having practiced law for over 20 years, I have moved on to my next career as a legal recruiter and am loving it.”

2 Ebit Speers continues to volunteer. Her husband, David McCormick, who heads the Geology Department at Schlumberger, just bicycled in his third 300-mile Pan-Mass Challenge, raising money for cancer research at Dana Farber Institute.

1979

Sam Caulfield writes, “Greetings to my fellow NCCS-ers! We have recently moved to sunny San Diego and would welcome visitors if you find yourselves in the area.

Would be great to reconnect! Email is samuel14@outlook.com.”

1980

Eric Woolworth will receive the 2020 Alumni Award at NCCS in Fall 2020. For updates and information about this and Reunion, please visit countryschool.net/reunion.

Alumni Spotlight Caryn Antonini ’87, mom to Cristiano Robertson ’25 and

Katie Bisbee ’91: Connecting the Public to Public Schools “The importance of education and social impact was a constant

Nicholas Robertson ’28, presented

in my family and throughout my childhood,” says Katie Bisbee, a

a TEDx talk in November 2019,

member of the Class of 1991. Katie is the Chief Marketing Officer for DonorsChoose,

focused on the importance of

a nonprofit crowdfunding pioneer that connects donors with public school teachers

children learning to speak multiple

in need of classroom supplies and funding. Since arriving at DonorsChoose in 2006,

languages. To use Caryn’s words:

she has overseen revenue growth from about $4 million to $150 million.

“In our shrinking global world it

In addition to her marketing responsibilities, Katie oversees the organiza-

has never been more important

tion’s partnership teams engaging 2.5 million citizen donors and 500 corporate

for our children to become bilingual.

and foundation partners in supporting public school classrooms. Under her

Learning another language not only

direction, each donor receives a handwritten thank you note from the teacher

offers incredible benefits ranging

and students, offering a personalized expression of gratitude that has become

from cognitive to social to health,

a hallmark of the DonorChoose experience.

but it also creates a deep connection

Katie is also proud of her work championing the I See Me program, designed to

to another culture — their thoughts,

get books and educational materials that reflect the cultural diversity of students

their idea, and their perspectives.

and their families into classrooms. Katie’s parents, Linda and Gary Bisbee, are not

You can access Caryn’s full TEDx

altogether surprised by her career path. Both of her grandparents taught in public

talk at www.countryschool.net/

schools and fostered in her a deep appreciation for education. “They saw education

alumni/antonini.

as a privilege and taught me to never take it for granted,” explains Katie.

Following Country School, Katie attended Choate Rosemary Hall and then Trinity College. After graduation, she worked for a time in public opinion

1981

Lisa Dodd Callahan writes, “Debbie Murphey McFarland and I enjoying time together on Hilton Head! Double Trouble, as always!”

3

research, but ultimately felt the undeniable call of the nonprofit sector and joined New York City’s Coalition for the Homeless. Realizing that an advanced degree would enable her to have greater impact in her nonprofit career, she returned to school, earning her M.B.A. from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and the Hyde Fellowship for her contributions to the school.

As a member of the DonorsChoose executive team and groundbreaker within the industry, Katie is passionate about empowering women aspiring to leadership

1986

roles and mentors many at work. In 2016, she was named to Direct Marketing News’ “Marketing Hall of Femme.” Katie says her time at Country School helped inspire

Josh Ziac continues to be Director of Safety and Security here at NCCS — while also serving as an EMT in Greenwich with his daughter, Catherine Ziac ’17!

her career path and to develop many skills she uses every day at DonorsChoose.

1987

to children nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic through a pilot program,

4

In particular, Katie credits former teachers Al Perry (1982–2003), who “taught me how to write effectively and to outline first,” and Christopher Davenport (1966– 1988), who “taught math in a new style that finally clicked for me.”

DonorsChoose is now providing educational supplies and resources directly

Caryn Antonini recently produced a TEDx Talk titled “Language Is the Key to the Future.” For more info, see above.

“Distance Learning Projects.” You can learn more about this program at: www.donorschoose.org/coronavirus-how-to-help

1991

Katie Bisbee is the Chief Marketing Officer at DonorsChoose, a NYC-based nonprofit that enables crowdfunding for public school teachers so they can fund additional resources for their classrooms. For more on Katie’s career, please see above right.

3 Lisa Dodd Callahan ’81 and Debbie Murphey McFarland ’81 together on Hilton Head

4 Josh Ziac ’86 and his daughter Catherine Ziac ’17 working at a Greenwich EMS event at the Greenwich Hospital Health Fair in 2019

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45

CALLING ALUMNI ARTISTS To be included in an upcoming alumni art show, please contact Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@countryschool.net.

5

The family of Jennifer Bentley Rivera ’91 (see note opposite page)

Alumni Spotlight

Marine Veteran Zach Iscol ’94: Grand Marshal of 2019 NYC Veterans Day Parade Entrepreneur and post-9/11 U.S Marine

be the heaviest urban combat involving

Corps Veteran Zach Iscol ’94 was one

U.S. troops since the battle for Hué City

of five Grand Marshals chosen by the

during the Vietnam War. He also served

United War Veterans Council to lead

in the Marine Corps’ Special Operations

the 2019 New York City Veterans Day

Command, with assignments

Parade on Nov. 11.

throughout Africa and the Middle East.

Zach, who served in Iraq and on a

“Through his military service, and

founded three different organizations

through his tireless commitment

was joined by Medal of Honor Recipient

dedicated to serving and giving voice

to those who have served, Zach has

Herschel “Woody” Williams (U.S. Marine

to veterans: Headstrong, a nonprofit

dedicated his life to our nation and to

Corps), Hiroshi “Hershey”Miyamura

healthcare company partnered with

our veterans’ community,” said UWVC

(U.S. Army, Korea), Former Senator Bob

Weill Cornell Medical Center, builds and

Executive Director Mark Otto. “We are

Kerrey (U.S. Navy, Vietnam) and Eddie

manages networks of world-class mental

proud for him to represent not only our

Ray (U.S. Marine Corps, Desert Storm).

healthcare providers in 25 cities around

post-9/11 generation of veterans, but

the United States to provide effec-

all those who actively continue to serve,

was born and raised in Pound Ridge, NY,

tive, cost- and bureaucracy-free mental

even after hanging up their uniform.”

and attended Phillips Exeter Academy

healthcare to veterans suffering from

and Cornell University following

PTSD, MST and other hidden wounds.

alongside living legends on Veterans

Country School.

Hirepurpose helps companies build

Day and humbled to represent another

He was commissioned on Aug. 11,

talent acquisition pipelines to hire mili-

great generation of American veterans

2001, as a U.S. Marine Corps officer. His

tary experienced talent. And Task and

who have returned home from war

wartime service began just one month

Purpose is a military and veteran-focused

to continue their service in their

later, following the 9/11 attacks on New

digital media platform that reaches

communities,” said Zach.

York City. Zach served two tours in Iraq

millions of readers each month. He is also

as an infantry officer and fought in the

active as an advocate and supporter of a

For more news on Zach Iscol ’94,

second battle of Fallujah, considered to

wide range of other veterans’ causes.

see page 10.

A member of the Class of 1994, Zach

46

Since leaving the military, Zach has

number of other post-9/11 deployments,

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

“I’m incredibly honored to get to walk

Class Notes

6 Candace Fisch Hewit ’95 and Whitney Talbot O’Connor ’95 in NYC with daughters Bailey and Grace

5 Jennifer Bentley Rivera, parent to current Country School student Matthew Rivera ’22 shared a family photo!

7 Jason Mleczko ’95 (in long-sleeve blue shirt, with sunglasses) and NCCS sixth graders fishing on the Nantucket trip.

1994

Zach Iscol was selected to serve as one of five Grand Marshals for the 2019 New York City Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11, 2019.

For more please see page 46.

1995

For information about Reunion please visit countryschool.net/reunion or reach out to Reunion Chairs Alyx Demou Esparza (demouesparza@gmail.com), Samar Jamali (samar.jamali@gmail.com) and Taryn Jones Laeben (Taryn.laeben@gmail.com).

8 Josh Hanson ’97 and Meredith Talusan married in June 2019.

9 Juliette Isabella Dunning, daughter of Katie and James Dunning ’97

6 Candace Fisch Hewit and Whitney Talbot O’Connor recently met in NYC for a day of fun with their daughters Bailey and Grace, both 6.

NO NEWS FROM YOUR CLASS? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

7 Jason Mleczko hosted a group of NCCS 6th graders for a fishing adventure during the 2019 Nantucket Trip. Thank you, Jason!

Please submit your news and updates

1997

Josh Hanson married Meredith Talusan at Mount Tremper Arts in the Catskills on June 8, 2019. NCCS alumni in attendance included Josh’s sister Alex “Gillian” Hanson ’99 (who served as a bridesmaid), Nick Rees and Pajton Dauer.

10 Kennedy and Samuel, children of Larry Waldman ’98

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

8

9 James Dunning and his wife, Katie, welcomed their third child, Juliette Isabella Dunning, on Nov. 22, 2019.

to Director of Alumni Affairs

1998

Larry Waldman and his wife, Katie, welcomed their second child, Jackson Samuel Waldman, on Jan. 14, 2020. Larry and Katie are doing well, still living in Seattle — and daughter Kennedy is excited to be a big sister!

10

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, children or others in our community!

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11 Alex “Gillian” Hanson ’99 and Erik Crooks married in September 2019. (above). Ryan Oakes ’93, Robin Lange ’00, Josh Hanson ’97, former faculty member Al Perry, and Nick Rees ’97 attended the wedding (right).

1999

11 Alex “Gillian” Hanson married Erik Crooks at Waveny House in New Canaan on Sept. 14, 2019. In attendance were Ryan Oakes ’93 (who brought the magic!), Robin Lange ’00, Josh Hanson ’97, Mr. Perry (1982–2003) (for all you sharpies!) and Nick Rees ’97.

12 Helen Rose Weintz, daughter of Rebecca Grant Weintz ’99

13 Hayden Patrick Shiver, son of Whitney Martin Shiver ’00

12 Rebecca Grant Weintz and husband Alex were excited to welcome a new addition to the family on Sept. 27, 2019.

Helen Rose Weintz (named after her great-grandmas) was 8 pounds 3 ounces and 20 inches long. Big brother Matthew is having a great time learning to take care of his baby sister.

2000

13 Whitney Martin Shiver and her husband, Brian, welcomed Hayden Patrick Shiver on Aug. 2, 2019.

2001

14 Zoe Mindell Abrams and husband David are delighted to announce the birth of their second daughter, Deborah Leah Abrams, born Jan. 24. Big sister Evie is delighted, too!

14 Deborah Leah Abrams, daughter of Zoe Mindell Abrams ’01 and husband David

48

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

15 Will Bartholomew ’01 and Amy Young married in May 2019.

15 Will Bartholomew and Amy Young were married on May 11, 2019, in Lancaster PA. They reside in Long Island City, NY. Will graduated from Hamilton College in 2008 and received his J.D., magna cum laude

Class Notes from New York Law School in 2014. He is a litigation attorney in Manhattan specializing primarily in media, entertainment and sports.

16 Dick Colligan launched a second act as a stand-up. Catch him at clubs all over NYC and on @dicknoinstgram.

17 Rob Crane married Carola Lovering on Sept. 28, 2019 in Pawlet, VT. Rob’s sister Kelly Crane ’04 was in attendance, along with Carola’s mom and former NCCS staff member, Lisa Lovering (2007–2011) and Upper School Science Teacher Martha McAndrews, who is a close friend of Carola’s from Taft.

16

Dick Colligan ’01 doing stand-up in NYC.

17 Rob Crane ’01 and Carola Lovering married in September 2019.

Lily Kelting has her Ph.D. in Theater and is teaching at a university in India.

18 Thomas Reed and Brooke Cavanaugh Reed welcomed their first child, Maeve Elizabeth Reed, on Dec. 22, 2019.

2002

19 BZ Reed and her husband, Charles Altchek, welcomed their second child, David Louis Altchek, on Nov. 9, 2019.

18 Maeve Elizabeth Reed, daughter of Thomas Reed ’01 and Brooke Cavanaugh Reed ’01

2003

19 David Louis Altchek and big sister Gwen Altcheck, children of BZ Reed ’02

20 Peter D’Agostino and wife, Becka, welcomed their first son, Thomas Rowley D’Agostino, on Jan. 17, 2020. The family lives on the Upper East Side in NYC.

2004

21 Eliza Kontulis Getz and husband Max welcomed George Firestone Getz on March 6, 2020.

20 Thomas Rowley D’Agostino, son of Pete D’Agostino ’03

21 George Firestone Getz, son of Eliza Kontulis Getz ’04

Matching gifts:

LET’S ALL PULL TOGETHER! 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. Obtain a form from your company, send it to us with your gift, and we will 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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JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK & TWITTER! @nccountryschool The Maguire family at the wedding of Caitlin Maguire ’04: David Maguire ’09, Charlotte Maguire ’10, Diana Maguire Parent ’04,’05,’09,’10,’12, Caitlin Maguire ’04, Kesal Patel, Tom Maguire Parent ’04,’05,’09,’10, ’12, Julia Maguire Henderson ’05, Luke Henderson, James Maguire ’12 (above). Caitlin Maguire ’04 and Kesal Patel at their 2019 wedding (below).

22

22 Caitlin Maguire married Kesal Patel on Oct. 5, 2019, in Darien, CT. Over 20 NCCS alumni were in attendance, including Caitlin’s siblings, Julia Maguire Henderson ’05, David Maguire ’09, Charlotte Maguire ’10 and James Maguire ’12.

23 After almost 15 years, Xandy Peters and Victoria Manganiello connected in NYC in January 2019. Victoria was finishing up six months in residence at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD). Xandy was spending the weekend teaching her knitting technique at Vogue Knitting Live New York. They had the opportunity to share about their interest and careers in textile design, art and teaching.

23 Xandy Peters ’04 and Victoria Manganiello ’04 in NYC

“I first put on my running shoes here.

It’s great to see that there is still a school-wide passion for running.”

Alumni Spotlight James Randon ’09: Runner Returns to Lead the Way James Randon ’09 led Cougar Run participants in prestretch exercises and then paced them through the 5K race.

At Yale University, James had the distinction of being the first student runner to break the 4-minute-mile barrier in the school’s history.

He recently ran in the finals of the U.S. National Championships, 1500 meters, and is one of the founders of Recover Athletics, a new app that assists in injury recovery and prevention.

For more news on James Randon ’09, see page 35.

50

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Class Notes

NCCS GETTING MARRIED? Let the Alumni Office know so we can send you an NCCS banner for photography! Holly Donaldson Casella ’04: (203) 801-5687 or hcasella@countryschool.net.

2005

24 Carter Jensen and Kelsey Sher were engaged on Jan. 27, 2020, at Casa De Campo, Dominican Republic. They met in New York City in the fall of 2015 and plan to marry in summer 2021.

Edward Kelting earned his Ph.D. in Classics from Stanford in June 2019 and is now teaching Classics and Egyptology at Colorado College.

24

Carter Jensen ’05 and fiance Kelsey Sher

25 Ashley Jeffress ’06 and Adam Ladd at their September 2019 wedding (above). Country Schoolers at the wedding included Ashley’s mom, Associate Director of Administrative Services Jacqueline Jeffress. (below).

2006

25 Ashley Jeffress married Adam Ladd on Sept. 12, 2019, at Beltane Ranch in Sonoma, CA. Bea Whitton Tufo served as matron of honor, and other Country School alumnae in attendance included Libby Whitton ’09, Lindsey Whitton Christ ’98, and Cricket Whitton Hammerschlag ’01.

2007

26 Ryan Giggi married former apprentice Jeannette Leopold (whom he met during his time as an NCCS apprentice) on Dec. 28, 2019, in Avon, CT. Ryan is attending law school at Boston University, where Jeannette is a lawyer.

2008

James Cottone is a student at Temple University in Philadelphia, enrolled in the ROTC program. In May 2020 he will graduate as an officer.

Sarah Cottone Davies married Ben Davies on July 28, 2018, in Endon, Staffordshire, in

England. Now living in Bristol, Sarah works at the SS Great Britain and Ben is with the NHS. Assistant to the Director of Studies Assistant to the Director of Studies Pat Oakes and her daughter Lauren Oakes ’96 recently visited England and met them for lunch.

2009

For news on James Randon, see alumni spotlight, page 50

26 Tyler Giggi ’09 with the bride and groom, former apprentices Jeannette Leopold and Ryan Giggi ’07 at their 2019 wedding

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Alumni Spotlight Q&A with Nellie Coffy ’10: Entrepreneur, Beverage Inventor, Brand Storyteller, Culture Changer

Sun Chaser was created by two friends in San Francisco, Jocelyn Stradiotto and Nellie Coffy ’10 (on right).

Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 caught up with alumna Nellie Coffy, who left her job at Google in December to launch a non-alcoholic, caffeine-free beverage company called Sun Chaser.

Q: Tell me a bit about your educational

creative ambitions I had discovered

and for our friends. Joce is a kiteboarder.

and career path and what lead you to

while at NCCS, coupled with a deep

We both surf. We like to get up early

where you are today? Did you study

desire to learn more about the world

and get out. But we can’t drink a ton the

anything in school that started you

and make a big impact, I realized I would

night before and then get up early and

on this path?

be stifled in Washington, unable to

perform. My friends and I are diligent about

A: Coming from public school, my time

realize my full ambition.

health, trends around wellness and under-

at NCCS was an amazing introduc-

So instead, I decided I want to build

standing what we’re putting in our bodies.

So we became the people at parties

tion to institutions of higher learning.

businesses that made an impact on

There were so many opportunities that

culture. I quickly learned that if you want

opting for a glass of water instead of

really challenged me as a student and a

to build your own business, you need to

imbibing alcohol. Choosing to make the

person. From there, I was well prepared

know how to sell, which led me to a sales

albeit awkward decision to opt out of

for the rigorous academic journey I’d

role at Google.

the status quo’s definition of fun. We

embark on at Hotchkiss.

The old saying, “Rejection is your

just fundamentally believe it’s not a “fair

friend,” really helped me build confidence

trade” to give up health at the expense

in myself and in my creative potential.

of having a fulfilling social life.

in the world. I realized I was a creative

Q: What was your experience working

Q: Tell me about Sun Chaser,

person. I loved storytelling and history.

at Google? And what lead you from

your new venture.

I realized I loved numbers. I had an

there to Sun Chaser?

A: Joce and I officially left Google on

amazing French teacher named Maureen

A: I met my Sun Chaser co-founder,

Dec. 31, 2019, to start Sun Chaser.

Sanders who helped me with confidence

Joce, at Google. We were very like-

Before launching it, we had to do

in French, and also as a person.

minded in pursuing sales roles as a

months of research. We had to create

I spent a lot of time at NCCS exploring who I was — it was such a fabulous place to discover what I really cared about

transitionary step into business-building.

a recipe that people would love. We

Hotchkiss, I firmly believed I would

We were ideating together for some

held tasting events with friends for the

be a lawyer. I was even pre-law at

time while still working together at

first iterations of our formula. It was

Cornell! I majored in Government and

Google. We discussed and researched

important to have a good flavor and get

International Relations and assumed I

all kinds of ideas.

the buzz right before taking next steps.

The whole time I was at NCCS and

would be headed to Washington, DC.

One day, we came across a study that said that there was a significant

Q: When did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Finally, we created a recipe they loved.

We launched Sun Chaser Feb 10. It’s

decrease in alcohol consumption among

an alcohol-free, caffeine-free drink

the Millennial and Gen Z cohorts. Like a

designed to give you a buzz.

A: The 2016 election was a

25%–40% decrease year over year from

turning point for me. I began

2015 to 2019… so we saw a growing

Q: Who inspires you?

to realize how much more

space for non-alcoholic beverages. We

A: I am inspired by several different

powerful business can be than

also saw an increasing demand — a 200%

entrepreneurs including Sarah Blakley

government. Micro-impacts

increase in consumption — for low-alcohol

(Spanx), Hotchkiss alumnus Tristain

spiked drinks. Drinks that are portable,

Walker (Bevel), Seth Goldman (Honest

ready-to-drink, mixed, easy to bring along.

Tea) and Richard Branson (Virgin

often come from businesses and the entrepre-

Once we came across this data, every-

neurs who build

thing just clicked. It matched our personal

them. All of those

experience. We knew it to be true for us

Atlantic), to name a few.

For more information, please visit drinksunchaser.com

Class Notes

27

Members of the Class of 2011 skiing in Breckenridge, CO

2010

For information about Reunion please visit countryschool.net/reunion or reach out to Reunion Chairs Hadley Merrill (hadleymerrill@gmail.com) and Hugh McGlade (mcglade.h@gmail.com).

Nellie Coffy launched a new beverage startup in February 2020. For more on Nellie and her business please see previous page.

money for kidney cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and her dad Karim Basta ran the 5K.

2012

Brianna Cummings graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, in May 2019 and now works as a technical designer at Macy’s corporate office in NYC. 29

28 Maggie Basta ’13, Michelle Basta ’11 and Jeffrey Basta ’15 at the Providence Marathon

2011

27 Austen Tibbetts, Jack Hall-Tipping, Dawson Jones, Charlotte DeLana, Mollie Riegel, Matt Evans, Thomas Shafer, Avery Lowe, Caroline Frank, Kaitlin Ball, Alden Woolford and Lucy Bostwick all met up for an informal ski reunion weekend in Breckenridge, CO.

28 Michelle Basta, along with her sister Maggie Basta ’13, brother Jeffrey Basta ’15, mom Suya Basta and boyfriend ran the Providence Marathon to raise

29

Brianna Cummings ’12

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53

YOUNG ALUMNI NEWS AND ACHIEVEMENTS will appear in our Fall 2020 Bulletin. Please send submissions to Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@countryschool.net.

30 Brendan Hoffman ’13 was named Preseason Player of the Year.

2013

31 Leila Pearson and Adrian Antonioli starred in St. Luke’s School’s highly acclaimed performance of Admissions in November 2019. Many members of the NCCS community turned out to see the play — including our own Admissions team!

Brendan Hoffman was named Preseason Player of the Year for 2020 in Div. III Lacrosse. He plays for Williams College.

32 Deyante Wallace-McKinstry starred as Puck in Choate Rosemary Hall’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in February 2020.

2016

2019

30

Cayden Brodnax recently signed his National Letter of Intent to attend and play lacrosse at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. He is currently a postgrad at Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Massachusetts after graduating from Salisbury School in 2019.

31 Cast of St. Luke’s School’s Admission, including NCCS alums Leila Pearson ’18 and Adrian Antonioli ’18

Kaleigh Elizabeth Griffiths of New Canaan, CT, passed away on Sept. 17, 2019. Please see In Memoriam.

33 Brendan Keogh, JB Barr, Mason Zea, Ella Zea and Bridget Keogh rang in the new year in Zanzibar, Tanzania!

32 Deyante Wallace-McKinstry ’18 as Puck in the Choate production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2017

Emma Hunter traveled to Cuba with St. Luke’s Parish in Darien in 2019, where she taught the campers they worked with how to play a tune on the 10 ukuleles they donated to the program. Emma’s love of music was born and nurtured at NCCS — where she also learned to play the ukulele herself! Emma will also continue diving at Denison University next year.

2018

Arjun Dayal received local recognition for his 3D printed masks and shields, which were sent to hospitals around the country to keep healthcare workers safe.

To read the story, see page 10.

33 Brendan Keogh ’19, JB Barr ’19, Bridget Keogh ’19, Ella Zea ’19 and Mason Zea ’19 in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in 2019

54

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

CELEBRATING

Our Faculty & Staff

Carlos Mendoza Received 2020 O’Herron Award Maintenance Assistant Carlos Mendoza was presented with the Shirley and Jonathan O’Herron Faculty Award at New Canaan Country School’s Annual Meeting & Dinner on Sept. 19. This biennial award honors a faculty or staff member who has shown extraordinary dedication to the school and to the students, and has taught or worked at the school for at least 10 years.

The Shirley and Jonathan O’Herron Faculty Award was established in November 2013 through a bequest from the estate of Jonathan O’Herron and at the direction of the children of Shirley and Jonathan O’Herron: Anne O’Herron Burleigh of Darien, Sarah O’Herron Casey ’80 of New Canaan and Jonathan O’Herron Jr. of Westport. Shirley and Jonathan O’Herron were the proud grandparents of 11 Country School students.

“Through his strong sense of putting others first, Carlos has built lasting relationships with teachers, staff members, students and families.”

— Aaron Cooper, Head of School

“Through his strong sense of putting others first, Carlos has built lasting relationships with teachers, staff members, students and families. In his nearly 30

the cafeteria staff. After 11 years in the

and work ethic brings to the school.

years here, Carlos has always stepped in

cafeteria, he joined the facilities team

He is a proud and committed member

when needed.

in 2002, and continues to be a valued

of the Country School community

member of the team.

who models everything we stand for

“Carlos’ work brings to mind words such as dedication, reliability, caring,

“From that time until now, he

excellence and supportive,” said Head of

has continued to embody a strong

School Aaron Cooper when presenting

sense of purpose and a love for

Mr. Mendoza the award.

working with people,” said Mr. Cooper.

Mr. Mendoza originally came to Country School in 1991 as a member of

“One cannot underestimate the value that someone with this type of character

and believe.”

(Pictured above) Anne O’Herron Burleigh, Carlos Mendoza, Sarah O’Herron Casey ’80 and Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Daley O’Herron ’05 at the presentation of the 2020 Shirley and Jonathan O’Herron Faculty Award.

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Faculty & Staff News Director of Studies Reshan Richards and Upper School Teacher Will McDonough each spoke at the 2020 National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference held Feb. 26–28 in Philadelphia.

Dr. Richards participated on the panel Multi-School Organizing: Distributed Leadership for Impacting School Culture Change, Social Justice and More, which discussed how schools can participate in discourse that extends beyond their walls, what brings virtual communities together and helps them thrive, and how independent schools might leverage shared knowledge to reimagine policy, cultural challenges and decision-making. Co-panelists

▸ Head of Early Childhood Education Beth O’Brien offered strategies for communicating effectively with young children in a parent education presentation hosted by New Canaan CARES on Feb. 26 at the New Canaan Library. Her presentation, How to Talk So Little Children Will Listen, based upon the popular book of the same name, was attended by over 75 local parents.

included Matthew Reininger, Trinity School (NY); JP Connolly, Avenues: The World School (NY); Erica Corbin, The Chapin School (NY); Justine Fonte, The Dalton School (NY); and Kenny Graves, Ethical Culture Fieldston School (NY).

Mr. McDonough led a PechaKucha presentation (20 minutes x 20 slides) about how and why independent school teachers should think about the ways they communicate and the importance of affirmation and vulnerability as they endeavor to leave a legacy and inspire those around them.

Director of Marketing & Communications Brooke Arthur and Marketing & Communications

◂ Victor Catano will join NCCS in July 2020 as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Catano is currently the Interim Director of Finance at the IDEAL School in Manhattan. Prior to that Mr. Catano was at the Rudolf Steiner School where he served as the Business Manager for nine years. He also served as the Chief Operating Officer for two years at Rockland Country Day School. Mr. Catano has served as the chair of the NYSAIS Business Affairs Council. He holds an M.B.S. from Baruch College and a B.S. from Haverford College.

Associate Kent Findlay ’80 were recognized in January by InsipirED School Marketers. An admitted student welcome packet of materials they created was awarded the 2019 bronze medal.

Directory of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Kojo Clarke led an International Affinity Group gathering at the 2019 National People of Color Conference in Seattle, Dec. 2–5.

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.

56

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

▲ Horizons’ Family and Program Director Nehemie Moise, Executive Director Nancy von Euler and Academic Director Lavone Roberson presented Bridging Communities: Building Equitable Relationships with Your Host School at the National Horizons Conference held in Greenwich, Feb. 27–28.

Celebrating Our Faculty & Staff

New Canaan Country School Dining Services Receives 2019 FLIK National Account of the Year Award Faculty, staff, students and parents have

delicious sauces and lots of choices. And

been raving about the new Susan Haigh

all this is served with a smile!”

Carver ’51 Dining Hall and the delicious

Mr. Caban and his team feed approxi-

and nutritious lunches. The school’s

mately 568 students and 170 faculty

dining staff were recently singled out

and staff from 11:10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each

from over 60,000 FLIK dining associates

school day. Lunch consists of a hot meal

for national recognition.

entrée, a hot vegetarian option, several

Director of Dining Services

side dishes from which to choose, a soup

Carlos A. Caban accepted the 2019

and salad bar, a deli bar and a yogurt and

National Account of the Year Award

fresh fruit bar. Emphasis is placed on

from FLIK Independent School Dining

nutrition, daily choice and menu variety

on behalf of the New Canaan Country

from week to week. It is also important

School dining services team, which

to Mr. Caban that the food is delicious

includes Executive Chef William Barrera,

even to evolving palates. He and Chef

Neville Brevitt, Marcos Delgado,

Barrera take pride in introducing worldly

Leslie Dingee, Jamila Malines, Yahaira

dishes and flavors to even the pickiest

Mendez, Santa Diaz, Sonia Santiago

of young eaters.

and Terry Wash.

“The quality and variety of dishes

A recent day’s menu included pho beef broth, red curry chicken, sushi rice, baby

served are outstanding,” said long-

bok choy, crispy tofu sticks, fresh fruit

time staff member Pat Oakes. “In their

salad, mushroom lo mein and steamed

ambitious menus, the team focuses on

buns. Another day of the same week,

healthy foods, varying cuisines, delightful

students had their choice of creamy corn

combinations of flavors and ingredients,

chowder, pork carnitas tacos, pico de

gallo, crema fresca, cilantro rice, roasted zucchini squash, garbanzo bean salad and southwest Caesar salad.

(Top left) Director of FLIK Dining Services Carlos A. Caban. (Top right) Flik Food Services worker Yahaira Mendez helps Clare O’Brien make a hot lunch selection. (Above) Ben Kelsey, Jack Kieske and Jonah McDonough.

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57

Receptionist and Bus Dismissal Coordinator Susan Chiavaroli and Stefano Chiavaroli are pleased to report that her family welcomed two grandsons within three weeks of one another. Lucas was born Oct. 11 and Christian was born

▸ Daley Quinn Embley, daughter of Assistant to the Head of Lower School Leatrice Embley, was born March 16.

Nov. 4. This brings the Chiavaroli grandchild count to five under age 5.

Sue Speers (1966–1992) could not make the former Fac-Staff Luncheon but reports: “I celebrated my 90th birthday this summer by camping with 15 family members in my favorite Adirondack spot. I also got to sing in the chorus of a wonderful musical called Elderville which consisted of new words written to grand old Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.” See Class Notes for news of children Will ’72, Tom ’73, Sam ’75 and Ebit ’77.

▲ Associate Director of Advancement Diane Briggs was sworn in as Councilwoman for the Town of Pound Ridge, NY, for a four-year term serving her community.

▲ Jennifer Barnard, Lynn Sullivan (2013–2017), Kristen Ball (2007–2016), Yolanda Coffield and Dr. Jackqueline Mclean-Markes walked in honor of Kyle Markes ’19 at the 2020 Light the Night event hosted by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Stamford.

▲ Former Apprentice Ryan Giggi ’07 and Upper School Teacher Tom Giggi at Ryan’s December wedding to former apprentice Jeanette Leopold.

▲ Beginners Bean students welcomed former Head of School Nicholas Thacher (1979–2000) to the Thacher Early Childhood Building where they played a game of I-spy (a painting of you).

Fun fact: Their teacher Jeannie Staunton Bean ’83 and parents of three of these children are alumni: Eloise Dunning (James Dunning ’97), Lily Kilcullen (Sarah Young Kilcullen ’98) and Ella Chase (Meaghan Mancini ’03).

▲ Former Music Teacher Marsha Whitman (1992–2014) authored a paperback book of poems, Holding the Body Back, that was published in January and is available on Amazon.com.

◂ Director of Innovation and Academic Technology Aron Back enjoyed the magic of the forest of Fontainebleau, France, while climbing Rataplat 7b in the Franchard Isatis.

▲ School Counselor Nora Goddard and her husband, Dave, welcomed a son, Elias Morgan Cole on April 12.

58

▲ Horizons Academic Director Lavone Roberson (seated) was joined

by Horizons NCCS staff members and friends to deliver 39 chemo care packages to patients at the Bennett Cancer Center of Stamford on Jan. 29 as part of Roberson’s nonprofit, Now I Am Nia Foundation Inc. To learn more, visit: www.NowIAmNia.org.

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

HAVE NEWS TO SHARE? To provide faculty & staff news and updates, please contact communications@countryschool.net

Celebrating Our Faculty & Staff

Former Faculty & Staff Return to Campus

1

We were thrilled to welcome 27 former

(1989–2015), Al Perry (1982–2003), Topsy

faculty and staff colleagues back to

Post ’66 (1992–2014), Bridget Robustelli

campus in October. Honored returnees

(1990–1992), Pam Simpson (1977–1999),

included Amy Cholnoky (1986–1988),

Tony Shays (1962–1976), Betty Shays

Sue Ewing (1998–2008), Ann Martin

(1963–1964), Maureen Sanders (1997–

DiLeone (1985–1995), Sue Friborg (1978–

2014), Agneta Smith (1973–2006), Matt

2015), Anneliese Gastrich (1989–1995),

Taylor (2000–2015), Maria Viale (2016–

Twee Haffner (1986–2017), Betsy Hulme

2017), John Ziac (1972–2014) and Nancy

(1991–2014), Kathi Holz (2002–2016),

Ziac (1978–2010).

Sue Isaacs (1976–1990), Susan Kelly

Head of School Aaron Cooper updated

(1969–1977), Holly Lemoine (1995–2000),

the group on the state of the school and

Dana Mallozzi (1992–2016), Cathy

recent campus renovations, and then

Mishkin (1976–1979), Pam Crawford

many chose to visit classrooms. The group

Mosenthal (1979–1984), Jean O’Dell

came back together to join colleagues for a traditional Wednesday “Fac-Staff Lunch,” finishing the day with a performance by the 2019–2020 Faculty Staff Choir.

2 1. Jean O’Dell (1989–2015) and Kathi Holz (2002–2016) 2. Tony (1962–1976) and Betty (1963–1964) Shays 3. Holly Lemoine (1995–2000), Director of Technology David Stoller, Matt Taylor (2000–2015) and Director of Safety and Security Josh Ziac ’86 enjoyed catching up during “Fac-Staff Lunch.”

4. David Stoller welcomed back Sue Friborg (1978–2015).

3

4

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Celebrating Our Faculty & Staff

Faculty Spotlight: Bruce Lemoine Bruce Lemoine has worn a variety of hats

lives. Ongoing professional develop-

Head of Middle School, his was the first

during his remarkable forty-year tenure

ment keeps me interested and alert as

division in the school to get email for

as an educator at Country School: Grades

an educator. I often find myself being an

its teachers. This year, he has started a

5 and 6 homeroom teacher, Grades 7 and

agent of change, and I’m comfortable

coding class for fourth graders and is a

8 humanities teacher, the first official

with that role,” said Mr. Lemoine.

familiar face to students in the Maker

Head of Middle School, Director of the

Mr. Lemoine and his wife, Holly,

Lab assisting students with coding, 3D

Apprentice Teacher Training Program,

arrived at Country School in 1980 and are

design and robotics projects. He has

Director of Studies, and basketball, football

the proud parents of Christopher ’05,

long been an advocate for technology in

and baseball coach, and he currently serves

Nicholas ’06 and Bridgette ’08.

the classroom.

as both Director of Academic Records and Technology & Makerspace Instructor.

Over the decades, he has adapted to

“He is always tinkering and trying new

the changing landscape of technology,

ideas, innovating and staying current in

transitioning from Hypercard stacks back

the latest methods and approaches,”

his career to Country School and we are

in the 1990s to 3D computer animation,

said Mr. Cooper.

the better for it,” said Head of School

robotics, and 3D printing today.

“Bruce has devoted the entirety of

Aaron Cooper. “He is a problem-solver, a

“I remember when the first computers

“How else can we help students be ready for professions that have yet to be

pioneer in the fields of technology and

showed up on our doorstep here at

created using tools that have yet to be

Maker, and a consummate educator and

school,” said Mr. Lemoine. When he was

invented?” said Mr. Lemoine.

school administrator.”

“Any success I achieve as an educator is a direct result of the wonderful support I receive daily from my colleagues here.

As the needs and expectations of our students evolve, we all find ourselves learning new skills and mastering new concepts to remain relevant in their

60

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

“Our students have access to the same software tools and information systems used by scientists, engineers, professional animators and digital entrepreneurs. With access to today’s technology, students can solve real-world problems and develop inventions for future generations.”

Milestones

Join us in celebrating and honoring members of the Country School community, past and present.

Our Congratulations MARRIAGES Alumni Josh Hanson ’97 to Meredith Talusan

Caitlin Maguire ’04 to Kesal Patel

June 8, 2019

October 5, 2019

SUBMIT A NOTICE on the website or contact

Alex “Gillian” Hanson ’99 to Erik Crooks September 14, 2019

Ashley Jeffress ’06 to Adam Ladd

Director of Alumni Affairs Holly

September 12, 2019

Donaldson Casella ’04 directly at hcasella@countryschool.net or

Will Bartholomew ’01 to Amy Young

Ryan Giggi ’07 to Jeannette Leopold

May 11, 2019

December 28, 2019

Rob Crane ’01 to Carola Lovering

Sarah Cottone ’08 to Ben Davies

September 28, 2019

July 28, 2018

(203) 801-5687 with your news item.

All milestones received after we go to print will be included in the next edition of the Bulletin, scheduled for fall 2020, and also posted on the website.

BIRTHS Deborah Leah Abrams

George Firestone Getz

Redden Grace McKinney

Juliette Isabella Dunning

Zoe Mindell Abrams ’01

Eliza Kontulis Getz ’04

Kindergarten Teacher

Katie and James Dunning ’97

and David Abrams

and Max Getz

Jess McKinney and

November 22, 2019

January 24, 2020

March 6, 2019

Ryan McKinney

Jackson Samuel Waldman

Maeve Elizabeth Reed

Katie and Larry Waldman ’98

Brooke Cavanaugh Reed ’01

Alumni

December 30, 2019

January 14, 2020

Elias Morgan Cole

Lane Reding

and Thomas Reed ’01

School Counselor

Early Childhood Assistant

November 22, 2019

Nora Goddard and

Teacher Byron Reding

Helen Rose Weintz Rebecca Grant Weintz ’99

Faculty and Staff

David Louis Altchek

Dave Cole

and Diane Reding

April 12, 2020

May 25, 2020

and Alex Weintz

BZ Reed ’02 and

September 27, 2019

Charles Altchek

Daley Quinn Embley

Penelope Torres

November 9, 2019

Assistant to the Head of

Maintenance Assistant

Lower School Leatrice

Jimmy Torres and

Hayden Patrick Shiver Whitney Martin Shiver ’00

Thomas Rowley D’Agostino

and Brian Shiver

Peter D’Agostino ’03 and

August 2, 2019

Becka D’Agostino

Embley and Jesse Embley March 16, 2020

Paola Torres October 12, 2019

January 17, 2019

Read more: www.countryschool.net/milestones

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61

IN MEMORIAM We offer our 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. 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.

Alumni

Patricia Edwards Dennis ’42, 91, formerly of Beckwith Lane, Old Lyme, and New Canaan, died Aug. 12, 2019, at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital.

Following Country School, Patricia graduated magna cum laude from Bryn Mawr College. She married David Wood Dennis on Oct. 2, 1948; he predeceased her in 2008. She was employed for many years as a librarian at the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme.

Her family celebrates her devotion to her loved ones and service to the community as a Girl Scout leader, volunteer librarian at her children’s schools and Chapter President of American Field Service. She was an avid reader and gardener. She loved theatre and music, especially opera.

Patricia is survived by her children, Patricia “Kylie” Dennis of Saint Louis, MO, Charles Dennis of Hanover, NH, David Dennis Jr. of Lolo, MT, five grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may made to the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Pamela Miller Gerard ’49, passed away peacefully on Aug. 18 at the age of 85.

A lifelong New Yorker, Pam had a career in retail fashion that spanned over 50 years, working for many of the industry’s great names. She was one of the first women to

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

be named a Vice President at Saks Fifth Avenue. A patron of museums, ballet and theater, Pam also cherished dinners and travels with friends.

Pam is survived by her sisters Gail Miller Stoddart ’51 and Dixie Miller de Koning ’63 and her husband Joep; nieces Penelope Potter (Ted), Liska Yealland, Daria de Koning (Theo) and nephew Tim Stoddart (Pam); grandnieces and grandnephews Gus and Maggie Potter, Perry, Isabel and Miles Stoddart, Cairis, Tristan and Freya Yealland. All greatly loved and treasured by their “Auntie.”

Edward Tuckerman Esty II ’54, 80, of Chevy Chase, MD passed away peacefully on Aug. 23, 2019, with his wife of 56 years, Mary Lee, at his bedside.

Following Country School, Ed attended Deerfield Academy, then graduated from Harvard College in 1961 with a major in mathematics, and received his master’s degree in education the following year.

His doctoral dissertation explored Piaget’s writings about conservation of space in young children. Ed’s academic work was awarded the Phi Delta Kappa and Pi Lambda Theta prizes for Distinction in Studies for the Degree of Doctor of Education by the Harvard Graduate School of Education Faculty in 1970.

After briefly teaching, Ed served as a research scholar in mathematics

education for the Comprehensive School Mathematics Program, one of the early innovative mathematics curriculum projects that focused on problem-solving rather than rote drill, and subsequently became an influential figure in American mathematics education. He was a senior project director at the Mathematical Sciences Education Board at the National Academy of Sciences, and later was a mathematics and research consultant for Square One Television, an educational series that the Children’s Television Workshop produced for PBS. Ed also consulted with the John Glenn Commission, chartered by the U.S. Secretary of Education, which produced a well-known report, “Before It’s Too Late,” on preparing the math and science teaching force for the 21st century, and also with Change the Equation, a nonprofit launched at the White House by President Obama.

A talented composer and pianist, he wrote several accompaniments for the Suzuki violin repertoire that continue to be used regularly by violin students around the world.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Scott and Elizabeth Esty, and his five grandchildren, Sophie, Isaac, Willem, Odin and Julia. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to please consider contributing in Ed’s name to the ACLU or the American Lung Association.

Susan “Susie” Gerli Smith ’62 of Old Greenwich, passed away Dec. 16 at home. She was 72.

She is remembered by the NCCS community for her starring role as “Matchmaker” in the ninth grade play and for the summer she spent as an assistant in the Boost Program, the precursor to what ultimately became known as Horizons.

Following graduation from Country School, she attended Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA, where she played the lead in the school’s spring production of Brigadoon.

Susie received a B.A. degree from Smith College and a master’s degree in teaching from Columbia Teachers College.

She worked for three years in the New York City Mayor’s office during the John Lindsay Administration in the areas of education and environmental protection.

She also participated in a task force on single-room occupancy housing.

In later years, she lived in Washington, DC, where she worked as a consultant for the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching on a national study of high schools, and then returned to Connecticut, where she taught school and worked as a clinical therapist at the Franklin S. DuBois Center in Stamford.

Survivors include a brother, Timothy Smith ’67, of Aurora, CO. Susie’s marriage to Eric Peterson ended in divorce.

Sarah Andrews Brown ’66, her husband, Damon, and their 25-year-old son, Duncan, tragically died on July 24, 2019, when their private plane crashed in Nebraska. They were on their way to their California home from Wisconsin where they had attended the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture convention.

She was an award-winning author, pilot, artist, teacher and professional geologist who brought the excitement of geology to the public through her mystery stories.

Under her maiden name, Sarah Andrews, she wrote a series of novels chronicling the adventures of a female forensic geologist, Em Hansen. Her tales did well enough to warrant more than 10 books, and positive testimonies from readers on Goodreads, a social media site dedicated to reading, indicate that her work hit

home with people who loved finding a good murder mystery with in-depth knowledge of the natural world.

Following Country School, Sarah earned her B.A. degree in geology at Colorado College and her M.S. in Earth resources at Colorado State University.

Sarah was frequently invited to lecture on a wide range of topics, including geology, mystery writing, communicating science to the public, women in geology, how geologists think, the controversy between science and religion, and the life of Eddie McKee. A Fellow of the Geological Society of America, Sarah received several significant awards: the 2016 President’s Medal of the Geological Society of America, the 2009 Louis T. Benezet Award from Colorado College, the 2006 Antarctic Service Medal, the 2003 Special Award of the Association of Engineering Geologists, the 2001 James T. Shea Award of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, the 1999 Journalism Award of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the 1997 Journalism Award of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists.

She is survived by her sister Judith Andrews Green ’61 and predeceased by her brother Joseph “Charlie” Andrews ’63.

Kendall Lione Gleason ’73, a resident of Gwynn Island, VA, passed away on Sept. 29, 2019, after a year-long struggle with ALS. She was born in Stamford to the late Sallianne Cordiner Lione and Frederick M. Lione Jr. Kendall went on to New Canaan High School and received a BA from Franklin and Marshall College in 1980. She later earned an MBA from Marymount University. Kendall had a rewarding career on Capitol Hill, initially as a legislative aide to Senator Harrison Schmitt, R-NM, and later to Senator James McClure, R-ID. During her time in Washington she met and married Michael Palmer Gleason, who died in 2013 after 29 years of marriage.

They lived in the DC area for many years, then moved to Gwynn Island in 1999 where, as Gleason Publishing Inc., they edited and published “Virginia — A Magazine on History and Travel.” They also published Virginia History Timeline 2000

and other books. In 2001, Kendall wrote a book titled Wyonegonic: The First 100 Years to celebrate the centennial of a camp where she had spent many summers in Denmark, ME. Kendall is survived by her father, Frederick M. Lione Jr., and his wife, Nancy Smith Lione, of Norwalk, CT, and brothers David Lione ’77 and his wife, Catherine, of Clifton, VA; John Lione ’79 and his wife, Susan, of Sudbury, MA, and sister Sarah Lione Zarucha ’88 and her husband, Edward of Seymour, CT. Also, her nieces Cara Boyle (Kevin,) and Tess Lione and nephew Nicholas Lione. In addition, surviving are stepsons D. Palmer Gleason and Trevor E. T. Gleason (Celeste) and three step-grandchildren, along with four step sisters and brothers.

Kaleigh Elizabeth Griffiths ’19, age 15 of New Canaan, died peacefully Sept. 17, 2019, in New York City, surrounded by her family. Born in Greenwich in 2004, she is the daughter of Jacqueline and Sean Griffiths.

Kaleigh attended Country School from Beginners on and New Canaan High School for part of ninth grade. She loved playing lacrosse, ice hockey and soccer for the Town of New Canaan, Winter Club and her school teams. In addition to being exceptionally smart, athletic and witty, she was an accomplished backyard gymnast (scaring and amazing her parents on a regular basis), and a captivating dancer. Kaleigh had an effervescent and spunky personality, was always fun to be around, and had a remarkable and contagious zest for life.

In addition to her parents, Kaleigh is survived by her paternal grandfather William Griffiths of Brooksville, FL, her maternal grandparents Natalie Abrams of New York City and Robert Abrams of Larchmont, NY, and her siblings, brother Liam ’16 and sisters Meghan ’18 and Sloane Griffiths. She was predeceased by her paternal grandmother Kathleen Griffiths.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks contributions in memory of Kaleigh Griffiths be made to Friends of Karen, 118 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560 or made online at www.friendsofkaren.org.

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Faculty

Mary Whitman, 93, of Beaufort, SC, died Nov. 17, 2019, in Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

She arrived at Country School in 1954 alongside husband Hugh Whitman (1954–1991), who had been hired to teach sixth grade homeroom and coach boys’ hockey. Three of their four children, Hugh Jr. ’67, Michael, Steve ’70 and Elizabeth Whitman Memishian ’76, entered school and Mary became active in the parent community. In 1967, she became the assistant to Beginner’s Teacher Betty McCarty, working on the Apprentice Teacher Training Program. In 1976, she became an Assistant Teacher in the Lower School, and by 1979, was a Head Teacher in the multi-age group. She completed her master’s in Open Education at Fairfield University in 1982, and by 1985, took on the additional responsibility of overseeing the Apprentice Teacher Training Program.

Upon retirement in 1991, she was described by colleagues in the Bulletin as indefatigable, constantly executing special activities such as exploring the salt marshes and camping out at the Pound Ridge Reservation with students, and for creating a tennis club for colleagues. She and Hugh moved to the shores of South Carolina shortly thereafter, where she enjoyed sailing, golf and travel.

Surviving in addition to Hugh are sons: Hugh Jr. ’67; Michael and Steve ’70; one

daughter, Elizabeth ’76; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Sandra “Sandy” Pauline Burn, 77, of Stamford, died Jan. 22 of a brain tumor.

Sandy was born on April 1, 1943, and taught second grade at New Canaan Country School from 1982–2002.

Surviving are daughter Lisa Burn Barocas ’88, who also worked at the school (2000–2004); son-in-law Morris Barocas ’83 and granddaughters Carly Barocas ’15 and Hayley Barocas.

Trustee

Katharine “Katie” Babcock Mountcastle,

89, passed away Jan. 22. Born in Philadelphia, Katie was the daughter of Mary Reynolds and Charles Babcock. She was educated at Madeira School, Sweetbriar College and graduated from Salem College. In 1951, she married Kenneth F. Mountcastle.

In addition to raising her family, Katie had a long and renowned record of community service. In addition to serving as a Trustee for Country School (1990–1992), she served on the boards of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation

and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

Additional board service included Sapelo Foundation, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, International Social Service, Friends of the Earth, People for the American Way, Wake Forest University, American Farm School, League of Conservation Voters, NARAL, UNC Public Television, Horizons National, Rural Advancement Fund, New Canaan United Way, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, and Family and Children’s Aid Advisory.

“Katie spent more than 60 years advancing work that made a difference to struggling people and communities. She was a force to be reckoned with! Full of life, strong opinions and a deep sense of justice, she will be missed by all of us who were fortunate enough to know her,” said a friend and former colleague.

She is survived by her children, Mary Mountcastle ’69 (Jim Overton), Laura Mountcastle ’71, Ken Mountcastle III ’75 (Lisa) and Kathy Mountcastle ’78 (Mark Koster); and five grandchildren, Holt and Kemble Mountcastle, Kara Mountcastle and Alex and Katie Koster.

The family asks that commemorative donations be made to Fund for Women and Girls at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, 383 Main Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851 or Southern Environmental Law Center, 201 W. Main St., Charlottesville, VA 22902.

We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the following members of our extended community: Angela Bothwell Mother of Stephanie Bothwell Grillo ’87

Frida Klykova Grandmother of Sasha Valdes ’23

Marie Polk Grandmother of Annie Nichols ’21

Frank Burr Grandfather of Miller ’21, Drew ’23, Hudson ’26 and Hannah ’28

Nigel MacEwan Stepfather of Michele Elliman ’76 and Jackie Elliman Leonard ’78 and Grandfather of Caroline Leonard ’09, Annie Leonard ’11 and Bobby Leonard ’14

Elizabeth “Betsy” Rodiger Mother of Greg ’74, Will ’77 and Bert ’80

Margaret Burden Childs Mother of Rick ’72, Lore Childs Macdonald ’73, Nick ’73, Connie ’75, Shirley Childs Kelly ’76, Hilary ’83, Pindy Childs McKee ’85 Shirley Kearns Mother of Todd ’83 and Andrew ’85

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2020

Bill Mackey Grandfather of Will ’21, Colin ’22, Logan ’24 and Hunter ’27

Sidney Staunton Father of Sid ’78, Jody Staunton Mallory ’79, Steve ’80, Jeannie Staunton Bean ’83 and Ed ’85; Father-in-law of Chris Bean ’83 and Grandfather of Bella Bean ’14, Anna Bean ’15 and Finley Bean ’17

William “Bill” Pike Father of Lisa Pike Sheehy ’83 and Dan ’89

Mary-Starke Wilson Mother of Scott ’65 and Kiki ’67

A LOOK BACK

The Original Integration of

Computers into Education

By Visual Arts Department Chair, Teacher and School Archivist Mark Macrides

In September 1983, the Board of Trustees approved a Planning and Policy report that included the following recommendation: “That the school continue to support the efforts of the Faculty Computer Committee, as it examines and implements the use of the computer in the curriculum.” This statement was the first widespread formal acknowledgment that the computer had a permanent role to play in the future of Country School’s program. Indeed, it had! Thirty-seven years later, as we join the rest of the country in pioneering extended distance-learning programs for our students, it is on that visionary foundation that we firmly stand.

As early as 1982, Head of School Nick Thacher was discussing in his Annual Address “The proper integration of computers into the process of educating children…” and believing it to be “…the single most important aspect of educational stewardship in the foreseeable future.” This foresight had already helped to create support for technical visionaries such as Ed Mills and Reinhold Wappler, whose implementation of innovative educational oppor-

Mr. Wappler, learning the language of LOGO in support of their

tunities around the use of the computer were already gaining

mathematics curriculum. The LOGO program and computer lab

ground on campus. Ed Mills, former Head of the Middle School,

that was designed to support it became a model for the devel-

had by the early 1980’s become Head of the Science Department

opment of computer labs in other divisions, particularly in the

and is credited for setting up the first computer on campus. The

lower level of the Stevens Building, where older students began

large cumbersome “appliance” initially became a circus-like attrac-

to learn the benefits of the computer as a tool for research and

tion to students. However, under Ed’s knowledge and creative

word processing. In typical Country School fashion, as the pres-

guidance, Country School created its first computer course, and

ence of computers expanded on campus, so did conversation

by 1985 computer classes were an established component of

about the challenge of balancing reality with the new virtual

the NCCS curriculum from LOGO in the Lower School to broader

world of technology.

applications of study in the upper grades.

These past weeks, if we can be grateful for anything, it is the

Reinhold Wappler, Lower School mathematics teacher,

computer and accompanying technology that are enabling us to

pioneered the LOGO program not long after Mills set up his

remain connected and continue to deliver an innovative version

first computer in the Middle School science lab. Described in

of the valuable Country School program to children and families.

simple terms as a “tool to think math with,” LOGO evolved

The school’s success over the years in striking the appropriate

in 1970 at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the

balance between the physical and virtual worlds highlights the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The work at MIT was

need for an eventual return to campus and all of the physical

strongly influenced by combining computer theory with the

connections, activities and “hands-on” learning that distinguish

concepts of educational psychologist Jean Piaget. By 1980,

NCCS. In the meantime, we are grateful for the solid founda-

NCCS was one of the first schools to bring the results of this

tion in computer science provided by our forerunners, as well

important research into the classroom. Two years later, children

as our ability to use those resources to continue to support our

in Grades 2 through 5 were spending time on computers with

students through such an unprecedented time in history.

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s n o i t a l u t Congra 2020! to the Class of

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