The magazine of
Greenhill School spring 2019
Reflections on the
Greenhill community
On the cover: Heart of the Hill groups completed a reflective exercise on community where they traced their hands and decorated them with personal attributes. Junior Josh Leffler and ninth-grader Jothi Gupta, members of our Advancing Core Principles committee, played an integral role in developing this exercise. The result is a vibrant tapestry of community and relationships. This image of handprints was also featured in kindness cards filled out by students and exchanged during Kindness Week in February.
On this page: First-grader Saamya Malladi carefully cuts out her work.
Greenhill School is a diverse community of learners that strives for excellence; values individuality; fosters a passion for learning; promotes the balanced development of mind, body and character; encourages service; and instills a respect for others.
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contents
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Campus Currents
head of school’ s welcome
how to be a texan | by lee hark, head of school
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campus moments
6
hornet highlights
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by tom perryman ’ 81 , assistant head of school
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community growth through dialogue
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why i teach
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a commitment to wellness
16
why mindfulness matters
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montgomery library celebrates 50th anniversary
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blowing bubbles
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|
Feature: Community reflections on the greenhill community
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Students Reflect on Community Faculty Reflect on Community Teachers Reflect on Community Alumni Reflect on Community
alumni community & social impact
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Alumni
giving day
43
Greenhill School
alumni highlights
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4141 Spring Valley Road Addison, Texas 75001
alumni common threads
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turning points
52
in memoriam
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greenhill.org
It is the policy of Greenhill School to administer its educational programs, including admission and financial aid, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national or ethnic origin, or disability.
Advancement the fulton society
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why i give
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HAR K R EMAR KS | WELCOM E L ETTER
Dear
Greenhill community, Recently, I took a walk around our campus on an especially Spring-like day. I had just finished my favorite
Filipino chicken soup in Crossman Hall (and was feeling grateful for the 108th time for our amazing dining
hall and the SAGE staff). As I moved across campus, I saw the Primer Spanish class holding hands in a circle and singing about fruit, I heard Upper School boys discussing tuxedos from a graduation fitting, I passed a group of Middle School girls laughing at a joke, and I saw faculty sharing lunch outside under a canopy of blooming trees. In other words, I saw abundant evidence of community come to life.
Indeed, as the banners on campus remind us throughout the year, we are a community of many interests,
pursuits, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are a community that is proud of who we are, but also one that rises to the challenge to improve and grow stronger.
I invite you to explore the perspectives on community in this issue. From my take on “How to Become a Texan” (p.4), to Tom Perryman’s powerful words on expanding our bubble (p.10), to our feature, “Reflections on the
Greenhill Community” (p.22), this edition of The Hill is a showcase of community, sharing the voices of students, faculty, parents, and alumni.
We are a community focused on self-improvement. As I wrote in my year-end letter to parents last December,
we have identified several initiatives on which we are actively working, such as developing a coherent, connected, and collaboratively-developed curriculum; efficiently allocating financial resources; clarifying policies and
procedures; improving back-end data and financial management; and, most prominently, creating stronger connections within our community.
At the State of the School presentation I gave in February, I covered some future-facing points. Alongside the initiatives outlined above, we are heading into a strategic planning season where I will look to you,
our community members, for involvement and feedback. In the Fall of 2019, we will begin surveying
our constituencies. We will develop recommendations and create a timeline at the beginning of 2020.
In the spring, we will share our strategic plan for the future of Greenhill School.
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t feel gratitude for this school and the people that make it great.
I am always mindful of a statement from our history: “Greenhill is not buildings, it’s people.” That was true then, and it remains true today. I am so proud and humbled to live, work, and share ideas with the dedicated people of this community. Sincerely,
Lee J. Hark
Head of School 2
H A R K R E MA R KS | COMMU N ITY Q U OTE
“
Our school’s greatest resource is our outstanding community. I am so proud to
be a part of one community that welcomes all voices, backgrounds, and perspectives, and that engages in the hard work to ensure that all members feel included. Yet even among this vibrant community, there is opportunity for greater connection,and there is work still to be done as we bridge gaps between
the different people who call Greenhill home. What does the next level of commitment to and investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion look like? How do we continue to be a ‘lighthouse’ for other schools across the nation that look to Greenhill for answers to some of the toughest (and most interesting) questions about how to create connective tissue out of our abundant and magnificent diversity? And how do we ensure that all people feel fully included — that all people who believe in our mission are valued and cherished no matter their worldview? This is the most important work we can do.
”
— Head of School Lee Hark
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HAR K R EMAR KS | I NTERVI EW
How to be a
TEXAN
Now that I am living deep in the heart o’ Texas, I have decided that I need to make a few adjustments to my east-coast mentality. Here are a few personal resolutions… and if anyone has a recommendation for where to buy a good pair of cowboy boots, let me know!
“ This wide-open country has some expansive
vistas... I have been blown away by the sunsets.” 4
by lee hark
Head of School
H A R K R E MA R KS | I NTERVI EW
say “y’all.” One of the most interesting reactions I get from
[people] here is when they hear me say 'ya'll'. There’s a knowing smile, as if to say, “Texas has already started to work its magic on you!” Y’all,
I’m from Georgia. I grew up saying it. In fact, since I don’t have much of an accent, it’s one of the few ways you can tell I’m from the South.
barbeque means cow, not pig.
The Harks are barbecue
fans, but where we come from, the meat is pulled pork, not brisket.
And in North Carolina, one must decide between Eastern NC barbecue (chopped and covered in a tangy, vinegar-based sauce made with
pepper, sugar and slaw) or Western barbecue (also vinegar-based, but sweeter with less bite). Western style is also called Lexington-style
named for Lexington, NC – yes, the dividing line in the Old North State is a function of barbeque sauce.
We still miss that Carolina pork, but I’ve learned to love brisket,
especially in the hands of true artists like the pitmasters at Cattleack (dangerously close to Greenhill and fortunately open only two days a week).
find a favorite taco joint.
Not to make this all about food,
but there are two things Texans do exceedingly well: air conditioning and tacos. I quickly discovered that there are levels of tacos, too: it’s fine to enjoy “mainstream” options like Torchy’s or Velvet, but your
favorite taco joint must be impossible for the uninitiated to find, like a
speakeasy, and discussed under your breath. If it’s attached to the back of a gas station 65 miles outside of town, so much the better.
survive the state fair.
I have to admit, I’m not a huge state fair
fan in general. We never went to the state fair in North Carolina. Here
it seems like the state fair is something you have to check off your list every year and everyone seems to have a personal “State Fair Survival
Guide” to share. And is it corn dog or corny dog? I’m still confused about that. But thanks to the Newman Family, the Harks can now say we’ve been there and we survived.
get used to the “trees.” Friends, these are not really trees—
more like overachieving bushes. But there’s some pretty cool flora
and fauna here, like bluebonnets in the spring and crepe myrtles that somehow defy the heat and keep on blooming all summer long.
“ One of the most interesting
reactions I get from [people] here is when they hear me say ‘Y’all.’”
everything’s bigger in texas—including the sky itself This wide-open country has some expansive vistas. I was
watching a soccer game on Brinkmann Field a few weeks ago and I was blown away by the beautiful sunset. My iPhone did a passable
job capturing it. I wonder if the Communications Team would accept me as the newest Greenhill photographer.
love texas I’ve never lived anywhere with such intense state pride.
You have your own state pledge! And wow, it’s big. Texans will tell you
how much they love living in Texas (even if they can also list 100 things they’d like to change about it). To that I say, “What’s not to love?” And plus, Texas is home to a school called Greenhill, and that’s where my
heart lives. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves, brave this summer heat, and get down to business, loving my new home in the Lone Star State.
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CAMPUS MOMENTS Because The Hill is now an annual publication rather than
For details on moments like these and many more, visit our
semi-annual, we have shifted to digital channels for news
social media channels and www.greenhill.org/news for the
and events.
latest and greatest happenings!
Facebook.com/GreenhillSchool
Twitter.com/GreenhillSchool
@GreenhillSchool
4. 4.
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5. 5.
6. 2.
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7.
CAM PU S MOM ENTS
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1.
annual community picnic
2.
friday on the hill brought the crowds this year with a zip line,
The rains came, but we still had a great time at our indoor community picnic with great BBQ, balloons, and face-painting!
water balloon toss, snacks, smoothies, hair dye, and games galore!
3.
debate team success Greenhill Debate is experiencing
tremendous success! For a full recap on all things debate, visit www.greenhill.org/debate.
4.
quiz bowl Middle School Quiz Bowl team captured its first-ever high school tournament crown in the fall in San Antonio.
5. Nine students qualified as national merit semifinalists and f inalists in September. For a full list of Finalists, Semifinalists, and Commended Students, visit greenhill.org/news. 9. 6.
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8. 10.
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smu’s maker truck visited campus in December as a culmination of a second grade project about logos and icons. Each second grade student created a vector logo and pressed it on a t-shirt. robotics rocks Our two robotics teams, Motorheads and Viridians, both earned a berth at the Regional Qualifying Tournament. These teams had successful outings in Wylie and Fort Worth en route to earning a regional berth. In addition, both teams earned the Inspire Qualifying Award at their respective competitions. students attend conference Greenhill School sent 20 faculty and six students to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference/NAIS People of Color Conference in Nashville in December. A task force is working on continuing the conversations through affinity groups and programs. glow hornets glow Upper School held a Winter Pep Rally in the DARK before the SPC Winter Tournament.
10.
legendary trees In January, three Greenhill Legends, Pam
Giraudon, Rebecca Shuman, and Steve Warner, were honored with trees on campus, planted by their Heart of the Hill groups.
11. 11.
taking care of our birds Peacocks are not the only
feathered friends on Greenhill’s campus. Lower and Middle School science classes are collaborating on how to better care for our birds on campus. Trinity Audubon Center spoke to classes and students created window decals and other protective measures for campus birds.
12. 12.
lunar new year Thanks to members of our East Asian community, students across campus celebrated Lunar New Year in February, welcoming in the Year of the Pig! 7
ATH LETIC N EWS
HORNET HIGHLIGHTS Highlights of the fall and winter athletic programs
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ATH LETIC N EWS
2018 All-SPC Fall Award Winners 1.
boys cross country
2.
boys volleyball
3.
f ield hockey
4.
Press Wilson, Grade 10
Ananais Hayes (3x), Grade 12 Bailey Bowman, Grade 12
football
JT Herrscher (2x), Grade 12 Brennan Andrews-Brown, Grade 12
5.
girls cross country
6.
girls volleyball
Maddie Hatfield (3x), Grade 11 Kaiti Ness (3x), Grade 11 Kendall Hashimoto, Grade 9 (also pictured: Mia Ness, Grade 9)
Ananias Hayes
Sola Omonije (2x), Grade 11
2018-19 All-SPC Winter Award Winners 7.
girls basketball
8.
boys basketball
Jade Curington (4x), Grade 12 Kionce Woods (2x) Senior Jordan Simmons (2x), Grade 12 Junior Drake Muller, Grade 11
9.
10.
11.
boys soccer
William Coben, Grade 11 Jake Nelson, Grade 10
Bailey Bowman and Brennan Andrews Brown
girls soccer
Jordanna Goldstein (2x), Grade 10 Divya Inaganti, Grade 11
swimming
MJ Ward (2x), Grade 10 Blaine Bowman, Grade 10
NCAA National Letter of Intent Signings Brennan Andrews-Brown (football, Howard University) Ananias Hayes (boys volleyball, Queens University of Charlotte)
NCAA Commitments Bailey Bowman (field hockey, University of Michigan) Maya Desai (fencing, University of California at San Diego) Max Motlagh (men’s tennis, Boston College) Jordan Simmons (men’s basketball, United States Air Force Academy)
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Blowing bubbles “ B LOWI NG BU B B LE S” BY TOM PER RYMA N ’ 8 1
by tom perryman ’81,
Assistant Head of School
Just as we all did back in the day, our Pre and Lower Schoolers today still study the concentric communities to which each of us belongs: family/school/neighborhood/city/state/nation/world/ humanity. And Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his extraordinary Letter from Birmingham Jail, reminds us of “the interrelatedness of all communities . . . We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” Indeed, we are, and our youngest students seem to understand this innately. Having said that, I often hear our Upper School students and faculty
talk about the Greenhill Bubble, and I certainly cannot argue against
And just as our Greenhill Community is made better by the surrounding community, so also must we seek to engage and serve
however, was not founded to be a bubble: not a bubble to keep the
community to leverage and multiply our gifts and to work to bring
the veracity of that concept, either. The Greenhill Community,
and work side by side with our brothers and sisters in the outside
world out nor a bubble to keep our work in.
justice to the Greater Dallas Community. We can do this; we must do
But if we accept the bubble metaphor as our reality, I would like
this. For after all, to whom much is given, much is required.
to suggest that one of the elements that makes Greenhill a pretty
singular place to work and play is the fact that ours is a permeable
bubble. Our community is enhanced, daily, by the broader community, thank goodness. And if you haven't been around here long, let me assure you that the city of Dallas is a whole lot more interesting,
vibrant, and culturally rich than it used to be not so long ago. What is “coming into” our bubble – people, ideas, rituals, and histories – is wonderful and makes us better.
What is “coming into” our bubble – people, ideas, rituals, and histories – is wonderful and makes us better. In fact, Greenhill’s very first promotional brochure articulated a primary aim as the “correlation of class work with the world
we live in.” You won’t find many 1950s-era school brochures that stake that claim!
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“ B LOWI N G B U B B L E S ” BY TOM PER RYMA N ’ 81
“And I would argue that
For 25 years, Greenhill’s service program has sought to find
an oft-overlooked but crucial part of loving and serving our community requires facing our community’s history and coming to terms with who we are as a community.”
to serve. First Sally Rosenberg and now Angela Woodson have
in our hometown: the lynching of Allen Brooks in 1910, the murder of 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez by a Dallas Police Officer in 1973, and the hate-killing of Tommy Lee Trimble and John Lloyd Griffin in 1988.
reminded us relentlessly that we are, in fact, our brothers' and sisters' keepers, and that such service starts in our own backyard, in our local community.
And then—the most important step—we create a path forward for our community past these awful events and toward restorative justice.
And I would argue that an oft-overlooked but crucial part of loving and serving our community requires facing our community’s history and coming to terms with who we are as a community. What happens to one of us, happens to all of us.
Last year’s class collected soil from the Brooks lynching site downtown on behalf of the Equal Justice Initiative’s National Lynching Memorial, and the students’ labor is on display in the Montgomery, AL National Legacy Museum exhibit: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration. Students then petitioned Mayor Rawlings and the Dallas City Council for a marker at the lynching site. Other students wrote letters that were published in the Dallas Morning News and which contributed to the making of a documentary, Santos Vive, telling the story of young Santos. This year’s group has proposed a curriculum on our “unspoken community history” to be implemented into DISD classes, while others requested that the Parks Board commemorate the lives of Trimble and Griffin in Reverchon Park. These young people have confronted this history, our history, and opted to do something about it.
opportunities to capitalize on our talents and abundant energy
And so I have become passionate about getting my students out into the larger community beyond Upper School #502 and beyond our (alas, alack!) gates. For the past two years, students in my Literature and History of Human Rights Issues in the United States have tackled primary and secondary source archival research—in Montgomery Library, in online databases, and university archives, and in the Dallas Central Library— to learn about three human rights atrocities that occurred right here
At the heart of any authentic community is justice. Dr. King reminds us that, “Life’s most persistent question is what are you doing for others?” We are mighty fortunate to be part of this Greenhill Community, and it is a genuine blessing and obligation to harness our community’s passion and power in the Dallas Community.
We are blowing up our bubble! #WeAreGreenhill
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COMMU N ITY CONVE RSATIO NS 20 19
COMMUNITY GROWTH through DIALOGUE One of the most compelling things about Greenhill is our diverse community. The School’s commitment to ensure that every member of the community feels valued and included—from students to faculty to parents—is among the most distinguishing qualities of a Greenhill education. Our Community Conversations program, founded last year and led by Greenhill parents Toria Frederick and Marlo Melucci, is a testament to that commitment. Community Conversations is a three-part series designed to help our community engage in meaningful cross-cultural dialogue that fosters deeper understanding and relationships. Held over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, the event was a powerful and affirming experience.
learn
Conversations is its focus on helping equip our students with skills and cultural competencies to become tomorrow’s global leaders. But preparing our children to be more productive in the world they will inherit is just a part of this work. Even more, we are preparing them to lead us to a more just, equitable, and humane world. It takes getting proximate with the issues we will discuss this weekend, opening our hearts and minds to other perspectives, other ways of moving through the world.” Lee Hark, Head of School
discuss
serve
Thursday, January 17
Saturday, January 19
An interactive workshop moderated by
Families hosted small group dinners in
Partnering with Wee Volunteer, Family
their homes and faculty met on campus
Gateway, and North Texas Food Bank,
to engage in discussions that promoted
families gathered for a day of service to
cross-racial relationships.
make an impact in our local communities.
the Anti Defamation League (ADL). Grouped by divisions, participants practiced age-appropriate strategies on how to talk to kids about race, culture and equity.
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“ One of the most unique parts of Community
Monday, January 21
COMMU N IT Y CO NVE RSATIO N S 2019
100+
parents learned together on thursday.
150+
parents and faculty members dined together on Saturday.
“Greenhill’s commitment to nurturing a culture of honor, respect and compassion is critically important in preparing students to engage a more diverse world. The Community Conversations program is designed to empower our parents and educators with tools to have authentic and meaningful conversations around race. The planned events offer a unique way for us to explore and learn about the varied cultures and experiences of this community. Our hope is to instill a sense of personal agency amongst participants to further help shape and sustain a respectful and inclusive campus for our independent young learners.” Marlo Melucci, Co-founder of the Community Conversations program Marlo and Jeff Melucci are the parents of ninth-grader Vince, seventh-grader James, and sixth-grader Gigi.
200+
parents, students, and faculty served the community together on monday. and at the north texas food bank, the morning and afternoon shifts assembled
19,933 23,920
meals and lbs. of food!
Let’s do this for our kids. Let’s get proximate with these issues with the intent to break down barriers for them. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let us all remember: ‘We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency.This is a time for vigorous and positive action. Toria Frederick, Co-founder of the Community Conversations program Toria and David Frederick are the parents of fifth-grader Julian and kindergartener Jasmine.
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why i teach FACU LTY LEADERS
Faculty Leaders of 2018–2019 celebrate excellence in teaching and working at Greenhill School
jaye andrews | Middle School Math
nora garcia | Lower School Spanish
Jaye and his wife Andrea are also the parents of Melanie ’13, Camille ’15, and Ellen Margaret ’17.
Nora and her husband José are also the parents of Amanda ’10 and Jessica ’12.
“Teaching found me in 1993, when opportunity came at my alma
mater, Landon School. While working on on an MBA and plotting a
“I heard about Greenhill long before I was even thinking about a family. In 1995, Amanda was admitted into the Preschool Level 2 program
career in the sports marketing industry, I was offered the head bas-
and two years later Jessi followed suit. I was a frequent volunteer
learned how to be a basketball coach from Scott Griggs, whom I had
Tompkins, I applied for the Lower School Spanish position and joined
was my first teaching mentor, guiding me and modeling to me on
found my true calling as an educator at Greenhill School.”
ketball coaching position and to be trained as a math teacher. I had
assisted for four seasons. I didn’t realize it at the time that Scott
the basketball court how to be an effective and efficient educator.
After eight more years at Landon, I was drawn to an opportunity to
reunite with Scott to teach math and coach basketball at Greenhill. I accepted a teaching and coaching position here in 2001. For now, I
have left behind coaching and have found highly fulfilling opportunities to engage in diversity and equity work on campus and to lead the ACP (Advancing Core Principles) Committee.”
“I owe a special thanks to all of my students and players over the years
and sub. Then in 2005, at the suggestion of Lower School Head, Rich
Greenhill’s faculty. Teaching has been my second career but I know I
“Every year, Amanda and Jessi fondly recall many of my colleagues as they are recognized as Faculty Leaders. I am humbled to have
been selected as one of this year’s faculty leaders when there are
so many deserving individuals. I sincerely hope that my students and colleagues have fond memories when recalling their time
in my classroom. I hope they feel that I am deserving; that I have
contributed to their personal growth. I know Greenhill is not perfect, but I love what this community aspires to be. I love working here.”
who have weathered my stumbles and to my amazing colleagues
who have inspired me, especially my long-time eighth grade team-
mates. Thank you to Middle School Heads Lucinda Carter and Susan Palmer for their faith in me and to Mike Jenks for being my right-
hand man for ten years in the Greenhill basketball program. Thank
you also for my fellow honoree, Darryn Sandler ‘95, for being a great
confidante to now and during our basketball years. Finally, thank you to my daughters and wife Andrea for their fierce and loyal support.”
“I started these comments saying that teaching found me. Well, I
guess I can now honestly say that I have indeed found teaching, and I am so grateful.”
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“ I started these comments saying
that teaching found me. Well, I guess I can now honestly say that I have indeed found teaching, and I am so grateful.” — Jaye Andrews
“ It’s the mission of the school and the sense of community that keeps me here. Greenhill is a special place.” — Rachel Estrada
FAC U LTY LEA D ERS
The Penny Nicholson Award Winner Named in memory of an esteemed Greenhill colleague who served the business office for 15 years, the Penny Nicholson Award is given to a staff member who exemplifies such qualities as genuine love for Greenhill, self-motivation, humility, and many other extraordinary qualities of Penny Nicholson.
darryn sandler ’95 | Upper School Math and Varsity Girls Basketball Coach
Darryn and his wife Micall have a daughter, Ella, in the Child Development Center. “Everyone must decide what they want in a career, and for me it is to be able to look forward to going to work each day, year in and
year out. I know that almost every day, I look forward to driving
down Hornet Road and interacting with some of the most amazing
students, colleagues, and parents that I have had the pleasure of
meeting during my time here at Greenhill. Over the last 20 years, I have taught some incredible people, and I know I am a better
person today because of the student-athletes that I have had the
opportunity to coach.”
“I have been very lucky to work with and be inspired by some of the greatest employees on this campus; former Head of School Scott
Griggs, who always showed me it is better to do what is right than to
do what people may want; Tom Perryman ’81, who might be the only
person I know who loves this place more than I do; Susan Palmer and
rachel estrada | Technology Associate Rachel and her husband Steve are the parents of Justin ’16, senior Andrew, and ninth-grader Jason. “Greenhill has been an important part of my life since my oldest son
started as a kindergartener in 2003. At my first new parent gathering,
after meeting the teachers and other parents, I realized that my family had found our community in Dallas. Greenhill has been our home
away from home ever since.”
“My background is in Management Information Systems. I attended Penn State (Go, Lions!), and then worked at Procter & Gamble first
as a designer and coder on their Intelligent Information Interchange
service and then as a manager for their Global Financial Analysis systems. When I got married, I moved to Dallas and moved into
consulting work with a company named Seer Technologies, providing client server code generation and designing customer information
systems for financial institutions. I worked all over the world, including spending several months in Milan, Italy, before settling down and telecommuting for our clients after Justin was born.”
Trevor Worcester, who display the best patience with students and
“When the opportunity to work for Greenhill presented itself in 2008,
I have to mention another faculty leader here today; Jaye Andrews
Viewing Greenhill from the inside as an employee after first being a
faculty that I have ever witnessed, and though there are many more,
inspired me to be the best person and coach that I can be. He gave
me the best advice that I received as a coach when we first started
working here: he told me that there is not a single coach who knows
it all, and that it is important to learn from coaches at all levels: rec league, high school, college, and professional. I have applied this
philosophy to my life as a coach and as a teacher. I constantly want to learn more and get better.”
I jumped at it, and I have loved every moment of my time on the Hill.
parent has been incredible. It is truly amazing to see how dedicated
our teachers are and how invested they are in our children. I am
so grateful to be a part of that and to be able to contribute in even a small way to the great work they do on a daily basis.”
“My path to Greenhill may have started with my boys, but it has
become so much more. It’s the mission of the school and the sense
of community that keeps me here. Greenhill is a special place.”
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SO C I AL E MOTIONAL LEA R N I NG
A COMMITMENT TO WELLNESS
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING SHANTI MAJEFSKI ’95 OPENS HER WELLNESS CLASS WITH A MINDFUL WALKING EXERCISE.
According to conversations and research on a national scale, mental health professionals agree that the sooner we commit to the social and emotional well-being of our students, the better we prepare them for the future. Current research in the field of neuroscience provides clear evidence that, due to neuroplasticity, one can actually rewire the brain. The application of this research into our daily lives and routines can foster the development of executive functioning skills, such as attention and focus, planning, prioritization, time management, rational decision making, and coping with stress. One of the first positions that Head of School Lee Hark created this past summer was the Director of Social Emotional Learning. Greenhill’s own Shanti Majefski ’95 is honored to fill this new role. The Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program consists of upholding the school’s mission, including the explicit determination to promote “the balanced development of mind, body, and character” among a “diverse community of learners.” Throughout this year, Ms. Majefski has been working on designing a PK- 12th-grade scope and sequence for social emotional learning and instruction, supporting faculty through SEL-based professional development, teaching wellness classes, and promoting best practices and policies throughout the school. “My goal for our community is to embed SEL into the fabric of our institution,” says Majefski. “In order to accomplish that, we have to change the lens through which we view our children. I believe that most children want to meet expectations and be successful. If they are not meeting expectations, then it is important that the adults
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in their lives look deeper. Our faculty will have the training, education and resources to address these needs in our students. Equity and Inclusion (E&I) is also a crucial piece to providing a quality SEL environment. Creating a sense of belonging for all of our students fulfills an innate human need for relationships, connection, and community.” This year’s efforts have included equipping faculty with training and resources, including bringing SEL, E&I, and mindfulness expert Meena Srinivasan to speak. Instructional resources such as Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), and the Aspen Institute’s Education & Society Program are also referenced and used.
“Creating a sense of belonging for all of our students fulfills an innate human need for relationship, connection, and community.”
Majefski adds, “When we equip our students of all ages with skills related to self-awareness, self-management, understanding others, and responsible decision-making, we are helping to foster the 21st century life skills that our students need to be successful as they navigate through Greenhill and transition into the real world.”
why
S O C I A L E MOTI O N A L LEA R N I N G
Mindfulness
matters By Sophomore
sonia dhingra
Sophomore Sonia Dhingra interned last summer at the Brain Performance Institute (BPI), part of the Center for Brain Health at The University of Texas at Dallas. She writes about the valuable insights she gained in researching brain functionality and practicing mindfulness.
Stress has been called the “health epidemic of the 21st century” by the World Health Organization, which estimated that workplace stress costs American businesses up to $300 billion a year. Considering how overscheduled most of us are, this is not surprising. Stress, anxiety, and depression are also present in students. According to the Child Mind Institute, 15.9% of teenage girls and 7.7% of teenage boys suffer from depression. But there is something we can do to counter these trends. We can practice mindfulness—a form of mental training in which individuals engage in exercises to cultivate an attentive, present-centered, and non-reactive mental mode. Mindfulness has been shown to help reduce stress and improve overall mental health. The purpose of the Brain Performance Institute, founded in 2017, is to use the valuable research from the Center for Brain Health (right next door) to create programs accessible to all. One of the key areas of focus of the Brain Performance Institute is mindfulness. During my internship at BPI, I worked with the Stress Solutions team, learning about their ground breaking and research-based methods. My understanding of mindfulness and the impact it has on a wide range of people has completely changed. I went from thinking about mindfulness as a “nice-to-know” to a “need-to-know” tool backed by hard science. I saw the value proposition of a well-structured mindfulness program in helping with happiness and efficiency of varied, and often surprising, groups of people. One example was a mindfulness program with the Dallas Police Department. Our police force has jobs where officers need to make split-second decisions in the face of potentially life-threatening
situations. How can they maintain focus and make the best possible decisions? How can they live personal lives that are balanced and happy? BPI’s program taught the police force how to keep calm and rational under extremely stressful situations. They did this through different breathing exercises, at-home journaling, showing gratitude, and practicing meditation. In addition to helping with stress, anxiety, and depression, studies of mindfulness have been groundbreaking because they show that capacities like compassion, perspective-taking, and other forms of social and emotional intelligence can be developed. Research has shown that mindfulness can enhance human performance in terms of cognitive performance, physical health, brain health, emotional well-being, quality of life, and situational awareness and attention. During my time at BPI, I thought a lot about Greenhill. How can we communicate that mindfulness is a “need-to-know” set of strategies that all of us must learn in order to be happy, healthy, and efficient? I think sharing some of the studies and programs that demonstrate “science at work” in mindfulness would be helpful. Getting students to recognize their own actions and reactions, like heart rate variability and breathing techniques, would help make the frequently nebulous and somewhat vague term of “stress” more defined. It is difficult for most of us to see the causality between experiencing stress and anxiety from academic and social pressures in our teen years and health and other repercussions down the road. Greenhill recognizes the value of mindfulness, but we can take it even further, especially in the Upper School. Fortunately for us, the BPI is close by, and I hope we can learn from its cutting-edge research and programs. I am grateful for this experience.
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“ON LI B RARY COM50TH MU N AN ITYN ” IVE RSA RY
montgomery library Celebrates 50th Anniversary By Junior
jeffrey harberg Junior Jeffrey Harberg, Evergreen Editor-in-Chief, wrote this article for the December issue of The Evergreen. In his research, he found a striking historic connection between the library and The Evergreen! We reprise an edited version here for all those who have spent hours in this special sanctuary on campus.
Times have changed and so has Montgomery Library. But fifty years on, the library remains an architectural and intellectual jewel at the heart of campus life, a versatile space used for everything from new-employee orientation to retirement parties, all while fulfilling its principal function as a center for learning, exploration and discovery.
Ms. Harrison said that the library staff work hard to keep the building up to date with the latest technology. Lower School students now have tables for more interactive Makers’ Lab work and the use of iPads along with a reading area. The library’s audio book circulation, database usage and e-book usage has increased rapidly over the past few years. “It is, in some ways, the most rapidly evolving part of campus,” said Mr. Perryman. “The library building is spectacular, but the library program must continue evolving.”
“I feel the same when I walk in there as I did when I was a student,” said Susan Bauman ’81, Middle School English teacher, who takes her classes to the library once a rotation. She often sits in front of the fireplace, just like she did when she attended Greenhill. “[The library] is the one place on campus that hasn’t changed…it’s the same as it was the first day I set foot on campus in 1974.” That’s true in a physical sense. But in many other ways, Montgomery Library has changed with the times, from evolving attitudes toward proper decorum to the diversity of books on the shelves and the students browsing the stacks. Assistant Head of School Tom Perryman ’81 can attest to some of those changes. “Libraries back in the day were these shrines,” he said. “You went in and things were completely silent.” Sometimes, he and his classmates violated that strict protocol – and paid the price. “I was actually kicked out of the library countless times when I was in Upper School by Rosemary Cox, the Head Librarian at the time,” Mr. Perryman recalled, laughing at the memory. “Librarians would kick you out if they heard you talking.” Over time, library staff have made an effort to allocate spaces in the main room for each age group while still maintaining a quiet and thoughtful space. “We have young kids through twelfth graders that come in here,” said Head Librarian Abby Harrison. “We try to carve out areas of the library for [each age group]. That includes faculty too; we have a study room just devoted to faculty.”
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The library is also responsible for the establishment of Greenhill’s campus publication, The Evergreen, according to David Johnson ’68, the first editor-in-chief of the newspaper who now works as a business analyst and host of the radio show “CEO Spotlight.” In Mr. Perryman’s essay, he said that The Evergreen began as an advertising tool for the library, allowing potential donors to look at students’ work and invest in the building. “They wanted to build a library,” said Mr. Johnson in the essay. “And they needed something to hand out. A brochure was one thing, but a school newspaper was another. What they really wanted was a PR tool.” Both students and adults alike hope that the library preserves the same atmosphere and purpose it has upheld for 50 years and still has today.
Fill your summer with
FUN!
MAY 28 - AUGUST 9, 2019
Co-ed summer camps and classes Ages 3 – Grade 12
Artwork by Kaethe Thomas ’20
It’s time to fill your child’s summer with fun at Greenhill School! We welcome boys and girls, ages 3 to grade 12 for eleven weeks of summer programming, May 28 - August 9. Your child might conduct wacky science experiments, learn marketable babysitting skills, organize a lemonade stand with profits going to charity, practice mindfulness while making art, hone their athletic skills, design robots in STEM-focused makerspaces, dance hip-hop, and so much more. Your child will make new friends, broaden their horizons, and most importantly, have the time of their lives while learning. Please visit our website for an exciting range of summer opportunities in academic enrichment, artistic fulfillment, physical development, athletics, moral awareness, and community responsibility.
View our amazing variety of classes and register at:
WWW.GREENHILL.ORG/SUMMER
Questions? Vicki Truitt Director of Summer Programs 972.628.5490 summer@greenhill.org
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A MURAL DISPLAY IN THE SECOND GRADE HALLWAY, INSPIRED BY THE BOOK ALL ARE WELCOME BY
ALEXANDRA PENFOLD AND SUZANNE KAUFMAN, SPEAKS TO OUR THEMES OF COMMUNITY IN A PROFOUND AND IMPACTFUL WAY.
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Reflections on the
Greenhill com
IN HEART OF THE HILL (HOH) CROSS-DIVISIONAL COMMUNITY-FOCUSED GROUPS, STUDENTS HAVE WORKED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY AND THEIR ROLE WITHIN IT. ONE OF THE EXERCISES INVOLVED TRACING A HANDPRINT AND DESCRIBING THEMSELVES IN THEIR OWN ART, WORDS, AND DOODLINGS. THE HANDPRINT ART WAS THEN USED AS A SYMBOL OF THEIR INTRA-CONNECTEDNESS, ENCOURAGING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES, AND COMMUNAL PURSUITS. 22
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mmunity A few years ago, English teacher Linda Woolley gave an illustration of community in a baccalaureate speech to the Class of 2013, now a class of college graduates, moving in our alumni circuits and into their early careers. She led them through a thought experiment using yarn: I have given each one of you a basket of skeins of yarn, an infinite amount. Now, as many times as possible, I want you to take the balls of yarn and while maintaining a hold on the loose ends, toss them to the people in here you have a meaningful connection with. Turn around, look, and toss those coils of yarn. Don’t forget that as you throw, you are also catching the ones thrown to you. Now I want to you toss these across time and space. Picture the yarn gracefully unfurling across the state. Across the country, and now around the globe. Now let’s stop for a moment. . . can you see the colorful threads crisscrossing, intertwining, creating endless designs and patterns? Look at the tapestry we have woven. It is an incredible image of human connectedness bringing us solace, comfort, warmth, and happiness.
Greenhill is that tapestry—a group of individuals brought together by the common desire to grow through education. We are a place of intertwined perspectives and ideas. A mosaic of colors, fingerprints, threads. We are a community of so many facets that it is impossible to define in one voice. So we have many. Here are stories of community. 23
Students reflect on community community-wide learning “Whether I am organizing homecoming events, playing on the basketball court, or studying for my next calculus test, I am constantly engaged in the Greenhill community and strive to get others engaged in it as well. One great example of community that stays with me is last November when third-graders invited everyone who voted to get their picture taken. I posed for the camera with props and got posted on their wall. I loved how the Lower Schoolers were not only learning about the importance of civic engagement, but also how their learning incorporated the entire community. I feel that Greenhill is a prime example of community-wide learning and how education is enhanced when we include a variety of perspectives.� Megan Olomu, Grade 12
Student Council President, 2018-2019
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welcoming to all
“we don’t have cliques”
“I am a member of the student body and the debate
“ We’re really inviting and welcoming to new
team—two initiatives that seek to make our School
people. I remember the feeling of being
a better place and the Greenhill community writ
new in primer and almost instantly part of
large. I appreciate how the Greenhill community is
Greenhill. This year we have a new student in
constantly working to self-evaluate and find new
seventh grade. From the moment he arrived,
ways to be inclusive and welcoming to all. Whether
kids starting talking to him and including him
through top-down administrative efforts or through
in what we do. We don’t have many cliques.
collaborative efforts such as the Advancing Core
Our grade feels really unified and whole. Also
Principles committee, I think that this is important
everyone is super dedicated to what they do.
because it helps us keep up with the constantly
They care about their education and want to
changing world and adapt to the needs of
do their best.”
individuals within our community.”
Pearce Barnes, Grade 7
Josh Leffler, Grade 11
Greenhill is a diverse community of learners… From the first words of our mission statement, our commitment to community is held amongst our highest ideals. According to Head of School Lee Hark, “Our school is a dynamic blend of cultures, backgrounds, and genders, and we appreciate the unique gifts of each member of our community.” As a visual reminder, banners hang on lightposts and in buildings this year, reminding everyone that, “we are a community of [your interest].” With our core values of honor, respect, and compassion, we strive to know every member of this community and foster a true sense of belonging.
ranging perspectives “ The aspect of Greenhill’s community that matters most to me is the wide range of perspectives and opinions. During my time at Greenhill, I have been introduced to new views, experiences, and perspectives on different races, cultures, religions, traditions, and ways of life.” Sophie Baron, Grade 11
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The Community Service and Service Learning program is an essential part off the curriculum for our students to understand their place in the world and their role to give back. This program serves the broader community through age-appropriate service projects that teach our students about issues such as poverty, homelessness, and hunger through educational lessons and non-profit agency site visits. According to the program’s director, Angela Woodson, “Community service can teach you so many things about your community you didn’t know. By being proximate, making connections with different people, and really doing the work, our students make real-world observations about people, our environment, animals, etc. that influence their perceptions and views. Ultimately, I hope our students are developing a heart for service, and recognizing that it truly takes each of us to make a difference in our communities.”
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— Angela Woodson, Director of Community Service & Service Learning
Homecoming brings together every member of the Greenhill community in “memory-making” events. During the day, we enjoy the “turnabout games,” the pep rally with faculty lip syncs, student skits, lots of dancing, and really loud cheering! In the evening, alumni come back to campus for our traditional Babe’s chicken dinner, the football game, the presentation of the Homecoming Court, and senior family introductions at halftime. This year, the Hark family did the coin toss!
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fostering awareness and action “ If we look at our lives in terms of what change we want to create, or how we want to positively impact our communities, then the stress of ‘what college or job or grade I’m going to get’ fades away. You are no longer determined by a number like your GPA or SAT; instead, you get to choose a cause that you believe in and measure yourself according to something you’re passionate about. Now, as a community, let’s raise our right hand and commit to social awareness, finding a cause to believe in, and making a difference.” Brian Zhou, Grade 12 Brian gave a senior address at an assembly this year about resolving to become a better community member dedicated to greater causes.
def ining community Lower Schoolers meet in an assembly every Friday where fourth grade leaders often ask thought provoking questions. When asked about what it means to be a community, Lower Schoolers answered: • “We all have different beliefs.” • “We don’t judge others without understanding them.” • “We all look different.” • “We are all unique individuals.”
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Faculty reflect on community grounded in relationships “ From the start in 1950, when “white flight” was a trend in educational facilities, Greenhill was founded not as an escape, but to engage and reflect the greater community. We were founded to be different than other schools with that very first difference being the fact that we would not be limited to one gender. The Greenhill experience was to be grounded in relationships, not just curriculum or pedagogy or programs. Founders Bernard and Helen Fulton believed first and foremost in PEOPLE.” Tom Perryman ’81, Assistant Head of School
“i never forget a face” “ I love this place. It’s all about the kids. I’ve seen decades of Preschoolers grow up to be Upper Schoolers. I see them come back as alumni and I never forget a face. I’ve seen lots of changes over the decades, but one thing remains . . . our community is what keeps me here, and what gets me going everyday.” Ron Ivery, Facilities Staff 29
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Heart of the Hill (HOH) is a beloved program at Greenhill uniting students across divisions in themed activities about
six times a year. Made up of multiple age groups and teachers, students often form bonds with other students and teachers they wouldn’t otherwise know. Advanced Video Production (AVP) instructor Corbin Doyle’s group has a tradition of drawing the Hornet on the sidewalk every Homecoming week.
empowering our students “ My personal mission to strengthen the Greenhill community is to continue reaching our youth through art and exploration. My goals are always to empower our students through art, thought, advocacy, and creativity. There is so much healing and beauty in art! In a single painting my students have the ability to present their voice. As their art instructor, I have the unique ability and platform to give their voice sound.” Valerie Bennett Gillespie '98
Middle School/Upper School Visual Art
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asking brave questions “ I admire how our community comes together to confirm and critique who we are. In classes and in faculty meetings, we ask some brave questions about what we should teach, how we should move forward, what needs to be adjusted. Why do we do this? It’s easy for a school like ours to become complacent. But we don’t accept that. We are surrounded by folks trying to do their best and, hopefully, are inspired by the striving of their colleagues.” Joel Garza, Upper School English
Every aspect of the
Greenhill Fine Arts program ,
from award-winning visual art to stunning theatre performances to recordbreaking film entries in SxSW, is about stretching definitions, seeking new perspectives, sharing provocative ideas, and engaging community.
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staying true to those before us “My charge as an alumna and faculty member is
“This year, I wear the dual hats of an alumna who
to create a pathway forward for our Greenhill
feels familiar with Greenhill and a new employee
community that stays true to our founding
who is learning the ropes. My favorite moments
principles, reflects a growth mindset, honors
are when I am walking into the library. I always
the individuals that took up this work before me,
stop to glance at the wall of teachers who taught
and pushes Greenhill to continue our journey
me. In that small entryway, I eagerly share a story
toward an inclusive and equitable community.”
about a teacher who made a difference in my life,
Monsie Munoz ’05, Upper School History
like my Lower School French teacher Madame Maggie Lepair, my sixth grade English teacher Mrs. Karen Hagood, or my Upper School English teach- er and Evergreen sponsor Dr. Marilyn Stewart. The stories shared in those moments are special and
Founders ’ Day is a favorite tradition at Greenhill. Every year the entire community gathers to celebrate the day the School was founded,
unique only to a community like Greenhill.” Kathryn Tobolowsky Koshkin ’98, Middle School History
September 11, 1950. This year, we made the ceremony a special welcome to our new Head of School Lee Hark by inviting parents and alumni to join us.
we are family “Greenhill has been an extended family to me, very literally, since the year I entered the school as a student in 1964. I have been a student, alumnus, parent, parent of alumni, and now my daughter is my colleague! (Sharon Charlebois ’97 teaches Middle School science.) I have taught here starting in 1989, seen my daughters graduate (Sharon ’97 and Ruth ’06), and am now a Greenhill Legend. Our family stories overlap and intertwine again and again with Greenhill always present. This is a place that supports you through the tough times and celebrates with you in good times. I am grateful for that.” Roger Charlebois ’71, Third Grade Teacher
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cultivating deep relationships “One of my favorite stories about community starts with one of my favorite bands. For my son’s tenth birthday, I took him to see Bon Jovi for his first concert. We were joined by Travis McElroy ’08, a former student of mine, and his mother Tracey. I had known the McElroys since 1999, having taught Travis in all three divisions, and we had all created a friendship along the way. We had already gone to a few Bon Jovi concerts together, in fact, but this was a different thing altogether: this was Aidan’s first concert, to see the first band I ever listened to. In other words, this was sacred. And for Aidan (a fourth-grader at the time) and I to share the experience with a former student whom I had taught in fourth grade, well, it truly exemplified the kinds of deep relationships our school fosters. The four of us saw Bon Jovi again the next year, ensuring that Greenhill’s lessons continue to extend through the generations, beyond the classroom, and with a whole lot of volume!” Andy Mercurio, Upper School English
Lunchtime brings students, faculty, and staff together in the dining hall where Sage Dining Services treats us to one of the best school lunches in Dallas. “We are so lucky” is a phrase spoken often. While we enjoy gourmet scratch cooking with organic and local offerings, faculty eat (second grade teacher Maggie Fulton Parry ’07 sits with her students above) at round tables to build community and foster conversation (and table manners) throughout the meal.
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THIRD GRADE FELLOW MILES ANDRES '14 STANDS BETWEEN HIS PARENTS, DEBBIE AND MARC ANDRES, AT THE HOMECOMING PICNIC. DEBBIE AND MARC HAVE BEEN DEVOTED PARENT VOLUNTEERS, SERVING THE SCHOOL IN COUNTLESS ROLES, SUCH AS P.A. PRESIDENT AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR.
Parents reflect on community a welcoming place
challenging ourselves to be better
“We are new to Dallas. We moved here in the fall of
“We love Greenhill because the community
2018, which was a huge transition for our family.
challenges us to be better — better students,
This was the biggest change in my twin boys'young
better parents, better people. In these times,
lives, as they entered fourth grade. They confronted
Greenhill is a community where all of us —
a new city, new school, new teacher, and making
not just the kids — can learn to be respectful,
new friends. Greenhill helped us with every step
compassionate, and honorable citizens.
including matching us with kind buddy families,
Through civil discourse and regular opportunities
keeping a keen eye whenever the boys needed
to have deeper, more meaningful, interactions
a friend, and looking out for them as they slowly
between our diverse community members,
found their own niche at Greenhill. We see and feel
Greenhill produces empathetic individuals ready
the true sense of community because we never felt
for the issues that our society faces both today
like the “newbies” on campus. Greenhill opened its
and into the future.”
heart to us and made us feel part of the school from the beginning. After only a couple of months, I see wonderful life-long friendships forming among the Greenhill community and my family.” Wing de la Torre, Parent volunteer Wing and Ralph de la Torre are the parents of fourth-graders Gabriel and Sebastian.
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Joe Chu, Trustee Carol and Joe Chu are the parents of fifth-grader Noah, second-grader Josiah, and kindergartener Dani.
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being known “I love that our family feels known at Greenhill. From the very beginning, I felt that faculty and staff were looking out for my kids. They knew and remembered their names, they asked about them, and from the very beginning, my kids were taught that everyone belongs. As a multi-racial family, we don’t fit into a box and Greenhill celebrates that. Our students have strong role models here who cultivate honor, respect, and compassion, and we all belong.” Jennipher Rice, Parent Volunteer Jennipher and Blake Rice are the parents of fifth-grader Megan and primer student Coleman.
Greenhill Goes Global takes community to a much larger scale with a celebration of countries and heritage around the world. Parent volunteers transform Cox Gymnasium into a stunning global festival—a true representation of our diversity. Students fill out passports as they visit different countries, taste new foods, and view music and dance performances from around the world.
raising global citizens “Our family moved to Dallas in 2013, and I fell in love with Greenhill from the start. We were particularly drawn to the emphasis on raising global citizens. Through uniquely interpersonal activities such as the Taiwanese exchange program and classroom Diwali festivities, Greenhill deepens our connections to each other by celebrating our differences. My favorite event is Greenhill Goes Global, a salute to the many nationalities that make up our vibrant community. It’s exciting to see our children travel the world without leaving the gym! Another central tenet of Greenhill in which I found special meaning involves students’ partnership in a sustainable world. With Mrs. Flanagan’s Team Green, our children are becoming stewards of their school while thinking on a grander scale about their impact on the environment. Through all of these activities and events, Greenhill celebrates each student for who they are and fosters the vast spectrum of individuals they are meant to become.” Leigh Morales, Parent Volunteer Leigh and Jeff Morales are the parents of fourth-graders Oliver and Noah. 35
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becoming more connected “As a technophile myself, I do see one of the great costs of living in the virtual world is the diminution of our local communities. We don’t know our neighbors as well. Many people are becoming more connected virtually and less connected to actual people. What I love about the Greenhill community is that it is an excellent example and embodiment of the real-world community that I want my children to live in. It is a diverse collection of people who are talented, flawed, thoughtful, conflicted, and every other trait, but regardless of each individual’s differences or similarities, the community encourages honor, respect, and compassion for everyone. When there is discord, there is thoughtful discussion. When there is hardship, the community comes together. When there is cause for celebration, the community gathers. I am thankful that my children have grown up surrounded by this wonderful community, because they need to take it with them wherever they go.” Ben Newman, Parent Volunteer Ben and Rebekah Newman, Parents' Association President, are the parents of eleventh-grader Ethan and fifth-grader Miles.
From Friday Night Lights to cross country meets,
Greenhill athletic events bring people together at every stage, from prekindergarten to senior year in often life-long relationships. When student-athletes give #RelentlessEffort and their parents and friends cheer them on, Hornets #LiveGreen and #BleedGold!
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Community Connections in Latin Class Upper School Latin Teacher Laura Hudec has based her Advanced Latin Literature Course on the year’s theme of Community. “I thought I’d like to explore incorporating a service-learning element into the course, and my students liked it so much that we continued it through the whole year.” In a special collaboration with Multi-age teacher Gabby Moscetta, the students walk across campus to the Child Development Center (CDC) and spend time with the youngest members of the community. They do this every other day after stretching their brains in Latin literature concepts, and they are required to journal and ruminate on the concept of community, based on their experience. Here are excerpts from their entries:
“ I love interacting with more people on campus. As someone who wasn’t here in Lower School, I’ve really gotten a better sense of the school as a whole, from the littlest babies to seniors!” Sam Bovard, Grade 12
“ This has increased my sense of community because it is like HOH on another level, with high schoolers mixing with CDC students, knowing that soon I will be leaving this community.” Mohan Desai, Grade 11
“ I’ve been changed for the better by interacting with these kids. It makes me happier.” Michelle Liang, Grade 11
“ Community is about introducing and showing one another new ways to look at the world, how to act, and how to react towards the things that happen to us. Service shows how small our worlds really are.”” Veda Velamuri, Grade 11
“ Many times I think I lose perspective on how far we all have come from when we were babies to where we are today. We have accomplished so much growth and need to continue growing. These kids were so ready to like me and accept me. I truly appreciate my time with them and now I realize that I can have a bond with anyone on campus, regardless of age.” Carter Truitt, Grade 11
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Alumni reflect on community we believe in ourselves and each other “My peers inspire me. Of all of the amazing institutions I attended between college, grad school, residency, and fellowship, my Greenhill classmates are the ones whose accomplishments most impress me. Not because they have made the most money or won the most accolades, but because they have become the best at what they believe in. They are school teachers, authors, comedians, local/state/national community and government leaders... and they are the best at what they do.” Israel P. Nosnik M.D. ’99, Alumni Board Member
we value relationships “One thing that always stands out to me about our community is the passion of the teachers and staff. I remember experiencing profound classroom moments and close relationships with my teachers as a student, and now I see it again through the lens of my own children. The relationships between teachers and students is what makes this place so special and impactful.” Megan Baumel Considine ’97, Alumni Board Member Megan and Mike Considine are the parents of fifth-grader Dylan and second-grader Emmett.
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we are encouraged “In a word, I would call the Greenhill community ‘encouraging.’ From a young age, students are encouraged to think for themselves, follow their passion, do their best, and support others in doing the same.” Dani Friedman Zietz ’02, Alumni Board Member Dani and Josh Zietz are the parents of prekindergartener Nate.
“Having been in Will Fulton’s class at Greenhill in the late ’60’s, I have spent a lot of time around Bernard and Helen Fulton and the Fulton family over the years. I have two daughters who are Forever Club graduates, and now this year I have three grandchildren at Greenhill. It is such a pleasure to see how Helen and Bernard’s founding ideals have been carried forward to this day. This is never more evident than when I volunteer in the cafeteria and when I attend our Alumni Board meetings.” Larry Ley ’68, Alumni Board Member Father of Carolyn Ley Thomas ’97 and Laura Ley Staub ’01; Grandfather of first-graders Grant Staub and Abigail Thomas, and prekindergartener Nathan Staub.
we are family “My friends when I attended Greenhill are still my friends today. There is a very special bond between us. We value and care for each other like family.” Susan Hensarling ’75
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Alumni careers in community and social impact tell us more about your current initiatives.
My work around the adolescent girls’ agenda is the thing that I am most proud of and passionate about. It started when the World Bank decided it wanted to put a stake in the ground with the Adolescent Girls Initiative, and I had the rare opportunity to input and shape their approach. Through my previous job, I was able to significantly grow Standard Chartered’s programming to support girls’ economic empowerment and we expanded this girls’ program by 20+ countries. The program is changing lives, and I am so proud of it and the team that is now driving it. The fact that I was asked to chair the Girls’ Education Taskforce by Gordon and Sarah Brown was a testament to what I had built and the legacy I left at Standard Chartered.
payal dalal ’99 Living in London, Payal is Vice President for Global Programs at The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, the philanthropic hub of Mastercard, where she oversees the Center’s community investments around the globe. Previously, she was Head of Global Community Programs for Standard Chartered Bank. In this capacity, she managed all programs related to education, health, emergency response, and disaster relief. With a background in international philanthropy and politics, Payal has worked for a wide range of public sector organizations, including the World Affairs Council, the Global Philanthropy Forum, and the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Payal also worked on foreign policy for the Office of President William J. Clinton and remained involved with the work of the Clinton Global Initiative as a program advisor until 2016.
what are some of your proudest accomplishments in social impact and community-building? I’ve spent nearly my entire career in international development and social impact. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to do this work and collaborate with some of the most dynamic and inspiring leaders in the space. Whether it was working for famed economist Jeffrey Sachs or President Clinton or a visionary CEO like Peter Sands, I’ve learned a lot and built some incredibly meaningful partnerships and programs over the years.
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I am now with Mastercard and lead the Impact team around the world through the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. With the company’s new investment of $500M, I am excited to be helping put the social impact strategy and flagship programs in place. I was just named one of the three most influential women in social impact at TedxWomen in London! The honor helps me believe I am doing what I am meant to do and doing it right.
what aspects of community matter most to you?
Community has to be inclusive; otherwise, it is not sustainable in the long run. Social impact is really about investing in communities to ensure there is true inclusion and everyone has access to the same opportunities.
is there anything you can remember about your greenhill experience that paved the way toward what you do today? Oh gosh—so many memories! I remember
knitting caps for homeless kids in fifth grade. That was probably my first foray into public service. I also think the required community service we had to do in Upper School was hugely influential. My favorite activity was translating in Spanish and English for the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, an initiative spearheaded by Mary Tapia. It was a great example of skills-based volunteering and made me feel like I was really helping aid communication.
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what are some of your proudest accomplishments in social impact and community-building? I worked in New
York for six years where I started, built, and successfully sold a company. In New York, success demands toughness; sensitivity is a personal choice, and one that can often get in your way. When I started working in Detroit, I had to remain super tough with my convictions, pursuits, and ideas, but also had to employ immense amounts of sensitivity, empathy, and understanding. The majority of the people in the neighborhoods where I work in Detroit are totally different than me, race, religion, age, socioeconomic status, and life experience. The first step of this work was getting to know the community and understanding their experience and relationship with the neighborhood where they’ve spent the majority of their lives. I also needed to listen and then share my plans with them.
philip kafka ’05 Philip Kafka is president of Prince Concepts, which owns and is activating approximately 750,000 square feet of real estate — all contiguous — in downtown Detroit. Prince Concepts acquires property, and when appropriate, designs programming around the people and properties discovered along the way. Philip sees Detroit as a comeback story, offering a unique opportunity to do business. He first visited Detroit in 2012, and since then, he has been investing in properties in the Motor City. He also recently completed an award-winning residential project that features houses inspired by Quonset huts.
The results were inspired. I developed a housing community that has residents from all over the USA, has won three of the most prestigious architecture awards in North and South America, but also blends right in with one of the “seen-better-times” neighborhoods that was once the backbone of Detroit. The old timers are proud to live adjacent to the community, and for some reason, people from around the world enjoy it just as much! I’m very proud of being able to service both interests with one project. Servicing one without the other wouldn’t be interesting.
what advice do you have for greenhill students and alumni who want to inspire social change in their careers? Care more about what you are making than isolating the
creation of community. Community is the consequence of extremely good and comprehensive work and strong ideas. Community needs a focal point; it can’t be the objective, it must be a consequence, and it’s only a consequence when your objective is inspired.
is there anything you can remember about your greenhill experience that paved the way toward what you do today? At Greenhill, it was very formative for me to spend 12
years on a campus that allowed students to explore their own personal style and interests, but still demanded a high level of performance. It also taught me that community — strong communities — emerge from the bottom up. Let people express their own ideas, and find their own communities built around things that matter to them. Imposing a top down hierarchy builds communities that will eventually break, and are certainly more taxing than energizing.
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TH E COM MU N ITY ISSU E
asad meghani ’10 Asad Meghani is a Senior Marketing Associate at JPMorgan Chase & Co in Philadelphia where he does mobile marketing strategy for Chase Credit Card Services. He recently served for two weeks in Pakistan as a Basketball Coach for the youth of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim community. He writes about it here:
tell us what you did.
do you think you made a significant impact? I do believe we
made an impact from a basketball standpoint, and I definitely expect the
youth to stay engaged with the sport given their enthusiasm throughout the clinic. I think we made an even bigger impact from a personal
I was blessed to have the opportunity through the Aga Khan Youth & Sports Board of USA to travel to Pakistan, along with eight other team members, for two weeks to coach basketball and mentor the local youth of Gilgit and Karachi.
development standpoint. Throughout the clinic, we had a theme for each
Given my experience coaching basketball at Greenhill over various summers with Coach Jaye Andrews and Coach Darryn Sandler ’95, we were able to use their model as a template for our clinics. The clinic in Karachi was held at Aga Khan University Hospital’s Sports Complex, the top medical school in Pakistan. We coached ~50 co-ed youth split in two sessions per day. As basketball isn’t a popular sport in Pakistan, the level of basketball was beginner, but the energy and enthusiasm of the participants was incredible.
sessions and led discussions to further promote youth development
The clinic in Gilgit was a completely different experience. Gilgit is in the northern, mountainous region of Pakistan and is absolutely beautiful. The areas are not that developed, but it has its own aesthetic feel to it given the landscape. The clinic in Gilgit was held at one of the local Jamatkhanas (house of the community) that recently built an outdoor athletic ground consisting of a basketball court, sand volleyball court, badminton court, and soccer field. Similar to Karachi, we coached youth split in two sessions per day (youth girls in the morning and youth boys in the afternoon). The level of basketball was also beginner, but as one of the local elders stated, “In Gilgit, sports is in our blood.”
what were the kids like? We had participants ranging from age 8-25 years old, and the interaction with the youth was unbelievable. First, the youth were incredibly talented. They were all athletic, bright, and very smart. On average, they spoke about five languages including English. It was pretty impressive that we really didn’t have a language barrier. The
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culture was respectful and welcoming; we were treated as one of their own. The youth were very respectful, attentive, had a great work ethic, and an even better sense of community. Older kids took the time to help younger kids. Also, each participant would seek out each coach to shake our hands, look us in the eyes, and say hello. I know Coach Andrews would love that!
day (communication, accountability, work ethic, etc.), and our goal was to use basketball as a vehicle to instill these ideas into their everyday lives. In addition to basketball, our other team members held classroom based on The Search Institute’s 40 Assets. These sessions included discussions on goal setting, confidence, presentation skills, etc. In the classroom, it was amazing to witness the brilliance of the youth. It was evident that they all had big dreams to advance in life and give back to their community. Personally, this was a very humbling experience. I was able use my passion for basketball to give back to my community in Pakistan.
“We all have different beliefs.” “We don’t judge others without understanding them.” “We all look different.” “We are all unique individuals.” Quotes from Lower Schoolers at an assembly discussing Community.
#WeAreGreenhill
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save the date for our annual Giving Day on may 16, 2019! a day for giving back and paying it forward.
For 24 hours, alumni have the opportunity to come together and make a powerful, joint impact at Greenhill School. Success is about participation. It’s the number of people who give, not the dollar amount, so every gift counts. Join our efforts and find out more at www.greenhill.org/alumni
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A LUMN I WELCOM E LETTER
Dear
Fellow Hornets, As part of our community, Greenhill Alumni advance the mission of the school by reinforcing the lessons learned and friendships made. These strong ties and deep sense of community create a
welcoming environment and contribute directly to the rich academic experience enjoyed by our students. Not only did you help write our history, but through your continued partnership, you
are an important voice in developing our future. Who better for today’s students to aspire to than those who have walked in their very shoes?
Our Alumni community encompasses a diverse network of more than 4,500 individuals across
the country and around the world. Whether you live five miles or 5,000 miles away, we want to stay connected.
There are many ways to getinvolved; whether you're volunteering, coming to campus for reunions,
making a gift, attending a local reception, or simply staying in touch, we welcome you! If you have
not had the chance to visit campus recently, we welcome you back. Although there have been many changes on campus, we are certain that your visit will bring back many memories and give you the chance to create new ones!
As the President of the Greenhill Alumni Board, I am pleased to serve all Greenhill graduates and I encourage you to get involved in this rich community. Lauren Pritchard Goodman ’04
Alumni Board President, 2018-2020
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7.
1.
2.
8.
9.
3. 10.
4.
6.
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11.
5.
12.
13.
Check out these events with familiar faces! We always love seeing you. If you haven’t been to a reunion, on-the-road event, alumni game, or campus visit, make plans to come back to Greenhill soon! A talented group of alumni from the ’90s has been seen on campus lately: 1.
A LUM N I H IGH LIGHTS 7.
Head of School Lee Hark traveled to Manhattan for his first on-theroad alumni event in October. Nearly 80 graduates and guests joined us for an evening of reconnecting and also welcoming young alumni who recently moved to the city. Alumni from five decades attended the gathering from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Find this group on Facebook or contact Katie Young for more information. 8.
2.
marc wallenstein ’98
3.
10.
11.
Alumna Regina Merson ’99 visited Greenhill to talk with sixth graders about her identity as a Latina woman and how it has influenced her life journey, including starting her own beauty brand, Reina Rebelde. She shared experiences from her time at Greenhill that helped her to create the brand and how she incorporated Latin history, culture, and artistic influences into her products.
5.
12.
holiday gathering
homecoming – October 2018
Homecoming always draws alumni back to campus and this year was no exception. Head of School Lee Hark and his family helped to kick off the football game by participating in the honorary coin toss. It was an evening filled with green and gold. Thanks to all who attended the annual Homecoming Dinner and our athletic events.
alumni soccer – December 2018
girls basketball – November 2018 The alumnae basketball team challenged Greenhill girls varsity and JV players during the Thanksgiving break. With players from the last decade, the alumnae even managed to pull Varsity Coach Darryn Sandler ’95 into the game.
Network Bar, Trinity Groves – November 2018 We kicked off the holiday season with our annual gathering in Dallas. More than 100 alumni, Greenhill Legends, and guests enjoyed holiday bites at the Network Bar in Trinity Groves. Thanks to the Greenhill Alumni Board for hosting. 6.
boys basketball – December 2018
Greenhill Legend and former Head Coach Richard Hall joined for the annual Alumni Soccer Game which started as a winter break scrimmage more than 30 years ago.
regina merson ’99
It was great to see so many alumni at the following events:
volleyball – August 2018 Alumni volleyball players showed they still have game by taking on the Varsity teams at the annual Alumni Volleyball game. Even though it has been at least five years since some of the alumni suited up for the Hornets, they played hard against their current counterparts. Former Varsity Coach Keith Nannie managed the alumni bench. Former Coaches Herman Card and Jaye Andrews were on hand for the annual alumni boys basketball game during winter break. With alumni from the last 20 years, there were enough players to build two full teams. The stands were filled with current families, parents of alumni, and current students.
michael barnett ’90
Thank you Michael Barnett ’90 for sharing with Greenhill your amazing talents behind the camera in alumni videos, Head of School Lee Hark introductions, and more! 4.
9.
neil gelinas ’97
National Geographic Society Filmmaker and Greenhill alumnus Neil Gelinas ’97 joined us for a screening of his feature lenth film “Into The Okavango.” The event was made possible by Greenhill Science Department, Greenhill Green Team and EARTHxFilm.
senior breakfast - October 2018
Greenhill seniors received their coveted sweatshirts during Homecoming week. The breakfast provided a wonderful opportunity for the class of 2019 to meet and talk with members of the Greenhill Alumni board. New faculty members and alumnae Anna Gálvez ’11 and Karen Cruz ’11 shared their memories of senior year and their advice with the class during breakfast.
Alumnus Marc Wallenstein ‘98 spoke with Upper School students in Scott Cotton’s 9/11 Course about his work as a U.S. Attorney. He highlighted a recent case involving a U.S. Military member attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Marc said the thing he enjoys most about his work is that he “gets to do good for a living.” He is a former Greenhill debater (a national champion!) and Improv member so many of our faculty were thrilled to have him visit campus. Thanks, Marc!
new york alumni reunion - October 2018
13.
beers with lee – January 2019 When he arrived, new Head of School Lee Hark emailed Greenhill Alumni to introduce himself and offered to connect in person over a cup of coffee or beer. The response was so great that we hosted a happy hour in January with alumni from more than six decades attending. The gathering was held at Public School 972 in Addison. We hope to plan more casual gatherings with Lee in the future. alumni service
We hosted another great Alumni Service night at The Stewpot with representatives from ’74 to ’07! Alumni volunteer opportunities take place throughout the year at locations around Dallas. If you are interested in offering an opportunity or would like to volunteer with us or just visit campus, please contact Katie Young, youngka@greenhill.org or 972.628.5521.
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PL AN N ED GIVI NG
lower schoolers pause at recess to read about our history. built in 2010, founders’ place is a quiet sanctuary on campus, honoring those who made a difference for future generations.
Join the
fulton society and leave a legacy ! In 1950, Bernard and Helen Fulton were inspired to create a school with a vibrant learning environment, nurturing faculty and student relationships, and a welcoming, inclusive community. The Fulton Society, named for these inspirational founders, helps to ensure that a Greenhill education will be available to students for generations to come. The Fulton Society recognizes those individuals who reinforce Greenhill’s legacy by naming the School as a beneficiary of their estate and gift plans. There are many vehicles which may benefit you and your family while providing vital support for the school. If you have already made a provision for Greenhill in your will or by other planned gift, we hope you will join the distinguished group of supporters of Greenhill who are members of The Fulton Society. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your Greenhill experiences and about your support for the School, now or in the future. Please contact Susan Holmes, Chief Advancement Officer, at (972) 628-5501 or visit www.greenhill.org/plannedgiving for more information!
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A LTE R N ATIVE C L ASS N OTES
We are a
community of
By participating in the Greenhill Fund, you have helped make moments like these possible: Lower Schoolers use ipads to record reflections about their work and share with their parents via the
seesaw app. Preschoolers get hands-on with project-based learning in their appointed makerspace. Upper Schoolers enjoy an augmented history curriculum to better reflect the modern world, and the entire eighth grade class travels to washington d.c. to witness behindthe-scenes snapshots of our united states government at work. greenhill fund co-chairs Leslie & David Benners Catie & Aaron Enrico Selwyn Rayzor & Rich Moses
new parent co-chairs
Dana Starner & Kenji Hashimoto Natalie & Michael Waldman ’98
major gift co-chairs Pilar & Jay Henry Carola & Doug Rayburn Elan & Augusto Sasso Joy & Jordan Sebold
parents of alumni co-chairs Mary & Jeff Whiting Puckett
grandparent co-chairs Carol & Allen Pitts
alumni co-chairs
Lauren Hradecky Blitzer ’01 Cynthia Cooper Spigel ’97
we are so proud of our greenhill community that helped us reach our goals last year. We would also like to thank our leadership volunteers and grade captains who are helping to make this year a tremendous success!
grade captains
Lindsay & Jehan Akhtar Heather & Brian Arnold Stacey & Jason Beatey Yasmin & Vik Bhatia Allison & Chris Bovard Kathy & Gary Bridges O’Malley & Ben Dishman, Jr. Saleema Syed & Omer Farooque Michelle & Rich Frymire Michelle Wettreich Garza ’95 & Joel Garza Joanna & David Greenstone Karlyn & Grant Herlitz Jane & Michael Hurst Zack Hicks & Dennis Iacovino Tracey & Chris Kennedy Julie Grossman Kronick ’83 & David Kronick Rachel Davidoff Ladin ’91 & Brian Ladin
it’s not too late to help us surpass our goals!
Kamini & Malik Mamdani Leigh & Jeff Morales Ramona Helble & Uzair Nathani Susan & Doug Ness Louis Okon ’93 Rosalind Lynam & Matt Pikar Janine & Allen Pitts, Jr. Kaitlin & Elliott Prieur Tracy & Kent Rathbun Melissa & Matt Rubel Joy & Jordan Sebold Julia & Casey Selfridge Grace & Stanley Smith Jennifer & Nate Stinchcomb Sanober & Nabeel Syed Beth & Bryan Thomas Marianna & Jon Yellen Joanne & Joe Yurich Lauren & Jeff Zlotky
www.greenhill.org/give 49
ALUMN I COM MON TH R EA DS
Alumni
common threads
Greenhill Alumni have accomplished amazing things across the globe, but most importantly, they are part of a connected network of relationships. If you have done something cool or seen fellow alumni around town doing noteworthy things, share your stories with us!
Greenhill Alumni . . .
write books!
run in races! Bradley Bazzle ’98 published Trash Mountain, his first novel, in May 2018. The novel won the Red Hen Press Fiction award. Alexis Clark ’94 published Enemies in Love in fall 2018. The story captures the true story of a black army nurse who falls in love with a German prisoner of war in Arizona during World War II. Alexis is currently a professor at Columbia Journalism School in New York City. John Eisenberg ’75 published The League in October 2018. Eisenberg, a former Baltimore Sun sportswriter and author of That First Season, tells the little-known story of how the NFL became the powerhouse it is. Priya Krishna ’09 published Indian-ish in April 2019. She calls it “a celebration of one very cool and boundary-breaking mom’s “Indian-ish” cooking—with accessible and innovative Indian-American recipes.” You can view her cooking videos on the Bon Appétit YouTube channel. Josh Goldberg ’97 is the co-author of Struggle Well: Thriving in the Aftermath of Trauma, published in March 2018. Josh is now the executive director of Boulder Crest, the first privately-funded wellness center in the U.S. for veterans with mental health issues. Josh was a 2017 Presidential Leadership Scholar.
The Poppy War, from Rebecca Kuang ’13, came out in 2018. Barnes & Noble called it "the
buzziest fantasy debut of 2018." The book won the 2019 Crawford Award for a first book of fantasy fiction within a planned trilogy.
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The following alumni were spotted across social media channels running the annual Dallas Turkey Trot in November 2018. Stephanie Arbetter ’08 Samantha Carp ’13 Austin Denesuk ’10 Colby Denesuk ’14 Hannah D'Apice ’08 Joseph D'Apice ‘16 Lizzy D'Apice ’14 Rachel D'Apice ’12 Emily Fine ’15 Jonathan Fine ’11 Morgan Fine Musikantow ’09 Remy Fine ’13 Samantha Fine ’12 Griffin Hull ’15 Meera Jayaseelan v18 (current student Kirin Jayaseelan, junior)
Eshan Kejriwal ’11 Brian Konig ’12 Larry Lundy ’79 Shannon Harris McSpadden ’94 Emily Orth ’14 Dutt Pranav ’11 Meera Pranav ’09 John Riviera ’14 Brandon Ryan’14 Asha Sharma ’09 Neal Sharma ’12 Rekha Sharma ’16
A LUMN I COM MO N TH R EA D
and run into each other in interesting places!
The eighth grade visited Washington, D.C. in October and our alumni were there to greet Doug Levy ’90 ran into Bonnie
Timmins Martin ’90 at a coffee shop
during a trip to Colorado last summer. Bonnie said, “I woke up early to go
get coffee one morning, only to have Doug standing in front of me in line.
them. A panel discussion at the Hart Senate
Office building included (left - right) Elizabeth
Ohumumwen Aguebor ’12, Kathryn Hamm ’87, Stephanie Fishman ’09, Carrie Palmer Swope
Head of School Lee Hark and Assistant Head of School Tom Perryman ’81 gathered with
Greenhill alumni who are currently attending college in Philadelphia during a visit in January 2019.
’06, Ned Price (non-alumnus), and Rachel Eichhorn ’08.
I haven’t seen him since our school
days! It was so fun!” Doug added,
Back in September 2018, we
“We got our families together and
listened to Bruce Hornbsy perform
gathered for Alumni Service night
Colorado night. It was really fun to
from ’74 to ’07! (left - right) Chuck
at The Stewpot with representatives
at an outdoor concert on a beautiful
Briant ’74, Director of Alumni Relations
catch up!”
Katie Young, Zach Shor ’06, Sophie Levy Zuckerman ’07, Eric Zuckerman, Susan
Hensarling ’75 and Clayton Lougée ’03. Reach out if you want to get involved in our next opportunity.
Alumna Lela Rose ’87 gave Good Morning America a tour of her
headquarters and a preview of her new clothing line, called Pearl by Lela Rose.
Julie Magid Levenstein ’93 connected with
Garrett Lowen Dobbs ’07 and Matthew
at the alumni soccer game in December.
posts that they were both in Hong Kong
Greenhill Legend and former Coach Dick Hall Julie and her family were visiting Dallas from Chicago for the holidays.
Udomphol ’07 noticed through Instagram at the same time this past fall! They made plans to meet up and connect during their travels.
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turning points ALUMN I
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1.
2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.
9.
11.
12.
13.
14.
A LUM N I
Weddings 1.
2.
(after September 2017)
Brittany Rasansky Schaefer ’09 and Dustin Schaefer January 12, 2019 Jared Sandler ’07 and Emily Schneider November 10, 2018
8.
Yvette Ferrer ’07 and Michael Cavalieri April 14, 2018
10.
Jennifer Bell-Garcia ’04 and Beau Streicher December 10, 2017 Michael Trejo ’07 and Meredith Buchberg May 27, 2018
Courtney Chanon ’08 and Josh Katz November 17, 2018 Roxane Modares ’08 and Reid Albano August 25, 2018 5.
4.
Brent Beckert ’06 and Lindsey Campbell November 10, 2018
5.
Josh Levine ’06 and Corrinne Peterson June 16, 2018
6.
Austin Hartline ’12 and Tori Bottiglione September 1, 2018
Births
10.
12.
Abby Walsh-Booth ’03 and Randy Booth April 21, 2018
15.
Malaika Staten Simmons ’03 and Mark Simmons June 23, 2018
(after October 2017)
3.
Eva Christine Baltakys September 9. 2018 Eleanor Kinney Baltakys ’09 and Rytis George Baltakys
7.
Claire Levy Goodman December 13, 2018 Lauren Pritchard Goodman ’04 and Jeff Levy Goodman ’05
9.
Logan Frederick Bunner October 5, 2018 Katherine Hearty ’98 and Jon Bunner
11.
Fletcher David Burts Coon February 2, 2018 Brooke Oberwetter Coon ’98 and Joey Coon
13.
Graham Alexander Chalfant August 21, 2018 Alex Chalfant ’02 and Elizabeth Chalfant
14.
Osbourn Howard Weldon Williams November 3, 2017 Amy Davidson-Williams ’94 and Joshua Williams
15.
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In memoriam Gayle Fogelson ’52
Former Greenhill Upper School Math Teacher
Former Greenhill Trustee
Father of Jawad A. Qureshi ’93 and
Anita Kravette Alhadef
Doris Hargrove Franklin ’55 February 19, 2018
December 3, 2018
August 7, 2018
Mother of Elise Morgan ’87; mother-in-law
of Lori Alhadef ’81; grandmother of Shawn Alhadef Klein ’06 and Reagan Alhadef ’12 March 8, 2017
David Armstrong Father of Joshua Armstrong ’01 and Paul Armstrong III ’10 January 27, 2018
Stuart Brand Grandfather of Benjamin Stromberg ’17 and father of Beth Stromberg, Greenhill Lower School Spanish Teacher August 21, 2018
Zachary Carpenter ’09 January 20, 2018
Abram Castro ’86 Brother of Michael Castro ’91 September 11, 2018
Jean Duncan Former Greenhill Middle School Math Teacher Mother of Joshua Duncan ’95 September 3, 2018
Paul R. Erwin Father of Julia Erwin-Weiner ’86, Martie Maguire ’88, and Emily Robison Strayer ’91
June 6, 2017
Lanny Glick Father-in-law of Cathy Steinberg Glick ’81; grandfather of Joshua Glick ’08, Lauren Glick ’11, and Samuel Glick ’13 July 13, 2018
Patricia Davis Hill ’53
Father of Richard Latin ’86 January 11, 2019
Mark Lemmon Former Greenhill Board Chair July 13, 2018
Richard Louderbough Husband of Deirdre Reishus ’81 January 4, 2019
Gerald Schneider Father of Susan Schneider Bates ’80, David Schneider ’81, Todd Schneider ’83; grandfather of Kyle Bates ’07, Ryan Bates ’09, Adam Bates ’11, and Sarah Bates ’13 November 13, 2018
John Schoellkopf
December 11, 2018
Carol McCutchin
Renata Seaman
Former Greenhill Trustee
Mother of Tracy McCutchin ’86
Brother of Mark McKay ’89
Scott Miller ’96 May 21, 2018
Myth Monnich Mother of Myth Monnich Bayoud ’76 and Tim Monnich ’79 (deceased) November 28, 2018
Lynn Fine
Douglas Mulder
June 26, 2018
July 12, 2018
October 8, 2018
September 21, 2018
Mother of Charles Fischman ’83, Craig Fischman ’86, and Lara Fischman ’89
August 3, 2018
Grandfather of Kalen Doyle ’14 and Grace Doyle ’18
Charles Mantheiy
November 13, 2017
Marsha Fischman
Mother of Sara Reisman Staggs ’98; grandmother of Brett Reisman ’06
Former Greenhill Trustee and Board Chair Father of former student Amy Schoellkopf and Mark Schoellkopf ’98; grandfather of tenth-grader Dulany Bloom
Father of Cindy Fiedelman ’85 and Jeffrey Fiedelman ’87; grandfather of ninth-grader Ryan Stuart Fieldeman and sixth-grader Sophie Irene Fieldeman
February 1, 2018
Yvonne Reisman
Mother of Janine Rumberger ’86 and Brian Rumberger ’89
Kevin McKay ’93
Mother of Morgan Fine Musikantow ’09 and Remy Fine ’13
May 10, 2018
Donald Edward Latin
Ronald S. Fiedelman
Mother of Sheryl Fields Bogen ’72 and Amy Rosenberg ’75; mother-in-law of Julie Ray Fields ’83; grandmother of Elizabeth Fields Asen ’09 and Andrew M. Fields ’13
Raymond S. Redman ’52
Janie Simms Rumberger
March 19, 2018
Barbara (Bobbie) Fields
Naima T. Qureshi ’98; grandfather of fourth-graders Noora Qureshi and Nylah Qureshi, and kindergartener Ayaan Qureshi
April 11, 2018
March 19, 2018
February 5, 2018
Former Greenhill Trustee Father of Michelle Mulder Early ’83 and Christopher Mulder ’86; grandfather of Caroline Early ’15 and sixth-grader Rhett Mulder January 14, 2018
Alvin Plaskoff Father of Lauran Plaskoff Weiner ’86; father-in-law of Joey Music Daniel ’92 November 26, 2018
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Tanveer Qureshi
Elizabeth (Betty) Aday
Mother of Christopher Seaman ’99 and Nicholas Seaman ’00 March 15, 2018
Diane Siegel Mother of Stacy Siegel Simon ’85; grandmother of Sarah Simon ’17 June 14, 2018
Risa Solomon Mother of Elycia Solomon Sherman ’91, and Cynthia Solomon ’93 July 16, 2018
Elissa Sommerfield Mother of Frank Sommerfield, Jr ’80 November 28, 2018
Kimberley Loehr Soto ’89 January 3, 2019
Henry Southall Grandfather of Jasmin Lawrence ’14, Rheagen Smith ’17, ninth-grader Skylar Smith, and second-grader Elijah Smith December 23, 2018
I N M EMO R IAM
Miriam Star Former Parents’ Association President
Mother of Harold Star III ’70 and Meri-Kay Star ’73 January 4, 2019
Freda Stern Mother of Harley Soltes ’76
July 18, 2017
Jesse R. Thomas Father of Amanda Thomas ’98, Raymond Thomas ’03, and Jessica Thomas ’05 January 22, 2019
Robert Turner Father of Cheryl Turner ’84 and Allyson Turner-Jannotta ’88 February 11, 2018
Maxine Waldman Grandmother of Barbi Kreisler Cohen ’91, Justin Small ’91, Macey Small Davis ’94, Todd Waldman ’95, Meredith Small Wallace ’97, and Michael Waldman ’98; great-grandmother of Ryan Pollack ‘16, twelfth-grader Ben Pollack, fifth-grader Charlie Waldman, and second-grader Andrew Waldman September 10, 2018
Charles N. Warren Father of John Warren ’86, Charles Warren ’88, and Ellen Warren Harman ’94 January 5, 2018
Daniel Wettreich Father of Alex Wettreich ’93, Michelle Wettreich Garza ’95, and Mark Wettreich ’98; grandfather of fifth-grader Ruby Garza, third-grader Desi Garza, and first-grader Leo Garza September 21, 2018
Robert Wright Father of Michael Wright ’74 and Kellye Wright Samuelson ’78 (deceased); grandfather of Christopher Wright ’03, Lauren Wright ’06, and Hannah Wright ’10 January 24, 2019
John Schoellkopf
former greenhill board chair Father of former students Laura Schoellkopf Hornbach (formerly a member of the class of 1994), Amy Schoellkopf (formerly a member of the class of 1995), and Mark Schoellkopf ’98; grandfather of tenth-grader Dulany Bloom December 11, 2018 Photo: © John Derryberry
only greenhill alumni related to the deceased are listed. we do not typically list non-greenhill-related relatives.
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WHY I GIVE
why we give
The Li Family Janet and Jet Li are the parents of fifth-grader Irina and three-year-old Serena. Jet is the founder/CEO of Elong International, co-founder of Immune Sensor, and has served as a Trustee of the School since last year. Janet helps with the company has been an active parent volunteer in such activities as Greenhill Goes Global. The Li Family has made a leadership gift to the Building Community Campaign, which built the Marshall Family Performing Arts Center, renovated Crossman Hall, and added fields to campus. The Li Family is inspired by Greenhill’s mission statement that focuses on the ‘balance of mind, body, and character.’ According to Jet, “For us, the most meaningful aspect of Greenhill is that it balances academics, sports, the arts, and character education within a diverse student body.” The Lis' daugher Irina, who started in kindergarten, loves being a student and a part of the community. “She melded into Greenhill so well. She even wants to stay beyond her senior year! She once asked, ‘why can’t Greenhill have a college, too?”
“ We consider our gift to Greenhill an investment in our future. We sincerely hope
that our giving can continue to improve and augment the quality of education each Greenhill student receives for years to come. Greenhill is a great school in the constant pursuit of excellence. We are so honored to be part of this community.”
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Greenhill Board of Trustees 2018–2019
Advancement Team 2018–2019
off icers
Susan Holmes
Bruce Sostek Chair
Holland P. Gary ’93
Assistant Chair/Secretary
Roy S. Kim ’88
Finance Chair/Treasurer
trustees Leslie Benners Yasmin Bhatia Joe Chu Albertina M. Cisneros Christopher I. Clark ’89 Koshi Dhingra Ed.D. Angela Adkins Downes ’87 Aaron Enrico Lauren Pritchard Goodman ’04 David C. Greenstone Lee J. Hark Jay Henry Karlyn Herlitz Zack Hicks Rachel Ladin ’91 Jet Li E. Pierce Marshall, Jr. ’86
Marlo Melucci Rich Moses Rebekah Newman Terry Oxford Adriana Perales David Podolsky Kaitlin Prieur Tracy Rathbun William E. Rose ’85 Augusto Sasso Ashley Scheer Grace Smith Patricia Smith Bharti Subramanian Ph.D. Beth Thomas Clifford Weiner Linda Wimberly Jeff Zlotky
former board chairs electing to serve ex-officio David L. Johnson ’67 H. Ronald Nash
lifetime trustee
Rusty Jaggers Daniel T. Phillips Molly Fulton Seeligson ’60
Chief Advancement Officer
Annie Carter
Director of Annual GIving
Clint Dawley
Director of Advancement Services
Theresa Jones
Joe Monaco
Web & Media Services Manager
Alina Salgado
Donor Relations Associate
Kerry Shea
Director of Marketing & Communication
Director of Special Events/ P.A. Liasion
Emily Wilson
Kristy Joiner
Katie Young
Advancement Services Associate
Creative Services Manager Director of Alumni Relations
Comments? Story Ideas? Contact Emily Wilson wilsonemi@greenhill.org 972.628.5488 Facebook.com/GreenhillSchool Twitter.com/GreenhillSchool @GreenhillSchool
Be sure to visit www.greenhill.org for the latest school news, photo galleries, sports scores, and more! For an online version of this magazine, visit www.greenhill.org/thehill
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