GFA Magazine Spring 2019

GFA

GREENS FARMS ACADEMY MAGAZINE | SPRING 2019

Lama Tenzin

HONORED TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONK IMPARTS WISDOM AND CREATES MANDALA DURING WEEK-LONG RESIDENCY

The Reward of Intellectual Risk-Taking: INTRODUCING STUDENT-CENTERED MAY TERM

Breaking Barriers: SPORTS TEAMS BOAST OUTSTANDING SEASONS

Our Mission:

GFA engages students as partners in an innovative, inclusive, and globally minded community to prepare them for a life of purpose.

Contents DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

4 CAMPUS NEWS

3 A MESSAGE FROM BOB WHELAN

20 ACADEMICS

20 MAY TERMS

42 ATHLETICS

22 LAMA TENZIN VISITS GFA

48 THE ARTS

29 GARDENS ARE GROWING UP

57 CLASS NOTES

32 A TRADITION BECOMES PERSONAL 36 TEACHING AT GFA 50 LAUREN TELESZ ’16

EDITOR Frances Moore

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

DESIGN

Yoon S. Byun

Lindsay Russo CONTRIBUTORS John Nash, Michelle Noe, Lauren Telesz ’16

Greens Farms Academy does not discriminate against any person in admission, financial aid, program involvement, employment, or otherwise because of sexual orientation, race, religion, age, gender, national origin, or disability.

The GFA story is an inspiring, joyful, and vibrant one and on the pages that follow...

2 | www.gfacademy.org

A message from the head of school, BOB WHELAN Dear GFA Community, There is a growing body of research that supports what Homer and Virgil were keenly aware of some 3,000 years ago, or cave-painting artists 20,000 years before: that storytelling remains among the most powerful strategies for learning.

In my first year as Head of Greens Farms Academy, among the commitments I made was to learn about our school culture through the stories of those who had lived it and the people who are creating that culture today. Since the fall of 2017, when I first accepted the role of Head of School, I have had the good fortune to hear from current students, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, current and former teachers, grandparents, and friends of GFA from around the country. And although each individual story is different, there remains a consistent thread because relations have always been at the core of the GFA experience: strong partnerships between students and teachers; peers actively engaged in academic, artistic, and athletic pursuits; and classmates who have formed friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

The opportunity to observe and listen this year has been a gift. Every morning at the Lower School door, our students share with me their excitement about the new stories they will create as authors, artists, athletes, mathematicians, and friends throughout the day. When our younger students brought familiar stories to life on stage this spring — The Little Mermaid in fourth grade and The Wizard of Oz in the Middle School — they not only entered into those well-loved stories, they provided a glimpse into their as-yet-unwritten personal stories, which are strengthened by the skill-development gained from stepping out on stage and communicating an idea in front of an audience. Similarly, our Upper School students demonstrate — on a daily basis — complex problem-solving, creativity, warmth and humor, and a depth of character that is inspiring. Collectively, our PreK–12 enterprise reminds one of the profound growth that takes place over the course of the journey from PreK through grade 12.

The GFA story is an inspiring, joyful, and vibrant one and on the pages that follow, we invite you to learn more.

•

Our global perspective was brightened this winter thanks to the residency of visiting Tibetan Buddhist monk Lama Tenzin and his message of compassion. It was a gift to see our mission tenets activated so powerfully by Lama Tenzin, whose teaching reminded us that the very best education must involve both the mind and the heart. (Page 22)

•

We are seven months into the adoption of an innovative schedule that keeps the needs of students at the center. This approach has allowed us to further enhance the partnership between students and teachers, in-depth classroom experiences, moments for reflection, a more manageable approach to homework, and the vital importance of sleep! I am particularly grateful to our faculty, who have worked tirelessly over the last year to reimagine how they teach and make the most of the opportunities we have to engage our students. (Page 20)

•

We have been inspired by the success of so many GFA athletes who reached new heights this year. With the guidance of talented coaches, at press time, every one of our varsity teams qualified for postseason play in the FAA and New England tournaments. Fourteen of our studentathletes earned All-FAA recognition, along with six earning honorable mention. And, as beautifully described in “Girls Lax Makes Bronx Connection,” our athletes are sharing their skills far beyond game time. You can read about the inspiration sparked by partnership and community outreach: page 46.

Our eighth-graders describe the Eighth Grade Speech process as an essential step in making their mark upon GFA. This rite of passage is a cornerstone of our Middle School experience. “Taking risks is so rewarding, especially when you’re young because that consistent exposure to risks and experience shapes you and allows you to grow.” (Page 32) As we head into the final chapter of GFA’s 94th academic year, we do so with gratitude for all that has been accomplished and a great deal of excitement about what lies ahead.

With appreciation, spring 2019 | 3

10th Graders Take Leadership Challenge There are many new additions to the school this year, including GFA’s

Other acronym-based concepts — LEADERSHIP, STRESSORS,

first-ever 10th grade leadership seminar, a venue for the class to learn

CONFLICT, TEAMS, CONFRONT, INFLUENCE, (Leadership)

and develop leadership qualities.

STYLES, FOLLOW(er), and ETHICS — are designed so that students

In groups, students meet weekly with different faculty members.

can easily access the skills in a wide variety of situations.

Their goals are to learn a variety of critical skills like problem-solving,

During their meetings, the students will put these concepts into

ethical assessment, listening, conflict resolution, team-building, and,

action through a series of challenges and activities that require

of course, leadership, to name just a few, and to be able to use them

diligent attention to detail and focused teamwork. In one challenge,

in daily situations — in the classroom, on the athletic field, at home,

blindfolded groups listen to directions: completely color in a shape

anywhere.

“The 10th grade seminar is a place where one can insert

without coloring

“Leadership needs to be a focus, not just for some, but for everybody. We’re teaching this so kids now have a common vocabulary around leadership.”

a critical skill

The students cannot remove their blindfolds while coloring. A group leader, who

that doesn’t fit into the academic curriculum,” explained Elizabeth Day, Upper and Middle School Counselor. She is joined by faculty members from different areas around the school: Sue Teyan (US Science), Tauni Butterfield (Athletic Director), Chris Mira (Physical Education; boys varsity soccer coach), Lisa Waldstein (Visual Arts Department Chair), in hopes that the concepts will carry over into other areas across the curriculum.

At the outset of the seminar, the 10th graders learn a series of acronyms that help reinforce core concepts of the program. For example, SOLVE encourages the students to (see below):

4 | www.gfacademy.org

outside the lines.

is not blindfolded, provides direction and instruction to help them complete the coloring challenge. Each group varied in its leadership styles and success rates, and the groups came together afterward to discuss what worked and what didn’t. (They also figured out that listening more closely to the initial instructions would have provided them with a loophole: can you remove the blindfold when you’re not actively coloring?)

According to Day, she and her colleagues were passionate about sharing these skills with the sophomores because: “Leadership needs to be a focus, not just for some, but for everybody. We’re teaching this

les o r em l t b e S pro e ies e th g n i e l t ra Out t s iple t us l s u n m e List ons c rd a w r to e e V lts u s re e t lua a v E

so kids now have a common vocabulary around leadership.”

Out of that initial effort came a GFA CLC Leadership Club, modeled on the College Leadership Competition (CLC), which is made up of 88 colleges and is a competitive forum for teams to demonstrate

“We’re asking them to be reflective: Am I being a leader? Am I being a follower? If so, am I being a good follower?” explained Day. “The kids are seeing this make sense, and asking themselves, ‘How can this be better?’”

mastery of leadership skills. This year GFA joined area schools King

The three schools met in November for a head-to-head-to-head

and Masters in forming its club, with the goal of meeting for an

leadership competition, and by all accounts, their hard work paid off.

interscholastic competition on November 3.

They were given a variety of challenges, and then judged on a rubric

In the weeks leading up to the competition, The Farmers (their team name) would meet for practice exercises, which were typically multi-faceted and not always as straight-forward as they initially seemed. Like the blindfolded coloring activity, which asked the group to coordinate efforts to build a giant origami swan had information hidden within the instructions. While specific design standards and

that measured team effectiveness based on the following criteria: maintaining inclusivity and control, managing people and process, leading style, setting the emotional tone, ensuring ethical behavior, and team member/group behaviors. With each school fielding two teams for a total of six, The Farmers, finished in second and third place.

criteria had to be met, the teams would also get more points for a

Day and her colleagues shared their pride in the teams’ hard work. In

faster finish — a part of the instructions they forgot as they diligently

fact, the whole crowd was supportive of each other: as The Farmers 2

constructed the swan. While their swan technically passed inspection,

neared completion of a Domino challenge, the entire room erupted in

the group would only have received 20 points out of a possible 100.

cheers.

Like the coloring challenge, this one contained unexpected nuances — they’d need to work on catching on to these by competition time.

In their post-activity analysis, the team listened intently to the feedback from each other and their mentors and found ways in which they could learn from their missteps and continue to hone their leadership skills leading up to the November competition.

“And what a moment it was!” Day exclaimed. “We did more than awesome! We’re ecstatic!”

The CLC Club, comprised of Cayla Bernstein, Grant Goodrick, Will Mackle, Jackson Rassias, Maeve Reynolds, Samantha Freeman, TJ Abbazia, Max Morfoot, Annika White, and Annabel Lawton, is looking forward to its next challenge. spring 2019 | 5

6 | www.gfacademy.org

Sparkling Fitness Center Builds Bodies and Minds The final piece of the school’s Lead With Excellence capital campaign was completed this year, as the Board of Trustees and Head of School Bob Whelan cut the ribbon on GFA’s brand new Fitness Center.

“At GFA we strive to become our best selves. This is another great space on campus that represents that,” said Whelan. “The Fitness Center has become a hub for physical training, a significant support for our athletics program, and another venue for our students, faculty, and staff to interact.”

The Fitness Center opened Tuesday, September 18, and is used for Middle and Upper School physical education classes, as well as for personal fitness for students, faculty, and staff.

The beautiful space was designed by Roger Ferris + Partners, and includes: three treadmills, two spin bikes, two ellipticals, a stair climber, one upright bike, one recumbent bike, two water rowers, two weightlifting benches, three boxing bags, 14 pairs of weighted gloves, kettle bells, a leg press machine, barbells, medicine balls, and hand weights, and more.

Visitors to the Fitness Center will notice that just outside the main entrance is a plaque that pays tribute to board member Stephen Lawrence, who was chairman of the school’s Buildings and Grounds Committee for the last nine years, “in honor of his invaluable contributions to the school.”

spring 2019 | 7

“

The Fitness Center has become a hub for physical training, a significant support for our athletics program, and another venue for our students, faculty, and staff to interact.

BOB WHELAN, HEAD OF SCHOOL

8 | www.gfacademy.org

”

spring 2019 | 9

Homecoming 2018 There was a great vibe at this year’s Homecoming celebration, which took place October 13. All five sports teams won their home games that day, cheered on by an enthusiastic group of students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. The Parents Association hosted a Dragon Fair, featuring mini-golf, bouncy houses, face painting, games, and food trucks. Reunion classes of 3s and 8s also gathered for an Alumni Soccer Game, and Oktoberfest (see page 55).

10 | www.gfacademy.org

spring 2019 | 11

Bob Whelan, Year One From his thoughtful dispatches to our community, to meeting with the

The academics, arts, and athletics shared center stages at the cere-

full faculty and staff one-on-ones (twice!), to hallway high fives, Bob

mony, as the a cappella groups hit the right notes, the Lower School

Whelan has made an indelible mark on GFA in his first year. And, who

shared their plans to document the school’s history this year, and

could forget his Halloween Big Bird costume or the “best snow day

Whelan recounted a recent volleyball game that not only was a source

video ever?”

of inspiration, but a reminder of the importance of teamwork in any

Back in September, the 2018–19 school year kicked into gear with the

setting.

installation of our eighth head of school and some words of wisdom

“I promise you that [experience] will have an impact well beyond

from our most experienced to our youngest minds. GFA’s convocation

the sport of volleyball for those young women,” Whelan said. “In the

on proved a perfect setting for celebrating GFA’s motto, “Quisque Pro

future, there will be moments, personally and professionally, where

Omnibus, Each for All.”

they will face disappointment and struggle, where it might feel as if their best is not enough. Yet what they created together will remain an

12 | www.gfacademy.org

authentic and enduring experience to draw upon; one rooted in connections with teammates, classmates, teachers, coaches, parents, and a community that cares deeply about them — which will propel them forward into the future.”

Mirroring Whelan’s sense of community spirit, Upper School Student Council Chairman Patrick Howard encouraged his peers to become active community members, to support each other, and to celebrate tradition while encouraging innovation.

He said, “Our identity, at the moment, is wonderfully fluid. These new changes open up chances to redefine and retune our community while our existing culture grounds us to our ideals of passion, integrity, empathy, curiosity, and excellence.”

spring 2019 | 13

14 | www.gfacademy.org

Fifteen Seniors Selected for Merit Scholar Honors Sean Hogan, Patrick Howard, Grace McGonagle, Ethan

In February, four members of the group made it to the finalist

Parker, and Willem Shuddeboom have been selected as 2019

level: Hogan, Howard, McGonagle, and Shuddeboom.

National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. They all have the

Winners were then selected and announced in April (after the

chance to compete for one of 7,500 scholarships awarded each

time of this publication).

spring.

GFA's Christopher Glynn '17 was a National Merit The students were selected from about 1.6 million juniors

Scholarship recipient in 2017, and Kendall Roche '18 was a

nationwide based on their 2017 Preliminary SAT/National

finalist last year.

Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scores, in which they placed among the highest in the state. From here they will

Ten more GFA students were honored as Merit Scholar

submit an application that details their academic record,

Commended Students, who have "demonstrated outstanding

community and school participation, leadership roles,

potential for academic success," according to National Merit

employment, honors, and awards.

Scholarship spokesperson. They are: Lillian Breier, Andrew Butcher, Eva Ebbesen, Alexander Galik, Nicole Greenberg,

According to the NMS official announcement, "A semifinalist

Luke Hammer, Katherine Marcus, William McCall, Elizabeth

must have an outstanding academic record throughout high

McCormick, and Giani Panariello.

school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance in the qualifying test."

spring 2019 | 15

A Life of Purpose, Unpacked Learning Through Service

Kindergarten classes visited the Fairfield Senior Center in November for an extra special Tea Party. To prepare for the party, the students created mugs in art class for themselves and their senior buddies. Then in science class, the students grew, harvested, and dried herbs to hand-make tea sachets for a special signature blend to share with the seniors.

During one of many GFA fundraisers this fall and winter, the Middle School hosted its own House race to see who could raise the most money for charity. Of course, helping others is the primary goal, but this year there was an added incentive: the winning House team, Audubon, got to pick a faculty member for a pie in the face.

(Sorry, Mr. Norko!)

Each Wednesday, Upper School students leave campus to embark on a series of Service Learning outreach activities. Throughout the year, they will visit Hall Early Learning Center, Bassick High School in Bridgeport, Open Door Shelter in Norwalk, Elder House of Norwalk, Operation Hope Shelter in Fairfield, Carolton Convalescent Center in Fairfield, Westport Senior Center, and the Gillespie Shelter in Westport. At the Gillespie Shelter, shown here, the Upper School students prepare 36+ bag lunches each week for men and women in need.

16 | www.gfacademy.org

spring 2019 | 17

Unity DAY COMES TO GFA Sophomore Charles Kolin knows first-hand how devastating bullying can be.

“I’ve had a bad history with bullying,” he said. It happened years ago when he moved to Connecticut from New York in fifth grade, but the memory of the experience is still painful. “I’ve taken that experience and I’ve said I want to use that to help other people.”

Kolin made it his mission to share his anti-bullying messaging with as many people as he can. In looking for ways to get involved, he discovered Pacer, an organization dedicated to bullying prevention, and its nationwide Unity Day on October 24. On that day, schools across the country will wear orange to show their commitment to preventing bullying.

“Orange provides a powerful, visually compelling expression of solidarity,” according to Paula Goldberg, Executive Director of Pacer Center, in a statement on the organization’s website. “Whether it’s hundreds of individuals at a school wearing orange, store owners offering orange products, or a community changing a landmark to orange, the vibrant statement becomes a conversation starter, sending the supportive, universal message that bullying is never acceptable behavior.”

Kolin has teamed up with the Upper School TACO Club (Teen Awareness and Conversation Opportunities) to bring Unity Day to GFA. They encouraged anyone to participate by wearing orange that day, and the group handed out orange wristbands as well. GFA’s Unity Day will go beyond

18 | www.gfacademy.org

wearing orange — the group also developed questions and prompts for students and faculty to discuss in advisory groups that day. The answers and sentiments that come from that discussion will be written down and posted on a wall in the Upper School for the remainder of the year.

“People can refer to that throughout the rest of the year so they can remember different ways they can help the community,” Kolin said.

After advisories, students in grades 8–12 heard student speeches, poems, songs and, according to Kolin, “whatever art form they wanted to share that emphasizes kindness, inclusion, and anti-bullying.” The students also handed out notecards with positive and encouraging messages.

Going forward, Kolin hopes that the day’s events will spark further discussion in class meetings and advisory throughout the year.

“It would be great if it was a continual thing throughout the year— something that everyone sort of thinks about it in the back of their mind and says, ‘This is how I can be a beacon of light in someone else’s life.’ ”

spring 2019 | 19

The Reward of Intellectual Risk-Taking GFA Introduces Student-Centered May Term

Imagine spending the final weeks of the school year exploring the

“Everyone is looking forward to this breath of fresh air and spend

next great innovation in medicine and pharmacology in a course

time with our favorite teachers learning about topics that truly

called “Decoding Cancer,” or debating the relationship between

interest us. The chance to take classes with people from across the

“Magic and Mathematics” with Jon Matte. What better way to

Upper School is also exciting,” said junior Cayla Bernstein.

make good on our commitment to “engage students as partners” than to collectively pause as a community to engage in intensive,

The experience will also encourage students to take intellectual

focused, non-traditional courses designed by our exceptional

risks and better understand themselves as learners. In addition

faculty?

to the coursework, students will glean new techniques and fresh perspectives with which to approach their regular term and future

This spring, Upper School students will be immersed in seven-day

college courses.

signature experiences. These May Term courses are a defining characteristic of our new schedule and will allow students to

In his article “Time Matters: A Schedule for our Students’ Times,”

engage deeply in dynamic topics while collaborating with faculty

first featured in Moffly town magazines in the fall, Associate Head

and peers from different grades.

of School Chris Kolovos describes the value of taking this step together as a community.

“May Term is an exciting new manifestation of our mission. We’ve reclaimed time previously devoted to exam administration and

He wrote, “To build the habit of collaboration, students need the

opened up a new opportunity for students and teachers to pursue

time and space in school to work together on authentic projects.

passions, partner in authentic learning experiences, and stretch

To practice empathy and gain cultural competency, students need

our studies beyond the traditional disciplinary boundaries. It is

to get out of their own communities, both digitally and physically,

a new spin on the classic GFA blend of vigorous, engaging, and

and engage in meaningful work with new friends and partners;

joyful education,” said GFA Upper School Head, Andrew Jones.

that too is hard, perhaps impossible to do in a traditional class period.”

Classrooms (along with outdoor and off-campus spaces) will be populated with students devouring courses like: “Dragons in

For years, GFA, like many other schools, devoted roughly two

the Wild,” where students will identify plants and animals, read

weeks to prepare for and administer qualitative assessments.

maps and orient, clear trails and cook outdoors; or “Hamilton

Research shows that cramming for an exam has next to no impact

in Context,” exploring the impact that Hamilton has had on the

on deep, long-term learning. Instead, GFA will administer regular

way we learn, narrate, and consume history. Need more? “To the

assessments throughout the term. It takes courage to reward

Breaking Point” offers a variety of construction and engineering

intellectual bravery and question the way things have always been

challenges, or “Zoo Crew,” where students go behind the scenes at

done — the same kind of educated risk-taking that we encourage

the Beardsley Zoo.

and reward in our students. After all, that’s the GFA way.

The students are excited about the upcoming courses and the chance to explore personal interests in a classroom setting.

20 | www.gfacademy.org

“

Everyone is looking forward to this breath of fresh air and to spend time with our favorite teachers learning about topics that truly interest us.

“

Chris Kolovos Assistant Head of School

spring 2019 | 21

The rest of the world

Honored Tibetan Buddhist Monk Imparts Wisdom and Creates Mandala During Week-Long Residency When your school invites a Tibetan Buddhist monk to

for meditations with vibrantly colored sand, reciting

spend a week in a sunlight space creating a four-foot

prayers and speaking about the value of spirituality and

brilliant sand mandala and impart wisdom, no one

mindfulness. The belief is also that mandalas purify the

is left untouched. GFA welcomed 2019 by hosting

environment and its inhabitants to promote harmony

Lama Yignyen Tenzin, a Tibetan Buddhist monk based

in the world. The specific mandala created at GFA was

in Geneva, NY, into our community this January.

meant to express the values of compassion and loving

Over the week-long residency, Tenzin methodically

kindness.

created the mandala, typically used for rituals and

needs you. Go find it.

24 | www.gfacademy.org

As a faculty member at Hobart William Smith Colleges, Tenzin has

week, using the creation of a beautiful sand mandala, followed by

spent his life as an educator. “It is our job as adults to pass our culture

the ritualistic dismantling and symbolic return of the sand to the sea

of good things to kids. To make them good people. Because you want

as a medium to remind all of us of the impermanence of material

the world to be a beautiful place in the future,” Lama Tenzin said of

possessions and the lasting importance of kindness.

his work with younger students. “One small seed of an apple now can create a big apple tree in the world.”

“Our intention in bringing Lama Tenzin here for a week was to offer our students, families, and broader community an opportunity to

The visit aligned nicely with the school’s mission, according to Head of

connect and reflect. We had hoped teachers from across grades and

School Bob Whelan. “GFA’s mission states that we prepare students for

disciplines would find ways to integrate the experience into their

a life of purpose in a globally minded community. It was a gift to have

classes. The lessons in compassion, empathy, and impermanence

our mission activated so powerfully through the presence and wisdom

proved invaluable for students of all ages and the community-building

of Lama Tenzin, whose teaching reminded all of us that the very best

opportunity surpassed even our wildest hopes. It has been a special

education must involve both the mind and the heart,” he said.

experience for GFA,” said Lisa Waldstein, Chair of the Visual Arts Department, who arranged for the visit.

On Tenzin’s last day at GFA, he held a spiritual dismantling ceremony in the McGrath Gallery then led a parade of Dragons across the

The messages of living and acting with gratitude and love will no

cobblestone, down Beachside Avenue and onto Burying Hill Beach.

doubt resonate in our community for a long time to come. In a final

The act of returning the sand to nature is a sacred step in the mandala

message to GFA students, Lama Tenzin acknowledged how fortunate

creation and reinforced his message about the importance of being

our students are to live and learn in a safe and special environment

present in any experience and having the strength to let it go.

and encouraged them to use their good fortune to go see the world — and to be the change in it.

Lama Tenzin worked alongside students of all ages throughout the

spring 2019 | 25

26 | www.gfacademy.org

spring 2019 | 27

How Does your Garden Grow?

GFA Gardens Are Growing Up

At GFA, we’re taking gardening to a new level — seven levels,

The final touches are the four LED light strips that hang from

to be exact on each of the new aeroponic Tower Gardens in

the top of the tower like tentacles surrounding the plants. The

the Lower School. With a priority placed on sustainability, the

lights can be turned on manually, set to a timer, or removed

structures are designed to conserve more soil and water than

entirely. That last part is especially helpful because the entire

traditional gardening practices and allow for gardening year-

tower is mounted on wheels and can be rolled outside when

round.

the weather gets nicer.

On the exterior are small pockets — only about 2 inches wide —

According to Tower Garden’s website, “compared to soil

that hold a couple tablespoons of a rockwool growing medium,

gardening [the Tower Garden] has been shown to increase

into which seeds are planted. Fed from a 20-gallon reservoir

yields by as much as 30% and triple the speed of plant growth,

at the base of the tower, the plants receive all the water and

while using only 10% of the water and space.”

nutrients they need through a timed pump watering system that takes place in the interior of the tower, feeding the shared root structures on each level.

spring 2019 | 29

Urban areas around the world have implemented similar towers and

pH levels. Later on they will try growing a few different plants on each

“living walls” as a means to be able to grow fresh produce in places

tower.

with little or no space for gardens. Schools have begun to use them for the same reasons, but also to be able to show plant growth in action

Other grades are helping out, too: the fourth-grade Garden

and bring concepts like sustainability and farm-to-table systems into

Committee, for example, is in charge of adding water and nutrients,

the classroom.

checking and adjusting pH levels, and helping to harvest.

Lower School science teacher and Sustainability Coordinator Jackie

“There are a lot of great applications for this outside the garden,” Tran

Tran said it also aligns with the school’s commitment to sustainable

said. “I would love to see it being used with the Horizons program in

practices.

the summer.”

“It’s soilless, so you’re conserving soil, and you have a contained unit

Horizons at GFA is a weekend and summer program on campus

with high yield. Plus, the education is right in your classroom, which

that “helps underserved students from Bridgeport develop strong

is great,” she said.

academic, social and emotional skills, habits of mind and the resilience to succeed in school and pursue a meaningful, choice-filled life.”

The towers at GFA are located in the PreK and kindergarten classrooms this spring, as the students investigate plant life and

The wheels attached to the towers also mean that they can be moved

learn about the mechanics of the tower. PreK is growing basil, and

to other parts of the school, and Tran hopes that the other grades will

kindergarteners are growing lettuces. Tran explained that mono-

get a chance to use the towers to make new connections in their own

cropping (growing just one type of crop) is a safe way to get started as

classrooms.

she and the students learn about balancing the water’s nutrients and

30 | www.gfacademy.org

spring 2019 | 31

Eighth Grade Speeches A GFA TRADITION TAKES A TURN FOR THE PERSONAL The GFA experience is a mix of tradition and innovation, and one of

McWhorter and his fellow advisors — who now include teachers

the best examples of this is the eighth-grade speech program. It started

Griffen Stabler, Robbi Hartt, and Sarah Fincke — realized that they

years ago — when Middle School Head Drew Meyer was still a grade

could create deeper connections if they structured the program

dean — and has gone through a couple iterations before becoming

around more specific personal prompts (see sidebar).

what it is today: a robust training ground for students to become strong public speakers, demonstrate leadership, and build community.

“Almost all of the great speeches will delve into a personal experience, but also create a unifying experience for most of the audience,”

Every eighth grader is responsible for writing a speech on a personal

McWhorter said. “One of the big things that we’re trying to do is make

topic, and then delivering it to the entire Middle School at one of the

it clear to all the kids that being a human being is difficult, and if they

announcements periods during the year. The speech is not graded, and

can share challenges that are common to all of us, I do feel that our

there is no academic incentive, but it gives each speaker the chance to

community does get a little bit tighter.”

discover inner courage by sharing a personal story.

Sophomore Will Magrone remembers listening to the speeches when Middle School History Teacher Jeremy McWhorter has been involved

he was in sixth and seventh grade.

in the program for the better part of the last decade and has seen it evolve. Early on, he said, the speeches tended to be broad: most were

“I think it was on my mind more than other people’s, just because

about current events, or topics of general interest: sharks, sports,

most of the speeches I remembered were people talking about their

etc. Yet while students were getting the public-speaking experience,

insecurities,” he said. “Height was one of my insecurities at the time —

they weren’t always making strong connections with their audience.

it used to be a big component in my life.”

32 | www.gfacademy.org

Magrone explained that at his elementary school he was picked on

Stabler explained, “We teach them that there’s value to their voice.

because he was so much shorter than many of his peers. When it came

Even if it’s not the loudest, or the funniest, it’s going to be appreciated

time to pick a topic, he knew he had to share this experience with his

when you use it and share it. We force them into that discomfort, but

classmates, though he also knew it would be difficult for him to be

inevitably they realize that it’s not as scary as they thought it was going

open about such a personal matter.

to be.”

“I think it resonates more when it’s on a more personal level,”

Many eighth graders have been listening to these speeches for the last

Magrone said. “Sometimes sharing your insecurities matches how

three years and have had a chance to see what works and what doesn’t.

other people are feeling, and that can have a great impact. My peers appreciated me talking about something some people just wouldn’t

“Some of the ones that have stayed with me are ones that have

talk about.”

powerful life events in them. It gives you a new view on someone, or chance to see a different part of their personality,” said eighth grader

Students also touch upon other universal themes like family, friends,

Davis Jordan. (His speech this year focused on his grandfather’s

or even global perspectives. This year, just like her peers, eighth grader

mysterious past, and the lessons that it taught him about hard work

Annie Dizon was faced with the challenge of narrowing down topic

and perseverance.)

ideas. She considered all the important people and events in her life so far, and searched for ways to connect them to her peers. She decided

Like Magrone, junior Annabel Roth has had a few years to reflect on

on tackling the topic of her own ethnic identity.

her eighth-grade experience and what it meant to her. Through her speech about living in Shanghai, China, she learned a different way

“I’m 50.1 percent Filipino and 49.7% broadly European. It has taken

of telling her own story, which has translated into an important life

me a long time to learn how to accept those two sides of myself,

skill. She explained, “Self-reflection and writing about who we are is

and I’m still learning how to find the perfect balance,” she told her

something we have to do often as we get older.”

classmates.

More than that, the speech instilled in Magrone, Roth, and senior Eva Reflecting on her speech weeks later, she realized, “Being able to share

Ebbesen self-esteem and confidence (see sidebar). All three Upper

my family’s story and being able to share a part of myself that’s really

School students have returned to the Forum to speak to the Middle

important to me isn’t something you get to do on a daily basis. It was

Schoolers about their experiences with public speaking.

actually really cool.”

“It was the first step in claiming my place here at GFA and leaving my While naturally some students are nervous about speaking in front

mark. That act of bravery gave me more opportunities to be brave,”

of others, they have all built up their confidence by the time it’s

Ebbesen said of her speech. “Taking risks is so rewarding, especially

their turn to talk. This is part of the program’s design. Long before

when you’re young because that consistent exposure to risks and

they speak, every eighth grader will meet with their advisor for a

experience shape you and allow you to grow.”

brainstorming session, rough draft feedback, and practice time.

Eighth Grade Speech Prompts 1. Some students have a background or identity that is so meaningful they believe that people can’t fully understand or appreciate them without knowing this. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

3. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

4. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? spring 2019 | 33

Take the Risk, Surprise Yourself

By Eva Ebbesen ’19 I went into my eighth-grade speech with this idea that it was going

would lie awake at night brainstorming techniques to calm my nerves.

to be a major turning point — that I really had to “go big” because

I would rant about how I “cooooullllddddnnnn’tttt doooo iiiiitttt.” I

it was my chance to show my school who I was and what I thought

took a thousand deep breaths before going up. Did it help? Of course

about important things. In middle school I felt like I had this negative

not. I basically cried right there giving the speech. But as I read, I

reputation that a lot of teens tend to get placed on them while they are

gained confidence in my own words. At the end, I was relieved and

desperately trying to figure out a million complicated feelings at once.

so grateful to have shared my perspective with a community I felt

I saw the speech as a chance to prove to people I wasn’t as self-assured

generally misunderstood me.

as my reputation made me out to be. As I sat and watched the leaders of the middle school give their speeches, I put pressure on the idea and

After doing it, I began to feel appreciated by my community. My

myself to make it super meaningful. I’m glad I did.

teachers could tell I was struggling to get the words out and a bunch of them came up to me saying they were impressed by my courage. For

I actually wrote a draft of my eighth-

the first time I felt like I had done

grade speech when I was in seventh

something at this school that actually

grade while I was super into this new idea of empathy we were constantly talking about. (We had just read To Kill a Mockingbird with Ms. Hartt.) I discarded the draft after realizing it was basically just a jumble of my own thoughts and somewhat incomprehensible, but that first draft I wrote while I was in “the zone” one night informed my equally personal, but slightly more polished second draft.

“It was the first step in claiming my place here at GFA and leaving my mark. That act of bravery gave me more opportunities to be brave.”

mattered. It was the first step in claiming my place here at GFA and leaving my mark. It was a major turning point.

That act of bravery gave me more opportunities to be brave. At the end of eighth grade, I was asked to give the end-of-year graduation speech (scary), and then I was asked to give my eighth-grade speech again last year to some eighth graders (very scary), and

During my time in the Middle School,

I’ve been asked to be a Friday Speaker

body image was a very relevant topic. I

in the Upper School (the ultimate

had personally been struggling with my own perception of myself for

form of scary). And I completed each of these anxiety-inducing tasks

years and felt I could offer a few nuggets of wisdom to younger girls

only to be rewarded by the support of our community here at GFA.

in the same place. It was a very difficult topic to discuss in general, so naturally I chose to discuss it with the entire school. It was absolutely

A word of advice to the future speech writers of GFA:

terrifying. What person wants to stand at a podium talking about how

Public speaking is something you can’t really avoid. But you

she looks at her own body while basically giving every person in the

shouldn’t want to. Taking risks is so rewarding. Consistent exposure

room a chance to check it out themselves? Obviously, no one really

to uncertainty shapes you; it allows you to grow. So go ahead: Seek

cared what I looked like, but I seriously thought they would.

discomfort. Choose the route that scares you. Tell a secret! Surprise people! Surprise yourself.

For days leading up to my moment at the podium, I felt horrible. I 34 | www.gfacademy.org

spring 2019 | 35

In Their Own Words teaching at GFA

36 | www.gfacademy.org

spring 2019 | 37

38 | www.gfacademy.org

“

What’s really cool about GFA is that students are engaged with one another and they say, ‘I want to hear what my friend across the table or my peer across the table has to say.’

— Mel Haas

I am most surprised by how genuine and honest our students are.

I also love their ability to talk to adults — where most kids and teenagers would avoid that. Probably my favorite thing is that at the end of anything you do they say, ‘Thank you.’

— Justine Fellows

What surprises me every day is that our students are willing to be surprised. Even high school students sometimes act like little kids with an incredible sense of wonder.

— Jim serach

They have that little spark where they say, ‘Aha — I did it.’ It could be as simple as a first grader tying a sneaker — their whole face lights up and it is incredible.

“

— Chris Mira

spring 2019 | 39

“

Our students are eager to learn anything and everything. Then they will always surprise you with follow-up questions. The great thing about GFA is that we have the resources to guide them down their path to discovery.

— christine fecteau

Innovation here at GFA truly starts with our faculty. Students see it modeled every day and in turn they have the confidence to take risks and think outside the box.

— Jane verlin

GFA is intentional about how students find their passion. It creates the time and space to support students’ learning and does it in a way that allows them to pursue that drive toward their passion.

— ward abel

I was really struck at how kind students are to one another. They really support each other, which is great to see in a classroom environment.

“

— Meghan Chew

40 | www.gfacademy.org

spring 2019 | 41

Fall Sports Eighty-eight wins, program-wide. Twenty-two defeats. Eight ties. Add to that four varsity FAA semifinal appearances, one league championship-game appearance, four New England tournament berths and a New England girls cross country championship and the success of GFA’s fall teams has become legendary.

“I don’t think we’ve ever done that in the history of the school,” longtime Athletic Director Tauni Butterfield said of all four varsity teams qualifying for the New England tournaments.

GFA is one of just two schools throughout the entire NEPSAC that placed all four teams into New England tournaments this fall. (Noble and Greenough is the other, a Class A school in all sports except for boys soccer, where it is a Class B entry.)

Cross country GFA’s girls cross country team won their New England championship, while the boys placed sixth. In the FAA League meet, the girls finished in third place, and the boys finished fourth.

Field Hockey (12-5-1) FAA semi-finalists, the girls field hockey team made it to the quarter finals of the New England tournament.

Volleyball (16-6) Girls volleyball was New England tournament runner up, and finished as quarterfinalists in the FAA tournament.

Boys soccer (8-6-3) The boys soccer team capped a successful season as New England quarterfinalists, and FAA semi-finalists.

Girls soccer (14-4-4) New England tournament quarterfinalists, the girls soccer team made it to the finals of the FAA league tournament.

For team stats, stories and more, check out www.gfacademy.org/dragonnation

42 | www.gfacademy.org

the success of GFA’s fall teams has become historic

spring 2019 | 43

New Coaches Join GFA’s Roster Girls Varsity Soccer

Girls Lacrosse

Andrew Henry joined GFA over the summer as the new

Girls varsity lacrosse added two new coaches this spring: Ciara

girls varsity soccer coach. As a player, he represented Jamaica starting

Thurlow was named as the head coach of the varsity girls

at the U-14 age-group to its senior national team, and he played at the

team, and Halley Quillinan Griggs is the

University of Rhode Island before transferring to St. John’s University.

associate head coach for the Dragons.

He has been coaching youth and travel soccer since 2009 and is employed by Next Level Soccer Training.

“We are so excited to have them lead our girls lacrosse program into the future,” GFA athletic director, Tauni Butterfield, said. “Both bring

This fall, Henry led the team to both the FAA and New England

a wealth of experience, as well as a passion for the sport.”

tournaments, finishing with a 14-4-4 record, four First-Team All FAA athletes, and one FAA Honorable Mention.

Thurlow, a former player from Villanova, coached at Wilton High School, winning three FCIAC titles, an two state titles. She has

Boys Basketball

coached for Darien Youth Lacrosse, where she also serves on the board

Mike Jarvis II, a former Division 1 player and coach, joined

of trustees.

GFA this winter as the boys varsity basketball coach.

“I’m excited to build upon what’s been done here before,” Jarvis said.

“I’m looking forward to working with the leadership of Head of School Bob Whelan and athletic director Tauni Butterfield, who have been great throughout this whole process.”

Griggs is a former All-America player out of Syracuse, and a midfielder on the 2008–09 U.0.S National Team. She has coached youth lacrosse since throughout New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Boys Lacrosse John Mathews has been named coach of the varsity boys

Over the course of his career, Jarvis has gone to eight NCAA

lacrosse team. A former player for NCAA championship-winning

tournaments, including one as a player, and has coached at George

Syracuse University, Mathews coached at Weston High School from

Washington University, Drexel University, St. John’s, Duke, and Florida

2010–15. He led the Trojans to more than 80 wins in six years,

Atlantic.

winning the CIAC Class S title in 2010 and 2012, and finishing as runners-up in 2015. His 2013 team won the school’s only SWC league

Squash Sean Gibbon has actually been around for more than a year, helping Director of Squash Attila Agh get the year-round Squash at GFA program off the ground. This summer, when a girls varsity

championship in the sport.

About GFA, Mathews said, “A lot of greats kids and great families go here, and they’ve had some really good players. I’m excited about

coaching spot became available, Gibbon decided to sign on.

building up the program.”

“I’m psyched to be a part of the program and watch it develop,” Gibbon

sailing

said. “It’s up there with the busiest squash facilities I’ve ever been

edgar diminich leads the GFA sailing team. A native of

around. GFA is a great place — a very positive place.”

Ecuador, he has won two gold medals at the Bolivian Games and won

Gibbon was the former boys varsity squash coach at Hopkins.

sailor, he hopes to compete in the Pan Am Games and the Olympics.

44 | www.gfacademy.org

silver and bronze at the Bolivian Beach Games. An active professional

Winter Sports The GFA wrestling program notched its most successful season in history and the school hosted the New England Prep School Championships, finishing third overall.

Senior Griffen Seyfried (126 pounds) and sophomore Nico Provo (113 pounds) each won their second straight NEISWA title while freshman Peter Kane (132 pounds) won his first. At Prep Nationals, Provo went 5-2 in the tournament to earn All-American status. He placed fifth, leading the Dragons to a 15thplace finish out of 122 schools, finishing as the top team in Connecticut.

The Girls Basketball team went 15-9, notching its most victories since

The fencing team was just five-people

2011. Led by five seniors — Katherine

strong, but marked its season with

Marcus, Kelly van Hoesen, Sarah

an undefeated tri-meet with Fairfield

Peltier, Kristiana Modzelewski, and

Warde and Bridgeport Central.

Lilah McCormick — the Dragons advanced to the FAA quarterfinals.

The GFA girls squash team placed third in Boys basketball — led by senior

their division at High School Nationals and

co-captains Cole Prowitt-Smith and

one of its players — freshman Mary Kessler

Greg Lawrence — advanced to the

— won a New England championship in

FAA semifinals and earned a No. 2

her flight. The boys team, led by captain

seed in the New England Class C

Marshall Bessey, placed sixth in New

tournament.

Englands Class B division, jumping up spring 2019 | 45 seven spots from last year’s finish.

P A R T N E R S H I P Girls Lax Program Makes Bronx Connection

A good idea by a pair of Greens Farms Academy lacrosse players

people don’t realize what we have isn’t available to people in some other

turned into a day full of great memories for a group of beginners from

areas. We just wanted to share the sports we love with other people.”

New York City.

First-year GFA head coach Ciara Thurlow knew about Bronx Lacrosse The Dragons girls varsity lacrosse program played host to nearly three

through her one of its board members, Cindy Wiseman. The two had

dozen young players from Bronx Lacrosse this spring, holding a clinic

been co-head coaches at Wilton High School. It seemed to the two

and pizza party for the city-based squad.

of them to be a natural fit to connect the Dragons with the fledgling inner-city program, which is based out of two South Bronx schools.

“We brought up 30 of our girls just to give them an opportunity to experience some different things,” said Bronx Lacrosse Founder and

“It was amazing. It was an absolutely inspiring event for all the girls,”

President Dan Leventhal, who grew up in Westchester County and

Thurlow said. “It’s going to forge a lot of relationships down the line

played lacrosse at Horace Greeley. “This was just a great day for every-

and inspire a younger generation of girls to give back, as well.”

body involved.”

Stepping off the bus in Westport, some Bronx Lacrosse players saw a The idea started with GFA juniors Stephanie Wistreich and Meg Nesi,

world many hadn’t seen before.

who created a GFA club called, Team Up For Others.

“We’re in an area where we don’t get to experience things like this,” “We wanted to do something to facilitate each sports team volunteer-

said Leventhal, who founded Bronx Lacrosse just two years ago. “We

ing or doing some sort of community service,” Wistreich explained.

don’t see fields like these, or hear birds singing. We’re just using lacrosse to give them a chance to experience things like this and to meet

Nesi added, “We have so many opportunities here at GFA and a lot of

46 | www.gfacademy.org

different people from different backgrounds.”

“Some of the girls live in shelters and they were telling us that the pizzas they had were the first time they had eaten since they had been in school on Friday,” Thurlow said. “It was really eye-opening, the perils and obstacles some children are going through, and it’s only 30 miles away.”

The Dragons players ran the Bronx Lacrosse players through a series of drills, creating three different stations to work through. The arrangement allowed both teams to get something out of the morning.

“For our team, it’s a really good bonding activity,” Nesi said. “Plus, we get to give back to the lacrosse community. It means so much to both of us. It’s an amazing opportunity and the [Bronx Lacrosse] girls did such an amazing job.”

Following the clinic — and an impromptu on-field dance party — both teams headed to the GFA cafeteria where the Dragons got another life lesson from their young protégés.

If Wistreich and Nesi have their ways, Saturday’s efforts are just a first in a long connection between the two programs moving forward.

“I’m hoping we can build a relationship that lasts a long time and GFA can keep working with Bronx Lacrosse,” Wistreich said. “Hopefully, maybe down the road, we can go down to the Bronx and work with them there, as well.”

Leventhal is hoping for the same long-term relationship.

“GFA has been amazing. Your girls have done an amazing job,” Leventhal said. “I hope we can come back next year.”

spring 2019 | 47

U.S. Theater presents

Spamalot

48 | www.gfacademy.org

It seems no one wanted to miss the opportunity to be a part of this

Ten students took behind-the-scenes jobs, including Kyra Lerner as

year’s fall musical, Spamalot, including Head of School Bob Whelan.

Production Stage Manager, and Beza Tessema as Assistant Director.

The show was chock full of Upper Schoolers, both in front of and behind the curtains, who put together a vibrant and dynamic show.

For a complete cast list along with photos from the show, visit

Among the many stars of the show, Patrick Howard ’19 played King

www.gfacademy.org/arts.

Arthur and Lila Wells ’19 played The Lady of the Lake. (Whelan played Sir Not Appearing in this Show.)

spring 2019 | 49

Lauren Telesz ’16

Helping Teens with Cancer Get a Space of Their Own

In 2013, I was beginning my sophomore year at GFA when I was

So, I brought the cause to GFA’s Pack the House, [an annual athletics

diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. As I went through

event that raises money for a designated charitable cause]. I thought

chemotherapy that fall, I experienced GFA come together in support.

maybe I could just share it with the school. I felt like I had to tell

My classmates and my teachers were my strongest supporters, sending

somebody, just raise awareness and get people thinking. At any rate, it

cards, cookies, and class notes. Friends kept me up-to-date on all the

would help people understand what it is like.

gossip and no matter how ill I was, attending school always made me feel a million times better. I couldn’t have found a more kindhearted

What happened next blew me away. The school community drummed

community than GFA. To this day, I still feel the unmistakable warmth

up unbelievable support for the cause. A monumental effort was put into

and character of this school.

Pack the House by the sports teams, parents, students, and community service board. T-shirts were designed and sold by my friends. Teams

Now, the hospital was another story. There I was, incredibly lonely

collected raffle tickets and students sold baked goods. My classmates

and isolated from anyone my age in the pediatric ward. There were

came out in droves and filled the stands. At the end of the night we had

screaming toddlers in the hall, clowns popping in for visits, and pictures

raised $6,000 for the center.

of Dora the Explorer and Elmo on every wall. There I felt like the only teenager in the world with cancer. I knew that was far from the truth,

Whew, done. End of story, right? Not even close. GFA’s $6,000

though.

contribution gave the cause a legitimacy it hadn’t had before. It helped doctors and administrators further raise funds for the creation

Teens notoriously get some of the most aggressive cancers and diagnosis

of a specialized unit at the Yale-New Haven Hospital. GFA’s initial

is often late because many teens have incredibly active lifestyles. Young

contribution was instrumental in helping me talk to big donors and get

people are led to believe they are invincible and often don’t get health

support from Teen Cancer America at UCLA.

problems checked out right away. More than 5,000 young adults just between the ages of 15 and 19 are diagnosed with cancer every year in

An amazing philanthropist responsible for supporting the hospital in

the United States. In the pediatric ward, though, you could have told me

the past, Mr. Smilow, heard about Pack the House and looked into the

I was the only one in America and I wouldn’t have even questioned it.

cause, too. Soon enough money was collected and my sophomore year of college the space was cleared for construction. The following year I

Being a teenager is all about being surrounded by your peers, it is a

worked with an architect, clinic directors, the head of pediatrics and

period of life where you are really figuring out who you are: navigating

oncology, the president of operations, and the development team in

school, extracurriculars, friends, relationships, and social media. It’s a

weekly meetings to create the state-of-the-art physical space. The more

vulnerable time for anyone, but especially a teen with cancer. I never

work we did, the more attention we drew. We got brand new electronics

crossed paths with any other teens in the hospital and lying in my bed

and game systems donated, as well as hired a passionate treatment

all I craved was the interaction and support I had at school. I began to

coordinator who connected with our mission.

think, is this every hospital or just here in Connecticut?

GFA’s Pack the House helped set the whole thing in motion and millions I saw that in the United Kingdom a charity had been started to construct

of dollars later I’m proud to say the Smilow Cancer Department has

teen cancer units, pulling together a vulnerable demographic and

an amazing teen center that the hospital will be proud of. I’d love for

building a support system and age-appropriate space for healing. There

everyone who attended Pack the House that night to know that their

was one teen unit in America, but it was all the way across the country

small action and genuine support has led to the creation of something

at the UCLA Medical Center. I began to wonder, maybe it would be

that will go on to positively impact teens with cancer for years and years

possible to have something like that in New Haven. At the time, there

to come.

was nothing in place.

50 | www.gfacademy.org

Distinguished Alumni This year’s Alumni Reunion, honoring the classes of ’3s and ’8s,

author of several books, including Television and its Viewers, a study

featured a gathering at the Horseshoe on Friday night, followed by

of the effects of television viewing with co-author Michael Morgan

Oktoberfest Saturday on GFA’s front lawn. The annual event featured

(1999, Cambridge University Press).

games, food, and drink (and the return of the popular two-man oompah band). Earlier in the day, the GFA boys JV soccer team challenged

He received his bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, and has

alumni in the annual Alumni Soccer Game, with the alumni team

graduate degrees from Boston University and UMass/Amherst.

pulling off yet another win.

Spicer is a Senior Program Officer in the Health and Medicine Both from the Class of 1978, James Shanahan and Carol Mason Spicer

Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and

were honored with Distinguished Alumni awards at the Oktoberfest

Medicine. She currently directs a study for the Social Security

celebration.

Administration on functional assessment for adults with disabilities.

Much inspired by readings and lectures from David King’s humanities

Since joining the Academies in 2010, she has staffed studies on a

class at GFA, Shanahan pursued academic studies on the social impact

variety of topics, including sports-related concussions in youth, HIV

of mass media. After receiving his Ph.D. at UMass, he became an

screening and access to care, and data systems for monitoring HIV

assistant professor at Boston University, and has taught at BU, Cornell,

care, as well as projects for the Social Security Administration.

and Fairfield University. He is now the Founding Dean of the Media School at Indiana University, a school that combines teaching and

She served as editor of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal

research on all forms of media.

at Georgetown University, and holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy with a concentration in bioethics from Georgetown and a

Shanahan’s research has been published in many venues, and he is the

bachelor’s degree in religion from Dartmouth College. spring 2019 | 51

Von Kohorn ’93 Provides Peek into Neonatology at State of the school 2019

Isabelle Von Kohorn ’93 returned to campus in the fall to share with

years working on health reform at the National Academy of Medicine.

the GFA community what she had been up to for the past 25 years.

Now a neonatologist at Holy Cross Health in Maryland, Von Kohorn

A lifer during her time at GFA, she reflected on those years “in which

said her work is “both fascinating and rewarding.”

nearly everything and everyone made a lasting impression,” she said.

“The people in this community taught and supported me in every

After graduating from GFA in 1993 Von Kohorn went on to study pub-

possible way. Academically the skills I learned here set the foundation

lic policy at Princeton University after taking a “gap” year. She then

for every other experience.”

worked at an international health nonprofit in Berkeley, CA, before attending medical school at the University of Pennsylvania.

The greatest value of her GFA education, Von Kohorn said, was “the freedom to figure out what I liked, what I was good at, and how it feels

She completed her pediatric internship, residency, and chief residency

to try things even when you don’t succeed the first time.”

at the University of California, San Francisco, and her fellowship in Neonatology and a Ph.D. in Investigative Medicine at Yale University.

To see Von Kohorn’s speech, visit us on Vimeo:

Since 2010 she has lived in Washington, D.C., where she spent two

https://vimeo.com/greensfarmsacademy.

52 | www.gfacademy.org

Andrea Argenio ’10 On Saturday, March 9, GFA lost a special member of our community.

fundraising campaign to support research into finding a cure for rare

Andrea Argenio, a leader in the class of 2010, passed away after a 10-

cancers. His team, comprised of many GFA classmates, has currently

year battle with a rare and incurable cancer. His passing is a profound

raised almost $500,000.

loss for his parents, Michelangelo (Milo) Argenio and Mandy Cawthorn Argenio, and his much-loved older brother Alessandro ’07.

Andrea was an avid traveler, skier, snorkeler, and scuba diver. He was also an accomplished pianist and enjoyed film editing, electronic

Andrea started at GFA in ninth grade. His beloved teachers noted his

music, basketball, soccer, and video games. Andrea loved life and met

wry wit, intelligence, and bright smile. His senior yearbook superlative

his health challenges with courage and determination, and without

was “Class Italian Stallion.”

ever losing the kindness, simplicity, empathy and mischievous humor

In Memoriam that touched the lives and hearts of every person he met.

Despite being frequently under treatment after graduating from GFA, Andrea attended Brown University and graduated in 2015. He went

At a memorial service honoring Andrea’s incredible spirit, family and

on to live abroad for a year in London with his life partner, Olivia.

friends urged everyone to live each day to its fullest and remember

Once back in the U.S. Andrea worked as an Analyst at Bridgewater

to have a sense of humor. The GFA community mourns this untimely

Associates in Westport, CT. His most recent project was a successful

loss.

spring 2019 | 53

54 | www.gfacademy.org

8 1 0 2 n o i n u Re ter. Goals. h g u a L . n u F

spring 2019 | 55

Come home gfa reunion 2019 saturday, october 19th

56 | www.gfacademy.org

CLASS NOTES spring 2019 | 57

1952

My work at APD Architects and volunteering are my current focus, though travel looms. I’m looking forward to visiting with Sinikka Kasko Nurminen ’70 this summer in Espoo, Finland, while my husband, Ched, is sailing the Lightning Worlds. Are in Coconut Grove, Miami, this winter for some warmth as well, and enjoy spending time sailing.

Judy keeps in touch with many of her classmates and notes that retirement, weddings, grandchildren, travel, moving, and volunteering are our buzzwords these days!

She reports that:

Annabel Armour is acting consistently at Chicago’s Remy Bumppo Theater — this Spring in “Bloomsday” — and a top Arbonne representative.

Betsy Cooper Johnson and husband are splitting their time between the ski slopes of Big Sky, MT, and the lakes of Minneapolis. They just downsized to a duplex from the burbs and are enjoying city living. Their daughters are both married and living close by. They are loving retirement!

Cindy Emerson Keefer retired after many years at GE and moved to San Ramon, CA.

Kim Cooper Owades moved to sunny Sarasota.

Janet Carter Persen divides her time between Phoenix and Maine. Janet is continuing to work in Occupational Therapy and volunteer as a docent at the Phoenix Art Museum.

Cindy Exton Von Oeyen was honored for her service as the President of the Bloomfield Hills, MI, Board of Education with a Wonder Woman Award.

Addie Walsh moved to Toluca Lake, CA, to be near her granddaughter, Simone.

She is working with Planned Parenthood and helped flip a red district blue in the midterms.

Laurie Wright has an adorable granddaughter, Sophie, and moved to the Jersey coast.

Libby Montgomery

Holly Steel Armour

Galpin’s son Sam got married this

We sold our home of 28 years outside Chicago in Kenilworth to live full time

Jane Dean

I am looking forward to spending the month in Paris in January. I have been doing this annually though not always for a month. I will then head to Egypt with Ann Merrifield Hoopes ’51 on a small group tour that friend of hers put together. I continue to keep up with GFA and I am very excited about all that happens there.

1970 Judith Proctor

summer.

01

03

01

Jane Dean ’52 and Ann Merrifield Hoopes ’51 (pictured with GFA Fitness Coach Mike Harris) on a tour of GFA over the summer.

02

Susan Boone Durkee’s ’72 commissioned portrait of Dennis Daugaard, Governor of South Dakota.

03

Maggie Moffitt Rahe ’75, Norman Marsilius ’72, Martha Gates Lord ’74, Susan Durkee ’72, at the launch party of Susan Hood’s ’72 latest book, Lifeboat 12.

in Santa Barbara. Our three children are scattered but we gather often. No grandchildren yet. We are loving retirement filled with lots of golf, travel, new hobbies, and wonderful friends. I see Annabel Armour ’70 often and have met with Daryl Hornby ’70 recently.

Margie Hutchison

I am still running my horse boarding and training barn, Larkin Hill, in North Chatham, NY, and running two recognized horse trials here. Luckily the barn is at capacity which keeps me mostly outside and busy!

Pam Leister I am enjoying my retirement having worked in the law field for many years. I enjoy yoga and my rescue Great Danes. I am on a journey to find out who my biological parents were and have met several cousins that I never knew. It has been an interesting journey.

Jane McIlvaine

I “retired” to a working farm in New Hampshire and am raising sheep and spinning wool. In January of 2017, I took a year plus trip in a Roadtrex solo across the country — with lots of time in the four corners and on the Oregon coast.

Betsy Walker

My life in Santa Fe is still wonderful. I’m still teaching and tutoring, but the good news is that I love what I do. When I’m not working my life is full of volunteer work that fills my heart and soul. During my down time, I get

02

06

The Class of 1983 at a post-Reunion party. Back row from left: Bill Harriss, Edie Van Breems, Rusty Cappadona, Pete Hermann, Nancy Goldfield Tauber, Lisa Mangieri Hartmann, Jenny Brandt, Chris Rose, Lisa Riccio-O’Brien, and Cindy Grabo. From left, second row standing: Sheila Lahey Duffy, Susan Kring, Jenny Rose, Dawn McClendon, Joan Stephanak Shanley, Suzanne Grotto Calarco, Kate Van Acker Morrison, Lisa Wayne Upton, and Rhonda Eleish.

From left, kneeling: Web Shaffer, Dawn Murray Burnett, Jimmy Bebon, and Chuck Klink.

04

06

04

Maryhop Brandon ’74 and Libby McCawley ’74, in theatrical makeup, after Libby’s final performance in Jesus Christ Superstar.

05

David Capodilupo ’79 (third from the right) in Patagonia sporting his GFA Alumni shirt.

05

on my horse, turn off my phone, and get lost in the woods. Love it!

1972 GFA alums Susan Durkee ’72, Martha Gates Lord ’74, Norman Marsilius ’72, Judy Proctor ’70, and Maggie Moffitt Rahe ’75 stopped by the launch party of Susan Hood’s ’72 latest book, Lifeboat 12, at the Pequot Library.

Susan Boone Durkee

Susan’s portrait commission of the Governor of South Dakota was recently unveiled to great success. She is currently working on the Official portrait of the Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court amongst numerous other commissions.

1974 Maryhop Brandon

Last April, I went to see Libby McCawley ’74 act and sing in a community production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Bellows Falls, VT. We hadn’t seen each other since our school days.

Her singing was beautiful and she is very involved with theater in her region.

Allen Hardon

My son Thomas received his MBA from Arizona State University in May and we continue living in Gilbert, AZ. We are planning our eastward migration for the summer next year and would love to catch up with fellow GFA Dragons!

Russell (Ace) Hoffman

I am still happily married 40+ years to the girl I brought to the graduation ceremony at GFA in 1974 (but we’re both cancer survivors now). We’re both still computer programmers each with 30+ years of experience. This year one of my software programs — a digital simulation of a slide rule — was featured on the cover of the Oughtred Society magazine, the journal of a group dedicated to the preservation of slide rules (I am currently also their webmaster). Next year will be my company’s 30th anniversary — the longest continuously operating educational software company in the world (as far as I know). Probably also the smallest. I first programmed a computer at GFA and was introduced to digital logic

by Ed Denes. Just one of the many ways that great man changed my life!

1979

long-sleeved Greens Farms Academy Alumni White Shirt (third in from the right)!

1980 Juliana Steele

In April 2019, I will celebrate 13 years as the VP of Administration & CFO for United Arts of Central Florida, a nonprofit organization that supports over 70 arts and cultural organizations throughout Central Florida.

This year, I celebrated 10 years of marriage to Ken Johnson, the love of my life, my soulmate, and my twin flame, and 40 years of friendship with Heather Murray ’80, who I met in our junior year at GFA. I am nearly two years out from my final treatment for breast cancer. So far, so good. Time flies, but for some things it stands still. Focus on the bright spots in your life and you will never be without a smile.

1983

David Capodilupo

Happy to update that I received my Dean appointment, at MIT, this past July! Also a fun photo above — this is my MIT Advisory Board for Latin America (I manage and work with our office in Santiago). We decided for a team-building exercise, to travel to Patagonia and hike the Torres del Paine — 6 hours ascending and 6 hours descending!

The locals say that you should only do this once in a lifetime — my legs agreed! If you look closely, I’m in the light khaki pants (thank you, Brooks Brothers) and wearing a

Bill harriss

I am still living in Birmingham, Michigan with my wife, Christine, and two dogs.

Christine and I met in college (Denison) and have been married more than 25 years!

We travel extensively when we can and look forward to more of this in the future. I am a Director for the Automotive Division of IHS Markit, a global market data, research and analysis firm. One of the perks of the job involves working with the largest auto manufacturers in the world, including

spring 2019 | 59

07

07

Patrick Kanehann ’85

08

1986: Terry Swords, Lisa (Brovender) Hayes, Josh Auerbach, Tasha (Sprague) Watkins, Donne (More) Volpitta, Martin Björklund, David Lipton

09

Neuroworld, written by Donna Volpitta ’86

10

1988 reunion dinner: Front row, from left: Kim (Keller) Raveis, Kristy (Ferguson) Wackerman, Jennifer (Ganim) Lawton, Yvette (Liem) Yoon, and Ariana (Mass) Ferrandino. Back row, from left: Dan Tower, Britt (Hiller) Hayes, Pam (Burian) Badger, Scott Derrin, Lis (Bartol) Reed, Susan (Tainter) Beard, Gay Baker, and Jerry Bozentko.

Karima Hassan Hopkins ’92 with husband Mark and new daughter Cleo.

11 11

08

those that have U.S. headquarters based in northern New Jersey so I am able to return to the East Coast frequently!

person at her Portland home. Yeah, I acted all casual and at ease while there...but it was a heart-pumping thrill for me!

I had a great time seeing classmates at our 35th reunion last fall. Getting back to GFA was special and I was reminded how unique the setting and experience is for students lucky enough to attend the school.

1985

Jimmy bebon

Members of the Class of 1983 caught up after Reunion on October 13 at a pajama-themed party that my wife Jackie Bebon ’84 and I hosted.

1984 Sarah Bowen Shea

I’m coming up on 20 years of living in Portland, OR, and I love it every day! But I occasionally now get to pretend I live near GFA: My mother recently moved into a senior living facility in Stamford, so now when I visit her, dear Gioia Riccio ’84 is kind enough to let me stay with her in her lovely home right near the Saugatuck River.

I’ll be back in February with my 17-year-old daughter (leaving my 13-year-old twins at home with my hubs).

If you feel like listening in (literally!) on my life and getting loads of great running advice, please listen to the podcast I host called “Another Mother Runner.” It’s a very successful podcast, launched in 2011. For an episode this fall, I got to interview Shalane Flanagan, 2017 NYC Marathon winner, in 60 | www.gfacademy.org

09

10

and rehearsals, I work as a children’s book editor. My latest projects include This Is My World from Lonely Planet Kids and the National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020. Look for both titles in 2019!

Patrick Kanehann

Cathy Sylte Memory

Just wrapped line producing the comedy feature film, The F Happened for the creator of Mad About You. I also line produced the Adaptive Studios comedy web series, Little Italy, Los Angeles, which garnered Best Web Series in the 2018 HollyShorts Film Festival, an Oscar-qualifying film festival.

In August I earned my RYT-200 hour certification under Kevan Gale of the Fluid Yoga School. My daughters are nine and six — how did that happen so fast!? Rob and I plan to introduce them to New Orleans for the first time this May.

1986

1992

Donna (Moore) Volpitta

Karima Hassan Hopkins

Members of the class of 1986 enjoyed catching up over dinner in July while Martin Björklund was visiting from Finland.

Donna, an educator, also recently released Neuroworld, a children’s book that teaches the neuroscience of resilience, which can be purchased on Blurb.

My husband Mark and I had a baby girl on Saturday, November 17. Well...to be clear, I had her and Mark was the most supportive partner I ever could have asked for in the process. Cleo Jane Hopkins was born at 4:41 PM (for those keeping stats) and weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. She is happy and healthy and we are so in love with her it’s ridiculous. Many thanks to the many members of the class of ’92 who sent love and support, hand-medowns and food. You’re the best!

1988 Members of the Class of 1988 enjoyed a post30th reunion get-together in October at the home of Kim (Keller) Raveis.

1990

Justin Lacche

Justin Lacche won the State Championship for Men’s 3.0 Singles at the 120th Oregon State Tennis Championships.

Mary Varilla Jones

After spending three years in Hong Kong, my family has settled back into life in Wilton, CT. When I’m not shuttling my kids to games

Mike McKinney

Maria Armental and I got married in Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, in 2017.

The wedding ceremony was held at Iglesia de San Francisco in the heart of a city that is a UNESCO world heritage site in northwestern Spain’s Galicia region. We honeymooned on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. This year, we moved to City Island, a cute little part of New York City known for its seafood. We are loving our new home perched on Long Island Sound. I’m currently a reporter with The Journal News/USA Today Network in White Plains, and Maria is a reporter with The Wall Street Journal in New York. We met while working as reporters at The Providence Journal in Rhode Island.

1994

I met with Model UN students both at GFA and in Berlin at the JFK School, where my son goes to school.

Allison Cardona

In March 2017, I made the move to sunny Los Ángeles after 20 years in New York City.

I live near Griffith Park with my dog and cat.

My partner, Yvonne, splits her time between LA and NYC. I am enjoying working for LA County as Deputy Director of Operations for the Department of Animal Care and Control.

My parents live in Miami so I get to see my dear friend, Fiona Knight ’93, and her family whenever I visit.

1996

Jamie Millington

The last year was a year full of new and exciting challenges. I left William Pitt Sotheby’s and join William Raveis Real Estate in Southport. At Raveis, I formed The Millington Group and have been building a company under the Raveis umbrella. The team is growing quickly and sales are rising quickly. We now service all of Fairfield County and part of New Haven County as well. Kelly and I are also enjoying traveling when we are not working.

1993 Monika Lara Lin

Now that my kids are older (Emily, 10, and Lance Jr., 12), I’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to go back to work. I currently am a Clinical Research Coordinator for Peninsula Research Associates. I completed my first trial and am now currently running two separate Phase 3 trials. I love the work and helping people that are suffering from their afflictions.

I am very grateful to my husband, Lance, for all his support during this family adjustment/ transition. I can honestly report that everyone survived me not always being around!

12

14

Brain Reich

My book, The Imagination Gap, which was published in paperback earlier this year, is now being translated into other languages, starting with Thai. I just started a new, exciting role as Vice President of Communications for Murmuration, a nonprofit organization that is transforming how political campaigns, advocates, and organizers identify, engage, and mobilize people and communities around public education. As the creative and content leader for the organization, I am is responsible for telling the story of the organization and its unique value proposition, as well as helping to increase awareness and deepen understanding of the organization’s strategic approaches, programs, and products.

Elizabeth Press

I am living in Berlin with my husband Jonas and son Julian. I am currently carrying out the strategic planning for an artificial intelligence (AI) innovation hub in the German state of Brandenburg, as well as working on my own startup (still in stealth, an intersection of FinTech and AI). Recently,

13

15

1997 Alexandra Oudheusden

Alexandra and her husband Dan welcomed their first child, Luke Hunter Schipul, to the world on September 1, 2018. Born 7.5lbs and 18.5” long, he is perfect in every way.

The family is now living in Trumbull, CT. Alexandra continues to be the Director of Therapeutic Recreation at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, NY, and Dan is a Web Accessibility Specialist for SUNY Purchase College. They recently reconnected with Lindsay Johnson-Pak ’97 and her family for a lovely visit together last summer.

Megan Streeter Wagner

We would love to announce the arrival of Sofia Madeline Wagner on June 20, 2018, to my husband (Stefan Wagner) and me. Sofia is happy and healthy and enjoying the Upper West Side in NYC. Max Rosenberg

As I write this, I am sitting with Judge Doug Stern, (St. Luke’s class of 2000) in West Hartford at Judge training. Before this, I had not seen him since he was a GFA freshman and I was a senior. After long and arduous campaigns for both of us, we were elected Probate Judges of our respective towns. I am the new Judge for Stratford. He is the new judge in Norwalk/ Wilton. We are very excited about our new positions.

I have also been keeping up with Nikhil Ramchandani ’95. We got some coffee a couple months ago and stay in touch. And I bumped into Martina Bria ’97, at the

12

Justin Lacche ’92 won the State Championship for Men’s 3.0 Singles at the 120th Oregon State Tennis Championships.

13

Mike McKinney ’92 and Maria Armental on their wedding day in Spain.

14

Luke Hunter Schipul, son of Alexandra Oudheusden ’97, at three months.

15

Sofia Wagner daughter of Megan Streeter Wagner ’97.

16

Stratford pumpkin festival in October.

I am still managing my law firm Rosenberg, Miller, Hite & Morilla, LLC ( which I believe has grown to be the largest in Stratford).

We’ve been very busy with some wonderful new accounts and our community outreach that you may have seen on News Channel 12.

Our family has grown as well. We now not only have two sons, Zohar age 12 and Asher age 10, two dogs, Archimedes and Eureka, but now we have a Siberian dwarf hamster, Nibbles, and 23 chickens, each with a name.

FYI, Asher has made a nice little business selling farm fresh eggs.

Recently we were all (minus the animals) in a high-speed car accident on the highway in Baltimore. We are all hurting but we recognize how lucky we are to be alive.

Please always wear your seatbelts. We are on the mend and would love to hear from our GFA family.

2002 Caitlin McBeth Griswold

I am currently living in Darien with my husband, my son Hunter (2 1/2 yrs) and our newest addition Emma! Emma McBeth Griswold was born on October 31, Halloween baby! We are thrilled to be a family of four and are enjoying being back in the area connecting with local Dragons!

2004 Carlos Guzman

Stephanie Van Hatten and I welcomed Luna Louise Guzman Van Hatten on October 23, 2018, at 11:00 PM. Luna wants everyone to know that she is crushing her milk and has more hair than Dad! Nikki (Barrett) Kelleners

I moved with my family to London in February of 2018 and had our third daughter earlier this year. Life is full and busy and we are very grateful. Sending lots of love to the GFA family.

62 | www.gfacademy.org

16

Emma McBeth Griswold ’02 son Hunter holding his new sister Emma McBeth Griswold.

17

Carlos Guzman ’04, Stepahnie Van Hatten with Luna Louise Guzman Van Hattan

17

Sarah (Satinover) Chostner

My husband Ben and I live in San Francisco, and I lead Talent and Development at a charter school network here in the Bay Area.

We welcomed our first child, Aviva, at the end of December!

2006

Krysta Cihi ‘06, Julia (Goldenheim) Dutcher ‘06, Schuyler (Weinberger) Kemeny ‘06, and Jeff Thompson ‘06, in addition to my best man and younger brother Mikey Hintsa ‘11, past parents from Mikey’s and my GFA classes, and former colleagues from my three years working on GFA’s alumni relations team.

Jamie (Whittendale) Bergen

On September 15 I married Will Bergen at St. Luke’s Parish in Darien, CT. We spent the night celebrating with our family and friends at the Belle Haven Club in Greenwich. We were thrilled to have Caroline Stenbeck ’06 and Adrienne Rudkin DeSena ‘06 there to celebrate with us. We returned from an incredible honeymoon to New Zealand and Bora Bora to Stamford, CT, where we currently live with our yellow lab Sandy.

A little over three years ago, I transitioned from a clinical research position at Memorial Sloan Kettering to my current role at Remedy Partners, where I lead a data analytics team to implement care redesign models to reduce costs and improve the quality of care for Medicare patients.

Michelangelo Barone

I currently live in Quincy, MA. I am a resident company member of True Repertory Theatre in Kingston, MA. I was recently a featured singer in their Holiday Cabaret, and I was cast in their upcoming production of Noël Coward’s improbable farce, Blithe Spirit. I am also a behavioral therapist for kids with autism and specialize in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis).

Matt Hintsa

I was joined by an extended GFA family for my US-based wedding celebration on October 13 at The Towers in Narragansett, RI. In July, my Canadian husband, Brian Beckett, and I also celebrated with friends and family north of the border in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Among those in attendance in RI were classmates Sam Schmid Cahill ‘06,

Anni (Satinover) Leff

After spending almost a decade in Boston, I’ve moved down to Baltimore where I work as the Assistant Director of Development at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins, and spend the balance of my time with my Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, Libby. A recent visit back to Connecticut was particularly special as it included a brief visit with some long-unseen GFA pals and their babies!

2007 Katie Cassetta

I’m a producer for an event called The Aspen Ideas Festival. This year, two GFA alumni, Alex Perry ‘06 and Sefra Levin ‘03, were nominated to attend the festival as scholars.

They’re both pursuing very cool conservation work. Last year, documentary filmmaker Chris Temple ‘07 attended as a scholar. The picture at the right is of the three of us at the event in June, which is on the campus of The Aspen Institute.

2008 Margaret Cissel

In September, Steve Swett ’08 and I shared our wedding day with a few fellow GFA Dragons. We couldn’t have imagined a more appropriate group to celebrate with nor a more perfect party. Shout out to GFA Hall of Famers: Deirdre Daly, for beautifully officiating our wedding ceremony, and Bevo and Roger Tarika for hosting such a rocking soirée!!

18

Sarah (Satinover) Chostner ’04, her husband Ben, and their daughter Aviva.

19

Jamie (Whittendale) Bergen ’06 and Will Bergen

20 Michelangelo Barone ’06, a featured singer in True

Repertory Theatre (Kingston, MA).

18

20

21

Members of the class of 2006 at the wedding celebration of Matt Hintsa ’06 and Brian Beckett. From L to R: Julia (Goldenheim) Dutcher ’06, Schuyler (Weinberger) Kemeny ’06, Sam Schmid Cahill ’06, Krysta Cihi ’06, Brian Beckett, Matt Hintsa ’06, and Jeff Thompson ’06.

22

From left (adults): Jessica Brown, Anni Leff ‘06, Bernadette Soler ‘06, Dave Soler, Alex Perry ‘06, Alex Brown ‘06, and Natalie Birinyi ‘06. The kids, from left, are Jamison Maguire (Bernadette’s niece), Charlotte Brown (Alex and Jess’s daughter), and Teddy Brown (Alex and Jess’s son).

23

Alex Perry ’06, Sefra Levin ’03, and Katie Cassetta ’07 at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

24

Steve Swett ’08 and Margaret Cissel ’08 married in September surrounded by lots of GFA love.

19

21

22

23

24

Andrew Foster

This past fall my boyfriend Kyle and I got engaged — we’re of course very happy and excited! In June, I’ll hopefully pass all my grad school classes and graduate from MIT with a master’s in Systems Engineering and an MBA. After that, I’ll take a few months off and relocate back to Los Angeles, where I’ll be working at the Boston Consulting Group.

Gordon Thompson

I am having a lot of fun with my new best friend, Neil Thompson, born on August 9, 2018.

2009 Matt Demartini ’09, Mark Warburg ’09, and Kevin Tyler ’09 polished off a Forrest’s Seafood Feast (Voted No. 1 Guest Favorite) and Fried Shrimp Po’ Boy at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles, CA. Lauren Vogel

After five years, I left J.P. Morgan and have gone back to school for my MBA at Wharton — I will be graduating in 2020.

2011 Conner Downey

I am living in NYC and working at 3x3 Insights, an analytics startup for the alcohol industry that tracks consumer behavior and is intended to bring this age-old industry into the digital age. ​Emma Frank​ After three years in D​.​C.​ ​for law school at the George Washington University Law School,

25

Neil Thompson, son of Gordon Thompson

26

Current Georgetown basketball team captain Lexi Kimball ’17.

27

Matt Demartini ’09, Mark Warburg ’09, and Kevin Tyler ’09 at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Los Angeles, CA.

I’ve returned to the Boston area to study for (and hopefully pass) the Massachusetts and New York bar exams. I recently started as an associate in the patent litigation group of Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

Harrison Thompson

I graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2016. Since April I’ve been working as a Health Care Buyer for Jet and Walmart.com.

2013

2012

Christian Alexander Bridgette Foster

This past may, I graduated Teachers College, Columbia University with my Master’s in School Counseling and Psychological Counseling, but a strange thing happened a week after graduation. I was in Midtown Manhattan, and witnessed a kid on a motorcycle get hit by a car. Rushing over and handling the situation (saying, “You call 911,” “You get his bike out of the way,” etc.), a group of us were able to get him off the road. The woman who was helping me with the crisis management turned to me and said, “I like what you did here. I want you to come work for me.” So that’s exactly what I’m doing. Taking a risk and working for a start-up tech company called The Page. I am a writer and the content manager for the site where thought-leaders, moderators, and our members can go to engage in respectful discussion (and discourse) in a productive and inquisitive community. During my time in academia (mostly college not GFA), I became sick and tired of people not listening to each other. Not learning from each other.

Our society is so polarizing and we’re closing our ears to anyone who has even a remotely different opinion or lifestyle. What we’re doing at The Page is so important because it transcends all of that by creating a tolerant environment for discussion. We already have spots scheduled on The Today Show, CNN, and CNBC this spring. Very exciting!

25

I graduated from Earlham College with a degree in Evolutionary Biology and Museum Studies. After receiving a Master’s in teaching from Earlham College, I am currently enrolled in a traveling masters of science in Marine Biology and Scuba Diving Research Methods at Northeastern University. I am finishing up a semester in Boston, before moving on to do coral reef and tropical fish research in Panama, and afterwards I will be conducting research in Kelp forests in Washington state at the Friday Harbor Labs.

Julia Lennon

Julia relocated for the winter to Boston, where performed as No. 8 in the Pulitzerfinalist play, The Wolves, at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston.

2017 Lexi Kimball

Current Georgetown student Lexi Kimball was named to the Big East All Academic team for women’s basketball.

26

27

join us in supporting

The world we build together.

The World We Build Together

Importance of the Annual Fund

Your Gift Matters

At GFA, we believe our charge is to

Gifts to the Annual Fund benefit

A robust Annual Fund is instrumental

engage and mentor students in the

every student by supporting academic

in building a strong foundation for

hard work of shaping their own worlds.

programs, the arts, athletics, financial

educational excellence. These gifts

Together, we develop minds that are

aid, and faculty enrichment. Just as all

ensure that all students have an

ready for big visions and the successes

independent schools do, GFA relies

experience that is tailored to their

that await them. Join us in supporting

on these gifts to support our extensive

individual talents and interests. Your

the GFA Annual Fund and the world we

annual operations.

Annual Fund gift can be directed

build together.

to an area of the school that is most meaningful to you.

Greens Farms Academy Annual Fund

Presorted Nonprofit.org U. S. Postage PAID Norwalk, CT Permit No. 232

Greens farms Academy 35 Beachside Avenue PO Box 998 Greens Farms, CT 06838-0998

brighter world. greens farms academy Be ready for joy. Be ready for wonder. Be ready to dream. Be ready for curiosity and complexity, for Signature Programs and service learning, for empowering Responsive Classrooms, and life-changing discussions around Harkness Tables. Be ready to push yourself. Be ready to define what excellence means.

Greens Farms Academy (GFA) is an independent co-ed day school for grades PreK-12 in Westport, CT.