New talent comes aboard in music, math, history, and English.
O
NE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT
including AP and regular calculus, cal-
filling faculty openings at
culus-based physics, and multi-variable
Holderness is that there are
calculus. Mike has a B.A. from
always so many good and willing can-
Harvard University and previously
didates to choose from. This year was
taught math and physics at both
no exception, and we’re proud to wel-
Sonoma Academy and Northfield-
come the following educators to the
Mount Hermon.
Matt LaRocca at the Outdoor Chapel.
Holderness community: Kelsey Sullivan Matthew LaRocca
Kelsey is Mike Peller’s fiancé, and she
Matt LaRocca will be covering for
will be joining the history department.
music teacher Dave Lockwood while
Like Mike, and not coincidentally, she
he is away next year on the
arrives from Sonoma Academy. There
Henderson/Brewer Chair Program.
she taught history, coached lacrosse
Matt graduated from Middlebury and
and soccer, and worked in the Dean’s
holds a Master's in music from
Office.
Katie Smarse
Carnegie Mellon University. He comes to us with background and experience
Kaitlyn Smarse ’05
in music composition, string perform-
Katie Smarse is no stranger to our
ance, and voice, and spent last year at
campus, having graduated from
the North Valley Music School in
Holderness in 2005. Since graduating
Whitefish, MT, as faculty-in-residence.
recently from Bates College, she has
Matt will live off-campus.
been student-teaching in Lewiston, Maine, and coaching snowboarding at
Michael Peller
Loon Mountain. Katie will serve as a
Mike Peller will become our new
dorm parent in Pfenninger; coach soc-
chairperson of the math department
cer, snowboarding, and lacrosse; and
and teach higher-level math courses,
teach one section of English. .
S
OMEHOW THIS ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT—NOT BY A
faculty member, exactly, but rather by two faculty members’ dog—got overlooked in the spring issue
of HST. But that’s okay. Digby is still the champ, and it’s
Mike Peller and Kelsey Sullivan as they head out on Orientation Hike.
actually nice to see some snow again in these pages after a wet and soggy
summer.
Digby belongs to faculty members Tiaan ’89 and Lindley ’89 van der Linde, and he currently reigns supreme as “Most Athletic” in Vermont Sports magazine’s annual dog photo contest. Tiaan and Lindley were out at Kingdom Trails in East Burk, VT, for some nordic skiing with their child Linden. Lindley was towing Linden in a nordic baby buggy, and Digby was helping out by towing Lindley. Then-math teacher (and ace photographer) Neal Frei ’03 was in the vicinity with his camera. The photo got sent in to Vermont Sports. Now Digby has bragging rights. The prize? Vermont Sports swag and a one-year
Digby named alpha pooch of Vermont canine athletes.
subscription. The glory? Priceless.
Holderness School Today
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