Newsletter 2020-2021, Volume 8 by internationalschoolofbrooklyn

Summer 2021, Vol. 8

Muriel Stallworth Reflects on 16 Years of Leading the PYP at ISB

At the end of this school year, PYP Coordinator and French Visual Arts Teacher Muriel Stallworth will be stepping down from her role as PYP Coordinator after sixteen years of leading the growth of ISB’s Primary Years Programme. As a founding board member and educational director of ISB, Muriel developed ISB’s Primary Years Programme and initial educational framework, and helped to build a strong foundation for our students in their early years of education, when they are discovering who they are as learners and finding out how to investigate their world. While this was Muriel’s final school year as ISB’s PYP Coordinator, we are very pleased that Muriel will be continuing her work as a passionate IB educator as the Visual Arts Teacher for our younger grades on the French track.

Dear ISB Community, With classrooms packed up and the summer break upon us, I can’t help but express my appreciation of being able to lead this work for the past sixteen years. It has been such a daily pleasure to work with so many talented teachers, coming from all over the world and from whom I learned so much! During our annual end-of-year review of the Primary Years Programme of inquiry, while engaging my fellow ISB educators in the examination of how our school’s units might stay relevant in the world we live in, I thought about how rewarding it is to do this work together as a faculty. Brainstorming together, we shared many new ideas about the interrelated systems that are embedded in our units.

Muriel’s Letter Continued... As a group, we were uplifted by many hopeful perspectives after our collective viewing of the movie, Tomorrow, a great catalyst of hope and empowerment in the face of our complex world. For this exciting work and the privilege to support the ISB community in its PYP growth and for the impact I have seen on all our students over all these years, I am so grateful. I am proud to have been instrumental in the development of our beautiful school since its inception in 2005, and now it is time for me to pass the baton to my dear colleague, Selena Lynn, a wonderful and knowledgeable educator, who will bring her own energy and much talent to the PYP Coordinator role. While my next adventure will take me to the field of outdoor education, I am excited and proud to continue my work at ISB as an art teacher—an art room filled with budding artists being the ideal place for me to explore the many connections of art within all areas of life. Leading and learning are in constant dialogue in a PYP school such as ours. It is a dynamic and reflective state of mind that keeps a learner engaged and shapes open minds for those who can hold its power. It is my hope that all children embarking on their PYP journey at ISB will flourish as their true self and become compassionate individuals ready to lead purposeful lives. I look forward to continuing to fulfill my curiosity and love of learning along with our students as soon as we come back in September, in person! Warmly, Muriel Stallworth

Classroom Highlights

A Trip to Outer Space for 2nd Graders

There was a buzz of excitement in the 2nd Grade classrooms as students began their next unit of inquiry on outer space. First, students reflected on their prior knowledge by writing and drawing what they already knew about the solar system, and then, they moved on to their space adventures! This unit taps into the wonder and imagination for space exploration, investigating our solar system as we integrate science, math, physics, language, literacy, and social studies. Students participated in a space challenge that culminated on February 18th when they landed their own missions along with the successful landing of Perseverance Mars Rover. Students and teachers watched NASA’s Livestream and celebrated when Perseverance landed safely. The classes were thrilled to take part in this historic moment in space exploration as they watched the sixwheeled rover land in the Jezero Crater after nearly 300 million miles of travel through the harrowing final phase of entry, descent, and landing. Students were amazed by the biggest, heaviest, cleanest, and most sophisticated robotic geologist ever launched into space! During this historic landing, students also presented their own creative rocket and rover designs, built from paper, cardboard, containers, recycled materials, and more. To investigate further, students took a virtual field trip to the American Museum of Natural History to see human-made and interstellar debris with AMNH Astrophysicist Jackie Faherty and Pilot Deion Desir. They were able to see a variety of satellites and other intriguing objects beyond our solar system. The 2nd Graders joined AMNH’s Space Junk Livestream to learn more. Students observed views of the nighttime sky as satellites orbited Earth, and learned that the USA has more satellites in space than any other country. The students developed many questions throughout their space exploration, such as “What is orbiting around us?” and “Do satellites pose a threat to us or to space travel?” Every week, 2nd Graders participated in “story time from space,” during which astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) read stories and led science experiments for our students on Earth. Students could see incredible views from the ISS’s cupola observation deck during this stellar story time!

Students also participated in the Annual Space Foundation International Student Art Contest. In preparation for the art contest, students discussed what space technology is and how it can improve our lives, considering the impact of scientific and technological advances on society. The topic of the contest, how space technology helps improve life on Earth, was very much aligned with what students had been learning about in the classroom. 2nd Graders then dove into group research on planets, astronauts, spacecrafts, and significant monumental people who have made contributions to the advancement of astronomy. Teachers were very impressed with students’ enthusiasm, creativity, and initiative as they developed their own projects and posters to share what they had discovered with their peers. Questions and inquiries continued to explode as they shared their discoveries with each other. With the classroom enthusiasm taking off, students came together to discover the mathematics behind rockets. Students made Tangram Rockets with geometric shapes: triangles, squares, rectangles, and more, connecting geometry to their outer space unit. While playing a fun space card game, students also analyzed data about the planets and compared multi-digit numbers (diameter, distance from the sun, year of discovery, etc.). They explored 2-D geometric figures and robots, and then practiced using multiplication to calculate how many sides and vertices each figure had. Students also investigated the science behind rocket balloons. They performed a science experiment to learn how a rocket works and demonstrate Newton’s third law of motion. They developed their own hypotheses, made predictions of the motion of their rockets, and tested their hypotheses by conducting their experiment several times to validate their results. Students wrapped up their outer space adventures with their final project on their own research about the celestial body of their choice. Their visual work of sculptures, 3-D models, and more were accompanied by their final written pieces and oral presentations. Students reflected on their journey as explorers in the world beyond our planet, making connections between what they knew before they began the unit and what they learned. Some say that the sky’s the limit, but for our 2nd Grade future astronauts, the sky is just the beginning! 6

8th Grade Science Debate on CRISPR Technology This year, 8th Graders took on the challenge of researching and preparing for a debate on the pros and cons of CRISPR, a new technology that allows genes to be edited in a very targeted manner. The students explored the leading critical question: do you believe that the benefits of CRISPR outweigh the drawbacks? Students were divided into two teams, one that was for and one that was against the use of this new and cutting-edge technology. The teams were then charged with presenting to guest adjudicators (teachers and administrators) in a riveting debate. Students spent many hours researching and learning about this technology. In their research, they learned about how the process works, the discovery of this gene editing process as a defense mechanism in bacteria, and the genesis of its use in human beings. Lastly, students focused their research on the implications of the use of this technology and how it could impact human evolution and the world at large. Utilizing research to support their statements, students cited classroom activities, data, lab studies, analogies, and additional sources, such as biotech entrepreneurs, in their arguments. They also discussed the micro and macro level implications of this technology ranging from patient safety and efficacy, to social impact and economic implications. Students contextualized their debate by acknowledging how the technology would possibly be used within the context of the healthcare system and capitalism. They also examined the ethics and morality of this new technology, addressing both the positives and the negatives. The affirmative team shared how important the technology could be in curing diseases like cancer, HIV, and sickle cell disease. They outlined how it could also help endangered species and help animals that may otherwise be in danger of becoming extinct. The oppositional team discussed the problems that may come with this technology and how they may be irreversible. They discussed how this may be affected by the wealth gap in this country, the high cost of the technology, and the unfair impacts this might have on access to this technology and its perceived benefits. They also warned against the power of this technology, expressing concern for how this power could be abused or used unethically.

Both teams did an impressive job of citing scientific evidence in their arguments and formulating closing statements. In closing, a student stated, “In conclusion, the future is always looked at with excitement and fear. Even though a wondrous possibility, the future can cause trepidation because it is uncertain. While we can’t change our feelings about the future, we can take the first steps towards a brighter one.” Guest judges chimed in at the end to provide feedback and were very proud and impressed with both teams. Students worked together incredibly well, helping their peers, staying focused, jumping into the conversation, and supporting one another. One of the guest judges, MYP Coordinator and English Language and Literature Teacher Katie Rogers, shared after the closing statements, “I really want to acknowledge the way everyone worked as a team. Even in moments of stress, it was really amazing to see everyone working together and staying calm under pressure. Also, I’d like to give bonus points and recognition for integrating English vocabulary words into the debate!” In addition to learning about new scientific technology, students also further developed their collaboration and communication skills. They learned how to work together, not only for the parts of the debate that they had planned out prior, but also for their counter arguments which they improvised during the conversation. Team members helped each other when unexpected challenges or distractions arose, and they also all listened to one another as they shared their different viewpoints.

“Words cannot express how incredibly proud I am of this group and the top notch work they exhibited in this debate! They faced the hurdles of figuring out how to collaborate on Zoom, practice together, and support each other in a way they otherwise would have done more organically in person. The finished product speaks for itself; they were polished, passionate, and articulate. The future looks bright for these thinkers. They are an embodiment of the statement by Albert Einstein, ‘Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.’” - Kimesha Reid-Grant, Middle School Science Teacher and Department Head

Visual & Performing Arts

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Zooming into Music During Hybrid Learning In January 2021, ISB’s Lower School kicked off the Zoom into Music series! Music Teacher (Pre-K 3 - 4th Grade) Melanie Cozzi and Music and Performing Arts Teacher (5th-8th Grade) Justin Indovina hosted an exciting lineup of performances every Friday for 3rd through 5th Graders as a way to spark students’ interests and curiosity about the musical world around them. Each week, a different musician from the ISB network performed for the students on Zoom. The performances covered a wide range of genres, including bluegrass, jazz, opera, classical, and more. Through this fun and engaging series, students were exposed to a variety of instruments, including the violin, fiddle, piano, flute, guitar, percussion instruments, and ukulele. Along with their performance, the artists would also share about their inspiration, creative process, experiences, and musical work. It was an invigorating way to end each week on a musical note!

“As music classes became virtual this year, there was a unique opportunity to engage our students in a new and exciting way. The students were awed by the musical performances, introduced to new genres, and inspired by the artists’ stories. It was an unforgettable series that gave way to deeper thinking and open-mindedness.” - Melanie Cozzi, Music Teacher (Pre-K 3 - 4th Grade)

Students enjoyed hearing different genres of music, learning about the musicians’ experiences, and exploring how individuals can express their culture and experience through music. The series introduced students to music they hadn’t yet encountered, some discovered genres that they didn’t even know they liked!

The Zoom into Music Lineup: Mike Robinson

Bluegrass

Samantha Bassler

Classical Piano

Rodrigo Bonelli and Aaron Barak

Latin Jazz

Haodong Wu and David Ordovskiy

Classical Flute and Piano Duo

Kensuke Shoji

Bluegrass

Alexander York and Christopher Vazan Opera Melissa Tong

Blues

Matt Ray

Jazz

Robert Jost

Studio Recording/Broadway Work

Melissa Tong

Blues

Lauren Balthrop

Folk-Pop/Singer-Songwriter

Stav German Glaser

Indie Songwriter/Computer-Based Sound Design

Jasmine Muhammad and American Opera Projects

Opera

Pablo Vergara, Dan Lumi, and Anath Benais

Piano/Jazz

Spring Arts Celebration Opening Night This year, the Arts Departments produced a wonderful virtual showcase to celebrate music, art, and theater in Pre-K 3 through 8th Grade classes.

Box, The Middle School Play The Middle School’s premiere performance of Box by Lindsay Price was a great success! The play’s scenes, monologues, and songs invited the audience to reflect on how we see ourselves and how others see us. Students put together an incredible show which explored the themes of identity, friendship, authenticity, integrity, and more. “While I was nervous about putting together an online production (my first!), the students were excited about getting to work on a play and perform together,” Music and Performing Arts Teacher Justin Indovina shared. “They took the themes and content very seriously. They knew the stories they were telling were important, and I am sure that some of them discovered something about themselves along the way.”

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The play takes the audience on a journey of navigating the pressure to fit in and the tensions of wanting to be popular and live up to others’ expectations. Middle School student performers introduced many good questions about the roles that rumors, fear, and reputation can play in people’s lives. Over 170 ISB friends, families, teachers, and staff signed up for streaming passes to watch the performance on the opening night. The play’s virtual setting allowed for even more families and friends to join for the premiere, watching live from all over, from London to Montana to Hawaii to France and beyond! Audience members were very impressed by the play and how the students were able to come together and think outside the “box” to create something that had never been done before at ISB. It was so moving to see students from all three grades working together for the first time in a year to create something powerful.

Community

School-wide Eco-Challenge

Students successfully completed their first ever school-wide Eco-Challenge organized by the PA Green Dragons Committee, and the impact that they made in two short weeks was impressive! The Eco-Challenge encouraged all students to think mindfully about their actions and track them daily from March 1 through March 15 on ISB’s Eco-Challenge Platform. Our school-wide team brought together over 180 teammates to score 66,755 points, representing advocacy actions, pounds of CO2 that have been saved, plastics recycled, and more. The challenge highlighted how individual small actions can have a large collective impact and how students, as learners, advocates, and leaders, can promote sustainability, not just through recycling but also through creating healthy habits, finding joy and gratitude, supporting conservation, choosing locally-sourced food, and supporting opportunities to promote the circular economy. ISB student Max reflected, “I would say practicing gratitude can help get to a better world because you don’t take as much for granted and you really think about the actions you take.” Students explored ways that they can have an ecological impact through ten action categories: building resilience, waste, food, health, transportation, energy, community, nature, water, and simplicity. Actions ranged from examining water usage during toothbrushing and showering, to using alternative modes of transportation, to spending more time outdoors, to conducting energy and waste audits, and the list goes on!

“Being friendly to the environment not only helps the planet, but it also helps your well-being.” – Leanna, ISB Student Through the Eco-Challenge, Preschool students participated using weekly “sustainability bingo cards” and came together to celebrate their actions each week as a class. Lower School students discussed their actions with their teachers and classmates and their families at home. In their advisory groups, Middle School students competed against other advisory teams to see which team could complete the most actions. Among the students, there was a sense of purpose and urgency as they focused on how they could improve and strengthen their habits and choices to build a more sustainable future. ISB student James shared, “We need to save the environment for future generations.” 21

During the challenge, ISB also partnered with the aNY Bag Project, a New York City-based company that repurposes and transforms single-use plastics which would otherwise fill our waterways and landfills to create beautiful durable reusable handwoven bags. Throughout the challenge, ISB families and staff collected their single-use plastics including bubble wrap, plastic bags, dry cleaner bags, and more, supporting this local initiative and contributing to the circular economy. Lower School and Middle School students had the opportunity to meet with aNY Bag Project Founder Alex Dabagh for a fun and unique virtual tour, during which he gave an insider view of the entire process of weaving and bag creation from single-use plastics to the final upcycled product and all of the steps in between. He also told the story of how he became involved in sustainability and shared his passion for his work. When speaking about sustainable actions and answering student questions, Alex shared an important reminder about how to approach sustainability, “Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress, everything we do better is a step in the right direction.” The Eco-Challenge gave students a deeper appreciation for the environment and a more mindful way of interacting with their world as they reflected on the actions necessary for a more sustainable future.

“I like doing the Eco-Challenge with my school. I can see my actions in my home or community can make a difference. Seeing the totals on the team board was good to see that as a school we had a big impact in just two weeks! I hope it doesn’t stop.” – Rosa, ISB Student “Old jeans can be turned into coasters. Finished glass jam containers can be made into hanging flower pots. Everything has a second use if you think about it.” - Brune, ISB Student 22

Representation of Indigenous Peoples in Children’s Literature with Dr. Debbie Reese By Alice Bennahmias and Géraldine Bourgade, PA Events Co-chairs It was a privilege to hear Dr. Debbie Reese speak about representations of Indigenous Peoples in children’s literature during a workshop hosted this April by the Parents Association in collaboration with ISB Librarian Maria Falgoust and the Library Committee, and thoughtfully and expertly moderated by writer, curator, and ISB parent Omar Berrada. Dr. Reese, who is Nambé Pueblo, is the founder and editor of the blog (and website) American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) and is a co-author of An Indigenous Peoples’ History for Young People. Earlier in the year, Dr. Reese also met with ISB’s 8th Graders in their Individuals and Societies class to speak on the subject of misrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in literature. During the PA workshop, she spoke about the fact that only 1% of characters in children’s books are Native American, and they are often misrepresented. While white children with more than 50% representation in children’s literature enjoy a lot of “mirrors”, for Native children the mirror is small and reflects a broken image. Native stories are often treated and classified in libraries as folklore, which trivializes Native sacred stories. She reminded workshop participants that Native peoples exist in the present day, not just in the past, and to look for stories that are tribally specific rather than using the broad category of Native American, which ignores the fact that Native nations are as sovereign and distinct as France and Spain. The group discussed the importance for all children to have an accurate view of the history of this country, including its history of violence against Indigenous peoples, and how to critically evaluate children’s books that feature Native characters and stories. Some can be used to develop a critical lens in children, while others should be actively and permanently banned from our libraries and bookshelves. After the conversation, Dr. Reese reflected on how many books published abroad in foreign languages also misrepresent Native peoples, and asked ISB parents to invite friends and family from their home countries to learn more about this topic in order to further a global understanding of who Native peoples are. 23

Cinema Club During a year when it was more challenging for parents and families to gather all together, ISB’s Parents Association got creative in opportunities for families to connect. The ISB Family Cinema Club was a new and highly enjoyable addition this year! Throughout this year, parents and their children joined for interesting and lively discussions over film led by filmmakers and ISB parents Ira Sachs and Kirsten Johnson. To begin the Cinema Club series, ISB community members were also treated to an exclusive Q&A with Kirsten Johnson on her award-winning film, Dick Johnson Is Dead. The club continued through the fall and winter with kidfriendly discussions on Crooklyn by Spike Lee, Tomboy by Céline Sciamma, and Sounder by Martin Ritt. Families enjoyed the thought-provoking selection of high-quality movies that could also be shared with their young children. We look forward to continuing to come together over film with future screenings and discussions in the new school year!

ISB’s Multicultural Book Club The Multicultural Book Club, which normally takes place over coffee in the library or over wine and snacks in the home of an ISB family, could not be stopped by the pandemic! ISB parents, faculty, and staff met on Zoom and had conversations inspired by the book club picks on the themes of colorism, feminism, colonialism, race, class, resistance, dictatorships, family, identity, and more.

Next year’s Multicultural Book Club picks have been selected! In the fall, the Library Committee and the Diversity Committee will co-host discussions on Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata and The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King, and in the spring they will co-host discussions on Tentacle by Rita Indiana and Small Country by Gael Faye. 24

All Staff & Faculty Common Read Over the summer, all ISB staff and faculty will be reading the books Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. ISB’s Library initiated this tradition three years ago as a way to bring our community of educators together over a common reading experience. This year’s Common Read Committee selected these books to raise awareness about relevant social issues and spark interesting discussions to strengthen the growth of our intellectual community. Consider adding these titles to your summer reading list and reading along too!

Community Connections Near and Far

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez

Throughout this year, students have connected with experts in a variety of fields, including politics, journalism, literature, illustration, environmental science, the arts, astronomy, and more. Author Christine Kendall Forester and Author Peter Wohlleben

Former ISB teacher and parent Nathalie Trovato and former ISB parent Gregory Forstner

Journalist Matt Stevens

Staff & Faculty News

Staff & Faculty Highlights Head Librarian Maria Falgoust and Associate Librarian Eli Hetko were awarded grants through the National Endowment for the Humanities summer institutes! This summer, Maria will attend a one-week institute through Wayne State University on Disability and Identity in History, Literature, and Media, and Eli will be attending a two-week institute, A Reverence for Words: Understanding Muslim Cultures through the Arts, held through City Lore. Middle School Science Teacher and Department Head Kimesha ReidGrant was published in the Concord Consortium for her work and expertise in systems modeling tools. The article that she co-wrote is titled “Remote Professional Development: Using System Modeling Tool for 3D Teaching and Learning”. This fall, MYP Coordinator and English Language and Literature Teacher Katie Rogers will be beginning the Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership (CAEL) through Harvard School of Education, starting with the Leading Learning module. She has also continued with her work on the GIBS board, facilitating online roundtables with other IB schools and planning the annual GIBS conference, scheduled for January 2022, which will be focused on Getting and Staying Connected. Katie and PYP Coordinator Muriel Stallworth co-hosted a GIBS webinar for teachers alongside Diana Ljepoja. They facilitated a discussion reflecting on the challenges and victories of the last year. Spanish 1st Grade Head Teacher Christina Wellington recently was elected to be on the board of the Rotary Club as Treasurer. The club is involved in several service projects, working with many different people from all over the world and within the local community.

Staff & Faculty Milestones We are very grateful for the outstanding commitment from our Faculty and Staff who reflect ISB’s mission through their deep investment in our students’ education.

5 Years of Dedication:

Vincent Abbate, Service Learning Coordinator and Physical Education Teacher Jocsan Crespo, IT Support Specialist Isabelle Dussart, French 2nd Grade Head Teacher Laetitia Gabriel-Caldwell, French 4th Grade Head Teacher, French Language Coordinator Yaritza Gonzalez, Spanish Pre-K 3 School Aide Claudia Jones, French Kindergarten Head Teacher Neva Palacio, Spanish Kindergarten Assistant Teacher Kimesha Reid-Grant, Middle School Science Teacher and Department Head Sara Fernández Valladares, Middle School Spanish Language Acquisition Teacher and Language & Literature Teacher

Our Little Dragons

Welcoming our little ones...

Kristen’s Baby, Eleanor

Estelle’s Baby, Orphée

Hined’s Baby, Yassin

Meet ISB’s New Admissions Office! Please join us in welcoming Kelvin Ward and Kirsten Moreland, our new Admissions Team and ambassadors for ISB. We asked Kelvin and Kristen a few questions so our community can learn more about their interests and experiences in education, both as learners and educators.

Kelvin Ward, Associate Director of Admissions, Marketing, and Enrollment

Kelvin Ward has specialized in inbound marketing for independent schools, producing valuable content and tailored messaging to prospective and current community members. Holding roles as Associate Director of Admissions Marketing and Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications at independent schools in the area, he has led branding and outreach projects to successful results for schools and organizations. Kelvin has presented at the New York Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) Institutional Advancement Conference and is an alum of the Interschool Leadership Institute. He holds a Masters of Music degree from New York University and a degree in Advertising and Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Kelvin is an avid musician and photographer and resides in the Bronx with his partner and partner’s two children.

What educational elements are most important to you? I believe curiosity is the key to learning and is the fuel toward rewarding educational experiences. What are you most passionate about? I’m most passionate about creativity and design and the ability to communicate through these realms. As a musician yourself, what’s a piece of music that changed your life? I’m a musician who grew up in the black church. The first song I learned to play on the piano was “Jesus is Real” by Rev John P. Kee. That song was the gateway to my life as a musician/composer and opened up opportunities to play many genres of music for many artists. What are you most excited about as you join ISB’s community? I’m most excited about contributing to developing the legacy of a community that embraces learning from a global perspective. 630

Kristen Moreland, Associate Director of Admissions and Enrollment Kristen Moreland has managed educational programming in New York and abroad, most recently as ISB’s Enrichment and Summer Programs Director. As a former language immersion trip leader and a multilingual speaker of Russian, Italian, and Azerbaijani, she is passionate about cross-cultural experiences and global education. Kristen was previously an early childhood teacher and takes great joy in seeing ISB’s educational model at work in her role at ISB, whether it’s participating in a classroom or planning the curriculum for our summer programs. She holds a Master’s degree in International Education from New York University and a degree in Russian and Linguistics from Grinnell College. Kristen enjoys running and biking through Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband and daughter. What’s a memorable experience that you have had that has shaped how you value education? At the end of my fifth grade year, my teachers wrote a letter set in the future to all the kids in our class. The premise was that they were going on a road trip and happened to meet up with all their former students. The letter included details about where all of us were living and what we were doing, and I remember feeling really understood and validated because what the teachers had imagined for our futures was really in line with our personalities, goals, and dreams. This really stuck with me as a great example of the power and importance of getting to know students as individuals and cultivating their interests, hopes, and passions. Tell us something that our community might not know about you. I have a background in modern dance and once choreographed a piece about standardized testing as part of a senior project in college. I would love to teach a Middle School elective about choreography and site-specific dance at some point. What are you most excited about as you join ISB’s admissions team? I am excited to be able to share all the things that I love about ISB with prospective families and the wider community. ISB is such a special place and I’m looking forward to finding ways to highlight our amazing students, faculty, administrators, parents, programs, and more! 31

Introducing Sakai Troxell, ISB’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director Sakai Troxell will be joining ISB this school year as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director. Sakai will be co-leading the Equity Team and working with all members of our community to usher ISB into its continued growth as an anti-racist and equitable institution. Sakai Troxell is a native New Yorker and Brooklynite who has worked in education for over 15 years, specializing in equitable college access for marginalized communities. A Prep for Prep alumna, Sakai attended The Nightingale-Bamford School (’01), an all-girls independent school, The Mountain School of Milton Academy (F’99) and Middlebury College (’05, B.A. in International Studies) on scholarship, studying Italian and living in Florence, Italy for a year of her undergraduate experience. After Middlebury, Sakai dedicated her life’s work to ensuring that students of color have transformative opportunities similar to her own. Having worked at a wide array of community-based organizations across New York City, she was most recently a College Access Counselor at Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy (BELA), an all-girls charter high school in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of the borough whose student body is entirely girls of color. Sakai also serves as a College Guidance Consultant to independent school students and families across the city. Sakai holds a Certificate in College Counseling from Columbia University Teachers College and received her Master’s Degree in School Counseling from New York University this past Spring. She loves spending time with her family, traveling, sports, and writing spoken word poetry. Sakai currently resides in the Ocean Hill section of Brooklyn with her partner, Talisha, and her 17-month-old daughter, Nicole. We asked Sakai a few questions to learn more about her before we all have the opportunity to meet with her in August! What draws you to education? I firmly believe in being the change you want to see in the world, and change has to start with the ways in which we teach children how to understand, appreciate and communicate with the world around us. Education is key in building communities that foster love, acceptance, equity, empathy, and, therein, progression. I have worked in a wide array of educational communities my entire career and, while it may sound cheesy, I really cannot imagine what my life would be like doing anything else. Shaping young minds is some of the most important work to be done in our society, only rivaled by the literal raising of children by parents and villages, of course! 32

What’s one experience that you have had that has shaped how you value education? I would have to say that the experience that has most shaped the importance of education for me was being in and working at Prep for Prep. Prep was where I honed my academic and leadership skills as a child, and who helped broker my admission to Nightingale. The rest is history! At Nightingale is where I saw firsthand what education should look like - teachers who are invested, abundant resources, and literal and emotional safety. I would go to school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and then travel home to Queens in a 1.5-2 hour commute to see my friends in my neighborhood, whose school days looked very different from mine. It wasn’t fair and I knew it. I will be forever grateful to Prep for showing me what I deserved - for giving me a seat at the table. I went on to work at Prep for several years as an adult, and was able to help Prep students gain access to even more educational opportunities at elite colleges and universities. The work was great because I felt I was helping create the leaders that I wanted to see in the world who would hopefully reenter their communities and help to eradicate the inequities that I first witnessed myself as a kid. My education has opened the doors to so many incredible experiences in my life. It has helped me represent myself, my family and my community with eloquence and pride. Everyone deserves that; it should be a right and not a privilege. This isn’t your first experience at a language immersion school! Tell us more about your own language learning journey at Middlebury College. I went to Middlebury College for undergrad, one of the top colleges for language immersion in the country, so languages were everywhere. In fact, many students lived in language houses on campus, where English was not allowed to be spoken. I loved my time there; being able to walk around campus each day and hear several different languages was amazing. I studied Italian while there and I vividly remember walking into my first Italian class as a freshmen, and having my professor speak to us only in Italian! It was initially intimidating, but was honestly the best way to learn the language. I lived in Florence, Italy as a junior and took regular college courses entirely in Italian while there. Everyone who my friends and I met complimented us on how natural we sounded when we spoke (as opposed to other American students). Unfortunately, I have not kept up with my Italian over the years, but am looking forward to being inspired by the students at ISB to jump back into it! 33

Sakai’s Answers Continued... Name a book, a piece of music, or artwork that changed your life and why? This is a tough question. I’m going to have to give you one of each. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is one of my all-time favorite books. Atticus Finch and his leadership in the pursuit of justice in spite of the racial divide was inspiring. Even as a kid, I knew I wanted to be like Atticus. “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder is the perfect feel-good song, and you can never go wrong with Stevie! Finally, “One, No. 31” by Jackson Pollock is one of my favorite paintings. His use of his whole body to create is iconic; he created cohesiveness amidst chaos. Can you tell us an interesting fact about yourself? I love sneakers! I have loved them since I was a child. I own a vast collection, and pride myself in making sure that my daughter, Nicole, has her own stylish pairs to coordinate whenever possible. The ISB community will see a bit of my own creativity come out on my feet throughout the school year! What are you looking forward to as you join ISB as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director? I am looking forward to meeting students, families, faculty and staff to learn more about where ISB currently is and where it would like to be. I want to learn about what they feel works and what doesn’t, and what they would like to see prioritized. I look forward to working closely with faculty on antiracist curricula, the Admissions Office on diverse recruitment strategies, and HR on how we can bring more diverse faculty and staff to ISB. This work is a marathon, and not a sprint. ISB is already doing incredible work in this area, so I most look forward to growing that work in a manner that will be visible and felt by the ISB community.

Our Graduates

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 After over 15 months without any community gatherings at school, what a more fitting occasion to come together for the first time after this extended hiatus than the Class of 2021 Graduation! This was the first year that ISB hosted commencement in our yard, and it was such a pleasure to have students, families, and staff meet together on campus once again for this momentous and long awaited event. Despite the temperature checks and health screenings, the evening had a festive ambiance as families took their seats at café-style tables among colorful flowers and lively music. The graduates, dressed in their caps and gowns, made their grand entrance and took their seats in the very place where some of them used to line up in the morning with their classmates before school as early as when they were in Preschool, back when ISB first moved to Court Street in 2010. “I was recently struck by the fact that some of you joined ISB when it was young, occupying just a few rooms above a launderette in Prospect Heights. You are amongst the last ones to have been with us from those days,” remarked Head of School Joe Santos in his address to the graduates. “That’s a long journey, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been able to share part of this journey with you.” We were so grateful to be able to honor the Class of 2021 during this celebratory evening filled with sharing laughter and memories. We are looking forward to a bright, shining future for our graduates as they take all that they learned from their time at ISB and turn the page to a new chapter.

Student Speeches

“ISB est une école formidable avec une communauté incroyable. C’est une école qui m’a appris tant de choses et c’était une expérience joyeuse et stimulante. C’est fou de penser que trois ans auparavant, j’étais si timide et aujourd’hui, me voilà ! Devant vous, à ma remise de diplôme. Je pars reconnaissante pour tous les bons souvenirs et excitée de voir, ou presque ce qu’apporte l’avenir. Je quitte l’ISB aujourd’hui mais ISB fera toujours partie de moi.” - Bethsabée “En los últimos 11 años aquí en ISB, he aprendido muchas cosas. He aprendido a hablar español y francés, a resolver desde simples sumas hasta álgebra compleja, y también he aprendido algunas lecciones de vida muy valiosas. En ISB aprendí por primera vez a defender lo que es correcto.” - Amelia “Même si je suis très enthousiaste à l’idée de changer de route après avoir été si longtemps dans cette école, une petite partie de moi regrettera toujours ISB. C’est difficile aujourd’hui de partir parce que c’est ici que je me suis fait tant de souvenirs, des souvenirs que je n’oublierai probablement jamais.” - McKenzie 38

Past, Present, and Future “Recordemos este día. Celebremos que hemos vencido un año lleno de oscuridad e incertidumbre y que hoy, sentados aquí, somos más fuertes y más inteligentes, graduandonos hacia nuestro futuro. ¡Qué brille para la clase de 2021! Somos el futuro. Nous faisons les changements qu’on veut voir. Here comes the sun!” - Leena “Getting to this day has definitely not been easy, but I would not have chosen to embark on this journey with any other group of kids. These last nine years of my life have truly been special in so many ways, and I credit it to the amazing teachers and administration who work to make our school a better place.” - Max “I know that wherever I might be in five, ten, twenty, infinity years, ISB will be responsible for getting me there. I know that wherever this grade is in the future, we will be adventurers, advocates, and leaders. ISB has given my classmates and me the tools, the opportunity to grow, to find our passions. And now as we go into our new worlds, we will carry these lessons with us. When we’re giving our inaugural address, operating on patients, creating art, making movies, winning a case in a courtroom, doing what makes us happy, being with people who make us happy, we will remember one another.” - Filippa

What is one thing about ISB that you hope will never change?

“The community you feel when you walk through the doors.”

“The awesome staff.”

Class of 2021

“I love everyone here and I love the vibe it gives off. Everyone is so friendly and amazing here.”

“The community and the vibe. It’s the most welcoming and happiest community.” “The big Middle School projects.”

“The respectful environment the teachers and students create.”

In one sentence, what did your ISB education do for you?

ISB... ...helped me learn two new languages, which helps me communicate with more people from different places. I love using my languages and meeting new people, so thank you ISB! ...helped me grow to be who I am today. ...opened many new doors and opportunities for me. ...created a person who can look at the world through different lenses. ...helped me realize that I needed to work hard and efficiently to be successful. ...changed my life, and I mean, I was not that much of a student before I came here, and ISB is solely responsible for making me a real student. 41

Félicitations ! ¡Felicidades! We are so proud of you and we hope you always stay in touch. Good luck in high school! The Class of 2021 will be attending the following high schools: Avenues, The World School, Benjamin Banneker Academy, the Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn College Academy, Brooklyn Friends School, Brooklyn Latin School, the Dalton School, Delaware Academy High School, Edward R. Murrow High School, the Harvey School, Léman Manhattan Preparatory School, NYC iSchool, the Packer Collegiate Institute, Rhinebeck High School, and United Nations International School

Alumni Updates

Alumni Updates It’s hard to believe it, but members of ISB’s Class of 2017 graduated high school this year! Among the colleges and universities, they will be attending: Ohio State University, Leiden University (Netherlands), Bard College, MetFilm School (UK), Macalester College, SUNY Purchase, Concordia University (Canada), the University of Massachusetts Amherst, John Hopkins University, CEU San Pablo University (Spain), American University, Stony Brook University, and University of Colorado, Boulder. Our former students will be going on to study film, marine biology, the arts, biotechnology, pharmacy, psychology, business, entertainment, pre-medicine, animal sciences, and more!

ISB Class of 2016 and 2017 Reunion

ISB is tentatively planning to host the postponed Class of 2016 and Class of 2017 reunion for our former students and their families in January 2022. Be on the lookout for details about this event in the coming months!

Calling All ISB Alumni!

Have news? An achievement or an adventure or a story worth sharing? Stay connected to ISB and keep us updated by sending an email to alumni@isbrooklyn.org

Seeking Internship or Job Opportunities for College-aged ISB Alumni

ISB now has three Alumni classes who have graduated high school! Are you connected to a professional opportunity for ISB’s college-aged graduates? Please send an email to Danielle Valenti at dvalenti@isbrooklyn.org if you have an opportunity to share.

Throwback Photos of Our Alumni

Support ISB and visit us online! To make a gift to the Annual Fund for Excellence, visit us at www.isbrooklyn.org/support-isb/annual-fund/

WE DEVELOP ADVENTURERS. CREAMOS REPRESENTANTES. NOUS FORMONS DES LEADERS.

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