Fourth-graders Melanie Hoffman and Quinn Schwarz, followed by a group of fifth-graders, participate in the Feelin’ Good Mileage Club, a Primary School walking program that has been a part of KPS for more than two decades.
See page 15 to learn more.
“Mileage Club is good exercise and I like toe tokens!”
—MARA WEHLER ’31
Faculty and staff gathered on a Friday afternoon in late October to hear the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools/Middle States Association Accreditation Team’s initial impressions from their visit to campus and reading our Self-Study.
“Individually,” they said, “you are powerhouses of intelligence, talent, and drive — and together you are absolutely unstoppable. Together you’re doing work that’s worthy of the very highest recognition and praise. And not only that, but you’re very genuine people who clearly love what you do here at Kent Place, where it appears you each feel a palpable sense of community and belonging.”
Community has always been a cornerstone of our school: It drives everything we do. Not only do our faculty and staff feel it, which the Accreditation Team noticed immediately, but it’s also woven into the fabric of our classrooms as well as on the playing fields and the stage. Our traditions, too, reflect our joy in community.
And that’s why our Leadership Team selected Joy in Community as the school’s theme for the 2022–23 academic year. In our community, joy is something we hold on to beyond a moment in time. Since we began this year, we’ve experienced joy in community in myriad ways large and small: Students are gathering as divisions in morning meetings; they’re again enjoying — loving, really — bonding, educational, and fun field trips; parents have reconnected at socials and Ethics Institute events; and we have traveled the globe to chat with alumnae. Finding joy at Kent Place is easy; we’re surrounded by it.
This issue of our magazine is dedicated to you — our Kent Place community. Here you’ll find stories of collaboration, introspection, and hard work, all accomplished with a sense of joy. In 64 pages it’s impossible to fully capture the essence of how joy fills our lives, I’d love to hear how you find joy in community.
Yours for Kent Place,
EDITOR
Rachel Naggar P ’25
Director of Communications
ADVANCEMENT EDITOR
Coral Butler Brooks
Chief Advancement Officer
ALUMNAE EDITOR
Aimee Bousquet Singer ’88 P ’25
Advancement Communications Manager
CONTRIBUTORS
Lydia Barovero
Vicky Browne
Paige Coviello
Andrea Dawson
Lori L. Ferguson
Julie Gentile
Erin Peterson
Lainey Segear
Edel Thomas
Doris Troy, Copy Editor
CREATIVE DIRECTION & DESIGN
2communiqué
COVER ARTIST
Ellice Weaver
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Peter Chollick
Kathleen Dooher
Rich Graessle
John O’Boyle
Mark Wyville
PRINTING
Prism Color Corporation
Kent Place is the official magazine of Kent Place School and is published twice a year by the Communications Office, in partnership with the Advancement Office, for alumnae, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the school.
Kent Place School
42 Norwood Avenue Summit, NJ 07901 (908) 273-0900
kentplace.org
Dr. Jennifer C. Galambos Head of SchoolWe welcome your input: communications@kentplace.org
“Performance Company with Mr. Pridham. He encouraged us to write about whatever we wanted, and he’d work with us to make it the best thing possible. I always felt supported and loved every second I spent in his theater.”
—SAMANTHA NARCISO ’13
“Mrs. Sheeleigh’s computer classes in the early 1980s. What fun and how empowering it was to learn something about which my parents knew very little.”
—JUDY (WALSH) BAUMHOVER ’84
“Undoubtedly French class. Our teacher, Harry Schneider, encouraged us to have vigorous debates about current events — all in French, of course. These classes helped broaden my thinking.”
—DEBORAH BESCH ’71
—LUCY WEIGER ’69
—PHYLLIS (TILSON) PIOTROW ’50
—AMY
“Dr. Cole’s AP English class. She was unyielding in her desire for excellence from all of us. She was a brilliant, compassionate, and exceedingly passionate guide.”
—CRISTIN O’HARA ’88
“French 2 because Madame would tell us all about dating and her husbands and ooh la la the whole French life in the big world out there.”
—SUZANNE (SMITH) TALBOTT ’63
“I loved our history teacher, Miss Sampson. I really enjoyed English poetry and fiction, and the exploration of literary themes and character development. I believe this course led to my daily love of reading.”
—ELIZABETH (LEVIN) PILCHER ’64
“Lucia Harvilchuck’s English class . . . how she deconstructed works like The Odyssey and Pride and Prejudice had a lasting impact.”
—MARYJAN (DORIAN) KELLY ’82
—PINNY (BRISTOL) KUCKEL ’71
“My AP French class was always as entertaining as it was educational. I was so inspired by my teacher, Dr. Olga Lehovich, that I studied languages at her alma mater, Middlebury College.”
—KATINA HOUVOURAS ’91
“The vigorous teacher of US history and Mrs. Britton’s English class.”
—KATHERINE BAILEY ’82
—COMFORT HALSEY ’69
—AMY ALLEN ’91
“My greatest sense of accomplishment came from Miss Moulding’s English class. She taught me to be a better writer, and writing is what lights my fire. It brought me joy because I was able to improve in a subject that always mattered to me.”
—HARTY (PLATT) DU PONT ’70
“In all my 13 years at KPS, my music classes.”
“Definitely physics!”
“Miss Wolfe's English classes were always the most stimulating and memorable.”
“Math brought me joy Shout-out to Mrs. Lopez!”
MCCORMICK ’82
“The joy I found was in developing a love for learning and the resulting confidence it created within me.”
“Voice lessons with Bill Heyne and singing in Triple Trio. And Miss Moulding’s English class gave me joy and trepidation!”
What’s more fun than painting pumpkins on Halloween? Why, launching them from a seven-foot-tall trebuchet (a type of catapult) in the middle of campus, of course!
Over the last seven years, the great pumpkin launch has become one of the most anticipated events on campus, with all 18 Middle School advisories — 150 students — competing to lavishly decorate and then fling their orange globes the farthest, to peals of laughter and encouragement from fellow students, teachers, and administrators.
Make no mistake, though, underlying the spectacle are some pretty complex STEM-based lessons, tailored to each grade: for example, data analysis, Newton’s laws of motion, quadratics, mass, velocity, central tendency, and multivariables.
“It touches on so many key aspects of our Middle School programming,” says math teacher Cheryl Kaplun, who with science teacher Wendy Hall P ’25 came up with this brainchild. “The connections students make with their own data are authentic, which makes for better learning. Plus, the competition unites faculty, staff, and students. It’s a joyful campus event!”
BRILLIANT COLLABORATION
“It’s math, science, art, teamwork, design — there’s something for everyone. And to see eighth-grade students in their third year of this tradition just as excited as they were during their first is so much fun!”
—WENDYHALL P ’25, MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE
TEACHERHALLOWEEN 2022 WINNERS Farthest launch: McPartland Advisory (Grade 6)
BRAVE & BRILLIANT
Senior Victoria Ng has been fascinated by what happens “under the hood” since she was a child. “I went through a big Rube Goldberg phase in Primary School,” she recalls with a chuckle. “I like seeing how things work — I always have.”
Vivi has nursed her interest in all things mechanical since arriving at KPS as a sec-
ond-grader, enrolling in a string of computer science courses, pursuing independent-study projects, and participating in robotics as an extracurricular activity. “I’ve been tinkering with robotics since the third grade,” she says. “It’s very challenging and I’m not the best, but there are lots of things to learn, so it’s a joyful-struggle type of thing.”
When not in class, Vivi has for many years tested her mettle as a competitive gymnast. “I competed from the sixth grade to the eleventh,” she says. “Gymnastics enabled me to prove myself to myself.” These days, she finds release scrambling up a rock wall or playing music. “Rock climbing is good for the brain and body,” she says, “and playing the violin and guitar gives me a way to express myself, whatever I’m feeling.”
Looking toward college, Vivi is eyeing a career in tech; she envisions a master’s degree in computer engineering as her goal. She is clear that whatever path she pursues, it will have a physical component. “I definitely want to go to a tech-focused school where I can be hands-on with the projects I’m working on, not just sit behind a computer,” she says. “I like being actively engaged in my learning.”
Advisor Peter Wertz evinces no surprise at Vivi’s determination. “Upon meeting Vivi, three years ago, it was immediately apparent that she’s a remarkable young woman who is insightful, focused, and determined in her pursuits,” he says. “From gymnastics to coding, Vivi demonstrates leadership and excellence. She goes out of her way to make others feel welcome and consistently displays a kind spirit.”
“I’m very grateful to have been a part of Kent Place,” Vivi says, “and particularly appreciative of the close relationships I was able to build with the faculty. I learn best when I can form strong relationships with my teachers, and Kent Place allowed me to do that.”
A STORYTELLER RETURNS TO CAMPUS. Primary School students enjoyed a visit from best-selling author and former Kent Place teacher Deborah Farmer Kris. Ms. Kris, who writes the “All the Time” series, read several of her picture books to the children.
RECOGNITION ABOUNDS. Ninety students have been honored by the College Board for their college-level achievement on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations taken last spring. Fifteen students received commendations and two seniors were named semifinalists in the
2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. GOAL-SETTING GIRLS. Serving to educate the KPS community on issues affecting women locally, nationally, and globally, students in the club GLAM’D (Girls Learning and Making a Difference) made their annual
Girl Pledge to provide space for members to center specific advocacy goals for the academic year. COMING TOGETHER. The Middle School participated in one of its favorite traditions, the Afternoon of Service, right before Thanksgiving break,
MORNING MEETING [continued on p. 8]
When faculty from different disciplines came together to create a common experience for ninth-graders, they crafted a student-centered, project-based field trip, which not only wove together curricula but also provided a unique opportunity for discovery and connection-making.
Celebrated as one of the world's leading sculpture parks, Storm King Art Center is located one hour north of New York City, in the lower Hudson Valley. On a beautiful fall day, our students, grouped by topics, strolled through much of Storm King’s 500-acre landscape of fields, hills, and woodlands. “My favorite part of the trip was discussing the unique art pieces with my peers,” says Phoebe Krowitz ’26.
THE ENVIRONMENT & ART.
As students moved around the sculpted space, they considered how artists and landscapers create dynamic, interactive environments. They recorded different types of landscapes and identified species of plants and animals and bird calls using specific apps to document nature’s artistic expressions.
PHOTOGRAPHY. Perspective-taking is important to practice, in both photography and ethics, because many people consider only their personal view of the world. Students looked through their phones’ cameras and thought about what informs their personal views of the world.
Ninth-graders spend time exploring Isamu Noguchi’s Momo Taro, at Storm King.
GENDER. Works by the Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu were on exhibit in the indoor and the surrounding outdoor space when the students visited. Much of her art on view deals with understanding and representing gender. As they observed Mutu’s and others’ works throughout the day, students recorded their own experiences, associations, and themes regarding gender.
STORYTELLING. Works of art often tell a story. As artists can present narrative in many ways, students searched for objects that symbolized themselves or ideas; told a story through visual media; or could be used to create their own myth.
SHAPES/GEOMETRY. Students provided a numeric analysis of the sculptures by first sketching them and then, using only measuring tape, estimating their dimensions.
THE LANDSCAPE & SENSORY EXPERIENCE. After learning about the English sculptor Richard Long, students were asked to document in their journals various works via their senses: taking photographs or creating drawings, making sound recordings, and reflecting.
Understanding our past, applying it to today’s world, and preparing for the world of the future: welcome to Michelle Parisi’s eighth-grade history class. In this course, students are challenged to understand the ideas and themes of American history within the context of global history through hands-on learning, lively debates, and enthusiastic discussions.
As part of Global Citizen: Understanding U.S. History Globally and Comparatively, students learn about different government structures and marginalized groups around the world, study the origins of political philosophy, dissect political and economic ideologies, and understand the global role of the U.S. government.
Although these topics may sound complex, students are open-minded and excited to go beyond our borders. Whether it’s giving speeches about the trial of Socrates from the perspective of different leaders (and dictators) throughout history, acting out a debate scenario, or researching
with a number of service activities, such as decorating cards and tying blankets. CONNECTING IN PERSON. This year, six students and a dozen adults represented KPS at the NAIS People of Color Conference and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, which were held in San Antonio. The theme was “Reunited in Our
Purpose: Elevating Our Worth, Our Agency, and Our Excellence.” KPS SHINES ONLINE. This fall, a brave, brilliant, and beautiful new website was unveiled. Head on over to www.kentplace.org and dive right in! SHARING HER PROCESS.
In a special assembly, distinguished visiting artist Lauren Redniss, the author of several works of
a social or political cause that a student feels passionate about, there’s never a dull moment in class, and students are constantly thinking outside the box.
“I’ve learned the important role that perspective plays in our day-today lives,” says Hayden Mulligan ’27. “I think that before making any decision, whether it’s big or small, we need to think about how it will affect not only us, but also the people around us.
“I recently performed a speech on Socrates’ life and beliefs through the eyes of Catherine the Great,” she says. “This project will be one I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I had so much fun putting my own spin on her personality.”
As they head on to ninth grade, eighth-graders depart Middle School with a strong academic voice, a critical eye, a global perspective, and a toolkit to help navigate ever-evolving national and global political dynamics.
nonfiction, spoke to Upper School students about her career and artistic process. MEMORIES ARE MADE. Class-bonding field trips are back in the Upper School. Ninth-graders went on a day trip to Camp Shiloh; 10th-graders stayed overnight at Johnsonburg Camp; and 11th-graders went on an overnight excursion to see historical sites in Philadel-
phia. ¡HOLA, HERMANAS! As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, KPS third-graders gave a presentation to Upper School students about Latinx countries. Speaking in Spanish, each student provided interesting facts about her country and showed its flag. PERFECTLY PAINTED. Primary School students got into the fall spirit by [continued on p. 10]
E = EMPOWER. An ed tech specialist empowers students to embrace technology rather than fear it. Students don’t have to love technology, but when they embrace it, the possibilities of what they can do and create are endless.
D = DEVELOP. Through specialized group workshops and one-on-one assistance, an ed tech specialist develops students’ technological skills beginning in Kindergarten and continues this development through their final year at Kent Place.
T = TRANSLATE. Sometimes the most intimidating aspect of technology is simply understanding the terminology. An ed tech specialist helps translate those big words, scary codes, confusing software, and complex systems into digestible concepts that students can understand and apply — kind of like this mnemonic!
E = ENGAGE. Kent Place’s ed tech specialist engages students in handson learning. The best way to learn is by doing, and whether it’s building a wrecking-ball tower in Kindergarten, keyboarding in third grade, or designing online portfolios in Middle School, an ed tech specialist makes technology fun and interesting with every lesson.
C = CONTINUE. Continued education is critical as technology evolves and students grow. From typing 30 words per minute and learning email etiquette in Primary School, to understanding the Google platform in Middle School, to learning software and becoming video programming experts in Upper School, an ed tech specialist works with students to continue building their skills through every stage of their education, and beyond.
H = HELP. An ed tech specialist is always there to help! Kent Place’s ed tech specialist is always available to lend a hand with technological challenges, for students, faculty, and staff alike. However, one should always anticipate an opportunity to learn when asking for help. Don’t fear the challenge — embrace it!
“Swimming and STEM” is what Margot Callahan ’24 answered when asked if she had any passions, and as a student-athlete, she’s found a way to combine them. When she’s not swimming competitively for the Kent Place Dragons, Margot’s in the Innovation Lab working on her self-designed research project.
Margot is in the second year of the Student-Designed Research course, in which she analyzes biometric data throughout the swim season to predict her competitive performance and influence future training regimens. She wears an Oura Ring, which tracks her overall sleep quality, total sleep, average heart rate, resting heart rate, readiness, and activity balance. Margot then reads these metrics to understand how her stats change during training, racing, and resting.
“It’s been really exciting to meet and collaborate with mentors, such as college professors and students at Ohio State University, as part of my research,” she says. “I also like working with my teachers at Kent Place during weekly labs. The Student-Designed Research course has made my KPS experience unique.”
Margot has already been able to identify ways to improve her pre-race preparation, and says she’s in the early stages of predicting performance outcomes. Upon completion of her research, she says, she looks forward to presenting her findings with the Kent Place community.
Wanting her classes to experience a realworld connection to math, Grade 5 math and social studies teacher Sally Snyder experimented with a new project last spring: Echoing the tiny house (creatively designed living spaces under 400 square feet) movement sweeping the globe, she asked students to design and build (to scale) their very own three-dimensional miniature house. Perimeter, area, square footage, and volume had to be determined. Given a budget, students also had to research the cost of building materials. The resulting
designing and painting pumpkins as their favorite literary characters, which were put on display in the Primary School library. BEING A TRUE-BLUE FRIEND. Kent Place was a sea of blue when students wore shades from azure, to navy, to turquoise to stand together against bullying and support Anti-Bullying Awareness Month.
houses, constructed from carefully folded cubes of graph paper, wowed Mrs. Snyder. “We had in-ground swimming pools, helicopter pads, even sliding glass doors!” she says. “It was a great start, but we needed to have more parameters.”
Enter Alicia Rodriguez, Kent Place’s Financial and Economic Literacy Coordinator, who is helping to uncover and amplify the cross-disciplinary potential of the project. “It has connections to math,” she says, “but also to economic and personal-finance concepts such as wants and
A COLORFUL ASSIGNMENT. As an introductory laboratory activity, seventh-graders learned the importance of precise measurements as they recorded and analyzed data and applied the scientific skills of observation, communication, and collaboration to create their own rainbows of “designer” colors.
IT’S ALL CONNECTED. For the
needs, incentives, trade-offs, and decision-making,”
As this year’s fifth-graders take on the challenge, they must interview a prospective tiny house “owner” (a faculty or staff member) to better understand the client’s unique requirements, then develop a blueprint accordingly.
Students are also collaborating with the Ethics Institute and the Girls’ Leadership Institute — regular partners in many of their projects — to learn about ethical considerations in design, such as environmental impact and housing access, as well as how to give and receive constructive feedback when they practice presenting their designs to their peers.
“We really want to involve the broader KPS community in this capstone project,” says Mrs. Snyder. “The sheer scope of it brings out in the girls a host of ideas.”
Mrs. Snyder and Mrs. Rodriguez hope to assemble a panel of professionals — builders, designers, architects, interior designers, real estate agents, and the like — to explain the nuances of their jobs. Fellow Grade 5 teacher Susan Mascioli plans to add a language arts perspective to the project.
“I want students to feel empowered to have a conversation with someone, to take their ‘client’s’ dream and envision it in their own way, to not be afraid to iterate and make mistakes, to create a product they’re proud of,” says Mrs. Snyder. “I want to open their eyes to the ways in which math relates to humanity.”
Stay tuned to the fall issue of the magazine for a photo of the girls’ finished houses!
Money Matters elective, which centers on economics and financial literacy, Middle School students volunteered at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, where they practiced their leadership skills, learned about the interconnected businesses associated with the food bank, and gained an understanding of the ethical
values implied when giving back to the community. STARTING NEW TRADITIONS. The Parents’ Association welcomed our entire community to Celebrate the Season with Kent Place to honor the cultural traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa with a lighting ceremony, a variety of activities, and delicious refreshments.
The College Advising Office helps students through every step of their
step of their college process, from developing a balanced college list to attending workshops on essay writing and interviewing techniques, to application review, and everything in between.
hourlong Zoom chats that address a host of topics, from standardized testing to terminology in the admission process. The goal: to discuss current trends, address issues of concern, and demystify the process. Starting in the spring of junior year, students may attend visits from college representatives to our campus to learn from a variety of schools.
NUMBER OF TIMES YOU’VE HAD TO REMIND KIDS TO APPLY SUNSCREEN
12,000!
Donna Ray, who has overseen the Summer & Auxiliary Program for 15 years, fills in the blanks about the abundant fun experienced over the years and what she’s most excited about for summer 2023. Kent Place Summer Camp is home to traditional day, specialty, and travel camps, and welcomes more than 2,000 campers each season.
MOST POPULAR CAMP
(day camp for Grades 2–6)
CAMPERS’ FAVORITE LUNCH
fingers and pound cake
CAMP PROGRAM YOU’D LIKE TO INTRODUCE I’m working on a metalworking class for our Passport Camp.
PASSPORT CAMPERS (THOSE ENTERING GRADES 7 AND 8) SPEND TIME IN STEM, ARTS, AND SPORTS CLASSES AND ALSO PARTICIPATE IN DAY-CAMP ACTIVITIES.
NOTEWORTHY KPS FACULTY MEMBER–TURNED–CAMP INSTRUCTOR
Last summer, Dr. McCreary, Upper School History Chair, held a spike-ball class for our Passport Campers.
BEST NEW ADDITION TO CAMP
Our snow-cone machine and cotton-candy maker. We purchased them a few summers ago and can now offer them at special Friday events, Kids Night Out, and family barbecues. They’re a hit!
HILARIOUS CAMP MOMENT YOU'LL NEVER FORGET:
In summer 2021, we had a dress-like-your-favorite-campstaff Spirit Day. Numerous people dressed up as the assistant director, Jeff Lehman, or me. It was hilarious to see how they pictured us.
MOST POPULAR TRAVEL CAMP DESTINATION Powerhouse Studios, in East Hanover, where we participate in a Wacky Wild Game Show, followed by a DJ dance party
NUMBER OF KPS STUDENTS YOU’VE TRAINED TO BECOME COUNSELORS
60
WHAT YOU’RE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN SUMMER 2023
We have some new Passport Camp classes, such as baking, pickleball, and knitting, and a few new Travel Camp trips are on the schedule. I can’t wait to visit Rock ’N’ Air, in August.
To learn more about Summer Camp at Kent Place, visit www.summeratkentplace.org.
As Stephen Covey wrote in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, one must “seek first to understand . . .” Junior Annabelle Walter embodies that sentiment, for if you spend any time with her, it’s apparent that the desire to understand others is firmly rooted.
A gifted thespian, Annabelle has appeared in numerous plays and musicals since she arrived at KPS, in her sixth-grade year. “To succeed as an actor,” she says, “you must be willing to be vulnerable and share yourself
with the audience through your character.”
She’s also an impressive linguist, fluent in French and Chinese. “As a young child, I attended the Lycée Français de Chicago,” she says, “and then lived in Shanghai for four years, where my school required classes in Chinese. Learning different languages is fun and heightens my appreciation of different cultures,” she says.
Annabelle honed her active-listening skills as a participant in the Ethics Bowl —
she led her Middle School Ethics Bowl team to the championship as an eighth-grader and later interned at the Ethics Institute.
“Participating in Ethics Bowl has changed the lens through which I view the world,” she says. “I’ve learned to look at an issue from many perspectives and consider the feelings of various stakeholders before sharing my opinions.”
Annabelle has sharpened her communication, collaboration, and leadership skills outside the classroom as an athlete, playing Varsity Tennis and serving as captain this past season, and on weekends she gives back to the community as a teen suicide prevention volunteer. “I’m really there to listen and take the weight off someone,” she says. “Every time I get off the telephone line, I feel like I’ve had an impact on another person, and that’s very rewarding.”
Indeed, Annabelle’s impact is far-reaching, says her advisor, Terrence Thornhill. “Annabelle’s intellect and hard work have carried her through her academic courses, but what’s really special is how she comes by her accomplishments,” he says. “She works efficiently and with a joy that’s infectious and creates a great working environment for herself and for her classmates. I’m so proud of Annabelle!”
Annabelle remains modest: “As a student, you have a host of opportunities, so you must manage your time effectively,” she says. The best way to survive and thrive, she says, is to take advantage of all the support resources offered. “I’ve learned to embrace all the things that family, school, and the larger community provide,” she says, “and that’s made all the difference.”
This fall, juniors and seniors hosted their annual Club Fair, where students in Grades 9 and 10 could learn about the clubs offered and get to know the club leaders. Our students join (and lead!) more than 30 clubs, cultural or alliance groups, publications, and global and ethical initiatives. The fair also provides a chance to grab a sweet treat or two!
A few years ago, as a group of Upper School students were touring Salzburg, Austria, on a music trip, local kids began tossing jeers and rocks in their direction. Rather than cower behind their teachers, the girls knew exactly what to do. Raising their hands to mimic a “Stop” gesture, they called out firmly, “Stop doing that. Leave us alone.”
Their quick and courageous reaction was thanks, in large part, to the in-school violence-prevention and personal-safety training they had gotten with the New York City–based Prepare Inc.
Kent Place’s partnership with Prepare dates back to the mid-1990s, when then Head of School Arlene Gibson first met with its president, Donna Chaiet, who had just launched the company. As Ms. Chaiet recalls, Mrs. Gibson was passionate — and a visionary — about the need to empower girls not just academically, but physically and emotionally as well. Collaborating to train female students on boundary-setting, physical awareness, and communication skills was an easy decision for both parties.
KPS was the first K–12 school on the East Coast to partner with Prepare; today, the organization has worked with more than 60,000 students across the United States.
Over the years, the program has evolved and grown into a full-fledged curriculum. Currently, as part of their weekly Learn. Live. Lead. seminar — which provides multidisciplinary programming in counseling, health, and physical education — students in Grades 6 and 8 each receive a total of two hours of training; those in Grades 9–12 receive a total of three hours every year. By the time they graduate, Kent Place girls who matriculate in sixth grade will have 16 hours of critical personal-safety training under their belt, appropriately tailored to their grade level.
Yes, the mechanics of a swift groin-andeye strike are taught, with a padded assailant in the room. But Prepare’s lessons run far deeper than basic self-defense.
Through role playing, interactive exercises, and group discussion, students are equipped to navigate a range of situations with an array of skills: psychological preparedness, threat assessment, adrenaline management, verbal as well as physical resistance, communication techniques, and allied behaviors (how to stand up for others, for example).
As Upper School Dean of Students
Michelle Murphy has observed, communication skills have been key. “Prepare helps
students practice using their voice with intention and authority,” she says, “and to understand that no means no. No explanation is needed.”
What’s more, the activities, which may be difficult for some students, are “challenge by choice,” and the girls determine their own level of comfort and tolerance.
Two weeks before graduation, all Kent Place seniors take a refresher course, so the techniques are top of mind as they enter college. Several alumnae have reported that thanks to their training, they knew exactly how to respond in a tough situation.
“What I find so attractive about this program is the powerful self-advocacy it teaches,” says Michelle Stevenson, Department Chair of Student Health, Wellness, and Physical Education, who has been facilitating trainings with Prepare since 2008. “For students to have that agency, to know what their boundaries are and that they can set limits with anyone — from friends and roommates to professors and strangers —that’s a tremendous toolkit they can take with them to college and beyond.”
Alumnae, we’d love to hear about your experiences with Prepare. Just email communications@kentplace.org.
Kent Place’s Early Childhood Program offers a Preschool experience with an individualized approach and small-group instruction. The children learn to share materials, listen to — and tell — stories, sing and dance, paint and draw, and even learn a bit about ethics. But what about their parents?
Amy Mockbee, Kent Place Junior Pre-K teacher, tackled this question with her proposal for a Halsey Grant to create an education series for the parents of our youngest learners. The outcome? Early Childhood Parent Talks.
Early childhood — that is, before children begin first grade — can be an overwhelming time to be a parent. Parents may be looking for guidance, perspective, partnership, and connection, and the pandemic environment over the past few years has only intensified their needs, particularly for those who are newer to the role.
Ms. Mockbee’s Early Childhood Parent Talks meet parents where they are. The talks not only educate and support parents as their children develop, but they’ve also become an opportunity for dialogue, for meeting others in the community with similar interests and concerns, and to ask questions. Among recent topics have been experiential, social, and emotional development of a child, sharing space and materials, creating routines for children in an ever-changing environment, and building on a child’s independence.
The Early Childhood Parent Talks will evolve as the needs of the parent population change, but they’ll always be based in child development and the parent–teacher partnership.
THESE SHOES WERE MADE FOR WALKING.
The Feelin’ Good Mileage Club is an optional Primary School walking program that takes place during recess all year long. Girls in Grades 1–5 receive a mileage card on which they mark off their laps. When the girls complete eight laps of the pathway around our Graduation Green, they’ve walked approximately one mile. The Mileage Club has been a part of Kent Place for well over two decades.
Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m in the 11th grade and came to Kent Place as a freshman in 2020. This year, I’m one of the captains of the volleyball team. Throughout my time at KPS, I’ve participated in various clubs. I’m currently a board member of the school’s Diversity Council Club and an active member of the Black Cultural Association (BCA). I also enjoy our Community Service activities both inside and outside of school.
What’s been your greatest accomplishment playing volleyball as a KPS student-athlete?
I’d say it’s reaching 500 kills during our 2022–23 season.
You witnessed one of your teammates reach 500 career kills last season. What was your experience when you achieved this milestone?
Reaching this milestone was honestly surprising to me. As an athlete looking to progress in the sport after high school, I try to focus on playing my part on the court and supporting my teammates, as volleyball is a sport that requires lots of mental skill and toughness. I try not to focus on the score, and simply do my best and give it my all. Being a junior, I felt an instant shower of gratitude — gratitude for my entire team, my family, and the work I put in to achieve this accomplishment. I will say this: It was a very exciting experience, and I’m so glad I got to share it with my Kent Place community.
How have the past teams you've been on made you a better athlete?
Before volleyball, I played various other sports, such as basketball and tennis, as well as dance. Playing those showed me how to constructively communicate with my teammates, become a better listener, and be part of a solid support system for my team. The attributes of a good leader incorporate being able to speak with anyone with respect and being able to take a step back and hear what others have to say. Through this, I’ve come to build some of my most valuable relationships.
The Varsity Field Hockey team closed out its season with a winning record of 15-8, and by hosting the NJSIAA Non-Public North Final game on its home turf. When we sat down with Head Coach Kerrie Burns and senior captain Heidi Rosely to ask about the secret to this year’s success, the formula went well beyond the numbers.
Camaraderie, partnership, team-bonding, family, fun . . . these were a few of the not-so-secret ingredients. “No matter the result, we were a team that had each other’s backs,” says Coach Burns. “Our team mantra this year was ‘FAMILY — Forget About Me, I Love You.’”
Coach Burns regularly meets with players to check in on their physical and mental wellness. As she puts it, “Field hockey should be an outlet for the players to relieve their stresses from the day and just have fun together.”
Heidi emphasizes the importance of chemistry, on and off the field. The team enjoyed a bonding exercise before every practice, and celebrated traditions such as a Halloween practice, a “Friendsgiving” potluck meal, and apple-picking and pumpkin-painting outings. “We played so much better when we were having fun,” she says. “This is the closest the team has felt to me in my four years of playing. As a senior, it’s going to be hard to leave.
“We always worked together and supported each other,” she says. “This helped get us through the tough losses or a hard conditioning run at practice, and made the wins feel that much sweeter.”
Heidi has this to say to next year’s team: “My advice for future players is to embrace these little moments, celebrate small and big wins, keep competing, and stay close to your teammates, because they become your family.”
We sat down with Rich Biddulph, Upper School math teacher and newly named Head Coach of Varsity Basketball, to learn about his goals (or three-point plays!) for the season.
What’s your game plan for the team?
This year it’s all about having a growth mindset and building camaraderie. I’m excited to get to know the players on an individual basis and see how they come together as a team. Everyone will play an important role. From the starting five to supporting substitutes, from the coaches to the student managers, each person contributes to the success of a team. Our team culture will be all about community, partnership, and supporting one another.
What is your coaching philosophy?
From day one, we’ll be committed to helping each player become the best version of themselves. I want our team to fall in love with the process of getting better at what we do every second of every day.
What big games are you looking forward to?
We want to be first in our division, succeed in the county and state tournaments. I want to encourage the team to embrace healthy competition and continue to progress and grow both the varsity and JV programs.
What’s something the community may not know about you?
I’m grateful for what the game of basketball has done for my life. I moved to the Midwest to coach basketball at the college level full time, and in that town I met the woman who would become my wife, and we now have our wonderful 2-year-old son, RJ (already a well-known figure on the Kent Place campus). My family can’t wait to be a part of KPS basketball alongside me. Once RJ’s old enough, I have him penciled in as a ball boy for home games.
Any final words?
Go Dragons!
As the new Athletic Director at KPS, embracing the school’s theme of Joy in Community was easy to do. My daily tonic of joy this fall was witnessing team camaraderie every day, whether practicing or during a game, and in all sports. I’ve been impressed by the community cheering in the bleachers (and I was one of those cheerleaders!), and by Dragons supporting Dragons.
In August, in the dark because of a storm-related power outage, I asked the returning student-athletes to remember what other first days felt like. Among their answers were “kindness,” "patience," and “compassion.”And I, too, have experienced KPS firsts, such as meeting coaches, athletes, and families.
I’m incredibly proud of everyone who wears the green and gold. Although they’ve had more than their share of victories — lots and lots of victories — what makes them winners to me is that they continue to grow, and that they’ve begun to understand our philosophy: “Anything is possible.”
A few months ago, I read an article titled “For Today, Play Because You Can,” by Teryn Brill Galloway, USA Field Hockey’s director of communications. Its key points resonated with me, and I talked about them to our athletes and their parents at the fall awards dinner. Here’s what I told them:
• One day, you’ll walk off the field/court for Kent Place for the last time.
• One day, your blisters will heal.
• One day, you’ll forget the feeling of fresh tape on your fingers.
• One day, you’ll be on the other side of the field or court — cheering KPS on.
• Over time, the disappointment of losses or missed shots will fade, but you’ll remember the teammates and families who have been there for you all the way.
• You’ll remember playing in the icy cold and in unbearable heat.
• You’ll remember the rides to games, the music playlist, and the endless snacks.
• You’ll remember the times you used every bit of talent given to you.
• You'll remember the moments when you did more than you ever believed you could.
Athletics is a way of life, I said. When you’re in, you’re in, from start to finish. The countless hours of practice, travel, and physical and mental focus can be exhausting; however, the rewards will warm your heart forever. You deserve the recognition. You’ve shown strength and courage and, most important, you’ve been a team player.
I thank you, amazing student-athletes and your supportive families, and our loyal students, faculty, staff, coaches, and alumnae who watch you perform. And thank you to the future, when our spring season begins. Onward and upward!
Vicky Browne is in her first year as Director of Athletics. To learn more about her, turn to page 20.
Congratulations to our fall athletes and coaches for a stellar season. Here are a few noteworthy stats, wins, and highlights.
CROSS COUNTRY
• UCIAC Team of the Year
• UCIAC Runner of the Year: Lindsay Hausman ’23, who also finished second at the Meet of Champions, with a time of 18:47
• Winner of the Junior Race at the Magee Meet: Addison McGoey ’24, with a time of 19:45
• Varsity: Winner at the 6 Flags Invitational
FIELD HOCKEY
• Advanced to the NJSIAA Non-Public A final
• Sophia Miller ’23 passed 200 points
• Ella Levy ’25 passed 200 saves
SOCCER
• Quarterfinalist in the UCT Tournament
• Celia Kanellakos ’24 had 21 goals, 6 assists in 18 games
• Madison Stevens ’25 had 5 shutouts and 177 saves in 18 games
TENNIS
• Won the UCIAC County Tournament for the seventh consecutive year
• Won the Moorestown Classic for the second straight year
• Alexandra Anderson ’23, top 8 in the state NJSIAA Individual Tournament
VOLLEYBALL
• Lauren Osuala ’24 scored her 500th career kill
• Margeaux Morial ’24 stands at a total of 900 assists
• Alexandria Grinis ’25 stands at #4 all-time dig leader with 346
MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS
• Champions: Middle School Athletic Conference
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
• Champions: Middle School Athletic Conference
Morning routine: I walk into Mabie House, unpack my bag, drink my coffee, and get settled. I love that Kent Place is a fast-paced community yet there’s always time and space to say good morning to one another and ease into the routine of the day. My office is one of the school’s original libraries, dating back to the 1800s. It’s a beautiful serene, historic space and it feels special that I get to come to work here every day.
A “wow” moment: During an Open House on a Sunday in October, we had almost 100 Green Key student tour guides on campus. To see that many volunteers on a Sunday — they have to go through extensive training to serve as tour guides — was really powerful to me. What’s more, and I get chills thinking about this, they lined the entrances of campus to cheer and welcome prospective families. It’s not something we asked them to do; they took it upon themselves, and there was pure joy in them doing it.
Something unexpected: The Leadership Team meets every three weeks in the Head of School’s home, with her adorable dog, Cooper, often underfoot. The collegiality, collaboration, and respect around that table have been striking to me. As a woman who has attended or worked only at co-ed schools, coming into a school for girls and being surrounded by so many bright, brave, brilliant women — colleagues and students — has been an amazing gift.
KIM WALKER DIRECTOR OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLMorning routine: I love car line. After I walk in with my daughter — that’s a special part of my morning routine — I see students’ faces and sometimes their pets and siblings in the car. When I notice faces that aren’t so cheerful, I know who to check in on during the day. I’m a spontaneous kind of person, so I like for the day to guide me. Sometimes I have a meeting right at 8:15 a.m. Other mornings I’m able to walk through the hallway to see how kids are settling in, or I join a class for Morning Meeting.
A “wow” moment: I came across a sign in front of a Primary School classroom that read WHEN YOU ENTER THIS CLASSROOM, YOU ARE AMAZING CREATORS, SCIENTISTS, EXPLORERS, AUTHORS . . .” One of our themes this year is creating a culture of thinking, and this sign reinforced for me just how much our faculty embrace students as being part of the curriculum. We take to heart Brené Brown’s motto, “Courage Over Comfort.” And to see faculty be vulnerable, create opportunity, or consider changes in their practice — all for the benefit of our students — has been striking.
Something unexpected: To hear Dr. Galambos say that her goal for the school year is Joy in Community — to me, that’s really powerful. At most schools, those are usually secondary priorities; if work is joyful and invigorating, it’s a bonus. But the fact that it’s an institutional priority — that nurturing joy and building community are the work — that blew me away.
VICKY BROWNE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
Morning routine: As I’m driving around the bend to come into the Field House, I say hello to arriving faculty. That’s my number one, that personal connection. What I’ve noticed at Kent Place is that no matter how busy people are, they’ll always stop and say hello. When I get to my office, I put on some jazz and then I read through my email with my door open and wait for everyone to come in. On Monday and Friday, I attend Morning Meetings in the Middle and Upper Schools; it’s a great way to start the day.
Best part of the job: Athletics crosses into every aspect of school life, from admission and advancement to operations, communications, and academics. I love being in the thick of it and having the 30,000-foot view at the same time. One minute I’m leading a Captains Council meeting and the next I’m sitting in a Leadership Team meeting. I like to get all my work done in the morning so in the afternoon I can be fully present and support all the athletic programs.
Something unexpected: How much Dragons support Dragons, and how packed our stands have been, from the court, to the field, to the meets. We hosted the Field Hockey state sectional finals, and we had close to 300 people watching the game from the stands. We even had the Middle School band out there! That support was amazing, and it gives me a lot of excitement about where we are and where we’re going.
Get to know the three administrators who joined KPS this academic year. For more information about them, please visit www.kentplace.org/school-news.
More information about Gabriel’s Daughter, which has been entered into global film festivals, can be found here: www.gabrielsdaughterdocumentary.com. The Arthur J. Conley Faculty Travel Grant Award funds a summer sabbatical program for senior faculty.
Kent Place is fortunate to have endowed funds to support faculty in summer travel. Educators talked about their travel experiences, thanks to the E. J. Grassmann Trust, which was established to award teaching excellence.
In Florence, Pisa, Venice, and Rome, I explored connections among art, science, math, history, and culture, from optical illusions to marvels of engineering, from ancient roads to modern art. I brought back new perspectives on our human endeavors to make sense of our world and our experiences in it — as well as memories of fine Italian food! Thank you, Grassmann Trust.
This summer, I traveled with my family to Israel to honor the memory of my father-in-law, Jerry Heffler Afir. Jerry passed away in 1972, and this was the 50th anniversary of his passing. On our first day in Israel, we held a beautiful memorial service at Jerry’s graveside with family and friends. Then we spent a week touring the markets and museums, holy sites, and ancient ruins of Jerusalem, Tiberias, Tel Aviv, Netanya, and Safed. I'd like to thank the Grassmann Award Committee for making this possible. It was the trip of a lifetime, one I'll never forget.
“The Conley Award enabled the completion of a documentary film, which I co-produced and performed in. Gabriel’s Daughter: The Life and Legacy of Clara Brown tells the true story of the African American pioneer through the lens of a world-premiere opera about her. We were thrilled to include Kent Place Middle and Upper School student voices.”
—LORI MIRABAL, PRIMARY SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER
When the flu struck Lillian Gabriel ’23 — playing Roxie Hart — on closing night, just hours before curtain call, prompting a Jenga-like reconfiguration of roles, choreography, and costuming, it only underscored the magic of Kent Place’s November production of Chicago: synergy and solidarity and back-to-back sold-out performances. The showstopping singing and dancing, along with the lighting, set design (thanks to Carolina Ikuno ’24), and live band, were, to quote Edel Thomas, Chair of the Performing Arts Department, “unlike anything we had done before.”
“There are so many moving parts to a musical, similar to a giant puzzle slowly coming together,” says Keri Lesnik, the musical’s director and Upper School theater teacher. “In staging Chicago in particular, every student, whether a ‘star’ of the show, a member of the ensemble, a backstage set-mover, the person running lights, or really in any role at all, was essential to its success. The skills developed, friendships formed, and memories made all added up to an epic experience that won’t be soon forgotten!”
A few of the students who made it possible talk about their razzle-dazzle moments.
“I remember I had to step in as Velma while ‘All That Jazz’ was being choreographed. I’m not a dancer and felt out of place at first, but the help and kindness from the cast made me feel more comfortable in the short time I had to ‘play’ this challenging role.”
LILLIAN GABRIEL ’23, AS ROXIE HART
“I’m much stronger in acting and singing than in dancing, so this show was a great opportunity for me to push myself. On our first day of tech week, 13 cast members were out sick, but everyone picked up the slack and we made it work.”
CATHERINE GERBINO ’24, AS VELMA KELLY
“I had to put in a lot of work to get comfortable singing for this production. About a week before opening night, I lost my voice. Our musical director, Mr. Ginsberg, as well as my fabulous castmate and close friend Lily Gabriel, reminded me that one of Velma’s most iconic characteristics is confidence. I felt a lot more comfortable singing thanks to their support.”
ALICE CARR ’24, AS MONA LIPSHITZ/DANCE ENSEMBLE
“Before this show, I had never taken a dance class outside school. But with the help of the choreographer, Ms. Hudson, I was confident and successful in performing on stage. ‘All I Care About Is Love’ was this amazing dance with huge, elegant white fans. The fans hadn’t arrived yet so we used giant cardboard cutouts to learn it. It was a very amusing experience.”
With a rich history of global trips, the singers in the Upper School are always excited to know where the next airplane will take them. Our partnership with KI Concerts has never disappointed. In 2012, we performed in pre-Olympic concerts in London; palaces and cathedrals in Salzburg and Vienna in 2014; the Vatican two years later; and Ireland in 2018. Alas, COVID forced us to cancel our trip to Estonia and Finland in 2020, but our young women sang in cars, showers, closets — anywhere with good acoustics — so they could make virtual videos. Remember our “Alma Mater,” “Happy Birthday,” and the song to replace STAR 2019, “Nuit d’étoiles”? All of this was a valiant effort to keep the music playing. What made it worthwhile was the joyful reception from an appreciative Kent Place community.
Early in September 2022, we put out a teaser for another trip to Ireland. Forty students were eligible to perform with the world-renowned artistic director Rollo Dilworth in a festival to be held in Dublin on July 4, 2023. The only requirement was that they had successfully auditioned for Kent Place Singers (9th and 10th grade) or Chamber Singers (11th and 12th). We’re thrilled that 30 students will be able to have this fabulous experience.
This trip will make it possible for us to expand our repertoire in both difficulty and genre. And the festival presents an excellent opportunity for KPS singers to immerse themselves in SATB literature — something we have limited access to as a treble-voiced choir.
After the pandemic-induced hiatus, the excitement generated by this return to normalcy is a huge morale booster: our singers have always looked forward to performing abroad.
One of the aspects of our global travel is fundraising. Once the trip was approved, our singers went into a flurry of preparing for their annual Cabaret. This is a fun-filled event with solos, duos, and choral performances, all served up with coffee, tea, and pastries. This year’s Cabaret featured songs from Broadway, Bruno Mars, and even opera. It was a sell-out, and students raised $6,000 for the Global Trip Scholarship Fund. And yes, we heard great singing and ate delicious treats, but the most heartwarming confirmation that we were “back to normal” was the joy in that Great Room on October 14, 2022: A well-connected choir is the ultimate instrument!
Ireland — my home country — has captivated the world with its culture and its love of life. We hope to perform music that showcases the Irish spirit and that of Kent Place School with other global choirs. In addition to working with Rollo Dilworth for the festival chorus, there are numerous opportunities for immersion in Irish history. We’re eager to learn some Irish dancing with Riverdance, and an a cappella masterclass is planned with Anuna, the country’s premier choral ensemble. Lots of excitement will be packed into seven days, and it’s sure to be a joyful week!
As you walk across the first floor of Kent Place’s Primary School, you’ll likely hear the steady rat-a-tat of students in Junior Pre-Kindergarten through first grade participating in the Primary School’s Drum Project. This multicultural, multidisciplinary course brings together Kent Place’s youngest students through the exploration — and playing — of drums.
The Drum Project combines STEM, social studies, and visual and performing arts in one curriculum. Students build their drums using at-home materials, such as plastic containers and cardboard boxes, putting their engineering, music, and design skills into practice.
Jr. Pre-K and Pre-K students work on developing their fine-motor skills through beating their drums, and they experiment with sound by putting different items inside, such as shakers. Kindergartners and first-graders build drums of various sizes to explore how the size and material of their drums affect the sound they produce.
Beyond the science and production of sound, cultural exploration and belonging are at the heart of the Drum Project. At this young age, children develop a strong sense of belonging and community through their individual drum creation. Students decorate their drums to represent an important part of their heritage or culture and share with their classmates, sparking discussions about where each child comes from and the multitude of drums that exist in cultures around the world.
As founder and co-president of the Upper School Arts Committee, what are some of your proudest achievements?
One of them is creating the first-annual Kent Place Arts Festival and bringing light to the arts as a whole. Arabella Hubbauer ’23 and I decided to make the Arts Festival the big event for the Arts Committee to plan every year. We wanted the accumulation of all the artistic accomplishments and hard work throughout the year to be represented in one night, and to provide opportunities for students to showcase work they may not have another place for.
This year, we wanted to expand on the success we enjoyed last year and lobbied for a musical. Between the cast and the crew, more than 40 students were involved with this fall’s production of Chicago, and 30 students auditioned for our winter play, Clue
What are your artistic highlights?
To name just some, playing Grace in The Hello Girls and soloing at STAR during my freshman year — my first performance at KPS. I loved playing Roxie in this year’s musical, Chicago, because it felt like the cherry on top of all of the hard work I’d put into theater throughout my time here. She was a great character to play around with because of her frivolous personality, her incredible songs, and the dancing, which I had to work a little extra on.
Do you have plans to pursue acting after KPS?
Not only do I plan to continue performing after high school, but I’m also planning to major in it. I’m now in the college application process for acting programs, and this entails the regular college application, an extra artistic application for each school, prescreens, and in-person auditions. I decided to pursue acting specifically rather than musical theater because the world of film and television has always fascinated me. As a huge sci-fi, Hunger Games–type nerd, I can’t help but fall in love with an environment that can be captured in a single frame. Anything is possible, and that inspires me like nothing else can. I also plan to continue voice lessons, take any dance classes I can, and audition for professional projects throughout my time in college.
Lily started at Kent Place as a freshman. In addition to the Arts Committee, she is the co-president of the Pep Squad and Treblemakers. Lily played soccer at Kent Place for three years. Outside of school, she plays piano and enjoys arranging songs to play and sing, and often arranges songs with her siblings.
How does Kent Place School find joy in its community? These 16 ways are just a start.
Why 16?
It’s the number of words in our mission statement, which sets the goal for the entire community, but especially for the girls who walk through the doors of KPS: “Kent Place School empowers girls to be confident, intellectual, and ethical leaders who advance the world.”
For many of us — and our alumnae — the holiday season begins with the Kent Place STAR, a 99-year tradition. Throughout the years, STAR has held to its original spirit, which is a chance for our community to come together and create or experience beautiful music. The music is selected to provide messages of light, hope, peace, and joy, and STAR 2022 proved just as magical as the first!
Day and overnight trips were back in full force when the academic year began, showing students new slices of the world and helping them build their sense of community and confidence in unique ways. Here are just a few of the trips that students have taken recently.
Waterloo Village, Primary School
Chelsea Galleries, Upper School
New Jersey School of Conservation, Primary School
Camp Shiloh, Upper School
Trailblazer Day: hiking sections of the Lenape Trail, Upper School
Philadelphia historic sites, Upper School
Sterling Hill Mineral Mine, Primary School Storm King Art Center, Upper School
Johnsonburg Camp, Upper School
Woodloch Pines, Middle School
“It felt like any scientist’s dream — searching for the coolest rocks!”
—AAHANA BANERJEE ’32
“The best part of the trip for me was getting to bond with the other people.”
—ISABELLA DENG ’25
More than 300 Upper Schoolers came out to cheer on their classmates!
Non-Public North Final match, Dr. Galambos did something she’d never done before: She allowed all Upper School students to go to the game during the school day, to support their fellow Dragons. “We had 300 people on the sidelines of the game,” she says, “because it was a chance to celebrate ourselves as a community and to cheer one another on.”
Although the raucous crowd wasn’t able to fuel the team
To help introduce orchestral instruments to KPS’s youngest musicians Primary School music teacher Ruthanna Graves McQueen coordinates a Cozy Cub Concert series with our Orchestra teacher, Terrence Thornhill. The event brings a half-dozen Upper School instrumentalists to Mrs. Graves McQueen’s classroom to play for the Junior Pre-Kindergarten class. The younger students also participate in an “instrument petting zoo” — that is, they get to (carefully) touch and hold the instruments.
Mrs. Graves McQueen calls the event “magical.” The students love it, she says. Upper Schoolers, meanwhile, say the event offers its own unique joys. Lilly Fanelle ’23 performed at the event and explained to students that the sound from her cello comes from “the two swirly holes that look like the letter f.” The young girls were allowed to place their hands on the body of the instrument so they could feel it vibrate as Lilly played.
“When I was younger,” Lilly says, “I had a similar experience of learning about instruments, and I remember thinking how cool it must be to play in an orchestra. I was thrilled to show the kids how much fun and exciting it is to make music.”
With friendly competitions, gift matching, prizes, music, and plenty of photo ops with our mascot, Chumley, Founders Day is more than just a day of giving: It’s a day of joyful connection, says Anna Fisher, Director of Annual Giving: “On Founders Day, the entire community comes together in support and celebration of Kent Place.”
FOUNDERS DAY 2022 FACTS!
The numbers tell a story of a community coming together.
Total number of gifts
1,008 in 24 hours
Amount raised
$597,157
Challenge-match donations unlocked
$125,000
Our school flower is a powerful symbol of growth and plays an important role in many of our ceremonies and special events. At Opening Convocation, on the first day of school, every student is handed a daisy. At graduation, the junior class hold a chain of daisies to guide their older classmates on their way to the future.
I got involved as soon as I stepped on campus when my daughter started Kindergarten. I loved how open and welcoming the Parents’ Association (PA) was to new parents. I would attend PA meetings with dozens of parents providing ideas and opportunities to get involved.
The enthusiasm our parents have in upholding our traditions is palpable. There are more than 75 volunteer roles, and they’re always filled. That's a lot of parents who are dedicated to serving our community.
One of my favorite parts of Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day is when parents monitor the students during their lunch and recess so the teachers can eat lunch together. We learn very quickly how challenging it can be to wrangle 20 kids during recess! It’s a lovely way to show our appreciation for all that our wonderful faculty and staff do.
When Natalia Espejo P ’34 ’37 and her family came to Kent Place, she was thrilled by the opportunities students and their families had to connect to and celebrate different cultures, from Latinx Night to Diwali. These popular events bring together the KPS community with food, music, and dance.
Still, it wasn’t long before Mrs. Espejo wanted to think even bigger, which is why she and others who are part of the Diversity and Equity Parent Group (DEPG) have actively sought to broaden the cultural activities and events on the KPS calendar. “We’ve had academics come in to lead discussions around topics that are important to different communities, and we’ve done experiential events like Japanese lettering and a challah-bread workshop,” she says.
Now, she and others are working to create a more formal structure for these events to make sure they’re a consistent presence on the Kent Place calendar. “This is a way we can continue to evolve,” Mrs. Espejo says. “These events are a great way to foster dialogue, build bridges, and bring our KPS community together.”
—DANIELLE ROBINSON P ’28When we were students, my close friend Nancy (Davenport) Rubens ’67 and I instigated the change of the ring to its current design. As I recall, it had been a gold signet-type ring, and now it’s one with onyx.
In 2017, when Nancy and I went together to our 50th reunion, we were conversing with some students in the art gallery and Nancy noticed that they were wearing their school rings. When she commented on that, they told us how much they loved their rings. When we then told these young women that Nancy and I had designed the ring 50 years ago, they were super excited, as were we! We were delighted that the design, which we still loved, hadn’t changed.
—ELS KNOPPERS ’67
For more than 50 years, the Kent Place Senate, the Upper School’s principal governing body, has played a vital role in the school’s community. A founder and its current president talk about its enduring value.
The late 1960s was a polarizing time — in some ways not unlike how things are now. I was president of the school, and there was a lot of pressure from the students to change things. The administration? They were resistant to that desire for change. But there was a moderating influence: the faculty. I think everyone had high regard for the faculty.
My senior year, we proposed and debated the creation of a student-faculty senate. It passed while I was there, but I wasn’t there for any of the implementation.
Still, it was my understanding that it was successful: I recently found a letter from Bill Heyne, who was the longtime music director. He wrote to me during the fall of my first year in college, and at the end of the letter, he said, “By the way, I was elected to the Faculty-Student Senate. And the meetings so far have been fun. Your fighting last year has paid off.”
When I learned recently that it still existed, I was shocked! I was amazed! It made me feel great.
I’m an entrepreneur now, and one thing I’ve realized, on reflection, is that I’ve always been looking for ways to improve things. And I really do think that things can be improved through community.
SCHMUCKI“Things can be improved through community.”
It’s difficult for me to imagine a time when the Senate wasn’t a part of Kent Place!
When I was given the enormous Senate binder and its various flash drives at the end of my junior year to prepare for my role, I was astounded by the sheer amount of work and change the Senate has set in motion. When brainstorming what to write my Convocation speech about, I sifted through the speeches of previous Senate presidents for inspiration. (I similarly look through Senate minutes from previous years for guidance whenever I’m confused.)
Senate work always feels as though it’s contributing to our school community in meaningful ways. One example is the revision of the school’s dress code. From trial periods to surveys to tense debates about how we even define “proper” and “improper” dress, this was a change that took a lot of time and effort. But it was also a change that students really cared about. The decision reflected the wants and needs of the student body.
The Senate makes me feel as though I’m part of something bigger than myself.
—CATHERINE PARIS ’23, CURRENT SENATE PRESIDENT
“The Senate makes me feel as though I’m part of something bigger than myself.”The Kent Place Senate is composed of 11 elected students and 11 elected teachers.
Celebrated in the Primary, Middle, and Upper Schools, students spend a high-spirited day of competition representing green and gold teams. Once you have a color, it remains your color long after you’ve graduated, and gets passed down if any relatives attend KPS! Even at this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame, attendees could wear green and gold stickers.
Students today have diverse eating habits, but there’s one thing they can almost all agree on, says Executive Chef Beth Panfile: “The kids love the Penne alla ‘Pink Sauce.’” But you don’t have to head to the dining hall to enjoy it: just follow this recipe to make an at-home version. “This pasta lower heat if needed to prevent browning
1 medium yellow onion (8 ounces), diced
14.5-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon shredded fresh basil
2 ounces good parmesan cheese, grated; extra for topping
Kosher salt and ground white pepper, to taste
1 pound penne or other pasta, cooked according to package directions
In a 4-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, then the onions; sauté until the onions are very soft but not browned, 5–7 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until the tomato paste is fragrant and thick, about 3 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes with their liquid. Add the dried basil and oregano. Bring to a simmer, stirring often, until sauce has thick ened slightly, 8–10 minutes.
In another saucepan, gently heat the heavy cream. Into a large mixing bowl, ladle half the hot tomato sauce and slowly drizzle in the cream, whisking as you go, until all the cream is
cook until you smell the wonderful garlic aroma
or the microwave if sauce thickens too much before the pasta is ready, add a little of the starchy pasta water to loosen
Slowly pour the creamy tomato mixture into the 4-quart saucepan with the rest of the tomato sauce, whisking gently as you go. Simmer the sauce for an additional 3–5 minutes. Fold in the fresh basil and the cheese; season with the salt and white pepper, to taste.
Toss with the hot pasta and top with additional grated cheese. Serve immediately — and enjoy!
you can never have too much cheese!
you can use a small stick immersion blender to blend your sauce smooth, if you’d like, but I like it chunky and to keep it as is
When students kicked off their food drive for New Jersey’s Meeting
Essential Needs with Dignity (MEND) network, they were eager to help the thousands of people who use its food pantries each year.
But Community Service Committee faculty advisor Jenn Dwyer says the committee aimed to supercharge student involvement with uniquely motivating incentives: “This year, whichever grade had the most participation got to choose a teacher to wear a turkey hat on their head for a day,” she says, laughing. (Orchestra Leader Terrence Thornhill donned the hat when the tenth-graders cruised to victory.)
The event highlights the value the school places on contributing to the greater community — while forging bonds among students with others in their grade.
After college, I spent a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. I was matched with a job in Anchorage, and learned that I would share a house with seven strangers who were working for other social service organizations. In the getting-to-knowyou questions, one of my new housemates, Aimee (Cullen)
Reali ’91 P ’23 ’29, and I discovered that we both went to a small, independent all-girls school in New Jersey. (Wait, what?)
Susan (Catterall) Francis ’91 and Aimee (Cullen) Reali ’91 P ’23 ’29 at Susan’s wedding 20 years ago!
Aimee’s family moved to New Jersey and she attended KPS from 1989 to 1991 and I went to KPS from 1987 to 1989, when I moved to Massachusetts. We never met until we lived and volunteered together in Alaska! It felt like we were meant to meet.
Elina Kapur ’23 is pursuing a three-trimester independent study to create her own 3D animated short film. Upper School visual arts teacher Carey Gates and Upper School English teacher Lisa Cohen are supporting her work.
You have two advisors for this project. Why did this make sense?
ELINA: Short films usually have teams of people working behind the scenes: storyboard artists, supervisors, concept artists, modelers, animators, riggers, and lighting designers. I wanted to work with more than one teacher because each would have a very different perspective on a complex project like this.
Carey and Lisa, how do you work with Elina?
MR. GATES: I’ve known Elina since she was in ninth grade, and her passion and skill level have always been high. When she came to me with her independent study proposal, it was largely written already. One of my suggestions was not to bite off more than she could chew — I wanted her to feel like she had something at the end of the year that felt complete and that she was really proud of.
MS. COHEN: I ask her questions about plot, character, conflict, and symbols. I give feedback on planning, storyboards, and set design. I also get recommendations from Elina. She recently recommended that I watch Zima Blue. We discussed elements of tone and pacing she wanted to draw from that short.
What does this kind of independent project say about KPS community values?
MS. COHEN: This is a community that supports creative risk-taking. We’re also a community that values relationships, and the kinds of relationships students build with teachers enable students to feel supported and mentored, rather than “taught at,” while they work toward their goals.
We’d love to know: What brings you joy when you think of Kent Place and its community? Email communications@ kentplace.org.
A community is more than just a group of people: it’s a group of people with a shared sense of purpose and identity. As Kent Place pursued its required New Jersey Association of Independent Schools and Middle States Association accreditation, which included a self-study, it became clear just how aligned its community is.
“More than 60 community members served as writers for the self-study,” says Julie Gentile, who is Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning and chaired the Self-Study Steering Committee.
“All of them are able to paraphrase or quote our mission statement and relate it to their work, specifically placing girls at the center of what they do.”
That alignment is more than just words on a page: it’s a signal that KPS is a community united around a philosophy that provides meaning and purpose to all their work at the school.
Elina with Ms. Cohen and Mr. Gates
CONNECTING THE KENT PLACE FAMILY
Athletics, 1950s
When returning to campus in September, Head of School Jennifer Galambos asked faculty and staff to consider Joy in Community as a goal for the year. Without hesitation, we all responded with a resounding YES
Since August, when the 2022–2023 academic year began, alumnae have responded with their own resounding YESes to participate in events and get-togethers with members of their class, other alumnae throughout the decades, current students, and faculty and staff. Our end-of-summer celebrations were our grandest to date, and were followed by wonderful gatherings in Washington, D.C.; New York; and London.
Our second Kent Place School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, in October, honored eight women plus the 1986 volleyball team not only for their inspiring athletic accomplishments, but also for their commitment to discipline, teamwork, and fair play. All of these hallmarks of a Kent Place education (and more) have served them well: Some went on to play college sports; others thrive in careers because of what they learned through sports.
Tellingly, the inductees’ speeches recognized not just their coaches and teammates — but, without exception — their teachers as well. The support of their teachers, who held them to high academic standards and cheered them on from the stands, made a lasting impression: intellectual growth and
a passion for athletics shaped these women’s vision that life can be both/and, not either/or.
This spirit of both/and is alive and well at Kent Place today — our students discover that all facets of their lives benefit from self-discipline, teamwork, and joy in a task well done, whether in a chemistry lab, on a stage, or on the playing field.
As you’ve carved out your niche, what lessons did you take from your Kent Place years? Would you be willing to chat with current students and other alumnae about what helped you to thrive? We’re expanding our networking and mentorship programs and would welcome your participation.
We’re also connecting recent KPS graduates in colleges and universities around the world with local alumnae for Big Sisters 2.0. Wherever you are, there’s a new alumna who would value your guidance. Let’s extend Joy in Community beyond time and place, beyond age and reunions.
I look forward to hearing from you, and hope to see you soon!
Warmest wishes,
Coral Butler Brooks Chief Advancement Officer
1. Tara King ’89 (left), Basketball, Field Hockey, and Lacrosse, with cochair and Hall of Fame member Audrey (Pukash) Bilsborrow ’90
2. Patricia “Pat” (Thompson) Conley
P ’76 ’78 ’79*, Athletic Director and Coach; award accepted by her son, A.J. Conley, and presented by Kent Place Athletic Director Vicky Browne
3. Libbie (Shawger) Feldner ’92 (right), Basketball, Field Hockey, and Lacrosse, with Sarah (Wight) O’Connell ’92
4. Hazel “Peachy” Clark ’95 (left), Track and Field, with April Bauknight ’95
5. Tammi (Moore) Georgi ’97*, Basketball, Field Hockey, and Lacrosse; award presented by Christine (Chambers) Gilfillan ’84 P ’19 (left) to Tina Moore ’95 and Jennifer McNamara, Tammi’s sister and mother, respectively
6. 1986 Volleyball Team; award accepted by Sheri (Guempel) Morgan ’86, Jenn Dorsey ’87, and Beth (Jennings) Rosenheim ’87
7. Margery “Muffin” (Krieger) Slonaker ’66 (left), Basketball, Field Hockey, and Tennis, with Megan (McConnell) Brozowski ’95 P ’26
8. Christine “Chris” (Heddy) Day (right), Field Hockey and Lacrosse Coach, with Katie (Herbst) Machir ’95 P ’28
Nancy “Shanny” Schieffelin ’63, Basketball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, and Tennis (not pictured)
*Awarded posthumously
To learn about the accomplishments of each inductee, as well as to nominate an athlete, coach, or team for a future Hall of Fame class, please visit www.kentplace.org/hall-of-fame.
The most poignant experiences alumnae cite are often about their athletic involvement. To help preserve the rich history of sports and athletic achievements at KPS, the second Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and celebration — attended by more than 125 alumnae, families, trustees, and friends — was held in October 2022. The event bridged all generations of KPS students, recognizing and honoring those exceptional athletes, coaches, and teams who have
made outstanding contributions to the Kent Place athletic program. From a three-time Olympic competitor, to championship-winning collegiate athletes, to a pioneer in women’s ice hockey, each inductee embodies confidence, strength of character, and sportsmanship. At Kent Place, athletic participation is an extension of the classroom, and the school is committed to inspiring every student to a lifetime dedication to health and well-being.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS. In honor of the Black Cultural Association’s 50th anniversary, Kent Place alumnae returned to campus to host a panel with current Upper School students and faculty and staff. The group enjoyed thoughtful conversation, and alumnae told stories about their KPS experiences and where they are today. (Back, l–r) Tyhisha Henry, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Lauren Osuala ’24, Nya Earrusso ’12, April Bauknight ’95, LaRaye Brown ’93, Auburn Wilson ’25, Maya Franco ’24, Stephanie James ’24, Joy (Charles) Kay ’80 P ’08, and Michelle Stevenson, Chair, Student Health, Wellness & Physical Ed; (front, l–r) Ashley Jones, Administrative Assistant and BCA advisor, Upper School, Adrianna DeGazon, Director of Middle and Upper School Admission and Financial Aid, Nicole Thornton ’24, Alyma Karbownik ’24, Dana Holland ’01, Joan (Thompson) Wilson ’93 P ’25, Ketsia (Alerte) Sadler ’85, Tara Williams-Harrington ’87, and Walidah Justice, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer
“Since I was very young, I’ve known I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps, as she always speaks very highly about her experience as a Kent Place student and all the things she learned,” says María Amérigo Laguillo ’23, “but I never imagined that years later I would come from Sevilla, Spain, to KPS to fulfill the dream of my life.”
María Laguillo Candau ’90 was an exchange student at KPS in 1990, an experience she says was enriching in many ways. “Personally, I grew in independence and self-confidence,” she says. “I broadened my mind with the new culture in politics,
in education, in communication, and in traditions, and I gained lots of good friends with whom I still keep in touch.”
The experience smoothed María’s transition to college when she returned home, and taught her how to adapt to change. She knew she wanted her children to somehow experience something similar. A little more than a year ago, she began conversations with her friend and former KPS classmate Carolina (Benegas-Lynch) Canavosio ’90 about the possibility of her daughter María attending KPS. Carolina and her family hosted the younger María for the first half of
the year. “My daughter, Olivia, was fortunate to visit María’s family in Seville last summer,” says Carolina, “and they get along beautifully. María is now another member of our family.”
“I love all of the activities and fun things we’ve done,” says María, “such as Trailblazer Day and Spirit Week. I was surprised at how much I enjoy classes because the way they are taught is very engaging. But what I enjoy most is the sports, from going to cross-country meets, to training with the team, to having the opportunity to meet students from other grades.
“I believe this experience will help me be more open minded,” she says. “Living in a place where everything is so different from what I’m used to will help me to be critical with my country and with the United States. It will be a way to value the things I have at home but also realize what things can be improved. This year will also be a year of personal growth; I will become a stronger and more independent person. And like my mother, I hope to build lifelong relationships.”
For the past four years, Kent Place has partnered with ASSIST, an organization that connects outstanding international scholars with American independent schools, providing the opportunity for students to learn from and contribute to their host schools.
Sophie Huttner ’18 has been named a 2023 Rhodes Scholar for the prestigious academic program hosted by the University of Oxford, and plans to use this opportunity to pursue refugee and forced migration studies. Sophie was a leader in the classroom during her years at Kent Place, with a brilliant understanding of ethical leadership, and now, as a senior at Yale University majoring in global affairs, she’s making an impact on the international community.
“I became interested in immigration issues while studying at Kent Place,” Sophie says, “and have continued to work with asylum seekers while at Yale. I hope to use my time at Oxford to better understand the gaps in our current asylum and refugee laws, to better help those most in need of protection.”
Sophie participated in the Ethics Institute while at Kent Place, and says the Bioethics Project helped shape her personally and professionally: “What interested me was the idea that there’s an ethical dimension to every professional realm,” she says.
“Sophie's ability to understand the ethical dimensions of
Years of Night, by Hilary Devaney ’10, marked the first exhibition at the Kent Place Gallery by an alumna who is now a professional artist. Hilary earned an MFA in painting from Columbia University and now paints in New York City.
The exhibition, which ran September 15 through October 28, showcased Hilary’s paintings from the last two years. She describes herself as an artist “who works primarily in paint to make spirits visible.” She says, “Using animals, gravestones, and angels as avatars for subjective experiences provides narratives to describe unresolved emotional plots and plot holes.”
“It’s wonderful to be able to welcome Hilary back to Kent Place as a working artist: She was in my advanced art courses here more than a decade ago,” says Gallery Director Ken Weathersby. “I’m especially gratified to see the evidence of her commitment to her practice in the very powerful works she brought to our gallery.”
diverse situations is what made her a legendary ethics student,” says Karen Rezach, Director of the Ethics Institute at Kent Place. “I recall vividly the moment before our girls won the final round of the 2018 National Championships, at the University of North Carolina, when Sophie looked at me and said with confidence, ‘We’ve got this!’ Her ethical leadership skills have continued to make an impact as she teaches ethics education to the youth of New Haven in the Ulysses S. Grant Yale Summer Program and now as a Rhodes Scholar.”
Sophie is one of just 32 students selected out of a competitive pool of more than 2,500 applicants, chosen for her academic excellence, her commitment to making a positive difference in the world, her concern for the welfare of others, her consciousness of inequities, and her promise of leadership.
Alexa Biale ’08 earned her BA at Lafayette College, where she double-majored in English and art history and played Division I field hockey and lacrosse. After almost a decade working in marketing and living in New York City, she moved to London and now considers it home.
Like many of my KPS classmates, I knew that once I graduated from college, I’d start my career in New York. What I didn’t know was that my career would eventually take me to London — a city I visited just twice before moving there for good.
In 2017, still in New York and after a few years at early-to-mid start-up compa-
nies, I joined WeWork — I was employee number 2,000 and the first external marketing hire at its global HQ. If you’ve read the books or seen the Apple TV+ drama WeCrashed, you’ll know the story: WeWork experienced unheard-of growth in staff and geography, and at its 2019 peak was valued at $47 billion, before a failed IPO led to
a C-suite shake-up. At the time, I was the global expansion director, a position that required extensive travel to drive localized sales and marketing efforts for 200-plus new office spaces.
During this transition period, I realized that to both add the most value to the business and further my career, I needed to relocate to an international market, specifically London. I’d never considered living abroad and was concerned about leaving my family, friends, and everything familiar — and equally concerned that I was almost always the youngest at the proverbial table and frequently one of the only women in senior-leadership meetings. How would I cope with being away from home and leading a global team?
I finally made the move in October 2019, leaving behind my imposter syndrome, and dove headfirst into my role as WeWork’s head of international product and digital marketing. Little did I know that the move would be the best professional and personal decision of my life.
I stayed on at WeWork through the pandemic, and in 2021 was recruited for my first VP of marketing job, at Elephant Healthcare, a start-up working to bring accessible and affordable healthcare to Africa. Here was a brand-new challenge: to set up a marketing department from scratch, report to the CEO, and pitch healthcare to governments in some of the most under-resourced areas on earth. It was an incredible opportunity not only to advance my marketing skills, but also to work for a mission-driven organization.
Today my global marketing journey continues, as I recently accepted a position at WeTransfer (not affiliated with WeWork), an Amsterdam-based file-sharing company. As its VP of growth and performance marketing, I’ll be managing a team of 25 and responsible for driving the majority of marketing revenue.
On the personal front, the transition to expat life has been surprisingly easy, as lots of Kent Place alumnae also live in London.
My advice to anyone considering a move abroad: Sometimes the biggest risks are the most rewarding, and they just may change your life in ways you didn’t imagine.
1942
Emily (Churchill) Wood emily_wood46@hotmail.com
1947
Anne (Campbell) Dowell annedowell@triad.rr.com
Good to hear from so many of you — it’s great to keep in touch.
Trilby Barrett called to tell me that her mother, Joan (Skelton) Holmes, passed away October 26, 2022. She lived in Heritage Village, CT, and leaves her daughter, two sons, and six grandchildren. We send our sympathy to her family.
Ellen (McComas) Fisher lives in Ft. Lauderdale and is in good health, although she’d had shingles for two weeks and had a stroke six months ago. She enjoys playing bridge. She has a son and daughter who live just a few blocks away. Her other son lives in Maryland, where Ellen lived for many years. Ellen really liked Miss Sampson’s history class.
Betty (Correll) Durling stays in Whitehouse, NJ, in warm months and goes to Vero Beach, FL, in colder months. She no longer plays golf and walks with a walker. Otherwise, she’s okay and does have help most days. She sent me some great pictures — groups of children with their families. She has six great-granddaughters and is expecting a great-grandson.
Nancy (Vreeland) Waits lives in Winter Park, FL, near Orlando. Her husband, George, lived with her in the retirement home, but he passed away in July 2022. She plans to stay in her same apartment and is glad to have family near her. Her daughters, Mary and Christy, are there often. Her granddaughter has twin boys and her grandson has two boys, so she has four great-grandsons. Nancy’s favorite classes were history with Miss Sampson and French with Mme Avizou.
Bobbie (MacWhinney) Schneidewind says, “I’m so glad I live in a retirement community, as it provides for all my needs. I exercise five days a week, go to art and music lectures and often movies.” Bobbie’s only daughter, Donna, passed away June 28, 2022, while playing tennis. She was 67, and was married to Marcel Gilli, a doctor from Switzerland. She was the best mother to her five children — she put her heart and soul into their activities. Donna lived near Bobbie and did everything with,
and for her, so it’s been a devastating loss. “I am fortunate to have five grandchildren, spouses, a son-in-law, and two great-grandsons nearby. We get together most Sundays for supper. We plan our trip to Hilton Head next May. I can still hear Miss Wolfe say ‘Ladies, think.’”
Helen (Preus) Mairs lives at the Episcopal Home in St. Paul. “I had surgery around Labor Day, but am back, attending our singing group, exercise classes, and getting out for walks.” Her daughter Julia completed the Hawaiian Ironman in October, supported by her two sisters. Julia, a physical therapist, is working with a group of us on our balance. Son Rob’s son Joe is spending his junior year at King’s College in London. His brother, Will, is going through college applications. “Miss Wolfe’s English class was part of my motivation to major in English in college,” she says.
Evelyn (France) Kalagher lives in Bennington, VT, in a retirement community. She went on a cruise in August to the Bahamas, sailing from New York and only getting off once at Grand Turk. She made good friends and won $1,400 on slot machines on the ship. Evelyn does her own cooking and has a pond out back. Her niece, Katie, lives quite near and visits often. Her nephew, Greg, lives in Friday Harbor, WA, and visits now and then.
Giovanna (Mancusi-Ungaro) Breu and husband Joe are in good health and live in Lincoln Park, a north part of Chicago, a mile off Lake Michigan, a lovely place to live. They went to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving to stay with her son, Mario, and his wife, Maureen. Their son Michael and wife Lindsay brought their son, Lodovico, named after her father. Son Chris and friend Gina joined them as well. Their plans for Christmas were to drive to Texas to be with their daughter Eugenia, her husband, Randall, his parents, and their two granddaughters, Zoe (10) and Alexis (9). Eugenia has her RN degree from the University of Texas and is a lieutenant in the Texas State Guard. Son Chris is an English professor at Illinois State University and has written four books. Her best classes were Miss Sampson’s history and Miss Wolfe’s English.
Sue (Savage) Speers spent July and August at her house on Squam
Lake. Her daughter died October 16, 2021, after going through 30 years of cancer. She worked for her schools, churches, and community as head of the United Way for three years. “We had a wonderful relationship and the ache of missing her is painful. I returned to my retirement community after Labor Day. I serve as secretary for the Residents Council and am in two study groups. I ride a bicycle in the gym and get about with a wonderful rollator.” Her favorite class was English with Miss Wolfe, where she felt stretched and excited in many ways.
Kathanne (Harter) Webster is in good health and loves where she lives near Boston. Her daughter Susan lives nearby and she sees her often. Her daughter Lucy is moving from Belgium to the States. She is looking for a house but is now living with Kathy and does all the cooking. Kathy eats once a week in the club dining room. She walks with a walker or cane — limited by an old back problem. Her other two daughters are still in Europe — Amy in Switzerland and Clare, who travels a lot. Kathy’s favorite class was geopolitics with Mrs. Hady.
I am doing well and still like my cottage and retirement community. I go to exercise classes, the pool, and other programs, and often walk my little dog. I eat in our club dining room about half the time and otherwise have dinner delivered. I drive around town to the grocery store and church. Daughters Kathy and Sarah live nearby so I’m lucky to have their help often.
1950
Liz (Dun) Colten lizcolten@aol.com
Penny (Burley) Thomas mbtedt@gmail.com
Phyllis Tilson Piotrow: Nothing very new except delight at New Hampshire and most other election results. So nice here to know key elected officials in person. The older I get, the more I appreciate family, friends, neighbors, and the splendid scenery New Hampshire offers: lakes and mountains in summer, meadows, tall pines, birches, and very clean white snow in winter. Incidentally, here at Hilltop, a longtime next-door neighbor, Katie Beatty Dutton, was a Kent Place lifer. What a coincidence!
1951
Mary-Carey (Bachmann) Churchill mcchurchill@gmail.com
1954
Marianna (Ruprecht) Mitchell mariannarmitchell@gmail.com
Margaret (Beggs) Lindsay: I got tired of living by myself, so am selling the home I shared with my husband and children and have moved to a lovely senior living community in the vibrant city of Saratoga Springs.
1957 Jean Van Orman: On September 21, I was arrested, along with six others, for “defiant trespass” on the campus of Vanguard (the asset manager) in Malvern, PA. Our Quaker-based group (www.eqat.org) is campaigning to convince Vanguard to honor its pledge to divest from fossil fuels. The event was peaceful, and for me transformative.
Caroline (Spalding) Bulkeley: John and I have moved to a CCRC, in Palo Alto, CA. We’re still trying to get organized but we think we’re going to like it here — lots going on, interesting and energetic people, convenient location for stores and all that Stanford has to offer. Good walking, too. One negative: When I tell young people I live in a retirement community, I see “Oh, elderly” in their expressions and I don’t much like that.
1959
Leslie (Joan Mahood) Brookes: My oldest friend and a classmate at Kent Place died on August 27, 2022. Audrey Ellen Gehrlach and I met in September 1954 and kept in touch ever since graduation. I last saw her in 1999, when I spent a day with her at her home in Manasquan, NJ, while in the state for our 40th reunion.
1960
Anne (Sonnekalb) Iskrant anne@iskrant.com
Although I’m an inveterate traveler, we haven’t ventured too far from Pennsylvania for several reasons. One is that I’m dealing with a metastasis of breast cancer and the old medication has stopped working, so I’m trying Plan B. I’m fortunate to have my family close by and still be a part of a supportive breast cancer survivors dragon boat team. John and I had a wonderful birthday
trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in April. It snowed! For a day, the park roads were closed; we went to Dollywood and heard great music and found out what an incredible woman/philanthropist Dolly Parton is. I went to New York City to attend a memorial lecture in honor of my sister June (Sonnekalb) Dwyer ’62 and visited the Morgan Library for a tour after reading The Personal Librarian, by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. I see that many of our classmates have grandchildren in college and graduate school. My grandson is in kindergarten and Sue Hand’s is even younger!
Jane (Boyle) Gerrish is in Maine and continues to enjoy activities at Huntington Common Retirement Community — pool, exercise, yoga, tai chi, croquet, and church, as well as the end-of-life singing group she’s been in for a number of years. Her book recommendation is any by Jody Picoult. (AI and her daughter, Caroline, suggest Wish You Were Here.)
Cindy (Williams) Hinchman, in Washington, DC, had a busy fall, as her recently retired husband, Jim, underwent emergency double-bypass surgery — the emergency was
discovered when his Fitbit showed that his heart rate didn’t slow after walking. Happily, he’s back to walking two miles a day. Cindy still works at her church in communications, the core of which is a monthly newsletter. She misses seeing Lisa (Anderson) Todd, as do I. She and I went to elementary school together, and we think we’ve known each other longer than any other person with whom we’re still in contact.
Pat (Downs) Ramsay called to report on her recent move and adjustment to a retirement community (Yarmouth, ME, to Falmouth). The three daughters (collectively) of Pat and Steve were a big help in packing and moving. Their new place is called Ocean View, although there is none, but they’re near a beach on Casco Bay. Their new place is only 10 miles from Portland and five from Freeport. She tells me she can get on a bus in Portland and be in New York City in five hours.
Susan (Coffin) Olds says she’s lucky to be healthy. In Virginia, she still cares for four horses, rides, teaches riding, and plays tennis and pickleball. This past summer, son Christopher and his wife took her
to Vieques for a week of snorkeling and water sports with their twins (13) and Griffin (11). She loved the energy. She also joined her sister and various other family members on a trip to the British Isles and explored London, as well as Oslo and Bergen. The trip was planned three years ago. Susie’s husband of 56 years, Bill, has dementia and is in assisted living, a difficult but good decision. He’ll soon move to a memory care unit.
Joan (Biddison) Goodrich and husband Rick love their new home and community of friends on beautiful, pristine Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham, NH. She says they’re blessed with good health and a wonderful family. Their sons and five grandchildren, in various stages of college, live in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, so they see them often. One, however, has decamped to medical school in Queensland, Australia.
Sandy (Lee) Simmers is still farming, dancing, and playing tennis and pickleball in Virginia.
She visited Charleston and her sister Thanksgiving week, including a three-day stay in Hilton Head, where older son Clayton and family rented a house.
a poetry group and plays cards. The people and staff are fun and positive, she says. She visited her daughter and family in Virginia last Christmas. She has five grandchildren: Sven (21) and Ava (14) are her daughter’s; Fiona (13), Mattea (11), and Celia (10) are her son’s. She loved attending The Star on Zoom.
Sue Hand says her grandson Theo (3) is adorable, smart, and very affectionate. They live in Brooklyn and she lives in a retirement community near Concord, MA. She’s very grateful for FaceTime. Morgan, her son, is a videographer, so he’s regular about keeping in touch that way.
She broke her hip in August but is recovering well. She’s making new friends and still writing — she’s writing a novel and says she’s having fun with it.
1961
Adelaide (Short) Gifford ’46
July 17, 2022
Joan (Skelton) Holmes ’47
October 26, 2022
Nanette (Offray) Rich ’48
December 13, 2021
Ellen (Stiles) Hansen ’53
July 7, 2022
Nancy (Stropp) Marion ’54
July 1, 2022
Audrey Gehrlach ’59
August 27, 2022
Danica (Evers) Lamza ’62
January 8, 2022
Devon (McDermott) Poor ’65
February 24, 2022
Sonia (Leonardow) Dickinson ’66
July 31, 2022
With sadness, we share that former Kent Place Trustee Toni Bauknight P ’95 ’98 passed away on January 9, 2023. Toni was the mom of two KPS alumnae, April C. Bauknight ’95, Esq., and Leslie (Bauknight) Nixon ’98, as well as a grandmother, educator, and minister. She dedicated 40 years of her life to education, 38 of which were within the Newark Public School system, where she made a tangible impact on her students’ lives, both in and out of the classroom. She served on the KPS Board from 1993 to 1999 and was a committed member of the Kent Place community. We extend our condolences to her family and friends.
Barbara (Booth) Drobnyk and Bruce are doing fine. They moved from Sanibel 15 years ago to a villa in Fort Myers, FL. She reports that they’re just a few miles from Sanibel but escaped any major damage from the hurricane. They downsized and recently sold their Vermont home. Three of their daughters live within 10 miles of them; the fourth is in Santa Barbara and Big Sur. Their youngest granddaughter was just accepted into The Citadel — they’re very excited.
Lilian (Eken) Najarian continues to socialize but is somewhat limited to hanging out with her adult children and five grandchildren, all of whom live nearby. They do sporadic potluck dinners with friends, and she has returned to volunteering at the local historic society. She belongs to the Mount Holyoke Alumnae Book Club, and favorites so far: Honor, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Book of Longings
Winifred (Hesson) McCormick is now living at Williston Place, in Williston, VT, independent housing for seniors over 55. It has an underground garage and lots of activities, and is also near her son. She joined
Doris (Hodges) Heiser: This fall Ed and I did another leg of our Route 66 adventure. First part was last year from Oklahoma City to Santa Monica, and our most recent was Chicago to St. Louis, which was lots of fun. We had never been to Lincoln or Springfield (Illinois), so we thoroughly enjoyed learning a great deal about Lincoln’s life; both cities have very interesting museums that show all facets of it. What an amazing man he was, with so many obstacles to overcome. If you go to these cities, I recommend the museums — fascinating!
1963
Louise (Hall) Grauer louise.a.grauer@gmail.com
1964
Gail (Giblin) Flynn gailgiblin29@gmail.com
Elizabeth (Levin) Pilcher: I attended KPS as a boarder for two years. We’re all in our seventh decade, and have earned our place here. Home and family are central to our lives. My husband, Colin, and I are music lovers — I still sing and play piano — and I’m a Master Gardener, and these activities keep us home. Our son, Zach, daughter-in-law, Jess, and granddaughter, Avery, give us great pleasure. We’ve traveled together a few times and hope to do more. Colin and I spent some time in Paris recently: he’s fluent in French and I’m not, despite our French teacher’s efforts. All the best to you.
1965
Dr.
Janet B. W. Williamsjbwwny@gmail.com
Our class managed to stay in touch with a terrific Zoom get-together; I hope we can repeat it at least yearly. We need to stay connected.
We received the sad news that Devon (McDermott) Poor passed away at home, surrounded by family, in Bronxville, NY, on February 24, 2022. We extend our condolences to her sister, Deborah McDermott Wight; her daughter, A. J. (Poor) Murphy ’94; nieces Sarah (Wight) O’Connell ’92 and Caitlin (Wight) Fitzsimmons ’95; and the rest of her family and friends.
Candace Cushing: Status remains quo with blessings being counted. My college counseling business, Partners in Your Process, continues to keep me out of trouble, which is a good thing, and being a new grandmother keeps me out and back in Portland, OR, a great thing!
Deborah Kooperstein: On December 31, 2021, I retired as a town justice and became “of counsel” to a Long Island law firm, Messina, Perillo & Hill. My spouse and I traveled to North Carolina, Iceland, our place in Maine during the summer, and Pennsylvania to visit Falling Water (Wright’s masterpiece), and spent Christmas and New Year’s in Norway to see the northern lights. I serve on the board of Hamptons Doc Fest, which runs from December 1 through December 6 and was founded by my spouse, Jacqui Lofaro, 15 years ago. Check it out. I’m also
still on the board of Bridgehampton Community House.
Jane (Kolarsey) Kusterer: The very best thing about 2022 so far was the birth of our grandson, Keith James Kusterer, in Chicago on June 28. KJ is the first child of Keith and Christina and of course he’s perfect. So blessed and thankful!
Janet Williams: This year I’ve been busier than ever, with volunteer boards and self-care (yoga, acupuncture). One of the boards is for an organization in Montana that screens middle and high school kids for depression, anxiety, and suicidality, and links them to care immediately if they screen positive. Among highlights of the year have been a trip to the Amalfi Coast and the Los Angeles wedding of my youngest, Gideon. Grandkids are 3 and 5, and happy in Southern California. Middle son’s restaurant, in Providence, Camp Nowhere, has done well through the pandemic. The year 2023 will see me with one or two new knees; otherwise, I’m good!
1966
Linda “Lindy” (Burns) Jones finallylbj@gmail.com
As many of you already know, Sonia (Leonardow) Dickinson, “sister, mother, wife, friend, mentor, traveler, art lover, music enthusiast, activist, entrepreneur, businesswoman, and life-changer, succumbed to cancer on Sunday, July 31, 2022.” She passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by close family. Our condolences to Sonia’s family and friends.
Emily Meschter ’60 visited campus in October to chat with Upper School students about her career. Over lunch, Emily talked about being one of the first women to work in investment banking on Wall Street and her rise to the position of executive in a challenging and male-dominated profession.
“I was inspired by the way she broke the norms of her time and created her own path,” says Cassie Miller ’24, one of the students in attendance, “and how she found meaning outside of family life, something often not expected of women of her generation. I appreciated her honesty and humor in conveying her story. It was also fascinating to hear what KPS was like during the 1960s and what it was like to be a boarder.”
Fran (Griffith) Laserson: I’m completing my first year as a snowbird in Vero Beach, which includes almost daily sightings of Betsy (Busch) Crosby and my sister, Laura (Griffith) McDermott ’68, plus golf, bridge, tennis, and croquet. Looking forward to 2023 trips to San Francisco for daughter Galen’s graduation from UCSF Medical School and granddaughter Ellis’s christening. I’m continuing my volunteer work in New York, mostly by Zoom with Fountain House, and chairing a fundraiser for New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. I’ll be back in Quogue for summers and family time with my New York City granddaughters, Renner (6) and Greer (9).
Kris (Mellor) Conley: Life is moving along at a busy pace. My grandchildren are keeping things hopping. Ruby, a high school senior, is exploring art colleges and her younger sister, in middle school, continues dancing three classes a week and is in the school play, Shrek the Musical. My twin grandsons, Aidan and Owen, are exploring high schools near where they live in Washington. Both are tennis players and in tournaments close to home and away — Tucson and Phoenix this fall. Younger brother Oliver is busy making video trailers and just swam in his first meet. I’d been lamenting that all my travel partners are gone and my son asked where I wanted to go and I popped out “London.” He said “Let’s go” and we spent nine days there. It was
fun, and the trip added to my most cherished memories with my son. I look forward to another scheduled Zoom meeting!
Tricia (Hodge) Parks: My family are all in good health. That’s a reason, right there, for gratitude and happiness. Both my children now have children in their teens and tweens (three for Elizabeth; three for Rusty).
My oldest grandson, Reilly, is now at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. All came to Dallas for Thanksgiving along with a few in-laws: 17 people for dinner with seven staying for a week. I have to remind myself how to cook (and what to cook) for that many. Lots of travel planned for the New Year. That, my beloved animals, and still working 15–20 hours per week round out my life.
Judy Small: I’m writing and, miraculously, getting published more this past year than over the past few decades. I’m honored to be working with a scholar from Colombia on a Spanish translation of my book Second Tongue. I’m assisting the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area in updating training for volunteer interpreters, and continue to interpret for an asylum seeker from Cameroon represented by Centro Legal de La Raza.
1967
Lisa (Wilson) Hetman: A fabulous time was had by Jeanne (Hammond) Daraio, Lianne (Gerhardt) LaVoy, Phyllis (Arbesman) Berger, Patty English, Pandora “Peej” Jacoubs, and me during our Irish reunion. (See photo on page 58.)
Katherine Bailey ’82 to George Rogg
January 2023
Monica Giannone ’06 to Julia Rosenbaum
June 18, 2022
Alison O’Brien ’06 to Jonathan Fleck
August 17, 2022
Caryn Wasser ’07 to Jed Steiner
September 17, 2022
Daniela Quintanilla ’10 to David Reynolds
October 8, 2022
Rachel Terry ’10 to James Jensen
July 8, 2022
Frances Bird ’11 to Andrew Peisch
June 4, 2022
Melissa Buja ’11 to Ian Kosasa
November 13, 2021
Caroline Giroux ’11 to Michael Lee Volpert
June 25, 2022
Kerrigan Dougherty ’12 to Frances Webb
April 30, 2022
Shayna Gleason ’13 to David Hogan
May 14, 2022
Births
Alex Krupp ’06 a daughter, Poppy Banks Morris
May 12, 2022
Elizabeth (Schoenbach) Baron ’09 a daughter, Charlotte Tess Baron
August 22, 2022
Courtney (Alpaugh) Simmons ’09 a daughter, Jane Elizabeth Simmons
October 1, 2022
Torrie (Williams) Nelson ’09 a daughter, Lilly Nelson
May 2022
1968
Barbara Wiss barbarawiss@gmail.comAnne (Hawley) Morgan: Life is good (translate that as “busy”). My fantasy short story was published in an anthology. Secret Garden soup mixes are selling briskly. My son’s market garden had a second successful season (thanks in part to how I picked spinach — one leaf at a time). Kids and grandkids are a joy. Daughter-in-law just won a seat on our small Minnesota town’s school board.
Cathrine (Stickney) Steck: This has been a busy year, starting with my son William’s marriage to Katherine Porter on May 7 in Napa. Kat will be the third “Katherine” Steck in a row, although all our first names are spelled differently. We’ve created a dynasty! After a beautiful summer in Northern California, I returned to New York City in time to jet off to England to visit my daughter, Emily, who lives there, followed by a magical trip to Normandy with Deborah Farrington and Patti (Rossiter) Ravenscroft. Patti has created and led culinary tours for years and, as I say after every one I’ve participated in, “This was the best one yet!” There were fabulous foods and visits to museums and quaint towns, topped off with a cooking lesson and sumptuous lunch in a private château. Home base was another stunning château, so coming home and down to earth was rough. If Patti can be persuaded to lead another tour, I’ll sign up in a heartbeat!
1969
Gay (Garth) Legg
gaylegg@gmail.com
Hello, classmates! For some happy news, my younger daughter, who lives in New York City, is engaged to a great guy. My other two children are happily married in the Boston area: our son is in Carlisle and our other daughter lives in Newburyport. My fourth granddaughter arrived in June — Hazel joined Campbell and cousins Lily and Charlotte, and all four are under age 5. I love seeing them on FaceTime, and husband Chris and I are willing to drive seven hours to Massachusetts to babysit for a weekend. I’m a pro at finding soccer cleats, pink tutus, and bathing suits on Saturday mornings. I’ve finally recovered after shoulder surgery in July, six months after tearing my rotator cuff, the result of falling from
a ladder doing floral design for a wedding. I’m back to running slowly, and still very involved with Garden Club of America projects, supporting new park development in Baltimore and documenting historic gardens. I love painting landscapes at my house in Brewster, on Cape Cod, in the summer. Let me know if you want to visit (or rent).
Louise (Tharaud) Brasher: Hooray for Gay to continue as secretary. My husband, Larry, and I live in Birmingham. I’m an attorney for low-income clients. We have one adult son in the Raleigh-Durham area; I still have family in New Jersey. My elder brother lives in Maplewood, in the house we grew up in. I wish you all well!
Cushing Samp: Our daughter Abby had her long-postponed COVID wedding to Tim Ryley in London over Memorial Day weekend.
Comfort Halsey: I write from Ojai, CA, the beautiful valley I consider my hometown. We celebrated Thanksgiving here with our daughter, Eliza, who lives in Los Angeles. I’m soaking up the views of the familiar, reassuring mountains, the aroma of the eucalyptus and pepper trees, and the warmth of the sun. Our son, Thomas, still lives in Montana, another beautiful place on the planet. Everyone was home in Boston for Christmas, yay. Greg and I don’t have much news to report, which is probably a good thing at our age. Steady on! We remain grateful for good health, strong family relationships, and enduring friendships. And the class that brought me the most joy at Kent Place? Definitely physics! Mr. Headley made it fun and was always patient and enthusiastic with us.
Mary Robinson: All good news here. Our older daughter, Sarah, is in Israel, studying at the Medical School for International Health (a program Paul Farmer could have envisioned for care of the most vulnerable). Our younger daughter is studying for an MBA at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business after a number of years in finance at BlackRock. I continue to study at the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, a teaching/ learning co-op of retired professionals. I usually take three courses a semester. No tests or term papers, and it’s all fun and stimulating. On Fridays, I volunteer with the Friday Café (for the homeless and food-in-
secure) at our UCC church in Cambridge. We typically welcome 150 folks each week, providing homecooked meals, used clothing, and toiletries. Some days I cook enchiladas, some days I serve food, some days I just sit down with a guest and listen, providing individualized emotional support. My wife still teaches clinical pastoral education (chaplaincy skills) to clergy in training at a Harvardaffiliated rehab, independent living, and nursing system with multiple campuses. We’re both well.
And a special update from Libby Aloni, our AFS student: “COVID had quite a dramatic impact, as I live in the most ‘locked down’ city in the world. Long-term effects for me manifested in difficulty adjusting to normal life. I’m pretty sorted out now and managed to get to far-north Queensland to attend a yoga retreat.
“As the years march on, I’ve found that injuries caused in my youth are biting me now. I was informed that I had broken two bones in my back. No idea when that occurred, but to dodge surgery on neck, knee, and back, I’m consulting with an osteopath and doing more yoga and Pilates. I was also the recipient of COVID, even after complying with all the vaccination recommendations and enforced precautions.
“My three children (two girls and a boy) are all doing well in careers and health and live close by. No grandchildren on the horizon; I have to be content with two grand-cats and a grand-dog.
“I enjoy living in Blairgowrie, which is on the Mornington peninsula. I have a wide choice of beaches, wonderful walks, and plenty of activities. I still maintain a small apartment in Melbourne so I can pursue cultural and social activities there. Very blessed.
“Retirement didn’t sit well with me, so I remain very involved and active in quite a few pursuits. I’ve been a Thermomix consultant for six years now. Food preparation has always been a passion and this business is an excellent vehicle to feed that passion while changing people’s lives by inspiring and educating to fulfill their own needs and pursuits regarding food.
“I’ve recently trained to be a ‘pyjama angel,’ the purpose of which is to provide support to foster children. As a result of this training,
I’ve been allocated a foster child, whom I visit once a week to assist in any required field, such as reading, math, and socialization.
“My accounting skills led me to a local women’s association as its honorary treasurer. And my sewing skills led me to our local football club (Aussie rules, not gridiron). They proudly refer to me as the team’s seamstress and I mend their sweaters when they’re torn.
“As you enter the colder months, we’re enjoying spring and awaiting the warmer weather. I’d be delighted to hear from any of my classmates, also an open invitation if any of you venture down under to stay a bit with me. I send much love and well wishes.”
1970
Harty (Platt) du Pont hartleydupont@aol.com
Lisa Schmucki lisaschmucki@gmail.com
Lisa Schmucki: My company, edWeb.net, hosted a webinar titled “Integrating Ethics into All Aspects of a K–12 School Community” to help spread the word about Kent Place’s innovative ethics curriculum.
Primary, Middle, and Upper school students participated in great conversations on the impact of the program. You can watch the webinar or listen to a podcast at https://home.edweb.net/webinar/ studentvoice20221104.
Harty (Platt) du Pont: I’m the chair of the 1754 Society for the School of the Arts at Columbia University and chair of the Arts for Honorary Degrees as well. I have spent more than 40 years doing volunteer work there and both my sons are graduates. I’m writing every day and riding my horses, as I always have. I do keep in close touch with Hallie, Buff, and Lynn and sometimes text Lis.
Betzi (Ulrich) Powers: The year 2022 was a momentous one for me! We sold our 125-year-old house, in which we had lived for 44 years, and moved to a brand-new retirement community apartment. No more yard work, house maintenance, or worries. Overlooking a beautiful lake, we kayak and watch over an eagle’s nest — ideal. And leaving for travel means just closing the door behind us and taking off, which we did the entire month of October,
celebrating our 50th anniversary by cruising the Mediterranean from Spain to Turkey. Also, no worries about leaving John behind for my trip to Maine for our “Class of ’70 turns 70” reunion. So glad many of us got together for that fun!
Judy Chamberlain: It was wonderful to see so many KPS ’70 class members for our reunion in Maine. Karen and I headed to South Carolina at the end of September and then to Oklahoma City for the Morgan Grand National Horse Show. I came home with four nice ribbons in Western Dressage — and COVID. I was sick in bed for just two days, thanks to my recent updated vaccine. We’re busy now with carriage-driving competitions in South Carolina and making plans for our Viking ocean cruise to Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania.
Chrys (Mennen) Andrea: Hello, Class of 70, who are now 70! How can that be? Everything here in Texas is good. My children are all happy and my two grandsons are my heart. They’re 6 and 8 now and super smart and fun to be with. I’m playing a lot of golf because that’s what I love to
do. Rudy is riding his street bike and doing the gym thing. We just adopted a sweet dog who was found lost and abandoned. I was not going to get another dog but she came to me like a penny from heaven. Her name is Penny. We went to Portugal this year and it was amazing, and we took the family to Turks and Caicos. Life is good and I have a grateful heart for our many blessings.
Patty Kummel: One benefit of the pandemic is being able to work from anywhere as long as there’s Wi-Fi. I just returned from a month in Florence, where my daughter is spending her fall semester studying art. Sticky joined me for the first 12 days and we had a great time exploring museums and churches, eating fabulous food, and drinking wine.
1971
Deborah Besch debvettx@gmail.com
Sixteen of us got together for a Zoom reunion in May with our old KP history teacher, George Wrangham. It was so interesting to chat with one another other and catch up with Mr. Wrangham, who insisted we call him
The Class of 1970 held a “destination” reunion in Mere Point, Maine, in September, for a group 70th-birthday celebration. Kate Debevoise, Judy Chamberlain, and I organized and hosted the event.
Nineteen members of our class came from far and wide: Joining the hosts were Katie (Green) Snowdon, Betzi Ulrich, Valerie McEntee, Pat Glibert, Barbara (Henwood) Ikalainen, Beth Sullebarger, Carolyn (Stickney) Gregson, Patty Kummel, Liz Van Lear, Joy Weiner, Lis Bensley, Emmy (Perina) Katz, Tricia Tunstall, Caroline (Butterworth) Forsman, Kim Noling, and Liv Eltvik — who came all the way from Norway and led the group in kayaking and swimming.
From a lively cocktail party hosted by Judy and her wife, Karen; to a wonderful boat trip and picnic on the islands of Casco Bay arranged by Kate; to a lobster dinner attended by KPS Head of School Jennifer Galambos and
Chief Advancement Officer Coral Butler Brooks, there were many activities that filled our days (and evenings, too).
Most of all, it was just special to be together, creating even more memories and deeper relationships. The reminiscing and laughter made it feel as if high school was yesterday, except that now, if we created our own “rock ’n’ roll rest home,” we’d have a doctor, a nurse, a therapist, lawyers, an engineer, many cooks and gardeners, musicians and teachers, a marine biologist, a real estate agent, a banker, a historic preservationist (and we all need preservation), fitness buffs, authors (to write our stories), and humorists (to keep us laughing even when life is tough). Happy 70th birthday, Class of 1970!
—LISA SCHMUCKI ’70GREEN AND GOLD
Join us for our in-person and virtual programming or visit with us when we’re on the road in your state. Exciting and inspiring connections with the alumnae community bring us joy!
ALUMNAE PROGRAMMING
• MARCH 30, 2023: Alumnae on the Rise (virtual panel)
• APRIL 28–29, 2023: Alumnae Weekend
GREEN AND GOLD ON THE ROAD
• MAY 18–19, 2023: Chicago
• JUNE 8, 2023: New York City
If you have questions about any of the events, please contact Lainey Segear, Senior Director of Community Engagement, at segearl@kentplace.org or (908) 273-0900, ext. 335, or visit www.kentplace.org/alumnae-events.
Dates and locations are subject to change.
SPRING LAKE, N.J.
Hosted by Maria (Fekete) ’98 and Jordan Brugg P ’28 ’30
1. Lizzy Miggins ’11, Hallee (Branin) Dangler ’96 P ’26 ’28 ’30, and Head of School Jennifer Galambos
2. Skip Branin P ’96 GP ’26 ’28 ’30 (center) with Maria (Fekete) ’98 and Jordan Brugg P ’28 ’30
3. Maria (Fekete) Brugg ’98 P ’28 ’30, Hallee (Branin) Dangler ’96 P ’26 ’28 ’30, Anne Pierce P ’32 ’34, and Erika Melchiorre P ’29
4. Allison (Fitzpatrick) Weir ’91, Heather Wipperman ’92, and Margot (Fell) O’Connor ’88
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Hosted by Jachele Velez ’07
Kenya Jacobs ’15, Jachele Velez ’07, Claire Marsden ’10, Madison Mastrangelo ’15, Emily Tevebaugh ’15, and Annika Gude ’17
1. Carlos Cruz P ’34 ’37, Dr. Jennifer Galambos, Natalia Espejo P ’34 ’37
2. Chris (Gibbons) McKay ’66 and Hilary Sayia ’04
3. Former faculty member Christine Clemens and Judy (Tansey) Hunt ’61
4. Marlene Kurz ’72 and Julie Adell ’72
Hosted by Christine (Chambers) ’84 and Michael Gilfillan P ’19
1. Lili (White) Durling ’72 and Claude Pelzer P ’29
2. Christine (Chambers) Gilfillan ’84 P ’19 and Susanne (Santola) Mulligan ’93 P ’27 ’29
3. Michael Gilfillan P ’19, Isabella Smith ’14, Michael Murphy P ’99 ’03, and Jack Smith P ’14
4. Lili (White) Durling ’72, Lizzy Miggins ’11, and Madison Mastrangelo ’15
LONDON
1. Chief Advancement Officer Coral Butler Brooks, Alexa Biale ’08, and Jennifer Galambos
2. Rachel Uhlman ’10, Suzi Brown ’10, and Coral Butler Brooks
3. Lindsay (Weinschenk) Wake ’97 and Jennifer Galambos
4. Jennifer Galambos, Suzi Brown ’10, Rachel Uhlman ’10, Coral Butler Brooks, Lindsay (Weinschenk) Wake ’97, and Kate Uhlman ’14
George. We plan to do it again in 2023 — please join us!
Jeanne (Pettit) Ferris: Kathy Le Dain helped me get through hip replacement surgery in late May by chauffeuring me to various medical appointments and errands, visiting me during my brief stay at a truly dreadful assisted living facility in Washington, DC, and keeping my spirits up in general. She’s a wonderful friend! I’m now able to walk without pain and at the fast clip of yesteryear. I’m also grateful for our KPS reunion gift of a chain to keep face masks around our necks. When I take my daily walk in the humidity, my glasses fog up, and that chain has been very helpful.
Janet (Yeaw) Carhart: Wonderful to be traveling again, at least a bit, since COVID. I’ve been playing grandma down in Georgia, and Tom and I enjoyed a wonderful week with our sons, Tommy and Jason; Jason’s wife, Kate; and their two daughters, Cricket (3) and Maisie (1). Being a grandma is such fun!
Susan Cory: I’m really enjoying writing mysteries full time now that I’ve retired from running an architecture firm. Using the “Verbie” side of my brain instead of the “Vizzie” side is keeping the creative flow going. I just released Death Waves, the fifth book in the series with my architect amateur sleuth. My husband, Dan, is still working as an architect and we’re hoping for grandchildren one of these days.
Debbie Besch: My husband and I are happy to be upright and are counting our blessings. We took a three-week trip to Italy in June and survived a long hot summer in Texas. We love to spend time at our mountain cabin in West Texas.
Linda (Gordon) Mancini: We sold our farm in New York and moved to our mini-farm in Ocala as a yearround residence. My younger son and his wife are expecting their third child. Both boys are still living in New York. I’m still judging horse shows and breeding, buying, and selling horses.
Barbara (Weiger) Lepke-Sims: The summer of 2022 was a lot of fun because conferences that had been postponed since 2020 took place. I presented about live therapeutic music at the American Harp Society National Conference, volunteered as a board member at the USAIHC, and with my husband, Mike, at-
tended the World Harp Congress in Wales, with more than 500 international harpists. We have five beautiful grandchildren and all of their families were together in Colorado for Christmas, including my sister, Lucy ’69, and her husband, Bob.
1972
Lili (White) Durling lilidurling@gmail.com1973
Lisa Krieger: I moved to the Point Reyes area of Northern California, a wild and wonderful peninsula that juts out into the Pacific and is one of the most biologically rich places on earth. I’m thrilled to be able to continue journalism from a distance, with easy access to hiking, kayaking, surfing, and new friends in a small and close-knit rural community. Come visit!
Sarah (Gordon) DeGiovanni: I’m faring well here in central Connecticut, fully appreciating the extra time I have after retiring in September 2021, after 44 years working at the Institute of Living (a psychiatric hospital in Hartford). I now have the freedom to volunteer, travel, or help with our grandkids, two of whom are in Connecticut; one is in Austin, where our son and daughter-in-law live. My major reason for submitting a note is to ask each of you to seriously consider returning in April for our 50th reunion. Whether we were just friendly with one another or really close, I’d love to see you and hear how your life has unfolded. Life can be short . . . sadly, both of my sisters passed away within the last five years. I’d like as many of us as possible to come together and celebrate the 50 rich years that have passed since we graduated. I’ll be there, and I hope you’ll be there, too.
Elisabeth (Rumery) Chiminec: Roman and I are enjoying retired life. We love spending time with our family, which now includes six wonderful grandchildren. After years of travel adventures, we mostly go to Georgia and California to visit them; happily, some are still in New Jersey. I live near my sister Nan (Rumery) Soden ’72, and we enjoy frequent walks along the Delaware River. We see our sister, Carolyn (Rumery) Betz ’75, a few times a year. Very grateful for continued good health. I hope we get a good turnout for our 50th reunion!
Betsy (Haas) Anderson: Former KPS Head of School Sue Bosland, Barbara (Metzger) Robinson ’62, and I met at a reception for the Gender and Policy Center at the Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University. I’m on the Advisory Board of the GAP; Sue joined the board in December.
1974
Cathy Slichter cathy.slichter@gmail.com
1975
Patti Neale-Schulz pattischulz1919@gmail.com
1976
Sue Liemer: In June 2022, we celebrated the wedding of our oldest son, Jeremiah, at the Maritime Aquarium, in Norwalk, CT. Since June 2021, I’ve been the associate dean for academic affairs at Elon University’s law school, in Greensboro, NC. I’m also trying to model wellness for the younger generation by getting daily exercise, even on the busiest days.
1978
Patricia (Friedman) Marcus balibliss@yahoo.com
1981
Kathryn (McDaniel) Nenning kathryn@nenning.com
1982
Tracey (San Filippo) Henick tahenick@aol.com
Lisa (Brown) Langley: KIN is officially open in Edgartown, on Martha’s Vineyard. My niece, Gareth Brown, and I opened a shop together with my photography and Gareth’s oneof-a-kind clothing designs. The shop has had a number of KPS visitors, among them Ramelle Massey, Leigh (Reynolds) Williams, and Kirsten (Calvert) Brady. Follow us @kin.mv and come say hi in person!
Katherine Bailey: In September, I survived Hurricane Ian in Sarasota County. In January, I married a wonderful man, George, who is a registered nurse, and we live in southwest Florida.
I continue to substitute-teach Pre-K through second grade here in Pinellas County. George and I are swimmers and hope to travel.
Jenny (Wentz) Rich: My husband, Jim, and I have been living in
Omaha for the last 17 years. We celebrated our son’s wedding in May, in Santa Cruz, CA. In attendance were Robin (Wentz) Chisholm ’83 and Nancy (Ambrose) Wentz.
Nancy (Gorman) Dougherty: The year 2022 has been a busy one. Kerrigan got married on April 30 to Frances Webb, and we all enjoyed a beautiful wedding celebration in Baltimore. My KPS classmates Lisa Manshel and her wife, Kyle Francis, and Carolyn Montgomery attended. My aunt Nancy Twinem ’61 was also with us for the festivities. Kerrigan started medical school at the University of Maryland in August and is deep into studying and enjoying the work immensely. Ramelle Massey and I had a nice visit recently as we both attended the Impact 100 Garden State 10th-anniversary celebration. She and I are both members. Over the summer, I had a good time catching up with Carol Cronheim when I visited her at her beach house at the Jersey Shore.
MaryJan (Dorian) Kelly: The last few years were rough but I’m seeing the light. My parents passed two weeks apart, Michael had a stroke, and I had long-haul COVID. Grateful that I'm 32 years at Thomson Reuters and our four children are happily situated: Lucine is an electrical engineer for Target and lives in New York City; Seta is getting her degree in speech pathology; and the twins love Rutgers, Ani in nursing and Taline in civil engineering. I’m grateful for Bright Line Eating and connecting with Amy M. Her “Freakin Frugal” show is amazing! I loved talking to Jessica, Lisa M., Kris H., Christa, and Nancy this year. Fun seeing Mrs. Britton, Karen, and Chris W. in Bay Head, NJ. Also love Tracey’s knitting and Lisa B.’s store on Instagram.
Amy McCormick: After almost 20 years as a child protective social worker for the state of New Jersey, I quit my job and now work full time on my YouTube channel, “Freakin Frugal,” where we give frugal tips and recipes and rescue food and other household items from Dumpsters. Our Dumpster-diving videos are actually our most popular. My 25-year-old daughter, Kiley, is completing her master’s in public policy at Harvard and works for the State Department. My twins are in fifth grade and growing up too fast.
The science program at Kent Place is designed to enhance students’ knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to break down a complex scientific system into smaller parts, recognize cause-and-effect relationships, and use fact-based reasoning to defend conclusions. The archive image (left) is from 1952 and the picture on the right is from this year’s AP Environmental Science course. What do they have in common? Our science courses have always ignited curiosity, unleashed creativity, and emphasized collaboration and innovation.
What was your favorite science class? We’d love to hear about it; please email communications@kentplace.org.
I’m in regular contact with MaryJan (Dorian) Kelly, who is a leader in the field of healthy, holistic, all-natural living and life coaching. I’m also in touch with Jessica Goulden, who is one of Los Angeles’s Top 100 Lawyers of the Century.
1983
Clara A. Porter claraportermaine@gmail.com
1984
Jennifer Thomas meezertee@gmail.com
1985
Karen Little rucr8tive@aol.com
1987
Ginny (Boyer) Losito glosito@me.com
Emily (Barton) Hopkins: In 2018, I began teaching at Oberlin College. Last year, I was promoted to tenure and to Creative Writing Program chair, a job I love. If any current KPS women are interested in pursuing the study of writing in a lively, rigorous, inclusive environment, put Oberlin on your list of schools to check out. And classmates and friends, please get in touch if your child is coming to look at the place; I recommend it. My kids are getting big. Toby (14) is playing sousaphone in the marching band (trombone
in concert band) and Emmett (9) is loving soccer. We adopted a pandemic puppy named Ponyo. We love her like crazy, even if I’m still a cat lady.
Beth (Jennings) Rosenheim: In October, I visited with Kristen (Moscatello) Glick in Cape May. Days later, Stephanie Carson came to D.C. for the Women’s March. We were joined by Stephanie’s sister, Andrea (Carson) Tanner ’91, from North Carolina. Jenn Dorsey and I, along with the 1986 volleyball team (including Tori Brown, Cindy Buck, Catherine Humphries, and Mary Visceglia (manager), were inducted into the KPS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Stephanie Carson, Tara Williams-Harrington, and my stepmother, Laura (Noon) Jennings ’67, came for the event. My daughter, Rachel, a senior at Tulane, is studying abroad in Milan at Bocconi University and we went for a two-week visit.
Karie Button: I’m a pediatric emergency medicine physician. I spent the last five years in D.C. and am now headed to Miami to work at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Excited for the new adventure and more beach time. I’ll be taking lots of trips back to the Northeast to see my family and close friends.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of sad updates: Kristin (Moscatello) Glick lost her husband, Philip Francis Glick Jr., on August 18, 2022, and
Erika Amato lost her mother, Judith Coluccio Amato, on September 1, 2022. You are both in our thoughts. We’re so sorry for your loss.
1988
Melissa (McCarthy) Madden melissamccarthy@me.com
1989
Vanessa E. King squamlake@gmail.com
Pippa (Loengard) Almond: In June, I was named the executive director of the Kernochan Center for Law, Media, and the Arts at Columbia Law School (where I started as assistant director 16 years ago). It’s a hectic schedule as I teach art law (also at Columbia Law) and chair the Copyright Division of the ABA’s IP section. But I love working for and with artists and working on IP policy that will help America better protect its creative communities. Family-wise, I’m gearing up for next year, when I'll have one child applying to college and the other to high school, so my husband and I are enjoying the relative calm of junior year and middle school.
1990
Maren (Eisenstat) Vitali mevitali@comcast.net
If anyone is planning a trip home this winter, please look me up — I’d love to catch up and reminisce
about our days at Kent Place. We may be getting older, but I love seeing those smiling faces, which will always look 18 to me!
My family and I are doing well. Aidan is a sophomore in college and majoring in biology. Kelan is a sophomore in high school and continues to volunteer at a social-skills class for kids with disabilities on Saturday mornings. I started this academic year back in the library for my 26th year of teaching in Bridgewater. We took a trip to South Carolina this summer and ran into Danielle (Winkler) Shelley. It’s always fun to run into a KPS sister!
Carolina (Benegas-Lynch) Canavosio: I’m happy to tell you that I’m hosting María’s daughter (María Jr.) this fall, and she’s a pleasure. María and I started talking about this about a year ago and it came true! María is following in her mother’s footsteps and is a senior at KPS. She’ll be moving on to another family after the holidays, but we’ll certainly keep in touch with her. My daughter, Olivia, is a junior at Summit High School and they’re getting along beautifully. Olivia visited Sevilla this summer and got to know María before she came to the United States.
Amie (Quivey) Quickstad: My husband, Jim, and I took a trip to New England in October and enjoyed a lovely afternoon with Kathryn
(Hudacek) Harlow and her family at their home in Enfield, NH. Kathy has a number of chickens and ducks and two large gardens on her property — she sent me home with a dozen eggs of various colors and two humongous tomatoes! What fun it was to catch up with a dear friend, and (finally) get to meet Oochy, the dog.
Sarah (Conord) French: Lots going on in the family these days. Son Isaac graduated college, is gainfully employed with Northrop Grumman, and is engaged to be married in June. Daughter Rachel is very far away — freshman year in California. That’s been rough (for me, not her). She's loving it! I’m still working at T. Rowe Price as a senior communications consultant. Enjoyed a family vacation in Banff this past summer and the highlight was bringing my dad and introducing him to “real” mountains. And Eric and I are easing into this sort of empty-nest thing.
Danielle (Winkler) Shelley: The year 2022 has been an eventful one. After almost 17 years, I decided to step back from private practice and become an attending at the OBGYN residency program in Greenville. This will give me more time with my family, as the boys have only a few years left at home before college. It will also free up some time to travel. While in Hilton Head for our annual trip, I ran into Maren. We were both so surprised that we forgot to take a picture. I hope we can all get together more often now that everything is back to normal.
Chantal (Kullman) Reinlieb: This is the year our class turned 50! In a perfect world, we’d have been able to celebrate together, but we’re spread throughout the nation. My sister, Tara (Kullman) Millman ’97, and Audrey (Pukash) Bilsborrow celebrated with me in Club Med. It wouldn’t have been the same without my KP sisters. Tara and I will be on a Mardi Gras float in New Orleans on February 12. I attended the Athletic Hall of Fame event and it was wonderful honoring so many great athletes from Kent Place.
1991
Andrea (Carson) Tanner acarsontanner@gmail.com
Condolences to Laurie Smith on the loss of her father, MacDonald Smith, in May 2022.
Bayne Gibby: I live in Los Angeles and make my living as an actor and writer. My children’s book, You Mean the World to Me (Scholastic), has been translated into French and can be found in most bookstores and online.
Brinda Kantha: This year I was invited to lecture at the ISPRM medical conference in Lisbon, which was a great experience. We then had an amazing time traveling all over Portugal. In the sports arena, I won two medals at a regional tae kwon do competition. I had the privilege of watching my sister, Anna ’01, run the New York City Marathon in November.
Amy Allen: My role as a self-employed editor and college essay consultant (www.allofthewritewords.com
— if your child needs essay assistance) has enabled me to pursue my creative writing. My sixth poem was published and I’m working on more poetry as well as longer writing. We’ve moved to the Burlington, VT, area and love the vibrancy of the community as well as life near Lake Champlain.
Andrea (Carson) Tanner: I’ve added “substitute teacher” to my community-involvement repertoire. After years of volunteering in my children’s classrooms, it came pretty naturally. I’m happy to report that my health has been good, in the year since I completed treatment for breast cancer. Thanks to all my classmates and Kent Place sisters for the support while I faced chemo and radiation in 2021. Onward to wellness.
Allison (Fitzpatrick) Weir: I’ve spent the last few months enjoying the hybrid work life and going back and forth between New York City and the Jersey Shore every few days. I also started traveling again with work trips to London and Florida, as well as a social trip to Nantucket, where I ran into Maribeth Carroll. I enjoyed the Kent Place alumnae event in Spring Lake at the end of August, but I’m hoping that next year we can get more members of the Class of 1991 to attend. I was very sad to hear about the passing of Mrs. Jacobus, but was glad I was able to send her a letter telling her how much she meant to me before she passed.
1993
Courtney (Mead) Nagle
courtney.a.mead@gmail.com
Happy winter, Class of 1993. I can’t believe that 2023 is our 30th-reunion year — I hope to see you all in April.
Maria Dizzia: Some of the best things these past few years have been the messages of encouragement I’ve gotten from classmates about TV and film work via Facebook/Instagram. I’m almost 50! And it means so much to me to hear from friends. I’m grateful to you all. xo
Gabrielle (Costanzo) Long: Every fall, I attend a few of the Hamptons International Film Festival screenings, and I gasped with delight when I saw Maria Dizzia’s name in the opening credits of The Good Nurse I loved seeing her in The Staircase this spring, too! In September, Tizzie Benthien and her husband spent their anniversary on Block Island, RI, and stayed at my family’s Inn at Old Harbor. Stephanie (Burlington) Daniels also stopped by, on a day-trip visit. Congratulations to Françoise Moreau on her retirement. I have fond memories of our four-person French class in 1987 (her first year teaching at KPS), with Courtney (Mead) Nagle, Kim Barger, and Maggie McCarthy
1994
Christina (Dughi) Tonzola ctonzola@gmail.com
Our condolences to A.J. (Poor) Murphy on the passing of her mother, Devon (McDermott) Poor ’65, on February 24, 2022.
Meghan Alexander: It was quite a year, with a high school senior, a kindergartner, and a job change — moved from the elementary level to middle school as a reading specialist. My daughter is at Fordham University, so I hope to make it back to the East Coast more often.
Shannon (Barry) O’Grady: So happy to once again reunite with my best friend from Kent Place, Laura (Greenberg) Savarese. And it’s wonderful to see our kids hang out as friends. Laura has a had a wonderful year, including a fabulous trip to Greece. I finished my first year as theater director at Salisbury High School with incredible productions of She Kills Monsters and Rent
1996
Rachel Platt racheldplatt@gmail.com
Amy (Zucker) Kohen amykohen@gmail.com
1998
KC (Anthony) Artemenko kcartemenko@gmail.com
1999
Iris Blasi iris.blasi@gmail.com
Cynthia Keenan cindy.keenan@gmail.com
2000
Christine Ryan ceryan@gmail.com
2001
Kimberly (Frye) Alula kfrye05@gmail.com
Sara Pickett-Tucker saralizpickett@gmail.com
2002
Erin Sauchelli e.sauchelli@gmail.com
2003
Gina Ferraioli ginaferraioli@gmail.com
Alex (Raymond) Schulman: I live in Scotch Plains with my family and am still a special education teacher for grades 5–8. I have two boys, Evan (5) and Ryan (2). As of last summer, I became the Skills Training Program director at the JCC of Central New Jersey’s Camp Yachad. The program focuses on young adults and teens with disabilities, helping them develop social and executive-functioning skills while being employed at the camp.
2004
Laura Kleinbaum lkkleinbaum@gmail.com
2005
Cara Manket cara.manket@gmail.com
2006 Danielle Auriemma dvauriemma@gmail.com
Lydia Deutsch lydia.deutsch@gmail.com
Alex Krupp: Cole and I welcomed our daughter Poppy Banks Morris on May 12, 2022. She joins her very proud big sister, Elliott, who is 3½. Maddie Wasser: I recently moved back to the East Coast after four years in Chicago and a year of “nomading.” I now live in Brooklyn and am very happy to be closer to family and my KPS friends. I was promoted to senior manager at Deloitte earlier this year and am excited to be bringing more sustainability strategy into my work.
Alison (O’Brien) Fleck: On August 17, I got married to Jonathan Fleck in a small family ceremony.
Monica Giannone: I married Julia Rosenbaum on June 18, 2022. We met as graduate students at Harvard Kennedy School in 2015. Katherine (O’Donnell) Lynch, Morgan (Furst) Certner, Alex Krupp, Michelle Manket, and Maddie Wasser joined us to celebrate.
Michele Sandidge: This past July, my sister, Kendra, and I put our love of music to the test and were contestants on Beat Shazam! Hosted by Jamie Foxx, it’s a unique game show in which three teams of two race against the clock to identify the biggest hit songs across varying genres and decades. Although we didn’t win, we had a blast!
2007
Nida Abdulla nida.11.abdulla@gmail.com
Caitlin Black cblack@fandm.edu
Sara Santos sarajosantos@gmail.com
Congratulations to Caryn Wasser on her marriage to Jed Steiner on September 17, 2022!
2008
Allison Oberlander oberlander.allison@gmail.com
2009
Courtney (Alpaugh) Simmons courtney.simmons513@gmail.com
Allison Goldberg afg813@gmail.com
Courtney (Alpaugh) Simmons: My husband, Andrew, and I live in Washington, DC, and welcomed our daughter, Jane Elizabeth, on October 1, 2022.
Torrie (Williams) Nelson: My husband, Greg, and I welcomed our first child in May, a daughter named Lilly.
Elizabeth (Schoenbach) Baron: We welcomed our second daughter to the world, Charlotte Tess Baron, on August 22, 2022.
2010
Sara Firkser (973) 379-5347
Rachel Landau rachelroselandau@gmail.com
Welcome to Carly Uhlman, who has offered to help with Class Notes. You can reach her at carly.uhlman@gmail .com. Thank you to Rachel and Sara for their efforts over the years!
Daniela Quintanilla: I graduated from Columbia Business School in May 2022. I received the Ethan D. Hanabury Student Representative Award for my work in Columbia Women in Business. I married David Reynolds on October 8, 2022, at the Ryland Inn in New Jersey.
Rachel Terry: In July, I married James Jensen, whom I met at the Kent Place Senior Prom 12 years ago! KPS friends Zayba Abdulla, Carly Uhlman, Rachel Uhlman, Becca McCarthy, and Kristen Pacific (James’s original prom date!) all helped us celebrate this new chapter of our lives.
2011
Lizzy Miggins lizzymiggins@gmail.com
Malina Welman malinawelman@gmail.com
Caroline (Giroux) Volpert: On June 25, 2022, I married Michael Lee Volpert, in Newport, RI, and also celebrated Frances Bird’s wedding.
Frances (Bird) Peisch: I married Andrew Peisch on June 4, 2022, in Park City, UT.
Melissa Buja: Why are these two Lady Dragons laughing (see photo on page 63)? Surely not because they got away with upturning all the furniture in the junior class lounge 12 years ago . . . but of course not. In other news, my husband, Ian Kosasa, and I moved to Hawaii. Of course we did!
2012 Victoria Criscione victoriaacriscione@gmail.com
Congratulations to Kerrigan Dougherty, who married Frances Webb on April 30, 2022!
2013
Shayna Gleason: I was delighted to celebrate my wedding to David Hogan with family (including my mother, Leslie Tunstall ’72, aunt Tricia Tunstall ’70, and cousin Tory Gilberti ’14) and friends on May 14, 2022. It was really special to have several of my close KPS friends join us. I’m so grateful for their enduring friendship.
Madeline Ketley: I earned my master of philosophy degree in classical archaeology from the University of Oxford, after a long wait due to COVID postponements.
In Remembrance
Long-time faculty member Gail Jacobus passed away peacefully on September 3, 2022, in Vero Beach, FL. Mrs. J taught American history at KPS for more than 30 years. Her curiosity, engaging classroom style, and passion made her beloved by both students and colleagues. During her tenure and in the years after she retired, students would send notes about the joy they experienced in her classroom. Mrs. J, chair of the History Department, said her greatest honor came from students who passed the AP History exams and the classes that dedicated their yearbooks to her. The Class of 1985 dedication reads: “A teacher, mentor, mother of three, champion paddle tennis player, student, and great writer of recommendations, Mrs. J is not only a steadfast model of today’s self-confident and independent working woman, but also a friend who knows how to have fun.” She will be missed by the Kent Place community, and many of her former students and colleagues wrote to remember her:
“We’re so lucky that she shared her many gifts with us at Kent Place.”
—KRISTEN (POTTER) FARNHAM ’86
“Such a treasure.”
—SLOANE (ALBRIGHT) CASTLEMAN ’88
“Mrs. Jacobus made me the strong, independent person I am today.”
—KRANTHI YARLAGADDA ’90
“She was super inspiring. I learned lessons that I use to this day.”
—CLARA PORTER ’83
“She put her whole self into all she did. A true role model for living life to the fullest.”
—KAREN MALM, FORMER FACULTY
CLASS NOTES DETAILS
“I cherish my memories of Mrs. J in the classroom and on mock trial. She was one of the greats.”
—FLANNERY (MURPHY) GEIER ’03
• Notes will be collected via Google Form. You will receive a link to this form from your Class Secretary or, if your class doesn’t have a secretary, directly from the school.
• Digital photos should be a high-resolution JPEG image (1M or larger) with a caption. We request that photos include alumnae (with the exception of newborn photos).
• Editorial staff will edit, format, and select all content based on space constraints and will work to incorporate as many notes and photos as possible.
1. Mindie, daughter of Ann (Kaplon) Norman ’59 and husband Jack
2. Lilian (Eken) Najarian ’60 celebrating her 80th birthday
3. Winifred (Hesson) McCormick ’60 receives the NAMI Volunteer of the Year Award.
4. Theo Robinson, grandson of Sue Hand ’60, with his mom, Katie, on Halloween
5. Jane (Kolarsey) Kusterer ’65 holding her grandson KJ, at 2 weeks old, for the first time
6. Judy Small ’66 with her husband, Bob Fitzgerald, and family in Berkeley
7. 1967 classmates Phyllis (Arbesman) Berger, Lisa (Wilson) Hetman, Pandora Jacoubs, Patty English, Lianne (Gerhardt) LaVoy, and Jeanne (Hammond) Darario on the Flaggy Shore, County Clare, Ireland
8. Abby, daughter of Cushing Samp ’69, and new husband Tim Ryley, at their wedding in London
9. Betzi (Ulrich) Powers ’70 and John at the Parthenon
10. Chrys (Mennen) Andrea ’70 and family in Turks and Caicos
11. Chrys (Mennen) Andrea ’70 with her new dog, Penny
12. 1970 classmates Carolyn “Sticky” (Stickney) Gregson and Patty Kummel in Florence
13. Barbara (Weiger) Lepke-Sims ’71 and Mike in Cardiff, Wales
14. Debbie Besch ’71 and her husband, Tyler Anderson, in Chicago for a family wedding
15. Janet (Yeaw) Carhart ’71 and her family
16. Linda (Gordon) Mancini ’71 and her family at the beach in November 2022
17. Susan Cory ’71
18. Betsy (Haas) Anderson ’73, former Head of School Sue Bosland, and Barbara (Metzger) Robinson ’62
19. Elisabeth Rumery Chiminec ’73 with her new granddaughter, Kira
20. Lisa Krieger ’73 and daughter Laura sailing in San Francisco Bay
21. Jenny (Wentz) Rich ’82 with husband Jim, daughter Sadie, daughter-in-law Brooke, and son David
22. Lisa (Brown) Langley ’82 and her niece at their shop, KIN
23. The wedding celebration of Kerrigan Dougherty ’12, daughter of Nancy (Gorman) Dougherty ’82, and Frances Webb in Baltimore
24. 1987 classmates Kristen (Moscatello) Glick and Beth (Jennings) Rosenheim on Cape May
25. Stephanie Carson ’87, Beth (Jennings) Rosenheim ’87, Jenn Dorsey ’87, Sheri (Guempel) Morgan ’86, and Tara Williams-Harrington ’87 at the Kent Place Athletic Hall of Fame celebration, when members of the 1986 volleyball team were inducted
26. Andrea (Carson) Tanner ’91, Stephanie Carson ’87, and Beth (Jennings) Rosenheim ’87 in D.C. for the Women’s March
27. Emmett (9) and Tobias (14) Hopkins, sons of Emily (Barton) Hopkins ’87, at Bethany Beach, DE
28. Karie Button ’87
29. Amie (Quivey) Quickstad ’90 visiting classmate Kathryn (Hudacek) Harlow in New Hampshire.
30. Welcome to KPS: María Amérigo Laguillo ’23 with Olivia, daughter of Carolina (Benegas-Lynch) Canavosio ’90
31. Chantal (Kullman) Reinlieb ’90 celebrates her 50th in Club Med with Audrey (Pukash) Bilsborrow ’90 and sister Tara (Kullman) Millman ’97
32. Sarah (Conord) French ’90 with her father on a family vacation in Banff
33. Sarah (Conord) French ’90 and family enjoying the Canadian Rockies
34. Kaylyn and son Charlie, children of Meghan Alexander ’94, on graduation weekend
35. 1994 classmates Shannon (Barry) O’Grady and Laura (Greenberg) Savarese
36. The children of Shannon (Barry) O’Grady ’94 and Laura (Greenberg) Savarese ’94
37. Alex (Raymond) Schulman ’03 with her family on her birthday
38. Michele Sandidge ’06 and sister Kendra competing on Beat Shazam!
39. Alex Krupp ’06 with daughter Poppy, at 5 months
40. Alison O'Brien ’06 at her wedding to Jonathan Fleck
41. Monica Giannone ’06 celebrating her marriage to Julia Rosenbaum with Joe Lynch; Katherine (O’Donnell) Lynch ’06; Dan Certner; Morgan (Furst) Certner ’06; Julia, and Alex Krupp ’06; Cole Morris; Michelle Manket ’06; and Maddie Wasser ’06
42. Members of the Class of 2007 at the wedding of Caryn Wasser: Vic (Rolandelli) Eisen, Rose Allen, Caroline Hansen, Emily (Doto) Ord-Hume, Carla Banks, Jed Steiner, Caryn, Emily (Hislop) Gordon, Jill (Sauchelli) Fontenot, Taylor (Worthington) Williams, Steph Krivitzky, Sam (Cohen) Kaczmarek, and Erica (Cullum) Brenner
43. Courtney (Alpaugh) Simmons ’09 with husband Andrew and baby Jane
44. Elizabeth (Schoenbach) Baron ’09: big sister Violet holding her little sister for the first time
45. Torrie (Williams) Nelson ’09, Greg, and Lilly in September
46. 2010 classmates Margot Sirois, Liz
O’Connor, Daniela Quintanilla, and Claire Marsden at Daniela’s wedding
47. 2010 classmates Margot Sirois, Claire Marsden, Daniela Quintanilla, and Liz
O’Connor in Southampton, NY, celebrating Claire’s 30th birthday
48. 2010 classmates Carly Uhlman, Rachel Uhlman, Zayba Abdulla, Kristen Pacific, and Becca McCarthy at the wedding of Rachel Terry and James Jensen
49 & 50. 2011 classmates Caroline (Giroux) Volpert and Frances (Bird) Peisch, along with their mothers, Susan (Derrey) Bird ’79 P ’04 ’05 ’08 ’11 and Lisa Giroux P ’11 ’15, celebrate their marriages.
51. 2011 classmates Melissa Buja and Jayne Pasternak
52. 2013 classmates at the wedding of Shayna Gleason: Anna Fountain, Amy
Garcia, history teacher Margaret Sabin, Shayna, Samantha Narciso, Elizabeth Robillard, and Olivia Lima
How did KPS prepare you for your career? One of the best gifts my parents gave me was a Kent Place education. I thrived in the nurturing, empowering, all-female environment, where effort and curiosity are highly valued. We learned to think critically, defend our ideas, listen to and learn from others, and recognize that teachers’ critiques only made us better students. My KPS “you’ll-never-know-unless-you-try” values continued to pay off in college and in my adult life as well, as I sat on boards, chaired committees, engaged in a long career leading parent-education workshops, and now advocates for the environment as a Massachusetts Audubon board member.
What’s your favorite KPS memory? Singing in Glee Club, for STAR, and especially as part of the Triple Trio. We entertained at all-school events, and sometimes with other schools’ a cappella groups, forging lasting friendships. I went on to sing in a similar group at Smith College. In general, I loved every KPS tradition throughout the year, but I confess that our lunchtime birthday celebrations, with cakes from the old Trost’s Bakery, were unforgettable.
What trait do you most admire? I’ve long admired the ability to genuinely listen to and affirm another person. When someone listens and makes you feel like the most important person in the world, that’s a gift. As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” In my work as a facilitator for parent-education groups, success depended on establishing a sense of safety in the group and trust in me as the leader, modeling good listening skills. Many parents were unaccustomed to being “heard,” to having a voice, so to see them share often very sensitive, emotional family stories was satisfying and uplifting. And by listening to them, I learned a great deal.
What do you like to do in your “free” time? My favorite thing is to spend time with my family, including four very active grandsons. After I retired, I very quickly realized that I needed to continue to learn and challenge my brain. One thing I missed was a creative outlet, so when I turned 60, I started taking flute lessons. Practicing is relaxing, and the music stays in my head all day.
What’s something most people don’t know about you? Years ago, my family had a Portuguese water dog, Jetty. Based on my daughter’s healing pet-therapy visits while hospitalized, I saw a need to start a pet-therapy program, with Jetty, at our local hospital. It required some training and accreditation, persuasion and patience, but we succeeded. A trusted team, Jetty and I visited patients in most areas of the hospital weekly for years, until he died. I’m proud that the program has grown and continues to bring comfort and joy, not only to patients but to staff as well.
