Osprey Outlook Spring 2020

OSPREY OUTLOOK Spring 2020

Board of Trustees 2019-2020

From The Head of School

President Megan Bramble Owings ‘93, P ‘25, ‘27

Dear Members of the Kent School Community,

Vice President Kate Goodall Gray ‘90, P ‘22, ‘25

Spring has sprung on our beautiful riverside campus and I am so GRATEFUL for this unparalleled environment for student learning.

Cherry trees are budding and the one planted last spring honoring Jim Landskroener’s longtime service to the School is growing nicely.

The gingko tree planted last spring to honor our next 50 years is also standing a little taller and stronger this year.

Treasurer Karl Adler Secretary Christie Grabis, P ‘09, ‘11 Member-at-Large Chris D. McClary ‘91, Trustee Emeritus, P ‘17, ‘19 Member-at-Large Judie Willock, P ‘83, ‘85 GP ‘13, ‘15 Lena Cantera P ‘14, ‘16, ‘19 Nancy Dick Harry Duffey, Trustee Emeritus P ‘84, ‘84, ‘86, GP ‘14, ‘17, ‘19, ‘19, ‘21, ‘24 Pamela Duke P ‘03 Thomas Gale, Trustee Emeritus Jamie Kirkpatrick Gigi Windley P ‘03, ‘07

Contents Greeting from Head of School Morning Greeting Geography Bee & Spelling Bee Sports Chinese New Year Why Kent School Auction & Golf Tournament Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers Upcoming Events Community Service Visual & Performing Arts Mind Brain Education Reunion Weekend Eighth Grade Musical Editor Tricia Cammerzell Assistant Head of School for Advancement Designer Brittany Hester

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2 3 4 4, 15 5 6, 7 8 9 10 11 11 12, 13 14 15

Looking around me, I am reminded of Henry Ward Beecher’s quote, “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” I am deeply GRATEFUL to all of our wonderful donors and the Governors Capital Budget, which helped us replace the failing boiler and aging HVAC system in the M.V. “Mike” Williams Gymnasium. The majority of this necessary work was successfully completed in early March over spring break. All of the students, and all of the faculty who teach in the gym building, say Thank You. We are thrilled to have an environmentally responsible, efficient and quiet new system.

If you have not been on campus recently, both Wilkins Lane, and our school lane and circular driveway, were paved in the late fall with sincere appreciation to David A. Bramble, Inc. This significant campus enhancement is visually appealing as you drive from Quaker Neck Road to the School’s entrance. Welcoming all of us to campus is the Class of 2019 Osprey Sculpture which depicts our brave mascot. Please come visit us and see for yourself! We also have a new school dog. River, a black lab who joins the ranks of Joan Merriken’s Duchess and Joan Flaherty’s Natty Bo. This June marks the 50th Anniversary of the first graduating class of Kent School - the Class of 1970. Betsey Kane, Class of 1970 SGA VicePresident, will be our Graduation speaker. Please make plans to join us.

The 50th Reunion will be held on Tuesday, June 2. To all of the members of the Class of 1970, I hope you can join us. There will be more details to follow.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of the Osprey Outlook which illustrates the exciting work being done in our classrooms to encourage and foster academic, artistic, athletic and moral excellence. I am so GRATEFUL for our faculty, and those who support teaching and learning at Kent School, and, as you know, I believe the future is very bright.

My best, Nancy Mugele Head of School

Morning Greeting

Here is a challenge: Stand outside and greet children arriving to Kent School each morning and not feel elevated. My colleagues and I do Morning Greeting each day for a variety of reasons, one of them being student safety. However, I find myself looking forward to greeting students as an energizer and launchpad into my day. It is a way for me to connect with students in a positive, personal way. I can also do a brief check-in with parents to share a particular moment of pride that I witnessed in the classroom, on the court, or on the stage.

Morning Greeting at Kent School is just one of the personal touches that makes our Kent School community special. And what are we if we are not a strong community? I am proud to say that I know every child and their parents by name. At the risk of sounding boastful, I even know the names of siblings who do not attend Kent School, and I know some grandparents, too. A parent just asked me if I have a photographic memory. I wish! I know every student and family because they are my priority and they deserve to be known. They are our community. For me, Morning Greeting is not about commanding respect through a required firm hand-shake and a look in the eye. It’s about making students feel at home and valued for their presence at our school. I do like it, however, when a student asks me how I am doing and I let them know that I am grateful they asked.

In a small school like ours, relationships are as important as academics. We have recently asked several parents to share their “Why Kent School?” stories. A common theme in all their stories is the strong sense of community. Their children are known, valued and taught the way they need to be taught.

Parents are using words like “home,” “family,” “belonging,” and “relationships” in their stories. Kent School is much more than simply a school where standards are met and test scores are motivators. Of course, we have challenges and bumps in the road. What community built on personal relationships doesn’t?

But we meet these challenges with honesty, respect, integrity, and friendship.

We are fortunate to be part of a school community that provides educational excellence with all the human touches of a healthy community . . . and it all starts with a Morning Greeting.

by Tricia Cammerzell, Assistant Head of School for Advancement

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Students Compete in Geography Bee and Spelling Bee In January, Kent School students in grades four through eight competed in the 2020 school-level National Geographic Geography Bee. Allie Butler, an Eighth Grade, student won the school-level competition and a chance to compete in the Maryland State Bee. Seventh Grade students, Victoria MacGlashan and Jack Fry were first runner up and second runner up, respectively. Jim Landskroener, emcee for the Bee said, “This was one of our shorter Bees, with Allie cruising to the top spot with answers about Africa and Asia.”

Two students qualified in preliminary rounds completed in Fourth through Eighth Grade earlier this month. Finalists were: Isabel Gerstmyer and Clay Hill (4th Grade), Isabel Cordero and Colin Fry (5th Grade), Haley Cole and Cole Gray (6th Grade), Jack Fry and Victoria MacGlashan (7th Grade), Asher Bowman and Allie Butler (8th Grade).

In February, students in Grades four through eight competed in our annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. Two students from each grade qualified to compete in the school bee. After several rounds, eighth grade student, Tilghman Overton was the winner. Seventh grade student, Isla McCollum was the runner-up and Harrison Lavery, Sixth Grade student placed third. Tilghman and Isla have qualified to go on to the Maryland Bee which will be held on March 21 at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Everyone at Kent School wishes them good luck and good spelling.

Ospreys Post Winning Season It was a winning season for both boys and girls basketball teams. The wins came not only against opposing teams, but within the individual players and teams, as well.

Our girls posted a winning season with convincing wins over a number of area rivals, including Tome School and St. Anne’s School. Coaches Erin Kent and Jess Thompson were impressed with the girls’ growth as a team and coachability.

Erin Kent, Director of Athletics, said, “This group really came together as a team that supported one another on and off the field. We had players with years of experience bonding with first time players. Unselfish play among the veterans allowed less experienced players to contribute to the team and gain experience.”

Seventh Grade team member, Alyesha Williams, said, “We worked really hard and took time to focus to accomplish what we did; winning, teamwork and good sportsmanship.” Williams continued, “It is good to have new, younger players. This team has a lot of fun together, but when we all work together, we really accomplish great things.”

Continued on page 15

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Chinese New Year Growing up in Columbia, Maryland, I was surrounded by a plethora of cultures, customs, and a largely diverse community. My family is also incredibly diverse; I am a Korean/Black adoptee twin raised by a multiracial couple - my very nature is diverse. My parents, who valued diversity and perspective, raised us to embrace these same values.

My father is a first-generation Chinese-American and every year we celebrated the Lunar New Year by taking part in customs and traditions dating back thousands and thousands of years. The Lunar New Year is about fresh starts, new opportunities, and changing your luck! This celebration is near and dear to my heart, so I treasured the opportunity to share a piece of that joy with our students.

As educators and parents, I feel strongly that we need to teach our students to value diversity. Diversity is not just about race and culture, but also socioeconomic status, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender. Our Diversity Statements reflect our commitment to help our students, “learn and grow from the many valuable differences and perspectives that our school community offers.� While we understand the importance of diversity, it is more than just our sentiment. Research has shown that students who are exposed to diversity in the classroom ultimately achieve more in their academics and life. The benefits for our students are endless, and is my motivating force behind educating and celebrating the customs of different cultures with others.

For the past few weeks, students have been learning about the Chinese New Year in many of their classrooms. Additionally, I had the honor of sharing my knowledge of Chinese culture, folklore, customs, and traditions in several different classrooms, as well as with the entire Kent School community during our Friday All School assembly. I particularly enjoyed gifting red envelopes with lucky money to all of the students. Their reactions were priceless. Students were overwhelmingly receptive and seemed to really enjoy learning all about the Lunar New Year. I am already seeing the benefits of their newfound knowledge as I walk through the school halls. It ranges from kids begging to celebrate at home, to getting visits from students eager to show me all they’ve learned independently or in their classrooms.

New perspective breeds deeper level thinking, empathy, and reaffirms our diversity efforts here. I encourage and invite you to share your heritage and customs with me. I would love to hear your stories, collect them, and share them with our community. Our differences and stories add an undeniable richness to our community. I know because the Lunar New Year celebrations here have sparked joy and curiosity. I hope to make our Lunar New Year celebration a tradition for many years to come!

by Jenny Cernak, Assistant Head of School for Academics

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“Why Kent School?”

Throughout the month of January, we featured “Why Kent School?” stories on our social media outlets. Below are a few samples. Feel free to share your “Why Kent School?” stories by emailing them to Tricia Cammerzell, Assistant Head of School for Advancement, at tcammerzell@kentschoolorg. Follow us on Facebook, instagram and Twitter to see more.

I chose Kent School for my children because of the school’s immense impact on me as a child, and now as an alumna. Built on a foundation of love, commitment, community, and tradition, the school empowers students to develop into engaging, compassionate and eager citizens in this world. I wanted my children to share in something that I was lucky enough to experience as a child. There is no school like Kent School out there; it’s a special experience and, without a doubt, the administration, teachers, and board are devoted to preserving the traditions that are so unique to Kent School, while also adapting and changing in this fast-paced world. I am thankful and proud to be a part of the Kent School family!

- Heidi Pearce, ‘96 P’ 22, ‘24

I have been at Kent School for just two years. I chose Kent School because I wasn’t challenged at my old school. Here, the classes are smaller, making it much easier to learn. Also, it has a great curriculum through the whole school year that is fun and challenging. I am never bored. I will miss my L.A. teacher the most because she is a great teacher and has helped me with my writing. I love Kent School.

- Parker, Class of 2020

A key driver for our decision to move Caroline to Kent School was to provide a safe environment for our daughter to learn and grow. However, after being a part of the Kent School family now for a year, we know there are so many more reasons to choose Kent School! Kent School has established a community within itself – not only among the students who welcomed Caroline with open arms, but also among the parents who have been so supportive and welcoming to us. We love that Kent School is actively involved in the community and teaches Caroline the importance of giving back – Kent School is as focused on our daughter’s character development as they are on her education. Her class sizes are smaller, allowing the faculty to provide the individual attention she needs in areas where she has excelled and needs additional challenge. Communication with faculty is frequent and ongoing, so we are aware of key activities in Caroline’s classroom which allows for meaningful discussion at the end of each school day at home. Most importantly – Caroline LOVES to go to school. She feels like she is part of the Kent School family and we are comforted knowing that she is happy and safe.

-Kimberly Finn, P ‘27

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Andre and I agree that one of the reasons we knew instantly that Kent School was going to be a good fit for both Sofia and our family, was the “welcome”. Everyone at Kent school, from the admission interview and tour to the first day, was warm, welcoming and genuine.

Another reason was the calm and tranquility felt within the Little School classrooms.

There is such peace when you walk through the doors. Even at drop-off, when energy is high and parents are shuffling to get their kids in, the anxiety of getting there is relieved as soon as we walk through the classroom doors. There is a level of peace and care that is hard to articulate!

- Becky and Andre DeMattia, P ‘30

I loved the warm feeling when visiting during the admission process.

The teachers genuinely care, making it feel like a family environment.

My kids are learning so much. The children get to be children, playing while they learn and learning while they play.

- Niesha Brown, P ‘25, ‘27

Kent School is a family. It is a home. My children have spent their entire lives on the riverside campus. Kent School makes my children feel safe. It allows them to feel accepted and to be themselves. Kent School nurtures my children and celebrates their strengths and encourages them to grow from their failures and weaknesses. Not only has Kent School been a place of love and support for my children, my husband is an alumnus (1989) and still looks back fondly on his time at Kent School. It still amazes me to see the number of Alumni children that attend Kent School, which is a true testament to the education and environment found here. Both of my children, grades 4 and 2, have 5 alumni children in each grade.

When asked “Why Kent School?” all I can simply say, is that it is home.

- Griff ‘89 & Kelly Reed, P ‘24 & ‘26

The list is long, but we are most appreciative for the small and individualized instruction. Our girls have vastly different skills and learning styles but both are supported, encouraged and taught in uniquely different ways. We are also grateful for the rich science curriculum that begins so early in their learning experience. Add to that, the opportunities in the arts. They have more opportunities to explore their talents and be a well-rounded learner and child! Kent School allows them to be children, make mistakes, PLAY, challenge themselves and explore. For that, we find it the most valuable opportunity we can give our kiddos.

-Matt and Gillian Spero, P ‘23 & ‘26

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Friday, April 3 8:00 a.m. - Light Breakfast 9:00 a.m. - Tee Off Chester River Yacht & Country Club 7738 Quaker Neck Road Chestertown

Annual Auction

Saturday, April 4 5:00 p.m.

Please join us for: Open Bar, Heavy Hors d'Oeuvres Silent & Live Auctions Followed by Music & Dancing M.V. "Mike" Williams Gymnasium 6788 Wilkins Lane Chestertown

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Kent School Hosts Authors and Illustrators On January 15, Kent School welcomed author, Suzanne Goldsmith, to campus for an afternoon book discussion with students in Grades five through eight. Students in Grades seven and eight also engaged in writing workshops with Ms. Goldsmith. Washashore, Ms. Goldsmith’s most recent novel, was selected as the novel that all Middle School students read this past fall. A freelance magazine writer who lives in Ohio, Ms. Goldsmith has also published a non-fiction book entitled, A City Year, about an internationally known service program based in Boston.

Goldsmith’s novel, Washashore, tells the story of Clementine Harper, a 14 year old spending the summer on Martha’s Vineyard.

“She’s what the locals call a Washashore — an outsider. Clem doesn’t fit in . . . here. Her parents aren’t getting along . . . here.

Coco, her best friend from Boston, just plain isn’t . . . here. But then Clem finds a fallen bird - an osprey - on the beach, and she meets a lonely boy named Daniel. And everything changes.”

“Washashore is particularly meaningful to our Middle School students for several reasons,” said, Julia Gross, Language Arts Teacher and Kudner Leyon Visiting Author Program Coordinator. “First, an osprey is at the center of the story. The osprey is not only our school mascot but we also have a nesting pair right on our campus. ” Gross continued, “Secondly, the theme of the story includes relevant Middle School topics like friendship and inclusion. Middle School students want to fit in. This story helps our students understand what it feels like when you don’t fit in.”

Nancy Mugele, Head of School at Kent School, said, “We are intentional in teaching our students empathy strategies. It is part of our Middle School Advisory curriculum. Washashore is a perfect compliment to our curriculum. We are deeply grateful to the Kudner and Leyon families, and their friends, for establishing the endowment that brings professionals in the literary arts to our school several times each academic year.”

Looking ahead, we will host Anna Kang and Chris Weyant, an author/illustrator team on April 7. Kang’s and Weyant’s program will focus on our Lower School students. Husband-and-wife team Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant are the creators of You Are (Not) Small, which won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award and was named a Notable Children’s Book by the American Library Association.

Anna, a native New Yorker, received an M.F.A. from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, where the visual storyteller in her was awakened, forever changing the way she saw art, life, and everything in between. Christopher is a cartoonist and illustrator. His work can regularly be seen in The New Yorker magazine. His cartoons are syndicated worldwide and have been featured on The Today Show, Meet the Press, and World News Tonight. He will hold a Middle School cartoon writing workshop.

Goldsmith’s, Kang’s and Weyant’s visits are made possible by the Kudner Leyon Memorial Endowment, established in 2000.

This endowment allows Kent School to bring authors, illustrators and experts in child development to campus each year to work with students, teachers and parents. The Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers Program is named for Ariana Kudner and Amanda Leyon, members of Kent School’s Class of 1991, who shared a love of reading, books and creative writing. Sadly, Ariana and Amanda lost their lives in a tragic car accident. This program is a wonderful and lasting tribute to their legacy and touches every student at Kent School each academic year.

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Spring Schedule of Events April 3, 2020 Golf Tournament

April 4, 2020

Kent School’s Annual Auction

April 7, 2020

Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers Anna Kang & Chris Weyant

May 15, 2020 Osprey Day

May 15 & 16, 2020 8th Grade Musical

May 21, 2020

Visual and Performing Arts Showcase

June 1, 2020 Play Day

June 3, 2020

Kent School’s 51st Graduation Ceremony For more information on any of these events, or to RSVP, please contact Jen Matthews at Jmatthews@KentSchool.org or 410-778-4100 x350

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Community Service Focuses on Food Pantry Kent School students are continuing their support of the Kent County Food Pantry this spring with a food drive to support the Backpack Program. Our Student Government Association is asking students to bring in food items, including single servings of soup, cereal, pasta, pudding, fruit cups, breakfast bars and drinks. The Food Pantry Backpack Program provides a supply of food for students in Kent County who are experiencing food insecurity when they are away from their school campus on weekends and school breaks.

Kent School’s Backpack Program food drive coincided with the Chester Gras celebration, for which Kent School was a sponsor, and which also supports the Food Pantry efforts. The Chester Gras celebration was held on Saturday, February 22.

Kent School started the 2019-2020 academic year with a school-wide Empty Bowls event for which every student made a ceramic bowl. At our Empty Bowls gathering, guests enjoyed a variety of homemade soups and bread after purchasing a ceramic bowl. Through Empty Bowls, Kent School was able to provide a donation of just over $3,000 to the Food Pantry. In the Fall, students coordinated a canned food drive in conjunction with our Grandparents and Grandfriends Day. Our students were able to donate an additional 500 pounds of food to the Food Pantry, which was delivered by the SGA officers.

The Backpack Program food drive rounds out the service projects coordinated by our students and employees in support of the Kent County Food Pantry for this academic year. Nancy Mugele, Kent School’s Head of School, said, “In addition to the academic work our students are engaged in, it is important for our students to serve and support our greater Chestertown community. These efforts help our students become honorable and responsible citizens. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in efforts that help families in our area.”

Save the Date: Visual and Performing Arts Showcase On Thursday, May 21, 2020. Kent School will celebrate a year’s worth of artistic achievement with student musical performances and a visual art show. The entire student body participates. The evening begins with musical performances by Lower School students, The Kent School Chorus and the members of the Class of 2020, who will sing selections from their spring musical. The musical performances are directed

by Music Teacher, Matthew Wirtz ‘99.

Following the musical performances, guests are invited to tour the school to see hundreds of examples of student art, including paintings, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, ceramics and much more. Several interactive works of art will be on display, as will examples of art created in conjunction other academic subjects like Math, Science and Language Arts. The Art Show is led by Art Teacher, Patricia Parkhurst ‘84.

Mrs. Parkhurst said, “Artistic Excellence is an essential part of our mission at Kent School. It is fulfilling on a both a personal and professional level to see every so student engaged in the arts. We are also committed to integrating the arts into other subject areas. For example, at the art show, guests will see the artistic creativity in math projects, history projects and global studies. Art is truly all around us, all of the time. I think our Spring Arts Celebration is a wonderful reminder of that.”

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Mind, Brain, Education (MBE):

At Kent School, we have been focussed on the important role of brain development in student learning and retention through our Founding Our entire faculty has received Mind, Brain, Education (MBE) training and we remain the only PK-Grade 8 school in Maryland doing this wor Neuroteach: Brain Science and the Future of Education and directors of the CTTL. Our resident experts share their knowledge and help guid

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: Strategies That Work

nding Partnership with the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL) for the past three years. s work. Kent School is fortunate enough to work closely with Glenn Whitman and Ian Kelleher, the co-authors of p guide the implementation of MBE strategies in the classrooms. Here are some MBE strategies in action.

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Reunion Time!

On Friday, May 22nd Kent School will host an Alumni Reunion Event at 6:00 pm. The evening will honor the classes of 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010. Members of these classes will celebrate Milestone Reunions of 10, 20, 30, and 40 years. Join us in the Library for hors d’Oeuvres, libations, and great memories with former classmates and teachers. Campus tours will be offered, and the School will be decorated for the annual Spring Arts Showcase. If you are in town for Tea Party Weekend, please add this to your weekend schedule.

The Class of 1970 will be honored for their 50th reunion on June 2nd.

Class of 1980

Class of 1970

Class of 1990

Class of 2000 14 Osprey Outlook

Class of 2010

Winter Sports Continued The Ospreys posted a winning season on the boys side with some exciting outings won by as little as two points. The boys were coached by John Kim and Mike Kozlowski. Eighth grade leadership played an important role in our boys’ success with Class of 2020 players Quinn Baughman, Asher Bowman, Eddie Gillespie, leading the scoring drives. As with the girls team, looking ahead, younger players will be ready to take on new leadership roles as players and team leaders. Eddie Gillespie said, “This was one of best seasons yet. We played great as a team.” Quinn said, “We played Tome School for the first time and that was fun. We all just had a lot of fun on the court.” Both Baughman and Gillespie agreed the highlight of the season was scoring 50 points vs. Country School for the win.

Erin Kent continued, “It is always nice to see the Ospreys come home with a winning score but no matter what the outcome of a game, I am always proud to be part of the Kent School Ospreys. Our teams outshine opponents in their display of sportsmanship and teamwork. They are gracious hosts to visiting teams and wonderful guests when they visit other schools. Athletic excellence is part of our school mission and I am fortunate to see that throughout our interscholastic athletics seasons.”

Save the Date: Eighth Grade Musical 76 trombones and one amazing Eighth Grade cast! Hop on the Wells Fargo Wagon and take a seat to see how con-man Harold HIll ends up in the small town of River City.

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6788 Wilkins Lane Chestertown, MD 21620 410-778-4100 www.kentschool.org

Parents: If this issue is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains an address at your home, please send their correct address to: jmatthews@kentschool.org

Calendar at a Glance April 7 10 13

Kudner Leyon Visiting Writer School Closed-Good Friday School Closed-Easter Monday

May

15, 16 8th Grade Musical 25 School Closed- Memorial Day

June 1 2 3

Play Day Recognition Ceremony, 8:45 a.m.

Kindergarten Celebration, 1:30 p.m.

Last day for Little School and Kindergarten Graduation 10:00 am: Dismissal to follow