Graduation: A Look Back

from DCD Bulletin May 2021

Community News

Dedham Country Day School Celebrates the Conclusion of the School Year and Graduation of the Class of 2020—Virtually and In-Person

By Leslie Bowen

DCD celebrated the conclusion of its 117th school year in a non-traditional way celebrating each student virtually with two special events: a Closing Assembly on Thursday, June 4, and the graduation of the Class of 2020 on Friday, June 5. These virtual events were followed by an in-person, outdoor, socially distanced celebration held on August 24.

The Closing Assembly, normally held as part of graduation, took on its own identity this year with the theme DCD Rocks!, and featured a surprise: a rock with the DCD logo printed on it, which participants received in the mail and opened together during the assembly, a play on the “DCD Rocks” logo of last year’s DCD Fair. Students and faculty talked about why DCD rocks, what it means to them, and how it helps them stay strong.

During the assembly, Head of Lower School Carla Haith presented the Dietsch Prize, awarded annually to a Lower School student in honor of Alice Dietsch, a DCD faculty member from 1930 to 1976, for Kindness, Curiosity, and Love of Learning, to fifth-grader Jocelyn Riordan.

Head of School Allison Webster recognized faculty members for their years of service: Elaine Gage for 25 years, Sue Shirley for 35 years, and Mary Ellen Maloney for 40 years. She also honored Librarian Marge Farquharson, who is retiring after 33 years, mentioning her contributions over the years, not just as a librarian but also as a teacher in fourth and eighth grades and as one of the founders of the Facing History program at DCD (see article on page 44). She also acknowledged departing faculty Liza D’Hemecourt, Caiti Pina, and Val Celis.

The next day, twenty-six graduates and their families participated in a remote Zoom webinar that featured many of the same elements of the traditional in-person ceremony, including music, a choral performance, and the presentation of awards and diplomas.

President of the Board of Trustees Mark R. Epker gave the trustees’ greeting, welcoming everyone.

Reflecting on a decade of being a DCD student, Class of 2020 speaker Abby Rochelle commented, “Yes, we lost a lot this year, and the pandemic will certainly be part of our history. But it doesn’t change who we are, how we’ve connected, and what we’ve learned together.”

Eighth-Grade Advisor Brenda Leith presented the Charlotte Lowell Award to Marin Reeds. The award is given annually to a graduating eighth-grader since 1927 in memory of Charlotte Lowell, 1918–1927, for Friendliness, Kindness, and Unselfishness.

Head of Middle School Nate Buffum presented the Lisa Sutherland Award to Riggs Catlin. The award is given annually to a graduating eighth grader in memory of Lisa Sutherland, 1960–1975, for Excellence in Academics, Athletics, and the Arts. Nate spoke about each graduate’s unique strengths and accomplishments during the presentation of diplomas.

Four eighth-grade members of the Middle School Chorus—Irini Kolovos, Maggie McKee, Summer Perry, and Abby Rochelle,— provided a musical interlude with their song “One Voice” which they performed separately, then combined the videotaped segments into one song that was beautifully melded together.

In her remarks, “The Monk and the Raspberry,” Head of School Allison Webster

Left to right, this page, students accepted diplomas remotely from Head of Middle School Nate Bufffum with their parents in June; students left their mark on the halls of the middle school and signed each others’ yearbooks during the in-person Culiminating Activities and Reunion Event in August.

“I saw you navigating all sorts of challenges big and small, and you often did so with an eye towards finding what is beautiful and joyful and fun in this life, in spite of it all.”—from “The Monk and the Raspberry,” remarks to the Class of 2020 by Allison Webster

shared a story her grandfather told her when she was young about a monk who falls off a cliff and rejoices in finding a raspberry on the outcropping that saves him.

“This story came to mind when I was thinking of your class since you’ve been dealt a level of challenge few DCD classes have had to navigate. And yet I’ve seen you apply the lessons from this story in ways that demonstrate your strength, maturity, thoughtfulness, and focus — and readiness for all that is ahead.

“Your ability to find joy as a group—to enjoy the raspberry—is strong. I saw you navigating all sorts of challenges big and small, and you often did so with an eye towards finding what is beautiful and joyful and fun in this life, in spite of it all. Just like in the story—there is truly always something to bring hope and connection—and you as a group are good at finding it.”

Head of Middle School Nate Buffum talked about each student’s unique character traits as each received a diploma from their parents that had been delivered to them the day before by Head of School Allison Webster. Each family was able to share the special moment with the rest of the class remotely.

Despite being apart, the ceremony was a meaningful and moving conclusion to their years at DCD.

Later in the summer, after COVID-19 restrictions relaxed somewhat, we brought the graduates back to campus to celebrate outdoors together in-person at the Class of 2020 Culminating Activities and Reunion Event on August 24.

Head of School Allison Webster spoke at the event, which was held outside on the baseball field at the front of the school. Alumni Association President Erin Keith Epker ’86 welcomed the graduates to the Alumni Association, and Director of Advancement and History teacher Charles Rudnick, the faculty speaker selected by the class, addressed the graduates.

The graduates had a chance to join in traditional end-of-year activities they missed in the spring because of the pandemic. They added their fingerprints to those of earlier graduating classes on the walls of the middleschool hallways, signed each others’ yearbooks, and enjoyed treats from an ice cream truck to cap off the event.

Left to right, this page, a visit to the ice-cream truck capped off the August event; Allison Webster addressed the students during a ceremony on the baseball field in August.

Faculty Speaker Charles Rudnick

Excerpt from the address to graduates by Faculty Speaker Charles Rudnick at the Culminating Activities and Reunion Event:

“Whether you’ve been here for ten years or two, you’ve had experience in public speaking, team work, relationship building, advocacy, community service, and leadership — culminating in your roles as Big Buddies.

“As our experience in class together this year amply demonstrated, you’ve also learned to question assumptions, challenge authority, examine your sources, and yes — ask those tough questions.

“These are all building blocks for engagement with the world to come, and I hope you’ve sensed the extent to which they come from a group effort — the community of adults at DCD who care about each and every one of you.

“So, whether you realize it or not, you are poised to make a difference in this world, and those of us who’ve had the honor to be your teachers, will be watching you, rooting for you, and counting on you. And hopefully, the DCD community will not only be a foundation for your future, but will always be a place you consider home, and where you are always welcome.”

Address to the Class of 2020 By Abby Rochelle ’20

Good morning! Thank you so much for joining us, the Class of 2020, as we graduate... virtually. With everything going on right now, it’s hard to stay optimistic, but I hope that our ceremony brings positivity and light into your day. I’m so honored that my class chose me to speak at graduation.

I know this all feels a little weird. Believe me, I did not expect to give this speech through a screen. But the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way, and we’ve lost a third of our final year physically together. We were always told that our last few months would be so much fun! We’d get to travel together to Washington, D.C. We’d run our last DCD Fun Run holding hands. And yes, we’d pull the teachers past the centerline in tug of war. But, most importantly, we’d get all dressed up, and attend our graduation ceremony.

Yes, we lost a lot this year, and the pandemic will certainly be part of our history. But it doesn’t change who we are, how we’ve connected, and what we’ve learned together. Those are the things that I want to talk to you about today because those are the things we should celebrate.

Let me start with the people. When I think of my classmates, I think of singers, actors, athletes, video game enthusiasts, artists, environmentalists, and all-around great people. Although different in many ways, we are connected by our shared experiences in the DCD community. My favorite example of this was our Halloween costume back in the fall. We all decided to dress up as... UPS boxes. On the day of the parade, we helped each other into our boxes and made our way to the Rand Gym as a sea of cardboard boxes. It was awesome. We were all so similar, even down to the matching DCD labels we wore! But, you could still see the differences! Some boxes were big, some small, others were decorated, and some were just plain boxes. We had a common goal, but we all achieved it in different ways. Each of us is unique and special in our own way, but at the end of the day, we are all classmates, friends, and peers, and connected through DCD.

We’ve changed a lot since we started at DCD and the years we’ve spent here have helped us grow into who we are today. The Class of 2020 started as a small group of four and five-year-olds. Since then, our class grew and shrank, and grew again, but that group of little kids grew up into some of the nicest and most welcoming people I know. I joined this class in the fourth grade. Coming from a different school, I was worried I’d be an outcast. But, that tight group welcomed me in with their laughter and their genuine kindness. After a couple of weeks, I stopped thinking of the fourth-grade as “their class.” It was “My class” now. I had joined the big wonderful DCD family. Even before I started at DCD, I felt the pull of the community. My older brothers, Adam and Sam, were students here way before me. Even as a four-year-old, I felt like I belonged at DCD. The teachers all wanted to meet me and ask when I would be going to the school. I knew that DCD would welcome me with open arms, and I felt that welcoming pull every time I stepped onto the campus.

I think the reason we have such an amazing community at DCD is because of the strong connections we make, with each other and with our teachers. Although we haven’t gotten to see each other in person for a while now, I feel that because of this pandemic, the Class of 2020 has actually grown closer. I believe that because we have less time together, we value the time we do have. We did have more than half the year together and I want to make sure that we don’t let that time get ruined by the shadow that this pandemic casts. We’ve realized the importance of connection despite our differences. We need each other. One of the reasons online school has been hard is because we are fueled by the people around us. When I was in class on campus, the high spirits of my peers made me more excited to learn. Their positive attitudes were contagious.

One of my favorite parts of the day was the time where our grade just existed together. Just us, sitting on that shabby brown couch outside of the Music room in the eighth-grade hallway. It seems that the eighth-graders always gravitated to that spot. Whether it was early in the morning before class, or late afternoon while we were supposed to be packing up for pick-up, we could all just sit there and talk. The teachers would always remind us to only sit ’one layer thick’, as we fought over seats. Sometimes I would go to sit there by myself, but it wouldn’t take long before a classmate wandered over and made my day brighter with a joke, a magic trick, or even a Rubix cube tutorial! That’s how I know that my classmates and I need each other. Even when I thought I wanted time alone, somehow I always ended up, with the rest of my class, on that shabby brown couch.

My classmates are not the only people I want to recognize. Thank you to our teachers for the wonderful education. Your work ethic always fueled me and

DCD Class of 2020

Left to right, front row: Summer Perry, Marin Reeds, Brynn Bryant, Maggie McKee, Rose Quinn, Abby Rochelle; second row: Ollie Farber, Shalease Allen, Alex Landry, Quinn Kelly, Elena Ferrara; third row; Emma McNealy, Amanda Hiatt, Jason Sima; back row: Cate Creevy, Eleni Kolovos, Jay Caponigro, Charlie Overman, Cameron Yao, John Hoffman, Ben Clay, Vincent Jaeger, Riggs Catlin, Evan Michaeli. Missing from photo: William Curran, Jason Dadasis

Photographs by Kristie Gillooly Dean ’02

my classmates...the way you inspired us to keep going and keep learning, especially when things were tough. We really appreciated that. When I started at DCD, I thought everything at school was mandatory and I had to do things a certain way and learn a certain way. DCD gave me the chance to learn differently and to experience things in a whole new way. You were always available to just chat or to totally “geek out” about chemistry, Latin, or any other range of topics. When you get excited to teach us about something, we get excited to learn. Now I’m eager to learn more, be with more people, and explore more of what I can learn because I want to...not because it’s mandatory.

But I also want to thank you for your wonderful guidance outside of the classroom. You are always making sure that everyone feels welcome and included. Throughout my years at DCD, I’ve learned how to establish and maintain these connections. Teachers also encourage you to reach out if you need them, a skill which will last us the rest of our lives. Sometimes it can be hard to ask for help in school, but the DCD faculty makes sure that if you need help with something, they are there for you. Some of the most memorable moments of my DCD life occurred outside of the classroom, sliding down a snowy hill late at night with Mr. Edie and a few classmates, chatting with the eighth-grade advisors during our overnight trip, or just hanging out with teachers during recess. I know that my classmates have all had similar experiences. So thank you, from all of us!

So what happens when you have a community with amazing people and strong connections? A really incredible learning experience. DCD lets you decide what inspires you and gives you the chance to get involved, and now I have a much different attitude towards learning. At DCD, I learned to think of school as an experience where you can take away what you want and what you need. “Learning Is a Way of Life” is more than fractions, punctuation, names, or dates. It’s digging deep into something you really enjoy.

So, when I think about our DCD experience — the people in the class of 2020, the connections we’ve made and all that we’ve learned...it doesn’t really matter that we did this last part virtually because we have so much to celebrate...and so much that will keep us together. I can’t wait for us to attend our first alumni events together. I can’t wait to attend the 2021 DCD Fair and to sing ’Cross the Wide Missouri’ at the Thanksgiving Assembly. I’m so excited to re-connect and see how far we have come. One thing we need to keep in mind through these times and throughout the rest of our lives is the importance of connections. As we move on to high school and beyond, connecting with your peers and the people around you is your greatest tool.

We all went into DCD as kids who came to learn, and now we’re leaving- young adults- with much more than just an education. We’ve gained friendships with students and faculty. We’ve adopted new ways of learning. And most importantly, we know that we can always visit DCD and come back to that shabby brown couch. I know that it will always be there in one way or another, it will always be comfortable—more or less— and there will always be a DCD student sitting right there next to me.

Award Winners

Left to right, Jocelyn Riordan received the Dietsch Award for Kindness, Curiosity, and Love of Learning awarded annually to a Lower School student in honor of Alice Dietsch, a DCD faculty member from 1930 to 1976. Marin Reeds received the Charlotte Lowell Award for Friendliness, Kindness, and Unselfishness, awarded annually since 1927 in memory of Charlotte Lowell, 1918–1927. Riggs Catlin received the Lisa Sutherland Award for Excellence in Academics, Athletics, and the Arts, given annually in memory of Lisa Sutherland, 1960–1975.

Class of 2020 Secondary Schools Class of 2016 Colleges

Shalease Allen Beaver Country Day School Brynn Bryant Dexter Southfield Jay Caponigro Blue Hills Regional Technical School Riggs Catlin Noble and Greenough Ben Clay Thayer Academy Cate Creevy Brooks School William Curran Catholic Memorial School Jason Dadasis Dexter Southfield Ollie Farber Beaver Country Day School Elena Ferrara New Hampton School Amanda Hiatt The Rivers School John Hoffman Thayer Academy Vincent Jaeger Roxbury Latin School Quinn Kelly Catholic Memorial School Irini Kolovos Noble and Greenough Alex Landry Catholic Memorial School Maggie McKee Middlesex School Emma McNealy Noble and Greenough Evan Michaeli Brimmer and May School Charlie Overman The Rivers School Summer Perry Thayer Academy Rose Quinn Notre Dame Academy Marin Reeds Beaver Country Day School Abby Rochelle Milton Academy Jason Sima Thayer Academy Cameron Yao Buckingham Browne and Nichols Charlotte Jordan Trinity College Charlotte Epker Colby College Audrey Linell Bucknell University Molly King Trinity College Kelsey Lynch Boston Conservatory Rachel Mann Northeastern University Melina Kapourelakos Boston University Charles Volpe Boston College Lauren van Veen Sophia Perry Brandeis University Keara McHaffie Massachusetts College of Art & Design Mia Canning University of Rochester Grace Kosowsky University of Virginia Julia Landry Ithaca College Angela Giordano Syracuse University Alford Rudnick George Washington Hannah Curran University of Wisconsin Anna Glass John Carroll University Ryan Bogar Assumption Connor Smith Wheaton College Christopher Capone Notre Dame Matthew Capone Dartmouth College Kai Dixon Howard University Samuel Strymish University of Rochester

Faculty Reach Milestones

Head of School Allison Webster recognized faculty members for their years of service: Left to right, Elaine Gage for 25 years, Sue Shirley for 35 years, and Mary Ellen Maloney for 40 years. She also honored Librarian Marge Farquharson, who retired after 33 years, mentioning her contributions over the years, not just as a librarian but also as a teacher in fourth and eighth grades and as one of the founders of the Facing History program at DCD (see article on page 44). She also acknowledged departing faculty Liza D’Hemecourt, Caiti Pina, and Val Celis.

BRYANT FAMILY

HIATT FAMILY

MCKEE FAMILY

KELLY FAMILY

Families Recognized

Each year at Closing Exercises, the Head of School recognizes families who are leaving DCD because their youngest or only child has graduated. Photographs by Kristie Gillooly Dean ’02