Blue & White 2016: Global Citizens

THE MARVELWOOD SCHOOL MAGAZINE FALL 2016

Global Citizens 58th Commencement Reunion 2016 Annual Report of Giving

BLUE&WHITE Published by The Marvelwood School 476 Skiff Mountain Road Kent, CT 06757 860-927-0047 www.marvelwood.org Editor Caitlin Lynch P’13 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS CONTRIBUTORS Katherine Almquist, Laurie Doss, Arthur F. Goodearl, Jr., Misty Jordan, Grace Lin P’20, Wendi Love, Caitlin Lynch P’13, Zach Maizel ’04, David Mogle ’09, Jesse Ofgang, Elizabeth Radday, Paul J. Tines, Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19, Matt Walters ’97 EDITING AND PROOFREADING Madigan Gracey, David Mogle '09, Shannon Nelson

Sixty years ago this September, Marvelwood welcomed its first students.

In September of 1956, a small group of boys began their Marvelwood journey.

Two years later, the School welcomed its first alumni when four young men, the Class of 1958, graduated. The Class of 2018—currently juniors—will be Marvelwood’s 60th graduating class. The class is co-ed, quite a bit larger, and far more diverse, yet the essence of the journey remains the same.

The School, located at the top of the stunning Coltsfoot Valley in the Village of Cornwall for 39 years, now makes its home on top of Skiff Mountain in Kent, an equally beautiful site just 12 miles from the original campus. In the 22 years since Marvelwood left Cornwall, the student body has grown from 90 to 165. The School has more buildings, more space, more fields, more faculty, and more blue buses. In the 60 years since Robert Bodkin started admitting students, the Mission Statement has been updated, core values have been defined, and programs have expanded. What remains the same is the thread that weaves through Marvelwood’s 60 years. The School has always been a place that supports, challenges, and encourages its students, fostering deep feelings of belonging and caring for one another.

T.S. Elliot The growing sense of family and purpose enriches each student’s time on campus and continues to guide them after graduation.

Home isn’t necessarily a place; it’s a part of who we are as people. It shapes us, gives us courage, and calls us back. For the Marvelwood community, coming home means connecting and reconnecting with faculty, classmates, current students and families, and traditions—and proudly celebrating 60 years of our amazing school.

Home is where one starts from.

PHOTOGRAPHY Deborah Chabrian ’16, Laurie Doss, Ian Johnson, Tom Kates, Bobby Love, Caitlin Lynch P’13, David Mogle ’09, Randy O’Rourke, Stefan Turner SEND CLASS NOTES AND CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES TO: Director of Alumni Relations The Marvelwood School 476 Skiff Mountain Road Kent, CT 06757 alumni@marvelwood.org www.marvelwood.org/alumni DESIGN John Johnson Art Direction and Design

2015-2016 Board of Trustees Timothy K. Carpenter ’71, Chair Arthur F. Goodearl Jr., Head of School Robert H. Bayne III ’81 William W. Dennett, Admissions Committee Chair Patrick G. Duffy ’80, P’17 Mark Esposito P’11, Vice Chair, Advancement Committee Chair Joanne Gersten P’17, Parents Association President Eun Ok Han P’11, ’15 Richard L. Hoddeson P’15 Ellen McAllister P’14 Frank Moore P’14, Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair Peter Sommerfield ’90 Peter Tacy Ann Wurzer Thomson ’83

Trustee Emeritus Alfred C. Brooks William J. Edwards ’63 James R. Samartini Thomas Sebring Stephen B. Smith ’59 Robert O. Swanson P’93 Honorary Trustee Jacque Connor P’12

The Marvelwood School does not discriminate against students on the basis of race, color, religious creed, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry or disability. This policy applies to, but is not limited to, admission, financial aid, use of School facilities, and participation in School activities.

On the cover: Science Department Chair Laurie Doss and students in the village of La Zahina, Panama, near the Cocobolo Nature Reserve field station, February, 2016

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IN THIS ISSUE: 2 4 12 14 16 18 20 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 35 36 38 40 42 46 48 49 50 52 57

Message from the Head of School Commencement Emiliana Puyana ’00 and La Cocina Adventures of a Fulbright Scholar in Finland International Students at Marvelwood Marvelwood and Panama From Afghanistan to Marvelwood Faculty Spotlight: David Mogle ’09 Faculty Spotlight: Misty Jordan and Dennis White A Year of Reconnections and Reflections Baby Boom!

Senior Leadership Project Outdoor Adventures Reunion Spring Music Concert Performing Arts Student Life Snapshots of the year Athletics Legacy of Barbara Tacy Advancement Office Update Parents Association Auction: A Country Fair!

Sixty Years: Marvelwood Past & Present Annual Report 2015–2016 Class Notes

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M ESSAG E FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Global Citizenship: A Context The idea that America should embrace its identity as a participating member in a world community of nations is fairly new.

Our history instructs us that it is only during the last half century that a consensus emerged here in support of the notion that the world needed America as much as America needed the world. Let’s explore.

While today’s President is unofficially recognized as the leader of the free world, first president George Washington regarded himself as anything but that.

In his “Farewell Address,” he warned Americans to beware entangling foreign alliances. The nation was providentially placed securely between two oceans, which would offer an effective buffer against invasion and would allow the new United States to pursue the dream of “American Exceptionalism.” America would become the exemplar of all that was good, and it needed no help from or contact with others.

As the American economy boomed through the end of the 19th Century, entrepreneurs and farmers produced more food and industrial products than the country could absorb. New markets needed to be found and developed in the world beyond American shores. America was beginning to need the world.

Art with his wife, Mary, their daughter Jenna, her husband Chris, and their daughter Emma 2

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World War I, the “war to end all wars,” represented America’s diplomatic “coming out party.” And yet, at war’s end, Woodrow Wilson’s idea that the world needed a congress in which all nations would be members, the League of Nations, was rejected by the American Senate and by the people at large. Wilson’s hope that through dialogue, differences could be peacefully resolved was dashed. The spirit of Washington lived.

The 1920s were characterized by President Harding as a “return to normalcy.” America had done its duty by participating in the Great War, but now was the time to return to its tradition of isolationism. As Europe struggled to recover from the ravages of war, popular suffering lent credibility to extremist voices.

Fascist nationalists soon had the world once again at war.

During World War II, millions of Americans saw the world and its people for the first time. For that generation, the world had become personal, and they understood the importance of America’s effort to care about the world community and to participate eagerly in the kind of dialogue, which the new United Nations would facilitate, that would encourage collaborative growth.

Since that time, our challenge as a nation has been to impart to newer generations of Americans the importance of being good global citizens. Here at Marvelwood, we are doing our part.

The bedrock of Marvelwood’s ethos has long been service to community.

At the global level, Marvelwood’s membership in Round Square, an international consortium of schools, which embraces community service, symbolizes our commitment to the importance of global citizenship. This fall, four students and two members of faculty will travel to a Round Square conference in Switzerland to give voice to our school’s enduring support for this noble ideal. Marvelwood truly understands that as much as the world may need America, America needs the world.

“…our challenge as a nation has been to impart to newer generations of Americans the importance of being good global citizens. Here at Marvelwood, we are doing our part.”

Arthur F. Goodearl, Jr. Head of School

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The Marvelwood School celebrated its 58th

Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 28th, with 58 students receiving diplomas, seven with Honors and three with High Honors.

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he graduates represented nine countries and eight states; seven have been inducted into the National Honor Society. For the first time in Marvelwood’s history, four students were named top scholars. Margaret Everett of Kent, CT and Erin Hussey of Brookline, MA were CoValedictorians, and Hannah Bocker of Lagrangeville, NY and Xuenan ‘Lexie’ Chen of Tianjin, China were Co-Salutatorians. All four young women had a GPA of 4.3, separated by mere hundredths of a point.

Angela Eastwick ’02, owner and operator of Juju Tours in Jamaica and founder of the Good Juju Charity Project, told the graduates, “Your heart will never steer you wrong, even if it turns out differently than you expected. Don’t rush and deprive yourself of the journey, because it’s the best part. I am absolutely confident Marvelwood has given you all the tools to find your true purpose throughout your own journeys.”

Senior Dean for Academics Blythe Everett P’14, ’16 announced the graduates and diplomas were awarded by Trustee Emeritus Thomas Sebring. Both the Commencement processional, across campus through a path lined by all of the underclassmen, and the recessional out of the gym, were led by Music Department Chair Jesse Ofgang on the bagpipes. Co-Valedictorians Margaret Everett and Erin Hussey led the traditional ringing of the Piper Victory Bell, which formally ended the Commencement exercises.

Graduation weekend festivities kicked off with Prize Day on Friday, May 27th. A total of 92 academic prizes, recognitions, and special awards were presented to 68 students in all four grades.

The Senior Dinner, skillfully served by underclassmen, was followed by Class Night, the School’s annual tribute to the graduating seniors in music, dance, stories, and video.

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College Acceptances—Class of 2016 Each graduating class is unique. With 58 graduates and a record 23 four-year seniors, the Class of 2016 is one of the largest in Marvelwood’s 60-year history. The Graduates came from across the United States, including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Wyoming. Internationally, the class was equally diverse, representing the British Virgin Islands, China, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Spain.

The Class of 2016 submitted 485 applications to 237 schools and received 188 acceptances to 113 colleges. Many of the acceptances came with impressive merit scholarships in unprecedented amounts. The broad range of schools include: Babson College, Bard College, Boston University, University of Connecticut, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Indiana University at Bloomington, Purdue University, Quinnipiac University, Syracuse University, The George Washington University, and Wesleyan University. All of the acceptances can be found on the website in the college guidance section.

STUDENT

COLLEGE

Will Abrahamson The George Washington University Mar Barbaro Champlain College Salmon Binmahfouz New York Film Academy Nicholas Blue Muhlenberg College Hannah Bocker Virginia Wesleyan College Co-Salutatorian with High Honors Brittany Broberg University of New Haven Casper Maxwell Lynn University Xuenan ‘Lexie’ Chen University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Co-Salutatorian with High Honors Ahreum ‘Christine’ Cho Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design Emma Devanny Sacred Heart University with High Honors Margaret Everett Roger Williams University Co-Valedictorian with High Honors Kristin Field Dominican College Dylan Fischer New England Institute of Technology Zachary Friedland Landmark College Yihui ‘Kelsey’ Geng University of Connecticut Jacqueline Gershman Quinnipiac University Isaiah Hickes Mount Ida College Zoe Hopper American University Kaiyu ‘Oliver’ Hu Johnson & Wales University (Providence) Danyi ‘Annie’ Huang University of Wisconsin, Madison Erin Hussey Wesleyan University Co-Valedictorian with High Honors Elizabeth Jaffe Hofstra University Lauren Janecek SUNY Delhi Owen Jenney Binghamton University Tallulah ‘MC’ Kassell Goucher College (one year deferral) Jonathan Kogan Hofstra University Chin Ho ‘Mitchell’ Lam Mount Ida College Ivan Lerner Binghamton University 6

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HOMETOWN

STUDENT

COLLEGE

HOMETOWN

Mill Valley, CA Kent, CT Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Old Greenwich, CT Lagrangeville, NY

Juan Lopez de Uralde Gabriella Martinez with Honors Fabio Massa Tanin Mauri Kevin Meiselman Morrell Joshua with Honors Erin Muncey Lazarus Musavyi Danielle Nappi with Honors Tianye ‘Adward’ Niu Hannah Noto Lucas Parr Joseph Pelaggi

New England College Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford King’s College Western Connecticut State University Quinnipiac University Roger Williams University

Madrid, Spain Kent, CT

Cheyenne, WY Armonk, NY Tianjin, China

Seoul, Korea New Fairfield, CT Kent, CT Newburgh, NY Morris Plains, NY Redding, CT Beijing, China White Plains, NY New York, NY Falls Village, CT Taiyuan, China Shanghai, China Brookline, MA Cheshire, CT Dover Plains, NY Hastings-on-Hudson, NY Millbrook, NY Oceanside, NY Hong Kong, China Port Washington, NY

Samuel Quinn Samantha Reffold Jacob Renkert Jose Santos Sasha Treivush Lindsey Wainwright Jingjing ‘Nicki’ Xu with High Honors Qijun ‘Sean’ Yu Tong ‘Eleanor’ Yu with High Honors John Zorthian Yunling ‘Theresa’ Zou Hadley Zuse

Barcelona, Spain Kent, CT Warren, NJ Tortola, BVI

State University of New York–Plattsburgh Dover Plains, NY University of Hartford Asokoro, Nigeria Western New England University Wingdale, NY Drexel University Central Connecticut State University Academy of Art University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University–Daytona Beach University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wheaton College MA Vancouver Institute of Media Arts La Roches International School of Hotel Management Quinnipiac University University of Virginia

Ji, China Sherman, CT San Juan Capistrano, CA Shelton, CT

Pennsylvania State University – All Campuses University of Rochester

Shanghai, China

Iona College Johnson & Wales University (Providence) Hood College

Wilson, NC Pelham Manor, NY Norfolk, CT Mexico City, Mexico Beverly Hills, CA New Milford, CT Beijing, China

Shenzhen, China Greenwich, CT Cixi Zh, China Guilford, CT

Excerpts from Commencement Speeches Arthur F. Goodearl, Jr. Head of School Arthur Goodearl is Marvelwood’s sixth Head of School.

“It is often said that Marvelwood's greatest distinguishing strength is its diversity. Our community truly represents the world—its people, their income levels, and their learning styles. As a result, we work hard not only to master our curriculum, but to achieve empathy. We aspire to be open and supportive of each other.

This last quality will be especially important for all of us in the years that lie ahead. I generally aim to strike a neutral pose with respect to our country’s politics. This year, though, we have all heard political voices speaking with anything but empathy and compassion. I’m not sure what that portends for the world that you will inherit.

I do know that history teaches us that this phenomenon is not new. At various moments in our past, we have faced the challenges of achieving racial justice and welcoming immigrants from Europe and Asia, who were hoping for a chance to live in a more peaceful, less personally threatening world than the one they knew.

I hope that during your time at Marvelwood you have learned to respect our history and to focus on the large lessons it teaches. Many of those lessons, like life itself, are difficult. But they belong to us as a people nonetheless. I hope that you will seize opportunities you will have as future leaders of our country to make positive imprints on the fabric of America that eclipses those of generations past.

Now, let us commence.”

Margaret Everett ’16 Maggie was the Student Body President and Co-Valedictorian, and is the daughter of long-time faculty members Mike and Blythe Everett.

“I am also honored to be an 18-year senior. Now, what does that mean? A lot of people come here, thinking that they will be stuck on a mountain for four years, completely tucked away from society. And they are right.

But I grew up here, in the middle of nowhere. As a girl, I went to every Prom Parade. I grew up knowing all of the teachers by their first names, doing Sunday morning room checks in Lake when my parents were on duty, and wading in vernal pools with Ms. Doss. I was raised here, NOT STUCK on the top of a rural mountain, but in the heart of the most amazing place on earth.”

Angela Eastwick ’02 Angela Eastwick graduated from Marvelwood in 2002 as a four-year senior. She now lives in Negril, Jamaica, where she owns and operates Juju tours. Employing the tagline, “Don’t be such a tourist!”, Juju encourages off-the-beatenpath exploration. More importantly, though, supporting local businesses on every excursion, showcasing Jamaican communities, and giving back, is a primary mission of Angela’s company and her non-profit organization, The Good Juju Charity Project.

Juju’s scholarship fund, the “Send-a-Child-to-School-Program,” provides full funding to any local child in need. The only condition is that students attend school every day, barring illness or emergency. Currently, there are 22 children in the Send-a-Child-to-School Program.

It was through Marvelwood’s Community Service program that Angela first came to understand and appreciate the value of giving back to those less fortunate. Coaching Special Olympics, volunteering in New York City soup kitchens and homeless shelters, and spending time with the sick and elderly in nursing homes later helped Angela realize that she could make a difference in her new home of Jamaica. Her recipe to begin a nonprofit initiative is fairly simple: show up, ask how you can help, and give it your best try.

“How do you find what you are truly meant to do? Well, we’ve all heard of taking the road less traveled. Your logic is telling you to take the smooth highway that will lead you to your destination faster. But your heart is telling you to take the bumpy, windier road. And you’ll find the easy road isn’t always the best. And just to be clear, you’re going to get lost, sometimes your car will break down; often, there will be no one to ask for directions.

There will be MANY detours. One thing’s for sure, there is no GPS—only your gut instinct. Follow your heart.”

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2016 Prize Day At PRIZE DAY on May 27th, over 92 academic, athletic and community service prizes were awarded to 75 students. Two seniors and five juniors were inducted into the National Honor Society; seven students earned Honor Roll awards, and 11 students earned a place on the Woodward High Honor Roll plaque. In addition, the Bodkin Memorial Scholarship was awarded to rising senior Christopher Lane (see page 9). Top awards included: Honor Roll

HONOR ROLL RECOGNITION Students who have received no midterm or final term grade below 87/B+ in any of their classes this year:

Yanlin ‘Linda’ Chen ’19, Joshua Morrell ’16, Danielle Nappi ’16, Jason Pelaggi ’17, David Schuftan ’17, Alexander Sanchez ’19, Gabriella Martinez ’16 HIGH HONORS WITH DISTINCTION, WOODWARD PLAQUE This plaque was given to the School in 1999 by former faculty members Henry and Barbara Woodward in recognition of Henry’s father, John Woodward, who began his teaching career at Marvelwood in 1961 and retired from teaching in 1999 after a distinguished 38-year career. His passion for education, for his students, and for encouraging them to strive for excellence is remembered with this award. Students with a minimum grade of 90/A- in each class earn a certificate of merit and their names are added to the High Honors plaque: High Honors with Distinction, Woodward Plaque

Hannah Bocker ’16, Xuenan ‘Lexie’ Chen ’16, Emma Devanny ’16, Marcella Dumitrascu ’19, Margaret Everett ’16, Erin Hussey ’16, Lawrence Mashburn ’19, Victoria Sanchez ’18, Julina Yang ’17, Jingjing ‘Nicki’ Xu ’16, Tong ‘Eleanor’ Yu ’16 NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY The National Honor Society is a nationally recognized organization which honors students in Grades 11 and 12. Students are considered for membership using four criteria: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

2014-2015 RECIPIENTS: Hannah Bocker ’16, Emma Devanny ’16, Margaret Everett ’16, Erin Hussey ’16, Tong ‘Eleanor’ Yu ’16 2015-2016 RECIPIENTS: Jack Harding ’17, Ngai Tung ‘Melissa’ Lam ’17, Danielle Nappi ’16, Jason Pelaggi ’17, Samantha Reffold ’16, David Schuftan ’17, Simon Winter ’17

National Honor Society

Mark Barbaro ’16 — The Tacy Cup

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Gabriel Martinez ’16, Jacob Renkert ’16, Samantha Reffold ’16 — Rachel Carson Award

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Margaret Everett ’16 (r) — The Golden Apple Award

Maxfield Branson ’18, Isabella Cameron ’18, Sky Trapella ’18 — Daffodil Spirit Award

and Commencement Awards English THE TACY CUP: MOST IMPROVED IN SENIOR ENGLISH

learning for the sake of learning. Their energy and attitude inspire others, both students and faculty, to be better citizens of the world.

Mark Barbaro ’16

Margaret Everett ’16, Jingjing ‘Nicki’ Xu ’16, Tong ‘Eleanor’ Yu ‘16

Science RACHEL CARSON AWARD

THE RONSHAUGEN COMMUNITY SERVICE CUP

Jacob Renkert ’16, Gabriel Martinez ’16, Samantha Reffold ’16 Performing Arts THE GOLDEN APPLE award is the highest honor awarded in the Theatre Department. In order to be eligible for the award, students must be a four-year senior and have taken part in every production. Their name is inscribed on a plaque and displayed in the theatre to inspire future generations of The Marvelwood Players.

Margaret Everett ’16 DAFFODIL SPIRIT AWARD IN HONOR OF BARBARA TACY Isabella Cameron ’18, Sky Trapella ’18, Maxfield Branson ’18 PREFECT CUP The Prefect Cup is awarded to a student (or students) who have demonstrated exceptional maturity and responsibility in their role as a prefect, and who in doing so have earned the respect and admiration of both peers and faculty.

Hannah Bocker ’16, Kristin Field ’16 DESMOND LETSIE MPHENYEKE AWARD Desmond Letsie Mphenyeke was a special young man the Marvelwood community was privileged to have known. He came to us from a part of Soweto, near Johannesburg, in South Africa. Desmond wanted to come to the United States to escape the injustices of apartheid. He wanted to experience the educational opportunities we have in America so that one day he could return to South Africa and help integrate the people in his country. On Easter Sunday, April 3rd, 1988 Desmond died in his dorm room of congenital heart failure. His death united students and faculty and helped us focus more on our commonalities than our differences. Desmond also showed us that for existence on earth to be beneficial, we must live every minute of life as if it were our last and we must treat each other with respect and kindness. Today, when you hear this drum beat we are reminded that Desmond’s spirit is still alive in our hearts today. This year’s award goes to three seniors, three luminaries who make Marvelwood, and the world, a better place, via their acceptance and tolerance for others. They live life to the fullest and enjoy

Hannah Bocker ’16, Kristin Field ’16 — Prefect Cup

Tong ‘Eleanor’ Yu ’16, Margaret Everett ’16, Jingjing ‘Nicki’ Xu ’16 — Desmond Letsie Mphenyeke Award

The Ronshaugen Community Service Award goes to a student (or students) who shows exemplary character in their work and enthusiasm for Marvelwood’s Community Service program. Reliability, coupled with a strong work ethic, are essential components of earning this recognition. The recipient’s work demonstrates the commendable act of serving others and creating positive relationships between themselves, our community, and the Marvelwood School.

This year’s award was presented to two seniors who showed exemplary character in the local community and at Marvelwood. The first was a four-year senior who worked at Kent Volunteer Fire Department. Working alongside Dean of Students John Russell ‘88, this young man learned through first-hand experience the work ethic and dedication it takes to be a firefighter for the community. The second was also a four-year senior who spent her Wednesday mornings working with young children at the Kent Community Nursery School. She served not only as a dependable and loyal caregiver to these children, but also as a cultural ambassador between China and the United States.

The children loved her and the teachers praised her work with the students.

Joseph Pelaggi ’16, Tong ‘Eleanor’ Yu ’16 THE CARL “SKIP” TUCKER CUP The Carl “Skip” Tucker Cup is awarded by the senior class to a member of Marvelwood’s teaching faculty. The recipient of this award is not just a great classroom teacher, but someone who evidently loves the school and the students; takes great pride in his/her work in the classroom, in the dorm, and on the fields; never quits until the job is done, and always strives for excellence; is an active, enthusiastic supporter of students and student events; and is dedicated to serving the school community.

Michael Cuff THE ROBERT AND CORNELIA BODKIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Anne “Nancy” Wood, sister of the founding Headmaster Robert Bodkin, established the Nancy and Andrew Wood Charitable Foundation in 2007. The Robert and Cornelia Bodkin Memorial Scholarship provides full financial assistance for one year to a student who has met specific academic and leadership criteria. The student is designated as a ‘Bodkin Scholar’.

Christopher Lane ’17, presented by 2015-2016 recipient, Brittany Broberg ’16

Joseph Pelaggi ’16, Tong ‘Eleanor’ Yu ’16 — The Ronshaugen Community Service Cup

Michael Cuff — The Carl “Skip” Tucker Cup

Christopher Lane ’17 (r) — The Robert and Cornelia Bodkin Memorial Scholarship

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Samantha Reffold ’16

Emma Devanny ’16

Athletics THE EDWARD M. FOOTE, JR. CUP This award is presented to a student who by dedication and spirit, regardless of ability, used the experience of athletics to the greatest advantage, in the truest sense of Marvelwood athletics.

Danielle Nappi ’16

THE NEARY CUP The Neary Cup goes to the student athlete who best represents Marvelwood on the field of play through a combination of competitive determination and exemplary sportsmanship.

Fabio Massa ’16

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ATHLETE Danielle Nappi ’16 OUTSTANDING MALE ATHLETE Fabio Massa ’16

Emma Devanny ’16

Samantha Reffold ’16

THE MARVELWOOD SCHOOL’S HIGHEST AWARDS THE JOHNSON CUP The Henry and Ruby Johnson Cup is awarded to that senior who has achieved the most substantial progress in personal growth in his or her time at Marvelwood.

Mark Barbaro ’16 THE BODKIN AWARD Awarded to that senior whose positive and enthusiastic love of school most clearly reflects the affirmative character of Robert and Cornelia Bodkin.

Joseph Pelaggi ’16

Mark Barbaro ’16 —The Johnson Cup

THE WITTENBERG CUP Awarded to that senior who has demonstrated conspicuous excellence in all areas of school life, scholarship, athletics, residential life and extra-curricular activities.

Margaret Everett ’16 — The Wittenberg Cup

Margaret Everett ’16 THE HEADMASTER’S CUP Awarded to a student (or students) who demonstrates inspirational strength of character.

Hannah Bocker ’16, Jingjing ‘Nicki’ Xu ’16, Tong ‘Eleanor’ Yu ’16

Joseph Pelaggi ’16 — The Bodkin Award

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Congratulations to all our graduates!

Jingjing ‘Nicki’ Xu ’16, Tong ‘Eleanor’ Yu ’16, Hannah Bocker ’16 — The Headmaster’s Cup

The annual CLASS NIGHT, hosted by photography teacher Ian Johnson, was a joyful and bittersweet tribute to the Class of 2016, with final performances by some of the very talented graduates. The evening featured song, dance, and the traditional Senior Readings and Senior Video.

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G LO BAL C ITI Z E N S

Emiliana Puyana ’00 and La Cocina

BY C AITLI N LYNC H P’13, DI R ECTO R O F M AR KE TI N G AN D CO M M U N I C ATI O N S

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t’s been called the most important food business in San Francisco by the San Francisco Chronicle. La Cocina is a non-profit kitchen incubator, which helps low-income women, primarily immigrants, enter the food business. Emiliana Puyana ’00 is La Cocina’s Project Manager, and she oversees 34 food businesses, all in various stages of development and production. I visited Emiliana in February at La Cocina’s headquarters in the Mission District. Having remembered that I love food and cooking, she let me ogle over the enormous Hobart mixer and other state-ofthe-art equipment. Three work spaces in the commercial kitchen were bustling, and the smells were exquisite. Alicia Villanueva of Alicia’s Tamales Los Maya and two helpers were in high production; they sell thousands of tamales each week at farmers’ markets around the city. Binita Pradhan, a Nepalese immigrant, was preparing fresh momo dumplings for Bini’s Kitchen. She also sells her Nepalese specialities at Whole Foods and Off the Grid, ‘a roaming mobile food extravaganza.’

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In addition to the commercial kitchen space, La Cocina helps participants with every aspect of starting and maintaining a food business, from business plans and bank loans to retail space and marketing. In 2015, La Cocina celebrated its 10th anniversary. In that time, it has created over 1,800 market opportunities for its participants’ businesses.

According to Liz Subauste, a local restaurant consultant, “They empower women in the industry.” Emiliana was exposed to La Cocina when she herself was working to develop a food business; her pickles, Jarred SF Brine, were made from a large variety of vegetables using only locally-sourced organic ingredients, and were a Good Food Awards winner two years in a row (www.goodfoodawards.org).

Jarred pickles were sold at markets and food stands around the city, as well as the yearly San Francisco Street Festival, which was organized by La Cocina to promote their businesses. A long-time resident of the Mission District, Emiliana remembers the very first Street Food Festival: “There were ten vendors in one block for just one day. Each year it grew and grew until finally it outgrew the Mission District.” Now a two-day festival, it was recently purchased by a major event planner and moved to Pier 70 along San Francisco’s popular waterfront section, which was a major victory for La Cocina: “Not only are they promoting their own businesses, but it is an opportunity for them to prepare and serve side-by-side with the highest-end

“Not only are they promoting their own businesses, but it is an opportunity for them to prepare and serve side-by-side with the highest-end restaurants.”

restaurants.” Emiliana gave up Jarred Pickles as her responsibilities at La Cocina grew, but she is now one of the co-chairs for the pickled category of the Good Foods Awards. She also helps organize a massive blind tasting with experts and producers from across the country, which, she says, “is super fun for a pickle addict like me!”

Emiliana came to Marvelwood as a 14year-old freshman in 1996, having “maxed out school possibilities” in her native Venezuela.

Emiliana and her family were referred to the School by Alfredo Vollmer ’81, whose two children, Alfredo Jr. ’17 and Valentina ’19, are now at Marvelwood. “I was tired of feeling stupid,” but said it took two full years to come around, with much help and encouragement from faculty, including Skills tutor, Bobbi Clark. In her senior year, she remembers thinking to herself, “why didn’t I do this earlier? Why did I make it so hard on myself?”

She has no regrets, though: “Everything I’ve been through makes me who I am.” Emiliana’s father, Manuel, served on the Board of Trustees while she was a student at Marvelwood. Pursuing her passion for

cooking, Emiliana attended the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, graduating in 2002. While doing a six-month internship in San Francisco in 2001, Emiliana “fell in love with everything: the weather, the food, the wine, the farms, the city, and how much I fit into it.”

While studying at the CIA, Emiliana met Eva and they were married on June 26, 2010.

Laurie Doss, Emiliana’s advisor and another important teacher in her time at Marvelwood, attended the wedding, as well as Katie Schottland ’00. On their third anniversary, gay marriage became legal in California, and the two were legally married soon after.

Emiliana and Eva make their home in the Mission, and joined us for the Marvelwood reception in San Francisco in February.

Alicia Villanueva’s slogan is ‘The Best Tamales are Stuffed With Love, & the Best People Are Stuffed with My Tamales’

Laurie Doss reflects on Emiliana’s journey: Emiliana had a gift—actually a passion—when it came to cooking. Her friends and dorm parents in Sterling had the privilege of tasting the many creations she made in my kitchen. I had never heard of Nutella until Emiliana arrived at Marvelwood, let alone the fact that so many things could be done with it! Emiliana set her sights on going to the CIA, and when she realized her acceptance was contingent on passing a math test, a subject that was not always easy for her, she met the challenge of preparing for and passing the test with determination and grit.

When I visited Emiliana at the CIA, her eyes continued to dance with passion as she described the new techniques she was learning at school. The only other time I saw that much passion in her eyes was when she met Eva. A memorable outing was when they came to visit campus, and we banded birds on Kent Land Trust Property. Emiliana and Eva were the perfect match, and those close to Emiliana knew they would marry one day. I promised Emiliana that I would come to her wedding, and, when that day came, I was honored to be there.

At Marvelwood, Emiliana was a great softball player and catcher, and helped lead a very strong team to many victories. Prior to her senior year, I was invited to visit Emiliana and her family in Venezuela, where they delighted in introducing me to foods I could not even identify and/or pronounce. My favorite memory was the boat trip to see Salto Ángel Emiliana and wife Eva.

(Angel Falls). My least favorite experience was when Emiliana took me out in a kayak on the Caribbean Ocean. It quickly became apparent that I was far more comfortable on a stream or river than the wideopen ocean, and as soon as Emiliana saw the sheer terror in my face, she paddled us back to terra firma!

In my 30-year career at Marvelwood, there have been a handful of students who have made a significant impact on my life and made me a better person and teacher in the process. Emiliana is one of those students, and I am privileged to have had the opportunity to get to know her and see her grow into the successful woman we all knew she could become. Emiliana’s heart is huge, and she has always been a compassionate individual with respect to those she is close to, or when championing for the underdog. In conferences with her parents as her advisor, they always told me they did not care what Emiliana chose to do in life; the most important thing was that she find happiness. Emiliana did indeed find this happiness in the culinary field and with her wife Eva. She has finally found her Zen, and in the process has enriched the lives of those she encounters, making the world a much brighter place. I know that Bobbi Clark is also beaming with pride from heaven as she witnesses Emiliana’s success!

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Adventures of a Fulbright Scholar in Finland

DR . E L I Z AB E TH R ADDAY, DI R ECTO R O F L E AR N I NG S U P PO RT AN D TUTO R I AL S

In the fall of 2015, when I decided to apply for a Fulbright Distinguished Award in teaching, it was easy to choose my first choice country. Finland had been making headlines in educational news for a few years because of its outstanding scores on tests used to compare education systems. Then posts about the Finnish Baby Box went viral on Facebook. This tiny country that most Americans knew little about, besides its reputation for being cold, had suddenly become very interesting to educators around the world. Baby boxes, extra recess, free school lunch for all, teaching as a highly respected and difficult-to-enter profession, and a rigorous national curriculum were noted as some explanations for the outstanding test scores. Digging a little deeper, cynics said that Finland was too small, too homogeneous, and too economically different from the United States for us to learn anything from their education system. But I had to see it all for myself; there had to be things I could learn from a system that educates so well, even if it is different from the United States in many ways. I was

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particularly interested in learning more about how the Finnish education system educates students similar to many students at Marvelwood: bright young men and women with learning disabilities, ADHD, and/or Asperger’s Syndrome.

Finland’s upper-secondary education system is different from that of the United States. After students finish their basic education in first through ninth grade, they choose to then go on to either a vocational school or a general upper-secondary school, called a lukio.

Unlike some countries that test students and then track them into different careers or paths based on that test

score, all Finnish students have the choice to go down either path. When I came to Finland, I had two major research questions. First, I wanted to know how students with special education needs choose their upper secondary school; how do they decide whether to go to a vocational school or a lukio? Second, I wanted to learn about the support these students receive in the two different types of schools. My hope was to bring back what I learned about the Finnish high school selection process and apply it to the college selection process for my students. As Director of Learning Support programs at Marvelwood, I wanted to learn more about how I

“I want to emphasize to students and parents that students should have the loudest voice when they are choosing their next step after high school, and that they should think about their future career goals, talents, and interests when making that choice.”

The Raddays at Olavinlinna Castle, a 15th century fortress, in Savonlinna, Finland could help individual students throughout their high school career and assist them in the decision-making process for further education.

I learned the answers to my two research questions, but also so much more. Some of what I learned may not be immediately applicable to Marvelwood, but much of what I learned will help change and move the Strategies/Tutorial Program forward as we prepare our students for their futures.

I learned about choice and responsibility from my colleagues and their students in Finland, and these words, more than any specific teaching method, trick, or tool, is what I will bring back to the United States.

In Finland, students finish basic education after the ninth grade at about age 15. During their ninth grade year, they apply to their next school program and must choose between a vocational track or a general upper secondary school (the lukio). This is truly a choice for all students, as almost any student can get into either type of school. Both paths are equally respected by students, parents, and society, and there is an even split between the two tracks, with 50% of students going to a lukio and 50% going to a vocational school. Students feel invested in their choice and think carefully about where they want to go, and parents trust their students to make the best choice for themselves. Students spoke openly with me about making this choice, and they agreed that there was not parental pressure to choose one type of school or another. Instead, teenagers consider their talents, skills, interests, and future plans when deciding where to go after basic education. Students choose a vocational path for various reasons: they want to learn a particular job, they want to start earning money earlier, and/or they believe this is the most practical path towards employment and steady income. The vocational track still requires core academic classes, so students can also choose to go to a university after vocational school. It is not a dead end that closes off opportunities for further education. There are over 50 different vocational paths in Finland, and they prepare students for a wide variety of careers in tourism, social work, construction and building, health and beauty care, cooking and catering, and business management, to name a few.

On the other hand, some students choose to attend a more traditional high school. Some lukio

students choose this school path because they don’t yet know what they want to do and want three more years to think about their futures. Other students choose a lukio because they plan to go to a university after high school to pursue a career that requires post-secondary education. When making this choice, students speak with a study counselor and, throughout the eighth and ninth grades, the students are introduced to a wide variety of schools and programs.

Many special education students choose vocational school because they can select the path that will allow them to be successful. This has led me to realize that at Marvelwood, I want to emphasize to students and parents that students should have the loudest voice when they are choosing their next step after high school, and that they should think about their future career goals, talents, and interests when making that choice. I also want to encourage students to think about some alternatives to liberal arts education if they feel that may be the right thing for them. The more students feel invested and involved in their choice for their post-high school career, the more likely they are to experience success and happiness once they get there.

Finnish teachers have high expectations for their students and entrust them with a lot of responsibility. I consistently heard that high school students with special education needs were responsible for advocating for themselves. Students are closely involved with writing their Individualized Education Plan with their parents and teachers. These IEP meetings are cooperative and nonconfrontational planning meetings. Students are asked a lot of questions about what helps them, what doesn’t help them, and where they feel they need the most support. This cooperative design of IEPs, rather than a teacher or administrator-directed process, teaches students about their learning differences, strengths, and weaknesses. Students hear the results of any testing or any diagnoses so that they are fully aware of their needs.

In fact, there tends to be less emphasis on naming a particular disorder and more emphasis on the student’s needs and how to accommodate for them. At Marvelwood, my goal is to work more closely with students to ensure that they are aware of their individual learning profile, so that they are prepared to talk articulately about their learning strengths, needs, preferences, and styles. This will allow students to take more responsibility of and control over their learning as they go through high school and college. This process also helps inform Finnish students when they are making a choice to attend a lukio or vocational school. They carefully consider their needs and past experiences in school when considering their future study. I hope to educate students on their individualized learning profiles, which will emphasize their strengths and disregard their weaker areas, so that they can ultimately make career choices that interest them.

While in Finland, I was able to observe many special education teachers working with students in lukio or vocational school. The teaching I saw was not much

different from what I have seen and practiced myself in the United States. I found caring teachers that will do just about anything to help their students and keep them engaged. Teachers worked with students in mostly small groups away from the mainstream classes so that students continued to follow the core curriculum but had support on individual assignments. In addition to special education teachers that provide support in core academics, there are special education vocational teachers that help students learn all the skills necessary for certification in their chosen field. I was pleased to see so many students excited about their work. They were treated like professionals and took pride in what they were able to do in their training. Many young men and women spoke excitedly about joining the workforce and making money, and they were happy to be given an opportunity different from the more traditional academic curriculum.

The Raddays spent a chilly but fun night at an ice hotel in Rovaniemi, north of the Arctic Circle, where they visited Santa Claus at his home!

The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program was an amazing experience for me and my family. I had the opportunity to travel to many major cities in Finland, and I was able to talk about my work at Marvelwood as well as my Finnish research to many people, from university researchers to high school students. Working at the Niilo Maki Institute, a multidisciplinary research institute on learning disabilities, allowed me to meet and learn from some of the leading education researchers in Finland. My children enjoyed Finnish pre-school, where they made Finnish friends and had a lot of time for free play and discovery learning.

Now that I am back in the United States, I plan to present at national and local conferences so that I can inform others about what I have learned. I am thankful that Marvelwood allowed me to take advantage of this opportunity, and I look forward to improving my work at Marvelwood based on my time in Finland.

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International Students at Marvelwood

BY DAVI D MO G LE ‘09, ADVAN C E M E N T AS SO C I ATE

Marvelwood takes great pride in its internationally-diverse student body. With a total population of 170 students last year, 12 different countries were represented. Such cultural diversity is a

For many international students, Marvelwood is a learning environment that is completely different from their home country’s. Not only is the language barrier a challenge for some international students, but the structure of the day in the life of a Marvelwood student can be vastly different.

For Donnie Nguyen ’17 of Vietnam, the daily class schedule at Marvelwood was the biggest adjustment. “In my home country, the curriculum is focused on assigning students to study anywhere from eleven to thirteen subjects in any given week.” Donnie feels that the Marvelwood curriculum is much more pertinent to the real world, and that the classes are structured for the teachers to explain the information thoroughly, ensuring 16

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that the students comprehend the material.

Valentina Vollmer ’19 of Venezuela agreed with Donnie’s assessment of the Marvelwood curriculum. Her biggest challenge has been learning English, but since she’s taking less classes at Marvelwood than what she’s accustomed to, Valentina feels she has the time and reinforcement throughout the day to develop her English language skills. Valentina recommends that international students develop a base of language skills before attending an American school. She also encourages international students to branch off and spend time with students who speak other languages, ensuring English as the common language. Valentina is grateful for the opportunity to have developed close

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learning experience that extends outside of the classroom for students and faculty.

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friendships with students from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Afghanistan.

She loves getting off campus with her friends and exploring northwest Connecticut.

“Marvelwood is friendlier and more open-minded compared to my previous schools,” says David Touitou ’18, who hails from France. David Haiat ’19, from Mexico, also felt a sense of family from the moment he stepped on campus. The boys agree that the Marvelwood community is tight-knit, and that fellow students and faculty are very supportive and encouraging, a common reflection among both domestic and international Marvelwood students.

Sean Yu ’16 had a very successful four years at Marvelwood. As a freshman, very far

away from his home and family in Shanghai, China, he remembers having to adjust to waking himself up in the morning, making it to class on time, and balancing his social life, sports, and school work. One of Sean’s tips for all students, especially international, is to interact with everyone, and to get involved!

Sean was a varsity letter athlete and an integral part of the soccer, basketball, and ultimate Frisbee teams throughout his four years. He is currently a freshman at Penn University.

Fabio Massa ’16 was a one-year senior from Spain. Prior to Marvelwood, Fabio had enrolled at the New York Military Academy (NYMA) for three years. Intrigued by the education system in the United States, Fabio began his time as a NYMA student speaking English. A gifted athlete, Fabio helped a talented varsity soccer team win the HVAL championship, while he broke school records in soccer and basketball (see page 42). Fabio was Athlete of the Week six times throughout the year. It is Fabio’s sportsmanship and leadership skills, however, that his coaches and teammates point to with enthusiasm. According to long-time soccer coach Mike Everett P’14, ’16, “Fabio could have scored many more goals during the season, but chose to feed the ball to fellow teammates so that they could try to score. He is a true team player who’s always willing to put his ego on hold for his teammates.” Pickup basketball games in the gym were a highlight of Fabio’s year at Marvelwood, “There was plenty of laughter and competition that I’ll always remember.”

Fabio’s advice to international students, “Do not be shy. Speak to fellow students, both domestic and international, and get to know the fantastic Marvelwood faculty.

Surrounding yourself with those who speak English will only make the transition easier.”

Fabio is currently attending Kings College in Pennsylvania, where he also plays on the soccer team.

As a Marvelwood alum, and after speaking with a number of international students, it is clear that Marvelwood is home for each student, no matter where they come from. The faculty and students create one big family. Individual attention and encouragement lead to memories created on the playing fields, on stage, in the beautiful surroundings, in the classroom, and in the dorms. Lifelong bonds are formed, and Marvelwood will always be a home away from home for all who attend.

Round Square International

BY M AT T WALTE R S ‘97, CO M M U N I T Y S E R V IC E DI R ECTO R

Four Marvelwood students will represent the School at the annual Round Square International Conference (RSIC) in October of 2016. Guy Kennedy ’18 of Kent, Zohra Moradi ’18 of Kabul, Afghanistan, Victoria Sanchez ’18 of Kent, and Sky Trapella ’18 of Cornwall will attend the four-day conference at Aiglon College in Switzerland. Faculty members Matt Walters ’97 and Caitlin Lynch P’13 will accompany the group. The theme of the conference is The Journey that Makes Us, and students from 160 schools from around the world will gather at either Aiglon College or Stiftung Louisenlund in Germany for a combination of guest speakers, group discussions, cultural visits, community service, and adventure activities.

Marvelwood is one of just eight US schools, including The Hotchkiss School and Emma Willard School, to be members of Round Square. Founded in 1966, Round Square maintains and facilitates a worldwide network of 160 member schools in 40 countries.

Member schools share a holistic approach to learning, built around six IDEALS of learning: Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership and Service. The Round Square network offers schools a framework for excellence and continuous improvement, along with structured opportunities to collaborate and share experiences with like-minded peers around the world.

Having been a member in the late 1980s, we are extremely proud to bring Round Square back to the curriculum. The opportunity to represent Marvelwood at the annual conference is open to all students, who are invited to apply in their sophomore year.

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Marvelwood and Panama

BY C AITLI N LYNC H P’13, DI R ECTO R O F M AR KE TI N G AN D CO M M U N I C ATI O N S

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t would be hard to count how many Marvelwood students have experienced one of Science Department Chair Laurie Doss’s international science trips in her 29 years at the School. Destinations have included the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Belize, Peru, Brazil, and, of course, Panama. Since finding the Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama, Laurie Doss has led conservation trips to the area for the past nine years.

Cocobolo is the field station for Conservation Through Research and Education (CREA), a non-profit organization which works against tropical deforestation through creating sustainable environments and communities in Panama. The Reserve is located high in the mountains of eastern Panama, in one of the most biologically diverse habitats on the planet.

This year, 11 students made the two-week journey, which featured scientific research and exploration, cultural immersion, and community outreach. The group was lucky enough to be joined by nine researchers representing a broad range of fields, including conservation photography and filmmaking, and avian, amphibian, bat, and orchid bee research. Dr. Laura Cisneros of the University of Connecticut and the Natural Resources Conservation Academy, worked as a consultant with researchers and Marvelwood students in Panama to design future studies of bats in and near the reserve. Using cutting-edge acoustic monitoring technology from Wildlife Acoustics and mist-netting efforts, these studies will survey for bats on the Reserve and in the surrounding area. More importantly, bat education programs will be implemented in rural communities Each year, Marvelwood surrounding the field station to diminish the fear of bats brings much-needed supplies that exist in the region. On this year’s trip, Dr. Cisneros demonstrated how to construct a flight cage to attempt for the school and works with to capture bat calls for which recordings do not exist, La Zahina’s teacher, Petra, to and the group was able to document close to 30 species of bats in only a few nights! One species, Lonchophylla organize fun and educational thomasi (Thomas’s Nectar Bat), was previously programs for the children. unrecorded at the Reserve and is rare in Panama.

The small village of La Zahina is four miles from Cocobolo and home to about 30 families, who live without electricity and little contact beyond the area. Each year, Marvelwood brings much-needed supplies for the school and works with La Zahina’s teacher, Petra, to organize fun and educational programs for the children. In La Zahina and other rural villages, formal schooling ends after grade six. To continue their education, families must make living arrangements for children in towns and cities to attend middle and high school.

Without reliable public transportation and very limited income, this oftentimes presents too great a hurdle, so education beyond the sixth grade is quite uncommon. After many visits to La Zahina, Laurie is greeted as family, and the groups from Marvelwood are welcomed with enthusiasm. Even children and young adults long past sixth grade come out to spend the day with the group. This year, a group from La Zahina ranging in age from three-year-old Jesus to nineteen-year-old Juan traveled to Cocobolo to join Marvelwood students in field research activities that included swabbing amphibians and collecting data.

Conservation education is a central part of the trip; sharing it with children who live so close to the rainforest but spend little time in it highlights the importance and potential impact of community-based conservation efforts to build the next generation of conservationists.

Another ongoing project at Cocobolo, and one that brings researchers to the area from all over the world, is understanding and monitoring Chytrid Fungus and its effect on shrinking amphibian populations. The recent discovery of a healthy Atelophus limosus toad population on the reserve gives hope to conservation efforts. This once abundant species has seen marked declines, as well as extinction, in other areas of Central America. Interacting with and understanding the incredibly rich yet fragile biodiversity of Panama is enlightening to anyone who has had to opportunity to experience it.

From local villagers and farmers, who may be more open to sustainable agriculture practices, to visiting students and researchers, who work to implement conservation efforts, Cocobolo builds momentum for efforts to protect and preserve our planet.

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From Afghanistan to Marvelwood

BY K ATH E R I N E ALMQU I ST, AS S I STAN T H E AD O F SC HO O L F O R ADM I S S I O N

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hat a special kind of courage it takes to say goodbye to family and friends for several months and find yourself, many hours later, in a new country. A ‘stranger in a strange land’, in a country where most of the people look and dress differently, food is different, and the language is certainly different. For the first time in your life, you see dogs INSIDE a house. The only constant is the cell phone.

The role of the advisor at a boarding school is one of endless fascination—part joy, part exasperation; you draw back the curtains and are allowed a glimpse into a world not your own. It is familiar, however; you know the characters, and the subplots are endless. Since she arrived on campus in September of 2015, I have had the great good fortune of being the advisor of Zohra Salmon and Zohra serving special dishes from their home countries at the annual International Dinner.

Moradi ’18. Zohra is a native of Kabul, Afghanistan. Her mother Jamila (which means ‘beautiful’ in Farsi) is illiterate; she Smith to London, she left all friends and family, her beloved country, would tuck her four daughters under her burka and walk them and her her language, and her mode of dress. In London, she meets people who two sons to school. Both she and her husband believe in the look different, dress different, speak different, and eat very strange food. importance of education, despite cultural pushback. Three of their four I was struck by the empathy in Zohra’s voice. Just one year ago, the daughters are presently studying in the United States as part of the possibility of boarding school hovered on the horizon; now, here she SOLA program, which seeks to promote and provide rigorous was. A stranger in a strange land. Pocahontas. educational opportunities for Afghan girls.

Picture this: it is the afternoon of Marvelwood’s International I met Zohra face-to-face last June, along with her American Dinner. Zohra and Salman Binmahfouz ’16 are in my kitchen. The sponsor, at the elegant and old-world Campbell Apartment in Grand mood is thoughtful, intense, and very, very focused. Zohra is dicing Central Station. She had never been out of Afghanistan, and she had several pounds of tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cilantro, and various never been on an airplane. Getting her Visa took countless hours of other herbs. She is at ease with the knife, vegetables, and cutting patience, grit, and machinations on Marvelwood’s part. Upon arriving board. This is not her first rodeo. This is not the case, however, for my in New York, she took endless walks to acquaint herself with the city, other culinary intern. Salman is from Saudi Arabia and has not spent visiting a former teacher at Columbia University and even meeting much time in the kitchen. The vegetable peeler was eyed at a distance, Hillary Clinton. Not a bad introduction to the U.S.! And she did it all approached with caution, and its actual purpose to be determined at a bareheaded, without fear of violating religious dress code. Zohra and I later date. He picked up a tomato, viewed it, and flatly stated, “I have had previously communicated via Skype. Her warmth, even through absolutely no idea how to approach this.” I took over the tomato the Internet and separated by thousands of miles, was palpable. The preparation, and Zohra spent the next half-hour cooking pakora, a hug she gave me the afternoon we met was REAL. It had feeling: traditional Afghan dish (it was delicious.). When the food was ready, depth, width, and breadth. In short, she astonished and amazed me we packed the dishes into my car, and brought them to the dining hall, and has continued to do so. Every other week, I write an “advisor where it was served alongside French crepes, herring on toast, Swedish summary,” and I have run out of superlatives: “ray of sunshine,” “joy to meatballs, vegetable frittata, shumai dumplings, and sushi (to name just be around,” and “outstanding member of the community” are a few of a sampling.). Zohra and Salman proudly served their dishes in the phrases I have used numerous times. traditional dress. Zohra wore a beautiful, hand-embroidered, accordionWe were chatting a few weeks ago, and Zohra told me she had pleated garment, and Salman, a pristine white robe and head scarf. watched Disney’s Pocahontas and felt a strong, true connection with I am lucky, indeed. I travel to fascinating places. I meet some that character. She researched her thoroughly. Pocahontas was sweet, fascinating people. I met Zohara. Now, she is, and always will be, a part trusting, brave, and adventurous. When Pocahontas traveled with John of my life.

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How Do I Get There?

Marvelwood’s Career Day

Career Day brought professionals from a wide variety of fields to campus in February.

A Connecticut state judge, an Entrepreneur of the Year, two different small business owners, a claymation specialist, an advertising executive, a marriage and family therapist, and a nature photographer, were among the 18 participants who volunteered their time to help our juniors and seniors think about their career paths.

The theme of the day was “How did I get here?” Presenters helped students understand what steps they had taken along the way to get them to their current position. Four

panels, broken down by field—art, business, health, and public service—and two workshop sessions, gave students the opportunity to dive deeper into what it means to be a portrait artist, athletic clothing designer and manufacturer, interventional radiologist, and animal shelter director, among other things. Carlos Santos ’05, after managing a Staples for many years, turned his passion for tabletop and online gaming into a business and opened C&S Gaming Empire in Torrington, Connecticut. Eight current parents participated, as well as a former grandparent (Jack Lynch GP’13, who is a

retired patent attorney) and seven people from the area, including the Town of Kent’s First Selectman Bruce Adams. The experiences of all of the participants gave students some perspective on what it means to be a part of the workforce. Long-term strategic steps, such as college, graduate school, and internships, are an important part of getting there, but so too are summer jobs, being a conscientious employee, using networks (such as alumni groups and career centers), and taking advantage of opportunities to try new things.

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F A C U LT Y S P O T L I G H T

David Mogle ’09 Above, David talks strategy with Sam Weiner ’17 before sending him into a game; at right, David and his advisee Avante Walker ’19

David Mogle ’09 was ecstatic to return to his alma mater to assume a brand new role at the School: Advancement and Communications Fellow. As a full-time member of the Advancement Team, David’s duties include alumni outreach, writing, research, and data input. He also does dorm and weekend duty, has advisees, and coaches two sports. An avid basketball player, David had the opportunity to become Head Coach of the Boys Varsity team. Taking over for the legendary Dana Mason, who was his coach at Marvelwood, was a bit intimidating, but David jumped in with enthusiasm: “Seeing the individual players come together as a team was one of the highlights of my first season.”

He holds his players accountable for being on time and maintaining good grades, routinely checking their bi-weekly Bodkin Blue reports.

He also talks to them about more than just the game and their performance. “As a coach,” he says, “I care more about how the structure of being on a team can assist the guys off the floor in their personal and professional lives. David also credits assistant coach Steve Malinowski for the structure of the program going into year two. “Steve is a great coach. We have the same philosophies on and off the floor, with regards to our

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Balancing Authority with Camaraderie program. He brings exceptional knowledge of the game, and is a great role model for the players. He is someone that I look up to and enjoy coaching alongside! It’s great to see his wife Kimber, and daughters Madelyn and Genevieve at many of our games supporting the guys!”

A graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College with a degree in public relations, David worked for a year in the financial industry but wanted something more rewarding. For David, his passion for Marvelwood runs deep:

“Marvelwood helped to shape who I am today. I came in as a shy fifteen-year-old from Western Pennsylvania. I likely would not have graduated from college and been able to pursue my dreams if it wasn’t for the individualized attention that I received for three years as a Marvelwood student.

I believe that everyone has the potential to be successful, if they are willing to apply themselves. Marvelwood is a great place for any student who accepts the challenges academically and takes advantage of opportunities in the classroom, the dorms, athletically, the performing arts, and on campus.”

After a couple of months on the job at Marvelwood, it became clear that the oneyear appointment as the Advancement and Communications Fellow would evolve into a full-time faculty position. David is now beginning his second year with a new title: Advancement Associate. Learning to balance authority and camaraderie can be challenging for any young faculty member, but for David, his experience as a three-year student at Marvelwood gave him a slightly different vantage point, especially when it came to relating to what the students may be going through or what they might be up to. There is little that surprises him about dorm antics and dorm life in general! For David, the best parts of the job include coaching, attending Marvelwood functions, meeting parents, alumni and community members, working with a great team in the Advancement Office—all while learning new skills, which he approaches with determination and a positive attitude. Having been handed a camera on his first day on the job, which he had next to no experience with, he dutifully took pictures at school events throughout the year, and his photos got better and better.

Misty Jordan and Dennis White 2016

marks 10 years for Misty Jordan and Dennis White at The Marvelwood School. The husband and wife team are the force behind The Marvelwood Players, the School’s theatre production program, and have worked on a wide variety of musical productions and plays together, including Avenue Q, Into the Woods, Almost Maine, and Sylvia.

Misty and Dennis met while undergraduates at the University of Maine. After graduating with a degree in theatre, Misty studied at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, a prestigious theatre training program which accepts just 11 males and 11 females out of 5,000 applicants.

After the year-long program, she and Dennis moved to New York City, where Misty worked on and off-broadway, including Gypsy with Bernadette Peters, while Dennis worked for the Education Division of the Boys Scouts of America. Eventually, Misty realized that “everything kept leading me back to wanting to work with kids,” and she went on to earn a Masters in Education from The University of Maine. While they were applying for teaching positions, Dennis, a self-proclaimed LEGO nut, entered a LEGO Master Builder competition, which could have eventually led to a position at LEGOLAND. For the interview Misty and Dennis with daughters Isla and Everleigh process, Dennis was assigned to construct a pirate ship with no preparation, which he built upside down (stud-side down). The judges students ‘train’ to be princesses and other characters; the preparation were very impressed, and he was featured on the Today Show with his includes articulation and penmanship lessons and learning the ‘story’ of creative design. The LEGO company then flew Dennis and Misty to their character.

Local children are invited to have tea and cupcakes, LEGOLAND to compete with 20 other amazing LEGO builders. get autographs, have pictures taken, and participate in a group sing-aWhile Dennis didn’t win in the final round to become a Master Builder long to “Let It Go” from Frozen. Last April, for LEGO, it meant that they could continue over 100 families turned out for the thirdtheir search for teaching positions, which annual Princess Tea, which raised $1,350 for ultimately led them to Marvelwood. Misty says the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The day after that they immediately felt drawn to the sense Living in the dorm, you get to the Tea Party, Misty and Dennis welcomed of community at the School. baby Everleigh to their family!

In their 10 years with the School, the know students in ways they As a teacher, Dennis approaches his White-Jordans have welcomed two daughters don’t expect…You’re there curriculum with the question, “How can we to the family: Isla, age five, and Everleigh, who get our students out of their desks?” Each fall, was born in April. Misty is Chair of the for the good, the bad, and he sets up an ‘archaeological dig’ for his Performing Arts Department as well as the extraordinary. freshman World History students to figure out Director of Residential Life. Dennis oversees who was ‘dug up,’ based on artifacts and the theatre-tech program and teaches World internet research.

He also teaches LEGO History, LEGO Robotics, and, new this year, Robotics, a popular elective that has propelled LEGO 3D Art. As Summit Dorm Parents, they more than a few students to study engineering in college. Dennis has have a large extended family of 40 girls and lots of able and willing used LEGO Digital Designer with students to plan sets for The babysitters. “Living in the dorm, you get to know students in ways they Marvelwood Players.

As Chair of the Performing Arts Department, don’t expect,” says Misty; “You’re there for the good, the bad, and the Misty sees first-hand how “an arts education helps students on their extraordinary.” When Misty was pregnant with Isla, the girls in the journey of self discovery.

It is an invaluable tool to help you grow, and dorm threw her a surprise baby shower and made a mobile of paper rounds you as a person.”

Marvelwood has always given its students the cranes in all different colors. This year, the girls surprised her again opportunity and encouragement to get involved in the arts. For Misty, with another baby shower, which included lots of gifts, well wishes, and working closely with Dennis is one of the best parts of being at homemade cupcakes!

Marvelwood: “I love working with my husband.

We like being together Misty and Dennis are big fans of Disney and take a group of a lot.

Sometimes working on a show can get a little overwhelming as students to Disney World each February break. Inspired by Disney’s we juggle daycare and home life, but there isn’t anything that I would support of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, they decided to “bring the change.” magic to Skiff Mountain” with a Princess Tea Party. Marvelwood

“ ”

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A Year of Reconnections and Reflections

BY PAU L J. TI N E S, AS S I STAN T H E AD O F SC HO O L F O R ADVAN C E M E N T

As I complete my second year at Marvelwood, I am struck by the love and dedication that the alumni have for their School. During the 2015-2016 school year, members of the Advancement Team, along with Head of School Arthur Goodearl and Trustee Emeritus Thomas Sebring, traveled to Washington, D.C., Newton (MA), San Francisco, New York City, Darien (CT), Savannah, Atlanta, and Greensboro (NC) to meet with alumni and friends of the School.

It has been an amazing year getting to know alumni from across the country. Each event was filled with much laughter and great storytelling, with alumni reflecting on their journey at Marvelwood and how the teachers and the School supported them. These alumni receptions have been a wonderful education for me in Marvelwood’s history and culture. I am reminded of the song “Getting to Know You” from the Broadway musical “The King and I.” It has been a year of “getting to know” 24

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our alumni. Indeed, our alumni are an impressive group. Marvelwood is a remarkable school that graduates kind, articulate, generous, interesting, adventurous, and community-minded students. Your stories have been inspiring to us all.

On a beautiful fall evening last September, alumni and parents gathered at The University Club in Washington, D.C. The program opened with a short video, Why Marvelwood, highlighting our students and programs. Head of School Arthur Goodearl spoke about the state of the School, and Chair of the Arts Center Capital Campaign Thomas Sebring shared renderings of the proposed arts center, along with an update on the campaign. Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund Director Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19 spoke about the need to give back to the School through the annual fund and about the upcoming Reunion in June.

Attendees included Ralph Derbyshire ’04,

Adam Kimmel ’00, John Sargent ’64 and his wife, Susan, Gay Sullivan ’76, Frank and Margaret Trinity P’17, and Amanda Whitehurst ’96. Also attending were Trustee Ellen McAllister P’14 and Arts Center Capital Campaign board member Jeffrey Oldman ’84.

In October, the Advancement Team drove to Massachusetts, where Anne Wurzer Thomson ’83 and her husband Caleb Thomson hosted our Boston reception in their lovely home at Fessenden School in West Newton. Attendees included Sam Bainbridge ’09, Sally Goldstein-Elkind ’07, and Chad Rivard ’09.

Vice Chair of The Board of Trustees and Development Committee Chair Mark Esposito P’11 hosted the New York City area reception at the Avon Building in February.

In attendance were Board of Trustees members Timothy Carpenter ’71, Ann Wurzer Thomson ’83, Frank Moore P’14, Sarah

[

Each event was filled with much laughter and great storytelling, with alumni reflecting on their journey at Marvelwood and how the teachers and the School supported them.

D’Agostino Christensen ’83, Ellen McAllister P’14, former Head of School Peter Tacy, Richard Hoddeson P’15, and Robert Bayne III ’85. Alumni and current and past parents included Ross and Michele Abrash P’15, Peter Burke ’82, Damon Colquhoun ’91, William and Amy Frischling P’19, Anna Kennedy ’92, Ronald Lewis ’10, Mary Crawford P’18, Melissa Morgan ’94, Thomas Patterson ’04, Dawn Prawl P’14, David Ransom ’82 and his wife, Melanie, Peter Sommerfield ’90, and Tricia Vivado P’18.

Several members of the Advancement Team traveled to San Francisco in February to attend the National Association of Independent Schools’ annual conference, which had more than 5,000 attendees. While in San Francisco, we hosted our 4th alumni and parent reception at The University Club on February 24. Attendees included Richard Ellsworth ’04, Damian Hedley ’94, Emelia Lartey ’10, Seung Kun Lee ’10, Patrick

Ottenweller ’10 and wife Ekaterina, Emiliana Puyana ’00 and wife, Eva, and Sho Watanabe ’05.

During our spring break, Director of Alumni Relations Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19 traveled to Georgia and North Carolina.

Craig Rider ’62, Julia Davis Morrison ’93 and her husband Mills, along with their sons Mills III and Harry, attended the alumni event at the Bohemian Hotel in Savannah. The following day, Pat Patterson ’66, Ira Hochberg ’85, and Melissa Hartlipp ’14 attended the reception at the Ham Bar in Atlanta. Glenn wrapped up his trip in Greensboro, North Carolina, welcoming Ken Ingraham ’58 and his wife Jane, Stephen Ruzicka ’64, and Amanda Sceusa Walter ’06 to an event at the Undercurrent Restaurant.

Sarah D’Agostino Christensen ’83 hosted alumni, current parents, and new families at her beautiful home in Darien in April. Board members attending included Timothy

]

Carpenter ’71, and Mark Esposito P’11, and alumni Ted Bohnen ’64 and wife Susan Harrington, and Peter Sommerfield ’90.

Parents included Robert and Patricia O’Neill P’17, Ann Street P’16, Tamara Whittier P’18, Edward Martinez and Deborah Chabrian P’16.

Prospective parents included Mike and Janice Meyer and David and Melissa Haber.

The advancement office is committed to regularly reaching out to all Marvelwood constituents across the country. Within the next few years, the advancement office will be establishing several regional alumni clubs. We hope to see you at future events. For this coming year, we have scheduled events in New York City, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Florida, and New Orleans, as well as in each of the cities that we visited this year.

Look for your invitations, and come and reconnect with your classmates and fellow alumni!

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Gatherings in China, South Korea and Vietnam

BY PAU L J. TI N E S, AS S I STAN T H E AD O F SC HO O L F O R ADVAN C E M E N T, DE AN O F TH E ARTS

O

ne of Marvelwood’s many strengths is the diversity of its student body. Students from all over the world interact everyday in the classrooms, on the athletic fields, on stage, and in the dormitories.

This past year, the admission and advancement offices traveled to Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City, meeting with alumni, current and past parents, and prospective students. We shared School news and successes, as well as updates on the Arts Center Capital Campaign.

In Beijing, Shanghai, and Seoul, we hosted dinner parties for more than 75 guests.

During a back-to-school party at my home before the trip, the Asian students made a video for their parents. Each student was taped greeting their parents and saying a few words about the beginning of the school year. The video was viewed at each dinner party. Needless to say, parents and grandparents were quite touched. The dinner

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programs also included a viewing of the video Marvelwood Today, a short presentation on the Arts Center Capital Campaign, and a Q & A. During the opening days of school, parents of new Asian students were invited to my home for tea. Faculty member Dr. Grace Lin answered questions that the parents had regarding School policies and procedures. Our parents are so grateful for the care that is shown toward their children. As one parent stated, “Marvelwood is truly a home away from home, and we know that you care for and love our children.”

During the year, the Asian students held several parties at my home on campus.

On September 29, Dr. Grace Lin and I hosted a Moon Festival celebrating the Lunar Holiday. On February 21, we hosted the Chinese New Year. We are truly blessed to have such a diverse international student body.

December 9, 2015: Becket Henry Hastings

April 4, 2016: Everleigh Rose Jordan

Dean for Parents and Dean of Students, Girls Heather Hastings and her husband, Brian, welcomed Becket Henry, who quickly became the most popular resident in Star Dormitory, where his family lives.

Everleigh Rose joined big sister Isla as the youngest and most doted on residents of Summit Dormitory. Parents are Director of Residential Life Misty Jordan and history and LEGO Robotics teacher Dennis White.

Becket at Commencement with Star Dorm Prefect Ivan Lerner ’16

Isla with fellow faculty child Maggie Everett ’16 and Lee Mashburn ‘19 at the Princess Tea Party, which is organized by her parents, see page 23.

Karin P’13, ’16 and daughter, Kristy, with Jax at the senior dinner

April 27, 2016: Nora Sylvia Nelson Registrar Shannon Nelson and her husband, Marty, welcomed Nora Sylvia.

May 13, 2016: Jax Ryan Quinn Jax Ryan Quinn is the grandson of Advancement Associate Karin Nappi, son of Kristy Nappi and Justin Quinn, and nephew of proud aunt Danielle Nappi ’16 and proud uncle Taylor Nappi ’13.

Dani gave a rose to her nephew at Commencement

Everleigh and Nora met for the first time in May outside their mothers’ neighboring offices

Wendi and Bobby at the auction

And very soon…

Nicholas and Noah enjoying family fun at the auction with Elizabeth Greiner, sister of Lauren ’18

there will be a fifth baby on campus! Director of Student Activities Wendi Love, husband Bobby, and their sons Noah (7) and Nicholas (4) will welcome a fifth Love in September.

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Senior Leadership Program

BY MAT T WALTE R S ‘97, DI R ECTOR OF OUTDOOR E DUC ATI O N , COM M U N IT Y S E R VIC E DI R ECTO R

L

eadership is an important part of our students’ senior year at Marvelwood. Each fall, before the academic year starts and our underclassmen return to Skiff Mountain, the Senior Class takes part in an off-campus Senior Leadership Orientation. Once the school year begins, seniors have a lot to juggle, with college applications, 12th-grade curriculum, and the anticipation of big changes on the horizon. As seniors, they have privileges, such as later bedtime and more free time, but they are also expected and encouraged to act as leaders and mentors. For their orientation, girls and boys are split up between two YMCA camps: Camp Hi-Rock in the southern Berkshires and Camp Jewell in Colebrook, CT. At each site, students participate in extensive low and high ropes initiative activities run by skilled challenge course facilitators. Before turning in for the night, students and faculty sit around a campfire, and students share expectations,

concerns, and hopes about their roles as student leaders. Upon returning to campus, the seniors lead new students in low ropes exercises on the School’s course.

The final chapter of the Senior Leadership Program is a five-day service trip to Washington, D.C. The Senior Service trip takes place after exams and before graduation; it is the final opportunity for our graduating class to come together, to bond with their peers, and to bring Marvelwood’s tradition of giving back to the community to a national level. It is an emotional experience on many levels, and it brings closure to Marvelwood’s Senior Leadership program. Over the years,

AMERICAN MATHEMATICS COMPETITION

The American Mathematics Competition (AMC) is designed to foster interest, encourage effective mathematical problem solving, and prepare students to be successful in mathematics. Organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), it is open to all secondary school students. Only the very top performers in the competition, however, get invited to compete at the highest levels, which eventually leads to becoming a member of USA Mathematical Olympiad.

2016 marks the second year that Marvelwood students participated in the AMC. Bingnan ‘Nick’ Huo ’19, Yin ‘Jennifer’ Zhou ’18, Shengchao ‘Richard’ Zhao ’18, Shengyuan ‘Kevin’ Yang ’18, and Yiteng ‘Michael’ Ma ’18 participated in AMC 10 for 9th and 10th graders. Peter Paranicas ’17 participated in

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students have worked in a variety of placements, including Habitat for Humanity’s Restore, DC Central Kitchen, and Charlie’s Kitchen. Of course, it’s not all hard work.

Students have time to enjoy the countless attractions around our nation’s capital, including museums, historic sites, and national monuments. A perennial favorite activity is renting City Bikes and riding them around the National Mall at night. The focus of the trip last May was working with city officials to clean up watershed areas in and around D.C.

BY G R AC E L I N P’20, FAC U LT Y M E M B E R

AMC 12 for 11th and 12th graders. Peter is the only Marvelwood student to have competed twice, having participated in the AMC 10 in 2015. We look forward to further math competition in 2017!

Outdoor Adventures

BY M AT T WALTE R S ‘97, DI R ECTO R O F O UTDO O R E DUC ATI O N , CO M M U N I T Y S E R VI C E DI R ECTO R

After the academic day ends, all Marvelwood students participate in an afternoon activity. The school offers various options ranging from competitive sports teams to theater, ceramics, and a weight-lifting program. For those of us who prefer the mix between adventure and serenity found in a natural, woodland setting, Marvelwood's Outdoor Adventure program is the perfect choice. What better way to get outside, get exercise, and build the necessary self-confidence skills that all young adults need than to go on long-distance hikes, learn primitive living and survival skills, go rock climbing or paddle down the Housatonic river in a kayak?

Rain or shine, Marvelwood’s Outdoor Adventure program offers us an opportunity to engage in all sorts of adventures, in both warm weather and cold. Last year, we spent a night camping along the Housatonic riverbank in the middle of February! A roaring campfire, hot chocolate, and great stories shared between friends kept us warm throughout the night. The next day we all woke up with a newfound confidence having dared to undertake such an outing.

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Reunion 2016

“

The Marvelwood Reunion gave

me an opportunity to reconnect with people I’ve missed, reinforce the lessons I’ve learned, and demonstrate to my wife why I bleed Blue & White.

”

ART B L AKE Y I I I ’96

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Coming Home

In June, we celebrated the school’s 60th anniversary and welcomed alumni from 1970 through 2011 to campus. Reunion 2016 featured lunch at Mohawk Mountain’s Pine Lodge, Harry Potter and Philosophy class taught by veteran faculty member Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19, the ceremonial ringing of the Piper Victory Bell, the bagpipe-led Parade of Classes, cocktails at the Farmhouse, dinner at the Head of School’s home, a bonfire and s’mores by Lucy’s Pond, late-night dancing on the terrace, and the farewell brunch on Sunday. Thank you to all alumni and their families who took part in the festivities!

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“

It is always an immense pleasure to return

to Marvelwood and feel like you’ve never left.

Reunion weekend reaffirmed for me that the School’s mission, passion, and drive for excellence remains and is seemingly accelerating.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.

AMAN DA SC E U SA WALTE R ’06 32

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”

“

Reunion 2016 was a celebration

of the Marvelwood experience and the growth that came during school and thereafter.

”

JAM E S N IC HOLSON ’96

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Attending my 40th Reunion and the 60th Anniversary

were attached to my varsity blue “M”. These records were short lived, however, as a very talented teammate with the nickname celebration in June got me thinking about where it all began. My ‘Moons’ retired my legacy by breaking all of my records the career in computers started at Marvelwood on the PDP 8/L following year. I continue to exercise today on road and trail computer built by Digital Corporation, connected to an ASR 33 bicycles, traveling distances from 20 to over 100 miles per ride. teletype with a paper tape reader. I believe this was the first Reflecting back on academics, I remember getting extra credit on a computer on campus, and I was the first operator. No one knew zoology final for remembering ‘Canis latrans’ could be used to what to do with it, but I quickly learned coding and spent hours classify Wile E. Coyote of Road Runner cartoon fame. Two of my doing math and playing “Star Trek”, a script game which was the most memorable classes were The History of Indigenous Peoples of precursor—decades later—to role player games North Americas, and All American Presidencies, up to the current (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_(script_game). and 48th President, Gerald Ford. The study of Native American From Marvelwood, I was accepted to Rochester Institute of culture contrasted well with the study of presidential contributions Technology, but found myself headed to a liberal arts college where to political policy, economics and world power.

I applied for a self-designed computer major, which was denied due Looking back, I recall that our senior class president was a to the mindset that a math major was the road to computers. I person of color, but to us—his fellow classmates— rapidly lost interest in college and decide it best to he represented a member of our family that best work my way into my field of interest. Some very “The confidence and embodied our ideals. Reading and writing were my famous and successful people took this same route, but I will admit, for the majority, a college degree encouragement I found at freshman misery, but I graduated in 1976 with both a math award and as co-recipient of the English still remains very important. As my passion for Marvelwood established award. While the School’s campus has come from computers turned into a profession, my career went from operations to senior programming, and then my desire for continued the valley in Cornwall to sit on Skiff Mountain in Kent, it will always hold for me the familiar sense into technical and software support. I currently learning.” of family and the feeling of home. work in a large information technology shop. Over In my personal life, my wife Carrie and I live the years, I have repeated the practice of success by happily in Worcester, MA. We successfully raised two sons, both of finding a niche and working to fill the need. The confidence and whom are in computer programming and hardware. Our younger encouragement I found at Marvelwood established my desire for son is currently continuing his graduate studies. Our older son continued learning. earned a Masters of Computer Science in Germany, where he also How Marvelwood shaped me socially and academically is quickly learned the language, as some professors taught only in evident in the School’s Mission Statement: German. He met his wife in Germany, who was working an a degree Marvelwood’s mission is to provide the path that leads to personal in Physical Therapy. They, in turn, fashioned our grandson, now growth and academic success for young people willing to get involved in nearing six years old. He is the smartest and most perfect creation their own education and committed to the challenge of preparing for from the combination of code and love a grandfather like me could college. The school is an optimistic place that provides a structured, have ever imagined. supportive and challenging environment, celebrates diversity, and To you, Marvelwood past and present, a very happy 60th awakens untapped potential. birthday, and all the best wishes for many more prosperous and During my time on campus, I learned to operate audio-visual productive years of inspiring life-long learning. equipment and an offset printing press, do lighting tech for drama productions, and helped out in the kitchen. Cross-country was Oliver Toupense ’76 where I excelled athletically, as stars and bars for school records

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Skiff Mountain: Alive with Music!

BY J E S S E OFGANG, M U S IC DE PARTM E NT C HAI R

Marvelwood concerts are yet another example of the Marvelwood community extending beyond the classroom and campus. Current students (and some of their younger siblings), faculty members, faculty children, and alumni teamed up to make the spring concert a resounding success. The von Trapp… I mean Malinowski family…gave their musical talents to Marvelwood for the evening. Steve Malinowski (Marvelwood store operator and basketball and softball coach), his wife Kimber (Marvelwood Strategies tutor), and daughters (Maddie, 7th grade, and Genevieve, 2nd grade) all sang with the chorus. The highlight of the evening may have come when eight-year-old Genevieve took center stage for her solo with the chorus. Steve (clarinet) and Maddie (trumpet) worked double duty by performing with the Jazz Orchestra as well.

Faculty member Liza Maizel joined the Jazz Orchestra on trumpet because, apparently, being Assistant Athletic Director, teaching five classes, running ACT and SAT prep, filling in as Dean for Girls, and acting as temporary Dorm and Weekend Head left her feeling like she just had too much free time!

Faculty kids David Ma (son of math teacher Dr. Grace Lin), Max Foote (son of Math Department Chair Heni Foote), student sibling Charlie Greiner, and recent gradate Tim Deng ’15 also gave much of their time and talents by performing with us.

Highlights of the night included an original composition by yours truly for multiple percussion and trash cans, performed by the percussion ensemble. In its first concert appearance, the brand-new tone chime ensemble played the main theme song from Star Wars. Marvelwood’s a cappella group, The Odd Numbers, closed the show with an ‘odd’ performance of Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and Beethoven’s “Joyful Joyful.” In preparation for the concert, The Odd Numbers tested their material ‘busking’ on the streets and subways of New York City. They were able to raise $24 for the Marvelwood Music Department...every little bit counts, right?

In addition to our large ensemble performances, of note (pun intended) were solos by Ann Li, Alex Liang, Bella Dumitrascu with Anna Qiu, and a student-led rock group, which featured Jingjing ‘Nicki’ Xu ’16 as lead singer.

It takes a whole community to make each performance possible, and we thank all the students, faculty members, faculty kids, and siblings who take time out of their busy schedules to make the arts department so vibrant at Marvelwood.

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A

VIBRANT YEAR IN THE

PERFORMING

ARTS!

BY M I ST Y JOR DAN , P E R FOR M I NG ARTS DE PARTM E N T C HAI R AN D J E S S E OFGAN G, M U S IC DE PARTM E N T C HAI R

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The arts are thriving on Skiff Mountain! The Marvelwood Performing Arts Department strives to produce excellent shows and concerts that challenge and excite our students. We began the year with a production that has not been seen on the Marvelwood stage in nearly a decade: Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.

This beloved show tangles all the best fairy tales into one, and it is a perennial favorite amongst theatre enthusiasts.

It also happens to feature a large cast and requires very advanced singing and acting ability. It was especially fun to reminisce about the first Marvelwood cast from 2008; it was a special treat when Thomas “Tex” Fisher ‘10, the original ‘Baker,’ stopped by rehearsal!

The Marvelwood Players’ winter production, Hello!

An Evening of One Act Plays, was chosen by students, and gave each cast member the opportunity to be featured in their own play, all of which explored friendships, relationships, and romantic entanglements. It is smaller shows like this that allow our students to grow as actors and delve deep into characterization, which, in turn, helps us to develop our theatre program and create the next generation of Marvelwood Players.

We always enjoy taking students to see live theatre, and we’re fortunate to have so much to choose from in the area. Parade, at Western Connecticut State University, featured Marvelwood Player alumni Sam Everett ’14. The production was fantastic! It went on to win the American College Theatre Festival’s most distinguished award and was invited to be performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. last spring. We also took two trips to see the incredible Broadway productions of Noises Off and Something Rotten. While we wish we could have gotten tickets to see the hottest show on Broadway, Hamilton, we will have to try again, as we have many students singing this show in the halls everyday!

Our Music Department has continued to grow and expand, as well. In the classroom, we introduced tone chimes. Students with varying levels of musical experience and physical coordination can learn quickly, and difficulty can then be increased in successive steps.

Tone chimes also allow students to come together at the end of each individual lesson to play together and reinforce sight reading skills. A group of music students performed ‘Carol of the Bells’ at Music on the Mountain’s

special holiday edition in December. In January, we enjoyed a fantastic concert. The show began with the amazing a cappella group singing The National Anthem in front of a digitized, waving American flag. Also, who could forget our now three-year-old percussion ensemble, which thrills audiences at the end of all of our concerts? The a cappella group was asked to perform at the Town of Kent’s Quiz Night and took a trip to New

York City to ‘busk,’ or sing on the streets to entertain the passersby.

Last year we began live streaming some of our productions, concerts, and events so that parents and alumni could enjoy the lively performances even from a distance, and we plan to do more this year. Look for information about how and where to tune in on the Marvelwood website.

Through our Arts programming, we strive to create opportunities for all of our students to perform and express themselves and enjoy each other’s talent!

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Student

BY WE N DI LO V E, DI R ECTO R O F STU DE N T ACTI V I TI E S

I

t was a marvelous year on Skiff Mountain. We began the 2015-2016 school year with our annual Back-to-School-Bash, sponsored by the Parents Association. We had music, food, and activities, and it is always a great way to welcome back old faces and meet new ones as well.

In October, in collaboration with Women’s Support Services of Sharon, we held our third annual Operation Jungle Red (OJR) to draw attention to and spark discussion about domestic violence and how to stop it. Participants had their pinky nails painted ‘jungle red’ to serve as a visible marker.

The annual Halloween parade is always a lot of fun, and this year’s brought out some very creative costumes, including faculty member and unique dresser Laurie Doss times three, and a deadringer for Seinfeld’s Kramer!

Although the winter was fairly mild, Winter Warm-Up Week energized the community at the end of the term, with themes, special meals, and activities—including a hypnotist—throughout the week.

The very popular Twin Day has developed into quite a competition; two-time champs Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Nappi P’13, ’16 were spellbinding as the twins from The Shining and won handily.

International night was a highlight of the week as well. Students and faculty prepared and served foods from their native countries, including 38

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Life2015-16 China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Afghanistan, Spain, France, Sweden, and Moldova.

In April, Marvelwood hosted its third annual Princess Tea Party, a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut. Students dressed up as Disney-themed princesses and other characters and welcomed children from the area to the special party, with autographs, photos opps, singing, and lots and lots of cupcakes! This year, Star Wars characters and Wonder Woman made special appearances.

Marvelwood Idol returned to the stage in April. Nicki Xu ’16 and her dance troupe won for a record fourth year in a row with an incredible and well-rehearsed dance medley. Faculty members Ian Johnson, Liza Maizel and Mike Cuff ‘judged’ the competition, and students voted for their favorite performers. The event was hosted by Belle Cameron ’18 and Sam Reffold ’16, who were naturals on stage!

Student Life sponsors community outreach, special workshops, and many events throughout the year, including Prom, Freshman Academy, and bi-monthly meals for the Town of Kent Senior Center.

It is our goal to bring fun to the student body, while increasing awareness of important issues and developing an atmosphere of respect and kindness.

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1

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Snapshots of the year 7

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1. 2016 top scholars

12. A LEGO bow tie!

2. Sage Dining Carnival

13. Winter semi-formal

3. End of School Bash

14. Civic Life Project

4. Blueberry bush

15. Signing Day

maintenance

16. Bird Banding

5. Forensics field trip

17. Prom King and Queen

6. Music on the Mountain

18. Prom

7. Honors Environmental

19. 2015-2016 All School Photo

Science field work

20

20. Senior Dinner

8. Ice Fishing

21. Evening ‘herping’

9. Yale Model UN

22. Skip Tucker Earth Day

10. Congressional Art Show

23. Winter Athletic Banquet

11. 9th Grade Field Trip

24. Fall Athletic Banquet 21 23

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BY Z AC H MAI Z E L ’04, DI R ECTO R O F ATH L E TI C S

2015-2016 was a record-breaking year for Marvelwood Athletics. Before classes even started in September, campus was buzzing with excitement as a very strong senior class looked to close the book on their athletic careers in a big way. The excitement was further heightened with the addition of one-year senior Fabio Massa ’16, who transferred from New York Military Academy when it looked like the school was going to close its doors for good (they did not). Massa and the Boys Varsity Soccer team became the talk of the Hudson Valley

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Athletic League, going 10-0 in league play and winning the HVAL tournament. During the campaign, Massa accumulated a school record of 46 goals in 17 games.

Along with Massa’s accolades, the team as a whole broke the school’s record for goals in a season and goals in a game.

After a very successful regular season, Girls Varsity Soccer advanced to the HVAL championship game, during which they defeated the top ranked Storm King School in an epic game after eight rounds of penalty shots. The Lady Dactyls fell to Oakwood Friends in the HVAL Finals, 3-1, but were very proud of a fantastic season. Along the way, three players put their names in the school record books, breaking seven records

between them. Emma Devanny ’16, a four-year starter and team captain, set the new mark for goals in a season and goals in a career. Her counterpart, Danielle Nappi ’16, also a four-year starter and captain, broke the record for assists in a career. Four-year starting goalkeeper Erin Muncey ’16 took home the lion’s share of records: most saves in a game, most saves in a season, and most saves in a career. Girls Varsity Soccer also set the school record for the most goals in a season.

Boys Cross Country and Girls Volleyball also had a successful fall. Cross country won the Faith Christian Invitational, while Volleyball posted six wins on the year, with Antonella Moya ’17 breaking the school record for aces in a game.

As the weather turned cold, the Pterodactyl athletics stayed hot! Boys Varsity Basketball was led by dominating force Fabio Massa ’16, who broke the school single game rebounding record twice and posted a 37-point-game during the season! While he was a force down low, Massa could also pop out to score from the perimeter. Massa and Kevin Meiselman ’16 tied the record for three-pointers in a game, with seven each.

Girls Varsity Basketball was once again a force to be reckoned with, qualifying for the HVAL Championship game and the New England tournament for the 4th consecutive year. Senior Danielle Nappi led the past three teams to success and did so again this year, concluding her career by breaking the 1,000-point

barrier and owning nine school records for girls basketball. Nappi will continue her basketball career with the Western New England University Golden Bears.

The mighty Pterodactyl wrestlers continued their individual successes with a record four wrestlers placing at the WNEISWA State Championships at Canterbury School. Junior Simon Winter took third place at 132 pounds. His younger brother, freshman Nathan Winter, joined the fold this season and placed fourth at 106 pounds. Senior Ivan Lerner also placed fourth at 138 pounds, and Senior Lazarus Musavyi took sixth at 170 pounds. The success of these individuals led the Marvelwood squad to a ninth place team finish, the first time the wrestling team has earned a top 10 state finish.

At the New England Championships, Ivan Lerner and Simon Winter shined the brightest, placing fifth and seventh respectively, to earn All New England honors and a trip to Prep Nationals at Lehigh University! They both represented well for the Blue and White in Pennsylvania, with Winter coming inches from pinning the number-seven ranked wrestler in the country during his first-round contest. Simon Winter and junior Chris Lane tied for the school record of 21 pins on the season; Winter also broke the record for career pins, finishing his junior season with 32 career pins.

(continued on next page)

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As the ground thawed and spring began, the athletes set out for Marvelwood’s busiest sports season, with six varsity teams competing in the HVAL and a hotbed of talent on the tennis courts. Girls tennis narrowly missed making it to the HVAL championship game, while the boys were a dominant force for a majority of the season. #1 singles player Zach Plotnick ’18 tied the school record for wins in a season. For the first time, Marvelwood fielded a JV Boys Tennis team.

The JV court warriors played with excitement and had a lot of fun, and opposing teams and parents complimented the Pterodactyls’ spirit and sportsmanship.

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team was again the class of the league, with a prolific offense (233 runs in 13 games). Seniors Emma Devanny and Danielle Nappi were the lightning for the Marvelwood thunder, ripping extra base hits left and right, and they were the reversible battery on the mound and behind the plate. Both were nominated for All-New England and finished their illustrious Marvelwood careers having reached the HVAL championship game in every sport they played in 2015-2016.

Baseball had one of its best seasons since the 2013 HVAL championship team. With a rigorous schedule full of back-to-back games, the boys of the diamond were up for the challenge and completed the regular season having earned the #3 seed for the tournament.

In the HVAL semifinal, the team faced off against Faith

Christian, who had handily beaten Marvelwood twice during the regular season. This game was a different story: while RBI leader Kevin Meiselman ‘16 drove in runs, Tighe Mueller ‘17 pitched a superb game. Leading into the fourth, Marvelwood could not sustain and fell in the end, 6-4.

With a young squad and four of the top five scorers being freshman and sophomore, the future looks bright for Marvelwood Lacrosse! The season featured three epic high-scoring battles with Darrow and the most wins since 2010. The team ended the season with a tough loss to Darrow in the HVAL semifinal, despite seven goals by Gabe Moldenhauer ‘18. Senior Isaiah Hickes led the team in scoring and will continue his lacrosse career at Mount Ida College. Freshman

phenoms Nathan Winter and Alex Sanchez (son of legendary Marvelwood coach Glenn Sanchez) were vital weapons on offense. The team is looking forward to bringing back the winning spirit to one of the School’s most iconic sports.

The star of the spring season was most definitely Ultimate Frisbee. With incredible athleticism throughout the roster, the Pterodactyl hurlers dominated the HVAL competition and won the trophy for the third time in five years. Fabio Massa ’16 was again the focal point of an HVAL championship run, scoring point after point and proving impossible for opponents to work around his defensive play.

As the spring drew to a close, the ultimate prize of the year came to Marvelwood with only days left in the

school year: The HVAL Sportsmanship Award.

Marvelwood athletes and their coaches were honored for their sportsmanship and class while on the fields, courts, and mats, which was the goal from the very beginning when I introduced the Marvelwood Athletics philosophy: Sportsmanship, Commitment, Pride. It is an incredible honor and could not been achieved without the coaches and players embracing these values in their everyday routines.

Three athletes will continue to play sports in college and were honored at our ceremonial Signing Day: Fabio Massa, Kings College (Men’s Soccer); Danielle Nappi, Western New England University (Women’s Basketball); and Isaiah Hickes, Mount Ida College (Men’s Lacrosse).

This was a tremendous sports year for Marvelwood. From banners to broken records, illustrious careers coming to a close, and new blood joining the fold, this was a campaign for the ages. Our seniors were one of the best groups of athletes to ever perform on Skiff Mountain. Their presence will be greatly missed, but what they have taught the underclassmen and the legacy they have left will not soon be forgotten. Danielle Nappi and Emma Devanny were two of the greatest female athletes in our School’s history. Between the two of them, they earned 20 All-HVAL honors and seven AllNew England honors in four years. Having the two of them play together was something truly special.

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Our Award-Winning Daffodils A Flourishing Legacy of Barbara Tacy

BY L AU R I E DOS S, SC I E NC E DE PARTM E NT C HAI R

O

n the same day as our campus Earth Day celebration, Marvelwood entered daffodils in the Connecticut Daffodil and New England Regional Show, sponsored by the Greenwich Daffodil Society. Of the 15 Skiff Mountain-grown daffodils that were exhibited, 14 won awards: five 1st place, four 2nd place, and five honorable mentions.

Congratulations to Honors Biology students who worked on the horticultural project, and thank you to Sky Trapella ’18 and Isabella Cameron ’18, who left campus at 4 a.m. to represent the School at the

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show. The campus daffodil project was initiated by Barbara Tacy, wife of former Head of School Peter Tacy (1981-1989), who worked tirelessly last fall with Honors Biology students, Science Department Chair Laurie Doss, and Garden Manager Alicia Winter P’17, ’19 to plant over 3,000 bulbs. Thanks to their efforts, the naturalizing bulbs will bring color and beauty to the campus in perpetuity. Sadly, just two days after the competition, on Earth Day, Barbara Tacy died following a nearly three-decade-long fight with cancer.

Remembering Barbara Tacy When Marvelwood entered a daffodil show for the very first time, the ‘experts’ advised us that we should stage our daffodils so that they ‘sat up’ and ‘smiled’ at the judges. We didn’t fully understand these instructions, but we followed along.

After learning that Barbara Tacy, Marvelwood’s daffodil guiding light, passed away on Friday, April 22nd, ‘smiling at the judges’ just might have another interpretation on campus each spring. Barbara departed this earth on Earth Day, shortly after the end of the Greenwich Daffodil Show. Last October, after soliciting bulb donations, Barbara worked tirelessly to teach our students everything she knew about daffodils to help us enhance Marvelwood’s landscape and biology curriculum. In March, shortly after spending eight days in intensive care, she called to tell me she was still planning to attend the show with us, but she also wanted to make sure we were fully prepared, just in case she was not able to make it. We talked for nearly an hour as I frantically took notes. A week before the show, Barbara’s health began to fail again, and she was back in intensive care. Barbara had worked so hard to share her knowledge and love of daffodils with all of the neophytes (students and faculty) involved in this project, so we wanted to honor her efforts in the only way we could: by exhibiting the results. While preparing our daffodils for exhibit the morning of the show, it felt as if Barbara’s spirit and enthusiasm were guiding us. In the end, our efforts on April 20th were successful: of the 15 Skiff Mountain-grown daffodils that were exhibited, 14 won awards: five 1st-place, four 2nd-place, and five honorable mentions. We were able to share our experience and success with Barbara in the hospital via her husband Peter.

Barbara has passed her daffodil legacy on to Marvelwood, especially the students.

The campus is now ablaze each spring with a wide variety of daffodils, some from the Tacy’s own garden in Mystic, CT, which will regenerate and grow each year. Folks say daffodils symbolize rebirth and a new beginning each spring. Now and in the future, when the daffodils grow, eventually sitting up and ‘smiling’ as they orient their blossoms toward the sun, we will remember that these ‘smiling’ daffodil blossoms are really a rebirth of Barbara, representing her love of flowers, life, humanity, and the Marvelwood community. Rest in peace Barbara. Thank you for passing on your knowledge and love of daffodils. You have taught us well, and we will continue to try to live up to the legacy that was left for us.

You will always be in our hearts!

Barbara Tacy (right) with Garden Coordinator Alicia Winter and Science Department Chair Laurie Doss

“A house with daffodils in it is a house lit up, whether or not the sun be shining outside.” ~ A.A. Milne BLUE & WHITE MAGAZINE – FALL 2016

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Advancement Office Update

Reaching Out

BY PAU L J. TI N E S, AS S I STAN T H E AD O F SC HO O L F O R ADVAN C E M E N T, DE AN O F TH E ARTS

I

t has been an incredibly busy year in the Advancement Office. We have hosted several annual events, including Cornwall Prism Day, Student Phone-a-thons, Student and Parents Dinners, Senior Dessert and Coffee, and Senior S’mores. We have also traveled across the country to visit with alumni and friends of the School. This past year has been exceptional for students and faculty, with achievements and strong work being done in academics, outstanding theatre and musical performances, fantastic arts activities, and skilled and competitive athletic endeavours. Our students have been fully engaged in the Marvelwood community.

On September 16, 2015, 60 new students celebrated Cornwall Prism Day, a day of reconnecting with the School’s past. Students traveled to Cornwall, which borders Kent, to visit Marvelwood’s original campus. Teachers Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19, Laurie Doss, and Matt Walters ’97 toured the students through the Village of Cornwall, giving them a walking history tour of the former Marvelwood campus.

Students asked questions about the early days of the School while they walked down Pine Street and saw former buildings, including Calhoun Dorm and Dunn House, as well as the Congregational Church, where graduation was held for the School’s first 25 years. Cornwall Prism Day ended at Foote Fields, where the students enjoyed snacks. They were fascinated by the rich and diverse history of our School.

A group of students met five times this year for evening pizza parties, which kicked off the annual phonathons. They made more than 800 phone calls to alumni and friends of the School, and they especially enjoyed talking with alumni and hearing their stories about the days when they were students.

New traditions for Reunion Weekend in June continued this year, including the gathering of alumni at the Piper Bell for the ringing of the Bell, the Alumni Parade with bagpipes, and alumni meeting at the edge of Lucy’s Pond on Saturday night to reminisce about Marvelwood around a fire pit. A luncheon was held for all attendees at the Pine Lodge at Mohawk Mountain, where many alumni remember skiing. A cocktail party was held at The Farmhouse on Saturday of Reunion Weekend, with dinner following at the Head of School’s residence.

The Parents Association Auction—A Country Fair— was a huge success. The event was held in a tent on the Great Lawn with 180 friends

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of the School in attendance. Students joined in for the live auction and dessert, followed by dancing. The School is ever grateful to the Parents Association for their commitment to the Marvelwood community. The Parents Association’s constant enthusiasm and support is felt every day on campus. We thank outgoing President Anne Street P’16 for her leadership for the past two years, and we welcome incoming President Joanne Gersten P’17.

We continue in the quiet phase of the Arts Center Capital Campaign. To date, we have raised $2.9 million. To ensure the success of this campaign, we need the support of the entire Marvelwood community, including alumni, current and past parents and grandparents, and friends of the School. Only through your generosity and support can the Arts Center become a reality. If you have not received campaign materials and wish to talk with someone in advancement about making a gift, please contact our office.

The Advancement Team has hosted dinners and receptions this year for alumni, parents, and friends of the School in Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, North Carolina, Georgia, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, and countless towns in Connecticut. These receptions and dinners have been a great opportunity for alumni and parents to come together, to re-engage with the School, and to reminisce about the past. It is always lovely to reconnect with the Marvelwood family.

We face many challenges as a School, a major one being the need to substantially build the endowment to ensure the School’s future.

Our endowment remains one of the smallest among our peer schools.

We need your help to lead the way to increasing it significantly. One way to support the endowment is to consider a Bequest gift. When you give to the Marvelwood School endowment, it represents your commitment to the School.

A Country Fair!

ANNUAL AUCTION

T

he spring auction was truly a community affair. Students, faculty, parents, and friends lent a hand in the planning and preparation, and everyone enjoyed a day of family fun and spectacular bidding. The Great Lawn became a country fair ground, with a big white tent decorated with gingham, burlap, bandanas, bright white and yellow daisies, hay bales, and mason jars. Decor Co-Chairs Deb Chabrian P’16 and Jen Greiner P’18 created an elegant and relaxed atmosphere The silent and live auctions were full of tempting and interesting items; there truly was something for everyone. Angela Eastwick ’02 (see page 7) was generous enough to offer a week’s stay at her guest house in Jamaica, and Board of Trustees Vice President Mark Esposito P’11 made a surprise donation of his vacation home in Idaho. The student art section was full of firstclass artwork. Procurement Chair Sarah Marshall P’18, ’19 put together some wonderful bundles; the graduation weekend package, including lovely Skiff Mountain accommodations, a photoshoot of the graduate, home-baked breakfast, VIP seating at graduation events, and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, was so popular that it was sold for 2016 and 2017 graduations!

Students were invited for the live auction, hosted by Head of School Art Goodearl, and dancing to a live bluegrass band. The School’s new giant fire pit, supplied by Sarah D’Agastino Christenson ’83, was broken in with s’more roasting, and it offered welcome warmth as the evening grew chilly. The day-long festivities brought in money for the Annual Fund, as well as for the renovation of the science labs, but the true highlight was the fun had by all at A Country Fair!

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The First Sixty Years: Marvelwood Past & Present

BY PAU L J. TI N E S, AS S I STAN T H E AD O F SC HO O L F O R ADVAN C E M E N T

T

he First Sixty Years is the soon-to-be published photographic history of our School, including a written history of Marvelwood.

The life of the School began in Cornwall, CT. Robert A. Bodkin and Ian Hanna founded Marvelwood in 1956, and four boys —Thomas Auchincloss, Anthony Clarke, Ken Ingraham, and Christopher Rees— became the first graduating class in 1958.

The new book contains dozens of photos of both the Cornwall and Kent campuses, and it is filled with stories and reflections from both current and former students, faculty, and staff, and facts that you may not know.

Current Head of School Arthur Goodearl, Jr. (2011) and past Heads of School

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Peter Tacy (1981-1989), Mark Johnson (19891997), Anne Scott (1997-2005), and Scott Pottbecker (2005-2011) were interviewed for the book, giving insights into their time as Head of School. You will learn more about the history of Marvelwood through their words and memories.

The Piper Victory Bell was dedicated in the memory of Bruce Conzen Piper, a member of the Class of 1963. It once stood in front of Calhoun at the top of the beautiful Coltsfoot Valley, and now stands on the Great Lawn, in the center of our stunning Skiff Mountain campus. The Piper Victory Bell is an icon of the school; ringing it signifies victory on the playing field, and marks special occasions such

as the start of the school and a newly graduated class. It’s a tradition and symbol which serves as a bridge between the two campuses. To foster an understanding of the School’s unique history and further that bridge, Cornwall Prism Day is a new tradition which brings current students to the Village of Cornwall and the School’s original campus.

Learn more about the School’s rich history in The First Sixty Years. Order your copy today online at www.marvelwood.org/60years

Excerpts from Marvelwood’s Second, Third, and Fourth Heads of School DAVI D MOG LE ’09, ADVAN C E M E N T AS SO C I ATE, WI TH C AI TL I N LYN C H P’13, DI R ECTOR OF MAR KE TI NG AN D CO M M U N I C ATI O N S

Peter Tacy

19 81 – 19 8 9

Peter Tacy had a 20-year independent school career prior to being named Marvelwood’s second Headmaster, including seven years teaching English at Buxton School in Williamstown, Massachusetts. In 1989, with one son in college and a second son finishing up high school, Peter and wife Barbara felt it was the right time to make the move to administration. When they began the search for a headship, Peter was unsure what he wanted in a potential school. Once he arrived on the Cornwall campus, however, the students made an immediate impression on him. The quality and dedication of the faculty, and the overall sense of community, also drew Peter and Barbara to the School. Ultimately, Peter says it was the opportunity to follow in Robert Bodkin’s visionary footsteps that made Marvelwood extremely appealing.

H. Mark Johnson

19 8 9 – 2 0 0 5

Mark Johnson became Marvelwood’s third Head of School in the summer of 1989.

Mark saw himself as a problem-solver who loved challenges, and he was drawn to Marvelwood by his enthusiasm for alternative education. Little did he know that Mother Nature would give him the ultimate challenge before he even started the job!

Mark and his wife Sally were on their way to move into the Headmaster’s residence when a series of tornados ripped through the area, leaving swaths of damage across the mountainous region. Mohawk Mountain Ski Area and the Village of Cornwall were amongst the hardest hit. Amazingly and thankfully, there were no fatalities, but thousands of trees were twisted, uprooted, and toppled like they were twigs. Arriving just hours after the tornados struck, Mark was unable to get anywhere near the School; the roads immediately around the campus were impassible, and the state police had shut down all approaches to the area. They weren’t even permitted to walk to campus, where Mark knew faculty and summer school students were holed up, safe but scared and without water, food, or electricity. After being forced to spend the night in a motel just down the road from campus, Mark remembers being shocked by the devastation when he was finally allowed into the Village the following day. The stately oak and maple trees that had lined Cornwall’s streets were in massive heaps. The virgin stand of Cathedral Pines just up the road from the School was almost completely leveled. The challenges that the School faced were unlike anything Mark could have predicted when he took the job.

Anne ‘Toby’ Scott

2 0 0 5 – 2 011

Toby Scott joined the Marvelwood faculty in 1985 as an English teacher and skills tutor. Two years later, she became Director of Studies, a position she held for eleven years until succeeding H. Mark Johnson as Head of School in 1997. During Toby’s tenure as Head of School, there were many notable accomplishments. In 2000, Toby oversaw the purchase of the campus from Kent School. After the School had moved from Cornwall to Kent in 1995, the campus was rented for four years at a considerable cost, with little to show for the investment. The process of purchasing the campus, however, was no small task. Toby recalls that the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) was a vital resource. CHEFA, which assists Connecticutbased nonprofit organizations in securing low-interest loans, generally works with much larger organizations, such as the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Toby says that Marvelwood was extremely fortunate to have received their assistance as a means to laying the groundwork for greater financial stability and to ensuring the future success of the School.

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The Marvelwood Annual Fund

BY G LE N N SANC H E Z P’18, ‘19, DI R ECTO R O F ALU M N I R E L ATI O N S, AN N UAL F U N D DI R ECTOR

W

hy is the Annual Fund important? It may surprise you to know that tuition dollars do not fully meet the operating costs of the School, which is not unique to Marvelwood. Most independent schools rely on fundraising to bridge the gap between tuition income and the operating budget. Marvelwood’s Annual Fund gives the School critical resources that enhance the educational experience of the entire student body.

With the assistance of many generous donors, as well as funds raised through special events like the annual auction and golf outing, this year’s annual fund reached $193,300. Every gift, large or small, counts—and every gift is important to the financial health of the school. The Annual Fund runs from July 1 through June 30 and is tax deductible. Please consider a gift today.

www.marvelwood.org/giveonline Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or suggestions.

860-927-0047 ext. 1045 glenn.sanchez@marvelwood.org

Thank you for your support!

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Phone-a-thons Did you get the call? Marvelwood student volunteers called alumni in a series of five phonathons throughout the school year to thank those who attended reunion and/or supported the annual fund. They also talked about their experiences as current students and what is happening on campus. Thank you to student volunteers Maggie Alex Sanchez ’19 reaching out to Everett ’16, Erin Hussey ’16, alums and friends of the School Nick Blue ’16, Max Casper ’16, Jack Harding ’17, Chris Lane ’17, during a student phone-a-thon.

Victoria Sanchez ’18, Alex Sanchez ’19, and Lee Mashburn ’19 for their time and effort, and thank you to those alumni who took the time to speak with our students. We will call you next year!

2015-2016 Annual Report Donor Categories Report CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE ($25,000 + )

Mr. Robert O. Swanson and Ms. Cynthia Shevlin P’93 Swanson and Shevlin Charitable Foundation THE BODKIN COUNCIL ($10,000–$24,999)

Mr. Robert C. Benn P’19 Mr. and Mrs. John B. Carpenter ’72 Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Mueller P’17 Schwab Charitable Fund HEAD OF SCHOOL’S COUNCIL ($5,000–$9,999)

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy K. Carpenter ’71 Chester Kitchings Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. William Frischling P’19 Mr. Peter Grossman and Mr. Lawrence Timmins Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hoddeson P’15 Jewish Communal Fund Mr. Burton Kassell P’16 Our Fund Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Sommerfield ’90 Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Tapiero P’19 Mr. Tedman Zuse and Ms. Ann Street P’16 HILLTOPPERS ($1,000–$4,999)

Mr. Mark Aspinwall ’67 Mr. Robert H. Bayne III ’85 Mr. Richard Becker Ms. Linda Bilella P’18 Ms. Tatiana Borukhova ’03 and Mr. Stephan J. Pawlowski ’03 Mr. Alfred Brooks and Dr. Peter Lombardo Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Cameron P’17, ’18 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Casper P’16 Mr. and Mrs. Mark Esposito P’11 Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund GE Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Goodearl Jr. Mr. David C. Howell ’65 Ms. Pamela Hussey P’16 Mrs. Louise Huyck ’82 and Mr. Tim Huyck Mr. and Mrs. Harlow Lewis II P’91 Mr. and Mrs. Bruce G. Loomis ’64 Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Love Mr. Brian Maier P’12 Mrs. Ellen McAllister P’14 Mr. and Mrs. John McAvity Mr. Calvin Mew and Ms. Mary Crawford Mr. David B. Mogle and Mrs. Deborah Ajak Mogle P’09 Mr. Frank Moore and Ms. Nichola Bott P’14 Mr. Anthony C. O’Malley and Ms. Donna Randles P’11 Mr. and Mrs. David R. Pawlowski P’03 Mr. and Mrs. Steven B. Perrins ’64

Mr. Jeffrey Peterson P’17 Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program Mr. Joshua T. Pierce ’95 Ms. Deborah Relyea Mr. and Mrs. Alan Sanchez GP’18, ’19 Mr. Glenn Sanchez and Mrs. Sarah Marshall P’18, ’19 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Schuftan P’17 Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Scott Mr. Peter B. Tacy The Lucy Fund The New York Community Trust Mr. Paul J. Tines Mr. and Mrs. Oliver C. Toupense Jr. ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Maarten R. van Hengel ’71 Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Winter P’17, ’19 XL America Matching Gift Program SKIFFERS ($500–$999)

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Auchincloss ’58 Mr. and Mrs. Clifford G. Baker P’00 Mr. and Mrs. Rajeev Chennattu P’15 Mr. Thomas S. Cowles ’67 Mr. Richard Creighton and Ms. Jane Ottenberg P’97 Mr. and Mrs. William J. Edwards ’63 Mr. Michael A. Esposito ’11 Mr. Minguen Kim and Mrs. Eunok Han P’11, ’15 Ms. Patricia Kogan P’16 Mr. Mark Labouchere Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Ober Jr. Mr. and Mrs. William R. Pouch ’82 Mr. Jason A. Ridgley ’95 Mr. and Mrs. William Riess P’82 Sage Dining Services Mr. and Mrs. James R. Samartini Mr. Thomas Sebring and Mr. Steve Vaughn Mr. and Mrs. William Steely P’17 William Perotti & Sons Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Winter GP’17, ’19 Mr. and Mrs. Greg Zorthian P’16 HOUSATONICS ($250–$499)

Mrs. Erika M. Baldwin P’99 Mr. and Mrs. George W. Browning ’60 Mr. Peter E. Burke ’82 Mrs. Donna Carey ’81 and Mr. Kevin Carey Mr. and Mrs. Reed W. Cass ’64 Ms. Laurie K. Doss Ms. Suzanne Doss Mr. and Mrs. Jon A. Dzubak ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Fendler P’11 Mr. John R. Johnson Dr. Walter R. Kane Dr. and Mrs. Terrence A. Kuhlmann P’98 Dr. Bruce C. Latelle P’90

Mr. and Mrs. John Nappi P’13, ’16 Mr. and Mrs. James O. Payne Jr. ’84 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pratt P’15 Mrs. Ann Wurzer Thomson ’83 and Mr. Caleb Thomson PTERODACTYLS ($249 or less)

Mr. Ross Abrash and Mrs. Michele MenziesAbrash P’15 Ms. Alyssa Abrash ’15 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Aebersold Ms. Marion Alamo P’05 Mr. and Mrs. David Almquist Mr. and Mrs. L. Elvin Ambler P’99 Ms. Margaret Austell P’16, '18 Mr. R. Samuel Bainbridge ’09 Mr. Mark Barbaro ’16 Mrs. Donna M. Barsotti P’00 Mr. Josiah Bates ’11 Bell Electrical Contractors, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Richard Blue P’16 Mr. Nicholas Blue ’16 Ms. Maggie Blumenthal ’15 Mr. Paul Blumenthal P’15 Mr. and Mrs. Daryl E. Bohning Mrs. Anita Brean Mr. and Mrs. Lee A. Brewda P’03 Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Brown Mr. and Mrs. John Burton Jr. P’91 Mr. John F. Burton III ’91 Ms. Priscilla K. Carson-Lindberg ’96 and Mr. Batsaikhan Bazarragchaa

Mr. and Mrs. Sean Cassidy P’13 Mr. Kenneth J. Cavanagh and Ms. Deborah Hamlin P’09 Mr. Harikrishnan Chennattu ’15 Chestnut Woodworking & Antique Flooring Co. LLC Ms. Sarah D’Agostino Christensen ’83 Mr. Edward B. Christie ’77 Ms. Margaret Cooley P’92, GP’17 Mr. Nathaniel Corwin Ms. Emma S. Creighton ’97 Ms. Marie Darling GP’17 Mr. Brandon T. Denmark ’03 Mr. and Mrs. Leon B. Denmark P’03 Mr. David N. Dennehy ’91 and Ms. Stefanie Durstin Mrs. Jaquelin G. Dennehy P’91 Mr. and Mrs. William W. Dennett Ms. Bernadette Devanny GP’16 Mr. and Mrs. Donald DeVita Mr. and Mrs. Michael D’Iorio P’10 Mr. Eric J. Driver ’06 Mr. Adam Ehrman-Shapiro ’11 Mr. Brian Fendler ’11 First Congregational Church Mr. Dylan Fischer ’16 Mr. Thomas Fisher ’10 Ms. Ann B. Fisher Esq. P’10 Mr. and Mrs. James J. Ford Jr. ’68 Mr. Stephen Forneris ’86 Mr. and Mrs. John Forneris P’86 Mr. Peter F. Fuller ’78 Mr. and Mrs. Warren D. Fuller P’78

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Mr. John Garretto ’97 Ms. Jenna Goodearl and Mr. Christopher L. Forkey Mr. Richard R. Gott ’62 Mr. Matthew D. Hamlin-Cavanagh ’09 Mr. Adam Herman Mr. Ira Hochberg ’85 Ms. Meredith Hoddeson ’15 Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Holinger ’67 Mr. Michael Hopper and Ms. Ainslie Wallace P’16 Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth B. Ingraham ’58 Mr. Mark P. Jaffe ’95 Mr. and Dr. Matthew E. Jaffe Esq. P’95 Mr. Norman Jason Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Jenkins Mr. and Mrs. Mark T. Johnson ’69 Ms. Julie Jones P’12 Mr. Michael W. Juster ’09 Mr. Nicholas R. Kamen ’05 Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Kamen P’05 Ms. Tallulah Kassell ’16 Ms. HoJin Kim ’11 Ms. Hyun Jin Kim ’15 Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Latelle GP’90 Mr. Andrew D. Lewis ’91 Mrs. Laura Tyson Li ’81 and Mr. Rick Li Ms. Myriam A. Limage P’08 Dr. Grace Lin Mr. Matthew Maier ’12 Mr. and Mrs. Steve Malinowski Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Malyndziak GP’10 Dr. and Mrs. Burt Mashburn P’19 Mr. and Mrs. Richard McCarthy II Mr. Peter C. McSpadden ’83 Mr. Kevin Meiselman ’16 Mr. David B. Mogle II ’09 Ms. Melissa L. Morgan ’94 Mr. and Mrs. James Muncey GP’13, ’16 Ms. Erin Muncey ’16 Mr. Taylor Nappi ’13 Ms. Danielle Nappi ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Noe

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Mrs. Sharon O’Brien Mr. Brian P. O’Connor ’96 Mrs. Valerie O’Connor P’96 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Oros ’90 Mr. William M. Oros Jr. ’92 Mr. and Mrs. William M. Oros Sr. P’90, ’92 Mr. Joseph Pelaggi ’16 Drs. Paris and Lorri Perry P’18 Mr. and Mrs. John L. Picton ’64 Ms. Toni Presti and Mr. Korey Elsesser Judge and Mrs. John Pursel P’90 Ms. Susan Renfrew P’89 Mr. and Mrs. Reno B. Renfrew ’89 Mr. and Mrs. Christopher S. Renkert P’16 Mr. Jacob Renkert ’16 Mr. Will Rhame ’04 Mr. and Mrs. Craig P. Rider ’62 Mr. and Mrs. John D. Russell ’88 Mrs. Elisabeth Russell P’88 Ms. Jo-Ann Sanborn GP’17, ’19 Mr. Carlos M. Santos II ’05 Mr. Javante-Cameron Sheffield ’13 Mr. Kendale Sheffield ’15 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sheffield P’13, ’15 Mr. and Mrs. Ira Smith Ms. Marion Smith and Mr. Sergio Villaschi Mr. Ian Steely Ms. Mirabelle F. Thevenin ’08 Timex Group USA, INC. Mr. Peter Wade Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wagner Mr. Samuel L. Waldschmidt ’12 Mr. Matthew T. Walters ’97 Mr. John D. Watson ’62 Mr. and Mrs. Warren Watters P’78 Reverend Roger B. White Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Whitehead Jr. ’79 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew W. Williams P’03 Mrs. Diane Woodward Mr. and Mrs. Sidney H. Yarbrough IV ’84 Mr. and Mrs. Casimir A. Yost ’64 Mr. John Zorthian ’16

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AUCTION DONORS

Mr. Kurt Abrahamson P’16 All Star Driver Andron Construction Company Ms. Gretchen Babarovic and Ms. Tina Babarovic Backcountry Outfitters/Annie Bananie Ice Cream Mr. Robert H. Bayne III ’85 Bella Jewelers Dr. Cathy Benedict P’16 Ms. Maren Benn ’19 Mrs. Laura Driscoll Benn P’19 Mr. Bruce Bernstein and Ms. Mindy Katz P’18 Ms. Linda Bilella P’18 Mr. Salman Binmahfouz ’16 Ms. Cindy Birkins Mr. and Mrs. Richard Blue P’16 Mr. and Mrs. Daryl E. Bohning Ms. Michelle L. Borsavage Mr. Maxfield Branson ’18 Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Branson P’18 Mr. and Mrs. Mark Briggs P’18 Mr. Jonathan Buika Mr. Richard Buika Ms. Isabelle Cameron ’18 Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Cameron P’17, ’18 Candlewood Animal Hospital Mr. and Mrs. Timothy K. Carpenter ’71 Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Carroll Mr. and Mrs. Robert Casper P’16 Ms. Xuenan Chen ’16 Ms. Sarah D’Agostino Christensen ’83 Chestnut Woodworking & Antique Flooring Co. LLC Ms. Margaret Cooley P’92, GP’17 Coty Inc. Country Clothes Mr. Michael Cuff Mr. and Mrs. Phil Darrin David Gavin Salon Davis IGA Ms. Emma Devanny ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Devanny P’16 D’Iorio Construction Ms. Suzanne Doss Ms. Laurie K. Doss Mr. and Mrs. Patrick G. Duffy ’80, P’17 Ms. Marcella Dumitrascu ’19 Mr. and Mrs. Valentin Dumitrascu P’19 E & R Laundry and Dry Cleaners Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts Equilibrium Bodyworks Mr. and Mrs. Mark Esposito P’11 Fife and Drum Mr. and Mrs. James Fischer P’16 Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Foote Foreign Cargo and The Gallery Upstairs Four Bothers Pizza Inn Mr. and Mrs. William Frischling P’19 Mr. and Mrs. Peter Fusaro P’17 Ms. Jacqueline Gershman ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Gershman P’16 Dr. Gregory Gersten and Ms. Joanne Gersten P’17 Gifford’s Restaurant Gilded Lily Jewelry

Ms. Jenna Goodearl and Mr. Christopher L. Forkey Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Goodearl Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Greiner P’18 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Grosvenor P’17 Ms. Claire Grosvenor ’17 Mr. and Mrs. Isidoro Haiat P’19 Ms. Sarah Hammel P’18 Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hardecker Mr. and Mrs. John Haskell Mr. and Mrs. Brian Hastings Heron American Craft Gallery Mr. Michael Hopper and Ms. Ainslie Wallace P’16 House of Books Mr. and Mrs. Brian Hunt Ms. Pamela Hussey P’16 Ms. Erin Hussey ’16 Mr. John Hussey P’16 Infinity Music Hall & Bistro Inn at Kent Falls J.J. Grogan’s Dr. and Mrs. Michael Jaffe P’16 Ms. Lauren Janecek ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Janecek P’06, ’10, ’13, ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Ted Jarzynka Mr. Rafe Jenney and Ms. Anne Hamburger P’16 Joe’s Salon Mr. Ian Johnson Ms. Tallulah Kassell ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Doug Keck Mr. Guy Kennedy ’18 Dr. and Mrs. John Kennedy P’14, ’18 Kent Biomedical Acupuncture Kent Coffee & Chocolate Company Kent Fabrics Kent Hair Studio Kent Station Pharmacy Kent Wine and Spirit Kingsley Tavern Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Koch Ms. Patricia Kogan P’16 Ms. Ngai Tung Lam ’17 Mr. Christopher Lane ’17 Mr. Dominique Lasseur Lime Rock Park Dr. Grace Lin Mr. and Mrs. Nick Longinotti P’19 Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Love Ms. Caitlin Lynch P’13 Mr. Andrew Vadnais and Ms. Nancy Lyon P’18 Main Street Antiques Mr. Zachary H. Maizel ’04 Ms. Liza Maizel Ms. Gabriella Martinez ’16 Mr. Edward Martinez and Ms. Deborah Chabrian P’16 Dr. and Mrs. Burt Mashburn P’19 Mr. Charles Mathena ’17 Mr. and Mrs. Edward Matson P’17 Mrs. Ellen McAllister P’14 Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Meiselman P’16 Mr. Calvin Mew and Ms. Mary Crawford Mr. David Moldenhauer and Ms. Julia Lichtblau P’18 Mr. Frank Moore and Ms. Nichola Bott P’14 Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Mueller P’17

William Perotti & Sons Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Winter P’17, ’19 Mr. and Mrs. Greg Zorthian P’16 Ms. Hadley Zuse ’16 Mr. Tedman Zuse and Ms. Ann Street P’16 ALUMNI DONORS

N.M. Watson Wild Bird Supply Ms. Danielle Nappi ’16 Mr. and Mrs. John Nappi P’13, ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Marc Neer P’13 Nicholas/Tobin Insurance No. 109 Cheese & Wine Mr. and Mrs. John O’Brien P’17 Mr. Jesse Ofgang Ms. Regina Olson and Mr. Robert Friedman P’18 Mr. and Mrs. Randy O’Rourke Ms. Mary Paranicas P’17 Mr. and Mrs. James Pase P’13 Mr. and Mrs. Gonzo Pedro-Garcia Drs. Paris and Lorri Perry P’18 Mr. and Dr. Joseph Philips P’17 Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Plotnick P’18 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pratt P’15 Preferred Building Maintenance LLC Ms. Ziwei Qiu ’19 Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Raleigh P’14 Mrs. Brenda Records P’19 Mr. Laurence Reffold and Ms. Beth Starr P’16 Mr. Jamie Reisch and Mr. Eamonn Maguire Mr. and Mrs. Christopher S. Renkert P’16 Rolling River Antiques Mr. David Rosenberg and Ms. Robyn Cutler Mr. and Mrs. John D. Russell ’88 Mr. Glenn Sanchez and Mrs. Sarah Marshall P’18, ’19 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sawyer Mr. and Mrs. Michael Schuftan P’17 Scott & Bowne Fine Art & Furnishings Mr. Thomas Sebring and Mr. Steve Vaughn

Shanghai Restaurant Sharon Playhouse Mrs. Sandra Singco Mr. and Mrs. Ira Smith Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Sommerfield ’90 Sportsmen’s Starbuck Inn Strong CORE Team Training LLC Sundog Shoe & Leather Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Tapiero P’19 Tea & Dreams Terraloka Massage & Wellness Terston Home Accents & Womenswear The Good Portfolio Thimble Island Cruise Thimbleberry Cafe Mrs. Ann Wurzer Thomson ’83 and Mr. Caleb Thomson Mr. Paul J. Tines Mr. Emanuele Trapella P’18 Mr. and Mrs. Frank Trinity P’17 Mr. and Mrs. James Vick Ms. Tricia Vivado P’18 Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo I. Vollmer ’80, P’16, ’19 W. Rhythm Fitness LLC Mr. William Warden and Ms. Lucy Inman P’17 Warner Theatre Wasabi Chinese and Japanese Cuisine Mrs. Mary Ann Weiler P’17 Ms. Kathy Weiser Ms. Pamela West Mr. Bruce Whipple and Mr. Michael Ward Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Whittier P’18 Dr. and Mrs. Bradley Wiener P’17

Ms. Alyssa Abrash ’15 Mr. Mark Aspinwall ’67 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Auchincloss ’58 Mr. R. Samuel Bainbridge ’09 Mr. Josiah Bates ’11 Mr. Robert H. Bayne III ’85 Ms. Maggie Blumenthal ’15 Ms. Tatiana Borukhova ’03 and Mr. Stephan J. Pawlowski ’03 Mr. and Mrs. George W. Browning ’60 Mr. Peter E. Burke ’82 Mr. John F. Burton III ’91 Mrs. Donna Carey ’81 and Mr. Kevin Carey Mr. and Mrs. Timothy K. Carpenter ’71 Mr. and Mrs. John B. Carpenter ’72 Ms. Priscilla K. Carson-Lindberg ’96 and Mr. Batsaikhan Bazarragchaa Mr. and Mrs. Reed W. Cass ’64 Mr. Harikrishnan Chennattu ’15 Ms. Sarah D’Agostino Christensen ’83 Mr. Edward B. Christie ’77 Mr. Thomas S. Cowles ’67 Ms. Emma S. Creighton ’97 Mr. Brandon T. Denmark ’03 Mr. David N. Dennehy ’91 and Ms. Stefanie Durstin Mr. Eric J. Driver ’06 Mr. and Mrs. Jon A. Dzubak ’76 Mr. and Mrs. William J. Edwards ’63 Mr. Adam Ehrman-Shapiro ’11 Mr. Michael A. Esposito ’11 Mr. Brian Fendler ’11 Mr. Thomas Fisher ’10 Mr. and Mrs. James J. Ford Jr. ’68 Mr. Stephen Forneris ’86 Mr. Peter F. Fuller ’78 Mr. John Garretto ’97 Mr. Richard R. Gott ’62 Mr. Matthew D. Hamlin-Cavanagh ’09 Mr. Ira Hochberg ’85 Ms. Meredith Hoddeson ’15 Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Holinger ’67 Mr. David C. Howell ’65 Mrs. Louise Huyck ’82 and Mr. Tim Huyck Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth B. Ingraham ’58 Mr. Mark P. Jaffe ’95 Mr. and Mrs. Mark T. Johnson ’69 Mr. Michael W. Juster ’09 Mr. Nicholas R. Kamen ’05 Ms. HoJin Kim ’11 Ms. Hyun Jin Kim ’15 Mr. Andrew D. Lewis ’91 Mrs. Laura Tyson Li ’81 and Mr. Rick Li Mr. and Mrs. Bruce G. Loomis ’64 Mr. Matthew Maier ’12 Mr. Peter C. McSpadden ’83 Mr. David B. Mogle II ’09 Ms. Melissa L. Morgan ’94 Mr. Taylor Nappi ’13 Mr. Brian P. O’Connor ’96

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Oros ’90 Mr. William M. Oros Jr. ’92 Mr. and Mrs. James O. Payne Jr. ’84 Mr. and Mrs. Steven B. Perrins ’64 Mr. and Mrs. John L. Picton ’64 Mr. Joshua T. Pierce ’95 Mr. and Mrs. William R. Pouch ’82 Mr. and Mrs. Reno B. Renfrew ’89 Mr. Will Rhame ’04 Mr. and Mrs. Craig P. Rider ’62 Mr. Jason A. Ridgley ’95 Mr. and Mrs. John D. Russell ’88 Mr. Carlos M. Santos II ’05 Mr. Javante-Cameron Sheffield ’13 Mr. Kendale Sheffield ’15 Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Sommerfield ’90 Ms. Mirabelle F. Thevenin ’08 Mrs. Ann Wurzer Thomson ’83 and Mr. Caleb Thomson Mr. and Mrs. Oliver C. Toupense Jr. ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Maarten R. van Hengel ’71 Mr. Samuel L. Waldschmidt ’12 Mr. Matthew T. Walters ’97 Mr. John D. Watson ’62 Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Whitehead Jr. ’79 Mr. and Mrs. Sidney H. Yarbrough IV ’84 Mr. and Mrs. Casimir A. Yost ’64 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Mr. and Mrs. David Almquist Anonymous B.L. Gleason & Son Electrical Contractors Mr. Salem Binmahfouz and Mrs. Maysoon Mater P’16 Mr. and Mrs. Timothy K. Carpenter ’71 Mr. and Mrs. William E. Connor II P’12 Mr. and Mrs. William W. Dennett Mr. and Mrs. Mark Esposito P’11 Estate of Cornelia E. Bodkin Mr. and Mrs. William Frischling P’19 Mr. Peter Grossman and Mr. Lawrence Timmins Mr. and Mrs. Charles Grosvenor P’17 Jewish Communal Fund Mr. Xiupo Li and Ms. Yan Yang P’17 Mr. Juantxo Lopez de Uralde and Mrs. Koro Castellano P’16 Dr. and Mrs. Burt Mashburn P’19 Mrs. Ellen McAllister P’14 Ms. Wendy McAllister Mr. Frank Moore and Ms. Nichola Bott P’14 Mr. Vinh Nguyen Huu and Mrs. Uyen Ha Kim P’17 Our Fund Mr. and Mrs. George Potts Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pratt P’15 Mr. and Mrs. James R. Samartini Mr. and Mrs. John A. Sargent ’64 Mr. and Mrs. Stephen B. Smith ’59 Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Sommerfield ’90 Ms. Georgiana Treivush P’16 UBS Employee Giving Programs Mrs. Barbara Woodward Mr. Yong Yu and Mrs. Jianping Du P’17 Mr. Ning Zhao and Ms. Jian Wang P’18 Mr. Yan Zhou and Ms. Li Li P’18

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HONOR/MEMORY GIFTS

In honor of The Marvelwood School With gratitude for the dedication, kindness, generosity, and patience of Marvelwood’s administration, educators and staff.

Mr. Ross Abrash and Mrs. Michele Menzies-Abrash P’15 In honor of The Benn Family Mr. Robert C. Benn P’19 In honor of John Matson ’17 Ms. Marie Darling GP’17 In honor of Paul Tines, Assistant Head of School for Advancement A gift in honor of Paul Tines, for all of his great work! From a Newman School fan of Mr. Paul Tines.

Mr. Adam Herman In honor of Misty Jordan and the Theatre Department Mr. Burton Kassell P’16 and Ms. MC Kassell ’16 In honor of the Labouchere Family Mr. Mark Labouchere In honor of Dolph Traymon Mr. and Mrs. George Potts In honor of Edwin and Ann Sundt Anonymous In honor of Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19, Annual Fund Director Reverend Roger B. White In honor of Simon Winter ’17 and Nathan Winter ’19 In honor of Simon Winter ’17 and Nathan Winter ’19 from their grandparents Charles and Andrea Winter.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Winter GP’17, ’19 In Memory of Michael Francis Pawlowski In memory of my loving brother Michael Francis Pawloski.

Mr. Stephan J. Pawlowski ’03

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In Memory of H. Wardwell Howell P’65 Mr. David C. Howell ’65 In Memory of David Jon Latelle ’90 Dr. Bruce C. Latelle P’90 In Memory of Jay McAllister P’14 Ms. Wendy McAllister In Memory of Peter Keffer-Fries ’02 Mr. and Mrs. Richard McCarthy II In Memory of Robert and Cornelia Bodkin Ms. Deborah Relyea Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Brown In Memory of Robert and Cornelia Bodkin In honor of the sincere effort to be true to the Bodkin’s and Hanna’s dream and with gratitude to the profound impact my Marvelwood experience has had on my life.

Mr. and Mrs. Craig P. Rider ’62

The Bodkin Society A Reason to Give — Then • Now • Forever We hope you will include Marvelwood when you are considering your lifelong financial planning priorities.

If you would like more information on how to make Marvelwood part of your plans, we can provide you with

In Memory of John H. Woodward Mrs. Diane Woodward

guidance on how to get started. We also encourage you to

GIFTS IN KIND

considering any type of planned gift. For more information

Mr. Theodore G. Bohnen ’64 and Ms. Susan Harrington Mr. and Mrs. Mark Briggs P’18 Mr. and Mrs. Timothy K. Carpenter ’71 Mr. and Mrs. Mark Esposito P’11 Four Corners LLC Greenwich Daffodil Society Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Maizel P’04 Mrs. Ellen McAllister P’14 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pratt P’15 Mr. and Mrs. James R. Samartini Mr. Thomas Sebring and Mr. Steve Vaughn SoDelicious Homemade Bakery Mr. Peter B. Tacy The American Pie Company, Inc. The Sweet Spot Van Engelen Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Winter P’17, ’19 Mrs. Diane Woodward Mr. Yan Zhou and Ms. Li Li P’18 Mr. Tedman Zuse and Ms. Ann Street P’16

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consult your own financial planner or legal counsel when

about making a bequest or to learn about other arrangements that can enhance your support of Marvelwood, please contact Assistant Head of School for Advancement Paul J. Tines at 860-927-0047 x1016.

The Marvelwood School Advancement Office Paul J. Tines Assistant Head of School for Advancement Dean of the Arts

Caitlin Lynch P’13 Director of Marketing and Communications Events Coordinator

Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19 Director of Alumni Relations Annual Fund Director

Karin Nappi P’13, ’16 Senior Advancement Associate David Mogle ’09 Advancement Associate

Class Notes 1960s John Watson ’62 John graduated from Nichols College in 1966. After a long career, John retired from a now defunct company that operated computers for the New York Stock Exchange. He lives on Staten Island and enjoys a beautiful view of the New York Harbor. John loves to travel and is an avid photographer.

Stephen Ruzicka PhD ’64 Stephen is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. A specialist in ancient history, his book Trouble in the West: Egypt and the Persian Empire 525-332 BCE was published by Oxford University Press in 2012. Stephen attended a Marvelwood reception in Greensboro, North Carolina in March.

Peter and Joanna on their farm.

Richard Holinger ’67

he sends his regards to his classmates and friends, including Chappy Allen, Pat Paterson, John Miller, Charlie Mountain, Mike Worthington, and Mike Crosby, just to name a few.

1970s

Harold “Pat” Patterson ’66 Harold ’Pat’ Patterson joined us for an alumni reception in Atlanta last March. He lives outside of the city and works for Nordson, a local manufacturing company. He told us stories of playing lacrosse for Marvelwood, and how he officiated youth lacrosse games in Atlanta for years. He also talked about southern cooking and sent Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19 his special recipes for amazing chili and barbecue sauce.

John Seidel ’66

Stephen with Ken Ingram ’58 (left), Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19, and Amanda Sceusa Walter ’06 in North Carolina.

Peter Antell ’66 Peter has been practicing law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 42 years and lives with his wife, Joanna, in the Back Bay area of Boston. After thinking for many years that he would ‘fall off the world west of Copley Square,’ Peter rediscovered Northwest Connecticut and Upstate New York in the summer of 2000, when he and Joanna bought a small farm and apple orchard very close to Marvelwood’s original Cornwall campus. With their border collie, Bullit, they’ve enjoyed making it their second home. Peter says he remembers life at Marvelwood like it was yesterday, and

John is a child and adolescent psychologist in New Mexico. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Miami and a master’s degree from New Mexico Highlands University, and he then went back to the University of Miami for a PhD. John has two children, David and Merina.

While at Marvelwood, John enjoyed hiking down Cornwall’s Coltsfoot Valley, as well as playing lacrosse and hockey. He remembers an undefeated hockey season with pride!

Gary Lanza ’77 Gary and his wife, Sandra, live in Hyattsville, MD, where he is an auto technician. Gary has two sons, Christopher (36) and Gus (32), and a grandson, Jacob (5). Some of Gary’s interests include tennis, soccer, football, swimming, and working on old cars. Gary reports that he had a great experience as a student on the Cornwall campus, both in and out of the classroom. One of his favorite places was the swimming hole in the valley.

1980s Kathrine Williams Butler ’85 Since earning an undergraduate degree in communications and elementary education at the University of Alabama, Kathrine has received many educational certificates, including The Hill Center’s HillRAP Reading Certification Program, Lindamood-Bell,

Richard Holinger ’67 Richard recalls that when he was a student on the Cornwall Campus, he and his fellow hockey players laboriously erected the wood and chicken wire rink, board by board. When snow came, the team took hourlong shifts throughout the night to keep the ice cleared.

He remembers that he and his teammates would spend hours on the ice shooting pucks off the plywood and playing the game that they loved.

Kathrine shows off her Class Agent hat at Reunion 2015.

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caught up with Director of Alumni Relations Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19 in New York City in June.

and Barton Reading Instruction. Kathrine and her husband Warren have two children: Parker, a student at Washington and Lee University, and Danner, a student at UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, Alabama.

Kathrine has many fond memories of her time at Marvelwood, including the relentless patience and encouragement of the faculty, being part of the Girls Varsity Soccer team, walking from the dining hall at night and literally running into cows that had escaped from the farm across the street, and ’the beautiful environment that surrounded our learning experience.’ The friends whom she made as a Marvelwood student are very dear to her heart. Kathrine enjoyed reconnecting with the Marvelwood Community at Reunion 2015.

John Russell ’88 John has been Marvelwood’s Dean of Students for five years. He lives at the Kent School with his wife Annie, who is Dean of Faculty, and their son John Angus. John is very active in the local Kent Volunteer Fire Department. An avid telemark skier, he also coaches the Marvelwood ski team.

Jamie Kaufman ’96 Jamie lives in Huntington, NY, with her 11-year-old daughter, Anaya. She is a licensed skincare therapist, massage therapist, aromatherapist, and she is in the process of opening her own business, which she is very excited about.

Matt with Science Department Chair Laurie Doss at Reunion 2016

Matt Dupuis ’91 Matt is approaching his 20th anniversary with the US Postal Service. He lives in Newington, Connecticut, and enjoys traveling, music festivals, sporting events, and playing in poker tournaments. Matt returned to Marvelwood in June to celebrate his 25th Reunion and enjoyed reconnecting with faculty members such as Glenn Sanchez and Laurie Doss P’18, ’19.

Jenn Cooley Barstow ’92 Jenn is taking classes at Daytona State College in Florida and plans to go into nursing. She has two children: Kailee (14) and Jamie (17), who is currently a junior at Marvelwood. As a student at Marvelwood, Jenn enjoyed learning from Laurie Doss, both in the classroom and on the softball field!

Jamie and her daughter, Anaya

Kongo Kawakita ’96 Kongo and his wife Ayana welcomed daughter Airi on May 2nd, 2016. Airi joins 3-year-old brother Ichiro.

Julia Davis Morrison ’93 John at new student orientation in September

1990s David Dennehy ’91 Former faculty member David Dennehy ’91 was awarded the NIAAA State Award of Merit in April, 2016. The award is presented annually by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association to a NIAAA member “in recognition of service, leadership, and special contributions to interscholastic athletics at the local and state levels.” Dave is Athletic Director at St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol, Connecticut, and in his nine-year tenure is responsible for adding wrestling, boys and girls lacrosse, JV boys golf and girls tennis to the interscholastic program. Dave lives in Harwinton with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children, Jack and Joanna, and volunteers as a youth soccer and baseball coach with the Harwinton Youth Sports Association.

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Julia lives in Savannah, Georgia with her husband Mills and two sons, Mills III and Harry. She has been selling residential and investment real estate for the past 17 years.

Nicole Martin Pushong ’93 Nicole is a district manager for Zale’s Jewelry in the Memphis, Tennessee region. She has three children: Isabella (17), Max (15), and Rocco (8). Nicole occasionally sees fellow Memphis residents Jesse Hays ’91 and Tracy Kroul Hays ’92, and she hopes to get back to Marvelwood for reunion in the near future. Prior to Memphis, Nicole and her family lived in Chicago, Seattle, and Australia.

Damian Hedley ’94 Damian is a senior vice president at UBS in San Francisco. He enjoys skiing and fishing, and is planning a trip to Havana, Cuba to chase some Tarpon off the coast.

Most importantly, Damian is happy to announce that he is engaged to be married. Damian attended the Marvelwood reception in San Francisco in February, and

Airi, daughter of Kongo Kawakita ’96

Marisa Terrana Block ’96 Marisa and David Block welcomed their first child Xavier Jeremy on December 28th, 2015. They live in Montgomery, New York, and Marisa is a one-on-one special education teacher’s aide in nearby Goshen, NY.

Xavier, son of Marisa Terrana Block ’96

itself. As a faculty member, my colleagues are more like teammates than coworkers, each with a plethora of skills that make them excellent educators, as well as mentors to each other.”

This past year, Matt had the opportunity to work with Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19 and the Advancement Office on Cornwall Prism Day, when all students new to Marvelwood spend an afternoon touring the “old campus” and learning about life in Cornwall. Matt is in the unique position of having been a student on both campuses, and he understands how each campus can seem different and strange to those who attended the other campus. “Marvelwood will always be Marvelwood,” says Matt, “wherever Marvelwood may be, and anyone lucky enough to have been a student here shares that commonality.” Matt has two children, Chris (6) and Katherine (8), who live in Washington, D.C and love spending vacations and the summer on Skiff Mountain.

Laurent Fauque ’97 Laurent graduated with a degree in business administration and lives in Morocco with his wife Stefanie and their sons William (4) and Sacha (2). Eight years ago, Laurent began his own pumping and construction company, which operates in Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal. Laurent enjoys surfing and learning new languages. As a student on the ’new’ campus in Kent, Laurent particularly enjoyed the community service program, playing on the varsity tennis team, and skiing at Mohawk. He just wishes he could have been at Marvelwood for more than two years!

Matt leading a group during new student orientation

Lawson IV, son of Lawson Whitesides III ’98

Lawson Whitesides III ’98 Lawson and his wife, Myra Villarreal-Whitesides, welcomed their first child, Lawson IV, in August of 2015.

They live in Richardson, Texas, where they recently purchased a home. Lawson works for State Farm Insurance.

2000s Katherine Douse ’00 Katherine lives in Sarasota, Florida, where she is a paralegal. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of South Florida. At Marvelwood, Katherine’s favorite class was Glenn Sanchez’s comparative religion and says it, “inspired ’the foundation for my own ’spiritual journey’ of sorts.”

Matt Walters ’97 Myra Gourley Robinson ’00 Myra lives in Richmond, VA with her husband Peter and their two daughters, Penny (5) and Rachel (3). Peter is in marketing, and Myra is a stay-at-home mom and fitness trainer. The couple are also foster parents and recently

Laurent Fauque ’97 with his family

Kyle Hill ’98 Kyle and his wife Elizabeth have two sons, Keegan (8) and Alexander (12). Keegan is following in his father’s footsteps as an avid lacrosse player. Kyle enjoys coaching lacrosse, skiing, and spending time outdoors with his family.

GETTY IMAGES

September 2015 marked the start of Matt’s second year working on Skiff Mountain. He writes: “With all honesty, I couldn’t be happier. As a student, I had always considered Marvelwood to be a second home; now, it is my primary home. I love living here! It’s been such a great experience to be able to return to campus to work alongside those who taught, mentored, and pushed me to do the absolute best that I could. Marvelwood not only gave me a solid education, it also helped me to gain and build the self-confidence that I needed to be successful. I can’t begin to tell you how good it feels to have the opportunity to come full circle as a mentor and to give back. It has given me an incredible perspective and a much greater appreciation for the incredible effort shown to me by people like Henry Woodward, Blythe and Mike Everett, Chez, and so many others.

As a student, I had a sense of the solid team that made up the Marvelwood faculty. They seemed like a well-oiled machine that functioned for the betterment of the individual student, as well as the school community

Myra completing in American Ninja Warrior BLUE & WHITE MAGAZINE – FALL 2016

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George, son of Natalia Rozenholc ’01

Tobin and Shou Watanabe ’05 at the Marvelwood Reception in San Francisco

Cecily, daughter of Julian Landau-Brown ’05

had a toddler for 6 months. Myra was excited to be on the season premier of American Ninja Warrior on NBC in the spring of 2016.

Julian Landau-Brown ’05

Congratulations to Natalia Rozenholc ’01, husband Wayne, brother Michael, and sister Charlotte on the birth of George Ezer Rozenholc Kaiser on March 30, 2016.

first record in November 2015. Having dabbled in the music business for many years, he recently made the jump to full-time; according to his bio, he is “garnering enthusiastic audience response and praise for his versatile styled house and techno selections.” Check out his facebook page, Tobin Ellsworth Music, for upcoming dates. In February, Tobin attended the Marvelwood gathering in San Francisco.

Andrew Sierman ’01

Toni Bullock ’04

Andrew lives in Suzhou, China, where he is teaching Humanities and Business Management at Suzhou Singapore International School. He and his wife, Daisy, have a son, Miles (3), and a daughter, Camilla, who was born on February 8, 2016.

After leaving Marvelwood, Toni developed an interest in entertainment. At Hamilton College, Toni majored in psychology with a minor in theatre, and went on to earn a master’s in television, radio, and film production from Syracuse University. Toni lives in Los Angeles, where she’s been a story producer for many popular shows, including Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Alaska: The Last Frontier, Kitchen Nightmares, Top Chef, and LA Hair.

Although the hours are long, she loves the work, especially traveling to different locations and meeting new people. Currently, Toni is working as a field producer for the next season of The Amazing Race. Be sure to tune in to the show on CBS!

Natalia Rozenholc ’01

Richard “Tobin” Ellsworth ’04 Tobin is a DJ and producer in the Oakland/San Francisco area. At the San Francisco Alumni Reception last February, Tobin was excited to report that he released his

Congratulations to Julian and his wife Karyn on the birth of their first child, Cecily Patricia Brown, on November 26, 2015. Julian is currently a stay-at-home dad. The family lives in Levittown, PA.

Amanda Sceusa Walter ’06 Amanda lives in Durham, North Carolina, where she works for Merck and Co. Inc. as an associate engineer, supporting vaccine production (MMR and Varivax).

Recently, Amanda completed her Master of Biomanufacturing degree at North Carolina State University, which has helped accelerate her career within the pharmaceutical industry. Amanda and her husband Greg will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary in late 2016; they enjoy being foodies in the Raleigh-Durham area. Amanda and Greg returned to Marvelwood in June to celebrate her 10th reunion!

Sally Goldstein-Elkind ’07 Sally teaches at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston in the Early Childhood program. Sally reports that her three-to-four-year old students ’keep her on her toes and keep life interesting!’ She lives in Brookline, MA.

Dong Joo Namgung ’09

Andrew Sierman ’01 and family 60

BLUE & WHITE MAGAZINE – FALL 2016

Toni Bullock on set

Dong Joo graduated from the University of Chicago in 2013 with a degree in political science. He is currently completing his compulsory military service for South Korea. As a First Lieutenant in the Air Force Logistics Command, Dong Joo is the senior interpretation officer at the Air Mobility/Surveillance Aircraft Sustainment Division, involved primarily as an English translator and interpreter for meetings and procurement contracts.

Dong Joo says that he is honored to be involved in the negotiations, working on contracts for a variety of aircrafts and systems, including the E-737 Airborne Early Warning & Control, drones, helicopters for President Park, and missile systems.

Dong Joo Namgung ’09

Antoinette “Toni” Johnson ’09

Sean Bemand ’10

Antoinette “Toni” Johnson ’09

passion for teaching and who brought their material to life. Toni graduated from Pace University in 2013 with a degree in education and is currently a fourth grade teacher at Achievement First Charter School through Teach For America; she works to provide public school students with the quality of education that she received.

Emelia Lartey ’10

During her junior year at Pace University, Toni became acutely aware of educational inequities and decided to go into education. While studying abroad in Caracas, Venezuela, Toni taught English in highly impoverished neighborhoods, or ’barrios,’ where classrooms were overcrowded and lacked basic supplies like books and paper. Children went to school for just a few hours a day and had little opportunity for advancement. When Toni returned home, she saw similar disparities in the United States, where students in low-income areas simply did not receive the educational tools necessary to succeed.

Toni points to her experience in the New York City public system prior to coming to Marvelwood. As a Marvelwood student, she had teachers who were deeply invested in her, both in and out of the classroom. In particular, Toni remembers Craig and Melanie Ough, Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19, Mike Cuff, and Ed Banach as teachers with a

2010s Sean Bemand ’10 Sean graduated from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury in May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in photography. He continues to enjoy guitar, listen to live music, and play soccer. Sean says he misses bird banding with Laurie Doss, playing tennis, and even the winters on Skiff Mountain!

Emelia writes: “I am the CEO of a creative marketing firm.

I’ve come to understand that marketing is more than a just way of doing—it’s a way of thinking, and being. It begins with the basic understanding of the distinctive characteristics of human nature, and the understanding of people’s stories, their sometimes illogical ways of decision-making, and most importantly, their drives and needs. Marketing is about understanding people and the complexity of the human experience.

I learned about people, and most importantly my love and passion for helping people express themselves in unique ways, at Marvelwood. After transferring from Choate Rosemary Hall, I found my lifelong family and home on Skiff Mountain Road. Being on Skiff Mountain allowed me to learn one of life’s greatest lessons: Everyone has a story, everyone has a purpose, and it is an injustice to humanity if we ignore or disregard our layered complexities. At Marvelwood, there has and always will be a strong sense of community and family.

Just like any family, we are made up of many amazing souls, thinkers, and intellectuals. Marvelwood gave me a space to cultivate my passion, and mirrored what it means to work in the name of protecting individuality and promoting self love.”

Tom Lee ’10

Amanda Sceusa Walter ’06 with Michael Juster ’09, David Mogle ’09, Zach Maizel ’04, Sam Bainbridge ’09, Jon Durke ’06 and Clay Evans ’08 at Reunion 2016.

Tom graduated from UC Berkeley in May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. As a student, he was a Senator in the ASUC (an elected official in the student government at Cal), a brother of Sigma Nu Fraternity, and a co-founder of a consulting club, and he also held officer positions in various student groups. After graduation, he began work as an account development representative with MuleSoft, a software company, in San Francisco. Last February, Tom attended the gathering in San Francisco, and he visited Marvelwood in May. After four years of college and two years in the military service for Korea, he was happy to reconnect with his favorite faculty and fellow alumni. While visiting Marvelwood,

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Michael Esposito ’11 Michael graduated from Landmark College in May 2016, where he studied conservation and rehabilitation of wild animals such as bears and birds. An avid wrestler at Marvelwood, Michael played rugby for a time at college.

Michael is engaged to Shanshan, who he met at college; they plan to marry in a few years after Michael finishes a master’s degree in animal rehabilitation.

Ziang “Jim” Zhang ’11

Emelia chatting with Patrick Ottenweller ’10 and his wife Ekaterina at the Marvelwood reception in San Francisco in February.

Jim is from Shanghai, China, but he now lives in Maryland. Jim graduated from the University of Maryland in 2016. He earned his degree in communications and Japanese. Jim also worked part time as a speech consultant and interpreter. Jim is planning to attend graduate school in either London or Manchester. His goal is to become an interpreter.

Kao-Ting “Tim” Hsu ’12 Tom shared some interesting numbers about his job search: he submitted 180 applications, went on 120 interviews in multiple rounds, and, for the job he ultimately landed, went through four rounds of interviews. While in school, he tried out three different business paths through internships before deciding which way to steer his career.

Jin Woo will return to South Korea to complete the compulsory military service. On a recent trip home, Jin Woo got together with Tom Lee ’10, Dongjoo Namgung ’09, and Sam Chung ’09. Jin Woo says he misses team sports, having been a three-season athlete at Marvelwood, playing soccer, wrestling, and lacrosse!

Chance Davis ’13 Chance is studying elementary education at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. He still loves to play basketball in his free time, and he participates in an intramural league at WCSU. Chance says that Laurie Doss and Marion Smith had a profound impact on him as a student at Marvelwood, and he’s grateful for having had them.

Paul Sarris ’11 Paul visited Marvelwood in March to speak to Ian Johnson’s photography class. Paul recently graduated from Hofstra University and is now working with his father as a professional photographer. He divides his time between New York City and Litchfield. Paul keeps in touch with Anthony Santora ’11, Anthony Troy ’11, and Mamadou Diallo ’11, and he enjoyed reconnecting with classmates at his five-year reunion in June.

Elizabeth Scruton ’13

Jin Woo Yeam ’11 Jin Woo will graduate from Syracuse University in December 2016 with degrees in applied mathematics and economics. After an internship in the United States,

Tom Lee ’10 and Paul Sarris ’11 on campus in May

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Tim graduated from UCSD in June 2015. After graduating, he worked for a marketing firm in San Diego.

Tim is now back in Taiwan and about to serve his one year mandatory military service very soon. One of the aspects of being a Marvelwood student that Tim misses the most is playing lacrosse!

Paul talking about his technique and process to a Marvelwood photography class

Jin Woo with Director of Alumni Relations Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19 on a visit to campus last winter

Elizabeth had an amazing experience during her Semester at Sea in fall 2015. Semester at Sea is a study abroad semester aboard the MV World Odyssey. She traveled to 10 different countries to do field studies in the group’s modules, and she took classes on the ship as a regular university term. There were over 600 students

Jim Zhang (front and center) at his graduation in May

from over 100 different countries represented. Elizabeth is now planning for law school.

Melissa Hartlipp ’14 Melissa completed her first year at SUNY Geneseo and plans on double majoring in International Relations and Economics. She has stayed very active, continuing to compete in Model UN conferences, most recently at Yale and McGill. Melissa has been going to the crew club, and she was recently elected to the executive board as the town liaison. She currently serves on her residence hall council and a town committee. Melissa was very excited to return to Marvelwood as an intern for the Academic and Leadership Summer Program this past summer.

Chance with Director of Alumni Relations Glenn Sanchez P’18, ’19 on a visit to campus last spring

Kendale Sheffield ’15 Kendale recently wrote: “After finishing up my first year at UConn, I can say that I am very happy that I have made it this far. I give a majority of this thanks to Marvelwood for providing me with such a structured schedule, especially nightly study hall. Although I didn’t always take advantage of it in high school, it’s become very useful to me in college as far as managing my workload. Aside from academics, I’ve met some really cool and welcoming people who are now my good friends. Although I am in a new community surrounded by great people, I’ll never forget my Marvelwood family, and I’ll always make an effort to represent the values you helped instill into my life.”

Kendale enjoyed his second summer as an intern for Marvelwood’s Academic and Leadership Summer Program.

Former Faculty Larry and Marbie Kollath Larry and Marbie Kollath have been living in western North Carolina since 2005. After nine years at The Asheville School, Larry spent a year-and-a-half as a wilderness guide for recovering addicts at a primary care treatment facility. To celebrate his 50th birthday, Larry completed a 28-day field course at The Boulder Outdoor Survival School. He is now working as a guide in the Smokies and Blue Ridge Mountains, although he plans to return to teaching and coaching. Marbie teaches art at Carolina Day School (CDS) in Asheville. A long-time horse-lover and trainer, Marbie has been competing in endurance horse racing, and she has placed many times in the top ten in the 75 and 100 mile races. Enjoying the outdoors and caring for all types of animals continues to be very important to Larry and Marbie. Two years ago, Marbie rescued an injured pot-bellied pig, who is now part of the family. Their dog, Piper, accompanies Marbie to work each day, and has been dubbed the official ’CDC Upper School Dog,’ having received a diploma this past June after completing her fourth year at the School. They send their greetings and best wishes to all former students and colleagues.

Kendale Sheffield ’15

In Memoriam Peter McSpadden P’83 Former board member Peter Ford McSpadden P’83 died March 13, 2016. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College and long-time advertising executive and CEO in New York City. He and his wife, Barbara, were strong supporters of their local community and were involved in Connecticut politics for many years. Peter became involved with Marvelwood when his son, Peter McSpadden ’83, was a student.

Bryant “Brian” Sweet ‘80 Bryant “Brian” Sweet ’80 died February 11, 2016 in Albrightsville, PA. He graduated from Sacred Heart University and worked for years in publishing and computer programming. Brian was an outdoorsman who loved fishing.

A memorial service was held in Fairfield, CT, attended by Rich Hefler ’80, Sara-Jane Tyler ’80, Stanley James ’79, Paul Sharon ’79, Rit Whitehead ’79, Betsy Harbur ’79, and Susan Swanson ’81.

Julina Yang ’17, Melissa Hartlipp ’14, and Science Department Chair Laurie Doss helped former faculty member Phyllis Wojan pack and move to a new home in June”.

Barbara Tacy, PhD Wife of former Headmaster, Peter Tacy (1981-1989) Barbara (Buchtel) Tacy, 75, a clinical psychologist who worked with hundreds of people over a nearly 40-year career in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, died April 22, 2016 after a nearly three-decade-long fight with cancer. Beginning in the spring of 2015, Barbara shared her love and knowledge of daffodils with the Marvelwood community (see page 46).

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College Survey— Looking to the Future Help us prepare our students for college!

Marvelwood developed and launched a college survey that was sent to the Class of 2015 last April. This survey provides an opportunity for our young alumni to reflect on their educational, athletic, and performing arts experiences as Marvelwood students, as well as how prepared they felt for college-level work and life in general after Marvelwood. The data collected will be used to evaluate, refine, and develop programs as necessary. Going forward, the survey will be distributed to larger groups of young alumni. Thank you to those who have taken the time to participate in the survey. We are a small school, but our students attend a wide variety of colleges and universities; feedback from as many young alumni as possible is important so that the data collected is reflective of our diverse student body. Your honest input enables us to continue to grow and develop as a School and prepare our students to succeed!

Marvelwood Class Agents Marvelwood Class Agents are liaisons between their former classmates and the School. Agents keep alumni informed about School events and encourage their active participation in the Marvelwood community by attending athletic contests or artistic performances, participating in reunion weekend in June, attending regional gatherings, and supporting the Annual Fund.

The Marvelwood School experience does not end at graduation! The Advancement Office seeks to support our class agents in their efforts to keep alumni informed about today’s Marvelwood and how they can actively participate in the life of the School. Should you be interested in becoming a class agent, please contact the Advancement Office: advancement@marvelwood.org. Thank you!

Bold denotes special reunion year 1970 1971 1972 1973 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

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Richard Lavieri David Woods, Richard Whitney Marshall Heaven Bruce Byers Kathy Place Clark, Gary Lanza Cecile Tebow Gordon Mackenzie Sara-Jane Tyler Sue Swanson David Ransom Ann Wurzer Thomson Skip Brown, Sid Yarborough Kathrine Butler, Laura McClendon Jenny Aschaffenburg Williamson Kirsten A. Gonneville, Lucas Heller John Russell Adam Skiff, Alex Brady Pechkis Peter Sommerfield

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1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

David Dennehy, R. Matthew Dupuis Robb Demarest, Mollie Michie-Lepp Siobhain Clancey Craemer, Ben Foxx Karim Badwan Rachel Steier-White, Mary Pettit Mozingo, Kelly Amaral Hunt Sarah Stackhouse Wayland Matt Walters Blair Patterson Lori Pelech Will Strozier Josh Hammond, Beata Grzeczkowicz Krawczy Angela Eastwick Xan Chaves Zach Maizel, Toni Bullock Iain Forbes, Carlos Santos Dylan Stroup, Julian Golfarini Tessa Voegeli

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Jade Brown David Mogle, Chad Rivard Karen Obadia, Thalia Longchamp Josiah Bates, Lizzy Hackney, Sam Waldschmidt Will Connor Lizzy Pase, Taylor Nappi, Kyle Rowe-Zarba Sam Everett, Nicole Kennedy Kendale Sheffield, Sheriff Drammeh Erin Hussey, Ivan Lerner

Send Class Notes and Contact Information Changes to: Director of Alumni Relations The Marvelwood School 476 Skiff Mountain Road, Kent, CT 06757 alumni@marvelwood.org Online Form: www.marvelwood.org/alumni

Marvelwood Will Always Be My Home

BY KE VI N M E I S E LMAN ’16

I

remember moving in like it was yesterday. I was 14 years old, beyond shy and afraid, and I didn’t know anyone. All I knew was the past and the worries that came with it, but it didn’t take long for me to come out of my shell.

Throughout my entire life, sports have meant so much to me.

It’s part of who I am, and I’ll always be able to thank Marvelwood for embracing who I am.

Within my first month, I found a way to follow my dream. The communications department helped me create an athletics blog, where I would eventually write 26 articles in my freshman and sophomore years. I couldn’t get enough of it. I wrote for the school newspaper as a sports columnist as well, and, in May of my freshman year, I contacted the Lakeville Journal to write about Marvelwood in their local sports section. I sent them my recap of our 2013 champion-winning baseball team, and they gave me an internship.

In just one year at this small, solicitous school on Skiff Mountain Road, I found an even greater love for my biggest passion.

One thing I love about Marvelwood is that no matter how much I’ve matured, they’ve always embraced the person I am. Of course, the past four years have had its ups and downs; that’s just life, but I’ve grown up so much and have become confident in what I love to do.

Now I’m a senior, and, over the course of this spring term, I haven’t just been writing about sports; I’ve been broadcasting as well. With the help of Mr. Johnson in videography class, I am the lead anchor of the Marvelwood Sports Network.

Every single thing I’ve done at Marvelwood has paid off, to say the least, since I will be studying journalism at Quinnipiac University in the fall.

Marvelwood is my home, and I can say that now more than ever. The incredible moments I’ve experienced will last a lifetime, and the relationships I’ve made with friends and teachers will not be forgotten. Marvelwood will be my home when I graduate this May, and it will always be my home.

The first steps I took on this ground were filled with nerves and uncertainty, but the last ones will march with confidence and a sense of achievement.

Thank you Marvelwood.

Mark Your Calendars for Reunion 2017!

JUNE 3-4

It’s the People!

Honoring the Classes of 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 & 2012 Special celebrations for the 25th (1992) and 50th (1967) Anniversary Classes!

For more information, contact the Advancement Office 860-927-0047 ext. 1013 advancement@marvelwood.org www.marvelwood.org/reunion

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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID HARTFORD, CT PERMIT NO. 489

476 Skiff Mountain Road • P.O. Box 3001 Kent, Connecticut 06757-3001

Events 2016-2017

w w w. m a r v e l w o o d . o r g

Date

Event

Date

Event

Friday 9/9

Family Picnic

Friday 2/17

Parents Association Reception

Monday 9/12

2016-2017 School year starts

Friday 2/24

Winter Music Concert

Thursday 9/22

Reception- New Orleans, LA

Friday 2/24

Parents Association Reception

Sunday 10/2-Tuesday 10/4

Ornithology field trip- Block Island, RI

Friday 2/24–Thursday 3/2

Winter Warm-Up Week

Sunday 10/9-Thursday 10/13

Round Square Conference, Aiglon, Switzerland

Saturday 2/25

Career Day

Friday 10/14

Music on the Mountain

Tuesday 2/28

Day of Giving

Friday 10/14–Saturday 10/15

Fall Family Weekend/ Harvest Dinner

March- TBD

Reception- Florida

Friday 11/4-Sunday 11/6

Model United Nations at University of Connecticut

April-TBD

Reception, Connecticut

Friday 11/4–Saturday 11/5

The Marvelwood Players Present:

Saturday 4/8

Admission Preview Day

Fall Musical Production

Sunday 4/9

Princess Tea Party

Friday 11/4

Parents Association Reception

Saturday 4/29–Sunday 4/30

Spring Family Weekend/ Grandparents Day

Saturday 11/12

Admission Preview Day

Saturday 5/6

Music on the Mountain

Friday 12/2

Holiday Party

Friday 5/12

Parents Association Wine & Cheese reception

Friday 12/9

Music on the Mountain- Holiday Edition

Friday 5/12

Spring Music Concert

Thursday 1/19-Sunday 1/22

Yale Model United Nations

Friday 5/12

Parents Association Reception

Wednesday 1/25-Sunday 2/5

Panama Trip (tentative dates)

Thursday 5/18

Connecticut Envirothon Competition

Thursday 2/9

Reception, New York City

Sunday 5/21–Thursday 5/25

Senior Service Trip- Washington D.C.

Saturday 2/11

Music on the Mountain- Valentines Edition

Friday 5/26

Prize Day, Class Night

Saturday 2/11

Valentines Luncheon for Mothers and

Saturday 5/27

59th Commencement Exercises

Grandmothers

Thursday, 6/1

3rd Annual Golf Outing

The Marvelwood Players- Drama Production

Saturday 6/3–Sunday 6/4

Reunion 2017: It’s the People

Friday 2/17–Saturday 2/18

Please check the website calendar for a full listing of events and the most up-to-date information