Spring 2017 MKA Review Magazine

MKA revıew

THE MAGAZINE OF

MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY SP R I N G 2 0 17

T URNING INQUIRY I N TO INS IGHT

MKA revıew

THE MAGAZINE OF

MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY SPRI N G 20 17

F E ATURE

22 Turning Inquiry into Insight

DE PARTME NTS

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FROM THE HE AD MASTER

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AROUND MKA Campus, student and faculty news

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PA R E NT NEWS

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TRUSTE E NEWS

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ALUMNI NEWS

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A G E NE ROUS L I FE Stories of Giving

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CLASS NOT ES

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MISSION MKA’s challenging, engaging and innovative academic program provides a vibrant and transformative education. Our faculty’s deep and genuine understanding of our students as individuals and as learners fosters their ethical development, intellectual growth and personal success. MKA’s diverse, collaborative and inclusive community inspires students to lead lives of noble character, purpose and distinction.

Editors Gretchen Berra Kim Saunders Design Aldeia www.aldeia.design Copy Editor Diane Lundy Assistant Editors Debbie Allen Eric Gutierrez Alli Shearin Photographers Doug Allen Michael Branscom Steve Clayton James Demaria Norman DeShong David Hollander Derek Morf Karen Schieferdecker

Evidence of our mission is found in the KNOWLEDGE, VISION and INTEGRITY of our students and our alumni: K N OWLE DGE • Academic excellence • Intellectual independence • Love of learning VISION • Personal engagement with the world • Understanding of human complexity • A sense of humility and compassion I N TEGRI TY • Strength of character • Responsibility as a citizen and leader • An honorable and generous life

FAL L 2015

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FROM THE HEADMASTER

BY T HOM AS W. N AM MACK

Innovate & Incubate

M KA’S P RO GRA MS CONT I NUE TO EVOLVE AND EXCEL

A central public purpose for the existence of independent schools is their potential to serve as incubators of innovation for alternative design in what is learned as well as how, where, and when learning occurs. Professional autonomy for teachers is a characteristic of the independent school environment that attracts many of the most talented and effective teachers. Harnessing that autonomy in the service of a school’s mission requires a strong collaborative culture that inspires professional development and preempts a retreat to silos. The combination of judicious and institutionally reviewed and supported innovation and a professional environment marked by autonomy, collaboration, and accountability is a distinguishing feature of MKA. What is some of the evidence for these assertions?

Program innovations such as the Reggio Emilia approach to learning in the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten has transformed our students’ experiences with a focus on how, where, and when learning occurs. The research strand that runs through the academic program, Pre-K-12 embeds and reinforces a critical set of skills and habits of mind for true and lifelong scholarship. New courses in mathematics and computer science that are described in this issue of the Review have their genesis in the initiative of individual faculty and the collective vision of the Upper School Mathematics Department.

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In terms of autonomy and accountability, Global Citizenship, Ethics and Leadership, our offerings in Health, Wellness and Physical Education, Global Learning/ Global Experiences, MKA’s 1:1 program in technology, and the Pre-K-12 writing program are all examples of curricular initiatives that continue to evolve and are grounded in research, tested in pilot programs, and evaluated well after initial implementation.

One of the engines that moves individual teachers forward in the quality of what they do is MKA’s extensive commitment to faculty professional development. In the summer of 2016, 88% of the faculty participated in MKA funded professional development; 70% of the faculty took part in on-site workshops; and 73% of the faculty received grants for various curriculum development projects. One-third of the faculty attended a total of twenty-one educational conferences. When school is not in session during the summer, faculty are fully engaged in professional development that strengthens both quality of program and their teaching. Another aspect of professional development is the robust participation of MKA faculty and administrators in offering workshops and making presentations at educational conferences across the country.

Successfully managing change is a true test of leadership, and I am in awe of the many ways in which such leadership is in evidence from individual teachers, department heads, grade level team leaders, and administrators with campus specific and allschool curricular responsibilities. MKA is often a destination for representatives from other schools to examine our program and to learn how innovation occurs here. Whether cultivated within the walls of our school or carried forward in the lives and careers of our alumni, MKA’s commitment to innovation has turned inquiry into insight for the betterment of our community and those whose lives intersect with our students, faculty, and alumni. ■

A A ROUN D M KA

Homecoming

2016 See page 12.

IN THIS SECT IO N : Big News Campus News Student News Homecoming Faculty News Athletics

Global Citizens Above: Master Meng visits the Upper School Academic Center

From July 11-15, 2016, Master Meng Zhiling, Vice President of the Chinese Taoist Association and Head of the Chinese Taoist College, led a workshop at the new Upper School Academic Center. The workshop, entitled “Living the Dao,” was a great success pulling people from Brown University, California and New York. Master Meng also taught a class on Tai Chi. Last June, three MKA Upper School students, Danielle Fuchs, Bryan Reynolds and Katie Kunka took part in a four-week exchange program in Chile. Dr. Valbona Watkins and Mr. Cort Bosc accompanied these students during the beginning and end of their stay. The exchange between the Instituto Abdón Cifuentes (IAC) and MKA began eight years ago, and so far, it has been a very successful partnership between MKA and IAC students. Once in Chile, students are immersed in the Chilean culture, take regular Upper School classes in

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Left: Danielle Fuchs, Bryan Reynolds and Katie Kunka took part in a fourweek exchange program in Chile. Dr. Valbona Watkins and Mr. Cort Bosc

Spanish and live with a Chilean host family. Katie, Danielle and Bryan also had a chance to share in various classes a presentation about their country and their school. The Chilean students, both young and old, were very eager and curious to learn about the new MKA students. Before beginning their classes at IAC, students are given an opportunity to explore and visit Santiago for a couple of days, touring various important landmarks of Santiago, Chile’s capital. “The thing I liked most about this experience was the people. I’ve made so many new friends on this trip that I still talk to,

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even after I returned, whom I will never forget. They are really what made the trip in my mind. I got many different experiences of what life is like in Chile, and they are what made this trip unforgettable.” —Bryan Reynolds Upper School students worked on a semester-long experiment with structuring the Global Citizenship course around the design thinking process. Every ninth grader has worked with a team to design a solution to some aspect of the global issue of their choosing and pitched their ideas ranging from ways to help small business owners in Montclair and ending the cycle of poverty in Newark to helping students connect with arts in schools with defunded programs and tackling water filtration issues in Haiti.

A RO U N D M KA

Hemmeter Lecture Series

THE MKA COMMUNITY IS REMARKABLE! Parents, alumni, grandparents, students, faculty and staff came together on Friday, October 21st, to surpass our MKA Day goal of $350,000 and 600 donors, thereby releasing a $30,000 challenge gift! This was a truly unprecedented day of giving at MKA proving that one day really does make a difference. Together we can do amazing things!

Excitement reverberated throughout the halls on November 18th, as children greeted grandparents, great-grandparents, extended family and special friends for Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Morning. Our guests traveled from Bangladesh, the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, Canada and more than 20 different states to share in this special event. The excitement and energy was visible as children began the day with a very special concert. We thank Primary School Music Director Jane Smith, and Primary School Dance Director Kristin Weaver for a spectacular performance.

After the concert, the classrooms were filled with laughter as students and their guests played games and worked on blankets for guests of Toni’s Kitchen. It was a wonderful prelude to Thanksgiving and the spirit that is part of the holiday season.

T HE 5T H GRAD E F RE NCH CL ASS wrapped up a unit about endangered animals by adopting one! First, they used everything they’d learned, including descriptions and habitats, to make a poster about an endangered animal of their choice. Then, after they presented to the class, they voted for a species to adopt. The winner was the arctic fox (le renard arctique). Their symbolic adoption from the World Wildlife Fund came with a mascot, which they have named Brie.

A WELCOME E XCHANGE MKA Upper School students welcomed five Chilean exchange students to campus!

This is the ninth year MKA has hosted rising seniors from Chile at the school. The objective is to have the students fully integrate into everything the Upper School has to offer such as field trips, clubs, service opportunities, and of course, a full English immersion experience! The group, stayed with host families, and presented to all Upper School Spanish classes.

M KA PA RT I C I PATED IN THE ILMUNC (Ivy League Model United Nations Conference). Twenty-six students attended the conference representing Greece in a variety of committees ranging from the World Heath Organization to United Nations Council of Social Development. Students spent the weekend working alongside 2000+ students from across the country and the world. The students were accompanied by Tom Carroll (former Economic Honors teacher), Patty Sullivan (Associate Director of Athletics), and Isabel Janelli (US Spanish teacher and Model UN Faculty Advisor).

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Montclair Kimberley Academy’s History Department hosted “The Presidential Election: What Does It Mean?” a panel discussion featuring Jay Nordlinger and Lynn Sherr. This evening was moderated

by Duncan Currie ’00 who worked at National Review from 2009 to 2011 and is currently senior speechwriter and communications advisor at BP. Jay Nordlinger is a senior editor at National Review who writes chiefly about politics, foreign affairs, and the arts.

He has written several books, including Children of Monsters: An Inquiry into the Sons and Daughters of Dictators, which was published in 2015. His latest book is a collection of essays entitled Digging In. He is also the host of two podcasts: Need to Know and Q&A. Lynn Sherr is an award-winning broadcaster and bestselling author. She was a correspondent for more than 30 years at ABC News, including 20 at the newsmagazine 20/20. Her latest book is Sally Ride: America’s First Woman in Space, which was published in 2014 and became a New York Times Bestseller. Duncan Currie, graduated from MKA in 2000 and went on to write for the Crimson newspaper while attending Harvard University. Since then, he has worked as a writer and editor at The Weekly Standard, the American Enterprise Institute and National Review, and also as editorial director of the Bush Institute. From 2011 to 2014, he served as chief speechwriter and senior policy advisor for Texas Senator John Cornyn.

Duncan currently is the chief U.S. speechwriter and communications advisor at BP.

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News Shorts ST UD E NT L IF E It was a great afternoon for the Upper School community as ninth graders and new students had the opportunity to “shop” all the different clubs and organizations we offer at the Student Life Fair. With over 50 organizations to choose from, the students can get involved in Upper School life in many different ways. [ 1 ]

school entrepreneurs, taught students about the importance of mentors, problem-solving mentality, learning from failure, and the entrepreneurship journey. The students that attended applied to an entrepreneurship competition at Catapult Ideas in the Spring— that’s how they were selected for this preliminary event. [ 3 ]

Primary School students who celebrate Diwali glowed with pride and splendor as they displayed their Diwali attire on stage. The students and their traditions were recognized by the entire Primary School. [ 2 ]

G R EEN ROOF Students volunteered to apply Tung oil to the planter boxes on the MKA green roof. Tung oil is a natural wood finish that is waterproof and will keep our planter boxes looking new for years to come. Students have been involved in every facet of bringing the green roof to life!

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Josh Caleb Collins, the founder and CEO of Catapult Ideas, hosted a private event for a small group of 11th and 12th grade students on the evening on January 4th. Catapult Ideas, a startup incubator for high

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CO M M U N I T Y The MKA tri-campus Food Drive, which collected non-perishable

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Thanksgiving food, was a huge success thanks to the Caring Cougars of the MKA community!

The food from all three campuses was transported to the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair by MKA Middle School students in time for Thanksgiving. Thank you to PAMKA Community Outreach representatives for their hard work throughout this drive! [ 5 ] ASSEMBLY First, second and third graders participated in a Peace Assembly where students gathered around the flagpole on the front lawn and recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang God Bless America. There was a reading of The Peace Book, by Todd Parr, and then a discussion about peace. Mr. Nammack spoke words of wisdom to the children about finding their inner peace. The assembly concluded

by ringing a bell as they reflected on what peace means to each of them. Upon returning to their classrooms, the students continued their conversations, and many referenced the “Character Standards” for the MKA Community.

The first Primary School Friday Assembly of 2017 featured a multi-cultural celebration reflected through dance. Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts visited and treated students to two dance pieces that showcased the influence of culture on dance. The Sharron Miller Academy has been integral to the learning and appreciation of dance for many years. It is truly a Montclair institution and the students were mesmerized. [ 6 ]

X Keep up with all the news at mka.org

A RO U N D M KA

POWERFU L PEN S Second grade students learned how to write persuasive reviews in class and crafted them for their favorite toys and games, places to eat or books they love. Their work was sent along to companies with an introductory cover letter and now they are starting to receive feedback from corporations like Crayola, OSMO Play, and Hasbro! Students are so excited to see the persuasive review writing work they completed receive such positive responses!

Brookside Intern Program One of the special ways that Upper and Primary School students connect is through the “Brookside Intern” program.

This long-standing program pairs an Upper School student with a class at the Primary School. Upper School student interns visit regularly throughout the year and help out in the classroom. Interns may read books, help with writing or math, assist in art class or even prepare something for the teacher. The Primary School students love these visits and the time they spend with their interns. One of our senior interns shared, “For the past two years, I have been with the same group of students and have watched them grow from kindergartners to first graders. This year, I cannot wait to see them as second graders. My favorite part is the connection that you get with the little kids. Almost every time I visit, I walk away with at least five drawings made especially for me!” We are all excited to begin another year of this rewarding program.

HONORED STUDENTS

PERFECTION

The Upper School had great showings at math competitions this year!

Seventy-one students came out for the first New Jersey Math League contest and while several students did well in the contest, Ronny Bhatia stood out with a perfect score!

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The students in Latin 3 Honors and Latin 4 Honors attended Montclair State University’s Classics Day 2016, held on Friday, November 4th. Six of these students (Sydney Abraham, Gianna Balonze, Aashik Bhalodia, Haley Blank, Hannah Gross and Elizabeth Squires) also represented MKA in the multiple-choice competition which was a part of the event. After all of the students attended two morning lectures, the first electioneering in the ancient and modern worlds and the second on the Battle of Llerda during the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, they competed as a team against other schools to test their knowledge of Roman civilization, Latin grammar and classical mythology, and they emerged victorious with an impressive third-place finish. MKA’s continuing success in the Classics Day competition is a reflection of our students’ commitment to the study of the ancient Roman world as well as a testament to the strength and vitality of the Latin program at both the Middle and Upper Schools.

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All-School Gathering Montclair Kimberley Academy’s Annual All-School Gathering epitomizes everything that makes MKA special, a community that is as diverse as it is united.

Headmaster Thomas Nammack welcomed over 1,000 students (155 of them new to the school this year), 200 faculty and staff members and special parent, Trustee and alumni guests to the school’s 23rd All-School Gathering saying that, “MKA is one school when it comes to our mission and values. Today is a day to treasure the bonds that connect us. This is a day to be grateful for all we have and all we share.”

Student talent was exhibited by exemplary performances from the Primary School Bellringers who also sang a special tribute of “We Are the World” to Primary School Head Ginger Kriegel, who began her 40th year at the school, the Middle and Upper School Jazz Ensembles, Middle and Upper School Strings Ensemble, MKA’s Choreography Workshop and the Unaccompanied Minors who performed an unbelievable rendition of “Let’s Get it Started.”

MKA’s flourishing athletics program was celebrated with the announcement of well-deserved athletic awards to student athletes as well as by rousing performances from the MKA Cheerleader and Step Teams.

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Academic endeavors were honored with the presentation of MKA sweaters to meriting students (also given for Fine & Performing Arts and Athletic achievements).

The school’s renowned faculty was recognized by Alumni Council President Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00 who presented the Founders’ Cup for Teaching Excellence to TriCampus Strings Director Dimitri Hadjipetkov. Dorothy Cucci ’17 played a beautiful and moving solo performance of “Pachelbel’s Canon in D” to honor her teacher.

Middle School Eighth Grade President Isabel Lucas ’21’s remarks to the audience ended with a poem,

“Today I’ve advocated for you to become opinionated. No need to be mindless minions, have opinions. In a world often filled with hatred, this place is somehow sacred.

Take advantage of our incredible community in order to create unity.”

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Finally, Upper School Student Government President Kojo Simmons ’17 spoke to the crowd saying, “My time here at MKA has been challenging. I’ve struggled to finish papers, I’ve stayed up all night to get work done, then taken a test the next morning, and I have even wished that I were somewhere else, but as I travel all over the country looking for where my next community will be for college, I find myself looking more and more for a community just like this one: the type of community where everyone knows that they will be supported during their bad times and praised during the good. This great community is the foundation for everything that happens here, and on every campus. It’s the reason that students visit here, and go home to tell their parents they want to go to MKA. This community is a part of what makes MKA, MKA—place where I can truly be myself and enjoy doing so.”

From the sea of MKA spirit clothing to the cheers for kindergartners receiving MKA Cougars from members of the senior class, school spirit was high and the morning concluded with the youngest member of the Class of 2029, Arda Susar, helping Headmaster Nammack officially ring in the start of the 129th school year.

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FACU LTY

PA RENTS

Another school year was kicked off for MKA faculty and staff on August 30, 2016 with the annual “Opening Meeting” where 20 new employees were introduced and welcomed into the MKA Community. Headmaster Thomas Nammack stated, “MKA is very fortunate to welcome these new members of our staff and administration for the 2016-17 school year.

These new colleagues have come from near and far to join our school and bring with them a range of impressive experiences and talents and a common commitment to providing an outstanding education to students at MKA.” Please join us in welcoming our newest faculty and staff members to the MKA family. We hope they have had a productive and successful school year!

MKA welcomed new parents at two fall events! MKA Headmaster Tom Nammack and the MKA Admissions Team welcomed the parents and hosts of our 155 new students at The Loft in Montclair at their MKA Parents and Host Reception. New parents had an opportunity to meet, get to know each other and share in their excitement for the new school year!

Jordan Raper, Rob Leather, Patty Sullivan and Steve Brown presented MKA’s new curriculum on health, wellness and physical education at the NJAIS Life Skills Summit last October.

Congratulations to Head Varsity Girls’ Soccer Coach and Annual Giving Associate Christie Welsh who spoke on a panel about “Why Sportsmanship Matters” at the Yogi Berra Museum.

The presentation was part of a sports education program for parents, coaches and student-athletes in partnership with Parabolic Rehab and Performance. The panelists were Bryce Salvador, former New Jersey Devils captain; Devon Kennard, New York Giants linebacker; and Christie, a former U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team member.

MKA’S BLAUVELT PROFESSIONAL STUDY ADVANCEMENT AWARDS, designed to promote the integration of character development in the classroom, provide opportunities for faculty to study, reflect and design curriculum grounded in developing students’ moral and intellectual habits over the summer. In a faculty in-service meeting, the Blauvelt recipients shared the results of their work with their colleagues.

This year, four faculty members participated in Blauvelt studies. Primary School second grade teacher Maureen Bates studied culturally responsive teaching.

Through research and interviews with experts, she re-examined read-aloud texts to help students understand that books can be “mirrors, windows and doors” to help students practice self-awareness and connectedness with their classmates. Third grade teacher Katherine Caro studied how to authentically cultivate a growth mindset in elementary-age students and implemented activities that challenged the language of failure. Middle School Spanish and French teacher Kristen Delfino set out to create lessons that teach social justice in World Language classes. As a result, she created lessons that included activism awareness and real world connections.

Finally, Upper School Fine and Performing Arts teacher Nick Schutsky studied the ethical boundaries of what is appropriate in art. He researched artwork that has been deemed offensive in order to better educate and understand why people are offended, so that he can communicate with his students artistic parameters which will allow for safer expression.

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Good food, new friends, and fantastic entertainment were all happening at The Grove on October 5th for MKA’s New Parent Dinner. Board President Kate Logan graciously welcomed our new families to the MKA community.

After a delicious dinner and engaging conversation, guests were treated to a performance by the Upper School a capella group, Unaccompanied Minors. The evening was a great way to welcome our new families and kick off the school year!

Thank you to Michelle Dice and Andres Espinosa for hosting the Class of 2016 College Care Packages. The Espinosa-Dice home was filled with laughter, and maybe a few tears, as parents of MKA’s newest alumni came together to share their college drop-off stories and distribute goodies for their care packages. Our 2016 alumni received care packages filled to the brim with food, study supplies, cough drops and lots and lots of love! Wherever their next adventure takes them, our alumni will always have a home at MKA.

MKA’s 2017 Student vs. Faculty Charity Basketball Game is was a Huge Success A signature event at the Middle School, the annual Student vs.

Faculty Basketball Game was held on Friday, January 27th and was a huge success! Organized by the Middle School Student Government under the leadership of Cheryl Anne Amendola and Gary Kaufman, along with help from PAMKA and with the support from almost every Middle School faculty member and parents, a huge crowd came out to cheer on the players and enjoy the enthusiastic game where the impressive faculty beat the students 42-40.

A combination of 6th, 7th and 8th grade chamber singers and faculty

sang the national anthem and the Middle School Pep Band added to the entertainment.

Food donated by parents, special event T-shirt sales and homeroom coin drives (The 8th grade won!) added to the fundraising success of the night.

This year’s charitable recipients, selected by the students (traditionally, one local and one national or international organization), are, Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick and Make-A-Wish Foundation, who together will receive over $8,000!

CherylAnne and Gary commented about the event, “The MKA Faculty-Student Basketball each year shows the power a community has to come together to help others in need. We are always in awe of the enthusiasm of our faculty, staff and students to participate in the week leading up to the game and then the game itself. It’s an exciting event for a great cause!”

Congratulations to all involved!

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Giving Back DELI V ER I NG WARMTH The tri-campus Giving Tree Drive that collected toys, hats, gloves, and scarves was a huge success, thanks to the extreme generosity of our community. MKA collected 248 toys for families in need this holiday season. Half of the toys were delivered to Valley Settlement House in West Orange, and the other half were delivered to Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair. In addition, half of the 318 hats, 356 pairs of gloves and 116 scarves collected, were delivered to Toni’s Kitchen by our own kindergarten caring cougars and their families. The kindergarten students had a chance to see where their donations were going and pack the donations into backpacks for Toni’s Backpack Outreach Program. The rest were donated to Valley Settlement House. Thanks to the kindergarten teachers and parents who escorted the students on their service trip.

We especially thank Alli Hegarty, Primary School PAMKA Community Outreach representative, for her leadership, organization, and incredible commitment to this drive!

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toys collected for families in need by the Giving Tree Drive.

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hats, gloves, mittens and scarves were also collected.

$300

raised for GLSEN of Central NJ, to promote inclusion and fight bullying.

$350,000 raised on MKA DAY! (THANK YOU!)

LIVING OUT LOUD Upper School GSA students hosted their annual fall fundraiser “Friday Night Out Loud.” All proceeds from the evening went to GLSEN of Central NJ, an organization that runs educational programming in NJ schools to promote inclusion and fight bullying. With over a dozen acts and performances, and over 100 people in attendance, the night was a huge success and raised over $300! Congratulations to everyone involved!

NATURE EXPLORE The Primary School celebrated and honored the official opening of the new Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom.

The Outdoor Classroom, conceptualized by the Nature Explore Collaborative, provides opportunities for students to explore, create, and interact in a nature-based environment. The spirit of community was symbolized by a “ribbon-joining” ceremony. In their classrooms, each student signed his or her name to a strip of cloth signifying their commitment to follow the expectations for respectful play and exploration. Faculty, staff, and friends contributed their names as well. The strips of cloth were joined together at the ceremony to create a colorful community chain that will soon adorn the entryway to the Outdoor Classroom.

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$25.6 M $10 M

F U T U R E F O R WA R D U P D AT E S

BIG News

SPRING 2018–FALL 2019 Through the generosity of the community, Brookside facilities will be transformed.

With a target date for beginning construction in Spring 2018, the project will require an additional $2 – $2.5 million in capital gift support.

NOW IT’S OUR YOUNGEST COMMUNITY MEMBERS’ TURN.

FALL 2016 The Future Forward campaign enters the homestretch, having earned $25.6 million of its $30 million goal. Primary Purpose: Foundations for the Future begins, with the aim of completing the impressive new MKA picture with much-needed upgrades to Primary School facilities.

SPRING 2016 Total annual giving during the campaign exceeds $10 million, and new gifts to the endowment reach $3 million.

WINTER 2016 Used by all of MKA, the new Upper School Academic Center is more than a library. It includes classrooms, common areas, an amphitheater, and a learning lab.

Cost: $7 million.

FALL 2014 A new Muenster Field includes a tournamentquality turf field, field house, additional parking, and improved spectator areas. Cost: $2 million.

SPRING 2014 The campaign concludes its strongest year with over $6 million in new gifts and pledges.

SPRING 2013 Future Forward’s public phase begins on April 18.

FALL 2012 The Middle School’s Penick Center is revamped and expanded with an inviting entrance, lobby, auditorium, dining hall, and common room. Cost: $4.35 million.

FALL 2010 All students in grades 4–12 receive laptops as part of the new 1:1 Laptop Initiative.

FALL 2009 The Board of Trustees votes to launch what is now known as Future Forward: The Campaign for MKA.

CAMPAIGN UPDATE NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT As the result of strategic planning that began a decade ago, we have placed a priority on upgrading facilities to better support MKA’s innovative academic programs, excellent faculty, and outstanding students and to respond to emerging opportunities.

The power of campus improvements cannot be overstated. Thanks to Future Forward, in the last five years extensive renovations and additions to the Penick Center, Muenster Field, and Upper School Academic Center have transformed how our Middle and Upper School students study, play, eat, gather, compete, perform, discuss, discover, and support one another.

Our new facilities feature sustainable, safe, flexible, and inspiring spaces that fit how students learn today—collaboratively and with engagement—and instill the sense of balance that leads to ongoing growth.

Homecoming

2016 The weather could not have been more beautiful and fun was had by all on MKA’s Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2016 held the weekend of Oct. 29th.

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A RO U N D M KA

HOMECOMING 2016

Pictured: Ken Gibson and daughter Heather ’84 at an MKA football game.

The MKA Development and Alumni Relations office hosted various events during the weekend. The schedule kicked off with a memorial tribute to former faculty member Ken Gibson - Montclair Academy 1966 1975, MKA 1975 - 2002. The Montclair Academy song, “Montclair Days” began the program played on the piano

by Rob D’Alessandro ‘19 and sung by Liam Gerard ’17, followed by speakers, daughter Libby Gibson Boyer ’82, Geoff Branigan, India Hayes Larrier ’80 and Jim Johnson ’79. The program closed with current faculty member Mike Houston playing “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.

Trustees, donors, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and families gathered for the official Dedication of the Upper School Academic Center and the Opening of the Green Roof. Highlights included remarks by Kelsey O’Connor ’14, founder of the Library Leadership Group, and current students Ethan Kuhl ’18 and Sophie Sabin ’18.

Pictured: Board members Rick Andlinger, Mei-Mei Tuan, Michael Johnson, President Kate Logan, Headmaster Thomas Nammack, Tracy Higgins and PAMKA President Karen Gulliver.

Over 150 guests comprised of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends from classes ending in ’01 and ’06, gathered to enjoy their Reunion Luncheon and to honor Dr. Chris H. Smith ‘85, recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is bestowed in recognition and appreciation of an outstanding achievement by an alumna or alumnus who has achieved distinction in some field of endeavor, or through outstanding character or dedication has been of special service to humanity. As a Clinical Associate Professor at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism where he also serves as co-director of the Media, Economics and Entrepreneurship initiative, Chris provides essential resources to students, researchers, and the public about new frontiers in journalism and communications and promotes study of emerging business models that will allow these fields to thrive in the future.

With the fall season in full swing, families from all three campuses showed their cougar pride, cheering on the MKA volleyball, soccer and football teams throughout the day. Attendees enjoyed the many festivities lining Lloyd Road including student-run tables selling food and MKA swag.

Saturday evening cocktail parties brought alumni from across the world returning to Montclair. Classmates reconnected with each other and reminisced about their times at MKA. The reunion celebrations were held at venues all around the town, which perfectly capped off the days’ festivities with great food, friends, and fare!

On Sunday, the second annual Alumni Soccer Game took place on Muenster Field with over 20 players in attendance and many of their family and friends cheering them on. This event has become a signature program as alumni traveled from afar just to partake in the merriment and bonding.

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ARTS UNDER THE STARS

MIDDLE SCHOOL MLK AND CHINESE NEW YEAR PERFORMANCE

On Friday, September 16th, over 40 students performed for over 150 guests at “Arts Under the Stars,” a new event to kick off the MKA Arts season and officially open the Upper School’s new amphitheater. With performances from the Chamber Singers, Advanced Strings and Jazz Trio along with selected scenes performed from the works of William Shakespeare and art from current AP Studio Art students on display, the night was a huge success. Upper School Fine and Performing Arts Department Chair Nicole Hoppe said, “Our first ‘Arts Under the Stars’ could not have gone better! The weather was picture-perfect, complete with a full harvest moon rising up over the amphitheater.

The music, by Strings, our Jazz Trio and Chamber Singers, was all amazing. The artwork was so cool, and the Shakespeare scenes were wonderful. It was an incredible way to kick off the start of the year, the arts season and the new space.”

The MKA Middle School Dance Program, directed by Monica Elmore, held their annual MLK performance on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and selected prominent human rights activists. Included in this wonderful program celebrating diversity were traditional Chinese dances commemorating the Chinese New Year, Latin dance, ballet, tap, modern and hip-hop. Students, with faculty members Monica Elmore, Fangzhou Zhang and Veronica Toscano, collaborated to choreograph the dances. The morning and evening performances were introduced by student speeches highlighting the featured human rights activists and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

PLAY TIME

IN THE COMMUNITY The Upper School Jazz Band performed at Alaris Health Care in Cedar Grove and Green Hill Senior Living Community. Fun was had by all, and we were so happy to be able to share our sound with such an appreciative audience.

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Congratulations to the cast and crew of this year’s 8th Grade Play JOAN2K16!

Inspired by George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan and Bertolt Brecht’s The Visions of Simone Machard, the play was written and directed by Christian Ely, MKA’s Middle School’s Theatre Arts Director. This contemporary retelling of the Saint Joan’s story set in a dystopic United States imagines the results of a second civil war. Mr. Ely said, “The ensemble did an exceptional job with difficult and nuanced material.”

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ON STAGE The Primary School was treated to 3R’s performance of Weasels.

This comedy explored whether weasels are cute, frolicking rodents or agents of world domination. The 3R thespians adapted this script, based on the picture book Weasels, by Elys Dolan. The play-writing process began with the students selecting the book on which to base the script. Then, they mapped out the required scenes, developed their characters, worked in collaborative groups to write individual scenes, and finally, looked at the script as a whole to weave the scenes together.

Student

Achievements

Congratulations to Jake Sasfai ‘17 on his recent award of “Honorable Mention” from the National YoungArts Foundation Auditions in JAZZ/Keyboard.

YoungArts is an organization that holds national auditions and Jake was among more than 10,000 high school students who auditioned in various disciplines.

Congratulations to Kiki Porter ’18 who will be representing MKA in the NJ All State Chorus Concert in Atlantic City.

Kiki is the 4th soprano in the state right now based on her last audition and sang with some of the most talented singers in the state.

Jazz Hands

In its 2016-17 debut performance, the MKA Middle School Jazz Band performed at the MLK Luncheon in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Friday, January 20th. The Dining Hall was transformed into a jazz café for the occasion, and families were invited to join students for a special southern menu lunch. The Jazz Band, fresh off a full-day workshop with members of Diane Moser’s Big Band, performed the jazz classics “Blue Monk” by Thelonious Monk and “Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock as well as rock and roll and Latin tunes. A fitting finish to a week of celebrations honoring all those who have fought, or continue to fight, for equal rights for all.

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Congratulations to Sophie Sabin ’18 who was recently featured in a New York Times Magazine article remembering her mentor, the great Gwen Ifill, an inspiration to female journalists, even middle-schoolers.

Sophie continues to make her mark.

Last June, she covered the United State of Women Summit in Washington for the Student Reporting Labs. No longer shy, Sophie conducted standup interviews with the comedian Amy Poehler and President Obama’s adviser Valerie Jarrett. Gwen Ifill retweeted a picture of her protégée with Jarrett under a one word exclamation: “Sophie!!” After Ifill sadly passed away, Sophie said, “I don’t want to be the next Gwen Ifill, as there is—and always will be—only one Gwen Ifill…But I’d maybe like to be the first Sophie Sabin.

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WHERE THEY ARE NOW…

Rachel Stettler Tell us a bit about yourself I began my teaching career in the MKA History Department, the first woman in the department, I believe.

Eventually, I also taught English. I left to pursue a degree in architecture and was lured back to MKA by the exciting humanities program centered on the study of cities, which was a true interest of mine. As a Klingenstein Fellow, through a program at Columbia University, I further developed this urban studies approach into more experiential curriculum. This led to the opportunity to inaugurate and lead the semester program called CITYterm, an experiential interdisciplinary study of New York City based at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY, for juniors and seniors from around the country.

It is still a very vibrant and popular program with dozens of sending schools. I was Principal of Fieldston, the 7-12 campus of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the Bronx, for five years before becoming the Head of the Winsor School, a grades 5-12 girls’ school in Boston, where I was for the last 12 years. I recently retired, and I’m still living in Boston.

Years that you taught at MKA and the positions you held: I taught at MKA from 1980-1996 with a 6-year break in that time raising children and attending graduate school. I was an Upper School History, English, and Humanities teacher. In succession, I was the Freshman Dean, College Counselor, and Director of Admissions. I also coached swimming and lacrosse initially.

What do you consider some of your greatest professional accomplishments to date?

Hmm, I might approach this by describing a few that have had the most positive impact on students: at Fieldston, we became the first prominent high school to publicly ditch the AP curriculum, leading to a bit of a movement in schools eager to consider

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the same, allowing a very progressive school to place student learning at the center of its curriculum and make a public statement about the value of independence in independent schools. Also, building an innovative program like CITYterm, that continues to be so transformative for many students, to this day makes me proud.

At Winsor, I am quite proud of leading the transformation of its city campus through a $100 million building project that built centers for the arts, wellness, athletic and STEM programs and enabled the school to implement an exciting 21st century program.

Biggest lesson you’ve learned to date?

Courage and collaboration are instrumental in enabling change.

What are some of your favorite memories of MKA? There are so many! My heart has always been with the wonderful students and faculty I was so fortunate to teach and learn from in what were formative years for me professionally. I had several faculty mentors whom I will always treasure and dear friends I will never forget.

The students! I am still in touch with many. I always loved how the Upper School was densely populated so that there was always a feeling of close community, whether in the dining hall, the library, or the hallways. The way this somewhat cozy environment overlooked the grand skyline of Manhattan always struck me as such a unique MKA quality: looking outward, aspirational but with a close learning community of wonderful people anchoring it to its core mission.

How did your time at MKA help you to “achieve balance in your life?”

The MKA community knew how to have fun and be lighthearted when needed, even in a serious academic environment.

Any advice for the students currently at MKA? Remember that the attributes necessary for success and happiness in life are those that cannot be measured or graded.

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Sustainability MKA 4th graders made paper! Once a week, the 4th graders collect paper throughout the school and recycle it as part of their community service. In advisory, they learned about how paper is made and why we need to recycle paper. They used scrap paper to make their own paper and understood the amount of energy and water it took to make it.

MKA just joined the Green Schools Alliance (GSA)!

The GSA is an international organization with a mission to, “connect and empower schools worldwide to lead the transformation to a sustainable future.” This alliance encourages whole school sustainability by connecting over 8,000 public and private member schools in the US and other countries to share and partner on strategies to make their schools and communities more sustainable. Since the GSA provides a framework to monitor and report our sustainability efforts, opportunities to share best practices and ways to aggregate purchasing options to reduce the cost of sustainable products, MKA determined joining this group was an important next step in our sustainability efforts. By offering digital forums and in person workshops and trainings, the GSA encourages teachers and students to take action through recycling and energy reduction challenges, video contests and other green initiatives. By joining this group, MKA committed to setting sustainability goals, taking action and monitoring and sharing our results to help reduce our environmental impact and engage our community in making meaningful change.

HALLOWEEN Parents, special friends, faculty, staff and students alike all enjoyed the parade of costumes and the parties that followed during the Primary School Halloween festivities. Headmaster Tom Nammack and Primary School Head Ginger Kriegel dressed as tigers and joined the fun with the students. Special thanks to Anya Barrett ’89, the grade level parent reps and the class parents for their help with the classroom parties and also to Coach Pacifico, who dressed as a bull rider, for “taking the reins” and emceeing the parade!

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Music @ MKA T I S’ T H E S E ASO N

MKA Celebrates the Arts with Winter Music Concerts on all Three Campuses

The annual MKA Middle School Winter Chorus Concert was held on Thursday, December 8th. Choral Director Charles Postas and the MKA Concert Choirs and Chamber Singers presented a wonderful and joyful program of seasonal music from around the world. David Stolarz provided an accomplished piano accompaniment to the singers.

The US Vocal Music Winter Concert took place on Friday, December 9th. Under the direction of Choral Director Maria Gilmartin, 55 student performers from the Upper School Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Unaccompanied Minors and the Advanced String Orchestra (who accompanied a movement from Handel’s Messiah) were featured. There were also a dozen additional students who volunteered their time by assisting as the tech crew to help prepare for the concert. Songs spanned over 200 years of work from songs by Mendelssohn to those that have been newly released. The Unaccompanied Minors sang two brand new songs

by Maroon 5 and Beyoncé. It was an amazing night of singing, and Weiss Auditorium looked stunning. Congratulations to all on an unbelievable night!

Directed by Chuck Olsen, the Upper School Concert Band and Jazz Band presented their annual Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 14th, in Weiss Auditorium. The MKA Jazz Band performed several Jazz standards like Groove Merchant from

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the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, and Ray Bryant’s Cubano Chant with a little Stevie Wonder thrown in for good measure. The Concert Band featured classics such as Mussorgsky’s Night On Bald Mountain and The Beatle’s Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as well as some lesser known composers who had everyone dancing in their seats. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of these students!

The MKA Middle School Band presented its Winter Band Concert on Thursday, December 15th, and it was a festive occasion for all, featuring a variety of musical repertoire directed by Fine and Performing Arts Chair Linda Larkin. It was the debut performance for our fourth grade instrumentalists who just began learning their instruments in September. They always amaze us with their accomplishments in such a short amount of time. The concert was a wonderful mix of traditional folk songs and spirituals from around the world, works from the renaissance and baroque periods as well as current day compositions.

On December 16th, Primary School students rang in the holiday season with voices, bells and violins. Mrs. Jane Smith once again expertly directed and beautifully accompanied each grade in special, joyful holiday selections, both vocal and instrumental. Mrs. Marie Ihnen ended the concert with a violin accompaniment as the faculty sang.

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ATHLETICS 2016 FALL 2016 TEAM AND STUDENT-ATHLETE HONORS AND AWARDS During the recently completed 2016 Fall Athletics season, the following MKA teams, coaches and athletes achieved honors: Head Coach: Mike Tully Assistant Coaches: Mollie Dowd, Donna Bruno, Breanna Jones

FIELD HOCKEY Head Coach: Gia Nappi (1st Year) Record: 8-13-1 Hannah Gross ’17 Capt.; 2nd Team All-White Division, Essex/Union Conference Katherine Smith ’17 Capt.; Honorable Mention All-American Division, SEC; 1st Team All-White Division, Essex/Union Conference Annie Wallace ’17 Capt.

Sophia Garrubbo ’18 MKA Coaches Award; 2nd Team All-White Division, Essex/Union Conference Alix Talkow ’18 MKA Offensive Player of the Year Award; 2nd Team AllWhite Division, Essex/Union Conference Kirsten Zeug ’19 MKA Players’ Player Award; Honorable Mention All-White Division, Essex/Union Conference Amanda Mack ’20 2nd Team All-White Division, Essex/Union Conference

FOOTBALL Head Coach: Anthony Rea (3rd Year) Record: 7-3 Brian Bond ’17 Capt.; MKA Defensive Player of the Year Award; 3rd Team Defense All Non-Public, Star Ledger; 1st Team Defense All-Metropolitan Independent Football League Michael Bromley ’17 1st Team Defense AllMetropolitan Independent Football League Ashwin Lal ’17 MKA Weiner Award Quinn Meistrich ’17 MKA Coaches Award

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Eric Mendelson ’17 1st Team Offense AllMetropolitan Independent Football League Dominic Romeo ’17 MKA Most Improved Player Award; 1st Team Offense All-Metropolitan Independent Football League Ben Yanes ’17 Capt.; MKA Offensive Player of the Year Award; 1st Team Offense All-Metropolitan Independent Football League Trey Wilson ’19 1st Team Defense AllMetropolitan Independent Football League

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY Head Coach: Tom Fleming (18th Year)Record: 5-3; 2016 NJISAA Prep B State Champions Davis Cook ’17 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Billy Massey ’17 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; MKA Coaches Award; 2nd Team All NonPublic, Star Ledger Matthew Petrocelli ’18 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Nicholas Wilson ’18 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC; MKA Coaches Award

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY Head Coach: Tom Fleming (18th Year) Record: 10-0; 2016 SEC Liberty Division Champions; 2016 SEC Liberty Championship Caylie Privitere ’17 Capt.; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Coaches Award

Leelah Klauber ’18 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Evelyn Wallace ’18 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Anna Schaller ’19 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Coaches Award Rachael Boardman ’20 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Anna Bradley ’20 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Coaches Award

BOYS’ SOCCER Head Coach: Rob Leather (3rd Year) Record: 12-7-2 John Baney ’17 Capt.; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Player of the Year Award; MKAFall Captain’s Prize Recipient; 2nd Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 2nd Team All-State North Non-Public, Soccer Coaches Association of New Jersey

All-Prep B; 2nd Team AllState North Non-Public, Soccer Coaches Association of New Jersey

Mia Bohi-Green ’19 MKA Most Improved Player Award; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC

Jonathan Park ’20 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Rookie of the Year Award

Michaela O’Hare ’19 MKA Player of the Year Award; 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC

GIRLS’ SOCCER Head Coach: Christie Welsh (1st Year) Record: 12-11-2; 2016 NJISAA Prep B Co-State Champions Abbie Erbes ’17 MKA Most Spirited Player Award Madeleine Sirois ’17 Capt.; MKA Coaches Award; 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC Jaclyn Kemly ’18 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC Kerri McGuire ’18 Capt.; Honorable Mention All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Prep B

Robert Jack Miller ’17 Capt.; 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; MKA Players’ Player Award; 1st Team All-Prep B; Honorable Mention All-Essex County, ECCA

Jessica Schildkraut ’18 MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B; 3rd Team All NonPublic, Star Ledger

Ahmed Abukwaik ’18 Honorable Mention All-Liberty Division, SEC

Ally Raff ’19 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B

Conor Daly ’18 Honorable Mention All-Liberty Division, SEC Nico Espinosa-Dice ’18 2nd Team All-Prep B Jason Gertz ’18 Honorable Mention All-Essex County, ECCA Benjamin Kubany ’18 Honorable Mention All-Essex County, ECCA Dylan Ladda ’19 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 1st Team

GIRLS’ TENNIS Head Coach: Bill Wing (20th Year) Record: 11-5; 2016 NJISAA Prep B State Co-Champions Hallie Ryan ’17 Capt.; 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC Joelle Crichlow ’18 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC

Ainsley Manlowe ’20 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Emily Talkow ’20 MKA Team Hustle Award

VOLLEYBALL Head Coach: Mike Tully (12th Year) Record: 13-11 Grace Andres ’17 MKA Players’ Player Award; 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC; 3rd Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger; 1st Team All-Prep B Samantha Dowd ’17 Capt.; MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 1st Team AllAmerican Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B Tyla Parker ’17 Capt.; MKA Coaches Award; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Prep B Hailey Sylvander ’17 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Sarah Abukwaik ’19 2nd Team All-Prep B Maira Castro-Conteh ’19 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC

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CONGRATULATIONS TO… Boys Soccer Captain John Baney ’17, the recipient of the MKA Fall “Captain’s Award.”

The “Captain’s Award” is given out each season to a male or female captain who has exhibited the qualities that we look for in our team captains...leadership, dedication, respect, work ethic, and serving as a role model, both on and off the field or court, to his or her teammates and peers. Head Coach Rob Leather stated, “John has been an inspirational leader for our team this season. His will to succeed is rooted in the desire to improve himself, not only as an athlete but as a person. John has a very easy going nature and relates well to all players in the program, but when game time arrives, he is a passionate and motivational leader.”

“John has been an inspirational leader for our team this season. His will to succeed is rooted in the desire to improve himself, not only as an athlete but as a person. ” Head Coach Rob Leather on John Baney ’17

tuRning inquiRy into insight

Mark Bishop, Mathematics and Computer Science Department Chair

The growing demand for computer science education and the need for our students to be able to solve challenging problems was and is in the forefront of our minds as the Mathematics and Computer Science Department considered changes to our program. It has shaped our discussions, and propelled us forward to a four-year computer science program and new math offerings.

Over the past five years the Computer Science Program at the Upper School has grown from two courses (Introduction to Java and AP Computer Science) to the current five courses being offered. We started to adapt the program by replacing Introduction to Java with Introduction to Programming (Python) and also offered AP Computer Science every year. The computer science teachers then developed Computer Science Fundamentals offering a wider variety of topics including Computer Design, Networking, etc. At the same time, yearly “Hour of Code� activities during math class helped attract more students to take a computer science class. Prior to these changes, enrollment in this area was lower than 20 students per year and some years in the single digits. For the last three years, enrollment in this area has surpassed 50 students per year, and at the same time, we have seen an increase from 0-2 girls enrolled per year prior to 2014 to 21 and 18 in the past two years. We expanded our offerings again this year, so that interested students can now take four years of computer science culminating in a post AP, college-level class. In Data Structures and Algorithms, students who have previously coded in Python and Java, extend their knowledge to more abstract concepts using the C++ programming language. For students who wish to extend the concepts they studied in Python and learn a second programming language (Java) there are now two options, Java Programming or AP Computer Science.

A student can now learn three of the most in demand programming languages before graduating. These changes and increased participation also coincided with Hour of Code activities that Primary and Middle School colleagues implemented on their respective campuses to raise awareness and encourage interest in Computer Science.

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The most significant change in the Upper School’s mathematics curriculum is the new Advanced PreCalculus Honors, enabling qualified students the opportunity to progress directly to AP Calculus AB/BC, rather than the previous route, which first required taking AP Calculus AB. This eliminates the need for the strongest Geometry Honors students in ninth grade to take a summer course to reach the highest-level AP Calculus course before graduation.

This now makes it possible for ninth graders in Algebra 2 Honors to take Multivariable Calculus, a post AP, college-level course as a senior. Another area of change is an additional course option for students who complete Calculus Honors or Calculus as a junior. Until this year, the only choices were Statistics or AP Statistics. The department wanted to provide an honors level option in an area of mathematics that students might not otherwise see in high school. We considered many options and after much discussion, developed a Number Theory and Combinatorics course. This course lies outside of the traditional high school curriculum and presents topics often seen in college at a high school level.

Mark Bishop, Mathematics and Computer Science Department Chair

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Laura Treadaway returning tests in Algebra 2 Honors

Laura Treadaway Upper School Mathematics Teacher

As the current teacher of the AP Calculus BC Course, I am so excited about the recent changes made in my department’s curriculum. In particular, I am looking forward to our new approach to the AP Calculus AB-BC sequence. This change will allow students more options in the higher-level mathematics courses.

In the past, our top mathematics students who entered ninth grade taking Algebra 2 Honors could progress to take AP Calculus AB as juniors, followed

by AP Calculus BC as seniors. If a student entered ninth grade in Geometry Honors, he or she could only reach the AP Calculus AB before graduating.

While some of these students may have been able to handle the content of the more advanced mathematics courses, our previous structure did not allow the flexibility for the students to progress to the higher levels.

Our revised curriculum allows talented freshman and sophomore students in Algebra 2 Honors to take the newly revamped Advanced Precalculus Honors course. In this course, we weave topics from the first semester of a typical AP Calculus AB course into the year along with Precalculus topics. By the

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conclusion of the Advanced Precalculus Honors course, these students are well on their way to a solid foundation of Calculus and will be prepared for the AP Calculus AB-BC course.

The AP Calculus AB-BC course will pick up where the Advanced Precalculus course left off to complete the AP Calculus syllabus, preparing students for the AP Calculus BC exam at the end of the year.

Instead of spending three years covering topics in Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, and AP Calculus BC, we have streamlined the curriculum and reduced overlapping material in order to deliver an enriching two-year experience.

Our top students in mathematics now have the opportunity to learn AP Calculus BC at MKA, regardless of whether they are enrolled in Geometry Honors or Algebra 2 Honors as freshmen. In addition, students completing an AP Calculus course have an exciting opportunity to continue learning higher-level mathematics with the new Multivariable Calculus course being offered.

I’ve enjoyed the process that MKA’s math department has gone through to make these curricular changes, and I look forward to our continued reflection on our courses to ensure we are engaging students in challenging and relevant math courses.

Josh Talbot MKA ’17

I have been a STEMcentered kid my whole life. I always liked solving math problems, replicating cool science experiments and making robots.

But when I arrived in sixth grade, MKA challenged me to become a more wellrounded student. Throughout my seven years here, I wrote more essays than I thought possible, enjoyed books I would have never seen myself pick up, and ultimately learned how to get work done. I have never felt particularly comfortable in the humanities, but MKA’s demanding academic standards forced me to push myself to keep up and even excel in subjects I had a tougher time with.

When MKA announced the creation of a new Multivariable Calculus class, I thought this was a good opportunity to push myself the way I had in the humanities.

In Multivariable Calculus, we expand on the content we learn in AP Calculus to functions with three or more variables. For anybody who wants to do work in math, science or engineering, a strong foundation in multivariable calculus is extremely important. So, as a future engineering major, the class seemed like a great chance to get a head start on the rigorous math workload I will encounter in college. But most importantly to me, the class sounded fun. Being able to participate in a class that is both challenging and engaging makes me even more excited for pursuing my academic passions in college.

I thought Intro to Programming really forced students to develop the problem-solving and creative skills required to write efficient code.

I have been less exposed to the program than other students, but I do see many of my friends developing interesting programs.

I hope MKA will continue to expand the math and computer science programs and maybe even start some hands-on engineering programs. I believe one of the most valuable parts of an MKA education is how it provides each student with the opportunity to challenge themselves; I hope everybody seizes the opportunity.

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Dennis Hu Upper School Mathematics Teacher and Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion

As we strive to provide our MKA students with a firstclass twenty-first century education, I’m sometimes struck by how most of the material that we teach in our math classes is remarkably old. Most of the geometric Dennis Hu reviewing in theorems that our students Multivariable Calculus study were known thousands of years ago, and even the most advanced concepts in our curriculum were generally investigated at least a hundred years ago. However, while some of the topics that we are currently teaching might have also been taught in a twentieth, or even nineteenth century mathematics classroom, we are constantly reassessing and revisiting how we teach mathematics at MKA, to ensure that our students receive the knowledge and tools they need for today’s modern world. Indeed, this was one of the primary motivations behind the recent curriculum changes in our department.

When teaching Multivariable Calculus, I challenge students to apply their intellectual curiosity and motivation in order to take ownership of their learning. The topics in this course are usually seen in a third-semester college calculus sequence, yet they are accessible to our students that have already completed a year of AP Calculus. Students learn how to investigate functions of several variables in a mathematically rigorous way, with significant exposure to theoretical proofs. They gain the skills for analytically discerning the properties of a multidimensional function, but they also know how to use their computer to help them visualize a function’s graph. Additionally, students practice how to navigate an advanced math textbook, an under-appreciated skill that is often essential for successful independent learning. Furthermore, students are frequently asked to collaborate with each other as they confront intellectual challenges together.

For many students, “calculus” has a mysterious allure to it. It might be the course title most strongly associated with college academics. However, for a significant number of MKA students, their first calculus course is taken in high school, often in eleventh grade. For these advanced students, our new Multivariable Calculus course gives them the opportunity to continue expanding their mathematical knowledge and gain skills that should serve them well in and beyond their subsequent math courses.

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Lisa Harrison Middle School Educational Technology Coordinator

There were two flex offerings this fall/winter. The first was Ozobot. Ozobot is a miniature robot that can follow lines with visual color codes. Students were able to write code in a visual and tactile way using markers and paper. The code was as simple or as complex as the student was able to write. Students worked together to write code using color sequences to control speed, directions, special moves and timing. One challenge they faced was using U-turn codes to avoid getting stuck. Once they mastered U-turns, students coded Ozobot to do a little freestyle off-roading.

The culminating challenge was examining how Ozobot makes decisions. What are the chances of Ozobot going one way or another? How can we make sure that Ozobot takes the path we want? Using as many codes as possible, students created a “Beat the Bot” game that allowed Ozobot to travel around a path using various speeds, directions and timers while adding or multiplying numbers before Ozobot reached the finish line.

After an infinite amount of patience, attention to detail and lots of revision, students enjoyed playing their own Beat the Bot games as well as trying out others.

The second flex offering was Scratch. Students used an online coding program, Scratch, to create interactive stories, animations, games, music and art. They joined together colored blocks (scripts) to tell the characters on the screen (sprites) what to do in front of a backdrop (stage). In the Skywriting activity, students used Scratch’s stamp block to spray patterns, messages and pictures onto the stage. In the Animation project, they learned that characters in cartoons seem to move, but really are just different pictures that fool your brain into seeing movement. They then animated sprites, changed their costumes and backgrounds. Students had fun exploring other people’s Scratch projects and games. By changing costumes or sounds, students were able to “remix” someone else’s Scratch project and make it their own.

By the end of both flex classes, students were pros at sequential thinking, logical reasoning and coding concepts. They discovered that teamwork was essential to problem solving. Taking time to reflect on mistakes and making corrections is a big part of the process and can lead to some fun discoveries!

Ozobot

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Margaret Gonzales Primary School Math Coordinator and Coordinator of Student Life Computer Coding in the Primary School Classroom Supporting Computational Thinking

Three years ago, sparked by the exciting prospect of participating in the Hour of Code global movement, a group of Primary School teachers formed a think tank to explore how best to bring computer coding to our students in grades Pre-K to three. The availability of myriad online coding games and apps for students ignited the enthusiasm and curiosity of think tank members and assured us that we could provide engaging coding experiences for our students. However, we were determined to broaden our students’ experiences and understanding of computer coding, while simultaneously helping them develop the required computational thinking skills and dispositions. Computational thinking is a problemsolving process involving the formulation of problems that enable us to use a computer and other tools to help solve them, logical organization and analysis of data and the creation of models and simulations to represent the data, all the while practicing collaboration, persistence and confidence dealing with complexity.

This vital definition supplied the foundation for developing a series of plugged and unplugged collaborative explorations that were both challenging and engaging to students for the Hour of Code Week and beyond. Classroom teachers as well as Encores have embraced the skills inherent in computational thinking.

Dance has joined with

Pre-K to assist our youngest students in following, recording and creating pathways of movement networks. Students learn World Languages and Science through practicing computational thinking skills as well.

Although tech tools and unplugged learning tasks are integrated within the yearly curriculum, students were joyfully immersed in coding tasks during the Hour of Code Week by performing coding tasks that reinforced computational thinking. This year marks the Primary School’s second year taking part in this worldwide effort, where they joined 1,319 other New Jersey schools in the celebration. New tools, tutorials and apps have been introduced to challenge and interest students. For example, students were intrigued to use OSMO Coding with their iPads. They arranged blocks to create accurate coding commands to direct Awbie, the strawberry-munching monster, to his favorite snack. Students collaborated in small groups with this exciting new tool, planning, questioning and cooperating to achieve their goal. First grade students were also introduced to the brilliant young Ruby through the book Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding, by Linda Liukas. This book provides young students with engrossing unplugged activities aligned and explained through Ruby’s adventures. Not content with offering students just an hour’s worth of coding experiences, Primary School educators thoughtfully and wholeheartedly embrace instruction that supports students in their acquisition of 21st century skills through engaging and impactful learning throughout the school year.

Left: Awbie the hungry OSMO Coding monster. Below: Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding

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Not only do these courses enable me to further explore the subjects I love, but the new course progression will also permit me to be eligible for AP college credits and will broaden the courses available to me in university.

CODING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL The skills and competencies developed from computer coding–logical thinking, analysis, spatial reasoning and use of both a creative and trial-anderror method for problem solving–are as essential for our 21st century students as are the traditional building blocks of knowledge - reading, writing

—C HAR LOT TE DAVISO N

and mathematics. So, in keeping with MKA’s Mission to provide students with a “…vibrant and transformative education,” the question for us wasn’t should we teach coding/computer science,

Charlotte Davison MKA ’18

I am currently a junior at MKA taking AP Calculus BC and AP Computer Science.

I transferred to MKA in my sophomore year of high school. My previous school did not offer computer science or AP math courses, and despite my interest in these topics, I did not have a chance to take these classes in school. The computer science curriculum at MKA introduced me to programming and allowed me to discover that I really enjoy it and love the problem-solving programming requires. The computer science classes at MKA allow individuals with no programming experience to learn alongside those who have been programming for years with little intimidation.

Had I not taken the Introduction to Programming class at MKA, I would not have realized that I might even wish to follow this subject into college and beyond. In today’s society, computer science in particular is an increasingly valuable skill due to the growing prominence of technology in business and even in everyday life. Learning programming skills provides a gateway into understanding the latest technological developments which imparts a foundation for additional learning in college and even in the labor market. Even if I do not ultimately pursue a career in computer science, the ability to apply logic and problem solving learned in the class are applicable to a broad range of fields.

Without the addition of this course to the MKA program, I would not have the option to take a computer science class in my final year. After I take AP Computer Science this year, the new course offerings will permit me to take Data Structures and Algorithms as a senior. Similarly, the new Multivariable Calculus class, along with the pre-existing Statistics class, provide me with more options for senior year math class.

Not only do these courses enable me to further explore the subjects I love, but the new course progression will also permit me to be eligible for AP college credits and will broaden the courses available to me in university.

I am grateful that the opportunities available at MKA allowed me to pursue both of these subjects in more depth than I would have otherwise experienced.

The foundation provided by MKA will continue to support me even after I leave high school, and I hope other students enjoy and benefit from these courses as much as I do.

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but how do we move beyond the “Hour of Code” to begin making coding a part of the Middle School program. Our new schedule, implemented in Fall 2016, provides an opportunity to begin that process by offering coding classes as an elective during FLEX periods. Students have embraced the opportunity, engaging enthusiastically in coding projects and activities.

While students currently choose to enroll in the course as an elective, we continue to explore ways to incorporate basic computer science and coding in the curriculum, so, eventually, every Middle School student will learn some of the fundamentals of programming. Our students interact with technology every day, both in the classroom and in their lives outside school. In addition to helping students develop creative problemsolving skills that translate well into other subjects and their social lives, another goal is to help students move from only interacting with technology to creating technology.

Dr. Randy Kleinman Head of Middle School

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Emily Tompsett using Graph Theory in Data Structures and Algorithms

Emily Tompsett Upper School Mathematics and Computer Science Teacher

Over the summer two new Computer Science courses were developed: Java Programming and Data Structures and Algorithms in C++. These two additional courses allow for any student interested to take at least 3 years of computer science at the Upper School.

Java Programming is an alternative to AP Computer Science A. This course will allow students who choose not to or have not been recommended into AP CS A to continue studying programming at MKA. This course covers most of the same content as the AP course but does so at a slower pace and in less depth. This course permits all students interested to learn to program in both Python and Java at the Upper School. The course lets students spend time exploring interesting applications of programming in Java while accessing material at their own pace.

Data Structures and Algorithms in C++ (DSA) is the final course in our Computer Science sequence, intended for students who have taken AP Computer

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Science A and done well. DSA covers the content typically covered in a 3rd or 4th semester of a university computer science curriculum while exposing students to a third programming language, C++. The content continues with, and delves deeper into, two of the key aspects of AP CS A or the university equivalent: algorithm design and program analysis. These topics are fundamental for anyone planning to study computer science beyond high school. These topics are particularly dense, so having an initial understanding of them before entering a post-secondary CS program is extremely beneficial. The content is challenging and exciting for both the students and me, because it is the door to some of the most elaborate, complex, widely applicable concepts in computer science. The functions of the concepts are far reaching and varied. So far this year, we have looked at the application of various data structures in file hierarchy, text encryption and program compilation.

In the second semester, we will move on to the design and analysis of algorithms. This will include discussion and analysis of common algorithms in CS as well as application of those common algorithms.

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Derek Morf Upper School Mathematics and Computer Science Teacher

At the end of the 2014-2015 academic year, it became apparent that juniors that had completed Calculus or Calculus Honors had only two mathematics courses available to them in their senior year—Statistics or AP Statistics. While statistics is invaluable in its own right and is critical to many fields in the natural sciences, introducing a course in a different field of mathematics would provide our students with the opportunity to choose the direction of their mathematics studies. Having a distinct choice in which math a student studies is not available to students in the first three years at the Upper School. In addition to adding a course with a different topic, this was also an opportunity to introduce an honors course option for seniors.

After much research on my part, along with discussions with Mark Bishop, we decided the course should introduce fields of mathematics which are not seen in a secondary mathematics curriculum. The new course would introduce topics in undergraduate mathematics programs to show our students that

not all mathematics is algebra and calculus, that it is not all about equations and variables. Several topics such as Number Theory, Cryptography, Abstract Algebra, and Combinatorics were considered.

Through several department discussions, the topics of the new course were narrowed to Number Theory and Combinatorics, and the new course was born as Number Theory and Combinatorics Honors.

The first semester of the course focused entirely on Number Theory. Students investigated methods of proof, primes and composites, the Euclidean Algorithm, and Diophantine Equations. The second semester will focus on graph theory and combinatorics. One student applied for a “Women in STEM� scholarship and made short video as part of the application. In this video, she used methods of proof from the course to creatively prove that there are infinitely many prime numbers (numbers that have no other factors other than 1 and itself). This extremely well done video is not something she may have considered doing without having this course available to her, and we certainly look forward to seeing what the future holds for students entering this course.

Derek Morf working through a Diophantine Equation in Number Theory and Combinatorics Honors

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Julia Thompson MKA ’19

Many high schoolers, including myself, spend a large portion of their time with one question lingering in the backs of their minds: Where am I going? The idea of life after high school scares many teenagers because of the idea that they will immediately be forced to become independent, self-sufficient adults, out in the unknown, the second they throw their caps in the air. However, MKA expects and is prepared for this anxiety from the students and has developed strong programs that help us pursue our existing interests as well as explore new ones. The many classes to choose from make it so that students can explore a variety of subjects within each department depending on their personal interests. The freedom to begin building my high school education around specific subjects of my choosing has already helped me have an idea of what I want to do with my future and what I do not, and I still have two more years before I graduate. High school should be about trying new things, and MKA provides the perfect environment to do so. The continually developing departments only provide even more opportunities for students to explore different niches.

A large part of any academic experience is the teachers that provide it. The teachers at MKA have prepared me for real-world experiences involving hard work and deadlines, but they have also shown that help can always be found where it is needed. I can attempt to navigate high school as independently as I choose, but the second I need guidance, I know that I have resources in my teachers, my advisor and administrators. While I am at MKA, I can pursue anything that piques my interest, because I can get help from people who want to see me succeed and encourage me to strive for what I want.

MKA has taught me how to work hard under pressure and manage my time. I have learned how to be independent, and I have learned how to find help when needed. All are important skills to have as an adult, but what will stick with me most is the confidence that attending MKA has given me to pursue anything I desire, no matter how unobtainable it seems. Striving to be my best is easier knowing I have the preparation and support I need to succeed in the real world.

Jacob Waldor MKA ’17

As I have sought to expand my mathematical knowledge, MKA has supported me by enhancing its mathematics curriculum. This year, I am enrolled in Multivariable Calculus, a course that MKA created as one of its many endeavors to satisfy scholarly interests and challenge students. Taught by Mr. Dennis Hu, this course not only gives me a thorough understanding of multivariable calculus, but does so in an engaging, elegant manner, and we often ponder and solve problems outside of the curriculum during enthusiastic discussions. Having learned multivariable calculus, I will be able to reach even higher math in college after placement testing. I have also witnessed and benefited from MKA’s devotion to supporting computer science enthusiasts. I am currently taking AP Computer Science—a possibility for me because MKA kindly permitted me to bypass the introductory computer course after I demonstrated my self-taught programming knowledge.

Upcoming offerings promise to make the math educations of MKA students even more excellent than the curriculum I experienced. While taking AP Calculus AB last year, I chose to take the exam for the BC course after preparing independently for it (so that I could take multivariable now). In future years, however, students will have the option to enroll in a course designed for covering both AB and BC material in a single year, thus reaching Multivariable Calculus and other higher math quickly while learning AB and BC in one coherent program of study.

As I have enjoyed MKA’s superb mathematics program, MKA has widened my academic interests.

I have enjoyed the challenging subject matter and engaging classroom discussions in a diverse slew of courses, including US History, AP Literature, Chinese, and Honors Economics. This is what makes MKA truly special: innovation in mathematical education is complemented by a curriculum in the humanities that instills a profound appreciation for thinking, regardless of whether that thinking takes place in one of MKA’s exhilarating math courses or in an English course.

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21 Heather Milke MKA ’15

As a senior at MKA, I had the opportunity to take Introduction to Programming in Python, a course that sparked my interest computer science. In the CS faculty at MKA, I was lucky to find female role models and teachers with industry experience. I was inspired to take another course in college, and strongly considered CS as a possible major.

Frustrated that I did not begin studying CS until my senior year, I wanted to take advantage of the CS resources at MKA in my remaining time there. I had the goal of starting a Coding Club where students could explore their CS interests in a creative and collaborative way. The faculty and administration gave me an incredible amount of support and attention that allowed me to realize this goal.

During my first semester in college, I took a notoriously challenging and fast-paced General Computer Science and Programming in Java course.

Although I knew very little Java, MKA had given me

David Dollar MA ’72 Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

I use math nearly every day in my job analyzing the Chinese economy and U.S.-China relations.

Economists use algebra and calculus to model economic behavior. More important, we use statistics and econometrics to figure out what is really going on.

Montclair Academy provided me with a very good foundation in math; I didn’t realize at the time how important this would be. I did well in math classes and on standardized tests but had no special love for the subject. At Dartmouth, I didn’t take any math classes at all (or economics for that matter). I crafted a special major around Chinese language and history, and Asian history and culture more broadly. After graduation, I spent a year in Taiwan, and that’s when I became interested in economics. Taiwan was just taking off, and it was fascinating to observe. I decided that economics was a practical field whose tools could be used to analyze many different problems and whose skills opened the door to different types of

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Girls enrolled in the program has increased from less than two, up to twenty-one in the last three years

a familiarity with Python and, with that, valuable problem-solving skills that allowed me to navigate the course successfully. MKA taught me how to think like a programmer, an important 21st century skill that will continue to serve me well in my future coursework and in whatever career I choose.

I am excited to see that MKA is offering more opportunities in math and computer science, affording all students options that will bring them to their fullest potential. In computer science, I am impressed by breadth of courses offered. The Princeton computer science program follows a similar progression. I took AB and BC Calculus in sequence at MKA. I loved BC, but I imagine that taking the entire AP Calc BC curriculum in just one year would be very difficult.

At the same time, taking two AP calculus courses felt a little redundant. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to take a multivariable calculus course or a statistics course. I think AB and BC-specific precalculus courses is an intelligent solution that will make this possible for MKA students. These curricular expansions are of the utmost importance in today’s rapidly progressing technological environment.

jobs. As an economist, I have been fortunate to teach at UCLA, work in developing countries for the World Bank, represent the U.S. Treasury in Beijing, and conduct policy studies at Brookings (sounds like I can’t hold a job).

When I entered the economics PhD program at NYU, the only math and economics background that I had was from high school. It was a challenge, but my math foundation from MA got me through. To give a concrete example of putting math to work: one of my best professional experiences involved designing and implementing large surveys in developing countries.

I worked on the World Bank team that carried out the first nationally representative household survey in Vietnam, early in the country’s economic reform, 1992-93. Because it was a carefully designed, stratified random sample, it immediately answered a host of questions about income, poverty, nutrition, and social indicators. More important, it was designed as a panel so that the same households were resurveyed several years later. In the midst of debates about who was winning and losing from globalization, it brought real evidence to bear. And the data was publicly available so that researchers everywhere could work with it.

Frederick “Freddy” Davis MKA ’13

My experience as a political science major who turned into a statistics major and then finally changed his mind and decided to study philosophy has led to an expansion, nay, transformation in not simply what I consider “thought” to be, but how I think. The advantages of an interdisciplinary education may or may not be fully understood by anyone completely, and little did they pass through my mind in high school, yet there seems to be a considerable irony in a self-ordained “reflective” person not valuing the perspectives of another because of a lack of respect for the subject that person investigates, or the manner in which they question the world Math, the natural sciences, the humanities and social sciences all contribute to the formation of biases in the so-called experts they produce. None of the “disciplines” are innocent of supporting previous oppressions, but just as statistics has been used to justify the practice of racial profiling, statisticians have also used and developed their tools in attempts to denounce the practice. It is my hope that, though MKA’s new math classes will not be taught to all students, those who do learn from them may come to appreciate the way that the classes will subtlety change their ways of thinking and perceiving not just in the subject of math, but also in the poorly defined and understood practice of life itself. In a time marked by the claims of objective perspective, as opposed to the recognition and acceptance that points of view will always be as diverse as the demographics and individuals which supply them, I hope that the students in the various math classes will not take their academic segregation as a barrier for understanding each other, but as an opportunity for diversifying the worldviews produced by the Academy and exchange, experiment, and invent new ways for reconciling them.

With these reflections and an ongoing discourse with the rest of the community, I see the changes in the Math Department as praiseworthy for helping to move MKA into the direction of the academic utopia it wishes to be.

David Reading MKA ’13

My name is David Reading, and I graduated from MKA in 2013. I am currently a senior at Harvard College pursuing a major in statistics and a minor in economics. As I look back on my twelve years attending MKA, two of the defining characteristics of my education were the depth of support I received and the level of rigor I encountered. The teachers I had were simply tremendous—not only were they immensely qualified (I recall that, in my junior year, no fewer than five of my teachers were PhDs), but they were also very invested in their students. In the middle of my freshman year, I expressed an interest in taking Latin the following school year to one of the Latin teachers (at the time I knew no Latin), and she was willing to tutor me outside of class time. By the fall of sophomore year, I was ready to take Latin 3 Honors! This was only possible because my teacher was willing to go above and beyond to help further my learning.

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The other key aspect that defined my education at MKA was the extent to which I was engaged intellectually. The curricula were quite challenging—I remember struggling to read through Jane Austen’s verbose prose as a freshman in Mr. Valentine’s English class. As my choice of statistics as my college major may indicate, I was predisposed to mathematics in high school. I am thrilled to hear that, under the new curriculum development, the most advanced students will be able to accelerate their learning and take a class on multivariable calculus and differential equations in their senior year. At Harvard, I took both multivariable calculus and linear algebra as a freshman, as these fields are requisite knowledge for students studying mathematics, statistics, and even economics. While I had to approach this material for the first time in these classes, future students at MKA will have the opportunity to be even more prepared for college courses than I was coming out of the Upper School. It is wonderful to see that MKA continues to place such a significant emphasis on maintaining a rich and intellectually challenging environment for its students.

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Andrew Lokker MKA ’11 Biotech and Life Sciences Consultant

The most important part of my MKA education was having opportunities to dive deep into subject areas I thought were most interesting. For me, those areas were always math and science —I had many great teachers here that always encouraged me to ask questions and learn beyond the curriculum whenever possible. I was also sometimes given recommendations on articles and books about these topics, many of which were about intersections between disciplines.

Ultimately, the same interest in interdisciplinary problems led me to choose biomedical engineering as my major in college, and my education at MKA prepared me to succeed. I worked in several research labs and took many different classes where it was vital for me to be comfortable programming and computing large amounts of data.

Today, I work as a consultant in the biotech and life sciences industries.

This requires me to spend significant time learning and thinking about medical science and research, but I also have to be able to communicate its commercial importance to clients. I also work with large amounts of healthcare-related data and commercial models, which means I need to be fluent in a number of different computer programs and coding languages.

Looking back, while I was definitely exposed to computer science during my time at MKA, I would have appreciated additional opportunities in this area before college. I ended up taking a programming class outside of MKA because there were not as many computer science classes as I would have liked. Today, it is more important than ever for students to understand the usefulness of data science and coding. Expanding the math and computer science curriculum would reflect the increased importance of these subjects in today’s colleges and job markets. The best way to become comfortable working in STEM and CS careers is to be exposed to computer science and math as early as possible.

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MKA's Computer Science Program has grown from two courses to five over the last three years

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Enrollment has grown from less than twenty to over fifty in the last three years

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Joy Turock MKA ’08 Linux/UNIX System Administrator

I grew up at MKA: I started there in 1996 and graduated in 2008 from the Upper School. I liked math and computers in middle school, but realized in high school that they were my passion. In my junior year I took Intro Java and AP Calculus AB. Then in my senior year, it was AP Calculus BC and AP Computer Science (CS). I had some great teachers who were happy to see a student excited about their subjects, and they encouraged me to continue studying math and CS in college at Johns Hopkins University. I ended up majoring in physics and math, but as many college students are finding nowadays, I used computer programming throughout college. Currently, I’m working as a Linux/UNIX system administrator for the large-scale genetics research collaboration between Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health, among many other institutions. We have between 600 and 800 researchers from around the world using our systems. One of our largest projects is looking for the genetic markers of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The standard Johns Hopkins science/engineering/CS curriculum has students taking Java programming and BC Calculus their first semester of freshman year, and Data Structures with multivariable calculus their second. I found that I was ahead of some students and behind others, as some students placed out of their first year entirely while others were behind. For a student like me who wanted to major in something quantitative, it would be great to be able to finish another course before college, which leaves more room for advanced courses and research projects later—and puts those students ahead of the curve at top universities.

Additionally, the new curriculum proposes a non-AP Java course. CS is becoming a part of an increasing number of fields, including the humanities—my college classmates in fields from psychology to physics used programming in their courses and research. Having a Java course that isn’t AP CS would benefit students who don’t necessarily want to major in engineering or CS, but would like to learn programming before college. It is becoming an increasingly necessary skill in our “digital age!”

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SeĂąora Ravelo-Rodriguez guides her students of Spanish in a partner activity. The students use 21st century skills while researching different cultural topics with a partner. They work towards their main goal of creating an iMovie.

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PAMKA BOARD OF OFFICERS Karen Gulliver President*

Dear MKA Families, I believe one of MKA’s greatest strengths is our active cultivation of a community of lifelong learners. We are a community of faculty, staff, parents, students and alumni that is always improving, are intellectually curious and personally engaged with the world.

Every year PAMKA organizes a wide range of programs and events that foster this community of lifelong learning and leadership. This includes programs such as: • Faculty Trust Grants that fund travel and field experiences to give our faculty unique insights that they can take back to their classrooms.

• Parenting Workshops to provide thoughtful and practical parenting ideas on supporting the development of our children.

• The Lecture Series, featuring accomplished thought provoking speakers from academia, public policy, the arts, education, science and beyond.

• Blood Drives and other community outreach efforts support needs in our local community.

PAMKA’s Spring Fundraiser will once again give our community an opportunity to celebrate our commitment to making MKA such a special place that allows our children to realize their infinite potential!

Sincerely, Karen Gulliver, PAMKA President

Sybil Eng Secretary Beth Fuchs Finance Vice President* Stephanie Salzman Communications Vice President Tina Jordan Community Vice President Rebecca Scuorzo Volunteer Coordinator Vice President Dawn Armbrust Special Events Vice President Anya Barrett Primary School Campus VP Michelle Dice Middle School Campus VP Rebecca Zaref Upper School Campus VP *Two-year position. All others are one year.

THE PAMKA MISSION STATEMENT PAMKA is a parent volunteer organization established to provide opportunities for parents to participate in the support and enhancement of the students’ educational experience at Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA). PAMKA pursues its mission working in cooperation with the school administration through activities consistent with the policies and goals established by the Board of Trustees of MKA.

PAMKA EVENTS April 8, 2017 PAMKA’s Spring Fundraiser Enjoy an evening of “Lights, Camera…

Auction!” at the beautiful Green Brook Country Club in Caldwell. This year’s event will feature an extended cocktail hour, dessert and a live auction. The Gala Committee, led by Chairs Nancy Wolk and Julie Pak, are planning an elegant and funfilled event to celebrate MKA. The lucky winner of the traditional tuition raffle will be announced at the event.

April 29, 2017 Cougar Pride Day PAMKA BOARD OF OFFICERS: (L-R) Rebecca Zaref, Tina Jordan, Stephanie Salzman, Dawn Armbrust, Karen Gulliver, Michelle Dice, Beth Fuchs, Anya Barrett, Rebecca Scuorzo, Sybil Eng

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Join the entire MKA Pre-K through 12 community, children and parents, for a day filled with school spirit at the Middle School campus.

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PAMKA Grant MKA’S PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION, PAMKA AWARDS SIX FACULTY TRUST GRANTS In 1978, PAMKA awarded the first Faculty Continuing Education Grant for $150 to faculty member Barbara Rabuse to purchase books for her doctoral study. In 1997, the program was renamed the PAMKA Faculty Trust to offer grants to faculty to pursue field-oriented, transformative courses that would enlighten them and enrich their students’ classroom experience in a unique way. Over $500,000 has been awarded throughout the years and our students have continually reaped the benefits of these inspirational and educational experiences.

PAMKA President Karen Gulliver and PAMKA Grant Committee Chair Mary Johnson, celebrated the 2016 recipients at MKA’s annual start of school meeting and invited each of them to present their findings to the faculty/staff.

CHERYLANNE AMENDOLA, Middle School History teacher, presented her “Historical Tour of London” after she explored 700 years of history that the Middle School history curriculum covers.

She was able to look and experience firsthand the art and architecture of the European Renaissance and learn more about the economic and political forces that shaped those time periods. CherylAnne can’t wait to share her discoveries and experience with her students.

ALDEN BASMAJIAN, Upper School Math teacher used his PAMKA grant to support his participation in the Chattanooga Ironman.

The grueling Ironman race is comprised of a 2.5-mile swim, 112 miles of cycling, followed by a full marathon! Alden presented “The World is Our Classroom: An Ironman Experience” where he spoke of preparing to get to the starting line and then executing your plan to get to the finish line, and how that translates into all facets of life. He said we all encounter obstacles and roadblocks and its how we respond to them that matters.

THOMAS JONES, Upper School History teacher, presented his PAMKA grant “Blackfeet Indian Reservation.” This trip was inspired by his participation in the May 2015 MKA Service trip to this NW

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Alden Basmajian competes in the Chattanooga Ironman

Montana reservation. As a History and Global Citizenship teacher, this experience had a profound impact on Thom’s understanding of the Blackfeet Indians’ culture, their history, their policies and their current condition and future hopes.

He looks forward to bringing his vital understandings of the past and present to his students.

DANA ROSE, Primary School 3rd grade teacher and Sustainability and Service Learning Coordinator at the Primary School, travelled across Costa Rica to experience its rich biodiversity and environment while exploring the country’s conservation and sustainability practices. She presented “A Central American Take Action ProjectLearning Sustainable Practices in Costa Rica” and she will use her learnings about creating a selfsufficient, intentional and sustainable community as a reference for her Agents of Change Unit at the Primary School.

ERIC SALEHI, Upper School English teacher, embarked on a 200 miles walk in two weeks from Siena to Rome along the final stages of the Via Francigena, the historic route taken by medieval pilgrims on their way to Rome. Eric teachers a medieval literature course where pilgrimage is a central theme. He now has a new understanding of

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Dana Rose in Costa Rica

how geography effected history and what it meant to be a pilgrim in history versus today.

RON WOLFSON, Upper School History teacher, pursued a lifelong dream to run the Great Wall Marathon along scenic, ancient sections of the Great Wall of China.

Ron said that he asks of his students the same things he asked of himself before embarking on this challenge: Plan in advance, ask questions, be flexible, put your best self forward and have satisfaction in your results. His journey is sure to inspire his students!

PAMKA is proud to support these exciting projects that we are sure will enrich and inspire not just the participants, but our community as a whole. Congratulations to all of the recipients!

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Book Fair PAMKA’s 2016 “Book Fair Wilderness…Get Lost in a Book,” the largest Scholastic Book Fair in the country, has once again been a truly resounding success. Led by Tri-Campus Chairs Toni Friedman and Catherine Halbert, our magnificent PAMKA volunteers transformed spaces and organized events that brought a sense of adventure to the MKA community.

David Shannon helped kick of the Book Fair at our Sunday Event when he delighted an audience of children and adults with his newest book, Duck on a Tractor. Matt de la Peña did double duty, inspiring both our Upper School students and our youngest cougars at the Primary School. Students at the Primary School also enjoyed interactive presentations by Kristy Caldwell, Grace Lin and David Gordon.

Adam Gidwitz, Mike Maihack, Jennifer Weiner and former MKA student K. E. Rocha motivated our Middle School students to follow their dreams and keep writing.

The Book Fair concluded on Wednesday evening with a special community event, in conjunction with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, when author Gail Lumet Buckley, daughter of entertainment legend Lena Horne, discussed her book, The Black Calhouns: From Civil War to Civil Rights with one African American Family.

As always, thanks go out to Scholastic for their support, especially Judy Newman (a former MKA parent) and Carol Levine, and to the parents on all three campuses who dedicate so much of their time to make this remarkable event possible.

Blood Drive PAMKA’s fall Blood Drive, which took place at the Upper School, was a wonderful success thanks to the many student, faculty and parent donors who took part.

Lecture Series MARCH 8, 2017

PAMKA presented Bryan Stevenson, noted civil rights attorney, author, and founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. Free to the public, attendees from the MKA community and surrounding towns were captivated by Mr. Stevenson’s discussion of “American Injustice: Mercy, Humanity and Making a Difference.”

Parenting Workshops FEBRUARY, 25, 2017

Once again PAMKA gave our parent community a wonderful opportunity to gather on a Saturday morning and discuss relevant topics for their children. Mindfulness, Technology and Kids, Managing Anxiety and Stress with Academics, and Helping Your Teen Navigate Tough Choices were just some of the helpful and informative workshops that took place.

The PAMKA Parenting Workshops Chair Krisan Swaminathan worked with a committee to bring these wonderful speakers to our school: MKA faculty members Carlaina Bell and Shanie Israel, Lauren Kaplan, Mark McClusky, Michael Osit, Katherine Prudente, Ann Rasmussen, and Jshana Simmons.

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Pre-K children in Alex Langbein’s ’03 class are using Writing Wizard, working on letter formation, directionality, and letter-sound correspondence. This application is user friendly and interactive.

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Dear MKA Community, It is a pleasure and an honor to write to you. MKA is a school that offers a challenging, engaging and innovative academic program. Our program fosters honesty, curiosity and critical thinking. We should be proud.

As a parent of two MKA graduates, I have seen the transformative influence MKA has had on my children.

This transformation is the direct result of the faculty’s and administrators’ thoughtful planning, meticulous research and implementation of best practices and a commitment to engage with each other in open dialogue for the advancement of student learning. MKA educators are self-motivated and self-reflective; they believe their own personal and professional development is integral to their role in the lives of every student.

This visible devotion to their vocation transcends everyday school life. Whether it is the selection of a Primary School performance, or a change to the Middle School schedule, or the addition of an Upper School course, I have witnessed firsthand the careful and thorough attention each and every decision receives. Our gifted and dedicated faculty is the underpinning of the extraordinary student experience at MKA and as an organization and a community, we are unyielding in our pledge to continue to attract, and to retain, the finest educators to teach our exceptionally talented students.

As it has in the past, I know MKA’s commitment to our students’ ethical development, intellectual growth and personal success will stay center stage—our Mission will, as it has for decades, lead our students and alumni to be citizens of noble character, purpose and distinction.

MKA is a community that I believe we all cherish. MKA is a community that, through our collective philanthropic support, will continue to flourish, educate and inspire our great, great grandchildren.

With warm regards, Kathleen M. Logan, President, Board of Trustees

OFFICERS Kathleen M. Logan President Christina A. Cotton Vice President Linda H. Sterling Vice President Jeffrey G. Szilagyi Treasurer Kenneth W. Barrett Secretary MEMBER TRUSTEES Merrick G. Andlinger Jennifer A. Barbetta Anya C. Barrett ’89 James L. Bromley Evelyn M. Colbert Paige L. Cottingham-Streater ’79 David A. Crichlow Carolyn N. Everson Clifford B. Finkle IV ’92 Peter J. Fusco ’89 Karen T. Gulliver Tracy E. Higgins Michael V. Johnson Thomas W. Nammack Kenneth S. Rivlin Luke A. Sarsfield III ’91 Jaclyn V. Spedaliere ’00 Jonathan M. Strain Chiming Tse Mei-Mei H. Tuan Lori W. Yanes HONORARY TRUSTEES Aubin Z. Ames ’54 John E. Garippa Alice M. Hirsh Susan H. Ruddick Newton B. Schott, Jr. ADVISORY TRUSTEES Barry W. Ridings ’70 Robert L. Tortoriello

BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Back Row (L-R): Anya Barrett ’89, Michael Johnson, Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00, Bob Tortoriello (Advisory Trustee), Cliff Finkle ’92, Luke Sarsfield ’91, David Crichlow, Rick Andlinger, Jon Strain, Jim Bromley, Evie Colbert, Jennifer Barbetta, Paige Cottingham-Streater ’79. Seated (L-R): Linda Sterling, Karen Gulliver, Ken Rivlin, Tom Nammack, Kate Logan, Jeff Szilagyi, Christina Cotton, Lori Yanes.

Not Pictured: Carolyn Everson, Peter Fusco ’89, Ken Barrett, Chiming Tse, Mei-Mei Tuan, Tracy Higgins

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A ALU M N I N E WS

Members of the class of 2006 celebrate their 10-year Reunion at Egan’s during Homecoming 2016.

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FROM THE MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

EVENTS! Career Day March 8th, 2017 Upper School

Dear Fellow Cougars:

To volunteer as a speaker email Eric Gutierrez at: egutierrez@mka.org

Two of the goals of the MKA Alumni Association are to gather a voice for our alumni and cultivate alumni engagement with the MKA community. The MKA alumni voice is clearest, and the engagement is most effective, when we have diverse voices at the table exchanging different perspectives. Our Nominations Committee works to enhance the diversity of the MKA Alumni Council. The committee reaches out to the alumni community, encouraging applications from a range of backgrounds. Gender, age and multicultural diversity remain important focal points for us. We also recognize that alumni live in regions across the country and globe, participated in many sports and activities. So how can you make a difference with diversity?

• Get involved on the MKA Alumni Council • Attend alumni events • Nominate a cougar for one of the Alumni Association Awards

Alumni Council Winter Social March 30th, 2017 The Clubhouse - Montclair, NJ 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

MKA Alumni on the Road April, 2017 Washington, DC Time: TBD

Klank Klassic/Alumni Games Day June 17th, 2017 Upper School Time: All Day, Various MKA fields and Egan’s – check your email for updates in May

• Contribute to the MKA Review Magazine by submitting a class note.

• Volunteer as a class rep., reunion committee member, speak to students, etc.

• Engage on MKA’s Alumni social media platforms

*If you would like to host a regional event, please contact Eric Gutierrez at egutierrez@mka.org

• Hire a fellow cougar • Support your favorite interest or affinity of the school and be part of the school’s Annual Fund campaign

Best, Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00 Alumni Council President ALUMNI COUNCIL The Montclair Kimberley Academy Alumni Council is an organization that advances the interests and influence of MKA, strengthens relations between alumni and MKA, cooperates with the Board of Trustees and with MKA’s other associations, and participates in MKA’s fundraising activities. The Council makes known to the Trustees, the administration, the faculty, and students the ideas, interests and concerns of the alumni; and to the alumni, the desires, purpose, and objectives of the school. The Council engages current students and alumni through meaningful connections, activities, and services in order to build a loyalty bond that encourages philanthropic and volunteer support of Montclair Kimberley Academy. We are grateful to the following alumni who have volunteered their time and talent to serve on the Alumni Council beginning July 1, 2016 through June 30th, 2017: Executive Committee Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00 President Rich Cosgrove ‘84 Executive Vice President Amanda Englander ’04 Secretary Dennis Rodano ’87 Treasurer

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Klaudia Pyz ’98 Networking Vice President Council Bryan Becker ’96 Brittany Berckes ’06 Casey Breslow ’03 John Bruno ’02 Jared Cook ’01 Pamela D’Amato Davis ’89

Caitlin DiRuggiero ’06 Anne Fetherston ’88 Michael Fortunato ’02 Joanne Pundyk Goldberg ’87 Lauren Hyman Kaplan ’93 Jennifer Jones Ladda ’84 Cooper Knowlton ’03 Angela McCaffrey ’06 Nilie Pajoohi ’89

Stacey Polanskyj ’92 Diane Ridley-White ’84 John Thompson ‘03 Advisory Committee Dan Carson ‘83 Rich Stanton ‘87

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A LU M N I N E WS

Young Alumni Happy Hour The 2016-2017 Alumni Relations programming opened up with the annual Young Alumni Happy Hour on September 15th at Social Bar & Grill in NYC. Alumni from the classes of 2003 - 2012 had the opportunity to reconnect with each other, faculty from the Upper School, and meet the new faces of MKA’s Development and Alumni Relations team. The new Alumni Relations Director Eric Gutierrez, briefly welcomed the young alumni and emphasized how important their generation is to the success of Alumni Relations at MKA. Additionally, Alumni Council member Jared Cook ’01 spoke on behalf of the Council, encouraging the alumni to maintain their connections with the school and to continue to submit feedback and recommendations on how they would like to be engaged.

Alumni Luncheon This January, MKA welcomed its college-aged alumni back to campus for the annual College Alumni Luncheon. The alumni ate lunch in the dining hall while they caught up with former classmates before heading back to school for the spring semester. For the first time this year, alumni participated in a College Life Panel with current seniors in the Academic Center after lunch. The seniors had the opportunity to meet with former students and ask questions about their experience in college so far. The day concluded with dessert with the MKA faculty. It was great to see the alumni back on campus reconnecting with teachers and friends!

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Senior

Dollar Drive Congratulations to the Class of 2017!

This October, MKA seniors participated in a “Senior Dollar Drive” where they were asked to make their first gift to MKA’s Annual Fund to support an area in the school of their choosing and to leave their legacy.

The senior class reached 85% participation, the highest in MKA history.

The students were enthusiastic and seemed excited to be able to give back to MKA. What’s even more exceptional is that the generosity didn’t stop with the senior class, and we had several contributions from underclassmen. In fact, our highest donation overall was from a freshman! Go Cougars!

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MKA’s Alumni Relations Office W H O W E A R E ~W H AT W E D O (W H AT IS I T A L L A B O U T ?)

Alumni Relations Offices and Alumni Associations are the main vehicles used to engage or reengage alumni so that they may continue their connections or reconnect with their alma mater and with each other. This is achieved through consistent communications, social and networking events, volunteerism and professional development opportunities.

Alumni Relations is important to a school like ours, because alumni support is the key to the success and longevity of our schools, especially MKA. Our alumni are the school’s ambassadors and are our best promoters to others (prospective families and the local community) as they can tell the story of what it means to be an MKA student.

Alumni are able to support the school by contributing their time, talent and/ or financial resources for the betterment of the school. The tuition for a private education like MKA, does not cover the total cost for a student, which is why we rely on the generous contributions of our alumni to enhance the MKA student life experience. These alumni contributions are greatly needed and much appreciated.

Meet the Alumni Relations Team PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: Eric Gutierrez, Director of Alumni Relations; Alli Shearin, Associate Director of Alumni Relations; Debra Allen, Alumni Relations Coordinator

CO LLEGE CA RE PAC KAGES The fall semester continued with the annual College Care Packages initiative spearheaded by Jenn Baratta, MKA’s Director of Family Programs and Giving, and assisted by the Alumni Relations team. The 2016 alumni were filled with joy as they received a package filled with goodies and MKA memorabilia. A special thank you to the parents of the class of 2016 who participated and donated something to be included.

For the first time, a letter from the Alumni Council President, Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00 was included welcoming our newest alumni to the Alumni Association and congratulating them on their first semester of college.

Alumni Winter Games The 2016 year ended with the anticipated and yet another successful Alumni Winter Games held on Friday, November 25, 2016.

As usual, the evening concluded with a happy hour upstairs at Tierney’s Tavern.

The fourth annual Al Rehus Alumni Basketball Game held in MKA’s Upper School Gymnasium brought back former MKA basketball students, family, friends, faculty and staff to remember the life of

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Al Rehus. Coaches Jessica Bishop ’04 and Tony Jones led a brief homage to Al as each player went around stating a memory of him. This year the “even” classes won the game.

MKA former hockey players, family and friends returned to Clary Anderson Arena for yet another exciting game. This year, the alumni gave a warm welcome to MKA’s new hockey coach and Upper School history

teacher, Tim Cook, former professional player and former MKA student. Mr. Cook, thrilled to meet the alumni, gave brief comments about the current Ice Hockey Program and requested alumni assistance in taking, what is already a great ice hockey program, to a higher level. A special shout out to Kenny Smith (Middle School Physical Athletics Dept. Chair), whose assistance to the event was invaluable.

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G A GEN EROUS L I F E

YOUR GENEROSITY SUPPORTS OUR STUDENTS. We believe in our ability to empower our students and we know that to support new generations our future must include expanded and renovated facilities, robust Annual Giving, and a stronger Endowment that provides security and confidence.

A G E N E RO US L I F E

Cheryl McCants ’82 • Bilingual (Spanish), award-winning communication professional and entrepreneur with 25+ years of creative and strategic businessdevelopment, public relations, and integrated-communication experience.

• 2012 National Urban Fellows Leader of Change for America, and has been honored by Time Warner and Essence Magazine as a Power Leader in the African-American community.

• Honored by PR News as one of the nation’s Top Women in Public Relations for 2017 • Named by Leading Women Entrepreneurs as one of New Jersey’s 2016 Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneur

My time at MKA helped me achieve the above accomplishments as MKA exposed me to a brand new world. My time with my teachers helped shape my understanding of the plights of others. My time with my friends helped shape my respect for diversity. Faculty and staff like Mrs. Benediktsson and Mrs. Rabke took care of me while I was at MKA. They provided a safehaven for the girl from Paterson. Mrs. Rabke taught me that my circumstances did not define people’s perception of me, and Mrs. B taught me that that my mind was creative and brilliant despite my struggles in understanding Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. LOL She taught me to lift others up and to never doubt myself.

In all, MKA helped me understand that people should not be judged by their circumstances, but rather by who they truly are. And, if you are ever in a position to remind another of their greatness, do not let the opportunity pass you by. A smile goes a long way.

Supporting MKA is important to me because I believe in the solid education and support system that MKA provides. We are a small community, but we are also a strong and fearless family. I want to make sure that the opportunities that were afforded to me, my brother and now my daughter, are available to others.

I advise current MKA students to not give up. Don’t take your education for granted. Don’t stop learning.

In other words, keep believing in yourself and in the goodness of others. You are smart, talented and kind–otherwise you wouldn’t, or at least shouldn’t, be attending MKA. Continue to care about the world around you and figure out how you will leave an indelible mark on it. Once you figure how to make the world a better place, identify new and innovative ways to make your change sustainable. ■

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Angela McCaffrey ’06 & Caitlin DiRuggiero ’06 I’m Angela McCaffrey, otherwise known as Cait D’s best friend. I own Corefire Studio in Montclair & Ridgewood NJ with Cait. We are also partners in real estate, as we’re licensed NJ agents, and we are coaches together for MKA Field Hockey & Lacrosse as well as members of the MKA Alumni Council. We live down the street from each other, and we each have an English Bulldog. Their names are Cutlet and Baked Ziti and they’re sisters like Cait and me!

My greatest professional accomplishment is definitely envisioning and executing all of my childhood entrepreneurial dreams with my best bud.

Our time at MKA helped us in more ways than we can count. First of all, MKA introduced us to each other in 7th grade. Less obviously, though, our time at MKA taught us both that we must always ask questions and that our only limitation is our imagination.

MKA equipped us with the mentality that there are no excuses and we must be accountable for our futures, whatever we want that to be. Because MKA encourages independent thinkers, Cait and I have never once doubted that being business owners on our own terms was possible.

The biggest lesson I learned at MKA is to never apologize for who I am, as long as I’m being true to myself and respectful of others. MKA fosters diversity and dynamic thinking in every sense. The MKA community has this amazing ability to encourage students (past, present and future) to cultivate and own thoughts and actions in every way. We’re held responsible for our, which I find has made me very selfaware and confident in who I am and what I believe in.

My advice for the students at MKA is: be grateful for the experience, even when you don’t feel like it. Tuition at MKA is a massive sacrifice for our parents, and they are oftentimes missing out on their life experiences to give us the education and experience we can often take for granted. The experience at MKA isn’t a typical education. At MKA, you are fully cared for, and you are safe, both physically and mentally. You are not only allowed, but are encouraged, to be dynamic and multifaceted. This type of open-minded community culture is incredibly rare, and to practice gratitude for the experience is the best way to be present and benefit from how amazing the school really is. ■

Caitlin DiRuggiero ’06 & Angela McCaffrey ’06

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A G E N E RO U S L I F E

The Privitere Family

The Privitere family has been part of the MKA community since 2003. Angela and Phil are the proud parents of Caylie, who will soon be graduating with the Class of 2017, and Cole, who is finishing up his sophomore year at the Upper School.

Caylie and Cole both began their time with us in the Pre-K classroom and are MKA “lifers.”

Angela says, “We have a lifetime of memories connected to MKA experiences.” The Privitere family has many fond memories of Brookside plays and writing celebrations in addition to Middle School memories of school trips and projects related to Ellis Island and Williamsburg. As parents of two Upper School students, Angela and Phil say they are proud to see Caylie and Cole “handle the rising responsibility and demands of a challenging curriculum while becoming well-prepared to ultimately move on to bigger challenges.” They are grateful for the partnership and support they have received from the MKA community throughout Caylie’s and Cole’s academic journeys.

Angela cannot remember a time when she didn’t hold a PAMKA position. She has served on the PAMKA Board in multiple roles, including Campus VP of both the

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Middle and Upper Schools. This year, she is chairing PAMKA’s Nominating Committee.

Phil spends his time researching and investing in new business ventures. He has owned and sold many companies throughout his career and serves as an advisor to several entrepreneurs.

Caylie and Cole are active athletes and avid travelers. Caylie is a three-season runner for MKA, and Cole plays soccer and basketball. Caylie was part of the French Exchange Program in her freshman year and has a lasting friendship with her exchange student, Philippine. She has also traveled to England on MKA’s England in History, Myth and Legend trip and most recently went to Tanzania with MKA in partnership with World Leadership School. Cole has discovered a real interest in hiking and backpacking after going on the MKA Backcountry Hiking trip

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to Big Sur, California last year. Cole is currently planning to go on MKA’s Zion National Park Backpacking trip this year and will probably continue these adventures throughout his time at the Upper School. Cole also enjoys participating in Model UN. According to Angela, “these experiences, all with passionate MKA teachers as leaders, have provided invaluable enrichment to their education.”

The Privitere family is a strong advocate of MKA’s Annual Giving campaign and has also generously supported the Upper School Academic Center. Phil says, “MKA has given our children a strong educational foundation, and we know that to stay competitive and current, MKA needs to keep their programs and facilities up to date.” Angela and Phil are proud to have played a role in the success of the Upper School Academic Center and know that Caylie, Cole and their fellow MKA students are directly benefitting from their investment.

MKA is incredibly grateful for everything that the Privitere family has done and continues to do for our school. We wish Angela, Phil, Caylie and Cole success in all their endeavors. ■

WHAT’S YOUR LEGACY? The Heritage Society recognizes the select group of donors who include Montclair Kimberley Academy in their legacy plans.

MAKE A GIFT TO MKA THROUGH YOUR ESTATE PLANNING JOIN THE HERITAGE SOCIETY. It’s as simple as naming MKA as a beneficiary in your will, insurance policy or retirement account. Life income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, are also practical options for some people.

THE HERITAGE SOCIETY

Legacy

You can learn more about bequests, life income and other types of planned giving by going to our website at www.legacy.vg/mka or by contacting Geoffrey Branigan, Director of Development, at (973) 509-7940 or gbranigan@mka.org.

L E GAC Y FA M I LY

“A man cannot leave a better legacy to the world than a well-educated family.”

THOMAS SCOTT

MKA is proud, fortunate, and grateful to have a community that includes generations of families whose members have attended our founding schools of Brookside, The Kimberley School, Montclair Academy and today’s Montclair Kimberley Academy.

A Family Legacy The Betke / Shelby Family

(L-R) Heath Betke Shelby ’78, Melissa Shelby ’15, Meredith Anne Shelby ’13, P. Austin Shelby ’78

Why is it important to you that your family has the same school experience that you did?

Heath and P. Austin:

We were inspired by our own enriching and rewarding educational experience at MKA to send our two daughters, Meredith ‘13 and Melissa ’15, to the Upper School. When assessing area high schools, we recognized that we valued the intellectual community that MKA had offered

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to us and felt that the intimate environment that we knew and loved was still poised to offer our children a similar experience.

The community of dedicated faculty was the same as it was in the 1970’s only the faces and names had changed. Beyond the classic curriculum, intellectual exploration was encouraged as was risk-taking. We loved that MKA prompted its students to be anything but mainstream; the faculty promoted pupils to

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reach beyond the expected and to explore talents as well as dreams.

We knew that our girls would strive and thrive on the hill with the Manhattan skyline view and so their journey began at MKA.

How would you describe the value of an MKA education?

Heath and P. Austin:

A MKA education is an invaluable platform. Learning to read between the lines is an essential problem-solving tool that arms

L EGAC Y FA M I LY

one for life. At every turn, as adults, we are faced with analyzing unfamiliar situations and making sound decisions. Learning to dig deeply and to think outside-of-thebox really sets one up for success.

MKA’s faculty fosters just that kind of thinking among its student body.

What are your fondest memories of MKA and why?

Heath and P. Austin:

Austin and I both graduated in the class of ’78. When we put our heads together to think of key memories, they were too innumerable to expand upon here. Field play, class trips and lectures, chemistry calamities and classroom antics all registered with laughter. On a more serious side, I can say that both of us cherished relationships that we developed with outstanding faculty members. To this day, we recall some of the advice or guidance extolled by a handful of teachers. And, we can still name every teacher as they were all memorable. Having recently attended the memorial service for Ken Gibson in Weiss Auditorium, it was apparent how many students shared similar admiration for some of the intellectual giants who helped shape our formative years.

What are aspects of MKA that you hope never change?

Heath and P. Austin:

MKA life has evolved since “back in the day.” From our perspective, the changes are mostly positive.

Faculty is even more accessible than in our years; it is not unusual to see students and faculty interacting in the lounge or in offices or sitting together in the bleachers. Then there is the core ethics program which is a stellar North Star for all students.

And, dress code is practically non-existent in comparison to mandatory jackets and kilts. We just hope that the school’s overall size remains intact as there is such rewarding benefit drawn from small classroom engagement.

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Can you please talk about your transition to college?

How did MKA help with that?

Meredith and Melissa:

Our transition from Lloyd Road to college was virtually seamless.

Having meaningful relationships with MKA teachers over the years naturally led to similar engagement with professors on campus. We never hesitated to approach a professor to ask a question or for further information. Then, we were well-prepared particularly for writing papers. When in the Upper School we often wrote cited, six page papers without a struggle. Also, our junior thesis set us up for success in terms of organizing and structuring lengthy assignments. Delivering cohesive economics and stat papers came naturally due to our MKA practice.

We were also used to 75 minute classes at MKA so by the time we reached Elon University, where we are both studying in the Love School of Business, we didn’t have any adjustment to class time like some of our friends. Likewise, the block schedule mimicked a college schedule where there was free time interspersed with rotating classes. Another major benefit was the 1:1 laptop program at MKA. We were well-versed in Moodle and the whole process for submitting papers, etc. with no learning curve.

Overall, we both felt well-prepared for immersed campus life thanks to our MKA years.

How did your experience at MKA influence who you are today?

Heath:

Looking back on my MKA foundation, the multi-facets of my exposure at MKA led me to pursue a similar path in adulthood with my fulfilling design career, volunteering and community leadership.

I still love to read, to engage in thought-provoking discussion and to share my experience and knowledge with others.

P. Austin :

My classical MKA background (4th grade at Brookside through 12th grade at MKA) led me along a law and banking path where I consult in compliance. My love for reading and policy, and the discourse of a healthy debate, draws back to my MKA roots where I was prompted to look at puzzles from all sides.

Karen Shelby Anderson:

I started in Brookside in 1st grade (1969) and then moved to the Kimberley campus in 5th grade when the schools merged. Each of these schools had a strong sense of community and dedicated, experienced teachers which made for happy childhood memories and a broad classical education. We had Latin and French in elementary school! I found that my education and life experiences at the Upper School left me very well prepared for college and beyond. We live in New Hampshire, so MKA was not an option for my children. We were fortunate to find a similar school here, but the bar was set high, by my memories of MKA. R. Eric Betke :

When I look back on my MKA years, two things come to mind readily. My love for science was sparked there. I was encouraged by some marvelous teachers who shared their enthusiasm not only for the subject matter, but also for seeking out my interest. Small classrooms allowed me to fully immerse myself in study and to interact intellectually with others.

My interest in marine biology and science in general continues to this day. I also played three sports which provided me with some lasting friendships as well as some essential team player dynamics that have been beneficial in my life.

Some of my fondest memories were shared on MKA fields and on the Clary rink before I transferred to The Kent School. ■

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C CL ASS N OT ES

HOMECOMING MKA’s 2016 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend brought together many members from our community at the Upper School campus.

C L ASS N OT ES

E D I TO R ’S N OT E

The deadline for news for the FALL MKA Review is May 1, and the deadline for the SPRING issue is January 1. News can be submitted at any time in response to the Alumni Office’s annual mailing, on the back of Annual Fund remittance envelopes, via mail or email to MKA Alumni Associate Director Alli Shearin (ashearin@mka.org), or your Class Representative. We keep ongoing files for each class and welcome photographs in digital or hard copy.

If your class does not have a Class Representative listed, please consider volunteering for the position! It is a great way to re-establish contacts with old friends, does not require a great deal of time, and is essential to the ongoing vitality of the school. Thank you.

1937 is in Needham, MA and her son has the wonderful / TKS / Sally Bausher Littlefield

weekly radio program “Only a Game” on WBUR every Saturday.

On Oct. 8, 2016, he told this lovely anecdote regarding his mom: “On October 8, 1966, as an 8 year-old I got home from school to find my mother wasn’t home; the teen-age girl who sometimes came to help out said a friend (of Mom’s) had an extra ticket to a World Series game, and Mom had gone with her.

I don’t remember my reaction, except some surprise as Mom wasn’t a huge baseball fan but it so happened that this particular game would go down in history, as Don Larson pitched a no-hitter, with the help of catcher Yogi Berra… and my mom was there to witness it!”

Leigh Smith class representative for TKS ’45 has reported: the granddaughter of the late Marice Butler Franklin, had her wedding on Martha’s Vineyard this past summer. Marices’s daughter, Alice Franklin Goyer, happily handled the arrangements on the Vineyard, where she has long made her home.

1941

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. Enid Hyde

5402 Duvall Drive,

Bethesda, MD 20816, enidghyde@aol.com

Sincere condolences go out to the family of Susan O’Gorman Karlin, who passed away on October 12, 2016. / MA / MKA is saddened to hear of the loss of one of our own: Howard S. Dodd, Jr. Howard passed away on August 21, 2016 at the age of 93.

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Our deepest condolences go out to the Dodd family.

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/ TKS /MA /

/ Miss

Lucile G. Mason, The

Rockcliffe, 10 Crestmont Rd., #6B, Montclair, 07042 Janm142@aol.com

Our deepest condolences go to David James and the entire family of Sheila Feagley James who passed away on November 2, 2016. / MA / MKA would like to send sincere condolences to the family of William George Burker, who passed away on July 24, 2016.

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/ TKS /

/ Leigh Berrien

Smith, 847 Franklin

Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, lbsmith15@yahoo.com

Leigh Smith writes: Living on Martha’s Vineyard enables me to see other Kimberley alums from various classes, a big pleasure.

Debby Sanders Lewis ’67, her sister Heidi S. Bryan ’70, their cousins Terry Appenzeller ’66 and Kate A. Hancock ’68; in summer also Ellie Helm Ketcham ’46 and Lorna Peters Garron ’53, sometimes Jean Fairgrieve Granum ’52 . Debby and I were invited to Chatham, MA for lunch with Joan Denney Carlisle ’46, a lovely treat.

There’s one TKS’45 who has 2 sons here and returns from NJ that’s “Pete” Lamborn Peters, and a lunch with her is an annual treat.

She had the special treat this year of attending her grandson Nathaniel’s wedding in Stowe, VT, in June, meaningful place for him as his mother’s family has been

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

there many years. He and his bride are PhD candidates; his early school years were spent here, I happily recall.

“Mike” Van Winkle Morehouse sounds well and chipper despite macular degeneration, making her dependent on others outside her home where she enjoys listening to tapes. She’s pleased to report on family, marriages of grands, and the anticipation of her first great grand, perhaps by the time this news is published.

Sally duBois Moburg has been coping with health issues, but still happy in Ashville, NC with daughter and son-in-law. Her family with several greats is largely in the south now. Sally retains good memories of her many Kimberley years.

It’s cheering to reach our 2 west coast couples, Anne Feagley Wittels and Phyllis Harder Reininger and their husbands. The Reiningers have now marked 66 years together, and the Wittels, meeting later and marrying in 1960, claim 56–not bad!

Whether it’s their wives’ good care or west coast assets, we’re happy for both these classmates. Phyllis says she and Dick do a lot of walking, when not busy with their large family (all remained in their area)– Whereas Anne says she keeps herself calm and happy, if times are challenging, with the art she mastered some years ago, Origami.

The Wittels are also grateful their son and daughter, both married, with their own son and daughter, are also in southern California.

Relying on a mutual friend for final item, I hear Ann Berhauser Buchbinder and husband are still having happy days in their Arizona home, and that’s a good note on which to conclude. Those of us about to become nonagenarians are feeling some happy amazement at this point, I believe–I know I am.

Cynthia Carswell Blair reported all’s well in her New Hampshire residence, Birch Hill terrace, where one lifelong friend also resides.

She gets back to N.J. to see family

Class Representative

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C L AS S N OT ES

in December, also back in summer.

Birch Hill activities and day trips are fun, she says, but she’d love a phone call from old friends.

Our deepest condolences go to the family of Jane Hagan Farno who passed away on June 1, 2016. / MA /

/ Mr. William B. Grant, 537

Milano Rd, Kissimee, FL 34759-4052, grantwb@cfl.rr.com

Sincere condolences go to the family of Richard Adams, who passed away on August 7, 2016.

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TKS /

/ Eleanor

Helm Ketcham, 9

Pancake Hollow, Aquinas, MA 02535, ellieketcham@aol.com.

1947

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. David

Hannegan (Louise Rudd),

49 Canterbury Lane, Lakeville, CT 06039, weezieh@sbcglobal.net

1948

/ MA /

/ Mr. J. Henry

Leonhard, 51 Fromm

Court, Mahwah, NJ 07430, nhandjhleonhard@aolcom

1949 condolences go out to the family of / MA / Our

E. Alden Dunham III

who passed away on September 26, 2015.

Clark “Mac” Simms writes: As you may well have heard, MKA lost a most distinguished alumnus who died on September 26, Alden Dunham of the Class of 1949. It was my great good fortune to be a classmate of Alden’s at the Academy for five very good years, then rooming with him at Princeton for four years and remaining a lifelong friend thereafter.

Alden was a steady and committed student. He had to be to juggle his varied commitments, then graduate first in his class and give the valedictory address. He was captain of football, basketball, baseball, and tennis. When the baseball game and tennis match were in close proximity, Aldy would often win his #1 singles match, then hurriedly change into his baseball uniform. Aldey was

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not the only member of our class to hold a leadership position, but he was the natural leader in our class, always capable, modest, and considerate of others.

Shortly after college, Alden went to Naval OCS. After naval duty, he earned an MA in teaching at Harvard. Next came teaching at Andover and work with Dr. James Conant on a book on, as I recall, effective pre-college teaching. In the early 1960s, Aldey became then Director of Admissions at Princeton, where he succeeded in broadening the social and economic base of entering class.

Aldey and I were both grateful to the Academy for the challenges and opportunities that made us aware of opportunities and our own abilities to contribute to others. Alden was a remarkable person. As MS took over more physically, he worked to set limits to his capitulation to the disease.

I shall miss him.

1950

/ TKS /

Mrs. Audrey

Lewis, 4551 Gulf Shore

Blvd. N, Apt. 804, Naples, FL 34103,

Anne Howe, the wife of Winfield W. Howe, has notified the Alumni Office of his passing on February 6, 2016.

MKA sends sincere condolences to the family.

rdlew@aol.com / MA /

1951

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. Gail

Marentette, 93 Glen

Avenue, Llewellyn Park, West Orange, NJ 07052

Our 65th reunion from Kimberley School (now Montclair Kimberley Academy) in Montclair, NJ took place on the weekend of October 28–30, 2016. Some of us started in kindergarten, the rest came in throughout the grades. We have a core that stuck together over the years-most of us came.

Pat Overton Lee and Nancy Ehrhardt White were coming down from Vermont and had to cancel at the last minute due to health issues.

Suzie Bailey Twyford was planning to come up from Washington, DC.

M KA review / Mon tc l a i r K i m b e r l e y A c a de my

Her granddaughter was in a play and Suzie didn’t want to miss it.

Brownie Cleaves Lewis always stays in touch with us but was unable to come from Wisconsin.

We haven’t seen Brownie in many years–we miss her.

Nancy Jones Trescot and Jack came up from Florida. Joan Jacobus Miller and Dave came from Chicago and Judy Frost Costikyan and Tom from Philadelphia. The rest of us live nearby.

Miriam Eustis Irwin and Ted had a beautiful dinner party at their house in Essex Fells on the Friday.

Nancy Jones Trescot and Jack, June Crowe Croonquist and George, Ruth Ransom Wilson and Nick, Jane Gassaway Bonner and Hank Wood, Gail Robertson Marentette and the Trescots, Millers and Costikyans were all there.

On Saturday, Miriam, Judy, Ruth and Gail went to the upper school for lunch. In the past we know lots of people—not anymore. We were the oldest class there. A woman who was at her 60th reunion leaned over and said “You all look pretty good.”

Nine of us went to the Highlawn Pavilion in West Orange for dinner on Saturday night. Thirteen of us had lunch at Gail’s house in Llewellyn Park on Sunday including Headmaster Tom Nammack and his wife Zandi. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and the colors were beautiful.

It was important to us all to get together this year—who knows how many of us will be around for the 70th?

We had a wonderful time-all of us are just the same—maybe a little wiser and kinder.

I love all of you and really appreciate the effort you made to come.

Miriam and Ted are such loyal friends and always dependable. We have a very special class.

1952

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. Martha

“Skipper” Moran, 8011

Strauff Road, Baltimore, MD 21204, martha.moran1@verizon.net

C L ASS N OT ES

1954

/ TKS /

/ Ms. Georgia

Carrington, 38 Silver

Spring Lane, Ridgefield, CT 06877

/ MA /

/ Mr. Sheldon Buck, 51 Cornell

Road, Wellesley, MA 02482-7408, sheldonbuck@me.com

1955

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. Cecily

Wilson Lyle, 433 Wright’s

Neck Road, Centerville, MD 21617, cecilyle @hughes.net / MA /

/ Mr. Lawrence

Martin, P.O. Box 1058 , Lexington, VA 24450, martinlexington@centurylink.net

1956

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. Carol

Barnard Ottenberg,

FacesbyFerdinand@gmail.com

1420 41st Avenue, E, Seattle, WA 98112, ottenbergc@aol.com / MA /

/ Mr. /

Dr. Lawrence Nazarian, 29 Surrey Place, Penfield, NY 14526, lfredn@aol.com / TKS / Greetings to All and best wishes for a healthy 2017.

First of all: A group huzzah to Carol Barnard Ottenberg for a job well done as class secretary for so many years. Carol capped her performance by coming all the way from Seattle and attending the luncheon in spite of having fallen victim to a perfectly dreadful virus. The Fall celebration of the 60th anniversary of our graduation was–what can I say? Amazing, heartwarming, exciting. It is gratifying to learn that, as time passes, the things we hold in common dominate our relationships while differences, real or imagined in our teens, recede or disappear entirely.

Thirteen of our surviving class was on board that day. We shared lunch and tried to catch on up to 60 years of “news,” which made for some intense conversations. Afterwards, those who could stay got together to share stories at Aubin Zabriskie Ames’ lovely condo in Cedar Grove.

Carol Ottenberg managed to remain upright to join us in Cedar Grove along with Gail Zabriskie Wilson, Carol Van Brunt Rasic, Henny Nelson Skeen, Linda Cole LeStage, and Linda Lovell Smith (if I missed someone, I apologize, but I had not yet donned

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1957

/ TKS /

Eric Jaeckel, P.O. Box 20153, Boulder, CO 80308, efjaeckel@hotmail.com /

the mantle of secretary. LOL!) and dinner at the Montclair Golf Club.

The reunion was so successful that Sally Bever Zwiebach, Molla Kaplan Reisbaum and Joanne Weisser Salomon and I actually re-reunioned a few weeks later at Egan and Sons in Montclair. My thanks for the invitation to take on the class secretary’s job. I look forward to creating a more newsworthy report in the Fall issue because I KNOW that you are all going to bury me in newsy notes between now and May. Right? Be well. Sue Crook Ferdinand, / Mrs. Thelma

“Tam” Miller Knight, 3001

Linton Boulevard, No. 201C, Delray Beach, FL 518, tknight115@aol.com

1958

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. Diana

Bethell Little, 1-K

Buckingham Rd., West Orange, NJ 07052, littlecorp@verizon.net

/ MA /

/ Mr. Henry Agens, 86 Eagle

Rock Way, Montclair, NJ 07042, hymelee@earthlink.net

Our classmate Mark Jaffe tells me he is still practicing law, and, since 1969, he’s been with Hill, Betts, and Nash, LLP, which was founded in 1898. He is now a managing partner with the firm. Specializing in maritime law, Mark has travelled widely over the years to many countries including England, Spain, Norway, other European nations, and frequently to Hong Kong. He has counseled major shipping groups with respect to their corporate structure, operations, and insurance. His wife June is still very active and has been in the public relations department at Clairol, Inc. The couple live in the financial district of downtown Manhattan and spend time in Fort Lauderdale, FL as well.

Jim De Bow and Cassie are living in Phoenixville, PA having moved there from N.J. several years ago. Both of them are volunteers working for agencies connected to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Jim raises funds

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

and is on the Board of Directors of Ann’s Heart, Incorporated, a public charity organization, whose mission is to provide a place of welcome and human services for all Phoenixville area people most in need, especially the poor and homeless. Cassie is involved with Saint Gabriel’s Hall (Audubon, PA), which is a residential program for male youths who have had legal difficulties. They are placed there at the option of the courts. At the facility, psychological, psychiatric, group, family therapy, and oneon-on services are provided. Cassie has tutored trouble kids in math to help them achieve their GED High School Equivalency certificate. She also assists students preparing for their SAT’s.

Their daughter Danielle O’Donnell and her husband Chris have two girls (9 and 11) and live in nearby Lansdale, PA. Son, James W. De Bow II (Jay) and his wife Joni live in Oakland, N.J. with their two girls (10 and 12 years old).

At this juncture, it’s important that we note the passing of Ernest Roth at the age of 98 in 2016. Mr. Roth, of course, is the father of our classmates, Jack and Jerry Roth.

He emigrated to the USA from Transylvannia, and, by the way, claimed to have been a playmate of the future Count Dracula. Because he lacked much formal education, he determined that his twin boys receive the best education possible, and, therefore, sent them to Montclair Academy. He was proud of his proficiency in the family dry cleaning business in Pompton Lakes, N.J., where he worked most of his adult life. Jerry asked him recently if he was comfortable.

He replied, “I make a living….” His dream was that Jack and Jerry would become twin cantors.

Finally, I spoke with Maia Anderson Brogan, widow of Frank D. Brogan. Happily, she is well and lucid and still living at their apartment in Winter Park, FL. She and Mr. Brogan were married 68 years and curiously they share the same

Class Representative

57

C L AS S N OT ES

birthday. “I still miss my buddy”, she says. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind my telling you that she turns 93 years old on March 31st. She fondly recalls our 50th reunion in 2008, when she and Frank were our special guests of honor. What a splendid speech he gave on that occasion. She is proud of her namesake granddaughter, Maia, who’s a good athlete and student.

That’s about it, so Remember the Alamo, Sink the Bismark, and never trust a naked bus driver.

Until that time, your decidedly humble scribe, Hy Agens.

1959

/ TKS /

/ Ms. Jarvis

Reilly Nolan, 15612

Via Marchena, San Diego, CA 92128, jarvisno@aol.com

1960

/ MA /

/ Mr. George

Bleyle, 200 Laurel

Lake Dr., Apt. E267, Hudson, OH 44236, 777bleyle@gmail.com

1961

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. Winifred

Sage Wilson, 13819 Vidal

Place, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123 /

/

Mrs. Suzanne Scannell Hardy, 47 Bartlett Parkway, Winthrop, MA 02152, MA

1962

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. C. D.

Creed (Barbara Bywater),

1769 Forest View Ave, Hillsborough, CA, 94010-6364, bbcreed@aol.com / MA /

/ Mr. Doug Donald, 189

Sedgefield Circle, Winter Park, FL 32792, d1donald@aol.com

1964

/ MA /

/ John

Benigno, 597 Hansell Rd,

Wynnewood, PA 19096-1001, johnbenigno@hotmail.com

1965

/ TKS /

/ Katharine

Haines, 174 East 74th

Street, Apt. 9F, New York, NY 10021, kbhaines@me.com

From Merrill Bausch: My news is that Russ Bausch and I were married on September 24, 2016 at a charming chapel in Cocoa Village, Florida. Leading up to this wonderful event was my retirement from teaching 3rd grade

58

at Sculptor Charter School in Titusville Florida. I had been with the school for 16 years. 8 years were teaching drama to grades K-8 and 8 years as a 3rd grade teacher. Daughter Becky continues to work at Publix grocery store as a bagger two days a week and has lots of social activities the other days. Son Ben finished his remarkable cross country trip from NJ - California and back again on his electric motorcycle over the summer and just turned 40 years old! How is it possible? Russ has two daughters who are beautiful young women and we were so happy to have all four adult children participate in our wedding.

My wonderful nephews, Alec and Karl Schmid also flew down to be a part of the nuptials. Julie, Russ’s oldest daughter, works in Orlando in the Florida bar office where she is an executive secretary. Lauren, Russ’s younger daughter relocated to Austin, Texas a few years ago and is getting her MBA. Lauren is also planning to marry her fiance, Jeremy in May and enjoys working part time at a local winery.

Ben continues to teach physics at MKA and is the Sustainability Coordinator for the Upper School.

One of the achievements of the Sustainability team is a beautiful new green roof on the main MKA upper school building. Photo is of the green roof on a recent trip to visit Ben. Katharine Haines reports: It seems many of us have moved this year or are making plans to move next.

Susan DeBevoise Wright wrote: My only news is that I’m turning 70 on Dec. 27, news I’d like to forget.

Joan is a day younger. Lyn flinched when she realized I was turning 70.

She’s more than 11 months younger.

My early birthday present was pretty cool. Jim and I saw Hamilton in October. We’ll celebrate my birthday in Quebec City, a place I’ve wanted to visit. I didn’t want to have to travel by plane, which meant some place within driving distance (and no escaping the

M KA review / Mon tc l a i r K i m b e r l e y A c a de my

cold). Only other news is that we moved from Sunapee to Hanover in September and do not miss the daily commute this winter. (We do miss the lake and mountain views from our house.) We see our two grandsons at Dartmouth (cousins) and their families a lot. Our seven grandchildren are growing up fast, with four in college and the oldest already graduated from Dartmouth.

Ronde Kneip Bradley wrote: My news is that I am moving to Philadelphia in January. Both girls (living in the Philadelphia suburbs) are having their second child this winter and I want to be closer… so am renting a wee apartment in Center City for a year. I am still keeping my toe in Brooklyn and hope to be in NYC often.

Sally Poor Owen wrote: This past year Harry and I went to Peru and Machu Picchu in Feb. Then in Sept. we visited friends on Lake Erie in Ohio and spent 3 days at Niagara Falls, both wonderful trips. We’re staying busy at our church and just starting our 6th season as Mtn Hosts skiing at Breck. The end of April my daughter is taking me to Spain for my 70th birthday celebration. Still enjoying the grandkids 6, 5, 5, 22 mos.

Lucille Russomanno de Boissezon

wrote: My news is that I have sold my home in Geneva and I am returning to NYC to be with my sons. I still have my vitamin business in the UK so; I am pulling out of that as well as stepping down as Chairman of my hormone company, which I sold 9 years ago.

My younger son is an entrepreneur who is doing very well but he needs my help and I need to be hands on to be of any value to his business. So, I will never really retire and my husband at 69 is Chairman of his own bank. We are both looking forward to coming home and to spending our 70’s with our sons in the big apple.

I split my time between NYC, Wayland, MA (45 minutes west of Boston, Napa and Bermuda.

C L ASS N OT ES

Hopefully, my 70th birthday present will include a trip to Wimbledon in July.

Sincere condolences go out to the 1966

family of / TKS /

Ann Bodenweiser Blakeley

who passed away. / MA /

/ Mr. D.

Carter Fitzpatrick, 70 Eastern Vista, Sedona, AZ 86351, fitzlaw@sedone.net /

/ Mr. A. Craig Cameron, 11 Bay Point

Dr., Ormond Beach, FL 32174, ccameron@cameronhodges.com

1967

/ TKS /

/ Ms. Margot

Escott, 1818 Imperial Golf

Course Blvd., Naples, FL 34110, margotescott@mac.com /

/ MA / Mr. Craig

Perry, 3467 Pinestream Road, Atlanta, GA 30327, craigcperry@aol.com

1968

/ TKS /

/ Ms. Avie

Claire Kalker, 10 Knolls

Rd, Williamstown, MA 01267-2818, heraldicone@gmail.com / MA /

/ Geoff Gregg, 6108

Percheron Trail, Summerfield, NC 27358-9043, tartanone@triad.rr.com

1969

/ TKS /

/ Christine

Hannon, 97 North

Street, Northampton, MA 01060, channon@smith.edu

Suzy Atkins Malerich is “singing with several choruses, dancing with local middle east and modern dance ensembles, acting in ‘The Little Prince,’ the book of which was given to me by Terry’s mom at a fair at Kimberley! Also playing the therapy harp and giving massage in a dementia unit, grand parenting 3 small non-humans, visited Scandinavia for our 40ish wedding anniversary, tripping to see kids in DC and San Jose, ushering 7 different theaters.

Enjoying the crisp air in Vermont.

Peace and best wishes to all.”

Susan Lowry has moved from Philadelphia, PA to Sedona, AZ to live full time in the home she and her husband, Michael Cothren, built in 2009 in anticipation of retirement. She continues to consult remotely for nonprofits in the Philadelphia area while in

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IN MEMORIA M

Montclair Kimberley Academy is deeply saddened by the loss of former Headmaster Philip L. Anderson who passed away on July 26, 2016 at the age of 93. Serving Montclair Academy during a pivotal time in its history, during the widespread debate on coed education and the Academy’s consideration to merge with The Kimberley School, Anderson was first the Assistant Director and then voted Headmaster in the fall of 1966 by a unanimous vote—and standing ovation—by the board of Trustees.

Philip Anderson led Montclair Academy with an eye to the future and the perseverance to fulfill its destiny. At a time when discussions of merger waged opposing opinions, he united the MA community with plans for growth and academic achievement. The completion of new buildings became symbols of Anderson’s efficacy and leadership, including the Fairleigh Dickinson Jr. Gymnasium and Weiss Arts Center. In the 1969–70 Annual Report, Anderson wrote, “It was a thrill beyond words to address the students and faculty on September 11 at our first morning meeting in the new...auditorium.” And he quoted the head of Phillips Exeter Academy, Richard W. Day, saying, “School buildings reflect an educational vision.” It took no time for Anderson to shape his own educational vision for Montclair Academy, creating a Faculty Committee on Educational Policy shortly after his arrival. This “illustrious group,” as he labeled it, shaped “an extremely competitive and rigorous academic program including the addition of advanced placement courses in all major subject areas.” And soon MA students could choose from a wider assortment of courses–Chinese, four years of Latin, Asian Studies, Black Studies, five levels of French, Spanish and German, comparative political, and economic systems. At the same time, sensitive to the arts, MA stepped up its offerings in music. Nixon Bicknell, the only trained musician on the faculty at the time, praised Anderson’s commitment to the arts stating, “He would not let anybody get in the way of building an arts program,” said Bicknell. “That made quite a difference.”

Mr. Anderson resigned his position in the spring of 1974 as Montclair Academy and The Kimberley School began a new chapter in their history to become The Montclair Kimberley Academy. In June of that year, the editors of The Montclair News paid tribute to his dedication and concern for the continuing success of MA when they wrote, “Those of us fortunate enough to have received our secondary education under the leadership of Philip Anderson have had the best...He will be greatly missed.”

Philip Anderson was a visionary leader, colleague, and friend.

After leaving MKA, his dedication to education continued for many years, including 18 years of service as Headmaster of Morristown-Beard School from 1974–1992. His contribution to our founding story will always be remembered and honored by the Montclair Kimberley Academy community.

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

Class Representative

59

C L AS S N OT ES

/ MA / I N MEMOR I AM J a m es T. Mi lls ,

former president of The Kimberley School (TKS) Board of Trustees, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2016 after a brief illness.

Known as Jim, Mr. Mills graduated from Montclair High School and Princeton University (1947). After serving in the US Army with the 10th Mountain Division on the Italian Front during World War II, he graduated from Yale Law School in 1950. Jim Mills joined the Sperry & Hutchinson Company as Asst. General Counsel in 1956 and held many positions during his tenure there. In 1980, he was elected Chairman and CEO of S&H. Mr. Mills believed in devoting time, talent, and support to nonprofit organizations. For ten years, he was President of his Princeton Class, and he also served as president of the Montclair Art Museum from 1990-95. Mills joined The Kimberley School Board of Trustees in the mid-1960’s. As president of TKS Board, he was instrumental in bringing about the merger of The Brookside School, The Kimberley School, and the Montclair Academy in 1974.

He is survived by his wife Frances (Keller) of 65 years and 4 daughters: Eli za b et h ( Mi lls ) Durkee, TKS ‘ 7 1 , Hilar y (Mills) L a m b e r t , T KS ‘ 7 3 , F ra n ces ( Mi lls ) Won n ell, MKA ’ 76 , and Margaret (M i l ls ) Ka p la n , MKA ’ 79 , nephew Ka rl Mi lls, MKA ’ 78 , niece Vi cto r i a (M i lls) Cremonini, MKA ‘82 and ten grandchildren. He was predeceased by his nephew, C h r i s t o p h e r M i l l s , M K A ’ 7 5 .

Sedona. She is looking forward to slowing the pace of life and creating more time for travel in the Southwest as well as to LA and Philadelphia, where her adult daughters reside.

And from Susan Schadler: “I am indeed retired in that I no longer go to a single workplace. That said, I am a (nonresident) fellow at a research institute, have a consulting business, and am writing a lot in my longstanding areas of economics and further afield. I got a granddaughter in April ... and am having all the conventional feelings of delight, wonder and awe. As she will only be 83 at the turn of the millennium (assuming Trump does not dislodge our path to that point) I feel like I now have a window to the future.

Leslie and I are in the process of casting our lot entirely with New England and have bought a house in Boston Back Bay. This puts us in far more manageable proximity to our house in Maine, not to speak of our three daughters, all of whom

60

/ Dr. Edward A. Griggs Jr.

100 Cedar Street, Apt. B24, Dobbs

live in Boston. The move is a huge cleansing exercise—discarding the accumulation of 40 years in Washington so that we fit into our tiny townhouse.”

Ellen Hare and Frank Mazzeo were married in April 2016, vacationed in Aruba and are now living happily together with their dog and cat. They also enjoyed Sarasota, Sanibel and Captiva last October.

Lynn Ehrhardt Gildea planned to spend the winter commuting between Florida and New Jersey.

Lynn and her grandchildren joined Nina Szot Boral at her New York apartment to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Phyllis LaTouche Rawlins, Annette

and Virginia Munson emailed a quick hello with no news to relay.

Being retired gives me lots of time to travel—to Ellen’s wedding, on a VBT bicycle trip in Poland, to Ontario for the summer, a fall bicycle trip in the Netherlands and to Aruba last February.

Colston Saviet Vassallo

M KA review / Mon tc l a i r K i m b e r l e y A c a de my

Ferry, NY 10522-1024

1970

/ TKS /

/ Ms.

Leslie Bryan, 844

East Morningside Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324, lbryan@dsckd.com

/ MA /

/ Mr. V. James Castiglia,

3 Lark Lane, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438, vjc@ vjamescastiglia.com/

/ Mr. Peter

Webb, Mile Slip Farm, 48 Mason Road Brookline, NH 03033, pwebb@ winerbennett.com Randall (Jake) Carignan wrote: I have been living on Maui since 1975. Many years had a Natural Foods Manufacturing business (Golden Moon Foods) then many years of old age catering and nursing with parents. But I still am and ever shall be Golden Moon Music. Songwriting and Publishing. Have written over 500 songs. Been remembering some good times at the school and wanted to see about getting in touch with anyone. Aloha.

1971

/ TKS /

/ Miss

Philippa Bowles,

39 Orts Road, Hamburg, NJ 07419, wvbond60@gmail.com

MKA would like to send deepest condolences to Elizabeth Mills Durkee whose father, James Mills, former Trustee passed away July 17, 2016. / MA /

/ Mr. Anthony Vitale

(Reunion Chair), 10 North Wood Avenue, Apt. 601, Linden, NJ 07036 Tony.Vitale@TVOD.com

1972

/ TKS /

/ Mrs. Linda

Finney Williams,

P.O. Box 1446, Nantucket, MA 02554, czarinalinda@comcast.net /

/Ms. Deborah Peck, Esq., 128

Victoria Bay Court, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, deborahpeckesq@gmail.com

1973

/ TKS /

/ Ms. Susan

Read, 38 College Circle,

Staunton, VA 22401

MKA would like to send deepest condolences to Hilary Mills Lambert whose father, James Mills, former Trustee passed away July 17, 2016.

C L ASS N OT ES

M A K I N G CO N N ECTI ON S!

On MKA DAY, October 21, 2017, phonathon student volunteer Teddy Bulajic ’18 was asked to call Kimberley School alumna Linda Williams ’72. During their conversation Teddy and Mrs. Williams discussed their mutual connection to Nantucket Island. At the time Teddy was working on her junior thesis, “Nantucket Quakers and their impact on the Whaling Industry.” Mrs. Williams shared that her ancestors were among the original Quaker settlers in the area, and after graduating from The Kimberley School she returned to Nantucket to live. Mrs. Williams also offered to share her original journals and documents dating back to the whaling era as well as offering Teddy access to the archives at the Nantucket Historical Association for her research. Teddy stated that “Mrs. Williams demonstrated what it means to be a true alumna, not only supporting our school, but offering personal help and guidance to a student.” / MA /

/ Mr. Gregory Lackey, 138

Paupukkewis Trail, Medford Lakes, NJ 08055, gregory.lackey@usps.gov /

/ Mr. Tom Galligan, 504 Main St.,

P.O. Box 2156, New London, NH 03257, tgalligan714@gmail.com

1974

/ TKS /

/ Ms. Erin

Cuffe Crawford, 121

Clarewill Ave., Upper Montclair, NJ 07043, erincrawford@verizon.net

1975

/ MKA /

/ Mr. Paul

Zuckerberg, 1790 Lanier

Place NW, Washington, DC 20009,

MKA GRAD WIN SILVER AT THE RIO PARALYMPICS

paul.zuckerberg@gmail.com

Congratulations to Rick Doerr ’78 (pictured left), who competed in the Para Olympics in Rio on the US Olympic sailing team and won the silver medal!

MKA would like to send deepest 1976

condolences to / MKA /

Frances Mills Wonnell

whose father, James Mills, former Trustee passed away July 17, 2016.

/ Mrs. Carlos Ortiz (Shawn

Mahieu), 2163 Gilbride Road, Martinsville, NJ 08836,

1977

/ MKA /

/ Mr.

Andrew Pedersen,

5 Whipporwill Valley Rd, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716-2303, apedersenco@gmail.com /

/

/ Mr. Robert Hubsmith,

16 Warren Rd., Maplewood, NJ 07040, roberthubsmith24@gmail.com

1978

/ MKA /

/ Ms.

Pamela Zeug, 60 W.

57th Street, #15F, New York, NY 10019, pzeug@downinggroup.com /

/ Ms.

thomas.s.robbins@ampf.com

MKA would like to send deepest condolences to Margaret Mills whose father, James Mills, former Trustee passed away July 17, 2016.

1983

1980

/

/ Dr. John

Haven Rd., Atlanta, GA 30324-3842,

Mary L. Cole, Esq,

New Providence, NJ 07974, / Ms.

Maureen Towers Natkin, 5 Riverview Road, Irvington, NY 10533, maureennatkin@gmail.com

1981

MKA sends deepest sympathy to Jay Wecht and his family, on the passing of his father Bernard Wecht on September 20, 2016.

A huge congratulations to Scott Rumana on his swearing in as a Superior Court Judge!

/ MKA /

/ Mrs. Laura

Itzkowitz (Reisch),

37 Nottingham Road, Manalapan, NJ

drjack2020@aol.com

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/ Mr. Walter

69 E Main St, Mendham, NJ 07945-1828

07726, howardandlaura@optonline.net

Brink, 1246 Beach

/ MKA /

J. Davis, 66 Oakwood Dr.,

davisteam@comcast.net /

/ MKA /

The MKA community was saddened to learn of the death of Stephen Smith’s father, Dr. Leon Smith, who passed away on December 19, 2016. Our condolences go out to the family.

/ MKA /

/ Mr. Thomas

Robbins, 410 Liseter

Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073,

Kentfield, CA 94904, janeburkhard@

1979

/ MKA /

csaortiz@optonline.net

Jane Lugaric Burkhard, 299 Crown Rd., comcast.net

1982

1984

/ MKA /

/ Mrs. Jennifer

Jones Ladda, 110 Glen

Rock Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009, jjones@dmjadvisors.com

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

Class Representative

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C L AS S N OT ES

Congratulations to Geoff Krouse who was recently named as the new Assistant Dean for the Alumni and Development Office at Duke’s Law School.

It is with sadness that we let you 1990 know of the passing of , / MKA /

Michael Mark

on November 15, 2016. For those who knew him, you’ll certainly agree that he was a guy with a huge personality–bold, funny, committed, a good friend to everyone around him, and one who had a huge impact upon those whose lives he touched. Please keep his wife, Lorri, and two children, Syd and Ryan in your thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace, Michael.

1991

/ MKA /

/ Ms. Dara

Marmon, 330 E.39th,

Apt. 21D, New York, NY 10016, daramarmon@gmail.com /

/ Mr. Luke

Sarsfield, 105 Franklin St., Apt. 4, New York, NY 10013, luke.sarsfield@gs.com Scott Rumana ’83 being sworn in as a Superior Court Judge

1985

/ MKA /

/ Mrs. Susan

Ciccone O’Donnell, 9

Andover Drive, N. Caldwell, NJ 07006, snmodonnell@aol.com

1986

/ MKA /

/ Ms.

Sherry Ahkami, P.O.

Box 3187, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067, shirin@sdspineinstitute.com /

/ Ms. Jennifer Remington-Knodel,

44 Hamilton Drive East, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, jenremknodel@aol.com

1987

/ MKA /

/ Mr. Dennis

Rodano,3 Byron Rd,

North Caldwell, NJ 07006, rodanod@ verizon.net /

/ Ms. Lynne Yellin, 413

Ridgecrest Drive , Chapel Hill, NC 2751

From Dennis Rodano: At the request of my lifelong friend Fr. Geno Sylva a priest from the Paterson Diocese who is currently the English Language Official on the Pontifical Counsel for the Promotion of the New Evangelization I had the honor and privilege of proclaiming the First Reading at a Pontifical

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Liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica on November 20, 2016 for the Closing of the Jubilee of Mercy. My wife Geralyn, our daughter Julia and I were part of a larger group from New Jersey who made a pilgrimage to the Vatican for the Jubilee and to pass through the Holy Door. It was the most powerful and moving experience in my life. Everyone has asked me if I was nervous being in front of 75,000 plus people and I can honestly respond that I have never felt more at peace in my entire life.

1988

/ MKA /

/ Ms. Susan

Bartlett Rankin, 106

Jefferson Dr, Tiburon, CA 94920, surankin@microsoft.com

1989

/ MKA /

/ Mr. Louis

Lessig, 2009 Morris Drive,

Cherry Hill, NJ 08003, llessig@ brownconnery.com /

/ Mr. Josh

Raymond, 33 Oak Place, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, jraymond@trenklawfirm.com

M KA review / Mon tc l a i r K i m b e r l e y A c a de my

Congratulations to Dr. Eugene Mazo who recently published his latest book, “Election Law Series.” He also has a couple more books slated to come out within the next few years.

1992

/ MKA /

/ Dr. Enrique

Neblett, 718 Ainsley

Court, Durham, NC 27713, enrique.neblett@gmail.com /

/ Ms. Tamar Safer Radfar , 1-12

Murray Ave, Mahwah, NJ 07430, tsafer5400@aol.com /

/ Ms. Anne Marie Verdiramo, 302

Timberbrooke Drive, Bedminster, NJ 07921, amverdiramo@gmail.com

Congratulations to Ingrid Ramos and her husband, Stephen Nakamura, on the birth of their daughter Eleanor Lucia Ichika Nakamura, born on August 25, 2015 at 20.5 inches, 7 lbs., 8 oz. in NYC.

1993

/ MKA /

/ Mrs. Renee

Ciccarella (Monteyne),

43 Veranda Avenue, Little Falls, NJ 07424, rmonteyne@yahoo.com

C L ASS N OT ES

Dr. Eugene Mazo ’91

1994

/ MKA/

/ Mr.

Jason Awerdick, 23

Greenbrook Drive, Bloomfield, NJ 07003,

NJ-TF1

jasonawerdick@gmail.com

Montclair Ambulance Unit (MAU) President Jonathan Hirsh ’95 (pictured left) was recently deployed as part of New Jersey Task Force One (NJ-TF1) to some of the hardest hit areas of southeast region in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

NJ-TF1 is part of the National Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) system, coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and provides for the response of expertly trained and well-equipped urban search and rescue teams to assist when local resources are overwhelmed. The team operates around the clock, and includes engineers and other technical specialists in such fields as Communications, Hazardous Materials, Heavy Equipment and Rigging, Canine Search with specially trained search dogs, Logistics, Medical, Rescue, Structures, Technical Search and Technical Information.

MAU President Jonathan Hirsh has served as a Logistics Specialist for NJ-TF1 since joining in December of 2013 but his roots with MAU go back to 1993 when he began as a volunteer EMT. Mr. Hirsh has received training in technical rope rescue, confined space rescue, HazMat and swift water rescue (including boat operator). Hurricane Matthew was his first deployment.

Outside of emergency services, Mr. Hirsh, is the Chief Operating Officer for Clifton based Lamart Corporation and a Montclair resident. After receiving a BS at Syracuse and MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson began as a regional sales manager at Lamart and rose through the ranks to his current position.

Founded in 1953, Montclair Ambulance Unit is an independent Basic Life Support ambulance service licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health that provides emergency medical care, nonemergent ambulance transport and community education to the residents of Montclair and the surrounding area.

1996

/ MKA /

/ Ms. Tanya

Barnes, 30 W. 63rd St.,

Apt. 5N, New York, NY 10023-7103, tbarnes@fas.harvard.edu /

/ Ms. Erica Hirsch, 10 West 15th

Street, #710, New York, NY 10011, ehirsch77@yahoo.com /

/ Mr. Lee

Vartan, 3 Swayze Ln, Chester, NJ 07930, ldvartan@yahoo.com

1998

/ MKA /

/ Ms.

Gemma Giantomasi,

80 Avon Dr, Essex Fells, NJ 07021, gemma.diaco@gmail.com

1999

/ MKA /

/ Ms. Sandra

Tritt, 6710 Variel Ave,

Woodland Hills, CA 91303, sandratritt@ gmail.com /

/ Mr. Alexander Holz, 233

E. 3rd St, Apt 3C, New York, NY 10009, alexbhlz@gmail.com

2000

/ MKA /

/ Mr. John

Garippa, 2741 NE

58th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308, oceanhut@aol.com /

/ Mrs. Anna

Cook, 5 Highview Court, Wayne, NJ 07470, anna_labowsky @yahoo.com /

/ Mrs. Jaclyn Spedaliere, 60 E.

Oak St., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, jaclynspedaliere@gmail.com

2001

/ MKA /

Congratulations to our Alumni Council President Jaclyn Spedaliere, who gave birth to twins. Mom and babies are doing well. We wish the entire Spedaliere Family the best!

/ Ms.

Dana Pisacane,

dana.piscane@gmail.com

Congratulations to Lauren HooperRogers who guest starred on Law & Order SVU on NBC!

2002

/ MKA /

/ Mrs.

Melissa Fortunato

Slomienski, 40 Holton Lane, Essex Fells, NJ 07021, fortunme@mac.com

/

/ Miss Emily Santangelo, 27 Woods

Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424, emilyannesantangelo@gmail.com

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Class Representative

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C L AS S N OT ES

Drew Jennings married Casey Hedden on 9/17/16 in South Lake Tahoe, California. The couple opted for a weekend full of outdoor activities and an outdoor ceremony. In attendance were Alex Langbein’03, David Endo ’04, Hal Garrity ’04 and Will Kinkead ’04 and his wife, Jenna, as well as Drew’s brother, Owen Jennings ’07 and his fiancée, Kelly.

Spedaliere twins

2003

/ MKA /

/ Ms.

Judith Ferreira, 819

Clifton Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104-3211, jferreir@pratt.edu /

/ Ms. Melanie

Braverman Bieber, 20 West 72nd St., Apt. 302A, New York, NY 10023, mel.braverman@gmail.com

2004

/ MKA /

/ Ms. Kate

Santoro, 333 River

Street, Apt. 539, Hoboken, NJ 07030, Kate.santoro@gmail.com /

/ Mr. Brendan McCaffrey, 240

Lafayette St. , Apt. 1, New York, NY 10012, brendan.a.mccaffrey@gmail.com

Congratulations to Drew Jennings for being part of ‘When to Jump’ a community dedicated to exploring the fundamental question we all

think about: when is the right time to go do what you really want to be doing? Drew helps to inspire others to follow their dreams. His story: 2,185 miles is a long way to walk.

But my jump started with a walk, and every walk starts with a step. It just took a while to get that first step.

New York City, corporate 9 to 5, suit and tie, all while harboring dreams of being in a tent on a hike. It was months of ignoring, years of pretending, before one conversation with my boss set forward the first foot. Georgia to Maine, 2,185 miles, 50,000 steps toward a jump that was long overdue. For more information visit: www.whentojump.com

Congratulations to Jenna Willis who won an Emmy along with the cast of The People vs OJ Simpson for her role in the show.

2005

/ MKA /

/ Mr. Manav

Lalwani, 132 Blue Heron

Drive, Riverside Court, Secaucus, NJ 07094, 201-617-5312, manav.lalwani@ gmail.com /

/ Mr. Edmund Kozak,

184 Noll St., Apt. 4B, Brooklyn, NJ 11237, e.g.kozak@gmail.com

2006

/ MKA /

/ Ms.

Natalie Azzoli, 8 Spruce

Street, Apt. 33D, New York, NY 10038, nat6888@gmail.com /

/ Ms. Angela

McCaffrey, 218 Bloomfield St., Apt. B, Hoboken, NJ 07030, angelamccaffrey@ gmail.com

T H E P E N S I VE POST

Congratulations to Casey Hunter ’15 on her new publication…It started with a question: Where was there an outlet for college students in America to express their political opinions? The answer, it appeared, was nowhere. It was this absence that inspired several alumni of MKA’s class of 2015 to launch The Pensive Post, a new medium for undergraduate students across the country to submit and publish thoroughly researched and well informed political opinions. More formal and sophisticated than your typical social media outlet, yet more accessible than The New York Times, Pensive sees itself as the intercollegiate equivalent of The New Yorker, providing nuanced and thoughtful interpretations of the world’s most pressing political and social issues from the unique perspective of undergraduate students. Staffed initially by Casey Hunter, Editor-inChief; Graham Glusman, Managing Editor; Carrigan Miller and Delaney Russell, Editors-at-Large; and David Harbeck as Politics Editor, Pensive quickly gave voice to politically and socially engaged college students across the country, garnering a viewership upwards of 6,000 readers in only a couple of months’ time. Fully embracing its capacity to publish all things “pensive,” the publication launched a creative writing section, spearheaded by another MKA class of 2015 alumnus, Trevor Jones. With this new section came a flood of unique authors seeking to publish their poetry, short stories, and non-fiction essays. As it seeks to give voice to an increasing number of college students, Pensive is looking to launch more sections that fill the ever-growing demand for new content. Always aiming to diversify its opinions and increase its staff, Pensive is welcoming all interested former MKA students entering their first years in college to consider writing, as well as any and all upperclassmen students. *

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C L ASS N OT ES

MKA sends their deepest sympathy to Karl Schlobohm, whose mother passed away July 8, 2016.

2007

/ MKA /

/ Mr. Brian

May, 22 N. Bayard Lane,

Mahwah, NJ 07430, bmay88@gmail. com /

/ Mr. Harry Raymond, 19 E.

7th St. , Apt. 3, New York, NY 10003, raymond.harry@gmail.com

A huge congratulations to Jimmy Ruzich on his marriage to his wife, Amanda. His best man was his brother Mike Ruzich’09.

Congratulations to Lauren Pugh on her marriage to Adam Getty.

The couple married in Monroe, CT on July 2, 2016.

2008

/ MKA /

/ Ms. Cara

Placentra, 125 Upper

Mountain Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042,

CONGRATULATIONS to MKA’s very own Steve Brown (head athletic trainer at the school) and Alumna and Upper School science teacher, Allison Currie ’04! The happy couple was married on July 30, 2016 in Basking Ridge, NJ at the Olde Mill Inn in front of 23 MKA faculty members and 13 MKA alumni. We wish them all the best and a happy and healthy life together!

caraplacentra@mac.com /

/ Mr. Matthew Metzger, 740 Gold

St., Apt. 8C, New York, NY 10038, metzgermd@gmail.com

Congratulations to Shayna Schmidt for her role in Sholem Asch’s “God of Vengeance” at La MaMa, which was featured in The New York Times.

2009

/ MKA /

/ Ms. Jane

Stanton, 240 South

Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042, janestanton18@gmail.com /

Bloomfield, NJ 07003, bnpurcell4@ gmail.com

/ Elizabeth

“Lizzie” Amato,

ljamato420@mac.co /

/ Mr. Ed Bozik,

bozik@me.com

2010

/ MKA /

/ Ms. Devon

Barrett, 109 Llewellyn

Road, Montclair, NJ 07042, dlbarret@ princeton.edu /

/ Mr. Matthew

Palmisano, 51 Grove Ln., West Caldwell, NJ 07006, nbovals@att.net

2011

/ MKA /

/ Seth Bynum,

32 High Street, West

Orange, NJ 07052, sefaref22@gmail. / Ms. Carina Wong,

carinamwong@gmail.com

2012

/ MKA /

/ Casey

Musicant, casey.

musicant@gmail.com /

/ Mr. Ed

Rossini, erosini32@gmail.com

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2013

/ MKA /

/ Mr. Brian Purcell, 89 Davis Ave.,

com /

Past parent Judy Newman who is the President of Reading Club and E-Commerce at Scholastic heard that Emma Sterling was starting to teach with Teach For America in Little Rock and sent her 4 boxes of books for the children to borrow.

Emma set her classroom up like a bookstore and the children were in awe of the amazing collection they had access to!

Congratulations to Jeff Smith who is a senior at Georgetown University. His paper was recently published in the Georgetown Undergraduate Law Review titled: A False Bargain: The Bureaucratic, Ethical, and Financial Ramifications of the Death Penalty. Last April, he was also awarded 2nd prize for a paper entitled, Atlas Enervated: Reassessing the Rise and Fall of Financial Capitalism in the United States and Japan which he presented at the Phi Alpha Theta Mid-Atlantic Conference (this is the National History Honor Society.)

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

2014

/ MKA /

/

Savannah Fusaro,

savannahfusaro@aol.com

/

/ Ms. Kassandra Fotiadis,

kfotiadis3@verizon.net

Last semester, as a part of the Minor in Writing program here at Michigan, John Rubenstein put together an ePortfolio that focuses on sports culture and how our society interacts with athletics.

The ePortfolio’s feature article, “Ball Is Not Life”, is a two-part immersion journalism piece. The first part is a personal memoir about my experience as a studentmanager-turned-walk-on-player for the Michigan Men’s Basketball team. The second part is a journalistic, research-based commentary on college sports culture.

Congratulations John who is in the process of getting this article published on a site called The Pensive Post, which publishes student works. You can find the article by going to the following link: ( jonruby.wix site.com/rubensteinportfolio/ ball-is-not-life)

2015

/ MKA /

/ Kori Durando,

koridurando@gmail.com

Class Representative

65

C L AS S N OT ES

2016

/ MKA /

/ Zoe Bieler,

zoe.bieler@gmail.com

/

AT A GLAN CE M A R R I AG ES 19 65 Merrill Adickes and Russ Bausch September 24, 2016 19 69 Ellen Hare and Frank Mazzeo April 2016 2004 Allison Currie and Steven Brown July 30, 2016 2004 Drew Jennings and Casey Hedden September 17, 2016 2 0 07 Jimmy Ruzich and Amanda 2 0 07 Lauren Pugh and Adam Getty July 2, 2016

/ Charles Rilli, crilli33@gmail.com

MKA volleyball alum Kimani Freeman made player of the week at Smith College.

Congratulations after a four-year letter winner and team captain at MKA, Jack Besser made the baseball team at Washington University.

Isiah Thompson ’15

I N MEMOR IA M 1941 Susan O’Gorman Karlin October 12, 2016 1941 Howard S. Dodd August 21, 2016 1943 William George Burker July 24, 2016 1943 Sheila Feagley James November 2, 2016 1945 Richard Adams August 7, 2016 19 5 0 Winfield W. Howe February 6, 2016 19 6 6 Ann Blakely 19 9 0 Michael Mar November 15, 2016

Casey Hunter, class of 2015 editors

FACULTY, FOR ME R FACU LTY, STA F F A N D T RUST E ES Philip Anderson James Mills July 17

WHAT IS YOUR STORY? Submit your own class note, book or Artists’ Quarter update. Email: alumni@mka. org or Mail: Alumni News Section MKA Review Magazine, 201 Valley Road, Montclair, NJ 07042 Cougars reunite in NYC Dwight Jackson ’08, JR Devita ’09, Natalie Lutz ’11, Frank Mayer ’09, Stu Harwood ’07, Myles Rudnick ’08, Brian Purcell ’09, Mikey Devita ’11, Skylar Zlotnick ’11, Chadd Mukete ’11, Savannah Freed ’11.

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M KA review / Mon tc l a i r K i m b e r l e y A c a de my

Home (coming) is where the heart is.

Make next year the ultimate lost and found. Join us for Homecoming October 14-15, 2017. For more information, visit: mka.org/homecoming Reunion Year’s: Celebrating classes ending in ‘2 and ‘7, and the 50th Reunion Year Classes of 1967 from The Kimberley School and Montclair Academy To join your class reunion committee, email Eric Gutierrez @ egutierrez@mka.org

MKA LIFE

Support Students.

Enhance Academics.

Improve Facilities.

Make Your Annual Fund Gift Today! www.mka.org/giving

For more information contact Talia Selove, Director of Annual Giving at tselove@mka.org

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MON TC L A I R K I M B E R L E Y A C A DE MY 20 1 VALLEY ROAD, M O NTCLAIR, N J 07042