Acorn - Spring/Summer 2023

North Shore Country Day · Spring/Summer 2023

in this issue

a c o r n · Spring/Summer 2023 Edition

features 4 Reimagining the Mac Gym 8 Hoops4Health Founder Brendan Kolton ’01

depa r t men t s 2

SPRING/SUMMER 2023 The Acorn is published by the Marketing and Communications Department of North Shore Country Day for alumni, parents, grandparents and friends. Its goal is to connect our school community, celebrate recent accomplishments and capture the essence of life and learning at NSCD.

North Shore Country Day

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PA R E N T S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

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S AV E T H E D AT E

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EVENTS

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FA C U LT Y

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LIVE AND SERVE

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VISUAL ART

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PERFORMING ARTS

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AT H L E T I C S

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P H O T O S F R O M O U R PA S T

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

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CLASS NOTES

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ALUMNI REFLECTION

Tom Flemma Head of School Gia Anayas Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications ganayas@nscds.org Christine Wachter Associate Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications, Acorn Editor cwachter@nscds.org

310 Green Bay Road

Jonathan Gibby

Winnetka, Illinois 60093 847.446.0674

Digital Content Manager jgibby@nscds.org Molly Ingram McDowell ’80

Director of Development mmcdowell@ nscds.org

HEAD’S LETTER

Tracie Frederick

Senior Associate Director of Development tfrederick@ nscds.org Ashleigh Palmer Weathers ’04

Development Associate— Major Gifts and Alumni Relations aweathers@ nscds.org Photographers Jonathan Gibby Rob Hart Joel Lerner George Pfoertner Christine Wachter WCS Photography Jay Young Writers Christine Wachter Kathy Routliffe

Margaret Ringia Hart Design, margaretringiahart.com Graphic Arts Studio Printing, www.gasink.net

On the cover A rendering of the re-imagined Mac Gym, courtesy of architects Kahler Slater Inside front cover Artwork by Eleanor Chodera ’26 On the back cover A 1959 architectural drawing by Robert Parker Coffin If you have information about any of the archival photos in this issue, contact Archivist Kenleigh Howard at 847.881.8844 or khoward@nscds.org.

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h e a d’s l e t t e r

WHOLE CHILD EDUCATION

We work tirelessly to create the culture, build the programming and provide the physical spaces where students can be themselves, engage with others and learn most effectively. The transformation of the Mac Gym into a center for health and wellness will serve all of these objectives.

It could not have been common back in the day for school heads to speak at medical conferences, but our Founding Headmaster Perry Dunlap Smith did just that in 1935. In a style all his own, he spoke to the American Academy of Pediatrics, gently prodding the assembled doctors to partner with schools and teachers and families to understand children, not just their ailments. He reminded the physicians, “Just as in medicine, in education it is not possible to handle the child in pieces; to try to build his character at one time, his physical attributes at another and to pay attention to his mental qualities at a third time. He is learning and growing all of the time and in almost every direction.

In fact, just as in medicine, that child who grows in a most well-rounded manner in all directions seems to be the most satisfactory personality in the end.”

It was an expression of Perry Dunlap Smith’s hallmark vision of “whole child” education, the core belief that schools 1 Live and Serve Fest 2 Lower school enrichment pop-up 3 Morning Ex 4 Eighth grade science 5 Upper school prom 6 Lower school enrichment pop-up 7 Middle school boys basketball 8 Senior kindergarten baby chicks

must tend to the intellectual, physical and emotional elements of students in equal measure. He was an avid proponent of physical fitness and athletic competition because he recognized the integral connection between physical, emotional and intellectual health. He was way ahead of his time, and his approach has shaped our program, pedagogy and culture ever since.

I am confident that Perry Dunlap Smith would applaud the way our wellness program has grown at NSCD and would be enthralled by the plans to renovate the Mac Gym in support of that program. He would surely be aware of the voluminous research in neuroscience and cognitive psychology that shows again and again that when students feel included, engaged and healthy, both physically and emotionally, they learn more effectively, resulting in higher levels of achievement and satisfaction. Research also shows that this happens best when school cultures are connective, positive and healthy.

That’s why the Mac Gym project you’ll read about in the pages to follow has taken the shape it has and why it ref lects so much more than just a court and locker rooms. Yes, it will address deferred maintenance, add air conditioning and ref lect the latest ways that athletes and coaches train and grow physically. It also will be a community gathering space, a place for kids to study or relax before and after prac-

tices, and a way to reinforce for students the crucial link of physical and emotional wellness. In a time when students face unprecedented challenges and stresses, this project could not be more timely.

Schools like NSCD lead the way in teaching students the skills they need to thrive personally and academically. We work tirelessly to create the culture, build the programming and provide the physical spaces where students can be themselves, engage with others and learn most effectively. The transformation of the Mac Gym into a center for health and wellness will serve all of these objectives.

The Mac Gym has hosted literally thousands of special Raiders moments, and it will continue to do so. With this work, we will ensure that succeeding generations of students will have the tools they need to grow physically and mentally, to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, fitness and health, and to grow in selfunderstanding, self-regulation and selfcare. These are all life skills, ones that help students—and the adults they grow into— navigate life’s challenges in school and out.

When they are combined with the traditional academic skills NSCD always has taught, our graduates thrive in the world. That’s the North Shore way.

—Tom Flemma, Head of School

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Reimagining the Mac Gym

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feature We believe the strongest academic outcomes demand— and can only occur—if we prioritize and nurture the wellness of our students and the entire school community.

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adding an additional practice court and years. If you’ve been in our different ood schools strive for strong multipurpose wellness spaces. buildings, you’ll recognize there is an academic outcomes. Great schools Former Board Chair Molly Shotwell recognize that shaping young people into intentionality to them that ref lects our Oelerich ’87 volunteered to help shepherd pedagogy and our curriculum. There are the best versions of themselves requires the Mac Gym project. During her 20-plus certain elements of education that our a more holistic approach. Here at North renovated spaces highlight and emphasize, years as a trustee, she served on a number Shore Country Day, we believe the like collaboration and project work. We’ve of committees, including finance, buildstrongest academic outcomes demand— ings and grounds, development and stratedone a lot of work on this campus except and can only occur—if we prioritize and gic planning, and as both a current parent for our wellness and physical activity nurture the wellness of our students and and an alumna of the school, she brings a the entire school community. To that end, facilities. And that has to change.” really well-rounded perspective.

Over the past two decades, the school school leadership has decided it’s time to “The Mac Gym is probably the single has upgraded its facilities one building at make some significant upgrades to the most used building on campus,” she says. a time. In 2003-2004, the $10 million Mac Gym—NSCD’s primary JK-12 campaign, “Honoring Our Past, Building “Students are in there from the minute wellness facility.

Our Future,” resulted in the construction school starts until long into the evening.

Since the school’s founding in 1919, And it’s a JK through 12 learning space. of the Louis J. Conant ’11 Science Center health and wellness has been an imporWe do Morning Ex in there, summer camp, and the renovation of the lower and midtant part of a North Shore education. dle school buildings. In 2010-11, architect and of course PE classes. It’s not just about Founding Headmaster Perry Dunlap serving our athletes, it’s about serving the and futurist Trung Le transformed the Smith was committed to educating the entire school. It’s a workhorse—and it’s upper school, kicking off the $30 million whole child—something that we still time to bring it into the modern era.”

“Small School, Big Plans” campaign. In emphasize today. In the early days, that The renovation will improve accessibil2013, the Nathaniel French Arts Center primarily took the form of mandatory was renovated, followed by the auditorium ity, security and fire protection, as well as athletic participation for all students and in 2014 and the cafeteria in 2015. Then in modernize the HVAC systems, explains routine physical checkups, but over the 2019, with early funds raised from the cur- Director of Operations Cindy Hooper, the years, it has expanded to encompass a rent campaign, the Hall Library was trans- administrative lead on the project who has JK-12 program that integrates both the been working closely with the Village of formed—the project fast-tracked after a mind and body.

In 2017, the school released a strategic burst pipe f looded the existing space. The Winnetka through the permitting process.

The expansion will provide additional plan that included a charge to design and Mac Gym, first built in 1960 and renospace for physical education and wellness vated once in the late ’90s to add girls build a comprehensive JK-12 health and wellness program. “While there are some locker rooms, is one of the few remaining classes, as well as an indoor space for the lower and middle schools to use during JK-12 spaces left to be modernized. constants, what the world will demand of During its most recent campus master inclement weather for recess. Additionally, the future leaders we educate today shifts the new and renovated facilities will planning process, NSCD examined its with daunting regularity,” the plan include a state-of-the-art fitness center and JK-12 health and wellness program— explains. “That reality requires us to curriculum, content, skills and facilities— training room for student-athletes and approach our work deliberately, intelliprovide more practice space for the volleyand determined that updates to the gently, collaboratively and boldly.” ball and basketball teams.

63-year-old facility were necessary. “For In order for students to develop the “Our lofty goal is to build a world-class decades NSCD has been committed to skills necessary to thrive personally and wellness program that will allow us to developing and maintaining a learning academically, they need adequate facilifulfill our mission and serve our entire environment that instills a passion for ties—physical spaces where students can student body—and generations of students active, lifelong learning, and recognizing be themselves, engage with others and to come—by elevating our physical fitness, the centrality of physical and emotional learn most effectively.

“The physical connection to the mind is wellness to a world-class education,” Tom wellness and interscholastic athletic programs,” Tom says. “Updated facilities are a says. “We have an opportunity now to really significant, so that’s where we’re key part of realizing this goal.” focus and elevate this work.” working to bolster the curricular portion The school enlisted the renowned One key element has been evaluating of our wellness project with a facilities architecture firm Kahler Slater, which whether the school’s current physical portion,” explained Head of School Tom incorporated feedback from parents, spaces ref lect the growing centrality of Flemma during his State of the School alumni, former student-athletes, faculty, health and wellness to the NSCD experiaddress in January. “That’s something ence. Now, after years of planning, NSCD staff, coaches and trustees to come up we’ve done in this school for a hundred is beginning the process of renovating and expanding the Mac Gym and

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feature In order for students to develop the skills necessary to thrive personally and academically, they need adequate facilities— physical spaces where students can be themselves, engage with others and learn most effectively. with a design for a multiphase plan to improve both JK-12 physical education/ wellness programs and athletics by providing: • spaces that are safe, secure and accessible for all users, • outdoor and indoor spaces at NSCD that are in top condition, • spaces that offer f lexibility for program and schedule, • and spaces that allow for progression of skill-building for all ages.

“Physical education has evolved since the current gym was built, so it’s been really cool to have input, in terms of what makes sense given the way our school and our department and our students function,” explains Physical Education

Department Head, Teacher and Coach Kyle Jones. “You can tell from the drafts and the images we’ve seen that they’ve listened, and I’m really excited to see all of that input come together to create something that’s pretty special.”

According to teachers and coaches alike, one of the most exciting aspects of the reimagined space is its f lexibility. In addition to the renovation of the existing gym, the second phase of the plan calls for the construction of a second full-size gym.

Both of these spaces will have movable partitions, so four different classes or practices could be held simultaneously— five if you include the West Gym. The current weight room on the lower level will be transformed into a functional

THE PL AN North Shore Country Day’s Director of Operations and Summer Programs Cindy Hooper has assembled an expert team to tackle this $28 million Mac Gym renovation and expansion project, led by the architecture firm Kahler Slater, with civil engineers SpaceCo, landscape architects the Lakota Group and general contractors Valenti Builders.

The first phase, slated to break ground during the 2023-24 school year, will include a complete interior and exterior renovation of the existing gym, plus two required additions to bring the building up to code. Safety and security will be a focus, with a more secure entrance, sprinklers and an up-to-date fire alarm system, as well as improved indoor air quality that includes air conditioning and heating.

The west quad addition will widen the current balcony viewing area and add a lounge and ADA-accessible bathrooms. The south addition, which will extend out toward where the swimming pool is now, will include a main stairwell and an elevator, which will greatly enhance accessibility.

The renovation will also address $3.5 million of deferred maintenance with functional and environmental upgrades, including a new green roof. The first phase is expected to take a maximum of 12 months to complete.

The second phase of the project, expected to begin once the first phase is complete, will build out the new space to make room for a second gym, additional meeting rooms and offices. It also will include a stormwater detention vault in the far southeast corner of campus, near where administrative office building Leicester Hall now sits.

“Perry Dunlap Smith was groundbreaking at the time when he talked about the physical wellbeing of children,” explains former Board Chair Molly Shotwell Oelerich ’87, who is helping to spearhead the project. “He emphasized athletics and arts just as much as academics. And so even though this is a very forward-looking, futuristic building, it does harken back to our roots and speaks to our mission, which is teaching the whole child.”

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fitness space with free weights, cardiovascular machines, lots of open, f lexible space and a small turf area with enough room for agility and speed work. “It’s going to allow us to do so much more in there,” Kyle says.

Increasing the amount of usable space is also top of mind for Athletic Director and Coach Patrick McHugh. When he started in the mid-1990s, athletics was a nine-month program with significant breaks in the winter, spring and summer.

Now there is something going on with at least one team every single week of the year—whether it’s a practice, a game or conditioning during the off-season. The daily schedule is shifting later, too. While most games used to start at 3:45 or 4 p.m., many now start at 4:30 or 5 p.m., and that pushes practices later as well.

“Most days in the winter, we’re going until 7:30 p.m. just to fit in practices on days with no games. The joke has always been that it’s not North Shore Country Day School, it’s North Shore Country Day and Night School,” he laughs. “And it certainly does seem that way in athletics at times.”

The renovation also will include a lounge area where students can socialize and study in between games or practices.

The lounge could also be used as additional space for wellness classes—many of which currently are held in regular classrooms in the upper school building.

As a PE teacher, Kyle says it’s obvious a lot of thought has been put into the way students will f low in and out of the new space. When classes are held back to back, having adequate storage and the ability to adapt and change the space quickly makes a big difference. He also appreciates how inviting and appealing the design is, and says it’s going to become a real epicenter for the NSCD community.

“When students leave North Shore, we want all of these physical education and wellness experiences to have been so positive that they want to continue to be healthy or practice a sport or activity they’re passionate about,” Kyle explains.

“Having additional great spaces is going to help us do that. This is going to have a lifelong impact on our students beyond the walls of North Shore.”

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B R E N DA N KO LTO N ’ 0 1 Brendan envisioned programs nurturing four goals for participants: their minds, bodies, nutrition and discipline.

In 2010, he founded Hoops4Health.

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hen Brendan Kolton ’01 talks about surviving a brush with death as a high school junior and living thereafter with the rare disease that caused it, he’s cheerfully matter-of-fact. When he talks about his subsequent journey—from high school and university basketball courts to the Chicago Board of Trade, to heading his own business—he’s calm and thoughtful.

But talk about basketball or about Hoops4Health, the youth basketball enterprise he founded in 2010, and his face lights up. His words tumble out as he describes how much he loves the sport, and how dedicated he is to helping kids learn to love it as much as he does. He’s also more than happy to talk about how much he’s dedicated himself to teaching them self-discipline and a healthy, mindful lifestyle that can enrich their lives off the court.

“I just loved working with kids and seeing them smile,” Brendan says, before breaking into his own broad smile. “I’m a big kid myself, I guess!”

Much of what he and his coaching team at Hoops4Health teach has roots in what he learned growing up in Winnetka and later on the North Shore Country Day boys varsity basketball team, he says.

Brendan says he enjoys sports in general, but basketball has always been his first love. “It’s always been relaxing and fun for me. I like the team aspect, and the bonding with teammates. That’s really cool, the process of building a unit.”

He’s the latest member of his family to excel at the game. Brendan’s grandfather, Manny Begun, played at Chicago’s Crane High School; his dad, Bradley Kolton, was a top player at Chicago’s Bowen High School, an All-City player there and earned a basketball scholarship to Northern Illinois University. While Brendan followed in the footsteps of those before him, he also competed with a unique challenge. Brendan played the game while fighting Diabetes Insipidus, the rare condition with which he was diagnosed as a child.

Unlike Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, which damage a person’s ability to create insulin, Diabetes Insipidus, sometimes called Water Diabetes or DI, is usually caused by damage to someone’s hypothalamus or pituitary gland.

Someone with the disease produces too much urine and sufers from feeling constantly thirsty, tired and rundown. In Brendan’s case, doctors couldn’t find the cause.

He was diagnosed as a young child, but still managed to play basketball. When Brendan came to NSCD as a freshman, he continued playing. However, he says DI made every day a struggle, both in the classroom and on the court, even with medication.

Things finally came to a head in Brendan’s junior year when he fell into a coma shortly after coming home from a family Passover dinner. Doctors later determined that his DI had made him drink so much water that his sodium level dropped to life-threatening lows. He went to bed that night feeling ill, and when he woke up in the hospital two days later, basketball was the first thing he thought about: “I asked, ‘When can I play again?’” he now laughs.

The episode had a silver lining: It allowed his medical team to better treat his condition and create a regimen to keep him healthy. He now takes medication regularly, and each day he measures every ounce of f luid he takes in. He weighs himself nightly to account for any excess f luid, and gets his sodium levels tested monthly.

Brendan was back in school in three months, and with a trainer’s help, he was able to rejoin the NSCD basketball team at full strength in his senior year.

After graduating from North Shore, he chose DePaul University because he wanted to win a spot on its NCAA Division 1 basketball team. He made the team as a junior, only to have an injury that prevented him from playing.

Brendan graduated with a communications degree and wanted to go into sports broadcasting. Instead, he wound up working at the Chicago Board of Trade for a little over two and a half years.

“It wasn’t my cup of tea,” he says. “But it was a challenge to learn, so the experience helped me.”

At the time, he was playing pro-am basketball, allowing him to work with professional NBA and European league players.

While working out at a local gym, he noticed basketball trainers whose practices didn’t impress him. That’s when Hoops4Health was born.

“It wasn’t right. I’d see camps where trainers weren’t teaching the kids; they’d be on their phones or not paying attention to the kids. And none of them talked about things like actual basketball fundamentals or the health aspects I thought were

important. I felt like I could do something better, like I could coach kids and do a better job,” he says.

Brendan envisioned programs nurturing four goals for participants: their minds, bodies, nutrition and discipline. Exposing boys and girls to yoga and Tai Chi, to meditation and to healthy nutrition habits could serve them well as they learned fundamental basketball skills, he thought.

So would emphasizing education and introducing them to special guests like current and former NBA players.

In 2010, he founded Hoops4Health.

(The “4” stands for the aforementioned goals.) It operates from the Winnetka Community House, and Brendan has a team of 16 coaches. He estimates Hoops4Health camps, clinics, teams and other programs serve more than 1,000 young people every year.

Brendan says learning to coach and to run a successful business put him on two steep learning curves. But he says it’s been worth it and adds that he learned to love the learning process itself. He looked to former NSCD basketball coach John Schneiter for inspiration.

“He taught me to respect your coaches and elders, to learn to respect the game,” he says.

Now Brendan himself coaches middle school boys basketball at NSCD, and he’s an assistant girls varsity coach. “Coming full circle to coach at NSCD was very humbling and very cool,” he says.

Even in his down time, Brendan’s thoughts rarely stray from basketball, and he says he’s always thinking about how to stay sharp as a coach. He reads about coaching and the sport in general; he touts books by Phil Jackson, the Chicago Bulls’ title-winning coach and “Zen master,” as well as late basketball superstar Kobe Bryant as among his favorites.

“I’m a low-key guy; I watch a lot of basketball, college basketball for example, because I just love the game so much. And I really like spending time with my family and girlfriend. I’m also a big movie guy, and I play golf,” he says.

From finding a route to personal health, to growing his basketball and business skills, to creating basketball programs for boys and girls from Chicago and the North Shore, Brendan’s life has been a series of steep learning curves. And he loves it.

“It’s been a gift. It’s been an amazing journey.”

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pa r en t s’ a ssoci at ion

Heritage Celebration: Kelly Callon-McLean, Lauren Collins, Adrianna Grimsley, Lamis Abulkhair Tabbara, Basma Babar and Jessica Shinn

Heritage Celebration

Heritage Celebration

Sip and Paint: Francis Allende-Pellot

Heritage Celebration: Surabhi Ensemble Chicago

Anna Simpson and Trisha Byrne

Heritage Celebration On Sunday, January 29, the NSCD community gathered together for the first annual Parents’ Association Heritage Celebration, hosted by the PA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The school cafeteria was virtually unrecognizable, decorated with f lags of the world and paper globe centerpieces, and it was filled to overf lowing with families. Attendees enjoyed a spectacular potluck buffet that ran the length of the cafeteria consisting of homemade dishes from many different regions, including Korea, India, Poland, China, Pakistan, England, Scotland, Ukraine and even a few Midwestern casserole favorites! While enjoying the amazing food, children and parents played international trivia and listened to a playlist of musical artists from around the world.

The littlest guests colored pictures of famous landmarks and filled in their own “passports” with f lags of the world. We

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were then treated to a vibrant and interac- Allende-Pellot then led a laughter-filled tive music and dance performance by painting lesson. Each participant came Surabhi Ensemble Chicago, which feaaway with their own masterpiece to be tured a combination of Indian, Arabic and proudly displayed at home. A special Spanish style music. Surabhi had everyone thanks to Danielle Vanden Heuvel for up dancing and clapping! Many thanks to making this wonderful new event happen the EDI Committee who did an incredible and to Francis for her exceptional instrucjob of organizing and decorating: Lamis tion (and sense of humor). We plan to host Abulkhair Tabbara, Basma Babar and several more cross-division parent social Adrianna Grimsley, and Director of Equity, events in the near future.

Inclusion and Community Engagement Lauren Collins. It was an amazing afterParent Ed: Talking to Tweens noon celebrating the rich diversity of our and Teens about Tech Use NSCD community.

Sip and Paint with Francis Allende-Pellot The Parents’ Association hosted two “Sip and Paint” events, in March and May. Parents from all three divisions gathered in the NSCD Arts Center to socialize, eat snacks, and—of course—sip wine. Upper School Visual Arts Teacher Francis

Parenting in the digital era can be tricky.

At a Parent Ed event on April 18, clinical psychologist Dr. Renee Dominguez, Co-Executive Director of the Family Service Center in Northfield, offered guidance on how we as parents can provide structure, guidance and mentoring around technology. Here are some key takeaways:

Parent Education: Dr. Renee Dominguez

Lower School Family Fun Fest: Heather Pinkett, Adam Held and Carissa Schultz ’24

Lower School Family Fun Fest with The Headspin Guy

Family Fun Fest curious about what their challenges • When introducing technology to younger After a two-year hiatus, the Lower are and then model the type of behavior children, consider digital training wheels.

School Family Fun Fest returned to the we want to see. Talk about the way Mac Gym on March 12. More than 100 Just like when they’re learning to ride a you handle your own digital communica- lower schoolers and their families bike, children need extra support and tion, what you do when conf licts arise, enjoyed Homer’s Ice Cream, music guidance when learning to manage digior how you deal with social comparisons. and bounce houses, as well as a special tal devices. Show them how you interact We need to help our kids develop guest entertainer—The Headspin Guy. on social media as an adult, talk about perspective and empathy.

During his interactive show, he dazzled what you’re going to post and what implistudents and parents alike by literally cations it might have once it’s posted. Set •P rioritize relationships and communication. spinning on his head and performing concrete, mutually agreed-upon expectaInevitably, technology will bring about other gravity-defying breakdancing tions. Having that structure and support conf lict from time to time, and our moves, and he got the whole room up in place will go a long way once the trainresponse as parents will affect on their feet. Many thanks to Christine ing wheels come off and they’re navigatcommunication with our children down and Ron Wachter for spearheading this ing technology more independently as the road. It’s important for us to create event and to all the parent volunteers. And teenagers and young adults. a safe environment with open a special thanks to Dorothy Biel • T hink about mentoring versus monitoring. communication. Validating your child’s and the rest of the maintenance departemotional experiences is critical. It Kids might be savvy when it comes to ment, who helped make the day doesn’t mean that we agree with them or technology, but parents are wise. It’s special for the students. that we approve. It demonstrates that we important to purposefully communicate understand how they feel. We don’t cause when issues arise, identify specific probthe problems, but we can be part of the lems and come up with solutions solution. together. It’s our job as parents to be

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accomplishmen t s

Nicolette Fox ’23

Ella Cesca ’24

Honors Performance Series

Nayomi Melton ’31

Honors Performance Series

Honors Performance Series

Caleb Johnson ’34

Science Olympiad

Ella, on the other hand, is hoping to Performing at Carnegie Hall in New York The middle school Science Olympiad is a dream for most musicians, and for two pursue classical music or classical voice in team finished off another successful college. She appreciated the opportunity NSCD students, it’s one that came true. season with a trip to the state tournament because it gave her the chance to connect Ella Cesca ’24 and Nicolette Fox ’23 were in April. Out of 42 middle school teams with other musicians with similar internominated by Middle and Upper School from across the state, NSCD finished in ests. “It’s so rare that I’m in one room with 10th place overall, and ninth in its division Music Teacher Timothy Mah for the so many people who have the same pasHonors Performance Series, a program at the Illinois Science Olympiad State sions and interests as me,” she said. “And I Tournament at the University of Illinois that brings talented young musicians from around the world to perform together never meet classically trained singers my Urbana-Champaign. in iconic spaces like Carnegie Hall and the age, so it was so nice being able to talk Medals were given to the top five with them about our passions.”

Sydney Opera House in Australia. participants. The following are the After receiving the nomination, Ella, individual medal winners: fourth place, who studies classical voice, auditioned and American Red Cross Bridges (Alexander Roy ’27 and Cooper was accepted into the honors treble choirs Larsen ’27); fourth place, Experimental Youth Heroes in both New York and Sydney, although Design (Elliot Andersen ’27, Eli she declined the invitation to Australia Gallaga ’28 and Alexander Roy ’27); fifth Siblings Nayomi Melton ’31 and Caleb because of the distance. Nicolette only Johnson ’34 were honored on May 11 by the place, Anatomy and Physiology (Shirley auditioned for the program in New York, American Red Cross of Greater Chicago as Ni ’27 and Pratyay Rao ’27); fifth place, and she was accepted into the honors Crave the Wave (Eli Gallaga ’28 and Claire Youth Heroes. At just 10 and 7 years old, string orchestra for violin. They each took Nayomi and Caleb are already seasoned Zeigler ’28); Trial Events, fourth place, to the stage in February.

Optics (Ezra Grossman ’29 and Sahil volunteers. In the past two years, the sibNicolette remembers vividly the Tarsney ’29); Trial Events, third place, lings have prepared more than a thousand moment the acceptance email came in. “I lunches that they have donated to shelters Write It, CAD It (Saisha Sharma ’29 and was sitting in PILLOWS, our open mic Sophia Storino ’29). and handed out to people experiencing night, and I saw the notification on my “What a fantastic finish to a wonderful homelessness, often using their own phone, but I wasn’t allowed to touch it,” Science Olympiad season,” said Head allowance money to buy the supplies. They she said. “The whole time I could see the Coach Lee Block, who also teaches middle got the idea after they saw a man on the beginning of the first line, school mathematics, science and robotics. side of the road with a sign and a cup and ‘Congratulations, you’ve been accepted…’ It asked their mom what he was doing. Once “We could not be more proud of this team was so surreal. Violin is not something she explained he was experiencing home- for their accomplishments. All year long I’ve considered as a career path—it’s some- lessness, Nayomi and Caleb wanted to help they have been very coachable, shown thing I do for my soul because I love because they recognize the importance of great sportsmanship, been excellent citimusic, and playing the violin makes me zens and really fun to work with.” helping others in their community. For really happy. I had never been in a tradithe past 20 years, the American Red Cross tional orchestra, just smaller instrumental of Greater Chicago has honored individuensembles at school, so this was a really als and groups for acts of immense bravery, exciting opportunity for me.” dedication and service to the community 12

at its annual Heroes Breakfast.

Science Olympiad

Invention Convention: Anika Venu ’30, Tara Rai ’30, Sonam Kotte ’30 and Ella Wilson ’30

Model United Nations

Invention Convention The students used an artificial intelliNeil Behl ’23, Danielle Isasi ’23, Sophie Four North Shore Country Day fifth gence program called Teachable Machine Green ’23 and Danielle Savin ’23, students graders competed in the Invention Convention U.S. Nationals after finishing and trained it to identify two different cat- had the opportunity to participate in the first in the fifth grade division and beating egories—trash and recycling—by showing local Saint Ignatius conference (SIMUN) and travel to California for the Berkeley out 2,500 participants for the grand prize it more than 500 images of each category using image recognition. Then they wrote Model UN conference (BMUN). SIMUN across all grades K-8 at the Chicago/ a computer program to control a motor and BMUN were excellent opportunities Illinois Regional competition in April. that opens the lid to a trash can with two for NSCD upper school students to explore Sonam Kotte ’30, Tara Rai ’30, Anika their passion for current and historical Venu ’30 and Ella Wilson ’30 rang the bell compartments. When a person walks up with something to discard, all they have to events and to foster important negotiation, at the end of lower school closing and do is hold up their item in front of a wificollaboration and public speaking skills. immediately jumped in their cars and connected webcam. If the item is identiStudents who participated in BMUN spent headed to The Henry Ford Museum in three days on the UC Berkeley campus in Dearborn, Michigan, for the competition, fied as garbage, the program tells the motor to open the side of the can marked their respective committees, with Emi June 7-9. “trash,” but if it sees something that can be Comeau ’24 winning commendation as This year, Invention Convention was recycled, the side marked “recyclable” Afghanistan in the Social, Humanitarian incorporated into the fifth graders’ techopens—thus taking the human guesswork and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM). nology class. Lower School Technology Teacher and STEAM Integrator Julie Tuten out of what can and cannot be recycled. It The Secretariat team also hosted the is currently patent-pending. annual North Shore Model UN (NSMUN) gave students a choice: They could either “These girls worked so well together as a conference for middle school students on build smart houses, or come up with an Sunday, April 16. “We were blown away invention of their own. The group of girls team,” Julie said. “Through all the iterations, even when things got really difficult, by the dedication and work our 30 middle decided to invent a smart recycler. they never gave up or got discouraged. school students put into preparing for Already passionate about the environEverybody had strengths that they brought and participating in their respective comment and inspired by the lower school to the table. They were always willing to mittees,” said Neil and Alícia. “Delegates recycling program that kicked off in the from the Red Scare, Ministry of Magic fall, the girls started doing some research come in for recess or after school and put and United Nations Environment and found out that 75% of all the trash that in the hard work to complete an amazing Programme (UNEP) committees did an goes into landfills could be recycled. They end product.” amazing job embodying their positions also learned that in the United States, and worked together to pass resolutions. landfills are the No. 1 source of methane, a Model United Nations We look forward to next year and are potent greenhouse gas that contributes to excited to participate in more local and climate change. They decided they wanted This year’s Model UN season was a great transition back to real conferences after national conferences.” to invent something that would make it the pandemic. With the support of faculty easier for people to recycle to reduce the advisors Kirk Greer and Erin Aiston, and impact of climate change. the Secretariat team of Alícia Isasi ’23,

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dis t inguished gues t s

Noelle Garcia

J. Kae Good Bear

Chris Pappan

Negwes White

Franke Fund Brings Native Voices into the Conversation We are on Native land.

Hundreds of years ago, before Europeans made their way to Chicago, what is now 310 Green Bay Road was home to the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi—as well as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sauk and Meskwaki peoples.

And while some of us have read about these things in history books, not everyone realizes that the Chicagoland area is still home to about 65,000 Natives from 175 different nations—it’s actually the thirdlargest urban Native community in the United States. The goal of this year’s Franke Fund programming, entitled Native Narratives, was to give North Shore Country Day students a glimpse into the Native community in and around Chicago to help them gain an understanding of what it means to be Native; how Native worldviews and perspectives differ from the prevailing Western culture and perspectives with which they are familiar; who lived here first, what happened to those people and—most importantly— who is here now.

The Native Narratives programming revolved around the idea of storytelling, which is a fundamental component of Native identity and culture. Who tells the story is just as important as the story itself. For too long, Natives have had stories told about them, rather than having an opportunity to speak for themselves.

To counter that, the school invited a number of Native artists to come in and talk

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with the community.

The Harold Hines Visiting Fellowship also aligned with the Franke Fund theme this year. NSCD welcomed Dr. Anton Treuer, a prolific author and professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota. During his time on campus in the fall, Anton gave a Morning Ex presentation about how Native Americans changed the world.

He also met with students in all three divisions and led a professional development session with faculty and staff.

(See Acorn, Winter 2023.)

This year’s Franke Fund theme was inspired by a middle school Community Engagement Week project centered around indigenous communities that Middle School Learning Specialist Christine Ritchey co-led last year with former Communications Associate Jay Young, an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. “We had 14 kids who learned about the Native community, thinking deeply about what it means to be Native today, and it went really well,” said Christine, who also serves as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for the middle school. “They were super engaged and made some really great projects, and Jay loved how curious they were, wanting to learn more about his culture.

So we wanted to find a way to do that on a larger scale with the whole community.”

Native Narratives kicked off with an art exhibit in the John Almquist Gallery in September. Curated by Dave Spencer, Director of Arts and Culture at the American Indian Center of Chicago, “RE:Solving Permeated Perceptions”

featured Native artists from around Chicago whose works examine topics such as identity politics, misrepresentation and Native first-voice experiences. Throughout the year, many of the featured artists returned to campus for a Morning Ex and spent the day visiting with students in all three divisions.

Several other guests visited throughout the year, including Ronnie Preston, Cultural and Education Programs Director of the American Indian Center (AIC) of Chicago. Ronnie, who is an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Nation, first visited NSCD last school year for the Native American Heritage Month Morning Ex with Redline, a Chicago-based intertribal drum group. They performed traditional songs and dances, including a men’s Northern Traditional Dance, a Jingle Dress Dance, a Diné Basket Dance and a Hoop Dance. During that Morning Ex, Ronnie also shared stories and played a traditional f lute while teaching students about Native life and culture, both traditional and contemporary. During his visit this year with the lower school, he focused on storytelling.

Jay, who is now the Director of Media, Marketing and Communications at the AIC, also returned to campus to work with middle school students on community mapping. The students compared historical maps of the North Shore area with present-day ones and learned how trade routes, villages and even burial mounds existed on the very same land where North Shore Country Day was built.

In addition to speakers on campus, students in all three divisions also had

About the Featured Artists Noelle Garcia is a Chicago-based artist and educator who focuses on themes

of identity, family history and recovered narratives in her work. She is an indigenous artist from the Klamath and Paiute tribes. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Her paintings, drawings and soft sculptures have been exhibited in galleries and institutions across the United States. Noelle has earned awards and fellowships at various institutions such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, the Nevada Arts Council, the Illinois Arts Council and the American Indian Graduate Center.

Ernest M. Whiteman III

opportunities throughout the year to visit the new “Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories” exhibit at the Field Museum in Chicago, a permanent exhibit that replaced the old Native North America Hall. Unlike the old hall, which was created without the input of Native people themselves, “Native Truths” was created with the guidance of an advisory council of Native American scholars and museum professionals, and in partnership with 130 collaborators representing more than 105 tribes.

“We wanted this Franke Fund to be a yearlong experience,” explained Lower School Spanish Teacher Winder Holeman, who also serves as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for the lower school and helped organize this year’s programming. “The most successful Franke Fund projects always seem to be the ones that have continued engagement with the theme, that allow for a lot of time and different types of engagement for the students. It’s a big topic that a lot of our community—myself included—did not know a lot about. I hope people walk away with a knowledge that Native peoples are a present and vital part of our country and culture. And as many of the artists have said, it’s not a thing of the past.”

The Franke Family Fund was established in 2008 by Barbara, Richard, Katherine ’77 and Jane Franke ’80 to support programs that enhance students’ experiences during the academic year. It encourages faculty to develop creative and unique ideas that are schoolwide in scope, broad in interpretation and application, and significantly and positively impact the school community.

J. Kae Good Bear is an award-winning multimedia artist and conservation technician of Navajo, Mandan and Hidatsa heritage. J. Kae has toured nationally with Native American dance troupes, performing song, dance, flute playing and storytelling. She also works at the Field Museum as a conservation technician and cultural liaison, and had significant involvement with the Native Hall redesign. J. Kae has provided cultural workshops and consulting for various groups such as the Arizona public school districts, the Arizona Commission of the Arts and Cirque Du Soleil and served as artist-inresidence for the National Park Service. She organized the first Native American Heritage Month initiative at Field Museum in 2018 and continues to serve as co-chair of the committee. J. Kae was elected to serve on the Field Museum’s Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion staff council. She earned her B.F.A. at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2016.

Chris Pappan is an American Indian artist of Osage, Kaw, Cheyenne River

Sioux and mixed European heritage. He prefers the term Indian over Native American, but uses both. He says his art reflects the dominant culture’s distorted perceptions of Native peoples while proclaiming that “we are still here!” A graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and a nationally recognized painter, Chris calls his art “Native American Low Brow.”

Chris’s work is largely inspired by ledger drawings of the 19th century, but with a modern twist. His work was featured as part of an “art intervention” titled “Drawing on Tradition” in the Field Museum’s Native Hall prior to the renovation and opening of the new “Native Truths” exhibit. He overlaid his art over the old exhibitions to highlight their problematic nature. Some of his work continues to be on display at the Field in the current “Native Truths” exhibit.

His work Land Acknowledgement Memorial was also featured in the New Monuments for New Cities project, which traveled to different locations around the country in 2019, including the 606 in Chicago.

Negwes White is an Ojibwe and Navajo artist, teacher, coach and advocate based in Chicago. Negwes studied art at the University of New Mexico, and his work has been shown at venues such as the American Indian Center of Chicago, Steppenwolf Theater and the Mitchell Museum. “Art for me is therapy; it’s an expression of the moment I am in,” he said. “I let the piece create itself. … My goal is to create positivity and awareness of my culture and the importance it plays in the world.” Negwes has a long history working with youth in both sports and the arts. He is currently the Youth Coordinator at the St. Kateri Center, a ministry of the St. Benedict parish in Chicago that serves the Native American community.

Ernest M. Whiteman III is a Northern Arapaho filmmaker, artist and writer.

Since taking over the directorship of First Nations Film and Video Festival in 2005, he has been doing free presentations on Native American Cinema in classrooms and at festival events. Ernest has worked as a media mentor in Chicago Public Schools since the fall of 2012 as a part of Adobe YouthVoices, where he helps CPS teachers instruct their students in creating media that speaks with their voice. He assisted in the pre-planning, production, postproduction and exhibition of student videos and print designs. Ernest was also an adjunct lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Parkside, where he taught the upper level course entitled “No One Ever Sees Indians: Native Americans in Film.”

dis t inguished gues t s

Britt Hawthorne

Britt Hawthorne New York Times bestselling author and educator Britt Hawthorne visited campus in February to talk with parents about her new book, “Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide.”

Britt, who has been working with lower school faculty to help integrate age-appropriate anti-bias and anti-racist practices in the classroom, has worked with families around the world to transform their understanding of parenting, and partner with them to help strengthen their child’s selflove and help them to embrace people, identify unfairness and act justly in their homes and out in the world.

She talked about how parents can help reinforce some of the concepts teachers focus on in the classroom. For example, when Britt works with teachers, she talks a lot about the importance of using accurate, affirming language. That’s something parents and caregivers can also practice with their children at home. “One of the reasons we raise anti-racist children is so they can be empowered to act justly and know 16

how to advocate for themselves and their peers,” Britt explained. To do that, children will need language.”

One example she gave was how we talk about people who are not white. It’s not uncommon to hear people talking about “minorities” when referring to people of color. But in reality, they are people of the global majority and represent more than 80% of the world’s population.

“Our brains work off of generalizations, off of patterns, and what is centered is what people see,” she explained. “By using ‘people of a global majority,’ it helps you have a conversation about a book, a movie, a board of directors—whatever we’re talking about—to notice if it’s an honest representation of the world or even of the United States.”

Britt said that, when she was growing up, her parents always talked about race and racism, and they did a great job preparing her for both the world of diversity and also for discrimination. But while she was very comfortable talking about discrimination, she said she was less

prepared for the social justice piece.

Between 2012 and 2015, after the murders of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Sandra Bland, she started thinking more deeply about how to act justly and how to advocate for herself and for her community.

Diving into this work can be daunting, and parents also wrongly assume either their children are too young or the parents are too late in having the discussions.

“When children are young, it’s about modeling and creating experiences to show them we value diversity and inclusion in our everyday moments, whether it’s the purchases that we’re making, the books and the toys we bring into the house or the way we are engaging in our wider community,” she explained. “Other times, folks think it’s too late. Their children are in middle school or high school and they think, ‘I’ve missed the moment.’ And you have not. When our children are older, it’s about starting the conversation with curiosity. Ask them what they have heard, what questions they have. It’s never too late.”

Ned Sprenger ’25, Jackson Berner ’24, Nancy Rotering, Tony Blumberg ’76 and Charlotte Graham ’25

Highland Park mayor’s visit

Bridgette Ugarte ’18

Highland Park Mayor The upper school Students Against Gun Violence club invited Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and City Councilmember Tony Blumberg ’76 to discuss gun control at an upper school Community Gathering in April. The mayor, who is a seasoned advocate against gun violence, urged attendees to take action in their community by learning more about the issue, writing and calling their elected representatives, and collaborating with others by joining existing organizations that share the same values.

Jackson Berner ’24 founded the Students Against Gun Violence club in the spring of his freshman year, and since then it’s grown to include more than 30 members. He said he had wanted to bring Mayor Rotering to campus ever since the aftermath of the Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park. “Her grace and poise under hardship was an inspiration,” he

explained. “I felt the North Shore community would benefit immensely from the mayor sharing her story, as I fear we are too comfortable in our environment, and we need to commit to ensuring we do everything in our power to make crucial change in our society. I thought her presentation and town hall panel was so informative and sparked something within all of us.”

Bridgette Ugarte ’18 NSCD alum Bridgette Ugarte ’18 returned to campus in May to share her recent TEDxEdina talk with middle and upper school students. Bridgette is a champion for positive mindset and body empowerment. As a signed curve model, she uses her social media platforms and podcast “Hey By The Way” to inspire others to redefine their self-worth. She shared in her talk about how she came to some realizations right around the time of her 20th

birthday, when she celebrated with a kale salad, rather than a cake.

She wondered, “What if I tried reshaping my mind, not my body to find my confidence?” To find the answer, she had to dig into her subconscious. “I had to figure out what I had done to get to this place where I had become so defined by my body image that it shaped my entire lifestyle and sense of worth. Then I had to unravel it all—piece by piece.”

She called the journey “absolutely terrifying,” but each day, little by little, she started practicing healthier habits.

“Soon I really did begin to focus more on shaping my goals and my future and less on my body shape,” she said. “Dreams first, body second. And while those health habits were important and relevant every day, they were no longer at the forefront of what defined me.”

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dis t inguished gues t s

Flutist Anthony Trionfo

Anthony with the third grade, Marshall family and guests

Susan Marshall ’76 Memorial Concert Features Acclaimed Flutist Anthony Trionfo to ask questions, and they quizzed him Whenever Anthony Trionfo meets someon everything from whether he has pets one who says they want to be a profes(no, but his roommate does), his favorite sional musician, his first instinct is to meal to cook (salmon filet) and the scienshout, “Go for it!” But then he takes a tific aspects of the f lute. The lower step back and explains that you have to schoolers, in particular, were interested remember the “why.” to learn how the sound is generated, “The career of a musician can be dauntwhat happens when you press the keys ing,” explained the 28-year-old f lutist, and how the notes change. who was the featured artist for this year’s “The kids were amazing,” Anthony said.

North Shore Country Day Susan “There was never any dead space, and Marshall ’76 Memorial Concert. “There they’re not afraid to ask about anything.” will be times where it feels like there’s The annual Susan Marshall ’76 nothing happening or that you’re failing.

Memorial Concert was established in 1983 You have to remember what it is that by Susan’s parents, Irl and Barbara Favill makes you get out in front of all these Marshall ’46, in memory of their daughter people, why you practice so much, why you and her lifelong love of music. Susan say no to other things.” played the violin and piano, enjoyed singFor Anthony, the “why” is all about coning and graduated from North Shore in nection. “I love that the thing I love to do 1976.

She continued her studies at allows me to be able to meet so many great Dartmouth College and in graduate school people of all sorts of backgrounds,” he at the University of Denver.

Each year, a explained. “I love connecting with people young emerging musician is invited to and knowing that for even a few moments, perform a concert and visit with students I can help them have a better day.” and faculty.

This year, two of Susan’s three Even though the majority of the music siblings, Bucky Marshall ’71 and Alice he plays has no lyrics, storytelling is still Marshall Vogler ’69, were in attendance. an incredibly important part of his work.

Growing up, music was always a part of He explained that music has a way of tranAnthony’s life. His family listened to and scending everyday life. “Music is powerloved all types of music, not just classical; ful,” he said. “Through music you can Frank Sinatra, Motown favorites like the transport people to a new world in their Temptations and the Supremes, Elvis imagination, and you have so much more Presley, Elton John and Michael Jackson freedom. Music can resonate with so many were just a few of their favorites. people on a variety of levels. It’s always “You don’t always notice it, but there’s personal to the individual, and that’s one actually a lot of f lute in the background of thing I love about it.”

Motown music and what I was liking and In May, Anthony spent the day on camlistening to with my family and friends,” pus, beginning with a performance during he explained.

Morning Ex. Then he met with a seventh In elementary school, Anthony started grade music class, followed by third gradlearning how to play the recorder, and ers, and ended his day in the upper school. then transitioned to the f lute in sixth The students had plenty of opportunities grade. “We did recorder karate and I was obsessed with it,” he explained. “I wanted 18

to be a black belt in recorder so bad, so I practiced all the time. I was so obsessed with my plastic recorder that my dad even had it engraved for me. I liked practicing, and I loved performing. So when I saw the piccolos and the f lutes were in the front row of the ensemble at the middle school open house, I thought: They’re the rock stars. I want to do that!”

And so he did. He started studying f lute at age 11 before appearing as a concerto soloist three years later with the Las Vegas Philharmonic. In 2016, Anthony won First Prize in the Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions.

Anthony has performed as a soloist with the Grant Park Festival Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. In recital, he recently presented programs alongside pianist Albert Cano Smit for the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, Morgan Library & Museum and Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. He is second f lutist of ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and has played with the Columbus, Knoxville, Princeton and Seattle symphonies.

Anthony is a founder of the Umoja Flute Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to providing f lutists of African descent with the tools needed to succeed and thrive at all levels of music-making. He serves on Aspen Music Festival and School’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee and has collaborated with the Sphinx Organization, DC Youth Orchestra Program and Harmony Program.

He also teaches private lessons and has presented master classes for Florida State University, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Ithaca College and the Juilliard School.

SAVE THE DATE Homecoming Weekend SEPTEMBER 29 – 30 Classes celebrating special reunions include: 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018 Questions? Contact Ashleigh Palmer Weathers ’04 at aweathers@nscds.org or 847.881.8848

2023 Francis R. Stanton ’27 Recognition: TED NOTZ ’53 This year’s recipient, Ted Notz ’53, was chosen for his service to his community and communities with limited access to resources. Ted is a lawyer whose impact has stretched far beyond the courtroom and into the lives of many. Most notably, he served as president of B.U.I.L.D, Inc., one of Chicago’s leading gang intervention, violence prevention and youth development organizations. He also was a co-founder and board member of the Spirit of 67 Foundation, a public charity formed to support and endow local public elementary school programs in Lake Forest.

Ted’s life exemplifies the school’s motto “Live and Serve.”

The presentation will be given during the Raider Review on Saturday morning of Homecoming weekend in the auditorium.

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events

The Benefit 2023: Keynote Speaker Peter Callahan ’09

The Benefit 2023—Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds More than 300 parents, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the school gathered in the Mac Gym on February 24 for North Shore Country Day’s annual fundraiser, bringing in more than $385,000. Proceeds from The Benefit 2023—Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds will support the school’s health and wellness initiatives.

“What an amazing night,” said Head of School Tom Flemma. “Our community rallies every year to support our strategic initiatives, and this year’s focus on health and wellness resonated for everyone. And of course, the chance to spend time together and enjoy each other’s company is a key element of wellness in itself!”

The Benefit annually supports NSCD’s strategic initiatives. This year, these funds will support experiences focusing on health and wellness that happen both inside and outside the school day. Since the school’s founding in 1919, health and wellness has been an important part of a North Shore education. Over the years, the idea of health and wellness has expanded to encompass a JK-12 program that integrates both the mind and body.

The paddle raise during the event specifically supported a new functional fitness space in the soon-to-be renovated gymnasium. (See story, page 4.) Other funds raised during the evening will support all kinds of health and wellness initiatives, such as mental health education provided for students. This fundraising

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effort allows NSCD to be responsive to evolving program needs and those opportunities the school can’t yet anticipate.

The evening featured cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dinner, with a musical performance by parent Katie Todd ’96. In addition to a live auction and a paddle raise, the program featured keynote speaker Peter Callahan ’09. Peter was a high school All-American and ran the third-fastest high school mile in the history of Illinois. He went on to have a nationally recognized running career in college and beyond.

Peter shared about his time at North Shore and about the vulnerability he learned on the field under the direction of Athletic Director and Coach Patrick McHugh. After he graduated from Princeton University with his undergraduate degree and the University of New Mexico with his master’s, Peter returned to NSCD to train with Patrick—which confused a lot of people in the professional running world, he noted. “In track and field, your life is entirely defined by numbers. You are a 5:57-miler. You are a fivef lat miler. You are a four-minute miler,” Callahan said. “I was so lucky to know that here on this campus—or anywhere in the world for that matter—when I was with Coach McHugh, I was far more than that.

I was never just a number. Whether I succeeded, whether I had a personal best, whether I made the Olympic team, what mattered is that I tried. What matters is that we were vulnerable together.”

Over the years, NSCD’s annual benefit has raised more than $7 million to fund areas not fully covered by the operating budget, such as curriculum and teaching fund grants, student scholarships and faculty enrichment grants. It has also helped fund major capital projects including the renovation of the lower school, construction of the science center, and renovation of the auditorium and arts center.

A very special thanks to the Host Committee; the Benefit Planning Committee, consisting of Chen Che, Hannah Chung, Elizabeth Graettinger ’94, Jill Greer, Gray Hulick, Lynn Kahla-Ryan, Erika Milbratz, Mayja Pastrana, Betty Fisher Wiggins ’93 and Janelle Wood; and the Benefit Co-Chairs Kelly Callon McLean and Kim Frezados.

“It was an honor for us to co-chair The Benefit 2023 and raise funds for the health and wellness programs at the school,” said Kelly and Kim. “We couldn’t have done it without the hard work of our Planning Committee and, of course, the amazing support of our NSCD community who attended the event and made it a great success!”

Finally, a big thanks to the evening’s corporate sponsors for their generous donations: Premier Valenti Builders; Premium Breakthru Beverage Group, Byrne, Byrne & Company, Hindman and Northern Trust; Patron LuLu (Learning Unity, Living Unbiased); Friend Pasquesi Sheppard LLC.

Atour and Peter Sargon, and Ashvini Keswani

Benefit Planning Committee

Pete Tarsney, Emily Zhang and Johnny Hou

Lamis Abulkhair Tabbara, Toya Chatman and Nichole Wilson

Peter Callahan ’09 and Patrick McHugh

Senior volunteers

Joe and Ann Settimi, and Erik and Julie Falk

Rebecca Reátegui ’12, Kristen Allen, Janet Lord, Kristi Kamen, and Mary and David Fielder

Dorothy Biel, and Mark and Diane Williams

Katie Todd ’96

Matt Downe ’04, Tim Callahan ’04, Mullery Doar ’06, Lisa Doi ’09, Eric Langowski and Hannah Walchak ’09

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Tom and Liz Sherwood, and Matt and Kathryn A’Hearn

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events Grandparents and Special Friends Day More than 150 loved ones came to campus for Grandparents and Special Friends Day May 5. The event started with a program in the auditorium, featuring a welcome from Head of School Tom Flemma, an update from middle school students about their recent trip to the Science Olympiad state finals (See story, page 12.) and a second grade performance of the heartwarming song “Grandmas and Grandpas” by Joe Scruggs. From there, grandparents were delighted to peek into their grandchildren’s classrooms and then join them for a walk through the Live+Serve Lab and the student art show in the John Almquist Gallery. They also had time to peruse the book fair. This was the second year the annual book fair has overlapped with Grandparents Day, and students enjoyed having additional time to browse the large selection of books. Before heading home, students and their grandparents or other special friends enjoyed a reception outside the auditorium with lemonade and freshly baked cookies.

Grandparents Day: Jie Zhu, Janie Xi ’35, Kamlesh Saini and Dhilan Suri ’33

was impossible to put all of their knowledge into just four questions! However, they were very excited to share just a small part of what they have worked so hard to learn these past few weeks. They did an amazing job interpreting their subjects.”

Musical Tea

Junior and senior kindergartners once again delighted their parents and other guests with a variety of songs at this year’s Musical Tea, held May 4 in the Mac Gym. This was the 36th and final Musical Tea Mini Tussaud’s “Facts” for Lower School Music Teacher Linda Third Grade Museum Kiracibasi, who retired at the end of the school year. In the spring of 1988, Linda Hot Chocolate House For one day only, the Acorn section of wanted to give the JK and SK students— the Hall Library transformed into a Mini The cafeteria was transformed into a who happened to be really great singers— Tussaud’s “Facts” Museum, where histori- Beatnik coffee house—or hot chocolate a chance to showcase all they had learned cal figures came to life. This was a new house, to be more precise—for the third in music class throughout spin on the second grade’s annual grade’s 29th annual event on May 19. the year. So they invited the parents to “Gathering of the Greats,” which has tradi- Families were invited to watch their chilwhat was then the lower school music tionally served as the culminating event of dren take the stage in an intimate, open room and sang a few songs for them, she the biography unit. Over the years, it’s mic format. Dressed in black in the explained.

And that was the beginning of taken many different forms, but this year, Beatnik fashion, with many sporting the North Shore tradition now known as Second Grade Teachers Cristina Torres berets, goatees and mustaches, each stuthe Musical Tea. and Heidi Black, along with Assistant dent had an opportunity to share pieces While the location and some of the Teacher Sophie Hiland ’18, wanted to they had written throughout the year—not logistics have changed over the years, the change it up, giving students the opportu- only poetry but also personal narratives, spirit of the day remains unchanged. This nity not just to study their subject but also persuasive essays, informational books year, students sang a number of Mrs. K’s to become them, at least for 45 minutes. and more. Action paintings, made by the favorites, and as has been the tradition for Parents, teachers and students visited the students in collaboration with Lower many years, ended with a sweet rendition interactive museum, where they encounSchool Art Teacher Emily Culbert, decoof “Love Grows,” complete with American tered a variety of famous figures, both liv- rated the room, and as a special treat, Sign Language.

Students also presented ing and dead—from Walt Disney to Lower School Science Teacher Annie gifts to their families and to the lifers in Shakira, Abraham Lincoln to Michael Collins dedicated the third grade cooking attendance.

Instead of making paper f lowJordan. When the visitors pressed a button, chemistry unit to creating homemade ers, they decorated f lower pots and planted the figures sprang to life and answered marshmallows and whipped cream to top marigolds and zinnias, which they’ve been questions about themselves. “Our second the hot chocolate. New this year was a spewatering and watching grow, and pregraders have gleaned so much information cial mascot created by a few students— sented them at the end. about their subject,” the teachers said. “It Marshall the Marshmallow!

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Grandparents Day: Emily ’34, Cate, Annie ’36 and Rick Waddell

Mini Tussaud’s “Facts” Museum: Eli Feingold ’33

Margaret Rioja-Rasmussen ’33

Vinny and Gia Melvani ’36

Dawson Engel ’33

Third Grade Hot Chocolate House

Musical Tea: Zeyan Wu ’35, Kayleigh Weathers ’35 and Janie Xi ’35

Alex Shinn ’33

Brody Grimsley ’32

Rebecca Reátegui ’12, Evan Li ’36 and Mya Byrne ’35

Grant Simpson ’36, Maddox Haupt ’35, a c o r n · Spring/Summer 2023 Anna Dadakis ’35 and Dylan Engel ’36

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events

Dana Brown Davenport ’96, Devon Levy Siegel ’96, Linda Kiracibasi, Chris Avery ’87 and Lisa McClung Ristic ’87

Lindapalooza performed with Linda more than two decades ago when he was her private voice student. “Every day, the one thing that really got me through these doors was remembering that at some point each day I was going to have class with Mrs. K., and I was going to get to sing. For 45 minutes a day I got to go into a room and sing songs about acceptance and love and peace, and Those words from Swedish supergroup there was nothing I needed more than ABBA ref lected the sentiment of more that. Since then, music has been at the than 150 alumni, parents, students, curcenter of my universe.” rent and former faculty, and friends who One after another, current and former packed the auditorium for students and colleagues got up and shared Lindapalooza—a celebration of Lower the many ways Linda had touched their School Music Teacher Linda Gibson lives. Rachel Jaffe ’02, who sang ABBA’s Kiracibasi, who retired at the end of the “Thank You for the Music” at the concert, school year after 45 years of teaching at explained that she only attended NSCD North Shore Country Day. through second grade, but she continued “Miss Gibson, Mrs. Kiracibasi, Linda— to drive up to campus to study piano and whatever you want to call her—has spent voice with Linda for more than 15 years.

45 years building a testament to the power Rachel, who is now a music teacher herof music to transform lives,” said Lisa self, credits Linda for steering her toward McClung Ristic ’87, one of four emcees for that career. the evening. “It’s not about singing in “Linda knows how to make music transSwahili or learning to play the xylophone form people to think better of themselves or learning to waltz. She has a knack of and to become better for others. It’s a very understanding people from the inside, and special gift,” said Lisa. “We will miss it she has that special talent of finding that here at North Shore, but the legacy she kid who needs a little extra something and leaves behind is not just the people in this helping them find it. She transforms lives, building or the people in this ZIP code, and music is one of her magic wands— but it’s all around the world.” although I’m very sure she has a whole The concert concluded with a singbook of spells. Because I not only watched along, led by Linda herself, with the help her do it for me; she did the same thing for of current lower schoolers in attendance. both my daughters in different ways.”

She led the audience in some of her favorJonah Levi-Paesky ’13 recalled meeting ite songs, including “The Marvelous Toy,” Linda when he came to NSCD in lower “Don Gato” and the NSCD favorite, “Love school. “School can be a difficult place for Grows”—a song originally brought to the a second grader when you don’t really school by artists in residence Rives Collins know where you belong,” explained Jonah, and the late Julie Shannon. Rives, a profesas he introduced “For Good” from the sor of theater at Northwestern University musical “Wicked”—a song he had and an acclaimed professional storyteller, interpreted the song in American Sign 24 So I say thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty What would life be?

Without a song or a dance, what are we?

So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me

Language while Linda sang and played her guitar. She closed the sing-along portion with the first song she ever taught—Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Puff the Magic Dragon.”

To honor Linda’s legacy, an endowed fund to support artists in residence for the performing and visual arts will be established in her name.

L I N D A PA L O O Z A S E T L I S T

Emma Guerra Pastrana ’32 / “Tomorrow” Jonah Levi-Paesky ’13 / “For Good” Emi Comeau ’24, Mariel Flickinger ’24 and Alli Smith ’24, with Niabelle Comeau ’23 on piano / “When I Close My Eyes” Rachel Jaffe ’02 / “Thank You for the Music” Courtney Williams Shelton ’88 / “It Was Almost Like a Song” Maria Elena Centomo with Tori Blair ’19, Mariel Flickinger ’24, Leif Steele ’24 and Noah Youderian ’24 / “Un Amigo Es Una Luz” Christine Perkins ’06 / “Come to My Garden” Rives Collins / A Sufi Creation Myth Sing-Along with the Middle School Chorus / “Irish Blessing” Sing-Along with Linda Kiracibasi EMCEES

• Chris Avery ’87 • Dana Brown Davenport ’96 • Lisa McClung Ristic ’87 • Devon Levy Siegel ’96

Rachel Jaffe ’02

Middle School Chorus

Courtney Williams Shelton ’88

Emma Guerra Pastrana ’32

Christine Perkins ’06

Rives Collins

Linda Gibson Kiracibasi (center) with former and current NSCD faculty and staff

Emi Comeau ’24, Alli Smith ’24 and Mariel Flickinger ’24

Jonah Levi-Paesky ’13

Noah Youderian ’24, Leifa Steele Blair ’19, c o r n’24, · Tori Spring/Summer 2023 Mariel Flickinger ’24 and María Elena Centomo

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facult y Professional Development This year, faculty and staff have been reading the book “Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators” by Elena Aguilar. “Onward,” described as “a practical framework to avoid burnout and keep great teachers teaching, … offers a path to resiliency to help teachers weather the storms and bounce back—and work toward banishing the rain for good.”

Faculty and staff read the first three chapters of the book over the summer and then met in small, cross-divisional groups regularly throughout the school year to discuss the book a few chapters at a time.

During the February In-Service Day, faculty spent the morning in department and grade-level groups mapping the Essential Skills NSCD aims to instill in students and articulating how these skills are ref lected in curriculum. The school’s “Live and Serve” motto is the central pillar of these Essential Skills, which include thinking critically and f lexibly, approaching challenges with creativity and confidence, engaging with others equitably and ethically, caring genuinely for themselves and others, and communicating effectively in multiple ways. Then in the afternoon, faculty and staff led workshops on a variety of topics, from 3D-printing and lasercutting to watercolor painting to project-based assessments to food chemistry to CPR certification.

Development Associates Troy Chirico, Ashleigh Palmer Weathers ’04 and Maureen Wilde attended the 2023 CASE-NAIS Independent Schools Conference in New York City January 29–31.

Fourth Grade Teacher Jackie Haug, Lower School Reading and Learning Specialist Sharon Lieberman and Lower 26

School Learning Specialist Vimla Patel attended a conference in San Francisco in February entitled, “Teaching Behaved Brains,” which offered strategies for dealing with challenging, disruptive behaviors, as well as autism, ADHD and executive function.

Lower School Science Teacher Annie Collins and Lower School Music Teacher Molly Phelan received training in Responsive Classroom in a workshop for special areas teachers in Chicago on March 8.

Junior Kindergarten Teachers Kristi Kamen and Rebecca Reátegui attended the Alliance for Early Childhood Preschool Kindergarten Summit in Glencoe.

Upper School Chinese Teacher Di Li and Middle School Chinese Teacher Dorothy Wu virtually attended the 2023 National Chinese Language Conference.

Middle School Learning Specialist Christine Ritchey and Middle School Humanities Teacher Sarah Walsh attended a Facing History & Ourselves workshop entitled, “Race and Schools: Facing the Complexities of Today.”

Athletic Trainer Kristen Allen attended the Great Lakes Athletic Trainer Association (GLATA) annual meeting and symposium March 9-11 in Wheeling.

Upper School Visual Arts Teacher Francis Allende-Pellot attended the National Arts Education Association (NAEA) National Convention in San Antonio April 13-15.

Director of Technology Rob Drake attended the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, MI, April 29 to May 3.

Archivist Kenleigh Howard attended the Midwest Archives Conference (MAC) in Chicago April 12-15. The experience included a DEI “Unconference,” hosted at the Newberry Library, and sessions covering topics like reparative description, burnout and self-care, records management, outreach, management and stewardship.

Physical Education Department Head, PE Teacher and Coach Kyle Jones attended the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia in January.

Di Li was invited to judge the 2023 National Chinese Speech Contest and the 2023 Midwest University Chinese Speech Contest in April. She also attended various virtual workshops organized by the

Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS) and the Midwest Chinese Teachers’ Alliance (MCTA).

Sharon Lieberman participated in a number of Responsive Classroom webinars.

Lower School Learning Specialist Amy Luckey completed coursework in January to be endorsed as an Educational Therapist/Professional (ET/P) by the Association of Educational Therapists (AET).

Lower School Counselor Montse Lusaretta received a Lifelong Learning Grant to complete a six-week online course through the Stanford Center for Health Education entitled, “Child Development: Behavior and Mental Health.” Separately, she also enrolled in self-paced course entitled “Support for Teachers Affected by Trauma” and completed a hands-on virtual workshop entitled, “Enhancing Clinical Treatment Through Art.” Performing Arts Department Head and Theater Teacher Julia Macholl participated in The Drama Teacher Academy, an online community that offers lessons, units, plays and professional development classes from theater teachers and professionals around the world.

Upper and Middle School Music Teacher Timothy Mah served on the Community Singing Advisory Board of the Youth Chorus of the North Shore, an Evanston-based nonprofit whose mission is to elevate the voices of young singers and to spark artistic connections with the community.

Assistant Head of Lower School Caitlin McLennan attended the ISACS Academy for Division Heads in Chicago in February.

Upper School Spanish Teacher Catalina Rincón-Bisbey participated in the Race Institute Chicago March 2-4.

Lower School Technology Teacher and STEAM Integrator Julie Tuten attended the National Future of Education Technology Conference in New Orleans January 22-25.

She also attended IDEACon 2023 in Schaumburg February 13-15. The national conference by the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance draws in presenters, thought leaders, exhibitors and partners from all over the world.

Second Grade Teacher Cristina Torres attended an ISACS workshop in Chicago in March, entitled “The Brain in the Classroom: Uniting Research and Practice.”

Faculty Profile: Patrick McHugh AT H L E T I C D I R E C T O R , C O A C H

here and lived every day of their lives on this campus, from the day they came home from the hospital until they left for college. It’s been really special being able to fulfill that initial aspiration for my life, and the school’s always been really supportive of our family.

Q. A lot has changed with the athletics program since you came here in 1994.

What are some of the things you did to improve the program?

A. It all comes down to people. We had

Q . How did you make your way to North Shore Country Day? A. I had been a history teacher and a

three-season coach at an independent school in Philadelphia, and I loved working with students and coaches. I started thinking I wanted to be more involved in athletics, so I went and got my master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts in sports management. At the same time I coached at Amherst College. While I was in graduate school, I was weighing this idea of continuing as a college coach or going back to independent schools as an athletic director. A lot of people from my program were going into the sports entertainment business, and while I enjoyed college coaching, the pay and benefits were so low I didn’t know if I could keep doing it. I initially went into arena and stadium management and worked in Worcester, MA, Albany, NY, and Jacksonville, FL. When I was in Jacksonville, I married a woman I had met at Friends Central School in Philadelphia, whom everybody now knows as Kathy McHugh. She was the one who told me I was doing the wrong thing and that we needed to get out of Florida.

That year the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) conference was in Orlando. A former colleague told me to come to the conference to meet Julie Hall, the new head of school at North

longtime coaches like Jay Bach and Jim Deuble ’76 who are incredibly dedicated to the school and have always served the school really well, but they can’t do it all.

Early on we hired a coach by the name of John Schneiter. He had been the longtime boys and girls basketball coach at New Trier and one of the winningest coaches ever in the state of Illinois. He’d retired Shore Country Day at the time, and inter- from New Trier and was looking for another coaching job. He was the first view for the athletic director position. step to really transform a boys basketball I used to tease Julie and say the Magic program that had been struggling for a Kingdom truly was magical for me. It was long time.

Personally, he was a real mentor one of those interviews where you really to me and showed me what it would take click with somebody. Anyone who worked to change things in some of the other closely with Julie knows that she was really programs as well. a remarkable person—so dedicated to the school, and she saw North Shore as a Q. What’s one of your proudest moments place that magically transformed kids. as a coach?

Q. A lot of people say they live at their office.

You literally live at your job, in the farmhouse on the northwest corner of campus.

What’s that like?

A. In 2009 at the state track meet, Peter Callahan ’09 was returning as the state champion at 1600-meter. A lot of people in the track and field world said that was a f luke and there was no way he’d win again.

A. I was an inconsistent student in high But I knew how special he was and how school. My father had attended Phillips talented he was. The 800-meter run, Academy Andover, and I had gone there which you can still watch on YouTube, is for a summer session and had one class one of the greatest high school races that where I was finally relatively successful.

I’ve ever watched.

All three boys, includMy dad encouraged me to go to Andover ing Peter, broke the state record. It’s been for a post-grad year instead of going right 14 years and nobody has come within a to college. While I was there, I had a girlsecond of Peter’s time.

I had had a lot of friend—it didn’t last, obviously—but she years here where people doubted we could was the daughter of a history teacher and do anything like that.

And it took a while, her mother was a dorm parent. I loved their family, and I thought to myself: You but I knew what could happen. That was a know, that’s a nice life. That was my inspi- real turning point for us. If you look at the stats compared to any other high school ration for initially getting into schools: with enrollment under 400, nobody has I wanted that kind of life. When Kathy done better over the last 13 or 14 years as and I came to North Shore, we moved far as individual and state championships. into the apartment on the third f loor of A lot of people look at New Trier and Leicester Hall. Our family started growing, Loyola and say they’re really good. And and we were up there with two boys. When they are.

But we’re really good, too.

Wavering House opened up, we were able

to move over there. My two sons were born

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live and serve

Live and Serve Fest: David Becker ’32, Veera Surakanti ’32, Melia Long ’29 and Meera Reid ’24

Trisha and Ayla Byrne ’36

Phyllis Beattie ’72, Elisa Gutierrez and Anne Hines Young ’77

Middle School Community Engagement Week

Melia Long ’29 and Mak Shelley ’29

Live and Serve Fest North Shore Country Day once again celebrated Live and Serve Week, beginning May 15 and culminating with Live and Serve Fest on May 20. Each day had a theme, and throughout the week there were opportunities for all ages to take action through service and to learn more about NSCD’s community partners and the issues they face. Then on Saturday, the entire school community came together for a joyful celebration of community and service—a joint effort of the Parents’ Association, the Alumni Board and the school’s Live and Serve programs. There was something for everyone, including hands-on service projects, bounce houses, a social impact fair, a henna artist, a special interactive performance by Polynesian dance troupe Aloha Chicago, delicious food from Soul & Smoke and free Kona Ice! On-campus projects included painting kindness rocks, making dog toys, building birdhouses, assembling Connections for the Homeless breakfast boxes, and making cards and placemats for Meals on Wheels. There was also a special “Write a Raider” project for alums and students.

Several alumni joined in the spirit of 28

service by organizing events in their hometowns, from nearby Glencoe all the way to Manteca, CA. Live and Serve Week grew out of an initiative from the alumni office. It started six years ago as Live and Serve Day, an opportunity for alumni from around the world to put the school’s motto into practice collectively by organizing service projects in their local area. Since then, it has expanded to include current school families, faculty and staff.

Each day featured a variety of field trips, guest speakers, service projects and a deep dive into their specific topic.

Then at the end of the week, families were invited to campus for a community showcase. This walk-through, interactive gallery gave students the opportunity to share with the broader NSCD community what they learned and worked on all week.

Kavya Keswani ’29 spent the week learning about access to mental health services. The group visited two social service organizations, Haven Youth and Family Services in Wilmette and the Middle School Community Josselyn Center in Northfield. She said Engagement Week the experience helped her grow in her compassion and empathy toward people For the second year in a row, middle who are struggling. school students participated in “Community Engagement Week is really Community Engagement Week, which important because it enriches our student aimed to give students an opportunity to experience and allows us to help our commore deeply engage with a community difmunities in positive and impactful ways,” ferent from their own. Sixth and seventh she explained.

“Mental health is a big grade students had a choice of one of six issue and should be addressed more themed groups: Mental Health Access, because an alarming number of people Intentional Gaming and Design, Music are suffering from mental health chaland Arts Access, Sports Access, lenges and not getting the treatment they Environment, and Community Mapping. need.

That’s why it is important to help Eighth grade students explored different spread awareness.”

Chicago neighborhoods, connecting with their studies of Chicago this year.

Susan Matejka

Dunk Alzheimer’s Basketball Bash

Mullery Doar ’06

Varsity boys basketball

Dunk Alzheimer’s Dunk Alz returned to its roots with a full Back in the Mac Gym for the first time slate of upper school basketball games— since 2020, North Shore Country Day’s Annual Dunk Alzheimer’s Basketball Bash with free-throw fundraisers during each halftime. The day capped off with an on January 21 brought in more than $10,000 to support Alzheimer’s research. upper school dance. Leading up to the event, students also sold Dunk Alz t-shirts This year marks the 11th year NSCD has and sweatpants. partnered with the Alzheimer’s “The Dunk Alz Committee would Association to raise money and spread like to thank everyone who donated awareness for this important cause. and supported the event,” Emma said.

“Being back in the Mac this year was super exciting because the student body’s “We’re already excited for next year!”

Emma is one of the many people in energy and the atmosphere around the the NSCD community who has a personal basketball games are a large part of what connection to Alzheimer’s and other Dunk Alz is and how it was started,” forms of dementia, and she said she got explained Emma Greer ’23, one of five involved because she wanted to be part of NSCD seniors on the Dunk Alz student planning committee. “My favorite part was something that was making a real difference. Since 2013, the NSCD community the varsity boys basketball game because the spirit of the student body was so high!” has raised close to $90,000 for Although it’s her third year on the com- Alzheimer’s research.

Dunk Alzheimer’s was started by mittee, which includes sophomores, Jonathan Segal ’15, in honor of his grandjuniors and seniors, it was her first time helping to organize a Dunk Alz Basketball mother, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at age 60. It was carried Bash that actually included basketball or on by his younger sister Caroline Segal ’20. took place in the school’s gym.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, And while there are no longer any memthe fundraiser took a different shape over bers of the Segal family enrolled at NSCD, upper school students have stepped up to the past two years as it shifted to an outcontinue the work they began. door, springtime event. But this year,

Heritage Society Spotlight: Susan Matejka We were fortunate to be in a position to offer our children, Hannah Bottum ’13 and Sam Bottum ’16, a choice as to where they attended high school. In the end, they both ended up at North Shore—but for very different reasons. For Hannah, North Shore represented an opportunity to design a unique education, which included studying for a semester at the School for Ethics and Global Leadership in Washington, D.C. This experience, coupled with her Model UN participation and the strong relationships she developed with faculty, charted the course for college and beyond.

For Sam, North Shore became a second home. The faculty and staff were committed to his success and well-being; they held him accountable when necessary and supported him always.

He, too, was able to create his own path with a yearlong independent study in science and the opportunity to partner with Northwestern University on this endeavor.

During their time at North Shore, they also developed lifelong friendships with classmates and faculty. I will always remain grateful for our years as part of the North Shore family.

Individuals who have made provisions in their will or estate plans to benefit North Shore Country Day are recognized in the Heritage Society. For more information, please contact Director of Development Molly Ingram McDowell ’80 at mmcdowell@nscds.org or 847.441.3316.

v isua l a rt

Ned Sprenger ’25

Grace Brennan ’30

Max Flemma ’26

Elizabeth Laabs ’27 Zeyan Wu ’35

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Lucia Bullock-Puzon ’28

Weronika Majewska ’26

Junnah Quraishi ’23

Mateo Elias-Holeman ’34 AJ Millner ’30

Ana Naratadam ’32

Liam Gallagher ’26 Mak Shelley ’29

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perfor ming a rt s

Spring Musical: The cast of “Chicago: Teen Edition”

Spring Musical: ‘Chicago’ The upper school cast and crew of “Chicago: Teen Edition” razzledazzled audiences at three packed performances March 9-11. “It was fantastic to see so many community members come out to support the production!” said Performing Arts Department Head and Theater Teacher Julia Macholl.

The show, set in roaring twenties Chicago, tells the story of Roxie Hart, who murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap—until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on her. Convicted and sent to Death Row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess,” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the American Dream: fame, fortune and acquittal.

“The entire cast was so committed. To take on something as specific as the dance style of Bob Fosse required a strong ‘yes, and’ attitude,” Julia said. “Everyone had this. There was electricity when everyone performed and the cast was ready to tell the story. They were not afraid to bring this show and famous Broadway style to life.”

Middle School Performing Arts Showcases Middle school acting, improvisation and stagecraft classes demonstrated their growth and celebrated their journey over the course of the school year with two performing arts showcases: one in January and one in May. This was the first time since the 20182019 school year that both showcases were performed in front of live audiences in the auditorium. In the spring, stagecraft assisted with lights, sound, props and set pieces, essentially running the production. Acting students were among the first to perform “The Return of the Script,” a new comedic play by Don Zolidis, while the improv class ran a number of games and worked on actively listening and reacting to a live audience.

‘Bremen Town Jam’ The second grade play was back in the auditorium this year with a lower school favorite, ”Bremen Town Jam.” Based on the folk tale by the Brothers Grimm, students transformed into donkeys, hounds, cats and roosters making their way to Bremen Town to join other musicians in an unforgettable jam session. Along the way, they meet a band of robbers who need to be taught a lesson. The Grimms narrate the tale. In the end, they all learn the value of sticking together and ultimately making beautiful music together.

This 25-minute musical featured five original songs and

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easy-to-learn rhyming dialog. Throughout the process, students learned how to read a script, follow sheet music and move comfortably on the stage. Their performance during Morning Ex wowed the entire school community, especially the second grade parents in attendance.

‘The 39 Steps: A Live Radio Play’ This year’s spring play, “The 39 Steps: A Live Radio Play,” was put on entirely by the upper school acting ensemble and stagecraft classes. Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s classic tale, this romantic thriller was a fast-paced ride through the signature world of the Master of Suspense. Richard Hannay is visiting 1930s London when he meets Annabella Smith, on the run from foreign agents after a disturbance at a music hall. Later that night, Annabella is murdered and Richard must then try to break the spy ring and prove his innocence. From an epic train chase to a feisty love interest, Richard has his work cut out for him as he searches for the truth about The 39 Steps.

“We chose this piece since we had a lot of comedic actors who were skilled with storytelling and using their voices,” Julia explained. “It was wonderful to see everyone buy into the time period and understand why radio was so crucial at this point in our history.”

Instrumental Ensemble and Chorus Concerts The beginning band and the middle and upper school instrumental ensembles held a winter concert in the auditorium for families and friends, playing everything from folk songs to show tunes, from Black Sabbath to Michael Jackson. Then in the spring, a combined instrumental ensemble and chorus concert featuring musicians from all three divisions also was held in the auditorium.

Band and instrumental ensemble members again played music from a variety of genres, demonstrating their progress over the course of the year. Each chorus also performed a broad selection of music, from lower school favorites like “Buy Me Chocolate” to classic Beatles to contemporary singers like Billie Eilish. The concert concluded with a moving rendition of “In Our Village…You Belong,” a piece that composer Jim Papoulis originally wrote for the NSCD Centennial but never debuted because of the pandemic.

The choruses from all three divisions—including the Singing Raiders—came onstage together to sing the final song, accompanied by upper school instrumentalists.

J Hsu ’26 and Addie Stillman ’25

Charlie Ver Eecke ’25

Middle School Performing Arts Festival

Myra Sharma ’33, Piper Held ’33, Margot Rioja-Rasmussen ’33 and Dean Gatziolis ’33 Winter Concert: Claire Ziegler ’28

Emi Comeau ’24

Lily Aiston ’29

Kelly Wyne ’25

Bremen Town Jam: Alexander Herzog ’33

The 39 Steps: Vida Castro ’25, Izzy Greenstein ’26, Carly Lissner ’25 and Addie Stillman ’25

Spring Concert: Linda Kiracibasi and the lower school chorus

Levi Golson ’24, Christian Coleman ’25 and Margaret Fitzgerald ’26

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at hle t ics Girls Basketball The North Shore Country Day girls varsity basketball team had an impressive season, finishing with a 17-9 record. Although they fell short in the Regional Championship, their strong performance throughout the season showcased their talent and determination.

A highlight of the season was the team’s second game against U-High in which Aram hit a come-from-behind grand slam, and smooth and steady pitching by Matthew Shelley ’26 spoiled the Maroons’ chance of being named conference champion.

A standout player on the team was Bethany Bulwa ’23, whose skills on the court earned her recognition as ISL All-Conference player and a place on the Illinois 1A Second Team All-State. Her remarkable performance earned her the highest honor any female basketball player has ever received for North Shore Country Day. Bethany’s talent was further highlighted when she was selected to participate in the 1A/2A All Star Game in June, solidifying her status as one of the top players in the state.

The Raiders advanced to the Regional Championship game and fell to a tough Chicago Hope Academy team.

The team’s success was bolstered by contributions from Margarite Richardson ’23, who was recognized by the ISL as Honorable Mention All-Conference.

Although their journey ended at the Regional Championship game, the NSCD girls varsity basketball team can reflect on a season filled with remarkable accomplishments, individual accolades and the forging of a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.

Boys Basketball The boys varsity basketball team ended its season with a 14-10 record. Their fifth place finish in the ISL with a 5 and 8 conference record demonstrated their competitiveness and resilience throughout the season.

A season highlight was the team’s impressive opening round playoff victory over Yeshiva, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure and excel in crucial moments. This victory served as testament to their hard work and dedication.

The team boasted an impressive roster with a record number of 16 seniors, each bringing unique skills and contributions to the court.

Leading the way was Johnny Pappas ’23, who was selected for First Team ISL All-Conference. Johnny’s exceptional performance solidified his status as one of the top players in the conference.

Several other players were recognized as Honorable Mention AllConference. Bo Stevenson ’24 in particular brought a dominant presence to the court and made significant contributions to the team’s performance.

The team’s journey was marked by the collective efforts of its talented senior players and the dedication they displayed throughout the season. Their leadership and commitment set the tone for the team and left a lasting impression on the program.

Boys Baseball The boys baseball team continually demonstrated flexibility and adaptability as the coaches worked to fit in competitions with the uncooperative spring weather. Led by seven seniors, the team continued to improve throughout the season and was playing its best baseball heading into the Regional Tournament.

All season long, consistent pitching by Trafton O’Brien ’24, reliable catching by Buckley Oelerich ’23, and smart fielding by Aram Dombalagian ’24, Jackson Baker-Katz ’23 and Evan Fortier ’23 fortified the team’s defense.

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Girls Soccer The girls soccer team started the season with the highest turnout of first-year players in the past 10 years, providing an opportunity to build a base for the years to come.

In a very competitive ISL conference, the Raiders were able to score 26 goals in nine conference games. While that is an average of nearly three goals per game, more impressively, 11 different players contributed to the scoring efforts.

During the Regional Semifinal, the Raiders were taken down by Regina Dominican. One attribute of this year’s team was its ability to compete until the final whistle. Although the Raiders were losing in their last game, the players continued to fight together to score their final goal of the season in the last 10 minutes of play.

The Raiders were led by four seniors: Ellia Yarandi ’23, Suraiyya Omar ’23, Meonda Collins ’23 and Lauren Gallagher ’23. Their tremendous leadership and selfless play helped the team to improve consistently throughout the season.

Boys Tennis The varsity boys tennis team was bolstered by both returning players and newcomer Nathan Smith ’26. The team started strong and continued to play inspired as the season progressed.

In an extremely competitive conference that is home to many state champions, the Raiders held their own in the ISL conference tournament. The Raiders finished the tournament with four consolation champions and a third-place finish for the first doubles pairing of Neil Behl ’23 and Konrad Lundstedt ’23.

The top six varsity players competed in the state sectional in May at Vernon Hills High School.

Track and Field Upper school girls track and field had one of its best seasons ever, finishing third in an incredibly competitive ISL conference meet.

The girls also finished second as a team in their sectional meet, which was the largest in the state. Five girls qualified for State in six events: Ella Capozzi ’23 in the 100-meter high hurdles; Emi Comeau ’24 in shot put; Danielle Isasi ’23 in the 1600 and 3200; Reese Meyers ’26 in the 400-meter dash; and a 4x4 relay team of Ella, Emi, Danielle and Dani Savin ’23 The boys team finished fifth in the ISL. Sophomore Brian Smith ’25 was the team’s high scorer at the conference meet, scoring in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter and 4x100-meter relay. Five members of the team qualified for the State meet in three events: Owen Keyt ’24 in the 1600 and 3200, and a 4x800 relay team of Aramis Thai-Garcia ’24, Clark Murphy ’23, Christian Coleman ’25 and Edgar Romero ’25

Margarite Richardson ’23

Bethany Bulwa ’23

Boys basketball seniors

Johnny Pappas ’23

Reed Metzler ’25

Varsity boys baseball

Marina Bullock-Puzon ’26

Varsity girls soccer

Joshua Lemons ’26

Teddy Gallun ’23

Neil Behl ’23

Ella Capozzi ’23 and Emi Comeau ’24

Track and field

Suraiyya Omar ’23

Luke Avedisian ’23

a c o r n · Spring/Summer 2023

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pho t os from our pa s t “A picture is worth a thousand words” and tells an important and interesting story. If you can identify any of these photos or tell us a story about them, please contact Archivist Kenleigh Howard, 310 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL 60093, khoward@nscds.org or call her at 847.881.8844.

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a c o r n · Spring/Summer 2023

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a lumni connec t ions Alumni on Campus We had several alumni connecting with students on and off campus these past few months.

Five members of the 1969 varsity boys basketball team that finished 25-1 in the ISL and their Assistant Coach Jay Bach attended the varsity girls basketball game on January 17, all to support their teammate Bruce Blair ’69, now the head coach for the girls basketball team.

C O N N E C TAT H O N . Sarah Geist Rosen ’86, Rebecca Andreou Sabri ’86 and Allison Kaplan Bosco ’03

Raiders Connect Week Our annual Raiders Connect Week was a great success! Raiders Connect Week is a special time for alumni, offering fun ways to connect with each other, share stories and photos, and connect with the school through social media.

Thank you to all alumni who shared your favorite North Shore memories or captured moments with the Raider community on social media throughout the week. It was a great week of fun moments and memories, Raider spirit and nostalgia.

An integral part of Raiders Connect Week is the Alumni Spring Connectathon and Thankathon. It’s a time for the Alumni Board and other volunteers to reach out to alumni—sharing memories, thanking donors, providing school and alumni news, gathering class notes and contact updates, and reminding alumni to donate to Annual Giving. They shared what they love about NSCD to inspire others to join them in “Give to What You Love!”

“What I love about North Shore are the traditions that are unique to our school and bond our community members in our years at the school and beyond.” —Kelsey Andersen ’06, current parent “What I loved about North Shore was Mac McCarty and the athletic program. Everyone is so close—the students, teachers and parents. It really is a close-knit school and alumni community.” —Jim Davis ’64 “What I love about North Shore Country Day is the academic and social education I received. Good study habits can lead to good work habits! North Shore Country Day is an outstanding college preparatory school.” —Larry Williams ’87 Thank you to all our donors who gave from their hearts in support of students and teachers, which helps provide the exceptional NSCD experience. Give Annually. Impact Daily.

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Juniors spent their X-Day, which is a day for an experiential opportunity to connect to their curriculum, exploring the process of conducting, filming and editing oral histories with people who were essential workers during the pandemic. This prepared them for conducting their own oral histories as part of Project 2023 for English 11. Upper School English Teacher Kathy McHugh invited several alumni and one parent of an alum to partner with her on this project. Professional filmmakers Ben Kegan ’05 and Matt Downe ’04 led the workshops throughout the day. Their interviews included Blair Hunt Bobier ’09, a frontline hospital nurse who worked the COVID-19 floor during the pandemic. In addition, students heard from Mary Doi, parent of Lisa Doi ’09, who has been gathering and preserving oral histories for the Japanese American National Museum about the resettlement of Japanese Americans in Chicago after their internment during World War II. Bill Collins ’05 and Hannah Walchak ’09 worked with middle school students who were learning about environmental issues during Community Engagement Week. (See story, page 28.)

Hannah works for Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, and she taught the kids about ecological succession and prairie restoration.

Bill works for the Forest Preserves of Cook County, and students met him at Erickson Woods where they learned about invasive plants and repurposed invasive buckthorn into hiking sticks.

Regional Gatherings New York City Alumni and Friends Gathering Alumni, former faculty and friends came out in New York City on January 30 for a fun and casual gathering at The Winslow.

Attendees shared some of their favorite NSCD memories, connected with new and old friends, and heard an update from members of the Alumni/Development Office about some of the exciting happenings on campus.

Boston Alumni and Friends Gathering NSCD headed back to the East Coast, this time to Boston on Friday, April 21, for an evening reception at the St. Botolph Club hosted by Cathy Askow Thompson ’69. Alumni gathered to hear Head of School Tom Flemma share news from back on campus as we began wrapping up another successful school year.

Alumni Board Dinner The year-end Alumni Board dinner was held at Hackney’s on Lake in Glenview to celebrate a productive year. The following outgoing Alumni Board members were thanked and recognized for their service: Carlos Angeles ’12, Cathy Bell Bartholomay ’79, Phyllis Beattie ’72, Grace Flickinger ’12 and Naomi Hattori ’02. The board also welcomed new members Dan Bloedorn ’87, Jonah Levi-Paesky ’13 and Lucy Sievers ’80.

C O N N E C TAT H O N .

Craig Johnson ’70

RAIDERS CONNECT A L U M N I O N C A M P U S . Bill Collins ’05 (right) with middle school students

Jay Bach, Art Jessen ’70, Bruce Blair ’69, Jack Loomis ’69, Craig Johnson ’70 and Andy Philipsborn ’69

WEEK

Matt Downe ’04, Blair Hunt Bobier ’09 and Ben Kegan ’05

A L U M N I B O A R D D I N N E R . Molly Ingram McDowell ’80, Tom Flemma,

Mimi James ’24, Anna Beth Woolf ’24, Gabriel Rosen ’24, Leif Steele ’24, Noah Youderian ’24 and Mary Doi

N E W YO R K . Lew Davis, Zara Klaff ’06, Joanne Golden ’74,

Bridgette Ugarte ’18, Rob Angert ’89, Ashleigh Palmer Weathers ’04, Rob Rogers ’71, Danny Lowinger ’08, Jim Golden ’70

Ashleigh Palmer Weathers ’04, Katie Todd ’96, Phyllis Beattie ’72, Naomi Hattori ’02, Sarah Geist Rosen ’86, Larry Williams ’87, Cathy Kleiman Bartholomay ’79, Jim Davis ’64 and Dan Bloedorn ’87

B O S T O N . Pompey Delafield, Tom Flemma, Margi Morse Delafield ’65, Matt Leibowitz ’84, Jonathan Strong ’62, Barbie Wells Carton ’68, Judy Brew McDonough ’62, Cathy Askow Thompson ’69, Jeremy Wood, Molly Ingram McDowell ’80. Not Pictured: Charlie Doar ’03

cl a ss notes

1940s Cornelia Wallace Caldwell ’42 proudly announces, “This September I will be 100 years old! With seven grandchildren and three great-granddaughters!”

brother Andy. Survived by children: Craig (Maureen) and their family; Elizabeth (Olav) and their family; grandchildren Drew (Carrie), Tara (Rob) Cain and their children, Katie (Benjamin) Dillon and their children; daughter-in-law Judy; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family wishes to express its utmost gratitude to her caregiving angels: Laurie, Brittney, Jacqueline (Lucky), Alicia and Sue for the loving, wonderful, diligent and sensitive care and company they provided to Polly in her last years.

Margery Lloyd Hexton ’44 Her daughter writes, “this letter saddens me to inform you that my mom Margery Hexton class of 1944 has passed peacefully at the age of 96 on January 21, 2023. She always praised your school and was proud to have graduated from there. Your school made Pauline “Polly” Goodrich O’Brien ’41 died my mom so happy with all of her memopeacefully at home March 17, 2023. In addition to excellent genes, Polly lived the ries, especially field hockey! Thank you for making my mom’s memories so happy.” triumvirate of good health and long life; she was intellectually inquisitive, athleti- Jean Cullin Mertz ’47 writes, “Charlie and cally active and socially supreme. Polly I have been married 73 years. We have was a genuinely good and capable person four children plus their mates, seven who respected people of all ages and grandchildren plus mates, and 17 greatwalks of life. She didn’t hesitate to step grandchildren that bring the Mertz family up when help was needed. She was a to 41—and I’m sure there will be more! kind, generous, steady soul who was loved Lots of fun!” by many. Polly grew up in Winnetka and attended North Shore Country Day and Smith College. She often remarked later in life that she didn’t see her twin brothers, Bud and Chuck, once during her four years at Smith as they were in World War II in General Patton’s army. Her future husband, Michael, convinced her to come with some friends to Madeline Island in the summer of 1945. Polly remarked that that summer was wonderful; the war was over and the young ladies were invited to numerous cocktail parties as they were young, fun and cute! That was the beginning of her long relationship with Michael and Madeline Island. Polly and Michael raised their family in Highland Park. She was a lifelong avid tennis player, golfer and volunteer. When her children James “Jim” Glasser ’51, chairman were in school all day in the late 1960s, emeritus of Chicago-based GATX Corp. she went to work at Quality Book Shop, and a former chairman of The Chicago then the Old Mexico Shop and then Community Trust’s Executive Committee, started her own interior decorating died March 14 at his home in Tucson, AZ. business. Preceded in death by husband He was 88, and split his time between Michael A. O’Brien; son Sandy O’Brien; Tucson and Lake Forest. Jim’s stewardship parents Alonzo C. and Pauline Goodrich; of The Chicago Community Trust origitwin brothers Bud ’38 and Chuck ’38, and nally was to be a two-year term but ulti-

1950s

mately lasted seven critical years. He 40

played a vital role in enabling this important philanthropic institution to emerge stronger than ever and poised for the growth that would follow.

Jim grew up on Chicago’s Northwest Side, the son of Daniel D. and Sylvia (née Goldstein) Glasser. He was a graduate of Harvard Law School, Yale University and North Shore Country Day. After serving three years as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney straight out of Harvard, Jim joined what was then known as General American Transportation Corporation, now GATX. He moved his family from Arizona to Northern California and back to Chicago.

He became GATX’s CEO and chairman in 1978, positions he held for 18 years until his retirement in 1996. Jim at the time of his death was a life trustee of the University of Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. He was a life director of Lake Forest Hospital, where he was a former chairman, and was on the Field Museum of Natural History’s National Board of Trustees as well as a founding co-chair of its Collections Committee. He also was a trustee of the Tucson Museum of Art and a director of the Chicago Horticultural Society, the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona and Tucson’s Contemporary Art Society. Jim stayed in touch with many NSCD alums and the school, and was a supporter of current students, establishing a named scholarship.

Elizabeth Washburn Borozan ’57 reports she is “still happily living in the desert with my golden retrievers! I have two of three children and three grandchildren in Tucson also!”

1960s Jessica Harper Rothman ’67 appears on the new “Fatal Attraction” series on Paramount+.

1970s Ann Howard Hanna ’71 in response to the Live and Serve Fest outreach shared, “Thirty years ago, my husband and I were out looking at cattle and we saw a man pulling out mature trees and burning them. My husband stopped to ask what he was doing. He had planted them too close.

CLASS OF 1980: Lucy Sievers, Matt Weisenberg, Courtney Spore Clift, Molly Ingram McDowell, Miller Bransfield, John Appelbaum and Jeff Foreman

Molly Ingram McDowell ’80, Liz Miller Leonard ’80 and Courtney Spore Clift

My husband asked if we could have them.

He said, ‘Sure, but they have to be out by the weekend.’ We got a crew together and transplanted 350 mature trees to a 35-acre piece of land that the local school had bought to expand, but had decided against it. After my husband died, we became a nonprofit, applied for grants and created the Kirk Hanna Memorial Park. We hold Easter egg hunts, a Halloween party, rummage sales, and every June, we hold Hanover Days with an antique tractor pull.

It has given this small place a sense of community.”

Liz Miller Leonard ’80, Jane Franke ’80 and Howard Goldblatt ’80

Leonard ’80 visited at Stormy’s Tavern with

1990s

Courtney Spore Clift ’80 when she was in

Shirin Pope ’94 is excited to announce, “I

Molly Ingram McDowell ’80 and Liz Miller

town visiting her father.

finally got my law degree from Jory Vinikour ’81 shares, “I am immensely Washington University in St. LouisI! It has pleased to announce that I will be return- taken me a very long time to get here, and ing to Ravinia Festival on September 2, at I’m beyond exhausted and proud of my 2 p.m. My program will include the French accomplishments. I put my career and Overture (Partita in B minor) of J.S. Bach goals on hold for more than 18 years so I and the 1724 Suite in D Major/D minor of could raise my children and help my husband with his military career, and I have Jean-Philippe Rameau.” no regrets as it’s never too late to go back Andrea Wright ’88 started The Wright Path to school and restart your career! Thank in 2014. She is a life and executive coach. you to my family and incredible friends New programs for 2023 include: “Wright and especially my husband, who drove us Your Book,” “Get to the Next Level” in an insane thunderstorm safely to be and, of course, “Trusting the Tingles.” here and who pushed me to go back to law “Knowing” will be published later school and to finally finish my degree!”

Molly Ingram McDowell ’80, Liz Miller this year. She is currently accepting She dedicates this moment to the late wonLeonard ’80, Jane Franke ’80 and Howard new clients. derful John Ingram. She recalls, “When I Goldblatt ’80 gathered at Stormy’s Tavern was a senior [he told me] I should really to welcome Jane, who was visiting Chicago. consider studying the law, and that I could More friends from the Class of 1980 gathmake a real difference in the world.” ered at Stormy’s for a get-together.

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1980s

cl a ss notes

Jordy Blenner ’09, Caroline McCarthy ’09, Danny Nolan ’09, Emily Gavin ’09, Lisa Doi ’09, Harry Ayre, Melissa Jesser Ayre ’09, Blair Hunt Bobier ’09, Karen Block Thomas ’09, Matt Thomas ’09, Alex Kaplan Keefe ’09 and Kenna Sullivan Johnson ’09

2000s Leigh Dailey Cross ’01 is an upper school

English and history teacher at Brooklyn Friends School.

Emily Yates ’02 shared, “I have embarked

Tess Considine ’17, the artist best known as Tess Clare, released her new video for her new single “Don’t You Ruin Everything.” Her full EP was released June 2.

Emma Flannery ’17 ran the Boston marathon this year (her third marathon)!

She lives in Los Angeles and recently wrapped up working on Apple TV’s third season of “The Morning Show.”

Alex Freiburger ’21 had the opportunity to

join UBS as a corporate cash management intern this summer.

Eun Hae Lillig ’21 accepted an offer to join Magnetar Capital as an alternative credit & fixed income analyst for summer 2023.

on a new chapter as an eating disorder recovery coach at Grö Recovery. I help my clients find food and body freedom by breaking through the challenging eating disorder thoughts and behaviors that often Sophie Hiland ’18 graduated from have us feeling stuck in recovery. With my Middlebury College in February. “A few passion for helping others, education in weeks later I was back in the classroom— recovery coaching, and the knowledge and as the second grade assistant teacher at experience I gained through my own North Shore! I loved every minute of it! It’s recovery, I work with my clients to accom- been wonderful to reconnect with old plish their goals and help them find fulfill- friends and faculty, and to get to know my ment and joy! Follow me on Instagram students and co-workers.” @grorecovery to learn more about healthy Henry Probst ’19 joined Kimco Realty ways to fuel our minds and bodies!”

Corporation in their New York City Georgia Rose Munns ’05 was named to the office as a summer ESG intern.

Northwestern University Sports Athletic Hall of Fame for women’s tennis.

Sam Roszak ’21 broke the 7-meter barrier in the long jump and had the seventh-best performance of ALL TIME for Boston University in the long jump!

Aracely Vasquez ’08 shared that she

Engagements

is starting a new position as Senior Candidate Development Specialist at Discover Financial Services.

2010s

2020s

Allie Charnas ’20 accepted a position with

Chicago Sky WNBA as a game day operations intern this summer. “At such an incredible time to be in women’s sports, I could not be more enthusiastic to join this organization. Go Sky!”

Several Raiders attended the October 2022 Tyler Doornweerd ’20 is starting a new wedding of Kaitlyn Johnson Weinstein ’14: position as an investment banking sumMaid of Honor Sydney Shafer ’14, mer analystat Goldman Sachs.

Bridesmaid Sara Hondmann ’14, Julie Block Adam Terhaerdt ’20 started a new position ’13, Malini Valliath ’14 and Jonah LeviPaesky ’13, who sang the first dance song. as a cloud engineer at Oracle.

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Former Faculty Former social studies teacher Lew Davis went to the gallery opening of friend and former student Adam Van Doren ’80 at Adam's studio on 57th Street in Chicago. An architect by training, he specializes in architectural watercolors and teaches at Yale. Accompanying Lew was Joanne Golden ’74, also a friend and former student. They had a very enjoyable dinner afterward at Felice 56.

Haniya Ghazi ’18 to Saabir Mallick

Marriages Melissa Jesser Ayre ’09 to Harry Ayre

July 16, 2022 Kaitlyn Johnson Weinstein ’14

to Justin Weinstein October 22, 2022

Emily Yates ’02

Emma Flannery ’17

Shirin Pope ’94

Haniya Ghazi ’18 and Saabir Mallick

Justin and Kaitlyn Johnson Weinstein ’14 (Nakai Photography)

Lew Davis, Adam Van Doren ’80 and Joanne Golden ’74

Charlotte Irwin

cl a ss notes nancy golden fahlstrom ’70 February 16, 2023 Daughter of the late Dick Golden ’44, Sister of Jim Golden ’70 and Joanne Golden ’74

mark wollaeger ’75 February 19, 2023 Brother of Karen Steinmetz ’69, Frank Wollaeger ’71 and Michael Wollaeger ’73

mary s. schnering ’63 February 21, 2022 Sister of the late Robert Schnering, Jr. ’56, the late James Schnering ’58 and the late Brennan James Thomas

Births charlotte irwin March 25, 2023 Alexandra Appelbaum Irwin ’11 and John

Irwin

brennan james thomas April 9, 2023 Karen Block Thomas ’09 and Matt Thomas ’09

addie grace randolph April 21, 2023 Ryan Randolph ’04 and Megan Randolph

In Memoriam patrick fitzgerald February 3, 2022 Grandparent of Liam Sauvage ’18 and

Addie Grace Randolph

barbara steinschneider December 23, 2022 Parent of Barb Steinschneider Stahl ’72, Tara Steinschneider Vossough ’74 and Deirdre Steinschneider Klepacz ’76,

Schnering ’87

thomas arthur marshall March 10, 2023 Parent of Thomas Marshall, Jr. ’81

Grandparent of Chloe Stahl ’09

james j. glasser ’51

robert “bob” theodore matthei

March 14, 2023 Sister of Joyce Glasser, Ph.D. ’55

December 30, 2022 Grandparent of William Matthei-Schmidt ’23 and Caroline Matthei-Schmidt ’26

barbara van de motter January 3, 2023 Parent of Dean Van De Motter ’79

richard l. humphrey ’56 January 5, 2023

margery hexton ’44 January 1, 2023

eugene s. stern

jane fenninger

May 13, 2022 Grandparent of Molly Ledden ’17 and

January 15, 2023 Former Faculty

Sam Ledden ’22

john mccarthy

joan smith brown ’48

January 28, 2023 Grandparent of John McHugh ’14 and

May 25, 2022 Sister of the late Barbara Gardener ’47

Thomas McHugh ’17

clyde slocum

roman weil

martha tuttrup

Aunt of Caroline Schnering Etzkorn ’77, James Schnering, Jr. ’84 and Elizabeth

Gannon Sauvage ’19

July 3, 2022 Grandparent of Paul Slocum ’13

John Schnering ’60

February 1, 2023 Grandparent of Isabella Ogbolumani ’18 and David Ogbolumani ’26

nicholas sievers

pauline “polly” goodrich o’brien ’41 March 17, 2023 Sister of the late A. Charles Goodrich, III ’38 and the late Arthur D. Goodrich ’38

barry weinstein March 22, 2023 Grandparent of Olivia Scheyer ’13, Camille Scheyer ’16 and Nina Scheyer ’21

peter d. nelles ’80 April 12, 2023

elinor notz foltz ’51 April 13, 2023 Sister of John Notz, Jr. ’47 and Ted Notz ’53 Great-Aunt of Penny Fiore ’27

alan edelson April 13, 2023 Grandparent of Samuel Gendell ’06, William J. Gendell ’08, Michael Gendell ’10, Samantha Edelson ’11, Lizzy Gendell ’13, Jenny Reinsdorf ’13, Joey Reinsdorf ’15 and Harrison Reinsdorf ’18

Father-in-law of Michael Reinsdorf ’85

September 22, 2022 Grandparent of Anna George ’13, Emily George ’17, Carter George ’17 and Ian George ’21

February 2, 2023 Parent of Lucy Sievers ’80

andrew mckenna

Send in Your News!

fred lickerman

February 7, 2023 Grandparent of Robert Sullivan ’08 and

ACORN IS AUGUST 1.

September 28, 2022 Grandparent of Emma Shawver ’12

patrick c. tower ’78 November 12, 2022

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Kenna Sullivan Johnson ’09

T H E D E A D L I N E F O R T H E FA L L

Email aweathers@ nscds.org or call Ashleigh at 847.881.8848 .

a lumni r efl ec t ion rory kelly ’14

approached group projects in the classAnd much like the Third Teacher room, teamwork on the field and beyond. centered the new upper school design, For example, after every field hockey game, circles pattern my memories of being a our team—coaches and athletes—would Raider. This I see as a ref lection of my form a circle to recap the game, not unlike North Shore education: a series of discussing results from an experiment in lessons in joining and building circles Ms. Ryder’s or Ms. Pfannerstill’s science of community.

In Mrs. McHugh’s classroom, all of the classes or critiquing a student’s piece of art in Ms. Puccia’s printmaking class. desks were arranged in a ring, such that After debriefing the game, each member everyone could see everyone else in the room with similar vantage points. No one of the team would take turns around the circle giving a player a shout out who was was in the middle or behind anyone else. a leader that day: scoring a goal, sharing Setting up the classroom this way coninsight from the bench that players on the veyed a message that everyone belonged. field couldn’t see, making a save, subbing Additionally, Mrs. McHugh clearly comin for a hurt teammate, supporting a teammunicated that it was every student’s responsibility to prepare and contribute to mate by giving them a pre-race snack or I spent a lot of my time as a North pep talk. And we always closed with class, be it through speaking, listening Shore student in a circle: seated in desks and responding to others in discussion or “Raiders, in three…” arranged in an O in classrooms, and on Thus, tradition and celebration were thoughtfully providing input on group the ground on the playing fields or stand- projects or others’ written work. Of course, also vital parts of these circles of commuing in a U around a science experiment nity: overlapping and encompassing one it would be delusional to imagine that or a final piece of art discussing process another, each contributing to the overall everyone in my classroom felt like they and results. belonged everyday. Yet, the room arrange- richness of the North Shore community.

As the upper school underwent I can now see how these circles of commument paired with her clear expectation renovation, I recall the architects sharing that students had vital, daily responsibili- nity extend across all three schools to how the principle of the Third Teacher alumni, families and community partners. ties taught me that community requires served as the design motif. Environment I remain grateful for having had so many fostering a sense of belonging for all and as the Third Teacher is an educational experiences wrapped in these circles of ensuring shared expectations, including design concept that the space in which classmates, teammates, teachers, mentors, high standards. This pairing further one learns or teaches inf luences learning illustrates the importance of each coaches and families. They were integral outcomes. So this experience, perhaps, to my education, instilled a deep appreciaindividual to the whole and puts success primed me and others to think about in the hands of the community members, tion for the strong bonds of community how we used space considering functional- and not one person. and equipped me with the skills to seek fixedness (and lack thereof) in the classout, support and build community In fact, this community-first style of room and outside, how we worked together leadership transcended my North Shore wherever I find myself. and alone, and literally, into what shapes academic experience: extending from my we organized ourselves.

North Shore teachers to how students

This I see as a reflection of my North Shore education: a series of lessons in joining and building circles of community.

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