The Rectory News | Summer 2016

THE

RECTORY NEWS

The Rectory School, Pomfret, Connecticut • Summer 2016

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Mission Statement The Rectory School’s mission is to provide students, from early childhood through middle school, with an enriched and supportive academic, social and ethical community that addresses individual learning styles, aptitudes and needs while promoting personal self-worth and accountability. The school community lives The Rectory School Creed: Responsibility, Respect, Honesty, and Compassion.

Rectory’s 7th Annual Regatta was held on Sunday, May 29. Ten boats participated in the Regatta, including the boat pictured above captained by Mr. Williams and his first mate, Mr. Seaward. Each boat was constructed out of cardboard and duct tape. Props to Mrs. Williams for constructing the duck boat!

RECTORY T H E R ECTORY N E WS

Cover Photo: The 2016 production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr. enchanted audience members with four performances. Visit our website to view two taped performances: www.rectoryschool.org/beauty Back Cover Photo: Director of Elementary School, Mrs. Carpenter, reads to the children in the elementary school every Wednesday during Morning Meeting.

Published at Pomfret, Connecticut, for the students, alumni, and families of The Rectory School, Pomfret, Connecticut.

Layout/Design provided by Global Design & Publishing, LLC • www.gdpublishing.com Printing provided by 101 Business Solutions, LLC • www.101bs.com Return Postage GUARANTEED at the Post Office, Pomfret, Connecticut

Editor: Dawn Chmura • Proofreader: Stacey Smith Photography: Nicole Bushey, Maria Carpenter, Dawn Chmura, Lesley Gibbs, Nancy Gingras, Erin Hayden, Charleen Larkin, Coffee Pond Photography, Morgan Rees, Chip Riegel, Mary Lou Seaward, Lauri Washburn, Rectory Archives.

Front cover: Mary Lou Seaward • Back cover: Jessy White NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY It is the policy of The Rectory School, Incorporated, to admit students regardless of race, sex, color, or religion to the programs, activities, benefits, and privileges that it makes available to its students generally, provided that they meet the standards for admission.

THE RECTORY SCHOOL

Rectory has 34 teams for 20 different sports throughout the academic year. Everyone takes part in sports on levels that test the skilled athlete and encourage the beginner. Through athletics, we inspire individual success, enjoyment, skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

CON T EN TS DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

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2016 Commencement Congratulations to the members of The Rectory School’s Class of 2016!

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Student Speaker Tianshu Wang ’16 was chosen by his classmates to represent them at Graduation.

18 Athletic Notes

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Faces of Rectory - Academic Leadership At Rectory, we are fortunate to have a team of educational leaders who make Rectory students a top priority in their lives.

25 Alumni Feature

4 From Fred Williams 12 On Campus

24 Spring Weekend

28 Alumni Notes THE RECTORY NEWS

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Graduation Welcome - 2016

BY FR EDER ICK W. W ILLI A MS, HE A DM A STER

G

ood morning and welcome to this most joyous event.

Today, in the presence of friends, family, and Rectory faculty and staff, we conduct our graduation exercises for the Class of 2016. Each cohort of students leaves an indelible mark on our campus, and this class, with its intellect, athleticism, and enthusiasm—can I get an “alright” Gene Chang— is no exception. We gather today to recognize a significant milestone in the lives of these impressive young people seated to my right. These soon to be graduates conclude their Rectory academic careers today with anywhere from nine months to seven years of study at our school. Regardless of the tenure, each has demonstrated notable growth, expanding interests, and the commitment to character so important to Rectory’s mission.

Shortly, graduates, your diplomas will be in hand and I will have little recourse if I come across untucked shirts, unkempt hair (Luke), contraband technology, or slightly tardy students. You will have moved beyond the physical reach of The Rectory School. You will hopefully not, however, have strayed beyond the School’s sphere of influence. If you have taken full advantage of the opportunities Rectory has to offer, engaged wholeheartedly in your studies, and observed intently the role models around you, your time on this campus should have inculcated in you a mindset that you will employ across all facets of your future life. This mindset is best summarized in Mr. John Bigelow’s words displayed on the plaque hanging above the fireplace just outside my office (and included as part of the trophy description for the Bigelow Award). In short, Mr. Bigelow’s quote encourages a strength of mind and strength of character that is “a goal for the greatest, and a goal that the least may reach.” Mr. John’s prose works in tandem with the four words that comprise our school creed: respect, responsibility, honesty, and compassion. From your first days on campus this fall, it has been clear that you, the The Rectory School Class of 2016, have worked hard to live up to that which Mr. John and Rectory hold so dear.

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Korean noodles vs. Chinese buffet, ESPN vs. Sponge Bob, basketball vs. soccer, Call of Duty vs World of Warcraft, Young Seaward vs. Old Seaward. On these issues, we are a divided campus, which is not inherently bad. In exploring these topics, or those much more serious such as the Black Lives Matter Movement, the state of politics in the United States, or the growing threat ISIS poses, it is essential to recognize there will be differing views, particularly on a campus as diverse as ours. These differing viewpoints— in fact, difference in general—must be afforded respect, our first creed word, if we, as individuals and as members of a broader society, are to forge productive relationships and resolve our disputes. For the most part, the many opinions on any range of topics have cohabitated successfully on our campus thanks to the respect those in our community afford each other. But, graduates, as your lives expand beyond our campus, you will be confronted by broader and more entrenched views. A respectful approach to understanding difference is the only way to find common ground, and it is on common ground where we construct the solutions that stand to benefit all.

Recently, graduates, you demonstrated with the Capstone Fair one of the most important manifestations of another creed word—responsibility—as you researched critical issues facing our world and proposed solutions. This project, with its emphasis on free choice, personal relevance, authentic research, and independent thinking, epitomizes all that we hope Rectory’s educational experience teaches you. Knowledge is only of value if it is thoughtfully obtained and used for beneficial, substantive causes. Your topics, which reflected a broad range of issues and interests including bias in school textbooks, the rising costs of college tuition, the travesty of human abductions in Mexico, and the importance of renewable energy, reveal an encouraging commitment to understanding and improving our world. While the name and form of the task may change, this assignment will reappear in your lives time and time again as you complete school and pursue professional careers.

Do not underestimate the responsibility embedded in this work

THE RECTORY SCHOOL as these undertakings afford you the opportunity to inform and influence others. Hopefully, with our creed whispering in your ear, this is done with the good of a broader community in mind.

Just last week at dinner, one of the students assigned to the table where I was sitting joined us somewhat late. His response when he arrived began, “Mr. Williams, I am going to be honest with you. I was sitting with my friend.” His confession caused me to reflect on our third word of the creed—honesty. Albert Einstein said, “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” Across your time at Rectory, graduates, we have expected many things of you, and many things will be asked of you moving forward. At the end of each day, looking back, maybe even more importantly in your ensuing years, it is our hope that you can say you have honestly and sincerely met all reasonable expectations others have for you and you have for yourself. In the process, do not undervalue anything you might consider minutia—seat assignments, dress code, punctuality—for negligence in small matters—a missing belt around one’s waist—does have implications for those issues of much more import.

Young people by nature want more— more freedom, more tech time, more allowance, more choice. These increases may be warranted, but only if they run parallel to a growing appreciation for— and demonstration of—honesty and responsibility.

Your interest in serving others—compassion, our concluding creed word— was apparent right from the start with your spirited collection of campaign speeches and, for the first time ever, campaign videos, as many of you sought out the opportunity to serve as a school officer. Whether you approached your moment on stage with Gene Chang’s gregariousness or Caesar Dai’s thoughtfulness, or whether you sought out new mediums as Tianshu did with his hidden camera catch-thembeing-good movie, your intentions were genuine and admirable.

As Tianshu illustrated, contributing to our—or any—community is as basic as picking up a piece of trash. But as simple as that task is, too often we don’t see or we ignore the opportunity to make the small contributions that combine for great effect. Fortunately, this was not the case for our student leaders, who set out to build relationships across divisions, forge more liberal iterations of our

tech policy, and broaden the snack options at mid-morning break.

(I concede on this last point that a dose of chips substituted on occasion for the customary apple is a welcomed treat.) And the rest of the class joined in—as a part of our Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, with Mr. Seaward’s and Mr. Long’s Community Service elective, and through the many opportunities offered this year.

Our hope for your lives ahead, graduates, is that your ability to do good for others is not defined by a day or a school offering; rather that it is a mindset fostered in part by your days on this campus.

Many of you are well on your way to accomplishing this hope.

I would never attempt to rank the four words that comprise our creed, and, in fact, the words do not lend themselves to this exercise. They are intended to work in concert with one another and, graduates, it is imperative you take their combined meaning with you along with the diplomas that bear the Rectory seal. Each represents a resource you can and should reference, as you chart your unique futures. These paths will inevitably include obstacles and challenges, but the collective wisdom contained in the creed and in your course of study on our campus will assure a clear path forward.

As you clean out your dorms and lockers, graduates, as you gather your art work and schoolbooks, as you assemble your Athlete of the Week certificates, remember that the greatest mementos of your time at Rectory are not packed in a suitcase. These most valuable relics are the memories shaped by the many interactions and experiences that have defined your time on our campus. Tap in to these freely and often and continue to glean from them meaning and direction. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.” May you all, graduates, embrace forever Rectory’s most important lessons, and in doing so become even more fluent in the language of the heart.

We wish you congratulations on all you have accomplished, graduates, and best of luck on what is still to come.

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Photo by Charleen’s Portrait Studio

Class of 2016

Aderemi O.I. Adefioye Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT

Samantha Maria Ciancio Scituate, Rhode Island St. Paul’s School, Concord, NH

Griffin Wayne Batson Quincy, Massachusetts St. Andrew’s School, Middletown, DE

Emily Jean Cournoyer Putnam, Connecticut Woodstock Academy, Woodstock, CT

Matthew David Beazer Mt. Vernon, New York Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH

Xufeng (Caesar) Dai Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China Avon Old Farms School, Avon, CT

Hyun Jin (Gene) Chang Namyangju, Gyeonggido, Korea Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, NH

David Mark Egan, Jr. Scituate, Rhode Island Pomfret School, Pomfret, CT

Hailey Skye Richardson Childs Eastford, Connecticut Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT

Sebastian Thomas Henry Evans Glocester, Rhode Island Marianapolis Preparatory School, Thompson, CT

Helen Currie Hale Pomfret Center, Connecticut Pomfret School, Pomfret, CT

Cooper Carey Felt Woodstock, Connecticut Hyde School Of CT, Woodstock, CT

Zinjun (Kerry) Huang Shanghai, Pudong, China Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, NH

Won Lee Cho Woodstock, Connecticut Pomfret School, Pomfret, CT Min Choi Seoul, Korea Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, IL 6

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Jiayi (Rose) Feng Harbin, Heilongjiang, China Concord-Carlisle High School, Concord, MA Lenaijah Alexis Ferguson Baltimore, Maryland Gunnery School, Washington, CT Andres Garcia Denis Cd. del Carmen, Mexico Mexico Sarah Ann Gordon Stamford, Connecticut Westover School, Middlebury, CT

THE RECTORY SCHOOL Nicholas Glen Yong Hee Kawam Bernardsville, New Jersey Bard Academy At Simon’s Rock, Great Barrington, MA Marshall Higgins Kilvert Nantucket, Massachusetts Salisbury School, Salisbury, CT Min Woo Kim Seoul, Korea Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ Yutark (Justin) Kim Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea Pomfret School, Pomfret, CT Taylen Madison Kirkland New York, New York Western Reserve Academy, Hudson, OH Luke Andrew Laurence Los Angeles, California Cate School, Carpinteria, CA Abisola Olajumoke Lawal Newark, New Jersey Middlesex School, Concord, MA Hyun Min (Aleyna) Lee Seoul, Korea Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Kamuela, HI

Anna Bernadette Mendenhall Dayville, Connecticut Pomfret School, Pomfret, CT

Junkun (Stanley) Shen Singapore, Singapore Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, MA

Michael Francis Mills North Reading, Massachusetts Winchendon School, Winchedon, MA

Natalie Emma Steindl Palm Beach, Florida Marvelwood School, Kent, CT

Miyu Nakajima Misato-shi, Saitama, Japan Northfield Mount Hermon School, Gill, MA

Emilio Valdes Sagarena Mexico City, Mexico Instituto Cumbres Mexico, Mexico

Seiya Nakajima Tokyo, Japan Northfield Mount Hermon School, Gill, MA Mingyu Oh Seoul, Korea Portsmouth Abbey School, Portsmouth, RI Inyoung (Michael) Park New Haven, Connecticut Pomfret School, Pomfret, CT Sion Park Gwangju, Jeollanamdo, Korea St. Mark’s School, Southborough, MA Robert Peabody Patricola Rye, New York Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

Junyong (Daniel) Lee Seoul, Korea Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School, Waltham, MA

Christopher Drew Robinson, Jr. Brooklyn, New York Westminster School, Simsbury, CT

Junyoung (Chris) Lee Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea St. Mark’s School, Southborough, MA

Ricardo Rodriguez Pineiro Mexico City, Mexico Mexico

So Min Lee Seoul, Korea Hun School Of Princeton, Princeton, NJ

Jose Angel Samano Goya Mexico City, Mexico Mexico

Aidan Davis McCarthy Pomfret Center, Connecticut Woodstock Academy, Woodstock, CT

Angelo Noel Santiago Peekskill, New York Suffield Academy, Suffield, CT

Heyu (Ben) Wang Urumqi, Xinjiang, China Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, NH Tianshu Wang Beijing, China Brooks School, North Andover, MA Zihan (Henry) Wang Beijing, China White Mountain School, Bethlehem, NH Zoe G. Wilcox Pomfret Center, Connecticut Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, MA Rashid Armin Woods Brooklyn, New York Masters School, Dobbs Ferry, NY Xinnuo (Selina) Xie Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, CT Zilong (Thomas) Yao Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China Hyde School Of CT, Woodstock, CT Zherui (Tiger) Zhang Kunming, Yunnan, China Taft School, Watertown, CT Andrew Gleason Zielinski Newton, Massachusetts Suffield Academy, Suffield, CT

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS 0F 2016!

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AWARDS

2016 Graduation Awards

5 Year Award For those who have been at Rectory since Grade 5 Hailey Skye Childs Sebastian Thomas Henry Evans Helen Currie hale Aidan Davis McCarthy Inyoung (Michael) Park Chaplain’s Award Tianshu Wang

Newspaper Award Tianshu Wang

Photography Award Lenaijah Alexis Ferguson Art Award Won Lee Cho

Media Communications Awards Hyun Jin (Gene) Chang Make-Up Study Hall Award Ricardo Rodriguez Pineiro

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Audio Visual Award Nicholas Glen Yong Hee Kawam Guitar Award Mingyu Oh Chorus Award Hailey Skye Childs Music Awards So Min Lee Inyoung (Michael) Park Drama Award Hyun Jin (Gene) Chang Helen Currie Hale Section Awards 9-3 Ricardo Rodriguez Pineiro 9-2b Junyoung (Chris) Lee 9-2a Won Lee Cho 9-1 Abisola Olajumoke Lawal Academic Honors Matthew David Beazer Hyun Jin (Gene) Chang

Hailey Skye Childs Sebastian Thomas Henry Evans So Min Lee Effort and Academic Honors Abisola Olajumoke Lawal President’s Awards Xufeng (Caesar) Dai Yutark (Justin) Kim Luke Andrew Laurence Mingyu Oh Effort Honors and President’s Awards Tianshu Wang Academic Honors and President’s Awards Griffin Wayne Batson Junyoung (Chris) Lee Xinnuo (Lena) Xie Zherui (Tiger) Zhang Academic Honors, Effort Honors, and President’s Awards Anna Bernadette Mendenhall

THE RECTORY SCHOOL Karin Saunders’ Prize Seiya Nakajima Bruce Lewis Award for Greatest Gains in Language Skills Min Woo Kim Leroy Anderson Foreign Language Awards Spanish: Abisola Olajumoke Lawal Latin: Sebastian Thomas Henry Evans Ninth Grade English Prize Anna Bernadette Mendenhall

The Mr. and Mrs. John Character Cup For great progress in all areas of school life and for displaying the kindness, compassion, and spirit exemplified in the “Rectory child.”

Seiya Nakajima

Townshend Science Award Sebastian Thomas Henry Evans Roure History Award Junkun (Stanley) Shen

The Thomas B. Harrison Cup For outstanding sportsmanship and consideration for others, not only on the playing field, but also in all areas of school life.

Rashid Armin Woods

Jackman Math Award Tianshu Wang

The Mabel Bigelow Cup: Abisola Lawal

The Father Bigelow Memorial Cup Rectory’s highest male honor is presented to that male student in the graduating class who “best exemplifies those human characteristics Father Bigelow sought to cultivate in all students that are best articulated in John Bigelow’s words: ‘To work well, to play well; to think clearly, to speak truth; to win without pride, to lose without rancor; to have courage, and to be kind.’”

Xufeng (Caesar) Dai

The Father Bigelow Cup: Caesar Dai

Best All-Around Athlete Female: Zoe G. Wilcox Male: Rashid Armin Woods The Ricci Ambassador Prize Zoe G. Wilcox The Mabel Bigelow Memorial Cup Rectory’s highest female recognition, named in honor of the School’s co-founder is awarded to a female member of the graduating class who displays outstanding excellence in character and who has shown great interest in and contribution toward the welfare of the School.

Abisola Olajumoke Lawal

The Adam B. Silver Scholar-Athlete Award For “demonstrating not only spirit, energy, inquisitiveness, and vigor in the classroom, but also determination and commitment on the athletic fields.”

Zoe G. Wilcox The John and Millie Green Cup For “bringing an uplifting spirit and a sense of joy to the school community.”

Hyun Jin (Gene) Chang The Goodridge-Barber Academic Cup For highest academic average.

Abisola Olajumoke Lawal The Charles Rockwell Cup For the student “who has done the most for Rectory.”

Tianshu Wang

The Frazar Cup: Miyu Nakajima

The Alexander C. Vasiloff Memorial Award For exemplifying those eclectic characteristics that include interest in history, science, mathematics, arts, and literature.

Sebastian Thomas Henry Evans The John Frazar Austin Cup For exemplifying the “fighting spirit,” whether in sports, studies, or in striving for general improvement.

Miyu Nakajima

The Mobley Cup: Sarah Gordon

Student Commencement Speaker Chosen by his classmates.

Tianshu Wang The Class Gift The Class of 2016 will fund an Outside Sound System, which will be located at the Seaward Family Student Pavilion. The class gift was presented by Rectory’s 2016 Class Agents: Hyun Jin (Gene) Chang Samantha Ciancio Xufeng (Caesar) Dai

John Bloodworth Mobley Jr. ’91 Cup For the proctor who best represents the characteristics of “tolerance toward, support of, and enthusiasm for his/her peers throughout his/her career in the School.”

Sarah Ann Gordon THE RECTORY NEWS

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A New Chapter for the Class of 2016

BY TIANSHU WANG

T

hank you, Mr. Williams, for your kind introduction. I am Tianshu Wang and I, as are all of the ninth graders at this point, am excited about the upcoming summer vacation. Meanwhile, a stream of sadness flows through my body when thinking about graduation. Time goes by so fast that we don’t even realize it is sneaking away. For me, the past two years have passed like a flash of light. Some of us, such as Sebastian Evans, started our Rectory careers in first grade. But now it is time to leave. It’s just too hard to say goodbye to the school, to the beautiful campus, to even a flower swinging in the wind somewhere on the cross-country course. It’s hard to turn the page and start a new chapter.

I still remember my first visit to Rectory. It was the winter two years ago.

Snow covered the school like a white bed sheet and the wind howled in my ears like ten thousand lions roaring in harmony. But when I stepped into the hallway, everything was gone.

I could no longer hear the wind because all I heard were greetings from the students. I could no longer feel the biting cold because all I felt was the warmth spread by each and every person in this community. As I walked by the library, I looked to my right and saw the painting of the Rectory Wolves. The happiness, friendliness, and feeling of community in the Rectory Wolf Pack touched me. At that moment, I realized this is the place; this is the Pack I, a hungry wolf, am looking for; this will be my home.

Throughout my two years at Rectory, I understood what caring was all about. When I was getting ready for the first day of school, I found a long red strip in my closet that I had to tie around my neck, as my mom told me the day before. To be honest, I never wore a tie before coming to Rectory. So my first tie turned out to be a firm knot around my neck. But then my roommate, Griffin Batson, kindly offered to help and taught me how to tie a tie, step by step, even though we just met each other a day ago. Although he showed me how to do it after laughing at me for five minutes,

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I still made it through my first day with a slipknot rather than a dead knot.

We are a family; a diverse family that welcomes people from all over the world; a tight family that when one person feels sad, the rest of us care. Even if we can’t help, we will be there. Our moms and dads are the faculty members sitting on my left. They taught us right from wrong. They encouraged us to move on when we were at the low points of life. When we were overwhelmed and just wanted to talk to someone, they were always there to listen and give us a hand.

5th through 8th graders, the young wolves in the family, will look up to us the same way we did as we followed in the footsteps of our older brothers and sisters who were sitting in these seats a year ago. But the people who we will remember the most are each other.

Over the years, we have come together as a clenched fist and accomplished so many tasks. We have come through the high school application process into which we put so much time and energy. We have designed our posters for the Capstone Projects and presented proudly to our parents. We have won the Powder Puff Football Game with the help of our enthusiastic cheerleaders. We have beaten the faculty in basketball, right on this court, and we tied them in soccer a few days ago. We have set up the Rube Goldberg project out of nothing in only one and a half weeks. Although it stopped many times before the end, Mr. Long successfully tasted the whipped cream with his handsome face. We have done so many things together, and those memories will be engraved in our heads forever.

Yes, there are so many “we haves,” but there are also a lot of “last times.” On May 20, we handed in the last book review to Mrs. Tiebout. On June 7, Mr. Seiscio held our last chapel service at the Pomfret School. On June 9, G block concluded our last day

of school. Yesterday, we had the last concert in the Tang Center and watched the last video Mrs. Seaward made for us. Even today, right now, in the Rectory Gym, this will be the last time to see everyone in our ninth grade family.

From this point on, we will be heading in different directions.

Perhaps, some of us will be scientists, mathematicians, linguists, or the world’s most famous athletes. Maybe, some of us will become the first people to discover extraterrestrial lives or become CEOs in international companies, as we wrote in the yearbook. Or maybe we will come back to teach at Rectory along with Daniel Lee. Let’s hope Mr. Seaward will still be here then. But no matter where we will be or what kind of jobs we have, we will all have each other’s backs. Time and distance may separate us, but the real friendships we built with one another will never extinguish.

The intersection has come, the page has turned, and the new chapter has begun. We won’t wake up around six in the morning to get ready for school. We won’t sit in the Tang Center every morning looking at the four tenants of the Rectory Creed and listen to Mr. Ames making announcements. We can’t go backward in time; we

can’t have another 9th grade year at Rectory. But what we can do is look forward, look to the future.

The memories of The Rectory School will be stored in the deepest part in our heads. Our Rectory moms and dads, we will remember you forever. You witnessed us growing from little childish kids to aspiring young teenagers. For our actual moms and dads, thank you for sending us here, and for your concern over the years. And for ourselves, we will never forget each other; the smiles on our faces will become the best memories of our times here.

Let the tears be the last celebration of our leaving and the best wishes for the journey in front of us. Let’s bring the memories of The Rectory School with us to our secondary schools, and forever in life. The page is turned, and we will be writing this new chapter full of confidence and pride. But no matter where we go in life, The Rectory School will hold us tightly together forever.

The Rectory School, we will remember your name, everyone in this big family, and every member of the Class of 2016 forever and ever.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

ON CAMPUS WHAT’S HAPPENING

Honoring our Preschool Graduates

By Erin Hayden, Director of CARe On Thursday, June 16, 2016 the CARe families gathered together to celebrate the 201516 school year and honor the 2016 Preschool Graduates. This event started in the Tang Performing Arts Center with a graduation ceremony and the handing out of diplomas, followed by an end-of-year slideshow showcasing the school year, student activities, and each student enrolled in CARe. The families then gathered at the CARe program for dinner.

It is always bittersweet to see these eager young minds become ready for the next step into kindergarten. Harder still is saying goodbye to these amazing children and their families. It is not just the bond formed with the children, but the trusting relationships developed with their parents that allow the faculty to care for and teach the CARe children. Many of the graduates have been at CARe from infancy and it is amazing to see how much they have grown. Even those students who arrived as preschoolers have, in a short time, mastered countless developmental skills and helped to create a classroom of curiosity and wonder. It is no small task for young children to navigate the daily responsibilities of friendships, expectations, and routines and to master complex activities such as writing their names, resolving a problem with a friend, or finding the answers to why the world works the way it does. We confidently send these eight children off into the world knowing that they will succeed at anything to which they put their minds.

Congratulations Brandon, Brooke, Corbin, Georgia, Jackson, Logan, Nicholas and William! We are so very proud of the children that you are today and look forward to seeing who you will become. You will be missed!

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THE RECTORY SCHOOL WHAT’S HAPPENING Kellogg Award Winners: Presented by Fred Williams The Kellogg Award was established by Peter Kellogg ‘57 in honor of his mother, Mrs. James Crane Kellogg III, to recognize Rectory employees for their dedication and commitment to the school.

Each year, two teachers, tutors, office assistants, maintenance workers, or administrators are selected as recipients of this prestigious award because of their many years of service to the school and/or their special help given to the school or students. This year’s recipients are Lesley Gibbs and Glenn Ames.

Lesley Gibbs has been at Rectory since 2001. She began her career at Rectory in the Admissions Office as the Associate Director of Admissions, served as the Director of Secondary Placement for 10 years, and now serves as the school’s Senior Enrollment Officer. Presenting the award, Headmaster Fred Williams stated, “As one of our first faces for our guests, Mrs. Gibbs’ warmth, professionalism, and passion for our school make all visitors feel immediately welcome, at home, and engaged. Additionally, her experience, her perceptive mind, and her keen ideas make her an invaluable member of our enrollment team. As a parent of two Rectory students, she speaks knowledgeably and passionately about our community, and as a seasoned school person, she has helped Rectory evolve and improve.”

Mrs. Gibbs is active in Rectory’s residential life program, is an advisor, has coached squash and girl’s lacrosse, and coordinated the School’s March Experiential Learning Program (MELP) for 12 years. She received the School’s Army Award in 2014 for her support of Rectory’s female students. Mrs. Gibbs lives in Pomfret with her husband, Donald, and their two children, Maya ’15 and Jeffrey ’17.

Also joining Rectory in 2001, Glenn Ames taught history, coached football and baseball, and was a dorm parent for 13 years.

His passion for history and his expertise as an instructor resulted in him assuming the role of History Team Leader. Now, as the Director of the Middle School, he oversees the entire middle school academic program where he has been instrumental in developing a new student-centered academic schedule, expanding the advisory program, improving the exam rotation schedule, and implementing best practices in the classroom.

According to Mr. Williams, “His years at Rectory have proven that Mr. Ames is a great teacher, a great administrator (where his title now includes Assistant Head of School), and a great coach. More important than all of these, Mr. Ames is a great mentor to the many students and teachers who have crossed his path. A long time dorm parent, Mr. Ames, with Mrs. Ames right by his side, turned their dorm into a home and made lifelong friendships with a long list of their boys.

Similarly, Mr. Ames has been a great resource to so many teachers, particularly those just beginning their careers, as he lends an ear, provides perspective, and in his carefree way, encourages them to laugh and love what they are doing. Throughout his time at Rectory, Mr. Ames has brought humor, intellect, compassion, spirit, comradeship, and innovation to our campus. It is so appropriate we now recognize him with this Kellogg Award in appreciation of these many positive qualities, qualities that are responsible for shaping the lives of our students, our faculty, and our school.” Mr. Ames resides in Pomfret with his wife, Pamela, and their two sons, Cooper ’18 and Carson ’21.

WHAT’S HAPPENING 9th Grade Capstone: Alysia Labonte-Campbell After five months of research and discussion, ninth graders reached the culminating moment of their Capstone Projects. On May 13, ninth graders welcomed visitors to Rectory’s second annual 9th Grade Capstone Fair. First implemented during the 2014-2015 academic year, the Capstone provides an opportunity for the ninth graders to explore and consider solutions to issues that are present in today’s society. This year, topics ranged from the prevalence of kidnapping in Mexico to paying NCAA athletes to the worldwide issue of pollution.

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THE RECTORY SCHOOL WHAT’S HAPPENING The John Hazen White Sr. Cup: Presented by Fred Williams The John Hazen White Sr. ‘28 Cup is presented annually to the Rectory rising ninth grade student who, in the opinion of the Headmaster and faculty, “best exemplifies those human characteristics Mr. White so greatly admired, including community service, responsibility, self-sufficiency, passion, ethical leadership and moral courage.”

Mr. Williams comments, “I honestly find myself asking on occasion is this young lady, our 2016 recipient of the John Hazen White Sr. Award, for real? Can anyone really be so stalwart and kind? Fortunately, the answer is yes. In this recipient we see that goodness knows no bounds. She is kind to all, and wishes everyone, from her best friend to the person collecting dishes in the dining hall window, a heartfelt hello and good morning. She is a friend to anyone with the slightest or most severe of ailments, when sometimes a caring ear serves as the greatest remedy. And she is a remarkable student whose report card is near flawless, demonstrating the power of accomplishment when effort meets potential. She is a giver, helping out in any way she can, which this year meant serving as Dining Hall proctor. And she is a groover, dancing when the music plays across the fields on Black and Orange Day and when RECappela and she take center stage. If all this isn’t enough, when she tilts her left hand, tea comes out; at least it did when she, in her performer mode, took on the role of Mrs. Potts in the spring performance of Beauty and the Beast. She is by all accounts phenomenal, but also humble enough to hear all of this and not let it go to her head. It is with great pride I present this award to Susan Shin.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING Freeman Award: Presented by Fred Williams The Freeman Graduate School Award, given by Louis Sr. and Judy Freeman in honor of their grandchildren, McDaniel ‘06 and Pierce ‘08, is given to that member of the faculty who demonstrates keen scholarly interest and who is working on an advanced degree or who is pursuing studies directly related to his or her teaching and intellectual pursuits.

Mr. Williams comments, “Teaching is not an easy career if you plan on doing it well.

You need to think creatively, or you will lose your audience. You need to prepare, or

WHAT’S HAPPENING Rosbottom Scholarship: Presented by Fred Williams Established in 2004 by the Rosbottom Family, the Rosbottom Scholarship recipient is selected by the Headmaster in recognition of excellence in teaching and the pursuit of professional development. The recipient models and embraces those characteristics of outstanding teaching and learning.

Mr. Williams states, “Being a boarding school, our campus is always active well into the evening. So, too, is this year’s Rosbottom Recipient. She does not live in a dorm, but she might as well for the hours she dedicates to the school. Whether it is editing the most recent article for the student newspaper, managing the four different online foreign language courses, or preparing for the next day’s classes or tutoring sessions, this person is relentless in her efforts. These efforts include gaining an in-depth understanding of her students and their particular needs. She also models for all of us the adage that we can always learn more about the art of teaching. On top of all this, we don’t think she’s ever been in a bad mood her entire life, and we love her positive spirit.

“In acknowledgement of your outstanding teaching and determined effort to excel, I am pleased to give you this Freeman Award, which will provide you with professional development funding to be used for your summer Orton-Gillingham training. Congratulations, Mrs. Patricia Shattuck.”

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you will get caught off guard. You need to be knowledgeable of your content, or you will not serve your students properly. And, most importantly, you need to acknowledge that the best teachers are constantly assessing and tweaking their approach and their curriculum. This year’s Freeman Award recipient has not been at the game that long, but he is clearly hitting his stride.

In a class I observed earlier this year, he was constantly assessing his students’ level of understanding using a variety of means and he presented content in meaningful, memorable ways as the class discussed the macabre writings of Edgar Allen Poe. Most importantly, he engaged in sincere dialogue in our post-observation discussion as he sought to build on his skills in an effort to support his students. This effort takes the next step now as Rectory supports his graduate school work towards a master’s in education. Congratulations Ryan Finnegan.”

THE RECTORY SCHOOL WHAT’S HAPPENING The Army Family Award: Presented by Miyu Nakajima ‘16 The Army Family Award is presented to the member of the faculty, administration, or staff who, in the mind of the Rectory girls, has done the most to support, guide, nurture, inspire, and encourage young women at The Rectory School. By their votes, the female students have recognized and appreciated this person’s dedication and hard work on their behalf.

Miyu Nakajima states, “On behalf of the middle school girls at Rectory, we are pleased to acknowledge this individual for all she has done for us. She is always friendly and makes you feel at home here at Rectory. When you need to talk to someone, she is always there, ready to listen and give advice. You were like our second mom, who supported, guided, inspired, and encouraged us every day here at Rectory. Thank you for motivating us to be the best we can be. Thank you, Mrs. Dawn Chmura.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING Sending Chapel: Ryan Finnegan On Wednesday, June 1, the entire Rectory School community gathered together at Pomfret School’s Chapel to celebrate Rectory’s departing ninth graders and faculty. As students and faculty walked into the beautiful Pomfret School Chapel, voices of ninth graders filled the room. Their voices were sharing different memories from Rectory and what they will miss the most.

Chaplin Drew Seiscio began the service with a welcoming blessing recognizing the approaching summer and the upcoming school year. Several of the departing faculty participated in chapel including Mr. Trevor Rees and Mrs. Dale MacQueen. A special ninth grade message was presented by Mrs. Claudia Abbott, as she took the Rectory community on a journey back to 1952 when she first started her life at Rectory. Her powerful message struck the entire congregation’s hearts as Mrs. Abbott, an alumna from the class of 1960, retires this year with the class of 2016.

to symbolize what each person takes on a journey and what each person should recognize. As the service ended, Chaplin Seiscio invited the congregation to gather outside of the chapel for an ending benediction. The ninth graders were asked to lead everyone outside as they began the closing prayer.

A long rope was laid outside of the chapel, around the Pomfret School sundial, where students and faculty were asked to gather and hold on to the rope. Chaplin Seiscio, as he mentioned during the service, wanted the community to trust each other. The community leaned back together and held each other up, showing that as a group they trusted one another. When the service concluded, friends of the ninth graders embraced each other as this would be the last chapel they would have at Rectory.

Later in the service, Chaplin Seiscio spoke about the journey most of the ninth graders will take next year. He used a backpack THE RECTORY NEWS

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THE RECTORY SCHOOL WHAT’S HAPPENING Rectory’s Board of Visitors: Nancy Gingras On Monday, April 18, Rectory’s Alumni & Development Office hosted the 6th Annual Board of Visitors Program, which brings alumni, past parents, current parents and community members to campus for the day. This program is intended to better acquaint, or in some cases, re-acquaint, our constituents with Rectory. Members of the Board of Visitors (BoV) become a valuable means for widening the circle of those who are well informed about the school’s mission and state of affairs.

This year, 23 BoV members attended morning assembly and middle school and elementary school classes, where they participated in and viewed faculty/student classroom interaction. A student panel question and answer session gave members the opportunity to ask students about their personal Rectory experiences. The lively discussion touched on topics from favorite moments at Rectory to what it was like to leave home and move across the country, or even the world, at such a young age.

Following lunch with the student panelists and Rectory administrators, the day’s keynote speaker, Sarah Armstrong, Director of the Master of Arts in Education Program, Eastern Mennonite University, and President, Neuro-Education Consultants, spoke to the group.

Dr. Armstrong discussed the latest research and best practices regarding the adolescent brain and had BoV members participate in an exercise to illustrate some of these concepts. Dr. Armstrong has been observing classes and collaborating with the faculty throughout the 2015-16 school year, so she is very familiar with the Rectory academic program.

The Board of Visitors program continues to evolve and grow and new members are welcomed. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please contact the Alumni-Development Office at 860-963-6740 x338.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Rectory Regatta: Colleen O’Neil-Vollinger Ahoy, mateys! The 7th Annual Rectory Regatta was held on Sunday May 29, 2016. Students were excited about the boats they created and the chance to get out in the Rectory pond. Many of them ended up swimming a fair share of the course, but a good time was certainly had by all! There were ten boats this year, including Mr. Williams and Mr. Seaward’s. Each boat was constructed out of cardboard and duct tape and set sail on the Rectory pond Sunday, May 29 at noon. Teams were awarded points for best team name, best design, quickest to sink, quickest to finish, and best uniform. The team with the most points, The Unsinkable 3, was determined the overall winner.

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THE RECTORY SCHOOL WHAT’S HAPPENING

WHAT’S HAPPENING Spring Musical: Ryan Finnegan The Rectory School Drama Department presented their production of Beauty and the Beast Jr. from May 25-28. Rectory has a group of multi-talented actors and actresses. It was rewarding to see how the students had progressed since the winter term. Learning lines, songs, and choreography are all very difficult to do on their own. Imagine having to do all of these things at once! This year’s cast presented a magnificent show and each night they received a warm standing ovation in recognition for their hard work. This event

Learning Center Update: Mario Hurtado, Director of Facilities The Learning Center is well underway and has made great advancements since the groundbreaking earlier this year. Through many setbacks due to weather, the construction team has put forth all their efforts to move forward with this project. According to Mario Hurtado, Director of Buildings and Grounds, “We are working very hard to have the new Day Student drop-off area completed before the beginning of school. This includes the new parking area, new driveway, and new sidewalks. The Day Room and Academic Building classrooms on the first floor will also be completed before school starts. This area is getting a complete face lift. The Learning Center is only a couple of weeks behind the completion date (January 2017). The shell is complete, mechanicals are being installed, and interior walls, windows and doors will be installed next.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING 100 Dresses for TEEG From TEEG’s Facebook Page We are so grateful to Diane Hanson, a most creative teacher of important life lessons in The Rectory School’s grade 2-3 classroom. Her class read The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, a story about a girl who was bullied because she always had to wear the same dress, as she only had one. Diane’s classroom decided to collect 100 dresses (ranging in size from 2 months to 16). They donated these dresses to TEEG and we will make them available to local children at our Back to School distribution. Amazing way to make the lessons meaningful - and to make the story matter! Thank you Diane Hanson, students and families of grade 2-3 and The Rectory School!

began on Wednesday, May 25, when Rectory had a special open dress rehearsal for the elementary school, the CARe program, St. Joseph’s School, and Thompson Middle School. As the weekend approached, the cast, on Thursday, May 26, made sure they gave it their all for a special performance for Rectory’s boarding community. The weekend performances had a full house both nights.

Warm thank yous go to Director Donna Bessette, for her hard work and dedication to this show, Lesley Gibbs, for her help backstage, and Samantha D’Angelo, for supporting the sound booth for the entire show. This was a successful year of theater at Rectory!

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Rectory Athletic Teams Rise to the Top at Winter Tournaments January was a good month for Rectory Athletics. The boys varsity basketball and the varsity ice hockey teams represented Rectory with great sportsmanship, drive, and determination, resulting in tournament victories.

The Boys Varsity Basketball team travelled to New York City on January 19 to participate in the annual Boys’ Club of NY (BCNY) 2016 “Future Stars” Basketball Jamboree. Rectory competed against BCNY and Eaglebrook School, winning both matches and earning a spot in the playoffs.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Rectory Wolves played Cardigan Mountain School. According to Coach John Seaward, “The Wolves played a great defensive game and advanced to the championship game against Fessenden. It was a pleasure to see the hard work of each team member throughout the entire tournament on both ends of the court.”

With outstanding leadership from team captains Angelo Santiago (Peekskill, NY), Rashid Woods (Brooklyn, NY), and CJ Robinson (Brooklyn, NY), Rectory was able to earn the victory over The Fes18

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senden School and receive the tournament trophy. In addition to the tournament trophy, Santiago was presented with the All-Tournament Team Award and Woods won the MVP Award.

Santiago said that Rectory played so well as a team because most of them have been playing together for most of their lives, either as teammates or even as opponents. “So many of us grew up playing together, and we’ve developed a great team chemistry. Also, it was great to have our families in the audience watching and cheering us on.”

Head Coach Brad Seaward commented, “Rectory always enjoys participating in this tournament. All of these athletes understand that team spirit and good sportsmanship are just as important as bringing home a trophy. I couldn’t be prouder of these boys.”

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January 15-17, Rectory’s Varsity Hockey team travelled to Kennett Square, PA for the Upland Country Day School’s 42nd Annual Boys’ Invitational Hockey Tournament and came away with the first place trophy. Most of Rectory’s 15 players are from the tri-state (CT, MA, RI) area.

One of the team’s captains, Zoe Wilcox (Pomfret Center, CT) said the Rectory team had made great improvements since the beginning of the season. “We knew we had a good chance of winning the tournament, and we spent the entire bus ride charging each other up,” said Wilcox, a ninth-grader who has participated in this tournament for the past three years. “Once we stepped on the ice, we were on fire! It was a great team effort, and I am proud of my teammates for playing with such passion and cohesion.”

“What made the biggest difference in our winning the close games was the players’ willingness to play unselfishly. Our top players were much better about passing and back checking than our oppo-

nents,” said Coach Mike Healy. “This was a wonderful experience for our players, both on and off the ice; certainly a weekend they will remember for many years.”

This was Rectory’s 18th year competing in the longest running (consecutive-year) middle school tournament in the country. The other schools involved were Greenwich Country Day School, New Canaan Country School, Rumsey Hall School, and the host Upland Country Day School— all private middle schools with strong hockey programs.

The purpose of Rectory’s athletics is to inspire a lifelong commitment to physical fitness and health and to promote risk-taking and self-confidence. Although inter-school competition is a large part of the athletic program, the emphasis is on individual success, enjoyment, skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Rectory’s athletic community lives The Rectory School Creed: Responsibility, Respect, Honesty, and Compassion, on and off the field.

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FACES OF RECTORY - Academic Leadership

By Dawn Chmura, Director of Communications What makes excellent academic leadership at Rectory? Designing curriculum that meets the abilities and needs of students is certainly a necessary skill. Schools with the most successful academic programs are also those that employ people who love children, enjoy spending time with them, and want to share their joys and passions with their students.

At Rectory, we are fortunate to have a team of educational leaders who make Rectory students a top priority in their lives.

Their work schedules do not have the boundaries of a typical 9-5 job, but often extend into nights and weekends and portray the characteristics of a family rather than a job.

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he Faces of Rectory’s Academic Leadership make up a group called the Committee for Academic Excellence (CAE). In addition to Headmaster Fred Williams, members of the CAE Executive Team include Lisa Hart, Glenn Ames, Maria Carpenter, Erin Hayden, and Scott Greene. Each member brings a special perspective to the group that propels Rectory’s academic program from good to excellent.

LISA HART

Director of Innovation At Rectory Since 2010 Education: Master of Arts (Educational Technology), University of Connecticut Bachelor of Science-ED (Mathematics/Science – Interdisciplinary), Central Connecticut State University

In 2012, the National Association of Independent Schools’ (NAIS) Annual Meeting focused on innovation. Later that summer, NAIS President, Patrick F. Bassett wrote an article for Independent School Magazine entitled “The Innovation Imperative,” in which he states, “...innovation in schools remains an institutional challenge.” The following summer (2013), Rectory’s senior administrative team was invited by Senior VP of Fidelity Center for Applied Technology, Sean Belka P’15, to visit “Fidelity Labs.” According to Fred Williams, “This visit provided an inspiring glimpse into how Fidelity is approaching innovation and exploring the potential for a fascinating set of emerging technologies. It also began serious conversations about how we could apply similar thinking to life at Rectory.”

Later that year, Mr. Williams appointed Lisa Hart as Rectory’s Director of Innovation. With both an academic and technology background, Mrs. Hart was uniquely qualified to lead efforts to merge the time-tested with the innovative to create an optimal learning experience for all Rectory students from early childhood through 9th grade. As the Chairperson of the Committee for 20 THE RECTORY NEWS

The primary objective of the CAE is to realize the academic goals as outlined in The Rectory School’s Strategic Plan: Rectory’s curriculum inspires, engages, and supports each child to discover and honor his or her potential and passions. Employing a rigorous program that acknowledges our students’ varied learning profiles, the School fosters engagement, encourages collaboration and critical thinking, and promotes communication and creativity. Our teachers model the belief that education is a lifelong process as they investigate and employ best practices for teaching and learning within the 21st-century classroom.

Academic Excellence, Mrs. Hart spearheaded initiatives to ensure Rectory faculty employ a school program designed to challenge students at their optimal level. Drawing on the latest research in brain-based learning while holding true to the time-tested pillars of Rectory’s educational model, Mrs. Hart works closely with faculty and students to incorporate effective and innovative practices in and out of the classroom.

When Tianshu Wang ‘16 completed an accelerated pre-calculus course, Mrs. Hart reached out to Mr. Bob Nielsen, former math chair at Emma Willard School, to create an individualized online course to continue to challenge and support Tianshu in his desire to learn advanced mathematics. In this photo, Mrs. Hart and Mr. Nielsen present Tianshu with the Jackman Cup for excellence in mathematics.

THE RECTORY SCHOOL The skills needed in today’s world are vastly different than they were twenty, or even ten, years ago. Today’s technology puts information literally at a student’s fingertips. Mrs. Hart comments, “Our goal is to teach students the skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Each day, each month, each year our students’ needs change as they progress in their academic career. This inspires me to strive for greater excellence, to be creative in our approach, and to always wonder how we can further support each student’s learning and each faculty member’s teaching. Rectory’s newly implemented enrichment time for students, along with elective choices, provides a fresh approach to expanding the potential for all students. Plus, it adds both freedom of choice and the pride of taking responsibility for reaching academic potential.”

Mrs. Hart began her career at Rectory in 2010 in the Technology Office. Mrs. Hart became fully engaged in the boarding school life when she and her family moved into the Out of Bounds girls’ dormitory for several years. Now, in addition to her responsibilities as the Director of Innovation, Mrs. Hart continues to support Rectory’s residential program, helps lead several elective programs, participates in MELP, and coaches fitness in the winter term. Why is Mrs. Hart so invested in all aspects of Rectory? “It is an amazing time to be at The Rectory School. The impact we have on our students is both immediate and lifelong. We know we have become a part of the stitches that make up the fabric of their lives; to share in that is a blessing.”

GLENN AMES

Assistant Headmaster/Director of Middle School At Rectory Since 2001 Education: Connecticut Certified Teacher and Administrator, Sacred Hart University Master of Arts (Teaching), Quinnipiac University Bachelor of Arts (History, Political Science), Central Connecticut State University Awards: Kellogg Award (2016)

It is a difficult job to be in charge of a middle school population.

Helping to maintain excellent academics includes mentoring young faculty members, being a source of inspiration and support for veteran faculty members, and being a positive character influence to young, impressionable students who are sometimes in need of both support and discipline. As the Director of Middle School, Glenn Ames manages to handle all of these tasks, and in the process earns respect from both students and adults. His good humor, obvious love for the students and passion for his profession, combined with his commitment to excellence make him an exemplary educational leader.

Mr. Ames listens intently as Lenaijah Ferguson ‘16 explains her Capstone Project on Equal Pay for women in the WNBA.

The Committee for Academic Excellence has provided a forum to discuss the direction of the middle school’s academic program.

Mr. Ames comments, “The collaborative relationship of the CAE group allows us to consider issues related to curriculum, elective offerings, teacher placement, and testing.” This past year, a new academic schedule was introduced in the middle school. “The new student-centered schedule is one example of the work being done in the CAE,” Mr. Ames explains. “The research, discussion, and collaboration of the entire CAE team, with input from middle school faculty, helped us create a schedule that provides unique and challenging opportunities that engage and support our students.”

Lucky are the Rectory students who have had the opportunity to work with Glenn Ames over the past 15 years. Teacher, department leader, dorm parent, coach, and now a senior administrator, Glenn’s obvious enjoyment of children fuels his passion to provide the best educational environment for the students at Rectory. “Fostering relationships with students that are based on mutual respect leads to a feeling of family, and that makes our students feel safe. As a result, students turn to you when they need some guidance, or when they want to share a laugh.

“Working at Rectory allows me to work with and alongside students and colleagues of the same mindset. I find joy in working with students, and taking part in their academic, social and emotional growth. I can remember a defining moment in my career when I realized that teaching in the classroom, the athletic arena, and the dormitory was so fulfilling because I could see the results of my interaction and teaching of youngsters. Moreover, a child’s appreciation for time spent with them is so empowering and rewarding as to make teaching the greatest profession.”

“When you study great teachers... you will learn much more from their caring and hard work than from their style.”

William Glasser, Noted American psychiatrist.

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MARIA CARPENTER

Director of Elementary School At Rectory Since 1997 Education: Master of Science (Child Development Studies), Wheelock College Bachelor of Science (Early Childhood Education and Teaching K-3), Wheelock College Awards: Kellogg Award (2007)

Rectory is an environment that fosters longtime employees. With nearly 20 years at Rectory, Maria Carpenter, Director of Elementary School, certainly falls into this category. Mrs. Carpenter began her career in 1997 as the Director of Children at Rectory (CARe). She immediately began to make improvements by leading the program from a day care to an early childhood program accredited by the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). In 2004, Rectory’s Board of Trustees asked Mrs. Carpenter to design a full-day kindergarten program. “Each spring, families asked if their students could continue at Rectory into the next grade,” Mrs. Carpenter explains. “We added a grade each year; now we can educate students from 6 weeks to grade 9.”

Rectory’s Elementary School foundation is grounded in child development theory, which believes in supporting the whole child; children actively construct knowledge in their learning environment through inquiry and handson experiences. This past spring, Mrs. Carpenter and her team of teachers in the Elementary School initiated “Shared Conferences” that replaced traditional parentteacher conferences. Shared Conferences brought the students into the academic conversation with their teachers and parents and allowed them the opportunity to share in the responsibility and accountability for their learning. “This is a community with high expectations for all of its members; I am proud of the moments when children celebrate their accomplishments and those of their peers,” Mrs. Carpenter commented. “I love that Rectory allows children and adults to try new things, encourages each of us to do our best, and celebrates our accomplishments.”

Even though Mrs. Carpenter’s primary area of responsibility focuses on our youngest student populations, she readily participates in the lives of middle school students, as well. Throughout the years, she has participated in the middle school MELP (March Experiential Learning Program), is eagerly and actively involved in the residential life program, and was a 9th grade Capstone Project leader this year. Her participation in the Capstone Project enabled her to complete a circle of education this year, as one of her 9thgrade mentees was Sebastian Evans ‘16, who started his Rectory educational career in Mrs. Carpenter’s first-grade class.

ERIN HAYDEN

Director of Children at Rectory At Rectory Since 2003 Education: Bachelor of Science (Early Childhood Studies and Administration in ECE Programs), Charter Oak State College

Children at Rectory (CARe), Rectory’s early education program for children from 6 weeks to 5 years, offers a curriculum focusing on science and nature. The CARe program began in 1993 as a daycare for children of Rectory employees and was made available to local community members in 1994. CARe was first accredited by the NAEYC in 2002 and has subsequently been reaccredited every five years.

Erin Hayden was first hired to join the CARe program in 2003 and took over as Director of CARe in 2004. As this program’s director, Mrs. Hayden’s responsibilities include supporting the growth and progress of the CARe teachers; as a member of the CAE, her focus is leading the future of education at Rectory with a seamless

Mrs. Hayden reads a picture book to two very interested little girls.

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THE RECTORY SCHOOL transition for students from early childhood into the elementary school. Mrs. Hayden comments, “In an ever-changing world, Rectory continues to look at best practices and new methods of teaching that will allow all students to become their best selves and lifelong learners.”

From Earth Day celebrations and Full Moon parties to field trips to the Dinosaur Place and local orchards, students in the CARe program learn by experimenting and experiencing, while in the care of their loving teachers. Mrs. Hayden explains, “I have the responsibility of making this school both a place of learning and a home for all of our students as they grow and mature. As a teacher, I spend my days showing the children the amazing world around them and how they can make it a better place.

“I love working alongside the CARe teachers and seeing the wonder and joy that the children find each and every day. Their enthusiasm for learning has kept me young at heart. Children from 6 weeks to 5 years old keep your body and mind busy at all times, but they also fill your life with love. That love has only been bested by the love of my own children, who have both attended Rectory since infancy.”

Additionally, Mr. Greene has been an invaluable asset to Rectory’s Admissions team. According to Director of Enrollment, John Seaward, “Since joining Rectory, Mr. Greene has become an integral part of family visits during the admission process. He evaluates student records, meets with prospective students and their families, and clearly expresses a game-plan for how Rectory can best support their child with IIP.” Mr. Greene understands that the middle school years are challenging for students, particularly if they experience learning differences. His calm, gentle demeanor enables him to connect with students in a manner that students respond to in a positive way. “I enjoy working with children with learning issues mainly because I have a soft spot for the perceived underdog. I have seen how schools are often set up to essentially hold these students down, and I don’t think that is fair. At Rectory, my goal is to provide each

SCOTT GREENE

Director of Learning Services At Rectory Since 2011 Education: Bachelor of Science (Business Administration), University of North Carolina – Asheville Master of Arts in Education (Special Education and Teacher’s Licensure), Western Carolina University Orton-Gillingham Training

Rectory’s Individualized Instruction Program (IIP) celebrates the uniqueness of each person. A pioneer among junior boarding schools in individualizing instruction, Rectory has provided students with one-to-one instruction as an integral part of our educational environment since our founding in 1920. Rectory’s IIP is designed to address a range of academic needs (remediation and enrichment) with seamless integration into the academic day.

Scott Greene joined The Rectory School as the Director of Learning Services in 2011. Scott oversees Rectory’s Individualized Instruction Program in addition to the after-school tutoring program. As a member of the Committee for Academic Excellence, he oversees professional development for the school. “Professional development is important for all teachers. With the support of the CAE, Rectory has changed the way we do professional development to focus on bringing speakers to school to work with all of our teachers rather than only sending a few teachers to conferences.”

Mr. Greene with A.J. W. ‘18 and Renata A. ‘17 outside of the Admissions Offices.

student with the tools they need to succeed in school and life. I am most proud of the gains some of our dyslexic students have made working with the Orton-Gillingham program to improve their reading.”

Individually, these five people bring skills, perspectives, experiences, and styles that make them outstanding educators. Working collaboratively, this diverse mix of personalities form a cohesive group focused on designing a comprehensive academic program that challenges each student at his or her optimal level. Regardless of their different talents and perspectives, their shared passion for providing outstanding academics and their love of children combine to provide excellent academic leadership at Rectory!

Watch for more “Faces of Rectory” in future issues of The Rectory News.

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SPRING FAMILY WEEKEND – ALUMNI WEEKEND 2016

By Morgan Rees, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

Spring Family Weekend and Alumni Weekend were met with sunny skies and smiling faces.

The campus was buzzing with activity as families visited classes on Friday, followed by concerts featuring members of both the elementary and middle schools.

Alumni, parents, and students participated in lawn games, the fun run/walk, and the 9th grade vs. faculty volleyball game on Saturday morning. Athletic competitions in the afternoon allowed Rectory athletes to put their skills on display.

An alumni basketball game was played at a level of intensity not commonly seen on the Rectory courts.

The alumni reception and dinner that followed were wonderful events that gave people time to reconnect with old friends. Dr. Michael Ellovich was presented with the Distinguished Service Award for his 56 years working as a counselor for Rectory.

It was a fun-filled and nostalgic weekend and it was wonderful that so many people were able to attend!

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Claudia Abbott ‘60 ALUMNI FEATURE

By Morgan Rees, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Claudia Abbott ‘60 retired this year after 16 years of tutoring at The Rectory School. During her time at Rectory, Claudia started the MUSH (make up study hall) program, which is held every afternoon for students who have not completed their homework.

Claudia’s impact at Rectory is immeasurable, and she will be greatly missed by students and teachers alike.

I

sat down with Claudia recently to discuss her time at Rectory.

When asked what has changed, she said, “The physical make-up of the campus, the international student body, girl boarders, technology, online classes for French, Chinese, and soon Latin, the importance of Spanish in the classroom, the music program, the numerous athletic opportunities, the emphasis on physics rather than biology, and the art program. In today’s world, technology is always changing, and students depend on the accessibility of technology sites. Some of them live in a cut and paste world, making plagiarism an easy option, and PowerPoint projects replace written text. Spellcheck operates in lieu of understanding of spelling rules and e-mails have replaced the written word and face-to-face communication.” When asked what has stayed the same, she said, “My love and appreciation for the opportunities I was given, my respect for the Bigelow family and the core values of the school, and the feeling of family from my colleagues and students.”

Claudia was asked to speak at the final chapel service of the year.

She delivered her speech flawlessly, and the students and teachers enjoyed hearing her account of the way Rectory was when she was a student. Portions of her speech are below: “Did you know that today actually began in 1920 long before I was born, when The Rectory School came into existence under Reverend Frank Bigelow and then his son, John Bigelow, fondly remembered as Mr. John?

“Let’s enter a time machine and teleport ourselves back 64 years to a period of time when there was no social media, cellphones, or laptops.

Are you using your imagination?

Are you there yet? Don’t worry, your journey will take some time.

“We just arrived in 1952, thirty-two years after the beginning of Rectory.

“The campus is small – there is no Vanilla Bean and only a couple of small general stores are down the street. The parking lot by the infirmary is a grassy playground and the Headmaster lives in the recently torn down Cedars building near Fisher Cottage. Nearby, there is an old barn that serves as a gym and as the location for Halloween parties. There is no swimming pool, gymnasium, art barn, new dining hall, Hamilton dorm, Tang Center, Deal House, or Brittain house, and the girls’ dorms across the street are not dorms, but are homes of non-Rectory community members, because at this time there are only a couple of female day students. Mr. Walden’s residence is the home of Anne Lindgren who, in her first years, is a corridor ‘mother’ in Dining along with Miss Jones, who manages the dining hall and the food. The two ladies serve tea and cookies to the boys twice a week during ‘rest period’ before dinner.

“One of my classmates told me that the walls on the third floor of Dining were made of a cardboard fiber. He noted that they were easy to cut through to make a hiding place for comic books, which were strictly forbidden and believed ‘to destroy youth’s morals and

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THE RECTORY SCHOOL intelligence,’ sort of like video games today. He also mentioned that the dining hall itself had certain expectations, one of which referred to hot dogs on a bun. You had a choice of using a knife and fork or you could cut the hot dog in half. ‘To pick up the whole thing at once was just not polite.’ Since one of the goals was to prepare students for formal situations in the adult world, Mrs. Bigelow would have small formal luncheons.

The meal included finger bowls to dip your fingers in after you ate. Social graces were a part of our education, and I remember many events with cookies and tea at the Cedars, the Headmaster’s home.

“All classes are held in the Main House that had a small wing for 8th graders, no longer present, near the current Education office. The school chapel is located in an area near the Tang’s location today. All plays and graduations are in the CARe Center.

What is now the technology office is a woodworking shop. The rooms in the Main House are utilized as classrooms, including Mr. Williams’ office, a space above Mrs. MacQueen’s office, the Tutor Tower itself is a large open space for art class, and the current school store is a 7th grade classroom. School supplies, at this time, are sold in a booth at the bottom of the staircase near what is Mr. Williams’ office, and if you are a boarder you can purchase two candy bars once a week.

age of five to attend the public school and Mr. John told my mother that he would have a first grade if there were five students.

So there I was, about to begin an unforgettable eight-year journey.

Come along with me as I reflect on this experience.

“As I walked through the room, that now has the faculty coffee pots, I was intimidated. This area was the school library. It was a dark room with bookcases and long tables for study hall. Accompanied by an adult, I climbed up the stairs outside what is now Mr. Williams’ office and felt as if I were on the tallest mountain.

Later, coming back down these steps, I had to hold a classmate’s hand as we headed to assembly in what is now the CARe Center.

“My teachers were interested in me as an individual. There was only one international student in the school. Assignment homework sheets were cranked out on mimeograph machines with blue ink that smudged, cursive handwriting was practiced and required, weekly letters to family had to be written, and desks were assigned and reorganized on a regular schedule. Comments from teachers were short, but confirmed that I was doing well in a class of all boys. Perhaps, that’s why I acquired the nickname Rough Tough

“What do you think about this setting?

Are you there? Is it different from The Rectory School you know now? Let’s continue on our journey in 1952, as a young student enters school.

“In the main lobby, in what is presently Mrs. Gibbs’ office, is a kindergarten.

Straight ahead there is a highly polished staircase that is completely off limits to students. The room is decorated with ornately carved Victorian furniture. Entering the door, where a porch now replaces a drive through portico, is a timid five-year old girl with braids. Who could that little girl be? It’s me! I am too young at the 26

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Creampuff by the 8th grade. School ended at 1:00 for me, and I went home because it was not proper for a girl to be on an athletic team with boys. Sometimes, I even took a $1.00 taxi ride to travel two miles with one of the former owners of the Murphy House, Jim Murphy.

THE RECTORY SCHOOL “How enormous the CARe Center looked during all events, until I revisited the auditorium location as an adult. It was in this location that we had music class, identified the instruments of the orchestra by listening to music, and learned to play a flutelike instrument called a Tonette. Here we watched weekend movies and held plays such as Androcles and the Lion in which I played two roles – the bossy shrew and lovely, sweet Lavinia. The school dances were also a major event! Since girls had to be imported from Pomfret Community School, I became quite popular because I knew all the boys. Unlike the dances nowadays, girls wore white gloves and the boys sat on one side of the room and the girls on the other, just waiting for someone to make a move.

And finally, when my 8th grade year arrived, this was the location of graduation! Another adventure would soon await because I would be heading off to a girls’ boarding school because, at that time, Pomfret School did not accept girls. With my firm foundation in two foreign languages and mathematics from Rectory, I was able to skip my sophomore year in high school. As soon as I left, my 8-year Rectory connection continued with my mother joining the faculty for 35 years, and later, with my 16 years as an IIP Tutor. A total of 59 years of Rectory experience!

“Let’s journey back now to the present, to the year 2016. Have you refocused and arrived back in the present? Now, let’s set our sites on the future.

“Why did I think that it was important to share all this information with the Class of 2016 and for those still on their academic journey? When you are young, you look at the world from a different perspective. At that time, you may not understand the value of relationships and the personal impact that certain people have on your life during your education. Time passes, buildings change, people change, but core values that develop character remain. Here is where I had my beginning, and where a former student recently told me that the most significant part of his Rectory experience was the formation of his character. Even in secondary school, he always reminded himself of the four cornerstones of The Rectory Creed Honesty, Compassion, Respect, and Responsibility.

“Your life will be full of many rites of passage. You can’t follow in someone else’s footsteps, you need to find your own. I am retiring with the Class of 2016 this spring and look forward to seeing you again at Alumni gatherings and to sharing memories of your Rectory experiences. One of my students asked me if I felt sad about leaving. To this question I reply: I am thankful for all of my memories, for the sound education Rectory gave me during my early years, for my special tutorial corner, for my basement buddies and colleagues, for my faithful MUSHites, and for the students who are part of my extended family. They have enriched my life by their presence more than they will ever know. I will always celebrate the teachers who guided me in the past and you, the student body.

“Forty-nine years ago, I was a bride walking down the aisle in this chapel and, now, I stand here remembering that rite of passage and the one that remains for me after graduation.

My Rectory family will forever remain special and I thank you for taking a trip with me to remember how the dream of one family, the Bigelows, became a reality, and, as a result, created the foundation for your dreams in the future. This legacy is now that of Mr. Williams to carry forth. In four years, when the Class of 2016 is in college, The Rectory School will celebrate its 100th Anniversary in the year 2020. It will be a time for Rectory to embrace the past, but also mold the future to launch students to be prepared for today’s world. As you make new friends and enjoy different experiences, don’t forget to maintain your relationships with both friends and faculty of the Rectory community. God bless each and every one of you as you continue the next chapter of your educational journey.”

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Alumni Notes 1980s

David Buchanan ’83 David writes, “I am living in Cary, NC and working for local government as a Parks and Grounds Technician. I would love to hear from some classmates! They can reach me at dtbuchanan114@outlook.com.”

Tom Army – Former Headmaster Tom recently published his first book, Engineering Victory: How Technology Won the Civil War.

1970s

David Jacobs ’73 This past May, David was at Avon Old Farms School for his 40th reunion and decided to come back to Rectory for a quick visit. He toured the campus and saw George Groom, his former dorm master and history teacher. David credits Rectory and Mr. Groom for instilling in him integrity and moral values. He says that Rectory has a lot to do with his success in life and the person he is today.

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John Wiberg ’84 Fred Williams and Tom Washburn caught up with John in Nassau, Bahamas. John is running a construction company on the island and is now the Consulate General of Sweden in the Bahamas.

Cameron Kennedy ’86 “We moved from Atlanta to Denver two years ago for a change of pace. I have been heavily involved in commercial real estate finance and a good portion of our client base is located here. My wife and I are avid runners, hikers, and skiers so we also wanted an environment that emphasized the outdoors for the children. So far the theory has enjoyed great proof!”

Sean Raine ’87 Fred Williams and Tom Washburn recently enjoyed lunch with Sean at the Royal Nassau Sailing Club where Sean is a past commodore. Sean works with his father as the Vice-President of International Private Banking Systems (IPBS) in

Nassau, Bahamas. Mr. Washburn writes, “It was great to see Sean and catch up after too many years. Sean recalled many of his past teachers and classmates and shared wonderful memories.”

1990s

Tim Maura ’90 Fred Williams and Tom Washburn caught up with Tim in Nassau, Bahamas. Tim has an independent IT company in Nassau among other interests.

Chris Langel ’91 Chris and his wife, Alyssa, welcomed a new baby, Grayson Essex Langel, in May 2016.

Davis Nyman ’92 After spending 2 years in a wheelchair I have fought my way back to walk again. I also have been able to return to work after 3 years.

Clayton LeBlanc ’93 Clayton writes, “After attending Clemson I moved to San Diego in 2001 and live with my partner Katie and our 2 year-old son, Briggs. I am a brewer at Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits. We enjoy all the weather southern California has to offer.

The beach, mountains, parks and general never-ending summer make for a great place to live. Anyone visiting who’d like a brewery tour, feel free to reach out.”

Kyle Larkin ’94 Kyle writes, “I am married to my lovely wife Lisa and we have two children: Brock, age 7 and Juliette, age 5. We are very happy and traveled for a visit to Rectory about 6 years ago; it might be time to do it

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again. I am currently the General Manager for Republic Services overseeing all of central Jersey. I’ve also owned and sold my own business which helped groom me for my current role.”

Anna Hastings Bonnefoy ’95 Anna Hastings is married to Jean-Remy Bonnefoy. They now have a beautiful daughter, Lucienne Hastings Bonnefoy, who was born on May 13, 2016.

Trevor Rees ’95 & Morgan Holland Rees ’97 Trevor and Morgan, along with their sons, Corbin (5) and Berkley (3.5), are moving to Newport News, Virginia this summer. It is a bittersweet departure as they will miss their friends at Rectory and the children will miss all of their big brothers and sisters. They are all looking forward to warmer weather, living near the water, and enjoying all that Virginia has to offer.

Trevor will be teaching 5th and 6th grade science at Hampton Roads Academy.

David Perinchief ’97 David and his wife, Casey, welcomed their first child, Hunter, on April 28, 2016.

2000s

Daniel Dinov ’04 News from Daniel is that he has started working as a licensed real estate agent in New York City with Rutenberg: The Smart Brokers. Here is his work profile: “Daniel Dinov is a Brooklyn native who comes from a real estate family. With extensive experience in property management, while also handling various roles in the real

estate ecosystem, Daniel has grown to fully understand the ever-changing landscape of the real estate market. His goal is to make the process of buying, renting, or selling property fun, easy and transparent for his clients. With a background in marketing, Daniel’s approach is simple; know your clients’ needs and act in their best interests.

As a born and bred New Yorker, his network, ability to connect with people, and local knowledge of the boroughs makes him the perfect agent to handle your next real estate endeavors. Passionate about music, sports, and Eastern philosophy, Daniel recognizes the importance of trust and accountability. His attention to detail and honesty are the cornerstones of his success in real estate, and in life.”

Daniel is also keeping his hand in the music business by doing some audio engineer work—recording and mixing records— along with creating some original productions, which will be released soon. He also continues to DJ—most recently at a show at Mysteryland, a three-day music festival in Bethel Woods, NY. We wish him the best in all of his ventures.

Alan MacKenzie ’07 Alan is the 1:1 iPad coordinator for the Killingly Public School District, Killingly, CT, and he also coordinates the teacher professional development for the classroom iPad program. Alan was recognized as the Killingly Public School District’s Employee of the Month in May for his dedication to the students and for his enthusiasm. Alan owns a home in Pomfret where he lives with his standard poodle puppy, Bailey.

Franklin West ’08 “I recently started a new job with Radford University as a Development Coordinator with our Advancement Office. I will be working with our annual fund, but more specifically with our phonathon.”

Paul Gray ’09 This past May, Paul graduated from Wheaton College (MA) with a degree in political science. He finished up his strong lacrosse career with his team earning a spot in its conference semifinals. Paul interned the last two summers at Summer@Rectory, and he returned to Rectory full time this summer. As Paul said about his return to Rectory, “I could not be happier with the decision to start my career here at Rectory.

Rectory is where it all started for me and I look forward to building strong relationships with the students like the teachers did when I was a student.” Paul was hired as the Admissions and Communications Associate, will be living in Memorial Dormitory, and coaching one season. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to working with him!

Taylor Wentworth’09 Taylor writes, “I graduated with my degree in elementary education. I will be continuing with one more year at Simmons to get my master’s in education to have my dual licensure in general education and special education. I will be doing my practicum at a Newton elementary school starting in September.”

Matthias Hemphill ’10 Matthias is spending the summer of 2016 working as a bartender on Martha’s Vineyard. He plans to pursue a career in acting and modeling. He loves to travel and spent the summer of 2015 traveling around Europe, where he visited Spain, Portugal, Morocco, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Czech THE RECTORY NEWS

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THE RECTORY SCHOOL Republic, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Ireland, England, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, and Iceland. He hopes to someday go to Egypt to see the pyramids.

Nick DeBlois ’10 Nick writes, “I’m an ACT (Animal Care Tech) at Bolton Veterinary Hospital in Connecticut and I’m actually looking to move up to a CVT (Certified Vet Tech).

I’m hoping to go to school to be an RN (Registered Nurse). I’m also going all around the country and into Canada a few

times this year showing dogs. I’m training my puppy right now in English and in German and it’s going great!”

Masayoshi Iwasa ’13 Masa graduated from Northfield Mount Herman this spring. He was a captain on their undefeated track team and will be attending Wheaton College in the fall where he plans to study business.

Christian Vital ’13 After spending his last two years at St. Thomas More High School in Oakdale, CT, Christian has decided to attend UCONN to further his education and play Division 1 basketball. During his senior year, Christian was selected as a member of the NEPSAC All New England Class AAA 1st Team. Christian’s Rectory family is excited to have him close by and playing for such a prominent program.

Best of luck to you, Christian!

IN MEMORIAM Ralph Roberts ’33 Ralph Roberts’ daughter sent us a note to let us know that he had passed away.

In her note she said, “I know what an impact Rectory had in the maturing process and how often he talked about his schooling. You made an impact on his life.”

Ralph was Rectory’s oldest known living alumnus.

“Ralph ‘Stub’ Roberts, age 96, of Richfield, passed away on April 29, 2016.

Ralph was born January 19, 1920, to Abby Beecher Longyear Roberts and Alton True Roberts in their home at 320 Cedar Street, Marquette, weighing 13 pounds.

As a short, stocky baby, he was nicknamed “Stub” a name he was known by his entire life, even as he grew to a height of 6’6”.

As a young man, he attended The Rectory School, Pomfret, CT and graduated from Montezuma Mountain School, Los Gatos,

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CA. After graduation, Ralph attended USC and Washington State Universities.

His education was interrupted by WWII when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 where he served on one of the earliest B-29 crews as a flight officer. Stationed in the China Burma India Theater of the war, he flew 16 bombing missions encompassing Manchuria, Formosa, Singapore, and Japan until late 1945. On two occasions, Ralph was forced to bailout over the Himalayas; and on one, he was rescued by the Chinese. When on leave, he returned to Marquette where he married his kindergarten sweetheart, Dorothy Jean Anderson. With children, Susan and Peter in tow, he settled the family in Minneapolis where his passion for aviation lead to a 42year career with Wisconsin Central, North Central, Republic and Northwest Airlines.

He and the Team were proud to bring the Convair and DC-9 additions to the fleet.

He was so in love with the airlines, that upon retirement, he spent 10 years giving tours at NATCO. Summers took Ralph back to his roots in Marquette where he enjoyed the outdoors at the Middle Island cottage. He really impressed his children

when he built a rowboat in the basement, launched it in Lake Superior, and actually saw it float. To this day, the boat is at the family home at Deertrack. He loved recording everything from mileage, fuel efficiency, height, weight, to baseball stats. In addition, he adored skippering the ‘Stubmarine,’ traveling, the family business, baseball, church, 58th Bomb Wing Reunions, and supporting the New England Air Museum. He was a proud member of the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge. With his second wife, Estella, they traveled in the ‘Stubmobile’ van to the 48 contiguous United States. In their 80’s, they also ventured on a freighter to Longyearbyen, Norway to explore Stub’s family roots. His sense of adventure followed him his entire life.”

– Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel

We Are Building…Legacies The Tang Family Challenge for Excellence in Teaching

What is Your Rectory Legacy?

Last year, Oscar Tang ’53 and his son, Kevin Tang ’82, made a transformative outright gift of $2.5 million to The Rectory School with a pledge of an additional $2.5 million in the form of a challenge—the Tangs will match all gifts made by donors to this endowment through June 30, 2018. The funds will be used to enhance faculty compensation and employee benefits.

In the life of a school there are defining moments that forever embed themselves in the narrative of that institution. Now, as Rectory nears its centennial celebration, a moment like no other stands before us as we seek to recognize those most important to our students’ success – the faculty. You can be a part of Rectory’s storied legacy, whether you experienced Rectory as a student, parent, grandparent, or a friend.

Where Does the Challenge Stand Today?

Through the generosity of many, we have raised approximately $650,000 in cash and pledges to date toward our $2.5 million challenge goal. Once we successfully meet the challenge, your donations, combined with the Tangs’ $5 million gift, will create $7.5 million in endowed funds to be used solely in support of our faculty.

Get Involved!

Make your contribution today! Whether you donate a one-time gift or are able to make a multi-year pledge, by partnering with the Tang Family and the Rectory community, you honor over 95 years of teaching and learning. Together, we can ensure Rectory’s vibrant future.

Make your gift or pledge today! Give on-line at www.rectoryschool.org/give or for more information, contact the Alumni-Development Office at 860-928-0204.

THE RECTORY SCHOOL P.O. Box 68 528 Pomfret Street Pomfret, Connecticut 06258 Address Service Requested

The Deal House is the new home of Rectory’s Alumni & Development Office.

Accreditation: Connecticut Association of Independent Schools Member: National Association of Independent Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools, Junior Boarding School Association, and Small Boarding School Association.

The all-School extravaganza orchestrated each year by Mrs. Seaward promotes the community’s united spirit in a clever way. In 2010, it was “We ‘R’ Rectory!”