RHCD Bulletin - Summer 2023

In a senior Humanities course at Boston College, first encountered the notion of a ‘sense of place’ when reading Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, by Christian NorbergSchulz. I had become fascinated by the intersection of architecture, art, literature, and gardens, a fascination that continues today. (Some of my former students may recall a lesson we did involving designing a garden, on paper or with Legos, but that’s a story for another day.)

In their articles “Sense of Place,” Jennifer Adams and others say that a “sense of place is determined by personal experiences, social interactions, and identities,” while Foote and Azaryahu add that it describes “the distinctiveness or unique character of a location.”

This sense of place at Rocky Hill – from its history, its beauty, its dynamic ebb and flow – has been at the foundation of how we have come to know ourselves and one another.

This land, the Potowomut Peninsula, is known by the Narragansett Indian tribe as their sacred meeting and hunting grounds.

Indigenous peoples of the Narrangansett Indian tribe first created our Land of Fires trail along the water. We are grateful to them, and to the Green and Brown families who came after, for being such faithful caretakers of this land.

from our

Head of School

This land is the thread that connects us all; from the indigenous people who first settled here, to us Mariners today, we love this place and find peace and joy here. When life gets to be a bit much for us, we can take our cues from the osprey whose constancy brings them back each year to the same nest, from the persistence of the tide, and most majestically from the strength of our Elm Tree, reminding us that we too can be resilient.

Of course, a hallmark of Rocky Hill Country Day is our people, including our accomplished and dedicated faculty and staff. Through them, learning is both personalized and personable. Research shows students learn best when they have a positive relationship with their teacher, and families report those connections in survey after survey. And classmates, who both challenge and inspire us, also guide us on the journey to achieve our ultimate purpose.

At Rocky Hill, students enjoy opportunities to develop leadership skills through our Leadership Academy, Prefects, Athletic Captains, and interdivisional projects and mentorship, including this year’s Hack for Global Good where Upper School students mentored Middle and Lower School students in design thinking. The joy of all the students, older and younger during Hack-Health 2023 was palpable, and resulted in new experiences between divisions, such as 6th graders designing model Ninja Obstacle courses for our Preschoolers to assess.

We also prepare Mariners for the world of work and life beyond RHCD. The continuation and expansion of our emphasis on Project-Based Learning builds those ‘future of work’ skills in collaboration, social responsibility, and problem solving. Examples include 4th graders creating a campus map that is currently in use on our school website; 5th graders continuing their archive project, chronicling the history of Hopelands and Rocky Hill; Middle School Empty Bowls project, developing their understanding of food scarcity while advancing their artistic

skills; and Upper School Spanish students writing children’s stories in Spanish, then reading them to Lower School students.

At Rocky Hill Country Day, our students learn, practice, and hone crucial skills as they progress through RHCD.

And we find new ways for them to exercise their intellect for fun, such as the inaugural year of the Quiz Bowl club. Mr. Dollen and the students are having a blast!

Finally, at the heart of what we do stands our motto – Know Thyself – embedded in our mission: inspiring each other to discover our full selves and use our wisdom for good.

We believe all humans want to be known, by themselves and others. The identities we develop as we live into our School motto imprint this sense of Place on us forever. This, along with the respect for our People and the value of our Purpose, lead us to more fully and deeply apply our talents during and long after our time at Rocky Hill.

the

Diane Rich Head of School

A uniting force at RHCD is the purpose we share - more than just educating children, we encourage them to reflect on who they are and who they choose to be.

Place, People, Purpose, and Know Thyself

On

Cover Class of 2024 Senior Prefects: Alex Lehouiller, Ju’elle West, Hadley Wheeler

Departing Trustees

A special thank you to our departing Trustees who have served on our Board.

Rocky Hill Country Day School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, handicap, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, employment, educational policies, or other school programs.

Alex Millard President Alan Flynn Vice President Lauri Fine Secretary Dr. Elizabeth Allen Treasurer

Brooke Brown Michael Grady Justine Johnson Miguel Lara Nick Murray Rita Nerney Brian Sardelli Jeff Wilhelm Scott Young

Brian Dunckley Mitch Edwards Erica Gregg Don McCaughey

Place

Rocky Hill’s

Salt Marsh, Our Living Lab for Exploration & Discovery

Rocky Hill’s salt marsh is one of the jewels of our campus, and it is always a good day when we pull out the big bin of rubber boots to head outside!

7th graders at RHCD spend the first six weeks of science class studying the salt marsh, conducting experiments on the invasive Phragmites australis, and working with Save the Bay on conservation efforts.

As a living laboratory for exploration and discovery, the marsh provides our students an opportunity to learn about a vital local ecosystem and the balance that has slowly evolved over the millennia between species, allowing them to thrive in this environment. It also creates for us a window through which we can monitor any changes that occur as a result of a warming climate. This winter, we had an unusual flood tide that surpassed

anything had seen in my many years at RHCD, one that left debris from the marsh in a distinct line following the extent of the hightide on all of our lower sports fields. As the students walked the boundary line of this debris, we felt like we were peering through this window and into the future, and it certainly made a far greater impression than any conversation we might have had in the classroom.

63 fish species in the Bay use salt marshes as nurseries1

Egrets and great blue herons feed in the salt marshes during the Summer1

Mike Jedrey Head of Middle School

Land

Fifth Grade History Project

of Fires, Land of Hope, Land of Learning

Finley Dunckley, Zamyra Gonzalez, and the Fifth Grade Class of 2023

If you’re looking to learn about history, there is no place like our campus at Rocky Hill Country Day School. We are the 5th grade class of 2023 and our class studied the history of our school’s campus to

find out about our past. It all started when our 5th grade teacher, Mr. L., who loves history, took us on a history hike, which is when we walk around our campus while he tells us about the history of each of the buildings. We explored the third floor of Hopelands, the second floor of the Carriage House where the clock tower mechanics are (he wouldn’t let us climb up there though!). Then after a few hikes we connected with

David Thatcher, who we call, “Mr.

T.”

Mr. Thatcher is a local historian and metal detection expert. Potowomut is very special to him, and he has two loves: law enforcement and the environment. He showed us how to metal-detect and we went “treasure hunting” around our campus. Then Mr. T came back in the spring and brought one of his friends, Mr. Denniston. They brought us little

metal detecting kits and gave us “Junior History Detective Badges.”

On their third visit they gave us books, maps, historic documents, and other artifacts. They also gave us a display case, and our own metal detector! We purchased a “carrot,” basically a mini metal detector that you can stick in the ground. We used the new equipment to go treasure hunting on our own. We found out that there are a lot of old nails on this campus!

After all of our work, we wanted to share our history with everyone. So after a few more history hikes, we decided that we wanted to create a project that focused on the history of our school’s campus. Our project is called, “Land of Fires, Land of Hope, Land of Learning!

- A History Project.” Our driving question was, “How can we, as 5th graders, use what we know about history and artifacts to teach others

about how interesting our school’s campus is?” Our class came together and talked about what we wanted to do with our project, so we decided that for our project we wanted to create an artifact display, publish a written piece about our history, plan and do history hikes, and make a history A-B-C Book for the younger students.

From the time spent on this project we learned many different things. One interesting fact we learned was that the property was owned by many families, but the Greene’s owned [the Rocky Hill campus] first in 1686. In 1948 Nathan Hale bought Hopelands for only $35,000 and turned it into a school. We also learned that in order to be a good historian, you need to be willing to do lots of research, take the time to do it, care enough about it, and never give up.

Rocky Hill is one of the coolest schools in Rhode Island, but not just because of the amazing campus, the teachers, and friends you can make, but also because of the amazing history behind all of it!

How can we, as 5th graders, use what we know about history and artifacts to teach others about how interesting our school’s campus is?”

Mindful Moments

Nature’s Reset

Traci

Director of Counseling & Wellness

With so many special spots on campus, I never know where I will end up taking students. Will we head to the point the furthest away from the buildings where we create a sense of being “off campus”? Will we find the moss covered rocks across from the tennis courts where we can play “the floor is lava” under the beautiful canopy of trees? Will we sit on the rock wall gazing out at the Greene River with our toes in the water? Or, will we take the short walk to the front of Hopelands and find ourselves a space under the giant Elm Tree?

The three-minute walk and talk to our outdoor location is always a part of the lesson, as I keep a watchful eye and ear on the dynamics of the class. As we approach the giant Elm, we find a spot on the grass where we are cast in shade, protected from the sun’s rays. We circle up, as we always do, indoor or out, so everyone “has a seat at the table”. With the lush grass beneath us, offer an opportunity for students to check in with themselves. They find a comfortable position in a criss-cross applesauce seated position, or laying down in corpse yoga pose (laying flat on their backs) with a gaze upwards to the gentle giant tree. We watch as the branches gently sway with the breeze and we put a hand on our hearts and another on our stomachs to really tune into our breathing. As we take this mindful

Our Magnificent

Elm

Susan Fonseca Lanham Director of Marketing & Communications, Global Impact Adviser

Rocky Hill Country Day is home to one of the oldest elm trees in RI. Our Elm, found in front of Hopelands, is 160180 years old. It is an American elm (Ulmus americana), approximately 85+ feet tall, and 60 feet wide, and has been part of every generation of graduates throughout our School’s history.

moment together, take the students through the importance of finding a pause throughout their busy days. With each inhalation we are filling up our lungs with a clear clean fresh start. A reset. As we take these reset breaths, we talk about the brain science behind elongating our exhale and how it actually sends a signal from our brain to our body to let go, relax and find a place that is more regulated with our mind and bodies connected. It is this connection that we then relate to each other in our circle, and to the ground beneath us. We

might practice gratitude meditation and intentionally share what we are grateful for in that moment. As the students turn and talk to their neighbors it’s always the reflections that brighten days or make us aware that someone in our circle might need some extra support that day. Either way, connection is key. Circles are key, and what better place to engage our students in these mindful moments than on our beautiful campus in the sweet spots that the students have come to know and love.

Historically, the tree was most likely planted during the period when either Charlotte Rhoda Ives Goddard (Hope’s daughter) or Moses Brown Ives Goddard (Hope’s grandson) owned the property, which would be circa 1840-1880. Moses especially loved it here. It isn’t a leap to think that Moses and his cousin-in-law (Henry C. Russell) chose plantings for the Hopelands property, which would have included the elm.“

Charles Laurent, Fifth Grade Teacher

Source: Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension

Fairchild

The American elm must be at least 15-years-old before it will bear seed.”

the

Lens Our Only Limit is Our

Imagination!

campus as a tremendous resource for my students.

Pet Friendly and Therapeutic, Too

Dawn

I arrived on campus in the Fall of 2018. I came to Rocky Hill Country Day School to teach a Digital Photography course for students in grades 10-12, in Upper School. I was excited to meet the students, and explore the surroundings, to teach them the ins and outs of photography. Little did I know that I was about to start a new chapter of my life, applying my industry experience back in the teaching world, on a beautiful campus, where our only limits were our imagination. From the variety of architectural elements found across the vast landscapes, perfect when teaching about Line, Shape and Negative Space, to the abundance of plant and floral life when focusing on Color, Pattern and Texture, I quickly saw the value in Rocky Hill’s

Throughout the school year, we watch and photograph the change of seasons together. Students use the rock walls and the waterfront as backdrops for their projects, finding new nooks and crannies as they explore, putting their newly acquired creative problem solving skills to use as they scan for the best lighting and composition. There are opportunities to photograph their peers at games, and find new ways to express themselves, and to highlight the world around us, and their place in it.

Five years later, we’ve expanded our course offerings to include Photo I-IV, where students are encouraged to build on their skills as they learn about new equipment and photographic techniques, pushing their creativity in every direction. The possibilities are endless here, and every year I am consistently impressed with all the new views of RHCD my students capture.

Traci Fairchild Director of Counseling & Wellness

Caity MacDonald Head of Lower School

Class pets have often been part of a Lower School student experience. This year we had class pets in first and third grade. In first grade, we had Oliver and Melvin, class guinea pigs who have been in first grade since 2017. Galaxy, the class fish, has been in third grade since 2021. The students help take care of these animals and experience the love, affection and sometimes entertainment of the presence of these pets. Students attend to everything from naming them, to feeding them, taking care of their cages and tanks, reading to them, and looking after these living creatures. It fosters a sense of belonging and responsibility in the classroom.

This year, we added not one but TWO therapy dogs in training to campus. We watched them grow up together from puppies at summer camp to full grown dogs celebrating their first birthdays and the first part of their Canine Good Citizen training together. Our Director of Counseling and Wellness, Traci Fairchild, has her golden retriever, Conway, and Nurse Jackie has her pup, Francesca, better known as Frankie. Not only are Frankie and Conway best buds and frequently seen getting their energy out together on the tennis courts in the mornings, but they are in training to be certified therapy dogs for next school year. Conway and Frankie’s goals include starting a reading buddy program for Lower School students and “assisting” with student and faculty treatment that goes beyond band aids and booboos in the Wellness and Counseling spaces.

Temple Instructor, Photography, Filmmaking, and Art History

Being able to capture things that I see every day helps me appreciate how beautiful our campus is.”

— Carter H.

I am so grateful to have this beautiful campus to photograph! It provides me with so much inspiration and opportunity.”

— Zach D.

Photo by Ariana H.

Photo by Carter H.

Photo by Zach D.

It fosters a sense of belonging and responsibility in the classroom.”

Belonging A Sense of

Thank you, Class of 2020, for adding to our gathering spaces.

Carriage House,

There are many doors around the Carriage House that were painted by alumni (when they were at RHCD) between the 1990s up through 2014.

Painted Doors

One of the things we hear again and again when we talk with students and families is appreciation for our community. Our campus offers many gathering places that contribute to that sense of belonging - the Adirondack chairs outside Flynn or Hopelands, the Rock outside Lower School, the picnic tables in the Garden Classroom near Middle School - and we’ve happily added one more! Thanks to the Class of 2020, the Campbell Lobby received

a redesign this year - including fresh paint on the walls, new furniture and cool felt walls. Now it’s a snazzy place for small study groups, Upper School diners, and afterschool chats. We invite you to campus to check it out!

A warm Mariner “shout-out” to Lia Lehouiller, Class of 1990, and Rocky Hill parent, for helping us design the space.

1st

N-12 School to Host

WPRI’s Rocky Hill Becomes the

LIVE Cam on Campus

This

•

Already

9events booked, including Hasbro Heroes Ball with up to 750 attendees!

Kristin Mitchell Director of Community Partnerships and Rentals, Alum ‘02

On June 28, 1915, Elizabeth Goddard, great-great daughter of Hope Brown Ives, married Lieutenant Commander Barnes Newberry on the front lawn of Hopelands. The visual representation written by the “Evening Star” describes this event as nothing short of breathtaking. As we fast forward over one hundred and eight years, our Hopelands landscape continues to offer renters breathtaking experiences. With its view of the Narragansett Bay, luscious landscapes, and the grandiose elm, Hopelands by the Bay continues to grow, with intimate weddings, large bridal showers, local chamber events, and class reunions, while holding onto its historic beauty.

For more information visit the Hopelands by the Bay webpage www.hopelandsbythebay.com

Caity MacDonald Head of Lower School

A Favorite Spot! Our Rock.

The Rock located outside of Perkins serves as a landmark for making memories for our Lower Schoolers throughout the years. It is almost like a magnet for young children. At first, some might be intimidated by the rock, but it quickly becomes a favorite spot on campus. Our youngest Mariners marvel at its size but, in time, one sees all the joy that comes when they finally feel confident enough to climb to the top. As the weather warms up in the spring, classes are often listening to their teacher read aloud on the rock, reading independently, writing or even enjoying their snack. It is sometimes hard to find a time when The Rock is free. As a familiar and comfortable gathering space in Lower School, The Rock is home to some of our favorite traditions, including Poetry on the Rock and many of our Lower School Gatherings.

As a familiar and comfortable gathering space in Lower School, The Rock is home to some of our favorite traditions, including Poetry on the Rock and many of our Lower School Gatherings.”

24alumni & current RHCD students as Camps Counselors

298 campers joining this Summer

700+ registrations

Kristin Mitchell Director of Community Partnerships and Rentals, Alum ‘02

RHCD Summer by the Bay

RHCD Summer by the Bay is back! For over half a century, RHCD Summer by the Bay has created unforgettable memories for campers. This summer our Critters, Jr. Mariners, Mariners and Sr. Mariners are back and ready for summer fun. We are also looking forward to hosting many sport and specialty camps to offer summer experiences for all campers. Most all counselors this year have been with us for some time (many starting as Jr. Mariners themselves!) and are truly looking forward to spending the summer with both new and returning campers. As we continue to grow our camps, we look forward to creating summer memories filled with sun, fun and friends.

Welcome to Fall, the best season of the year!

Autumn leaves, Pumpkins, Veterans Day, Grandfriends Day, Field Hockey, Shakespeare, Room on the Broom, Turkey Trot, and more.

Mike Jedrey Head of Middle School

For many years, the Middle School has celebrated the Halloween season with an Annual Pumpkin Carving event. Quickly becoming a favorite holiday, long ago, discovered the benefits of adding tootsie pops to this celebration, and it has been part of this long-standing tradition ever since. For the adults watching over our saw-wielding middle schoolers, tootsie pops have the magical quality of lowering the decibel level and making this a pseudo-Zen activity, at least until clean up!

Susan Fonseca Lanham Director of Marketing & Communications, Global Impact Adviser

Snow!

Wishes for the World, Basketball, RHCD Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Zoo, Student Council Semi-Formal Dance, Winter Instrumental and Choral Concerts, Open House, Trivia Night, and a New Year to boot!

Just a few reasons why we love Rocky Hill in the Winter! We look forward to community gatherings with students, faculty, alumni and future Mariners, to celebrating light and joy during our traditional Solstice, to a time of rest, and then togetherness once more as we return to campus in the New Year.

The 10th grade wish for the world is to spread environmental awareness about, and to encourage the protection of, Polar Bear habitats.”

10th Grade

That all of the people of the world and all of the animals on the earth have clean, healthy places to grow.”

Pre-K

People

We are all members of the Rocky Hill Country Day School Community. Each day we are surrounded by the beauty of green fields, blue water, and towering trees, … we have the opportunity to learn from teachers and colleagues who care about us, we are greeted by smiling friends, and we have the freedom to share our thoughts and opinions. We have much to be grateful for...”

24%

2,325 Students

272

RHCD Prefects

Prefects serve as leaders of the School. They are members of the entering senior class chosen by vote of the Upper School student body and 8th grade class. Prefects serve on the Disciplinary Committee, and as mentors to incoming ninth grade students. Being a prefect is an honor. It is one of the most important positions a senior can hold and is crucial to the success of the school year, as prefects spearhead student body initiatives.

Thank you Class of 2023 Prefects of our students identify as members of the BBIPOC (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color) Community

83

406

Alumni Staff & Faculty current Parents

- Patricia Liu, Dean of Student Life, Wishes For the World 2022

Thank you, 17 years

Pam Matson

Honors Biology, Advanced Genetic Literacy, Forensic Science

Her passion for science and dedication to her students is legendary. From staying up until all hours finishing a Halloween costume for the advisory competition, to challenging students with authentic, high level science experiences, Pam has done it all. We wish her well in her retirement, and hope she returns to campus to visit it often!

Pam was more than a best friend to me for the past 8 + years. She was my bedrock of good advice when I needed it, my cheerleader when I needed a boost. She was always the font of scientific knowledge for every plant and bug we saw on the nature walks and hikes we took together. She never failed to laugh at my silly inside jokes and she was my partner in too much fun to even begin to mention. I will miss having her here more than she will ever know.”

- Sue Eaton, Upper School Math Teacher, Community Service Coordinator - Upper School

A highly driven and dedicated educator, Pamela (Pam) Matson joined Rocky Hill Country Day School in 2006, as Chair of the Science Department and a teacher of Biology.

During the seventeen years of her tenure, Pam expanded the science curricular offerings of Honors and Advanced Physics, Chemistry, and Environmental Science to include a range of electives: Marine Biology, Ecology, Oceanography, Bioethics, Advanced Genetic Literacy, as well as Advanced Human Physiology and Forensic Science: Parts I and II. Beyond the classroom, Pam has also served as cross-country coach and advised the Upper School Student Council.

An incisive thinker, and an untiring advocate for the sciences and the acquisition of knowledge, as well as a deeply caring advisor/mentor, Pam inspired and nurtured peers and students alike. She brought a distinct quality and expertise to a closeknit group of science professionals and a forward-thinking curriculum that has been elevated through her passion and consummate professionalism. Entering the Biology lab and greenhouse, one was always greeted by a dizzying array of experiments, skeletons and “body” parts, and sprouting seedlings—all vying for attention.

And then, there were the staged “crime scenes”—often so real that the Forensics students were both baffled and delighted. On any given day, you could find Pam dragging a cart of supplies or scoping out a new space on campus to bury the bodies (frozen chickens, that is). Her many Project-Based collaborations crossed disciplines and afforded students the opportunities to engage with cancer survivors or to delve deeply into the multi-dimensional importance of trees in the quality of our lives and the sustainability of our planet. “Think Outside” not only became an RHCD tagline, but it also embodied the philosophy and principles Pam has embraced throughout her time in our community. It was therefore apropos that the seniors of ‘23 chose Pam to address their class at Senior Dinner, and not surprising that the analogy chosen, to represent the group, their individuality, tenacity, and resilience, was, in fact, a twisted tree on Ives Road, that we all see on our daily commute. The Rocky Hill community has been privileged to have Pam lead the sciences and inspire our collaboration with colleagues. She will be greatly missed.

Belinda Snyman

US English & Humanities, NEASC Coordinator

bound!

A Return to Middle School Science for Mr. Jedrey

Mike’s passion for science, and in particular the environment, is reflected in his outdoor pursuits, including winter backpacking and bagging 4000’ summits in the White Mountains.

Under Mike’s leadership, RHCD developed many longstanding programs, such as Enviroweek, Expositions, and LEEP (Learn, Explore, Envision, Present).

Since his arrival to Rocky Hill in 1989, Mike has worked with 6 different Heads of School, 50+ MS teachers, and 700 eighth grade students!

34 years

As teachers and educational leaders, it can be hard to know each day, week, month, and even year, if our work makes a difference for the students, families, colleagues, and communities we serve. For those of us who have long Rocky Hill Country Day stories, we’ve witnessed Michael Jedrey’s (or, as we know him, Jed’s) transformative work. We’ve felt his warmth and care, and our lives have been shaped by his mentorship. entered Rocky Hill as a fourth grader in 1987, in 1999, I was welcomed as a student teacher, in 2000, I became a faculty member, and in 2021, joined the Board of Trustees. love Rocky Hill, and top amongst a host of reasons that inspire that love is the mentorship, fellowship, and friendship of Michael Jedrey.

In the thirty years that have been Mike’s tenure, he has been a dedicated and passionate science teacher, a caring and supportive athletic coach, a strategic and mindful environmental steward, and an innovative and patient leader of the Middle School — and this list of roles only scratches the surface of Mike’s transformative and lasting impact on Rocky Hill’s students, families, faculty and staff, and community. My lifelong love of science started in Mike’s 8th Grade IPS class, my passion for science

teaching was launched under Mike’s wing as a student teacher during my senior year at Brown, and my model of school leadership was formed through observing Mike’s approach in the Middle School and other aspects of Rocky Hill like the Summer Enrichment Academy, which he grew and led for many years.

My lens of seeing Mike is just one, but I know through my experience, the experience of peers and students, and the reflective conversations I’ve had with many who have been in Mike’s orbit that I am not alone. Mike Jedrey will return to full-time teaching in the fall of 2023, and the next generation of Rocky Hill middle schoolers will likely find their passion for science and learning under his skillful, dedicated, and kind tutelage.

We should all give our thanks to Mike for all he has given to Rocky Hill, to the students, families, and colleagues he’s supported and led, and to the students he is still yet to teach.

Scott Young

Class of 1996

Faculty 2000-2006

Trustee 2021-present

Rocky Hill recognizes Michael Jedrey

K12 Educator, Middle School Science Teacher, Division Head

Through all these years, the one constant HAS been the joy and excitement of working with young adolescent children. This is an age of remarkable growth in so many ways; growth physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. With one leg in childhood, and the other moving towards adulthood, the students that my colleagues and I work with are truly in the middle.”

- Mike Jedrey

Mr. Jedrey

I was recently asked what teachers were the most impressionable to me and at what level of education. In lower school, upper school, and collegiately I had to do some triage and filtering, but in middle school a name came to me immediately, Michael Jedrey.

went to Rocky Hill from PreK-8th Middle school was a transformative experience, it was the place where I found my voice, my independence, and my confidence in many subjects. At the time Mike Jedrey was a science teacher, lacrosse coach, and at one point the head of Middle school. His positive energy and love of the outdoors brought about some new experiences for middle schoolers. remember kayaking the Narrow River, climbing Mt. Monadnock, wood working class (many of the projects we made in this class are still being displayed in my parents home), camping out on the beach, and so many other fun outdoor learning experiences. also enjoyed his “sludge” project where students were given a beaker of substances all mixed into one solution and we had to break them down one by one by removing each element independently using any means necessary (boiling pt, melting pt, solubility in other substances…). I thoroughly enjoyed that work.

When looking back at your most influential teachers one might think you select your favorite teacher by how well you liked them, how much they challenged you or what you learned. Mr. Jedrey checks all of those boxes, but that is not why I instantly thought of him. I thought of him because my life with my children (currently Rocky Hill students) is filled with reminders of the experiences Mr. Jedrey helped provide for us. If I scroll through the images of my family in the last ten years, there is not

a year that will go by that we can’t find one picture that wasn’t something Mr. Jedrey taught us. For example, when my daughter started riding horses I chiseled a horse head out of a fallen tree on Ives Rd to give to her. Chisling was where we spent much of our time in the brick house during woodworking class with Mr. Jedrey.

My boys got Kayaks for Christmas one year and I’m pretty sure they were the same make as the Kayaks we went down Narrow River with 20 years earlier at Rocky Hill. Every summer we still Kayak in salt ponds as a family.

One year my boys got a science kit for Christmas that looked very similar to the setup we used during the sludge project, and what do you think dad had them do first...

For my boys’ 4th birthday they said “dad we want to climb a mountain for our birthday” and knew right where to take them (although we told them Mt. Wachusett’s was Mt. Monadnock at the time; they were 4, and Great Wolf Lodge was across the street- don’t judge us!). They were so proud of themselves when they reached the summit.

When the power goes out in the house and dad sets up the tent on the back deck to make lemonade out of lemons, it is Mr. Jedrey that I think of when I’m struggling to remember how to build a tent.

Cheers to Mr. Jedrey and his great tenure at Rocky Hill, I hope he is still teaching when my three get to middle school!

Brian Sardelli

Full Diverse Student Experiences + Our Journey to Discover Our

Selves

Michelle Jones Director of Equity + Belonging

Equity + Belonging

At all grade levels our students are encouraged to think critically about whose voices are missing in our courageous conversations, to navigate challenges ethically when faced with divisiveness, and to communicate intentionally within the framework of our community norms.

During our recent NEASC accreditation visit, students shared their thoughts of the words “equity” and “belonging”:

“Equity”:

• “I feel seen and heard not less or more than anyone else”;

• “Everyone feeling included no matter who they are”;

• “Everyone getting what they need, not getting the same”;

“Belonging”:

• “Being able to be yourself in your community”;

• “Togetherness”;

• “Making everyone’s identities feel accepted”

Student Life at RHCD is directly dependent upon the active recognition, support, and fostering of our student body’s diverse lived experiences. From the athletic fields and classrooms, our students are developing capacities to lead in a variety of settings, both peerelected and self-initiated. In the journey to discover their full selves, our students develop competencies needed to better understand themselves and the world around them.

Whether our students are engaging in weekly courageous conversations in affinity groups or student council meetings, we celebrate our students’ diverse, layered identities and we actively encourage dialogue that seeks to create a safer, more

inclusive learning environment for all of our students.

As a school community, our goal is not obtainable absent our students’ voice and the work they produce. Across every division, and in collaboration with the Offices of Student Life and Equity + Belonging (E+B), the focus to inspire each other is at the core of the community building journey our students continuously embark on.

And as our E+B journey continues to evolve and enrich the quality of our learning environment, it is our desire for all Mariners to engage in global citizenship that fosters connection, both within and outside RHCD’s shoreline, bringing new meaning to our School motto, Know Thyself.

For more information visit the Equity + Belonging webpage

RHCD Trustee, Parent, Alumni

The E+B curriculum focus for our students is designed to engage a deeper understanding of discovering our full selves.”

- Michelle Jones

Archives Then & Now

For the past five years led largely by Charlie Laurent’s 4th and 5th grade classes, we have been collecting and documenting archives of this land, of the Hopelands estate, and of Rocky Hill Country Day School. What’s been remarkable, beyond what the students have discovered through their research, is the amount of archival material that has come to us by way of our Alumni and extended Rocky Hill community.

For example, an alumnus from the 1950s recently passed away and his wife sent postcards and Rocky Hill PTL cookbooks that she found in

his things. And an East Greenwich woman, whose family saves everything, attended camp here in the 1960s and gave us a camp t-shirt from that time, Christmas cards sent by Nathan Hale, and other treasures. We love this, and carefully catalog it all. Our plan is to create archival displays in the halls of Hopelands so all can view our rich history.

At Rocky Hill Country Day, we are rooted in our tradition but not bound by it; we keep one foot in our rich past with the other striding forward into our future.

Help us to keep hold of our treasures and traditions by sending in any artifacts you would like to add to our collection!

ca. 1960s Horse Stall Classroom in Carriage House

ca 1962 Library (Now preschool space)

Hope Ives Binney Powell, 1861

Crest for 50th Anniversary, 1984

ca 1941

Dorothy K. Marshall’s Reading Glasses, 1957

Binney Family ca 1890 on Front Piazza of Hopelands ca 1890

Dorothy Marshall’s Pin 1957

5th Grade

Milestones New

Faculty and Staff Faculty and Staff

Rocky Hill Country Day School welcomed new faculty and staff members in the 2022-23 year.

Fond Farewells

We wished a fond farewell to the following faculty and staff members who went on to new adventures and professional opportunities.

Aquila Harper, Upper School Community Curriculum Teacher

Amanda Hovey, Middle/ Upper School Art

Brittney Kondratiev, Upper School French

Pam Matson, Upper School Science

Sean Tucker, Middle/Upper School Physical and Health Education

Each year we recognize faculty and staff whose years of service reach a five-year milestone. In 2022-2023 the following individuals are recognized:

Emily McMahon (Seddon) Lower School - Kindergarten

Kristin Mitchell Director of Campus Programming and Rentals

Patricia Mott Lower School - Preschool

6% Legacy Affiliation

This year 16 of our 267 students joined our Legacy Families. Defined as a current student with a parent or caregiver that is a Rocky Hill alum.

Years Years

Dawn Temple Upper School Photography

Megan Williams Director of Athletics

Years

Whitney Barker Academic Center of Enrichment

Diane Rich Head of School

Charlie Laurent Lower School - 5th Grade

Jennifer Denecour 4th grade

Katie Fisher Ceramics

Scott Dollen Upper School History

Kate Sutherland Middle School Science

Zach Bioteau Middle School ACE

Aparicio Zunum Cux Upper School Spanish

Hannah Schofield Middle School English

Heather Skidds Performing Arts

Meghan Kelly Upper School Science

Dave Burlingame Bus. Manager

James Pinkham Dir. Enrollment Management

Conor O’Rourke Dir. Development & Alumni Relations

Christine Sherman Registrar

Jackie Keller Nurse

Kristin LaPlante Admissions Assistant

dollars raised ($94,352)

300+

Giving Day

One Day. One Community. One Goal!

On May 18, 2023, the greater Rocky Hill community came together to support our annual Giving Day. Everyone who participated has helped make a measurable impact on our faculty and campus and the life-changing experiences that can only happen at RHCD.

#RHCDGives

This is Mariner Nation!

$314

$94k Donors Avg gift

Our Gratitude Celebration saw Mariners gathered on the Hopelands lawn enjoying food from Greenwich Bay Catering and Matunuck Oyster Bar, along with live music by The Naticks.

Thank You to the entire Rocky Hill community, on campus and around the world. Because of your generosity we secured $30,000 in Challenge Funds!

For more information visit the Giving Day webpage

Shout-Out to

Golden Compass Recipients!

The Golden Compass is a peer-nominated recognition that celebrates the efforts of our amazing faculty and staff.

To: Bel Snyman - “For all your dedication in steering us through the choppy waters of the NEASC process and guiding us safely to port. Thank you for your leadership and attention to detail.”

To: Heather Skidds - “Balancing teaching in all divisions, supporting our performing arts program, and finding ways our students share their talents outside of RHCD.”

To: Caity MacDonald - “You embody fearless leadership and the Lower School is SO lucky to have you.”

To: Eric Wyzga - “A great teacher. Don’t change a thing, and take this golden compass so you don’t lose your way.”

To: Brian Swanson“Thank you for all you do to get our campus up and running after a deep freeze. We could not do it without you and the plant ops team!”

To: Natalie Joseph - “For your resilience, your positivity and your ability to rise above. You are truly a bright light!”

To: Katie Fischer - “You give your students a wonderful space to express their creativity while teaching them valuable skills.”

To: Sue Eaton - “A supportive colleague and teacher. Students say you teach with clarity, structure, and compassion.”

To: Amanda Hovey - “You model the importance of creating, editing, critiquing, and revising authentically, inspiring your Middle School and 9th Grade students alike.”

To: Meg Getsinger - “An accomplished artist--you have enhanced the art experience for all who are privileged to work with you and inspire your students and colleagues alike.”

To: Meghan Kelly“Your positive energy and enthusiasm adds so much to RHCD. Your passion for everything outdoors and all-things marine is inspirational.”

To: Russell Papineau - “Thank you for being the person RHCD can count on. Your reliability is unmatched in your position here at Rocky Hill.”

From the Mariner Community Association

Dear Mariner Community,

As I sit here reflecting on the wonderful Lower School and Middle School Moving Up and Commencement ceremonies that took place on the Hopelands lawn this past week, I am astounded that the 2022-2023 school year has come to a close. And what a year it was!! There is so much to celebrate - athletic successes, academic achievements, performing and visual arts masterpieces - but what I most reflect on with pride is the community we are fortunate to share. The Mariner Community Association embraces all of these exciting aspects of life at Rocky Hill, and we strive to focus our efforts on supporting and fostering this amazing sense of community among students, parents, faculty and staff. Together we are all what make this school the special place that it is, and the MCA loves to celebrate that fact!!

To that end, we have been proud to organize and support so many different activities on campus this year. Look at all we accomplished!

• Start-of-the-Year celebrations including Allie’s Donuts for students at Convocation and Family Coffee & Conversation events for each division

• Monthly “First Friday Coffees” in Hopelands, giving parents a chance to meet casually with friends, faculty, and staff

• Countless MCA concession stands at games and athletic tournaments, providing an important source of funding for MCA activities throughout the year

• A hugely successful and well-attended community-wide celebration at Blue & White Night

• A Thanksgiving Coffee Truck Faculty & Staff Appreciation event

• The Annual Holiday Cookie Exchange for faculty & staff, which saw an abundance of delicious holiday treats lovingly baked and contributed by RHCD families

• The return of Trivia Night, which was a wonderful celebration of knowledge and community

• Decorating and supporting a multitude of student social events including the Upper School Mid-Winter Semi-formal and Prom, the Middle School Dance, Game Night, and Movie Night, and the Lower School Glow Dance, all of which are important opportunities for our students to mingle and socialize outside of the classroom

• Fueling the creativity of students in all divisions during the All-School Hackathon by providing daily “brain-break” snacks as well as the Upper School Final Pitch Event pizza party

• Breaking out the grill for a community-wide cookout for volunteers at the Community Clean-Up Day

• Treating students to a cool Kona Ice during the Arts Week Chalk-on-the-Walk event

• Faculty & Staff Appreciation Month throughout May, during which we showed our appreciation for all they do with several “Friday Surprises” as well as an al fresco luncheon on the lawn of Hopelands

• Outfitting and supporting the Upper School Class Olympics and Lower and Middle School Field Days

• Celebrating all that our students have accomplished this year with Lower and Middle School Moving Up Day celebrations as well as Senior Athletic Awards stadium blankets

It is exciting to see what a huge impact the Mariner Community Association has on our school experience, and we want to thank you all for your participation in our community events. And if you have taken the time out of your busy schedules to volunteer your time at any event, know that it made a difference!! Truly, none of this would be possible without the support of our amazing Mariner families.

The MCA relies on volunteers to accomplish all that we do, and we strive to continually enhance the social and community connections at Rocky Hill Country Day. Volunteering is a great way to become involved in the school community and in your child’s own experience. As we look forward to the next school year, I encourage you to consider becoming more involved in the MCA. We are always looking for volunteers, and whether you have time to commit to a larger role such as class, division or committee representative, or just want to join in when the opportunity is right, there is a place for you. It is a rewarding experience to give back to the community that does so much for our kids, and it helps make RHCD a better place! I invite you to get in touch with me if you are interested in taking on a more active role in the MCA - would love to talk to you about all of the opportunities available to become involved and make a huge impact on this wonderful school.

With gratitude, warmth, and best wishes for a wonderful summer,

Jill Jill Millard MCA President

2022-2023 Mariner Community Association (MCA) Leadership Executive Board

Co-Presidents: Jill Millard

Holiday Cookies

Faculty and Staff Luncheon

Treasurer: Erin Reedy

Co-Secretaries: Wendy Price & Láura Vares

Divisional Representatives

Lower School: Allison Kettlety

Middle School: Kristen Samponaro

Upper School: Kimberly Izzi

Class Representatives

Lower School:

• Jessica Bradley

• Melissa Edelmann

• Farrah Field

• Tricia Forte

• Carolyn Gnirke

• Allison Kettlety

• Meg Monaghan

• Kristen Palmisano

• Mar tha Rojas

• Marissa Tandon

• Laura Vares

Middle School:

• Kara McKamey

• Rebecca O’Hara

• Kristen Sampanaro

Upper School:

• Sophia Belandd

• Jen Carney

• Kim Izzi

• Mike Lawson

• Erin Reedy

• Ady Wheeler

Parent Engagement Chair Melissa Edelmann

Purpose

At Rocky Hill we provide a superior academic experience. We focus on competencies, and expect all our Mariner graduates to be critical thinkers, able to navigate the world ethically, and communicate intentionally

Our teaching approach is Inquiry Based to engage our students in exploration and high-level questioning. We use the Harkness Table, an oval-shaped table around which students and teachers connect, ask questions, and learn to advocate for themselves, while also paying attention to their quieter classmates.

In the classroom, we leverage Project Based Learning to provide

real, authentic experiences that simulate a modern globally connected world.

Everything we do at RHCD leads our students to a successful start in college, and a strong foundation for their future.

The Way of the Mariner

Each day, at Rocky Hill Country Day School, we embolden our students to think outside-- both literally and figuratively. The unparalleled RHCD experience gives students the opportunity to discover their full selves, engage in unique extracurriculars, and immerse themselves in a community of support and belonging.

For more information visit Rocky Hill Country Day webpage

At RHCD, we are educating our students to think outside and imagine a world they will thrive in while navigating the challenges of the world they currently live in.”

- Michelle Jones, Director of Equity + Belonging

Country Day The Value of a School Experience

From the very beginning, Nathan Hale planted the roots of our progressive education in a specific tradition when he christened the school Rocky Hill Country Day School in 1941 after taking over the preschool founded by Dorothy Marshall in 1934.

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Diane Rich Head of School

The country day school movement was a response to the perceived elitism of boarding schools of the time. Boarding schools focused on classical education, with students, sitting in rows in the classroom, literally studying the classics, indoors, often through memorization. Country Day Schools wanted to capture some of the perceived ‘better’ elements of those boarding schools - educational rigor, character-building, and collegiality - but in a setting where students could still live with their families. Schools were created in the country rather than in cities, with a belief that the pastoral campus would inspire learning, and where they could escape the increasing crowds and air pollution of the Industrial Revolution.

Identified as ‘progressive education’ in the late 19th century, to distinguish it from the classical prep school approach, the goals were to focus

50%

increase in work performance was seen in people working outdoors.

University of Utah and the University of Kansas

on the whole child - mind, body, and spirit. Sound familiar? These days we may have a different connotation of the word ‘progressive,’ but in this instance it actually defines what we most value about a Rocky Hill education - learning by doing, rather than by rote memorization.

Even back then, the focus was on skills: problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, a sense of social responsibility, and the development of social-emotional competencies. Nurturing democratic (small ‘d’) ideas and leadership aptitude were paramount, joined by an attempt to bring entrepreneurship and service learning into education. Learning was personalized, and students were evaluated on what they could produce rather than just what they could report back.

And so this ‘country day movement’ that Nathan Hale embraced is in our DNA; it informs our educational philosophy to this day We are the quintessential country day school! Our expansive bucolic campus,

Stanford University study

definitely out of the city, invites exploration of and communion with nature; it strengthens our bodies and soothes our spirits. A recent Stanford University study determined that people who spent 15 minutes outside experienced a 300% increase in creativity. And a study between researchers at the University of Utah and the University of Kansas found that people working outdoors saw a 50% increase in work performance. That kind of data fuels our belief that educating the whole child requires us to get outside. And now more than ever, we know the country day experience that offers our students opportunities to explore the forest, to examine the wildlife of the waterfront, and to enjoy the vastness of the outdoors not only engages them in challenging

academic and physical activities, it also keeps them healthy, in mind, body and spirit.

The value that Nathan Hale saw is the bedrock of what we value today: experiential learning amongst a community working together in an inspiring place. Rocky Hill Country Day helps students uncover their intellectual talents and passions, and become self-aware and resilient, able to navigate their way through a complex world long after they leave the campus.

Rocky Hill Country Day helps students uncover their intellectual talents and passions, and become self-aware and resilient, able to navigate their way through a complex world long after they leave the campus.”

minutes spent outside produces a 300% increase in creativity.

In our Lower School there is much to celebrate! Our nurturing and safe environment encourages discovery, open-ended learning experiences, and integrated activities designed to foster a sense of wonder and excitement about the world in which children live. Each day our faculty and students pave the way for meaningful and joyful learning opportunities.

Our Middle School faculty, advisers, and coaches help each child navigate their journey through early adolescence. Learning focuses on student engagement, deeper learning. and global connections to stretch their thinking and understanding, while at the same time building a respectful, collaborative, and ethical community.

Upper School coursework is modern, real-world, and relevant, so it is authentic for every student’s future. Over four years, students tackle real challenges, collaborate on important projects, do independent research, and participate in signature experiences, all of which help our students mature into individuals prepared for the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional demands of college and life in a changing world.

This is Rocky Hill Country Day

1. Unique Learning Experiences

2. Small Class Sizes

3. Beautiful Waterfront Campus

4. Passionate Teachers

5. Oppor tunities for Self Discovery

6. Strong Community

7. Thriving Ar ts Department

8. Competitive and Recreational Athletics Opportunities

9. Student Leadership

10. Wellness Mindset

For more information visit Rocky Hill Country Day webpage

Enrichment Center for (ACE)

The Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE) celebrates and cultivates neurodiversity at Rocky Hill Country Day School. In small groups and one on one sessions, ACE teachers support students to develop skills and strategies to become independent, confident learners, and self-advocates. ACE teachers also work collaboratively with teachers on strategies to support all students in their classes.

Helen Dembinski Director of Academic Center for Enrichment

The Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE) Program has served the Rocky Hill Country Day School community for over 30 years. The goal of the ACE Program is to celebrate and support the neurodiversity on our campus. To align with this goal, last school year, the middle and upper school program moved classrooms out of the former stand-alone building located in the middle of campus directly into each division. This relocation has increased the visibility and effectiveness of the program and allowed ACE teachers to offer drop-in times for students,

6 Resources RHCD offers our neurodiverse students:

1. Academic Center for Enrichment Program (ACE) - RHCD supports the learning styles of every student!

2. Project-Based Learning - Students are encouraged to engage deeply in content areas and follow their interests. (Particularly supported through our “intensives” schedule in the Upper School)

3. Passionate Teachers- Our teachers celebrate and support the different ways their students learn through engaging lessons, differentiation, and accommodations.

4. Small class sizes - Our Mariner students are seen, known, and understood.

ACE Highlights 2022-23:

• Office relocation inside each Division to better serve our ACE students, collaborate with teachers, offer drop-in times, and fulfill our mission to provide support to the entire Rocky Hill student population!

• ACE and Equity and Belonging collaboration with ACE parents joining student affinity spaces and gatherings.

• Ongoing professional development on differentiation and the neuroscience of learning, including:

• Faculty development in Upper School on differentiation

• Faculty development in Middle and Upper School on writing effective comments for neurodivergent students

• ACE progress reports revamped to support resilience and growth mindset

• Hosted ACE ‘Family Coffee Hour’ to foster connection and conversation

ACE gatherings offered to RHCD families:

Topic: Project Zero 9 Discussion Starters for Parents

October 19th, 2023

Topic: Celebrating and Supporting Neurodiverse Children

November 17th, 2023

*Special Guest Speaker: Helping Your Family’s Emotional Health: Practical Solutions for Managing Worry, Enhancing Flexibility, and Creating Wellbeing, speaker Lynn Lyons

Helen Dembinski Director of Academic Center for Enrichment

easily collaborate with colleagues, and expand opportunities to support all learners. ”It’s a lot easier to access because if you need help you can just come in, and if there are tests it’s just right here so you can always ask for anything,” says junior Annabell. “I also like the ocean view!” adds classmate Elizabeth.

5. Mindfulness curriculum- Teachers and students engage in mindfulness practices to develop concentration, compassion, and calm. Mindfulness is shown to be particularly beneficial to students with ADHD and anxiety to help quiet and focus the mind.

6. Beautiful Campus - Our students have frequent opportunities to engage in the outdoors (and it’s proven that nature and green spaces can improve your overall mood!)

For more information visit the Academic Center for Enrichment webpage

30+ years the Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE) Program has served the RHCD community

RHCD’s Academic Center for Enrichment Program offers students the opportunity to work individually or in small groups to develop individualized skills and strategies to support their unique learning profile.”

Our ACE program is tailored to students’ needs, setting goals and working with parents and teachers to give each child the support they need.”

Diane Rich Head of School

Student Feedback

Inaugural

Backpacking Trip 11th Grade to White Mountains

Brady Wheatley Head of Upper School

Upon reflection, a junior shared their biggest take-away from this year’s inaugural junior backpacking trip; “I am stronger than I think, and the difficult experience will only make me stronger.” Coming out of the height of the pandemic, we have seen students nationwide with increased resiliency in some areas, and increased vulnerability in others. We examined the nationwide trends affecting adolescent development after periods of isolation and less independence and worked to proactively create opportunities for targeted growth.

When redesigning the junior class trip to better fit the RHCD mission of inspiring each other to discover our full selves and use our wisdom for good, we sought an experience that would be a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to truly know thyself.

The brave juniors went on a five day backpacking trip in the White Mountains this May with extremely

challenging conditions, and have reported tremendous growth and pride as a result of the trip. While the conditions made this even more challenging than we had predicted, as one student shared “the trip worked.”

Students shared their gratitude for the “new appreciation for the outdoors,” “the collaboration between all of us,” “creating bonds even though it was hard,” “separation from society and mirrors,” the “reality check” that the trip provided, stronger and new friendships, and “the experience I am walking away with and understanding the importance of taking a break from technology.”

The sense of pride that many students have shared is palpable, with students realizing they possess the “ability to push through the difficult times to reach the rewarding moments with my friends.” I am looking forward to seeing these juniors continue to grow as they reflect and process their experience and strength, and to the new tradition of this life-changing opportunity.

I am most proud of…

• “Finishing the hills”

• “Going on the trip in the first place”

• “How close my group became”

What I found most challenging was…

• “Pushing through the first night”

• “Uphill”

• “The rain”

What I am grateful for is….

• “My new appreciation for the outdoors”

• “To come back and see family, friends, teachers, and warm weather”

• “That I did it”

What wisdom/advice would I share …

• “Don’t already have a bad attitude, you could love it!”

• “If you are struggling speak up for help”

• “Enjoy it!”

One lesson I will take with me ...

• “Making a fire”

• “If you think you are at your end point and want to give up, don’t. Push Yourself. You got it.”

• “Some people do eventually change”

A common hope of educators is that students will one day recognize the strengths, resiliency and power that we can see in them.”

- Brady Wheatley

You are stronger than you ever realized, and proved your incredible fortitude and growing understanding of yourself during challenging times.”

- Brady Wheatley

Hack for Global Good

Founded by RHCD high school students in 2018, this immersive and collaborative real-world learning experience brings learners from across Rhode Island to hack solutions related to one of the United Nations Sustainability Goals.

Wendy Gustavel Librarian & Instructional Facilitator

Hack for Global Good (H4GG) is a school wide event that engages ALL students and faculty members in design thinking and creative,

collaborative problem solving. In 2023, Hack For Global Good focused on identifying solutions to Health (UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Global Health & Wellbeing). For the first time ever, students and faculty from all three divisions participated in the H4GG. All Lower and Middle School students participated as hackers, while students in the Upper School could hack, mentor, or serve on the H4GG committee.

As part of H4GG, Teams had just 5 minutes to explain their Healthrelated idea, and to clearly articulate the specific problem, innovative solution, and local or global impact, before a panel of industry judges.

3

Top Skills Learned based on Student survey: Collaboration, Communication, Perseverance

Reflections

• “I learned how to work better with others.” (MS student)

• “(It was most challenging to make) our idea different from what was already out there. We really had to dive deep into our own intentions to find personalization for our Idea.” (US Student)

• “I was out of my comfort zone by not controlling and leading or teaching during Hackathon time, and grew as a facilitator by taking a step back.” (Faculty Mentor)

For more information visit Hack for Global Good webpage

Highlights 22-23

Cross Country placed three runners in the top 10 of the Southeastern New England Championships

Varsity Tennis captured their fourth consecutive League Championship

Varsity Field Hockey won second consecutive State Championship

Boys Varsity Basketball regular season Southeastern New England Champions, repeated trip to the New England Championship Tournament Finals

Girls Varsity Basketball first EVER bid to the New England Championship Tournament

Every practice, every game, every team trip, every workout –we do things The Mariner Way – a philosophy centered on resiliency, effort, and pride.

Dynamic Athletics Program

Our athletic program functions as an integral part of the total curriculum. We strive for the development of well-rounded individuals, capable of taking their place in a competitive society. We believe that sports offer an environment for children to grow, not just athletically, but also socially, emotionally, and intellectually.

For more information visit the Athletics webpage

No Off

At the end of each school year, Athletics recognizes stand-out senior student-athletes. Some have demonstrated a career of prowess on the fields; some have excelled in the classroom and on the court; some have represented good sportsmanship and The Mariner Way. One award, however, recognizes the seniors who have chosen to play competitive sports each of the seasons of their four years.

This spring, we presented four M. Dorothy Young ‘48 Awards to seniors Derek Block, Andrew Hogan, Katie Kerachsky and Ben Lawson all of whom have completed 12 consecutive seasons of competitive sport over the past four years. Three of these seniors will actually receive an award for 21 consecutive seasons, which will include three full years of Middle School participation as well.

In a world where premature specialization in sport and young athlete burnout is taking hold, Derek, Andrew, Katie and Ben have chosen to show up each season, to ride the ebbs and flows of three different teams each year, to have

both championship seasons and rebuilding stretches, to lead in some sports and take a backseat in others, to challenge themselves and their time management skills and their egos, and they are absolutely the better athletes because of it. They each have other pursuits: instruments, clubs, student government, jobs; but they’ve chosen to give of themselves - to their teammates, their coaches, and our program without taking a single season off.

Three-sport athletes (and 12 sport and 21 sport athletes!) make our teams richer and more competitive. They allow rosters to build off of different skills and experiences. Three-sport athletes help teams win championships! Derek, Andrew, Katie and Ben - we’ve loved watching you grow up through sport and the fields will certainly look different without your presence on them next year. Thank you for all that you’ve given us for these past four years!

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Megan Williams Director of Athletics

consecutive seasons of competitive sport completed over the past four years.

The M. Dorothy Young ‘48 Award was established to honor Dorothy Young, who for over 50 years was a dedicated and loyal student, alumna, and employee of Rocky Hill. An athlete herself, Dorothy believed strongly in giving all children the opportunities to grow through sports.

Dan Shaker Technology Manager, eSports Coach

When started working here back in 2019, it was before the need for remote classes or no-contact sports. Unbeknownst to me, however, there was already a thriving eSports scene within the student population that was in need of a dedicated coach. Having played the game in question, League of Legends, for roughly ten years, was excited to take on the new responsibility of coaching students eager to learn. They not only met my expectations, but exceeded them!

Since then, we’ve been through three iterations of the team, conquering challenges along the

way. With barriers such as distance learning taking our practices completely virtual, the task of bringing completely new players up to the level of seasoned veterans, and a Fall/Spring seasonal rotation that doesn’t *quite* line up with our sports seasons here, the Mariners eSports team endured. Students have risen to the opportunity, learning important leadership skills and gaining confidence in a competitive environment. Even more than that, they’ve built friendships that have sustained beyond the Rocky Hill campus, and set a precedent for future generations of RHCD students.

eSports

RHCD’s League of Legends has just begun

Top benefits of eSports:

• Provides a fun challenge in a monitored setting

• Builds leadership skills and confidence through competition

• Promotes skill development in the areas of problem solving and strategy

• Helps establish a bridge to STEM fields in continued education

• Establishes school spirit and a sense of belonging

2023 Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in Athletics

“Shout-out” to our RHCD 2023 Alumni Award WinnerFrancesca McCaughey!

The Alumni Association has presented to the School a permanent award for outstanding achievement in athletics. This signifies the highest recognition in Athletics at Rocky Hill.

Safe Sports School Award!

In 2023, Rocky Hill was awarded its THIRD Safe Sports School Award!

“The Safe Sports School Award recognizes secondary schools around the country that take the crucial steps to keep their athletes free from injuries.”

- NATA.org

Physical Education

Our PE Teachers Matt Taylor & Sean Tucker took archery certification training through RI’s National Archery in Schools Program. Students that had never shot a bow before, by the end of the unit, were enthusiastically hitting the bullseye!

Some of the criteria Athletics Programs must meet to achieve this award include:

• Create a positive athletic health care administrative system

• Develop injury and illness prevention strategies

• Create and rehearse venue-specific Emergency Action Plan

Shout-out to Art Entwistle, Athletic Trainer & Assistant Athletic Director, for his swift action to provide immediate care to a spectator overcome by heat exhaustion during the MS Girls LAX tournament.

Like any team, players must work together to overcome obstacles and failure, which helps to develop grit and perseverance. They also must be willing to adapt to changes quickly, try new tactics, and encourage teamwork.”

The Benefits of Esports, by Dr. Laurie Walczak

You may not think of eSports as a traditional sport, but here at RHCD we aim to be rooted in tradition, not bound by it.

Class Olympics Field Day,Kite Day,

A schoolwide tradition, filled with fun outdoor activities, laughter, team work, competition, and Mariner pride!

At Rocky Hill, health, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and learning are enjoyed across our campus by students and teachers alike!

Shout-out to the Class of 2024, our new Class Olympics Champions.

At Rocky Hill Country Day School, the Visual and Performing Arts departments encourage our students to discover their full selves, and purpose, through creative expression!

“Shout-out” to RHCD alumni who share their art with the world and do “very cool” creative things:

• Stefania Andreev, RHCD ‘21, (current RISD student)

• Alessandra Antonelli, RHCD ‘13, currently an art educator in RI

• George Duan, RHCD ‘14, (RISD Grad 2018), Designer

• Sara Laurent, RHCD ‘21, Headed to prestigious Disney College Program, Fall of 2023

• Andrew Nota, RHCD ‘14, (RISD Grad), Furniture Design Major, Owner of Surf Exchange Company

• Victoria Sceer y, RHCD ‘12, (SCAD Grad), Vee Sceery Textiles

• Hannah Wahl-Dunnigan, RHCD ‘18, (RISD/BROWN Dual Program ‘23), Product Designer

Performing Arts

We offer several ensembles for musical growth including Band, String Ensemble and Chorus in all divisions.

Our classroom music curriculum offers students of all ages the opportunity to develop music literacy and composition skills, play instruments, and explore a wide variety of musical styles.

This year ensembles performed at many events including our Winter and Spring Concerts, Veterans Day Ceremony, and Winter Solstice. We also took our music on the road with choral performances at Roger Williams Park Zoo and the Providence Bruins, and a musical performance at The Art Portfolio Show in Pawtucket. Our student musicians were also honored with acceptance to the RI AllState Music Festival, the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall and the Tri-M Music Honor Society.

The Deckhands Theater Company, a thriving part of our growing Arts department, produced several exciting performances including our Winter Musical, Chicago: Teen Edition and our Spring Play Showcase, Vices, Virtues, and Violins.

Performing Arts expanded instruction:

• *New* Lower School music curriculum with keyboard, ukulele, tone chimes, solfège, and Orff instruments!

• Outdoor music classes for bucket drumming, band, strings, chorus, and ukulele

• Field Trip to the RI Ballet Theater for 4th and 5th Grade

Heather Skidds Performing Arts Department Chair, Chorus & Music Teacher

VisualArts

RHCD Students continue to build and utilize critical thinking skills through their active engagement with the arts – on their journey to Know Thyself – to knowing who they are now, and who they will become.

In the art studios, students are asked to be introspective and reflective, drawing on their lived experiences, interests and passions to guide their artmaking.

Visual Arts Highlights

22-23:

• Portfolio Art Show at The Art League of RI

• MS Ar t Show and Empty Bowls Celebration

• Ar t Foundations Capstone: Ocean Health

• All-school Art Show

• 2nd Annual Sidewalk Chalk Afternoon

• Whale Restoration, part of Kaz Bradley’s Senior Experience

Portfolio Art Show at The Art League of RI: Seven students from the Advanced Portfolio class (year long) hung this year’s exhibition at The Art League of Rhode Island in Pawtucket. The students exhibited work from their individual series exploring personal themes and investigations as well as mini series exploring ocean health and the enduring understanding that “all life is connected to and impacted by the health of our ocean.” This was the first year we exhibited the Portfolio Art Show in partnership with the non-profit organization, Art League of RI at their gallery in Pawtucket.

MS Art Show and Empty Bowls Celebration: at the beginning of March, 7th Graders hosted a successful Empty Bowls Night with the help of Ms. Hovey and Mr. Jedrey! This was our first year since 2019 to host Empty Bowls, a service-learning project serving The RI Food Pantry by developing nutritious recipes for those utilizing the pantry. Students collected nonperishable food items throughout the course of this project, and their completed bowls were featured at Empty Bowls Night on March 1st

The night featured a variety of soups to taste, a mini art show, and a raffle with awesome prizes!

Art Foundations Capstone: Ocean Health is a month-long, student driven investigation through an artwork that is informed by research that students conduct about topics relating to ocean health. This year topics included, residual pollution from decades of pollution of the Blackstone River, marine species impact and application in medicine, Regulations around fishing of the RI waters and their impact on the health of fishermen and various catch. Capstone artworks were on display the last week of May through the first week of June.

All-school Art Show featured work from students in Preschool through Grade 12 displayed throughout the month of May in the Carriage House, Campbell Center, and Flynn Academic Center.

2nd Annual Sidewalk Chalk Afternoon: students in grades 6-12 created sidewalk chalk murals exploring this year’s theme: Storytelling and Folklore.

Meghan Getsinger Visual Arts Department Chair

Lower School Moving Up Day is a time to celebrate the closing of another academic year and all of our accomplishments along the way. We honor all of our Lower School students, especially our 5th graders, who will be saying farewell to Lower School and moving up to Middle School. Some of the 5th graders in the class of 2030 started at RHCD as early as three years old in our preschool. As they moved through the Lower School, other classmates were added and some moved on to different schools. Each year, the students enjoyed the first day of school, Healthy Haunted House, Grandfriends Day, Winter Solstice, the Glow Dance, Field Day and lots of fun activities in between. This year, these students became the leaders of the Lower School, playing instruments, setting sail in the cardboard regatta, leading Lower School Gatherings, and helping to run Preschool Field Day. While these aforementioned events are bigger highlights of each school year, it is the time spent together as a class each day learning and being that makes them the spectacular class they are today. Wishing all the best to the Class of 2030 – we will miss you all in LS!

TH GRADE 8 TH GRADE

MOVING UP 2023MOVING UP 2023 5

A Time to Celebrate A Spectacular Class

Remarkable Class and Memorable Middle School Journey

Having begun their time in the Middle School at the height of a pandemic, our 8th grader’s journey these past three years has been certainly memorable! Learning in small “pods” during their 6th grade year, eating lunch out of plastic boxes delivered to our building, and missing out on so much of what we considered “normal”, this class had to relearn how to do school, as each year brought new routines and requirements. Adolescence is that special time in one’s life between childhood and adulthood, a time when so many changes are taking place; physical, emotional, as well as intellectual. Adding a heavy dose of disruption at a time when stability and predictability are so essential was challenging to say the least, but this class learned resilience, perseverance, flexibility, and resourcefulness, and they leave the Middle School in such a different place. The Moving Up Ceremony is celebrated not only by the 8th grade students and their families for reaching this milestone, but by the entire Middle School faculty, as together we reflect on the growth and successes of each of our students walking across the stage, and their remarkable journey.

Caity MacDonald Head of Lower School

Mike Jedrey Head of Middle School

A

Commencement

A Senior Class, Nuanced and Powerful Awards

On Friday, June 9, we celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2023. As we gathered on the Hopelands lawn, Head of School, Diane Rich, noted “Seniors, today is about you… but it’s not all about you. Relationships matter to living a life of meaning.” Throughout their senior year, and during their Upper School journey, this group certainly demonstrated a strong commitment to each other, to community, and to striving to achieve their very best in pursuit of the activities and friendships they care about most.

Presenting the Class Gift, newly elected 22-23 Alumni President, Katie Kerachsky, shared: “The people in the class of 2023 are what have made my Rocky Hill journey what it is. We have grown up together and pushed one another to be the very best versions of ourselves.” “We are so passionate about what matters to us … [w]e challenge each other … and voice our opinions…”

Brady Wheatley, Head of Upper School, reflected on the senior class of 2023 as both nuanced and powerful. “This ability to hold each other accountable, to show up in genuine support of peers, and to remain resilient …sets your class apart.”

Closing our Commencement event, referencing Helen Keller, Rich invited the Class of 2023 to always consider their actions and the things in their control, to do the best they can in life, and to see what miracles await them!

Congratulations, Class of 2023!

Valedictorian

• The Richard S. Barker Sr. ’54 Community Service AwardJustine Johnson

• Class Gift Presenter - Katie Kerachsky

• The Lifer Awards

Preschool - Derek Block, Savannah Burnett, Isabel Guastella, Benjamin Lawson, Francesca McCaughey

Kindergarten - Alexis Cote

• The Rocky Hill Country Day School Community Service AwardBenjamin Lawson

• The Dumas Family World Language Award - Caroline Moonan

• Henry and Peggy Sharpe English Award - Chase Kirwan

• The Roberta Wintersteen Knight ‘61 History and Social Sciences

Award - Deirdre Stockdill

• Flynn Award for SportsmanshipKatie Kerachsky and Benjamin Lawson

• Lillian Boynton Hale Art AwardKaz Bradley

• Howland Music AwardGiancarlo D’Agostino and Isabel Guastella

• Lieutenant Governor Leadership Award - Jayci Izzi

• The Mauran BowlGiancarlo D’Agostino

• Class of 2023 - Commencement

Speaker - Benjamin Lawson

Derek Block. This year’s Valedictorian demonstrated remarkable academic ability and a fierce analytical mastery in a variety of disciplines. Teachers remarked on his inquisitive nature, passion for discussion, and newfound leadership of Quiz Bowl. Thoughtful in his approach - listening intently to differing perspectives while articulating nuanced complexities with easeDerek has made every space at Rocky Hill better by being a part of it. Congratulations to Derek Block!

• The Valedictorian AwardDerek Block

Contributions by the Class of 2023

• 9 Conference Semifinals

• 5 Conference Quarterfinals

• 2 back-to-back Field Hockey Championships

• A first ever NEPSAC appearance for Girls Basketball

• A Boys Lacrosse Championship appearance and a win

• 2 Tennis Doubles Championships

• 7 students completing Art Portfolios

• 9 Musical productions (3 directed by seniors)

• 7 seniors as Nathan Hale Ambassadors

• 10 Clubs run by seniors

Next Year:

• The Gregor/Coes Award in Mathematics - Giancarlo D’Agostino Almanny

• 33 different universities, in 12 different states

• 49% outside New England

Jeffrey Ellis. My youngest son graduated from Officer Candidate School last June. June was also our 50th wedding anniversary. I’m President (also known as “King Lion”) of our local Lions club.

Notes

Bonnie Graniero. Retired from the construction industry, enjoying a Southern California semi-rural life while restoring my almost 100 year old house, my 1960 Ford truck, and also growing water lilies commercially and for pleasure. Busy training my formerly feral German Shepherd dog Schatzi, and caring for my elderly Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Corki. Keeping out of trouble.

1977

Barbara “Linky” Strassman. My spiritual practice has deepened since my recent trip to sacred South India. Visions and messages were received in sacred sites and have lead me to writing a book on self-healing through aligning with Source/ God. This brings me back to my happy days at Rocky Hill when brought new classes to the students, such as Religion and Psychology. Thank you to Mr. Willoughby! In those days I played a lot of tennis. Now I play pickleball.

1979

Jeff Clark. My partner, Terry and are enjoying retirement (semi, in my case), traveling a bit, hoping to welcome a new pup, seeing to family obligations and engaging in community service and interests. Several of the ‘79 classmates regularly get together keeping RHS friendships alive for a lifetime.

1982

Diane Mouradian. Greetings from Monterey, CA! Updates include working as a bilingual trauma-focused psychotherapist and feeling so grateful for the early start I got into language study at Rocky Hill. Shout-out to Mr. Leighton for sparking my love of Spanish! In my free time, enjoy creating mixed media collage and spending time at the beach. No snowy winters here!

1987

1986

David Crocker. I’ve been in the sales training space now since 2005 and it’s been the best professional decision of my life. I get to impact the lives and livelihoods of so many people, helping them achieve their dreams and wishes. Happily married, three kids (one graduating from Texas A&M in the spring and two step kids at home continuing their education). I stay in touch with my close friends from Rocky Hill on an almost daily basis. Still playing music often (thanks Mr Duclos for showing me how vital the love of music can be).

1988

Colleen Smith. After 10 years as an administrator with the South Kingstown Schools, I transitioned to Barrington and am the proud principal of the students at Primrose Hill Elementary School. When I am not working I enjoy time with the family and visiting our daughter at school in South Carolina.

Richard Prager. Papa Richie is enjoying retirement and recently welcomed my 5th grandchild! While not a frequent visitor to RHS, I have always stayed emotionally engaged and have kept an eye on RHS’s progress via various communications. am most impressed with Diane Rich’s leadership, specifically throughout the pandemic. am so happy for RHS students, they are truly lucky not to be part of the lost generation of zoom school. Well done RHS!!

Dave Gannon and Sally Kenyon Grant, enjoying our historic Hopelands living room during June’s Alumni Reunion!

Kristin Urbach. was recently chosen to participate in the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program. I am looking forward to working with fellow executive leaders nationwide to address the most pressing education and workforce issues in our country and to heighten my knowledge of successful programs in other states to advocate true quality policy making in Rhode Island.

Jared Zimmer and his son, Owen (10th Grade) on campus for his lacrosse game this spring.

Alicia Cook. I have been working in education for the past 15 years first as a substitute teacher, then for the past 10 years as a full-time teacher. I earned my Teaching Certificate in Secondary English as well as my Master of Education in Special Education from Providence College. In addition, received my English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching Certificate from Roger Williams University for grades PK-12. For the past three years, I have been teaching ESL students in grades 6-8 as well as teaching core English at West Broadway Middle School in Providence.

Michaela Kelly. 2022 was a whirlwind for me! Travel for work and pleasure sent me south & north of the US borders, and all across the US. I love my role at Alloy (fighting fraud!) and pulled off Salesperson of the Year after struggling through the banking economic dip in Q1. In September, joined the board for Gerda’s Equine Rescue, which is a place I hold dear to my heart ... so much so, that I was a foster fail: I adopted an old Amish workhorse (Hazel) who will live out her days with my herd on our hobby farm in VT.

W. Matthew Sullivan. After 11 years at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, I made an exciting move into Big Pharma...I’m now part of the Genomic Medicine Unit at Sanofi. I help run the nextgeneration sequencing lab that assesses how well our nascent gene-editing treatments work. At home, my wife and I are hoping to adopt a younger sibling to our son Isaac, who is now 5 and will start kindergarten this fall. We would love to network with anyone in the adoption community!

2011

Sam Jedrey. After living on the West Coast for a while, returned to Rhode Island, via Vermont. Allie Aponik and I were married on September 25, 2021, and recently moved into our first house in Cowesett. Check out alexandrajedreyart.com

1998

Abraham Murray. Life has been good and fun - I have 3 healthy boys (Levi - 9, Gabe - 14, Isa - 16) and an amazing partner (Francesca, pictured with me). I live in Cohasset MA and launched my own venture fund a year ago investing in robotics after a career in tech including Google and startups. If anyone wants to say hiI’m super accessible via email and/or LinkedIn.

2008

Sarah Knowles. In July 2022, I was named the Director of Admission and Enrollment Management at Falmouth Academy, a grade 7 through 12 day school in Falmouth, MA. I have been at Falmouth Academy for over 10 years and was previously the Assistant Director and Associate Director of Admission.

2017

Sara Gasrow. I got engaged to Tyler Gates ‘16 on October 23, 2022 during a trip to Bermuda. was also promoted to Social Media Specialist at RDW Group!

2013

Anna Yoshie Yamada has accomplished quite a bit since graduating from RHCD and University of Colorado. Anna was just promoted to Snowboard Program Director at Gould Academy.

2019

Xuan Guo. I am getting my Master’s of Medical Science in Immunology at Harvard Medical School!

2021

Ben Malin. I live in Virginia and work in web development. I am getting married in the Fall and I’m excited for everything life has to offer after our wedding- especially international hiking!

Yamada is a six-time national champion in Boardercross, Giant Slalom, and Slalom. She was the starter at PSL from 2016 to 2019. Yamada competed as part of Team USA at the University World Games in 2015 on the Snowboardcross Team. Yamada then stepped into the role of the Traveling FIS Snowboardcross Coach in the 2022/2023 season that had her coaching primarily on the North American Cup Tour throughout the US and Canada, plus Europa Cups in Austria and France, and regional and national events hosted by USASA. Yamada capped her 3rd season of coaching with an invite from the US Snowboard Team to coach Team USA at the 2023 Junior World Championships in Passo San Pellegrino, Italy.

2022

Denzel Correia. In February, Rocky Hill welcomed back Denzel Correia ’22 to unveil his banner and celebrate being named the Gatorade Rhode Island Boys Basketball Player of the Year for 2021-2022. Correia led the Mariners to a SENE regular season and tournament championship and a trip to the NEPSAC Class D Tournament Final last year. This year, he has spent his time at Canterbury School in Connecticut.

Sarah Cunningham. After graduating from Rocky Hill, I moved to Asheville, North Carolina with my family. I am a fulltime student, pursuing a double-major in photography and education and a minor in Chinese with the goal of becoming a high school photography teacher. My interest in the arts is really enhanced by the local Asheville art scene since there are a lot of local artists and galleries. am also gaining lots of experience in my role as the photographer of a small nearby school. In my spare time, I volunteer at a local food bank by helping prepare food boxes for local families as well as learning about the wonderful world of plant propagation.

2022 – 2023

Rocky Hill Country Day Alumni Association

Alumni

Officers

President Maria Charbonneau Danckert ’12

Vice President

Sarah Knowles ‘08

Treasurer

Sarah Shaw Siskin ’78

Secretary

Kristen Barber Hinson ’93

Immediate Past President

Lauren Friedman Koblick ’02

Members

Assi Coulibaly ’13

Josh Dubs ’00

Sally Kenyan Grant ’87

Melanie Lara ’14

Scott Metzger ’86

Kristin Mitchell ’02

Megumi Osada Monaghan ’98

Erica Santos ’11

Kristin Walberg Urbach ’87

Kai Walsh ’14

Dear Fellow Rocky Hill Alumni,

It has been my pleasure to serve as President of the Rocky Hill Alumni Association and as a representative for our larger alumni community. At its core, the purpose of the Alumni Association is to maintain relationships between alumni and Rocky Hill and to each other. It has been an honor playing a role in that work.

Over the years, we have made great efforts to preserve and revive many of the traditions at Rocky Hill, including Homecoming, Alumni Athletics, and Reunion. We welcome opportunities to revive traditions close to your heart!

Not only do we strengthen alumni bonds, but we also give back to the School in immeasurable and positive ways. Alumni of all generations impact every aspect of life at Rocky Hill by offering time, expertise, and resources to support students and faculty.

As my term as your President comes to a close, I want to take this opportunity to invite you to be involved- you can make a difference for Rocky Hill and our alumni community. Thank you!

My Best,

Alumni Reunion 2023

Thank you to all who attended our recent Alumni Reunion. It was great to see all of our Mariners back on campus, and we certainly felt the energy during our Alumni Games!

2022 – 2023

Alumni Officers

Maria Charbonneau Danckert, PharmD.

Rocky Hill Alumni Association President Class of 2012

Stay connected and get involved!

alumni@rockyhill.org

@RockyHillAlumniAssociation

@RockyHillCountryDay

RockyHillCountryDay

Elected by their classmates, the Alumni Class Officers act as liaisons between the school and members of the Class of 2023 as they maintain their relationships with each other and Rocky Hill. Alumni Officers manage and advance class communications, organize Class Reunions, and encourage the ongoing support of RHCD.

Congratulations, Alumni Class Officers 2023:

President Katie Kerachsky

Vice President Andrew Hogan

Treasurer Jayci Izzi

Secretary Alexis Cote Officer-at-Large Ben Lawson

Maria

In Memoriam

Rocky Hill Country Day School offers condolences to the families and friends of those community members who have passed away the last year:

Jaymi Feeney ‘09

Class of 2009

March 10, 2022

Noel Field

Former Trustee

June 12, 2022

Janice Grant

Mother of Sally Kenyon Grant ‘87; former Rocky Hill Drama, Social Studies and English teacher

November 30, 2022

Almanny Nunez ‘23

Class of 2023

August 8, 2022

Henry D. Sharpe, Jr.

Former Trustee; Father of Henry D. Sharpe III ‘72, Douglas Sharpe ‘74 and Sarah Sharpe ‘76; Grandfather of Whitman Littlefield ‘07, Eleanor Sharpe Read ‘09, and Henry Wyatt Sharpe ‘12

July 1, 2022

Photo by Charles Laurent