WHAT’S NEW?

be found on Rocky Hill’s athletic fields watching Andrew compete or at the horse barn watching Cecelia ride.

Alex Millard is the father of Abigail ’27 and Will (future Mariner), and the husband of Jill ’94, who is the Lower School’s PTL Representative and the Third Grade Parent Representative. Alex joined Rocky Hill School’s Board of Trustees in 2017 and serves on the Finance and Facilities & Grounds committees. Originally from New York City, Alex attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he and Jill met. After 15 years in Philadelphia, they relocated to Jill’s birthplace of Rhode Island in 2009.

Alex has 20 years of experience in the energy efficiency industry. In 2009, he joined NORESCO, which designs and builds large-scale energy efficiency projects that self-fund through their cost savings. As Business Development Manager, Alex oversees the acquisition of new contracts. Prior to NORESCO, Alex worked for several small businesses in Philadelphia, including his own company that specialized in optimizing commercial and industrial building energy performance.

Alex is the Chair of the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation, a non-profit that serves the needs of young people in the areas of early childhood development, literacy, and nutrition. The great-greatgrandson of the toy store’s founder, Alex oversees the Foundation’s operations and directs its unique two-year fellowship program that blends direct service and special project work for recent college graduates.

Alex is a lover of life’s simple pleasures. He is an avid cook, an enthusiastic traveler, and a committed summertime

Donald McCaughey, President

Monica Iacono Boss ’91, Vice President

Stephen G. Soscia, Treasurer

Dr. Justine Johnson, Secretary beach bum. He enjoys tending the family’s 600-square-foot organic vegetable garden during the summer months, and he and Jill continue the restoration of the family’s historic home in East Greenwich.

Rocky Hill School welcomed 16 new faculty and staff members for the 2017-2018 school year.

The new RHS mobile app, for both iPhone and Android devices, allows users to read school news, check athletic scores, communicate in team groups, find teacher contact information, and view school handbooks.

Eight Student Competencies— fundamental skills intentionally embedded in the curriculum to foster critical “soft skills”—were developed to distinguish Rocky Hill School from our peer schools, and to determine what mark we will we leave on our students, faculty, and community. (see page 21)

Rocky Hill School invites innovators from around the globe to engage our students across disciplines as they explore how these change-makers are creating impact in their field(s). Students across all divisions have the opportunity to work with these individuals throughout the duration of their visit as Innovators-inResidence. (see page 12)

This year, we welcomed the following experts in their field:

• Susan Fonseca: the School’s first and permanent Innovator-in-Residence

• ALEX AND ANI Design Team: Winter Artists-in-Residence

• Sproutel: Permanent Entrepreneurin-Residence

Visual art students were challenged to create 3D charm prototypes to reflect the School’s Student Competencies under the guidance of designers from ALEX AND ANI, an ecoconscious jewelry and accessories brand, headquartered in Cranston. The design challenge exposed the students to concept ideation, research, the design process, marketing, and rapid prototyping of the final products.

A new online store was launched for Mariner gear, including shirts, hats, jackets, and warm-ups. Visit www. rockyhill.org/store to check it out!

“THE CREW”

“The Crew,” the School’s new athletic and performing arts booster club, was formed in the fall of 2017 by the PTL and the Athletic Department. The booster group focuses on enhancing the following core areas: communication, school spirit and pride, community engagement, program advocacy, and fundraising.

Megan Williams of Goucher College was hired as Director of Athletics for 2018-2019. Art Entwistle IV will continue as Rocky Hill School’s fulltime Athletic Trainer.

Edwin J. Santos, Past President

Dr. Elizabeth Allen

Richard Clark ’85

Mitchell R. Edwards, Esq.

Mary H. Grant, Ph.D.

Erica Gregg

Alex Millard

Joan Osowa

Rocky Hill School sincerely thanks Gordana Novakovic-Petteruti P’09, ’13, ’17 for her many years of service to the School.

Gordana served as a Trustee from 2008-17 and is a parent to three Rocky Hill School graduates, Alina ’09, Robert ’13, and Anessa ’17 Read more about Gordana on page 31.

• Ana Bess Moyer Bell ’06 of C.O.A.A.S.T.: Spring Innovator-inResidence

Rocky Hill School is among the nation’s first schools to join a new campaign to prepare young people to be constructive community members who create a better world. Led by Harvard’s Making Caring Common project, the Caring Schools #CommonGood campaign aims to motivate schools to help mend our country’s fractures and strengthen democracy.

The new iTunes podcast series Innovation Through Education, includes the series, Who’s Who 5Qs: Conversations with experts, hosted by kids. Through five questions, students ask leaders and innovators to share industry trends, their vision for the future, and advice for the next generation of leaders.

After Dr. Laura Meyerson P’16, ’20 and her students at URI discovered 13 newly-hatched Terrapin turtles in September, they released all of them into the water. Rocky Hill’s Interact Club supported the Terrapin project by funding materials for cages, which protected the nesting sites from predators and will help keep the population going for many years.

Jan Cooney, of St. Mary AcademyBay View, was hired as the 2018-19 Director of Admission and Financial Assistance. Catherine Washburn will retire in June.

Mike Jedrey and the Class of 2022 built a gaga ball pit on the grass adjacent to the Garden Classroom. The gaga pit, with support from the Fall Classic, gives the Middle and Upper School students a place to burn off energy during mid-day breaks.