Connections 2025

THE MAGAZINE OF ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL

3O YEARS OF THE

SINEX

THEATER

CLASS OF 1970 RECONNECTS WITH BOOK CLUB PAGE 14

SIXTH GRADE ASSESSMENT UNLOCKS STUDENT POTENTIAL PAGE 20

REMEMBERING DR. CELESTE WOODWARD APPLEFELD, 1964 PAGE 38

A Meaningful Chapter for the Class of 1970 Book club brings RPCS graduates together to read and reconnect

The Treasured Tradition of Class Banners A Q&A With Debbie Swiss

RPCS Welcomes Back Dr. Lydia Kang, 1989 for Crane Lecture Author, physician and RPCS alum discusses her new book with students and community members

Great Minds Don’t Think Alike Online assessment unlocks student potential in sixth grade and beyond

Celebrating 30 Years of Performing Arts in the Sinex Theater RPCS commemorates special milestone with The Wizard of Oz

REDS in the Courtroom Read about five RPCS alums who chose careers in law

In Loving Memory of Dr. Celeste Woodward Applefeld, 1964 Our community honors a cherished alumna, lifetime trustee and past RPCS parent

CONNECTIONS is published annually for the Roland Park Country School community.

HEAD OF SCHOOL: Joan Smith, HA, GP’24

EDITORS:

Abbey Pulcinella, P’29, P31, Director of Strategic Communications; Katy Spencer, 1993, P’36, Director of Alumnae Engagement; Evelyn Zink, HA, Director of Advancement; Melissa Tully, P’34, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications/Photographer; Molly BaldwinAbbott, Communications Associate

DESIGN: Josephine Bergin

From the Head of School

02 WITHIN THESE WALLS A snapshot of what’s been happening around campus

06 BEYOND THESE WALLS See how our students learn outside of the classroom

08 ATHLETICS Cheering on our REDS!

12 CELEBRATING THE ARTS

30 PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS

RPCS alumnae share career advice with Upper School students

32 SENIOR PROFILES Learn about four outstanding students from the Class of 2025

34 ALUMNAE PROFILES Read about two remarkable RPCS alums

40 16TH ANNUAL ALUMNA ART SHOW

41 VALENTINE’S LEGACY LUNCHEON

42 100TH NIGHT DINNER

44 A MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNAE BOARD PRESIDENT

45 ALUMNAE WEEKEND

54 CLASS NOTES

113 SYMPATHIES

114 CLASS OF 2025 LEGACY RELATIONS

115 ALUMNAE BABIES

116 CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Dear Roland Park Country School Community,

In my first year back at RPCS, this time as Head of School, I have been pleased, but not surprised, by both the continued emphasis on our beloved traditions and the constant growth and evolution of our community. In fact, this ability to proudly embrace both tradition and innovation is what initially attracted me to RPCS in the mid 1990s when I served as Head of the Upper School.

As we present this year’s issue of Connections, we celebrate many of the wonderful traditions that make RPCS so special. Our cover story on page 24 features our commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Sinex Theater and this year’s all-school musical, The Wizard of Oz, which was also the very first Middle School show in the (then) brand new theater in 1995! It was a fantastic production and unforgettable experience for our community.

In this issue, you’ll also find recaps of some of our favorite annual traditions, including the Alumna Art Show, the 100th Night Dinner for seniors, and a recap of the festivities from Alumnae Weekend. We also feature past parent Debbie Swiss, P’99, P’03, (page 16) who for the last 25 years, has created and hand stitched beautiful banners for the kindergarten class, accompanied by heartfelt messages to the girls. And on page 38, we pay tribute to Dr. Celeste Woodward Applefeld, 1964, a cherished alumna, lifetime trustee and past parent, who passed away last year.

We also proudly share stories of growth and change among our students and graduates. On page 20, we feature an impressive online assessment we offer our Middle School students to help them understand their strengths and vulnerabilities as learners to develop strategies about how to learn best. Additionally, on page 14, we spotlight how the Class of 1970 stays connected through a dedicated book club. We also highlight our annual Professional Connections program on page 30, where several alumnae return to campus to share career advice with Upper School students as they consider their paths after graduation.

This fall marks the 125th anniversary of the school, and although much has changed since then, the core of who we are as a community remains steadfast because of your unwavering support, partnership and trust. Thank you. I am honored to serve you, and it has been an outstanding year. Dorothy was right: There is no place like home, and RPCS is home to us all.

Warmly,

Joan F. Smith, HA, GP’24 Head of School

Within These Walls

BON VOYAGE, TROISIÈME ANNÉE!

In October, the third grade French classes “traveled” to Paris! Before boarding the plane, they reviewed the essential items they had packed from home (peignes, brosse à dents, pyjamas, etc.) and received boarding passes, passports and euros. Then, after answering questions from the TSA agent (Mrs. Kristen Foard), they enjoyed mineral water and croissants on their transatlantic “flight!” What a wonderful activity to bring learning to life. Thank you, Mrs. Foard!

JEAN WALLER BRUNE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPELLING BEE

After 11 contestants and 22 rounds, eighth grader Kennedy W., 2029 was crowned the 2025 champion of The Jean Waller Brune Middle School Spelling Bee this past February! A round of applause also goes out to the Reserve Champion (second place winner) of the Spelling Bee: Adeline H., 2030. We are so proud of all of the students who participated. We were also honored to welcome back the spelling bee’s founder, our former Head of School, Jean Waller Brune,1960, who attended the competition and congratulated the winners.

DREAMING BIG

This past year’s theme for International Day of the Girl on October 11, 2024, was “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” as highlighted by the United Nations. To celebrate, RPCS created a “Dream Wall” where students across all divisions created and posted notes about their dreams for the future. The RPCS Dream Wall is displayed on the windows of the grand staircase.

This year, the Middle School introduced an M4 Award (Monthly Middle School Magic Makers), an honor bestowed on one student in each grade who demonstrates admirable qualities, including great academic self-advocacy, high levels of frustration tolerance, excellent use of feedback, a persistent strong effort, and willing support of a struggling peer. We are so proud of our Monthly Middle School Magic Makers!

NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month last fall, teachers from Baila DC, a premier salsa dance organization in the Washington, D.C. metro area, visited RPCS to teach K–12 students how to salsa! They attended a special morning meeting, where the entire Lower School learned the dance moves, with smaller and more personalized sessions for our Middle and Upper School students. Everyone had a wonderful time!

Last fall, Roland Park Country School’s Black Student Union organized and held an immensely successful inaugural Roots Picnic! Inspired by the original Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, our community enjoyed an afternoon full of music, dancing, food, diverse vendors and, most of all, each other’s company!

THANKSGIVING FLOATS

Last November, the fifth grade created Thanksgiving parade floats! Each group of two or three came up with a float theme (ranging from Dance Moms and Starbucks to Curious George and a basketball court!) and then coded not only movement into their robots, but music as well! They presented their floats to the entire Lower School and their parents shortly before Thanksgiving. This tradition, now in its third year, is an outstanding presentation of creativity, engineering and coding.

Within These Walls

A downed tree, sustained power outage and unexpected day off from school couldn’t stop one of our most beloved traditions - the Little Reds Valentine’s Day Breakfast! Families gathered for this annual celebration of love with delicious pancakes, fun company and performances from the Little Reds classrooms.

THE UPPER SCHOOL GOES PHONE-FREE

In a new tri-school initiative, the Upper School students have gone phone-free, which went into full effect in December. “This initiative’s goal is for students to engage more deeply in their learning and with one another,” said Upper School Head Sara Rollfinke. The girls handled the change with poise and acceptance, and the halls are filled with more camaraderie than ever!

WOMEN IN FINANCE LUNCH AND LEARN

The Davidov Family Power Lunch Program at RPCS hosted its second annual Women in Finance Lunch and Learn in November! Moderated by Head of School Joan Smith, HA, a panel of seven remarkable women fielded questions about how they started their careers in finance, a typical day at their jobs and how they navigate a work-life balance. The panelists provided key insights into their roles and shared guidance about pursuing a career in finance. The panel was comprised of Liz Colgan, director of advisor experience at First Financial Group; Johanna Bathurst, president and founder of JLB Management Group; Monica Harris, P’25, vice president of compliance at Ares Management; Isabella Thomas, 2014, senior investment specialist at Merrill Lynch; Christina Walters, client relationship manager and compliance officer at DF Dent; Emily Duncan, senior vice president of investor relations and strategic initiatives at Constellation; and Kayla Shockett, national financial solutions advisor at Merrill Lynch.

COLLEGE BOARD RECOGNITION PROGRAM AWARDS

Six RPCS students earned College Board Recognition Program Awards this year! These students achieved a PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 assessment score within the top 10 percent of eligible assessment takers in Maryland for each award program. Congratulations to the following individuals (from left to right next to Mrs. Sara Rollfinke):

Sashi Kandadi, 2025 First Generation College Student Program

Geri Kayingo, 2025 African American Recognition Program

Niya Cockrell, 2026 African American Recognition Program

Lila Falcon, 2026 Hispanic Recognition Program

Audrey Pierre, 2026 African American Recognition Program and First Generation College Student Program

Sam Arthur-Merow, 2025 (not pictured) Indigenous Recognition Program

BLOOMBERG TERMINAL

This past fall, RPCS implemented a Bloomberg Terminal on campus, the first of its kind at an all-girls school in the MidAtlantic region! “Having a Bloomberg Terminal at RPCS brings the real world into our classrooms, enhancing our rigorous academic offerings with access to real-time market data, news and analytics,” said Sarah Morehead Pope, 2006, director of the Gore Leadership Institute. “RPCS students will be prepared for leadership roles and careers in male-dominated industries thanks to the learning and enrichment that comes with having access to the Bloomberg Terminal.” By integrating use of the Bloomberg Terminal into our math, finance and investing, science, library, social studies, humanities and specific STEM curricula, students are excited to gain real-world experiences and access to the same tools used by leading decision-makers in the business, finance and political fields.

During last fall’s Triple the Spirit festivities, Roland Park Country School’s Pepper the Bear, The Bryn Mawr School’s Mawrtian and Gilman’s Finney the Greyhound took to Brown Field at Gilman for a friendly 40-yard dash. While Finney’s over-pursuit of gains in the gym left him with a calf cramp about 20 yards in, the other two mascots crossed the 40 in a too-close-to-call photo finish! Ultimately, the three had a great time together, just like our three schools, and showed what sportsmanship and community are all about.

This past school year, a record-breaking 35 students participated in the Eighth Grade Capstone Program, part of the Gore Leadership Institute, which offers valuable opportunities to gain real-world experiences by shadowing professionals in their fields of interest after conducting research and gaining background knowledge in that field. RPCS is the only school in Baltimore to offer this experience, and the students loved learning more firsthand about medicine, law, finance, politics and more, and then sharing their knowledge at a showcase in the spring.

Beyond

These Walls

Last fall, third graders visited Irvine Nature Center to learn about the Woodland people. They heard about the cultural traditions and lifestyles of Maryland’s pre-colonial Native American tribes, the Piscataway and Susquehannock. They toured through replica longhouses, wigwams and Three Sisters Garden, and they learned about tools, clothing, hunting and gathering, and fire-making methods. The girls also enjoyed playing games that were played by Native American children when learning and practicing their hunting skills!

Model UN Summit

Earlier this year, a group of Upper Schoolers traveled to Philadelphia for the Model UN Summit. Their days were filled with committee sessions, working papers, conferencing with other delegates, and more. During their sessions, students discussed real-world problems, such as cryptocurrency regulations, implications of AI, women’s rights, rights for people with disabilities, sustainable cities and development, global inequities in training health professionals, food security issues, preventing the proliferation of tactical nuclear weapons, and reforming the UN’s Security Council. We were excited and proud to see multiple REDS stepping up to the committee session microphones and pushing their ideas and items for resolution papers. Our students worked incredibly hard, but also enjoyed themselves immensely.

The People’s House: A White House Experience

Last November, the seventh grade traveled to The People’s House, a new educational museum that tells the story of the Executive Mansion (the White House), its inhabitants, and the people who have dedicated their careers to its functions. Created by the White House Historical Association, The People’s House: A White House Experience, is in Washington, D.C., just one block from the White House. This trip culminated the students’ unit on the Founding Era, which included the study of separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism.

A Symphony of Sound

This past winter, the entire Middle School took a special trip to the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to see the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra perform “Saint-Georges’ Sword and Bow.” The girls could easily relate to the main character, 13-year-old Giselle, whose dreams of becoming a famous pop star are thwarted by her father, who insists that she study music theory. She is then transported back in time and learns to understand where true passion comes from. We are grateful to the anonymous donor who has made this trip possible for the Middle School two years in a row!

Exploring Native American History at Irvine Nature Center

Advocating for Change in Annapolis

In February, fifth graders visited the Maryland State House for more than just a tour. After identifying problems within the state, researching them, transforming that research into formal letters to their state senators and delegates, and then scheduling meetings with those representatives, students arrived in Annapolis ready to advocate for change! Lawmakers listened to our Lower Schoolers’ concerns and challenged them to think of additional out-of-the-box solutions on the spot. Afterwards, the girls watched their lawmakers in action in the Senate Gallery. This annual trip continues to empower many RPCS fifth graders as they discover and use their voices to promote positive change.

Gifting Back to Baltimore

STEM Outreach Day at University

of Maryland

Student representatives from The Holliday Heine STEM Institute attended University of Maryland’s School of Medicine to participate in their STEM Outreach Day last fall. Juniors in STEM III took part in a hands-on lab led by graduate students to isolate DNA from mouse cancer cells, listened to a panel of female STEM professionals, toured laboratories and heard about the current research led by the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. What an inspiring day to discover and learn about the many exciting career paths in STEM fields!

Power Lunch Takes NYC

Over winter break, students in the Davidov Power Lunch Program traveled to New York City to visit Bloomberg World Headquarters, Citigroup and Nasdaq. Students met with a variety of industry professionals, including Chris Dearborn, the managing director of the Marketing Intelligence Desk at Nasdaq. While visiting the Nasdaq Marketsite, the students attended the opening bell ceremony and enjoyed a Q&A session with their host, McKenzie Gaw. At Citigroup, the students toured the trading floor and cybersecurity center and learned valuable insights from head of NAM equity electronic execution services Jenny Hadiaris, head of equity sales Salima Habib, and head of prime brokerage Mirtha Warrier. Immersive, experiential learning experiences like this are key components of RPCS’s Gore Leadership Institute. The girls were thrilled to have this opportunity and look forward to continuing to develop their real-world experiences in finance, investing and networking.

RPCS students from all divisions, along with other local schools, participated in launching an innovative holiday décor experience to generate awareness and philanthropic support for Baltimore nonprofits. Cross Keys Baltimore presented participating schools with gift boxes to decorate in honor of their chosen nonprofit, which were then displayed at the Village of Cross Keys and voted on by patrons. Our Giving Back to Baltimore Gift Box for Cross Keys finished in second place, allowing us to give $2,500 to our chosen nonprofit, the Maryland SPCA! Thank you to everyone who voted online or in person at Cross Keys. Also, a special thanks to each of the girls who decorated the box, along with Sarah Morehead Pope, 2006, director of the Gore Leadership Institute, and Lower School art teacher Holly McAslan for leading the charge on this creative project to give back to the community.

Athletics: Cheering on Our REDS!

Our student-athletes and sports teams had a terrific year of competition, growth and fun, and they set some new records along the way! Read on for some of the biggest athletics highlights in the 2024–2025 school year.

11th Annual IAAM Leadership Symposium

Last fall, three RPCS student athletes, Sasha Susel, 2025, Leah Poon-Ying, 2025 and Blythe Gemmill, 2025 and Head Varsity Soccer Coach Gaby Davis, attended the 11th Annual IAAM Leadership Symposium at Notre Dame of Maryland University. The symposium’s theme, “The Path of an IAAM Champion,” was led by former Johns Hopkins University lacrosse coach Janine Tucker, who talked about the importance of developing strong, meaningful and lifelong leadership skills.

Next Level REDS

Congratulations to four members of the Class of 2025 who made commitments to continue their athletic careers in college. Surrounded by faculty, family, coaches and friends, two student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent in the early signing period last fall, and two REDS were celebrated at a signing ceremony this spring. We can’t wait to cheer on our student-athletes as they compete at the collegiate level!

Blythe Gemmill

George Washington University, Lacrosse

Teagan Hanley Rollins College, Rowing

Erin Miller Lock Haven University, Basketball

Lauren Rudick Gettysburg College, Field Hockey

In Memoriam In October 2024, our community mourned the passing of our longtime beloved Varsity Softball Coach, Donna Bourne. An RPCS coach since the spring of 2014, Donna made a lasting impact on the lives of so many athletes, coaches and members of our community. Under her leadership, our softball team won back-to-back IAAM Championships in 2014 and 2015. Donna even jumped in to help coach Middle School Volleyball when we needed an extra hand and stayed with the program for several years, helping to guide our young student-athletes. Year after year, Donna continued to show up every day with joy for our REDS and pride for our school and softball program. We still miss Donna dearly and hold her husband, three children and three grandsons in our hearts and thoughts.

Susan Pusey Field Hockey Coaches

Association Senior Game

In November, Lauren Rudick, 2025 represented RPCS at the Susan Pusey Field Hockey Coaches Association Senior Game. She played with seniors from all over the state and scored two goals in her team’s 6-3 win! Adding to the special moment, Varsity Head Coach Elizabeth Blaum was selected to coach one of the six teams playing in the event — and helped lead Lauren’s team to the win!

Varsity Softball Coach Donna Bourne with Suzannah Figler, 2023 at the 2023 Athletic Awards

Varsity Swim Team Wins Second IAAM B Conference Championship

The Varsity Swim team picked up right where they left off last winter by claiming the IAAM B Conference Championship title for the second year in a row! With only one regular season defeat, the team entered the Championship meet on February 2 focused on the ultimate goal — and they achieved it! Our REDS earned 13 medals with podium finishes in all 11 events, set two new School records and won the team championship with a total of 445 points (ahead of second place Mercy High School with 412 points)! There were 25 top 10 finishes by our swimmers, including four individual first-place finishes and two first-place relay finishes, as well as 19 personal best times. Plus, five REDS earned All Conference honors!

The following swimmers broke School records this year:

200 Medley Relay

Abby Dieveney, 2028 – backstroke

Hannah Matteini, 2028 – breaststroke

Josselyn Hauserman, 2027 – butterfly

Lilly Haney, 2026 – freestyle

NEW TIME: 1:51.45

They beat the previous record by over 3 seconds.

100 Butterfly

Abby Dieveney, 2028

NEW TIME: 1:00.31

She beat the previous record by .7 seconds.

500 Freestyle

Abby Dieveney, 2028

NEW TIME: 5:09.42

She beat the previous record by 2.5 seconds.

Our Running REDS

Maryland State Private School Championship

At the Maryland State Private School Championships in early November, our Varsity runners took fifth overall in the Large School category, and our JV runners finished second overall as a team. In the JV race, junior Ella Clapp finished in ninth place, senior Gaby Serck-Hanssen finished in third place, and freshman Maddie Colón was the JV Champion in first place! In the same event for Middle School, eighth grader Ella Donohue finished in fifth place with an impressive time of 12:19.90 in the 3,000 meter race.

New Track Records

Congratulations to several of our track athletes who set new school records this year, three of which were broken at the Adidas Indoor Nationals in Virginia Beach this past March! A special shout out goes to Cate Rivers, 2026, who earned All Conference honors with her seventh-place finish at the IAAM Cross Country Championship last fall.

Indoor 60 Hurdles

Amelia Coles, 2028

NEW TIME: 10.41

Indoor 200

Amelia Coles, 2028

NEW TIME: 27.05

Indoor 1 Mile

Mena Dike, 2028

NEW TIME: 6:12.44

Indoor 3000 Cate Rivers, 2026 NEW TIME: 12:03.10

Outdoor 1 Mile

Cate Rivers, 2026

NEW TIME: 5:57.60

Distance Medley Relay 13:49.69

Mena Dike, 2028

Caroline Scharpf, 2026

Brie Darby, 2028

Cate Rivers, 2026

400 Hurdles 1:11.83

Amelia Coles, 2028

Discus 85-9

Bryn Sutcliffe, 2026

Athletic Association Fundraises for Morgan’s Message

Every school year, our Upper School Athletic Association hosts a school-wide competition called YDAER (READY spelled backward). YDAER is a live-action game of tag open to all Upper School students and faculty. Participants donate $5 to receive a red spoon and are assigned another player to tag when they’re not holding their spoon. Challenges are added along the way to make it more difficult and fun.

This event is a cherished tradition that brings together our entire Upper School community. More importantly, it serves as a way for the school to raise funds to donate to a different organization each year. This year, the Athletic Association chose Morgan’s Message, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health support among athletes. This past fall, the Athletic Association raised more than $900 through YDEAR to contribute to the impactful educational programs Morgan’s Message provides and its positive influence on so many lives. And congratulations to Maegan Pridgen, 2025, who claimed the title of this year’s game!

Visual Arts

The visual arts at RPCS allow students to deepen their connections to their own imaginations and the world around them. Our fantastic visual arts teachers encourage their students to use their critical thinking and creative skills, articulate their ideas, demonstrate vulnerability in their work, and ultimately discover what they are capable of creating. Enjoy just a few of the beautiful visual art pieces our student artists made this year!

Amate Bark Painting is a Mexican folk art form. Using special paper made to resemble tree bark, the first grade students created colored animals with oil pastels, colored pencil and/or permanent enamel markers. Artwork above is from Josie W., 2036.

The second graders studied Ancient Egypt in art and social studies this year and examined ancient artifacts, including the Palette of Narmer, which tells the story of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by King Narmer. The Narmer Palette inspired the second grade’s beautifully detailed drawings of themselves taking a trip back in time to Ancient Egypt. Artwork above is by Khori C., 2035.

This past winter, the entire sixth grade collaborated to create relief sculptures that represent corals using cardboard pieces and recycled shredded paper. Inspired by the work of contemporary ceramicist Courtney Mattison, the artists researched corals and coral bleaching as they made this collaborative artwork and used recycled materials to keep this project eco-friendly in honor of our corals.

The fifth grade worked on drawing a still-life using contour line, implied line and value. After demonstrations and examination of art by Paul Cézanne, students created lifelike drawings of fruit and flowers using oil pastels. Pictured above is artwork from Rose H., 2032.

The third graders studied the artwork of pop artist Roy Lichtenstein and used observational and proportional drawing techniques to create self-portraits. They also combined the use of primary colors, bold lines, speech or thought bubbles and interesting imagery. Artwork above is by Gigi C., 2034.

At the beginning of the school year, all Middle School art students created a piece for this large, collaborative artwork inspired by the artist Jen Stark. Her work is colorful, mesmerizing and busy with layers of colors and patterns. Each grade level made a different section and the students’ creations were put together into one original piece.

In January, the eighth grade visual arts students held an exhibit and reception to cap off their semester. Classmates, parents and RPCS employees closely studied their artwork displayed in the Knott Lobby and asked the artists questions. From mixed media to acrylics, the girls spoke passionately about the inspirations behind their work, as well as the process.

Congratulations to Eva K., 2025 on being recognized in the 24th annual Drexel University High School Photography Contest this past winter for her photograph entitled “Winged.” There were over 2,500 submissions from 46 states, and Eva’s photo was one of 188 pieces accepted into the juried exhibit.

Congratulations to 11 of our visual art students who earned 32 Regional Scholastic Art Awards this past spring, with eight pieces winning Gold Key recognition and moving on to the National round. Pictured above is Gold Key winner Anna B., 2025’s “Green-Eyed Monster” painting. Pictured right is Gold Key winner Norah W., 2025’s “Gears in Hand” in ceramic and glass.

Upper School ceramics students have been working on individual pieces throughout the year. Pictured above is work from Abbie L., 2026 (left) and Eryn B., 2025 (right).

Earlier this year, a new highlight of the Upper School Ceramic Exhibit was a clever mini ceramics vending machine, from the brilliant mind of Upper School ceramics teacher Toby Rivkin. Ceramics Club students and Ms. Rivkin made miniature clay pieces, which community members could purchase for a quarter. It was a big hit and proceeds went to the Empty Bowls charity.

Museum Art Trips In February, the Middle School art classes traveled beyond the classroom to experience the wonderful works of past and present artists featured at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. The sixth graders explored how different materials can enhance their artistic voices and visions while they walked through AVAM for inspiration in preparation for the All-School Art Exhibit. Seventh graders went to the National Portrait Gallery to see portraits up close, including works by Alice Neel, to deepen their understanding of portraiture and to gain inspiration for their own artworks. Each seventh grade artist created a self-portrait to represent themselves, and their experience at the museum helped advance their artistic insights.

In November, students in AP Art, Photography and Ceramics visited the Whitney Museum and Chelsea art galleries in New York City. They also had a great time visiting the Chelsea Market and walking the High Line as they sketched and took pictures of all they experienced.

Performing Arts

Through the performing arts at RPCS, our students explore their talents and challenge themselves, both on and off the stage. Our dedicated team of directors, teachers and volunteers tirelessly share their expertise and encouragement to make every performance a success. The creativity, courage and collaboration cultivated through the performing arts are skills our students will carry with them well after the final curtain falls.

Last fall, RPCS welcomed back to campus guest choreographer Devon Wallace from ClancyWorks Dance Company. This year, he worked with the Roses, Advanced Studio Dance, Studio Dance, and the eighth grade dancers, as well as the eighth grade singers!

Last Halloween, our Footlights Theatre Ensemble put on a spectacularly spooky show: “Zombies! The Haunted Trail.” Upper School students worked diligently to create an interactive scene-by-scene narrative as the audience walked through the trail in our Backwoods.

In November, Middle and Upper School music teacher Lisa Diver, 2006 and the Upper School choral ensembles, the Semiquavers and Somettos, welcomed Arreon A. Harley-Emerson to RPCS. Mr. Harley-Emerson is the CEO & Artistic Director of Elevate Vocal Arts (EVA). During his time with Semis and Somettos, Mr. Harley-Emerson led fun and engaging warm-ups and vocal exercises and worked with the choirs on music for their concerts.

The Middle School Winter Concert in January was a spectacular showing of our students’ impressive artistic abilities. Students in grades 6–8 recited poems from memory and performed in instrumental, choral and dance numbers. LEFT: The sixth grade dancers performed to “Die with A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. RIGHT: Juliana C., 2031 recited the poem “My Dream About Time” by Lucille Clifton.

As part of the third annual RPCS Film Fest this past winter, 34 tri-school students trained, brainstormed, collaborated and fully immersed themselves in filmmaking. Led by professional coaches, students worked in large and small teams to create original movies and had the privilege of engaging in workshops with animation artist Camille Ollivierre from Wide Angle Media and screen acting coach Beth Hylton from Everyman Theatre.

Our annual Traditional Upper School Christmas Program in December featured beautiful holiday carols and readings and a series of elaborate tableaux depicting famous holiday and winter paintings. TOP: Ballerinas Ellee S., 2031, Emmy S., 2030, Isla S., 2030 and Alex S., 2031 (back row) and Olly H., 2030, Zoie V., 2031, Nina C., 2031, Caroline O., 2030 and Kennedy W., 2029, performed a stunning living reproduction depicting “Waltz of the Snowflakes.” BOTTOM: Musical performance by the Semiquavers.

The Semiquavers made spirits bright last December when they went caroling at two retirement communities and met several alumnae, previous teachers, and parents and grandparents of current RPCS students! They also visited Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital to spread holiday cheer, where they sang for patients and dropped off toys donated by RPCS families — an effort led by our Community Service Association. A few days later, the Semis once again performed at the Government House in Annapolis during Governor Wes Moore’s second annual Open House. The Semis met the governor and received an official proclamation.

Last winter’s Upper School Winter Dance Concert featured stunning performances from our Studio Dance Class, Advanced Dance Class, the Roses and Rosebuds (first grade dancers). LEFT: Kendal C-H., 2028 and Nia M., 2027 performed an auditioned duet to “Could’ve Been” by H.E.R. RIGHT: Kendall R., 2028, Abby D., 2028, and Nori C., 2028 performed part of an Advanced Studio Dance Piece, “Supernova.”

The Lower School put on a beautiful winter concert last December. LEFT: Lou S., 2035 and Alice B., 2035 played a lovely arrangement of “Frosty the Snowman” on the bass xylophone. RIGHT: From left to right, Gianna B., 2034, Kyla T., 2034, Milly S., 2034, Emmy C., 2034 and Charli T., 2034 dancing to “Live It Up” by Owl City.

RPCS was honored to welcome founder and artistic director of Raediant Movement, Erica Rae Smith, as the CJC Artist-inResidence in January! She wowed our students at every grade level as she taught three to five classes a day, from kindergarten up to the Roses Repertory Dance Company. All divisions were also treated to taking part in performances with Ms. Smith and members of her company.

Congratulations to the incredibly talented company, crew and production team of this year’s Middle School musical, Into the Woods JR., which debuted in March! Our Middle Schoolers put on three outstanding performances and wowed our audiences on stage and from behind the scenes.

A Meaningful Chapter for the Class of 1970

Everythree months for the past five years, members of the Class of 1970 gather via Zoom for a book club that features lively and engaging discussions and opportunities to reconnect. The idea of this club began in 2020 after Dory McGlannan, 1970 attended Roland Park Country School’s Alumnae Weekend, via Zoom due to the pandemic, which piqued her interest in reestablishing relationships with her classmates. After the murder of George Floyd that May, Dory sought to gain a better understanding of Black history and racial tensions and relations in the United States. When Governor Wes Moore’s book Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City, which chronicles the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray, was published that year, she knew she wanted to discuss it with people who grew up in Baltimore. She became intensely curious about how fellow Baltimoreans around her age had understood race relations and racism when they were in high school. She invited her fellow graduates to participate in a discussion during a follow-up reunion Zoom meeting and the Class of 1970 Book Club was born.

“It’s so interesting to connect with classmates in our 70s and fascinating to listen to these high-level discussions, which are always well informed,” said book club member Martha Dudley Keller, 1970. “This is a group of discriminating readers who have read widely. It’s also a real tribute to RPCS, especially Miss Healy and our teachers at the time, for teaching us how to read and think critically.”

During their first meeting in 2020, Dory explained that she wanted to focus the group on reading books by people of color and, for the most part, they have continued with this original concept.

“We have definitely broadened our book selections as we’ve gone on, but we keep social justice and an interest in looking at ways to increase our perspectives of others at the core of what we read,” said book club member Gail Stewart Beach, 1970. “I also feel that we’ve discovered close connections with our lives and enjoy supporting each other at a time when we are going through transitions.”

More than 15 alumnae comprise the group, many of whom are also in other book clubs, and all of whom are curious and eager to continue learning. Every member contributes articles, reviews and films that enhance their conversations of each book. Some group favorites include The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Deacon King Kong by James McBride and James by Percival Everett.

“I must say that this group has greatly exceeded my expectations,” Dory said. “What I like best is the connection with classmates. Prior to this group, I had almost no contact with anyone from RPCS. I have gotten to know the women in this group in a whole different way.”

If any graduates from the Class of 1970 are interested in joining this book club, please contact any of the book club members or Dory McGlannan at dmcglannan5@gmail.com.

Class of 1970 Book Club Selections In the Country: Stories by Mia Alvar, Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac, The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj, James by Percival Everett, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann, The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride, Deacon King Kong by James McBride, His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham, Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People by Tiya Miles, Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City by Wes Moore, There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.

A Q&A WITH DEBBIE SWISS

The Treasured Tradition of Class Banners

Every fall for the last 25 years, past parent and friend of RPCS Debbie Swiss, P’99, P’03, has presented a homemade, hand-stitched banner for the kindergarten class with their graduation year on the front and a heartfelt message of encouragement on the back. This treasured tradition began in 1999 when Debbie was asked to fix a sports banner and add some letters to it. Since then, each kindergarten class looks forward to receiving their special class banner that will hang in the Dining Hall until they walk behind it at Commencement. The banners continue to be displayed for reunions and other class gatherings long after graduation.

Last year’s sentiment to the kindergarten class reads, “Sending lots of love and best wishes to the RPCS class of 2036. You are about to start your very first academic journey in life. Never stop making new and exciting memories. I hope on that June day in the year 2036, I will be watching your class walk in their white dresses and red roses just like my daughters. Have a great year!”

In addition to class banners, Debbie also creates and updates banners for the Athletics Department, including immediately updating Varsity Swimming’s banner after their IAAM B Conference Championship win this past February! We recently caught up with Debbie to learn more about the thoughtful work that goes on behind the scenes to produce these beloved banners year after year.

How long does it take to make each class banner?

Making each class banner takes approximately three and a half hours in total. I have a master pattern with all the letters, numbers and symbols on pattern sheets that I use every year. I put everything carefully together on red felt. Next is cutting white felt letters and other objects over many nights and placing them in little bags labeled with Roland Park Country School and the year. Over the years, I’ve really enjoyed cutting out these letters, knowing that for 13 years or more, some of these lovely ladies will be walking behind the banner and later during their alumnae events.

How do you come up with heartfelt messages for each class?

The messages I put on the back of each class banner are something I really think about for a couple of weeks. I consider what’s going on in the world and the wonderful programs that Roland Park Country School has, and I try to incorporate those elements into a very short, but hopefully meaningful, message

for each class. This tradition started when I used to make gifts for my children’s teachers every year, and I would include messages with those gifts. I remember receiving thank you notes from the teachers, saying they truly liked what I wrote because it really described the class.

Are you able to attend Commencement each year to watch the girls graduate?

Yes, I have attended Commencement for a few of these classes. I’ve also watched a few of them via livestream, especially the class for the COVID year. I remember making that banner and thinking, “Oh, my heavens, 2020.” Little did I know that that year would have more meaning than anything for many years to come. The Class of 2020 certainly faced many challenges, and not only did they weather those challenges, but they also soared.

What is your favorite thing about RPCS?

My favorite thing about Roland Park Country School is that it is not only a place for education, but also for lifelong friendship, leadership and fellowship. Both of my daughters, Katie Swiss King, 1999 and Sarah Swiss, 2003, have benefited immensely from this amazing school, and what they have become because of it will last them a lifetime. My husband, Tom, and I were always thrilled to be part of this school and to watch our children grow.

Now, watching other children walk behind the banners I have created, I can see the trust that this amazing faculty has with their students, from Pre–K to seniors. I have been very fortunate to have dear friends from RPCS dating back to the mid-1960s, and we are still friends. Although I did not attend this school, I have been very much a part of it since my early childhood because many of my friends went there. My favorite thing is the entire school. Go REDS!

RPCS Welcomes Back Author and Physician Dr. Lydia Kang for Annual Crane Lecture

On March 26, Roland Park Country School was thrilled to welcome back author, physician and RPCS alumna Lydia Kang , 1989 as the special guest speaker for this year’s Sarah Crane Cohen Visiting Scholar in the Humanities Lecture. Dr. Kang’s most recent book, Pseudoscience: An Amusing History of Crackpot Ideas and Why We Love Them , was published in February 2025 and is a follow-up to her 2017 book, Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything.

Dr. Kang spent the day meeting with our Middle and Upper School students. In her presentation to Middle School students, Dr. Kang spoke about how the scientific method has been a recurring theme in her life and how she learned the importance of not focusing on “failures” or “successes,” but rather collecting data and learning from that information. She talked about how she fell in love with writing and science during her four years at Roland Park Country School and how she pursued both passions, despite setbacks, challenges and fear. “We need curiosity, lifelong learning and a willingness to change, to grow,” Dr. Kang told the Middle School students. She also encouraged them to nurture their passions and remember that the impossible is possible, but it takes a lot of difficult and sometimes painful work.

process creates continuous iterations, resulting in regular updates and improvements in results. Because of this constant process of revision, she encouraged the audience to have faith in the results of rigorous research that follows the scientific process. A book signing followed her evening lecture.

Dr. Kang is the author of 12 books, including young adult fiction, adult fiction and nonfiction, and poetry. She graduated from Columbia University and New York University School of Medicine, completing her residency and chief residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. Dr. Kang is also a practicing physician and associate professor of Internal Medicine who has gained a reputation for helping fellow writers achieve medical accuracy in fiction. Her poetry and nonfiction have been published in JAMA, The Annals of Internal Medicine, Canadian Medical Association Journal, Journal of General Internal Medicine, and Great Weather for Media

In her presentation to Upper School students, Dr. Kang talked about what sparked ideas for her books, including a haunting poem she read in elementary school and an organic chemistry class she took at RPCS. “It was at Roland Park Country School that I learned I had a brain,” Dr. Kang told the girls. “And I had people around me who supported me for being smart.” In both student presentations, she fielded several thoughtful questions from students about imposter syndrome, balancing her dual careers and family, and her favorite memories of RPCS. In the afternoon, Dr. Kang led a creative writing workshop with the sixth graders in which they were tasked with selecting a minor character from an existing story and writing a fresh perspective from their point of view.

In her evening lecture to the community, Dr. Kang delighted the audience with examples of pseudoscience from her new book, including palm reading, polygraph tests, cryptozoology (e.g., Bigfoot, Chessie) and UFOs. She shared the definition of pseudoscience as “a system of theories, assumptions and methods erroneously regarded as scientific” and discussed several reasons why pseudoscience is so compelling even when disproven by science. She also explained why it will continue to persist. Dr. Kang acknowledged that the scientific

Head of School Joan Smith, HA, with Dr. Lydia Kang, 1989 and Director of Libraries Suzanne Fox

We need curiosity, lifelong learning and a willingness to change, to grow.

MINDPRINT: ONLINE ASSESSMENT UNLOCKS STUDENT POTENTIAL IN SIXTH GRADE AND BEYOND

Great Minds Don’t Think Alike

Every student learns differently — some excel when information is presented visually, while others thrive breaking down their work into logical steps. Yet, in many classrooms, a one-size-fits-all approach to education still prevails. How can schools better support each student’s unique learning needs?

At Roland Park Country School, we believe that metacognition — the awareness and understanding of one’s own thought process — is a powerful tool for unlocking our students’ potential. The better that students can understand their own strengths and vulnerabilities, the more power they gain in the classroom.

In the fall of 2022, Julie Bierman, RPCS Middle School learning specialist and director of learning support from 2019–2024, introduced a cognitive assessment called MindPrint that provides key insights into how students learn best. Developed by neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania and the National Institutes of Health, the online assessment is presented as a series of puzzles and games that all sixth graders take in their second Study Skills class of the school year.

Unlike traditional academic achievement tests that measure what skills students have mastered, MindPrint evaluates how each child best absorbs, understands and problem-solves with different types of information and formats. Specifically, MindPrint measures strengths in four key areas: problem-solving, long-term memory, executive functions and complex reasoning, which researchers have shown to be highly correlated with academic and social-emotional skills.

Once students complete the assessment, they receive their own personal MindPrint, a profile that identifies their relative strengths as thinkers and learners, as well as their vulnerabilities. Over the course of the year, students will refer to their MindPrints as Ms. Bierman works to help them develop self-awareness of their unique learning strengths and needs, set personal goals and cultivate growth mindsets. She encourages them to become more empowered and effective self-advocates for their own learning and success. Ms. Bierman also offers workshops to teach parents and guardians about the MindPrint assessment and provides additional cognitive data per student.

“The MindPrint experience has been an invaluable key for unlocking our daughter’s success. As a sixth grader, she gained information about how she learns and how her brain works that allowed her to advocate for herself and seek resources that help her excel. As parents, we learned our child’s strengths and areas of vulnerability, which has given us a greater understanding of how to support her as a student. The results of the assessment were given to her and us in ways that were understandable and empowering. We are all very grateful that RPCS has seen the value of MindPrint.” –

AMY M.

“We are so excited to offer this incredible resource for our sixth graders, and we all benefit from this knowledge — students, families and teachers,” said Ms. Bierman. “We’ve seen time and again that when students feel empowered and take control of their learning, it leads to better student engagement, increased social and emotional awareness and overall positive school outcomes.”

Students and parents have provided overwhelmingly positive feedback. Emmy S., 2030 was surprised to learn in sixth grade that she struggled with flexible thinking — a discovery that was eyeopening for both her and her parents and has proven to be valuable throughout her Middle School journey.

“In a world where kids have so much coming at them, it’s nice that they are in a school that is building them up and showing them their strengths and vulnerabilities at such a young age,” said Emmy’s mom, Robyne. “It’s phenomenal that RPCS offers MindPrint to help our kids understand how their minds work. This is an incredibly accurate and powerful tool that gives them such a level of confidence that they can carry throughout Middle and Upper School.”

Before taking the MindPrint assessment in sixth grade, some students assumed that they would never be good at certain subjects, so gaining a deeper understanding of their learning strengths and vulnerabilities empowers them. Caroline O., 2030 credits the MindPrint assessment for increasing her confidence in her ability to excel in certain subjects and Finley G., 2029 acknowledged that her MindPrint findings helped her significantly with her grades.

Tatum J., 2030, was surprised to discover through her MindPrint that she was more of a verbal learner, rather than visual. She appreciated how MindPrint offered specific strategies and examples of how to use individual strengths to study — for example, by writing things down and reviewing materials rather than using flashcards to prepare for exams. Diana L., 2030 was fascinated to see how much different learning strengths and vulnerabilities varied among her peers, which can be helpful for group projects.

Eventually, the long-term goal is to infuse the language of MindPrint into the teaching that happens across the Middle School curriculum, and students agree this would be helpful to them in their learning.

“Partnership is powerful,” Ms. Bierman said. “When teachers, learning specialists and families partner on behalf of kids, anything is possible.”

“MindPrint

is an amazing tool! It gave us a clearer picture of our daughter’s skills as a learner and how we could better support her. As parents, it can be difficult to help with homework or studying for tests when you don’t know exactly how your child’s brain works. MindPrint helped us think of different ways that we could support her learning strengths and challenges because of the extensive summary that was provided to us. MindPrint not only helped us understand her learning brain, but also her day-to-day functioning outside of school.

– CATHERINE E.

by Melissa Tully

PLACE LIKE Home

The lights fade, then blanket the room in darkness. A hush spreads through the audience. The opening sounds of the orchestra begin to build and as the curtain opens, more than 4OO people are transported into the land of

This past fall’s production of The Wizard of Oz was especially meaningful because it was an all-school musical with RPCS students in grades 2–12 on stage to celebrate 30 years of performing arts in the Sinex Theater.

The Sinex Theater is housed in the Macfarlane Arts Center, a multiuse complex of performance and practice spaces for both the visual and performing arts. In addition to performances, the 425-seat theater is used throughout the school year for meetings, awards assemblies and presentations. The Sinex Theater was presented in honor of Jonathan Sinex and Alexis Sinex Thompson, 2002, children of RPCS alumna and former trustee Suzi Keats Cordish, 1973, by their father Donald F. Sinex, as part of the Building the Spirit Capital Campaign in 1994.

To commemorate this occasion, every 10 years, RPCS produces an all-school musical for our community. This year, more than 50 students from all three divisions, along with students from other community schools, took part in this beloved tradition as either company or crew members in the production of The Wizard of Oz

“The magic of this production was having students of all different ages coming together to form a family of sorts,” said eighth grader Maddie O. “It was an incredibly immersive experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.”

The performing arts department at RPCS profoundly understood the importance of the all-school musical tradition, with two alumnae working on the production team, Lisa Diver, 2006, Middle and Upper School music teacher and music director of the musical, and Annie Ferebee Short, 2001, Middle and Upper School dance teacher and the show’s choreographer. “As a school under one roof, the all-school musical highlights the opportunities our students have to collaborate and work together in meaningful ways,” Annie said. “Performing together on stage is simply magical — the audience can feel the energy of the many REDS coming together in their hearts and souls.”

Historically, the all-school musical has been The Sound of Music, but the performing arts department and school leadership decided that this year’s performance needed to be updated. They chose The Wizard of Oz for its visual artistry, renowned songs, and wonderfully diverse company of characters that could feature a younger and larger cast. Interestingly, students have performed this musical only once before on the Sinex stage — 30 years ago in its inaugural year!

“The Wizard of Oz is beloved by all ages, easy to understand at all grade levels and tied nicely into the Wicked pop-culture movement,” said Musical Director and Upper and Middle School Theatre Director Randi Martin, who joined the

performing arts team in 2022. “We also wanted to push ourselves with tech and make the show a more immersive experience, which we accomplished with projections and light-up wristbands.”

The cast and company put on four sold-out performances — two evening and two matinee shows. As has become a tradition in recent years, certain roles were double cast, meaning that one group performed as lead roles for two of the performances and ensemble members during the other two performances.

Sarajane R., 2027 was new to RPCS this year. While nervous, she enthusiastically jumped into the audition process for the musical and was thrilled to be cast as Glinda in one of the two casts. “While The Wizard of Oz was my first musical at RPCS, I’ve always been a performer, and this is my favorite musical I’ve ever done,” she said. “I was immediately accepted as part of the RPCS performing arts community and everyone was so welcoming and kind. It was so incredible to contribute to this beautiful tradition. I truly felt like I had been at RPCS forever.”

“Double casting was a new experience for me,” said Niya C., 2026, who played the Scarecrow in one of the casts. “Being cast in my first major role in a musical, the double casting helped me gain inspiration for character choices by watching the other cast act, and it gave me a break during long rehearsals as well.”

“The musical was such a fantastic experience, and I still miss the atmosphere of rehearsals and shows,” said senior Simone L., who played the Cowardly Lion in one of the casts. “As a senior, the ability to connect with students across all three divisions has helped me make the

most of my last year at RPCS. I am still in awe of the talent of my peers, and I feel so privileged to have shared the stage with every outstanding individual who made it possible.”

The Development Office added a little extra magic for audience members, who were greeted in the Harris Center to a yellow brick road and a massive rainbow balloon arch, transporting them over the rainbow. Upon leaving, everyone could pick up a rainbow lollipop … from the Munchkinland Lollipop Guild, of course!

“Being a part of The Wizard of Oz was a full-circle moment for me because I came to RPCS in second grade, when the last all-school musical was performed,” said Ashby M., 2025, who played Dorothy in one of the casts. “I was so excited to be a part of this wonderful tradition my senior year and loved my many interactions with the Lower School students in Munchkinland and the Jitterbug. I felt like a big sister helping them out with dance moves, singing and, of course, having fun!

Whenever I see the Lower Schoolers in the halls, they yell, ‘Dorothy!’ and it always brings a smile to my face.”

The 30th anniversary celebration of performing arts in the Sinex Theater was truly memorable for our community. Students, parents, alumnae and members of the Baltimore community joined Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Toto, Glinda, the Wicked Witch, the Wizard and others down the yellow brick road in a magical display of exquisite talent and passion. This celebration honored all those who have made an impact on RPCS performing arts on stage, off stage and backstage over the past 30 years, and provided memories for our performers that will last a lifetime, reminding them that there is no place like home.

“Performing together on stage is simply magical — the audience can feel the energy of the many REDS coming together in their hearts and souls.”

SHORT, 2001

ANNIE FEREBEE

Professional Connections:

Graduates Share Advice for Life After RPCS

In March, the Alumnae Office hosted its annual Professional Connections event, bringing back six incredible alumnae to speak with the entire Upper School. Through an interactive panel discussion, the graduates reflected on how an all-girls education prepared them for college and beyond and shared valuable insights and career advice about everything from overcoming obstacles to managing their time, before answering questions from students. The alumnae and Upper Schoolers then mingled in the Faissler Library for professional networking.

Moderated by Cary Zink Kassouf, 1995, Alumnae Board president and executive director of the Baltimore Research and Education Foundation, the panel discussion focused on themes that included the importance of flexibility and “adjusting the sails” when it comes to finding a career, self-advocacy, leaning into passions, lifelong learning and building community. As Cary told the students at the end of the program, “Your career has already started at RPCS. Your teachers are your career coaches and you’re learning skills now and building relationships.” Read on for additional important advice from RPCS alumnae!

As the first chief of staff at Brown Capital Management, Lauren Edwards, 2011 stressed the importance of self-advocacy and speaking up. She explained how she chose her major in Communications Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University after her Upper School history teacher, Paige North, suggested she major in journalism. At Brown Capital Management, she created her career path through networking, seeking mentors, attending conferences and, most importantly, asking to learn. Lauren also talked about the need to find community in a predominantly white institution and encouraged the students to find their confidence and use their voices.

Kate Jordan, 1998, a principal at the commercial real estate firm Lee & Associates, recalled how her history teacher, Judy Pittenger, and art history teacher, Elana Vikan, influenced her to major in history and minor in art history at Colgate University. “RPCS taught us that it’s cool to be smart and that we

should lean into who we want to be.” Kate told the girls that unexpected detours can lead them to where they are meant to be and spoke about the importance of lifelong learning. She also advised the girls to study abroad and reminded them that, “It’s all going to be okay!”

Katherine Barley Ebby, 2012, a clinical nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, also encouraged the students to pursue their passions now, even if they change. “You’re going to be a totally different person in 10 years,” Katherine said. “Be a sponge and learn as much as you can.” She recalled how supported she felt at RPCS, especially when she requested to miss school for a mission trip and, separately, when she organized a pajama drive for the nonprofit organization Casey Cares. “This is such a great environment where people want what’s best for you,” Katherine told the girls. She also spoke about the importance of self-care, especially with a demanding job, and recognized that it is an ongoing journey to balance a career and family, while also finding time for herself.

It was at RPCS where Emmy Middleton, 2016, now a clinical specialist and case supervisor at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, learned how to advocate for herself. This was especially helpful when she attended the University of South Carolina, a large state school, after coming from an environment of smaller classes. Emmy advised the students to be open to new opportunities, as she now has a job she didn’t know existed in high school. “It’s okay not to have all of the answers. Instead, now is the time to try new things,” she told the students.

Lily MacKenty, 2009, an attorney at Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP, shared how RPCS gave her a level of confidence and perspective as she works in a male-dominated field. She also emphasized the importance of creating connections and community at school, which can result in lifelong friendships. Finally, Lily encouraged the girls to take breaks as needed, especially as they figure out their next steps. “You live one life,” Lily told the girls. “Enjoy it.”

FIRST ROW: Kate Jordan, 1998 (left photo) and Katherine Barley Ebby, 2012 (right photo) both network with Upper School students after their panel presentation

SECOND ROW: From left to right: Kate Jordan, 1998; Emmy Middleton, 2016; Katherine Barley Ebby, 2012

THIRD ROW: Lily MacKenty, 2009, Cary Zink Kassouf, 1995, Katherine Barley Ebby, 2012, Emmy Middleton, 2016, Lauren Edwards, 2011 and Kate Jordan, 1998 (left photo); Lauren Edwards, 2011 (right photo)

FOURTH ROW: Lily MacKenty, 2009 at the panel discussion (left photo) and with Upper School students in the Faissler Library (right photo)

Teagan Hanley senior profiles

When Teagan Hanley joined Roland Park Country School as a freshman, she recalls being a shy person. But over the past four years, RPCS provided her with the support and resources that she credits with making her more open, confident and comfortable today. “Being at RPCS has made me more curious to learn about my classmates and their lives and I am eager to connect with them,” Teagan said. “Now, I enjoy having meaningful conversations with everyone in my grade and feel like I can talk to anyone. I feel like a leader.”

As president of the Community Service Association (CSA), Teagan has honed and demonstrated her leadership skills and ability to take initiative. During her junior year, she worked with members of the CSA and teachers to create the Upper School Clothing Closet, a pop-up women’s clothing shop on campus that raises proceeds and collects donations for My Sister’s Place, a local women’s shelter. Over the past two years, the Upper School Clothing Closet has been an overwhelming success that promotes giving back to the community, sustainability and creativity.

“Being able to see myself as someone who can create and organize something brand new has helped me in so many ways,” Teagan said. “I’ve learned how to work with my classmates, connect with other adults in the building, including Upper School Community Service Association faculty co-sponsors Kate Feiring and Jocelyn Hudson, and lead bigger projects in the community, which has been such a special experience for me.”

“Being able to see myself as someone who can create and organize something brand new has helped me in so many ways.”

A few of Teagan’s other proudest accomplishments include being named a Carson Scholar in 2024 for her outstanding academic achievements and humanitarian qualities and receiving the Women in Mathematics Award during her junior year. Being part of the crew team has also made a major impact on Teagan’s student experience. Her team members have become her best friends and her coaches, Dr. White and Mr. Rosen, have encouraged and inspired her both on the water and throughout her life.

One of Teagan’s favorite traditions is the Opening Day Convocation and this year’s event was especially sentimental and bittersweet to kick off her senior year. Teagan also treasures the small routines of school life, such as how Upper School Head Sara Rollfinke starts every Upper School meeting by saying: “Let’s take a deep breath in through our noses, out through our mouths, and center ourselves for our time together.”

Teagan will miss her friends and classmates, hanging out in the senior room, and also the special relationships she has with her teachers. “Getting to know my teachers has been such a highlight and pleasure of my experience here and I’m going to miss them a lot,” she said.

Outside of school, Teagan enjoys playing guitar, writing songs and spending time with her friends, family and two dogs. This summer, she will work as a lifeguard and swim teacher before heading to Rollins College in the fall, where she will join the women’s rowing team and study economics on a pre-law track.

Yvonne Romulus

Throughout her four years at Roland Park Country School, Yvonne Romulus has excelled academically, while pursuing passions in the arts, community and education that have prepared her for a bright future. “I believe RPCS has made me stronger,” Yvonne said. “I know that I can handle all different types of challenging situations because of RPCS. This school has taught me how to advocate for myself, and that if I want something, I will get it done.”

Serving as a representative of the Fine Arts Association during her junior year helped Yvonne realize she wanted to pursue a leadership role within the arts. As a member of two auditioned performing ensembles — the Footlights Theatre Ensemble (FTE) and the Semiquavers, the school’s auditioned junior and senior a cappella group — she credits the arts program at RPCS with shaping much of her Upper School experience. “Joining FTE helped my writing skills, taught me how to organize events, and reminded me that anything can happen and not everything has to be set in stone,” Yvonne said. “This helped shape my student experience as I was able to find people who loved theater as much as I did.”

“This school has taught me how to advocate for myself, and that if I want something, I will get it done.”

Yvonne has been on the honor roll every semester of high school and was awarded the World Languages Certificate this past spring for her formal intensive study of both Chinese and Spanish throughout Upper School. A firm believer that “knowledge is power,” Yvonne is also in the Inclusive Excellence Leadership Program (IELP) at RPCS and serves as a facilitator for open and informed discussions on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives with all members of the Upper School. She has also been part of the Black Student Union for all four years of high school. “Being able to have a community in the school that looks like me has been important to my high school experience,” Yvonne said. “It encourages me to reach out to other Black girls and form those bonds.”

In her junior year, Yvonne was awarded the Sally E. Nyborg Award at Class Day in honor of an RPCS student who tragically lost her life to lupus her junior year, for exemplifying Sally’s concern and caring for others, commitment to community involvement, and perseverance in facing challenges. She was also a recipient of the Samuel Ready Scholarships’ Louise Myerberg Award for exhibiting exceptional creativity in the arts during Upper School.

Some of Yvonne’s favorite memories include Field Day, Townhall and Opening Day, especially when her class earned accolades coming in second place in the dodgeball competition her freshman year, being crowned champions of Field Day as sophomores and winners of Townhall her junior year. In addition to her classmates and teachers, Yvonne will miss the bonds she has formed with the younger children while working as an Extended Day counselor and through the Semiquavers, the employees who work in the dining hall and the security guards who always help her morning start with a smile. “Each person, no matter what they do or contribute to the school, is what I will miss the most,” she said. Outside of school, Yvonne writes poetry and songs and “genuinely enjoys a good nap.” This summer, she looks forward to traveling with friends, visiting family and working as a camp counselor at Red Hot Summer Camps. In the fall, Yvonne will head to Dickinson College to major in international business and minor in Chinese.

Sasha Susel

Sasha Susel credits her 14 years at Roland Park Country School for shaping who she is as a person and helping her discover her aspirations for the future.

“Whether I need support or something else, I have learned how to be my best self at RPCS,” Sasha said. “The school has given me so many chances to become better in different ways and it has also helped me discover what I want to pursue after graduation.”

Sasha has learned how to be more empathetic and lead in certain tense or tough situations as president of the Honor Board, a student-faculty committee largely responsible for encouraging appropriate and honorable behavior among students. She is also co-president of the Hispanic and LatinX/e Student Alliance, copy editor of the yearbook, Quid Nunc, a Red Key tour guide for prospective families, a participant in Model UN for four years, and a member of the Davidov Power Lunch Program, the Holliday Heine STEM Institute and the Jewish Heritage Club. In addition to making the honor roll every semester, Sasha also earned IAAM all-conference honors her junior year for tennis and badminton her senior year.

Participating in these activities has enriched Sasha’s school experience and has given her the opportunity to practice and strengthen several skills, including public speaking, writing and studying. The affinity spaces she is involved in have allowed her to meet people with similar identities and find comfort in times of need, and she enjoys working with her peers to educate and advocate for both affinity spaces in the school.

Sasha’s favorite school tradition is the Opening Day convocation. “This year was especially surreal,” Sasha said. “I was finally in the spot I had been watching for 13 years. I had the best day celebrating with my friends and then crying as the Roses performed the Opening Day dance and our grade sang the school song together. I think that is just my favorite memory because it spans over my 14 years at RPCS with different feelings of excitement and sadness each year.”

“I was finally in the spot I had been watching for 13 years. I had the best day celebrating with my friends and then crying as the Roses performed the Opening Day dance and our grade sang the school song together.”

Sasha will miss so much about RPCS, including the teachers and her friends, as well as the gym, which holds so many memories, the hallways she used to run through and see the younger students in Little Reds and Lower School, and the library, where she often studied or spent time with friends. This summer, Sasha looks forward to traveling to Japan with her family and seeing Coldplay and The Weeknd in concert. In the fall, Sasha will head to Southern Methodist University, where she plans to major in finance and minor in Chinese.

Norah White

During her four years at Roland Park Country School, Norah White has stepped outside of her comfort zone, assumed leadership roles and deepened her connections with the school community. As president of the Student Diversity Association (SDA) and an Inclusive Excellence Leadership Program (IELP) mentor, Norah credits these organizations with helping her to develop empathy and connect with more students and other members of the community. “I’m still constantly learning something new from my peers, organization members, faculty advisors and students,” Norah said. “I really looked up to the older student leaders of SDA, including past presidents ( Kenna Mitchell , 2022, Erin Hoskins , 2023 and Molly Jethwa , 2024), who have all been incredible examples of who I want to be, not only for my community, but for myself, too: compassionate, driven, intelligent and accomplished.”

“I’m still constantly learning something new from my peers, organization members, faculty advisors and students.”

Norah is on the crew team and is involved in the Model UN club, ceramics club and Community Reads, a nonprofit organization created by an RPCS alumna that teaches children in grades K–2 about diversity through literature. She also organizes book drives for the Maryland Book Bank and volunteers there almost every weekend. “Volunteering with the Book Bank has really helped me realize and understand my privilege to attend a school that cares so much about my education and offers me so many academic opportunities,” she said. In her junior year, Norah won the Outstanding Writer Award and the University of Chicago Book Award, which is bestowed to a scholar who is among the strongest in her class and whose coursework is among the most challenging. Earlier this year, Norah was inducted into the school’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society and has made the honor roll every semester in Upper School. She was also selected by her classmates to serve as the senior speaker at Commencement in June.

Some of Norah’s favorite memories at RPCS include going on grade retreats and spending time with her advisory, cheering on her classmates in dodgeball, participating in spirit weeks, Senior Day, and the big sisters/little sisters tradition. She will miss being part of such a tight-knit community where everyone shares a mutual respect and kindness towards one another. “I’ve always felt that people in the RPCS community really care about each other’s well-being, and it’s a very unique experience to be part of a school where that feeling comes so naturally,” Norah said.

Outside of school, Norah enjoys reading, playing the piano and bass guitar, visiting museums, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends. This fall, Norah will attend the University of Chicago, where she will major in history. “I’ve learned to take opportunities as they come, even if they intimidate me,” Norah said. “I know that I won’t come out of RPCS perfect, but I do know that I’ll be ready to take advantage of every chance the future gives me, whether they are comfortable or not.”

alumnae profiles

Katherine Barley Ebby, 2012

As a clinical nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Katherine Barley Ebby credits her 13 years at RPCS for influencing her career trajectory. “I always enjoyed the science classes in Lower and Middle School, and in Upper School, I found myself pursuing science electives,” she recalls. “In addition to being incredibly prepared for college, RPCS taught me to always seek new opportunities, challenge myself and want to learn something new every day.”

Being a RED benefited Katherine in other ways, including developing a sense of selfconfidence and the ability to advocate for her needs, especially in college. “RPCS gave me the foundational skills I needed to learn how to study and fostered my sense of professional growth and drive,” she said.

Katherine also appreciated the support she received at RPCS for pursuing her passions. Interested in healthcare at a young age, she joined her grandparents on several mission trips to Guatemala, mostly coinciding with spring break. However, when she needed to miss a week of school for one trip, the school supported her opportunity to explore the world. Katherine was always interested in advocating for sick children, so during her senior year, she organized a pajama drive to benefit the Casey Cares Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides uplifting programming to critically ill children and their families across the Mid-Atlantic region. “I was able to make a large donation on behalf of the RPCS community and ultimately completed my senior project with the organization,” Katherine said. “RPCS gave me the confidence to always pursue my passion and to never doubt what I was capable of.”

After graduating from RPCS, Katherine earned a B.A. in Health Sciences with a minor in Poverty Studies from Furman University. She worked for three years in HIV clinical trials research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before deciding to pursue a career in nursing. She graduated with her Master of Science degree in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University in 2020. After starting her nursing career at the University of Pennsylvania in adult oncology, Katherine

landed her dream job in Pediatric Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After three years of inpatient bedside nursing, Katherine is now a member of her unit’s nursing leadership team and manages orientation for new hires. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Jack, and their young son, Nathan.

At RPCS, Katherine was a proud member of the Varsity Field Hockey team for four years as a goalkeeper and an avid crew team member. She still thinks fondly of rowing at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta every time she passes the Schuylkill River on her drive to work. Katherine also remembers looking forward to the Opening Day convocation each year and singing “We’re All Together Again” with Doug Forbes. She loved all of her teachers, particularly Melissa Nichols, Jesse Anderson and Eliza McLaren. “At RPCS, I was always inspired to do the right thing and to be a good person,” she said.

Today, Katherine draws inspiration from her patients. “I care for patients from as young as a few days old to adults in their 30s and 40s, and every person I work with inspires me with their strength and positivity,” she said. “Helping patients and their families through the most challenging journey of their life is a privilege I will never take for granted.”

“Helping patients and their families through the most challenging journey of their life is a privilege I will never take for granted.”

— KATHERINE BARLEY EBBY, 2012

Elena Olivi, 2001

When Elena Olivi joined Roland Park Country School in ninth grade, she thought she would become a physicist. Instead, she has pursued a career in public health, working for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Laos, Southeast Asia, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Mozambique and South Sudan, leading initiatives to prevent and manage malaria, pneumonia, malnutrition, and other life-threatening ailments.

She also worked in Tanzania as COO of an African-founded importer and distributor of medical devices and laboratory equipment and then for a management consulting firm in Kenya, where she advised small and mediumsized enterprises on financial management, strategy and investor readiness.

In 2023, Elena cofounded AddVenture Leadership, a new outdoor leadership program for young professionals based in Nairobi, Kenya, where she leads operations, partnerships and business development.

“I’ve had infinite pivots since high school,” Elena said. “But RPCS instilled in me the confidence and courage to be intentional about what I want from my career and my life, as I’ve juggled an eclectic career, an engaged motherhood, a growth-oriented marriage, and a hungry adventure and travel docket. I felt resilient and energized every time I took a career pivot or a life pivot or a geographic pivot, rather than feeling lost.”

Elena recalls how the smaller class sizes and feedback from her teachers and peers at RPCS fostered a sense of security, which made her feel supported in such a way that later in life she could take more risks.

Specifically, she remembers the Upper School drama teacher, Michael McNulty, whose challenge to her to think more critically after she gave a self-described “trite, timid and inauthentic” speech as president of the Student Government Association (SGA), made a powerful impact on her. She also fondly recalls Kati Colombat, her French teacher, who gifted her a copy of The Prince at graduation, which she now reads to her three young girls. She often thinks of Elana Vikan and Randi Thomas-Cooke, who taught her how to engage adults with confidence, and her AP European history teacher, Judy Pittenger, who taught her how to write. Elena also cherishes the dear friendships she cultivated with classmates, particularly with Erin Miles Cloud and Dinah Bengur, who carried her through life’s many ups and downs, well beyond graduation.

After RPCS, Elena earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Princeton University and an MBA from the International Institute for Management

Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. In her current role, Elena helps young professionals learn critical leadership skills, including resiliency, adaptability and selfawareness, through immersive and challenging wilderness experiences. Working in education and professional development and considering her own children’s education, Elena reflects more often on her experience at RPCS. “I am now endeavoring through my business to instill a sense of nimbleness, teamwork, critical thinking and courage in professionals who didn’t have the privilege of an RPCS education,” she said.

Elena makes being outdoors and active a priority, which she attributes to playing sports at RPCS and learning to appreciate what her body could do, rather than what it looked like. After participating (“badly”) in crew, volleyball and soccer, she eventually competed at a high level in rugby in college and coached the women’s national rugby team in Laos.

“At RPCS, I learned I could focus on my values to chase my own dreams and intentionally create my own life that’s not shaped by somebody else’s expectation of me,” Elena said. “I really think that RPCS nurtured me to have a little bit of fire.”

“At RPCS, I learned I could focus on my values to chase my own dreams and intentionally create my own life that’s not shaped by somebody else’s expectation of me.” — ELENA OLIVI, 2001

The Courtroom REDS in . . .

Graduates of Roland Park Country School have pursued meaningful careers with varied paths, taking them all over the world. In this annual feature, we highlight REDS with careers in specific industries. This year, we are spotlighting several alumnae who have chosen careers in law. From representing clients and researching legal issues to presiding over court proceedings and making rulings and decisions, our graduates are navigating, mastering and applying the law to make our world a better place.

COURTNEY AMELUNG, 2007

Courtney Amelung is an employment attorney and shareholder at Ogletree Deakins, where she represents employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters in federal and state courts and before federal and state agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She also prepares and revises employee handbooks, personnel policies and employment agreements, advises managers and human resources on a wide variety of personnel matters, and provides training on discrimination, reasonable accommodations and other compliance issues. After her time at RPCS, Courtney graduated with a B.A. from the University of Richmond and a J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where she served as Notes and Comments Editor on the Maryland Law Review. Courtney served as a judicial law clerk for Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and practiced at a regional civil litigation firm where she focused on management-side employment and labor law, medical malpractice defense and commercial and business litigation. She was named partner at the Baltimore-based employment and labor law firm Shawe Rosenthal LLP before Ogletree Deakins acquired it. Super Lawyers Magazine named Courtney a Maryland Rising Star in the Employment and Labor practice area from 2021–2024. The 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America also acknowledged her talents.

Associate Judge Juliet Fisher was appointed to the Baltimore County Orphans’ Court in April 2014 by Martin O’Malley, the governor of Maryland at that time. She was re-elected to the Baltimore County Orphans’ Court again in 2018 and 2022.

After graduating from RPCS, Juliet earned a B.A. in Political Science and Writing from Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2000. In addition to working for several years as a practicing attorney, mediator and arbitrator, Juliet has served as the vice chair of the Maryland Conference of Orphans’ Court Judges in 2019, 2020 and 2023 and as the chair of the Legislative Subcommittee since 2018. She is also a member of the National College of Probate Judges and a former board member of the Maryland Association of Judges of the Orphans’ Court. Juliet was named Arbitrator of the Year by the Better Business Bureau in 2010. She was also honored with a Leading Women Award from The Daily Record in 2012 and honored as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in The Daily Record in 2019.

JULIET RANDALL FISHER, 1993

LILY MACKENTY, 2009

Lily is an attorney at Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP in their Baltimore office. After graduating from RPCS, she attended Dickinson College, where she majored in History and Political Science, and minored in Economics. During her time at Dickinson, Lily had the opportunity to study abroad in Bologna, Italy, which sparked a love for travel. After graduating, Lily attended the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where she participated as a Rose Zetzer Fellow, a peer advisor and a member of the Maryland Journal of International Law. Upon earning her J.D. in 2017, Lily clerked in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County for the Honorable Mickey J. Norman. Currently, Lily concentrates on her practice in general insurance coverage litigation, construction defects, premise liability cases and commercial litigation. Maryland Super Lawyers Magazine recognized her as a 2025 Rising Star.

ALEXANDRA MOYLAN, 2002

As a shareholder in Baker Donelson’s Baltimore and Washington, D.C., offices and a member of the Health Law Group and the Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity Team, Alexandra (Alex) Moylan is a seasoned healthcare and business attorney with a track record of representing major medical systems, health care providers, technology companies, life science companies and other businesses. Her experience spans clinical research and development, contracting, privacy compliance and enterprise risk management, including risk assessments and mitigation strategies. Alex advises businesses on governance and risk management policies specific to AI and provides corporate education on AI. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and a Certified AI Governance Professional (AIGP). After attending RPCS, Alex graduated with a B.A. from the University of Maryland and a J.D. from American University’s Washington College of Law. For several years in a row, The Best Lawyers in America has recognized Alex for her work in Medical Malpractice Law, Product Liability Litigation and Commercial Litigation. Alex was also included in The Daily Record’s Business Law Power List in 2025 and recognized as one of the Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2022.

SABRINA JOHNSON TURNER, 1998

Sabrina Johnson Turner is both a trial attorney for USAA, an insurance and financial services company for members of the military and their families, and a judge on the Maryland Tax Court. After graduating from RPCS, Sabrina earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) as a Meyerhoff Scholar and then a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University, before earning her J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Sabrina has spent her entire legal career in civil litigation. After law school graduation, she first worked as a judicial law clerk in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and then spent over 10 years as a trial attorney for Allstate Insurance Company and about a year as a chief solicitor in the Litigation Group of the Law Department for the City of Baltimore. In 2022, Maryland Governor Wes Moore appointed her as a judge for the Maryland Tax Court, where she hears de novo appeals of tax-related disputes in all counties in Maryland. As a trial attorney for USAA, Sabrina uses her advanced trial advocacy, mediation training and negotiation skills to achieve favorable verdicts for her clients and ensure their satisfaction with her knowledge and representation.

Dr. Celeste Woodward Applefeld, 1964 IN LOVING MEMORY OF

On August 26, 2024, Dr. Celeste Woodward Applefeld, 1964 passed away at her home in Charlottesville, Virginia. A cherished alumna, lifetime trustee and past RPCS parent, Celeste was a beloved member of our community, known for her extraordinary ability to build relationships, her unwavering resolve and internal strength, and her deep devotion to her alma mater.

During her senior year at RPCS, Celeste served as president of the Student Government Association, and she remained an active and engaged member of the school community after graduation. A pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases, Celeste and her cardiologist husband, Dr. Mark Applefeld, were proud parents of Grace Applefeld Cleveland, 1998 and Lewis Applefeld, a 1995 graduate of Gilman School. In addition to their involvement as RPCS parents, Celeste also served on the RPCS Board of Trustees from 1989–2002 and was the first alumna to chair the Board, serving from 1998 through 2002 and presiding over the group during the school’s Centennial Campaign and celebration. Celeste also served on the Alumnae Board and was a member of the planning committee for the A Place in Our Hearts capital campaign in 2005. RPCS awarded her the McCauley Bowl in 2003 for her distinguished and continued service to the school and its graduates.

and all the members of the Roses Repertory Dance Company, as an acknowledgement of their gift to the Centennial Campaign in 2001. The Lauve Health Suite is named after Celeste’s mother. Celeste was also a founding member of the Red & White Legacy Society that recognizes members of the community who include RPCS in their estate or financial plans to ensure the school’s continued success. Celeste’s legacy at Roland Park Country School will continue to inspire generations to come, reminding us all of the importance of dedication and service.

A celebration of life in honor of Celeste was held at Roland Park Country School on September 14, 2024, followed by a reception in the Faissler Library. Friends and family shared fond memories of Celeste, also known as “Sis.”

“Sis was a supremely devoted and caring friend, a gifted athlete and a consummate mother and grandmother,” recalled Phil Mackowiak, her friend of more than 70 years. “She was as bright a light in the lives of many of us as there was. So, Mark, Grace and Lewis, thank you for sharing that light with us, for what now seems like such a short time.”

“Our lives and the lives of everyone here and all the children who she took such wonderful care of, inside and outside of the hospital, were greatly enriched by her and for that, we are all thankful,” said her son, Lewis.

In addition to giving their time, Celeste and Mark were also generous in their philanthropic support of the school. They were responsible for negotiating the Sarah Crane Cohen Visiting Scholar in the Humanities Endowment, which was established in 1993 by an appreciative patient of Mark’s, the late Charles Crane, in memory of his mother.

Celeste and Mark generously supported the school through several capital campaigns and named spaces throughout the campus. The Library Conference Room was funded by Mark and Celeste and by Celeste’s parents, Dr. Theodore Woodward and Dr. Celeste Lauve Woodward during the Building the Spirit campaign in 2000. The Applefeld Dance Studio was named in honor of their daughter, Grace,

“Mom really saw and loved all the children around her — her patients at Mercy Hospital, the students here at Roland Park, her kids and grandkids, her nieces and nephews, her neighbors, her friends’ kids, her kids’ friends — she loved them all,” said her daughter, Grace. “She saw all those children and teenagers as whole people filled with potential and talent and the capacity to do so much, and she wanted to get to know them all and to help them find their own ways forward, which I think probably made her an excellent pediatrician. And I know it made her an incredible parent and grandparent.”

We offer our deepest condolences to Celeste’s family and friends and all of us who cared for her so much. May her memory be a blessing to us all.

16th Annual Alumna Art Show

with Caroline Chriss Hearn, 2011

It is one of our great annual traditions to highlight the artistic talents of the students who used to walk our halls, through the Roland Park Country School Alumna Artist Exhibit. Last fall, we were honored to feature the work of Caroline Chriss Hearn, 2011, a Baltimore artist specializing in seascapes and portraits. The Art Department and Alumnae Office selected Caroline as the artist for our 16th Annual Alumna Art Show. Students, faculty and visitors to RPCS enjoyed seeing her work on display for one month last fall in the Knott Lobby.

One RPCS student, Bryndi P., 2029, was so inspired by Caroline’s paintings when she visited the Alumna Artist Exhibit with her visual arts class last fall that it influenced her own work

this school year. Bryndi created a series of ocean landscapes — two of which were featured in the Eighth Grade Art Show this past January. In her artist statement, she credited Caroline’s paintings as inspirations.

The Alumna Artist Exhibit culminated in a closing reception last October, where Caroline celebrated with family, friends and other alumnae.

“What an honor it is to be the Alumna Artist for Roland Park Country School this year,” Caroline said. “Roland Park will always have a special spot in my heart … a place that allowed and encouraged me to follow my passion to be an artist.”

Bryndi P.’s paintings

Alumnae Valentine Legacy Luncheon

Love was in the air this past February as the Alumnae Office and the Alumnae Association hosted the annual Valentine’s Legacy Luncheon for our current RPCS students and alumnae legacy relatives. With 119 people in attendance, it was a wonderful way to celebrate the love we have for our legacies and honor the special RPCS connections among families.

Tala Al-Talib, 2001 and her daughters, Aya Hasan, 2034 and Maryam Hasan, 2036

Kelly Soth Nolan, 2004 with her daughter, Emma Nolan, 2037

BACK: Kerry Weir Rubin, 2008, Anna Scanlan Swift, 2006, Emily Black Soref, 2007, Adeline Swift, 2029 FRONT: Charlotte Weir, 2035, Nora Swift, 2035, Lou Soref, 2035, Evans Soref, 2037

BACK: Liz Ryan, 1999, Hannah Whitman Clark, 2003, Carey Baugher Piraino, 1997 FRONT: Lucy Martinez, 2035, Clara Clark, 2035, Alice Baugher, 2035

LEFT TO RIGHT: Grayson Grumbine, 2034, Brooke Grumbine, 1997, Ann Wittich Warfield, 1948, Paris Grady Warfield, 1974, Becca Warfield Smith, 2004, Milly Smith, 2034, Gigi Cutillo, 2034, Tara Markowski Cutillo, 2000, Parker Grumbine, 2031

Riley Mattison, 2032, Kimberly Keehner Mattison, 1985, Kinsley Mattison, 2034

Alexandra Carroll, 2011 and Gwendolyn Wilson, 2028

Heather Stark Noyes, 1984, Ellee Sale, 2031, Lou Lou Sale 2034, Helen Williams Sale, 2002

Anne Garrett Randolph, 2027 with her mother Julia Garrett Randolph, 1997

Carroll Knott McGill, 1993, Erin McInnes Shaughnessy, 1998, Kristin Raneri Nicolini, 1998

Courtney Wiggs, 2029, Tammy Passano Wiggs, 1997, Lizzy Bennett Sweeney, 1996, Jane Sweeney, 2029, Kate Gentles, 2029, Laura Morris Gentles, 1993, Erin McInnes Shaughnessy, 1998, Avery Shaughnessy, 2029

Alice Chung Cootauco, 1992 and Emmie Mink Frank, 1995

100th Night Dinner

This past March, the Class of 2025 gathered for the annual 100th Night Dinner, a beloved tradition hosted by the Alumnae Board that began in the 1980s. Typically held the night before Senior Day, this special day marks approximately 100 days until Commencement!

REDS Get Creative and Reconnect at Two New Events

The Alumnae Board hosted two new events this year! On Thursday, November 21, 2024, a group of REDS grabbed their brushes for Sip and Paint at Painting with a Twist. On Thursday, May 15, 2025, alumnae were invited to attend a terrarium building workshop at B. Willow, owned by Liz Vayda, 2005. Both gatherings provided an opportunity for guests to explore their creativity and connect with each other over libations and appetizers. Lots of REDS fun for all involved!

Sip & Paint

B. Willow

A Message from the Alumnae Board President

Hello, Fellow Alumnae!

It is an honor and a joy to serve as your Alumnae Board President! As I reflect on my time in this role, I am so impressed with, and filled with gratitude for, the strength of our alumnae community — a community that inspires, leads and supports both one another and our school that “has meant much to us through all these years.”

During the year, I have had the absolute pleasure of participating in many beloved traditions. Sending RPCS-themed care packages to college freshman alums, attending the annual Alumnae Artist Reception on campus, running (er, walking) in the Red Hot Run 5K, attending the All-School Musical, proudly holding my alumnae candle at the Traditional Upper School Christmas Program, moderating Professional Connections/Career Day with a panel of inspirational alums, presenting class rings at the Sophomore Ring Ceremony, welcoming alums and legacy students to the Valentine Legacy Luncheon, participating in RedRaiser, celebrating seniors at their 100th Night Dinner, celebrating my 30th reunion at the Alumnae Weekend Champagne Reception, attending Commencement, and so much more!

I am continually reminded of how special RPCS is as a school for current students and as a family for alums. I sincerely encourage you to find ways to stay involved, whether through mentoring current RPCS students, attending reunions and events, submitting Class Notes, participating in annual giving, or simply reaching out to a fellow alum. Your continued engagement reaffirms a lasting bond that we all share through RPCS.

With Red and White Pride, Cary Zink Kassouf, 1995

Alumnae Board

Members 2024-2025

Courtney Amelung, 2007

Maya Tasher Barron, 1999

Mallory Schofield Branson, 1994

Casey Lord Briggs, 1991

Shannell Richardson Cockrell, 1997

Tanaira Cullens, 2008

Lisa Diver, 2006

Jen Banister Figler, 1988

Barbara Hull Francis, 1960

Edie Chapman Gillis, 1963

Kellye Whiting Gilmer, 1989

Brittany Bland Grant, 2005

Nancy Townshend Haas, 1969

Allie Mason Hoffberg, 2011

Leighton Hyde, 1995

Maya Jackson, 2011

Gina Kane, 1988

Cary Zink Kassouf, 1995

Maria Mainolfi, 1999

Deeley Close Middleton, 1979

Kelly Soth Nolan, 2004

Ashley Osineme, 2010

Haley Venick Paglia, 2011

Chey Pajardo, 2014

Niki Steel Phillips, 2011

Jenna Reifler, 2012

Lindsay Robin Saffer, 1997

Lizzy Bennett Sweeney, 1996

Susan Townshend Townsend, 1963

Sally Foley, 1956 Emerita*

Ann Wittich Warfield, 1948 Emerita*

Members of the 2024-2025 Alumnae Board at the May 2025 meeting. Not all pictured.

Alumnae Weekend

April 19 - April 21, 2024

Dushane Luncheon

1 Reunited, and it feels so good! 2 Members of the Class of 1965 celebrating their 60th Reunion! 3 Members of the Class of 2035 joined the luncheon to discuss the Second Grade Marketplace. 4 Members of the 5th grade class distributed roses to each guest! 5 1960 Classmates Jean Waller Brune and Barbara Hull Francis with Nancy Strahan, 1970. 6 Enjoying the opportunity to catch up amongst classes over lunch!

7 Amani S., 2025 sharing her Senior Speech with guests!

8 Nancy Townshend Haas, 1969, Pam Townshend Neale, 1966 and Eva McManus Edmonds, 1966. 9 5th grade performance!

10 Jane Allison, 1970 with Marya Zeigler, 1971.

April 25 - April 26, 2025

Alumnae Weekend

April 25 - April 26, 2025

50th Tea with 5th Grade Pen Pals

1 Catching up on all things RPCS through the years! 2 Tina Goldsmith Thompson, 1975 getting to know her Pen Pal! 3 Kaylee S. with her 50th Reunion Pel Pal, Ann Karwacki Goodman, 1975! 4 Denise Reather McKissock, 1975 meeting her 5th Grade Pen Pal! 5 Enjoying the nice weather over tea and punch! 6 Diane Drechsler, 1975 with Pen Pal Tea host and 5th grader, Tati S.! 7 Tina Taliaferro Maclary, 1975 sharing highlights

from the 50th Reunion Quid Nunc 8 Wincie Proutt Skeen, 1975 getting to know her Pen Pal, Sylvie M.! 9 Sally Strahan Matthews, 1975 proudly holding her letter from Pen Pal, Emily S.. 10 Looking at those Commencement photos!

Alumnae Weekend

April 25 - April 26, 2025

Alumnae Tailgate

1 Tailgaters Emily Dierkes Rohrer, 2002, Cameron Bell, 2015, Grace Laria, 2015, Pepper, Hope Duke, 2015, Ally Cirelli, 2015 and Nate Grosh. 2 Catching up amongst friends! 3 It’s a Beary fun day to be a RED at the RPCS – Maryvale lacrosse game! 4 Welcome home! 5 It’s bubble time! 6 Joan Smith, HA, Head of School enjoying time with Cara Hitchner Fuchs, 2005 and her family! 7 Pepper is the life of the party! 8 2005 classmates, Shannon Burke Vail, Cara Hitchner Fuchs and Tina Knipp Harrison! 9 Senior Christina C. helping out at the face painting station! 10 Cornhole fun! 11 Alumnae Board members are ready at the check in table: Cary Zink Kassouf, 1995, Alumnae Board President, along with Casey Lord Briggs, 1991 and Jen Banister Figler, 1988! 12 Members of the Class of 2005 gather around the bell: Tina Knipp Harrison, Cara Hitchner Fuchs, Sarah Zimmerman, Emily Gates, Shannon Burke Vail and Stacy Cooper Kirsch with daughter, Ella. 13 In true REDS spirit, Joan Smith, HA, Head of School and Regan Gore, 2015, enjoy time watching the game!

Champagne Reception

1 Members of the Class of 1995 celebrating their 30th Reunion: Tori Fingles, Cary Zink Kassouf, Elizabeth Weiss Nook, Christine Lusk, Kristen Creticos and Leighton Hyde. 2 1995 classmates, Lindsay Walker, Anne Chemers Sperling and Dana Bennett-Goksu, celebrating their 30th Reunion! 3 Joan Smith, HA, Head of School enjoying time with 2010 alums: Ashley Osineme, Leah Hairston, Lauren Carter, Carroll Neale and Jen Fowler!

4 Leah Hairston, 2010 and Jean Waller Brune, 1960. 5 Beloved former and current faculty members join the fun: Doug Forbes, HA, Toby Rivkin and David Brock. 6 Members of the 50th Reunion class: Diane Drechsler, Tara Kent McDonough, Linda McCormick Bertazon and Deborah Banker-Doyle. 7 The Semiquavers delighted the crowd and were joined by alum Semis for the School Song. 8 So much JOY at the Champagne Reception!

9 Hope Duke and Regan Gore from the Class of 2015.

Alumnae Weekend

Champagne Reception

April 25 - April 26, 2025

Maddie Kaufman, 2012, selected as recipient of the Distinguished Rising REDS Award

Congratulations to Maddie Kaufman, 2012, who was selected as the fifth recipient of the Distinguished Rising REDS Award! Established in 2021, this award celebrates an alumna under the age of 40 who has enhanced the reputation of Roland Park Country School through outstanding professional achievements, personal accomplishments, significant contributions to their community and/or engagement with RPCS.

While at RPCS, Maddie was Spirit Committee co-president and played on the fall and winter soccer teams and badminton team. A member of the Cum Laude Society, she was also recognized with several honors, including the Women in Science Award and the Eleanor P. Graham Award. Maddie was elected to serve as the Senior Speaker at Commencement.

After graduating from RPCS, Maddie earned a B.S. in Marine Science and Biology with minors in Chemistry and Journalism from the University of Miami in 2016. During a gap year, Maddie earned her PADI Divemaster certification and led divers on conservation-related dive trips including invasive species removal, marine debris cleanups, and coral bleaching monitoring. She also started volunteering her time to work for Debris Free Oceans and assisted a graduate student in a coral reef research lab at Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science (RSMAES).

Maddie went on to pursue a M.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science graduating in 2020, receiving an Award of Academic Merit and the David Rowland Endowed Fellowship. She studied coral reef conservation for her master’s thesis research and has since published two 1st-author and five coauthor peer-reviewed research articles. She earned her American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) scientific diver authorization to conduct underwater research and helped run coral restoration citizen science dive

expeditions with the public through University of Miami’s Rescue a Reef program. Between her recreational and professional diving, Maddie has logged over 500 scuba dives.

After completing her master’s program, Maddie was hired as Debris Free Oceans first full-time employee; previously the organization was 100% volunteer-run. Maddie is currently the Program Director of Debris Free Oceans (DFO), a Miami based nonprofit that empowers local communities to stop plastic pollution. In her role, she develops strategies and tools to support businesses as they reduce waste, creates curriculum about single-use plastics, conducts research to evaluate the impact of their programs, and helps secure grants and funding to support their programs. Maddie also teaches a Tropical Coastal Restoration course for graduate students at RSMAES.

In her spare time, she volunteers as FWC-authorized sea turtle monitoring personnel and shares her expertise locally through serving on Florida Sea Grant’s Miami-Dade County Extension Advisory Committee, Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Sustainability Task Force, and the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves Advisory Committee. Maddie is dedicated to making science and conservation positive, fun, approachable, and accessible to all!

Past Recipients: 2021: Morgan Katz Peters, 2002 | 2022: Necole Jackson, 2007 | 2023: Caroline Boeke, 2004 | 2024: Dani Makia, 2009

Nominate a classmate for next year’s Distinguished Rising REDS Award at rpcs.org/alumnae!

1 10th Reunion classmates, Ally Cirelli and Allie Hough. 2 Oh, what fun! 3 Cary Zink Kassouf, 1995, Alumnae Board President and member of the 30th Reunion class.

Champagne Reception

1 Celebrating their first RPCS Reunion are members of the Class of 2020, Kate Merlo, Lucy Davidov and Shannon Smith. 2 Lee Kelly, 1971 along with 1970 classmates, Kathy Lenhard Beck and Nancy Strahan. 3 It’s good to be back! 4 Hugs all around! 5 Katie Clements, Francesca Whitehurst Swindell and Riley Brager from the Class of 2015. 6 Nancy Townshend Haas, 1969, Susan Townshend Townsend, 1963 and Barbara Hull Francis, 1960 catching up over libations and apps!

25th Reunion Dinner

1 Maria Smith, Haritha Divakaruni Shematek and Rachel Kraus. 2 Members of the Class of 2020 reunite for their 25th reunion dinner with Joan Smith, HA, Head of School!

April 25 - April 26, 2025

Class Reunions

Class of 1960 –65th Reunion

Class of 1965–60th Reunion

Class of 1970–55th Reunion

Class of 1975–50th Reunion

Class of 1990–35th Reunion

Class of 1985–40th Reunion

Class of 1995–30th Reunion

Class of 2000–25th Reunion

Class of 2005–20th Reunion

Class of 2010–15th Reunion

Class of 2015–10th Reunion

Class of 2020–5th Reunion

Our sympathies to the families and friends of:

1938

Jane Lusby Betts 12/9/2024

1945

Mary “Jinx” Wilhelm Barton

Mother of Charlotte B. Lord, 1968 and Ann O. Lord-Brezniak, 1968; sister of Jane Wilhelm Daniels, 1946*; aunt of Ann O. Daniels, 1983 and Jane D. Daniels, 1982; and great-aunt of Josephine G. Kalbfleisch, 2023, Ann E. Calhoun, 2016, and Grace J. Calhoun, 2017 2/8/2025

Mary Frech Lamborg 3/28/2024

1946

Caroline York Chisum 5/18/2025

Jane Wilhelm Daniels

Mother of Anne O. Daniels, 1983, Jane D. J. Daniels, 1982, Grandmother of Ann E. Calhoun, 2016, Grace J. Calhoun, 2017, Josephine G. Kalbfleisch, 2023, sister of Mary “Jinx” Wilhelm Barton, 1945*, aunt of Charlotte B. Lord, 1968 and Ann O. Lord-Brezniak, 1968 1/2/2025

1948

Matilda “Tillie” Jones Bayless

Sister of Allene Jones Kailer, 1951*, cousin of Caroline Felton Rastelli, 1969, Margaret Felton Romanik, 1973, and Barbara J. Felton, 1977 7/8/2024

1951

Jane Helms Blaustein

Sister of Anne Helms Irons, 1949*, Eleanor “Tommie” Helms Ward, 1942*, Samuel Helms, BA, and Lee Helms, BA* 8/17/2024

1952

Elizabeth “Betty” Fox Dell 3/26/2025

Louise Wood Macsherry

Mother of Anne Macsherry Whitman, 1978 and Sarah Macsherry Huculak, 1994, aunt of Kathleen Macsherry Goldberg, 1992 9/30/2024

1953

Paula Hassencamp Lynch 4/25/2025

1954

Ann Bachman Ryan 11/5/2024

1955

Harriet Reynolds Clark Sister of Nancy T. Reynolds, 1952* 6/7/2024

Mary Louisa Primrose Hoffman 11/6/2024

We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of alumna and former Roland Park Country School Trustee Mimi Roeder Vaughan, 1966, who passed away last Christmas. She was known as a free spirit in high school and is remembered for her kind and caring nature, confidence and generosity. After graduating from RPCS, she attended the University of Tennessee and then pursued graduate studies at the University of Hawaii, before teaching English at Western High School. Mimi spent 51 years in business, founding Roeder Travel and Kailua Properties in 1973. She was also the founder and CEO of Roland Park Travel and Falls Road Travel, the Past President of Network 2000, and served as a board member for various community organizations throughout the years. Mimi was a prolific mentor, dedicated to the empowerment of women and minorities, and also inspired her friends to serve the community. Mimi was often found poolside in a sunhat, grandchildren in tow. She is survived by her three children, Virginia Pizza, 1994, Kelly Vaughan and Ryan Vaughan; six beloved grandchildren, including Livia Pizza, 2027 and Alexa Vaughan, 2032; her partner, John M. Myers Jr.; her sister, Anne Roeder Kern, 1963; her beloved cats, Marshmallow and Tiger; and countless other family and friends.

* DECEASED

1964

Celeste “Sis” Woodward Applefeld

Mother of Grace Applefeld Cleveland, 1998 8/26/2024

Josette Kiefer

Sister of Linda Kiefer Sanders, 1960 4/2025

1966

Mimi Roeder Vaughan

Mother of Virginia Pizza, 1994, sister of Anne Roeder Kern, 1963 and James Roeder, BA , and stepsister of Suzi Wenger O’Brien, 1963* 12/25/2024

1983

Lisa Green Hall

Sister of Cynthia Green, 1975* 3/15/2025

1987

Caroline Beck

1993

Jennifer Price-Dausch 10/2024

Former Employees

Donna Bourne Varsity Softball Coach, 2014-2024 10/18/2024

Deborah “Debby” F. Xenakis 5/13/2024

Roland Park Country School expresses our condolences to the family and friends of alumna and former Trustee Jane Wilhelm Daniels, 1946, who passed away on January 2. Her life was full of dear friendships, loving family, and books, art, and creativity. After earning a BA in English from Goucher College and a Masters of Library Science from Simmons College in Boston, Jane worked at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in various branches until the early 1960s. She was passionate about textiles and became a weaver and a member of the Weavers Guild of Greater Baltimore and served on the Advisory Council of the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. In addition, she served on several local non-profit boards and was a founding member of the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle. Jane loved traveling the world with her husband Dr. Worth Bagley Daniels Jr.* She is survived by her daughters Jane D. J. Daniels, 1982 and Ann Daniels, 1983, son-in-law Eric Kalbfleisch, granddaughters Annie Calhoun, 2016 Grace Calhoun, 2017 and Josie Kalbfleisch, 2023, nephew Leigh Daniels and his wife Carolyn Hastings, nieces Ginger McKee and her husband Bobby McKee, Ann O. Lord-Brezniak, 1968 and Charlotte Lord, 1968 and grandnieces Molly Gurasich and Sarah Sutton and their families.

Alumnae Legacy Relations for the Class of 2025

Front Row, left to right:

Ashby McGill

Carroll Knott McGill, 1993, Mother

Emily Rodgers, 1993, Cousin, Once-Removed

Sarah Rodgers Atwood, 1999, Cousin, Once-Removed

Elizabeth Rodgers Hawtin, 1995, Cousin, Once-Removed

Josie Torsani

Amanda Wolff Torsani, 1998, Mother

Stacey Wolff Simons, 2003, Aunt

Lilly Antoniades

Eleni Antoniades, 2023, Sister

Gabriella Serck-Hanssen

Victoria Serck-Hanssen, 2022, Sister

Claire Bachman

Shena Molyneaux Bachman, 1986, Mother

Hanna Sandhu

Ella Sandhu, 2023, Sister

Eva Killingstad

Anna Killingstad, 2019, Sister

Sam Arthur-Merow

Brianna Arthur-Merow, 2022, Sister

Back Row, left to right:

Lilly Ragontse

Lerato Ragontse, 2020, Sister

Lila Barish

Ashley Halpert Barish, 1996, Mother

Maegan Pridgen

Makenzie Pridgen, 2023, Sister

Niara Soudan

Inaya Soudan, 2018, Sister

Najah Soudan, 2016, Sister

Nina Tobin

Chloe Tobin, 2024, Sister

Krisha Gandhi

Nysa Gandhi, 2022, Sister

Violet Walsh

Abbe Creaney, 1994, Mother

Josiah Powe, 2017, Sister

Mady Waire

Lauren Waire, 2020, Cousin

Erin Waire, 2017, Cousin

Simone Le Gette

Amity Jackson, 2014, 2nd Cousin

Kelsey Jackson, 2010, 2nd Cousin

Not pictured:

Kayla (Nico) Whetzel

Jaymie Im, 2011, Aunt

Alumnae babies!

Kitzie Winship Ronco, 2000

Phineas Lynn Winship-Ronco

Molly Ricely FitzGerald, 2006 Charlotte Jane FitzGerald

Erin O’Donnell Velez, 2008 Rory Jean Velez

Alyssa Cestello Gilland, 2011 Roman Michael Gilland

Emily Dierkes Rohrer, 2002 Travis Jacob Rohrer

Lindsay Higgins Vane, 2003 Maeve Margaret Vane

Melissa Paterakis Lundberg, 2004 Eleni (Leni) Lundberg

Elizabeth Wahbe Malone, 2006 Aidan Conor Malone

Amanda Hessinger Policare, 2006 Daisy Justine Policare

Noelle Winicki Benincasa, 2008 Catherine Rose “Kit” Benincasa

Julianne Payne Bolton, 2009 Adelaide (Addie) Emarie Bolton

Kelsey Jackson, 2010 Sloane Catherine Batsios

Olive Waxter Mitchell, 2010 Olive Byrd Mitchell

Angela Leasca Rizakos, 2011 Henry Elias Rizakos

Katherine Barley Ebby, 2012 Nathan Francis Ebby

Katherine Wright Murray, 2012 Emma Vaughan Murray

Brain Teaser

Grab a pencil (or pen if you’re feeling confident) and enjoy this crossword puzzle with some RPCS-specific clues, created by Upper School World Languages (Arabic) Teacher, Ethan Cooper. Answers can be found on page 112.

Claws and Effect

1 Baltimore's indoor soccer team since 1980

6 Inedible product that's sometimes advertised as vegan

10 Mouse who portrayed the Sorcerer's Apprentice

16 Certain spring athlete, for short

17 The RPCS and Harvard school songs share one

18 Begin a breathing exercise

19 High-speed Amtrak service

20 Volcano whose lava flow is a tourist attraction, much to the dismay of Sicilian authorities

21 Opt for a Saturday night with DoorDash and Netflix, say

22 "Put something jingly around the bear's neck so we can hear when she's coming!"

24 Red ___ Run (annual fundraiser)

25 Bread for a falafel sandwich

26 Possible topic in a geometry class, or a diversion from the topic in any other class

30 Increasingly obsolete glove compartment stash

34 "Sneak in and deceptively make subtle changes to the bear costume!"

37 Disney princess who says "I am not a princess"

39 Therefore

40 "...Baby One More ___" (Britney Spears's debut single)

41 Pretend that

44 A police station being burglarized, for example

47 Role for a petite member of the crew team, for short

48 "Just stop talking to the bear! Don't even text her!"

51 U.S. President the year RPCS first accepted Black applicants

54 "¿Cómo ___?"

55 Vespa, for one

59 Pigpen sound

61 Magnum ___ (masterpiece)

63 Toussaint Loverture's country

64 "The bear needs to be punished! Don't let her go out!"

69 "___ To Me" (2019-22 Netflix hit)

70 V.I.P.s on a volleyball team

71 Without delay

73 It might be provided through cards

74 The bear referred to in 22-, 34-, 48-, and 64-Across

80 Decade in which the Centennial Song debuted

83 Opera solo

84 "Jersey ___"

85 Concurs

86 Minuscule

87 Shot ___ (Baltimore landmark built in 1828)

88 Common ingredient in cream of crab soup

89 Grocery items whose price has infamously spiked several times since 2020

90 Ancient fable writer who coined the phrase "sour grapes" DOWN

1 Fail to keep a secret

2 Feature of many a Roland Parker's graduation dress

3 Competitive skater's move

4 Make a successful pitch

5 Maria von ___ ("Sound of Music" protagonist)

6 Defiantly challenge, in slang

7 Defeat with superior speed

8 ___ Healy Senior Speech Award 9 Fruit with Concorde and Seckel varieties 10 Unfortunate event 11 Pronounce slowly and dramatically

12 Source for 67-Down that is not approved by the Honor Board

13 "Every kiss begins with ___"

14 One of the two regulars on ESPN's ManningCast

15 Japanese currency 23 ___ al-Fitr (observance at the end of Ramadan)

26 Girl Scout units

27 Type of movie that might need an intermission

28 Pixar clownfish

Ethan Cooper

29 Apex predator of the Cretaceous, for short

30 UFC sport

31 Dem repping N.Y.'s 14th District

32 Butter amount for an Instagrammable pancake stack 33 Unexpected problem 35 Pressures into making a mistake

36 Shrek, for example

38 Arthur ___ Stadium (home of the US Open)

42 Apple's mobile platform

43 Camera aperture settings

Gen Z insult for someone meek and complacent, originating from the gaming world

Best Actress Oscar winner for "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

49 Roll in a dispenser on a teacher's desk 50 Deepdene, for example

Runs for leisure

52 Disaster that befell the school in 1947, or 1976

53 Feature of a 56-Down

56 Requirement of Gilman's dress code

57 "What's your ___?" (annoyed text sent by someone who actually showed up on time)

58 Free (of) 60 Jobs portrayer, 2013

62 Concern for a typeface designer

65 Operate on a puppy, maybe

66 Like prom, in terms of attire

67 Some English assignments

68 Aries, in the zodiac

72 It might be twirled at dinner

74 ___ of return (figure for an investor)

75 Sanctimonious killjoy

76 Object thrown at George W. Bush's head at a 2008 press conference in Baghdad

77 'Til the ___ come home

78 Ingredient in the dessert known as "dirt"

79 Shannon Smith '20 or Mir McLean '20, e.g., as a college athlete

80 Midsize batteries

81 "Oh gross, not this again"

82 Alternative to the LSAT accepted by some law schools

Your one stop shop for RPCS spirit gear, uniform items, gifts, snacks and supplies! Shop in store or online at rpcs.org/school-store.

Located in the RPCS Athletic Complex. Check the website for store hours.

Corrections to 2023-2024 Illuminations

• Susan M. Hovanec, 1988 should have been listed as a member of The Dohme Council (page 30).

• Both Mr. and Mrs. George J. Diver and E. Lee Kelly, 1971 made tribute contributions in honor of Lisa Diver, 2006 (page 47).

• Caroline McKeldin Wayner, 1984’s contribution to Courtney Jones McKeldin, 1958 should have been listed In Honor Of, instead of In Memory Of (page 48).

RPCS sincerely apologizes for these errors.