Saint Ann's Times | Winter 2021-2022

SAINT ANN’S TIMES

WINTER 2021–2022

OWLY OWLS BY MICHAELE & MILO’S PRESCHOOL THREES

Saint Ann’s Times: Winter 2021–2022 A LETTER FROM VINCE: REFLECTION_____________________________________________ 2 INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Gallery: First Grade Self-Portraits__________________________________________________ 4 Teaching Digital Fluency_________________________________________________________6 OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Champion Girls Varsity Volleyball Team______________________________________________8 High School Mentoring Group_____________________________________________________9 Diwali Celebration_____________________________________________________________10 Chinese Language Class Field Trip _________________________________________________11 Gallery: Metamorphoses, High School Theater Project___________________________________12 FACULTY IN THE FIELD

Performing with Te Ao Mana____________________________________________________ 14 FACULTY & STAFF NEWS________________________________________________________ 16 HEAD OF SCHOOL NEWS_______________________________________________________ 18 COMMUNITY EVENTS

Celebrate Saint Ann's Event Series__________________________________________________26 Picnic with a View____________________________________________________________ 30 Fun Run_____________________________________________________________________31 ALUMNI

Staying in Touch _____________________________________________________________ 32 Alumni in the Field: Celeste Sloman '09—On Being a Photographer______________________ 34 Alumni Mini Features__________________________________________________________ 36 IN MEMORIAM________________________________________________________________ 40

Cover Artwork by: Blu B.G. 12th grade The Saint Ann’s Times is published biannually by Saint Ann’s School for alumni, parents of alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, former faculty, and friends of the School. Questions or feedback about the magazine may be sent to the Director of Communications at communications@saintannsny.org and/or the Director of Alumni Relations at alumni@saintannsny.org.

Editorial Staff

Design

Anne Conway, Director of Communications

Heather Francovitch, Web and Graphic Design Coordinator

Hannah Swacker Kurnit ’97, Director of Alumni Relations David Smith, Director of Advancement Elena Sheppard ’05, Alumni Associate Anna Verdi, Special Events Coordinator Jacob Goodhart, Special Events Assistant

©2022 Saint Ann’s School

A LETTER FROM VINCE

Reflection What do we mean by reflection, one of those deliciously versatile English words with multiple and seemingly contradictory meanings, whose roots stretch back to Latin and French and Middle English?

We might be referring to sound or light bouncing off rather than penetrating a reflective surface. Or, quite the opposite, an idea or thought we form through meditation or consideration, which requires piercing the surface and the superficial in a quest for deeper meaning or purpose, looking not only at what is, but at what has been and what is to come.

When we talk of the place of “mirrors” and “windows” in education, aren’t we calling out how vital both kinds of reflection are to learning? We do sometimes ask questions that dwell largely in the present, like a person gazing on their own mirrored visage: What am I learning? Why is this experiment failing? Is the lesson I am teaching today effectively conveying the skill or knowledge I want my students to understand? We also summon the image of the mirror to reflect critically on a crucial element of our praxis: am I creating in the texts and topics I choose, and the manner in which I teach them, opportunities for students across many different backgrounds to see themselves represented, to be able to relate in some way to an author or character, a work of art, a pioneer of science or mathematics, an historical subject through some aspect of shared identity? The window is equally indispensable, for through it one sees wider vistas, unknown terrain beyond our lived experience, peoples or cultures or ideas the apprehension of which requires imagination, empathy, selfquestioning, and new ways of seeing the world.

To be well-educated in the liberal tradition requires all of this and more. At Saint Ann’s we see exploration and questioning as essential to our purpose and essential to living. This is the path—a deepening knowledge of one’s self and of the world—down which transformative education awaits.

Leo Tolstoy more than a century ago wrote that, “There can be only one permanent revolution—a moral one; the regeneration of the inner man. How is this revolution to take place? Nobody knows how it will take place in humanity, but every man feels it clearly in himself. And yet in our world everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.” That, to me, is what we are after here.

This is a year of reflection at Saint Ann’s in ways beyond the ordinary. In spite of the pandemic requiring a near-constant focus on the present and the immediate future—Are our health and safety protocols working? What among the things we cherish doing together can we safely sustain? Will we have enough teachers and staff to keep school open this week?—we have embarked on a year-long, mission-centered exploration that is at its heart and at its best a deep reflection on what we believe education ought to be, what defines the essence of our community, and what we wish Saint Ann’s to become in the decade ahead. While the impetus for this work is a required decennial reaccreditation, we are deliberately and consciously investing it with deeper meaning and purpose. Hundreds of students, teachers and staff have participated in the early stages of this work, gathering in small groups, in person, in a pre-Omicron moment, to ponder these questions and to reflect on who we are, who we have been, where we have triumphed and where we have fallen short, and how we might change ourselves, the better to do the work that called each of us here.

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The enduring paradox of Saint Ann’s is the constancy with which we have pursued commitments there at our founding while acknowledging that staying in the vanguard of a countercultural revolution in education—and meeting our students where they are—invites us to embrace changes both subtle and systemic, to be curious and open-minded, to be introspective about our school and its place in the world. We ask this of our students every day in service of their growth, and in this moment we are asking nothing less of ourselves, in the service of our own regeneration.

Vince Tompkins Head of School

Photo by Ruby M., 12th grade

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INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

First Grade Self-Portraits Early in the school year, first graders in Becca Benson and Ajani Otieno-Rudek’s class focused on their identities. In collaboration with first grade teacher Jon Hood and Kindergarten and Lower School Learning Specialist Savannah Roberts, Becca (who is also a photographer and filmmaker) designed this multi-step project for the students. First, the students had black and white photographs taken of themselves (without their masks on) to incorporate into the project. The photos were printed by photography teacher G. Giraldo. Then as a class they studied the work of different types of abstract painters, including Alma Thomas, Wassily Kandinsky, Frank Bowling, Hilma Af Klint, and William T. Williams to begin thinking about shapes and colors and how they wanted their own portraits to look. After that, it was time to begin the watercolor backgrounds. Students reflected on different parts of themselves, who they are and what they're proud of. They discussed the difference between being proud of yourself and bragging, and teachers provided sentence starters to get their creative juices flowing:I like that I…; I love that I…; I care about…; I feel like myself when…; I am good at…; I am proud that I…; I know how to…; My favorite thing about me… The finished selfportraits were much admired by all.

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INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Teaching Digital Fluency

By Chris Caccamise, Educational Technology Coordinator

Increasingly, our lives, culture, and creative expression are filtered through the lens of digital media. To meet the challenges of being educators in this changed world, Saint Ann’s Computer and Technology Departments have for a number of years been refining a new curriculum in Digital Fluency and integrating it into how we teach and learn at Saint Ann’s. The program is designed to educate our students and other members of our community to help them build productive and creative lives while living in our increasingly digitally connected world. We conceptualize the Digital Fluency curriculum as a health class for the digital aspects of our lives.

This new curriculum follows students' development and aims to meet students where they are by directly addressing their needs as their use of the internet and digital media evolves. It is delivered to students in three primary ways: • Through direct instruction in required third and fourth grade Computer classes.

• Integration into existing classes within other academic departments, including Language Structures, History, Health, Library, and English.

• In division-specific structures and dedicated grade-level meetings including Community Meeting, Morning Meeting, Friday Meeting, and other group settings.

This approach means Digital Fluency isn’t a topic restricted to one department or class, but instead something Saint Ann’s faculty are approaching collaboratively, since we know our students’ online experience extends into every aspect of their lives in and outside of school.

Beginning in the third and fourth grades, all students are required to take courses through the Computer Department. In these classes, we cover the basics, including: learning what the internet is; how the internet functions and what people mean when they refer to “the cloud;” understanding the internet as a public space; and understanding the value of internet-based information and activities while promoting healthy skepticism, sourcing, and care.

From fifth grade onwards, Digital Fluency is presented as an integrated topic that is woven throughout the curriculum. For example, if a research project requires a great deal of online research, it presents an ideal opportunity to talk with students about carefully approaching information found online. In the middle school, social media and current digital trends are addressed in Community Meeting, Morning Meeting, and other group settings so that they connect to our institutional work around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Lessons on media literacy, fake news, online research, and citing sources are implemented in Library and research classes. These lessons are bolstered and supplemented in student research projects in subjects such as English, History, and Language Structures. Social media and expressions of self are introduced in middle school Health classes, where discussions explore the relationship of social media to our values, beliefs, self-esteem, and socialization, and discuss effective communication, conflict resolution, and creative problem solving.

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Since educators must be informed in order to guide our students through this changing landscape, professional development for faculty and staff is also part of our Digital Fluency work, with discussions and training on a variety of topics offered, ranging from internet security and the dark web, to digital footprint, and presentation of a positive image online.

Our digital culture is an inextricable part of our lives. Through our Digital Fluency curriculum, we hope to prepare our students and community to live full and creative lives while using digital tools in academic, social, and artistic pursuits.

Student 3D printing projects, clockwise from top left: An upper middle school student created a hangable snowflake; a high school student created a headphone hook and installed it under their desk with velcro; an upper middle school student created a heart-shaped box; an upper middle school student created a phone charging station complete with cable hole.

See other impressive 3D printing projects by following @saint_anns_computer_center on Instagram.

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OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Champion Girls Varsity Volleyball Team The girls varsity volleyball team had another powerhouse season, finishing with a 16-5 record. They were the regular season undefeated champions of the ACIS League and finished third in the AAIS League. The team advanced to the finals of the playoffs in both leagues. The team also earned the fifth seed in the New York State Association of Independent School Athletic Association tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing. The team played with skill, poise, and teamwork throughout the season. Congratulations to all the players!

Team members include: 12th grade: Danae B., Charlotte S., Natasha S. 11th grade: Lulu J., Piper L., Bailey R., Zoe S. 10th grade: Isabelle C., Midori M. 9th grade: Amelia A., Beau J., Nora M. Managers: India C. (11th grade), Kya N. (10th grade), Suky R. (11th grade) Coach: Shannon Carr, Recreational Arts Faculty

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High School Mentoring Group

By Ellen Friedrichs, Coordinator of Health Education

High school mentoring is a peer education seminar that connects high school juniors and seniors with middle schoolers. Mentors have monthly meetings with eighth graders. Additionally, they host lunchtime discussion groups supervised by an adult and run a community service group.

After exploring various ideas for community service this fall, eleventh grade mentor Evia D. V. suggested partnering with the Arab American Family Support Center, where she had previously volunteered.

After discussing options with the agency, the community service team decided to run an essential needs drive, focusing on providing dayto-day necessities for families. These can include crucial but costly items like toiletries, menstrual products, and diapers (which are one of the most requested items).

The students then decided to open the drive to the entire Saint Ann’s community. As health teacher and Coordinator of Mentoring Meli Garber-Browne said, “It’s been great having the other divisions get involved. For example, we’ve had parents dropping off donations at the preschool on Willow Place.”

For seventh grader Clover D., not only has it been meaningful to be involved in the project, but there has been the benefit of working with high school students whom she called, “fun, smart, and supportive.”

12th grade mentors Natasha Shapiro, Della Williams, and Katie Erikson.

The high schoolers feel the same way. Senior Maya B. says that she is “always excited to see the middle schoolers during our Tuesday community service meeting” and that the younger students “tremendously improve our community service projects with their creative and fresh ideas.”

Those ideas will come in handy this spring as the mentor/middle school community service group begins thinking about their next projects!

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OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Diwali Celebration

By Maya Chatterjee, 11th grade

On Thursday, November 4, the Asian Student Union (ASU) organized a school-wide celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights.

To honor this holiday, they hung up colorful garlands, traditionally made of marigold and jasmine petals, and lined the stairway walls with posters. Outside the building, several students drew chalk rangolis, traditional and intricate patterns that represent prosperity and happiness, to welcome students on the special occasion.

Along the lunchroom balconies, they installed a series of posters that detailed the Ramayana, the origin story of Diwali. Here, students read the epic and viewed art associated with the story to learn more about the holiday’s history. During lunchtime, ASU set up a table with diyas, small clay pots to place tea lights in, honoring the return of Rama to Ayodhya in the story of the Ramayana. Passing students were able to decorate and personalize their diyas, which were then transferred to the front desk for anyone entering the building to admire.

The next day, high school ASU members welcomed Susie Sokol’s second grade class to the “big building.” First, high schoolers described the history of Diwali and the story of the Ramayana to the young students. Then, using an ASU member’s grandmother’s rangoli designs, the second graders drew chalk rangolis outside the building. It was a lovely bonding experience and a wonderful opportunity to share a major celebration of Indian culture with all members of the Saint Ann’s community.

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Chinese Language Class Field Trip Seniors studying Chinese language recently took a field trip to Sunset Park with Chinese language teacher Yuming Guo: “We watched Chinese retirees dancing and practicing tai chi (太极拳) in the park between 41st and 44th Streets, tried to follow their movements, and chatted with them. It was a great way to practice our vocabulary from a lesson about exercise and health. Walking down 8th Ave., we made three food stops: Great Taste Dumpling at 44th St., Kai Feng Fu Dumpling House at 48th St., and finally Bamboo Garden at 64th St., where we enjoyed a full dim sum meal (safely outside, in the park)! We are already discussing when to do it again. Xiexie, Guo Laoshi!”

—Sammy G., 12th grade

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We were ecstatic to invite audiences back for the return of live theater this fall. High school students collaborated to stage a performance of METAMORPHOSES, a poetic, silly, and celebratory retelling of multiple Greek myths written and originally directed by Mary Zimmerman. The joyful performance recreated the worlds of Midas, Orpheus and Eurydice and others through music, choreography, song, film and storytelling. Thanks to testing and other Covid safety protocols, we welcomed audiences back to the fourth floor theater for the first time since February 2020. Among the many steps large and small that we have taken this school year in restoring and renewing pre-pandemic rituals and norms, this one felt enormous.

Photos courtesy of Kim Venable, Art Faculty

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FACULTY IN THE FIELD

Performing with Te Ao Mana

By Mariette Strauss, Kindergarten Associate Teacher

With a desire to connect with my ancestral roots and ko'u one hānau i Honolulu, my birthsands of Honolulu, I found myself in Papeari, Tahiti, the birthsands of my great-grandmother.

Nancy Elisabeth Tetua Keane arrived in Hawai'i by boat in 1903 and never saw her birthsands, or family, again. She was three years old, and all I know is that on her voyage she was accompanied by two brothers and her grandmother. 116 years after that departure, my brother reunited with family in Papeari and when I was introduced to them, over the internet, all I could say with my eyes Mariette Strauss, second from right full of tears was, “Mauruuru. Mauruuru roa.” The only reason I could greet my relatives in their native tongue was because of Te Ao Mana.

Te Ao Mana is a performance group based out of New York City dedicated to growing the Polynesian presence and community worldwide through dance classes, cultural demonstrations, community gathering, and activism. I had the honor and privilege of dancing with them at "Mana Manahata: Honoring Ancestry and Unifying Community" during a two-day event celebrating Pacific Island heritage in conjunction with the seventh annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Minnahanonck, Randall’s Island, this past October. Many native performers and activists gathered, sharing their songs, their dances, their cultural ways and current issues affecting their homelands.

Mana Manahata was a sharing of island craft workshops, dance lessons, lei making tutorials, pareu (sarong) and malo printing and tying, and a dance performance. I say dance, even though it feels more ceremonial. From time immemorial these have been the stories of my ‘ohana, so for me dancing and giving voice to these stories, in their original language, is a very spiritual and emotional thing.

Our performance/dance/ceremony included an ote’a, an aparima, and a mini saga. A Tahitian ote’a is a fast paced percussion dance and ours depicted the story of fire. An aparima is a more graceful and feminine dance. In the Tahitian language apa means movement and rima means hand, so it’s loosely translated as movement of the hand. The hands tell the story and the one we performed was a love story. Lastly, the mini saga we performed, which was mostly Tahitian drums, told the story about the origins of tatau in Polynesia. It was about the legend of the Siamese twin goddesses from Samoa, Taema and Tilafaiga, who are responsible for bringing the art of tatau (tattoo) from Fiji to Samoa.

The next big project for Te Ao Mana is programming the first-ever Pacific Island Festival in New York. There are no other festivals like it on the east coast, and this August performers from all over the country, Hawai'i, Tahiti, and the Marquesas Islands will take the stage in Battery Park. There will be live drumming and an ori Tahiti competition, and it should be another beautiful event growing the Polynesian community.

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Artowrk by Ruby Dachis, 12th grade

Think of Yourself

By James B.W., Kindergarten I am one of a kind In my family because I am African American and I’m The only African American In my family but my Dads are one of a kind, too

THE GROWING SHELF The Growing Shelf is a collection of books written by alumni and faculty. The titles below were published in 2021 or are forthcoming in 2022. Find more Saint Ann’s authors by checking out the “Saint Ann’s” page on Goodreads.

Ghosts of America: A Great American Novel,

by Caroline Hagood ’00 (published October 2021)

The Book of the Most Precious Substance,

by Sara Gran ’89 (published February 2022)

The Four Humors, by Mina Seçkin ’11 (published November 2021)

The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness, by Meghan O’Rourke ’93 (forthcoming in March 2022)

The True, by Sarah Kornfeld ’86 (published November 2021)

Coal, Cages, Crisis: The Rise of the Prison Economy in Central Appalachia, by Judah Schept ’97 (forthcoming in April 2022)

Silver City, by Olivia Cuartero-Briggs ’01 (published February 2022)

www.goodreads.com/saintanns

This Time Tomorrow, by Emma Straub ’98 (forthcoming in May 2022)

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FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

Current Faculty & Staff Golnar Adili

Artwork by Golnar, a member of the Art Department, was the cover of the November/December 2021 Kenyon Review.

Emily Eagan

Emily, a member of the Music Department, co-wrote five of the songs on the Grammy-nominated 2021 children's album A Colorful World by Falu. Falu and Emily have worked together for almost ten years as teachers and songwriters through the Weill Music Institute of Carnegie Hall (particularly as part of the Lullaby Project, writing songs with new and expectant parents). Falu and Emily wrote the songs for this new album over Zoom in the bleary hours of the pandemic, imagining songs about trains, rainbows, dancing…fun, fanciful things that made them happy and made their own kids happy.

Diane Exavier

Diane, a member of the Theater Department, published a new poetry collection entitled The Math of Saint Felix.

Jamal Jackson ’96

Jamal, a member of the Theater Department, premiered a new piece, 846, with his Jamal Jackson Dance Company.

Julissa McHugh

We are delighted to welcome Julissa as the new Staff Account/Accounts Payables Coordinator in the Finance Office. Julissa previously worked at Ethical Culture Fieldston School and brings familiarity with independent schools to this role.

Mike Roam

When Mike joined the faculty in 1985, laptops had only been available to the public for a few years, mainframe computing was still actively in use in many businesses and educational institutions, and the internet did not exist. Mike became Co-Chair of the Computer Department in 1989, and since 1993 has served as Chair. This will be Mike’s last year as a member of our faculty, as he is relocating to the Boston area, where he’ll be getting married. Mike has personally taught more than 2,000 students, hired and mentored twenty-five teachers in his department, and performed “I Will Survive” and “Another Brick in the Wall” at approximately thirty holiday assemblies. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Tony Smith

This summer, Tony will step down from his role as Director of Buildings and Grounds after thirty-five years of service to Saint Ann’s. In 1986 Tony took on the responsibility of caring for the buildings that housed a rapidly growing school. As our school grew and Saint Ann's acquired or leased more buildings and spaces, Tony oversaw the construction of the Farber Building, the renovation of 122 and 124 Pierrepont, and the renovation and dramatic reimagining of the lower floors of the Bosworth Building, among many other projects. Metaphorically at least, Tony’s sleeves have always been rolled up, and he has always centered the needs of students and teachers in his work. We are grateful and wish Tony all the best.

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Susie Sokol

Susie, a Head Teacher in the lower school, performed in Elevator Repair Service's production of The Seagull at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in January and February.

Janelle Tan

Janelle, who teaches poetry, published a poem entitled “Turnstile Jumping” in the September 2021 issue of Poetry magazine.

Marina Thompson ’86

We are delighted to welcome Marina back to Saint Ann’s in the role of Director of Human Resources. Marina has over twenty-five years of experience leading a variety of nonprofit and public sector organizations in areas including employee relations, human resources systems, professional development and training, and searches and recruitment.

Sheneikwa Wilkinson ’97

After many years as a member of the Saint Ann's community—first as a student, then as a colleague, parent, and alumna—Sheneikwa will no longer continue in her role as Assistant Controller in the Finance Office. We are excited to support Sheneikwa as she pursues a full-time Masters program this year.

On Thursday, December 2, Saint Ann's hosted a bowling night at The Gutter in Williamsburg for staff and faculty who have joined the community within the last five years. Ten colleagues took to the lanes and tore up the scoreboard for a two-hour bowling bonanza. The event was part of ongoing efforts to create more times and spaces for socialization and community-building among colleagues.

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HEAD OF SCHOOL NEWS

In December, Vince Tompkins announced his plans to step down from his role following the 2022–2023 school year. His letter to the community is reprinted below.

Dear Saint Ann’s Community, Twelve years ago, at about this time of year, I was contacted by a search firm who wanted to know if I would be interested in leading a school in Brooklyn that described itself as a “sublime circus.” My family and I were happily settled in Massachusetts, I was thriving in higher education, and I had never worked in a K–12 school of any kind. So I resisted, uncertain that my skills and experience suited me for such a role at such a school. But as my knowledge of Saint Ann’s deepened, so did my excitement at the prospect of joining a community of teachers, staff, students and parents unlike any I had encountered or even imagined. And so, in the spring of 2010, I said yes.

Today I am writing to let you know that the 2022–23 school year will be my last as head of school at Saint Ann’s. Just as getting to “yes” a dozen years ago took much soul-searching, so too did this decision. It deserved and required no less. I love this school and I am grateful for all that it has meant to me and to my family. As the parents of three Saint Ann’s alumni, Alison and I have experienced the truth of what I have promised countless other parents on admissions tours: an education beyond excellence, one that transforms the lives of its students and graduates. I have been renewed and rejuvenated time and again by the children of Saint Ann’s, whether they are three or nine or eighteen: joyful in their discoveries of new knowledge, skills, and ways of seeing the world, vulnerable yet buoyant in the face of disruption and even tragedy, reveling in their talent and the talent all around them. I am constantly and continually humbled by the extraordinary abilities and fierce dedication of our teachers, administrators and staff: to work with them is a privilege. Saint Ann’s asks parents to entrust us with their children, and I have been moved by their willingness to do so, to join us in seeing education not as preparation for what is next but as a celebration of what is now. Since my very first months as head of school I have witnessed the commitment and steadfastness of parents, grandparents, alumni, teachers, staff, and administrators who have given generously in support of Saint Ann’s—in moments of great need and when inspired by a vision of a promising future. This has proven time and again to be a magical place.

I know that news like this is almost inevitably greeted these days by the question “What happened?” My decision is not a response to any specific personal or professional challenge.

Our school is in good health, and I am sound in mind and body (all things considered!).

Instead, I simply began to ask myself over the past few months: what is in the best interest of Saint Ann’s? As we began to emerge from the experiences of the past twenty months— which undeniably included some of the most difficult circumstances I have faced in my career—I saw an opportunity to partner with the board of trustees in a thoughtful leadership transition, one that affords the school the time and space to recruit a visionary leader as my successor. The board and I re-engaged the task of long-term planning this fall, and I saw strategic decisions forming that have the potential to impact the school for a decade or more.

It became clear to me that a decade or more of continuing in my present role was not how I envisioned my own future and was unlikely to be in the best interest of the school. And so, 18

Vince in his office, 2011

Vince in his office, 2021

my decision about my own future was made in partnership with the board of trustees and in the best interest of Saint Ann’s.

It is my hope to create the most positive possible context for my successor so that they might “dwell in possibility” as I have been so fortunate to do. Our mission statement speaks of the “fierce pursuit of knowledge, skill and artistry,” and I see that today in every classroom and laboratory and studio I visit, every play or dance in the theater, every game in our gym, every kindergarten poetry book and literary magazine. These define our center ring, and they are a testament to the joyful engagement of our students and the passionate commitment of our teachers and staff.

This is a school that has always been about people: those who choose to entrust their children to us, those who commit their lives to the education and support of those children, and the children themselves—most centrally and enduringly. Nearly two-thirds of our current faculty and staff have been hired under my leadership. Our current seniors were in first grade when I arrived, and many of our students and families have known no other head of school. Nearly three-quarters of our trustees—those tasked with the long-term stewardship of the school and my partners in every major decision of the past decade—joined our board since I began.

I know that my successor will be, as I have been, lucky to be in this company. Finally, our school has never been as racially diverse as it is today, and Saint Ann’s has made significant

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HEAD OF SCHOOL NEWS strides towards becoming a more fully inclusive and equitable community. Our shared embrace of this mission-critical work can and must continue into the future.

The school is in a strong financial position, which means that decisions about how best to allocate resources can be made in ways that reflect our most important values, priorities and needs. Because of our robust scholarship program (which has grown from $2.5 million at the start of my tenure to $9 million this year), Saint Ann’s is opening its doors to ever more talented students whose families cannot pay full tuition. As a first-generation college student whose life-transforming education was made possible by access, generous scholarships and the sweat of my parents’ brows, few things have meant as much to me as this. When I began a decade ago, teacher salaries were in the bottom quartile of New York City independent schools. Today they are on par with other schools. Many of our physical spaces are better and safer than they were a decade ago, but the coming decade will bring opportunities to shape spaces for teaching and learning and undertake important work to achieve environmental sustainability.

There is much to be done in the coming eighteen months. You will shortly receive a letter from Mino Capossela, our board president, sharing his perspective on what lies ahead and the board’s framework for the search for a new head of school. I remain fully committed to our school through the end of the 2022–23 school year, focused on ensuring that Saint Ann’s will endure and thrive.

To repurpose a phrase I heard one of our third graders say this fall, our school—our sublime circus on Pierrepont Street and Willow Place and Henry Street—is and I hope will always be “improbable but not impossible.”

Love,

Artwork by Ruby D., 12th grade

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Board President Mino Capossela's note regarding Vince's departure is reprinted below.

Dear Students, Parents, Faculty, Staff, Alums and more, As you will have read in his note, Vince Tompkins recently apprised the board of his decision to step down as head of school in the summer of 2023.

Vince has been a simply remarkable leader for Saint Ann’s for more than a decade, an increasingly uncommon tenure for heads of independent schools. As board president for the past several years, I have been continually amazed at the care, intelligence, expertise and humanity that Vince has brought to his work and our school. He has been a fierce champion of the mission of the school, from its expansive, arts-filled curriculum, to the freedom of teachers to shape their classes based on their passion and subject mastery, to students’ ability to pursue their interests wherever they lead, free from grades.

Vince’s leadership has had a profound impact on the financial soundness and priorities of the school.

He has been a tireless advocate for faculty compensation to ensure we have a teaching staff second to none. He has directed a major expansion of financial aid—the scholarship budget has grown from $2.5 million to $9 million over the course of Vince’s tenure—to enable access for as many talented students as possible. To underwrite these priorities, Vince has also meaningfully advanced a culture of giving which, along with strong fiscal management, have given the school a very sound operating plan and financial resources to weather future uncertainties.

Vince re-oriented our admissions and hiring practices to make sure that we are drawing from a diverse pool of exceptional candidates that reflect the racial and socio-economic diversity of the city around us, and has engaged the school in the ongoing work of creating a culture where all community members can feel fully welcomed and thrive. And most recently, he has worked with his leadership team to navigate the grueling and ever-evolving challenges of the Covid pandemic.

Vince shared this decision with the board in his characteristically collaborative manner, giving us a healthy period of time to undertake a robust, inclusive and thorough search for a new head of school; we are confident that the school will attract many talented candidates. Over the coming weeks, the board will report on some important steps in the search process. Principal among these will be the naming of a search committee comprising trustees as well as several members of faculty and staff, and the selection of a search firm to support this important work. The search process will also include opportunities for the community to help define the characteristics we should be looking for in the fourth head of school in Saint Ann’s history.

I would like to thank Vince for his extraordinary commitment and leadership. We know he will continue to bring his skills to bear on leading the school through this transition, including in critical areas such as the re-accreditation process, ongoing curricular reviews, significant staffing decisions, and long-term financial and facilities planning. In the seasons to come we will make time to celebrate and thank him for his extraordinary tenure here in ways that fit this amazing, creative school. We look forward to working with all of you to make this transition a rich and celebratory one that includes broad input on what will serve the school best.

Warm regards,

Mino Capossela, President, Board of Trustees 21

HEAD OF SCHOOL NEWS

Head of School Search Committee The Board of Trustees has formed a search committee composed of faculty, staff, and trustees to find our next Head of School. The committee will select a search firm to assist with the process. To read more about the members of the committee visit our website.

Crystal Bobb-Semple Co-Chair, Trustee

Shahed Fakhari Larson, Co-Chair, Trustee

Marc Mayer Co-Chair, Trustee

Mino Capossela President, Board of Trustees

Tony Charuvastra Trustee

Josh Epstein '95 Trustee

Jamal Jackson '96 Theater Faculty

Ashley Mathis '08 Young Alumni Trustee

Louis Trujillo College Counselor

Asiya Wadud Poetry Faculty

Mary Watson '78 Trustee

As the Head of School search proceeds, we will share updates and information on our website.

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Artwork by: Lola J., 12th Grade

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Buoyancy

by Hannah B., 9th Grade The streets are lined with cars and a crowded bus, And the sidewalk is filled With pretzel carts and a bustling crowd.

A pair of pigeons pecking pizza— They pride themselves in the paradise they’ve produced.

There’s an old man on a bench, And the crowd swirls around him.

Jostled, the pink flower in his red hand Falls up, then is tossed down And he can’t quite grasp it before It hits the ground.

The birds banter, breaking apart Breads with their beaks.

The man bends down, picks up the flower, Brings his ear close to the crowd And the wholes made of half conversations.

He smooths the petals, checking For any holes.

With a flutter, the now-flock flies up Free from the factual.

The man tucks the stem behind one ear, Watching the careless, fanciful flight, Wishing he could lift off and let the wind carry him, Speed not of the essence

Photography by Todd France

Saint Ann’s, like every school, is facing exceptional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Saint Ann’s Annual Fund is a critical part of the school’s budget, providing approximately 6% of the school’s annual revenue. The funds raised support our entire program, including financial aid, technology, and everything we are doing to help students and faculty meet the extraordinary challenges of this unique school year. We hope you will make a donation to the Saint Ann’s Annual Fund.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Make a Gift

Questions?

www.saintannsny.org/annual-fund

SECTION HEADER COMMUNITY EVENTS During another semester impacted by the complexity of health and safety protocols, we were fortunate to host a selection of in-person and virtual community events. A number of those events were part of our Celebrate Saint Ann’s series, which highlights the arts and features notable and innovative voices and talent from across our parent and alumni community.

Celebrate Saint Ann’s: Olympic Athletes Our first exciting Celebrate Saint Ann’s event of the year took place in person on November 1 when we welcomed a panel of four Olympians to discuss their athletic careers and their Olympic experiences. It was a unique opportunity for us to host this panel between the summer Olympics in Tokyo last year and the winter Olympics in Beijing this year. Our four panelists included three parents and one alum: U.S. rower Chris Ahrens who competed in the 2000 and 2004 games, Canadian diver Anne Montminy who competed in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 games, U.S. fencer Keeth Smart who competed in the 2000, 2004, and 2008 games, and U.S. runner Meredith Rainey Valmon '86 who competed in the 1992 and 1996 games. The panel was moderated by parent and former NBA basketball player JJ Redick. The panelists were open, honest, and inspiring in discussing their successes and setbacks as well as challenges and choices made during their athletic careers.

From left to right: Chris Ahrens, Keeth Smart, Anne Montminy, Meredith Rainey Valmon '86, JJ Redick

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Celebrate Saint Ann’s: Clyde’s Our second Celebrate Saint Ann’s event in the autumn was a performance of Clyde's on November 9 at Second Stage Theater followed by a talkback with playwright Lynn Nottage '82, director Kate Whoriskey, and costume designer Jennifer Moeller. Nearly one hundred community members—parents, students, alumni, parents of alumni, and grandparents—attended the event. Lynn, both a Saint Ann's alum and the parent of a Saint Ann's alum, is a playwright and a screenwriter, and the first woman in history to win two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama.

Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world. Saint Ann's parent Kate Whoriskey is a theater director whose work has been produced nationally and internationally. Jennifer Moeller, also a Saint Ann’s parent, is a costume designer for theater, opera, and television. She has an extensive history of costume design on and off Broadway. The play was sharp, funny, moving, and urgent, and our community enjoyed being together again in a Broadway theater.

Celebrate Saint Ann’s: Colson Whitehead On December 8 we hosted a reading and Q&A by novelist and Saint Ann's parent Colson Whitehead from his newest novel, Harlem Shuffle, published in August. Colson Whitehead is the author of ten books of fiction and nonfiction, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning novels The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys. This reading included him talking about his education and career as a journalist and novelist, in addition to an unexpected preview of his upcoming sequel to Harlem Shuffle.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

Celebrate Saint Ann's: Nuclear Family

On what turned out to be our first day back at school (January 5), we held our first Celebrate Saint Ann's event of 2022 to discuss the HBO documentary series Nuclear Family with director Ry Russo-Young '99 and producers Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus. Thisbe W. (12th grade) and Lola G. (11th grade) moderated the event with wide-ranging and thoughtful questions for the panelists. Ry, Dan, and Liz spoke about making the series, the film's musical score, and what it means to be a family and a parent. Audience members took some time at the end to ask questions of their own and to share comments about what the documentary meant to them personally. Thank you to Saint Ann's parents Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller at HBO for sharing additional access to the documentary series so everyone who wanted to view in advance was able to do so. The event was a great way to kick off 2022!

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Friends

By Elsa M., 1st Grade Friends are all over the place They fill happiness into our hearts They are kind They are always together They help each other out But they are always there for each other

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

Picnic with a View Our annual Picnic with a View took place on Friday, October 1 at Bridge View Lawn on Pier 1, a new location for us in Brooklyn Bridge Park, due to maintenance of Empire-Fulton Ferry Lawn where we usually gather. The perfect early autumn weather—sunny and clear blue sky, cool temperature, and a light breeze—set the stage for a lovely afternoon. As students delighted in running and playing in the park, parents had an opportunity to reconnect with one another while enjoying views of the Brooklyn Bridge. Snack boxes with string cheese, pretzels, and delicious seasonal apples were in high demand, though there was some disappointment over the absence of the always crowd-pleasing apple cider donuts. That will be something to look forward to welcoming back at next year’s picnic!

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Fun Run On Sunday, October 24, the Saint Ann’s Recreational Arts Department hosted the Fun Run at Prospect Park.

Autumn was in full bloom and over 120 runners laced up their sneakers as friends and family cheered for them at the finish line. The run was a picturesque 3.35 mile loop around the park and concluded with everyone reconnecting over hot chocolate and donuts. Whether participants sprinted, sauntered, or waited by the donut table, everyone joyfully welcomed the Fun Run’s return.

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STAYING IN TOUCH

Staying in Touch with Saint Ann’s School Dear Alumni, Once again we found ourselves having a very eventful fall at Saint Ann’s. The pandemic meant we continued to navigate through health and safety protocols, but our students and faculty showed their endless creativity and flexibility to meet the moment. We also continued with a busy slate of virtual and in-person events, put forward our popular Alumni Newsletter (the most recent issue can be found on our website), and began preparations for this year’s Alumni Day. Looking ahead, we are planning to hold Alumni Day on May 14, 2022 in person and another set of Class Reunions on Thursday, May 19 which will be virtual.

Throughout all the challenges of the past few years, many of you have remained involved with the school in various ways. If you are interested in becoming more engaged with Saint Ann’s there are many ways you can stay connected: • Attend Alumni Day—Save the Date! Saturday, May 14 (Cocktail Party and Reunion Dinners for the Classes ending in 2s and 7s).

• Attend your Virtual Reunion. Save the Date! Virtual Events for all Classes ending in 2s and 7s.

• Stay in touch by sharing your news and updating your contact information.

• We changed the format of our alumni news section in the Saint Ann’s Times. In lieu of Alumni Notes, we now have mini features—check them out!

• Want to give a reading? Speak to a class? We love visitors!

• Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram (@saintannsschool)!

• Use the Growing Shelf on Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/saintanns).

• Check out the Happenings page on our website www.saintannsny.org.

• Give a gift! Alumni donations to the Annual Fund are a chance to make contributions in honor or memory of a classmate, a teacher, or anyone who impacted your education.

As alumni you have the opportunity to be part of our network of caretakers, utilizing your voice and influence to hold us to the values that define what our school is meant to be. We are so fortunate to have you in this community.

Wishing you all good health,

Hannah Swacker Kurnit ’97 Director of Alumni Relations 718.522.1660 ext. 345 | hkurnit@saintannsny.org

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hello parents of graduates, If you continue to receive your graduate's mail at your family home, but would like to redirect it to their new address—please email us their new mailing address to alumni@saintannsny.org. Thanks!

ALUMNI EVENTS

ALUMNI DAY 2022 SAVE THE DATE. SATURDAY, MAY 14.

A cocktail party for all alumni and faculty/staff followed by dinners for classes ending in 2s and 7s.

Advance registration and proof of Covid vaccination will be required. We will be keeping a close eye on public health metrics for any potential impact on our plans. Saint Ann's encourages all adults attending events in our facilities to follow CDC and FDA guidance by getting a Covid vaccine booster shot to protect the health and safety of our full community.

VIRTUAL REUNIONS // THURSDAY, MAY 19 In addition to the in-person Reunion on May 14, we will be holding Virtual Reunions on Thursday, May 19.

If you are a member of a class year ending in 2s or 7s, we hope you will join us both evenings.

Pre-registration will be required and the May 19 event will feature breakout rooms for each class ending in 2 or 7.

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ALUMNI IN THE FIELD

On Being a Photographer

By Celeste Sloman ’09

My most powerful memories from Saint Ann’s are memories of creative pursuit. It was a hot pursuit, not a casual dabble or pastime, I was always searching and exploring. These are memories of painting studio with Angelo Bellfatto (Art faculty) and photography lab with Heather Hord (former faculty).

For as long as I can remember I could never get enough time in the studio and was always hungering for more. I could sculpt with clay for hours on end and would often make my way to the photography lab during free periods to make print after print or develop yet another roll of film. In eighth grade I pleaded with Angelo to let me join his high school painting intensive class, and when he allowed me to join with open arms I spent the year invisible in a hidden corner of the room by the sink, and painted in silence while marveling at the talented upperclassmen who I aspired to equal. I was never a natural painter but Angelo’s ceramic sculpture class approached the divine. Even today I would love nothing more than to spend a carefree afternoon in the sculpture studio listening to Angelo read aloud a short story by Steven Millhauser or better yet, a chapter of his own book.

After graduating from Saint Ann’s I went to college at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where I spent four years studying art history and traveling across Europe. Since St Andrews offered no studio art programs, my main outlet for creativity was through photography, and it was there that my eye and passion for portraiture cemented. I became a photo editor for the school’s student newspaper, which allowed me to engage with the student body and local community. This newfound interest in photojournalism pushed me to take internships at The Village Voice and New York Magazine over my summer breaks, and ultimately to embark on the Sisyphean task of making a career out of something that I genuinely loved to do. And so the pursuit of creativity continues.

Now, in 2022, I am still searching, making my way as an editorial portrait photographer and photojournalist. I work from my studio in Brooklyn and travel around the country for work. Over the past two years I have been to the White House, taking portraits of President Biden and the First Lady, and I have also spent a week in conservative rural New Mexico reporting on a story for ProPublica about teenage depression and suicide. At the height of Covid I photographed a feature for National Geographic remotely from my studio about families who lost loved ones to Covid, and as the world felt like it was on the verge of opening back up I shot a fashion/portraiture portfolio for Elle Magazine and Disney about inspirational trailblazing women. Since the beginning of the pandemic in my work I have bore witness to pain, struggle, perseverance, hope, and renaissance. What I love most about what

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I do is the ability to forge intimate connections with people from all walks of life. As our political landscape has become increasingly divided I often find myself in unique situations in which I am portraying people with very different backgrounds and beliefs. In these moments I always make a considered effort to connect, to listen, and to see, building as many bridges as I can along the way. In My Life on the Road, Gloria Steinem says, “If you hope people will change how they live, you have to know how they live. If you want people to see you, you have to sit down with them eye-to-eye.” The practice of photography has forced me to think and see the issues that we face as a country with heightened clarity and deliberation. For me it is a privilege to have this access and I hope that in the future I will continue to tell stories and document the human experience with empathy and humility.

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ALUMNI MINI FEATURES

Theo McKenzie ’11 For the past three years, I have taught as a volunteer at Mount Tamalpais College, which offers an associate degree program at San Quentin State Prison in California.

Usually, I teach the Intermediate Algebra course, the curriculum of which is similar to the Algebra 2 course I took at Saint Ann’s. When I started, I was surprised by how normal classes were. There is an education building full of classrooms with whiteboards; students come prepared with their textbooks, pencils, and paper. Students cannot access the internet, so all assignments require a lot of printing, and we make heavy use of scientific calculators. Some students struggle with the material, but almost all engage with it seriously. They form study groups, ask questions in class, and keep up with assignments.

For me as an instructor, this makes the program even more worthwhile.

The reason for taking the class varies from student to student. Some take it as it will remove weeks from their sentence; some want to use the class to obtain better employment once out of prison; many simply want to learn when previously they did not have the opportunity to do so. There are several students in our classes who are serving life sentences but are nevertheless dedicated to learning and gaining an understanding of the world. Math gives us agency by teaching us how to think clearly and solve problems analytically. I am glad that I can help my students find their agency.

Laurie Israel ’91 I currently live in Los Angeles and am Head Writer and Co-Executive Producer for an animated musical series in development at Disney+. There are days when my computer and warm slippers are my only officemates but overall, TV writing is a vibrantly collaborative medium. Stories are developed by a team of writers, chiseled by network executives, reinterpreted by actors, directors and animators.

By far, my favorite part of the collaboration is working in the writers’ room where the show’s writers hone all the outlines and scripts that flow through the production pipeline. It’s part creative beehive, part therapy, and part psychological obstacle course of social dynamics. In many ways, all the hours I spent in literary magazine meetings at Saint Ann’s trained me well for the writers’ room. I loved gathering with the lit mag staff after school, huddling over desks pulled in a circle as we dissected, argued, and praised what writing submissions moved us, while noting which pieces we hoped could move us more. I remember squirming through one meeting when a poem I had submitted was picked over and sent to the request-for-revision pile. Afterward, Ruth Chapman (English faculty), one of my most inspiring English teachers and steady champion of my writing during my time at Saint Ann’s, encouraged me to revise the poem, though I’d rather burn it. Eventually I did revise it though I can’t remember if it was ever accepted into the lit mag. But I do remember being so moved by Ruth taking the time that day to tell me she saw potential in my work. In this competitive field where you’re more likely to hear no than yes, where unflagging mental stamina is not suggested but a must, sometimes a vote of confidence from a producer, agent, or unforgettable English teacher is all you need to fuel you for the marathon(s) ahead.

Jendi Reiter ’89 Jendi had poems published this year in NonBinary Review, ArLiJo, Solstice Lit Mag, The New Guard, Quarter After Eight, Crosswinds Poetry Journal, Oberon, and the anthology Atelier of Healing (Squircle Line Press). Their lyric essay "Titanic Heart" won an honorable mention in the -1000 Below Flash Prose & Poetry Contest and was published online in Midway Journal, Issue 15.4.

Keep in touch and share your news with us at alumni@saintannsny.org.

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Noah Hoffeld ’89 My creative life was ignited at Saint Ann’s, where inspiration was profuse. As I rebelled against Classical music, the late artist-teacher Peter Leventhal (former Art faculty) urged me to improvise on the cello. Playing Bach at assembly, I wasn’t ready to take off in a Hendrix solo! But Peter had (knowingly?) planted a seed, and today improvising is a big part of what I do.

These days, on stage and in the studio, I’m playing both written and unwritten lines. I write songs and instrumental music using improv in the process. My new album with Bodhiheart, Love Rules, Meditations for Cello and Piano celebrates the intersection of contemplation and spontaneity.

I’m grateful for the many Saint Ann’s teachers who taught me that thoughtful exploration and risk are at the core of a satisfying life, in the arts and elsewhere. Without them, where would I be now?

Adena Long ’88 My career in the parks and recreation industry was unchartered—I just always knew that I wanted to work outdoors and to serve the public. While contemplating graduate school, I took a seasonal park ranger position that I thought would be a great distraction. It turned out to be the summer job I never left! I was hooked being part of a system that provided essential services that contributed to community and environmental health, social connection, learning experiences and wellness. I spent the next twenty-two years working at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, steadily rising through the ranks, all the way to Deputy Commissioner.

I always considered myself adventurous until I realized that aside from four years in Connecticut for college, I had never lived anywhere other than NYC. All that changed when I was “wooed” by the late City of Portland Councilmember Nick Fish, a native New Yorker himself, to be the next Parks Bureau Director in this self-proclaimed “weird” city ("Keep Portland Weird" is Portland’s nebulous, yet decidedly accurate tagline).

I was recruited to take over the helm of this beloved and beleaguered parks and recreation system that had recently identified a longstanding financial structural issue that slowly, over time, eroded service levels. I uprooted my family, relocated 3,000 miles away, and started my new job facing drastic budget reductions and painful layoffs. And so it began…

At the risk of being too cliché, it’s safe to say that the last two years have been nothing short of extraordinary. Covid-19 and its disproportionate impact on historically and currently underserved and marginalized communities was further exacerbated by the long-time-in-coming racial justice uprising sparked by the murder of George Floyd and many other Black and brown people.

During the last two years, the realization that parks and recreation are essential to communities, especially in urban areas, has been made abundantly clear. Parks have served as places for protesting, gathering and respite; they proved invaluable as alternative classrooms, music venues and gyms.

Parks and park facilities opened their doors for food distribution, Covid-19 testing, vaccination sites, temporary shelters for neighbors experiencing houselessness and, sadly, as morgues. Parks stayed open for business, when so much was closed.

I am hopeful that we remember how our open, green community spaces and the amazing people who care for them really showed up over the last few years. Parks are a need-to-have, not a nice-to-have.

When it comes time to vote, donate, volunteer, and make investments in our respective communities, I hope that we remember that parks and recreation are essential public services. I’ve made it my life’s work to ensure that we and they continue to show up.

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The Roof

By Rowan B., 1st Grade The roof is fun, I like to play I like to play all day When it’s time to go back down, I feel sad And sad I am But tomorrow we’ll go back up again— So I should be happy, And I’ll do this again and again!

Artwork by Susie and Léa's Second Grade Class

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Artwork by Susie and Léa's Second Grade Class

Trains

By William L., 1st Grade They’re fast The’re loud Click, click, click They run on tracks They go all day And they go to the shed at night In the morning, they get back to work.

It goes the same every day.

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IN MEMORIAM Jeffrey Gumprecht ’73 We learned that Jeffrey passed away on December 7, 2021. Jeffrey’s obituary was published in The New York Times on December 19, 2021. The family requests donations be sent to the Dr. Jeffrey Gumprecht Memorial Gift at Mount Sinai Health System at giving.mountsinai.org/donate.

Benjamin Holloway ’99 We learned that Benjamin passed away. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.

Jessica “Casandra” Nudel ’90 Jessica passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022 at her home in Charlottesville, Virginia. She is survived by her husband, Randall Hodge, her caregiver, Haywood Giles, her parents, Arlene Jordan and Harry Nudel, her sister, Luca Jordan, and her grandmother, “Ollie” Jordan, as well as a large, devoted, and loving "found" family; and, of course, her beloved cats, Lily and Luna. Jessica was a dancer, photographer, award-winning poet and author, an adventurer in her early years, and a light in the lives of all those who knew her. She was also a tireless advocate for the underdog, both figuratively and literally, helping thousands of people with chronic illness, like her own, navigate local and federal disability and benefit programs.

Hardelia Murtell Percy-Green, Former Faculty Hardelia Murtell Percy-Green, known affectionately as “Heidi” at Saint Ann's, passed away on October 26, 2021 after a lengthy illness at her home in Flushing, New York. Heidi worked in the Finance Office from 1988 to 2000. She joined Saint Ann’s when Risa Pollack became Director of Finance after working with Risa at the Lighthouse for the Blind in New York City.

Heidi was born on June 15, 1938 in Washington, D.C. She attended school during her early years in Roseland, Virginia then relocated to New Rochelle, New York to live with her aunt. She graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1956. She later attended C.W. Post College, also known as Long Island University, and earned an Associate’s Degree in Community Health Administration in 1972.

She also attended Ithaca College. She met and married her first husband, William Henry Percy Sr., in 1956 and they had three children: William Jr., Jeanie, and Lydia. After her husband passed away, she married Jack Green in 1998. Heidi was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved her extended family and was the designated family “historian” with whose knowledge they were able to fill out the family tree. She was a warm, bright, kind, and generous colleague whom people very much enjoyed working with and relied upon during her years at Saint Ann’s.

Artwork by Thisbe Wu, 12th grade

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CACTUS COLLAGES BY STEPHANIE & LAUREN’S PRESCHOOL THREES

129 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Stay connected with us online at www.saintannsny.org

Artwork by: Maeve H. 12th grade