Sandy Spring Friends School Community News: Fall 2011

S A N D Y

S P R I N G

F R I E N D S

Community News

S C H O O L Fall 2011

Celebrating 50 Years of Letting Our Lives Speak

Members of the first graduating classes of SSFS join the community in celebrating the School's 50th Anniversary

Table of Contents Message from Tom Gibian, Head of School

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SSFS History Through the Decades: The 1960s – Way Opens by Johanna Cowie 2 The 1970s – The School Grows by Ari Preuss

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The 1980s – A School in Transition by Bob Hoch

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The 1990s – Expanding into a PK-12 School by Linda Sulkin

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The 2000s – and Beyond by Bim Schauffler

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The 50th Anniversary Committee by Johanna Cowie

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"What Does Better Look Like?" The Next 50 Years... by Tom Gibian

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Success @ Summer @ Sandy Spring

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Belay On! Our New Climbing Wall

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New Faculty and Staff, 2011-2012

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The SSFS Division Heads

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Meet the Board, 2011-2012 by Curt Moffatt

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Community News Query: "Why SSFS?"

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Mary Mazzuca Director of Advancement

Snapshots From Sandy Spring

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Judy Averbach Director of the Annual Fund

The Annual Fund

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Our Most Recent Alums: The Class of 2011

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Alumni Notes

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Community News is a publication for the alumni, faculty, parents, students, and other friends past and present who make up the many communities of Sandy Spring Friends School.

Published twice a year by the Advancement Office:

Margaret Rosser Director of External Communications

From the Archives

Inside back cover

Sarah Margolis Media Relations © 2011 Sandy Spring Friends School 16923 Norwood Road Sandy Spring, Maryland 20860 301.774.7455 www.ssfs.org Cover: Members of the first graduating classes of Sandy Spring Friends School came to campus for the beginning of the year all-school assembly, which took place 50 years to the day from when students first began classes in 1961. Joining the members of the class of 1963 and 1964 - Barbara (Cheeseman) Bason ’64, Martha (Sharpe) Menestrina ’64, Karl Richmond ’64, Philip Schwarz ’63, Judy (Slayton) Shefchik ’64, Steven L. Solomon ’64, and Andrea Taylor ’64 - are seniors Jason Denaburg and Emily Zhang, and 50th Anniversary Committee clerk Johanna Cowie. (Photo by Margaret Rosser)

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Special thanks to Johanna Cowie, Clerk of the 50th Anniversary Committee, Dave Burgevin, School Archivist, and all the members of the 50th Anniversary Committee for their contributions to this special issue.

Message from the Head of School Sandy Spring Friends School celebrated Founder's Day on September 27. This date marks the first day of school for the 77 students who arrived at Sandy Spring Friends School that day in 1961. On this year’s Founders Day, I had the opportunity to spend time with members of the first two graduating classes of Sandy Spring Friends School. Seven classmates, traveling from Northern Virginia, Annapolis, Utah, Philadelphia, Boston, and California, sat together during our All School Assembly. They shared with our 572 students and our faculty, in turn, their memories of those first years at SSFS and wisdom acquired over the past 50 years, and helped cut the ribbon for the grand re-opening of Hartshorne, our newlyrenovated ninth grade building. After lunch, they held Meeting for Worship in the Sandy Spring Meeting House.

They arrived at SSFS in 1963, the year that my family moved to Sandy Spring, and we shared remembrances of the land and the area as we recalled it. But mostly, I listened. I was moved to hear their stories of how this new school, still in many ways looking and feeling like a farm on that first day, shaped their visions and guided them to have lives well lived. Imagine, that first day, nervous faculty waiting as parents and families drove up what was still a dirt road to drop their children off at a school where they would study, learn, eat, sleep, play and grow together (all in the same building). They came – families, students and faculty – with many ideas, one of which they all held in common: that a Friends education was something of value.

Our first graduates told stories of the faculty that had changed their lives, of their roommates and their lasting friendships; of operettas; of working together to make the School’s first sidewalks; of Morley games, kitchen chores and passing notes pinned to ropes that could be collected through the dorm windows. They spoke about being listened to, and they spoke about how curious they remain about so many things.

At the end of the day, one of the alum asked me what I felt was important about the school. My response: that Sandy Spring Friends School continues to guide students to discover their gifts, their sense of connectedness, their passions and interests and their love of learning. That we remain a community that listens, that is comfortable in silence, that deals openly and well with complications and ambiguities. That we always have among us people who inspire, question, prod, challenge and make us laugh. That we continue to be true to ourselves.

As you read through this issue of Community News, I hope that you will appreciate in these pages both the history of SSFS and each stage that has led up to where we are today, and that you recognize in our new developments and programs both the spirit of the school that persists 50 years out from its opening year, and the vision that will sustain it for years to come.

Tom Gibian Head of School

Fall 2011

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Sandy Spring Friends School History: 1961-2011 The 50th Anniversary Committee has been busy in the past months compiling a written history of Sandy Spring Friends School from the past 50 years. Various members of the community agreed to write about highlights of each of the decades, from the 1960s through today. Johanna Cowie, with help from Robin Johnsen '69 and former faculty member Helen Louise Liversidge, writes about the school's beginnings and the first years; Ari Preuss provides rememberances of the school from the 1970s; longtime Upper School History teacher Bob Hoch compiled highlights from the 1980s; Lower School teacher Linda Sulkin remembers the expansion of the Middle School and arrival of Friends Elementary School on campus among other events from the 1990s; and Bim Schauffler, who graduated from SSFS in 1974 and returned in the 1990s as Director of the International Student Program, gives his perspective on the School's history from the 2000s to the present. These written histories are followed by an introduction to the members of the 50th Anniversary Committee, and a forward-looking piece by Head of School Tom Gibian addressing the coming 50 years, and "What Better Looks Like" for SSFS. 2

SSFS: 1960s - The Way Opens

by Johanna Cowie, Clerk of the 50th Anniversary, School Librarian, and parent of Anna '18 and Max '14 Goodman. Johanna's husband Dan graduated from SSFS in 1978.

The seed for Sandy Spring Friends School was planted by Brook Moore, who felt called to answer the need for a place for students seeking a Quaker high school experience in the Sandy Spring area. He proposed a new school under the care of the Sandy Spring Monthly and Baltimore Yearly Meeting. A school committee clerked

by Brook Moore was formed, and the Sandy Spring Friends School’s founders “looked forward in faith.”

Undeterred by a lack of resources or direct experience, the committee had tremendous enthusiasm, an openness to possibility, and a willingness to work hard. Within a year, Esther Scott donated the first 56 of her 140-acre family farm. Sam Legg, our first headmaster, and his wife Edna quit paying jobs, committing themselves to starting a new school without the benefit of salary or housing.

Louise Liversidge, Anne and Barry Morley, and Henry Nadig – to campus for an orientation. For the Liversidges, it was the first time for them to see the campus and meet their new headmaster. Helen Louise remembers a damp, overcast weekend and the promise of a school building (Moore Hall) that "was nothing but a muddy hole in the ground." Happily, after talking through the program Sam Legg had put together and experiencing the camaraderie of the group assembled, Helen Louise left confident that she had made the right decision. Proceeding in faith.

In May of 1960, ground was broken for Scott House, which was to be both residence for the Legg family and the school‘s first 8-11 students. Construction inspired such a flow of contributions that the Committee felt able to move ahead faster, building Moore Hall, and increasing the initial student population to 77.

Mud and construction, trial and error, enthusiasm and exhaustion were mainstays that first school year. School had to be postponed two weeks until Moore Hall was ready for occupancy.

Teachers, having arrived by September 1, were put up by local families, and a handful of enthusiastic students showed up on the original start day and went to work side-by-side with their teachers, painting, moving furniture and cleaning to get the property ready for classes. The Burrowes, who arrived with their four children, took the lead in building Walbrooke, the faculty residence (now part of the Lower School) in which they would live.

In March of 1961, Sam and Edna Legg invited the teaching team – John and Sally Burrowes, David and Helen

Mud was everywhere. Students that first year remember digging the milk truck out of the axle-deep mud, SSFS Community News

ern dance; Community Day (formerly Mountain Day); block scheduling; intersession; graduates returning as employees; and controversy over technology (head phone use) all remain important issues and events in school life today. This spring, Strawberry Cowbake will mark the end of our 50th successful school year, as it has in years past. sweeping the halls of Moore twice a day, and pouring sidewalks between buildings to stay above the mud.

The construction continued throughout the decade. Parents rallied to get the drive paved before the start of the second year, and Tanglewood (originally dorms and teacher housing) was built.

In 1964, the infirmary (Hartshorne) and the barn (now Maintenance), the first indoor performance and dedicated Meeting space appeared. That same year, the pond was dug in time for winter ice skating. Hallowell House, Earnshaw, and Lea House were built over the next several years to meet the need for faculty housing. A woodworking shop was added to the barn, and an extension was added to Moore Hall to house administrative offices, with Leeds Room above. The spring and summer of 1969 finished off the decade's growth with the construction of Westview and the Art Studio.

In the 1960s, the campus was changing, the world was changing, and so was our leadership. Sam Legg, who had built the foundation of the school program so solidly, left in the second academic year. John Burrowes stepped in as interim headmaster in the fall of ’63, and Thornton "Thorny" Brown began his tenure in 1965.

Fall 2011

As a younger child, Robin Johnsen ’69 knew Thorny as one of the weighty Quakers in the Sandy Spring Meeting and later as her headmaster in the late 60s. "Thorny had this tremendous connected silence to him that was mystical," recalls Robin. He was an independent thinker, choosing, despite his family’s disapproval, to work in construction after graduating from Haverford. "Thorny wasn’t impressed by genius. Just like in his own life, it wasn’t enough just to be smart."

Chorus was huge right through the 1960s. Barry Morley was such a charismatic leader that he had signed up 60 students during the first week of school. The chorus gave annual winter and spring concerts, as well as putting on a Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta each year. Chorus was such an identifying part of being a Sandy Springer that for decades alumni returned to campus each year at graduation to rejoin the chorus in singing "The Silver Swan" and "Mon Coeur."

Much of what we associate with our school today began in our first decade.

Morley games such as Nurdleyball and Frazzleerham were played enthusiastically. Dramatic and musical play performances; arts evenings including choral singing, hand bells and mod-

Sandy Spring’s commitment to diversity has always been present. Our initial admissions material stated that we "look for a student body that will represent creative differences—social, economic, religious, racial, national, political, and intellectual." Robin remembers the world opening up to her as SSFS brought her into contact with students from a wide variety of places, backgrounds, and circumstances.

"There was a velocity of change both in and out of school. What was happening in the world definitely impacted what was happening on campus. We were taught: think for yourself, and expect others to do the same."

Students help pour the sidewalks between Moore Hall and Tanglewood.

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SSFS: 1970s - The School Grows

by Ari Preuss, SSFS Upper School History teacher since 1967 In sports, too, the Morley Games of HoopaDoop, Frazzleerham, Brindledorph, FriedlFrappe and, most important, Nurdleybawl, reached their peak, but interscholastic soccer and lacrosse for boys and field hockey and tennis for girls vied for space and players. Few private and no public Michael DeHart with 9th graders on the trail. schools featured lacrosse, so away games, By the end of the 60s, Moore Hall reon the one and only school bus, took mained the hub of all school activities, teams to Blueridge, VA; Harrisburg, housing the library, all dorms, classPA; and Annapolis, MD. By mid-derooms, offices, and the kitchen/dining cade, plastic sticks changed the game room. All that changed drastically for boys, but the new girl’s lacrosse when Westview arose near the tennis team continued to cradle their wood, courts in ‘69 to offer more “luxurious” gut and leather sticks carefully crafted dormitories, classrooms, a spacious

by Native Americans. An aquatic team dining room and modern kitchen. was added, and many of our swimmers With the arrival of six power teaching learned sign language to communicate couples, we moved from occasional with the contestants at the Gallaudet Morley-Brown-Kline revelations to racing pool. The Ultimate team won continuous pedagogic innovations the East Coast Frisbee championship at by the Fishers, Olsens, Conoboys, the Mall in Washington.

Sinkhorns, Stewarts and Tates. The new mood and methods reflected the Meeting was held every morning for turbulence of university riots and the 15 minutes, a stressful period for facultensions of the Vietnam War. Operetta ty booking late-arriving day students and chorus as chief participatory arts and chasing after hiding boarders. All were dramatically challenged by Liz students worked daily on class and Lerman’s whirling choreographic hall clean-up, and Quaker plain talk dance productions like Alice in Woncould be heard: “Hast thee done thine derland, blending movement with job today, Friend?” Students from Caspeech and music and staging stutoctin and Glaydin addressed faculty dents along with faculty, their "brats," by first names, puzzling public school and Friends House residents. Ever transfers and foreign students. Facsince, dance practices, theme seleculty meeting discussions probed the tions and stunning concerts have been purpose of titles and intrinsic respect a signature Sandy Spring dynamic. between adults and youngsters.

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Feeling snug and secure in their peaceful rural setting, students and teachers nevertheless drove to the cities to participate in peace marches and protests at the White House against Cold War atrocities and to help register potential draftees as conscientious objectors at local post offices. Initially viewed as subversive and treacherous, Quakers found themselves in the vanguard of the nation’s swelling anti-war movement, and our students quickly became intellectually and emotionally stimulated by constant lectures, films and peace conferences by Friends activists.

Internal tensions prodded the school to creative innovations as well. The senior year Mini-School projects were followed by the Symbiotic and Fathoms curriculum in science, and the Colesville and Olney branches of the Interlocking Curriculum combined to form the new Thornton Friends School.

Even more controversial was Barry and Anne Morley’s special Ninth Grade program at the Meeting House, with exciting outdoors, hands-on nature exploration hikes and canoe trips. They supplied a most energetic, enthusiastic, huggy and often rowdy cast of characters who challenged us to turn them into scholarly sophomores.

Intersession travels, too, proliferated with adventurous hiking and biking excursions to Iberia-Morocco, Venezuela-Colombia, Greece-Crete, Mexico, Guatemala, Haiti, France and Holland.

After the Fall of Saigon and the Watergate hearings, attention returned to the Middle East as gas prices spiked and stations dispensed fuel on alterSSFS Community News

nate days for odd and even numbered license plates. We caught thieves on campus stealing gas from cars and buses, and enterprising students sold coffee and donuts to drivers waiting in long lines at 6 a.m. in Ashton. Simultaneously a Persian incursion occurred: our dorms were swelled by Iranian students - earnest, polite, and soccercrazed, a boost to our teams.

Westview was built, housing dormitories, classrooms, a dining room and kitchen.

In the kitchen, parent cooks Caroline Hussman, Mary Austin, Marilyn Bourdeaux and Diana Sullivan captured stoves, pots and ladles to bake the best bread, stir delicious soups, and serve wonderful homemade, nutritious dishes to the students.

1979 marked the end of an era when Mary Lillian Moore, Helen Louise and David Liversidge, and Margot and Thorny Brown retired. Present from the beginning, these faculty and staff demonstrated their dedicated, humble and caring service, always looking for the best in students and colleagues. They anchored the hearty, welcoming spirit that The costumed Madrigal group, led by has animated Sandy Spring ever since.

Anne Gulick.

Fall 2011

Sports popular at SSFS in the 1970s: Nurdleyball (left) and Tennis (above) 5

SSFS: 1980s - A School in Transition

by Bob Hoch, US History teacher since 1979 new library (the old one was where the student lounge now exists), and the Horning Gymnasium. The Science Department later occupied the lower level. One of the unique features of the building is the observatory, which housed the telescope built by Robert Yarnall. The library was moved from its old location book by book by a human chain of students, faculty, staff and parents, with Ed at one end of the chain and Dorothy at the other. The event was covered by the local media.

Students playing ultimate frisbee When the 1979-80 school year began, Sandy Spring Friends School was a traditional boarding school with a day component. The Upper School was limited to grades ten through twelve, with a small ninth grade program run by the Morleys out of the Community House. The Middle School was a year away, and the Lower School would take another decade to appear.

Sports at the beginning of the 80s consisted of boy's soccer, boy's and girl's lacrosse, ultimate Frisbee, and tennis. Most girls took dance or yoga.

There was an afternoon "Timed Walk" option, and Morley games. Swimming and gymnastics were also offered for recreation. There was no official ESL program, but there were a large number of international students, most of them from Iran. Thornton Friends School (formerly called the Interlocking Curriculum, begun on our campus 6

by Peter and Nancy Kline) joined SSFS during seventh period for arts and sports.

The 1980s began under the leadership of Head of School Ed Hinshaw.

He and his wife Dorothy (the new librarian) came from the Midwest after spending time in Africa to take over the administration of the school.

Ed brought a steady hand and calming presence to the community, and many changes took place under his direction. The Middle School began in a church basement in Brookeville before moving on campus, and by the end of the decade the Community House program morphed into the ninth grade, although keeping many of its unique features.

The major building project of the decade was the creation of Yarnall Hall. The new building featured a

Meeting for Worship evolved as well.

Meeting time was changed to twice a week for 30 minutes and took place after the academic day had already begun. This improved the quality of Meeting for Worship, which at its old time saw students straggling in during the whole time Meeting was in session. The biggest change in Meeting came with the purchase of the 19th-century Meeting House next to Sherwood High School that had been used as a library. The building was moved through the woods and brought to the SSFS campus. The entire school community turned out to watch the event which was, of course, filmed by Ari Preuss.

The sports program began to grow.

Soccer was offered as a girl’s varsity sport, and basketball for both boys and girls became part of the program. The Potomac Valley Athletic Conference was formed with SSFS as a founding member. League play would eventually encompass both Upper and Middle School teams. The sports program continued to expand throughout the decade.

SSFS Community News

With all of the changes taking place, the one thing that never altered was the "feel" of the Quaker environment. Meeting for Worship remained the center of the community, and a community service component was added to the graduation requirements. Long-standing traditions such as the ninth grade trip, operetta, intersession, faculty serving the holiday meal, and Strawberry Cowbake still remained.

Quaker values, social justice, peaceful conflict resolution, diversity and a commitment to academic excellence remained what a Sandy Spring Friends education had to offer to all those who become part of the SSFS community.

The Middle School program in Brookeville

Sue DeVeer and Barry Morley Fall 2011

The Meeting House being moved onto campus

US History teacher Ari Preuss and alum Barbara Gibian '67 with Brook Moore at the Yarnall Hall construction site.

The popular dance program at SSFS, taught by Arlene Horowitz 7

SSFS: 1990s - Expanding into a PK-12 School

by Linda Sulkin, LS teacher since 1993 In 1990, my daughter was a rising senior at SSFS, having been there since seventh grade. We had come to love the school, and as a result, we decided to send her two brothers, who would both be in Middle School. During the summer, the Middle School went through a renovation in order to add a sixth grade to the division. They expanded the downstairs, adding a two-story lobby entrance, classrooms, and an office. 14 students were in the first sixth grade class that year, including my youngest son.

Head of School Stephen Gessner (middle) reviews a model of the proposed Science Wing addition to Yarnall with Upper School Science teacher Doug Smith and Middle School Science teacher Toni Evans.

Annette Breiling with Brook Moore at the opening of the Lower School at SSFS.

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Being clerk of the Parent Association, I was involved in the search for a new headmaster the following year, which brought the arrival of Stephen Gessner (whose title was henceforth known as Head of School). Each year, the parents were involved in organizing and running a white elephant sale at the May Fair, which was held on campus every spring, with the proceeds going to financial aid. We lobbied to take the auction off-campus and include dinner to make it more of an evening of entertainment. This finally happened in February 1992. The auction theme was called "Breaking the Ice." It was held at the Holiday Inn in Columbia, and everyone was thrilled when we raised over $10,000. The money went toward new computers for the Upper School lab, and a new tradition was established.

The big news in 1993 was the arrival of Friends Elementary School on campus. Friends Elementary was a small Quaker school that rented space in Walbrooke, with the idea that it would merge with SSFS to form a SSFS Community News

Pre-K through 12 school. The merger took place that summer, as well as a huge expansion and renovation of Walbrooke. The new wing doubled the size of the building; it housed ten classrooms and several offices, including an office and conference room for the division head, Annette Breiling, and a front office for Linda Cooper, her right hand "man." It was a huge endeavor to be ready for the opening of school, and work was being done right up until the eleventh hour. A few days after school opened, an inspector decided there were too many things left undone and insisted that six of the classrooms move to another location until the work was completed. This transition was done in a matter of hours with the help of the students and many adults on campus. You might ask how I know about this.

Well, I decided to return to teaching after many years at home raising my family, and I was hired to teach the third grade that fall. It was quite the "beginning of school." However, as always, our students, faculty, and staff worked together to make it happen and turned it into an adventure to be remembered and talked about for years! Our new building was dedicated in November of 1993 and is now known as Walbrooke/Breiling.

Over the next few years there were many changes. Annette Breiling moved to the Development office and Rhode Jones became the new Head of the Elementary School. The following year, Lynn Darman became Head of the Elementary School. We expanded the program to have two sections of each grade and for one year had to Fall 2011

have one fifth grade class in Tanglewood and the other still in Walbrooke.

That gave new meaning to the term "changing classes"! The decision was made in 1996 to have the fifth grade become part of the Middle School. That same year, the Elementary School officially became known as the Lower School, which was Howard Zuses carries the "1993" cornerstone during the Walbrooke addition dedication ceremony welcoming Friends another transiElemenary on campus. tion in thinking of our campus as one school. To help bridge the space at the opening assembly that his goal between Lower School and Upper was to learn the name of every stuSchool, the "Senior Buddy" program dent by the end of the year. He would was created. Each senior was assigned open doors at carpool, and that first a "buddy" in Pre-K or Kindergarten.

Christmas he dressed up in a tuxedo They would have activities together and top hat and came around to every to get to know each other and appear classroom and gave the kids candy. on stage together at the all-school asHe always had time to stop for a hug semblies at the beginning and end of or to answer a question. He achieved the year. The first time this was done his goal. was in 1994; it was an instant success and became a cherished tradition by The school will continue to change all. Other traditions the Lower School and grow. However, people who bestudents looked forward to were Com- long to this community often say that munity Day, the Halloween parade, this is a "special place," and they are Grandparents Day, Wee Mail, and our right. Strong Quaker values, spiritualmusical programs. ity, learning ways to deal with conflict, In 1997 Ken Smith became our new Head of School. He told the students

academic achievement, and diversity are all part of the fabric that makes up Sandy Spring Friends School.

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SSFS: 2000s - and Beyond...

by Bim Schauffler '74, Director of the Upper School International Student Program Under Ken Smith's nurturing leadership, the years 2000 - 2010 proved to be a period of stability and remarkable growth at Sandy Spring Friends School in a decade filled with both domestic and global turmoil and excitement. The first decade of the 21st century commenced with the controversial presidential election of 2000 and the attacks of Ken Smith, Brook Moore, and MS Ken Smith passes the torch - and his SSFS jersey - to Tom Gibian, current Head of School.

9/11/2001 on New York students at the MS ribbon-cutting. and Washington, DC. amazing opportunities for those withThis was followed by the U.S. invasion was most visible in physical changes to the campus. Based on a strategic in our community as well as many of Afghanistan in October of 2001, the plan formulated in the late 90s, the from the surrounding Sandy Spring Beltway sniper a year later, and the area to enjoy our woods and climb in 2003 invasion of Iraq. Natural disasters school added a new middle school, an athletic center, and a state-of-the-art the trees through an impressive maze also marked this decade with major performing arts center. Additionof zip lines and cabled bridges. earthquakes in India, Pakistan, Chile, ally, the old Middle School building and China. Earthquakes in Indonesia (Tanglewood) was remodeled and Programmatically, the school has also and Japan lead to catastrophic tsunaincorporated into the Lower School, grown and flourished. Our sports mis. In the U.S., Hurricane Katrina batand the Westview Dining Hall was teams in the Middle and Upper School tered the Gulf coast, and manmade diexpanded to accommodate a larger have won more championships than sasters struck, including the bursting of student body. The first five years of in any previous decade. Across all the housing bubble, and the BP Deepthe decade provided a remarkable three divisions, an award-winning water Horizon oil spill. More hopedemonstration of Quaker process and recycling program thrives, including fully, President Barack Obama, our decision-making as the whole commua composting system that allows us to first African American President, was nity – including students, parents, fac- fertilize our newly-landscaped spaces sworn into office in January of 2009. In with the waste from our cafeteria. In retrospect, this most recent decade con- ulty and staff, administration, and the board of trustees – worked together to mid-decade, Earth Stewardship Day stitutes an appropriate bookend to the design and create a completely new was added as an all-school event, and turbulent 1960s. Throughout this time, and greatly-improved campus with Community Day evolved into more of students at SSFS have continued to three wonderful new buildings and a a cross-divisional community buildthrive and let their lives speak through beautiful green and tree-filled campus ing day of Meeting for Worship, fun, the Quaker ideals that have remained quadrangle.

The growth in facilities work, and Morley games. These two at our core for 50 years. was capped in 2010 with the construcchanges reflect a growth in the tradition of the Adventure Park at Sandy tion of the stewardship of both our The growth of the School through Spring Friends School, which provides environment and the community in the first decade of the 21st century 10

SSFS Community News

Alex Connelly and Jeremy Wright '89 mark the future site of the PAC; Seniors with their buddies during groundbreaking ceremonies in 2004. which we live.

One of the most dramatic aspects of growth over the decade has been the school’s increasing global connections.

The decade began with an International Student Program of 22 students, mostly from Korea and Taiwan. Presently, the program enrolls 70 students, with the majority coming from China and additional students from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Ethiopia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone. Through the decade, the program has enrolled students from Bhutan, Germany, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, as well. Additionally, there is now a Summer Immersion Program that, in collaboration with American Field Service (AFS), brought 120 students from Italy, Paraguay, Argentina, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Japan to study English and learn about American culture for the summer of 2011.

In addition to bringing a larger number and greater diversity of students to our campus, both the Middle and Upper Divisions of the school have expanded opportunities for domestic students to travel abroad and further develop global competency. The Middle School offers summer service Fall 2011

This year's International Student Program. 70 students from 11 countries are represented. trips, as well as trips to French and Spanish speaking countries. Through intersessions and a new summer service program, Upper School students have had opportunities to experience culture and carry out service work in places such as South Africa, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Peruvian Amazon, Korea, Senegal, Morocco, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Iceland, Greece, and Finland. The growth in such diverse global educational opportunities for students, our strong academic curriculum, and the School’s Quaker core combine to produce graduates who are experientially, intellectually, and spiritually prepared to face the

challenges of an increasingly interconnected world.

The last decade closed with Ken Smith’s retirement and the arrival of Sandy Spring native and Quaker Tom Gibian as our new Head of School. In the tradition of Friends, we begin our new decade with our eyes open to the future and the belief in continuing revelation leading us to new and better programing and even richer educational and spiritual opportunities for our students, all built on the foundation laid by the first members of our School community as well as those who have dwelt here in the intervening years.

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The 50th Anniversary Committee Johanna Cowie, Clerk of the 50th Anniversary Committee.

50th Anniversary Committee's Statement of Purpose The 50th Anniversary of Sandy Spring Friends School celebrates the history, traditions, and strengths - as well as the spirit - of this special place, as envisioned by our founder Brook Moore.

The year-long celebration will include opportunities for outreach, discovery, and connection which will reaffirm and guide us as we look towards a vibrant future.

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SSFS Timeline

50th Anniversary Committee Members:

The Committee has created an interactive online timeline through Dipity - www.dipity.com - that marks School events and photos from the Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting minute that declares Brook Moore's interest in starting a new Quaker school in 1958, all the way up to the present. Check out the timeline on the 50th anniversary website: www.ssfs.org/50th_anniversary You can also add events or images to the timeline by joining Dipity (a free service). A portion of the timeline is sampled below:

Susan Aguilar Judy Averbach Anne Ball Scott Baytosh Matt Benning '02 Ben Booz Dave Burgevin Johanna Cowie Amy Curtis Mike DeHart '71 Bruce Evans Tom Gibian Gwen Handler Grace Hanson '12

Ellen Hartge Kip Imlay '71 Donna Kellogg Hannah Kerr '95 Mary Mazzuca Curt Moffatt Ari Pruess Nancy Preuss Lynda Reese Rex Riley '80 Phil Schwarz '63 Ann Tran Henry Winokur '70 Alan Wright

It’s your celebration, so we need your input!

Share a Sandy Spring story! Tell us what it is that makes Sandy Spring Friends School special to you!

Who or what would you like to see on Alumni Weekend June 2nd? Email the committee at ssfs50@ssfs.org with your stories, thoughts, and suggestions.

SSFS Community News

"What Does Better Look Like?" The Next 50 Years...

by Tom Gibian, Head of School Last year, my first as Head of Sandy Spring Friends School, I used the “What Does Better Look Like?” line as a conversation starter whenever I met people who care deeply about the School. I asked the question out of strength. Sandy Spring Friends School has stable enrollment, stable finances, an incredible community of current families, alumni, faculty and staff, grandparents and friends, and a wonderful 50-year legacy of providing Quaker education and transforming lives. At the same time, I believe real sustainability comes from being willing to embrace change, adopt innovation, and challenge prevailing norms, all the while remaining true to our original purpose of educating the whole child.

Therefore, one of the things that I felt we needed as I started last year was to consider thoughtfully and then articulate to the community what it means to educate our students for the 21st Century. We needed to construct a narrative of what better looks like, because it is a necessary first step on the road to achieving it. If we can’t describe what our destination should look like, then how will we know when we get there?

It was an exciting year. We have worked hard on some reorganization so that we have the right leaders in the right places. We focused on getting better at doing the little things that everyone expects schools like ours to do. I call that "Blocking and Tackling."

We reviewed and tweaked our manuals and policies and handbooks and contracts. We considered whether dogs should remain on leash (they should) and how much to blog (can’t blog too Fall 2011

much). We are not all the way to where we want to be in this area, but we are tackling problems and getting things done. If you are reading this on your wireless device while waiting in the carpool line, then you know what I mean.

We also began the work of considering more strategic issues. I called this category "Planning and Anticipation."

What languages should we offer, and when should we offer them? (Note, we now teach Chinese [Mandarin] starting in the ninth grade.) We are emphasizing professional development opportunities for our teachers while introducing more systematic evaluation and feedback loops. What should our athletic program look like? This is a big one; we have lots of ideas, some of which we are able to act on quickly.

For instance, we will offer intermural wrestling in the Upper School this winter. Other ideas will take a little longer to implement. For example, we are considering joining the MAC (Midatlantic Athletic Conference), a more competitive league which would nudge us to have all our sports programs look more like our best sports programs. As a School, we are climbing the learning curve of differentiated learning to allow us to reach, prod and stimulate students wherever they are on their development progression. This seems to be entirely consistent with a Sandy Spring Friends education, featuring small classes and a nurturing, you-can’t-fall-through-the-cracks environment.

We asked ourselves whether if we had had a crystal ball 14 years ago (in 1996, when our seniors were in PK) giv-

ing us perfect visibility into what the world of 2011 would look like, would we have put more math and science in the curriculum. I would not want to be assigned the negative side of that debate. And while we do not have perfect visibility into the world of 2025 that our current PKers will enter, we suspect that math, science and technology will not be in decline as useful skills in the job market. So we are working on creating more robust classes, electives and after school activities (i.e., Robotics Club).

These are just a few of the many areas that we are putting a shine to. It feels like we are going flat out this year, our 50th as a school. To help us, we are engaging in the development of a Strategic Plan that will seek input and guidance from our entire community. We will look (or re-look) at some new questions, such as what is the optimal number of students in our school, in our residential program, in each grade? We will likely also consider what a new Upper School facility should look like in light of our curriculum, our campus, and our relationship to metropolitan Washington. (Hint: different than a re-purposed dorm.)

We are not slowing down, even while we continue to ask ourselves "What Does Better Look Like?" The question does not feel old at all.

I am thrilled to be Head of School as we look ahead to the next 50 years. There are many reasons for this, but I count at the top of the list the opportunity to reach out and engage you in the conversation – the planning, the implementation and the realization of What Better Looks Like. It’s important work.

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Success @ Summer @ Sandy Spring entire department, am excited and looking forward to seeing how we can help Summer at Sandy Spring grow and develop as the camp of choice," says Britteny.

Campers enjoyed the revitalized pond ("Wildebeest Waterhole") last summer.

Summer at Sandy Spring 2011 brought excitement to the 140-acre campus almost every day. Over 1200 campers came to our beautiful campus throughout the summer months! This reflected an increase from 800 campers in 2010, and 300 in 2009.

In addition to the Friends Camps for grades PK-5, and the creative, athletic, academic, adventure, and skills camps offered by our Summer at Sandy Spring program, many other outside programs held camps on our campus.

These included Center for Talented Youth (CTY), Summer Immersion Program (SIP), Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG), Harwood Basketball, DC United (Soccer), National Guitar Workshop, Kyle Dixon Lacrosse Camp, and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN).

Probably the biggest highlight of the summer was the addition of the Wilde-

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Nancy St. Louis, Interim Camp Director during the past summer, says: "It still amazes me how dedicated, creative, nurturing, and respectful the staff and counselors were. They weathered many tough situations, such as power outages, heat waves, and the heavy rains. There’s an old saying that 'it takes a village to raise a child,' but in the camp world, it takes an amazing community of folks to provide lasting memories."

beest Waterhole – the revitalized pond that now serves as a swimming hole.

It was a huge hit, and the staff will look for ways to improve upon the wildly popular aquatics program even further during the off season.

Summer at Sandy Spring also used the Adventure Park a great deal, with most campers having the opportunity to experience the aerial park. This will certainly continue next summer.

There is still room to grow and develop Summer at Sandy Spring, and the staff is dedicated to doing just that.

Brittney Rohrs was hired in July as the Assistant Director of Auxiliary Programs at Summer at Sandy Spring.

(See Brittney's bio in the New Faculty and Staff for 2011-2012 article, page 17). "After coming into the auxiliary department in July and being able to see camp in action, I, along with the

Interim Camp Director Nancy St. Louis leads campers to their next activity.

SSFS Community News

Belay On! The Climbing Wall is Complete!

The Climbing Wall is up! Thanks to the generous “Fund-an-Item” from the Parents Association Auction last spring, SSFS now has a climbing wall that will greatly enhance our P.E. curriculum and Outdoor Leadership program.

Over the summer, the wall was constructed in the Athletic Center

by Eldorado Climbing Walls from Boulder, CO. The wall is 55’ wide and reaches 40’ high at its tallest point.

The majority of the top ropes climbing routes are between 30’ and 35’. The wall has 18 potential belay stations for top rope climbing and offers seven lead climbing lines for more advanced climbers or for those looking for a new challenge. The wall includes a boulder cave (unroped climbing) that has a maximum height of 14’ and a variety of features, including a 30’ high crack, a rappel deck, and a blend of steep and low-angle terrain.

The size and scope of the wall make it an ideal teaching tool for students, faculty and staff, and community members, and will have an extremely positive impact on the school's mission to incorporate an adventure-based compo­nent to the Physical Education program.

The Lower School PE department plans to carry out a month-long unit on the wall for all LS grades in the winter. This climbing curriculum, with an emphasis on traversing or bouldering (climbing at a designated developmentally-ap­ propriate maximum height without a rope belay) has extremely strong educational benefits. Focus will be on developing the children’s energy, both Fall 2011

Trained US students demonstrate the newly-constructed climbing wall on Friends Day. short and intense efforts, in addition to working to gain an ability to control continuity in effort and speed. Improving motor skills through balance and body positioning, as well as cognitive ability to analyze informa­tion and make decisions to reach goals, will be a foundation for learning. Taking risks and overcoming fear by empower­ing these children in their own self-control will make a drastic impact on their affective development.

The Middle School is also looking foward to using the wall for exercise when the weather won’t allow them to get outside. Relay races, team events, and more will be possibilities as the students become more familiar with the climbing wall. Upper School students will also have the opportunity to use the wall through the Climbing Club and the Outdoor Leadership course.

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New Faculty and Staff for 2011-2012 The SSFS community welcomes the following new faculty and staff: LOWER SCHOOL We are thrilled to welcome Brenda Crawley to SSFS as the new Lower School Head! Prior to coming to SSFS, Brenda spent seven years as the Lower School Head at the McLean School of Maryland. Please read Brenda's full (and impressive!) profile on pages 18-19...

Jenny Lingelbach, Third Grade teacher, has been a member of the Sandy Spring community for the past 12 years: she is the mother of Catie Lingelbach '12; served as the clerk of the PA; and worked in the business/admissions office here at SSFS before her decision to pursue a career in early childhood education. Jenny taught 1st through 4th graders at Friends Community School in College Park before coming back to teach at SSFS. A lifelong Quaker, Jenny has attended Quaker schools (Germantown Friends School from K-12 and Haverford College for undergrad), and worked in Quaker schools (Penn Charter, SSFS, Friends Community) all her life.

Bela Meghani, First Grade teacher, is also familiar to many here on campus: she is the mother of three current Springers - Ravi, Tomar, and Lilli. Bela received her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley, and is currently working on her Master's in Early Childhood Education. Bela was born in India and moved to the United States when

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she was three. She is a lover of maps and geography, a reader of classics and fantasy, and science education is her passion.

Kiki Vargas, Fifth Grade teacher, is yet another SSFS community member: her two sons Micah and Taddy both attend SSFS. Kiki received her B.A. from Emory University in Atlanta, and an M.A. in Special Education and Learning Disabilities from Columbia University Teacher's College.

Before coming to SSFS, Kiki taught at the Churchill School, the Lab School of Washington, and the McLean School of Maryland.

Heidi Butterworth, MS Math teacher, received a B.A. in Environmental Economics from Colgate University, and an M.A.T. in Math and Special Education from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. She has extensive outdoor education experience, and will also be teaching MS Outdoor Education. Heidi has taught at The Day School in Baltimore and the Lab School in Washington, DC. She also served as "Chief Mate" in the Living Classrooms Foundation, where she taught a hands-on ecology curriculum.

Ashlee McKinnon, MS Movement Teacher, joins MIDDLE SCHOOL us from Statesville, NC, where she earned her Patrick Salmasi, MS teaching license in Dance English teacher and Education from the Uniavid reader, comes to versity of North Carolina Maryland most recently at Charlotte. She also holds a B.A. from Unifrom Florida, where versity of Maryland College Park in Dance, and he taught English and a M.Div. from Princeton Seminary. Dance is her interdisciplinary units pasison, and she is excited and driven to show in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. its impact on the lives for her students and the Patrick received his B.A. from Florida State SSFS community.

University and is currently working on an M.A. in English (Concentration in MulticulUPPER SCHOOL tural and Transnational Literature) from East Carolina University.

Jerome (J.) Cole, Assistant Head of Upper Tyler Rieth, MS Music School for College teacher, graduated from Counseling, received Cornerstone University his B.A. from Catholic in Grand Rapids, MI, University, and has an with a B.A. in music M.A. in Education and education and a B.A. in Human Development from George Washingmusic composition. Ty- ton University. He brings a wealth of experiler’s experience includes drama, music, sound ence in college guidance, independent school technical work, and performance. He has management, and leadership of organizations played in jazz bands as well as pit orchestras, as a result of his six years at Edmund Burke, toured across Italy three times with a choir five years at Bethesda - Chevy Chase High and brass quintet, and has had his original School, and twenty years in the U.S. Navy. J. music performed by a number of groups. will be working with Megan Hoover, who

SSFS Community News

moves this year from her part-time role as Residential Life Counselor to a full-time role that also includes Assistant Director of College Counseling.

Justin Leak, Assistant Director of Residential Life/Evening Coordinator, holds a B.A. in Speech Communications and African and African American Studies and an M.A. in Counseling, Psychology, and Family Therapy Addiction(s) from Lewis and Clark College. He joins our dorm staff after a five year stint at Lewis and Clark that included work as Area Director of three residence facilities, Career Counselor, and Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs. He also spent time honing his counseling skills as a Youth Mental Health Consultant for API Associates and Relief Counselor at Wellspring Ministries.

Most recently he comes from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation where he was an Educational Adviser working with young scholars making the move to independent schools.

Justin’s experience and talents will certainly contribute to the strength and vitality of the dorm program.

Lyn Ostrov, US Art Teacher, received her educational training at the Maryland Institute College of Art where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts and her Master of Fine Arts in painting.

Admission and Advancement

The SSFS Admission team: Karen Finkel, Yasmin McGinnis, Dawn Griffith, and Suzannah Hopkins.

Fall 2011

Early in her career, Lyn obtained experience teaching both adolescents and adults at institutions like Baltimore High School of the Arts, Bowie State College, Community College of Baltimore, and Lily Gallery in Baltimore. For the past 22 years, Lyn has been teaching at Friends School of Baltimore, where she was the Upper School Art Department Coordinator and Director of Art, as well as art instructor. Lyn is excited to be moving to SSFS and looks forward to expanding our fine arts program.

Kathy Laughlin, US History Teacher, comes to us most directly from St. John’s Episcopal School in Olney where she taught World Geography, History of US Conflict, World Religion, and Model United Nations, in addition to her duties as Social Studies Department Chair, Director of Community Service, and Director of the Egypt International Travel Program. Prior to her work at St. John’s, Kathy was an Outreach Coordinator for the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Kathy has an M.A. in Secondary Social Studies with a major in Curriculum and Instruction, an M.A.in Islamic Studies from McGill University, and a B.A. with a Specialization in Political Science and International Relations from University of Alberta. Kathy brings her unique experience to the teaching of Cultural Geography, AP American Government, and ESL World History. In addition, she will be a member of the 9th Grade Team. Having traveled

With the retirement this summer of Assistant Head of School for External Relations Karl Gedge, recent changes in the Admission and Advancement Offices have been made.

In the Advancement group, Mary Mazzuca began her role as Director of Advancement this past summer. Judy Averbach continues her role as Director of the Annual Fund, and Margaret Rosser continues as Director of External Communications. Sarah Margolis, who has been helping in the Communications department in a consulting capacity for the past three years, takes on an expanded role this year as she

extensively in the Middle East herself, Kathy plans to continue developing opportunities for students to travel to this fascinating region.

US Chinese (Mandarin) teacher and Homestay Coordinator Kexin Zhang will design and implement our Mandarin language study program in its pioneer year. She will also assume primary responsibility for the administration of our Homestay Program, working closely with international students, their families, and the domestic families with whom they will live during the school year. Kexin, a native Mandarin speaker, has extensive experience teaching both adolescents and adults, and comes to us most recently from Norwood School, where she taught for five years. Kexin has her B.A. in English Literature from Sun-yet Sen University in Guangdong, China, and she is in the final stages of completing her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Foreign Language.

AUXILIARY PROGRAMS Brittney Rorhs joins us as the Assistant Director of Auxiliary Programs/ Summer Camp this year.

Brittney received her B.S. in Parks & Recreation Management from Frostburg State University. Her prior experience includes work at various summer programs, and mostly recently, at Terrapin Adventures.

helps get the word out about SSFS to publications (both print and online) in our region.

In Admissions, the most recent member of the group is Karen Finkel, who began her job in late August as Admission Coordinator. Karen joins Director of Enrollment Management Yasmin McGinnis, who began in January 2011, and who will be working in Upper School and International Admissions. Dawn Griffith continues her position as Director of Financial Aid, and is also in charge of Middle School Admissions. Suzannah Hopkins, who began during the summer, will be working in Lower School Admissions.

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SSFS Division Heads land. Prior to that role, she worked as the Music Department Chair and Diversity Coordinator at McLean and taught general and choral music. As her interests in social justice and issues of equity continued to grow over the years, her professional development opportunities included work on conflict management and resolution, diversity/multiculturalism, leadership and the group process/dynamics. Brenda has been a presenter and/or facilitator in these areas for various organizations, including NAIS (POCC), AISGW (now Independent Education), SSATB and EastEd (Eastern Educational Resource Collaborative).

Brenda holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education/Piano from Manhattanville College and a Master of Science from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, with a concentration in Organization Development and Human Resources. She is the recipient of the 2007 Edward J. Stegman, C.P.A. Memorial Award for Excellence in Business Scholarship.

Brenda has numerous hopes for her first year at SSFS. "At the top of my list, however, is my desire to build relationships with the many families who call Sandy Spring Friends School home. I consider myself a hands-on administrator who is not afraid to mix it up with the children, get dirty on the playground or bring a little

US Head Karen Cumberbatch, MS Head Jen Cort, and LS Head Brenda Crawley

silliness into the carpool line. I like to work through problems, not around them, and I

SSFS is fortunate to have three exceptionally talented individuals leading the Lower, Middle and Upper School divisions, each one bringing tremendous strengths and excitement to her role.

Many at SSFS already know Karen Cumberbatch, who has been working at SSFS since 2002, and Jen Cort, who is starting her second year as MS Head and who has been at SSFS in various 18

capacities since 2000. LS Head Brenda Crawley is brand new to the SSFS community, coming to SSFS from the McLean School of Maryland. Below are brief bios of each head, as well as what each hopes to achieve in her role.

believe that open, frank conversations can pave the way toward progress. I hope that my positivity and approachability help the children, their parents and my colleagues know that I am here to be part of every child’s team." Brenda continues, "I am truly amazed by the wonders of Lower School.

Before joining the SSFS community, Brenda

The faculty and staff are a strong and loving

Crawley spent seven years as Head of

group of professionals. As I join them on

Lower School at McLean School of Mary-

their journey of educating and caring for

SSFS Community News

the PK-5 students, I hope to strengthen their

students are challenged as learners, citizens

formative ones. Her educational philoso-

skills (as well as my own) while exploring

of their communities, and global citizens,

phy is based almost exclusively on Quaker

ways that we can do even better by every

all while also attending to their inner quiet

educational principles. “I believe that a

child. My dream would be to see 'better' in

selves."

school should be a place where transforma-

each child, in the ways that they grow as

tive learning occurs. It should be a safe,

learners, friends, community members and,

As a member of the Sandy Spring

collaborative, engaging environment where

ultimately, as genuinely good people."

Monthly Meeting, Jen has been actively

students and staff can explore and take risks

involved in committees and Religious

together. It was these qualities and SSFS's

Jen Cort, Head of Middle School, has

Education for many years. “My husband

emphasis on community that drew me and

worked at Sandy Spring Friends School

George and I, along with our children Lo-

my family to this school,” Karen states.

for 12 years. Prior to joining the Middle

gan and Melanie, are longtime residents

School, she was the counselor in all three

of Brookeville, MD. My connection to the

Karen says, “I am excited about my first

divisions, Assistant Head of Lower School,

local community and the Meeting inform

year as Head of Upper School and I have

and Director of Student Support services - a

my work every day,” states Jen.

many goals. The division will be busy ex-

role that gave her the opportunity to work

amining the current curriculum to ensure

with faculty and staff across all three divi-

2011-2012 will mark Karen Cumberbatch’s

it is and remains effective, vital, current,

sions. Before joining Sandy Spring Friends

first year as Head of Upper School, although

and on par or above our peer schools,

School, Jen worked at Sidwell Friends

she is already familiar to many, as she came

especially with respect to our course of-

and the Frost School. Until 2010, she had

to SSFS in 2002. Her roles at SSFS have

ferings. The division is working toward

a private practice which included provid-

included Dean of Students, Assistant Head

consistent development of a curriculum

ing psychological support to students and

of Upper School, and Head of Student Life.

that is reflective of 21st century education-

their parents and, most recently, writing a

Prior to coming to SSFS, Karen spent eight

al principles. This means we are examining

curriculum for life skills development for

years at Friends Seminary in New York and

the development of key life skills – nimble

schools, followed by a four-year integration

2 ½ years at Bullis School in Potomac, MD,

thinking, global awareness, cultural com-

of the program into that School. Jen holds

where her roles included teaching history in

petence, innovation, and leadership - as

a B.S. and M.S. in clinical social work from

the Middle and Upper Schools, serving as

well as more traditional subject content."

Catholic University. She is also a licensed

Director of Multicultural Affairs, and Admis-

certified clinical social worker and school

sions support. After the birth of her children,

The Upper School is engaged in the process

social work specialist.

she worked part-time at the Black Student

of evaluating athletics and PE in conjunc-

Fund in Washington, DC, as the coordinator

tion with the athletic director, Steve Powers.

of its Teacher Recruitment Program.

Other goals for the year include the contin-

Jen says, “Quaker education is important to me because it calls upon our faith-based

ued development of the dorm program and

mandate to seek out the Light in each

Karen holds a B.A. from Cornell Univer-

greater diversification of countries of origin

child. As I see it, seeking the Light in each

sity in Africana Studies and an M.A. from

for the International Student Program.

student means helping her or him feel seen

the University of California Los Angeles

and heard. Helping students feel visible

in Afro-American Studies with a focus

Karen continues, “I am focused on deliv-

and listened to is a mutual obligation. The

on history. Karen also earned a graduate

ering more information about the Upper

adults in a School are obliged to create safe

certificate in Educational Leadership for

School to the internal and external com-

places for students to take an academic risk,

Independent Schools at Johns Hopkins

munity; especially the Middle School.

speak their minds, try a new sport, audition

University. Karen has two children who

We have a tremendous program, and

for the play, and celebrate their authentic

attend SSFS: Elise in 5th grade and Justin

we want to be sure that everyone knows

selves. To create a mutual conversation,

in 7th, both of whom started in PK.

about it.”

students need to commit to learning methods of communication. A Quaker educa-

Karen believes her professional educational

tion also means creating a school in which

experiences in Quaker schools have been

Fall 2011

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Meet the SSFS Board Of Trustees, 2011-2012 "The primary responsibility of the Board of Trustees shall be to determine and maintain the character of the School, to establish overall policy, to conduct strategic planning, to assure the financial stability of the School, and to assess the School's effectiveness in manifesting the mission, philosophy, and vision of the [School]." ~ from the Board of Trustees Mission Statement

By Curt Moffatt, this year's Clerk of the Board of Trustees The mission statement of the Board of Trustees of Sandy Spring Friends School as stated above charges this group with wonderful yet weighty responsibilities. Working in tandem with school staff and guided by the School's philosophy "to nourish the principles of the Society of Friends: truth, simplicity, social equality, and 'walking cheerfully over the world, speaking to that of God in everyone,'" the Board seeks to ensure longevity and sustainability for the School. The members help guide SSFS in planning for its future and ensuring that the School has adequate resources available for years to come.

This year, as we celebrate the vision that has kept the School alive and well for 50 years, these responsibilities translate into several specific initiatives.

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* Strategic Planning: Last spring, a Strategic Planning Advisory Committee was formed comprised of Trustees, faculty and staff, parents, alumni, and members of the Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting. The goal of the Strategic Planning Committee is to solicit input from the School's many constituencies throughout the fall and to develop a vision by spring 2012 to carry the School through the next three to five years. The Board will be supporting and collaborating with the Head of School as this vision is developed and as specific areas of inquiry and investigation arise. * Financial Sustainability: The Board will provide leadership to enhance the culture of philanthropy at SSFS and maintain the health and growth of the School's endowment, Annual Fund, and future capital campaigns. This effort includes strengthening connections with the Alumni Council and outreach to all members of our community. * Honoring the School's relationships with the Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting and Baltimore Yearly Meeting: The Trustees will be exploring the Board's understanding of what it means to be "under the care" of these meetings, and reaching out to the meetings for their input about their

understanding of the relationship with the School and its vision. * Increasing Board visibility within the SSFS Community: The Board has launched a series of initiatives this fall, including a Web page with photos and bios of all board members, and a new Board Blog, in order to introduce the individual members of the Board and inform the wider community about the Board's goals and ongoing work.

As stated in the first Board Blog posting, "we trust that these initiatives will promote and maintain confidence that the School has a sound governance structure to provide meaningful oversight, enlightened vision and sincere dedication to its mission and future."

The board's new Web page: http://www.ssfs.org/about/bot.htm SSFS Community News

B.O.T. Profile: Elisabeth Benson "Ben" Booz former SSFS history teacher, parent of two alums, current grandparent of a Springer, and member of Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting.

The Board at a Glance: • The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Sandy Spring Friends School • The Board is comprised of between 20 and 30 members.

• The By-Laws require that a majority of the Board be members of the Religious Society of Friends.

• Eight members of the Board are appointed by the Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and four members are appointed by the Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.

• The remaining members of the Board are appointed by the Board of Trustees.

• Members are appointed for terms of four years and may be reappointed for one additional term.

• The Board is organized with several officers including a Clerk, Assistant Clerk, Recording Clerk, and Treasurer.

• The Board also has several committees who assist the Board in conducting its work.

Elisabeth Benson "Ben" Booz was born in London and lived in England to age 14. She finished high school and college in the USA and received an M.A. in international studies at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

She married an American economist who worked in Europe. His work for the U.N. and Harvard University took them to live in several Asian countries for more than 13 years. They had five children, each born in a different country. Ben taught in various overseas schools or served on their boards as the children grew up. After her husband's death in Indonesia, she settled with the children near Sandy Spring, MD, where they had previously joined the monthly Meeting.

Her two youngest children graduated from SSFS in the 1970s, while Ben taught for six years in the SSFS history department. Her next teaching assignment lasted for three years at Yunnan University, in far western China, after the end of the Cultural Revolution.

Back in America, Ben worked in Washington, D.C., as a writer and researcher in the book division of the National Geographic Society. She has retired to Sandy Spring where her granddaughter attends SSFS middle school. Ben has published seven books, including in-depth guide books to Tibet and New Zealand, illustrated children's books, and two text books for college English in China. She is very happy to be serving on the SSFS school board.

Board members for 2011-2012: • • • • • • • • •

Elisabeth Benson "Ben" Booz Amy Christianson '81 Michael DeHart '71 Lin Delaney Mochiko DeSilva Steve Eller '87 Alan Fetter '80 Scott Henry Anne Hirshfield

Fall 2011

• • • • • • •

Diane Hoffman Rick Honn Charles Horning '88 Terri Carmichael Jackson Alkia Jones Jim MacPherson Tom McCabe

• • • • • • •

Cynthia McKee Deepika Mehta Sandra Michaels Curt Moffatt (Clerk) Laurita Portee Ellen Campbell Pskowski '71 Cynthia Terrell 21

Community News Query: "Why SSFS?" Each of us in our community is a thread in a 50-year history of parents and students, faculty and staff, board members and other volunteers who have chosen to spend their time, energy, and money at Sandy Spring.

So, why Sandy Spring Friends School?

What is it about this community that makes it so special to so many different people?

Judy (Slayton) Shefchik ’63, one of the first students enrolled in SSFS, came

back to campus recently with some of her classmates to speak to our students about her experiences here 50 years ago. A lot has changed since Judy was a student here, but not everything. Judy came back to campus expecting to find that SSFS had become a "regular school," but instead was “impressed to see the spirit that I still find in this school... You can still feel the community spirit, you can feel a reverence …it’s the spirit that is Sandy Spring. It’s incredible.”

We asked three individual community members, with the perspectives between them of student, alumni, teacher, and coach, to share in 200 words or less what they found at the core of Sandy Spring that spoke intrinsically to them.

We open the query to others in the community, and hope to include responses in future issues of the Commnunity News. ~ Johanna Cowie

Lisa Penkowsky '83 SSFS alumna, MS English teacher When I first stepped onto the campus of Sandy Spring Friends School, I was fifteen and had reluctantly agreed to leave the familiarity of my public high school for this private school out in the country. When I arrived, I was most adept at knowing how to fade into the back of any classroom and hide the mixture of confusion and boredom that I had often felt in the eighth and ninth grades.

One of the first things I remember doing was looking for the back of the room in my Western Civilization class. Unfortunately for me, the room (which was in the ninth grade hall) had only two or three rows of seats, and I realized I had nowhere to hide. I soon discovered that I had no choice but to engage with the students around me and with the teachers sitting close by. Most amazingly, all of my teachers seemed interested in what I had to say, my peers were open and friendly, homework assignments made sense, and suddenly, I looked forward to going to school everyday.

By my senior year, I had become a member of a community who accepted me for who I was, but who also pushed me to realize that I was an individual who was smart and capable of making a difference in the world. I had learned to believe in myself while participating in the learning process, reading and writing and feeling the thrill of thinking new thoughts in my rapidly-expanding brain.

When I left the campus after graduation, I never considered that I would be here again, but the academic and spiritual foundation I received as a high school student eventually brought me back to the campus. Although my memories of student life are often eclipsed by my experiences here as a teacher, and the apple orchards across from the entrance have long since been replaced by houses, the spirit that Brook Moore often spoke about flows throughout all of my years.

Every day I look forward to hearing what my students have to say as they begin to develop their own points of view, just as I was able to do back in another decade, all within the wide embrace of Sandy Spring Friends School.

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SSFS Community News

Grace Hanson '12 SSFS student since 2005

I believe in SSFS because when I came here in 6th grade I felt like a wreck. I didn’t know who I was, I was terribly self-conscious, and I felt very alone. I was lost. SSFS gave me wonderful teachers who showed me everything that the world has to offer, while supporting me and letting me know that it is OK to make mistakes.

But, the most important lesson that SSFS has given me didn’t come from the classroom, or from Meeting for Worship, or from any one place.

It came from the environment that the school creates. The lesson was that it is OK and wonderful to be yourself, to be yourself with all your imperfections and quirks, and that is all that you need to be.

I believe in SSFS because any school that can show a kid as lost as I was that being yourself is all you need to be, and that whoever you are is wonderful, is an amazing school. SSFS gives students lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom, lessons that can only be learned through the creative, supportive, nurturing environment that SSFS creates which allows the students to prosper. This is my seventh and final year at SSFS, and looking back at the lost girl who wandered in on her first day in sixth grade and the person I am today, I cannot thank my teachers and SSFS enough for letting me find myself.

I believe in Sandy Spring Friends School because of its ability to renew itself.

As an alum (2002) and former faculty member (Middle School Spanish), I think this is best exemplified by the "boomerang phenomena" amongst graduates. No fewer than 12 of my peers have returned to SSFS after college to teach, coach or ply their trade to support the current generation of students. In an age when most young adults roll their eyes at the mention of high school, I find it refreshing that so many SSFS alumni are not only enthused about their adolescent education, but even go so far as to include the school in their professional pursuits and passions.

Kip Kelley '02 SSFS alumnus and former faculty member and coach

In speaking with my fellow “boomerangers,” I find that we are each compelled by a duty to give back to the community from which we have taken much. We are not motivated by a feeling of obligation, but rather one of hope that we can create experiences for the current students that equal or surpass our own fond memories. Perhaps nothing better demonstrates the tacit quality that makes Sandy Spring Friends special than the youth's desire to further its mission.

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Snapshots from Sandy Spring, Fall 2011 Photos from this fall's Community Day, Friends Day, Seniors meeting their LS buddies, the 2nd Annual Laps for Lexi, and the Hartshorne ribbon-cutting. To see more photos, please go to www.ssfs.org/galleries/

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SSFS Community News

The Annual Fund at Sandy Spring Friends School

For fifty years, the spirit of philanthropy has moved our community to make generous donations that directly benefit students and strengthen the school.

Your gift to the Annual Fund helps to provide new technologies, resources for classrooms, professional development for teachers, enhancements and upgrades to our 140 acre campus, financial aid, community service, athletic facilities, equipment and uniforms, art supplies, drama productions, and so much more.

Together we raised over $580,000 last year. Thank you!

As we celebrate the school’s 50th year, please be a part of the tradition by making your gift to the 2011-12 Annual Fund. Gifts of all sizes truly make an impact.

Please respond to the recent appeal mailing, or make your pledge/gift online by visiting http://alumni.ssfs.org/donations/ or scanning the QR code at the left with your smartphone.

Thank you for your support!

Fall 2011

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The Class of 2011: Our Most Recent Alums!

Congratulations to SSFS's most recent graduates! The 76 members of last year's senior class were accepted at 158 colleges and universities here and abroad (listed below). We wish them all the best in their future endeavors, and we hope that they will come back to visit us often!

Academy of Art University Albright College Allegheny College American Musical and Dramatic Academy American University Appalachian State University Bard College Bates College Beloit College Birmingham-Southern College Boston College Boston University Bowie State University Bridgewater College Bryn Mawr College Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Catholic University Cedar Crest College Cerro Cuso Community College Christopher Newport University City University of New York Clark University Colgate University College of Charleston College of Wooster DePaul University Dickinson College Drew University Drexel University Earlham College East Carolina University Eckerd College Elizabethtown College Emory University Florida Southern University Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College Frostburg State University Furman University Gainesville State College

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George Mason University George Washington University Georgia Institute of Technology Gonzaga University Goucher College Grinnell College Hamden-Sydney College Hamilton College Hampshire College Haverford College Highpoint University Hobart & William Smith Colleges Hofstra University Howard County Community College Howard University Indiana University, Bloomington Ithaca College Juniata College Kean State College Kean University Kenyon College Lafayette University Lycoming College Macalaster College Maryland Institute College of Art Marymount Manhattan College McDaniel College McGill University Montgomery College Mount Saint Mary's College Mulenburg College New England College New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Nova Southeastern University Oberlin College Ohio State University Ohio University Old Dominion University Pace University

Parsons, The New School for Design Penn State University Philadelphia University Pitzer College Point Park University Purdue University Rensselaer Polytech Institute Rochester Institute of Technology Rosemont College Salisbury University Smith College St. John's University St. Louis University St. Mary's College of Maryland Stanford University SUNY, Albany SUNY, Buffalo Syracuse University Temple University Texas A&M University Towson University Trinity University Tulane University Tuskagee University University of Aberdeen, U.K. University of Birmingham, U.K. University of British Columbia University of California, Davis University of California, San Diago University of Cincinatti University of Dayton University of Denver University of Edinburgh, U.K. University of Florida University of Glasgow, U.K. University of Hartford University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign University of Kentucky University of Maine, Oreno University of Mary Washington University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Memphis University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of New Hampshire University of North Carolina, Asheville University of Pittsburgh University of Rhode Island University of Rochester University of San Francisco University of St. Andrew's , U.K. University of Tampa University of Tennessee University of Texas, Austin University of the Redlands University of the South, Sewanee University of Toronto, CAN University of Tulsa University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison Ursinus College Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State University Wagner College Washington & Lee University Washington College Washington University, St. Louis Whittenburg University Wofford College Worcester Polytechnic Institute York College of Pennsylvania

SSFS Community News

Alumni Notes

alumni notes...

1963 -1964: Alumni Return to SSFS to Help Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Alumni notes are compiled

by Mary Mazzuca, Director of Advancement,

Alumni Notes are just a snapshot of what’s happening with your fellow alums!

For more updates from alumni written in their own words, log in to our Web site: http://alumni.ssfs.org.

If you have a milestone in your life, please send in photos! We want to share special moments.

On September 27th, 2011, alumni from the classes of 1963 and 1964 came back to help us celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first day of school. Barbara (Cheeseman) Bason ’64, Martha (Sharpe) Menestrina ’64, Karl Richmond ’64, Philip Schwarz ’63, Judy (Slayton) Shefchik ’64, Steven L. Solomon ’64, and Andrea Taylor ’64 joined us to talk with students about what the early days of Sandy Spring Friends School were like. A special thanks to Phil Schwarz for organizing his fellow alumni for this special day.

1965

1967

Joan Colman Bruck (Trexlor) says, “I am most happily retired after a career as a physician’s assistant in emergency medicine.” She graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1974 and is married to Edward Bruck, a retired Orthopedic Surgeon. Her son, William Brooke, is entering a Pharm-D program.

Masumi Akaishi is a professor in Modern Social and Cultural Studies at Kobe Shinwa Women’s University in Kobe-city, Japan. She also works as a coordinator to help Japanese students study abroad.

1966 Rich Aldred writes, “I've had good things and bad things this year. My first granddaughter was born on September 14th to my daughter, my son got married in June, but all joy tempered by the loss of my wife of almost 21 years to pancreatic cancer in March.”

1969 Carl Becker received a B.A. from New York Institute of Technology in 1973, a Masters Degree in Education from New York University in 1975, and completed law school with a J.D. degree in1984. He practiced law for 25 years before being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He and his wife, Jill, have been happily married for 26 years.

Sandy Spring Friends School reserves the right to edit Alumni Note submissions. Editors strive to ensure that the content of the edited submission retains the key points of the original message. Alumni Notes are submitted to Sandy Spring Friends School from various sources. While Sandy Spring Friends School strives to ensure the accuracy of Alumni Notes, the School is not liable for false or incorrect submissions.

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Alumni Notes

Louise Tate Hood's grandson Oscar welcomes his new brother, Mannix.

1970 Krisitin Stroad Moore is now living in Baku, Azerbaijan. (She wants everyone to know that she had to look at a map too!)

1971 Ellen Prentiss Campbell recently read her short stories at the Vis Arts Center in Rockville, MD, at a HearArts event that included other writers and musicians.

Kathy Sheridan still lives in Westminster after all these years and works at an architectural firm. Her daughter, Ellin, graduated from Carleton College and has moved to NYC to work for Common Ground, a non-profit addressing homelessness in NYC. Her son, Joe, is getting his undergraduate degree and is a varsity wrestling heavyweight at McDaniel College.

1975 Louise Tate Hood recently accepted the position of Assistant Vice President of Development at Barnard College in New York, NY. She and her husband, Murray, welcomed their second grandchild, Mannix Aaron Hood, the second son of their son, Andrew, and his wife, Jesse.

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1977

1990

Toure Clark has ended a long journey after 32 years of Military Service in support of our country. He has retired from the U.S. Army and says that he used many of the skills and values that he learned at SSFS as he traveled to many different places including Europe and Japan. He made friends by playing basketball, roller skating and learning from the people in the community.

Photographer Maureen Drennan was recently featured for her work in the New York Times Lensblog. To read about her work, please visit: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/ on-a-california-farm-where-marijuanagrows/

1978 Janet Westervelt is still living in the north Georgia mountains and continues to work in a Montessori school.

Her son, Evan, graduated from SSFS in 2011. He is studying Engineering at Gainesville State College. Janet writes, “I am so thankful that we both were able to experience a life-forming education at SSFS.”

1979 Rick Koplowitz’s son, Ian, is 18 and just started UMBC. Rick is working as a government contractor at Fort Detrick. He still plays guitar whenever he can. Fellow Springers can search his name on YouTube to see him playing with a friend’s band.

1981 Lee Connah, a self-employed carpenter, lives in Baltimore with longtime girlfriend, Katie Scott. He enjoys playing music, building guitars, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and following Ravens football.

1989 Kip Rupp’s job as VP of Investor Relations for Quanta Services is taking him to Houston after living in Atlanta for the past 17 years. He is looking forward to “lots of change and the start of a new adventure in a new city.”

1991 Carrie Ann Mallino is “keeping the Light shining in the Rockies” as she goes on 15 years of living in Missoula, Montana. After a successful run of directing Little Shop of Horrors, she is next slated to direct A Christmas Story. “Life is full of friendships, family, laughter and a really great dog, Max!”

1992 Peggy Busker, who teaches Environmental Science at Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio, recently presented a unit she created on drinking water and water quality at the National Science Teacher Association’s (NSTA) national conference.

1996 David Ayala and his wife, Colleen, just celebrated their fifth anniversary in August. They live in Mayo, MD with their two awesome boys, James and Miles. Both David and Colleen enjoy their careers in public education.

2000 Jocelyn Arem is enjoying life and music in North Carolina with her partner and good friends. She continues work on her documentary project to preserve the history of Caffé Lena, the country’s oldest continuously-running folk music coffeehouse. The project just received a GRAMMY Foundation grant, and Jocelyn had the privilege of interviewing Pete Seeger and Dr. BerSSFS Community News

Kamissa Mort '02 celebrates her marriage to Elizabeth Edwards.

Jill Hayes '05 and new husband Andrew Orr.

nice Johnson Reagon (whose daughter, Toshi, is an SSFS alum), among others. She invites fellow Springers to follow her blog and visit her Facebook page and website, www.caffelenahistory.org. Also, hear Jocelyn on Blues singer, Danielle Miraglia’s new album Box of Troubles, where she contributed back-up vocals.

2001 Nathan Harrington was recently honored by Oxon Hill High School for his teaching accomplishments.

2002 Kamissa Mort married Elizabeth Edwards on August 20, 2011, in Port Clyde, ME. Alums in attendance included Kamissa’s brother, Jon Mort ’02, Hannah Austin ’03, Lauren Bland ’01, Meghan Cassidy ’03, Sarah Evans ’03, Mauriana Fury ’10, Colin Hannon ’03, Luke Hannon ’13, Bonnie Imlay ’03, Liza Moran ’03, Sam Schneider ’09, Tommie Schneider ’06, Karissa Seltz (former student), Erin Stevens ’08, and Derek Turner ’98.

2005 Jill Hayes married Andrew Orr on September 17, 2011, on a rooftop terrace in Greensboro, NC. She met Andrew when he helped her move into her freshman dorm at Guilford College. Jill is the Assistant Director Fall 2011

David Dean '09 (pictured far left) helped to create Unity Hoops Basketball, a youth empowerment program. of Annual Giving at Guilford College, and Andrew is a Personal Banker at Wells Fargo.

2009 David Dean, currently a student at Dickinson University, has helped spearhead a youth empowerment program called Unity Hoops Basketball.

It integrates basketball training with an original life concepts curriculum founded in social justice. During a recent trip to the Crow Indian Reservation in southern Montana, David writes, "As the trip went on, I progressively realized that almost all of the philosophies, values and teachings that are at the essence of this empowerment program came directly from

SSFS - all of which relate back to the simple idea of working hard for the person at your side." To learn more about Unity Hoops basketball visit www.unityhoops basketball.org.

Faculty and Staff Bill Moody and Janet Cline-Moody took up their extended stay at Incline Village, NV, from June to October. “It sure beats the heat and humidity of the D.C. area!”

Jon and Kim Saderholm’s sons are beginning and ending at Grinnell College. Ian starts as a freshman this fall and Ben will be a graduating senior.

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Alumni News

Upcoming Alumni Get-Togethers Please save the dates for the following alumni and SSFS events during 2011-2012!

Date: October 19, 2011

Date: January 4, 2012

Event: Atlanta Alumni and Family Dinner

Event: Young Alumni Luncheon

Event: Baltimore Alumni and Family Reception

Event: Los Angeles & Seattle Alumni and Family Dinners

Event: Beijing Alumni and Family Reception

Event: Empty Bowl Dinner

Event: Seoul Alumni and Family Reception

Event: Community Play

Event: Rededication of Scott House

Event: Parents of Alumni Reception

Event: Alumni Soccer Game

Event: Earth Stewardship Day

Event: Winterfest

Event: Alumni Weekend

Date: October 20, 2011

Date: October 28, 2011

Date: November 5, 2011

Date: November 15, 2011

Date: November 25, 2011

Date: December 3, 2011

Date: February 2012 (dates TBD)

Date: February 26, 2012

Date: March 1-4, 2012

Date: March 4, 2012

Date: April 19, 2012

Date: June 1-2, 2012

Alumni Service Opportunities Reprinted from the Alumni Council Newsletter

by Bonnie Imlay ’03 The Alumni Council has teamed up with the William Penn House in an effort to let our lives speak through stewardship and service to the greater local community. The Alumni Council will be setting up day-long service projects such as gleaning farms in the fall and winterizing homes of those in need in the winter. We hope alumni of all ages will get involved in these opportunities. This is a great chance to meet new alums, network, and make a difference.

If you’re interested in more information when the projects are established, please e-mail us at alumni@ssfs.org. Visit the William Penn House website at www.williampennhouse.org for more information about their programs.

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SSFS Community News

Alumni News

AP ("Aged Parent") British Lit Class with David Kahn

by David Kahn, Upper School English Teacher plain old "friends of the school" who have signed up to take David Kahn’s British Literature class - the Parents' Version.

“I offered a Russian Lit. class last year that paralleled the class the Parents, alum, and parents of alum in David Kahn's Brit Lit class. kids were taking during the day. It seemed to be a success; people said Those old folks you see going into the they had a good time, so I thought Middle School at 7:15 on Wednesday I’d do it again,” said Kahn. This year, nights are not another, older cleaning though, instead of Russian literature crew. Those are parents, alumni, and

SSFS Goes On the Road!

We are excited to announce that the Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) will be issuing organizational plates for Sandy Spring Friends School. Plates are $25, and checks should be made out to the MVA. If you would like to receive an application, please contact Mary Mazzuca at mary.mazzuca@ssfs.org or 301-774-7455, ext. 107.

Fall 2011

it’s British lit that’s being offered.

“My original intent was to offer a class for parents whose kids were in the regular class. I think all the creative new schedules, all the technological wizardry, all the edge-cutting educationism in the world can’t take the place of sitting at the dinner table - or somewhere else - and talking with your kids about the books they are reading. Last year I had a couple of parents whose kids were in the class; this year we’ve got even more.”

This year's AP (aged parents) British Literature class numbers about 20, made up of parents of present students, parents of past students, and one alum. Apparently, too, there are two alumni parents - one in London and one in Amsterdam - who claim to be keeping up with the readings from 3000 miles away.

The class meets Wednesday evenings from 7:30 until 9:00, and parallels the AP British Literature course being taught during the day.

Parents, alumni, and friends cover in an evening a week’s worth of readings - or try to. “I give them the option of writing a paper,” David said. “Last year only one person took advantage of that option.”

The course is scheduled to run only the first semester; “last year I had planned to do only one semester, too - but people in the class talked me into continuing into term II. We’ll have to see about this year.”

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Alumni News

New for 2011: Alumni Council Newsletter As part of the Alumni Council's ongoing outreach and communication efforts, an Alumni Council Newsletter is being sent to all SSFS alums. The first newsletter was sent out in early October. If you are an SSFS alum and did not receive the newsletter, please contact mary.mazzuca@ssfs.org to ensure that we have your current mailing address. The newsletter features articles about SSFS events, upcoming alumni get-togethers, and more. The Alumni Council wants to engage SSFS alums and remind you that even after graduation, you remain a valuable member of the SSFS community. Let us know your thoughts, concerns, and ideas! Email us at alumni@ssfs.org.

In Memoriam - SSFS Board Member Pat Moles Pat and Ollie Moles and their children, Betsy and Stephen, were early members of Langley Hill Friends Meeting in McLean, VA. They attended the Ann Arbor, Michigan Meeting in the early 1960s and moved to the DC area in 1964. Pat majored in religion and sociology at Ohio Wesleyan University, and worked to develop the spiritual and intellectual life of youth throughout her life.

Montgomery County Public Schools as an appraisal specialist. In recent years she led workshops for AARP on questioning the concept of private accounts for Social Security and on adapting one’s home for retirement needs. Pat made many close friends in all these organizations.

Pat and Ollie continued their activity at Langley Hill until Pat’s untimely death in July 2011. In recent years Pat served actively on the Board of Sandy Spring Friends School and its Diversity Committee. She was also active on the Baltimore Yearly Meeting and the Langley Hill Working Groups on Racism. For the last ten or more years Pat and Ollie regularly attended the From 1964-68 Pat organized seminars on international affairs and annual Friends General Conference Gatherings where public policy-making for visiting college and high school youth they nourished old friendships and sought spiritual at the newly opened William Penn House on Capitol Hill. She renewal. was a teacher in the First Day School at Langley Hill and coordinated arrangements for visiting students during the Vietnam After Pat learned that she had ALS in early 2010, she War demonstrations. delivered a series of very moving messages in Meetings for Worship, sharing the benefits of a life’s inward During the 1970s, Pat was a research assistant at the Friends seeking. As the disease progressed, Friends met with Committee on National Legislation working with founder Pat for Meeting for Worship every week at her home, Raymond Wilson on the national defense budget. Pat was also until two days before her death at age 77. Her mesa leader in supervising programs of the Mid-Atlantic Region of sages continue to inspire. the American Friends Service Committee, and worked for the

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SSFS Community News

From the Archives

More photos from the first years of SSFS...

Save t he dat e t o celebrat e t he 50t h annivers ary of SSFS! Alumni Weekend: June 1-2, 2012

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SUBURBAN MARYLAND PERMIT NO. 122

16923 Norwood Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860

FSC logo here