COURAGEOUS LEARNERS. CARING CITIZENS. WORLD READY.
A Letter from the Head of School
classrooms with highly trained educators who support teachers in addressing diverse learning styles. While the school has always focused on serving the needs of diverse learners, this takes that work to the next level.
Our athletics and auxiliary programs continued to thrive this year. Participation in our athletics program reached new heights, and we celebrated more victories than in recent years. The decision to reinstate the requirement that all students participate in athletics just a few years ago has truly made a positive impact on our school culture.
The 2023-24 school year was a remarkable one by all measures.
Our faculty and staff were truly exceptional as we continued to implement our one-of-a-kind school program on Aquidneck Island, blending rigorous academics with outstanding arts programs. Our community came together for many memorable events and activities that define a school year at St. Michael’s—from an incredible Welcome Fest to an energetic Blue and White Day, and everything in between. It was a year to remember!
This year, we extended our presence in the broader community through volunteering, field trips, and forging meaningful connections. A standout moment was our partnership with Ocean Hour Farm. Through our Innovation Lab class, students built a large-scale replica of the property, now displayed on-site and used as a learning tool for years to come. This collaboration exemplifies how our teachers leverage the rich history and unique landscape of Aquidneck Island to inspire and educate our students.
We also reinforced our commitment to social-emotional learning and the well-being of our students. Significant resources were allocated to retraining teachers in the Responsive Classroom program, with plans to deepen this initiative at the middle school level. We introduced The Social Institute, a curriculum designed to guide students as they navigate social media, and invited nationally recognized psychologist Lynn Lyons to help parents address anxiety in children—and themselves. These efforts will continue to be a priority in the years ahead.
This year, we formalized our learning support program to strengthen our longstanding commitment to meeting each student where they are and challenging them to reach their fullest potential. This program provides targeted assistance to students with specific learning needs and equips our
To close out the year, the Class of 2024 ended their time at St. Michael’s on a high note. Alumna and recent Princeton graduate Lana Gaige delivered an inspiring graduation address on a beautiful June day. Our graduates are headed to outstanding high school opportunities, and we look forward to seeing all the impressive accomplishments they will achieve. Congratulations to the Class of 2024! A list of the schools they will attend is included later in this report.
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our parent community. This year, you stepped up in countless ways. Our annual fund exceeded expectations, thanks to your generosity. Volunteer support was extraordinary, led by our exceptional Parents Association. From event planning, to library assistance, and organizing social gatherings, your contributions made this year a truly special one. We are incredibly grateful for all you do, especially for entrusting us with the privilege of teaching and working with your children.
Day in and day out, our teachers are the cornerstone of the exceptional experiences we provide for students and their families. Great teachers are the foundation of great schools, and we are fortunate to have so many of them at St. Michael’s. Occasionally, a teacher’s impact extends beyond the ordinary, leaving a lasting legacy. At the end of the 2023-24 school year, Brenda Cardullo will retire after 42 years of teaching French at St. Michael’s. Brenda has touched the lives of countless students, and her dedication and passion will be deeply missed. We wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.
I would also like to recognize and thank our outgoing board chair, Amy Martin. My relationship with Amy began nearly five years ago when she led the search committee that brought me to St. Michael’s. Over the past four years, her leadership as board chair has been instrumental to our school’s success. Amy’s leadership, support, and dedication
during her eight years of service—five as a board member and three as chair—have been invaluable. Much of what we’ve accomplished as a school can be attributed to her vision and hard work. Thank you, Amy, for your exceptional contributions to St. Michael’s.
The 2023-24 school year was a wonderful chapter in our school’s history, and we are excited for the opportunities ahead. Thank you for your continued support!
Walter Landberg Head of School
Board of Trustees 2023-24
Julianna Barbieri
David Bazarsky
Dorrance Benson
Stacy Gudim, Secretary
Walter Landberg, ex officio
Alvaro Londoño
Susan Lovejoy, Vice President
Amy Martin, Chair
Chris McNally
Mervan Osborne
Jessica Phillips
James Powell, Treasurer
Kelly Richards
Andy Salem
Jedd Whitlock
Aaron Washington
Trustees Emeriti
David Bazarsky
Rose Dana
Jeffrey Gordon
Hope (Happy) van Beuren
Institutional Advancement Committee 2023-24
Julianna Barbieri
David Bazarsky
Dorrance Benson
Jennifer Carney, Director of Advancement
Walter Landberg, Head of School
Amy Martin, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Sandy Merten, Director of Enrollment Management
Sheika Egan
Jessica Phillips
Andy Salem
Jedd Whitock, Chair
A Letter from the Chair, Board of Trustees
Dear St. Michael’s Community,
I have had the privilege to be a parent and a trustee at SMS, and from both perspectives, I cannot stress enough how much I love this school. As a parent of three alumni—classes of 2017, 2020, and 2023—I can attest that SMS prepared them beautifully for real life (missteps and successes) and provided them with the courage to follow their unique paths. That courage and those paths have enabled them to navigate the challenges and seize opportunities. This is the same story I hear consistently from SMS alums and their parents.
As a trustee, I can attest to the care, dedication, and acumen that our board possesses. This group of remarkable individuals does not shy away from the difficult conversations and decisions that are imperative to build upon the legacy of a school with an 86-year history. The board also centers every conversation and decision with compassion, and the focus is always about what is best for the students.
Our campus is a place where children are encouraged to play, get dirty, try, fail, get up, and try again, all while exploring the world around them. Our innovative curriculum seamlessly weaves traditional with forward-thinking education which fosters a harmonious blend of old and new. This broad range of opportunities—spanning academics, the arts, and athletics— enables us to adhere to our mission statement, “Develop courageous learners and caring citizens who are world ready.”
Our enrollment is near the highest St. Michael’s has ever experienced. We have made tremendous strides in attracting more families from all backgrounds both on and off the island. This is due to our unmatched program, exceptional faculty and staff, and supportive families. Our high enrollment brings greater diversity to our community, but more importantly, it brings great friends. At some point we have all been recipients of the warmth and kindness of this community.
The school’s financial situation is stable. We currently have limited debt and maintain a balanced cash flow budget. The board made a very conscious decision to provide additional tuition assistance to our community over the last few years, evidenced by our current enrollment. In order to execute this commitment, we have been disciplined stewards of school finances without sacrificing our program or our top-tier faculty. Although it would seem reasonable to assume that higher enrollment translates to a greater bottom line, our commitment to increased tuition assistance actually decreases our net revenue per student. This is where the acumen and compassion of the board shines by ensuring that the decisions that benefit our students in one way do not compromise the student experience in another.
An enormous reason we remain financially balanced is due to our community’s generosity. Our development office and committee are proud to report that our annual giving was $488,655 for the 2023-2024 school year. Our community never ceases to ask poignant questions to better understand the challenges we face, and they never cease to support our school. Thank you.
This is my last year as board chair and my final year on the board. The reins are being handed over to (unanimously elected) Susan Seyfarth Lovejoy. Susan is wise, thoughtful, experienced, and is always ready for an engaging conversation. She has worked in education for decades and knows the ins and outs of schools better than anyone I know. She, Walter, and I have been in lockstep for years, and it will be a very smooth transition.
Speaking of Walter, I am so grateful to have a head of school in place that holds both the school and himself accountable to the highest of standards. Walter is a visionary leader who knows how and when to put vision into action and places the betterment of the school before himself. I am confident that he, the leadership team, and faculty will continue to see that the school serves its students in service to our powerful mission.
We are all stewards of St. Michael’s Country Day School, and I depart knowing our school is strong, healthy, and loved.
Sincerely,
Amy Martin, Chair, Board of Trustees
A Letter from the Parents Association
Dear SMS Families, Friends, Teachers, Administrators, Staff & Board –
It has been my pleasure to be of service to the SMS community this past year. Truly. And what an incredible year the 2023-24 school year was for the Parents Association at St. Michael’s!
The PA Board received such a generous outpouring of support this year – from students, from students’ families and caregivers, from patrons and sponsors, and from staff, administrators, and teachers. This energy and commitment of resources allowed the Parents Association to serve the SMS community to an exceptionally high standard!
The 2023-24 PA organized its efforts around three guiding principles:
• Embodying and role modeling inclusion both within and outside St. Michael’s at the highest achievable level.
• Embracing and delivering the highest standard of service and support possible to our growing SMS community and its leaders.
In each of these efforts I can say that we hit the ball out of the park!
Each school year, the Parents Association aims to execute and/or participate in over a dozen events and activities – I am told this is more than a typical parents association might endeavor to tackle! I would like to take the time here to highlight the year’s accomplishments.
The PA board members began our year of service by co-hosting a new event at St. Michael’s - the Welcome Fest. This event synthesized two events traditionally held separately – the Welcome Back Picnic (historically hosted by the school just before the school year starts) and the SMS Fest (held just after the beginning of school and hosted by the Parents Association). This joining of forces made for a hugely successful, well-attended event filled with great food from local food truck favorites, a petting zoo for littles, inflatables for kids of all sizes, and a dunk tank that was the hit of the day! Great memories were made by all as we welcomed each other back to campus and welcomed new families to our SMS community.
On the heels of Welcome Fest, the PA Board got down to the challenging work of planning, shaping, and executing our remaining 2023-2024 school year responsibilities. This work began with our first open meeting on September 21st where committees were formed and volunteers recruited – the backbone of the year began to take shape.
During autumn, the Social Committee collaborated with generous donors and sponsors to invite parents, faculty, and staff to a beautiful porch party at the Newport Art Museum – close to 100 community members attended. The evening was full of lively conversation, beautiful art, and community connection. This event was closely followed by our annual Halloween Trunk or Treat celebration where students, families, and other community members came out to celebrate in creative and colorful cars and costumes representing the Barbie movie, Jurassic Park, Alice in Wonderland, aliens, wizards, graveyard spooks, witches, Mario Brothers, and more – there was no shortage of fun, laughter, scares, and excitement!
November and December continued to keep the PA busy and on our toes. Our Library Committee collaborated with a local bookseller Charter Books to host a successful book fair to support the school’s commitment to reading and literacy at all age levels. The PA also contributed to the State of School event by creating a beautiful and delicious charcuterie display, the 5 Days of Thanks and Giving by lending support to collecting toys, clothing, and other items to be donated, and the holiday Milk and Cookie Day where students young and old sat to enjoy some special time with the head of school while noshing on delicious holiday treats! Finally, our parent and family community joined together to make our annual end of year teacher and staff gifting efforts bountiful – celebrating the professionals that make the magic happen for our children at SMS each day. 2024 dawned on SMS bringing new energy and excitement to the campus after a two-week holiday break. The students were eager to get back to business and so was the PA! We started off the new year with a free martial arts training event for students of all ages and began planning and recruiting volunteers for our annual family skating event. While we were fearful for a time that a skating event would not be possible due to the change in ownership at Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina, our event chairpersons and volunteers persisted to recreate the event at St. George’s ice skating arena – this involved a herculean effort to order, collect, alphabetize, and hand out over 160 pairs of free rental skates! The event was an enormous success –
members of the community came out in spades, and everyone had a fun time from little and big people skating for the first time to seasoned skaters zooming around the rink.
On the heels of this wonderful family skating event, the PA Social Committee held its second official parent gathering of the school year at the Brenton Hotel. This intimate gathering of the SMS community sans children was another success! Parents, faculty, and administrators alike enjoyed delicious refreshments and a cozy atmosphere while catching up before March break.
Fresh from March break, the SMS parent and family community pulled together once again to push for a spring full of connection, learning, and gratitude. The Social Committee organized an educational and exciting social event at the new International Sailing Museum downtown followed by refreshments at the GILL store across the street – a gathering for sailors and non-sailors alike. This event like so many others within our community made possible by sponsors and community member patrons. The generosity amongst our SMS family is without limit.
With the end of the school year drawing near, the PA and its volunteer committees did not slow down. The Library Committee held its second successful book fair in early May. For a week in May the Staff Appreciation Committee showered the SMS faculty and staff with delicious food, massages, custom coffees, healthy refreshments, flowers from students, gift cards, and more. And the association supported the Student Council by volunteering at the Middle School spring dance where SMS students reciprocated hospitality by hosting the Pennfield middle schoolers for an evening of music, socializing, and fun.
In addition to these event-centric activities, the Parents Association had active volunteers in the school’s volunteerstaffed library who provided vital support to teachers and students throughout the year. We kept the front garden at SMS fresh, beautiful, and current with our beautiful New England seasons. We decorated for holidays both inside and outside the school buildings. And celebrated teacher and staff birthdays by recognizing community members with cards full of goodwill.
When I accepted the position of president of the parents’ association board and began my tenure in June of 2023 with a hand-off from the extremely successful exiting President, I was new to the PA Board with little insight as to its inner workings, various activities, and committees. But the road map she generously provided allowed me to jump right into the deep end and prepared me for the year of service that lay before me. I am forever grateful for this guidance – it allowed me to serve the SMS community to the highest of standards - bringing inclusion, service, and seeds for success to St. Michael’s throughout the 2023-24 academic year.
I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to work closely with a team of administrators, teachers, and staff that are so committed to bringing joy, growth, learning, independence, and success to our children and the school. It was an honor to be of service.
I would also like to thank the incredibly gifted and talented individuals who committed their time and energy to volunteering as members of the PA Board – Laura Wheeler, Allison Witton, Lahna Son-Cundy, EJ Ward, and Brian Mac Farland. You made our year of service a great one!
And thank you again to all of the incredible SMS parents, caretakers, families, and friends for bringing your contributions of service, sponsorship, and donations to our wonderful community – you made my job so easy!
Peace and well-being to all,
Brigid Rafferty PA President
Parents Association Executive Board 2023-24
Brigid Rafferty, President
Laura Wheeler, Vice President
Allison Witton, Recording Secretary
Brian MacFarland, Treasurer
E.J. Ward, Vice President of Class Parents
Lahna Son-Cundy, Vice President of Communications
Class of 2024
Class of 2024
Emma Elly Christine Apitz
Blake Oliver Appleton
Norris Jack Brookes
Elizabeth Jane Carrubba
Catherine Elizabeth Chai Maloney
Einya L. Cruz
Gillian R. Griffin
Camryn Riley Judson
Ylva Linder
Tava Rose Nuki
Antonios L. Panteleos
Carolyn Ann Patten-Harding
Colman Qutub
Thomas Quint Salem
Lucy Eugenie Sams
David Chen Satterfield
Thomas George Giles Slye
Charles Edward Winston
The Class of 2024 will attend:
Avon Old Farms
Governor's Academy
The Hotchkiss School
La Salle Academy
Middletown High School
North Kingstown High School
Portsmouth Abbey School
Portsmouth High School
St. George's School
Tabor Academy
Graduation 2024
2024 Commencement Speaker
Lana Gaige, Class of 2016
Originally a member of the St. Michael’s class of 2016, and then a graduate of the St. George’s class of 2020, Lana Gaige is now a recent graduate of Princeton University. While at Princeton, Lana concentrated in Comparative Literature, working in French and German, with additional focuses in Theater, Humanistic Studies, and European Cultural Studies. Lana’s senior thesis was an English translation of Jean Racine’s tragedy Andromache in rhyme and meter, which won two prizes; the Robert and Lynne Fagles Senior Thesis Prize for the best senior thesis by a Comparative Literature major in translation or creative writing, as well as the André Maman Senior Thesis Prize for the most outstanding thesis on an aspect of the culture, economy, history, politics, or society of France. After working as a camp counselor this summer here at TASM, Lana will start a master's in French at Columbia University.
Class of 2024 Awards
The Whitney C. Slade Arts Cup - The Whitney C. Slade Arts Cup is awarded annually to a student for their outstanding contributions to the Arts. This year’s Whitney C. Slade Arts Cup is awarded to Camryn Riley Judson.
It was noted by Ms. Keohane that Camryn, from a young age, showed a strong interest in visual expression, which only continued to develop as she matured. She has been described as inventive, self-motivated, and dedicated to her projects in Mrs. Hileman's Cosplay and Stagecraft classes. Camryn was a meticulous stage manager, assisting Mrs. Johnson in the 2023 production of Robin Hood.
James Green Memorial Cup - The James Green Memorial Cup is presented annually to the student who best exemplifies the ideals and spirit of St. Michael’s Country Day School. This year’s James Green Memorial Award is presented to Emma Elly Christine Apitz.
Since her first year at the school, Emma has been a quiet but connected presence, immersing herself in the school community. She has always taken her studies seriously, striving to do her best in every way. What's more is that Emma did this all while making large life adjustments with her family, moving to our school, and our country, and learning a new language, during the year of the pandemic.
Stanley C. Hughes Memorial Award - The Stanley C. Hughes Memorial Cup is presented annually to the student who best exemplifies the mission of St. Michael’s Country Day School by demonstrating the ideals of a courageous learner and a caring citizen who is world ready. This year’s Stanley C. Hughes Memorial Cup is awarded to Norris Jack Brookes.
The St. Michael's mission calls on students to be courageous learners and caring citizens who are world ready. This year's Stanley Hughes award recipient has proven to be all of the above. A caring and considerate classmate, Norris is always respectful and kind. His courageous spirit has been shown as each year he has taken on the challenge of keeping up with his studies at St. Michael's through virtual schooling, while continuing to excel on the slopes as a competitive skier.
Carolyn Ann Patten-Harding (Class of 2024 Speaker)
William F. Whitehouse Cup - The William F. Whitehouse Cup is awarded annually to the student who has maintained the highest grade point average for the year. This year’s William F. Whitehouse Cup is awarded to Carolyn Ann Patten-Harding.
Callie has worked meticulously to maintain her high marks. Her dedication to her studies is commendable, as is her cheerful, upbeat demeanor. It has been noted that Callie often spent hours and hours of time preparing for assignments, all while being an active participant in the school's theatre productions. Yet still, Callie managed to maintain the highest grade point average of the graduating class.
The Alan F. Flynn Flag - The Alan F. Flynn Flag Award is presented annually to the student who, in the opinion of the Head of School and faculty, has accepted a position of responsibility and trust within the school and carried out those responsibilities while maintaining a commitment to academic excellence. This year’s Alan F. Flynn Flag Award is presented to Tava Rose Nuki.
Tava excels in the classroom, on the field, and on stage. In her decade of enrollment at St. Michael's, Tava has made a name for herself as a trustworthy, kind, respectful, and cheerful student. Always willing to lend a helping hand, she can be counted on to pitch in at a moment's notice. In the opinion of her 2nd grade buddy, Tava is "really nice, and always gives him a high 5 whenever they see one another on campus."
Clarissa Palmer Volunteer Service AwardThe Clarissa Palmer Volunteer Service Award recognizes those who have given selflessly of time and talent to St. Michael’s Country Day School and over many years have helped to move the community in a positive direction.
This year’s recipient is Tara Winston.
2023-24
Annual Report of Donors & Financial Statement
Operating Income & Expenses for the year ending June 30, 2024*
*Unaudited figures
We would like to thank the generous individuals listed on the following pages who supported our school with gifts between July 1, 2023 and June 30th, 2024. Donors contributed over $531,000 in support of our school this fiscal year, including over $488,000 to the Annual Fund and over $43,000 in restricted gifts.
Founder’s Circle
Gifts of $50,000 or More
Ida and Mark Aramli & the Aramli Foundation
Nick and Shelley Schorsch
Headmaster’s Circle of the 1938 Society
Gifts of $10,000-$49,999
Stacy and Erik Gudim
Anne and George Baker IV/The George F Baker Trust
David & Carol Bazarksy
Bazarsky Family Foundation
Dory and Dan Benson
The Egan Family Foundation
Bill and Jackie Egan
Meredith and Austin Hedderly
Jennifer Smith Huntley
LeRoy Robert Rauh Charitable Foundation
Sean Maloney and Margaret Chai Maloney
The Waring and Carmen Partridge Foundation
Robert and Kathleen Qutub Charitable Fund
Clay and Emily Rives
Andy and Kelly Salem
Mrs. Hope van Beuren
The Beech Tree Society
Gifts of $5,000-$9,999
Chris and Catherine Abbate
Katy and Elijah Duckworth-Schachter
Amy and Todd Martin
Marni and Oliver Parker
The Portico
Gifts of $2,500-$4,999
Alexa and Jason Gold
The Block Family/Brian and Caroline Block
Hannah Swett and Mark Brookes
Anne and Matt Hamilton
Mark and Marlena Horan
Susan Seyfarth Lovejoy
Christina and Jerry McIntyre
Elizabeth Niemiec and Marc Braunstein
Jessica and Larry Phillips
Christine Tellefsen '91
Bridget Pakowski and Aaron Washington
Hilary and Mike Wirtz
Mason House Circle
Gifts of $1000-$2499
Jeff and Jan Gordon
Jon and Maureen Barrett
Danielle and Will Deines
Bernard Drury and Sondra Litvaityte
Leslie and Ben Flatgard
Larry and Anne Glenn
Christopher Growney and Alicia Murphy
Ed and Jackie Kirby
Amanda Londoño '91 and Alvaro Londoño
Lorie and Jon Loughborough/The Sella Foundation
Stephanie and Bob Marchand
Charlotte and Paul Marshall
Ashley and Jeff Melillo
David and Melanie Niemiec
Mervan Osborne and Lucy Darragh
Ryan and Caspar Ouvaroff
Charles and Julia Richardson
Tiffany and Chris Ryan
Sand Dollar Foundation
William and Diana Schmied
Jedd and Megan Whitlock
The Balance Club
Gifts of $500-$999
Jennifer and Josh Carney
Juliana Barbieri
Jennifer and John Caulfield
Elizabeth and Jose Cruz
Ted and Jean Ferry
Mary and James Gribbel
Dawn and John Griffin
Brigid Rafferty and Jon Jeffreys
Stephanie Seider and Jeff Judson
Kirsten and Walter Landberg
Jane and Bert Lippincott
Luned Palmer '98 and Roz Palmer '01/Robert N. Alfandre Foundation
James and Sheila Powell
Kate Rooney and Stephen Sams
Jessica and Dave Smith
Di and Jerry Whitlock
Jeremy and Amy Wintersteen
The Blue and White Club
Gifts of $250-$499
Abby Benson and Dave Zader
Patricia Carrubba
Nicole Carrubba
Brennan and Laurie Daniels
Kara and Mike Earp
Laura and Samuel Gillson, '98
Kate Standifer and Keith Healey
Anthony and Hilary Kotoun
Daniel and Amanda Linder
Kelly Valente and Brian MacFarland
Shawen Williams and Andrew MacKeith
F. Michael and Nancy Palmer
Meghan Piedmonte
Elizabeth and Jesse Randall
Liliane and Celio Silva
Caroline and Scott Skuncik
Kate and Brian Stearns
SMS Students on Giving Tuesday
Holly and Shawen Williams/ The Arthur H. Carr Fund
Allison and Karl Witton
Jennie and John Zuerner/ZÜrner Oceanic
The Scholar's Club
Gifts of up to $249
Louis and Margaret DiPalma
Jennifer Abbate
Carolyn Allen
Karen Andrade
Lars and Alex Apitz
Cameron and Nichole Appleton
Mary Ashby
William and Brenda Ashton, Jr.
Tara Badway and Michael Vayl
Lockett Ford Ballard Jr, '60
Hadley and Jason Bazarsky '00
Dennis Boyer and Carrie Davis-Boyer
Jessica Boyle
Kirtley H. Cameron '87
Brooke Cardoso
Brenda Cardullo
Melissa Chafee
Mersina Christopher
Margaret Coffin and Nate Kellogg
Jean Cross
Elizabeth and José Cruz
Kelsi Delio
Kerry Dorton
Julia Driscoll '03 and Sean Driscoll
Ellyn Eaves-Hileman
Daniel Emmert
Annie and Jeff Esposito
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Feist
Lisa and Joe Fitzpatrick
Dr. and Mrs. John Flinton
Kathleen and Gerard Fulham jr
Marianne and Peter Gaige
Melanie Gladding
Talia Chiarelli and Tommaso Grossi
Richard C. Grosvenor
Jim and Melissa Heus
Sydney Muggia Hinson
Courtney Huth
Mrs. George F. B. Johnson
Sara Johnson
Christy Johnston
Mary and Bob Johnstone
Jeffrey and Karen Jones
Kate Joubert
Leslie Keohane
Rachel Kravchuk '01 and Mike Kravchuk
Jane and Joe Lang
Tony and Mary LoPresti/S&G LoPresti Charitable Fund
Lois MacFarland
Frederick J. Marano
Kelly and Chris McNally
Marianne Menas
Irene and George Menas
Sandy and Wess Merten
Ilze and Richard Merten
Jane S. Miner, '68
Susan Mitton and Jared Henderson
Jennifer Jackson and Travis Montique
Elise and Mark Nine
Mae Patten
Alison Pearson
Aishling Peterson '85
Sarah Popovic
Jason and Lauren Ralph
Ann F. Randall
Deanne Reilly
Kelly and Chris Richards
Vicki and Ben Rosenthal
Ellen and Monte Sokol
Linda and Latimer Spinney
Martin and Kazhben Trones
Janice Turner
Phil Tutino
Jennifer Tyndall
Christine Wardell
Thomas E. and Sharon P. Williamson III/ Thomas E. and Sharon P. Williamson Fund
Tara Tavares Winston '94 and Ted Winston
Anna and Ray Woishek
Trip and Christine Wolfskehl
David and Pam Young
St. Michael’s Country Day School has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this Donor Recognition Report. Please note that the information was created as of June 30, 2024. We apologize for any omissions or misrepresentations. If you believe we have made an error, please let us know.
Planned Giving
The Legacy of Excellence Society honors those supporters who have designated a portion of their assets in their will or through their estate planning to benefit St. Michael’s Country Day School. Gifts from bequests and trusts ensure the future of our remarkable school, support our mission, and help establish a lasting legacy of excellence at SMS for today’s students and for generations to come. Individuals who include the school in their estate plans become members of the St. Michael’s Legacy of Excellence Society.
Your bequest can be a specific dollar amount or a certain percentage of the balance remaining in your estate or trust after paying all debts, costs and other prior legacies. Whichever form you prefer, you can direct that your bequest be unrestricted for the general support of our mission or for a specific purpose you designate (be sure to check with us to make sure your gift can be used as intended). Your assets remain in your control during your lifetime. You can modify your gift to address changing circumstances. The Legacy of Excellence Society is open to anyone to join and gifts of all sizes are accepted.
Whatever your objectives, we will be happy to work with you in planning a bequest that will be satisfying, economical and effective in carrying out your wishes. Please contact us so that we can assist you through every step of the process or if you have already included St. Michael’s in your estate planning. We would like to add your name to our roster of distinguished legacy supporters.
Anonymous
Jefferson G. Burnett ‘71
Bethany Di Napoli
Steven Sitrin
Elizabeth G. Wylie ‘54
Restricted Giving
Directed donations are gifts to specific programs or projects. Many of our donors give to the Annual Fund first and then also make a directed gift. Directed donations have lasting impact of the growth and continued success of our school. This year, we received a number of significant gifts that enriched our program immensely. Recent gifts have supported scholarships and financial aid, campus and facilities care and upkeep, the Canepari Library and the endowment. Our sincere thanks to those listed below for gifts made in 2023-24.
2023-2024 Restricted Gifts
Anonymous
Francis Bagbey, '64
Dory and Dan Benson
Josh Carney
Katy and Elijah Duckworth-Schachter
Suzett and Samuel M. V. Hamilton III
Morgan Huntley
Kirsten and Walter Landberg
Dan and Amanda Linder
Michael Perez
Select Equities Group
Jill and David Slye
Trinity Church
Mary and Guy Van Pelt
Hilary and Mike Wirtz
Allison and Karl Witton
Teach Initiative
Part of the Rhode Island Tax Credit Program for Contributions to Scholarship Organizations
The Teach Initiative’s sole purpose is to grant scholarships to qualified students attending our schools whose families demonstrate need.
In order to participate in the R.I. Tax Credit Scholarship Program, St. Michael’s Country Day School and Rocky Hill Country Day School created a separate 501(c)(3) organization whose sole purpose is to grant scholarships to qualified students attending our schools whose families demonstrate need. Our scholarship-granting organization (SGO) is called Teach Initiative. One hundred percent of any and all contributions made to Teach Initiative will support tuition assistance for our students
The Rhode Island Scholarship Tax Credit Program allows R.I. business entities to contribute scholarship support to lowincome R.I. students attending approved private or parochial R.I. schools. They do this by designating their contribution to a scholarship-granting organization (SGO).
Rhode Island C-corporations, S-corporations, limited liability partnerships and limited liability corporations, and business entities operating as a pass-through entity, may use the tax credit against income tax filings.
Eligible businesses can choose to make a one- or two-year commitment to the scholarship tax credit program. A oneyear commitment results in a 75% tax credit, while a two-year commitment results in a 90% tax credit, with a maximum credit of $100,000 (therefore, a business can contribute up to $111,111 per year). Donors can also claim the contribution as an itemized deduction on federal tax returns.
I complimented my kindergartner's work and he told me "all beautiful art starts with a scribble, that's what Mrs. Keohane says." -Such a beautiful sentiment. Thank you for inspiring young minds to find their inner artist, no matter their style.
From our first week at preschool at SMS - "Mom, do you know what gravity is? I do, what do you know about gravity? It makes things go down; we learned about it today at school. Can we get a flagpole like the one at SMS so I can practice gravity (raising and lowering the flag)?" - the thought of talking to my 3-year-old about gravity had not occurred to me, but clearly, he was willing, able and ready for it. Thank you SMS!
Alumni Notes
If you would like to be included in the next edition of Alumni Notes, please contact Jennifer Carney (jcarney@smcds.org) with your information.
Aishling Peterson, Class of 1985
After living in RI, ID, CA, NJ and NY over the years, Aishling settled in Stamford, CT with her husband, John, three children, Charlotte, August and Oliver, and very friendly dogs, Jake and Cashel. Her career in education began years ago as a prekindergarten teacher at SMCDS! These days, when not at King School in Stamford overseeing middle school admission and financial access, Aishling enjoys taking long walks, working in her garden or fixing up her old house.
Peter Schieffelin, Class of 1992
Peter lives in Jamestown with his wife Lindsey and three boys Thatcher ’34, Monty ’33 and James ’26. After working in finance, he founded First Point Power where he has been the CEO since 2009.
Kristin (Boudreau) Ward, Class of 1994
Kristin continued her education at St. George's School, Emory University, and lastly at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In 2010, she returned to Middletown and founded her private practice, Healing Point. Kristin lives with her husband, EJ, and their four children. She is grateful to be back at SMS as a parent, where her two eldest children, Adalyn, ’27, and Morgan, ’30, now attend.
Tara (Tavares) Winston, Class of 1994
Tara works in finance and teaches Pilates in Newport. She is the parent of two wonderful children, Amelia '28 and Charlie '24 (Portsmouth Abbey class of 2028) with her husband, Ted, in Portsmouth, RI.
Brooks Gordon, Class of 1997
Brooks graduated from Johns Hopkins in 2006 and moved to New York, where he has lived ever since. These days, Brooks splits his time between Newport and NYC, having lived on Ruggles Ave for about 10 years. He is the Head of Asset Management for a publicly traded real estate investment firm called W. P. Carey that invests in commercial real estate in North America and Europe. When not in NYC or traveling for work, Brooks can often be found in Newport at the beach or on the golf course!
Erin Harrington, Class of 1997
Erin works as a global equity investor at an institutional asset management firm. She and her husband, Clemens Teufel, have Teddy, ’32, and Mimi, ‘35, both of whom share her love of school and her curls.
Kacie Harrington, Class of 2001
Kacie is the founder and owner of Get Fit For it, a health, wellness and coaching company. She moved back to Newport 2 years ago to be close to family and allow her children to enjoy the SMS experience. She has a son in preschool (class of 2035) and an infant eager to attend.
Rachel Griffin Kravchuk, Class of 2001
Rachel is a Reading Specialist in Middletown, RI. She is a trained Orton-Gillingham and Wilson teacher as well as a certified dyslexia interventionist. She and her husband Mike live in Middletown with their three children, Griffin ’29, Audrey ’32 and Eloise ’34.
Geoffrey Marano, Class of 2002
Geoff currently lives in New York City, where he is an orthopedic surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital Queens. He most often handles hip replacements, knee replacements and orthopedic trauma.
Julia (Field) Driscoll, Class of 2003
After attending Pomfret School ('07) and George Washington University ('11), Julia worked in finance in New York City until moving back to Rhode Island in 2016. She received her degree in landscape architecture from the University of Rhode Island ('19) and now works as a landscape architect at Katherine Field and Associates in Newport, working alongside her mother, Kate Field. She lives in Portsmouth, RI with her husband Sean, two kids, Jack (SMS '35) and Hartley and dog, Riley. Jack is currently a St. Michael's student in the preschool class and Hartley was born in May of 2024.
Alexander (Alex) Clapp, Class of 2005
After attending Brooks School ('09) and the University of Pennsylvania ('13), Alex moved to Athens, Greece and began working as a journalist. His first book, Waste Wars, is an
account of how and why American garbage started traveling to the poorer parts of the world - and who has to pay the price for its processing and disposal. It will be published by Little, Brown in February 2025.
Stephen Deleo, Class of 2011
Stephen lives in DC and is working as the Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (after starting off in Senator Whitehouse’s office five years ago as a lowly Staff Assistant!). After Moses Brown, Stephen attended Haverford College in Pennsylvania where he captained the Men's Lacrosse team in 2019.
Maryann Rompf, Class of 2013
Maryann graduated from Furman University after playing five years of Varsity D-1 tennis on three top 30 teams and then received her Master’s Degree in Accounting from
Vanderbilt University. Maryann still lives in Nashville and works for a company called OneOncology, a company that partners with community oncology practices and is able to provide benefits including drug rebates, managed care negotiations, research capabilities, growth plans, and back office help.
Madeleine Carr, Class of 2023
Madeleine is in her sophomore year at Tabor Academy, where she is sailing two seasons a year and enjoying participating in the arts.
"In 2nd grade it was obvious that not only did Mrs. Stearns know my son exceptionally well, she also cared about him deeply. She knew exactly what he needed, when, and if she felt she wasn't connecting with him, she leveraged a wealth of knowledge and tools to find a way to re-engage him."
"Reading is your super power" - Megan Whitlock, harnessing a student's joy for reading and turning it into an attribute and something to be celebrated.
Endowment Funds
For the year ending June 30th, 2024, the market value of St. Michael's Country Day School's endowment funds totaled $2,949,557. The following endowment funds are established at St. Michael's Country Day School:
The Alumni Fund / The Scholarship Fund
Funded by various graduating classes, this endowment provides tuition assistance to new and current St. Michael’s Country Day Students.
The Elizabeth C. Delude Fund
Established by Elizabeth Delude-Dix, to honor her mother and the grandmother of her son Dermot Delude-Dix ’01, the earnings from this fund are used to provide ongoing cultural opportunities for the teaching faculty to enhance the students' classroom experience.
The Bradford L. Dunn ’84 Fund
Established in memory of Bradford L. Dunn ’84, by the Dunn family, this endowment provides funds for faculty to attend conferences and workshops concentrating on differentiated learning. This fund also provides financial assistance to current families whose children are in need of tutoring services.
The Faculty Fund
Established and funded by the Class of 2004, this endowment provides funds in support of faculty, including salaries and professional development opportunities.
The McCune Fund
Established through an anonymous gift of $100,000 and a second gift of $100,000 received during the 2006-07 school year, this endowment provides funds in support of financial aid.
The Jeffrey L. Gordon Faculty Enrichment Fund
Established in honor of former Board of Trustees Chair, Jeffrey L. Gordon, this endowment provides funds to enrich the classroom experience through special activities.
The Hope H. van Beuren Classroom Maintenance Endowment Fund
Established by Hope H. van Beuren, former teacher and current Trustee Emerita, this endowment provides funds on the two connected van Beuren Classroom Buildings.
*Unaudited Figures
There’s only one St. Michael’s Country Day School
Why should you give?
You help us prepare and empower our students. Your gift supports our innovative curriculum, technology upgrades, vibrant arts programs, professional development for our teachers, and so much more.
Who are our donors?
Our donors are our heroes! Our alumni, parents, grandparents, trustees, faculty, friends, and neighbors contribute. Some give more than once.
How can you give?
You can make a donation to St. Michael’s by:
• Credit card at www.smcds.org/giving
• Check to SMCDS, 180 Rhode Island Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island 02840
• Or cash
• Use your phone camera to scan the QR code on the back of this report
