Roots & Wings Summer 2014 Edition

The Grammar School Summer 2014

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message from the head elcome to the summer edition of Roots & Wings, our publication to celebrate the accomplishments of our students, faculty, alumni, and friends.

Whether you are a current family, past parent, or friend, you’ll find Roots & Wings full of exciting developments for our school and new initiatives. The common thread is tradition. With our new Strategic Plan, we’ve stayed true to our core traditions and unique school ethos, while we look to make measured improvements in all areas.

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Contents TGS and Skiing.............3 Conversation with Ken Burns ................4 Grandparents Day ........6 Third Grade Poems ......7 Spring Event and Auction.....................8 Ecuador Service Learning Trip 2014 ..9 TGS Alumni Promote South Africa Student Exchange ................10 Montreal Trip .............11 The Power of Discovery — After School at TGS.........................12 Transistions.................14 New Faces at TGS .......15 TGS Olympics ............16 Putney Ski Club hosts BKL ski race at TGS.....................16 Sports at TGS — Winter and Spring 2014.....17 Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr..................18 The Grammar School Graduates Sixteen Students..................20 Susan Flint ’14 Participates in Vermont Legislative Page Program.........22 Art Electives at TGS....22 Alumni Notes and Photos ....................23 Remembrances ...........24

One of my favorite aspects of the TGS experience for students is that this wonderful school impacts children in different ways. In this issue, we chose to focus on the experience of one alumnus, Zach Caldwell ’84. While Zach is a noteworthy alumnus, he is also the parent of Gunnar ’18, and is a well known innovator and coach in the XC ski industry, and founder of Caldwell Sport. Zach credits TGS and the influence of key individuals with helping to shape his identity, perceive himself as an athlete, and give him self-confidence. His story resonates today; whether you are an athlete, a scholar, an artist, a musician, or you have another passion, TGS’s community of dedicated and talented educators will help you find the confidence to achieve your dreams.

We have just closed a phenomenal year and graduated sixteen eighth graders off to secondary schools. We are so proud of our alumni, who are well prepared for the challenges ahead and we look forward to hearing of their successes in the months and years to come. We’ve also said our teary goodbyes to Deb Gray and Chris Harlow, two TGS institutions who have retired, yet whose legacy lives on in the day to day successes of our students. Their imprint has been felt by all.

We all are tremendously excited to welcome four new staff members to the TGS team. (You may read their bios in this issue.) We anticipate the skills they will bring to our already strong school and community; they will help TGS hone our top-notch programs as we build on our traditions to provide an innovative education for our students to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

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The Grammar School 69 Hickory Ridge Road, Putney, VT 05346 802.387.5364 tgs@thegrammarschool.org www.thegrammarschool.org Faculty and Staff Dan Marchetti, Head of School P ’24 Phil Blood, P ’22 Karen Blumberg Charlie Boswell P ’13 Ken Brautigam P ’11,’13 Carol Cutts P ’01 Ponnie Derby P ’97 Sara Dunbar Laurie Fichter P ’04,’06 Johanna Gardner P ’08, ’10 Debby Gray P ’02 Chris Harlow P ’96, ’98, ’99 Alisa Hauser Paul “Hop” Hopkins ’19, ’21 David Hull P ’19, ’21 Liz Jackson P ’19, ’21 Linda Kosiba P ’02, ’04 Alli Lubin Libby McCawley P ’07, ’09 Eve McDermott P ’06, ’08 Tara Meinhard ’88 Mary Heller Osgood ’68 P ’95, ’97 Hannah Richards Kathy Richardson ’67, P ’02, ’03, ’05 Tracy Rodriguez P ’13, ’15 Suzanne Rubinstein P ’14, ’17, ’18 Jessica Sardinas P ’20, ’22 Jared Stolper P ’11, ’15 Emily Weinberg P ’17, ’19 Tammy Neathawk P ’14, ’16 Board of Trustees 2013–2014 Chris Adams P ’17—Walpole, NH Julie Burns Vice Chair P ’19, ’24 —Walpole, NH Peter Eden, Chair P ’22—Walpole, NH Kevin Freitas P ’14, ’17—Guilford, VT Erika Gustafson ’91—Medford, MA Michael Hornsby P ’18—Putney, VT Peter Howe P ’03, ’06 —Alstead, NH Marcia Leader P ’82, ’85—Putney, VT Maggie Smith P ’90, ’93—Putney, VT Justin Sterner P’24—Walpole, NH Beth Stickney P ’19—Bellows Falls, VT Natalie Thomson P ’13, ’15—Walpole, NH Eric Velto P ’21—Bellows Fall, VT

Sincerely,

Dan J. Marchetti, P ’24 Head of School

On the cover: Left to right: Zach Caldwell ’84, Gunnar Caldwell ’18, and Ezra Caldwell ’88, all with Fast Boy bicycles custom made by Ezra — photo by Hillary Caldwell

Trustees Emeritus/Co-founders George* and Kitty Shumlin P ’69, ’70, ’74, GP ’05, ’06, ’09, ’12 Roy (Dick)* and Dottie Richardson P ’63, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’74, ’76, GP ’02, ’03, ‘05 * deceased

Editors: Mary Heller Osgood, Tara Meinhard, and Dan Marchetti Photography: David Hull, Suzanne Rubinstein, Justin Altman ’95, and other submissions.

Design/production: Susan Kochinskas, Flocksholm Design

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TGS & Skiing — The foundation of a good life

by Zach Caldwell ’84

was really small as a kid, and for a lot of my early childhood my memory is of being small — a life defined by stature. By fifth and sixth grade I was really unhappy — a small kid in a big class at Putney Central School. During my sixth grade year at the Putney Central School I attended a few BKL practices at TGS, and I joined a very small seventh grade class the next year.

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It’s arguable whether coming to TGS “saved my life”, but it certainly changed it. The social culture of the school was so kind compared to what I had been accustomed to — it was like having a weight lifted from my shoulders. Chris and Mary Heller Osgood’s BKL program gave me a great outlet for my interest in skiing, and I quickly came to think of myself as an athlete. But far more importantly — Chris and Mary treated me as a skier in my own right, and it became my identity. Everything I’ve done in my life since then, I’ve done as a skier.

I believe that sport plays an important role in culture, and in human development. Individual endurance sports, in particular, give us an opportunity to face our doubts, to lose and lose again, and eventually maybe win. But above all, to strive. In every race there comes a time when we want to stop because it seems that the pain must outweigh the reward. I believe that we’re defined as people by the choices we make in those moments.

These lessons apply to life. Sports analogies and metaphors are so commonplace that they start to become trite. But if you want to find somebody with a true appreciation for the effort that goes into success; somebody with the will and perseverance to accomplish big things; look for a person who has faced their doubts and won their own battles. I hope TGS can do as much for my own child.

Zach Caldwell at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia — photo by Noah Hoffman

Zach Caldwell in his 1984 TGS yearbook photo

2014–15 Annual Fund Update Goal: $125,000

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Raised to date: $95,000

uition only covers 80% of a TGS education. The Annual Fund contributes to the 20% of The Grammar School’s operating budget not covered by tuition. Gifts to the Annual Fund make a difference in the School’s daily life, augmenting tuition revenues to pay for salaries, classroom expenses, ongoing maintenance, and support services. A vigorous annual fund allows a school to manage tuition growth and support program innovation.

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Make a tax-deductible gift today to help us meet our goal and raise the final $30,000! A gift of any size will make a difference.

Make your gift online via Paypal. It is safe, fast, and secure: http://thegrammarschool.org/giving/ Thank you for supporting TGS!

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Conversation with Ken Burns: TGS Benefit in NYC Photos by Suzanne Rubinstein he Grammar School hosted a wonderful event in New York City in April, featuring special guest, filmmaker and TGS Parent ’96, ’01, ’19, ’24, Ken Burns. TGS gives special thanks to the event’s platinum and gold sponsors: United Advisors Private Client Group, Fidelity, and anonymous, and to the NYC Event Committee: Stephanie Cabot, TGS Parent ’06, ’09, ’14, Beth Cashel, TGS Parent ’05, ’09, Anita Dunlap, TGS Parent ’05, ’09, ’15 and Brook Magnaghi ’88. Thank you to the Table Sponsors: Ellen and Richard Brown, TGS Grandparents ’19, ’24, Peter and Jan Howe, TGS Parents ’03, ‘06, and Marcia and John Leader, TGS Parents ’82, ’85 and Grandparents ’10.

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More than 70 alumni and friends of TGS enjoyed the festive evening and delicious meal at the rooftop dining room and terrace at the Yale Club of New York, where they had the opportunity to meet with Ken, ask questions, and hear him speak about his films. In addition to discussing his work, Ken talked about the value of a TGS education and the importance of supporting the school. In the spirit of giving

Left to right: Dan Marchetti, Marcus Wacker, Kevin Hughes, P ’15, Ken Burns

back to TGS, there was a successful auction that raised $22,500 for scholarships, professional development, technology, and support of the library. In total, we raised

$30,000 in support of TGS’s Annual Fund at this NYC event. Thank you to all who attended and those who helped organize this successful benefit for TGS.

Alumni at the event: Left to right: Sara Potash ’03, Chris Gabriel ’03, Kvehl McDermott ’05, Dan Marchetti, Lizzie Straus ’01, Mary Bartlett ’98, Frances Wilson ’04, Emily Osgood ’97, Lilly Burns ’01, Amber Schaefer ’01, Mary Heller Osgood ’68 (Missing from photo: Tom Leader ‘85, Brooke Magnaghi ’88)

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Enjoying the rooftop terrace on a beautiful evening in New York City

Left to right: Judy Erdman and Brooke Magnaghi

Left to right: Lizzie Straus, Mary Bartlett

Left to right: Dan Marchetti, John Leader

Left to right: Chris Gabriel, Frances Wilson, Sara Potash, Kvehl McDermott

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Grandparents Day his year, Grandparents Day activities were expanded to cover two days of festivities. On Thursday afternoon, May 15, 40 parents, grandparents, staff, and friends of TGS gathered at the Brattleboro Outing Club for golf and dinner. Everyone had a great time at the event, which raised money for the annual fund. For the traditional celebration on Friday, May 16, TGS hosted its largest gathering of Grandparents/ Grandfriends Day yet.

Everyone enjoyed meeting new Head of School Dan Marchetti and watching the students’ presentations. From the preschool’s updated version of The Little Red Hen (where the other farm animals finally learn their lesson and help out), to the seventh and eighth graders selections from Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr., the performances were outstanding.

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Jasper Everingham ’18 and grandmother Marlene Everingham

Kyran Dell ’20 and Hollie Bowen (grandmother of James Bowen ’20)

Molly Blood ’23 with grandmother Erika Parker

Zinnia Hull ’20 and grandmother Cary Hull

Pierce Clarke ’16 and grandmother Cindy Clarke

Jack Szepessy (grandfather of Charlie Acker ’16), Elle Jamieson ’16, Charlie Acker ’16, and Ella Warner ’16

James Bowen ’20 and grandmother Jody Graves

Garrett Weil ’16 with grandparents Wayne and Sheila Weil

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Third grade poems — spring A Bee’s Soul

By Aiden Fletcher ’19

Spring is a bee’s soul popping through The snow Turning the gray sky into a yellow sunshine A bee turning snow into green grass where the mice go And where buttercups pop their beauty

Changes in my Tree

By Zinnia Hull ’19

The sun shines down on my tree like a spotlight And my tree stretches out like a star for the applauding audience of grass The sap flows through my tree Like blood circulating through a body The blanket of snow curls back As my tree wakes up The dirt softens As though it unbraces itself from the cold My tree starts budding like the sap Former TGS French teacher Iedje Hornsby, grandmother of Georgia ’18

Pushing its way out the branches

What is Spring?

By Annie Siegel ’19 Spring A pretty sight and a great day warm sunny days fun fun fun the best season of all!!! winter, spring, summer, fall but I have to say spring’s the best one of all.

It flitters, it flies up up in the skies with summer peeking through the crack Flowers galore Like daisies and roses and even more It flitters, it flies up up in the skies What is it like for you?

Is it big? Is it small? Is it nothing at all?

Is it blue? Is it green?

Dan Marchetti

For me spring is spring, which no matter what , we all love.

Tree painting — Zinnia Hull

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Spring Event and Auction — The Bell Bottom Bash

Left to right: Eric Aho, P ’17, ’22, Paul Siegel, P ’19, ’22

he Grammar School celebrated its 2014 Spring Event and Auction with the Bell Bottom Bash at Green Mountain Orchards on February 28. Over 100 people attended the event, most of whom were dressed in 70s outfits, from beads and bellbottoms to slinky, wild colored dresses.

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Head of School Dan Marchetti said, “TGS is a school with rich traditions and an incredibly talented group of students, teachers, and parents. While this is widely known, I think all in attendance at the Bell Bottom Bash last Friday realized, if they did not already know, that the TGS community is also incredibly generous, creative, and fun. Our Bell Bottom Bash was a wonderful community event and was successful on all levels. We raised important funds to help TGS in essential ways, and more importantly perhaps, we demonstrated that we are a community that loves to be together and knows how to have a great time! This was my first TGS Spring Auction Event and I am still in awe of what our parent Auction Committee accomplished.”

The Grammar School community thanks Green Mountain Orchards owners Evan Darrow ’70 and his family for donating their space to host this event for the second year. As many people noted, it was a perfect venue for the party.

All photos: Justin Altman ’95

The Bell Bottom Bash Committee was happy to report that preliminary receipts indicated The Grammar School community raised over $26,000 during its annual auction and party. The committee thanks the entire TGS community for its support donating items and services to the auction and party, volunteering time and professional services, setting and cleaning up, organizing and contributing to the class projects and baskets, participating in the online auction, and attending The Bash.

Left to right: Thor Lauterbach, P ’15, Lisa Stolper, P ’15, Laura Zindel, P ’15, Chris Harlow, P ’96, ’98, ’99, Catherine Dail, P ’13, ’16, Rachel Portesi, P ’17, ’22

Check out the following links for great photos from “The Bash!”

Photos taken by our official BBB event photographer, Justin Altman, TGS ’95 may be viewed and purchased online at: Justin Altman Photography — TGS Bell Bottom Bash http://www.justinaltman.com/TGS/Bell-Bottom-Bash-2014 Candid shots and photo booth pictures may be viewed at: The Grammar School Bell Bottom Bash Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/tgsbellbottombash

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Ecuador Service Learning Trip 2014

by Liz Jackson hirteen eighth graders at The Grammar School traveled to Ecuador for ten days in March for a service- learning trip based at Palugo Farm, near Quito. For the second year, Spanish teacher Liz Jackson and former head of school Steve Lorenz led the trip. Palugo Farm, an outdoor education school, designed the program specifically for The Grammar School students, who are immersed in the farm’s sustainable principles. The eighth graders worked on the farm doing daily chores, engaged with the local people, and connected with the different ways of food production and traditional living. Students practiced Spanish, worked on the land, and met their pen pals from Pachamama School. They also had the opportunity to do many hands-on learning projects, including weaving, making salves, carving, and working with bamboo. To celebrate their educational journey they soaked in natural hot springs on the last day of the trip.

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Students were exposed to an indigenous village in the mountains of San Clemente, where they stayed with host families. As they immersed themselves in a new culture and met people from a different background, they made personal connections and gained new perspectives and skills. In San Clemente they were exposed to new foods and new traditions. With their host families, they learned to harvest quinoa, and rub out and clean the grains. As they experienced a different way of life, the students were

challenged and their comfort zones expanded. Students also visited a local elementary school to donate arts and crafts supplies that they transported from Putney. The Grammar School students sang two songs to each grade and also listed to songs that were sung to them. At recess TGS students played a game of soccer, and at end the day, everyone created an art project together.

The students also took part in a servicelearning project based at the Palugo Farm, where students built toilet facilities for the farm workers in Palugo. They learned about ecological toilets, water use, and basic building principles. Jackson said, “This was a very concrete and tangible need at the farm. Not only did the project help the workers’ situation, but it also created an example for the locals to use sustainable systems. We researched alternative waste-management systems, and came up with designs and budgets for this system.”

Jackson noted that students were eager to build on the success of last year’s trip, and were motivated by the opportunity to understand and appreciate another culture as they learned about themselves and their place in the world. She said, “On these trips a student’s education increases exponentially, because every interaction is an opportunity to grow and learn. Studying and living in a different culture enables students see the world from a completely different perspective; it is an amazing experience that will change their lives.”

Roselle Lovell-Smith ’14 and Carter Falk ’14 making pipes

Meal Blessing Song from Ecuador Volamos Volamos como condores Volamos muy alto Alrededor de los Andes Con alas de Amor Hey wichi chayo Hey wahayo Hey wahamuna hey Hey wahayo Volamos como agilas Volamos muy alto Alrededor del cielo Con alas de epaz Hey wichi chayo Hey wahayo Hey wahamuna hey Hey wahayo Volamos como colibris Volamos muy bajo Alrededor de la palcha Con alas humidad Hey wichi chayo Hey wahayo Hey wahamuna hey Hey wahayo

TGS eighth graders with Ecuadorean friends

Colton White ’14 with Ecuadorean students

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TGS Alumni Promote South Africa Student Exchange

by Kathy Richardson ’67 and Beth Henkle ‘03 outh Africa will be the focus of the school’s Global Education Theme for 2014–15. The selection was inspired by Beth Henkle ’03, who has been volunteering for SheWins (Sports Helping to Empower Women in South Africa), a non-profit in Memel, South Africa for the past three winters, where she and other coaches run afterschool soccer programs for girls in first through seventh grades.

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Beth writes, “In 2012, I was lucky enough to join several other young American women as a volunteer coach in South Africa, and I returned in 2013 and 2014 as the Program Coordinator. SheWinS offers young South African girls a safe environment in which they can build self esteem while learning from the wonderful lessons that sports can teach youth: teamwork and self-confidence, selflessness and individual achievement, the value of friendships on and off the field, the benefits of hard work, and the freedom of play.”

Beth also came up with the idea to create an exchange that they hope will lead to a lasting connection between TGS and the Memel Primary School, and she and her mother, TGS sixth grade teacher Kathy Richardson ’67, have been working to organize the program. SheWinS is in the process of applying for a grant from the US Department of State, which would make it possible to implement the exchange. Kathy has been to Memel twice and has made connections with the teaching staff there. The hope is that in the summer of 2015, eight to ten South African girls will travel to TGS to participate in a two week soccer camp in the month of July, where they will stay with TGS families and form relationships with TGS students.

Beth and Kathy said they would know by September if the grant has been approved. In the meantime, they plan to organize a local girls’ soccer clinic at TGS for this coming summer in preparation for the possibility of a South African exchange.

Beth coaching

Kathy wrote of her experiences in South Africa this January.

On February 19, I returned from a successful trip to Memel, Free State, South Africa, a small town about 170 miles southeast of Johannesburg in the foothills of the Drakensburg Mountains.

I visited Memel Primary School and went to the afterschool soccer and track practices run by my daughter Beth and the other SheWinS coaches. Every Memel Primary girl takes part in soccer after school from mid-January through mid-April. During the week I was there, the team was being chosen from the fifth through seventh grades for upcoming games.

My last day at the school, all the children celebrated Valentine’s Day. The day began with a field day very like our last day of school. Then there was face painting and food. The children changed out of their uniforms into their Valentine’s best clothes, and were chosen as the representatives of the spirit of Valentine’s Day. The day ended with many of the older girls following the SheWinS volunteers back to their house to play games and say good-bye to Beth.

For my birthday, Beth treated me to a visit to the Mbumanzi Game and Lion Farm just outside the town, where I met two six-month old lion cubs and a number of other “cats,” and viewed many different kinds of game in a driving tour of the very large farm. One late afternoon I took a Thai cooking lesson from a fellow Vermonter and friend who is staying at Cindy’s farm and cooking for the farm workers and SheWinS volunteers.

On the weekend, Beth and I went to the Drakensberg Mountains to hike.

Beth Henkle’s students practice in South Africa

It was hard to leave Memel and all the kids. I got many hugs and requests for having my picture taken with students. They were very, very sad to see Beth leave, as she has been part of the program for three years. She started a track team and choir that have continued to grow these three years. She has impacted the lives of all the SheWinS girls, who have changed the volunteers’ lives as well.

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Montreal Trip he Grammar School’s fifth, sixth, and seventh grade French students visited Montreal over the Martin Luther King long weekend. For the fourth consecutive year, the trip was organized and led by French teacher Johanna Gardner (Madame Jo to her students).

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South African student that Beth coached in soccer and running

The Montreal trip affords many TGS students their first opportunity to travel outside the United States and experience a different language and culture first hand. Students ate, slept, and went to school with their French speaking pen pals, with whom they had been corresponding throughout the school year. The Grammar School students and their Quebec peers from Collège Stanislas in Montreal were eager and open to learn about each other. Gardner says, “The Montreal families were wonderful hosts, taking one or two TGS students into their homes, and showing them their beautiful city. The families, teachers, and head of Collège Stanislas were incredibly generous, going out of their way to welcome our students and open their homes and lives to us.”

The trip was rewarding for both the children and parents who helped chaperone. As one parent commented, it was such a great cultural and interpersonal experience that it was hard to come back to Vermont. Gardner noted the lasting bonds that were created between pen pals and the feelings of goodwill generated by the trip. She said, “Some of these families will stay in touch and continue to visit each other, forming life long friendships.”

Beth’s students on the track

SheWinS was founded by Cindy Burns in 2009, who writes, “The 140 young South African girls who participate in the program are transformed. Many of them have been victims of sexual abuse or exploitation. Practically all of them have lost parents, friends or relatives to HIV-Aids, a disease that affects no less than 30% of the community. Every weekend there are funerals in their small community where 50% of the adult population is unemployed. A disproportionate number of the girls live with grandparents because their parents are either working in a distant city or are deceased.

Their diets are unhealthy consisting of starch, fats and sugars.

A sizable percentage of the community is affected by diabetes.

Children, especially girls, rarely have the opportunity to enjoy childhood; they haul water, forage for firewood, and care for younger siblings.” SheWinS seeks to effect positive change by addressing in particular the struggles of young girls growing up in this environment.

Burns is writing a three year grant to support this exchange.

If approved, the it will provide for ten of the Memel girls from the soccer team to travel with a chaperone to Putney and take part in a two week soccer clinic and homestays.

Fifth, sixth, and seventh grade French students in Montreal

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The Power of Discovery — After School at The Grammar School TGS introduces STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)

by Suzanne Rubinstein hanks to the support from an anonymous family foundation, strong school leadership and support, and talented, dedicated mentors — The Power of Discovery — STEAM After School Program was a huge success this year! Open to all area children, the program offered clubs that inspired young people to think and problem solve creatively and immerse deeply into areas of science, math, engineering, art and design and more! Young people approached subject through exploration, discovery and hands-on learning. We offered eight clubs over two 8-week sessions: Chess Club, FIRST Lego Robotics League and Lego Robotics Jr. League, Math Olympiads and Jr. Math Olympiads, TGS Science Club, TGS Design and Craft Club, Future Problem Solvers.

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Seventy-two children from grades 2–8 participated in one or more clubs this year. We also welcomed several children from Putney Central School and Westminster Center School, and homeschoolers.

Some highlights of the program: Under Eric Strickland’s guidance, our chess club competed regionally this winter in a chess competition and all club member walked away with ribbons.

FIRST Lego Robotics club members quickly developed moving robots, and learned how to program them to accomplish various tasks. Having NASA scientist Ian Jamieson, TGS parent ’16, as a mentor certainly helped the class progress quickly. We were amazed at how quickly young people learned how to design and implement robots with Lego materials and software.

Future Problem Solvers focused on solutions for the growing problem of environmental migration due to degradation of land, water, and air, as well as natural disasters. Suzanne Rubinstein, TGS Development Director and parent ’14, ’18, ’19, guided students in their research. They wrote papers and developed presentations on solutions for reusing non-recyclable rubber found on soles of shoes, in cars, and in many other everyday products as an alternative source of energy, as well as to repurposing materials for building shelters. They spent time learning valuable critical thinking methods like SCAMPER, Ladder of Abstraction, and Force Fitting, and used these methods to come up with solutions.

They also researched synthetic rubber and environmental migration.

Burdick’s pastry and chocolate chef Ann-Michele Andrews, TGS parent ’16, mentored eight students in the art of chocolate truffle making, cookie decorating, sewing, design, and lip balm making.

Young people learned about many new materials and to work with their hands from a project’s concept to completion.

Whether visiting the Montshire Museum, making slime, or examining flowers, bugs, and even snowflakes with a microscope, the children participating in TGS Science Club were always busy exploring and discovering. Thanks to Peter Bergstrom and Susan Still, TGS grandparents ’19, ’22, the children learned a great deal about the world around them.

Jasper Everingham ’18

Ann-Michele Andrews, P ’16, helps Lucy Kaplan ’20

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From STEAM coordinators Suzanne Rubinstein and David Hull: A special thanks to all the club leaders and mentors: Eric Strickland, Peter Bergstrom, Susan Still, Whit Baluvelt, Ian Jamieson, Suzanne Rubinstein, Ann-Michele Andrews, Kevin Feal-Staub, and Jay Reichman, and also to Melanie Kent for volunteering to assist Ann-Michele.

Seventy young people learned a great deal about themselves and the world around them this year. We are so grateful for your talents, skill, and patience!

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Grandparents Peter Bergstrom and Susan Still commented on their experience teaching in the program.

Peter: When I heard that TGS was looking for volunteers to lead an afterschool science club for second through fourth graders, I jumped at the chance.

I was about to retire from my work as a biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, so the timing was perfect. I had been passionate about science since childhood, and I wanted to share scientific thinking with children — including our granddaughter, who wanted to join.

L to R: Amelia Opsahl ’17, Robert Racco ’17, Valentin Klug ’16

We developed our own curriculum so we could tailor the topics and experiments to the interests of the students.

Since we started in January, we started by studying clouds and snow. We also experimented with stream tables, microscopes, telescopes, and simple chemistry.

A highlight was our field trip to the Montshire Museum of Science, where we had a special workshop on density.

I was impressed with how much the students already know about science. It reflects well on the parents, teachers, and of course, on the kids themselves.

Susan: I love working with kids and I’m experienced as a group facilitator.

Peter was looking for a co-leader and I realized we could play complementary roles: he knew about biology, physics, chemistry, ecology, meteorology, and so on; I knew about people. We found that the activities the students enjoyed most were hands-on.

Teacher Kevin Feal-Staub, P ’14, with Gracie Childs ’15, Aicher Hearon ’15, Dylan Ray ’15, and Ivy Dall ’15

Our students learned to focus and have fun at the start of sessions with what I call group juggling. They create a pattern of tossing a Koosh ball to each person in the circle; as they learn to make eye contact and stay focused, we were able to keep about six balls in the air for several minutes, which helped them be ready for learning.

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Transitions Deb Gray has worked at TGS since 1988, when she took over as part time business manager from Jessie Heller ’66. Deb quickly acquired many other duties, including after school sports and PSD, as well as design guru and landscape designer for the school.

In addition to balancing the school budget, Deb has promoted causes near to her heart, including health, fitness, XC skiing, gardening, and interior decorating. Because of Deb’s zeal and attention to detail, all TGS students are outfitted with XC skis, boots, and poles for the winter season. She has collected skis, organized the ski/skate sale, and bought XC skis and racing and warmup suits for the Bill Koch League skiers, which she rents to happy children every winter. She also makes sure the sports teams are outfitted in matching TGS jerseys, and keeps track of all the equipment from soccer balls to cones. She organizes XC races and fundraising events for the school, cooks soup for teachers, plants and weeds the gardens, and paints the building.

Because of Deb, both the school and the children look their best.

Deb has been a passionate advocate of The Grammar School’s mission and program.

She often mentions how students’ early school experiences stay with them throughout their academic careers, using her son Patrick O’Brien ’02 as an example.

Chris Harlow has been an icon at TGS for 25 years. His title is plant manager, but like Deb, his interests and self-imposed duties extend far beyond the buildings and grounds at TGS. Chris always has inspired students to work hard and play hard, whether at workjobs, in the challenge course activities, or on the soccer field.

Humor and fun are integral to Chris’s approach to his work and his interactions with the entire TGS community.

the admissions process, and it is exciting to see how well the children are doing at the school. Most important, it has been a great spot for his five year old daughter Molly.

As she was looking at photos of eighth graders during their years at TGS, she said to her father, “I don’t want to leave preschool.” When Phil reminded her that she had been in the same classroom for three years, she responded, “I want to be in preschool forever!”

Chris has many talents. Everyone depends on him to be able to fill in wherever necessary or help out at the last minute, whether building bookcases, coaching soccer, teaching PSD classes, or constructing a ropes course. Since he first came to TGS, Chris has been a technical and creative force behind the physical props for both the Medieval Faire and the annual upper school musical. Chris has an in depth knowledge of the woods and the natural world, which he shares with the students, and also passed on to his three sons Ryan ’96, Seth ’98, and Tyler ’99.

We will miss Phil, his wife Cindy, and Molly, and all they have contributed to TGS, and we wish them the best of luck at Lawrence.

After retiring from TGS in July, Chris hopes to take some time to farm, read, and travel.

Deb has not announced her plans after June 30, but we know she will be busy, productive, and creative in every endeavor.

TGS Director of Admissions Phil Blood will return to his hometown of Groton, MA, to be Director of Admissions at Lawrence Academy. Phil says he has had three great years at The Grammar School.

He met many wonderful families through

Deb Gray gardening in the rain

Chris Harlow on the tractor at Work Day

Charlie Boswell Receives Lawrie Brown Award in May 2014 ongratulations to fifth grade teacher Charlie Boswell, who was presented with the award by Rescue, Inc. in Brattleboro, in memory of Putney resident Lawrie Brown.

Lawrie was a Rescue volunteer in Putney and at Rescue Inc. in Brattleboro, and had been a member of the Tenth Mountain Division in World War II. The award recognizes a community EMS volunteer, and nods to Charlie's work with the ski patrol at Stratton Mountain.

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New Faces at TGS

by Dan Marchetti

his winter we began a comprehensive search process to fill four important openings at TGS for the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid and Marketing Director, Business Manager, Director of Facilities, and the Assistant Head of School and Academic Dean. I am excited to announce that all four searches have yielded excellent results and we have found talented educators to join our team at TGS. A short bio of each new employee is included below, and we look forward to welcoming them to TGS in July.

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Conducting four searches that attracted hundreds of candidates from all over the nation was a time consuming task. I am deeply appreciative of the faculty’s work, which contributed to the searches throughout the process and helped us secure these strong individuals who understand and support the mission of TGS. We remain thankful for all that the departing employees have done for TGS during their tenures. We are excited for what these future colleagues will add to our school; please join me in welcoming them to our community.

Assistant Head of School and Academic Dean — Apple Gifford

Business Manager — Michael Svensson

Apple’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Religious Studies from Yale University, as well as a Masters of Education and an Advanced Professional Certificate in Counseling Psychology for Educators, both from Lesley University.

She has been an academic tutor in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a Sixth Grade teacher and Directing Teacher at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, and a Lead Instructor for Outward Bound. Currently Apple serves as the K-8 Program Director and Curriculum Director at Oak Meadow. She resides in Newfane, Vermont with her family and enjoys knitting, quilting, and canoeing. Her two children attend TGS and her husband, David Hull, is Technology Coordinator at the school.

Michael’s academic degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Princeton University, an Assistant Treasurer/MBA from Chase Manhattan Bank, and a Master of Science in Materials Science from Columbia University. He has worked as a senior level business controller for IBM, AT&T, and Credit Suisse, and as Vice President of Technology Services he managed an organization of 57 people with a budget of $6.5 million. Most recently, he has taught science and math at the New Canaan Country School. Michael is fascinated with the invention and innovation process. He has a patent for a high precision indexing mechanism for cylinder transport and indexing, and a patent pending for a hand held chording keyboard/controller for computers, tablets, and smartphones. In his new position at TGS, Michael is excited to use his skills in financial management, teaching, and creativity. Michael and his family are relocating from Connecticut to Saxtons River, Vermont, and one of his three children will attend TGS next year.

Director of Facilities — Kurt Lynch Kurt graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and has extensive experience as both a teacher and a carpenter. He worked as a living history instructor dramatizing 18th century life, building reproduction furniture, and offering education programming to school groups and the public at the Old Salem Museum and Gardens in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He spent a year as an Island Instate Fellow in Vinalhaven, Maine, leading 20 high school students in renovating a 30-foot boat, which then carried the students on a 6-week school at sea voyage. Kurt has worked as a professional boat builder on shipyard crews in Maine, New York, and Washington State, and has been a carpenter for the Bread Loaf Corporation and Jonathan Jesup, former TGS Board Chair and Parent ’07, ’10.

He currently works as a self-employed general contractor. In addition to the facilities position, Kurt would be interested in offering an after school program in woodworking at TGS. He enjoys playing music and spending time with his family at their home in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Director of Admissions and Financial Aid/ Marketing Director — Michael Brown Michael received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish from Southern Methodist University and a Doctor of Philosophy in English from Indiana University. For fifteen years he worked as an educator of teenagers and young adults in environments as diverse as learning clinics in Monterrey, Mexico, lecture halls at Indiana University, villages in Guatemala, and the classrooms and forests of Western North Carolina. Michael currently is the Head of the Semester School at the Outdoor Academy in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. His philosophy of education is grounded in community, and his teaching has focused on active and experiential processes with the goal of helping students discover their own abilities to be both creative and analytical thinkers and writers. Michael and his wife will move to the Brattleboro area this summer.

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TGS Olympics he Grammar School celebrated a snowy winter in Putney, as well as the Olympics in Sochi, Russia, by holding its own Olympic Games for all grades at the school in late February. In mixed age groups from 5-14 years, all the students participated in five athletic events, including yarn ball biathlon, one legged relay, ski cross slalom (four skiers on four courses, all at the same time), bobsled on plastic toboggans, and hand hockey with a large Swiss exercise ball.

Participants competed on XC skis for all events, except for the bobsled, and everyone had a great time. As the games closed at the end of the afternoon, one student remarked, “That was really fun. Can we have a spring Olympics now, too?”

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The event was such a success that the next day the Putney Bill Koch League was encouraged to host the first BKL Olympics at The Grammar School venue. As coach Eric

TGS Slalom Cross

Gunnar Caldwell celebrates

Aho noted, “Sochi had nothing on this!

Vermont skiing at its finest and some of the most enthusiastic youth skiing we have seen all season!”

’18, Noah visits Gunnar’s class at The Grammar School whenever he comes to Putney. In addition to sharing his experiences and describing the work and sacrifices involved in being a world class skier, Noah encourages the students to pursue their own goals. When he heard that he had inspired TGS to hold its own Games, he said, “The Grammar School Olympics sound like a blast!” The entire school community agreed.

The school has been fortunate to have US XC skier and Olympian Noah Hoffman as a friend and mentor for the last several years. Through his connection with his coach Zach Caldwell ’84 (also an Olympic wax technician) and son Gunnar Caldwell

Putney Ski Club hosts BKL ski race at The Grammar School he Putney Ski Club hosted a Bill Koch League XC ski race for elementary school students on Sunday, January 19 at The Grammar School. Though many local ski trails lacked snow, The Grammar School had good coverage on its lower trails. The club was fortunate to have Zach Caldwell (owner of Caldwell Sport, who worked at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia as a wax technician and is an alumnus of the school) lay out the course and organize students, parents, coaches, and friends to put on the race.

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Start of the BKL race at TGS

The event was a great success for 79 skiers from 9 ski clubs, including West River Nordic, Stratton Mountain School, Prospect Mountain, and Putney from southern Vermont, Ford Sayre from Norwich, VT and Hanover, NH, Dublin, Plainfield, and Fall Mountain from New Hampshire, and Berkshire Trails from Massachusetts.

for boys and girls in 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th, 5th6th, and 7th-8th grades, who skied 1, 2, 3, or 4 laps on a 1.2 kilometer course around the hilly field. The snow conditions were excellent, and the children were excited to have a chance to race with so many of their peers.

Children five years and younger skied an untimed Lollipop course, where they were rewarded with lollipops stuck in the snow at the finish line. There were separate races

The racers also were motivated by a good luck video sent by US Ski Team Olympians Noah Hoffman of Colorado, and Vermonters Andy Newell of Shaftsbury, Ida

Sargent of Orleans, and Liz Stephen of East Montpelier. At the end of the race, all the skiers gathered to send their own “Good luck in Sochi” video to those Olympians.

XC skiing has been an integral part of the school since its founding in 1960. Several Olympians got their start in XC ski racing at The Grammar School, and the school’s extensive trail system provides opportunities for all students to learn to ski and improve their skills.

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Sports at TGS — Winter and Spring 2014 inter in southern Vermont seemed longer, colder, and snowier than in the recent past. For the first time in many years, Chris was able to groom the Ravine Trail, along with the rest of TGS’s trail network. Students were excited to get to know the ski trails that they had only heard about or hiked on in the fall and spring. Skiing continued well into March, and the playing fields remained wet and squishy until mid-April.

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Spring sports started the last week of April, with activities offered every afternoon. TGS offerings included mountain biking, led by parent Amy Caldwell (Gunnar ’18), and trail running, coached by Zach Caldwell ’84, for the third consecutive season, Ultimate Frisbee, coached by parent David Hull (Lucy ’22 and Zinnia ’20) for the second year, and lacrosse, which had been offered for several seasons, coached by fathers Jay Clarke (Pierce ’16 and Ava ’17) and Ray Hutchins (Lyle ’17). In addition, a local chapter of Girls on the Run was held at The Grammar School for the fourth year in a row. Seventeen girls in third, fourth, and fifth grades, including four participants from the Putney Central School, were led by veteran coaches and parents Jen Robb (Gillian and Beatrix ’22 and Zoe ’18) and Clare Mundell (Beckett ’19 and Wells ’17).

Students were eager to participate and were excited by the activities. After the first mountain biking session on Zach and Amy Caldwell’s trails on Bear Hill, cyclists made their way in single file up the TGS driveway. They were tired after a long afternoon on the bike, but when they finally reached the top of the hill, every student’s comment was the same: “That was so much fun! It was awesome!”

Ethan Cameron ’16

Left to right: Lyle Hutchins ’17, Holton Taylor ’17

Shams Helminski ’92, Assistant mountain bike coach this spring

Hannah Holton ’22 on the seesaw

Ben Worley-Reichman ’20, ready to ride

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Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. — 2014 Upper School Musical

by Suzanne Rubinstein

Seventh and eighth A and B casts

Left to right: Colton White ’14, William Parkman ’14, Acadia Barrengos ’14

Left to right: Andrés Rodriguez ’14, Susan Flint ’14, Robin McOwen ’14

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Left to right: Gwyneth Thomson ’15, Niklas Johnson ’14, Acadia Barrengos ’14, Cora Maple Lindell ’15, Molly Cameron ’14, Mia Rubinstein ’14, Ivy Dall ’15, Molly Durling ’14, Miranda Fuller ’15

eventh and eighth graders performed Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. this spring. TGS was thrilled to welcomed Director and Choreographer Alisa Hauser, who appeared on Broadway with the original cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Hauser shared her intimate knowledge of the play with the students, and as Alli Lubin, Musical Director at the school and Producer of the show expressed, “It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to work with a Broadway actor, who is also a talented director, vocal coach and dancer. One unusual development made possible thanks to Alisa’s talent and skill is that every student learned how to tap dance this spring! It was a dream scenario for all of us involved.”

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Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. is a musical that tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love — a thoroughly modern aim in 1922, when women were just entering the workforce. Millie soon begins to take delight in the flapper lifestyle, but problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by the leader of a white slavery ring in China. Millie Dillmount was played by Acadia Barrengos ‘14 and Mia Rubinstein ’14.

Seventh and eighth students began auditions for the show in January, and for three months rehearsals were integrated into the curriculum. All students received a role (or multiple roles) and most also took on the responsibility of technical jobs to help run the production. The actors all knew that putting on such an in depth production was a community event, in which they all played an important part. Adult volunteers were crucial to the success of the show, and many people put in countless hours painting sets (constructed by plant manager Chris Harlow), gathering and sewing costumes, preparing props, doing makeup, and generally making sure that each show ran smoothly.

The show played to sold out crowds for four evenings, and received rave reviews from all who attended. As it does every year, TGS donated one night’s box office of $800 to Putney Family Services. Many alumni returned to school to watch at least one night of the musical.

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The Grammar School Graduates Sixteen Students on June 12, 2014 he Grammar School graduated sixteen eighth graders on June 12, 2014. All the students gave presentations for the audience, including musical pieces with singing, a band, guitar, and piano, as well as a slide show and a reflective speech. Teachers and staff members, chosen by the eighth graders, then presented personal speeches about each student’s experience at TGS, and diplomas were awarded by Head of School Dan Marchetti and Board of Trustees Chair Peter Eden.

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Marchetti noted how much he had learned from these students in his first year and their final year at TGS. As the graduates head off to secondary schools this fall, he encouraged them to stay in touch with The Grammar School and each other.

Members of the class of 2014 will attend the following schools: Acadia Barrengos Putney School Kit Blazej Putney School Molly Cameron Putney School Molly Durling Brattleboro Union High School Gabriel Feal-Staub Putney School Susan Flint Putney School Ethan Foster Putney School Niklas Johnson Vermont Academy Roselle Lovell-Smith Groton School Robin McOwen Brattleboro Union High School William Parkman Putney School AndrĂŠs Rodriguez Putney School Mia Rubinstein Choate Rosemary Hall Tyler Silbey Northfield Mount Hermon Carter Tarallo-Falk Brattleboro Union High School Colton White Brattleboro Union High School

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Left to right: Graduates Kit Blazej, Susan Flint, AndrĂŠs Rodriguez, Colton White, William Parkman

Graduate Carter Falk is congratulated by Spanish teacher Liz Jackson TGS Board Chair Peter Eden watches as graduate Molly Cameron is congratulated by Head of School Dan Marchetti

Left to right: Class of 2014 graduates Acadia Barrengos, Niklas Johnson, Mia Rubinstein

Graduate Gabe Feal-Staub with teacher Paul Hopkins

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Susan Flint ’14 Participates in Vermont Legislative Page Program usan Flint, eighth grader at The Grammar School in Putney from Springfield, Vermont, recently completed a six-week session as a Legislative Page in the Vermont Statehouse. She said that ever since she heard about the program when she was in fifth grade, “It was that thing I always wanted to do.”

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Each year, 30 pages are chosen from the many 8th graders throughout Vermont who apply to the program. Susan was the fifth student chosen from The Grammar School to work as a page, and was inspired by those pages that preceded her. She had to complete a lengthy application, including a long, personal essay for the Sergeant at Arms explaining why she wanted to the job.

With the other nine pages working in the 2014 winter session, she spent four days a week running notes between legislators, and delivering messages and mail to

representatives, senators, and staff. She and her fellow pages also had a chance to discover some secrets in the Statehouse, such as what went on behind the curtain behind the podium of the Speaker of the House, where the best acoustics were in the House Chamber (“Everyone can hear everything when someone speaks under the chandelier”), and who used the hidden staircases (“Only the office people, who are the backbone of the Statehouse”).

Susan commented that her favorite part of the experience was forming new relationships with the people she met in Montpelier. From her homestay with a wonderful family, to the other pages, to the legislators and the governor, she noted that people were really nice. She also said, “The experience ruined the stereotype of sleazy politicians for me. Everyone was so supportive and helpful, and all the legislators gave the pages a standing ovation when we left!”

Art Electives at TGS

by Hannah Richards rt electives are a wonderful opportunity for seventh and eighth graders at The Grammar School to pursue in-depth studies in their choice of four mediums. For six weeks during the winter term, the students take one three-hour art class each week.

They are excited to have the opportunity to discover new art processes and follow their interests, while building connections and deepening their skills. This year, we had two electives off campus. Nine students learned black and white 35 mm film photography and darkroom processing at the InSight Photography Project, and six students were taught wheel-throwing pottery at Clayworks Studio, a new offering this year. On campus, parent and local artist Rachel Portesi gave film/video lessons to eight students, where they shot and edited their own music videos, and seven students learned how to oil paint on canvas with art teacher Hannah Richards.

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The students’ work was on display at the Hooker-Dunham Theater and Gallery for the month of March, with a public opening on the evening of March 7 and another TGS community opening with a special music video screening on March 28. Both events were well attended and received very positive reviews.

TGS founder and first art teacher Dorothy Richardson chats with current art teacher Hannah Richards in the Dorothy Richardson Gallery at TGS

Middle right: Gwyneth Thomson ’15 Bottom right: Acadia Barrengos ’14

Susan Flint ’14 with Governor Peter Shumlin ’70 at the Vermont Statehouse

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Alumni Notes Spring 2014 Cammie Watson ’69, writes that she is widowed, and lives in Truro, MA with her children Julia, age 13, and Asa, age 11, as well as her dog, cats, and chickens. Among other interesting jobs, she has worked in graphic design, as a pastry chef, a teacher, published four books, and currently she works as a landscape painter. Her websites are cammiewatson.com and www.addisonart.com/watson/.

Alicia Brelsford ’84, says: Hello All, Willa ’18 is still loving TGS, and so am I! I’m still racing my handcycle, and hope to compete in the World Cup series in Europe this season. Alicia (Tattie) Kaia Huseby ’85 writes: My home base is Santa Cruz, CA, where I teach third grade at a wonderful private school, similar in spirit to TGS. But this year, I am taking a sabbatical from teaching to live in Lucca, Italy with my family. Our children (8 and 12) are going to the local public school, which means that they are learning Italian by necessity! I am studying lost-wax casting at a jewelry school in Florence and my husband, who is an anthropologist, is studying forest history and climate change policies in this part of Italy.

Saluti da Lucca, Kaia Nancy Wheeler Dickson ’92 is moving to the Cambridge, MA area this summer so that her husband Elliot can attend graduate school. Elliot, Eloise (who turns two years old in July), and Nancy also will welcome a new member to the family in July.

Nancy will be taking next year off to be a full-time mom before gearing up for a job search in educational administration, that would likely keep the family in the Boston area.

Vanessa Compton ’96 says: For the past six years I have been living a somewhat nomadic lifestyle focused on climbing and art. I currently spend part of the year working in my studio in the Northeast Kingdom, and the other half guiding and rock climbing throughout the American West.

Cammie Watson ‘69

Kyra Sparrow-Pepin Chapin ’02 with children Maea and Leander on Putney Mountain this spring

Cammie’s children, Julia and Asa

I’ve included a few images of my work with image information, and one even has Roots & Wings in it!

Life is good, love to all.

(See more of Vanessa’s work at www.KrinshawStudios.com)

Planete des Animaux, mixed media collage 60" x 40" by Vanessa Compton

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TGS Founder George Shumlin Reprinted from Putney Student Travel with permission eorge Shumlin died April 10th at his home after a short illness, surrounded by his wife and children who loved him.

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Born in May, 1925, in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Elliott and Betty Shumlin, he graduated from Plainfield High School in 1942.

His college education was interrupted by World War II in which, after five months’ training at the Newport, Rhode Island, naval training station, he served for three years as quartermaster and as senior petty-officer of the Ship’s Control Division of a U.S. navy amphibious landing ship, the LST 1011. The 1011 participated in landings and in re-supply operations in both the European and the Pacific theaters of war. George was awarded the European and the Asiatic-Pacific service ribbons with battle stars.

George received a B.A. in English and Theater from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio. He attended graduate school in Theater Arts at the University of Iowa and later earned a Master’s Degree in Education at the Putney, Vermont, Graduate School of Teacher Education (now known as Antioch New England). He served as a trustee and as chairman pro-temp of the board of trustees of The Graduate School, and he also worked on the school’s faculty as the Supervisor of Apprentice Teaching.

George worked as an actor, a stage-manager, and a director in regional theaters and summer theaters, as well as on Broadway and on network television. Later, he taught at the Putney School and at the Verde Valley School in Arizona.

In 1952, George married Kitty A. Prins of The Hague, Holland.

The Shumlins settled in Westminster West, Vermont, in 1955.

Together, they founded Putney Student Travel, an international, educational experience for high-school students, of which George was president for thirty-three years. He was co-founder of The Grammar School in Putney and served for eight years on its board of trustees, the first six years as treasurer. He was one of many cofounders of The Vermont Civil Liberties Union.

George loved hiking, cross-country skiing and working in the Vermont woods, maintaining the family woodlot for sustainable production and recreation. He especially enjoyed his family and he took great pride in their achievements.

George Shumlin is survived by Kitty, his wife of 62 years, and by his daughter Kate Shumlin ’69 of South Burlington and his two sons Jeffrey Shumlin ’74 of Westminster West and Peter Shumlin ’70 of East Montpelier. He is survived also by five grandchildren, Kyle Arnold, Olivia ’05, Becca ’06, Julia ’09 and Ben Shumlin ’12, by a great-grandson, George Arnold, and by the mothers of his grandchildren and great-grandchild.

George Shumlin

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Ezra Caldwell ’88, 1973–2014 aniel Ezra Caldwell died at home on May 24, 2014, after six years with cancer. He was cared for by his wife Hillary and other family and friends, with the support of the hospice team from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

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Born in 1973, Ezra grew up in Putney, Vermont. As a boy, he moved from one passion to another — juggling, acting, rock climbing, building crossbows and puppets, making constant use of his fathers’ woodworking shop. From the age of eight, he spent much of each summer in northern Vermont with the Bread and Puppet Theater, performing as the baby gorilla in their annual circus. After graduating from the Buxton School in Williamstown, MA, he lived the village of Santa Marta in El Salvador for a year during the post-conflict reconstruction, working in a woodworking shop with ex-combatants.

He attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, first focusing on art and design but then making an unlikely switch as a complete novice to the modern dance department. After graduating, he danced for Momix and Gabriel Masson Dance, then spent a year in a masters’ program in dance at Bretton Hall, part of the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. Here he began to use video and persuaded an entire institution that there were two of him, the twins Daniel and Ezra, as documented in abundant footage. One of them attended the masters’ program; the other was a chef in a local Thai restaurant. His cooking benefited from the year as much as his art. He left without completing the degree, stubbornly determined that a written thesis should be unnecessary for an arts degree.

On returning to New York, Ezra choreographed and performed with his own small company, at times collaborating with his musician brother, Thomas Bartlett. He had work commissioned by universities in Belgium and Holland, performed in festivals in Europe and the US, worked as artist-in-residence at Sarah Lawrence, and at dance workshops in Lima Peru. For almost ten years, he taught at DanceSpace NY, later Dance New Amsterdam, gathering a following for his athletic and demanding classes.

In 2007 he moved away from dance and teaching, turning back to the involvement with fabrication and design that had preoccupied him since childhood, and which had been refined during summers and other stretches doing construction and cabinet making.

He had for a while been assembling bikes from components, putting them together for friends and family and dance students. But now he learned how to weld and quickly became a respected custom builder and designer, turning out his elegant Fast Boy Cycles in a shop in his brother’s basement next door.

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(Reprinted with permission) In 2009, Ezra was married to Hillary Nanney in a fisherman’s church in the La Have Islands, Nova Scotia. Ezra had been visiting the islands every summer since he was a boy, and he and Hillary spent many weeks over recent years kayaking, mussel gathering and exploring with their beloved dog Putney Sue. Ezra was always, in one way or another, a performer and an artist, but he was happiest when his creative impulses locked on to the practical side of life. Beautiful bikes met his needs better than fine art. He liked performing more as a cook than as a dancer. He created and enacted a rich, unique life and death and he never lacked an audience.

Ezra decided a few years ago to forego further treatment for his cancer, and spent most of his remaining months deeply engaged in the things that mattered most to him – making bikes and other objects, mountain biking, photographing the world around him, cooking, playing pool. As his capacities diminished, he seemed always able to adapt and find new ways to satisfy his passion for productivity and mastery. Courageous, independent, opinionated and stubborn to the end, Ezra amazed, delighted and exhausted his family and close friends. At the same time he entertained and inspired thousands of people through his blog, which demystified cancer, chemo and colostomy bags with flair and humor.

Ezra is survived by his wife Hillary, his brothers Zachary Caldwell, Sam Caldwell and Thomas Bartlett, sister Mary Bartlett, parents Sheridan and Edward Bartlett, nephew Gunnar Caldwell and grandfather Alexis Nason, as well as numerous cousins and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation in Ezra’s name, the family asks that you consider one of the following: Recycle-A-Bicycle’s Earn-A-Bike program is a school-based program that teaches students basic bicycle mechanics through RAB curriculum. Students then volunteer time after school and earn hours in exchange for a bicycle frame.

Participants build bikes for themselves, friends, and family members, too.

To donate please visit: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/rec and click on “Ezra Caldwell Memorial Fund.”

Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) is a not-for-profit home health care agency that provides direct home care by physicians, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, psychologists, and more. For the last year of his life, Ezra became a passionate advocate for palliative care, due largely to his experience in VNSNY’s Hospice Program, as well as the Palliative Care wing at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

To donate online, please visit: www.vnsny.org/community/supportvnsny/donate; by phone, call: 212-609-1525; or by post, send checks to: 107 E. 70th St. NY NY 10021 (Make checks payable to: Visiting Nurse Service of New York; memo: In Memory of Ezra Caldwell).

The Grammar School

69 Hickory Ridge Road South, Putney Vermont 05346 802.387.5364 www.thegrammarschool.org