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The Grammar School
roots &Wings Summer/Fall 2015
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The 2015-16 School Year Begins! The Grammar School
Contents Celebrations........................... 3 Transitions.............................. 5 Interns and Volunteers.......... 7 Grandparents Day ................ 8 Composers.............................. 10 Ecuador Trip.......................... 11 Preschool Breadmaking........ 12 Francesca Childs ‘09.............. 12 Student Artwork.................... 13 Spring Sports.......................... 16 Mark Green............................ 17 Cross Country Skiing Reflections.............................. 18 TGS 55th Graduation............ 20
Board of Trustees 2015–2016 Chris Adams P ’17—Walpole, NH Julie Burns, Vice Chair P ’19, ’24 —Walpole, NH Peter Eden, Chair P ’22, ’24 —Walpole, NH 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, ’25—Walpole, NH Eric Velto P ’21, ’24—Bellows Fall, VT Katherine Wagenbach P ’19, ‘24—Bellows Fall, VT
Cover photo: Community service work in San Clemente - Liz Jackson
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 ’25 Justin Altman ‘95 Paqui Arroyo Ken Brautigam P ’11, ’13 Kimberly Corwin Gray P ’23 Carol Cutts P ’01 Ponnie Derby P ’97 Laurie Fichter P ’04, ’06 Johanna Gardner P ’08, ’10 Apple Gifford P ’19, ’22 Mary Heller Osgood ’68 P ’95, ’97 Paul “Hop” Hopkins P ’19, ’22 David Hull P ’19, ’22 Tricia Hurley Alli Lubin Libby McCawley P ’07, ’09 Eve McDermott P ’06, ’08 Tara Meinhard ’88 Tammy Neathawk P ’14, ’16 Hannah Richards P ’21, ‘25 Kathy Richardson ’67, P ’02, ’03, ’05 Tracy Rodriguez P ’13, ’14 Jessica Sardinas P ’20, ’22 Jared Stolper P ’11, ’15 Michael Svensson P ’17 Michael Tholen Emily Weinberg P ’17, ’19
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 Editor: Mary Heller Osgood Assistant editor: Tara Meinhard Photography: David Hull, Justin Altman, and other submissions Layout: Pedr Seymour P’ 18, ’20
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Celebrations Introduction Celebrations have been an integral part of The Grammar School experience since the beginning. Last spring, traditional activities included the 7th and 8th musical and K-6th spring concert, the annual auction with delicious food and great company, Grandparents Day festivities, the many student productions and presentations at All School Meeting, Field Day, tributes to departing teachers and staff, the Strolling of the Heifers parade, and the wonderful graduation ceremony, all events that are supported and appreciated by the TGS community.
Beauty and the Beast, JR, the seventh and eighth grade spring musical, was an amazing show. Incredible acting and singing by the students and wonderful costumes by parent volunteers contributed to four wonderful performances.
On the last day of school, traditional Field Day activities were appreciated by students, teachers, and staff. We also said goodbye to Admissions Director Michael Brown and third grade teacher Linda Kosiba. In addition to diplomas, gifts, and cards, the entire school watched Linda cut the ribbon for the brand new Linda’s Loop, a new ski, biking, walking, and running trail in the woods behind the school.
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In May, Green Mountain Orchards hosted the school’s spring event and auction for the third year. Everyone had a wonderful time, and the event raised substantial amounts towards the annual parent fundraising goal.
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Transitions The Grammar School announces new members to the faculty and staff for 2015-16, as four teachers and administrators seek challenges outside of the school next year. TGS is excited to welcome Tricia Hurley and Michael Tholen as the new third and fifth grade teachers, Paqui Arroyo as the new Spanish teacher, Justin Altman ’95 as Director of Admissions, and Kimberly Corwin Gray as Director of Development.
years I have amassed innumerable, invaluable gifts: The greatest ones the friendships and my ever evolving, deeper understanding of children and learning. I am thankful for each day here. I will depart from The Grammar School with countless, precious memories, from the serious, poignant
Third grade teacher Linda Kosiba has moved on from TGS as she explores new opportunities and adventures, fifth grade teacher Charlie Boswell and Spanish teacher Liz Jackson each are taking a one year leave of absence, and Director of Admissions Michael Brown has returned to North Carolina where he will be Head of School at Mountain Sun Community School in Brevard. We also would like to thank two wonderful interns, Katherine Frey ’04 and Yazi Azel, as well as volunteer Laura Pratt, for their contributions and support of TGS last year.
New Adventures Linda Kosiba
Linda Kosiba was an integral part of The Grammar School community for 20 years. Since her first years as an Academic Support tutor at TGS, she nurtured, taught, and inspired generations of students and their families, as well as her peers. A younger sister of one of her students confided in Linda during a Tuesday ski afternoon, “I hear that you are the best teacher so far!” Linda responded with her typical humor, “Well, I guess the key words are so far…” Everyone depended on Linda to check over the details when organizing events and activities. Whether the activity was a running race, an XC ski day, buddy games at all school meeting, or an end of year celebration, Linda had an eye for what would work well and make everything run smoothly. She always was ready to jump in to help, take charge, and if necessary, pick up the pieces. As Linda said in her letter to the community, To the surprise and even shock of many younger TGS community members, I have taught here for twenty years, eighteen of them as the third grade teacher. During these
conversations and observations that challenged and broadened my views of the world to the lighter moments that left my ribs sore from laughing so hard. My decision to resign has not come easily. I love my time here, especially the hours with my third graders. But time cannot be ignored, and as I near my 60th birthday I believe this is the year for me to look beyond this special place. I have been so lucky to have spent a third of my life in the company of wonderful children and generous, compassionate adults. There will be so much for me to miss, and yes, there will be plenty of regrets. I am not naive on that score. But, I keep hearing my dad’s cheerful voice, ‘Best to quit while you’re ahead.’ While I believe that our school’s sound (and labelchallenging) pedagogy is its foundation, it is the people that create and sustain the sense of place that makes it so special and hard to leave. Linda was understated and worked behind the scenes to help her students and the entire TGS community. We will miss her and wish her well in her new adventures.
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Charlie is taking this year both to spend time with his family and advance his emergency medical experience. He is enrolled in a paramedic program and will work for Rescue, Inc. in Brattleboro and as a member of the National Ski Patrol at Stratton Mountain. We look forward to welcoming Charlie back to TGS in the fall of 2016.
Liz Jackson
Liz is taking this year off from TGS to travel the world with her family, where they have grand plans to explore new cultures, often by bicycle. Her sons, Nathaniel and Asher, will stay connected to TGS (fifth and third grades) through a travel blog, sharing their discoveries and experiences with us. We are excited for the Jackson family and look forward to welcoming them all back to TGS next year.
Michael Brown
Michael has accepted the position of Head of School at Mountain Sun Community School, in Brevard, NC. Michael had previously served on the Board of Trustees at MSCS and he is excited to serve as their second Head of School. TGS will miss Michael, his wife Susan, and their children Noah and Wren. Michael did a wonderful job in his year in the admissions office at TGS, and we appreciate and thank him for all he has given our school.
Joining TGS Tricia Hurley
Tricia Hurley is the new third grade teacher at TGS. Tricia received her Master’s of Education from Antioch University in Keene, NH. Last year she has interned in the second-third and fourth-fifth grade classrooms at the James Faulkner Elementary School in Stoddard, NH, where she has focused on science and place based education. She also has taught yoga and is trained as a Reikki master teacher. Skilled, energetic, and caring, Tricia fits right in at TGS and we appreciate all she brings to our school community.
Michael Tholen
Mike Tholen is the interim fifth grade teacher while Charlie takes a leave of absence. Mike has worked at the North Country School in Lake Placid, NY for eleven years, where he was the fourth-fifth multi-age classroom teacher for five years. For the past six years he worked as an administrator and managed the school’s farm program.
the grammar school Paqui Arroyo
Paqui is the interim Spanish teacher at TGS. She was born in Barcelona, Spain, where she grew up speaking Spanish and Catalan. After graduating from Goymar School of Fashion Design in Spain, she moved to Northampton, Massachusetts where she helped found The Haymarket bookstore/cafe. Since moving to Vermont she has worked as an independent translator and taught Spanish in several schools, camps, and seminars in the area. Her passion for teaching Spanish blossomed while raising her two sons in a bilingual environment. Paqui’s goal is to create stimulating and fun language classes, using as little English as possible and creating situations where the students need to use their Spanish.
Justin Altman ’95
Justin returns to TGS as the Director of Admissions for the 2015–16 school year. In 2012–2013 Justin worked in a variety of positions at TGS, including as a “Super Sub” and technology teacher. He went from TGS to Putney School, where he worked in the technology department for two years. At Putney, he designed and taught a digital photography and filmmaking program, and he also guided teachers with multimedia interviewing and filmmaking projects in their classrooms and supported the overall technology needs of the faculty and staff. Justin produced video content for school marketing efforts and community building, as well. Justin feels his experience at Putney prepared him well for the challenges of admissions at TGS. He enjoys getting to know the current TGS families and students, as well as connecting and reconnecting with alumni. As he works to attract the next generation of TGS students and families, he is eager to represent the school at community events and share his enthusiasm for TGS with others.
Kimberly Corwin Gray
Kimberly joined the TGS team as Director of Development in July. She has moved to the area with her husband Mike and her son River, who attends first grade at TGS. She also has a daughter, Anabel, who is a junior at Gould Academy. Kimberly has spent the last 12 years at The North Country School in Lake Placid, NY. At North Country, Kimberly was a key member of their advancement team as the school took on a 25 million dollar capital campaign and increased the annual fund from $400 thousand to $1.2 million per year. An alumna of North Country, Kimberly is excited to bring her skills to a new venue and add value to TGS as we take on new and essential fundraising goals.
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Interns and Volunteers TGS was very fortunate to have two wonderful student interns last year from Antioch. Katherine Frey ‘04 and Yazi Azel worked in the third and first grades all year and became enmeshed in the positive experiences of our students. In addition, volunteer Laura Pratt shared her skills and enthusiasm in the first grade classroom.
confident that the first graders would have the ability to do it. I thought that taking them outside would take advantage of their energy, and I wasn’t wrong. I learned an important lesson that day: For any lesson, and especially one that takes places outdoors, it is crucial to set up clear, logical guidelines for the students to follow.
Katherine Frey ‘04
I hope that TGS encourages more interns to come to the school, because it provides such a rich community for them to share in and learn.
My internship at The Grammar School was nothing short of spectacular. I was lucky enough to learn from Linda Kosiba, who was not only my own third grade teacher, but is a true master of the art of teaching. I felt so blessed to have the opportunity to return to TGS and experience the wonderful sense of community, not just in Linda’s classroom, but one that extends through the entire school. The third graders in Linda’s class were eager to learn and share with each other. I couldn’t have asked for a more fun, engaged, and caring group of children to learn from. It was hard to leave Linda’s classroom, and I hope to return to TGS again soon.
Laura Pratt
Katherine was enthusiastic about her internship with Linda Kosiba in the third grade last year.
Yazi Azel
Yazi worked with Tracy Rodriguez in the first grade classroom, and shared her positive impressions of TGS. The Grammar School felt welcoming before I even entered the building. As I walked by the bushes strewn with beautiful little wish strips written with students’ hopes and dreams, I could tell it was a place where people felt at home. The hustle and bustle of the first grade classroom was filled with the best kinds of learning, including literature, arts, and problem-solving. I was excited when Tracy took me on as an intern, and I was grateful to see wonderful, developmentally appropriate, integrative teaching in her classroom. All the first grade students impressed me with their relationships based on teamwork, play, and support. During my solo week, I had a chance to lead the first grade on my own, without Tracy in the classroom. We had been using the study of secret formulas to become familiar with the scientific method, and on this day we were making a formula for ice cream. A lot of physical effort is required to shake the cream while it is surrounded by ice, and I was
Tracy also was ably assisted last year by Laura Pratt, who previously had worked with Tracy at Bement School. Laura spent two days a week in the first grade classroom, as well as substituting in French class. Tracy says, “She was an amazing addition to TGS and the first grade. She does this volunteering simply because she LOVES kids and missed being around them after leaving teaching. She is amazing, and a true gem!”
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Grandparents Day
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Grandparents Day Grandparents Day is an established institution at TGS. Grandparents and grandfriends spend the morning with the children, sharing in classroom activities and watching performances by all the students in the school.
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Proud composers By Matt Nanci, Sentinel Staff
Reprinted with permission from the Keene Sentinel Sunday, April 12, 2015
This article was written about last year’s Opus project at TGS.
It’s not many 5th-graders who can go to a classical music concert and hear a piece they’ve composed. But that will be the case later this month for two students at The Grammar School in Putney, Vt., who’ve had their compositions selected to be performed at Opus 30, a concert held by Music-COMP. Music-COMP is a nonprofit organization based in Essex Junction, Vermont that supports music composition for students. Darius Parker and Zoe Robb, both of Putney, Vermont, Darius Parker and Zoe Robb, in last year’s 5th-grade at The Grammar are two of 25 Vermont students from grades 3-12 whose School in Putney, Vt., are seen with the music scores they composed. The compositions were chosen for Opus 30. Darius’ piece, titled students’ compositions were performed by professional musicians at a “The Green Mountain Storm,” and Zoe’s piece, titled “The concert in April. Photo Michael Moore / Sentinel Staff Mystery of Winter,” will be performed by a woodwind quartet and string quintet of professional musicians on April but doesn’t usually remember the melodies he creates. Both 29 at the Chandler Music Center in Randolph, Vermont. said they are excited to see their compositions performed. Their pieces were created as part of a yearlong music In addition to the concert, Zoe and Darius will attend music composition class for 5th-graders taught by Alli Lubin. workshops during the day at the Chandler Music Center. Zoe and Darius are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to musical experience. Zoe is a beginning composer and has never studied music privately, Lubin said. Her piece was made using skills she learned from the composition class this year and her background from playing recorder, singing and acting. Darius is “incredibly gifted,” Lubin said. “His skills are way advanced for 5th grade and his composition is very advanced.” He also plays the trumpet and has taken private lessons, according to Lubin. “I love that we have both worlds,” she said.
The musicians playing the students’ works will also have a rehearsal for each piece led by the composer. The students will be able to provide critiques for how they want their music to sound. Lubin said the concert experience can be powerful for these students. “Kids see themselves as composers for the rest of their life,” she said. “It’s amazing the effect that these things have.”
Zoe said the first thing she did when she found out her piece was picked was to jump around and hug her dad in “disbelief.” “I didn’t really consider myself that good a composer,” she said. Darius’ reaction was more modest. He said he is simply glad to be selected. Zoe said “The Mystery of Winter” captures the feeling of winter when it’s dark and stormy. She said she also drew inspiration from the music in “The Lord of the Rings” movies, which she recently saw. Darius’ piece,” The Green Mountain Storm,” is based on a melody he thought of in his head and built around. He said he sings in his head a lot,
Tulips by Lewin Kasser
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Ecuador Trip 2015 Spanish teacher Liz Jackson led the eighth grade on its third service learning trip to Ecuador last spring, and eighth grader Maria Luther-Houghton shared her impressions of the experience. Reflections on the Eighth Grade Trip to Ecuador by Maria Luther-Houghton Dear Me of Two Weeks Ago, You are thinking so many things right now, and not knowing what to think, at the same time. You are excited for the plane ride and apprehensive about being away from home. You are piling things up to pack and talking to everyone about your soon to be adventure. You are fresh out of the nest, standing shakily on two legs, but standing nevertheless. Your wings are shiny and wet with newness and you wait impatiently for them to dry. Snow comes, other flights get delayed, and you become worried. I wish I could be you again, and tell you not to worry. I wish I could whisper all the good things in your ear and tell you that the bad things aren’t so bad. I want to tell you about the day you won’t forget for a lifetime when
your class brought in the hay and sang the whole way back while the sun shone. I want to tell you that the spiders in the cave aren’t that big and that you will love the time spent in the clearing. I want to tell you about all the details you might miss if you don’t look close enough. You will be awkward with your host family, and it will be okay because they will accept you anyway. You will want to paint all the images as vividly as they appear, but tucking them away in your heart will have to do. You will make connections unbroken by distance and meet faces you will never stop thinking about. You will want to return as soon as you arrive safely back at home. Most importantly, you will be changed in all the ways that count. I can see you now, lying in bed, wondering what it will be like, wondering about the sights and smells and sounds and people. I see you now, anticipating, anticipating, and I am excited for you. Love, The You of Two Weeks in the Future
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Preschoolers Study Food Origins And Make Bread
Francesca Childs ’09 Visits TGS with Spokes America Leaders
Experiential, hands-on learning forms the basis of preschool education at The Grammar School. Last winter and spring students explored the origins of the food they ate every day. When they made maple syrup, learned about growing grains, and made their own bread, children learned how food is produced.
Francesca Childs ‘09 visited TGS in May to teach a lesson on STEM initiatives to the seventh and eighth graders. Francesca is one of seven Harvard and MIT students who are members of Spokes America, a three year old organization that hosts workshops to encourage students to pursue their interests in science.
For many years children in Ken Brautigam and Jessica Sardinas’s preschool class have tapped the same sugar maple tree on the school’s property, boiled down the sap in the classroom, and eaten the syrup on pancakes or waffles that they made themselves. They also have read and performed a version of The Little Red Hen, where they enacted all the steps involved in making bread, from planting the wheat to eating the finished loaves. On stage, in front of the entire school, preschoolers poured and blended the bread ingredients, put the dough into a pan, and placed it in a cardboard oven. Magically, a minute later they pulled out a beautiful, baked loaf.
The Spokes America group bicycled from Washington, DC to San Francisco last summer, leading twelve Learning Festivals workshops across the United States. Childs said, “We aimed to encourage students from all backgrounds and from all parts of the country not only to pursue their interests in science, but also to explore the wonders of engineering and programming that are often neglected in a school’s curriculum.” TGS Head of School Dan Marchetti said, “We were honored to host this group for their first Learning Festival at TGS and we were excited to keep in touch with them on their journey last summer.”
Brautigam noted that a common theme for the preschoolers last winter had been to discuss how food gets to the grocery store in general. They decided to focus on bread specifically, and then they tried to figure out what would be involved in making it themselves. The high point of the activity was that they actually had the chance to go through the whole process from start to finish, and enjoyed the reward of eating their own homemade bread.
By bicycling across the country, Francesca and her colleagues wanted to show that students involved in STEM fields can be well rounded in other areas, as well. She added, “New this year, Spokes will begin a micro grant program to encourage the continuance of this scientific, project-based learning even after our departure, through funding and mentorship throughout the year from MIT and Harvard students.”
For more information go to the website: Students started with a general gluten free bread recipe. spokesamerica.com. When asked, “What is a recipe?” students responded, “It is something you use to cook!” Brautigam said, “Children suggested what ingredients were needed to make bread, and then brought in those items to school. They had no specific instructions so they worked together to figure out the best way to put the ingredients together to make the dough.” Students mentioned that they were excited by their own involvement in the process. They recounted how they mixed flour, milk, eggs, honey, cider vinegar, and yeast together. “Then we made dough and the yeast can grow!” Preschoolers are eager for the opportunities they have to study food sources and to make their own from scratch, as well. Brautigam added, “Now, when preschoolers bring home food from the grocery store, they really understand where it comes from!”
Tulips by Henry Sterner
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roots&Wingssummer2015 Fifth Grade South African Endangered Species
Fifth graders used images of endangered species to work on transposition. Each student drew a grid on his or her photograph, then used those divisions to help break down the drawing process to create a more realistic likeness, using oil pastels on black paper. Students also worked on using the qualities of their materials (oil pastels can create nice distinct lines) to show the texture of each creature’s fur, feathers, or skin.
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Second Grade Printmaking
These works explore a type of intaglio printmaking called etching. These images were etched with pencil into foam “plates” and spread thinly with black ink, which was then wiped away to remain primarily in the etched grooves. Colored inks were then hand painted on the surface, and students learned to register their plates with paper and use the printmaking press to make a first print and a second “ghost” print. These smaller works are different depictions of the Protea flower, the national flower of South Africa, an ancient species that blooms in countless varieties, representing the many peoples, cultures, and languages of one nation.
Sixth Grade Drawing Intensive Shoes These pieces came out of our drawing intensive, in which students practiced seeing light and translating it into line. This project was a culmination of our drawing unit. Students used both additive (pencil in a range of 2B-6B) and reductive (kneadable eraser) methods to show light and shadow. The criteria for this drawing are that the shoe must be magnified to twice its size using relative measuring, and it must show a breadth of relative values. The finished results show great texture and detail.
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Fourth Grade Rube Goldberg Simple Machine Brain Drawings
Fourth graders reviewed different types of simple machines and looked at the comics of Rube Goldberg to give them inspiration. They sketched plans for a simple machine that could spark a thought or action (with encouragement to be as outlandish as possible) and drew the final combination in a traced profile, adding colored paper to add pop to their compositions. Â
Eighth Grade Intaglio Printmaking
Eighth graders learned to use our borrowed etching press and they applied their acquired understanding of color theory to create an image on two foam plates, color separated, which blended after going through the press. The variety of imagery, color combinations, and skilled printmaking in this group is truly impressive.
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Trail Running and Mountain Biking Trail running and mountain biking at TGS were led by popular coaches Zach ’84 and Amy Caldwell for the third consecutive year. Zach’s trail runners approached every practice with enthusiasm mixed with excited trepidation, as Zach prepared them for getting wet, dirty, and potentially lost in the woods. The speed with which they followed him onto the trails reflected their appreciation for the activity. Amy’s bikers were eager to improve their skills on varied trails and terrain. Whether playing on the Putney Central School pump track, exploring TGS trails and mud bogs behind the school, or cruising down through the woods from Putney Mountain, the cyclists were ready to tackle every challenge. Special thanks and appreciation go to parents Jen Robb, who was at every running practice, and Zach Weinberg, who rode with the mountain bikers every week.
First day of mountain biking!
Runners enjoy the orchard in bloom.
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Mark Green
Mark Green, longtime TGS Development Director and father of Libby ’13 and Hannah ‘11, died on February 27, 2015. Mark is remembered for his love of The Grammar School, his family, friends, and colleagues. He brought tireless energy to his work, and he appreciated every opportunity that brought people together in a professional context and in social gatherings. As Development Director, he could blend these seamlessly. He is missed. A memorial celebration was held on April 19, 2015 at The Putney School.
A version of this obituary appeared in the Brattleboro (VT) Reformer on March 5, 2015. Mark Richard Green, born August 18, 1967, passed away in Walpole, New Hampshire on February 27, 2015, peacefully, smiling and with his joy and passion for life intact. Mark’s enthusiasm for life was equaled by the vigor and intensity with which he confronted his illness. He described his fateful journey through a blog: moosevt.wordpress.com Contributions in his honor may be made to support his daughters’ education fund (Mark Green Insurance Trust, P.O. Box 597, Putney, VT 05346) or to Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (1717 Rhode Island Ave. Suite 700 NW Washington, DC 20036) where they will be much appreciated. A native of Philadelphia, PA, Mark was a proud “Lifer” (K through 12) graduate of Abington Friends School, in Jenkintown, PA. There he developed a strong sense of justice, equality and human rights, and a deep passion for the outdoors. He then graduated from Hamilton College
(Clinton, NY) with a B.A. in English and a Minor in Studio Art, and earned his M. Ed. at Antioch University New England in Keene, NH. His love for friends and family, in particular daughters Hannah and Libby, sister Kerry, former wife and dear friend Laura Gaudette, Aunt Carolyn, beloved friend Barb Silbey, and parents Beverly and Stephen, was limitless.
Left to right: Hannah Green, Mark Green, Libby Green
Mark loved nature, outdoor sports, music, photography, food, travel and adventure. He visited Costa Rica, India, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Egypt, France and Puerto Rico and he pursued studies in British drama and writing at the University of East Anglia, England. He spent several summers working in Durango, CO and was an administrator at Verde Valley School in Sedona, AZ. Some of his most formative times were spent at Twin Lakes in Shohola, PA fishing, sailing, swimming, skiing, skating, biking and carousing. Mark served on the Boards of Friends of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the Saxtons River (VT) Main Street Arts Center, and as a Village Trustee in his beloved Saxtons River. He was also a DJ for the local community radio station “WOOL FM,” on a show he aptly named “No Depression,” featuring “old time,” honky-tonk and “hillbilly” music, and he was proud to be part of The Bread and Puppet Theatre in Glover, VT. Mark taught and worked in financial aid and admissions until devoting his talents to fundraising at The Grammar School and The Putney School in Putney, VT, Dartmouth College and its Thayer School of Engineering in Hanover, NH, and finally, for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2) based in Washington, DC, where he literally dedicated his life to the cause of funding research and new treatments and hopefully a cure for the incurable disease which ultimately ended his adventure. Mark lived every minute of his life. It was an adventure he shared with his girls and an uncountable number of friends. He was an authentic, special, good man, kind, generous, funny, adventurous and beloved by all who knew him.
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Cross Country Skiing Reflections Thoughts on Skiing by Heather Mooney ‘07
Cross country skiing has been integral to my life, and I owe a lot of my development of love for the sport to TGS. My parents got me on skis as soon as I could walk, and it was always a fun family activity that I enjoyed. Needless to say, when I came to TGS in fifth grade, I was thrilled that we got to ski for PSD and recess and every free time in between. I was fortunate to grow up in a home where I could ski from the door, and then to attend school where skiing is a part of daily life. At a time when most other kids were pulled toward “trendier” sports such as soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, skiing was the mainstay at TGS, both as part of the school day, as well as afterwards, with Cam McDermott and Heather Mooney at TGS BKL practice hosted right at school twice a week. It really could not have been a better setup! a “professional” for the Craftsbury Green Racing Project. I’ve been very lucky to continue through life in places that The school’s investment in skiing as a healthy lifestyle was have similar cultures of skiing, including Stratton with its apparent in its investment of equipment for students who commitment toward performance and racing opportunities, did not have their own to borrow for the year, the ski shed at Middlebury as an integral part of our life as studentas a secure spot for us to all keep skis at school, and best of athletes, and further at Craftsbury, whose mission is to all, the racks on the school bus so we could easily travel with promote lifelong sports such as skiing in a sustainable way. skis to and from school! I haven’t seen any other school with I never cease to be inspired by those around me who love a setup like that! skiing so whole heartedly, from Mary Heller taking us on trips to the cabin at Grafton, her backpack full of cookies, or Even though many of our classmates were not as psyched adventures up at Dusty Ridge, to Mike Hussey and the crew about skiing as some of us (like Cam and me), the at Rikert who devote their time to making beautiful skiing opportunity was always there to get outside on skis. I’m for us. pretty sure I spent every recess and lunch break playing around, building jumps, or bombing through the woods on skis. To add to that, we got out of school early on Tuesdays all winter to go skiing! It was a part of life both at school, and at home, in the best possible way. As I got older and got more excited about racing, the framework was there with the Putney Ski Club. Southern Vermont, too, historically has had a strong ski culture, so that only reassured my excitement for the sport, as we got to represent Southern Vermont at the Bill Koch League Festival, and later Vermont at Eastern High School Championships, New England at Junior Nationals, Middlebury at NCAAs, and the USA at World Junior Championships. This pride for my roots in skiing (southern Vermont) was most certainly sparked by the culture that I was so lucky to be a part of at TGS.
Although now my focus is on racing, my beginnings in skiing as a lifestyle will continue throughout my life; I like nothing better than heading out for a long ski in the winter, and I feel so lucky to have had the upbringing that has made it so easy from a young age. As I developed as an athlete through high school and college, along with skiing came valuable life skills that apply to everything I do. Whether it is goal setting or toughing out a hard day, I often find myself looking to my skiing experiences as a framework for how I look at everything else, be that a long term project or polishing up for a presentation. I feel really lucky to have this as such a strong pattern with which I may measure my other experiences, and this will definitely continue to shape my life.
Beyond TGS, my love for skiing brought me to Stratton Mountain School, and eventually Middlebury College. After graduating this May, I’m really excited to continue skiing as
One of the best parts about Nordic skiing is how close the ski world is, and the friendships that result. There is something about this deep passion for the sport that ties
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Cross Country Skiing Reflections us all together. The racing circuit is small as well, so all of the big races are like reunions, whether Super Tours, the Nationals, or NCAAs. Furthermore, I’ve been lucky enough to race on the Eastern college circuit (EISA), which provides super competitive racing, but in a very friendly atmosphere. Everyone is psyched to race each weekend, and we’re all really good friends.
through my life! With so many other activities and interests pulling young kids in different directions today, I hope TGS maintains its commitment to lifelong activities such as skiing, so that kids may have the same opportunities as I did to pursue something they really love as part of their education and daily life from a young age, and to reap the benefits of friendships and life skills that have ensued.
It’s been really cool with Cam that we started duking it out as 6 year olds, and now 15 years later we finished within a second of each other at NCAAs. Throughout that time we’ve gone back and forth with our results, but it has always been great to have such a good childhood friend traveling through it all! We both attended Stratton Mountain School, and then went different ways as I attended Middlebury and she went to Montana State University, but our paths keep crossing, whether it be at US National Championships, NCAAs, or Eastern Cups in between. Although our trips to Europe have never overlapped because each of us has qualified to represent the US in different years, I hope during the next few years we’ll finally make it across the pond at the same time. Skiing also has taught me that close competitors can make the best friends, and that’s something really special we get out of the sport!
Thoughts about Skiing by Cambria McDermott ‘07
To reflect on skiing is to reflect on almost every meaningful experience and relationship in my life. That sounds dramatic, but it is true - Nordic skiing has fostered many of my best friendships and most treasured memories; it’s dictated where I live and what I enjoy. Skiing has bred a lifelong love of the outdoors and of physical exertion. The feel of skis gliding across snow will always be a source of familiarity and joy in my life. During my first years at the Grammar School, my main incentives for going to ski practice were the Oreos given to us by Mary and the fear of what my parents would do to me if I didn’t go. These motivations saw me through an apathetic start to my ski career and somewhere along the way that blossomed into a full-blown love affair with the sport.
Heather, Cam, and teammate Corey Stock at Junior Nationals
The Grammar School cultivates a deep love for Nordic skiing. Winter afternoons spent on skis, practices stretching into dusk with games of Kings Court, and races on the lower soccer field all combine to make skiing a culture instead of a hobby. Happy, healthy role models like the Caldwells, Poppet and Charlie Boswell, and Mary Heller and Chris Osgood share a contagious passion for Nordic skiing that has infused the entire TGS community. This energy surrounding the sport is incredibly pervasive, and it has impacted my life more than I can really explain. The ethics of hard work, kindness, and perseverance taught at ski practice carried into racing as well as every other aspect of life. Knowing that skiing in the dark is fun will add richness to my life well beyond my racing years.
I am incredibly excited now to pursue skiing professionally, and looking back it is really easy to see how much of that passion I owe to growing up in an environment with such a strong ski culture. Growing up in southern Vermont and attending TGS made it really easy to love skiing, and I am so happy to have that as something that has carried
I am so grateful to The Grammar School for giving me roots in Nordic skiing. Skiing has brought me to wonderful people and places, but more than anything it has instilled a sincere love of being outside. I’ll always find peace in the feeling of sweat on my forehead and wind on my face, in the solitude of the woods and snow.
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the grammar school
TGS 55th Graduation The Grammar School held its 55th graduation on June 11. The eighth graders chose faculty members to speak for them and also presented their own pieces to the audience of families, teachers, and other members of the community. Individual student performances included instrumental music, songs, and reflective writing, and the entire class sang together to celebrate their years at TGS. Gracie Childs, Rachel Racco, Miranda Fuller, Ivy Dall, Anja Stolper
Aicher Hearon
Alex Opsahl, Abby Brennan
Cora Maple Lindell
Rachel Racco
Gwyneth Thomson, Gracie Childs
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The students were welcomed by Head of School Dan Marchetti, who noted their many accomplishments and contributions to TGS. Chair of the Board of Trustees Peter Eden spoke to the new graduates about the importance of continuing to stand up for their values and advocating for themselves and others as they go on to new schools. Head of School Dan Marchetti presents Ned and Anita Childs with a diploma as they graduate from more than 20 years as TGS parents Abby Brennan of Saxtons River, Miranda Fuller of Putney, Maureen Hughes of Westminster, and Anja Stolper of Walpole, NH attend Vermont Academy; Ivy Dall of Putney and Dylan Ray of Brookline attend Putney School; Graciana Childs of Dummerston goes to Miss Porter’s School; Aicher Hearon of Saxtons River goes to Mercersburg Academy; Wulff Lauterbach of Guilford and Gwyneth Thomson of Walpole, NH go to Dublin School; Rachel Racco of Putney attends Brattleboro Union High School; Alex Opsahl and Abby Spear, both of Chesterfield, NH, attend Keene High School; Maria Luther-Houghton of Alstead, NH goes to Fall Mountain High School; and Cora Maple Lindell from Westminster attends Camden Hills High School in Maine.
Abby Spear
Dylan Ray
Wulff Lauterbach
Maureen Hughes
Maria Luther-Houghton
Fall Calendar 2015 Foreign Language Night—November 12 Studio Concert—November 23 5th–8th Winter Concert—December 8 K–4th Winter Concert—December 15