Sundial Summer 2012 by The Ethel Walker School

THE

SUN DIAL Summer 2012

The Magazine of The Ethel Walker School

Ethel Walker faculty enjoy their iPads during closing faculty meetings

Walker’s & Innovation Five Years with the Speers • Campus News • 100th Commencement

S AV E T H E DAT E S Dates may be subject to change. Check the website for final information. September 6, 2012 First Day of Classes

Head’s Day — It’s a Surprise!

October 8, 2012 Admissions Open House

April 14, 2013 Admissions Open House

Mountain Day — It’s a Surprise!

Dogswood Day It’s a Surprise!

October 21, 2012 Admissions Open House

May 17-19, 2013 Reunion Weekend for Classes ending in 3 and 8

October 26-27, 2012 Family Weekend November 12, 2012 Admissions Open House

June 7, 2013 Middle School Promotion Ceremony

December 14, 2012 Holiday Ride

June 8, 2013 Baccalaureate and Prize Night

January 13, 2013 Admissions Open House

June 9, 2013 Commencement

February 16, 2013 Junior Family Weekend

Stay updated on Walker’s events at www.ethelwalker.org

Summer 2012

PUBLISHED BY The Ethel Walker School 230 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070 860.658.4467 | www.ethelwalker.org HEAD OF SCHOOL

Bessie Speers

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR

Mara Braverman DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Nan Flanagan ’93 CONTRIBUTORS

Jane Rae Bradford, Pamela Churchill, Margy Foulk, Samantha Gadsden, Kitty Friedman, John Monagan, Diane Thomas TAKE NOTE, OUT & ABOUT

Eleanor Barnes PROOFREADING

John Groff PHOTOGRAPHY

Richard Bergen Photography, Carol ClarkFlanagan P'93, P'97, Liss Couch-Edwards '07, Nan Flanagan '93, John Johnson, Jill Harrington, Genie Lomba, Tyler Varsell

2012-2013 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Donya Nagib Sabet ’90

Sue Cesare

Letitia McClure Potter ’55, P’85

ADDRESS CLASS NOTES TO:

PRESIDENT NEW YORK, NY

TRUSTEE EMERITA SOUTH NORWALK, CT

TRUSTEE EMERITA GREENWICH, CT

Margot Campbell Bogert ’60

Sarah Gates Colley ’75

Lisa Pagliaro Selz ’69

VICE PRESIDENT BEDFORD HILLS, NY

CROSS RIVER, NY

NEW YORK, NY

The Development Office The Ethel Walker School 230 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070 Or submit via email to: alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Harriet Blees Dewey ’60, P’86

Renee Alexander P’13

RIDGEFIELD, CT

EX-OFFICIO, PRESIDENT, PARENTS ASSOCIATION, COLUMBIA, CT

Elizabeth Sivage Clark ’67, P’04 TREASURER CHICAGO, IL

Christopher L. Brigham, JD SECRETARY HAMDEN, CT

Clive DuVal III P’09 SHARON, CT

Kate Crichton Gubelmann ’67 PALM BEACH, FL

Elizabeth Cromwell Speers P’16 HEAD OF SCHOOL SIMSBURY, CT

Lynn Sheppard Manger ’59 NEW YORK, NY

Lynn Allegaert ’64

Celeste Royall Niarchos ’64

EDGARTOWN, MA

EX-OFFICIO, PRESIDENT, ALUMNAE BOARD LYNNFIELD, MA

Abigail Trafford ’57 BOSTON, MA

Abra Prentice Wilkin ’60

SEND ADDRESS AND EMAIL CHANGES TO:

alumnae@ethelwalker.org DESIGN

John Johnson Art Direction & Design PRINTING

Van Buren Printing

CHICAGO, IL

THE SUNDIAL MAGAZINE IS PRINTED WITH VEGETABLE

William Wrigley, Jr. P’14

BASED INKS ON FSC CERTIFIED 10% POST-CONSUMER

CHICAGO, IL

FIBER CHLORINE-FREE PAPER STOCK.

2012-2013 ALUMNAE BOARD Celeste Royall Niarchos ’64

Mary Lotuff Feeny ’83

Mary Beth Rettger ’81

PRESIDENT LYNNFIELD, MA

BRISTOL, RI

WAYLAND, MA

*Lindsay Flynn ’05

Deborah Rush ’77

WASHINGTON, D.C.

COATESVILLE, PA

Ailsa Veit Foulke ’87

*Jamiah Tappin ’00

NEW YORK, NY

EAST HARTFORD, CT

Katherine Hypolite ’04

Catherine Terry Taylor ’79

PROVIDENCE, RI

Tracy Himmel Isham ’85

Gwendolyn Wood Wisely ’96

CORNWALL, VT

RUMSON, NJ

Molly Love ’64

*New AB Member

Amanda Pitman ’90 VICE PRESIDENT NEW YORK , NY

Carter Margison ’07 SECRETARY SAVANNAH, GA

Elizabeth Borland Blodgett ’91 LAKE FOREST, IL

*Caryl Van Ranst Dearing ’60 MARTHA’S VINEYARD, MA

Leander Altifois Dolphin ’95 HARTFORD, CT

LOCUST VALLEY, NY

230 Bushy Hill Road Simsbury, Connecticut 06070 p 860 658 4467 f 860 658 6763 www.ethelwalker.org The Ethel Walker School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origins in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other Schooladministered programs.

In This Issue

Note from Donya Nagib Sabet ’90, Chairman of the Board of Trustees During the summer I like to look back at the momentous year The Ethel Walker School gave us all. We continue to celebrate our hundred years, revel in our many accomplishments, stand in awe of our history and our founder, and bask in the warm glow of future promises. As we look to the future, the possibilities seem endless and even more so now with technology and innovation carrying us at lightning speed towards our wildest imaginations. Walker’s began with a groundbreaking mission, and we endeavor every day to stay true to that mission. While the Board of Trustees works tirelessly to safeguard the future of The Ethel Walker School, we also explore new frontiers in education to keep Walker’s competitive, strong, and thriving. How do we do that? We continuously gain inspiration from the students and teachers who are the School. Our teachers at Walker’s constantly explore innovations in education and bring those ideas to fruition right here. We recently received a grant to pilot a pioneering iPad program. The Technology Department is working in unison with other departments and teachers to expand it school wide. iPads are indeed at the forefront of education; they allow our students access to layers of interconnected information previously unimaginable, ignore geographic boundaries, establish classrooms with no walls, and meld cultures, classes, students, and teachers in a way no one could have dreamed of five years ago. We are proud to have been chosen as a grant recipient and energized to learn from the leaders in an exciting new realm in education. It is a thrilling opportunity for our students and our community. Walker’s is blessed to have dedicated, passionate, brilliant, and committed teachers and administrators who constantly strive to expand their knowledge, excel in teaching, and develop tomorrow’s innovations in education. Imagine how fortunate our students are. Consider our responsibility to guard and protect this precious mission of educating young women so they can thrive and give back to our ever-changing world. We are carrying Miss Ethel Walker’s torch high and with great pride. That torch is our north and will lead us into the future.

Message from the Head of School

Centennial Campaign

Walker’s Financial Health

Phase One: Centennial Athletic Fields and Pavilion

Faculty & Innovation

Using Technology to Support Learning

A Different Approach to History 13 Confidence, Courage & Conviction

Engaging in the World

Connecting Environmental Science to All of Life

The Flipped Classroom

On Campus & Beyond

The Chapel Program

Social Entrepreneurship

Student Body President Speeches

Dogswood Day

Athletics Update

Equestrian Update

100th Commencement

Alumnae News Walker’s Out and About

48 48

Take Note Updates and news from your Walker’s classmates and friends

Tribute to Deborah Williams Mackenzie ’55

Supporting Walker’s

M E S S A G E

F R O M

T H E

H E A D

O F

S C H O O L

In her novel Half Broke Horses, Jeannette Walls writes about

offered it again. An EdCamp is a “non-conference” gathering of educators enabling attendees to create topics of their own her grandmother who, by the age of 6, knew how to break choosing. An attendee from last year’s EdCamp tweeted the horses and at age 15 rode 500 miles on her pony for a following about his experience: teaching position in a frontier town. She had never seen a “I learned more in one day at EdCamp than I ever learned in car or a plane but soon learned how to drive and fly each, college or any PD in my first two years of teaching. Amazing respectively. She was a woman who embraced innovation. experience.” While there were no iPads in the early This EdCamp is but one 1900s, it seems no coincidence that example of the ways in which Jeannette Walls dedicated her book “to Innovation is part and parcel innovation is being embraced at all teachers,” as it is teachers who Walker’s. Innovation is part and parcel embrace the future with and for their of what a Walker’s education of what a Walker’s education offers students; it is teachers who inspire this offers today. As educators we today. As educators we must same type of confidence, courage, and must continually refine the continually refine the right questions conviction in our students, as we live to pose. In what specific ways can we amidst this “frontier” of innovation. right questions to pose. best prepare girls to engage and lead in If you were to walk into Beaver In what specific ways can we a vastly changed world? To what extent Brook in August, you would find will our students’ comfort level with Walker’s faculty hosting an “EdCamp” best prepare girls to engage and enthusiasm for innovation for educators around the country. and lead in a vastly determine their ability to navigate the Walker’s hosted the first EdCamp in changed world? workplace, daily life, and a global the state of Connecticut last summer, world? At Walker’s we believe that and it was such a success we have

Walker’s Celebrates Five Years with Head of School Bessie Speers, 2007 – 2012

• EWS established focus on service learning and environmental stewardship

• Chinese language course added 2007

• Speers family joined EWS

2008

• Equine Science course added

community

• School undertook fiscal analysis • Wellness curriculum revision began

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and strategic alignment

• Students built and renovated homes during spring break with Habitat for Humanity

innovation is and will continue to be a critical component in our students’ future; ironically, innovation may truly be the only constant in our students’ lives! The ability to think critically, work collaboratively, and adapt to and welcome change with agility and focus are fundamental to our teaching pedagogy and philosophy at Walker’s. Innovation often requires different tools. Our Department Chairs and Academic Dean advocated that Walker’s become an iPad school by 2013. Through our partnership with Grace Guthrie, Bessie, Tom and Nellie Academy, an inner-city school for girls in Hartford, we received a small Students will be able to download most of their books grant towards an iPad program. This grant helped us to onto their iPads. A teacher with an iPad in hand can purchase iPads for Walker’s teachers. We still hope to secure annotate and animate maps, illustrating political, military, an endowed gift to ensure the future of this program.

• Senior “Sundaes” created, a

• Bond recast for lower rate and

time for seniors to gather at Head’s House

longer term

• S&P rating issued • Head of School’s daughter • EWS became founding partner

entered Middle School as 6th grader

of Community Farm of Simsbury 2009

• Chambers created for faculty to gather weekly after Chapel

• School moved to cloud-based computing

• AP Economics course added • 9th Grade Seminar established

SUMMER 2012

only the tool through which Walker’s hallmark of excellent social, economic, and cultural changes. Science teachers can teaching continues. Technology is here to stay and amidst the use simulations of animal dissection or 3-D animation of overload of information and choices, our students need adult processes that take place on the cellular level. Language input and guidance more than ever. However, our students teachers can use iPads as a “mobile language lab,” capturing today expect that those guiding them have the humility and important feedback as students engage in reading, writing, courage to enlist them as real partners in learning. Walker’s speaking, and listening activities. Students will be able to teachers know how to engage our students with a spirit of create a video about climate change, view a live presentation authenticity, illustrating how of a world-renowned female scientist innovative work can make a positive before discussion of a relevant topic, impact in the world, in real time. and create an interactive presentation, Walker’s teachers know how Brad Rathgeber, Director of the including polls, quizzes, and screen to engage our students with Online School for Girls, of which sharing applications. With the myriad Walker’s is a member, quoted Bryan of online opportunities available, it is a spirit of authenticity, and Emily Hassel’s words in the essential that we nurture students’ illustrating how innovative publication, Educational Reform for the capacity to be not only consumers of work can make a positive Digital Era: “as digital tools proliferate information but authors and producers and improve, so instruction in the as well, as will surely be expected of impact in the world, in basics will eventually become “flat”— them in college and career. real time. available anywhere globally. The Lest we think that technology is the elements of excellent teaching most center of what this initiative is about, it difficult for technology to replace will is not. We are clear that technology is

• Anatomy & Physiology course added

• Barn renovated

• Centennial Celebration attended by 1,100+ with keynote address by Sigourney Weaver ’67

• S&P rating upgraded from stable • First Grandparent’s Day 2010

• Balanced Budget achieved • Head’s Council created • Campus re-wired; laptops issued to faculty and staff

to positive 2011

• EWS hosted National Environmental Symposium with Frances Beinecke & Bill McKibben

• Bell Library renovated • School raised record annual fund of $1.5 million

• AP Statistics course added

• 10th grade seminar established

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increasingly differentiate student outcomes.’ The elements of excellent teaching are rooted in trust, rapport, and respect. Thanks to our amazing faculty, excellent teaching will continue to carry the day at Walker’s, as it has for these past 100 years. There are many other examples of innovation happening at Walker’s. Some teachers have been utilizing a “flipped” classroom technique in which they require anything that can be accomplished easily through homework such as video, reading, or research to be done outside of class and using valuable class time for more collaborative, innovative work. Technology upgrades have revolutionized access at Walker’s. In an effort to make our campus events accessible to all parents and alumnae, we are installing cameras on athletic fields, the gym, performance spaces, and the riding ring. Video will be available online so those who want to watch an event but cannot attend in person will be able to participate virtually. In the same way Jeannette Walls dedicates her book to teachers, it seems fitting that we continue to celebrate Walker’s Centennial chapter through innovation, as our next

100 years surely depend on the courage to embrace change while preserving our core mission. Innovation is necessary for Walker’s to stay relevant; innovation requires an investment and profound belief in the future. As evidence that the mission of The Ethel Walker School will thrive for the next 100 years, I am pleased to report that we have raised $20 million towards our $50 million goal in The Centennial Campaign’s “quiet” phase. We have achieved this milestone because of the dedication and loyalty of so many of you, and on behalf of current and future generations of Walker’s students and teachers, I thank you. You will see through the pages of this magazine that Walker’s is worthy of your investment. Your continued dedication to the minds of young women is one of the strongest investments you can make. It is time to invest in Walker’s. It is Walker’s Time!

Elizabeth C. Speers HEAD OF SCHOOL

• $20 million milestone • AP Human

reached in The Campaign for The Ethel Walker School during silent phase

Geography course added

• 1:1 iPad program established

• AP International Diploma • 100th Commencement

option created

2012

• Ground broken for Turf Field

• Students attended opening of Middlebury College’s Center for Social Entrepreneurship

• Phase II of Land Deal passed • EWS joined Online School for Girls

The Speers heading home following 100th Commencement SUMMER 2012

T H E C E N T E N N I A L C A M PA I G N F O R T H E E T H E L WA L K E R S C H O O L

A Message from the Director of Development Dear Walker’s Alumnae, Parents, and Friends: Let’s “sit in” on a recent interview conducted by my colleague Jane Bradford with Tom Schneider, Walker’s Director of Finance and Operations, to hear the latest news. I think you will find that Walker’s finances are very much on a firm foundation.

Pamela Churchill DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Walker’s Financial Health AN INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS TOM SCHNEIDER BY JANE BRADFORD, DIRECTOR OF GIFT PLANNING

Jane: Tom, could you tell me a little about your background and how you came to Walker’s?

Tom: I became the Director of Finance and Operations at Walker’s in October of 2005. After being in business for 30 years, I sold my Metro NY business in 2000 with the idea of retiring to our home on the Connecticut shore. Shortly after retirement, I got a call from a private school in Massachusetts to review their finance and business office with an eye towards best practices. After two years, the school created a fiscal plan that was instrumental in rejuvenating their educational mission. Then I got the call from Head of School Susanna Jones asking me to consider an opening in Walker’s Finance and Operations Office. Jane: Could you tell me about Walker’s operations budget and endowment?

Tom: Our annual operating budget, which is approved by the Board of Trustees, is approximately $10 million. The revenues that support our budget come from tuition (63%); development/annual fund raising and restricted gifts (16%); operational revenues from the equestrian program, summer camps, rental fees, and the campus store (12%); and investment income from the Ethel Walker Charitable Trust plus the draw on annual endowment earnings (9%). Our fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. As of April 30, 2012, our endowment stood at $16.9 million. Our board policy allows us to draw 5% of the earned income from the endowment each

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Director of Finance and Operations Tom Schneider and Director of Gift Planning Jane Bradford

year. The board reviews this percentage once a year. During the last fiscal year, our board directed us to create a separate operating reserve fund for emergencies. The current benchmark for independent schools is to show a positive 3% on your final bottom line. In other words, at the end of each fiscal year, 3% should be added to a special reserve fund, which we did last year.

T H E C E N T E N N I A L C A M PA I G N F O R T H E E T H E L WA L K E R S C H O O L

Jane: Who manages Walker’s endowment and the operating budget?

Jane: From your point of view, what are the most important financial goals of the campaign?

Tom: Our investment policy, approved by the Board of Tom: First, we need to build the proposed Centennial Trustees, provides the guidelines followed by the Center to enhance our ability to attract the best investment committee. We have an outside firm young women. This social center will offer up-to-date that manages our endowment. They meet with our athletic facilities especially designed for female investment committee three times a year by phone, students and provide state-of-the-art classroom, with a formal presentation to the board once a year. exhibit, and office space. Second, simultaneously We manage our operating budget in the business growing our annual fund and our endowment will office, in coordination with allow us to continue to respond to our Walker’s administrative team, current needs, while acquiring prudent and it is reviewed by the board. investments for the future. “This year our overall rating By the way, the board recently increased from stable to increased the minimum for Jane: Why did Walker’s decide positive. I am happy to report establishing an endowed fund at to pursue a Standard and Walker’s to $100,000. Traditionally, Poor’s (S & P) rating? that we expect to report alumnae have created these funds for Tom: Our fiscal management another balanced budget scholarships, faculty support, and positioned us to apply for an capital improvements. Gifts that S&P rating, which indicates that this year.” provide budget relief and fiscal stability we manage our finances in a have the most significant impact on responsible manner and is a our bottom line. strong endorsement to present to our constituencies. Each year the rating agency Jane: What separates Walker’s from its peers? reviews our financial performance to be sure that we still warrant the rating. This year we had our overall Tom: In my opinion, the fact that Walker’s remained a rating increased from stable to positive. I am happy to single-sex school when other schools went co-ed for report that we expect to report another balanced fiscal reasons has continued a legacy of graduating budget at the end of this fiscal year on June 30. confident, responsible, academically talented women. Our emphasis on math and science, as well as the Jane: Does the percentage of alumnae liberal arts, allows our young women to compete successfully in the marketplace. This approach, participation influence our rating? coupled with our emphasis on physical and mental Tom: Yes, one of the factors in determining our financial well-being, has prepared our graduates to pursue any success is an increasing rate of alumnae participation career of their choosing with confidence. and donations. This effort not only helps the school I continue to be impressed when I see our financially, but also indicates to rating agencies that students show a social grace and courtesy that is often our alumnae body has a personal stake in our future. lacking in society today. Their willingness to help others and reach out to our community and at the Jane: In terms of donations, what are the financial same time explore other cultures is inspiring. I think priorities? our faculty deserve credit not only for their academic Tom: Unrestricted gifts are the best since we can achievements, but for creating a warm, supportive immediately put these funds to work to improve the culture in which our girls can mature and prosper. school. Most importantly, they give us latitude to prioritize wisely. For example, as we update and Jane: Thank you, Tom, for taking the time to explain how tackle our ongoing maintenance we are looking for Walker’s is creating a strong, fiscally responsible efficiencies, such as opting for environmentally safe foundation that will see us into the next century. materials. In order to improve our facilities we need funds to cover the initial costs of “going green.”

SUMMER 2012

T H E C E N T E N N I A L C A M PA I G N F O R T H E E T H E L WA L K E R S C H O O L

Centennial Campaign – Phase I

Centennial Athletic Fields and Pavilion It has been 100 years in the making,

schools and give Walker’s greater financial stability. The campaign also and The Centennial Campaign for The “We all feel poised on the involves a consistent effort for The Ethel Walker School is now under way. Walker’s Fund for Annual Giving. The scope of the campaign is threshold of something big. Unrestricted funds given each year to significant. It involves raising funds for We’re competitive. We’re the school through the annual fund are a Centennial Center, the signature strong academically and central to our operations. Each year of structure of the campaign itself. The the campaign, we will ask alumnae and Centennial Center will be more than a athletically. We’re innovators.” friends to continue to support the state-of-the-art building. It will be a annual fund. place where academics, athletics, and A faculty member, on Walker’s But first, The Centennial the social dimension of life at Walker’s preparedness for the future. Campaign for The Ethel Walker converge—a new model for the School must address an immediate education of young women. need: The development of our athletic It involves building the financial fields. Phase One of the Centennial Campaign involves the future of Walker’s. The campaign has increased our construction of The Centennial Athletic Fields and Pavilion. endowment to make it competitive with other private

At the May 25 Groundbreaking from left: C. Brigham, Trustee; J. Footman ’15; T. Schneider, Director of Finance; R. Alexander P’13; J. Monagan, Director of Athletics; J. Lomba ’13; B. Speers, Head of School; H. Dewey, Trustee; T. Regan P’13; M. Duran, Coach; W. Macke P’13; H. Barden ’14; G. Shelton P’12

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T H E C E N T E N N I A L C A M PA I G N F O R T H E E T H E L WA L K E R S C H O O L

Why are we focusing on our fields, and why now? WHEN WALKER’S ATHLETES TAKE THE FIELD, THE FIELD ITSELF SAYS A LOT.

Quality athletic facilities send a clear message to everyone that a school is ready to compete with the best, and win. Athletic facilities are what attract athletes, impress the opposition, and persuade parents that Walker’s is a place where girls excel as scholarathletes. FIVE KEY STEPS TO A MORE COMPETITIVE WALKER’S.

• Construct two new artificial turf fields that will give our field hockey and lacrosse teams a venue that ranks with the best • Construct a track around the new field for the school—and the community

• Key facility improvement to ensure competitiveness with our peer schools • Enhanced admissions pool among day and boarding students

• Construct a new field for softball

• Direct impact on retention of current student athletes and top-caliber coaching staff

• Refurbish existing fields used for soccer and other sports • Build a new athletic pavilion to include restrooms and a covered area for shelter

THE BENEFITS OF UPGRADED ATHLETIC FACILITIES ARE SIGNIFICANT.

• Parent participation and enthusiasm for new athletic facility for their daughters John Monagan, Director of Athletics, with student athletes at groundbreaking.

• Revenue generated by facility rentals • Community support and excitement surrounding visible campus improvement

THE FUTURE OF WALKER’S IS NOT SOME TIME IN THE YEARS AHEAD. IT IS NOW.

This is an important part of Walker’s Centennial Campaign. It is also a signal that when it comes to the joy and passion of athletic competition, Walker’s stands out.

It’s time to turn home field into a real advantage.

SUMMER 2012

Faculty & Innovation Teachers who are passionate about teaching are the heart of The Ethel Walker School. Each day these educators inspire students about learning, share knowledge of their subjects, challenge girls to think critically, and model the attitudes and behaviors that mark engaged, deeply caring citizens of the world. One hundred years ago Ethel Walker created a school where young women could receive rigorous preparation for college and the foundation for lifelong learning and intellectual curiosity. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachers continue that tradition as they adapt the academic curriculum to prepare students for the changing world in which they will live and work. This issue of The SunDial explores innovative teaching, from the Middle to the Upper School, from science to leadership, from curriculum design to the use of technology.

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F A C U L T Y

I N N O V A T I O N

Using Technology to Support Learning Brain research shows us that some students learn well by reading information in sequence, while others benefit from listening to instruction, viewing a demonstration, constructing a model, or engaging with the material in other ways. Effective teaching abandons the “one size fits all” approach and individualizes the learning experience so every student has the best opportunity to be successful. That is one reason Walker’s has begun to embrace iPads as tools for teaching and learning. Unlike print textbooks, which use a fixed medium, the flexibility of digital media on portable tablets assists teachers in connecting students to resources that best suit their learning styles, pace, and potential. Last spring Academic Technology Analyst Sarah Edson joined a team of nine teachers who evaluated the use of iPads in their disciplines and grade levels. Each teacher—some already familiar with the technology, others new to it— experimented with ways to use tablets, digital content, and applications in order to improve student learning. Motivated by the wealth of teaching and learning resources discovered and by the team’s overall enthusiasm, the school set a goal of using iPads throughout the curriculum starting in September 2012. All teachers now have iPads, and parents have been asked to purchase iPads for their daughters. Because electronic textbooks are considerably less expensive than print copies, many parents will recoup the cost of the iPad in less than two years. In addition to providing myriad ways to learn, digital media and tablets enable students to demonstrate mastery of concepts and skills in different ways. Along with writing traditional essays, students can create multimedia projects and publish them to serve as resources from which others

can learn. This opportunity for students to publish their work is an invaluable one. The Web, with devices like the iPad that connect to it, helps students connect to the wider world and to authentic contexts for their learning. Students can get feedback on their academic work from experts in the field and gain the chance to interact with a global network of educators and fellow learners. In this era of rapid change and digital growth, students need to be adept at using technology, mentally flexible, selfdirected in their learning, and capable of adapting to changing environments. Learning with iPads, and all the resources to which they connect, will help students develop some of the capacities and fluencies they will need to thrive, Edson explains. Julie Greshin, who teaches math and science in the Middle School, was unfamiliar with the iPad, so she turned to her 16-year-old son for assistance and the student’s perspective. “I want to bring the outside into the classroom,” she says. She gives the example of a virtual lab in which

Top, math teacher Kim Overtree projects a calculus lesson from her iPad to the SMART Board. Left, Walker’s teachers attend an iPad training.

SUMMER 2012

F A C U L T Y

students test the effect of rising water temperatures on the breathing rates of fish. Using animations and simulations on her iPad, each student could conduct the experiment without ethical, time, weather, or computer lab constraints. “My goal is to get kids excited by science and math,” Greshin says. “This is another way to bring excitement into the classroom.” She sees an additional advantage of the iPads. Her 6th-graders, she says, are often disorganized. With access to digital storage “in the cloud,” organization tools, and digital note-taking applications, students will be less likely to misplace their work. Math and theatre teacher Kim Overtree describes herself as “a little bit of a tech guru.” When she teaches calculus, a computer helps her demonstrate how a slope changes. “It’s hard to show change on a static board,” she says. With iPads, not only will teachers be better able to demonstrate dynamic processes, students will be able to develop new workflows in which they examine problems and develop solutions collaboratively. The new technology also connects the teacher and students when they cannot be present in the classroom. One day Overtree felt ill and needed to go home. Her students were preparing for a test, so she used an iPad app to write a set of problem-solving steps in a few minutes and email the work to her students. While Overtree recuperated at home, students emailed her their questions. Without the iPad, she says, she would have had to either delay the test or take several hours to type up and distribute the steps. Walker’s chose iPads over other portable devices for several reasons. First, iPads have a long battery life that, when fully charged, can last an entire school day. Additionally, the device is designed for ease of use regardless of a person’s experience with computers. With less time needed to learn how to use the device, users can spend more time exploring ways to teach and learn with it. Furthermore, iPads lighten students’ backpacks by housing students’ books, notes, and project work. Many publishers are collaborating with Apple Inc. to develop e-book formats that work on iPads. Moreover, some e-book platforms provide the opportunity for teachers to customize content and create their own material that will extend students’ learning. Finally, iPads’ compatibility with Apple TV allows teachers to access students’ iPad screens and enables students to project and share their work with others.

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I N N O V A T I O N

Students use iPads to present work to the class.

Ultimately, the most important ingredients in learning are the relationships between the students and teachers. However, powerful tools in the hands of great educators and motivated learners can produce phenomenal results. For this reason Walker’s is enthusiastically embracing the iPad as it reaffirms its mission to help every girl reach her full potential. To read the iPad announcement to parents, please visit http://www.ethelwalker.org/newsletters/articles/ may-11-2012/walkers-becomes-ipad-school-fall.

iPad Pilot Team Members Matt Bavone, Language Department Chair and Latin Teacher Pilar del Cacho, Spanish Teacher Sarah Edson, Academic Technology Analyst Samantha Gadsden, English, History, and Theatre Teacher Julie Greshin, Math and Science Teacher Jill Harrington, Science Department Chair Brooke Haynes, History Teacher Elyssa Michael, English Teacher Kim Overtree, Math and Theatre Teacher Rich Prager, Latin and French Teacher

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A Different Approach to History A history course can seem like a blur of names and dates in a fast-paced chronologically based class, leading to irrelevant information and little understanding of today’s current events. The 6th and 7th grade history curriculum at Walker’s takes a different approach, one that puts understanding of historical themes at the center of an innovative “looping curriculum.” Previously, 6th graders studied Ancient Civilizations while 7th graders concentrated on modern-day people and cultures. With the new approach both grades studied Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Mesopotamia during the 20102011 school year. Starting in September both grades will turn their attention to modern cultures, including but not limited to the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with special attention on China. History teacher Brooke Haynes says that she takes “an anthropological and sociological approach” to the study of history with hands-on projects to deepen students’ engagement and understanding of the material. This past year, for example, both grades examined the development of Top, students created their own cuneiform tablets as part of their study of the development of written languages. Left, history teacher Brooke Haynes shows students an email correspondence to demonstrate how written language continues to evolve.

writing in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and the transition from oral traditions to written ones. As part of their study, each grade created its own language from scratch to better understand the complexities of the development process. Another prominent theme in the class is trade, and its effects on cultures. Haynes teaches that trade is a vehicle through which culture and technology as well as goods are exchanged. In a third theme students learned about the ancient religions of the three regions and began to see how they influenced modern religions. Haynes says the looping curriculum has many advantages. The two sets of students interact frequently,

giving the younger girls more guidance and insight into how an older student learns. The older girls benefit by taking on a leadership role; as they teach, they reinforce their own knowledge. Both grades eagerly look for outside material to share with all the students, including magazine articles and iPad apps, such as the one that takes viewers on an inside tour of a pyramid. “They’re finding and engaging with the material outside the classroom and bringing it in to share and educate their peers,” says Haynes. In the 6th grade she uses the material to teach students how to study history, read critically, take notes, write essays, and make presentations, while the 7th-graders are ready to learn through lecture, interpret what they’re learning, and apply their new understanding. “I’m teaching two different courses with the same material,” she says. The thematic approach, the emphasis on critical thinking and development of skills prepare students for studying history in 8th grade and Upper School. “They understand the big picture and how to apply it,” Haynes explains. “And they are learning to understand cause and effect.”

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Confidence, Courage & Conviction To ensure that every girl is empowered to lead with confidence, courage, and conviction at Walker’s and beyond, the 9th Grade Seminar teaches students to speak up, create change for social justice, thrive as digital citizens, and be resilient.

SPEAK UP

The halls of Walker’s are alive with girls talking to their friends, but presenting to a group can seem intimidating. In Public Speaking class, English and history teacher Carol Clark-Flanagan and librarian Priscilla Jackson teach girls the elements of successful presentations, from developing a persuasive speech to making eye contact with the audience. Through impromptu speeches and exercises, girls begin to move beyond their nervousness. For example, each girl is given a topic, such as sunglasses, and has to make two points about it while speaking off the cuff. Clark-Flanagan and Jackson insist that each girl pause before she begins to speak from the podium, and a speech—no matter how impromptu—that begins with “okay,” has to be started over. The final project is a planned persuasive speech on a topic of each girl’s choice. She uses the three classic modes of argument, logos, ethos, and pathos, to weave together fact, value, and policy in a persuasive argument. The girls practice their speeches by recording them using the GarageBand app and listening to themselves. After they deliver their speeches, they receive and give suggestions for improvement using the sandwich method of inserting an observed area of weakness between two specific observations that deserve praise. Clark-Flanagan says the girls grow as public speakers, in part because they recognize the importance of this opportunity. “They see the value of the course no matter Kate Richardson ’14 puts her how terrified they public speaking training from the are,” she says. 9th Grade Seminar to good use.

THE SUNDIAL

After watching the movie Miss Representation, students began a lively conversation about images of women in the media. The conversation continued as students wrote comments on advertisements showing women that were posted on a wall in Beaver Brook.

CREATE CHANGE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

To be informed and empowered to create social change, says Dr. Sheri Schmidt, the school’s director of equity and social justice, it is first necessary to understand that American society makes sharp distinctions based on class, race, and gender and values some groups far more than others. In the Inclusive Leadership course, Schmidt explains that students first learn how “we each have a complex identity,” composed of factors such as age, family, religion, and race. Then the discussion moves to stereotypes of different groups in society. Students learn how to listen more carefully to each other and to view cultural differences as assets. These discussions give students a framework for discussion of prejudice, discrimination, and oppression. In each part of the course, students look at scholarly research, watch films, and consider their personal experiences. Students first apply this framework to sexism and consider how women are portrayed in the media. In their discussion of classism, students focus on health inequalities, such as access to healthy food and stress levels, which vary by

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income level. Then the course looks at racism and students discuss how the concept of race is a social construction that has been institutionalized in our society. At the end of the eight weeks students learn “how to be an ally and create change for groups that are not your own by acting within your own spheres of influence,” Schmidt says. The first class to study leadership with Schmidt formed The Justice League to continue conversations around the issues of racism, sexism, and inequality. The group has sponsored Martin Luther King, Jr. Day programs, a program on hunger, and in spring 2012 an ambitious project centered on misrepresentations of women in the media. The club sponsored a showing of the film Miss Representation about how mainstream media contribute to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence in America. At the same time students sent a letter (reprinted on page 16) to Leslie Wexner, CEO of Limited Brands, which includes the clothing chain Victoria’s Secret. The letter was signed by approximately 329 people, including students, siblings, parents, and alumnae. Over 100 of the signatures were gathered electronically via social media sites. THRIVE AS A DIGITAL CITIZEN

Today’s students are citizens of the digital world and they need education on how to be informed and effective citizens.

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The recently renovated library provides technology to enhance classes and discussions.

Academic Technology Analyst Sarah Edson focuses her class, Technology: Managing Your Digital Footprint, on four aspects of using information and communications technologies to explore the effects of these technologies on how we live and learn. The girls start by considering what digital literacy means and how they can search for, evaluate, and effectively use information online. Next, students explore how digital communications differ from offline exchanges and examine their digital footprints, including their formation, permanence, and impact on the girls’ futures. The students then look at digital rights and responsibilities, including issues with copyright, plagiarism, privacy policies, and social networking terms of service. In the final part of the course the girls focus on how technology can promote health and wellness as it offers new challenges to well-being. Throughout the project-based course, students have opportunities to explore topics in depth that particularly interest them. One student might examine the problems of cyberbullying or texting while driving, while another explores the role of social media in politics or entrepreneurship. As students research and collaboratively

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I N N O V A T I O N develop their projects, they acquire new technological skills, including HTML coding, podcasting, digital movie editing, and hardware troubleshooting. Students also refine their communications skills by presenting their project work, exchanging feedback with their peers, and engaging in class discussions, both face-to-face and online. BE RESILIENT

March 30, 2012 Mr. Leslie H. Wexner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Limited Brands, Inc. World Headquarters Three Limited Parkway Columbus, OH 43230 Dear Mr. Wexner, As members of The Ethel Walker School community, we would like to express our concern about the image of women depicted in Victoria Secret’s advertising. We are deeply disappointed that you choose to represent women as sexualized objects with unrealistic and unattainable bodies. Your advertising sends the message that beauty and physical appearance are the most important qualities that a woman has to offer. It is distressing that 65% of American women and girls report disordered eating behaviors and that the number of cosmetic surgical procedures performed on youths 18 years or younger more than tripled from 1997 to 2007. We believe that your advertising contributes to a belief that a woman’s value lies in her beauty and sexuality—not in her intellect and leadership capacity. We write to you with the hope that you will recognize the incredible opportunity you have to promote a healthy and natural body image to your clientele. Victoria’s Secret has the potential to positively affect women’s self-esteem by properly representing body types of real women and showing them as the strong, smart, and capable human beings they are. You can be a role model for other companies and we urge you to not waste the opportunity to enhance the lives, thoughts, and aspirations of many. You have the power to help women of every body type see themselves as beautiful—to dismantle the pressure a girl feels to alter her body, and allow her to focus on what she can contribute to the world. Perhaps with your help we can change the fact that although they make up 51% of the US population, women currently only hold 17% of the seats in the US Congress and are merely 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs. We hope that you will consider our concern and find it within yourself, and within the integrity of Victoria’s Secret, to make a difference. We look forward to hearing your response to our concerns. (Sources are listed in order they are presented above) Robert Preidt, Disordered Eating is Widespread among U.S. Women (April, 2008) Seeking Self-Esteem Through Surgery, The New York Times (January, 2009) Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (March, 2012) CNN Annual Ranking of Fortune 500 (May 3, 2010)

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Students are developing “a cognitive toolbox,” says Director of Counseling Services Joan Skelley, “to use to understand themselves, each other, and the larger community and how they contribute to it.” Part of being a leader is having emotional resilience, what Mary Beth Conley, psychology teacher and learning specialist, calls “the ability to bounce back from the ups and downs of life.” At the start of the course Wellness: Building Emotional Resilience, taught by Skelley and Conley, the students take the Myers-Briggs Inventory test. The results help them understand their individual strengths and weaknesses and how these impact their learning styles. Each girl’s ability to learn is enhanced by discussions of study skills, time management, systems of memory building, the benefits of sleep, and other topics. The course also looks at positive psychology, including consideration of what is a meaningful life, optimism and pessimism, and how to enhance

Students learn how to listen more carefully to each other and to view cultural differences as assets. These discussions give students a framework for discussion of prejudice, discrimination, and oppression.

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THE JUSTICE LEAGUE After participating in the first Inclusive Leadership course as part of the 9th Grade Seminar, a group of students wanted to continue their work making a difference in the lives of women and girls. The girls, who are now seniors, founded the Justice League, which “has been providing the Walker’s girl with the agency to act on her passion— to leave her mark on the world,” says Jacinta Lomba ’13. “After learning about the overwhelming amount of social inequality that exists today, I was anxious to take action,” Jacinta continues. “Fortunately there were other girls who shared my passion for justice and activism, and the Justice League emerged as a result of passionate discussion and our mutual desire to take action. We like to think of ourselves as ‘super heroes’ with a mission to fulfill the responsibility we have to create social justice and raise awareness of important issues like racism, sexism, and homophobia.” The Justice League’s Mission, explains Coriene Smith ’13, is to educate girls about the different systems of oppression. “It is important that we are committed to learn and teach about these different issues, so we can be the change we wish to see and help create a more socially just world.” Each year the club organizes the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day program. This past year the club organized the Empty Bowls dinner to raise money to fight hunger and sponsored the Disability Rights Chapel, during which

Julie Yindra ’81 spoke about the Disability Rights Movement. (See On Campus & Beyond for more on both Julie’s visit and Empty Bowls.) When asked if the group will continue during the coming school year, Samantha Gonzalez ’13 responded, “The Justice League is in its third year. The first year was brainstorming; last year we started with MLK Day; this year we did even more, such as Miss Representation. We will definitely continue. We are so passionate about what we are trying to do that we hope students will want to continue our work after we graduate.”

one’s sense of flow. Students look at how self-esteem comes from setting their own goals and working hard to achieve them. A discussion of stress management covers coping strategies, including guided meditation. Students who have completed the course say that they use the skills they learned. When they begin the college counseling process, they go back to their Myers-Briggs results to help shape college choices and career paths. Skelley says, “The girls all remember their types.” Below and right, Wellness Section of 9th Grade Seminar

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Engaging in the World Today’s sophomores participate in a required course for half of the year that examines critical issues women and girls face around the world. Then the students choose a cause to which they will direct their energies and efforts as a group. They examine core issues like health care and education, but they also read, discuss, watch movies, and attend a conference at the United Nations on such topics as sex trafficking, child prostitution, slavery, and female genital mutilation, or FGM, as they called it. As a student at Walker’s more than 30 years ago, I wouldn’t have known most of these issues existed, let alone had acronyms to talk about them. But Walker’s wants the girls to engage in the world, and so the teachers of the class, Lee-Ann Harris and Michele Harris, asked if I would talk to the students about my work. The girls will choose a topic that they are passionate about, research charities that support it, choose one, present

THE SUNDIAL

By Mally Cox-Chapman ’69

their charity to the class, and try to convince their classmates to support the chosen charity. Now there’s a final project to cheer for. I am a philanthropy advisor. I help families and individuals of significant wealth discover their mission and vision, and match that vision with the nonprofits that are creating the most impact. I put the students through a process similar to the one I use with my clients. I warned the girls that choosing between good and good is far more difficult than choosing between good and bad. They had to choose the values and issues most important to them, first as individuals, and then as a collective, as if they were a family foundation that had to come to consensus on where and why they gave away their money. They got down to work, puzzling over the lists I gave them. “This is really hard,” said one of the students. “She already told us that,” said another. So there we were in the living room at Beaver Brook for the first class of the day marking up posters with colored markers as they logged in their choices. I got goose bumps as I read the results. In the second round of choosing as a collective, most voted for the issues of health care and women’s rights. The big winners as to the values that should inform their work were compassion and effectiveness. Such a great combination! The group of 30 divided up to write a mission statement based on the chosen words. Half the girls worked together to create a collective mission statement and half worked on

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their personal mission for giving. I offered to help them think about how to create more focus. Multiple hands went into the air! More than half the room was boldly asking for feedback in front of their peers! These were teenage women at 8:15 in the morning! What a great subject the school requires. What a powerful way to teach critical thinking and engagement in the world. What a privilege for this alumna to be there. The students adopted this mission statement to guide their work in the 10th Grade Seminar: “Women deserve their natural rights to healthcare. We must all take a stand for change through compassion and effectiveness.” Mally Cox-Chapman ’69 is the principal of Benefactory, a consulting firm dedicated to increasing the impact and joy of giving for donors and their chosen non-profits.

STEP UP & CHANGE THE WORLD Students in the 10th Grade Seminar speak articulately about the importance of the course and how it has changed their lives. “With everything that has been given to me, the opportunity of a wonderful education and the help of parents and wonderful adults to support my actions, I learned that I can really make a difference in the world,” says Abbie Melvin ’14. Stephanie Sponzo ’14 explains, “This course taught me that if you take the slightest amount of interest in something, you can learn so much. This class is only half a year, and we only covered specific topics, yet somehow we still absorbed so much information. The class made me realize that I can learn about something on my own and then take action on my own, outside of school.” For Darcy Hughes ’14 the course gave her an opportunity to think bigger than she had before: “The most exciting thing was the last project where you could research a charity or make up your own. I designed a hospital on wheels that would go to impoverished rural villages and provide medical supplies and checkups. It was fun and challenging.” “It was absolutely fascinating, as well as sad, to learn about the abuse women face in their everyday lives,” says Abbie. “The course has put a passion in me to help further causes that will eventually lead to a better world for women everywhere to live in. As I progress in my life I will definitely keep reaching out and searching for the right opportunities for me to step up and change the world.”

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Connecting Environmental Science to All of Life Making connections between human life and the

collaboration in finding workable solutions for complex problems. “We are hopeful for our future knowing these environment is at the heart of the innovative Environmental leaders will be at the helm,” remarks Clark-Flanagan. Science course. Science Department Chair Jill Harrington Harrington and Clark-Flanagan encourage students to and English and history teacher Carol Clark-Flanagan bring think deeply about these issues and to look at and listen to together the insights of science, ethics, history, literature, and nature in new ways. The semester begins, for example, with a art to deepen students’ understanding of how the human and reading of the verses of Genesis and a consideration of what natural worlds impact each other. Students also develop their they say about the human relationship to the environment. critical thinking, communications, and leadership skills as The discussion expands as the class reads essays on how the they fulfill the requirements of the course. Judeo-Christian tradition has affected this relationship. The first semester of the year-long course covers the basic Every other week each student is principles of ecology, ecosystems, required to find an article from a population dynamics, the reliable source related to the interdependence of all life forms, and Every other week each student environment and write a brief abstract the impact of economics and politics and her opinion on the issue raised. on the environment. With this is required to find an article Two girls then run the class by first foundation in place, seniors, juniors, from a reliable source related presenting their articles and then and exceptional sophomores are ready to the environment and write a asking questions of the other students. to become more sensitive observers of “They must be able to explain and thinkers about the environment. brief abstract and her opinion someone else’s ideas and present a wellClark-Flanagan joins the course in the on the issue raised. Two girls articulated opinion of their own,” second semester, as the focus shifts to a Harrington explains. multiple-lens approach to studying then run the class by first The academic becomes experiential human-environment interaction with presenting their articles and as each girl finds a sacred space investigations of art, film, literature, then asking questions of the outdoors on campus or at home and bio-ethics, and corporate responsibility. records her responses to questions in a The students grow over the semester as other students. journal. The requirement that she visit their initial reactions and thinking her space alone, leaving her cell phone mature into an optimistic, can-do and other electronic devices behind, attitude that recognizes the necessity for

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Left, Environmental studies students presented sustainability ideas to the Walker’s Board of Trustees in April. Below, students took photographs from the point of view of an animal or insect.

may seem scary or strange at first. Clark-Flanagan says that as the semester unfolds girls talk about the peace they find in their sacred spaces. The major project of the course is the Sustainability Project, during which students are charged with creating change on campus. Earlier groups of students have addressed heating issues in the dorms, set up recycling systems on campus, developed ways for the school to use less paper, and convinced the school to switch to regular soap from antibacterial soap. These projects require the students to speak with people off campus, including engineers and administrators at other schools. Each group develops a business plan and conducts a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to evaluate its proposal. Then the group presents its plan to the EWS Board of Trustees. “These projects give students real-life experiences,” Harrington says. “They create careers.” The girls also study the response of artists to the effect of civilization on the environment. A unit on Thomas Cole, the 19th-century founder of the Hudson River School of landscape painting, focuses on his series of five paintings, called the “Course of Empire,” which are a thinly veiled depiction of his concern about the direction in which progress was moving the country. The students also become artists themselves. They take digital photographs from the point of view of an animal or insect, and they collect their trash for two weeks and use it to build sculptures with environmental themes. Because they are required to explain their sculptures to members of the community at their art opening, students have another opportunity to practice public speaking. Finally, the students create their own public service announcements with environmental messages, which are posted on YouTube and shown during the campus film festival. While making the films, the girls learn how to tell a story in video, layering interviews, images, and music. A few years ago the students created a longer video for the Farmington River Watershed Association, which can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioRNIj7dYCE. Students used trash to build sculptures with environmental themes.

ALUMNAE & THE ENVIRONMENT Jill Harrington and Carol Clark-Flanagan, co-teachers of the Environmental Science course, are asking alumnae of their course and all other alumnae if their work, volunteer efforts, studies, or philanthropy are connected to the environment. Are you employed by or a volunteer for an environmental organization? Are you involved in efforts to preserve the natural landscape? Do you support the work of conservation organizations? Are you studying or do you teach ecology? Please email jharrington@ethelwalker.org or cclarkflanagan@ethelwalker.org about your efforts. SUMMER 2012

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The Flipped Classroom In the traditional classroom the teacher gives a lecture on the material being covered that day. The students ask questions, and sometimes there is time for students to begin applying their new knowledge to problems. The students leave class with a homework assignment to practice the new concepts and skills. Language Department Chair Matt Bavone turned that tradition upside down is his flipped classroom in Latin I last year. He videotaped himself giving each lecture and posted the videos on YouTube and his website. Students watched the videos before class and took notes. They were able to stop the videos and rewind if they didn’t understand a point, and they could watch a video several times until they understood the material. In addition, they could come to class prepared with questions. Each class period starts with Bavone answering these questions. Then the class turns to activities in which students apply the material covered in the video. “That’s usually when the questions come up, when they’re working through the material with examples,” he says. “It’s usually not the explanation that students have trouble with. It’s putting the explanation to use.” Last year’s Latin I class moved faster than earlier classes, with students saying that they liked the new approach. Each girl could take notes at her own pace and rewatch videos before exams. Bavone could also direct students to rewatch particular videos before they met with him for extra help. The experiment with flipping the classroom in Latin I was so successful that Bavone plans to extend the approach to his higher-level courses. He is also planning e-books to be read on iPads for each of his courses. The e-books will replace the traditional textbooks, which he feels have weaknesses. Another benefit to using e-books is that he can embed additional material, such as his lecture videos and maps. The flipped classroom model is “still a very new concept,” he explains. “Not many teachers anywhere are using it.” Bavone is spreading the word about the advantages of switching to this model through a seminar he led for the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools and a blog with the seminar attendees.

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In his Latin I course Matt Bavone used a flipped classroom. He posted lectures online for students to watch as homework. Classroom time focused on applying the lecture material to examples and answering students’ questions.

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S A M P L I N G O F O U R S C H O O L Y E A R H I G H L I G H T S

Two of our graduates will be English

Upper School students created

Speaking Union Secondary School

to Bates and Colby

a social networking campaign to mobilize positive change in media images of women, after the

Colleges.

documentary Miss Representation

Exchange Scholars, one in Wales and the other in Argentina, before heading off

was shown on campus.

first prize in the State Poetry Contest.

Three students received

As part of the 10th Grade Seminar 12 Walker’s sophomores attended meetings sponsored by the

United Nations.

Ten girls attended the Youth Forum,

which is sponsored by the nonprofit Working Group on Girls. Two sophomores A senior and a sophomore received

and three faculty members

top scores in the American Mathematics Competition.

attended a meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women. Here many of the sophomores stand with Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian peace activist,

The School hosted a well-attended community conversation titled “Digital

Nobel Peace Prize for her work

Lives of Tweens and Teens: Educating

movement that brought an end to

who was a co-winner of the 2011

leading the women’s peace

and Protecting and Empowering Girls

civil war in her country. Ms. Gbowee

Today.”

spoke at the Youth Forum.

Walker’s has joined the

Four students were finalists in the

Connecticut History Day Project.

Online School for Girls as a consortium school and is proud to offer online courses in subjects not offered on campus.

Walker’s Global Girls Academy was The

Two students received Silver Medals, placing

new intensive English language

maxima cum laude on the

and American cultural immersion

National Latin Exam.

launched this summer, offering a

program.

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Amazing Trips For the seventh year Walker’s students spent their spring break helping to build and repair homes. Ten students and two faculty members worked in Laredo, Texas, with Habitat for Humanity. Then seven students and two faculty members, joined by 10 boys and two faculty members from Avon Old Farms School, served in Gadsden, Alabama, with ServCorps, a Hartford-based organization founded by Ruth Grobe ’69 and her husband, Rich. Language Department Chair and Coordinator of Service Travel Matt Bavone sent Bessie Spears an email that captured the excitement and pride the Walker’s team felt as they worked. “Bessie—The trips so far have been amazing, and I don’t even know where to begin.

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end of the week we had put in all the insulation, started siding the house, and put in all the supports for the dry wall and cabinets. We were able to meet and work alongside the homeowners, which was especially rewarding. The girls were also treated to a day at Laredo Community College, which houses an impressive wildlife sanctuary for native Texan animals as well as a trail along the Rio Grande overlooking the border to Mexico. ~~~~~ “This was our first day working in Alabama, and it is clear that the people here are in equal need, but for very different reasons. A storm that spawned over a hundred tornadoes in one day cut a huge swath through the area where we are staying. Here we are restoring a house badly damaged by the storm, building

another from the ground up, and finishing a third house that has already been framed. We got to work alongside the home owners once again. The girls are staying at Camp Lee, which is a beautiful retreat center on several hundred acres. On Thursday we will do some zip lining here and have a half day to enjoy the beauty of the grounds. ~~~~~ “The work has definitely been exhausting but so worthwhile, and there is certainly a need for continued work at both locations. The girls will share pictures and their reflections at Chapel the second Wednesday we return.”

Ten students spent their spring break helping to build and repair homes in Texas and Alabama.

“Laredo was such a unique city and not at all what the media make it out to be. The people were incredibly friendly and welcoming. We stayed in a Habitatbuilt house that had yet to be given away in an entire neighborhood built by Habitat. Many of the Mexican immigrants there live in shacks with no running water or electricity, and these were the people that Habitat strove to help the most. We worked on a house there that was already framed. By the

Experiencing Faith Traditions

Caitlin Joo ’12, Maria Luisa San Salvador Jauregui ’13, and Tori Petrilli ’13 outside the Laotian temple in Morris, Connecticut.

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To supplement their classroom study in the World Religions course with direct experience, students have visited a variety of faith traditions. In March, Caitlin Joo ’12, Maria Luisa San Salvador Jauregui ’13, and Tori Petrilli ’13 visited a Laotian temple, or wat, in Morris, Connecticut. They received meditation instruction from a Laotian monk and toured the temple grounds. In prior years students have visited a mosque in Berlin, a Christian Science church in West Hartford, a Quaker meeting house in West Hartford, a Baptist church in Bloomfield, a Buddhist meditation session at Trinity College, and a Sikh temple in Southington. Each visit yielded surprising and interesting experiences for the girls, resulting in real world learning and understanding. They have always been greeted with warm welcomes and occasionally shared meals with their hosts. On this particular visit, they learned that Laotians celebrate the New Year on April 15th and were invited to return on that day to participate in the community festival.

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Admissions Update As of mid-June, opening day enrollment is projected to be 250. Every summer the Admissions Office staff works to finalize re-enrollment and to review new applications for the few remaining spaces. We are excited to welcome students from 21 different states and 15 different countries, including two states and two countries not currently represented in our enrollment, Georgia and Colorado, and Somalia and Sweden. Final details about 2012-13 enrollment will be shared in our next SunDial. As always, we welcome word-of-mouth referrals from our loyal alumnae, so please pass the word about this wonderful institution. If you would like to host an area reception, please contact our Admissions Office. 2012-13 Admissions Open House Dates* Monday, October 8

Sunday, January 13

Sunday, October 21

Monday, February 18

Monday, November 12

Sunday, April 14

*Planned dates are as of publication time, but they may change so check our website for most up-to-date

The Admissions Office – 860-408-4200

admissions@ethelwalker.org

information.

Junior/Senior Projects

Hannah Meehan ’13 in Fiji

The Junior/Senior Project gives each student the opportunity to pursue an area of interest in depth outside of the traditional classroom. The projects usually include a two-week internship, although some students complete a summer-long internship. Each student is required to keep a journal during her time off campus and submit a paper describing the project and evaluating the experience. Many students report on their projects during Wednesday Chapel. While students are only required to do one project to satisfy the graduation requirement, some opt to do one in both their junior and senior years. Projects completed in the 2011 school year took students to places from Fiji to the Hartford area, where they performed community service, studied art forms, pursued passions, and investigated potential careers. Helen Clement ’13 traveled to East Africa to work with lions. Brittany Sawyer ’13 studied massage and chiropractic care for horses. Chiko Nakajima ’12 pursued songwriting using a keyboard and

electronic equipment. Bingxin Xu ’12 made lanterns to raise money for an orphanage in China that cares for children with cleft palates. Allie Leidt ’13 prepares for surgery

Tori Petrilli ’13 delved deeply into manga, which are Japanese comics

that follow a style developed in the late 19th century. Allie Leidt ’13 completed a project on pediatric cardiology that included

work in a hospital setting. Hannah Meehan ’13 traveled to Fiji to perform community service. Michelle Coster ’12 worked at a tennis camp for children with autism

held on the Walker’s campus. Monet Clarke ’12 studied leadership at an international relations camp. Alex Silver ’12 assisted with marketing for the Ridgefield Playhouse Michelle Coster ’12 teaches tennis

in Connecticut. SUMMER 2012

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The Chapel Program The second semester of the 2011-2012 school year Chapel program included these topics: Junior/Senior Projects, Music Chapel, Habitat for Humanity Chapel, Art Chapel, Poetry Chapel, Dance Chapel, Not For Sale Chapel (human trafficking), Passing Down Chapel, Big Seven Induction, and Senior Goodbye.

A dance performance was one of the highlights of the Senior Goodbye Chapel.

Students, faculty, and staff shared their favorite poetry with the School community during Poetry Chapel.

Woman of Distinction Speaker Janet Hanson from 85 Broads spoke about “Beyond Facebook: The Value of Creating a Powerful Relationship Network for Life.” Hanson, founder and CEO of the global network of over 25,000 women, encouraged students to network smartly, invest in what they love, and not be afraid to take risks.

The Arts Department challenged students to create an Ethel Walker-themed chalk mural following Art Chapel. Each class was given a series of topics related to the Centennial and asked to express those words in pictures.

Julie Yindra ’81, Director of Services for Students with Disabilities at Hofstra University, shared a personal and historic perspective on the Disability Rights Movement. She urged students to speak up and be agents for change, whenever they see a situation that denies access for all.

The Big Seven Induction Chapel was an opportunity for the Walker’s community to say “Thank you” to the outgoing senior leaders and to formally recognize the seven rising seniors in their new leadership roles.

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Social Entrepreneurship In January, history teacher Kelsey Berry and several students attended a symposium at the Middlebury Center for Social Entrepreneurship that brought together the country’s leading thinkers in this emerging field. The center, which is part of Middlebury College, supports and teaches high school students, college students, and recent college graduates as they design and lead projects that can bring about a more peaceful world through the use of entrepreneurial tools and strategies. Following their return to campus, the EWS students wrote essays (excerpted below) reflecting on the symposium. They also made a presentation to the EWS Board of Trustees about how the lessons they learned at Middlebury could be incorporated into campus activities. In her essay Carly Giddings ’13 wrote, “I feel grateful and honored to have had this opportunity and most importantly I feel ready to tackle social issues armed with passion in my right hand and a ‘toolbox’ in my left. Most significantly, this conference redirected my wishes and plans to assist those in need by forcing me to differentiate between helping and revolutionizing. Help will succeed in providing shortterm positive impact to an area in need. Yet the ‘help attitude’ is not what will end poverty and destitution on a long-term scale. The act of revolutionizing segments of desperate economic institutions will. Those who provoke this revolutionary change are social entrepreneurs. “Ten years from now I hope to be knee deep in medical study, while 20 years from now I hope to be a practicing sports medicine surgeon who not only uses her years of medical knowledge for the benefit of her patients, but for the good of the world at large. I would love the opportunity to participate in programs such as

“To be a social entrepreneur you have to expect that you might fail, and know that if you keep acting, you will eventually be taught by your experiences what you need to do.

Doctors Without Borders or simply find a successful way to combine my love for sports, my dreams of travel, and my knowledge acquired after years of extraordinary education to bring equal access to those who live without. Post conference, I no longer wish to provide short-term assistance; I plan to take a social problem and use creativity and persistence to revolutionize the livelihood of many and negate the dignity of none.” Jacinta Lomba ’13 reflected on the experience, “I learned many valuable lessons from this conference; however, the lasting ones include lessons of inspiration and possibility. I’ve learned that there are people in the world who value compassion and equality enough to center their careers around creating a more just world, all the while remaining conscious of their own privilege, and drawing inspiration from feelings of empathy and selflessness. The presence of these individuals fostered the environment I needed to take inspiration away from the conference. In 10 years, I think that experience will stay with me— motivating me to follow in the footsteps of these distinguished intellectuals and to find my role in the moral responsibility humans have to create social change. “I had the privilege of attending Dr. Sarah Kureshi’s workshop, which

was inspirational, stimulating, and enriching in all aspects. Dr. Kureshi has her M.D. and her M.P.H from the Harvard School of Public Health, and she is well versed in the field of medicine and the complex issues stratifying our world’s public health system. After listening to her fascinating presentation that focused on the issue of sex trafficking, I approached Dr. Kureshi to thank her for the experience and to tell her about my interest in the effect social institutions, such as racism and classism, have on the disparities in health that exist in America. We continued a discussion on this topic and she gave me information on a well-respected sociologist who does research on the subject. She also commended me for my interest and commented on the importance of the involvement of young women in the emerging movement of social entrepreneurship. Dr. Kureshi inspired me to continue to pursue my passions and my involvement as an activist for social change.” Abigail Melvin ’14 wrote in her essay, “After reading and hearing all those talks I feel social entrepreneurship is the act of coming up with an idea, big or small, that can help the world, and then going with it through trial and error. To be a social entrepreneur you have to expect that you might fail, and know that if you keep acting, you will eventually be taught by your experiences what you need to do. From this conference I realized that I always strive to be perfect, and I rarely put myself out there unless I am confident. What I need to do and hope to change within myself is to be able to step out with my ideas and expect that I might fail, but that I will still learn something that will eventually let me succeed.”

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STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT SPEECHES

So What? KAYLA MONROE ’12, THE OUTGOING STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT, MADE HER LAST SPEECH AT THE INDUCTION OF THE NEW BIG SEVEN.

So what? For as long as I can remember I have never ever enjoyed any English class. The thought of sitting down and having to fully explain my creative ideas and sometimes creative interpretations made my face wrinkle up and my body shake. Yet when I started my language arts courses at Walker’s, the idea of going to class and engaging in a class discussion was something that I could handle, seeing as I enjoy talking. Nonetheless, I despised the days when the class received papers back because I always got the question: SO WHAT? in bright, red, bold letters. So what? A moment of panic always began to rise deep inside of me—now I know that it was probably my parasympathetic system stimulating this “fight or flight” response. In those moments it was shouting “flight, flight, flight!” This had become not only a response to my English papers but the answer for many other situations in my life. I am not sure about you all, but for me, it is so much easier to take flight than to deal with an issue right then and there, whether it is doing poorly on a test and just shoving it deep into my backpack until I made sure the number in the top right corner is crushed or arguing with my friends, or even my little sister. So what does that mean? In me I had fear, fear of failure.

Fear of being good, but not good enough. Fear of the unknown. Fear of disappointing others. Fear. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” I have expressed many times that this phrase is the beginning of my most favored quote. I never knew how this came to be though, because I did not know what being “powerful beyond measure” meant. “It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” Stop. Changing yourself for the fulfillment of others is never necessary or needed. “Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.” Now, I do. Use the confidence, courage, and conviction along with integrity that this school helps bring out in us girls. You will soon find that from the song we all used to sing and hum along to, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,” is the same light that holds this power. Truthfully, there will be times when your light may have a dimmer, but this just means it is taking a short break to become brighter the second time around. This light that I am referring to is not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light

“Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.” 28

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shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. From the quick nod to let someone know you acknowledge her to that quick smile in the halls during our five-minute passing time, our gestures can be little bursts of energy that we are adding to other people’s lights. You may never know what someone may be going through that afternoon, and the simple gesture of a smile can turn their day around. So what? “As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” English is still my least favorite subject, but now I no longer fear the “so what’s” in that class or in life. Everything I do, I put in all my effort as if it is the last accomplishment I am making, so that there is no one else but myself to blame for not using the abundant amount of power that is within me. So I challenge you all to do the same. Use that little light of yours and brighten it with being you, because we are all unique, confident, and beautiful women. All that is left to do is give the world our elaborate response to the question “So what?” With confidence, courage, and conviction, of course!

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Make It the Best Time We Can SAMANTHA GONZALEZ ’13 MADE HER FIRST SPEECH AS THE NEW STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT.

When I look back at my three years at Walker’s, I truly never thought that I would be here calling myself the Student Body President. Of course I was always hopeful and I strived to do my very best, but this still feels like a dream. When writing this speech I thought about Kayla, Cody, and Sydney, and I wondered . . . what made them great presidents? All three of them were confident, poised, and dedicated to the student body. Desmond Tutu once said in an interview that “Great leaders are servants to their people, they continually make personal sacrifices to benefit their communities.” Each one of our past presidents has given of herself wholeheartedly and I can only hope to do the same. Each of these girls put her own unique spin on her final year here. Sydney started every morning meeting the same. She said “good morning” until it seemed that everyone was loud enough and then morning meeting would begin. She knew everyone’s name and when she asked how your day had been, she actually cared. Cody was an amazing athlete and a great role model for all of the girls here at Walker’s. And last but not least, Kayla has shaped the school with her amazing leadership and her big heart; she too has served as a role model, and we will definitely miss her when she graduates. I hope to leave my own unique mark as they have left theirs. I know that next year is filled with new things; it’s a fresh start. There will be a whole bunch of new students, some new faculty, and some new changes that I think will make our community a better place. I have heard numerous concerns around dress code, iPads, and the many new things that next year will bring, and I assure you

that you all have elected the perfect group of girls to take on these new challenges. I hope to include our Middle School in more things, including Middle and Upper School bonding activities. I also think that including our Little Four next year (our Middle School student government led by Idabelle Paterson) in more decisions, will unite us as a community. I want to make Senate next year look and act more like a senate. I would like to hear from every representative that I can, in order to make sure that as many concerns are expressed as possible. I also encourage everyone to come up to me and voice their concerns; after all, we are here for so much time, we might as well make it the best time we can, although it is pretty great already. After I was elected, people started telling me about how much of a role model I was going to be and how much everyone would look up to me. But I think that all of the upper classmen serve as role models whether they have a leadership role on Big Seven or not. I think that all of the upper classmen should keep this in mind when they make decisions. If you think about it, the seniors rule the school, so wouldn’t it make sense if we, the awesome soon-to-be-seniors that

we already are, make decisions that benefit ourselves and that exemplify our own unique leadership qualities? It makes sense to me, and I hope that all of our seniors go into next year with an especially open mind and a good work ethic throughout the year. I know senioritis creeps up on all of us at some point, but hopefully we can enjoy it and not fall prey to its downfalls and finish our last year strong and give it all that we’ve got. I’m very excited to begin this new school year with all of you and the new Big Seven. We have all worked hard, so let’s try to make next year the best year yet! 2012-2013 Big Seven. Back row from left, Vicki Daguerre-Bradford, Sam Gonzalez, Madison Morsch, Allie Harris Front row from left, Chelsea Regan, Jess Chang, Coriene Smith

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Students Inducted into Cum Laude Society Chemistry teacher Dr. Julia Sheldon, President of the School’s Cum Laude Society, read the Cum Laude charge to the seven Walker’s students inducted into the society in 2012 in recognition of their excellence in academic work. The inductees are Melody Altschuler, Jordana “Monet” Clarke, Jacinta Lomba, Courtney Meheran, Soo Bin Park, Chelsea Regan, Abigail Reynolds, and Bingxin Xu. Reprinted here are excerpts from Dr. Sheldon’s speech.

First, to Melody, Monet, Courtney, Soo Bin, Bingxin, Jacinta, Abby, and Chelsea: Thank you. I am so fortunate to have had the pleasure of teaching each one of you about the wonders of chemistry, and each of you have taught or reinforced for me many things that are much more important than science. I have been at Walker’s for 14 years, during which time I have worked with hundreds of students—and learned an awful lot of things from them. Prior to teaching at Walker’s, I was in school for a long, long time . . . and I learned a lot of things there, too. Two years of preschool. Seven years of elementary school. Two years of junior high. Four years of high school. Four years of college. And five years of graduate school. When you add up all those years you get . . . well, that’s a long time. It doesn’t really matter how long. What matters is that I have been in one school or another, as a student or a teacher, for really my entire life. I’ve been to public schools, private schools, big schools, tiny schools, one really wacky school, a Catholic school, an Ivy League school, and a school on the beach. I love schools, and I love this school more than any other. And I also love that one of our school’s goals for this year is “academic and ethical excellence”—because at the heart of things, that is what schools are all about—and as Mrs. Speers mentioned 30

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Back row, from left, Jordana Monet Clarke ’12, Soo Bin Park ’12, Bingxin Xu ’12, Jacinta Lomba ’13, Abigail Reynolds ’13. Front row, Courtney Meheran ’12, Melody Altschuler ’12, and Chelsea Regan ’13.

at morning meeting: It is precisely those qualities that we are honoring here today. So I would like to talk about academic excellence. But first, what exactly is it? That’s a good question. You can’t go to a dictionary or Wikipedia to find a definition; believe me, I tried. There is no standard definition. All the descriptions I found were created by particular people at particular institutions to fit their own particular situations. I think we need an “Ethel Walker” definition of academic excellence, and I hope to get us headed in that direction today. I have asked a few students to comment on what academic excellence means, and almost all of them have said, “Well, you know, it means getting good grades.” But I have to disagree. Grades aren’t really what it’s all about. It is possible to be “academically excellent” without having straight A’s. So then, what is it all about? Here are some ideas that I gleaned from my 14 years of teaching here at Walker’s and my 24 years of being in school myself: Let’s start with what I consider to

be the basics of academic excellence. Grammar and spelling and good manners are important always, even when you are just sending a quick email to someone or hanging out with your friends. The little details of how you present yourself, both in person and in writing, really matter. People notice. It is so important to find things you are passionate about and immerse yourself in them. Use your passion to fuel yourself when times get tough. What are you passionate about? It might be music or art. It might be social justice or community service. It might be science. It might even be golf, which I hear from one of our inductees is truly a real sport. For me, it has always been teaching and learning, and at the moment, my favorite thing to learn about is photography. You should use your passion to help challenge and push yourself farther than you thought you could go. And when you aren’t being challenged enough at school or in life, you should get frustrated and demand better of yourself and your teachers or mentors. But when you do challenge yourself

O N and you find that you have taken on too much, it is critically important to realize it and own up to it. Know your limits, and take the necessary steps to regain your balance. Finding and keeping that balance is a struggle that we all face throughout our lives. Another constant challenge is work. No matter where you are in life, there will always be work to do. When it’s time to get it done, we all need to focus on the present moment and do it. It seems pretty simple. But we live in a world of wonderful distractions. We all need to understand that there are times when we need to put away our phones, to turn off our computers (or at least close things like chat and Facebook for a while), and simply get done what has to be done. The simple act of being interrupted is one of the biggest barriers to getting things done. It has been proven that multitasking really is a myth: it reduces productivity and increases mistakes by up to 50 percent. So find a quiet spot like the library—I’m a big fan of the library—remove those distractions and get your work done. Another key to success is to remember that some sacrifice is necessary. Sometimes you will need to do some work on a Friday night. Sometimes you need to ask for help, more than once, until you get it right. Sometimes you need to actually do your reading, even if there is not a quiz tomorrow—wait, actually that’s all of the time. Sometimes you need to sit by yourself and get things done when you’d rather be with your friends. Academic excellence demands these sacrifices. Psychologist Anders Ericsson has asked the question: How do extraordinary achievers get to be so great at what they do? He has studied chess masters, tennis pros, and amazing musicians, really all sorts of different experts, to find the answer. And the answer is: Serious study alone is the biggest key to success. Only when you’re alone can you engage in what Ericsson has called “deliberate

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practice,” the key to exceptional achievement. This process requires intense concentration with no distractions, as you work on tasks most challenging to you. It’s hard work, and you have to do it alone. Recently my mom gave me a box full of my old papers from my school days. She kept every report card that I

“It is so important to find things you are passionate about and immerse yourself in them. Use your passion to fuel yourself when times get tough.”

ever got starting with preschool. So I read my preschool comment and it said, “Julia is a bright girl who gets along well with others. But she is very quiet and often prefers to keep to herself. We hope to see her start to interact and open up more.” I heard various versions of this same comment (she’s too quiet) throughout my 24 years in school— and it made me feel like something was wrong with me. I really didn’t want to talk more. In fact, if I knew I would have to speak in class, it absolutely terrified me. My heart would race, my stomach would flipflop, and I wanted to run away. I loved to learn, but I sometimes felt like the learning environment of my classrooms was not meant for me. I expect that you have all felt that way sometimes, for different reasons. Recently I read a book called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. Ms. Cain is an introvert. I am an introvert. Between one-third and one-half of the people in this world are introverts. In her book, Ms. Cain talks about something called “The New Groupthink,” which affects how we organize our schools and workplaces in the 21st century. “[This ‘New

Groupthink’] elevates teamwork above all else, and insists that creativity and intellectual achievement come from a gregarious place.” In other words, it often seems like in order to be considered smart in today’s society, you need to thrive while working in groups, you need to assert yourself, and you need to be comfortable speaking out, no matter what the situation. In response to this, a fifth grade teacher in a Manhattan public school noted that she saw this happening in the classrooms around her. She commented, “This style of teaching reflects the business community, where people’s respect for others is based on their verbal abilities, not their originality or insight. You have to be someone who speaks well and calls attention to yourself. It’s an elitism based on something other than merit.” As someone who has great difficulty verbalizing on the spot and hates to call attention to herself, I’d like to speak for the introverts among us for a moment. Some of the smartest people in history were introverts, including two of my personal favorites: Charles Darwin and Marie Curie. I ask all of you, whether you are an introvert or extrovert, to please not think of introversion as something that needs to be cured. It’s not a disease. I’d like to use this example of society’s general attitude toward introverts to remind us that each one of us has our own learning challenges and hurdles to overcome. Here at Walker’s, we should be able to help each other to overcome them. So on our school’s journey toward academic excellence, let’s keep working together to design learning environments that work for all of us. Let’s pay attention to details, be good role models and friends to each other, find and use our passions, challenge ourselves, maintain our balance, and do our work to our best abilities. I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you.

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Summer@Walker’s Students of all ages and skill levels can explore their unique interests during Summer@Walker’s. This summer energetic and excited students explored the arts, deepened their riding skills, learned about American culture, and more. For more information about registering for 2013 programs, contact Erin Ross Moses, Director of Summer Programs and International Outreach and Initiatives, at erossmoses@ethelwalker.org or 860-408-4370. GLOBAL GIRLS ACADEMY This intensive English language and American culture immersion program brought girls ages 12-18 from around the world to live on campus. Girls could stay an extra week to participate in optional activities during which they received assistance applying to college, enjoyed a one-day adventure in film making, or immersed themselves in American history while building leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. SUMMER RIDING EXPERIENCE Walker’s popular summer riding camp once again offered a comprehensive and enjoyable program for riders of all ability levels, assisting them in developing selfconfidence and good horsemanship skills. At SRE, riders learned elements of equitation, jumping, dressage, and cross country. Programs were provided for students age 8-14. For more information about Summer Riding Experience 2013, contact Kathleen Battiston, Director of Equestrian Programs at kathleen_battiston@ethelwalker.org or 860-408-4354.

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SUMMER ARTS ACADEMY Day campers in 1st-8th grade chose their own schedule of four activities each day from many options in painting, drawing, theatre, pottery, digital arts, music, and dance. A highlight of the camp was the fully staged, choreographed, and costumed musical production. SUMMER ATHLETIC CAMPS Tennis, lacrosse, field hockey, and basketball players played hard and learned new skills at summer programs on campus.

DAY CAMPS ON CAMPUS Also on campus this summer were a wide variety of educational programs that used Walker’s facilities but were not operated by the school. For more information on these programs, visit http://www.ethelwalker.org/aboutwalkers/summerwalkers/other-camps-ethel-walker.

USA Chess, the largest and premier chess camp organizer for children in the United States, brought Chess Camp to Simsbury. Whether interested in casual or competitive chess, students improved their skills in a fun-filled environment. In Video Game Creation Camp avid gamers were taught in a step-by-step progression how to build a game that they designed. Using Scratch software developed by MIT, the Animation Creation Camp guided participants through animation basics while they created their own 3D-animated stories. High school students explored the business and commitment of the nonprofit, philanthropic world during the residential Grab the Torch Philanthropy Camp.

Harpists ages 12-20 immersed themselves in solo, ensemblebased, or combined tracks for the residential/day week of Connecticut Valley Harp Intensive.

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Third Annual Grandparents’ Day Grandparents’ and Great Friends’ Day was celebrated on April 27 with 75 grandparents and guests spending a glorious, full day with their granddaughters and hosts. This new tradition—now in its third year—offered a glimpse into a typical day at Walker’s, starting with morning meeting in the Chapel. The day continued as guests attended a sampling of academic courses, including Women in Literature, Honors Biology, AP European History, Chinese, Acting Techniques, and Photography. After lunch, everyone enjoyed a lively, informal conversation entitled “Girls’ Brains and Innovation in Education,” led by Dean of School and Faculty Wendy Allerton, which was complemented by faculty presentations from Roger Cantello, Matt Bavone, Sarah Edson, and Kelsey Berry. The day wrapped up with afternoon tea and time to watch our athletic teams at practice. Our next Grandparents’ and Great Friends’ Day will be held in spring 2013. Check www.ethelwalker.org for updates.

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New Faculty & Staff In the past year several talented faculty and staff have joined the Walker’s team.

Jenna Dunn, Admissions Associate

Jenna Dunn joined the Admissions Office after working in independent schools as a Latin teacher and coach, including cross country, for the past 17 years. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge about the impact of private schools on young people. Stephen “Brock” Dunn, Dean of Students

Brock is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire (bachelor of business administration), who was certified as a teacher through a program at Lesley College and who pursued graduate work in educational leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, he served since 2008 as an Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Before that, Brock taught science, coached, and ran a dorm at both the Cardigan Mountain School and the Williston Northampton School. Brock, his wife, Jenna, and their daughters, Gabby, Lulu, and Maggie, live on campus. Brock will also teach Honors 9th Grade Physics and coach softball. Emily Cole-Chu ’00, Associate Dean of Students

Emily is continuing many of her roles at Walker’s under a new title in the Dean of Students’ Office. She will teach a section of psychology and will continue to serve as Director of Residential Life, Assistant Counselor in the Middle School, Head of House Faculty in Smith, and cross country coach. Nan Flanagan ’93, Director of Marketing & Communications

Nan brings to Walker’s deep marketing and communications experience from her more than 13 years at large ad agencies in New York City and Boston. Her client work has ranged from GMC Trucks and Snuggle Fabric Softener to NYU Stern School of Business and CVS/pharmacy. Nan has created and overseen implementation of countless marketing strategies with results-driven objectives, meeting success along the way. 34

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She remained deeply connected to Walker’s over the years through reunion planning, Centennial planning, and service on the Alumnae Board. “Words can’t express how wonderful it is to be back at Walker’s. I look forward to leveraging my experience, and creating a marketing plan and strategy to serve as a blueprint for our branding efforts. The school is stronger than ever, and it’s truly wonderful to be able to apply my professional knowledge to something about which I feel so incredibly passionate.” Nan lives on campus with her husband, son, and dog. Mary Hendrickson, History Teacher

Mary, wife of history teacher Ken Poppe, has joined the Walker’s faculty as a part-time teacher of Introduction to U.S. History and a tutor for the LINGo program. Mary has many years of experience in teaching history, ELL, and other programs for non-native English speakers. Dolan Patrick, Physics & Astronomy Teacher

Dolan Patrick joins the science department as a physics and astronomy teacher as well as the coordinator of our observatory. He describes himself as a “non-traditional” candidate who has found much success in the “traditional” role of physics teacher. Dolan graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in geology and eventually enrolled in the State of Vermont’s TAP program, which trains teachers for work in the state’s public school classrooms. Through his work in TAP, he discovered his love of teaching physics and helping students make connections through the phenomena they observe all around them. He will also assist in the softball program and be the assistant coach for the ski team. Jennifer Pelletier, History Teacher

Most recently, Jenn taught history and social studies at both Simsbury High School and Henry James Middle School and at Ridgefield High School. She is a graduate of Connecticut College and Columbia University’s Teachers College. In addition to teaching history, Jenn will participate in the field hockey program.

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Jenny Reynolds, Associate Director of Admissions

Jenny Reynolds comes to Walker’s after many years of working in the public health field. For the past 12 years she worked as a consultant for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, primarily focused on tobacco use prevention and control and chronic disease health policy. Jenny’s prior experience includes directing a national adolescent HIV prevention program and working with court-involved teenagers and their parents. She was raised in West Hartford, CT, attended Renbrook School, Loomis Chaffee, and Tufts University and received her Master’s in Public Health degree at Yale University. With two daughters at the school — Abby ’13 and Lila ’15 — Jenny has developed a strong passion for and commitment to Walker’s and brings this energy and enthusiasm to her work on the admissions team. She will be joining her husband, Steve, who is Walker’s Director of Technology. Lindsay Scola, Spanish Teacher

Lindsay will join the language department as a teacher of many levels of Spanish. Most recently an Admission Office Associate at the International School in Atlanta, Lindsay is eager to return to her roots as a classroom teacher. She spent four years as a teacher of Spanish and a

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coach at the Williston Northampton School and much of her family lives in New England. Lindsay’s homecoming will include her teaching as well as serving on the House Faculty in Cluett Dorm and a coach for the volleyball and lacrosse teams. Missy Shea, Director of Admissions

Melissa (Missy) Shea joins Walker’s after serving as Associate Academic Director and Middle School Head for the Green Mountain School in Vermont, where she was integrally involved in middle-school admissions and part of the school’s Educational Leadership Team. Previously in Vermont, she taught social studies, coached field hockey, and served as an advisor at Union High School and coordinated civic education and voter outreach for the Vermont Secretary of State’s office. As Vice President of Recreational Services at Sugarbush Ski Resort, Missy managed six departments with revenues of over $5 million. As the Director of the Youth Program at the Mad River Glen ski area, she hired, trained, and supervised 40 instructors. Missy received a B.A. in Political Science from Wellesley College and an M.A. in writing communication from Dartmouth College with coursework in corporate communications at the Tuck School of Business. She served on several community boards including chairing the search for the Waitsfield, VT, Superintendent of Schools. Her daughter, Nell, will enter the 9th grade at Walker’s.

2012 Service Awards On April 13, the 2012 Service Awards Celebration recognized faculty and staff for their contribution of time and talent to our community during a cocktail reception at the barn. 30 years—Darrell Carrington 25 years—Priscilla Jackson 20 years—Wilfred (Bill) Dresser 15 years—Sandra Baker,

Students showed their appreciation for the work of faculty and staff by placing handmade lawn signs with heartfelt messages along the path to Chapel.

John Bascom

10 years—Michelle Sawyer, Sue Smith 5 years—Kathleen Battiston, Mary (Mimi) Duran,

Gail Shelton P'12, Brooke Gaffney Redmond '90, and E. Kay Cowan, outgoing members of the Board of Trustees, were given miniature rose bushes during a gathering at Walker's newly renovated barn to celebrate their outstanding service, loyalty, and commitment during their terms on the Board.

Mary Beth Conley, John Monagan, Suzanne Piela, Joan Skelley SUMMER 2012

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Dogswood Day

This year marks the third consecutive year of cloudy skies and sprinkles on Dogswood Day, but the weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of the Walker’s community. Cheer and good will were high as a group of students performed the tradition Maypole dance surrounded by Suns and Dials. Brightly colored outfits, each more extravagant than the next, overwhelmed campus. Pink wigs, orange and red hats, yellow capes, blue and purple sunglasses, and an assortment of other crazy getups brought cheer and spirit to the gray day. Students, faculty, and staff participated in relay races and other competitions during the morning and afternoon. While the Suns dominated competitions throughout the day, the infamous tug-of-war, which determines the day’s winner, was won by the Dials. Their spirit flag flies high on the flagpole, at least until next Dogswood Day. This year you can watch the day of competition on the Internet. The School created a video featuring footage captured throughout the event. Set to lively music popular with the students, it was shown during an advisor/advisee lunch shortly after Dogswood Day. To view the video, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL6mjNiwz3o

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Elegant & Recycled Janet Galvin ’14 proved her fashion sense and wizardly abilities when she placed third in “Funds Through Fashion,” which raised awareness and funds for the ReCONNstruction Center in Newington. The nonprofit ReCONN makes recycled building materials available to the public, which

Janet Galvin ’14, right, with the model wearing her winning contest entry.

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In other art news, the Next Emerging Talent helps create exhibition at the Gallery on construction jobs and the Green in Canton promote green featured work from seniors building practices. from 11 area high schools, The competition including four Walker’s required entrants to students: Chris Kim, Allison use recycled building Talbot, Emma Grimes, and materials in their Caitlin Joo. The Grapes were clothing designs. invited to sing during the Designers had to work A close up of the opening reception for the within a budget of $50 necklace Janet Galvin ’14 exhibition, which was on made to complete the or less. Janet purchased recycled view in February and March. ensemble. vertical blinds, copper Walker’s students nails, copper washers, exhibited their pottery skills at the copper wire, and a door knob plate, as annual Empty Bowls dinner. For the well as basic sewing supplies to create past five years the handmade bowls her dress and necklace. She dedicated have been sold to raise money for time during art studio class and many FoodShare, which brings food to the hours at home to her project, using a hungry in the Greater Hartford area. sewing machine, hammers, and needles This year’s event, held on May 3, to bring her creation to life. raised $450. A similar fundraiser in Janet was the only high school late 2011 sold Empty Bowls as holiday student who participated. Some of the gifts and raised $225 for Gifts of Love other competitors were far more in Avon, which provides food, experienced than she; for example, one clothing, furniture, household items, was a fashion designer who had been and energy assistance to those in need considered for the hit television show in the Greater Hartford area. Project Runway.

This year’s prom was a picture-perfect evening for juniors and seniors complete with gorgeous dresses, trendy hairstyles, and stylish shoes.

SUMMER 2012

A T H L E T I C S

U P D A T E

As construction vehicles moved on to the lower athletic fields in preparation for our summer construction, the Ethel Walker athletic teams concluded a successful spring season.

The LACROSSE PROGRAM worked hard this spring against a tough schedule, scoring important victories over Westover and Chase Collegiate. The team played competitive games against several Founders League opponents, and there was tremendous growth during the season. The JV Program scored several great victories, including wins over Kent and Kingswood Oxford, showing that there are good things on the horizon for the lacrosse program. The TENNIS TEAM continued to play well this spring, finishing third in the New England Tournament. Returning a strong group of seniors, the team played well under the leadership of Coach Cheri Parr. Both in singles and in doubles, the girls competed admirably.

Tennis great Roger Federer with Mari Arico ’13 and Alex Silver ’12.

THE SUNDIAL

Once again the GOLF TEAM played a tough Founders League schedule and fared well. The Ethel Walker team defeated every Founders League team except Taft at least once, finished second in the Founders League, and finished 4th in New Englands. Anchored by four strong juniors who played positions 1-4, the team looks to come back even stronger next year and challenge Taft for a Founders League championship. The SOFTBALL TEAM made it back to the New England tournament this year, and for the second time in three years advanced to the New England Championship game. Once again, however, the team was unable to win that game, losing to a very strong Suffield team. The girls take solace in knowing their 11-4 record is very strong and that they return junior pitcher Lena Springer next season. In the semi-final game, Ethel Walker hosted Canterbury and defeated the opponents 4-1. On a perfect day for softball, in front of a loud supportive home crowd, it was fitting that the girls were able to celebrate one final victory on their home field before construction on their new field begins this summer.

Scholar-Athlete Program The new Scholar-Athlete Program honors athletes who have a cumulative GPA above 3.5 and also play three varsity sports, participate in dance at the advanced level for three seasons, or ride at the varsity level for three seasons. The girls must maintain their GPA and participation in the highest levels of athletics or dance for three seasons in order to be named a Scholar-Athlete at the end of each school year.

Walker’s first Scholar-Athletes

Title IX June 23, 2012, marked the 40th anniversary of Title IX. Walker’s applauds the many women and men who worked for passage of Title IX and made its goals a reality.

E Q U E S T R I A N This past fall, The Ethel Walker Equestrian Team arrived on campus to a newly renovated barn, a construction project that was completed as part of the school’s Centennial Celebration. The renovations included the addition of 36 new stalls, new windows and lighting fixtures, brick-colored pavers throughout the barn, a new work area for farriers and veterinarians, and two large, heated wash stalls. The new state-of-the-art facilities are userfriendly to both horse and rider. “Our facility now reflects our nationally recognized program. We even received a nice compliment from a horse chiropractor who works at many barns, saying that we did a great job of creating proper air circulation and putting the needs of the horses first,” says Head Trainer Hillary Rheinheimer. At the most recent show, which was held in Saugerties, NY, Sarah Gordon ’14 placed well in her division and was named champion. She won two classes and was second in two others. Cat Flanagan ’14 and Taylor Lampert ’14 also did well, placing sixth and seventh in their division. Hannah Tuckner ’14 was third and fourth in the Children’s Hunters and placed second in the same division as Gordon. Allison Talbot ’12 showed two horses, placing sixth on each of them in the Adult Jumpers, while Hannah Meehan ’13 competed in the High Children’s Jumpers and

U P D A T E

placed fourth, fifth and eighth. At another event, held at The Kent School, Haley Glofka ’14 placed sixth in her division. Heather Carey ’13 was accepted into the Emerging Athletes Program (EAP). Hundreds of young riders apply, but only 24 are chosen for each of the 10 regional clinics. Carey will be participating in a four-day clinic held at Coker Farm in Bedford, NY, July 10-13. The EAP was created specifically to provide opportunities for young riders to advance their education as they strive to become knowledgeable horsemen within the hunter/jumper community. Sarah Gordon ’14 and Hannah Tuckner ’14 both qualified for the

Team are Heather Carey ’13 (also a captain this past year) and Kristen Wrigley ’14.

Of Note On the Friday before The Kentucky Derby, the entire school community gathered in the dining hall at lunchtime to watch a short documentary on Union Rags, a horse favored to win The Derby, and his owner Phyllis Mills Wyeth ’58. While he didn’t win The Derby, he did take first place in The Belmont Stakes. Hooray Sunray to Phyllis and Union Rags! Our community celebrates you and your accomplishments!

Connecticut Hunter & Jumper

Junior equitation finals held in August at the Fairfield Hunt Club. Gordon also qualified for the Association

New England Equitation Championships held in Springfield, MA, in October. Phoebe Backman ’16 qualified for the Connecticut Hunter & Jumper Association Children’s equitation finals held the same weekend in August as the Junior finals. Graduating members of the team are Ellie Bell ’12 and Allison Talbot ’12. Both girls will continue to ride and show their horses. Talbot is hoping to meet the Walker’s team down in Wellington for the 2013 circuit. Captains for next year’s Equestrian

The Walker's community watches “Union Rags: An American Love Story."

SUMMER 2012

O N

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On the Stage

A Midsummer Night’s Dream This year’s Upper School spring main stage production showcased Walker’s take on William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The School’s interpretation of the story included scenes set in a wooded glen outside Athens, a social center at a private school somewhere in Connecticut, and the mind of an overworked student. Among the many students who brought the storyline to life through their character portrayals, four were seniors participating for the last time in an Ethel Walker School production. Kayla Monroe, Monet Clarke, Dele Odumosu, and Marqita Amoah poured their hearts into their performances, bringing brilliance and authenticity to the roles they played.

Pollyanna The Middle School brought to life Pollyanna, the classic story of the “greatest optimist of all time,” Pollyanna Whittier. No matter how difficult life may be, Pollyanna plays “the game” and looks on the bright side of even the most dreadful situations to find a silver lining. She is a ray of sunshine in an otherwise dark and dreary town. The townspeople complain constantly, the pastor gives sermons on fire and brimstone, and her own aunt lives a life without joy or cheer. Even with the darkness around her, Pollyanna plays her glad game and passes it on to whomever she meets, bringing optimism and joy to those who so desperately need it.

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Middle School Night of Excellence A cherished Middle School tradition, this year’s Middle School Night of Excellence showcased tremendous talent from our students. The evening highlights excellence in the arts and gives our community the opportunity to see and appreciate what these talented girls are capable of. Dance performances were given by each grade, the Middle School orchestra performed, and the Middle School Choristers graced attendees with their beautiful voices. A slide show highlighted the complete work from the girls’ art classes and, in the lobby, faculty set up displays of the girl’s projects from throughout the year.

SUMMER 2012

JUNE 10 2012

The Centennial Commencement

said. “Live your scared self. Live your ommencement for the Class of wrong-headed self. Live your 2012 was the perfect culmination compassionate self. Live the self that of their successful years at Walker’s. tells you to set high expectations. And The day was sunny; the view was then live the self that will make those spectacular; the seniors were expectations a reality.” In preparation surrounded by the Walker’s for her speech, Mrs. Malloy had toured community, family, and friends—and the campus, met with administrators they had the honor of being the 100th and staff, observed classes, and then class to graduate from the school. invited the graduating class to the Following the formal procession of governor’s residence for dinner. In her students and faculty, seniors in their commencement speech, the First Lady traditional white dresses processed First Lady of Connecticut Cathy Malloy noted that the majority of the seniors, around the Beaver Brook Circle. Prior gives the Commencement Address. when asked about their plans, told her to stepping on the red carpet, each they wanted to make the world better. received a rose from a member of the Later in the service, one by one, seniors approached the Middle School, who wore Walker’s Maypole Dance dress. podium to receive their diplomas from Speers, President of Head of School Bessie Speers welcomed the seniors and Walker’s Board of Trustees Donya Nagib Sabet ’90, and attendees and introduced President of the Student Body Dean of Faculty, upper and middle schools Wendy Allerton. Kayla Monroe. The Commencement speaker was the First As they turned away from the podium with diplomas in Lady of the State of Connecticut, Cathy Malloy, who offered hand, our seniors became alumnae to rousing applause and words of advice and wisdom to the seniors. cheers from the audience. “Your job is to live fully—and live all of your selves,” she

THE SUNDIAL

“You are artists, athletes, musicians, actresses, comedians, dancers, mathematicians, authors, photographers, debaters, singers, writers, friends, sisters, daughters, and students, and we admire you greatly.”

Connie Bell ’48, P’72, ’75, GP’12 awards diploma to her granddaughter, Ellie Bell ’12.

Kayla Monroe, President of the Student Body

Middle School student leaders present each Senior with a rose.

In Speers’ Charge to the Class of 2012 she said, “Seniors, you are a living testament to the vision of our Founder, 100 years later . . . “I have watched you closely and admired your strength of character. Yours is a class with exceptional leadership abilities, and frankly the success of this year is, in large part, because of the way each one of you has led at different times. You also have fun-loving qualities and you have an appreciation for what Walker’s has offered you. The pride you show in your work and the love and respect you have for your teachers is palpable. You are artists, athletes, musicians, actresses, comedians, dancers, mathematicians, authors, photographers, debaters, singers, writers, friends, sisters, daughters, and students, and we admire you greatly.”

Head of School, Bessie Speers, gives Charge to the Class of 2012.

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The Class of 2012 Dahiana Acosta Melody Altschuler Marquita Amoah Sarah Baron Lainey Battiston Eda Bell Katherine Bilgore Adriana Borges Casey Brottman Julia Marie Castro Jordana Monet Clarke Michelle Coster LoAles Cruz Laura Diamond Hannah Fasano

Student Prizes Awarded June 9, 2012

Alejandra Feliz Julia Fowler Ema Graham Marisa Greshin Emma Grimes Sydney Hansen Sihyun Joo Tahara Jordan Chai-Lin Kim Hoyeun Kim Hye Jin Kim

THE AMY C. REHFUSS AWARD This award is presented each year to a versatile and sensitive young woman. Her grace and gentle manner complement her many talents. JORDANA MONET SHENEQUE CLARKE THE CAROLINE WALKER HONOR SOCIETY Awarded to a student who has shown warmth of character by exhibiting kindliness, loyalty, courage and humility. MARISA ROSE GRESHIN ADRIANA JUSTINE BORGES

Emily Mainolfi Courtney Meheran Ashley-Victoria Mihelis Kayla Monroe Chiko Nakajima

BRANDEIS BOOK AWARD The Brandeis Book Award recognizes an outstanding junior who demonstrates a commitment to civic engagement, community service, political activism, social justice or volunteer work. SAMANTHA GONZALEZ

Heidi Odenwaelder Dele Odumosu Soo Bin Park Deborah Place Kelsey Shelton Samantha Siegel Alexandra Silver Allison Talbot Eleanor Thacher Bingxin Xu

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THE BROWN BOOK AWARD Awarded to a junior selected by the English Department who demonstrates the best combination of academic excellence with clarity in written and spoken expression. ABIGAIL REYNOLDS THE DARTMOUTH BOOK AWARD Awarded to a sophomore who has demonstrated outstanding academic and leadership qualities and whose character, imagination, and concern for others have had a positive impact on our school. KATHERINE RICHARDSON

THE HARVARD BOOK AWARD Awarded to an outstanding member of the junior class who has displayed excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with her achievements in other fields. ABIGAIL REYNOLDS THE MT. HOLYOKE BOOK AWARD EMILEE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;BRIEN THE ST. LAWRENCE BOOK AWARD Awarded to a junior who has displayed significant commitment to community service. AMY CRESCIMANNO THE SMITH BOOK AWARD Awarded to a junior who exemplifies the academic achievement, leadership and concern for others that characterize the thousands of women who have graduated from Smith College. JACINTA LOMBA THE TRINITY BOOK AWARD Awarded to a junior for high scholastic standing and service to her school. CHELSEA REGAN THE WELLESLEY BOOK AWARD Honors a high ranking student in the junior class who has demonstrated intellectual curiosity and excellence in scholarship. ROSS BEED THE YALE BOOK AWARD Awarded to a member of the junior class who has outstanding personal character and intellectual promise. VICTORIA DAGUERRE-BRADFORD

1 0 0 T H THE MARY SCOULLER NELSON ENGLISH PRIZE Given each year in honor of Mary Scouller Nelson, who taught English at the school from 1963 to 1987. JORDANA MONET SHENEQUE CLARKE THE CHINESE PRIZE KENNEDY HILLIARD THE FRENCH PRIZE DAHIANA ACOSTA TAHARA SYMONE JORDAN THE LATIN PRIZE JORDANA MONET SHENEQUE CLARKE THE SPANISH PRIZE DAHIANA ACOSTA THE HISTORY PRIZE DEBORAH ALSEN PLACE THE MATHEMATICS PRIZE Awarded annually to a student who has excelled in advanced courses offered in the department. It is awarded for creative, effective problem solving, intuitive insight, persistence and intellectual curiosity. BINGXIN XU THE SCIENCE PRIZE BINGXIN XU THE RPI CERTIFICATE Awarded to the junior with the most outstanding academic record in mathematics and science, who demonstrates potential for success in a science or technologically oriented profession. ABIGAIL REYNOLDS MUSIC PRIZE HOYEUN KIM JORDANA MONET SHENEQUE CLARKE THE MADELINE SALA CHOIR GIRL OF THE YEAR Awarded in recognition of a student in the choir who best exemplifies the qualities of dedication and willingness to cultivate and

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maintain a high standard of musical excellence. COURTNEY ANN MEHERAN THE VIRGINIA CHILDS RAMSEY HINMAN PRIZE Given to a student who has made outstanding contributions to the choir and Grapes, and has given her talent freely to the Music Department. CHAI LIN KIM THE PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT PRIZE Awarded to a student who excels in at least two of the three disciplines offered within this department. In addition, it is awarded to a student who has contributed extensively to the artistic life of The Ethel Walker School community. DELE RACHEL ODUMOSU THE VISUAL ARTS PRIZE The 2012 Visual Arts prize recognizes three principal characteristics of a promising artist: genuine inquisitiveness, the passion for invention, and a consistency of purpose. SOO BIN PARK THE DOROTHY SILVERHERZ DANCE PRIZE This prize is awarded to a student who is dedicated to the art of dance, studying for all three seasons. ALEXANDRA PAIGE SILVER THE ELIZABETH OLSON MARSHALL DANCE PRIZE Awarded in honor of Elizabeth Olson Marshall, the first head of dance at The Ethel Walker School and the founder of Dance Workshop. ADRIANA JUSTINE BORGES JORDANA MONET SHENEQUE CLARKE THE VOORHEES CUP For the all-around athlete who has also shown good sportsmanship and school spirit at all times during her years at The Ethel Walker School. ASHLEY-VICTORIA C. MIHELIS

Stephen Dunn, Assistant Head, and Harvard-bound Monet Clarke

THE MERITORIOUS EFFORT CUP Honors a senior who has worked conscientiously towards improving her skills in athletics. She has outstanding spirit, enthusiasm and determination. MICHELLE ELIZABETH COSTER THE VARSITY CLUB AWARD For the student who has received 12 Varsity Letters in Four Years in the Upper School. MICHELLE ELIZABETH COSTER THE WILLIAM C. LICKLE ATHLETIC CUP Awarded yearly to a student whose skill and accomplishment in athletics has brought recognition to herself and to the School. LENA SPRINGER THE WILLIAM C. LICKLE CUP TO HONOR FRANK O.H. WILLIAMS This award acknowledges outstanding achievement in riding and scholastic endeavors. EDA ELEANOR BELL THE COMMUNITY SERVICE PRIZE Awarded in recognition of the student who contributes substantially to the Community Service program at Ethel Walker over the course of her career here. MELODY ROSE ALTSCHULER THE CICERONE SOCIETY PRIZE This young woman demonstrates the passion and dedication that is necessary to be a superb Cicerone. HOYEUN KIM THE MARGARET MALLORY CUP For the “New Girl” whose spirit in work, conduct and athletics has been most distinguished. ELLA ROSS

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THE EMILY CLUETT PRIZE FOR COURAGE AND FORTITUDE Awarded to a senior who has the courage to stand up for truth and the fortitude to meet the challenges of everyday life. DAHIANA ACOSTA THE CUMMINGS PRIZE Awarded to a senior who has made a contribution to the school, especially among the underclasswomen, by encouraging, through example, an atmosphere of willing helpfulness, courtesy, and friendliness. KAYLA ALEXIS MONROE

THE BRUNHILDE GRASSI CUP For the student who has shown the most sustained good spirit in academic work, athletics and community living. JIANNA FOOTMAN THE CLARISSA GREEN CUP For the “Old Girl” who has done the most toward creating good school spirit. SAMANTHA GONZALEZ THE HELEN BLAIR MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR RARE QUALITIES OF CHARACTER Given to a senior who has shown gentleness, serenity, and sensitivity during her time at Walker’s. JORDANA MONET SHENEQUE CLARKE THE BARBARA AND ELIZABETH BYRNES MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR EFFORT AND ACHIEVEMENT Awarded to that senior who has always tried to do her best, who has shown unusual determination and resourcefulness, and who has left her mark in many areas of school life. DEBORAH ALSEN PLACE

THE ISABEL JACKSON MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR FAITHFULNESS AND DEPENDABILITY Awarded to a young woman who has shown a strong sense of responsibility and who has lived up to her obligations in all phases of school life. MARQUITA IMANI-YAA AMOAH THE CATHERINE HENDERSON MURTAUGH PRIZE Awarded to a student who has acted on her potential by demonstrating transformation, by discovering the ability to transcend earlier patterns or limitations. She has achieved intellectual and scholastic transformation, emerged and contributed in leadership and service to the community, and enhanced her own life from a passion that gives her pleasure. MELODY ROSE ALTSCHULER THE CARY PAGE MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR VERSATILITY Awarded to a student who uses her aptitudes generously for the good or pleasure of others. LAINEY NICOLE BATTISTON

THE HENRY B. SARGENT M E M O R I A L P R I Z E FOR KINDLINESS AND GOOD FELLOWSHIP Awarded to a senior who is happy, generous, outgoing, and constructive and who uses her gifts positively for others. DELE RACHEL ODUMOSU THE ALISON STONE MEMORIAL PRIZE Awarded to a student who has recognized the resources of the school and who has challenged herself fully within our community. ADRIANA JUSTINE BORGES THE TRUSTEES’ PRIZE The Trustees’ Prize goes to a girl who embodies the attitude with which we hope every Ethel Walker student carries herself. This award recognizes not only participation in many aspects of school life, but also outstanding achievement in these areas. This year, the Trustees’ award goes to a student who embodies excellence in not only her academic record, but also in athletics, service to the community, and her role as a student leader. Whether hammering nails on a Habitat trip or spikes on the volleyball court, her enthusiasm for school life is felt by all. She has given herself to the school in many ways, and for this gift, we are honored to present her with the Trustees’ Prize. KELSEY ANNE SHELTON THE FACULTY PRIZE For intellectual curiosity, fervor for learning, and unwavering optimism and enthusiasm. BASAK OZTAHTACI THE ALUMNAE BOARD PRIZE For a Senior who has demonstrated a concern for issues of social inequality. TAHARA SYMONE JORDAN

Middle School Promotion Ceremony While the Upper School celebrated its 100th commencement in June, the Middle School celebrated its 22nd Promotion Ceremony this year. On a picture-perfect evening in early June, 11 eighth graders processed into the Chapel in front of proud parents, faculty, and Upper School students. Dean of Faculty, Upper and Middle Schools Wendy Allerton P’16 spoke. Then the eighth-grade advisors stood to present each girl with her promotion certificate, along with remarks about

The following awards were presented: HIGHEST ACADEMIC AVERAGE

CITIZENSHIP AWARD

LIAN NICHOLSON

her, a warm embrace, and best wishes

7th grade: IDABELLE PATERSON

GWEN COUCH AWARD

for her Upper School journey.

8th grade: ISABEL BEEMAN

GITA NODOUSHANI

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The Class of 2012 – College Bound Despite the challenging landscape of college admission today, our Walker’s graduates continue to collect offers from selective colleges all over the country. Guided by their adventurous spirit and unwillingness to follow in the path of others, this year’s class of 41 submitted 354 applications to 197 different colleges. Our 41 graduates will attend 38 different colleges.

Dahiana Acosta

Colgate University

Sydney Hansen

University of Hartford

Melody Altschuler

Bates College (Gap Year: Del Viso

Sihyun Joo

University of Illinois

Tahara Jordan

Florida A&M University

Day School & Islands International School, Argentina)

Urbana-Champaign

Marquita Amoah

Barnard College

Chai-Lin Kim

Syracuse University

Sarah Baron

Western New England University

Hoyeun Kim

Texas A&M University

Lainey Battiston

Colby College (Gap Year:

Hye Jin Kim

Carnegie Mellon University

Emily Mainolfi

College of Charleston Clark University

Rydal Pernhos School, Wales) Eda Bell

College of Wooster

Courtney Meheran

Katherine Bilgore

Oxford College of Emory University

Ashley-Victoria Mihelis University of Hartford

Adriana Borges

Pepperdine University

Kayla Monroe

Hampton University

Casey Brottman

Rhodes College

Chiko Nakajima

Will be applying to colleges in Japan

Julia Marie Castro

Suffolk University

Heidi Odenwaelder

Western Connecticut

Jordana Clarke

Harvard University

Michelle Coster

Central Connecticut State University

Dele Odumosu

North Carolina A&T State University

LoAles Cruz

Nyack College

Soo Bin Park

University of Southern California

Laura Diamond

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Deborah Place

Smith College

Hannah Fasano

Iona College

Kelsey Shelton

Baylor University

Alejandra Feliz

Boston University

Samantha Siegel

Suffolk University

Julia Fowler

Southern Methodist University

Alexandra Silver

Michigan State University

Allison Talbot

University of Washington

(Gap Year: riding)

State University

Ema Graham

University of New Haven

Eleanor Thacher

University of Redlands

Marisa Greshin

Marist College

Bingxin Xu

Boston University

Emma Grimes

Bentley University

SUMMER 2012

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A B O U T

Young Alumnae Pizza Party, January 4, 2012

Seattle, WA, February 25, 2012

Each year, Walker’s welcomes college-age alumnae who

with Seattle-area alumnae and parents. Bessie was

Head of School Bessie Speers and Tom Speers gathered

are on winter break back to campus. In addition to

attending a conference of The National Association for

catching up with each other, these alumnae shared their

Principals of Girls Schools. The event was hosted by

perspectives and experiences in a panel discussion with

Margaret and Randy Talbot, P’12.

EWS seniors.

From the class of 2011: Kelsey Ballard, Samantha Thomas, Emily Kessler, Kelsey Byrne, Connie Wall, Charlotte Hughes

Jacqueline “Jacquie” Marx Barnett ’51, Bessie Speers, Wayne Barnett

Ashleigh Stephan ’11, Brennan Maine ’09, Sydney Satchell ’10

Tom Lee, Gretchen Dingman ’72, Elizabeth Frady ’82, Margaret and Randy Talbot P’12

Stay connected and learn about upcoming Alumnae Events on Facebook

facebook.com/ethelwalkerschool and Twitter @ethelwalkersch

Help us reach 1,000 “likes” on Facebook The 1,000th person to like us will receive a surprise gift from the School.

Fiona Cox ’89 and her friend Candace Wilkerson

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Hartford, CT, March 6, 2012

A B O U T

San Francisco, CA, April 2, 2012

An event at the Connecticut Governor’s Mansion raised funds for Grace Academy, a tuition-free girls’ middle school serving Hartford students. EWS Dean of Upper and Middle Schools/Faculty Wendy Allerton serves as the Grace Academy Board Chair.

Governor Dannel Malloy, right, greets Head of School Bessie Speers and Tom Speers.

Several Walker's alumnae gathered to catch up and hear an update on the school from EWS Development Office staff member Heidi McCann (not pictured). From left, Cynthia "Cindy" Higgins Roby '64, Martha Scott Mouer '69, Gillian "Jill" Reighley Christensen '69 (hostess).

Charleston, SC, March 29, 2012

Alumnae Perspectives, May 12, 2012

EWS Alumnae Board members Ailsa Veit Foulke ’87 and

Several alumnae returned to campus to participate in the

Carter Margison ’07 hosted a tour and luncheon for Walker’s

Alumnae Perspectives Panel designed to offer career

alumnae, parents, and friends at Middleton Place, a historic

insights to the junior and senior classes. The annual event

rice plantation with extensive and impressive gardens.

is organized and hosted by the Alumnae Board. This year, three EWS alumnae generously donated their time to visit campus and take part in the panel, whose theme was “Careers in Health and Wellness.”

From left, Ailsa Veit Foulke ’87, EWS Director of Development Pamela Churchill, Lee Donovan, Cathy McKee Donovan ’68, Liz Nash Muench ’55, Mimi Morrison Harrison ’93, Lane Morrison P’93, and Adam, tour guide.

From left, Preeti Pathela ’89, Research Scientist, New York City Department of Health; Staley Cayce Sednaoui ’76, Certiﬁed Nutritional Counselor; Catherine Terry Taylor ’79, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs

Clockwise from far left, Carter Margison ’07, Margot Campbell Bogert ’60, Lucy Livingston, Ailsa Veit Foulke ’87, Pat Cole, Cynthia “Cynny” Smith Evanisko ’71, Helen Clement GP ’13, Carol Clement P’13

Are you an alum who would like to participate in a future Alumnae Perspectives? Contact Eleanor Barnes, Director of Alumnae Relations, at 860-408-4254. SUMMER 2012

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F R O M

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B O A R D

When I was at Walker’s, we led a cloistered, somewhat insular existence. Today’s Walker’s girls are women of the world—from summers abroad to community service to attending a conference on social entrepreneurship at Middlebury College. This year Walker’s students participated in the Connecticut Poetry Contest, reciting poems in Chinese, French, German, Latin, Portuguese, and ancient Greek. Five of our girls won medals for being the best in their language. In fall 2012, Walker’s will officially become an iPad school enabling the faculty to implement the most innovative and effective technologies in the classroom. (Visit the feature section of this issue to learn more about the iPad program and other innovative teaching and learning strategies.) For those alumnae who have iPads or other Internet access, I encourage you to stay in touch with our Walker’s Women of the World through our website and our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

“I encourage you to stay in touch with our Walker’s Women of the World through our website and our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.”

Celeste Royall Niarchos ’64 PRESIDENT, ALUMNAE BOARD

The first 100 alumnae to send us an updated email address will receive a Centennial Book, compliments of EWS! Send an email to alumnae@ethelwalker.org or call Eleanor Barnes, Director of Alumnae Relations, at 860-408-4254.

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P R E S I D E N T

Take Note 1936

firing full bore, and she is able to enjoy the lives of her three children, six grandchildren, and two (and a half ) great grandchildren. One is a girl; maybe a third generation Walker’s girl? (Submitted by Elise’s daughter, Cynthia “Cindy” Higgins Roby ’64.)

1941 Elizabeth “Betty” Carpenter Davis 745 Hollow Road Staatsburg, NY 12580-6327 845-266-5149

1942 Sylvia Breed Gates 01659 SW Greenwood Road Portland, OR 97219-8301 503-636-6305 sylviagates@comcast.net

1943

REUNION

Caroline “Carel” Berry Laporte 5 Timber Lane, Apt. 222 Exeter, NH 03833-5334 603-658-7041 clapor@verizon.net

The Class of 1936 and the Ethel Walker community mourn the passing of Ann “Nancy” Hemingway Watson Symington. Her classmates wrote the

1944

following in their senior year Pepperpot: “Though only with us for one year, her generosity and willingness immediately found her a place on the Social Service Committee, as well as in our class; and her all round adaptability has brought her very far.” Nancy spent much of her time in service to others. While her husband was the U.S. Ambassador to France, Nancy was awarded the French Legion d’Honneur for her restoration of the Embassy residence to its former elegance and for her extraordinary service. Nancy served on the Board of Trustees at Hotchkiss School. Here at Walker’s, The Symington Science Center is named in her honor. Nancy is survived by her six children, including Ann Watson Bresnahan ’69, and 20 grandchildren. She will always be remembered for her frank wit, her compassion, her determination, her sheer joy of life, her love of family, and the many dear friends whom she enchanted with her sparkling blue eyes.

Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1940 Elise Farley Higgins deals with the

indignities of Parkinson’s disease that inhibit her physically, but her brain is

1945

The Class of 1941 and The Ethel Walker community mourn the loss of Barbara McClurg Potter. In her senior year Pepperpot, her classmates voted Barbara most sophisticated and most striking. She was active and accomplished in nearly every sport at Walker’s, even earning her pilot’s license while still a teenager. After graduating from Smith College, she volunteered with the Frontier Nursing Association in Appalachia. She worked for the Central Intelligence Agency during the Korean War, never divulging the details of her work, even to her family. Barbara was a lifelong Chicagoan and gave back in many ways to the city’s environmental, historic, and medical institutions. She is survived by her daughter, Helen Potter Wagner ’75, and her sons, Charlie and Trevor, her stepdaughter Barbara Potter, and six grandchildren.

Martha “Molly” Darling Bell 363 East 76th Street, Apt. 19C New York, NY 10021-2436 212-744-8264 molly@kirkpalmer.com Margaret “Margie” Auger Kennerly

says that life goes on pretty much as always with winters in Naples, FL, and summers in Connecticut continuing for many years. This year her only grandchild, Lisa, goes off to college, making Margie feel very ancient. Heloise Bacon Power, with a few

creaks and cracks, mentions she is still here. She adds it is always a joy to get together with Dorothy “Dottie” Hirsch Loebl and Hannah Grifﬁth Bradley at Hannah’s midway spot with its splendid landscape and inspiring views to the beach and the ocean, in Santa Barbara, CA. Sophie Chandler Consagra sent

regrets that she missed the Centennial. Sarah “Sally” Darling Wimmer feels

that Ethel Walker would have been pleased and proud to celebrate the 100th at the school she founded. Sally and I SUMMER 2012

Take Note agree that the solid education we received at the school prepared us very well. Without it we would never have made college. Dottie Hirsch Loebl writes that she stays in touch with lots of our classmates, but mostly sees Heloise and Hannah in Santa Barbara. She has traveled to Chicago, Oregon, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz to see relatives and friends, but that pesky sciatica restricts her mobility. However, she adds that her friends are patient with her. Payne Payson Middleton writes from South Carolina where she spends February and March as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas with as many children and grandchildren as can come. She says she is of the age where there should be great grandchildren, but her youngest daughter, age 44, just had a son and Payne’s oldest grandson, 25, has no intention of being married. Jean Reddy Armour was delighted and honored to have Bessie Spears for lunch in her little garden in Florida in early March and says, “What a spokesman for the school.” Jean adds, “Living in Florida is like running a small hotel with visitors in and out for great winter weather.” Dosia Smith Casey says she is sorry for not being in touch more often. She is involved with her Christian activities and her husband’s business as well as her children and grandchildren. Her husband is 91 and still going strong. She is nearly 85 and is very active even though she has had CHF since 2001, but adds the Lord has been good to her. She stays in touch with Penelope “Penny” Hall Porter and even visited her a few years ago. It was great fun getting together. Dosia ended, “with blessings to all.”

with their children and their spouses: Yuvonnia and Aubrey, then Barbara and Carl, and Ronnie and Tim. The hurricane and early snow raised havoc with trees and their fence, which had to be replaced. They both enjoy reading; Rosalind prefers romance fiction and Clint, history and some adventure fiction. I hope they have not given up bridge. Sally Wells Whiteley writes that Bessie

Speers was in Santa Fe, NM, the weekend of March 23-25 attending a conference and stopped in Taos to see Grace McGraw Parr. Sally took them to a restaurant for an elegant dinner and had a very nice visit. As she writes, Sally says they are having a spring snowstorm, “great moisture.” Jane Cole Graves writes, “All is quiet here in the country. Texas has had a terrible year: no rain, fires everywhere, and very hot summer. We are in the expected shape for our age—a bit lame but glad to be here. One grandson is at Stanford—hard to believe. Life has gone fast. Three other grandsons; I love having them visit.” Molly Darling Bell writes, “All is well with the Bells. Hope you all have a good summer.”

1946 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1947 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1948

Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1949 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1950 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1951 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Leonor Lobo de Gonzalez shares, “This past year has been fairly uneventful; many family and friends to visit all summer long, a short trip to Northeast Harbor, ME, and a visit to Emily Dickinson’s home in Amherst, MA, and Edna St. Vincent Millay’s home in Steepletop, NY.

Frederica “Freddie” Schaefer Wright is happy to report that she is in

good health and still lives between Fort Wayne, IN, and Pentwater, MI. She gave up tennis two years ago and is now occupied with sculpture, knitting, and water aerobics. Rosalind “Roz” Shaw Kornegay and

husband Clint enjoyed visits in the fall 52

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REUNION

Leonor Lobo de Gonzalez ’51 and her son Boris in Spain

Take Note “This past October, my son Boris and I went to take the ashes of my dear husband, Jorge, to his home in Jerez, de la Frontera, Spain. There was a moving ceremony at the cemetery and a heartwarming, perfectly lovely reception for the family in the ancestral home. “Now planning for winter and the upand-coming Latin American show at the Vero Beach Museum of Art in 2014 with which I will be much involved. Aside from all of this, my favorite pastime is still reading . . . reading and more reading. Wouldn’t Miss Waite be happy to see me re-reading her beloved Milton and Keats? Such joy to finally have the time for all of it. At last!!! “My son and I are healthy, happy, and glad to be living in this charming community. And by the way, if any of you are ever in the vicinity, my son has a charming boutique hotel (The Caribbean Court) on the beach with the very best restaurant (Maison Martinique) from Palm Beach to Orlando. Otherwise, my son is very busy with his Gonzalez Recovery Homes for recovering alcoholics and others with substance abuse issues.”

1952 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1953

REUNION

Susan “Susie” Kleinhans Gilbertson 18 Buttonwood Lane Rumson, NJ 07760-1008 732-842-2057 SWVG@comcast.net Elaine Dominguez Rawlinson writes,

“I am lucky; I have lots of friends and am busy with the family. My main hobby remains opera, and I am off on a wonderful trip to Vienna after Easter to see three great performances . . . Werther, Boris, and The Rosenkavalier. I am a supporter of many small opera companies in the UK. I help young singers to continue their training.

“My eldest granddaughter, Delilah, has a talent; she sings, composes, and performs her music. She is only 14, but I think we have a future star. My daughter, Angie, Delilah’s mother, has just achieved her MA in Creative Writing from Chichester University and may go on to teach. My boys are doing well. Michael does wonderful work with his BA in alternative medicine; Anthony is a banker at Coutts, London Strand, covering the Middle East. I am very involved with all their lives, which is so nice for me. Michael’s Sophie, 8, and Peter, 7, do well at school. Anthony’s Isadora, 9, is a star pupil as she is good at everything. The best thing is that they do not take after their grandmother’s pretty bad academic record!!!!!!!! I visit my brother Luis Dominguez in Florence; he has made his life there, so again I am lucky to go over quite often.” Quarrier “Q” Bloch Cook shares, “I am in Boca Grande and Phil and I had dinner with Nancie Magee Bourne and her husband, Jim; it was great fun to pick up where we left off years ago. I missed Bessie Speers in Santa Fe when we were here (in Florida). I look forward to having our paths cross sometime as I hear such great things about her. We give our guesthouse to the EWS auction every year and have had such fun people buy it. Hope to have a ’53er do that some year.” Suzanne “Suzy” Patterson is recovering slowly but nicely from hip surgery in Paris. Good she’s out of the hospital as her view was of the famous Sante Prison, making her feel quite like a prisoner herself. At the hospital, there was another view of gardens and a church spire that were much more inspirational. Suzy says it was fun to see

the Vassar College Sesquicentennial and maybe catch a glimpse of Bobbie Bennett. Bobbie and Bob Bennett were in Florida this winter for about a week for some sun and golf. Joan Grafmueller Grier writes, “We

have had a very busy winter, having sponsored our third Jazz Concert for PBS. This one had almost 1,000 people and featured the Broadway star Ben Vereen. He is the most splendid performer—very versatile—and so generous spirited. He is what is known as a “Bob Fosse Dancer” and has the most fabulous singing voice. The Colorado Ballet did a piece with him as well as other jazz groups from Denver. It was such an evening, as if an invisible balloon lifted everyone up. All of this took place in the face of the largest snowstorm for the month of February in the history of the state. Twenty-two inches of snow fell the day of the concert but the evening was a smashing success. We continue to go to Carmel twice a year and absolutely love it, along with Maine in the fall. I am taking courses to learn how to become a public speaker and am working on licensing a couple of products.” Helen “Henny” Frost Hale shares,

“Bill and I saw A. R. (Pete) Gurney’s “The Dining Room” a few days ago in nearby Walpole, NH. We had seen it years ago and were immensely glad to see it again. It is a wonderful play about life in Buffalo, NY. My EWS roommate junior year, Mary “Molly” Goodyear Gurney, is married to A.R. Gurney. We also saw one of his other plays, “Sylvia,” again here in Keene, NH, a couple of years ago, as we had in New York in the 1990s. We love his plays!”

Roberta “Bobbie” Gerstell Bennett’s

Susie Gilbertson shares, “I am most

daughter, Laura, at the red-carpet/ champagne opening of the International Salon of drawings and etchings (Salon du Dessin, Paris) March 27, in the elegant Palais de la Bourse (former Stock Exchange). Laura was a charming hostess at the W.M. Brady Gallery exhibition before returning to New York City, where she is a co-director of the gallery with Mark Brady. Suzy’s hoping to go to

fortunate to be in a hub for winter and early spring travelers from EWS. Pamela Price Houk and her husband, George, were in Delray for a couple of days and we had dinner together thanks to the kindness of Anne “Annie” Sherer Paddock and her husband, Ben. George Houk is busy finishing up a definitive book on chamber music. The Houks are a most accomplished couple. SUMMER 2012

Take Note “Annie Paddock also has joined my cherished music appreciation class. We have an amazing teacher and a really nice group of classmates—fun! Mary Schwerin Ritter is also in the class. We of EWS just can’t stop going to school!! Mary is back from California where she was staying with her daughter Nina. It’s great she’s back. We’ve been to some concerts and lectures. Mary is looking forward to a visit from her granddaughter, Morgan, soon. “I also caught up with Constance “Connie” Neher Purcell when we had a date with Jane Bradford from the EWS Development Office, which never materialized because Jane got caught in a flash flood during a severe rainstorm and was unable to move beyond West Palm Beach. Connie and I managed to wade in to the restaurant in water almost up to our knees! And, of course, being Florida, it all drained off and the sun came out in about an hour! Connie is very involved with the fundraising campaign for Bethesda’s continued restoration. The church was built in the ’20s along with other major buildings here and after 80plus years needs serious attention because of over-exposure to salt air and water. “I had a great visit from Louise “Lisa” Miller McElhinny and her husband, Wilson. We spent the afternoon together and got caught up on kids, aches and pains, and general reminiscing. They both look great and were traveling to St. Augustine to visit two granddaughters in college there. My brother Lew was here in January with his wife, which was great. They enjoyed the sunshine because the mild weather hadn’t yet settled in up north. “My daughter Alison is coming with her husband and family the first week in April, which is always fun. Hope the great weather holds. Speaking of weather, my youngest son, Peter, called me while on his way from Phoenix to Sedona (to visit my oldest son, Carl) yesterday, and he was driving in a blizzard—only to be greeted by 8 inches of snow in Sedona. Meanwhile, he had been on the phone with my son-in-law back in New Hampshire where it was 84 degrees! This 54

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was on March 18! Hope you all have a healthy and fine summer. Let’s hope the oven effect doesn’t continue.”

1954 Betty Richards Tripp 18 School Street Stonington, CT 06378 860-535-0432 bettyrichards36@gmail.com

1955 Letitia “Tisha” McClure Potter 44 Rockwood Lane Greenwich, CT 06830 203-869-6069 LMPotter@earthlink.net Greetings to all and thank you to those who have sent me news. It is always a thrill to hear from you. And for those of you who remain silent, please send news. I am saddened to report that Deborah “Debby” Williams MacKenzie passed away on May 11, 2012. Her unquenchable spirit of joy and commitment lives on in the memories of her classmates and many who were very close friends throughout the years. To her family and her beloved friends we send our

sympathy and love. Further on in this column is an entry and photo of a wonderful day had by Debby, Liz, and Dicky in Captiva early in the spring. Debby lived life to its fullest. Elizabeth “BJ” Russell Broda sent

me special news of her oldest grandson, Sage, a freshman in high school, who was recruited by scouts as a hockey goalie to attend the Canadian National Hockey Academy just outside of Ottawa, just three weeks before he was to go to the high school where his mother had been a student in Marietta, Georgia. Now he will need extra sweaters for the north. Congratulations, Sage. Easter was a busy time for BJ, as she works on the Flower Guild at her church. While in Georgia, BJ enjoys spending lots of time with her fifth-grade grandson and his dog. Then in July and August BJ will be back in Connecticut and New York where she can catch up with her northern sons and their families. All is well with Natalie “Lee” Fesenmyer Emery, who is glad to be driving at road-racing tracks and teaching teenagers safe, defensive driving. Lee is fortunate to have her two children living nearby. A call from Suzanne “Suki” Holmes Welch revealed she was delighted to spend time in Phoenix this winter. Her

Dicky Barlett Peers ’55, Debby Williams MacKenzie ’55, and Liz Nash Muench ’55

Take Note four daughters are spread all over the U.S., in Maine, Connecticut, Colorado, and Montana; however, she manages to see them all. She crows that Jake, her eldest grandson, is a very gifted athlete. In her town there is a compatible group of 18 women, 13 or 14 of whom meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week for coffee, which she thoroughly enjoys. After trying to get together, Suki had a nice visit with Mary Emily “Emmy” Alexander Kerney, who lives nearby. I saw “Debby” Williams MacKenzie briefly in New York this winter at the Walker’s Trustees Meeting. This year the winter on Captiva, FL, was superb and she entertained a slew of friends and family. Elizabeth “Liz” Nash Muench and Mary-Dixon “Dicky” Barlett Peers went over for lunch and a boat ride. The photo on page 54 shows them on top of a mizzen, an ancient shell mound thousands of years old, located on an island near Captiva. Mary-Dixon “Dicky” Barlett Peers

spends much of the year in Sanibel Island, not far from Debby on Captiva, but she feels it is just not close enough. She loved being with Liz, Debby, and David for a day. “Yes, our classmates are both wonderful and lovely to be with.” Dicky goes on to report, she has “eight grands from 5 to 21 in Maryland (soon to be California), New Jersey, and Massachusetts. We all get together at least twice a year . . . so much fun! Such precious moments!!!!! Yes, I sort of play bridge, trying to learn the new rules, as I learned bridge in the five-minute breaks between classes in college—not a good start! “Bessie stopped by to see us during EWS spring break. She is a wonder and has done wonderful things for Walker’s. The girls are so lucky to be led by her.” Bryan Nash Gill, Liz Muench’s son, just published a book, Woodcut (Princeton Architectural Press), featuring large-scale relief prints made from crosssections of trees. Gill’s book contains 100 color illustrations of his work, which encompasses works on paper, abstract sculpture, and installations inspired by nature. Recently, he has had shows in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and

of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which involves regular visits to Washington, D.C. Her grandsons Chauncey and Oliver are ski racing in the J4 program in New Hampshire, showing signs of following their Olympic mother, Edie, down a path of ski racing. The eldest at 12 qualified for the Eastern and Can Am series, usually reserved for older competitors. Impressive!

Hope “Piki” Nestares Van Havermeier ’81, (daughter of Jean Hope Phelps Nestares ’55) and Liz Nash Muench ’55 rekindle their friendship after many years. Piki has recently moved to NYC with her husband and two sons after living in Paris for many years. She is a successful artist and photographer.

Colorado, to name a few. You will remember he hosted our 50th reunion dinner in his studio and house, where he and Gina, his wife, cooked a fine gourmet dinner. On an April Sunday I found mention of his book in the New York Times Art Section. Liz, you must be so proud. Our Carol Large Calhoun has been painting more now that peripheral neuropathy of her ankle has sidelined her tennis and paddle games. Her paintings are on exhibit in a nearby Vermont gallery and are enjoying brisk sales. She is a good sport. Carol’s suppressed desire is “to be in a position to be Lady Bountiful. More recently I’d like to be VERY famous and SO respected that I could put my name to a favorite cause— like women and girls globally—and with that single gesture make it soar!” In fact, we have many good sports in our class. This past fall Tania Goss Evans fractured her heel by stepping in a badger hole while shooting in one of the Dakotas. No weight bearing on that leg for three months kept her close to the hearth in Vermont. Spring must be very welcome. Tania continues her interest in art and art history. For the last eight years she has served as a Commissioner

I heard from Terese “Terry” Treman Williams, who, you remember, fractured her ankle a year ago in March. Three surgeries, a fused ankle, and a year later, she has finally graduated to a boot (at this writing) and is able to get around. Terry, we wish you a speedy recovery. On a happier note Terry enjoyed gathering Liz Muench, Marguerite “Meg” Doubleday Buck, and Susan “Susie” Salant Wierdsma for lunch during the

Charleston (SC) Antiques Show this spring. Terry is delighted to be in a town house in Charleston, not far from daughter Margot Treman Rose ’80. I was thrilled to hear from Glenna Holleran Ottley, who called during a visit to Connecticut. Her daughter Leiland lives in Darien and balances working in finance with raising a family. She happened, fortunately, to sell her company just before the downturn and will continue to work there for a while. Glenna is doing well dividing her time between Florida and Idaho where two of her children, Heidi and Gray, live. She enjoys playing in golf tournaments, having triumphed over a fused ankle. Glenna and Phil are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and 75th birthdays this year. To mark the occasions the whole family is going to Turkey, from Istanbul to Cappadocia, including time sailing the coast in a gullet. Congratulations, have a grand time. In remembrance, belatedly, I add some further information about Susan Findlay Cathey, who passed away in 2010. Susan loved horses and riding, winning a Maclay Trophy, competing in Madison Square Garden and in Ireland, and as a spectator enjoying horse shows after her riding days were over. A Finch College graduate, in1963 she married Sterling Eugene Cathey, a Korean War SUMMER 2012

Take Note veteran, intelligence officer, and General Counsel of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New York, who passed away in 2004. Her beloved family includes a daughter, Dina Cathey Millard ’79, and her two children, and a son, John M. Cathey, his wife, Catherine, and their five children. In addition to her family, Susan adored her cocker spaniels and her life in Florida where she finally settled full time in 1986. An expert in needlepoint, she stitched flowers and dogs, her favorite subjects. From Walker’s years I still have a mental picture of Susan riding her beautiful grey hunter, Blue Jean. Until next time, keep well. Tisha McClure Potter

1956 Adrianne Massie Hill 2771 Peachtree Road N.E. #10 Atlanta, GA 30305 travelinghills@yahoo.com Thanks so much for sending your notes back to me by email; my voice has returned but it would have been a push to complete everything. And the selection of books was very interesting and eclectic, as you will see! (See sidebar at right.) Since the Centennial celebration at school, I have received notes and emails from schoolmates in other classes. It may be a custom that will continue. Dorothy Doubleday Massey sent a

very interesting note in February about her work and activities in Santa Fe, NM, which I would like to share with you. You may recall that I had written earlier about the shop that Dorothy and her daughter, Mary, own jointly, the Collected Works Bookstore and Coffee Shoppe. It is thriving as an independent shop right in the heart of the city. Patricia “Pat” Love Anderson and I have both had the pleasure of seeing how Dorothy has not only logically arranged the items that are for sale, but has also engaged staff who are well-informed about the inventory. I highly recommend a visit if you are in Santa Fe. The website for the shop is very attractive. Dorothy’s grandson, Jackson Bramley Wolf, turned 56

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2 in December and is “the light of my life.” Dorothy lives just a few hundred yards from Mary and Sam with welcoming arms. Dorothy’s son, Paul, recently joined them all for a week’s stay.

“Frannie” Haffner Colburn ’54, and assorted grandchildren. The Andrews plan to attend L.A.’s reunion at Brooks, quickly visit with Frannie, and then on to London and Normandy with two grandsons, children of Louise and Matt.

Marlene “Mandy” Marx Twaddell

and I had a lively email conversation. Mandy was very close to Rosi Grunschlag, who attended the Centennial and was surrounded by her former happy students; I only wish that Mandy had been there as well. Apparently, there is a British documentary about Toni and Rosi but I have not yet found it.

Barbara Bidwell Manuel sent a very

nice note right after the Centennial. Most incredibly, she broke her hip on the second day of her trip to a symposium in Africa! However, intrepid as she is, she went on to participate in the symposium, which she gave on behalf of her church. She said that she was healing without event.

Aileen “Missy” Turnbull Geddes

wrote a delightful note about their many grandchildren, one about to go off to college and another one following next. The Geddesses keep their handicaps on the low side and have enjoyed playing on some great courses here and abroad.

Clarina Schwarzenbach Firmenich

wrote a long note, commenting on the economic “mess” in which we and Europe are living with no solution in sight. Lots of talk but little action, say I. Clarina’s son Patrick is working for the Firmenich Company, which faces the problem of a very strong Swiss franc. Clarina and her family traveled to Mauritius for the Christmas holidays, joining her other son, Antoine, his wife, Christina, and the girls. Antoine and his

Phoebe Haffner Andrew sent a good letter right after the Centennial; she was sorry to have missed our gathering. In place of that, Phoebe and Lucius took a beautiful trip east of Seattle, spent a night in Walla Walla where excellent Whitman College is When Adrianne Massie Hill asked fellow members of the located, then wandered Class of 1956 about their reading, she received these book through the beautiful recommendations: mountains in Mary Jo Laﬂin Field: Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. Washington and Idaho, James; How it all Began by Penelope Lively which were full of color, and finally Serena Stewart: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by visited with her Rebecca Skloot; The Biography of Steve Jobs by Walter daughter, Louise, in Issacson Sun Valley. I can’t resist Virginia “Gigi” Pearson Smithers: The Help by Kathryn putting in my two Stockett cents’ worth about the beauty of the Jean Fonda Shank: Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle Northwest: the trees, Margaret “Peg” Peck Shank: Jamrach’s Menagerie by many green all year, Carol Birch; Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler; and the mountains, Disgrace by J.M. Coetze; Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas; The usually with a trace of Face-Changers by Thomas Perry; The Night Circus by Erin snow during the winter Morgenstern leave us with vivid memories from our Dorothy Doubleday Massey: Peter the Great by R.K. many years living in Massie; Catherine the Great by R.K. Massie; Berlin Diary by Seattle. Phoebe and W.L. Shirer; Citizens of London by L. Olson; In the Garden L.A. spend February of Beasts by Erik Larson; Following Atticus by Tom Ryan and March in San Jose Aileen “Missy” Turnbull Geddes: The Invisible Bridge Del Cabo joined by her by Julie Orringer; Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff sister, Frances

Take Note family live in Singapore, so to visit with them is always a special treat. Nancy Lanphier Chapin wrote a very

cherry note after the Centennial, “Reunions bring friends together as well as providing a chance to make new friends.” I would agree with that as I have had several emails and phone calls from members of other classes. I wish that we could do something like the Centennial again or at least have several classes reunite at the same time.” Virginia “Gigi” Pearson Smithers and

I have had several phone calls and emails in recent weeks. She and Gail Sheppard Moloney recently had lunch together in Vero Beach. Phil Moloney, Gail’s husband, especially should be rewarded for attending some of our gatherings! Patricia Love Anderson sent a

wonderful Christmas letter with pictures that I so greatly appreciate. In February she and her husband, Derek, drove to the Hopi Nation in Arizona to watch the return of the Kachinas from their winter homes, called kivas. Although the weather was very cold when they were there, the Kachina who represents spring and good crops appeared in full costume, later followed by the rest of the village dressed in their native dress. Pat’s husband is particularly interested in Dave Brubeck, one of my favorite musicians. It is possible that the magnificent mahogany bar that the Andersons own, may have belonged to Dave Brubeck’s grandfather. Pat, please let us know! Edith “Edie” Radley and I emailed

back and forth several times. She remains a loyal choir member in her church in Edgartown, MA. Edie arranges her holidays so that she can spend them with her niece, Katy Gray, and her family. Mary Laird Silvia writes that she and her husband, Pete, are all settled in their new house in Pennsylvania. We wish that Mary would return to Atlanta to see her nephew so that we might see her, too.

In keeping with the era of “full disclosure,” Serena Stewart sent a

most amusing note that I am passing on to you! “Our esteemed class secretary, Adrianne Hill, and I are mutually addicted to Words with Friends on our iPads. It’s a great way to keep in touch and text while playing a form of Scrabble at the same time.” Serena is REALLY GOOD! We are having a lot of fun. Serena enjoyed a beautiful cruise with a good friend on the National Geographic Explorer in the Baltic Sea. She wrote, “Looking at the passenger list, I saw as a first name, ‘Q’. I wondered how many Qs there are in the world. It was Quarrier “Q” Bloch Cook, another Walker’s alumna, who graduated in 1953.” Linen Miller Greenough sent a lovely Christmas card with Santa on one horse and his pack of gifts on the second. The picture was surrounded by embossed snowy trees. For interest, the organization is Leanin’ Tree, with a website and museum. Linen lives in Sheridan, WY, where she and her husband, Doug, have a working ranch with family members nearby. There are times when I wish that the United States was not as large as it is; our class really goes from coast to coast.

The Hills celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in New York in October (where we met at the Blue Hill Troupe) and could not have enjoyed ourselves more. It’s fun to follow our footsteps of old as memories come flooding back. In August we spent a few weeks in our beloved Seattle and have plans to spend the month of July there this year. At home we continue as active volunteer singers in the Cathedral Choir and I in a small choir, “Schola,” which sings the Evensong service every Sunday. We are still volunteer readers for the Georgia Radio Reading Service for the Blind and Print-Impaired, and I must say that it leads us to books we otherwise would not be reading. Our program is entitled “Classic Books” and airs for an hour every Saturday and Sunday. Tennis racquet still in hand, I’ve met some very nice gals by playing with them. The younger Hills are just around the corner, which is very nice for us.

1957 Sandra “Sandy” Lipson Ryon P.O. Box 1134 7201 Wilkins Lane Chestertown, MD 21620 410-778-4238 It’s hard to top the news from the last issue, which included the gala celebration of Walker’s Centennial in September and our gathering in Wilmington, DE, in May 2011. The picture is of us at the gorgeous home of George “Frolic” Weymouth, Victoria “Tory” Kitchell’s cousin, and well known conservationist, driver of antique coaches and carriages, and artist. Karen Peterson Howard shares that she was sorry to have missed the big Centennial Celebration. The earlier mini-reunion planned by Tory Kitchell gave several of us a chance to get together as well as enjoy the pleasures of the Wilmington area; it was a marvelous time.

We were very sad to learn from Tory Kitchell that Elizabeth “Lea” Carpenter du Pont died in April. For many years, Lea lived in Florida and Italy. She was a noted international bridge player. She leaves one son and three grandchildren. Janet Johnson speaks for us all when she says, “Lea had a great spirit. I admired her sense of independence and self-direction.” At the end of April, Eleanor “Holly” McKallor Page and her friend Dave Sanderson moved from Savannah, GA, to Eagle Ranch in Eagle, CO. They sounded very excited about it and will send us their new address as soon as they get settled. Angelene “Angie” Pell is enjoying teaching American History and Western Civilization at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, VA. She is busy planning a trip to Russia with her daughter and two granddaughters in June. She wrote: “I hunted 62 of the 85 times that our hounds went out this year and felt better and better as the winter went on. I have an Alexander Technique SUMMER 2012

Take Note teacher and what a difference it has made to my agility and balance. Better even than the yoga that I do. I actually feel younger than I did 10 years ago.” Maybe we should all give it a try! Patricia “Pat” Tenney loves her life in Santa Barbara. Her daughter and three grandchildren will be moving nearby. Pat is a Garden Club of America judge and was on her way to Hawaii to judge a show. She plans to spend the summer on Long Island. She has seen Susan Getz, who lives in St. Helena, CA.

Nat and Nancy “Kenny” King Howe had a wonderful dinner in New York just before Easter with Barron and Jane “Dedo” du Pont Kidd. She said that Dedo looks terrific and still has her sense of humor. They will all be together on Fishers Island this summer. When I spoke to Susan “Sunny” Rodormer Kaiser, she was recovering from broken bones in her feet and wrist. In spite of it all, she sounded great. She plans to sell her house in Yarmouth, ME, and move into a condominium in the same area. She is very happy to have her daughter and her family nearby.

Marnie Gaynor McLaughlin had

surgery this winter but has recovered and continues to enjoy living in New York, where she frequently talks to Joan

taking courses at Washington College. Mary “Mimi” Gibbs Piper and Elisabeth “Lisa” Dobbin Sherwood

Jean “Jinny” Tilt Sammis was very upbeat on the phone. She hopes to join us the next time we all get together.

both live fairly close by and have recently been here for lunch. Gertrude “Trudy” Beebe Miller is also near Baltimore. Not long ago, she and David ran into Mimi and Jimmy Piper before the symphony and had dinner with them.

This spring, J. Randall “Randy” Furlong Street went on a three-week wildlife tour of India, where she saw nine tigers. She wins the prize for interesting trips!

In February, Mort and I stayed with David and Mary Fentress Grumhaus at their wonderful apartment in Naples overlooking the water. It was great fun to be with them.

Virginia “Ginny” McMillan Lambrecht wrote that she and Bob

Stay well . . . and don’t forget to send me your news!

“Joanie” Garver Anderson.

have sold the house in Grosse Pointe that they lived in for 40 years. They will now be spending time in Boca Grande, FL, and Walloon Lake, MI (about four hours north of Grosse Pointe). Their new address is PO Box 671, Boca Grande, FL 33921. They are playing lots of golf and enjoying the successes and near misses of the game. She loved the picture of us all in Chadds Ford. We hope that next time she’ll be in it! Life in Chestertown, MD, continues to be fun and stimulating. We’re enjoying

1958

REUNION

Barbara “Barbie” Welles Bartlett 4853 Congress Street Fairfield, CT 06824-1751 203-259-2346 Elisabeth “Libby” Bartlett Sturges 111 Bow Street #6 Portsmouth, NH 03801-3838

Front row from left, Tory Kitchell, Mort Ryon, Mimi Gibbs Piper, Janet Johnson, Dedo du Pont Kidd, Karen Peterson Earle. Back row from left, Nat Howe, Barron Kidd, John Sherwood, Lisa Dobbin Sherwood, Jimmy Piper, Abbie Trafford, Holly McKallor Page, Kenny King Howe, Randy Furlong Street, Pat Day Storm, Laurie Mack McBride, David Grumhaus, Mary Fentress Grumhaus, Sandy Lipson Ryon, Frolic Weymouth. The photo was taken by Angelene “Angie” Pell.

THE SUNDIAL

Take Note Libby Sturges shares that she enjoyed a visit with Karen Fitkin Swensrund and her sister, Joyce Fitkin, in January 2012.

From left, Karen Fitkin Swensrund, Elisabeth “Libby” Bartlett Sturges, and Karen’s sister, Joyce Fitkin

I am so very sorry to report the death of our classmate, Kate “Kitty” McNally Cote. The EWS Alumnae Office was very kind to send a letter to the class, but I personally wanted to extend my sympathy to Kitty’s daughter, Kate Cote Gillen, and her adorable boys, Jack and Xander. Kitty was so happy that she was able to return to Walker’s for our 50th and also for the big Centennial Celebration. Unfortunately, her cancer then moved rapidly. I, along with Margaret “Meg” Lindsay and Priscilla Tilt Pochna, attended the service in New York. Beverly Vander Poel Banker ’60 and Dinah Day ’62 also attended. Both her daughter, Kate, and her grandson, Jack, spoke eloquently and movingly. It was a beautiful service and Kitty would have loved the SevenFold Amen. I will miss her. Meg Lindsay is still painting and will have another show of her works May 2June 2, 2012, at the Martucci Gallery in the Irvington Library in Irvington-onHudson. I am hoping to drive out to see it. Her last show was wonderful so I am excited to see her new creature paintings. Priscilla Tilt Pochna, whom I have not

seen in a great while, looks absolutely wonderful. She had just spent Easter with her grandchildren playing lacrosse in the country. As we are nearby I hope our paths cross more often.

The Walker's community celebrates Phyllis Mills Wyeth ’58 and her horse Union Rags on their Belmont Stakes win!

1959 Lynn Sheppard Manger 8 East 81st Street New York, NY 10028-0201 nathypertension@aol.com

Elena Miller Shoch was sorry not to get to New York for the service, but we talked several times and I passed on all the details to her. I believe Elena is the youngest in our class, and she is just about to celebrate her big birthday in California in June. So at that point we will all be in a new decade.

In more news from California, Martyn Smith Belmont writes, “Not much in my life is new, which, at my age, is good! Still doing the ‘same old, same old.’ Elena and I see a lot of each other. I still sell houses, am president of the Pasadena Garden Club, and am ex-officio on a foundation. I spend a lot of time with my grandchildren. Two young grandsons are becoming terrific tennis players. My oldest grandson is part of Teach for

America, having graduated from UC Berkeley. And that is all the news that’s fit to print.” Also from California, Michele du Pont Goss writes, “Nice to hear from you! We have no news out here at all. The weather this year has been spectacular so lots of gardening and one long weekend skiing. That’s it.” I just received another message from Michele that she is planning to come to see her grandson play baseball at Deerfield. We had hoped to connect, but hopefully the next time. Moving on to the Chicago area, Ann Middleton Buckley says, “Ed and I came home from New York and a visit with Lynn Sheppard Manger and her husband to a joyful Christmas with children and grandchildren. We celebrated the New Year with friends. However, January 3 Ed suffered a heart attack. The paramedics and hospital emergency staff were amazing, and he has come back very strong. He is now into his fourth week of cardiac exercise in which he is monitored closely. Needless to say, the steaks and butter and fried food had to go! As a result of all of this, we have put off travel for a few months. As for me, I went to Kenya and Tanzania last fall, and will go to Chile and Argentina in fall of 2012. Business is very busy, with lots of family travel. Squash, golf, the poodle, Maggie, and grandchildren fill many hours.” Heading south to North Carolina, Lynn Drury Womsley has written, “For the first time in a long, long time, not much to report. I did have a long conversation with Mary “Corky” Stout Lawrence, the first in a couple of years. She sounded good. She was on her way to Connecticut for a grandchild’s ‘something.’ I guess most of our lives parallel each other in that respect. I know so many friends who have moved away from where they have spent all their lives to a new community ‘to be closer to their children and grandchildren.’ “I am currently a caregiver of an Alzheimer’s victim. It goes without saying that gives a new definition to the SUMMER 2012

Take Note word ‘tired.’ I am finally ‘tired’ at the end of the day. I always said I had way too much energy for my age and I don’t travel as much. I rarely get to Dayton but never miss an event in Chicago. (It doesn’t take much to be declared an ‘event.’) “Our 15-year-old granddaughter is now a disc jockey on a Winnetka radio station every Monday after school. My computer guru got me hooked up so my new late afternoon pastime is listening to relatively dreadful music and the most delightful giggle of all time. She is learning the ‘ropes’ and having a blast with it. She will be attending Yale’s summer program (something to do with her music). As a lead vocalist, a bassist, and on the keyboard . . . she will be busy, busy. We have had an unseasonably warm ‘winter’, actually no winter at all. There have been very few days when we couldn’t be outside, which was a treat. Bob and I will have been married 50 years the end of the month! That is noteworthy.” Now from Miami, FL, Esperanza “Pichi” Alfaro says, “It seems as if the years are getting shorter. Just got over reading the news of the Centennial Celebration and here you are again! Anyway, I do not have much to tell, my life seems to be the same, which could be a good thing. My regards to all and have a great year!” Mary Brown Jackson lives on the Cape and has written, “I am coming to NYC on April 12 for a reception at the Metropolitan Museum at the music collection where the first American organ is being given. Also, I am working at Paraclete Press, the publishing arm of the community where I live, selling books, CDs and DVDs on bullying, suicide, and grief, materials that have been warmly received by churches, schools, libraries, and hospices.”

Also coming to New York this spring is Elise “Sis” Becket Smyth. She writes, “We will be in New York on the 12th of May for an event for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. [I am hoping to catch up with Elise while she is here.]

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My London friends ask if I miss London since moving to Oxford in September 2009—and the emphatic answer is no! I can be seen happily getting around Oxford on my pink and green bicycle (Martin and I in formal attire and academic gowns look like galleons under sail as we head off to a dinner in college). I am heavily involved in music matters of all kinds in Oxford now, as well as running the Tetbury Music Festival and working with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on various projects. “I have just donated The Becket Collection of period instruments to the Royal Academy of Music. I started this playing collection in 1998, and it now has 54 British instruments either from the 17th and 18th centuries or, in a few cases, copies of 18th-century instruments. Our son’s family lives in London, only an hour away, and our daughter and her family are half an hour from our house in the Cotswolds, so we see them all often. We are about to head off for our annual ski holiday in Zermatt. It is only 3-year-old Eva who will be on the skis for the first time this year; the rest are speed demons already. [I heard later from Elise that Eva is a natural on skis.] Do let me know when any of you are in England.” “For the first time since I moved to Colorado in 1998, both my daughters spent Christmas—two weeks (!) with me, including my 5-year-old grandson,” says Nancy Gerdau Graves. “It was fabulous and went very quickly. I am listing my house for sale in May, and if things work out, I will move back East to be closer to my sisters—specifically, Portland, Maine. This will also allow me to catch up more frequently with some EWS classmates.” Nancy, it will be great having you back East again. Sally Harrison Foster, also in Colorado, wrote for the last bulletin, “We have been out of town for a while, thus this is too late. [I saved it for this edition.] No really juicy news from here. We do have a new granddaughter, Reed Foster, the second little girl of our son, Trip.” Sally’s husband, Crosby, had to

have a double knee replacement, so Sally was Nurse Cratchitt for a while. Sally, I trust at this point that all went well. Nancy Rathborne has finally caught

up on all the old EWS Bulletins and has now caught me up on all her doings of the past year. From Nancy, “In the spring of 2011 I boarded Amtrak to Miami for the third time to attend the Sony Ericsson Open. One of the highlights of my big year, actually of my life, was the driving trip Neddy, Michelle, Finn, and I took to a town near to the Kennedy Space Center to see the final launch of the Shuttle. “All the while I had great fun planning my 70th birthday travels. The goal was to be in the French Alps for the birth of Katrina Joy on July 24. I started with planning to attend Wimbledon before, on, and after my big birthday on June 30. Wimbledon is truly a treat. The tradition, seeing the All English Tennis Club, the grounds, and of course, Center Court are all very special. Not to mention the first of many Pimm’s Cups!!! Then I took the TGV down to Arles to catch an eight-day boat tour up the Rhone. Arles was where Van Gogh lived and painted profusely. What was so fascinating about this part of France were all the Roman ruins: coliseums, Pont du Gard, Aqueduct. Saw the famous Pont in Avignon, wine making (Chateau Neuf du Pape), olive oil groves and production. I ended the riverboat in Chalon Sur Saone where the Rhone splits. “Excitedly, I caught a train to Bourg St. Maurice where my son, Henry, met me and settled me in a petite cottage next to their temporary home while their two small chalets in Val D’Isere are being joined together and renovated into what is going to be a wonderful home for the newly wedded parents of beautiful KJ! Then I spent almost the month of January in Val D’Isere where Henry lives with his new wife from the UK, Ginny, and their baby girl, Katrina Joy. I don’t ski anymore, but I was there for this darling 6 month old. For all you skiers, you might want to look at Henry’s site,

Take Note www.henrysavalanchetalk.com. Now I’m back home. I spend as much time as possible with my about to be 4 grandson, Finn. He will have a sister June 8. Otherwise, I help in the search for better lives for the homeless.” I saw Sally Chapin Levin at the Centennial and she was kind enough to call me when Kitty died. Sally was so glad that she was able to see Kitty at the big celebration. Sally also mentioned that she was spending Easter with a cousin who lives in Vermont. I have just returned from the annual board meeting at the Ethel Walker School. I have been on the board for a year, and I feel very privileged to serve on it as we move the school into the next hundred years. Not only do I get to work with our remarkable Head of School, Bessie Speers, but also the other board members whom I have gotten to know better. It is an extraordinary group that will do extraordinary things for the school. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer and please remember to write down all you do and send it to me for the next edition. Love hearing from all of you.

1960 Phyllis Richard Fritts 910 Ladybug Lane Vero Beach, FL 32963 772-234-7096 prfritts@earthlink.net From Cynthia “Cynnie” Kirkland Kellogg, “We are blessed with seven grandchildren, ages 15 years to 3 months. I am still skiing, riding, and playing some golf. We are a bit nomadic, spending some time in South Carolina, New Jersey, and Colorado. And we would love to see anyone who might be coming to those spots.” Emailing from the Chinese Gobi Desert are Mary “Mimi” Gardner Gates and Tania Whitman Stepanian. “Mimi and Tania are caving, exploring Buddhist caves (4th-14th centuries) at Dunhuang

. . . stunningly beautiful. Mrs. Bocstoce Hoar would be proud of us. Smiles to all.” Margot Campbell Bogert emails, “We have a busy and interesting life thanks to involvement with the Frick Collection, EWS, and children living in Los Angeles and Kuala Lumpur.”

Having moved permanently to Martha’s Vineyard last year, Caryl Van Ranst Dearing writes, “Jim and I are going to Belize for a weeklong scuba trip before the spring/summer starts. People are starting to arrive on island for short visits to get their homes ready for Memorial Day Weekend. Since the first of the year we have taken short trips. Like most of the northeast, winter life was great. Didn’t even have need for a shovel! In late January we went to Turks and Caicos to dive and during March we visited friends in Big Sky, MT, to ski and cheer on our favorite basketball teams during March Madness. Living out here has allowed us to see two of three kids and grandchildren. Alex and his family live in Needham, MA, where he is a doctor with BU and Boston Medical specializing in AIDS, HIV, and addictions. Our daughter is a massage therapist on the island. Retirement is another language but we are adjusting. I knit, stitch, play bridge, and enjoy Free Time. Looking forward to EWS Alumnae Board meetings and being involved. See you all soon.” From Beverly “Bea” Vander Poel Banker, “The sad news is we lost Mother, Beverly Sartorius Vander Poel ’37, in December and good friend Kate “Kitty” McNally Cote ’59 in March of this year. But our happy news is that daughter Ashley will be married July 14th to Nicholas Enthoven, a wonderful Dutchman, so life is busy. Best wishes to all of ’60.” Susan Shierling Riegel Harding

emails, “Two years ago for reunion I ‘left my smoking habit behind.’ Caryl Dearing and I went up the hill and I buried a message to my smoking habit: ‘I started you here and I’m leaving you here.’ It’s two years this Mother’s Day and I’m very happy about it. Now I just

have to figure out how to deal with having a daughter who is about to turn 50! I’ve been travelling a lot . . . Israel last May, then Paris for Christmas with daughter Tanya and her partner of eight years. Then short trips to Chicago, up the coast of California and Virginia to visit my ex-mother-in-law, who is 102! I’m still sewing, knitting, playing bridge, gardening, and participating in all financial areas of my church. I sure wish some of you would come to San Diego to visit. It’s a great place and I have a separate apartment for you all to stay!” Harriet Blees Dewey emails, “I have

been busy with EWS. Our school has become an amazing place for young women to be educated. I wish we had had such a visionary leader. We did have each other and I find myself reflecting on those years with some wonder. We are trying to keep up with our 15 ‘grands,’ attending sporting events and celebrations. Our summers are the best times to catch up with family on Martha’s Vineyard. It is keeping us young. Pay no attention to the calendar! If you have the chance and haven’t done so already, visit Walker’s and see who we are today.” Patricia “Patty” Connors Warrender

writes, “Returning from Rhodes College graduation for my godson and am amazed again by the talent of the young and am impressed by their diligence and success. Memphis, TN, was quite an eating adventure. All of my three sons are doing well and gainfully employed, thank goodness. I cannot believe that the oldest grand is 15! She and her brother along with her dad and I are heading into the Bob Marshall Wilderness in July for a week in the mountains—always a highlight of the year. Then in August Anthony and I go back for a week, which is something I cherish every year. I was lucky enough to have Marilyn Hodges Wilmerding come to visit for a weekend. It was great to catch up with her . . . just wish she didn’t live so far away. Lots of BIG birthdays this year, but not me . . . I’ll always be younger! I’m thrilled to wake up each morning and not have enough time to do what I

SUMMER 2012

Take Note need/want to get done. I look forward to the future and hope all my classmates feel as positive as I do. Be well, one and all, and let’s not let too much time pass before we make a plan to get together. Hugs to each of you.” Abra Prentice Wilkin sends word: Not much new at this end other than most of us are turning or have turned 70 this year. I become a septuagenarian in July and the day most likely will be a quiet one with family. Having celebrated my 40th and 50th in grand style with marathon weekends, it’s time for some quiet reflection and trying to act my age for a change. As for news of classmates, Alita Weaver Reed is recovering nicely from a hip replacement in Hobe Sound, FL, where we both winter. Carroll Townsend Tickner and I attended the January wedding of our mutual goddaughter, Caroline Bouscaren (Merry Bragonier Bouscaren’s daughter) in New Canaan. Merry is still selling real estate but looks forward to spending more time in France where she is rehabbing an old farmhouse with her husband and son Tre. Margot Campbell Bogert and I welcomed Harriet (aka) Betty Blees Dewey to the EWS board this year and we are all enjoying helping our alma mater thrive in her next century. I talked to Marcha Metzger Grant on her birthday. She is still living in L.A. as a caregiver and was upbeat about making it to 70. Our spring cruise to the Netherlands to see the tulips was cancelled because my husband, Jim, has a detached retina. This is not uncommon (another gift of aging) but can be tricky business and requires endless days of quiet healing. We’re just thankful this didn’t happen abroad because one cannot fly or be at high altitudes . . . but there are worse places to be stranded than Florida!” Phyllis Richard Fritts has been happily living in Vero Beach, FL, with Sally Goodrich (former EWS employee and trustee) and Edith Fenton Tuckerman ’61 right down the street. I aspire to their level of golf prowess! Our older son, James, is in Seattle with our two grandsons, aged 4 and 11, and loves the life there although he admits that the sunshine of Florida is pretty nice when 62

THE SUNDIAL

they visit us. Our other son, Garret, is a chiropractor in San Francisco, so they see each other a fair amount, but we certainly envy our friends who can be ‘hands on’ grandparents. Had a blast at Jazz Fest in New Orleans where we celebrated my big 70! So, to all my classmates who are also passing that milestone, may all your moving parts be pain free and your life be blessed.”

1961 Leslie “Kim” Cutler 50 Drury Lane Worcester, MA 01609-1644 508-752-5383 kc.grafix2@gmail.com

1962 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1963

REUNION

Robin Frost Bessin 184 South Gate Lane Southport, CT 06490-1464 203-259-1406 BurrFrosty84@aol.com

1964 Cynthia “Cindy” Higgins Roby 40 Cable Roadway Sausalito, CA 94965-2302 415-332-6556 croby@earthlink.net Elizabeth “Liz” Yinkey Moore writes, “The highlight of the year was the opening in January of Rembrandt’s World: the Clement C. Moore Collection of 16thand 17th-century Dutch drawings at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York. The exhibit, which runs through the end of April, was very favorably reviewed in the press. Chips has been a trustee of the Morgan Library for some time so this was a great treat for him. I am on the board of City Harvest in New York, an

organization that ‘rescues’ more than 30 million pounds of food a year to feed New York’s hungry people. A challenge for sure! We will be having dinner with Susan Day Mechelli and her husband, Alberto, this week in the city and in May I am going to play in a golf tournament in South Carolina with Anne “Pooh” Brainard Schmitt. We spent a couple of weeks at Ocean Reef in Key Largo, FL, for a little golf and a bit of fishing. Sorry to miss the grand Centennial Celebration last fall. It was a clearly resounding success!” Susan Day Mechelli lives in Florence and reports, “Alberto and I are both fine. Healthy and busy. We will be in the States for five weeks and hope to catch up with ‘Yinkey’ (Liz Yinkey Moore) and Chips for dinner in NYC. My grandsons are so much fun. They are now 11 and 8. They’ve gotten big so fast!” Celeste Royall Niarchos shares, “Tom and I have retired and just bought a home at Fiddlesticks, a golf (not retirement) community in Florida. We are both enjoying golf and the weather. I am learning how to play bridge. My work continues as President of the EWS Alumnae Board, and I am an Ex-Officio member of the Board of Trustees. The Alumnae Board is active and involved, with lots going on for Walker’s alums around the country: connecting, communicating, and collaborating.” Mary “Wendy” Frey Textor writes,

“We spend at least four months on Douglas Island in the Thousand Islands in the summer where we are basically caretakers of the island. We love it and never tire of the beauty of the river. The highlight is the time we spend with the family, usually a week in July. There are 12 of us now and the four grandchildren are getting to be so much fun. Georgie will be 6 this summer and the youngest, Will, will be 22 months. Our granddaughter adores her West Coast cousins and tells her New York parents that she wants to move to San Francisco to live with them. Son Andrew is now engaged and they plan a 2013 wedding. He is working at Google and Stephani is at YouTube (Google), so they both are in the high tech world of geeks and loving

Take Note it. Clinton and Helen are in Los Altos and their boys love the big playing fields and their school. Katy and Colin are in New York where parenting is unique. Katy loves that you order everything and it is delivered. She has rarely seen the inside of a grocery store! We travel to see them all and have made a few treks out of the country, including Maui in January to escape the dreadful grey skies. I am still playing tennis and George is carving and painting shore birds like mad. We have traded running for walking and we ski more on groomers but we enjoy it all just the same. We are blessed with our health and look forward to seeing our old friends who are scattered about.” Lavinia “Vinnie” Chase says, “The big

news in my life is that I am retiring from teaching after having returned to it (from the much more high paying investment business!) for 10 years. I have really enjoyed it. Love the act of teaching and somehow like teenagers. But now I am ready to spend some time on myself rather than getting up at 5:00 am and correcting papers every afternoon. Don’t know what I’ll do but I have a few ideas. To celebrate my retirement and our 39 years together we are taking the whole family (12!) to London and Provence this summer. I am very lucky.” Cindy Higgins Roby shares, “The high point of my year has been the marriage of my eldest son, Jay, to wonderful Ali Christie. The happy wedding was in Florida at Christmastime and they will become parents in late October. They have been living in San Francisco but are moving to Atlanta where Jay has taken a job with Cox Communications. Happily, my younger son, Nick, is still nearby! It has been such a luxury for me to have all of them in the area in recent years. Both of my sons lived on the East Coast when they were in school. I continue to be involved locally, helping with communications and fundraising for the Marin Brain Injury Network as well as the Sausalito Library Foundation. My favorite EWS ‘girl,’ my mother, Elise Farley Higgins ’40, is nearby, coping with the insults of Parkinson’s disease, but still full of love and enthusiasm for her family.”

Linda Marvin Benjamin reports, “We spent the Christmas holidays in England with my daughter and son and their families. We had a great time. Other than that, we have had a nice mild winter here on Long Island and are about to go off to Utah to get in some skiing. Three more babies have been born and that brings our joint grandchildren total, eight are mine, to 12 grandchildren. How amazing is that?” Anne Brainard Schmitt writes, “We’ve been enjoying this fantastic winter in South Carolina. I had my second hip replaced at the end of September in Connecticut before we headed back here. My recovery went great and I'm back playing golf and tennis. I’ve found myself on Dataw’s golf team and also on one of the tennis teams, so I’m pretty active. Thank goodness for all that athletic training at EWS! ‘Yinks’ (Liz Yinkey Moore) is coming down in May for our Ladies Member/Guest Tournament and to defend our victory from 2010. We still have our EWS hats, so hopefully they will bring us luck again. I know we’ll have a great time! We will probably head back to Fenwick, CT. in mid-June. It’s a pretty nice life!” Suzanne “Suzi” Chapin Berl writes, “No kudos, nothing new with the kids or grandkids or with my husband. No fancy trips or life-changing experiences to report. Only real ‘news’ is the Centennial. There were just a few of us there from our class. Molly Love had been there but left before I arrived. Briefly saw Vinnie Chase and Sylvia Brooks, whom I hadn’t seen since graduation. Also saw Lynn Allegaert for the first time since our time in Simsbury. And Celeste Royall Niarchos was much in evidence. She’s become active with the school and is now on the Board of Trustees. Bless her! The campus looks good, and Bessie Speers and her family bring a wonderful energy to the school.” Dane Nichols shares, “I have been very involved in the Environmental Film Festival in Washington D.C. There were an amazing 183 films in 12 days. We had many filmmakers and directors here.

I am very proud of the festival and where it is today. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary.” Dane’s daughter is also living in Washington and has an interior design business. Son, Tim, and his wife, Jen, live in Wisconsin with her two grandsons, Jake and Michael. Lynn Allegaert writes, “Well, I finally have some big news. I joined the Walker’s Board of Trustees last fall after spending several years being ‘cultivated’ by our enormously talented Head of School, Bessie Speers. I am very excited for Walker’s. Under Bessie’s leadership I am sure the school is poised for a great period of growth and success. On a personal note, I have purchased and renovated a wonderful apartment in Palm Beach and plan to spend my time between the Vineyard and Florida. Deborah “Debbie” Hall Coburn

visited me recently in Palm Beach.” Charlotte “Carla” Meyer reports, “My

news of the last year (if you stretch ‘year’ to go back to the beginning of ’11) begins with working on J. Edgar with Leonardo DiCaprio. Then I worked on the Oliver Stone film Savages, which is due to come out this summer. It was great to work with someone from our age group. We’re not that common in the movie world these days! On the personal side, I continue to ride my horses. We have a gorgeous palomino filly, which turns a year next month! Chuck is a very active and busy 77 year old. We made it to NY this fall just in time for Irene! It felt like the good ol’ days. Compared to our earthquakes out here, it felt like a lot of warning!!”

1965 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Diana Dyer Watson shares, “My

daughter, Allison (29), who works for McKinsey Consultants, married Lt. Commander Dan Pugh, who is a pilot in the Navy. They live in San Diego, CA, as does my son Tyler (26). Andy and I split time between the North Carolina mountains and the beaches of Florida.” SUMMER 2012

Take Note At the Class of ’67 mini-reunion, from left, Lonna Lord Davis, Caroline Adams Muller, Claire Whitman Marshall, Malo Paul Harrison, Maria Savage Storm, Wendy French Nolan

1966 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1967 Caroline Adams Muller 14 East 75th Street, Apt. 6E New York, NY 10021 212-450-4359 muller.caroline@gmail.com Caroline Muller writes, “A group of

classmates met in New York City on May 4-6 for a mini-reunion. Caroline Muller and Elizabeth Schlosser organized a group dinner at a trendy Lower Manhattan restaurant on Friday night that was attended by Frances Beinecke Elston, Kate Crichton Gubelmann, Barbara Newman Trainer, Malo Paul Harrison, Gail Smith Payne, Wendy French Nolan, Claire Whitman Marshall, Lonna Lord Davis, and Lucy Van Itallie Borge. Maria Savage Storm joined us for dinner the

next night at Brooklyn Fish Camp in Brooklyn; Elizabeth Schlosser’s daughter, Savannah, is the chef there. On Sunday, Malo Paul Harrison hosted a beautiful brunch in her apartment so that we could all say goodbye and talk about a ‘next’ reunion. We traded stories of classes that formed us, the memorable chapel talks, and our class being the first to occupy the ‘new’ Cluett our senior year. While we do not all keep in touch, it was easy to slip back into conversations and laugh together. And we all remembered who was a Sun and who was a Dial! While EWS may not have been the best experience for many of us, our friendships formed there sustain us.” Elizabeth “Bibsy” Schlosser shares that she lives half the year in Acqui Terme, Italy, with her husband, Charlie Jordan. She was certified as a florist, does yoga, and travels to see friends and family and is very involved in saving historic buildings and neighborhoods. Caroline Muller reports, “We moved back to NYC after 20 years in the 64

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Washington, DC, area, and I have become certified as a hospice volunteer. I travel to hospice programs, hospitals and nursing homes. I have also trained my dog, a Labrador Retriever, to be a therapy dog. She often accompanies me to the hospitals and nursing homes to provide comfort to the patients. Two of my three children live in NYC, so we continue to see them often. My husband and I just moved downtown to Greenwich Village to immerse ourselves in the heartbeat of the city.”

our nearby magnet charter high school and community college. Our son went on to graduate cum laude from the Colorado School of Mines and is currently doing software web development, including mobile applications, in Los Angeles. Our daughter graduated summa cum laude from Colorado State University with a double major in fashion design and theatre. They were far more impressive students than I ever was! Plus, we recently celebrated her wedding April 21 here in Denver, and what a fine young man she married in Jeremy Pyrc!” Lonna’s favorite times are spent with her husband riding their Harleys around Colorado and the West, painting canvases, and making sculptures. Lastly, Lonna shares, “One additional fun fact: Bibsy Schlosser even ran for the Mayor of Denver, the only woman who has run for that office in over 30 years, and she’s our classmate!” Caroline “Docey” Baldwin Lewis

Caroline Muller, Catherine Nimick (standing), and Elizabeth Schlosser (seated) with her husband, Charlie Jordan, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC

Lonna Lord Davis offers the following, “I graduated from Faith Bible College in 1977 and married in 1980. I opened and ran the June Harrah Gallery for my mom in NYC and then moved to Denver where I worked at AT&T for 20 years, and then retired and went into Financial Management and Services. My husband and I happily home-schooled our son, Olen (6th-12th), and daughter, Havilah (9th-12th), with the help of a wonderful home-option program from

writes, “I basically go back and forth to Nepal a lot to keep our multiple projects there humming along. I have also been working with UNIDO in Northern Peru on native cotton revival. We were walloped by the storm that hit Southern Indiana in early March, so have to replace my roof. It’s such a small word, roof, but what an ordeal!”

1968

REUNION

Kimberley “Kim” Smith Niles 14 McLains Woods Road Groton, MA 01450 978-448-9279 kimniles@hotmail.com

Take Note 1969 Cate Lord 30363 Hilltop Drive Evergreen, CO 80439-8753 catelord@yahoo.com Katherine “Katy” Murphy Ingle 918 Windsor Road Glenview, IL 60025 847-724-8560 katymi@ameritech.net Thank you to those who sent news. After all the news from the Centennial Celebration there is not much to report this spring. I hope that everyone is well. It’s a strange time of life when we seem to be saying goodbye to family members and loved ones one day and welcoming the arrivals of the next generation another. Katy and I are so grateful for all your wonderful support, and we both send you our love. Katy Murphy Ingle wrote that she had a lovely Christmas in California, staying with Bill’s sister and seeing son Daniel and his family in San Diego. The visit included a wonderful weekend getaway to the desert to visit Katy’s ‘old haunts” in Palm Springs. “I am enjoying the early spring here in Glenview, adding roses and berry bushes to my back yard at the moment. My family is fine, and Gina arrives for a visit next week. She never got her driver’s license and so is touring the country with her boyfriend…by train! All that big-city dwelling.” This summer Katy and Bill are planning a trip to Switzerland. “This time he is coming up the mountain with me. Best to all! Love, Katy”

From our former class secretary, Susan Nichols Ferriere, comes news: “Life is very busy with clients, aging family members, and some modest work for charity and our co-op. Susan writes that every hour is filled with little time left over for anything except her three-timesa-week run in Central Park, “a time blessedly free from all electronic contact.” Patrick had a very successful double cataract surgery, which has “freed him from thick glasses for the first time since he was 4!”

And she also reports on the younger generation in her life “ . . . our beloved niece and nephew. Lizzie has extended her leave of absence from NBC to a full year in order to continue her television work in Nairobi, where she has just completed a series of short films on various African countries’ solutions to global warming issues. She is having the time of her life and the most amazing experiences, which now include learning to fly small planes (a bit of a worry given the rickety nature of some of the ‘commercial’ flights featured in her photos but most thrilling for her). Nephew Edward is planning to attend business school in England beginning this fall, with an acceptance in hand from his alma mater, Durham, but hopeful of going to one of his London choices, given the proximity to family and the better options offered by a big city for his bride of one year, Widya, to continue her dance career. We are most proud of their accomplishments and delighted that they will soon be ‘orbiting’ closer to us in a few months’ time— though we know it will be temporary in this very global family. We are hoping that the entire family on Patrick’s side will be in Maine together at the end of August. Sending you both my love and wishes for the happiest of Easters, celebrated happily surrounded by family members and good friends.” From Gillian “Jill” Reighley Christensen comes this report: “Grandchild #3, Abbott Brooks, was born on January 26. Another boy for Chris and Emily, joining big sister, Eliza, age 4, and big brother, Henry, age 2½. Everyone is doing well. I was back east with them right after Abbott was born, and then Wes and I spent a week with everyone in Florida last month. We had a ball! Wes and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary this Friday. Where has the time gone? We are both grateful for family, friends, and good health. Rob and his wonderful wife, Lexie, are still in San Francisco, as is Parker, so I am happy to have some of my gang nearby. And hopefully there will be another grandchild on this coast in the not-toodistant future. Wes has a son in Seattle with two boys, ages 6 and 4, and a

daughter in Santa Rosa with two teenage stepchildren. “I hosted a small luncheon for local EWS alums and had a great visit with Martha Scott Mouer and Cindy Higgins Roby ’64. Heidi McCann was here from the school and had a great report on everything that is going on there. I look forward to getting back for another reunion soon. Thanks for all your good work on our class notes, and for keeping us in touch.” Gurukirn Paulus Khalsa writes, “A

blessed soul, Puran Amrit Singh Khalsa, arrived to Seva Simran Singh and Guru Dev Kaur Khalsa, daughter of Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa, on April 1 after a 31-hour labor. The baby was delivered at home with the help of two midwives. Gurukirn Kaur will be helping during the 40-day seclusion period to allow mother and baby to bond with each other. Both are doing very well.” I have seen the photo and she is beautiful!

Gurukirn Paulus Khalsa ’69 and her grandchild, Puran Amrit Singh Khalsa

Virginia “Ginger” Bevis Littleton has

the following report, “Sorry I missed last fall, but I know I will be in Hartford in March 2013 for a National Kodaly Music Conference so I will check out the old homestead when I am there. On the news front, I am RETIRED [I’m so jealous] from my Colorado Springs public school music-teaching job! So far no regrets. I’ve adjusted to a fixed income and agreed to sub back in my old district during second semester. It’s been fun to go to the junior and senior high schools and see my old students all grown up and still loving music. I am SUMMER 2012

Take Note teaching a music fundamentals class once a week for the local Children’s Chorale, and I sing with the adult chamber choir that I’ve been with for 30 years. That’s my music part. “I am doing agility training with my dogs. My 11-year-old competes regularly and my 18-month-old rescue is learning the ropes. The dogs keep getting faster and I . . . well, Miss Scarles would tell me to start moving along with whatever swear word she was allowed to use! It’s a great sport for the handler’s mind. I’m sure this will keep my mind fresh along with the gingko that I’m taking. “I just had the kitchen redone in my house and I love the house along with my partner of 2½ years, Stephen. We have bought a lot within the city of Leadville (elevation 10,000') and hope to build a mountain getaway in the summer of 2013. Now there’s a spot for a reunion! Anyone run or bike the Leadville 100? That’s 100 miles of either! I am coaching 3rd- and 4th-grade girls lacrosse again. Periodically I bring my wooden stick to practice for a little history lesson. They want to know if I got it from the Indians!?! I’m old but not that old. My skills probably peaked at EWS, but I still love the game and girls at this age are worried about their uniforms staying put and goggles staying on. I ask the parents to cheer wildly if there’s a completed pass. I use Skittles as my motivational tool. “My oldest daughter, Peggy, lives in D.C. and is an events planner for the Alliance to Save Energy. My younger daughter, Gayle, is an au pair for a year for a family that lives outside Dublin! She’s in charge of twin 9-year-old boys and a 5year-old boy. The kindergartner took her in to school as his show-and-tell in October. We visited in December and had an Irish Christmas with Guinness tree ornaments. If anyone is out West, please come visit. I need to get up to Denver to see Cate Lord, but I will try. Promise! Much love, Ginger.” Okay, Ginger, I’m holding you to that! [Cate] We also heard from Jane Shanholt Sacasa who has had an eventful year. “My 29-year-old son, Nicolas, is at 66

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UCLA Anderson’s MBA program as a first-year student after years of being a talent agent in New York. However, he has decided to try another career and will be working for Goldman Sachs in LA for the summer. Daughter, Alejandra, age 25, is living and working in San Francisco while she waits to hear from medical schools. She has yet to hear from 10 schools, but she got into University of Illinois in Chicago, so she may end up there. Husband, Orlando, is semi-retired and just lost 10 pounds on the Dukan Diet plus (plus wine, that is), the diet the Middleton ladies were on. Unfortunately the diet doesn’t seem to work very well for me—only 5 pounds in three weeks— perhaps I am too sedentary. I just finished my most profitable year yet for my school admissions advisory business, The Compass Group Admissions Advisors, which I started in 2003 with a friend. I don’t make more than a seasoned teacher, but I can make my own hours and work by email and Skype from anywhere in the world.” If Alejandra ends up in Chicago, Jane plans to come to Illinois to help her settle and will plan to get together with Katy, if she is not scaling the face of an Alp. All who wrote sent love and hugs to all of us. Your letters, with news both joyful and sad, are what keep Katy and me going and what supply the glue that

keeps us all so bonded. Katy and I pray that your lives are filled with more joy than sorrow, more hellos than goodbyes. Have a wonderful summer and you will hear from us in the autumn. Love and hugs, Cate and Katy.

1970 Gail Chandler Gaston 202 East 75th Street New York, NY 10021 212-744-0070 GCGaston@aol.com Pamela Kraemer Klurﬁeld is teaching English at Madison High School in New Jersey. Look forward to seeing more of her as her daughter Avery now lives two blocks away in NYC. Whitney de Roulet Bullock and

husband, Clark, are celebrating her big birthday in South Africa. More fun than 60 candles! After graduating last November with her BA from University of Winchester, Elizabeth “Bethy” Kiendl de Haes is taking a gap year, dealing with family matters. Bethy misses academic life and is considering graduate work, possibly in Buddhist studies.

Bethy Kiendl de Haes ’70 throws her mortarboard outside Winchester Cathedral.

Take Note Pamela Constable’s animal rescue and shelter in Afghanistan is entering its eighth year as a full time operation. Her new book on Pakistan, Playing with Fire (Random House), has been wellreceived. Pam recently celebrated her 60th with, among others, Fendine “Fendi” Clagett Wood. Fendi is now living on a 300+ acre farm, “Mary’s Mount,” next to her childhood home in Harwood, MD. Fendi is doing freelance marketing for a nearby vineyard, and often visits her daughter Tessa, now in NYC. Leslie Brooks finished her second

book, On the Path of the Beloved, and has started a third, Eternal Vow. She lives in Colrain, MA, in the “Castle in the Mists,” with beautiful vaulted ceiling, 17' river-stone fireplace and mountain views on 30 acres of land backing up to thousands of acres of Audubon and state forest. “Finally, at age 59, I am home and never moving again!” Marie “Tina” Christine Tiedtke and I

keep in touch and she is doing well in Winter Park, FL. Gail Gaston writes, “Jamey, Frances,

and I recently returned from a fabulous trip to South Africa, Rovos Rail, Okavango Delta in Botswana, and Victoria Falls, similar to a trip taken by my mother (EWS ’44) in 2007. Jamey is

working in real estate management in NYC, and Frances graduated from college in December and is ‘considering options’! Enjoyed seeing several “contiguous” Walker’s friends at home of Alison McCall ’72 this spring— Catharine “Kim” Conway Coleman, Deborah “Debbie” Greene Grace ’72, and Nancy Schaefer ’71.” Mary Morehouse Ethington has had a

busy year! Last September Mary and Steve’s youngest son (30) was married in San Francisco in an outdoor courtyard at the St. Francis Yacht Club. This August their middle son (32) is getting married on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. “I am absolutely thrilled to have two such wonderful daughters-in-law join our family!” Mary will retire in June from her public school K-4 speech-language pathologist job and concentrate on her educational consulting business.

1971 Jean Hamilton 661 Bering Drive, #201 Houston, TX 77057-2137 713-785-6817 JLHamilton@marathonoil.com Excitement abounds for classmate Charlotte Smart Rogan and her first novel, The Lifeboat. Charlotte writes, “If I thought that the empty-nest years would leave me at a loss for what to do, I don’t think that now. In the last four years, my husband, Kevin, and I have moved twice—from Dallas to Johannesburg and from Johannesburg to Westport, CT—and in April, my first novel was published by Little, Brown. The transition from closet writer to published novelist has been full of opportunities and challenges: I have met a lot of wonderful book people,

Kim Conway Coleman and husband

Payson are expecting their sixth grandchild this month. So far, two boys and three girls. “It’s a ton of fun.” This winter Cynthia Emerson Keefer traveled through the California wine country, partly by bike, visiting “old” friends and tasting “new” wines. She also had a skiing trip to Colorado; “loved every minute of it once I could breathe!” Cindy has finally settled into a new condo in East Norwalk, CT, still working for GE Capital. She hopes to catch up with NYC friends. Charlotte Smart Rogan ’71

EWS Reads: The Lifeboat Each summer, faculty, along with incoming 10th and 11th graders, read a book selected by the academic department chairs. For the past several years, the group has read nonfiction books about learning, teaching, giving, or other topics. This year, the chairs felt strongly that they should choose a piece of fiction that would be meaningful to everyone in some way. Soon after they decided on this direction, they learned that Charlotte Rogan ’71 had just published The Lifeboat, a novel that was featured on the cover of the arts section of The New York Times and in the Sunday Book Review. The chairs selected Rogan’s book for its high quality and compelling themes Gail Gaston ’70 shares a picture with her children, Frances and Jamey, in the wine country of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

about gender, leadership, and moral/ethical dilemmas. Plans are being made for Rogan to spend a day or two on campus visiting classes and speaking with faculty and community members.

SUMMER 2012

Take Note

Cynthia “Cynny” Smith Evanisko ’71 enjoys a copy of the new book by Charlotte Smart Rogan ’71 while in Hilton Head, SC.

reconnected with old friends, and am finally learning to speak in front of groups. Meanwhile, my daughters, Olivia and Stephanie, graduated from college this spring and are gainfully employed, while our son, Nick, is studying philosophy and working at his school’s radio station.”

1972

Susie adds, “It will be a special experience staying in a large whaling captain’s house in the historic part of Edgartown and fun sharing some of the off-the-beaten-path things that islanders know and love about this island.” Cynthia “Cindy” Anderson Barker

Joanna Betts Virkler 15826 Lake Ridge Road Charlotte, NC 28278-7930 704-588-1959 joannav2000@aol.com

sends these words: “Looking forward to seeing everyone in September. I will be traveling from California with my mother, Diana Wanger Anderson ’47, who is 83. My mother is also an alumna of The Ethel Walker School. Her best friend from Ethel Walker,

Joanna Betts Virkler writes, “The

Elizabeth “Betsy” Payson Duncan ’47, lives in Buzzard’s Bay, and I will

really exciting news this time around is the reunion our class has planned for

Susie Churchill Bowman ’72 at Centennial with Ruth Streeter ’72 and her daughter, Constance Brimelow. Joanna writes, “Ruth left EWS a year or two before our graduation. A few have kept in touch with her, but for most, we last saw her in ’70 or ’71.”

September 26-30 at the Captain Morse House in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard. We have 12 signed up so far but have room for 20! This is not a school-sponsored event, but we have invited Bessie and Tom Speers to join us for cocktails one night. We will have a local personal chef and personal trainer (courtesy of Deidra “Dee Dee” Roach-Quarles). Bike rentals are free! And Susan “Susie” Churchill Bowman, who has been so helpful in our search for the perfect house, asserts that the end of September is the most perfect time to be in MV. And she knows the best walks, hikes, beaches, etc. Contact me at joannav2000@aol.com for more information.”

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drop my mother off at her friend’s home for a four-day visit and then join all of you. I understand that Buzzard’s Bay is close to Martha’s Vineyard so it works out well. Meanwhile, the head of school, Bessie Speers, was in Los Angeles a few weeks ago and I mentioned that we would be together in Martha’s Vineyard in September. She and her husband have a cottage nearby and she said that she would love to stop by and have a glass of wine with all of us. She is really great. Young and energetic. I like her very much, and I know those of you who have not met her would really enjoy her energy. “My favorite teacher at Walker’s was our history teacher Mr. Hughes. He was intellectually challenging and he was liberal! He made us rethink our values and assumptions about the larger

political world. My other favorite teacher was Miss Ash, who taught English. She also taught my two aunts who attended Ethel Walker’s about 15 years before I did. She was rigorous, and there was always a strange smell of garlic in her classroom. I recall that she was really surprised when I won a vocabulary ‘bee’ by knowing the definition of the word ‘mews.’ The girl from California actually had some knowledge of vocabulary!” Sarah House Denby writes, “My favorite teachers were Miss Schutrum for English and Mrs. Santasiere for math. I had never written a paper of any kind (having come from a tiny country school in a town of 500), and Miss Schutrum was so patient and kind and encouraging. I really missed her when she married a Hotchkiss master the following year and defected to Hotchkiss! However, I actually planned to meet her there when I took my daughter for an interview in the fall of 1995. She looked exactly the same, and we had a very nice visit while my daughter did the tour. Mrs. Santasiere was such an enthusiastic person even when one was terrible at math, as I was. Everything was always positive, and she always had engaging stories to tell, especially about her pet goat, which was continually jumping on top of the refrigerator! In other news, I am so sorry to miss the Martha’s Vineyard reunion this September, especially since it is so close to me! But we will be in Kenya on safari, where one of my goals is to be able to ride a horse in amongst the giraffes: The horse scent masks the human scent, so apparently you can get very close. How cool would that be??? But I will certainly raise a glass to all of you there, and hope to make the next one.” Alison McCall writes, “The teacher who made the greatest impression on my education was Miss Hunt (same teacher that Sigourney Weaver ’67 mentioned in her Centennial speech). I learned more about writing, grammar, and spelling from her, and I often think of her and the encouragement that she gave me. A close second was Miss Fish, who taught French at Walker’s our senior year. She had come to Walker’s from

Take Note teaching at Mount Holyoke, which is where I ended up in college. I loved her sense of humor and her manner of teaching French in a lively, fun way. A few years later, she left Walker’s and started teaching French at Hotchkiss (and married another teacher there). Years later, our friendship was rekindled when all three of my children were at Hotchkiss, although none of my kids had her for French.” Katherine “Kitty” Humpstone says,

“I’m another fan of Miss Hunt. I made it to the EWS big anniversary event (but not the photo op), and it was fun to do a bit of catch up.” Gilda Rogers sends this note, “Hi,

everyone. Everything sounds great! I have a family reunion in August so I am not sure I can make it both financially and time-off wise. I am investigating a weekend visit instead of coming up on Wednesday. Still working it out. Put me down as maybe. For those of us who may not make it, please consider setting up a Google+ or Skype visit that weekend!” From Lisa Harrington Foote comes news: “I’m still on the fence for the Vineyard in September. We usually go to Montana to help friends ship their calves that time of year, but we won’t know the dates until late summer.” Karen Brooks writes, “Patrick’s gone to Bahrain! How things change.”

1973

1975 Doris “Veda” Pendleton McClain 425 South Hubbards Lane #373 Louisville, KY 40207 502-384-7041 veda_mcclain@yahoo.com It is always good to hear about the news in everyone’s life. Thank you to those who sent updates to be included in these notes. I see many of you on Facebook. Thanks for making that connection. Send in your class notes to keep us updated! Lindsay McCrum recently released

Chicks With Guns: A Picture Of GunToting Women. It’s a “cultural portrait of women gun owners in America through

photographs that are both beautiful and in a sense unexpected” (NPR). The book explores issues related to gender and selfimage and gun ownership as a part of each woman’s lifestyle. Lindsay is a fine art photographer and lives in New York and California. Check out her National Public Radio interview about her work at http://www.npr.org/2011/11/26/142662 771/chicks-with-guns-a-picture-of-guntoting-women. Congratulations, Lindsay! Diane Solomon Doppelt writes, “I ran into Kathryn “Kathy” McCarthy Parsons on a plane going to Vail, CO.

We were both staying in Beaver Creek and met up for a latte. She’s great; we had lots of laughs! Just like the old days!” Catherine “Cathy” Munson Rogerson writes, “Here is a picture of

us having a mini-reunion in Providence, RI, for lunch. All well and still a very chatty bunch!” (see below) Barbara Hillman LaPorte writes, “We

have an exciting year ahead. My husband and I are celebrating our 30th anniversary this May aboard the Queen Mary II. Time has gone so quickly. Our sons are 24 and 27, working in finance in Chicago and the tech industry in McLean VA. Both are happy and well, so we are very fortunate. My parents turn 80 at the end of this year, so we will all gather in Stowe, VT, where they have lived for the past 50 years, to celebrate!

REUNION

Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1974 Vanessa Guerrini-Maraldi Wilcox 580 West End Avenue New York, NY 10024-1723 212-877-3413 vgmwilcox@nyc.rr.com At a mini-reunion of the Class of 1975, from left, Debbie Mercer Ribas, living in Westwood, MA; Kathy McCarthy Parsons, living in Mystic, CT, but moving soon to Hobe Sound, FL; Sally Royce Stevenson, living in Providence, RI; Sarah Gates Colley, living in Cross River, NY; and Cathy Munson Rogerson, living in Duxbury, MA. SUMMER 2012

Take Note

Veda Pendleton McClain ’75 and her family at the celebration of her daughter’s graduation from University of Georgia

Veda Pendleton McClain’s daughter, Marian, at her graduation

We are enjoying our work at the Hillsboro Club during the winter months and the summer months at the Maidstone Club. In between, we are fortunate enough to escape to the mountains of Sun Valley, Idaho, and have become avid long-distance hikers, even occasionally competing in trekking races up the mountains. It certainly keeps us fit! Hope to catch everyone at the next EWS big occasion.” Nyoka Browno Woods was voted Teacher of the Year at Clark Middle School last year, where she is chair of the Mathematics Department. Nyoka is completing her 28th year of teaching and loves her job. Nyoka welcomed her youngest granddaughter, Kalea Zhane Woods, on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Kalea weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz. 70

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And now from Veda: “I welcomed my youngest granddaughter, Gabrielle Grace Higgins, on Friday, May 18, 2012, in Athens, GA. Gabrielle weighed 7 lbs. and 11 oz. Look out Walker’s, they’ll be in the class of 2030! Our family gathered in December 2011 to witness and celebrate Marian’s (my eldest daughter’s) completion of her doctor of philosophy degree in student affairs administration at The University of Georgia. Twentythree family members and additional friends participated in a pre-graduation celebration at the Holiday Inn. We are also anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new baby girl in May 2012, who will join Marian’s two sons, Isaiah and Elijah. My youngest child, Micah, will graduate from high school in May. He will attend Parsons, The New School of Design in

New York. Any insight/assistance from EWS alumnae in the NYC area will be greatly appreciated. Micah is an awardwinning photographer.”

Lisa Weber Greenberg ’76 shares this photo of her three kids, on a recent trip to Zermatt. From left, Laura (16), Zach (20), and Alison (23).

From left, Coco, Carter, Staley, Carter, and Betsy Sednaoui

Take Note

Larke Woods Wheeler ’76 and Wendy Chamberlain Navarro ’76 in Atlanta, summer 2010

Larke Woods Wheeler ’76 shares this recent photo of her family. From left, Ray, Larke, Josephine (l4), Walker (l7), and Callan (almost 20).

1976 Lisa Weber Greenberg 35 Westland Road Weston, MA 02493 781-647-7768 Lwgreenberg@gmail.com

Wendy and Mario Navarro in Acapulco December 2011

Staley Cayce Sednaoui still lives in Princeton, NJ, is still happily married to Carter, and is still raising children, although they are beginning to grow up and fly the coop! She keeps busy as a nutritional counselor helping her clients with issues of health and wellness, as well as guiding chronic dieters away from dieting and towards a happier, more relaxed relationship with food. She loved reconnecting with so many Walker’s classmates at the reunion and hopes everyone stays in touch through these notes.

guide over the years. So if you find Mexico in your plans, you have a place to stay in Mexico City, where she will show you around. Wendy recently bumped into Frances “Posie” Morris Constable ’75, who was a year ahead of us at Walker’s, on Kiawah Island, GA, and saw Larke Woods Wheeler two summers ago in Atlanta.

1977 Michelle Turner 94 Saint Anns Court Somerset, NJ 08873-4407 Mrturner01@comcast.net

1978

REUNION

Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Wendy Chamberlain Navarro says

Allison Wanamaker ’76 with partner, Mario, at a wedding in Sugar Beach, Costa Rica

that when her husband accepted a job offer in Mexico City back in 1994, they thought they would only stay for three years. Well, 18 years later they have no intention of leaving, as they are “involved in a love affair with this exciting and sometimes crazy country.” She is working as an art consultant and interior designer and still very much into running, having run her one and only marathon in Budapest in 2010. Her son, Sean (28) lives in Austin, Texas. She loves to entertain guests from out of town and has become a pretty good tour

1979 Karen Polcer Bdera 24-03 86th Street E. Elmhurst, NY 11369 718-429-7594 pinkwalk@gmail.com Karen Bdera gave the following request to her classmates: Recount a memory or let us know what you would ask a young woman currently attending EWS if you could. SUMMER 2012

Take Note Ruth Wick Brooke sends news: “Who remembers the Kundalini yoga class some of us took at Walker’s, probably as a winter sports alternative (or was that paddle tennis)? The teacher was a certifiable survivalist, I think, something about fortifications in the basement of their commune—a ’60s throwback, but so much for peace, love, and flowers! Nonetheless, he made an impression on me. I think of this now and again, as I have my own yoga studio and am teaching classes in the style of Svaroopa® yoga. My studio is in the hayloft of the former horse barn (yes, this is how my life has progressed), which is on our property in Vermont. I live here with my husband, Peter, and my two kids, Alexandra (12) and Thomas (9). Life is good, and I do think of you all often!” Karen Appel Brown writes, “In

October, I started a new job with CVS Caremark as Vice President of Corporate Communications, overseeing the company’s internal communications program including support for executive communications and speechwriting. This will mean a relocation from Indiana to Rhode Island when our son finishes high school in May 2013. For now, I am working in Rhode Island during the week and commuting to Indiana on weekends to see husband, Nick, and son, Justin. It has been fun getting to know Providence and great to be back in New England near our extended families. I look forward to re-connecting with classmates at our next reunion. “ This in from Sarah Brand Kelly: “Wow, Mike and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this September. Our son, Michael, is a sophomore at Elon University and plays on the club tennis team there. Our daughter, Alexa, will be a freshman at Loyola University in Baltimore this September. Celebrated my father’s 85th b’day in Florida in January. He’s doing great!! Mike continues to be very busy as Chairman of Orthopaedics at Hackensack University Medical Center as well as with his own practice. I get to see Liz Nash Muench ’55 twice a year when she stops to visit us in Franklin Lakes on her way to Bray’s Island in the fall and again in the spring 72

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on her way back to Vermont! I will very sadly be an “empty nester” this fall but am looking forward to getting back to lots of paddle and workouts and ‘me time.’ Looking forward to the summer again in Bay Head—come visit!!” Catherine “Katie” Reiss (first time we’ve heard from Katie in a long while.) writes, “Well, I can’t tell you about offspring in or done with college, as my 8-year-old Harry is still in grade school, and I’m chaperoning class trips! (He is also the reason that I had to miss the 25th reunion, as my doctor recommended strongly against travel during my pregnancy). My husband Paul and I live happily in the Netherlands. He’s Dutch and we met 15 years ago when I came here for business school (essentially I accomplished my MBA and my Mrs. together). We spend our summers in New York so that our son also can experience being an American kid. After spending years working in the boardroom (even taking an Internet company IPO during the bubble), I now work as a consultant, coaching management teams in banks and insurance companies and supporting them in executing their strategies. Currently I’m on a half-year sabbatical to spend time with my son and round off the remodeling of our house. To be honest, I could get used to this! I also volunteer at an old folks’ home for watercolor classes, and teach a group of kids English. Love to hear from any classmates, and also from their teenage children who may want to be an au pair for a semester abroad! Let us know if you’re coming to Amsterdam and we can host you for a cruise on the inland waterways.” Trina Jones Stillwell was down in Vero Beach, FL, and on the beach she ran into Lela Schaus Phillip and then Elizabeth “Lisa” Danforth Hurst. They all sat down and talked for a bit catching up and laughing about old times. Arabella Wattles Teal writes, “Not much new to report from my end. Daughter, India, is finishing her junior year at NYU. Son, Mason, is finishing freshman year at Northeastern. Husband, Gary, is hard at work managing the

campaign of a reform candidate for our City Council. I’m still an Administrative Law Judge in DC. We’ve started hearing student disciplinary cases for our public school system, which has made me reflect a lot on my time as a member of the EWS Judiciary Committee. I also think a lot about the Ferguson Triumvirate: Mrs. Dembrow, Mrs. Shea, and Mrs. Nelson, the teachers who probably taught me the most about thinking and writing. So glad I’ve had the chance over the years to thank them and all the fine faculty from our day. I’ve learned as I get older never to put off expressing appreciation.” Ashley Smith Washburn reports, “My husband, Jay, and I live in West Hartford, CT, and have four boys, seven dogs, and one big snake. Our oldest son is graduating from UVM this May, our second is a sophomore at Ithaca College, our third is graduating from Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford and trying to decide which college to attend and run cross country and track for, and our youngest is a freshman at Kingswood Oxford. Jay is a history teacher at Glastonbury High School and loves his second career. I spend the majority of my time working for my nonprofit foundation, Asante Sana For Education, at home and in Tanzania, Africa. I travel to Tanzania three to four times a year for anywhere from three days to five weeks. We are presently building three primary schools in the Bagamoyo district and running the Students Empowering Students programs. This June I will be taking several high school students on ASFE’s third service trip to Tanzania, where they will help out in a local orphanage, work with secondary students in our SES program, and go on a few safaris.

In addition to my foundation I am on the Board of Trustees at the Kingswood Oxford School and at the Covenant Preparatory School, a tuition-free private middle school for low-income boys in Hartford. We love our crazy life and enjoy spending the summers relaxing at the beach in Groton Long Point, CT. My question is for current and past students: Would you like to come to Tanzania? :)”

Take Note Karen Bdera writes, “As for myself, you know me. I am still working in development at my not-for-profit, am still running and walking, raising money to fight breast cancer, and vacationing in Aruba (my new paradise). Husband, Nick, is well, and life is good. And I think my question would be a threeparter: What EWS teacher has had the greatest impact on your career? Why? Have you told the teacher that?”

1980 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

the Punta Arenas. Our many activities included sea kayaking, glacier hiking, river rafting, mountain climbing, horseback riding, and biking. Gorgeous country!!”

1982

Dummies, I’d love to know what you think; the same goes for culture magazine. I don’t remember much cheese at EWS, but I do remember mac and cheese . . . and lots of yogurt. Oh, and stopping for ice cream after ‘away’ basketball games (Marcia Scarles treated). Guess I’m a dairy gal!”

Eve Agush Costarelli 16 Porter Road Natick, MA 01760-2411 617-879-6062 AdamAnt_Eve@hotmail.com

Margaret “Meg” Filoon shares this photo from her Christmas vacation trip to Chile. “We had 11 family members on the trip. We traveled from Santiago to

Thalassa Skinner writes, “For the past five years I’ve been a cheesemonger in the Napa Valley (at the Oxbow Cheese Merchant) and four years ago I cofounded culture: the word on cheese, a general consumer cheese magazine that’s distributed nationwide, as well as in Canada and the UK. As of mid-May 2012, my book Cheese for Dummies will be on the shelves (and via Amazon). It took almost a year to complete with my co-author, Laurel Miller, and we tapped into resources through the magazine too (there’s a color photo insert, the first for the For Dummies series). It’s good to know that there’s something out there that makes cheese approachable to all of us. It’s an intimidating subject for lots of people, much like wine. But you know, it’s only fermented milk! And we all love it (or almost all of us, anyway). If anyone decides to buy or flip through Cheese for

Meg Filoon ’81 and her family, from left, Nate (12), Meg, William Baker (Meg’s husband), and Reed (14)

At the wedding of Eve Agush Costarelli ’82, from left, Chelsea (stepdaughter), Rob, Adrianne Vincent (minister), Anthony (son), and Eve

Susan “Lue” McWilliams writes: My

movie The Pill opened at The Quad Cinemas in NYC 12-16-11, and is getting film awards. The other film, Naked As We Came, is due out in 2012.

1981 Veronica “Roni” Leger 91 Fayerweather Street #3 Cambridge, MA 02138 617-547-4130 veronica@alum.mit.edu

Tracey Flach Shiel ’82 and John Shiel at their wedding

Tracey Flach Shiel shares, “On September 3, 2011, John Shiel and I got married. We had a great party at the Mirbeau Spa and Inn in Skaneateles, NY. In 2011, my first book, Engaging Students Through Performance Assessment, was published through Advanced Learning Press. Presently, I am leading a project in Delaware in which four of my colleagues and I provide on-site School Leadership Coaching once a week throughout the school year. It is very rewarding work. During my time off we tend to plan wine trips, and this July we

From left, Nora Hussey (friend), Eve, and Sue Czepiel ’82

SUMMER 2012

Take Note will revisit Sonoma County in California and Walla Walla in Washington.” Eve Agush Costarelli writes, “On

March 22, 2012, Rob and I were married on the 16th anniversary of our first date. We married in a lovely wooded knoll in the woods near our home and had the most perfect 80-degree day in the middle of March! We were married by a dear friend, who is a Buddhist Ritual Minister. Our Zen ceremony tied the sacredness of the space to our lives. It was an intimate affair with only family and a few close friends, Susan “Sue” Czepiel being one of them! I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day!” Caitlin Nammack Weissman just

finished re-vamping her website, scribblingink.com. Thanks to the amazing Art Department at Walker’s for encouraging Caitlin’s creative talents! Emily Eckelberry Johnson sends

news of other alumnae, “I have attached a photo of Courtney Callahan on Easter morning at St. John’s of Lattingtown in Locust Valley, NY. Courtney is in charge of an amazing Sunday School program and the number of children attending has skyrocketed! Here she is making sure everyone has a bag for the Easter Egg hunt. Please note that the bag is PURPLE! GO DIALS!!

1983

REUNION

Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1984 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1985 Elizabeth “Betsy” Potter Giddings 6 Wellington Heights Road Avon, CT 06001 860-679-9593 dearpeg@aol.com Carol Maloney shares, “I don’t know if print-worthy, but I am moving back to Connecticut from Kentucky. Looking forward to finally being able to attend a reunion.” Surina Khan sends in, “I am settling well into life in New York. I moved here last summer to accept a position with the Ford Foundation as the first program officer for LGBT Rights. This spring I was promoted to director of the Gender Rights and Equality Unit, where I am overseeing three global initiatives on Women’s Rights, LGBT Rights, and HIV/AIDS. My partner, Jenny, and our dog, Rosie, will join me in June. Hope you are well! Surina.” Stacy Winkler shares, “I am living in Vista, CA, and I teach dog agility for my company, Keen Performance Dogs. I spent a lot of years in the entertainment industry and then found I missed being out of doors so I made my hobby into my profession. I am now getting somewhat back into the business with a TV show I have in development that centers around dog agility. I hope my former classmates and friends are well and happy. Any clue where Mary McQueeney disappeared to?”

Courtney Callahan ’82

THE SUNDIAL

1986 Micaela “Miki” Porta 204 Park Street #16 New Canaan, CT 06840 203-594-7288 enginebooks@yahoo.com

1987 Lori Stewart P.O. Box 330774 West Hartford, CT 06133-0774 860-205-9920 ews1987@gmail.com Ailsa Veit Foulke writes, “We are moving to New York in June after many years in the Charleston, SC, area. My husband took a job at Kroll, Inc. in Manhattan, and I am continuing on with my interior design business with projects in New York and DC. Our three boys are very excited about the adventure. However, we are not totally abandoning the South as we are keeping our house in South Carolina to visit friends and family. I hope to see a lot of Walker’s alums in NY!” Elizabeth “Liz” West Glidden writes,

“I am well, enjoying maternity leave. My husband, Tom, and I welcomed our first baby in March, Kate Virginia. I saw many classmates at the 25th (and Walker’s 100th) when I was first pregnant. We recently moved to East Haddam, CT. I continue to work for the Town of Haddam as the town planner

Liz West Glidden ’87 and her daughter, Kate

Take Note there. I keep up with Hilary Clark, who lives in New York City, with Deborah “Deb” Whitﬁeld Wiese, who lives outside of Boston with her husband and two children, and with Sigrid Kuhse, who lives in DC with her husband and daughter, Charlotte.”

1988

REUNION

Melissa Jackson Loree 3055 East Pine Valley Road NW Atlanta, GA 30305 404-816-9463 melissaloree@me.com

1989 Fiona Cox 1133 37th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 206-568-2390 fionaccox@aol.com Luisa Mejia Machado da Silva writes, “Well, what can I say? Still here in Colombia, dating a man in NY. Very happy as a mommy.”

to defend my thesis in June. I can’t wait to be back. Hope all’s well! Cheers!” Laura Gibson Adams sends this news: “I have been in Davidson, NC, for over 10 years now and it is a wonderful place to raise our children. I have a 2-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy who are the light of my life. I also continue to enjoy working part-time for Merck & Co., Inc. as a pharmaceutical representative. My husband continues to expand his restaurants and now owns six in Charlotte and the surrounding area . . . so life is blissfully busy for us! Sending my warmest wishes to all my former classmates.” Catherine Aurelio writes, “I’m still living in Santa Cruz and working in Palo Alto designing software, which is totally an amazing and fun job. My partner, Andrea, is an oncology nurse at Stanford Hospital. I spoke at TEDx Santa Cruz about the future of gamification. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jSzw SJmzRY. We surf, bike, hike, and ski every chance we get. Life is pretty perfect!” Fiona Cox’s law practice has survived the economic downturn. She has just had a big success in mediation, assisting a homeowner who was facing foreclosure. She has also been assisting several corporations with federal tax issues. She is about to take off on a

pilgrimage along the El Camino to Santiago de Compostela with her mom; they have been training for six months. They will walk 165 miles in about 16 days. Her daughter Anoushka (20) is thriving at Macalester in St. Paul. And her daughter Claudia (17) is suffering the torment of her final year in high school but looking forward to college. Stacey Lombardo DiPiazza writes, “I

am still living in Glastonbury with my husband, Jack, and three daughters, Marina, 12, Amelia, 10, and Marcella, 6. I still own a document destruction and records storage business based in East Windsor, CT. Periodically, I help Walker’s with document shredding, which I provide at no charge as a small way to give back to the school. As a gift to myself for my 40th birthday I set up a donor-advised fund (The Giving Tree Fund) with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving as a way to help teach my children about philanthropy. Each year our family will pick up a prominent social issue in the Hartford area and as a family we will do the appropriate research on the different not-for-profits that relate to that issue, and then along with the kids we will choose how to distribute the funds. We are excited about it, and the Hartford Foundation will be highlighting our story in the annual report that comes out in May.”

A recent picture of Luisa Mejia Machado da Silva ’89 and Ana Luiza on her 4th birthday

C. Sara Minard shares, “I actually met

the new head of Walker’s (Bessie Speers) who is awesome! We met at an event at Middlebury College; she came to my presentation and left me a sweet note. I met some Walker’s girls too. What a trip! I felt ancient. I am still teaching at SIPA/Columbia and working on social entrepreneurship in the developing world. I go back to Paris for a few weeks

Stacey Lombardo DiPiazza ’89 with her three daughters and the family dog, Frank, in November SUMMER 2012

Take Note going on, but we are happily settling into our new life. Our 20th reunion is May 2013. Yikes. Have we really been out of high school for that long? Hope to see everyone then.”

1990 Katherine “Kate” Graetzer 823 Delaware Avenue Delmar, NY 12054-9735 518-729-2147 kbgraetzer@mac.com

Toan Huyng shares, “I just got married

Amanda Pitman is happy to report that in May she completed her MS in Landscape Design from Columbia University. Thankfully, it’s over!”

1991 Gabriela “Gaby” Porta Beecher 363 Main Street New Canaan, CT 06840-5903 203-972-2121 GBeecher1@yahoo.com

Nancy “Nan” Flanagan ’93 with her son, Jack

1992 Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1993

Nancy “Nan” Flanagan shares, “Hope everyone is doing well. Lots of changes on my end within the last year. In December 2011, my husband, Rick, and I welcomed our first baby, Jack. While on maternity leave I resigned from my job at Hill Holliday (goodbye, advertising career!) and accepted a job at our alma mater. I’ve been at my post as Director of Marketing & Communications for about six weeks and I am loving it. It’s fabulous to be back at Walker’s. A few of our teachers are still here, and I can’t bring myself to call them by their first names yet; it’s too weird. My husband, Jack, our dog, and I relocated to Simsbury at the end of March and are in the process of selling our house in Massachusetts. Lots 76

THE SUNDIAL

1994

REUNION

Toan C. Huyng 196 Court Street #2 Brooklyn, NY 11201 917-328-9344 toan3huynh@gmail.com

this past April 29 to Jonathan Schorr at the Blue Hill in Stone Barns. It was a lovely wedding and really fun! I’ll be traveling around the world in my job as client partner for a large insurance carrier. Still working on cloud computing and consulting. I was in Santiago, Chile, for work and ran into a picture of Celeste Pontifex ’93; I was at the Montes, a vineyard in the Colchugua Valley and she is a distributor of their wines. On another note, I have a new ‘jobby!!’ My brother and I started a sauce company in Brooklyn. Check out our feature on ABCNew.com (video and article): http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/20 12/02/gettin-saucey-with-brooklynbased-vietnamese-sauce-company/

Toan Huyng ’93 with a picture of Celeste Pontifex ’93

Toan Huyng with her new family, the Schorrs

Alexandra “Alex” Flood Alcoff 115 4th Avenue Apt. #8G New York, NY 10003 212-358-0687 Alexalcoff@gmail.com

Take Note 1995 Alexandra “Ali” Townson 666 West Ferry Street Apt. #26 Buffalo, NY 14222-1625 716-308-6697 alexandratownson@hotmail.com Nicole Lewenson Shargel 109 College Avenue Somerville, MA 02144 617-776-6007 nicky@shargellawoffice.com

1996 Drusilla “Dru” Carter 308 South Cedar Street Pageland, SC 29728 843-672-3339

Zack’s arrival has been the icing on the cake! If any classmates are visiting the UK, it would be lovely to see you! Find me on Facebook!”

1997 Alicia Kelly Benedetto 6 Little Bear Drive Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 aliciacassandra@hotmail.com Karen Crowe 790 Boylston Street, Apt. Boston, MA 02199-7923 617-695-6781 kcrowe79@gmail.com Kristin Jones married Mike Brown on

April 7, 2012. She works as a therapist in the foster care dependency system and lives in Daytona Beach, FL.

Allison Hulbert Potts shares, “Zackary

Taylor Potts started to arrive on New Year’s Eve (I went to the party anyway!) and finally graced us with his presence at 9:50 p.m. on New Year’s Day. He weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz. He is a really happy baby, sleeping well, chattering away, and already enjoying his first swimming lessons. I am making the most of taking a year off from my job in environmental planning to look after him. Simon and I are very settled near Reading, UK, with our huskies, and

Elizabeth “Libby” Clark writes, “I got engaged in October, and we are in the process of building a house. I am involved in the school system going for my certification (currently, student teaching English). I coach middle school soccer, basketball, and softball as well as varsity softball.”

Allison Hulbert Potts, her husband, Simon, and son Zachary

Maya Elie Dakwar, daughter of Savina Samtani Dakwar ’97

Priscilla “Cilla” Denham Pozzo and her husband, Mark, welcomed baby #2, Dylan James Pozzo, born on April 13, 2012.

Christine Foley married Matt Smith on March 24, 2012, at the EWS chapel. She recently passed the national exam for psychology and is now a licensed clinical psychologist. Savina Samtani Dakwar and her husband welcomed Maya Elie Dakwar, born on October 18, 2011. Kathryn Guterman Butler writes, “I’m

still making art and decorative hardware and going out with the hounds.” Karina Morales writes, “I am still in NY, have a 1½-year-old boy and am expecting another boy this spring. I totally changed career paths: I designed a bilingual music program and now teach babies and toddlers in the NY/NJ area.” Alexandra Henriquez de Salceda

sends news: “I recently gave birth to my second baby girl, Alessa Victoria, on January 7. Sara Isabel, her 3-year-old sister, is excited to finally have some company, and so are we. Heading back to work on the family business soon.” Nina Fuchs Vollmann writes, “I’m still

living in Berlin; we bought an old house in the center, renovated it and finally moved in last summer (lots of space for visitors, so feel free). Luca, my son, is now 20 months old. In addition to online consulting, last November I started a new company selling wine over

Luca, son of Nina Fuchs Vollmann ’97, and his pal Oskar

SUMMER 2012

Take Note the Internet. We work directly with wineries in Germany and Italy and fill high-quality wines in bag-in-box 3l (A packaging not very common in the German market, especially for high quality). Attached is a picture of Luca and Oskar (he’s also quite new to our family, now 8 month old). Puja Thadhani-Motiani writes, “In the past few years we’ve been very busy; after five fun years of marriage we finally started our growing family. We moved into our new house when I was 5½ months pregnant, followed by some remodeling, and then comes baby in time for the insanely hot Miami summer of 2010. Ananya was tiny, actually just tall and skinny when she was born. Her name means ‘unique’ and she is truly one of a kind. After she was born we decided that it was best that I stay home with her, and it was definitely the best decision for us. She’s almost 2 now, and these past two years have been amazing—lots of fun, laughing, learning, but simply filled with an immense amount of love.”

“Sumi” Daswani and Alicia Kelly Benedetto. I’ve been working as an

independent documentary film producer. A film that I recently directed and shot, Tales of the Waria, will air nationally on PBS on June 3. Also, it looks like come August, I’ll be moving to China on the Blakemore Fellowship to study Mandarin and to begin another film. Topic to be disclosed at a later date.” This news comes from Kristen Culotta Hanson, “I’m in Houston, which I HATE. Way too hot and humid, but the oil industry is good to my husband, Doug, who is the CFO of an oil support company. I get to spend my days doing something I love, which is breeding and selling my horses.”

“Michael and I welcomed our first baby, Madeline Kelly Benedetto, on December 28, 2011. After almost nine years of working in NYC in advertising, I made the decision to leave the corporate world and stay home with Madeline. She brings so much joy to our lives. Otherwise, we’re still living in Westchester, NY, and looking forward to spending some time on Martha’s Vineyard this summer.” Katherine “Kate” Flanagan Shoss

shares, “Avi and I welcomed our second baby last October, Samuel Porter Shoss. Izzy is now 2½ and loves being a big sister. I was disappointed that I could not make it to our class reunion/Centennial, but it was right before Sam was born. I heard it was fun! Hope to see everyone soon.”

1998

REUNION

Brooke Berescik-Johns 118 West 75th Street #3A New York, NY 10023 BrookeBJohns@gmail.com

Taryn (Welsch) Toomey sends news:

“I just had my second baby girl on November 9, 2011, so two little ladies in my life. Scarlett is 2.5 years old and Finley is 4 months old. We’re living in NYC and loving life!” Kathy Huang writes, “I’m happy to report that I recently moved from LA to NY to live with the likes of Sumitra

Alicia Kelly Benedetto writes,

Benneth Phelps was married to Luke Strzegowski on April 30, 2011, at the farm of a friend in Shelburne Falls, MA. Christine “Chrissy” Isidoro was in attendance. Madeline Kelly Benedetto, daughter of Alicia Kelly Benedetto ’97

1999 Vivienne Felix 113-33 201 Street St. Albans, NY 11412 Viviennefelix@hotmail.com Hello, ladies! Thanks for sharing your news. I love hearing from everyone. It is amazing to see how our lives are turning out. This fall I relocated to Ohio. I am still getting accustomed to small-town life, but things are going well. I am excited about this summer. I have the opportunity to work in New Zealand and am ready to experience a new culture and way of life. Katherine “Kate” Flanagan Shoss ’97 with Sam, Avi, and Izzy

THE SUNDIAL

Take Note Marisabel Portillo is also traveling. She shares, “I’m still in Abu Dhabi—been traveling to Egypt and Thailand—just went home to the U.S. for vacation and saw Allison Quigley ’00. I’m currently the middle-school case manager for five students and will head back to school in September for a Behavioral Analysis Certification. I love it in the desert. I get to meet amazing people and travel. Otherwise, I’m looking forward to summer travel to new parts of the world.”

Marisabel Portillo ’99 when she was

home from Abu Dhabi. In early April I had a fun weekend in NYC with Sarah Heinemann; the weather was beautiful and we had a good time walking around the city, going to the Whitney Biennial, and catching up over many an al fresco meal, meeting up for dinner with JooHee Lee along the way. I’m looking forward to having some time off when school is done, and I’m already planning my trip down to “NOLA” to visit

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Heurtematte de Alfaro sends her greetings from abroad,

Samara Khalique.

“Hi there!! I am still living in Panama. Last year I left the law firm I worked at for five years to start my own firm with two colleagues. The firm is called Lopez, Villanueva & Heurtematte (www.lovill.com). We are doing well and growing fast, as is Panama in general. Un abrazo.”

As far as class news goes, I’m pleased to report that this class bulletin includes many updates from first-time contributors. Thank you to everyone who was able to submit a note—I look forward to hearing from more of you in the future! Samara Khalique just celebrated her

In other news, some of our classmates are adding little ones to their families. Sheng Weng Davis and her husband, Keith, are expecting their first child in late summer. Nicole “Nikki” Dunson McAllister is also a mother-to-be: “I am expecting a baby boy, Calvin Thomas McAllister III, on April 22, so that is exciting and new! Please keep us in your prayers! My husband and I are still living in Atlanta, so nothing has really changed with that. I am still practicing bankruptcy law. I hope all is well with you! Talk to you soon!” Thanks for sharing. Until we meet again, do take care.

2000 Allison Quigley 151 Bunker Hill Avenue Stratham, NH 03885-2432 603-772-8507 abatw@yahoo.com Allison Quigley writes, Things are going very well—on May 18 I’ll be graduating from nursing school, and then studying to take my boards! It has been a busy spring so far, but I was able to take some time out to visit with

30th birthday and reports that, while she does occasionally miss the mountains in New England, she is loving it down south in New Orleans. Her residency in adult and pediatric medicine continues to go well, and she says that visitors are “always welcome!”

My parents moved to Turkey (in 2005), and I would go visit them every chance I got. Turkey was amazing! Last year they moved back to the Netherlands so that has become my latest vacation destination. This year I will also be going to Jamaica in May . . . so excited! I regret to say that I have not been great about keeping in touch with all my Walker’s buddies and I hope to be able to change that. Sometimes we all go through periods in our lives when we lose ourselves a little and forget what’s important. Recently, I’ve made a couple of big changes in my life and it seems they were the right ones for me. I wish all my ladies so much love and all the best! I hope to catch up with all of you soon. Much love and big kisses!” April Bolton Mwangi reports, “Since seeing you all last year at Centennial, I’ve gotten the chance to meet up with Jamiah Tappin, Cerra Cardwell ’02, Crystal Gist ’01, and Alicia Little Hodge ’01 in NYC for dinner and

writes, “The only exciting news I have is that my husband Sam and I are expecting our first baby in June! Other than that not much else is happening.”

drinks at the end of December 2011. I’ve gone on a beautiful trip to Puerto Rico with my mom, and I am planning my 30th birthday with Alicia in Las Vegas, so we are really excited about that. My son is getting larger and thinking he is in charge, and my husband is happy working hard in NYC. All is good and I can’t wait for another reunion with my EWS ladies!”

Suzanne Korff de Gidts writes, “I miss my Walker’s ladies and the great fun (and sometimes less than fun) moments we shared. I work at the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York City and live in Greenwich, CT. I’ve worked here now for 6.5 years and still enjoy the work (although the days can be quite long!). Currently, I’m the nationality expert so I deal with people who wish to find out if they are eligible for Dutch nationality through the birth option or naturalization. I also deal with adoptions, acknowledgements, and other assorted nationality issues. Additionally, I’m also the Protocol Officer, so I deal a lot with the State Department regarding visas, work authorization, etc. It’s great work because no two days are alike. Every day presents a new challenge!

Lacey Millar writes in, “Wow, it’s been a lifetime since graduation; too long! My life is bursting at the seams with new adventures and yes . . . wedding chaos. I am getting married September 29th on Nantucket to my long-time love, Justin Bradley. We (with our dog Ruby) share our time between Nantucket and here on Cape Cod, where we recently bought a home built in the 1700s. With this we have taken on the challenge of restoring the old beauty ourselves. Slow going and a true test of a sound relationship for sure, but it has been beyond rewarding and worth all the stress and late nights. I am the coordinator for a design gallery based out of Nantucket but located here on the Cape. Life is fabulous—never a dull moment is almost an understatement! I must say, although it has

Kimberly “Kim” Wagner Patterson

SUMMER 2012

Take Note been overwhelming and at times daunting, I am loving every minute of what I have taken on in the past year and would not change a thing!! It’s been too, too long but I think fondly of my Walker’s ladies all the time. I promise to attend the next alumnae event, no excuses. Be well!! XO.” Mae Tanner writes, “No pregnancy or marriage for me, I’m afraid! I’m currently living in Apia, Western Samoa, where I work as a legal analyst at the Law Reform Commission. I’ve been here two years with my partner, Cameron, and love the interesting work, the rich culture, and the laid-back life, but will be leaving soon for adventures further afield. I’m starting a two-year master’s degree in international public management in Paris this September. Being closer to the United States, I hope it brings the opportunity to catch up with a few of my mates from the Walker’s days at some stage. Feel free to contact me via email: mae.tanner@gmail.com.” Kristin Decker Somerville writes,

“My life is pretty uneventful but I’m sure I can report on a few tidbits. I live in Simsbury with my husband, Taylor. I am in the insurance business, and I am finishing up my thesis in criminal justice. I’m just enjoying living life, and traveling when I can!”

2001 Alicia Little Hodge 142 Hampton Avenue West Hartford, CT 06110 860-573-5136 alittlehodge@gmail.com

2002 Stephanie Caviglia 39 Tannen Drive Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 914-456-5199 sc284@aol.com

THE SUNDIAL

2003

REUNION

2007

Thara K. Mathews 7305 Quarry Chase Trails Plano, TX 75025 972-618-0741 thara_mathews@hotmail.com

Emily Casey 446 Cedar Lane New Hartford, CT 06057 860-489-4700 freeflowfree@gmail.com

2004

Carter Margison P.O. Box 11212 Savannah, GA 31412 860-677-4282 carter.margison@gmail.com

Your class needs a Correspondent! Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

2005 Meredythe Goethe 314 Sackett Street, Apt. 2M Brooklyn, NY 11231 Alexandra “Alex” B. Tapley 58 Garden Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-441-0625 Nicole Rougeot 2787 Torringford Street Torrington, CT 06790 860-489-7153 nicole.rougeot@gmail.com Jennifer Ho shares that she graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in ’09 and is now living in Boston. She works at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and ran the Boston Marathon in April 2011.

2006 Alle S. Colen 9609 Mockingbird Trail Jupiter, FL 33478 561-309-6883 alle@knights.ucf.edu Ebony J. Moses 13 Willow Street, Apt. 202 Lynn, MA 01901-1230 ebonyjanay@me.com

Jeanette Pelizzon writes, “I graduated from Franklin College Switzerland last May with a degree in international communications and media studies with a minor in marketing. After visiting over 30 countries throughout my college career, I decided to head back stateside for a short while. I currently am an assistant manager with Abercrombie Kids in San Francisco and am working towards heading back abroad with the company in the near future.” Anne “Annie” Richey writes, “Hey, everyone! I hope you all are doing well! I went to Roanoke College for a semester and a half, and then came home to West Hartford. I took some time off and got certified as a nursing assistant. I was working for two different home health agencies, and now just working for one agency full-time, while going to school part-time. I love my job and have been doing it for three years. I never thought I would enjoy working with the elderly so much. I am going to school for social work and hope to work for an adoption agency one day. I’m also trying to get involved in mental illness awareness. I am living on my own in an apartment in West Hartford. I hope to move down south eventually once I graduate, to be closer to family.” Katherine “Katie” Frechette shares, “Since graduation from McDaniel College in Maryland, I have gone to Towson University for a MS in human resource development-professionalism. I work full-time for an insurance brokerage firm in Baltimore. I am hoping to be done by May 2013, when I

Take Note will pursue a job in the human resources field, preferably relating to employee development and performance management. I hope everyone is doing well.” Mallory Moore writes, “Hola, Ladies!

Greetings from sunny Florida! Since my graduation from Florida Southern College in 2011, I have been working for the Ledger Media Group in the advertising department! It’s almost been a year with the company! I can’t believe how time flies! I eventually want to move down to South Florida, preferably in West Palm Beach, but I have also been thinking about trying to work overseas for a couple of years, but who knows? If anyone knows of any programs, let me know! I know some of you are world travelers! Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well!!!” Sarah Diedrick says, “Hey, y’all. Since graduating from UNC in December, I’ve been living in Chapel Hill waitressing and working on my memoir. This summer I will hopefully be leading biking/hiking tours for Backroads (I have my interview today!) and then starting in September I will be teaching English in Bali. After that, I am going to apply to graduate school for poetry or nonfiction in hopes of one day becoming a creative writing professor. Good luck with all your endeavors and stay inspired!” Justine Stone writes, “Hi everyone! I

got to see a lot of you at Centennial in October and hopefully there will be an even bigger crowd at our 10-year reunion! I graduated from SMU with a degree in finance last May and started working at PricewaterhouseCoopers in August. I’m working in their Financial Services consulting practice with a focus on banking. I live in New York City in the East Village and absolutely love it! I’m looking to get involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in New York, and am also thinking about joining an intramural kickball team over the summer. I hope everyone is doing well, and hopefully I’ll see some of you soon! Love, Justine”

Je Choi writes, “Hi, everyone! I am

actually graduating Purdue this semester :) I major in chemical engineering here and plan to go to grad school, which will be at middle of nowhere again lol. I thought about going to Georgia Tech, which has a lot of exciting things going around, but I finally decided to go to University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign because I am seriously considering becoming a faculty member in the future; I know even doing so is very hard nowadays but I want to try when I can. :) So I guess I have be more nerdy. :( Ha-ha, that is why I am being crazy about spending my time doing nothing since I know I will suffer for five years!! I hope I can see you guys when we get to have a reunion in the future. And I hope everything is well! :)” Lauren Fenaughty sends word: “Hey, everyone! After traveling the world, trying out schools, and living in lots of different places, I ended up back in Connecticut! I work at a horse rescue farm, teaching riding lessons, training horses, and rehabilitating horses. I got my first horse, a 5-year-old rescue named Lucky, and I’m in the process of training him. In March I was the first person on his back! I’m studying classical dressage, and I trim horses hooves as a fun sidejob! I searched for something to study in college that would lead to a career in which I could be fulfilled physically, mentally, and spiritually and never found that until I started doing what I do now! As for the future, I’m not quite sure what part of the world I will end up in, but I do know that my career will be horses.” Posey Kettler Daves shares, “Hey, y’all!

After graduating Washington College, I worked in admissions as a representative. I got to travel to Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida to visit high schools, which was pretty amazing. I got to see some amazing towns in those states. That job was only for four months, so now I am back in Florida. I am planning on starting my own stationery collection in the near future. The stationery would be hand-painted watercolor designs done by me. I am looking forward to starting that. But for now, I am painting almost

every day and doing custom paintings for whomever; I have done paintings for Mallory Moore and Sarah Puckhaber. Right now, I am just figuring out what my next step will be. I will be applying to graduate school for psychology for the spring of 2013, but right now I am taking time off from school and exploring! Hope all is well! XOX.” Kelly Tran writes, “Hey, all. After graduating from Washington & Lee, I moved to Atlanta and have been working for KPMG as an audit associate. After passing the CPA exam earlier this winter, I took on a new challenge, running the San Diego Rock ’N Roll Marathon with Team in Training. I have a little over a month before the event and have almost reached my goal of raising $2,900 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. On that note, if any of you are interested in donating to the cause, you can do so at my fundraising website by May 4: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/rnr12 /kellytran. Hope you all are doing well!” Emily Blanchford Casey shares, “Hey, everyone! I graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in December with a degree in religious studies. I spent my last semester studying in Bali learning about the language, arts, culture, and religion. Now I am heading to Colorado to walk in the graduation ceremony in May and then spend the rest of the summer exploring the land of Colorado. I am living in a geodesic dome with some amazingly creative and visionary people. My current mission is to learn from this experience and create community. I am grateful for the leadership and confidence EWS and my classmates gave me. If anyone is ever in Colorado, please look me up, I would love to show you around! Keep smiling and do what you love. Love, Emily”

2008

REUNION

Kathleen A. Kirby 425 Coppermill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 Kakirb08@stlawu.edu SUMMER 2012

Take Note Lauren Milka 10 Wood Lane Simsbury, CT 06070 lmilka@assumption.edu

2010

2009

Marianne Pettit 10 Flagstad Road West Hartford, CT 06107 860-614-3212 12pettit@cardinalmail.cua.edu

Katherine “Katie” Reid 18 Hillyer Road Granby, CT 06035-2930 860-810-7519 ReidK09@highpoint.edu

Sydney Satchell 24 Hawthorne Lane Bloomfield, CT 06002 860-752-8822 sydneysatchell@gmail.com

Jennifer “Jenn” Sieber shares, “I’m

In February 2012 Annabelle Hicks finished in 6th place, broke a new school record, and earned All-New England honors in the 60-meter dash at the Open New England Women’s Track and Field Championships. Colby College’s head coach called it “quite an accomplishment!”

about to end my semester abroad in Florence, Italy. I have had so many amazing experiences since I’ve been here, and had the opportunity to travel throughout Italy and Europe. Some of my favorite places I’ve been so far are the Swiss Alps, Germany, and Croatia; they were all extremely different, but beautiful places to visit. I’ve learned so much about myself and am so grateful to have had the possibility to study here. I hope all Walker’s girls take advantage of studying abroad in college if they have the opportunity to do so! I’m currently studying health policy and management and business at Providence College, and I’m acting as a Financial Analyst Intern at UnitedHealth Group in Hartford this summer, which I am really looking forward to.”

things, like join a soccer and volleyball intramural team. I am majoring in diagnostic imaging, and although school work is hard, with the help of Walker’s, I feel better prepared living away from home in the dorm and more responsible than others who haven’t lived in a dorm before.” Charlotte Hughes shares, “I have been travelling a lot; I am now in Dublin, Ireland, and almost coming to an end of two-week travel across the UK. Also, I have been busy helping babysit my cousins.”

2011 Kelsey A. Ballard 80 Pilgrim Road Windsor, CT 06095 860-688-9589 kelseyballard11@gmail.com Jaclyn “Jackie” Reis writes, “My

freshman year [at Quinnipiac University] has been exciting as I have met many new friends and done many exciting

Weddings at Walker’s Walker’s offers special arrangements and discounted fees for alumnae and their families interested in wedding ceremonies in our beautiful Chapel. Many ancillary services and local referrals are provided. When it comes time to celebrate that very special day, please contact Alice Chrystal at weddings@ethelwalker.org, or

EWS Director of College Counseling was thrilled to visit with Walker's alumnae at St. Andrew's University in Scotland last winter. Shown here: Victoria Zawadzki '10, Clarissa Basch, Karen Kennedy '08.

THE SUNDIAL

at 860.408.4273 for details.

Take Note Births & Adoptions

Engagements

1987

Elizabeth “Liz” West Glidden Kate Virginia Glidden, March 5, 2012

1997

1996

Allison Hulbert Potts Zachary Taylor Potts, January 1, 2012

1997

Alicia Kelly Benedetto Madeline Kelly Benedetto, December 28, 2011

Elizabeth “Libby” Clark To Thomas Fuller

Marriages & Unions 1982

Tracey Flach Shiel To John Shiel, September 3, 2011 Eve Agush To Rob Costarelli, March 22, 2012

Savina Samtani Dakwar Maya Ellie Dakwar, October 18, 2011 Alexandra Henriquez de Salceda Alessa Victoria de Salceda, January 7, 2012

1993

Toan Huyng To Jonathan Schorr, April 29, 2012

Taryn Welsh Toomey Finley Toomey, November 11, 2011

1997

Kristin Jones To Mike Brown, April 7, 2012

Faculty/Staff Births & Adoptions Carol Clark-Flanagan, History, English, Personal Fitness Granddaughter, Esther Jeanne Larkin, born to Molly Flanagan Larkin and Ed Larkin, May 5, 2012

Christine Foley To Matt Smith, March 24, 2012 1998

Benneth Phelps To Luke Strzegowski, April 30, 2011

If your class does not have a Class Correspondent listed, please consider joining a great group of correspondents who help compile Take Note. If interested, please contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org. We’d love to have you join the team! Please stay in touch!

Stay Connected with Walker’s Wherever You Are The Ethel Walker School wants you to keep in touch! You can easily find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and on our own website at www.ethelwalker.org.

We need your email address as well as any changes

Catch up with old friends and discover new ones on Facebook by logging onto our page at

to your home address, and any other contact

www.facebook.com/ethelwalkerschool.

information, e.g. home phone number. Please send this information to alumnae@ethelwalker.org. Submit your Class Notes Online! Visit ethelwalker.org, and click on the Alumnae link at bottom right; there, you will find a link to the Take Note section. An easy-to-use form will allow you to submit your news directly from that page. If you have a longer submission, or photos to send (we hope you do!), all the information you need appears on that page.

This “Ethel Walker School Alums” page is perfect for staying up to date! Check back often to share your memories, and find out what your fellow alumnae are up to. This is where we regularly post trivia, news from campus, and notifications of alumnae gatherings. Follow us on Twitter @ethelwalkersch. Get your Walker’s news quickly and on-thego! LinkedIn provides our alumnae with the perfect opportunity for networking, across sectors, across the country, and around the world. Find us at Ethel Walker School Alumnae and Friends.

SUMMER 2012

Take Note In Memoriam

In Sympathy

1931

MARGUERITE SYKES NICHOLS Cousin: Susan Nichols Ferriere ’69

DOMINIC BATTISTONI, Father of Pat Holcomb, EWS dining staff

JEAN WARREN SOUTHACK Daughter: Barbara Southack Digangi ’64

ANN BUCKLEY, Mother of Priscilla Buckley Illel ’74, and aunt of Kimberly Smith Niles ’68, Talbot Smith Briggs ’70, Jennifer Smith ’76, Patricia O’Reilly ’77, Anne O’Reilly ’80, Anne Charlton Stone ’81 and Carol Charlton Ehreth ’84

1936

1938

1941

FLORENCE ROBINSON DeVITO, Former EWS staff ANN FLORENCE, Great Aunt of Caroline Calandro ’14

DORETTE DRESSER MANRY JEAN BUTTERWORTH WICKWIRE Sister-in-law: Ruth Wickwire Urban ’38, Niece: Ruth Urban Smith ’67

MARTHA MARIE DRESSER GEER, Mother of Bill Dresser, EWS staff

ELIZABETH “BETTY” VERNLUND GOODWIN PATRICIA HOWELL HILL BARBARA McCLURG POTTER Daughter: Helen Potter Wagner ’75

ROSI GRUNSCHLAG, Former EWS faculty

1943

LOUISE MacCOLL BELLOW

1947

NANCY DODDS SMALLWOOD

1948

JOAN PRESSPRICH METCALF Cousins: Nancy Brookfield Burke ’65 and Alyce Brookfield Rafferty ’69

1950

MARIANNA CLEMSON McAFEE

1951

ELIZABETH WEYERHAEUSER MEADOWCROFT Daughter: Anne Meadowcroft Henderson ’82

1955

DEBORAH “DEBBY” WILLIAMS MacKENZIE Niece: Whitney Williams Jones ’82, Cousins: Joan Peabody Porter ’40, Judith Porter Ferguson ‘67

1957

ANN “NANCY” HEMINGWAY WATSON SYMINGTON Daughter: Ann Watson Bresnahan ’69, Niece: Olive Watson ’66

ELIZABETH “LEA” CARPENTER du PONT Sister: Anne “Nanno” Carpenter Bienstock ’60, Cousins: Nancy “Missy” Kitchell Lickle ’53, Sarah Schutt Harrison ’55, Jane “Dedo” du Pont Kidd ’57, C. Victoria “Tory” Kitchell ’57, Phyllis Mills Wyeth ’58, Jean du Pont Blair ’58, Carroll Morgan Carpenter ’59, Michele du Pont Goss ’59, Margaretta Bredin Brokaw ’66, Mary Carpenter ’68, Sidney Lickle Jordan ’70, Ashley Lickle O’Neil ’78, Kemble “Kemi” Lickle O’Donnell ’79, Virginia du Pont ’95

1959

KATE McNALLY COTE Cousin: Betsy McNally Ravenel ’56

1978

SARAH WADSWORTH

THE SUNDIAL

JANE GOTTSHALK, Former EWS receptionist JANET FAYNE BROWN HOLCOMB, Former EWS staff ULRIC HYPOLITE, Grandfather of Katherine Hypolite ’04 ROSEMARY LINGENHELD, Former EWS receptionist and mother of Rosemary Lingenheld Nolan ’76 JUDITH GENGRAS McDONOUGH, Mother of Virginia McDonough Gasho ’78, Elizabeth McDonough Shannon ’82, Jennifer McDonough Albanesi ’83 LAUREL MULLINGS, Grandfather of Kristi Mullings ’14 ANGELA RANDAZZO PARR, Mother-in-law of Cheri Parr, Dean of Students Office and soccer coach MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR JACQUES POILLON, Father of Jeanette Poillon ’75 FLORENCE ROBERTS, Mother of Paula Brink, EWS Development Office staff BARRY RODMAN SMEDLEY, Uncle of Laura Hicks, EWS Faculty and Great Uncle of Annabelle Hicks ‘10 MARY ROBINSON SMEDLEY, Aunt of Laura Hicks, EWS Faculty and great-aunt of Annabelle Hicks ’10 ROBERTA H. TREMPER, Mother of Bev Prager, mother-in-law of Rich Prager, EWS faculty, and grandmother of Sarah Prager ’04 and Alexandra Prager ’07 GEORGE EDWARD TURNBULL, Uncle of Laura Hicks, EWS faculty and great-uncle of Annabelle Hicks ’10. JACK A. ZIEBARTH, Father of Jo Anne Ziebarth ’68 and Susan Ziebarth Delaport ’75

Tribute Walker’s Celebrates the Life of EWS Trustee Deborah “Debby” Williams MacKenzie ’55 March 21, 1938 – May 11, 2012 Her senior page in the 1955 Pepperpot says that her greatest deed, and thought. If she desire was “To live, love and learn!” Surely, she accomplished believed in something, and she this mission, and joyfully shared it with others. did in many causes, she gave As a student and alumna, Debby was a leader and a 100 percent of herself and volunteer. She was a Dial, a Prefect, and in the Northfield accomplished much. League. As an alumna, she was a very active Trustee, member “Above all Debby ‘walked the walk.’ She made big things of the Alumnae Council, Reunion volunteer both for giving happen and was recognized for her contributions. Her family and social committees, Class Secretary. Most recently, she cowas the center of her life. She had four beautiful children chaired Walker’s Development Committee and a devoted husband, all of whom she and Strategic Plan Task Force. At was proud of, and rightly so. She took an Centennial, Debby was awarded The active role in their lives and cherished her Margot Rose ’80 Distinguished Alumna time—which she made lots of—with them. Award. This award is the school’s highest At heart Debby was a teacher. She loved honor and recognizes an alumna who, by sharing her thoughts and knowledge and her devotion and talent, elevates the work of excitement about new ideas she discovered her profession, influences her community, and the theories she had. She would take or gives extraordinary service to her school. on challenges with enthusiasm and Debby is survived by her husband, David David and Debby MacKenzie at commitment. Simple pleasures brought her their ranch in Wyoming Odell MacKenzie, and her four children: tremendous joy and this joy, in her usual Douglas, Marion (Roger W. Christoph), Carolyn (Harley fashion, she shared and passed on to others. We have lost a Stimmel), and David (Casey Phillips). She was the loving beloved spirit, one who enriched all those she touched.” grandmother of Henry, Tommy, Gordon, Laura, Elizabeth, Terese “Terry” Treman Williams shared another and James Christoph; Steven, Jake, Russell, and Joe Mac tribute: “My fondest remembrances of Debby are her love Stimmel; and Harper and Evan MacKenzie. She is also and caring for her family and friends; her zest for life, its survived by her niece Whitney Williams Jones ’82 and her challenges, and its joys; and her deep affection for and many contributions to Walker’s over the years. One of my greatest cousin Judith Porter Ferguson ’67. disappointments was that I was unable to attend the Walker’s Debby was loved by all who knew her and she loved life Centennial Celebration last October. But I was deeply itself. She had a magnificent garden, was a wonderful golfer, moved when my daughter, Margot, presented the Margot and loved the outdoors. Rose Award to my dear friend and classmate, Debby, who so A busy woman, besides raising four children, Debby rightfully deserved the honor. I treasure my picture of them served on the Illinois and Wyoming Nature Conservancy together. Boards and the National Parks and Conservation Board. She “I remember with a smile some of our escapades. Debby was President of Lake Forest Open Lands and a Trustee of and I took great delight in purposely confusing the school The Ethel Walker School, the Captiva Island Historical nurses who could not tell us apart even after three years. Board, and the Lake Forest Garden Club. She was also a Another time we sat in the Baltimore airport talking, member of the National Society of Colonial Dames talking, and missed our plane to Chicago. Our fathers of America, the Contemporary Club of Chicago, never let us forget that one! We celebrated our 50th the Garden Club of America, and the First birthdays with Liz Nash Muench in New York, Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest. shopping, going to the theatre, and having peach Elizabeth “Liz” Nash Muench, her friend and Bellinis at Sardi’s. (The Bellinis were Debby’s idea!) Walker’s classmate, shared this tribute: “Debby and “For all of us, Debby will remain always in our I remained dear, close friends throughout her life. hearts with love and appreciation for her Like many friendships started at Walker’s, it was a generous spirit, her compassion, and her joy, open, nonjudgmental, full of fun based on integrity—and her lessons on how to live fundamental pleasures, and cherished for and how to depart this earth with dignity, life. She was ever positive, finding good in grace, and courage.” all. No one was more generous in spirit, SUMMER 2012

F R O M YO U R 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 PA R E N T ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N P R E S I D E N T

In penning my last contribution to the Sun Dial, I was

with confidence and conviction that she can achieve all she sets her mind to. This is the kind of confidence that allows a thrilled to learn its theme is “Faculty & Innovation.” As a senior to respond to a college interview question such as seven-year parent, one of the values I most admire about “Can you give me five potential solutions to Walker’s is the dedication of its teachers and staff. the Middle East crisis?” with intelligence and Challenging curriculum along with composure. integrated and individualized instruction were Of course, as a parent, I relate most closely driving factors in our decision to choose to my own daughter’s experience and this Walker’s. Equally important was the less year’s senior class. Seven of the 2012 graduates tangible asset of “positive energy” that started with my daughter in Middle School. permeated every visit to the campus. Looking back at the sixth grade class, I can When one meets prospective parents, the easily measure how The Ethel Walker School palpable asset of Walker’s atmosphere is stacks up in its pursuit of excellence and in immediately evident in their demeanor. While keeping true to its mission of individual chatting, you can almost see their thoughts exploration, character building, and spinning, “Will this happy, serene school have achievement. what it takes to insure my daughter can These seven girls, along with their compete on the global stage? Are the classmates, are no longer “girls,” but opportunities broad enough? Is the women who can claim their own curriculum sufficiently rigorous to prepare “In this all-girls’ school, milestones and who stand together as her for the best colleges?” Sometimes, the young women are given one, their strength of character shining questions are voiced. in their choice to forgo an expensive I caution parents against being deceived an unparalleled senior skip day so they could increase by what they may think is a complacent opportunity to assert their gift to the school. The seniors are student body. There is stiff competition for themselves in their evidence of the truth of what our good grades in tough courses at Walker’s, esteemed Trustee Emerita Elizabeth but I believe a key difference between EWS education.” “Sue” Rockwell Cesare, former master and its peer schools is that competition is teacher and independent school head, self-directed, and accomplishment is not wrote with her co-author in Succeeding measured solely on the number of AP at Parenting and Teaching: “We are not standing for election classes or GPA. with our children and our students. We chose to be parents In this all-girls’ school, young women are given an and teachers because we believed we had something to give, unparalleled opportunity to assert themselves in their something to pass on to another generation and we do. Our education. In keeping with our founder’s mission, students young electorate may disagree with us at times and get angry are encouraged to seek balance through participation in the with us at other times, but, at least, if we are true to our arts, sports, and community service. The faculty focus is on offices they will know we cared enough for them and cared insuring that each girl pushes to her limit, poised to graduate

Annual Ethel Walker Parent Association Event: Volunteer thank you reception at the Head’s House — May 25, 2012

THE SUNDIAL

enough about them to meet their greatest expectation.” These 2012 seniors and other graduating classes to come will be ready to loosen the ties that bind, but they will always remember their inextricable link of experiences and their incredible teachers and confidants. Educators who don’t know the meaning of a 9-5 day, who offer to spend two hours driving students home because they’re worried about exhaustion; teachers who instill the kind of passion that manifests in life outside the classroom and prompts discussion that continues after hours, through days and years. Teachers who spend a Friday night making jam with girls and parents; who coach a student in MS and continue to cheer the loudest on the sidelines in US. These amazing teachers push the outer limits of analytical and critical thinking, never giving the “easy” grade, but always driving students to further examination, intelligent inquiry, and skillful communication. By the time a Walker’s girl graduates, writing an analytical essay is as natural as reading. At Walker’s, college recommendations are based on personal relationships that paint a virtual picture for admissions officers and market student accomplishments based on first-hand knowledge. Teachers and advisors volunteer countless hours to help students zero in on college choices and to give them tools and confidence in writing entrance essays. Equally important, they are there to help steer students through disappointments and to direct their energies to redefined goals. As these teachers view the accomplishments of their students, they must find deep satisfaction in their life’s work. For Walker’s women are making their mark in the world and making a difference in our communities. Whether it’s as producer of “Sixty Minutes,” Washington Post columnist and author, founder of non-profit organizations, developer of a home AIDS test, or in the workplace as doctors, scientists,

lawyers, and teachers, and in the home as wives and mothers, Walker’s graduates are women to celebrate.

Gail M. Shelton P’12 PRESIDENT, EWSPA 2011-2012 “We are grateful for Gail Shelton’s leadership and congratulate Renee Alexander P’13 as the next President of the EWSPA.” Diane Thomas, Director of Parent Programs.

THE ETHEL WALKER SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION 2012-2013 BOARD Renee Alexander P’13

Laura Patrina P’11, ’13

PRESIDENT

US DAY PARENT LIAISON

Kristen Arnold P’15

Carol Ross P’15

VICE-PRESIDENT AND BOARDING PARENT LIAISON

CHAIR, MS ACTIVITY COMMITTEE

Sophia Clarke P’12, ’17 Katrina Turner P’14

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

SECRETARY

Sherry Zheng P’17 Grace Niland P’15

MS PARENT LIAISON

TREASURER

Jessie Feng P’15 Susan Vanaria P’14

INTERNATIONAL PARENT LIAISON

CHAIR, ALL SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Gail Shelton P’12 Rene DaguerreBradford P’13

PRESIDENT EMERITA

CHAIR, US ACTIVITY COMMITTEE

SUMMER 2012

T H E

D E V E L O P M E N T

O F F I C E

The Development Office is always interested in knowing how we can best serve the alumnae, parents and friends of The Ethel Walker School. To help us keep our records up-to-date, please contact the Office with address or email changes so that you continue to receive news about the School. If you have questions about making a donation, please contact any of the staff listed below. Pamela Churchill, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 860.408.4256 • pchurchill@ethelwalker.org Sandra Baker, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT SERVICES 860.408.4257 • sbaker@ethelwalker.org Eleanor Barnes, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNAE RELATIONS 860.408.4254 • ebarnes@ethelwalker.org Jane Bradford, DIRECTOR OF GIFT PLANNING 860.408.4260 • jbradford@ethelwalker.org Paula Brink, ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 860.408.4252 • pbrink@ethelwalker.org Nan Flanagan ’93, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS 860.408.4391 • nflanagan@ethelwalker.org Allison Grebe, DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL FUND 860.408.4259 • agrebe@ethelwalker.org Genie Lomba, DATABASE MANAGER 860.408.4251 • glomba@ethelwalker.org Heidi McCann, DIRECTOR OF CENTENNIAL REUNION GIVING 860.408.4250 • hmccann@ethelwalker.org Erin Ross-Moses, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

860.408.4370 • erossmoses@ethelwalker.org Tom Speers, PLANNED GIVING 860.408.4252 • tspeers@ethelwalker.org Diane Thomas, DIRECTOR OF PARENT PROGRAMS 860.408.4255 • dthomas@ethelwalker.org Cheri Parr, DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE 860.408.4237 • cparr@ethelwalker.org

WAYS TO SUPPORT WALKER’S

Cash, Check or Credit Card Many gifts are cash contributions that are made by check or credit card. These gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law and provide immediate funding for the School. Securities and Property Gifts of stock, other securities, or property benefit the institution and provide the donor with a tax deduction for the fair market value of the gift when it is made. Additionally, the donor does not have to pay capital gains tax on the appreciated value of the stock or property. Matching Gifts Many companies provide their employees with the benefit of increasing their gifts to certain organizations by matching those gifts. Please check with your employer about their matching gifts program. Planned Giving Gifts made through estate planning provide for the future growth of the School as these gifts, unless otherwise specified, are directed to the School’s endowment. The Ethel Walker Heritage Society honors those who have made provisions for Walker’s in their estate plans. Gifts-in-Kind Walker’s welcomes gifts in kind, including donations of goods and services that meet the educational and programmatic needs of the School. Special and Restricted Gifts Walker’s has a number of funds that have been established by donors for special purposes such as the support of educational programs, scholarships or endowment.

Corrections to the Winter 2012 SunDial Page 23 spelled the name of Ruth Cummings Mead ’47 incorrectly; her sports should have been identified as hockey, baseball, golf, and tennis. The photo caption on page 49 misidentified Eugenie “E” Lamb Fauver ’48, P’78 as Marian “Maru” Morton Brown ’44. The photo caption on page 52 misidentified Claudia Ramsland Burch ’68 as Susan Chapin Berl ’64. EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO AVOID ERRORS, MISSPELLINGS, AND OMISSIONS IN THE SUNDIAL. IF, HOWEVER, AN ERROR COMES TO YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR SINCERE APOLOGIES AND NOTIFY US. THANK YOU.

THE SUNDIAL

For further information about making a gift, please contact Pamela Churchill, Director of Development, at 860.408.4256.

Give online at ethelwalker.org/annualfund

TH E

E THEL W ORTHINGTON R ILEY ’35 L EAVES A L EGACY TO WALKER ’ S When Ethel Worthington Riley ’35 of St. Simons Island, Georgia, passed away in May 2011 at the age of 93, she left generous bequests for her relatives and friends—and for The Ethel Walker School. The school was the largest charitable beneficiary of her estate and will ultimately receive approximately $2.5 million from two charitable trusts. Ethel Worthington Riley was the paternal granddaughter of George Worthington, a 19th-century merchant and banker from Cleveland, Ohio. In 1829, George Worthington founded the Geo. Worthington Company, a wholesale hardware and industrial distribution firm. He was also involved in banking and mining concerns and contributed to the early commercial and industrial development of the Cleveland area. Mrs. Riley was born in her family’s winter home in Miami, Florida, on February 21, 1918. Her early education took place in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. She came to Walker’s in fall 1931. Skipping her senior year, Mrs. Riley went to The Finch School in New York to major in piano, her first love. Music would be one of her lifelong passions. Coming full circle, she donated the Steinway piano from her Georgia home to Walker’s when she passed away. The piano has been placed in the Ferguson Theatre auditorium, where audiences enjoy listening to wonderful musical performances. A tireless volunteer, Mrs. Riley was the Nebraska state director for the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation in Virginia and a member of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. She loved to ride, golf, and shoot, as well as read, write, and paint. Unfortunately, Mrs. Riley was predeceased by her two sons, William James Coad III and John Worthington Coad, as well as her husbands, William James Coad, Jr., and Brig. Gen. James Lawton Riley. In 1996 Mrs. Riley established a charitable remainder unitrust from which she received income each year. She named The Ethel Walker School as the largest charitable beneficiary of the trust. The remainder of the charitable trust was distributed upon her death. In addition, Mrs. Riley established a charitable testamentary trust through her estate plan. The Ethel Walker School, along with several other charities, will receive annual income from this lead trust for 20 years before it terminates and the remainder goes to family and friends. We are very grateful for this wonderful legacy and vote of confidence from our alumna Mrs. Ethel Riley ’35. Her memory and gifts will live on as they enhance the educational experience of our students for decades to come.

If you are interested in making a planned gift to The Ethel Walker School, please contact Director of Gift Planning Jane Rae Bradford at 860-408-4260 or jbradford@ethelwalker.org. When making any philanthropic commitment to Walker’s, please be sure to include your attorney and/or ﬁnancial advisor in the conversation to ensure the transaction is arranged with respect to your individual requirements.

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Classes ending in 3s and 8s, Reunion is May 17-19 — Save the Date! IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR REUNION, PLEASE CONTACT ELEANOR BARNES, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNAE RELATIONS, AT 860.408.4254 OR EBARNES@ETHELWALKER.ORG