Independence
Spirit in this issue
PROGRESS AND PRIDE
CELEBRATING 40 FABULOUS YEARS
T H E I N D E P E N D E N C E S C H O O L M AG A Z I N E
fall 2017
HOW FAR WE’VE COME WHEN INDEPENDENCE OPENED ITS DOORS 40 YEARS AGO, IT WAS IN A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER WITH JUST 170 STUDENTS. BUT THERE WAS NEVER ANYTHING SMALL ABOUT OUR AMBITIONS!
in this issue OPENING NOTE / PAGE 1 COVER STORY / PAGE 2 Q + A / PAGE 11 NEWS + NOTES / PAGE 12 ALUMNI PROFILES / PAGE 14 REPORT OF PHILANTHROPY / PAGE 17 IN MEMORIAM / PAGE 24
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O P E N I N G N OT E
In this special issue of Spirit magazine, we celebrate Independence at 40. Yes, it was in 1978 that a group of visionary parents came together to invent the kind of school they knew their children deserved. Looking back, it’s impossible not to feel awe at the scope of the challenge they took on.
Marking a Milestone Clearly those founding leaders were dreamers, but who among them could have dreamed all that Independence would become? As I reflect on this milestone, I’m struck by two points. First, I note the remarkable extent to which our school today is faithful to their vision then—just as committed to academic rigor and to growth in character, values, and citizenship. Second, I’m struck by the decades of hard work and the unfailingly—perhaps even unreasonably—high expectations that have allowed us to reach this point. For so many years, so many exceptional people have given of themselves to make Independence great, and they continue to do so today. Our celebration of the milestone of our 40th anniversary is a grateful salute to their spirit. It’s also a chance to look ahead to our future. Today, we educate our children for a world none of the founders could have imagined. To do so, we need to evolve with the same commitment, imagination, and courage they so beautifully exemplified. We must continue to innovate—to ask bold questions and dream big dreams. And we will.
” SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN OF THEMSELVES TO MAKE INDEPENDENCE GREAT.”
To all those who have made our first 40 years such a brilliant story of success and all
Here’s to many wonderful years to come! With Spirit,
Victoria C. Yatzus Head of School
INSPIRE. DREAM. ACHIEVE.
who are committed to Independence today, thank you. Truly.
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FABULOUS YEARS
Celebrating four decades of progress at Independence with 40 Favorite Milestones, Memories, and Points of Pride
It all started in 1977 with a group of parents who shared a desire for a school offering more academic challenge and a stronger focus on values than they saw in the public schools of the day.
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1.THE SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE What sort of people decide to launch a school completely from scratch—then do it? Determined and resourceful families like those who founded Independence. It all started in 1977 with a group of parents who shared a desire for a school offering more academic challenge and a stronger focus on values than they saw in the public schools of the day. They placed an ad in the newspaper inviting interest in a new “back-to-basics” school—and the interest came.
Karate school as a neighbor. Children had recess in the parking lot and gym in a low-ceilinged multipurpose room—a setting that ruled out a number of sports. “ The setting was not so impressive,” recalls Donna Sentman ’80, also one of the first students, “but you were surrounded by students who wanted to learn, all from families that shared a belief in the power and value of education.”
3. THE FOUNDING FACULTY
One of the first to reply was Dr. Kenneth Weinig. He was looking for the right school for his kids, but ended up with a job, too—as the first head.
The school’s first teachers made as big a leap and commitment as its first families—leaving secure jobs behind for a daring new venture.
“ I remember my parents talking every night about everything that had to happen to get the school ready,” recalls Marci Sieja ’79, one of the school’s first students. “I saw the commitment to get the school opened. I still see that same commitment at Independence today.”
“ They were wonderful teachers,” remembers Marci Sieja. “It was a leap of faith, there were no guarantees, but they knew they were starting something new and exciting.”
2. BELOW A KARATE STUDIO
4. OUR ALMA MATER
On September 11, 1978, Independence opened its doors with an enrollment of 170 in grades 1-8. The building was ready just in time.
Every great school needs a great song. At Independence, it’s our Alma Mater, written in 1979 by Jan MacLeod, who was a powerful force in the school’s founding, its first business manager—and quite a lyricist.
That first facility was a far cry from the 90 beautiful acres we know today. The “campus” was located in converted space in the Polly Drummond Shopping Center, with a
The Alma Mater has been heard many times, but has never sounded sweeter than when our kindergartners sing it for the 8th-grade class each year at graduation.
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5. THE FIRST 19 In the spring of 1979, Independence marked the biggest milestone since its opening—its first graduation. The commencing class numbered 19. Eight of the students had started in September; the others transferred to the school during the year. Although more than half of the graduates had spent less than a year at Independence, this group would go down in history as our very first alumni.
6. BREAKING NEW GROUND Word of mouth fueled rapid enrollment growth at the school, and as early as 1980, the need for more space was clear. Leaders purchased the first 16 acres of the current campus on Paper Mill Road, and in October 1982, ground was broken on a 28,000-square-foot building to open in time for the next school year. When the time came, parents pitched in to move the school—desks, books, and all.
7. FOUNDERS’ LIBRARY Right from the start, the library has been at the heart of our school—and it’s grown with the school over the years. The first library occupied a room in the shopping center building. Most of the first 2,000 books were donated by parents, and the first librarian, Mrs. June Martz, doubled as the school nurse.
7 Today, Founders’ Library occupies an inviting, light-filled space and houses a collection of 15,000 print and electronic items, carefully chosen to support the curriculum—plus 3-D printers empowering new forms of exploration.
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WELCOMING OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS The whole idea of an Independence education is to inspire journeys of lifelong learning. In 1987, Independence launched its Early Childhood Program, giving children the chance to start those journeys even sooner. Today, the program enrolls more than 70 children, age 3 though kindergarten. Over the years, the program has grown richer and richer, with our Reggio Emilia-inspired classrooms alive with engaging and developmentally appropriate learning, full of play.
9. SALUTING AMERICA Its official name is “The United States: A Proud Nation,” but for more than 25 years, most families have known it as “The Patriotic Program”—an unforgettable highlight of 3rd grade. Children learn and deliver speeches ranging from the Gettysburg Address to Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. They sing a dozen or more
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Respect.
Responsibility.
Integrity. 11 patriotic songs from memory. And they remind an audience of hundreds how lucky they are to live in America. “ We started humbly,” says teacher Debbie Grothaus, “and now we’re much more grand. But the exuberance of the children has always been the same.”
10. ADDING WINGS In 1986, the school expanded its campus with 57 additional acres, a purchase funded by its successful campaign Eighty Acres: Quarries and Kilns. Then, in 1992, the Wings for Independence campaign funded construction of a new gym, auditorium, middle school wing, art room, and band and choral rooms. Finally, the school’s facilities reflected the quality of its faculty, students, and program.
11. THREE POWERFUL WORDS Independence was founded with a strong sense of values, but in 2011, it made them official. The Core Values of The Independence School are Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity. “ Narrowing our focus to these three ideals was a powerful step,” says Vicky Yatzus, head of school. “ When you choose your terms carefully and use them consistently, you discover that you can use the words to strengthen the culture.”
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12. THE PATRIOT CLUB If you start at Independence in Early Childhood I and stay through 8th grade, you receive a special honor: membership in the Patriot Club (and a round of applause at graduation to go with it). It’s a small way to recognize a nearly lifelong connection to the school, the kind of connection that adds extra strength to our bonds of community.
13. REGIONAL AND GLOBAL REACH As an organization in the business of satisfying customers, you know you are doing something right when you attract them from far and wide. In the case of Independence, our students come from across northern Delaware and neighboring sections of Pennsylvania and Maryland. In all, current families represent 20 area zip codes. Our international student program launched in 2013 has even brought a handful of students from China and Korea.
14. HIDDEN TREASURES Many schools have impressive facilities and lovely grounds, but how many can boast the largest stone barn in Delaware or their own preserved wetlands? Part of the original farm that has become the Independence campus, these treasures offer destinations for scientific discovery and recreational walks, backdrops for student filmmakers, and striking scenery for cross country runners racing by.
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15. CONSTANT COMMITMENT
16. AN UNDEFEATED SPIRIT
In the Independence formula for success, one element has been a constant: the deep commitment of the school’s parents. When our humble first home took shape, they helped with the carpentry. When a new building required networking, they pulled wire through the ceilings.
Who could have had any hint 40 years ago that the then-fledgling Independence School would grow into a regional athletic powerhouse—or that sports would become such an important and positive part of the student experience?
Today, that spirit continues with the work of the IPA—the Independence Parents’ Association. Members plan Bingo Night, Holiday Festival, and May Fair. They help deliver lunches to the school four days per week. They plan special highlights like an ice cream truck for the opening days of school and refreshments for Open Houses.
Today, Patriot teams compete in more than a dozen sports, with opportunities for everyone, including intramurals starting in 5th grade and interscholastic sports in 7th.
“ IPA helps raise money for all sorts of needs—from field trips to iPad carts,” says Sandy August, director of development and an Independence mom. “But the real power of their work is in community building. It’s their energy that brings the school together as a family.”
The most recent highlight in our long history of wins would be the sixth straight undefeated season recorded by the tennis team. “ We’re proud of our winning records,” says co-director of athletics Jason Motta, “but even more proud of a program that’s all about teamwork, sportsmanship, fitness, and fun.”
17. KINDNESS KIDS Who sings happy birthday to faculty and staff members, presenting handmade cards? Who delivers lovingly baked sweet treats to classrooms across campus? It’s the Kindness Kids, ECI and ECII students learning the rewards of caring for others and experiencing firsthand our school’s core values. By the end of each school year, their kindness has touched everyone in the building.
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18. A CURRICULUM THAT SPIRALS
20. THE PERFECT TRIANGLE
Behind the quality of an Independence education lies a careful strategy. Specifically, the curriculum is designed to be both sequential (guiding students’ progress from lesson to lesson and year to year) and also spiraling (so that students re-explore topics several times over the years, each time more deeply). It’s a powerful approach— and has long been a hallmark of Independence academics.
Since its earliest days, the school’s success has started with its people, says Francis Julian, an Independence parent, board member, benefactor, and longtime fan. “It’s a triangle of students, parents, and teachers in partnership,” he explains. “That partnership of bright and committed people is more important than the most beautiful facilities. It’s the reason for our success.”
19. A TRADITION OF PHILANTHROPY 21. EXPANDING AGAIN Almost as soon as Independence opened its doors, leaders launched the school’s first annual fund. “Our tuition has always been priced extremely competitively,” explains Kathy Knox, former longtime development director. “For us to survive and thrive, we needed to start a tradition of giving.” And that’s exactly what happened. It began with strong annual fund participation. “We were soon at 70-80% parent participation and often had 100% from faculty and staff,” Knox says. “It was never how much they gave, but how many gave.” Over the years, successful capital campaigns followed, from Investing in Independence through Links to Learning. “ We’ve traced an amazing trajectory,” says Knox. “ The energy and commitment of this community set us apart and have fueled our progress, not just in those pioneering early days, but as Independence has grown into adulthood.”
The school’s most recent building project was completed in 2005-2006. It provided a structure linking two formerly freestanding wings, bringing the whole school under one roof. New spaces included a 900-seat performing arts center, an expanded library, and larger music and art rooms.
22. WELL-TRAVELED The destinations range from the Philadelphia Zoo and Hagley Museum to a Colonial Plantation and a potato chip factory—plus, for more than a quarter century now, the historic city of Boston. Yes, a lineup of field trips keeps Independence students and teachers on the move. These learning adventures are memorable and also meaningful. “ Our trips are driven by our curriculum,” says Bernadette Gilmore, director of academics and curriculum. “They are great opportunities for hands-on learning—turning something to think about into something to explore.”
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“ We spent a year planning the values we are looking to teach and effective lessons for teaching them.” 23
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23. A LEADER IN CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
Roughly five years ago, Independence took a major step forward in the realm of character education, developing a model program. “ Character education had always been part of our advising program, somewhat informally,” explains middle school head, Amy Graham. “Then we spent a year planning the values we are looking to teach and effective lessons for teaching them. In short, we built the same deliberate curriculum you would see in math, history, or science.”
24. A SPIRIT OF SERVICE At Independence, we have a habit of putting our values into action through volunteer service. That may mean visiting the University of Delaware to lend a hand with its “Go Baby Go” project that gives mobility to developmentally challenged toddlers by using motorized cars. Or it can be helping out in our own early childhood classrooms—reading stories, playing games, and collecting hugs. Either way, the goal, whenever possible, is to not just put in hours or raise dollars, but to have a direct impact on other people. It’s the kind of experience designed to make service a habit for life.
25. STEM SUCCESS From 2nd graders designing candy factories to middle schoolers building solar-powered model cars, STEM skills are woven into an Independence education. Every student, preK through grade 8, has experience with engineering projects, guided by faculty across the school who have received specialized training.
26 Independence was a very early adopter when it came to teaching coding in grades K-8, has completely reworked its science curriculum over the past 10 years, and has seen robotics fever sweep the school.
26. HONORED COMPETITORS For as long as anyone can remember, Independence students have been standouts not just in the classroom, but in an array of academic competitions. These range from Odyssey of the Mind and Science Olympiad to Quiz Bowl, competitive state-wide language exams, and Indy Robotics (which saw seven different Patriot squads competing last year). Most recently, Independence teams have vied in the Spartan Speech Classic, honing their public speaking abilities (and earning an impressive third place in their debut).
27. LIVING LEGACIES It’s a major turning point in the life of a young school: the day the first students enroll whose parents had been students there themselves. At Independence, that happened when children of graduates from the shopping center years started to enroll. Today, the stream of legacies continues to grow, with nine starting just this year. Claire Brechter, director of enrollment management and marketing, explains that legacy families come “because the warmth, values, and academic excellence they knew are the same today as years ago.” Or as Indy alumni and parent Chris Ross ’86 put it when he came to tour the school for his children, “It’s like everything has changed, but nothing has changed.”
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THE MOVING TRADITION OF MOVING ON Each spring at the last middle school assembly of the year, the members of the 8th-grade class give up their seats in the auditorium to the new 8th-grade class who will follow them, and the Student Government Association president rings out the year. In that one moment, this year’s graduates and next year’s 8th-grade leaders simultaneously celebrate their new roles.
29. COMMUNITY CONNECTOR It arrives every week in the email inbox of every parent, faculty and staff member, and trustee. It’s the Patriot Page—a great tool to provide a snapshot of upcoming events and a window into the life of the school. “We know parents open it, read it, and value it,” says Claire Brechter. “Communication is critical for building a strong, informed school community.”
30. GREAT DESTINATIONS At Independence, one of our greatest sources of pride is the success our students achieve after they leave us, most immediately at many of our area’s most selective and competitive high schools. “Our students are among the most sought-after at the best schools around—private, public, or charter,” says Amy Graham. “Every time I meet with colleagues from these schools, I hear the same message: Independence students are the best prepared.”
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31. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Try origami or archery, chess or Zumba. Discover the joys of critical music listening or computer coding. Work on the yearbook or make art in nature. Middle school clubs offer a broad, ever-evolving array of options to explore. After all, the more choices there are, the more chances to discover a passion and have a blast.
32. THE HALLOWEEN PARADE Everybody celebrates Halloween. But a school parade led by the administration team in full costume—that’s real fun.
33. COMMITTED COLLEAGUES People who come to Independence have a habit of staying. In fact, nine current faculty and staff members have been with the school for 25 years or more; four more have been with us more than 30 years. They knew the school as a start-up and have stayed to see it grow. “ People get very passionate about this school very quickly,” says Vicky Yatzus. “They see the school’s dedication to mission as a powerful force. It attracts them and keeps them.”
34. MAMMALS AND MORE Whether you were a pig or a possum, if you once took part in the 1st-grade Mammal Zoo, you’re sure to remember. What better way could there be to make a first-ever research presentation than in a full, furry costume? Like Pioneer Day in 3rd grade and Mini Society in 4th, Mammal Zoo has been a lower school highlight for decades—the kind of experience that brings learning unforgettably to life.
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35. MAKING BEAUTIFUL
MUSIC TOGETHER
Music has always been a big part of the Independence culture, and today, the school is more musical than ever. Consider our many middle school ensembles: multiple concert bands, choir, chamber choir, and orchestra. Until recently, a general music class was offered for students not involved in one of these ensembles. “For the past three years, though,” says music teacher Tae Sakamoto, “something pretty special has happened: every middle schooler has chosen to join an ensemble.”
36. ALIVE WITH ART When you visit Independence, you see the creativity of our students all over the walls. Our building features ample gallery space, and we fill it with imagination and color. Two points about the art program are key. First, every Independence student is an artist. At some schools, art has become optional, but not here. Second, our students have the chance to take their talents to a very high level. Each year, several are selected for the Delaware Association of Independent Schools juried show.
37. TEDXYOUTH@
INDEPENDENCESCHOOL
In March 2016, Independence became the first middle school in Delaware to host a TEDxYouth event, exploring the theme “Motivating Change.” In year two, we followed up with “Pay It Forward.” Both events were a chance for students to hear ideas worth sharing from fresh sources—alumni and special guests. “It’s both a celebration of the power of public speaking,” says Vicky Yatzus, “and a wonderful chance for our students to broaden their thinking and expand their sense of future possibilities.”
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38. CWIL
™
It’s called the Center for Wellness, Innovation, and Learning. It’s abbreviated CWIL. And it’s pronounced “Quill” (just like the feathered writing implement from the Independence logo). The idea of the center is to bring together a group of people with the expertise to explore and discuss research and trends around learning, wellness, and the connections between the two—examining issues ranging from stress and sleep to the importance of play. These are topics at the heart of current conversations among educators and parents, and with CWIL, Independence has stepped forward to help make this dialogue more meaningful and helpful.
39. FRAMING THE FUTURE For any school, impressive progress starts with a solid plan—and Independence has one. Officially titled “Framing the Future,” the strategic plan took shape in 2011, the result of a thorough and inclusive process. Key accomplishments to date include using instructional technology more effectively, taking advantage of insights from cognitive research, and shifting to more learner-centered and project-based forms of instruction. “ The plan is about preparing our students for a whole new world,” explains Vicky Yatzus. “It’s meaty and meaningful, and it guides our work every day.”
40. A SWEET MOMENT Each April 21, we celebrate the school’s birthday with cupcakes. Here’s wishing you a very happy 40th, Independence!
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A faculty member at Independence since 1997, Donna Samuels teaches kindergarten. She is the recipient of the 2017 Patricia A. Ireland Faculty Award, honoring the qualities of professionalism, compassion, and good nature exemplified by the school’s retired head, for whom the award is named. Samuels’ daughter Lauren graduated from Independence and is now studying nursing at James Madison University.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN TEACHING?
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT
I come from a long line of teachers.
CHILDREN?
In fact, my mother taught and was the director of a pre-school program until she was 82. However, at first, I didn’t see teaching as the career for me. I had plans to study physical therapy until I encountered some intense science courses that proved my downfall! Only later when I took an education course
TEACHING KINDERGARTEN-AGE
It’s hard to generalize—each child is such an individual. They come with such different abilities and personalities. But one thing I always love is their eagerness. It’s amazing and motivating to watch them grow—as students, as friends, as citizens, and as people.
did I realize this was my true passion.
I have the chance to see my students
I firmly believe you have to do what
progress over the years after they leave
you love and love what you do.
kindergarten, through to graduation. I see and celebrate all the awards they receive.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR STRENGTHS AS A TEACHER?
When I started at Independence,
That’s something very special. You watch
I was an assistant teacher with former
as these small children you knew grow so
I’m patient—although my family seems
Independence kindergarten teacher
beautifully into the people they become.
to think that I use up all my patience at school! I try to show compassionate
Jan Norman. I really got a firm foundation,
understanding. And I’m always learning—
learning what Independence and specifically kindergarten at Independence
WHAT MIGHT WE NOTICE IF WE
learning from my students about what
was all about. When Jan retired, Mrs.
WERE TO VISIT YOUR CLASSROOM?
motivates them and how each of
Ireland came to me and said, “We’d like
Well, you would notice the children.
them learns.
you to consider teaching kindergarten.”
They are energetic, wonderful, and hard
I was absolutely delighted.
to miss. I think you would notice a lot of color—especially after the year gets in full swing and the walls start to fill with
“ I’M NOT THE WORLD’S BEST SINGER, BUT IT DEFINITELY GETS THEIR ATTENTION!” DONNA SAMUELS
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION ON LEARNING YOU WERE RECEIVING THE IRELAND AWARD?
student work. You might also notice
I was stunned, shocked, and
the singing. We sing everything—rules,
incredibly honored.
lessons, transitions from task to task. I’m not the world’s best singer, but it definitely gets their attention!
INSPIRE. DREAM. ACHIEVE.
Q& A
U P C LO S E W I T H D O N N A SA M U E L S
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N E WS + N OT E S
LEARNING HOW THE BRAIN LEARNS
CAPSTONES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Recent years have seen rapid advances in our
They research and write, develop products and
understanding of the wonders of the brain, and
presentations, and learn the skills of organizing a
at Independence, teachers are eager to use these
major long-term project. Many even do field work
insights to help shape more powerful learning
as part of their explorations. They are Independence
experiences.
8th graders, honing valuable abilities through
This was the goal when middle school math teacher
Capstone Projects.
Kerri Kacmarcik and 5th-grade teacher/LeApps™
This spring marked the fifth year for capstones at
specialist Vita Biddle took part in a fascinating
Independence—and the work was impressive as ever.
conference titled “The Science of How We Learn:
While all students presented their projects to classmates
Engaging Memory, Motivation, Mindsets, Making,
and displayed their work in the Capstone Project Gallery,
and Mastery.”
12 were selected by their peers to share their work with
The San Francisco event was sponsored by The
parents, faculty, administrators, and guests.
Learning & the Brain Institute, which connects
The featured topics spanned a striking range—from
educators with neuroscientists to explore research on
factors affecting human longevity and the workings of
the brain and its application to learning and teaching.
pacemakers to equine cloning and a re-evaluation of
Topics ranged from improving memory and test
the electoral college.
performance to teaching inquiry and critical thinking.
“We all know our students grow into skilled researchers,
Mrs. Kacmarcik and Ms. Biddle gained valuable
strong writers, and poised public speakers,” says Paula
knowledge about research-based strategies to
Boettner, Middle School English teacher, “but when you
improve instruction in the classroom—knowledge they
see presentations like these, you are reminded all over
are eager both to apply and to share with their fellow
again just how impressive they can be.”
faculty members.
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CREATING SUPER-CODERS
RADICAL ROBOTS
During the 2016-2017 school year, our many young
Project-based learning offers a powerful way to engage
coders had a new kind of opportunity to demonstrate
students and exercise key abilities—and at Independence
and hone their skills. It was the school’s first ever
it starts early.
students, plus a group of recent graduates who volunteered to serve as their mentors. Students broke into small groups, each with a mentor, and received instruction in coding with App Inventor, an open-source tool from MIT. Afterwards, they had three hours to create a gaming app using their new skills. The idea for the event came from Neel Anand ’16, who has started a Delaware Chapter of a nonprofit that develops educational tools using technology and works to bridge the gender gap in the STEM fields. “It was great coming back to Independence to host the event,” Neel said. “It meant a lot to have had the opportunity, as this school has done so much to prepare me for high school, and it felt great to give back to Indy, which is like my extended family.”
In a project that’s become a hallmark of the 1st-grade experience, children team up to invent their own robots, following established criteria as they design machines to a specific purpose. “Amanda” picks up items for old people who can’t bend over. “Spaghetti” makes breakfast and beds in the morning. And “Rocket” saves people from crooks—to name just a few examples. The students’ cardboard creations may be closer to prototypes than to fully functioning bed-makers and crime-fighters, but the process of engineering thinking behind them is real and rigorous. The projects culminate in presentations, as each student group takes a turn in front of the room, discussing their robots and the challenges they faced in building them.
INSPIRE. DREAM. ACHIEVE.
“hackathon,” a coding event that attracted 40 eager
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A LU M N I P R O F I L E S
SPOTLIGHTING FIVE GRADUATES, EACH FROM A DIFFERENT DECADE, IN OUR STORY OF INDEPENDENCE REMEMBERING THE ’70s:
“ I LIKED THE BAY CITY ROLLERS, MY CLOGS, AND MY MOOD RING. AND I LOVED RIDING IN MY BROTHER’S CAR, WHICH WAS A GREMLIN.” MARCI SIEJA ’79: RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING
When Marci’s parents told her she would be leaving her friends behind to enter 8th grade at a brand-new start-up school, she answered, “You want me to do what?” Nonetheless, she came—and had a positive 8th-grade year. What’s more, she has stayed connected to Independence, for the past 12 years, in fact, as a member of the development staff. “I love the contact I have with families and especially the children,” she says of her current role—one the University of Delaware graduate took on after working for a number of years as a director of programming at a retirement home and a senior center. Comparing the Independence she knew in 1979 with the school today, Marci sees a striking similarity: “The school was founded because many parent volunteers gave hundreds of hours of their time. I was amazed to find that same volunteer spirit and generosity when I began working here.”
DONNA SENTMAN ’80: COMING HOME
A member of the school’s second graduating class, Donna remembers the earliest days of Independence. The shopping center setting may not have been impressive, she says, but other aspects of the school already were. “The kids were bright and hardworking. The curriculum was challenging. And right from the start, they introduced music, clubs, and sports.” After going on to earn her degree from the University of Delaware, Donna pursued a successful career in business, working with MBNA America, Sallie Mae, and Citibank. She also stayed involved in her alma mater as an Independence parent. Now, her journey has brought her full circle—back to the school as a staff member in the admission office. “I was starting a new chapter in my career,” she explains. “I knew I wanted to do something I was passionate about and believed in, and I knew I could do that here.” REMEMBERING THE ’80s:
“ BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, MICHAEL JACKSON, AND PEOPLE’S HAIR WERE ALL EXTREMELY BIG AT THE TIME.”
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WEIYANG SUN ’99: HAPPY IN HIGH TECH
After Independence and then Archmere Academy, Weiyang went on to MIT, where he majored in supply chain logistics and management science. “Then,” as he explains, “I totally and completely did not go into what I studied.” Instead, he worked as a consultant, then on electronic health records systems with athenahealth in Boston before immersing himself in the world of Silicon Valley. Weiyang now lives in Santa Clara with his wife (Doris) and dog (Zoe), and works on web applications with a great firm (VMWare). “I didn’t want to work on something that wasn’t helping people, and now I’ve found a role I really like.” Independence may be long ago and far away, but not in Weiyang’s memory. “I enjoyed it a lot, was very involved, and can recall just about every teacher I had,” he says. “It wasn’t until I left that I realized just what a special place it was to grow up and just how fortunate I’d been.” REMEMBERING THE ’90s:
“ WITH AOL, WE HAD THE START OF THE FIRST INSTANT MESSAGING EVER—AND THAT CHANGED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.”
MADELINE GONDEK ’06: TEACHER-TO-BE
Having earned her undergraduate degree in voice and completed a master’s in music education, Madeline is now launching her career as a music teacher at Washington International School. In the months leading up to this new position, she kept busy as a substitute, as a performer in local theater, and last year as the director of an Independence Drama Club production, “Miss Nelson Is Missing.” “I absolutely loved the experience,” she says. “The kids were so energized, interested, and willing to work.” Recalling her own experience as a young musician at Independence, Madeline says, “We were challenged. We did music that took work. That provided such a solid foundation for me as a musician.” And why has she chosen the path of music education for herself? “I had music teachers who inspired me,” she says. “I realized I want to be someone who encourages and inspires young people in that way.” REMEMBERING THE ’00s:
“ I WAS AT INDEPENDENCE AS WE COUNTED DOWN TO THE YEAR 2000, TERRIFIED ALL THE COMPUTERS WOULD EXPLODE. THEY DIDN’T.”
MOHAN MALHOTRA ’12: ALL THE ANSWERS
semi-final round. “It was so exciting and so fun,” he says, “better than I ever expected.” Mohan’s life off the air is pretty exciting, too. A finance major at NYU’s Stern School of Business, he’s currently studying in Prague. His long-term goal is to work in private equity, with a focus on social ventures, as he says “using the power of business to do good for people.” It’s a desire he traces to his days at Independence. “I did a lot of community service then, helping at soup kitchens and health fairs, and it inspired me to keep doing more.” Mohan’s talent for trivia has early roots, as well. At Independence, he was a member of Quiz Bowl teams that twice finished 7th in national tournaments. REMEMBERING THE ’10s:
“ I THINK PEOPLE WILL LOOK BACK ON US AS THE SMARTPHONE GENERATION—OR AT LEAST THE FIRST SMARTPHONE GENERATION.”
INSPIRE. DREAM. ACHIEVE.
he represented New York University and led the competition through the last question of the
Courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc.
Mohan recently made a major splash appearing on the Jeopardy! College Championship, where
S P I R I T M AG A Z I N E PA G E 1 6
THREE CHEERS FOR THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE! JUST LIKE OUR ATHLETIC TEAMS, OUR MANY PATRIOTS WHO COMPETE IN ACADEMIC CHALLENGES KEEP MAKING US PROUD. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ALL, INCLUDING THESE MOST RECENT STANDOUTS: CHESS CLUB—Our team of 3rd graders placed fourth at Supernationals in Nashville. FRENCH, LATIN, AND SPANISH NATIONAL EXAMS— 27 students won medals or earned top places in the state. INDEPENDENCE SPEECH TEAM—Independence placed first at the 2017 St. Mark’s High School Spartan Speech Classic. INDY ROBOTICS—A team of 5th, 6th, and 7th graders called The Beelievers placed second in the 36-team First State FIRST LEGO League Champions Tournament. MATH LEAGUE—Our 7th-grade team placed first in Delaware, with one student earning first place individually with a perfect score. The 8th-grade team placed second in their competition.
MATHCOUNTS—The Independence squad took second in the team competition, and one student earned the privilege of representing Delaware at the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Championship in Orlando. ODYSSEY OF THE MIND—With strong performances in the Delaware River Regional Tournament, three Independence teams qualified for the state tournament. SCIENCE OLYMPIAD—A team of 15 7th and 8th graders earned fourth place in the state, and our 5th through 7th graders combined to earn 19 medals in the private elementary school state tournament. QUIZ BOWL—Independence teams took first-, second-, and third-place honors at the Wilmington Charter Middle School Challenge, while five 6th graders earned top-ten finishes in the Novice Division.
LEAVING A LEGACY By supporting The Independence School, you actively participate in our mission and make a lasting, positive impact on generations to come. One powerful way to lend your support to the school and its mission is to join our Founders’ Circle by making an estate gift. Your gift in support of The Independence School not only provides you and your loved ones with several tax advantages, but also with the assurance that your hard-earned assets will go to an educational institution that you know and trust.
“ Our financial advisor was the first one to bring this idea of an estate gift to us. For us, it was a no-brainer. We had two daughters who thrived in high school and college, and now thrive professionally, because they got their start at Independence. We had an opportunity to do some charitable giving, and Independence was on our list.” JOHN AND ILLENE COURTRIGHT PARENTS OF MERISSA ’93 AND ABBY ’96
For more information about how to leave an estate gift with The Independence School, please contact Sandy August, Director of Development, at 302-239-0330 or by email at SAugust@tisde.org.
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THE INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL REPORT OF PHILANTHROPY 2016-2017
TOTAL GIVING 2016-2017 $462,312
INDEPENDENCE CLUB $10,000 AND UP
STARS CLUB $1,500 TO $2,999
Anonymous Donor Drs. Kieran and Chantel Connolly Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Georgov The IPA Welfare Foundation Inc. Mrs. Victoria Yatzus
Dr. Jeremie Axe Mr. Raymond Bree and Mrs. Denise Axe-Bree Dr. Jose and Dr. Marcia Castro Chevrolet of Dover/Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Kersey Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Czerwinski G. Fedale General Contractors Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Fedale Mr. and Mrs. Darrin Frampton Mr. Ryan Haydu and Dr. Barbara Albani Mr. and Mrs. Michael Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Julian Dr. & Mrs. Robert Kacmarcik, Jr. Dr. Stephen Kayiaros Mr. and Mrs. J. Merrill Keen Dr. Jag Kumar and Mrs. Shuba Gangaswamiah M&T Bank Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Mitchell Dr. Carey Nathan Mr. and Mrs. P.J. O’Dwyer Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Orzel Mrs. Cindy Ryan and Dr. Michael J. Ryan, ‘80 Mr. and Mrs. Craig Sheets Siegfried Advisory, LLC Dr. and Mrs. Gary Singh Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Slowik Dr. Jorge Soares and Dr. Elizabeth Bayley Mr. and Mrs. Lee Starnes Tower Hill School Dr. and Mrs. Rajeev Vaidya Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Woodland
FREEDOM CLUB $5,000 TO $9,999
2015-2016 $367,667
ANNUAL FUND
Mrs. Elizabeth Heitzenroder and Mr. J. Kevin Heitzenroder, ‘85 J.M. Huber Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mark Mr. and Mrs. Mario Procope Mr. and Mrs. Porter Schutt Turf Pro Lawn and Landscape WSFS Bank SPIRIT CLUB $3,000 TO $4,999
2016-2017 $224,129
2015-2016 $198,920
Total Giving is a compilation of all philanthropic gifts to the Annual Fund, restricted endowments and scholarships, event sponsorships, and in-kind donations; Annual Fund is the total amount of all unrestricted gifts that support yearly school operations.
Mr. Joe D’Amico/To-Jo Mushrooms Corporation Service Company Mr. and Mrs. Rohan D’Souza First State Orthopaedics Dr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Glick Mr. and Mrs. Farrell Goble Mr. and Mrs. Francis R. Julian Dr. Deep Kahlon and Ms. Mona Singh Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Keen Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Kenton Mr. Joseph Miller and Mrs. Rachel Wood Drs. Munish and Anjala Pahwa Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Shahan Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Vrana Dr. Sean Wang & Ms. Monica Ho Mr. Jack Wyant and Mrs. Amelia Wyant, ‘90
INSPIRE. DREAM. ACHIEVE.
The Independence School is sincerely grateful for the continued generosity of our community, including 622 parents, alumni, faculty and staff, grandparents, former parents, and friends who supported the school with a philanthropic gift during the 2016-2017 school year. Each year, we reach out to all members of the Independence School Community to ask for their support of our mission. This unwavering support allows us to provide our students the exceptional educational experience for which we are known.
R E P O RT O F P H I L A N T H R O PY PA G E 1 8
INCOME 2016-2017
• • • •
TUITION 87%
OTHER INCOME 6% (summer camp, facility rentals)
FUNDRAISING 4% ENDOWMENT 3%
EXPENSES 2016-2017
• • • •
SALARIES & BENEFITS 59% ACADEMIC PROGRAMS 18% TUITION ASSISTANCE 13% BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS 10%
STRIPES CLUB $1,000 TO $1,499
RED CLUB $650 TO $999
Alpine & Rafetto Orthodontics Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ambler Mr. Scott and Dr. Cristina Archer The Armiger Family Dr. and Mrs. Kyle J. Bottorff Dr. Avinash and Dr. Anuradha Chandra Christiana Care Health Services Mr. Chunquan Dai and Ms. Yajiong Liu Ms. Becky D’Amico Dr. and Mrs. Steven Dellose Mr. and Mrs. Greg Eddens Dr. Mark Fiss and Dr. Marissa Schnelle Mrs. Jane Fouracre Mr. and Mrs. Steve Fox GFP Cement Contractors, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gilmore Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella Gunnip & Company CPAs Mrs. Kimberly Hamstead Mr. and Mrs. William Harman Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harra, III Drs. Cathy and Jay Harris Mr. and Mrs. John Heitzenroder Mr. and Mrs. Rich Howe IFS Benefits LLC Mrs. Patricia A. Ireland Mr. and Mrs. Jim Jennings Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Jones, Jr. Mr. Richard Julian, Jr., ‘93 The Kimmel Spiller Charitable Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Karl Law Mr. and Mrs. Brian Legum Mr. and Mrs. Keith Mayhew Mr. and Mrs. Jason Motta Mr. and Mrs. Leith Munson Mr. Dave & Dr. Joan Neikirk Dr. Lynn Okagaki Mr. and Mrs. Allen Peddrick Mr. and Mrs. Peter Peddrick Pegasus Technologies, LLC Ms. Carolyn Polis Mrs. Sheila Posatko and Mr. Bob Hazzard Dr. and Mrs. John Powell Mrs. Diana Rollins Mr. and Mrs. Luca Saggese Salesianum School Mr. and Mrs. William Schieffer Mr. and Mrs. Doug Schneider Dr. Pamela Simpson Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Clay Thomson Mr. and Mrs. James Truitt Mr. and Mrs. James Venema Ms. Lixia Wang Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Warnke Mr. and Mrs. Steven Wheat Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ziegler
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Balthis Barclay Card US Mr. and Mrs. Cory Brennan Mr. and Mrs. Ben Brindley Mr. Jerry Hamstead Hogan’s Heros Mr. and Mrs. Sunil Mathur Mrs. Kathleen D. Neal Mr. Ruijie Niu and Dr. Lihua Wang Dr. Ray Yin & Ms. Jamie Wang WHITE CLUB $350 TO $649 Dr. and Mrs. Vivek Agarwal Mr. and Mrs. Michael Aghajanian Aloysius Butler & Clark American Chemical Society Archmere Academy ATR Electrical Services, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Mike August Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Bair Mr. Srikanth Balagangadhar and Mrs. Sheela Srikanth Dr. Ganesh Balu & Dr. Rooperani Bhat Drs. Michael and Linda Barkasy, Jr. Benchmark Transmission of Newark Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Berner Bifferato Gentilotti LLC Blue Rock Financial Group Mr. and Mrs. Jason Boyer Brandywine Urology Consultants, P.A. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brechter Mr. and Mrs. George Brown, IV Cacciatori Pizza & Pasta Dr. Ross Chambers and Dr. Irene Rombel Mr. and Mrs. Carmine Ciccolella Mr. and Mrs. Blake Cleary Dr. and Mrs. John Courtright Mr. and Mrs. Martin Coyne Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Craft Mr. and Mrs. Mark deGarbolewski Diamond State Financial Group Eye Care of Delaware/Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Boyd Dr. Cynthia Fallon Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Fallon Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ferris First State Printing Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Foley Mr. and Mrs. Robert Freeze Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Fullmer Mr. Michael Gattuso and Dr. Jean Stewart-Gattuso Genoese & Associates, P.A.,CPA Mr. and Mrs. Lee Genoese Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Gorton Victor L. Gregory, Jr., DMD PA Mr. Michael and Dr. Heather Hahn Mr. and Mrs. John Helmick
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BLUE CLUB $160 TO $349 Mr. Ashish Agrawal and Ms. Pooja Gupta Mr. and Mrs. Sameer Ahuja Mr. and Mrs. John Alberta Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Axt Mr. and Mrs. William Bechstein Mr. and Mrs. Michael Berryman Mr. Joe Brennan and Ms. Amy Eyberger Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cantera Mr. and Mrs. Damian Carlson Mr. Dominic Casarino Mr. John Castle Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chitty Mr. and Mrs. David Chorlton Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Copeland Mr. and Mrs. Mark Corbett Dr. Erin Cox, ‘92 Crave Eatery Mr. and Mrs. Tim Cullen Mr. and Mrs. Michael DeBaecke Mr. and Mrs. Ralph DegliObizzi, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael DeMoss Mr. and Mrs. Satish Dola Mr. and Mrs. Bill Doroh Dr. Matt Eichenbaum Mr. and Mrs. Rich Epperly Mr. and Mrs. Scott Fabian Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fairfield Dr. Xiao Fang and Dr. Jing He Mr. and Mrs. Mark Farrall J. Michael Fay, D.D.S., P.A. Mrs. Laura Fickes Mr. Noah Fincher, ‘15 Mr. and Mrs. Tom Fiss Drs. Manish and Shilpa Garg Mr. and Mrs. Robert Godfrey W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. William Gore Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Gouge Mr. and Mrs. Manish Goyal Ms. Amy Graham Mr. and Mrs. Chris Harris Mr. Bill Haughton and Mrs. Nina M. Auyeung Drs. Timothy and Sandra Hopkins Dr. and Mrs. Alberto Iaia Mr. Sandeep Jandhyala and Mrs. Sudeepta Musti Dr. and Mrs. Robert Jensen Mr. Taekyu Kang and Ms. Hyeryoung Yoon
Pictured from left to right: Alumni Matthew Hogan ‘12 and Tommy Armiger ’12; award recipient T.J. Tomaszewski; and past parent Mrs. Lisa Orzel, who first thought of the Courage Scholarship and then worked to make that dream a reality.
COURAGE SCHOLARSHIP Inspired by a group of parents of the Class of 2012, the Courage Scholarship was established and given for the first time on Founders’ Day, April 21, 2017, through the generosity of over 33 alumni families. Additionally, an anonymous donor agreed to match all donations up to $12,500. In total, $28,000 was raised toward this scholarship. The Courage Scholarship honors several parents of the class of 2012 whom we have lost, and the courage displayed by their children in the face of hardship and adversity. Tragically, since 2002, the Armiger, Cutrona, Fickes, Hogan, Nolte, and Wright families have all said goodbye to a beloved spouse or parent. This scholarship will be given each year as a tribute to these families to a rising 6th-, 7th-, or 8th-grade student who has demonstrated courage.
2016-2017 PARTICIPATION PERCENTAGES
100%
100%
77%
10%
5%
3%
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FACULTY AND STAFF
PARENT
GRANDPARENT
PAST PARENT & GRANDPARENT
ALUMNI
INSPIRE. DREAM. ACHIEVE.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Helmick Dr. and Mrs. James Hohman Mr. and Mrs. Philip Horsey Drs. Matthew and Trisha Jordan Mrs. Grace Kirk Mr. John Langan Mrs. Christine Lewis Mr. and Mrs. David Liss Mr. Renhua Liu and Ms. Yao Li Mr. Joseph Lombardi Dr. and Mrs. John MacMillan Mr. and Mrs. Victor Marcelo, III Mr. and Mrs. Greg Martin Mr. and Mrs. Barton McFoy Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Molen Mr. Garrett Moritz and Mrs. Christine Moritz, ‘91 Dr. and Mrs. David Nagurney Ms. M. Tina Palmer and Mr. Charles Perkins Mr. and Mrs. James Palmieri Dr. Jing Pan and Dr. Zhiying Zou Mr. and Mrs. Ravi Pappu Mr. and Mrs. Charles Perkins Pratt Insurance, Inc. Ms. Terry A. Press and Ms. Victoria L. Jones Mr. and Mrs. Dante Principe, Jr. Punk’d Pineapple LLC Mr. and Mrs. Randall Renneisen Mr. and Mrs. David Roach Dr. and Mrs. William Schmidt Schneider Trailer & Container Rental Inc. Mr. Charles P. Schutt, Jr. Mr. Mark Seifert Service Unlimited Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shaver Mr. and Mrs. John Shone Dr. Kirsten Smith Dr. and Mrs. Donald Suh Dr. Jun Sun and Dr. Linda Peng Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Tomaszewski Dr. Mei-Wei Tsao and Ms. Sherry Huang Mr. Brian Urbanek and Dr. Rebecca Urbanek Dr. Harry Wang and Ms. Carrie Fang Mr. and Mrs. Rick Wenger Mr. Bill Williams and Dr. Dahra Williams Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Willin Dr. and Mrs. Gary Witkin Dr. Yong Zhu and Ms. Yang Wu
R E P O RT O F P H I L A N T H R O PY PA G E 2 0
THE TERESA T. ROACH SCHOLARSHIP A new scholarship, the Teresa T. Roach Scholarship, was established in 2017 through the generosity of the Connolly family (Kieran, Chantel, Michael ’19, Kate ’20, and Claire ’23). The family was inspired by the memorable impact of Mrs. Roach, a retired Independence 4th-grade teacher. According to Kieran and Chantel, “We wanted to honor Mrs. Roach because of the wonderful influence she had on two of our children who were lucky enough to be her students. We especially appreciate and respect the fact that she was a powerful advocate for young girls to become strong women.” This $500 award is given each Founders’ Day to a current 4th-grade girl who demonstrates a particular interest in and affinity for economics and displays an entrepreneurial spirit.
“ WE WANTED TO HONOR MRS. ROACH BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL INFLUENCE SHE HAD ON TWO OF OUR CHILDREN WHO WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE HER STUDENTS. WE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE FACT THAT SHE WAS A POWERFUL ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG GIRLS TO BECOME STRONG WOMEN.”
Mr. and Mrs. Vince Keedy Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Knox Ms. Christine Koense Mr. and Mrs. Sean Laird Mr. Jun Li and Ms. Fei Cheng Dr. Paul Li and Ms. Linda You Main Street Dental Mr. David Manthey and Mrs. Linda Manthey, ‘81 Mr. and Mrs. Prodromos Mavridis Mr. and Mrs. John McMahon Drs. Eric and Barbara Miller Ms. Linda Morel Mr. Ted Myrick and Mrs. Laura Mackey Mr. Stephen and Dr. Michelle Papa Mr. Zaiqi Pan and Ms. Yunqing Yuan Mr. and Mrs. Jagdish Patel Mr. and Mrs. Paresh Patel Mr. Jim Pizzutto and Ms. Janis Julian Precision Color Graphics Dr. and Mrs. Declan Quigley Dr. Shaoming Qu and Dr. Siyan Wang Mr. and Mrs. Steven Raab Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ramone Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Reeves Mr. and Mrs. Tom Reilly Mr. and Mrs. Chris Rispoli Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Robinson Mr. Christopher Ross, ‘86 and Mrs. Melissa Ross Mrs. Rachelle Schindler Mr. and Mrs. Philip Schwarzkopf Sea Colony East VI Sea Colony Recreational Association, Inc. Dr. Vincent See and Dr. Jennifer Ty Mr. and Mrs. Joyesh Sengupta Mr. David Sentman and Mrs. Donna Sentman, ‘80 Dr. Robert Sepelyak Drs. Sunjay and Neena Shah Dr. and Ms. Shawn Shi Mr. Steven Sieja and Mrs. Marci Sieja, ‘79 Mr. and Mrs. Rodman Stull Mrs. Joan Valentine Mr. and Mrs. William B. Wagamon Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wayock Mr. and Mrs. Andy Wilke Dr.Robert Wolf and Dr. Rachel Davidson Mr. and Mrs. Mike Womer Wyndham Vacaton Rentals Mr. and Mrs. Donald Yanick Mr. Xiongchang Ye and Mrs. Qinyan Huang Dr. Zhengang Zhang and Dr. Yan Jiang Mr. and Mrs. Hong Jun Zhao Drs. Neal and Susan Zondlo DONOR CLUB UP TO $159 Mr. and Mrs. Bill Abrams Mr. and Mrs. Teame Afeworki Miss Madeline Aghajanian, ‘13 Mr. and Mrs. Jake Annable Mr. Philip and Dr. Anne Annone Mr. and Mrs. David Anshen
Miss Lauren Anshen, ‘15 Miss Catharine Armiger, ‘08 Mr. Matthew Armiger, ‘06 Mr. Thomas Armiger, ‘12 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Aubain Mr. Umar Aulia, ‘16 Mr. Brendan Balthis, ‘15 Mr. Michael Barlow and Dr. Jennifer Barlow Mr. and Ms. Richard Barry Mr. and Dr. Shawn Barry Mr. and Mrs. Brent Bartram Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Bemis Mr. and Mrs. David A. Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Donald Bergner Ms. Vita Biddle Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Boettner Mr. Larry Boggs and Mrs. Donna Marinelli Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Bojanowski Mr. Sreenivas Rao Amara and Mrs. Savithri Bonala Miss Ana Bowe, ‘06 Mr. Matthew Bowe, ‘03 Mr. and Mrs. David Boyle Mr. and Mrs. James Brady Mr. Will Brechter, ‘01 Mr. Brandan Bree, ‘10 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bree Miss Margaret Bree, ‘10 Mr. Ryan Bree, ‘12 Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brennan Mr. and Mrs. George Brown Mr. and Mrs. William Browning Mrs. Michele Bruxelles Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Buckley Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Burke Ms. Kelly Bush Mr. and Mrs. Alan Camoirano Mr. Matthew Cannon, ‘01 Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Carlson Mrs. Barbara Casarino Mr. Daniel Castle, ‘12 Miss Henna Castle, ‘14 Ms. Susan Cataldo Mr. and Mrs. Frank Catterton Mrs. Marie Celano Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cercena Mr. and Ms. Steven Chantler Mr. Hungcheng Chen and Ms. Chishu Chang Dr. Zugui Zhang and Dr. Fang Fang Chen Dr. Bingging Wei and Dr. Kairong Chu Mr. Matthew Cleary, ‘12 Mr. Ryan Cleary, ‘11 Ms. Lauren Clift Ms. Brittany Coffin, ‘06 Dr. Brian Cohen and Mrs. Leslie McGregor Mr. Daniel Conklin, ‘05 Mr. and Ms. Kenneth Cooper Wellinton Hills Service Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Doug Curtis Mrs. Donna Cutrona Drs. Adam and Maureen Davey
PA G E 2 1
Mr. Mark and Dr. Martha Hollomon Mr. Arthur Holveck Homebound Hospital Social Committee Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Horsey Mr. and Mrs. Dick Howe Dr. Xintian Hu and Mrs. Chunhui Guo Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Jackey Mrs. Diane Jackson Mr. Robert Jenkins and Mrs. Gathoni Murugi-Jenkins Mr. Benjamin Johnson, ‘11 Dr. Paul Johnston and Dr. Jennifer Nauen Mr. Ryan Johnston, ‘16 Mr. and Mrs. James Jones Mr. and Mrs. Robert Julian Mr. Andrew Kacmarcik, ‘11 Miss Claudia Kacmarcik, ‘13 Mr. Ethan Kacmarcik, ‘16 Mr. and Mrs. Parag Karnik Mr. Nagaraj Kedda and Ms. Arathi Jayaram Mr. Brad Keen, ‘13 Mr. Peyton Keen, ‘10 Ms. Barbara Kerxton Mr. and Ms. Jahanzeb Khan Mr. and Mrs. Sanjay Khanna Dr. and Mrs. Brian Kipp Dr. and Mrs. William Kipp Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kirk Dr. Kathryn Kirsch, ‘01 Mr. and Mrs. Blair Kitching Mr. Daniel Kitching, ‘01 Mr. and Mrs. David Klaes Ms. Lisa Klein, ‘01 Mr. and Mrs. Rudolf Koch Dr. Francis Kolpak Mr. Harish Koya and Ms. Himabindu Yalamati Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Koziak Dr. Heidi Kozic Mr. Marc A. Kreider, ‘82 and Mrs. Valerie Krieder Mr. and Mrs. Carl Kunz Dr. Cheng-Yu Lai and Dr. Daniela Radu Mr. Richard Langan, ‘12 Mr. and Mrs. Brian Lentz Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lentz Ms. Doris M. LeStourgeon Mr. and Mrs. Larry Lincoln Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lloyd Mrs. Rose Maria Lombardi Mr. Cheng Lu and Ms. Cindy Huang Dr. Shuiyuan Luo and Dr. Man Zhang Mrs. Jan MacLeod Mr. and Mrs. Suhas Mahuli Mrs. Marie Maks Mr. and Mrs. Paul Maloney Mrs. Margie Masino Drs. Patrick and Jessica Matthews Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Mayhew Mr. Christopher McCord, ‘07 Mr. Gregory McCord, ‘12 Mr. and Mrs. Michael McCord Mr. and Mrs. Sean McCue
2017 AUCTION All Aboard! On Saturday, March 18, The Independence School’s gym was transformed into a luxury cruise ship for the annual auction. Over 250 people came “aboard” to enjoy delicious island-themed food from Café Napoli, live music from a steel drum band, bidding on live and silent auction items, and lots and lots of dancing! A special thank you goes out to our auction co-chairs, Terri deGarbolewski and Anne Wenger, and our entire auction planning committee for helping to make the night such a success! We raised over $44,000 to support our students and faculty. Join us this coming April for a special 40th anniversarythemed auction!
INSPIRE DREAM ACHIEVE
Ms. Doris Davis Mrs. Nancy Deleski Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Doncel Mr. Meidui Dong and Ms. Changqing Wu Mr. and Mrs. Rex Donnelly Mr. and Mrs. F. Neil Dougherty Mr. Joseph Duffy Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dunn Mr. and Mrs. Michael Durkee Mr. and Mrs. Anit Dutta Ms. Brigitte Eichner, ‘99 Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Engelmann Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Evans Mr. Dylan Evans, ‘16 Mr. and Mrs. Ed Evans Mr. and Mrs. Edward Evans, III Dr. Shane Fang and Dr. XiaoQing Li Mr. and Mrs. Randal Farabaugh Ms. Josee’ Faubert-Spence Mr. Benjamin Fickes, ‘12 Mr. and Mrs. David Finocchiaro Five Below, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Fowle Dr. and Mrs. Brendan Fox Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gandolfo Mr. Xiang Gao and Dr. Yuanyuan Zhang Miss Meera Garg, ‘14 Mr. Raghav Garg, ‘16 Mr. and Mrs. Joel Garrett Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Garrett Mr. Matthew Georgov, ‘04 Mr. Ryan Georgov, ‘09 Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gillerlain Mr. and Mrs. Otis Gilliam Ms. Sarah Gilmore, ‘01 Mr. John Amory Glaccum and Mrs. Whitney Glaccum, ‘88 Mr. and Mrs. Scott Godsey Ms. Madeline Gouge, ‘05 Mr. and Mrs. Gary Gredell Ms. Jennah Gredell, ‘04 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Greevy Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Gregory Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Grieco Mr. and Mrs. Steve Griffin Mr. and Mrs. William Grothaus Miss Magdalene Hall, ‘11 Mr. Robert Hall and Mrs. Thea Vandyke-Hall Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harra Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hasty Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Haus Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hayes Mr. Jiamin He and Mrs. Sushuang Huang Ms. Carley Hecht Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hermes Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hicks Mr. and Mrs. David Hoffmann Mr. Matthew Hogan, ‘12 Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hogan Miss Marissa Hohman, ‘12 Dr. and Mrs. William Hohman Dr. and Mrs. Mark Holliday
R E P O RT O F P H I L A N T H R O PY PA G E 22
INDY 5K AND COLOR RUN There were big changes to the Indy 5K this year! For the first time ever, we included a 1-Mile Color Run in addition to the 5K, and changed the original road course to an on-campus trail run highlighting the school’s scenic 90 acres of fields, woods, and wetlands. These exciting changes brought over 300 runners from our community, almost double the number from last year’s race. 5K runners loved discovering new parts of our campus, and the 1-Mile color runners loved getting blasted with color by Indy faculty and staff! Thanks to our participants, we raised over $18,000 to support Independence scholarships and tuition assistance. We add a special thank you to everyone who helped make the run a great success this year!
IPA—THE HEART OF THE INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL The spirit of volunteerism has been the backbone of The Independence School since its founding by a group of local parents 40 years ago. Today, the Independence Parents’ Association (IPA) carries on this tradition through various events and initiatives all throughout the school year that not only build a stronger sense of community for our families, faculty, and staff, but raise money to enhance the experiences of each and every student. Highlights of last year’s IPA-sponsored activities and events included two Bingo Nights, the much-loved Holiday Festival, and the oldest tradition at the school, May Fair, which was enlivened with a performance by our very own student rock band. Last year, the IPA was able to almost double the amount of money that it raised for the school. IPA President Pooja D’Souza and the IPA leadership team presented Head of School Vicky Yatzus with a check for $60,000 at the end of the school year!
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin McDonald Mr. and Mrs. Bernard McKay Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McKeown Dr. and Mrs. Carl Mease Ms. Judy Meyer Mr. Russell Michalak and Ms. Jennifer Smith Mr. & Mrs. R. Laurence Monaghan Mrs. Robin Moody Miss Michaella Moore, ‘12 Mrs. Siobhain Moran Ms. Susanne Moran Mr. and Mrs. David Morse Mr. and Mrs. William Moses Mr. and Mrs. Clark Mosier Miss Rebecca Moylan, ‘92 Mr. David Myrick, ‘08 Mr. Kevin Myrick, ‘11 Mr. and Mrs. Steven Ng Mr. David and Dr. Louise Reid Nichols Mr. Christopher M. Novak Mr. and Mrs. Sam Nyabiosi Ms. Della Oberst Mr. and Mrs. James O’Connor Mr. and Mrs. Kevin O’Donnell Ms. Karen Olinchak, ‘01 Mrs. Judy Orth Ms. Linda Orth Dr. and Mrs. James Osborn Mr. and Mrs. Bill Osborne Ms. Lara Osborne Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Osland Mr. Jun Young Park and Ms. Eun Kyung Cho Mr. and Mrs. Victor Pelillo Mr. Chip Phillips and Ms. Aurora Gonzalez-Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pohlen Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Polis, Jr. Mrs. Catherine S. Pomeroy Mr. Paul J. Pomeroy, III Mr. and Mrs. Hommy Poursaied Mr. and Mrs. Tom Powell Mr. and Mrs. Sunil Prashar Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Raab Mr. and Mrs. Dariel Rakestraw Mr. and Mrs. J. Paul Raymond Mr. and Mrs. Dan Reeder Mr. and Mrs. William Reid Mr. and Mrs. Philip Reynolds Mr. Charles Ristano, ‘97 Mr. Gregory Roach, ‘04 Mr. and Mrs. Robby Robinson Mr. and Mrs. David Rodeheaver Ms. Deborah Rudy Mr. Nimish Rustagi and Mrs. Durga Nishtala Mrs. Kelly Ryan, ‘99 Sage Financial Group Ms. Tae Sakamoto Dr. Angela Saldarriaga Drs. David Satran and Tricia Wachtendorf Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Salvatore Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Samuels Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Sanderson
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Dr. Ragu Sanjeev and Dr. Ramya Varadarajan Dr. and Mrs. James Scarborough Mr. and Mrs. Mark Scarpone Mr. and Mrs. Dale Schoeneman Mr. and Mrs. Evan Schwarz Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schweizer Mr. and Mrs. David Sentman, Sr. Mr. Sohan Shah, ‘14 Miss Sophia Shah, ‘16 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shockley Ms. Nancy Signorielli Ms. Melanie Sikes Dr. and Mrs. Anuraag Singh Miss Maddy Singh, ‘15 Miss Sophia Singh, ‘13 Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Skiles Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Smith Mr. and Mrs. Richard Smith Mrs. Vivian Smith Mr. Edward Z. Sobocinski Dr. Nick and Dr. Alexis Souleles Mr. and Mrs. Sam Souleles Mr. and Mrs. Mark Spear Ms. Tiffany Spencer Mr. and Mrs. Martin Stanislav
Ms. Jennie Stanton Mr. and Mrs. Tristan A. Steichen Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stepanic Mr. and Mrs. Scott Stepek Mr. and Mrs. Dan Stephens Mrs. Denise Stitik, ‘86 Ms. Janelle Styons, ‘99 Mr. Rahul Subbaraya, ‘12 Mr. Rishi Subbaraya, ‘16 Miss Anna Suh, ‘14 Miss Lily Suh, ‘16 Drs. Daniel and Regina Sullivan Dr. Mani Sundararajan and Mrs. Meena Panchapakesan Mr. Shao-Tang Sun and Mrs. Jean-Hsien Ho Mr. Andy Tarburton ‘84 and Mrs. Ann Tarburton Ms. Mary Ellen Taylor Techguides, Inc. Drs. Deepika & Mihir Thacker Mr. and Mrs. Gerry Travis Mr. Thomas Uebler, Esq. ‘95 and Mrs. Cameron Uebler Mrs. Sheila Vaidya-Nemeth, ‘03 Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Vassalotti
Ms. Toni Visich Mrs. Nancy Vander Vliet Dr. Laura Vrana, ‘03 Mr. Robert Vrana ‘00 and Mrs. Caroline Vrana Miss Kerith Wang, ‘08 Dr. and Mrs. Yushan Wang Mrs. Virginia Warren Mr. and Mrs. William Watt Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Whitaker, III Ms. Christine Whitcraft, ‘91 Mr. Ross Whitehead Mr. and Mrs. James Whitney Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Whittaker Mrs. Eloise Wilding Mr. and Mrs. Roger Wilke Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Wolhar Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wolhar Dr. and Mrs. Eric Wommack Mr. and Mrs. William Wright Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wyatt Mr. Dylan Yin, ‘16 Miss Emily Yin, ‘13 Drs. Joseph and Elizabeth Zaher Mr. Alexander Zhu, ‘16 Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Zinszer
EVENT SPONSORS
Turf Pro, Inc. Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP (Daniel P. Johnson, Esq., Timothy J. Houseal, Esq., Vincent C. Thomas, Esq.)
CLASS OF 2017 BOND DONORS
STAR The Independence School Board of Trustees G. Fedale General Contractors Rohan and Pooja D’Souza, D’Souza and Associates Siegfried Advisory, LLC To-Jo Mushrooms, Inc. Tower Hill School PATRIOT Alpine & Rafetto Orthodontics Café Napoli Christiana Care Health Services GFP Cement Contractors, LLC Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A. Gunnip & Company CPAs IFS Benefits, LLC Pegasus Technologies Salesianum School
BLUE Archmere Academy Bifferato Gentilotti, LLC Brandywine Urology Consultants, PA Cacciatori Pizza & Pasta Eye Care of Delaware First State Printing Pratt Insurance Service Unlimited, Inc. RED Aloysius Butler & Clark ATR Electrical Services, Inc. Benchmark Transmission of Newark Blue Rock Financial Group Diamond State Financial Group, Raymond F. Bree, Jr. Genoese & Associates, P.A. J. Michael Fay, D.D.S., P.A. Mark C. Dellose, D.M.D. Robert G. Hahn, D.D.S. Jason M. Justison, D.M.D. Victor L. Gregory, Jr., D.M.D., P.A. Precision Color Graphics Schneider Trailer & Container Rental, Inc.
The following generous families participated in our long-standing tradition of donating their bond back to the school after their children graduated. Vivek and Anjana Agarwal (In honor of Elana ‘17 and Eshan ‘11 Agarwal) Michael and Nancy Ambler Cristina and Scott Archer Ann and Mike Balthis Aaron and Pamela Berner (In honor of Gillian and Joseph Isabelle) Cory and Robin Brennan Jonathan and Sophia Castro The Ciccolella Family Dr. Cynthia Fallon Dr. Alberto Iaia and Gabriela Iaia (In memory of Dr. Jorge Hernandez) Karl and Nancy Law (In memory of Joseph T. Walsh) David and Dawn Liss Sunil Mathur and Shikha Mathur Mr. Mark Seifert Lee and Susan Starnes Daniel and Marianne Thiemann (In memory of Tommy Thiemann) Dr. Mei-Wei Tsao and Ms. Sherry Huang The Venema Family
The Independence School would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to these event sponsors for helping us raise more than $83,000 to support our students and faculty during the 2016-2017 school year. Each year, Independence holds several community fundraising events, including the Auction, May Fair, and the Indy 5K Run and 1-Mile Color Run. Sponsorships from the companies above help make these events successful. If you are part of a company that is looking to support a great school and looking for an opportunity for targeted marketing to potential new clients, consider being an event sponsor for The Independence School! Accuracy is very important to us. If you feel that we have made an omission or error, please contact the Development Office at 302-234-9715.
INSPIRE. DREAM. ACHIEVE.
PRESENTING Chevrolet of Dover Corporation Service Company Deep Kahlon, M.D., & Jeremie Axe, M.D., First State Orthopaedics M&T Bank WSFS
S P I R I T M AG A Z I N E PA G E 24
★ HEAD OF SCHOOL Victoria C. Yatzus BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2016-2017 Kevin Heitzenroder, ‘85 President Bruce Georgov Immediate Past President
IN GRATEFUL MEMORY As Independence celebrates the 40th anniversary of its founding, the school community is saddened to mark the loss of two men who were deeply committed to the school and influential leaders in its growth, former board members Bruce Kirk and Ross Fasick. BRUCE KIRK Bruce Kirk’s connections to Independence dated to the school’s earliest days. In the late 1970s, Mr. Kirk was involved in the public school system as a member of the A.I. DuPont School Board, when he learned of plans for the new institution that would become Independence. “He was intrigued and inspired by the ideas of the founders,” explains Mr. Kirk’s daughter, Donna Sentman ’80, “and began helping them in an advisory role.”
Tom Czerwinski Vice President Bryan Keen Treasurer Bianca Fraser-Johnson Secretary Kieran Connolly, M.D. Joe D’Amico Peggy H. Eddens Daniel P. Johnson, Esq. Jennifer Kenton Margaret Shen O’Dwyer Lynn Okagaki, Ph.D. Michael Ryan, DMD, ‘80 Jeffrey Shahan Mona Singh Vincent Thomas, Esq. Rajeev Vaidya, Ph.D. Amelia Wyant, ‘90 Victoria C. Yatzus (Ex-officio) ADVISORY COUNCIL 2016-2017 Ross W. Fasick Sally Gore Vincent N. Greggo Patricia A. Ireland Francis Julian Richard Julian Doris LeStourgeon David P. Roselle, Ph.D. SPIRIT PRODUCTION Sandy August Director of Development Claire Brechter Director of Enrollment Management and Marketing Charles Ristano, ‘97 Communications Manager Kelli Wilke Photography Kelsh Wilson Design Design and Photography
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That role formalized when Mr. Kirk joined the Independence Board of Trustees, serving as president from 1979-1981. He remained active in the school in the years that followed and was among the leaders who advanced plans for the purchase of the land the school now occupies. At the time of the school’s founding, three of Mr. Kirk’s five children were too old to enroll. He was proud, however, that his daughters Donna and Linda were among the very first students and that five of his grandchildren (all those living locally) would later attend from ECI through 8th grade. Donna Sentman recalls her father’s strong feelings for Independence: “He was impressed by the school that Independence became and very proud. He especially loved the wonderful art and music programs and continued to attend many performances over the years.”
ROSS FASICK A man with a lifelong passion for education, Mr. Fasick became involved with Independence when the first of his grandchildren enrolled. Among his early contributions was playing Santa for years at the school’s holiday celebration—a role he relinquished only reluctantly, when one of his grandsons recognized that Santa’s watch and shoes looked suspiciously familiar. Mr. Fasick served for nine years as a member of the Board of Trustees, then later on the Advisory Committee. While on the board, he held the roles of vice president, development committee chair, and endowment committee chair, and was a leading force in multiple successful campaigns key to the school’s growth. Lisa Ramone, Mr. Fasick’s daughter, recalls his love of the school. “Long after he left the board, he continued to follow the success of the school’s students and graduates,” she explains. “He loved to hear news of their achievements in high school and afterward and felt tremendously proud.” Eventually, all seven of the Fasicks’ grandchildren attended Independence from ECI through graduation. This September marked a new milestone as the first of the Fasicks’ great-grandchildren, Madison, entered the early childhood program, extending a wonderful family tradition.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2017!
WE WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IN ALL THE MANY ADVENTURES THAT LIE AHEAD.
TH E IN D E P E N D E N C ESC H O O L .O R G
INSPIRE. DREAM. ACHIEVE.
1 30 0 PA P E R M I L L R OAD, NEWAR K, DE 1 97 1 1 • 302 . 239.0330 T HE INDEPENDENC ESC HO O L .O R G