KIT: Volunteering = Connecting

THE ROEPER SCHOOL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Keeping In Touch

VOLUNTEERING = CONNECTING VOLUME 9: 1 FALL 2015

KIT

TABLE OF CONTENTS David Feldman Head of School david.feldman@roeper.org Denita Banks-Sims Director of Development denita.banks-sims@roeper.org Keeping in Touch Editorial Committee Katie Buchmann Editor Bonnie Schemm Art Director Contributors Denita Banks-Sims David Feldman Kris Flynn Janice Haines Adam Smock ’87 Lori Talbott Emily Wine Lori Zinser Special Thanks Julie Gillikin Marcia Ruff

THE ROEPER SCHOOL 41190 Woodward Avenue Bloomfield Hills Michigan 48304 248/203.7300 www.roeper.org

The Roeper School is an independent coeducational day school for gifted and talented children preschool through grade 12 and an equal-opportunity institution

FEATURES INTERDEPENDENCE . . . . .

David Feldman, Head of School

.

.

.

.

2

.

.

.

.

.

3

BOOSTER CLUB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kris Flynn, Booster Club President

WHY VOLUNTEER AT ROEPER? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Janice Haines, Retired Vocal Music Teacher

4

ROEPER PARENT COMMUNITY Lori Talbott, RPC President

APPRECIATION . . . . . . . . .

Katie Buchmann, Development Officer

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

5

. 6

NEW FACES — BOARD AND STAFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Emily Wine, Assistant to the Head of School NEW STUDENT STATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Lori Zinser, Director of Admissions ALUMNI MAKING NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Adam Smock ’87, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund WEDDINGS & FUTURE ROEPERIANS . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 PARTING THOUGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Denita Banks-Sims, Director of Development

COVER ART: MONARCH BUTTERFLY OFRENDA ART by Stage IV students, clockwise from top left — Jamison Mayes-Wheeler, Andie Giftos, Ben Nguyen-Monroe and Alyssa Fracasso.

EDUCATING AND INSPIRING GIFTED STUDENTS TO THINK AS INDIVIDUALS AND TO ENGAGE AS A COMMUNITY WITH COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER AND THIS WORLD

1

KIT

David Feldman Head of School

INTERDEPENDENCE

One of the things I love about Roeper is the spirit of volunteerism that exists across constituency groups.

This is a place filled with people who say yes! Whether it is helping with a potluck, joining a Roeper Parent Community (RPC) committee, working with a teacher in the classroom, or serving on the Board of Trustees, Roeper is a place where people enjoy being involved and where we as a school thrive because of that involvement.

MARK ADRIAN

Watch the interactions people have when they collaborate on school activities and you will soon understand that we grow and sustain our community by remembering the interdependent relationship we have with each other. The committees, clubs, classes, groups, organizations and teams we create are the tools that allow us to come together in service. These groups of individuals bring a volunteer spirit to their charges that strengthen our whole institution. Their diverse perspectives and experiences enrich our process and our community.

I am fond of sharing with prospective parents that Roeper is not a “drop-off school.” Many other places students may have attended expect parents to pull up to the curb in the morning, drop off their child, and only return to campus at the end of the school day for pick-up. We have a different set of expectations; we have a different set of values; we have a different point of view. Roeper is shared space; yes, it is our children’s school, but it is also a community of parents, teachers, staff members, alumni, alumni parents, extended family members, and community members. Some of us are employed by the school, but all of us volunteer time, talent, and capital to enhance and empower this community of learners.

Many of us learn a great deal about ourselves, our strengths, our values, and our capacity through the volunteer work we do. We learn about who we are as individuals through our collaborative work in a community. We learn about our emotional intelligence, capacity to listen, problem solve, and need for social connection when we collaborate with purpose. Volunteering provides a wonderful balance for selfdiscovery and compassion for something larger than ourselves.

George and Annemarie reminded us, [The School’s philosophy] embraces a principle of responsibility and support for each other, a principle of helping those who are in need because they are entitled to it, not because of charity. It includes the notion that even a little bit more love and mercy would make this world a better place to live in. It is a goal, which although it can never quite be realized, is only as good and as real as its honest attempts at implementation. It does not exist for the school only, but the school exists because of it. It is the framework for living and learning within the school.

The simple fact is, Roeper only works because of the hundreds and thousands of volunteers who give countless hours every day to selflessly ensure that this school thrives today and will be sustained for the next generation of families.

I am grateful for your commitment to volunteering, to helping us live our philosophy, and for modeling the type of world view that brings people together and celebrates what we can do when we understand our connection to each other. F

2

Volunteering provides a wonderful balance for selfdiscovery and compassion for something larger than ourselves.

KIT

Lori Talbott

President Roeper Parent Community

ROEPER PARENT COMMUNITY The Roeper Parent Community (RPC) is proud to have a diverse group of volunteer parents serving on our Executive Board in various Vice President roles that span ALL aspects of the Roeper community.

The goal of the RPC is to make connections and build our community while also enhancing the Roeper experience, especially for parents. There are VPs to help guide new families through their first year, to support the Fine & Performing Arts and Athletic Departments, and to connect parents and help out in the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. The VPs of Education and Philosophy help create parent education programs and bring in speakers for our Coffee Talks to aid parents in better understanding their children, the school and themselves. Our Sustainability VP’s role is to educate our community on being environmentally aware and to help us make sustainable choices. Each of these roles is very important, but that’s not all we do!

Volunteering is such an important part of not only the Roeper Community, but any community.

It’s a great way to give back, strengthen bonds, and connect with others.

And, it’s a lot of fun!

The RPC truly is an amazing, inclusive community! We strive to create a community that feels like a second home, not only for students, but for parents, too. We host social events for families and students on both campuses; we are in the process of creating a parent space at the Bloomfield Campus; we provide support to the school by creating class projects for the Auction and Scholarship Dinner events; twice a year we thank our very supportive administration, faculty and staff by hosting Staff Appreciation Luncheons; and we help facilitate several extracurricular meet-ups and events (which are posted to the Roeper Record). We always provide plenty of opportunities for parents and families to get involved as well! Volunteering is such an important part of not only the Roeper community, but any community. It’s a great way to give back, strengthen bonds, and connect with others. And it’s a lot fun!

As we continue to grow and create more ways to connect with each other, we encourage everyone to attend the RPC meetings, share new ideas and thoughts on different ways we can meet the needs of our ever changing and evolving community. Roeper is OUR community. Let’s continue to make it great! F lori.talbott@me.com

Above: As part of Parent Education, RPC sponsors Coffee Talks on Friday mornings nearly every month from September through April, with topics of interest to our parents. Right: Former RPC President Beth Vens helps set up for the very popular Staff Appreciation Lunch.

3

KIT

Kris Flynn

President Roeper Booster Club

BOOSTER CLUB

I am excited to have the opportunity to discuss the Roeper Booster Club. Just for background, I am the parent of three children — Nathan ‘12, Alyssa ‘14 and Jake ‘16 — who started their Roeper athletic careers as little soccer Reptars, and they all evolved into three-sport athletes. I will never be able to fully describe what Roeper Athletics has done for my kids and our family as a whole, and I am happy to have the ability to give back a little bit by being President of the Booster Club.

The Roeper Booster Club has a long history of being not just a fundraising organization, but of sponsoring fun events and getting the parent community together. In the past, most of the participation has been from the Upper School community, but what we really want to see this year is the entire school involved in the Booster Club. The Roeper sports program spans from the kids in the Domes up to the seniors at the Upper School, and we want to hear the voices and have participation from parents of children in each stage and grade. We want our athletic program to be built around all the kids that are involved, so it is very important that there is participation from each level.

We have many events going on this year, and we are looking for even more ideas and volunteers to help with these activities. In the planning stages currently are Euchre Nights, Chili Cook-Off, Bowlathon, Golf Outing, Fever Nights, and we are also looking to develop new social events. The Booster Club is a great way to meet parents of children of all ages, and these events are a lot of fun.

I think it is going to be a really great year for our athletic program, the Booster Club, and the school as a whole. I am excited to be President of the Booster Club, even though it will only be for one year as my youngest child is graduating in June. I want to do everything I can to help make the Booster Club something that people want to be a part of, and I am happy to talk to anyone about the Booster Club or the sports program in general at any time. There is definitely a lot of work to be done and we need a lot of help to be successful. But I guarantee, there will be a lot of fun, too!

So keep an eye open for future meeting dates, which will be published in the Roeper Record.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time. F

Kris Flynn 248/709-0546 Kflynn6@comcast.net

The Booster Club Kick-off BBQ was well attended by athletes, their families and coaches alike.

PHOTO BY GLORIA DESPARD

4

I will never be able to fully describe what Roeper Athletics has done for my kids and our family as a whole, and I am happy to have the ability to give back …

KIT

Janice Haines

Retired Vocal Music Teacher

WHY VOLUNTEER AT ROEPER? As a young mom, I volunteered, as many of us did, for school and community to help ensure a good quality of life for my family. Then I re-entered the work force and immersed myself in the Roeper community, dedicating my energies to being the best possible teacher I could be. When I retired, volunteering anywhere was not part of my agenda.

Then, came the call from Denita [Denita BanksSims, Director of Development] and her request for me to gather the history of the Fine and

The activities and their outcomes are fulfilling for us retired teachers ….”

Performing Arts at Roeper. In addition to being a strong supporter of “arts for all” at Roeper, I have always felt that there are numerous areas at the school which are so special and compelling that they ought to be recorded, so I accepted the challenge. Interviewing current and past staff members was incredibly enlightening. While their styles and teaching techniques might differ, the important traits of a successful Roeper teacher continue to be in place. I was newly impressed with the variety and uniqueness of each of them.

They all shared a recognition of the importance of challenging Roeper students. I remember when I was a new Roeper teacher sitting in on placement meetings at the Lower School and thinking to myself, “Why haven’t they figured some of these things out yet? They’ve been at it a while.” Only later on did I come to realize that the process was all about “individualizing program.” There were many things like that — many “ah-ha” moments that came to me as I reflected back on my years at Roeper. Gathering the history also meant spending time with Annemarie and George’s writings and decisions and beginning to more fully understand the tremendous insight they had as educators in general, and of gifted students in particular. I’ve realized during these past few years that the quality of a Roeper education can be, and often is, a critical component of “making the world a better place.” So I am now “hooked.”

Other alumni staff — Sandy Shosani, Rosalie Golden, Diana Elshoff and Nan Griffith to name a few — make it a point to attend Roeper special events and support a variety of activities. Nan and Diana enjoyed gardening at the Bloomfield Hills campus; Diana organized an AIMS Conference, and Rosalie, Nan, and Sandy helped her. Diana mentored a new Stage IV teacher and tutored a Stage IV student. Sandy helped with the Used Book Sale at the All School Picnic and followed her heart to volunteer in various 6th Grade activities — Wolverine Camp and the end-of-the-year Activity Week.

When I asked Nan why she continues her involvement with the school she said, “I love the philosophy. I love being a part of the school, and I help out in any way I can.” Diana found volunteering at Roeper very gratifying. She said, “I love Roeper, and I wanted to remain connected to the people and to the profession.” Sandy stated that after three decades of the Roeper community’s being a “family,” she sought ways to maintain the relationship and continued to contribute where and when she could. She said she believes such efforts have been valuable to the community and that alumni staff members recognize what is needed quickly and understand how to work with others (in particular, the students) — and she speaks for all of us, I think, when she says, “The activities and their outcomes are fulfilling for us retired teachers.”

Ah, yes … volunteering at Roeper is a good thing!

F

5

KIT

Katie Buchmann

Development Officer

APPRECIATION

Volunteer: a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.

The definition of volunteer seems pretty clear. However, the volunteers here at Roeper go far above and beyond the simple definition. I am always amazed at the happy, enthusiastic “yes!” I receive from the community when asked to jump in to volunteer their time and energy.

rolling up their sleeves and digging through “the cage” in the attic of the Community Center Building for the perfect decorations, spending countless hours creating amazing baskets and displays for the MOSAIC Auction or Mariann Hoag Scholarship Dinner, maneuvering through the kitchen at the Detroit Athletic Club to help deliver hundreds of silent auction items, placing tablecloth after tablecloth to transform the gym into a perfect setting for Grandparents Day, refilling cookies and water to support the Martin Luther King Candlelight Walk, selling raffle tickets at sporting events, creating beautiful flower arrangements or simply attending a meeting to be a voice for the community. I am continuously amazed each year by the neverending support I receive from volunteers. You are all greatly appreciated. F

! ! u o Y k n a

Th

6

MARK ADRIAN

The Development Office is tasked with many events throughout the year, each one with the privilege of fundraising and “friendraising,” and as a result of the generosity of the Roeper Community and Friends of Roeper, we are able to do just that. However, we would not be able to accomplish anything without the parents, students, faculty and staff that help the Development Office by stepping up — as committee leaders, approaching their friends and asking for their support, reaching out to the surrounding community,

The definition of volunteer seems pretty clear.

However, the volunteers here at Roeper go far above and beyond the simple definition.

KIT

Emily Wine

Assistant to the Head of School

NEW FACES — BOARD AND STAFF

DOUG ELBINGER

ROEPER BOARD OF TRUSTEES Our school community is very fortunate to have a Board of Trustees comprised of many people from all walks of life. The dedication of these men and women is made evident in the hours they volunteer both at regular board meetings and in their individual work on subcommittees. They tackle the hard issues such as our budget, strategic planning, and hiring and reviewing the Head of School. One’s role as a member of the Roeper Board of Trustees involves a deep commitment to the philosophy of our founders, George and Annemarie. Each Trustee serves as a guardian of this philosophy and of the school’s mission.

This year, the Board welcomes the following new Trustees: KAREN MOSS Karen will serve as the Birmingham Campus Parent Representative.

Karen and her husband, Josh, are the parents of current 10th grade student, Sean. In her professional life, Karen has both practiced and taught law.

She has been actively involved in the community for many years, including chairing the Roeper Annual Fund twice in previous years. The Board welcomes her to her new role.

SHANNON HOWELL Shannon is the new Staff Representative for the Bloomfield Hills Campus.

This is Shannon’s 6th year as a Stage III teacher at Roeper.

Before coming to Roeper, she taught school in Manhattan.

Shannon has an M.S. in Education from Bank Street College of Education and is a valued faculty member.

ROSCOE BOYD II Roscoe serves as the new Alumni Representative. Roscoe graduated in 1998 and comes to us with previous experience as a Roeper Trustee. He was the Student Representative nearly 20 years ago and is now committed to being “part of Roeper’s future story.”

Similar to several other trustees, Roscoe lives out of state and travels to Michigan for every board meeting. Welcome home, Roscoe!

JOE ALLEN Joe was elected to serve as a Student Representative along with Jake Flynn. He is a junior this year and is following in the footsteps of his brother, Tom, who also served as Student Rep when he was a Roeper student. We appreciate Joe for volunteering his time and demonstrating his incredible leadership skills in this manner.

LORI MOJARES Lori is the new Parent Representative for the Bloomfield Hills Campus.

She and her husband, Jon, are parents to Nicholas (9th), Andrew and Christopher (both 6th) and Rebecca (Stage III).

The Mojares family has been part of the community since 2005. Lori has a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy.

In addition to her new role as Trustee, she spends many hours volunteering for various RPC events.

SHANNON MARTIN Shannon was appointed to a three-year term as a Trustee this year. She and her husband, Clarence, are parents to Claire (Stage IV) and Chase (Stage II). Shannon holds a degree in clinical psychology.

She and Clarence have been very active members in our community since 2008. During her years here, Shannon has volunteered her time both in the classroom and behind the scenes, most recently with our Development Department. We are grateful for Shannon’s new role and deepened commitment. F

ROEPER STAFF The Board of Trustees is not the only place where you can find new faces of dedicated community members. Most of us are fully aware of the many hours that Roeper teachers work beyond the typical school day. From spending time with our Middle and Upper School students during “free blocks,” to coaching our athletes or hosting a

7

Lower School family night, our faculty members give tirelessly to our students day after day, year after year. We are proud to welcome the following men and women as our newest faculty members: MEGAN HAGER Megan is our newest Stage I teacher, teaming with Jennifer Ziemann.

This will be her third year as a preschool teacher, coming to us from the Bloomfield Hills School District. Megan has a B.S. in Elementary Education and is currently pursuing a Masters of Education for Early Education. Megan enjoys water sports, cooking and being active. She has a very warm presence that suits Stage I well!

VENEE NATARAJAN Venee joins Debbie Bejune in Stage II. Debbie and Venee worked together before coming to Roeper and are pleased to be a team once again! Previously, Venee has taught kindergarten through fourth grade for about seven years. She holds a B.A. in Child Psychology and a M.A. in Elementary Education and Language Arts. Venee and her husband, Vivek, feel they are truly soulmates; they even share the same birthdate! When Venee is not teaching, she enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, and snuggling with her cat, Sophie.

MERCEDES SCHLOOP Mercedes has joined Jessica French in Stage III. After getting her B.S. with a minor in Elementary Education and a major in Integrated Science, Mercedes went on to teach in Birmingham, both at a Montessori school and as a substitute for the Birmingham School District.

This has been an incredible year filled with many changes for Mercedes. Not only did she gain new employment, she also married Michael Schloop this past summer and moved into

8

a new house. We are so pleased she has found a new home at Roeper, too!

JENSEN SPROWL Although Jensen is a new Stage III teacher, teaming with Shannon Howell, she is a familiar face at Roeper.

She substituted for Lower School Librarian, Carmen Pianko, during Carmen’s maternity leave last year. Jensen received her B.A. from Kalamazoo College, studying Sociology, Anthropology and Studio Art. Jensen has been such a natural fit at Roeper and jumped into this year with both feet when she agreed to coach the Middle School Girls Volleyball Team. In her spare time, Jensen loves outdoor activities such as gardening, fishing, backpacking and paddling, just to name a few!

HALE WILLIAMS Another familiar face who has joined our faculty, Hale is a Roeper alum (2009) and son of longtime staff member, Sue Williams and brother to three Roeper alumni — Rheyn ’01, Starr ’03 and Sky ’06. Hale received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina, and substituted at Roeper before returning as an Upper School Faculty member, teaching Math. He is thrilled to be back, and we are so fortunate to welcome him home!

BRIAN HEWITT We welcome Brian as a new Middle and Upper School Science teacher. Brian previously taught 7th grade in Arizona for four years. Before moving to Arizona, he received his B.S. from Michigan State University.

Brian has previously competed in Powerlifting and can still be seen in the weight room from time to time. He and his wife, Elyse, have an Australian cattle dog mix named Porter. Welcome, Hewitt family!

MATT OLIVER Matt is our newest Middle and Upper School P.E. teacher. He graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education and Health from Black Hills State University and is new to Michigan, along with his wife, Stephanie.

While a college student, Matt worked as a whitewater rafting guide and then went on to teach in North Dakota, Nebraska and Arizona. He is currently the coach of Roeper’s JV Girls Volleyball team. Welcome to Michigan, Matt!!

CAMELLIA LEWIS Camellia is the new Administrative Assistant to the Director of Admissions and has a very warm and welcoming presence to the many people she comes in contact with daily. She previously worked for Supply Chain Management at Chrysler, LLC, as well as Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan. Camellia has also been a long-term substitute teacher and, to satisfy her creative side, she does style consulting for a small group of clients. Camellia received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Western Michigan. She is married to Michael Lewis, and they are proud parents of Michael II and Zoe. Camellia shares that, among family and friends, she remains undefeated and now unchallenged at Scrabble, her favorite board game! We may need to see if a Roeper student wants to change that!!

The dedication and commitment displayed by both members of the Board and of Staff cannot be found just anywhere. We are honored, proud and so fortunate to welcome these newest members of our community. We hope to help them feel supported in their new roles. F

9

MARK ADRIAN

ALEX PEDICA No stranger to Roeper, Alex has worked for almost seven years as a scenic artist and designer in our Theatre Department and has helped coach Forensics as well. This year, Alex officially joins the faculty as a Roeper Theatre Company Director, along with Ttari Hellmer. He has a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre, which he puts to use all over Metro Detroit. From singing and performing in Greenfield Village, to acting with Meadow Brook Theatre, Alex can be spotted sharing his many talents. We are thankful Alex will now share these talents with our students in his new role!

KIT

Lori Zinser

Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management

NEW STUDENT STATS TOTAL Students Enrolled (Preschool through Grade 12) . . . . . 576

Pre-School 66

Stages II, III and IV 218

Middle School 144

Upper School 148 TOTAL NEW Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 (67 boys & 52 girls) This year we have enrolled a higher number of new students than we had in the past five years.

In addition, we now have a waiting list in Middle School.

New students by Stage/Division

Lower School

Stage I (Pre-School)

Stage II

Stage III

Stage IV

Middle School

Upper School

82 43 15 16 8 16 21 (15 in 9th Grade)

We enrolled four new staff students …

Stage I

Filo Mendez*, son of Sara Mendez, Lower School World Languages

Jack Durst, son of Brian Durst, IT Manager

Lily Poole, daughter of Leslie Poole, Human Resources

Stage IV

Tara Prevost, daughter of Sabrina Prevost, Lower School World Languages

We welcomed six childen of Roeper Alumni …

Stage I

Carter Kimpson, son of Shani Yapa ’08 & Joel Kimpson ’08

Luke Hutson, son of Linde Levin Hutson ’98 & Bryan Hutson

Raylyn Andahazy, daughter of Morgan Elliott Andahazy ’95 & Laddie Andahazy ’01

Filo Mendez*, son of Sara Puzey Mendez ’96 & Luis Mendez

Harper Handel, daughter of Lauren “Buddy” Stein ’95 & Jeremy Handel

7th Grade

Cameron Schemm*, son of Jeremy Schemm ’92 & Barbara Dornan

11th Grade

Evan Buikema, son of Eric Buikema ’88

And, two new staff grandchildren have joined us …

Filo Mendez* (Stage I), grandson of Linda Vernon, Student Life Coordinator

Cameron Schemm* (7th Grade), grandson of Bonnie Schemm, Publications Associate

In addition, four former students returned to Roeper from other schools in Grades 7, 9 and 10 (2) WELCOME, ALL! F * denotes students who appear in more than one category

10

MARK ADRIAN

The Admissions Office is very fortunate to have wonderful volunteers, who provide invaluable support during our Lower School Open Houses.

Four times a year, the volunteers graciously give up their time to lead a group of prospective parents around campus. During these tours, they put into context what is occurring in classrooms, answer questions parents have, and share stories about the difference Roeper has made for their children. Hearing this information from an existing or former parent is extremely reassuring to prospective parents. We are very appreciative of the help the volunteers give us and could not have successful Open Houses without them.

Adam Smock ’87

Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund

KIT

ALUMNI MAKING NEWS PART OF THE EQUATION Serena Newberry ’14 has always been able to make her mark on the world around her, and upon arriving at Xavier University she did just that! It didn’t take long for her to be recognized as a talented leader and be selected as one of the “Fabulous Freshmen” of 2015!! The following is an excerpt from the article that appeared on the Xavier website…

Serena, who in addition to being a talented flutist and pianist is quite proficient in Tae Kwon Do, came to Xavier from Roeper Upper School in Birmingham, MI. She opted out of the large public schools in the Detroit area (120 in a class) to attend the smaller (40 in a class) but more distant private college prep school, where she — like her sister before her — attended on scholarship.

The daily, two-bus, eight-mile trip proved to be worth the extra effort as she excelled academically, developed her leadership abilities, and found a new world opened to her.

It was because of her commitment to the study of Mandarin that she was awarded a partial scholarship through the school’s Chinese Bridge program to spend several weeks in China.

As her Xavier classmates have discovered, Serena is an avid reader; in fact, she is seldom seen around campus without a book, iPod, or Android Phone in her hand — all for the purpose of having something to read readily at hand. That’s another clue to her choice of majors: English education/Pre-Law.

The full text of the article about Serena can be found on the University’s web site. Just search for “Xavier Fabulous Freshmen 2015.”

DOG THERAPY

q

Lisa Portnoy ’74 has spent many years caring for and about animals. She heads the Animal Care Program, which functions to oversee the humane care and use of research animals in the Clinical Center of the National Institute of Health.

Recently, Lisa was mentioned in a feature article about the dog therapy program going on at the Clinical Center and the amazing work they’re doing bringing some fun and joy to patients. As the article says …

The Clinical Center veterinarian, Lisa G. Portnoy, DVM, heads the separate Animal Care Program, which functions to oversee the humane care and use of research animals in the Clinical Center. The program is accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International. “The visits provide patients with a sense of normalcy, an hour in which their illness is not the focus of attention,” she says. “Everyone benefits: the patients, the Clinical Center staff, the volunteer-owners, and their dogs.” Portnoy should know. She and her friendly beagle, “Juno,” are trusted animalassisted therapy volunteers. Accompanied by Parker or other Clinical Center recreational therapists, the teams visit the hospital for one hour each week. They typically see several patients during that time — both adult and pediatric patients with cancer, rare immune and genetic disorders, mental health challenges, and other conditions.

That passion for reading also fits in with her long-term career plans, which include going on to Law School (specializing in constitutional law). But ultimately — in what might be perceived as a backward move to someone less community-minded — her next step would be to teach for a while at the middle school level and then return home to assist with efforts to further expand the Developing K.I.D.S. program. An odd combination perhaps, but for Serena however, it’s just part of the equation.

11

they face significant business opportunity, challenge or transformation. David credits his years at Roeper with giving him a foundation for helping businesses develop compliance and ethics programs that are effective in the real world.

COUNSELING FOR COUNSELORS u

GRANT DUMAS TAKES THE TUNA OUT TO SEA! p Grant Dumas ’89 has been sailing for years now, but he recently brought his skills to a new level!

Grant took home the St. Petersburg NOOD (National Offshore One Design) Regatta’s overall trophy — awarded to the winner of the most competitive class among nine different classes, 133 boats and thousands of sailors, as determined by race organizers — which qualifies him to race in the Helly Hansen NOOD Caribbean Championship in the British Virgin Islands. An amazing result and one that we can all be sure he’ll repeat many times! Congrats, Grant!!

STRIKING OUT ON HIS OWN

q

David Jaffe ’74 left his job as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Guardian Industries Corp. last year to set up his own law and consulting practice. This fall marked the first anniversary of Jaffe Counsel, PLC, where David works as a “global general counsel for hire.”

He’s having a good time helping companies with special situations, where

12

Pat O’Connor ’78 has done it again. Over the years, Pat has been working hard to help students all over get into college. This time he’s focused his energy on the folks working with those kids on a daily basis. Pat has published a new book called College Counseling for School Counselors: Delivering Quality, Personalized College Advice to Every Student on Your (Sometimes Huge) Caseload. According to Amazon.com, “If you work with college-bound students, this book must be on your desk at all times.” Check it out!

ON THE MOVE Rachael Hopkins Trieu ‘98 and her family made a move from Chicago to Carmel, Indiana, about four years ago and just recently welcomed their second child to the family (see “Future Roeperians” for more on that). Luckily for them, grandparents (and Roeper legends Chuck and Nancy Webster) live only five minutes away! Here’s the update Rachael sent along …

Hung and I moved to Indy about four years ago when Avery was born. We were lucky that both of our companies in Chicago allowed us to relocate and work remotely — it has worked out very well so far both personally and professionally to have the flexibility to work from home. For the past 10 years I have worked for a Human Resource Consulting Firm named Towers Watson. I specialize in Compensation Consulting (helping companies

design pay plans, bonus plans, determine competitive market pay for their positions, title and organize jobs, etc.). My current position is Product Manager. I oversee the development of a software that we sell to clients to help them manage their compensation needs. We have developers in Manila as well as across the US, so it’s a very global project where I have been able to learn a lot about Software Development but also provide subject matter expertise regarding compensation planning and ensuring we build the right things for our clients. I am really enjoying it and will return to work from maternity leave in January.

Roeper Alumni and Brothers, Arthur Ensroth ’68* and Kenneth Ensroth ’72, come back for a summer visit to the Bloomfield Hills Campus.

GETTING TOGETHER

q

In late August, Rob Winkworth ‘89 and his son Owen hopped in the car with Jason Hammond ’89 and his sons Benjamin and Max for a road trip out to Rochester, NY, to meet up with Rob Rahbari ’89 and his son Adi. A fun-filled weekend was had by all! (Editor’s Note: I was supposed to join the road trip and the fun but was unable to at the last minute. It’s obvious they missed me … you can see the sadness on their faces!) F

We miss a lot of things about Chicago (mostly food and friends!) but have adapted well to the more laid back lifestyle in Indy. It has been so wonderful to be able to see my mom, Chuck and Cullen regularly, and we have also made some good friends here and enjoy what the city has to offer. So all is good — can’t complain : )

Adults (L to R): Jason Hammond ’89, Rob Winkworth ’89 and Rob Rahbari ’89. Kids (L to R): Benjamin Hammond, Owen Winkworth, Max Hammond and Adi Rahbari.)

SOCIAL MEDIA, SURVEYS, ETC. LET’S COORDINATE, CONNECT AND CONVERSE!

u u

If you’re on Facebook, make sure you join the Roeper Alumni group!

If you’re on LinkedIn, we have two groups …

1. The Roeper Network is there for anyone who is a part of the Roeper community to connect with others and share business opportunities, experience, resources and more!

2. The Roeper School Alumni is a group for former students to connect in the business world and share opportunities, job resources and more!

u u

Follow us on Twitter @roeperalumni and post pictures or messages using #roeperalumni.

We are in serious need of hearing from as many of you as possible and updating our connection database!

If you haven’t already, PLEASE take a moment to fill out the Alumni survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/roepalum or you can simply update your contact information for us by going to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/roeperalumupdate

13

KIT WEDDING ALBUM

Allan Golden ’08 MARRIED HIS LONGTIME SWEETHEART

Katy Wagner JULY 10, 2015 LOVETT HALL HENRY FORD MUSUEM dearborn, michigan

d

IN ATTENDANCE WERE ALL THE REST OF THE GOLDEN SIBLINGS — JOEY ’03, DAVID ’06 AND MELISSA ’11 ALONG WITH SEVERAL OF ALLAN’S CLOSEST FRIENDS FROM ROEPER: NICK SKARDARASY ’08, HALE WILLIAMS ’09, LELAND O’CONNOR ’10, NED BAKER ’08, STEPHEN BUCKLEY ’08, BEN FALLERT ’09, AND NATE SUNDERLIN ’09

Braden Ruddy ’98 & Robin Blosvern EXCHANGED VOWS

MAY 23, 2015 THE FOUNDRY queens, new york

f BRADEN IS THE SON OF ROEPER FACULTY MEMBERS, JARIE AND MIKE RUDDY AND BROTHER OF FIONA ’06, WHO SERVED AS “BEST SISTER” AT THE CEREMONY OTHER ROEPER ALUMNI IN ATTENDANCE WERE ANDREW SHORT ’97 AND JULIAN TYSH ’98, BOTH OF NYC, AND JOE ABRAHAM ’98 OF MIAMI

14

Amanda Sommerfeld ’97 & Andrew Case WERE MARRIED

OCTOBER 3, 2015

e

AMANDA IS THE DAUGHTER OF RETIRED ROEPER TEACHER CATHY SOMMERFELD (AND JIM SOMMERFELD) HER SISTER, MELISSA ’95 SERVED AS MATRON OF HONOR, WHILE SARA NORTH ’98 SERVED AS MAID OF HONOR ALSO IN ATTENDANCE WAS ERECENIA FRIDAY ’97

ADULTS, L TO R: SARAH NORTH ’98, ANDREW AND AMANDA ’98, AND MELISSA SOMMERFELD GRESALFI ’95. CHILDREN: MELISSA’S SONS ANSEL AND JACOB.

Nathan Jhaveri ’02 & Natalia Sonoja WERE MARRIED

OCTOBER 3, 2015 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

c

NATHAN IS THE SON OF LOWER SCHOOL TEACHER KAREN HINES-KENNEDY (AND DEEPAK JHAVERI AND STEPSON OF DAVID HINES) THE GROOMSMEN ARE ALL 2002 CLASSMATES OF NATHAN’S — L TO R: JENIA VINOGRADSKIY, NICO MARTINEZ AND BOBBY WAYNE

Eric Righetti ’96 & Michelle Fuhst EXCHANGED VOWS

MAY 15, 2015 THE HOMESTEAD

s

glen arbor, michigan

ERIC IS THE SON OF RETIRED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ERNIE RIGHETTI (AND LOUISE SIEKIRK, STEPSON OF ROXANNE RIGHETTI) AND BROTHER OF BRIDESMAID LESLEY RIGHETTI ’05 (FAR RIGHT)

15

KIT

FUTURE ROEPERIANS TAYLOR HOPKINS TRIEU was born

August 25, 2015 His proud parents are

Rachael Hopkins Trieu ’98 and

Hung Trieu and his big sister is

Avery (4) Taylor & Avery also have some pretty proud grandparents: Chuck (former Roeper Head) & Nancy Webster (former English teacher)

Did you know that a large percentage of the total amount raised for the Annual Fund each year is made up of donations that are $100 or less? Here are a few important facts from past campaigns that should help reinforce the importance of each and every pledge, no matter the amount: • Over the past 5 years, almost 60% of the pledges that helped us reach our goal were $100 or less.

• Over that same time, 30% of those pledges were $50 or less!

MYTH: Only larger gifts to the Annual Fund

make a real difference.

FACT: EVERY gift matters, and

EVERY gift helps!

16

Whether you give $20, $200 or $2000, your support for the Annual Fund helps!

By contributing, you not only increase our resources, you also boost our community participation levels, which are important to foundations.

So, please donate to the Annual Fund because no matter what your giving level is …

It’s always Good To Give!

See more at: http://roeperrecord.com/ development-and-alumni/ dispelafmyth/#sthash.cEGQhNC3.dpuf

Denita Banks-Sims

Director of Development & Publications

KIT

PARTING THOUGHTS “You can’t come back from where you’ve never been.”

This adage, often shared by my own father — along with more than all of the pages of this publication could accommodate — has always created an immediate and diametrically opposed response from me.

On one hand, it seems to suggest that I have successfully avoided any hurtful turmoil or conflict. While on the other hand, there is an implicit hint that I have regrettably limited my journey and the abundance of reward that I will never know.

Roeper students and alumni are unburdened by this “dual-cautioned” notion. As George Roeper noted in 1980, “… a school should teach children to ask the right questions. It does not create a perfect, nor near perfect, environment, but it does go far to create a different one …”

The full articulation of this philosophy is now closely woven in the fabric of the community and the lifelong expression of each student and alumnus/a. They seem to have an unclouded awareness, an “alertness,” as George Roeper noted, “to feelings and to nuances not solely intellectual … they will fulfill their potential for growth.”

Over the summer and into the fall of 2015, I have been privileged to have dozens of lovely and wonderful encounters with Roeper alumni and former students who clearly reflect this philosophy of life. They have occurred in a myriad of locations — the Hill House stairs, a volleyball game in the CCB, in their homes, making Annual Fund calls in the Birmingham Library, bridal showers in Michigan, a leisurely brunch in Boulder, and an unrivaled wedding in Lebanon — and more!

“You can’t come back from where you’ve never been”… but you can revel in the gift of those that mark their days in celebrated awareness.

Please Keep In Touch! F Above: Denita Banks-Sims attends a bridal shower for Natalie Issa ’05.

A playful day in Vail, Colorado, visiting with alumni parent and former board trustee, Brooks Bock and former student, Nolan Bock ’12*.

A lovely spring time luncheon was held to welcome back Roscoe Boyd ’98, to the Board of Trustees. (Roscoe previously served as a Student Rep to the Board). In attendance: Patrick O'Connor '78*, Roscoe’s mom Marletta Boyd, Janice Haines, Lori Lutz ’75, Middle School Director Colleen Potocki, Rosanne Thompson, Roscoe Boyd, and Head of School David Feldman.

17

THE ROEPER SCHOOL

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 16 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304

41190 WOODWARD AVENUE BLOOMFIELD HILLS • MI 48304-5020

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Save the Date!

Mariann Hoag Scholarship Dinner

Saturday Evening 5 March 2016 Invitation to follow!

18