A Message From the Head of School
Whether I’m meeting with families when they visit Unquowa for the first time or I am meeting with current Unquowa parents who are thinking of leaving Unquowa before graduation to jumpstart their child’s high school experience, the position I often find myself in is that of defending the PreK8 setting as the experience that best supports the growth of a student through early adolescence.
I’m usually defending that position to folks who worry that it might be hard to get into their high school of choice after middle school, so a “done and dusted” entry at kindergarten or an early exit before middle school seems like the practical solution. But I’m a “data over impression” kind of person, and the data says that’s not so — at least not at Unquowa. Here at Unquowa we typically see, year after year, our eighth graders accepted into their best-fit first choice of independent day and boarding high schools, including those applying to schools considered the most academically rigorous in the area.
A Publishing Tradition of the Unquowa School
B ecause we take our high school placement role seriously, we follow up to see how our Unquowa graduates do at their high schools once enrolled. The good news is that they succeed because they are well prepared. How are they prepared? The consistent feedback we get from high schools is that Unquowa grads know who they are as learners, advocate for themselves confidently, and have strong moral compasses. They do well because they have come from our small PreK-8 school, not despite it. The consistent counter-intuitive truth that often surprises people is that students who grow and learn in a PreK-8 environment like Unquowa are able to “bake at their own rate” and arrive at high school having already experienced the convincing power of school leadership with a mental backpack that holds the academic and social emotional essentials for being successful.
Our younger students watch our eighth graders give capstone speeches at weekly assemblies and imagine what they will say when they are in eighth grade. They also see our eighth graders serve as editors and contributors to a continuously national awardwinning literary magazine, and they practice copying that in their own Lower School literary magazine. They watch the eighth graders perform in leading roles and completely run the tech in our gold-standard Spring Musicals, and they emulate what they see in their own mini-musicals. Our younger students see our eighth grade create Voices of Change installation art and imagine the world causes that they will highlight when they themselves are empowered eighth graders.
Of course, as is always the case with great art, the message is in the eye of the beholder, and age impacts one’s vision. A powerful Voices of Change piece built by Claire Roberts ‘20, who is now a first year student at Yale, has cherished permanent residence in the small gallery outside my office. It grimly but beautifully portrays a series of polar bears — from a full bear on an iceberg to a mere paw as a bear sinks into the ocean. It is entitled “The Polar Express to Extinction.” Recently, a second grader was heard explaining the piece to two four year olds as they peered over the ledge where the installation lives. The second grader gently touched each bear, starting with the tiny, sinking paw and working her way up to the full, powerful bear. “This is you when you were a tiny baby, this is you when you were very young… and growing, and this is you now when you are all grown up!”
Understanding comes as we are ready for it, and what better place to begin practicing that process and leaving empowered to take on the world than in a school like Unquowa?
- Sharon Lauer, Head of School
Kicking Off Together!
During the school’s kickoff week, Upper School students participated in exciting team bonding adventures that set a positive tone for the year ahead. The fifth and sixth graders took part in a day at Discovery Adventure Park, where they worked together to tackle challenges like rope courses and problemsolving tasks. The focus was on communication, teamwork, and stepping outside comfort zones to achieve personal goals. Meanwhile, the seventh and eighth graders embarked on a thrilling whitewater rafting trip down the Deerfield River. Navigating rapids and obstacles together, they bonded with new and old friends, building trust and collaboration. Both experiences highlighted the importance of teamwork, goal-setting, and fun, making for a memorable start to the school year.
Spreading Kindness!!!
Our PreK and fifth grade “Reading Buddies” share a heartwarming bond of friendship! Split into two travel groups, fifth graders spend time with their younger buddies every other week. Each fifth grade travel group gets a turn so it’s double the fun for PreK! Together they work on reading, writing and Social Emotional Learning based activities. They really enrich both grades’ curriculums and the experiences of all the students.
Recently the buddies crafted beautiful paper hearts together, each one with a self-love affirmation written by the fifth grader and an illustration done by the PreK student. With joyful enthusiasm, the PreK students sneakily placed these paper heart messages on faculty cars, reminding us all of the power of love and thoughtful gestures.
Fifth graders loved this sneaky idea so much that they crafted personal hearts for each of their young buddies and hid them in their PreK lockers. Not to be out done, PreK snuck back up to the fifth grade classroom and left heart messages for them! The older students carried these hearts with them all day, and many are still posted in their lockers.
The ripple effect of kindness continues on and is felt all throughout the school. We are so proud of our Reading Buddies!
- Faith Barbuto, PreK Teacher and Sarah Raggio, 5th Grade Teacher
Unquowa Votes!
The entire Unquowa community participated in our own election on Election Day in order to decide on a very important issue... LUNCH!
Voters had to choose between the “Green Menu” or the “White Menu,” which was a very tough choice. Voters agonized for weeks over which to choose, and many quickly realized that there was no “perfect” menu — they’d have to compromise on some items in order to prioritize what they most wanted.
In the weeks leading up to the big vote, second graders made campaign posters for both menus and hung them around the building. Third and fourth graders wrote persuasive advertisements for the Green and White menus, respectively. They presented their well-reasoned arguments to all during lunch periods. Our fifth graders helped design and laminate all students’ voter registration cards. Upper School students also learned more about the US electoral system during the run up to the election.
On Election Day, eighth graders served as poll workers. By checking students’ voter registration cards, managing the polls, securing the ballot box, and distributing “I Voted” stickers, they ensured an orderly, fair, and secure election. Once the polls closed, the ballot box was transported to the Pre-K classroom, where students sorted ballots between Green and White votes. From there, kindergarteners grouped these ballots into stacks of 10, and, with the help of Ms. Palm, placed these stacks in secretly color-coded envelopes — this way, no students would know the results!
The last stop for our ballots was first grade, where they counted these envelopes using their 10s counting skills. Then, the first graders graphed the results! Because we used a decoy color system for the envelopes, the students were able to count and graph our results without actually knowing who the winner was — election security at its finest!
At our assembly the next morning, the results of the election were revealed! In total, 173 votes were cast. With 96 votes — 55% of the vote — the White Menu was victorious! We were so excited to dive into grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, corn on the cob, caesar salad, and brownies for dessert.
This election simulation was such a joy to experience. Students in every grade were invested in the “issues,” argued passionately for their beliefs, learned about compromise, and participated in the important democratic institution of a free and fair election. Go Gators!
- Ariel Warshaw, Humanities Teacher
Our Community Book Talk
On October 10th, Unquowa faculty and staff joined parents and other community members to discuss this past summer’s Community Book Read, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Jonathan Haidt’s recent best seller has been the nationwide inspiration for important conversations around the impact that social media and cell phones have had on young people. October’s conversation here at Unquowa, which took place in the round, was not an exception, and has led to subsequent related discussion groups in our parent community.
The October Book Talk team leaders, Annie Henry, Hans Richter and Eric Snow joined Head of School, Sharon Lauer, to partner with the Fairfield Public Library on December 5th to hold a similar book talk on Haidt’s work with the general public.
Making A Difference Locally!
Every Monday morning, as part of our eighth grade service learning program, Unquowa eighth grade students visit Sunrise, an assisted living center down the street. In an effort to be active members of our local community, we make the quarter-mile walk up Stratfield Road, rain or shine, and spend time with the residents. The time is spent playing board games, doing arts and crafts, sharing school projects, and engaging in meaningful conversations. Each week, a few students head to the memory care unit, where they read and catch up with residents currently affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia. Students are making lasting connections and bringing joy to the residents, while also experiencing the impact that giving back to the community can have. We love our time with our neighbors on Stratfield Road and are looking forward to the memories still to be made.
- Annie Henry, Director of
Social/Emotional Wellness
World Religion Speaker Series
Studies focused on the complexities of culture and how these features shape societies kicked off global studies in seventh grade Humanities this year. One key element of culture is religion. As the class explores different continents and regions throughout the year, they will be considering how various aspects of culture — religion, but also economics, politics, geography, and more — influence the people of these places.
With this in mind, they started their course by analyzing the five major world religions in a broad sense. Students were given a general lens for understanding these faiths and how they might apply this knowledge to their studies. In order to more authentically explore various faith traditions, leaders from these faith traditions were invited into our classroom. We welcomed the following visitors:
Judaism – Rabbi Evan Schultz, Senior Rabbi, Congregation B’nai Israel
Christianity – The Reverend Vanessa Rose, Senior Pastor, First Church Congregational
Buddhism – Venerable Shim Bo, Buddhist Chaplain at Sacred Heart University
Islam – Imam Omer Bajwa, Director of Muslim Life at Yale University
Hinduism – Venkat Gade and Mahabala Salian, Board Members, Chinmaya Mission Fairfield-New Haven
The guests answered questions, provided historical context, and overviewed the basic belief systems and cultural practices of their respective faiths from a non-devotional perspective.
We deeply value and appreciate the opportunity to inspire our students, and we are always thrilled when these guests visit.
- Ariel Warshaw, Seventh Grade Humanities Teacher
Eighth Grade Capstone Project
One of the major capstone projects at Unquowa are eighth grade speeches. These talks are an opportunity for the Unquowa community to hear from each graduating student about a topic that is meaningful to them. Each year, we have inspiring speeches about friends, family, perseverance, secret talents, passions, and a host of other topics that students choose to share with the gathered school community.
Eighth grade speeches are months-long endeavors that officially begin in September when we offer a short unit on communication and speechwriting and end in April when the last of the eighth grade speeches have been delivered. Early on, students submit their speech drafts, are given suggestions on edits to make, and then begin practicing, sometimes weeks in advance of their assigned speech date.
For some students, though — especially those who have been with us since Lower School - these speeches are years in the making. All Unquowa students hear about two-dozen speeches each year, and some of the best ones have a tendency to stick with them.
This highlights what is so important and special about these speeches: their positive impact on the Unquowa community. Eighth graders are visible leaders at Unquowa, and younger students listen with rapt attention to what the oldest students want to share with them. Almost every week, starting in late Fall, all of our students get to hear special, personal words from their role models. There’s nothing like it!
- Eric Snow, Eighth Grade Advisor
Our Community Celebration!
What a beautiful day it was for Founders’ Day! Unquowa families, staff and alumni all gathered on our back field for a day of festivities. The local band Tangled Vine entertained us all with their lively crowd-pleasing tunes, and our own Mr. Coe surprised everyone by joining them for a few songs on his guitar! Chef Adam and his team treated us to a delicious farm-to-fork barbecue that included butternut squash soup, hamburgers, an autumn crunch salad, and freshly baked pumpkin bread — a true feast! Children happily bounced in the bounce houses and enjoyed all the other fun activities run by the eighth grade students.
The children’s activities, 50/50 raffle, and a bake sale run by eighth grade parents all helped to raise funds for the eighth grade spring class trip. Parent volunteers also managed the Community Closet and the Gator Goods tent, allowing Unquowa families to update their uniforms and Gator Gear. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making the day so special; it truly was perfect, thanks to the gorgeous weather and our amazing community!
-
Kelly Sullivan, Advancement Assistant and Events
Pueblo Culture and the Tradition of Pottery
During our Indigenous Peoples studies, second graders learned about the Pueblo tribe, exploring their history, culture, and traditional pottery-making techniques. They discovered how the Puebloans used clay to create intricate pots, often decorated with geometric patterns. After learning about the significance of pottery in Pueblo culture, the students created their own pots using air-dry clay, incorporating designs inspired by the Puebloans’ art. This activity helped them understand and appreciate the tribe’s unique craftsmanship and culture.
Top Secret
- Stephanie Satonick, Second Grade Teacher
Capping off their study of Cuba, seventh grade Humanities students participated in a virtual simulation with the International Spy Museum. They traveled back in time to 1962, during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis!
Each seventh grader received their “TOP SECRET” dossiers, filled with HUMINT (human intelligence), SIGINT (signals intelligence), and OSINT (open source intelligence). The students embodied CIA All Source Analysts, and together evaluated and interpreted these sources of intelligence to counsel President Kennedy on how he should respond to the growing crisis. By looking at declassified telegrams, memorandums, and reconnaissance plane imagery, we were able to de-escalate the tension and save the world from nuclear war! Great work, analysts!
“I thought it was pretty awesome to be able to actually become a spy for just an hour. It was fascinating to read some of the papers the CIA had access to and study them.” — Kaitlyn
- Ariel Warshaw, Seventh Grade Humanities
Writing in Cuneiform!
In sixth grade Humanities class, our students had an exciting opportunity to step into the shoes of ancient Mesopotamian scribes. With guidance from our Visual Arts teacher Mrs. Ponden, students created clay tablets, just as scribes would have thousands of years ago. But instead of writing in English, sixth graders took it a step further by inscribing the title of their Language Arts short stories in cuneiform—the earliest form of writing! It was a hands-on experience that brought history to life and deepened students’ understanding of ancient cultures
- Thomas Iezin, Sixth Grade Humanities Teacher
Spooktacular Times At Unquowa!
Witches, fairies, skeletons, superheroes, aliens, and even a towering ballerina giraffe filled the gym at this year’s Halloween parade. Whether spooky or sweet, our creative students proudly showcased their costumes, delighting families and friends who cheered them on. The fun reached a whole new level when the students took everyone by surprise, dropping to the floor and rising again as zombies. They broke into a creepy flash mob dance, followed by lively danceoffs in the heart of the zombie circle. It was a thrill for all!
After the parade, the energy shifted as students changed into black and orange casual wear. In the classrooms, Halloween-themed academic activities and delicious treats kept the mood alive. Chef Adam even got in on the fun, serving up “Witches Fingers & Bat Wings” (hot dogs and chicken wings) for lunch!
As always, Halloween at Unquowa School was a wildly spirited event!
- Jacqui Mudre, Director of Communications
SUMMER CAMP AT UNQUOWA
Give your child the gift of summer fun at Unquowa! Our camp offers a wide variety of engaging activities designed to spark creativity and adventure, with a special themed Fun Friday each week, complete with a BBQ cookout. Unquowa Summer Camp runs weekly from June through July and is open to children entering Kindergarten through Grade 6 in the Fall.
It’s the perfect opportunity for your child to make lasting memories and have a blast all summer long!
Don’t miss out - Registration opens in January at Unquowa.org
Our Season in Sports
SOCCER - Upper School sixth through eighth grade soccer had another solid fall season! We matched up against many strong soccer programs and came away with a final record of 7-2. The team grew into a cohesive soccer team that learned to play controlled soccer which led to quality victories.
This squad was led by a group of eighth graders who set the bar high for success. While we know they all will be missed next year, their younger teammates are in good shape with the up and coming talent in sixth and seventh to lead the team. It was a great season for both the players and their loyal and spirited fans!
- Lloyd Mitchell, Soccer Coach
CROSS COUNTRY - Unquowa’s Cross Country Team had a wonderful fall season and secured many Fairchester Athletics League awards! The season was filled with hard work, challenges, lots of running, and fun! Runners challenged themselves during practice and gained speed and endurance throughout the season, which was reflected at meets. Many runners put one foot in front of the other and placed in the top five at both regular meets and the championship. As each of them gained endurance, practices became a time to focus on more advanced skills such as pacing. This season we were presented with new challenges at meets, with many of the familiar venues having course changes. Through any confusion, Unquowa runners were able to push through and finish strong. We ended the season just as we began, running a mile for time. Goals set at the beginning of the season were surpassed due to their dedication to running, and some completed their goals with ease! Way to go Gator runners!
FOR INDIVIDUAL AGE GROUPS
SEASON STANDINGS:
Sierra (Gr. 8) - 3rd place
Avery (Gr. 6) - 3rd place
Kori (Gr. 5) - 3rd place
Breya (Gr. 5) - 3rd place
Liliana (Gr. 6) - 4th place
Callan (Gr. 5) - 4th place
Zoe (Gr. 5) - 4th place
Caityln (Gr. 6) - 5th place
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS:
Sierra (Gr. 8) - 3rd place
Avery (Gr. 6) - 3rd place
Caityln (Gr. 6) - 4th place
Adam (Gr. 7) - 5th place
Callan (Gr. 5) - 5th place
Everly (Gr. 6) - 5th place
Zoe (Gr. 5) - 5th place
- Joey Casey, Cross Country Coach
Young Gator Athletes!
The Unquowa soccer field was also buzzing with energy from our lower grades. Students in third, fourth, and fifth grades developed their skills of dribbling, passing and receiving a soccer ball, advanced their understanding of offensive and defensive strategies, and improved their ability to create space and balance on the field.
Meanwhile, the Gators In Training squad of students from kindergarten, first, and second grade worked on developing their soccer skills. With impressive dribbling, passing, and shooting, they’re learning the importance of teamwork and positioning while having fun on the field. All of our younger athletes are certainly on track to become Unquowa stars of tomorrow!
- Sarah Pollex and Ryan Taylor, Physical Education Teachers
Nature’s Classroom
In October, our seventh graders ventured to Nature’s Classroom in Charlton, Massachusetts, for a three-day adventure immersed in nature. With perfect fall weather to complement their outdoor learning, students spent their mornings in field groups, guided by expert instructors from Nature’s Classroom. They explored the natural world, focusing on forestry practices. One of the highlights was identifying dead trees and learning sustainable techniques for safely cutting them down. They built fires from scratch and even used them to cook delicious smores and hot dogs.
In the afternoons students chose special-interest classes led by the staff on topics like camouflage, animal tracking, natural electricity and wood splitting. Students loved their free time in the GaGa Pit. Meal times ended in lessons on food waste and composting. Evenings ended in a sing-along led by acoustic guitar, campfire style. A favorite of the trip was a silent night hike to the meadows under the stars, where students got to catch the rise of Jupiter. Our seventh graders were challenged not just to connect with nature, but also to connect with one another by going technology free for the trip. They rose to the challenge and surpassed it in beautiful fashion. We are so proud of our Gators!
- Joshua Bartosiewicz and Annie Henry, Nature’s Classroom Trip Co-Leaders
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Our fundraising project is called Hurricane Help! We — Rex, Luna, Aleksandra, Oola, and Sierra — had all been worried about the people who lived in areas being hit by the hurricanes, and decided we wanted to help in some way. We figured the best way to do that would be to raise money and donate it to the American Red Cross. At first we thought about asking for donations directly, but worried that wouldn’t be a good enough incentive for people to give us their money. So, we decided we would make and sell bracelets and beaded stars that were themed after the cause, and all the money would go to the American Red Cross. Along with that, we set up a GoFundMe page.
Our fundraising sales started at Unquowa during our Wednesday assemblies. We also set up outside Harborview Market during a busy day, and sold our bracelets there. In total we collected and donated over $700 to the American Red Cross, all which went to helping victims of the hurricanes.
- Rex Spinner, Eighth Grade Student
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
Join us for Winterfest 2024 - December 19 | 7:00pm
Our Social Studies Department Chair, Ariel Warshaw, was officially recognized as a Fund for Teachers Fellow based on her unwavering dedication to creating a transformative learning environment that positively impacts students. She joined a nationwide cohort of passionate individuals committed to personal and professional development. Ariel was granted $5000 by Fund For Teachers to explore the experiences of the hibakusha (survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings) across Japan, examining how culture influences reconstruction and peace studies in both traditional and modern Japanese society. Her goal was to develop a unit focusing on the atomic bombings, utilizing oral history, primary sources, and personal testimonies. This summer, Ariel visited Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kyoto, and Osaka for her research, and is looking forward to bringing this experience to life in her classroom and our broader community. Congratulations to Ariel on this remarkable accomplishment! For more information visit: fundforteachers.org/
Notes From The UPA
From our lovely first-day-of-school Welcome Coffee, on through the fall, the Unquowa Parents’ Association has been busy creating fun-filled gatherings for our wonderful Unquowa community.
The UPA hosted a Parents’ Night Out at Elicit Brewing Company in Fairfield, where the whimsical Cirque Kikasse performed. We sponsored the Upper School Fall Socials: fifth and sixth grade classes enjoyed an after-school DJ/dance party, and seventh and eighth grade students took to the ropes courses at the Discovery Museum’s Adventure Park.
The Community Service Committee held a Halloween Costume Drive to benefit nOURish Bridgeport bringing in over 100 costumes to give to children in need, and our annual Food and Coat drive was combined this year with our enthusiastic first and fourth grade students proudly delivering the coats and non-perishables directly to the Mercy Learning Center in Bridgeport. Thank you to all who contribute so generously to these meaningful drives to support our community.
The Gator Goods Committee offered merchandise at Founders’ Day, featuring new golf and mini umbrellas, and have moved toward BSN Sideline’s website, with greater accessibility for families and alumni to purchase spirit wear. Visit: Unquowa.org/gator-goods/
And the highlight of the season was The Social Committee’s friendraiser: The Ultimate Gator Dreamhouse BBQ Bash! Guests stepped into a transformed Unquowa gymnasium, a backyard party at the coolest house on the block. From gathering around the fire, to sharing stories at the picnic tables under twinkling lights, the evening captured the joy of friendship, community, and those true moments that make us feel at home. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing staff, parents, and friends who put in time and care to plan, set up, sell raffle tickets and take down the event; and to Kindred Spirits & Wine, A Pinch of Salt, Sound Coffee, Peacock Alley Cocktail Club, and Sweet P Bakery for the delicious treats and drinks that filled our bellies and warmed our hearts. This night was a beautiful reminder of the “unafraid spirit” that defines our community—the willingness to show up, collaborate, step outside our comfort zones, and build connections that truly make the world a better place.
Our deepest gratitude to all of our UPA members, chairs, and volunteers for all they do—the community we enjoy here at Unquowa is unapparelled, and we love fostering it with you.
- The Unquowa Parents Association
THE FUND FOR UNQUOWA
We want to thank every parent, grandparent, alumni and friend that contributed to the 2023-2024 Fund for Unquowa last year. Your support made possible the exceptional programs and curriculums, unparalleled community and unique experiential learning you see reflected on these pages.
Your Fund for Unquowa Co-Chairs, Melody Waterhouse and Robin Pompa
Parents
Anonymous (11)
John and Anna Acunto
Lindsay and Nick Alexander
Natasha Auguste-Williams
Ashesh and Yamini (Menon) Bakshi
Ernesto and Faith Barbuto
Amy and Vivek Bedi
Cheryl and Robert (Davidowitz)
Bennett-Davidowitz
Morgan and Jake Cleveland
Whitney and Tobias Crawford
Alexis and Mark Czeterko
Irisel DeJesus
Maureen and Djibril Diallo
Peter and Bridgett diBonaventura
Jennifer and Akira Do
Trisha and Mark Doyle
Michael and Lauren Ehrlich
Samantha and Andrew Eliot
Carlos and Corti (Cooper) Esteves
Jennifer and Michael Evanko
Philip and Victorio Gallo
Jenna and Eric Guja
Diana Haskell
Adrian and James Hendershot
Shane and Patricia (Caira) Herlet
Kelly and Ofer Holtz
Christopher and Melissa Howe
Anne Jones-Iacovella
Kari and Joseph Kazer
Matthew and Rachel Kelley
Lisa and Michael Kirsic
Kerry and Maggie (Lehnerd)-Reilly
Adriana and Kevin Liberatore
Violet and Emirson Lumani
J. Bing and Ryan(Mathis)-Tien
John and Jennifer (McLevy)-Bazzanella
Jackie and Ronell McRae
Saral and Heidi Mehra
Michael and Marissa Mesiya
John and Lisa (Brown) Michniewicz
Lloyd and Kathy Mitchell
Paul and Megan Mountcastle
James and Maria Mulvehill
Ashley Nechaev
Jacqueline and Andre Nelson
Celiane and Marcos (Borges) Oliveria
Sara and Frank (Lin) Parks
Jeremy and Sandra Peck
Robin and William Pompa
Tim and Krissy Ponden '95
Byrne Pozzi and Dan Spinner Pozzi
Lauren and Mark (Lotty) Rocheleau
Alexander and Natalia (Rojas) Restrepo
Joe and Elizabeth (Hayes) Saint
Mike and Vicki (Hornbostel) Scotto
Elizabeth and Zack Seckler
Alison and Mark Smith
Jasmine and Shawnta Smith-Cruz
Eric and Tristan Snow
Andrea and Brian Theodore
Alexander and Katie (Shields) Thomson
Peter and Jo Toolan
Anthony and Jenna Venditto
Shabiroon and Woodrow Vereen
Joanna and William Wesson
Karen and Dan Williamson
David and Heather Winkelmann
Jenah and Jack Yeung
Alumni
Christopher Anderheggen ‘70
Jonathan Brew ‘72
Elizabeth W. Brew Boyd ‘70
Eric Dawson ‘76
Helene Rousseau Epifano ‘67
Sarah Frassinelli Keenan ‘68
Carolyn Gaines Ruckle ‘53
Richard Harriss ‘52
Camille Jackson ‘86
Connor Jacques ‘20
Grandparents In Honor Of
Elaine Christopher.................................................... Eden Lewis, Ivy Lewis and Elodie Lewis
Dion and Rachelle Ehrlich......................... Beckett Ehrlich, Cassidy Ehrlich ‘29 (Grade 4)
Norma Castro...................................................................................... Ethan Perez ‘25 (Grade 8)
Lucinda White and Thomas Kelley......................................... Graham Kelley ‘28 (Grade 5)
Chester Williamson...................................................................... Jojo Williamson ‘32(Grade 1)
Susan and Tom Lenci................. Noah Clark ‘27 (Grade 6) and Ezra Clark ‘31 (Grade 2)
Yei and Ying Tien................................................................................. Blythe Tien ‘30 (Grade 3)
Patricia O’Hara........................................................................... Olivia Weatherly ‘26 (Grade 7)
Anna Panagos-Chandler.............. Lily Panagos ‘19, Lola Panagos ‘17, Lucy Panagos ‘16
Lucy Kavanaugh ‘21
David MacAllaster ‘73
Susan Maklari ‘90
Max Martone ‘09
Madison Mitchell ‘22
Lucy Panagos ‘16
Lola Panagos ‘17
Lily Panagos ‘19
Krissy Ponden ‘95
Madeline Reed ‘18
George Wheeler Seeley ‘53
Nancy Seeley Gilliland ‘47
Madeline Shantz ‘19
Linda Shelton ‘55
Cecily Stoddard Stranahan ‘47
Bradley Topar ‘99
John Richard Turner ‘48
Parents of Alumni
Thomas and Kimberly (Stevens) Abate
Robert and Deborah Colantuoni
Mark and Sara Greenawalt
Paul and Ellen Greenberg
Sandy and Kate Haviland
Scott and Colleen Jacques ‘20
Robert and Sharon Kelly
Barry and Leslie (Miller) Kresch
Melody Waterhouse and Philipp Kusche
David and Sharon Mack
Karl and Lynn Martone
Mary Poyntz and Allan Massiah
Alison Bevan and Michael McCormick
Bruce and Sally McDermott
David and Elizabeth McKinnis
Brian and Sharon Miles
John and Lynne Morgan
Steven and Joan Panagos
Michael and Jill Pengue
Vivian Perez
John and Patricia Randolph
Scott and Laurie Renzulli
Scott and Julianne Seymour
Andrew and Andrea Shantz
Sheila Gates and Jean-Paul St. Germain
Harald and Stephanie Stavnes
Stanley and June Topar
Jessica Wolf
Faculty & Friends
Anonymous (1)
Athena and Daniel Adamson
American Online Giving Foundation
Melissa and Reed Balmer
Phillip Bettencourt
Bridgewater Associates
Andrew and Susanna (Foote) Carrillo
Janice and Dick Cerone
EmmaKate and Leonard DiNardo
Estate of Richard McKinley III
Ariana and Luke Ferrandino
Fidelity Charitable
Carlene and Paul Gordon
Frank and Jennie Gulden
John and Sarah Freeman Foundation
Maria and Peter Karayiannis
Gerard and Shannon Kavanaugh
Charles and Megan Kirk
Lou and Anna Leszczynski
Lotty Family Foundation
Dominick and Michelle Modugno
Paula Moloney
Jacqui and John Mudre
Nor’ Easter Foundation (Henry duPont ‘81)
David and Amber O’Connell
Ann Palm
Danielle and David Pitts
Polen Capital
Sarah and Ross Raggio
Gregory and Hilary Tanner
Harry Tompkins
Diane Galasso............................................................ Ava Sylvestro ‘24 and Taylor ‘34 (PreK)
Dorrit and Wilfred Nelson................................................. Kayden Nelson ‘33 (Kindergarten)
Dean Gestal............. James Cleveland ‘25 (Grade 8) and Oliver Cleveland ‘27(Grade 6)
William and Joan Grabe............................................. Nicole Grabe ‘11 and Derek Grabe ‘14
Gilbert and Penny Herlet.................................................................... Cole Herlet ‘25 (Grade 8)
Constance and James McClellan........................................... Jojo Williamson ‘32 (Grade 1)
Sharon Lauer and Jerome Joseph............................................... Vivian Kelley ‘25 (Grade 8)
Lotty Family Foundation................................................................ Harlow Lotty ‘30 (Grade 3)
John and Sarah Freeman Foundation......... Addie Mulvehill ‘24 , Eleanor ‘26 (Grade 7), Charlotte ‘28 (Grade 5), Maeve ‘31 (Grade 2)
To give to this year’s 2024-2025 fund, please visit unquowa.org/giving, or scan the QR code!
ALUMNI NEWS
Connor Jacques ’20, a senior at St. Joseph High School, was recently recognized for his achievements in cross country at his senior banquet. While he received several accolades, it was his heartfelt speech, delivered to the audience that particularly impressed his family. Reflecting on his journey, his family credits much of his confidence in public speaking to his experience at Unquowa, especially the eighth grade speech program, which helped him embrace opportunities to speak from the heart. Additionally, Connor’s decision to pursue cross country in high school was influenced by a suggestion from Unquowa’s P.E. teacher Sarah Pollex, who encouraged him to run in fifth grade despite his busy hockey schedule. This pivotal encouragement led Connor to shift his focus to running during his senior year, a decision that proved essential for his social and emotional growth as he prepares for college.
Delaney Murray ’14 completed her undergraduate degree at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, graduating in 2022. Afterward, she moved to London, where she recently earned a master’s degree in Migration and Diaspora Studies from SOAS, University of London, graduating in 2024. Delaney has chosen to remain in London, where she now works as a caseworker at Room to Heal, a therapeutic community that supports asylum seekers who are survivors of trafficking, torture, and other humanrights abuses. The organization provides vital legal, housing, and benefits support, with a focus on using nature, gardening, and community gatherings as therapeutic tools for healing and rehabilitation.
Kate Horton ‘18, a director and Communication junior at Northwestern University, directed this year’s Vibrant Colors Collective (VC2) production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown at Shanley Pavilion. The annual fall production reimagines well-known shows with a predominantly white cast to feature people of color. Horton, the director, focused on themes of change, transition, and growing up from the perspective of a person of color. The production explores childhood, friendship, mental health, and the balance between joy and loneliness. Horton emphasized the cast’s racial and ethnic diversity, aiming to present universally relatable experiences while highlighting the vibrancy and depth of the show.
Haley Perkins ‘19 a Kinesiology major at University of Rhode Island, recently raced at the “Foot of the Charles” rowing regatta in Boston, where her Novice 8 boat from URI placed second behind Radcliffe. Haley was a walk-on to the URI rowing program in her freshman year and balances 4:45am practices, classes, and afternoon lifting as a daily college routine. Haley’s team will head to Florida in January for spring training ahead of the 2025 regatta season. Congratulations Haley!
Grace Haviland ‘13, has settled in Washington, D.C. after graduating from Yale with a BA in Political Science and living briefly in New York City, and then Los Angeles. Grace is working as a manager in the Advancement & Strategic Partnerships office of the National Center for State Courts, focusing on projects related to technology and innovation in the courts. Keep up the great work Grace!
Olivia Seymour ‘14 is in her second year as the Assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Middlebury College, where the team triumphed in the Division III National Championship this past May. As part of their victory, the team was honored with a visit to the White House. Way to go Olivia!
Alums
Are you interested in working at Unquowa Summer camp? Reach out to summer@unquowa.org to inquire! Share your news and reconnect with us at https://unquowa.org/alumni
Charlie Haviland ‘10, was married this August to Julia Goding in a small ceremony in Vermont. They have been happily living in northern Thailand for five years, and enjoy traveling as much as their remote work allows. Charlie got his BS in Computer Science from Northeastern, and works as a Software Engineer at a fintech firm. Congratulations!
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