About US - Volume 26, Issue 3

About U.S.

A

On the days when I remember to ask myself Oliver’s nagging question, I must work as hard as most folks to be sure that I am not filling my “precious days” with nothing but measurable tasks of achievement. Similarly, when I meet with families who are considering Unquowa for their children’s education, I always make sure to emphasize a similar goal for them. Beyond a strong academic/ intellectual education, our ultimate goal is to provide a lasting social/ emotional curriculum throughout their children’s time at Unquowa that will contribute to their eventually becoming adults who are personally happy, who are genuinely satisfied by the work they do each day, and who are ethical.

This goal requires a deeper set of daily classroom practices that are above the expected standards of strong academics we also provide. It demands our attention as a school to small, quiet, consistent practices that can risk getting lost in the busyness of academics. Consequently, I am always grateful when someone assures me that we are on the right path when we spend time on keeping these goals in our sights.

Such was the case this past June when our commencement speaker addressed the appropriate place of achievement in our lives, and our eighth grade valedictorian followed that speech with his own, remarking on the school culture here at Unquowa that fosters consistent camaraderie and the overriding family atmosphere that supported his overall success and preparation for high school. Our commencement speaker, Dr. Matthew Croasmun, Director of the Life Worth Living Program at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture and Faith Initiative Director at Grace Farms, spoke to our

fter assembly each week, I post the closing poem I’ve read on my office door so that anyone who wants may read it throughout the week. This year’s final assembly poem, “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver, is still stuck on my door, so every summer morning I am reminded of its haunting question: Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?graduates about personal worth and how it is established in one’s life. Achievement, he assured them, is not sturdy enough to serve as the foundation of personal worth. There are many ways in which to build such a foundation, he assured them, and being loved by your community is one. Having led their series of Life Worth Living retreats at Grace Farms this past school year, Dr. Croasmun warned the graduating class that “what matters most in life will not demand your attention” so don’t forget to “make space for the big questions.”

In his valedictory speech that followed Croasmun’s remarks, this year’s William J. Grippin award winner and valedictorian Ty Srihari spoke about his entry to Unquowa as a fifth grader and the sense of belonging that his teachers and classmates immediately fostered in him. Yes, he said, he now has close friends here, but he assured his audience that he could connect with any and all of his classmates and that disagreements with them are few and far between. Importantly, over the years when they have arisen, his teachers have modeled how to solve disagreements and repair those relationships. We really feel “like one big family.” The support of his classmates and teachers have provided, as Croasmun suggested, the foundation of personal worth that supported his achievement.

Don’t get me wrong. Achievement is essential and exhilarating, and when accompanied by consistent social/emotional education and the modeling of ethical behavior, it is an unstoppable force in the lives of young people. So let us as adults remember that we hold their “wild and precious” lives in our care. May we always pay attention to what matters most in guiding those lives so that each of them may continue to make space for the big questions as they grow.

Wishing you all a restful end of summer with family and friends, Sharon Lauer,

Head of School

To hear Commencement speeches visit: unquowa.org/commencement-23/

Voices Of Change

This is the 6th year that Voices of Change has been the capstone project for 7th and 8th grade visual arts. After a year in art that focuses on social justice and contemporary artists whose work expresses a larger message of equity, students are tasked with selecting a social or environmental justice issue that they care about and creating a conceptual work of art that advocates for positive change. They research their topics extensively and create project proposals before they start working on their art; this foundation informs their ideas as well as the artist statements they write to accompany their projects.

This capstone project provides an incredible opportunity for students to share their voices and visions of a more just world and for them to see how art can be a powerful tool for advocacy and action. I am so proud of the quality of work that students have produced this year, and I am especially proud of the learning and understanding that they have demonstrated through their projects and artist statements. Voices of Change is truly an immersive experience for students that they will carry with them long after they leave Unquowa.

Selected works were displayed at Robert Valle Studio in The Arcade Mall in Bridgeport, where students and parents gathered for a special reception. These works can be viewed in the online gallery and all of the projects can be viewed in the online art show. To view Voices Of Change go to: unquowa.org/voc-23/

Ghosts of the Classroom

“The scary thing is that you could go to school one day and not know that it was your last time seeing your parents.”

Virginia - Grade 7

Typical Reflection

“This is for everyone, especially Black women and girls who are struggling to embrace their beautiful features.”

Annual Schoolwide Art Show

Once again we are proud to share a virtual gallery of student artwork that reflects the achievements of PreK through eighth graders throughout the year. From painting to embroidery and even stop motion animation, this online exhibition showcases the incredible work of our students in the visual arts. It is a celebration of the importance that Unquowa places on the arts and a wonderful opportunity to share the talents and creativity of our students with friends and family near and far. View this year’s Art Show go to: unquowa.org/artshow-23/

Krissy Ponden, Art Department Chair

Visions Across Borders

“It sounds utopian, but if we look at the issue from other perspectives it can be possible to achieve a better solution for people on both sides of the border.”

Mateo - Grade 8

Krissy Ponden, Art Department Chair

Chipili - Grade 7

Vivian - Grade 6

Laurence - PreK

New Horizons - Pen & Paper - Volume 13

I am more than proud to announce our thirteenth edition of Pen & Paper: “New Horizons.” As Editor-in-Chief, this edition holds a special place in my heart because of the memories our staff has made as we worked tirelessly to put this publication together. My ultimate goal for this issue was to make something meaningful: a magazine worth reading, and I think we were able to create something even more than that: a magazine worth coming back to again and again to glean wisdom from these young poets, writers, and artists.

I hope the creative hours we spent show through our words and images, making it just as special to you as it is to us.

Through the unique thoughts of its contributors, this year’s edition shines a spotlight on the concept of reminisce, reflection, and remembrance. The issue takes a deep dive inside the diverse minds of those at our school, melding together into our own beautiful horizon as many of us get ready to leave our beloved school and branch out into high school. “New Horizons” could not have been created without the cooperation and collaboration of our team, ranging from grades five through eight. Despite our difference in age, we came together to share our creations with one another, and glean the best of the best from them for publication. This year as Editor-in-Chief was a remarkable one for me, a wonderful way to end my time at Unquowa. We hope you enjoy! To view Pen & Paper go to: unquowa.org/pp-vol-13/

Noah Kurzenberger ‘23, Editor-in-Chief

Lower School Publication UnquowaZine - Volume 5

This year Lower School Art and Literary Club members have worked tirelessly on various stages of magazine development. They have included more original content from students in the form of interviews, comics, and book reviews and, together with their staff, our editors, Salma, Grady, and William reviewed much of the work themselves. They did an amazing job of being mindful of each student’s work while honoring its authenticity. As their advisor, I guided them and gave them structure and support. Kudos to all of their hard work and dedication! Check out this year’s Unquowazine at: unquowa.org/unquowazine-5/

Mrs. Engelke, UnquowaZine Advisor

Creating Utopia!

Throughout the year, students in Humanities Seven have been learning about the different aspects of culture that create the different societies we know today.

After critically reading The Giver, students gathered in two large groups and were assigned a project to create a utopia - an imagined community where everything is as perfect as possible. Students needed to engage those various aspects of culture (religion, clothing, government, etc.) to try to, from scratch, create a perfect society. Those groups then presented their wildly divergent utopias - one based on the governing principle of equity, and the other on health and wellness.

Project-based learning like this is not only a standard practice in Unquowa’s Humanities programs, but is a fun way to expand the learning that students are engaging in every day.

Eric Snow, Humanities Teacher

Field Day Fun For Everyone!

Field Day 2023 - the day everyone has been waiting for since Field Day 2022! On a beautiful spring day, clear and crisp, Green team and White team suited up for the challenge, the battle that has been fought (happily) at Unquowa for the last 106 years. The main goals of Field Day are sportsmanship, teamwork, happiness and fun.

Of course the traditional stations appeared once more: Cup of Chance, Pool Noodle Relay, Sack Race, Hula Hoop Relay, and the crowd’s perennial favorite - the Sponge Relay! And for the first time, this year we ran the Student vs. Teacher 50 Yard Dash. For our inaugural year, our contestants were Mr. Casey, our Makerspace Teacher and member of the cross-country coaching staff, and Teddy Kushel, the fastest runner in the eighth grade. For background, Mr. Casey still holds his own middle school and high school records! But on this day, it was a true photo finish and we just have to say that they were both the winner!

Also, for the first time, the eighth grade students vs. teachers had a tug of war contest. If you want to know how that turned out you’ll have to ask around since everyone has a different story. Let’s just say the teacher to student ratio we are so proud of at Unquowa kept things pretty even! As always, during this year’s tug of war contests, the PreK and Kindergarten students once again, and against all odds, were the winners against Upper School. What will happen next year? It’s just 364 days away and counting.

Sarah Pollex, Physical Education Teacher

Camping Day Tradition Continues...

On a beautiful spring day kindergartners spent the entire day outside in the backwoods of Unquowa’s campus for what has become a beloved tradition. Before setting up, we had a mindful moment listening to the birds and the babbling brook. We even saw a Baltimore Oriole! Next, we got right to work setting up the tent. The children hammered in stakes, held poles and watched as the center pole went up to finish our house in the woods. Our entire class fit in the tent! As we sat on the sleeping bags, the children learned about all the compact camping equipment. The kids used the nesting pots to make “mud soup” and other delicious camping meals out of mud, leaves and dirt. The lantern and compact chairs proved to be fun as well. Kindergarteners favorite task was fetching water. We tied a rope to a pot handle and then threw it into the brook to fetch water for handwashing and mud making. Everyone who had a turn wore a life vest, which added to the fun. Inside the tent, the children rested on the sleeping bags, listened to stories, strung beads and played with pipe cleaners.

In the afternoon our specials teachers joined us in the woods. Mrs. DesGranges brought art class to us and taught us how to paint trees with watercolors. Our makerspace teacher, Mr. Casey, helped construct the frames for our fairy houses. Stones and leaves were added to make a comfortable house for our tiny friends. At the end of the day we had s’mores cooked on a fire pit. The children were overheard saying, “I never want this day to end!” Ann

Palm, Kindergarten Teacher

Cross Country Update!

The cross country season closed with what could be our most successful season ever! Our team accomplishments come from the hard work put in at our outstanding practices all season long, particularly the beloved ladder main set of 3+ miles!

In overall season results, we had one if not more than one runner place in each category.

• Grade 5 girls: Alex 1st; Olivia 5th

• Grade 5 boys: Jackson 1st

• Grade 6 girls: Sierra 4th

• Grade 6 boys: Asher 3rd

• Grade 7 girls: Virginia 1st; Emily 3rd

• Grade 7 boys: William 4th

• Grade 8 girls: Charlotte 2nd

• Grade 8 boys: Teddy 1st

The championship meet was held in May at Penfield Beach. Grade 5/6 runners completed 1.25 miles and grade 7/8 runners completed 2.25 miles. What a way to end the season! We had a record number of athletes place in the top five:

• Grade 5 girls: Alex 1st (11:03)

• Grade 5 boys: Jackson 1st (12:07)

• Grade 6 boys: Asher 3rd (10:36)

• Grade 7 girls: Virginia 1st (13:49), Emily 3rd (16:00)

• Grade 7 boys: Adrian 3rd (14:50)

• Grade 8 girls: Charlotte 3rd (17:01)

• Grade 8 boys: Teddy 1st (11:32)

Congratulations to these individuals for placing in the top 5 and to the entire team for achieving personal best times. GO GATORS! Sarah Pollex, Cross Country Coach

It’s Cookie Time!!

This spring, everyone used their Makerspace class time to complete a fun 3D printed cookie cutter project. PreK through third grade students made their drawings on paper, while fourth through sixth graders made CAD (computer aided design) files using TinkerCAD. There were numerous steps to get the CAD files to the 3D printer. After selecting or making a shape, students had the challenge of exporting the file as an .STL (stereolithography) and emailing as an attachment. Next, all .STL files were sliced in the slicing software for the printer, creating a G-code file. The G-code (geometric code) file is a common file type used in 3D printing. At this point, all cookie cutters were ready to print! And print they did - the five 3D printers were running day and night! Each cookie cutter takes about 45 - 90 minutes to print, depending on the intricacy of the design. When the cookie cutters were printed, labeled, and ready, our Unquowa chefs worked their magic to make enough cookie dough for everyone to bake a cookie to take home plus extra for dessert at lunch. Students worked super hard and cut out around 400 cookies in one day! Everyone went home with their cookie cutter, and I can report that as of this moment, a few have been used for a second time to make cookies at home. It’s absolutely a shareable Makerspace project to be enjoyed again and again. Students, make a batch of cookies this summer and remember all of the learning and making you did this past year in the Unquowa Makerspace.

Joey Casey, Makerspace Teacher

The Front and Back of Us!

Every year, early in the fall, Mrs. Mudre visits kindergarten and photographs the front and back of each student in the class. Later, both the front and back pictures are cut out, glued on a block and covered in contact paper. The blocks are presented to the class as a surprise. At first, the class is only shown the back of each student and they have to guess who it is. After all the blocks are distributed the children play with the blocks in various imaginary games throughout the year. They tumble from tall block buildings, live in magnatile blockhouses and are played with in other make-believe games. This has been a kindergarten tradition for many years and past students and parents share, “Oh we still have our block.” Even though it is so simple this block serves as a memory of a very special year.

Ann Palm, Kindergarten Teacher

STEM Fair - A Focus on Climate Change!

This year’s STEM Fair kicked off with the goal of finding ways to harness and use non fossil fuel sources of energy. Students were tasked with finding solutions using either passive solar energy, wind power, or hydropower. These three energy sources utilize the renewable resources of our planet, while greatly lowering our carbon footprint.

In fourth grade, students discussed energy sources, and what would be the benefits of using solar energy to effectively operate a structure. With much trial and error, students ultimately created models to show their understanding of passive solar and how they would put it to use in a building of their choice. Multipurpose sports stadiums, personal homes, and even chicken coops were discussed in brainstorming. The resulting presentations were outstanding and the comprehension of the concept was easily explained. Many students stated “This idea is so easy, why aren’t more people using passive solar already?” Now that is a great question!

Fifth grade worked with wind power and were tasked with creating a model that showed wind energy being harnessed to either be converted into electricity or to be transferred as kinetic energy. After reviewing examples of wind power and looking at existing models in the Makerspace, students started building. Fifth grade spent the next two weeks using many tools that were introduced in Make to realize their visions. PVC cutters, handsaws, scroll saws, electric drills, canary knives, hot glue guns, laser printing, and rulers were just some of the items used to complete the models. From brainstorming through completion, there have been some really wonderful ideas including: a wind powered oven, a car that powers itself through air, and a wind powered elevator.

Sixth grade studied hydropower and worked on making models of various ways to show how that power could be used. Students worked on having the energy either remain kinetic and physically move items or converting the kinetic energy into electrical energy. The electrical energy was possible due to the use of generative motors that take the spinning of a water wheel and turn it into electricity to power an LED bulb. Many projects dealt with real world issues such as flash flood water divergence, irrigation for food production, and even storing energy for later use. Presentations showcased everyone’s understanding of hydropower and inspired interesting conversations and insights.

Joey Casey, Makerspace Teacher

Celebrating a Year Well-Spent Together

As Ms. Lauer reminds us, “school life has a rhythm that very few other parts of our world do. School is a world where things can come to tidy ends in spring and begin again with fresh promise in the fall. Our school’s Closing Ceremonies and Commencement are part of that rhythm. They are about acknowledging academic accomplishment, celebrating a year wellspent together, and they are about proper good-byes.” We never take for granted the joy of celebrating these traditions together at the end of the school year”.

2023 Awards

The William J. Grippin Award

Ty Srihari

The Unquowa Award

Lara Kusche

The Board of Governors’ Award

Noah Kurzenberger

The Headmaster’s Cup

Tanyse Floyd

The Robert L. Cleveland Award

Mateo Rojas

The John P. Blessington Award

Ethan Kirk

Alison D. Gray Award

Eloise Young

Janice Shannon Award

Eddie Musser

Elizabeth Curtis Award

Charlotte Roberts

John F. Turlick Award

Jordan Wilson

Class Agents

Raleigh Simmonds

Ty Srihari

Unquowa Parents Association Award

Owen Epstein

Costume Closet Key

Ava Sylvestro

Wyatt Lieberman

Margaret Travers Award

Max Kusche

Gator Bowl

Teddy Kushel

Backstage Crew Regnition

Julia Broder

Wil Falk

Teddy Kushel

And so it was that the entire school community gathered the morning of the last day of school to celebrate our graduates. Awards were presented and personal tributes written by the faculty were read to each graduate. Students in PreK through seventh grade sang “My Wish” to the eighth graders after which there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

After a special video slideshow devoted to the Class of 2023, the eighth graders formed a receiving line in front of the stage, and Ms. Lauer invited the seventh graders to “take the eighth grade seats.”

This symbolic “moving up” marked the change in school leaders from the outgoing class to next year’s eighth graders, the Class of 2024! Younger students, faculty and staff then came forward to walk through the line of graduates, offering congratulations, hugs and high fives.

The Class of 2023 returned in the evening on June 6th with their families, friends, Board of Governors, faculty and staff for Commencement - a ceremony of recognition and closure to mark the end of their time at Unquowa and to celebrate their transition to high school. Salutatorian Noah Kurzenberger welcomed everyone and kicked off the ceremony with a reminder to classmates to “carry their memories of their time at Unquowa with them and to work to keep the bonds of friendship alive and well.”

After Noah’s speech, Ms. Lauer announced the winners of our traditional awards and introduced our graduation speaker, Dr. Matthew Croasmun, Director of the Life Worth Living Program at The Yale Center for Faith and Culture and Lecturer of Divinity & Humanity at Yale University. Dr. Croasmun knows the Class of ‘23 well through their work with him in the Life Worth Living Program at Grace Farms, so his words to them about personal worth and how it is established in one’s life had deep meaning.

Following Dr. Croasmun’s speech, diplomas were conferred by our Board President, Joan Panagos. Then, valedictorian Ty Srihari addressed his classmates, declaring that this eighth grade class was a family, a feeling that is a universal phenomenon at Unquowa. Ty stated that while he “is unable to make a true scientific connection between our supportive teachers and the family feeling of each class”, his hypothesis is that the teachers have taught this class, and those who have come before, that they will be able to overcome whatever is put in front of them. “All because of these teachers, all because of this family, and all because of this small school by the brook.”

The ceremony closed as the graduates processed down the aisle in a cloud of confetti. With that, we said goodbye to the Class of 2023, excited for everything the future has in store for them. While we will miss this class, we wish them all the best and look forward to their return as alumni on Founders’ Day.

Karen Williamson,

Director of Admissions

Our 2023 graduates will be attending the following:

Julia Broder................................................Greens Farms Academy

Wil Falk............................................................Staples High School

Charles Farinella........................................................Blair Academy

Clarissa Fleming...............................................Staples High School

Tanyse Floyd............Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School

Michael Frascatore...................Fairfield College Preparatory School

Nathan Howe.......................................................St. Luke’s School

James Khatana..........................................Greens Farms Academy

Ethan Kirk.....................................................Newtown High School

Noah Kurzenberger.............................................Concord Academy

Lara Kusche.........................................................St. Luke’s School

Teddy Kushel........................................Fairfield Warde High School

Eddie Musser.....................................................Wilton High School

Eliza Raben..........................................................St. Luke’s School

Charlotte Roberts............................................Staples High School

Mateo Rojas............................................................Hopkins School

Raleigh Simmonds...Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall

Ty Srihari.......................................................................King School

Elijah Starke.........................................Fairfield Warde High School

Sam Tanzer........................................................The Putney School

Ebba Werring........................................................Westover School

Jordan Wilson......................................................St. Luke’s School

Eloise Young........................................Fairfield Warde High School

Lion King Kids!

This year, as the fourth and fifth grade classes watched the Upper Schoolers prepare for their Spring Musical, they were equally passionate about putting on their own musical! When we began to discuss what it would take to have their own show, the students knew how much work it would be and remained enthusiastic and dedicated to the project. They all put in so much time and effort to make this show spectacular! From creating their head pieces and traditional necklaces, to their work on learning all of the music, choreography, lines, character work and blocking, each student was dedicated to doing their very best! Congratulations to the cast of Lion King Kids!

Megan Kirk, Performing Arts Teacher

Upper School Performers Hit Every Note in Seussical Jr!

The show Seussical Jr is a musical that is almost completely sung from the beginning to the end! This was quite a challenge, but I knew this year’s sixth through eighth graders were the perfect group of young performers to tackle this show. The actors did an amazing job learning all of the music, blocking,and choreography, as well as creating wonderful characters that shined on stage. The tech crew also learned the entire show so that they were able to do a spectacular job with sound, lights, and sets. Many of our students also put their talents into creating the props and sets for our musical. I could not be more proud of each and every student both on stage and in the tech crew. The students were simply fantastic! Congratulations to the cast and crew of Seussical Jr!

Megan Kirk, Performing Arts Teacher

Instrumental Ensemble Takes to the Stage

On May 17th our school was truly filled with the sound of music! Instrumental music, to be specific. For the first time, our Upper School Instrumental Ensemble held its own evening concert, featuring performances by fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. Our musical selections covered classical, rock, jazz and more under the direction of our expert instrumental instructor David Coe. Closing out the evening was an impressive African Percussion Ensemble performance under the direction of Kwamé Henry Jones. Our stellar performers earned a standing ovation from family and friends.

May Day Celebrated!

David Coe, Performing Arts Teacher

Festive flowers adorned our school entrances greeting parents, grandparents and special friends as they joined us to help celebrate spring! Every class performed in song and dance and students dressed in their fancy best brought many smiles and gave pure joy to their loving audience. To cap off this wonderful morning, fourth and fifth grade students presented well-rehearsed Traditional Maypole dances, masterly weaving intricate ribbon patterns around the Maypole. A noon school dismissal provided students, parents, grandparents and special friends time to continue their festive time together.

Takeaways from a Year of Service Learning

Eighth graders have learned a great deal about learning, compassion, and dedication while participating in St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services program this year. From volunteering, our students have a deeper understanding of the work the educators at the facility do, and students have walked away not only inspired but also with a desire to understand our society’s responsibility to differently abled persons. We have had rich conversations during our time together regarding the need to increase access to all people.

Eighth grade students offer some of their reflections about their experience:

• “Something I’ll remember about my experience is playing games with students here. We do a lot of fun activities. I’ve been most surprised with students’ ability to communicate despite an impediment.”

• “At first it all felt chaotic and overwhelming, but now I know my place and know the routine well.

• “I’m impressed by how the students here can communicate even though none of the kids in the class are verbal. One of the students uses his eyes to say yes or no. Another student uses her bell.”

These are just some of the takeaways. I’ve seen how transformative this experience is for young people. It has been incredible to watch our students’ apprehension disappear and turn into immense compassion, care and understanding.

Tré Kayumba, Service Learning Coordinator

Welcoming Refugees Project

The Unquowa School has once again partnered with Students Rebuild, a program of the Bezos Family Foundation, in support of a new challenge – the Welcoming Refugees Project. This year’s challenge invited students from around the world to learn about refugees and their experiences and then take action to make local and global communities more welcoming and inclusive through art. Our school created 240 postcards that will be sent to young refugees around the world to welcome people who have been displaced by war and other crises. The Bezos Family Foundation is donating five dollars to refugee-aid organizations for every postcard created. In total, the Unquowa School was able to contribute twelve hundred dollars to aid refugees.

Alice DesGranges, Visual Arts Teacher

Sixth Grade ARTivism at Unquowa!

Sixth grade students got our attention this spring with an outdoor environmental art installation! Over a period of three months, the students collected a total of 245 discarded snack bags on the playground and then used those bags to decorate paper maché animals. They each researched an animal that is endangered in our area to draw attention to the environmental impact of our human actions including, but not limited to, littering. We hope that this small act of ARTivism will help our school community remember the importance of properly disposing of our trash at snack time!

Krissy Ponden, Art Department Chair

Change For Change

It was not a “coin-cedence” that Grade Two launched their Change for Change project this spring. To help us make “cents” of our unit on money and a small difference in the world, we collected change from our Unquowa community during the month of April. We are proud and grateful to have raised $583.62 for Save the Children! “Cent-sational!”

Betsey Young, Second Grade Teacher

Earth Day!

Earth Day at Unquowa is always a great celebration and this year, once again, did not disappoint! Students in grades one through eight gathered their sunblock and hiking shoes and headed off to Webb Mountain Discovery Zone in Monroe, CT. Upon arrival, students assembled into discovery groups and began a morning of rotations through learning stations. Students experienced the crystal formations in geodes by cracking them open, created Andrew Goldsworthy inspired environmental art, practiced meditation and forest bathing and created fairy houses using only downed items found in order to leave as little impact on our surroundings as possible. A fun and educational forest hike was led by our extraordinary science teachers, where students learned to observe, respect and appreciate nature in its most pure form. Finally, students enjoyed the spectacular weather and a picnic lunch with classmates and friends of all ages before squeezing in some service learning time where students pulled and disposed of the invasive garlic mustard plant. It was certainly a day of experiential learning, friendship and fun!

While older grades explored Webb Mountain, the Early Childhood classes had the whole school to ourselves! Our focus was bugs, and students really enjoyed making bug homes and working together to create bug hotels for the community. Once we collected our materials, construction began as well as some good old fashioned bug hunting! While one group was playing outside the other was making environmental art with Mrs. DesGranges. The students were really excited to make their own snack and lunch with our school chefs in the dining room! We could not believe our eyes when the snack activity was” creating your own edible bug”. We used fruits and vegetables along with healthy dips and spreads to create edible art! Lunch was hands-on as well, as we created our own French bread pizzas. The meal was rounded out with a hummus and veggie platter and Caesar salad which almost everyone tried! To finish off, we had a sweet sprinkle cookie that looked like the Earth. Next, we headed back outside for an Earth Day sing-along with Mr. Coe. We put the finishing touches on our bug hotels and placed them out in the woods with hopes of all vacancies being filled. Both Mandarin and Spanish were taught outside, where students learned nature words and played games in those languages. A fun, exciting day was had by all.

Carlene Gordon, Science Department Chair & Faith Barbuto, Early Childhood Director

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Clara Scotto Explains!

Hi, I am concerned about the environment and climate change and wanted to take action locally. I saw that the Roots to Shoots Program (part of the Jane Goodall Institute) was offering awards to start a local action program. We brainstormed and came up with the idea of trying to reduce waste at Unquowa and found an organization that would recycle snack wrappers (among other items) for a fee. I applied and received a $250 grant for the project. Right now, you can find our snack and candy wrapper recycling boxes inside the corral door, and inside the double doors to the playground. Once filled, we mail the boxes back to TerraCycle and they recycle the material.

Sincerely, Clara Scotto - Sixth Grade

Notes From The UPA

DUDE! We had a TOTALLY GNARLY Spring Auction! On Saturday, April 29th our gym was transformed into an 80s dance party. While a DJ spun tunes from Guns & Roses, Madonna and Tears for Fears, attendees decked out in spandex, BIG hair and small fanny packs, dined on updated tater tots, hot pockets and delicious vegetarian Sloppy Joes. The best part? We surpassed our fundraising goals to ensure another school year of academic opportunities and sweet memories at our school by the brook. We cannot thank everyone enough for all the donations and the enthusiastic response. Huge shout out to the creative costumes that just kept arriving!

While the auction was undeniably the RADDEST spring event, the UPA also arranged for a coffee cart and student-made appreciation cards to celebrate our wonderful Unquowa teachers and staff, organized Upper School Spring Socials giving our kids extra time to cut loose and be together, and held its annual book drive to benefit Darien Book Aid.

As always, there are many UPA committee openings and volunteer opportunities available—if you would like to help out, it would be TOTALLY TUBULAR. Have a BODACIOUS summer - we can’t wait to see you next year!

Elizabeth Saint and Jenna Venditto, UPA Vice-Presidents and Auction Co-Chairs

Congratulations to Blake Erenhouse ‘19 and Michael Roberts ‘19 who led the Hopkins Saber and Épée fencing teams to second place wins at the State Championships in March, Blake also placed second in the Individual State Championships for Saber and received his US Fencing ‘D’ rating after winning a regional tournament in Branford.

Derek Leebaert ‘64 published his latest book in March, Unlikely

Heroes: Franklin Roosevelt, His Four Lieutenants, and the World They Made (St. Martin’s Press, 2023). It’s an entirely new understanding of FDR, and of his presidency, which the Wall Street Journal reviewed as “propulsive.”

Derek won the biennial 2020 Harry S. Truman Book award for his book, Grand Improvisation: America Confronts the British Superpower 1945-1957 (FSG 2018). He lives in Washington, D.C. and has a day job as a management consultant.

Edward Csapo ‘77, uncle of James di Bonaventura ‘24 and Teddy di Bonaventura ‘28, visited on a recent assembly morning with sister Bridgett Csapo di Bonaventura, mother of James and Teddy. It was great to see Ed back on campus and to chat about the 70’s at Unquowa Max Spitzer ‘06 is back in the New York metro area and dropped by Unquowa for a visit to his old school and made it back for the spring musical as well! It was great to catch up on his career, including his recent co-publication of the sociology text: Creating Life Before Death.

On a quiet June evening, a group of our alums who had just graduated from high school returned to Unquowa for a casual dinner and the chance to gather socially with friends before heading off to college in the fall. They watched old videos, scanned through stacks of yearbooks and wandered through the halls to both conjure memories and to see campus updates.

Best Wishes!

Heading Off to College

Unquowa students who have recently graduated from high school are now preparing to head off to college in the Fall. We wish them the very best of luck as their exciting next chapters unfold.

Caroline Avery .................................................Penn State

Blake Erenhouse ...............................American University

Madison Greenspan .....................University of Richmond

Kelly Jones ............................................Boston University

Amelia Lanni .......................................Emerson University

Lily Panagos ............................University of Texas, Austin

Halie Perkins ...........................University of Rhode Island

Grace Pisanelli ..............................................Keene State

Maddie Reed .............................................Elon University

Michael Roberts .........................................Yale University

Maddy Shantz ...................................American University

Ben Stokes ..............................Colorado School of Mines

Andrew Stumm .....................................Lafayette College

Alums - Remember To Keep In Touch

Do you have any news to share? or to update your information contact us at alumni@unquowa.org

Founders Day is Saturday, October 14th

See you there!

The Fund For Unquowa

Thank you to everyone in the Unquowa community who gifted to the 2022-2023 Fund for Unquowa

We are so grateful to all the parents, grandparents, alumni and friends who made this possible. Your generosity has enriched the lives of each “unafraid spirit” in the Unquowa community.