There are many tangible objects and experiences we can give our children that are wonderful to receive but that have fleeting value. Their education, their sense of usefulness, and their selfworth - these are things that no one can ever take from them.
They are the most lasting, the most precious gifts we can give our children. Sharon Lauer, Head of School
many examples here at Unquowa of ways in which we provide students with the opportunity to feel useful and competent - older students working with younger ones, kids of all ages serving and cleaning up at lunch, service learning experiences where our older students spend time in settings where they connect with neuroattypical kids, or opportunities we provide for older kids to write and receive grants for projects that are near and dear to them.
A Message From the Head of School About U.S.
Volume 25, Issue 2 2021-2022
A Publishing Tradition of The Unquowa School
I In her poem “To Be of Use,” Marge Piercy reminds us of the obvious but sadly forgotten fact: ”the pitcher cries for water to carry and a person for work that is real.” I read Piercy’s piece as my closing poem at assembly at least once a year because it bears remembering for all of us, young and old, for very fundamental human reasons. From the moment a child can walk, carry the smallest object and understand language, we can offer them tasks that begin to instill in them the message that they are capable and family,firsttoearnsbutluckysomeonegives.someonewhojustoftrulysaysmessageSuchneeded.isthefirstthattheyareamemberafamily.NotsomeonegetsbutwhoNotjustwhoistobelongsomeonewhotherightbeapartof-theirnuclearthentheirextended family, then their larger family of school, faith, focus organizations like sports and theatre and community in general.Being loved and cared for is of course essential for children, but the sense of belonging that being useful builds is far more complex than the sense of simply being assured that one is being loved and cared for because it also increases lasting confidence in a way that love alone cannot. I can feel safe when I am cared for, but as I grow I will also feel far more confident when I know that I can take care of myself. My self-confidence rises even more when I hear from those who love me that they have no doubt in my ability to take care of myself and to contribute to the well-being of my family as Small,well.reasonable messages of confidence in young children grow into stronger messages of confidence as we give older children and young adults responsibilities that leave no doubt in their minds that, yes, we love them endlessly but we also have no doubt that they can make it on their own - first in small ways and then large ones. It is often hard to have faith that our children can do things without us and even harder to believe that it is essential for us to provide them, little by little, with the opportunity to prove that truth to both us and to themselves. Often familiesyourcan’t“I’mmessageunderlyingbecauseitinandformayaremessagerealizingoutforeffortless“snowplow”misguidedlyanpaththeirchildrenoflove,notthetheysending.Itseemeasierbothparentskids,butthelong-runisdamagingtheis,afraidyoujustmakeitonown.”Thereare
Unquowa 7th and 8th graders celebrated the 5th annual Voices of Change conceptual art gallery show with a reception at Robert Valle Designs in The Arcade Mall in Bridgeport on Thursday, May 26th. It was exciting to be back in person after a two-year hiatus in which the show was presented virtually, with some of the benefits of that were carried over into this year as well. While we did not host a live discussion with the artists, each exhibiting artist was interviewed and these videos were posted on the exhibition website to view alongside their work. Thank you to all students who participated as well as members of our community who came to view the gallery!From the exhibition website: Voices of Change is an opportunity for middle school students to explore issues that matter to them, identify areas of injustice, delve into topics usually reserved for contemplation and debate by adults, and create works of art to reflect it. The depth of thought, the care and diligence of the research, and the resulting concepts that ask you to consider your views on a topic without telling you what to think are indicative of the true and lasting learning that these students gain from participating in this project. These are the issues that matter to them, this is what is on their minds, and this is what they seek to change about their world. To say that young people do not have the ability to enact change is myopic, to assume they can not have opinions on controversial issues is naive; they see problems and they seek solutions, sometimes without the preconceptions of the adult world. The vision of our youth offers a fresh and real perspective. This is not a student art show; it is an art exhibit that tasks us with making a change for our collective future. To view Voices of Change go to: unquowa.org/voc-22/ Krissy Ponden, Art Department Chair
Voices Of Change - Vision of Our Youth!
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This year’s issue exudes a bright light of persistence, ingenuity, and individuality that could not be achieved except by weathering the pandemic and breaking through it together. The editorial staff has worked hard to present to you, the reader, an inside look at the dozens of creative minds that wrestle with deep questions across our Upper School. My time as Editor-in-Chief of the twelfth edition of Pen & Paper has brought me great joy this year, which I hope is reflected in the pages that follow. To view Pen & Paper go to: unquowa.org/pp-vol-12/ Isabel Alfageme ‘22, Editor-in-Chief
The 2022 Unquowa Art Show is a culmination of our year-long visual arts program and showcases art from students in all grades. We are excited that the virtual gallery can once again be shared with friends and family!
This edition, “How The Light Gets In,” is as unique as the participants who collaborated in its creation. The quality of its photographs, stories, poems, and diverse works of art have once again exceeded the high standards that our school upholds. We have risen above the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have been fortunate to be able to work on Pen & Paper together, in person, for the entirety of this school year.
See Our Art!
Pen & Paper - Volume 12
To view the 2022 Unquowa Art Show go to: unquowa.org/artshow-22/
This year’s issue of Pen & Paper, our twelfth, is an important one for our school, and for me in particular as Editor-in-Chief. Not only was this school year our first full year back to something that resembles pre-pandemic normalcy, but this issue is also our first publication since receiving the prestigious Gold Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (the highest honor awarded to literary and art magazines like ours from that organization). Needless to say, we had big shoes to fill, but with the help of our incredible editorial staff and the moving, poignant, and refined contributions from 5th through 8th Graders, I think we have achieved exactly what we set out to.
page 3 Clay Chickens Mila Nechaev Gr. 3 Shadow Puppets Alexandra Murphy Gr. 4 Environmental Art - Photography Matteo Brebbia Gr. 7 Marker Dragons Quinn Diallo Kindergarten Watercolor & Origami Fans Micah Estevez Cooper Gr. 1 PrintmakingIcosahedrons&Digital Design Ethan Kirk Gr.7 What Do You See...? Painting & Digital Photography Clara Pompa Gr. 5 Southwest Weaving Fiber Arts & Printmaking Jasper Adamson Gr. 2 Radial Design - Printmaking Lukas Keras Gr. 8 Chihuly Sculptures Celeste Mehra Pre K
For the 2022 Annual STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) project this year, our fourth, fifth and sixth grade classes were each assigned a theme to focus upon. Student engineering teams were required to apply the Engineering and Design Process to their projects. This Engineering and Design Process is a series of steps commonly used by engineers to solve problems. These steps include: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve.
STEM Fair Powers On!
Fourth graders were presented with the task of creating a model structure or building which uses passive solar design. Passive solar design (no solar panels) is the utilization of the sun’s energy, the geographical climate, and the properties of different materials to heat and cool buildings. Fifth graders focused on the power of the wind. Their goal was to make wind-powered, small scale models of devices to power something to work without the need for electricity or a gasoline motor. Sixth graders had the same task as Fifth except with the use of water power.
Over several weeks, students carefully applied each step of the Engineering and Design Process, started by asking questions, such as “How might I harness the power of the sun, wind or water effectively?” Next, students applied the imagine step to research - what has already been done - and brainstormed ways to improve. Then it came time to plan. What features or materials will we include? Designs were sketched and materials evaluated. Once the design step was satisfactory, students moved on to the creation or building of their models. Students went to work assembling materials and testing their designs. Finally, after focused building, students had the opportunity to evaluate and improve, a vital final step in the Engineering and Design Process. Here, students learned and sometimes struggled with, the reality that failure is sometimes an option…but not the end. Students needed to take a serious look at their devices and structures to decide what should be improved and then go back and redesign.
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On presentation day, our fourth, fifth and sixth grade student engineers proudly presented their devices and structures. Students were asked to reflect and share the challenges and rewards of this project, discovering that a final design is never really the final design. There is always room for reflection and improvement. Congratulations to all on a job very well done!
Carlene Gordon, Science Department Chair
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Traditional Tug of War, a Joyful Close to the Return of Field Day!
Extra motivated by our two-year hiatus from Field Day, Unquowa students were eager to enjoy some healthy competition and showcase their sportsmanship. Each Green and White Team consisted of students from every grade, with eighth graders leading their teams through each of the ten stations, and Chef Jess and her staff providing delicious snacks for energy. Students were amused by the Dizzy Bat, Sack Race and Hula Hoop Relays. As always, teams showed great enthusiasm for the water stations, especially Cup Of Chance. Yet it was Limbo that became the favorite Field Day activity this year. Giggling, wet and with painted faces, students finished the festivities with the traditional Tug of War contests between the grades. The PreK/Kindergarten team took on the seventh graders for the first time ever and won! Thank you to the seventh graders for taking the loss in good humor and for creating and running the event stations. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
Sarah Pollex, Physical Education Teacher
Not only did our students create beautiful works of fiction, but they also designed gorgeous illustrations and learned how to bind their books. We meticulously glued, stitched, and taped each tale by hand; our authors are now able to add their very own stories to their bookshelves. To celebrate all of this hard work, we invited families to attend our Authors’ Morning on Friday, June 3rd. Guests were encouraged to explore the books on display, and then fifth graders shared excerpts from their stories to a beaming and engaged audience. It was a very special morning filled with pride and accomplishment. Our year together may have come to a close, but the skills and joy we found together will be treasured for many years to come. Ariel Warshaw, Fifth Grade Teacher page 6 “Be the Change” Provokes Thought and Action
For our informational writing unit, fifth graders selected inspiring change-makers to research and embody. We learned about how to determine reliability and credibility in sources, and used these skills as we gathered information. The students wrote historical impact essays on their chosen person, using MLA format and direct and indirect quotes. These reports challenged them to not simply report on their figure’s biographical information. Instead, we pushed beyond the surface to explore how the conditions of their time stirred them to action; we considered the long lasting legacies these people have left on our world.
On April 14th, the fifth graders welcomed visitors to our “Be the Change” Wax Museum in the gym. Students dressed up as their influential figures, and “came to life” as the entire Unquowa community toured their exhibits and read their displayed essays. It was a fun and inspiring way to share their hard work!
Authors’ Morning 45 529daystyped pages 61,639 words typed 25 published authors For 45 days, the fifth graders worked tirelessly to craft incredible stories for their end-ofyear capstone project in our Writing Seminar.
Fifth Grade Writers Have the Write Stuff!
Students started the writing process by exploring characterization, and then built robust story plans to help guide their work. As they wrote, they conferenced with one another and me and eagerly worked their way through the writing cycle. The students spun tales about: global and interstellar adventures in the past, present, and future; missing people and secret societies; the fight for education and the school blues; crime fighting and crime families; the search for truth and the quest for physical and financial health; basketball dreams and the triumph over adversity; friendships in the dugout, on the road, and in the classroom; enchanted books and technology with a twist; childhood during war and the terror of a chase; and passionate poultry striving for freedom!
Wax Museum “Exhibits”: Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller, LeBron James, Dolores Huerta, Misty Copeland, Marie Curie, Clara Barton, Malala Yousafzai, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr., Hank Aaron, Jane Goodall, WEB DuBois, Langston Hughes, Dian Fossey, Michelle Obama, Woody Guthrie, Rachel Carson, Greta Thunberg, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Kobe Bryant, Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez, Eleanor Roosevelt and Wangari Maathai
To view Unquowazine, Volume 4 go to: unquowa.org/unquowazine-4/ Mrs. Engelke and Mr. Casey, UnquowaZine Advisors
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Lower School Art and Literary Club members have worked tirelessly on various stages of magazine development to produce this year’s UnquowaZine, Vol.4. This year they have included more original content in the form of book reviews, comics, and a Lower School survey. Together with their staff, the editors, Alex, Maxim, and Denny 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 advisors, we guided them and gave them structure and support. Kudos to all of their hard work and dedication!
Poetry Recitation Contest
Penny Peng, Mandarin Teacher and Rebeca Espinosa, Spanish Teacher
Language Days at the United Nations were created to increase awareness and respect for the history, culture and achievements of each of the six working languages among the UN community. To celebrate National Language Day on April 22nd, we invited Unquowa parents Mrs. Toolan, Mrs. Frost and Ms. Waterhouse to share their experiences about moving to the United States. They shared the benefits of being bilingual and discussed with Upper School students the obstacles they met coming here without speaking the language. To quote Mark Woodworth Harris, retired president of Berlitz Schools of Language, “Just as a language can block understanding between people, the study of a second language opens the mind, the eyes and the understanding that a person who does not speak our language has a perception distinct from ours, a perception that we cannot understand each other without sharing a common language.” We would like to thank the parents who came to school and supported our language learners in understanding the importance of learning a second language. Good job, Gators!
Parents Visit on National Language Day
This year, the Poetry Recitation Contest was a virtual event held in April. Approximately 300 students from roughly 30 schools state-wide recited poems in thirteen languages during the contest. Matt Anto, Rebecca Frost, Marianela Cardona, Mateo Rojas, Robert Kruger, Clarissa Fleming, and Elijah Starke represented The Unquowa School in the respective categories: Middle School Level 1, Level 2, and Heritage Speaker in Spanish; and Middle School Level 1, and Level 2 in MandarinStudentsChinese.spent hours memorizing classic poems in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. This was an excellent opportunity for our students to go beyond their classroom learning experience and enjoy the beauty of literature in other languages. Despite the fact that our students were very nervous to recite their poems during the contest, they did a wonderful job representing Unquowa. We are so proud of you all and congratulations to Matt Anto who won third place in the Middle School Level Spanish category!
UnquowaZine - Volume 4
Carina Blackwell, Mandarin Teacher
The Poetry Recitation Contest is an annual event open to students in grades 7 through 12 whose teachers are members of the CT Council of Language Teachers. Poetry slates are available in the following languages: Ancient Greek, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin only), ESOL/ELL, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
After Isabel’s speech, Ms. Lauer announced the winners of all of our traditional awards before introducing our graduation speaker, Ralph Macchio, well-known actor and godfather to one of our graduates. Mr. Macchio reminded us all of his favorite Mr. Miyagi quote “Walk on road. Walk right side, safe. Walk left side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later, get squish, just like grape.” He encouraged the graduates to be bold, and go all in rather than playing it safe by sticking to the middle.
page 8 2022 Awards The William J. Grippin Award Michael Jones The Unquowa Award Elliott Goodman The Board of Governors’ Award Mikey Winkler The Headmaster’s Cup Isabel Alfageme The Robert L. Cleveland Award Bryan Wilson The John P. Blessington Award Michael Jones Marianela Cardona Alison D. Gray Award Matthew Anto Janice Shannon Award Avery Speller Elizabeth Curtis Award Marianela Cardona John F. Turlick Award Nolan Howe Class Agents MadisonMatthewMitchellAnto Unquowa Parents Association Award Eloise Young Costume Closet Key Sam Tanzer Ebba Werring Margaret Travers Award William Tanner Ultimate Unquowans MadisonMichaelMitchellJones Gator Bowls MadisonMichaelMitchellJones Backstage Crew Regnition Madison Mitchell IsabelAveryAlfagemeSpeller
After a special video slideshow devoted to the Class of 2022, 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 move marked the change in school leaders from the outgoing class to next year’s eighth graders, the Class of 2023! Younger students then took turns walking through the line of graduates, offering congratulations, hugs and high fives. The Class of 2022 returned in the evening on June 7th, with their families, friends, Board of Governors, faculty and staff for a ceremony of recognition and closure to mark the end of their time at Unquowa and to celebrate their transition to high school. Salutatorian, Isabel Alfageme welcomed everyone to the ceremony and congratulated her classmates with a cheer of “We Did It!”
Diplomas were conferred by our Board President, Joan Panagos. Valedictorian and William J. Grippin Award recipient Michael Jones addressed his classmates, mentioning each individually and emphasizing their bond as a class. The ceremony closed and the graduates processed down the aisle in a cloud of confetti. With that, we said goodbye to the Class of 2022, 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.
The entire school community gathered the morning of the last day of school to celebrate the graduates. We celebrated summer birthdays, awards were presented and personal tributes written by the faculty for each graduate were read.
Joy and Pride Mark our Commencement & Closing Ceremonies
As Ms. Lauer reminds us, “school life has a rhythm that very few other parts of our world do. In general, school’s rhythm is predictable, comforting and important. 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.” What a joy it was to be able to hold these traditional ceremonies once again this year!
Karen Williamson, Director of Admissions
page 9 Isabel Alfageme.......................................... Greens Farms Academy Eli Ames ............................................. Greens Farms Academy Matt Anto ................................................. Staples High School Marianela Cardona .............................. St. Joseph High School Henry Cooper ............................................... St. Luke’s School Elliott Goodman ..........................Fairfield Ludlowe High School Nolan Howe .................................................. St. Luke’s School Michael Jones .................................... St. Joseph High School Devin Kelly .........................Fairfield College Preparatory School Lukas Keras ....................................... Cardinal Kung Academy Robert Krueger ..... Fairchild Wheeler Multi-Magnet High School Madison Mitchell ........................................ Masuk High School Ella Morris ......... Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall Anya Muktavaram ........................................ Pierrepont School Max Oberhand ......................................... Trumbull High School Henry Schwartz ................. Fairfield College Preparatory School Michael Scotto ......................................... Staples High School Avery Speller ....................................... Greens Farms Academy Clem Thomson ...................................................... Berkshire School Bryan Wilson ......................................................... St. Luke’s School Mikey Winkler ....................................................Staples High School Our graduates will be attending the following:
After sixth graders spent time in Humanities talking about the war in Ukraine, they felt they wanted to help the Ukrainian refugees in some way. We spoke specifically about the children, leaving their homes and family members and going to schools where they may not be able to speak the language. Our students decided to make cards and offer their support. Some of the students decided to use Google Translate and wrote notes in Ukrainian, some sent an inspirational quote and others chose a more personal message, but ALL of the cards were decorated and crafted with care. Mrs. Sylvestro’s seventh grade advisory group joined in and the stack of cards grew exponentially into a mountain of love and support. With only a two-day timeline, the students were able to make a card AND collect some toiletries and non-perishable foods to be included in a shipment leaving for Poland by week’s end. Way to care, Gators! Sarah Raggio, Humanities Teacher Families and Friends Join Us On Campus
Sending Our Love & Support
Festive flowers adorned our school entrances to greet parents, grandparents & special friends as they joined us once again to celebrate spring! Students dressed in their fancy best brought smiles and joy to the jam-packed special assembly as every class performed with song and dance. Traditional dances around the maypole capped off a wonderful morning.
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Working Together on Earth Day
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Backstage you could feel the energy and excitement in the air as students were preparing to start the show. Mary Poppins is the first live musical we have done since the pandemic and it was a smashing success. The students all worked extremely hard from creating props, running lights, running sound, learning choreography, learning difficult music, developing each of their characters, and so much more. Putting on a musical is a team event. Students learned through this process that each and everyone of them was essential to making the show come to life. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of Mary Poppins! Bravo!
Megan Kirk, Performing Arts Teacher
Carlene Gordon, Science Department Chair
Each year at Unquowa, we host a themed discovery to celebrate Earth Day. This year’s theme was plastics, a material created to last forever and designed to throw away. After an earth-friendly picnic lunch prepared by our chefs and some outdoor mindful gratitude and reflection, grade levels paired up to learn about where all the plastic we use ends up. Unfortunately, much of this plastic ends up in the ocean with adverse effects on marine life and ultimately human life as well. Following the introduction, multi-grade pairings went back outside to rotate through four stations designed to demonstrate plastics on our planet. Students practiced categorizing items that can be recycled from items that cannot and discovered how and where to recycle. Students helped each other choose the best packaging to purchase products in and participated in an activity to observe decomposition rates of paper vs plastic. Paired grades closed the day with a walk on or near our beautiful campus in search of stray plastics and trash to pick up and place in the appropriate location to be recycled. In true Unquowa tradition, our students worked together to have fun, learn and express gratitude for our spectacular planet!
Simply Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Joey Casey, Summer At Unquowa Director
Kindergarteners and fourth graders teamed up at the beach in Southport this spring to help tag horseshoe crabs as part of a research program at Sacred Heart University called Project Limulus. Graduate students working on the project shared their knowledge about the horseshoe crab with our students and taught students how to tag them. It was such a huge success that the Project Limulus students ran out of tags!! All in all, Unquowa students tagged 25 horseshoe crabs and learned so much about this remarkable creature.
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Tagging Horseshoe Crabs for Project Limulus!
Summer at Unquowa truly went by in a flash! We had five weeks of fantastic and engaging programming. Within the course offerings each week, we were able to explore so much on each topic, all while sprinkling in some quintessential summer fun. The Mandarin class explored language and cuisine, tie-dyed shirts, played with water balloons, and ran through sprinklers. In Nature Connection, children foraged for fallen items in the forest and used them to adorn hand-sewn bags. Art class was always working on something and ended up with many projects, including a plant-pressed wind chime, Monet inspired paintings, and hand painted tote bags. Students in Basketball and Multisports were constantly on the move - playing basketball for over three hours each day and multiple games of kickball, soccer and football on the field. Science & Nature provided so many great insights to the world all around us with bird watching, adventures in the brook, observing worms, and making projects about insect nests. We enjoyed each moment during Summer at Unquowa and look forward to next year.
Karen Engelke, Fourth Grade Teacher
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As we enjoy the beach weather and summer months, let’s look back on the UPA’s remarkable spring accomplishments!Livinguptoits celebrated mission of putting fun in fundraising, the UPA’s Spring Gala was the event of the season. With full hearts and open arms, the Unquowa community came together “live” for the first in-person gala and auction since 2019. The wait was well worth it—the Gatsby: Roaring Twenties at the Cloak & Gator Club themed event lifted attendees to spirited highs. From old friends reconnecting, to new friends celebrating our cherished school by the brook, to the amazing live auction, signature drink, and balloon popping fun, this year’s Gala was an eloquent reminder of what drives us all: a love for our families, school, and community.
And speaking of community, the UPA was engaged this spring with several community service efforts, including a Gently-Used Uniform Sale for Unquowa families to benefit Save the Children’s Ukraine-fund; a Clothing and Shoe Drive to benefit Help Ukraine With US; and a Book Drive to benefit Fairfield Yabantu and Mercy Learning Center. Thank you all for your generous donations! But that’s not all…the UPA also honored our beloved faculty, staff and administration this spring with a catered Appreciation Lunch, celebrated our graduating 8th graders with Class of 2022 sweatshirts, helped make the May Day Celebration extra special with lovely floral decorations, and cohosted the morning coffee gathering on Moving Up Day for parents of both existing and new students.
Lastly, we are delighted to announce that Melissa Howe and Heather Winkelmann will once again be serving as UPA Co-Presidents for the upcoming school year. Please know we are so appreciative of our volunteers and all you do for the Unquowa community. We look forward to seeing you soon and would love to have you involved in our UPA adventures in the new school year!
Notes From The UPA
The Unquowa Parents Association
Yeung Alumni Claire Abate ‘14 Christopher Anderheggen ‘70 T. Brooks Barrett ‘47 Christopher Boudreau ‘89 Elizabeth W. Brew ‘70 Jonathan Brew ‘72 Edward Christie ‘74 Eric Dawson ‘76 Anne Marie Dooher ‘16 Eva Dooher ‘19 Joan duPont ‘50 Helene Rousseau Epifano ‘67 Steve Diforio and Lauren Gabriele ‘98 James Ruckle ans Carolyn Gaines Ruckle ‘53 Amy Greenberg ‘10 Aaron Gruen ‘17 Richard Harriss ‘52 Jean Ann and William Heise ‘55 Brooke Jones ‘18 Kelly Jones ‘19 Aidan Kavanaugh ‘21 Evan Lawrence ‘68 Jeffrey Lockhart ‘43 Sasha Mack ‘05 Susan Maklari ‘90 David MacAllaster ‘73 Bruce and Sally McDermott ‘09 Henry duPont ‘81 Lily Panagos ‘19 Lola Panagos ‘17 Lucy Panagos ‘16 Helene Rassias Miles ‘71 Nancy Seeley Gilliland ‘47 George Wheeler Seeley ‘53 William Parker Seeley ‘50 Madeline Shantz ‘19 Laura Sheehy ‘88 Linda and William Shelton ‘55 Cecily Stoddard Stranahan ‘47 Lee Streett ‘51 Ryan Taylor ‘06 John Richard Turner ‘48 Charlotte Yin ‘16 Parents of Alum Alison Bevan and Michael McCormick Robert and Deborah Colantuoni Christopher and Jacqueline Dillon Michael and Jennifer Dooher Mark and Sara Greenawalt Paul and Ellen Greenberg Sandy and Kate Haviland Robert and Sharon Kelly Leslie Miller and Barry Kresch Cornelia Gallo and Peter Lanni Alisyn Camerota and Tim Lewis David and Sharon Mack Karl and Lynn Martone David and Elizabeth McKinnis Brian and Sharon Miles Steven and Joan Panagos Vivian Perez Laurie Israel and Daniel Pitchenik Anne Peters and Michael Proctor John and Patricia Randolph Scott and Laurie Renzulli Mark and Loren Rubino Andrew and Andrea Shantz Harald and Stephanie Stavnes Alan and Debbie Steckler Sankar and Subhashree Sunder Diane and Peter Swift Kevin StephenTaylorand Doni Wisdom Jessica Wolf Daniel and Leona Yin Faculty & Friends Andrew and Gina Arnold Peney Auguste Janice and Dick Cerone John and Mary Curran Craig Drake Frode and Mary Foss-Skiftesvik Chriss and George Gombos Frank and Jennie Gulden Craig and Jennifer Knebel Debbie and Brian Leidlein Laura Babala and Ralph Money Jacqui and John Mudre David and Amber O’Connell Ruth SarahPowellandRoss Raggio Matt and Gail Smith Henry GregoryTannerandHilary Tanner William Tanner ‘24 Yasmin von Schirnding and Derek Yach HaskellBlackRockFamily Foundation Goldman MacAllasterSachsFamily Foundation Nor’ Easter Foundation Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP State Street Foundation Grandparents.............................................................In Honor Of Richard and Kathy Mongelluzzo...............................................Olivia Albenze ‘12, Rachel Albenze ‘15 Norma Castro.............................................................................................................Ethan Perez ‘25 Betty Chica..................................................................................................................Ary Moreno ‘28 Katharine Corti and William Cooper................Micah Esteves Cooper ‘29, William Esteves Cooper ‘27 Dion and Rachelle Ehrlich.......................................................Beckett Ehrlich ‘23, Cassidy Ehrlich ‘29 Miriam and Pink Folmar...............................Bryant Krueger ‘25, Robert Krueger ‘22, Roy Krueger ‘20 John Freeman.........................................................................................................Addie Mulvehill ‘24 Paul and Diane Galasso............................................................................................Ava Sylvestro ‘24 Jackie Hellen..............................................................................................................Dahlia Tomei ‘25 Gilbert and Penny Herlet...............................................................................................Cole Herlet ‘25 Jerome Joseph and Sharon Lauer..............................................................................Vivian Kelley ‘25 Kevin Sorhaindo and Shelley Levi...................................Anthony Venditto III ‘26, Archer Venditto ‘30 Constance and James McClellan..........................................................................Jojo Williamson ‘31 Anna Panagos-Chandler...............................Lily Panagos ‘19, Lola Panagos ‘17, Lucy Panagos ‘16 Philip and Ruth Reed..........................................................................Ashlee Kirk ‘26, Ethan Kirk ‘23 Mary Jo Scott......................................................................Alex Renzulli ‘21, Samantha Renzulli ‘18 Alloe Stokes................................................................................Channing Malkin, Steele Malkin ‘23 Thomas Kelley and Lucinda White.........................................................................Graham Kelley ‘28 Chester Williamson...............................................................................................Jojo Williamson ‘31 Judy Williamson...................................................................................................Jojo Williamson ‘31 Linda Ziac............................................................................Jackie Ackley ‘28, Samantha Ackley ‘27 To give to the Fund For Unquowa 2022-2023 please go online at unquowa.org/giving use the enclosed green envelope or scan the QR code The Fund For Unquowa 2021-2022 Thank you to everyone in the Unquowa community who helped us exceed our goal with the Fund for Unquowa this year. 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. A special thank you also goes out to our Fund for Unquowa committee!
Jenah
Parents John and Anna Acunto Athena and Daniel Adamson Leah Gambal Alfageme and Santiago Alfageme Susan MicheleAmbleandAndrew Ames Natasha Auguste-Williams Nancy and John Awad Ernesto and Faith Barbuto Celiane Oliveria and Marcos Borges Christian and Sara Brebbia Eric and Lisa Broder Andrew Foote and Susanna Carrillo
Charis San Antonio Cooper and David Cooper Marlon and Karin Dale Cheryl Bennett-Davidowitz and Robert MaureenIriselDavidowitzDeJesusand Djibril Diallo Peter and Bridgett diBonaventura Belinda Chibbonta and Denny Dumbwizi Michael and Lauren Ehrlich Adam and Jennifer Epstein Corti Cooper and Carlos Esteves Elizabeth and Harris Falk Charles and Margaret Farinella Michelle Feeney Ariana and Luke Ferrandino Tarell and April Floyd Jennifer Frascatore Steven and Sandra Frost Bowman and Jennifer Garrett George and Amy Helmer Patricia Caira and Shane Herlet Michael ChristopherHigginsand Melissa Howe Stephen and Gina Jones Maria and Peter Karayiannis Gerard and Shannon Kavanaugh Matthew and Rachel Kelley Hannah Onchak and Tré Kayumba Samantha and Brendan Kelley Dan and Crissy Kelly Charles and Megan Kirk Lisa and Michael Kirsic Bill and Beth Krueger Deirdre and Eric Kurzenberger Melody Waterhouse and Philipp Kusche Peter and Rachel Kushel Maggie and Kerry Lehnerd-Reilly Angela DeRose and Andrew Lerner Julie Lucas and Jonathan Lieberman
Lisa Brown-Michniewicz and John Michniewicz Lloyd and Kathy Mitchell Erin and Ryan Morris Paul and Megan Mountcastle Lavi Bellumkonda and Vik Muktavaram James and Maria Mulvehill Daniela Ami and Bruce Musser Ashley Nechaev Ade and Joann Omisore Elisha and Oliver Page Lysandra Pamias Ginger Parsons Robin and William Pompa Tim and Krissy Ponden Lillian and Matthew Raben David and Nicole Ginsberg and David Ramo Will and Alison Roberts Alexander Rojas and Natalia Rojas-Restrepo David and Susan Breen and David Ryan Elizabeth Hayes and Joe Saint Vicki Hornbostel and Mike Scotto Gianina Serrano Daniel Simmonds Alison and Mark Smith Michael and Karen Speller Sandra and Michael Srihari Trevor and Lisa Sylvestro Gregory and Hilary Tanner Tara AndreaTanzerand Brian Theodore Katie Shields Thomson and Alexander ChristianThomsonand
Luca Savi and Gabriella Manina Saral and Heidi Mehra
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Jessica Toebe Peter and Jo Toolan Alice and Kyle Truscott Anthony and Jenna Venditto Peter Sullivan and Michelle Vendley Shabiroon and Woodrow Vereen Bojana and Michael Weatherly Joel and Eden Werring Karen and Dan Williamson Sandra and Bryan Wilson David and Heather Winkelmann and Jack
Sophia Mughal ‘17, received the First-Year Writing Prize at Hobart and William Smith Colleges for her essay, “Examining the Israel-Palestine Conflict from the ‘Moral’ Point of View”. Sophia’s submission addresses the Israel/Palestine conflict by pulling from class texts and guest speaker testimonials, as well as integrating components of pragmatism to her grounded approach. “I attempted to evaluate the historical and current dimensions of the conflict and propose solutions that would promote peace,” says Mughal.
The Class of 2018 has something to brag aboutTWO High School Valedictorians!
Unquowa students from the Class of 2018 have recently graduated high school and are now preparing in the Fall. We wish them the very best of as their next chapter unfolds.
WOW!
Condolences
The Great Gatz is Lauren’s 42nd book to go into publication. Brooke Jones ‘18, in the white gown, was the Valedictorian of her graduation class at the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall. Sneha Sunder ‘18, in the red gown, was the Valedictorian of her graduating class at Fairfield Warde High School. Also, a big congratulations to Samantha Renzulli ‘18, in the black gown, who was selected as Class Speaker for her graduating class at Fairfield Warde High School. We are so proud of your achievements!
The Great Gatz, the second book in The Gatz Chronicles, written by Baratz-LogstedLauren‘76, was released by Penguin Random House in early December and was cowritten with her daughter, Jackie Logsted.
to follow these paths
Congratulations Sophia! To view Sophia’s essay go to unquowa.org/sm/
Alumni News Greg Coghlan....................Southern CT State University Max Cooper.............................................Babson College Katherine Daly...............University of Colorado Boulder Kylee Faulkner..................................Fairfield University Brandon Faunce.........Rochester Institute of Technology Lauren Flamini..........................University of NursingBridgeportProgram Brooke Jones.....................................Harvard University Sophia Kessler.................................Muhlenberg College Rahael Makhraz................................Fairfield University Willow McKinnis...........................New York University Aiden Nishiyama..........................Quinnipiac University Margot Pichenik....................Roger Williams University Samantha Renzulli...............................Brown University Abby Russo....................................Dalhousie University Sneha Sunder...............................University of Michigan Daniel Vash..........................................Boston University Hannah Whidden........... University of California, Irvine Best Wishes to the Alum Class of 2018!
It is with immeasurable sadness that we share the news of the recent death of Craig Knebel , beloved member of the Unquowa community, who celebrated his retirement with colleagues just this past June. Craig came to Unquowa eleven years ago as a science teacher after a career on Wall Street, and he quickly became an absolute fixture of our school and a beloved teacher of kids who, because of his imaginative teaching approach and high standards, have gone on to high school with strong backgrounds in bio, chemistry and physics. His role as Upper School Dean of Faculty for the past five years was a gift as well, and he took this work just as seriously. Craig will be missed by students, alums and colleagues. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Craig’s wife Jennifer and their children, Emily, Laura, Nicholas and Bradley.
luck
THE UNQUOWA SCHOOL 981 Stratfield Road, Fairfield, CT 06825-1697 Cura Futuri Nobis ~ The Future is in Our Care Unquowa Culture: Unafraid Spirits! Follow us on Facebook & @theunquowaschoolInstagram www.unquowa.org
