About US - Volume 26, Issue 2

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About U.S.

F

or me, almost each and every school day begins at the curb. I stand on the sidewalk in front of our school at 8 am and my purpose is to greet students and chat with parents. The act looks different with each car that pulls up - some kids bolt out of their cars like rockets, some seem surprised that they’ve arrived and are still finishing their breakfast. Some cars have one quiet first grader and others have a carpool full of sibs or friends in all states of readiness. Some parents smile and must zip off to work and others exchange a few thoughts or pull up past the drop-off spot for a quick chat, and many cars include frisky dogs whose names I’ve learned and with whom I’ve developed relationships.designed and drew a toy they wished to own and an 8th grader produced the actual object from the PreK student’s conception. The finished product that the PreK student showed me was simply exquisite - beautifully crafted and completely true to the child’s concept. When I complimented the five-year old on her role in the production process as designer, she hesitated for a moment and then accepted that, yes, she had conceived of the idea and instructed her 8th grade partner. It was a brilliant, collaborative project that planted the seed of teaching and learning.

One of my favorite parts of morning drop-off is the first quiet ten minutes or so when kids hang around to chat for a few minutes, either to catch me up on their worlds or to fill me in on “something I should really know.” I never quite know what’s coming during those minutes but I’m always delighted by the surprise. Recently, a conversation about a third grader’s impressively well-behaved dog and my admission that I’ve never been able to train a dog, led us to a daily installment course in dog obedience training. We’ve gotten through three parts - the commands of sit, heel and stay - and I estimate that I will graduate from this course by the end of April and receive my confident third grader’s approval to own and train a dog.

This anecdote may seem sweet on the surface, but it is a powerful example of the fact that in strong school communities everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner. Just before spring break a five year old came up to me outside my office door to show me the exquisite stuffed doll that an 8th grader had made for her. It was the product of a joint PreK-8th visual arts project in which the PreK students

This message of teacher/ learner is woven throughout our school community’s world, at every age and in every discipline. It’s the underlying attitude that talented teachers hold and convey to their students. “You are here to learn but, as you do, you can also begin to teach others. And throughout your life, you will also continue to be a learner.” Teachers model this truth by always being openly willing and expressing that they are willing to learn from their students and, beyond that, instilling in their students the confidence that they have knowledge that is useful to others.

This past March, after the traditional student/faculty basketball game that happens on the morning before spring break, a sixth grade member of the boys’ team complimented me on my playing. After I acknowledged that I had a lot to learn before I could really contribute beyond running up and down the court and making an occasional pass, he sweetly said, “Aw, you just need to get out on the court more to build your confidence. Next year, I’ll invite you to come to our practices for a few weeks before the game. You’ll be great!”

Wishing everyone a happy spring!

Sharon Lauer, Head of School

A Publishing Tradition of The Unquowa School
A Message From the Head of School Volume 26, Issue 2 2022-2023

River Retreat at Grace Farms

The River Retreat Student Program at Grace Farms in New Canaan, CT is a guided meditative and reflective experience being pioneered in partnership with Unquowa for middle school students and based on Yale University’s Life Worth Living course. Recently, our 8th grade class traveled to Grace farms to take part in this three part program. Students had time to engage in questions about the meaning of life and the kind of people they want to be and also to explore the curated grounds as they pondered these questions during each of their three visits.

Part 1: On a slightly snowy and chilly day, the 8th Grade boarded the bus and set off for Grace Farms to take part in their first day-long retreat. They began with observations about the beautiful space they were in before settling into the rhythm of reflection with tea-tasting and contemplating the question: “What am I doing?” From there, students walked the River Building, stopping to view and consider art, spoken word, poetry, and, of course, the essential questions about what makes a life worth living - and what they might truly want out of their lives. After lunch and some recreation time, they ended their first session with an art experience that asked students to consider stillness.

Part 2: The second visit to Grace Farms began on an even colder day. This didn’t stop students from walking the grounds as they interacted with one another through games and activities designed to help them think about what a life worth living might look like for them. Students began with the questions: “What does it mean to belong?” and “What does it feel like for life to flourish?” and “Is all flourishing mutual?”

Throughout the next hour and a half, students engaged that question in a variety of ways: through art (specifically, “Moon Love Dreaming,” a 100 +ft mural in the West Barn of the Grace Farms campus) and literature (Pablo Neruda’s “Keeping Quiet,” and passages from Confucius, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans). After lunch and recreation time, students again spent time in the Art Studio. This time, they wove a “quiet spot” that they were able to take home and can use for their own meditative practices as they continue to ponder these and other big questions about meaning and purpose.

Students were even more comfortable sharing their thoughts during this trip, and were especially engaged at the wrap-up conversation when asked about questions they would like the time and dedicated space of Grace Farms to help them consider. They are grateful for the opportunity to have a role in shaping this new experience for their younger peers at Unquowa and other schools in the area and look forward to Part 3, their third and final visit in May. As our 8th Graders get more and more prepared for graduation and embark on a new chapter in their lives they will thoughtfully reflect back on this special time spent at Grace Farms

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What Is Your Opinion?

Our first-grade writers recently wrapped up their Opinion and Persuasive Writing unit! The first graders have learned how to write their opinion on various topics, their reasons for their opinion, and how to organize their reasons into a detailed writing piece using a graphic organizer. This unit encouraged writers to develop opinions with multiple reasons for support, as well as strong openings and closings. Writers were also encouraged to revise their writing and create more complex sentences by using linking words.

Play & Making - A Parent Workshop

Parents welcomed Katrin Robertson and Diane Tamblyn from Wholemindesign Studio and authors of A Play-Maker’s Play-Book recently for a two-hour workshop focused on the value of Play and Making (Play-Making) in the lives of children and their learning. Through powerful discussion, Katrin and Diane empowered parents as designers and reminded them they are their children’s first teacher. They explored what a culture of Play-Making means and how parents can begin creating one right away. Parents found this workshop a great reminder of the importance of slowing down and taking time to play and connect.

Early Childhood Imagined

The eighth graders have been busy bringing our youngest students’ drawings to life! The PreK, kindergarten and first graders spent thoughtful time drawing imaginative characters in their art class for the eighth graders to turn into stuffed toys. Staying true to the original drawing designs, the eighth graders began carefully designing, sewing and stuffing football players, colorful cats, dragons, and mermaids. When the finished toys were finally ready they were given back to the original artists, who had been anxiously awaiting their completion. The young designers could not believe how their drawings had come to life for them to hold!

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Culinary Tour Of Africa

In the seventh grade Humanities course, students have been learning all about Africa and the many cultures within it. We studied the geography of the continent, and have done a deep dive into Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, and South Africa. At the completion of the unit seventh graders got to explore African cultures by preparing some classic dishes from throughout the regions we had studied. We listened to Angelique Kidjo (Benin) and Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa) as we chopped, fried, tossed, and stirred. The food we prepared was then shared for lunch with the entire school. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic food and it was a delicious and authentic experience for grade seven rounding out this unit.

Menu:

Soup: West African Sunbutter Stew

Salad: Kenyan Kachumbari

Main: East African Piri Piri Chicken

Side: Nigerian Jollof Rice

Dessert: Tanzanian Mandazi

Earthworms or Red Wigglers!

Since the beginning of the school year, on every Monday 8th graders have participated in a hands-on environmental educational program with the local organization known as Park City Composting. During this time students have gained an understanding of how to properly compost as well as its beneficial effects; not only is it important for people but the environment too!

During the month of January PCC introduced various styles of composting to our 8th grade class. Students learned about thermophilic composting, mesophilic composting, how to make a traditional compost pile, how to use a tumbler composter and most recently, how to vermicompost which is composting with WORMS!

Vermicomposting is a style of composting that utilizes earthworms or red wigglers to help aid in the breakdown process of organic material. The worms will eat the nitrogen sources (food scraps), digest the material and reintroduce it into the environment through their nutrient rich waste which are referred to as ‘worm castings’. The students learned about the benefits of this style of composting as well as the anatomy of an earthworm!

In a recent visit with Park City Composting, students were able to help construct worm bins which are being stored in the science lab and monitored weekly. It is really incredible to see the breakdown process first hand; we are able to watch the food scraps in the pile be converted into organic-rich soil thanks to our wiggly friends! Our 8th grade students are finding that composting is fun!

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Honoring Black History Month

Unquowa works hard to acknowledge cultural heritage throughout the school year. In February students spent time celebrating Black History Month, reflecting upon the achievements, struggles, and resilience of Black Americans. Below are some highlights of what students experienced throughout the month.

Early Childhood: PreK students loved turning themselves into astronauts while learning about Mae Jemison, the first female African-American astronaut! They made space suits out of tin foil and wrote about what they might see in outer space.

Kindergarten students learned that while George Washington was our nation’s first president, Barack Obama was the 44th and the first black president! They also read about Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges and that they were all heroes with a courageous spirit.

Lower School: Second grade explored Black History Month through great artists! From artists such as Horace Pippin to Kehinde Wiley, culture, courage, character and consciousness were introduced through various paintings that spoke to the students’ sense of self and spirit.

Third grade students spent the month learning about important figures in American History. Through pictures and books depicting the lives and experiences of an array of historic Black heroes, students discussed the ways these individuals used their skills and talents to stand up for what they believed in. In a culminating project, students chose the individual that most inspired them, drew their portrait and wrote a poem from their perspective.

Fourth graders have been reading passages such as The Reasons and Causes of the Civil Rights Movement, The Greensboro Sit-Ins and The Bus Boycott to reinforce the literacy skills of identifying the main idea and detail while learning about Martin Luther King’s role in the Civil Rights Movement. This unit integrated literacy skills with Social Studies using higher-order thinking ability while learning about a significant time in our nation’s history.

Upper School: Fifth graders spent time listening to Dr. Martin Luther King’s “A Knock at Midnight” speech and sermon delivered in 1958. Our scholars got to experience the depth of Dr. King’s courage, intellect, and incredible knowledge of the struggles society faced, and they discussed aspects of his speech that are still relevant to our society today. During our weekly assembly, students spoke and shared these passages with the Unquowa community. They silently ended their presentation by laying cutouts of hands on a paper quilt they had collaboratively created, representing the need to work together towards Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism. The colors green and blue on the quilt were chosen to represent the earth and the paper hands represented different skin tones and ethnicities.

In seventh grade students celebrated the deep and rich cultures of Africa. They explored Nigerian griots, reading poetry and short stories, analyzed the vast geography of the continent, considered ancient and medieval African kingdoms, and learned about the shared and overlapping histories between Africa and the Americas. Through cuisine, literature, music, geography, and more, these students were able to make meaningful connections to the content and their understanding of its impact on their own identities.

Our eighth grade Humanities curriculum centers on US History from independence to modern day. While we always use the lens of “What is the ‘American Dream’ and who is included or excluded?” The month of February ushered in meaningful lessons on race, identity, and the impact of history. Students read Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates, as a complement to their study of To Kill a Mockingbird. Concurrently, they learned about Reconstruction Era amendments, Black codes, Jim Crow laws, and the ways in which Black Americans have persisted and resisted systemic and structural racism.

We were thrilled to take students to the Ruby & Calvin Fletcher African American History Museum, as a way to both safely explore hard history, and to celebrate all the ways that the Black community has enriched American life. Our students know that Black History IS American History!

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Basketball Season Success!

To say this basketball season was one for the ages here at Unquowa would be an understatement. Both the 5/6 & 7/8 grade boys and girls basketball teams had a terrific season on and off the court. Players came ready to practice with amazing attitudes, ready to work hard and get better!

One of the main goals for our 5/6 teams is to provide an opportunity for every student athlete to have fun, learn the sport and develop life skills. Both teams improved throughout the season with each practice and each game. Coaches taught the fundamentals of the game that helped with the success and progression of each team throughout the season. The 5/6 Boys Team finished with three straight wins to finish a greatly improved and successful season.

Both our 7/8 Boys & Girls basketball teams had fantastic and successful seasons. The 7/8 Boys finished the season with a record of 5-2 while the girls finished 5-1 marking off a tremendous season for our varsity athletes! Both teams progressed throughout the season, improving through each practice and game and getting better and better. It was so much fun to see the Gators in action for both of the final home games of the season with wins over Greens Farms Academy and Greenwich Academy in an amazing home court environment. The boys won their final game of the year against Ridgefield Academy 42-41 in a thrilling down to the last second contest.

We are so proud of all our players for their dedication on the court and commitment to their team. Congratulations to all of our Unquowa Basketball Players and Coaches on an outstanding and fun season! Go Gators!

Young Gators In Training

March Madness has arrived early at Unquowa as the third and fourth grade basketball team brought its season to a close! All of our players persevered through the drills, the fundamentals of the game, learning the basics of team play, picking ourselves up when we fall and… feeling the thrill of personal improvement and most important: the camaraderie of group success.

At each team practice, our Unquowa athletes showed their heart and school spirit, carrying on a tradition of fair play and sportsmanship that has been the hallmark of the Unquowa character for the last one hundred and six years! Gators on Three! 1-2-3! Go Gators!

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Winterfest Preparations

There are many important traditions that mark the beginning of the magic and excitement of Unquowa’s annual Winterfest. As the kingdom walls and stage begin to take shape, the first order of business is the coronation of our new royal court which is conducted by last year’s Kings and Queens. This ceremony officially kicks off the Winterfest festivities and our new Royal Court can now rule their Kingdom. Second comes the Knighting Ceremony, which is the first official duty performed by the newly crowned court. Our noble First grade knights spend weeks preparing to earn and receive their official knighthood status and a key to the Unquowa Kingdom. The Knights are now ready to protect!

Another important tradition of Winterfest is the annual creation and presentation of the royal banner. Each year, Mrs. Ponden collaborates with the graduating class to develop a concept, which she then magically crafts into reality. As tradition goes, the banner is unveiled, firstly to the eighth graders, which is always a special moment to witness! The new banner then makes it’s grand debut to the rest of the Unquowa community during the candle dance at the start of the Winterfest performance. This year’s banner displayed the Winterfest theme beautifully and was the first ever to include an electronic element which allowed the little hand stitched fireflies to glow at night!

We are so proud of our Visual Arts Department Chair Krissy Ponden ‘95 for being chosen for the prestigious award of National Middle Level Art Educator. Selected by her peers at the National Art Education Association, Krissy receives this special and well deserved recognition for her exemplary contributions to the field of visual arts. Along with the NAEA, the Unquowa Community loudly applauds Krissy for her leadership, commitment, talent and service to the profession.

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Winterfest #42!

Winterfest is clearly one of the most favorite times of the year for the entire Unquowa Community! From the very first rehearsals in individual performing arts classes, to tech week when the whole school rehearses the full show together, students and teachers alike can feel the excitement in the air. When it is finally show time there is nothing better than seeing students come together as a school to showcase their hard work and dedication to our audience of family and friends!

This year’s story, The Shrunken Kingdom, began with the Szalinski children, who always knew their father was a genius. A little on the strange side, but a genius nonetheless. The Thompson children, their neighbors, were not convinced. In order to prove that their father really was working on a device that could shrink anything, they decided to sneak up into the attic to show off his machine. But when the kids stumble across Mrs. Szalinski’s waterless, castle snow globe and accidentally push a button on the shrink ray, these six children find themselves in a most difficult - if not magical - situation!

With some quick thinking on Lizzy Szalinski’s part, the children come up with a plan to find their way into the snow globe’s castle. After some unexpected help from some friendly fireflies, the children find themselves confronted with two very curious prisoners… who only speak in riddles! Could these riddles be the answer to their shrunken situation?

Will the Szalinskis and Thompsons ever be their proper size again? Might they, possibly, be able to help the Kingdom of Unquowa escape from their snow globe prison?

The audience was mesmerized and our actors, singers, dancers, instrumentalists and tech crew all came together to make this year’s Winterfest amazing. I could not be more proud of each and every student! Bravo to everyone! Now to the most important question….what will next year’s show be?!

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Megan Kirk, Performing Arts Teacher and Winterfest Director
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Roving Reporters at Large!

Two of Unquowazine’s roving reporters recently met with Ms. Lauer about the history of our beloved school. Unquowazine, the Lower School’s literary and art magazine, is a compilation of student work from PreK - Grade 4. In addition to gathering student work samples, the Unquowazine members contribute original written work through interviews, surveys, comics, and artwork. For this year’s edition, two of our Grade 4 students elected to interview Ms. Lauer and gather information and “Fun Facts about Unquowa.” They spent time in the archives studying Unquowa’s graduation class photos dating back to the 1920s, specifically to answer the question, “How was Unquowa impacted by the Great Depression and World War II? They also collected answers to questions such as: How was Unquowa founded? How has the school evolved since it was founded? Why is the gator the mascot of Unquowa? All will be revealed in May when Unquowazine Vol. 5 is published!

Chinese Brush Painting

During Chinese New Year first grade students studied one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world, Chinese Brush painting. We talked about how paintings can be monochrome or colored and typically depict animals, birds, flowers, or scenes from nature, and we began learning how to paint bamboo and moved on to cherry blossoms. We also learned how pressure on the tip and side of brushes creates different results. After practicing our brush strokes and painting techniques we then had the opportunity to try our new skills on authentic rice paper which dates back over 1,000 years!

Red Envelopes and Lion Dances!

“Gong Xi Fa Cai!” Wishing You Prosperity and Wealth! Unquowa parent, Mrs.Toolan visited second grade to showcase the Lunar New Year. Students learned all about the many traditions of Chinese New Year and that this year is the Year of the Rabbit. Everyone was really excited to receive red envelopes full of goodies and to hear about the importance of the Lion and Dragon Dances. Taking turns, students were able to wear a Lion’s costume and dance around the classroom to bring good fortune and chase away any evil spirits. Thank you, Mrs. Toolan for such a festive and informative visit.“Xin Nian Kuai Le!” Happy Chinese New Year!

Second Grade

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Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, began on January 22nd. It is the biggest holiday in Asia and is celebrated by many individuals, not only the Chinese, but also people of Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Laos. Unquowa students, faculty and staff enjoyed the start of Chinese New Year by wearing red on the first day of this celebration. On that day, the entire school was treated to a CNY lunch complete with dumplings handmade by our Lower and Upper School Mandarin students.

All levels of Mandarin students enjoyed creating and displaying Chinese New Year decorations to transform the Unquowa dining room into a CNY celebration.

Lower School Mandarin students celebrated by creating art projects and learning songs and stories about Chinese New Year and about the Chinese Zodiac.

Upper School Mandarin students received a Hong Bao (red envelope) in class, bringing them Luck and Fortune in the year of the Rabbit and students enjoyed a traditional Chinese food tasting as part of their ongoing cultural experience.

During these celebrations parents were treated to wonderful performances during Wednesday assemblies, where students proudly showcased their skills singing in Mandarin.

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Carina Blackwell, Upper School Mandarin Teacher & Kelly Yeh, Lower School Mandarin Teacher

Pajama Days Are Always Just What Is Needed

Winterfest performances truly are magical and fantastic but somehow at the end of each show when the Royal Kings and Queens playfully tease the crowd and then finally decree a Pajama Day for all, the intensity of excitement reaches a fever pitch and this year was no different! Students, staff and even parents all enjoyed the fun by wearing their comfy PJ’s to school on the last day before Winter Break.

Gator Time!

Around here… what’s bigger than the superbowl and more competitive than the world cup? Each March before everyone leaves for spring break, Unquowa hosts the iconic 8th grade basketball team/faculty game, marking the last time we see our eighth grade basketball athletes play on the Unquowa court.

This past March, spirits were at an all time high and the excitement was contagious, flowing throughout the gym like a wave, while students enthusiastically cheered on their team. The stands erupted in joy and the game spirit was dialed even higher when our Gator mascots danced their crazy moves at halftime. The game was fiercely competitive and though it didn’t end in the usual miraculous deadlock tie, it was still one for the records. Until next year - Go Gators! #unafraidspirits

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Box Cars & Birdhouses!

Fifth graders took a break from being in the tech lab and, equipped with their design skills, power tools, paint and a block of wood, they were tasked with the job of developing their own boxwood derby car. They successfully completed this multi-space project, starting in the Tech Lab with the design process, then on to the Makerspace for the actual construction of their design and finally to the Art Room where their creativity takes shape. Students proudly took a concept and turned it into a reality. Bravo, 5th grade!

In sixth grade tech class students also spent time in the Makerspace by tackling a two week project working with a different kind of tech. Students were tasked with constructing a birdhouse using power tools, screws, wood putty and paint. Students really embraced every step of the construction and decorating process. It was clear by the amount of paint that made it onto their clothes instead of the birdhouses that they also had creative fun. In the end, the birdhouses were a great success and the neighborhood birds will benefit from some new homes this spring!

100 Days Celebrated

Recently both the eighth grade and the Lower School students shared a day in common celebrating all things 100! On the hundredth day of school the younger students had all kinds of fun in their classrooms with the number one hundred, meanwhile in Upper School, Ms. Lauer and the eighth grade advisors surprised this year’s Class of 2023 with a pizza and cake party to mark only 100 days left until graduation!

The Fund For Unquowa 2022-2023

Contribute to the exceptional programs and curriculums, unparalleled community and unique experiential learning you see reflected in these pages.

Give a personally meaningful amount to the Fund for Unquowa today.

Their Childhood. Their Future. Your Priority.

Your Fund for Unquowa Co-Chairs, Melody Waterhouse and Robin Pompa

To give today, please go online at unquowa.org/giving, use the enclosed green envelope or scan the QR code!

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Notes From The UPA

The Unquowa Parents Association is gearing up for its biggest fundraiser of the year—the 80s-themed Spring Gala and Auction! It will take place at Unquowa on the evening of Saturday, April 29th, and promises to be a festive night, filled with amazing food, friends, and opportunities to bid on performance tickets, local services, vacation home stays, class art projects, gift baskets, parking spaces, and one-of-a-kind teacher experiences. Save the date, dudes and dudettes; it will be totally rad!

Also in the months and year ahead, the UPA Green Committee is planning for an Upcycle Art/Fashion Show, native plantings for the front area of the school, and a global warming reduction negotiation simulation. Further details will be forthcoming.

Looking back over the winter months, the UPA was actively involved in many fun school and community-supporting activities and events.

We celebrated our amazing faculty members, staff and administrators with student-made cards and a Teacher Appreciation Breakfast provided by The Granola Bar Food Truck, held our annual Holiday Wishes Delivered Gift Card Drive to benefit Fairfield Family Services, and once again supplemented the yearly Parent Mindfulness Workshop Series, taught by an Alum parent Annie Zimmerli, PsyD, and modeled on Linda Lantieri’s Inner Resilience Program.

Every year, everyone is involved with Winterfest and this year our parents helped with crafting the incredible costumes, transformed the front school entrance into a Shrunken Kingdom and following Unquowa tradition, made sure each student and Alum went home with a special annual snowman.

As always, the UPA is grateful for our parent volunteers and all they do for the Unquowa community. Please stay involved, and if you would like to lend a hand, we would love to have your help!

The Unquowa Parents Association

Chriss Johnson Gombos, 72, of Bridgeport, passed away Wednesday, February 1, 2023. She was the beloved wife of George Gombos and a cherished member of the Unquowa community, where she served as assistant to three heads of school over her twenty year tenure here from 1995 to 2015. As a talented photographer, Chriss spent many hours capturing the daily life of Unquowa students and faculty over the years; her work is memorialized in a decade and a half of Unquowa About U.S editions and yearbooks. Chriss was involved with From the Heart, an organization that sends cards and care items to nursing homes and assisted living facilities to brighten the day of recipients. She loved to explore, travel, play cards and continued to be a wonderful photographer after her retirement. Chriss was a great friend to all and her smile will be missed by many. “Bye Now,” Chriss.

This edition of the About U.S is dedicated to the memory of Chriss Gombos

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Condolences

Robert Smith ‘62, of Easton, passed away at the age of 74 on December 20, 2022 at home surrounded by his family after battling cancer. Born in Bridgeport, Rob was educated at The Unquowa School, Notre Dame High School and received his degree in accounting from the University of Bridgeport. He started his career at Warnaco and also worked for Ethan Allen, AIG and retired as Senior VP at TIAA-CREF in Manhattan. Our condolences go out to Rob’s wife of 56 years, Joeanna, his sisters, his children, grandchildren and great granddaughter.

Amy Greenberg ‘10 has officially moved to New Jersey and started her first full-time teaching job as a fifth grade science teacher. Currently she is teaching her students about Earth’s systems and did a project where the students had to “mine” chocolate chips from a cookie representing how the mining industry affects Earth’s systems. Next, they are getting ready to talk about ecosystems and to dissect an owl pellet. Once a gator, always a gator!

Erin Daly ‘97 was recently named by Attorney Intel as one of the top 25 lawyers in the northeast! Erin works as a patent attorney at Arvinas, Inc., pharmaceutical company in New Haven, CT. She earned a JD from Suffolk University Law School, a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Notre Dame, and an undergraduate degree in chemistry and biochemistry from Fairfield University. Erin resides in Trumbull, CT with her husband and three children. Congratulations on all your impressive achievements, Erin!

Ben Stokes ‘19 was recently chosen as one of six junior men by USA Cycling to represent Team USA in the 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide, Netherlands! Ben raced an impressive time of 2:19 and placed 29th overall. Ben is in his senior year at Fairfield Prep and we are so excited to see what comes next! Go Ben!!! To watch Ben’s race go to : unquowa.org/jmuc/

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Alumni News
Alumni! We want to hear from you! Please visit our alumni page at unquowa.org/alumni to update your information or send us news directly at alumni@unquowa.org.

THE UNQUOWA SCHOOL

981 Stratfield Road, Fairfield, CT 06825-1697

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