Now & Then At Wheeler Summer 2017

Now&Then @WheelerSchool

A TRIBUTE TO DAN MILLER

Now&Then

@WheelerSchool

Vol. 14 Issue 2 Summer 2017 Editor: Laurie Flynn Head of School: Allison Gaines Pell Head of Institutional Advancement: Patricia McLaughlin Board of Trustees President: James Lousararian Alumni Association President: Carol Graves Cimilluca ‘59 Parents Association President: Leslie Tente Cover: A favorite morning ritual for 7th Head of School Dan Miller: greeting students from the steps of historic Hope Building — even ones with a loose tooth to point out!

Photo by Gabriel A. Cooney Nondiscrimination Policy: The Wheeler School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or handicap in the administration of its educational, admissions, and financial aid policies, faculty and staff recruitment and hiring policies, athletics or other programs or activities administered by the school.

FIND US ONLINE www.wheelerschool.org www.facebook.com/wheelerschool twitter @wheelerschool and @wheelerwarriors LinkedIn: The Wheeler School Alumni Network Instagram: @wheeleralumni Published by the Office of Institutional Advancement The Wheeler School 216 Hope Street Providence, Rhode Island 02906 401-421-8100

FAREWELL MESSAGE

BY DAN MILLER

Twice a year for the past fourteen, I have used this space to highlight an aspect of the School’s program or preview an initiative on the horizon.

It’s been easy, actually; Wheeler is always up to something interesting, or planning its next great adventure. Writing this piece, however – somehow doing justice to my gratitude for an institution and the people that bring it to life – is near impossible. So I’ll be brief.

Wheeler has been my family’s home – literally. Wheeler has taught my children – generously and expertly. Wheeler has provided professional challenge and opportunity – endlessly. And Wheeler has offered collegiality and friendship – timelessly. The entire Miller family has been, as they say, “all in,” and the School has rewarded us in kind.

The Middle School motto – “leave a place better than one found it” – has, for me, always struck the right balance between aspiration and pragmatism, between ambition and humility. Wheeler has continued to build on the extraordinary foundation set through generations, and it will be stronger still – in ways yet to be determined – when my successor writes her final piece for this magazine. That has always been the Wheeler way, and it has been my great honor to be part of it.

1 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Thanking Dan Miller A special tribute in words and pictures to Wheeler’s 7th Head of School. Included are reflections by a faculty member, alumna, alumni parent and administrator on the 14-year tenure of Dan Miller, plus quotes by students in the Kindergarten and the Senior Class, as well as Board Presidents since 2002.

In the history of all successful institutions, many are good, some are great, but very, very few are transformational.

Under Dan Miller’s leadership, Wheeler has been truly transformed in many positive ways.

From an expanded and rebuilt campus, to acknowledged excellence in academics, the arts and, now, athletics as well, to financial stability and dramatic increases in financial aid and community service, Dan has brought Wheeler to the level of the leading independent schools in the country.

James Lousararian Chair, The Wheeler School Board of Trustees President and CEO Verax Biomedical Incorporated

Now & Then @ Wheeler 2

BY ANNIE FUNNELL, AP ‘14, ‘16 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FACULTY MEMBER

Though I have known Dan Miller for over thirty years, I signed a non-disclosure agreement when he was hired, vowing not to tell

any stories from our good old college days.

No, of course, that’s not true. The truth is that, if there had been any interesting stories to tell, I might have tried to extort from him a parking space or a free lunch in exchange for my silence, but, sadly, I have no insider information which would surprise anyone in the Wheeler community. No one who has seen Dan pacing the sidelines of a Wheeler soccer game or who has witnessed his commitment to transforming Wheeler teams to purple and gold glory would be surprised to find out that at Amherst he was a varsity athlete with a serious competitive streak. No one who has seen him on stage as “Teen Angel” or as part of the Guys and Dolls ensemble would be surprised to hear that he was a favorite Zumbye heartthrob, crooning Sinatra lyrics for fainting fans at a cappella concerts across the Northeast.

No one who has listened to him manage to make a presentation on the school’s budget entertaining or who has heard him speak with eloquent ease on a parents’ night would be surprised to learn that he was one of my most brilliant and articulate friends.

I would like to pretend that I had something to do with Wheeler choosing Dan or Dan choosing Wheeler, but I did not. The Search Committee had already fallen in love with him before I even knew he was a candidate.

In fact, though I had been at Wheeler for nine years when Dan became the Head of School, I never truly felt like I belonged here until he came. I cared a great deal about my students and my colleagues, but I did not feel the connection to Wheeler or the sense of community that I had felt at other schools. I used to wonder each year how long we would stay, but, since Dan arrived, I don’t remember ever thinking about leaving again. Each year I am more proud of the school that Wheeler has become. It would be impossible to enumerate all the ways that 3 Now & Then @ Wheeler

he has changed the school, because the little things (from the trashcans on campus to the guardrails at The Farm) really do matter. Yet, the biggest things – like faculty members who feel appreciated and inspired and students who feel lucky to go to Wheeler – are the real proof of his efforts. I wrote Dan an email the night before our final faculty meeting last June when I finally forced myself out of being in denial about his announced departure. I had been watching a clip of Barack Obama’s appearance on The Tonight Show, and I wrote that I was struck with a revelation about how my admiration for him was analogous to my respect for the president: I am unbelievably proud to live in a country that elected such a smart, decent, honest, kind and witty man as president, but I feel sick at the thought of the end of his term and the realization that I may never again feel that same sense of pride and admiration for the leader of our country. When you are speaking at events, from graduations to parents’ nights, I feel that same sense of pride, knowing that your words will always be thoughtful and articulate and elevating and funny, and I feel the same sense of trepidation about Wheeler losing you. I am committing the unforgivable sin of quoting myself not only to prove how alarmingly prophetic my presidential prediction was, but also to emphasize the profound influence Dan’s facility with words has had on this community.

While I may joke about gripping budget presentations, it is the speeches that Dan has prepared in advance that have been the most memorable. He has been known to upstage graduation speakers with his wellresearched and entertaining introductions, and Dan has started each school year by reminding us all that he is an extraordinary teacher. Though far too few Wheeler students have had the opportunity to experience Mr. Miller as a classroom teacher, every single one of them has had the chance to listen to him teaching profound lessons. It has not been widely publicized for fear that every parent, every grandparent, and Dan’s fans from far and wide would want to attend, but Dan began a tradition in his third year at Wheeler of gathering the whole school together on Friday morning in the first week of school. He spent his first year, he will tell you, watching and listening, not trying to change anything too quickly, taking time to understand the culture of the school before thinking about what he might change. By his second year he knew that one of his priorities was to figure out ways to connect the very separate divisions of the school more often, to celebrate the benefits of being an N-12 campus. The opening week assembly and Founder’s Day have been the most notable results of Dan’s determination to develop our sense of connection and community. While Dan’s speeches have always been the highlight continued on next page —

“Dan has started each school year by reminding us all that he is an extraordinary teacher.”

“Even the way Dan is leaving us, without having chosen something else to replace Wheeler, has been a thoughtful gift, allowing us to enjoy the full measure of his attention, to feel he is still ours this whole year.” continued from previous page —

of those all-school assemblies, the event has evolved to include a parade, complete with musical prelude, purple and gold banners, cow and lion bearers, and the senior class leading in the youngest lower schoolers.

Usually the students who have been at Wheeler since they were in nursery school march in holding hands with the three year olds. This year, members of the Class of 2017 sat behind Dan, side by side with members of the Class of 2031.

For the past twelve years of these opening week assemblies in the courtyard, Dan has shared profiles of people whose stories are inspiring, individuals who have overcome unusual adversity like Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind climber to summit Mount Everest and Lopez Lomong, who survived the Second Sudanese Civil War as a captive and a refugee to become an Olympic athlete, individuals who have devoted their lives to helping others like Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who has worked to empower others with disabilities and Roy Sawyer, who discovered a way to save lives with leeches, individuals who have shown grit and determination like Susan Butcher, who won the Iditarod four times, and Diana Nyad, who at age 64 became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Often Dan chooses subjects whom few of us have heard of, but,

even when the person is more familiar, like J.K. Rowling, Dan’s storytelling and the details he has unearthed are enlightening and keep us riveted. It is one thing (not an easy thing, mind you) to hold the attention of high school students during a speech; it is quite another accomplishment to hold the attention of three and four year olds through the same speech. To transfix a crowd of hundreds of people from age three to age seventythree–outdoors on a still-summery day, with the cars passing by on Brook Street and the playground equipment beckoning–takes some magic, and it took Dan’s special magic and vision to create a tradition that gives even the most reluctant back-to-school grouches among us something to look forward to in the first week of school. Each September speculation abounds – who will it be this year? I’ll bet it’s…. – but the person’s identity is a closely guarded secret known only to his editor and Joanna never gives us hints.

Each year has begun with powerful lessons, embodied by these extraordinary role models, lessons about empathy, lessons about setting and pursuing goals, lessons about overcoming obstacles, defying conventions, lessons about effecting change, about devoting oneself to a cause. Before the first week of school is over, Mr. Miller has reminded us how fortunate we are to have the privilege of being in a place

that celebrates those lessons. We walk back to our classrooms feeling grateful, energized and hopeful, ready to take on the challenges of the new year.

T

he thought and time, the reading and research, the drafting and crafting that go into these talks give us only a glimpse of Dan’s commitment to Wheeler. From greeting us in the morning regardless of the weather to attending every possible event on campus, at The Farm and across the country, Dan has thrown himself wholeheartedly into the dayand-night, seven-days-a-week responsibilities of his role. The students know he will always be there, for every game, every concert, every show (and he might even be in the cast). Consider the year he spoke about Diana Nyad.

When Dan finished his speech, he stepped away from the podium and allowed himself to be doused with a “challenge” bucket of ice water, teaching us, yet again, how far he will go to raise awareness, to support our students and how willing he is to give of himself. Even the way Dan is leaving us, without having chosen something else to replace Wheeler, has been a thoughtful gift, allowing us to enjoy the full measure of his attention, to feel he is still ours this whole year.

Now & Then @ Wheeler 4

Dan as Teen Angel in “Grease� (above photo by Annie Funnell.) Below, cell phones capture Dan accepting the Ice Bucket Challenge at an Opening Assembly; with swimmer Diana Nyad, subject of another Opening Assembly talk, and with the Class of 2016 at their final Opening Assembly.

Some highlights of a campus metamorphosis —

11,250 sf Nulman Lewis Student Center & Pelson Student Union

8,000 sf Wharton P. Whitaker Hamilton School at Wheeler addition

27,260 sf

9

Upper School Morgan Hall top to bottom renovation with all-new science labs

Large-scale pieces in the Public Art Initiative

17,042 sf

88.1FM

Gilder Center for the Arts, including renovated Wheeler Memorial Hall

School radio signal becomes a home to National Public Radio and RI Public Radio

BY DEBORAH ALLINSON ‘68, FORMER TRUSTEE AND FORMER CHAIR, WHEELER INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

I am so happy to share a few reflections on the tenure of Dan Miller.

He has been a blessing for the school and I am proud to have worked with him in some small ways to help his marvelous vision come true.

I first heard of Dan when I was in Colorado, attending a course. A fellow student, told me that “some” school had really enticed a fantastic person to move to Providence. As the conversation unfolded, I learned that “some school” was none other than my own alma mater, Wheeler. At the time, I wasn’t connected to Wheeler. I had been gone for forty years. The vigor with which this man talked about Dan made me take note. So when I received an Alumni Office invitation to a party in Boston to meet Dan, I decided it was time I reconnected. I was curious.

I met a man with a vision. Dan knew Wheeler was a fine school, but he also saw how it could become much better. Dan laid out a picture for me, of a rebuilt physical campus, competitive compensation for the faculty and an endowment that would sustain the caliber of the school in the future. He asked me to help by joining the Board and chairing the Investment Committee; which I was happy to do.

Today, Dan’s vision has unfolded. Here is what I see at Wheeler. The Providence campus is vibrant and refreshed everywhere I look. There are new classrooms, fabulous performance spaces, an auditorium where the whole school can meet, a park for recess for the young children… to mention only a few of the improvements. But of course, the physical

OVER THE PAST 14 YEARS, THE WHEELER ENDOWMENT HAS GROWN FROM

campus really wouldn’t matter much if it wasn’t filled with fantastic students being taught by engaging and superior teachers. They are here, everywhere. I am happy to know that the student body includes many excellent scholars and athletes who are supported by the Endowment.

Dan and others worked very hard to raise these funds. There is a solid financial footing to the school.

$5 TO $37.3 MILLION* *AS OF MAY 31, 2017

My own years at Wheeler prepared me to live a life filled with meaning and learning and achievement. I attribute this tremendous gift to my parents, who made the financial commitment to send me; my teachers

BRINGING DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS IN FACULTY & STAFF SALARIES AND STUDENT FINANCIAL AID.

who were dedicated and demanding; and my headmaster, Mr. Morgan, whose warm smile and natty bow ties come quickly to mind all these many years later. I believe the students who have come to Wheeler over the last decade; the faculty and staff who have worked at his side; and the others of us who were part of the circle, will think fondly of the tall charming man, Dan Miller.

What a gift he has been!

7 Now & Then @ Wheeler

BY THE REV. REBECCA SPENCER, AP ‘15 TRUSTEE, SENIOR MINISTER AT CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

How does one write about Dan Miller?

I began by asking a mutual friend. “Could you describe Dan in just a few words?” The response? “Dry . . . and passionate.” I responded, “but those two qualities don’t go together.” He said, “You are right, but that is Dan Miller.”

Dry in wit and demeanor, passionate in education and relationship.

Only connect! That was the whole . . .Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect.

So writes E.M. Forster in Howard’s End. And connection is one of the things Dan does best!

He does not bend to pressure. He does not believe in fragments.

He accomplishes what he promises with grace and wit, good cheer, thoughtfulness and determination.

He knows every senior . . . He follows students after graduation and lets them know he really cares about them, even their siblings who may not have attended Wheeler! His habit of greeting students each morning demonstrates his commitment to connection. He makes each of us — whether student, alum, faculty, staff, neighbor, parent or Trustee (I count myself lucky to fit in the last three categories) feel heard, listened to, cared about. Under his leadership, The Wheeler School has eclipsed the traditional boundaries of a place of learning. Dan has made Wheeler a place where the arts flourish, where community is not just talked about, but lived, a place where people within and without its walls connect and construct a strong place for all, a city block transformed in a neighborhood of caring and compassion and intellectual curiosity . . . a place where asking the questions is sometimes more important than having the answers, a place where everyone is significant.

So, he can be dry, when discussing a matter of somewhat mundane nature . . . but think of how passionate he was when Wheeler installed the new, safer artificial turf. You might have believed a Wheeler alum invented the stuff!

Dan has a way of connecting people, of meeting us at our level, whether we are a kindergartner or long-time graduate. I vividly remember when he called and said he had a question for me. I asked when I might meet him at Wheeler, to which he replied, “No, I’ll come to you in your study at the church.” I thought our conversation was going to be about yet another parking dilemma, but he asked me to serve as a Trustee! (The fact that I was at first baffled as to why he would ask me, exemplifies the potential Dan sees in all of us, and that he helps to have us realize it in ourselves.) This little exchange is emblematic of Dan’s way of going out of his way to make each of

us feel we have something to offer, something to contribute to this great school. Indeed he enlarges us as individuals, which makes for a more expansive community.

So many of us have passed through Dan’s world, which he has generously opened to all. He has held a very public job in which he has been careful to ensure that we all have a place. We have each been nourished, challenged, and inspired by his example of brilliant and compassionate leadership.

Dry and passionate indeed . . .about people younger and older, about education, about our community, about connecting one to another, about make the whole so much richer.

From all of us to you, thank you, Dan!

“So many of us have passed through Dan’s world, which he has generously opened to all. He has held a very public job in which he has been careful to ensure that we all have a place.”

Now & Then @ Wheeler 8

All We Really Need To Know About Mr. Miller We Learned In The Kindergarten

By The Wheeler Class of 2029 With assistance by Kindergarten teacher Caroline Fields “Mr. Miller is the leader of the whole school. He’s the boss, but Mrs. Hahn (Lower School head) is the boss of him.”

“He’s the principal. He works for the school. He gets money and he makes the school better.”

“He’s the head of the school. He works so no one gets hurt or does something bad.”

“He is the boss of the school. He stands out in the front of the Wheeler School. He learns more about Mary C. Wheeler.”

“He’s the head of the school. There’s almost going to be a new head of school instead of him. Everyone in the classroom was invited to his house for cookies and a story and juice. He is a man.”

“He is a person that does stuff with people. He works with them. He helps people do stuff that’s hard for them.”

“Every single day when I see him when I come to school he always wears a brown coat. He’s very friendly. He is always talking to people at the front of the door. He talks to teachers about stuff.”

“He runs the school and I saw him at the market. He said he tries not to go to the market.”

“He is nice. He made good rules. He let Kindergarten go to his house. He teaches the whole school to be nice and other things we don’t know.”

“My mom told me he’s leaving and I got really sad.”

9 Now & Then @ Wheeler

BY MARK HARRIS, CP ‘24, AP ‘08 DIRECTOR, AERIE PROGRAM

Dan Miller’s 14-year tenure was not the longest of Wheeler’s seven heads of school since 1889, but his impact on the physical campus was arguably the biggest since the school’s founder began acquiring East Side houses one by one back in the late 19th Century, later adding a sizable chunk of land out in the hinterlands of Seekonk.

No corner of the campus was untouched by major change during the Miller era, and perhaps many years from now that will be the legacy, in the eyes of most who worked or studied at the school during his time here, and in the lore that succeeding teachers, students, and alums will discover and pass on.

And yet, despite the busy presence since 2003 of architects and contractors, masons and carpenters, jackhammers and cranes, landscapers and painters, the spirit of growth and change that defined the Miller years can’t really be captured in before-and-after photos, or time-lapse video clips, or blueprints. It’s not really captured by numbers, either. Yes, the school has more students. The school endowment is impressively larger. The staff is bigger. The student body is much more diverse. There are more facilities and their footprints have expanded, all to accommodate ambitious programs. But facts and figures fall short in fully explaining what Dan brought to the school.

To grasp Dan’s influence you need to appreciate art. You need to see the first child of the day staring at a mural on the side of a gym, brushing a hand across an image that looks so real that it might move. You need to see a brick-paved courtyard the evening of a performance, glowing and shimmering under the stars. You have to hear the voice of a girl rehearsing a song from the lowest reaches of a wood paneled auditorium, her soulful notes drifting out to the lobby. You have to see in that lobby a stunning portrait behind glass, drawn by an underclassman upstairs in a remodeled studio, the piece destined to reappear sometime hence at a senior show. You need to see 12 year-olds hanging on a wooden porch at a Farm Pavilion, lazily watching classmates climb over three

enormous stone figures in an old apple orchard. One of them turns to the southwest, where a bright red arch marks the forest edge at the end of a meadow, a landmark for crosscountry runners and gardeners alike. You need to walk down a bustling Upper or Lower School hallway, where color and pattern and light create inviting spaces.

artist, whose vision informed every step in starting a school. Dan’s brilliance was in large part an ability to channel that artistic vision.

In July 2003 Dan and his family blew in from Colorado. Dan took his time surveying the school, sampling every view, peering into every cranny, pouring through historiesalways through the artist’s lens.

You need to look out from the stately Cummings Room in January, where aspiring 6-year-old soccer stars in parkas scamper across a brilliant green, somewhat bouncy field, surrounded by snow, a few feet from where their classmates climb up a web of ropes to the sky. You need to sip coffee among clusters of students or teachers or parents, with views through glass walls of a vibrant bustling campus to one side, East Side life on the other, and art- always art- within a few feet of you…

It wasn’t long before chain link fencing, asphalt, haphazard signage and trash receptacles, and dusty grounds gave way to elegant and coherent landscaping and lighting, brick and blue stone and dramatic play equipment and art, everywhere art… All carried the same message. This is a creative, exciting space. There is history here, although so much is new. This is a beautiful place.

When Dan joined our community he brought a fresh eye, an outsider’s eye, an eye for art.

He had a manager’s tools, of course. He brought relentless drive and fierce intelligence to every task. He could be as analytical as an accountant, as focused as a laser. Any change being considered was cranked through a cost-benefit equation that had to work. He figured out which troops to enlist to get a job done. His audiences discovered a compelling speaker with a knack for storytelling. He distilled big ideas and made them exciting.

He juggled multiple projects and managed them all to fruition. He was a master of detail.

He was a terrific writer. He had the intense energy of a nova that blazed from the day he arrived. And he could be very, very funny. But it was Dan’s love of art that truly transformed this place.

Mary Wheeler was first and foremost an

So many of the changes, in retrospect, seem like no-brainers. 14 years ago Dan’s installation ceremony took place on a gorgeous day out at the Farm. Was that the day he decided that our country campus was a perfect setting for graduation? Was watching his first soccer game the moment when he concluded that the school colors, Purple and Gold, belonged on our athletic uniforms?

Were the summertime strolls through a nearempty campus when Dan noted that the tired décor in the buildings needed a boost or that steamy classrooms needed air conditioning?

So many improvements came in rapid-fire succession. But they weren’t scattershot.

Each one required meticulous planning.

A constituency had to be consulted and included. A case had to be made. And the big picture, the grand vision, had to justify every change. Dan’s true legacy will be the evolution of signature programs that were so limited by constraints before. His imprint on a Wheeler education will last well beyond his

Now & Then @ Wheeler 10

tenure in Providence. Performing and Visual Arts. The DIB Lab. The Hamilton School.

Aerie. The Farm Program. WELH. And his influence on teaching will last as well. Teacher salaries were dramatically boosted over the course of Dan’s tenure and helped retain and attract exceptional instructors. Investments in technology gave teachers tools that transformed the classroom experience.

lucky enough to have shared something really special, and there has been Dan, beaming or dabbing at an eye, grabbing and savoring the moment. Was he a lucky observer, was he catalytic, or was he spreading some magic?

Dan wasn’t trained in fundraising but he was a student of the art of leadership. Marshaling resources is a major element of leadership, and targeting a message is key to enlisting support. Dan was relentless in shaping a message and coaxing harmony from a cacophony of stakeholders. Ideas became achievements. Significant financial aid brought a first-class education within reach of hundreds of new families. An expanded and strengthened athletic program gave new appeal to prospective families. Thoughtfully designed spaces became places for joyous play or animated conversation or quiet concentration.

Dan sweated the details. He knew they supported the grander goals. He cared about each planting that graced the front of a new building. The carefully designed logo imbedded in a sidewalk or engraved on a sign.

The message sent when every arriving student saw him at the entrance to the school each morning, rain or shine. The message sent

A common strand running through every design, enhancement, expansion, modification, or addition Dan brought to the school was unwavering attention to quality.

Wheeler’s transmitter became the carrier for Rhode Island Pubic Radio. Breakthrough Providence became an innovator in curriculum design and attracting energetic young people to improve urban education.

The MAT program brought the best and brightest into the teaching profession and trained them to make a lasting difference. The school’s reputation soared.

A great work of art or a great education requires more than composition, more than materials, more than strategies and effort; it needs a little magic. More than anyone, Dan felt and articulated the unique energy, the magic that characterized Wheeler at its best.

There have been a lot of magical moments at The Wheeler School in the last fourteen years, moments that were so moving or special or spectacular that I wished everyone could have witnessed them. And more times than not, at the end of a beautiful dance or a breakthrough speech or a rousing chorus or a mournful solo or a buzzer-beating goal, I have turned to scan the audience, to see who was

11 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Dan brought that magic to all of his workthere was always some alchemy, turning good into great. We are all the better for it.

when he recognized the maintenance crew and kitchen staff at every opening meeting, at every closing meeting of the year. The message sent by every school publication.

Against the wall in the Student Center is a stunning horizon in glass, where sea meets air in brilliant blue. The horizon leaves the building, literally, and confines are broken; the eye is carried to a limitless expanse, with no vanishing point. May Dan’s next horizons stretch as far, be as grand, as that piece of art.

He has given us so much; he has left us so much.

Thanks, Dan.

“A great work of art or a great education requires more than composition, more than materials, more than strategies and effort; it needs a little magic.

More than anyone, Dan felt and articulated the unique energy, the magic that characterized Wheeler at its best.”

On Campus With Mr. Miller, Now & Then

“Mr. Miller always has something witty to say, something to make you laugh when you least expect it.”

Andrea Zuzarte ‘17, Community Council President

Now & Then @ Wheeler 12

“I have known Mr. Miller for 14 years and I can’t remember a day when I saw him without a smile on his face. He always goes out of his way to make sure everyone feels happy and welcome.”

Ally Monacelli ‘17, Senior Class President

“When I think of Mr. Miller, I think of the smile he puts on everyone’s face as he stands outside the front door of the school every day, whether it rains or snows. He maintains the spirit of the students.”

Sameer Khanbhai ‘17, Community Council president 13 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Past Board of Trustees Presidents Reflect “I arrived at Wheeler for an early morning meeting on Dan’s first day of School in 2003 and noticed he was standing on the front steps, greeting students, faculty and parents as they came onto campus. When I asked him if he was waiting for someone, he told me, ‘no’ that this would be his daily routine whenever possible as his goal was to get to know everyone. It immediately dawned on me that Dan’s comfort zone as Head of School was to be as approachable as possible, and that the torch had been passed to a new generation of school heads.”

Alan Tate, Board of Trustees President 2000-2006 “The day after I was elected and installed as Board Chair, I met with Dan in his office and we discussed the urgency and need for capital improvements on the Providence campus. Dan immediately became excited about the execution of a plan that had been discussed for a long time. He readily accepted the challenge and his role in starting a capital campaign, which would be his first. When looking back at the capital improvements that have taken place since that day 11 years ago, the school has been transformed. It was all because Dan was willing to do something he had never done before, and to get outside his comfort zone and work for the best interests of the school. He has become an excellent fundraiser for the school and has been successful because his passion for Wheeler is always readily apparent.”

Alan Litwin, Board of Trustees President 2006-2011 “Dan brings so much heart to everything he does at Wheeler. He always keeps the mission at the forefront. We could be working together in his office on finance issues or enrollment data, and he would jump over to the the window to point out something amazing going on between students in the courtyard below. His passion for the school and attention to all aspects of student life has fostered a culture which yields incredible results on a daily basis.” Meredith Curren, Board of Trustees President 2011-2016

A special thank you from the Providence Children’s Film Festival

We thank Dan and Joanna Miller for their long-time support of the Providence Children’s Film Festival. They share our vision and belief that great films nourish young minds and have the power to change the way we think and understand the world around us.

By partnering with the Festival, Wheeler has helped us bring the community together around compelling visual stories with a global perspective.

Anisa Raoof, Executive Director Providence Children’s Film Festival photo courtesy PCFF

Special honors will recognize Dan & Joanna Miller The Wheeler School is proud to announce two special honors recognizing Dan and Joanna Miller’s service and leadership these past 14 years.

CREATION OF A NEW ENDOWMENT The Dan and Joanna Miller Endowment for Educational Leadership was announced at the Community BBQ Celebration on June 2 after being funded by Wheeler community members.

The Endowment is in recognition of the couple’s dedication to education and in honor of the leadership, vision, and impact that Dan and Joanna Miller have had on the entire school community.

DESIGNATION OF THE MILLER QUAD The naming of the Miller Quadrangle was also announced at the Community BBQ. The space (shown by aerial photo here) encompasses the playground, turf field, mural, and new landscape within the shelter of (clockwise from top) Wheeler Memorial Hall, Health & Physical Education Center, Clark Alumni House, Nulman Lewis Student Center and Hope Building.

The Community BBQ Celebration Trustee Planning Committee from left: Judith Dickstein Remondi, Jacky Beshar, Abbott Stranahan, Lynn Williams, Alisia St. Florian ‘86 and Ron Rotondo.

Community Giving Day 2017 In one day’s time, thanks to YOU . . .

• $105,189 was raised, a 16% increase!

• 332 people gave, a 13% increase!

Clockwise from top: Kindergarten Class, Dan Miller, Head of School; Senior Class donors Andrea Zuzarte, Ally Monicelli and Maggie Willis and Annual Fund Parent co-chair Karen Nault.

Now & Then @ Wheeler 18

SHARE THE SPIRIT

CAMPUS NEWS

This year’s Community Spirit Award and SICA (Students Involved In Cultural Awareness) Family Potluck brought current and alumni families together to celebrate the 2017 recipient, Dan Miller.

Pictured are past Community Spirit Awardees from left, The Hon. Ed Clifton AP ‘02 ‘98, Patrice Wood AP ‘11, Miller, and community leader Jim Vincent with Wheeler Unity and Diversity Director Princess Bomba.

Since 2004, the Wheeler Community Spirit Award has been presented to a Rhode Island community leader for her or his efforts on behalf of social justice and advocacy for those with fewer opportunities.

SICA student co-presidents Francess Kamara ‘17 and Oye Olubowale ‘17 said in announcing this year’s award: “As student leaders, we are excited to honor our outgoing Head of School and recognize his ability to address important and sensitive issues with empathy and wisdom. Through his words and actions, he challenges us to consider varying perspectives to every issue.”

Over the course of his 14 years at Wheeler, Miller has led a dramatic improvement in broadening the socioeconomic and cultural diversity of the School.

Alumni parents from the Class of 2016 reunited at this year’s potluck. From left are Kristin Sprague, Amy Hebb, Christie Harrison, trustee Utibe Offiong, Buvana Ramaswamy, Judy Matt, Uzma Azam, Mary Farrell, Sarah Windsor, Princess Bomba, DB Hebb, Michael Windsor, Anthony Bomba, trustee Cliff White, Munawar Azam, Bob Sullivan and Marc Harrison. Photo by Ed Clifton 19 Now & Then @ Wheeler

ACADEMICS

Designing our Futures In the DIB Lab

By Nupur Shridhar, Founding Director

S

ince its opening in Fall 2016, the Hirsch/Alperin Design-InnovateBuild (DIB) Lab has served as a hub for K-12 students and faculty to come together and explore STEM in engaging, colorful, and interdisciplinary ways. More broadly, the lab is also a space in which to cultivate the skills and qualities — resiliency, a growth mindset — necessary for navigating the evolving landscape of the 21st century.

On any given afternoon, young innovators are spread throughout the entire space, rearranging the movable furniture as their work requires. In one corner, a group of middle and upper school students create a CAD model of a customized component for their robot, which will be 3D printed in the lab. In another corner, their teammates test the latest prototype, collecting data on the

mechanism’s performance and streamlining the code. Simultaneously, a group of lower school students debate solutions to current socioeconomic inequities while designing playful websites on the desktop computers.

In the midst of all this happy activity, the DIB Lab almost feels like the offices of the next up-and-coming start-up — which is, indeed, one of its purposes: to prepare kids for jobs that do not even exist yet and to equip them with the skills to pursue and realize the ideas that will shape our future.

to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their ideas and, if things short circuit, head back to the drawing board and keep going.

It’s not only a question of, How can I get better data? but also, How could I have better conveyed myself, managed my time, or moved through my work? In this way, maker spaces like the DIB Lab not only promote creativity and technical/technological skills, but also help students become more confident, resilient, reflective, and, ultimately, more successful.

At the heart of the students’ work is the design thinking process, which emphasizes research, empathizing with the intended audience/user, and prototyping ideas and products to improve the quality or outcome.

Prototyping requires true grit. Students have

Indeed, my time in the DIB Lab has helped me design the next phase of my own work: I intend to apply what I’ve learned from my cherished experiences at Wheeler as I begin a “post bacc” program at the University of Pennsylvania this fall in preparation for

Sampling of projects from the first two years: ● 6th grade science created 3D prints for their “LEGO jaws,” reinforcing their understanding of the structure/function of different kinds of mammal teeth. (top left photo)

● Detail of wooden tower designed by 8th grader Aaron Landry for this year’s Science Olympiad competition. Laser cut in collaboration with the Brown Design Workshop. (middle photo)

● 7th grade Spanish practiced the vocabulary while creating 3D models of various rooms in a house. Teachers and administrators voted on the best design. Pictured here is Harris Marino and Jordan Gaudioso’s winning design of a sala. (bottom left photo)

● A copper printmaking plate was designed in US Printmaking and milled on the DIB Lab CNC. ● US and LS designed chocolate molds with CAD models and 3D printed them in the DIB Lab. ● 3rd graders added LED circuits to their watercolor paintings, the centerpiece of their whaling unit projects. Sean MacIvor chose to make his whale’s eye light up — and then added a couple more modern (PacMan) characters as well.

● MS theatre students created a 3D print as the centerpiece of their to-scale shoebox set designs for The Tempest.

● US FTC competition robot. Wheeler’s team 252 — the Electric Quahogs — tied for 3rd place at the state robotics competition this year.

● 7th grade Hamilton science created 3D models of eukaryotic cells.

medical school. Though I will greatly miss the Wheeler community, I am happy to introduce Meghan Jimenez, who will take over as director of the DIB Lab in the 201718 school year. Ms. Jimenez completed her BS in Engineering at Harvey Mudd College and is completing her MS in Education at the University of Pennsylvania this school year, while working as the maker space director at Deerfield Academy. I’ve had the pleasure of brainstorming with Ms. Jimenez, and I could not be more excited for her plans to grow the lab’s engineering and design curricula.

I look forward to seeing what she and her students will create, and I thank you for this time at Wheeler.

21 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Equipment in the DIB Lab:

● 3D printers ● CNC mill and drill press

● K-12 robotics materials

● Circuitry and

electronics (microprocessors, LEDs, soldering station)

● Small-scale

woodworking and hand tools

Familiar faces celebrate BTP’s 25th Anniversary. From left are Nick Bernardo, Marisa Chock, Christina Turner, Dulari Tahbildar, Michael Goldstein, Esan Looper, Vicki Santos Silva, Jenn David-Lang and Carlon Howard.

Breakthrough Providence:

Celebrating 25 Years of Success at Wheeler

By Dulari Tahbildar, Executive Director

B

reakthrough Providence was founded as Providence Summerbridge at the Wheeler School in 1992 by Jenn David-Lang and Michael Goldstein. Jenn and Michael were Brown University students who wanted to bring a program they had participated in as teaching fellows in San Francisco to the young people of Providence. Thanks to the open mind and vision of Wheeler’s Head of School Bill Prescott, Providence Summerbridge was created and Wheeler became its home.

This past April 25th, Breakthrough Providence (BTP) celebrated its 25th anniversary at the beautiful home of former Board of Trustees President Meredith Curren and Gary Frishman. Nearly 70 friends, including members of BTP’s first graduating

class and donors who have made gifts of $25,000 or more over the past 25 years, gathered and exchanged good memories and laughs. Henry Severino ‘99, former BTP student and teaching fellow and Wheeler graduate, gave an inspiring testimony about the impact Breakthrough Providence had on his own life as well as his son’s, who graduated from Breakthrough Providence in 2015.

A Proven Model Breakthrough Providence is unique because of its dual mission. At the same time that we are supporting low-income, first generation college-bound middle school students to get and stay on a path to college, we are also training high school and college students to be creative, rigorous, and compassionate teachers. Over the past 25 years, we’ve

heard hundreds of stories of how a young person’s experience at BTP — whether as a student, teaching fellow, or both — provided them with new perspectives, strong skills, and lasting relationships. We have also identified five areas of impact that make Breakthrough Providence a local leader in the fields of dropout prevention, college access & success, teacher education, and professional development.

Success To and Through College Each summer, BTP eliminates summer learning loss by engaging students in rigorous and engaging project-based learning. Each year, at least 95% of BTP students graduate high school, and at least 75% enroll in college. This is compared to a 71% high school graduation rate and 38% college enrollment rate for Providence students.

Now & Then @ Wheeler 22

Students as Teachers Up to one-third of our high schooland college-aged teaching fellows are graduates of our two-year middle school program. Students return because of a desire to give back, and end up gaining incredible skills along the way such as lesson planning, relationship building, team teaching, selfadvocacy, and accountability. Over the 25year history of the program, many Wheeler Upper School students have also contributed countless hours as teachers as well.

Teacher Pipeline About half of BTP teaching fellows are interested in pursuing a career in education. BTP teaching fellows are twothirds people of color, one-third male, and one-half Providence residents. This is compared to Providence’s teaching force which is overwhelmingly white, female, and non-residents of the city. BTP teachers receive training and support to develop skills in restorative justice, intersectional analysis, and project-based learning — all key to the development of culturally competent and engaging classroom teachers.

Cultivating Local Talent Many BTP teaching fellows build their careers in RI in diverse fields including law, government, finance, and community development. They bring with them a strong commitment to equity, collaborative problem-solving, and lifelong learning — values that BTP celebrates and infuses into all of our structures and curriculum.

Expanded Impact In addition to making an impact on the lives of more than 2,000 young people in Providence through our core programs, BTP has expanded our impact through partnerships and the sharing of best practices. BTP has collaborated with the Providence Public School District to train novice teachers on culturally-responsive teaching strategies, partnered with a new high school to adapt our “students teaching students” model to their peer tutoring program, and organized a group of RI educators committed to the Movement for Black Lives. These initiatives have enabled BTP to reach hundreds more students than we have the capacity to reach on our own.

For our full 25th Anniversary Impact report, go to www.breakthroughprovidence.org.

23 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Farewell from Executive Director, Dulari Tahbildar It’s been an incredible privilege to have spent nine years (and in a few months, ten summers) strengthening and expanding our “students teaching students” model. I have cherished all the relationships I’ve built across the Wheeler and Breakthrough communities and will carry with me so many amazing memories. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished as an organization for the young people of Providence. We’ve not only filled a void by offering fun and rigorous academic and leadership programming during the summer and after-school hours, but we’ve also pushed the boundaries of what teaching and learning can look like, modeling for others that teaching can and should be a creative and inspiring endeavor and that learning can and should be filled with curiosity and collaboration. While I do not yet know what my next professional steps are, I do know that I’ve learned so much from my Breakthrough Providence community. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey!

Welcoming New Leadership Breakthrough Providence launched a search for a new Executive Director in January 2017 and is thrilled to welcome Carlon Howard as Dulari’s successor.

Carlon Howard most recently served with City Year Providence as an Impact Manager where he oversaw the implementation of the Whole School Whole Child service model at a local elementary school. Before entering his role with City Year Providence, he served one year as a City Year Providence AmeriCorps member, taught 5th grade math, and was a policy adviser for Colorado State Senator Mike Johnston (Colorado Senate District 33).

Carlon is a social entrepreneur dedicated to exploring innovative ways to solve some of our country’s most pressing problems. He recently helped found the Fellowship for Educators for Equity and Diversity (F.E.E.D.) – an initiative aimed at recruiting and retaining teachers from historically under-served communities – and co-hosts monthly meetups designed to support education leaders from under-represented backgrounds.

Carlon graduated from the University of Georgia with undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science. During his time at the University of Georgia, Carlon led several student organizations, was a Richard B. Russell Leadership Fellow, and was recognized as Pandora Yearbook’s Outstanding Senior Leader. Recently, he completed a graduate degree in education from Rhode Island College. He currently is completing a leadership development program with New Leaders Council Rhode Island.

Carlon is an avid reader and lifelong learner who spends much of his time exploring topics related to educational equity, financial literacy, and leadership.

Immigrants & Refugees Are Focus Of Campus-Wide Projects This Spring Middle School A cool way to raise funds for Dorcas International through an ice cream social.

Upper & Middle Schools Middle School

Five Wheeler student clubs join forces to bring the documentary “Home Across Lands: Refugees in RI� to a free movie night and panel discussion.

Unity & Diversity Day panel of Upper School children of immigrants speaks to Grades 6-8.

Now & Then @ Wheeler 24

Lower & Hamilton Building off Fourth Grade’s annual Immigration Simulation, teacher Susie Dorr added a new service project with fellow faculty Megan O’Hara and Barbara Simpson to fill backpacks with school supplies and hand-written cards of support for young refugees living in Rhode Island.

The Wheeler/Hamilton students did chores at home to earn money for the supplies and Wheeler provided the backpacks. One family receiving the gifts (inset) had just had a housefire. Dorr said the project showed today’s students how “our Wheeler values can translate into action in the world.”

Barbara Simpson’s students also read the Marissa Moss novel, “Hannah’s Journey,” about a Russian Jewish immigrant child, then added their own journal entries to the book, and sent them to the author. Moss wrote back to the class to thank them for their stories.

25 Now & Then @ Wheeler

CAMPUS NEWS

Third Grade’s “Wax Museum” brought famous people, past and present, to Lower School this year.

Students designed costumes, researched facts and held their poses until younger students brought them to life!

MODEL STUDENTS

YOUNG ART LOVERS

RADIO’S GOLDEN AGE

Our Model UN delegation earned TWO top awards at the national conference in March. This is significant because unlike the college-based Model UNs, the national conference awards very few honors. The group earned an Award of Merit for overall peformance and rising seniors Adam Dolce and Max Levine won the top Award of Distintion.

Senior Teresa Lee (center) meets with PreKindergarten students admiring her ceramics work while visiting one of the Senior Art Exhibits this spring in the Chazan Gallery at Wheeler. The younger students met the artists and wrote reports about the art they saw.

Some students were inspired to draw self-portraits after seeing the older students’ works.

Celebrating its 30th year, Wheeler School Broadcasting was excited to see four seniors earn “golden microphones” for sports coverage at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System awards in 2017. From left with manager Dave Schiano are Zac Emanuel, Will Templeton, Alex Evangelista and #1 ranked basketball play-by-play announcer Sevrin Lavenstein.

26 Now & Then @ Wheeler

“Mind Your p’s & q’s Party” chairs Karen Macek and Stephanie Atanasoff and Hamilton Director Jon Green present the award to Weatherwax after her day on campus.

Author & Sculptor Annie Weatherwax Models What The Dyslexic Mind Can Do As Our 2017 Hamilton School at Wheeler Life Achievement Award Recipient photos by Anna Coe 27 Now & Then @ Wheeler

CAMPUS NEWS

Wheeler’s Interbelief Club joined other community groups at the “Never Again Means Never Again” multifaith vigil last March in Providence. Students Everett Smith (speaking) and Laila Mirza (right) helped organize.

Presidential Scholar School Never Gets From Wheeler (again) Old For These Kids

Student Is NASA Bound This Summer

Senior Class co-President Andrew Lee ‘17 was named one of two RI Presidential Scholars, the fifth Wheeler student so honored in RI or Massachusetts over the past seven years and the eighth overall. Lee joins Tim Clancy ‘14, Max Saccone ‘13, Cybele Greenberg ‘12, Sol Taubin ‘11, Adrienne Gagnon ‘93 and Mary Beth Woodcome Gordon ‘91.

NASA is calling Naomi Shimberg ‘18, selected for one of 40 prestigious SEES summer STEM internships out of 600 applications.

Interns will learn how to interpret NASA satellite data while working with scientists and engineers at the Univ. of Texas at Austin Center for Space Research.

First graders get a chance to experience “old age” as they dress like their elders on the 100th day of school. The students parade around campus (in slow-mo) to share the special day with older students who remember how big a number 100 must seem to the younger set.

Now & Then @ Wheeler 28

Ethiopian native Mekbul Jemal led a fun creative movement assembly for students during the Lower School’s Unity & Diversity Day in January. Jemal has studied dance in Ethiopia and throughout Europe. photo by Lupe Vivier

PARENT VOLUNTEERS HELP SCHOOL THRIVE

29 Now & Then @ Wheeler

The Wheeler Parents Association continued its support of Wheeler and Hamilton with special events and volunteerism throughout the school year. At left, WSPA President Leslie Tente takes the helm from Rita Nowak and above, the 69th Famous Clothing & More chairs Caroline Bruno, Celia Durkin and Martha Murphy ‘80 helped raise $73,289 to support the School this year.

Our third annual Founder’s Day (held the Friday closest to Mary Wheeler’s May 15 birthdate) fulfilled the day’s three major goals: Make Art. Make Friends. Make a Difference. Using the theme “Parks,” students made chalk drawings, volunteered at numerous public parks and got to know students from grades different from their own. At day’s end, everyone gathered as one community to celebrate the woman whose vision brought us all together. One of the multi-age groups used part of their time together to write the reflection below:

The parks belong to everyone.

They’re a place where we have lots of fun.

We picnic under the trees While flowers are pollinated by the bees.

We learned about our community And all of its diversity.

We worked with students from different grades; There’s more to us than just our age.

We’re Wheeler students tall and small, Making parks better for all.

By a 5th, 7th and 10th grader

Now & Then @ Wheeler 30

Founder’s Day

31 Now & Then @ Wheeler

— As Wheeler completes its transition to the RI Interscholastic League, follow us at www.wheelerschool.org/athletics

Three Seasons of Superlatives FALL Soccer: SENE Boys Varsity Soccer Tournament Champions and Girls Varsity Soccer Season Champions Cross Country: SENE Boys Cross Country Champions and SENE & NEPSTA Girls Cross Country Champions Tennis: RIIL Tennis Singles Girls Champion Julia Pezzuco '18 Football: RIIL DIIIA Season Champions and RIIL All-State "It Takes A Team Award" Boys Co-op Football Team, Zac Emanuel ‘17 RI Football Golden Dozen Award WINTER Basketball: RIIL DIII Girls Varsity Basketball Champions UNDEFEATED Swimming: RIIL DII Boys Swimming Champions SPRING Golf: SENE Coed Golf Champions; Alison Paik ‘20, 2017 SENE Best Stroke Game Play Average Track & Field: NEPSTA Div III 800m and 1500m Girls Track Champion Camila Michaels '17 See more team and individual honors at www.wheelerschool.org/awards

ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

Class of 2017: College-Committed Athletes Nearly 1 out of 9 graduates from the Class of 2017 are committed or planning to commit to a college athletics team. We gathered some of these Wheeler Warriors for a photo (above) to highlight the hard work and effort they've devoted to their sport over the course of their Wheeler careers. Congrats to, from left: Harrison Snow, crew at Northeastern; Toby Satterthwaite, crew at Harvard; Zeke Miller, soccer at Grinnell; Camila Michaels, track and field at Columbia; Shung-Wen Pappas, baseball at Williams; Hunter Moore, tennis at Trinity College; Lucy Hamilton, crew at Harvard; Emma Adrain, ice hockey at Bowdoin; Ben Volpe, track and field at Fordham; Ben Aleixo, baseball at Babson and Veta Mayer, lacrosse at Dartmouth.

A BANNER YEAR Anna Metcalf ‘18 (with ball) is the latest Wheeler Warrior to earn a spot on the 1,000 Point Club banner hung at the Van Norman Field House at The Wheeler Farm. Metcalf made the milestone shot on February 21 by sinking a free throw (and her 25th point of the game) against Tiverton High School.

Metcalf returns for her senior season with her RI Interscholastic League-defending championship team.

33 Now & Then @ Wheeler

ALL SEASON SERVICE: ATHLETES GIVE IN CREATIVE WAYS TO COMMUNITY

Above: Gastel tries to take the puck from his advisor, Upper School Biology teacher John Wemple. Inset: Classmate Alden Weinberg assists in spraying water on the new rink’s surface.

PSW (PCD/St. Raphael/Wheeler) co-op ice hockey player Dennis Gastel ‘18 used a space off Gano Street in Providence to create a community ice rink last year.

The rink was located in Gano Street Park, next to the old drawbridge. “I’ve been building rinks for more than 10 years (in my backyard and for a company I started), and I wanted to use my experience to create a rewarding Community Service project,” said Dennis. “My main goal was to bring the fun of outdoor skating and pond hockey to the kids and families of RI who would not otherwise have the opportunity. In addition, hockey skates are very expensive, so I knew there are many kids who do not own a pair. Because of this, I started a skate drive involving Wheeler, my hockey team, and a quickly-growing hockey company called Zeal, and collected 30 pairs of skates for the public to use.”

A three-season Warrior, Dennis hopes for a colder winter this year so that the rink can re-open and be enjoyed by more members of the community.

Swimmer Creates Wheeler Team For Upcoming Swim Across America Event Ben Czech ‘18, Wheeler’s first NEPSSA (New England Prep School Swimming) All Star is leading an effort this September to support the Swim Across America program to “make waves to fight cancer.” Czech, the Wheeler Swim Team, the campus Tri Club and other faculty, students and parents at the School have committed to raise funds and take part in either the 1/2 mile or full mile open swim to be held September 9 at Roger Wheeler Beach in Narragansett.

Musical Staircase Is A Campus Hit Wheeler Warriors Anna Metcalf ‘18 and Dennis Gastel ‘18 completed a project that grew out of the Hirsch/Alperin Design-Innovate-Build Lab — programming a musical staircase in the Nulman Lewis Student Center.

Hamilton 3rd and 8th grades were first to test their prototype which remained active for two days, providing some whimsical fun as a gift to the campus community.

Now & Then @ Wheeler 34

ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

SWIMMER’S EAR Rhode Island Olympic medalist Elizabeth Beisel visited with the Wheeler Swim Team this season to give advice before the swimmers headed to the championships. The Warriors were listening as the team honors and Boys Championship attest.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT: VARSITY ATHLETES WELCOME LOWER SCHOOL STUDENTS Thanks to the help of Lower School parent volunteers, and Warrior athletes and coaches, a Lower School Family Spirit Night drew nearly one hundred to watch the undefeated Wheeler Girls Varsity Basketball Team at the Van Norman Field House. Students got free spirit bandannas and tattoos, formed a “high five” tunnel for the team, saluted the flag from the court during the anthem and shot baskets during half time. Varsity players got lots of love and cheers and a new fan base! More events are planned for all three seasons next year.

35 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Advanced Theater Trip to NYC Looking every bit ready for Broadway, students in Lisa Brackett’s Advanced Theater class enjoyed a field trip to New York to take workshops in music and theater craft as well a chance to go through real auditions. Here are some of the students who went on the trip as photographed by fellow student Marina Hojman ‘17. The full list is below.

Making the trip to NYC this year were Sam Batt, Jacob Beitle, Lauren Durkin, Zac Emanuel, Maya Gabor, Cynthia Guo, Amy Hall, Mae Harrington, Leah Huntley, Marina Hojman, Sameer Khanbhai, Emma Lemire, Andrea Salas, Everett Smith, Will Templeton and Zach Thompson.

Now & Then @ Wheeler 36

PERFORMING ARTS

A PERSON’S A PERSON NO MATTER HOW SMALL . . . Grades 4 & 5 delighted audiences with Seussical, The Musical this year with colorful costumes, tonque-twisting lyrics and imaginative sets.

GUYS AND DOLLS...

AND MR. MILLER?

STUDENTS GIVE THEIR DON’T BE LEFT OUT; ALL ON DAY OF GIVING ALL SHOWS ARE ONLINE

Upper School’s Musical was the crowdpleaser Guys And Dolls with a special cameo in the number, “The Oldest Established” by former college a cappella singer Dan Miller.

The audiences for each performance were surprised when he appeared, and impressed by how long he could hold a note!

Wheeler’s Jazz Ensemble (above), the 18 Wheelers and Lower School singers all performed during this year’s Mardi Gras-themed Community Giving Day for donors and volunteers. The performers kept the Nulman Lewis Student Center alive with reasons to support Wheeler’s programs and people.

37 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Middle School’s performance of High School Musical capped a full year of theater and concerts all captured on video by our campus broadcasting network.

Watch recordings at www.wheelerschoolbroadcasting.org. Performing Arts videos are behind the password: wheeler1889.

Mary Colman Wheeler Mary Helena Dey Mabel Van Norman S. Rowland Morgan Hugh Madden William C. Prescott

Fall Family Fest Reunion 2017 Join us as the Classes of ‘2s and ‘7s reunite, families gather for some fall fun at The Farm, and everyone returns to celebrate Wheeler!

Saturday, October 14

Dan Miller Allison Gaines Pell

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Fall Family Fest at The Farm free activities, Middle School Soccer Tourney and the Pingree Games 5 p.m.

Installation of the 8th Head of School Isenberg Auditorium, Gilder Center for the Arts 6 p.m.

Celebration Block Party & Class Dinners Meeting Street, Providence Campus

An American In Paris

Exhibits & Events Draw Hundreds To Celebrate Art and History

39 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Hundreds toured joint exhibits at Wheeler’s Chazan Gallery and the Providence Art Club featuring art by Mary Wheeler and other women during March as part of “Making Her Mark” (Art Club) and “An American In Paris” (Wheeler). Curator and Art Department Chair Bob Martin shared never-before exhibited works by Mary Wheeler. The Wheeler Family (above) loaned their rarely-seen nude oil and attended the event. Alumni, parents, faculty, grandparents and parents of alumni all praised the connected events and Parisian flair.

Field Day 2017 THEATER PROGRAM TOASTS 8TH NOMINATION TO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

Now & Then @ Wheeler 40

Photo credits: Colin Noel ‘15, left page

103rd Field Day Results

Greg Pilgrim CP ‘18, ‘19, center pair Annie Funnell AP ‘14, ‘16, bottom

Overall Winner: Purple Team Upper School: Gold Middle School: Purple Lower School: Purple Apache Races: Purple Girls & Purple Boys

Jean Haffenreffer Baker ‘51 and Ann Stewart Orth ‘51

A Lifelong Friendship Begins At Wheeler

By Marina Hojman ‘17

A Alumni Profile

nn Stewart Orth ‘51 and Jean Haffenreffer Baker ‘51 have been friends for more than than four of my lifetimes combined. They met when they were four years old, attended Wheeler together for 14 years (today we call those students “Survivors”), and remain in contact today.

Although life inevitably set them on different paths, Ann and Jean have maintained a lifelong friendship.

Sixty-six years after graduating, these women are still able to recount vivid memories from their time at Wheeler. They remember spending a fair amount of time in the Cushing House, which was located about two blocks (across Pembroke Field) from Wheeler’s main campus on Hope Street.

Baker describes that their “days were filled with workbooks, artistic adventures, blocks, and trips to the Farm.” Ann and Jean felt that Wheeler was a carefree and comforting environment, describing the closeness of the Class of 1951, which began in Lower School with a mere eight girls.

Jean and Ann reflect fondly upon their time in and out of the academic classroom. They spent their Lower School days in the Fresh Air Building (FAB), which is used today as the wing for the Upper School English classrooms. As Ann and Jean grew older, they moved on from the Lower School, transitioned to Middle School, and soon were introduced to the Upper School and the first Wheeler headmaster, Rowland Morgan. Jean and Ann loved Upper School, as they felt a new sense of freedom, maturity, and independence. Some of their favorite classes included “Problems of Democracy” taught by Miss Tooker, French classes with the graceful Miss Erlenmeyer, and passionate English classes taught by Miss Baechle. The pair looked forward to Friday morning assemblies where Mr. Tinker, the music teacher, would teach the older students “arias from now familiar operas.”

Ann (left) and Jean (right) from the 1951 yearbook

In addition to academics, Jean and Ann were involved in a number of extracurricular activities during their time at Wheeler.

They participated in the musical productions, Field Days, and played on a number of sports teams. Ann and Jean remember Wheeler’s inclusive, lively, and engaging atmosphere. They truly enjoyed their 14 years at the school, and felt that Wheeler taught them valuable life lessons. Each described the ways in which Wheeler encouraged teamwork, community, and responsibility -- principles that are still very much valued at Wheeler today. In fact, most of Ann and Jean’s stories about Wheeler resemble my own. I expected them to have very different experiences than my own, as they graduated nearly seven decades ago. However, it is clear to me that we all feel that Wheeler has encouraged us to be better versions of ourselves. The school has undergone hundreds of changes since the 40s and 50s, as it should; but its Spirit remains the same.

After speaking with Jean and Ann, I realized that our school motto, The Spirit Giveth Life, has truly been relevant throughout our school’s history. Wheeler continues to inspire students to improve themselves and the world around them. Although I will never know how Ms. Baechle explained Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter style, I clearly understand that the faculty members were the nucleus of Ann and Jean’s Wheeler experience. Ann and Jean made it very obvious in their stories and memories that their teachers were what made Wheeler so enjoyable and unique to them. Their teachers were their role models, their parents, and their confidantes.

One’s education is only a culmination of knowledge gained by those who have encouraged us to truly experience the world. According to these lifelong friends, “Wheeler prepared one for the wide, wide world.” I wonder if in 2082, 65 years after I have graduated, I, too, will look back on my Wheeler career and thank it for giving me the opportunity to learn from great writers, musicians, historians, scientists, observers, and thinkers.

I have a feeling that Wheeler will always value The Spirit Giveth Life and continue to inspire future generations of students to strive for excellence.

Now & Then @ Wheeler 42

Geoff O’Hara ‘87 — 2017 Alumni Association Founder’s Award Recipient

Award Honors Alumnus, Former Trustee, Current Parent

By Naomi Shimberg ‘18

“I

n some ways, Wheeler was a second parent to me,” says Geoff O’Hara ‘87. O’Hara attended Wheeler from nursery to 12th grade, his experience characterized by the fact that he lived on campus and experienced several “watershed” moments for the school such as the integration of boys into the student body and the birth of the Aerie Program. Wheeler’s one-block campus was truly his home and its students and faculty his family because O’Hara’s father was the Head of Middle School and thus O’Hara grew up on Cabot Street in the building which currently houses the Alumni Offices and College Counseling. “I honestly don’t think it’s an overstatement that everything I am today, at least in part, is rooted in my experience at Wheeler,” says O’Hara.

It’s not surprising then, that O’Hara can recall several vivid memories of his time at Wheeler. He remembers the now long-gone tradition of releasing hundreds of purple and gold balloons into the sky above Wheeler Farm after the Field Day parade. He speaks fondly of the moment during his senior year in which Wheeler’s basketball team beat Moses Brown, the previously all-girls school defeating the formerly all-boys athletic powerhouse at the varsity level for the first time. He speaks of Mr. Hufstader, the English teacher who taught him “how to communicate,” and of Mr. Harris, then a lower school gym teacher who would walk the nursery students from Cushing House to Pembroke Field to play sports in the crisp mornings. As a junior at Wheeler, it’s strange for me to think of Mr. Harris of Aerie as a gym teacher, yet I find it oddly fitting as I can picture him running around with nursery students, and perhaps even handing them a Tic-Tac or two.

After graduating Wheeler, O’Hara attended Colby College as a government and political science major. He received his master’s degree from American University and worked on Capitol Hill before moving back to Rhode Island in 2001. Today, O’Hara is the Vice President, Regional Affairs & Advocacy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is the world’s largest business federation. He and his wife have three children who now attend Wheeler.

Between work and family O’Hara is undeniably a busy man, however, since returning to Rhode Island he has steadfastly found time to give back to the Wheeler Community.

He says, “it gives me so much satisfaction to give back all that I have received from the school over the years.” Among other roles, O’Hara has served on the Alumni Board, the Institutional Advancement Committee, the Board of Trustees, and most recently on the Head Search Committee. He states that the latter was one of the most gratifying experiences, assuring me that Wheeler “has made an excellent choice in hiring Mrs. Pell.”

43 Now & Then @ Wheeler

On October 14 during Reunion, O’Hara will be presented with the Founder’s Award which is the highest honor given by the Alumni Association. The award will recognize O’Hara’s leadership, outstanding class outreach, and the positive difference he has made in the Wheeler community.

When asked why he has done so much for our school, his response was indicative of his humble nature, as he states Alumni that he “still feels indebted to the school” for all that it Profile has done for his family and him.

Just as Wheeler was a “second parent” to him growing up, I believe that Geoff O’Hara acts as a parent to Wheeler today through all of his efforts to continue the growth and betterment of our community.

IN MEMORIAM

CLASS NEWS & PHOTOS Elizabeth Hayes, Class of 1918

Where Credit is (Over)Due: Behind the Building of Colonial Williamsburg Historians, and other researchers contacting the School, are beginning to give credit to a Wheeler alumna from the Class of 1918 for her role in the rebuilding of Colonial Williamsburg in Virgina.

Elizabeth Hayes Goddard graduated from Wheeler and attended the Rochester Business Institute. After first working at Cornell University, she interviewed for, and was hired by, the Rev. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, typing sermons, yes, but also becoming over an 18-year period, Goodwin’s “right hand” as he took on a number of important projects such as writing the history of the Virginia Theological Seminary and more significantly, beginning the work to raise awareness and funds for the restoration of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Hayes’ role ranged from typing and general office tasks to research, photography and financial reports, especially reports for the project’s major donor, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. So deeply did she involve herself in the work, that one article in Colonial Williamsburg magazine describes her spending her Christmas vacations at the Library of Congress, reading colonial editions of the Virigina Gazettes and

conferring with the Rockefeller’s accountants about bookkeeping protocols for the project.

Her initial $120.00 month salary from Rev. Goodwin grew to $1,000 a month in 1934, paid by the Restoration project.

Making the case for funding often involved Rev. Goodwin using Hayes’ own examples, such as when the ceiling of the Wren Building, where Hayes worked on the campus of William and Mary, collapsed onto her typewriter.

Single during this time of her life, Hayes roomed with college professors’ families. She owned her own roadster and had an apptitude for writing. Two of her manuscripts have become critical primary resources for information about the restoration’s early years.

While publicly, this “woman behind the men” did not receive acknowledgement of her role as what one person described as “an organizational genius,” Rockefeller did tell Hayes that “I formed. . . a high opinion of the services you rendered to the Restoration in the early years of its history and of your own abilities and discretion.”

After Rev. Goodwin’s death in 1939, Hayes accepted a new position: that of social and business secretary for Mary Astor, wife of the multimillionaire Vincent Astor. She left the job once she married and gave birth to her daughter Diane.

With her husband, Air Force pilot Col. George W. Goddard, Hayes retired to Maryland and Florida. She died in 1984 and is buried beside her husband in Virginia’s Arlington National Cemetery.

Cassandra Hatch Culbert ‘54 - 2/5/16 Ena Shackford Brown ‘39 - 2/21/16 Katherine ‘Katie’ Hitch Grant ‘57 - 3/22/16 Mary Louise Boss Mittell ‘47 - 3/29/16 Peggy Provost Perley ‘47 - 4/1/16 Natalie Leonard Vitti ‘55 - 4/27/16 Alice Riley Anderson ‘60 - 7/3/16 Katherine C. Salisbury Downes ‘45 - 7/14/16 Marilyn ‘Lyn’ Peck Kenyon ‘41 - 7/24/16 Mary Jane Manierre Foote ‘38 - 7/29/16 Emily Wright Ilgen ‘37 - 8/15/16 Nancy Parker Welbourn ‘42 - 9/11/16 Natalie Tootell Oliver ‘46 - 10/28/16 Ruth Welch ‘43 - 11/16/16 Betsy DuVally Bessinger ‘41 - 11/26/16 Virginia Uihlein Martin ‘38 - 11/28/16 Leslie C. Berge ‘77 - 1/15/17 Rosamond Logan Elliott ‘48 - 1/21/17 Edith ‘Edie’ Swanson Middleton ‘50 - 1/21/17 Edna ‘Liz’ Benoit Carson ‘48 - 1/25/17 Margaret ‘Beebles’ Lawson Shaw ‘62 - 2/2/17 Charlotte Andrews Lynch ‘47 - 2/23/17 Sylvia Dowden Schroeder ‘50 - 2/28/17 Sally Waring Buffinton ‘45 - 3/1/17 Charlotte ‘Lolly’ Horgan Anderson ‘49 - 4/21/17 Ruth Payan Clark ‘47 - 4/23/17 Elizabeth ‘Eliza’ Stokes Adams ‘78 - 4/24/17 Nancy Parsons Doolittle ‘47 - 6/4/17 Patricia ‘Patty’ Davis Cooper ‘58 - 6/1/17 Former Faculty & Staff Barbara Greenawalt (Former Faculty) 3/11/16 Jean K. MacIntyre (Former Faculty) 4/4/17 Carolyn N. Curtis (Former Staff) - 6/6/17 Former Trustee Richard ‘Dick’ E. Krolicki 4/8/17

By Laurie Flynn, Editor. Sources from the Winter 2014 issue of Colonial Williamsburg article “She Was Not One To Toot Her Own Horn” by Mary Miley Theobald. photo from Colonial Williamsburg

Now & Then @ Wheeler 44

1949 & 1959

Alys Acworth Rickett shared tea with Wheeler alumna trustee Carol Graves Cimilluca ‘59 (who took the photo at right) during a visit to Rickett in London, England in June. Rickett featured Wheeler in her book, Each Side of the Pond, about living at Wheeler during WWII.

1963

Congrats to Robin Squibb, of Granny Squibb’s Iced Tea which was recognized as a 2017 Local Hero in Edible Rhody Magazine.

Robin founded the Granny Squibb Company in 2009, and has since expanded her product into 250 stores in New England as well as moved to using all-organic ingredients.

1974 & 1975

It’s a Small World: Adelaide (aka Winkie) Tingley ‘75, Hope Chatterton McDermott ’75 and Julie Evrard Silcock ‘74 at right at a party at Julie’s sister’s home in Needham.

Julie reports, “This is the second year we have reunited at this event. They were in shock and awe to learn that I was Wendy’s sister, whom they know in Boston and I was surprised they knew her. Of course we recognized each other immediately at the party because we haven’t changed one bit (well...not exactly, but good enough).”

1985

Dan Wood and his wife and partner Amale Andraos were keynote speakers on the topic: “Radical Preservation” at the 2017 Providence Preservation Society’s Annual Meeting.

The meeting was held at the Wheeler Gilder Center for the Arts. Wood and Andraos are principals at WORKac and lead international architecture projects. They are former Wheeler Fox Family Speakers.

1986 & 1989

Dave Mandell ‘86 and Jan Sturner ‘89, dropped in during a recent trip for a pickup game on campus. They may have had height advantages, but the kids held their own on the court.

Exciting to see Cathi Salvo ‘ 86 on the cover of Mountain Lakes Living. Salvo is a health and fitness coach as well as field hockey and lacrosse coach.

45 Now & Then @ Wheeler

1987

Darlene D’Arezzo (top left) was back behind the Wheeler radio mic 30 years after the station began. She has begun a new podcast about happiness and health with Dr. Nadia Archambault at WELH 88.1 FM and on wheelerschoolbroadcasting.org.

1999

Brett Culbert and wife, Beth, welcomed son Vance on Brett’s birthday, April 3. “Since we have the same birthday, we will have a lifetime of side-by-side photos,” says Brett. (top right photo)

2002

Tiffany Marsocci was featured as a “Woman on the Rise” in a special section of Rhode Island Monthly. Marsocci is Director of Weddings and Special Events at Kirkbrae Country Club in Rhode Island and gave Wheeler a nice shout-out in her profile!

Eric Palmieri (bottom photo) was featured before the Super Bowl on the cover of the food section of the Providence Journal. Using black olives and pepperoni slices, Eric created a New England Patriots logo on a large sheetpan pizza made to order during the run-up to the Super Bowl at D. Palmieri’s Bakery in Johnston, RI.

2003

Artist Giacomo Fortunato has been accepted at the Biennale di Venezia, one of the most prestigious exhibitions in the world. His photography will be housed at the Palazzo Mora and is curated by the Global Art Affairs Foundation. This international exhibition opened to the public Saturday May 13 and runs through Sunday November 26.

2004

Christina Ricci Salmani (center) married Robert Salmani of Cranston, RI, November 5, 2016 at the Alpine Country Club. Robert is a CPA with Nadeau Wadovick LLP in Warwick RI and Christina is the Office Manager at Ricci Family Dentistry. They live in Providence, RI. Wheeler attendees in the photo are: first row (left to right): brother Eric Ricci ‘06, bridesmaid Marissa Weinshel ‘04, Christina Maid of Honor Ashley Tramonti ‘04, Nathan continued on page 48 Now & Then @ Wheeler 46

“Thanks to Wheeler, not only did I have the courage to become an artist, but I also met people who I continue to collaborate with today.”

CAROLINE WOOLARD ‘02 REUNION ALUMNA’S LATEST WORK FEATURED ON PBS/ART 21 THIS SUMMER For artist and community collaborator Caroline Woolard, living and working in New York City has provided two opportunities to have her work and viewpoints featured as PBS/Art 21 videos.

The only series on television to focus exclusively on contemporary visual art and artists in the U.S., the Peabody Award-winning program allows “viewers to observe artists at work, watch as they transform inspiration into art, and hear how they struggle with both the physical and visual challenges of achieving their visions.”

Woolard describes her latest featured project, Carried on Both Sides, as an “immersive installation that uncovers the origins of the @ symbol to question the future of communication and empire in the United States.” She collaborated with master glassbowers Helen Lee and Alexander Rosenberg, having met the pair in 2004 through retired Wheeler art faculty member Sue Carroll and husband Bruce Chao of RISD. Woolard, Lee, Rosenberg and fellow artist Lika Volkova are collaborating on Carried on Both Sides, giving artists talks at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this July and premiering their work at the Lesley Heller Workspace in NYC next April.

The PBS video documents the two-year collaboration among the artists. Woolard has recently received a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Sculpture at the University of Hartford.

Learn more about her work at carolinewoolard.com.

photograph by Ben Orozco 47 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Mock ‘06. Second row (left to right): Todd Resly ‘06, Annie (Wray) Irvine’04, Amanda Carlino ‘11, Ashley Carlino Andersen ’04 and Margaret Mock ‘74.

2006

Matthew Schwartz is a new graduate from Boston University’s School of Law. Matthew currently lives in Brookline, MA. Congratulations to Aaron Spacone (top left) and his fianceé, Justine Le. Aaron and Justine met at UConn Law School. Aaron is an associate with Barton Gilman, working out of Providence and serves as a member of the Wheeler Alumni Board. The two plan to marry in 2018.

2008

Marnee Carpenter was cast in an episode of Criminal Minds which aired in January.

2009

Hannah Spacone performed in Beauty and the Beast as a member of the ensemble and Dance Captain at the Atwood Music Hall in Anchorage, Alaska. Hannah is based in Los Angeles, CA.

2011

Chris Dwyer (top right) completed the 2017 Boston Marathon while raising $10,385 for Special Olympics, a cause close to his heart. Finishing in 4:00:29, Dwyer thanked all who supported him in an email, “I may have taken the first steps but I would have made it to the finish line without you all” Congratulations to Madison Litwin ‘11 for passing the CPA exam earlier this year! She is living and working in Boston and is a Tax Senior for Deloitte Tax LLP. Nick Mirza plays drums on the new album Painted Skyline by Wheeler music department faculty member Chris Capaldi.

2013 (L-R above): Science faculty, past and present, Bob Schmidt, Rebecca Greenberg ‘14, Otter Brown and Marc Harrison during Greenberg’s campus presentation this spring.

Robert Gaines, has been selected for a Fulbright award to Sri Lanka. The Fulbright program aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. This will be Gaines’ second trip to Sri Lanka and will Now & Then @ Wheeler 48

begin his work as a Fulbright scholar following his graduation from Bowdoin.

2014

Rebecca Greenberg returned to Wheeler in March to speak with 9th grade students about her summer research on the Mane Wolf in Argentina. It was also a great time to catch up with some of her former Science teachers.

Currently a junior behavioral ecology student at Harvard, Greenberg visited Wheeler last year to share data from her earlier research studying Arctic foxes in Sweden near the Arctic Circle. (photo opposite page) Nathan Housberg (top photo) and his team, Yankee-Creole Racing, qualified for the U.S. Match Racing National Championships in Oyster Bay, NY last October.

2015

Following graduation from Wheeler, Lily Foulkes (center photo) decided to take a year out to learn to surf and travel the World. Lily has surfed all over South Africa and Indonesia with Ticket to Ride, worked for the UN promoting transgender rights in Argentina and at a surf camp in Nicaragua. She will attend Stanford in the fall.

Amanda Gastel (at Colgate) ran into (in the nicest sense) Sophie Jackson ‘16 (at Haverford) at the Squash Nationals held at Princeton this year.

Faculty member Richard Gilder III married Wendy Taylor Schwartz March 19 in Charleston, SC. Classmates Aidan Wright and Clem Titsworth were readers at the ceremony and Christina Ardente ‘78 and her husband Mark Ardente (parents of Michael Ardente ‘03 and David Ardente ‘06) also made the trip.

Also at the wedding were faculty members Annie Funnell and Bob Schmidt. (photo bottom left)

2016

Graham Lynch participated in the Dennis M. Lynch “Long May You Run” 5K in Slater Park, a fundraiser established in memory of his uncle. In the photo bottom right, Lynch reconnects with Hamilton faculty member Maura Healey, Middle School Cross Country coach at Wheeler.

49 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Reunion 2017 Join us as the Classes of ‘2s and ‘7s reunite, and all alumni return to celebrate!

Saturday, October 14 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Fall Family Fest at The Farm free activities, Middle School Soccer Tourney and the Pingree Games

ALUMNI SOCCER AT THE WHEELER FARM — Back (L-R) Nathan Housberg `14, Jeffrey Fleming `12, Telvin Lopes `12, Kevin Tripp `13, Jack Pilgrim `15, Ping Pomrat `16, Owen Ahlborn

5 p.m.

Installation of the 8th Head of School Isenberg Auditorium, Gilder Center for the Arts 6 p.m.

Celebration Block Party & Class dinners Meeting Street, Providence Campus For Reunion Information contact Kelly Clifton ‘02, Alumni Relations Manager at kellyclifton@ wheelerschool.org or call 401-421-8100 x109

`15, Seba Bortoli `17, Zach Mollo `17, Zach Rubin `11, Harry Liggett `14, Derrick Gester `11, Ned Liggett `12, Tori Frank `09. Front (L-R) Larkin Brown `06, Adam Farid `16, Jessica Fernandes `15, Will Chaltas `12, David Mardo `17, Jay Lopes `11, Dan Tripp `11, Micah Wisen `11, Alex Gester `11. Missing from picture Kristina Morrocco `10.

ALUMNI BASKETBALL AT THE WHEELER FARM - VAN NORMAN FIELD HOUSE — From left back row: Jeff Sherwin `07, Greg Sherwin ‘10, Irv Adu-Gyamfi `10, Barrett Easton, Luke Barr ‘15, Coach Eric Stein, Jason Sherwin ‘05, Will Rennie ‘05, Tyler Harden ‘15. Front row from left: Todd Stupell `02, Sean Adu-Gyamfi `08, Aidan Wright `15, Will McConnell `13, Jake Rubin `14, Coach Sean Kelly `02, Finlay O’Hara `15, Jared Wisen `13, David Litwin `09. photos by Meryl Willett

See event photos all the time at instagram.com/wheeleralumni/ Now & Then @ Wheeler 50

ALUMNI EVENTS

BOOK RELEASE DRAWS ALUM AND FACULTY SUPPORT Alumni and Wheeler faculty members joined former English Department faculty member Max Winter ‘89 for the release of his novel, Exes at the Providence Athenaeum. Pictured: Max, Karen Abbatomarco Pinson ‘89, Kyle Bennett ‘89, Ken Clauser, Marcie Cummings ‘72, Phil Eil ‘03, Sam Green ‘06, Laura Healy ‘03, Zach Green ‘03 and Fallon Masterson ‘03. photo by Kelly Clifton ‘02

HAMILTON ALUMNI NETWORK GROWING The Hamilton School at Wheeler’s alumni network grows each year. From serving on committees to attending events to making gifts to coming back during Learning Differences Awareness Week to talk to students such as these graduates did, Hamilton students are benefiting from what life after Hamilton offers.

From left with Hamilton Director Jon Green are: Martha Bodell ‘15 , Teresa Lee ‘17, Erin Gildea ‘04, Jon Green, Andrew Fink ‘89, Jordan Monk ‘08, and Hayden Furcolo ‘16.

51 Now & Then @ Wheeler

ALUMNI EVENTS

Add Wheeler School in your education profile and join the more than 600 alumni on the Wheeler Alumni Network on LinkedIn. Looking for other alumni? Use the free WheeConnect app (iTunes and Google Play) to network by location

and profession.

CELEBRATION FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OF COLOR — A great group of alums returned for this annual event. Shown from left are Felipe Ferreras ‘13, Jacky Chan ‘13, Ange Strom Weber ‘99, Kelly Clifton ‘02, Winston Jiang ‘11, Lynne Bell ‘83, Maya Sullivan ‘16, Elizabeth Dabanka ‘16, Anthony Bomba ‘16 and Raghu Nimmagadda ‘16. The graduates came back to campus to welcome new students and celebrate families with children of color.

FIND US ONLINE

FIND US AND EACH OTHER! FACEBOOK: facebook.com/wheelerschool TWITTER: @wheelerschool and @wheelerwarriors LINKEDIN: The Wheeler School Alumni Network

CELEBRATING ALUMNI SINGERS AT THE WINTER CHORAL CONCERT — Alum and alumni singers Sarah Clancy ‘16, Nick Wignot ‘14, Kenneth Lee ‘16, Kyle Dolce ‘16, Jesse

INSTAGRAM: @wheeleralumni @wheelerwarriors

Windsor ‘16, Henry Sanzo ‘16, Henry Frishman ‘16, Jonathan Gunasti ‘16, Cloe Michaud ‘16, Terri Lee ‘17 and Dani Michaud ‘15 all attended the 2017 Alumni Singer’s Event Now & Then @ Wheeler 52

Alumni Turn Out At Graduation & Community BBQ In June

Above at the 128th Wheeler Commencement were many families with multiple Wheeler graduates. Among the alums present were from top the Adu-Gyamfi alum siblings Sean ‘08, Dylon ‘17 and Irv ‘10; Nowak alum siblings Nicole ‘14, Kristen ‘14, Stephen ‘17 and Michael ‘07, Lee family alums Taylor ‘15, Teresa ‘17 and Harvey ‘86, and the Creamer siblings, Andrew ‘10, Teddy ‘17 and Tyler ‘12.

Likewise, alumni returned to celebrate Wheeler and bid farewell to Dan and Joanna Miller at the Community BBQ. Bottom left at the Community BBQ are a trio of Class of 2006 alumni: Alumni Board members John Clarke and Aaron Spacone with Jesse Taylor. At right, Dr. Marlene Cutitar ‘79 is flanked by Donald Acevedo and Wheeler faculty member Ken Clauser.

53 Now & Then @ Wheeler

Playing Up

Wheeler Warriors After Graduation They hit the courts, fields, diamonds and tracks at schools around the nation after they leave Wheeler. We’ve created a new webpage at www.wheelerschool.org/athletics that links you by name and sport to Alumni Athletes. If you know a name that should be added, contact Sean Kelly ‘02 at seankelly@wheelerschool.org. Do you remember. . .?

Baseball Finlay O’Hara ‘13 - Hamilton College Franklin Salcedo ‘07 - Rhode Island College Jarod Santoro ‘07 - Tulane University Boys Basketball Graham Lynch ‘’16 - Wheaton College Aidan Wright ‘15 - Kenyon College Nate Balcom ‘14 - Grinnell College John Brandt ‘05 - Bentley University Sean Kelly ‘02 - Wheaton College Eddy Davis ‘99 - Utica College Bevin Ingram ‘88 - UMass Dartmouth Girls Basketball Danielle Schaefers ‘06 - Bates College Melissa “Lissa” Eagles ‘98 - Temple Cross Country Ian Steller ‘15 - Haverford College Field Hockey Dani Michaud ‘15 - Clark University Laura DiBenedetto ‘13 - Trinity College Emily Holding ‘10 - Tufts University Tori Studley ‘10 - Wheaton College Katie Austin ‘03 - Dickinson College Lauren (Balukjian) Offers ‘02 Dartmouth Kate Lyons ‘02 - Dickinson College Lily Gillett ‘01 - Hobart and William Smith Jenny McCann ‘01 - Hamilton College Janna (Donahue) Runyon ‘99 Gettysburg Katherine Nelson-Lee ‘99 - Swarthmore

Marya (McAndrew) Baldwin ‘95 University of Connecticut Football Nathan Morris ‘10 - Stonehill College Andrew Benson ‘97 - Syracuse University Golf Jeffrey Giguere ‘16 - Middlebury College Haley Gildea ‘02 - Furman University Matt Spoehr ‘01 - Bryant University Ice Hockey Lauren (Balukjian) Offers ‘02 - Dartmouth Girls Lacrosse Anna Boogaerts ‘15 - Skidmore College Priscilla Tyler ‘11 - Amherst College Hope Barone ‘08 - Connecticut College Gabby David ‘08 - Chapman University Katie Austin ‘03 - Dickinson College Margaret Chute ‘02 - Amherst College Jen Austin ‘01 - Princeton University Molly Bodell ‘01 - Harvard University Kennon Kay ‘01 - Amherst College Sara Gilbane ‘99 - Brown University Sarah Small ‘99 - Princeton University Katherine Nelson-Lee ‘99 - Swarthmore Nicole Ayotte ‘97 - Brown University Boys Lacrosse Jon Thanas ‘07 - Endicott College David Jacober ‘99 - Ohio State University Vincent “Vince” Erfe ‘94 - Johns Hopkins Kevin Johnson ‘91 - Hofstra University Boys Soccer Vartan Hengen ‘’15 - Clark University

Kevin Gil ‘12 - Wheaton College Telvin Lopes ‘12 - Babson College Dean Hollands ‘07 - Wheaton College Dylan Gamache ‘89 - Keene State College Don Clarke ‘88 - Skidmore College Girls Soccer Jessica Fernandes ‘15 - Babson College Hannah Broderick ‘12 - Bryn Mawr College Ada “Addie” Glazzard ‘12 - Roanoke College Maggie Godley ‘12 - Bowdoin College Julia Rice ‘12 - Bates College Hogan Vivier ‘12 - Brown University Victoria “Tori” Frank ‘09 - Connecticut College Courtney Stefancyk ‘08 - Emerson College Lindsay Leddy ‘08 - Wheaton College Larkin Brown ‘06 - Bowdoin College Margaret Chute ‘02 - Amherst College Boys Tennis Jeffrey Gagnon ‘14 - Stonehill College Larry Chan ‘11 - Wheaton College Jesse Frieder ‘10 - Boston University Alex Connor ‘04 - Bates College Alex Howard ‘95 - University of Richmond Girls Tennis Natalia Pezzuco ‘16 - Union College Caroline Barone ‘07 - Connecticut College Tiffany Marsocci ‘02 - Fairfield University Marissa Alikpala ‘01 - Colgate University Kim (Chan) DiMattia ‘99 - Wellesley College Lisa Francazio ‘99 - Dartmouth College Jane Forman ‘80 - Clemson University Sailing Louisa Chafee ‘09 - Brown University Squash Sophia Jackson ‘16 - Haverford Track & Field Eniang Bassey ‘16 - Assumption College Nick Wignot ‘14 - Brown University Sam Fox ‘05 - Yale University Konique Ballah ‘98 - Brown University

Jane Forman ‘80 (right) and Kevin Gil ‘12 and Telvin Lopes ‘12

Alma Mater Celebrates Its Centennial

By Laurie Flynn, Editor Seventeen may seem pretty young to pen the words to a song that celebrates its centennial this year, but for Wheeler student Eliza Whitney Howe (later Keith), the words to what became our alma mater came easily.

At the time of the founding of the School there was no “official” school song. That changed in the winter of 1917, according to the Wheeler Archives, when the Senior Class offered a prize to the student who could write the best school song.

Accepting the challenge AND the prize was Eliza Howe, a resident of Bristol, RI, who enrolled at the School in 1911. Howe later earned a spot on the Honor Roll, a coveted athletics “W,” and served as editorin-chief of the school literary magazine, The Quill.

Howe’s written “history” of the Class of 1917 in their yearbook — dedicated to “friend and advisor” Mary Wheeler — foreshadows the lyrics thousands of Wheeler alumni and school community members know today. Her final words to the class urged that “the spirit of eternal youth be with us and with our school;” words echoed in the alma mater’s lyrics as “Eternal youth be hers; Eternal strength be ours.” Interestingly, the earliest printing of the lyrics shows the opening word as “rise” not “arise.”

The 1917 Student Handbook informs all students that the tune of the prize-winning song is that of the Russian National Anthem. The Prescott Library at Wheeler holds a 1940 Episcopal hymnal in its collection with the song lyrics taped inside Hymn No. 523, which credits the music to Russia, as well.

Over the years, the Wheeler alma mater has been performed by handbells, chorale and in raucous ‘chant’ (often emphasizing the word “guerdon” — a favorite with students, and most likely the only time a school alma mater employs this ancient word.) At commencement for the Class of 2015, the hired musicians stopped playing the alma mater a verse too soon; yet, the graduating students barely skipped a beat before completing that final verse a cappella!

Congratulations Eliza Whitney Howe Keith, Wheeler Class of 1917.

Your guerdon is the eternal strength of your song.

Howe’s senior photo from the 1917 yearbook

Alma Mater Arise all joyously, arise and sing With hearts uplifted let your voices ring, Ring to the wide world’s end, ring far above, Telling of honor, of our joy and love.

Stand forth courageously, stand, face the light, March ever onward scattering shades of night, High let your banners wave, standards of truth, Into the world we take high hopes of youth.

March on all loyally, march ever on.

True knowledge is the guerdon that we win.

Ever our lives shall guard school-given powers, Eternal youth be hers, eternal strength be ours.

Eliza Whitney Howe Keith ’17

Young Un, Speaker

Andrew Lee, Co-President

Ally Monacelli, Co-President

photos by Pam Murray

The 128th Commencement Class of 2017

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES 4.6% Ivy Leagues 1.4% Overseas Adelphi University American University (3) Arizona State University Babson College (2) Bard College Barnard College Bates College (2) Bath Spa University Becker College Bentley University (2) Boston College (8) Boston University (9) Bowdoin College Brandeis University (4) Brown University (6) Bryant University Bucknell University Butler University (2) California College of the Arts (San Francisco) California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Carleton College Case Western Reserve University (2) Chapman University Clark University (6) Colby College (2) Colgate College of Charleston (3) College of the Holy Cross College of William and Mary Colorado College (2) Columbia College Chicago Columbia University Connecticut College Dartmouth (2) DePaul University (2) Dickinson College Drexel University Duke Duquesne University Eckerd College (3) Emerson College (3) Emily Carr University of Art + Design Emmanuel College (2) Emory University (5) Fairfield University (2) Flagler College Florida State University Fordham University (11) Franklin & Marshall College Furman University Georgetown University (2) Gettysburg College Goldsmiths, University of London Green Mountain College Grinnell College Hamilton College - NY Harvard University (4) Hawaii Pacific University Hobart and William Smith Colleges (2)

25.6% Acceptances Offered In Massachusetts

Hofstra University Indiana University at Bloomington Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis Ithaca College (3) Johnson & Wales University (Denver) Johnson & Wales University (Providence) Kalamazoo College Kenyon College Kettering University Lafayette College Lasell College Lesley University Lewis & Clark College (2) Loyola Marymount University (2) Loyola University Maryland (4) Loyola University New Orleans Manhattan College Marquette University Maryland Institute College of Art Marymount Manhattan College Massachusetts College of Art and Design Massachusetts Institute of Technology McGill University Merrimack College Miami University, Oxford Michigan State University Middlebury College Mount Holyoke College New York University (7) Northeastern University (13) Oberlin College (2) Occidental College Ontario College of Art and Design Oregon College of Art & Craft Otis College of Art and Design Pace University, New York City (2) Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine Pitzer College Princeton University Providence College (4) Quinnipiac University (2) Reed College Regis College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island College Rhode Island School of Design Rochester Institute of Technology (2) Rollins College Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Sacred Heart University Saint Joseph's University San Diego State University Sarah Lawrence College (2) School of the Art Institute of Chicago School of Visual Arts Skidmore College (3) Smith College Stanford University (2) Stonehill College

Suffolk University (2) Syracuse University (8) Temple University (4) Texas Christian University The George Washington University (4) The Glasgow School of Art The New School - All Divisions The University of Tampa Trinity College (6) Trinity College Dublin Tufts University (4) Tulane University (4) Union College (2) University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Merced University of California, Riverside University of California, Santa Cruz University of Chicago (2) University of Cincinnati University of Colorado at Boulder University of Connecticut (2) University of Delaware University of Denver University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Kentucky University of Maine University of Maryland, College Park (2) University of Massachusetts Dartmouth University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami (2) University of Michigan (3) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2) University of Missouri University of New England University of New Hampshire University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh (3) University of Puget Sound (2) University of Redlands University of Rhode Island (12) University of Richmond University of Rochester University of Southern California (3) University of St Andrews University of Vermont (6) University of Virginia (2) Ursinus College Vanderbilt University Villanova University Wagner College Washington University in St. Louis (3) Wellesley College (2) Wesleyan University West Virginia University Wheaton College MA (5) Whittier College Williams College (4) Worcester Polytechnic Institute (3) Yale University

Parents of Alumni: If this publication is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address with you, please notify the Alumni Office of the new mailing address.

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Purple and Gold honors — Our “Gurple In Chief” was asked to start off the 2017 Apache Races with the runners from First Grade.

His special Field Day shirt (gold on one side, purple on the other) has been retired to the School Archives. photos by Colin Noel ‘15