Oak Leaves, Spring 2015

oakleaves Spring 2015

Wordcraft/Wordplay A window into student writing at AFS

Six Month Scrapbook Alumni Notes

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The AFS

annual fund Let’s Hop To It!

Give or pledge so students and teachers feel your support today.

Your gift or pledge inspires a match, expands our ability to fundraise and helps us exceed our $535,000 and 1,000 donor goals.

Every gift matters Please visit our website at www.abingtonfriends.net/giveonline to give today or email annualfund@abingtonfriends.net to make a pledge.

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oak leaves spring

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in this issue

oakleaves 2 3

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Letter from the Head of School

Life at AFS: Six-Month Scrapbook

Wordcraft/Wordplay A window into student writing at AFS

Oak Leaves is a publication of the AFS Communications and Development offices.

Richard F. Nourie Debbie Stauffer Jon Harris Judy Hill Gabrielle Giddings David Eldridge Jordan Bastien

Head of School and Interim Upper School Director Associate Head of School Assistant Head for Institutional Advancement Director of Communications, Editor Director of Marketing Director of Annual Giving Director of Alumni Relations

Peapod Design

Publication Design

Abington Friends School main switchboard 215-886-4350

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Faculty Farewells

School Committee

Alumni Gifts

Alumni Notes

In Memoriam 1

letter from the

head of school The most common advice in the teaching of writing is to “show, don’t tell.”

And that is exactly what we have set out to do in creating this special edition of Oak Leaves, sharing a wealth of Upper School student stories and poems as a window into this community’s love of writing and the worlds that are created in language.

Abington Friends School has always been a community that revels in language for its power to illuminate, challenge and delight.

In reading and writing, ideas and worlds are created within us, expanding our inner lives, our sense of possibilities, our reach into the lives of other people.

Writing and the teaching of writing are both hard work. It takes all kinds of time to write; time to observe, reflect, form ideas and change them from the 3-dimensional space of our minds into the linear form of an essay, story or analytical paper.

In this process and in the work of refining writing, an intellect is also developed and finely tuned over time.

It takes a special community of teachers to create this environment where children grow into a love of words and writing. From alumni, I hear often of Mary Helen Bickley who taught English and led the English department for almost 40 years, from the 50’s to the 80’s. Miss Bickley is revered for the force of her love of student’s development as writers, tirelessly reading and responding to students as they polished their work to her high standards.

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Today’s teachers of writing throughout the school and across disciplines share this passion as continual readers and writers themselves, introducing students to a wide and fresh range of contemporary poets and stylists of creative non-fiction and fiction.

A conversation with AFS faculty almost always turns to what books are being read at the moment.

And as we speak of a faculty so committed to the development of student voice, I must thank Mary Lynn Ellis, current and longtime chair of the AFS English department for “curating” the collection of writing in these pages. The writing here is culled from Upper School students, revealing the culmination of a long journey that starts with three and four year old children capturing stories on paper with pictures and dictated text.

Finally, we are tremendously gratified by the lifelong gift alumni tell us that writing is in their lives. Our recent alumni tell us over and over that they are far more prepared for college writing than their peers and often serve as editors and TA’s on their campuses.

And we know from robust research that

excellence in writing is highly valued in our ever-changing economy across a variety of fields. Clear thinking, the abilities to see from multiple perspectives and make sense in narrative form and the arts of inspiration and persuasion that are developed in writing are ever more essential in a complex world.

And so we are pleased to dedicate this issue to our love of the art and craft of writing, shared across generations at AFS. Enjoy!

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life at afs:

month scrapbook Âť

1:1 Program

As part of our new 1:1 program, our Technology Department helped orient Middle School students to their new Chromebooks. In Upper School, a BYOD (bring your own device program) was launched, giving students the chance to choose the device that best meets their needs.

Golf Outing

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More than 40 avid golf enthusiasts gathered at the Philmont Country Club on September 30 to play the course and raise money for tuition assistance at the seventh annual Hank Faulkner Memorial Golf Outing.

September 3

Arcadia Empty Bowl Dinner »

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On October 18 community members gathered behind the Lower School to help the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership plant over 300 trees and shrubs to create a new riparian buffer for our creek. Local environmental organizations were on hand, too, to provide hands-on learning and information. TTF, in partnership with AFS, has secured $160,000 in grant money to support a full restoration of the creek. TTF will be leading this work as part of a far-reaching $35 million effort by the William Penn Foundation.

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Monster Mash

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Creekside Planting

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Donna Haines’s 5th grade art class had a busy fall making bowls to donate to Arcadia University’s Empty Bowl Dinner fundraiser, which raises money to benefit Heifer International and Interfaith Hospitality Network. Those attending the benefit ate soup out a bowl of their choosing (which they got to keep).

Upper School students let off some steam at the end of October at Monster Mash, a showcase for student bands that always ends up being loud, energetic and good spirited, with the occasional flash of pure genius.

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Halloween

The costumes may change—we had more ninjas and penguins this year—but the Halloween Parade at AFS can always be counted on to bring out the adorableness of our Lower Schoolers, the peppiness of our Middle School kids and the we’lltry-anything-once spirit of our Upper School students. This year did not disappoint.

October »

Leadership Dinner

Field Day

From left, Annual Fund Director David Eldridge, David Powlen P’25, Ann Thompson P’07, P’11

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We rely on philanthropic leaders in the AFS community to keep our Annual Fund strong and support the programs that benefit our students every day. At a leadership dinner at the Abington Art Center we celebrated those generous individuals, who also happen to be very fine company!

What could be better than a sunny fall day, a friendly Roo and several hundred AFS students decked out in blue and white and attempting to out run, out throw, out jump and out pull each other? The blues edged out the whites in the final tally. But who’s counting?

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Dynamo »

Our kindergarteners got in the groove dancing along to the beat of Dynamo, an R&B/Funk/Jazz band from Nashville, Tennessee, who stopped in on their recent tour.

November »

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Roo Roundtable

As part of the Roo Roundtable alumni lunch series, Kathy Trow ’83, VMD, came back to campus on November 20 as the speaker at this year’s first Roo Roundtable. Kathy is co-owner of Unity Animal Hospital, a veterinary practice with a unique co-op business model designed to address both the problems of increasing costs for veterinary care and the plight of homeless animals.

A week later, we welcomed four recent alums back to AFS to talk about their college experiences with current students. From left, Jesse Dougherty ’12 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University), Anna McPeak ’12 (Ithaca College), Edgar Rodriguez Jr. ’12 (Penn State, Abington) and Laura Michaels ’11 (Mount Holyoke) spoke about their paths to college and how they made the transition from high school to being a college student.

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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)

Upper School Theatre Teacher Megan Hollinger chose this hilarious 97-minute romp through all of Shakespeare’s stories as this year’s Upper School play. “The play is such a wonderful mash-up of Shakespeare, Monty Python, improvisation and bawdy silliness,” says Megan.

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Rodney Glasgow

Wanting to bring some of what they had learned over their time at AFS back to our broader community, the Class of 2014 chose as their class gift to give Home & School an opportunity to host guest speaker, Rodney Glasgow at their November meeting.

A noted speaker, facilitator, trainer and activist in the areas of diversity, equity and social justice, Rodney, who is currently the Head of Middle School and Chief Diversity Officer at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, MD, spoke to a packed house and, along with a group of Upper School students, led the audience in a series of engaging and powerful activities.

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homecoming Well over 100 alumni flocked to AFS for the November 26 Homecoming, despite more than a dusting of snow. Events kicked off with the second annual breakfast for former faculty and staff (AFSA) in the Short Stable. Warm reunions continued in the John Barnes Room as teachers, students and alumni filled the space with laughter, hugs and fellowship.

After Meeting for Worship, our current and alumni communities shared more time together eating cheese steaks, watching (and performing in) an improv session led by Theatre Teacher Megan Hollinger, enjoying music from the Jazz Ensemble (headed up by Instrumental Music Teacher Mark Kraft), testing out the alumni-created Beyonder game and taking part in Jordan Burkey’s Magic tournament.

Max Salons ’12 and Saabir Pinkney ’12 emerged victorious in the Temple of Doom tournament, defending their status as overall winners against all comers.

Ely Manstein ’12 reigned supreme in the Magic tournament. A lively game of soccer in the Hallowell organized by History Teacher (and soccer coach) Drew Benfer wrapped up a Homecoming to remember.

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life at afs: six month scrapbook

The Homecoming Challenge and #GivingTuesday Recognizing that our alumni represent the future of AFS, a School Committee member and alumni parent challenged our 10 youngest alumni classes to begin a habit of giving back to AFS through contributions to the Annual Fund. He offered to add $1,000 to the total of whichever class achieved the highest rate of Annual Fund participation between Homecoming and #GivingTuesday.

The competition was fierce but the Class of 2014, our most recent graduates, won!

Overall, compared to the same time period last year, the youngest 10 alumni classes doubled their number of donors, doubled the amount of their direct donations and more than tripled the amount their classes raised for AFS. Thank you, young alumni! Your support is the future of AFS.

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Denis DiBlasio

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Winter Program

We gathered to celebrate the season with music, song, performances, holiday decorating and the telling of the traditional Winterfest poem. Upper School students served as masters of ceremony as the Upper School chorus sang, the Jazz Band played and students from all divisions sang songs celebrating our rich cultural diversity.

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POCC/SDLC

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Winterfest

Our Lower School Assistant Director and Music Teacher Jason Novak teamed up once again with Music and Movement Teacher Aedín Larkin to produce a spectacular and touching winter program engaging all our Lower School children, from the three year olds to the 4th graders.

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Baritone saxophonist, flautist, educator, composer and arranger Denis DiBlasio visited AFS on December 12 to perform in the annual Marshall Concert for Middle and Upper School students.

He stayed for the entire day, working in clinics with our Middle and Upper School jazz musicians.

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December

Seven Upper School students traveled to Indianapolis for the Student Diversity Leadership Conference. They were joined by three faculty members (Lower School Assistant Director Jason Novak, Lower School Spanish Teacher Alicia Fernandez and Director of Diversity and Inclusion Toni Williamson), who attended the People of Color Conference. The tandem meetings are organized annually by the National Association of Independent Schools.

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Daveed Buzaglo ’12

AFS alum Daveed Buzaglo ’12 visited campus to work with our Upper School Chamber Singers. A lifer at AFS, minus his senior year, which he spent at Interlochen Arts Academy in preparation for college, Daveed is now a junior at Oberlin Conservatory studying voice.

Back on campus Daveed ran a workshop with our chamber singers and then made himself available for the rest of the day for mini private voice lessons and conversations. Several of our students commented that working with Daveed had been a revelation, teaching them an extraordinary amount about their voice and technique in a short amount of time.

January

MLK Day of Service

Our day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. drew more than 400 people to AFS on January 19. An uplifting program in the Meetinghouse was followed by a busy morning of community work. Together we decorated cookies, cooked meals, put together winter care kits, made scores of hats, scarves, blankets and teddy bears, sorted books and created craft kits.

National Merit Commended Scholars

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Four seniors were named National Merit Scholarship Corporation Commended Scholars this year. Congratulations to Sabrina Qiao, Jasper West, Dorian Korein and Patrick Flynn, who are among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2015 competition by taking the 2013 PSAT.

Yale’s Whiffenpoofs Visit AFS

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A big crowd gathered at the Hallowell Gym on January 30 to celebrate Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach Steve Chadwin’s 600th win. During his 36 years at AFS Steve has built an outstanding basketball program that is ranked among the very best in the region.

More than that, he has developed and nurtured scores of young men who have gone on to lead engaged, productive lives on and off the court.

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Coach C Honored for 600th Win

We welcomed Yale University’s Whiffenpoofs to campus on Friday, January 30. The oldest collegiate a cappella group in the United States, the Whiffenpoofs spent time working with our Upper School Chamber Singers and performed for the Lower and Middle schools.

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Lower School Art Night

Roos Return to AFS

February

Michael Athy ‘04 (pictured), currently in his final year at Harvard Law School, hosted a Roo Roundtable on January 6 to discuss his path from AFS to Villanova, followed by two years on a Fulbright Scholarship in South Korea, and a year of service in Philadelphia with City Year. Mike’s PowerPoint was full of good humor as well as common sense.

One secret of succeeding in college, he said, is to “look around at your friends and make sure they’re people you admire and who share your goals and values.”

Mike Haberman ‘97 also visited AFS in January. First Vice President & Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch, Mike gave our seniors a beginning guide to financial literacy, covering everything from savings to credit scores to assessing different financial aid offers from college.

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Katherine Kiefer Stark ’98

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We were excited to host our first Lower School Art Night featuring the work of students in Early Childhood through 4th grade. After hearing from Priscilla Anacakuyani Bell, the artist whose work graced the Muller Lobby for several weeks, families enjoyed hands-on demonstrations from professional artists including Barbara Handler P’08, AFSA, who showed an eager crowd how she makes mono prints.

Fourth Grade Colonial Trade Fair

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As part of our Roo Roundtable series, Katherine Kiefer Stark ’98 came back to campus to lead a student workshop. A Philadelphia-based dance artist, teacher, and the artistic director and founder of The Naked Stark, a contemporary dance company, Katherine led a group of AFS Upper School students through a short movement workshop as part of her “Goodnight War” project, which uses movement as the medium for a peace-making process of reflecting, shifting and questioning our own relationships with war.

The fourth grade classrooms were transformed into a bustling Colonial Trade Fair, with shoemakers, milliners, silversmiths and more explaining their trades in impressive detail to an enthusiastic crowd of Lower School (and 5th and 6th grade) students and visiting parents.

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Rudin Lecture

Each year, through a generous donation from alumna Susan Salesky Rudin ’57 and her husband Jack Rudin, AFS has the honor of hosting an individual who is distinguished in their field as a visiting lecturer. This year’s lecturer was Inda Schaenen, a journalist, author, and educator who spent a year traveling across the state of Missouri visiting 4th grade classrooms of every kind— public, private, urban, rural, religious and charter—to see what kids themselves had to say about a range of hot-button issues including STEM initiatives, high-stakes testing and the very purpose of school. Inda spent time with our own 4th graders before speaking to our Upper School about the inequities in the American educational system that she observed firsthand teaching in a public school near Ferguson, Missouri.

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History Day

In honor of National History Day, AFS’s Middle and Upper schools held its first ever AFS History Day, focusing on the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act and the National History Day theme for the year, Leadership and Legacy. Philadelphia’s official Benjamin Franklin impersonator Ralph Archbold visited Middle School, regaling students with stories about his life and times, while in Upper School a dozen speakers—including law professors, civil rights activists, politicians, Freedom Riders and Selma marchers—joined small-group discussions about voters’ rights.

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Blood Drive

A big thank you to all the students, faculty, staff and parents who came out for our annual Red Cross Blood Drive on February 10. Even with a two-hour delay to the school day caused by icy conditions, the Red Cross was able to collect 46 pints of blood, including 4 double red cell donations.

Overall, 138 lives were saved. Kudos to our amazing student organizers Jenny Sheppard ’16, Julia Shepard ’15 and Zoe Long ’15 for helping to make everything run smoothly.

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Wordcraft/Wordplay A window into student writing at AFS

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oak leaves spring

2015

“ I write to find out as I read to find out.”

These words by poet Margaret Atwood are on a poster in my classroom because they capture so simply one huge truth of writing: that it is a way of finding out what we think, what we know, what we believe.

AFS Upper School students are writers. They write almost every day, from warm-ups we call DFW’s (“directed free writes” responding to prompts that lead us into discussions of literature or important issues of the world we share) to drafts of poems or personal narratives or analytical essays. And I say drafts quite intentionally because AFS students learn that “in the writing process, the more a thing cooks, the better,” as novelist Doris Lessing put it.

They revise, and then they revise again. In this section of Oak Leaves you will see early and later drafts of a poem called “Tributary”

by Lucia Finney ’16. See how it became more musical (snagging tangle of weeds!) and how it finally pulled the speaker right into the poem with its potent and unrelenting tide.

One thing AFS writers find out is how to polish a piece until it shines.

Another thing they find out by writing is how powerful words truly are. Look at the poignant stories that reverberate outward from the seemingly small “6-Word Memoirs”

by Jimmy Chang ’17, Rebecca Macey ’16 and Gabby Ford ’17. The poems by Corey Naitove ’16, Kerry LeCure ’16, Saria Rosenhaj ’17

and Lindsay Smelcer ’16 rub words together brilliantly to create images that twist and skim and fly and press and pull and fall and collide, words that reverberate well beyond the poems’ lines.

AFS students often apprentice themselves to established writers and, through an alchemy of imitation and inspiration, find new strategies for expressing their own truths. That is evident in the free verse poems by Morgan Burrell ’15, Kara Brownlie ’17 and Josh Diamond ’16 and in the prose poem by Yang Cao ’15, which echo their mentors for a bit and then sing out in their own unique voices. Lucy Silbaugh ’16’s story “Deer in the Road” found its catalyst in a Hemingway story—but its pearl-colored sky and musical heartbeat are quintessential Lucy.

If, as essayist Scott Russell Sanders says, “essays are experiments in making sense of things,” what beautiful, compelling sense Yuxiu Lin ’15 and Bridget Warlea ’15 have made! Their personal essays, written as part of the college application process, do exactly what is asked of them: they reveal the ways each young woman processes her life’s experiences and they show how skillfully she is able to manipulate language to articulate the sense she has made of her world so far.

Even vocabulary review can become an excuse for creative wordplay, as illustrated in the witty “Vocabulary Haiku” by Loghan Thain ’16, Anne Silbaugh ’16 and Danny Rothberg ’16, which succinctly unlatch a word’s nuance in a flash.

Mark Twain said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” AFS writers recognize that difference as they write, from their hearts, in words that are by turn honest, wise, angry, frightened, hopeful, determined and delighted. I hope you enjoy these bright sparks!

Mary Lynn Ellis Upper School English Teacher

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Deer in the Road

by Lucy Silbaugh ’16 He was finishing at the office when Carla called. “Harry.”

“All right,” he said. “Don’t worry, I’m coming.”

His stomach sunk when he heard her crying;

She gave him an exit number and he pulled on his wool gloves. The first snow was predicted; the sky looked frosted, pearl-colored.

he’d thought she was getting better. “Car? What’s going on?”

The first weeks after, she had cried often: tears on her cheeks when they watched television, welling while she chopped tomatoes, one hand on her stomach because it still hurt. She wouldn’t eat raspberries; eggs made her sick.

“I’m in the car,” she said, and more urgently, “I need you.”

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

“Are you safe?”

She was quiet, contemplating okay.

“I’m pulled over,” she said.

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2015

It had been a while since she’d lost it like this. It seemed like her sadness was drying out, hardening, solidifying—another dune in the landscape of okay. He saw her in front of the mirror yesterday, turning sideways, measuring, her face slack with exhaustion and grief. But she blinked and set herself.

He thought she was getting stronger.

He started the engine; out on the sidewalk, a baby cried in someone’s arms. Pulling out of the city, he noticed that most of the trees had lost their leaves, their branches reaching, cradling emptiness.

When they first got home from the doctor’s that day five weeks ago, she sat on the couch with her knees to her chest. “Harry,” she said. “Did you want this?”

The same words she used to say in the morning, hair bed-ruffled, rifling through the fridge for some jam. She’d hold up a half-emptied jar of relish or mint jelly, give him a secret Carla-smile.

“Did you want this, Harry? Peach chutney, really?”

Sitting at the table, he’d thought this was what it would be like to be married to her.

Sun on the table, sharing a fridge, all of her words like beautiful riddles.

He was dizzied by her. She used to wear a big Oxford shirt to sleep, no shorts.

Her legs were long, slim.

But that was in the summer, when they were really twenty-four; suddenly now they were ageless.

Putting his hands on her shoulders that day, home from the hospital, he had felt her bones. “Did I want it?” he had asked.

They’d thought they could handle it, they’d grown used to the idea, but it had never been a planned thing. Part of him thought this was better.

“I don’t know,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not sad, too.”

Carla still thought he wasn’t sad like her. In some ways, she was right; there had never been anything inside him.

“Explain it to me,” he suggested, in bed or at breakfast or when she sat on the couch with the lights off. “Tell me about the way you feel.”

“I don’t want to explain,” she always said.

“If I have to explain, it’s not worth it.”

Alone in the car, he tuned the radio to a Mozart overture. He’d didn’t like classical music before he met Carla; he never thought he’d end up with someone who liked classical. He also never thought he’d end up with someone who went to art museums and had a tattoo and a degree in molecular biology. There were a lot of things about her that weren’t like how he pictured.

But he still remembers sitting beside her at a bar on a Tuesday, pigeons attacking a burger outside, the way she turned to him with her glittering eyes and said, “Don’t you ever wish you were something besides human?” And it was like he sensed, already, that she wasn’t any stranger, like he knew that they were going to be something.

Harry rounded the bend and saw her car on the shoulder. He pulled his behind her and got out.

“Hi,” he said. Carla sat behind the wheel with her seatbelt on. Her hair was messy and sticking to her face. “What’s going on?”

She made a motion towards the windshield, and through the crackles of glass, he saw it: a huge buck, crumpled gracefully in front of the car. Its skin stretched taut and velvety over its ribcage. Blood on its face.

“Oh,” he said. “Oh.” She nodded with her mouth open and her eyes squeezed shut; crying hard but silently.

“Car,” he said. He put his arms around her and he could feel her shaking.

“I just didn’t see it,” she said. “I just didn’t.”

“I know,” he says. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not,” she said. “It’s my fault.”

Which is exactly what she said when they got home from the doctor’s. She thought it was her fault, for drinking before she knew or for tripping up the stairs that one time or for something else she didn’t remember. The doctor denied it, but she still thought so.

Early this fall, they drove to the beach— an adventure, Carla’s idea. “The ocean!” she whooped, spinning in her new womanhood, even though the sea was steely and deserted. She went along the beach and picked rocks. “What are you looking for?” he asked. “Hearts,” she said, and showed him twelve so far.

He wanted to tell her that none looked heart-shaped, but that was back when everything looked like life to her.

She still had the rocks, though he wasn’t sure how she saw them now. A few nights ago, he found her sleeping with one in her hand, fingers clenched around the coldness.

He looked at that for a while; in the morning there were marks on her palm from the sharpness. She traced them with her finger.

Stripped and pale, the antlers jagged across the asphalt. Last leaves from a tree on the roadside pulled free from their branches and drifted.

“ I think one is constantly startled by the things that appear before you on the page while you write.”

–Shirley Hazzard “Let’s go, honey,” he said. “They said it was going to snow tonight.”

“The seasons are passing too quickly,” she said. “Why does everything pass through so fast?” She sighed, folded her hands in her lap. “Then again, maybe it’s a good thing.

I could use some white.”

“I love you,” he said. Sometimes he had to remind himself to say that enough, like a daily pill. He did love her.

She looked at the deer and it seemed to hit her again.

“Oh my god,” she said. “I killed it.”

He wasn’t sure if she was talking about this thing or the other thing. “Everyone hits something now and then,” he said. And then, “No, you didn’t.”

He held her. He thought he could feel her aching. There was something so beautiful about her; her long fingers, her poking spine, the fragility of her bones. He didn’t want to forget, in all of this, didn’t want to forget what beautiful was.

Outside, the trees were reaching for something and the road was lonely and when the snow started falling he almost didn’t notice. It was like everything was melding into the landscape of this private sadness, of Harry and Carla, of missing, of how they felt. Harry thought maybe he was starting to understand without needing her to explain.

Their hearts beat together in the silence— the blood coming through them, still alive.

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Fifteen Years of My Life after “Accounting” by Claribel Allegria

by Kara Brownlie ’17

Guzheng by Yuxiu Lin ’15 In China, girls are valued for how well they paint, write calligraphy, and play a musical instrument. I have found satisfaction in learning all of these—but the instrument I play has become a truly essential part of who I am. It has changed the way I behave, the way I think, and the way I live.

It is an instrument called guzheng.

I remember seeing one for the first time, standing silent in its dark case. Its beautiful and soft rondure, its simple carved petal pattern, its brown bridges and twenty-one strings lifted my heart. And its sound made me fall in love with it immediately.

When I play guzheng, I am no longer a gentle, quiet girl, but a girl with a power to defy everything. I feel that I am in a space that belongs to me alone. I am bound by nothing.

Every time I pluck the strings, the sound strikes a chord within me. This ancient instrument tells me stories that happened thousands of years ago. As I play, I am no longer a girl who wears pink sneakers and sweatshirts living in a modern world. I am a time traveler voyaging back to ancient China, connected to a girl who lived long ago.

I hear the echo of her confined soul. I feel her hairpin pinching bitterly into her hair.

I feel her tightly bound feet. I feel the pressure she felt being in an unfair position because of her gender. I feel her reluctance to obey social rules. I feel her desire to break through the circle that keeps her from being herself. We talk to each other, read each other’s minds, share joys and struggles together.

One piece I feel completely caught by as I play is “Liangzhu.” It opens with high notes of birds singing as a girl, Zhu, disguised as a boy, goes to school with her male classmate. The music of their friendship has a lively tempo and gradually becomes a gentle melody as they learn to love each other. When she reveals the truth of her gender, and they confess a deeper love, the notes darken as they struggle against the conservative society that forbids their marriage because of class differences. As they die tragically, the music thunders. But finally, the gentle melody recurs as their spirits become butterflies. Through the song, I can hear Zhu’s silent accusation of feudal society. She tells me that girls are as qualified as boys to go to school and to fight for their true love. She says that girls should never give in to the unfair treatment by society. She encourages me to pursue what I truly want because life is too short to waste a chance of being myself. As I play, I can see butterflies flying toward me.

They have flown over a thousand years and into my dream. It is a beautiful and sweet dream. Every place the butterflies pass flourishes with flowers. They tell me that their lives do not end in tragic death, but begin again now. They inspire me to make their ancient, poetic faith heard throughout ages.

Guzheng has transformed my personality, my identity—my whole life. It inspired me to hold my life in my own hands and to come across the Pacific Ocean to study in America. And though I am living here and now, my guzheng reminds me always to pluck an eternal melody.

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oak leaves spring

2015

In the fifteen years I have lived there are a few electrical instants: dancing in a thunderstorm the skip of a heart beat in the two minutes I almost drowned as a toddler a second only needed to take my pop-pop away eight hours to move to a different country five minutes needed to create a friendship that would last three days to learn to ride a bike six hours of excitement while waiting to land in Disneyland five years of memories left at an elementary school two years of hard work and dedication needed to get my black belt three minutes of a fight to win first place one night of shouting to make me want to disappear and in this biting hour my yearning to create myself into a legend a fighter a strong maple.

Six Word Memoirs “Grandma, I’m Jimmy.” Second time today.

by Jimmy Chang ’17

“Oh, God, I forgot the line.”

by Rebecca Macey ’17

I’m in my skin, not of.

by Gabby Ford ’17

Vocabulary Haiku Philanthropy by Loghan Thain ’16 I have realized that the world needs change Here’s my two cents

Petulance by Anne Silbaugh ’16 When she whines, Mom buys her ice cream. When it falls, the little girl screams.

Ephemeral by Danny Rothberg ’17 A haiku’s first line, followed by second and third, over—read and gone.

As It Is after Dorianne Laux

by Morgan Burrell ’15 The man I love hates logically, I hate that he can never use it as well as I. No matter the circumstance or what is on the line, deductive reasoning cannot be reached….

The people who love me, although they do, laugh.

They laugh at the recurring problems I set up for myself, that yellow brick road leading to pain, each brick I lay down one by one.

I’m speechless.

Insert emotion here _________________________.

Almost numb to this kind of betrayal. (shrug)

Tight Rope

by Lindsay Smelcer ’16 I heard heaven between gasps of dream and reality where I fell, and blessed myself for lack of faith.

A rope, pulled tight, like taut muscleswhen you’re running because you’re going nowhere.

I saw the voices, all smooshed together. deep like blue bruises.

At dawn you’re a kaleidoscopefalling, colliding and tighter, tighter you pull, because what can we do buthold.

P u l l i n g, keeping the pace, because the faster I go the less likely I am to… fall.

I heard him say, “They killed each other.”

His eyes were wide, swollen, red, like after you swam– remember? When you were a child.

I don’t remember much, only

ro

ll

in

g

d

o

w

n the road crying when those lights made noise.

Forever.

That’s a word too, right?

It’s washed in sun, bathed like a baby.

Forever. I’ll pull that rope tight, but there’s no one, on the other side.

19

Multiple Identities by Bridget Warlea ’15 “B.B., why are you so dark?

“B.B., I’m American and you’re African.

I’m not African.”

“But, B.B., he keeps saying that I’m black.”

Whenever I hear these things come out of my six year old nephew Danny’s mouth, I cringe. He is a confused, mixed race boy—Liberian/Black and White—and I fear for what’s to come. Will he always be like this, brushing off a part of his identity? How will he truly know and appreciate both of his cultures? Will he appreciate the story of how our family struggled to survive after escaping the Liberian Civil War? Will he appreciate his father’s story as another mixed race man living in Philadelphia?

How am I going to help him understand and share his own story?

This is why diversity work is so important to me.

Diversity work, for me, is the process of understanding the different dynamics of

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2015

people and their identities by having meaningful conversations about core identifiers, such as race, gender, religion, socio-economic status, and family structure.

“Because I’m in the sun a lot. I like my skin, though; do you like your skin?”

Those conversations require safe spaces for sharing. Through sharing, we can come to a clearer understanding of others, which can lead to acceptance and empathy. I believe

is Liberian, your dad is American. Honey,

that once we share our own truths and our own stories, understanding injustices and inequities will be more possible. I’ve seen how just opening up a safe and authentic space for people to share can profoundly affect lives. When a peer opened up at a conference about suffering from depression, she was swarmed with love and empathy.

Since then, she has attributed her resilience to diversity work, that life-saving conference, and having people hear her. I have seen again and again how I can help people by listening to them speak from their hearts. Understanding that all people are beautiful in their own ways and appreciating differences is a process—one that leads to opening one’s own world to greater things.

“I’m Liberian-American/ Black. Your mom you’re both, not just one.

“Tell him that you’re mixed, black and white. And that your skin is a beautiful light brown.”

These answers to Danny’s questions arose from my immersion in diversity work. More importantly, these answers were carefully constructed to allow me to share my truth and still leave Danny space to begin figuring out his own truth. Having friends who identify like Danny, I know that it can be a confusing journey. But I am very proud to have learned skills that allow me to connect and support others living in their individual identities by stepping out of my own shoes and listening hard. Danny is only six years old; he has a lot of time to grow. And I am very happy to be part of his process.

Up and Down the Hill

by Yang Cao ’15 He stands beside me on a small hill, right hand pointing to the landscapes of continents and the public road below. The rising sun illuminates, sifting through the contours of houses and trees, finally reaching my face.

It is the kind of warmth that can make me cry and get goose bumps all over me.

I always long for the prosperity and success down there, and the happiness and perfection they carry within. But how can I get there, Walt Whitman, if I cannot find the right coat and the right shoes?

Drafts of “Tributary”

by Lucia Finney ’16

“ It’s wrong to believe that only professional writers can write things of value…writing leaves a trace… I try to convince [people] that there wouldn’t be a trace of what they thought or felt or knew about their families, or what they believe about God....

There will be no trace of that unless they write it.”

–Charles Baxter

Untitled - Draft #1

Untitled - Draft #2

She was like a river full of life and constantly in motion. She filled every cranny of a challenge with passion as powerful and unrelenting as water. Tributaries of interest flowed into her bringing new ideas in the forms of fish and algae, and eventually, she flowed into the outer world of the ocean.

She was a river: overflowing life.

She cascaded over each snagging tangle of reeds and niche of half sunken roots, passion as powerful and unrelenting as water. Fish swimming by, their scales bright and glistening with possibility and at last, she poured into the outer world: ocean.

Tributary - Draft #3

Tributary - Final

She was a river:

overflowing.

She cascaded over each snagging tangle of reeds and hollow of half sunken roots.

Passion powerful and unrelenting.

Possibility flicked its bright glistening scales at every bend and at last, she poured into the outer world: ocean.

And I dove to join her.

She was a river: overflowing.

Cascading over each snagging tangle of reeds and hollow of half sunken roots.

Passion potent and unrelenting.

Possibility with flickering, glistening scales showed at every bend and at last, she poured into the outer world: ocean.

And I dove to join her.

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how to burn your bridges

by Kerry LeCure ’16 You tell me that my talent lies in writing prose, and that’s my problem because all my poetry comes out in lines like the queue of a Chicago nightclub, long and twisting and much too crowded. You tell me you hate how every line starts with and or but because it reminds you of the lecture your mother gives you every time you are late, and you hate how I’m never to-the-point like you are, but I think that just comes with experience.

Did you know, sometimes I buy a pair of running shoes so nice all I want to do is run for miles and miles so everything bleeds into itself, but then I remember that my lungs would collapse first. Maybe you shouldn’t believe that because you’re always telling me I am a consummate liar, whatever that means, but I think it’s got something to do with the ink smudges on the newspaper.

I know you build walls around your heart because you’re afraid of being hated the way that you hate others, and I know you fear being wrong like a person fears dying.

I also know that you hate how I know what the slightest twitch of your pinky means, how I know every infinitesimal thing there is to know.

It’s okay, though, because I hate how you can’t find the deepest ravines of my mind, I hate how I have to explain everything with such intimate details I feel as if I am drawing the plan to a grand design.

I hate how you don’t know these things about me, because you are too busy bathing in vanity.

We hate how we cannot leave because it’s too akin to having our limbs cut off, and we hate how we do not know how it’s come to this.

Plum

by Saria Rosenhaj ’17 Yesterday my brother came up to me, paintbrush in hand, eyes mischievous, grabbed my wrist twisting gently so my palm lay face-up in his.

With careful smooth strokes he painted a plum right there on my hand.

Beginning with the stone he let it grow adding its sweet sunset-colored body, then stretching tart purple skin over the exposed flesh of the fruit.

He blew on his creation and pressed his palm on mine, so I could feel the juice running through my fingers.

“ Writing is really rewriting—making the story better, clearer, truer.”

–Robert Lipsyte 22

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2015

Jeopardy after “Matinee” by Patrick Phillips

by Joshua Diamond ’16 After the heart failure after the surgery after the crawling home again after I came to watch him while my grandmother was out, he decided he wanted Yocco’s hot dogs.

How could I deny a man who had just fought for his life one simple luxury?

Two chili dogs it would be.

I stared at him, amazed, as he drove us, amazed that he was driving.

We made small talk as usual.

He enjoyed his hot dog like it was his last.

Onions, chili, cheese--his usual lineup.

And I had mine as the afternoon passed.

He drove us home, the car full of an empathetic silence.

As we both knew, home was near and our drive would soon end.

When evening came, we watched Jeopardy in the kitchen.

Questions barraged the screen. I got many right.

But he, he knew them all. He knew them all too well.

We knew that Final Jeopardy was close, he knew the show neared its end and struggled to press his finger on “off” with the determination of an Olympian.

He wouldn’t let me watch it end.

“How’s doin’, Josh?” he said instead.

You and Me, Open and Closed

by Corey Naitove ’16 Oh, you racecar speeding past, heading south, you flying fish, skimming across the surface of the sea.

Oh, you anglerfish, swimming away with your light still visible, a single point of light in the deep night.

You are flying, you are floating, you are fleeting.

You are gone, already a part of my past.

Yet you are still here, still in my memory, still open, closed, open.

Still flying, still skimming, still speeding past.

And I, I am caught in your slipstream, in the fierce wind of your swift passage.

My mouth, a broken portcullis, sliding open, closed, open, closed, a broken record of silence.

My broken-off fingers, rusting, reaching, clutching.

My eyes, frozen in the moment just before the rain comes.

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Faculty Farewells This year we say a fond goodbye to three beloved faculty members— Janet Frazer, Jim Pierson and Kristine Long—who will all retire from AFS in June. These esteemed teachers will be sorely missed for their generosity of nature, their devotion to our students and the wellspring of ideas they brought to our program on a daily basis.

To best honor these singular individuals, we asked fellow faculty members to share with us some of what has made Janet, Jim and Kristine such dear and valued members of our community.

Janet Frazer, Upper School History Teacher, 26 years

by Margaret Guerra Upper School History Teacher Janet is always studying history. Ask her what she’s reading and you will learn about interesting recent scholarship in American, European or East Asian history.

We’ve attended many seminars and conferences together and she is the ideal student: prepared, engaged and full of questions!

For several years we shared a classroom, giving me a window into Janet’s process of turning primary sources historical scholarship, brain research and teachers’ common sense into lively lessons in which students don hats, sharpen their negotiating skills and wrestle with historical dilemmas.

She is a consummate classroom observer, who can tell how many minutes you spent on a topic; what the chatty small group in the back did for the weekend and how many open ended questions you asked. She frames

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oak leaves spring

2015

the feedback in a gently encouraging way, never shying away from things to improve, but giving you the sense that it’s all possible.

I’ve seen her do the same with students, taking a reluctant learner gently by the arm, smiling sweetly at him and telling him he’d better finish that paper, or add footnotes, or stop missing classes.

Although Janet has developed more history electives than the rest of the department combined, she is not buried in her classroom. She’s kept the department connected to the wider world by emailing us numerous articles, conference opportunities, and teaching resources, often before 6 am!

Newspaper articles relevant to my subject matter appear regularly on my desk.

Janet does some of her best thinking while walking. Early morning walks with her dog Tucker, walks around the graveyard with a colleague, walks while taking a break from whatever conference we are attending, walks all over Germany and Austria on summer trips with her husband...all are opportunities to refine her thinking and keep reaching toward the Platonic ideal history class. It’s always slightly out of reach, but she has never abandoned the quest.

Jim Pierson, Middle School Science Teacher, 21 years

by Rosanne Mistretta Lower School Science Teacher Jim Pierson is the quintessential scientist and naturalist. When I first came to AFS I quickly learned that if I had any question at all about biology and the natural world, I could go to Jim and get an instant answer.

And not just any answer, an answer that involved bringing natural things to my room and engaging in very interesting discussions!

As we started to work on the riparian buffer project even the experts were amazed at Jim’s knowledge and came to him for advice.

His dedication to that project was unparalleled; it simply could not have been done without him. I don’t think anyone dug more postholes or planted more trees than Jim! Most recently, when asked if he could help create a mud kitchen for the Nature Playground, he came up with a design that would rival the best outdoor kitchen

designs out there. On MLK Day he directed the group in a “kitchen raising” that was extremely well planned. It was inspirational!

On a personal note, my son saw him as an outstanding teacher and friend. He cultivated my son’s passion for science years ago and even to this day, they have some sort of inside joke about tardigrades (a microscopic water dwelling animal).

What does all this say about Jim? He’s the best colleague and teacher one could ask for.

Always willing to help in any way possible and contributing his many talents and skills to a place that he has been dedicated to for so long. His colleagues and students were the beneficiaries of his passion, and he’ll leave a legacy of environmental improvements to our campus and scientists who are launched into their careers because of his guidance.

Kristine Long,

Edward J. Goodman Instructor in English, 32 years

by Mary Lynn Ellis and Jenny Burkholder Upper School English Department Kristine Long is a master teacher. She believes in literature, and she loves, equally: Shakespeare, opera and baseball. Kristine greets students with a hearty “Good morning, scholars,” and she sees every student off every day with a handshake and a word of praise or encouragement. She works hard to build community in her classes and on the many teams she has coached, and she is the driving force behind our successful Senior Independent Project.

Our international students have found a generous champion in her as she helps them navigate texts and culture. She often

seeks students out for independent studies in areas they care deeply about.

Students recall fondly Kristine’s lively classes and being out in the halls, practicing poems and performing scenes; most recently that has involved tossing Shakespeare’s wildly creative insults around with great joie de vivre. One student said her classes always felt “big,” by which she meant filled with big ideas. They say, “She assumes a level of maturity from us, she gets to know us individually, she respects us, she gives us choices, she really listens, she’s real, she tells us the truth.” They enjoy her irreverent wit and her “sporty spirit.” But mostly they say, “She taught us that writing is self-exploration,” a place to be “more honest than we knew we could.”

Her colleagues are inexpressibly grateful for how much she has taught us about being better teachers and human beings. We will miss our warm, tough, “plume-plucked, puppy-headed, bum-baily,” baseball fanatic friend more than any poem could say. Slainte, Kristine!

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School Committee This spring we say farewell to three School Committee members who have served our School well over many years. With diligence and a true commitment to the mission and values of our school, they have each brought valuable talents and insights to their leadership roles.

Ken Ahl

Carol Frieder

Allison Boyle

Years on School Committee: 15

Years on School Committee: 9

Years on School Committee: 14

by Michael Sperger, School Committee

by Margaret Sayers, Clerk, AFS School Committee

by Rich Nourie, Head of School

Carol Frieder is an Abington Friends School institution. She has been a cherished member of our community for almost 50 years in roles ranging from parent to Lower School Director to Director of Admissions to member of the School Committee.

Ken Ahl has served on School Committee for five full terms, most recently as Assistant Clerk and with Finance Committee. He is a gentleman in the truest sense: warm, funny, and deeply intelligent.

His greatest gift to this school has been his love for AFS’ mission.

AFS is over 300 years old. The reasons we are here don’t change with the seasons.

But it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture when staring at the details. It’s easy to get attached to what the school looks like when your own kids go through–to decide the “one true AFS”is the one your family enjoyed.

Ken knows better. He understands that AFS must keep growing. Though his own sons graduated years ago, Ken sees the school for what it is today, and what it can be tomorrow.

He has set a wonderfully high standard for all of us.

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2015

Carols contributions on the School Committee are countless, but in my role as Clerk, what I have valued and will miss most is Carol’s keen ability to ask the tough questions in constructive ways that keep the conversation moving forward, always holding up the mission and long-term health of the school she loves so dearly.

It has been a great honor to serve with and learn from Carol for the past six years. I know the entire community joins me in gratitude for all she has given to AFS. Even though Carol will no longer be serving in an official role at AFS, her generous spirit and her good work will always be felt within these walls.

Allison Boyle is a Friend whose light shines brightly through her service to the School Committee over many years.

There is such an infectious, positive energy that walks into a room with Allison. I first noticed it when I met her on the search committee that led me to AFS. Her warm smile, the spark in her eyes and her genuine interest in connection create an effortless and constant spirit of encouragement in every encounter.

As a trustee, Allison’s clear thinking, beautiful use of language to express that thinking and deep knowledge of and commitment to Quaker thought and practice have deeply enriched the School Committee.

Nobody more clearly gets to the heart of complex issues better than Allison. With compassionate honesty and genuine integrity, she always moves a group forward with the kind of insight that comes from careful listening and thoughtful reflection.

We are grateful for the wonderful spirit of Allison’s contributions to School Committee over many years.

alumnigifts When the Class of 1964—or at least 16 members of that class—gathered at AFS for last May’s Alumni Day and 50th reunion, they had a grand time chatting, reminiscing and generally catching up with each other. They basked in the spring sunshine in the Grove, sat together in Meeting for Worship and enjoyed a tour of the school buildings and campus.

For several in the group, including Sally Goldschmeding Branch ’64 and Molly Zindel Hoyle ’64, what captured their attention and seemed to embody the spirit of the AFS they remembered were the majestic trees throughout campus.

From planting trees on Arbor Day to graduating under the mighty oaks in the Grove, those trees were intertwined with special memories of their class.

At the end of the tour, they began to think about how they could celebrate their class and contribute to the beauty of the tree filled AFS campus.

Thank you to the AFS Class of 1974 for their 40th reunion gift, which helped provide a transformative experience for the 24 AFS students who took a 3-day trip to the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA, at the end of January.

The trip formed the centerpiece of a yearlong celebration of Shakespeare planned by Megan, who directed The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) here in the fall and will present Much Ado About Nothing in April. Megan picked this year to honor the Bard since we are halfway between the

That’s when they learned from Head of School Rich Nourie about an exciting initiative the School is already planning to turn the campus into an arboretum. The culmination of this project will be a campus wide tree tour, including signage and a publicly available mobile app that will identify each tree on campus and provide information about its historical and biological significance.

On learning of this plan, the group agreed that helping to raise money for this tour would be a beautiful way to celebrate the class and give back to AFS. The original goal for Tree Tour ’64 was $10,000. They quickly surpassed that goal, bringing in a grand total of $11,200. The project remains open to funding through June 30, 2016.

Donors to Tree Tour ’64 Sally Goldschmeding Branch ’64 Ellen Hucke Collins ’64 Virginia Guckes Dalton ’64 Susan Fox ’64 Cherry Dean Gallagher ’64 Lynn Gerstnecker Gilbert ’64 Janet Atkinson Gottshall ’64 Cathy High Harris ’64 Molly Zindel Hoyle ’64 Laura Reeves Lafferty ’64 Nancy Wilson Lampe ’64 Marcia Mount Martin ’64 Lynda Jeffrey Plott ’64

“We’re so grateful to the Class of ’64 for their generous contribution that will highlight the stately and significant trees on our historic campus and help turn AFS into a beautiful arboretum that is a resource for the community,” said Lower School Science Teacher Rosanne Mistretta, who is heading up the arboretum project.

450th anniversary of his birth (April 23, 2014) and the 400th anniversary of his death (April 23, 2016).

While in Virginia, the students saw three Elizabethan plays in 24 hours, taking in The White Devil by John Webster, The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare and The Rover by Aphra Behn.

Gail Rosenau Scott ’64 P’85 P’87 Christine Conly Semisch ’64 Barbara Baberick Simonds ’64 Susan Sjostrom ’64 Susan Gerlitz Tam ’64

“It was remarkable to see two plays so rarely produced,” says Megan, “and to see them in juxtaposition to Shakespeare. It really gave us an understanding of why he has endured. His language and artistry were just so superior.”

The students also participated in two workshops, one on Shakespeare’s text, where they learned about his poetry and how to play the verse in a way that doesn’t feel archaic, and another on stage combat, where they learned to slap and punch and do swordplay.

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alumninotes Alumni Faculty & Staff Alliance (AFSA) The Alumni Faculty & Staff Alliance (AFSA) continues to grow. If you are a former employee of AFS and would like to be part of AFSA, please be sure to let us know by emailing alumni@abingtonfriends.net. And send in your Alumni Notes to let your former students, parents and colleagues know what you’ve been up to!

Lynne Koolpe Mass G’20, AFSA, writes “When Monique Thomas-Ottaviani was 11, her family moved out of Pennsylvania and she left AFS after a full Lower School experience. As a student, she shared her magnificent singing voice in many LS productions and her wonderful spirit and intelligence everywhere else. Monique was one of those “kids” a teacher never forgets with a voice like a gorgeous musical instrument and personal spunk and determination.

On Oct. 5, 2014, I had the pleasure of having a reunion with Monique Thomas-Ottaviani in her hometown of Bordeaux, France. My husband and I were on a cruise that stopped in Bordeaux and through our connection on Facebook, I contacted Monique to see if we could rendezvous. To our delight, Monique, her husband and her two extraordinary daughters met us at our ship and we shared a wonderful lunch and afternoon, reminiscing and catching up on the last 28 years. What a joy to see this beautiful family and to hear about Monique’s accomplishments as a vocal artist who teaches and performs all over the world.

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alumni notes

Several days after we met, it was quite an emotional experience to read Monique’s powerful words on Facebook: “TEACHERS MATTER! Sunday I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with my science teacher Lynne Mass (and her lovely husband Burt) from elementary school. ’So what’ you say.... Well, I went to school in Pennsylvania, USA, and she included me as part of her cruise when she docked here in Bordeaux, France. What an honor. I’m so grateful because she, along with some other teachers, including Deb Pizzi, at Abington Friends School recognized my artistic side and are a large part of who I am today. They made me feel like it was not only ok to be different but that it was NORMAL. My hope is that in my career I may be a part of someone realizing their true self and that perhaps in 30 years or so, I can meet them on a dock somewhere on another continent and learn about their beautiful lives. YES teachers matter and so does art education!”

Reflecting the remarkably cohesive nature of our on-campus community, the AFS Alumni community includes all former students, both graduates and non-graduates, as well as alumni parents, alumni staff, and alumni faculty. “Once a Roo, always a Roo!”

John McCabe, AFSA, writes “I have just started teaching English as a second language classes at the Sisters of Saint Joseph Welcome Center in Kensington.”

Alumni Parents & Grandparents Did you stand on the sidelines and cheer for the Roos in all seasons? Were you a dedicated Book Fair volunteer? Have you seen every single play in the Muller Auditorium? Did you watch alumni students grow up, graduate and come back home? Alumni parents and grandparents, AFS is richer for your contributions to the community, and we want to hear from you!

Please let your fellow alumni parents know what you’ve been up to since your last child graduated. Submit your Alumni Notes to alumni@abingtonfriends.net.

Alumni Students ’45 70th Reunion Class of 1945, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 70th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

1946 Mary Strang writes, “I retired professionally in 2004 and closed my next venture, a bakery in Comfort, TX, in 2010 due to age. Boo hoo.”

1947 In early September 2014, several members of the Class of 1947 gathered at Barbara Kaiser Henderson’s home in Ocean City, NJ, to celebrate our graduation from AFS 67 years ago. Looking at the picture, from left to right we are: Barbara Cleeland, Camp Hill; Dolores Ballantyne Smith, Jenkintown; Barbara Kaiser Henderson and Beatrice Trautvetter Foedisch, Maple Glen.

[pictures]

’50 65th Reunion Class of 1950, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 65th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

1952 Evelyn Steelman Doane writes, “Hello to the Galloping ’52s! I am enjoying selling homes in lovely Chatham by the sea on Cape Cod. However, right now I am very thankful to be in Naples, Florida, and missing the excitement of these back to back winter storms! I play as much golf as I have time for and really feel blessed to enjoy finding homes for my clients.

I would love to hear from my classmates!”

1954 Diane Shaffer Castor writes, “I am very busy as I have been elected President of the International Atlantic Himalayan Club. This

is a world wide club with over 600 members who breed or own the Himalayan Persians.

We publish four magazines a year called Cat Tracks. Since I am no longer an active breeder of Persians, this job is great fun and I enjoy conversation with breeder/exhibitors from around the world.”

’55 60th Reunion Class of 1955, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 60th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

1957 Elizabeth (Liz) Cobourn Cole and her husband Richard have moved from Roanoke, VA, to a continuous care retirement community one hour south of Greenville, SC. We are enjoying living our lives from this lovely campus, with all the medical care available for future years. It is a current copy of Foulkeways in Gwynned, PA, the first of its kind and a Quaker-created concept. Our current address is: 1110 Marshall Road, Greenwood, SC, 29646.

Gwen Gehring writes, “My son Richard got married this past September. The wedding took place in New Orleans on board the steamboat Natchez. After the reception and a trip down the Mississippi, a local band met us at the dock and led us on a second line parade through the French Quarter, down Bourbon Street to LeFitte’s Blacksmith Shop for a champagne toast. Weather was perfect and what a fun time was had by all.

’60 55th Reunion Class of 1960, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 55th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

1963 Judith Chestnut Fuss writes, “We’ve Come a Long Way! 2015 is our 70th birthday year.

We plan to celebrate what made us great ... then and now ... with a Birthday Mini-Reunion, June 25-26 at the home of Linda Friedrich Fogel in Huntington Valley.

Mark the dates on your calendar now.

Details will be coming by email in the spring.

If you have ideas for reunion activities please send them along to Linda, lffogel@icloud. com, or Judy Chestnut Fuss, jfuss148@ gmail.com. If you have not been receiving emails from the class, please send your email address to Judy, jfuss148@gmail.com.

We hope to see you all in June.

’65 50th Reunion Class of 1965, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 50th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

1969 Class of 1969, one of your classmates, Robin Becker, has graciously accepted our invitation to give the keynote speech at this year’s Commencement. We hope you all will join us for the graduation ceremony at 5 pm, and for the Speaker’s Tea in Robin’s honor at 4 pm. All events will take place at the Meetinghouse on Wednesday, June 10, 2015.

In July 2014, five members of the class of ’69 had a mini-reunion at Nancy Barto (“Bart”) Hemmerich’s lovely mountain place near Ludlow, Vermont. Robin Becker, Jenny French, Laura Conkey and Barbara Coles Oberfest made it up the steep and winding

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hill to a weekend of food, wine and good times--catching up on our present families and friends, remembering the year we moved our books and desks (literally) from the Triangle Building into the present location of AFS, our escapades as seniors with lunch at Murray’s Deli in Baederwood Plaza, and various favorite teachers.

Bart is happily retired from her career as school counselor, doing part-time grandkid care (for four presently), long-distance bike touring and backpacking around the country.

Laura is winding down her career teaching geography at Dartmouth College, having put her daughter Mary Adelaide through Bryn Mawr—who, by the way, is covering the Devon Horse Show this year for Phelps Media Group. Robin is still professor of English and women’s studies at Penn State’s main campus and is regularly turning out both poetry books (seven and counting) and inspired students. Jenny, who also attempts poetry, is maintaining her elementary teacher certification so she can volunteer in Philadelphia-area schools and has just renovated her 1740s stone house.

Barbara, along with her husband, is still

running one of the two newspapers on Martha’s Vineyard; they have sold their modern house and moved into town.

Southwestern Medical Center, a national leader in patient care, medical research and education. I also teach yoga (ERYT 200).

Look me up on LinkedIn and let’s connect!”

’70 45th Reunion Class of 1970, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 45th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

Heather Saunders Estes, daughter of then AFS business manager Nelson Saunders, celebrated 36 years as CEO with Planned Parenthood Northern California. She says, “It was the AFS Social Responsibility Committee that got me started!”

1972 Ellen Beth Levitt writes, “Hello! I’m now a resident of Texas. I moved to Dallas last year after living in the Baltimore area for 37 years, working in PR/communications at the University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Medicine. I direct Internal Communications at the University of Texas

’75 40th Reunion Class of 1975, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 40th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

1976 Leeanne Rebic Hay has accepted a position with the U.S. Courts in finance. Also, she continues to write freelance articles for a variety of publications. A sampling of her work can be found at: www.LeeanneRebicHay.weebly.com

Heidi Levine Morein has returned to

From left: me, Nancy (Bart) Barto Hemmerich, Laura Conkey, Barb(ara) Coles Oberfest, Robin Becker

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alumni notes

graduate school to earn her Masters in Art Education with emphasis in special needs (ASD/Aspergers in particular) at Moore College of Art and Design. She works in the library and Writer’s Studio at the College as well as substitute teaching at a local Montessori school. Her boys Julian and Aaron are in Cheltenham High School now, and run a pet-sitting business. Heidi’s husband, Jonathan, manages catering, marketing and sales for Beck’s Cajun Cafe.

Heidi’s family moved to the Towers at Wyncote and are enjoying the free movies, pool, and fitness center, and can see the High School from their windows. Heidi ran

for Commissioner in Cheltenham’s Ward 7 and lost by 28 votes in 2011, and was just on the short list for consideration for an interim appointment to Cheltenham’s Ward 2 vacated Commissioner’s seat. She sees several alums on a regular basis and FB messages others. She is always happy to connect with AFS alums and any AFS students who are interested in visiting Moore, please let her know.

’80 35th Reunion Class of 1980, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 35th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

’85 30th Reunion Class of 1985, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 30th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

Erik Fitzgerald writes, “After AFS I graduated from Boston University and went to Rutgers for grad school. I have an MBA in finance and I’ve worked in corporate finance and financial services for most of my career.

I currently work in Princeton, NJ. I was married for 15 years (now divorced), and have a beautiful 11 year-old daughter named Jessica. I’ve lived in the Cherry Hill and Voorhees, NJ, areas for the past 18 years and my free time is usually spent on the golf course. I have many great and fond memories of AFS and I cherish my middle and high school years there. AFS is a special place and I will always consider myself lucky to have been a part of it!”

Mark Green writes, “I want to extend my love and gratitude to the Abington friends community for the love and gratitude shown.”

We are very sad to have to share with you the news that Mark Green passed away on February 27, 2015. Please see his obituary on page 35.

1994 Lori Goldberg Solit writes, “My husband and I welcomed our third beautiful boy, Carter Luke Solit, on November 28. He joins big brothers, Aaron (7 years old) and Brody (4 years old). We are thrilled to have more love (and noise) in our home!!”

1988 David Leeser writes, “I host a student from Swarthmore College for a week as a medical extern each year. I picked up a young man about a week ago in Philadelphia to spend the week with me. On our ride to Maryland, I asked where he went to high school. He said ’Abington Friends School.’ Small world.

David Yuhao Xu ’13 spent a week with me and my family and got a taste of transplant surgery. Interesting that he goes by David, went to AFS, went to Swarthmore and is interested in medicine and surgery.”

’90 25th Reunion Class of 1990, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 25th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

1993 Mayor Kelly D. Kautz, Esq., and her husband Robert Knox are proud to announce the birth of their first child, a son, Preston Alexander Knox, born December 3, 2014 at 10:38 am in Snellville, Georgia. Currently Robb is teaching Engineering and Video Broadcast at Tucker High School, advising for SkillsUSA and completing his doctorate in workforce education, with a focus on single-gender education research, at the University of Georgia.

’95 20th Reunion Class of 1995, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 20th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

Andrew Richman got married to Arielle Griffel on May 18, 2014, and has been enjoying every minute of marital bliss since.

1996 Karen Meshkov and Matt Pillischer have finished producing and co-starring in their arthouse horror feature film, A Dark Souvenir, on a budget of under $1,000. The movie follows newlyweds returning from their honeymoon, who must figure out how to survive an evil, undead spirit that came home with them. The Midnight Channel Blog said “Its final minutes are as creepy and tense as anything I’ve reviewed in recent months.” Matt’s best friend Clark Loro has a cameo in those

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final minutes. Catch it in film festivals this Spring, and on demand soon after. www.adarksouvenir.com

1998 This adorable “Baby Roo” picture is of Edward Bradley Miller, the youngest son of Alison Richards Miller and Joseph Miller, enjoying a Caribbean vacation nap. Alison writes, “Our family has settled in Stamford, Connecticut. We would love to hear from AFS friends anytime and anywhere.

Classmates may enjoy knowing that our white picket fence was installed this past summer. Come visit!”

’00 15th Reunion Class of 2000, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 15th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

Michal Berdugo writes, “For the last five years I have been living in Boston, where I completed my masters’ degree in Teaching English as a Second Language for grades 7-12 and to adults. I worked as an ESL teacher in the public schools for several years, and I am currently teaching Hebrew at a local Jewish day school. I got married to Arash Sanieoff, a wonderful man, in the summer of 2013!”

’05 10th Reunion Class of 2005, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 10th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

Russell Nadel is teaching General and Choral Music at The Potomac School in McLean, VA, and is serving as President of the Middle Atlantic Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. As an Orff-Schulwerk Certified educator, Russell has given professional development presentations to teachers in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey, and has presentations planned for Philadelphia (at AFS!) and Washington, DC, in the next school year. He has had three choral and vocal scores published and has had compositions featured on two commercial CDs, and continues to receive commissions

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alumni notes

Russell and his wife Tara are also expecting their first child on Labor Day 2015!

2001

Shalimar Reddy Ridenhour writes, “My husband Carl and I welcomed a baby boy in October. Deven Ridenhour was born October 6, 2014, weighing 9 lbs 1 oz. His big sister Taylor Plenty ’18, currently a freshman in the Upper School, just adores him. We couldn’t be happier!”

for compositions from choral and instrumental ensembles in the Washington area. For more information, see russellnadel.com.

2007 Julia Hoyle writes that she “is currently on sabbatical working in South Australia at Yalumba Winery. Come April I will return to the Finger Lakes to work at Sheldrake Point Winery. All is well and I am enjoying the summer weather down under!”

Jeremy Hurst stayed in NYC after graduating from NYU and is now working at AdRoll, one of the fastest growing advertising technology companies. He writes that he is “happy to connect with any and all that are interested in getting involved in the adtech space!”

2008

2012

Morgan Pfost gives a shout out to the

Jordan Burrell recently traveled to

class of 08!

2009 Mariah Rose Butler writes, “2015 has already been a great year for me, with more good things to come! My boyfriend, Tom Berendt, and I got engaged in early January in England! He is English, and we met while on our travels.

In terms of school, I am training to become the next Assistant to Peer Education at the Wellness Resource Center at Temple University. I will be creating and facilitating programs on wellness related issues that university students face, including: sexual assault, HIV testing, stress management, healthy relationships, nutrition and fitness, all things mental health, and more! I will also be doing all of the behind the scenes administration work for the training course that we offer to students interested in learning how to help fellow peers in these content areas.

I am also participating in a Service Immersion Program through Temple. I will be going to South Dakota with a group of nine other students and living on a Lakota reservation for a week, offering whatever community service they need, while also learning about their culture and way of life.

I will also be doing a sweat lodge, which I am very excited about!

It’s going to be an amazing semester. I won’t be graduating for another year and a half, but I am okay with it because of all the cool stuff I am doing at Temple”!

’10 5th Reunion Class of 2010, please join us on Saturday, May 2, 2015, for Alumni Day at AFS and the celebration of your 5th reunion.

Details on the AFS website.

Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai for a cultural, business and entrepreneurial Envision program.

2013 Callum McEwen, currently a sophomore at Brevard College in North Carolina, helped his team win the D-II College Mountain Biking National Championships by finishing on the podium in both of his events. He rode hard to a 5th place finish in the rugged downhill category, and on the second day of racing battled to a third place finish in the dual slalom event. The Brevard Mountain Biking Team has won three consecutive national championship titles.

2014

At the top of a 1,000 year old tree.

Jess Williams writes, “I was recently hired as a contributing writer and photographer for three music blogs: the Philadelphia-based blog The Swollen Fox, as well as New York City based blog We All Want Someone To Shout For and lastly, Tri-State area based music blog Tri State Indie. I am also a finalist in the 35th Annual High School & College Photography Contest sponsored by Photographer’s Forum. This means that I will be published in their book The Best of High School & College Photography of 2015.

I can’t thank you guys enough for all you’ve done for me; I owe it to you guys.”

Tacony-Palmyra, digital photograph, 2014.

Image from competition.

Emily Agoglia writes, “I’m still living abroad in Ecuador, six months later. I’d call that a success. Included here are some pictures from my trip to the Amazon. It was really cool. There were sloths, tarantulas (eeek), toucans, cayman, piranhas (I swam with the last two) and other strange and mysterious beasts. Once I was playing barefoot soccer against the indigenous people of the Amazon and was stung by a giant venomous wasp. Always an adventure.”

Alumni Day 2016 will take place on April 30, 2016.

Years ending in 1’s and 6’s will mark milestone reunions.

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in memoriam Lillian O’Neill Pooley ’35 died peacefully at Rydal Park Medical Center on Sunday, December 2, 2012, at the age of 95. Formerly of Huntingdon Valley, she was the beloved wife of the late Frank D. Pooley, Jr. for 63 years.

Lillian graduated from Abington Friends School in 1935 and received a B.A. degree in English and Drama from the University of Pennsylvania in 1939. Lillian is survived by her two daughters, Tiel Ingersoll ’62 of Pipersville, PA; Tinker (Anne) Cavanagh ’65 of Falmouth, MA; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters and one brother and predeceased by another brother.

She was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity for 75 years. Lillian volunteered at the Women’s Exchange in Jenkintown for many years, partook in local theater and worked as a manager at the Double Day Bookstore in Jenkintown. She headed up an Adventures Club and belonged to many book clubs.

Lillian and her husband traveled extensively during their retirement. They were avid sailors throughout the Caribbean and Bahamian Islands. Lillian generously chose to donate her body to the Humanity Gifts Registry, as did her husband who preceded her.

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oak leaves spring

2015

Suzanne Huntley Haselton ’46 of Nashville, Tennessee, died on Friday, September 5 at the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle, Washington; she was 84 years old.

Mrs. Haselton was preceded in death by her parents Clarence “Ted” and Helen Ballard Huntley; husband W.E. “Bill” Haselton; and brothers Ballard and Douglas Huntley.

Mrs. Haselton is survived by daughters Linda Smith (Claude), Claire Perky (Dan) and Sheree Allen; and son Bill Haselton (Claudia); 10 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; special friend Adeeb Frangoul; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ted and Rosemary Haselton.

Obituary reprinted from the Harpeth Hills Funeral Home website.

Suzanne Pierce Rosborough ’46, AFSA, resident of Summit Place in Eden Prairie, MN, passed away Monday, Jan. 13, 2014. In 2011 she moved from St. Petersburg, where she was a resident for 39 years, to be closer to family.

Sue was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. She was a graduate of Abington Friends School and Oberlin College, and taught first grade at AFS before settling down to raise a family.

Sue loved the family tradition of vacationing with her parents and family every summer in the Adirondack Mountains, at Indian Lake, NY. After her family grew, she made visits to local nursing homes and with her love for music, entertained the residents with her piano playing, singing and story-telling.

Suzanne is survived by her beloved children, James (Amy) Rosborough of Houston, TX, and Donna (Fred) Seebinger of Eden Prairie, MN; five cherished grandchildren, Samuel and Helene Rosborough, Michael (Nina) Seebinger, Jeffrey (Lindsay) Seebinger & Tiffany (John) Klinkenberg; three precious great-grandchildren, Louis & Christopher Seebinger and Kensi Klinkenberg. She was preceded by her devoted husband, Donald Rosborough.

Suzanne was laid to rest at the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden.

Edited and excerpted from the Tampa Bay Times on Jan. 19, 2014

Mary Louise Gilmour Mann ’48 of Normandy Farms Estates and formerly of Blue Bell and Ambler died on October 31, 2014. She was the beloved wife of Robert “Pat” Mann. She is also survived by her loving children and their spouses: Robert P., Jr. and Virginia Mann and Muffie and Peter Landreth; by her grandsons, Peter M. Landreth, Jr. and Christopher D. Landreth; by her step-grandchildren: Katherine and Geoffrey and by five step-great-grandchildren.

She will be missed.

Edited and excerpted from chestnuthilllocal.com

Brita Strandberg Murray ’53, a longtime resident of Millbrook, NY, died December 25, 2014.

Her death came after a short battle in a long war against multiple sclerosis. If you knew her, you probably remember her kind interest in you, her strong sense of fairness and devotion to her family.

From 1966 through the 90s, Mrs. Murray taught art to grades 1-8 at Dutchess Day School In Millbrook, NY, where she nurtured a generation of art students who became amateur and career artists as well as patrons of the arts. As an art educator, she was equipped with a broad appreciation of styles and approaches, which she encouraged and fostered in her students, many of whom kept in touch with her over the years.

Brita Selma Strandberg was born on October 3, 1935, in Philadelphia, PA, to Anna Sjostrom Strandberg and Eric Wilhelm Strandberg. She spent her childhood in Glenside, PA, and Stone Harbor, NJ, surrounded by a close-knit Swedish extended family descended from her maternal grandfather, founder of the John E. Sjostrom Company, a furniture manufacturer based in Philadelphia.

She graduated in 1953 from Abington Friends School and in 1957 from Oberlin College, after which she moved to Washington DC, and New York, where she worked at The Corcoran Gallery and then for the United States Immigration Service, respectively, which reflected in turn her love of art. In 1959, she married David J. Murray. Their union lasted 37 years, until his death in 2006.

In addition to her teaching duties, she was active in her community, including the Junior League of Poughkeepsie, American Field Service, The Hudson Valley Philharmonic, the Dutchess County Community Foundation, and numerous community initiatives, to which she brought and fierce sense of fairness, dedication to principleand empathy for.

A physically active person who enjoyed playing tennis and field hockey in particular, she was afflicted with multiple sclerosis for the last 25 years of her life. Despite this challenge she maintained both her agile intellect and strong sense of humor.

She is survived by a sister, Dagmar Standberg Hamilton ’49 of Austin, TX, her two sons, Gordon Murray of Maplewood, NJ, and Lars Murray of Brooklyn, NY; two grandchildren Lillian and Noel Murray, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She will be missed.

Obituary provided by the family.

The Class of 1956 acknowledges with sadness the passing of

Danielle Peterschmidt Michaud ’56, who died July 21, 2014, of ovarian cancer. She will be missed. Danielle spent the year of 1955-56 at Abington Friends School as a French exchange student, living with the family of classmate Christine Lapp Donahower.

Upon returning to France she became a registered nurse and practiced home nursing care for many years. She and her physician husband Phillipe had two boys, Olivier and Jacques. Daniele was very enthusiastic about her experience

here in the United States, and especially at AFS. Daniele and the Peterschmitts were ever grateful for that year she spent at AFS. “She will be sorely missed,” Phillipe wrote of his “so beloved wife.”

Franklin Alexander Severance, AFSA, died December 31, 2014, in Brunswick, ME. Alex, known in his youth as Sandy, was born in New York City and grew up in New Canaan, CT. After Harvard he taught at Greenwich Country Day School, was Head of the Middle School at Friends Seminary in New York City, Principal of the Middle School at Abington Friends School, and finally Assistant Head Master at North Yarmouth Academy in ME. In a second career he earned degrees from the Muskie School of Public Service and was employed by the State of Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulations. In his spare time he did volunteer work and always enjoyed community theater wherever he lived. He is survived by his wife, Irene, son David, brothers John B. Severance and M. Renwick Severance, nieces Abigail Severance and Rebecca Cushing.

Mark Richard Green ’85 passed away in Walpole, NH on February 27, 2015, peacefully, smiling and with his joy and passion for life intact. Mark’s enthusiasm for life was equaled by the vigor and intensity with which he confronted his illness.

He described his fateful journey through his blog “moosevt.wordpress.com.”

Mark was a proud “Lifer” (K-12) graduate of Abington Friends School. There he developed a strong sense of justice, equality and human rights, and a deep passion for the outdoors. He graduated from Hamilton College (Clinton, NY) with a B.A. in English and a Minor in Studio Art, and earned his M.Ed. at the University of New England, Antioch in Keene, NH.

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in memoriam His love for friends and family, and in particular daughters Hannah and Libby, sister Kerry, former wife and dear friend Laura Gaudette, Aunt Carolyn, beloved friend Barb Silbey and parents Beverly and Stephen, was limitless.

Mark loved nature, outdoor sports, music, photography, food, travel and adventure.

He traveled widely and pursued studies in British drama and writing at the University of East Anglia, England.

He spent several summers working in Durango, CO and was an administrator at Verde Valley School in Sedona, AZ. Some of his most formative times were spent at Twin Lakes in Shohola, PA—fishing, sailing, swimming, skiing, skating, biking and carousing.

Mark served on the boards of Friends of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the Saxtons River (VT) Main Street Arts Center, and as a village Trustee in his beloved Saxtons River. He was also a DJ for the local community radio station “WOOL FM,” on a show he aptly named “No Depression,” featuring “old time,” honky-tonk and “hillbilly” music, and he was proud to be part of The Bread and Puppet Theatre in Glover, VT.

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oak leaves spring

2015

Mark taught and worked in financial aid and admissions until devoting his talents to fundraising at The Grammar School and The Putney School in Putney, VT, Dartmouth College and its Thayer School of Engineering in Hanover, NH, and finally, for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2) based in Washington, DC, where he literally dedicated his life to the cause of funding research and new treatments and hopefully a cure for the incurable disease that ultimately ended his adventure.

Mark lived every minute of his life. It was an adventure he shared with his girls and an uncountable number of friends. He was an authentic, special, good man, kind, generous, funny, adventurous and beloved by all who knew him.

A memorial celebration was held on March 28, 2015 at the Abington Friends Meetinghouse. Contributions to Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure, 1717 Rhode Island Ave., NW (Suite 700), Washington, DC 20036, are appreciated.

Emily Patrick Popkin ’89 died peacefully at her home in Seattle on March 1, 2015 after a long struggle with multiple sclerosis. Emily was the cherished daughter of Susan and Ivan Popkin of Elkin’s Park, PA, beloved sister of Nancy Popkin (Mark Stanback) of Davidson, NC, and Deborah (Richard) Amsellem of Rockville, MD and adored aunt of Gray Stanback, Sylvie Stanback, Lauren Amsellem and Alec Amsellem.

Emily graduated from Abington Friends School and Bowdoin College in Maine and moved to Seattle to enjoy the beauty of the region. A lover of the outdoors, Emily

was proud of summiting Mt. Rainier and enjoyed her work for environmental causes.

In addition, Emily was dedicated to women’s causes and felt strongly about promoting the dignity of everyone.

Emily was a talented artist who created jewelry and paintings as long as she was able. She was an active volunteer with the National MS Society, Greater Northwest Chapter. Everyone who knew Emily was astounded by her courage, calling her brave and fearless. She met every change in her condition as a challenge, not a defeat.

Despite being dependent on others, Emily remained fiercely independent to the end. Throughout her struggles, Emily never lost her dignity, her sense of humor, her artistic aesthetic, or her love of nature and people.

In addition to her immediate family, Emily is survived by her aunts, uncles, cousins, many friends and her devoted and loving caregivers.

Excerpted from the Jewish Exponent, March 12, 2015

Please submit obituary announcements of the greater alumni community to the Alumni Office. Submissions are welcomed with or without a photo (at 300 dpi or greater). Electronic submissions are preferred and may be sent to alumni@abingtonfriends.net.

Alumni Day Abington Monthly Meetinghouse

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Alumni who graduated in class years ending in 5’s and 0’s observe their milestone reunions in 2015, and we’d like to celebrate!

Abington Friends School invites our alumni and their families to join us for a full day of events on campus.

In addition to our traditional Alumni Day events, the main campus will be lively with our very first ECO Fest.

Keep an eye on the AFS website and Alumni Facebook group for a full ECO Fest schedule.

10 am–12 pm ECO Fest: 3rd Annual Nature Playdate and Nature Build In partnership with Briar Bush Nature Center, children ages 3-14 are invited to build forts, boats, giant marble mazes, insect mazes and fairy houses. Join current families, alumni families, and families from the local community for a fun morning of imaginative play, light construction and crafts on Pennsylvania’s first certified school-based Nature Explore playground.

AFS campus, Lower School 10 am–12 pm ECO Fest: Community Service Project* Led by students from our sustainability class, join fellow alumni and their children (middle-school age and older) to help build and rehabilitate a raised bed kitchen garden for the AFS cafeteria.

AFS campus, behind the cafeteria 10 am–1 pm ECO Fest: Sustainability Fair and e-Cycling In partnership with multiple local vendors and community organizations, including the Creekside Co-Op, the SPCA and Cradles to Crayons, join us for an e-cycling extravaganza and environmental fair.

AFS campus

12:00 pm Alumni Day: Reunion Luncheon* Alumni and their families are invited to lunch with their classmates and Head of School Rich Nourie.

Abington Friends Monthly Meetinghouse 1:15–2 pm Alumni Day: Alumni Meeting for Worship Celebrate our shared tradition. We are pleased to offer childcare for children ages 3-13 for those who pre-register.* Abington Friends Monthly Meetinghouse 2:00–2:30 pm Alumni Day: Class-by-Class and All Reunion Photographs Cookies & lemonade served Abington Friends Monthly Meetinghouse 2:30–3:15 pm Alumni Day: Campus Tours We invite all alumni to tour our campus, visit familiar places and learn about exciting new developments at AFS Abington Friends School

* pre-registration via Eventbrite required.

Visit the AFS website for details.

Questions? Please contact Jordan Bastien, Director of Alumni Relations at jbastien@abingtonfriends.net or 215-576-3966.

Please see the AFS website, www.abingtonfriends.net, or the AFS Facebook Group “Alumni of Abington Friends School” for additional event details.

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NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Horsham, PA Permit #90 575 Washington Lane, Jenkintown, PA 19046

Life at Abington Friends School Calendar Highlights Arbor Day

May 1, 2015

Alumni Day Eco Fest

May 2, 2015

Middle School Choral and Instrumental Concert

May 21, 2015

Lower School Spring Program

June 5, 2015

Baccalaureate

June 7, 2015

Commencement

June 10, 2015