On the Mainstage
belonging
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER NH PERMIT NO. 290
THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL 2108 RIVER ROAD, MANCHESTER, NH 03104 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
belonging
THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL
WINTER 2018
FOUR GENERATIONS OF IMPACT
In early March, the Derryfield Players presented Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin, a musical about a prince in search of meaning and purpose in life. The play within a play is told by a troupe of actors, led by the Leading Player, who show Pippin different avenues he could take in life, from academia to religious life. He looks for love in all the wrong places before settling into a mundane life with a widow, Catherine, and her son Theo. Believing he is meant for something greater, Pippin leaves the monotony of country life, only to regret walking out on love. Derryfield’s version of the show embraced steampunk to illustrate the connection between a classic theme, growing up in search of happiness, and the human tendency to look to an idealized future so much that we miss what’s happening in the present moment. The cast of over 30 students often broke the fourth wall and engaged with audience members, and were supported by a hardworking pit that included several student musicians and a crew who planned and ran nearly all technical aspects of the production.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS
Global Possibilities
The future looks bright for the varsity alpine team, with many talented racers returning next year. This year at states, junior Miranda Shilling won the Div IV title with a win in Slalom. She was joined by Henry Howe ’20 and Kyle Goldberg ’19 at the Meet of Champions, where she blew away the field in Slalom and claimed the overall State title for alpine.
Imagine this: exploring Vietnam with a Vietnam War Veteran, participating in sea cucumber research in Eleuthera, teaching English in a rural Dominican Republic school, or taking creative arts classes at Oxford. These (and more) are activities our students participated in during this year’s March break. Providing students with domestic and international travel experiences remains a priority for Derryfield; and this year, over 100 students participated in trips or exchanges!
Nobody expected the boys’ varsity basketball team to end the season 18-0; even the players. Their season was marked by challenging wins on the road and thrilling buzzer beaters, which brought them to the semifinals against Newmarket. While they couldn’t bounce back from an early deficit, Coach Bradley will remember them as “such a special group.”
COACH LEMIRE RETIRES
Miranda Shilling ’19 on her way to being named State Champion.
Belonging: Winter 2018
Derryfield athletics said farewell to a master coach at the end of the winter season. After 34 years with the girls’ basketball team, Ed Lemire coached his last varsity game in March, leading a young team to the state tournament. Assistant Coach Michelle Coombes shares, “He is a dedicated teacher and coach, always willing to dig into the messy details to help his students and players understand concepts day in and day out.” He will be missed, both in the classroom and on the courts.
Parents of Alumni: If your child no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Advancement Office of the l o n g i n g at : W603.669.4524 inter 2018 correct mailingB eaddress or email advancement@derryfield.org.
Two upper school students on the Island School trip said they “were taking home a sense of gratitude for the life they have and a new perspective on what makes people happy.” A middle school student on the Dominican Republic trip shared that because of this trip she wants to dedicate her life to service. We are grateful for the faculty and staff who lead and chaperone these trips, to the students who are such willing travelers, and to the parents (and financial aid funds) that make it possible for students to participate. Stay tuned for next year! Jen Sheppard ’22 works with a student as part of the Outreach 360 program in the Dominican Republic.
In the world of independent schools, Derryfield is young. In fact, this May, Derryfield celebrates its first 50th reunion with the class of 1968 returning to campus! Our relatively short history makes this story unique: in 54 years, the Keller family has had four generations of impact on the School. When the School was founded, local businessman Robert Keller Sr. and his wife, Dorothy, united with 38 other families in the community to raise the funds that opened The Derryfield School. The Kellers are honored each spring on Founders’ Day as one of our founding families. Robert and Dorothy had four sons: Richard, Bruce, Robert, Jr., and Scott. Richard and Jackie’s son David was the first Keller to graduate from Derryfield in 1980, followed by his brother Mike in 1984 and his sister Wendy in 1987. Their mother, Jackie, served as a Trustee during this time. Amy Keller, daughter of Bruce and Cynthia, was also at Derryfield in this era, graduating in 1983, and her sister Sarah attended through the tenth grade. The legacy continued as all of David and Cheryl’s children attended —William ’10, Emilyann ’11, and Krystyna ’17—making them the fourth generation in this Derryfield story. Amy’s daughter, Jesse Stephens, graduated with Will in 2010 and her younger daughter, Cynthia, attended in middle school. Although Robert, Jr. and Susan’s daughter, Kathy Garfield, did not attend Derryfield herself, she and her husband Mike knew it was a great option for their Belonging: Winter 2018
children, Emma ’15 and Ben ’17. She also knew that it would make her grandfather proud that the legacy continued. Krystyna and Ben were the last of the fourth generation to graduate from Derryfield. In addition to the generations of impact and alumni, the family has supported the School over the years in so many ways. They have contributed to the cross country and track programs, the Annual Fund, Breakthrough Manchester, the construction of the middle school, and so much more. The legacy that was started 54 years ago lives on, and we’re incredibly honored and proud that the Keller family is part of the Derryfield family! Tell us about your family legacy using the hashtag #DSlegacy.
Dorothy and Robert Keller, Sr.
A PROGRESS REPORT ON DERRYFIELD’S STRATEGIC PLAN
BOSTON ALUMNI EVENT Alumni and faculty from across the years gathered for a vibrant celebration of Derryfield and Ed Lemire in the heart of Boston’s Seaport at the lovely home of Neal ’78 and Clea Winneg.
LET THE DERRYFIELD DERBY BEGIN!
These events are inspiring, as alumni share their stories and the School shares all of the exciting things happening on campus and beyond. They are also helpful, as this night was for an alumnus moving to Boston in the next couple of weeks who was happily creating contacts. The School continues to focus on alumni engagement; these are opportunities for alumni to network with one another and to reconnect with Derryfield students. By the end of the evening, a number of alumni working or studying in medicine, finance, technology, and sales had offered to mentor a student and help create an Independent Senior Project opportunity—amazing! Occasions like this define one of Derryfield’s core values— community. No one wanted to leave the warmth and camaraderie; Dr. Carter suggested that we stay and have a field trip to the Children’s Museum across the river the next morning!
Join the Derryfield community on Saturday, May 12 at the Manchester Country Club for the annual Parent Faculty Association Benefit! This event serves as an opportunity to celebrate being a part of the Derryfield family and to enjoy a fun-filled evening in support of Derryfield students, faculty, and programs.
BREAKTHROUGH MANCHESTER Breakthrough Manchester will host a unique and innovative event on May 8 at the Southern New Hampshire University Dining Center. If you love trivia, if you love to laugh, if you love to compete, if you want to help some outstanding students with limited resources, this event is for you! Test your knowledge in rounds of trivia, enjoy great food, interact with our students, and experience the Breakthrough Manchester spirit first-hand! Breakthrough Manchester is New Hampshire’s only 6-year, tuitionfree college access program, supporting motivated Manchester students with limited opportunities. The summer program for middle school students has been hosted on The Derryfield School campus since 1991. By design, Breakthrough specifically includes academically gifted students who are low-income, ethnically and racially diverse and the first in their family who would attend college. They are determined to succeed, sometimes against long odds. To learn more, please visit breakthroughmanchester.org. Join us for a fun evening on May 8. Tickets for the event are still available. To purchase tickets for the event online or for more information, visit: bit.ly/BreakthroughAYS2018.
REUNION 2018 & ED LEMIRE’S RETIREMENT May 18-19 •Reunion Reception & Barbeque (celebrating Ed Lemire’s retirement) •Baseball, softball, and lacrosse games • Derryfield Creates Gallery Reception (multi-media art show) • Almost, Maine (upper school play) •Founders’ Day Assembly •Classroom visits with a favorite teacher or audit a new class •Student-led campus tours
TOP: A group photo of alumni at the gathering; MIDDLE: Jimmy Rich ’92, Ed Lemire, Garrett ’89 and Leigh ’89 Gillespie; BOTTOM: Hosts Clea and Neil ’78 Winneg with Austin Nijhuis ’07, Nguyen Doan ’07, Mary Carter, Natalie Coviello ’07, and Kristie Migliori Logan ’07. B e l o n g i n g : W i n t e r 2 0 18
It is sure to be a fun-filled weekend, but not without you there! Please join us!
goal 1: belonging
“ Build a sense of belonging and identity within the Derryfield family.”
GOT DIRT? As the Board of Trustees examined the future of Derryfield’s facilites, the need for an additional playing field at the Union Street intersection became apparent. The school took advantage of an amazing rate on clean fill produced by the new Manning Hill development on River Road.
cubic yards of clean fill: 35,000+
Don’t miss out this year on Triple Crown-inspired food and drink, the chance to “let it ride” on games and auction items, and the opportunity to say “hay!” to old friends or meet new ones! Funds raised from the Benefit help fund unique programs and enrichment opportunities for Derryfield students and faculty. They also allow the PFA to help build community at Derryfield through events such as the Back to School Picnic and Parent Socials, support and acknowledge faculty members through appreciation events each December and April, and offer volunteer and fundraising assistance for Theater and Arts programs at Derryfield.
cost per cubic yard: $2 total savings: $250,000
goal 3: building
“ Invest in a sequence of multiple physical plant upgrades by following a traditional master planning, campaign, and construction cycle.”
Auction items at this year’s event include tickets to Taylor Swift, a one week stay in Marco Island, Florida in March 2019, and tickets to the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Dear Evan Hansen. Stop “foaling” around and order your tickets today to join the Derryfield community for an exciting evening on Saturday, May 12! “Post time” for the event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at derryfield.org/benefit-tickets.
goal 2: leading
ART AWARDS This winter, The Derryfield School was excited to learn that 15 of our art students received recognition for their work by the New Hampshire Scholastic Art Awards. A competitive juried art competition, the work of these students was considered next to the artwork of hundreds of students artists from all over the state of New Hampshire. Gold Key winning student Ada Hu ’19, as well as Gold Key winner for writing Ria Kundu ’22, had their work selected for recognition at the national level by some of the most accomplished creative professionals in the nation. Of the 350,000 works of art and writing submitted nationally, less that 1% were recognized at the national level. All of these students join a legacy of celebrated artists and writers, including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Robert Redford, and Richard Avedon. Right: NH Gold and National Silver recipient, Fragile Tradition by Ada Hu ’19 Left: NH Gold recipient, Ethereal Soul by Leya Wang ’20
DERRYFIELD.ORG/REUNION Belonging: Winter 2018
“ Cultivate inspired, effective, and compassionate student leaders committed to enriching their wider communities.”
PARENT EDUCATION SERIES We did it! This year we added yet another opportunity for parents to learn more about hot topics in education and student development. The Parent Education Series coincided with this year’s SSAT testing days and kicked off in October with Susan Grodman’s Transformative Experiences for Your Child: Travel, Service, and Out-of-the-Comfort Zone Opportunities. Susan focused on the importance of providing a life rich in culture and understanding through travel experiences. In December, Brennan Barnard, Derryfield’s College Counselor extraordinaire, hosted Unpacking the College Admission Experience: How Students Find and Thrive at Their Top Choice Schools in December. Head of School Mary Carter rounded out the series with her talk Teach Your Child to Sail Their Own Ships. This series was so successful that we took it on the road! Derryfield parent Travis Warren generously hosted Brennan Barnard and 30 guests in February at the Blackbaud headquarters in Bedford, while Mary Carter spoke at the Amherst Town Library in early March. We are excited to offer these opportunities next year, as well as expand our reach to other towns. We hope to have more community members attend this series in the future!
goal 4: elevating
“Expand program and marketing to attract more families and retain current families.” Belonging: Winter 2018
On the Mainstage
belonging
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER NH PERMIT NO. 290
THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL 2108 RIVER ROAD, MANCHESTER, NH 03104 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
belonging
THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL
WINTER 2018
FOUR GENERATIONS OF IMPACT
In early March, the Derryfield Players presented Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin, a musical about a prince in search of meaning and purpose in life. The play within a play is told by a troupe of actors, led by the Leading Player, who show Pippin different avenues he could take in life, from academia to religious life. He looks for love in all the wrong places before settling into a mundane life with a widow, Catherine, and her son Theo. Believing he is meant for something greater, Pippin leaves the monotony of country life, only to regret walking out on love. Derryfield’s version of the show embraced steampunk to illustrate the connection between a classic theme, growing up in search of happiness, and the human tendency to look to an idealized future so much that we miss what’s happening in the present moment. The cast of over 30 students often broke the fourth wall and engaged with audience members, and were supported by a hardworking pit that included several student musicians and a crew who planned and ran nearly all technical aspects of the production.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS
Global Possibilities
The future looks bright for the varsity alpine team, with many talented racers returning next year. This year at states, junior Miranda Shilling won the Div IV title with a win in Slalom. She was joined by Henry Howe ’20 and Kyle Goldberg ’19 at the Meet of Champions, where she blew away the field in Slalom and claimed the overall State title for alpine.
Imagine this: exploring Vietnam with a Vietnam War Veteran, participating in sea cucumber research in Eleuthera, teaching English in a rural Dominican Republic school, or taking creative arts classes at Oxford. These (and more) are activities our students participated in during this year’s March break. Providing students with domestic and international travel experiences remains a priority for Derryfield; and this year, over 100 students participated in trips or exchanges!
Nobody expected the boys’ varsity basketball team to end the season 18-0; even the players. Their season was marked by challenging wins on the road and thrilling buzzer beaters, which brought them to the semifinals against Newmarket. While they couldn’t bounce back from an early deficit, Coach Bradley will remember them as “such a special group.”
COACH LEMIRE RETIRES
Miranda Shilling ’19 on her way to being named State Champion.
Belonging: Winter 2018
Derryfield athletics said farewell to a master coach at the end of the winter season. After 34 years with the girls’ basketball team, Ed Lemire coached his last varsity game in March, leading a young team to the state tournament. Assistant Coach Michelle Coombes shares, “He is a dedicated teacher and coach, always willing to dig into the messy details to help his students and players understand concepts day in and day out.” He will be missed, both in the classroom and on the courts.
Parents of Alumni: If your child no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Advancement Office of the l o n g i n g at : W603.669.4524 inter 2018 correct mailingB eaddress or email advancement@derryfield.org.
Two upper school students on the Island School trip said they “were taking home a sense of gratitude for the life they have and a new perspective on what makes people happy.” A middle school student on the Dominican Republic trip shared that because of this trip she wants to dedicate her life to service. We are grateful for the faculty and staff who lead and chaperone these trips, to the students who are such willing travelers, and to the parents (and financial aid funds) that make it possible for students to participate. Stay tuned for next year! Jen Sheppard ’22 works with a student as part of the Outreach 360 program in the Dominican Republic.
In the world of independent schools, Derryfield is young. In fact, this May, Derryfield celebrates its first 50th reunion with the class of 1968 returning to campus! Our relatively short history makes this story unique: in 54 years, the Keller family has had four generations of impact on the School. When the School was founded, local businessman Robert Keller Sr. and his wife, Dorothy, united with 38 other families in the community to raise the funds that opened The Derryfield School. The Kellers are honored each spring on Founders’ Day as one of our founding families. Robert and Dorothy had four sons: Richard, Bruce, Robert, Jr., and Scott. Richard and Jackie’s son David was the first Keller to graduate from Derryfield in 1980, followed by his brother Mike in 1984 and his sister Wendy in 1987. Their mother, Jackie, served as a Trustee during this time. Amy Keller, daughter of Bruce and Cynthia, was also at Derryfield in this era, graduating in 1983, and her sister Sarah attended through the tenth grade. The legacy continued as all of David and Cheryl’s children attended —William ’10, Emilyann ’11, and Krystyna ’17—making them the fourth generation in this Derryfield story. Amy’s daughter, Jesse Stephens, graduated with Will in 2010 and her younger daughter, Cynthia, attended in middle school. Although Robert, Jr. and Susan’s daughter, Kathy Garfield, did not attend Derryfield herself, she and her husband Mike knew it was a great option for their Belonging: Winter 2018
children, Emma ’15 and Ben ’17. She also knew that it would make her grandfather proud that the legacy continued. Krystyna and Ben were the last of the fourth generation to graduate from Derryfield. In addition to the generations of impact and alumni, the family has supported the School over the years in so many ways. They have contributed to the cross country and track programs, the Annual Fund, Breakthrough Manchester, the construction of the middle school, and so much more. The legacy that was started 54 years ago lives on, and we’re incredibly honored and proud that the Keller family is part of the Derryfield family! Tell us about your family legacy using the hashtag #DSlegacy.
Dorothy and Robert Keller, Sr.
A PROGRESS REPORT ON DERRYFIELD’S STRATEGIC PLAN
BOSTON ALUMNI EVENT Alumni and faculty from across the years gathered for a vibrant celebration of Derryfield and Ed Lemire in the heart of Boston’s Seaport at the lovely home of Neal ’78 and Clea Winneg.
LET THE DERRYFIELD DERBY BEGIN!
These events are inspiring, as alumni share their stories and the School shares all of the exciting things happening on campus and beyond. They are also helpful, as this night was for an alumnus moving to Boston in the next couple of weeks who was happily creating contacts. The School continues to focus on alumni engagement; these are opportunities for alumni to network with one another and to reconnect with Derryfield students. By the end of the evening, a number of alumni working or studying in medicine, finance, technology, and sales had offered to mentor a student and help create an Independent Senior Project opportunity—amazing! Occasions like this define one of Derryfield’s core values— community. No one wanted to leave the warmth and camaraderie; Dr. Carter suggested that we stay and have a field trip to the Children’s Museum across the river the next morning!
Join the Derryfield community on Saturday, May 12 at the Manchester Country Club for the annual Parent Faculty Association Benefit! This event serves as an opportunity to celebrate being a part of the Derryfield family and to enjoy a fun-filled evening in support of Derryfield students, faculty, and programs.
BREAKTHROUGH MANCHESTER Breakthrough Manchester will host a unique and innovative event on May 8 at the Southern New Hampshire University Dining Center. If you love trivia, if you love to laugh, if you love to compete, if you want to help some outstanding students with limited resources, this event is for you! Test your knowledge in rounds of trivia, enjoy great food, interact with our students, and experience the Breakthrough Manchester spirit first-hand! Breakthrough Manchester is New Hampshire’s only 6-year, tuitionfree college access program, supporting motivated Manchester students with limited opportunities. The summer program for middle school students has been hosted on The Derryfield School campus since 1991. By design, Breakthrough specifically includes academically gifted students who are low-income, ethnically and racially diverse and the first in their family who would attend college. They are determined to succeed, sometimes against long odds. To learn more, please visit breakthroughmanchester.org. Join us for a fun evening on May 8. Tickets for the event are still available. To purchase tickets for the event online or for more information, visit: bit.ly/BreakthroughAYS2018.
REUNION 2018 & ED LEMIRE’S RETIREMENT May 18-19 •Reunion Reception & Barbeque (celebrating Ed Lemire’s retirement) •Baseball, softball, and lacrosse games • Derryfield Creates Gallery Reception (multi-media art show) • Almost, Maine (upper school play) •Founders’ Day Assembly •Classroom visits with a favorite teacher or audit a new class •Student-led campus tours
TOP: A group photo of alumni at the gathering; MIDDLE: Jimmy Rich ’92, Ed Lemire, Garrett ’89 and Leigh ’89 Gillespie; BOTTOM: Hosts Clea and Neil ’78 Winneg with Austin Nijhuis ’07, Nguyen Doan ’07, Mary Carter, Natalie Coviello ’07, and Kristie Migliori Logan ’07. B e l o n g i n g : W i n t e r 2 0 18
It is sure to be a fun-filled weekend, but not without you there! Please join us!
goal 1: belonging
“ Build a sense of belonging and identity within the Derryfield family.”
GOT DIRT? As the Board of Trustees examined the future of Derryfield’s facilites, the need for an additional playing field at the Union Street intersection became apparent. The school took advantage of an amazing rate on clean fill produced by the new Manning Hill development on River Road.
cubic yards of clean fill: 35,000+
Don’t miss out this year on Triple Crown-inspired food and drink, the chance to “let it ride” on games and auction items, and the opportunity to say “hay!” to old friends or meet new ones! Funds raised from the Benefit help fund unique programs and enrichment opportunities for Derryfield students and faculty. They also allow the PFA to help build community at Derryfield through events such as the Back to School Picnic and Parent Socials, support and acknowledge faculty members through appreciation events each December and April, and offer volunteer and fundraising assistance for Theater and Arts programs at Derryfield.
cost per cubic yard: $2 total savings: $250,000
goal 3: building
“ Invest in a sequence of multiple physical plant upgrades by following a traditional master planning, campaign, and construction cycle.”
Auction items at this year’s event include tickets to Taylor Swift, a one week stay in Marco Island, Florida in March 2019, and tickets to the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Dear Evan Hansen. Stop “foaling” around and order your tickets today to join the Derryfield community for an exciting evening on Saturday, May 12! “Post time” for the event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at derryfield.org/benefit-tickets.
goal 2: leading
ART AWARDS This winter, The Derryfield School was excited to learn that 15 of our art students received recognition for their work by the New Hampshire Scholastic Art Awards. A competitive juried art competition, the work of these students was considered next to the artwork of hundreds of students artists from all over the state of New Hampshire. Gold Key winning student Ada Hu ’19, as well as Gold Key winner for writing Ria Kundu ’22, had their work selected for recognition at the national level by some of the most accomplished creative professionals in the nation. Of the 350,000 works of art and writing submitted nationally, less that 1% were recognized at the national level. All of these students join a legacy of celebrated artists and writers, including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Robert Redford, and Richard Avedon. Right: NH Gold and National Silver recipient, Fragile Tradition by Ada Hu ’19 Left: NH Gold recipient, Ethereal Soul by Leya Wang ’20
DERRYFIELD.ORG/REUNION Belonging: Winter 2018
“ Cultivate inspired, effective, and compassionate student leaders committed to enriching their wider communities.”
PARENT EDUCATION SERIES We did it! This year we added yet another opportunity for parents to learn more about hot topics in education and student development. The Parent Education Series coincided with this year’s SSAT testing days and kicked off in October with Susan Grodman’s Transformative Experiences for Your Child: Travel, Service, and Out-of-the-Comfort Zone Opportunities. Susan focused on the importance of providing a life rich in culture and understanding through travel experiences. In December, Brennan Barnard, Derryfield’s College Counselor extraordinaire, hosted Unpacking the College Admission Experience: How Students Find and Thrive at Their Top Choice Schools in December. Head of School Mary Carter rounded out the series with her talk Teach Your Child to Sail Their Own Ships. This series was so successful that we took it on the road! Derryfield parent Travis Warren generously hosted Brennan Barnard and 30 guests in February at the Blackbaud headquarters in Bedford, while Mary Carter spoke at the Amherst Town Library in early March. We are excited to offer these opportunities next year, as well as expand our reach to other towns. We hope to have more community members attend this series in the future!
goal 4: elevating
“Expand program and marketing to attract more families and retain current families.” Belonging: Winter 2018
A PROGRESS REPORT ON DERRYFIELD’S STRATEGIC PLAN
BOSTON ALUMNI EVENT Alumni and faculty from across the years gathered for a vibrant celebration of Derryfield and Ed Lemire in the heart of Boston’s Seaport at the lovely home of Neal ’78 and Clea Winneg.
LET THE DERRYFIELD DERBY BEGIN!
These events are inspiring, as alumni share their stories and the School shares all of the exciting things happening on campus and beyond. They are also helpful, as this night was for an alumnus moving to Boston in the next couple of weeks who was happily creating contacts. The School continues to focus on alumni engagement; these are opportunities for alumni to network with one another and to reconnect with Derryfield students. By the end of the evening, a number of alumni working or studying in medicine, finance, technology, and sales had offered to mentor a student and help create an Independent Senior Project opportunity—amazing! Occasions like this define one of Derryfield’s core values— community. No one wanted to leave the warmth and camaraderie; Dr. Carter suggested that we stay and have a field trip to the Children’s Museum across the river the next morning!
Join the Derryfield community on Saturday, May 12 at the Manchester Country Club for the annual Parent Faculty Association Benefit! This event serves as an opportunity to celebrate being a part of the Derryfield family and to enjoy a fun-filled evening in support of Derryfield students, faculty, and programs.
BREAKTHROUGH MANCHESTER Breakthrough Manchester will host a unique and innovative event on May 8 at the Southern New Hampshire University Dining Center. If you love trivia, if you love to laugh, if you love to compete, if you want to help some outstanding students with limited resources, this event is for you! Test your knowledge in rounds of trivia, enjoy great food, interact with our students, and experience the Breakthrough Manchester spirit first-hand! Breakthrough Manchester is New Hampshire’s only 6-year, tuitionfree college access program, supporting motivated Manchester students with limited opportunities. The summer program for middle school students has been hosted on The Derryfield School campus since 1991. By design, Breakthrough specifically includes academically gifted students who are low-income, ethnically and racially diverse and the first in their family who would attend college. They are determined to succeed, sometimes against long odds. To learn more, please visit breakthroughmanchester.org. Join us for a fun evening on May 8. Tickets for the event are still available. To purchase tickets for the event online or for more information, visit: bit.ly/BreakthroughAYS2018.
REUNION 2018 & ED LEMIRE’S RETIREMENT May 18-19 •Reunion Reception & Barbeque (celebrating Ed Lemire’s retirement) •Baseball, softball, and lacrosse games • Derryfield Creates Gallery Reception (multi-media art show) • Almost, Maine (upper school play) •Founders’ Day Assembly •Classroom visits with a favorite teacher or audit a new class •Student-led campus tours
TOP: A group photo of alumni at the gathering; MIDDLE: Jimmy Rich ’92, Ed Lemire, Garrett ’89 and Leigh ’89 Gillespie; BOTTOM: Hosts Clea and Neil ’78 Winneg with Austin Nijhuis ’07, Nguyen Doan ’07, Mary Carter, Natalie Coviello ’07, and Kristie Migliori Logan ’07. B e l o n g i n g : W i n t e r 2 0 18
It is sure to be a fun-filled weekend, but not without you there! Please join us!
goal 1: belonging
“ Build a sense of belonging and identity within the Derryfield family.”
GOT DIRT? As the Board of Trustees examined the future of Derryfield’s facilites, the need for an additional playing field at the Union Street intersection became apparent. The school took advantage of an amazing rate on clean fill produced by the new Manning Hill development on River Road.
cubic yards of clean fill: 35,000+
Don’t miss out this year on Triple Crown-inspired food and drink, the chance to “let it ride” on games and auction items, and the opportunity to say “hay!” to old friends or meet new ones! Funds raised from the Benefit help fund unique programs and enrichment opportunities for Derryfield students and faculty. They also allow the PFA to help build community at Derryfield through events such as the Back to School Picnic and Parent Socials, support and acknowledge faculty members through appreciation events each December and April, and offer volunteer and fundraising assistance for Theater and Arts programs at Derryfield.
cost per cubic yard: $2 total savings: $250,000
goal 3: building
“ Invest in a sequence of multiple physical plant upgrades by following a traditional master planning, campaign, and construction cycle.”
Auction items at this year’s event include tickets to Taylor Swift, a one week stay in Marco Island, Florida in March 2019, and tickets to the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Dear Evan Hansen. Stop “foaling” around and order your tickets today to join the Derryfield community for an exciting evening on Saturday, May 12! “Post time” for the event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at derryfield.org/benefit-tickets.
goal 2: leading
ART AWARDS This winter, The Derryfield School was excited to learn that 15 of our art students received recognition for their work by the New Hampshire Scholastic Art Awards. A competitive juried art competition, the work of these students was considered next to the artwork of hundreds of students artists from all over the state of New Hampshire. Gold Key winning student Ada Hu ’19, as well as Gold Key winner for writing Ria Kundu ’22, had their work selected for recognition at the national level by some of the most accomplished creative professionals in the nation. Of the 350,000 works of art and writing submitted nationally, less that 1% were recognized at the national level. All of these students join a legacy of celebrated artists and writers, including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Robert Redford, and Richard Avedon. Right: NH Gold and National Silver recipient, Fragile Tradition by Ada Hu ’19 Left: NH Gold recipient, Ethereal Soul by Leya Wang ’20
DERRYFIELD.ORG/REUNION Belonging: Winter 2018
“ Cultivate inspired, effective, and compassionate student leaders committed to enriching their wider communities.”
PARENT EDUCATION SERIES We did it! This year we added yet another opportunity for parents to learn more about hot topics in education and student development. The Parent Education Series coincided with this year’s SSAT testing days and kicked off in October with Susan Grodman’s Transformative Experiences for Your Child: Travel, Service, and Out-of-the-Comfort Zone Opportunities. Susan focused on the importance of providing a life rich in culture and understanding through travel experiences. In December, Brennan Barnard, Derryfield’s College Counselor extraordinaire, hosted Unpacking the College Admission Experience: How Students Find and Thrive at Their Top Choice Schools in December. Head of School Mary Carter rounded out the series with her talk Teach Your Child to Sail Their Own Ships. This series was so successful that we took it on the road! Derryfield parent Travis Warren generously hosted Brennan Barnard and 30 guests in February at the Blackbaud headquarters in Bedford, while Mary Carter spoke at the Amherst Town Library in early March. We are excited to offer these opportunities next year, as well as expand our reach to other towns. We hope to have more community members attend this series in the future!
goal 4: elevating
“Expand program and marketing to attract more families and retain current families.” Belonging: Winter 2018
On the Mainstage
belonging
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER NH PERMIT NO. 290
THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL 2108 RIVER ROAD, MANCHESTER, NH 03104 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
belonging
THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL
WINTER 2018
FOUR GENERATIONS OF IMPACT
In early March, the Derryfield Players presented Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin, a musical about a prince in search of meaning and purpose in life. The play within a play is told by a troupe of actors, led by the Leading Player, who show Pippin different avenues he could take in life, from academia to religious life. He looks for love in all the wrong places before settling into a mundane life with a widow, Catherine, and her son Theo. Believing he is meant for something greater, Pippin leaves the monotony of country life, only to regret walking out on love. Derryfield’s version of the show embraced steampunk to illustrate the connection between a classic theme, growing up in search of happiness, and the human tendency to look to an idealized future so much that we miss what’s happening in the present moment. The cast of over 30 students often broke the fourth wall and engaged with audience members, and were supported by a hardworking pit that included several student musicians and a crew who planned and ran nearly all technical aspects of the production.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS
Global Possibilities
The future looks bright for the varsity alpine team, with many talented racers returning next year. This year at states, junior Miranda Shilling won the Div IV title with a win in Slalom. She was joined by Henry Howe ’20 and Kyle Goldberg ’19 at the Meet of Champions, where she blew away the field in Slalom and claimed the overall State title for alpine.
Imagine this: exploring Vietnam with a Vietnam War Veteran, participating in sea cucumber research in Eleuthera, teaching English in a rural Dominican Republic school, or taking creative arts classes at Oxford. These (and more) are activities our students participated in during this year’s March break. Providing students with domestic and international travel experiences remains a priority for Derryfield; and this year, over 100 students participated in trips or exchanges!
Nobody expected the boys’ varsity basketball team to end the season 18-0; even the players. Their season was marked by challenging wins on the road and thrilling buzzer beaters, which brought them to the semifinals against Newmarket. While they couldn’t bounce back from an early deficit, Coach Bradley will remember them as “such a special group.”
COACH LEMIRE RETIRES
Miranda Shilling ’19 on her way to being named State Champion.
Belonging: Winter 2018
Derryfield athletics said farewell to a master coach at the end of the winter season. After 34 years with the girls’ basketball team, Ed Lemire coached his last varsity game in March, leading a young team to the state tournament. Assistant Coach Michelle Coombes shares, “He is a dedicated teacher and coach, always willing to dig into the messy details to help his students and players understand concepts day in and day out.” He will be missed, both in the classroom and on the courts.
Parents of Alumni: If your child no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Advancement Office of the l o n g i n g at : W603.669.4524 inter 2018 correct mailingB eaddress or email advancement@derryfield.org.
Two upper school students on the Island School trip said they “were taking home a sense of gratitude for the life they have and a new perspective on what makes people happy.” A middle school student on the Dominican Republic trip shared that because of this trip she wants to dedicate her life to service. We are grateful for the faculty and staff who lead and chaperone these trips, to the students who are such willing travelers, and to the parents (and financial aid funds) that make it possible for students to participate. Stay tuned for next year! Jen Sheppard ’22 works with a student as part of the Outreach 360 program in the Dominican Republic.
In the world of independent schools, Derryfield is young. In fact, this May, Derryfield celebrates its first 50th reunion with the class of 1968 returning to campus! Our relatively short history makes this story unique: in 54 years, the Keller family has had four generations of impact on the School. When the School was founded, local businessman Robert Keller Sr. and his wife, Dorothy, united with 38 other families in the community to raise the funds that opened The Derryfield School. The Kellers are honored each spring on Founders’ Day as one of our founding families. Robert and Dorothy had four sons: Richard, Bruce, Robert, Jr., and Scott. Richard and Jackie’s son David was the first Keller to graduate from Derryfield in 1980, followed by his brother Mike in 1984 and his sister Wendy in 1987. Their mother, Jackie, served as a Trustee during this time. Amy Keller, daughter of Bruce and Cynthia, was also at Derryfield in this era, graduating in 1983, and her sister Sarah attended through the tenth grade. The legacy continued as all of David and Cheryl’s children attended —William ’10, Emilyann ’11, and Krystyna ’17—making them the fourth generation in this Derryfield story. Amy’s daughter, Jesse Stephens, graduated with Will in 2010 and her younger daughter, Cynthia, attended in middle school. Although Robert, Jr. and Susan’s daughter, Kathy Garfield, did not attend Derryfield herself, she and her husband Mike knew it was a great option for their Belonging: Winter 2018
children, Emma ’15 and Ben ’17. She also knew that it would make her grandfather proud that the legacy continued. Krystyna and Ben were the last of the fourth generation to graduate from Derryfield. In addition to the generations of impact and alumni, the family has supported the School over the years in so many ways. They have contributed to the cross country and track programs, the Annual Fund, Breakthrough Manchester, the construction of the middle school, and so much more. The legacy that was started 54 years ago lives on, and we’re incredibly honored and proud that the Keller family is part of the Derryfield family! Tell us about your family legacy using the hashtag #DSlegacy.
Dorothy and Robert Keller, Sr.