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THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL
Winter Carnival > The Breakthrough Connection > Bridges to Community
NEWS FROM WINTER TERM 2009
Fahrenheit 451 The Derryfield Players presented Fahrenheit 451 this winter in the Performing Arts Auditorium.
contents Table of
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Steven Burke Chair Bedford, NH
DERRYFIELD TODAY
John Allard ’83 Manchester, NH
Annie Branch Director of Communications
Bradley Benson ’78 Derry, NH
Diane Allen Staff Writer
Robert Chin Windham, NH
Griffin York & Krause Design
Craig N. Sellers Head of School Manchester, NH
Christine Cikacz Chester, NH
Puritan Press, Inc. Printing
Cathryn Vaughn ’91 Secretary Manchester, NH
James Davis New Boston, NH
CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Louis Fink Bedford, NH
Kate Erskine
Preston Hunter ’98 Bedford, NH
Stacy Beaudoin, Catalina Benech ’11, Kevin Finefrock ’03, Noah Goldstein ’13, Kate Hanna, Elizabeth Richey ’03
Laurie Lamp Bedford, NH
Marcus Hurlbut
Paul LeBlanc Manchester, NH
Scott Morgan ’92 and Laura Reis ’99
Donna K. Lencki Candia, NH
COMMUNICATIONS BOARD
David Lockwood Manchester, NH
Diane Allen
Nigel Donovan Treasurer Bedford, NH
WINTER 2009
features FEATURES
The Breakthrough Connection
12
by Annie Branch
Whitney Lockwood Berdy ’00 Thomas Manson New Boston, NH
John Bouton
Constantinos Mokas Manchester, NH
Annie Branch Laurie Lamp
Christopher Morgan Amherst, NH
Bianca Nicolosi ’09
Jeffrey Pollock Manchester, NH
ADVANCEMENT
Janice Romanowsky Hampstead, NH
Diane Allen Alumni Coordinator
Richard Sigel ’81 Manchester, NH
Lori Evans ’00 Director of Annual Giving
William Zorn Hooksett, NH
Gail Gordon Advancement Office Coordinator Alice Handwerk Director of Donor Relations Jennifer Melkonian Assistant Head for Advancement
Bridges to Community
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by Scott Morgan ’92 and Laura Reis ’99
Kate Erskine
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by Diane Allen
departments DEPARTMENTS
Message from the Head Around Campus Cougar Athletics Breakthrough Spotlight Update on Alumni Life After Derryfield Faculty Profile
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FRONT COVER: Middle school students load up a Derryfield bus with diapers collected for the New Horizons Food Pantry during Winter Carnival. INSIDE FRONT COVER: Alex Michaud ’12 and Steph Hogan ’09 in a scene from Fahrenheit 451.
Derryfield Today is published by the Advancement Office at The Derryfield School. If you note errors, please notify us at 603.669.4524, ext. 2261 or send an email to abranch@derryfield.org. Correspondence may be addressed to: Director of Communications, The Derryfield School, 2108 River Road, Manchester, NH 03104-1396. The Derryfield School welcomes students of any race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin. The School does not discriminate in its hiring, admission policies, or programs on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or disabilities.
www.derryfield.org
BACKGROUND: Seventh grader Memphis Dougherty ’14 tests her rope climbing skills in the gymnasium. TOP: Librarian Betty Jipson takes in a book during the winter term Reading Respite.
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head
Message from the
Looking to the Future making a living. I have found the phrase “the teacher arrives fter a year and a half of meeting a variety of when the student is ready” to be true. In this instance, the Derryfield supporters up and down the east coast, teacher was the entirety of Breakthrough Manchester at The Cary and I recently ventured out to Chicago and Derryfield School—its mission, its vision, and the exception‑ hosted an alumni event there. It was terrific to experience al students and teachers who make up the program. Our the same passion and commitment, so present within an easy drive from Manchester, more than 1,000 miles from our school’s desire and determination to partner with such a splendid program speaks volumes about our mutual campus. awareness of the role of service in Alumni gatherings are usually exuberant affairs where one question— “...the intense work ethic of the an excellent education. I hope you enjoy this issue of simple inquiries such as “Tell me about program, combined with the Derryfield Today, and that from it you your teachers” or “What did you learn about yourself?” or “Why do you think sense of doing such profoundly develop a deeper sense of how Breakthrough Manchester has come to the experience still has such meaning meaningful service, opened be such an essential part of our school. for you?”—has a way of beginning the Please let us know how the Break‑ evening and leading on to freewheeling her eyes to a new way of through program changed your life— flights of nostalgia, reflection, and mem‑ thinking about careers, and clearly, you will not be the only one ories not accessed for years. The gather‑ with that sentiment. ings are always great fun. When I asked how one can find meaning But I will close not with a request, one of the above questions to a young while also making a living.” but with a statement. I mentioned alumna at our Chicago gathering her response surprised me, uplifted me, and—after some further above that, upon hearing this young woman’s story, my reaction included a strong sense of gratitude. To clarify— questions—left me feeling enormously proud and grateful. on behalf of The Derryfield school, our heartfelt thanks to She said, “The Breakthrough program changed my life.” Marcus Hurlbut, the fourth Head of School, who had the She did not go on to college to become a teacher, neither vision to bring the Breakthrough Manchester program to did she move directly into helping those who, as Break‑ Derryfield. In this way, you, too, have changed our lives. through’s mission statement indicates, come from limited opportunities. Rather, the intense work ethic of the program, combined with the sense of doing such profoundly mean‑ ingful service, opened her eyes to a new way of thinking Craig N. Sellers about careers, and how one can find meaning while also Head of School
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Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
APRIL – JUNE
events I M AG E S F R O M W I N T E R C A R N I VA L W E E K E N D For more photos, visit our online gallery in the ‘Exploring Derryfield’ section of www.derryfield.org.
calendar
APRIL Breakthrough Saturday
18
GMCC Network PM
23
Stardust Diner Benefit Dinner
29
Lyceum Gallery Reception
29
Raising Resilient Children and Adolescents
29
MAY Founders’ Day
1
Admission Information Night
7
Prom
8
Lyceum Gallery Reception
15
Spring Concert
15
Breakthrough Saturday
16
Awards Day
29
JUNE All-School Assembly and Picnic
10
Eighth Grade Send Off
10
Commencement
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
campus
on
VAPA DINNER SHOW 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. n McIninch Room Stardust Diner: A benefit dinner for the NYC Concert Choir trip and the Moore Center. ART RECEPTION 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. n Lyceum Gallery Advanced Studio Art Presents: AWESOMENESS.
RAISING RESILIENT CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS Clockwise from top right: Laurel Devino participates in a card trick during an assembly. n Chris Hettler dressed
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. n Performing Arts Auditorium
up for pirate vs. ninja day. n Camille Smith ’09 tries her hand at juggling. n Devin Walker ’11 takes a shot in
A presentation by Dr. Robert Brooks, one of today's
dodgeball. n Pirate Meghan Johnson ’15 gets ready for some dodgeball. n Curtis Lamp ’09 helps out with a
leading speakers on the themes of resilience, self-
death-defying juggling trick during an assembly.
esteem, motivation, and family relationships.
www.derryfield.org
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campus
Around
STORIES Growing in Service First Impressions On the Stage Scientific Thought Annual Fund Update
SCHOLASTIC ART CONTEST Congratulations to the following Derryfield artists whose art was recognized by the 2008 Scholastic Art Awards. Gold Key: Colette Chretien (2) Painting & Drawing Shireen Patel (3) Design: Apparel, Drawing,
& Mixed Media Julia Cowenhoven Photography - Analog Olivia Donahue Drawing Silver Key:
Growing in Service To be a “lifer” at Derryfield means different things to different people. For seniors Emily Johnson, Aviva Paiste, and Sandy Stonebraker, it has meant finding a cause to support in middle school and growing with it until it has literally become part of who they are. When Sandy came to Derryfield as a sixth grader, she joined the service organi‑ zation known as Builders’ Club. A new counselor, Jo Davidson, was preparing for a humanitarian trip to a Romanian orphan‑ age and asked members of the Builders’ Club to help her with contributions of hand‑made sock dolls and knitted scarves. Builders’ Club advisor Candy Chaplin was happy to organize her group in making the dolls and scarves, and Sandy proudly contributed one of each. The following year, new students Aviva and Emily joined Builders’ Club and became energized in the
Aviva Paiste (2) Photography - Digital &
Analog Everett Baker Photography - Analog Ali George Drawing Honorable Mention: Claudia Camerino Photography - Analog Arthur Krogman Printmaking Everett Simon Photography - Digital Shireen Patel Painting Ali George Drawing Elise Shattuck Photography - Analog
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Now seniors, Sandy, Emily, and Aviva are still involved with the Romania service project.
Emily, Sandy, and Aviva when they were in seventh grade, posing with quilts to go to Romania.
Romania project. While they were making their first contributions, Sandy was step‑ ping up her game. As the years progressed and the girls grew along with their giving spirits, so did the scope of their contributions. This year, not only have the girls been busy all year long making dolls and scarves in prepara‑ tion for the March trip, they have also asked their families and friends to contribute. Announcements at all‑school assemblies have spiked interest in the entire student body, and these three girls have been more than happy to teach anyone to knit. A “Tree of Hope” was posted in both the middle and upper schools, and contribu‑ tions continued to crowd the counselor’s office right up until Mrs. Davidson’s departure for Romania during spring break. As part of our global education initia‑ tive, Sandy and Emily accompanied Mrs. Davidson this year. We caught up with her before she left. “Each of these girls is dedi‑
Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
AROUND CAMPUS
cated to service both in and out of the Derryfield community; it is a part of who they are. They are each compas‑ sionate beings who, over the past six years, have sent their love to people they have never met. I am thrilled to be taking them on this journey of ser‑ vice.” Commenting on her excitement over finally being able to meet the chil‑ dren, Sandy said, “This will definitely be a part of my life forever.” Emily had been gathering her art supplies as she was preparing to spend time teaching arts and crafts at the orphanage. She agreed that after actually being there, the project would be impossible to for‑ get, even after graduation in June. Aviva stayed home for the break, and although a part of her wishes that she had been with Sandy and Emily in Romania, she was there in spirit. Aviva plans to remain involved in service projects after graduation, but will probably not limit herself to the Romania project. “There are so many people who need help, and I’d like to contribute wherever I find I can make a difference.” In the meantime, Aviva has spent a good deal of time this year knitting, teaching knitting, and helping out in any way she could. To Emily, Aviva, and Sandy, being a “lifer” at Derryfield means more than just being a student here for six or seven years. It means taking the spirit of giving that they have learned and making it an integral part of their lives. It means gaining the confidence they need to be purposeful members of their communities. It means that caring for others has become a lasting way of life.
www.derryfield.org
First Impressions The stage was set and the podium was low—very low. Students, faculty, and staff made their way into the audi‑ torium and waited to see why the podium was set this way. Then John Robinson ’86 appeared and made his first impression, an impression that was to be dispelled within about two minutes. John has a birth defect that left him with a normal sized torso but with very short arms and legs. He realized long ago that in order to succeed in life, he would have to take the obsta‑ cles he had been given and turn them into opportunities. When he wanted to get his driver’s license, he had to hunt down an instructor in Jaffrey who had special equipment for handicapped drivers. Even everyday events present challenges for John. He invited his stu‑ dent audience to put their elbows together and try to reach the button on the top of their pants. He then asked them to imagine having to get help from a teacher every time they had to use the restroom. Knowing he would need to be “clothing indepen‑ dent” before going to college, John set about altering his clothes to include Velcro strips. Another problem solved. John realized he would need to take full responsibility for himself if he wanted to live independently and be a productive member of society. His dedication to reaching these goals proved fruitful in both his personal
and professional life. John considers himself a good husband and father to three children. A graduate of Syracuse University, he is the marketing director for a PBS affiliate in Albany, NY. There is currently a documentary film in production about his life and accom‑ plishments. John Robinson ’86 inspired us all with his humorous stories, his outlook on life, and his ability to dispel first impressions and turn challenges into opportunities. His final advice to resist complaining about what we don’t have and be grateful for what we do have in our lives led to a spontaneous standing ovation from the entire Derryfield community. There is little doubt that his visit has added strength and courage to the fabric of our own lives.
John Robinson ’86 speaks about his experience at Derryfield.
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AROUND CAMPUS
On the Stage The Derryfield Players had another successful season on the stage of the Nancy Boettiger Theatre this winter. The season started off with a thought‑ provoking performance of Fahrenheit 451, based on the Cold War‑era book by Ray Bradbury. The actors handled the complex dialog with great skill, conveying a disturbing image of what life would look like without literature and free thought. Alex Michaud ’12 delivered a powerful performance as a fireman who begins to question authority when he reads the pages of the books he is charged with burning. Despite a shortage of rehearsal time,
Dustin Kahn ’10, Andrew Voss ’12, and Adrian McLeod ’10 serve on the guard in Fahrenheit 451.
KEEPING UP-TO-DATE
derryfield newsonline Want to know more about what’s happening at Derryfield every day? Check out the online news portal by clicking on ‘News & Events’ on www.derryfield.org. Here are the introductions of a sampling of stories from the winter term.
The Lyceum Gallery Presents Off the Press
Winter Term Athletes Honored As is Derryfield tradition, the last Monday morning all‑school assembly is dedicated to presenting athletic awards to deserving winter athletes. On Monday, March 9, ten students were so honored...
Sixth Graders and The Cultural Café Wrapping up the seventh year of the Cultural Café with Manchester’s immi‑ grant population, Derryfield’s sixth graders held their final meetings with their “buddies” from across the globe on March 10 and 11 this year...
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The 2009 early spring show in the Lyceum Gallery at The Derryfield School features monotypes by two New Hampshire seacoast artists, Annick Bouvron‑Gromek and Doris Rice...
Rynearson Studies Urban Education Reform “If President Obama were to name you Secretary of Education, what would be your first initiative in that role?” This was a question posed by librarian Betty Jipson during a Q&A session after a presentation by Anne Rynearson ’09 of her independent study on urban education reform...
Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
AROUND CAMPUS
the show moved seamlessly, and effec‑ tively delivered its powerful message to the audience. The second show of the season was a spectacular production of the rock musical Aida. Based on Verdi’s opera and featuring the music of Elton John, Aida tells the story of a captured Nubian princess (played by Steph Hogan ’09) who falls in love with the captain of the Egyptian army (played by Marcel Robinson ’09) and must choose between her country and her true love. The show’s vivid costumes and dazzling choreography were not to be outshined by the vocal talent of the performers.
Scientific Thought Derryfield junior Katherine Grisanzio waited nervously with 114 other stu‑ dents for the judging to be complete. In the end, she left the sixth annual New Hampshire Science and Engineering Exposition with a first place trophy. Held on the Concord campus of New Hampshire Technical Institute on March 12, the Expo showcased the efforts of students from twelve area high schools. According to Seacoast Online, examples of projects exhibited ranged from a study on milfoil to the analysis of an ELISA of serum from mice immunized with Crotalus atrox rattlesnake venom to a report on the photodegradation of computer ink to a project determining if the human body is electrical enough to be a battery. Katherine began work on her project in September 2007, studying the relationship between strength of friendship and empathy by designing a survey and collecting data from her peers to determine if those who had more friends also had more empathy. After doing a statistical analysis of this data, she concluded that friendlier students had more empathy. Her investigation won first place in the Behavioral Science category. Katherine’s study includ‑ ed over 100 students: 45 middle school students from Breakthrough Manchester and the Ross A. Lurgio Middle School in Bedford; 45 high school students
from The Derryfield School; and 27 incarcerated students. During the ana‑ lytical process, she uncovered several areas worthy of a follow‑up study, which she just may undertake for next year’s competition. In the meantime, Katherine is focusing on her school work and considering colleges and universities that will help her achieve her goals in the world of psychology and psychiatry.
SPECIAL REQUEST
annual fund
update
Due to the incredible generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends, the 2008–2009 Annual Fund is making great strides towards achieving its goal of $440,000. As of March 31, 2009, with gifts and pledges totaling $356,151, we have reached 81 percent of our goal. We still need your help! Derryfield does much more than welcome monetary contributions from its parents, alumni, and friends: the School depends on them. Gifts large and small, from each and every donor, make a tremendous difference in the education of bright, talented, multi-faceted Derryfield students. To those who have made your commitment to Derryfield’s Annual Fund, thank you. If you have not yet made a gift please know that your support is more critical than ever to Derryfield’s success. Please join your classmates, fellow parents, and friends in making a gift today by clicking “Giving” at www.derryfield.org. Thank you for doing your part to ensure Derryfield’s distinctive role in providing opportunities for students to be their best.
Katie Baroff ’10 as Amneris in Aida. www.derryfield.org
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athletics
Cougar
ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE The NHIAA recognized eleven Derryfield
Winter wrap-up
seniors for achieving academic and athletic excellence at the New Hampshire
Varsity Nordic Skiing
Hockey
High School Athletic/Academic Award
Women: 4th at State Championships (Div. IV) Men: 5th at State Championships (Div. IV) Patrick Rachel ’09, Captain, 8th at States (Freestyle), Class of 1970 Award Kaitlin Fink ’11, Captain; All-Conference; States: 3rd (Classical), 2nd (Freestyle); Meet of Champions: 4th (Classical); Class of 1970 Award; Team NH for New England HS Championships Matthew Porat ’10, 6th at States (Classical)
Season Record: 9-2-2 Ryan Clauson ’09, Co-Captain, Class of 1970 Award Curtis Lamp ’09, Co-Captain, Class of 1970 Award
Program. n Leah Burke n Colette Chretien n Carsten Christandl n Ryan Clauson n Christina de Bruyn Kops n Katherine DiPastina n Christopher Dupuis n Bonnie Frieden n John Kalliel n Lydia MacKenzie n Stephen Reichheld
The requirements for both programs state that students must have maintained a B+ average, lettered in two varsity sports, and been involved in leadership or service.
CORRECTION: In the fall issue, Kim Pollock ’11 should have been noted for earning All-State honors (1st Team) for
Varsity Alpine Skiing Women: 2nd at State Championships (Div. IV) Men: 2nd at State Championships (Div. IV) Claudia Camerino ’09, All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award Mackenzie Fleming ’09, All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award Carla Nyquist ’12, Meet of Champions: 4th (GS), Div. IV State Champion, Team NH for Eastern HS Championships Brandon Wilson ’10, State Championships: 3rd (GS)
Varsity Swimming Women: 4-18; 8th at State Championships (Div. II) Men: 6-16; 5th at State Championships (Div. II); 2nd at Meet of Champions Leah Burke ’09, States: 2nd (200 IM), 5th (500 Freestyle); Meet of Champions: 4th (200 IM) Garrett Mayo ’11, States: 3rd (1M Diving); Meet of Champions: 2nd (1M Diving) Adam Spierer ’09, Co-Captain, States: 3rd (100 Breaststroke), Meet of Champions: 4th (100 Yard Breaststroke), Class of 1970 Award Meg Steer ’09, Co-Captain, Class of 1970 Award Ian Will ’11, States: 2nd (50 Freestyle), 3rd (100 Butterfly); Meet of Champions: 1st (50 Freestyle), 4th (100 Butterfly)
Boys’ Varsity Basketball Season Record: 12-6 NH Championship Quarter-Finalists (Class S) Granite State Conference Sportsmanship Award Mickey Cunliffe ’09, Co-Captain, All-Academic Chris Dupuis ’09, All-Academic Kemal Kadic ’09, All-Academic John Kalliel ’09, All-Academic Matt McCormick ’09, Co-Captain, All-State (2nd Team), All-Conference, All-Academic, Class of 1970 Award
the Girls’ Varsity Soccer, rather than All Conference honors. Tayla Satkwich ’11
Girls’ Varsity Basketball
was omitted from the list for earning All-
Season Record: 13-5 NH Championship Quarter-Finalists (Class S) Kelsey Durant ’10, All-Academic Andrea Green ’10, Co-Captain, All-State (2nd Team), All-Academic Bethany Kalliel ’12, All-State (HM) Camille Smith ’09, Co-Captain, All-State (HM), All-Academic, Class of 1970 Award
State honors (2nd Team) for Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey.
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OPPOSITE (clockwise from top right): Ian Will ’11 swims the butterfly. n Anna Stuart ’09 tucks in for a sprint to the finish. n Meg Steer ’09 comes up for air during the crawl. n Kaitlin Fink ’11 pushes off the start in a nordic meet. n Zoe Sobin ’11 passes the ball in a game against Hinsdale. n Matthew Porat ’10 sprints for the finish in a nordic meet. n Matt McCormick ’09 squeezes by a defender in a game against Sunapee. n Ryan Clauson ’09 goes for the puck in a faceoff. ABOVE: J.D. Donovan ’09 takes a turn in an alpine meet.
Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
C O U G A R AT H L E T I C S
www.derryfield.org
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spotlight Breakthrough
HAVE AN EXTRA ROOM? NEED A HOUSESITTER? HOST A TEACHER FOR BREAKTHROUGH! We are seeking approximately eight families who would be willing to host some of the responsible and remarkable college students who will teach at Breakthrough this summer. They hail from schools like Dartmouth, Northeastern, UNC Chapel Hill, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Mount Holyoke, and Rhodes. Over the past eighteen years, Derryfield homestays have provided wonderful ways for out-of-town teachers to feel at home in our community while giving area families a unique and important way to support Breakthrough Manchester. Please consider hosting a remarkable young college student this summer. Contact Kate Erskine at 603.641.9426 or kerskine@derryfield.org. Our summer session for faculty runs from June 18 to August 13, 2009.
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Reflections on the Early Years In the summer of 1989, nearly 20 years ago, I happened to come across an article in Education Week describing a unique program at University High School in San Francisco called Summerbridge (now known as Breakthrough). The basic components of this program were immediately appealing to me—summer support for “at risk” middle school students, an opportunity for high school and college students to experience firsthand the joys of teaching, and a collaborative effort between public and private schools that really worked. Armed with this article, a brief conversation with Lois Loofbourrow, the founding direc‑ tor in San Francisco, and a passionate belief that this program would make an enormous difference in the lives of all the people it would touch, I returned to school that fall deter‑ mined to bring this program to Derryfield. As I have reflected on the founding of Breakthrough Manchester, I am somewhat amazed that we were able to get the pro‑ gram off the ground so quickly. The basic concept behind Breakthrough coincided with my desire for Derryfield itself to play a more vital role in the local community,
and I believed that critical to launching a successful Breakthrough program would be the support of the Mayor and the Manchester public school system, especial‑ ly the Superintendent. Truth be told, I was worried about this, but I was pleasantly surprised when the idea was greeted with a warm and supportive reception both in the main office and in some of the local ele‑ mentary schools. I recall well that first con‑ versation with the principal of Beech Street School who said, at the conclusion of our talk, that this was the kind of program she had waited for her whole life. That pretty much summed it up for me as well! The early years of Breakthrough were both challenging and exhilarating. The Board of Trustees enthusiastically agreed to give it a go, and armed with a $25,000 start‑up grant from the Inter‑Pacific Corporation, we went looking for the best director in the country and found her in Lynn Sorensen, a native Californian who somewhat reluctantly agreed to come to cold and faraway New Hampshire to direct what would become the third program in the country. We started small but soon realized that within the City of Manchester there were many students who fit the pro‑ file of “Breakthrough kids.” As we spoke to fifth grade students in local elementary schools about a program that would require a six‑week commitment for two
Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
BREAKTHROUGH SPOTLIGHT
consecutive summers, complete with demanding academic work and a cou‑ ple hours of homework a night (in the summer!), we marveled at the look in the eyes of some who moved forward in their chairs, listened intently, and said to us that they were ready and eager to take on this challenge. Of course, there were also those who heard the expectations and immediate‑ ly checked out. They thought we were nuts! I have often used the term “at risk” to describe the students who come to Breakthrough. They are not such because they lack talent or intellect or because they are emotionally unstable, but rather because for these children
ABOVE: Noah Goldstein ’13 enjoys a moment at Breakthrough’s Spirit Day. OPPOSITE: Skyler Mosenthal works with Brian and Malika in a summer classroom.
"I recall well that first conversation with the principal of Beech Street School who said, at the conclusion of our talk, that this was the kind of program she had waited for her whole life." summer is a very risky proposition. Too old for baby sitters, too young for jobs, children in low income families where no one has ever gone to college are not too young for drugs, alcohol, pregnancy, and in some cases, gangs. Often left alone for long hours during the summer, these students are envi‑ ronmentally at risk, and for some, Breakthrough is a way out of a down‑ ward spiral that has and continues to doom many young people in towns and cities all across the country. I learned early on that we can’t reach them all, but we can and must do our very best with those whose lives we
www.breakthroughmanchester.org
are blessed to touch. It has been one of the great joys of my life to have been part of the creation of three Breakthrough programs. Each site is different but the issues are basi‑ cally the same, and the impact on everyone involved is almost always life‑changing. My daughter Kate ’93 is a teacher today largely because of her Breakthrough experience. Better still, she, like so many who have been part of this program, has a deep apprecia‑ tion for the powerful difference educa‑ tion can make in the lives of those many students who start the race of life far behind the starting line.
Since those early days, I truly believed that the power and purpose of Breakthrough would become a beacon of hope for young people and an effec‑ tive and enduring force in the world of education. In my opinion, there is no doubt that the Manchester program has been the shining star in the Breakthrough constellation, and I am deeply proud to be a part of the histo‑ ry of this wonderful program. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all members of The Derryfield School community for your resounding success. With respect, admiration, and appreciation, Marcus D. Hurlbut Fourth Head of The Derryfield School
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connection The Breakthrough
The Importance of Breakthrough in the Derryfield Community by Annie Branch
he Breakthrough program has grown to mean so much more than just a summer program for middle school students. It is a life‑changing experience that guides enthusiastic, but under‑served, learners on the path to college. For many students, they will be the first in their families to reach this goal, and the seven‑year commitment they make to the program is worth every extra hour of work they do. These ambitious young scholars are not the only ones to benefit from the program; the student teachers who take on the role of classroom leaders learn invaluable skills, regardless of whether they choose teaching as a career. We asked several members of the Derryfield community how their involvement with Breakthrough has influenced them.
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Catalina Benech ’11 Breakthrough has been one of the most helpful, positive, and fun experiences I have ever had. Coming from my own public elementary school, it was unnat‑ ural to show enthusiasm in the class‑ room. Going to school during the sum‑ mer was hardly something any fifth grader would be willing to do. When my mom suggested that I apply to Breakthrough, I was stunned but also excited for the change of atmosphere. I had applied to Derryfield earlier that year and knew that the academic curriculum would be different than that at my current school. I wanted to prepare myself for the challenges ahead and knew that Breakthrough was the opportunity to do just this. My first summer at Breakthrough was the most productive summer I have ever had. My student teachers (including Kevin Finefrock ’03 and Hanna Melnick ’03) were able to help
www.derryfield.org
me learn valuable information that was useful in the following year. My advi‑ sor, Isak, helped with my organization skills and note‑taking, while my peers taught me that it is acceptable to excel in academics. This, above all, was the most important lesson that I learned. This lesson has helped me to become more passionate about what I learn today. A motto at Breakthrough is, “Breakthrough never lets you go.” It is only now that I realize the truth in this message, as I am now teaching these same lessons to my own Break‑through students at Super Saturdays. I owe my success at Derryfield to the Breakthrough program.
Kevin Finefrock ’03 Long before I sat as a calculus student in Mr. Holland’s classroom, I was learning addition of fractions in those very same seats. My teacher was Nate Swift ’98, who had just finished his junior year at Derryfield. Through the
mentoring of Nate and other teachers like Dave Flagg ’98, Emily Newick ’97, Alex Chan ’95, and Ben Russell ’94, I was exposed to individuals who were “committed to purposeful involvement in the world,” respected “diverse ideas, beliefs, and cultures” and valued “per‑ sonal integrity and fairness.” Their example inspired me to return to teach at Breakthrough for six summers, and some of my students also went on to become Derryfield students. In a way, Mr. Holland and Derry‑ field’s other professional teachers were teaching me, through the work of their students, years before I met them. Through this process, Derryfield’s teachers have reached not only those students who attend their classes but also hundreds of others within the larger Manchester community. This flow of students and teachers is what great teaching is all about. It is the embodiment of Derryfield’s vision and we should all be proud.
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BREAKTHROUGH CONNECTION
At Breakthrough, I learned skills that were invaluable during my time at Derryfield. Alyssa Brown ’98’s insis‑ tence that I keep my binder organized led to academic success in Derryfield’s rigorous college‑preparatory classes. Former director Natalie Koepp Gray’s advocacy of positive risk led me to act on Derryfield’s stage and run for stu‑ dent body president. I would not have been the same Derryfield student had it not been for Breakthrough Manchester. As I enter a doctoral program in his‑ tory this fall, I know that those aca‑ demic and social skills that I first learned at Breakthrough and later honed at Derryfield will continue to support me in reaching my personal and professional goals.
Stacy Beaudoin My Breakthrough experience began in the summer of 2000. As a sophomore in college, I was eager to try my hand at teaching, and so I embarked on my first Breakthrough journey as a student teacher in the Norfolk program. The environment was exactly what I, as a new teacher, had hoped for. The adult faculty and administrators were knowledgeable, encouraging and very helpful, and the student teachers were passionate, energetic and supportive of each other. Throughout the summer, I learned a great deal about teaching and gained valuable teaching experi‑ ence. The experience was inspiring and rewarding. Upon entering the Derryfield com‑ munity as a math teacher in 2007, I was
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surprised and pleased to learn that Derryfield was associated with Breakthrough. Summer 2008 presented me with the opportunity to be part of Breakthrough again—this time as a mentor teacher. Although a different role, the job was equally rewarding and continued to support my growth as an educator. Breakthrough provided me with a positive first experience in teaching, which motivated me to pursue my career in education. It gave me the time and place to try out and experi‑ ence the theories and practices I was learning about at college. More recent‑ ly, my work with Breakthrough has given me time to reflect on my work as a teacher. In my new role as a mentor teacher, educational theories and best practices were brought back to the forefront as I instructed and supported Breakthrough’s teachers. Furthermore, the community and experience remind‑ ed me of the importance of positive energy and passionate enthusiasm for your subject. Breakthrough has moti‑ vated me and continues to motivate me to be an inspiring and effective teacher.
Kate Hanna All of us as parents have our own rites of passage: dropping off our child for that first day of school, allowing our tender young student to get Keinerized, and so on. Those of us whose children taught at Break‑ through Manchester share a special set of experiences. We can identify moments—both for ourselves and our children—that transformed us.
I recall sending our daughter into the whirlwind of Breakthrough after her junior year in high school. She was eager to spend a summer teaching middle school students from Manch‑ ester who did not have the educational opportunities of some of their peers. I thought how fortunate I would be to have the company of our daughter all summer since she would be working locally. Not so. I hardly saw her as she ate, slept, and drank the Breakthrough experience. Teaching at Breakthrough turned out to be the most all‑consum‑ ing, exhausting, productive, and exhil‑ arating experience she has ever had. I am not engaging in hyperbole when I say it changed her life. Like so many of her Breakthrough colleagues, our daughter emerged from that summer with a new‑found passion for public service and, in particular, for working with underpriv‑ ileged youth. While in college, Hanna worked for four years (including two intense summers) at Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment program, an after‑ school and summer program for immi‑ grant children in Dorchester. She also managed to eke out one more summer of teaching at Breakthrough. After college, she accepted a public service fellowship to work in Bolivia for a year and a half, teaching computer and life skills to young women from rural parts of Bolivia. Now she is applying to teach in programs for inner city kids. Hanna’s story is no different from so many other young people who got their start with Breakthrough, whether teaching in the summer program or (as
Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
in the case of our son, Hale) teaching in the after‑school program. Break‑ through can change lives, not only the lives of those students who are fortunate enough to attend this extra‑ ordinary program, but also those who come to appreciate the joys and fulfill‑ ment of teaching and public service. It is easy for people of my age to lament the failings of the younger gen‑ eration. But the truth is that the current generation of high school and college students has been far more willing to devote themselves to public service and volunteerism than we baby‑ boomers. Despite all of our concerns for America’s future, this is a source of hope. I know of no institution that nourishes this sense of commitment more than Breakthrough.
Noah Goldstein ’13 Breakthrough has shaped my Derry‑ field life in many ways. The main way is that it has helped me learn to be a leader. I am not afraid to take risks and let others follow me, whether it is in sports or in academics. Breakthrough has also helped me academically. In math, I got a solid foundation for pre‑ algebra, and that has helped me a lot in my classes. I also took a Shakespeare class at Breakthrough, and in my English class we are about to start reading Romeo and Juliet, so I am one step ahead. Breakthrough has helped me a lot socially. I learned to not be afraid of meeting new people and being myself, and I believe that people have become my friends for that very reason. Lastly, Breakthrough has
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helped me with my confidence. At the program I learned that I can do more things than I thought I could. I learned that I was a great English student, and that I was good at lacrosse and ulti‑ mate Frisbee, two sports I had never played before. These are the wonderful ways that Breakthrough has shaped my life at Derryfield.
Elizabeth Richey ’03 Once you are part of the program, it never lets you go. This is the promise that greets new students and teachers each summer. Believe me, it is true. Six years after my first summer teaching, I continue to feel the influence of the Breakthrough community—the stu‑ dents, teachers, and mentors. I still frequently tell stories about Break‑ through and the learning that takes place—mostly my own learning. I recall trying to answer my stu‑ dents’ questions about evolution and discussing the usefulness of grades with Rob Bradley. I tell friends about how excited my first advisees were to be learning Russian and how two of them are now Breakthrough teachers. To enumerate all that I learned from Breakthrough could fill pages, but it is the warmth of these anecdotes that remind me how Breakthrough shaped my high school and college experience. I always loved being a student, but, after several years at Derryfield, I had become restless and questioned the significance of my own education, which seemed isolated. I wanted to share my love of learning and of edu‑ cation. However, I found my own
inquisitiveness and passion invigorat‑ ed by my middle school students. The Breakthrough community is one where everyone has a voice and people listen. Breakthrough demands dedica‑ tion and thoughtfulness, always; it is not a place to be complacent. They were tremendously exhausting and demanding weeks, but I felt the spirit and connectedness that is re‑created each summer. In the hybrid role of “students teaching students,” I was able to share the earnest and joyful experience of learning, stumbling, and succeeding with an entire community. I was encouraged to believe and to care about the school that we created together. My experiences at Breakthrough are interwoven with my Derryfield years and I am grateful that the relationship between the two schools provided me with the opportunity to teach and to learn.
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alumni
Update on Eleni Grace Hanlon, daughter of Amy ’94 and Christian ’92.
Births To Giana Roberge ’89 and her husband, Rob Dillion, a son, Sawyer Stanley, on November 19, 2008. To Raymond Campanile ’92 and his
The news contained in this section covers the period of November 5, 2008 – April 6, 2009. For more recent news, or to post a note, please log on to the Derryfield Portal at www.derryfield.org.
wife, Camille, a son, Gustavo, in June 2008. To Angela Calvetti Hornor ’92 and Nye Hornor ’85, a daughter, Hadley Simpson, on May 24, 2008. To Amy Harding Hanlon ’94 and Christian Hanlon ’92, a daughter, Eleni Grace, on March 9, 2009.
1969 In addition to doing clinical nutrition and back‑country rangering at Mt. Rainier, Judith Nelson Minzel and her husband, David, have certified as American Heart Association Basic Life Support Instructors.
“I’m going to Germany in April to chase counterfeiters at an industry trade show (yes, Chinese manufacturers make cheap copies of our products with our brand names and sell the goods in Europe and North America). Best recent experience was our bicycle trip in northern Vietnam last October. Worst recent experience was crashing my bicycle here in Portland in December and breaking my clavicle—it’s almost completely healed and I’m going riding this weekend to start training for the Seattle to Portland bike ride in July.”
CORRECTION: Rachel Sturke ’92 and her husband, Joshua, did indeed have a baby girl. However, the baby’s name is Ella Rose Stebbins and she was born on December 27, 2008. We apologize for this error.
1973 Mark Porter is living in Portland, OR, working as a patent attorney for Nautilus, the fitness equipment company. He writes,
1974 After 25 years of working in various New Hampshire school districts, primarily as a school psychologist, Dave Smith has cut back to working four days a week and
Marriages Kristine Girard ’95 to Jerrod Benson on August 22, 2008 in Hampton Beach, NH. Matthew Whalon ’03 to Rebecca Meyer on February 20, 2009 in Mulberry, FL.
Members of the Class of 1998 gather for their 10th Reunion at Jillian’s in November.
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Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
U P DAT E O N A L U M N I
seems to have settled in Lebanon, where he is in his tenth year at the high school working alongside Jeff Daily ’84. He performs individualized assessments for special education and sees a number of students for counsel‑ ing, particularly those with an attention deficit or autism spectrum disorder. Dave served as president of the New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists and in 1997 he was named New Hampshire’s School Psychologist of the Year. For fun he continues to play soccer. He and his wife, Heidi Fishman, make their home in Norwich, VT, with their four children (grades 4, 5, 6, and 9). They spend summers in Belmont, NH, on Lake Winnisquam. Dave would be very pleased to hear from any and all classmates.
1975 Les Field updates us as Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico. He has lived in New Mexico for 15 years, which is the longest he has lived anywhere. He and his wife, Gia Scarpetta, have three chil‑ dren: Lukas (19), Simon (16), and Maia (14). He writes, “If any of my former classmates are interested in my work, please look at my book about Nicaragua, entitled The Grimace of Macho Raton, and my brand new book about California Native peoples, Abalone Tales. My new project is in Colombia, where Gia is from, and where I’ll be spending a good deal of time in the next few years.”
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1998 Reunion
1976 Brigadier General Scott Rice is the Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Milford, MA. As the Assistant Adjutant General for Air, he is “responsible for oversight of all Air National Guard units in Massachusetts, and is tasked with ensuring their ability to respond to peacetime contin‑ gencies while maintaining readiness to accomplish their wartime missions.”
Members of the Class of 1998 gathered at Jillian’s after Thanksgiving to celebrate their 10th Reunion.
(L to R): Chris Ogden, Megan Crosby Aponte, Andrew Hickok, and Heather Fine.
1984 Kevin Johnston writes, “I will be start‑ ing in the summer as the senior U.S. Army instructor to the Joint Service Command and Staff College in Shrivenham, England. The school is partnered with King’s College of London and they offer a master’s in defense studies to graduates. In perfor‑ mance of duties there I will be involved in programs requiring travel to Europe and Africa to visit with their militaries and defense officials. This program focuses on National Strategic Policy and Military Affairs. I provide a U.S. Army and American perspective on the program of instruction at the Joint Service College. I will promote to Lieutenant Colonel in June before departing Fort Riley, KS.”
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(L to R): Dana Green, Preston Hunter, Gerard Murphy, and Andrew Young.
(L to R): Kate Whalen, Lauren Squeglia, Lindsey Jones, and Alden Kasiewicz.
(L to R): Derek Gelinas with wife Vanessa, Josh Prunier, and Heather Jenkins.
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LIFE AFTER DERRYFIELD
Bridges to Community Medicine, Public Health, and Cultural Exchange in Rural Nicaragua by Scott Morgan ’92 and Laura Reis ’99
any years removed from Derryfield, we found ourselves in a completely different world. Two former Derryfield students, now on the brink of finishing medical school, we were saddled with the task of seeing as many patients as possible with the help of our Nicara‑ guan medical staff and translators. By stringing up sheets with twine, our team created several makeshift “exam rooms” alongside the existing health post. With patients varying from adults with chronic back pain and gastric ulcers to children with cleft lip or leschmaniasis, our patients were
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gracious and unassuming. Truthfully, as neophyte practitioners, it was often arguable whether the patient or care‑ giver was providing more education. We graduated from Derryfield seven years apart, and though we didn’t know one another in high school, our meandering paths led us back to New Hampshire to attend Dartmouth Medical School, where we became close friends. This past December, we were both fortunate to participate in the medical arm of a community service trip in the rural northeastern highlands of Nicaragua. We were part of a team of Dartmouth under‑
graduates and medical faculty who were welcomed into a small communi‑ ty called Hormiguero. In an otherwise strictly regimented curriculum, the fourth year of medical school is generally a time in which medical students pursue their own personal interests by doing electives. With strong interest in international health and development, we both jumped at this opportunity and were chosen to participate as medical providers under faculty supervision. We were quite fortunate to be partic‑ ipating in this exchange through a unique organization called Bridges to Community. Medical “missions” are quite common in the developing world but, sadly, it is often uncertain whether they provide a sustainable service to the communities that host them. Fortunately, Bridges provides an important link by sustaining many ongoing projects, often carried out by sequential American teams. Bridges is largely made up of Nicaraguan nation‑ als, and it emphasizes community building and cultural exchange between both groups. It was truly a privilege to work with the staff of this wonderful organization. Our team was made up of two Dartmouth physicians, a nurse practi‑
Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
tioner, three medical students, and ten energetic Dartmouth undergraduates who helped immensely with patient intake and daily public health work‑ shops. We worked at the rural health outpost of Hormiguero alongside two talented and efficient Nicaraguan physicians. Over the course of a week, our team saw about 50–100 patients each day, many of whom had walked several hours from neighboring com‑ munities to be seen. In a nutshell, our experience was at times demoralizing, at other times rewarding, and always humbling. Daily afternoon public health work‑ shops were performed for community health workers from multiple nearby communities in an attempt to provide education that might outlast the short‑ er duration of the medications we were dispensing. We were frequently encouraged by the involvement and interest of our Nicaraguan “students.” After each evening meal, Bridges orga‑ nized group discussions among our American visitors, Nicaraguan staff, and community members. These ses‑ sions created a unique framework to delve deeper into the issues affecting this fascinating country. Such topics included poverty, health disparities, and past and current relationships between Nicaragua and the United States. In addition to this project in Hormiguero, Bridges maintains multiple other sites throughout Nicaragua, including Ticuantepe, Masaya, and Nindiri. These sites focus on infrastructure development, along
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Above: The early morning gathering of patients outside the Hormiguero healthpost. Below: Laura with a newborn from the community. Opposite (L to R): We discuss HIV transmission and education with a Nicaraguan health educator and Kathleen Moriarty (student leader of our health team); A local youth helps out in an impromptu first aid and bandaging clinic for the many children of Hormiguero; Scott and Dr. Jack Turco facilitate a seminar on common medical complaints with the help of Carmen Rodriguez.
with health and economic develop‑ ment projects. For many of these projects focusing on public health and infrastructure, no formal medical training is required. Rather, a group needs only to be resourceful, flexible, hardworking, and interested in cultural exchange. We would certainly encour‑ age Derryfield or any of its alumni to consider organizing their own such team. This can be arranged through the Bridges New York office, with pre‑ liminary information available at www.bridgestocommunity.org. Months later, home in Hanover, we enjoy luxuries that would likely be unfathomable to our Nicaraguan co‑workers and patients. We remain humbled by our experiences in Hormiguero, and we’re hopeful to return sooner rather than later. Laura has chosen a career in obstetrics and gynecology, and Scott will pursue anesthesiology. We are both quite cer‑ tain we will incorporate international health and education into our practices in the future. We are very thankful to
Bridges to Community and Dartmouth’s Tucker Foundation for making such an experience possible. As we discussed with our Dartmouth students many times, the impact we had on rural Nicaraguans’ health may have at times felt fleeting, but the bene‑ fits of our cultural exchange will be lasting.
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...continued from page 17
1988 Shelley Stout Fajans writes, “One of the enterprise‑scale campaigns I designed was selected as one of the ‘Top 5 Best Global Campaign designs – Hewlett‑Packard Worldwide Creative 2008.’ It is quite an honor to be chosen as the best out of an international group of Tier 1 designers. I can also say with creative pride—when visiting Derryfield recently, I discovered that Ms. Steele had hung a drawing I illus‑ trated in 1987 of ‘How to Spot an Artsy Person’ on the door of her classroom for many years. I was astounded. If anyone wants to contact me, I can be reached at: shelleyfajans.com.”
1989 Giana Roberge reports, “Rob Dillion and I had Sawyer Stanley Dillion on November 19, 2008. He weighed in at 6.4 pounds, 19.5 inches, is super healthy, and already loves to move. I am in Northern California now and am retired from my ‘job’ as a professional cyclist. I am now working as a cycling coach and a professional horseback rider—all of which keep me busy.” n Brenda Silva Gonzales writes, “My husband, Mario, and I are happily liv‑ ing a ‘normal’ life in Amherst with our two incredible sons, Nate (10) and Noah (8). Mario and I are rental prop‑ erty owner/managers in Milford. I love
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Young alumni gather for lunch following the Alumni Talent Show in January 2009.
catching up with everyone on Facebook and look forward to our 20th coming up soon!”
1991 Christian Avard was at President Obama’s Inauguration freelancing for Air America Radio. He was taking pic‑ tures and interviewing folks on the street about their reactions to the Inauguration and also went to the Purple Ball, sponsored by Moët & Chandon. He had the privilege of interviewing actors ‘Ricky’ Schroeder and Ed Harris, as well as musician Herbie Hancock. You might find some of these interviews on YouTube. n Rebecca Decoster Perry writes, “I’m living in Colorado with my two chil‑ dren, Ben and Rachel. I am pursuing my interests in medieval living history, especially textiles and clothing; mod‑ ern spinning, weaving, dyeing, and knitting; and organic, sustainable gar‑ dening, among other things. I am pas‑ sionate about reducing, reusing, and recycling and also organizing and
eliminating clutter. I have acted as a consultant for friends with great suc‑ cess, but so far nobody’s paying me for it. I am working from home as a proofreader and I always need more clients, so if anyone needs professional proofreading or editing, they should definitely get in touch with me.”
1992 Raymond Campanile reports, “We had our third child in June! Baby Gustavo is now six months old and close to crawling after big brother Raphael (2) and big sister Francesca (4).” n Angela Calvetti Hornor and her husband, Nye Hornor ’85, welcomed a daughter, Hadley Simpson Hornor, on May 24, 2008. Hadley joined big brother Thomas (7) and big sister Carolyn (5). n On March 9, 2009, Amy Harding Hanlon ’94 and Christian Hanlon gave birth to their first child—a little baby girl named Eleni Grace Hanlon. Eleni was 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and 21 inches long. She reportedly has mom’s wonderful smile and dad’s messy hair.
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1994 Christopher Swift is serving in the U.S. Department of the Treasury while finishing his J.D. at Georgetown Law School and his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge. His division administers sanctions targeting rogue states and terrorist syndicates. Christopher calls it an interesting mixture of intelligence, international finance, and law enforcement.”
1995 Kris Girard Benson writes, “I have been living in Baltimore, MD, since 2002. I have survived a record drought, record snow fall (five inches that shut down the entire city for a whole week—ok, you can stop laughing), hurricanes, and the 17‑year plague of cicadas (be happy if you don’t know what those are). I was married on August 22, 2008, to a Baltimore native, Jerrod Benson. It was a very small, but really fun, wedding at the Waterside Yacht Club at Hampton Beach. Currently, I am working at Booz Allen
Kayla Sirkin, Alex Rolecek, Meredith Milnes, and Kristen Moran (all ’06) at the Alumni Talent Show lunch.
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Hamilton as a technical writer. My brother, Matt Girard ’97, and his wife welcomed a son, Lucien Maverick Girard, into their family on January 14, 2009, and I am loving my new role as an aunt. Other than that, I’m just work‑ ing on a master’s degree at Johns Hopkins and waiting for softball season to start!”
Alumni Talent Twenty-six alumni returned to Derryfield on the first day back from winter break to watch and perform in a showcase of alumni stage talent.
1996 Matthew Melkonian writes, “I work for Alli – the Alliance of Action Sports. We are owned by MTV and NBC Sports. We are a ten‑stop action sports tour focusing on skateboarding, BMX, freestyle motorcross, skiing, and snow‑ boarding. I am currently living in Chicago.” n Mark Ansdell is current‑ ly living in Liverpool, UK. He will graduate from medical school (University of Liverpool) this July. He is happily married, and still playing as many sports as possible.
Alex Rolecek ’06
Jamie Feinberg ’02
1997 Jason Emery writes, “I’m a 2L at Chicago‑Kent College of Law, living in the ‘burbs and working (hopefully still at press time) at Mayer Brown LLP, doing... stuff. Law school is amusing and Chicago is a good town for that sort of thing, because from the govern‑ ment on down, one’ll never hurt for clients. Hope my fellow classmates are doing well and if you need a lawyer in
Tyree Robinson ’06
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U P DAT E O N A L U M N I
a couple of years for estate planning or criminal defense (you know who you are, Rosenthal), give me a call.”
1998 Amelie Baudot reports, “I graduated from law school in May and spent six months living in France before return‑ ing to New York City to begin work as a lawyer specializing in restructuring. Life is really busy but I am really enjoying it.”
2000 Rebecca Maglathlin writes, “I am in graduate school at UCSF working on my Ph.D. in chemistry/chemical biolo‑ gy. I joined a collective art group out here that makes large‑scale steel fire art. We made a sculpture for Burning Man last year. You can check it out at www.flaminglotus.com. So, yeah, out
Jaclyn Leeds ’06 met up with Carrie Foster ’00 on the Great Wall in China last summer.
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here working hard but playing harder!” n Christine Culver writes, “I just moved to DC at the beginning of the year and am working at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as an occupa‑ tional therapist. I joined the U.S. Army as a direct commission and am now an officer for the Army, helping wounded warriors rehab from injury to indepen‑ dence. I am at Walter Reed for the remainder of the year and could be assigned anywhere after that.” n The March 8 issue of the Concord Monitor reported that Kate Newick is engaged to Tyler Kipp of Manchester, ME. “Newick earned a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in 2004. She is an admissions counselor at Colby‑ Sawyer College in New London. Kipp earned a bachelor’s degree from Bates College in Lewiston, ME, in 2001. He is in the marketing department at Nordica USA in Lebanon. An August wedding is planned.”
Matt Boelig is a third‑year medical student at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, currently doing clinical rotations.
2001
2003
Alex Moerlein married Dorothy Bandura on October 10, 2008 in West Chester, PA. He tells us that married life is pretty good. Day‑to‑day things aren’t that different, but it’s nice that she is on his insurance now. Dorothy is working as a research assistant for a project involving adolescent obesity at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He reports, “We’ve started eating a lot of carrots.” n Andrew Weisberg grad‑ uated from Fordham Law School last spring and spent the summer studying
Sarah Cassidy reports, “I am moving to Schaan, Liechtenstein, on May 15. I have a job offer from Hilti, a manu‑ facturing company, where I will be working in manufacturing/production management. I have been at Georgia Tech the past year, working towards a degree in industrial engineering, but will take a 15‑month ‘break’ to work for Hilti in Europe. The plan is to come back and finish my master’s in the fall of 2010, but who knows! In the mean‑ time, I am furiously studying German.”
(L to R): Gabe Plourde, Ben Loveless, and Nate Lavey (all ’03) celebrate their 5th reunion.
for the New York State Bar Exam, which he passed! Before accepting a position with White and Case, LLP in midtown Manhattan, Andrew traveled with friends to China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
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Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
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2004 Julia Spiegelman writes, “I graduated in May from Bryn Mawr, summa cum laude, with a music major and minors in French and English. I shipped off in the fall to France. I currently live in a little seaside town in Brittany (on the western coast) and teach English to ele‑ mentary schoolers. The work is fasci‑ nating, strategizing about how to get their elastic little minds to use and want to use language, and the kids love it. They can’t wait to have English, they ask me loads of questions, and everywhere I go I hear ‘Ello Julia! Ello!’ (the aspirated ‘h’ is a challenge). I am loving it here, thrilled to leave the extreme pressure of the academic world and to be simply living and teaching.” n Cara Bishop recently got engaged to Adam Lavallee from Goffstown, NH. She reports, “We are both currently living just outside of Philadelphia. On February 12 he popped the question—we are planning the wedding for June 2010.”
Jack Welch Scholarship. n Cooper Cunliffe graduated from UNC Asheville in December 2008. He writes, “Next? Thank you Derryfield, for all you gave me to get me where I am so far. The story continues...”
2006
Matt Whalon ’03 with his wife, Rebecca, and their wedding party.
Jaclyn Leeds is off to Capetown, South Africa, for spring semester to study ethnomusicology, among other things. She will be there until mid‑June, and then head straight back to Hong Kong to intern with the lawyers at Animals Asia Foundation, where she worked last summer, as she has decided that she wants to become an animal welfare lawyer. n Sean Pallatroni reports, “I’m having two major works pre‑ miered here at Hartt in April. They are the culmination of the latter half of the fall semester and the beginning of this spring semester, and a collaboration between myself as a composer and var‑ ious instrumental performance groups
at the Hartt School. The first piece is a quartet for flute, guitar, harp, and per‑ cussion, titled ‘Chanson for Quartet’ which premiered on April 4. The other is a violin concerto that is titled ‘Concerto for Violin and Wind Orchestra,’ which will premier on April 22. I will also have a work or two performed on May 8 at the semi‑ annual composer’s concert, also at Hartt. n Molly Lyford is a junior at the University of California at Berkeley. She is working on a double major in anthropology and native American studies.
2005 Derek Boelig is a senior at Lehigh University and will graduate with a degree in accounting. He interned last summer at Ernst & Young in Boston and has a position there after gradua‑ tion. n Wyeth McKinney graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, with a degree in business and finance, and is the recipient of the
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Members of the Class of 2003 gathered for their 5th Reunion at JW Hill’s in December with Ed Lemire.
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Alumni Games Alumni gathered the day after Thanksgiving to play with and against current the Derryfield hockey and basketball teams.
Alumni gather with Dudley Cotton and Coach Natasha Cohen for the Alumni Hockey Game.
2007 Olivia Cowenhoven had a wonderful summer in 2008 at the Middlebury Language School immersion pro‑ gram—seven weeks of Spanish. She is continuing her Spanish studies, along with environmental science, at the University of Connecticut. n Doug Lindner writes, “As part of Northeast‑ ern’s co‑op program, I started interning in Congresswoman Carol Shea‑Porter’s (D‑NH) office on Capitol Hill (Shea‑ Porter’s district includes Manchester). I’ll be here in Washington until June.”
2008
Alumnae gather at the Alumnae Basketball Game with Coach Lemire to celebrate his 25th year coaching.
Arden Barlow is staying very busy at Wheaton College, earning a 3.7 GPA and being accepted into an upper‑level writing course for the spring semester. As far as extracurriculars, she attained the title role in the fall play, became staff political cartoonist for the Wheaton Wire, and also hosts a weekly radio show. n Audrey Morgan finished her first year of school at Culinary Institute of America. She is currently in Newport, RI working at the Mooring Restaurant, a seafood bar. It is part of her school’s curriculum to work for 4 1/2 months between freshman and sophomore year. Audrey will return to CIA on August 18.
Alumni gather with Coach Bradley for the Alumni Basketball Game.
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Derryfield Today – Winter 2009
C E L E B R AT I N G T H E D E R R Y F I E L D / B R E A K T H R O U G H C O N N E C T I O N
profile
Faculty
Kate Erskine n 2000 when The Derryfield School hired Kate Erskine as assistant director of what was then known as Summerbridge Manchester, she gave herself three years with the program. Never did she imagine that nine years later she would still be at Derryfield as director of Breakthrough Manchester. But if you ask, she will gladly tell you that she wouldn’t have it any other way. Throughout these years, although there have been some changes in the program, such as its name, the “stu‑ dents teaching students” mission has remained the same: to help bright, motivated, under‑served middle school students on the path to college, and to inspire outstanding high school and college students to pursue careers in education. The staff has grown as the program has increased its commitment to a seven‑year connection with students on the path to college. Break‑ through has become more intentional with the services it provides, including a stronger, professionally‑developed summer program curriculum and care‑ fully devised academic support for those students who need it. Breakthrough Manchester is a shin‑ ing example of the public purpose of independent schools. Breakthrough is a
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program of both The Derryfield School and the Manchester community, in addition to being a part of the larger National Breakthrough Collaborative. Kate has seen the relationship between Derryfield and Breakthrough strength‑ en over the past several years. The Derryfield community has continued to show its support for Breakthrough by providing homestays for its summer teachers, donating teaching supplies and snacks, and providing outstanding Derryfield faculty to serve as mentor teachers, all in addition to financial gifts to the program. At the same time, Derryfield students have been given a wonderful opportu‑ nity to learn teaching skills as Break‑ through teachers, mentors, and tutors, and the School has a presence in the surrounding community. In fact, sum‑ mer teaching at Breakthrough is one of Princeton Review’s “Top Ten Internships.” Approximately one quarter of all Derryfield students are involved with Breakthrough before they graduate. Besides running the six‑week sum‑ mer program, Super Saturdays, and School After School throughout the academic year, Breakthrough staff keep in touch with their students right up through college. With the focus of the
Kate Erskine with a Breakthrough sixth grader.
program firmly rooted in college enroll‑ ment for its students, Breakthrough staff are there to help eighth graders choose and register for their high school courses. When children enroll in Breakthrough, they have found the guidance they need to see them through their education from fifth grade to college enrollment. They have found a life‑long partner. This is evidenced by the return of so many Breakthrough students who want to give back by becoming teachers themselves. While Kate continues to balance the relationship between Breakthrough and Derryfield, she also teaches Spanish and advises students. “I am honored to be part of the Breakthrough and Derry‑ field communities,” says Kate, “and I continue to be humbled by the work of our students and teachers as they strive to reach their own full potential.” – Diane Allen
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Aida Nick Alberts ’10 takes on the role of the villain Zoser in the upper school musical, Aida.
Parents of alumni: If your son or daughter no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Advancement Office at 603.669.4524 of the correct mailing address. Thank you.