Prekindergartner Coco Baylor ’38 is Agnes Irwin proud at her rst Spirit Fair, hosted annually by the Agnes Irwin Parents’ Association, which she attended with her mother, Elizabeth Baylor ’94. As the 2024-25 school year centers around the core value of Fostering Trust and Community, students, faculty, sta , and alumnae have been bringing signature AIS zeal to this year’s events. “Coco was excited to go to the same school as her cousins Teagan Aguirre ’16 and Maddie Aguirre ’19,” shared Elizabeth. “I chose Agnes Irwin for her because I think the teachers are simply amazing for Coco.” During full days in the AIS PreK, Coco loves learning about letters and numbers, taking weekly trips to the library to check out Dr. Seuss books, and playing on the Lower School playground.
“Since Coco enrolled, everyone has been so welcoming. The faculty and sta know Coco and are nurturing her growing spirit.”
From the Head of School
Head of School
The Agnes Irwin Home
Winter is one of my favorite seasons at Agnes Irwin. After a “just long enough” break, the girls return, back to their “Agnes Irwin home,” refueled and ready to jump back into their school work and activities. It is thrilling to watch our vibrant students and faculty fill the classrooms, like actors returning to the stage for the second act, committed to finishing the story.
One of our fall social media posts featured Middle and Upper School students answering the prompt, “What did you learn this week at Agnes Irwin?” The girls’ answers – from “DNA” to “Greek gods,” to “John Locke” – resonated with our viewers. Elspeth Fergusson Knighton ’04 commented, “Makes me want to come back and learn more.” Similarly, Charlotte Hamilton Marshall ’05 remarked, “Take me back!” Reading their comments, I was reminded that the “Agnes Irwin home” is more than the buildings. It is that feeling of fondness, belonging, and inspiration that stays with our community members long after they complete their journeys here on campus. The love that rallies around this school truly propels us forward.
The 2024-25 school year centers around the core value of Fostering Trust and Community. When it comes to community, Agnes Irwin’s is enviable. We are known for the strength of our connectedness. With every new idea, project, or event promulgated, the hands of alumnae, current and past parents, grandparents, and friends shoot up to o er help. Agnes Irwin’s recent ranking by Niche Educators as #1 Best All-Girls High School in the Philadelphia area and #10 Best Private High School in PA is a nod to the strength of our programs and our community. Trustee and parent Aarti Bijlani P’28 ’30 acknowledged these recognitions saying, “Great to see that everyone else knows what we know! Go Irwin’s!”
2
1. Mrs. Keidel poses with student-speakers on the rst day of school. (L-R): 2024-25 Student Body President Whitney Cuddeback ’25, Mrs. Keidel, Sidney Bligh ’29, and Lola Akinsemoyin ’33.
2. Riley Scrimalli ’34 acted as Head of School for the Day, an honor won by her family at Spirit Fair.
Fostering Trust runs deep at Agnes Irwin. Each of us needs trust to be our best self. We all need to be able to rely on others acting as they say that they will. I believe that the trust that our girls have here starts with their teachers knowing and understanding each one of them individually. This trust builds confidence, fuels opportunities, and softens challenges. This is why people care about attending Agnes Irwin, and why they continue to care about Agnes Irwin after they graduate. Moreover, this trust is why our students and alumnae lean into their “Agnes Irwin home” for their lives.
I hope you enjoy this issue, filled with stories of our incredible community, including “Agnes Irwin Knows Girls” (p. 26), a piece that chronicles recent work completed by The Center for the Advancement of Girls, and “Irwin’s Connect” (p. 47), an interview with Sr. Director of Alumnae Relations Brooke Norrett Corr ’95 about a new initiative which we hope will deepen and broaden alumnae connections. And you will not want to miss “To Live a Legacy” (p. 30), a feature about three of our centenarian alumnae!
As always, thank you for your continued trust in and impact on our community.
Sally Keidel Head of School
Sally Keidel
MIDDLE SCHOOL REFLECTION
Fifth grader Aleena Ghuman ’32, who started her Agnes Irwin journey in PreKindergarten, focuses in art class. “I love painting, drawing, and especially crafting. Here, I was working on a ower painting that involved layering to make new colors and pretty designs,” said Aleena. Keri Farrow, who has been teaching Middle School art for twenty-four years, said, “Art class cultivates creativity. It provides breathing room for exploration and experimentation. Con dence is built upon the trust we create in our student-teacher relationships where students nd a supportive space to believe in their own ideas. It’s a beautiful reminder that the process of creating art is just as important as the nished piece itself—both are about discovery and personal growth.”
EDITOR
Nancy Smartt P’25 ’25
Associate Director of Communications
CONTRIBUTORS
Megan Boyle Flinn ’87
Contributing Writer & Editor
Dan Slack P’99
Contributing Editor Writing Center Teacher
Brooke Norrett Corr ’95
Senior Director of Alumnae Relations
DESIGN
Wedeking | Laun Design
PHOTOGRAPHY
Active Image Media
Zamani Feelings Photography
Molly Schlachter Photography
Donna Meyer P’04
José Sevillano
Ellie Spencer
Bridgett Woody P’27
THE AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL
Ithan Avenue and Conestoga Road
Rosemont, PA 19010-1042 agnesirwin.org
610.801.1869
COVER STORY
The Snowy Day: Agnes Irwin Middle Schoolers brave the wintry temps in the Hamilton Family Courtyard.
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: BRIDGETT WOODY P’27
Contents Winter 2025
FEATURES
7 On Campus
Investing in Our Future: Fielding the best teams begins with our elds
26 Agnes Irwin Knows Girls
New research and methodologies from The Center for the Advancement of Girls
30
To Live a Legacy
Centenarian alumnae share stories from a bygone era in The Agnes Irwin School’s history
47 Irwin’s Connect
Almabase, Agnes Irwin’s new initiative to broaden alumnae connections, is introduced by Sr. Director of Alumnae Relations Brooke Norrett Corr ’95
Big Picture
THREE, TWO, ONE ...
Fall’s Spirit Fair and Bon re, hosted annually by the Agnes Irwin Parents’ Association, had an incredible turnout.
“Families enjoyed music, rides, in atables, crafts, and food trucks,” shared Jen Earle P’32 ’34, Development O ce Manager and Events Coordinator. “It is always such a fun community gathering.” This year, there was one missing element—the bon re! Over forty days without rain brought drought conditions to the area, prompting wild re warnings. “We quickly pivoted to confetti poppers to add an element of excitement. No surprise ... the girls loved it,” said Earle.
PHOTO
Did you know that through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (PA EITC) and the Pennsylvania Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (PA OSTC), businesses and individuals in PA can earn a tax credit for up to 90% of certain state taxes when they make a donation to The Agnes Irwin School?
39% of AIS families rely on need-based tuition assistance, which is funded in part by your generosity. These scholarships make a real difference in the lives of students across our school.
To start the process, please visit agnesirwin.org/support-ais.
Individuals who are interested in joining one of Agnes Irwin’s Special Purpose Entities in the 2025-2026 year, please contact Emily Rauch, Director of Annual Giving, erauch@agnesirwin.org or 610.801.1260.
If you are a business applying for the rst time, you must submit your application on July 1, 2025.
Winter 2025
On Campus
INVESTING
Fielding the best teams begins with our fields
On November 13, the Agnes Irwin community celebrated thirteen seniors who have committed to play a sport in an NCAA Division I, II, or III program. Representing one in five members of the Class of 2025, these Owls join a proud tradition that has seen hundreds of graduates recruited for their abundant and still-developing talents.
Ten of these thirteen seniors have one more thing in common: as lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer recruits, they will soon compete on some of the highestquality turf fields in collegiate athletics. It’s a reminder that our community has a responsibility to o er the best facilities possible for these programs.
“Just as we do for academics and life, we want — and need — to prepare our student-athletes for the next level,” says Courtney Lubbe, Co-Director of Athletics. “That means doing everything we can to ensure every Owl trains and competes on fields that are built with their future success in mind.”
State-of-the-art artificial turf fields have long been an Agnes Irwin priority. This work began over a decade ago, with the conversion of Phelps Field, bordering Ithan Avenue, to turf. At the same time, knowing one field could not meet the
In November, Agnes Irwin celebrated thirteen senior student-athletes who committed to play their chosen sport in college. They represent 20% of the Class of 2025.
Front row, from left: Ava Kennedy, Boston University, Crew; Rowan Pauzano, University of Rhode Island, Lacrosse; Lucy Page, Trinity College, Lacrosse; Mairyn Dwyer, University of North Carolina, Lacrosse; Sara Davis, Franklin & Marshall, Field Hockey; Grace Connelly, Queens University of Charlotte, Lacrosse.
Back row, from left: Liz King, Franklin & Marshall, Soccer; Audrey Gelinas, Georgetown University, Squash; Emma Tayloe, United States Naval Academy, Lacrosse; Catie Holmes, University of Maryland, Lacrosse; Caroline Chisholm, Boston College, Lacrosse/Field Hockey; Rowan Lawrence, University of Denver, Lacrosse; Gabby Turner, Haverford College, Squash.
On Campus
For the win! Colby Costa ’28 goes for the goal (L); Maggie Mullen ’24 (R) runs through the pregame stick tunnel.
“Just as we do for academics and life, we want — and need — to prepare our
student-athletes for the next level.”
COURTNEY LUBBE CO-DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
demand, the School entered into an agreement with Radnor Township to add a turf field to Radnor Memorial Park, about ten minutes from campus.
This first investment provided an important boost. Upper and Middle School field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer teams put in more than 650 hours combined every year training, drilling, and competing. Still, the picture is far from perfect. “Too many players have to use Carter Field, which is grass, or commute back and forth to Radnor Memorial Park, which cuts into practice and takes them away from the School,” Lubbe points out.
Optimal is finally on its way, thanks to generous alumnae and parents like Frank L. Coulson III P’29, who serves on the Board of Trustees. “I think about my daughter, just starting her soccer and lacrosse days at Agnes Irwin,” he explains. “What do we want for Linley and her teammates and classmates? We want them to have the best chance to succeed by giving them outstanding turf fields, right here on campus.”
Philanthropic leadership from families and alumnae is paving the way to a two-prong solution. First, convert Carter Field to turf — specifically, a high-grade surface that will play fast, meet NCAA standards for field hockey, and accommodate lacrosse practices. Second, turf Phelps which is in need of an upgrade after thousands of hours of wear and tear. The surface for Carter is also a green solution, using the first field hockey product that is certified carbon zero. What’s more, the project is a prelude for soon-to-follow strategic investments in
the facilities, capacity, and future of Agnes Irwin. These leaps forward are exciting, even for those who won’t get to compete on the new fields. Caroline Chisholm ’25, bound for Boston College (BC), where she will play field hockey and lacrosse, the sport for which the BC Eagles are defending NCAA champions, sees more success ahead. “I am thrilled that my younger teammates are going to play on the best fields. It gives us more confidence when our school community puts us in a position to win, keep growing, and bring home more titles.”
More information on the FOR THE WIN Campaign Contact: Allison Hough ’01 Director of Development 610.801.1262 ahough@agnesirwin.org
“I am thrilled that my younger teammates are going to play on the best elds. It gives us more con dence when our school community puts us in a position to win, keep growing, and bring home more titles.”
CAROLINE CHISHOLM ’25
BOSTON COLLEGE ’29, FIELD HOCKEY AND LACROSSE
Curriculum & Innovation
Summer Growth Grants encourage institutional, and pedagogical growth and innovation by providing resources to faculty who are interested in developing new courses, improving the current curriculum, and/or exploring teaching strategies. Here are
just a few from
summer 2024:
Early Childhood
JENNY YOCUM, PREK LEAD TEACHER
KATRINA GALLIA, PREK ASSOCIATE TEACHER
Goal: To critically examine the PreK program and how it relates to the PreK-12 macro curriculum and learning goals.
The PreK curriculum is the only Early Childhood class in the School, so our approach to learning and developmental boundaries is unique. The goal was to examine the PreK program as it relates to the macro curriculum and educational journey of each Agnes Irwin Lower School student. Dr. Elizabeth Rossini, Assistant Head of School, helped us identify key concepts and skills that are important throughout the PreK-12 curriculum. She also helped us identify areas of growth for alignment with the rest of the program. The next step was to highlight the important competency areas and expand them into our 2024-2025 outline. Pursuant to this work, we have changed our schedule to allow for a small social studies block to learn about perspective, including teaching about each child’s place in the world, more targeted lessons about other cultures and traditions, and attention to the concepts of past, present, and future. This experience has helped us to better clarify our learning goals in order to build a strong foundation toward the AIS Portrait of a Graduate.
English Literature
DOLORES VERDEUR ’81, US ENGLISH
Goal: To teach US English students how to analyze archetypal imagery of monsters and ghosts as a way to talk about the human experience.
“From Poe to Peele: The Evolution of the Horror Genre” was designed in response to a request for a new senior elective. Literary Gothicism has been one of my favorite genres since my own days as an Agnes Irwin student. I recall feeling thrilled by the vision of the mysterious presence in the attic in Jane Eyre , or getting goosebumps while reading selected works by Hawthorne, Faulkner, and Dickens. My Agnes Irwin teachers brought these works to life for me and that memory inspired me to create this course. In addition to analyzing famous horror texts and films, students evaluate these works as commentaries on social and political anxieties. The course allows students to use their imaginations and the “tools of the horror trade” to create their own expressive visions.
I studied the history of horror and read many works of this genre. I found an Oxford University text by Daryl Jones, A Very Short Introduction to Horror, to use for an overview, and then chose Dracula to represent the traditional gothic form, Poe Short Stories to represent a movement towards modernism, and The Haunting of Hill House as a twentieth century exemplar.
Modern Languages
ERIN DOUGHERTY & SOL FERNÁNDEZ US MODERN LANGUAGES
Goal: To improve long-term retention of modern language instruction.
As we teach students increasingly complex language structures, we expect them to retain what they have already learned so we can build on that foundation. Instead, though, while students are successfully able to interpret and produce the content from the current unit, students still make errors on concepts from prior units. We wanted to explore both psychological and pedagogical resources about retention, generally and with respect to language acquisition in particular.
We discovered that the most effective techniques for introducing, practicing, and reviewing material, according to psychologists of learning and cognition, are those that encourage “productive struggle” and the “desirable di culty” that is required for real learning. We explored three specific strategies for fostering productive struggle: retrieval practice, feedback, and spaced practice. We have shared our findings with our colleagues, and have also begun using these strategies in our language classes. We believe that these strategies are going to make a meaningful difference for Agnes Irwin students in their language-learning journeys.
Classics
SHAY SLININGER, MS/US CLASSICS
Goal: To connect students to the ancient world with girl-centered narrative in the AIS Latin textbook.
Our current Latin textbook, written by AIS teachers for our students, has been a critical component in language education, one that supports a young student’s understanding of larger contexts in the ancient world and provides the entire foundation of this ancient language. The Classics Department has a unique advantage in that our textbook is a responsive and adaptable document, composed and arranged to be pedagogically suited for girls’ education at their specific age level. What we found was a strong need in early chapters for girl-centered narrative passages to situate language learning within historical context and support greater reading comprehension. For Upper School and Honors levels, there was a further opportunity to introduce peripheral voices as filtered through original Roman authors.
As we crafted several companion narratives, we focused on peripheral characters and stories that are typically outside the dominant Roman paradigm – women, non-Romans, and people of varying sociological identities and stages of life. These choices are purposeful and designed to provide better representation of relatable voices in the ancient world, as well as challenge preconceived assumptions in student worldviews.
Three Questions with Maxine Coleman
Agnes Irwin’s New Director of College Counseling
How have your first few months at Agnes Irwin been?
I have enjoyed getting to know the girls. I value how centrally located within the Upper School our o ces are, so we get lots of interaction throughout the day, both planned and spontaneous! Our college counseling classes are another great space of connection — and we’re glad, too, that our “living room” is a popular hub for seniors. This fall, the Senior Assemblies have been an incredible tradition to witness, and it’s wonderful as a college counselor to see seniors taking the lead and harnessing their voices on issues of importance to them. It’s like a college essay coming to life!
What background in college counseling did you bring to Agnes Irwin?
I began as an admissions o cer for my alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, before turning to “the other side of the desk” as a college counselor at the Tower Hill School in Delaware, and most recently, The Hotchkiss School, a boarding school in Connecticut. In my admissions days, I had the opportunity to do lots of international travel, and the most memorable school I visited was a girls’ school in Amman, Jordan. I was so impressed by the level of poise and maturity of the students, and the strength of their community in the context of that region. I think that planted a seed in me, that in the future I would be interested in working in educational spaces designed for girls.
What is an interesting part of college counseling and the college landscape in 2024-25?
College admissions trends continue to evolve. For example, testing optional policies and formats are shifting. There is a new ACT forthcoming, and as of 2024, the SAT is fully digital. We also see committee evaluation processes becoming more e cient, and of course, the deadlines for applications are pushing earlier and earlier. That said, the college process is still highly individual, and the voice of the students matters greatly. Applying to college o ers students many rewards well beyond their college acceptances. We see the application process as an opportunity for our students to develop agency, increase self-awareness, and exercise reflection in determining their next steps toward young adulthood. It’s a privilege to be part of that journey.
LOWER SCHOOL
STEAM
Innovate and Create!
(1) Kennedy Tiggett ’33 engineers the nishing touches of her group’s 4th grade robotics competition submission. “Students are challenged to move a ping pong ball 4 feet, but their structure can only be 2.5 feet tall, wide, and deep,” shared Mary-Tyler Upshaw, LS Steam Specialist.
(2) Tobin Kerr ’34 and Georgia McEvoy ’34 inspect designs printed on an iWonder lab 3D printer.
CELEBRATIONS
Hispanic Heritage Month
HISTORY &
GEOGRAPHY
A Wrinkle in Time
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Upper School’s Hispanic Student Alliance led a school-wide activity in which students created a Frida Kahlo bulletin board display resplendent with handmade paper flowers in Agnes Irwin’s class colors of purple, green, red, and orange.
The third grade howled with laughter at the Wilma Theatre’s production of Dog Man: The Musical. “We are rm believers in cultivating both a love for the arts and exploring the many facets of learning that live theatre can provide,” said third grade teacher Daniella Rizzo.
LEADERSHIP
“To support our students’ learning in social studies, we identi ed key uency skills in history and geography that are necessary for deeper inquiry and exploration just like uency with the multiplication table or periodic table supports deeper engagement in math and science,” said Dr. Elizabeth Rossini, Assistant Head of School. To help our students understand eras of time, timelines have been installed in LS classrooms. As key people and events are being studied, a marker can be added to the timeline to visually help our students understand time and develop this uency. “A kindergartner may know her birth year and their mother’s birth year, but how does that compare to Miss Agnes Irwin’s birth year? These timelines help our students visualize the span of time between historical events which is such an abstract concept for young learners,” said Rossini.
LITTLE OWL REFLECTION
Back-to-School BBQ
Kindergartner Ever Brown ’37 attended the annual Back-to-School BBQ with her father and sister, Iyla Brown ’36, sharing, “The bouncy house was the best.” What does she love about Agnes Irwin? “I love my teacher, Ms. [Sarah] Jacoby! I also love science class because doing experiments with my friends is fun.”
Melanie Slezak Named Lower School Director
Congratulations to Melanie Slezak who was named Lower School Director. During her time as Interim Director since July, 2023, Melanie displayed her skills as a community builder and keen observer with a strong vision for the Lower School. Melanie joined the Agnes Irwin community in 1987 as a Kindergarten teacher and has helped set the course for Agnes Irwin Lower School girls ever since.
LIVE THEATRE Dog Man: The Musical
FIELD TRIP
Kindergartners (L-R) Kennedy Hall, Lottie Stewart, and Haven Tierney show o their pumpkins.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Fall Achievements
LEADERSHIP
Student Council
Middle School Student Council leaders: Front row (L-R): So a Calabrese, Arts Rep., Lila Walls, Vice President, Charlotte Derk, ECO Rep. Back row (L-R): Erin Viola, 7th grade Rep., Lucy Etherington, Community Service Rep., Caroline Jarman, Athletics Rep., Braxton Ross-Lewis, DEIB Rep., Sidney Bligh, President.
ALUMNA SPEAKER
Leadership Key of Confidence
In October, Katie Wenger ’14 visited to discuss the importance of the Middle School Leadership Key: Confidence. She shared how being a pitcher on the Agnes Irwin softball team played a key role in her personal growth, transforming her from a “shy student” when she first arrived at the School into a confident young woman.
COMMUNITY
Upper Darby Food Pantry
Before Thanksgiving, sixth graders (L-R) Chloe Lan, Eva McEvoy, Wynnie Hayes, Finley Lambert, and Hadley Plourde delivered 1500 food items to the Upper Darby Food Pantry that were collected by the Middle School during the AIS/EA Day food drive.
CONNECTIONS
ENGLISH Book Talks
The Agnes Irwin MS English program is designed to inspire and cultivate passionate and skilled readers and writers who view literacy as a lifelong pursuit. Research consistently shows that the more one reads and writes, the stronger their skills become. To foster a culture of reading, students lead regular book talks where they share their enthusiasm for a particular book, author, or genre. These student-led discussions not only encourage peerto-peer reading recommendations but also help girls develop valuable skills in public speaking, persuasion, and synthesizing complex information.
LIBRARY
Informational and Digital Literacy
New year, new Middle School library furniture. Our upgraded furniture is made for leaning back with a good book, collaborating on projects, or working independently on assignments. In Linda Moreen’s Informational and Digital Literacy Class, held in the library, students explore concepts related to research and ethical scholarship and are encouraged to think critically about what it means to be a mindful digital citizen.
MS Cross Country won the Inter-Ac Championship and the Germantown Friends Invitational.
MS Varsity Soccer had an 8-0 undefeated season.
SERVICE
Charlotte Cochran ’30 and Toni Riley ’30 celebrate collaborative success.
UPPER SCHOOL
The ninth grade became official members of the Upper School upon signing the Honor Code TRADITIONS
The Agnes Irwin School is a community where we each: Collaborate conscientiously, with learning as the ultimate goal • Present our own original work and always give credit to all of our resources • Honor personal and school property • Communicate honestly and mindfully, in school, out of school, and through media • Value the various experiences, opinions, and choices of others, and demonstrate respect through our actions and words • Respect ourselves, others, property, and act responsibly. And we each have the responsibility to expect the same standards of integrity from others.
Blitzing!
“About seventy Agnes Irwin Mathletes competed this season, with Laura Kelly ’25 and Kelsey Meyerle ’26 serving as co-heads,” said Mathletes advisor Elena Bertrand. “We won four out of our eight matches, making this our most winningest season ever! Eight students were also selected to attend the Math Olympiad at Westtown School.”
Front row (L-R): Mason Hippler ’26, Junior Class President; Grace Connelly ’25 Senior Class Rep; Whitney Cuddeback ’25, Student Body President; Laura Kelly ’25, Senior Class President; GG Seibert ’25 Senior Class Rep; Sarah Kokas ’28, Freshman Class President. Back row (L-R): Lucy Pierce ’26, Junior Class Rep; Bella Lowther ’26 Junior Class Rep; Risley Richmond ’28, Freshman Class Rep; Shelby Rhodes ’27, Sophomore Class President; Emma Harmelin ’27 Sophomore Class Rep; Mia Karalis ’27, Sophomore Class Rep. Not pictured: Sophie Garner ’28, Freshman Class Rep.
People of Color Conference
Six Upper School students and six faculty members attended The National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference in Denver, CO, joining over 8,000 peers from around the globe.
L-R: Meghan Halberstadt, MS DEIB Coordinator, Manjuli Gupta, US Science, Noelle Harmon ’04, LS DEIB Coordinator, Katherine Nickols, US History, Caitlyn Monestere ’25, Maya Greene ’26, Layla McIntosh ’25, Suri Khorram ’27, Lauriel Morrison ’26, Kaya Davis ’27, Montserrat Nomdedeu, LS Spanish, Ana De León, Director of DEIB.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Students Recognized
Congratulations to Samantha Pierce ’25 (right), National Merit Scholarship Semi nalist, and to Reese Howard ’25 (left) and Lane Howard ’26 (middle) who were recognized in the College Board National African American Recognition Program.
CONNECTIONS
Asian Student Alliance
“With twelve new members this year, the Asian Student Alliance continues to grow. We are so glad everyone is enjoying learning more about Asian culture,” shared co-head Naomi Kim ’25. Projects this year include spring’s annual Asian street market, a Community in Action week presentation about “Asian Women in Politics,” and a Lunar New Year celebration.
DEIB
MATH
Math
UPPER SCHOOL REFLECTION
“This picture was taken in Engineering: Drafting and CAD class. We were learning how to design and use the product development platform, Onshape, to make keychains for 3D printing,” said Sarah Skyman ’27, who started her Agnes Irwin journey in Kindergarten. “My favorite part about AIS is the community and how I always have someone to talk to when I need help or advice. Also, there are so many ways to get involved – I am in UNICEF, a networking group, yearbook club, the Hispanic Student Alliance, the Council for the Advancement of Girls, Mathletes, and I am a member of the swimming and rowing teams. There is also an Agnes Irwin program that helps students nd babysitting jobs, so that’s another way our community is tied together. I love being an Agnes Irwin student.”
SARAH SKYMAN ’27
Faculty Focus
Q&A with Jennifer Hahn
Jennifer Hahn has been preparing Agnes Irwin Middle School students for higher level mathematics for twelve years. “I teach Algebra I and Honors Geometry to eighth graders,” said Ms. Hahn. “I love the energy of our Middle School girls. My students are still guring themselves out, and I want to be someone who is known for being safe and supportive when they try new things.” To Ms. Hahn, the best part of an all-girls education is that students are empowered to focus on their education as well as their leadership skills.
What is “mathematical mindedness?”
I start each lesson asking the students what we already know about the topic. From there, we look for patterns and make observations. I guide students to build on what they know and determine what they need to learn to find solutions. Mathematical mindedness increases your confidence when faced with a problem.
What is your favorite math skill to teach?
I love to teach deductive reasoning. It requires students to explain their thinking as they name the reasons that support their steps.
What impresses you about Agnes Irwin faculty?
The faculty are committed to building relationships with their students. We educate the whole girl through a lens of what is best for girls.
What is your favorite Agnes Irwin tradition?
The 8th grade trip to New York City. For three days, the teachers and students bond and this sets the tone for the rest of the year.
Tell us something funny about AIS girls. The fact that middle schoolers today know a lot about skin care is funny to me.
Where did you grow up?
Rockville, Maryland
Do you have siblings?
I have two older sisters who live in Maryland.
What was your rst job?
Waitressing at Bob’s Big Boy
What was your favorite subject in high school?
Of course, it was math! Physics and British Literature were tied for second place. I loved high school.
What was your college major?
I have a double major in Economics and Mathematics. I also have a Master’s in Secondary Math Education.
Did you always want to teach?
I wanted to work with kids. In college, I briefly considered a career as a stockbroker before I decided that becoming a math teacher was the path for me.
What drew you to Agnes Irwin?
I was initially inspired by my mom who attended an all-girls school. I also wrote my Master’s thesis on math anxiety in girls.
FAVORITE PART OF THE SCHOOL YEAR?
“Winter is my favorite time of the school year. We have bonded as a class and are taking deep dives into challenging mathematical topics.”
What is your favorite spot on campus?
In front of the fireplace in Lenox Lobby
One piece of advice for every Middle School student?
Don’t take things personally. Everyone is trying to figure out who they are during their middle school years. Try to own who you are and what makes you unique. Limit your time on social media.
What is your morning routine?
I play the NYT games, feed my cats, get ready for school, prepare my tea, grab my lunch, and drive one mile to school.
What is your hidden talent?
I can do the splits.
Do you have a pet?
I have three cats: Lucy, Sadie, and Oliver.
A favorite book?
A recent favorite book was The Bird Hotel
What is your idea of perfect happiness in your life outside of AIS?
Perfect happiness is spending the day outside with my husband, my son, and my daughter.
Sun or snow?
Sun, except if it is a snow day … then snow!
“We need women to be e ective problem solvers. Learning mathematical skills and strategies leads to finding solutions to problems.”
Jennifer Hahn
Quotables
CAMBRIE NAUT ’32 ON YOUTH CONFIDENCE DAY
“Something that makes me feel confident as a new student at Agnes Irwin is all the welcoming girls.”
CARTER DORRANCE MAROTTA ’07
MS ENGLISH, JAMES BOLDEN JR.
“After seeing LittleWomenat the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, we had a writing exercise whereby students placed themselves in the shoes of the March sisters.”
“I will always be thankful to Agnes Irwin for providing a community of support that fostered a love of learning and provided me with lifelong friends.”
$2285
Amount raised at the Middle School Service Bazaar for West Philadelphia’s St. Ignatius School so that their 2nd grade can visit AIS to see our upcoming musical, The Little Mermaid. The funds also supported a donation of new books to St. Ignatius.
“Please join us in the Student Life Center for a tasty croissant!”
CULTURE DURING FRENCH WEEK
MS/US
CLASSICS, SHAY SLININGER
“English-to-Latin composition is not a student favorite, but it is one of the best brain stretch exercises we do on a regular basis.”
“Commitment to women in education is why I give. It matters, it makes a di erence.”
BETH COLLINS COUNCELL ’90
DURING SPIRIT WEEK OF GIVING
MADAME RITA DAVIS CELEBRATING FRENCH
The Sharon Rudnicki Writing Center
I keep on waiting For things that take a lifetime Things nonexistent
Caleah Henneghan ’26
Silver-tipped snowflakes spin down from the open sky— your hair’s become white.
I like to drink food Haikus don’t always make sense I like to eat juice
Jihan Ghani ’31
Imagination Is the key to open minds You have to believe
Laura Leonard ’28
little scarlet leaf clinging fiercely to the branch it’s time to let go
HaikuCrew
History is now Someday soon our fingerprints Will stain its pages
Grace Lancaster ’27
Clear skies are a dream No disruptions of the mind Rain rain go away
Shelby Rhodes ’27
This fall’s “Haiku Challenge” prompted student-poets to compose a haiku of 17 syllables (5 syllables in the rst line, 7 syllables in the second line, 5 syllables in the last line), conveying a single moment.
When I sleep I dream, I dream when I am awake. I am a dreamer.
I sit and stare, sad knowing that you’re not with me, I never knew you.
Lan ’31
“What’s wrong?” I mutter. Her big eyes well up with tears. She just shakes her head.
Helen He ’27
Emerson Makin ’31
Chloe
Ellie Doerner ’31
Eva McEvoy ’31
Performing Arts
SPOoKY SOiRÉE A
Agnes Irwin’s performance of TheAddams Family told the story of love and friendship in a comical feast that embraced the wackiness in every family
Just before Thanksgiving, the Upper School Repertory Theatre performed The Addams Family School Edition to sold-out audiences. “The Addamses are an eccentric old-money clan who delight in the macabre and the grotesque, seemingly unaware that other people find them strange,” said Upper School Theatre Director Sarah DeNight. “The story is a fun take on a cult classic that allows for lots of creativity. The cast pushed themselves to learn new styles of dance, find their voices, and create in-depth characters to round out the ensemble.”
One of the highlights of the show was the work of the ensemble members who brought the Addams family’s world to life. “That was my challenge to our ensemble — to be the part of the show that everyone leaves talking about. I’m so proud of how the cast came together to tell the story in their own unique way.” shared Ms. DeNight.
Student crew members worked on every aspect of the show from building and painting sets and creating props to implementing the spooky makeup designs. Cast members also took on extra creativity in designing the lobby displays, featuring their own obituaries. “Truly, every aspect of the show was made possible because of the hard work and the impressive imaginative capacity of Agnes Irwin students,” said Ms. DeNight. “It was a wonderful experience for all of us and, as always, I am so proud of the girls’ performances.”
Eat Girl Scouts for Breakfast: Shelby Rhodes ’27 as Wednesday Addams in the Upper School production of The Addams Family
’28. 2. L-R Emma Lee-Wirtz
Shelby Rhodes ’27, Charlie Cutler ’25 (Shipley
3. L-R Taylor Mitchell ’27, Mimi Sargent ’28, Farrah Goodson-Guy ’27, Caitlyn Liang ’27, Olivia Stroup ’26, Maddie Jones-Blissard ’27, Raylin Myers ’27, Maddie Santoro ’27, Allie Bernert ’28, Ariya Kuda ’27. 4. L-R Maddie Jones-Blissard ’27, Farrah Goodson-Guy ’27. 5. L-R Top Row: Liz Storrer ’26, Carolina Rhoads ’27, Charlie Cutler ’25 (Shipley School), Catherine Koslosky ’27. Bottom Row: Ava Nast ’28, Shelby Rhodes ’27, Emma Lee-Wirtz ’28. 6. Carolina Rhoads ’27 takes the stage. 7. Liz Storrer ’26 performs a number. 8. The full
1. Mimi Sargent
’28,
School).
cast performs the final act. 9. Zandi Gardiner ’26 makes a point. 10. Ava Nast ’28 takes a spin.
Athletics
FALL SEASON RECAP
VOLLEYBALL
Head coach: Sarah Lawrence
Overall record: 6-10
Captains: Grace Getz ’25, Priya Johnson ’25
IAAL 1st Team: Priya Johnson ’25
IAAL 2nd Team: Leah Ojakovo ’28
JV Overall record: 7-8
Records/accomplishments: Inter-Ac 4th Place
FALL CREW
Head coach: John Hayburn
Captain: Ava Kennedy ’25
Records/accomplishments: Head of the Schuylkill: 2nd Place in Varsity 1x (A. Kennedy), 3rd in Varsity 4x | Navy Day Regatta: 1st Place in Varsity 1x (A. Kennedy) | Hidden River Chase: 1st Place in Varsity 1x (A. Kennedy), 1st in Varsity 4x | Gold Cup Challenge: 1st Place in Ho man Single (A. Kennedy)
CROSS COUNTRY
Head coach: Steph Hogan
Captains: Avery Brennan ’26, Grace Vauclain ’26
IAAL 1st Team: So a Casey ’26, Emma Watson ’26, Avery Brennan ’26
Records/accomplishments: PAISAA 3rd Place, Inter-Ac 3rd Place
TENNIS
Head coach: Suzanne Olson
Overall record: 14-5
Captains: Susannah Doherty ’25, Naomi Kim ’25, GG Seibert ’25
Records/accomplishments: PAISAA Semi nalist, Inter-Ac 3rd Place, 83 Team Goals, Ranked Top 20 in PA 3 times (MAX FH), 7-2 non-league JV Overall record: 11-4-3
SOCCER
Head coach: Namit Deshpande
Overall record: 16-6
Captains: Liz King ’25, Lindsay Reidenbach ’25, Claire Ballinger ’26
IAAL 1st Team: Colby Costa ’28, Liz King ’25, Dylan Ohm ’28
Recap: Scored 100 goals and recorded 11 shutouts, achieving a highest national ranking of 24th and a state ranking of 1st in PA and Philadelphia according to MaxPreps. Ranked as high as 4th in PA by the PA Soccer Coaches Poll.
JV Overall record: 8-3-3
GO OWLS!
Agnes Irwin students brought signature energy, positivity, and absolute best efforts to the 20th Annual AIS/EA Day pep rally and athletic competitions. From supportive banners and signs, face paint, blue and gold from head to toe, and even a rolling speaker to bring the noise, Agnes Irwin fans know how to get behind their teams! While Agnes Irwin celebrated a thrilling cross country victory and a tie in field hockey, we did not bring home the banner this year. But our incredible athletes demonstrated drive, resilience, and sportsmanship. What a great day of community spirit it was.
Wellbeing
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
Domestic Violence Prevention Education
Eve Johnson, Community Education Supervisor at Laurel House, visited the Upper School to engage students in conversations about fostering healthy relationships and recognizing and responding to signs of dating violence. “Laurel House educators seek to help 9th - 12th grade students identify concerning behaviors in relationships and teach them how to start conversations with their friends if they are noticing these signs,” said Johnson.
ANIMAL THERAPY
Puppy Love
Pals For Life visited before Thanksgiving to o er cuddles for anyone who needed one. Worked like a charm!
FALL SPEAKER
Author and Psychologist
Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary visits Agnes Irwin
DIGITAL WELLNESS
#WinAtSocial
Nationally-recognized psychologist and author Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary (L) and Ali Monzo, Director of
Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, author of Future Tense, Why Anxiety is Good for You (Even Though it Feels Bad), visited Agnes Irwin to help students ‘flip the script’ on anxiety. “My hope is that students left this conversation feeling seen and heard. Their emotions are real and powerful, and they have the ability to harness their feelings of anxiety to their advantage,” said Dennis-Tiwary.
Dr. Dennis-Tiwary o ered strategies to shift students’ mindset about anxiety, calling them ‘the three Ls:’
Listen: Be curious, tune into your feelings, gather information — what are you feeling and why?
Leverage: Use the information to take the next step, give yourself permission to worry, and determine what you can and can’t control. Let Go: Release perfectionism, nd your ow by engaging in activities that provide connection to your heart, mind and soul.
Our Middle Schoolers, as well as our third and fourth graders, are learning to navigate technology with #WinAtSocial, a program designed to help students strengthen their digital wellness skills, including technology time management, navigating online social pressures, and understanding trending news.
MIND/BODY
Cardio Kickbox
Cardio Kickboxing has been o ered at AIS since the studio opened in 2013 and counts as a winter athletic credit. “Thirty students enrolled in the class this fall,” said Michele Kane, Physical Education and Wellness Chair. “It’s always a popular option – girls are able to get an upbeat and fun full-body workout.”
THANK YOU! Dr. Dennis-Tiwary’s visit was supported by the Clower Family Speakers’ Fund and the Class of 1957 Speakers’ Series Endowed Fund.
The Center for the Advancement of Girls (R)
Kaya Davis ’27 smiles with a furry friend
Agnes Irwin Knows Girls
The Center for the Advancement of Girls explores the latest research on what works best for girls, identifying six key elements of girl-responsive teaching and learning
How does the Center for the Advancement of Girls Shape an Agnes Irwin Education?
Agnes Irwin is keenly aware that as the world changes, so do the needs of our girls. Furthermore, the ever-evolving landscape of education, the shifting demands of the workplace, and the uncertainties girls will encounter in the future compel us to keep learning and deepening our understanding of what our students need to thrive.
Since its founding in 2011, The Center for the Advancement of Girls (the Center) has focused on understanding how girls learn best, using that knowledge to shape and re ne the Agnes Irwin curriculum and teaching methods. The Center’s mission is to position Agnes Irwin as a leader and innovator in girls’ education by conducting research on the distinct needs of girls, and then developing progressive programs to address those needs.
A crucial behind-the-scenes aspect of the Center’s work is the professional development of Agnes Irwin faculty. The Center’s workshops engage teachers across PreK-12 in the research to deepen their understanding of what girls need to thrive. This allows teachers to masterfully weave “what’s best” into the unique contexts of their classrooms. The ultimate goal is that, when everyone uses a girl-centered playbook, the students bene t from greater consistency and support at every stage of their development and Agnes Irwin educational journey.
Agnes Irwin Knows Girls
Girl-Responsive Teaching and Learning: Latest Research Findings
The Center recently conducted an in-depth exploration of the latest ndings on what works best for girls. Research rea rms that all-girls learning environments provide distinct advantages for girls, including improved academic performance, higher self-esteem, and a reduction in gender stereotyping:
• A 2021 study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly found that girls in single-sex classrooms perform better in subjects traditionally dominated by males, like math and science, due to reduced gender stereotypes and the ability to engage without the social pressure of mixed-gender environments.
• 2020 research published in Learning Environments Research suggests that single-sex environments can lead to increased self-con dence and leadership skills, as girls are empowered to take risks and engage in activities that might traditionally be dominated by boys in coed settings.
•A 2018 Gender and Education study found that girls in single-sex environments were more likely to take on leadership roles without fear of being judged or conforming to gender-based expectations.
These advantages are invaluable to Agnes Irwin students, as it is widely recognized that girls face challenging social perceptions and stereotypes, including:
• girls should be “perfect”
• girls should be “model” students
• girls do not excel in STEM subjects
• girls should be agreeable, well behaved, and contained
• girls are “too emotional”
• girls must look a certain way
It is also known that girls tend to be risk-averse, prone to perfectionism, report lower levels of condence compared to their male peers, and bene t from opportunities to hone their voices. Highachieving girls, like those at Agnes Irwin, are highly motivated but often experience higher levels of anxiety and a greater fear of failure compared to their male peers. Additionally, many girls see a decline in con dence during the middle and upper school years.
“Through careful research and by way of our deep understanding of the students in our care, the Center has developed six guiding principles of girl-responsive teaching and learning,” said Ali Monzo, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Girls. “The principles can be applied in and out of the classroom to support the growth of girls in all areas of their educational journeys. Our faculty is prepared to respond to the ways in which girls perform and present themselves in the classroom.”
Girls Learn Best when they have a level of power and control over their learning, and they have ample opportunities to hone their voices.
Girls Learn Best when there is clarity, routine, and a level of predictability in their days, and they can engage in and navigate unknown novel experiences.
1 3 5 2 4 6
Girls Learn Best when they can make decisions about how to prioritize their time and tasks based on their needs.
Girls Learn Best when they have opportunities to build creative capacity and cultivate a sense of agency.
Girls Learn Best when they connect with their peers and educators in a variety of contexts.
Girls Learn Best when they are connected to a sense of purpose, and when they understand how they can apply or use what they have learned in new settings.
Legacy TO LIVE A
Three beloved centenarian alumnae (or nearly!) – all 1940s graduates – share stories from a bygone era in The Agnes Irwin School’s history, while reflecting on how they embodied the School’s mission: “To learn, to lead, and to live a legacy.”
On June 30, 2024, ninety-seven year old Marian “Tockie” Townsend Baker ’44 posed for Agnes Irwin magazine in the White Mountains of central New Hampshire.
Preternaturally
athletic, Mrs. Baker’s participation in sports during her childhood and at Agnes Irwin set the stage for a lifetime that honored outdoorsmanship.
Marian Tockie” Townsend Baker ’44
HIKER & APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVATIONIST
Marian Townsend Baker ’44, known as “Tockie” (short for Stockton, her maiden middle name), grew up on a family compound at 825 Montgomery Avenue on the parcel of land that is now home to The Shipley School. “My father was one of six children,” she recalled. “My cousins all lived on the property too, and I was the youngest. I remember that every time the family needed more money, a little more of the land was sold.” Growing up during wartime, she said, “games and sports were important to us from a young age to keep us busy. One of my boy cousins, who went to The Haverford
School, was my best friend. We played baseball, touch football, tennis, and pond hockey together.”
World War II impacted Mrs. Baker and her Agnes Irwin classmates. “I remember the war drills at Agnes Irwin which, at the time, was on the Clothier estate [Agnes Irwin’s Wynnewood campus]. For the drills, we didn’t use the front stairs; we used a metal fire escape,” she recollected. Headmistress Miss Laws was a “tough customer.” Associate Headmistress Miss Murphy, on the other hand, was known to be more gentle. Their offices were right inside the
Mrs. Baker in 1973 consulting her Appalachian Trail guide in which she made extensive notes about her hikes, trail conditions, and hiking companions.
Left: Marian “Tockie” Townsend Baker ’44 circa 1948 at the summit of Mt. Katahdin in Maine’s Baxter State Park.
“I was big and strong. I
played hockey, tennis, and baseball. Irwin’s brought in well-known coaches to teach us, like Betty Shellenberger, who had graduated from AIS in 1939 and was a famously talented field hockey player and coach.”
front door, so nothing could get past them, shared Mrs. Baker.
“There was a huge Jeep plant in Ardmore that mass-produced military vehicles for the war e ort,” she recalled.
“The Jeeps would line Montgomery Avenue, and the tra c lights would stay green so the convoys could head toward the Port of Philadelphia for shipment overseas. Anyone trying to cross the intersection on foot just had to wait for the convoys to pass. It was a great excuse if you were late for school, which, I admit, I often was!” she laughed.
Mrs. Baker kept herself busy by playing as many Varsity sports as she could. “I was big and strong,” she exclaimed. “I played hockey, tennis, and baseball. Irwin’s brought in well-known coaches to teach us, like Betty Shellenberger, who had graduated from AIS in 1939 and was a famously talented field hockey player and coach.” Shellenberger is known for playing for the U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey Team in international competitions at a time when women’s sports were often overlooked.
“I think Betty officiated until she was over ninety years old,” Mrs. Baker said.
Because of the war, there were no buses to transport students to sporting events, plus there were a very limited number of games against other schools.
“A few times, our teachers arranged for us to take the train into Philadelphia and over to Chestnut Hill so we could play Springside School. They wanted to keep some normal activities for us,” she said.
For junior year, Tockie’s family sent her to a boarding school in New Hampshire in the hopes that being in a rural environment would allow for more time outside. “It ended up being a terrible experience,” said Mrs. Baker.
“We were stuck inside at the boarding school even more than at Agnes Irwin due to wartime restrictions. But we did get to hike in the mountains, and I learned to ski.”
Rather than attend college, Mrs. Baker took a course in shorthand which “got me a job in real estate.” During World War II, women filled roles traditionally held by men, including shorthand typists and stenographers, which were vital for processing large volumes of information quickly and maintaining communication. In 1948, she married her husband of sixty-five years Henry Baker and moved to Baltimore, Maryland. They had three children, Robin, Sandra, and Stockton. Mrs. Baker is now a greatgrandmother of four.
“My love for being active and the outdoors has always stayed with me,” she said. She continued hiking in New Hampshire, where she summited all forty-eight of the White Mountain 4,000-footers. “I’ve also hiked over eighty-five percent of the Appalachian Trail, even after two knee replacements,” she laughed.
Motivated by a deep desire to teach and help others, Mrs. Baker became an Appalachian Trail volunteer. “For more than thirty years, I taught hikers and guides about the trails twice a week,” she said. In the 1994 issue of this publication, Mrs. Baker’s Class Note reads: “Tockie puts us all to shame with her extensive hiking, skiing—both downhill and cross-country—tennis, and biking. Her passion for hiking has led to her work with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in both information and development.” Mrs. Baker reflected, “I kept teaching until I couldn’t drive anymore!”
Mrs. Baker circa 1990 at the beginning of the Appalachian Trail in Springer Mountain, Georgia.
Mrs. Baker’s 1944 Agnes Irwin senior portrait.
Passionate researcher Jean Bradley Anderson ’42 was conferred her PhD from University of Pennsylvania on September 4, 2024, just a few months after her 100th birthday.
Jean Bradley Anderson ’42
HISTORIAN & AUTHOR
On June 8, 2024, all eyes were on Jean Bradley Anderson ’42 in the Durham County Library. One of several experts speaking about the importance of local histories, Mrs. Anderson had spent decades researching and writing about Durham County, NC. One of her six books, Durham County , published by Duke University Press in 1990 and expanded in 2011 when Mrs. Anderson was 87 years old, is considered the authoritative text on the history of Durham.
But there was another reason to gather that day – it was to celebrate Mrs. Anderson’s 100th birthday, which had occurred on June 1. “Nobody has given
Durham more of an understanding of its past than Jean Bradley Anderson,” said Lynn Richardson, retired librarian of the North Carolina Collection at the Durham Library. “Her papers and work are a treasure trove of information. Thank you, Jean, for all you’ve done to bring Durham’s past to light. And, happy birthday!”
Remarkably, Mrs. Anderson’s centennial birthday and participation on the panel were harbingers of yet another capstone moment. Just three months later, on September 4, 2024, she received a letter in the mail from The University of Pennsylvania O ce of the Dean:
Mrs. Anderson poses with her book, Durham County, circa 1990.
PHOTO CREDIT: AMY STERN
“I am very much for single-sex education. Women bloom best when not in the company of men.”
Dear Ms. Jean Bradley Anderson, It is with great pleasure that the University of Pennsylvania has decided to award you the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Faculty, recognizing your outstanding academic accomplishments, significant achievements in the field of English as a graduate student, and your distinguished career as a local historian. Your academic journey is a remarkable testament to your dedication and resilience … and your scholarly contributions to the field of local history are unparalleled.
Congratulations on this well-deserved honor. It is a privilege to acknowledge your remarkable contributions and award you this esteemed degree.
The awarding of her PhD was the icing on the 100th birthday cake. “The letter is proof I wasn’t fantasizing,” wrote Mrs. Anderson in an email to Agnes Irwin in which she shared the news of her PhD. “I was a student in the English Department at Penn for ten years,” said Mrs. Anderson. “I started as an undergraduate in 1942. I began my Master’s in 1946. After that, I worked toward my PhD. I met my husband as a graduate student. When he got a job teaching at Norwich University in Vermont, we moved and went on to have children. Due to geography and responsibilities, I was unable to finish my PhD.”
Born in 1924, Mrs. Anderson grew up in Philadelphia on Pine Street with her father, a pediatrician, mother (who sadly passed away when she was twelve), and sister, Marion Audrey Bradley, Agnes Irwin Class of 1934. Chronicling her path, Mrs. Anderson recalled:
“It was predetermined that I would go to Agnes Irwin School. My sister, Marion, first went to Miss Wharton’s School on
Pine Street. My parents thought Miss Wharton was too stern and too strict, so they moved Marion to what was the first location of The Agnes Irwin School on Delancey Street. My parents wanted me to go too, but at that time, the school began in the fifth grade, so I attended Miss Jennie Wilson’s School. In his Plymouth, my father would drive Marion to Delancey Street and then take me to Miss Jennie’s. When I reached fifth grade, I moved from Miss Jennie’s to Irwin’s School, along with four of my classmates.”
Drives with her father played a key role in shaping Mrs. Anderson’s growing interest in history. “Virtually every Sunday, my father would take our family along to visit historic houses in the area. He was 53 when I was born and had a deep passion for history. I remember my father driving along the Schuylkill River. At home, he documented the sites we visited in a large volume that I have to this day. That instilled in me a love for historic properties that has stayed with me throughout my life.”
Despite having grown up during World War II, Mrs. Anderson recalls being largely sheltered from its hardships and staying busy with school. Her most vivid memories, however, are of men of all ages sitting on the streets — “One sold pencils, and many sold apples. Some were begging,” she said. She also remembers her father reading the stock market reports at night, lamenting the state of the economy. While some museums were closed during the war, she and her father continued to visit Memorial Hall [now the Please Touch Museum]. “We could go inside, but there were no lights and no tours,” she said.
When asked about her memories from her time at Agnes Irwin, Mrs. Anderson
Mrs. Anderson’s 1942 Agnes Irwin senior portrait.
Agnes Irwin senior portrait of Marion Audrey Bradley ’34, Mrs. Anderson’s older sister.
responded enthusiastically, “Oh yes! I loved my teachers. I remember fondly Miss Ashley, Miss Hirshfield, Mr. Ibbotson, Miss Irish and Miss Lent. When I started at Agnes Irwin, I was very intentional about distinguishing myself from my sister. I played every sport, since Marion wasn’t very athletic,” she laughed. “Miss Lent, who taught English, recognized my talent for writing and was the one who encouraged me to apply to the University of Pennsylvania.”
Mrs. Anderson vividly recalls a beloved teacher’s remarkable tale of survival during World War II — one of many stories that likely live on only through her memory: “Miss Eliza Steck [Class of 1924] taught Physics and was quite the Anglophile. When World War II broke out, she was determined to get to England. She left her teaching post and boarded a Polish freighter heading for England. While on board, the freighter was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Miss Steck managed to escape in a lifeboat, where she survived for ten days. The Polish crew tried to throw her overboard because they held a superstition that women were a curse on lifeboats. But on the tenth morning, the fog lifted, and a British destroyer appeared, rescuing everyone on the lifeboat, including Miss Steck.” As for how Mrs. Anderson knew this remarkable story so intimately, she explained, “Miss Steck told me this story herself! Of course, I’ve never forgotten. In 1949, my classmate Molly Koch Baer and I sailed to England on a Holland America ship, the New Amsterdam. The voyage took four days, and we spent six weeks in Europe during which time we visited Miss Steck.”
In 1955, Mrs. Anderson’s husband, Mr. Carl Anderson, finished his PhD and took a position at Duke University. “In 1957, I
began teaching freshman English at Duke for three years until my husband had a sabbatical in Europe. When we returned, I began to do research on my own. Many people have ancestors who came through North Carolina and they all wrote to the courthouses to have somebody work on their ancestries. That somebody turned out to be me. I found the stories so interesting. In 1961, I jumped full time into researching and writing about Durham’s local history and it went from there.”
During her centennial birthday gathering at the Durham County Library, Mrs. Anderson concluded about the importance of history: “History is another dimension. When you look back at the past, you broaden your horizons and deepen your understanding of where you are, why the community is the way it is, who all the people are, where they came from, and where they’re coming from now. It gives me enormous pleasure and enriches my life and I hope other people have that experience too.”
Mrs. Anderson remarked that today’s Agnes Irwin girls are “much savvier and more sophisticated” than she was. “Girls today have easy access to research and knowledge through technology. I am very much for single-sex education. Women bloom best when not in the company of men.” Mrs. Anderson notes that she was sheltered for most of her life. “I think I must have been very naive. I never expected to work. I never thought the world would keep changing. My perception began to change in college but my eyes really opened when writing about Durham County.” When asked to o er a bit of advice to current Agnes Irwin students, Mrs. Anderson drew on Socratic philosophy, urging: “Moderation in all things you do!”
“History is another dimension. When you look back at the past, you broaden your horizons and deepen your understanding ...”
A stack of Mrs. Anderson’s published titles.
Caroline Casey Brandt ’49
MINIATURE BOOK COLLECTOR & AUTHOR
In letters to The Agnes Irwin School, Caroline Brandt ’49, now ninety-eight, shared stories of her childhood and her lifelong passion for collecting miniature books.
In 2003, Caroline Casey Brandt ’49 donated her collection of 12,000 miniature books to the University of Virginia. The McGehee Miniature Book Collection, named after her first husband who was an alumnus, is now endowed and includes over 18,000 titles.
In 2018, a blog entry from the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, which houses the McGehee Miniature Book Collection, read: “Collector Caroline Brandt has spent most of her life building a collection of miniature books. In this exhibition, you will see that when great printers, binders, and publishers decide to make miniature books, the results are stunning. These are works of exquisite craft, structural diversity, and outsized beauty.”
Images from Mrs. Brandt’s miniature book collection, housed in the University of Virginia Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. PHOTO
August 27, 2023
My passion for miniature books
“My family spent four years in Europe in the 1930s. My two older brothers were in a boarding school in French-speaking Switzerland, and I lived with my parents in Paris. Many of the little French girls were receiving their First Communion in the spring and wore white organdy dresses with bonnets and veils. I was enchanted with them. To appease me, my Protestant parents bought a First Communion outfit for my Shirley Temple doll. With the outfit, the shopkeeper kindly dropped in a tiny prayer book. It is titled Le Petit Paroissien de L’Enfance. It measures 1 ¼ × 1 1⁄16 inches, has ivory covers, an aqua velvet spine and satin endpapers. A beautiful little book and my first miniature book.
My father Herbert S. Casey’s birthday was December 26th, the day after Christmas. He loved the season and collected books on Christmas customs. In 1935, he purchased Achille St. Onge’s first book Noel. Price $1. It is now in my collection and still in its original gold paper box. [My father] was on the St. Onge mailing list, and my mother started buying some of his books for me.
Years later, in 1970, an article appeared in our local paper about a Richmond (Virginia) miniature book collector named Elizabeth A. Lapsley. [We] became good friends. She taught me much about little books and introduced me to important reference material. [S]he advised me on where to look for miniature books locally, and later in Tokyo when we visited the Far East. She was greatly missed by me after her premature death in 1977. In time, I was able to acquire much of her collection.
In 1983, I met Miriam Irwin, a key figure in promoting the appreciation of miniature books, at a convention in Ashland, Virginia. A [subsequent] meeting resulted in the formation of the Miniature Book Society (MBS). I was o and running! What a joy it has been meeting so many wonderful printers, publishers and collectors who became beloved friends.
As a charter member of the Miniature Book Society, I attended every Conclave from 1983 to 2018. I helped draft the original bylaws, served as treasurer and president, and chaired the 1991 Conclave in Williamsburg, Virginia. My proudest achievement came in 2021 when my Aldus Manutis received the MBS Distinguished Book Award. I also founded Cyclone Books, which has published seven miniature books, and I have been involved with or produced several others.”
“the shopkeeper kindly dropped in a tiny prayer book ... [with] ivory covers, an aqua velvet spine and satin endpapers. A beautiful little book and my first miniature book.”
Achille St. Onge (1913–1978) was a publisher of miniature books from Worcester, MA. He began publishing as a hobby in 1935, and by the time he stopped in 1977, he had created fortyeight miniature books, which are prized by collectors. St. Onge’s publications are known for their uniformity of size, beautiful bindings and elegance and clarity of design.
With endearing prescience, the entry for Caroline Yarnall Casey (née) in the 1949 Agnes Irwin yearbook seems to have foretold the path of her life:
“‘What’s going on?’ ‘What’s happening?’ We know Caroline has appeared upon the scene. Then we all stop to listen – we have to! Her vibrant conversation will keep us entertained for weeks.”
March 31, 2021
My earliest memories of Agnes Irwin
“I loved [Agnes Irwin] and made some of my best lifetime friends there. We had a wonderful French teacher who also taught us fine sewing. I still have the handkerchief case I made for my mother with hem stitching, ru ed lace edges, and French seams. Madame was very strict. We all had to work a length of each stitch before we used it in our work. I am completely awed by the quality of my stitching at age nine.
In Middle School, we all loved Miss Gra who taught English and grammar and introduced us to wonderful books. We also learned how to write acceptance, regret, thank you, and condolence notes which has been extremely useful all my life. In Upper School, I fondly remember my art teacher, Miss Ridpath, who inspired me to major in art history [in college] and then find work at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.
Our senior year, Miss Murphy and Mrs. Bartol were named Associate Headmistresses. There were over forty of us in our 1945 graduating class, and when we were told that at graduation we should process in two-at-a-time, we adamantly refused. Mrs. Bartol, who was newly arrived, said, ‘Very well, girls. You may file in singly … but there will be no diploma waiting for you.’ That took care of that. I always admired how she handled this.
I was not athletic, and hockey was the bane of my existence. Miss Constance Applebee, the British woman who introduced girls field hockey in the U.S., came to Irwin’s, and I was scared to death of her. When I went to college, I thought, ‘No more Miss Applebee!’ but I was wrong. She came to Sweet Briar. One day, during one of her visits, I was on the field trying to be invisible. One of the players was chewing gum. Horrors! Miss Applebee called her over. ‘What have you got in your mouth?’ [she asked]. ‘Gum, Miss Applebee’ (thick Southern accent). ‘Take it out of your mouth!’ she replied. ‘Put it on the end of your stick,’ (Huh?) ‘Now, follow it down the field!’ I’ve never forgotten that.”
Mrs. Brandt’s 1949 Agnes Irwin senior portrait.
A conversation with Mrs. Brandt
at her home in Richmond, Virginia about life as a school girl during World War II
“I attended Agnes Irwin’s Wynnewood campus during World War II. Most of our fathers and brothers were serving in the armed forces, including my own father and two brothers. My one brother flew reconnaissance aircraft in France. My father was in the Red Cross in North Africa. So my mother was stuck with me. She was very active with Valley Forge General Hospital and the Naval Hospital in downtown Philadelphia. Instead of her keeping track of where I was, I was often home wondering where she was! She worked late, often until 11 p.m. I remember buying cloth shoes because, at that time, leather was rationed.
The worst thing I can remember is hearing that a ship of Jewish refugees arrived from Nazi Germany, seeking asylum, but they were not allowed to disembark. They were sent back to Europe where I’m sure most perished at Auschwitz. It was terrible. [Mrs. Brandt was referring to the 1939 Voyage of the St. Louis.]
Our teachers tried to keep things as normal as possible. I read a lot about what was going on in Europe and listened to news on the radio. I loved Irwin’s – it absolutely influenced my life. I think it is wonderful that Irwin’s school is a more diverse place now. It kept up with the world! It was a great school for girls then – and still is.”
October 2024 -
“I
think it is wonderful that Irwin’s school is a more diverse place now. It kept up with the world! It was a great school for girls then – and still is.”
Editor’s Note: The body text of this article is set at 11pt to enhance the typographic accessibility for a broader range of readers.
Agnes Irwin senior portrait of Eleanor Hampton Verner, Class of 1915, Mrs. Brandt’s mother.
Left: Mrs. Brandt in her Agnes Irwin uniform. Right: Ballytore Castle, the former Clothier estate in Wynnewood, served as Agnes Irwin’s campus from 1933-1957.
The Social Set
Oh, what fun! In November, alumnae gathered in Philadelphia and Greenwich Village, NYC, to celebrate being Owls for life. The NYC event saw a record turnout.
ALUMNAE EVENT CALENDAR FEBRUARY - JULY 2025
SAN FRANCISCO WINE TASTING AND BRUNCH
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Porter Family Vineyards & Louella Hill, Home of Jon and Joanna Johnston Stott ’03 Napa, CA
WASHINGTON, D.C. BRUNCH
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Chef Geo ’s 3201 New Mexico Ave, NW Washington, D.C.
ALL-CLASS ALUMNAE COCKTAIL PARTY
Friday, May 2, 2025
The Agnes Irwin School 672 Conestoga Road Villanova, PA REUNION WEEKEND 2025
May 2 - 4, 2025
Celebrating classes ending in 0 and 5
Visit agnesirwin.org/alumnae
Philadelphia 1. Madison Thompson ’20 and Grace McNelis ’20 enjoy the evening. 2. Alumnae (L-R): Alexandra Greco ’07, Caroline Barth ’07, Janie Whelan ’12, Camille Flint ’12, Kate Alden ’12. 3. Lilly Wilson ’13. 4. Alumnae Board members Blythe Tarbox ’09 and Lexy Pierce ’06. 5. (L-R): Meredith Pollie ’13, Anna Ludwick ’13, Bridget Chakey ’14, Chrissy Du y Milliken ’13, Stephanie Karalis ’13. 6. 2014 alumnae Caroline Greco and Olivia Godfrey. 7. Maddie Aguirre ’19. 8. Alumnae smile for the camera at Mission Taqueria in Philadelphia.
NYC 1. Eli Hill ’14 and Elizabeth Marshall Dinsmore ’91. 2. Phe Somani ’15, Gavi Kamens ’19, and Cc Senyk ’19 smile for a sel e. 3. 2020 alumnae Julianne Carey, Ellie Carlson, Cheney Williams. 4. Lila Barker ’17 and Alex Hark ’18. 5. (L-R): Charlotte Buck ’15, Nora Buck ’13, Katherine Boris ’13, Martine White ’13, Caroline Buck ’17. 6. Mikelle Nickens ’05 and Alexis Largoza ’05. 7. Young alumnae enjoying the event (L-R): Carlin Sullivan ’18, Camilla Gowen ’19, Brenna Donahue ’18, Katelin Hamilton ’18, Christina Lowther ’20, and Ellie Carlson ’20. 8. Allison Hough ’01, Agnes Irwin Director of Development, Former Board of Trustees Chair Connie Anne Harris ’83, and Sally Keidel, Head of School, pose for a picture. 9. Brianna Chen ’12, Kirah Tabourn ’10, and May-Lin McEvoy ’12 capture the moment with a sel e. 10. Nicole Uber ’09, Danielle Uber ’07, and Nadya Mason Peña ’10. 11. Katherine Raynes ’19 and Tarah Paul ’20. 12. Jocelyn Tarbox ’03, Allison Donzati ’06, and Caroline Stokes ’06. 13. 1990s alums catch up (L-R): Lauren Hough Williams ’99, Anne Carson Blair ’99, Lauren Cahill ’99, and Kathleen Lamperez Brito ’96. 14. Riley Powers ’17 and Meghan Fahey ’18. 15. Connie Thompson ’16. 16. Ariel Hudes ’07, Elizabeth Gretz ’07, Ludmilla Crowther ’07, Alison He ernan Rountree ’06, and Grace McCarty ’09. 17. Maria Duckett ’98. 18. Caroline Buck ’17, Caroline Burkhart ’17, and a friend of The Agnes Irwin School. 19. 2015 classmates Caroline Hill and Kate Wahl. 20. 2018 alumnae Brae Barber and Livia Seibert.
COLLEGE c necti s
the graduati s approach, membe of the Cla of 2021 sh e what they have b n up to in co ege — and what they c ried with them fr Agn Irwin.
Camryn “Cami” Aronsky ’21
Penn State University Public Relations and Advertising
As part of a ten-week internship with the NBA/WNBA, Cami Aronsky ’21 had the opportunity to attend the NBA Draft. “Before it aired live, we did run-throughs with the cameras,” she said. “Along with a few other interns, I got to sit in the players’ chairs, and wear an o cial NBA team hat.” As part of her role shadowing a Marketing and Media Partnership Manager, she was also able to get an insider’s peek into the NBA’s blockbuster deal, reportedly worth around $76 billion, with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime Video.
“I realized in my sorority work that those who went to all-girls schools were the most confident and excited about implementing their ideas.”
Thanks to Cami’s outgoing personality, transitioning from Agnes Irwin to a university with almost 50,000 students was doable. “I introduce myself to people! But I get that it could be scary going into such a big school,” she shared. “I found a home in my sorority and was elected President during my sophomore and junior years.”
Her favorite class at Penn State was Digital PR. “Trends change quickly, so we reviewed the success of digital ads in realtime,” she said. To stay balanced, she makes time for working out, walking Penn State West Campus Bike Path, and connecting with her Agnes Irwin friends, saying, “I still live with Brooke [Souders ’21]!” When she looks back at AIS, she says the friendships she made, and the ability to speak up and get involved, are the greatest takeaways. After she graduates, Cami plans to move to New York, or “maybe LA where my sister, Ally [Aronsky ’18] lives and works. We’ll see!”
Enshalla Dunlop ’21
Barnard College
Computer Science
Last summer, Enshalla Dunlop ’21 was selected for a competitive internship at Deloitte Consulting as a Business Technology Solutions Summer Scholar. “I worked on a client services team, so it was a non-technical internship for those with a technical background. It was great!” Enshalla received a return o er and will be working out of their Arlington O ce after graduation. She learned a lesson through the journey from job search to job placement. “I was overly anxious about getting a job early in my college career. I could have given myself some more time.”
Enshalla points to Agnes Irwin as a defining influence. “The allgirls environment had a significant impact on me – I learned to speak up comfortably, and to write and think critically,” she said. “So when it came time to decide on a college, I knew I wanted to continue in all-girls education. I specifically looked for a women’s college.” After landing at her first choice, Barnard College, Enshalla made “a lot of friends easily” by going out of her comfort zone. She joined a literary society and a sorority. “My sorority helps me feel more connected to the Black community,” she said. Additionally,
“Agnes Irwin prepared me for college –I learned to speak up comfortably, and to write and think critically.”
she’s made lots of connections in her Computer Science classes which she takes on Columbia’s campus. “The required compsci classes were not fun at all!” she laughed. “But Dr. [Steve] Grabania definitely prepared me for them.”
Agnes Irwin is a family a air for Eshalla. Her older sister, LaToya Laury ’03, graduated from Agnes Irwin the year she and her twin sister Ayanna (Dunlop ’21) were born. She also catches up with AIS pal, Kayla Hayes ’21, as often as possible.
Classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024 - please let us know how college is going!
Contact Brooke Norrett Corr ’95, Senior Director of Alumnae Relations, at bcorr@agnesirwin.org
Raquel Coren ’21
Cornell University
Fiber Science and Apparel Design
Raquel Coren ’21 is a poster child for what can happen when you follow your passions. Her childhood hobby of sewing led her “organically to right where I am.” Last summer, Raquel was accepted to a prestigious internship at Nike World Headquarters on their Global Apparel Material Innovation and Concept team.
“Being in an all-girls environment is so special and empowering.”
The path from sewing to Nike wasn’t direct. When she first started at Cornell, she was a Fashion Management major. “For me, leaning toward some kind of business was a safer choice.” But halfway through her sophomore year, Raquel took a hard look at her classes. “I realized I was avoiding my business courses in favor of more creative ones.” Knowing that she truly loved her design classes, she pivoted. Since leaning into her fashion interests, “I feel like I belong and take on more leadership and learning opportunities.”
She joined Thread , Cornell’s fashion, art, and culture club magazine, and worked her way up to becoming editor-in-chief. “Being part of Thread was the most formative part of my college experience. I put more work into Thread than my classes!” she said, laughing. Raquel says that her knitwear classes have changed her life. “In the realm of fashion design, knitwear is a discipline that is highly technical, with math and structural aspects mixed with creative aspects, like design, color, and textures.” True to AIS-form, Raquel is sharing her passion with others as a Teacher’s Assistant (TA) in Advanced Knitwear.
Looking back, Raquel credits Agnes Irwin for her confidence and leadership skills. “I was an absurdly shy kid when I came to Agnes Irwin in third grade,” she said. By the time she was a senior, she felt “confident, self-assured, and equipped with leadership skills. Being in an all-girls environment is so special and empowering. It could definitely be harder for some girls to come out of their shells when boys are around.”
Libby Lerch ’21
Clemson University Nursing
“It was the best decision I ever made,” recalls Libby Lerch ’21, of her choice to attend Clemson University. “It had everything I was looking for — a rigorous nursing program, great location, opportunities to be involved, plus the school spirit reminds me of AIS!”
In her final semester of her BSN, Libby reflects on her decision to pursue Nursing. “I had personal experience that gave me a special appreciation for medicine. I am also scientifically curious and wanted a career working with people. During junior year, I took Pathophysiology. It was during this class that I first felt I was on track to becoming a nurse.”
Libby remembers loving her science classes at Agnes Irwin, in particular, Bioethics with Mrs. [Cheryl] Ellis. Reflecting on her thirteen years at Agnes Irwin, Libby says“I am grateful to Agnes Irwin for giving me such a solid foundation. I didn’t even realize
“I loved the positive culture at Agnes Irwin and how we pushed to better ourselves and each other.”
how well-prepared I was until I was peer-editing my classmates’ papers and teaching others how to use a microscope,” she laughs. She’s also thankful for her Irwin’s friends, calling those friendships ones she’ll always cherish. “I loved the positive culture at Agnes Irwin and how we pushed to better ourselves and each other. At Agnes Irwin, I learned to care about traditions and value being part of a strong community. At Clemson, one of my favorite experiences has been serving as Ritual Chair in my sorority. It’s about welcoming new people and celebrating the younger classes coming up.”
Libby is applying for nursing positions with the hope of starting to practice shortly after graduation. “Through my clinicals at Clemson, I’ve rotated through di erent areas—my favorite has been Labor and Delivery. It is such an honor to be a part of someone’s life at that moment.”
Parent Relations
AGNES IRWIN CUP
The 24th annual Agnes Irwin Cup hosted sixty-eight golfers and their guests at Sunnybrook Golf Club for a day of sunshine, seven irons, and scratch golf!
Chairs: Emily Cook P’31, Lauren Lawson P’34 ’36, and John Stone P’26
SPIRIT FAIR AND BONFIRE
On November 1, hundreds of AIS community members came out for the annual Spirit Fair. Children and families enjoyed games, rides, a photobooth, crafts, dancing, spirit gear sales, silent auction items, and food trucks. After the Jenn Emmi Fiorini ’97 Spirit Bell was rung, exploding confetti blasters rounded out the night and ushered the community into Spirit Week leading up to AIS/EA Day.
L-R: Chris Kitchens P’30 ’33, Justin Wellen P’28, Jay MacDonald P’30, Scott Burkholder P’28
L-R: Andrew Purcell P’33, Chris Neczypor P’31, Avery Cook P’31, Matt O’Mara P’22 ’24
1. Chairs: (L-R) Kim Peltier P’26, Shabnam Sedaghat P’27, Amy Calabrese P’29, Kate Mallach P’29, Melissa Hanjani P’35. 2. Julie Granson P’24 ’28, Sally Keidel P’27, David Granson P’24 ’28. 3. L-R: Class of 2028 Classmates Taylor Gilyard, Nevaeh Sands, Chloe Wells. 4. L-R: Blaire Stoveld Osberg ’04 P’35, Jill Donald P’29, Kristen Holuba P’31 ’36, Martyn Donald P’29, Je rey Osberg P’35
GATHERING
FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR AND THEIR FAMILIES
Our annual gathering is growing! This year, over seventy members of our school community came out to make new connections and build kinship. Alumna Xiomara Lozano Torres ’17 shared how her Agnes Irwin experiences in STEM and service learning shaped the choices she made to pursue a career as a nurse.
OWLIDAYS
As usual, Agnes Irwin’s Owlidays was the Main Line shopping event of the season. Over fifty shops participated this year! Ticket sales from Owlidays supported Teacher Appreciation lunches and events.
Chairs: (L-R) Sarah Hall P’37, Kat Stewart P’37, Betsy Lanphier P’34 ’36
Jennifer Earle P’32 ’34, Jody Seibert P’18 ’21 ’25 ’31, Margaret Welsh P’04 ’07, Anne Ford P’30, Sally Keidel P’27, Cathy Ferguson P’13 ’15, Allison Hough ’01
LEADERSHIP
February 11
MS/US Sta Appreciation Luncheon
February 22
Family Skating Night with The Haverford School
March 10
Family Movie Event
April 11
RaisE Annual Auction
May 16
May Fair
2024-2025 Parents’ Association Executive Committee
L-R: Middle School Coordinator Leslie Coulson P’37, Community Engagement Coordinator Lauren Lawson P’34 ’36, Member-at-Large Tien-Yueh Kubach P’27 ’29, Upper School Coordinator Kathlyn La erty P’26 ’29, President Jody Seibert P’18 ’21 ’25 ’31, New Parent Coordinator Kristen Holuba P’31 ’36, Secretary Donna Lee P’28, Lower School Coordinator Tracey Berman P’33 ’36, Vice President Ann Thorkelson P’32, Treasurer Ali Glickman P’28 ’29, Communications Chair Maura Daniels P’24 ’28. Not pictured: DEIB Coordinator Larry Waddell P’34 ’36
Owlidays
Lower School students join together.
L-R: Ana De Leon P’33, Director of DEIB, and Alumna Xiomara Lozano Torres ’17
L-R:
Supporting AIS
LAUREL SOCIETY
Every year, Agnes Irwin celebrates those who leave a legacy to the school by gifting through their retirement fund. Since its inception in 1998, the Laurel Society has raised more than $13 million in contributions, giving donors the opportunity to inspire generations of Agnes Irwin girls to come.
Sidney Bohlen Spahr ’65
Sidney Bohlen Spahr has long made an impact on Agnes Irwin. A member of the Class of 1965, “full of pep and drive” as their self-penned legendary class song remembers, Sidney has enjoyed a lifelong relationship with the school, including 13 years as a busy parent volunteer while her lifer daughter, Cathy Spahr ’92, was a student.
Sidney recalls Alumnae Weekend 1992 when Cathy was a senior. At the time, tradition dictated each girl stand to be introduced into the Alumnae Association, with familial connections announced. “There were several seniors with an alumna mother or grandmother, including Cathy’s own cousin, Noel Spahr Cappillo,” she remembers. “When it was Cathy’s turn, she stood while I was announced as well as my grandmother as an alumna of 1917. And then it was Stewart’s family’s turn [Sidney’s husband and Cathy’s father]. The list seemed to go on and on, all the way back to 1889 with her great-great grandmother, Elizabeth Wister Wurts. It was incredible, but to be honest, I think Cathy was a little embarrassed,” Sidney chuckles.
Over the years, Sidney considered another list, that of the Laurel Society, noting and admiring the commitment of schoolmates and a family member who joined . The knowledge of her mother’s pioneering support of Bryn Mawr Hospital with her early planned gift served as inspiration. “My mother was dedicated to the hospital, having credited them with saving her life,” Sidney says, continuing, “she was a committed volunteer and loved the organization. I had been thinking about Irwin’s legacy vehicle and went to Reunion Weekend and a conversation with Margaret Welsh [Senior Development Advisor] caught me. I know AIS in and out. It’s worthy.”
Last fall, Sidney established a charitable gift annuity in honor of her upcoming reunion, joining the list of the School’s most loyal supporters. She is looking forward to getting together with classmates. “We missed the 55th with the pandemic, so this one will be special,” adding, “our class was a pistol.”
IN MEMORIAM
Barbara Conrad Cau man ’40
Barbara Conrad Cau man ’40 (known as Bobbie), Agnes Irwin’s grand doyenne, who proudly claimed the moniker of oldest living alumna, died peacefully on February 12, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Born just two years after the passage of the 19th Amendment, Bobbie died one month shy of her 102nd birthday. Her love of Agnes Irwin only increased with time, as her alumna nametag went from Barbara Conrad 1940 to eventually spill into Barbara Conrad Cau man ’40 P ’70 ’72 ’74 ’76 ’82 GP ’08 ’09.
Bobbie was a dedicated class representative and a fixture at Irwin’s events for eight decades. She and her husband, George, sent five daughters to Agnes Irwin. The eldest, Patty (Tillie) Cauffman Brush, graduated in 1970 with the caboose, Barbara Cauffman Hartman, finishing in 1982. In 2000, Bobbie added the proud GP distinction to her AIS nametag when daughters Ann Cauffman Snyder ’72 and Mary Cau man Hastings ’74 enrolled their daughters, Sarina Snyder ’08 and Eliza Hastings Deadrick ’09.
After graduating from Agnes Irwin, Bobbie joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII and received her RN from The School of Nursing, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She married and had seven children, eventually becoming matriarch of a large, extended family. After raising her children, she returned to her studies and earned a BA from Rosemont College. The Cauffman daughters remember their mother as someone who loved learning and believed in education, specifically an Irwin’s education!
Commencement 1976 (L-R)
Barbara Conrad Cau man ’40 and Susan Cau man Butterworth ’76
Bobbie amplified her love for Irwin’s through her daughters, with their service on the Board of Trustees and Alumnae Board, as Class Reps, Reunion Volunteers, and phonathon callers. Cau man women have an Award hat trick, with Susan Cau man Butterworth ’76 winning the Alumna Award in 2001, Bobbie in 2010, and Ann Cau man Snyder ’72 being named 2022’s Willing Award Winner.
Described as a thoughtful, spirited introvert, Bobbie is remembered for her kind heart, listening ear, encouragement, and graciousness. Last year, a few months after her mother died, Susan wrote, “My mother cherished her years at Irwin’s. She and our Dad gave my four sisters and me the most wonderful opportunity at this wonderful school. Thank you, Mom!” It is Agnes Irwin who thanks the Cau man family for sharing their beloved mother and grandmother with the school. As the alma mater lyrics say, “Thy memory shall rest in every heart.”
A Family A air
In addition to her daughters and granddaughters, Bobbie’s sister, sister-in-law, and nieces attended Agnes Irwin: Patricia Conrad Moss ’42, Frances Cau man Gulbraudsen ’38, Deedee Heyward ’63, Elizabeth Cau man Leighton ’71, Frances Hughes Cau man ’76, and E. Stuart Dyer Mesires ’87.
Bobbie and her ve daughters
New Laurel Society members (L-R): Erica R. Shippen ’99, Neveen F. Mahmoud ’07, Sidney Bohlen Spahr ’65, Meg Strawbridge Butterworth ’93 at the annual Laurel Tea on December 3, 2024.
Alumnae Relations
Irwin’s Connect
Brooke Norrett Corr ’95, Senior Director of Alumnae Relations, sat down to chat with fellow Owl and colleague, Meghan Burnett ’99, Director of Donor Engagement, about her work at Agnes Irwin, Agnes Irwin’s new partnership with digital alumnae directory, Almabase, and her enduring love for May Fair lemon sticks.
MB: Brooke, I am excited to catch up with you! Can you tell us about your role at AIS?
MB: Why did AIS decide to partner with Almabase?
BC: Agnes Irwin is so fortunate to have engaged alumnae who have been vocal about wanting a more formalized way to stay connected. Adopting a program like Almabase is a way for us to create community beyond our in-person events. I am thrilled about all the possibilities that will come from this initiative!
MB: What is Almabase?
BC: Almabase is a centralized online hub for our alumnae. It’s designed to be user-friendly, making it easier to keep in touch with fellow alumnae, expand professional networks, and stay up-to-date with the latest news and events from AIS. Whether an alum is looking to touch base with old classmates, make new connections, or explore job opportunities, we hope this platform will be the go-to hub. Alumnae participation will also help us stay looped in on everyone’s news, successes, and milestones.
MB: It sounds like an AIS-exclusive LinkedIn … BC: In a lot of ways, yes! Once an alumna signs in and completes her profile, the platform will allow her to personalize her experience and make the most of Almabase’s networking features. There are functionalities that allow direct messaging with other users, photo-sharing, event notifications, and customized notifications for updates. Alumnae can find and connect with other alumnae based on location, profession, graduation year, hobbies, interests, and more.
MB: This seems like a great resource for young alumnae or those contemplating a career change. It also might be an excellent tool for the many Agnes Irwin alumnae who have expressed a desire to support and mentor fellow graduates.
BC: I started working in Alumnae Relations in 2011. As Agnes Irwin’s Senior Director of Alumnae Relations, I focus on alumnae engagement, which comes in many forms – newsletters, social media, planning regional events, Reunion, and serving as a liaison with groups like the Alumnae Board and Leadership Advisory Council. More recently, I’ve been focusing on some exciting new work connecting alumnae to current students for speaking engagements, help with Honors Capstone projects, and mentorship. This fall, we partnered with Almabase, a digital alumnae directory. I think it is going to be a game-changer for how our alumnae stay connected.
BC: Absolutely. Almabase makes it easy for young alumnae who are just entering the job market, considering graduate school, or starting in a new city to reach out directly to other Agnes Irwin alumnae for advice, support, and professional development. Our hope is that alumnae will share job openings, internships, an even career advice.
We also think this is a great opportunity for our alumnae to help current Agnes Irwin students get their foot in the door at companies or in industries where they may not have had access otherwise. As all Agnes Irwin graduates agree, women helping women is always a great thing!
Flashback to the 1990s: Brooke Norrett Corr ’95 (top) and Meghan Burnett ’99 during their Agnes Irwin days.
Alumnae Relations
MB: Like you, I am an enthusiastic AIS grad – Class of 1999! When did you come to Irwin’s?
BC: In fourth grade. I feel so fortunate to have experienced all three divisions of Agnes Irwin – Lower, Middle, and Upper School. The Lower School is magical!
MB: I came in 9th grade and was so jealous of the May Fair and lemon stick talk.
BC: Lemon sticks forever!
MB: Beyond the lemon sticks, what part of your Agnes Irwin journey made the biggest impact on you?
BC: There is a real feeling of coming home here at Agnes Irwin. This is a place where I was so supported, and so known, as a student – this sentiment is something I hear from fellow alumnae all the time.
MB: I imagine hearing that message from alumnae informs your work?
BC: One hundred percent. Beyond talking about the quality of the education we received at Agnes Irwin – the superlative writing skills taught here is something everyone mentions – and the confidence built from an all-girls education, that bond, that shared feeling of homecoming, is something our alums mention again and again, regardless of where they are or what year they graduated.
You can show up to an event and not know a single person, but, as Agnes Irwin alumnae, there is always a very strong feeling of community and shared history. The world itself may have been a wildly di erent place, but there is a common theme with all of us. I remember Mr. [Wigs] Frank used to talk about this – parts of the curriculum will change, the appearance of the school will change, but the feeling inside stays the same.
MB: Speaking of events, tell us about the alumnae gatherings.
BC: These events – lunches, brunches, cocktail parties, co ees – are some of my favorite parts of my job. In addition to Reunion, we host get-togethers across the country, in places where we tend to have the highest concentrations of alumnae. This fall, we hosted a wellattended event in Philadelphia and had a record-breaking turnout in New York City. This spring, we’ll host events in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Florida, and we’ll return to Boston in the 2025-26 school year.
We see such a great mix of Owls at all our events – from recent grads to alumnae in all phases of life. It’s inspiring and energizing to see everyone together. Agnes Irwin graduates tend to maintain strong, lifelong ties with classmates, but the beauty of our inperson events is that I see alumnae forming friendships across class years.
MB: How do Owls sign up for Almabase?
BC: All Agnes Irwin alumnae should have received an email to verify their profile, and that’s it! If you didn’t receive the email or it got stuck in your spam, you also can find a link to sign up at agnesirwin.org/alumnae, or reach out to me at bcorr@agnesirwin. org and I will get you all set up!
MB: Thank you! This was so fun. I am excited to create my Almabase pro le and am looking forward to everything you have planned for 2025 and beyond.
BC: I can’t wait! I love to hear from our alumnae, and am happy to help with any questions about Almabase, events – everything and anything.
2024-25 ALUMNAE BOARD
Front row (L-R): Alexandra Pierce ’06, Andrea Lucas Schmerin ’07, E. Jane Whelan ’12. Second row (L-R): Phoebe Somani ’15, Katherine Rieger Righi ’08, Neely Burch Morandi ’09, Abbe Wright ’03, Madeleine Katz Niemiec ’03. Back row (L-R): Gail Evans Guthridge ’71, Elspeth Fergusson Knighton ’04, Pamela Brewer Smyth ’71, Erica Shippen ’99. Madelaine Whitehead ’10, Sarah Co n Westcott ’01 (Not pictured: Campbell Crochiere ’12, Jane Finkenstaedt ’14, Alexandra Greco ’07, Tanisha Hospedale ’10, Blythe Tarbox ’09).
Alumnae
1940-49
Barbara Penrose Tarbell ’49 writes, “I live in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I adore reading and drawing. After attending Smith College, I graduated UNH ’72 as an English Literature/Art major. I read books constantly.”
1980-89
Elizabeth Washburn Pesce ’80 shares, “I am very thankful for the education I got at Irwin’s; it prepared me well for life and taught me that I can accomplish anything to which I put my mind. After spending most of my life in the Philadelphia area, my husband, Tim, and I decided we want to retire to New Hampshire to be close to our daughter, Brianna, and her family. She and her husband, Brian, have two little girls, Fiona and Caitrin; we love being Nana and Gaga! Our son, Jameson, and his wife, Katya, live in Baltimore, where he is a consultant for Deloitte. Our youngest, Kayleigh, is a sophomore in high school and dreams of becoming a nurse. I am a founding member of the Wistar Leadership Council, helping to broaden the visibility of the Institute and reach new supporters. I found the best way for me to heal from cancer was to nd a way to ght back!”
Jill Juda Marshall ’85 writes, “I am thrilled to announce that my husband, Steve, and I have launched Silver Path Consulting, o ering expert guidance for seniors and their families. As Certi ed Senior Advisors (CSAs), we provide holistic planning tailored to each family’s needs. www.yoursilverpath.com or reach out to jillmarshall@ yoursilverpath.com.”
1. Friends from the Class of 1964 visit the Mary Cassatt exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art: (L) Laura Golding Wheeler, Barbara Gibbons Beucler, Sandra Godfrey Daly. (R) Daille Reeves Sharpless, Charlotte Baker Koberg, Ann Hodgdon. 2. Deborah Hickenlooper Rohan ’68 and Carole Boerner ’68 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
3. Alumnae from the Class of 1970 kick o the holiday season with lunch at 333 Belrose. 4. Gage Parr ’87, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at George Washington University, visited campus to talk to students in MedSpark. 5. Fiona and Caitrin, granddaughters of Elizabeth Washburn Pesce ’80.
Nicole Marchetto ’06, MD, MPh, Board-Certi ed in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility is with Shady Grove Infertility and sees patients in Chesterbrook and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Newark, Delaware. Dr. Marchetto lives in Chadds Ford with her husband and 2-year-old daughter, Lannon. She continues to participate in activities at Agnes Irwin and enjoys spending time with her friends from the Class of 2006.
Maddie Winter ’08 spoke during the second Middle School Leadership Key Assembly about the Key of Empathy.
2010-19
Katie Bell ’11 spoke to studentathletes at AthLEADs about performance anxiety and developing transferable skills to other areas of their lives.
2020-24
Grace Goggins ’21, a senior at Elon University, completed a 10-week internship in Agnes Irwin Marketing and Communications over summer, 2024.
Ruthie Njagi ’21, Kayla Hayes ’21, and Enshalla Dunlop ’21 attended the Independent Trust (IT) holiday social in Philadelphia. IT is a nonpro t organization that builds professional networks for local independent school alumni of color.
1. Giuliana Vetrano Hartwell ’05 and Mimi Wang ’05 pictured with their husbands Ben Hartwell and Martin Cech. “Whenever you’re with Irwin’s friends, it always feels like you saw each other last week.” 2. Giuliana Vetrano Hartwell ’05 and Caroline Stokes ’06 attend the women’s beach volleyball event at the Olympics. 3. Eleanor Joan Fry, daughter of Janet Bartholdson Fry ’06. 4. Nicole Marchetto ’06. 5. Class of 2005 alumnae gather in Philadelphia: Charlotte Dorrance Marshall, Katie Best, Carley Razzi, Kate Morsbach, Sara MacIntyre, Olivia Romeo, and Natalie Jones Brennan. 6. (L-R) Annabel, Julian James and Nolan Gregory Carter, children of Kate Wiber Carter ’06. 7. Sarah DeCamp ’08 and Laura Dormans Murdoch ’08 attend the Alumnae Holiday Co ee and Assembly. 8. Melanie Lucas DeStefano ’09, Andi Lucas Schmerin ’07, Allison Cocozza, and Jody Seibert at the Senior Parent and Alumnae Holiday Co ee.
runs into Civil Godwin ’34 and
practice.
from the class of 2018 gather for dinner in New York City. From left to
’21, Kayla Hayes ’21, and Enshalla Dunlop ’21 at the Independent Trust (IT) holiday social in Philadelphia. 6. Gracie Cook ’12 married Peter Gerolamo on November 9, 2024, at the Horticultural Center. “So grateful to have had all of my lady Owls by my side!” (L-R): 2012 Classmates Kenzie Lucas, Campbell Crochiere, Kate Tocci Hostovsky, Paige Chandler, Victoria Hammarskjold Lemmon, Janie Whelan, Camille Flint. 7. Maya McNeal ’12 and her husband, Don Viray, welcomed Wesley Wyatt McNeal-Viray (named for his maternal great-grandfather) to the world on October 14, 2023.
1. Maddie Winter ’08. 2. Kate Hauler ’09 married Mike Lewis on August 3, 2024. 3. Caroline Terry ’11
Harlow Godwin ’38, Agnes Irwin Lower School students, at her orthodontic
4. Alumnae
right: Ana Mashek, Lydia
Ruthie Njagi
Alumnae | CLASS NOTES
1. Grace Goggins ’21 interned in the Agnes Irwin Marketing & Communications o ce. 2. 2024 alumnae Avery Thomas, Alimah Jalloh, and Emma Justi join in on the fun at the Holiday Assembly. 3. Rachel Mashek ’20, Cici Curran ’24, and Nina Flinn ’21 pose for a Georgetown squash photo. 4. Alumnae gather at the Agnes Irwin tent on AIS/EA Day. (L-R): Allison Hough ’01, Meghan Burnett ’99, Elspeth Fergusson Knighton ’04, Erica Shippen ’99, Brooke Norrett Corr ’95, Melanie Gaspari Albahary ’92, and Gail Evans Guthridge ’71. 5. Katie Wenger ’14, Allison Cooper Hamilton ’77, Anna Alburger Romeo ’09, and Caroline Marshall Harries ’93 lead campus workshops about community engagement during Agnes Irwin’s 3rd annual Civics Week hosted by the History and Social Sciences Department. 6. The Annual Mother/Daughter/Grandmother Alumnae photo.
MARRIAGES
1999 Bianca S. Hart to Keith Bailey September 7, 2024
2007 Alexandra K. Cummins to Brian Antar June 17, 2023
2009 Katherine Hauler to Mike Lewis August 3, 2024
2011 Lindley K. Smith to Will Camp May 4, 2024
2012 Sarah M. Frick to Robert Carrozzo April 20, 2024
Grace E. Cook to Peter Gerolamo November 9, 2024
2016 Laura Pansini to Alex Parkinson June 7, 2024
BIRTHS
1995 To Gary Van Arkel and Elise S. O’Connell, a girl, Saskia Elizabeth July 18, 2024
2001 To Ludovic de Foucaud and Shona Bhattacharyya de Foucaud, a boy, Nino Sonya May 26, 2024
To Duriel and Christine Ramsey Hardy, a boy, Gabriel Isaiah September 9, 2024
2003 To Brett and Ashley Eldridge Wilhite, a boy, August May 28, 2024
2005 To Myles Aion and Kristen K. Yoh, a girl, Cora Aion-Yoh September 17, 2024
2006 To Jordan and Kate Wiber Carter, twin boys, Julian James and Nolan Gregory June 28, 2024
To Garrett and Janet Bartholdson Fry, a girl, Eleanor Joan July 30, 2024
2007 To Dorian Serban and Alexandra W. Barker, a girl, Isla Windisch December 31, 2024
To John Bianchi and Ariel M. Hudes, a girl, Stella Hudes November 23, 2023
2008 To Will Jimenez and Megan L. Clower, a girl, Alexandra Lee August 2, 2024
To Joseph Mullins and Jacqueline A. Evans, a boy, Thomas Montgomery August 26, 2024
To Branden and Lauren Mayer Sweetser, a girl, Caroline Reilly December 3, 2024
To Kurt and Katie Watkinson, a boy, Kip James November 14, 2024
2009 To Nick and Anna Alburger Romeo, a boy, George Carmen November 18, 2024
2010 To Conner and Courtney Clower Flynn, a boy, Cole Joseph August 27, 2024
To Brendan Riley and Anne E. Geckle, a girl, Julia Geraldine January 1, 2025
To Jordan Pritiken and Bailey C. Marshall, a boy, James Marshall August 2, 2024
To Josh and Katherine Hollander Padwa, a boy, Jonah David August 8, 2024
To Brendan and Chloe Burch Seaver, a boy, Arthur Dewitt April 25, 2024
2012 To Don Viray and Maya T. McNeal, a boy, Wesley Wyatt October 14, 2023
2018 To John and Rose Lawrence Heim, a boy, David Joseph August 26, 2024
IN MEMORIAM
1948 Joanna Turner Burgoyne September 27, 2024
1949 Mathilde Fielding Cruice January 6, 2025
1951 Ann Murphy Zabel November 18, 2024
1952 Doris Waterall McCullough April 20, 2024
1954 Lucy Abbott Green March 2, 2024
Elizabeth Horrocks Wilson May 10, 20224
1958 Bonnie MacInnes Meagher December 21, 2024
1960 Caroline Butler Wagner April 21, 2024
Farrell Macklin Shute August 24, 2024
1961 Cara Smith Walker October 12, 2024
1964
1967
Constance Barnes Haydon July 23, 2024
Christianne Kress Cheney October 9, 2024
1977 Catherine C. Smith April 22, 2024
1986 Clare Reynolds September 13, 2024
From the Archives
Marguerite Fitzgerald Phillips Class of 1910
During the research phase for this issue’s alumnae feature, To Live a Legacy (p. 30), it was discovered that Marguerite Fitzgerald Phillips ’10, mother of Tockie Townsend Baker ’42 (p. 30), was not included in the 1910 Agnes Irwin yearbook. When we asked Mrs. Baker if she knew why, she replied, “The reason my mother’s senior photo is not featured in the 1910 Agnes Irwin yearbook is because she didn’t go to school that year. She had planned to go on an extended, chaperoned trip to Europe, but got appendicitis. The recovery was long so she had to skip the trip and was also unable to go back to Agnes Irwin.”
To ensure Marguerite Fitzgerald Philips ’10 has her place in the Agnes Irwin archives, we are thrilled to feature her here on Squam Lake, New Hampshire, during the summer of 1912. “In this photo, my mother was getting ready to go out in the canoe at Rockywold [Deephaven Camps],” shared Mrs. Baker.
—Thank you to the Baker family for sharing the image and the memories.
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