Bancroft Bulletin Spring/Summer 2012 by Bancroft School

BANCROFT Bulletin Spring/Summer 2012

Mackenzie Melemed â&#x20AC;&#x2122;13 Exudes Confidence Onstage and Off

Question: Number of Bancroft students whose parents are alumni? Answer: 28.

Assistant teacher Lisa Brown works through a lesson with Kindergarten student Eleanor ’24.

The co-ed varsity alpine Ski Team took 3rd place in the NEPSAC league—a top finish for the Team.

Powder & Wig’s successful performance of 42nd Street brought the singing and dancing sensation to Bancroft in March.

Contents

BANCROFT Bulletin |

Spring/Summer 2012

5 News Features

BANCROFT SCHOOL Communications Editor-In-Chief / Director of Marketing and Communications Matthew Barone

10 Ordinary Prodigies do Exist

Design Linda Dagnello

e-Communications Manager Julie O’Malley Alumni and Development Director of Institutional Advancement Liz Siladi

14 Selfless and Collaborative

Director of Development Laurie Bowater Administrative Assistants Lydia Barter, Catherine Hanssen

Bancroft Bulletin is published biannually by Bancroft School, 110 Shore Drive, Worcester, MA 01605-3198. Issues are published fall/winter and spring/summer and mailed to all known alumni of Bancroft School as part of the benefit of their having attended the School. Bancroft Bulletin provides a medium for the exchange of views concerning Bancroft School affairs; news about the School and its alumni; and editorial content that relates to the shared and diverse experiences and interests of Bancroft alumni.

Cover Photo: Mackenzie Melemed ’13 pauses during rehearsal in the Harrington Theatre at Bancroft School

Mackenzie Melemed ’13 succeeds at Bancroft with humility, intellect, and musical panache.

Associate Director of Alumni Relations Lynn St. Germain

Contributors Russ Campbell, Christina DeVoss, Joan Killough-Miller, Anastasia Theophanous ’13

Faculty research at BU… MS Costa Rica excursion… iPad Workshop on campus… Expansion of Mandarin … Myles McDonough passes… Peabody Fellow named… and more…

Effort Joins Two Alumnae

Columbia and Tufts University students participate in athletic mentoring program that benefits young kids in urban communities.

18 Ken Davenport ’90

Broadway producer brings us the revival of Godspell thanks to a creative business approach.

20 Alumni News

Photos: Russ Campbell

Dear Bancroft Friends: Two major events over the last few months have reminded me of what it really means to be a teacher during the second decade of the 21st century. The first, our January Retreat of the Board of Trustees, forced all of us in the room— trustees, faculty, and friends of the School—to examine the future in light of our core mission of fostering an experience of excellence within a diverse community of good people who are lifelong learners, teachers of others, and global citizens. As happened at the several strategic retreats of which I have been a part for the last thirteen years, debate and healthy discussion about the School’s future gave way to exciting plans, all growing from our commitment toward learning and teaching. In the upcoming months, the Board will bring its plans forward and an exciting future will be defined. The second event also spoke directly to our mission. As you may know, this past year inaugurated the voluntary iPad program in Grades 6 through 12 at Bancroft. Scores of our students are the proud owners of new iPads, and next year the use of iPads becomes mandatory in our Middle and Upper Schools. In preparation for this change, a number of our upper schoolers, under the guidance and direction of Elisa Heinricher, Director of Academic Technology, hosted and ran faculty development sessions in the use of this promising technology. As faculty, Kindergarten through Grade 12, learned the use of various applications for their classrooms, students demonstrated their knowledge, answered questions, and staffed the “genius desk” set up in the McDonough Center. Educationists often speak about how we are in the process of “flipping the classroom” to give students a greater role in their own education. Here at Bancroft that trend is alive and well, and embedded in our own mission of working with students to become lifelong “teachers of others.” Intentionally, and with planning and foresight, our School is taking the lead in transforming education toward greater collaboration, leadership, and purpose. I trust you will agree: it is an exciting time to be at Bancroft. Enjoy this issue of the Bulletin. Yours for Bancroft,

Scott R. Reisinger Headmaster

News

Features

Physics Teacher Thrust into BU Photonics Lab Valentina Sountsova was accepted to attend a six-week biophotonics research project sponsored by the National Science Foundation

key factor in our School’s excellence is the faculty’s dedication to professional development. Last summer, Upper School physics teacher Valentina Sountsova was accepted to attend a six-week biophotonics research project at Boston University (BU) as part of the National Science Foundation-sponsored program called Research Experiences for Teachers (RET). Sountsova worked closely with scientists in the BU Photonics Lab who are developing biosensors for early detection of viruses and infectious diseases. Since traditional methods of virus detection are very time-consuming, the biosensors have important potential. “By providing a fast, easily deployed method for early detection of a virus or biohazard, this technology has potential application in the control or prevention of epidemics and bioterrorism,” said Sountsova. Each biosensor has a glass substrate with a layer of gold, a layer of organic compounds, and a layer of proteins. When light passes through the tiny holes in the sensor, it has certain characteristics. But if you apply a virus-contaminated substance to the sensor and pass light through it, the light reacts differently. Scientists can tell by the light’s behavior what kind of virus is present, and in what amount.

This learning opportunity has already enriched her classroom teaching at Bancroft. “It gave me practical experience in so many areas—organic chemistry, spectroscopy, ellipsometry, working in a cleanroom, and surface preparation,” says Sountsova. One of the requirements of the RET program was that participating teachers create a lesson plan based on their research. “I developed a lesson on polarization of light,” said Sountsova. “I am also planning a unit on laser radiation and a unit on wind turbines.” In addition, Sountsova used the accompanying grant money to buy high-quality optical equipment for the Bancroft science department, which will benefit her classroom students. In February Sountsova shared her findings in a presentation at the National Winter Meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers in Ontario, California—a trip sponsored by BU. In April she began using the new lesson plans for freshman physics classes. Each year Bancroft allocates funds for faculty professional development similar to Sountsova’s experience. The enrichment of these experiences can be felt throughout the campus leading to improved student learning.

News Features

Students Take Global Learning to New Level

en Bancroft Middle School students, led by Spanish teacher Jody Stephenson, traveled to Heredia, Costa Rica over spring break March 18 – 26. The trip represents a new partnership between Bancroft School and the Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI Language School) of Heredia. As part of their experience students lived with host families, took Spanish language classes each morning at the CPI Language School, collaborated on two community service projects, engaged with local students, and witnessed a number of rich cultural offerings through visits to a local cloud forest, a coffee plantation, and volcanic hot springs. “Extending the learning experience for our Middle School kids beyond the simple walls of a classroom is nothing new for us,” said Stephenson, an eight-year member of the faculty. “It was a beautiful, rewarding, and meaningful

thing to see my students making new friendships, taking risks with speaking the language, and emotionally responding to their humanitarian service experience.” Through the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, a non-profit committed to providing economic solutions to social challenges, Bancroft students worked in a local community of Nicaraguan immigrants, painting houses and creating a mural for the outside of a nearby nursery school. “Their homes were very small and made with a flimsy metal,” said Jose Garcia, a seventh grader at Bancroft who lives in Westborough, MA. “I was really impressed with how happy these kids were when they clearly had so little. Everyone was welcoming, friendly, and I am excited to keep in touch with my new Latin American family through Facebook.” On the heels of this successful first-year excursion to Heredia with her Middle School students, Stephenson has already begun to plan the School’s next trip in two years. “Our partnership with the CPI Language School and the Humanitarian Foundation made a huge impact on the success of our trip which has given our students a real-world global experience that they will treasure for a lifetime.” Seventh grader Divya Navani of Shrewsbury, MA was moved by the sincerity of her hosts and the kindness of the kids she met during the experience. “It was an emotional departure for all of us since the bond grew day-by-day. I was really touched when the local kids made all of us these beautiful little angels of wire and beads to wear around our necks as a way to remember the new friends we made in Costa Rica.” To learn more about these programs visit: CPI Language School at www.cpi-edu.com Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation at www.crhf.org

Bancroft Plays Host to iPad Workshop

ver 100 independent school administrators from across New England attended a full day at Bancroft School last December as part of the AISNE ‘iPads in Schools’ implementation workshop. The sessions were intended for administrators who are considering tablet device implementation programs at their respective institutions. The workshop highlighted presenters from existing iPad Schools where the device is already widely in use, including Bancroft School where iPads are currently part of the curriculum and will be required for every student in Grades 6 – 12 beginning this fall. Jim Moulton, an Apple K – 12 education development executive, spoke with school leaders about how digital tools can best support students and teachers to improve their experiences. The event covered topics important for schools exploring iPads in the classroom, including educational benefits, budget savings opportunities, logistical and infrastructure implementation needs for a wide population, security issues, professional development for faculty, students, and parents, and existing resources for institutions. The Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) provides educational leadership and relevant, responsive services to its diverse membership.

Bancroft to Expand Mandarin

s educators, the most important job is to help students learn, think critically, and communicate with ease in the diverse global community of the 21st century. Bancroft has long recognized this charge, as evidenced by the global curriculum, integrated use of technology, and active cultural and educational exchange programs. Foreign languages are offered in the Lower School, where students begin learning French or Spanish. In Middle and Upper School, students have traditionally been able to choose French, Spanish, or Latin to meet their foreign language requirement. Since 2006, Introductory Chinese (Mandarin) has also been an option, but only for Bancroft’s seniors. That will soon be changing. Headmaster Scott Reisinger explains: “After careful consideration and planning, the Trustees made the exciting decision to phase in more Mandarin language classes. Over the next four years, the intent is to grow the program right through to an AP-level class.” Beginning in September 2012, Middle School students starting in Grade 7, and all Upper School students, will be able to take a Level I Mandarin language course. With each successive year, another level will be

added, so students can continue the program throughout Upper School. Nicolina Puccio, head of Bancroft’s foreign language department, sees the expanding Mandarin program as an extension of Bancroft’s commitment to global learning. “With China’s prominence as an economic power, these language skills will be important for our students. Current and prospective students and parents have inquired about opportunities to study Mandarin, and now we’ll be better able to serve that need.” To support the expanding Mandarin program, Bancroft has hired a new Mandarin teacher. A native Chinese speaker, Fanfei Kong has an M.Ed. from Harvard University and a B.A. from Beijing Foreign Studies University. She will begin her new role at Bancroft in September of 2012.

Bancroft Mourns Passing of Myles McDonough

randparent and former parent Myles McDonough, who passed away on March 30, 2012 at age 82, was an admired member of the Bancroft School community. Deeply committed to education throughout the region, he provided scholarships and loans to enable scores of young people to experience the benefits of learning. In October of 2002, he and his wife Jean helped dedicate Bancroft’s new Lower and Middle School building, named in honor of the entire McDonough family, whose philanthropy and volunteer leadership have had a profound impact on Bancroft School. McDonough was also active on the Board of several local institutions and has received numerous awards for his service, including Bancroft’s Robert W. Stoddard (1923) Award for Distinguished Community Service in

2004 with his wife Jean. They also established the McDonough Charitable Foundation to support and provide leadership to local organizations. “Myles was a brilliant man of kindness, compassion, humility, and grace whose support for our School and its students will never be forgotten,” said Scott R. Reisinger, Headmaster. As founder and Chairman of the Board of FLEXcon Company, he was known as a “hands-on, can-do entrepreneur” who was constantly making the impossible possible. He built FLEXcon from a two person garage operation into a multi-million dollar worldwide company with over 1,000 employees. He earned a degree in chemistry at Seton Hall University and worked as a chemist before founding FLEXcon. Mr. McDonough is survived by his wife Jean, two sons, Mark McDonough ’74 and Neil McDonough, daughter-in-law Lisa McDonough, and grandchildren Caitlin McDonough MacKenzie ’02, Ryan McDonough ’04, Shaun McDonough ’04, Kelsey McDonough ’06, Darcy McDonough ’09, Dylan McDonough ’14 and Lillie McDonough.

News Features

MS Girls Win ‘Future City’ Regional Competition

ancroft’s Middle School won the Future City regional competition held at Northeastern University on January 22 against dozens of qualifying middle school teams from throughout the region. More than 35,000 students from 1,300 middle schools have participated nationwide. After spending many weeks preparing for the competition as part of their MS Future City Club, Bancroft eighth graders Jacqueline Barnes, Aurea De Souza, Sarah Kotin, and Kathryn Price submitted their project and newly named City—“Peraditi.” The theme this year for all 35,000 participants nationwide was Fuel Your Future. The competition asks students to choose one energy source and design a way to generate electric power for their city that does not deplete natural resources and has a limited impact on the environment. In Peraditi, solar panels and wind towers have an important presence, but the team’s plan calls for humans to produce energy needs in local gyms. Treadmill use is a requirement for all citizens, with tax rebates for high performance and waivers for the elderly or physically challenged. “I’m so impressed by the team’s independence, creativity, and hard work with this project,” said Roger Jones, Head of the Middle School. “While they received some guidance from Grade 8 English teacher Sarah Williams, they were on their own through much of this project.” Teams are judged by a panel of engineering professionals on their presentation, virtual city design, physical model, research essay, and city narrative. Student teams plan and design virtual cities with

SimCity 4 software (donated by Electronic Arts). With a budget of just $100, they build physical models with recycled materials, research and write a solution to an engineering problem, write a narrative describing their city, and present their ideas before a panel of judges. Jacqueline Barnes spent so much time working outside the classroom on her project with teammates that she never expected to win the competition with their unique energy-building concept. “We were just shocked! The idea for our treadmills came out after some brainstorming with my team. We thought about how hamsters can run on a wheel to produce energy— then why couldn’t humans run on treadmills? Then we learned that in fact there are some gyms in Australia and Hong Kong where the treadmill is used to power the facility. Why not a city?” To learn more about Future City visit http://www.futurecity.org

A Co-ed Varsity Swim Team is Born

thletics is a cornerstone of the Bancroft experience, and the School’s athletic program has been expanding in recent years. The latest expansion is the new Varsity Swim Team made up of 17 Upper School students who competed this winter season against

other Eastern Independent League (EIL) schools—Dana Hall/St. Sebastian’s, Winsor, Pingree, Landmark, and Berwick Academy—as well as the Worcester Academy JV team. Middle School science teacher Mary Jean Jones is the team’s coach, with Bancroft parent Carolyn McCarthy acting as the assistant coach. “We’re excited to have so many students involved in the team’s first season,” says Jones. “The kids are very motivated and hard-working. It has been inspiring to see their skills develop so nicely even against some tough competition with well-established teams. I’m looking forward to another year!”

The team had 10 students qualify this year for the NEPSSAC finals with Kim Le ’14 placing 5th in the 100 Backstroke and 6th in the 100 Breaststroke. In the EIL competitions Paul Friedman ’14 placed 7th in the 100 Breaststroke while Le placed an impressive 2nd in the 100 Backstroke. The addition of Varsity Crew as a spring sport in 2009 created a new competitive outlet for student-athletes, and this year’s formation of a Coed Varsity Swim Team has rounded out the winter season. In all, Bancroft students participate on 21 varsity, six JV, and 18 Middle School athletic teams.

Lefebvre Named Peabody Fellow

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Zachary Dittami ’12: Shoot for the stars

acqueline Lefebvre, Bancroft’s director of college counseling, has been selected as a 2012 Summer Fellow of Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, the top-ranked school of education according to U.S. News & World Report. Lefebvre will attend the Peabody Professional Institute for Independent School Leadership from June 25-29, 2012, on the Peabody campus at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. “I’m very excited about this opportunity,” says Lefebvre. “It’s a chance to not only gain new tools and insights from Peabody’s educational experts, but to meet and engage with other professionals at independent schools who are facing real-world challenges and finding success, just as we are.” Designed with the same rigor and depth as their degree programs, Peabody Institutes are intended to expand the participants’ knowledge of how educational organizations function, and to provide a strong theoretical perspective that they can use to shape good practice and leadership at their home institutions. “Professional development is an important part of my commitment to our students, just like making sure they have access to the latest technology and resources,” Lefebvre says. “I’m looking forward to an intensive week of learning. I expect I’ll come away filled with energy and new ideas. I’m excited to study at such a renowned university where I can get to know it on a more personal level so that knowledge can be brought back to our juniors and seniors.”

hile lessons in teamwork are typically developed on the soccer field or basketball court, Zack Dittami learned about teamwork through the theater program. “I’ve realized that every single person from the lead to the backstage crew is equally important in the production of a successful show,” he says. Zack’s known by his campus community as having a bubbly and friendly personality that always lights up a room. His determination, poise, confidence, and passion for everything he does has inspired his peers and the wider faculty at Bancroft. “I have been impressed with how interested he is with the success of everybody on the Speech Team,” says Chris Sheldon, member of the Performing Arts faculty and the Speech Team coach. Zack developed a passion for Speech when he came to high school. The countless accomplishments in his career include Catholic Forensic League National qualifier all four years of high school, as well as state champion in three different categories. He has gained the highest honor in Speech from the National Forensic League known as the degree of “Premier Distinction.” This places him among the top half of one percent of the 120,000 competitors. A well-rounded student who personifies the Bancroft way, Zack is not hesitant to try new things. He is a lead singer in two a cappella groups, Guy Tunes and Uncommon Time. While singing with the a cappella group he taught himself vocal percussion beat boxing. Zack has a broad range of talents from playing on the Varsity Soccer Team during their NEPSAC finalist run in 2011 to being selected for the Spanish National Honor Society. According to Zack, “don’t be afraid to take risks and make a fool of yourself. Don’t hold back because it is at that point that your heart and soul shine into your performances. Most people in America would rather die than give a public speech, but through constant practice and determination one can overcome this fear of speaking in front of an audience. Before you know it, you begin to enjoy it.” Zack’s academic journey continues as he plans to major in communications at George Mason University this fall where he will, indeed, compete on the collegiate stage. – Anastasia Theophanous ‘13

Photo by Russ Campbell

Ordina 10

ry Pr odig ie

s Do

Exist

Mackenzie Melemed ’13 dazzles with humility, intellect, and musical panache BY JOAN KILLOUGH-MILLER

n Bancroft’s 8th grade video yearbook for 20082009, classmates train the camera on Mackenzie Melemed ’13. They ask him to tell something that no one knows about him. Mackenzie giggles, mugs for the camera, and pretends not to understand the request. “What was the question? Something that everybody knows about me?” “No, Mackenzie,” they insist. “Something nobody knows about you.” He grins. “I play piano.” The joke is pitch perfect, coming from a prodigy who’s been making headlines as a “Mini Mozart” since kindergarten. Everyone at Bancroft knows about him. Even if they don’t know his name, they’ve heard a thing or two about him. It’s said that he’s performed at Carnegie Hall, on national TV, and even at the White House!—and it’s all true. Despite his reputation, to his classmates and teachers he’s just “Mack”—a good-natured junior with a relaxed sense of humor, who occasionally rushes out early for an audition in New York or a concert at Symphony Hall in Boston. Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about Mackenzie Melemed is how ordinary he is. His remarkable story begins at age 3, with a toy keyboard his grandfather brought home from a yard sale.

It cost $1, and it played one octave. Right off, his mother and stepfather, Sue and Domenic Belsito, realized this was not just the average preschooler banging on the keys. Mr. Belsito signed him up for the Music for Little Mozarts program offered by M. Steinert and Sons in Worcester. Young Melemed flew through the multi-year curriculum so rapidly that after a few months the publishers shipped him the entire course—with their compliments. At 4 he began private lessons. By age 5, he took to the stage, entertaining elders at nursing homes and using his talents for philanthropic causes. He organized benefit concerts that raised tens of thousands of dollars for schools and charities, and was named an “Everyday Hero” by Anna Maria College. “He’s a Mini Mozart!” proclaimed Women’s World, with a cover photo of Melemed at the keyboard. At age 7, he portrayed the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in a Discovery Channel documentary. Costumed in knee breeches and white wig, he flawlessly played some of young maestro’s early minuets and etudes—blindfolded. His Carnegie Hall debut came at 11, as a winner in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition. By the time Melemed came to Bancroft in 2008 as an eighth grader, he had an impressive resume of awards and performances. He had appeared in television commercials and on talk shows (including Rosie O’Donnell’s), shared Photo: (Above) Mackenzie Melemed with his parents and President George W. Bush at the Park Plaza in Boston, 2004.

Photos: (l to r) Mackenzie Melemed pictured with talk show host Rosie O’Donnell following a taping in 2001; Practicing with Ensemble members Kristina Danga ‘13 and Ned Brose ‘13; and posing (second row far right) in 2011 with his Crew teammates and coaches.

a stage with numerous celebrities, and entertained at the White House annual holiday open house for five years running, by invitation of President George W. Bush. Melemed’s current piano teacher, New England Conservatory professor Alexander Korsantia, took him on at age 13, although he does not normally teach children. “I felt that Mackenzie’s responses were very mature,” he says. “He still needed to learn a lot, but I felt I could be helpful for his advanced needs. Now I am happy to be his teacher, his mentor, and his friend.” At 17, Mackenzie Melemed is no longer the adorable “Lil’ Piano Man” pictured in the newspaper clippings in his mother’s scrapbook. He’s used to being interviewed, and he speaks easily about his days as a pint-sized child sensation, but also welcomes more profound questions about his repertoire (he favors the Russian romantics) and musical interpretation. “If everyone played Beethoven’s Fifth the same way, if all conductors had the same interpretation, people would stop going to hear it,” he says. It’s especially true of the piano literature, because the popular pieces are played so often. “I feel the job of a pianist is to shed a different light on a piece every time you play it, to offer a new message to the audience,” he says. In recent years he’s held his own against some of most talented young musicians in the world, performing on NPR’s “From the Top,” competing online for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra II and winning acceptance into the New York International Piano Competition (as one of only five Americans) and the Gina Bachauer International Young Artists Competition, which Korsantia says is “as big as they get.” How does a teenager handle all that attention? “I don’t know,” Melemed says, bowing modestly. “I just say ‘Thank you, thank you…’.” At Bancroft, he’s found close friends and a chance to flourish onstage, as well as in the classroom and in athletics. “Bancroft has such a good performing arts program, with so many opportunities,” he says. “The musical ensembles they offer are really unique. They are also flexible and supportive about making up work, and accommodating to my schedule. Luckily I have a lot of ‘frees’ in the day to catch up.” The Belsitos chose Bancroft over the selective Walnut Hill School for the Arts to give their son a well-rounded

education and a balanced life with diverse students. “Bancroft has enabled him to be himself,” says Mrs. Belsito. “He is thriving, reaching for goals with confidence and the support of the school body and faculty. I think it is the best experience he’ll ever have in his life. He gets involved wherever he can, because he so loves the School and believes in it. He’s excellent at piano, he excels in school—but he’s got a big heart, and that is what I’m most proud of.” In her role as ‘Mackenzie’s manager,’ Sue Belsito works hard to ensure he gets the musical opportunities he needs, while allowing him to enjoy a normal childhood— with one exception. Trampolines are forbidden—for obvious reasons. “He’s just a regular 17-year-old,” she insists. “He sets the table every night, cleans his room, takes out the trash.” When did she first realize her son was special? “People ask me that all the time,” she responds. With a twinkle in her eye, she quips, “I haven’t seen anything that special yet.” When Melemed acted the part of young Mozart in the Discovery film, Belsito portrayed his doting mother. She is his tireless supporter in every aspect of his career. When the Discovery production nearly fell through for lack of a harpsichord, she located one, leading the producers to ask if she’d like to work for them instead. “My wife could have been CEO of a Fortune 500 company,” says Domenic Belsito proudly. “She gets up in front of hundreds of people and speaks easily to open his shows.” “It’s a full-time job,” she admits. “We all work hard, but it’s worth every minute.” The family calendar is planned out two years in advance, with Belsito keeping a careful eye on deadlines for competitions and scholarship applications. “I just feel like I want to fit everything into my life,” says Melemed, who somehow finds time for sports (he was Crew’s Most Valuable Player in 2011), and is taking flying lessons with his classmate and friend Nick Cyganski ’13. He never hesitates to volunteer his talents, whether it’s hosting the annual Playathon, accompanying recitals, or helping teachers master their iPads. “If I can do something to benefit the community, why would I say no?” he asks. With his heavy load of lessons and practices, as well as traveling for concerts and auditions—it’s not exactly a

normal teenage life. “I’ve deactivated my Facebook page for the last couple of months,” he admits. “That’s helped a lot.” He’s also learned he needs downtime to transition into piano practice. “When you come home thinking about a history test, or the bio lab that’s due tomorrow, your brain is going a hundred miles an hour,” he says. “You have to calm down and focus before you approach the piano. You can only really have a positive experience at the piano when you’re fully relaxed, and you have a goal you want to accomplish. Otherwise, you end up just playing, and you don’t learn anything.” Melemed’s teachers at Bancroft have a few choice words about him: gregarious, helpful, friendly—and funny. “There are no airs about this kid,” says French teacher Nicolina Puccio. “He’s always willing to help, whether it’s giving a tour for prospective students or running an errand. He’s never put out by any request. You would not know from talking to him that he’s a prodigy. He’s just part of the fabric of the school.” For Bancroft music teacher Marilyn Butler, it’s been a once-in-a-lifetime experience to work with a student of his caliber. Right now, Bancroft is blessed with some highly talented string players, who together with Melemed have jelled into an exceptional Chamber Ensemble. “These students genuinely care for each other,” Butler says. “They are all smart kids who enjoy each other’s company and the music they create together. Mackenzie is sensitive to the issues of being a super-talent. At first it was a challenge for the other students to see him effortlessly perform, without feeling envious or competitive. They have reached a classically Bancroft balance now —where each student in the Ensemble works and learns from each other to achieve their goals.” “Mackenzie juggles his musical, social, and academic schedule better than anyone I have known,” says math teacher Kim VanderSpek. “He is friendly, funny, respectful to all—and just genuinely nice.” Melemed’s ability to multitask is being tested right now, as he begins college applications to the country’s most prestigious conservatories, including New England Conservatory and Oberlin. His goal is to enter one of the five-year dual-degree programs, so he can graduate with

degrees in both performance and an academic discipline, possibly computer science. “I’ve always wanted to be a performer, even from a young age,” he says. Although the hours of practice are not always fun, the joy of performing makes it worth it. Talent, hard work, and some fortuitous connections have taken him far. “I’ve been pretty lucky, really,” he says. “Sometimes I’m not as grateful as I should be.” His list of champions includes his mother (“Because she works so hard and supports me in so many ways”); his stepdad; his father Barry Melemed; and his sister Amanda. “My whole family is just so supportive,” he says. What will the Belsitos do once ‘Mack’ is off to college and has secured professional management? Are they planning a long cruise, or a Disney vacation? “We’ll probably just follow him from concert to concert,” says his proud mother. “That’s my life. And I feel confident, with his talent, he’ll be playing all over the world.” Korsantia, who advises on musical decisions, works in concert with the Belsitos to steer their son’s future. “I am happy to see his parents so touchingly united in meeting his needs and aiding his talents,” he says. “At this young age, Mackenzie wants to go attend every single competition that is available. He will have many temptations in his life that are created by his own abilities. My job is to help him understand how to be a little more selective so he can concentrate on the really important things.” He holds the highest hopes for his young protégé. “I think Mackenzie has every quality required for a career as a performing artist. He’s truly a multi-talented kid. I want him to be aware of the magnitude of his gift, which I believe is unique and very, very special. He has an interesting road ahead of him, and definitely a beautiful life.” This year, Melemed, who usually accompanies the Upper School musical from the orchestra pit, went onstage in 42nd Street, in a role that came naturally to him. He was perfectly cast as Oscar—the company’s hardworking, good-natured piano player. Joan Killough-Miller is a writer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a Bancroft parent.

Photos: (l to r) Mackenzie Melemed performs at the Bancroft Playathon in 2009; A family photo celebrating his debut at Carnegie Hall; Sue Belsito (Mom) and Mackenzie on the White House Presidential Steinway in 2005.

Photos by Russ Campbell

Selfless and Collaborative Effort Joins Two Alumnae

Erica Woda ’00 and Rachel Gerhardt ’09 Team Up to

“Level the Field” BY CHRISTINA DeVOSS

f you passed by the Tufts University practice gym one Saturday in March, it might have looked like the football team was there for a little off-season work. Twenty-five collegiate men were suited up in their powder blue Jumbos jerseys. The tackling dummies were out. Cones stood aligned for agility drills. Nets were set, ready to catch practice passes. Coach Civetti was standing at the center of the gym, observing the drills. But, if you stopped to look, you would have seen that the Jumbos players were just working the sidelines—offering advice, demonstrating a stance, giving a high five or an encouraging cheer. It was noticeably younger—and quite notably smaller— players who were actually hustling through drills and practicing touchdown passes. You might also have noticed Rachel Gerhardt amid the hubbub and excitement. The Tufts University junior, field hockey player (and Bancroft 2009 alumna) is one half of a duo that made this day possible. The afternoon of football drills was one of several sports clinics offered by Tufts athletes to middle school students from nearby East Somerville Community School as part of a non-profit organization called Level The Field. Level the Field or LTF began in New York City, the creation of Bancroft 2000 alumna Erica Woda. The idea for the program struck Woda on a walk through the New York City neighborhood of Morningside Heights nearly four years ago. Woda had been living in New York City since moving there to attend Columbia University, where she studied political science and continued her soccer career—a sport she also played at Bancroft. After Columbia, Woda taught physical education in New York City public schools, before pursuing a master’s degree in public policy from the Wagner School at New York University.

While at NYU, Woda also worked for Teach for America, placing teachers in New York schools. And it was on her way from the TFA corporate offices one evening that a group of kids caught her eye. “On 107th and Columbus there is a beautiful turf field. As I walked past the field I saw a group of 20 or 30 kids playing a disorganized game of soccer,” she recalled of that warm May evening. “I realized that I needed to find a way to get these kids I taught involved with sports and mentors who played sports.” Woda noticed that the students she taught often had “little opportunity for social engagement outside the classroom walls.” They weren’t headed to soccer practice or ballet or any other activities after school. Most returned home for an afternoon of television or video games. “I realized that their ability to get along with classmates, lead a team, and manage their time was non-existent.” Woda said it was an issue that came up again and again with her colleagues in education. And she knew that in her own experiences soccer had helped to hone skills like leadership, collaboration, and communication. Soccer had also given her a special sense of community and support. “I loved playing for Bancroft because we were so loved and supported by the whole Bancroft family. It didn’t matter if we were playing at home or two hours away

in Rhode Island, we could always count on our fans being there on the sideline.” So Woda came up with an idea to bring a new type of sideline support to students—not fans cheering along a team, but athletic mentors encouraging and guiding students. This idea grew into Level The Field and its three core elements. First, athlete-mentors visit classrooms each week, sharing lessons on topics like leadership, sportsmanship, and communication. Then students put these skills into action in Saturday sports clinics run by their higher-ed athletic mentors. And the final element is exposing students to collegiate life by inviting them to campus to watch their athlete-mentors compete. Having made so many contacts as a player at Columbia University, the Lions athletics program was the natural place to start. Woda brought her idea to the athletic directors, athletes, and coaches. She said the response was positive. At her first meeting she hoped to get three volunteers and left with nine.

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The mission of Level The Field is something that we believe in wholeheartedly, as the program highlights some of the wonderful skills that are derived from organized sports,” said Jacqueline Blackett, Senior Associate Athletics Director at Columbia University. “It’s important for our student-athletes to be involved in the community and serving as role models.

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A colleague at Teach for America suggested Erica partner with the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, or WHEELS. It was the perfect fit: close to Columbia’s campus and the size of the sixth grade class—87 students—made it possible for Level The Field to include every child in the program. In its first year LTF served 87 kids, with 42 athletementors. Members of three teams held 12 sports clinics, spent 21 hours in the classroom, and attended 11 games. In

Students from Somerville, MA gather with Gerhardt and Woda at a Level the Field event on Tufts University campus.

the following year the program continued with the same group of students—who were then seventh graders—and added the new sixth grade class —totaling more than 180 students. Columbia’s involvement grew as well with 75 athlete-mentors, the addition of three new sports teams, and seven more clinics. The students from WHEELS attended 17 Columbia athletic games and spent 42 hours in the classroom with their athleteErica Woda ’00 mentors. And now in LTF New York’s third year, every sixth, seventh, and eighth grader at WHEELS is part of the program. “LTF has been an incredible partnership for our school,” said Brett Kimmel, principal of WHEELS. “It has provided our students with a concrete awareness of how athletics and academics can work together to lead to success, and also provided them amazing Columbia student-athlete role models. It has given our students opportunities for character development, college readiness, and career awareness— and last but not least—it has been fun for our kids!” While Woda was growing LTF in New York City, back in Massachusetts, Rachel Gerhardt had finished her final year at Bancroft and was starting her freshman year at Tufts. When Gerhardt first heard about LTF she thought: “This was exactly something I’d like to do. I have a love of sports. I have a love of kids. I just didn’t know how or where to begin something like this at Tufts, which is why Erica became essential.” Gerhardt credits the close-knit community of Bancroft for creating the chance for her to reach out to Woda and bring the program to Tufts. Woda is close with Gerhardt’s cousin Lindsay (also a Bancroft 2000 alumna) and she has stayed in touch with Gerhardt’s mother Jane—the current softball coach, P.E. department head and teacher. And though they are nine years apart, both women say they remember one another from their Bancroft days.

Gerhardt also says that being part of a community like Bancroft fueled her desire to give back. “I realized I was lucky to go to a school like that my whole life. You could develop close relationships with teachers, and it was an environment that fostered independent thinking and allowed you to develop your passions. Just knowing I had so many opportunities because of Bancroft made me want to give back.” So Gerhardt reached out to Woda with the idea of bringing Level The Field to Tufts. “I was so humbled that someone would want to replicate this model,” said Woda, remembering that first email from Gerhardt. She said it was also very special that it was Gerhardt reaching out because they had so many connections through Bancroft. Touched, but ready to get things moving, Woda responded Rachel Gerhardt ’09 to Gerhardt’s email like she approaches most things: to hit the ground running. They chatted on the phone and drafted a list of things Gerhardt would need to do to get a program off the ground at Tufts. Woda met with administrators and armed Gerhardt with a video that showed LTF in action. When she met with coaches and athletes to find volunteers, Gerhardt found that after the video was done playing—after everyone had the chance to see the kids and the program at work—she really didn’t need to say much else. For the LTF Boston partner school, the women found East Somerville Community School. The school serves a large Hispanic population—most students come from Central and South American backgrounds and about three quarters do not speak English as their first language. And nearly 90% of its students are considered low-income. The school community also had a particular story that touched Gerhardt and Erica. In 2007, a fire completely destroyed the school building. “They lost everything,” Gerhardt said, “Teachers who had been there for 30 years were left with nothing. And while they are waiting for their new building to be completed in 2013, the students have to be divided between two different campuses with the principals shuttling back and forth.” Woda and Gerhardt met with the administrators in March 2011. “They were so overwhelmed,” Gerhardt recalled. “They were nearly in tears because of everything they had gone through, and now someone was reaching out to them.”

Making that connection between the universities and the communities, between the students and the mentors is at the center of LTF. The program isn’t here to teach kids to play a sport, Gerhardt says, but to give them that interaction, to “let students know there are people who care about where they are going, what they are doing, and want to show them new experiences.” With 10 teams for Saturday sports clinics and a core of nine in-class athlete-mentors, LTF Boston kicked off officially in September 2011. “Tufts has been a true test for LTF—to see if, in fact, our model is replicable,” said Woda. “The expansion into Tufts has shown the program can grow, can work in urban and suburban settings and can be modeled to fit the different student populations and backgrounds.” The Tufts expansion also shows that the program can work in the hands of a dedicated student-athlete—like Gerhardt—with the support of the LTF staff. In addition to the expansion to Tufts, another change is on the horizon for LTF as its founding class in NYC will move from middle school to high school in the fall. LTF is launching an internship program for 25 of their students who will be starting high school in the fall. They will work with the middle school program on the weekends, helping to transport students to and from the clinics and games. Interns will continue to work with mentors, but in a one-on-one program, working through curriculum that will focus on key skills to help students succeed in high school and be prepared for college. “Like many non-profits, we have grown in a very organic way,” said Woda. “Our goal has evolved from building life and social skills through sports to exposing children to college through sports in middle school and preparing them for college in high school. The catalyst for the shift was seeing how enthusiastic the students were about visiting Columbia and getting to know college-aged mentors.” Laura Bonnell, assistant principal at East Somerville Community School, sees a similar reaction in her students. “This has really opened the eyes of many of our students. They see going to college as something that people really do. Many of them have parents who are not capable of making that connection for their kids.” For the students, there’s definitely an interest in having more time with LTF and in being part of a college community. As Alex Galdamez, 12, returned to the line after throwing his mock touchdown pass to a Tufts receiver, he said he “likes playing sports and loves coming to the university”. “What’s the best part?” He paused, lips pursed as he mused. His contemplative look widened into a smile. “The best part is we get to come back!” Christina DeVoss is a freelance writer in the Boston area.

Broadway Producer Brings us Godspe

Photo: Jeremy Daniel

pell GODSPELL is back on Broadway, and it got there in a way no other Broadway show has ever been produced: crowd funding. When producer Ken Davenport ’90 put the call out to investors, it wasn’t just to the short list of high-dollar theater investors. He put the word out that backers could come in with as little as $1,000 (a tenth of the common $10,000 minimum investment), opening the doors to hundreds of untapped investors. It worked. The revival of Godspell opened in November 2011 and is backed by more than 700 investors— dubbed “The People of Godspell.” “Crowd funding was a big idea I had for a long time and Godspell was that perfect show because it’s about a community of people coming together,” said Davenport. “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if I could apply the artistic message of the musical to the business model?’” Davenport said that message of community —and of trying something a little different— reminds him of his Bancroft days. “Strangely enough, Bancroft is very similar to Godspell. If you asked me one word to describe Bancroft, I would say community. It felt like such a small and intimate community of people that was pulling for each other.” But Davenport also believes that Bancroft was much more. “They also strongly encouraged us to be interested in different things, to experiment and try out ideas. That resonated for him in big and small ways at the School— from not being hampered by a strict dress code, to quitting the basketball team senior year to be in the school musical or just being allowed to ask what he calls “some provocative questions about European history” and noting that those questions were never shot down. “We were encouraged to do new things, to stand out, and to use the strengths we had,” said Davenport. “And that’s something I’ve adopted in my professional life as well.” Find out more about Davenport on his blog, http://www.theproducersperspective.com, and learn about the community of people that brought Godspell back at http://www.peopleofgodspell.com/

– Christina DeVoss

Photos: (l) Scene from the Broadway performance of Godspell. (r) Ken Davenport, Bancroft Class of 1990.

2012 AWARD RECIPIENTS

David A. Nicholson ’72

Barbara E. Fargo

Mary Driscoll ’72

Rachel E. Bickford ’92

Milton P. Higgins (1918) Award for Distinguished Service to Bancroft School

Robert W. Stoddard (1923) Award for Outstanding Community Service

Esther Forbes (1907) Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement

Young Alumni Achievement Award

Dedication, leadership, wisdom, humor, kindness and friendship are words that easily come to mind when one thinks of David Nicholson. Alumnus, Trustee, former parent, Class Agent, committee member and leadership contributor are among his notable affiliations with Bancroft. David attended Bancroft for three years, leaving after Grade 9 for Holderness School. He received a B.S. and an M.B.A. from Babson College and returned to Worcester to begin a 40-year career in manufacturing and management. At Endeavor Tool he is General Manager and the company’s longest serving employee. David’s service to the Worcester community is also notable. He is a 20-year director of the Fred Harris Daniels Foundation, the President of the Board of Worcester Historical Museum, a Corporator at Ecotarium and a Board member at Community Harvest. A longtime Class Agent, David rarely misses an opportunity to help Bancroft. In 2011 he concluded 12 years of service as a Bancroft Trustee serving on both the Development Committee and Executive Committee, as President of the Board from 2004 to 2007 and as Chair of the Committee on Trustees from 2007 to 2011. He represented the Board as a member of Bancroft’s first delegation to Shanghai, China, and helped establish the School’s formal partnership with Number 1 School of Tongji University. The son of Joyce Anderson Nicholson ’47, the brother of William Nicholson ’76 and the father of David ’02, Scott ’04 and Bradley ’06, David and his wife Sue live in Grafton near an extended family of Bancroft relatives and friends.

Barbara Fargo is recognized as an extraordinary volunteer with a remarkable commitment to education and young people. Bancroft is a fortunate beneficiary of Barbara’s leadership and devotion as a past faculty member, past Bancroft parent of Bronson ’75, Robert ’77 and Matthew ’79, and loyal friend of the School. In 1975 she pioneered our first Community Service program that she called Independent Community Experience (ICE). Today, she serves on the Fargo-Gauthier Professional Development Program committee, and is a committed advisor and supporter of the Worcester Partnership Program. She rarely misses a Bancroft event or the opportunity to roll up her sleeves and help out. In 2004 Barbara received the Milton P. Higgins (1918) Award for service to Bancroft, an honor also bestowed upon her late husband and former Trustee Bronson Fargo in 1988. A Wheelock College graduate, and a longtime teacher and educator, Barbara is profoundly committed to education and to children. She serves on the Board of Overseers at Joslin Diabetes Center, and as a Corporator of Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Worcester Art Museum, and Girls Incorporated, where she received the 2010 Advocate for Girls Award. She is an Honorary Director and a Council Member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and a member of the Advisory Board of Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary. She has served as a Trustee of and committed volunteer for Wheelock College where she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education in 2003, among several other honors and awards.

Mary Driscoll is an author, editor, and lecturer with expertise in corporate finance and business management. She currently serves as Senior Research Fellow at APQC, an international, nonprofit business research organization that has a long and highly respected legacy. Mary leads the financial management research initiative, which uncovers emerging practices in the office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Previously, Mary spent nearly a decade as president of CFO Research Services, the research services arm of CFO magazine. Prior to that she was a senior editor at CFO magazine, developing features on topics ranging from the global capital markets to leadership development. CFO magazine was at that time a division of the Economist Group, based in London. Mary is the author of several business books, including the professional reference guide Cash Management: Corporate Strategies for Profit (John Wiley & Sons). She combines her knowledge of the complex details of the finance function with the clarity of a seasoned writer and editor. In the past year, she has written for The Wall Street Journal: CFO Report, Business Finance magazine, and a new online community for senior finance executives. Mary has won journalism awards for both business finance and personal financial planning topics. Mary joined the Bancroft Class of 1972 as a freshman, graduated, and went on to receive a B.A. (with honors) in English from the University of Massachusetts. She also studied accounting and management at Harvard University’s CAS program for postgraduate certification.

Rachel Bickford is the Agricultural Attaché for the United States Embassy in Santiago, Chile. There she works with the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture on a range of issues including free trade, nutrition, food safety, and food security. While sitting in Isa Bayon’s seventh grade classroom Rachel first decided that she wanted to be a diplomat. While at Bancroft she studied Spanish and participated in exchange programs with Spain and Mexico. Prior to earning her B.A. (with honors) from the University of Rochester, she won a paid internship from the United States Agency of International Development to manage a study that influenced the level of health funding the U.S. would provide to Bolivia. This experience solidified her desire to serve abroad. Rachel then earned an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. In 2000 Rachel joined the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service as the Mexico desk officer for agricultural issues. As a trade policy advisor she negotiated key aspects of Mexico’s 2003 implementation of NAFTA. During this time Rachel served short-term assignments in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. In 2003 Rachel accepted the fouryear post as the Agricultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in South Africa. She worked with twelve African countries on issues ranging from biotechnology to pesticide management where her responsibilities included distributing 70 million dollars worth of food aid and managing a staff who prepared commodity reports used as a baseline for world commodity prices. In 2007, Rachel returned to Washington, D.C. as an Agricultural Economist for the USDA.

To regi st er for R eu n i on 2012 visit w w w .ba ncroftschool.org /reunion

Involved. Some days it may seem as if Kerri Aleksiewicz Melley ‘90 never left the Bancroft campus, but she did…for a while. As a Class Agent and Alumni Council member she has had many occasions to return to Bancroft over the years, but today she is most often seen with her son, Tim, a member of the Class of 2022. Following graduation Kerri attended Connecticut College where she received a BA in Psychology-based Human Relations, and later Boston College for an MBA. For ten years Kerri worked as a development professional for well-known Arts organizations. Now a financial planner for Baystate Financial Services, she is keenly aware that strong personal relationships form the basis of all successful collaborations— something she first experienced herself as a student at Bancroft. Both professionally and personally, Kerri believes in the importance of staying involved with her community. “We may not have recognized it as students, but later on we realize that the education we received and the relationships we developed at Bancroft shaped the people we are today. We learned to respect our teachers, each other, and to help people in need in the greater community. This is what I want for my son, and why I support the Annual Fund each year. It’s one way I can show my appreciation for the education I received, and help to pass that experience on to the next generation.”

Stay involved…participate in the Annual Fund today. Visit us at: bancroftschool.org/giving The Annual Fund

<< Students pose in the courtyard while using their iPads. < Grade 9 English teacher Bonnie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke answers questions for her students.

Grade 2 students learn the properties of liquids. The result was a creative stage performance where the children performed as liquid molecules.

Upper School students consult with Carol Knowles, director of the library, concerning a research project.

MS French Exchange from > Arles, France taste freshly boiled maple syrup. Community service students >> work on the Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre, MA.

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