After years of working as a teacher and administrator, I continue to be fascinated by the puzzling processes by which schools are evaluated. As a society, do we insist on quantifiable excellence in our schools or do we rely too heavily on word-of-mouth reputation that may be, indeed, old news? With the amount of money invested in public and non-public schools, it would seem reasonable that progress should be quantifiable and qualitative.
For the last twelve months, Sanford has been engaged in a process which is designed to yield measurable results about the progress we are making as a school. Once every ten years, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, our accrediting agency, requires a thorough review of its member schools’ programs. Given a choice of several protocols to measure school improvement, Sanford adopted a vehicle called Accreditation for Growth (AFG), which encourages a self-study approach based on a strategic planning model. Essentially AFG leads the school through a forward-looking process that insists on involvement of the entire community. Objectives for the several years must be established and an action plan must be articulated in order to put measurable goals in writing.
After almost two years of cross-divisional work on the program, we determined that two aspects of our program merited extra attention. On the curriculum side of the program, we chose communication (written, oral, spoken) as the area of focus. On the non-academic side of the ledger, and in keeping with the school’s attention to the habits of hearts and minds, we selected study skills and honesty as the points of emphasis. Under the leadership of Middle School teacher and Summer School Director Todd Helmecki, our faculty and staff have spent the last year examining these and many other aspects of our program. By next fall when the Middle States Evaluating Team arrives on campus for a threeday visit, we will have drafted an action plan that will call for specific ways in which we intend to implement a plan for improvement.
As an accredited school which seeks re-accreditation, Sanford tries to abide by a number of characteristics that sets us apart from non-accredited schools: 1) We are a mission-driven school, committed to meeting the needs of a diverse student body; 2) We keep our promises to deliver the program our publications and admission materials indicate; 3) We accept objective evaluation and, in fact, welcome it; 4) We are a self-correcting school which demonstrates a capacity to control its own quality by committing to continuous improvement. Improvement plans are developed by the faculty and administration and approved by the Board of Trustees; 5) We are student-oriented. The school’s philosophy clearly expresses what it does to educate, support, and develop the talents of our students; 6) We plan for the future. Accredited schools continuously create and implement plans that lead to higher levels of quality; 7) We examine our performance. Good schools obtain and analyze objective evidence on student achievement and growth; and 8) We participate in the responsibilities of the academic profession. Accredited schools encourage, even insist on, their teachers and staff to participate in self-renewing activities that enhance their professional skills and to engage in the peer review process that is the hallmark of accreditation.
Accreditation standards are not designed to make all schools look alike. The process respects the individual nature and character of each school. However, over time, standards have been developed and refined in order to provide a consistent model of what quality looks like. Our school has benefited enormously over the years through its association with the Middle States accreditation process. Following a continuous school improvement model has enabled Sanford to raise the bar of possibility in every aspect of our operation.
Next fall, after receiving the report of the Middle States team of evaluators, Sanford will embark on the next stage of its development as a school. I look forward to sharing those findings with you.
Douglas W. MacKelcan, Jr. Head of School
Learning Success Today
By Theresa Gawlas Medoff
In the last issue of Sanford magazine, we profiled this year’s Alumni Award winners. This time we introduce you to three juniors and three seniors who could very well be Alumni Award winners of the future. They all have one or more talents that set them apart, but perhaps more impressively, they are active in many areas—arts, athletics, community service, school clubs and scholastic endeavors.
SoccerStar Always Helping Others
Junior Cassandra Deitrick says she began playing soccer as soon as she could walk. To see her on the field, one might think that perhaps she began in the womb.
Cassandra not only plays on Sanford’s varsity team, she also plays on a travel team and with the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP). For the past two summers, she has been named to the ODP’s Region I team, which draws on the best players from Maine to Virginia. She’s also a standout in field hockey.
This fall, Cassandra was named Gatorade Athlete of the Year in Delaware girls’ soccer in recognition of her athletic, academic, and extra-curricular achievement. The award makes her eligible for the prestigious National Girls Soccer Player of the Year Award. One of 10 nationally recognized boys and girls athletes in various sports will be named Gatorade National Player of the Year, an honor that in the past has gone to the likes of Derek Jeter, Shaquille O’Neal, and Lisa Leslie.
“Cassandra has natural leadership ability,” says Joan Samonisky, Sanford athletic director, who coaches Cassandra in field hockey. “She has a great personality and a great sense of humor. She’s a terrific kid and a terrific representative of Sanford.”
True to the Sanford tradition of student-athletes, Cassandra also excels in the classroom. She is enrolled in honors-level courses and consistently makes the honor roll trimester after trimester. She received the American Association of University Women award for excellence in math and science. She is a member of the French Honor Society and this year, in her first year as a Latin student, she received highest honors on the National Latin Exam.
Over her many years of participating in numerous demanding activities, Cassandra has learned a lot about time management, she says. She also knows her priorities. “School comes before everything else,” she says. “I have to get my homework done before I can go to soccer practice.”
“Cassandra has natural leadership ability,” says Joan Samonisky, Sanford athletic director, who coaches Cassandra in field hockey.
“She has a great personality and a great sense of humor. She’s a terrific kid and a terrific representative of Sanford.”
Cassandra makes time, too, to be heavily involved in extracurricular activities. She has served as vice president of her class for the past three years. She is active in the Service Club and the newly established Animal Club. She has participated in numerous fundraisers and drives and has taken the initiative to collect canned goods for those serving in the military and bed linens for the Salvation Army.
One of her favorite activities is performing puppet shows about self-esteem for the junior kindergarten and kindergarten children, a project of the Upper School Peer Counselors. “It’s cool to see how excited the little kids get,” she says. “You can see that they are having fun and really learning.”
Director of Counseling Sue Dagenais praises Cassandra’s dedication to community service. “She’s energetic and selfless and always one of the first to volunteer.”
Cassandra says simply: “I like to help people. I just think it’s really important.”
JohnnySings theBlues
J
ust having the opportunity to jam with legendary musician David Bromberg would be heady stuff for any teen guitarist, but to be called “a truly amazing talent” by Bromberg again and again in the music press—well, it could go to a kid’s head. But senior John Lippincott, lead guitarist and singer for Johnny Duke and the Aces, remains grounded and surprisingly modest. Many of his classmates, he says, don’t even know that he has a band.
If they don’t, they’re missing something. Johnny Duke and the Aces (Duke is John’s middle name) began performing two years ago at local open-mic sessions. Since then, the blues-based band has performed all over Delaware, from the legendary Stone Balloon in Newark to the Rusty Rudder and Sydney’s Blues and Jazz at the beach.
The foursome (which also comprises Tatnall students Cam Tyler and Ian Walsh and Sanford sophomore Parrish Warrington) recently cut back from twice weekly gigs to concentrate on their second album. A mix of covers and original songs written by John, the album has some heavyweights performing on it. Bromberg collaborated on a song, and Johnny Neel, former keyboardist with the Allman Brothers Band, plays on four tracks. (Listen to the band’s first album on www.cdbaby.com.) Johnny Duke and the Aces plays a lot of what John calls “old-time music”— covering blues songs from the 1930s to today with a unique twist of jazz, rock and country.
Performing Arts Chair Lisa Nowicki says, “John is an extraordinarily gifted guitar player and he is completely devoted to his music. It has been a joy to watch him mature during these past few years both as a musician and as a young man.”
While in L.A. in April to record a promotional video, Johnny Duke and the Aces played at the Backstage Café for an audience that included several recording studio bigwigs.
“There are a lot of things lined up for success,” John says, “but I don’t want to get ahead of myself.” What John won’t say, Bromberg will: “I don’t know anybody today who is playing the guitar the way he is. He is extremely skilled and extremely talented. I see him going wherever he wants to with his music.”
John’s talent has also enriched the Sanford School community. He has been a member (and frequent soloist) of the Jazz Band for two years. Performing Arts Chair Lisa Nowicki says, “John is an extraordinarily gifted guitar player and he is completely devoted to his music. It has been a joy to watch him mature during these past few years both as a musician and as a young man. I look forward to hearing great things about John’s career in the future.”
It’s hard to believe that John’s musical career began just eight years ago, when he and his older brother picked up two acoustic guitars that were lying around their dad’s house and “started playing around.” After seeing the Ray Charles biopic, John taught himself to play keyboard.
John’s dad lives in Mississippi, and that proximity to old Delta Blues musicians fed his musical development. Last summer, John and his brother snuck backstage after a B.B. King performance and jammed with the music legend himself. (A photo of John with King is posted on the band’s website, www.johnnydukeandtheaces.com.)
John is heading to Boston this fall to attend the Berklee College of Music as a performance major. He doesn’t know if Johnny Duke and the Aces will stay together or where he might be headed after college. But one thing is certain: John Lippincott is a name you’ll be hearing again.
Bringing HistorytoLife
When Mike Pietruczenia, now a senior, dressed as General Ulysses S. Grant to present a report to his Sanford third-grade class, it was as if he had found an alter ego. He loved that uniform, so his family began taking him to Civil War historical reenactments, where the delighted adults would smile and salute the little general.
Soon, Mike became a reenactor himself, serving first as a drummer boy, then as a private in the 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He travels from late spring to early November to weekend reenactments all over the East Coast.
Mike’s knowledge and interest in history has led to a unique part-time job: he has appeared as a Union soldier in dozens of history programs aired on A&E, the Discovery Channel and the History Channel as well as in mini-series, television shows and smaller, independent films.
Perhaps because he spends so much time on battlefields, Mike has developed an interest in the paranormal. He calls himself a “ghost hunter.” He brings equipment such as nightvision goggles and an electromagnetic-field detector with him to reenactment weekends and has spurred in his compatriots a similar interest in spirits.
Gettysburg has proven to be particularly haunted. “I freak myself out a lot when I’m out there,” Mike says. He has a collection of photographs of what appear to be ghosts that he says are “unexplainable any other way.”
Mike’s knowledge and interest in history has led to a unique part-time job: he has appeared as a Union soldier in dozens of history programs aired on A&E, the Discovery Channel and the History Channel as well as in mini-series, television shows and smaller, independent films.
Clearly, Mike is the kind of person who doesn’t do anything halfway. When the senior class and the sixth graders spent Martin Luther King, Jr. Day cleaning up the neglected Mount Zion Cemetery in Wilmington, Mike realized that a considerable amount of work remained to be done, so he recruited 15 fellow students to return to the cemetery for several more work days. He also placed U.S. flags at the graves of more than 100 veterans. (You can read more about the Mt. Zion Cemetery cleanup on pages 10-12.)
“Actually, I was one of the people who initially complained about working at the cemetery on what used to be a day off, but once we got started, I felt moved to do more,” Mike says. He was so touched by the large numbers of unremembered veterans in the cemetery that he decided to make Mount Zion his senior project. In addition to continuing the cleanup, he is working to solve a drainage problem and to reunite tombstones with the correct gravesites.
A National Merit Commended Student and a member of the Honor Council, Mike is just as dedicated to his anticipated career. He plans to follow in the footsteps of his late father as a Delaware state trooper. This summer he will participate for the third time in Trooper Youth Week, a sort of mini-police academy for teens. While in college, he plans to work in the Delaware State Police Cadet Program until he’s 22 and old enough to apply to the Police Academy.
WriterExtraordinaire AlsoGiftedSingerandActress
New York City has Shakespeare in the Park, and now Sanford has Shakespeare in the Quad, thanks to senior Caroline Ryon. “I love Shakespeare, and I thought that a Shakespeare production on campus would be a wonderful addition to our theatre offerings,” she says.
“What I really love about Sanford is that the administration and faculty are open to students’ branching out and trying new things,” she adds.
Shakespeare in the Quad is entirely student run. Students select scenes from Shakespearean plays that are part of the curriculum, then practice for two months before performing the plays outdoors during lunch period.
Caroline is an experienced Shakespearean actress, having won Delaware’s English-Speaking Union’s Shakespeare Competition based on her recitation of a sonnet and performance of a dramatic monologue. She is a member of the Sanford Repertory Theatre Company’s Ten Show Club, having performed in 10 school productions: six musicals beginning in seventh grade (including leading roles her junior and senior years) and all four fall plays during her Upper School years.
“Caroline is engaged and engaging. She’s poised and kind and self-assured, yet she has a cynical edge that I love,” says English Department Chair Helen Vermeychuk, who has taught Caroline for the past three years.
Caroline’s abilities as a singer/actress are matched by her talent with the pen. She has worked on Sanford’s literary magazine, Inscape, and student newspaper, The Quad, throughout her Upper School years, serving as the newspaper’s editor-in-chief for the past two years. Her fiction and nonfiction have earned kudos in numerous competitions, including seven gold keys and an American Voices Award in this year’s Scholastic Writing Awards.
Caroline’s original, one-act plays were selected twice in the Young Playwrights Festival to be performed by the Delaware Theatre Company. Rainy Day looks at the relationship between a girl and her grandfather, who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. Splintered deals with the estranged relationship between a man and his grown son.
Her most prestigious honor to date is the National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Award, given to just 634 seniors nationwide. The award is based on a student’s writing portfolio and performance on an impromptu essay-writing assignment.
“Caroline is engaged and engaging. She’s poised and kind and self-assured, yet she has a cynical edge that I love,” says English Department Chair Helen Vermeychuk, who has taught Caroline for the past three years.
Caroline says her interest in public service was piqued by her participation last summer in Girls State and later in Girls Nation, as one of just two representatives from Delaware. “Those experiences opened my eyes to the realm of public service and the good that can be accomplished,” she says. (Editor’s Note: Girls State and Girls Nation are leadership programs where participants learn about governmental and political processes.)
Says Director of Counseling Sue Dagenais: “It really was quite an honor for Caroline to be selected as the cream of the cream of the crop.” The thing about Caroline is that she earns that designation time and time again.
Caroline plans to major in English and perhaps minor in theatre at the University of Virginia, where she was named a Jefferson Scholar and awarded a four-year merit scholarship.
LearningSuccessByExample—AndPassingItOn
Ever since he discovered off-season Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball, junior Edwin Santiago has been playing basketball almost year round. He wouldn’t have it any other way: “I love playing the game, and I’m just always trying to get better at it.”
He’s already very good. This past season the 6’1” forward (6’2” in sneakers, Edwin points out) was leading scorer on Sanford’s varsity basketball team and was voted First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State. Edwin is already being recruited by a host of colleges, including Ivy League universities, that want him to play for them, especially since he’s an honor roll student.
All the attention is a little mind-boggling, Edwin admits. Math, history and art, particularly drawing, are his favorite subjects. Being an architect is one career possibility, he says.
Edwin says he’s just emulating his predecessors on the team. “When I was a freshman, I looked up to the juniors and seniors. I learned from them how to lead the younger team members. I try to help everybody out and keep everybody together as a team,” he says.
Although Edwin was an ‘A’ student at A.I. DuPont Middle School, his freshman year at Sanford required adjustments. He needed to learn how to handle the workload and budget his time. Even little things like having a dress code and going from building to building for classes were new experiences.
“I really like Sanford. It’s almost like a family. We don’t even have locks on our lockers. It’s just like you’re at home,” he says. “I like the teachers, too. If you need help, there’s always someone there for you.”
Edwin represented Sanford in the fall at the National Association of Independent Schools’ Student Diversity Leadership Conference. This summer, he will participate in Boys State.
“Teachers see Edwin as a strong leader in the classroom,” says Director of Counseling Sue Dagenais. “He asks great questions and is really involved in academic life.”
He is a leader on the court, too. “He leads by example. The other players look up to him,” says Stan Waterman, assistant athletic director and coach of varsity boys’ basketball.
Edwin says he’s just emulating his predecessors on the team. “When I was a freshman, I looked up to the juniors and seniors. I learned from them how to lead the younger team members. I try to help everybody out and keep everybody together as a team,” he says.
Edwin credits his family for the help and inspiration he needed to succeed. His siblings—an older brother and two older sisters—got him involved in basketball. They all played on their high school teams, and his brother introduced him to AAU sports.
But his mother is his real hero. “My mom had to raise four children on her own. Without her example of being independent and hard-working, I never would have achieved what I have.”
At every basketball game, his family can be found in the stands cheering him on. “I’m really grateful for my family and all the opportunities I’ve been given,” Edwin says.
ALeaderOn and Off the Court
Making the all-state team in a sport can be the highlight of an athlete’s high school career. Already as a junior, Paris Waterman has been named all state in three sports: field hockey, basketball and lacrosse.
She calls herself a “basketball junkie,” an addiction she attributes in part to the influence of her father, Stan Waterman, assistant athletic director and dean of 11th and 12th grade students (shown with Paris in the photo below). Paris has come to love the sport that has been a part of her life since she was a young girl.
“Leader” is a word that many people use to describe Paris. She was among the students who represented Sanford at a recent National Association of Independent Schools Student Diversity Leadership Conference. She is an officer of the Minority Concerns Club and the Student Activities Club.
As a 6-year-old, she was just one of the kids at her dad’s summer basketball camp. These days she’s one of the counselor/coaches at Waterman’s camp and at a summer camp held at Wilmington Friends. After Sanford’s basketball season ends (and while she’s playing varsity lacrosse), Paris starts right in on Amateur Athletic Union basketball, a travel team coached by her father. That continues throughout the spring and much of the summer.
Her prowess on the court is all the more impressive given her height. At 5’3” she can easily compete against players as much as a foot taller. What she lacks in stature, though, she makes up for in speed and strategy. “There’s a lot of thinking involved in basketball,” Paris says, particularly in her position as a point guard, which she likens to being “the coach on the court.”
Athletic Director Joan Samonisky, who coaches Paris in field hockey, attributes her athletic achievements to “a ton of natural ability” and a lot of hard work. “She leads her teammates by example,” she says.
“Leader” is a word that many people use to describe Paris. She was among the students who represented Sanford at a recent National Association of Independent Schools Student Diversity Leadership Conference. She is an officer of the Minority Concerns Club and the Student Activities Club.
Paris will take part this summer in a student-athlete leadership conference sponsored by the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association. She was nominated for Girls State. Somewhere in there she’ll also find time to attend basketball and lacrosse camps at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
“Paris has such a solid core,” says Director of Counseling Sue Dagenais. “She’s an extremely talented athlete and an honor roll student, yet she has no airs about her.”
Paris has attended Sanford since junior kindergarten, and she still loves it. “I like the community atmosphere and the small, close-knit classes. You know everybody and everybody knows you.”
Although she’ll miss Sanford, she’s already looking forward to college, where she’ll play sports, of course, and prepare for a career such as sports trainer or physical therapist that will combine her desire to work with children and her passion for athletics.
Art onthe Town
The Sanford community has always known that the school’s art program is outstanding. The 75th Anniversary Art Exhibition at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts (DCCA) brought the news to the Wilmington art community, too.
The exhibition, which ran from January 31 through February 4, included 75 pieces of art. The earliest works were three paintings of Sanford landscapes by former head of school and renowned local artist Nancy C. Sawin. The other pieces were created by Sanford students from the 1950s through 2005.
“People were really engaged by the art,” says Maggi Kirk, DCCA’s director of special events. “The exhibit gave an overview of art from the past 75 years—from the figurative and representational work of the 1950s and earlier to the ethnicinspired art of the 1980s to the computerized art of this century. It worked perfectly as a bridge to our other galleries.”
Attendance at DCCA for February’s first-Friday Art Loop hit a record 354 people, Kirk adds, more than double the usual attendance. The Sanford faculty holiday party was held at the art museum the following evening.
The exhibition—which featured works from the 1950s to 2005—was hung in the Wings Foundation Auditorium of the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts.
Sanford Art Department Chair Betty O’Regan discusses the painting by Brooke Worrell with a Brooke-look-alike and friend.
Sanford parents Synthia Wong, Arkadi Kuhlmann, Kristen Kuhn, and John Kuhn were among the more than 350 people who viewed the exhibition during the Friday Night Art Loop.
During the exhibition week, student groups from the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools went on field trips to view the show, the other galleries and artists’ studios. “The younger students learned about various careers related to art museums,” says art teacher Nina Silverman. “They were able to use their art vocabularies to describe the works in the museum and to see how the grown-up art world was similar to what we are doing in class.”
The 75th Anniversary show had been years in the making. Supported by a Home & School Association grant, Art Department Chair Betty O’Regan spent the summer of 2004 cataloging the school’s art collection. Sanford’s holdings include works from earlier years, such as those by Jane Wilson ’51, Mona Wilson ’52 and Frank Bailey ’57, all of which appeared in the 75th Anniversary show. Most of the works, however, date from after 1982, the year the Art Department began its official Gift to the School program.
Each year, art faculty select one work each from kindergarten through grade eight and one work by an Upper School student. These are framed and hung throughout the school. O’Regan drew from this collection for the 75th Anniversary show. It
wasn’t easy to narrow it down to 75, she admits. “We tried to select pieces that showcased our art curriculum as well as to represent a range of class years and ages of the student artists.”
Many alumni attended the exhibition, including Kelly Kietzman-Hartman AA’02, whose 1996 painting from sixth grade was among the pieces on display. “It was so wonderful to remember making my piece of art when I was just a little girl,” she wrote in the guest book.
O’Regan and Director of Advancement Peter Buttenheim had investigated various venues and settled upon the DCCA as most appropriate for this collection of 20th and 21st century art.
John Shipman, formerly of DCCA, returned from his present job at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC, to install the show. “He told me that he felt really good that this particular show would be his last at DCCA. He believes strongly that the museum should serve the community and that Sanford’s exhibit was doing just that,” O’Regan says.
“This exhibit brought our students and families to Wilmington, and it showed the art community that Sanford has art worthy of being hung in a gallery,” Buttenheim adds.
Former Sanford student Kevin Touhey AA’09 kneels in front of the self-portrait he produced in fifth grade.
Chase Rapine, Ben Para, and Patrick Fagan viewed the exhibit during the third grade’s trip to DCCA.
Two DCCA visitors discuss one of the pieces featured in the 75th Anniversary Art Show.
OnCampus
Sanford launches First Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
This year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day marked the beginning of a new tradition at Sanford. Instead of making the holiday a day off, more than 800 faculty, students, and staff members honored the late civil rights leader by participating in a variety of service projects.
The day began with a school-wide assembly, where Head of School Chip MacKelcan told those gathered, “Dr. King encouraged Americans to come together to strengthen communities, alleviate poverty, and acknowledge dignity and respect for all human beings.”
Following the assembly, the school community conducted many on and off-campus service projects, including:
• Collecting clothing and mittens for those in need in the greater Wilmington area
• Making fleece blankets, I Have a Dream pillows, and birdhouses for local agencies
• Baking 500 biscuits for the Emmanuel Dining Room
• Working outside at the Ashland Nature Center and Tri-State Bird Rescue to improve the surroundings of those community resources
• Sending students to spend time with senior citizens at Cokesbury Village and the Methodist Country House
• Making food for two homeless shelters.
One of the more visible outreach efforts occurred at the African-American Mt. Zion Cemetery in Wilmington, Delaware. Throughout the morning, sixth graders, twelfth graders, and adults cut grass, picked up garbage, trimmed hedges, and raked leaves. Their efforts transformed what had become an overgrown, neglected area into a dignified, cleaned-up cemetery—which is the resting place of many veterans.
The day concluded with the school community gathering again and enjoying a powerful multimedia presentation entitled King’s Dream, which urged everyone to remember that peace and reconciliation must prevail.
According to Chip MacKelcan, the first Day of Service was a rousing success. He said, “By having a day ON, our students truly embraced the life and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr.”
Elyse Andrews, Jake Juddy, and Parker Landau remove debris from Mt. Zion Cemetery.
Caroline Grier battles brush and tall grass.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
A group of seniors remount a headstone at the burial grounds, which is the resting place of many African-American veterans.
Anna Moloy, Alexandra Caulfield, and Isabella Cassinelli were among the sixth-grade students who worked on the cemetery clean-up.
Middle School student Kris Shay and Lower School student Andrew Boyle stencil “I have a dream” pillows.
Lower School faculty member Rita Dietrich gets assistance from helpers Patsy Donahue, Patrick Boyle, Ian Civiletti, and Carmine Whetstons.
John Paternoster, Alex Kuczykpowski, and Jacob Gilbert feel the beat of ethnic music with Lisa Nowicki.
Senior Christine Nutini joins a group of fourth graders to make biscuits for Emmanuel Dining Room.
(All of the people in the photos are identified from left
OnCampus
Mt. Zion cleanup goes beyond Day of Service Cemetery visitor says, “Thank you”
When Keith Blades, director of learning services for Middle School, spearheaded the cleanup of Mt. Zion Cemetery, he probably had no idea that this Sanford Day of Service project would grow into an additional outreach initiative, led by senior Mike Pietruczenia (read more about Mike on page 4). Joining forces with other Sanford students and faculty members, Mike has continued the cleanup program by returning to the cemetery, where he and others have removed debris, righted, remounted, and leveled headstones, and placed American flags at many of the veterans’ graves.
The group’s work has not been in vain. Following one of the return trips to the cemetery, Mike shared this story with Keith: On Saturday around 10:30, all of the guys were trying to remount a headstone. As we were doing that, an SUV pulled up and just sat there for about 5 minutes. Finally, 2 men and 1 woman emerged. They walked over to a grave and paid their respects for a good long while, and we just kept going about our business. Later, when they were leaving, I ran down to the road to stop them to warn them that near the exit, we had two SUVs and a trailer parked, but that we had left enough room that they should be able to get by. The driver just looked at me and never said a word. So I began to walk away; as I did, I heard him say, “You know, there are no white people buried here.” I turned around and said, ‘Yes sir, we know that.’ He then looked at me and said, “This is my family buried here.” I just looked at him. He then began to cry and said, “Thank you for what you are doing here.” A tear ran down his face and he said, “God bless all of you.” And he drove away. That moment, while it was brief, was one of the most rewarding moments I’ve ever had.
The Sanford community won’t forget Mt. Zion Cemetery. Keith says that the Middle School hopes to continue working with those responsible for maintaining the property.
Hours of hard work and dedication by Sanford students, parents, and employees regenerated the cemetery.
Mike Pietruczenia and Katie Keeports place American flags at veterans’ graves.
Jenna Reed and Nick Madden work at a gravesite.
Keith Blades, who developed the cemetery project, joins in the cleanup effort.
Mark Shields prepares heavy-duty equipment to tackle a tough job.
Adam Wissner, Omid Nagshineh, and Hammond Knox wrestle with weeds.
SANFORD SERVICE WORK SANFORD SERVICE
Sanford students and faculty continue Hurricane relief efforts
Hurricane R eliefContinues
As residents of the Gulf Coast continue rebuilding their lives following the devastating hurricanes that occurred in August of last year, members of the Sanford community have been supporting the effort. Here are two hurricane relief projects sponsored by members of the Sanford family.
Hope for Hope Academy
Hope Academy is a small Christian school of about 75 students, located in Biloxi/D’Iberville, Mississippi. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed the facility, two teachers began operating the school from their homes. Subsequently, Hope Academy’s students, educators, and families began work to rebuild their school. To support Hope’s rebuilding process, Sanford’s Middle School is conducting Hope for Hope Academy—an outreach program designed to provide financial, emotional, and physical support. The outreach efforts have included a letter writing campaign with Hope Academy students, the sponsorship of various fundraising programs (such as jeans days and bake sales), and the donation of books (8th and 5th grade students are shown wrapping books in the photos below). The Middle School looks forward to a long-term relationship with Hope Academy.
Musical instrument collection
In conjunction with his Eagle Scout project, Sanford sophomore Parker Wright has been collecting musical instruments and cash donations, which are being sent to schools and musicians in New Orleans. One of the collection venues was the Upper School Spring Concert, where Parker performed as a member of the Concert and Jazz bands. During the event, Parker, who is originally from New Orleans, encouraged everyone to participate in the relief effort and thanked audience members for their support.
Parker Wright with his collection following the Upper School Spring Concert
Zoë Reindl, Mellie Lusk, Sukey Hendrix, Julianne Shenton, and Laurern Fresconi Kyle Smith, John Michael Kuhn, and Yasmin Da Silva
Danny Bloom, Andrew Straub, Zack Cook, Marcus Thompson, and Will Ferry (All
The Sanford campus flourished with activity throughout the winter and spring. Here are scenes from a few of the events.
Holiday Concerts
Michael Gilbert sings at the Lower School concert.
Grace Gobey’s performance was a holiday highlight.
Seventh and eighth grade choristers Steffi Cramer, Laurel Squadron, and Chelsey Turtle entertain their holiday audience.
Erin Murphy sparkles.Sammy Haq brings magic to the season.
MARDI GRAS
Chase Humphreys is all business.
Entrepreneurs Meredith Vondron, Liz Frick, and Katie Moloney are open for business.
Fourth Grade teacher Jeni Bufano joins her “celebrities” following their Biography Day presentations.
(Back row): Steven DiStefano, David Owens, Alexis Peterson, Charles Riordan, Justin Fleming, Nick Chong, Mrs. Bufano (Front Row): Emily Regan, Morgan Moran, Emily Bloom, Jenna Sierocinski, Peyton Marcozzi Breeanna Sampson, Chris Friedkin, Jennifer Ehret, Alex Vecchione
Kyle McGregor and Michael Roop party hearty.
Jennie Padlo and Alexandra Caulfield revel in the festivities. (All
OnCampus
Sanford Snapshots. Sanford Snapshots .Sanford
Storytelling Events for Lower School Students
Kindergartners share a storytelling session with Upper School Literature Enrichment Specialist Lynn Foltz and junior Kelly Breen during National Library Week.
Diana Rios and Chaz Knox meet storyteller Joann Dawson’s pony.
Brad Zabel listens intently to Joann Dawson.
Haley Dabkowski and Corrie Struthers rock the house.Andrew Peterson and Nick Madden hit a homerun. Megan Stellini joins her mother, Mimi, after the event.
Sophomore Andrew DeSantis ’08, son of Middle School Literature Enrichment Specialist Susan DeSantis, recently received his Eagle Scout award at a ceremony held on Sanford’s campus. Head of School Chip MacKelcan, Upper School Head Mark Wagner, and Middle School teachers Christine Yasik, Jane McConnell, and Pam Chipman attended the ceremony.
During his acceptance speech, Andrew included these words of appreciation: “Thank you Mr. MacKelcan, the head of Sanford School, for not only letting us use this facility for the ceremony but for also maintaining a school with such an environment where I could learn the lessons necessary for becoming an Eagle.”
SANFORD’SLITERARYMAGAZINERECEIVESHIGHHONORSINNATIONALPROGRAM Class of 2005 alumni served as student editors
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has selected Inscape, Sanford School’s literary magazine, to receive a rank of Superior in the 2005 NCTE Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines. Nearly 500 schools entered the program, which recognizes students, teachers, and schools for producing excellent literary magazines.
The student editors who produced what NCTE described as an “exemplary literary magazine” were Michael Nachbar ’05 and David Rodeck ’05. Upper School English teacher Helen Vermeychuk was the faculty advisor.
In January, seventh grader Keyanna Mozie joined 17 other choristers from the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware to accept an award at the White House. The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and its partner agencies selected the Choir School as one of 17 outstanding programs to receive the 2005 Coming Up Taller Award—our nation’s highest honor bestowed on after-school programs for children and youth. The Cathedral Choir School was awarded $10,000 and the group received an additional honor by being invited to perform at the awards ceremony. The choristers, performing in the East Room of the White House, sang the national anthem and a traditional African song. Laura Bush, who officiated the ceremony, said, “As a former public school teacher, I have a firsthand understanding of what young people can accomplish when they truly strive to realize their dreams, and I wholeheartedly embrace the arts and humanities as vehicles for helping them find their way.”
LAURA BUSH
Cathedral Choir School of Delaware Director Dr. Darryl Roland (second from left) and Sanford Middle School student Keyanna Mozie (second from right) accepted the Coming Up Taller Award from (far left) Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and First Lady Laura Bush.
David Rodeck ’05
Michael Nachbar ’05
Faculty Focus
Middle School English teacher receives honor
Christine Yasik has been selected for inclusion in the 2005–2006 edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers honors those educators nominated by students from Who’s Who Among American High School Students, Who’s Who Among American High School Students–Sports Edition, and students honored in The National Dean’s List. According to the program’s website: “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers is the one recognition program in the education field where the ultimate consumers of education—the students—have the opportunity and responsibility to honor the teachers who have most significantly impacted their lives.”
This recognition places Christine in the company of our nation’s best and most respected teachers. Only 15% of the teachers recognized teach grades 7-8, and only 8% of the teachers are from non-public schools.
Math teachers focus on technology
In April, Upper School math teacher Tom Whipple presented a talk titled The Meaning of Continuous Growth at the T-Cubed (Teachers Teaching with Technology) Conference in Wilmington, Delaware. During the presentation, Tom demonstrated how he uses the spreadsheet capabilities of the TI-84 graphing calculator to help students gain a thorough understanding of continuous growth. Tom and Upper School math teacher Chris Mosberg attended other sessions on technology at the conference, which was sponsored by Texas Instruments.
Sanford faculty members serve on teams to evaluate schools for Middle States accreditation
Performing Arts Chair Lisa Nowicki and Director of Learning Services for Middle School Keith Blades recently participated on evaluation teams for two schools seeking re-accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In May, Keith was part of a team at Wilmington Christian School in Wilmington, Delaware. In March, Lisa worked on a team at the Stone Ridge School for the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland. Both Wilmington Christian and the Stone Ridge School are engaged in the Accreditation for Growth (AFG) process, the same protocol that Sanford is using for its re-accreditation. Keith and Lisa spent three days at their respective schools where their basic charge was to find out if the schools are doing what they say they are doing. The process involved long days of reading large amounts of documentation, conducting interviews, and writing reports. Keith and Lisa say that although their participation required a tremendous amount of work, they are glad they served on the teams. Lisa added, “It was an invaluable educational experience for me. Not only did it help me to understand the AFG process Sanford is about to go through, it also reinforced how wonderful our own school is. It was also great to connect with other teachers and engage in meaningful conversations about education.”
Editor’s Note: You can read more about AFG and the accreditation process in A Message from the Head of School on the inside front cover of this magazine.
Christine Yasik
Professional Development
Professional development initiative includes faculty and students
In January, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) sponsored the People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas. Head of Upper School Mark Wagner and Assistant Director of Athletics/Upper School Dean of 11th and 12th Grade Students Stan Waterman attended the People of Color Conference; Carlos Diaz (Grade 11), Loryn Green (Grade 10), Edwin Santiago (Grade 11), and Paris Waterman (Grade 12) participated in the Student Diversity Leadership Conference. According to NAIS, the conferences are designed to help “people of color to expand their sense of belonging in independent schools, and for all people committed to diversity work to learn how to advance, build, and sustain inclusive school communities.”
They keynote and conference speakers included:
• James Earl Jones—a stage, film, and television actor who has received Tony and Emmy awards
• Terry Tafoya—a family therapist, traditional Native American storyteller, and faculty member at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine in Seattle
• Sandra Cisneros—an American novelist, short-story writer, essayist, and poet
• Paul Kivel—a trainer, activist, writer, and violence-prevention educator
• Gus Lee—a best-selling author, nationally recognized ethicist, and leadership consultant, and
• Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot—a sociologist and professor of education at Harvard University.
After returning from the conference, Mark Wagner said, “The conference provided a unique learning experience. It was one of the best, most focused professional development experiences I’ve ever had. I brought back information and ideas that I know will help make Sanford a better place.”
Upper School history teacher leads trip to Land of the Pharaohs
Donna Sherpa took 47 students, parents, and alumni to Egypt for 12 days during Sanford’s Spring Break. The group went to all the major sites of Egypt including: Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. A four-day Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The group had an outstanding guide who expertly instructed everyone on 4,000 years of Egyptian history and clearly imparted the pride that Egyptians have for their heritage.
Conference attendees (from left to right): Mark Wagner, Carlos Diaz, Loryn Green, Paris Waterman, Edwin Santiago, and Stan Waterman
SRTC presents...
Jekyll & Hyde
“Pure magic.” “Incredible.” “Awe-inspiring.” “Transformative theatre.” “Hard to believe that these actors are high school students.”
Comments such as these were among the myriad, well-deserved kudos that were being said by everyone lucky enough to have seen the SRTC winter musical production this past March of Jekyll and Hyde, The Musical
Everyone knows the story—“An evocative tale of romance and the epic battle between good and evil, Jekyll and Hyde brings new life to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story about a brilliant doctor whose experiments with human personality create a murderous counterpart. Convinced the cure for his father’s mental illness lies in the separation of man’s evil nature from his good, Dr. Henry Jekyll unwittingly unleashes his own dark side, wreaking havoc in the streets of (19th century) London as the savage, maniacal Edward Hyde.” (source: SRTC program notes)
It is almost impossible to re-create the excitement, the energy, and the theatrical buzz omni-present in Geipel Gym as the talented, well-trained, and well-rehearsed cast and crew tackled the staging of a musical as complex and sophisticated as Jekyll and Hyde. Under the talented and able guidance of Stage Director Jeff Santoro and Musical Director/Producer Lisa Nowicki, this production continued to demonstrate Sanford’s excellence in the performing arts and gave many young thespians the opportunity to learn new skills and hone and refine old ones.
Junior Alex Krenz brilliantly played the exceedingly difficult lead role of Jekyll/ Hyde. Not only does this part require a powerful full range of vocal ability to handle such haunting ballads as This is the Moment as well as such powerful almost crazed dramatic melodies such as Streak of Madness, but it
also demands that the actor be able to demonstrate an acting ability that will allow the audience “to suspend its disbelief” when the kindly, brilliant Dr. Jekyll transforms before our very eyes into the personification of evil, Edward Hyde. Alex portrayed this role with a precision and a strength that took the audience on an emotional roller coaster to match that of the good doctor’s himself.
Senior Caroline Ryon superbly acted one of the female leads, that of Emma Carew, the fiancée of Dr. Jekyll. Caroline’s portrayal of Emma was fraught with the tension that Emma felt between supporting her brilliant, young fiancé in his scientific experiments and her desire to live the normal, comfortable lifestyle afforded to someone of her social class in 19th century England. As an audience, our hearts went out to Emma as we saw Jekyll falling deeper and deeper into madness and further away from the reality that Emma could provide for him. Caroline’s acting ability made us want to reach out and protect her from the madness that was slowly invading her life through her undying love for Jekyll.
Senior Katie Keeports finely portrayed the other female lead, that of Lucy Harris, a woman of less than impeccable moral and social standing whom Jekyll befriends and tries to help. It is through Lucy’s tender relationship with Jekyll that we see his absolute and unselfish goodness try to stay intact. But even Lucy’s platonic and pure need for Jekyll’s goodness is not enough to help him win this struggle with the dual nature of man. Katie acted the role of Lucy brilliantly, drawing us in to her world of poverty, hopelessness, and despair in a powerful way. Her relationship with Jekyll transformed her, and yet it could not stop his ultimate transformation as the evil of Hyde began to enfold him. When Dr. Henry Jekyll faces his alter ego Edward Hyde saying, “It’s such a fine line between a good man and a bad,” we know as an audience that Jekyll has lost control and that Hyde has won.
The rest of the ensemble cast was extraordinary. From the minute the actors emerged from the London fog that enveloped the stage as the action began to the show-stopping, rollicking fun of such numbers as Bring on the Men to the heart-stopping tenderness of Take Me as I Am, every single person involved in this show turned in a professional-level performance that thrilled the audience. It was extremely easy to forget that these were students that we see every day in class, for they had turned into first-rate actors and singers who were ready to work the magic of their craft. And work it they did, much to all of our pleasure and delight.
Sir Danvers (Alex Olivieri), Emma (Caroline Ryon), and Utterson (Kane Kalas) watch in fear as Dr. Jekyll turns into Mr. Hyde before their eyes.
“Transformative Theatre”...
When Robert Louis Stevenson first penned the novel from which this play was adapted in 1886, I am sure that he could not have predicted a musical based on the contents of his Gothic thriller. Many of the cast members had actually read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde as part of their ninth grade English curriculum, which afforded them a head start on being able to understand the Victorian period, the themes of Gothic literature, and the story line itself. What became very evident as the play unfolded on the Geipel stage is the genuine feeling that the students had learned what adaptation means and had grasped thoroughly some of the important dualities of this play—man’s struggle between right and wrong, good and evil, joy and despair. When a playwright uses a story as well-loved and as widely-known as that of Jekyll and Hyde, he sometimes runs the risk of “spoiling” the story, making it less than it was. But that was certainly not the case in this musical. The beauty of Jekyll and Hyde, The Musical was that it allowed our students a first-hand experience at understanding some of the most critical elements of adaptation. In other words, the playwright had to ask questions such as: What is this story really about? What are the most salient actions and emotions that I convey to the reader? How do I make this story transcend time?
Judging by the success of Jekyll and Hyde, The Musical, our students know a great deal about musical theatre, about how to stage a show, and about demonstrating to us all how to have a ball doing something that they love! Bravo, SRTC!
Sue Dagenais Director of Counseling and Instructor of English
The cast of Jekyll & Hyde performs the showstopping number…Murder, Murder
SRTC costumer Linda Sanders makes final adjustments to Adam Burkett’s costume.
Alex Krenz begins making the transition from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde.
Katie Keeports (center) and Upper School female cast members portray the Ladies of the Red Rat.
Beth Huxster and Andrew DeSantis work together to help build the set.
Home & School News
In late November, Sanford hosted a Parent Networking Night for Upper School parents and administrators from Sanford, Friends, Tower Hill, and Tatnall. The topics of the evening included how to approach the major social events of the spring, including proms, after proms, graduation parties, and senior weeks. Thank you to Sandy King and the Community of Concern Network from the four schools for organizing the event. This is one example of how the Parent Awareness committees from the four schools have worked together this year to organize and/or promote joint events. We expect this collaboration to continue.
Our annual Caroling on the Quad event was a big success this year with many parents and students from across the school joyfully singing together outside on a cold, but bright December morning. During the event, students turned in their Hurricane Relief collection boxes, filled with change, to support efforts on the Gulf Coast. Thank you to Sandy King and the other volunteers who helped make this event a success.
On Friday, February 17th, during an In-service Day, the Home and School Association honored Sanford faculty and staff by hosting the annual Faculty Appreciation Luncheon. Seasons Catering provided a delicious luncheon in the Dining Hall, which was decorated for the occasion. One of the highlights of the event each year is the presentation of a book (purchased by Home & School) to every faculty and staff member. After each recipient reviews his or her gift, the book is donated to one of the libraries in the recipient’s name, thus enhancing the school’s collection. Children love checking out books that “belong” to one of their favorite teachers. We would like to thank the school librarians—Rita Dietrich, Susan DeSantis, and Lynn Foltz—for all their efforts in selecting and ordering the books. A lot of thought is put into selecting books that “fit” each recipient! We would also like to thank this year’s committee—Kathy Zabel, Nancy Reinhardt, Amy Boyle, and Cathy Ziccarelli—for their efforts in planning this wonderful event. And, finally, the work of our additional volunteers the day of the luncheon—Alice Johnston, Amy Kuplinski, Synthia Wong, and Linda Mulvihill—made the event go very smoothly. Thank you!
Our annual spring fundraiser was held on April 22, 2006 in the Sports Center. Our thanks go to Sherry Bielicki and Linda Mulvihill who co-chaired this event, which was A Night at the Races. A full report on this fun-filled evening will be included in the next Sanford magazine.
Cheryl Alfieri, Home & School Association President
Brian Friedkin, Tim Parks, and Skip Cook, members of Sanford’s Buildings & Grounds Department, leave the luncheon with their gifts of appreciation.
Alice Johnston, Amy Kuplinski, Linda Mulvihill, Nancy Reinhart, Cheryl Alfieri, and Synthia Wong are some of the parents who planned and hosted the luncheon.
Lower School science teacher
Kim DeHaven is delighted with his set of books.
Middle School faculty members
Pam Chipman and Fran Petersen show off their books from Home & School.
spotlight on ATHLETICS
Asolid athletic program includes a variety of factors, but nothing is more important than the hiring of good coaches. The selection and appointment of coaches is a part of our athletic program that is taken on with a great amount of effort and concern. Coaching is an extension of the classroom and, just as in the classroom, great teaching takes place daily on our courts and fields. Throughout his tenure as the head of Sanford School, Chip MacKelcan has made a huge difference in the hiring of highly qualified “teacher/coaches” to our faculty. Priority in filling a faculty position is always based on an individual’s ability to effectively communicate his/her area of expertise in the academic world or specialty subjects; however, many of these highly qualified individuals also have the interest and ability to coach our athletes. When coaching positions cannot be filled from within our faculty, we pursue candidates from off-campus to fill our coaching needs.
I am extremely proud of our coaching staff of dedicated individuals. Head and assistant coaches, at all levels, love the sport(s) they are coaching. Most have direct playing and/or coaching experience in their sport when they are hired. Our athletic program, and its focus on participation, is best understood by those who have experienced it first-hand. A unique aspect of our current coaching staff is the inclusion of numerous Sanford alumni in its ranks. This year we had the pleasure of welcoming a record number of eleven Sanford alumni back to join our coaching staff (see box below)!!!
These individuals know our program through their experiences as student-athletes at Sanford. In addition to coaching, they currently hold a variety of other roles as teachers, parents, students, bankers, marketing specialists, IT specialists, fitness experts, probation officers, etc. They bring with them an added amount of pride for our school and our teams.
In my role as an athletic director, nothing is more satisfying than seeing our graduates pursue a continued role in athletics beyond Sanford as a college or club athlete, an official, or as a coach. It thrills me to be able to include so many of these fine individuals on our coaching staff as solid role models for our current student-athletes. As always, please continue to support our coaches and athletes in a positive manner! Each of us plays an important role in representing our school at games, both here on campus and in the community at large.
Sincerely,
Joan S. Samonisky, Director of Athletics
SANFORD ALUMNI C OACHING S TAFF 2006
Jen Nightengale’827/8 Volleyball
Marcus Thompson’85Head Girls’ Basketball
Lauren Mahoney’98Asst. Girls’ Basketball
Arden Miller’96JV Girls’ Basketball and 7/8 Tennis
Lauren Kendall’987/8 Girls’ Basketball and 7/8 Girls’ Soccer
John Savage’877/8 Boys’ Basketball
Meghan Hannum’00Head Girls’ Lacrosse
Marilyn Obrofta’01JV Girls’ Soccer
Sarah Bowers’00Head Volleyball
Billy Hackett’98Asst. Golf
Sandy Stephens Tebbens’99AAHead Swimming
spotlight on ATHLETICS
SWIMMING
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
spotlight on ATHLETICS
WRESTLING
Honors
Post-season
Winter 2006
Important Athletic Information
Athletic physicals (grades 7-12), for the 2006-2007 school year, must be administered on or after May 1, 2006. DIAA physical forms, which have been mailed, are also available online at www.sanfordschool.org.
Athletic physicals for grades 7-12 will be offered on campus on August 15, 2006.
Fall pre-season practices for grades 9-12 will begin on Friday, August 18, 2006.
Wrestling
DISC Champions and First Team
All-Conference: Greg Kramer, Matt Turtle, Bud Croswell, Trae Humphreys, Mike Iacono, Andrew Palermo
Second Team All-Conference: Scott Humphreys, Henry Tucker
Third Team All-Conference: Ben Peoples
State Tournament Qualifiers: Ben Peoples, Matt Turtle, Bud Croswell, Trae Humphreys, Mike Iacono, Andrew Palermo
State Tournament Finalist: Bud Croswell
Delaware Wrestling Alliance Academic All-State
Second Team: Chris Bobbitt, Brian Nachbar, Lily Beiber-Ham, Caroline Kramer
Honorable Mention: Louis Baum, Bud Croswell, Scott Humphreys, Emily Kearns
Swimming
Second Team All-Conference: Sarah Greenwood, Christine Nutini, Caitlin Towe, Kendall Towe, Zack Pryor
Second Team All-State: Kendall Towe
Girls’ Basketball DISC Conference Champions
First Team All-Conference: Paris Waterman, Jasmine Gibson, Karena Puckham
Second Team All-Conference: Rachel Denis, Jamie Milliski
First Team All-State: Paris Waterman
Honorable Mention All-State: Jasmine Gibson, Karena Puckham
Blue/Gold Senior All-Star Game: Morgyn Demby
DIBCA North Top Ten Selection: Paris Waterman
Boys’ Basketball DISC Conference Co-Champions
First Team All-Conference: Edwin Santiago, Azeez Ellegood
Second Team All-Conference: Aaron Collins
Honorable Mention All-Conference: Matt Davis, Ryan Struthers
Second Team All-State: Edwin Santiago
Honorable Mention All-State: Azeez Ellegood
DIBCA North Top Ten Selection: Edwin Santiago
Annual Fund
AdvancementUPDATE
P
eople often ask me why we call our office the Advancement Office and not the Development Office. I would like to explain the difference here.
Historically, development offices in independent schools, colleges, and other non-profit institutions have had fundraising as their #1—and perhaps only—goal. Whether running an annual fund, managing a capital campaign, or promoting planned giving, development offices concentrate on raising money but leaving most of the other dimensions of the institution to others.
The Sanford Advancement Office is quite different from a development office. Yes, we do spend a portion of our time on annual, capital, and planned giving, but we do so in a much larger context. Advancement personnel focus on the following: mission, people, plant, program, and services. Ours is an office that examines the institution as a whole in order to better serve Sanford School. To that end, in addition to concentrating on traditional development programs, we also are involved in many non-fundraising activities. These include managing special events, collaborating with our Sanford colleagues, supporting community service initiatives, and interacting with prospective and current Sanford families.
I hope that this piece explains the greater dimensions of advancement vis a vis development to the reader. As the Bulletin from fundraisers Gonser-Gerber-Tinker-Stuhr put it recently, “Advancement is the process designed to build commitment to the mission, vision, and purpose of the institution.”
So, the next time the reader is moved to think, “All Sanford’s Advancement Office ever does is ask me for money!” please think again about this essay.
Peter V. Buttenheim, Director of Advancement
It’s
not too late to support this year’s Annual Fund
The preliminary results for the 2005-2006 Annual Fund are in— and alumni participation is one for the record books as participation has increased to 15%. With almost 100 new gifts from alumni to this year’s fund, we anxiously await the final results. Any gift received by June 30th will be recorded in the 05-06 Annual Fund and acknowledged in the Annual Report published in early fall.
It is a privilege to thank the dedicated staff and development committee volunteers who led this effort, demonstrating their belief in Sanford through their time and talent.
Annual Fund Alumni Chair Mitch Hill ’73 shares his enthusiasm of this terrific news, stating: “I’m very happy to hear from many alumni this year and am grateful for their kind donations. I think that Sanford’s 75th Anniversary gave many alumni a chance to reconnect and see the importance of annual giving to keep the Sanford vision alive.”
We are grateful, too, for the efforts of our Annual Fund chairs, Leslie and Larry DiStefano, who led the campaign for our current parents and Pam and Wayne Rapine for their work with new families. Their spirited partnership has motivated current parents to also increase their support. We look forward to sharing with you our final results in the next Sanford magazine.
Karen Riordan, Director of Annual Fund
All alumni are urged to save the dates—Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30—for Homecoming 2006. We will welcome back especially the classes ending in 1s and 6s for their five-year reunions. Homecoming weekend highlights include:
Dedication of the Nora Yates Gazebo An Art Show
The Head of School’s Remarks Two Faculty Presentations
Varsity and Alumni Athletic Events
The Alumni Awards Presentation
A 5K Run/Walk
Reunion Class Dinners (as planned by the classes)
The 50th Reunion Dinner Hosted by the Head of School
Please call the Advancement Office with any questions. A formal invitation will be mailed to all alumni during the summer.
Sanford Alumni Notes Sanford Alumni Notes
Jackie goes to Buckingham Palace
Upper School Math Teacher Jackie Pitts ’55 was one of only a few Americans invited to The Investiture at Buckingham Palace this past fall. The Prince of Wales conducted the Investiture in the absence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who was abroad, opening a Heads of State Conference.
Jackie attended to honor Miss Anne Ellis M.B.E. (now O.B.E.) who was being invested as an Officer of the Most Excellent of the British Empire for Services to Sport in Wales. Jackie and Miss Ellis’ other guests, escorted by one of the Queen’s Gentleman Ushers to the front row of the ballroom, were seated approximately fifteen feet from the Prince.
When Jackie was asked for her impression of the Investiture she replied, “The ambience was marvelous! I was amazed at the precision, the elegance, and the graciousness with which the ceremony was conducted. For some reason I expected the atmosphere to be cold and somewhat somber, but it was the exact opposite. The grand staircase and Great Halls were soft and warmed with wonderful original paintings and plush red carpets. Selections of music were played by the Orchestra of The Welsh Guards. And, the ballroom was a sight to behold! From television I had the impression that Prince Charles was a bit stodgy, but nothing was further from the truth. He was gracious and focused upon the individual to whom he was talking—asking questions and so intently listening to the replies. I was particularly impressed with his thoughtfulness when he knelt down to a man in a wheelchair so they could speak eye-to-eye. And, of course I was extremely impressed with the magnitude and breadth of fields and accomplishments of the awardees.
“As we departed, the Royal Photographers were waiting to take photographs of us. It was truly a wonderful affair and I was so pleased to have been invited. I shall cherish the memories forever. I wore my Sanford ring so that when I return it to Sanford, its journey shall have included attending receptions and parties in the White House, bowing to the Prince and Princess of Japan, dining with the Mayor of Edogawa (Old Tokyo) and in a mess hall of the Swedish Military, and, attending an Investiture in Buckingham Palace. I have been very fortunate and I thank Miss Anne Ellis, my parents, lacrosse, and Sanford for these opportunities. I often wonder about the wonderful places all our Sanford rings and Sunny Hills World War II bracelets have been.”
Anne Ellis O.B.E. and Jackie stand on the steps of Buckingham Palace, where Jackie proudly displays Anne’s Officer of the Most Excellent British Empire medal.
Wendy Townsend Swift ’46 wrote to say, “Still working at our canoe trip outfitting business in Canada and traveling. Check out our website www.algonquinoutfitters.com.”
After 8 years of being alone since her first husband died, Betty Jane Brooks Smith ’50 has remarried. She married her first husband’s brother, Wilson Smith. Betty says she is now enjoying her second honeymoon and sends her best wishes to all!
Rick Huddelson ’55 wrote to say, “I retired and moved to Florida in Oct. 2004. Totally enjoy living in paradise. Had a nice get-together at my house in March with John Hunt ’56, Sally Walter ’56, and Will Schaefer ’57. We spent quite a few hours telling stories of our times at Sanford.
Martha Haltom Warrick, ’57 wrote: “Hi Friends at Sanford. Just an update note: I retired several years ago from working as a psychiatrist in the community mental health field, both in North Carolina and here in Kentucky, after 30 + years. We moved here to Louisville last year to be closer to family. My daughter is a social worker at a local mental health center (wonder where she got that idea?) and my son, who also lives here, is a physician’s assistant who works in a dermatology clinic. We also have one granddaughter, age 2. I’m enjoying retirement— just babysitting, reading, sewing, and being lazy. I’m active in church and some community activities.
Sanford Alumni Notes Sanford Alumni Notes
Recently, I had a call from Dave Wilson ’57 who reminded me that we have a 50th class reunion in 2 years—can it possibly be that long ago since I was there at Sunny Hills?
Sorry to hear of Nancy’s fall. I’m sure you will keep us all informed.
Sincerely, Martha Warrick ’57”
Caroline Van Kirk Bissell ’59 enjoys spending her summers at Chautauqua, NY, traveling to exotic areas and enjoying her two grandbabies (both boys), one of whom is a model for Old Navy kids clothes.
George Casson ’60 retired from New Castle County Government in April 2005 after 31 years of service. He was the Operational Services Manager in the Special Services Department. George said, “Most of my time is now spent enjoying our beach home near Rehoboth Beach with my family and playing golf.”
Sue Kerbin Delano ’63 tells us her daughter, Amy, is graduating from Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine in Auburn, AL., on May 9, 2006.
Pamela Crandall Shumm ’68 recently moved to Charleston, SC to care for her mother who is 88 years old. Pamela said, “My return to Sanford for the 75th celebration was wonderful—so many positive changes. It was wonderful to see classmates after 37 years.”
Debbie Cundiff Starr ’68 is living in the beautiful historic town of Fincastle, Virginia and working as an ad rep for her local weekly newspaper. She hopes all her classmates are well and wishes them happiness too!
Deb Crowell Deveney ’69 has two children: Krista lives in Pottstown, PA; Nate has a business in St. Petersburg, FL.
Jackie Crowell Sham ’70 and her husband, Nick, raise Arabian horses on their farm in New Tripoli, PA. Jackie is working as an assistant principal in an urban school district in Allentown, PA. Their family consists of 5 horses, 3 Labrador retrievers and 4 to 10 domestic cats on a given day. Jackie would love to hear from classmates via email at shamj@enter.net.
Laura Connell Morris ’72 wrote to say, “It is amazing to me that the first piece of mail we received at our home after we moved to Richmond was from Sanford. I thought that was nice. At the moment we are preparing for our oldest daughter, Julia, to perform her juried senior vocal performance. She will graduate in May from Randolph Macon Woman’s College with majors in economics and music with emphasis in vocal performance —what a voice!”
Jeff Crowell ’74 has 3 daughters—one, a junior at Padua Academy, in Wilmington, DE ; and a twelve-year-old and a nine-year-old at St. Mary’s, also in Wilmington, DE.
Lee Paynter ’75 recently completed piloting his Piper Lance single engine aircraft roundtrip from West Chester, PA to Baffin Island in northern Canada: Nunavut Territory—on the Artic Circle. Lee’s fourteen-year-old son accompanied him on the eighteen-day trip. Lee is chief operating officer of J.W. Pepper & Son Inc., an international supplier of printed music, headquartered in Valley Forge, PA.
Kim (Anne) Aton Gildroy ’76 was married on Sept 17, 2005 to Jack Gildroy, Sr. in Young Harris, GA. Kim and her husband are living in Blairsville, GA in the mountains where Kim has a tax preparation business. They moved to Georgia after living in Naples, FL for 15 years.
Francis Farren ’81 recently tendered his resignation as a deputy attorney general in Delaware. He opened his own law firm in January ’06 specializing in criminal defense. He says:
“Hello folks. Just wanted to give you an update as to what’s been goin’ on with me lately. As of December 30, 2005, I decided to quit my job as a deputy attorney general with the state of Delaware. Now, instead of prosecuting criminal defendants, I represent them!!! I decided to go into business for myself and
open my own law firm. My office is located in Newark, Delaware and I’ll be practicing, primarily, in the area of criminal defense. I’ve been a state employee for 16 years (8 as a probation/parole officer, 8 as a deputy attorney general) so this career change will certainly present new challenges ahead for me. I am looking forward to them! The website of my new law office is www.farren-law.com!
I also started a band with friends called Best Kept Secret, in late 2005. I’m the lead singer and I also play the keyboards, sometimes.”
Sanford Alumni Notes Sanford Alumni Notes
Ian Gallicano ’84 and his wife, Tammy, had their second child, Alexandre Ian Gallicano, on March 29, 2005. So, he’s already a year old. Their older son, Vaughn is now three years old.
Kiki Stolp Jones ’87 and her husband Patrick now have five children, Lizi (16), Alex (8), Maggie (6), Jakob (3 1/2), and Nickolas (22 months). They live in Chestertown, MD. Kiki is a busy stay-at-home mom and soccer coach. She told us she hopes to see some of her classmates at the next homecoming. If anyone would like to email Kiki her address is patrickgjonesinc@verizon.net.
On September 20, 2005, Alisia Morgan Dulaney ’88 and her husband, Mike, had their third daughter named Macy Brown Dulaney. She weighed 5 pounds 9 ounces and was 19 inches long. Mikayla who is 6 years old and Maya who is 3 years old have been great helpers. Macy is now almost 4 months and things are returning back to normal. Alisia told us the first two months were pretty sleepless for everyone.
SUBMIT ALUMNI NOTES TO: Alumni Notes, Sanford School, P.O. Box 888, Hockessin, DE 19707-0888 or email: alumni@sanfordschool.org
Michelle Jacobs ’89 is living in Baltimore, MD. She just had a baby girl, Leilah, on August 16, 2005. Michelle is working for Jenny Craig as the program director and losing weight. She says, “You won’t recognize me at the next reunion!
Michael Schwartz ’89 told us, “I support the Washington Division of Pulte Home Corporation as an IT support engineer. I am responsible for computers, printers, networking, and everything in between.” Michael’s daughter, Laila, just started kindergarten in the fall of 2005.
Utica College field hockey Head Coach Megan McGuin ’98 was recently named the 2005 Dita/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III North Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. McGuin coached the 2005 Pioneers to a 12-5 record and the college’s first-ever bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. The Pioneers bowed out of the tournament in a first round 5-2 loss to host Babson College. McGuin, who
was named the 2005 Empire 8 Conference Coach of the Year, led a team that produced six all-conference athletes, including Senior Captain Shannon Rohacek (Little Falls), who was recently named a Dartfish/NFHCA Third Team All-American.
Aaron Burgstein ’90 who is in the US Air Force was recently promoted to major.
Damian Saunders ’96 is working on his new portfolio. It’s titled The New Cotton Fields.
Allyson McGowan Walker ’98 was married on March 11, 2006. She married Doug Walker in Houston, Texas. Allyson said, “We celebrated with friends and family, including some Sanford families. Those who made the trip to Texas include John and Karen Kuranz (Kelly ’02AA and Hannah ’07) and Ronnie and Lee Suekoff (Rachel 01’ and Jenna ’05). The others who were unable to make the trip were missed (especially the Samonisky family).
“Doug and I are now living in Ventura County, California, settling into married life. We hope to make it to the Delaware/Pennsylvania area in the near future for a visit.”
David Porter ’00 is currently living near Harrisburg, PA and is engaged to Kimberly Vanderpool. The wedding is planned for July 29, 2006. He says, “Kimberly and I are really starting to work on the plans now. We are very happy and looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together.”
Sanford Alumni Notes Sanford Alumni Notes
Meghan Galbraith ’98
“Hello, I am writing to let everyone know what has been going on with me. I am currently living on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. I moved here in January of 2005 with my boyfriend, Jason. I moved here to teach special education students. I have been teaching at Kipapa Elementary School in Mililani, Hawaii for a year. It has been an interesting and fun learning experience teaching and living in Hawaii. It is so beautiful here and it is especially nice to see some other familiar Delaware faces that have moved here. We live in Waipahu, Hawaii, which is in the center of the island.
As for my other news, my boyfriend Jason Davis asked me to marry him when we were home this Christmas at Ashland Nature Center at the top of Hawk Watch Hill. Jay is a wildlife biologist and worked for Ashland for about 15 years. We have been together for 7 years, so it was definitely a great trip back to Delaware this Christmas! Jay attended A.I. DuPont high school, was Class of ’93, and lived in Hockessin. We are moving back to the Delaware beach in June of 2006. Both of us can’t wait to move back home!
As for our wedding, an August 2006 wedding at Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club is planned. We are looking forward to a wonderful wedding when we return to Delaware this summer. Two of my seven bridesmaids are Sanford alumni: They are Christina Meyer ’98 and Eugenia Kirtses ’97. There will be Sanford alumni at the wedding, so I will send in a group picture. Hope all is well with everyone at Sanford. Hopefully, I’ll be able to come visit when I move back. Take care!”
Christine Keighley ’01 has been working hard in her classes towards her graduate degree in physical therapy. This summer, Christine will be completing a 6-week affiliation at a hospital in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where she will begin treating patients of her own.
Vic Tabeling ’01 graduated from college this past May and went straight to work. He is in the accounting department at a relatively new joint venture between Arinc and Parsons Engineering called Optifi—a company that installs and maintains wireless networks in airports. Vic lives in an apartment in Annapolis, MD and is now learning what it means to pay one’s own bills.
Ben Louchheim ’02 is a senior at Dickinson College. His extra curricular activities include being the head coach of the Carlisle, Pennsylvania JV High School lacrosse team.
Laura Bennett ’05 wrote to say, “I have been attending Springfield College in Springfield, MA. I am on the swimming and diving team, which has been doing very well with our most recent win against our rivals MIT.”
Division Champs
New Castle County Adult Men’s Soccer League (Left to right) Peter Martz ’00, Paul Beard ’99 and Ben Wiley ’98
We hear that Ali Crouse ’05 loves Virginia Tech and is doing well; she made the dean’s list last semester. She has also joined a sorority and loves it. She’s a Delta Gamma along with Lauren Autenrieth ’03 who’s been wonderful to Ali.
Marion Gilmore Wilson (former faculty member) writes to say, “Dear Friends (known and unknown!), I so often think of you, with pleasure and joy and my years spent at Sanford with Mother Sawin, Nancy, and Marny and so many others; first, as the mother of Henry, Linda, and Stephen, also as a substitute in every grade from K to senior; then, for many years as a third-grade teacher. How I loved my pupils, every one of them, and still remember all and send them my best wishes. I also send my best wishes to Sanford! I would truly enjoy hearing from any who remember me. After my husband’s death, I sold the farm and live on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. P.S. I have a great-granddaughter in grade 2 at Sanford. She loves it as do her parents.”
In Memoriam
We extend our deepest sympathy to families and friends of these members of the Sanford community.
On Thursday, March 2, 2006, Susan Windslow Foster ’60 of Washington, DC, died with her family by her side. Beloved mother of Morgen L. Fleisig of New York, NY and Alexis S. Fleisig of Los Angeles, CA; loving grandmother of Erica E. Fleisig of Bethesda, MD; sister of Cameron Foster ’60 of Bainbridge Island, WA. She will also be missed by Heywood W. Fleisig and countless loving friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th Street, S.E., Washington, DC 20003. Memories shared online at www.InterFaithFunerals.com.
Molly L. Funkhouser ’70 passed away on July 12, 2005 of cancer at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg, VA. She was treasurer and office manager of her family’s business, Service Stationers, Inc. of Harrisonburg, for 18 years. Molly retired last May as administrator of Continuing Care Home Health Services also in Harrisonburg. After graduating from Sanford, Molly graduated from Beaver College with a BA in psychology in 1974 and the Katherine Gibbs School in New York City in 1979. She completed a graduate degree program in psychology at Mary Baldwin College in May ’05. In addition to her parents, Molly is survived by two brothers, J. Daniel Funkhouser of Charlottesville and Edward A Funkhouser of Alexandria.
E. O. “Lang” Langerak, age 85, husband of Marny Sawin Langerak ’43 passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 23, 2006 at Stonegates Retirement Community in Greenville, DE after a long illness. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to one of the following: Delaware Hospice, 3515 Silverside Rd., Wilm., DE 19810, Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church, 101 Old Kennett Rd., Wilm., DE 19807, or the Delaware Chapter of the American Cancer Society, 92 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720. Mildred H. Stoddard, mother of Jim Stoddard ’70 passed away on January 25, 2006 at her home in Weaverville, NC. She was 87. In the 1970s, Mildred taught voice, piano, and music at Sanford School. Her health had been slowly declining in the last two years after a series of strokes. When she finally passed, Jim was by her side holding her hand along with his sister. She is now alongside Jim’s father, David L. Stoddard, who passed away in March 2005, in the memorial garden at Trinity Episcopal Church in Asheville, NC.
Send us your news about your job, travel, weddings, births, schooling, visits with friends, etc., for the next issue of SANFORD magazine. You may also use this form for any name or address changes. Please print the information below, then cut out the form, and mail it to Sanford School, P.O. Box 888, Hockessin, DE 19707-0888
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OR EMAIL US TODAY AND LET US KNOW WHAT’S NEW: alumni@sanfordschool.org
The Sanford Wrestling Program is creating banners for the wrestling room. The banners, which will recognize past accomplishments of individual wrestlers, will include DE State place winners, D.I.T. champions, and D.I.S.C. champions. If you know any past Sanford wrestler who accomplished any of these accolades, please pass on his name, the year the recognition was accomplished, and the weight class of the individual to Head Wrestling Coach Mark Bosick at bosickm@sanfordschool.org. We are in need of information from the years before the 2001-02 season.
Sanford School's educational experience transcends brick and mortar. Inspiration and knowledge are harvested from the beauty of our campus. Sanford has two ponds and three streams where students can look for tadpoles, study water quality, and become inspired to express themselves in poetry, photography, sketching, and painting.
This photo was taken from the south side of the Irene du Pont (Upper School) Library looking westward in the spring of 2006.
