ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS

FALL 2019 ATHLETICS

GIRLS SOCCER

COACHES: JEFF PILGRIM AND BRIE DUSEAU ’12

The team finished with a 10–1–1 record, outscoring their opponents 84–25, and won second place at the New England Junior School Tournament, hosted by the Indian Mountain School (IMS). The highlights of the year were games versus IMS. In the first match-up in October, neither team had lost in three years, and the game ended in a 5–5 deadlock. In the tournament, Bement faced IMS again in the final game of the round-robin portion after beating Rectory School, Rumsey Hall School, and The Foote School. Bement stunned the host school, piling on four goals to end IMS’s winning streak with a 4–1 victory. In the finals, however, IMS gained its revenge with a 4–0 victory to claim the title. It was a stellar season, with good sportswomanship and a high caliber of skill on display from all players.

MVP: Kaelin ’20 COACHES’ AWARD: Cori ’21 ROLE MODEL: Ryan ’20 MOST IMPROVED: Sophie ’22

CROSS COUNTRY

COACHES: DAVE BELCHER P’07 AND DAN BENSEN ’01

The Bement cross country team began the season with only a few veterans but a wealth of can-do spirit. The veterans set a tone that quickly brought the newcomers into the fold. With a cohesive culture, the team improved dramatically. The season culminated with two final championship meets, the Western Mass Middle School Cross-Country Invitational and the Massachusetts Middle School Cross Country Championships. The boys finished 3rd in the local meet and 19th in the state meet, and the girls placed 6th in the local meet and 17th in the state meet. With 11 of 23 runners in fifth and sixth grades, the future is promising for this team.

MVPS: Flora ’23, Henry ’22 ROLE MODELS: Yuki ’20, Aiden ’21 UNSUNG HEROES: Erica ’20, Emmett ’23 MOST IMPROVED: Sebastian ’22, Vickie ’23

FIELD HOCKEY

COACHES: CHERYL CANUEL, MARTHA PRICE P’07 ’10, PF, AND ERIN CROMACK ’07

The 2019 field hockey team was a unified force. The players markedly improved their fitness with rigorous practices each week, and they were solid competitors at the Bement Field Hockey Jamboree, which marked the school’s 44th year hosting the event. Players from all grades worked together and supported one another. The team also ushered in a new tradition, dubbed the “Halloween Scramble,” with the thirds team at Deerfield Academy. Twice in October, players from both schools split into two teams to scrimmage before enjoying apple cider and donuts.

MVP: Jurnee ’20 ROLE MODEL: Avery ’20 UNSUNG HERO: Casey ’21 MOST IMPROVED: Grace ’21

BOYS SOCCER

COACHES: ALEX BARTLETT ’87 AND DOC POTTER

This team was something special, combining talent, attitude, and persistence to make it a successful season. Players were interested in real team play: passing the ball, fighting hard for 50-50 balls, and supporting one another through great wins and tough losses. With an overall 6–4–2 record, the team recorded big victories against Eaglebrook School and Westminster School, and fell twice to a very tough Deerfield team, where in both games Bement dominated pace and play. More than once the team heard glowing comments from opposing players and coaches, as well as referees, about their talent and character.

MVP: Motoya ’20 ROLE MODEL: Jeffrey ’21 UNSUNG HERO: Sebastian ’20 MOST IMPROVED: Chiwoo ’20

WINTER 2019-20 ATHLETICS

BOYS BASKETBALL

COACHES: WILL PAULDING AND JEFF PILGRIM

With only one ninth grader on the squad and a total of seven players, the team relied on its quickness and tenacity to end the season with a 5–3 record. The highlight of the year came in the team’s last game versus MacDuffie School’s JV squad. Facing much taller, stronger, and older opponents (most of the MacDuffie team was composed of eleventh and twelfth graders), Bement gained control employing timely steals, which led to easy baskets and a well-earned 51–41 victory.

MVP: Jonny ’21 COACHES’ AWARD: Greg ’21 LEADERSHIP AWARD: Ryan ’20 MOST IMPROVED: Richard ’23

ICE HOCKEY

COACH: BILLY WYSOCKI

The ice hockey team had a fantastic first season as Bement took to the ice once again. With a range of talents, the team was unified by the end of the season. Practices focused on developing skills and learning the art of the game. The team played two official games against Eaglebrook, and players enjoyed the speed and thrill of competition, winning the first game and losing the second. Both games were high scoring, with the advantage going back and forth.

MVP: Logan ’21 ROLE MODEL: Conor ’20 UNSUNG HERO: Danny ’23 MOST IMPROVED: Amy ’21

SQUASH

COACH: ERIC BORDUA

This was a learning season, with many first-time players new to the sport and to athletics in general. Each day, players improved as individuals and coalesced as a team, bringing a striving spirit to practices and matches. The team finished with a 6–8 record, which included big wins versus Williston and Deerfield. In every match, the players fought hard, tried their best, and cultivated resiliency. Every player—from veteran to rookie—was able to compete in at least one competitive match.

MVP & ROLE MODEL: Ryan ’20 MOST IMPROVED: Mariam ’21 COACH’S AWARD: Angela ’21

GIRLS BASKETBALL

COACH: ALEX BARTLETT ’87

It was clear from the start that this would be a very special season for the girls’ varsity basketball team. With a slim roster of nine, every player was involved with the team’s philosophy of running a tight playeron-player defense, initiating a fast-break offense when possible, and playing with heart and desire at every contest. With an 11–1 record, the team was challenged in only three of these contests, which made for equal playing time and room for younger players to be challenged and improve. The final game of the season was a thrilling victory against Williston’s JV squad, a team Bement has not beaten in its history!

MVP: Cori ’21 UNSUNG HERO: Solbee ’20 MOST IMPROVED: Avery ’20

COACHES: DAN BENSEN ’01 AND SAM WYLIE-CAIN

The ski team entered the season with the largest squad in recent memory. With mostly new skiers, veterans set a strong example and created a supportive culture. The team balanced having fun with developing tactical and technical skills and cultivating long-term athletic abilities. Highlights of the year included the JV girls and JV boys squads finishing first and second overall in the Mount Institute Ski League race season, as well as the team’s first-ever participation in the NEPSAC Alpine Skiing Championship.

MVPs: Ryan ’20, Aiden ’21 LEADERSHIP AWARDS: Ryan ’20, Daniel ’22 UNSUNG HERO: Campbell ’22

SWIMMING

COACHES: MARTHA PRICE P’07 ’10, PF AND KELLY LIIMATAINEN

Bement’s swim team again ushered in an undefeated season, and many swimmers achieved their personal best times in races, which were all against high school JV teams. Veteran swimmers were eager to give younger teammates advice and help them learn the technicalities of strokes and how to use the starting blocks. With much team spirit, swimmers worked hard at every practice, and they competed mightily at every meet. Congratulations to Kylie ’20 for beating the school record in the 200 individual medley event, which had stood since 2011.

LEADERSHIP AWARD: Ella ’20 UNSUNG HERO: Kylie ’20 MOST IMPROVED: Gordon ’22

The COVID-19 pandemic meant that students were unable to participate and compete in spring athletics. Still, it was important to keep students active and moving, even from afar. Athletic Director and upper school health teacher Alex Bartlett ’87 and lower school PE teachers Will Paulding and Jerry Dobosz got creative as they encouraged students to exercise daily.

UPPER SCHOOL

Each week, Mr. Bartlett posted a set of suggested activities for students on his webpage, including links to yoga, strength training, and other workouts on YouTube. He also posted workout videos of himself that were easy for students to replicate, like running up stairs and jumping. Mr. Bartlett upped the ante by issuing a 10 push-up challenge to students and faculty. Finally, he urged students to get inventive with their own workouts, and many students submitted photos of themselves hiking, biking, or playing sports. Additionally, Mr. Paulding created and posted how-to videos for upper school athletes that explained athletic training movements, starting with the squat pattern and progressing to a lateral deceleration technique and a hip-turn technique.

“My approach was one of ease and gentleness, and I reminded students that getting any activity was important in order to stay healthy,” Mr. Bartlett said. He also wanted to help students think about their overall health, and he suggested trying new activities, like cooking healthy meals, baking bread, and starting a garden. “I encouraged students to take a break from screens, work standing up, find time to be quiet and peaceful, and be outside to get fresh air when it was safe.”

LOWER SCHOOL

Mr. Paulding and Mr. Dobosz created a weekly PE grid of activities with four categories, which included a warm-up, a stretch routine, strength exercises, and a game. Once a week, Mr. Dobosz also held live PE Zoom classes, and students were able to tune in to see many of their classmates and play a physical game together.

“We wanted to provide students with easy options to move and play in their days at home, either by themselves or with a family member,” Mr. Paulding said. “We know that physical activity and physical education are not essentially the same thing, but we were just hoping each student did as much as they were able and comfortable doing.” The teachers also created Bement’s first virtual field day with the aid of the website Goosechase.com, which helped to organize a scavenger hunt. Students split up into two teams to complete 50 activities, ranging from athletic to partnered, individual, and household-chore based. All activities were awarded points, and students submitted photos or videos to show themselves performing each activity.

BY SARA BECTON ARDREY P’22 ’24, FA

Embracing Brains & Beauty

Nailah Barnes ’15’s nonprofit empowers Black women and girls.

In 2015, Nailah Barnes ’15 founded The Brains with Beauty Project, a nonprofit whose mission is to equip Black girls and women with the tools to see themselves as both brilliant and beautiful. The world is taking notice. Gucci, the Milan-based luxury brand, included Barnes in its inaugural list of North America Changemakers Scholars, which recognizes college students from diverse backgrounds who are working within the fashion industry to create change. Barnes is entering her junior year at Spelman College, where she is majoring in international studies and French. As she makes future plans and contends with how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the project’s on-the-ground presence, she shares her inspiration for founding the nonprofit, and how attending Bement helped prepare her to become a changemaker.

What is The Brains with Beauty Project, and what inspired you to start it?

The Brains with Beauty Project consists of two parts: The Salon Initiative, which places empowering books in hair salons for young patrons to enjoy, and The One-Stop Initiative, an online platform that houses curated academic and beauty tips.

The impetus for The Brains with Beauty Project began with a conversation I had with my mom about what I was noticing while at the hair salon. Young Black women and girls around me had their faces buried in screens or were struggling to find materials that interested them in the salon’s magazines. I was also becoming increasingly aware of the lack of representation of Black girls in the media who were both excelling academically and maintaining their holistic wellness. To solve this issue, with

the help of grants from Deerfield Academy’s Center for Service and Global Citizenship, I began placing baskets of empowering books in hair salons in Western Massachusetts, and the books Barnes was on the track and field team at Bement. focused on Black girls and young women. I received positive reactions from moms and their daughters, and I began asking friends at school to bring Brains with Beauty Baskets to their hometown salons.

As The Salon Initiative grew, I received more funding and was able to build the One-Stop Initiative—a website that houses academic-success tools as well as wellness and beauty tips, many of which are tailored to the needs of Black girls. Young women and

girls who use The Brains with Beauty Project can internalize the message that no matter what others say, they are both beautiful and intelligent—whether they’re getting beautiful braids installed with their noses buried in Octavia Butler’s Kindred or they’re getting tips on how to study abroad affordably and how to spice up their wardrobes on a budget.

The Brains with Beauty Project has used the closure of hair salons due to the CO VID-19 pandemic to strengthen its online presence and to strategize ways to engage young readers virtually.

Who are the role models that you admire?

I admire my mother, Dr. Riché Barnes, who is an anthropologist, author (Raising the Race), and college professor. Throughout my life, she has modeled for me what it means to be a scholar-activist. She is also a graduate of Spelman College and is on Bement’s Board of Trustees. I am inspired daily by Stacey Abrams, who is a Black American politician, lawyer, and voting rights activist, and is also a graduate of Spelman College. She was the first Black woman to run for governor of Georgia. During her election cycle, Georgian voters faced unprecedented levels of voter disenfranchisement. Stacey now leads the nonprofit organization she founded called Fair Fight, which works to ensure that all elections are free, fair, and Gucci, the Milan-based luxury secure. brand, included Barnes in its inaugural list of North America

Another one of my role models Changemakers Scholars. is J ohnnetta B. Cole, the first Black woman president of Spelman College and a renowned author, educator, anthropologist, and museum director. Additionally, Spelman College’s current president, Mary Schmidt Campbell, has helped me see the intersection of the arts, education, politics, and public policy through her example, and has inspired me greatly as a mentor and supporter.

What did you enjoy the most about your Bement experience?

Bement taught me how to be strong in my convictions and sure of my abilities inside the classroom, on the athletic fields, and in the Barn as I explored a myriad of visual and performing art forms. I cherish memories of U.S. history class with Mr. Dave Belcher P’07 and then transitioning to the track with him for high jump practice. Ms. Katrina Spicer PF, my eighth-grade adviser, taught me the importance of mental health and wellness. I thank Bement for nurturing some of my strongest friendships—people BARNES CHALLENGES HERSELF TO READ ONE NON-SCHOOL-RELATED BOOK EACH WEEK. SHE’S CURRENTLY READING THE COLOR PURPLE.

who will be a part of my life forever. Bement prepared me well to attend Deerfield Academy, to be a varsity-level track and field and basketball athlete, and to excel in the classroom, where I honed my budding intellectual pursuits and passions. I am forever grateful to Bement for embracing me, nurturing me, and helping me strengthen my sense of self and my conviction of voice.

How has y our Bement experience influenced your life so far?

Ms. Nancy Pond P’89 ’95, PF was my French teacher from sixth grade through eighth grade. She had an indelible impact on me and my development. French class transported me outside the Deerfield, MA, bubble and helped me realize my passion for languages and people. She sparked my insatiable curiosity about the world. I traveled abroad for the first time with Ms. Pond in the summer between my seventh- and eighth-grade years. I was nicknamed the “escargot” (snail) of the group because I was always a few paces behind the pack, with my neck craned side to side as I tried to soak in as much of my surroundings as possible. This immense privilege opened my eyes to the world. As a junior in high school, I went on to live in Rennes, France, for a year. I lived with a host family, took all my classes in French, and completed a capstone research project on Black Americans who immigrated to France in search of intellectual and artistic freedom. I focused on Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, and Angela Davis and compared their experiences in France to my own. Ms. Pond gifted me the wanderlust that has allowed me to travel the world—from Singapore to Tanzania to Spain—and to set my sights on a globally focused career.

Wha t is your advice for Bement’s Class of 2020?

My advice to the Bement Class of 2020 is to be very focused at the beginning of your high school career. Try to be as involved in clubs and organizations as possible while building a strong academic foundation. As you matriculate through school, you will be able to become the leaders of the organizations you start out in as an underclassman. These leadership positions will equip you with strong interpersonal and organizational skills that will serve you well in college and beyond. Furthermore, by having strong grades at the beginning of your time in high school, you create a cushion for yourself as your courses get harder in your upperclassman years.

To find out more, visit: www.brainswithbeauty.org.

Making History Come Alive

Zerah Jakub Burr ’99 has dedicated her career to museum education.

Burr visits the Piazza, her favorite location at Mount Vernon for its view of the sunsets over the Potomac River.

ENTHRALLED WITH HISTORY FROM A YOUNG AGE,

Zerah Jakub Burr ’99 was the type of student who would take history projects at Bement to another level. When she wrote a Revolutionary War–era journal in history teacher Dave Belcher P’07’s seventh-grade history class, she scraped soaked tea leaves on the paper to make it look like a relic, and she used a fountain ink pen to write her entries. History came alive for her as she spent hours in museums and went on field trips to historical places—like Old Deerfield, where she tried corn cakes, and the eighth-grade visit to Gettysburg.

It’s no surprise, then, that Burr has built a career centered around educating young people in museums. For the past seven years, she has worked at George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia, where she currently serves as the senior manager of education communication and outreach. Burr, who holds a master’s degree in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University, has also worked in educational roles at the Paul Revere Memorial Association and the Old South Meeting House.

Even though Burr was passionate about history—specifically the Revolutionary War period—she knew she didn’t want to be a historian or a classroom teacher. Instead, she recalled how much she had loved museums in her youth.

“I had this epiphany that if I worked in a museum, I might not have a deep impact with 30 kids every year like I would in a classroom, but I could have a memorable impact on potentially thousands of kids every year,” she recalled. “And I’d get to stay in a time period that makes me really happy and talk about it all day.”

Mount Vernon’s primary mission is to educate people about George Washington’s legacy, and the estate, which was Washington’s plantation on the banks of the Potomac River, boasts a million visitors every year. Burr’s role includes leading the education department’s communications efforts and helping to coordinate residential programs intended to instruct teachers about Washington so that they, in turn, can better teach their own students. Burr also manages the Family Learning team and a slate of family-friendly onsite programming at Mount Vernon.

History teacher Dave Belcher P’07 was instrumental in “opening my eyes to how much I loved history and reaffirming that that’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

Favorite History Period?

BOSTON FROM 1763 TO 1776 I love all the taxation and the protests that led up to the Revolution. Our founding fathers were people who, if it failed, they were going to be tried for treason. They didn’t have the foresight to know what would happen. For them to put their necks out there and really believe in something is an incredible thing. I think we can learn a lot from how they responded to pressure and how they responded to the unknown.

“It makes my day to know that we’ve not only been able to give educators all this content and pedagogical information to bring back to their classrooms and share with other teachers, but that we’ve also treated the teachers like professionals,” she said. “Teachers work so hard, so when I hear from a teacher that working with Mount Vernon made them feel valued, I still get goose bumps.”

Burr says it is vitally important for young people to learn about the founding of America. “To know how your country was founded, how it works, what its history is, can help you become a better citizen, and to have an informed citizenry is one of the main goals of the founding fathers, in my opinion,” she stated.

At Mount Vernon, the museum doesn’t only honor the white male founders of the country. “We make a concerted effort to also educate about the enslaved individuals who were forced to call Mount Vernon home, as well as the women of the 18th century whose voices were ‘by and large’ kept to a whisper,” Burr said.

Burr, who is a pen pal with a fifth grader at Bement through teacher Rosemarie Gage P’10’s Pen Pal Project, says that Mr. Belcher was instrumental in “opening my eyes to how much I loved history and reaffirming that that’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

She says her time at Bement set the foundation for her further education. “A lot of my friends talk about their high school experience and how transformative that was for them, and for me it was Bement,” she said. “When I went to high school, I felt more than prepared, and a lot of the skills I learned at Bement I continued to use in college. I can’t imagine having been anywhere else for those four years in my life.”

And she can’t imagine spending her days anywhere else but a museum. “I work in a really special place,” she noted.

Tell White ’GB, PTT circled, gathers with the entire school during school founder Grace Bement’s era.

A Way of Life Retiring Board Member Tell White ’GB, PTT reflects on Bement.

When Tell White came to Bement as an eight-year-old boarder in 1942, the school was very different than it is today. There was not yet a formal graduation ceremony, nor any grades or competitive sports teams. Mr. White, who is retiring from the board of trustees after 19 years, has watched and helped the school transform. The essence of Bement, however, has endured and thrived—namely, school founder Grace Bement’s values and vision. Mr. White retired in 1998 from his 41-year career in sales, and he was determined to give back to Bement. As a member of the board, he was critical in establishing the Bement School Alumni Association, helping to formally re-engage more alumni/ae and boost the school’s fundraising efforts. As Mr. White departed from his position last spring, he reflected on his fond memories and recent activities.

BY MEGAN TADY FR

What do you recall about Bement when you were a student?

It was very much a family, as it is today, although a much smaller one. There were only about 45 students, and three-quarters of us were boarders. The day students, almost without exception, lived in either Greenfield or South Deerfield. School was very informal. All our classes were in the Schoolhouse. We spent most of our time in the large room on the first floor, which was the study hall and library. Grace Bement’s antique desk was placed against the chimney so she could readily oversee all the activity on either side of the room. She was always seated there whenever classes were in session. There were no grades, so we each progressed individually. The teachers were superb, caring, and supportive role models. Bement truly was a family, which was particularly comforting to me, as my parents were divorced. There were no athletic contests at that time, as we didn’t have enough players and there were no other schools to play at our level.

You knew Grace Bement. Can you describe her?

We called her “Menty,” and she was an extraordinary person in every respect. She was brilliant, had a formidable presence, and was filled with life and love. When necessary, she was also a very fair disciplinarian who had a strong and stable moral compass. Menty had a very positive attitude and an amazing amount of energy. She was held in high regard and affection by all, as she was an inspirational leader and exceptional teacher. Also, I will always remember she wore sneakers most of the time. She was unique in every respect.

What is one of your favorite memories of Ms. Bement?

Menty loved to read and was a marvelous reader. We gathered in the Barton House living room after lunch while she read books to us. My favorites were the Sherlock Holmes stories and those by Rudyard Kipling. It was incredibly pleasant and peaceful as we curled up on the couch to listen, and it was, without a doubt, the highlight of our day.

How does the school still resemble Ms. Bement’s vision?

Bement today remains the unique and exceptional school that it is because of Menty and those who have followed in her footsteps. Her values created the school, and they remain very much alive and well today. I learned the importance of honesty, integrity, responsibility, and accountability during my years there. I was indeed fortunate to be at Bement during a very formative period in my life. It’s one of the reasons I love Bement and am forever grateful I attended our school. “Tell is very good at reminding us all about what our priorities are for the school, and simultaneously being open and willing to listen, and being nimble with changes as we grow. Tell has been a guiding light on our board, and we will certainly miss him.”

—LISA KITTREDGE TT, P’06 ’18 ’21

What is one of your proudest accomplishments as a board member?

By starting the Alumni Association, we presented Bement to the alumni/ae in a more organized and disciplined manner. We now have scheduled meetups in New York, Boston, Northampton, and, of course, Deerfield. The internet has significantly enhanced our ability to more easily reach out and maintain contact with our alumni/ae. I’m also very pleased by the number of people who had lost touch with Bement for years but started reconnecting with the school. In many cases, they have also become regular donors.

How is Bement well poised for the future?

I think Bement is well equipped to manage the challenges of COVID-19 as well as the changes to come in the years ahead. We have a very competent and capable team who makes good decisions and will keep our school running steadily and efficiently. I am absolutely confident Bement will come out of our current situation in good shape and will continue to improve exponentially while updating the same strong value system to fit the “new normal.”

How do you feel about retiring from the board after 19 years?

I have very mixed emotions. My family and the Bement family have been the primary focus of my life during that period. I am forever grateful and appreciative of the opportunity given to me to join the board and to manage the affairs of the school with such a special group of talented and committed friends. At the same time, though, it marks the formal conclusion of my years with Bement, which began when I was eight years old. Bement gave me a solid foundation in so many ways. I loved it then and love it even more today. However, my time has come to step away, albeit reluctantly.