The Bement Bulletin 2024

The Bement Bulletin

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS | FALL 2024

FEATURES

30 YEARS OF GETTYSBURG

What began as a minor misunderstanding in a faculty meeting has become a major part of the Bement student experience. Faculty and students reflect on this annual rite of passage. PAGE 12

THE ARTS AT BEMENT

In the studio and on the stage, student creativity abounds! Here’s a look at the many ways in which we explore perspectives, voice, media, and more. PAGE 18

BENEFITS BEYOND WORDS

Bement’s thoughtful and informed approach to reading gives students a strong foundation on which to build necessary skills for learning—and for life. PAGE 22

THANK YOU, MRS. CURRIE

Words of gratitude and good wishes for lower school teacher Janice Currie upon her retirement after 43— yes, 43!—years of service. PAGE 26

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

In the courtroom, in the operating room, and around the

Longtime teacher Janice Currie with granddaughter Sydney ’33.

MANAGING EDITORS

Jennifer Gottlieb FR

Linda Stacy P’08 ’11, FA

DESIGNER

Penny Michalak P’14

WRITERS

Jon Adolph FR

Dan Bensen ’01, FA

Jennifer Gottlieb FR

Shelley Borror Jackson FHS, P’00

Amie Keddy FA

Katie MacCallum P’29, FA

Jeffrey E. Pilgrim FA

Terry Shields P’19 ’21 ’25, PF

EDITORS

Sara Becton Ardrey P’22 ’24, FA

Katie MacCallum P’29, FA

Jamie Nan Thaman FR

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sara Ardrey P’22 ’24, FA

Marcia Bernard FA

Janice Currie P’99 ’02, GP’33 ’34, PF

Hannah Dancer FA

Alice Gearhart FA

Katie MacCallum P’29, FA

David Michalak P’14

Griffin Morse FA

Matt Plager ’12, FA

Emily Mikolayunas Rich P’24 ’28, FA

Linda Stacy P’08 ’11, FA

Carlin Tindall FA

Ashleigh Wall FA

Bree Wisniewski FA

Tim Young ’61, PF

Values, Voices, and Vision

This year’s Bement Bulletin arrives in your mailbox at a moment in time replete with anticipation and historical significance, both at Bement and in the wider world. In Deerfield, Bement’s 100th year of operation lies ahead, a momentous milestone in the life of our beloved school that will culminate in celebrations and tributes surrounding our centennial in 2025. Meanwhile, world affairs remain dominated by unpredictable conflicts in lands far from Massachusetts and political rhetoric that strains the boundaries of propriety and truth and generally raises the populace’s blood pressure. As Bement students try to make sense of what they hear in the news, developments in artificial intelligence and social media have rendered a landscape for their adolescence that was unimaginable merely a decade ago. Against that backdrop, Bement begins another year of living and learning as a family, and in my fifth year as head of school, I am more grateful than ever to be a part of a community where grace, kindness, belonging, and empathy are such a palpable part of daily life.

Never has Bement’s constancy as a community of teachers and learners committed to a set of core values—compassion, integrity, resilience, and respect—been more important, more reassuring, and, for the students in school today, more valuable as a road map for how to navigate these remarkable times. For no matter how events transpire far afield from Bement in the months ahead, today’s students will grow up in a world where the social and emotional skills and academic dispositions they have developed at Bement will be of paramount importance in creating a more just and equitable society. Indeed, this year’s Bulletin features a number of the programs, people, and experiences at Bement that continue to nurture these qualities in our students, as the school has done since Grace Bement realized her vision for a school in 1925.

CONSTITUENCY CODES

’GB Alumna/us from Grace Bement era (1925 –1947)

’00 Alumna/us Class Year

TT Trustee

PTT Past Trustee

HOS Head of School

FHS Former Head of School

P Parent

GP Grandparent

GGP Great Grandparent

FA Current Faculty or Staff

PF Past Faculty or Staff

FR Friend of Bement

Two academic programs highlighted within these pages—Bement’s deep commitment to literacy and the Gettysburg trip, more than three decades old!—reflect core teaching and learning practices that help students develop empathetic perspectives on history and diverse experiences. The alumni stories shared here, too, underscore the timeless values of a Bement education and how some graduates have lived our mission in their professional lives, spanning the fields of medicine, law, and diplomacy. These Bement stories, beginning in the classroom and extending decades later to the professional world, highlight the timeless nature of our approach to education and underscore how critical the principles of a Bement education will be for the next generation of scholars, leaders, and public servants.

Each of us has our own Bement story, and I hope you will see echoes of your own experience in the snapshots of today’s Bement featured in this year’s Bulletin. How your Bement story, or your children’s, evolves and endures in the lives of today’s and tomorrow’s students is how a century-old school continues to occupy such a prominent place in American education. And the continuation of that story into a second century should sound a note of hope amid uncertain times—hope that a new generation of Bement graduates is on the doorstep ready to lead the way with compassion, integrity, resilience, and respect.

The Bement Bulletin is published yearly by the communications office for current and past parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends of The Bement School.

MINI-TERM 2023

Where We Live and Learn

In advance of Bement’s 100th anniversary in 2025, our 2023 mini-term was an exploration and celebration of local history with the theme Our Place in the Connecticut River Valley. Over three weeks, threads of Indigenous People, Industry, Immigration, and the Natural World came together to create a vibrant tapestry of this place we call home.

This rich learning experience was enhanced by visits to a range of local sites, from Great Falls Discovery Center to the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College and Cabot Station, the hydroelectric power plant in Turners Falls. These field trips provided context and connection and fortified our students’ understanding of place, both past and present.

We also welcomed several inspiring guests to campus, including award-winning musician John Currie, who performed his song about growing up on the Connecticut River; David Brule of the Nolumbeka Project, who spoke about the history of Native Americans in the Northeast; Professor Richard Little, who inspired us

to protect Jurassic armored mud balls, one of geology’s rare sedimentary structures; and singer-storyteller Jack DesBois, who shared selections from his V Is the Valley performance based on the Helen Hartness Flanders Ballad Collection of New England folk music. In addition, the Wildlife on Wheels program from the Zoo in Forest Park brought along animal ambassadors, including two snakes and a very large rabbit!

And in keeping with mini-term tradition, collaborations brought together upper and lower school buddies for a range of activities. Students and teachers learned about the discovery of fossilized dinosaur footprints in the Valley and made their own fossils. There were apple tastings in the dining hall and polka lessons in the Barn—even an elaborate obstacle course based on the migration of anadromous fish up the river!

The arts department supported each member of the school community— students, faculty, and staff—in creating a layered paper representation of their unique place in the Valley, and the finished work was presented as a film to represent the river’s flow.

In the final week of mini-term, dining services offered meals tied to some of the immigrant and Indigenous populations in the Valley, from kielbasa and pierogies to poutine, Irish Apple Cake, and Three Sisters Stew, a hearty combination of corn, beans, and squash.

It was a festive and full three weeks that helped all of us more fully appreciate our Valley and Bement’s place in it— a perfect precursor to our upcoming centennial celebration and worth sharing more widely, so we created a special website featuring videos, slideshows, photo galleries, recommended resources and activities, and more to allow the entire Bement community to join in the learning. Many thanks to our mini-term co-chairs— Lower School Head Anna Casey and Upper School Head Lesley Doll—World Language Department Chair Alice Gearhart, Librarian Marcia Bernard, and all our faculty for a fabulous experience!

We hope you find inspiration and have fun exploring this place we call home! Scan the code to view the website.

What Makes a Nation?

Bement’s fourth-grade students worked all spring term to explore and establish aspects of their own micronations, inspired by values, symbols, and activities important to them. Each student’s project included creating their own flag (hand drawn as well as a mosaic version using Google Drawings), declaration of independence, multilayered map, code of laws, passport, and system of currency.

Très Cool

French students buddy up to build vocabulary and skills

Griffin Morse’s first- and second-year French classes have been getting to know their second- and thirdgrade buddies in a whole new light (and language!) as part of an advanced speaking project. French students met one-on-one with their buddies to learn more about their lives, their interests, and a few of their favorite things. Once these interviews were completed, the students presented in French, first to their own classmates and later to the second and third graders who were thrilled to see and hear their life stories en français!

ELE-O-WEEN PUTS THE “MASS” IN MASSIVE FUN

Late October has long been associated with clever costumery, but not like this! For the third straight year, upper school science teachers Keith Bevan and Jeff Pilgrim organized Ele-o-ween for eighth-grade science classes studying the iconic periodic table of elements, organized by atomic mass.

After selecting an element from “the sorting hat,” students were tasked with researching it and creating a costume to represent relevant physical and chemical properties as well as uses of that element in today’s world. The project culminated in a celebration that included a 60-second pitch for why their element was “the best’’ on the periodic table. Students’ collective creativity and artistry was on full display in a final group photo in which they were arranged by atomic number—amazing to behold!

Today at Bement

2024 ECLIPSE SHADOWS AND CELEBRATIONS

Monday, April 8, 2024, was a day to remember—the Great North American Eclipse, when the moon’s orbit passed between the sun and the earth, blocking the light and casting a midday shadow. It was the biggest solar eclipse Massachusetts will see until 2078, and an event made even more memorable thanks to the upper school science department’s programs and celebrations marking the occasion.

The Friday before, Bement students gathered in the Barn for an introduction to what was to come and to view a video reading of Jeffrey Bennett’s book Totality! by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The school then worked in their buddy groups constructing solar projectors for viewing the eclipse. On the day of the event, all students and staff were given special viewing glasses and invited to explore five themed stations set up on the field hockey field: The Sun, The Moon, Types of Eclipses, Pinhole Cameras, and Scale of Space. Upper schoolers made pinhole viewers with their advisories and enjoyed a short presentation focused on ancient stories from around the world explaining the phenomenon. Under clear skies and with the best weather we could have wished for, the whole school community gathered in appreciation and awe. And though the eclipse itself was fleeting, shared memories of this cosmic event will last a lifetime.

Bement Welcomes a New Star to the Stage

A state-of-the-art backdrop called a cyc (short for “cyclorama”) now allows for animations and other green screen work for all performing arts. In addition to enhancing what’s onstage, says Fine Arts Department Chair and Drama Teacher Casey Ahern P’31, it’s also a wonderful way to highlight student artwork, with designs done on standard paper able to be projected as backgrounds to scenes and performances. The green screen technology has exciting interactive capabilities as well. When a second grader was going to be absent for the class performance, her part was filmed in advance and able to be shown on the screen as if she were there! In another instance, artwork came to life when the subject of a painting disappeared on the backdrop, appearing moments later as a character onstage. “The new screen gives our students more creative freedom with set design,” says Ms. Ahern, and students have been proactively creating backgrounds for upcoming performances. “The possibilities are exciting and endless.”

STUDENT CLUBS PURSUE YOUR PASSION— OR DISCOVER A NEW ONE

What do Hercules beetles, quadratic equations, and short stories have in common? They’re all hot topics of conversation in a few of the many student-driven clubs at Bement. Clubs, organizations, and affinity groups meet during the school day and offer students in grades 6 through 9 the opportunity to pursue their passions and interests while connecting with others who share their enthusiasm and curiosity. Although they vary year to year, last year’s list of clubs included art, magazine, book, creative writing, math, insect, ecology, interfaith, and peer tutoring. In addition, Bement has two groups focused on exploring identity— Asian Heritage and GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance)—and Student Council is an upper school organization with members elected annually. And if a club doesn’t already exist, students are encouraged to start one!

Second graders collaborated with the Upper School Insect Club, putting their insect knowledge to the test with a fun game of Jeopardy

Currie’s fifth-grade class (Class of 1986)

2023–2024

Currie’s second-grade class (Class of 2031)

Janice

Janice

INSECT FAIR

All the Buzz

The second-grade springtime unit on insects is a long-standing tradition at Bement that culminates with the Insect Fair. It is an interdisciplinary effort combining science, language arts and writing, visual arts—and now filmmaking!

Bement’s young entomologists studied insects of all types on campus and at Pine Hill, where during one visit they had to pass through the holes of a giant “spider web” made of rope without touching the sides. They wrote poems and silly stories about insects, researched their assigned insect for a book of facts and drawings, made self-portraits inspired by their insects, and created a habitat diorama for display at the Insect Fair.

A short film in the style of a newscast called The Buzz featured student reporters interviewing each other’s bug characters: a bee, a flea, a cockroach, an ant, a butterfly, a grasshopper, a praying mantis, and a ladybug. Some scenes were filmed “on location,” others in front of a green screen, and all featured a variety of fun facts and students in colorful masks of their own design made in art with Sue Robertson. The students also took turns as director, keeping track of the scene and take. Drama teacher Francesca HansenDiBello oversaw and edited the film, but all content was based on research findings by the second graders themselves, such as:

• If fleas were the size of humans, they could jump the Statue of Liberty in one leap

• Butterflies have taste buds on their feet

• Ants can carry ten times their weight

• A cockroach can survive three months without food

• And speaking of food . . . The female praying mantis eats the male after mating!

Scan to watch The Buzz

2023–2024 Athletic Highlights

Fall 2023

CROSS COUNTRY

MVPs Liam ’24, Sophie S. ’25

Team Leaders Finn ’24, Zelda ’24

Most Improved Adriana ’25, Hankin ’27

BOYS VARSITY SOCCER

MVP Will ’25

Team Leader Sam ’24

Most Improved Hayden ’24

BOYS JV SOCCER

MVP Justin ’26

Team Leader Christian ’26

Most Improved Brighton ’27

FIELD HOCKEY

MVP Audrey ’26

Team Leader Livia ’24

Most Improved Angela ’26

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER

MVPs Anya ’24, Vicky ’25

Team Leader Angelina ’24

Most Improved Iris ’24

GIRLS JV SOCCER

Team Leader Sylvie ’27

Most Improved Adriana ’27

GIRLS SOCCER FALL 2023: HARD WORK PAYS OFF

by Jeffrey Pilgrim

The Bement girls soccer program has a long history of excellence, with many of its players going on to play at the secondary school level (almost half of the starting lineup at Deerfield Academy in recent years consisted of former Bement players!). The loss of so many players and a lack of experience and consistency in 2022 resulted in a winless season, but it proved to be a major motivator for 2023. Bolstered by some new players and a determination to succeed, the girls worked hard building skills and camaraderie. The team earned a 6–3 record, led by Vicky ’25 (14 goals, 8 assists) and Anya ’24 (13 goals).

Nowhere was their improvement more evident than the Indian Mountain tournament, where the team finished third overall and was the only team to tie Indian Mountain School on its way to the championship. Bement’s lone loss of 0–1 came in dramatic fashion against Rectory School, which scored on a penalty kick with 0:00 left on the clock. Our team impressed with its fortitude, however, facing Rectory again in the consolation game, which Bement won 2–1 thanks in part to a stellar and heroic showing by goalie Angelina ’24. Although we will lose a number of talented players this year, we know our returning players are motivated and well-equipped to carry forth the proud tradition of Bement soccer!

Cross Country

Girls Varsity Soccer

Field Hockey

Boys Varsity Soccer

Girls JV Soccer

Boys JV Soccer

BEMENT ALPINE SKI RACING: FIVE FACTS by Dan

Bensen

’01

1

Many of the teams Bement skiers compete against are from high schools, which means some of our skiers compete against those who are as much as seven years older than they are.

2

Since sports take place in the mornings through winter, on practice days the Bement ski team spends more time traveling than skiing: one hour round trip for 40 minutes of practice. But that doesn’t stop them from making the most of their time on the slopes, with skiers getting in five—or even as many as eight!—runs in a day.

Winter 2023–24

GIRLS BASKETBALL

MVP Anya ’24

Team Leader Ruth ’26

Most Improved Camille ’27

BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL

MVPs Carter ’24, JJ ’25

Team Leader Sam ’24

Most Improved William ’25

BOYS JV BASKETBALL

MVP Matthew ’26

Team Leader Liam ’26

Most Improved Bryant ’25, Dachi ’25

BOYS SQUASH

MVP Neo ’25

Role Model Cyrus ’26

Most Improved Hayden ’24

GIRLS SQUASH

MVP Rebecca ’26

Role Model Iris ’24

Most Improved Doun ’24

ALPINE SKI RACING

MVPs Wylie ’24, Christian ’26

Team Leaders Wylie ’24, Oliver ’25

Most Improved Adam ’25, Reese ’27, Sylvie ’27

SWIMMING

MVP Vicky ’25

Team Leaders Henry ’25, Melanie ’25

Most Improved Rosalyn ’27

3 The girls varsity team placed third overall in the NEPSAC Class C Championship. Wylie ’24 was Bement’s top finisher in both races, winning the Slalom and placing second in the Giant Slalom.

4 The JV girls won all six of their races in the Mount Institute Ski League (MISL).

5 The JV boys finished third in the MISL, with three skiers in the top 10—quite a feat considering that only one member entered the season with more than a year of racing experience.

Alpine Ski Racing

Boys Varsity Basketball

Squash

Swimming

Girls Basketball

GOLF AT BEMENT: CORE VALUES IN ACTION

by Terry Shields P’19

’21 ’25, PF

Anyone who has taken up golf, if even for one day, likely knows both the exhilaration and frustration of the game. When all aspects of your swing come together and the ball lands where you intended it to go—whether it be the fairway, the green, or in the hole—it is quite a thrill. The next swing, however, may have very different results, landing in the water, the woods, or a sand trap. This is par for the course, so to speak, in a game in which scoring par (an expected number of strokes) is considered an achievement. For Bement golfers, the spring season is an excellent opportunity to put our core values into practice: being resilient through the inevitable setbacks; showing compassion in support of teammates who may be struggling; leading with integrity throughout a round, especially on the difficult days; and respecting all others with whom they share the course. This spring, we fielded both a developmental JV team and a competitive varsity team. With most players returning for a second or even third season, we won several matches and were in contention for all of them. Our schedule allowed us to play nine holes two times a week at our home course of Crumpin-Fox in Bernardston, and we demonstrated remarkable consistency and growth from the start of the season. At our end-of-year match with parents and staff prior to the spring sports banquet, the adults soon realized that they had to bring their best game to keep pace with our players. Most impressive, though, were the moments during the season when varsity members would work directly with their peers just learning the game. Their guidance and instruction not only modeled proper technique but embodied the kindness, encouragement, and gratitude that mark the attitude of care at Bement, which bodes well for future seasons.

Spring 2024

BOYS LACROSSE

MVP Hayden ’24

Team Leaders Carter ’24, William ’25

Most Improved Alvin ’24, Taiki ’25

GIRLS LACROSSE

MVP Iris ’24

Team Leader Zoe ’24

Most Improved Zelda ’24

ULTIMATE

MVP Alaric ’25

Team Leader Aiden ’25

Most Improved Emily H. ’25

TENNIS

MVP Jay ’26

Team Leader Adam ’25

Most Improved Angelina ’24

TRACK AND FIELD

MVPs Liam ’24, Audrey ’26

Team Leaders Finn ’24, Maddie ’24

Most Improved Bella ’24, Lloyd ’26

GOLF

MVPs Vicky ’25, Liam ’26

Team Leader Sebastian ’25

Most Improved Doun ’24, Gabe ’26

Girls Lacrosse

Golf

Ultimate

Boys Lacrosse

Track and Field

Tennis

T�irty Years of Gettysburg

Photos for this feature provided by Dave Belcher P’07, FA; Ross Feitlinger PF; Meg O’Brien ’95, FA; Marina Vranos ’09

REFLECTIONS & REMEMBRANCES OF A BEMENT RITE OF PASSAGE

by Jennifer Gottlieb FR

T�is year marked Bement’s 30th trip to the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, PA, where eighth-grade students spend time walking the battlefields and touring monuments and museums dedicated to the historic Civi� War site. W�at began as a minor misunderstanding in a faculty meeting has become a major part of the Bement student experience. Here, the trip’s four founders and others reflect on the tradition and what makes it so special.

DAVE BELCHER

History Teacher, 1990–present

It was 1993, and Ken O’Brien and I were meeting with English teachers Dorothy Milne and Nancy Henderson to brainstorm ways our departments might work together. Ken and I had been teaching The Killer Angels in our classes and thought that might be a good connecting point and allow us to come at the book in a couple of ways, both the Civil War history and the writing itself.

NANCY HENDERSON

English Teacher, 1992–1998

When I saw the cover of The Killer Angels, my first thought was, “I have absolutely nothing in common with this book”—but then I couldn’t put it down! It’s not only about the Battle of Gettysburg; it’s about character and grit and decision-making and consequences. It’s a very well-researched and well-written book that is, in fact, extremely relatable.

DOROTHY MILNE

English Teacher, 1987–2004

I remember saying, “Let’s take the students to Gettysburg,” referring to the movie that had just come out. But the others took it to mean the place, and so suddenly there we were, planning a trip. In the course of the conversation, we went from asking “Can we really do this?” to making it happen.

DAVE BELCHER

That first trip was a whirlwind; we left Bement on a Sunday morning and were back on campus Monday night!

KEN O’BRIEN

History Teacher, 1984–2009

We knew the trip was a success, but we also knew we couldn’t possibly do it in 24 hours again. Dave kindly stepped up and agreed to do the planning for the following year—and thankfully every year since.

DAVE BELCHER

We’ve played with different formats over the years but it’s now a fiveday trip, which gives us plenty of time on the battlefield as well as the opportunity to explore other local sites.

When we first started, we had a wonderful tour guide named Skip Wensyel, who led our trips for many years. I had originally gotten in touch with him after reading a cover story he’d written for American Heritage magazine called “Tales of a Gettysburg Guide.” He had these incredible stories that just blew my mind. For our students to be able to learn from someone with his experiences, spirit, and kindness was really special. When his health took

a turn and he retired, he graciously encouraged me to take over guiding our trips, and I’ve worn that mantle ever since like a badge of honor. Gettysburg has resonance for me, and I believe it’s a place that students really need to spend time at—not just because it’s the site of this historic battle but because of the ideas at stake and what was being fought over.

KEN O’BRIEN

There is so much to explore related to some of the most significant issues in our nation’s history, such as slavery and separation of the states, but also the many distinct personalities of the Civil War. The Gettysburg trip is an opportunity to really dig into these characters and their stories: egotistical General George Pickett, whose division was decimated during Pickett’s Charge, graduated at the bottom of his class at West Point; Joshua Chamberlain, who took a leave from teaching at Bowdoin College to fight for the Union, earned a Medal of Honor for his defense at Little Round Top and later served as governor of Maine; a young Union drummer boy, who was loaded down with canteens, crawled down a hill to give water to wounded Confederates. Students were able to come away from the trip with context and a greater understanding of the human side of these historic figures.

MEG O’BRIEN ’95

History Department Chair

History Teacher, 2016–present

There’s just so much value in being there, walking in the footsteps of those you’ve studied and connecting with the past. It makes history come alive. It’s educational and also fun. I never did the trip as a student but had heard about the trip over the years from my dad before going myself as an advisor and teacher.

DAVE BELCHER

Meg and I are self-proclaimed “Gettysnerds”!

MEG O’BRIEN

It’s a special place. In recent years, we’ve really made an effort to go beyond the military history to tell the stories of everyday people and share the experiences of the women, African Americans, and others. A few years ago we introduced another text, a short memoir by Tillie Pierce Alleman, who was 14 years old at the time of the battle. At Gettysburg, or What a Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle: A True Narrative recounts her experiences in a way that’s very relatable for students this age.

KEN O’BRIEN

The Gettysburg experience wasn’t confined to the battlefield. It was a small town of 2,000 people who, in the end, had 40,000 dead soldiers to deal with and 9,000 horses and mules that had been killed as well. People walked around with oranges to their faces to deal with the odors from all the decay. The civilian experience is an incredible story in itself.

NANCY HENDERSON

They didn’t ask to have a battle here! It just happens to be a place where all these roads converged.

Dave Belcher, right, and longtime tour guide Skip Wensyel pose atop the Eisenhower Tower overlooking the battlefield.

“T�ere’s just so much value in being there, walking in the footsteps of those you’ve studied and connecting with the past.”

MEG O’BRIEN ’95 History Department Chair History Teacher, 2016–present

Peer monument presentations have become a valuable way for students to research, share, and reflect on the history of Gettysburg.

MEG O’BRIEN

Our visit to the Shriver House gets kids thinking about the fact that Gettysburg wasn’t just a battle site, it was a town with real people. It’s a bed and breakfast run by a woman and her husband who have created an experience of what it would have been like for the family who lived there through the Civil War. It’s very authentic and realistic, with things strewn about and in disarray. The students hear about teenagers just like them who were forced to hide in the basement.

DAVE BELCHER

Gettysburg presents itself in a way that makes you confront the hard parts. That includes having honest conversations about the history of race in our country and the ongoing troubles and dynamics that persist to this day. Most of the people who tour the site know nothing of Abraham Brian and his family, who, like many members of the African American community, fled their homes upon news of the Confederate invasion. Or Basil Biggs, who returned to find his farm in ruins and helped bury thousands of those who had lost their lives in the battle. Or any of the African American soldiers who played a decisive role subsequent to the Battle of Gettysburg, as over 200,000 signed up for active duty. Even still, the Lincoln Cemetery [African American burial ground] doesn’t get the care that it needs, though there’s currently an effort underway to account for all of those buried there.

MEG O’BRIEN

Over time, the trip has had to evolve— not only for practical reasons to accommodate a lot of the conservation work being done there but also in terms of what we talk about and how.

DAVE BELCHER

In the aftermath of the events in Charlottesville in 2017 [rally protesting the removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee], we instituted a monument research paper and presentation. There are more than 1,300 monuments, markers, and tablets on the battlefield, and we’ve curated a shorter list that the students can choose from for their project. There are some interesting and complex histories of monumentation that are both fascinating and troubling. We’re trying to get the students to think about what’s an appropriate monument and what’s a problematic monument— and why.

MEG O’BRIEN

During the trip, we go from monument to monument and the students present to their classmates on their selection, everything from regimental to state

monuments to those dedicated to the women of Gettysburg. The kids are invested in learning not only about the one they researched but also about everyone else’s.

SOPHIE KOPP-HILLS ’25

The monument project is really amazing. Some of us have Confederate, some have Union. It is really cool to be able to go into it with your own depth of knowledge and point of view but then be able to piece together what happened by hearing other people’s histories and experiences. I did mine on the 6th Wisconsin Regiment. It was a lot bigger in person than I expected!

DAVE BELCHER

We hear many students say, “This looks a lot different than I pictured it in my mind.” The landscape is gentler than they imagine, with rolling ground that isn’t all that striking geographically but is militarily

museum dedicated to the civilian story of the battle.

The battlefield’s rolling landscape has been preserved and looks a lot like it did back in 1863.

significant. It’s remarkable how well everything has been preserved and that we are even able to be there to take in the vistas and viewscapes that still look a lot like they did back in 1863.

SOPHIE KOPP-HILLS

The whole experience is really magical. It goes from stories and lessons shared with us in class to a real place that you’re part of, and you can picture the people who lived and died there.

MEG O’BRIEN

No conversation about Gettysburg is complete without mention of the ghosts, which has become part of the tradition of the trip. Everything from bonfires and storytelling on the battlefield to visits to the orphanage and the Jennie Wade House [commemorating the only civilian killed by rifle fire during the battle], which are two supposedly haunted sites. It’s a compelling way to learn the history and also very much a bonding experience for the students and something they talk about for a long time. They all come back with their “Got Ghosts?” Gettysburg sweatshirts.

SOPHIE KOPP-HILLS

It’s definitely a big bonding experience. Classes at Bement are usually pretty tight-knit, and I think the Gettysburg trip is a big part of it. I especially liked Mr. Belcher’s battlefield run at sunrise.

MEG O’BRIEN

Sunrise and sunset are my favorite times on the battlefield, getting out there and seeing things in a new light, literally. It’s so peaceful at Gettysburg,

but when you think about what took place on the ground you’re walking on, it’s really remarkable.

DAVE BELCHER

A lasting lesson from my own childhood is the importance of changing up the scenery. For me, Gettysburg is that. Let’s go somewhere different and meaningful, spend some time there, and see how it impacts us.

ZERAH JAKUB BURR ’99

I grew up going to historic sites with my family, but going with peers and having a shared learning experience while being together in the actual place is very powerful. Being able to appreciate the breadth of the battlefield and the terrain, imagining the hot sun beating down on you in the peak of July, walking through the homes of those who lived through it . . . these are the things that take learning to the next level, giving you an understanding and perspective that goes beyond what you get in the classroom.

KEN O’BRIEN

ZERAH JAKUB BURR

Before and after the trip, I remember our teachers working together and encouraging us to get creative with the material, like writing journal entries as if we were participants in the Civil War. I’ve come to realize that my Gettysburg experience was a big part of why I do the work that I do. In my job now [senior manager of education operations at George Washington’s Mount Vernon], we talk about the power of place; it makes learning come alive and everything that much more relatable and real.

DOROTHY MILNE

I’m so happy that this seed of an idea has grown into something so valuable and become a real tradition and opportunity for Bement students.

Most of the students have very little background on the Civil War before going on this trip. They come away with an understanding of not only the history but also the humanity of those who lived through it, their flaws and quirks, like how General Lee had a pet chicken he took into battle and what that might have looked like. It’s the stories that stick with us the most.

“T�is seed of an idea has grown into something so valuable and become a real tradition and opportunity for Bement students.”

DOROTHY MILNE English Teacher, 1987–2004

DAVE BELCHER

I firmly believe that you’re not teaching good history if you’re not teaching it in the context that helps students make sense of the world around them. That’s what we’re trying to do.

KEN O’BRIEN

Again, it comes back to making history meaningful by relating to the humanism of it all. To help students understand that history isn’t just a line in a book. It’s about individuals, their accomplishments and their flaws, their sacrifices. That’s the stuff that stays with us.

Bementers pose atop a battlefield lookout.

1.Kindergarten Hot and cool color study

2.First grade Pattern study in three variations: snowflakes, black and white, and color

3. Fourth grade Weavings featuring radial and rotational symmetry LOWER SCHOOL

The Arts at Bement

4.Fifth grade Bird collages featuring colorful tertiary paste papers

5.Third grade Owls in colored pencil

Examples of second-grade art featured on page 7.

UPPER SCHOOL

6.Seventh grade

Still life in oil and chalk pastels

7.Eighth grade

Illustration for a design-a-stamp competition

8.Eighth grade

Pen-and-ink animal portraits shaded with watercolor wash and animal facts

9.Sixth grade

Dancing figures inspired by the work of artist Keith Haring, a study in contemporary colors and negative space

10.Sixth grade

Block print landscapes inspired by Edvard Munch

Examples of ninth-grade art featured on page 39.

at Bement

On the stage

Bement students of all ages participate in performing arts opportunities that offer everyone a chance to shine. From the lower school’s exploratory, creative theater games and movement to the upper school’s robust drama and music programs, students are building experience, confidence, skills, and an impressive repertoire.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

The faces and spaces may change, but Bement is still a place where kids can explore and discover who they are, find their passions, build their voice, practice resilience, and learn leadership.

Our community helps make this possible by giving generously to the Annual Fund. Giving back generates the Bement magic year after year.

Thank you for supporting the work we do, and to our alumni for giving back. We are grateful for our Bement family!

SCAN TO DONATE

BENEFITS BEYOND WORDS

BY JENNIFER GOTTLIEB FR

From learning to read to reading to learn, Bement’s approach to literacy builds skills, empathy, and community

The many ways Bement fosters appreciation and aptitude for reading and related expression could fill a book in itself.

In addition to direct instruction at every grade level, Bement encourages a love of literature through diverse library offerings, school read-alouds and author visits, annual book traditions and awards programs, and even car rides to and from campus by encouraging family use of Sora, the school’s audiobook platform.

“Reading does so much for us,” says Librarian Marcia Bernard. “It not only provides content and information, it deepens our understanding of self and others. It is very much a part of the culture of our school.”

In other words, Bement’s thoughtful, informed approach to reading is giving students a strong foundation on which to build necessary skills—for learning and for life.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE

Literacy is the ability to read and write in a way that enables effective communication and facilitates making sense of the world. At Bement, this starts with building phonemic awareness as well as teaching letters and letter sounds using a systematic, multisensory approach based on the latest research and years of evidence.

“There used to be a belief that children learned to read naturally,” says Lower School Head Anna Casey, “but now we know that this isn’t the case,” as research points to the importance of explicit instruction as essential to reading and writing development. With the Fundations literacy curriculum, based on the Orton-Gillingham and Wilson approach, Bement’s youngest students learn phonics, decoding, and other foundational skills, setting them up to have success—and confidence— as readers and writers.

Bement’s educators agree, however, that literacy development is not just about building an aptitude for reading; it’s also about building an appetite

for it. And this begins long before any curriculum kicks in.

“Connecting with books in ways that are also tied to affection and human connection is so important,” says Ms. Casey. “Whether it’s a parent and toddler reading together on the couch or at bedtime, or a kindergartner sharing a book with their buddy, those warm associations are essential for building a love of reading and learning throughout life.” And for struggling or reluctant readers, she adds, keeping those positive connections with reading and being read to are especially important so that they don’t give up on reading—or themselves.

As for the students who think they are “bad” at reading or simply don’t like it: “I tell them they just haven’t found the right book yet,” says Ms. Bernard with a smile.

To this end, Upper School English Teacher and Department Chair Rachael Carter has incorporated a few graphic novels into her class. “Any reading is good reading,” she says, citing a student she had who got hooked by reading the complete rules of golf cover to cover.

“ Any exposure to reading and words is good exposure. As the children listen along with a readaloud, they are taking in and understanding the meaning of words, working on their comprehension, and making great predictions of what could happen next.”

BREE WISNIEWSKI FOURTH-GRADE TEACHER

“It all counts,” says Ms. Carter. “It’s about engaging with something that holds meaning for you.”

By the time they get to seventh grade, she says, Bement students have mastered the mechanics, which frees her up to focus on bolstering their comfort and identity as readers. When her students take turns reading aloud in class, for example, she rarely if ever corrects them when they stumble on a word or sentence—and only then if it changes the meaning. “We’ve moved beyond learning to read and we’re now reading to learn, so no need for a performative correction in the moment if all it does is take away from their confidence.”

During a recent visit to Ms. Carter’s classroom, Upper School Head Lesley Doll saw this approach in action—and was amazed and encouraged. “Every single student volunteered to read; not one sat back,” she says. “And because they aren’t afraid of making a mistake, they become increasingly comfortable and self-assured as readers.”

BUILDING EMPATHY

Though it may sound cliché, says Ms. Bernard, it’s true that books are both window and mirror, providing a peek into another experience as well as reflecting back our own. “For kids and all of us, that’s incredibly powerful.”

Powerful, and also aligned with Bement’s core values, especially compassion and respect. “Reading is a foundational way young people develop empathy,” says Head of School Mike Schloat. Exposure to characters and stories inevitably informs perspective—a gradual process, he says, that gets a boost as students develop their writing skills and are able to adopt a compelling viewpoint or better articulate their own.

Students in eighth grade write essays putting themselves in the shoes of a character in a story they are reading and comment not only on what that character is going through but also on their own experience and how that is reflected in their interpretation. “Thinking about someone else’s story and perhaps how your own intersects with it is pretty advanced empathy development,” says Mr. Schloat.

Through assignments like this one, thoughtful book selection and curriculum development, and rotating resources and displays in the library, Bement brings a great deal of intention to this work. “We want to make sure our students are exposed to a wide variety of voices,” says Ms. Doll. It not only broadens their understanding of others, she says, but is helpful as they find their own voice as well.

“The English department works together to look at what we teach and how we teach it in terms of literature and texts we choose,” says Ms. Carter. A few years ago, the department did an audit of selections “to make sure we’re not overserving certain identities or perspectives and instead are offering a balance as well as doing them justice.” This approach applies to classics, as well: “When we read To Kill a Mockingbird, for example, we don’t shy away from the challenging material. It’s important to be exposed to these works while also having important conversations about controversial elements.” The combination of exposure and engagement creates empathetic young readers and thinkers and, Ms. Carter believes, sets Bement students apart from others their age.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Though traditionally considered a solitary endeavor, reading is very much a shared experience at Bement—and that includes the school’s strong tradition of reading aloud.

“Being read to is really special,” says Ms. Doll, “and I think it’s fairly unusual for that to be such a big part of the culture of a school.” Whether at all-school gatherings or author presentations, in classrooms or with buddies, even at baccalaureate and commencement, listening to and sharing a story, a poem, or another piece of writing engages the mind in different ways.

Bonding over the written word is also very gratifying—just one reason why Bement students have started their own book clubs over the years. And a reading recommendation from a peer goes a long way as well. Mr. Schloat credits a college friend’s gift of John McPhee’s Annals of the Former World, an exploration of American geology, with sparking his appreciation for narrative nonfiction. “I’ve always been a lover of books, but this opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking about the craft of writing and probably led me, more than anything, to want to be an English teacher,” he says.

Sometimes it really does come down to a single book or experience for a love of literature to click. For many at Bement, it’s often tied to the annual community reading events that bring students together for a little competition and a lot of celebration.

The Massachusetts Children’s Book Award (MCBA) has become a highly anticipated rite of passage for students in grades 4 through 6. Each year, the School of Education at Salem State University nominates 25 books for the MCBA with the goal of promoting reading for pleasure and determining a favorite book of the year based on recommendations submitted by schools across the state. It’s a voluntary program that kicks off at the start of the summer and culminates in February of the following year with a vote for a winning title. At Bement, reading or listening to five books earns a student a vote as well as a spot on a Battle of the Books team, where students work together to face off against other grade-level teams to test their knowledge of MCBA trivia. This year, grade 5 prevailed for the win. Those who read a minimum of five books also receive an invitation to the Stories in Action party, where elements of the nominated books are brought to life for an afternoon of games, activities, and food—including a cake to announce the winning book, which this year was Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega. Additionally, students and teachers who read at least 20 of the 25 books receive Varsity Reader status and a trophy; 2024 was a record-setting year, with 20 Varsity Readers out of 65 participants in all.

Inspired in part by the MCBA, Bement started its own award program for

“ I wanted to become a Varsity Reader to model reading for my students and connect with them about these stories, especially as a math teacher. By joining the students in the MCBA, I hope to encourage them to continue to read and better understand the world around them.”

SCOTT GRAY UPPER SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHER

BUILDING LIFELONG LEARNERS

“Things like the MCBA challenge and the Battle of the Books, where students are engaging with literature but still have that element of choice, make for a great transition to the upper grades,” says Ms. Carter. “They come in energized about reading, and we see this wonderful shift from a guided love of reading in lower school to more independence around it as they ask themselves, ‘What do I want to read?’ We love to see kids exercising and embracing that freedom.”

other perspectives. You get to that through the study of other writing.”

When she got to high school, Josephine Xie ’24 realized just how much Bement’s focus on reading and writing had prepared her for the rigor of secondary school education, and she wrote a letter to Ms. Carter expressing her appreciation. “I think as students at Bement, we all have an exceptional opportunity—or I would even say privilege—to start developing the skills of a critical reader and writer,” she wrote. From the insightful class discussions she experienced at Bement to finding her passion in the creative writing club, Xie felt confident and ready for higher level literature and written expression.

students in grades K through 3, the Rising Phoenix Book Award. Together, Ms. Bernard and lower school teachers nominate 10 titles and take turns sharing them weekly throughout the spring. Like the MCBA, it generates a lot of buzz among the students, who are invested in the selections and get to vote for their favorite at the end.

Whenever possible, Ms. Bernard likes to bring in one of the featured Rising Phoenix writers, most recently Mk Smith Despres, author of Night Song . In addition, Bement brings in authors throughout the year to meet with students either virtually or on campus. In February 2024, the school hosted graphic novelist Chad Sell, author of The Cardboard Kingdom, for a workshop on writing comics; the year before it was Newbery Medal honoree Rajani LaRocca, who spent two days speaking with students, reading her work, and conducting writing workshops.

“Ms. Bernard’s work with authors and these reading programs is outstanding,” says Ms. Carter. “Students learn to love reading, or at the very least they get excited about it because they see their teachers and peers excited about it.” This shared enthusiasm for reading, and community bond, is something they take with them from lower school through middle school and beyond.

Love of Reading is, in fact, one of four stated strands of the lower school library curriculum. It is supported in several ways, including making sure students understand and are comfortable with how to navigate a library; using displays and book talks to build interest; and allowing an unlimited number of checkouts each week, with no fines or penalties for overdue books.

“I tell kids that the way to get smarter is to read,” says Ms. Bernard, who promotes reading in all formats: print, audio, and ebooks among them. “It exposes you to new words, new ideas, and makes you a more interesting person.”

Referring to an adage about English instruction, Mr. Schloat says, “Your thoughts can only be as complex as your ability to articulate them. It requires understanding how to effectively communicate an idea, a certain vocabulary, and an appreciation for

“Throughout all 10 years of student life here at Bement, we find ways to celebrate student writing and student voice,” says Mr. Schloat. Recalling one of his favorite moments, he tells the story of second graders visiting his office to share some poems they had written. “They knew I liked poetry because I’ve read it aloud to the school at weekly morning meetings,” he says. “So here were two young students exploring their voice through writing, feeling comfortable enough to bring it to the head of school and read it to me, then walking off with smiles on their faces.”

Confidence, comfort, and connection: “This is what we want for our students,” says Mr. Schloat. “What a huge asset to young people, especially as they enter middle and high school and it becomes increasingly important to be able to read critically and write effectively. If they can feel this way when they are eight years old, that’s pretty special and something they can carry forward.”

JANICE CURRIE RETIRES

CELEBRATING 43 years of making a difference IN STUDENTS’ LIVES

YEARS

[1981–2024]

Research in the field of education has time and again identified teacher quality as the single most important variable in promoting student learning. It’s not how many books are in the classroom, how nice the building is, how many days students are in school, or even how much money per student a school spends overall; while these things are very important, the quality of the teacher makes the most difference in how much a student learns each year.

What makes Janice Currie so remarkable is the combination of her longevity and sustained excellence over 43 years at Bement, serving hundreds of students as classroom teacher as well as dorm parent, mentor, and coach. A proud Bement parent and grandparent herself, Mrs. Currie belongs in the ranks of Bement greats like Mary Hawks, Louise Smith, Tim Young, and Grace Bement herself—individuals who gave their lives to a school and, in so doing, helped shape it for generations of students, families, and colleagues. Thank you, Janice, for your decades of exemplary and devoted service to Bement and your lasting impact on countless individuals and our school as a whole.”

MIKE

SCHLOAT, HEAD OF SCHOOL

JANICE CURRIE’S REMARKS AT BACCALAUREATE 2024, EXCERPTED AND EDITED:

I am deeply honored to have been asked to speak to you on behalf of the graduates and our Bement community. Today marks a special day of celebration as we come together to say goodbye and get ready for new beginnings. It’s a time to reflect on our Bement journey, which has been deeply filled with learning, friendships, and growth. As we navigate through the transition, let us acknowledge the range of emotions that come with saying goodbye.

Last week, the ninth-grade class and I had a chance to gather and reflect about our shared experiences at Bement. During our conversation, they highlighted several key points about why Bement is such a special and welcoming place for students. They mentioned that Bement is a school that provides a nice balance: large enough to encompass diversity yet small enough for a sense of belonging and familiarity. They appreciated the opportunities for cross-grade interactions and the inclusion of fine arts and sports in their day. It was heartening to hear that they felt understood and supported by their teachers, even when they made mistakes. These insights shed light on what makes our school special. So in return, they wanted to know why my teaching career at Bement has spanned 43 years. Bement has felt like my second home, an extension of my family. For me, Bement embodies joy—the joy of forging connections throughout our entire community, the joy of cultivating lifelong friendships, and the pure happiness I feel when my students arrive with bright smiles, ready to start a new school day. I feel their love, and my hope is that they always know they are loved.

As a teacher, I have been given the responsibility and the privilege of guiding and nurturing children in their day-today lives. I appreciate their eagerness to learn, resilient spirits, and unwavering perseverance. I seek to understand the whole child, challenge all kinds of learners, and provide whatever support they may need in their learning. It is important to me to remind them that learning is a journey with both peaks and valleys and lots of

opportunities for personal growth. When something is hard and you push through it, your brain, that big muscle, gets stronger. I tell my students to dream BIG and to never let anyone get in the way of striving to reach those dreams, just like the persistence of Mae Jemison and Sonia Sotomayer. I remind my students how much I believe in their abilities, and I am always right by their side to cheer them on, hoping their confidence will grow. “Do you feel it?” I ask. Sometimes they say yes, and sometimes they say, “Not yet,” to which I respond, “Keep trying!” I continually encourage them to “feel their feelings” and share them with me.

Bement students are rich in curiosity and wonder. There are so many days when the children will ask: “What are we going to learn today?” “Are we going to have edible science?” “Can I work on my creative writing story?” and it is fun to respond with, “Are you wondering? It’s good to wonder!” Then I might get a roll of the eyes, a big smile, or students pleading with me to tell them.

the world more beautiful and does so by planting lupines. She reminds us that we have the power to leave a lasting legacy through small acts of kindness and beauty. If you were to ask any of my students, past or present, what is most important to me, my hope is that they would answer: kindness.

FOR ME, BEMENT EMBODIES JOY—THE JOY OF FORGING

CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

I am always learning from my students. Over the years, my students have taught me to be flexible with my teaching, that a sense of humor goes a long way, and to never doubt that little things are often big things. Children inspire me to work hard and make learning fun and engaging, and sometimes I do silly and unexpected things in the classroom too, like singing, dancing, and even cartwheels (many years ago!).

Fostering a love of reading is one of Bement’s many rich traditions, and one of my favorite parts of the school day is celebrating books at morning meetings. Teachers read stories that cover a range of topics, and the children have a chance to ask questions and share their reflections. For my last morning book share, I picked Barbara Cooney’s beloved Miss Rumphius It is a story that I have read to many of my students over the course of my tenure. In the story, Miss Rumphius seeks to make

The story of Miss Rumphius also reminds me of the many ways the Bement community has showered me with kindness: handmade gifts, sticky notes with messages of endearment left in unexpected places around the classroom, hugs, a giggle stone, a heart stone, a turtle paperweight, so many crafted bracelets, drawings, cards with heartfelt messages from my students and their families, a Snickers bar candy tree (a reminder that any reference to candy always makes for a more interesting subject in creating math story problems), and a beautifully crafted birch log with retirement sentiments that was given to me last week. Sometimes nonverbal connections with children—a wink, a thumbs-up, or a smile— are treasured moments too.

My colleagues are more like good friends. They support me during unexpected moments, make time for conversations, and offer help whenever needed. I appreciate before-school visits to my classroom from friends knocking at my back door or sneaking up the stairs and surprising me with sweet treats or well wishes during special occasions. I will always remember the tremendous support I received while learning to navigate the ever-changing technical world and the challenges brought about by COVID-19. Each thoughtful gesture, each act of kindness, brightens my day and serves as a reminder of the joy that fills Bement.

It is always a joy to reconnect with former students and their families. It was great to see alumni on campus these past few weeks for surprise visits and to reminisce about our time in the classroom and exchange present-day happenings in our lives. These

visits are a wonderful reminder of the profound impact our community has in the lives of our students.

Joy is embracing former students who are now colleagues (I believe there are six of you) and the help they give to me. I feel tremendous pride for the new paths they are carving at Bement.

Joy is the recent surprise on campus from retired colleagues during our professional development afternoon, cheering me on as I approached retirement.

Joy is watching my granddaughter, Sydney, fall in love with Bement, a school that holds special meaning for her dad, Uncle Matt, Poppy, and me. The anticipation

of her younger sister, Grace, joining her next year adds to this happiness.

With joy comes gratitude, which is one of my core values. I will cherish yesterday’s heartfelt goodbye. Last night, I read every note that was in the beautiful memory box, and I did not have a dry moment . . . thank you. I want to say a heartfelt thanks to my husband, Michael; our sons, Matt and Michael; and our daughter-in-law, Ali, for we have lived the Bement journey. Thank you to the entire Bement community for all the

love and care you have shown me and my family over the years.

Best wishes to our graduates, for I am certain that you, too, feel immense gratitude and love. Embrace the anticipation of what’s to come. May love and joy follow you on new paths, and love bring you back to Bement. I have a gift for you, a lupine, to remind you of this day and the hope that you will return to campus to tell us about your joy and how you are bringing beauty to the world.

THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE BEMENT COMMUNITY FOR ALL THE LOVE AND CARE YOU HAVE SHOWN ME AND MY FAMILY.

1. Janice Currie and her 2022–2023 second-grade class explore foliage in Old Deerfield. 2. The Currie family at son Michael’s Bement graduation in 2002. 3. Faculty photo circa 1993. 4. Remote learning during COVID 5. Mike Currie Jr. visits his mother’s class during the 2006–2007 school year to talk with students about fire safety. 6. Janice Currie and other faculty and staff as part of the “Lugnuts” in the 1989 talent show. 7. Janice Currie in her early days at Bement teaching fifth grade. 8. Janice Currie strolls on campus with granddaughter Sydney ’33.

“Mrs. Currie truly saved my life as a student. After being accepted to Bement in second grade, I spent the next year transforming into a kid I never knew I could be, thanks to Mrs. Currie. She was always gentle, patient, honest, and caring. She shaped my confidence and creativity and never made me feel like I was too dumb to do school. She accepted all kids for who they were and treated all of us equally no matter what. Mrs. Currie was a beacon of light at Bement, nourishing those around her with grace and wisdom. She will never be forgotten.”

— PHOEBE PLIAKAS-SMITH ’13

“To watch Janice Currie teach, to sit on one of those small blue chairs in her charming tree-house classroom and become one of her students, will transform your understanding of what it is to be a master teacher. Janice is utterly present, completely focused, and yet ready to pivot in a split second. She is joyful, but there is no doubt she takes learning and teaching seriously. She is enthusiastic but also calm and patient. When she introduces a new concept to her students, she is fully aware of all their individual needs and completely attuned to anything they say—and to all the things they don’t say. It’s no wonder that Janice is also an avid gardener; her nurturing, consistent caretaking works just as well in a garden bed as it does in a classroom. In the same way that a seed sprouting or a flower blooming seems to happen by magic, Janice seems to make magic when she teaches. But it’s not magic. It’s hard work, compassion, commitment, wisdom, resilience, integrity, consistency, respect, and the total and complete belief that every single one of us can succeed.”

—EMILY LENT HEMINGWAY PF

“I am so lucky that I had Mrs. Currie as my teacher. She is so kind, taught me about so much, and gave me so much encouragement. The Insect Fair was my favorite project; she helped me learn about dragonflies. She is the greatest teacher.”

—OLIVER ’29

“I struggle to find the best words to describe what Janice Currie meant (and still means) to me. She wasn’t just my teacher the way that some instructors would be later in my schooling years—to eight-year-old me, she was family. She supported me, she pushed me, she listened to me, and she made time for me. When a ruptured appendix that year kept me in the hospital for two weeks with a collection of complications, Mrs. Currie went above and beyond, visiting me there after school to help me with work I’d missed and easing my transition back to Bement when the time came. Now, 20 years later, the only visible sign that any of this happened is a thin three-inch line on my lower abdomen. What you can’t see are the lasting effects of being a child so loved by a teacher who understood her.”

—RYANN STACY ’11

“I felt that [Bement] had my best interest in mind. That has helped me to have the same outlook, to make sure that I give folks the open mind and the fair chance that they deserve to have.”

FROM BEMENT TO THE BENCH

LONGTIME PROSECUTOR CAROL ANN CODERRE ’86

NOW SERVES AS A MARYLAND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE

BY JON ADOLPH FR

Although her father was a lawyer with a practice in nearby Hadley, CAROL CODERRE ’86 did not spend her childhood debating issues around her family’s South Deerfield dinner table. As a young student at Bement, however, she recalls an incident that suggests she did have a precocious talent for legal reasoning.

The school’s Friday dress code required girls to wear a formal uniform of gray skirt, white shirt, and blue blazer. “But it was the eighties, so neon was cool,” explains Coderre, who attended Bement for grades 4 through 8. “I remember coming in on a Friday wearing neon yellow socks and being talked to about that. I retorted that I wasn’t outside the Friday dress code because the code doesn’t talk about socks.”

It would not be the last argument Coderre would win. And as persuasive as she may have been then, her opinions today have considerably more authority. Since 2021, she has served as an associate judge in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, MD, just

outside Washington, D.C. The circuit court hears the county’s most serious cases, involving felonies, family law, and large civil offenses. “I’m presiding over divorces; I’m presiding over custody issues,” she points out. “I’m making a decision that’s going to impact an entire family for the rest of their lives. And that’s really weighty.”

At the same time, she says she enjoys her role in the courtroom and welcomes the opportunity to set an example for how the judicial process should play out. “I like thinking about the law,” says Coderre, who, after Bement, attended Deerfield’s Frontier Regional High School, then Goucher College and Boston University School of Law. “I like having the opportunity to share knowledge of the law with the litigators, or have the knowledge that I have challenged, forcing me to think about it. I like interacting with jurors, when I have an opportunity to do that.”

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Coderre had a 20-year career as an assistant state’s attorney for Prince George’s County, prosecuting domestic

violence, homicides, and other high-profile crimes, and—as head of the major-crimes unit—supervising a team of more than two dozen attorneys. In her final years in the office, she served at the top of the administration as a deputy state’s attorney. “It felt important to me that I was helping people who were victims of criminal offenses,” she says of her time as a prosecutor, “and that I was doing good for the community.”

She found her work as a prosecutor so satisfying, in fact, that for many years she didn’t pursue becoming a judge, though colleagues would often suggest she should. Then, in 2018, Coderre took on a new role doing civil litigation for the county, and two years later the pandemic all but shut down the court system. Out of the spotlight and with time to reflect on her career, she says, “I realized that one of the things that I was missing was a feeling of purpose.” When a circuit court judge retired, leaving a vacancy, Coderre felt she was ready for a new challenge and threw her hat in the ring—or, more precisely, her 80-page application.

Maryland circuit court judges are selected two ways: they are either appointed by the governor after a lengthy application and vetting process or elected. But even those who are appointed have to then run for election to hold their seats.

As arduous as the application process was, with numerous rounds of interviews by committees and bar associations, Coderre says the real challenge came after her 2021 appointment by then Maryland governor Larry Hogan, when she had to publicly campaign for her 15-year term. “It probably was the most difficult thing that I’ve done, honestly,” says Coderre, who describes herself as a very shy and private person. “When I was in the courtroom as the litigator, it wasn’t about me. It was me giving the information and arguing the law. My shyness didn’t impact it. But in the political world, now the focus was on me, and it was hard. I appreciate the opportunities that it gave me to come out of my shy shell. But it was difficult.”

She ended up defeating four challengers, winning 28.9 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary and 34.7 percent in the Republican primary. (Maryland judicial candidates run in both primaries to keep the process nonpartisan.)

As it happens, it was Coderre’s experience while a student at Goucher College that helped steer her to her current career. As a junior majoring in political science and considering law school, Coderre ran for a seat on Goucher’s Social Honor Board, the body reviewing allegations of student misconduct and violations of social rules. She lost that year but won as a senior, eventually becoming chair. “Being in that function, and being part of the litigation of rule violations, did definitely appeal to me,” she recalls. “And I think it ultimately informed my future. By the time I graduated, law school was where I knew I would go.”

At Boston University, she enrolled in a criminal law clinic and took to being in court, in particular representing defendants as a student attorney. After graduation, she returned to Maryland, where she was hired by the domestic violence nonprofit House of Ruth Maryland. Working with House of Ruth clients at the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office in the courthouse, Coderre got an on-the-job education in the intricacies of criminal prosecution. One year later, she heard that Prince George’s County was looking for a domestic violence prosecutor. “I put in my application, I got the job, and I’ve been here ever since.”

Looking back at her time at Bement, Coderre appreciates how the school demonstrated the value of a caring community and allowed her to interact with people from all over the country

and the world. “It gave me a foundation for experiences that I had later in life, going off to college and doing the work that I’ve been doing for the last couple decades,” she observes. The school also provided her with a model for how to lead responsibly and compassionately. “I felt cared for there,” she says. “I felt that people had my best interest in mind. That has helped guide me to have the same outlook, to make sure that I give folks the open mind and the fair chance that they deserve to have.”

Indeed, as a judge today, Coderre says she continues to learn from every case. “I’m trying to focus on making good decisions, making the right decisions, making the ethical decisions, being empathetic, and being understanding,” she says. “I’m searching for the wisdom that makes me feel like I’m doing good for people.”

One decision that no one can now challenge: whether or not she chooses to wear neon yellow socks under her black robes.

Judge Coderre meets with then governor of Maryland Larry Hogan.

Patrick Siebert

WIDE WORLD OF COMMERCE

FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER ELI LOVELY ’03 BUILDS BRIDGES FOR BUSINESSES AROUND THE GLOBE

BY JON ADOLPH FR

ELI LOVELY ’03 is a United States diplomat in the foreign service, but not the kind you might imagine. Unlike the thousands of foreign service officers who work for the U.S. Department of State, assisting U.S. citizens abroad and smoothing international incidents, Lovely is one of just a few hundred who work for the U.S. Department of Commerce. After being assigned to countries around the world that have strong economic ties with the United States, Lovely and his fellow foreign commercial service officers work to strengthen those ties. He explains, “The mandate is twofold: to promote U.S. exports to global markets and to support direct investment from those markets into the U.S.”

Which is not to say that Lovely’s career path—both in the government and previously in the private sector and as a student—has not been filled with exotic foreign locations. As an international relations major at Wheaton College, he studied abroad in Cairo. He then taught English for a year in the small town of Bilecik, Turkey, on a Fulbright fellowship. After earning his master’s in democracy and governance studies at Georgetown University, Lovely spent a couple of years in the private sector before being hired as an international trade compliance analyst with the Department of Commerce, which sent him around the world investigating companies in China, South Korea, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Mexico.

In September 2020, Lovely was hired into his current position at the Department of Commerce and spent two years in Istanbul, a “dream posting,” he says, in “my favorite city on earth.” He was posted back to D.C. in August 2023 and assigned to cover a new global hotspot: Ukraine. In that role, he has visited Poland.

So he must love to travel, right? “This is going to be funny to hear, but I actually don’t,” he says with a laugh. “I’ll live anywhere. I will move to an unfamiliar place and

I’m happy to exist there. But I don’t love being on the road.”

Still, Lovely has certainly seen his share of the world, and he credits his time at Bement with helping broaden his horizons. A day student from Greenfield, he arrived in seventh grade when his stepfather and current Bement trustee, Craig White, became the school’s food service director.

“Being in a more international environment was incredibly influential,” says Lovely, who had previously attended a public elementary school. “It was really the first time I had interacted with students from other countries. That’s something that has stuck with me moving forward. I’m a curious person, eager to learn about people who are from backgrounds that are different from my own.”

Connecting with students from all over the world helped Lovely develop his cross-cultural skills, which today he draws on in his work helping U.S. businesses assist war-torn Ukraine in rebuilding its infrastructure and energy sectors. “The Ukrainians are really just trying to keep their heads above water,” he observes. “But at the same time, they recognize that the overall recovery process is going to be really important. They’re very eager to use the assistance money coming in from the United States and Europe to start revolutionizing their economy, shifting it away from a more Soviet-era structure to something that’s more market-driven and sustainable.”

That positive aspect of his work—forging international

“I’m a curious person, eager to learn about people who are from backgrounds that are different from my own.”

relationships that can have global consequences—helps balance the personal impact of a career that requires relocation roughly every two to three years. Such tradeoffs have recently come into new focus for Lovely, who was married this spring. His wife, a former Singaporean diplomat, works for a government affairs consulting firm in D.C. but still has family in Singapore, a distant destination from where Lovely may be next assigned.

about current affairs. He hammered home that our civilization is not the result of a single lineage stemming from one group but is instead a product of a diverse handful of cultures and traditions.”

After Bement, Lovely returned to Greenfield’s public high school for his sophomore year but soon realized the environment was not right for him. He applied to Northfield Mount Hermon, which accepted him for his junior year on a generous scholarship. His contrasting experiences in public and private schools has made him all the more appreciative of his time at Bement, he notes, as well as his time at Northfield, which he says prepared him well for college.

“In a lot of respects, your life isn’t your own,” he acknowledges. “It’s a job that is all-consuming. That can be tough. At the same time, it’s incredibly rewarding because I’m working on behalf of the United States. I’m strengthening commercial linkages that often support the broader political relationship between countries.”

Lovely’s fascination with international dynamics also dates back to his time at Bement, in particular to history class with David Belcher, which he took in 2003 during the U.S. invasion of Iraq. “That class was important for me,” he recalls. “The passion with which Mr. Belcher talked

At Wheaton, he was involved in student government and sang in the all-male a cappella group. But it was in Egypt, studying abroad at the American University in Cairo, where he had an insight that would eventually lead to his career path. “As part of the 9/11 generation, I was really interested in the Middle East, specifically the Arab Middle East,” he recalls. “When I got to Cairo, it dawned on me that there were a ton of kids from similar schools who spoke Arabic really well. At the time, my college didn’t offer Arabic, so I was way behind. I was thinking to myself, if I want to be relevant in this space, if I want to pursue international relations professionally, then I need a new angle.”

Seeing similarities between the conservative religious political movements in Egypt and Turkey, he turned his attention to the latter, learning Turkish, studying the culture, and writing his college senior thesis on the country. He would deepen his understanding of Turkey through his Fulbright travels, as communications director with the American-Turkish Council a few years later, and eventually as a foreign commercial service officer.

Even today, back in D.C., Lovely’s connection to the Turkish culture, and especially to Istanbul, remains strong. “It’s at the literal center of the world,” he says of the city that was his home for two years. “In the United States, we like to think of ourselves as the center of the world, but geographically speaking, there are very few geographies that bridge the gap between Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa quite like Istanbul.”

And though his focus today has shifted to Ukraine, his Turkish expertise is still in high demand. “If friends of mine are going to Istanbul or elsewhere in Turkey,” he says, “they know to reach out.”

ACHAMPION FORATHLETES

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON KATHERINE BARDZIK VADASDI ’91 WORKS TO PREVENT OPIOID ADDICTION

BY JON ADOLPH FR

If you’ve spent any time in a hospital emergency room, odds are you noticed the pain intensity chart on the wall, the one with a row of cartoonish faces depicting various levels of distress, from smiley 0 to anguished 10. The chart’s purpose is to give patients a way to quantify their discomfort for doctors, but for orthopedic surgeon KATHERINE VADASDI ’91, that graphic came to represent a way of thinking about pain that had unintended and dangerous side effects. “There was a focus on making sure a patient’s pain scale was down to zero,” explains Vadasdi, a Greenwich, CT, sportsmedicine specialist whose recent work has focused on preventing postsurgical opioid addiction among teens and other athletes. “If you didn’t have a zero, you were going to get a narcotic to bring it down.”

Today, as the medical profession and society at large confront the ravages of the two-decades-old opioid crisis, Vadasdi has helped pioneer new approaches to pain management, often finding that patients do not need narcotics, especially if their doctor explains that a little pain is normal. “If you break it

down into one component, it is communication,” says Vadasdi, who after attending Bement and Deerfield Academy earned her undergraduate and medical degrees at Dartmouth College.

“Pain is scary for a lot of people. They think something is wrong, whether it’s after an injury or after surgery. Just by opening up that conversation, a lot of people will say, ‘Oh, I don’t need the medication at all. I just thought it meant something was wrong.’

That has been really huge.”

If there were a similar cartoon-face rating scale for physicians, Vadasdi would likely get all smiles— from both her patients and her peers. The director of women’s sports medicine at Greenwich’s Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists, she has been honored with numerous professional awards and “top doctor” accolades. She is also an accomplished researcher, whose work has been published in prestigious medical journals; a mentor to students pursuing internships in orthopedics;

a team doctor to private and public schools in the Greenwich area; and a frequent speaker at professional conferences, parents’ group meetings, and community forums.

Vadasdi first became interested in medicine, and specifically orthopedics, at Deerfield, where in the spring of her senior year she interned with school doctor and Greenfield orthopedic surgeon Thomas Echeverria, whom she first met when he was a team doctor at Bement.

A day student from Pelham, Vadasdi played field hockey, squash, and softball. She was preceded by her older brother, Jonathan Bardzik ’88, and followed by her younger brother, Alexander Bardzik ’95. Bement soon became central to her parents as well: her father, John Bardzik, owner of Tarnow garden centers, served on the board of trustees, while her mother, Kay, was an active fundraiser for the school. “It was a pretty special place for our entire family,” Vadasdi recalls.

Looking back, Vadasdi says Bement encouraged her to pursue her curiosity and to value her intelligence. “I always loved to study and do well, and I have really strong memories of all my teachers, from a very young age, encouraging me and providing amazing study skills,” she says. “I remember getting to Deerfield and a lot of kids were struggling, and I felt pretty confident. That says a lot about the experience at Bement.” She also formed deep friendships with classmates, which remain strong today.

Bement kindled Vadasdi’s love of athletics, which would deepen at Deerfield and later at Dartmouth, though sports injuries at Dartmouth required surgeries on both her knees. That personal understanding of the role athletics can play in the lives of young people, as well as the heartbreak of injury, would inform her later work.

Today at her Connecticut practice, Vadasdi treats athletes of all ages, repairing damaged shoulders, elbows, knees, and more. Like so many of her colleagues, she has seen firsthand the impact that opioids—prescribed by physicians with the best of intentions— can have on patients or on household members who gain access to pills left in the medicine cabinet. “I don’t think people realized the impact of those drugs circulating,” she notes. “I don’t think most

“I always loved to study and do well, and I have really strong memories of all my teachers, from a very young age, encouraging me and providing amazing study skills.”

doctors had any idea of how quickly patients get addicted to a narcotic.”

Indeed, in a 2017 presentation at an orthopedic medicine conference, Vadasdi spelled out just what she had discovered, noting that if patients use narcotics for just one day, there’s a 6 percent chance they will still be using the drug one year out, and a 2.9 percent chance they’ll be using it three years out. “That’s a scary number for one day of narcotic use,” she told her colleagues. “For a one-week prescription, the increased risk of long-term use is 13.5 percent, and for a month prescription, the increased risk goes up to 30 percent. Those are real numbers that we need to really address.”

Toward that goal, Vadasdi has helped encourage new approaches—beginning with that conversation about pain—that allow many patients to skip opioids and rely on alternatives, like anti-inflammatory drugs and ice. For patients who require opioids, she initiates another conversation, reviewing the dangers and how to dispose of surplus pills. “It’s a hard conversation to have sometimes. And it often affects people you wouldn’t expect it to.”

An equally important component of Vadasdi’s work is reducing the risk of sports injuries in the first place, beginning by helping athletes (and their parents) recognize when they are doing too much. “I love sports, and

I’m super active,” acknowledges Vadasdi, who has completed Ironman triathlons; has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and other peaks; and continues to run, ski, and swim. “But there’s an increase in the pressure on kids now in the level of sports that they have to play at a young age.” More hours each week on the field, she notes, elevates the risk of injury from fatigue and overuse.

She counsels parents of young athletes to look for signs of fatigue or accumulating minor injuries in their children. She encourages kids, in turn, to balance their athletics with other interests, “whether it’s music or reading or math. Because it’s really hard for a kid when their entire community just disappears overnight because of an injury.”

All of which brings Vadasdi back to another lasting lesson from her time at Bement: the importance of having both goals and balance in life. Those are values that she says she and her husband, Greg, emphasize with their own children (Jack, age 14, and Sophie, 12), and they were first modeled by her Bement teachers. “When one of your teachers was also your field hockey coach, or they were a dorm parent, you saw them in different parts of their own life. And so you learn from their example as role models. It was really important to see that and to know that it was a healthy way to find balance in life.”

WHERE THEY’RE HEADED

The Academy at Charlemont

Blair Academy

Deerfield Academy

Interlochen Arts Academy

The Lawrenceville School

Mercersburg Academy

Northampton High School

Northfield Mount Hermon

The Peddie School

Phillips Academy Andover

Pioneer Valley Chinese

Immersion Charter School

The Putney School

Westminster School

The Williston Northampton School

NINTH-GRADE MUSICAL: THE ADDAMS FAMILY

“Letting myself be seen and letting myself be known”

One of the things that makes ninth grade at Bement special is the year-long focus on the study and sharing of students’ unique voices.

SELF-PORTRAITS

Another cherished ninth-grade tradition: self-portraits created on wooden panels. Students are expected to incorporate a handful of elements into their artwork: references to their past, present, and future; text in the form of lyrics, quotes, poems, and so on; a 3D element; and a title. The range of portraits is as unique as the students themselves.

MONOLOGUE PROJECTS

It starts with the monologue project, where students write and revise their pieces in English class before bringing their words to the stage in drama class. This year, students responded to several prompts—from describing items in a mystery bag and connecting them to a childhood memory to exploring a favorite place on campus and the feelings it evokes—choosing their favorite of the drafts to develop and polish. Often reflective, at times whimsical or comical, and always creative, the monologue project and performances give students insight into themselves and one another.

“ I remember the leaning tree not for standing straight but for it branching out and being different, just as I will always remember the people at Bement for branching me out in new directions and bringing me from acorn to oak.”

END-OF-YEAR SPEECHES

In culmination, each graduating student gives a two-minute speech at either baccalaureate or commencement. Ninth graders spend many hours each spring exploring prompts and poring over drafts to identify metaphors, imagery, and details that best help them express their experiences, gratitude, and insights about their time at Bement.

BELLA HUANG ’24

IRIS ZHU ’24

LIAM WALKER ’24

BY KATIE MACCALLUM P’29

David Powell

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

In many schools, a member of the buildings and grounds crew might not have much interaction with students. Often, it’s a behind-the-scenes role, albeit one that is critical to keeping the entire operation of a campus running smoothly. Here at Bement, however, given our closeknit campus and community, this isn’t the case: everyone knows David Powell.

When I first arrived in the fall of 2016, I quickly came to understand there were two Mr. Powells; I also learned that some lower school students delineated between the two by saying “Mr. Powell” and “Mr. Powell who is Santa Claus.” There have been times over the years when students in Keith House would flock to the latter, asking him if it was, in fact, true that he was Santa. I also came to learn that Mr. Powell was more than willing to help wherever and whenever he was needed, not only for all things maintenance. For one of my class projects, fourth-grade students created public service announcements, and one group

15 YEARS

[2009–2024]

chose to remind students to pick up playground equipment. They asked Mr. Powell if he would take part in their video, using his lawn mower to pretend to run over a ball. He was all in!

Mr. Powell has been all in at Bement since he started in June 2009. Whether it was shuttling students to various destinations—lower schoolers back and forth to Deerfield Academy for P.E. or boarding students to and from local airports—or, for a time, driving a bus route, he built a rapport with many students, checking in or joking with them when he saw them around campus, or asking about their day or hobbies.

When I asked him recently how he came to stay at Bement for so long, he jokingly said he could have found work elsewhere, but he always stayed for the kids. It’s with the students in mind that he took his work so seriously. Mr. Powell was in charge of all daily building inspections and weekly vehicle inspections to

make sure everything was working as it should. He routinely maintained all emergency lighting and inspected the fire extinguishers. Mr. Don Powell, director of buildings and grounds, said that his brother was “a stickler on researching repairs and maintenance on anything he was working on, to make sure it was done right.” Bement also put him in charge of teaching faculty and staff how to safely drive the vans and buses, as he had 30-plus years of experience driving tractor trailers.

For Mr. Powell, these past 15 years have been about the students, and we couldn’t be more grateful for his care and help.

Scan for the video featuring a cameo appearance by Mr. Powell.

BY AMIE KEDDY

Ann Dubie

UPPER SCHOOL MATHEMATICS

Jigsaw puzzles, student birthday celebrations, upcycled ornaments, cupcakes, quilts, and tessellations. In math terms: What is the greatest common factor shared by these things? Ann Dubie.

Eight years ago, Ann interviewed to teach upper school math at Bement. Already an accomplished teacher at Mohawk Regional, where our math department’s Jeremy Galvagni had once been her colleague and mentor, Ann was the piece missing from our upper school puzzle.

After our first meeting, then interim head of school Frank Henry and I felt certain that Ann was the perfect fit for our math department. What I didn’t know then, but have had the privilege to learn throughout the past eight years, was the vast array of interests and skills Ann would share with her students and colleagues.

In her early years of teaching at Bement, Ann became department head. Seeing a wonderful opportunity to elevate the math department’s resources, she applied for and received a Bement Innovation Grant, resulting in an interactive whiteboard in her classroom. Ann took on the necessary training and planning, and her great success integrating this technology into the math curriculum resulted in all of Bement’s math teachers having access to this method of engaging students.

Ann has taught multiple levels of upper school math and a section of seventhgrade science, been an advisor and coach, spent endless numbers of flextime hours supporting math students, served as a faculty founder and leader of the Interfaith Group, and created both upper school and mini-term electives and art projects.

Prior to her teaching career, Ann pursued passions ranging from a career

8 YEARS [2016–2024]

in engineering to raising a family with her husband, Jerry, to baking biscotti for Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters— experiences that inform her work in the classroom. Some of her current passions benefit not only the students but also those of us who appreciate the plants she shares from her garden and the colorful eggs laid by her lovely flock of chickens. Students’ favorite memories of their time spent with Ms. Dubie include cupcakes as rewards for everyone doing well on a test, math class barbecues at her house, having their birthdays celebrated,

drawing comics in advisory, and cereal Tuesdays. The ninth graders were also quick to share that Ms. Dubie is “strict when it comes to math . . . holding [us] accountable in a factual but not a blaming way.”

Being an English teacher, I naturally thought to ask this year’s ninth graders— some of whom have had Ann as a teacher and others who were in her seventhgrade advisory—for adjectives that come to mind when they think of Ms. Dubie. The list captures Ann well: nurturing, fun, compassionate, smart, motherly, caring, bubbly, dedicated, passionate, positive, and patient.

The most apt, and in my opinion most accurate, student characterization of Ann was, “She really cares about you. When you meet her, you can tell immediately that you will have a bond with her.”

For the past eight years, many of my colleagues and I have also been fortunate to have a bond with Ann and to feel fully, each day, her intuitive and generous care and spirit. We will miss her, and we will continue to benefit for many years to come from the beautiful gifts that she has bestowed on Bement.

class notes

KEEP IN TOUCH! Recent marriage? Exciting adventure? New baby? Keep your classmates updated on the latest happenings in your life. All Class Notes also appear in the magazine’s online version. Please contact us via phone or email to share your news.

PHONE: 413.774.3021 EMAIL: alumni@bement.org

’GB

SUSAN CONANT HOLDEN ’GB writes: “Mrs. Bement was a strong advocate for writing handwritten letters, and it was included in the curriculum. When I was at Bement, we did not have cell phones or any real way to communicate with our parents. We wrote letters constantly, and my mother kept many of them. So it is not surprising that the alumni penpal project, thanks to fifth-grade teacher Rosemarie Gage, came into being and has been so successful. Letter writing is a lifelong skill and may be rapidly disappearing. Nothing replaces a handwritten letter or thank-you note. Bement is teaching cursive, which may also be becoming a lost art, although in California, it is now mandatory. It has been a pleasure to have participated with a fifth grader. Lots of times, they have asked questions about Bement when I was there. If I have trouble remembering, I have been so lucky to be able to contact my roommate, BARBARA BOND NUTT ’GB, who is a wealth of information. I would encourage any alumni/ae to become involved with this project and learn about what is happening today at Bement from an attending student. It is a

richly rewarding experience. I am still involved with various patriotic societies. I joined DAR in April 1954 and have received a 70 Years of Membership certificate from the NSDAR as well as a 70 Years of Service from the Massachusetts state governor and lieutenant governor.”

1970s

RICH HERCHENREDER ’75 writes: “I’m continuing my career as an internal auditor, which includes doing audit and consulting services to banks and credit unions in the Northeast U.S. I also have a moonlighting job two nights a week working at a deli counter at a nearby grocery store. I still live close to Bement and enjoy hearing about everything going on at the school.”

WILLSON BEEBE ’76 visited campus in May with his family and met his fifth-grade pen pal Quill ’28. Willson currently lives in Midland, TX, and is employed by ConocoPhillips. (1)

1980s

KWAME HARRISON ’85, PTT was named an Alumni Distinguished

Professor at Virginia Tech by the university’s Board of Visitors. This honor is given to faculty who demonstrate extraordinary accomplishments and academic work across teaching, research or creative activity, and engagement. (2)

1990s

ANDREW ATWILL ’99 visited campus with his wife and three kids last fall and caught up with SCOTT SMITH TT, P’98 ’01 ’03, PF Among other things, Andrew is a Civil War reenactor. (3)

2000s

JILL (CHAFFEE) MEYLER ’07 and her husband, Ben, welcomed their first son, Grady Walker Meyler, on April 26, 2024. Everyone is happy, healthy, and adjusting! (4)

After completing a 12-week program, JOSH CLARKE ’07 obtained a CADIA DEI Accelerator Program certification. Josh worked for five years at Tenneco in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion and recently started a new position at Allegion as the manager of inclusion and experience, leading DEI for the entire global enterprise.

CONSTITUENCY CODES

’GB Alumna/us from Grace Bement era (1925 –1947)

’00 Alumna/us Class Year

TT Trustee

PTT Past Trustee

HOS Head of School

FHS Former Head of School

P Parent

GP Grandparent

GGP Great Grandparent

FA Current Faculty or Staff

PF Past Faculty or Staff

FR Friend of Bement

ALEX CHAFEE ’08 was married on October 7, 2023, in Vail, CO. Alex is currently residing in Manhattan and is senior manager, corporate development, for Own Company. (5)

Lesley Cogswell PF writes: “I taught at Bement (grades 1 and 2) for three years in 2001, 2002, and 2003. I was a dorm parent at Wright House my first year and learned so much from my ‘kids.’ After my time at Bement, I spent many years teaching in public school, then moved on to teaching student-teacher candidates at UMass Amherst. I am currently an instructor and program supervisor for undergraduates in their senior year who will earn an Early Childhood teaching license. Last fall, I had lunch at the People’s Pint in Greenfield with my former student CAMERON BECHARD ’08 and his wife, Laura, and son Teddy, who were traveling through the area; such a great time catching up and reminiscing about our Bement days together.” (6)

HIROSHI NASU ’08 is currently living and working in Osaka, Japan. He is a project manager for a SAP data migration project at Realtech and was recently engaged. (7)

DANA STACY ’08 is living in Lakewood, CO, working as a strategic customer success manager at ServiceTitan and skiing as much as possible. (8)

2010s

Kathie and Brian Williams let us know about the wedding of daughter HANNAH WILLIAMS ’10 to Will Grant on July 1, 2023, on Chebeague Island, ME. (9)

MAKAI MASON ’10 was seen rooting for his Baylor Bears men’s basketball team last season. (10)

NICOLE BITZER ’11 married Alex Pappas on December 8, 2023, at Harrington Farm in Princeton, MA. They currently reside in Charlton, MA, and she is employed as a nurse for Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield. (11)

LIZZIE STURTEVANT ’11 was married in July 2023 in Maine. The wedding was attended by CLARA FLYNN ’11, RYANN STACY ’11, LEIGH TANJI ’11, and KALANI WILLIAMS ’11. This was the first time all five had been together since Bement graduation. (12)

LEIGH TANJI ’11 had a big year: in December 2023, she married Kellen Safreed at a small private ceremony in Somerville, MA, and in May 2024, Leigh earned a master’s in data

Cotillion 2010 (left to right):

Lizzie Sturtevant, Ryann Stacy, Leigh Tanji, Kalani Williams, Clara Flynn

LUKE WEBB ’13 is playing semiprofessional ultimate for the Boston Glory in the UFA (Ultimate Frisbee Association) and teaching eighth-grade special ed English in Boston. (14)

ANDERSON LIN ’15 and his brother LUCAS LIN ’19 saw Head of School Mike Schloat P’24 ’26 and Assistant Head of School and Director of Admission Kim Loughlin P’18 in Shanghai in June. (15)

U JIN JO ’16 interned at Northwestern Mutual in Las Vegas. U Jin attended University of California–San Diego before transferring to Oxford University in England.

JAMEY SIMPSON ’16 invited ANGELINA FUSTO ’17 and DEAN FUSTO P’17, PF to a national screening of the documentary film Space: The Longest Goodbye, which features his family. (16)

ELLIOTT JOHNSON ’17 received the Oral Presentation Award for the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences at the UMass Lowell 2024 Research Symposium. Elliott also recently completed the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program. (17) He and SETH MACKENZIE ’17 were on campus this spring to see former teachers and take part in some of our field day fun! (18)

NELIA PERRY ’17 came to campus last year to visit her second-grade teacher, Mrs. Currie. (19)

2020s

CHIWOO AHN ’20 attended the Peddie School after graduating from Bement and is now a sophomore at New York University (NYU). Having once played the guitar at every show while at Bement, Chiwoo is now studying the music business at NYU.

SEUNGWON (JACK) JO ’20 attends University of California–San Diego.

While attending Deerfield Academy, WILL SUSSBAUER ’20 auditioned for a role in The Holdovers and was cast as Carter Crocker (credited in the movie as Cobb Salad Student). The critically acclaimed movie was partially filmed in Franklin County (including locations at Deerfield Academy, Northfield Mount Hermon, and Shelburne Falls). (20)

CHANNING DORAN ’21 caught up with Mr. Plager after the boys and girls lacrosse games at Williston last spring. (21)

MARGARETTE HOWLAND ’21 and YOSOLA DAWODU ’21 visited campus this spring and stopped in to see Mrs. Currie and others. (22)

There was a mini-reunion of the class of 2021 at the Shaler Invitational cross country race at Williston Northampton in October 2023: JONAH BERRYBROWN ’21 and JEFF WARNER ’21 (from Williston) and JASON CHEN ’21 and ANUVA KOLI ’21 (from Loomis Chaffee) had fun reconnecting with Coach Belcher. (23)

Head of School Mike Schloat P’24 ’26 visited with Bement alumni and current Northfield Mount Hermon students in September 2023: LILY NOWAK ’23, TIANNI

ZHOU ’23, JUSTICE HAMMOND ’23, JOSIE SABELAWSKI ’23, SKYLER

JEON ’22, YING KAY LEUNG ’23, ALEXANDER WIRTH ’24 (24)

JAELYN KANG ’23 wrote to Mr. Plager from Westminster School, sharing news including that she received Summus, an honor given to the top 10 percent of the class. Mr. Pilgrim saw Jaelyn last fall when Bement played soccer at Westminster. (25)

TIANNI ZHOU ’23 and JUSTICE HAMMOND ’23 both visited campus

IN MEMORIAM

this spring, coming down the road from NMH on their day off, and caught up with with Ms. Liu, Ms. Tindall, and Mr. Jarvis. (26)

Faculty

ANNA WETHERBY FA shares: “In November 2022 I started to learn how to fly. I am very happy to announce that one year later, on November 11, 2023, I passed all my exams (including a grueling fourhour oral exam and a three-hour flight exam), and I am now an FAAlicensed private pilot!” (27)

PETER FHS and NANCY PF DRAKE, P’90 ’93 ’96 visited with Head of School MIKE SCHLOAT P’24 ’26 on campus in October 2023. (28)

We are deeply saddened to have lost the following members of our Bement family this year:

Antonio (Tony) Andreas ’08

Ronald Arron GP’28

Dwayne Lamar Brewington P’04 ’13

Leslie (Pfeil) Brown PF

Meg Louise Seney-Britton Clark P’17, PF

Jane Elizabeth Conklin ’67

Phebe Eliott ’54

Charles Fitch ’GB

Cynthia Fulton P’92

Kathryn Hegy GP’22

Deborah (Debbie) Kehne P’12

Steven Kelley GP’20 ’22

Jeffrey Knapp ’GB

Sheila Lummis ’GB

James Marksbury P’93

Dorene McCobb GGP’30

Hon. Juliette (Judy) McLennan ’60, PTT, P’85

Deborah (Susan) Ringland ’GB

Warren Schloat GP’24 ’26

Lawrence Wrisley P’85 ’05

The list of names included in the In Memoriam section is reported from August 2023 to July 2024.

JUNE

2024

TREE HOUSE BREWING COMPANY

DEERFIELD, MA

Alumni, current and former faculty and staff, and other Bement community members came together at Tree House Brewing Company in Deerfield in June for an afternoon of reconnecting and great food and drinks.

BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Mike Schloat HOS, P’24 ’26, Thad Olchowski ’00, Marisa Olchowski, Kwame Harrison ’85, PTT, Jamey Simpson ’16, Ben Michalak ’14, FA, Jason Cooper ’16, Adam Sussbauer ’17, Victoria Bagley ’16, James Arcoleo ’16, Will Lane ’15, Youchen (David) Liu ’12, Yi Zhang PTT, P’12 ’15.

MIDDLE ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Jeremy Goldsher ’04, Dom Viadero ’04, Shirley Pelletier PF, Wendy Moonan ’60, PTT.

FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Sophia Viadero, Jackson Viadero, Lily Beaubien ’14, Dayang (Eddy) E ’14, Robert Stark ’15, Matt Plager ’12, FA, Tyler Mayrand ’15, Nicholas Liu ’15.

MISSING: Willson Beebe ’76.

Bement leaders visited with alumni, current and alumni parents, and new families during two trips to Asia in November 2023 and June 2024.

ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Jamie Ho ’23, Jonathan So ’23, Megan Ho ’20, Amber Yung ’23, Xavier (Allessandro) ’25, Andy Chan ’06, Adam ’25, Huirong (Sophia) ’29, Macrae ’26. FRONT ROW: Anya.

SHENZHEN, China

BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Nanga Liu, Julia Chen P’15 ’17, Enhan Wang P’26, Raymond Chen PTT, P’15 ’17, Patricia Kung TT, P’26, Kim Loughlin P’18, FA, Jing Huang P’23, Mike Schloat HOS, P’24 ’26, Julie Schloat P’24 ’26, Carter Schloat ’24, Xiangrong Han P’26, Ying Han P’26. FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Wangxi (Ester) ’26, Rengiu (Angela) ’26, Macrae ’26.

NANJING, China

ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Ruowen (Kathy) Mo P’25, Lei Zhu P’24, Carter Schloat ’24, Julie Schloat P’24 ’26, Macrae ’26, Xiaoyong Zhang P’20,

’26, Taoran Chen.

Shanghai, China

SEOUL, KOREA

Eunhee Choi P’26, Myounggin

Yoonjung Chung P’25,

Eunkyoung

BACK

BACK

Zeju Zhang. FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Minimum Tao P’20, Kim Loughlin P’18, FA, Mike Scholat HOS, P’24

LEFT TO RIGHT: Mike Schloat HOS, P’24 ’26, Julie Schloat P’24 ’26, Kim Loughlin P’18, FA, Haruna Hirose ’92, Chigusa Yoshira ’90.

Bement’s largest gathering in China included current and new families as well as alumni.

BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Sungtaek Kim P’24, Jeongyoon Cho P’24, Hyunghang Jeong P’25, Soyoung Oh P’25, Hong Ki Ko P’24, Soojin Eum P’24, Dooyoung Kim P’26,

Kim P’25,

Park P’24,

Jonghyoo Hwang P’25, JinWon Oh, P’25. FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Kim Loughlin P’18, FA, Mike Schloat HOS, P’24 ’26, Minji Cho ’12, PF.

Hong Kong

TOKYO, JAPAN

Before Bement

U Matt Plager

Q Je Pilgrim

M Sara Becton Ardrey

I Anna Wetherby

E Bree Wisniewski

A Will Paulding

V Amie Keddy R Marcia Bernard

Toni Costa J Roselle Garro

F Jake Cohen

B Pam Powell

Linda Stacy

S Tammy Powell

Alice Gearhart

Casey Ahern G Dave Belcher

Katie MacCallum

Casey

Mike Schloat

Scott Gray

Jerry Dobosz

Christine Sayers

Je Cady

THE BEMENT SCHOOL BOARD

OF TRUSTEES

2024–2025

Allison Neumeister Fry ’98 President

Jennifer Chibani ’05 Vice President

Greg Holden ’85 Treasurer

Scott Smith P’98 ’01 ’03, PF Secretary

Emma Chen-Banas P’28

Matthew Drake ’96

Robertson Howe P’18 ’18

Jill Keiter P’27 ’30

Desiree Kicza P’25 ’27 ’30 ’30

Patricia Kung P’26

Lisa McCarthy P’22 ’24 ’28 ’30

Jager McConnell ’91

Brian Pearson P’24

Shawn Robinson P’29

Benjamin Simanski P’30

Brian Thompson P’24 ’26

Katie Vadasdi ’91

Craig White P’03, PF

Michelle Wirth P’26 ’26 ’28 ’32

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Xing Ping “Simon” Lu P’09

Stephanie McLennan ’85

Bill Polk ’52, PF

A Lasting Legacy

KIND, THOUGHTFUL “MOTHER” DEEPLY MISSED

The Honorable Juliette (Judy) Clagett McLennan ’61, PTT, P’85

Dace Brown Stubbs ’61 remembers arriving at Bement as a sixth grader and meeting her first roommate, a young Judy Clagett and her two blond braids, as they began the new school year together. Judy's kind, thoughtful nature earned her the nickname “Mother,” so it was only fitting that Dace would turn to her for an explanation of all things Bement. Dace says, “Judy was so smart and alert, and knew when you needed her."

I never knew those braids, but I knew an elegant woman whose presence was felt by everyone in any room. As a new head of school, I understood that Judy; her father, Tom Clagett PTT, P’61 ’65; and daughter Stephanie ’85, PTT were people to help me with all things Bement. Three generations of Judy’s family served as trustees, and their mark spans six decades. Countless Bement teachers became better teachers thanks to the Clagett Professional Development Fund. One of the proudest moments of my 16 years was opening the Clagett McLennan Library in the Polk Building, made entirely possible by Judy’s and Stephanie’s generosity and commitment to Bement. In truth, Judy never said no if I asked for her support.

Beyond Bement, I loved watching Judy create Clagett Sailing, a nonprofit organization for disabled and Paralympic sailors—something I now support each year. I heard stories of the hundreds (thousands?) of cookies she made for essential workers during the pandemic. I shared her grief when her father was memorialized at Washington’s National Cathedral and will never forget the poem she wrote for that service. For Stephanie, “Mother” was no nickname for Judy. The two were mother and daughter, but they were also devoted companions who shared a love of Bement, sailing in Newport, skiing in Tremblant, and yellow Labrador retrievers as long as they could. And now, I share Stephanie’s grief.

I was lucky to know Judy, and Bement is most certainly a stronger school because of her. And while Dace remembers a young girl, I remember a strong and accomplished woman who remained “so smart and alert, and knew when you needed her.”

BY SHELLEY BORROR JACKSON FHS, P’00

1946–2023

Thank you to our 2023–2024 Bement Board of Trustees

BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Jill Keiter P’27 ’30, Desiree Kicza P’25 ’27 ’30 ’30, Benjamin Simanski P’30, Scott Smith P’98 ’01 ’03, PF, Brian Thompson P’24 ’26, Shawn Robinson P’29, Lisa McCarthy P’22 ’24 ’28 ’30, Brian Pearson P’24.

FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Michelle Wirth P’24 ’26 ’28 ’32, Emma Chen-Banas P’28, Lisa Peddar P’06 ’18 ’21, Allison Neumeister Fry ’98, Craig White P’03, PF.

NOT PICTURED: Kimberly Petelle Butz P’19, Jennifer Chibani ’05, Raymond Chen P’15 ’17, Caroline Haines ’04, Greg Holden ’85, Bob Howe P’18 ’18.

New Trustees

WE’RE PLEASED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS

Katherine (Katie) Bardzik Vadasdi, MD, ’91

Dr. Katie Vadasdi is an orthopedic surgeon and chief medical officer of her practice, Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists, in Greenwich, CT. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School, she performed a residency in orthopedics at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and completed fellowship training in shoulder, elbow, and sports medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. While at Columbia, Katie was assistant team physician to Columbia University Athletics. She has been honored as a Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctor and Regional Top Doctor annually since 2014, and in 2017 she was the recipient of the Fairfield County Doctor of Distinction Award and named among the Exceptional Women in Medicine. In 2019, Katie was honored with a Women Who Inspire award from the Greenwich YWCA. A 1991 Bement alumnus, Katie and her husband, Greg, have two children, Jack (14) and Sophie (12). As a family, they enjoy outdoor activities, including backcountry skiing, hiking, and water sports.

See alumni spotlight on page 34.

Jager McConnell is a technology executive with a rich background in startup ecosystems. As the CEO of Crunchbase, Jager has led the company to become an essential resource for over 80 million users prospecting and seeking data on private companies. Prior to Crunchbase, he spent 11 years deeply involved in the early days of Salesforce, where he played key roles in product management and strategy, laying the groundwork for his leadership in the technology sector. Outside his tech career, Jager is passionate about photography and screenplay writing, hobbies that allow him to explore narrative and visual storytelling. As a Bement alumnus, he is eager to bring his experience in innovation and entrepreneurship to support the institution that offered him a strong educational foundation. Jager’s commitment to Bement reflects his belief in the importance of early education in shaping future leaders and thinkers.

Patricia Kung was born and raised in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China, where reciting poetry and listening to folk opera planted the seeds of her appreciation for music and the arts. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Chinese language and literature in 1992, followed by an MBA in 2005. In 2009, Patricia and her family moved to New Zealand; they fell in love with the country and its people, eventually seeking citizenship. Her commitment to community involvement blossomed there, and she participated in the Mainly Music program at St. Mark’s Church in Auckland and took on a leadership role in the Chinese New Immigrant Women’s Group. Patricia now lives in Cambridge, MA, and was actively involved in advancement and other community activities at Shady Hill School, which her three children attended. A Bement parent (Anna ’26), she is dedicated to fostering cultural connections and the arts. She serves on the board of directors of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, the board of governors of the Handel and Haydn Society, and the advisory boards of Historic New England and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Matt Drake joins the board of trustees with nearly two decades of experience in the independent school world. After earning a BA in sociology from the University of Virginia, he spent the next several years teaching and coaching at the Fessenden School in Newton, MA, and at the Greenwich Country Day School in Greenwich, CT. Matt then transitioned to school development, serving as the director of annual giving at St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, VA, and as a major gifts officer at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, and later at the Governor’s Academy in Byfield, MA. Matt also gained valuable experience as part of a global team of educators helping to launch a brand-new independent school, with campuses in Washington, D.C., and Shenzhen, China. Currently, he serves as director of development at the Brookwood School in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. Matt and his wife, Amy, have two children, Tucker (5) and Rosie (3), as well as an English bulldog named Lucy. In his free time, Matt enjoys exploring the New England coast and skiing in the mountains of Maine.

Patricia Y. Kung P’26

Jager McConnell ’91

Matt Drake ’96

Departing Trustees

FAREWELL AND THANK YOU

Kimberly Petelle Butz P’19

Kim Butz joined the board of trustees in 2015. During her tenure, she served as the inaugural chair of the Rick Management Committee, led the Committee on Trustees, and spent two years as president of the board, helping to guide the strategic planning process. Her service during the pandemic and the school’s leadership transition was invaluable. Lisa Peddar PTT, P’06 ’18 ’21 paid tribute to Kim at the trustees’ meeting this spring: “Kim consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to our school. She generously dedicated time to Bement, contributing significantly to the course and status of our cherished school. Kim’s contributions have played a pivotal role in shaping Bement into what it is today, and for that, we owe her immense gratitude.”

Raymond Chen P’15 ’17

When Raymond Chen’s children joined Bement as upper schoolers—one as a boarder and one as a day student—he and his wife, Julia, generously offered to support the school in any way they could. Always thinking creatively, Raymond and Julia, a professional ballerina, helped keep the ballet school at Bement going, with Julia serving as the dance instructor. Raymond joined the board in 2015 and has been a loyal advocate of our school, serving on the Development and Finance Committees during his tenure. He also served as a resource to Bement families in China during the pandemic and leadership change in the spring and summer of 2020. Raymond attended several events in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, serving as a translator, and has been a wonderful ambassador for Bement, speaking with prospective families as they learn more about our program. Emma Chen-Banas TT, P’28 shared: “Thank you, Raymond, for your enduring dedication to Bement since 2015. Your insights on Asian culture and efforts to connect the school with families have been invaluable. You and Julia have been wonderful advocates for our school. We deeply appreciate your exceptional service and commitment, which inspire others to serve Bement unconditionally.”

Lisa Peddar P’06 ’18 ’21

Lisa Peddar has been deeply involved with Bement for many years: as a volunteer, hosting events and helping the Parents Association; as president of the Family Association; and as a generous and loyal supporter of the school. Lisa joined the board in 2015 and made an impact immediately, serving on several committees and assisting with fundraising and stewardship. She was board secretary, chair of the Interim Head of School Search Committee, and chair of the Committee on Trustees, and she finished out her time on the board as president. Lisa is a champion of diversity and inclusivity, working tirelessly to make sure Bement is accessible to as many students as possible. In honoring Lisa, Kimberly Petelle Butz PTT, P’19 said: “The impact she has had on Bement and the list of gifts she has given our community would fill pages. As a board member and leader, she has demonstrated extraordinary dedication, curiosity, and open-mindedness. She is the person you want in your corner, and Bement is forever grateful to have had her in ours as a leader, mentor, role model, and friend.”

Caroline Haines ’04

Caroline Haines first came to Bement as an eighth-grade boarder from South Dakota. Since joining the board in 2015, she served on the Development Committee and on the Finance Committee for many years. Caroline’s commitment and loyalty to Bement is unwavering. She attended and helped plan alumni events in New York City, and has been a long-standing member of the Bement Loyalists (those with five or more consecutive years of giving).

Caroline’s leadership began when she reached out to Sara Ardrey P’22 ’24, FA back in the fall of 2014, asking if the school had plans to recognize Shelley Jackson for her 16 years at Bement. Efforts that followed resulted in a mini-campaign chaired by three past board presidents to name the Blue Dorm “Jackson House.” Kwame Harrison ’85, PTT shared: “As a board member, Caroline brought an extraordinary combination of youthful zest and steady, measured wisdom. She was a cornerstone on the Finance Committee, consistently asking tough but thoughtful questions, and pushing us to think about what mattered most to our community and to make sure every dollar was well spent. But above all else, I consider Caroline the moral compass of the board. When difficult decisions needed to be made, she was always my personal gauge on whether we were moving in the right direction.”

Thank you, Bement community!

I’ve always considered myself a proud alumna (’04), but as I completed my nine-year term on the board of trustees this summer, I have never been more assured of the power of the Bement community in ensuring that generations of students can benefit from the school’s world-class education and programming designed to help students flourish. We are deeply grateful to those who donate and lend their time and talents to sustain an environment focused on nurturing each and every student intellectually, creatively, physically, and emotionally. Thank you for all that you do for Bement. I know I am a more compassionate, integrous, resilient, and respectful person because of my time here.

Next year marks 100 years since Bement’s founding, and as the school gears up to celebrate its centennial in 2025, I am confident that Bement’s emphasis on its time-honored traditions and commitment to offering a

competitive curriculum will continue to prepare each student for a bright future. It’s because of your support that Bement is able to enhance the student experience with opportunities for experiential learning, from building birdhouses at Pine Hill to researching Civil War monuments and then actually seeing them and the battlefields of Gettysburg—just to name a few examples.

While I recognize that it’s no small financial commitment to send a child to Bement, and I know that many other institutions are likely also asking for your support, the reality is that tuition does not cover 100 percent of the expense associated with each child. It’s your participation and donation to Bement’s Annual Fund each year that allows the school to promote learning and well-being amid a rapidly changing and fractious global landscape. It’s what sustains a large part of Bement’s yearly operating budget.

The Bement community is strong, and pride in the school runs deep. Bement’s Alumni and Development Office has been hard at work to strengthen connections with its alumni network, and I am thrilled to see some alumni who are new donors this year. Your commitment to giving back is what ensures that generations to come will benefit from the same experience.

I couldn’t be more excited for Bement’s next 100 years and beyond, and thank you for your continued support and commitment to our school’s future.

Caroline Haines ’04, PTT

A LOOK AT THE FISCAL YEAR OPERATIONS 2023–2024*

Parents of Alumni

Faculty and Staff (past and present)

Grandparents (past and present)

Friends (this also includes vendors, matching companies, and foundations)

CONSTITUENCY CODES*

’GB Alumna/us from Grace Bement era (1925 –1947)

’00 Alumna/us Class Year

TT Trustee

PTT Past Trustee

HOS Head of School

FHS Former Head of School

P Parent

GP Grandparent

GPP Great Grandparent

FA Current Faculty or Staff

PF Past Faculty or Staff

FR Friend of Bement

* Donors are listed with their Bement affiliation following each name. For example, John ’72 and Alice PF Smith P’95 means that John is an alum from the class of 1972, and Alice is a past faculty. Together, they are parents of a student from the Bement class of 1995.

BEMENT LOYALISTS

Donors with a B preceding their name have donated for five or more consecutive years.

PHOENIX SOCIETY

Donors with a P preceding their name are Phoenix Society members who have named Bement as a beneficiary in their will, life insurance policy, retirement policy, or bank account documents.

Thanks to the following donors to all Bement funds between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024:

GRACE BEMENT CIRCLE

($25,000+)

Anonymous (3)

B Henry Becton GP’22 ’24

B The Bement, Frederick, Whitten Family ’GB

B Robert PTT and Mary PTT Cohn P’03 ’06

Cheng (Adam) Cui and Yi (Chelsea) Cheng P’25

Scott and Jill TT Keiter P’27 ’30

B Brian and Lisa TT McCarthy P’22 ’24 ’28 ’30

B Lisa PTT, P’06 ’18 ’21 and Jeff Peddar and Kylie Kittredge ’18 and Casey Kittredge ’21

B P The Estate of Suzanne T. Purrington ’52, PTT

B George Siguler PTT, P’98 ’00 ’02 ’05 ’14

Julie Swartz P’26

Viktor and Oxana Vlasenko P’28 ’33

Haiwei Wang and Yun Han P’25 ’28

Peter and Michelle TT Wirth P’24 ’26 ’28 ’32

Richard Zhang and Yun (Scarlet) Dai P’26

Lei (Simon) Zhu and Ji (Grace) Wang P’24

BLUE AND WHITE SOCIETY

($10,000–$24,999)

Anonymous

Sung Jae Choi and Sun Ha Jang P’27 ’30

B Mike and Tif fany Doyle P’29 ’32

Jeffrey and Danielle Ethier P’32

YaoBin (George) Gong and Patricia TT Kung P’26

B Caroline Haines ’04, PTT, Sidonie Haines P’04, and Pendery Haines FR Kenneth Ho and Irene Wan P’25

B Greg ’85, TT and Caroline Holden

Sungtaek Kim and Jeongyoon Cho P’24

B John Levine and Susan PTT Clopton P’03

B John Longmaid PTT, P’93

Wenhao Sun and Yiqin Xu P’27

Timothy PTT and Wendy ’88 Van Epps P’21 ’23 ’25

Yirun (Ian) Wang and Chunli (Carol) Peng P’27

Sharon Young PF

Kun Yuan and Sally Zhang P’27

HEAD’S CIRCLE

($5,000–$9,999)

Anonymous (2)

Gang (Steven) Chen and Jun (Elaine) Song P’25

Hua Chen and Weixia (Vivian) Zhang P’26

B Christopher Fry and Allison Neumeister Fry ’98, TT

B Caroline Haines ’04, PTT

Xiangrong and Ying Han P’26

Dooyoung Kim and Eunhee Choi P’26

Hong Ki Ko and Soojin Eum P’24

Guanghai Li and Yanhua Deng P’26

Wenjun Li and Jian Wang P’27

Shuk Cheong (Johnny) Lok and Vily Ku P’23 ’25

B Peggy Nathan PTT, P’83

B Charles PTT and Sarah Sanford P’12 ’14 ’17 ’19

B Jeffrey and Linda ’83, PTT Schutzman

Yifeng (Hans) She and Jun Li P’26 ’29

Benjamin TT and Kathleen Simanski P’30

P Katherine Stenson Lunt PTT, P’00 ’02

Frederick Treyz and Enhua (Joanna) Zhang P’26 ’28

Makiko Yamamori P’25

Hong Chen Zhen and Kathy Mo P’25

De Hua Zhou and Xin Ru (Alice) Lai P’26 ’26

1925 SOCIETY

($1,925–$4,999)

B P Guy Ardrey and Sara FA Becton Ardrey P’22 ’24

B P Mike Banas and Emma TT Chen-Banas P’28

B Richard Brook and Shawna Pazmino-Brook P’19 ’21

B P Joan H. Butler P’83 ’84, PF

B Joe Butz and Kimberly PTT Petelle Butz P’19

Sidney Chang and Xiao Lan Wang P’27 ’27

Thomas Cosenzi and Amanda Douglas P’32

B P Peter FHS and Nancy PF Drake P’90 ’93 ’96

B Anthony Kwame Harrison ’85, PTT

Amanda Herman and Eliza Wilmerding P’25

Zunfa Huang and Fei Xu P’25

Hyunghang Jeong and Soyoung Oh P’25

John and Margaret Kalas P’28 ’30 ’32

B Lilia Levine ’03

Jason and Sarah Lord P’26

Dillon Lorda ’91

Amir and Danuta Lotfi P’26 ’29

B Virginia Morsman ’87, PTT, PF

Zhihong Ni and Nan Zhao P’27

Neville and Catherine Orsmond P’28 ’28 ’31 ’33

P Ted and Carole PTT, PF Pennock P’90 ’94

B Michael and Jane PTT Plager P’12 ’16

Zhijian (George) Qiao and Lingyi Rao P’24 ’33

B Sam and Julie Owen ’57 Rea

Marshall and Katie Royce P’32 ’34

B Mike HOS and Julianne Schloat P’24 ’26

Kathryn Shanahan ’85

Sin-Thomases Family P’25 ’27

Xiaodong Su and Jing (Priscilla) Chen P’26

B Greg and Katie ’91, TT Vadasdi

Guojun Xiao and Yumei Yang P’27

B P Joshua and Hollis Young FR

Kevin Yun and Jie (Audrey) Wang P’28

Tak Wing (Albert) Yung and Angela Fan P’23 ’25

B Nicholas and Carla Zayac P’29 ’31

B Ning Zhou and Meixuan (May) Zhang P’23

Wei Zhu and Enhan Wang P’26

BEMENT HONOR ROLL

($500–$1,924)

Anonymous (4)

B Edward Arron and Jeewon Park P’28

B Andy PTT and Hut Beall P’15

B Willson ’76 and Vickie Beebe

Ben and Pamela Bensen P’86 ’92 ’98 ’01 ’02, PF

Jennifer Montgomery Bethlenfalvay ’68

B Alexander Byron ’83

Jeffrey FA and Gina Cady P’31 ’33

Robert and Linda Cady GP’31 ’33

Wai (Lawrence) Chan and Ka Lok (Carol) Wong P’22

Guohua Chen and Wenyan Yang P’31

B Jianhan Chen and Xueying (Sharon) Qin P’23 ’25

Jonathan Chen and Kelly Lee P’26

Anna Chen-Banas ’28

Matthias Cinyabugma and Gisele Mitima P’26 ’27

B Jennifer Cox P’25

William ’89 and Harley Creelman

B Lawrence Dean P’89

Edie Drexler Denney ’50, GP’14

B P Matthew Drake ’96, TT

B Jim and Joan Edzwald P’95

B William PTT and Suzanne Flynt P’01 ’09

Merrill and Jenn Gagne P’24 ’27 ’32

Gilmore & Farrell Insurance Agency, Inc.

B Robert Gilmore and Amy Burnside P’21 ’21

Hyun Soo Gong ’07

B Amy Gordon P’99 ’03, PF

Ming Guo and Aoran Wang P’21

Zhuang Han and Xiaohan (Annie) Dai P’26

B Perry O. Hanson III and Susan Easton Hanson ’56

B P Christine Hart PTT, P’02

B Nicholas Hayes ’55 and Sheila Donovan

Frank Henry Jr. PTT, FHS and Wanda Henry P’05 ’08

Jordi Herold and Elizabeth Dunaway P’24

B John ’63, PTT and Lee Holstein

Jonghyoo Hwang and Yoonjung Chung P’25

B Margo Jones PTT, P’07 and Philip Elmer

B Cary and Sue PTT Jubinville P’98 ’00 ’06

Casey Kittredge ’21

B Kylie Kittredge ’18

Larry and Deb Klein GP’28

David Ko and ChangHui Pak P’26 ’29

B Estate Kokosadze and Anna Japaridze P’21 ’22 ’25

Darlene Kuzmeskus GP’29 ’32

Jianming Li and Jie (Julieanna) Yin P’26

B Matthew Lustig P’29 ’32

B Martha Lyman ’58, PTT

Sherry Marker P’87 ’91

Nancy Maynard P’97 ’98

B David and Penny Michalak P’14

P David and Joyce Milne P’69 ’75, PF

B Phoebe Montgomery Moeller ’72

B Wendy Moonan ’60, PTT and Duncan Darrow

Miyu Nakamura ’22

Pam O’Brien P’96, PF

B Jisoo Oh ’96

Mary Grace Parsons ’05

Bill ’52, PTT, PF and Nancy Polk

P David PTT and Nancy PF Pond P’89 ’95

Katherine Porter ’92

B Ned ’67, PTT and Maria Reade

Todd and Paula Rees P’16

Sumeet Saxena and Ambreen Bawa P’29 ’34

Carmel Schettino P’13 ’15

Janet Schloat GP’24 ’26

Michael and Kathleen Schneider P’25 ’27

Scott Smith TT, PF and Sally Reid P’98 ’01 ’03

Nathaniel and Amy ’89 Snow

Timothy and Kayla Snow P’30 ’32

Ohhyun Song and Kyungsun Bae P’22 ’25

B Bob and Sally Spencer P’98 ’00

Barry and Linda FA Stacy P’08 ’11

B P Melissa Stetson P’14 ’18

William King and Dace ’61, PTT, PF Stubbs

Qiye Sun P’23 ’26

B Brian TT and Julie Thompson P’24 ’26

B Vermont Community Foundation

Brad and Margit FA Walker P’24 ’27

B Craig TT, P’03, PF and Amy White

Guy Williams ’64

Patrick Wilmerding GP’25

B Lei Xu and Shuping (Jane) Zhang P’23

Dong Kyun Yoo and Ji Won Oh and P’25

BEMENT MERIT LIST ($250–$499)

Anonymous (4)

Bob Adam and Stephanie Velez GP’25 ’27 ’30 ’30

Jonathan Bardzik ’88

John and Mary Benjamin GP’27

B Daniel ’01, FA, Rachel, and Eliza Bensen

Trevor Berman ’09 and Samantha Peabody P’32

B Ken PF and Karen Boudreau P’05 ’09

Harris Bucklin ’67

Zerah Burr ’99

B Fred Byron P’80 ’83

Gregory and Daina Carvel P’28

Robert and Anna FA Casey

Raymond PTT and Julia Chen P’15 ’17

Yanis and Jennifer ’05, TT Chibani

Charlene Choi and Luke Bloomfield P’31

Simon Cohn ’03

B Michael and Janice PF Currie P’99 ’02, GP’33 ’34

Arthur Dahowski ’GB

Aaron and Jo-Ann DiBari P’22

Massimo DiBari ’22

Les and Wendy Edinson GP’28 ’31

Samuel Garro and Marcia McCormack GP’25

Timothy Grader FR

Joshua Guthman and Anne Bruder P’28

Robert Haigh and Nicole Guertin P’30

Justice and Elizabeth Hammond P’23 ’25

Viva Hardigg ’78

Michael and Sarah Hayes P’26

Adam and Emily Lent PF Hemingway

Ivory Hills and Christina Kopp P’25

B Gabriel and Kristin Hmieleski P’26

Xue Qi Hong and Su Ping (Sally) Yan P’25

Daniel and Kellie Houston P’32

B Jeanet Hardigg Irwin ’73

Ron and Lorene Ishimaru GP’17 ’19 ’24

Rob PF and Shelley Borror FHS Jackson P’00

Michael and Deborah Kalas GP’28 ’30 ’32

P Robert and Ellen Fuller PTT Kaufmann P’94

B Jason M. and Desiree TT Kicza P’25 ’27 ’30 ’30

Emily Latham ’12

David Leslie and Zoe Crowhurst P’27

John and Deborah Letourneau GP’30

Ming Liu and Yi PTT Zhang P’12 ’15

B Kimberly Caldwell Loughlin P’18, FA

Tinka Lunt P’82

B Benjamin ’02 and Wendy MacKinney

Penny Malone ’73

B Frank FA and Suk Massey

Stephanie Maychack and Barbara Weinberg P’32

Kevin and Jennifer McDonald P’26

Jeremy and Laura FA McGeorge P’24 ’28

Carol Polk Meenan ’55

Bartholomew Moylan and Ann Boyden P’32

Matthew Naumowicz and AnnMarie McCready P’32

B Thaddeus ’00 and Marisa Olchowski

B Michael and Barbara PF Parry P’98

B Douglas and Alice Patton P’16 ’18

B Brian Pearson TT and Sira Berté P’24

B Michael Posever and Anne-Marie Demetz P’10

B Don and Tammy Powell FA

John ’69 and Masumi Reade

James and Margaret Ricci P’93 ’95

Sherrill J. Smith ’65

Nils Tristan ’92

Stephanie Vassar ’02, P’32 ’34

Anna S. Whitcomb ’66

Tim Wilcox and Caroline Pam P’24

Brian and Kathie Williams P’03 ’05 ’10

John Zebrun and Vera Shevzov P’13

Tianqi (Angel) Zhou ’19

FRIENDS OF BEMENT

($1–$249)

Anonymous (19)

B Jerry and Casey FA Ahern P’31

Mark Amstein and Sarah Cummings P’25

Carolina Aragon P’29 ’32

Campbell Ardrey ’22

Sanjay Arwade and Meri Clark P’26

Nick Bagley and Cong Chen P’16 ’20

Shel Ball ’64

Robert and Agnes Banas GP’28

Alexander Bardzik ’95

B Alexander Bartlett ’87, FA and Megan Tady P’31 ’34

Wilson Becton FR

David FA and Sue PF Belcher P’07

Gery Benedetti and Anemone P’24

Stephanie Bennett ’82

B Marcia Bernard FA

B Carla Bernier GP’15 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’23 ’24

Keith Bevan FA

Dyllan Bhattacharya ’06

Maria and Grace Bianciardi P’25

Jeffrey Blomstedt and Susan LaScala P’02

Cynthia H. Bluh P’80 ’81 ’82

B Catherine Boody GP’13 ’16

Brandi Booker FR

Matthew and Stacy Boron P’28

B Sarah Boudreau ’05

Jeannette and Ryan Boudway P’26

William and Jennifer FA Boyden

B Joseph Brook ’19

B Preston P. Brown ’91

Robert and Joyce Brown GP’28 ’28 ’31 ’33

Aaron Burstein ’20

Steve and Michelle Call GP’28

Dominic ’03 and Rebecca Capasso

Ellen Carter FA

Caitlin and Ernesto Castillo P’31

James and Darlene Cerillo GP’32

Iris Chelaru P’26 ’31

John and Kathryn ’95 Chiavaroli P’30

Minji Cho ’12, PF

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts

Michelle Conant FA

Rebecca Conklin ’64

B Jaime Correa and Juliana PF Camacho P’27

Philip and Anne Corrinet P’94

Toni Costa FA

Richard and Margaret ’66 Curran

Michael Currie ’02 and Alexandra Sacco-Currie P’33 ’34

B P Emet Davis ’80, PTT

Gordon and Melissa Davis P’91

Justin and Jessica Davis P’27

Yosola Dawodu ’21

Benjamin PF and Mary FA Demerath P’16

Matthew Doherty and Karla Herzig Doherty P’21

John and Cheryl Domian GP’28 ’31

Rebecca Donnally GP’25

B Mark Donovan and Anne Lozier P’24

Kenneth and Kate Downes P’10 ’13

Helen Drake GP’25

William Drake and Erin Donnally Drake P’25

B Jerry and Ann PF Dubie

Lisa and Jeffrey Duncan P’33

B Paul and Renee Duseau P’12 ’12

B Kate Echeverria ’95

Tom and Anne Echeverria P’95

Streeter Elliott ’12

Edward E. Emerson Jr. ’55 and May S. Emerson

Noah Epstein ’96

Phil Ethier and Ellen Missale GP’32

Matthew PF and Sara Evans

Thomas PF and Lyudmila Falcon

Jan Flaska and Jill Mackay P’26

Connor Forde FR

Catherine Futter FA

Jeremy Galvagni FA and Kimberly Pinkham P’24

Joan B. Garraway ’GB

Paul and Roselle FA Garro P’25

B Dody Phinny Gates ’65

Simos Gerasimidis and Eirini Pitidou P’31 ’33

Hardy and Vanessa Gieski P’29 ’26

B Arthur Gregg FR

B John Gundelfinger ’08

Peter Gundelfinger and Suzanne Smiley P’08

Abbey Haggerty ’12

Valerie Haggerty P’12

Mary E. Hanlong GP’31

Quinn Hanson and Surya Isaza-Figueroa P’23 ’28 ’34

Ruth Harlow PF

David and Sara Harvey P’15

B Howard and Jinx Hastings GP’21

B Richard A. Herchenreder ’75 and Jeanne M. Sojka

B Greg and Deborah Weaver ’88 Hills

Chun Yin (Jamie) Ho ’23

Megan Ho ’20

B Susan Conant Holden ’GB

B Bob TT and Amanda PF Howe P’18 ’18

Delores Howley GP’26

B Stephen and Evelyn Jakub P’99

Miles Jefferies ’22

B Kirsten Kapteyn P’07 ’09, PF

B Amie Keddy FA

Myounggin Kim and Eunkyoung Park P’24

Terry Kopinto FA

Dolphuss Lafave GP’28

B John and Marcia Lannon P’98

Peter and Jessica Lapachinski P’31 ’33

B Paul and Christine Lapuc GP’14 ’17

B Joan Williams Laundon ’58

Brian and Emily Leibinger P’31

Jay Levin and Michal Ganz P’31

Yong Xian Liu P’27

B MaryBee Eberlein Longabaugh ’GB

Jane Lyman P’00 ’02, GP’32 ’34

Katie MacCallum P’29, FA

David and Dorothy Mackay GP’26

Doug and Donna MacLeay GP’32 ’34

B Jeremy Mailloux and Stacey Mimnaugh P’24 ’27 ’30

Mac McCoy and Polly Byers P’10 ’12

P Brad and Rebecca ’93 McCutcheon

Sharon McGuinness P’25

B Robin and Terry McKeon P’21

Frances Meier GP’13 ’16

Madeline Merin ’04

Jillian Chaffee Meyler ’07

B Nancy Mihevc P’12

Dorothy Milne PF

Griffin Morse FA

Alexandra Nagurney ’09

B Ladimer PTT and Anna Nagurney P’09

Hiroshi Nasu ’08

Colin ’87 and Kara O’Brien P’24

Matthew and Kimberly OBrien P’29

B John O’Keefe and Lynne Stopen P’17 ’19

B Martha Olver ’84

B Jeanne Hinckley Orlando ’95

Ron and Jennifer Paasch P’22 ’24

Robert and Dorothy Pam GP’24

B Marlisa Drexler Parker ’52

Claire Patton ’18

B Will Paulding FA and Lauren Cerillo P’32

Nicole Pelc P’25

B Shirley Pelletier PF

David and Clare Perry P’13 ’15 ’17

Joy Perry ’98

Michael PF and Regina Phillips P’92 ’94

B Jeffrey Pilgrim FA

Benjamin Plager ’16, FA

Matthew Plager ’12, FA

Sharon Pleasant GP’31 ’33

Thomas and Samantha Pleasant GP’31 ’33

B Rickey Poor ’60

B David Powell PF

Melanie Presnell FR

Nathan Reid ’98

B Emily Mikolayunas Rich P’24 ’28, FA

Madeline Surgenor Richards PF

The Riddington Family ’18 ’20

Donald and Sara PF Robinson P’85 ’91

Shawn TT and Jill Robinson P’29

Matt Robison and Emily Jones P’26 ’28 ’31

Leslie Rockwell FA

George and Jeanine Rodriguez P’24

Bill Rogers ’65

Christian Rojas and Alexandra Andino P’23 ’29

Deborah Roll GP’24 ’28

B Greg and Kate Rolland P’20 ’23 ’23

B Josh PF and Kate ’73 Rosenblatt P’05

Julie Russell ’50

Victor and Carol Russo GGP’32 ’33 ’34 ’34

John and Amanda Rymes P’19

Barbara W. Saunders ’64

Chris Sayers FA

The Schatz Family ’23 ’25 ’29

Annette Schettino FR

B Robert and Bette Schmitt GP’19

Steve and Eileen Schneider GP’25

Margaret ’71 Schumacher

Shawn Selby and Shawn Hainsworth P’24

Justin Serpone and Angela McMahon P’27 ’29 ’33

Marjorie Shearer P’23 ’26, PF

Terry PF and Julie Shields P’19 ’21 ’25

Louis Sikkelee FR

Michael Silipo ’04

B Michael Silipo P’01 ’04 and Lydia Hemphill

Charles and Marty PF Smith P’03

Vikram Sood and Ruchi Grover P’24 ’27

Dana Stacy ’08

Ryann Stacy ’11

Charles Staelin and Karen Golding-Staelin P’84 ’96

Andy Stallings and Melissa Dickey P’26

B Alan Stefanini and Dianne Bensen Stefanini P’98 ’01 ’02

Jane Stewart FA

Stop and Shop

Mark and Emma Theriault P’16 ’16 ’28

B Gary Therien ’78

Joseph Torras and Michele Johnston-Torras P’13 ’16

Philip and Nancy Torrey FR

B Jean Pitman Turner PF

Mark PTT and Patrecia Valone P’04 ’10

Ethan and Ashley FA Vandermark P’32 ’34

Ella Wang ’24

B P Ted and Sarah ’90 Weihman

Margareta Welch P’33, PF

B Peter Whalen and Janna Ugone P’14

Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. PF and Perry Wheelock

John and Emily PF Whitney

Taylor Williams ’05

William and Sandra Wittig GP’29

B Nancy E. Yarmac PF

Robert PF and Mary Ann York P’93

B Sarah Young ’02

Cleo Zancope ’02

Dingguo Zhou ’22

Jeff and Kathy Zilch P’27 ’29

GIFTS MADE IN HONOR OF

Maisie Ahern ’31

Mary E. Hanlon GP’31

Hayden Ardrey ’24

Guy Ardrey and Sara Becton FA Ardrey P’22 ’24

Sara Becton Ardrey P’22 ’24, FA

Campbell Ardrey ’22

Andy PTT and Hut Beall P’15

Wilson Becton FR

Dave Belcher P’07, FA Zerah Burr ’99

Hyun Soo Gong ’07

Dan Bensen ’01, FA

Ben and Pamela Bensen P’86 ’92 ’98 ’01 ’02, PF

Madeleine Bensen ’02

Ben and Pamela Bensen P’86 ’92 ’98 ’01 ’02, PF

Patrick Bensen ’98

Ben and Pamela Bensen P’86 ’92 ’98 ’01 ’02, PF

Judith C. Bernier ’25

Carla Bernier GP’15 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’23 ’24

Jacob Brook ’21

Richard Brook and Shawna Pazmino-Brook P’19 ’21

Joseph Brook ’19

Richard Brook and Shawna Pazmino-Brook P’19 ’21

Jeff Cady P’31 ’33, FA

Massimo DiBari ’22

Christopher Corrinet ’94

Philip and Anne Corrinet P’94

Janice Currie P’99 ’02, GP’33 ’34, PF

David Belcher P’07, FA

Yanis and Jennifer ’05, TT Chibani

Les and Wendy Edinson GP’28 ’31

Cary and Sue PTT Jubinville P’98 ’00 ’06

Ted and Carole PTT, PF Pennock P’90 ’94

Benjamin Plager ’16, FA

Matthew Plager ’12, FA

Barry and Linda FA Stacy P’08 ’11

Jane Stewart FA

Victoria Davis ’91

Gordon and Melissa Davis P’91

Brianna Duseau ’12

Paul and Renee Duseau P’12 ’12

Rebekah Duseau ’12

Paul and Renee Duseau P’12 ’12

Stacey Edzwald ’95

Jim and Joan Edzwald P’95

Samantha Ethier ’32

Philip Ethier and Ellen Missale GP’32

Emma Flaska ’26

David and Dorothy Mackay GP’26

Rosemarie Gage P’10, FA

Philip and Nancy Torrey FR

Clarese Gardiner ’18

Melissa Stetson P’14 ’18

Emily Gardiner ’14

Melissa Stetson P’14 ’18

Katharine E. Golding ’96

Charles Staelin and Karen Golding-Staelin P’84 ’96

Suzanne Hubbard-Brutocao ’94

Robert and Ellen Fuller PTT Kaufmann P’94

Shelley Borror Jackson FHS, P’00

Emet Davis ’80, PTT

Amie Keddy FA

Ryann Stacy ’11

The Kicza Family ’25 ’27 ’30 ’30

Bob Adam and Stephanie Velez GP’25 ’27 ’30 ’30

Carter Lapachinski ’31

Sharon Pleasant GP’31 ’33

Palmer Lapachinski ’33

Sharon Pleasant GP’31 ’33

Emily Lynn Dean Lawrence ’89

Lawrence Dean P’89

Katie MacCallum P’29, FA

William and Sandra Wittig GP’29

Kenneth O’Brien P’95 ’00, PF

Dillon Lorda ’91

Cara Orsmond ’28

Joyce and Robert Brown GP’28 ’28 ’31 ’33

Everett Orsmond ’31

Joyce and Robert Brown GP’28 ’28 ’31 ’33

Harris Orsmond ’33

Joyce and Robert Brown GP’28 ’28 ’31 ’33

Liana Orsmond ’28

Joyce and Robert Brown GP’28 ’28 ’31 ’33

Anne Ott ’19

Ron and Lorene Ishimaru GP’17 ’19 ’24

Claire Ott ’17

Ron and Lorene Ishimaru GP’17 ’19 ’24

Olivia Ott ’24

Ron and Lorene Ishimaru GP’17 ’19 ’24

Lisa Peddar TT, P’06 ’18 ’21

Kylie Kittredge ’18

Allison Porter ’86

Ben and Pamela Bensen P’86 ’92 ’98 ’01 ’02, PF

Katie Porter ’92

Ben and Pamela Bensen P’86 ’92 ’98 ’01 ’02, PF

Bill Rogers ’65

Richard and Margaret ’66 Curran

Madeline Rose Sabelawski ’24

Carla Bernier GP’15 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’23 ’24

Mike Schloat HOS, P’24 ’26

Janet Schloat GP’24 ’26

Forrest Schmitt ’19

Robert and Bette Schmitt GP’19

Oliver Wilcox ’24

Robert and Dorothy Pam GP’24

Renee Wu FA

Shel Ball ’64

GIFTS MADE IN MEMORY OF

William S. Armour ’GB

Louis Sikkelee FR

Kay Bartlett FHS, PF

Edie Drexler Denney ’50, GP’14

Marlisa Drexler Parker ’52

Julie Russell ’50

Elizabeth B. Beebe PTT, P’60 ’63 ’65 ’76, PF Willson ’76 and Vickie Beebe

Susan W. Beebe ’60

Willson ’76 and Vickie Beebe

William H. Beebe P’60 ’63 ’65 ’76, PF

Willson ’76 and Vickie Beebe

Grace Bement

John Minor ’GB

Marianne Bourbeau P’75, PF

Donald and Sara PF Robinson P’85 ’91

Charles and Marty PF Smith P’03

Scott Smith TT, PF and Sally Reid P’98 ’01 ’03

John N. Butler FHS, P’83 ’84

Joan H. Butler P’83 ’84

Meg Clark P’17, PF

Rob PF and Shelley Borror FHS Jackson P’00

John O’Keefe and Lynne Stopen P’17 ’19

Charles and Marty PF Smith P’03

Jane Conklin ’67

Rebecca Conklin ’64

Tony Dahowski P’48, PF

Art Dahowski ’48

Aiden Francesco Day ’13

Annette Schettino FR

Carmel Schettino P’13 ’15

Mary “Gug” Drexler FHS, PTT, P’50 ’52

Edie Drexler Denney ’50, GP’14

Marlisa Drexler Parker ’52

Julie Russell ’50

Bob Eaton PF

Noah Epstein ’96

Olohiye Ehimiaghe ’18

Claire Patton ’18

Sally Cook Gregg ’55

Arthur Gregg FR

Mary Hawks ’GB, PF

Harris Bucklin ’67

Richard A. Herchenreder ’75 and Jeanne M. Sojka

Wendy Moonan ’60, PTT

Bill Rogers ’65

Kathytn Hegy GP’22

The DiBari Family P’22

Deborah Kehne P’12

Nancy Mihevc P’12

Jeffery A. Knapp ’70

Phoebe Montgomery Moeller ’72

George C. Lunt ’GB, P’82

Tinka Lunt P’82

Frances Malone PF

Viva Hardigg ’78

Dorene McCobb GGP’30

Robert Haigh and Nicole Guertin P’30

Juliette Clagett McLennan ’60, PTT, P’85

Rob PF and Shelley Borror FHS Jackson P’00

Amy O’Hare ’87

Anthony Kwame Harrison ’85, PTT

Sherry Marker P’87 ’91

Theodore Pina PF

Emily Latham ’12

Florence Hofmann Reade P’67 ’69 ’73, GP’05

John ’69 and Masumi Reade

Amy Spencer ’00

Bob and Sally Spencer P’98 ’00

Philip Tyler Staelin ’84

Charles Staelin and Karen Golding-Staelin P’84 ’96

Sandra and David Streeter GP’12

Streeter Elliott ’12

Ann and Hiro Taniguchi FR

David Ko and ChangHui Pak P’26

Peg Verdery PF

Charles and Marty PF Smith P’03

Ed Wells PF

Nathan Reid ’98

Timothy C. Young ’61, PF

Thomas PF and Lyudmila Falcon

Ruth Harlow PF

Shirley Pelletier PF

Charles and Marty PF Smith P’03

MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES

AND FOUNDATIONS 2023–2024

We are most grateful to the companies and foundations listed below for participating in the Matching Gift Program, which offers the donor the opportunity to increase their gift to Bement.

Bayer

Charities Aid Foundation America

Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation

ConocoPhillips

Gates Foundation

Google

Johnson Controls

Nasdaq, Inc.

Netflix

Pew Charitable Trusts

Pfizer, Inc.

Prudential

We have made every attempt to publish the names of our donors accurately. If your name has inadvertently been omitted, misspelled, or listed incorrectly, please accept our sincere apology and bring the error to the attention of the Alumni and Development Office so that we may correct our records. Call (413) 774-3021 or email alumni@bement.org.

THE PHOENIX SOCIETY

Thank you to the following members of our community who have included Bement in their estate planning, naming Bement as a beneficiary in their will, life insurance policy, retirement policy, bank account, or other planned-giving vehicle.

Anonymous

Guy and Sara Becton FA Ardrey P’22 ’24

Mike Banas and Emma TT Chen-Banas P’28

Terry Belanger ’63

Nancee Bershof PTT, P’97 ’98

Joan H. Butler P’83 ’84

Emet Davis ’80, PTT

Matthew Drake ’96, TT

Peter FHS and Nancy PF Drake P’90 ’93 ’96

Kathleen Fontaine ’80

John Gardiner PTT, P’14 ’18

Lester and Burdine Anderson ’54 Giese

Dolly Glennon PTT, P’08 ’11

Christine Hart PTT, P’02

Fred Honnold Houck P’96

Robert and Ellen Fuller PTT Kaufmann P’94

Charles and Pamela PTT Klonaris P’11 ’13

Cynthia (Elyse) Leonard ’68

Katherine Stenson Lunt PTT, P’00 ’02

Debra MacLean P’04

Brad and Rebecca ’93 McCutcheon

Philip PTT and Deborah McKean P’84

Stephanie McLennan ’85, PTT

David and Joyce Milne P’69 ’75, PF

Ralph Parady and Bunny Boyden Parady ’GB

Ted and Carole PTT, PF Pennock P’90 ’94

David PTT and Nancy PF Pond P’89 ’95

Melissa Stetson P’14 ’18

Ellen Waldinger PTT, P’11 ’14

Ted and Sarah ’90 Weihman

Ann Wright ’65

Joshua and Hollis Young FR

ENDOWED AND SIMILAR FUNDS

Over the years, generous individuals and groups have established endowed funds to help support tuition aid, professional development, athletics, and the general needs of the school. Gifts to Bement’s endowment are invested, and earnings provide a permanent source of income and security for the school. For a complete list of funds, visit www.bement.org/giving/funds.

Thank you to the following donors who contributed to the endowed funds below in 2023–2024:

Amy O’Hare Scholarship Fund

Established in 1988 in memory of former Bement student Amy O’Hare.

Anthony Kwame Harrison ’85, PTT

Beebe Memorial Fund

Established in memory of William H. Beebe P’60 ’63 ’65 ’76, PF, former business manager, for the general needs of the school.

Willson ’76 and Vickie Beebe

The Bement School Bridge Grant

Established by Dolly Glennon PTT, P’08 ’11 in 2014; provides complete financial support for an incoming, local lower school student with a demonstrated need of full financial assistance to attend Bement.

Anonymous

Nancy and Peter Drake Scholarship Fund

Established in 1999 to honor former head of school Peter Drake P’90 ’93 ’96 and his wife, Nancy Drake PF, P’90 ’93 ’96, in recognition of their dedication and years of service; provides financial aid.

Joan and Jim P’95 Edzwald

Jisoo Oh ’96

Scott Smith TT, PF and Sally Reid P’98 ’01 ’03

Fox Family Scholarship Fund

Established in 1999 by John and Gretchen PTT Fox P’86 ’88; provides financially deserving students who represent diversity at Bement with the opportunity to participate in all activities and services offered at the school.

Rob PF and Shelley Borror FHS Jackson P’00

Siguler Family Fund

Established in 1999 by a gift from George PTT and Pamela Siguler P’98 ’00 ’02 ’05 ’14 for general endowment growth.

George Siguler PTT P’98 ’00 ’02 ’05 ’14

Timothy C. Young ’61 Fund

Established in 2020 in honor of Timothy C. Young ’61, PF in recognition of his devotion to Bement; supports financial aid and tuition remission for faculty and staff children attending Bement.

Anonymous

Dominic ’03 and Rebecca Capasso

James and Margaret Ricci P’93 ’95

Nils Tristan ’92

Makiko Yamamori P’25

Joshua and Hollis Young FR

Sharon Young PF

Nan Zhao and Zhihong Ni P’27

BEMENT WILL TURN 100 IN 2025!

Bement will celebrate its centennial with a special event on Saturday, October 18, 2025; more details coming soon. Do we have your contact information? Email us at alumni@bement.org to receive communication about this milestone event!

December 16 & 17, 2024

ALL-SCHOOL MINI-TERM PRODUCTION OF BEMENT’S HISTORY

Past faculty member and author Amy Gordon P’99 ’03 has written a play about Bement’s history, and all Bement students will have a part in this historic production. You are invited to attend one of two performances, which will be held in the Barn; more information on reserving your spot coming soon!

NOVEMBER 2024

GIVES BACK CHALLENGE

Join us for this challenge in November and make a difference in your community through volunteering and service! To learn more, visit bement.org/giving/bementgivesback.

To join the Bement community email list, send a message to alumni@bement.org. Alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, past faculty and staff, and all Bement friends are welcome to sign up!

Please forward address changes to: The Bement School 94 Old Main Street, PO Box 8, Deerfield, MA 01342 413.774.3021 | alumni@bement.org