BUCCANEER FALL 2019
THE
The Magazine Of The Benjamin School
Volume XVII
Reflections
THE BUCCANEER
Contents THE BUCCANEER | VOLUME XVII
TOM REID, INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Benjamin Community Reflects on Head of School Mr. Goldberg’s Legacy....................................................................................2 Q&A With the Interim Head of School...............................................4
THE BUCCANEER Marti Lotman ’06 — Publications & Communications Manager
Campus Features...............................................................................................5 US Teacher Lei Cohen, Students Practice Yoga for Self-Reflection...............................................................................................6
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Chris Joriann
Benjamin Book Club Fosters Community, Reflection...........9
Christine Magee Photography
US Launches Interdisciplinary Human Anatomy Course... 10
Enduring Impressions Photography
Student Services Integrates Social-Emotional Learning Into LS Curriculum.............................................................. 11
Erica Sousa
LS Celebrates 29th Annual Olympics............................................8
Tracey Benson Photography
Basketball Legend’s Son Speaks in Honor of Black History Month.............................................................................. 12
MARKETING DEPARTMENT
US ‘Reflective Educators’ Group Fosters Collaborative Dialogue........................................................................ 13
Julie O’Brien Photography
Jessy Fulford Padon ’01 — Director of Marketing
Remembering Robert. S. Goldberg (1952 -2019)
AP Biology Shark Tagging Adventure....................................... 14
Annual Traditions.................................................................................... 15
Mr. Carr’s ‘Titles of Note’..................................................................... 16
Rhonda Thomas — Web Manager
Academic Accolades............................................................................ 18
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Reflecting on a Legacy / 8th Grade Team Wins Grand Prize in National ADCAP Challenge............................. 19
Marti Lotman ’06 — Publications & Communications Manager
Juan Carlos Fanjul ’93 — Chief Development Officer Sheena Wilber — Director of Annual Giving and Special Events Jenna Wittbold ’07 — Alumni Relations and Special Events Manager
2019 Cum Laude Inductees / 2019 National Honor Society Inductees................................................................................... 20 Celebrating The Arts.................................................................................. 21 Sports Highlights........................................................................................... 27 Advancing the Mission.............................................................................. 33 Alumni Focus.................................................................................................... 36
“ Mr. Goldberg is like a tree. We are the birds resting on his branches.” – Mrs. Glogower’s Kindergarten Class
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MR. GOLDBERG’S LEGACY | THE BUCCANEER
THE BUCCANEER | MR. GOLDBERG’S LEGACY
Benjamin Community Reflects on Head of School Mr. Goldberg’s Legacy Marti Lotman ’06 Bob Goldberg was a master storyteller. He was a purveyor of language. He was a poet who could transform the mundane into a deftly crafted reflection or turn of phrase. He was a grammarian, whose keen and discerning eye made every piece smarter, sharper, stronger.
“During the times when most anyone would look inward, Mr. Goldberg consistently focused his attention, his energy and his care outward. This embodied the notion, for me, that none of us has an excuse to not give more of ourselves. Indeed, our most recent private conversations were candid explorations of mortality and morality, each markedly pushing us both to reconsider what it means to be a teacher, to be of service, and to be a good person.”
Returning from summer break in the fall of 2018, I asked Bob, who had been undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, if he had a good vacation. He said, “No,” and gave a little halfhearted, heavy chuckle. “But,” he said, “I have had great summers.” This sense of deep gratitude and perspective, despite his current reality, was a humbling lesson. One of the later conversations I had with Bob was in his office as we were debating a recent magazine cover. I had two options drafted for him: a solo shot of an upper school student in photography class and a picture of him smiling, surrounded by lower school children before his diagnosis. He paused reflectively, scanning the two. He said he didn’t want to take anything away from the student, but that it would likely be the last magazine he would see and it might be a nice tribute to remember him by. Grief disorients. The world stops spinning for those who mourn, but moves, it can seem, even faster for others. Yet, the beauty of Benjamin is its communal spirit: all of us paused following Bob’s death. Students reflected on the gifts that Bob bestowed upon them, faculty members shared memories of a man who touched their lives in innumerable ways, alumni recalled times when Bob had changed the mood of a room with a mere smile, and parents expressed condolences for the man who welcomed them to campus during their very first visits.
— Dr. John Peruggia, US English teacher “I wish Mr. Goldberg could have stayed with us forever. I would want a picture with him every year.” — Holden Rice, Kindergarten This gift of reflection, of community, was something that Bob inspired. He certainly was, as Head of Middle School Chuck Hagy eloquently described, a teacher in both life and death. It only seems appropriate that the theme of this issue of The Buccaneer Magazine is “Reflections,” as The Benjamin community pauses and looks back on Mr. Goldberg’s legacy, the friendships he formed, and the ways in which he impacted so many. Members of the Benjamin community — from current students to parents and alumni — share their reflections on the ways Mr. Goldberg impacted them and the School.
“ My mom always told me Mr. Goldberg would tell her he had a great life. That is one of the best things you could have.” – Leon Etcheverry, Kindergarten
“Whenever you saw him on the Lower School Campus, he would always have a smile on his face and would always remember your name. He would say, ‘Hey Sarah! How are you doing? How are your classes going?’ ” — Sarah Weiss ’20 “My husband Joe, and Bob, worked tirelessly together to make The Benjamin School the best independent school in South Florida. In the process, they became great friends. How ironic they both succumbed to the same dreaded disease three years apart. I can see Bob and Joe together now in heaven laughing and joking with each other.” — Sandy O’Connor, Parent of Alumni, Board of Trustees “This is a heartbreaking loss for our community. A kind soul and a ray of light has left us. However, we have wonderful memories of all the good he did for our children and the school. TBS has soared to new heights thanks to Bob’s endless dedication to excellence.”
“During his time at Benjamin, Bob inspired us to excellence, both in the way he served our students and in the strength of character he demonstrated, especially in the time following his diagnosis. (Character, above all, is most essential.) He showed us how to never stop fighting; even against great odds, he never stopped hoping, and he never gave up. He taught us how to endure unimaginable hardship with grace, wisdom, and a sense of humor. And, what a sense of humor he had! What spirit! Because of his example, we know what true courage and dignity look like, even when faced with the most difficult of life’s experiences. I should say, especially when faced with life’s most difficult experiences.” — Charles Hagy, Head of Middle School “Mr. Goldberg exuded warmth. Every time I talked to him, I felt like he cared about my individual goals and my achievements. I think that is the way people will remember him too, as a kind and compassionate man who cared deeply about Benjamin and its students at all levels. I think his legacy is shaped by the amazing projects he oversaw – from Benjamin Hall to the new STEM building to the new Learning Commons. He was a wonderful man who deserves to be celebrated. He will be missed.” — Jake Lazar ’17 “He was old school, a throwback, a grinder. He worked, there were no hobbies. However, after three weeks of receiving letters, calls, social media replies, his peers from decades ago reaching out, and the comments made by you, I realized he did have a hobby — it was you.” — Lee Goldberg, son of Mr. Goldberg
— Abbe Groffman, Parent “His legacy lives on in all of us as we pursue our passions beyond our time at The Benjamin School.” — Matt Brannon ’02, Board of Trustees, Alumni Council President
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THE BUCCANEER | Q&A WITH INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Q&A With the Interim Head of School Tom Reid The beginning of the school year marked the arrival of Interim Head of School Tom Reid, who comes to Benjamin with a long career as a former Head of School at prestigious independent schools, including Buckley Country Day in Roslyn, New York, and St. Paul’s School in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Reid completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania and received a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Connecticut.
Interim Head of School Tom Reid and wife Ann
“I am honored to have the opportunity to join The Benjamin School and its community as Interim Head,” said Reid. Reid and his wife Ann traveled to Benjamin in May to begin the orientation process. He officially started his new role on July 1, 2019. The Buccaneer sat down with Reid to learn more about him, his goals for the School, and his hobbies.
Q: W hich three words best describe you? A: I ask a variation of this while interviewing others; answering it now reminds me how difficult it is. I would say competitive, friendly, and flexible. Q: W hat’s your favorite thing about working for a school? A: I enjoy the energy and spirit of school communities, interactions with students of all ages, and the variety in the day of a school head. Sorry, that is more than “a favorite thing” isn’t it? Q: W hat was your first impression of Benjamin? A: Overall, I noted three things: loyalty to TBS, faculty concern for what is best for students, and a humble recognition of the need to continue to improve, with the confidence and commitment to do so. My meetings with students were delightful. I sensed a lot of energy and listened to thoughtful reflection on TBS that provided me a view into the student experience. Q: W hat are your goals for the school year? A: I have three broad goals: help to maintain momen4 tum on Board and faculty
priorities, provide a fresh Q: W hat do you do in your Tangier Island). Finally, as related to school life, my perspective on those matfree time? ters, and set a smooth path A: Though it does not happen favorite is Delderfield’s To Serve Them All My Days, the for transition to the permafrequently enough, the nent head to be named in most enjoyable use of my story of a WWI veteran and his rise from a struggling the fall. Additionally, I hope free time now is playing teacher to head of a British I can add to the spirit and with my grandchildren; boarding school — very old energy that exists at TBS, it also provides lots of school, very inspirational. work with the seniors to exercise. I enjoy skating make it a special year for Q: W hat’s your favorite city? and playing hockey, and the Class of 2020, and play I run and bike to try A: Favorite city is another with the early childhood to stay reasonably fit. tough question. I fear students as often as I can. Woodworking, gardening, another less than definitive Finally, I want to get to reading, and crossword answer is going to put me know as many students as puzzles are also on my list in the Charlie Brown catepossible by name. of things to do to relax gory of being wishy-washy, Q: W hat’s your greatest and re-energize. but I cannot help it. Ann accomplishment? and I have lived in or lived Q: W hat’s your favorite book? A: As a Head of School, you A: Picking a favorite book or near enough to know well, tend to be rated and rate Philadelphia, Boston, New even genre is impossible, yourself by enrollment York, Washington, D.C., but I can offer a range of growth, funds raised, Miami, and Charleston, all titles and authors I enjoy. college lists, etc., and I great cities. We enjoy each I love Harold and the Purple am certainly proud of my for different reasons. Crayon and Where the role in the successes in Q: W hat’s your favorite Red Fern Grows. Shane those areas of schools quotation? ranks high on my list of I have headed. Yet, the favorites, and I re-read A: “There is nothing so accomplishments I value A River Runs Through It strong as gentleness nor most are much more every few years. I think nothing so gentle as real rooted in people — a I have read all of John strength.” student’s success enabled McPhee’s work and Donald Q: W hat’s something people by a dedicated teacher, Hall’s prose and poetry. would be surprised to supported by a gift from I usually have a mystery know about you? a grateful donor that going (prefer British) A: I have been on the stage enhanced a program, along with whatever at the Apollo Theater. initiated by another nonfiction book has That answer probably master teacher. Lots of caught my attention generates the desire to names and faces come (presently, Chesapeake ask a follow-up question — to mind in that cycle of Requiem, A Year with the that will have to wait. school life, and I treasure Watermen of Vanishing those memories.
Campus Features
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
Upper School Teacher
Lei Cohen, Students Practice Yoga for Self-Reflection
Upper School World Language teacher Lei Cohen has used her yoga practice to navigate the landscape — an often uncertain terrain — of grief. “I finished Yoga Teacher Training in 2015. At that time, I didn’t realize the emotional and physical benefits that yoga would have for me. I lost my sister, my mom, and my dad in four years; yoga helped me deal with these tremendous losses,” said Cohen. This year, the Benjamin community mourned the loss of Head of School Bob Goldberg. Cohen said Mr. Goldberg always appreciated teachers and supported her work both in the Chinese program and the yoga program. To help her students and herself work through this loss, Cohen once again turned to yoga where she played savasana music with the mantra: “life is a circle, from birth to birth.” Not only has the practice helped Cohen move through grief, she says it has helped her become a better mother, role model and teacher. “Professionally, yoga has helped me to be a better teacher. I am calmer, more patient, loving and understanding of my students,” said Cohen. 6
Cohen’s passion for yoga led her to integrate the practice into her daily teachings of Mandarin Chinese at the Upper School. Beginning in 2016, she created an elective yoga course for students in all four grade levels. She also invites any employee of the School to join her on her journey. Sophomore Trevor Natalie says he has been practicing yoga for more than two years, but thanks to Cohen’s class, now practices almost daily. “I see physical benefits, including flexibility and the prevention of cramping or muscle fatigue while playing sports. Mentally, it makes me calmer and more relaxed. Yoga is a stress reliever and prepares me for the rest of the school day,” said Natalie. One student of Cohen’s said the practice of yoga has afforded him a new perspective and the ability to realize that “fewer people are actually judging
me and that it is just me and the universe, so I need to listen to my heart and just be myself.” Cohen designed the course to introduce students to the basic postures, breathing techniques and relaxation methods of yoga, along with the introduction of the philosophy and history of yoga and Sanskrit vocabulary.
Cohen says students experience the benefits of stretching, moving and breathing freely “as they build strong inner resources, relieve anxiety, gain an increased ability to concentrate and be physically, mentally, energetically and emotionally fit.” “I mainly use Yamas (social disciplines) and Niyamas (personal observations) to guide the class. Each week, we have a theme from the 8 limbs (philosophies) of yoga. One week, the theme was Ahimsa — kindness and compassion. I guide students to dive into the full understanding of what it means to be kind to themselves, to others, to the environment and much more . . . then we use our explanation to weave kindness into our poses,” said Cohen. In one semester, students learn 60 sequenced poses with detailed alignment tips. They also learn meditation, chanting and the philosophy of chakras.
“You added some fun to our weekend. My son, Coby (Leibowitz ’20), asked if he could teach me some yoga poses . . . He gave an amazing effort trying to teach me Sun Salutation A and B. He taught me to breathe correctly and stretch to lengthen my frame — as well as to focus. As I fumbled through the moves, he was kind in his accolades, even though I mixed up the stances . . . He also taught me the beautiful principles of the Yamas and Niyamas chant/song. That chant should be taught in every school from lower school to college! Lovely and meaningful! He is so lucky to be taking your yoga class, and I am grateful for your class and the laughs we had this weekend!” — Tracey Leibowitz, Parent
Benefits of Yoga Include: • Stress Management
• I ncreased Muscle Strength and Tone
• Mental Clarity/Calmness
• Improved Athletic Performance
• Relieves Chronic Stress
• Cardio and Circulatory Health
• Increased Flexibility
• Protection From Injury
Source: American Osteopathic Association
“I see the definite change in students in yoga class. What makes me very happy is to see how they become more confident. They embrace themselves more, they are happier, more flexible and more focused.” 7
THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
LOWER SCHOOL CELEBRATES
29TH Annual Olympics
Benjamin Book Club Fosters Community, Reflection
The excitement was palpable as Lower School students, representing countries from around the world, paraded around Kennerly Field during the opening ceremony of the 29th Annual Benjamin School Olympics. The beloved tradition of the Olympics began in 1990 as an educational endeavor spearheaded by former Head of School Peter Graham and Assistant Director of Athletics Steve Hamel. The Olympic Day celebration is the culmination of a month-long, multicultural study, including the exploration of foreign customs and culture. A culinary luncheon is hosted in classrooms on the eve of the Olympics. Head of Lower School Dr. Kristen Sheehan welcomed faculty, parents, and friends to the games as the Middle School band performed an assortment of numbers on Kennerly Field. Lower School PE Coach Jackie Filia thanked retiring Coach Hamel for his years of service to the School before announcing him as the recipient of a new Olympic award in his honor: The Coach Hamel Teacher Award. The ceremonial lighting of the Olympic flame by Lower School torchbearers signaled the commencement of the day-long event. Students competed in a variety of events from dashes to hurdles, relays and bean bag tosses.
Congratulations to all the Olympians, including the following class winners: Peter Graham Sportsmanship Award 5K — Greece — Mrs. Kurz 1st Place 1M — Italy — Ms. Monahan 2nd Place 3F — Japan — Mrs. Feck
Faculty Olympic Day Coordinator Riordan Cheatham says the Olympics is one of his favorite Benjamin traditions.
3rd Place 5M — Mexico — Mrs. McKinstry
“Seeing the excitement on each student’s face is the highlight of the event.”
4th Place 5S — India — Ms. Spivey
5th Place 4G — Bolivia — Mr. Griffis
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6th Place 2H — Sweden — Mrs. Holland 5A — Canada — Mrs. Sparger
It’s 7 p.m. on a Monday night. The Upper School Campus has finally reached the point in the evening where there’s a steady, quiet hum through its halls. The frenetic pace and energy of high school students, immersed in academics, sports and arts, has slowed for the evening before beginning again at a rapid clip at dawn. Administrative Assistant Lola Arbuzow flicks on the lights in the Learning Commons, setting up her “Pizza Donation” collection box, as she has been doing for the past 13 years. Arbuzow, in tandem with Assistant Head for Academics Ken Didsbury, has been leading a Benjamin book group of eager readers for more than a decade. The group, which meets four times a year, boasts a wide-ranging mix of participants, including current parents, former parents, faculty, former faculty, staff, and alumni. “I want people to know that we really do have a good time,” said Arbuzow. Though this month’s dinner was pizza, participants enjoyed an impressive spread of Southern staples when the group read Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing. Arbuzow said they have sampled everything from Spanish and French cuisine to Indian fare. The club has also hosted visits and Skype sessions with authors. “The book club has served as a way to bring people together. Parents, faculty, former parents, and teachers; it really is a community,” said Arbuzow. The group chooses each quarter’s book through a democratic voting process and considers texts in all genres of writing. “It’s great to be able to reflect on what we’ve read as a group, while also enjoying a sense of camaraderie with people in the Benjamin community,” said Arbuzow. Arbuzow recounted that Head of School Bob Goldberg loved to stop by the club and mingle. She said the personal relationships with faculty and parents were so important to him. “I think he especially loved the food,” she quipped. 9
THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
Upper School
Launches Interdisciplinary Human Anatomy Course “The scrubs are a huge hit,” says Upper School science teacher Amanda Pierman ’97 of her newly launched course, Advanced Human Anatomy. The course, according to Pierman, was the result of students pleading for another advanced science offering. “They loved the Human Systems course and kept asking, ‘What can we do next?’ They pushed me for four years until I finally bit the bullet,” said Pierman. Students in the course have done everything from watching a live robotics surgery in Benjamin Hall to partnering with Benjamin Middle School science students in a lab, to studying the history of medicine through art. “Students also had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Vastola, who has worked in our community for years. They toured Good Samaritan Hospital and got an inside look at the hospital’s cath lab. They also heard from other local doctors in the community and from alumna Raquel Bicknel ’11, a local nurse, who gave a lecture on EKG and phlebotomy,” said Pierman. Upper School nurse Mary Beth Donaldson has also co-taught lectures and certified students in Basic Life Support. Upon completion of the course, students can earn a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certificate. This professional certificate allows them to work in a medical field where they can apply their skills in real scenarios. “It gives them an extra leg up, not only in the workforce, but for college,” explained Pierman. This year, fourteen of Pierman’s students, as well as Pierman herself, took and passed the exam. “Next semester, I have 21 students! The demand for the course is fantastic,” said Pierman. She explained that students who complete the course will have dissected a dozen things. “Brain, eyes, lungs, heart. Sheep kidneys. Chicken wings. I won’t tell you what the final exam is.”
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
Student Services Integrates Social-Emotional Learning Into Lower School Curriculum Each week, Counselors Kathy Bailey and Danielle Benvenuto travel to lower school classrooms where they spend a full class period teaching a skill-building lesson. “We work on everything from growing up drug-free and learning about harmful substances to interacting and working well with peers, and how to properly express feelings and emotions while respecting the feelings of others,” said Bailey. Their integrated approach includes programming from Lions Quest, Skills for Growing and additional, supplemental material. “I’ve incorporated a program called ‘Safer, Smarter Kids!,’ which is focused on sexual abuse prevention,” said Bailey. The program uses developmentally appropriate information to give children the tools and language they need to protect themselves from abuse. Bailey said she uses a social thinking curriculum in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten to help students with their social skills and appropriate interactions with friends. Benvenuto agrees that understanding other people’s feelings, being appropriate with your friendships, and how you react to conflict are other important components of the skills program in the Lower School.
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“I focus on knowing what’s appropriate and inappropriate in given situations, lessons on how to interact successfully with others, and teaching children how to communicate with
someone about something that’s bothering them versus ignoring the problem and hoping it will go away,” said Benvenuto. Bailey stressed that the Student Services team is always available to students outside of class time if they need an impartial ear to listen. “They can come to our office simply to talk. Sometimes, they will be referred by a teacher, and as they get older, they are able to self-refer. If the teacher is telling us that something might be going on with a student, we take extra care to find a delicate way to help them navigate the issue,” said Bailey. Beyond serving as school counselors, Bailey and Benvenuto also track students’ academic progress and help create learning plans for students.
“We know it affects their emotional state if they don’t feel confident as learners. It also helps the parents understand what teachers in the classroom may be seeing. We serve as liaisons,” said Benvenuto. Benvenuto said her ultimate goal is to give students the skills they need to resolve conflicts on their own later in life. “I often intercede on a problem, but the end goal is giving them the confidence to address it on their own. We want them to be capable, confident children who know how to advocate for themselves in a way that makes sense.”
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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
BASKETBALL LEGEND’S SON SPEAKS IN HONOR OF
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Upper School
‘Reflective Educators’ Group Fosters Collaborative Dialogue Guest Author: Bekka Goldberg, Associate Director of College Counseling I tend to think of my life in school years instead of calendar years. The cyclical nature of the calendar is one of the many reasons I love working in schools. The school year offers “breaks” that give time to decompress and reflect. Sometimes these reflections occur internally, but often it can be helpful for me to connect with other likeminded educators. I especially enjoy stepping outside of my typical work responsibilities in the college counseling office and thinking about the big picture of how we are educating our students as whole people.
Twyman not only became his teammate’s guardian, he undertook extensive fundraising efforts to help pay for Maurice’s medical care. And, more importantly, the pair became close friends.
It was 1958. In June, a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama, was bombed by Ku Klux Klan members, killing four girls. In September, the governor of Virginia threatened to shut down any school if it was forced to integrate. In October, thirteen black individuals were arrested for sitting at the front of a bus in Birmingham. And, it’s the same year that a 23year-old white man adopted a paralyzed black man. Their relationship has been described as “the ultimate friendship,” and the vitally important lessons learned from Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes have echoed for generations. Students at the Upper School had the privilege of hearing from Twyman’s son, Jay, on February 21 in honor of Black History Month. Twyman’s grandson, Ted, is a student at the Upper School. 12
Jay Twyman spoke of his father’s relationship with Stokes, which started when they were teammates on the NBA’s Cincinnati Royals. Both were standout players. Twyman described Maurice as the “Lebron” of the era before there was a Lebron.
“The relationship shared by Jack and Maurice is as profound an illustration of compassionate and unconditional fellowship between two teammates that the NBA has ever seen,” said former NBA Commissioner David Stern when he announced the establishment of the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.
“Imagine being at the top of your game one day, going to sleep, and waking up totally paralyzed,” Twyman said of the horror Stokes faced. After hitting his head on the court, Stokes suffered seizures and ultimately went into a coma. He was later diagnosed with encephalopathy, a brain injury that left him permanently paralyzed.
Their relationship, marked by weekly family dinners and an enduring friendship, transcended Stokes’ passing in 1970 at the age of 36. He was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2004. Jack Twyman spoke at the induction ceremony, and later died in 2012 at the age of 78.
“My father was not much older than all of you sitting here when he became Maurice’s legal guardian,” Twyman said to the audience in Benjamin Hall.
“There are moments in life when it’s easier to look the other way. Don’t. When those hard events come up, make the choice to step up and become that someone for someone else,” said Jay Twyman.
During the 2017-2018 school year, former Benjamin economics teacher, Mrs. Nidhi McVicar, started the Reflective Educators Group. Her guiding principle was to create professional development time through collaborative dialogue. The meetings created opportunities for professional dialogue with other faculty members. We discussed pedagogical strategies and educational philosophies, as well as practical tools to enhance teaching tactics. This space welcomed me to connect with new peers and new ideas. When Mrs. McVicar moved out of state, she suggested I take over the group. When I approached Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr with the desire to continue the work Mrs. McVicar started, he encouraged me wholeheartedly. This year, we read an article titled, “Is Teaching an Art or Science?” It probably doesn’t come as too much of a surprise that our teachers feel it is both. Beyond recognizing the nuanced art of teaching paired with the calculated science that is often required in this profession, this article discussed themes of failure and how failures on all levels can provide the greatest opportunities for learning and growth. We pondered how could we encourage intellectual risk-taking in a safe, nurturing environment for both faculty and students. Benjamin already has many examples across all disciplines — from preparing our students for the French and Spanish state competitions to engaging them in countless labs in Human Systems Biology, and from tackling close literary analysis in our English classrooms to solving complicated equations on the Smart Boards in our math classrooms, our teachers encourage students to embrace intellectual challenges.
Our teachers take intellectual risks as well. We learned from Mrs. Amanda Pierman ’97 several technological tools to enhance how we engage with students. She showed us how to create interactive quizzes, how to make the picture collages you see each week in US BucLines, and how to create professional flyers. This session most certainly had me thinking about how I can be more creative in my delivery of information in presentations. The term “educator” transcends the classroom, particularly when working at a school. No matter our role at Benjamin, we are all teaching students each day in every interaction we have. I absolutely think of myself as an educator. In that regard, operating in a vacuum will not allow me to produce my best work. This curated lunchtime discussion group is a haven for authentic, peer-to-peer, professional interactions. The aim of this group isn’t to answer and solve all of the questions, but instead, to offer the very same environment we aim to set up for our students – a place to ask questions, to be respected, and to share ideas. 13
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
Annual Traditions
BPA All-School Community Event
Eye Cue Art Exhibit
Grade 5 Greek Myth Extravaganza
AP Biology
SHARK
TAGGING ADVENTURE
AP Biology and Biotechnology students went on a field trip to Key Biscayne to go shark tagging with the University of Miami’s Shark Research Team. They tagged a nurse shark and two great hammerheads, an endangered shark species!
Grandest Friends Day
Lower School Buddy Picnic
Middle School Career Day 14
HHRC Bunny Hop
Lower School Olympics
Middle School Field Day
Prom
Lower School Spanish Lineup
WOW Trike-A-Thon 15
THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
Mr. Carr’s ‘Titles of Note’ Guest Author: Fletcher Carr, Head of Upper School understand their own intellectual frameworks, cognitive strengths and potential blind spots. At the same time, developing this capacity for intellectual self-scrutiny almost guarantees an evolving lifelong understanding in each of our students as to how they take in, process, and synthesize ideas, knowledge, and experience. There are few gifts greater than that. Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns by Clayton M. Christensen, Michael B. Horn, and Curtis W. Johnson
Being asked to share some of the books that have impacted me over the course of my career is like being asked to announce out loud my very best friends at a party to which all of my friends have been invited. How can I do this without leaving someone out? On the other hand, the task is a terrific exercise in having to articulate why I have chosen these very best friends. Ultimately, I included the following and offer them with the simple caveat that there are countless other books out there that have made a similar impact on me over my years in schools. Intellectual Character: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Get It by Ron Ritchhart Ron Ritchhart, principal investigator for the Cultures of Thinking Project and a senior research associate with Harvard’s Project Zero, has emerged over the past two decades as a leading thinker on creating cultures of thought in schools and beyond. His work looks into the workings of metacognition, the way people think about their thinking. At the Upper School, asking students to articulate how they learn pushes them to recognize and 16
This book was deservedly widely read among school circles upon its publication in 2008. Clayton Christensen, the primary author and a professor at Harvard Business School, looks at education through — what was at the time — the blossoming lens of digital learning, and predicts that this new mode of learning will “disrupt” schools, allowing for more differentiated educational experiences for students and putting at risk traditional school models. Implicit in the message was that the old model of direct instruction (or teacher-based classrooms) needed to change. Just over a decade later, much has changed. #EdJourney: A Roadmap to the Future of Education by Grant Lichtman Grant Lichtman, a veteran educator, used a grant to travel the nation in 2013, visiting public and private schools in nearly every state and highlighting the best, new practices in 21st century teaching and learning. The extraordinary diversity of schools, regions and educational approaches featured in #EdJourney, speaks volumes
as to both the immediate impact and ongoing potential of America’s work to create educational programs that break from the norm, and shape learners who stand to make an impact in a world that is vastly different than the one in which the current and longstanding models were conceived. Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer My academic love is history. Growing up in New England, I was dragged, more and more willingly as the years passed, to seemingly every museum and famous house in that region. Of course, the tale of Lexington and Concord and Paul Revere’s ride was a legendary one — to the point of obscuring the real facts of the story. Thankfully, the brilliant historian David Hackett Fischer retold this tale in the late 1990s, putting together a narrative history of the events that leaves readers breathless. In fact, Fischer’s wonderful writing nearly glosses over the fact that the story is brilliant because his research and assemblage of evidence are equally brilliant. As just one example, he dug up tide charts from 1775 that indicate, in light of other information that he had gleaned, that the British soldiers who ended up in Concord and Lexington had to jump, in the dark of night, into the cold April waters of the Charles River to access the road in Cambridge that took them west to Lexington and Concord. Fischer also researched the type of socks (coarse wool) that British foot soldiers had been issued and indicated that the soldiers had been forced to walk for seventeen miles in these cold, wet socks and were more than likely to be miserable, uncomfortable, and thus more likely to open fire on the American colonists. This is the kind of history that is at once understandable, brilliant and personal; a work that any teacher can hold up to students as the highest reflection of the craft.
Atlantic History: Concept and Contours by Bernard Bailyn In Atlantic History, Harvard historian Bernard Bailyn takes the bold step of re-envisioning history as a transnational affair and seeks to tie together the strands of Atlantic history over the last five hundred years, intertwining elements of European, North American, African, South American, and Caribbean history in a reimagining of the story of the Atlantic basin. In this short, but compelling volume, Bailyn draws incredible connections among races, religions, economic and social conditions, and the environment, modeling the synthetic, creative, and transdisciplinary thinking that we seek to inspire in our students. The stories and encounters that took place in remote corners of this huge region are jaw-dropping and well worth a read. A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There by Aldo Leopold This 1949 classic by Aldo Leopold drew on the Thoreauvian tradition of nature writing and, in turn, influenced writers like Rachel Carson, whose 1962 work, Silent Spring, drew on Leopold’s writings and environmental ethos to send out a warning call to the world and sparked the modern environmental movement. Leopold’s uniqueness lies in his ability to pack a powerful message into beautiful short stories that read like meditations, all drawn on his own experiences in the early days of the nation’s Forest Service to his later life as a landowner in rural Wisconsin.
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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
Academic Accolades
Lower School Science Coordinator Susan Bickel was named “Chemistry Teacher Of The Year” by the American Association of Chemistry Teachers.
BTV News, the Upper School’s television broadcast program, received the 2019 All-Florida award by The Florida Scholastic Press Association. The award recognizes the School’s program as the best in the state.
Reflecting on a Legacy
Benjamin parent Joy Motto, pictured above, has been working tirelessly to create a comprehensive archive detailing the history, traditions, and evolution of TBS from its inception. Within its walls, you can now find everything from early North Palm Beach Private yearbooks to original letters written by Mr. Benjamin to members of the community. The compendium — truly a labor of love — now lives on the Lower School Campus near the Fine Arts Building and Maintenance Warehouse. The hope is to display some of the historic artifacts in school buildings in the near future.
Have a piece of TBS history? Email marti.lotman@thebenjaminschool.org for potential archive inclusion.
8th GRADE TEAM WINS GRAND PRIZE
Seventeen members of the Benjamin Upper School community were awarded Congressional Medals during the 2019 ceremony for Florida’s 18th District.
Senior Noelle Matese and sophomore Molly Fried placed in the top 3 of the regional HOSA competition held at Keiser University in January. In March, Matese then won first place in the Florida State HOSA competition.
Gold Medal: Connor Murphy and AJ Paksima
Each Benjamin student received a $5,000 scholarship with an additional $5,000 grant awarded to work on their project.
Bronze Medal: Emily Horgen, Alexia Letsche, Caroline Small, Kate Small, Caroline Yancey and Michael Yancey
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Eighth grade students Aadi Patel, Jonathan Skatoff and Andrew Moffitt won first place in the national AdCap Challenge, a social entrepreneurship challenge sponsored by major industries, including the National Dairy Council and Land O’Lakes. The team traveled to SAP Headquarters for the AdCap Challenge Finalist Experience — the culminating event of the Challenge. The group spent three days completing mini challenges; creating solutions to questions posed by Challenge partners.
Silver Medal: Remington Bennett, Blake Chami, Isabella Craven, Robin Howley, Skylar Ladd, Julia Palomba, Ella Pierman, Matthew Rapaport and Erik Sorensen
US Newspaper The Pharcyde was named 2nd Place, General Excellence by The Palm Beach Post. Senior Robert Rubin won 2nd Place Editorial, and 3rd Place General Excellence, Student. Sam Fox won 1st Place for Sports Writing.
IN NATIONAL ADCAP CHALLENGE
Sophomore Michael Scellato qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association’s National Tournament. Juniors Alicia Liu and Caroline Moody, and sophomore Michael Scellato, represented Benjamin in four disciplines during the Florida Forensics League Varsity State Tournament.
The team of three eighth grade finalists, led by Middle School Social Studies teacher Anne Franzen, and Upper School Social Studies teacher Hope Myers, tackled the question of how they could harness the power of technology to develop a solution specific to their own community issues. The team came up with their big idea from watching people lose their homes in recent hurricanes. They voiced concern that people had trouble seeking safe shelters because they did not have a place for their pets. This inspired them to create an app for people to offer shelter from the storm, especially in second homes, to people that need accommodations. The students appeared on The Weather Channel in a nationally televised interview about their app “Hurrihome” after traveling home on the heels of their win. They also appeared on WPTV News Channel 5. 19
THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
2019 Cum Laude Inductees Jenna Byrne
Anna Moffitt
Anthony Comorat
Eleanor Nissen
Christian Crawford
Julia Palomba
Andrew DeFerrari
Yuechen Pei
Jack Goetschius
Cameron Pirozzi
Joshua Greene
Robert Rubin
Rachel Haselkorn
Sophie Smith
Anthony Kearns
Benjamin Smithy
Skyler Kretz
Samantha Sweeney
Benjamin Lesserson
Skyler Twyman
Noelle Matese
2019 National Honor Society Inductees
Fall 2018 Inductees
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Spring 2019 Inductees
Leslie Berg
Kassandra Jutis
Margo Seger
Alec Adam
Hudson Hale
Blake Bowen
Ava Kramer
Dean Silvers
Josie Austin
Alexandra Kahn
Mark Campbell
Alexia Letsche
Caroline Small
Francisco Barros
William Mahon
Alexandra Cohen
Xiao Liu
Xiaohan Song
Joseph Berg
Alexander Michelon
Sarah Crall
Kiersten Malmberg
Justin Stohlman
Christian Cassanelli
Grace Myers
Isabella Craven
Shiyanna McLeod
Alexandra Walczak
Briley Crisafi
Aidan Neidoff
Kaylee Dominguez
Connor Murphy
Madison Wilson
Caitlin Degraff
Nadia Poncy
Anna Fox
Anya Orsic
Michael Yancey
Alexandra Denholtz
Colin Ryan
Jinyu Guo
Scott Pignataro
Devyn Dyett
Alexa Tiano
Kaitlyn Hewitt
Alexis Savidge
Mary Eversmann
Isabela Valdes Adarve
Molly Freeman
Sarah Weiss
Molly Fried
Nichaela Williams
Peyton Greene
Skyler Zur
Celebrating The Arts
THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS
CELEBRATING THE ARTS | THE BUCCANEER
‘BEYOND BRUSHSTROKES’ SHOWCASES TALENTED LOWER SCHOOL ARTISTS
‘Fiddler on the Roof’ – A Family Affair The Upper School Music and Drama Departments’ production of Fiddler on the Roof was truly a Benjamin family affair. The show, dedicated to the late Head of School Robert Goldberg, featured students across all three divisions, along with parents and administrators. Performing Arts Department Chair Sara Salivar said it was great to include so many different members of the community. Among them: Upper School Dean of Students Sue Ball, and her dog Beaubentley, and Director of College Counseling Anna Wright, and her son James.
Budding Benjamin artists showcased their work during the annual “Beyond Brushstrokes” Lower School student art exhibition on May 7. The Fine Arts building was transformed into an art gallery featuring more than 1,800 pieces of art created by Benjamin students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5. Benjamin students, parents, grandparents and friends enjoyed the exhibit featuring an Art Walk that wrapped around the Fine Arts Building. The show included everything from paper-mache ice cream cones to fish drawings and modern paintings. Lower School Fine Arts teacher Ro Sammis said that this year her team added additional outdoor space by utilizing the maintenance garage and the sidewalk leading up to the Art Walk.
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“From billowing fluorescent jellyfish to bright Georgia O’Keeffe flowers blowing in the wind, families were greeted by brightly colored artwork! As guests followed the studentcreated palette walkway to the back entrance of the Fine Arts Building, a multitude of art lined their path. At our entrance, we had a new greeter named Benjamin Bolt, our nearly lifesize blue and orange hero horse that the Art Club created from recycled objects,” said Sammis. The entrance with Benjamin Bolt was also designed as a photo opportunity for more than 500 parents and guests. Sammis and art teacher Renee Coviello also created a “Matisse Corner,” which offered an additional photo opportunity with a modern abstract Matisse background.
“Both of the art rooms were transformed into galleries of threedimensional works by students. Paper-mache penguins and ice cream, delicious cherry pies, sparkling book folded gems, garden houses, beehives, sheep, and Johnny Appleseed memory dishes, just to name a few of the awesome creations on display! Rain, thunder, and even tornado warnings could not keep visitors from enjoying the amazing art,” said Sammis.
Second grade student, James Wright, says his favorite thing about his stage debut was how much the older kids included him. “They were funny and really nice to me. The big kids were always there to help me. If I was confused about the story, they would explain what was happening. We laughed a lot, and I had a secret handshake with Luca, Danai and Cade. It was so cool that they did that with me. Everyone supported each other. I cannot wait to do it again,” said Wright. Assistant Head for Academics Ken Didsbury said Fiddler was one of the finest productions he had seen at Benjamin. “The absolute joy on the actors’ faces during the musical numbers alone was inspiring,” Didsbury said.
THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS
Upper School Students Win Record Number of Scholastic Art Awards
Students in the Upper School Art Department won a total of 96 Regional Scholastic Art Awards, and a record number of Gold Keys, the most prestigious accolade. Students were recognized with honors for their work in painting, drawing, photography, jewelry, and more. Upper School Visual Arts Department Chair Melissa Ford said the department is thrilled with this year’s awards results. “Our students earned more Gold Keys than in any previous year. We are so proud of all their efforts,” said Ford. The artwork was on display at The Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach. Students earning Gold Keys advanced to the national competition in New York held at the end of March. Artists Ty Campbell, Alexia Letsche, Madison Marotta and Tatiana Ziff won Gold Keys at the national competition.
CELEBRATING THE ARTS | THE BUCCANEER
STUDENT-DIRECTORS SHINE DURING ANNUAL ‘REVOLUTIONS FESTIVAL’
Upper School Drama students watched their self-directed plays come to life on the stage of Benjamin Hall during the annual “Revolutions Festival.” The festival, held on February 1 and 2, showcased the work of student-directors who have created individual, one-act plays over the span of months in their English elective “Page to Stage.” Students outside the class are also given the opportunity to write and submit plays for consideration in the festival. “Why Revolutions? We thought it is an apt title for this evening and how everything you will experience is student-centered — student playwrights, student directors and student actors,” said Artistic Director and Upper School Drama Teacher Tom Bazar. Bazar said he had more submissions and more student artists this year than last. “The performing arts at Benjamin are thriving. Watching the students, from the early drafts of the play to auditions and rehearsals, rekindled my passion for what the performing arts can do.” Bazar said, “I saw a level of ownership, dedication, purpose, and collaborative effort from these youngsters that is truly ‘revolutionary.’ ”
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THE BUCCANEER | CELEBRATING THE ARTS
TBS ‘GETS TRENDY’ DURING
23RD ANNUAL VARIETY SHOW
A talented collaboration of singers, dancers, and instrumentalists “got trendy” during the 23rd Annual Variety Show in Benjamin Hall on January 19. This year’s theme, “#TBSgetstrendy,” included acts highlighting social media trends, like #throwbackthursday and #sundayfunday. Artistic Director Sara Salivar coordinated performances by the Upper School Drama Club, the Dazzlers Dance Team, Chorus, the TV Production Class, the Middle School Sparklers, and the Middle School Musical Theatre Chorus. Salivar said this year’s show was the product of great enthusiasm from students, parents, faculty and the Variety Show Committee. She said the idea for the show’s theme came from seeing the integration of technology and social media into daily life at the Upper School. 26
“I wanted a theme that would really engage and entertain the students and the audience. Director of Multimedia Productions Ken Archer helped find and/or create the videos for our commercial breaks. Drama teacher Tom Bazar helped organize the skits with Drama Club members. All of this came together once I designed the show to revolve around the days of the week and social media. It took five months to put the show together with weekly rehearsals for every act. It was quite the undertaking, but fun and exciting to watch it all come together. And, of course, there is always the ‘magic of theatre,’ which is the technical aspect, and we couldn’t have done it without Chris Bell and his hardworking crew,” said Salivar. The Variety Show Committee, chaired by Lisa Calberg, spent months planning and executing the event. Upper School science teacher Amanda Pierman ’97,
who served on the committee, coordinated interactive pieces of fine art for the show. The display in the Benjamin Hall lobby featured installations from all three divisions. “As the theme was ‘TBS Gets Trendy,’ it seemed only appropriate to make the artwork interactive! We had the art teachers and some of the AP students take pictures and videos of the art pieces that were on display. They were able to show the pieces as they developed and explained the thought processes behind their art. The whole interactive piece added another dimension of enjoyment to the art,” said Pierman.
Buc Sports Highlights
THE BUCCANEER | BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER
MICHAEL PHELPS Honors Buccaneer
Athletics With Three Awards
Two Benjamin student-athletes were named “Player of the Year” at The Palm Beach Post’s All-Star Preps Best of Palm Beach County banquet on May 24 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Featured speaker, Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, presented senior Kaiir Elam with the Defensive Player of the Year Award for football, and junior Ellie Blain with Player of the Year for volleyball. Coach Alex Clarke was also selected as volleyball Coach Of The Year. Phelps shared advice on sports and life, his training as an Olympic athlete, and his struggles with mental health. Athletic Director Ryan Smith ’93 said it was an outstanding event with Phelps as the guest speaker, and a great honor for Blain and Elam to be recognized for their talents as student-athletes.
Jenna Byrne ’19 NAMED TO
FHSAA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE TEAM Jenna Byrne ’19 was named to the FHSAA Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team, a recognition that honors 24 graduating student-athletes who excel in both athletics and academics. Byrne, who will study engineering at Rutgers University this fall, holds a 4.0 GPA and has lettered in lacrosse, cross country, swimming, and soccer. She was voted captain of the lacrosse team and graduates as secretary of Best Buddies and the Red Cross Club. “The hardworking men and women of Florida’s dairy industry are honored to recognize the significant accomplishments of these amazing student-athletes,” Florida Dairy Farmers CEO Michele Cooper said. “Their dedication and discipline set the bar very high for their fellow students, and we’re proud to help them take the next step toward their amazing futures.” Students must maintain a 3.5 unweighted GPA and have earned a minimum of two varsity letters in at least two different sports to be eligible for the award. Byrne was recognized on Monday, June 10, in Gainesville, Florida, where she received a $1,700 scholarship and a medallion.
“We are not surprised that these three individuals were recognized at the highest level, as they all had incredible seasons in their respective sports,” said Smith.
Auburn Golf Commit Alex Vogelsong ’19 Represents USA in Japan Senior Alex Vogelsong, who is committed to Auburn University, was one of four golfers selected to play for the United States at the 2019 Junior World Cup in Japan. Vogelsong said he was honored to represent the United States at the event.
Senior Ben Lubarsky BREAKS
BASKETBALL CAREER SCORING RECORD Benjamin senior Ben Lubarsky broke the boys basketball career scoring record on February 21. He finished his career with 1,882 points. The record was previously held by Quinnard Jackson with 1,872 points. Lubarsky has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at American University in Washington, D.C.
Vogelsong said golf has always been in his blood from the time he was just a few months old with miniature golf clubs in hand. He said his time at Benjamin impacted him both academically and on the course. “I loved my time at Benjamin and I feel that I definitely matured and grew as a person. Benjamin taught me how to manage my time. Being an athlete, school and sports can overlap at times, and staying on top of everything is crucial. I struggled with this my first year at Benjamin, but over time, I adapted and learned how important this was,” said Vogelsong. He hopes to have a successful golf career at Auburn, “as well as graduating with a strong GPA.” Vogelsong ultimately hopes to pursue a professional golf career.
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THE BUCCANEER | BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS | THE BUCCANEER
FHSAA Winter/Spring Team Champs Congratulations to all our varsity teams who advanced to district, regionals, and state finals.
23 PERCENT OF SENIOR CLASS COMMITS TO COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS Grant Bretzlaff — Rollins College (Men’s Lacrosse) Jenna Byrne — Rutgers University (Women’s Lacrosse) Lowell Carr — Colby College (Football) Henry Dubiel — Princeton University (Men’s Golf) Kaiir Elam — University of Florida (Football) Hannah Foster — Lehigh University (Women’s Golf) Josh Greene — Dartmouth College (Football)
Varsity Girls Lacrosse 2019
Varsity Girls Basketball 2019
Parker Haskin — Tulane University (Baseball) Hanna Hilcoff — University of Oregon (Women’s Lacrosse) Tyler Judge — George Washington University (Baseball) Joseph LaBovick — Miami University — Ohio (Football) Madison Lichtig — University of North Florida (Women’s Swimming) Michael Lobosco — United States Naval Academy (Men’s Lacrosse)
Varsity Boys Track & Field 2019
Varsity Boys Tennis 2019
Varsity Girls Track & Field 2019
Brian Lopes — Florida Institute of Technology (Baseball)
Shiyanna McLeod — College of William & Mary (Volleyball)
Ben Lubarsky — American University (Men’s Basketball)
Alexis Savidge — Tufts University (Women’s Lacrosse)
Ainsley Malamala — Mercer University (Women’s Lacrosse)
Ashley Turner — Ohio State University (Women’s Lacrosse)
Joseph Mariani — Fordham University (Football)
Skyler Twyman — University of Chicago (Men’s Basketball)
Jessica Martin — Tufts University (Women’s Track & Field)
Nicole Vernis — University of Florida (Women’s Soccer)
TJ McKenzie — Vanderbilt University (Baseball)
Alex Vogelsong — Auburn University (Men’s Golf)
TBS Retires Jerseys of Standout Athletes
Varsity Girls Tennis 2019
Ben Lubarsky, No. 20, Basketball 30
Kaiir Elam, No. 5, Football 31
THE BUCCANEER | BUC SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
2019 Winter/Spring Sports Highlights Sun Sentinel All-County Teams BASEBALL 1st Team Tyler Judge
TRACK & FIELD Athlete of the Year Joshua Pierre-Louis 1st Team Skyler Twyman
Emily Horgen
BOYS TENNIS
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Shiyanna McLeod
1st Team Dean Silvers
1st Team Emma Laszewski
GIRLS TENNIS
GIRLS SOCCER
1st Team Kiersten Malmberg
Player of the Year Nicole Vernis
BOYS BASKETBALL
1st Team Emma Shirzad
GIRLS LACROSSE 1st Team Jenna Byrne Hanna Hilcoff Ashley Turney
1st Team Ben Lubarsky
Eva Hasenhutll-Bishop
The Palm Beach Post All-Area Teams GIRLS TENNIS
SOFTBALL
GIRLS LACROSSE
BASEBALL
1st Team Ashley Cousins
1st Team Alex Cohen
1st Team Hanna Hilcoff
1st Team Tyler Judge
Kiersten Malmberg
Leslie Berg
Jenna Byrne
BOYS BASKETBALL
BOYS TENNIS
GIRLS SOCCER
BOYS LACROSSE
1st Team Dean Silvers
1st Team Nicole Vernis
1st Team Trevor Natalie
1st Team Ben Lubarsky
Siddartha Jasti
Individual Accolades US LACROSSE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
JULIAN REYNOLDS CAREER ATHLETE AWARD
Jenna Byrne and Zander Valentini
Kaiir Elam and Hanna Hilcoff
US LACROSSE ALL-AMERICANS
FHSAA ACADEMIC ALL-STATE TEAM
Jenna Byrne and Hanna Hilcoff
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Jenna Byrne
Advancing the Mission
THE BUCCANEER | ADVANCING THE MISSION
ADVANCING THE MISSION | THE BUCCANEER
Benjamin Community Partners With
PB Habilitation Center for School-Wide Service Project
Director of Student Services Amy Taylor Wins Diversity Award Director of Student Services Dr. Amy Taylor received a DiversityIS Leadership in Diversity Award in recognition of her work to encourage and support the recruitment and retention of under-represented students and employees. The organization, in its inaugural year, selected 21 honorees who were peer-nominated. Taylor oversees the Diversity Committee at Benjamin, which helps facilitate the enrollment of under-represented students at the School. This includes students from various socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as students with disabilities. “Amy supports faculty and staff at The Benjamin School by listening to them and supporting their differences. She brings groups and people together to learn and to relate to one another,” said World Language Department Chair Marisol Tejera-Mede.
exceptional School. It is indeed we who are the biggest beneficiaries of this project. We are learning to see, not the disabilities, but the amazing abilities of our new friends,” said Poncy.
The Benjamin School community partnered with The Palm Beach Habilitation Center for its annual school-wide service project for the 2018-2019 school year. The Center serves adults with physical, developmental and emotional disabilities. The PBHC’s aim is to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the best environment in which to learn, work, and live. They provide vocational training, employment, community job placement, life skills training, and other resources to aid their clients. Director of Student Services Susan Poncy said the opportunity to collaborate with the Habilitation Center has truly been a privilege for The Benjamin School family. “As is true for all of us, the clients at the PBHC want to feel included. It is such a pleasure to observe all the many ways in which our students, from the very youngest to the faculty, are reaching out and including them in our 34
Previous Benjamin school-wide projects have addressed issues in the areas of hunger, homelessness, health, education and hurricane relief. Partnered initiatives that took place throughout the school year included: • WOW Annual Trike-A-Thon — The youngest TBS students collected art supplies to share with PBHC clients following the Trike-A-Thon. • Halloween Costume Drive — Grade 3 and Upper School students joined together to collect costumes for the PBHC. • Holiday Decorating Party — Upper School students took food and decorations to the Center. Students and clients decorated the PBHC dining area together. • Holiday Place Mats and Decorations — Kindergarten and Grade 1 made cheerful place mats and decorations for the Center’s Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day celebrations. • Holiday Wreath Donation — Middle School students made holiday wreaths, which were donated to residents at PBHC.
• Winter Music Festival — PBHC residents were guests at Benjamin’s dazzling holiday performance. •G ames and Puzzles Drive — Grade 2 collected games and puzzles for the Center. • Book Character Day — PBHC clients were invited to attend the annual parade. •L unch and a Performance — Grade 6 invited new friends from PBHC to lunch and to attend their March Wheel performance. •D isabilities Awareness Month — PBHC clients and staff worked with TBS students and faculty to increase awareness and understanding of people with disabilities. •U pper School Musical — PBHC clients and staff attended. • Spring Cleaning — TBS collected gently used clothing and shoes to be donated to the Palm Beach Habilitation Thrift Store. • Alumni Tour — TBS Alumni traveled to the PBHC office where they toured the facility and learned about the Center’s mission.
Sarah Davis ’05 Named Graham Distinguished Teacher Upper School art teacher Sarah Davis ‘05 received the Peter and Jody Graham Distinguished Teacher Award during an end-of-year awards ceremony in the Barker Performing Arts Center. Davis, an alumna of the School, was described by Visual Arts Department Chair Melissa Ford as an educator whose “effervescent personality and enthusiasm for teaching” provides students a safe space to challenge themselves and grow. “Students are encouraged and empowered to articulate their ideas in symbolically layered methods, crafting metaphor and meaning through the engagement of their material choices,” quoted Acting Head of School and Chief Financial Officer Leslie Downs during the ceremony. “We are fortunate to count Sarah as an aspirational model of what a Benjamin graduate can become.”
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ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER
Alumni Focus
Lauren French ’07
Former Director of Communications, U.S. House of Representatives Lauren French ’07, Communications Director for Assistant Speaker Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, speaks with The Buccaneer Magazine about her time on Capitol Hill and the ways in which Benjamin prepared her for a career in politics.
Q: W hen did your love of journalism and politics begin?
A: I’m inquisitive by nature and my habit of asking “why” morphed into a passion for journalism, which evolved into a love for politics and public service. There were a few stops along the way, but my first attempt at reporting was a neighborhood newsletter. Not incredibly hard-hitting, but every house on the street was a subscriber.
Q: W as it always D.C. for you? A: No! I spent most of my time at Benjamin hoping to be a correspondent focused on women, children and minorities in conflict and war zones. But I continued to find amazing opportunities in D.C., realized that journalism was not the career path for me, and the District quickly became one of the places I call home.
Q: Y ou’ve worked in a variety of capacities on the Hill. Which role has been the most challenging? The most fulfilling?
A: This may sound trite, but each of my jobs has been challenging and fulfilling. I wouldn’t have continued in any of those jobs — whether it was chasing down the story in the halls of Capitol Hill, to crafting messaging for two members of House Democratic leadership — if every day wasn’t equal parts challenging and fulfilling. Staying static is boring.
Q: W hat advice would you give to students looking to pursue careers in politics?
A: Be bold. There is far too much caution and not enough creativity in politics. “Politician” has become a dirty word, but the work being done by public servants is incredibly important. It could use a burst of passion, energy and creativity from new blood.
Q: D id Benjamin help prepare you for your career? In what ways?
A: Benjamin’s philosophy that the best students are also well-rounded individuals — involved in athletics, the arts, and public service — continues to give me a great perspective in my job. I may spend most of my days working with the Capitol Hill press corps, but both of the offices I worked for put an extraordinary value on constituent services. My Benjamin background helps as I look to support those constituents back home.
Q: F avorite teacher(s)? A: There are a number of faculty members and teachers who had such a positive impact on my time at Benjamin. From Mr. Didsbury, who taught me to question everything, including myself, to Mr. and Mrs. Feyk, who helped me unleash my potential, to Mr. Wissner, who served as both a support system and a motivator.
I’d also include Mrs. Arbuzow, who did so much to support the staff of The Pharcyde.
Q: F ondest Benjamin memory? A: I have many fond memories of Benjamin. One of the best was helping to move The Pharcyde into a new strata for high school student journalism. I share only a small portion of the credit to be sure, but during my time there, we were able to turn the paper into a wholly student-designed operation, and the students who came after me took it even further (the paper was even named the Most Outstanding Private/Parochial School Newspaper in America in 2012 — what an accomplishment for the school!). Taking ownership of such an important product definitely helped me as I served in similar roles in college and afterward. 37
THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS
ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER
Victoria Weinberg ’06 ‘Theater-Hyphenate’
Victoria Weinberg discusses her 12-year theatre and production career in New York City.
Q: W hen did your love of theatre begin? A: It’s very hard to pinpoint an exact moment. However, I do have a vivid memory of playing Dolly Madison in First Ladies, Ladies First in second grade in the Music Center (now the Barker Center). I definitely had a flair for the dramatic, even at a young age.
Q: H ow long have you been working in New York? A: I’ve been living in New York since 2006. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, I worked as an actor in various theaters all over the country. However, I can proudly say that I’ve called New York home for 12 years!
Q: Can you tell me a little more about your position as a producer?
A: I’m what I like to call a “theater-hyphenate.” I work as both a producer and general manager for both theater and live events. I work with Glass Half Full Productions as their Associate Producer, raising money for shows such as NETWORK, formerly on Broadway and starring Bryan Cranston. I also work on developing new work with up-and-coming playwrights, composers and lyricists. We currently have three shows in development here in the U.S. I’m particularly excited about ATLANTIS, 38
directed by Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages), which premiered at Virginia Repertory Theatre in April 2019. I also work on large-scale live events, galas and award shows such as Broadway Dreams and the PEN America Literary Awards.
Q: Y ou’ve been both onstage and behind the scenes — which one do you enjoy more?
A: Behind the scenes, definitely. However, I wouldn’t trade my time as a performer for anything because it led me to discovering my true passion of working “on the other side.” It’s thrilling to work on a show with a creative team at the top of their field. Any production, whether it’s a Broadway musical or a reading of a new play, requires a highly skilled team — from the director to the set designer, to the accountant. It’s a nonstop learning experience.
Q: D id Benjamin help prepare you as a professional? Any teachers who were instrumental in your growth?
A: Absolutely. Benjamin taught me to ask questions and to
Mike Viola ’82 Named 2019 Distinguished Alumnus
Mike Viola ’82, co-founder of Oasis Outsourcing, which was purchased by Paychex for $1.2 billion, was named the 2019 Distinguished Alumnus by the Alumni Council during the annual Alumni Luncheon hosted May 3 in Benjamin Hall. Head of Upper School Fletcher Carr welcomed the audience of seniors, Upper School students, alumni and friends, followed by Board Member and Alumni Council President Matt Brannon ’03, who presented Viola with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Viola, a graduate of Stetson University, spoke to the audience about his career, what it takes to be successful, and the importance of character. Viola joins the ranks of previous Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients, including world-touring DJ Henry Fong ’05, Olympian Ryan Berube ’92 and Congressman Tom Rooney ’89.
speak up when I didn’t know the answer. I must thank Mr. and Mrs. Feyk for cultivating my love of creative analysis in their English classes. I can also credit my love of note-taking to Mr. Wissner, whose U.S. History class was so full of interesting anecdotes that my hand was cramping by the end of class. Mrs. Salivar, by far, was the most instrumental to my love of theatre. I have vivid memories of the BASH Variety Show and my turn as Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof. She was such a strong supporter to all of her students, and went above and beyond to create performing opportunities for us. 39
THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS
ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER
Alumni Council Launches Speaker Series
The Alumni Council, in conjunction with Student Services, launched a speaker series during the 2018-2019 school year. Benjamin School alumni working in various professional capacities returned to the School to address the senior and junior classes during advisory time. The TBS graduates spoke about everything from budgeting and finance to making new friends in college.
Alumni Class Notes Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Davis ’72 of Jupiter, Florida, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Davis ’05, to Nicholas Rojo. Ms. Davis, an Upper School art teacher at The Benjamin School, is to be married to Mr. Rojo, president of Affiliated Development, next year. Ms. Davis and Mr. Rojo met through mutual friends at a local charity event.
Marci High ’87 wrote: “Wow, we all turned 50 this year. What a life — raised two girls on Saint Simons Island in Georgia. One is in college to be an accountant and the other a pediatrician. Still working as a role player for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.”
Alumni speakers and their topics of discussion included: Eric Bruns ’03 “Budgeting/Finance in College” Kelly Ford ’09 “Nutrition” Michael Hewitt ’82 “Roommates” Paul Lawler ’02 “ Balancing Social Life and Career Goals“
Chelsea Reed ’88 “ Employment Etiquette in and After College” Rebecca Seelig ’93 “Making New Friends in College” Talbot Sutter ’07 “Leveraging Your Alumni Network”
Michael and Patti Shoemaker ’80 are enjoying their first grandchild, born on January 29, 2018.
Brenna Tiano ’13 “ Having the Confidence to Change Your Career”
Casey Shomo ’84, Gary Nicklaus ’87, and Mike Viola ’82 participated in the Pro Am golf tournament in early February 2019 in Boca Raton, Florida.
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showers and clothing to the homeless and near-homeless in Palm Beach County. The organization, affiliated with St. Vincent de Paul of St. Paul of the Cross Church, travels throughout the county with a six-stall shower trailer. Parish leader Kate Devine ’96 helped spearhead fundraising for the project and plans to help raise enough money for a smaller trailer to store donated clean clothes, and a truck to pull both trailers.
Tim Murphy ’85 started the organization DARE 2 CARE (Dignity and Reverence for Everyone), which offers
Oceana Coffee, founded in 2009 by Amy Angelo ’96 and Scott Angelo, was recognized in January as the Small Business of the Week by the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Chris Johncke ’00 is the CEO of iFixYouri and Tech Reboot. Tech Reboot works with charities and other organizations to collect new, used, and broken electronics. The company then refurbishes and tests them, and donates them back to charities and people in need of technology. Some partners include the City of Orlando, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, T-Mobile, The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, and the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, to name a few. Alumni involved in Tech Reboot include Chad Misselhorn ’95, Michelle Johncke ’99, and Ryan Riley ’01. Johncke also runs Johan’s Joe, a local Swedish coffee shop with locations in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Paul Lawler ’02 is working as a corporate lawyer at Holland & Knight in West Palm Beach, Florida. His wife, Danielle Lawler, is a Realtor with Illustrated Properties. Their 4-year-old son, Jack, is currently in Benjamin’s pre-kindergarten program. The couple is expecting their second child, a baby girl, in August.
Kristin Aiello ’04 graduated in 2007 from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in English literature. She earned her master’s degree in public administration while working as a research analyst for UCF’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Management. In her current role as the Director of Communications for the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, she creates and shares content to further the organization’s mission of protecting and celebrating the architectural and cultural heritage of Palm Beach. Kristin spends her free time involved with The Benjamin School and UCF Alumni Associations, volunteering with the Junior League of the Palm Beaches, traveling when she can, pursuing creative endeavors, taking in the country’s rich cultural offerings, and enjoying Florida’s natural beauty with family and friends. She is honored to join the executive board of the Path to College Fellowship and share her varied nonprofit experience and lifelong passion for learning. Continued on Page 42. 41
THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS
ALUMNI FOCUS | THE BUCCANEER
Continued from Page 41.
On December 18, 2018, the Grogan Family welcomed a son, Conor Edward, into the world! Siblings Patrick (age 4) and Vanna (age 2) are so excited to have a new baby brother! Brooke (Smith) Grogan, Esq. ’05 is a senior attorney at Smith, Gaskill & Shenkman, P.A. Brennan Grogan, Esq. ’02 is an attorney at The Levine Law Group and a member of Benjamin’s Alumni Council.
Among the Colleges & Universities Offering Admission to the Class of 2019 Class of 2019 Highlights Melanie Davis ’07 and Darren Craft ’04 recently became engaged. The couple resides in New York City.
Rebecca Grimpe ’14 was married to Darryn Dunn in November 2018.
Jennifer Porter ’07 and Alexander Wittmann were married on November 10, 2018, at Jupiter Hills Club. The couple lives locally in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where Jennifer works in finance, and Alex works for his family’s construction company.
• Matriculating to 63 institutions in 25 states • Awarded $5.9M in scholarships • 23% of the class committed to collegiate athletics Sydney Schultz ’15 is a “Hometown Ambassador” for Colgate University. She recently spoke to current Benjamin high school students about Colgate and her experience there.
Kevin Devine ’06 and Alexandra Taylor ’08 were married on December 31, 2018, at Swank Farm, and spent the weekend with their family and friends at Jupiter Beach Resort. It was the best New Year’s Eve ever! Kim Hamill ’06 is an attorney with the firm Older, Lundy & Alvarez. The firm practices in the areas of family law, estate, probate, business litigation, and corporate tax matters throughout Florida. Kim is a member of the Marital & Family Law practice group, which specializes in financially complex divorce matters. She obtained her undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Notre Dame, and her law degree and MBA from Stetson University.
Chris Holmes ’07 and his wife Chelsea welcomed their first child, Jackson Roger Holmes, on April 23, 2019. Billy Black ’09 and Julianne Black welcomed their first child, William Sidney Black Jr., on January 4, 2019. The family resides in Jupiter, Florida. Christopher O’Leary ’12 and Mackenzie Huhn were married on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Royal Poinciana Chapel. A reception at his grandparents’ home in North Palm Beach followed.
Many thanks to our 2018-2019 Alumni Council! Thank you for your time and dedication to TBS! Upper level (left to right): Ami Giurato Reece ’86, Chelie Stingel Casey ’80 (Vice President), Molly Stringer ’95 (Secretary), Ellen Regnery ’83, Chelsea Reed ’88, Nan O’Leary ’83 and Talbot Sutter ’07. Lower level (left to right): Brennan Grogan ’02, Rebecca Seelig ’93, Matthew Brannon ’03 (President), Jenna Wittbold ’07, Colin Hickey ’07 and Paul Lawler ’02. *Robert Gimson ’04 (not pictured)
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• 107 seniors accepted to 147 different universities
The University of Alabama American Academy of Dramatic Arts
University of Colorado Boulder
Louisiana State University
Cornell University
Mercer University
American University
Dartmouth College
Auburn University
Davidson College
Babson College
University of Denver
Boston College
Drexel University
Boston University
Elon University
University of California, Berkeley
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego
Loyola University Chicago Miami University — Ohio University of Miami University of Michigan
Savannah College of Art and Design Skidmore College University of South Carolina University of Southern California
University of Mississippi
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of Missouri Kansas City, School of Medicine
Southern Methodist University
Emory University
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Syracuse University
Flagler College
University of North Florida
Florida Atlantic University
Northeastern University
Florida Gulf Coast University
University of Notre Dame
Florida Institute of Technology The Ohio State University
Suffolk University The University of Texas at Austin Tufts University Tulane University United States Coast Guard Academy
University of California, Santa Barbara
Florida State University
University of Oregon
University of Florida
Pennsylvania State University
University of California, Santa Cruz
Fordham University
Pratt University
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Carnegie Mellon University
The George Washington University
Princeton University
United States Naval Academy
University of Central Florida
Purdue University
Valdosta State University
Georgetown University
College of Charleston
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Valencia College
University of Georgia
College of William & Mary
University of Illinois
Rollins College
University of Chicago
Virginia Tech
Indian River State College
Claremont McKenna College
University of Virginia
Clemson University
Indiana University at Bloomington
Rutgers University — New Brunswick
Colby College
Johns Hopkins University
Colgate University
Lehigh University
Santa Fe College Santa Monica College
Vanderbilt University
Wake Forest University University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison 43
THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI FOCUS
Alumni Events Alumni Holiday Party
Spring 2019 Senior Hallway Decor
Spring 2019 — Palm Beach Habilitation Drive, Tour and Lunch
2019 Class Agents
Class of 2008 10 Year Reunion — 2018 44
Spring 2019 Alumni Guest Speaker — Talbot Sutter
Spring 2019 Alumni Guest Speaker — Eric Bruns
2019 Alumni at BASH
February 2019 Tampa Reception
Spring 2019 Alumni Guest Speaker — Paul Lawler
Alumni Council Appreciation Dinner
Spring 2019 Alumni Guest Speaker — Kelly Ford
2018-2019 Alumni Council
2018 Alumni Networking Breakfast
Flip Book Continue
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