Summer 2020
TODAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Inge Milde
EDITOR
Jana F. Brown
DESIGN
Christine Hodgson
PHOTOGRAPHY
Raya Al-Hashmi Lia Bensley Nicole Derr Parker Douglas Margaret Lampert Lauren Termini The faculty and staff who carry cameras and capture Berwick moments as they happen.
PRINTING Flagship Press
Changes of address or other communication regarding this periodical should be directed to: Berwick Academy Advancement Office 31 Academy Street South Berwick, Maine 03908 207.384.6303 jroberge@berwickacademy.org
This issue of Berwick Today is dedicated to the Class of 2020
Welcome 2
Welcome from the Head of School
Features 4 8 10 12 14
Together Apart Staying Involved The Feeling of Berwick A Distanced Goodbye Leadership Pioneers
16 26 32 38 42 44
Celebrating the Class of 2020 Athletics Arts Innovation Pursuits Honoring Susan Widmark Ridgway Alumni
TODAY
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WE LC O M E
From the Head of School
2 | SUMMER 2020
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reetings from the Hilltop. When I first wrote this letter for our magazine, the February sun was beating down on the snowcovered quad. The noise coming into my office was from a group of hearty Middle School students, who had taken up playing a boisterous game of football at each recess. It was their laughter and joy that connected me to our central purpose — to teach virtue and useful knowledge to the rising generations. Our mission centers wholly around students, students we are entrusted with preparing for jobs of the future that don’t yet exist. Children who we expect will be leaders and active citizens in their communities. People
who will make a difference in the world, to their families, and in local communities. To do that, we put the student experience at the center of every decision we make. As the magazine was in its final stages of preparation, our world morphed into something that none of us has ever experienced. Berwick moved to remote learning in late March and remained that way for the balance of this year. Remote learning, in many ways, seems the antithesis to what we do at Berwick. Students thrive here because of the personal connections they make with their teachers and coaches. They grow together through interactions with their peers and shared experiences and challenges. Our
prepared us for this and our faculty members have been able to model this for our students. I am incredibly proud of our students. They have been presented with a reality that we would never have wished for them. Our students, however, have embraced each other and the school even more. The original theme of this magazine was to highlight student culture and I believe we still do that in many ways. You will read about our remote learning program and get a glimpse into that experience for students. There are also a number of features in these pages that speak to the on-campus student experience to which we look forward to returning as soon as it is safe to do so. While I am sure that most any head of school might argue that their students are special, I truly feel that the Berwick student is unique. Our kids, across all three divisions, bring joy and curiosity to each and every day. From the smiles and morning high-fives the Lower School students give faculty waiting for them at the door each day, to the entire Upper School cheering on our Girls Soccer team this fall, to the Middle School students playing football on the quad, these kids are engaged in every aspect of school life. As you will see in the pages that follow, we were so pleased to be able to create a set of memorable experiences for the Class of 2020 and other students completing milestones even in this unique time. These too highlight the energy, creativity, and connectedness of the Berwick Community. Graduation was ‘drive-in’, Woofstock was on Zoom, and the seniors rang the bell proudly wearing their Bulldog facemasks.
community is central to the student experience, and that community experience is built through sharing in joy and laughter, music and art, challenge, and innovation. Despite the challenges that remote learning presents, Berwick is known for being an innovative and nimble school. We are the oldest school in Maine because we have been able to respond to the needs of our community and our students through many challenging times. This pandemic is no different. We extended spring break for the students by a week to give our faculty time to create an engaging, supportive, and rigorous program. They leaned on the plethora of experiences within our community and looked to outside experts
to find best practices in delivering a remote program. Additionally, each division worked to determine how it would best maintain our strong-knit community in a time when we cannot gather together in person. We have thrived in this new environment because of our faculty’s ability to alter their plans. They employed innovative and new ways to engage students and found tools that brought consistency in the program to their students. I am certain that, when we return to our campus, our teachers will bring many of these new tools to their classrooms. In many ways, this challenging time has encouraged us to try different things and collaborate in new ways. Our culture of innovation has
We hope reading these pages will bring you closer to what it is like to be a Bulldog and that it will allow you some joy and hope in thinking of when we will be together again. I know this pandemic has affected the extended Berwick community in many complicated and challenging ways. All of you continue to be in my heart as we navigate through this together. Sincerely,
Jim Hamilton Head of School
TODAY
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Together Apart
by Jana Brown
Berwick students use creativity and guidance from their teachers to adjust to learning from home.
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Nora Watts ’32 ince the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of school campuses worldwide, including Berwick Academy, Jack Farrington ’23 has learned a great deal about his capacity for learning.
“I have learned that I can do much more work in a day than I thought,” says the freshman from Hampton, N.H., “as long as I give myself time to do something I enjoy and use my time well.” The spirit of innovation that pervades the Berwick community has created an environment in which creative solutions have been forced further to the forefront. Farrington adds that, while he is accustomed to student-centered learning, he has had to put that concept into overdrive as he works at home, without the benefit of being surrounded by peers and mentors. “This learning allows students to manage their time more and do what they feel is necessary for their learning,” he says. “At first it was a large change, but as time has gone on I have begun to enjoy it.”
Jack Farrington ’23 4 | SUMMER 2020
The McGowan Family: Shawn, Kelly, Benjamin ’29, Owen ’24, and Jack ’19
Rekha Mahadevan ’23
Prior to the cancellation of in-person classes, Berwick students already had been introduced to online learning platforms, including Google Classroom and myBerwick. Having a head start on incorporating those technologies has proven valuable in a time of transition for the students and teachers. Using myBerwick, teachers have created calendars to help students understand the lesson plan for each class and the daily homework to follow. Luighseach Doane ’23 has been impressed by how quickly Berwick faculty and administrators have been able to pivot to distance teaching and learning, including scheduling that takes into account the right balance of synchronous (two 40-minute “live” classes per day for a total of 400 minutes a week) and asynchronous classes without overwhelming the students. Though she needed time to adjust to the added distractions of school from home (including a dog eager for attention), she has made the transition with more ease than expected. “Online learning has honestly been made much easier for me by Berwick’s scheduling,” says Doane, who lives in Portsmouth. “I have friends who go to other
Luighseach Doane ’23 TODAY
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A Small World by Jana Brown ZACH BOSTON ’20 PARTICIPATES IN A PANEL AIMED AT SHARING THE STUDENT VOICE IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
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ow are high school students adjusting to life away from their schools, their friends, and their teachers? As educators and parents around the world try to react to the changes set into motion by the COVID-19 crisis, students, too, have been forced to reset expectations and adapt to a life they don’t yet understand.
Jessica Wojdak ’24 schools who’ve been finding themselves swamped in work, and I’ve found myself lucky to have just the right amount to do. I’ve been staying mostly positive, which I think has been largely helped by the Berwick community, which manages to remain intact even when none of us leave our homes.” Doane and others point to the use of online tools such as Flipgrid, a message-board video technology that allows teachers to create grids to facilitate interactive video discussions. She also has appreciated online book discussions of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 that are taking place in her Literary Foundations course during asynchronous class time. Jessica Wojdak ’24 of West Newbury, Mass., has also found Flipgrid useful for students, who are asked to record short video responses to be shared with their classmates during discussions. She also has been learning to incorporate the many features offered by Zoom’s video conferencing platform, including breakout rooms for smaller group discussions, options to “write” on a virtual white board, and a hand-raising function to avoid online chaos. Padlet is an additional organizational tool that has allowed students to share their thoughts and teachers to pose questions (through videos and links) using online bulletin boards. “I’m part of an exploring kindness project where we created a Padlet to share how we have been giving back,” says Wojdak. “People have posted signs they made for deliverymen and women and rocks they painted for bike trails and I have done a few myself. We are also organizing a pen pal opportunity where Middle School students will be writing letters to some members of the Lower School. It is a really great way to stay connected and make more people have a brighter day.” Innovative solutions have helped students to continue their creative thinking at home. Math teacher Owen Harrington asked his calculus students, including Zach Boston ’20, to read an article about the links between calculus, philosophy, and history and how calculus changed humans’ view of time. Students then were asked to write about the topic during an asynchronous class and engage in a lively discussion in their next synchronous class. 6 | SUMMER 2020
Amplifying the student voice was the topic of a 90-minute web panel at the end of April hosted by Cognia, Inc. and moderated by the global educational nonprofit’s CEO, Dr. Mark Elgart. Berwick’s Zach Boston ’20 was asked to participate in the panel, Schooled: Students Speak Up, which was broadcast live via Zoom and featured eight high school students from the United States, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. Boston (with a fitting surname to match) represented the Northeast, while other American students on the panel were based in other regions of the country. Prior to the panel, Dr. Elgart sent participating students a series of questions to ponder, including how they are handling being away from friends and classmates and how they believe school might be different once they return. The students, some of them high school seniors, talked about the benefits of project-based learning from a distance, the difficulties of taking tests and quizzes online, and how being thrust into self-teaching might help them
“Thinking about it independently allowed me to form my own idea about the subject,” says Boston, who lives in Berwick. “There was more opportunity for self-reflection, and I was more confident in my own answers. In class, I might answer based on how I perceive the teacher expects us to think. [From home,] I’m finding that my critical thinking skills are being advanced.” In chemistry, Boston and classmates were engaged in an organic chemistry unit. An at-home lab asked them to create a “wizard’s brew,” safely using food coloring and baking soda to make the concoction explode. Another assignment was to build a molecule out of objects found around the house. Students were forced to be innovative in creating their masterpieces. While Boston chose glue and toothpicks to make his model, others made theirs from pasta, Play-Doh, Styrofoam, and other common materials. “Everybody had a different model,” he says, “and we were using our own creative brains.” Like many Berwick students, Boston had completed an Innovation Pursuit prior to the changes forced by the pandemic. As a junior, Boston studied the impact of global warming on the lobster industry
prepare for college. But much of the discussion focused on the common emotions of teenagers around the globe. “Everybody was talking about feeling down and missing their friends,” says Boston. “That was a big topic of discussion. It’s a very hard time for us. I appreciated hearing somebody else say that. It was good to get that out in the open.”
Spring Fling At Home CAMOUFLAGE CHALLENGE CAN YOU SPOT THE BERWICK STUDENT?
Though the students shared varying stories about their experiences with distance learning, Boston was surprised to hear that not all of them have been able to maintain a sense of community within their schools. That made Boston extra-appreciative of the efforts of Berwick faculty, staff, and administrators to remain together while apart by focusing on community spirit and morale. Boston has been impressed and inspired by his teachers, including Kim Kryder encouraging students to get outside; his chemistry teacher, Jim Maldonis, doing a daily check-in just to see how students are doing, before helping them learn about the immunology of coronavirus; and Ted Smith sharing videos of himself playing the guitar. He also appreciates the continuation of school assemblies – albeit virtually – to bring Berwick together. “Berwick is doing so much to continue a great sense of community,” says Boston. “Out of everything I have gotten in high school, that is what I will remember.” As for the Schooled panel, Boston expressed gratitude for Cognia taking the time to share the student voice. Near the end of the panel, Dr. Elgart asked students about whether they feel hopeful for the future. Boston, who plans to attend Brown University, said that, despite the desire to return to normal and the loss of some of the teenage rites of passage, he was “surprised to find my answer was yes.” “Times like this bring people together with positivity and that’s why I am hopeful,” he says. “This whole experience has made the world smaller. It has forced everybody to do the same thing, sit at home with time to think. I am discovering what I need to survive in life – family, friends, and learning.”
off the coast of Maine. He says the experience made him both more organized and self-motivated, skills that have served him well in his approach to distance learning – though it has certainly not been easy. “I hadn’t thought much about online learning before this,” he admits. “If anything, it may be harder to do something by yourself every day without having friends and teachers to talk to.” Both Farrington and Wojdak share that, while they would prefer in-person classes, the opportunity to connect via Zoom in synchronous classes, and through other online mediums, has been the best way to remain linked to the Berwick community and to one another. “I’ve learned that communication is one of the most important things,” says Wojdak. “Whether that be sending an e-mail or setting up a time to chat on Zoom, we need to stay in touch as much as possible. I appreciate the opportunity to learn online, to test it out in case it’s an option in the future. So far, I like it. But I still think I would prefer being at school. ”
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Staying Involved by Jana Brown
The Watts family Sawyer ’28, Nora ’32 and Katie. 8 | SUMMER 2020
FROM AN INDOOR VEGETABLE GARDEN TO VIRTUAL GYM CLASS, THE WATTS FAMILY ADJUSTS TO LEARNING FROM A DISTANCE.
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he Watts family has traditionally planted vegetables around Memorial Day. But, ever since their children, Sawyer, 10, and Nora, 6, began distance learning in the COVID-19 pandemic, their York, Maine, home has become an indoor vegetable garden. “We have quite a few vegetables growing in our house,” says mom Katie, who runs a real estate company. “Sawyer’s teacher [Susan Morris] had the kids take scraps to grow more, using only water, so we’re seeing what grows.”
Sawyer, a fourth-grader, is excited about transferring the vegetables to the family’s outdoor garden. Successful transplant prospects include a scallion, an onion, a turnip, carrots, and celery. “I liked watching the plants grow and seeing what would happen,” Sawyer says. Most days see Sawyer and Nora logging on to their Zoom classes from their bedrooms. While Sawyer was able to be independent right away, Nora, a kindergartner, needed some initial guidance, but has mastered switching classes between Zoom sessions. Both children enjoy their 10:15 a.m. explorations, including music, art, and physical education (their favorite), and their parents often hear them “jumping around in their rooms” to simulate gym classes. Their PE teacher is even trying to host a virtual field day. Katie and John have been helping Sawyer complete a project on silversmithing, while Nora has been hard at work creating a book about dragonflies.
John Watts with Sawyer and Nora in their garden.
“I liked the page on how they hover over the water and how they eat, it’s pretty cool,” says Nora, who adds that she misses seeing her teachers and friends.“ Nora also loves that the family’s dogs, Olive and Dill, get to “come to school with me.” Sawyer has enjoyed virtual sessions attended by Berwick Middle Schoolers to talk about the transition from the Lower School he’ll make in the fall. He has recently begun Zooming his classes from the back deck, adding that he doesn’t miss commuting the 18 miles each way to school. For the Colonial times project, which usually culminates with a musical, the fourth grade students are coordinating with teachers Jess Richardson and Mark Summers to accomplish the performance via Zoom.
Nora enjoying explorations.
“That connection with teachers is what’s keeping the feel of Berwick,” Katie says. “The fact they are still working just as hard – if not harder – to keep everyone involved is amazing.”
Sawyer enjoying time with the family dog and virtual class. TODAY
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The Feeling of Berwick
The Mahadevan family (clockwise) Rekha ’23, Meera, Ashwin ’20, Biscuit, and Arul. 10 | SUMMER 2020
by Jana Brown
Ashwin shows his acceptance letter to UC Berkeley. Biscuit looks on as Rekha studies in her room.
MAHADEVAN FAMILY ADJUSTS TO COMMUNITY AT A DISTANCE.
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shwin Mahadevan ’20 plans to study at the University of California, Berkeley after he graduates from Berwick. With in-person classes on hold until, most likely, January 2021, it’s probable Ashwin will begin his college career at the Madbury, N.H., campus of UC Berkeley, where he lives with his family. Right now, the Mahadevan home is also serving as the Berwick campus for Ashwin and his sister, Rekha ’23. The family dog, Biscuit, is thrilled to have the company of Ashwin and Rekha, along with their parents, Meera and Arul, a member of Berwick’s Board of Trustees. “The Berwick community is still together,” says Ashwin, who began his journey at Berwick as a sixth grader in 2013. “Berwick is more of a feeling; it’s not just the campus. It has been great to bring that home.” Meera Mahadevan, a member of the Berwick Parent Community (BPC), was impressed by the way Berwick rolled out its distance-learning plan. A slow trial run helped her children with the transition. Meera, too, has felt connected with parents on the BPC via Zoom. One Berwick parent proposed the idea of Class of 2020 lawn signs to surprise the seniors.
“When Ashwin saw his sign,” Meera says, “it was really moving; that was a huge boost.” Morning meetings and advisory group virtual gatherings have kept Ashwin and Rekha connected. Rekha has continued get-togethers with the Model UN, and both Mahadevan children were able to complete Innovation Pursuits from home. Ashwin speaks of the regularity of the schedule, which has helped students maintain academic continuity and connection with the Berwick community. Rekha has posted a schedule of her online classes and Zoom IDs on her desk. She enjoyed the spirit week promoted by the prefects, including a Hawaiian-themed day. “Berwick has always valued community time, and that hasn’t changed,” says Rekha.
Rekha cooks with her advisor via Zoom.
Teachers have gone out of their way to find creative solutions. Ashwin’s biology teacher, Christine Bessette, did a virtual dissection of a kidney as her students looked on. Rekha’s physics teacher, Chris Mansfield, has facilitated labs, including one that had students calculating density of objects found in their homes. Ninth grade students are having animated Zoom discussions on Lord of the Flies, and Rekha has been cooking online with her advisor, Lucy Pollard. “Even though online school is not ideal,” says Rekha, “the community has been resilient. The feeling of Berwick is still there, even though we are far apart.”
Rekha gives brother Ashwin a haircut. TODAY
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Ryan ’20 with mom, Judith Trotzky.
A Distanced Goodbye by Jana Brown
TROTZKY FAMILY BRINGS BERWICK HOME.
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n weekdays, between 3 and 5 p.m., Ryan Trotzky ’20 sticks to an exercise routine. Had schools not been shuttered in early March, taking spring athletics with them, he would have been on the field at Berwick Academy during those hours, competing with the boys varsity lacrosse team. “Even though it wasn’t always easy getting up early,” says Ryan, who will attend the University of Pennsylvania, “I liked that school kept me in a routine.”
Ryan studies in the guest room. 12 | SUMMER 2020
Establishing a new regimen has been important for Ryan as he has adjusted to spring away from campus. But, he’s discovered, learning from a distance does not necessarily
Ryan and Lixi
Trotzky. is dad, Sam h d n a 0 ’2 Ryan
Trotzky brothers Ryan
’20 and Zach ’1 8.
mean learning alone. For starters, he’s spending his time away from Berwick in the Greenland, N.H., home he shares with brother Zach ’18, a sophomore at Georgetown, mother Judith, a dermatologist, and father Sam, an emergency physician. Oh, and there’s also the family dog, a Golden Retriever named Lixi.
and Davina Fisher, attended every Grandparents Day at Berwick since Zach was a kindergartener back in 2006, and also feel like members of the community. Judith has been heartened by the efforts of BA’s faculty and administrators to bring everyone together, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic that’s keeping them apart.
Ryan had not previously known a learning environment other than Berwick, where he’s been enrolled since entering kindergarten in 2007. His concentration is better, he says, if he attends his virtual classes in a spare room, rather than in his bedroom. The family has spent many years immersed in the Berwick community. Ryan is a member of the soccer, basketball, and lacrosse teams and, as a senior, has served as co-head of the Student Leadership Council, head tour guide, and peer tutor. He has remained connected through Zoom meetings with those groups, and has continued to lead virtual information sessions for Berwick’s admitted students.
“The teachers are heroes,” she says. “They did an amazing job of keeping the kids engaged and their routine intact.”
Judith Trotzky has also felt the void of not being on campus. Since 2005, she’s been an active Berwick parent, most recently serving on the board of the Berwick Parent Community (BPC). Her parents, Michael
Though she would prefer to see her son immersed in campus life in his – and the family’s – final spring at Berwick, Judith has had an unexpected opportunity to glimpse Ryan’s daily life at the school from the comfort of home. She’s been able to watch weekly assemblies, including the final one honoring seniors, something she would not have had a chance to witness had Berwick not entered the Trotzky home during the pandemic. “Even though we can’t be on campus,” Ryan says, “everyone is still very spirited. It’s definitely going to be a lot different next year – I’ve only known one place my whole life.” TODAY
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H I L LTO P HA P P ENINGS
Leadership Pioneers by Molly Gabarro, History Teacher, Upper School Leadership Coordinator, Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Coach Hope Robb ’20 and Lilly Rennie ’20 leading the all-school holiday assembly.
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ast fall, Berwick formed a faculty committee to assess the school’s current student leadership model.
Headed by nine faculty members, the committee focused on exploring key guiding questions centered on creating more opportunities for students to be recognized as leaders, increasing expectations and opportunities to impact the Upper School through their work, developing stronger partnerships between student leaders and the various constituent groups on campus, and cultivating a network of training and advisors to support those efforts throughout the year. Faculty members Patrick Connolly, Polly Davie, John Downey, Molly Gabarro, Meg Martinson, Lynne O’Shaughnessy, Haley Preston, Lem Randall, and Raegan Russell led the charge in determining new ways to get students involved. As a small school, student leadership is essential to the culture on campus, and an important way for students to establish agency. The student voice was an essential guide in the process, as the committee conducted surveys and met with focus groups over the course of several months to gather student feedback about the current model and barriers that would keep a student from seeking a position. Additionally, the group evaluated leadership models at 15 National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) schools from throughout New England, and worked with candid feedback from these schools about the strengths and challenges of their various models. It is clear from the committee’s work that Berwick is not the only school wrestling with these important questions. The most significant change in the student leadership structure was the expansion of the position of Student Life Coordinator (historically responsible for running morning assembly) into the Prefect position. Prefects are now a group made of four seniors elected by the student body and Upper School faculty. This was accomplished not by adding positions, but by shifting some previous leadership roles into a new, more unified body. The enhanced structure is meant to allow students to be identified and recognized by peers and adults through nominations, while also adding credibility to the position with both student and adult support. The name change to Prefect, from a Latin root meaning “put in front,” 14 | SUMMER 2020
was designed to underscore the importance of a position that represents the entire division. Prefects are expected not only to be front and center in assembly, but to model the best of Berwick. During leadership training over the Nate Nigrin ’20 summer, the focus was on the power of words and actions by mapping out the various areas of campus Prefects are expected to impact daily in their lives as Berwick students (clubs, theater productions, teams, classes, etc.) and the areas of campus less traveled. How will they fill the gaps? How can they connect with people they do not work with directly during the course of their day (different grades, divisions, etc.)? The group set a goal of being the connectors in every area of life at Berwick. With this seriousness of purpose in mind, the Prefects have focused beyond the Upper School. Their opening message to the PK-12 community during the first week of school emphasized the community connection of all on the Hilltop. This year’s Prefects, Nate Nigrin ’20, Hope Robb ’20, and Lilly Rennie ’20 have been pioneers and have taken their responsibility seriously, understanding that they are setting precedents. The Prefects have made assemblies fun and lively with an eye towards giving more students and different grades a voice and representation. They have supported the efforts of Student Leadership Council’s social events and have put on entertaining events during community time. More challenging, but vital, work has included addressing the Upper School about serious topics to emphasize the student voice in maintaining accountability on campus. Additionally, they have become a presence in the library during Wednesday’s Academic Engagement period to help model expectations for younger students. Bi-weekly meetings with Upper School Director Ted Smith, and and Molly Gabarro afford opportunities to honestly and openly exchange ideas and consider various perspectives. While this position will continue to evolve, the impact of the inaugural group has been significant, and we look forward to the continued work.
DICK SHAFNER ’65 AND JAN EUSTIS $25,000 MATCH FOR THE BILL AND KATHRYN MATTHEWS MEMORIAL FUND
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roviding access to a high-quality independent school experience can be life-changing for students. Supporting middle- and low-income families is a challenge for almost any independent school, where resources are often less abundant than need. The Bill and Kathryn Matthews Memorial Fund was established to help meet that need.
For the past three years, alumnus Dick Shafner ‘65 and his wife, Janet Eustis, have made gifts to support the full tuition of one Matthews Scholar each academic year. Students enter Berwick in Grade 4 and the scholarship will follow them until graduation. Long-term financial sustainability of this program is not only a priority for Dick and Jan, but is also a priority for Berwick Academy. For the 2018-2019 academic year, Dick and Jan pledged a $25,000 match for funds raised toward The Matthews Fund. Thanks to the support of many, the match was realized, raising more than $70,000 for this transformative program. These funds set a foundation for the program and are invested into The Bill and Kathryn Matthews Memorial Fund in the Berwick Academy Endowment. Encouraged by the incredible response, we are delighted to announce that Dick and Jan, for the second year in a row, have pledged another $25,000 match for funds raised, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. We have almost reached this goal and if you would like to participate by making a gift by August 31, please contact Stephanie Caswell in the Advancement Office at 207-384-6396 or scaswell@berwickacademy.org.
BY EMMA RICH ’27 When I first heard about COVID19, I wasn’t that worried. Sure, it was at the back of my mind. But I had other things to think about. School was the primary one. Then, the whole situation got a whole lot worse. When schools in New York and California started to close, COVID-19 started to be on my mind a lot more. New York isn’t that far from New Hampshire. My family had planned to go to Walt Disney World for a week over break. When my parents canceled the trip I knew that the situation was worse than I thought. So when my school closed and went to online learning, I wasn’t that surprised. Schools all over the country were closing. Since school closed, we are doing online learning. It’s very different from going to school. It isn’t as bad I thought. I thought I was going to hate it, and it wasn’t going to be like school at all. But our teachers are doing a really good job of making it as normal as possible. I do have a lot more free time. School used to end at 3:15 p.m. Now, it ends at 1:30 p.m. So usually I will have my homework done by the time I normally get out of school. Then I have time before dinner. I will probably read for about an hour and a half, at least. I spend more time drawing as well. I love art and reading. Schools weren’t the only places closing. All businesses that are marked nonessential are closed, and the grocery stores are limiting how many people can go into the store at once. My dad is a doctor, and he is still going to work. He isn’t seeing patients for their annual checkup. Those will have to be postponed. Instead, he’s working more in the hospital, and he is home a little bit more often, which is nice. My mom has been going to the store, so my brother and I haven’t left the house for about two weeks. It feels like being trapped sometimes. Then, when we go out of the house, it’s like we’re free,
like a bird out of its cage for the first time. There’s almost nobody around, and no traffic. The streets are super empty! We’ve been going for three or four bike rides a day, when it’s not raining. Then, after school and we’ve done our homework our mom will join us for a walk sometimes. We sometimes walk about 5 miles! My main piece of advice for people who are anxious or Emma R stressed about this whole ich ’27 situation is to keep in touch with your friends. That is one of the most important things to do right now. Whether you are writing letters, sending emails, or using FaceTime to keep in touch, you should. There’s nothing like getting an email or letter. It’s important to keep in touch because when you go to school you can strike up a conversation in person. When you’re in the house all day, it’s a lot harder to do so. Make sure doctors, mailmen and mailwomen, and those working in the grocery stores know you’re thankful that they’re helping to keep the world going. Whether it’s making a card or baking a sweet treat for them, they’ll love it. Say thank you in your own way.
Reprinted with permission from Time for Kids, News from our Readers, TFK Editors, May 13, 2020.
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H I L LTO P HA P P ENINGS
CELEBRATING THE
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C OMMEN C EMEN T 2 0 2 0
CLASS OF 2020
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SENIOR WEEK T
he “Senior Walk� car parade event was a procession through campus. The seniors came in festively decorated cars, driven by family members. The faculty, staff, other Berwick students, and their families lined the parade route and celebrated the Class of 2020. Students and their immediate families were welcomed to campus to experience a series of graduation traditions. The Commencement stage was set up for photos in caps and gowns, and seniors got the opportunity to ring the Fogg bell and chalk their college logos on the sidewalks.
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H I L LTO P HA P P ENINGS
COMMENCEMENT O
n Sunday, June 7, we welcomed members of the Class of 2020 and their immediate family members to campus for a drive-in style commencement ceremony. The behindthe-scenes work that went into making the event memorable for our graduates and their families was nothing short of extraordinary. Seventy-seven cars were parked meticulously onto field one, a stage was erected in the middle, and sound and video were set up to livestream the event.
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Graduates and Families Graduates and their families formed two rows of cars on either side of the stage to ensure everyone could view the ceremony.
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Processional Members of the faculty and staff lined up along the front of the Athletic Center to march onto the field, signaling the beginning of the ceremony.
C OMMEN C EMEN T 2 0 2 0
AT A DISTANCE
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Stage Diplomas were presented to graduates by Head of School Jim Hamilton, while maintaining social distancing guidelines.
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Livestream Operations Family members and friends cheered on from around the globe as the commencement traditions were upheld and celebrated.
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Faculty and Staff Seating Faculty and staff members were seated near the Jackson Library to cheer on and celebrate the graduates.
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H I L LTO P HA P P ENINGS
Excerpt from Class of 2020 Commencement JIM HAMILTON, SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2020
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ome of you may know that, for the first part of my career, I did a lot of coaching. Over the years, I coached boys and girls basketball, football, and baseball. One of my coaching philosophies that was most important to me, and remains important to me for our Berwick coaches, is that I aspired to be a “next play” coach. What I mean by that is that, instead of dwelling on a mistake, I strived to help them not make the same mistake again. Too often, coaches can be seen yelling from the sidelines about plays gone by, which to me is counter-productive in the development of young athletes. So, as we reflect on the last play, call it this spring, what do I hope that you have learned? I hope your teachers have taught you that you are never too old, or set in your ways, to adjust quickly and on the fly. Know that there are always different and creative ways to reach an end. I hope you have learned the value of being in a community. I know that I cannot wait for the return of all of the rituals, big and small, that go into the daily and weekly schedule here at Berwick. As you head off to your next adventure, I hope you begin the new normal so appreciative for the opportunity to be in vibrant communities with smart and interesting people. I hope, too, that you have learned the power of positivity. If we had been paralyzed this spring, we would have achieved 22 | SUMMER 2020
much less than we did. Finding the positive possibilities, like events this week, or the virtual performances we have had in the last couple of weeks, have allowed us to create lasting memories. As much as we’re all sick of it, I hope you will take your newfound facility with Zoom and use it to keep in touch with your friends and family. I’m guessing many of your parents had Zoom gatherings with friends and family members that we don’t necessarily speak to that often. I know I will work hard to be better about being in touch with loved ones going forward, especially as we have witnessed so much sadness throughout this pandemic. I would be remiss not to use this opportunity to address the incredible unrest and activism we have been experiencing as a country in the last few weeks. The senseless killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have once again brought to the forefront systemic racism and racial inequality in this country, specifically as it relates to the African American community, and the need for change. I’ve been inspired by the protests in all 50 states, dismayed by the violence and looting, and reminded, unfortunately, that we have not progressed very far in the more than 50 years since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We have worked very hard on cultural competency at Berwick and, despite our ongoing and growing efforts in this area,
it is moments like these that remind us that we need to do more. In the coming days, months, and years, we are committed to ensuring that all our students leave Berwick as prepared as possible to engage in this difficult and critical work. To the Class of 2020, know that you have all the tools to be the change agents we need. What we have been reminded of in recent days is that posting on social media is a start, but it is our actions that will make the most difference. As I said to you the other day, this, unfortunately, is a long game that will come with incremental change. When you stand up for what is right when it is not comfortable to do so, you make change. When you refuse to be silent, which can convey approval, you make change. If we all vow to make change in our circles, we will impact the society at large. Dr. King said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” I could go on, but my message to you is to take what you have learned this spring, try not to dwell too much on the last play and what you have missed, and go forward armed with the knowledge that you can achieve amidst any adversity.
To view and download photographs of 2020 Senior Activities and Commencement, please visit ba.smugmug.com To view the 2020 Commencement ceremony online, please visit https://bit.ly/berwickacademy.
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EXCERPT FROM LISA BYLICKI, UPPER SCHOOL MATH TEACHER’S COMMENCEMENT SPEECH There are five qualities that are essential in this lifetime: The first is laughter. My father’s mantra in life was always “laughter is the best medicine.” The irony of that statement is he was a pharmacist for 50 years. Laughing breaks down barriers and stereotypes. Laughter equalizes us all and laughter brings joy to those around you. Your parents might not believe it, but there was much laughter in our math classes and in every classroom on campus. The box game and its competitive cutthroat chance for a few extra points will live in infamy, as will students reenacting movie scenes out of the blue, or students falling out of their chairs because they were so enthusiastically answering questions. The second is, be kind. It really does matter. As I asked all of you to give one reflection on the past year, I was stunned by your responses. Many of you noted a single sentence that was spoken to you by a teacher or a classmate, or one single generous action. I witnessed so many acts of kindness on this campus, from concern for students who had a loss, to my favorite—students encouraging others and cheering for them as they tackled difficult problems or traversed hard days. But, remember, being kind does not mean sacrificing who you are. Being kind does not mean being liked. If everyone likes you, you are not being true to yourself.
a school assembly, speak up. When your friend or partner is discriminated against or bullied, take a stand. Support your friends and family. Respect must be earned through action. The fourth is, learn what you excel at and own up to your weaknesses. For myself, I know I can work with any student who is willing to persevere through all the muck as all of you did in many classes here. I also know that my take-no-prisoners style of teaching would not translate to every age group and, as one of my students graciously told me this year, I should never teach freshmen or Middle School or Berwick enrollment would drop immediately.
I must take you all the way back to that time of kindergarten, when your parents read you stories. Maybe at one point you listened to the Winnie the Pooh books, whose author, A. A. Milne, was a math major. In one of the stories, Christopher Robin is preparing for his eventual departure to school. You have spent the last few years getting ready for a similar departure and we, your parents and teachers, have done our best to prepare you. I speak for my colleagues when I say we are confident that the Class of 2020 is ready to face the next challenges. As you go, I send you off with these words:
The fifth is resilience. This you have already mastered, adapted to, and accepted the unfathomable, all while showing truly indomitable spirits. Class of graduates, you clearly can handle anything. You graduated during a pandemic—do you think a little college calculus is going to get you down?
If ever there is a tomorrow we are not together,
I hope you all noticed that (in the top five) I did not mention your history, language, or science classes. As much as I know how you all love math, it is not what should be forming who you are.
You are braver than you believe
There is something you must remember even if we are apart Berwick Academy and all of us will always be with you Always remember... Stronger than you seem And smarter than you think Congratulation, Class of 2020. I love you and I am so proud of all of you.
The third is, be loyal and respectful. Do not back down from this for any reason. Be fierce! When someone hurts someone you care about, for example, in the Zoom room at
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EXCERPT FROM ZACHARY BOSTON’S ’20 COGSWELL ADDRESS COMMENCEMENT SPEECH
What’s Next? A
s many may or may not know, The Great Gatsby is my favorite piece of literature, and this wouldn’t be a true “Zach Boston” piece of writing without at least one mention of it. For those of you who haven’t read it, well, you should. It’s almost 100 years old. Despite Gatsby living a tragic and problematic life, I always respected his sense of hope and determination. The most popular motif in the story, and maybe even of all time, the green light, resembles what Gatsby dreams of and spends the whole story chasing. I encourage you all to find a “green light” like Gatsby did and, I paraphrase F. Scott Fitzgerald when I say, “Believe in that green light, that orgastic future that year by year recedes before us, and though it may elude you, run faster towards it, and stretch out your arms farther all until one fine morning.” And when you each reach your personal “fine morning,” and fulfill whatever your “green light” may be, don’t settle! Rather, ask yourself, “What’s next?” If you’re graduating, graduate with honors. If you’re getting a job, become the assistant to the regional manager, and then the regional manager (good for you if you understood this reference from The Office). If
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you’re getting married, be the best partner and supporter you can be. If you’re having a child, be the best darn parent ever. In any case, don’t settle, don’t stop hoping, don’t stop dreaming, and don’t stop asking yourself, “What’s next?” I know the ideas of failure and having your whole life in front of you can be very frightening, not knowing where everything is going to lead, but I urge you not to fear. I am a firm believer that we live in a world of unluckiness and mishaps, but I do believe there is one thing we can control—effort. If you put in all you can, into anything you want, no failure should take away your personal pride. For you know you did everything you could. That’s all you can do. For the Class of 2020, know that you are better prepared than most. We know what it’s like to struggle, to be pushed to our absolute limits, and to lose out. And it is for these reasons that we are ready to overcome any trouble, conquer any problem, and become any Platonic conception of ourselves that we wish to (sorry one last Gatsby reference). But, as of right now, I think we can put the future on hold for just one day. Today, we must live in the moment, embrace what we have while we still have it, and celebrate ourselves and each other. Since I’ve taken a quote from my favorite book, I guess I’ll take one from my favorite movie as well. So, in the critically acclaimed Kung Fu Panda, while Po, an insecure panda, is trying to find his identity and place at Jade Palace, Master Oogway, a giant, wise tortoise, gives Po a piece of advice, which I also wish to leave you all with today: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”
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BERW The Bulldogs (15-4-2) had three amazing captains in Abby Reed ’20, Rayne Zimmermann ’20, and Aaliyah Farid ’20, who led the team to the EIL finals and NEPSAC semifinals last fall. Reed received the Coaches’ Award in recognition of her contributions as an outstanding defender, leader, and teammate. She also earned recognition as an EIL All-League honorable mention selection. Zimmerman was a three-time EIL All-League choice, two-time All-NEPSAC selection, a NEPSWSA Junior All-Star, and 2019 Team MVP. She was also the 2018 EIL Player of the Year and Boston Globe All Scholastic Player and the first girls soccer player at Berwick to receive the award in the history of the program.
GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER
With 11 goals and three assists, Zimmermann led the team in scoring. She finished her career with 41 goals and 21 assists, despite also anchoring the Berwick defense. Aaliyah Farid was a three-time EIL All-League selection, two-time AllNEPSAC, and a NEPSWSA Junior All-Star. Farid led the team in points (7g, 8a) and amassed a remarkable 101 points (54g, 47a) in her career, becoming the first girls soccer player to reach the 100-point milestone. Juniors Brayden Reed and Bella Peracchi were named to the NEPSAC Junior All-Star Team and Reed was also an EIL All-League pick. Lindsay Goodman ’21 was a standout in net, earning 10 shutouts in 2019. Goodman had an impressive 1.18 goals against average and was named EIL All-League honorable mention
An overall record of 11-5-2 and a 9-3-2 mark in the EIL was good enough for second place in the league. Berwick was led by captains Ryan Trotzky ’20 and Jack Benjamin ’20, who did well to guide this large group of 23, with more than half of the players new to the varsity program. The team managed to knock home 46 goals, largely due to contributions by Mitchel Varley ’22 (EIL leading scorer) and Paddy Condon ’21 (EIL honorable mention). The midfield was expertly held down by Crosby Smith ’21 (EIL All-Star) and newcomer Mason Alderson-Biddulph ’21. Seniors John Luchsinger, Nate Nigrin, and Benjamin did well to protect fellow senior Zach Boston, who was playing goalie for the very first time and earned a place on the EIL All-Star squad in the process. The highlight of the season was a 3-2 win over the otherwise undefeated and eventual New England champion Concord Academy.
BOYS VARSITY SOCCER
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The Bulldogs picked up right where they left off last season, starting with 10 consecutive match victories. The veteran team, which included four starting seniors, led the way from the get-go and never looked back. With their strong start, the Bulldogs clinched the EIL season championship before the year had concluded. The EIL Championships were held at The Links at Outlook in South Berwick, and it was there that the team cemented the dominance they showed all season. Led by Ross Spearman ‘20, who fired a tournament-low 76, the Bulldogs were off and running. Following closely behind was Tyler Gaulin ‘20 ( 77), Wesley Rennie ‘21 (80), Ben Slama ‘20 (83) and Jack Kenney ‘22 (84). As the team scores were counted, the Bulldogs learned that their nearest competitor was 19 strokes behind, sealing their second straight tournament title. Spearman, Gaulin, and Slama were AllLeague picks, while Kenney earned honorable mention.
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HIG HLIGHTS | ATH LETI C S
I CK ATHLETICS For the second year in a row, the Girls Varsity Basketball team opened the season in thrilling fashion by winning the Landmark Holiday Tournament, defeating the Dublin School, 51-44, in the finals. Despite a tough stretch of games in the middle of the season and some close losses, the team finished with six total wins. This included a season-ending victory over Dana Hall. With the entire roster returning next year, the team looks to continue its ascent toward competitive basketball in the EIL. Sophomore Natalie Simonds was an EIL All-League selection, Boston Globe All-Star, and NEPSAC All-Star. Junior Clare Cole earned EIL All-League honorable mention honors. Junior Tess Gianoulis (MVP), and Junior Mhrissa Emery (Coaches’ Award) were also recognized for their efforts.
GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL
After returning only two starters from a year ago, the Boys Varsity Basketball team (10-12) enjoyed a strong season. The team saw early success, getting off to a 3-1 start. Returning starters Declan Nugent ’20 and Michael Michaud ’21 joined several newcomers to help the squad come together. After a tough stretch playing eventual NEPSAC playoff teams, including Class C champion Hyde, the Bulldogs went into February on fire. BA defeated Concord Academy, Landmark, and Bancroft before heading up to Kents Hill for what turned out to be the biggest win of the year. In that game, an 85-68 victory, Michaud scored his 1,000th career point, becoming only the third Berwick player to do so in the last 15 years. The team earned a No. 6 seed in the NEPSAC tournament, before losing to MacDuffie in a hard-fought game. Michaud garnered EIL all-league and New England Class C All-NEPSAC honors after averaging 23 points and 16 rebounds per game. Nugent (15 points, 5 rebounds per game) joined Michaud on the EIL all-league team, while Liliano Rosa ’22 and Quinn Morse ’22 were honorable mention selections.
BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL
The boys and girls swim seasons were highly successful on many fronts. The boys team went 5-1 in the regular season with wins over every school except Phillips Exeter Academy. The girls team featured a great group of new swimmers and only one graduating senior. On the girls side, outstanding swims from Sam Wright ’20 in both the 50 and 100 freestyle earned her EIL swimmer of the year at the EIL Championship meet in Wellesley. The boys team was the EIL champion, with Nick Lamy ’21 earning EIL swimmer of the year. The team of Lamy, Owen Richardson ’21, Finn Halstead ’21, and Doug Browning ’21 also broke the Berwick Academy and EIL record for the 400 freestyle relay. The boys were competitive in the NEPSAC championship meet, coming in a very close third place in a tight top three. Outstanding swims from Richardson (200 freestyle), Halstead (100 freestyle), Lamy (100 fly), and Browning (100 backstroke) capped off one of the most exciting meets in years.
SWIMMING
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H I L LTO P HA P P ENINGS It has been a great experience building a new athletic program on the Hilltop. For a first-year varsity team, the girls received a lot of great feedback from wellestablished teams and officials. This is a testament to the hard work and effort the players put in over the past two years to make us a solid team. We had outstanding contributions from Amelia Whitcomb ’21 and Lexie Oberg ’21 who led our team. With the core of our squad returning next fall, we are excited to compete at a higher level. Go, Bulldogs!
GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
Play It Forward
The Berwick Baseball program created a popular and fun social media video to lift spirits while training remotely. They nominated the Berwick Girls Lacrosse team to “pass” on the good fun. To see both videos, please visit the Berwick Academy YouTube Channel at https://bit.ly/berwickacademy
BOYS VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY The 2019 Boys Cross Country season proved to be a challenge. The level of EIL competitors has continued to climb, and Berwick’s small squad of 12 runners was not able to outscore most of these juggernauts. This did not impact the commitment the runners made to quality effort at practice. A review of individual results over the season shows continually improving, faster times. Personal bests were run throughout the season. At the EIL championship race, Berwick placed seventh in a field of eight teams. A week later, the Bulldogs finished 15th out of 24 competing schools at the NEPSTA championship race at Hebron Academy. For most, this final race featured their best time of the season.
GIRLS VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY Returning runners and new additions joined together to produce a successful season for the Girls Cross Country program. Athletes successfully improved their 5k times throughout the fall, despite varying terrain and weather. Prominent highlights from the season included an inspired and slippery race in a deluge at Newton Country Day School, showing gratitude to a host coach, and a f i f t h - p l a c e f i n i s h a t t h e N E P S TA Championship race at Hebron Academy. Hattie Wagner ’21 was invited to the AllStar Race for the second time in her Berwick career. Two-year captain Hope Robb ’20 was an exceptional leader and played a large part in the day-to-day success of the team. Next year, the runners will be led by co-captains Wagner and Penny Robinson ’21.
Boys Lacrosse team practices at dusk before team practices became remote. 28 | SUMMER 2020
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Leave Your Print by Meg Martinson, Upper School English Dept Chair, Girls Varsity Lacrosse Coach and Rob Quinn, Director of Athletics promoting the highest standards for their athletic programs. Schools from the greater Boston area, and as far away as Portsmouth, R.I., were in attendance Billy McBride, the Assistant Athletic Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Director of Club Sports and Senior Coach at Amherst College delivered the keynote speech.
Berwick welcomed Billy McBride, the Assistant Athletic Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Director of Club Sports and Senior Coach at Amherst College.
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t’s impossible to miss on the wall of Wood Gym or emblazoned on the pawprint stickers that decorate student and faculty phones and water bottles. It’s printed on team rosters and was central to Berwick’s StudentAthlete Leadership Summit in November. The slogan #leaveyourprint is a reminder of what we at Berwick value and what we strive to achieve as a community.
The slogan is also synonymous with the Athlete’s Creed, the brainchild of Molly Gabarro, Rob Quinn, and the StudentAthlete Leadership Team (SALT), formed in the fall of 2018. With a desire to improve and promote sportsmanship throughout the Eastern Independent League (EIL), SALT created the Creed and spent the spring of 2019 rolling it out on campus. The work continued in the fall, as SALT facilitated lunch conversations with teams and coaches to think about what #leaveyourprint means and how it might be implemented. These student-led discussions revolved largely around how teammates treat each other and their opponents and
what good leadership and followership look like. The statement captures the school’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and fairness in athletics. Berwick has been training and educating its players, coaches, and fans about what this environment should look like and how to positively maintain it together. Findings were presented during the November SALT Summit, during which Berwick hosted other EIL schools with a mission of furthering the ideas implicit in the Creed. Breakout sessions asked studentathletes from different schools to work together to come up with ideas for how to improve their own leadership, values, and team cultures and how to foster healthy competition. The summit was the first of its kind and an impressive showcase of all that Gabarro, Quinn, and SALT have accomplished in the last year. In welcoming students from other EIL schools, Berwick celebrated the collective strengths of the schools, while creating a shared dialogue around preserving and
The Summit also was an important element of Berwick’s larger education program that emphasizes student leadership as a chance to serve others and create change. This spirit was on full display with coaches Patrick Connolly, Meg Martinson, Lem Randall, and Gabarro, working in partnership with SALT members Spencer ’21, Annabelle ’20, Zach ’20, Paddy ’21, Brit ’20, Sydney ’20, Tiffany ’20, Henry ’20, Abby ’20, Lilly ’20, and Gianni ’20 to develop thoughtful, relevant workshops focusing on leadership and the values captured by the Creed. SALT Steering Committee members Bobby Callahan, Travis Derr, Haley Preston, and Quinn were also instrumental in executing the event. Overall, the generation of the Athlete’s Creed has triggered a vocabulary and set of values for the Berwick community to lean on. Student-athletes are encouraged to think about how they refer to an opponent’s ability and Berwick students are asked to think about how to cheer during sporting events to create a positive environment for all competitors. Much of the Creed is about how we think about and treat others and the impact of our words and actions. There is a distinct effort to support each other positively and respectfully while showing pride in the school. Accountability of individual actions may be the most lasting impression of #leaveyourprint, which reminds athletes, fans, and parents to conduct themselves with integrity.
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H I L LTO P HA P P ENINGS Eight seniors led the way to a 6-7 campaign for the Berwick Field Hockey team. Berwick’s 4-1 victory on October 2 over Dana Hall in the pouring rain was a catalyst for the rest of the season. One of the most memorable plays of the season was when senior captain Annabelle Beaton dished a two-on-one pass to freshman Reese Fendelet for her first varsity goal and the OT game winner. Despite growth and chemistry, the team unfortunately fell short of qualifying for the EIL Tournament. Sydney Foster ’20 was named team MVP, while Beaton and Brittany Foster ’20 were the Coaches’ Award recipients. Beaton and Sydney Foster earned EIL All-League recognition, while Delaney Kingsland ’20 earned EIL honorable mention.
VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY
Led by a strong group of seniors, the Berwick Boys Varsity Hockey team enjoyed its best year since the 2016-17 campaign. The boys finished with a 12-16-1 record, which included a seven-game unbeaten streak in December and January. Unfortunately, season-ending injuries to four key starters hit the Bulldogs hard down the stretch run, when the boys faced their toughest opponents. Highlights included two-time MVP Tyler Gaulin ’20 setting the all-time points record with 131, senior Chris Dowd notching his 100th point in his final Berwick game, and Connor Derby ’20, Dowd, and Gaulin all reaching the century mark for games played. Seniors Alex Ramsay, Carson James, Shane White, George Gatzoulis, and Michael O’Brien cannot be overlooked for their contributions.
BOYS VARSITY HOCKEY
The Bulldogs finished the season with an overall record of 26-6-3. Highlights included big wins over Worcester Academy, KUA, Thayer, and an exciting 3-2 victory over Phillips Exeter Academy in the final seconds. Berwick went on to capture the first Maine Girls Hockey Prep Cup, defeating Hebron, Kents Hill, and NYA for the title. In collaboration with the Boys Hockey team and the overwhelming support of the Berwick community, the girls defeated Tilton in their Stick it to Stigma awareness game. They ended the regular season ranked second in NEPSAC for goals scored and third for most wins. Freshman Julia Cabral led the team in scoring with 26 goals and 18 assists, while seniors Brittany Foster and Rayne Zimmermann each collected their 100th point in a Bulldog uniform. Foster was named a Boston Globe All Scholastic, EIL Player of the Year, First Team All NEPSAC, Dexter- Southfield Tournament MVP, and Team MVP. Zimmermann earned EIL All League honors and the Coaches’ Award. Cabral, Annabelle Beaton ’20, and Tiffany Foster ’20 were named EIL honorable mention selections. Kelly Souza was the EIL Coach of the Year.
GIRLS VARSITY HOCKEY
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HIG HLIGHTS | ATH LETI C S
College Commitments Brady Desjardins ’20 Abigail Reed ’20
This fall, two Berwick Academy seniors committed to continuing their athletic careers at the intercollegiate level. Lacrosse standout Abigail Reed ‘20 committed to Stonehill College for its beautiful campus, strong sense of community, and the opportunity to play high-level lacrosse, while also receiving a well-rounded education. Abby came
BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE: NEW COACH, NEW CHAPTER
“There’s a great quote by Theodore Roosevelt,” says Sam Harding, who was recently appointed Berwick’s Boys Varsity Lacrosse coach. “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.’ This is my guiding approach to coaching.” Harding brings an extensive background
to Berwick in the fifth grade and was awarded with EIL All-League honors in the spring of 2019. Outside of lacrosse, she has played on the Berwick Varsity Soccer team for four years, serving as a captain last fall. She is a member of the French National Honors Society and is part of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team on campus.
in both coaching and playing lacrosse with eight years as Portsmouth High School’s offensive coordinator, where he helped lead the team to back-to-back state championship appearances in 2017 and 2018. Harding also has coached at camps conducted by current Boston Cannons head coach Sean Quirk, and is in his second season as the head coach for the 4 Leaf 2022A Boys Club Lacrosse team. He comes to Berwick with 17 years of coaching experience, a master’s in education (earned last year), and a strong record of mentoring student-athletes. As an athlete, Harding was a two-year captain and team MVP at Marshwood High School in South Berwick. He completed his high school career as the program’s all-time points leader. He went on to play offensive midfield at St. Lawrence University, before transferring to Plymouth State. Harding will have big shoes to fill, as 26-year Berwick head coach Bill Clapp moves
Baseball player Brady Desjardins ’20 has committed to playing for Niagara University. Brady joined Berwick as a freshman and has earned EIL Honorable Mentions in 2017 and 2018 and EIL AllLeague honors in 2019. When Brady isn’t playing baseball for Berwick Academy, he is playing with his Seacoast United club team, Team Nike.
to an assistant coaching role. During his tenure, Clapp’s teams qualified for the New England Small School Tournament 18 times. “We are very excited that Sam will take over the Boys Varsity Lacrosse program as head coach,” says Head of School Jim Hamilton. “He brings palpable energy and enthusiasm as well as a lot of lacrosse expertise.” Berwick graduated only one senior from the 2019 squad that went 5-8 and finished third in the EIL. Harding looks forward to competing for the league title next year. “I want my athletes to know how much I care about them first,” he says. “I get to know each athlete individually and coach to their unique strengths and skills. I am fairly hardnosed and I will push my athletes in an effort to get the best out of each one of them.” In addition to joining us as a coach, Harding is also Assistant Director of Advancement for Alumni and works to connect and engage alumni to the school. TODAY
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ARTS UPDATE
The Addams Family musical performed by the Upper School.
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THEATER PRODUCTIONS
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he Visual and Performing Arts at Berwick Academy were pleased to present productions across divisions. Students took the lead in many aspects of production, from running lights and sound to building scenery to student direction to shining on the mainstage. The Middle School production of James and the Giant Peach brought Roald Dahl’s classic children’s tale to life with James (Zac Camp ’25) and his band of insect friends (Sophie Sakthivel ’24, Addie Arp ’25, Alex Sullivan ’24, Asher Sawka ’25 and Anna Smith ’25) breaking away from the evil clutches of Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge (Uma Yameen ’25 and Hannah Nahas ’24).
The Upper School production of Clue, directed by Chris Lazarz with student director Ruby Schroeder ’20, delighted audiences with a mad-cap murder mystery, where six guests have to puzzle out “whodunnit” in this hysterical romp. The stellar Berwick cast was also the design team and muscle behind the set design and construction, and worked with the tech crew to present this student-driven production.
The Upper School musical, The Addams Family, was a highlight of the winter season. Berwick’s talented cast, under the artistic direction of Seth Hurd, brought the story of the Addams family to life in this hilarious story about love and where we find it. Sophia Estes ’20 and Noah Robie ’22 as Morticia and Gomez Addams face a family dilemma when their daughter Wednesday (Camille Gaudet ’21) falls in love with a boy from a “normal” Midwestern family and brings him home to meet the family. TJ Hamilton ’20 is cast as Lucas, the guy who wins Wednesday’s chilly heart with his parents in tow (Aowen Guan ’21 and Mae McDougald ’21). Things begin to unravel but, in the end, it is the power of family and love that keeps it all together. Riveting performances came from Cormac Feeley ’21, Lisa Parker Feld ’21, Gabe Naftoly ’22, and Grant Dashti-Gibson ’20 in the roles of Uncle Fester, Grandma, Pugsley and Lurch, and backed by a powerful ensemble of Addams Family Ancestors moving the action along its path. Students were at the heart of every part of this production, from scenic and technical design to playing in the orchestra pit. TODAY
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VISITING ARTIST
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erwick was fortunate to have three visual artists visit the Hilltop in 2019-20 thanks in part to the The Christopher Linney ’84 Fund. They included Jill Pelto, Melissa Rocklen, and Tim Christensen ’87. Visiting artists joined classes in all three divisions and engaged students in collaborations and discovery. Pelto met with artists in both fifth grade and in the senior art pinnacle class, as she collaborated with students and inspired paintings on climate change. Berwick graduateand ceramic artist Christensen completed his third artist residency with a raku firing of student pottery. Remote learning gave students the unique glimpse of artists working in their own studios, as students joined Tim in his Roque Bluffs studio as he glazed and fired their pots in real time. Rocklen, a Massachusetts sculptor of mobiles, conducted a series of workshops in which students investigated the intersections between art, physics, and math.
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J I L L P E LT O e a r n e d degrees in studio art and earth science at the University of Maine. Her experiences in glacial environments around the world and love for Maine’s outdoors drive her to creatively communicate human-environment connections by incorporating scientific research and data into her paintings.
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MUSIC UPDATES WINTER CONCERT SERIES
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inter Concert Series was held during the week of December 9, 2019, and included performances from all of our performing ensembles in Grades 5–12 and the entire Lower School for the Winter Solstice Concert. All four bands and the Middle School String Orchestras opened the series. On the following night, families and friends were treated with a performance by the Upper School strings and all three choruses. The third evening of the series included a performance by both Middle School guitar and African Music ensembles. A special delight for the audience was a performance by guest performing artists-in-residence Nani Agbeli and Faith Conant. The culminating performance of the series was the Winter Solstice Concert performed by each of the classes from the Lower School. The District I Honors Music Festival was held January 17-18, 2020, at York High School in York, Maine. Sophomore Che Zhuowei was selected to participate in the Mixed Chorus, representing the Upper School Chamber Chorus, and selected to play trombone in the Concert Band was William Shipley, a freshman member of the Symphonic Band in the Upper School. Students selected for the honors festival prepare music and audition in mid-October along with approximately 900 high school musicians from all of York and Cumberland counties in Maine. The selection process is highly competitive. The festival culminates with a concert by each honors ensemble on the last day. The York County Jr. High Honors Music Festival was held at Biddeford Middle School on January 31 and February 1, 2020. The festival is open to all Grades 7–8 chorus and band students in York County. Each school may have up to 25% of the chorus and 10% of the band participate. Students are nominated by their teachers and chosen to participate at a selection meeting of all directors of the participating schools. Berwick Academy’s Middle School had six musicians participate in the festival this year. Representing the Advanced Band were Taylor Anderton ’24 (alto saxophone); Arianna Jones ’25 (French horn); Jackson Learner ’24 (clarinet), and Gus Onken ’24 (trombone). Tucker Demers ’25 and Hannah Nahas ’24 represented the Chorus. This is an excellent experience for our developing musicians as they work with a guest conductor and are afforded the experience to perform in a band and chorus each with over 100 musicians.
TIM CHRISTENSEN ’87 lives and works in Maine, splitting his time between Running With Scissors Studios in Portland and an off-grid cabin in Roque Bluffs. He etches ideas and relationships in porcelain to preserve them for millennia, seeing his work as historical documents rather than functional objects. He has been a potter and artist since 1999.
MELISSA ROCKLEN is a sculptor from Massachusetts, who specializes in mobile constructions that stimulate relaxation and focus. She was on campus helping Upper and Lower School students explore the connections between art, physics, and math.
BERWICK ACADEMY VISITING ARTISTS SHOW 2019–2020 https://bit.ly/berwickacademy TODAY
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SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING COMPETITION
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ore than 50 schools were represented in Maine’s regional arts competition. Entries included more than 1,000 student works from more than 70 Maine towns. Three Berwick students earned awards. Mischa Landgarten ’23 was the recipient of a Silver Key Award for drawing and illustration; Jenny Ma ’21 earned a Silver Key Award for painting and a Scholastics Honorable Mention for drawing; and Annabelle Breton ’21 received a Scholastics Honorable Mention for painting.
Jenny Ma ’21
OFF THE HILLTOP
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enny Ma ’21 has been selected to exhibit her art in the Maine Art Commission’s Excellence in Arts Education Exhibition in the Capitol Complex 2019-2020 in Augusta. Jenny’s artwork was selected to represent excellence in Maine Arts Education in York County, and will be presented with student artwork from across the state. The exhibition was scheduled to take place from December 9, 2019 through April 30, 2020.
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Mischa Landgarten ’23, If Only They Could See, Drawing and Illustration, Silver Key Award
Jenny Ma ’21, Me, Drawing, Scholastics Honorable Mention
Jenny Ma ’21 Morning Berwick Painting, Silver Key Award
Annabelle Breton ’21, October in South Berwick, ME, Painting, Scholastics Honorable Mention, Silver Key Award
MAINE ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
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aegan Russell is the 2020 MAEA Secondary Art Educator of the Year and has taught art at Berwick Academy, for 22 years. She is currently the visual art chair and the Director of Visual and Performing Arts in addition to teaching Upper School pinnacle art classes and studio electives. Raegan is deeply engaged in curricular development and promoting studio thinking and student-driven inquiry. At Berwick Academy, we believe that fluency in art is a way for students to know themselves more deeply while connecting with the community and the larger world around them. Maine Art Education member recognitions program seeks to recognize and honor excellence in Maine art education. Candidates are assessed with a rubric that looks at their involvement in the following categories: national and regional National Art Education Association activities; Maine (MAEA) activities; leadership roles and/or offices and honors in other professional organizations; program development, publications, artistic production and/ or exhibitions; teaching and related experiences; and letters of support. There are multiple division awards, including Student, Museum, Retired, Elementary, Middle, Secondary, Higher Education, and The Maine Art Educator of the Year.
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VISUAL ARTS STUDENT ART 2019-2020
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n November, the Senior Studio pinnacle class created a collaborative three-panel painting to bring awareness to climate change and present a call to action. Visiting artist and climate scientist Jill Pelto visited the class after the students reached out to her while conducting research on artists and climate change. The work was commissioned for installation in Fogg, where it can be enjoyed by students and faculty for years to come.
Matt Osgood ’20, Hope Robb ’20, Eiley Mulkern ’20, and Emily Christie ’20
The Show Must Go On
ZOOM COFFEEHOUSE BY GRANT DASHTI-GIBSON ’20, RUBY SCHROEDER ’20 AND THEO YASSA ’20
“What I found unique about this coffeehouse was the special sense of community present. Especially given the current circumstances, I think we were able to capture a feeling of togetherness and community even with these virtual limitations that people really need to be experiencing right now. At the peak of the night, there were about 85 people logged onto the Zoom call, which was definitely pleasantly unexpected, given the fact that coffeehouses normally have about 55-60 attendees. I found that the overall mood of the evening was very relaxing and supportive. A lot of people performed either for the first time, or in ways that they might not normally, and especially because of the supportive environment, these performances made the night much more memorable.” — Grant Dashti-Gibson ’20
TODAY
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Innovation Pursuits
by Jana Brown
Outfits of Berwick
Maddie Dahn ’21 and Kendall Barton ’21 pose with reality TV celebrity D’Andra Simmons.
JUNIORS DAHN AND BARTON USE THEIR INNOVATION PURSUIT TO EXPLORE THE FASHION TRENDS AT BERWICK. Fashion trends have a way of trickling down from movers and shakers in the industry to all corners of the world. With that in mind, and with a desire to explore the fashion tendencies specific to Berwick Academy, juniors Maddie Dahn ’21 and Kendall Barton ’21 embarked last fall on an Innovation Pursuit. “We’re hoping to learn more about what people think about fashion at Berwick and even if it matters,” says Barton, who lives in Hampton Falls, N.H. “Also, what it actually means to be fashionable and incorporate trends into someone’s wardrobe. There are a lot of different layers to what we want to learn.” At first glance, the dress code at Berwick seemed to limit self-expression. Once Dahn and Barton began to pay more attention, however, they began to notice patterns. Those included camouflage for both boys and girls, cheetah prints and printed pants
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for girls, quarter-zip sweaters for boys, and fuzzy jackets and sweaters for girls. As the weather began to get warmer, Barton says the girls observed an uptick in bright colors and patterned clothing. Barton and Dahn have been documenting their observations on their blog, Outfits of Berwick, which features images of students, modeling their school-day looks. They do the same on Instagram (@outfitsofberwickacademy). The duo also lucked out early on, when they were introduced to fashion stylist Nolan Meader ’18. Meader sat for an interview and shared his insights with the girls. He then invited Barton and Dahn to attend New York Fashion Week. They accepted the offer and spent the weekend of February 8-10 as Meader’s guests. “Nolan talked about how the top of the fashion industry and name brands focus on trends, such as print,” says Barton. “Those trends slowly make their way back to Berwick, but it takes time.” So far, Dahn and Barton have focused their fashion IP on Upper School students at Berwick. Dahn says she has noticed trends among her friend group—when one friend
comes to school in a jacket brought back from travels, for example, it might spark the other friends’ interests in that item. She also notes the varied fashion sense between different grades at Berwick and how an item does not need to be expensive to be fashionable. “In New York,” says Dahn, of Newburyport, Mass., “We learned that we are not super fashionable compared to New York. We also learned that there are so many different ways to dress and people dress differently in other places. How we dress might not be cool in other places.” Though not easy to sum up fashion at Berwick in a few words, Barton and Dahn have made observations both about clothing trends and human nature. Because Berwick is a small community, they say, it is hard for students not to conform to fashion in some way. But most students find a way to personalize their style. “Everyone has their own little thing,” says Barton. “No one is trying to please everyone. Most people are trying to be comfortable or look their best while fitting in.”
IN N OVATION P U R S U I TS
Cooking with a Purpose
Maggie Kirwan ’21 and Greta Lincoln ’20 created Appy Cooking as part of their Innovation Pursuit. View recipes at www.appycooking.weebly.com
STUDENTS’ INNOVATION PURSUIT FOCUSES ON DIETARY RESTRICTIONS, FOOD INSECURITY.
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ne of the features of Berwick Academy that appealed to Greta Lincoln ’20 when she first toured the campus was the Innovation Center. “None of the other schools I looked at had that,” says Lincoln, who will study pre-med and human biology at North Carolina State after graduation. In her second year at Berwick, Lincoln took advantage of the opportunities available to her, completing her first Innovation Pursuit. For that project, she created a database of resources for those suffering from mental abuse, substance abuse, or physical abuse. The website, Maine & New Hampshire Crisis Resources (meandnhcrisisresources.com) was created to serve those looking for help all in one place. Her experience was so positive that, this year, Lincoln teamed up with friend Maggie Kirwan ’21 to take on a new issue, cooking for people with dietary restrictions. The duo’s project was born when Lincoln, who is lactose intolerant, told Kirwan that she’d like to learn how to make vegan ice cream. That led to the suggestion by Kirwan that they make a video of the effort. Lincoln, in turn, suggested they make several limited-ingredient meals and post instructional videos on social media. Together the girls, who serve as co-leaders of the student community service club Outreach, came up with the idea of donating their completed meals to disadvantaged families in Maine and New Hampshire. “There are a lot of people who have food insecurity,” says Lincoln. “We are cooking meals for people with different dietary restrictions and donating them to a church through their meal distribution program.” So far, Kirwan and Lincoln have experimented with several plant-based food items, including chickpea pasta with vegan
pesto, overnight oats made with fresh strawberries, glutenfree flatbread pizza, plant-based lasagna, and even desserts, such as turtle bars with dark chocolate, figs and pumpkin seeds. Some of the food is made in the kitchen at Berwick, but anything with nuts has been made in Lincoln’s home kitchen in North Hampton or Kirwan’s in Wolfeboro. Short versions of their videos run between 30 seconds and two minutes, while extended versions can be up to 10 minutes. They have received mentorship from Berwick faculty member Jen Hill, who once hosted her own cooking show. One of the objectives of the Innovation Pursuit (IP) is to offer simple recipes for those who have dietary restrictions or those who may be dealing with a recent diagnosis that forces them to change their eating habits. When food insecurity is added to that, food choices can prove even more difficult. “We want to do our best to help feed families who have trouble finding food because of their dietary restrictions,” says Lincoln. Though there are replacement ingredients that accommodate those restrictions, Lincoln and Kirwan are careful to pick recipes that consider other dietary requirements, such as protein and essential nutrients. Kirwan says she has been pleasantly surprised to learn about the many choices for alternate ingredients that serve as taste substitutes for more traditional choices. “A goal for our IP,” says Kirwan, “is to give people easier access to meals that fit into their dietary restrictions, showing those on the fence about incorporating plant-based meals into their diet that it can be easy and delicious.” 39 TODAY
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Playing with Fire CALEB WEINSTEIN ’22
chunk of clay but now is throwing pieces that weigh up to 15 pounds. He started his study of metalworking producing small brass bands and can now create complex stone settings on sterling silver. Weinstein does his metalworking at school and at home and has worked with local artist Alice Carroll at the Button Factory.
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hile holding a metal rod dripping with unsolidified glass up to the opening of a 2,200-degree furnace, Caleb Weinstein ’22 knows that he might burn his fingers. But to Weinstein, who is currently completing an Innovation Pursuit that explores glassblowing, metalworking, and ceramics, the potential hazards of the craft are worth it. Weinstein is no stranger to IPs – his current project represents the fourth he has done so far. As a sixth grader, he explored renewable energy. Two years later, he studied Lichtenberg figures. Last year, he built his own electric arc furnace. Using Berwick studio space, Weinstein has been able to improve his technique in ceramics. He began the year struggling to center a one-pound
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Though he is studying three artistic mediums, it is glassblowing that has most captured Weinstein’s attention. Last summer, he was introduced to furnace glasswork at Snow Farm in Williamsburg, Mass. He also spent some time in Corning, N.Y., at the Corning Museum of Glass. Locally, Weinstein studies with glassblower Peter Ridabock in Kingston, N.H. Using a glass of coefficient 96 (think drinking glasses), Weinstein is focused on functional work, including vases, tumblers, and bowls in a variety of colors. “I have gone from barely being able to make a consistent glass to making things that have some real consistency,” he says. Next year, Weinstein plans a fifth IP that would include an apprenticeship with a local glassblower. He also has hopes to pursue the art in college. He appreciates the dynamic nature of working with glass and all the variables the craft affords, and is grateful he has the opportunity to explore this passion at BA. “I know,” he says, “that I would not be able to do this had I not chosen Berwick.”
IN N OVATION P U R S U I TS
InnovationCelebration
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erwick celebrated its 11th annual Innovation Celebration on May 12 with more than 60 students presenting and more than 300 people attending the event. Certainly the Zoom format was different from years past; however, the intent remained the same— to highlight the excellent work of our students and provide an opportunity to showcase their work. All Berwick students have demonstrated a tremendous amount of resilience during these challenging times, and the student presentations at this year’s Innovation Celebration were no exception.
TODAY
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Honoring Susan Widmark Ridgway by Pollie Davie
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hose who were part of the Berwick community from 1989 to 2007 remember Hap and Susan Ridgway. As headmaster, Hap led the school into a new era with a Lower School addition, numerous new buildings, an increased enrollment, and other initiatives that helped Berwick become what it is today. What many may not realize is that his wife, Susan, played a pivotal role in those changes. Susan was able to support Hap while also retaining her own identity. She graced the campus with her presence and brought joy to all who knew her. On July 29, 2019, at home at the Ridgways’ beloved Wyoming ranch, and after a day filled with typical activities that included a nine-hour trail-clearing horse trip, a search for a dropped cell phone, and a song for a sleepy grandchild, Susan died of an acute asthma attack. We are left grappling with grief and loss. Susan was filled with light, joy, love, and kindness. The story of Hap and Susan is a love story—they were a team. As consummate school people, the Ridgways were constantly thinking about and working toward making Berwick a stronger, better place. They graciously opened their home for numerous school events, making people comfortable with their genuine warmth and sincerity. Although Susan was serious about improving the school, she also had a sense of play that kept life in perspective. She loved all games. In fact, back in her college years, she and roommate Roz Witherbee (faculty 1991-2018) were
SAVE THE DATE: We look forward to celebrating Susan’s life on campus in the Fall of 2021 in conjunction with Blue and White Homecoming Weekend, Saturday, September 25, 2021. More details to follow. Alumni@berwickacademy.org 42 | SUMMER 2020
the foosball champs of the campus, taking on teams of boys who couldn’t quite fathom that two girls were so competitive. That competitiveness remained obvious during Middle School lacrosse games. As a coach, Susan was passionate and focused. A teacher at heart, she taught the skills necessary to play the sport, but, more importantly, she taught her players to love the game and find confidence in their abilities. Though Susan was a longtime Middle School athletic mentor, her legacy as a coach was evident in the number of girls who went on to play in the Upper School and at the collegiate level. Among those she coached were her three daughters, Kyle, Melissa, and Alyson. As their top fan, she regularly traveled to cheer them on in their college games, with a competitive spirit tempered with joy and kindness. There was always room for one more at her table, as she quietly asked questions that would help any newcomer join the conversation with ease. Just being around her made people smile. “Susan’s smile was more than a facial expression,” said former faculty member Jonathan Witherbee (1987-2018), who went to college with Susan. “It reflected kindness, it was a portal into her soul, she shared it unselfishly, and it was contagious.” Susan was proud of her children. All four are now parents and have settled themselves into lives of which she loved being a part. She was looking forward to two new babies, Grant’s graduation from medical school, and continuing adventures with Hap. It is hard to imagine the Ridgway family without her guidance, but you can see Susan in her children and grandchildren, who will carry on her legacy.
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he Chadbourne-Thompson Society recognizes donors who make planned estate gifts. Planned gifts are an essential part of Berwick’s long-term financial future and have helped shape the Berwick of today. For more information, contact Director of Leadership Giving and Philanthropy Stephanie Caswell at 207-384-6396 or scaswell@berwickacademy.org.
CHADBOURNE-THOMPSON SOCIETY MEMBERS Deborah K. Blouin ’59
Perley D. Monroe ’48
James Cook ’63 and Paula Cook
Olive Purington Moulton ’22
Bradley Damon ’63 Marie A. Donahue ’37
Victor Perreault ’33 and Helen Hasty Perreault
Aurora Dube ’25
Nancy Pindrus ’69
Preston Eames ’65
Wendy Pirsig, former trustee, parent
C. Dennis Fink ’44
Mary Byrd Platt, former grandparent
Nancy B. Fort, former parent
Richard and Susan Ridgway, former headmaster, parents
Adolph Geyer ’31
Russell Grant ’45 and Marty Grant Anna May Flynn Smith ’31 William R. Spaulding, former parent, Doris Dixon Griffith ’39 grandparent Seth A. Hurd ’90 Owen Stevens ’48 and George E. Janetos, former advisor Margaret Stevens Alberta Morrill Johnson ’28 Ella Estelle Geyer Stonebraker ’29 Kennett and Patricia Kendall, Mark H. Tay, trustee emeritus, trustee, former parents former parent Mary Jacobs Kennedy 1908 Roger Thompson ’25 and Stuart Kerr, son of former headmaster Theresa Thompson Lawrence A. Martineau ’64 and Ms. Anne C. Willkomm ’83 Karen Martineau
TODAY
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SAVE THE DATE
BLUE & WHITE
HOMECOMING WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 24–25, 2021 Given the events surrounding COVID-19, Berwick has made the difficult decision to postpone Blue and White Homecoming this September. While we are disappointed not to invite all alumni back to campus to celebrate this fall, we are excited to plan for a memorable reunion weekend in 2021! If you have any questions, please email the Advancement Office at sharding@berwickacademy.org.
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H I L LTO P HA P P ENINGS
A LU MN I
2019 Blue & White Homecoming Weekend
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any alumni were welcomed back to the Hilltop for Blue & White Homecoming. The weekend kicked off with the Class of 1969 celebrating its 50th reunion with breakfast at Hayes House with Head of School Jim Hamilton and his wife, Lucy. Classmates shared stories from their time at Berwick. “Ten Years Out”—our collective multimedia alumni Art Exhibit—featured work from Berwick alumni over the last decade. Alumni with work included in the exhibit were Amelia Hazen ’11, Elizabeth Hopkins ’11, Jane Merrow ’13, Kieran Friel ’17, Emma Sattler ’17, Emma Stine ’17, and Tyler Van Etten ’17.
Campus was abuzz with multiple athletic contests, Lower School Field Day, the Dog Days Family Fun Fair, and food trucks. The Hilltop Luncheon honored the 50th reunion Class of 1969, two alumni in attendance from the Class of 1944, who celebrated their 75th reunion, and Larry Martineau ’64, who received the Alumni Loyalty Award. The Alumni Cocktail Reception at Surf in Portsmouth capped off the weekend, where alumni reconnected over a beautiful view of the Piscataqua River and a musical performance from Berwick’s own faculty band, Ambulate as Tolerated.
Lower School students celebrating after tug-of-war.
Members of the Class of 1969 celebrating their 50th reunion at the Hilltop Luncheon.
Lower School student participating in Field Day.
Families enjoying the Dog Days Family Fun Fair. TODAY
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H I L LTO P HA P P ENINGS (Blue and White Homecoming continued)
Alumni celebrating and reconnecting during the Alumni Cocktail Reception at The Surf Room in Portsmouth, N.H.
RIOUX AWARD ENDOWED
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erwick is fortunate to have a long legacy of dedicated professionals working each day to make the student experience innovative, engaging, safe, and joyful. We are pleased to announce that an anonymous donor recently stepped forward with a gift that would permanently endow the Ruth E. Rioux Award. Endowment funds
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are funds that have an original investment corpus of at least $50,000. The restricted fund was created in 2011 to recognize an exceptional professional at the end of each academic year. The award was named after Ruth E. Rioux to honor her many years of service to Berwick and her enormous impact on the lives she has touched. In recognition of her time as a Lower School teacher, director, and assistant head of school, the Rioux Award aims to recognize the extraordinary dedication of individual Berwick faculty and staff members who have selflessly given
their heart and soul to Berwick Academy as Ruth has done. This years award was presented to Seth Hurd, Director of Information Systems. Past recipients include Tammy Britton, Colleen Meader, Dana Clinton, Christine Bessette, Lucy Pollard, Liz Anne Platt, Bill Clapp, Wendy Harrington, and Polly Davie. The permanently restricted fund allows the school to give this award in perpetuity, honoring not only the legacy of Ruth but the exemplary work of countless Berwick employees.
A LU MN I
THE ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD IS EXCITED TO WELCOME TWO NEW MEMBERS ZACH BALOMENOS ’10
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ach went on to graduate from Connecticut College in 2014, where he studied international relations and Arabic. Since college, Zach has lived in Amman, Jordan, working for a small government contractor and continuing his language studies, focusing on the Levantine dialect. After returning to his native Maine and working for a period in refugee resettlement, he most recently completed and returned from a two-year stint in northern Iraq, where he taught social studies and global politics at a private school. Zach greatly enjoyed the challenges and adventures Iraq had to offer, often testing his resilience and intellect as he navigated the complexities of Iraqi society. Now that he is home, Zach is in the process of applying to graduate school, with the hopes of pursuing an MBA that he can use to continue his work and service abroad. When not exploring the desert, Zach’s hobbies include skiing, boating, golf, reading, and woodworking. He’s excited for the opportunity to serve on the Alumni Advisory Board. He credits Berwick with helping to prepare him for his life and career beyond the Hilltop.
IN MEMORIAM JAMES KURLAND ’67 James “Jimmy” Kurland of Dedham, Mass., passed away on April 24, 2020. Jim was a trustee at Berwick Academy from 1991 to 2002. He served on the Bicentennial Committee, played a key role in the Future is Now fundraising campaign, and served as president of the Berwick Academy Alumni Association. Jim received Berwick’s Distinguished Achievement in One’s Field of Endeavor award and the Loyalty and Support of Berwick Academy award. Jim was generous in both his time and philanthropy to the school. Once a candidate for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Jim found ways to serve his communities on Brookline’s Board of Selectmen, as an advisor to President Jimmy Carter’s and Governor Michael Dukakis’s presidential campaigns, and as a board member for the Friends of Boston’s Homeless. Jim is survived by his partner, Linda Pilla, and two sons, Ben Kurland and Zack Kurland. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
Doris A. Flynn Grady ’40
Donald A. Watts ’57
October 14, 2019
September 10, 2019
Alta Clifford Zinchuk ’40
Linda L. Ramsdell Dumont ’58
December 5, 2019
Marie Penney Cashman ’41 October 7, 2019
KEN LAFLER ’82
K
en Lafler recently retired from Harvard Law School, where he served as the Assistant Dean for Student Financial Services since 2010 and was responsible for the annual distribution of more than $30 million in institutional financial aid. After graduating from Williams College in 1986, Ken joined the staff at Harvard Law in a variety of financial aid positions, becoming Director of Student Financial Services in 2004 until his appointment to his most recent position in 2010. He also has been a professional musician and songwriter for more than 30 years, with various musical groups. He still frequently performs in the Boston area and occasionally goes out on tour. Besides music, Ken enjoys playing basketball, hiking and camping, books and movies, and serving as a mentor in Boston’s Year Up program and through a number of career development programs at Harvard University.
A. Stanley Maddox ’43 April 4, 2020
Patricia A. Gilley Linscott ’46 January 27, 2020
Ardis M. Emery ’51 July 13, 2019
Jeannette G. Caouette Gove ’51 August 27, 2019
Joan L. Boyd Morgridge ’53 January 4, 2020
Arnold E. Boston ’54 October 11, 2019
Leon Planche ’56
December 12, 2019
Elizabeth A. Knight Henkel ’59 July 7, 2019
Jonathan Foster ’65 August 30, 2019
James H. Kurland ’67 April 24, 2020
Peter S. Dunwoody ’71 March 18, 2020
Deborah B. Holmes Beam ’79 January 10, 2020
David K. Rocray, Jr. ’88 December 16, 2019
Ajay Vasudevan ’00 August 10, 2019
May 23, 2020
TODAY
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Alumni Loyalty Award LARRY MARTINEAU ’64
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he Loyalty and Support of Berwick Award is presented to an alumnus/a who has gone above and beyond to stay connected to the School and their classmates. Last fall at Blue & White Homecoming, it was an honor to present this prestigious award to Larry Martineau ‘64. During his time at Berwick, Larry was a three-season athlete, playing varsity football, hockey, and baseball. A resident of Florida, Larry has been able to maintain a strong connection with Berwick since his graduation. He is always willing to help rally his classmates and attend events both on campus and in Florida. He and his wife, Karen, have been impactful benefactors to the school, through creating an endowed scholarship fund and as members of the Chadbourne-Thompson Society.
VETERANS DAY 2019
Veterans in Attendance:
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erwick celebrated its seventh annual Veterans Day Celebration on November 11, 2019. The assembly brought together students and faculty from the Middle and Upper School divisions, along with nearly two dozen veterans and their guests. The event featured a talk from Ginger and George Munson. Ginger served as a captain in the U.S. Army from 1988 to 1994, flying both the UH-1 (Huey) and UH-60 (Blackhawk). George assumed duties as Command Chief Warrant Officer in the Army National Guard in September 2019. Ginger and George shared their stories of service and the life of a military family. George specifically asked the audience to consider not just saying, “thank you for your service” on Veterans Day but instead saying, “thank you for protecting my freedom.” He said this is a way to acknowledge the real work our military does every day.
“Thank you for protecting my freedom.”
After the formal program, veterans and their guests attended a luncheon in their honor, where they were treated to musical performances by the Middle School Strings Ensemble and a song from second and third graders. Cards were presented to veterans from Berwick’s Kindergarten students. Veterans captivated those in attendance with stories of their service. 48 | SUMMER 2020
Ronald Bisiewicz, U.S. Air Force Robert Bogardus ’61, U.S. Navy Maurice Boucher, U.S. Navy Ray Brunelle ’53, U.S. Army Jack Canty, U.S. Army Al Carp, U.S. Air Force Jon Civitarese, U.S. Army Ron Demers, U.S. Navy Dennis Fink ’44, U.S. Navy Mark Fowler, U.S. Air National Guard Bob Gagne ’57, U.S. Coast Guard Kenny Goodwin ’44, U.S. Army Mal Kenney ’58, U.S. Marine Reserves and U.S. Air Force Hillary Massey, U.S. Army Reserve Bob McAlpine, U.S. Navy Glenn Michael ’65, U.S. Air Force George Munson, U.S. Army Ginger Munson, U.S. Army David Rich, U.S. Navy Robert Santovasi, U.S. Navy Joanne Scanlion, U.S Navy Owen Webster ’49, U.S. Army Rick Winter, U.S. Navy
AL UMNI
ALUMNI WINTER GATHERING, GAMES, AND FAMILY SKATE Each December, Berwick celebrates the holiday season with alumni hockey and basketball games and an evening that concludes with a gathering at RiRa in Portsmouth, N.H. This year’s event included the addition of a family skate at Dover Ice Arena, which was followed by the annual alumni hockey game. Berwick also hosted the annual alumni basketball game in Wood Gym, where alumni enjoyed a friendly competition. The post-game celebration at RiRa was again a great success, with close to 100 alumni coming together to c e l e b r ate c l assm ate s and reconnect with each other as well as with current and former faculty members.
On March 4, alumni and friends enjoyed a wonderful luncheon at the Naples, Fla., home of Dick Shafner ’65, and Janet Eustis. Alumni, current grandparents, and former faculty gathered together to reminisce about their time on the Hilltop and hear updates from campus and plans for the school’s future from Head of School Jim Hamilton.
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For parents of alumni: If this issue of Berwick Today is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, kindly notify the Alumni Office with the correct mailing address at jroberge@berwickacademy.org or 207.384.6303.
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