Ambassador - Fall 2018 by Brimmer and May School

Ambassador THE BRIMMER AND MAY MAGAZINE

FALL 2018

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contEnts CONTENTS ambassador Ambassador fall Fall 2018 2018

editor EDITOR Jody Weinberg, Jody Weinberg, Esq. Esq. Mass Mass Communications Communications Concepts Concepts editorial EDITORIAL counsel COUNSEL Judith Guild, Judith Guild, A.L.M. A.L.M. Head Head of of School School photography PHOTOGRAPHY David David Barron, Barron, Jody Jody Weinberg, Weinberg, additional contributors additional contributors graphic GRAPHIC design DESIGN Peapod Peapod Design, Design, Norwalk, Norwalk, CT CT marketing MARKETING & & communications OFFICE office COMMUNICATIONS Sue Cuyler Sue Cuyler Director of Marketing & Communications Communications Nicole DeCesare Nicole DeCesare Associate Director of of Marketing Marketing Associate Director & Communications Communications Lauren Abrams Lauren Abrams Website Coordinator Coordinator Website

PK, PK, K, K, and and grade grade 1 1 students students perform at the Lower School perform at the Lower School Closing Closing Ceremony Ceremony in in June. June.

alumni and ALUMNI affairs AFFAIRS AND development office DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Elizabeth Smith Smith PP ’17 ’17 Elizabeth Director of Development Development Sharin Russell Sharin Russell Director of of the the Annual Annual Fund Fund Director Amanda Spooner Frank ’88, P ’22 Amanda Spooner Frank ’88, P ’22 Director of Alumni AlumniAffairs Affairsand andSpecial SpecialEvents Events Director of Anne Bisson Anne Bisson Database Coordinator Database Coordinator stay connected STAY CONNECTED

Letter Letter from from Judith Judith guild, Guild, head Head of of School School

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Spring Spring athletics Athletics

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education Education Spotlight Spotlight

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Creative Creative arts Arts

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Commencement Commencement

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brimmEr BRIMMER And AND mAy MAY ALumni ALUMNI (especially (especially for for alums) alums) & & brimmEr BRIMMER And AND mAy MAY schooL SCHOOL (general (general school School news) news)

alumni Alumni day Day 2018 2018

brimmEr BRIMMER And AND mAy MAY

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2018-2019 2018-2019 Faculty Faculty innovation Innovation awards Awards

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alumni Alumni Focus Profiles

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development Development Office Office Update Update

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alumni Alumni notes Notes

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Brimmer Brimmer Laboratory Laboratory auction Auction

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Summer Summer Luncheon/ Luncheon/ alumni Alumni day Day may May 18, 18, 2019 2019

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hall of Fame/ Fame inductee: 2018 Hall Tony Wright ‘13 Retirement

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brimmEr BRIMMER And AND mAy MAY

in In memoriam Memoriam

On tHe COveR ON THE COVER sam Sam beal Beal ‘26, ‘26, sophia Sophia silva Silva ‘26, ‘26, thacher Thacher purdy Purdy ‘26, ‘26, and and mimie Mimie manigat Manigat ‘26 ‘26 work work with with fourth fourth grade grade teacher teacher ina Ina patel Patel to to finalize finalize and and test test their their prosthetic prosthetic arm arm prototype. prototype. read more more about about the the project Read project on on page page 3. 3.

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twitter.com/brimmerandmay twitter.com/brimmerandmay

brimmErAndmAyschooL BRIMMERANDMAYSCHOOL

brimmEr BRIMMER And AND mAy MAY schooL SCHOOL 69 middlesex road 69 Middlesex Road chestnut Hill, hill, MA mA 02467 02467 Chestnut 617-566-7462 || brimmer.org brimmer.org 617-566-7462 Check for the the school Check out out brimmer.org brimmer.org for School calendar, calendar, sports sports calendar calendar and and game game directions directions and and results, results, classroom classroom and and school School news, news, parent parent section, section, online online giving, giving, alumni alumni news, news, and and much much more! more! first-time First-time user? user? parents Parents and and alumni: Alumni: go Go to to brimmer Brimmer and and may May Community Community Login Login on on the the homepage. homepage. select Select “first “First time Time Logging Logging in.” In.” follow Follow directions directions carefully carefully for for your your username username and and password. password. Questions? Questions? Contact Contact our our database Database Coordinator Coordinator at at 617-278-2320. 617-278-2320.

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Head of School

Engaging Learners JUDITH GUILD, HEAD OF SCHOOL

Head of School Judith Guild with seniors prior to Commencement 2018.

THE THEME “INSPIRING THINKERS AND DOERS” UNFOLDED WITH PURPOSE THROUGHOUT LAST YEAR AS WE DIVED INTO THE POSSIBILITIES THE NEW HASTINGS CENTER OFFERED. It was a year of dipping, trying, exploring, and reimagining. As the year came to a conclusion, it became clear that the students and faculty were ready to delve deeper. They no longer wanted simply to dip into ideas, but they wanted to dig more deeply into problems and use innovative thinking and doing to solve them. The Maker Space, STEAM Classroom, and Digital Media Center became busier, and the students produced more compelling work. In this edition of the Ambassador, you will learn how the teaching and learning environment in the Hastings Center’s inaugural year became a hub of research and discovery, which complemented the work being done in our library, learning centers, and classrooms. While the technical space stimulated the academic work of creating thinkers and doers, the common spaces stimulated their social interactions and ignited activism. The nation’s response to the tragic school shootings challenged our students to think about school safety and a need for improving peer interactions. Social thinkers and doers became an important part of the culture and climate. In the Upper School, students called for increased awareness for voter

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registration, a desire to stand in solidarity with the victims of school violence, and an eagerness to write about equity and justice. Students not only wanted to solve the social challenges in front of them, but they were also working actively to identify the societal roots of those challenges. Students throughout the School found ways to support the needs of the greater community and serve those who would benefit from their help. This resulted in several grade levels winning Parents’ Independent School Network awards. This work helped to inform the 2018-2019 theme of “Empathy and Ethical Thinking” as we turn our attention to developing ethical citizens within our own community. As “we develop lifelong learners who are informed, engaged, and ethical citizens and leaders in our diverse world,” I am proud to say

that our teachers and students realize this part of our School’s mission. Our students apply what they learn so their world will be a better place in which to live. In June, a team of students and faculty journeyed to Shanghai, China, on a full-paid internship to learn about the innovative ways of other cultures and workplaces, and they spent time volunteering in Beijing for underserved children who were disabled due to blindness. This parent-sponsored grant offered our students an experience and firsthand perspective that informed them of the challenges and opportunities found in our world [read more on page 10]. I am grateful for the commitment of Brimmer’s community to provide our students with learning environments where they can be thinkers and doers and where they can feel empowered to be the change and to effect change. I hope as you read about the work our students are doing, you will feel the power of a Brimmer education and its ability to transform lives. Thank you for your continued support so the Brimmer story will continue well into the future.

“This work helped to inform the 2018-2019 theme of ‘Empathy and Ethical Thinking’ as we turn our attention to developing ethical citizens within our own community.” 10/22/18 2:22 PM

AMBASSADOR

THINK RS & DO RS

Dr. Matt Gallon challenged his sixth graders with a Brain Buster on the first day of school. Students were tasked with figuring out how to get a foam ball to float in the center of a jar of water using just a ball, jar, and water.

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Lower School

Engineering Design Projects with Empathy INA PATEL, GRADE 4 TEACHER

IT WAS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN APRIL OF MY SOPHOMORE YEAR IN COLLEGE, AND I DECIDED TO HEAD HOME FOR SOME HOME-COOKED FOOD. My dad arrived at my dorm after he finished work, and soon we were headed out of the city to Cleveland’s western suburbs. We were minutes away from our house when an SUV veered out of its lane and hit our car head on. The force of the SUV sent our Toyota Camry backward, and our car only stopped with the help of a utility pole. It was a miracle we survived. I walked away from the accident with a few broken bones and cuts, but my dad was a different story. The

entire driver’s side column had collapsed onto his hips and legs. He was trapped. When the paramedics cut him out of the car, we were certain he would never walk again. My dad had shattered his hip as well as his right femur, both tibias, and both fibulas. When he was finally discharged from the hospital six months later, he arrived home with strange-looking devices on his legs. Each leg was surrounded by two metal circular rings attached by vertical rods.

Tess Ostrer ’26, Thacher Purdy ’26, and Alice Dalton ’26 apply their knowledge of muscles and bones to build a prosthetic arm using the human-centered design approach.

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These rings held pins that went directly into the bones in his legs. These devices were responsible for allowing my dad to regain the ability to walk. The ability to heal the most irreparable bone and muscle damage is astounding. As I look back now, I see that it was more than a biological knowledge that aided in the healing process. It was an amazing feat of engineering. Roughly 50 years before that fateful day, Gavriil Abramovich Ilizarov, a general practitioner in Serbia, designed a curious device after many of his patients returned from World War II with hopeless musculoskeletal injuries. (Note: the first variation of the external fixator can be traced back to Hippocrates who used this external “shackle” device for maintaining a tibia fracture nearly 2,000 years ago.) Seeing a demand that needed to be met, Ilizarov invented the first external fixator, in 1944. Antibiotics were scarce in Serbia, and he knew he had to figure out a way to help his patients. Serendipitously, what Ilizarov stumbled upon through designing and redesigning was a device that would revolutionize bone regeneration. He created a device that could be placed externally on a patient’s leg when internal placement was not possible, due to the severity of the injury sustained by the skin and muscle. This revolutionary device was not introduced to the Western world until 1981 when a group of Italian orthopedic surgeons went to Serbia to watch Ilizarov perform the placement surgery on one of his patients. It was this precise device that was used on my dad 15 years later. What Ilizarov created extended beyond the field of biology—unknowingly, he applied the steps of the engineering design process in order to develop his external fixator and meet the needs of his patients. President Herbert Hoover defined engineering, when in its nascent form, as a profession that “elevates the standards of living and adds to the comforts of life.” The field of engineering focuses on creating technologies that will be useful to people, improve their welfare, and raise quality of life. This is what Ilizarov did all those years ago in Serbia. He saw a need, and he responded to his patients’ injuries. His

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AMBASSADOR

“At Brimmer, we inspire and encourage our students to be thinkers and doers beyond the scope of the classroom.” design projects throughout their time in Lower School. They have designed space rovers, light-up owl pins, and Boston-themed arcade games. By fourth grade, students instinctively engage in the various steps of EDP without needing explicit instruction. As with any content information studied in previous grade levels, fourth graders are taught to take the EDP a step further.

Adrien DiPietrantonio ‘26 and Ginger Biederman ‘26 learn to program a device they designed that can sort and pick up various recycling objects using LEGO WeDo 2.0.

invention allowed his patients to walk again— to have a normal life. Without meaning to, Ilizarov moved beyond pure science into the field of engineering. He asked questions, tinkered, and sought to find a solution to a problem. At Brimmer, this is what the Lower School STEAM curriculum aims to teach our students. Over the past few years, the fourth grade curriculum has evolved to cover many elements of engineering. Students actively engage in the engineering design process (EDP): brainstorming, tinkering, building, testing, and redesigning. Because Brimmer begins its STEAM curriculum in the PK, by the time students arrive in fourth grade they are very comfortable using the EDP. They have already engaged in multiple engineering

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The Stanford d.school utilizes a variant of the design process. In their EDP, the first step is empathy. That is exactly how Ilizarov (though not a self-proclaimed engineer) and Hoover defined the practice of engineering. The Oxford English Dictionary defines empathy as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” We spend a great deal of time at the beginning of fourth grade talking about empathy. What does it mean? How do we show empathy? As we explore the central theme of the year, “What is culture and identity?,” students are asked what those terms mean to them and how they can help us empathize with individuals all over the world. The fourth grade engineering design projects are an extension of these themes. One of our first engineering design projects of the year weaves together science, social studies, and math curricula. Students learn about basic elements of electricity, how electricity is brought to communities, and the advantages and drawbacks of clean energy. They explore the energy concerns in India and Japan (countries studied as part of the FourthFest curriculum) and debate the cost-effectiveness of bringing clean energy solutions to these communities. Fourth graders empathize with the needs of these communities and how different they are from their own. Using learned math concepts such as volume, area, and perimeter, students build a scale version of a village. Each team’s village includes houses, apartments, places of worship, and significant land and water forms. Students are then challenged to build a series of circuits to power each structure in their Indian and Japanese villages. Applying their knowledge of clean energy, they are tasked with switching their battery power to a clean

energy source, such as a wind turbine or solar panel, to light up structures. Students learn that though clean energy is the right choice for the environment, it is not always an easy choice for a community. In another engineering design project, students spend a few weeks in an in-depth exploration of the muscular and skeletal systems and watch a short documentary on the United States military’s efforts to develop and build a prosthetic arm for soldiers. Students are not simply tasked with building an arm that can pick up an object. They are asked to consider the user’s point of view. Will the prosthetic arm be comfortable? Will it be lightweight? One of the last projects of the year incorporates programming, using the Lego® Education WeDo 2.0. Students are tasked with building and programming robotic devices that help recycling facilities pick up and sort recycled material, using a block coding program. Creativity and hands-on learning are the essential skills used to create these innovative devices. Students created trucks with sweepers, helicopters with reels, and boats with grabbers, just to name a few. As I reflect on the fateful day of our car accident, I realize it drives so much of my work with the Brimmer STEAM curriculum. At Brimmer, we inspire and encourage our students to be thinkers and doers beyond the scope of the classroom. Our students will enter the workforce with the skills, tools, and empathy needed to turn their ideas into innovative realities. The engineering design projects provide the vehicle to translate foundational thinking into innovative doing. Our focus on empathy allows students to create and design prototypes with human needs in mind. Like Ilizarov before them, our students are given the skills and foundational knowledge necessary to seek solutions to better humanity. They are taught that empathy is what drives innovation forward. Teaching 21st-century skills, including collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving, across all grade levels at Brimmer, prepares our students to face further challenges ahead.

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Lower School

Create a Colony...Why Not on Mars? NIKKI ATKINS, GRADE 5 TEACHER

“BE PATIENT AND THE FRUIT WILL FALL INTO YOUR HAND.” THIS PROVERB FROM OUR WINTER TERM NOVEL, ESPERANZA RISING, REMINDED FIFTH GRADERS ABOUT THE MANY MONTHS THEY WILL LIVE ON A SPACECRAFT ON ITS WAY TO MARS, IF THEY CHOOSE TO—A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY IF YOU FOLLOW THE LATEST EXPLOITS OF NASA AND ELON MUSK. Traditionally, fifth graders study colonial America and plan their own 17th-century colonies. This year, with the excitement of Musk’s Martian rocket launch, students designed futuristic colonies on Mars. First, students examined the essential needs of all people (food, clothing, shelter, transportation, communication, etc.) and the effects of geography on early American societies, from Jamestown in 1607 to Plymouth in 1620. They also analyzed the fundamental needs of immigrants in two novels and wrote first-person journals of their imaginary move to Mars. At the same time, fifth graders studied astronomy—from the universe to our solar system—then narrowed their focus to Mars. They learned about the numerous challenges that human Martians will face, including a lack of liquid water, oxygen, building materials, and an atmosphere. Students researched the latest scientific designs, intended to compensate for these limitations, and weaved in their own ideas to create models of viable communities. The design of each colony required students to examine their values and how those values would be represented in their colonial government and flag. Students collaborated on Colonial Compacts, just as early Americans had done on the Mayflower while waiting to disembark at Plymouth Harbor. After exploring various types of governments, they made rules and plans based on systems that best represented their values and made a symbolic flag for each colony. In addition, students planned how they would keep their most treasured memories of Earth by creating a constellation banner of heroes such as Benjamin Franklin and Susan B. Anthony. Next, they built circuits using LED lights and conductive thread to illuminate their banners and flags.

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Where science and sales meet…Robbie Sun-Friedman ’25 and Aya Abdulnour ’25 persuade visitors to move to their futuristic Martian colony!

Finally, students created persuasive videos in order to attract new adventurers to their unique colonies and designed and tested air-powered rockets to simulate the launch. Students shared their projects and spoke eloquently about their work during our Mars Expo in early March. Parents and friends reported that they were amazed by the depth of knowledge, poise, and critical thinking skills in evidence at the exhibition. Keep in mind—each of these students may have the opportunity to be a founding colonist on Mars in the near future! It was

extremely exciting to be a part of this timely Martian adventure! We will be patient, however, and the Martian fruit will eventually fall into our hands.

“Students shared their projects and spoke eloquently about their work during our Mars Expo in early March.” 10/22/18 2:22 PM

AMBASSADOR

Ambassadors for Social Change

KYLA GRAVES, HUMANITIES TEACHER, AND NICK MALAKHOW, MIDDLE SCHOOL DRAMA TEACHER AND ENGLISH TEACHER

EIGHTH GRADE HUMANITIES STUDENTS SPENT THE YEAR FOCUSING ON LEADERSHIP AND SOCIETY—A THEME THAT WAS WOVEN THROUGH ALL FACETS OF THE CURRICULUM. They examined how leaders—from famous politicians to everyday people—can both construct and break down communities. Students continued the process of shaping their world views and making decisions about what kinds of adults they would like to be, and the courses provided a perfect opportunity to investigate what it means to effect change in the world. Our focus at Brimmer has been “Inspiring Thinkers and Doers.” The Ambassadors for Social Change project put those skills on display as each eighth grader researched a real-life change maker, from the past or present, and explored how that change maker’s legacy might inform their own personal decisions. Inspired by Humanities Chair Kelly Neely (who formerly taught Middle School humanities), the project fused elements of her original vision to capture the multimedia and multidisciplinary focus in the eighth grade capstone project. The three elements of the project included online biographical timelines created through Sutori.com; a series of journal entries; and finally the creation of a monument or a memorial to help remember the person’s contributions to society. Students needed

to think critically by synthesizing information from research and personal experience. Each element of the project allowed students to think deeply about their subject in terms of upbringing, accomplishments, challenges, and legacy. Subjects included historical leaders such as Septima Clark, who helped to champion opportunities for African American teachers during the Civil Rights Movement; Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel laureate; and Sargent Shriver, creator of the Peace Corps and Head Start. Some contemporary figures were assigned as well, including Malala Yousafzai, a leader in confronting gender bias in schools, and Alicia Garza, a civil rights activist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement. In exploring change makers from both today and years past, students developed a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader and the successes and challenges met by such demanding work. Throughout the process, students engaged in such critical skills as brainstorming, outlining, researching, writing, and connecting. The timelines allowed students

Nick Malakhow examines Marlo Frank’s ’22 project on Elie Wiesel.

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to engage in a multimedia presentation of their subjects, including pictures, video clips, quiz questions, and fun facts, bringing their subjects’ life stories alive on the screen. The journal component of the project asked students to synthesize the information they had carefully researched and included in their timelines to give their subjects’ stories depth and meaning. Each set of journals focused on the lead-up to and aftermath of and resulting changes, from one meaningful event in each subject’s life. Finally, students constructed memorials and monuments. Following a brainstorming session and discussion about the importance and meaning behind memorials and monuments, students went to work drafting, writing, building, and creating monuments intended to create meaningful memories of each subject’s contribution to our world. The project was introduced to students in February, using a quotation from Eleanor Roosevelt about the creation of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She said, “Without concerted citizen action to uphold [human rights] close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” Heeding her words, eighth graders ended their Middle School careers with new insight into how those who have come before them have effected change and how they may themselves continue a legacy of positive social change in the world.

Ayanna Jefferson ’22 with Kyla Graves and her Ambassadors for Social Change final product, which focused on Angela Davis, a prominent civil rights activist of the 1960s.

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Middle School

The Science of Hydroponic Gardens CECELIA PAN, SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR, AND BETHANY SHANNON, MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER AND MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTDOOR EDUCATION COORDINATOR

AS STUDENTS ARRIVE FROM LUNCH, IN BUNCHES, THROUGH THE SCIENCE LAB DOOR, MOSTLY CHATTING AND JOKING, THEY ARE WELCOMED BUT NO DIRECTION IS NEEDED. On their own, they set down their books and move to the back of the classroom to the hydroponic garden. The conversation shifts and analysis begins. “Look how big this plant has gotten!” “What happened to that arugula?” They dive right in—curiosity has taken hold. In the Maker Space, starting with drain pipes, pumps, fittings, and clamps, groups of students equipped with saws and drills fabricated their own working hydroponic garden systems. They tested the systems to make sure the water would move through the tubing and trickle down the drain pipes, to provide liquid nutrients to the plants. Using lemon juice and water they created the ideal pH to promote seed sprouting. They conditioned the rock wool substrate that would hold the plant roots and then planted the seeds. When seedlings emerged, they plugged in the grow lights, hooked up the water pump, mixed the nutrient solution, and transferred their young plants to their garden systems, waited, and watched. This method of growing food was all new to them. Questions emerged. It didn’t involve soil, so how did it work? Are there advantages to growing plants in this way? What are the disadvantages? Questions developed and eventually a scientific question was selected: “Does the use of grow lights, in addition to ambient light, help or hinder the growth of the plants?” Over months, students collected data multiple times a week so that they could not only answer but also provide quantitative evidence for the question they developed. The study had them choosing variables, and

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Grace Kandiah ’23 prepares rock wool in grow cups for the hydroponic garden.

accurately measuring and then analyzing data by averaging and graphing trends. They became educated about the plant needs and their life cycles. There was lots of rich learning and student excitement not only for seventh graders but also for our second grade and fifth grade visitors who came to our classroom to observe the project. In addition to the rich skill development inherent in a long-term

scientific investigation, students studied, in depth, photosynthesis, plant life cycles, and the interdependence between plants, humans, and the planet. These seventh grade scientists became doers and thinkers! Read about Bethany Shannon and Megan Dolan’s Innovation Grant for portable gardening towers on page 14.

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AMBASSADOR

Gaining an Understanding of Human Rights JOSEPH IULIANO, ASSISTANT HEAD OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

EVERY SPRING, SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COURSE IN 2010, THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS HAVE LEFT THE CLASSROOM FOR SENIOR PROJECT. THE REMAINING SMALL GROUP OF TENTH AND ELEVENTH GRADERS HAVE DEVOTED THEIR TIME TO ADDITIONAL WORK IN THE STUDY OF WORLD POLITICS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREA OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

Since 2012, this this work workhas hasbeen beencompleted completed through an online online course courseoffered offeredby bythe the United States UnitedInstitute States Institute of Peace The of Peace (USIP).(USIP). The course, course, Conflict Analysis, presents a model of Conflict Analysis, presents a model of conflict conflict and a framework for conflict resolution. and a framework for conflict resolution. It It presents twohistorical historicalcase casestudies studiesfrom fromthe the presents two 1990s—Rwanda and and Kosovo—for Kosovo—forstudents studentstoto work with the model model and andframework frameworkininrelation relation to real-world conflicts. conflicts. The USIP offers Conflict Analysis in conjunction with a second course, Conflict Resolution. However, due to time constraints, we were only able to complete the first course, which we augmented with much discussion and the viewing of two films, Hotel Rwanda and Behind Enemy Lines. These films are based on actual events that occurred during the conflicts in the small African nation and the former Yugoslavia, respectively. Students took quizzes when they finished each section of the course and a “final exam” of 25 multiple choice questions that concluded the course. The students who took the course over the past six years all earned certificates of completion and learned a great deal about the horrific history of genocide in the late 20th century, one of the most egregious of human rights violations.

Richard He ’19, Mr. Joe Iuliano, and Christopher Harrison ’19 watch a lecture in the online course, Introduction to Human Rights, as part of their International Relations class.

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This past spring, we introduced a different online course, Introduction to Human Rights, offered by Udemy, “a global marketplace for learning and teaching online where students are mastering new skills and achieving their goals by learning from an extensive library of over 65,000 courses taught by expert instructors” (from the Udemy website). Introduction to Human Rights, like Conflict Analysis, is a free online certificate course, but it provides a comprehensive overview of the efforts of states, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to establish universal human rights definitions, doctrines, protocols, and even laws to be understood and followed around the world. This year Christopher Harrison ’19 and Richard He ’19, the remaining two students in a class of 18, experimented with this new course, which includes 33 lectures

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Upper School

and six hours of video. More than 18,000 students around the world have taken this course, offered by Professor Jose Zalaquett and Instructor Juan Francisco Lobo of the Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago, Chile. Introduction to Human Rights tapped into much of what the class studied, including the interests of states, the role of non-state actors such as IGOs and NGOs, international relations theory, and the idea of norms in the international system. Christopher Harrison remarks, “The class has been interesting and informative and I’ve enjoyed being able to learn about human rights through this course.” He and classmate Richard He successfully completed quizzes after every section of the course and fully earned

their certificates. Technically speaking, moving around in the course is intuitive and manageable. Students can move backward and forward in the course if they wish to review material or look ahead to see what’s next. This kind of work will help prepare them for future online courses they may take in college or in their careers. Two-thirds of the students who have earned online course certificates as part of their International Relations coursework have graduated with a Global Studies Program Diploma, and many of these students also pursued additional studies or majored in international relations in college. Their efforts in the classroom and online have helped them better understand and contribute to the increasingly globalized world.

“Two-thirds of the students who have earned online course certificates as part of their International Relations coursework have graduated with a Global Studies Program Diploma.”

Prison Book Community Service Initiative NICOLE DECESARE, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRISON BOOK PROGRAM,

Brimmer’s new community service initiative, for receiving a Special Recognition Award and Grant from the Parents’ Independent School Network (PIN). The Prison Book Program, an organization based in Quincy, encourages literacy and reduces recidivism by providing books, dictionaries, and textbooks to incarcerated people nationwide. Once a month, Brimmer volunteers helped by sorting through letters from prisoners, then packaging and invoicing their requested books. Chloe Berlin ‘20 introduced the program to the Brimmer community last year. She shares, “It is a poignant experience. Despite having no face-to-face contact with incarcerated people, their letters illuminate the faces of those so often forgotten in our culture. Their gratitude shines through.”

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Brimmer Prison Book Program volunteers.

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Upper School

AMBASSADOR

Chinese Cultural Entrepreneurship Exchange Program HELEN DU, CO-DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS CHRISTOPHER HARRISON ’19, JARED HELLER ’19, OLIVIER KHORASANI ’20, MICHELLE LEVINGER ’19, AND MEGAN STANDER ’20 WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A NEW CHINESE GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN JUNE. Students traveled to Shanghai and Beijing for a 10-day cultural and entrepreneurship exchange program, accompanied by Helen Du, Co-Director of International Students, and Matt Gallon, Middle and Upper School Science teacher. Participants are so grateful to the Li family, who generously sponsored this immersion program. The program satisfied Brimmer’s STEAM Diploma Program Internship requirement and counted toward the Global Studies Diploma. Students visited Shanghai WPG, Shanghai Auto Corporation, and Alibaba. They met with Chinese engineers and scientists, visited manufacturing sites, plants, and a research

center, and volunteered at Bethel China, a residential school for blind children. Students also visited a school to learn about the Chinese education system and toured the campus and classrooms. Going to China and meeting engineers and business leaders was a life-changing experience for our students. China, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, has influenced today’s geo-political and business world dramatically. The students appreciated the opportunity to visit some of the world’s biggest companies and learn how they create, operate, and connect advanced technology with innovative ideas—and how

this impacts business practice in the U.S. and around the world. At the Bethel China School for the Blind, students had the opportunity to volunteer and engage with visually impaired students, one-on-one, in conversation and game design. They learned to make zhongzi and dumplings with the students, enjoyed a barbeque, and celebrated Chinese culture together through music and crafts. Students also visited the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and tasted the famous Chinese cuisine. Brimmer Mandarin students had an opportunity to practice speaking Mandarin while communicating with students directly. The experience allowed students to develop a deeper understanding of Chinese tradition, culture, history, and business innovation and to witness how this non-Western superpower is influencing the world. We hope this unforgettable education trip will enrich our students’ life journeys.

The Brimmer China group poses with members of the Bethel China School for the Blind.

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10/22/18 2:22 PM

Commencement

2018

Faculty, Trustees, and the Class of 2018 proceed to the Commencement ceremony.

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10/5/18 3:08 PM

AMBASSADOR

THE SCHOOL’S 138TH COMMENCEMENT TOOK PLACE ON JUNE 1, 2018. It was a wonderful celebration of our graduates’ accomplishments. Head of School Judith Guild, Assistant Head of Academic Affairs Joe Iuliano, and Head of Upper School Joshua Neudel spoke about each graduate during the ceremony. Brimmer and May congratulates the Class of 2018 on their graduation and wishes them the best in their future endeavors!

1 1. Creative Arts Diploma advisor Bill Jacob with CAP Diploma recipients Katheryn Maynard, Isabella Lepore, Emily Onderdonk, Sadie Goodman, and Sofia Coronado. 2. Head of School Judy Guild congratulates Monica Morales, Senior Class President, on her graduation. Monica, a STEAM Diploma recipient and member of the Scholar Society, attends Northeastern University.

3. The Class of 2018. First Row: Sarah Ulfelder, Amarachi Nwachukwu, Isabella Lepore, Caroline Ellervik, Sofia Coronado, Emily Onderdonk, Antonia von Litschgi, Katheryn Maynard, and Caroline Bell. Second Row: Shani Breiman, Sophie Lapat, Sadie Goodman, Monica Morales, Kimberly Santos, Genevieve Collins, Taylor Shore, Tyler Best, and Dylan Rigol. Third Row: Randong Freddie Yu, Jonathan DeJesus, Matthew Hastings, Zhao Yu Daniel Chen, Jack Donnelly, Jiyang Jeff Wu, Matthew Ayres, and Goziem Echebiri. Back Row: Peng Zhang, Michael Hastings, Ethan Eastwood, Stone McLaren, Andre Reeves, Grant Iuliano, Michael Finn-Henry, Jack Durocher, James Yfantopulos, and Tingyi Harry Tan. Not included in photo: Olivia Griffin. 4. Global Studies Diploma recipients, accompanied by advisor Kelly Neely. From left: Jonathan DeJesus, Genevieve Collins, Shani Breiman, Sophie Lapat, Antonia von Litschgi, Michael Hastings, and Grant Iuliano. 5. Head of Lower School Thomas Fuller with “Lifers”— graduates who began at Brimmer in Lower School. From left: Grant Iuliano, Sarah Ulfelder, Antonia von Litschgi, Emily Onderdonk, Jack Durocher, Katheryn Maynard, Taylor Shore, Sophie Lapat, and Monica Morales. 6. Jack Donnelly shows off his Brimmer and STEAM diplomas. Jack attends the University of Michigan.

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7. STEAM Diploma recipients along with advisor Chris Hardman. From left: Randong Freddie Yu, Peng Zhang, Jack Durocher, Caroline Bell, Monica Morales, Jack Donnelly, Michael Finn-Henry, Goziem Echebiri, Jiyang Jeff Wu, and Tingyi Harry Tan.

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The Class of 2018 are attending the following:

Around Campus

Bates College Boston University (2) Brown University Claremont McKenna College Colgate University Connecticut College Davidson College Denison University Drew University Elon University High Point University Hobart and William Smith Colleges (2) Montclair State University Mount Holyoke College Northeastern University (2) Providence College Regis College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (3) Saint Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College (ME) School of the Art Institute of Chicago Smith College St. Lawrence University (2) Suffolk University United States Marine Corps University of Michigan Vanderbilt University Vassar College Wheaton College Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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AMBASSADOR

2018-2019 Faculty Innovation Awards JODY WEINBERG, EDITOR

CONGRATULATIONS TO FACULTY MEMBERS MEGAN DOLAN, BETHANY SHANNON, KENLEY SMITH, AND SARA MURRAY FOR RECEIVING INNOVATION AWARDS.

Tower Garden System–

Megan Dolan and Bethany Shannon Megan Dolan, Director of the Middle and Upper School Library, and Bethany Shannon, Middle and Upper School Science teacher and Middle School Outdoor Education Coordinator, received a grant for a tower garden system. Building on the Middle School science theme of environmental sustainability, the portable towers will have a home base in the Library Learning Commons but will be moved to various spaces over the year. They state, “These systems will allow seventh graders to work on gardening throughout the year. . . . Two of the tower gardens will be designated for learning and experimentation and used for food production when possible. The remaining gardens will be dedicated primarily for food production [for the Brimmer kitchen] for the entire year.”

AP Literature Podcasts– Kenley Smith

Upper School English teacher Kenley Smith’s EE Ford Innovation Grant will be used to purchase audio recording technology so that her AP Literature students can produce weekly 10-to-15-minute podcasts on the literature, film, and art being studied during class. Longterm, she would like to see other Humanities classes implement the podcast equipment. She states, “The technology purchases will make it possible for students to explore how the principles of backwards design apply when working on a project such as a podcast.” Benefits to students include integration of technology into Humanities classes and helping students improve public speaking and discussion-based skills.

First Grade Outdoor Engineers– Sara Murray

First grade teacher Sara Murray will use her innovation grant to purchase physics and design building blocks and outdoor classroom equipment to enhance the first grade STEAM program. She states in her Outdoor Engineers proposal, “The objective of our first grade STEAM program is to enhance students’ ability to solve complex challenges, apply the engineering design process, and enhance critical thinking and teamwork skills. . . . The enhanced outdoor STEAM program will have a strong focus on engineering. Students will design, build, measure, evaluate, test, estimate, count, and compare as they collaborate with peers to complete the outdoor STEAM challenge.” Outdoor STEAM project examples cited in her proposal include a challenge to design and build a beaver dam during the first grade study of ponds and using different sets of materials to create a sundial during the Elements of the Sky science unit.

See the Faculty Innovation page of the website for full proposals.

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o .” in gn

t ng

Around Campus

Development Office Update ELIZABETH SMITH P ’17, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR WAS FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT AS WE OPENED THE HASTINGS CENTER AND THE RENOVATED LIBRARY AND LEARNING COMMONS AND WITNESSED NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE ACADEMICS AND ELECTIVES IN AN ENHANCED SPACE FOR PK-12 STUDENTS. In 2018-2019 we turn our attention to a new strategic planning process to ensure Brimmer’s continued advancement. However, I would like to reflect on our accomplishments and events over the past year, before looking ahead. Last fall, we were excited to officially open the Hastings Center and to begin using it to enhance creativity, collaboration, and community. It did all that and more. Lower Schoolers used the space to demonstrate learning at many exhibitions. Middle Schoolers experimented in the Innovation Space during science and Eighth Grade Innovation Hour. Upper Schoolers took science classes in state-of-the-art labs; studied journalism and Problem Solving Through Design in the Media Center; and worked on engineering and robotics projects in the Maker Space. The entire community enjoyed the new Dining Commons, and Middle and Upper School students made good use of the renovated Library Learning Commons and community space. At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, we surpassed our Annual Fund goal of $750,000 by over $90,000—with a final tally of $844,517 and 71% parent giving. As usual, our dedicated faculty and staff and the Board of Trustees each reached 100% participation. Our alumni also have been giving generously. The Annual Fund continues to be our most important barometer, year after year, of the health of the School and allows Judy Guild and the Board of Trustees maximum flexibility to ensure the continued excellence of Brimmer programming. A big thank-you to our leadership team of volunteers including: Co-Chairs Farouc Jaffer and Kathy Economy P ’23, Mark and Lisa Hastings P ’18, ’19, Dana Baiocco and Andrew Susko P ’20, Howard Leeder P ’15, ’20, and Rich and Jenn Mynahan P ’19. Senior Gift Chairs Susie Durocher P ’18, ’21, Lisa Hastings P ’18, ’19, and Lauren Lapat P ’18 also worked tirelessly

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our reunion classes together for cocktails and a gala dinner in the Corkin Family Dining Commons. Earlier in the day, we held a special tree-planting ceremony and lunch in memory of Safi Aziz ’17. Read more and see dinner photos on page 22. We enjoyed two alumni trips to New York and Florida over the winter. In Manhattan, we hosted a group of young alumni who work in finance, advertising and communication, medicine, and law. They were all eager to catch up with Judy Guild and Amanda Spooner Frank ’88, P ’22 on the exciting growth at Brimmer. In Florida, we enjoyed Brimmer luncheons in Sarasota and Palm Beach. We met with many supportive alumni and grandparents across the state including Nathalie Warren McCulloch ’37 and Nina Cook ’84, both of whom have been involved with Brimmer for years and have been especially supportive of the Hastings Center.

Board of Trustees Co-Vice Chair Susie Durocher P ’18, ’21 and Director of Development Elizabeth Smith P ’17 at the Brimmer Auction.

to encourage senior parents to give in honor of their children’s tenure at Brimmer. We would also like to thank our Alumni Board Chair Amela Hadziahmetovic ’00 who led the charge with alumni giving. In other news, we hosted an extremely successful Annual Spring Auction in the Hastings Center, for the first time. The Brimmer Laboratory Auction netted almost $100,000 in support of financial aid and professional development for all three divisions. Thank you to all donors and bidders! See more on page 16. We also want to recognize the many supporters who are continuing to make pledge payments on their Realizing the Vision commitments. Thank you all so much! Alumni Day went off without a hitch on May 19, 2018. With the luxury of the new Hastings Center, we were able to host all of

As usual, I am grateful for my talented Development and Alumni Office colleagues: Sharin Russell, Director of Annual Giving; Amanda Spooner Frank ’88, P ’22, Director of Alumni Affairs and Special Events; and Anne Bisson, Database Coordinator. We are a dedicated team! It was a pleasure working with Brimmer community members—both near and far—as we completed our Strategic Priorities for 2013 and Beyond, and it is incredible to see how we are able to impact our students’ learning. Now it is exciting to begin work with Head of School Judy Guild and the Board of Trustees on the next strategic planning process, which will map out Brimmer’s plans for the next five years and beyond. This process will involve input from faculty, staff, Trustees, and our community of steadfast alumni, parents, alumni parents, and grandparents—who volunteer their time and expertise and dedicate their resources to Brimmer. We hope to speak to as many of you as possible in the year ahead. Thank you to this incredible community for all that you do to support Brimmer students and faculty and ensure excellence. We are really looking forward to delving deeply into the strategic planning process for the next five years as we continue to work to advance the mission of this wonderful School. Go, Gators!

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AMBASSADOR

Brimmer Laboratory Auction JODY WEINBERG, EDITOR

THE 2018 “BRIMMER LABORATORY” AUCTION WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, RAISING ALMOST $100,000 IN THE HASTINGS CENTER. Funds raised will support Lower, Middle, and Upper School financial aid and professional development. Thank you to Auction bidders, donors, volunteers, and supporters who made the event extremely successful! Thank you especially to the Executive Auction Committee: Jessica Purdy P ‘23, ‘26, ‘28, ‘31; Erika Siegal P ‘24, ‘25; and Tonya Mezrich P ‘28, ‘30, and to the Auction Committee for creating a phenomenal night for Brimmer. The Auction was held on campus with “Laboratory” cocktails served in the Innovation Space and dinner served in the new—and transformed for the evening— Corkin Family Dining Commons. Gases bubbled out of glass beaker centerpieces, bright balloons adorned the room, and student volunteers and wait staff dressed in very official white lab coats. The energy in the room was fantastic, and Auctioneer Bill Jacob did a phenomenal job keeping the bids coming in as he entertained the crowd! Alumni Megumi Milla ’12 and Diana Chaves ’12 both spoke from the heart as they described what their Brimmer experiences meant to them and how the School has helped shape them. The night was a great event for a very worthy cause, and we could not have done it without the support of the Brimmer community.

1 2

SAVE THE DATE Hold the date for next year’s Auction on

April 27, 2019!

3 1. Grant Iuliano ‘18 and James (Jimmy) Yfantopulos ‘18 show off a Lower School Auction item to the crowd.

2. Head of Upper School Joshua Neudel, Head of Middle School Carl Rapisarda-Vallely, Head of Lower School Thomas Fuller, and Assistant Head of Academic Affairs Joe Iuliano P ’14, ’15, ’18. 3. Alumni speakers Megumi Milla ’12 and Diana Chaves ’12 with Head of School Judith Guild. 4. Executive Auction Committee: Erika Siegal P ‘24, ‘25, Jessica Purdy P ‘23, ’26, ‘28, ‘31, Tonya Mezrich P ‘28, ‘30, and Amanda Spooner Frank ‘88, P ’22.

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5. Auction guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the new Innovation Center before heading down to dinner in the Corkin Family Dining Commons. 6. Auction student volunteers pose in front of the Hastings Center before the bidding begins.

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Around Campus

2018 Hall of Fame Inductee: Tony Wright ‘13 JEFF GATES, UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

TONY WRIGHT ‘13, A “LIFER,” BEGAN BRIMMER IN THE THIRD GRADE. THROUGHOUT HIS TIME AT BRIMMER, HE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ALL OF THOSE WHO MET HIM.

Athletics Director Jeff Gates, Tony’s former Lacrosse coach, math teacher Peter Slaski, and his former Soccer coach, science teacher Chris Hardman.

Tony can be characterized by his aggressive and physical style of play on both the soccer and lacrosse fields. He was a three-season athlete for six years and consistently displayed talent, enthusiasm, and confidence. Gritty, team-oriented, and determined, he brought the same intensity to practices as he did to games. During his time at Brimmer, Tony helped to bring the Boys’ Lacrosse program back to a competitive level. His strong résumé includes a soccer league championship, a New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) soccer bid, and multiple Most Improved Player, Coach’s, and MVP awards. In soccer, he was twice named to both the All-League team and League MVP. Tony consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership and was twice named captain of both his Soccer and Lacrosse teams. During his time at Brimmer, he earned the Never Give Up, Never Give In Award, the Sportsmanship Award, and the Spirit and Leadership Award, three times. Upon graduation from Brimmer, Tony attended Union College and received a B.A. in Latin American Caribbean Studies with a minor in history. He is currently attending Boston University for an M.A. in International Security Studies.

Retirement

Helen Sulkowski, Former Business Manager JUDITH GUILD, HEAD OF SCHOOL

THROUGHOUT HER 18 YEARS OF SERVICE TO BRIMMER,

Helen worked highly effectively with our auditors, members of the Finance Committee, the School’s treasurer, and as a member of our Administrative Team. From setting salaries to managing the daily budget and cash flow, Helen did it all with a keen eye for detail. Not a penny was missed in the process of managing a $14 million-plus

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budget and a growing endowment. She held herself to the highest level of professional standards, keeping the most sensitive information confidential. We wish to thank Helen for her commitment to Brimmer. It was a pleasure to work alongside a colleague with such high standards. And she did it all with her British sense of humor and charm!

Head of School Judy Guild and former Business Manager Helen Sulkowski.

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AMBASSADOR

Spring Athletics

A Truly Winning Season! VARSITY GIRLS’ TENNIS

Congratulations to the Varsity Girls’ Tennis team for securing the 2018 Independent Girls Conference (IGC) League Championship and for an undefeated season!

VARSITY GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Congratulations to the Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse team on winning the Independent Girls Conference (IGC) League Championship and for going undefeated all season!

VARSITY BASEBALL

Congratulations to the Varsity Baseball team on winning the 2018 Mass Bay Independent League (MBIL) Championship!

ALL LEAGUE

Varsity Girls’ Tennis: Marianne Alagos ’21, Caroline Champa ’20, Caroline Ellervik ’18 Varsity Boys’ Tennis: Olivier Khorasani ’20 Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse: Rebecca Calhoun ’19, Sophia Gomez ’19, Sade Latinwo ’20 Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse: Jared Heller ’19, Cole Morad ’19 Varsity Softball: Claire Masterson ’20 Varsity Baseball: Jack Donnelly ’18, Matthew Hastings ’18, Michael Hastings ’18, Grant Iuliano ’18

LEAGUE MVP AND BOSTON GLOBE ALL-SCHOLASTIC ATHLETES

1. The Independent Girls Conference League Tennis Champions!

Caroline Champa ’20 – Girls’ Tennis Caroline was the Independent Girls Conference MVP after going 10-1 in No. 1 singles competition. She earned team MVP honors and helped lead Brimmer to an undefeated season and its first League Championship in School history.

2. Lacrosse player Sophia Gomez ’19. 3. Varsity Softball player Hanna Spivak ’20. 4. Lacrosse players Cole Morad ‘19, Steven Ramsden ‘19, and Jared Heller ‘19.

Grant Iuliano ’18 – Baseball Grant was a dominant player all season. The MBIL MVP went 14-6 for his career with a 1.78 ERA and 175 strikeouts. He hit .341 with 43 RBI. He will play baseball at Bates College.

5. The Independent Girls Conference League Lacrosse Champions! 6. The Mass Bay Independent League Baseball Champions! 7. Boys’ Tennis player Olivier Khorasani ’20.

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Around Campus

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AMBASSADOR

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Around Campus

CREATIVE ARTS SPRING 2018 1. The Middle School production of James and the Giant Peach kept the audience laughing! 2. Lower Schoolers perform at the Closing Ceremony in June. 3. The spring Upper School musical, The Addams Family, was creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky— and a real delight! 4. Fourth and fifth graders gave an exceptionally creative performance of Bayou Bug Tales in March.

5. Music filled the air as Mr. Antonucci conducted the Middle School band at the Music in May concert. 6. Michelle Levinger ’19 and Ernest (Alex) Boch ’21 gave a wonderful performance at Music in May. 7. PK “stitchery robots” were on display at the All-School Arts Festival in May. 8. Greenline performs at Commencement.

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AMBASSADOR

Alumni Day 2018 JODY WEINBERG, EDITOR

ALUMNI DAY BEGAN WITH A TREE-PLANTING CEREMONY IN MEMORY OF RAJA SAFI-ULLAH AZIZ ’17, ATTENDED BY FAMILY, FORMER CLASSMATES, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS. Safi will always be remembered fondly and will always remain a part of the Brimmer family. You can find Safi’s tree, along with a memorial plaque, at the far end of the School’s field near May Hall. A light lunch, workshops, and tours of the Hastings Center followed the ceremony. David Cutler ’02, History and Journalism teacher, gave a workshop in the Media Lab. He talked to alumni about digital media

and journalism and how our students put together The Gator, Brimmer’s award-winning online newspaper, which includes news, commentaries, sports updates, and video broadcasts. Alums were then treated to signature cocktails and dinner in the Corkin Family Dining Commons. Head of School Judith Guild and Director of Alumni Affairs and Special Events Amanda Spooner Frank ’88, P ’22 warmly welcomed

alumni to a festive dinner, where the Honorable Suzanne (Vitagliano) Del Vecchio ’60 received the 2018 Alumni Recognition Award. This award is given annually to an outstanding Brimmer and May alum who reflects the School’s mission as an informed, engaged, and ethical citizen and leader in the global community. Suzanne served most recently as Chief Justice and Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court. She is currently a senior mediator and arbitrator at Commonwealth Mediation & Conciliation, Inc. It was a wonderful day of Brimmer reconnections!

1 3 Join us for our next

Alumni Day!

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May 18, 2019

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Alumni

5 1. Members of the Class of 2013, Aniket Shroff, Samantha Cacciatore, Corin Harkness, and Raymond Ma, celebrate their 5th Reunion. 2. Vanessa Sullivan ’03, Head of School Judith Guild, Runeko Lovell ’03, Sheera Bornstein ’03, and Reed Allmendinger ’01. 3. Honoree Suzanne Del Vecchio ’60 and Director of Alumni Affairs and Special Events Amanda Spooner Frank ’88, P ’22. 4. Members of the Class of 1968 celebrate at their 50th Reunion. 5. Former Development Director Nancy Sobin Drourr ’66 and Annual Fund Director Sharin Russell. 6. Ali Drourr Brockman ’98 and Bobby Brayboy ’98.

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7. Rachel Wrightson ’93, Bonnie Reiber Marsette ’93, Mary Haskell Martell ’78, and Nina Cook ’84. 8. Jen Mugar Flaherty ’88 and Director of Alumni Affairs and Special Events Amanda Spooner Frank ’88, P ’22.

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AMBASSADOR

Courtney McGillicuddy ’89 JODY WEINBERG, EDITOR

COURTNEY ORIGINALLY JOINED THE BRIMMER TEAM IN 2007. AS A TEACHER, SHE TAUGHT FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD GRADE AND IS CURRENTLY ASSISTANT HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL AND A LOWER SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ASSOCIATE. A committed and proud alumna, Courtney is thrilled to work at Brimmer. The very things that attracted Courtney to Brimmer, as a prospective student, are also what brought her back as an educator.

Q. In which grade did you start at Brimmer?

A. I started Brimmer in eighth grade. I can remember my visit and interview with Mrs. Shoolman!

Q. What is your fondest

memory of Brimmer—as a student?

“My success was directly influenced by my experience at Brimmer. In addition to an exceptional education, I learned to love learning and trust that my teachers truly believed in me. My teachers were dedicated and passionate, they set high standards and expected me to work hard.”

A. Green and White Days, Model UN,

the Outlook Program, Senior Project, graduation, and a long list of teachers and friends! However, what really stands out were the opportunities to travel abroad and learn about other cultures, customs, history, language, and more. These Upper School trips not only allowed for unique learning experiences, but they created lasting memories! I can’t imagine a better adventure for a group of high school girls. Traveling can take you out of your comfort zone, but being with a group of close friends and teachers gave me the courage to say yes to new opportunities that I may have shied away from. I gained confidence and independence in foreign countries by figuring out the transit system, trying new foods, converting money, and asking for help using my mediocre French—all WITHOUT a cell phone, the Internet, or a credit card! Traveling gave us a shared experience that we continue to reminisce about to this day. The thrill of travel stayed with me as I continued my global education post-Brimmer!

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Q. How did Brimmer inspire

you to pursue teaching and leadership positions in administration?

A. As a teen, I loved my summer job at a

local camp. Working with children came naturally, but it took other educators to help me realize that my connection to children could lead to a fulfilling teaching career. It was this awareness and the guidance from my mother that led me, finally, to pursue teaching. What I didn’t recognize at the time was that my success was directly influenced by my experience at Brimmer. In addition to an exceptional education, I learned to love learning and trust that my teachers truly believed in me. My teachers were dedicated and passionate, they set high standards and expected me to work hard. They were masters in their subjects and knew the

most effective ways of teaching, and, most importantly, they knew the power of connecting with their students. Specifically, there were three teachers who inspired me to be the type of teacher I wanted to be. Each woman was instrumental in her own distinct way. Now, as an educator myself, I can clearly identify the qualities that made each of my role models special and inspirational. But, as I looked back to my senior yearbook, I realize that my 17-year-old self actually articulated it best! To paraphrase: “These teachers were warm, generous, and patient. They provided guidance, support, encouragement, and a sense of humor. They truly listened (endlessly) and went the extra mile to know us inside and outside the classroom. These women were a true inspiration for us.” Thank you, Mrs. Guild, Mrs. Bradley, and Ms. Hoelzel. Mrs. Guild and Mrs. Bradley are now colleagues, and they continue to inspire me as I continue to learn and grow.

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Q. A.

Faculty Alumni Profiles

Courtney McGillicuddy ’89 and Catalina Merolli ’31 observe as Elias Donovan ’31 performs a volcanic experiment.

Q. What inspires you today?

A. Truly, I am inspired by what I see

every day. The joy, the aha moments, the laughter, the unexpected, the acceptance, the resiliency, the honesty, the amazing faculty and staff who share the joys and sorrows. Most of all, I am inspired by our amazing children. I continue to learn more and more from the students, and this, in turn, inspires me to reflect on my practice, to ask more questions, to be open to new ideas, and to always remember the importance of having fun!

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“Truly, I am inspired by what I see every day. The joy, the aha moments, the laughter, the unexpected, the acceptance, the resiliency, the honesty, the amazing faculty and staff who share the joys and sorrows.”

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AMBASSADOR

David Cutler ’02 JODY WEINBERG, EDITOR

AS A 2002 BRIMMER GRADUATE, DAVID LOVES WORKING AT HIS ALMA MATER. DAVID TAUGHT HISTORY AND JOURNALISM FOR SIX YEARS AT PALMER TRINITY, AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL IN MIAMI, FLORIDA, BEFORE RETURNING TO BRIMMER. David seeks to help students reach their fullest potential by encouraging them to take risks and learn from failure. His biggest goal is to help students take ownership of learning, while making plain the real-world relevance of skills and knowledge.

taking photographs in front of McCoy Hall while reminiscing with my friends about all that we had learned and achieved and all that we looked forward to in the years to come. If I close my eyes, it feels like just yesterday. I will hang on to that memory forever.

Outside of work, David remains committed to writing and researching about the education landscape. David’s articles about education have been published by The Atlantic, PBS, and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). He is also an official blogger for Edutopia, a leading education site run by the George Lucas Educational Foundation. In 2013, David was selected as an NAIS Teacher of the Future.

I also have a fond memory as a junior in Ted Barker-Hook’s elective class, Modern United States History. He began each class by playing a song from the ’50s or ’60s, which had to do with a unit of study. We would then analyze the lyrics, treating them as primary documents, before debating other readings and issues. One day, I brought in my own oldies music to stump Ted, who, without fail, correctly identified the artist and song title. It was unreal. He has encyclopedic knowledge.

Q. In which grade did you

Q. How did Brimmer inspire you to pursue teaching history and journalism?

A. That’s a great question and something I

frequently touch upon in various articles I write. As a young person, I never felt more accepted and comfortable than I did here at Brimmer. A large part of that was because of my teachers, who fostered such a warm and welcoming learning environment. One reason I went into teaching, and why I returned to teach at Brimmer in particular, was to pay it forward. With respect to teaching history and journalism, I have to give credit to my humanities teachers, including Head of School Judith Guild and Dean of Students Paul Murray, for inspiring my love of the subjects. Along with Ted, they taught me how to understand the world today and how to make a positive difference tomorrow. It’s essential to understand and learn from the past. Today, because of them, I’m deeply passionate about getting that point across to my own students.

start at Brimmer?

A. I began Brimmer in the fourth grade,

with Sharin Russell—who now serves as the Director of the Annual Fund—as my awesome and unforgettable teacher. In fact, it was Mrs. Russell who really ignited my passion for learning. In May, I wrote an article for Edutopia (https://www.edutopia.org/article/whatmy-teachers-taught-me-about-teaching) about how she and other teachers I had at Brimmer inspired me to go into the profession.

Q. What is your fondest memory of Brimmer— as a student?

A. That’s a tough one. I’ve had so many.

Not to sound too cheesy, but I will never forget graduation and the feeling of camaraderie with my peers. I remember

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Executive Editor Jared Heller ‘19 and GNN Executive Producer Michelle Levinger ‘19 chat with adviser David Cutler ‘02 about updates to the website.

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Faculty Alumni Profiles

Frances Fremont-Smith ’75 JODY WEINBERG, EDITOR

AS A BRIMMER ALUMNA, FRANCES CREDITS HER LOVE OF LEARNING LANGUAGES TO HER TIME AS A BRIMMER STUDENT. NOW, AS A TEACHER, HER GREATEST JOY IS WORKING WITH STUDENTS AND DEVELOPING THEIR STRENGTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE THAT THEY, TOO, CAN BE SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS OF MANDARIN. Fluent in Chinese, Frances has helped to build programs that raise cross-cultural awareness and communication for secondlanguage learners of Chinese. She has spent over 35 years working in the education field as well as conservation and community development across China.

Q. In which grade did you start at Brimmer?

A. I entered Brimmer in the fifth grade.

Q. What is your fondest memory of Brimmer— as a student?

A. One of my fondest memories is of a

sixth grade outdoor performance that three of my classmates and I did in honor of our favorite teacher, Deborah Almy. It was a dance to Tiny Tim’s “Tip Toe Through the Tulips.” We were literally dancing around the tulips that were sprouting up all over the backyard of 69 [McCoy Hall].

Q. How did Brimmer

inspire you to pursue teaching?

A. Brimmer helped instill in me a strong

belief that I could accomplish anything I set out to do. I did not expect that I would be an educator, but when I found myself, as the only American and one of a handful of English speakers in Northeast China, in the winter of 1978, faced with 300 eager students, I drew on the experience I had at Brimmer and found that I was able to create interesting and lively material from scratch and inspire new students to reach their highest potential. As I progressed along my career path I was able to build programs and mass movements, in a country like China, from a “can do” spirit that was honed in me from the early days at Brimmer. Find your passion and pursue it is what I was told, and I did just that. I was fortunate to find my passion for languages while at Brimmer and knew I would tackle the Chinese language as my college major, while still a junior in high school. It is amazing to me to come full circle and give back to Brimmer students what I was given oh so many years ago as a student here. Now there is a new cohort of students I have influenced who realize the potential they have and are working to be the best that they can be.

Q. What inspires you today?

A. Students inspire me. Brimmer

Frances Fremont-Smith ’75 reviews Mandarin adverbs with Benjamin Chin ‘21.

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students are intelligent, creative, insightful, fun, and engaging. Every day I learn something new from them, and I am inspired to be the best that I can be, in order to make each day better for them. Each time I see that light shine in a student’s eyes—the joy of finally understanding the question at hand—is inspirational to me and keeps me looking for ways to improve my craft.

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AMBASSADOR AmBAssAdOR

alumni Alumni notes Notes 19 19 48 48

mary Mary jo Jo goggin Goggin hopkins Hopkins Had Had a a super super good good time time in in ‘48 ‘48 got Got to to school school on on the the street street car, car, never never late! late! Wonderful Wonderful classmates, classmates, good good teachers, teachers, too too grateful Grateful to to brimmer Brimmer and and may, May, all All the the old old and and the the new new “forgive “Forgive the the ramblings ramblings of of an an 88-year-old 88-year-old grad! grad! Who Who is is left left of of our our splendid splendid gang? gang? We We are are plodding plodding along along in in sunny sunny florida. Florida. my My husband, husband, erskine, Erskine, is is a a bit bit frail, frail, and and we we are are living living in in a a fine fine CCrC CCRC [continued [continued care care retirement retirement community]. community]. there There are are lots lots of of activities: french activities: French (a (a group group of of six six or or so), so), exercise class, water aerobics, Vespers. .. .. exercise class, water aerobics, Vespers. you name it! and of course, good food, you name it! And of course, good food, which has has produced produced some some fat fat on on my my which previously fairly fairly lean lean bod. Have a a great great year, year, previously bod. Have and keep keep in Hope to to see see Amanda amanda and in touch. touch. Hope [frank ’88, ’88, P p ’22] ’22] and [Frank and the the brimmer Brimmer group group in February february at in at Cafe Cafe L’europe!” L’Europe!”

19 19 50 50

constance Constance Ludcke Ludcke huebner Huebner

“Jim “Jim and and iI moved moved to to an an assisted assisted living living facility facility in in grass Grass Valley, Valley, Ca, CA, to to be be near near our our daughter daughter and and our our older older son, son, in in reno. Reno. unfortunately, Unfortunately, Jim Jim died died on on New New Year’s Year’s eve Eve after after having having numerous numerous health health issues. issues. Our Our burlingame Burlingame condo condo sold sold quickly quickly and and for for a a very very good good price. price. at At this this point, point, iI want want to to keep keep moving moving and and keep keep the the old old brain brain cells cells functioning.” functioning.”

19 19 54 54

nancy Nancy goss Goss wynia Wynia

“WOW! “WOW! 1954 1954 was was a a very very long long time time ago! ago! after After graduating graduating from from nursing nursing at at salem Salem Hospital, Hospital, iI married married Clyde Clyde and and had had three three children. children. He He was was a a lawyer lawyer and and had had a a practice practice in in town town for for almost almost 40 40 years. years. since Since retirement, retirement, we we are are busier busier than than ever ever running running Jurustic Jurustic park Park here here

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in in marshfield, Marshfield, Wi. WI. Check Check out out the the website website at at jurustic.com, jurustic.com, and and you you can can see see more more on on flickr. Flickr. iI have have retained retained my my license license and and still still do do a a lot lot of of volunteer volunteer work work through through our our church church and and community community doing doing home home care, care, teaching teaching Cpr, CPR, etc. etc. We We are are blessed blessed with with excellent excellent health health and and living living life life to to the the max. max. Life Life is is good.” good.”

19 19 61 61

susan Susan hills Hills Edmands Edmands

“it’s been a wonderful summer with my “It’s anne, Jeff, Benjamin benjamin (age 13 ¾— daughter Anne, envision STEM stem who as Ii write is attending an Envision program babson College program at at Babson College in in Wellesley), Wellesley), Carter (age 10 ½), and cousins next door. there are lots of comings and goings at our There searsport, ME, me, as well summer cottages in Searsport, basal, as visits with friends from Basel, Basal, switzerland, Switzerland, mid Coast. Ii look forward to news touring the Mid from other classmates.”

19 19 62 62

diana plunkett Diana Luce Luce Plunkett

“i “I still still work work as as a a real real estate estate agent agent in in the the rye/Harrison Rye/Harrison area area and and greenwich, Greenwich, Ct. CT. my My husband, husband, John, John, has has not not been been well. well. iI have have three great three great kids—Lisa kids—Lisa pollack Pollack Wallace, Wallace, Christopher Pollack, pollack, and and Todd todd Pollack, pollack, seven Christopher seven grandchildren, and wonderful wonderful friends.” friends.” grandchildren, and

pamela Pamela paine Paine spires Spires

“i in December december 2017. 2017. Ii left left “I officially officially retired retired in hospital administration after many years hospital administration after many years and taught taught at at the the local and local elementary elementary school school for nearly nearly three three years. years. My my last last class class was was fifth fifth for grade grade english English and and social social studies. studies. during During english, English, iI often often thought thought of of ms. Ms. Chapin Chapin who who taught me me everything everything there taught there was was to to learn learn about writing writing good good literary literary content. about content. iI still still stay stay busy leading the busy at at my my church church leading the music music program program and and visiting visiting with with my my two two grandchildren grandchildren (boys (boys ages 9 9 and and 11) 11) who who live live in ages in atlanta. Atlanta. iI was was in Boston boston recently recently for in for my my mother’s mother’s funeral funeral and and wished wished there there had had been been time time to to drive drive by by brimmer Brimmer and and may. May. iI will will visit visit at at our our next next reunion. to my my classmates.” classmates.” reunion. my My very very best best to

19 19 75 75

Janet selle janet Selle

“i live in Keene, NH, and work at Yankee “I Publishing, publishers of Yankee Magazine, publishing, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, calendars, and other special interest publications such as a 200th-year anniversary coffee table book of the topsfield Topsfield fair. Fair. iI work with the sales department, tracking ads for print and web, and ensuring they get onto the page; iI also do some graphic design. this This past april, April, iI celebrated 21 years with Yankee publishing— Publishing— it’s a great place to work. Ii keep in close contact with frances Frances fremontFremontSmith ’75 and see her most weekends as smith I’m in Chestnut Hill, sharing the care of our i’m 95-year-old mother. When frances Frances left for Maine over the summer, all of us hoped the maine summer would pass quickly as we missed seeing her on a regular basis. my son, peter, My Peter, lives in san San francisco, Francisco, Ca, CA, and works as a civil engineer for a firm called Sherwood design sherwood Design engineers. Engineers. He’s worked there since may May and is enjoying the work and living in/exploring the city. iI don’t get to see him enough, but he’s happy and that makes me happy. my My daughter, Nelly, lives in brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY, and works for dr DR theatrical Theatrical Productions. she productions. She works on the organization and daily operation of Off-broadway Off-Broadway shows. she She was the lead contact of the New dramatists Dramatists theater’s Theater’s annual luncheon honoring denzel Denzel Washington. she She loves her job and living in brooklyn Brooklyn with her good friend from high school.”

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19 84 19 84

katie Katie maloney Maloney

“Last “Last October, October, tom Tom and and iI sold sold most most of of our our possessions, possessions, rented rented our our house house in in maine Maine for for an an indefinite indefinite amount amount of of time, time, and and drove drove to fL. For for five five months months (three (three to Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL. more more than than expected) expected) we we lived lived on on and and fixed fixed up up The The Navis, Navis, a a 41-foot, 41-foot, 1987 1987 morgan Morgan Out Out island Island ketch. ketch. We We became became diesel diesel mechanics, mechanics, electrical electrical engineers, engineers, solar solar panel panel installers, installers, painters, painters, sail sail makers, makers, plumbers, plumbers, carpenters, carpenters, and and lastly lastly sailors. sailors. although Although we we were were aware aware of of the the amount amount of of work work associated associated with with owning owning an an older older boat, boat, we we both both seriously seriously underestimated underestimated the the level level of of stress stress that that went went with with this this lifestyle. lifestyle. We We did did not not make make it it out out of of florida Florida before before engine engine trouble trouble and and hurricane hurricane season season ended ended our our plans plans for for this this year. year. after After much much soul soul searching, searching, we we decided decided that that living living on on a a boat boat full full time time was was not not for for us. us. iI do do not not feel feel that that we we have have failed, failed, rather rather that that we we had a very challenging adventure, had a very challenging adventure, one one in in which which we we learned learned invaluable invaluable lessons lessons about about ourselves, ourselves, and and made made some some amazing amazing friends friends along along the the way. way. We We had had the the guts guts to to leave leave our our everyday everyday lives, lives, our our family family and and friends, friends, and and try try something something new. new. iI am am excited excited to to begin begin painting painting dog dog portraits portraits again again from from the the comfort comfort of of our our new new home home and and latest latest fixer-upper fixer-upper in in sebastian, Sebastian, fL! FL! Oh Oh yeah, yeah, iI also also painted painted a a mural mural in in the the salon salon and and in in the the aft aft head.” head.”

Ana-katarina Ana-Katarina vinkler-petrovic Vinkler-Petrovic

ana is is not not only only an an alumna alumna but but also also a a Ana brimmer parent. parent. Her Her daughter daughter Angeline angeline is Brimmer is a 10th 10th grader. a grader. throughout Throughout her her extensive extensive humanitarian travel travel as as a a war war correspondent, correspondent, humanitarian ana-Katarina has has been been driven driven by by her her Ana-Katarina passion for for social social justice justice and passion and inspired inspired by by the staggering the staggering beauty beauty of of the the exotic exotic and and the everyday. the everyday. the The daughter daughter of of a a worldworldrenowned architect architect and and an an awarded awarded painter, painter, renowned her transition transition into her into jewelry jewelry design design began began organically with organically with private private clients. clients. she She has has since since been sought sought out out for for commissions commissions across across been the globe, the globe, among among them them for for royal royal families families of of the middle the Middle east. East. she She passionately passionately supports supports ethical and and sustainable sustainable practices practices in ethical in the the making of her collections—so that making of her collections—so that each each piece is is not not only only a a treasure treasure but but a a powerful powerful piece statement for for social social consciousness. consciousness. statement

19 96 96 19

Jacquelyn Sholes jacquelyn sholes “My first book, Allusion as Narrative Premise

“my first book, Allusion as Narrative Premise in Brahms’s Instrumental Music, was published in Brahms’s Music, was published May 2018Instrumental by Indiana University Press. I in may 2018 by aindiana university press. ias have accepted one-year appointment have accepted a one-year appointment as Assistant Professor of Music History at Central assistant professor of music History at Central Connecticut State University beginning this Connecticut university this fall, followingstate several years inbeginning a temporary fall, following severalat years in a University. temporary faculty appointment Boston faculty appointment boston university. Recently, I also taughtatas visiting music faculty recently, i also taught visitingasmusic faculty at Brown University andasserved Acting at brown university andUniversity’s served as acting Co-Director of Boston Center for Co-director of boston university’s Center for Beethoven Research.” beethoven research.”

19 19 97 97

Lisa (Vasquez) Walker Lisa (vasquez) “Things are wonderfulwalker living in San Diego.

are wonderful livingDirector in san diego. I“things am working as a Program of i am working as a program director Residential Services, helping peopleofwith residential services, helpingI love people with developmental disabilities. what I get developmental disabilities. i loveto what i get to to do each day and feel blessed be able to doback. eachOur day family and feel blessed to well. be able give is doing very Ourto give back.started Our family is doing very well. Our daughter 7th grade and plays with the daughter started 7th grade and plays with the marching band. Also, we recently expanded marching also, weofrecently expanded our family band. with the birth our son, and we our family withenjoying the birthwatching of our son, we As have all been himand grow. have all been enjoying watching grow. as a family, we enjoy all kinds of fun him activities— a family,snorkeling, we enjoy all kinds of fun activities— hiking, swimming, kayaking, and hiking, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, bike rides. I’m thrilled that I get to keep and in bike rides. thrilled that i getthrough to keepsocial in touch with i’m my Brimmer family touch with myabrimmer through social media. I owe lot of myfamily happiness today to media. i owe a lot that of my happiness todayup toto the opportunities Brimmer opened the opportunities that brimmer opened up to me. Miss everyone!” me. miss everyone!”

Ana-Katarina vinkler-Petrovic ’84, P P ’21 ’21 Ana-Katarina Vinkler-Petrovic ’84,

19 88 19 88Qazilbash sahady jasmine

Scenes life at at sea. sea. Scenes from from Katie Katie Maloney’s Maloney’s life

“i continue toQazilbash work for Children’s Hospital as Jasmine Sahady a clinical social worker. i am now based in an “I continue to work for Children’s Hospital as affiliate practice in now brookline. a clinicalpediatric social worker. I am based When in an not at work, i’m enjoying a mom When to my affiliate pediatric practicebeing in Brookline. eight-year-old daughter. after a busy year, we not at work, I’m enjoying being a mom to my are looking forward to a family along eight-year-old daughter. After avacation busy year, we the coast offorward maine. Our is vacation to drive the are looking to a plan family along coast andof stay a couple days in drive the towns the coast Maine. Our of plan is to the along the way.” coast and stay a couple of days in the towns

Lisa Walker ’97 ’97 with with her her family. family. Lisa (vasquez) (Vasquez) Walker

along the way.”

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AMBASSADOR AmBAssAdoR

20 20 04 04

20 20 05 05

Katya is celebrating three years as the marketing assistant at boundless Boundless Journeys and had the opportunity to hike in the May. in In addition, she just Jordanian desert in may. The udder Udder opened a new part-time business, the Guys, where she scoops ice cream in the guys, VT, from a tricycle! village of Waterbury, Vt,

awarded the “EBCthe Ascending “ebC ascending Leader Award” Leader(http:// award” (http://ebcne.org/ebc-ascending-leaderebcne.org/ebc-ascending-leader-award/) award/) for my work for my as work the Lead as the Resiliency Lead resiliency Engineer engineer at Westonat&Weston Sampson. & sampson. In addition into addition my to professional my professional success, success, I just got i just engaged got to engaged Jonathan to Ernst Jonathan in May!ernst So all inin may! all, 2018 so allhas in all, been 2018 a FANTASTIC has been a year faNtastiC so far! year so far!

Katya d’Angelo katya

Julie Eaton “I’05 julie was“irecently was recently awarded

also—if Also—if any students are interested in climate resilience and/or umass UMass Lowell, iI am happy to talk to them about career and school choices. iI am working on some incredible climate resilience projects with the City of boston Boston and the mbta, MBTA, as well as many municipalities along the east East Coast. One of my big projects, the Climate resilient Resilient design Design standards Standards and guidelines Guidelines for boston’s Boston’s public Public Works department, Department, should be coming out this fall, so that’s very exciting!”

Julie eaton ‘05 ‘05 and and her her financé, financé, Jonathan Jonathan Ernst, ernst, Julie Eaton at at Acadia Acadia national National Park. Park.

20 12 diana Diana chaves Chaves ’12 and and megumi returned to Megumi milla Milla ’12 returned to Brimmer

An An unexpected unexpected Brimmer Brimmer reunion! reunion! Katya Katya d’Angelo d’Angelo ’04 ’04 with with eric Eric Falcone Falcone ’05, ’05, who who visited vt, in in June June where where they they ran ran into into each each other. other. visited Waterbury, Waterbury, VT,

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brimmer this to give backalma to their twice thistwice spring to spring give back to their alma mater. conducted a wonderful mater. They they conducted a wonderful workshop workshop on fundraising and worked on fundraising and worked with Upperwith School upper school students to show how they students raised over $5,000 to show how they raised $5,000 for the steppingstone for theover Steppingstone Foundation through foundation through events and Diana raffles.were events and raffles. Megumi megumi and diana were also speakers at also speakers at Brimmer’s spring Auction, brimmer’s where they where theyspring spokeauction, to a large crowd on spoke the to a large crowd onaid theand impact financial aid impact of financial how of their Brimmer and how their brimmer changed education changed the education trajectory of their lives. the trajectory of their lives. Diana went to the College of the Holy diana where went toshe theearned College of the Cross a B.A. in Holy Sociology Crossa where she earned a b.a. in and sociology with concentration in Women’s with a concentration Women’s and Gender Studies. Afteringraduating, Diana gender studies. graduating, diana has continued toafter explore her passion for has continued to explore her working passion for public health and is currently as public health andfor is the currently working as the Coordinator Chronic Disease the Coordinator for the Division Chronic disease Prevention and Control at the Boston prevention and Control division at the boston Public Health Commission. public Health Commission.

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megumi matriculated at Bates bates College, Megumi b.a. in Sociology sociology with where she earned a B.A. a concentration in Class, inequity, Inequity, and poverty. Upon upon graduation, she worked in Poverty. the development Development Office at milton Milton academy Academy and is now the advancement Advancement associate Associate at the steppingstone Steppingstone foundation. Foundation. see See a photo diana and Megumi megumi with Head of school of Diana School Judith guild, Guild, at the brimmer Brimmer auction, Auction, on page 16.

shane Shane sager Sager

“the “The major milestone event for me in the last few years was when sting Sting asked me to play with him at his ‘save ‘Save the rainforest’ Rainforest’ benefit Benefit concert at Carnegie Hall, in New York, in december December 2016. the The lineup included James taylor, Taylor, sting, Sting, bruce Bruce springsteen, Springsteen, and others. Other than that, everything is still very busy. iI am playing a lot of gigs in boston Boston and around the east East Coast and keeping busy overall.” shane Shane also received the newly established “Hall of fame” Fame” award at brimmer’s Brimmer’s academy Academy awards. Awards.

20 13 20 jake 13 fay

Jake received Jake Fay an mba from the university

of thereceived Virgin islands. Hefrom played year of Jake an MBA the one University basketball at fordham university, three of the Virgin Islands. He played one yearyears of at the university of Hartford, and one year basketball at Fordham University, three years at the the university Virginand islands. at University of of the Hartford, one year While at the university of Hartford, he at the University of the Virgin Islands. presented anUniversity undergraduate Colloquium, While at the of Hartford, he which givesan students the opportunity presented Undergraduate Colloquium, to present to the which givesoutstanding students theprojects opportunity community, on a film that he wrote, directed, to present outstanding projects to the and produced. community, on a film that he wrote, directed,

A.J. naddaff Naddaff A.j.

“I spent my junior year abroad studying “i Arabic at the university University of Jordan, through arabic Middlebury Language Schools. middlebury schools. While there, Ii also worked as a journalist for Jordan’s Radio only independent media station, radio Pulitzer al-balad. Over the summer, iI won a pulitzer Reporting grant to report Center for Crisis reporting (CVE) in on countering violent extremism (CVe) I’m majoring in political science and Kosovo. i’m Arab studies at davidson Davidson College and will arab May.” graduate in may.”

and produced.

20 14 20 smith 14 tori

tori in international relations Torimajored Smith and economics at boston university and Tori majored in International Relations spent a semester in geneva, and Economics at studying Boston University and switzerland. she shares, “i in recently had a spent a semester studying Geneva, paper published in the American Journal Switzerland. She shares, “I recently had a of Preventive Medicine. i’ll be working for paper published in the American Journal a couple of years before going to graduate of Preventive Medicine. I’ll be working for school.” a summer trip to to europe, a couple after of years before going graduate she began work as a research school.” After a summer trip toassistant Europe, at technology & policy sheboston beganuniversity’s work as a Research Assistant research at Bostoninitiative. University’s Technology & Policy Research Initiative.

houghton yonge Houghton was named to the spring 2018 Houghton Yonge

dean’s list at Hamilton He graduated Houghton was named College. to the spring 2018 in may list withataHamilton major in physics. dean’s College. He graduated

A.J. ’15 A.J. naddaff Naddaff ’15

david David watkins Watkins

director Director of alumni Alumni affairs Affairs amanda Amanda spooner Spooner frank Frank ’88, p P ’22 was very happy to run into david David Watkins ‘15 at Canobie Lake park Park over the summer!

in May with a major in physics.

20 15 20 15kassis Andrew

“i will be studying abroad in brussels, Andrew Kassis belgium, this fall with Hobart and William “I will be studying abroad in Brussels, smith Colleges, pursuing economics and Belgium, this fall with Hobart and William touring europe.”pursuing economics and Smith Colleges, touring Europe.”

oscar portabales Lamo de Espinosa Oscar Portabales Lamo “i started the fourth year of my science de Espinosa

Shane Shane Sager Sager ’12 ’12 performs performs with with Sting. Sting.

degree at the the fourth university andrews. “I started yearof ofst my science Over the summer i interned at Jp morgan degree at the University of St Andrews. Chase, working at Itheir technology centre. Over the summer interned at JP Morgan i’ve worked on aatcouple projects of centre. my own, Chase, working their technology in my spare time, focusing on chatbots, I’ve worked on a couple projects of my own, networks, and bigfocusing data.” on chatbots, in my spare time,

Amanda Spooner David Watkins ‘15 Frank and ’88, P ’22 and David Watkins ‘15.Frank ’88, P ’22. Amanda Spooner

networks, and big data.”

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AMBASSADOR

Summer Luncheon

Back left: Director of Alumni Affairs and Special Events Amanda Spooner Frank ’88, P ’22; Development Director Elizabeth Smith P ’17; Nancy Biddle Lemcke ’50; Trustee and former Assistant Business Manager Carol Tesone Croffy ’67; and Head of School Judy Guild. Front left: Patricia Folts Dooley ’45 and Doreen Davis Gove ’45 at Brimmer’s annual North Shore Summer Alumni Luncheon, in July, at C.K. Pearl in Essex, MA.

Alumni Day MAY 18, 2019

COME BACK TO BRIMMER AND MAY ALL ALUMNI ARE INVITED TO ALUMNI DAY!

Celebrating Reunion Class Years: 1969 • 1974 • 1989 • 1994 • 2004 • 2009 • 2014 Special reunion recognition for the Class of 2014 (5th) to the Class of 1969 (50th) & all reunion classes ending in “4” and “9.”

5TH REUNION

The Class of 2014

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50TH REUNION

The Class of 1969

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IN MEMORIAM

Around Campus

ROBERT B. ALMY, JR. The Robert B. Almy, Jr. Academic Center was dedicated to Bob, “the ultimate gentleman.”

FORMER BOARD CHAIR AND TRUSTEE EMERITUS

ROBERT B. ALMY, JR., FATHER OF TRUSTEE LESLIE (STIMMEL) GUGGIARI ’73, PAST BOARD CHAIR, AND TRUSTEE EMERITUS, PASSED AWAY ON JULY 18, 2018, AFTER A PERIOD OF DECLINING HEALTH. He was 90 years old. Bob is survived by his children: Robert Almy of Lynnfield, MA, Leslie (Stimmel) Guggiari of Lugano, Switzerland, Beth Buchholz of Pembroke, MA, and John Almy of Sherborn, MA; his nine grandchildren; his five great-grandchildren; and his brother Edward “Ned” Almy of Savannah, GA. He is preceded in death by his wife Lavinia “Winkie” Almy, of Dedham and Marion; and his sister Rosamond “Darby” Chambers. Bob and his wife Lavinia “Winkie” Almy first became involved at Brimmer and May in 1967 when their daughter Leslie enrolled in 7th grade. However, their connection to the School began many years before with Winkie’s sister, Leslie Chase Sherman, graduating with the Class of 1939. Bob was a trusted and respected Trustee and a remarkable Board Chair during an important time in Brimmer’s history. Bob joined the Board in 1968 and served as the Board Chair from 1969 to 1978, stepping down in 1986 to become a Trustee Emeritus. Head of School Judy Guild shares, “Well beyond his years of direct service to the Board, Bob continued to be a strong supporter, adviser, a dear friend to many, and always a true gentleman. When in the presence of Bob, people laughed, felt valued, and knew his love for our School was genuine and deep. He treasured his family above all else, and we all admired how much he committed himself to the places that mattered the most to them.” Former Head of School Anne Reenstierna comments, “Having Former Brimmer Board Chair Bob known and worked closely Almy with former Trustee Jim Orr. with Bob Almy for almost 40 years at Brimmer and May School, I can describe him best as the quintessential gentleman: a charming, gracious, wise, and humble man of great integrity who sustained the School through some difficult times and helped transform the School through his generosity and quiet wisdom. It has been one of the great privileges of my life to have known Bob and to have him as my friend.”

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Bob and Lavinia “Winkie” Almy with their son John and daughter-in-law Kristiina at the dedication of the Almy Center in 2006.

Together Bob and Winkie were dedicated to the importance of a Brimmer and May education for over 50 years, and their mark is felt by every student, faculty, and community member every day at the School. They funded the Chase Building, the Almy Center, and the Anne Reenstierna Library. Together they believed in the importance of supporting those who could not afford to attend Brimmer, and they gave countless scholarships for students over the years. Nancy Drourr ’66, former Director of Development, recalls, “Bob Almy was Brimmer and May’s ultimate gentleman. I remember him sneaking into plays in the back row of the theatre, running meetings, and never until the end did he miss a graduation. Most of all, he was a person I would always turn to for advice on the many projects we worked on together to advance the School. I am so lucky to have had a mentor, cheerleader, and friend like Bob Almy.” In memory of his long-standing commitment to supporting young people who otherwise could not attend Brimmer, his family has established the Robert B. Almy, Jr. Scholarship Fund. If you wish to make a contribution, please send it to the Development Office at Brimmer or contact Elizabeth Smith at esmith@brimmer.org or 617-739-5289. You may also give online, indicating “Robert B. Almy, Jr. Scholarship Fund” in the notes.

10/5/18 3:10 PM

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID

69 MIDDLESEX ROAD | CHESTNUT HILL, MA 02467 | 617-566-7462

PERMIT 1008 BOSTON, MA

Ziqong (April) Wu ’20 and Ruomeng (Michelle) Xu ’21 examine Brimmer’s new history wall.

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10/5/18 3:08 PM

Ambassador - Fall 2018

Articles inside

Engineering Design Projects with Empathy