Brimmer Magazine - Spring 2024

04 | Michael Finn-Henry ’18 returns to campus to share his commitment to athletic and entrepreneurial excellence

12 | Brimmer kicks off $26M capital campaign with $25M already committed

18 | Collaborative book project highlights interdivisional benefits of our PK-12 community

20 | Bissell Grogan Humanities Symposium explores AI and its impact on humanity SCALING WALLS & SAVING LIVES

Co-Editors

Sue Cuyler

Director of Marketing & Communications

Madison Perkins

Marketing & Communications Associate

Editorial Counsel

Judith Guild Head of School

Contributing Writers

Sue Cuyler

Judith Guild

Bill Jacob P ’06

Joshua Neudel P ’30

Rachael Rosenberg ’27

Elizabeth Smith P ’17

Photography

David Barron Oxygen Group

Nicky DeCesare

Ben Dykeman ’25

Madison Perkins

Graphic Design blazar design studio

Alumni Affairs & Development Office

Elizabeth Smith P ’17

Director of Development

Sharin Russell Director of Annual Giving

Amanda Spooner Eppers ’88, P ’22

Director of Alumni Affairs & Special Events

Mark Sehnert Advancement Associate

Front

Michael

Brimmer

Brimmer

Collaborative

building

brimmer’s future

A letter from Judith Guild

I magine yourself getting off the MBTA Green Line at the Chestnut Hill stop and taking a walk down Middlesex Road as the evening turns to night. On the fence stretched out alongside Brimmer’s field are words laced in bright solar lights, reading “We Are the Change.” Imagine seeing neighbors stopping to read the work and pondering the impact a Brimmer student might have in our world today.

Over the summer of 2023, Brimmer students in grades 6-12 read about courageous people who believed they could make a difference in our world. They used that summer inspiration to launch their own academic story as they worked to achieve their best throughout this year. Our students and teachers read how problem-solving, curiosity, critical thinking, and overcoming adversity can yield amazing results, and they learned how “Talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not” (Leila

Janah). In this edition of Brimmer Magazine, you will read about how the themes of the summer reading project became evident this fall when Michael Finn-Henry ’18 shared his Brimmer story with our current students; he shared how his teachers believed in him, how failure did not define him, and how taking risks was a part of his everyday experience in the classrooms at Brimmer. I hope you find his story as inspiring as I do.

Because we believe that “talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not,” our mission upholds the importance of educating our students not only to embrace diversity but also to strive to be ethical citizens and leaders in our diverse world. You will read in this issue about Brimmer’s commitment to support its faculty as they seek educational equity and embrace diversity in their classrooms. You will read how this goal led us to embrace SEED training, “a peer-led professional development program that creates conversational communities to drive personal, organizational, and societal change toward greater equity and diversity.” In turn, those trained in SEED extended their professional learning experience on campus through a monthly training meeting.

In the winter months, members of our Development team and I traveled to visit alumni and listened to the rich and meaningful stories of being Brimmer-educated. As I listened to their perspectives, I was struck by their deep understanding of our world and its history, their strong connections with a diverse group of peers, and their desire to have a meaningful impact in life. As we approached spring, we began seeing the possibilities for the

At Top: Head of School Judy Guild speaks during the Thanksgiving Assembly in November; At Right: Celebrating with students at Homecoming in the fall; Opposite Page Top: Michael Finn-Henry ’18 (R), with Head of Upper School Joshua Neudel P ’30, during his visit to campus in October.

future of Brimmer as we launched our capital campaign, Building Our Tomorrow. You will read about our success in securing $25 million towards our ambitious goal of $26 million and the impact this will have on Brimmer’s mission. I am proud to say that Brimmer’s mission is alive and strong. I hope in the pages ahead, you will learn how Brimmer continues to fulfill its mission and have a positive impact on the lives of our students. ■

SCALING WALLS & SAVING LIVES

Michael Finn-Henry stopped by a fall student assembly to share his commitment to athletic and entrepreneurial excellence

By Sue Cuyler, Director of Marketing & Communications

We were thrilled to welcome Michael Finn-Henry ’18 back to the Brimmer campus in October for an Alumni Spotlight Assembly with our Middle and Upper School students. A STEAM Diploma recipient, Finn-Henry joined Brimmer in 9th grade and quickly immersed himself in a range of challenging courses and community activities. He went on to major in mechanical engineering with a minor in business at Vanderbilt University. Today, at the ripe age of 24, he runs a multimillion-dollar medical device company, a venture he initiated during his undergraduate studies. The company, EndoShunt Medical, Inc., is developing the first targeted endovascular hemorrhage control device for trauma surgery, giving surgeons the time they need to save patients’ lives. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, showcasing his dedication to academic excellence.

Outside of school, Finn-Henry was (and still is) an accomplished world-class speed climber (see sidebar on page 8). To understand how he does it all, we invited him to join us for a special podcast-style conversation with Director of Innovation & Design Kathryn Lee P ’32, ’34 and Director of the STEAM Diploma Program Chris Hardman, two of his former teachers. Both remember Finn-Henry as a confident student who never shied away from asking questions and collaborating in class. Unbeknownst to him, Lee had secreted to the stage a cooler of energy drink Yerba Mate, which was hiding beneath her chair. As they toasted his return to campus with his signature drink, they reminisced about the cans he stored in his locker, a result of his partnership with the brand.

Having not been back to the Ruth Corkin Theatre since his senior year in 2018, FinnHenry admitted it was a surreal experience.

“The last time I was a student on this stage was during our performance of The Addams Family

Finn-Henry ’18 (L) speaks with former teachers Director of Innovation & Design Kathryn Lee P ’32, ’34 and Director of the STEAM Diploma Program Chris Hardman during a student assembly in October.

continued on page 6

his return to campus;

a Vanderbilt teammate for their alumni magazine (photo credit:

University); Elected by his peers to give the opening statement on behalf of the athletes for the penultimate IFSC Climbing World Cup of the 2023 season in Wujiang, China; Design plans for the PLAYTE project; Modeling the ALLPACKA, his first design project at Brimmer.

Clockwise from Top Left: Brimmer surprised Finn-Henry ’18 with a stash of his favorite beverage, Yerba Mate, to toast

Posing with

Vanderbilt

my senior year,” he remarked. It was a great segue into all that he accomplished during his time at Brimmer.

Given that Finn-Henry took part in the very first Problem Solving Through Design class back in 2017, we enjoyed learning just how much that course and others at Brimmer helped shape his career goals. “You were a part of so many firsts at Brimmer,” said Lee. “Not only were you one of the first to take my Problem Solving Through Design class, but you were also in the first STEAM Diploma cohort to use our then-brandnew Innovation Space and STEAM Lab/ Makerspace.” Lee would go on to develop a Problem Solving Through Design 2 class designed specifically for Finn-Henry and other students like him who wished to further their entrepreneurial work in this field.

In a lighthearted moment, Lee pointed out that Finn-Henry came to her classes already with a solid understanding of computeraided design (CAD) software. “You owned a 3D printer at a time when I was just learning how to use them,” she laughed. With a history of teaching himself skills, we asked where he found the motivation to try new courses, not having any idea what they might be like. “I knew the skills I was learning and using in my Brimmer classes would be relevant to my life,” he remarked. “They are the same skills I use today to run my business—and they are a mix of both soft skills and hard skills.”

While Finn-Henry was speaking, we projected slides of his first two inventive products at Brimmer: the ALL-PACKA, designed to help people living in cities and riding on public transportation transport groceries, and the PLAYTE, a product aimed at reducing food waste. “As a student, Michael very much had a mindset of wanting to help others with his innovation,” said Lee. “He empathizes with people and wants to better people’s lives. You could say it was a foreshadowing of what would come later for him when building a company that saves lives.”

During Finn-Henry’s semester-long PLAYTE project, he and his team spent weeks weighing and documenting food waste.

They then crafted a series of five beautifully designed, 3D printed plates containing hidden messages about food waste and including a mini marble maze in the center. “The idea was that you couldn’t play the game until your plate was finished,” he recalled. Using the Dining Commons as his lab and Brimmer students as his test subjects, he recalled getting valuable feedback from our Lower School students eager to try the game. In fact, a current 9th grader in the audience remembered being one of those Lower School student testers back in 2017!

Hardman recalled teaching Finn-Henry in AP Physics as well as STEAM Lab, including the semester he built his own drone. He was juggling a challenging course load, performing in the musical, and speed climbing professionally on the side. “With so many commitments on your plate and a finite number of hours in a week, what kind of sacrifices did you have to make?” Hardman asked. Finn-Henry’s response was immediate. “I prefer the term priorities,” he replied. “It is less about sacrifice for me and more about prioritizing one thing over another.”

Igniting the Spark

Current

STEAM

Diploma Program

students had lunch with Finn-Henry prior to the Assembly and discussed their current projects with him. Curious about his company, they asked how he got his device into the marketplace. He explained that the FDA required answers to two very important questions: Will this device kill someone? and What is the likelihood of that happening? “My product, when used as intended, actually gives people a chance to live,” he said. But he admitted that, prior to college, he never fully understood the importance

of industrial design. His device required so many iterations to ensure it was accessible for all. “What started as a conversation with my fellow climbers led to emailing over 100 surgeons to ask them what problems needed fixing,” he said. “Only 10% responded, but you only need one idea to ignite that entrepreneurial spark!” And in a plug for the importance of art in the world (i.e., STEAM vs STEM), he shared with students that in the world of pitching ideas to funders, it is the people who present the best drawings who get the funding.

continued on page 8

A Rising Star

“Michael Finn-Henry, a rising star in the world of speed climbing, has taken an extraordinary journey to pursue his Olympic dream. Born in Massachusetts, Michael’s introduction to climbing was not driven by Olympic aspirations but by a need for therapy due to his dyslexia. Nevertheless, scaling walls quickly became his passion, and it transformed his life.

His ascent to excellence began when he competed for USA Climbing, making his debut on the Men’s US team in 2016. In 2017, he earned a bronze medal at the Youth World Championship in Innsbruck, competing in the under-20 category. The following year, Michael reached the finals at the prestigious Villars Men’s World Cup, securing 9th place in the world rankings for men.

While pursuing his passion for climbing, Michael was also dedicated to his academic pursuits. Throughout his university years, he excelled as the reigning US Collegiate National Champion for four consecutive years, founding the Vanderbilt University

Climbing Team, and being selected as a USA Climbing 2021 Collegiate Ambassador for his work. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and business, a testament to his commitment to excellence both on and off the wall.

In a significant career move, Michael transitioned from competing for the US team to representing Canada, leveraging his dual citizenship, despite having qualified first in the nation months earlier at the US national championship. The motivation behind this shift was the prospect of better training opportunities in British Columbia. His impact on the Canadian national team was immediate, as he swiftly rose to become the country’s highest-ranked speed climber.

One of Michael’s standout achievements was breaking the men’s national record twice, recording an astonishing time of 5.69 seconds at the 2022 Chamonix Men’s World Cup and further improving to 5.59 seconds at the 2023 Salt Lake City Men’s World Cup.

Beyond the climbing wall, Michael is a multifaceted individual. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at Harvard University, showcasing his dedication to academic excellence. Additionally, he runs a multimillion-dollar medical device company, a venture he initiated during his undergraduate studies.

Michael’s unique journey is a testament to his ability to overcome obstacles, whether scaling cliffs at breakneck speeds or tackling complex academic and entrepreneurial challenges. His remarkable combination of climbing prowess, engineering ingenuity, and determination is a promising sign for his World Class Journey.”

—Canadian Olympic Committee

Scaling Walls & Saving Lives

He went on to share his learning challenges, specifically growing up with dyslexia, and explained that his athletic training and academics had to co-exist in his life for him to be successful. “Speed climbing has always felt like an escape,” he admitted. “When I couldn’t focus on my homework, I would go to the gym to train. Once I got my body moving in that way, I was able to return to the work and get it done.”

When a student in the audience asked why he never considered becoming a full-time professional athlete, he didn’t hesitate. “The life of a professional athlete feels selfish to me,” he admitted. “If I win an athletic award, it is only benefitting me. But if I create a device that save lives, I am impacting millions.” Incidentally, when he was applying to colleges, his climbing did not factor into his decision. “I knew I needed to focus on engineering because wherever I landed, I could make the climbing happen.” Finn-Henry would go on to build that community for himself by starting Vanderbilt’s first climbing club. It was with several of his fellow Vanderbilt climbers that his company was launched.

It was only a matter of time before the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) came up. A student asked Finn-Henry about his approach to using AI in his busy life. As it turns out, Finn-Henry has developed many strategies for navigating a world with dyslexia, and AI is certainly one of them. “I find ChatGPT useful, but the reality is that you must be smarter than it,” he confessed. “You can’t rely on it 100% because you need to know how and when to correct the results.”

It was clear that Finn-Henry’s accomplishments have left a lasting impression on the Brimmer community. His entrepreneurial work, despite his dyslexia, has inspired others with neurodivergent profiles to continued from page 7

Opposite Top: Finn-Henry ’18 (L) breaks the Canadian national record in the men’s Speed qualification at the Villars 2022 IFSC World Cup (photo credit: Lena Drapella/ IFSC); Bottom: The EndoShunt Medical team includes two dual board-certified trauma and critical care surgeons. (L-R) Milad Behbahaninia MD, Michael Finn-Henry ‘18, Tyler Zanon, Jeremy Levin MD.

Finn-Henry ’18 (center) on the podium at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Vancouver, BC, in 2021.

(photo credit: Philip Quade)

understand the benefits of having a brain that learns differently. Finn-Henry has always taken what he perceived as a challenge and turned it into an asset. His ability to stay humble and grounded, considering his incredible achievements, was not lost on his audience, including both his mother and grandmother, who made the trip that day to hear him speak.

Based on the success of the event, we look forward to welcoming additional alumni back to Brimmer for future assemblies. ■

In May, Finn-Henry’s EndoShunt Medical team (at right) won the Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge grand prize, the highest honor for innovation at Harvard, naming them “the most impactful life sciences innovation at Harvard this year.” During the month of April alone, EndoShunt Medical won the Southwest National Pediatric Device Consortium Pediatric Device Prize,

the Baker Botts Legal Services Prize, and the David Anderson, Jon Finger, Greg Novak, and Tracy Druce Rice Business Plan Competition Investment Prize. Finn-Henry has also been named one of the finalists for the Chicago Engineering Excellence Award through the mHub Impact Fund.

spotlight on DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING

In the 2021-2022 school year, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Jessica Christian, along with fellow administrators, created the School’s first DEIB Strategic Plan. One of the goals articulated in the plan is to bring Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) to Brimmer to advance the School’s DEIB work. SEED is a national organization that is highly regarded for its high-level DEIB training for school and community leaders. Last summer, Jessica Christian and Lower School Drama Teacher & Lower School DEIB Facilitator Rachel Wolf Heyman attended SEED’s New Leaders Training for one week in Northern California. They have brought their training back to Brimmer and have been leading a SEED seminar with a group of dedicated Brimmer faculty and staff this year. We sat down with them to discuss SEED and the impact it has had on the Brimmer community.

Why bring SEED to Brimmer?

We are equipping educators and staff on campus with the skills to put into practice the goals that we articulated in our DEIB Strategic Plan and in our DEIB programming, which makes Brimmer a safer and more equitable place for our students and families. Over the last several years, Brimmer has committed to DEIB work in all corners of its community, from our Board of Trustees, which now has a DEIB Committee that meets regularly, to our professional development for faculty and staff, to our books in the library and the conversations we have with our students. To do all that work well, we need to have excellent training, and SEED is highly regarded among schools as one of the best DEIB programs available. We are not checking DEIB boxes at Brimmer. We are doing the work every day with thought and intention.

How do you decide who joins the SEED Seminar?

At the beginning of this school year, we presented to the full faculty and staff about our SEED training, which included leading our colleagues through a few of the SEED activities that we learned in California. Our presentation’s purpose was to introduce the idea of SEED to the community and to invite those interested to consider joining the yearlong seminar we offered. The seminar was entirely opt-in for our faculty and staff, and

Director of DEIB Jessica Christian (L) and Lower School Drama Teacher Rachel Wolf Heyman attend SEED training together in California in the fall of 2023.

we were pleased with how many colleagues expressed interest in participating. We have developed a series of 2- and 3-hour meetings that began last October and will run through the middle of June 2024.

How will SEED benefit the faculty and staff?

Our SEED seminar meetings, modeled after our summer training, focus on systems of power and oppression and our individual participation in and experience of them. The systems approach helps us understand the origins of our experiences within our different identities and allows us to share with each other and listen. Most of our conversations include a discussion of “windows and mirrors,” the concept of looking at a situation (sometimes a video, sometimes a story, sometimes art) and identifying what you can relate to in that situation as well as how you are gaining insight into another person’s perspective. That insight is one of the most impactful benefits of SEED. Spending time with identities different from your own and just listening is invaluable. With a student community as diverse as Brimmer’s, in all ways that a community can be diverse, it is essential that our teachers and staff spend time trying to connect with all aspects of that diversity.

How will SEED benefit the students?

One thing that educational research has shown is that when teachers take the time to truly embrace and connect with their students, not only as learners but as people, students are happier and perform better in school. In our SEED seminar, we have a group of educators and staff who are fully committed to welcoming in the diversity that our students bring to school each day. That “welcoming” extends beyond a student’s race, ethnicity, religion, or sexuality, for example. It also includes the impact and experiences that come with those students’ identities. It comes with cultural norms and home life values. It comes with neurodiversity and mental health nuances. When you truly welcome an entire person into your classroom or your work environment, you must be prepared to expand your sense of “standard” or “normal” to include something that is different from what your “standard” or “normal” may be. This is what SEED teaches. And when our students

share fully about themselves, they feel safe, happy, and free to learn. The differences still exist, but they get to exist freely and without fear of being judged.

What will be the overall impact on the community of having SEED at Brimmer?

When a program like SEED, which examines systems of power and oppression, is brought into a community like Brimmer, one of two things can happen: the knowledge gained can be used to shame people, or it can be used to gain clarity and to celebrate and enhance a community. We are doing the latter. In our seminar, we are doing self-reflective work that is helping us identify our own personal norms and biases so that we understand how we are impacting our community. At the same time, we are doing the “windows” work of learning about others’ lived experiences, and we are doing it with enthusiasm and eagerness to make shifts in our own professional practices

’’

professional careers. Ideally, we will have 2–3 more people trained over the next few years so that we can offer a SEED seminar every year at Brimmer. As we move forward, we may have different types of SEED groups, including one for parents/guardians or ones that include Board members. We would love to see SEED become part of the fabric of who we are.

As educators, what were your takeaways from SEED?

One of the wonderful things about SEED is that in addition to focusing on embracing others’ lived experiences, it requires introspective work so that you emerge from the training with an enhanced understanding of yourself and your place within different systems of power and oppression. That higher level of understanding has been an amazing gift because it has made us far more capable of leading a range of DEIB efforts at Brimmer, and we do it now with stronger skills of empathy, listening, connecting, and the

We are not checking

DEIB boxes at Brimmer.

We are doing the work every day with thought and intention.

that help create a more equitable environment at Brimmer. What this means is that we have a growing number of educators and staff who want to see human differences, celebrate them, and raise the bar for what is needed to make an environment safe for each of us to bring our authentic selves to Brimmer every day. This will not happen all day, every day, or 100% of the time. We are human, and we will make mistakes. But SEED teaches us how to make mistakes, clean them up, learn from them, and move forward. Over time, the positive impact will be tremendous for our community. We are seeing the shifts already.

What will SEED look like beyond this school year?

We currently have three SEED-trained faculty and staff and many others who have participated in a SEED seminar in their

ability to shift our thinking when necessary. More practically speaking, we know that some of the topics we need to pay more attention to as a community are indigeneity, socioeconomic diversity, and ability, to name a few. SEED has made the tasks ahead clearer and provided a roadmap for this critical work. ■

brimmer announces

capital campaign

The Building Our Tomorrow campaign launches with $25M already committed. $26M

By Elizabeth Smith P‘17, Director of Development

BRIMM R

BUILDING OUR TOMORROW

On May 10, the Brimmer community took part in a special day of celebration to kick off the Building Our Tomorrow campaign for Brimmer, with students and faculty from all three divisions of the School participating. During that celebration, Head of School Judy Guild shared some exciting news: “To date, we have made incredible progress,” she announced. “We have secured

commitments of more than $25 million and look forward to continuing to make progress so that we can begin the building process.”

The students enjoyed seeing the new building plans, hearing about the future, and receiving Building Our Tomorrow swag at their assembly!

The Board of Trustees approved the Building Our Tomorrow campaign in October of 2022. This campaign will fund both a new Recreation & Wellness Center and The Endowment for Faculty Compensation & Teaching Excellence.

It has already funded the Mugar Family Playground & Outdoor Learning Space as well as the Cummings Hall 4/5 Classroom Renovations. Addressing key challenges identified in the strategic plan, this campaign ensures a future of continued excellence for Brimmer as we emphasize an investment in health, wellness, faculty, and endowment.

Recreation & Wellness Facilities

The physical spaces where our community collaborates, competes, plays, and cares for one another support the educational,

social, emotional, and physical needs of our students. Health and wellness have long been a focus in all three divisions of the School, and the global pandemic revealed that while progress has been made on many fronts, significant investments are required in order to realize the School’s vision for excellence. This includes well-designed facilities that will elevate physical education, athletics, fitness, wellness programming, community gathering space, and additional classrooms.

continued on page 14

The campaign derives from initiatives identified in Brimmer’s

Strategic Priorities 2020 & Beyond

1. Continued development of innovative educational strategies

2. State-of-the-art athletics, physical education, and recreational facilities, and multi-use space

3. Commitment to competitive faculty compensation and diversity

4. Financial sustainability for Brimmer’s mission and purpose

Recreation & Wellness Center

The existing 8,880 sq. ft. Thompson Gymnasium was built in 1972 and houses one court, a limited spectator area, a small fitness center, and inadequate locker

rooms. It also lacks acceptable storage and appropriate spaces for Lower School Physical Education and gross motor activities. After the 2021 Campus Master Planning process with architects from Sasaki, Brimmer engaged the team to envision a 26,000 sq. ft. Recreation & Wellness Center. The new gymnasium will house one college-regulation

competition court and two practice/ competition courts, a multipurpose junior recreational space, two volleyball courts, 300seat bleachers that greatly increase spectator capacity (formerly 50), a state-of-the-art fitness room, locker rooms for both home and visiting teams, and training facilities.

FROM 8,000 SQ FT.

TO 26,000 SQ FT.

Fitness, Health & Wellness Suite

In addition to the state-of-the-art fitness room, the proposed building offers a suite of offices for athletic trainers, mental health and wellness counselors, the School nurse, the athletic director, and department staff. This coordinated approach to health and wellness will propel and shape the program’s future.

Multi-Use Classrooms

The new building will house four additional flexible classrooms for Middle and Upper School programming, providing the School with much-needed functional multi-use spaces to supplement the Hastings Center. These classrooms, combined with the new junior gym, will also address the need for a childhood movement space and a dedicated, accessible home for the Extended Day program.

Event & Community Spaces

The entrance to the new building will offer a showcase lobby that doubles as social and study space. An ideal location for students to gather throughout the day, the lobby will also be the perfect space for alumni functions and community events. Adjacent to the lobby, the flexible classrooms can be opened into larger rooms for alumni and Board meetings, smaller parent gatherings, and full grade activities. Combined with the 300-seat capacity gymnasium, this building will double Brimmer’s event and community space and offer locations for speakers, performances, exhibitions, and gatherings.

This space will transform the day-to-day experience of every Brimmer student and create a campus that works better for everyone. Connected to the Hastings Center, this new sustainably smart structure will become the cornerstone of the west end of campus, providing ample and thoughtfully designed space to elevate health and wellness programming, as well as enhance the athletic, physical, and wellness educational experience for Brimmer students of all ages.

Lower School Recreation & Learning Space Improvements

In the summer of 2020, the Mugar Family Playground & Outdoor Learning Space opened in the Lower School. This beautiful new outdoor space acts as a playground, outdoor classroom, bike track, water pumping station, garden laboratory, and outdoor theater, and has been nothing short of transformative.

In addition, the School spent the summer of 2022 modernizing and reconfiguring the classroom space in historic Cummings Hall that houses grades 4 and 5, making classrooms more spacious and modern and increasing the collaboration between those grades.

The School continues to focus on the expansion of the 4/5 interscholastic athletics program geared toward building teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership skills. The program marks the beginning of an athletics journey for students in their final two years of Lower School. The proposed multipurpose junior recreational space will support the physical education programming for our youngest students and the large gymnasium space will provide a more dynamic environment for our older Lower School students.

Endowment for Faculty Compensation & Teaching Excellence

Currently, Brimmer’s restricted endowment and invested funds total approximately $40 million. The endowment has grown significantly over the past five years. To continue to deliver on the School’s mission and support a diverse and vibrant school community, we direct our efforts to growing our endowment, which will alleviate pressure on the School’s operating budget and facilitate program enhancements. In turn, this will enable Brimmer to provide the resources we need to be competitive, appealing, and vital in the years to come.

At the heart of a Brimmer education and

Trustee

Lisa Hastings and Mark Hastings P

’18,

’18, ’19 donate lead $7 million gift for new Recreation & Wellness Center

When Mark and Lisa Hastings came to Brimmer as new parents in the fall of 2012, they got right to work as volunteers, supporters, and community members. Since then, Mark and Lisa’s three children, Matthew ’18, Michael ’18, and Emma ’19 have all graduated from college and are happily engaged in careers and graduate school, but the family has continued to actively support the School that was foundational to them all.

“Over the years, we have witnessed the unique and transformational educational and personal growth opportunities Brimmer provides to its diverse community of students,” they shared. “Despite our status as alumni parents, we continue to feel a strong connection to the School, its leadership team, and its teachers. This amazing facility will level up the athletic and wellness experience to match the rest of the School. Not to mention, we are becoming too old to watch basketball in a metal folding chair with a high risk of being taken out by a player or errant pass.“

Many thanks to the Hastings family for their continued belief in and support of Brimmer and May School.

At Left: Renderings of the new Recreation & Wellness Center, including (Clockwise from Top Right) the collegeregulation competition court, fitness center, and lobby. continued on page 16

experience is its faculty. Therefore, we must ensure that Brimmer will continue to attract and retain outstanding faculty while also rewarding teaching excellence and innovative ideas. Historically, Brimmer’s

for innovative ideas and programs. As part of this gift, Brimmer has committed to raising an additional $1 million to supplement the endowment, which will ensure continued growth and progress over time.

This space will transform the day-to-day experience of every Brimmer student and create a campus that works better for everyone. ’’

faculty salaries fell below comparable schools. A historic $5 million gift in 2020 established The Endowment for Faculty Compensation & Teaching Excellence, which has enabled our Board of Trustees to approve substantial increases in faculty salaries. By doing so, our faculty are now compensated above the mean of our peer institutions. We believe that this is critical to attracting and retaining the best faculty. This endowment supplements the operating budget to provide meaningful annual awards for faculty longevity and

Looking Ahead

Thanks to devoted supporters—including alumni, parents, alumni parents, trustees, foundations, and grandparents—we are confident that we can make rapid progress on securing the funds needed to build our new facility and add to the faculty endowment. You can find more details on the website by scanning the QR code to the right. Don’t hesitate to email me at esmith@ brimmer.org or call my office at 617-739-5289 with any questions. ■

Alumni Lead the Way in Supporting Faculty Endowment

When alumna Trustee Leslie Stimmel Guggiari ’73 was deciding how to support the campaign, she chose to match any alumni gift to The Endowment for Faculty Compensation & Teaching Excellence up to $250,000. Guggiari was inspired by faculty who made a difference during her time at Brimmer and May School, and she knew that other alumni would be inspired to ensure that future Brimmer faculty will always be compensated above the mean with other independent schools in the Boston market.

Since then, fellow alumna Trustee Kennie Bissell Grogan ’76 came

forward with a leadership donation to be matched. This, in combination with donations from the Class of 1973 50th Reunion gift (see page 73) and other alumna trustees, we added $510,000 to the endowment. Alumna trustees hope to inspire other alumni to continue to build on this progress. Some alumni are giving their donations in honor or in memory of Brimmer and May faculty members who made a significant impact on them as students.

Thank you to all our alumni who were inspired to add to The Endowment for Faculty Compensation & Teaching Excellence.

Grade 2 Teacher Talia Martino

Above: Renderings for the new Recreation & Wellness Center show both a proposed multi-use classroom (L) and a junior gymnasium space.

CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

CHRIS CHOU P ’29, ’33, BOARD CHAIR

SUZZARA DUROCHER P ’18, ’21, TRUSTEE

JON GRENZKE P ’31, TRUSTEE

KENYON BISSELL GROGAN ’76, TRUSTEE

LESLIE STIMMEL GUGGIARI ’73, TRUSTEE

LISA HASTINGS P ’18, ’18, ’19, TRUSTEE

DAVID KREISLER P ’17, ’19, ’23, TRUSTEE

TATYANA SOUZA P ’26, ’30

LINDA SHAPIRO WAINTRUP ’72, P ‘02, ‘06, TRUSTEE

JUDITH GUILD, HEAD OF SCHOOL

ELIZABETH SMITH P ’17, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

We Will Be the Change!

Collaborative book project highlights interdivisional benefits of our PK-12 community.

By Joshua Neudel P ’30, Head of Upper School

I n the spring of 2023, Brimmer held a March Madness-style bracket to choose the summer reading books for the Middle and Upper Schools. In this battle of the books, spearheaded by Director of Middle & Upper School Library Elyse Seltzer, students narrowed down the choices to four autobiographical titles focused on the iconic struggles and achievements of real-life protagonists: I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb; The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande; The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer; and One Life by Megan Rapinoe. With two versions of the books to choose from representing different developmental levels, we sent students off

for their summer reading with the goal of having combined activities for grades 6-12 upon their return.

By fall, students were revisiting their summer selections during an assembly period that had them in mixed Middle and Upper School groupings for book discussions through the lens of the schoolyear theme: Imagine. Question. Create. Student facilitators from AP English classes helped lead book-based discussion groups using a common protocol. Through this intergrade activity, all our students engaged in group discussions about each book. Students considered and shared their thoughts about the following statements:

Share an example of a moment from the summer reading where a character imagined a better circumstance.

Share an idea about what the characters needed to do to make those circumstances happen.

Share the word describing a characteristic that you think/feel is needed to create those better circumstances.

Where might your personal “best interest” enhance the community and where might it conflict with the community? How do we reconcile these conflicts?

“We wanted the students to have voice and choice in their summer reading, and it really

boosted their interest and engagement in the books they chose,” said Seltzer. “I had great conversations with students about what they read, and because it wasn’t limited by grade, some students read multiple books.”

In many ways, the summer reading activities are a representation of some of the best aspects of being in a PK-12 school. Through this interdivisional work, not only were students engaged in curricular ideas, but it also highlighted several of the benefits of being in a community such as Brimmer:

Our eldest students had an opportunity to practice facilitating group discussions, empowering them to lead in our community.

Our Upper School students were able to model what academic dialogue looks like, while also making it accessible for learners of different ages.

Our Middle School students provided perspectives that many high schoolers were not considering.

All our students had an opportunity to practice active listening skills while also having the space to share their thoughts.

During the academic year, we have many opportunities to gather as an entire School or engage in cross-divisional work that is often identified by our graduating class as a highlight of their Brimmer experience. This past fall was no exception.

The collaborative process continued in November as our students came together in small groups to complete a campus installation on our front fence, WE WILL BE THE CHANGE, organized by Director of Innovation & Design Kathryn Lee P ’32, ’34. Wooden plaques filled each letter in the phrase and described a quality that each student brings to better their community. All the plaques were intertwined and connected, reflecting the strength and support of the community, and solar-powered lights made them twinkle at night for passersby. “Thank you to all the Middle and Upper School students and faculty who worked together to complete this impressive and meaningful project,” said Lee. “It was thrilling to have this installation on display in front of the school.” ■

bissell grogan 19th annual humanities symposium

AI & Its Impact on Humanity

By Sue Cuyler, Director of Marketing & Communications

On January 16, the Brimmer community came together for our annual Bissell Grogan Humanities Symposium. Students in grades 8-12 gathered in the Ruth Corkin Theatre for a keynote address on AI & Its Impact on Humanity. Following the keynote, Upper School students participated in related workshops across diverse fields of interest, including film, medicine, education, and the arts, to name a few. “My family endowed this Symposium 19 years ago, and my father believed in as much student involvement as possible. He would be so appreciative that Brimmer has added students to the planning committee this year for the first time,” remarked Symposium namesake Kennie Bissell Grogan ’76. “The theme of AI was particularly topical this year, and keynote speaker and Brimmer parent Dr. Raja-Elie Abdulnour P ’29 explained the benefits and pitfalls of AI while connecting to this year’s School theme, Imagine. Question. Create. Thank you to everyone who served on the committee.”

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Raja-Elie Abdulnour P ’29

Beyond the Classroom: The Future of AI-Augmented Learning and Work

Introduced by Chloe Scolnick

’24

In the opening of his keynote address, Dr. Abdulnour P ’29 reminded students that the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) is continuously evolving as we learn more about large language models and their ability to effectively and accurately problem solve. “Perfection is the enemy of good,” he stated, referencing a well-known quote. “We are going to have an imperfect discussion about AI today.” To get students thinking about the safest way to use AI, Abdulnour explained the

differences between supervised learning (think Instagram) and unsupervised learning (think ChatGPT) in the creation and building of scripts. The examples he shared demonstrated not only the limitations involved but the inherent bias associated with both.

As a physician, Abdulnour relies on illness scripts but because supervised learning focuses on the input of human data, its ability to perpetuate bias is impossible to avoid. “Physicians find themselves better prepared to treat white patients due to the lack of non-white imagery in learning resources,” he shared. The key is to continuously question the data if we are to create lifelong AI co-learners. “We must learn to detect and mitigate bias and expect and anticipate errors, just as we would with human co-learners,” he said. ■

Opposite Page Top and Above: Dr. Raja-Elie Abdulnour P ’29 delivers the keynote address to Brimmer students during the Symposium; Opposite Page Bottom Left: Head of School Judy Guild opens the Symposium; Opposite Page Bottom Right (L-R): Director of Middle & Upper School Library and Symposium Co-Chair Elyse Seltzer, Head of School Judy Guild, Keynote Speaker Dr. Raja-Elie Abdulnour P ’29, Symposium Namesake Kenyon Bissell Grogan ’76, Upper School Humanities Teacher and Symposium Co-Chair Bradley Starr, Director of Development Elizabeth Smith P ’17.

Dr. Raja-Elie Abdulnour P ’29 is a physician, scientist, and educator with a profound commitment to advancing human health through medical education and innovation. A graduate of the American University of Beirut, his postdoctoral training spans Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Medical School. As the director of innovation and clinical reasoning at the New England Journal of Medicine , Dr. Abdulnour has developed several gamified educational software applications that teach doctors how to think. He is a Harvard-appointed faculty member of the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His research focuses on the mechanisms for inflammatory lung diseases and the application of machine learning for classifying diagnostic reasoning skills. Dr. Abdulnour is investigating the safe use of large language models in healthcare and medical education. He has been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including being named a Diagnostic Excellence Scholar by the National Academy of Medicine in 2023.

continued on page 22

Workshops

AI & Its Impact on Humanity

Call of Doctor Duty:

Diagnose and Treat Your AI Patient

Dr. Raja-Elie Abdulnour P ’29, Physician, Scientist, and Educator

Artificial Intelligence in Daily Life:

Harnessing the Power of AI to Work Smarter Every Day

Jesse Roberts, Founder of Unbound 360

The Promise and Pitfalls of AI for Visual Recognition

Jacob Prince, Harvard University Ph.D. Student

Filmmaking and AI

Shaun Clarke, Film Professor at Emerson College

AI and the Arts

Guilia Taurino, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate at Khoury College of Computer Sciences (Northeastern University)

How to Make AI Your Personal Tutor

Joshua Neudel P ’30, Brimmer Head of Upper School

Journalism in the Age of AI: Tools, Ethics, and Opportunities

David Cutler ’02, Brimmer History and Journalism Teacher

Searching for a Job in the Age of AI

John Tarbox, Managing Director and EVP of Beacon Hill Legal

Beyond the ChatGPT Essay:

How to Use AI to Improve Critical Writing Skills

Sarah Robertson, Tech Nonprofit Product Leader and Khan Academy Educator

Breaking Through Writer’s Block: Using AI Ethically, Effectively, and Creatively

Will Arndt, Brimmer Middle School Humanities Teacher

THE BISSELL GROGAN HUMANITIES SYMPOSIUM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2006 IN HONOR OF KENYON BISSELL GROGAN, FORMER CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND BRIMMER GRADUATE OF THE CLASS OF 1976. THE GOAL OF THE SYMPOSIUM IS TO BOTH EDUCATE AND ENGAGE STUDENTS IN RELEVANT TOPICS OF TODAY. AN ANNUAL EVENT ATTENDED BY STUDENTS IN GRADES 8-12, IT COMMENCES WITH A KEYNOTE SPEECH AND IS FOLLOWED BY WORKSHOPS THAT EXPLORE A DIVERSE RANGE OF SUBJECTS ON A CHOSEN TOPIC.

Bissell Grogan

Above Top: Shaun Clarke, Film Professor at Emerson College; Above Bottom: John Tarbox, Managing Director and EVP of Beacon Hill Legal;

Bissell Grogan

Above Top: History and Journalism Teacher David Cutler ’02; Above Bottom Left: Head of Upper School Joshua Neudel P ’30; Above Bottom Right: Guilia Taurino, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate at Khoury College of Computer Sciences (Northeastern University); Opposite Page Top: Middle School Humanities Teacher Will Arndt; Opposite Page Bottom Left: Jesse Roberts, Founder of Unbound 360; Opposite Page Bottom Right: Jacob Prince, Harvard University Ph.D. student.

Harvestfest

Our annual School-wide event celebrates fall in New England! 2023

brimmer in the school year 2023-2024

By Elizabeth Smith P’17, Director of Development

Looking back on the 2023-2024 school year, I am blown away by the Brimmer community and what we have accomplished together to advance the School and its mission.

The Alumni and Development Office worked closely with Head of School Judy Guild and the Board of Trustees as we put the finishing touches on Brimmer’s Strategic Priorities 2020 & Beyond. Some of the highlights include the DEIB Committee leading the way on SEED training for our faculty and staff (see pages 10-11) and announcing our Building Our Tomorrow campaign with more than $25 million already raised (see pages 12-17). This capital campaign will fund both a 26,000 sq. ft. Recreation & Wellness Center with additional classrooms as well as The Endowment for Faculty Compensation & Teaching Excellence.

It also incorporates the progress we have already made over the last few years, including the historic $5 million gift that established the faculty endowment, the Mugar Family Playground & Outdoor Learning Space, and the Cummings Hall 4/5 Classroom Renovations.

This transformative progress is the result of community members who believe strongly in the Brimmer and May School mission and

know that our School is worthy of investment in future students and faculty.

We are grateful to also be on track to reach our $1 million goal for the 2023-2024 Annual Fund with high levels of parent and alumni support. The Annual Fund remains our highest fundraising priority, touching every aspect of the Brimmer experience. This community continues to give our Board and Administration the flexibility to pivot and make

decisions that fund initiatives and programs schoolwide throughout the year. A strong Annual Fund affects all the most important aspects of the Brimmer experience for today’s students: faculty professional development, financial aid, classroom technology and materials, a well-maintained physical plant, a healthy and high-quality lunch program, and strong PE, athletics, and arts programs. Remember, you have until June 30 to contribute to the Annual Fund—all gifts count and all gifts matter.

Other highlights of the fall and winter, many of which are featured in this magazine, include a packed Homecoming on Orr Field, Board of Visitors Day, our Alumni Holiday Party, the 20th Anniversary of Coffee House, the 19th Annual Bissell Grogan Humanities

Symposium, the Speedway Community Celebration & Auction in April, and Alumni Day in May.

We traveled to New York and Florida to visit our alumni and catch up on what they are doing now. It is a common theme to hear about how their Brimmer education continues to impact their adult lives today.

Alumni Day has become even more dynamic over the last two years as we give out the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame awards, the Alumni Arts Awards, and the Alumni Recognition Award at the event. These awards are chosen by Alumni Association Committee members who work hard to solicit nominations and vote on choices each year.

Brimmer Alumni and Development Office, including (L-R) Director of Alumni Affairs & Special Events Amanda Eppers ’88, P ’22, Director of Annual Giving Sharin Russell, Advancement Associate Mark Sehnert, and Director of Development Elizabeth Smith P ’17.

Finally, I would like to thank alumni Trustee Leslie Guggiari ’73, who has worked tirelessly with the development office and the Board of Trustees on a 3-5 year Alumni Strategic Plan. This plan, to be launched during the next School year, is such an important focus for the School’s goals for

the future and its lifelong ties with our alumni.

Thank you to all our alumni, parents, alumni parents, trustees, and grandparents who support our School and stay connected out of gratitude and a belief in the power of a Brimmer and May education. ■

HOMECOMING

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER ENDED THEIR SEASON WITH AN 8-6 RECORD. WHILE THEY LOST IN THE IGC PLAYOFFS, IT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE SEASON FOR THIS TEAM!

FALL AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Sophia Horning ’25

Varsity Girls Soccer

IGC All-League

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention

Alexa Dykeman ’27

Varsity Girls Soccer

IGC League All-Star

NEPSAC All-Star

Hadley Reardon ’27

Varsity Girls Soccer

IGC League All-Star

Anson Mancebo ’24

Varsity Boys Soccer

MBIL All-Star

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention

Chris Myers ’24

Varsity Boys Soccer

MBIL All-Star

NEPSAC Senior All-Star

Oliver Baggett ’24

Varsity Boys Soccer

MBIL All-Star

NEPSAC Senior All-Star

Ryan Hurst ’25

Varsity Boys Soccer

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention

Rimon Zhao ’27

Varsity Boys Cross Country

MBIL All-Star

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention

Isaac Morris ’26

Varsity Boys Cross Country

MBIL All-Star

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention

Sam Gavin ’25

Varsity Boys Cross Country

MBIL All-Star

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention

Huck Jennings ’25

Varsity Boys Cross Country

MBIL All-Star

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM, WHO PLACED 2ND IN MBIL AND 5TH IN DIVISION 4 NEPSTA (BEST STANDINGS IN BRIMMER XC HISTORY)!

BOYS VARSITY SOCCER ENTERED THE NEPSAC TOURNAMENT AS 7TH SEED IN THE FALL. WHILE THEY LOST IN THE QUARTERFINALS, THEY HAD A GREAT RUN!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CURLING TEAM FOR SWEEPING ALL FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISIONS IN THE ANNUAL BONSPIEL FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL HAD A GREAT 2ND YEAR, ENDING THEIR FIRST FULL SEASON WITH AN 8-2 RECORD FILLED WITH SOME TRULY EXCEPTIONAL WINS!

CONGRATULATIONS TO VARSITY I BOYS BASKETBALL FOR MAKING IT ALL THE WAY TO THE NEPSAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN MARCH. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE SEASON FOR THIS YOUNG TEAM! WE WILL MISS ANDRE MILLS AND BRYCE RUGLASS DORTCH, WHO WILL BE PLAYING D1 BASKETBALL AT TEXAS A&M AND RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, RESPECTIVELY (SEE PAGE 44)!

student-athletes commit to ncaa division I universities

In January, the Athletics Department held a celebratory ceremony during Middle and Upper School Morning Meeting to recognize two members of the Class of 2024 who have committed to NCAA Division I basketball programs. Andre Mills ’24 will attend Texas A&M in the fall while Bryce Ruglass Dortch ’24 will attend Rutgers University. During the ceremony, Athletic Director Tom Nelson spoke to these student-athletes’ achievements and character and wished the athletes the best of luck next year as they compete at the highest level in collegiate athletics. “The dedication required to commit and sign to prestigious institutions like Texas A&M and Rutgers, known for their rich academic and athletic traditions, demands immense sacrifice and determination,” said Nelson. “I take great pride in having had the opportunity to coach both of these outstanding young men. I will miss them tremendously.”

Clockwise from Top Left: Bryce Ruglass Dortch ’24 celebrates his commitment to Rutgers University with family members; Andre Mills ’24 celebrates his commitment to Texas A&M with family members; Athletic Director Tom Nelson welcomes the Brimmer community to the commitment ceremony.

Winter Alumni Gatherings

New York, NY

We had a wonderful night catching up with our fantastic alumni at our annual New York City gathering! Front Row (L-R): Marlee Giglio ’10, Amalia Ali ’20, Head of School Judy Guild, Nathaniel Friedman ’16. Back Row (L-R): Creative Arts Department Chair Bill Jacob P ’06, Michael Laskaris ’07, Anja Westhues ’20, S am Eigerman ’19, Holly Eaton ’09, Director of Development Elizabeth Smith P ’17, Mahlet Woldemariam ’95, Director of Alumni Affairs & Special Events Amanda Eppers ’88, P ’22.

Palm Beach, FL

We had a fabulous luncheon in Palm Beach with our alumni friends. Front

Leslie

An amazing dinner was had by all!

Row (L-R): Samantha Strauss Hanman ’02,

Fitzgerald Fallon ’66, Head of School Judy Guild. Back Row (L-R): Linda Shapiro Waintrup ’72, Director of Alumni Affairs & Special Events Amanda Eppers ’88, P ’22, Director of Development Elizabeth Smith P ’17, Carol Tesone Croffy ’67.

Michael Laskaris ’07 catches up with Creative Arts Department Chair Bill Jacob P ’06

(L-R) Director of Development Elizabeth Smith P ’17, Director of Alumni Affairs & Special Events Amanda Eppers ’88, P ’22, and Mahlet Woldemariam ’95

alumni holidayparty

Assistant Head of Lower School Courtney McGillicuddy ’89, Garth Coombs, Director of Upper School Admissions Mallorie Nai, Former Head of Lower School

Thomas Fuller

Former Trustee Dolores Wesley P ’01 (R) with Allen Wesley

Class of 2024 with Head of School Judy Guild

Former Head of Lower School Admissions

Ellen Foley and husband Jack Murphy

Middle & Upper School Music Teacher

Max Holman with Greenline

Trustee Rich Mynahan P ’19, Joe Levinger P ’19, Elizabeth Murphy P ’19, Trustee John Allen III P ’12, Michelle Levinger ’19

Audrey Pontiff ’24, Ruby Cohen-Weinberg ’25, Maya Lownie ’24, Zoe Hicks-Dutt ’24.

Jacob Quiles ’16 with Mark Hastings P ’18, ’18, ’19

Lower School Fall Community Performance

This year’s performance was inspired by the theme of cities and neighbors. During the fall semester, Lower School Creative Arts classes revolved around a diverse range of literature that influenced the art, music, drama, dance, stories, and poetry that our students shared on stage. Grade 4 created original theater based on the book The Spaces In Between by Jaspreet Kaur. The book’s illustrations by Manjit Thapp inspired our fourthgrade artists to create their own cityscape images to serve as the backdrop on the stage during the performance.

Middle School Play This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing

The play is about three triplet sisters who are abandoned in the woods by their parents. The story follows the girls from their childhood into their late adulthood, each taking a unique journey. “The Middle School really likes working together; it has been a fun process,” said Director Caitlin Johnson. “The most important goals are to have fun and develop a love for theater. Hopefully they’ll enjoy their time after school and want to do more shows.”

—Grayson Taffe, Journalist

for The Gator

Upper School Play She Kills Monsters

The play tells the tale of Agnes, a high school senior coming to terms with her sister’s tragic death. “This is a very current play,” Director Bill Jacob said. “It’s been really popular in high schools around the country, and I’m excited we’re giving it a try. It’s a heavy lift for us, with lots of stage combat, special effects, and puppets. So many puppets! It’s really like nothing we’ve ever produced before.”

—Elle Stangle, Journalist for The Gator

Winter Band Concert

Instrumental & General Music Teacher Alex Ostergard leads their Middle and Upper School student musicians through a wonderful January performance

20 Years of

coffee house

a coffee house circles: turns 20

By Bill Jacob P ’06, Creative Arts Department Chair

The Circles: A Coffee House tradition may have celebrated a landmark 20th anniversary in January, but the Coffee House tradition at Brimmer and May School goes back even further. Former Creative Arts Chair Martha Donaldson regularly sponsored Coffee Houses throughout the 1980s and 1990s, sometimes more than once a year. They were more spontaneous events in those days, often thrown together when the Arts Department felt the community needed a lift or a break from the winter doldrums. Following Martha’s departure, the Coffee House events lapsed for a time, until Upper School History Teacher Ted Barker-Hook P ’23 initiated their return. He dreamed up the name Circles: A Coffee House with

the added parenthetical, A Celebration of Community, Reunion, and Peace.

Enlisting the support (and equipment!) of me and former Music Teacher Landon Rose, it was Barker-Hook’s idea to pin the Coffee House date on the first Thursday back from winter break. His thinking was that recent graduates would still be home from college and able to attend, and in the early days of these Coffee House events, there were often more alumni than current students in attendance. Over time, though, word of the Coffee House vibe began to spread, and attendance has grown every year. There is still an element of spontaneity in the event; hosts are often chosen at the last minute and rosters of

performers are tweaked on the fly. Sadly, our documentation of the early events was spotty. But everyone who attended those first Coffee House evenings remembers them fondly. Watching the Barker-Hook children grow older with each passing Coffee House, witnessing the performance art of former Administrative Assistant Virginia Beech and her collaborators, and gathering with friends old and new in the dead of winter have made Circles: A Coffee House a truly unique community celebration in the Brimmer Creative Arts calendar. ■

Inset Left: Vision realized! Creative Arts Department Chair Bill Jacob P ’06 (L) and Upper School History Teacher Ted BarkerHook P ’23 performing at their inaugural Coffee House in 2005; At Right: Rachael Rosenberg ’27; Opposite Top: Master of Ceremonies Alex Mael ’08 with his daughter; Opposite Middle (L-R): Kyle Terino ’24, Ady Jaeckel ’24, Arushi Mutha ’28, Aryaa Mutha ’26; Opposite Bottom: Humanities Co-Chair Kelly Neely (L) and Director of Middle & Upper School Library Elyse Seltzer.

Coffee House

community flocks to

circles 20

Rachael Rosenberg ’27, Journalist for The Gator

The following article was written this winter for The Gator , Brimmer’s student-run newspaper.

The Hastings Dining Commons overflowed with enthusiastic attendees as the School celebrated the 20th anniversary of its beloved Circles: A Coffee House event on Friday evening.

Initiated by co-organizers Ted BarkerHook P ’23 and Creative Arts Department Chair Bill Jacob P ’06 two decades ago, Circles evolved into a cherished tradition, embodying its slogan of “a celebration of community, reunion, and peace.”

Alex Mael ’08, the event’s host, had not returned to a Circles gathering since his college days. During the event, he entertained the crowd with a parody of “What a Wonderful World,” originally by Sam Cooke, playfully incorporating the names of his former teachers.

“To be asked 15 years later to come in and host was pretty cool,” Mael said. “When you think about it, 20 years is a long time to be doing something. This time, it was nice having my daughter there.”

Over the years, Circles has served as a platform for students, faculty, and their families to showcase their talents

and foster a sense of community here. Faculty and students from all divisions of the School graced the stage with their performances.

“We’ve never had more people attend, and we’ve never had more people perform,” Barker-Hook said. “A record number of alums and former faculty and staff came back to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the event with us, and current students showed up in a big way. And the conversion of the Dining Commons to a warm Coffee House feel was smoother and more successful than I’ve ever seen it. The night was wonderful in every way.”

Current student Kyle Terino ‘24 expressed his admiration, saying, “I thought the Coffee House was really, really awesome and I appreciated all of the performances—especially from new students who hadn’t performed before.”

Upper School Senate President Baden Howard ’24 was equally enthralled by the event. “It was fantastic to see a lot of people show off their talents,” Howard said. “The alumni element made for a really unique experience, and the slideshow was a great look at the past.”

Reflecting on the journey of Circles over the past two decades, Barker-Hook said that some performances over the years stand out to him for different reasons.

“Of course, the first Circles was special because we got this idea of ours off the ground and received a wonderful response from the community, which started us on the two-decade journey we celebrated last Friday,” Barker-Hook said.

Clockwise from Top Left: Ford Biederman ’30 (L) and Fischer Biederman ’28; Tyler Stefanon ’24; Maddie Pogoda ’25; Former Administrative Assistant Virginia Beech (L) with Creative Arts Department Chair Bill Jacob P ’06; Middle & Upper School Science Teacher Nia Gipson; Sophia Spring ’22 (L) and Zakkai Mares-Van Praag ’22; Maya Lownie ’24; Shane Sager ’12 (Center) with friend and Head of School Judy Guild (R); Humanities Co-Chair Don Reese

Holiday Concert

Thank you to the Upper School Ensemble, 4th & 5th Grade Chorus, May Chorale, Greenline, and Faculty and Staff Choir for their beautiful December performance. What a joyful way to celebrate the season!

award-winning artists

We join the Creative Arts Department in congratulating the following artists for receiving coveted 2024 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. We are so proud of these recipients, as well as everyone who submitted work to this highly competitive contest. Brimmer artists are doing amazing things!

—Kathryn Lee P ’32, ’34, Director of Innovation & Design Middle & Upper School Art Teacher

Aryaa Mutha, An Artificial Overgrowth Gold Key Ceramics

Aryaa Mutha, A Reflective Vision Silver Key Photography

Aryaa Mutha, ICU Honorable Mention Ceramics

Caleb Meranus, Grand Junction Double Honorable Mention Photography

Eli Lewis, Steampunk Plague Doctor Mask Honorable Mention Sculpture

Jazzy Lang, Dog Portrait Honorable Mention Photography

Eli Lewis, Vintage Marbled Pot Gold Key Ceramics

Conno Wagner, Push Honorable Mention Photography

Lucas Williams, A Quiet Moment Gold Key Photography

family skating night

What a great turnout we had for this beloved annual event at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, MA!

temple fair winter 2024

Celebrating Chinese culture and the Year of the Dragon with arts and crafts, games, and prizes.

board of visitors day

Imagine. Question. Create.

What a wonderful time we had welcoming our Board of Visitors (BOV) back to campus this past fall. Members of our BOV, including former trustees and staff, alumni, parents, educators, and friends, were treated to student panel discussions, a keynote address from Head of Upper School Joshua Neudel P ’30 and Middle School Humanities Teacher Will Arndt, and a beautiful performance from Greenline, Brimmer’s award-winning Upper School student choral ensemble. “Board of Visitors Day was wonderful,” said Director of Development Elizabeth Smith P ’17. “Our guests enjoyed learning about AI in education during the keynote, and they relished interacting with current students about Brimmer today. Thank you to all of them for staying informed and engaged with our School.”

Teaching & Creative Thinking in the Age of AI: Taking a Transformative Approach

Joshua Neudel P ’30, Head of Upper School Will Arndt, Middle School Humanities

Following a brief history of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including early chatbots that have evolved thanks to machine learning advancements, Head of Upper School Joshua Neudel P ’30 and Middle School Humanities Teacher Will Arndt walked our guests through recent advancements in the field of AI and how to find the balance between academic integrity and academic misconduct. ■

Lower School

Thank you to our fabulous Lower School presenters who shared their classroom work with our guests and explained how their projects tie to our School-year theme of Imagine. Question. Create.

Middle School

Middle School History Teacher Parker Curtis shared our Grade 8 Humanities Capstone Project, entitled Ambassadors for Social Change. Students focus on a leader of their choosing who has made a positive impact on a community in history or the present day. During this interdisciplinary project, students research their chosen person in detail during history class, use images to create a comic/graphic biography in English, and create a monument using 3D modeling in Creative Arts. Finally, students showcase their research and artistic creations in an exhibition.

Upper School

Director of Innovation & Design

Kathryn Lee P ’32, ’34 and Upper School Math Teacher Rupa Houndegla P ’21, ’26 shared the wonderful benefits of a PK-12 school as they explained their collaboration between geometry and PK. After visiting our PK friends in their classroom to ask what their dream birdhouses might look like, our Upper School students used geometry concepts and a CAD platform to make these dreams a reality. These beautiful birdhouses, crafted using the Glowforge laser cutter in our Makerspace, hang in the Lower School Organic Garden.

Class Notes

1945

Doreen Gove ’45 is founder and first president of Glendale Heritage Preservation (GHP) in Glendale, Ohio. She is considered a visionary and a preservationist, and for the last 49 years Doreen has been a trustee of this preservation group. This initiative began when Doreen heard plans that Cincinnati Bell would demolish a historic property to expand the telephone exchange. Though she was not successful in saving the house, Doreen established the GHP to establish Glendale as a recognized historic community. After collaboration with state and local governments, Glendale was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Doreen was recently acknowledged at GHP’s 50th anniversary celebration of the organization’s accomplishments over a half a century.

1948

Mary Jo (Goggin) Hopkins

“I am now 93+ and enjoying a friendly CCRC here in Florida, where it has been cold for us: 55 degrees! Our beloved husband and father, “EE” Erskine Hopkins, died in February 2022, and he is sorely missed. He was the epitome of a true Southern gentleman from Birmingham, AL. Keeping active here but slowed up a bit by bone-onbone legs. I am considered a bit beyond the age limit for knee replacement surgery. May not tap dance but sure love to walk. Hope all is well at Brimmer and May. We loved gym in the basement in the old days! Keep up the good work and have a wee church service at the beginning of the school day or is that not done anymore? How times have changed!”

1958

Catherine Spinale Rieger

“Hello and best wishes to all! LOVE to hear about all of you!”

1965

Diana Clark Crookes

“I still live in Saratoga, NY. Barbara (Barbie) Chandler ’65 now lives here, too. We see each other quite often; she hasn’t changed a bit— full of energy! Barbie is a wonderful cook, I am not!”

(L-R) Tyler Stefanon ’24, Oliver Baggett ’24, Angela Baggett P ’24, John Stefanon P ’24, Michael Gackstetter P ’24

Doreen Gove ’45 in 1975 when she founded the Glendale Heritage Preservation.

Doreen Gove ’45 (L), with GHP President Martin Sinnott in November 2023, receiving an award for her many years as trustee and trustee emerita.

1966

Bette Banquer Fredrickson

“I have lived on my New Hampshire farm for 51 years. I’m retired after 38 years of teaching high school. I retired as a volunteer EMT last year and was honored at the town meeting. I still have horses and lead an active life. The only new and exciting thing I did was help count ballots by hand after the NH primary. Hi to all.”

1967

Sandra Feinzig Bloomenthal

“I am still practicing law after 36 years as an attorney. Enjoying our family. Robert and I have been married 52 years. We have two sons and two grandsons.”

1970

Diane Lurie Berg-Milioto

“After a 50-year career as a Reform Jewish educator and Director of Education, I retired to devote more time to genealogy and adventures. I was married to my second husband Paul in 2021. Because of COVID meeting limitations, we had two wedding receptions five days apart! Last summer, we met up with Diane Pierce-Williams ’70 in Boston and, after 53 years, had reunions with Jill Gronich Smith ’70 in Maine and

Class of 1973 Contributes 50th Anniversary Gift to Endowment

The Class of 1973, led by Reunion Chairs Jane Crocker ’73, Trustee Leslie Stimmel Guggiari ’73, and Pamela Fitzpatrick Olah ’73, reports that it was a record-breaking 50th reunion with 15 of 21 total classmates returning to campus in May 2023. Classmates came from as far away as California and North Carolina, many for the first time since graduation. Former Humanities Teacher Perry Russell joined the group for a special tour of campus by current Brimmer students.

We want to recognize this group for contributing their 50th Reunion Class Gift to the Endowment for Faculty Compensation & Teaching Excellence, established in 2020 with an historic $5 million gift. This endowment has been responsible for a 34% increase in faculty salaries since it was established. As a stipulation of this original gift, Brimmer is required to add $1 million to that endowment. The Class of 1973 understands that Brimmer knows first-hand the impact of Brimmer faculty during their time and in the future, and it is fitting that alumni have led the charge in adding to this critical faculty endowment. Former teacher Marilyn Wilson Edgerton was one of the educators recognized by this gift. “I was so touched by the class gift in my honor. I am the one who is honored,” she wrote. “I am sorry I couldn’t make the reunion; the pictures were great and brought back many happy memories.”

continued on page 74

Barbara Chandler ’65 (L) and Diana Clark Crookes ’65 in Saratoga, NY

Members of the Class of 1973 at a luncheon during Alumni Day 2023.

Class Notes Cont’d

from page 73

Vida “Nicky” Richardson Butterfield ’70 in New Hampshire. What joy! Paul and I have a second home in Vermont near my grandchildren, so my life as a septuagenarian is pretty good!”

Carrie Weyerhaeuser Farmer

“I am retired from nursing and running a therapeutic riding program. Enjoying family time, doing artwork, still caring for small animals (one dog presently). Hope to travel again, soon!”

1971

Elizabeth (Lilly) Heckman Cleveland

“I am still working part-time as a genealogist and have clients throughout the country. My watercolor painting is shown at the Guild of Boston Artists. I am a Signature Member, New England Watercolor Society. My family lives within 10 minutes, so I can help in their busy lives. We have two grandchildren, Macartney, 4, and Olive, 2. They attend a private school here and have their own schedules! My husband Mark is retired and really enjoys restoring antique British cars. Mine is a 1976 Austin-Healey Sprite, which is the same model car I drove for a while following my years at Brimmer! We attend regional car shows together. We cruised

Norway, Scotland, and England last summer with friends. I remember Brimmer fondly— delicious lunches, beautiful campus, and great teachers!”

1974

Eleanor Hoey Bright

“I stayed in Dover for the winter. My son and his wife just had their first baby and I wanted to stay local! His name is Clark Samuel Nicholas Bright, and he was born on December 19, 2023. His middle names honor both of his grandfathers. Everyone is happy and healthy, and Nicholas and Allie are thrilled, as am I!”

1975

Frances Fremont-Smith

“I became a grandmother (Nai Nai) on November 28, 2023. Little Maylin Ann Jia was born to my son Eliot and his wife Amy in Chicago. The baby is thriving, and we can’t wait to spend more time with her this summer.”

1980

Lyrae Johnson

“Nothing exciting going on with me. Just trying to swat away all the stuff the Age Fairy keeps lobbing at me, stay gainfully employed for more than two years at a time, and find

IN MEMORIAM

BARBARA SAGE BARUS

MARSHALL B ’39 *

JANE LARSON ‘42

SYLVIA-JANE (SJ) WHITTEMORE FOULKROD ’43

BARBERIE VAN VALEY ’44

JOYCE TIEMANN ‘46

ELIZABETH FRENCH BAUD ’49

MARY-JANE DEMPSEY EGAN ‘50

MONA DUGGAN NESBITT ’51

CLARE L. DEMILA ’52

DEBORAH DOGGETT AREY ’52

SUSAN DAVENPORT PEIRCE ‘53

WENDY THORSEN GIFFORD ’53

GLENDA DANZIGER REINGOLD ’56

BARBARA WIDETT ALTMAN ’59

Frances Fremont-Smith ’75 with her granddaughter.

the good news in all the bad news that is out there. Coming up on the Class of 1980 45th reunion in 2025. Looking forward to seeing my classmates and all the amazing people that keep Brimmer and May going.”

1989

Rebecca Yood

“My father passed away on September 12, 2022, and my best friend of eight years passed away on March 9, 2023. I still live in Lynn, MA, and have for 18 years. My niece, Isabella, graduated from the University of Rhode Island on May 20, 2023. She majored in business but then changed her major to public relations. She’ll be 23 years old in March. I’m very, very proud of her. She was even on the Dean’s List while she was a student at URI.”

Stephanie Brown Iannone ’97 with son John Luca.

1997

Stephanie Brown Iannone

“Our light, John Luca (7), has brought so much happiness, along with our new puppy Bostonia, known as “the Boss.” Grammy Brown has enjoyed family time with her grandson and pup as they love her dearly. Trips to Boston became a routine to escape the summer heat in North Carolina and enjoy our favorite city, along with visits to Cape Cod, Maine, and New Hampshire. JL enjoyed camps at Brimmer and BCS. We continue to live in North Carolina, where the weather and people are warm and bright. Grammy is well for almost turning 88 years. JL is advanced in first grade. He loves school, his neighborhood, friends, and sports (especially the Celtics), playing soccer, baseball, and swimming. We continue to do taekwondo together as mama and son ninjas.”

1998

Nicole DeTore

“My two boys are now attending Brimmer! I am a psychologist (Ph.D. in clinical psychology) at MGH and just received a large National Institute of Mental Health research grant to develop and test an intervention to prevent severe mental illnesses in high school students.”

2004

Katya d’Angelo

“In November, I was named a 2023 Rising Star by Vermont Business Magazine. Each year, this award recognizes 40 Vermont professionals under the age of 40 for excellence and contributions in both their work life and their community involvement. In October, I celebrated three years owning the bookstore Bridgeside Books in Waterbury, VT, and I would love to see Brimmer friends pop in if they’re in the area!”

2007

Michael Laskaris

“I got married last June! And I renovated and moved into a new apartment on the Upper West Side. I am going on year four at Sotheby’s, where I manage all domestic and international logistics for Global Fine Art.”

2009

Brendan Rollins

Brendan has returned to Brimmer as our assistant coach for the Girls Varsity Basketball team.

20

10

Kerrie Bourque Jacoby

“I had a baby girl named Harper in July. She is six months old now and as cute as ever.”

Deanna Soukiasian

Deanna has recently moved back to New England and is living in Connecticut. She is the editor at Scout Comics and Entertainment. She also teaches on the

weekends at the Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts in Boston as their comics instructor.

2012

Corey Murphy

“I’m getting married and have a new job! Our wedding is September 2024 in Newton, and I will be having Brimmer alumni as my bridesmaids, including Ali Fisher ’12, Jaye Giglio ’12, Kaleigh Marcotte ’12, and Kaitlin Murphy ’17. I am currently working at a real estate tech startup called Apartment Advisor.”

Shane Sager

“In 2023, I traveled to over 35 countries on the My Songs Tour and played over 200 shows for millions of people. I am currently back in Boston teaching harmonica, writing my first book, and about to get a new puppy at the end of February.”

Note from the Brimmer Alumni Office: Thank you, Shane, for coming back to campus for the 20th Anniversary of Coffee House. It was great to see you play with Mr. J and Mr. Barker-Hook (see pages 56-61).

Right: Mario Kula ’09 (L) with Brendan Rollins ’09 and Brendan’s son Jordan.

Kerrie Bourque Jacoby ’10 with husband and new daughter. continued on page 76

Class Notes Cont’d

page 75

2015

Genevieve Lefevre

“I am still with Asha and at Disneyland Paris. Right now, there’s a new show called “A Million Splashes of Color” that Asha is in as well. It’s a parade in the park and is a celebration of Disney’s 100 years of animation.”

2016

Julie Blazar

“I am a second-year law student (2L) at Villanova Law School in Philadelphia. I recently got engaged to my partner, and we will be getting married sometime after law school is over. I also adopted two bunnies last April who help me stay sane during stressful times in the school year.”

Nate Freidman

We recently caught up with Nate at our alumni event in New York City (see page 45), and he shared the following: “I make content about famous people and get three million views a week on TikTok. My followers grew from 0 to 1 million subscribers on YouTube in four months. Follow me on TikTok @ shanifamous.”

Jimmy Yfantopulos

“I moved to Chicago two years ago upon graduation from Colgate. I am living in Lincoln Park and working as an industrial real sstate broker.”

2017

Liam Johansson

After graduating from Brimmer, Liam went to Skidmore and majored in psychology. He is finishing his master’s degree in mental health counseling from Boston Graduate School in Psychoanalysis. He just started his first job as a therapist at Brandon Residential Treatment Center in Natick, a residential treatment center for boys with moderate to severe mental health challenges.

Wanghao (Charles) Li

“I just graduated from Brandeis International Business School with a dual master’s degree in business and finance. I am so excited to see where my acquired knowledge and skills will take me next! Meanwhile, I am preparing to return to running shape to train for a potential Boston Marathon qualifier race.”

2018

Dylan Rigol

Currently graduate assistant/director of video for the Oregon State University Men’s Basketball Team, Dylan crossed paths with basketball legend and PAC 12 Network TV commentator Bill Walton recently in Oregon. Dylan was formerly the head student manager for High Point University’s Men’s’ Basketball Team and was invited to join the Beavers staff last fall. In February, when Oregon State played UCLA and USC in Los Angeles, Dylan was given some fan support by Brimmer alums Gabe Bryan ’19, Matthew Hastings ’18, Justin Ewing ’19, and Grant Iuliano ’18.

Peng Zhang

“I recently graduated from USC with a master’s degree in data analytics. I’m also starting a new position as a data analyst with the Houston Rockets. It’s an exciting step in my career, and I’m looking forward to applying what I learned in the world of professional basketball. Thanks for all the support during my time at Brimmer; it was invaluable. I also want to extend a special thank-you to Mr. Hardman, Mr. Iuliano, Mrs. Jia, and Mrs. Houndegla for all their support and encouragement during my years at Brimmer. Their guidance and care have been pivotal in my academic and professional development.”

(L-R) Peng Zhang ’18, Quan (Freddie) Yu ’18, and Tiancheng (TC) Ye ’19 (seen here with Director of Alumni Affairs & Special Events Amanda Eppers ’88, P ’22) recently stopped by campus to visit with our current international students.

Genevieve Lefevre ’15 (L) at Disneyland Paris

2019

Tiancheng (TC) Ye

TC recently returned to campus to visit with Ms. Du’s students from China. He graduated from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and is now running his own business, which promotes young artists.

2020

Amalia Ali

“In addition to being a full-time student at NYU, I am a new birth doula! I am working on my birth doula certification through DONA International, and I am looking for mothers who would like a doula for their births. I am aiming to provide affordable services to expectant mothers and families. Please feel free to inquire via Facebook or email (amaliaalidoula@gmail.com).

I also have a profile on DoulaMatch.net for the

Boston area. I look forward to hearing from you all and feel free to share my information with mothers you know who are expecting! I am also working with women as a postpartum doula as well.”

Hannah Ahearn

“I studied abroad in Barcelona in fall of ’22 and am moving to NYC upon my graduation from Trinity College in 2024 to begin my job at Citibank.”

Brimmer Community Celebrates after Coffee House 20th Anniversary

Baramor in Newton, MA. Front Row (L-R): Director of Middle & Upper School Library Elyse Seltzer, Victoria Foster ’12, Jaye Giglio ’12, Shane Sager ’12; Second

R):

Department Chair Nancy Bradley, Ali Fisher ’12; Third Row

Erin Bradley,

of

&

Amanda

’88, P ’22, Lauren Carroll, Runeko’s friend Abby, Former Faculty Cindy Pendergast, Emay Allmendinger ’03, Upper School Humanities Teacher Don Reese, Former Faculty Landon Rose; Back Row (L-R): Upper School Science Teacher Chris Hardman, Emily Pendergast Laverack ’04, Runeko Lovell ’03, Upper School History Teacher Ted Barker-Hook P ’23, Creative Arts Department Chair Bill Jacob P ’06, Former Faculty Liz Perry, Luke Patton ’03, Middle & Upper School Music Teacher Max Holman, Alex Mael ’08, Director of Development Elizabeth Smith P ’17, Former Faculty Jan Sidebotham. For more on the Coffee House 20th Anniversary, see pages 56 - 61.

Dylan Rigol ’18 (L) with basketball legend Bill Walton in Oregon.

(L-R) Gabe Bryan ’19, Dylan Rigol ’18, Matthew Hastings ’18, Justin Ewing ’19, and Grant Iuliano ’18 reunite in Los Angeles in February.

Row (L-

Math

(L-R):

Director

Alumni Affairs

Special Events

Eppers

reads

Faculty and staff share the books and podcasts that have stood out for them during our yearlong theme of Imagine. Question. Create.

While this is a very heavy book, it is necessary reading for everyone as citizens of this country and as human beings. The book, which weaves Smith’s personal journey into American history and the impacts of slavery in this country, is sobering and heart-wrenching. Smith is a poet and one of the most moving and gifted writers I have ever read. His work will change you, and I recommend it highly either to read or to listen to the author narrating the audiobook.

Stephanie Golas Lower School Librarian

Upper School English Teacher and Humanities

brimmer (& listens!) Poetry Picks

Department Co-Chair Don Reese offers two of the poetry podcasts that have filled his daily commutes this year, as well as a standout book of poetry that he read last summer.

This book is an old favorite that I recently reread. It had been out of print for some time, so seeing a new edition on the shelves made me nostalgic. It is historical fiction set in 16th-century Scotland and the first in a series called The Lymond Chronicles. I read the series for the first time while hiking the Appalachian Trail, and reading it again took me right back to that time in my life. The protagonist, Francis Crawford of Lymond, is, in the author’s words, “a nobleman of crooked felicities and murderous talents” who speaks a dozen languages, is a master of disguise, and is suspected of treason. He has returned to his family in Scotland to clear his name and unravel a plot against his family.

Kenley Smith Upper School English Teacher

The Slowdown Hosted by Major Jackson, Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Vanderbilt University, this daily podcast offers a short meditation as well as a contemporary poem that speaks to the task of living as a full human in a commodified and ensconced world.

It is always a lovely moment in the day that helps me to see the little everyday miracles and wonders.

The New Yorker: Poetry

This podcast has a truly clever setup. A contemporary poet reads a poem selected from The New Yorker archives and pairs it with one of the poet’s own poems recently published in the magazine. The conversations between poets and poetry editor Kevin Young

Once Season 2 of the TV show began streaming, I finally gave in and read this trilogy so popular among Middle School students. I was only going to read one and be done, but I was hooked. I like that the fictional town of Cousins is basically Cape Cod. The books are lovely though often angsty and with many moments of frustration from the characters’ inability to be honest about their feelings. I did watch the show and though I enjoyed it, I noticed that it was geared toward an older audience than those who enjoy the books.

Elyse Seltzer Director of Middle & Upper School Library

This is a gorgeous book about two friends who connect early in life over their love of video games. The story is told over their lifetime apart and together again, as they help one another make their creative dreams a reality. It’s a love story about having deep love but not being in love with one another, which left me appreciative and reflective of friendships that have come, stayed, and gone from my life.

Andrea Underhill-Curtin Middle School Drama & English Teacher

Eagle eyes will remember that Head of Lower School Kimberly Formisano recommended Zevin’s book in our Spring 2023 issue. We encourage everyone to give it a read!

Cells are the smallest units of life, and living cells need to undergo all the processes that multicellular organisms do. Mukherjee explores the history of our understanding of cells, what about our cells makes us human, and how modern medicine is harnessing this information to treat once deadly diseases. Woven within the stories of science are stories of people and family and how scientific discoveries about cells changed their lives. This book changed how I think and teach about cells.

Cecelia Pan P ’16 Science Department Chair

are detailed but not esoteric, and the enthusiasm for poetry is contagious.

By Tommy Pico

An 80-page poem that explores every possible nuance and meaning of the word junk, this book ends up salvaging contemporary life itself with all its junks.

Two years ago, my mother and I discovered an amazing small world connection. Playwright and beloved college professor of mine, Caleen Sinette Jennings, was interviewing my mother’s dear friend about her life growing up in Indiana as part of the Better Homes of South Bend, a remarkable movement in which Black factory workers organized and formed a corporation in the 1950s to buy better homes for their families. The interviews were researched for a play that Jennings was commissioned to write based on based on a book (above) about the movement. In November, I had the privilege of traveling to South Bend to watch opening night of the play. While this book reflects a victorious moment in history, it is also a reminder of how far we still have to go in the fight against housing discrimination.

Rachel Wolf Heyman P ’29, ’32 Lower School Drama Teacher

continued on page 80

Junk

The following podcast gets high praise from both of our librarians!

This podcast from the Brains On! Universe is one that my family and I enjoy during car rides. It takes everyday things and tells you the interesting and surprising history of those things. Hosted by funny Black actress Joy Dolo, it features a young person in every episode. Dolo does a great job of not shying away from addressing some of the problematic aspects of a particular history in a kid-friendly way.

Elyse Seltzer Director of

Middle & Upper School Library

I’ve been listening to this podcast with my family, and it has become a favorite of mine and my six-year-old, Nora. It’s a history podcast about the surprising facts and unknown moments behind ordinary and mundane things. Our recent favorites include the story of ice cream flavors and the history of the NICU as well as my personal favorite, the history of children’s libraries. Nora summed it up best when she said, “This podcast puts facts in my head, and I didn’t even notice because it was so fun!”

Stephanie Golas Lower School Librarian

I recommend Kevin Hart’s podcast. He interviews comedians, actors, directors, and writers—anyone associated with humor or making folks laugh. He talks deeply about craft and individual passion, and it’s surprisingly good, though rated R for language!

Bill Jacob P ’06

Creative Arts Department Chair

I love this podcast as much for the talented host as I do for the fascinating people and organizations he covers. Apple. com says it best: “Guy Raz interviews the world’s best-known entrepreneurs to learn how they built their iconic brands. In each episode, founders reveal deep, intimate moments of doubt and failure and share insights on their eventual success… it is a masterclass on innovation, creativity, leadership, and how to navigate challenges of all kinds.”

Sue Cuyler Director of Marketing & Communications

The name Jar Jar Binks has evoked mixed reactions among Star Wars fans since his character debuted in Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace (1999). Ahmed

Best was offered the role of a lifetime when asked to play Jar Jar and became a pioneer in the motioncapture technology we see in cinema today. However, his career suffered with the turn of the millennium and the first-ever massive online hate campaign. Hosted by awardwinning writer and producer Dylan Marron, this beautiful six-episode podcast recounts Best’s journey through the eyes of fans, film critics, and Ahmed himself and reminds us that the lines between the imaginary and reality are too often blurred, that there is someone very real behind the screen.

Madison

Perkins Marketing & Communications Associate