Seedlings 2023

BUCKINGHAM FRIENDS SCHOOL Seedlings

SPRING 2023

MISSION

Buckingham Friends School honors the Light within each person, inspires scholarship and spiritual community, and instills the value of caring for others and our world.

CORE VALUES

Rooted in the beliefs and traditions of Quakers, our values as a Friends school guide us to engage members of the school community in the shared responsibility of honoring the Light within each person and fostering the growth, individual talents, and passions of every student.

2022-2023 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Michael Godshall, Clerk

Laura Kinnel, Assistant Clerk

George Yarnall, Secretary

Lisa Pretecrum, Treasurer

Drew Augenblick

Brad Bovee

Andrew Garrett ‘80

Daniel Holton-Roth ‘91

Chris Kerr

Lukas Makris

Annette Miller ‘73

Alexis Ridge-Simek

Robert Roop

Julie Spears

ADMINISTRATION

Paul Lindenmaier

Head of School

Rossana Zapf Associate Head of School

Melissa Clayton

Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

Katelynn Connolly

Director of Advancement

Sam Frenkel

Director of Finance and Operations

Karen Kemp Director of Technology Innovation and Design

EDITOR

Katelynn Connolly

COPY EDITOR

Melissa Kiser

COVER PHOTO

DeeDee Snyder

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Katelynn Connolly, Paul Lindenmaier, Ozzie Oswald, DeeDee Snyder

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Steve Bernardini, Lauren Cortright, Katelynn Connolly, Laura Downs, Jack Knetemann, Paul Lindenmaier, Nancy Sandberg, Betts Slim

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

blazar design studio

SEEDLINGS SPRING 2023

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY

CELEBRATING STEVE BERNARDINI

MIDDLE SCHOOL-—MAPPING A PATH FOR SUCCESS

REFLECTIONS

DAVID STEWARD ‘49

KITSIE CONVERSE ’55

FACULTY FOCUS: JACK KNETEMANN, UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER

CELEBRATING MADAME SCHREIBER

REFLECTIONS FROM BETTS SLIM

COMMUNITY SOUP, A GOOD RECIPE

WITH GRATITUDE TO MICHAEL GODSHALL

JEM UPDATE

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT ON FRANCESCA CRIMI ’12

A LETTER TO MY GRANDSON

Continuing to Realize the Promise

PAUL LINDENMAIER

beloved treasure that it is. As we steward the School forward, we are reminded to nurture and preserve the powerful community spirit that has always characterized and distinguished BFS. We remain committed to teaching the values of respect, empathy, and compassion that will inform global citizenship and guide the future relationships of community members.

With extraordinary commitment to honoring the School’s mission and the community’s planning process and goals, Buckingham Friends School has progressed with purpose during the past few years toward an ambitious and thoughtful future that will support teaching and learning for future generations. Realizing the Promise, the strategic plan for BFS, has provided direction for the faculty, the board, and our larger community throughout our shared endeavors.

Spring is a time of growth and rebirth, and the BFS campus will blossom with the fruits of our collective efforts this year. After a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony last fall, and despite some unanticipated delays due to approval processes, it is exciting to report that construction has commenced. A new, larger gymnasium will be built on the site of the current gym, and a connecting annex with a kitchen, elevator, and restrooms will provide a new entrance to the Arts building and the gym. A new science building will be

nestled in the woods, providing increased space for exploration and learning—including an outdoor covered teaching porch where students may study the environment that directly surrounds them on our 44-acre wooded campus.

In the Main building, larger Middle School classrooms and a shared learning commons on the first floor will allow for new teaching methodologies, supporting opportunities for both greater collaboration and increased independent project-based work. All Upper School homerooms will be united on the second floor, and the Library and atrium areas will be re-envisioned as a larger learning commons for everyone. Finally, a new, larger wooden Lower School playground will be built among the trees adjacent to Lower School.

Through all of this, we have remained true to BFS’s mission and core values while focusing our care and concern on what makes Buckingham Friends School the unique and

As we continue to sow and cultivate the seeds of BFS’s future, we prepare to bid adieu to three of our tallest “oak trees”. In this issue of Seedlings, we recognize all that Steve Bernardini and Isabella Tamborino-Schreiber have contributed to our community and the life of the School as educators, and we express gratitude to Michael Godshall for his leadership and selfless service as clerk of the BFS board these past six years. Together, these three extraordinary individuals have embodied and represented the very best of BFS, helping to shape the School we know and love today. Their legacy of inspiring students and everyone around them, and of serving as models for others, is immeasurable. Their mark will endure forever, and they will always be connected to the very soul of the School.

In this issue of Seedlings, examples of how we achieve our mission and “instill the value of caring for others and our world” are also provided. Highlights of how we seek to inspire students through specific programs are provided, and stories of some exemplary alumni are included. As always, it is evident to me that our faculty are offering first-rate educational experiences while encouraging each student to develop their individual promise in multiple ways. We hope that you will enjoy this issue of Seedlings! •

Image by: (Ozzie)rvoiiiphoto.com

Community Connections

YOUNG ALUMNI

(Classes of 2010–2020) gathered together on campus over the Thanksgiving Break at the Jane Jackson House.

ANNUAL AUCTION 2023

The annual auction was celebrated on March 3 at HollyHedge Estate with all proceeds benefiting the financial aid fund of BFS. This year’s sold-out event, “Imagine… and SHINE!,” was an evening filled with laughter, good cheer, and tremendous generosity of support.

To keep up to date on all things BFS, be sure to like us on Facebook; follow Paul on Instagram at buckinghamfriendsschool or check out his blog at:

https://paullindenmaierheadofschoolblog.bfssb.org/)

Celebrating Steve Bernardini

BY NANCY SANDBERG

alumni returning to campus often head straight to Steve Bernardini’s classroom. Some want to see what skeletons are in his closet (literally!), but all of them want simply to reconnect with a teacher who not only sparked their love of learning, but also instilled in them qualities of character and leadership.

BFS

wearing a three-piece suit, very unusual at the time. (Steve has always been something of a sartorial standout, invariably well put together for all occasions.) He was hired to teach science and P.E. and later added some Upper School math classes. He became the 7th Grade homeroom teacher in 2000.

They return to campus knowing that he will make time for them and will want to hear what they have been up to since graduation. It is that same caring and concern he demonstrated over and over again with students at BFS during his forty-two-year tenure, and he will be sorely missed when he retires in June.

Steve cares deeply about the welfare of each student and feels a personal commitment and responsibility to contribute to their development. His relationships with others—students, colleagues, parents—are based on his generosity of spirit, and he is committed to their growth and success. Steve is often sought out for support and advice, and he knows how to reflect back people’s strengths and successes when that is what they need most to hear.

It was back before the ’81-’82 school year began that Steve arrived at BFS for his job interview with then–Head of School Rich Eldridge,

Steve’s interest in the sciences and especially biology began when he was a child, hunting and fishing in Vermont, where he learned how to preserve animal skeletons. Students would often bring him small, departed creatures, knowing he would share their compassion and interest, and possibly present them with the gleaming white skeleton sometime later. It was not unusual to discover dead animals in the school’s kitchen or faculty room freezer. And his pet corn snake was a regular at Pet Day for several years.

Steve shared his deep love of biology with students over the years and initiated his signature yearlong pond study project and trip to Wallops Island. In a science elective focusing on biology and dissecting animals, students discovered their own love of the field and began bringing him specimens to examine. As a student service project, he often helped them make suet balls to be hung outside for the birds. During his tenure, Steve would go on to create some of BFS’s most

````````As the 4th Grade teacher, I was always enormously appreciative of how Steve handled my students in his P.E. classes. They loved him as their teacher, and I could count on Steve’s taking the time to process with them any conflict, feelings of disappointment over losing a game, or other upset before they returned to the classroom, so they invariably tumbled back inside invigorated, excited, and upbeat. He would take the time to fill me in on any occurrence that might be helpful to know about.

He generously gave of his own free time to meet separately with 4th Grade boys for a few sessions of Linda Kamel’s Human Development class so they would feel safe to learn and ask questions about sensitive gender-specific topics.

significant and enduring programs. With Karen Seaton, he co-founded the Joint Environmental Program (JEM) back in the late 1980s to foster understanding of and a connection with students in the USSR. The School offered a Russian language class as an alternative to French for students in grades 6, 7, and 8, and they wanted to take that a step further. What began as a pen-pal experience for students later led to the first exchange. Steve chaperoned the second visit to School 213 in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1994 and developed lifelong friendships among his counterparts in Russia.

The JEM trips to the biological research station called Jatun Sacha in the rainforest and the indigenous village of Rio Blanco in Ecuador were also a high priority for Steve. He helped to cement relationships with staff at the station and with village leaders. Students would play soccer with the village children and, especially those uncomfortable in the rainforest environment having snakes and spiders and other creepy crawlies, were encouraged to sit alone under a tree for a while, listening to the sounds and attempting to experience the elements differently. Steve’s nature photos from these trips are exquisite.

As the JEM program expanded, Steve spent countless hours with Karen and other committee members, honing its mission and outreach. For the Earth Summit events that BFS hosted multiple times, when teachers and students from all the sister JEM schools traveled to the campus for two weeks, Steve developed an outstanding simulation activity for the participants to experience.

A highlight of the 7th Grade year has been the camping trips at the Tohickon Campground, held during the second week of the school year. Steve recognized the importance of these outings, designed to jumpstart class cohesion with time spent on the intentional setting of tone

and standards of acceptance of and caring for all. He was committed to providing a great experience for his charges, grilling hamburgers rain or shine, initiating the telling of ghost stories around the fire, flipping pancakes the next morning, and leading them in cooperative games and down the hill for splashing in the creek.

Steve developed his Developmental Workshop program first while co-teaching 6th Grade with Peter Pearson, then further refined it for 7th graders when he took over as 7th Grade homeroom teacher. Later, he collaborated with School Counselor Linda Kamel to make it the seminal experience it has become today. The workshop was conceived as a way for students to learn more about themselves within the context

of being part of a class and school community. It included team-building experiences, challenges for small groups, activities for self-reflection and group growth, and clarification at a crucial stage in selfidentity.

For example, as part of the program, students read George Ella Lyon’s poem “Where I’m From,” which discusses the myriad of people, places, and experiences that shaped her. After reflecting upon it, students wrote their own versions, declaring their roots and influences. Steve also drew on Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” to help students understand how biases and assumptions limit our understanding of others.

Steve’s contributions to BFS go well beyond academics. For many years, as a coach each season (soccer, basketball, softball), he taught the sports skills needed to win, but focused also on his expectations for good sportsmanship from each student. He emphasized teamwork, honesty and fair play, commitment, and

respect for oneself and others. A firm believer that students need to “walk the talk,” Steve embodied this philosophy himself and helped them to develop the courage and conviction required to have their actions resonate with their words.

Dressed as the blood-spattered mad scientist, Steve was for years a fixture of the annual 7th Grade class Halloween Party. One year, he and Peter even shaved their heads and beards for maximum effect. For decades, he set the tone for a fun and successful Track and Field Day, balancing meticulous preparation, organizing of equipment, and patient support of all the students, staff, and volunteers during the events, while at the same time keeping in sight the bigger picture of having a good time and keeping it fair.

He always took time with anyone who came seeking his input or guidance, on any number of issues. Colleagues often spent time after school talking over with him things that would help them gain a new perspective, or insight on which approach to take. Other faculty recall that Steve was always the one in faculty meetings to ask probing questions that would help bring clarity to an issue or sort out the best procedure to take. His questions often slowed the decision-making process, bringing logic to the fore when emotions were running high, to ensure the best outcome. He has served on countless committees over the years because of these valuable traits and his adherence to his and the School’s values.

Known for long, animated explanations on numerous topics, Steve could be heard from some distance, expounding on the day’s subject. Kids might

“This past winter (2022), I had the privilege of joining my dad, Mr. B, at the BFS Snowflake Festival with my son, Madden (who loved it, by the way!), and my mom, Nancy (Mrs. B). We also got to see the BFS gym one last time before it was knocked down an is rebuilt soon. When I walked into that gym, it felt like no time had passed. Flashbacks of every grade year flooded into my mind: of our PE classes with Mrs. Marston & Mr. B, inside jokes with my classmates, countless lasagna dinners, science projects in the kitchen, and years of watching my dad coach my brother in basketball, and being coached by him, myself.

As a 6th grade BFS basketball player just starting to hone in on my athleticism, I used to (embarrassingly) cry in the middle of games

when I would start missing several easy lay-ups. One of the simplest, yet biggest lessons my dad, Mr. B, taught me as an aspiring young athlete was “you’re not going to make every shot you take, and that’s okay.” I needed that. My dad laid the groundwork for me to believe in myself as an athlete, to stay composed, and to be okay with not being perfect. His words and support took the pressure off, and as I grew more into the athlete I wanted to be, it allowed me to fly.

That old, beautiful, wooden gym with the famous blue mats that stood tall as protection to all of us lower, middle, and upper schoolers, held decades of memories, love, laughter, and of course, a few tears. I came to BFS in 1995 and graduated in 2004. As I stood inside of that gym in 2022 to take a picture with my dad on one side of me, and my 3-year-old son in my arms, I felt a wave of emotions. Then, it hit me…this gym being knocked down felt like a metaphor for my dad retiring.

The BFS gym - a humble, but solid and trustworthy structure that stood the test of time, stories and lessons woven deeply into its

MR. B’S EARTH SUMMIT GAME

For the players, the beginning of the game is a bit of a mystery. Each group, made up of students from each of the participating countries, is given an oddly shaped large piece of heavy paper, a list of resources, markers, and a variety of other tools and instructions. They are told to name their newly formed group, fill in the shape with a motto, and place different resources such as hospitals, schools, stores, farms, communities, waterways, and factories. Each day during the Summit, the groups must accomplish tasks to use or swap their resources and make their community and relationships stronger, all while working out problems through collaborations inside and outside of their group.

Eventually the students discover that their countries actually fit together like a puzzle. New problems and negotiations arise as their carefully created country is now affecting neighboring nations. Revelations occur as students discover how interconnected their decisions are when they see themselves in relationship to one another. They come to realize we share one planet and must work together to ensure everyone’s success and safety. This bonding game was often cited as a highlight of their two-week Earth Summit experience.

make a show of rolling their eyes, but they were always listening, and he has made a huge impact on hundreds of students over his 42 years at BFS.

The influence of “Mr. B.” has transcended academics, sports, and special events as his presence created warmth and caring that permeated every aspect of BFS school life. It is hard to imagine him spending future days outside the classroom, but he is looking forward to having the time for walks in the woods near his home or on a beach, collecting shells; playing with his grandson; and enjoying his family. We hope he will surprise everyone with return visits now and then. •

walls. It met kids and people of all ages with a kind of openness and warmth, with its chestnut-colored wood beams, and its large Illuminating windows that quite literally “mind the light.” It’s irreplaceable and unforgettable.

And then there’s Mr. B, also standing the test of time (in more ways than one). A tenured, dependable confidant to his colleagues, and a firm, but grounded and fair teacher to many - young and old - he, too, keeps decades of stories and lessons within him. He always holds space for others, he’s approachable, and always reasonable. His presence is gracefully felt all around campus, and it will continue to be felt long after he leaves.

I know that both the gym and my dad will, literally and figuratively, leave with a gentleness and pride about them. It’s not easy to say goodbye to a place you’ve called home for so long, but they both can do so knowing they’ve left it in good hands, they’ve put in the hours and the work, they’ve laid the foundation for continued growth

and success, and they’ve collected their own special memories that will last them a lifetime.

Forty-two years of the truest passion and care for teaching and mentoring - Mr. B, my dad, encapsulates the essential impact that teachers have on their students and within their school system. He’s one in a million - not just as a teacher, but as a person. There’s not one person he wouldn’t give his all and attention to, there’s not one letter or report he would write that he wouldn’t pour every ounce of his heart and soul into, and there’s not one famous “Mr. B lecture” that wouldn’t hit home somehow, to someone. Life lessons are his thing - and they have and will continue to live on with all his students, parents, and colleagues as he leaves his exceptional, distinguished, and irreplaceable legacy at Buckingham Friends School.

Congratulations to my dad, my coach, my mentor, my teacher, our favorite “Mr. B,” on an absolutely unforgettable and exemplary career. We all love you so much!!!!”

—Lisa (Bernardini) DeJohn ‘04

Mapping a Path for Success

BY LAUREN CORTRIGHT

As educators, we nurture the inherent promise of each student, demonstrate our faith in their abilities, and challenge them to develop the motivation and discipline necessary for personal, social, and academic success.

—from the Buckingham Friends School Educational Philosophy, June 17, 2019

At BFS, the whole child experience is nurtured through learning opportunities that speak to each individual as well as to their place in the larger community. During the Middle School stage of development and learning, students enjoy exploring their own potential and working cooperatively in groups. They tend to respond to projects and assignments that build a sense of unity and cohesion, and they have a growing sense of moral responsibility beyond themselves. They also like to negotiate and take pride in their finished work. Curriculum is designed to support these emerging traits and fosters a healthy sense of self with sights set for the increased challenges of Upper School. These skills are nurtured in 3rd Grade, enhanced in 4th Grade, and embraced in 5th Grade.

The 5th Grade year is a milestone in the BFS timeline. With gained independence and with the added responsibility of being the leaders of the Middle School, students tend to engage more thoughtfully with the lesson or task at hand. Up to this point, according to Chip Wood, a leading national educator and author of Yardsticks , students tend to “relax in their childhood, gathering strength for the impending storm of adolescence and consolidating their gains from early childhood.” He adds that this is “a great time to plant the seeds for the more formal and more abstract cognitive challenges ahead.” Unique “rites of passage” for 5th Grade students are built in throughout the year to allow them to practice—and showcase—their

maturity. Making the weekly school-wide announcements, teaming up to take care of the flags, and helping Specials teachers in their classrooms at the end of each day are just a few of the ways they keep one another and themselves accountable as role models in the School community.

Student accountability is important because it encourages students to take responsibility for their learning and actions. Students, in turn, learn to value their work and likely increase their levels of confidence. This prepares students for life beyond high school, whether it be furthering their education, going into the workforce, or a combination

of both. When students are taught the value of accountability from a young age, it carries over into all aspects of their lives, creating a more well-rounded person.

—Jessica Shaffer, fifth-grade teacher M.A. In Administration, Leadership, Georgian Court University NJ Teach Hub.com June 22, 2021

The trust that is placed in each 5th grader to handle these added responsibilities builds their resiliency and competency for the growing independence that will be critical to their future success.

The signature 5th Grade American History Fair is another example of how these students are prepared for the next leap in their journey at BFS. Students are tasked with choosing and researching an American historical figure, writing an original script, preparing props and a costume, and performing a oneperson skit before the whole School. This project teaches the organization, time management, and presentation skills that independent learners need throughout their school career.

As the year comes to a close, 5th graders take their first BFS overnight field trip to Pocono Environmental Education Center. “The team building at the signature trip to P.E.E.C. last year was really fun. We just bonded as a class and now this year in Upper School our relationships and how we work together and help each other as a group is pretty awesome.” —Keira ’25. This experience is a true joy and a true test of students’ growing independence as they represent our School away from our campus.

Finally, the 5th Grade students round out their year with service to others. As the lunch hosts for the traditional Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day, they serve lunch to more than 200 valued guests. Tending to the needs of our visitors requires poise and a sense of responsibility to personally care for our community members.

When 5th Grade students move up to 6th Grade, once again they are the youngest members of their division. However, their Middle School journey has intentionally prepared them for increased expectations in Upper School and, eventually, their path beyond BFS. •

ALUMNI REFLECTION

The year before coming to BFS as a seventh grader: Back north, from lower grades in an Appalachian mission school, in sixth grade in a three-room public school in western New Jersey, we were given a test from Junior Scholastic, a weekly current events kids’ magazine in the 1940s that still exists. The test was multiple choice for half an hour or so. Finishing mine fast and by far first, sitting there smugly – probably with arms crossed like the snotty kid I was –and figuring I had done very well, was a winner’s moment. Waiting for always-elegant Mrs. Fabrizio to collect everybody’s and turn us out to our lunchboxes, I was enjoying having a sixth grader’s good day. That afternoon when she was handing back the test, commenting that I had done the best by far while smiling down with mine marked a hundred, I looked around, genuinely overwhelmed, proud, and through that childish epiphany realizing that it would be a good thing, and maybe possible, to keep it up.

Reference: Chip Wood, Yardsticks: Children in the Classroom Ages 4–14.

—David Steward, BFS Class of 1949

Celebrating Madame Schreiber

BY NANCY SANDBERG

Isabella has enjoyed her time at BFS, with the freedom to curate the program according to her values and goals as an educator. Understanding the importance of establishing trust, respect, and motivation, with kindness and patience she has always sought to connect personally with her students, tailoring aspects of the program for each grade level according to their interests, needs, and strengths.

The hallmarks of her approach have always included fun, inspiring projects, meant to engage her charges as they stretched their skills in innovative ways to develop self-confidence as speakers and learners of French. BFS 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade French students have won numerous gold, silver, and bronze prizes in Le Grand Concours, the National French Contest. There have been pen pal exchanges and then visits with students at the Collège San Martial in Montmorillon, France. For many years, 4th graders created shadow puppets for classic children’s stories, which they presented in French during the Arts Festival.

Isabella’s concern for others has always been at the forefront of her relationships with students, colleagues, and the wider community. Under her guidance as convenor of the Outreach Committee, students and faculty engaged in a variety of service projects.

Madame Schreiber may be stepping back from her role as beloved French teacher, but she will not likely be spending much time sitting back to relax in the years ahead. She has spent much of the past year working on home projects, such as repainting rooms and refurbishing furniture, and continues to plan such tasks, taking justifiable pride in her newfound skills and accomplishments.

This past winter, Isabella Tamborino-Schreiber announced her intention to retire at the end of the school year, ending her 24-year-long tenure at Buckingham Friends School.

Madame Schreiber began teaching French language and culture in September 1999, having previously taught at Temple University and the Springside School in Chestnut Hill, PA. Isabella was born and raised in Italy. After completing her undergraduate degree in French and English from Istituto Universitario Orientale in Naples, Italy, she earned an M.A. in French literature from Temple University and completed postgraduate work at New York University.

She divides her time between friends and family in the U.S. and those at her home in Italy. She makes trips into Manhattan, enjoying outings with her son Robert who is now working at Bloomberg Associates. There are also plans for frequent visits to California to spend time with her son Richard, his wife Fiona, and her darling infant grandson, Connell.

Gardening, reading and book club meetings, exercise classes, cooking, and conversational French sessions are just some of the many activities she will continue to engage in with newly freed up time.

When she leaves the cozy, light-filled French classroom for the last time in June, it will bring to a close her brilliant career at BFS and her signature brand of excellence in French language instruction. Au revoir, Isabella. Tu vas nous manquer! •

I definitely found my love for French at BFS, especially through my JEM travel experience to Montmorillon. Madame helped me realize the power of language and the importance of traveling and experiencing new cultures.

Abby ‘14

For me, preparing to bid adieu to Isabella is like getting ready to give away a favorite book of rare poems. While it is difficult to imagine that the book will no longer be on the shelf, the poems and all of their meaning - and how they touch you - will always remain in your heart and mind, continuing to awaken your feelings and thoughts even more deeply as you recall them over time.

—Paul Lindenmaier, Head of School

Madame is a great teacher! She is always helpful, and always keeps her students on track. Thank you, Madame Schreiber.

—Liam ‘21

Merci Isabella, you have inspired generations of young students to love the French culture and language, and broaden their understanding of a global community! Bon chance in your next adventure.

—Hillary

Spitzer

It has been really fun connecting with students in France through the pen pal exchange, and Madame has also introduced us to French cinema through our lessons. Madame always makes everything extra special and interesting! We will miss you.

—Lily ‘23

A very fond memory I have from Madame Schrieber’s class is making crepes and celebrating Mardis Gras!

—-Charlotte ‘18

Why Am I Still Connected to BFS?

REFLECTIONS FROM BETTS SLIM

Throughout fall and winter, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Betts Slim. Betts has worn many hats in the BFS community over the years—adding Current Great-Grandparent this year! When asked why she has maintained her strong connection to, as well as support of, BFS, the following was her response:

Ona sunny afternoon in the spring of 1983, I climbed the small hill from the lower parking lot for an interview with three teachers (Peter Pearson, Linc Merwin, and Steve Bernardini). I was applying for the job of 7th Grade homeroom instructor and English and Social Studies teacher for the 7th and 8th Grades. The three men didn’t know (but I did) that in all my teaching experience 7th graders were my favorite group of learners.

I must have conveyed that during the interview, because I was selected for the job—and here it is forty years later, and at age 91 I am as devoted as ever to “The Old Red School House in Lahaska,” the fictional name for BFS in a story written by teacher Elizabeth Lloyd in 1895.

Other teachers from the past became silent mentors as I learned the rhythm of teaching in a small Quaker school.

Isabel F. Randolph became principal (and teacher) in 1934. She helped the School grow intellectually and led cultural trips to Philadelphia for students. My favorite story

about Isabel was told to me by Jacqueline Stilwell ’39. Jackie had misbehaved and was meted the punishment of planting one hundred daffodil bulbs along the front of the School, thinking as she dug about how she could have acted differently. The daffodils are still there today, spreading their yellow beauty among the trees in early spring.

Betty Haines taught at BFS for 30-some years, retiring 17 years before I joined the faculty. Stories about Betty were legendary, though, and I felt her presence. She once took her students on a walking excursion that left Buckingham Friends at 5:30 a.m. After crossing 202 in front of the School, they traversed a number of fields to end up at Bowman’s Hill Nature Preserve several hours later. Betty knew the names of every flower and tree along the way, so it was a botany lesson for her students. They arrived back at school before dark, having a day full of memories.

There were many ways that BFS was a special place for me as a teacher. I could bring creative touches to my teaching. Around

Halloween we acted out “The Tell-Tale Heart,” by Edgar Allan Poe. The shades were drawn, darkening the room to match the mood of the story, and there was always a student drummer eager to provide the thump-thump rhythm of the beating heart. Eighth Grade students acted out many scenes from Romeo and Juliet, helping to capture the essence of the play. Young people like Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio came alive to the students.

Time spent outside the classroom was another opportunity to cement classroom learning for my students. They called me “Trip-Slip Slim” for good reason. With parental help, we went to Philadelphia to see classic theater. Model Congress fit in with our study of government, and although each school was encouraged to bring to the Trenton Courthouse only its best students, all of my 8th graders went as a class. Preparations for the event were thorough, and BFSers won many accolades for bill preparation and debating skill.

George Price, our bus driver, and I hiked the Appalachian Trail with Upper School students. Skiing was a lifelong passion for me, having

grown up in Vermont, and at BFS, Linc and I offered overnight ski trips to Upper School students every year. The rustic lodge on top of Shawnee Mountain holds many memories of laugh-filled evenings as we warmed up inside after a long day on the slopes.

Linc and I also shared the fun of the Williamsburg trip for 8th graders for many years. After Williamsburg we traveled to Mount Vernon and Luray Caverns. On trips such as these, docents often commented on the maturity of our students and their attentive responses to learning outside the classroom. Wallops Island, the 7th Grade trip, ties in with science, so Mr. B and I shared that event fourteen times. A highlight was always the swale, where students were allowed to experience the mud firsthand.

Foreign travel with students, of course, ranks high in excitement for me. I shared time abroad with students five times on trips to Mexico, New Zealand/Australia, Ecuador, Australia again, and Russia. JEM trips offer students a wider worldview while young, and each of these destinations would almost rank as a “trip of a lifetime” experience for me.

Reflecting back on my years at Buckingham Friends, I’d say that my time there touched every aspect of me as a person. First, stories of teachers from the past inspired me. Second, the opportunity to teach my classes using my hands-on style worked well. Third, the chance to know students in so many settings outside the classroom itself had special value.

I grew immensely through teaching in the community that is Buckingham Friends School. For that reason, I will support and stay connected to “The Old Red School House in Lahaska” for the rest of my life. •

P.S. I love to hear from former students and their parents so please drop me a line to share a memory or keep me up-to-date on your current lives.

Email: bettsslim@gmail.com

Reference: Buckingham Friends School. A History:1794-1994

ALUMNI REFLECTION

draw flowers

maybe even a puppy dog’s

“When I grow up I’m going to be an artist, Not a builder, banker or a harpist. I’m going to

in the breeze And

fleas. But there one thing I will never tell: I will never be a singer like Miss O’Dell.”

—Kitsie Converse ’55

(Original poem written in 4th Grade)

With Gratitude to Michael Godshall

Onbehalf of the BFS community, it is an honor for all of us to reflect on everything that Michael Godshall has done for our school as he finishes his tenth year on the Buckingham Friends School Board. Most notably we recognize and thank him for his extraordinary and selfless service as clerk of the board during the past six years.

Michael and Christine joined the school community when they brought their three children to Buckingham Friends School eighteen years ago. A few years later, their family joined Buckingham Monthly Meeting.

Little did Michael expect that he would fall in love with the School so much that when there was a board seat opening, he pursued it. Little did we know that his decision would have such a transformational and lasting impact on the culture and success of the board and our School.

We, his board colleagues, offer these thoughts in appreciation as Michael steps down as clerk this summer, though we are pleased he will continue on the board for one more year after he steps down as clerk this June.

With patience, wisdom, and respect for his colleagues, Michael brought the board to life and strengthened it, which has taken the School to the wonderful place it is today.”

“Michael has been an inspiring presence for the Buckingham Friends School board. From his dedication to the School, demonstrated by the time and effort he has put in and by his detailed guidance and calm leadership, the School is in a strong position for the future.”

“I have had the privilege of knowing Michael for over twenty years. I have thoroughly enjoyed our working relationship and his dedication to the mission of BFS. He has truly kept the School in the Light at all times.”

“Michael is such a positive presence. His love for Buckingham shines in every facet of his devotion to the School.”

“Michael has done so much for the School. I’ve been a board member for seven years and during that time, Michael provided a great deal of guidance and was instrumental in my development. He’s an easy person to speak to, and we share the same passion for the School.”

Image by: (Ozzie)rvoiiiphoto.com

“Michael’s love for Buckingham Friends and his willingness to give of himself in service to the School are both extraordinary and inspirational. His stepping up in a couple of very challenging times has been extraordinarily important and has gently reminded the rest of us of the importance of giving what we can.”

“Michael’s stewardship of BFS as board chair has been nothing short of exemplary. His deep appreciation and commitment to Quaker values has resulted in a thriving board and community at BFS.

Finally, Head of School Paul Lindenmaier shares, “I know that Michael felt called to contribute substantively during this moment in the School’s story. We can all feel gratitude for his immeasurable goodness, care, and service on behalf of our beloved School. BFS will forever be a better place because he walked this way.”

A grateful BFS community thanks you, Michael, for your steady-handed leadership, unwavering partnership, hard work, and undeniable love for our School and community. •

JEM Update

BY LAURA DOWNS

On March 29th, 16 Upper School students and three faculty boarded a plane to Costa Rica for the first JEM trip in more than three years! They explored a range of ecosystems in a country known for its progressive environmental sustainability practices and visited “local visionaries” who are working to preserve the country’s ecological and cultural diversity and promote a sustainable path forward. They also had the chance to visit Monteverde Friends School, a bilingual K-12 Quaker school high in the Monteverde cloud forest. The trip represents the renewal of what for over three decades has been one of Buckingham Friends School’s signature experiences: immersion in a different culture and direct engagement with the ways that environmental issues affect and are addressed in countries around the world.

The virtual connections we nurtured during the pandemic continue to thrive—including ongoing pen pal programs with students at our partner schools in France and India, and new virtual exchange activities with schools in Australia, Mexico, and Kazakhstan. On campus, our rebooted JEM student club has been meeting weekly to develop an array of projects that promote sustainability at our School, while the new JEM faculty committee continues to craft a strategic plan for the program, honoring and building on the foundation so many in our community established, to guide us into the future with intention and innovation.

After graduating from BFS in 2012, Francesca Crimi built on her JEM experience and continued to seek opportunities to travel to new and exciting places while experiencing the rich culture of each destination. “Traveling to India through JEM in eighth grade at BFS taught me to embrace the unknown with curiosity,

TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY

Alumni Spotlight

FRANCESCA CRIMI ’12

along the while learning the language.

The following year, she was accepted as a Rotarian through the Rotary Youth Exchange Program in Bucks County and traveled to Taiwan, where she attended a local public school. This homestay experience challenged Francesca in new ways. She not only

junior year of college, I had a strong desire to attend Meeting for Worship again, and began going every Sunday,” she says. “It was . . . a routine revisited . . . that added meditation, breathwork, healing, thoughtfulness, and peace. . . . Even though I was away from home at college, I felt at home in that Meetinghouse.”

composure, and unprejudiced ideologies,” Francesca says, adding that it made her want to experience “more new countries, new cultures, new moments of the complete unknown.”

Following two years at George School, Francesca spent a year in China participating in a cultural/ language immersion program after receiving a scholarship through Where There Be Dragons. This year would prove to be one of the most pivotal experiences of Francesca’s young adulthood: to “live” the culture, travel throughout the country, and experience the rich traditions and history of each region—all

continued her study of the Chinese language, expanding her knowledge of different dialects as well as learning some Japanese, but also took typical high school classes, such as calculus, without the use of her primary language, English.

These experiences afforded Francesca the ability to complete the studies for her major in Chinese language and culture at Bloomsburg University in less than two years and in the summer of 2019, she received her ESL teaching certification in Barcelona, Spain. While at Bloomsburg, Francesca was also an avid competitive rock climber, even winning first place in the women’s division. “In my

Francesca graduated from Bloomsburg in 2021 during the height of the pandemic. Francesca, like many others, experienced some level of instability and change. While helping her mother move down south, she took what she expected to be a temporary position with a solar company. She impressed the company so much that they moved her to Charlotte, North Carolina; nearly two years later, she is the senior manager at Resilient Energy, one of the largest solar companies in the Carolinas.

Francesca’s true passion is writing, and she hopes to publish within the next five years. “I was awarded an URSCA grant in college

and co-published the Linlu Daku Project with a writer and artist from China, which was presented at Bucknell University. That experience inspired me to dive into my own craft and self-publish myself.” When she is not working, Francesca enjoys volunteering with Big Brothers/Big Sisters; attending art venues; rock climbing; hiking; and writing and she promises to send BFS a postcard from her next great adventure!

Francesca says that she is “filled with

gratitude that BFS was the backbone to my education and early childhood development years.

I attribute a multitude of my successes and adventures in my high school and college years and beyond to BFS. More important,

BFS implemented SPICES into our lives, and at the time, it was an acronym to remember. But now, they are the qualities that I consciously choose to live by every day.” •

Buckingham Friends School instilled a level of confidence in me at a young age. Reflecting back on those years, I was always encouraged to be authentically myself. The environment that BFS cultivated is one of joy, self-expression, laughter-medicine, kindness, empathy, tangible lessons, open-mindedness, embracing mistakes, and communal leadership.

FACULTY FOCUS

One of the goals of the Upper School English program is to grant students the tools and the space to build their own understanding. The 6th Grade have embraced the opportunity to lead their own discussions in the Book Club unit, as well as present the class with their findings. The results have been extraordinary: One of the groups led their own discussion of the history behind their book, Ghost Boys, which included a discussion about the impact of Emmett Till on the Civil Rights movement. For an educator, it is a gift to be in a community where the love of education enables such moments. As I grow into the BFS world, I am thrilled to see just how far we can go.

—Jack Knetemann

Upper School English teacher Jack Knetemann joined the BFS faculty this fall. We are excited for his continued success as a dedicated educator in our community.

A Letter to My Grandson

FROM STEVE BERNARDINI

comfortable place to work. People cared about each other. The students in the School were respected and given responsibilities, which helped them grow. Sometimes people made mistakes, even the teachers, but that was OK because everyone understood that it was part of the learning process. Because of this understanding, people felt empowered to work hard and create programs that would be fun for the students but also help them learn. This made everyone feel special. What a gift that was!

Dear Madden,

It’s been so wonderful having you with us these last few years. Dey Dey and BABA have enjoyed watching you grow from a baby into the little person that you have become. You are so energetic and fun. You have such personality, and you certainly know how to kick a soccer ball! Pretty soon, you will be old enough to go to school. That will start a whole new, exciting time in your life where you will play, learn, and grow in ways that you can’t even imagine now. You’ll make new friends, learn lots of things, maybe play sports, learn to play an instrument, or become an artist. You will get to explore who you are and what you are good at. It will be great!

You know, I used to be a teacher in a school called Buckingham Friends School. I taught there for 42 years! Can you believe it? I was teaching there even before your mommy and Uncle Mike were born. In fact, your mommy and Uncle Mike went to that school and had me as a teacher! It’s hard to believe…I know! I guess you are probably wondering why I was there for so long, and why Dey Dey and I sent mommy and Uncle Mike there, too. Well, it’s kind of a long story, but this is what I can tell you about it:

From the moment I arrived at Buckingham Friends School, I knew I was in a special place. You see, it was a Quaker school, which means that the people there trusted in the goodness of others. That made it a warm,

And I made friends with lots of wonderful people. Some of them were the people who worked at the School. They helped me learn how to be a better teacher and a better person. They taught me what it means to be a member of a community and what citizenship really is about. But I also made friends with the parents in the School, because I was working with their children to help them grow up. It was a partnership that always turned into a friendship, because that is just how the School was. I even became friends with my students, and many of them still write letters to me, even though they are no longer at the School. Receiving letters from alumni always makes my day. All of those relationships were my favorite part of teaching.

You know what is really interesting about my school? I was there for a long time, and I saw many changes to the School. Over the years, the parents’ ideas about what they wanted from the School changed. The students’ approach to school changed. Some of my friends who helped me and guided me left the School. Many new leaders came and went while I was at the School. But there was one important part of the School that didn’t change: its underlying principles and ideals. Even with all the changes that occurred over so many years, the people in the School never lost their sense of community and their understanding of what is truly important when educating children. Somehow, no matter what, they were able to preserve the sense of caring about every person and the genuine appreciation of each individual in the School. Remarkably, the values that were embedded in the community generations earlier never changed. That is just one of the miracles I experienced at the School while I was there.

You know what’s funny? As time went on, I realized that, even though I was a teacher to so many students while I was at BFS, I was a student in the School, too! My students and my friends taught me so much about education, working with people and being a member of a community. I learned acceptance and understanding. I learned about compassion and the power of forgiveness. I learned that we can’t expect people to be perfect, because people aren’t perfect! I learned that embracing

one’s own vulnerabilities is the key to building relationships with others, and that listening is the most powerful tool in open, honest communication. As I look back on my time there, it is so clear that, like one of my thought-provoking Twilight Zone episodes, what appeared to be a context in which a teacher was instructing the students, was also a context in which the students were instructing the teacher. It was a career that was well-balanced and well-lived in that respect.

So, Madden, I hope that you will get to go to a school like Buckingham Friends someday, because in a school like that, in addition to learning about all the regular school subjects, you get the gift of growing up in a nurturing, loving environment where people care about each other and where values matter. It is where BABA, and so many other people, actually grew up. That is the extraordinary magic of Buckingham Friends School.

Before I end, I want to tell you a little story. It’s a story I wrote 30 years ago, called “The Great Oak.” I won’t tell you the whole story because it would take too long, but I wrote it for a friend with whom I had taught for 12 years. He was no longer going to be teaching with me, and that made me sad. The story went something like this:

“Long ago, the Great Spirit called upon an eagle to carry acorns in his talons to the next valley. On the way, he accidentally dropped one little acorn at the base of a giant oak tree in the middle of a forest. Now, the arrival of the tiny acorn forced the great oak into a difficult situation. With no help from him, the tiny acorn might die from the harsh conditions of the forest. On the other hand, if the oak chose to share with the acorn the bounty of nature, the oak itself might weaken and fall prey to unhappiness.

Well, as legend has it, the noble oak decided to part its roots to make room for the acorn to take hold. With the sunshine from above and the soil from below, the acorn slowly grew from seed to sapling. In time, the kindness and generosity of the great oak allowed the sapling to grow into a young tree. Because of its proximity to the oak, the young tree was sheltered from the winds and fury of nature and, over time, the roots and limbs of the two trees slowly grew together, strengthening both of them. As a result, they lived and worked with each other for years among the other trees in the forest.

But, one day, the great oak was called upon to leave that part of the forest. This made the young tree very sad. He had benefited from the

kindness and guidance of his friend, and he wasn’t sure if he could make it, all by himself.

This was surely a problem for the young tree, but the answer was to be found in the wisdom of the great oak. He showed his young friend, in many subtle ways, that inexperience no longer dwelled in his branches. The great oak assured the young tree that his roots now ran deep with a wisdom of their own, and it was perhaps time to share it with other young saplings as the great oak had once done for him. As the young tree listened to his friend, he started to recognize that, even though they had worked so well together, the shade that the great oak provided to the young tree was also a shadow, and that perhaps the web of fibers that had been their strength was now so intertwined that it was limiting their growth. With this realization, the entangled fibers of root and limb slowly began to ease their hold and slip gently from each other’s grasp. The Spirit led the great oak to his new place, and the sun shone down on the young tree.

So it was that the great oak moved out of the forest, allowing the young tree to take root in the very soil that the great oak had once occupied. This benefited all the trees in the forest because it made room for them to deepen their roots, extend their branches, and flourish. It taught them that independence is a gift that leads to growth, and that kindness can bring strength to the great as well as the small. This was the message of the great oak.”

Before I close, I have two questions for you, Madden. “Who do you think was the acorn in the beginning of the story?” Uh huh…It was BABA. And “Who do you think is now in the position of the great oak at the end of the story?” Yes…BABA! Isn’t it amazing how a person’s life can come full circle?

OK, Madden. That’s enough for now. Thank you for reading my letter and for letting me tell you this story. I love you very much, and I always will.

BABA

Writer’s note: “The Great Oak” was written for Peter Pearson, upon his leaving the 6th Grade to become Head of School. He was just one of the many amazing mentors who helped shape my career at BFS. I am sorry that I couldn’t include more of the beautiful illustrations done by Erika Scott ‘93, who was in 8th Grade at the time of the writing. Finally, in case it is not obvious, what I was really trying to say in this piece is that I truly adore and appreciate all of you who have shared this amazing ride with me over these last 42 years. You have given me the gift of a lifetime, both literally and figuratively. It doesn’t get any better than that.

With much gratitude and love,

Steve Bernardini

1950s

Katherine (Kitsie) Converse ‘55

Art, curiosity, creativity, kindness and the outdoors. . . have roots in BFS as do Mrs. Haines and Peter Barry. Best to all! (Photo of me with Peggy Richie Weymouth, friends since BFS in the 40’s, now 70 years later each with 8 grands!)

Alumni News

services, but still serve on the Endowment Committee at Good Shepherd (Episcopal) Church Hilltown.

My sister, Nancy, BFS 1957, is still living near Pasadena, CA and is well.

1960s

Mahlon Lovett ‘64

Following eight grades at BFS (‘64), I went to George School and Carnegie Mellon University (‘72), where I met my wife, Heather. After taking a year to figure out ‘what to do,’ I designed books at Princeton University Press for four years, and then moved to the University Communications Office where I chiefly designed publications...for 44+ years; I retired early in 2022! Older son, Frank, is a professor at Washington University in St Louis, and younger son, Nathaniel, works for a major NY music publisher managing digital archives.

1970s

Jim Bumgardner ‘76

After living for 53 years on Ridge Road at the edge of Bedminster Twp. near Perkasie, it was necessary to move in 2021. I had retired in 2020, at 75-1/2, from working at Vita Education Services, assisting in adult education programs, including ESL, plus added 2 years volunteering, mostly proof-reading lesson plans. Through my working life the reading/ grammar/spelling/writing/foreign language skills learned at BFS and added to in high school & college served me well. In the Fall of 2021, I moved about 8 miles southwest to the Lutheran Community at Telford, a 50-acre graduated mix offering various stages of living for seniors (not just Lutherans) with a strong caring for the well-being of every resident. I have not met a single resident or staff person who is not pleasant, caring and respectful. I am in an independent living apartment building - 3rd (top) floor large apartment with balcony porch and great view, with a full course dinner served every day - 4 people per table with interesting discussion.

I’m enjoying my neighbors and I participate in some of the many activities offered, including Great Courses lectures. However, I have developed osteoarthritis which hampers my movement and requires using a cane. There are some 90-yr-olds here who move better than I can now, approaching 81 in May. I did attend an arthritis activity class earlier this year. Hard to do the activities, but I still manage to drive to a chiropractor bi-weekly and do local grocery shopping. I mostly Zoom my church

Tom Richie ’66 Nancy, my wife of 24 years, and I live in Glenelg MD, a small town not much different from Holicong where I grew up. We have four grown children and five grandchildren. One son and his wife live nearby and our other son and two daughters and their families / significant others live in Southborough (MA), San Francisco and Boulder. I continue to work as chief medical officer for a biotech company, Sanaria Inc., developing malaria vaccines. One of our vaccines recently showed significant protection against malaria during pregnancy in young women in Mali. We hope to obtain FDA licensure for vaccine against the most deadly malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, in the next three to four years.

Phil Garrett-Engele ’68 55 years in 5 seconds? After BFS, GS and Haverford College. Moved to Oregon and worked in a steel foundry, then a stint as a house framer. Returned to school for a science degree and a succession of academic, biotech and Pharma positions. Met my wife at U of Oregon, moved to Palo Alto for her PhD, then Seattle with our three very young daughters and surprisingly, after 30+ years on the west coast, we were relocated to Boston for my job in 2009. Retired 3 years ago and we plan on moving back to Oregon next year.

It was George Rowe who instilled in me a lifelong love of birds and birding. I remember his excitement at spotting an Osprey at Wallops Island. The attached photo was taken at my daughter’s wedding, just last weekend. The New York Times has been running my “Two Not Touch” puzzles in the print edition, Monday thru Saturday, since 2020. Currently working on improving technology for the State of California, and having fun with my modular synthesizer and other nerdy stuff. I’m still in touch with Regan Perry ‘76, and a few others occasionally on Facebook. Hit me up! Twitter: @jbum, Facebook: @krazydad krazydad.com

Matt Lindley ‘77

In the subsequent 40+ years I moved to Boston, got married, had kids, and pursued a career in advertising. At the tender age of 52 I joined Google where I still find myself today.

1980s

Chris Chandor Jr (Toby) ‘82

I’m living in Weston, Massachusetts with my wife Wendy. We met in grad school and have been married since 1999. We have two boys: Peter is a junior at Furman University and Ryan will be a freshman at Villanova this fall. I’m SVP of Development at a real estate private equity firm

Betsy Todd Uhl ‘56

based in Boston, where I’ve worked since 2010. Prior to that, I spent five years working for the Boston Red Sox. Wendy and I enjoy traveling and recently visited Iceland, which is amazing. I became an avid cyclist during COVID and have completed the Pan Mass Challenge (a 2-day, 192 mile charity bike ride) for the past two years and plan to ride again in 2023.

own. The oldest Bella, a Junior at George School, is preparing for the SATs and the College hunt. Our youngest Gigi, will begin her career at GS in the Fall. This is a real mind blower for Prescott and I since we met here 36 years ago!! I am looking forward to an exciting Spring Market in Real Estate and will continue teaching Zumba whenever I am asked. I see classmates like Lexi Lowe-Logan ’87 often and enjoy the occasional walk with classmate Sarah Crofts ‘87. I have also been known to run into Ana Pearson ’87 in our local Giant or on the sidelines at GS cheering on her oldest who also attends GS in the same class as Bella. It’s an unbelievably lovely life!!! I will be joining my siblings Jaime (’91) and Josh (’01) Ginsberg, both who attended BFS, this summer in Cancun for a multifamily, multi-generational vacation. We plan to get silly, laugh a lot, and have an incredible time.

Laura Swanstrom Reece ‘87

My horse, Danash’s Northern Tempest, a Friesian Appaloosa mare, was selected as the 2021 BreyerFest Celebration Horse and immortalized in an official Breyer Horse model. Due to the pandemic, BreyerFest 2021 was fully virtual, so we were invited to meet fans and perform at BreyerFest 2022 at the Kentucky Horse Park July 15-17. Dani is stabled near Wellington, Florida and we compete yearly at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Hunter classes. You can learn more about “Dani” at http://www. danithewonderhorse.com and on Instagram @ danithewonderhorse

like getting paid to learn! My second child, 18, is getting ready to graduate high school this year and I cannot believe how quickly this time has gone. She’s helping me write a trio of books that we’re hoping to finish soon and start shopping around (so if you know anyone in the publishing industry... drop me a quick note! hawkecho@gmail). My youngest, 16, is a sophomore this year and is the super talented illustrator for those books. They’ve also recently dipped their toe into the world of acting and I’m excited for them!

We just returned from our second trip to IchibanCon in Concord, NC and as last year we can’t wait to go back. My kids are into anime, manga, and CosPlay so it’s a fun convention for us as a family. They even got their dad into costume this year. He went as Vander from the show Arcane.

While I no longer live in Bucks County, I enjoy returning to its back roads and rolling hills when I visit my family and memories of BFS are part of the kaleidoscope of experiences that comprise my sense of home in Pennsylvania. When it comes to the Class of ‘84, I’ve enjoyed seeing Tami Spackman ‘84 (nee Zaroff ) in Portland, ME as well as on my phone screen, as she’s one of my tried-and-true Words With Friends competitors over the last five years. Steph AuWerter ‘84 and I are in touch, and I wish my travels took me to San Francisco more often to we might cross paths. I divide my time between Seattle, WA and Portland, ME, and look forward to raising a glass for Mr. B this coming May.

Charles King ‘85 (Charlie) lives in Geneva, New York (upstate) with his wife Erika and their three children (11, 14, and 16). Charles has run a small publishing services company editing, typesetting and indexing books for small publishers, since 1999. A semiprofessional singer, he serves as artistic director for an a cappella group in his hometown. He has been in several dozen local plays, musicals, and operas. He is involved in local politics and recently helped establish a police accountability board for his community. He visited BFS this past summer with his daughter and enjoyed showing her where the French room and the giant strides used to be.

Corissa (Ginsberg) Seraydarian’87

My family continues to enjoy life on campus at George School. This is our 5th year in the dorm where my husband Prescott and I are dorm parents to 23 firstand second-year students. We have 2 teens of our

Stevi Wright ‘87

We’re at present a Great-grandfamily with 4 generations living under one roof. As many of you have seen & followed our saga on Facebook in 2015 we bought an old bar / restaurant (c 1749) to renovate into a home mostly because it had enough space to house us all. We originally gutted the 2nd & 3rd floors and finished them first so that we could move in and finish the rest while living here. We’ve ripped off exterior sections and rebuilt them. Added a garage and attic, neither of which came with the building, and I’m happy to announce that after 7 years we now have a complete kitchen again! I could hug those cabinets and counters! (Pam and I may have actually done so....)

I have three kids and they are some of the most amazing people I know. My oldest, 22, is working at a tech company that he interned for during high school and is learning about and working on cutting edge communications tech. There’s nothing

Susan Crosman Waterhouse ‘88

I’m working as Upper School Math Department Chair at Westtown School, where I have been in various roles since the fall of 1999. My younger child is currently an 11th grader, boarding at Westtown, and my older child is a second-year college student at RIT. I am always glad to see BFS folks around at Westtown School, and would always be happy to chat with families that are considering Westtown School as a high school choice. Outside of school, I am working on a project with the Leadership Forum Community, to develop tools to bring leadership training to children and schools everywhere. I think of this project as striving to answer the question “how can we build tools so that students can begin to think of themselves as leaders the way students are given the tools to at BFS and other Friends schools?”

Jen Parks ’89

My family and I live in Boston, where I continue to work for the MA Dept of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services supporting the workforce and people in recovery, and my wife, Haidee, works for the MA Dept of Environmental Protection on increasing electric vehicle infrastructure. Our kids are Josten, 14, and Quinn, 12. We had a chance to visit Portland, OR this summer, where

Anita Verna Crofts ‘84

Haidee and I met and lived many years ago. We went to the park where we celebrated the 20th anniversary of our first* wedding (*it was a commitment ceremony because same sex marriage wasn’t legal back then - in fact it took us two more times before it stuck, in MA, where we have lived now for the past 14+ years).

1990s

Dan Holton-Roth ‘91

Dan is a lawyer and CEO of UMBO, a functional mushroom company. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his two daughters, Kenya (17) and Bedloe (14). He recently joined the BFS Board of Trustees, and has enjoyed reconnecting with the School through service. He is a member of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting and practices yoga and jiu jitsu.

Lloyd Moyer ‘92

I am currently the proud parent of two awesome BFS kids: Penny in 5th grade and Natalie in 2nd. My wife Tina and I love being a part of the current BFS community. We are active in PTAC, I am currently in my 3rd and final year as a PTAC clerk and Tina has been class parent several times. We live nearby in Doylestown, and I work in Peddler’s Village, so we’re never far from BFS. It’s been great to stay in touch with a few BFS classmates and schoolmates and has been even better to see a few familiar faces in the ranks of upcoming parents!

Josh Lipes ‘93

I’m living in Washington, DC with my wife Samantha and our five-year-old son Everett. We’ve been here since moving back from Beijing in 2008, except for a year-long stint in Mumbai in 2017. I’m a reporter writing for Radio Free Asia, mostly about the conflict in post-coup Myanmar. Luckily, my job allows for some flexibility, so we spent the summer in Portland, OR last year and are planning another couple of months abroad in Oslo in July.

While I haven’t had much of a chance to catch up on the goings on at BFS, we take Everett for walks at the campus every once and a while when I’m visiting my folks and it really fills me with a sense of peace being back. I’m excited to see the changes you have planned!

Kate T Benson ‘94 is devoted to helping bring enlightenment to a general audience by working as a spiritual teacher. She lives in Colorado.

Anna Chung ‘95

At this stage of life there aren’t too many frequent updates. That said, I did start a new job this past Sept with RLJ Lodging Trust as a Vice President of Asset Management. I’m always happy to see old BFS friends when I’m home visiting my parents.

Betsy Renzo ‘96

My older daughter, Evelyn, is in 7th Grade at Wilmington Friends School, and Amelia (5th Grade) will be joining her next year. They’d be excellent students anywhere, but we really wanted them to be good humans too, so we sought out a Quaker education. We’re happy and healthy and enjoying life in the First State. My brother Nick Cepparulo ’94 is also doing well. He and his wife Stephanie have an 8 year old son, Harrison, and a 2 year old daughter, Sofia. They live in Titusville, NJ. Nick works for Hunterdon County and spends a lot of his time walking around in the woods (all of that outdoor lunch time at BFS may have influenced him). He is an amazing mushroom hunter, if you ever want to go for a hike! Our mother, Deb Cepparulo, lives in Lambertville and is the best Noni in the whole world.

2000s

Kim Sorensen ‘00

I’m working at Phillips Auctioneers in New York City as a specialist in the 20th Century Design department. In my work it’s especially gratifying when I have the opportunity to handle pieces by local makers such as George Nakashima and Paul Evans, which now have a very international market! I also recently completed the Paris Marathon.

Michael Bernardini ‘01

Hi Everyone! I am currently residing in Watchung, NJ with my wife Danielle. We were recently married at the end of August 2022. We have two dogs, Riley (French Bulldog) and Delilah (Cocker Spaniel). I have been working in NYC at Indeed in sales and am coming up on my 10-year anniversary there in July. Hope everyone is doing well!

Nico Mihalich ’05 got married in June 2022 and lives outside of Boston with his wife Sophie.

Kathryn Tanner ‘08

I’m in my 7th year of living in Brooklyn, where I moved immediately after graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in Advertising. After working at various ad agencies across brands like Amazon, Lego, Converse, Unilever, and many more, I made a bit of a career change in 2021. I’m now the Head of Operations & Marketing for a Brooklyn based fine jewelry brand called Fewer Finer. I’ve always loved jewelry and couldn’t be happier spending my days getting to work with beautiful, sparkly, and sentimental treasures! Since becoming the first full-time hire, the company has grown to a team of 5 wonderful women. We have a collection of our own signature designs that we produce right here in NYC, a thoughtfully sourced vintage collection, and do loads of custom work, including heirloom redesigns and engagement rings. On a less professional and more personal note, I got engaged myself this past summer to my boyfriend of 5 years, Max, who I met at my first agency job. We’re currently planning a backyard wedding for July and look forward to welcoming his Australian friends and family to Bucks County to help us celebrate!

Skyler

My oldest son Bodie just started Kindergarten this year…and…he is a total science nerd. He wants to know EVERYTHING, and it has been so fun sharing my interests with him. The younger two are now 4 and almost 2, so we are very busy with them at home!

I am finishing the last year of my doctoral program and will officially be a pediatric acute care nurse practitioner! I have been working in the pediatric

(Trice) Coelho ‘09

emergency department and really love it, so I will probably end up there after graduation. We still live in Maryland and are surrounded by many great children’s hospitals, so it’s hard to decide!

Adam Mihalich ’09 is in Portland, Maine and is enjoying life in the beer brewing industry.

2010s

Scarlet Waldman ‘10

I’m currently living in San Diego, where I am in my third and final year of graduate school at Pepperdine University, studying clinical psychology in the online program. Five months ago I began an in-person internship providing individual and group therapy to clients at an LGBTQ+ rehab nonprofit. It has been a wonderful and difficult experience in which I’ve grown so much!

Other updates from me: I have a fiancé named Ethan, I’m still best friends with Madison and close with Flannery, I have a three-year-old chihuahua/ poodle mutt named Bert, I make music produced by my dad, and I feel a lot of excitement about the present and future. All of the Waldmans, my parents and siblings, are doing well. I have 12 nieces and nephews now!

Ava Helmer ‘15

This Spring I am graduating from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a BS in Public Relations and minors in English and Marketing. After graduating, I will be traveling around Europe with friends to places like Paris, Rome, Budapest and Prague. Then it’s off to the real world! I am currently looking for communications strategy positions in New York City.

My brother, Jonah Helmer ‘13 is working in beautiful Puerto Rico as Head Grower of a hydroponic lettuce start-up called Campo Caribe. My family visited him in Puerto Rico over the winter holidays.

Trey Dusek ‘16

Currently I am finishing up my junior year of college and enjoying every step of the way. I am headed to intern at a wealth management firm for the summer and am excited to learn about the profession and what is involved in managing money and interacting with high-networth individuals. Outside of the classroom I have been focusing my attention on historic auto racing with my father and we have an event filled summer ahead. We will be racing up and down the east coast and I will finally get to check the box for my first international race this year up in Canada. I have been fortunate enough to go on a trip to The Goodwood Festival of Speed this past summer, as well as schedule trips to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps to support a close friend racing in Europe and to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for this coming summer. I am greatly looking forward to the sights and sounds that these events and their host countries have to offer.

Pictured is myself getting a last minute pep talk from my drivers coach “Batman” before heading out on track in my Shannon 94PS-004 down at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the Vintage Sports 2000 North America feature race this past summer.

Joshua

Eisen ‘16

After I graduated from BFS in 2016, I went to Abington Friends School. During my time there, I continued my passion for sports by playing soccer and baseball, and I further fueled my interests in mechanical things by captaining the robotics team. I am now in my third year at Drexel University, studying real estate management & development and minoring in consulting. I commute by train every day (ugh) from Doylestown, which takes about 2 hours each way, but I love spending time with my family, my friends, and my dogs at home in Doylestown. I work part-time when I have off from school at CTI Technical Services and at Cyber Defense Systems, as well as for the New Hope Auto Show, learning lots about business along the way. Trey Dusek ‘16 and I have been on the board of the New Hope Auto Show for the last few years, which holds local car shows and car events to raise money for local charities during the spring and summer. In our off time, we can be found riding motorcycles or driving sports cars around Bucks County. I very much miss my time at BFS, but it will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will always come back to visit when I can!

Claire Schmucker ‘16

I’m currently a junior at Cornell University where I study Environment and Sustainability. My focus is the intersection of environmental and social justice. In Ithaca, I spend my free time rock climbing, taking aerial circus classes and I’m a part of Outdoor Odyssey, a group that leads students on backpacking trips throughout New York State. Last fall I began doing research and documentation in the herbarium, a library of preserved plant specimens on campus. Related to that, this semester I’m spending three weeks doing plant taxonomy and ecology research in Patagonia.

Lexi Alloway ‘17

I am well into my sophomore year at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and I am on the preveterinarian tract. I am playing softball at UMass, and I am involved in a lot of other new and fun activities. I love coming back to BFS to see familiar faces and have old memories come up. I hope all is well with BFS, teachers, and students that are still dear to my heart.

Mike Cook ‘18

Since I’ve graduated from BFS, I went to Solebury School and made some real genuine friends there, done well academic wise, and continued to learn about my passion for film. During that time, I started learning guitar and haven’t stopped playing since. After I graduated from high school, I turned nineteen (yikes) and am now a student at Rider University. I’m writing scripts and sometimes songs, while working on becoming a better student and a better man. I’m also working on staying fluent in my speech, as I’ve had some bumps in the road, but I’m going to get there.

Claire Roche ‘18 is doing well at UCLA. She joined a sorority called Gamma Phi Beta. She is still undecided as to her major. Over the Christmas break, she went on a ski vacation with fellow BFS graduates Owen Yerkes ‘18, Tori Gallagher ‘18, Zane Wasicko ’18 and Sam Mottershead ‘18. In the new year the kids along with their families went to Mexico for a few days.

2020s

Declan Roycroft ‘20

Gabriella Harris ‘21

I’m almost halfway through sophomore year and very anxious for a relaxing holiday break. In the fall, I played varsity tennis, with training that began halfway through August and continued until late October. Our season was very successful and we ended up making it to the finals of the FSL playoffs, which we unfortunately lost. Currently, I’m managing boys basketball for the winter season, and I hope to play lacrosse in the spring. We’re beginning to talk about course selections for next year, and I’m looking into the IB program. I’ve really found my place at George School and I’m very happy to be there. I still remain close with my BFS friends and we often have class reunions! I really enjoyed the recent alumni gathering held at the Jane Jackson house and it was so nice seeing everyone again!

Zane Wasicko ‘18

This year I started college at Western Colorado University and it has been great. I am studying geology here and competing on our trail running and skimo teams. I spend any time I get outside of the classroom deep in the mountains.

There really aren’t many days that go by without me reminiscing over my experience at BFS…The teachers, the environment, the students, and the overall community of the school really helped me when looking back on how I have gotten to where I am today. Going into my 3rd year of high school (almost halfway done with it though, wow time flies fast...) I would say I’ve been pretty successful at Solebury School. Even though the school is larger than BFS, it’s still small for a high school. Being able to continue that experience of a smaller community has definitely helped. I’m still learning and improving on things, but that’s all part of the school experience, no matter what grade. Although I didn’t keep in touch with all of my classmates, the experiences at BFS at least helped me to find my place in high school and make some new friends…I wish the BFS community a bright future! You’re part of a community with a uniquely terrific school, don’t lose sight of that!

IN MEMORIUM

We honor the memory of the following Buckingham Friends School community members

Mark L. Wisse ‘91

John Woll Jr. ‘44

Mark L. Wisse, died peacefully at his home in Stockton (Delaware Township), New Jersey, on Monday, April 25, 2022. He was 45 years old.

Born in Raritan Township, Mark was a lifelong resident of Delaware Township. He attended the Buckingham Friends School and the George

School. Mark earned his undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of Maine and was awarded a master’s degree in English Literature from Rutgers University in New Brunswick and a master’s degree in education from College of New Jersey. He was a dedicated educator teaching English Literature and Special Education at Hillsborough High School for the past 16 years.

Mark was an avid reader and loved sharing his love of good literature with his students. He was an

Will Coryell ’21 is attending Central Bucks East High School and plans to challenge himself with all Honors classes next year. He is playing travel soccer and we will be traveling to Italy this summer to play some Italian teams for fun!

Fionna Simek ‘22

I have just begun my freshman year at George School, and I played field hockey there this fall. I will also be traveling with George School for a servicelearning trip to the Netherlands in the early summer. Outside of school, I have continued to dance at Ballet Arts of Bucks County, and I am a member of the RFK Human Rights Organization Youth advisory board alongside Zoel Boublil ‘17. I’m very grateful to still be able to attend so many BFS gatherings because my sister, Aria ‘26 is still attending BFS.

animal lover. A dedicated runner, Mark participated in several marathons. He had a large circle of friends and treasured his time with those he loved.

Mark is survived by his parents Patricia O’Hea Wisse and Stuart Charles Wisse of Delaware Township; his sister Katherine J. Wisse and her children Lina and Cameron; his aunt Dr. Janice Ware of Cambridge, MA; his many friends in the Lambertville-New Hope area and the many students whose lives he touched with his encouragement and dedication.

If you do not currently receive emails from BFS, please consider providing us with your email address so that you may receive updates, the electronic alumni newsletter Friends!Connect! and more. To update your information visit www.bfs.org/alumni Contact Katelynn Connolly Director of Advancement at 215-794-7491 ext. 121 Email: kconnolly@bfs.org

Send the School via USPS: Buckingham Friends School, The Office of Advancement, PO Box 159, Lahaska, PA 18931

5684 York Road | P.O. Box 159 | Lahaska, PA 18931

215.794.7491 | www.bfs.org

BLUE AND GREY HIGHLIGHT REEL

BFS athletes returned to the trails and field this fall. The cross-country team excelled in performance and participation from students in 5th–8th Grade, while the coed soccer team had a tremendous season, securing the win of the Quaker Classic! The newly implemented Middle School intramural soccer program was an added bonus to the fall sports program this year. This winter the absence of a gym (due to campus improvements preparations) did not stop our girls’ and boys’ basketball teams from returning to the court. With some creative thinking and a partnership with the Lambertville Public School, teams represented BFS through the winter months and ended on a high note with a win for both!