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Calhoun ROCKS!
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Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders
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Calhoun Rallies for Hurricane Disaster Relief
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Alumni Class Notes
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Calhoun’s Mission To inspire a passion for learning through a progressive approach to education that values intellectual pursuit, creativity, diversity and community involvement.
B O A R D O F T R U S T E E S 2 0 1 7— 1 8
PA R E N T S A S S O C I AT I O N 2 0 1 7— 1 8
Jon Brayshaw Chair
Steven Solnick Head of School
OFFICERS
VICE PRESIDENTS, MIDDLE SCHOOL
Michael Conboy Vice Chair
CO-PRESIDENTS
LIFE TRUSTEES
Sheila Kirkwood Barbara Pyles
Louise Litt E. Kendall Vidal
Jim Glasgow Treasurer
Robert L. Beir* Eric Potoker ‘85 Eric Ryan
Melissa Liberty Secretary
HONORARY TRUSTEES
TRUSTEES
Susan Barkey Jonathan Bauman Stefanie Bhalla David Elsberg Louise Gore Karen Greene Terry Haas Scott Hirsch ‘86 Aasem Khalil Sheila Kirkwood, PA Rep Walter Levitch Jason McIntosh Marc Murphy Colleen Pike Blair Barbara Pyles, PA Rep Shaiza Rizavi Steven Sinatra Claudia Singleton Jay Sugarman Christine Taylor
Gertrude Marden Bacon ‘34* Edwin Einbender* Constance Stern Flaum ’39* Ronald M. Foster, Jr.* Sally Goodgold* Lawrence S. Harris Mark S. Kaufmann Anne Frankenthaler Kohn ’39* Peter D. Lederer Stuart Levin* Florence Yachnin Liebman ‘38 Helena Simons Marks ‘32* David C. Masket* Joan Masket Arthur S. Olick Elizabeth Parmelee* June Saltzman Schiller ‘42 Jesse I. Siegel* Mary-Ellen Greenberger Siegel ’49 Allen Swerdlick Edward S. Tishman
VICE PRESIDENTS, LOWER SCHOOL/81ST
Elif Ongoren Stephanie Santamaria
SECRETARY
Farrah Zabar
VICE PRESIDENTS, LOWER SCHOOL/74TH
TREASURER
Leigh Gerstenblatt Hanh Livingston
Daphne Smith-Naylor VICE PRESIDENTS, UPPER SCHOOL
Hillary Kahn Anna Snider
THE CALHOUN SCHOOL MAIN NUMBER
ALUMNI RELATIONS
212-497-6500
646-666-6450
LOWER SCHOOL/74TH
ANNUAL GIVING
212-497-6550
212-497-6584
ADMISSIONS/81ST
COMMUNICATIONS
212-497-6534
212-497-6527
ADMISSIONS/74TH
Please send changes of address, phone or email to familyupdates@calhoun.org
212-497-6575
*deceased
O N T H E COV E R
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The Calhoun Chronicle is published twice each year by the Communications Office for alumni, current and former parents, staff and friends. COPY EDITOR
Beth Krieger beth.krieger@calhoun.org
Amy Edelman
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Michelle Raum
Michelle Kiefer michelle.kiefer@calhoun.org
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE
Beth Krieger Nahuel Fanjul-Arguijo
Nahuel Fanjul-Arguijo nahuel.fanjul@calhoun.org
DESIGN
ALUMNI NEWS
PHOTO: BETH KRIEGER
Photo : GARY JOSEPH COHEN
EDITOR
Calhoun ROCKS! Calhoun Fest was a celebratory welcome for new Head of School Steve Solnick, and a chance for the community to reflect on and demonstrate the values we hold dear. The mantra for the day was a resounding “Calhoun ROCKS!” Page 22
Christine Zamora ‘81, CZ Design
Bart Hale ‘00 bart.hale@calhoun.org
Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXXX
Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXXX
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Contents WINTER 2018
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Features
Calhoun ROCKS!
Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders
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VIEWPOINT
by Steve Solnick
SCHOOL NEWS
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Calhoun Benefit 2018
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Farewell to Four Longtime Calhouners
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Calhoun Rallies for Hurricane Disaster Relief
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Departments
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Inside the Classroom: The Power of Words
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Onstage
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Sports
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ALUMNI NEWS
Class Notes
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Profile: Mario Sturla ‘99
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Homecoming Luncheon
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Alumni Pub Night
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SCHOOL
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OPEN UNTIL MARCH 8th AT NOON
TICKETS & INFORMATION WWW.CALHOUN.ORG/BENEFIT
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BY ST EV E SOL NI C K , HE A D OF SC HOOL
A Commitment to Leadership As I write this note, I am nearing the end of my first six months as leader of Calhoun. Consequently, my thoughts are very much on the subject of leadership—a theme of this issue.
At the top of the homepage of our website and on the front cover of this magazine, Calhoun has described itself as “A Leader in Progressive Education.” In an era in which many schools of different shapes and sizes and philosophies describe themselves as “progressive,” what does that phrase mean? Does it capture purity of philosophy— i.e., that we are somehow “more progressive” than other schools? Does it capture uniformity of style—i.e., that every teacher uses the same “progressive” teaching approach? Are we describing our success as educators—that our students emerge somehow more engaged and inquisitive? Or are we saying something about what we teach rather than how we teach? In my view, the “progressive” label captures a broad and venerable approach to education that stresses individual development, inquiry-based and project-based learning that is collaborative and interdisciplinary, a non-hierarchical and close relationship between students and teachers, a focus on the joy of learning that produces self-motivated and lifelong learners, and a deep embeddedness in community values that emphasizes moral and ethical development as well as intellectual growth. Different elements of this approach are increasingly found in other schools (independent as well as public) because experience has shown them to be effective. Imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery! To be a leader among schools, we have to practice the leadership traits we teach our students. We need to be prepared to try new approaches and question our assumptions without
being afraid to fail. We need to have what psychologist Carol Dweck has called a “growth mindset.” We need to be humble and self-reflective and also open to sharing our successes and failures. We need to practice the same commitment to learning for ourselves that we advocate for our students. We need to lead from a clear foundation in the values that are core to our mission. Finally, effective leaders also need to know when to follow and when to learn from others, how to benefit from the good ideas and best practices developed elsewhere.
“ To be a leader among schools, we have to practice the leadership traits we teach our students.” As we look ahead, Calhoun is poised to begin developing a new strategic plan that will direct our development as a school beyond its 125th anniversary (2021–2022). This process is about preserving our leadership as a great school—celebrating learning, challenging and nurturing our students, and being proud of our values. My expectation is that this plan will provide a roadmap for us, to enable us to continue to create the experiences and produce the alumni that you will read about in this issue of the Chronicle. In future issues, I hope to be able to share with you highlights of this plan and, over time, our progress in implementing it. It’s not easy to lead; our students discover this in myriad ways and our faculty work hard to be leaders in their fields. Leadership carries responsibilities and rewards. I am confident that Calhoun’s tradition of leadership will continue well into the future and I hope you’ll join us on this exciting and rewarding journey.
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Donor Event Highlights Arts Education Members of The Beir Society and The Steve Nelson Society became Calhoun students for a night at the Beir Society fall dinner, held on November 20. The event offered these generous annual fund donors a chance to experience firsthand how the visual and performing arts are taught at Calhoun. Middle School Director Danny Isquith and Upper School Director Lorenzo Krakowsky shared remarks about the value of arts education, and how central it is to Calhoun’s educational philosophy. “The arts are integral, vital parts of who we are, how we learn and how we see things. Through art, students achieve understanding in the most profound ways,” said Lorenzo. Added Danny, “The arts are highly valued at Calhoun. We devote the same number of periods to the arts as we do math or social studies because we see all of these subjects as equally important and supporting each other.” After a dinner prepared by Chef Bobo and remarks from Calhoun Annual Fund Chair Karen Greene, guests were invited to join one of six workshops led by faculty members: Intro to Rock Band with Kevin Farrell; Improvisational Theater with Jono Hustis; Woodworking with Mike Zurkuhlen ‘06; Gesture Drawing Workshop with Auguste Elder; Silkscreen Monoprints with Hailey Kim; and Jazz, Swing, and Pop 101 with Victor Lin. The night, agreed the guests, was a unique opportunity to see Calhoun through the eyes of our students. “It was a great evening to connect with fellow parents from all grades as we experienced what’s ahead for our young twins,” says Robert Colquhoun (P ’31). “The faculty here continue to build our confidence in our choice to join the Calhoun community.” For more details about the Calhoun Annual Fund giving societies, please visit www.calhoun.org/af.
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5 1. (L-R) John Abrons (P ’18), Upper School art teacher Hailey Kim, George Fulcher (P ’26, ’29) and Jocelyn Brayshaw (P ’18, ’20, ’23, ’26)
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2. (L-R) Heidi Untener (P ’20, ’24) and Julia Loy (P ‘17, ‘19) 3. (L-R) Maria Zaitseva (P ’26, ’28, ’32) and Cecily Denny (P ’24, ’29) 4. (L-R) Diana Levitch (P ’19) and Deborah Abrons (P ‘16, ‘18) 5. (L-R) US jazz teacher Victor Lin with Jason McIntosh (P ’26, ’28, ’32) and Christopher Wu (P ’25, ’28) 6. (L-R) Walter Greene (P ’25) with Middle School performing arts teacher Jono Hustis
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“Revel in the Night” at the 2018 Calhoun Benefit On March 9, the doors of Manhattan’s most iconic movie theater will open to Calhoun parents, grandparents, faculty and alums when they gather at the newly renovated Ziegfeld Ballroom for the 2018 Calhoun Benefit—the school’s biggest fundraising event of the year. In a nod to the history of the venue, the theme for the Benefit is “NOIR: Revel in the Night,” an homage to the cinematic movement of film noir. Besides the new venue, this year’s Benefit is marked by a series of additional firsts. With new Benefit Co-Chairs Erin Sloan (P ‘31, P ‘33) and Nicole Frankel (P ‘19) at the helm, the event includes brand-new tiered-ticketing prices, underwriting initiatives, and discounted tickets for families receiving tuition assistance. “I got involved in the Benefit because I wanted to help ensure that Calhoun continues to have the vital resources needed to enrich our children’s educational experience,” says Erin. Adds Nicole, “In the eight years my daughter has been at
Calhoun, I’ve consistently worked on the Benefit. My proudest accomplishment is that [my daughter] has watched this over the years and sees the importance of community, volunteerism and charitable giving.” Also for the first time, the Benefit team launched a Student Benefit Liaison Committee made up of Upper School grade reps. The student reps are playing a pivotal role in the Calhoun Benefit Photo Challenge with their fellow students, helping to select photo submission finalists for this year’s Benefit video. As in years past, the 2018 Benefit will include cocktails, silent and live auctions, dinner and dancing. Tickets for the Calhoun Benefit are on sale until Sunday, March 4. All community members are also invited to support the Benefit by bidding in the online auction, which opens in mid-February and closes at noon on March 8, at www.calhounauction.org. Visit www.calhoun.org/benefit for more details.
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Save the Dates! Calhoun’s 55th Spring Carnival Saturday, May 5, 2018 11am-5pm 81st & West End Avenue The best family event of the year! Open to the entire community.
Grandparents & Special Friends Day at Little Calhoun Friday, May 4, 2018 Invitations to come! Grandparents and special friends of children in 3’s-2nd grades who would like to receive an evite should submit contact information online, at www.calhoun.org/grandparents, or call 212-497-6581. Benefit Co-Chairs Erin Sloan and Nicole Frankel pose in front of the newly renovated Ziegfield Ballroom— the site of this year’s Calhoun Benefit.
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Calhoun Summer Camps SCHOOL NEWS
Specialty Camps for Creative, Passionate Kids Story Pirates Camp NEW! For kids entering 2nd–6th grades June 25–July 6, 2018
The internationally acclaimed Story Pirates guide kids through story writing while they engage in acting and improv games, build puppets and props, and perform in an original show. www.calhoun.org/storypiratescamp
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Calhoun Movie-Making Camp (CMMC) For kids entering 2nd–6th grades June 18–29, 2018
This two-week camp gives students the opportunity to write their own scripts and music, create their own settings, act, direct, and do their own camerawork. www.calhoun.org/cmmc
Calhoun Summer Music For kids entering 6th–11th grades June 13–15, 2018
This three-day camp is for woodwind, brass and string players with at least one year of playing experience. Great opportunity for students to play in small ensembles while being coached by professional musicians! www.calhoun.org/summermusic
Calhoun Summer Jazz For 14–18-year-olds June 18–22, 2018
This weeklong intensive jazz workshop provides an immersion experience in the basics of jazz improvisation, music theory and jazz history. The program concludes with a public concert. www.calhoun.org/summerjazz
Camps open to students from all schools. ENROLL NOW! www.calhoun.org/camps 6
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Farewell to Four Longtime Calhouners It is with sadness and deep gratitude that we announce the departure of these longtime Calhoun employees. We send them off with best wishes and many thanks!
Kathleen Clinesmith and Ben Clinesmith retired from Calhoun at the end of December, after being an essential part of our Calhoun community for almost three decades. Kathleen’s contributions to the school community spanned not just decades, but divisions and roles. She came to Calhoun in 1990 as a 4’s teacher in the newly opened “Little Calhoun” at 74th Street, and was named Director of Lower School/74th six years later. During this time, Kathleen’s husband, Ben, was a regular presence, bringing his “Sing It, Say It” reading/math curriculum to the LS/74 children, which launched a popular series of Calhoun Kids for Kids CD recordings of original songs. Kathleen, who was on the search committee for Steve Nelson, assumed the role of Director of Lower School when the 74th and 81st Street divisions were combined in 2001–02. That same year, Ben was brought in as a teacher and conductor to help develop our now extraordinary strings music curriculum, chamber ensembles and orchestra. Together, he and Kathleen also created the Calhoun Community Orchestra— inviting students to perform publicly with professional faculty and parents. Most recently, Kathleen filled in as Acting Head of School during Steve Nelson’s 2015-16 sabbatical, and then assumed the position of Senior Administrator, offering
advice and transitional support after Steve Nelson announced his retirement and Steve Solnick came aboard. Kathleen was a mentor to many Lower School teachers, but particularly to Alison Max Rothschild ‘85, whom Kathleen promoted from her position as Kindergarten Head Teacher to Assistant Lower School Director, then to Co-Director of the Lower School, and eventually to Director of the Lower School.
Angela Fischer, who began as Assistant to the Head of School in 2004, said farewell to the Calhoun community this past December. Angela had become an integral—but often invisible—player in almost every area of the school’s administrative life during her 13 years at Calhoun. As she worked tirelessly with Steve and the Board, her role expanded. She provided indispensable support to Admissions and Development projects, took on the part-time position of Communications Manager as the school’s web-based applications became more robust, and then, at Steve’s request, accepted the role of Acting Director of Human Resources to help the school develop new employee policies and procedures. Though she returned to Germany last year, Angela continued her work for Calhoun (remotely!) during the transition between Steves—ending her career here with numerous titles, and the thanks of innumerable parents and colleagues indebted to her expertise and dedication.
Elissa Kompanek, First Grade Head Teacher, retired at the end of January after “24 wonderful years”—first as a 3’s teacher, and then, through the years, moving seamlessly from grade to grade in the Lower School. She was always “super invested in the emotional lives of children, helping them to understand and express their feelings in a way that empowers them,” says Lower School Director Alison Max Rothschild ‘85. In fact, one of Elissa’s signature curriculum projects was using the life of Gandhi as a way to teach social justice to young children. Mother of two alums—Chris Kompanek ’01 and Nina Kompanek Leksin ’05—Elissa acknowledges her retirement is bittersweet. “I will miss my students, past as well as present, but feel so lucky to have shared in their daily discoveries. I also feel lucky to have known so many wonderful families and am very grateful to the administration, Kathleen and Alison, for giving me the freedom to be and grow as a progressive teacher.”
Keep Up with Calhoun News! For the latest news, go to www.calhoun.org/newsmedia
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Calhoun Rallies for Hurricane Disaster Relief When hurricanes devastated Puerto Rico and the Caribbean early this fall, members of the Calhoun community were determined to find ways to help. Individual classes, grades, divisions, student clubs, faculty and staff began organizing donation drives and fundraisers. And on October 27, Upper School students hosted an after-school Disaster Relief Benefit, inviting the entire community to an event that pulled together the various initiatives. By December, Calhoun had raised more than $4,500, in addition to hundreds of dollars’ worth of diapers, first–aid kits and other needed goods. Funds raised were divided among five charitable organizations suggested by Calhoun faculty—The Central Center for Mutual Aid, Convoy of Hope, Para La Naturaleza, the Puerto Rico Resilience Fund and the Bel Esprit Cultural Institute’s Rise and Read program. Goods were also sent to the Puerto Rican Family Institute and Toldos Pa’ Mi Gente. The Calhoun community continues to look for ways to support our friends and family in Puerto Rico and surrounding islands who are still suffering from this fall’s devastating hurricanes. Collecting Diapers and First-Aid Kids The Middle School’s student government led the collection and assemblage of approximately 75 first–aid kits, while fifth graders spearheaded a diaper drive that brought in four times the original goal of 500! Goods were sent to the Puerto Rican Family Institute.
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Supporting the Children of Puerto Rico and St. Thomas Families at Lower School/74th focused on collecting boxes of children’s books, pajamas, coloring books and bedtime items. A coin drive—Semillas de Monedas— quickly followed, raising $2,487! Money and goods were sent to the Bel Esprit Cultural Institute’s Rise and Read program, which supports children in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas.
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Washboards for Hurricane Victims When US Sustainability Coordinator/ teacher David Hyman heard that the people of Puerto Rico, still without electricity, were resorting to washboards to wash their clothes, he teamed up with MS teacher Mike Zurkuhlen ’06 and his woodworking students. Ultimately, eight handcrafted washboards were shipped by David to Toldos Pa’ Mi Gente, an organization that provides tarps and other necessities to hurricane victims. Disaster Relief Benefit The Calhoun Community Disaster Relief Benefit on October 27, organized by Upper School students with the participation of student groups from all divisions of the school, was the scene of a variety of fundraising activities—including a basketball challenge and sales of baked goods, plants and homemade crafts. The event raised more than $2,000.
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1. The Upper School’s Hunger and Homelessness class collaborated with the Athletic Department to stage a basketball tournament fundraiser. 2. US Mandarin teacher Xiaolin Lin (left) helped sell autographed copies of the children’s book La Flor de Oro: Un Mito Taíno de Puerto Rico—all donated by author and alum parent Nina Jaffe (Louis Armistead ’04). Many of the books, in English and Spanish versions, were purchased for direct donation to children in Puerto Rico. 3. Jackson Sinatra ‘23 was one of several MS woodworking students who handcrafted washboards to send to Puerto Rico.
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4. US Social Justice Organizers sold potted succulents at the Disaster Relief Benefit. Money raised went to purchase non-GMO seeds for those in disaster areas. 5. (L-R) Kindergarten parent Avy Gonzalez and her daughter, Elyna, helped LS/74 Spanish teacher Priscilla Marrero pack up a van with boxes of goods for the Bel Esprit Cultural Institute. 6. Students assembled first-aid kits for Puerto Rico at the Disaster Relief Benefit. 7. Children in Calhoun’s After School Program (ASP) created and sold handmade jewelry and crafts to raise funds for disaster relief.
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IN T HE CL ASS RO O M
Gingerbread Study Brings Literature to Life It was a familiar sight during the holiday season: children making homemade gingerbread houses in the weeks leading up to Christmas. But for Tillie Scarritt’s first grade class, this was more than a festive baking project; it was one element of a dynamic literary study. Early in November, the students embarked on a comparative literature unit that centered on the story “The Gingerbread Man.” They read various versions of the classic tale and then analyzed the different uses of setting, character, plot and language. As they delved into these literary themes, the students also set aside time to bake their own gingerbread cookies— making their study even sweeter! Next, the students became storytellers themselves, creating their own version of the gingerbread story that they called “The Daring Twins.” They were joined in their endeavor by Upper Schooler
Margaret Barnsley ’20, who spent several periods in the classroom over the course of six weeks as part of a project for her own class, Community Action: Students Teaching Students. Margaret mentored the children through the creative process, helping them outline and draft the narrative, create storyboards and then complete the illustrations with watercolors. The book project was a new lens through which these first graders could reexamine and put into practice the literary concepts they had studied, but one obvious step
remained—the construction of their own gingerbread houses. And it turns out a lot can be learned from a simple cookie structure: The students investigated patterns and shapes, practiced decisionmaking and exercised creative problemsolving skills to bring their visions to life. Parents and grandparents joined in the fun. And as the students munched happily on the finished results, they discovered that their appetites had only been whetted—they were ready for more exploration, and were already plotting the creation of a gingerbread play!
(Above) Margaret Barnsley ‘20 works with first graders Hana Okamoto and Wilder Garcia-Harto on an illustration for the original story they wrote with classmates, based on the classic gingerbread tale. (Right, top) A page from the “The Daring Twins,” a gingerbread story by Tillie’s cluster. (Bottom right) First graders Olivia Garcia and Gabriel Pitts build gingerbread houses using an orange juice container, graham crackers, whipped cream and candy! CALHOUN CHRONICLE
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Mentoring At-Risk Youth Jim St. Germain, co-founder of the nonprofit Preparing Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT), visited Lavern McDonald’s Punishment, Politics & Culture class this fall to discuss his new memoir, A Stone of Hope. Born into poverty in Haiti, Jim moved with his family to an overcrowded apartment in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights and soon fell into street life, stealing and dealing drugs, and was arrested at the age of 15 for dealing crack cocaine. In a rehabilitation program for at-risk youth, Jim discovered his voice and passion for helping others. He eventually got his GED and college degree, and decided to live in the projects where he had grown up while working to reform the way the criminal justice system treats at-risk youth.
(L-R) Jim St. Germain discusses his memoir with Lavern McDonald, J. B. Denamiel ’19 and Sam Horn ’18.
“There’s power in words and writing,” he said, encouraging Lavern’s students to use
the opportunity of their own education to be a positive force in another child’s life.
Understanding the Rights of a Child Fourth graders in Kyle Anderson’s social studies class created watercolor paintings inspired by their reading and discussion of the book I Have the Right to Be a Child, which outlines many of the fifty-four articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child. The project triggered conversations about basic human rights, a major theme in Kyle’s curriculum.
“Talking about these issues encourages students to think outside of themselves,” said Kyle. “It helps build empathy, a skill that nine- and 10-year-olds are prime to start understanding.” The Rights of a Child, #12: “I have the right to be protected by adults and to be sheltered from disasters.” Watercolor by Ty David ’26
Digging into Archaeology Upper Schoolers in Meghan Chidsey’s Introduction to Anthropology class weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty when they excavated “historic” remains in a simulated dig on Calhoun’s Green Roof this fall, using their own homemade stone tools that replicated those used by early humans. The workshop was the culmination of a course of study that began with a unit on biological anthropology that examined hominid evolution. US teacher Meghan Chidsey demonstrates excavation procedures during a simulated archaeological dig on Calhoun’s Green Roof. WINTER 2018
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Reflecting on the Power of Words Every year, MS English teacher Larry Sandomir introduces his seventh graders to the power of language and its potential to create beauty, magic and change. His hope, he says, is to impress upon his students that even one person can change the world by using his or her voice. Larry begins the year by introducing his students to Malala Yousafzai—a perfect example of the kind of power one young person can exert. Malala, they learn, was only 11 years old, living in Swat, Pakistan, when she first began writing a blog to advocate for girls’ education around the world. Three years later, a Taliban gunman shot Malala in the head because she would not stop her advocacy work. The murder attempt sparked a national and international outpouring of support that Malala used to become a prominent education activist. At 17 she became the youngest person in history to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Larry’s students begin by watching a video of the stirring speech Malala made to the United Nations when she was 16. They read the words she spoke the next year, when she received the Nobel Prize. And they listen to songs dedicated to Malala or written in her honor—by Grammy Award–winning artists as well as many young musicians she inspired. With those powerful images in mind, Larry asks his students to reflect on the power of Malala’s voice and to respond— through written word or art. “The idea is for each individual to consider what language can do, for both good and bad; to make some sense of how words are used in the current political climate; and to recognize that the way we use words—orally or in written form—can lead to change.” The class then moves on to studying works of literature where language is central to the story, language that Larry says (in his own personal poetics) “conjures previously unimaginable images;
(Left) Author Liz Murray works with seventh grader Julian De Laszlo as part of a writing workshop that focuses on empowering students to find their own voice. “I believe in the power of storytelling,” Liz tells the students. “Storytelling shows us what we all have in common.” (Right) Seventh grader Sophie Crystal created a portrait of Malala based on the WWII “We Can Do It” poster, also known as “Rosie the Riveter.” Malala Yousafzai, noted Sophie in her artist statement, is “strong, brave, smart and kind, and pushes herself to get to her full potential.”
considers ideas never before thought of; and encapsulates phrases that adhere, like the strongest glue, to our souls.” The students begin by reading Warriors Don’t Cry, the memoir of the Little Rock Nine by Melba Pattillo Beals, followed by The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie’s part-memoir, part-novel of some of his teen years on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Finally, they take on Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, the World War II–era historical novel that features a gentle and inordinately fatigued Death as the narrator. With each book read in class, the students are asked to read a companion novel at home that they have chosen from a list of books on similar themes. Once they have completed both novels, students are asked to bring the two stories together to help them reflect, through a choice of written or visual activities. Some choose to switch the main characters in the two books, and imagine how each character would respond to the events in the other’s story; some create a conversation between characters from each book, imagining how they might get along, disagree or solve each other’s challenges; some create a work of art that reflects
their observations. As the year’s study progresses, the students have the privilege of participating in a writing workshop with author Liz Murray, a writer, speaker and education advocate whose personal story is a testament to the power of words; writing, she says, saved her when she was a homeless teenager, and eventually propelled her to Harvard. “Liz adds greatly to our students’ appreciation and application of the power of language,” observes Larry. “Her kindness, openness, talent and honesty embolden the seventh graders to search within themselves to places they have never known before, and find the words to express what they mean.” For many of the students, their newfound confidence and voice—inspired by Malala, Liz, and the authors they read— is a revelation. Larry quotes Markus Zusak, who wrote in The Book Thief about the main character, Liesel Meminger: “When she came to write her story, she would wonder exactly when the books and the words started to mean not just something, but everything.” Or as seventh grader Ryan Galitsky noted in a poem about Malala, “The world is changing . . . one word at a time.”
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Examining Juvenile Rights and Social Justice Tami Steckler, chief administrative officer for the Legal Aid Society of New York, visited Upper School students enrolled in Andrew Hume’s Child Welfare, Family and Community class this fall, for an impassioned discussion on juvenile rights. The class examined the role that courts play in social justice, including how teenagers can be represented in court for criminal issues or child welfare decisions. Tami challenged students with the question “At what age should you be able to make decisions about your own life, and why?” Tami Steckler (center) speaks to Andrew Hume’s Child Welfare, Family and Community class.
An Insider’s Look at the United Nations Sarah Mendelson (left), former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations’ ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council), offered a peek at the daily life of a United Nations ambassador to Middle Schoolers enrolled in a Model UN elective class and Upper Schoolers in the Model UN club. Invited to speak by Head of School Steve Solnick, Sarah inspired the students to support the UN’s Sustainable
Development Goals program, which, among other things, seeks to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity. This past January, members of the Upper School Model UN club participated in a Model UN conference at Yale; students in the Middle School elective class will attend the Montessori Model UN conference at the end of February.
We Can’t Do It Without You— Your Gift Matters to Calhoun! Support the 2017-2018 Calhoun Annual Fund by June 30. Visit calhoun.org/onlinegiving or contact Becky Turcotte, 212-497-6594 WINTER 2018
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IN T HE CL ASS RO O M
Exploring Gender and Consent Seventh graders are exploring topics of gender and consent during a series of in-depth workshops this year, organized in partnership with Tara Abrol, founder of BIG Talks Workshops, and Gaurav Jashnani (pictured), educator and activist. Through a variety of activities and discussions, students are wrestling with topics including the connection between gender and identity; gendered spaces; and the practice of consent. In his visit to the classroom, Gaurav talked to students about gender violence, and shared ways in which young people can challenge the norms and act as allies. Activist Gaurav Jashnani conducts a workshop on gender and consent for seventh graders.
Through the Eyes of Immigrants Fifth graders brought immigrant journeys to life this semester, through cross-disciplinary writing projects in language arts and social studies classes. In social studies, the students researched U.S. immigration at the turn of the 20th century, and kept a journal in which they imagined the experiences of immigrants as they left Europe and passed through Ellis Island, envisioning the dreams they had and the challenges they encountered. In language arts, the students examined U.S. immigration through a contemporary lens. They studied issues such as amnesty, asylum and deportation, as well as the far-reaching implications of these policies. Then they were asked to choose an area of the world currently experiencing conflict and write a fictional story describing an immigrant’s journey from his/her homeland to life in their adopted country. These detailed and nuanced narratives transported the students on voyages from such countries as Syria and Poland, challenging both writer and reader to view the world from a different lens.
(Top) Fifth graders’ journals and short stories explore the experiences—both dream and reality—of life as an immigrant. (Right) Fifth grader Caia Scarola shares her immigrant stories with her parents, Nancy and Richard.
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UPPER SCHOOL THEATER
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Pride and Prejudice The Upper School theater’s performance of Pride and Prejudice this past December was a hit! Based on the novel by Jane Austen and adapted for the stage by Simon Reade, it was an impeccable showcase of the Calhoun thespians’ charm, elegance and acting abilities. 1. (L-R) Ethan Quigley ’19 and Fernando Rueda ’19 2. (L-R) Francesca Diamond ’18, Julian Kuo-Gross ‘19 and Pedro Assis ’19 3. (L-R) Francesca Diamond ’18 and Rea Brayshaw ‘18 4. Codee Lawtum ‘18
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5. Lindsay Jackman ’18 (left) with Ethan Quigley ‘19
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The Musicians of Bremen Eighth graders in the Middle School theater program presented The Musicians of Bremen, a stage adaptation of the classic Grimm’s fairy tale. Impressive solos and comic performances kept the audience enthralled! 1. Evie Dolan as the Dog 2. Grande finale, with (L-R) Charlie Adams, Paloma Chapman, Oshen Henderson, Carter Paterson 3. Cameron Sherman as the Rooster 4. Maude Weber as the Cat 5. The robbers are caught! (L-R) Olivia Lipman, Ariell Haims, Maya Cook.
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M O RE P HOTOS www.calhoun.org/media
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MUSIC EVENTS
Winter Concert The annual Winter Concert featured an eclectic program of rock, pop, classical and holiday favorites, performed by the Middle School Strings Ensemble, Upper School Strings Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and Chorus. 1. Senior Romi Konorty performed a beautiful solo, accompanied by the Upper School Strings Ensemble. 2. Sixth grader Owen Llodra, Middle School Strings Ensemble 3. Seventh graders Willa Hart and Leon Jonsson Fernandez, Middle School Strings ensemble
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4. Tenth grader Cashel Day-Lewis entranced the audience with his violin solo.
Lower School Winter Sing 5. This year’s Lower School Winter Sing featured holiday melodies for all! Fourth graders (pictured here) demonstrated how talented they’ve become with their recorders, and then joined fellow Lower Schoolers for a special choral performance of “Ode to Joy,” for which the students had written new lyrics inspired by the many things that bring them joy in their lives.
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(Left) A key player in only her first year as a Cougar, junior Laila Kelly displayed her superior technical skills this season. (Right) Young players like Lauren Carey ’21 look to keep the team dominant for years to come. PHOTOS: Jordan Hollender
Ten Years the Champs! Cougars Continue to Rule Girls’ Volleyball The Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team did it again, sweeping the New York City Athletic League (NYCAL) season by bringing home both league and post-season tournament championship titles! With another impressive undefeated season in the books (10-0), the Cougars show no sign of slowing down. This marks the fifth year in a row that the girls’ team earned dual titles, but it’s the 10th consecutive year that they have brought home championship gold (counting wins in GISAL, their previous league). The Cougar girls closed out the 2017 season with two remarkable victories in the NYCAL Tournament championships. The semifinal match-up against UNIS ended in a perfect 3–0 win. And while the finals against rival Columbia Prep presented some real challenges in the first sets, Stefania Sarantis ’18 and Tallulah Hunt ’18 motivated teammates with game-changing points, turning the match toward its ultimate 3–2 finish for the Cougars. Alessandra Costantini ’19, Laila Kelly ’19 and Sydney Ashton ’20 were also key players throughout the season and in the final match, making it clear that this team may well maintain its dominance for seasons to come.
The Varsity Volleyball team’s spirit and camaraderie contributes to the program’s continuing success. (L-R: Holliss Hirsch ‘21, Lauren Carey ‘21, Emily Bauman ‘21, Laila Kelly ‘19, Tallulah Hunt ‘18).
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Co-captain Gabi Levy ’20 (with ball, center) led the team by example, dominating the net and showing the composure needed to achieve success on the court.
A Perfect Season JV’s Dual Titles Match Varsity Success Cougar dominance on the volleyball court is not limited to the varsity program. For the third year running, the Girls’ JV Volleyball team captured dual titles as the NYCAL and championship tournament victors. To make this already impressive feat even more striking, the team dropped zero sets all season! After a perfect 10-0 season, the Cougars entered the NYCAL Tournament Championship as the number one seed, swiftly making their way into the finals against LFNY. The Lycée team was ready to spoil the Cougars’ season with a passionate showing in the second set of the finals—taking the Cougars into a win-by-two situation—but Cougar co-captain Gabi Levy ’20 was not going to let this happen, ushering teammates into a nail-biting finish that secured their perfect season with a 25–23 win. Solid leadership from Gabi and co-captain Sky Kind ’20 gave the team the core it needed to succeed as a group. Along with experienced setter Kyra Fox ’21 and skilled Middle Schoolers Daniella Sarantis ’22 and Sky Battino ’23, this team was equipped from the start for this perfect finish.
(L-R) Leah Shneyder ’21 and Kyra Fox ’21 celebrate the team’s dual-trophy season after a highly competitive match-up in the NYCAL tourney finals.
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Sports Briefs MS Girls’ Volleyball Takes Second Place
Cross Country Runners Achieve Personal Bests
For the first time in Calhoun history, the Girls’ Middle School Volleyball team posted a winning season—taking home a solid second-place finish in the NYCAL, thanks to focused play and positive teamwork. “Cultivating talent and mission from a young age creates depth in the roster and the understanding that no team is just about one player—that’s what makes the Cougars so hard to beat,” says Sabrina Spiegel Zurkuhlen ’06, Director of Athletics and Varsity Volleyball coach for both boys’ and girls’ teams. “It’s why we see repeat championship years at the varsity and junior varsity levels—and why I envision the same kind of success to come for our Middle School athletes!”
Varsity Cross Country athletes spent the season improving their personal best times, race after race. On the championship stage, Oscar Llodra ’20 showed undisputable resilience when he ran a 19-minute 5K race to take third place at the NYCAL Championship Meet, after a season of nagging injuries. Success at the NYCAL level gave Oscar—along with Charles Stone ’19 and Pedro Assis ’19—a chance to face off against the top talent in New York State independent schools at the NYSAIS Championship Meet, where Oscar took 53rd place and Charles 95th out of the top 200 runners in the NYSAIS league.
Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team Posts Best Season Yet If the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team found its footing last year, then this fall they undoubtedly built on their foothold with a group of determined players who proved this team is ready to go to the next level. Ninth graders Anna Friedland, Natalia Rueda, Isabel Goldberg and Maya Goldberg exhibited skill and resolve on the pitch. But success didn’t come purely from the younger athletes; seniors Rea Brayshaw and Flora Morrison captained the team with a show of grit and scoring power. With three wins and three ties in the 2017 season—the best outcome yet for this young program— Calhoun Girls’ Varsity Soccer may soon become a real contender in the competitive NYCAL.
Boys’ Varsity Soccer Focuses on Rebuilding The Boys’ Varsity Soccer team spent this season focused on skills and team-building, beginning by joining the Girls’ Volleyball athletes for the first time in an intensive pre-season weekend training camp. With only one senior on the team this year—captain John Rosenthal—the youthful Cougars are looking ahead to the 2018 season, when they hope to capitalize on the strong performances brought this year by underclassmen Jan-Adam Wechsler ’21 and Lucian Brayshaw ’20 and experienced juniors James Schirrmeister and Ethan Quigley.
Middle School Soccer Finds Scoreboard Success Calhoun’s Coed Middle School Soccer team recorded some of its first scoreboard successes in recent years. A diverse group of goal scorers and goal assisters, and a hardworking defensive squad, kept the Cougars in competitive match-ups with some of the league’s best. The even mix of seventh and eighth graders on the squad—led by eighth grade co-captains Ella Gullickson and Jack Johnson—certainly set the groundwork for a strong team culture that will build the needed foundation for future play.
Top Finishes for MS Cross Country The Middle School Cross Country team followed up last year’s championship year with a second-place team finish for the 2017 fall season. The predominantly seventh grade team saw new Cougar athletes take on the challenge, while the two sole eighth graders on the squad, Gabe Shaub and Liam Harvey, led consistently— keeping the Calhoun team near the top of the charts of the Middle School NYCAL standings. Liam himself kept to his standard championship benchmark, taking first place at every race this season—making it two years of undefeated races on the Middle School Cross Country squad! Not only did Liam win every race, but he improved his times throughout the season, finishing his Middle School Cougar career with his personal best time at 9 minutes and 48 seconds in the 1.5-mile race. These impressive accomplishments will be welcomed on the Varsity team next season. 1. Cultivating talent and mission has helped build the Girls’ MS Volleyball team—which grabbed second place in the league for the first time in Calhoun history. 2. Freshman Anna Friedland’s resolve on the field was a crucial factor in the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team’s defensive strategy this season. (PHOTO: Cory Schwartz) 3. Eighth grader Ella Gullickson—team co-captain and defensive stronghold—readies for one of many swift steals of possession in the Coed MS Soccer team’s first win in years. 4. The youthful Cougars have the right energy and focus to capitalize on this season and continue building the Boys’ Varsity Soccer team for next year. 5. Eighth grader Liam Harvey (center, pictured with eighth grader Gabe Schaub and coach Ilana Prusock) finished his perfect Middle School Cross Country career with a personal best time of 9 minutes and 48 seconds in the 1.5-mile race. (PHOTO: Cory Schwartz) 6. Oscar Llodra ’20 completed an impressive 19-minute 5K run at the NYCAL Championship Meet, taking third place! (PHOTO: Al Pereira)
Keep up with the Cougars! Go to www.calhoun.org/teams for upcoming games.
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FEATURE CALHOUN FEST 2017
Eighth graders Katya Deckelbaum and Sokhnamai Kane welcome Steve with an official Calhoun jacket.
Calhoun ROCKS! “Calhoun Rocks” was the mantra for this year’s Calhoun Fest—a celebratory, all-school welcome for new Head of School Steve Solnick, and a chance for students and faculty to reflect on and demonstrate to Steve who we are and what we value as a community. It was a morning filled with cross-divisional activities—math games, Mandarin lessons, physics projects and recycled-material fashion shows—with students teaching students. In between activities, students, faculty and staff were invited to paint “Kindness Rocks” with a word or words that represent something meaningful or unique about Calhoun. The hand-decorated rocks were formally presented to Steve in a festive, all-school assembly, complete with musical tributes, speeches, video, and a special gift from Calhoun’s alumni/faculty. It was a magical way to officially launch a new era with our “new” Steve.
Calhoun’s Kindness Rocks will be put on permanent display in the Neen Hunt Library at 81st Street. See the video, What We Love About Calhoun, at www.calhoun.org/calhounfest. CALHOUN CHRONICLE
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1. MS teacher Anthony Gaskins (top left), emcee for the Calhoun Fest assembly, passes the mike to sixth grader Xuenyang Sheng, who represented his cluster family group in talking about one of the Calhoun values most meaningful to them. 2. Carina De La Luz Vazquez ’18 and the 730 Jazz Ensemble led the community in a sing-along of “I’ll Be There.” 3. Sabrina Spiegel Zurkuhlen ’06 welcomed Steve on behalf of the school community, and, as an alumna and faculty member, spoke of Calhoun’s legacy and hopes for the future. 4. In addition to Sabrina, seven Calhoun alumni/teachers and two soon-to-be alumni ceremoniously presented Steve with a gift—a compass to help him steer Calhoun forward. Among those presenting to Steve were (L-R) Dan Stein ’07, Mike Zurkuhlen ’06, Bart Hale ’00, Alison Max Rothschild ’85 and Bobby Rue ’85 (missing from photo: Debbie Havas Aronson ’79, Emily Capkanis ’07, Eli Fortunato ’18 and Ethan Lichtenstein ’18). 5. Raphael Nwadike ’18 wrote and performed a new school song for the occasion of Steve Solnick’s welcome.
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6. Lower Schoolers joined in for the chorus of Raphael’s new school song.
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What We Love About Calhoun “Something that I love about Calhoun is how much imagination is valued.” SU ONGOREN, FIFTH GRADE
“There are no walls, so everyone can interact with each other.” MILES NELSON, SIXTH GRADE
“The teachers and everybody here are so welcoming. Even my godmother calls Calhoun ‘the school of love.’ ” KAMILLE BREWSTER, SEVENTH GRADE
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“I value the independence and progressive education.” GUS GROSSMAN, ELEVENTH GRADE
“One thing I love about Calhoun is that we do teamwork to help us learn.” ANYA SCHENCK, THIRD GRADE
“I love Calhoun because the mod system allows us to go really in depth into subjects.” MICHAEL NELKIN, TWELFTH GRADE
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“Everybody at Calhoun is very open-minded.” JOHN FREITAG, SIXTH GRADE
“We’re very active with the community at large, and that’s something that I hope continues.” RAPHAEL BAUM, ELEVENTH GRADE
“I love not saying ‘Mrs.’ and ‘Mr.’; it just makes the relationships between students and teachers more comfortable.” SOKHNAMAI KANE, EIGHTH GRADE
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“I’m new this year; it was actually really nice having a community that was very accepting; friendships were really easy to make.” KYLE MILLINGTON, SIXTH GRADE
“[The community] is very open to every gender, religion, kind of everything…and willing to talk about it.” ANDREW VIDREVICH, SIXTH GRADE
“Something I love about Calhoun is all the friends, because everyone is so diverse.” ANIKA SHAH, SIXTH GRADE
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Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders Calhoun is shaping a community of leaders, one student at a time. From an early age, our students are trained to think deeply, to be confident in expressing themselves, to take responsibility and to work for new solutions, innovation and positive change. by Michelle Kiefer and Beth Krieger
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“Calhoun students learn as much about leadership skills as they do about reading, writing, history, science or math,” says Middle School Director Danny Isquith, who notes that, at every division level, students learn to work as part of a team as well as take initiative through independent projects. They learn how to make choices— in a safe environment that accepts that there are risks inherent in those choices. They practice communication skills through presentations and demonstrations to peers, faculty and parents; and they are encouraged to analyze problems from multiple perspectives to make thoughtful decisions. Most of all, they learn about empathy and inclusion. In fact, the model of leadership that students practice at Calhoun is deeply rooted in empathy. “Leadership isn’t about bossing people around; it’s about being a supportive equal,” explains Rea Brayshaw ’18, a Peer Leader and co-captain of the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team. “Leadership is teaching others . . . it’s about being there for others,” adds Eli Fortunato ’18, who serves as Upper School co-community manager and a Peer Leader.
Beyond their academic studies, there are a multitude of opportunities for students to step into roles of responsibility. In Middle School, students are encouraged to spearhead clubs, organize grade-wide social activities and initiate division-wide community service projects. By the time they get to Upper School, students can volunteer as tutors or admissions ambassadors, represent the student body on faculty committees, serve as Peer Leaders for incoming ninth graders or direct town hall meetings. “Calhoun allows you to be part of making the school better,” says Sam Horn ’18, who counts faculty rep, president of the Young Democrats club and Peer Leader among his leadership positions. The result of this intentional focus on leadership across Calhoun is that students are prepared to make a difference not just in the school, but in the outside world as well. “We want Calhoun students to feel that they can make an impact on the communities they will join throughout their lives,” says Head of School Steve Solnick. “By teaching leadership skills throughout our programming, from the youngest ages, we equip our students with lifelong skills to be changemakers.”
Students as Mentors, Teachers and Ambassadors In the Upper School, students are actively involved in shaping the culture of the school—an example of the strong emphasis placed on student voice, interdivisional relationships and peer role modeling. The students volunteer to help out in Lower School math classes and the after school Math Club in Middle School. They are peer tutors and admissions ambassadors, as well as leaders during the school’s annual Harvest Festival (Left) Peer Leaders and ninth graders enjoy some downtime during a camping trip they attended on the first two days of school in September. The annual overnight is a team- and community-building experience for the ninth graders, and an opportunity to bond with Peer Leaders.
and Earth Day events. And, as student government members or club coordinators, they are responsible for countless community service projects and school spirit activities that define and support Calhoun’s commitment to social activism. The model for these student outreach programs harkens back to Calhoun’s Peer Leadership program, which was first introduced 37 years ago. Each year, 16-18 seniors are accepted into the program after an extensive interview process, and then trained to talk to and support freshmen through their transition to high school and the challenges of a teenage life. Peer Leader Tallulah Hunt ’18, who was brand-new to Calhoun in ninth grade, still remembers the influence of her two Peer Leaders. “It was a great experience having someone who was there for me, especially an older student who I looked up to,” she recalls. Even Rea Brayshaw ’18, who has been at Calhoun since preschool, says she felt “a lot of social anxiety and stress” being a freshman, but that “even the smallest thing like my Peer Leader saying hi to me in the hallway made me feel like, ‘Okay, I can do this.’” But while Peer Leaders play a huge role in the lives of freshmen, the experience is equally meaningful for the Peer Leaders themselves. Any current Peer Leader will tell you that their own Peer Leaders inspired them to continue the cycle of community building and mentoring. “My Peer Leaders were like a brother and sister to me when I was a freshman,” says senior Sam Horn, “so I felt it was important to repay the favor and be that kind of role model.” Bart Hale ’00, Calhoun’s Alumni Director and a former Peer Leader, says the experience was transformative. “Peer Leaders grow and learn just as much as the ninth graders they’re teaching,” says Bart. “You learn more about yourself during a very formative time of your life. I would say that it was the most lasting academic experience I had at Calhoun.” Another former Peer Leader, Todd Garrin ’02, agrees, observing that WINTER 2018
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“the things I learned being a Peer Leader—how to talk in front of a group, make presentations, be succinct and clear— are invaluable life skills. . . . Going into the workplace, I felt like I was already ahead.”
Teaching Leadership in the Classroom
“ Leadership is teaching others …it’s about being there for others.” —ELI FORTUNATO ’18
Leadership training starts in the classroom; the skills are embedded in the very fabric of how we teach. Starting in Lower School, students frequently engage in group projects that teach them how to work as part of a team. Lower Schoolers write and perform plays together in theater class, collaborate on animated and live-action videos for their media arts classes, and work in small groups on a variety of project-based social studies activities. To promote leadership skills, fifth graders are invited to propose and “teach” an elective special course, open to all Lower Schoolers; this semester, new fifth grader Zoe Stahl collaborated with language arts teacher Dana Wolfson to offer a class in American Sign Language; fifth grader Brooke Howard teamed up with language arts teacher Patrick Ellsworth to lead a class on oceanography. Middle School introduces an increased level of independent learning while simultaneously engaging students in seminarstyle discussions and project-based activities that place high value on teamwork. Projects like the popular Hack ’n’ Hurl Catapult competition frequently include a presentation component, requiring students to take what they’ve learned and teach or demonstrate it to others—another key leadership skill. In the last two years, Middle School Director Danny Isquith has introduced a new sequence of study for sixth, seventh and eighth graders, focused on character, independence and leadership. The first course, taught to sixth graders by school counselor Fernanda Couto and learning specialist Jessica Nelson, focuses on life skills, health and wellness—establishing a foundation for self-awareness and executive functioning in students’ emotional and academic lives. In the seventh grade Leadership class, Jono Hustis’s students discuss hypothetical and real-life scenarios to better understand their individual value systems. “Middle School is when you grow up,” says Jono. “I want my students to come away knowing the impact of their choices on others.” To build on Jono’s class, Sabrina Spiegel Zurkuhlen ’06 dives into the topic of leadership during a unit in her eighth grade Identity and Mindset class. Students dissect stereotypes surrounding leadership, analyze the way their identity impacts (Top left) Tenth grader Phoebe Pyles, who spent six weeks assisting in Carl Bellamy’s kindergarten class, created a unit on nutrition to teach to the students. The project was the culmination of her own course of study for an US elective, “Students Teaching Students.” (Bottom left) Third graders Mattias Michelangeli, Mya Labeste, Eliza Nelson and Zia Conte learned what teamwork is all about when they had to create laws and build a Lego city for their “ideal” community.
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their leadership style, and work together to identify the qualities of true leadership. The focus on self-reflection is crucial, Sabrina explains to her students, because “leadership is a relational process. You have to think about yourself in order to be aware enough to relate to someone else.” In Upper School, cross-divisional projects give students additional opportunities for practicing their character-building and leadership skills. Debbie Aronson’s Community Action: Students Teaching Students class is specifically focused on helping students practice organization, mentoring and leadership through on-site experience where they are expected to guide younger children and see a project through to fruition. The students work as mentors or teaching assistants at Calhoun or an outside organization. As a final assignment, each student designs a project on a topic of interest for the young children he or she is working with, following through with the steps to bring that vision to life: writing a proposal, creating a plan of action and researching the topic, before the final implementation. The in-class study of leadership skills is a crucial component of Calhoun students’ leadership training. “Learning isn’t just about doing; it’s the combination of doing and reflecting,” says Upper School teacher Bobby Rue ’85, who organizes a Community Engagement Workshop to prepare juniors to be leaders in their senior year. The fact that Calhoun teachers take time to define leadership qualities—an often misunderstood and elusive set of skills—drives home the lesson that leadership can be practiced by anyone, anywhere.
Leadership Is Teamwork—on the Field and in Life “Leadership isn’t something that you do to get an A,” says Danny Isquith. “We’re teaching kids that it should exist in all parts of your life.” This plays out in a very visible way in the realm of sports at Calhoun. Cougars don’t just learn how to shoot a basket or decrease their running time; they learn how to be leaders and teammates—and the results of their training are paying off. If you’ve been following Calhoun sports in the past decade, you know that one of the major highlights has been the success of the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team. For the last 10 years, each successive team has continued the program’s undefeated reign in the NYCAL, even after star players graduate. It’s hard to imagine this winning streak is just coincidence. Sabrina Spiegel Zurkuhlen ’06, Director of
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“ The things I learned being a Peer Leader—how to talk in front of a group, make presentations, be succinct and clear—are invaluable life skills. Going into the workplace, I felt like I was already ahead.” —TODD GARRIN ’02, TV PRODUCER
(Top) Sam Horn ’18 is one of two student representatives to Upper School faculty meetings. Allowing students to have a voice is one of the many ways in which Calhoun encourages responsibility and leadership. (Right) Eleventh grader Andrew Harvey (right), who assists in Lower School math classes, works with fifth graders (L-R) Viraaj Sarwahi and Alex Bedouet.
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“ We’re practicing being a community that has a voice and shared leadership. Ultimately, this culture of shared leadership sends a powerful message—that everyone has a role to play.” — ANDREW HUME, MS BASKETBALL COACH & DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT
Athletics and head coach of both the boys’ and the girls’ varsity teams, says it’s all about building a positive athletics culture. “When you have a strong culture, your results will be consistent,” she explains. The intentional culture-building that has proven successful on the volleyball court is a focus of the entire athletics department, which sets four core values for its athletes: self-awareness, teamwork, empathy and resilience. These qualities are fundamental to the work of the coaches and their athletes—all of which translate to strong leadership skills that can be used beyond the court, field or track. Bobby Rue ’85, who coaches the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team, has seen firsthand the evolution of the Calhoun athletics program from his own time playing basketball as a student. “The athletics program has changed immensely,” he says. Part of this change has been the new resources available (in Bobby’s time, Calhoun didn’t even have a full-size gym), but an even bigger change is the cultural shift. “There’s a more intentional culture that’s much more organized, systematic and spread across teams,” he says. “There’s a commonality in the conversations we’re having [as coaches]. . . . We’re always talking about coaching for leadership.” What makes sports such a fruitful vehicle for teaching leadership? One important factor is the interpersonal skills needed to play well on a team. “Sports is practice in human relationships,” says Nicola Zimmer (a.k.a. Zimmer), Assistant Director of Athletics and the Girls’ Varsity Basketball coach. “It’s one thing to define positive communication and talk about it, but then you get on the basketball court and your teammate throws you a bad pass—and you have a choice in that moment of how to react. It’s learning moment after learning moment.” Calhoun coaches use the teachable moments that arise in practices and games to reflect on their core values. “We ask athletes, ‘How is this an example of self-awareness?’ or, ‘When did we demonstrate resilience in the game yesterday?’” Zimmer explains. The athletics department also schedules dedicated time to focus on teaching values: three workshops per year for coaches, and at least two per season for each team. The act of intentionally naming and focusing on their values frames leadership as a teachable skill. “In the same way [that we think of practicing] a left-handed dribble or flexing a muscle to get stronger, we think about [practicing] leadership skills,” says Zimmer. Emily Bauman ’21, a player on the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team, attributes her off-court leadership skills to sports. “Before I played volleyball, I was shyer and less open to people,” she says. “The confidence I have from playing volleyball has given me more confidence in the other things that I do.” Now, she’s actively involved in social justice clubs at the school, and dedicates her Saturday mornings to helping out at volleyball clinics for younger players.
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Emily’s experience points to one of the biggest strengths of the athletics program: Leadership is modeled not just by coaches, but by the players themselves. While the world of sports is often characterized by showmanship and dominance, Calhoun athletes reject this definition of leadership for one rooted in teaching and giving back. Varsity players often share practices with JV teams, and help out at sports clinics or intramurals for younger athletes. “Even if you are our top varsity athlete, you’re still part of the Calhoun athletics community, which means that you have to give, share and teach in a variety of ways,” says Sabrina. On the Coed Middle School Baseball team, students of mixed ages and experience levels play together—yet the onus of leadership doesn’t just fall on the oldest or most skilled player. The team has rotating captains, and players take turns leading stretches, demonstrating drills and sharing a quote of the day. “We’re practicing being a community that has a voice and shared leadership,” says coach Andrew Hume. “Ultimately, this culture of shared leadership sends a powerful message— that everyone has a role to play.” “Often leadership is associated with age or title, but we talk more about democratic leadership and spaces,” explains Sabrina. “We debunk certain myths that circulate around
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leadership; for example, that leaders are loud or really good public speakers. That isolates kids who don’t see themselves in that kind of leader. There are multiple ways to lead.” If you look at the decade-long precedent set by the volleyball team, chances are high that this focus on teaching leadership will translate to more wins for all of Calhoun’s sports teams. But any Calhoun athlete will tell you that there is an important difference between winning and success. “Winning is what happens on the scoreboard,” says Sabrina. “Success is walking off the court, field or track every day proud of the work that you do.” Bobby adds, “We want to win if winning is a result of following our values. If it’s not, winning can be an empty experience.” Whether or not Calhoun’s athletics program goes on to break new records, we have a culture where character always comes first. And that’s the biggest win of all. (Left page) The Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team has had 10 consecutive undefeated seasons—which many attribute to the program’s emphasis on collaboration and leadership skills. (Top) Varsity players Ethan Rogosin ‘20 (left) and Emily Bauman ‘21 (right) volunteer on Saturday mornings to help aspiring Middle School athletes, including Jason Liberty ‘23 and Hannah Bauman ‘23, with their volleyball skills.
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Spring Reunions Save the Date!
Alumnae Luncheon Reunion June 1, 2018 • 12:30pm to 3:30pm Celebrating the classes of: 1973 – 45th Reunion 1968 – 50th Reunion 1963 – 55th Reunion 1958 – 60th Reunion 1953 – 65th Reunion 1948 – 70th Reunion
Alumni Reunion June 8, 2018 • 6:30pm to 9:00pm Celebrating the classes of: 2013 – 5th Reunion 2008 – 10th Reunion 2003 – 15th Reunion 1998 – 20th Reunion 1993 – 25th Reunion 1988 – 30th Reunion 1983 – 35th Reunion 1978 – 40th Reunion
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MARRIAGES Adam Gerson ’97 to Talia Krohn Yelena Stavinsky ’03 to Josh Kaplan Julie Otton ’04 to Jake Simpson Jennifer Lewis ’05 to Jason Wolff Kat Slifer ’05 to Adam Wise Weslee Berke ’06 to David Podgor Nate Silverstein ’06 to Katie Malone
1950s
Andrew Otton ’07 to Stephanie Williams Andrew Sklar ’07 to Hila Landesman
BIRTHS To Nora Zelevansky ’95 and Andrew Weiner, a boy, Levi To Dana Messinger ’97 and Nick Cox, a girl, Abigail Rebecca To Jordan Peele ’97 and Chelsea Peretti, a boy, Beaumont Gino To Ethan Todras-Whitehill ’98 and Jennifer Mendel Whitehill, a boy, Wesley Sagan To Josh Raeben ’01 and Sarah Raeben, a boy, Emmett To Whitney Ferguson ’03 and Malik Brown, a girl, Aliyah To Ali Green ’03 and Ryan Skeen, a girl, Tierney Ann To Ian Law ’03 and Angela Law, a boy, Oakley Augustus To Scotlan Ryan ’04 and John James Goldbeck, a girl, Clementine
MEMORIAM Elaine Graham Weitzen ’38 Betty Gerstenzang Marcus ’41 Hope Simon Miller ’41 Arlene Rosen Shiers ‘44 Katherine Kjellgren ‘87 NOTE: We apologize for any errors and welcome corrections for our records. Submissions for an upcoming issue can be directed to alumni@calhoun.org.
From the Archives... Class of 1930 Senior Dinner, May 26, 1930 One of the favorite traditions of Calhoun graduates in recent years has been the Senior Dinner, when the soon-to-be-graduates and their teachers have a chance to reflect, share sentiments and celebrate. But did you know Calhoun was holding Senior Dinners even back in the 1930s? The food was not by Chef Bobo, and hairstyles and attire were certainly different, but these Calhoun grads from our days as an all-girls’ school gathered at the Olcott Hotel in the same spirit!
1940s
Betty Gerstenzang Marcus ’41, who lived in Jupiter, FL, passed away this past November from complications arising from a hip fracture. Betty—who was born in 1923, the same year that her father, Leo Gerstenzang, invented the Q-tip—went to Parsons School of Design and became a part-time interior decorator. She and her husband, Robert Marcus, were honored for their contributions to the Anti-Defamation League, and they founded an adult daycare center called The Leisure Club in West Palm Beach. Betty is survived by her two children, Lauren Hughes and Gary Marcus; her two grandchildren, Christopher Hughes and Meghan Hughes Ryan; and five great-grandchildren, Summer,
Zander, and Shannon Hughes, and Jameson and Zadie Ryan. Hope Simon Miller ’41 died on September 13. Hope’s lifelong passions were in the areas of international affairs and women’s rights. She served four terms as president of the U.S. committee for UNIFEM and served on the board of UNICEF. She was also the former executive director of the UN Institute of Comparative Government and Education, affiliated with the UN Commission on Human Rights. Upon retiring, Hope was awarded the Eleanore Schnurr Award by the UNA-USA Council of Organizations for her “exceptional commitment to the goals of the United Nations.” Hope was named a Calhoun Alumna of Distinction in 1992 for her work in public service.
s Joan Baumgarten Furman ’53 was part of a small-world encounter last summer when she arrived at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for a flight home to New York. While she was sitting at the boarding gate waiting area, a young man next to her asked for the time; after learning they’d both grown up in New York and went to school on the Upper West Side, they discovered the common connection was Calhoun! As Eli Rami ’15 recalls, “When Joan said ‘Calhoun,’ my eyes lit up and I burst out, ‘I went to school there too!’ She told me about the era of Calhoun during the time she attended, when it was an all-girls’ school housed in two brownstones on 92nd Street. I still can’t believe we just happened to be sitting next to one another at an airport in Israel!” Joan, who used to run a private SAT-prep business, lives in White Plains, NY, and enjoys spending time with her three children and six grandchildren. Eli, who attends Yale University, was in Tel Aviv for the summer for an international internship position at Deloitte Israel.
1960s
Lynne “Dani” Daniels ’66 (Mission Viejo, CA) had an adventurous summer, traveling overseas in May to volunteer for
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20th Century Fox, ABC Studios, Turner Entertainment and NBC Productions. “I’m contemplating what the next chapter of my life will be,” she shares. “No kids, but in a long-term relationship with a terrific guy (another East Coaster, who practices internal medicine and has three great kids), and we’re very happy. I still enjoy road cycling and downhill skiing. I welcome calls from any Calhoun grads who live in or near (or are visiting) Los Angeles!” Members of the Class of 1972 gathered together last June for a special celebration of their 45th Reunion.
Are You a Calhoun Secret Admirer?
Tell Us About Your Planned Gift! If you’ve included the school in your will and have yet to bring your generosity to our attention, we want to thank you . . . but we don’t know where to send the gratitude! Please contact Mary McCarty in the Development Office, at 212-497-6579 or mary.mccarty@calhoun.org, for more information or to confirm your plans and become a charter member of The Cosmey-Parmelee Legacy Society. There will be special recognition for society donors.
The Cosmey-Parmelee Legacy Society
Habitat for Humanity in Hanoi, Vietnam—her first trip with the organization having been to Fuji— to assist in building a home for a local family. As she reflected in her Facebook travel log: “Each morning our van took us from Hoa Binh to the build sites an hour away. We would wind through lively small towns and rice fields that stretched toward layers of misty hills. We dug trenches, moved big rocks, filled the trenches with the rocks, mixed mortar and put it over the rocks— it was great teamwork! Most of all, I learned that this is a beautiful country with hardworking and open-hearted people. I am in awe of the Vietnamese people. They are so gracious. They have touched my heart.” Dani already has plans to go to Thailand in October on her next build!
1970s
Susan Gans ’71 is still living in Los Angeles, having first moved out west in 1979. After graduating from Columbia University School of Law, she worked for more than 30 years as in-house counsel for several major television production studios, including
Sally Fischer ‘72 and classmate Kate (Debbie) Raikin Sells organized a special reunion for members of the Class of 1972 on June 21 at Le Pain Quotidian in Central Park. Classmates who joined the festivities included (Above, L-R) Katherine Allentuck Bambery, Barbara Ann Begun, Karen Granby Brisky, Barbara Tholfsen, Lynne Buschman, Carolyn Brooks, Leslie Thompson, Naamah Kelman-Ezrahi, Kate Raikin Sells, Rhea Nierenstein Vogel and Sally Fischer. (Missing in the photo but also attending was Andrea Frierson.) “It was a wonderful afternoon for all of us...and each of us looked exactly as we did in 1972!” shared Rhea. Honors for the farthest traveler went to Naamah, who was visiting from Israel, where she is a dean at Hebrew Union College and was the first female rabbi to be ordained in Israel. She wrote in separately to say, “Sending my love and deep gratitude to the school that made me who I am; Calhoun gave me my voice!” Elyse April ’72 says hello from Chino Valley, AZ, where she is living and working as an author and educational director for the children’s division at Kalindi Press and Hohm Press. Elyse writes and
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promotes children’s health and wellness books. Among her most recent projects was a children’s picture book that she co-authored, Stand Up! The Courage to Care, which is aimed at preventing bullying and helping promote self-esteem. Janine Kimmel Bronen ’75 and her husband, Andy Bronen, have moved back to the Upper West Side after nearly 25 years in Millwood, NY, where they raised their two children, Mariel (now a lawyer) and Matthew (an entrepreneur and stand-up comic). Janine volunteers at the Housing Works Thrift Shop on Columbus Avenue and works with children in the Union Settlement literacy program. She and Andy celebrated their joint milestone December birthdays at a party held in Manhattan at Calle Oche, surrounded by an extended group of Calhoun alums. Among them were Janine’s sister and fellow Calhoun alum, Melissa Kimmel Saperstein ’85; Melissa’s best friend and Calhoun’s Lower School Director, Alison Max Rothschild ’85; Calhoun classmates Debbie Levine ’75 and Hillary Levin Siegel ’75; and Janine’s daughter, Mariel, who attended Calhoun preschool with the daughter of another attendee, Calhoun Communications Director Beth Krieger.
1980s
Toby Emmerich ‘81 has been promoted to chairman of Warner Bros. Picture Group, as part of a major company reorganization, according to Variety (Jan. 9, 2018). Under the new management structure, Toby will oversee all production, marketing and distribution. The promotion comes
only one year after Toby moved up to president and chief content officer at the studio, after a long run overseeing New Line, the Warner division responsible for the Lords of the Rings and The Conjuring franchises. Toby lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Julie Glucksman, and their daughter, Cosy. Gregg Baldinger ’82 completed the New York City Marathon in November with a time of 3:35! (Not far behind in the marathon was another Calhoun alum, Josh Raeben ’01, who completed the race in 3:46.) Gregg previously ran the marathon in New York in 2015 and the Boston marathon last April among numerous other races.
whose children are at the school, including Bobby Rue, who is also an Upper School teacher, and Calhoun Lower School Director Alison Max Rothschild; twin sons of Eric Potoker graduated in June 2017. Marnie continues working as director of pro bono programs at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, a post she has held for 15 years. Her leadership provides legal services to more than 1,000 nonprofits and community-based organizations annually, partnering with law firms and corporate law departments to address social injustices.
Peter Swann ’83, Arizona appellate court judge, says that now that his twin daughters have grown up and moved out of the house, he has rekindled an interest he discovered when he was a student in John Roeder’s Active Physics class—electronics. Based on his own design, Peter now hand-builds and markets a BF-1 active DI/instrument preamplifier and SFP-60 microphone preamplifier, under the auspices of his new business, Useful Arts Audio. John visited Peter at the Audio Engineering Society Convention in NYC this fall, and came away highly impressed. “Peter’s designs have gone far beyond any electric circuitry I ever taught him. It’s as if he has a sixth sense about electronics,” John observes. Check out Peter’s products: usefulartsaudio.com. Marnie Berk ’85 is a new Calhoun mom! She and her husband, Jon Silvan, enrolled their son, Ben, in sixth grade this year—joining a growing group of 1985 alums
s Jessica Hirsch Biales ’86 decided to pursue her lifelong interest in jewelry-making as a full-time career in 2007. Jessica Biales Jewelry features high-quality hand-crafted metals and jewels. “I first learned [how to craft] jewelry at Calhoun,” recalls Jessica. “There was an amazing metalsmithing class with the greatest teacher, Randy.” Jessica’s work was featured in T magazine (style magazine of The New York Times) this past fall, and she just recently launched a second line of jewelry called Collegiate by Jessica Biales—custom signet rings in school colors. See her work at jessicabiales.com
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Katherine (Katie) Kjellgren ‘87 passed away on January 10 due to complications from cancer. Trained as an actress at the British American Drama Academy and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Katie appeared on stage in London, New York and Frankfurt. She was an awardwinning narrator of more than 250 audiobooks. She is survived by her husband, David Cote, her mother, Alice, and her brother, Eric.
1990s
Andrea Despins Potischman ’91: “I have been living in northern California with my husband (and fellow Calhoun alum) Neal Potischman ’91 and our two boys, Eli (age 12) and Noah (age 10) for a little over 10 years; it’s mind-boggling how time flies. While I miss New York in many ways, I continue to love California’s mild year-round temperatures, with great skiing relatively close by. After college, I went to the French Culinary Institute in New York and worked in restaurants and at a private club, and I was the general manager of a cooking school. I took a break after my sons were born but I recently decided to launch a food blog called Simmer + Sauce (simmerandsauce.com). I am so excited about my new endeavor! Living in Silicon Valley played a big part in my decision to blog about food, as did my family—who are all foodies. My blog is focused on real food with reasonable ingredient lists and doable recipes. Many are healthy and family-friendly. I also periodically include drink recipes, and I have a section for entertaining. I still have my 1988 Calhoun School cookbook, The Educated Palate, which I’ll have to do a post about in the future.”
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Profile A Path to the Bench: The Honorable Mario Sturla ’99 by Bart Hale ’00
serve as a safe haven for those who violate human rights and commit flagrant abuses of international law. Mario majored in history and international relations at Brown, where he participated in a fellowship called Humanity in Action, which entailed studying the legacy of the Holocaust and other national histories of discrimination and resistance. He went on to earn a law degree in 2006 from Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. During law school, he had the chance to intern at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague, Netherlands, where he quickly became fascinated with the role of international law and democratic norms with respect to the treatment of minorities. “The true test of a genuine democracy is how it treats its minorities, especially in times of crisis,” he notes. “Democracies are based on universal values of rule of law—including respect of constitutional rights, free speech, freedom of religion and property rights.” These interests ultimately inspired him to pursue immigration law.
“ The true test of a genuine democracy Mario Sturla ’99 discovered a passion for history as a Calhoun student—a passion that eventually led him to his current position as an immigration judge. Sworn in on September 23, 2016, following his appointment by then Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the Honorable Mario Sturla now presides over dozens of cases each week in his Boston courtroom. “It is an absolute honor,” he reflects from his home in Rhode Island, where he lives with his wife, Elizabeth, whom he met while both attended Brown University, and their four children. “My main job every day is to ensure a fair hearing and make sure that everyone who comes to my court has the opportunity to have all their evidence considered and their arguments heard. Only after hearing all the facts in the case will I make a decision in their case.” In the end, Mario must often handle the challenging decision of whom should be given the privilege of permanently residing in the United States—a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly. “I’m proud to be part in a small way of making sure the rule of law controls above all else,” he says. Prior to serving as a judge, Mario worked as a staff attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, as well as an assistant chief counsel and subsequently as a deputy chief counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Mario remembers a particularly rewarding case during his time at the DHS in which he assisted in the prosecution of individuals who had participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, working with the U.S. Attorney’s office to secure criminal convictions for false statements and assistance to torture, and leading to the perpetrators’ removal orders—an example of the U.S. commitment to never
is how it treats its minorities, especially in times of crisis.” Mario can also trace his path to the bench back to his Calhoun days, where projects with teachers such as Jim Green and Loretta Ryan fostered his love of history. He notes that his Calhoun education provided him with invaluable skills he’s been able to apply to his career—writing being foremost among them. “Calhoun taught me how to write, how to think, and how to question assumptions . . . to always ask, ‘Why?’ as I write,” he explains. “Being able to articulate a written, concise argument has carried me to success throughout my years at Brown and law school, and is essential to the legal writing I do on a daily basis.” Mario also thrived outside of the classroom, playing on a soccer team that had a championship season and serving as a Peer Leader. He cites the camaraderie at Calhoun—“the world without borders and the recognition that we are all connected by universal values”—as something that has found a fond place in his heart. While Mario admits that his path didn’t always seem as clear as it did for peers who pursued STEM fields, it’s evident that Calhoun provided him with a foundation that has served him well in life. He advises current students, “Don’t be worried about not knowing what you’re going to do . . . just keep an open mind. Be curious. And if you went to Calhoun, you’re definitely going to be very curious and open-minded. Those are some of the best traits that Calhoun fostered in me.”
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for Social Research in Manhattan as director of admissions. Nick works for The Bank of New York Mellon. Jordan Peele ’97 continues to amass honors for his mega-hit Get Out! At press time, the film had garnered four major Oscar
Jason Fleetwood-Boldt ‘97 (second from right) gathered with classmates and members of “the next generation” for a very special class reunion.
Joan Ruskin Robinson ’91 and her husband, Anthony, are proud new Calhoun parents; their son, Wyatt Robinson, started kindergarten this fall. Joan is a preschool teacher at Rockefeller University Child and Family Center.
s Jason Fleetwood-Boldt ’97 shared news of a special gathering with members of the Class of 1997 this past fall. It was a continuation of the celebration they began at their 20th Reunion last spring, but this time the gathering included
Stebbings ‘97, Chris Foster ‘95, Justin Bosch ‘00, Talia and Adam, Win Rosenfeld ‘97, Geoff Foster ‘96, Carey London ‘97 and Lauren Shebairo ‘97. Adam works as director of technology at the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York. Dana Messinger ’97 is a proud new mom; she and her husband, Nick Cox, welcomed their daughter, Abigail Rebecca, into the world on October 23. Dana changed jobs in 2015, joining The New School
“the next generation”—their children! The classmates included (above, L-R) Rebecca Tunick Gotlieb, Alex Dworkowitz, Brian Peters, Lafiya Watson Ramirez, Matias Stebbings, Troy Cummings, Jason Fleetwood-Boldt and Richard Lin. Adam Gerson ’97 welcomed a full delegation of Calhoun alums when he celebrated his wedding to Talia Krohn on November 4. The nuptials were at the Interlaken Inn in Lakeville, CT, and included (L-R) Dana Czapnik ‘97, Matias s
Miguel Guadalupe ’94, who had been working at Gartner, a New York financial services and tech research company, left to launch his own initiative, River Wolf LLC, which opened this past October. As president and founder, Miguel assists businesses and nonprofits with communications, development and sales strategies. He is also serving as a director of La Unidad Latina Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on access to education. This past fall, Miguel led efforts to support Puerto Rico hurricane relief. Among his writings on the disaster (with articles published by HLN, Huffington Post, Latino Rebels, and Llero.net) was an opinion piece about his support for Puerto Rico, published by CNN in November: www.cnn.com/2017/ 11/18/opinions/dc-march-forpuerto-rico-guadalupe-opinion
Nora Zelevansky ’95 and her husband, Andrew Weiner, celebrated the arrival of their son, Levi, on July 3. Their older daughter, Estella, is loving her role as big sister! Nora continues her creative pursuits as a writer and novelist while raising her growing family in Brooklyn.
2018 nominations—with Jordan making history as only the fifth black filmmaker to be nominated for Best Director! Other nominations were for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. And those nominations came after an endless list of prestigious awards, including the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best First Film; National Board of Review award for Best Directorial Debut; African-American Film Critics Association awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay; and so many more! But still, Jordan isn’t resting on his laurels. According to a feature in The New York Times (“Jordan Peele’s X-Ray Vision,” Dec. 20, 2017), Jordan has several forthcoming projects, including a new Twilight Zone for CBS All Access; an anthology series for
Several Calhoun friends helped celebrate the wedding of Adam Gerson ‘97 and his wife, Talia Krohn, this past November.
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HBO based on the 2016 novel Lovecraft Country, by Matt Ruff; a TBS comedy, The Last O.G.; and an original movie that he won’t reveal. The article also mentions Jordan’s company, Monkeypaw Productions, where two longtime, unnamed friends now work with him. But here, we’ve got the scoop (drumroll): Joining Jordan out in L.A. are Calhoun classmates Win Rosenfeld ’97, who is president of the company, and Ian Cooper ’96, who has joined as creative director. Calhoun pride is bursting, but we also want to congratulate Jordan on another very important new role, as dad: He and his wife, Chelsea, welcomed their son, Beaumont, last July. Ethan Todras-Whitehill ’98 and Jen Mendel Whitehill shared good news via Facebook about the birth of their son, Wesley Sagan. He was born during their trip to Oregon on August 24, at 5:35am, and joins his older sister, Tessa. Ethan is co-founder of Swing Left, an online network created to support progressive candidates in swing districts and help Democrats take back the House in 2018.
his first time accomplishing the 26.2-mile feat. Josh, a firefighter with FDNY Engine 84/Ladder 34, used the opportunity to fundraise on behalf of his firehouse charity, Lil’ Bravest, which strives to improve the quality of life for children who are hospitalized or being treated for childhood diseases. In even bigger news, Josh shares: “Sarah and I are now the proud parents of Emmett J. Raeben, born on March 11, 2017.” Congratulations, Josh! Michael Huggins ’02 made a surprise visit to Calhoun in November while on a return trip from Thailand, where he lives and has been teaching English as an ESL instructor at the Taphanhin School in Phichit since 2012. Michael enjoyed reconnecting with former teachers John Roeder and Erika Zamfirescu, and listened in with nostalgia as Phil Tedeschi reviewed scenes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet with his current students.
savoring every moment as she balances work and family. Whitney recently celebrated her five-year anniversary at Macy’s, assuming the role of director of merchandise planning at RTW Denim. In her new position, Whitney had the chance to interview fellow Calhouner Omar Kabbaj ’15, who will be interning at Macy’s this coming summer!
Yelana Stavinsky ’03 married Josh Kaplan on November 19, 2016, at a ceremony and reception at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, while Yelana’s proud older brother, Max Stavinsky ’99, looked on. Yelana works as account manager for FactSet Research Systems, an information technology company that provides financial data and analytic applications for investment management and banking professionals. t Julie Otton ’04 married Jake Simpson on May 20, at a ceremony and reception at Highlands Country Club in Garrison, NY, followed by a honeymoon in Australia. The fun began when Julie presented special shirts that read “The Future Is Female” to her
s Ali Green ’03 and her husband, Ryan Skeen, are delighted to announce the arrival of Tierney Ann (above), who was born on July 25 at 4:31am. The three live in New York, where both Ali and Ryan work in the restaurant business.
bridesmaids—including Calhoun classmates Emma Dumain, Victoria Miller, Elizabeth Bonomo and Blake Brie. Julie’s brother, Andrew Otton ’07, was a groomsman and Dan Stein ’07 led the five-piece jazz band. Julie continues to work as a business development specialist at the law firm Allen & Overy.
2000s
s Josh Raeben ’01 ran the New York City marathon on November 5,
s Whitney Ferguson ’03 writes in that her daughter, Aliyah (above), turned one on January 24. “Time is flying,” she notes. “It feels like just yesterday I was at the hospital when my brother Michael Ferguson ‘10 showed up in a suit to meet her because he said first impressions count!” Whitney is loving her new role as a mom and
The bridal party for Julie Otton ‘04 included Calhoun classmates (L-R) Emma Dumain, Victoria Miller and Elizabeth Bonomo and (third from right) Blake Brie.
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University graduate, has been director of customer service at Boxed Wholesale for the past two years, and David is a senior video specialist for FleishmanHillard Public Relations.
Kendra Weldon ’04 was part of a large group that returned to Calhoun in June to celebrate retiring Head of School Steve Nelson’s send-off. Kendra is an independent advisor representative for Primerica Financial Services, Inc., where she has worked since 2010. Her career in financial services comes after earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a double major in marketing and international business, at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. s Kat Slifer Wise ’05 writes in: “I got married on May 28 to Adam Wise; Chelsea StilmanSandomir ’05 was in my bridal party and Rachel Tyson ’05 was also in attendance. It was in Baltimore, MD, where I work as a public school teacher and teach seventh grade ELA. Adam works for the Department of Defense.”
s Jennifer Lewis ‘05 married Jason Wolff on June 17, with a ceremony and reception held at Monteverde at Oldstone in Cortlandt Manor, NY. The newlyweds live in New York, where Jennifer is a heart transplant social worker at Mount Sinai Hospital and Jason is the chief revenue officer for Boostr, a next-generation CRM platform for media and advertising companies. Classmates Nina Kompanek Leksin, Emily Kaiser and Jackie Liotta were among Jennifer’s bridesmaids; Alex Gelband and Sam Nagourney were also in attendance.
t Weslee Berke ’06 and David Podgor tied the knot on June 3 with a ceremony and reception at The Explorers Club in New York. Classmates Sophie Harris, Samara Savino Antolini and Lydia Bundrick attended the wedding. Weslee, a Bucknell
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man and shared a toast that went viral—writing and performing a special rendition of the musical Hamilton to tell the story of the couple’s relationship. To watch: youtube/hXWNkrRMZ10 Mirella Brussani ’07, who graduated from Columbia University’s School of Journalism last May, has a new position at PBS Frontline, where she has been working on a three-hour special about the Iran/Saudi rivalry and sectarian wars in the Middle East. The special airs in two parts in February.
s Nate Silverstein ’06 married Katie Malone at Capitale in New York on November 11 in a festive celebration. The wedding party included Nate’s sister, Margot Silverstein ’09 as a bridesmaid, and Jonathan Jimenez ’06 and Peter Zurkuhlen ’06 as groomsmen. Other Calhouners attending were Sabrina Spiegel Zurkuhlen ’06, Mike Zurkuhlen ’06, Nina Kompenek Leksin ’05, Alex Gelband ’05, Zach Lazare ’09 and Francesca Aborn ’09. Casey Shane ’06 held the role of best
t Andrew Otton ’07 moved across the pond earlier this fall, relocating to Prague, Czech Republic, for a unique opportunity with Bluewolf, an IBM consulting company, where he serves as delivery manager. It is a doubly exciting time for Andrew, whose move out of New York followed his marriage to Stephanie Williams on June 24, and a honeymoon in Puerto Rico. The couple met at Bowdoin College, and their wedding was set on a family friend’s horse farm in Markham, Virginia—complete with many Calhoun friends!
Andrew Otton ‘07 (front row, fifth from right) and new wife, Stephanie Williams, enjoyed wedding festivities with Calhouners before moving to Prague.
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Ways to Connect Online with the Calhoun Community
Caroline Castro ’10 moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles this fall to embark on a new career venture as a senior producer for MediaMonks, a creative digital production company that works with advertising agencies.
CALHOUN WEBSITE calhoun.org
FACEBOOK facebook.com/calhounschool facebook.com/calhounalums
TWITTER @calhounschool
INSTAGRAM @calhounschool
YOUTUBE youtube.com/calhounschool
LINKEDIN linkedin.com/groups/1931476
PINTEREST pinterest.com/calhounschool
Andrew Sklar ‘07 (center) and new wife, Hila, were surrounded by Calhouners at their summer wedding in Tarrytown.
s Andrew Sklar ’07 married Hila Landesman at a celebration at Tarrytown House Estate on the Hudson in Tarrytown, NY, on August 20. The two met as undergrads at Boston University, and Andrew proposed while they were vacationing in California’s Death Valley National Park. Their wedding was a full Calhoun affair! Andrew is working as a program producer for NYPD, and Hila is a sales executive for Local Bushel, an online farmer’s market for chefs. Francesca Aborn ’09, who received her undergraduate degree in sociology from Bates College and her master’s degree from The London School of Economics and Political Science, has focused her career on criminal justice issues, helping provide rehabilitation and re-entry services to those who are incarcerated. Currently, she is in New York as a case manager at The Osborne Association, a nonprofit that works in partnership with individuals, families and communities to create
opportunities for people affected by the criminal justice system. Previously, she worked in a prison in London, where she co-facilitated two courses, and was a mentor to at-risk youth in London. She also worked at the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime in Nairobi, Kenya, creating prison rehabilitation programs. Ashley Julien ’09, who moved last year to Sweden, writes, “Life is good! The full-on winter weather is the only real downside. I’m studying design and politics right now at the University of Gothenburg, and working small jobs on the side. I’ve been learning Swedish, too, which has been so much fun. In November I led a workshop on self-care in activism at Festival Illegal (an event hosted at the World Culture Museum in Gothenburg, about asylum seekers who have had their applications rejected and now live in Sweden without papers). It will be my first workshop since leaving Calhoun.” [Ed: Ashley worked in Calhoun’s Office of Diversity and Equity Initiatives.]
Ben Ellentuck ’10 has moved back to New York, where he is working as a freelance software developer. Previously, he worked as a developer for digital scholarship at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, where he built software to support research in the digital humanities. Ben joined old friends and teachers at Calhoun’s Alumni Pub Night in November. Destiny Orr ’10 is enjoying being back at Calhoun—only this time, in Little Calhoun, where she is now an associate kindergarten teacher. Destiny holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Miami University, which she earned in 2014. Welcome back, Destiny! Ben Waters ’10, who had worked for more than two years in Manhattan as an architect at Gensler, switched coasts in January 2017, moving to San Francisco to take a job with architecture and planning firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. Allie Sommer ’11 graduated from the Boston University College of Communication in December 2016, earning a master’s degree in advertising with a focus in market research. Writes Allie, “I moved back to New York and am now working as a brand analyst at BAV Group, an affiliate of the advertising agency Young & Rubicam.”
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Marc Burnett ’12, who graduated from Williams College in 2016 with honors in studio art, is pursuing a career as an illustrator and designer. “I’m a visual creative with a background in illustration, storyboarding, design, video editing and more,” says Marc. “I like to craft worlds of my own and help bring others’ conceptual worlds to life.” See his work at burnett.nyc. t Karina Rykman ’12 was featured in the magazine Oregon Music News last August, for her work as bass player for Marco Benevento—a role she assumed in 2016 after being discovered while enrolled in the rock school THOR (Tomato’s House of Rock). Reviewer Scott Cunningham wrote, “Simply put, she can throw down some serious thump in the bottom end. Her lines were tight, solid, and the perfect groove. . . . Her style of playing stood out to me and I was totally surprised
to see her play parts that were closer to melodic leads than plucked bass lines, something most bass players never even attempt to venture.” Read the article at: oregonmusicnews.com/ karina-rykman-profile
marketplace company StubHub, secured a job with the company as a user interface engineer. While at Cornell, his concentrations were in user experience, digital culture and production, with minors in cognitive science and psychology.
Alex Tritto ’12 began a new job in October as an editorial assistant at Rosen Publishing, an educational publishing house that specializes in circulating reference material aimed at school and public libraries. Alex has a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Connecticut College, having graduated magna cum laude in 2016.
Farah Taslima ’13 moved out to Chicago this past July, taking a position as an analyst for the financial services firm BlackRock. In her role, she develops and maintains partnerships in the Midwest with institutional defined-contribution relationships. Farah graduated in May with a BA in psychology from Columbia University, where she was co-chair of Columbia’s Multicultural Recruitment Committee and involved with admissions and alumni relations. She was also
Michael Luzmore ’13 moved to San Francisco, CA, following his graduation from Cornell University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in information science this past May. Michael, who had spent the prior two summers as an intern for the internet ticket
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vice president of the Aloha Chi Omega sorority. Jake Wolf ’13 is in a new position as a designer and fabricator at Sinai BioDesign, part of the Mount Sinai Health System. The BioDesign Center, an initiative of the department of neurosurgery, aims to translate novel medical device and technology ideas into practice. Jake lives in Brooklyn and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from Pratt Institute in 2017. He joined many classmates to celebrate the holidays at Alumni Pub Night in November.
Send your news for the summer Calhoun Chronicle by May 1 to bart.hale@calhoun.org
SENIOR WORK INTERNSHIPS WANTED May 1 — June 7, 2018 Support an Upper School student with an internship opportunity at your organization or business!
Details about the program: www.calhoun.org/seniorwork Internship submission form: www.calhoun.org/internship
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FRIDAY, DEC E M BE R 22
Holiday Homecoming Luncheon
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Recent Calhoun grads kicked off their college winter break by reuniting with classmates and teachers at the annual Holiday Homecoming Luncheon, one of Calhoun’s longest-running alumni traditions. Chef Bobo catered the festivities, which included more than 40 alums, representing the classes of 2014 to 2017. Open basketball and a few games of Ping-Pong capped off the day. 1
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1. (L-R) Matthew Pfeffer ‘17, Caitlin Leung ‘17, Lily EdelmanGold ‘17, Zak Wegweiser ‘17, Rahul Das ‘17, Assistant Director of Admissions Shameena Khan
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2. Allie Leavitt ‘17 and Lincoln Hart ‘17
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3. (L-R) Sydney Kapelus ‘14, Roman Brown ‘14, Olivia Abrams ‘17 4. Michael Fortunato ‘16 and history teacher Jason Tebbe 5. Emma Griffith ‘17 and Johnese Robertson ‘17
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6. Sacha Rogosin ‘16 and English teacher Lyda Ely
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M O R E PHOTOS O NLINE www.calhoun.org/alummedia T HURSDAY, NOV E M BE R 16
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Alumni Pub Night The pre-Thanksgiving tradition of Alumni Pub Night, now in its 11th year, was especially well attended by more than 75 grads from the ‘90s, ‘00s and ‘10s, at Legends in Midtown. The Calhouners also helped welcome Steve Solnick, in his first alumni event as Head of School.
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1. (L-R) Whitney Ferguson ‘03, Jose Ortiz ‘03, Head of School Steve Solnick 2. Zuri Pavlin ‘12, Sota Koike ’10, Amani Orr ‘13, Lily Weinberg ‘11, Hannah Klingenstein ‘13, Lizzie Gass ‘11, Michael Ferguson ‘10
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3. Gaby Yitzhaek ‘12, Gabe Berenbaum ‘12, Carson Rey ‘12 4. Amalia Safran ‘09, Terry Horowitz ‘09, Marcy Isaacson ‘09
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5. Jennifer Lee ‘11, Alva Stux ‘11, Aiyana Wain-Hirschberg ’11 6. English teacher Ellen Kwon, Jacob Dannett ‘10, Lauren Capkanis ‘10, Ben Ellentuck ‘10
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433 West End Avenue New York, NY 10024 www.calhoun.org ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
To the Parents of Alumni: If this issue is addressed to your daughter/son who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office with the correct mailing address. Call 212-497-6579, fax 212-497-6531 or contact by email: alumni@calhoun.org.
Members of the Upper School Spirit Squad, along with the Calhoun Cougar, led Little Calhouners in their first-ever Spirit Day celebration at 74th Street. It was GRRRREAT!
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