Calhoun Chronicle, Summer 2016 by The Calhoun School

Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers

Calhoun Launches 19 for 19 Campaign

Class of 2016: All Heart and Soul!

Alumnae/i Class Notes

summer 2016

Calhoun’s Mission To inspire a passion for learning through a progressive approach to education that values intellectual pursuit, creativity, diversity and community involvement.

Board of Trustees 2015—16

Pa r e n t s A s s o c i at i o n 2 0 1 5 — 1 6

Eric Potoker ’85 Chair

Steven J. Nelson Head of School

Officers

Vice Presidents, Middle School

Jon Brayshaw Vice Chair

Co-Presidents

Life Trustees

David Hawkins Rosa Sabater

Bert Pasquini Barbara Pyles

Robert L. Beir* Eric Ryan

Jim Glasgow Treasurer

Vice Presidents, Lower School/81st

Katie Manglis Daphne Smith-Naylor

Secretary & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Louise Litt

Melissa Liberty Secretary

Honorary Trustees

Trustees

Susan Barkey Jonathan Bauman Stefanie Bhalla Michael Conboy Lori Fleishman Dorr ‘92 David Hawkins, PA Rep Scott Hirsch ‘86 Dylan Hixon Michael Marra Bernadette Mitchell Marc Murphy Colleen Pike Blair Shaiza Rizavi Rosa Sabater, PA Rep Steven Sinatra Claudia Singleton Jay Sugarman Susan Thomson

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/74th

Treasurer

Sheila Kirkwood Paul Vinger

Lynda Roca Vice Presidents, Upper School

Amy Edelman Chris Rothermel

T H E CA L H OUN SC H OO L Main number

Alumnae/i Relations

212-497-6500

646-666-6450

Lower School/74th

Annual Giving

212-497-6550

212-497-6579

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

summer 2016

Gabby Chapman ‘17 and Caitlin Leung ‘17 make last-minute adjustments to their bridgebuilding entry in the New York City Science Olympiad.

The Calhoun Chronicle is published twice each year by the Communications Office for alumnae/i, current and former parents, staff and friends.

Page 32 Editorial Assistants

Beth Krieger beth.krieger@calhoun.org

Angela Fischer Michelle Raum

EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE

staff Photographers

Nahuel Fanjul-Arguijo nahuel.fanjul@calhoun.org

Nahuel Fanjul-Arguijo Beth Krieger

Alumnae/i News

Design

Bart Hale ‘00 bart.hale@calhoun.org

Christine Zamora ‘81, CZ Design

PHOTO: PAUL LEUNG

Photo : GARY JOSEPH COHEN

Editor

Copy Editor

Amy Edelman

Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXXX

Contents summer 2016

Features 28

Junior Workshop: Creating Knowledge, Insight, Beauty or Function

Calhoun Launches 19 for 19 Campaign

Science Olympiad: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers

Class of 2016: All Heart and Soul! Plus: Eighth Grade Commencement

Departments Viewpoint

21 18

by Steve Nelson

S c h o o l N e w s

Board of Trustees News

Calhoun Hosts Citywide Sustainability Conference

Parents Association News

Faculty/Staff Newsmakers

Middle Schoolers Take to the Streets

US Spring Session

Onstage

Sports

Alumnae/i News

Class Notes

Cougar Career Symposium

Profiles: Calhoun to Harvard Law

Reunions

Viewpoint by Steven J. Nelson, He a d of School

Progressive Education in a Time of Existential Risk On June 12, just as I sat to write this Viewpoint, horrifying news broke. A madman with several guns slaughtered 49 humans in an Orlando nightclub. It seems that carnage of some kind has become daily fare around the world. In this case, a man who seemed to hate gay women and men unleashed the terror, fueled by his twisted beliefs. A book I wrote last year is scheduled for publication in several months. The working title is First, Do No Harm: Progressive Education in a Time of Existential Risk. My central thesis is that the world faces multiple threats to our very existence and that a human, humane, progressive approach to education is a necessary, albeit insufficient, answer to these threats. Terrorism fueled by anger and hatred is spreading throughout the world. The threat of nuclear annihilation remains unmitigated—arguably greater than at any prior time. And climate change threatens to make our Earth uninhabitable. Hate, fanaticism, rigid dogma and stubborn ignorance feed these threats. Ultimately, education is the only answer. The antidote to fanaticism is reason. The answer to rigid dogma is critical thinking. The cure for hatred is love and empathy. Stubborn ignorance can’t survive in an open mind. At Calhoun, our students are alive, engaged, skeptical and honest. They have a great capacity for love and empathy. What we do here every day is important. A progressive revolution in education must be part of the response to existential threat. For more than a century, education for most American children has been dull and uninspiring. Today, even in the face of these existential threats, we speak of education as if it is only vocational training. We act as though children have value only for some future economic use. Schools suppress skepticism, punish humor and silence imagination. Schools instruct children rather than inviting them to truly learn.

Calhoun Chronicle

Our future depends on preparing today’s young women and men to be thoughtful, creative, engaged citizens. They must be fully alive, in love with the natural world and one another. They must be skeptical, not compliant. They must be deeply idealistic and speak truth to power. They must see the planet as their home, not as an endless source of material goods. They must see all people as their neighbors, not just as their competitors in a global contest for military and economic superiority. In the book, I talk about my good Vermont friend the late Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Jr., who, in his later years, described himself as a “man in a hurry.” He was among the 20th century’s most thoughtful voices for justice. He meant that he had much to do and time was passing. Another Vermont acquaintance, the late writer Grace Paley, wrote in her poem “Responsibility”: There is no freedom without fear and bravery there is no freedom unless  earth and air and water continue and children also continue It is the responsibility of the poet to be a woman to keep an eye on this world and cry out like Cassandra, but be listened to this time.

I’m not Bill Coffin, a woman, a poet or Cassandra, but I am a man “in a hurry.” As I go into my final year at Calhoun, I am resolved to continue working to advance progressive education whenever and wherever I can. Jean-Paul Sartre believed anguish to be the emotion people feel once they realize that they are responsible not just for themselves, but for all humanity. We must feel the anguish.

school news

Beir Society Offers Donors Inside Peek at Progressive Teaching and Learning Members of the Robert L. Beir Society were invited to a special donor thank-you evening in early May, titled “Calhoun’s Progressive Approach to Teaching and Learning Through Powerful Student Projects.” Teachers and students were on hand to talk to parents about such distinctive programs as Junior Workshop, Middle School Mandarin, the jazz program, and interdisciplinary, site-based learning in the wilderness of the Badlands National Park, SD. The Robert L. Beir Society, named for a generous and long-serving Calhoun Life Trustee, recognizes Annual Fund donors giving $2,500 or more.

Beir Society members listen to a presentation by MS Mandarin teacher Mengli Wang.

For details about the Robert L. Beir Society, go to www.calhoun.org/af. For more information about Calhoun’s progressive approach to teaching, see www.calhoun. org/learning_by_doing.

Seniors Lia Barnhard (center) and Bennett Hagemeier (right) talk to parents about their experiences with Junior Workshop, an interdisciplinary independent-study project that requires eleventh graders to “create knowledge, insight, beauty or function.” The program is supervised by Upper School English teacher Bobby Rue ’85 (left).

Calhoun Receives Its 10-Year Accreditation Calhoun received its official 10-year accreditation this spring from the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), which are authorized by the New York State Board of Regents to accredit early-childhood, elementary and secondary schools. The final accreditation report, prepared by a team of NYSAIS-appointed independent school educators, noted that “there is much for which the Calhoun

community should be proud; the school is indeed a leader in progressive education.” The report went on to commend the school for:

• clearly defining its mission and cultivating a strong sense of community, • developing educational programming that is deeply reflective of its progressive missions, • articulating and demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and social justice.

The formal NYSAIS accreditation process began in 2014–15, when Calhoun constituents—faculty, staff, administrators, parents, trustees, students and alumnae/i— took part in an in-depth self-analysis of our school’s administrative, academic and extracurricular programs and initiatives. The self-study was followed up by a fourday on-site visit last fall by the NYSAIS committee, which was responsible for interviewing every member of the faculty and staff as well as constituent groups before completing its accreditation report.

I’m Not Racist . . . Am I? Joins U.S. State Dept. Film Showcase I’m Not Racist . . . Am I?, Calhoun’s feature film about race and privilege, has been selected to be part of the 2016–17 American Film Showcase (AFS)—a film diplomacy program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), in partnership with the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. AFS brings award-winning contemporary American documentary and independent narrative films to audiences around the world, offering a view of American society and culture as seen through the eyes of independent filmmakers. Selected films explore diverse topics, including civil rights, disabilities, social justice, sports, freedom of the press, technology and the environment. Produced by Point Made Films in collaboration with The Calhoun School, I’m Not Racist . . . Am I? was completed in the summer of 2014 and has since been screened across the country, at film festivals and museums as well as for students, parents, educators, corporations and government leaders.

SUMMER 2016

school news

Calhoun Board Welcomes Five Trustees and Thanks Three for Years of Service At its annual dinner in June, Board Chair Eric Potoker ’85 introduced five new term trustees, who will be joining Calhoun’s Board in the fall of 2016 (see below), and new Parents Association (PA) representative to the Board, Barbara Pyles, who was elected co-president of the PA for 2016–18. Eric also offered deep appreciation to departing trustees Michael Marra, Bernadette Mitchell and Dylan Hixon. Dylan was a three-term trustee who also served during his tenure as treasurer. David Elsberg David is a partner in the New York office of the law firm Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan, the largest law firm in the world devoted solely to business litigation, where he is co-chair of the firm’s investment fund and fund advisor litigation practice. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Columbia Law School. David graduated summa cum laude from Duke University, with distinction in his major, history, and then went on to Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the Harvard Law Review and graduated magna cum laude. After law school, David clerked for Judge Amalya Kearse on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. A lifelong New Yorker, David grew up in Queens and Long Island, and has lived on the Upper West Side since the mid-1990s. His parents both worked as teachers in New York’s public schools, and his father also became an assistant principal and the president of unions for public school administrators. David and his wife, Natalie, have three children: Ben (entering fourth grade), Laura (entering third grade) and Adrienne, who will be a kindergartener this fall.

Calhoun Chronicle

Karen Greene Karen spent the early part of her career working in entertainment law, specifically for television and film, at Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein LLP, and then A&E television. She joined HBO in 2002 to helm the copyright division for the network and HBO’s affiliated channel Cinemax. A native of the Bronx, Karen earned an associate’s degree from Bronx Community College and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University. She and her husband, Walter, are parents to Montgomery (Monte), a rising fourth grader who has been “a proud Calhoun student” since kindergarten. Karen and Walter are also grandparents and custodians of Ava Moore, a fourth grader at PS 84. Karen’s volunteer commitment to education began with Monte’s early preschool years, when she served on the board of trustees for the Purple Circle Early Childhood Program and was executive director of the school’s fundraising auction in 2011. At Calhoun, Karen was most recently involved as a PA third grade parent rep. Aasem Khalil Aasem is a managing director at Goldman Sachs and the global head of chemicals and agriculture for the investment banking division. Previously, he had been a member of the equity capital markets group, focusing on the origination and execution of equity and equity-linked financings, including initial public offerings, follow-on transactions, block trades and convertibles.

Aasem joined Goldman Sachs in 1996 as an analyst on the mortgage-backed trading desk, shortly after graduating from Kenyon College, where he earned his BA in political science with distinction. While at Kenyon, he also had a concentration in English literature and served as captain of the college’s football and baseball teams. Aasem and his wife, Marcia, live in TriBeCa with their three children, twins Benjamin and Sebastian (entering second grade) and four-year-old Gabriela (“Gigi”). Walter Levitch Walter and his wife, Diana, are, like their daughter, Natalie, Calhoun “lifers.” Natalie—who will be entering tenth grade this fall—came to Calhoun at the age of three, and brought with her two parents who have been generous supporters of the community: Diana has served on the PA and numerous committees, and Walter is currently on Calhoun’s Major Gifts Committee. Walter brings varied and extensive experience to his new role on Calhoun’s Board. Currently enjoying retirement after nine years at Goldman Sachs, he also previously served at Salomon Brothers/ Citibank and TD Securities. The bulk of his professional career was spent structuring, syndicating and trading leveraged loans and private placements of debt. During his more formative years, Walter proudly points out, he held a wide variety of jobs— including dishwasher, busboy, umpire, head waiter at a sorority house, nightclub security guard and store manager. Walter received an MBA degree from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and his BA in psychology from Indiana University, where he received many honors. He and

school news

Benefit 2016: An Evening of Gotham Glamour Diana have lived on the Upper West Side since 1989, and in 1994 moved right across the street from Little Calhoun to a co-op, where he has served on the board for the past 22 years. Christine Taylor A professional actress with numerous television and film credits, Christine calls her children and family life her “highest priority.” She enjoyed a traditional, family-centered childhood in Allentown, PA, and credits her parents and teachers for supporting an early interest in the performing arts and enriching her academic education through various community theater programs. Performances in school and community productions generated professional opportunities, including a starring role in a children’s television series for Nickelodeon. After graduating with honors from Allentown Central Catholic High School and completing the television series, Christine relocated to Los Angeles to continue her professional career. While continuing to work in both television and film, Christine served for the last seven years on the board of Project ALS and actively supports her husband’s work with the Stiller Foundation, focused primarily on education in Haiti. In 2012, she was honored for her accomplishments in the performing arts as one of the first inductees into the Lehigh County Hall of Fame. Christine and her husband, Ben Stiller ’83, have two children at Calhoun: Ella (entering ninth grade) and Quin (entering fifth grade).

The 2016 Calhoun Benefit, “Fly Me to the Moon—An Evening of Gotham Glamour,” was held for the fifth consecutive year at the stunning Cipriani Wall Street and raised more than $900,000—thanks, once again, to the generosity of our Calhoun community. “Funds raised by the Benefit are vital to the school—supporting the amazing educational experience our students receive at Calhoun,” says Nicole Nelson, Associate Director of Development. “Without the success of the Benefit, the school would not be able to continue to attract and retain the very best teachers in the country, ensure that our community reflects the rich diversity of our city, or fulfill our progressive mission with cutting-edge curriculum.” Highlighting the evening was a special musical performance by several of our talented seniors—Maryam Chishti, Lucy DeCarlo, Katherine Kotowski, Jackson Lundy, Kyler Murria-Castro, Cheyenne Rosado, Jules Starn and Delia Pelli-Walbert—backed by Calhoun’s jazz program director Victor Lin, Calhoun music teachers Dan Stein ‘07 and Ben Flocks, and guest drummer Dag Markhus. There was also a touching tribute by Tumblr founder David Karp ’04 to his mother, Barbara Ackerman, who retired this June after 19 years as a Lower School science specialist at Little Calhoun. The success of the Benefit would not have been possible without our 2016 Benefit co-chairs—Liz Conboy, Leigh Gerstenblatt, Laura Glick, Shnieka Johnson, Michelle Cuilla Lipkin and Julia Loy—who volunteered innumerable hours to making the evening the success that it was. Thanks, too, to the 120-plus Benefit Committee volunteers, as well as those who supported the Benefit by attending or underwriting the event, purchasing a corporate sponsorship or ad, buying teacher tickets, or soliciting or donating auction items. 1

1. 1. They made it happen! (L-R) Benefit co-chairs Shnieka Johnson (P ’27), Liz Conboy (P ’26, P ’29), Leigh Gerstenblatt (P ’26, P ’28), Michelle Ciulla Lipkin (P ’22), Laura Glick (P ’23, P ’26) and Julia Loy (P ’17, ’19). 2. David Karp ’04, Calhoun alum and Tumblr founder, offered a tribute to his mother, Barbara Ackerman (left), who retired this June after 19 years as science specialist at Little Calhoun.

SUMMER 2016

school news

The Best Playdate! Grandparents & Special Friends Day, 2016 Nearly 170 grandparents and special friends visited Calhoun in early May, spending time with our youngest Calhouners in 3’s to first grades. It was a wonderful intergenerational playdate, with guests taking part in craft projects, story time and math activities. Many of our guests traveled from outside of New York; one grandmother from Florida observed, “It was definitely worth the trip!” 1

1. Kindergartner Noelle Kirkwood welcomes Calhoun grandparents! 2. John Nemergut with grandson Leo Chang (3’s) 3. Maddy and Jerry Soloway with grandson Nathaniel Green (first grade)

4. Grandparents Herb Rosenblum and Carole Solomon with Daniela Gutierrez (K) 5. Jie Zhang with granddaughter Charlotte “Charlie” McGuire (3’s) 6. Bill Collins played the Pied Piper of grandparents, reading to this group of Young 3’s students— including granddaughter Graycen Sloan (hidden at left). 7. Sawdesh Popli with grandson Shaan Shrivastava (4’s) 8. Miguel Santamaria with grandson Griffin Hitzig-Santamaria (first grade)

Calhoun Chronicle

school news

Calhoun Hosts Citywide Conference, “Sustainability Through Student Voices”

Upper School Sustainability Club members and conference organizers (L-R) Sydnie Hyams ’18, Keizo Fish ’17, Flora Morrison ’18 and Katherine Hade ’18 are already working on action plans for next year’s club activities.

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it’s a matter of choice, and youth must take the lead,” declared 15-year-old environmental activist Kehkashan Basu in her opening remarks at the first Sustainability Through Student Voices Conference, held at Calhoun on April 9. The conference, hosted and organized by Calhoun’s Upper School Sustainability Club along with groups from The Cathedral School, The Town School and UNIS, brought 150 students, parents and educators from more than 15 New York City independent schools to Calhoun, all intent on finding ways to work together and implement systemic change toward environmentally sound practices in our schools and communities. Kehkashan, who traveled from the United Arab Emirates for the conference, was an inspirational choice to deliver the first of the two keynote speeches; she was only eight years old when she got involved in environmental activism and, in 2013, at the age of 12, she was elected to a two-year term as global coordinator for the United

Nations Environment Program. Her call to action—affirming the power of student voice and the efforts needed toward a sustainable future in school communities— was echoed by the day’s second keynote speaker, Anjali Appadurai, a Vancouverbased student activist who focuses her work on international environmental governance and social justice. “Student organizing is the most powerful way to do a conference like this; it gets results because of how dedicated the students are,” said Anjali. And it was certainly the student voices that rang the clearest at the conference. Attendees were offered 18 different workshops, half of which were run by students. Calhoun’s Katherine Hade ‘18, Flora Morrison ’18 and Celia Goodman ’18 presented a workshop on Calhoun’s aeroponic Tower Gardens and Green Roof. Sydnie Hyams ’18 led the Climate Change Mixer workshop, exploring the effect that climate change has on people around the world; and a contingent of Calhouners— past and present—joined Chef Bobo to talk

about the long-term value of a sustainable school lunch program. Members of Calhoun’s Upper School Sustainability Club walked away inspired and optimistic. “There was a very powerful message that we were trying to send,” said Keizo Fish ’17. “We were trying to give students and faculty members tangible action plans.” Fellow club member and conference organizer Katherine thinks they were successful in that mission. “I felt people were waking up to the idea that one person is all it takes, because that one person will inspire another person . . . and results come from that.” The Sustainability Club members, who hope to make the conference an annual event, sponsored a film series this year to spread awareness, and made visits to a partner public school in the Bronx, where they mentored young children in community gardening. Now, says Katherine, “we are going to be more direct with our projects, complete one thing at a time, and get people to do things instead of just talking.” Ultimately, she says, she is very hopeful. “I feel better about our generation; I think now I’m going to be seeing more change in school communities.” Read more about the conference at www.calhoun.org/stsv.

Calhoun’s CSA for 11 weeks of fresh fruits and vegetables delivered by our partner, Paisley Farm! www.calhoun.org/csa

SUMMER 2016

school news

53rd Annual Calhoun Carnival Neither cold nor rain could stop the crowds from enjoying Calhoun’s 53rd annual spring carnival. Thanks to the amazing parents, students, faculty and staff who made it happen!

2 1

1. Director of Enrollment Andrew Hume (P ’22) got used to being underwater in the dunking tank! 2. Parent volunteer VIPs: Nicole Quiros (P ’26) masterfully chaired the Calhoun Carnival this year, while Paul Dorr (P ’24, P ’25) managed some last-minute street reconfigurations with aplomb. 3. Lily Edelman-Gold ’17 volunteered at one of the more popular events for Little Calhouners, the Lollipop Toss.

4. Volunteers Bennett Wood ’19, US math teacher Erika Zamfirescu (P ’15, P ’19) and Zami Seck ’16 had the important task of keeping the cotton candy rolling! Yum! 5. What could be more classic than Pin the Tail on the Cougar? 6. First-year parent Carla Dunn (P ’30) got into the carnival spirit, donning a hat and peddling some of this year’s amazing homemade baked treats.

Calhoun Chronicle

school news

Calhoun Book Fair Posts Best Year Ever! It’s been almost 20 years since the Parents Association moved the school’s annual Book Fair to Barnes & Noble, and the rest is the kind of success story we all like to hear! This year, the Book Fair raised a record $25,267—not counting the 200-plus “wish list” books bought for the school libraries and classrooms—thanks to our generous community! “It’s a pretty incredible fundraiser,” says co-chair Lori Serling Sklar ’75. “What could be better than promoting reading while

raising money for our community?” Lori, an alumna, past PA co-president, and parent of two graduates, has been organizing the event with her husband, Larry Sklar, and librarian Beverly Lane for almost two decades. Other regular volunteers include assistant librarian Cassandra Cuppy, parents Sandra LeSage (P ’20), Louise Litt (P ’23, P ’23), Amy Edelman (P ’17, P ’21) and Marian Mass (P ’18), and—when they’re in town—Lori’s children, Robin ’14 and Andrew ’07. “Of course, Cynthia Wuco and

Shopping at the Calhoun Book Fair, Anna Friedland ‘21 makes her summer reading selection with assistant librarian Cassandra Cuppy.

the Middle School chorus really help make it an event!” adds Lori. Money raised by the Book Fair helps underwrite PA events, including the Parent Forum speaker series, and the Annual Tea and tenure gifts that celebrate Calhoun teachers and staff.

2016–17 PA Leadership Looks Ahead to Smooth Transition

Barbara Pyles and David Hawkins, 2016–17 PA co-presidents

The Calhoun Parents Association, which announced the 2016–17 slate of PA officers at its end-of-year meeting, welcomed Barbara Pyles as its new co-president. Barbara, who will be working alongside co-president David Hawkins, assumes her new role from Rosa Sabater (P ’17, P ’15), who was thanked at the meeting for her extraordinary dedication over the last three years. Barbara was an early volunteer at Calhoun, jumping in as a cluster parent as soon as her daughter, Phoebe, crossed Little Calhoun’s threshold as a four-yearold. Since then, she has served in several leadership positions—as PA treasurer for three years and, most recently, in a two-year stint as co–vice president of the Middle School. Barbara has also

volunteered at various times as a Benefit and Annual Fund committee member. In addition to Phoebe, who begins ninth grade this fall, Barbara and her husband, Stephen, are the parents of Palmer, a rising sixth grader who also entered Calhoun in the 4’s. Both Barbara and David recognize that the role of the PA is going to be critical in the next two years. David hopes to make next year a successful one in light of the upcoming 19 for 19 Campaign. Barbara is looking beyond, to the transition between Steve Nelson and a new Head of School. “Next year will be a very busy time, and the follow-up will be important with the new Head, to establish a good rapport, provide consistency and embrace new ideas,” notes Barbara. In addition to its regular slate of social activities, Barbara says the PA is already planning for at least two evening Parent Forums with nationally recognized guest speakers, including a return visit by psychologist Mike Bradley, who will speak on teens and drugs, on January 11. Both PA execs say a priority next year will be to look for new volunteers. “There are a number of committees that will be in need of leadership,” points out Barbara. But they also emphasize that there are any number of opportunities where parents can volunteer as much or as little as their time

2016–17 PA Officers Co-Presidents David Hawkins (7, 4) Barbara Pyles* (9, 6) Secretary Louise Litt (6, 6) Treasurer Lynda Roca (5, 4) VP LS–74 Sheila Kirkwood (3, 1) Hanh Livingston (1, 4’s)* VP LS–81 Tara Mendelson (4)* Daphne Smith-Naylor (4, 2) VP Middle School Bert Pasquini (6) E. Kendall Vidal (7)* VP Upper School Amy Edelman (12, 8) Chris Rothermel (10, 4) (* New this year; children’s grades also noted)

will permit. “We’re hoping to find ways to get LS/74 parents involved,” says David, “particularly since there are so many dual-working families.” For more information about the Calhoun Parents Association, go to www.calhoun.org/pa. SUMMER 2016

school news

Calhoun’s Uhry/Thompson Award Goes to Yvonne Primus

A surprised Yvonne Primus, a 24-year veteran in Calhoun’s Lower School, received the Uhry/ Thompson Award for excellence in teaching and commitment to progressive education.

Yvonne Primus, an associate teacher in Calhoun’s Lower School for 24 years, was named this year’s recipient of the Uhry/ Thompson Award. The tribute is given each year to a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in the classroom and a commitment to progressive education. Head of School Steve Nelson, who announced the award, noted that he’s always amazed at the number of Upper Schoolers who remember Yvonne with fondness when asked about their earliest experiences at Calhoun. Lower School Director Alison Max Rothschild ‘85 praises Yvonne for her consistently calm, warm and nurturing

demeanor, observing that “Yvonne epitomizes everything that is wonderful and special about Little Calhoun.” Teaching colleague Heather Sayles Jupiter ’92 calls Yvonne “one of the most creative, intuitive and talented teachers in our community. Whether helping students to deepen their understanding of academic concepts, working on creative projects or whipping up a batch of something delicious, she brings love and laughter to everyone around her.” The award was presented to Yvonne at the Annual Tea, a celebratory event for teachers, administrators and staff hosted by the Parents Association.

Carlyle Lincoln Named “My Favorite Teacher” Second grade teacher Carlyle Lincoln was quite surprised when he got the call: He’d been named the local winner of the Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest, thanks to his nomination by one of his biggest fans, second grader Asha Lewis. Asha shared the stage with Carlyle in a ceremonial presentation at the Barnes & Noble on 82nd Street, and told the audience why she nominated her social studies teacher: “He’s nice, he explains

things well, he’s thoughtful, and . . . smart!” Asha said she especially enjoyed learning about “buildings”—a unit of study that Carlyle hopes to bring next year to Little Calhoun, where he’ll be leading the new Discovery Lab, focused on project-based STEAM activities. [See page 13.] My Favorite Teacher is a nationwide contest that Barnes & Noble sponsors every year as part of the company’s teacher recognition program.

Lower School teacher Carlyle Lincoln received the local Barnes & Noble award for the My Favorite Teacher Contest, thanks to his nomination by second grader Asha Lewis.

Calhoun Pays Tribute to Phil Bender’s 30 Years

Phil Bender was presented with a Calhoun baseball hat and shirt commemorating his 30 years at Calhoun at this year’s Alumnae/i Reunion.

Calhoun Chronicle

Parents and alumnae/i had a chance this past spring to pay tribute to veteran Middle School math teacher Phil Bender, who, marking the completion of three decades at Calhoun, announced his retirement. Parents lauded him at the Annual Tea and alumnae/i honored him at the Spring Reunion. Phil Bender came to Calhoun in 1986, and quickly embraced the school’s progressive approach to project-based learning. Many of his former Middle School students still remember such number

games as “Biz, Buzz, Bam” or the chocolate-chip-cookie experiment. He was also an enthusiastic member of the larger Calhoun community: Upper Schoolers came to know Phil as the spirited Santa for the annual 12 Days of Christmas assembly, and the organizer and lead chaperone for another great Calhoun tradition, the annual ski trip to Stowe. Ninth grader Ethan Quigley summed it up when he wrote in his tribute to Phil, “You were one of the best teachers a kid could ask for. Thank you for changing my life!”

school news

Sabrina Spiegel Zurkuhlen ’06 Named New Athletics Director; David Bartolacci Heads to Chicago After 11 years—most served as Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education— David Bartolacci said goodbye to Calhoun this spring to move with his family to Chicago. His shoes are being filled by two well-known Calhouners: Sabrina Spiegel Zurkuhlen ’06 has been appointed Calhoun’s new Athletics Director, and Alyssa Vigliette has been named team leader for the Physical Education Department for the 2016–17 year. Sabrina, who has served for several years as Assistant Athletics Director, and, since 2011, as a varsity head coach, has had a stellar record in Cougar athletics: she’s led the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team to five consecutive NYCAL Tournament championships, and has earned just as many regular-season titles. This winning spirit has spread to other teams she’s coached, including the Girls’ JV Volleyball team, which claimed dual titles this year, and the Boys’ Varsity Volleyball team, which posted its second-consecutive league win this Sabrina Spiegel Zurkuhlen ’06 has been named Athletics Director, responsible for interscholastic year and won first place in the NYCAL Tournament championships last year. In her new sports and intramural athletic activities. role, she will oversee all aspects of Calhoun’s athletic program, including interscholastic sports and intramural athletic activities. Calhouners look forward to Sabrina spreading her magic across all the Cougar teams! Alyssa has been a Calhoun faculty member since 2011, teaching PE and health classes. As team leader, she will be responsible for supervising PE faculty, coordinating schedules and overseeing health classes.

Noteworthy Lower School teacher Barbara Ackerman retired this past June after 19 years— most of which were spent as the science specialist for kindergarten and first grades at Little Calhoun. Hundreds of students will remember her fondly for the deep love for nature she shared with them on their many walks to Central Park—studying the life cycle of the huge tupelo tree that Calhouners have visited for so many years and exploring the world of insects. Barbara was also responsible for helping turn the fifthfloor rooftop at 74th Street into the “Whispering Terrace,” where students learned to plant and harvest, and enjoyed a quiet space for tranquil activities and discovery. Danny Isquith was given the full title of Middle School Director at midyear, after serving briefly as Interim Director. Formerly the Dean of Academic Affairs and a math teacher in the Upper School, Danny looks forward to pursuing

several initiatives started this year— the expansion of electives through the new trimester system; the introduction of Middle School grade deans; the continuation of the popular Math Lab; and the possible addition of several more drop-in, after-school labs—for reading and creative writing. [See page 13.] Joan Gillman, who will be teaching fifth and sixth grade science next year—straddling Lower and Middle School—continues to be one of Calhoun’s most enthusiastic ambassadors and promoters of progressive, project-based learning. She presented two workshops at the Science Council of New York City conference in April: The first workshop was based on her popular MS strawrocket project, and was called “Straw Rockets Are out of This World.” Her article on this project was also chosen last December for inclusion in the book Bringing STEM to the Elementary Classroom, published by the National Science Teachers Association; the second workshop was called “Mars, Here We

Come.” This summer, Joan is taking a five-day workshop at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, MD. She says she looks forward to using what she learns for her fifth grade unit on astronomy. Calhoun’s performing arts teachers continue to shine in their respective fields. Luke Cissell, coordinator of violin studies and chamber music at Calhoun, released his fourth album of original music earlier this year, titled Backwoods. Luke plays fiddle, dulcimer and electric bass on the EP, which is a collection inspired by the music of eastern Kentucky and Appalachia. Meanwhile, Margie Duffield, director of the Upper School theater program, showed her versatility when she took to the stage in Fawnbook, at the Brick Theater in Williamsburg, and then, three months later, had two original songs she’d written with composer Greg Pliska included in the Reproductive Freedom Festival, staged at the Tact Studio in New York.

SUMMER 2016

school news

Fourth Grader Makes Mathematical Discovery

By studying patterns, fourth grader Baelee Glasgow discovered a new approach for multiplying by six.

While completing an assignment for math class—a follow-up to working with manipulatives, patterns and number games—Calhoun fourth grader Baelee Glasgow discovered an amazing new formula for multiplying by six. The approach, dubbed “The Way of

Baelee” by her classmates, captivated her math teacher, Austin Applegate, who was wowed by her startling discovery. Baelee’s classmates and several Calhoun math teachers tested the method with a variety of integers, and were amazed that it worked every time—no matter how many integers were used. Here’s how it works: Let’s say we want to multiply a number by 6. For our example, we will use 8. Take half of that number— in this case, half of 8 is 4—and multiply by 10 to get 40. Then, add the number we started with (8) to the result of the first step—40; we get 48 (and yes, 6 x 8 = 48!). “Baelee’s discovery is a great example of creating new knowledge,” enthuses Austin. “It’s about inventing a new way of looking at multiplication. And it is such a simple, elegant trick that it makes you say, ‘What a great idea; why didn’t I think of that?’”

Español Across Ages Arno Sugarman ’18 was one of several Upper Schoolers who visited a class of Little Calhouners this spring, to read his original illustrated children’s story, written in Priscilla Marrero’s Spanish II class. Priscilla hopes to use the books with Calhoun’s kindergarteners and first graders, who she’ll be teaching next year!

Claire Annino ’20 Wins Scholastic Gold; Five Others Garner Regional Awards Kudos to Claire Annino ’20, who was awarded a Gold Medal in this year’s national Scholastic Art & Writing Award competition for her short story “Give Me a Reason”; this is the second consecutive year that Claire has been awarded a Gold Medal. The eighth grade author earned a spot in the national competition this year when she won a Gold Key in the New York City regional contest. Two other Calhoun students who received regional Gold Keys were also entered into the prestigious national competition: Lucia Prinzi ’19, in the short story category, and Delia Pelli-Walbert ’16, in the drawing/illustration category. Other Calhoun students received Honorable Mentions at the NYC regional level: Josca Zahn ’20, short story and poetry; Lindsay Jackman ’18, short story; and John Michael McCann ’17, poetry. Besides her Gold Key in the NYC regionals, Claire also won two Silver Keys and one Honorable Mention for short stories. In all, our six Calhoun students garnered a total of 10 awards for works selected from more than 10,000 entries submitted by NYC public and independent school students in seventh through twelfth grades. The Scholastic Art & Writing competition, established in 1923, is the most prestigious of its kind for secondary school students. Past winners include such artists and writers as Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Stephen King and Lena Dunham.

Claire Annino ’20 (far right), winner of a Gold Medal in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards national competition, with her fellow NYC regional award winners (L-R) Delia Pelli-Walbert ’16, John Michael McCann ’17, Lindsay Jackman ’18 and Josca Zahn ’20 [Missing from photo: Lucia Prinzi ‘19]

Calhoun Chronicle

school news

Mini-machines—the subject of a popular special course for Lower Schoolers this year—will be one of the units of study introduced to children in kindergarten through second grade in the new Discovery Lab.

New Discovery Lab Opens at 74th Street Lower School Director Alison Max Rothschild ’85 announced this spring that a new Discovery Lab will be opening at Little Calhoun, beginning in the fall of 2016. The kindergarten-through-secondgrade STEAM-based program will be led by Carlyle Lincoln, who is making the transition from second grade social studies teacher—a job he’s held at Calhoun for most of his 13 years in the Lower School.

“Carlyle has incorporated STEAMbased projects into his second grade social studies curriculum and several Lower School special courses for quite some time,” notes Alison. His most recent special courses included one on mini-machines (using gears, axles, wheels and batteries to make a working vehicle); one on launching machines (catapults made out of various materials); and last year’s course on natural

disasters (volcanoes and hurricanes). In recent years, as part of his social studies curriculum, Carlyle has been teaching a unit on skyscrapers and “the engineering side of architecture.” The study was enriched this year by a wonderfully engaging day of project-based activities led by engineering professionals from New Line Structures, a construction management company owned by Calhoun dad Martin Loy (P ‘17, P ‘19). For the new Discovery Lab, Carlyle envisions projects that have to do with food chemistry, earth science (volcanoes) and mechanics. “Children are naturally drawn to opportunities where they can build, create and experiment,” observes Alison. “We hope to encourage and channel their curiosity in an integrated way, providing our students even more opportunities to develop concrete skills as well as their aptitude for problem-solving and critical thinking.”

Middle Schoolers Opt In for Math— and Love It! Early this fall, new Middle School Director Danny Isquith took a daring risk: He invited Middle Schoolers to drop in for beforeschool and after-school sessions, just to do math. He called it Math Lab and made it a free, optional activity. Astoundingly, enthusiasm and participation turned the trial run into a Calhoun Middle School mainstay! On any given day, as many as 15 students attend the sessions, which are led by Danny (a former Calhoun Upper School math teacher), along with Middle School math teachers Ben Schwartz, Kevin Randazzo and Phil Bender. “A third of the students who come to Math Lab are doing homework and asking

Middle School Director Danny Isquith enjoys testing his prowess against that of another Rubik’s Cube–wiz, fifth grader Hope Coven, a frequent visitor to Math Lab.

questions,” observes Danny. “The rest of the kids just like math—they come to

challenge themselves with fun puzzles and games, and really just want to keep doing math on their own time.” Kids explore mathematical puzzles like KENKEN and Kakuro, learn about Gabriel’s Horn mathematical supertasks or how to build hexaflexagons. Some use free, online resources for extended learning and challenges, including Khan Academy. Because of the extraordinary success of Math Lab, Danny is working on plans to extend the program to introduce writing and reading labs next year. “With kids showing so much interest in furthering their learning outside of class time,” says Danny, “I’m happy to give them the resources to do so!” SUMMER 2016

school news

Middle Schoolers Take to the Streets for Social Justice

Fifth Graders Rally for Traffic Safety Calhoun’s fifth graders rallied on the steps of City Hall on June 9, joining scores of legislators, activists and students from across the city to push for passage of the Every School Speed Safety Camera Bill. Calhoun students were front and center, stepping up and demanding the floor to speak their piece; they wanted to make sure their voices were heard! “As a New Yorker, I’ve seen a lot,” asserted 11-year-old Paul Weber in front of news cameras and more than 100 attendees. “We need more enforcements for speed violators from the government side, not just the law enforcers.” Classmates Nathalie Christman and Julian DeLazlo also spoke up about their hopes for speed safety cameras to protect New York’s children. Julian concluded, “It’s a big city, but I know we can do it.” Calhoun Chronicle

Traffic safety is a particularly poignant issue for Calhoun’s students, whose classmate Cooper Stock was killed two years ago by a cab driver making an illegal turn. Earlier in June, the fifth graders joined Lower Schoolers for the annual Cooper’s Troopers Day of Service, which focused this year on street safety.

Read more about Cooper’s Troopers: www.calhoun.org/cooperstroopers. Top: Standing before City Hall, in front of a crowd of classmates, legislators and activists, Calhoun fifth grader Paul Weber boldly spoke up for enforcing laws against speed violators. Bottom (L-R): Fifth graders Ava Carter, Sophie Crystal and Leah Sever demand street safety for schoolchildren.

school news

Sixth Graders Heed Call to Action Inspired by an assignment they were given earlier this year, sixth graders in Anthony Gaskins’ humanities class decided they were going to launch a Middle School Call to Action club to raise awareness about social justice issues near and dear to their hearts. And on June 8, they did just that! With handmade signs, the sixth graders strode down Riverside Drive to 72nd Street— the site of the Eleanor Roosevelt statue—in what they called their Call to Action March. There, several of the students confidently addressed their classmates, Calhoun faculty and parents about a few of the issues they’ve been championing—including anti-racism, feminism, and the need to value uniqueness and differences in us all.

Most exciting of all, the students were joined for their rally by leading civil rights activist Hazel Dukes, NAACP-NYC president, who proceeded to speak directly to the students, applauding their passion, affirming the power they hold as young people, and encouraging them to continue to fight for justice. The sixth grade Call to Action project was launched in January, when Anthony began a conversation about how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “used his voice” to raise awareness about civil rights through nonviolence. The students then studied several “call to action” speeches—by King as well as by President Obama and Malala Yousafzai—and were then challenged to come up with issues that were meaningful to each of them, to research their subject, and then to write and practice their speech

in a final presentation before classmates and parents. “The kids have superseded all expectations that I had,” marvels Anthony. “And they’ve now transformed this into an actual social movement.” Top left: Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACPNYC, joined Zoe Siller (left) and Daniela Sarantis on their Call to Action March. Top center: Standing before the Eleanor Roosevelt statue in Riverside Park, Charlie Adams begs rally-goers to respect and embrace people with differences. Top right: Answering the questions of a PIX11 reporter, Carter Paterson, Daniela Sarantis and Bella Ulfelder (right) spoke eloquently about why kids need to be involved in politics. Bottom: At the head of the march down Riverside Drive, with their “Calhoun 4 Peace” sign in full view, were (L-R) Mateo Sucre, Carter Paterson, Conrad Sharp (behind Carter), and Andrew Goodgold.

SUMMER 2016

school news

US Spring Session: Exploration and Experimentation by Lorenzo Krakowsky, Upper School Director Three years ago, Calhoun reinstituted an old and beloved Calhoun tradition in the Upper School called Intersession. The program, currently called Spring Session, is a period of three or four days between mods wherein students participate in workshops, trips and classes that are not part of the regular curriculum. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offerings included trips to the Badlands, Montreal and Black Rock Forest, and a sailing class on the Hudson River. In addition, students analyzed the films of Denis Villeneuve and Jim Jarmusch; learned CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and built 3-D printers in a design course taught by a fellow student; practiced quick recipes for college cooking; engaged in a social justice workshop; and learned about Latin American culture and Eastern art and philosophy. In many ways, Spring Session exemplifies the core tenets of a genuinely progressive experience in an incredibly strong and clear way. The courses are student-centered, and many are planned, organized and led by the students themselves. They are experiential and many are place-based. They allow for a deep and uninterrupted exploration of a topic, theme and/or place. They are often inter-, cross- and multi-disciplinary. They are, in the truest sense of the word, rigorous; they challenge students, engage them in exciting and authentic exploration, and allow for real and meaningful experimentation. It is a pleasure to see this program develop, and to be able to support it!

1 3

Calhoun Chronicle

school news

1. How many New Yorkers get to truly experience the city from the Hudson River? Director of Alumnae/i Relations Bart Hale ‘00, a certified sailing coach and competitive sailor, introduced a sea-bound group of 16 to the elements of basic cruising, navigation and racing. (Back, L-R) Sean Cullity ’16, Olivia Cohen ’16, Isabelle Thomson ’16, Lia Barnhard ’16, Jack Grossman ’16; (front, L-R) Sean Foulke-Hill ’16 and Leo Bien-Aime ’16.

2. An amazing paleo discovery was made by one of this year’s Badlands Excursion’s intrepid explorers: Justin Frasier ’17 uncovered a 30-million-year-old tooth, only three millimeters in width. Justin was part of the fifth Calhoun cohort to travel to the South Dakota National Park, where they spend their days working with artists-in-residence, park rangers and a paleontologist, hiking the mountains, exploring, doing community service and camping. [PHOTO: AUGUSTE ELDER] 3. Lindsey Randle ’16 (left) instructed a group of Upper Schoolers, including Michael Nelkin ’18 (right), in how to design and build a 3-D printer. After covering the basics about hardware, CAD software and firmware, the students were given the choice to either build their own delta printer—original design by Lindsey—or continue practicing their CAD software skills. Lindsay has been perfecting her 3-D printer design since she built her first prototype last year, for her Junior Workshop project.

4. A passionate gardener, senior Leah Saberski (left) mobilized her fellow Upper Schoolers to make “seed bombs”—small dirt balls with wildflower seeds inside— in preparation for Earth Day, when the group joined with Kyle Anderson’s fourth graders to plant the seeds in Riverside Park. The aim, she explained, is to help spread flowers where needed—encouraging our butterfly (and bee) population. (L-R) Leah Saberski ‘16, Sophie Hinds ’19, Sebastian Baker ’19 and Zoe Stojkovic ’19. 5. These lucky Upper Schoolers got the chance to fully immerse themselves in one of the great cultural and artistic capitals of North America: Montreal. French teacher Ben Ratliff and English teacher Ellen Kwon had les étudiants use their French-language skills to interview people on the street and experience the city “through multiple lenses.” (Back, L-R) Sascha Rogosin ’16, Justin Axelrod ’16; (front, L-R) Layla Garcia-Carela ’16, Zami Seck ’16, Kyler Murria-Castro ’16, Tania Calle ’16, US English teacher Ellen Kwon, Jackson Lundy ’16 and Michael Fortunato ’16. [PHOTO: BEN RATLIFF]

6. Basic cooking techniques will certainly help these students survive on something other than just ramen noodles when they go off to college! The course, led by Upper School art teachers Chris Garcia and Hailey Kim, focused on healthy cooking and easy-to-prepare recipes that can be cooked on a portable stove. (L-R) Laysha Mata ’19, Eva Passarelli Gembka ’19, Oummu Barrie ’18, Tallulah Hunt ’18 and Talia Kurlansky ’18.

summer 2016

school news

Onstage X XXX newsmak e r s

UPPER SCHOOL THEATER

Harvey

Upper School thespians brought Mary Chase’s endearing comedy Harvey to the Calhoun stage. The Pulitzer Prize–winning drama is well known for its 1950 film adaptation starring James Stewart. 1. (L-R) Emma Morrow ’16, Lindsay Jackman ‘18, Jenniffer Rodriguez ‘18 2. (L-R) Jean Baptiste Denamiel ‘19, Cole Mackes ‘16, Maryam Chishti ’16, Jules Starn ‘16

eighth grade play

The Chekhov Project Eighth graders showed off their considerable talents in this production of four comic short stories by Anton Chekhov, and the first act of his famous play Three Sisters. 3. (L-R) Nicholas Friedland and Ella Stiller in A Drama 4. (L-R) Oscar Llodra and Ruby Baker in a scene from A Defenseless Creature [PHOTO: Lily Stevenson ‘20]

sixth grade theater

The Night Parade: Japanese Ghost Stories 5. An evening of Japanese ghost stories was highlighted by The Story of Hisao, an original piece written and performed by sixth grader Lomie Blum (right), with Liam Harvey, who played Hisao.

Calhoun Chronicle

SUMMER 2016

school news

more photos www.calhoun.org/media

UPPER SCHOOL wind ensemble concert

Upper School musicians in wind, chamber wind and percussion ensembles presented a selection of works, from Duke Ellington to Mozart to Offenbach. But a highlight of the evening was an original arrangement of “Themes from Zelda” by Javay Fraser ’16. 1. US Wind Ensemble musicians (L-R) Lydia Eguchi ’16, Javay Fraser ’16, Michael Fortunato ’16 and Delsa Lopez ’17 performing “Themes from Zelda”

middle school strings concert 2. (L-R) Jackie Kletter ‘20, Emilka Jansen ‘20, Alicia Beritan ‘20

middle SCHOOL wind ensemble concert 3. Performing publicly for the very first time with the Middle School Wind Ensemble were fifth graders (L-R) James Lederer-Michaels ’23, Nathalie Christman ’23, Zoe Litt ’23 and Jackson Sinatra ’23.

calhoun community orchestra Calhoun’s Community Orchestra, an ensemble of student, faculty and parent musicians, ended the year with a concert that featured several soloists along with the Upper School Orchestra and members of the fifth grade and Upper School choruses. 4. (L-R) Fourth grader Xuenyang Sheng and Head of School Steve Nelson performed Concert in A Minor for Two Violins. [PHOTO: Paul Leung] SUMMER 2016

school news

Onstage third grade THEATER

Where We Stand

Third graders wrote and performed a collection of one-act plays focusing on issues of social justice. 1. (L-R) Enzo Garcia with Isaiah Mensah-Hinds

THE 4’s

Breakfast Theater Students in the 4’s made their stage debut in a charming performance inspired by P. D. Eastman’s popular children’s book Are You My Mother? Dressed as little colorful chicks, the children showed off their bilingual skills by singing a song in Spanish. Then they dispersed into the crowd, approached their guests and asked, in Spanish, “Are you my family?” before settling down with their audience for a morning breakfast! 2. Nola Conboy leads her classmates into the Breakfast Theater audience, asking in Spanish, “Are you my family?”

first grade THEATER

Classic Children’s Stories First grade classes sang songs and performed scenes inspired by some of their favorite authors. 3. (L-R) Eliza Nelson, Nina Silverman, Mya Labeste and Quentin Ruffin performed an adaptation of Frederick, by Leo Lionni.

kindergarten

Cirque du Calhoun Kindergarten classes presented an homage to Cirque du Soleil while highlighting all they’d mastered in physical education and theater movement classes! 4. (L-R) Elliot Fain and Ari Raytburg [PHOTO: Patricia Amador]

second, third, fourth grades

Lower School Sing For their year-end musical extravaganza, second, third and fourth graders entertained family and friends with a spirited instrumental (using their recorders) and choral performance. 5. (Front row, L-R) Second graders Alex Babej, Preston Williams, Sienna Sweeney and Stella Gerstenblatt. Calhoun Chronicle

school news

X X X X newsmakers

Boys’ Varsity Volleyball Wins NYCAL League Title The Boys’ Varsity Volleyball athletes kept the energy up and the streak alive this spring, bringing home the NYCAL 2016 League Championship after an undefeated season! It was the second consecutive year that the Cougars have taken the league championship. The only spoiler was that they didn’t repeat their postseason win in the NYCAL Championship Tournament final, where they fell to competitive rival UNIS. In 10 games, the Cougars dropped only five sets and had seven shutout games. Their sweeping victory came as no surprise, given this group of talented and focused athletes. But team members claim that a bigger factor in their success was the team-building and brotherhood cultivated by their co-captains, game after game. Similarly, head coach Sabrina Spiegel-Zurkuhlen ’06 gives high praise to co-captains Austin Lichtenstein ’16, Bennett Hagemeier ’16 and Keizo Fish ’17 for their leadership skills. “Whenever the team was down on points, the athletes came together, pumped up the energy and turned the game back in their favor,” says Sabrina. This was also the largest number of seniors the Cougars have ever had on a single volleyball team, which Sabrina feels led to an interesting mix of leadership and camaraderie. “It helped the athletes channel their energy and build the undefeated season they sought since game one,” she says. “And while 10 of this year’s players are graduating, the hope is to continue their spirit and momentum through next year!” (Top) Jeremy Quezada ’16 spikes the ball, a move he was famous for on the court. [PHOTO: JAVIER SECLEN]

Six Cougars Tapped as NYCAL All-League Best! The New York City Athletics League (NYCAL) recognized six Calhoun athletes and two Cougar teams with All-League Awards for the 2015–16 athletic season! The NYCAL awards, voted on by coaches from the eight schools in the NYCAL conference, are a huge accomplishment for our athletes and a true testament to the athletic program at Calhoun. NYCAL All-League Honorees • Girls’ Volleyball All-League: Emma Griffith ’17, Rose Gruber ’16 • Boys’ Basketball First Team: Jeremy Quezada ’16 • Boys’ Volleyball All-League: Keizo Fish ’17, Bennett Hagemeier ’16, Jackson Lundy ’16 • Boys’ Volleyball NYCAL MVP: Jackson Lundy ’16 • Sportsmanship Award: Girls’ Varsity Soccer, Varsity Golf

summer 2016

X XXX newsmak e r s

The undefeated 2016 Middle School Baseball team: (L-R) Jonah Edelman-Gold ’21, Evan Changar ’20, J. T. Glasgow ’21, Caleb Rubin ’20, Anna Friedland ’21, Carlyle Lincoln (coach), Jack Liberty ’21, Casey Kalfus ’21, Rhys Hitzig-Santamaria ’21, Aidan Thomson ’20, Aleksei Goldhill ’20, Malcolm Cook ’20, Aidan Peters ’20, Andrew Hume (coach), Wilder Brayshaw ’20. (Missing: Elena Swartz ’21) [PHOTO: AMY EDELMAN]

Undefeated Championship Year for MS Co-Ed Baseball

Varsity Golf Has Its Best NYCAL Season The Varsity Golf team took third place in the NYCAL league finals—its best showing since moving to the New York City Athletic League (NYCAL) in 2011. After the Cougars posted their lowest score all season as a team, an impressive 167, three athletes qualified to complete in the 2016 NYSAIS State Championship: Tyler Battino ’17, Stephanie Calhoun Chronicle

Aleksei Goldhill ‘20, co-captain and team standout, excelled both at bat and on the mound throughout the season. He proved his baseball knowhow when taking over at the catcher’s position for a couple of games.

Vaccaro ’19 and Holden Witkoff ’17. The three Cougars had been vying for the lowest score on the team throughout the entire season, one-upping one another at every match and improving on every hole. At season’s end, it was Tyler who ended the season with the lowest score, with a 36 on the par-32 course at the nine-hole Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx. Stephanie and Holden ended the year tied for second lowest, with a 37. “It was an exciting season,” says head coach Matthew Vidmar. “I expect this low scoring trend to continue next season.”

Seven Track and Fielders Qualify for NYSAIS State Tourney After the impressive championship year that Varsity Track and Field had in 2015, it was no surprise when a total of 43 students

PHOTO: Javier Seclen

The Middle School Baseball team finished the season with another undefeated NYCAL League Championship! This is the third league championship for the MS Baseball team, and the second undefeated championship year in the last three seasons. The two eighth grade co-captains played vital roles in the season’s success, with Aleksei Goldhill ’20 working hard both at bat and on the mound, and Caleb Rubin ’20 taking charge in the last league game, scoring three runs and driving in two more. “It was a fun two months of baseball with a dedicated group of players,” declares Caleb. The team looks forward to more success next year, with several rising eighth graders expected to anchor the team, including J. T. Glasgow, a reliable clutch hitter and dynamite closer; Casey Kalfus, who perfected a pickoff throw to third base that caught several baserunners; and Rhys Hitzig-Santamaria, who, pressed into the catching role due to another player’s injury, not only proved to be a sterling catcher, but accomplished it as a left-hander—very rare in baseball!

X X X X newsmakers

3 (Top left) Stephanie Vaccaro ’19 sets up her putt on the ninth hole at Mosholu Golf Course. She shot her lowest score of the season—a 37—during a solid performance at the Cougars’ last regular-season match against Loyola School; (top right) Josh Wiener ’17 bested his personal record for the long jump, and won a third-place medal along the way.

came out for the team this spring—the largest number in Calhoun history. And while many of these new track athletes used the season to find their stride, seven veteran athletes earned medals and posted performances that secured them a place in the NYSAIS State competition—some for the second time in two years. Among the competitors were Ana Finnerty-Haggerty ’17, Michaela Harvey ’17, Dylan Jacobs ’16, Lauren Kauppila ’20, Matthew Rozanoff ’16, Fatou Seck ’19 and Jonah Sherman ’16. Dylan, one of the senior captains on the team and a core member of the track program at Calhoun, has high hopes for the sport as it moves forward with Prince Gomes as head coach. “He’s not a winning-centric coach,” says Dylan, “but he expects you as an athlete to keep growing and learning, and that makes the difference throughout the season!”

Winter/Spring Sports Briefs The Boys’ Varsity Baseball team, with a young squad and a new head coach, focused on rebuilding during the 2016 season. “Cory [Schwartz] brings a new energy as coach,” says Jake Bart ’17. “People are now optimistic about Calhoun baseball, and we go out with a winning attitude every game.” Jack Grossman and Sean Cullity were the lone seniors on the team this year, but they left a lasting impression on the freshman- and sophomore-heavy team that’s set on taking next season by storm. Cougar pride was on full display during the Boys’ Varsity Basketball 2015–16 season. Most of the athletes were on the varsity court for the first time, but they played with grit and spirit. And though the team is losing seven seniors, coaches say the Cougars will be returning next year with one of the best backcourts in the league! A lot of that talent will be coming from

this year’s strong Boys’ JV Basketball team, whose progressive improvement over the season led to a spot in the NYCAL Tournament finals. “The boys understood what it meant to be team players,” says Coach Jono Hustis, who adds that “this team had heart.” The Girls’ Varsity Basketball team proved that relentless determination—against all odds—could still place the team squarely into the NYCAL Tournament semifinals. The numberfour-seeded Cougars took on number-two seed UNIS in the tourney quarterfinals in the come-back story of the year. After being down at least 10 points the entire game, the girls went on a 15-point run in the last two minutes to take the lead, and keep it, winning 37–35! The Cougars were eventually knocked out of the tournament in their semifinal match-up against number-one seed Columbia Prep. The Girls’ JV Basketball team turned in a particularly impressive season, with outstanding teamwork and season-long improvement bringing them to the NYCAL Tournament finals. “This is the best the JV Girls have ever done,” declares Coach Sabrina Spiegel-Zurkuhlen ’06. “The team did not make the tournament in the 2014–15 season, so making it to the finals and competing for a championship this season was a huge accomplishment for this young team.” The Girls’ Varsity Softball team took advantage of the fact that they played only a handful of games this season to improve exponentially during practice time. “They were a very solid group of athletes,” raves new head coach Scott Tuchman. “They improved greatly and grew as softball players.” Scott praised freshman Lucy Walkowiak, who used her past experience in the sport to help the sophomore-heavy team, many of whom were playing softball for the first time this season. www.calhoun.org/athletics summer 2016

feature

Junior Workshop: Creating Knowledge, Insight, Beauty or Function Ade McKay ’17 The assignment—to create “knowledge, insight, beauty or function,” all in a nine-week period—might have been met by more cynical, unengaged students with wariness, dismissiveness or casual indifference. But Calhoun’s 56 juniors are anything but unengaged; instead, true to form, they answered the challenge with characteristic fearlessness and passion. And the results were astounding; the list of what these students accomplished is as long and diverse as the juniors themselves, including the creation of a Calhoun web mobile app; workshops on diversity; a multimedia art exhibit; documentary films on the criminal justice system and fast fashion; and more. Some of the “product,” as it’s called in Junior Workshop parlance, is actually being put into use by the school: Zak Wegweiser’s scheduling software will be used by Upper Schoolers next fall to help them select electives and Tyler Battino’s Cougar Sports Network podcast (www.calhoun.org/sportsnetwork) is already helping promote the school’s athletics program. But the real purpose of Junior Workshop is not the final product, points out Bobby Rue ’85, US English teacher and coordinator of the initiative; these independent, inquiry-based projects—a requirement for every junior—are meant to “get students to explore something that they’re genuinely interested in, and to do it in a really serious way—not unlike the way you would do it in ‘the real world.’” It is also, he points out, a highly mentored program. “We have a process where kids are constantly being forced to articulate what their ideas are—and not just their ideas, but their methods and relevant research,” says Bobby. Formal critiques are held two weeks before final projects are due, so students can take actionable measures to refine their line of focus and respond to suggestions. In order to complete the assignment, students are required to ground their work in relevant research, create a sound methodology for pursuing and analyzing the “data” they gather, and then present their final product to the community. “What’s exciting about it for us as faculty is the process and the moments of discovery—especially those moments when it feels like a kid is blocked, and then goes off and discovers something that you didn’t expect, or suddenly takes a suggestion that works.” But Bobby notes that “even when a product doesn’t ‘succeed’ the way the student—or mentor—had hoped, something really important happens in the process.”

Calhoun Chronicle

The Project: Documentary film, Criminal Injustice, examines racism and mental illness in the criminal justice system, and discusses the necessity of reform to bring about equal justice under the law for people of all colors and states of mind. Inspiration: “This project arose out of work I did with Lavern [McDonald, US Associate Director] starting last fall, when I took her Politics, Punishment and Culture class. Then I did an independent study with her, and read Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, about how mass incarceration is today’s system of racial control. For this project, I worked with US English teacher Lyda Ely, who is also a documentary filmmaker.” What She Learned: “I learned about how much is happening to remedy the injustices that I knew existed, but I also learned that these injustices are even worse than I had expected. The problems are systemic, and the human suffering is enormous; but more and more people seem determined to bring about change. I also learned how to conduct interviews, and felt myself becoming better at it each time.” What’s Next: “I’d like to keep working on editing the film until it’s ready for release!” Value of JW: “I feel incredibly lucky to be at a school like Calhoun where it’s possible to do this kind of work and pursue a specific passion that might not fit into a typical high school curriculum.”

feature

practical—organizing everything, finding where all the pieces were going to lay out; that took months. But then the other thing was narrowing my focus to have a really cohesive show. There were a lot of missteps, but it worked out in the end.” Value of JW: “I was really happy to have the opportunity to do an art show at school.”

Value of JW: “Junior workshop gave me the opportunity to design and execute a project in which I explored intersectionality of oppression, individuality, and the positioning of my prep school identity and black identity. Being able to design my own curriculum enabled me to explore my interest in social justice and self-actualization—making it one of the most memorable times of junior year. I’m so proud of my final project.”

Walker White ’17 The Project: Reflection, an art exhibit of photographs and video collage, mounted for the Calhoun community. Artist’s Statement: “The photography seeks to find the extraordinary within the ordinary. The entangled images reveal what is in front of us that we don’t see— an exterior duality, a juxtaposition, while also commenting on consumerism. The conceptual piece in the show examines the rituals of everyday life. By listing basic actions in a repetitive manner, I hope to spark self-awareness and an impulse toward a more conscious way of living. In my video collage, I explore two concepts: the exterior personal—the blank slate onto which we ascribe meaning; and the inner psyche—the essence of the true self where we scratch the skin to find the scarlet underneath. This exhibit shows us something about ourselves—only, of course, if the viewer of the art is willing to reflect on it.” Process: “When I was deciding on a theme for my JW project, I looked back and realized I had all of these reflection pictures. There are so many levels to reflection; there’s the more philosophical reflection on the self, but then there’s also these physical reflections. And I thought that would just be a good theme for some deep thinking.” What He Learned: “It was not a cutand-dry process. I had a lot of different work and a lot of ideas, and I think the hardest thing was ...well, there were two main challenges. One was completely

Xio Kelly ’17 The Project: A workshop, titled Sisters of the Yams Interscholastic Forum, designed and facilitated for black high school girls to analyze the Black Lives Matter movement from the lens of being black in predominantly white institutions. Xio also created a website to augment the workshop. www.xiokellyjuniorworkshop.wordpress.com Driving Questions: “During the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, I asked myself: What is the black private school girl’s experience and position in this movement; how does that positioning change our perception of ourselves and our relationship to the black community? These questions led me to want to explore the issues with other women and find a way to have our voices heard. Through testimony and reconciling, I began to feel an even deeper sense of self-affirmation.” What’s next: “I intend to continue updating my website with more footage and audio, and I hope to launch an interscholastic group for black women next year, which will meet monthly.”

Jake Bart ’17 The Project: Created a clutch rating for Major League baseball pitchers. Process: Studied books on baseball statistics, explored online baseball sites (including Nate Silver’s fivethirtyeight), then created his rating system based on a two-part statistical analysis: the first part has to do with performance in 24 difficult situations—e.g.: how many players on base. The second part is about the context of the game: run differentials, the inning. He looked at three pitchers from the 1999 season—Randy Johnson (Diamondbacks), Curt Schilling (Red Sox) and LaTroy Hawkins (Twins). “My approach is different from other rating systems out there in that I used congregate numbers and weight situations.” What He Learned: “I was hoping to find something that contradicted popular belief about each of the pitchers. I was a little disappointed that my results were consistent with conventional wisdom. But everything is meaningful, even if it’s just reconfirming what is already thought to be true. It can’t project outcomes; SUMMER 2016

feature

it’s more about past performance. Where it holds the most value is in conversations among fans; it is a new, fascinating angle.” Value of JW: “Nothing else has given us the kind of time and flexibility that allows students to follow their passion in a more formal environment. I’m definitely more confident now in my ability and knowledge of statistics. And what’s really great about Junior Workshop is that it allows students to gain knowledge and talents in areas that wouldn’t be traditionally taught.” Other Thoughts? “The Cubs will win the World Series.”

have at most two minutes to reel the listener in; you need to make sure your interest in the topic comes through in the podcast.” Value of JW: “The junior workshop experience gave me a chance to pursue something I was passionate about, a sports podcast. Creating the podcast helped to clarify my interests in sports business. At the same time, the podcast has given me a way to give back to Calhoun; it raises awareness about Calhoun athletics— especially for teams that don’t otherwise get the credit they deserve.” What’s Next: “I expect to keep CSN going next year, but Cougar Sports Network has been designed to continue beyond my years at Calhoun!”

Process: Before creating the podcasts, he interviewed several senior executives at SiriusXM, CBS Radio and iHeartRadio about broadcast journalism. He also met with the school’s communications director, to find out how the podcast could be shared with the community through the website and social media outlets. What He Learned: “I learned how important it is to reach out to people early in the process; those connections lead to other connections ...yielding a network of possibilities. I worked on my journalism and interviewing skills, found out how to record and edit podcasts, and learned about “hosting skills”: for example, you Calhoun Chronicle

What I Learned: “Fast fashion means ‘disposability’ of clothing and humans,” says Rachel, who notes that slave labor has been shipped overseas, where children and women are working in unsafe conditions. In terms of environmental impact, “the average American throws away 68 pounds of clothing each year; 80 percent of the clothing donated to thrift stores ends up in the landfill.” What’s Next: Rachel stopped shopping at fast fashion stores a year ago. Now, she’s finishing up her film, and hopes to continue the conversation next year in the Upper School.

Tyler Battino ’17 The Project: Launched Calhoun’s first Cougar Sports Network podcast (CSN), with a series of five episodes featuring interviews with coaches and athletes. www.calhoun.org/sportsnetwork.

interview, she read Elizabeth Cline’s book Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, and then spoke to the author in person during a protest in front of a downtown H&M store! She also interviewed classmates as well as industry experts and activists. Finally, Rachel looked at “fashion haulers” on YouTube, to research the promotion of conspicuous consumption. While she had some experience using iMovie to make quick videos, this was Rachel’s first attempt at video journalism and editing a long narrative film.

Rachel Mellicker ’17 Product: Rachel’s documentary film, Undressed, focuses on the impact of the “fast fashion” industry (retail stores that sell cheap clothing) on human rights and the environment. In addition to her film, she also had an article published in Huffpost Teen, “The Feminism of Fashion,” on April 18, 2016. Area of Inquiry: “I started wondering how the stores I loved so much could sell clothing at insanely cheap prices. I’d never thought about where and how the clothing was made until I read a book by Tansy Hoskins [Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion] a year ago.” Process: In addition to reading Hoskins’ book and Skyping the author for an

Value of JW: “Junior Workshop was an amazing experience for me because it gave me a chance to really explore a topic I am passionate about. My challenge was to try to shed light on a topic that I don’t feel is discussed, and to create a piece of work that would start conversations. I have now created something that I am really proud of.” Read more about this year’s junior workshop projects: www.calhoun.org/juniorworkshop

SENIOR WORK INTERNSHIPS Find out about where our Class of 2016 seniors spent their six-week internships, www.calhoun.org/swinternships

2016-17 Events in Honor of Steve school news

We invite you to join us all year long to honor Steve Nelson, Head of School, to celebrate his 19th and final year at Calhoun.

A Concert to Celebrate Steve Tuesday, January 31, 2017

7pm, 81st Street

Chamber concert featuring Tiffany Poon ‘14, Jesus Reina ‘04, Noah Krauss ‘15 and Dan Stein ’07, with faculty artists and special guests—including a performance by Steve Nelson himself! Hosted by The Calhoun Performing Arts Series. RSVP Online: $5/children and seniors; $10/adults

State of the School Address Tuesday, April 25, 2017 6pm, 150 West 83rd Street At this signature event, Steve covers a range of important issues, including updates on finances, admissions and strategic goals; highlights of the school year; and a look toward the future. Hosted by the Calhoun Board of Trustees. Free with online RSVP.

54th Annual Calhoun Carnival Saturday, May 6, 2017 11am–5pm, 81st Street Don’t miss your chance to see Steve make a splash in the dunk tank at Calhoun’s biggest family event of the year—and the best carnival on the Upper West Side! Hosted by the Calhoun Parents Association. Free; no RSVP required.

2017 CALHOUN GALA Friday, May 19, 2017 7pm–12am, American Museum of Natural History A very special fundraiser celebrating Calhoun’s 19 years of progress, thanks to Steve, and the beginning of a new era of leadership for the school. Hosted by the Development Office. Ticket prices to be announced; RSVP required.

Alumnae/i Reunion Friday, June 9, 2017 6:30pm–9:30pm, 81st Street All alumnae/i and former faculty and staff are invited to toast Steve! Reunion will also be celebrating milestone years for alumnae/i classes ending in ’2 and ’7. Hosted by the Calhoun Alumnae/i Relations office. Ticket prices to be announced; RSVP required. More details for each event to follow. SUMMER winter 2016 2015

feature

Calhoun Launches 19 for 19 Campaign to Honor Steve Nelson and Grow the Endowment In 1997, Calhoun was at a crossroads. The Head of School was retiring and a search for her successor was under way. Calhoun’s progressive reputation was solid, and the community was loyal and dedicated, but there were also serious challenges. Enrollment had dropped significantly in the Upper School. The facilities were run-down and space was at a premium, even with the declining enrollment. The budget was tight, faculty compensation was among the lowest of independent schools in the city, and new programs and building projects seemed well out of reach. In 1998, Steve Nelson became Calhoun’s tenth Head of School. His mission was clear—to ensure that the school remain true to its progressive roots and intensify its progressive focus curriculum-wide. His vision was to grow Calhoun’s size, stature, and impact, and for the school to become the country’s true leader in progressive education. Fulfilling his mission and turning his vision into reality required strong leadership and support from the Board of Trustees and faculty. It also required more funding. The 19 for 19 Campaign celebrates Steve Nelson, Head of School, on the occasion of his retirement after 19 years at Calhoun.

“There is possibly nothing I would like more in my last year at the school than to grow the Endowment to be over $20 million, and add this critical source of revenue to the school’s budget.” — Steve Nelson, Head of School

Calhoun Chronicle

1 9 Y e a r s of Pr ogr ess The hallmarks of Steve’s 19 years of leadership are evident in every facet of the school. He kept the Upper School open and thriving, adding four floors to the 81st Street building that expanded and improved learning facilities—including our incomparable Green Roof, new labs, new spaces for art, music, performing arts and athletics, and later a new cafeteria and library. He focused on hiring the best faculty and staff in the city, increasing salaries to a level on par with their peers. He established a robust tuition assistance program, and created an award-winning school lunch program. In collaboration with faculty and administrators, Steve was constantly enhancing and developing the curriculum to encourage and challenge students to become creative, independent thinkers, leaders, and lifelong learners. $1 9 M i llion for 1 9 Y ear s Now, Calhoun faces another pivotal moment as it commemorates the end of Steve’s era and prepares to start an exciting new one. Unlike in 1997, Calhoun approaches this challenge in a position of strength as well as significant opportunity.

feature

To ensure that the school succeeds as it pursues its progressive mission under new leadership, the 19 for 19 Campaign for Calhoun was launched this spring. This ambitious campaign—to raise $19 million in honor of Steve Nelson’s 19 years as Head of School—is primarily aimed at growing the Calhoun Endowment. A larger endowment strengthens Calhoun’s financial security and provides more support for strategic priorities, including increasing faculty compensation, enhancing the curriculum and providing state-of-the-art facilities. “Calhoun’s Board of Trustees is committed to the 19 for 19 Campaign for Calhoun,” says Melissa Liberty, Campaign Co-Chair, who adds that solicitation meetings with members of the community, seeking gifts to grow the Endowment, will continue throughout the upcoming school year. In addition, Melissa announces that the Robert L. Beir Foundation has generously pledged up to $3 million to the Endowment, donating $1 million for every $5 million raised by the community for the Endowment during the course of the Campaign. Melissa explains the imperative for the 19 for 19 Campaign: “During the last five years, the Endowment has grown from less than $1 million to nearly $8 million. While this recent growth is important, it still places Calhoun’s Endowment among the lowest of New York City independent schools. We have an incredible opportunity to raise funds now, honoring Steve and his many contributions.” Campaign Co-Chair Jennifer Arcure is confident that, “together, our community can raise much-needed funds, enabling the school to capitalize on new projects and programs that benefit our children’s education now and for years to come.” Lauren Spirig, Director of Development, notes that Steve is highly committed to this fundraising effort as well. Steve says that “there is possibly nothing I would like more in my last year at the school than to grow the Endowment to be over $20 million, and add this critical source of revenue to the school’s budget. These funds will allow the school to make plans for critical facility expansions and/or acquisitions to support enhanced athletics, laboratories and classroom spaces.” The Campaign is an exciting and meaningful opportunity to honor Steve and his

(L-R) Jennifer Arcure and Melissa Liberty (Trustee, Development Committee Chair) are guiding the 19 for 19 Campaign alongside Steve and the Development Office team.

“Together, our community can raise much-needed funds, enabling the school to capitalize on new projects and programs that benefit our children’s education now and for years to come.” — Jennifer Arcure, Campaign Co-Chair

CALH OUN’S N e e d fo r a La r g e r E n d owment Schools fund their operations with the combination of interest generated from e ndowment, annual giving and tuition. Calhoun’s Endowment is significantly smaller when compared to the average of its peer schools, which means it is missing this critical source of revenue. Assuming the Endowment generates approximately 4.5% interest each year, a $21 million Endowment will generate approximately $945,000 that will flow into the operating budget each year. Annual Interest Income Generated by Endowments to Support Operating Budgets

Endowment Levels

Calhoun Today

Calhoun 2017 Goal Average of 8 peer schools

Calhoun Today

$8,000,000

Calhoun 2017 Goal

$21,000,000

$53,000,000

$225,000

$945,000

Average of 8 peer schools

$2,385,000

Source: NYSAIS, Calhoun. Peer schools include Allen Stevenson, Collegiate, Dalton, Ethical Culture, Friends Seminary, Trevor Day, Trinity, UNIS.

SUMMER 2016

featiure

“During the last five years, the Endowment has grown from less than $1 million to nearly $8 million. While this recent growth is important, it still places Calhoun’s Endowment among the lowest of New York City independent schools. We have an incredible opportunity to raise funds now, honoring Steve and his many contributions.”

leadership, agree Melissa and Jennifer, who look forward to building an even stronger foundation for success as the school enters a new era of leadership in 2017. Ca mpa ign Calls for Commu nit y Part ic ipat ion The 19 for 19 Campaign is raising $19 million in 2016–17 through the school’s three fundraising programs, enabling all members of the current and extended Calhoun community to participate in at least one aspect (and, in some cases, all aspects) of this landmark effort: Annual Fund — Gifts, which range from $30 to $30,000, provide unrestricted funds supporting the annual operating budget.

Gala — This special fundraiser at the American Museum of Natural History on May 19, 2017, will be the school’s Benefit for 2017 and the capstone event of the Campaign, raising unrestricted funds for the school’s annual operating budget.

Major Gifts — Gifts, ranging from $30,000 to $5 million over five years, will go to the Endowment, with the opportunity for donors to direct up to 50 percent of their gift to specific endowed funds for financial aid or faculty salaries/benefits.

— Melissa Liberty, Campaign Co-Chair

For more information about the 19 for 19 Campaign for Calhoun and for opportunities to donate and volunteer, please contact Lauren Spirig, Director of Development, lauren.spirig@calhoun.org or 212-497-6588.

Matc hing Gi f t FOR T HE ENDOW M ENT f r om th e B e i r Fou n dati on The Robert L. Beir Foundation has announced it is pledging a substantial challenge match in support of the 19 for 19 Campaign for Calhoun, to inspire generous giving to the Endowment. For every $5 million raised for the Endowment through the Campaign, the Beir Foundation will donate an additional $1 million, up to $3 million. That means that if the Campaign raises $15 million for the Endowment, the Beir Foundation pledge brings the total to $18 million. The Beir Foundation was created in 1944 by the family of Robert L. Beir to support important cultural, educational and charitable organizations throughout New York City. As a Calhoun parent, Bob Beir became one of Calhoun’s most generous benefactors—he served as chair of the Calhoun Board of Trustees for many years before he was named the school’s first Life Trustee. Bob also joined the Calhoun faculty as an Upper School history teacher, with widely popular classes on FDR and U.S. foreign policy. Bob passed away in 2009, but his legacy of leadership at Calhoun endures. The Lower School Building is named in his honor, as is The Beir Society, which was created to recognize donors who make gifts of $2,500 or more each year to the Annual Fund. One of Bob Beir’s greatest wishes was to grow Calhoun’s Endowment to ensure that the school prospered throughout the 21st century. The support of the Calhoun community during this Campaign will help make Bob’s wish come true.

Calhoun Chronicle

feature

X XXX newsmak e r s

Calhoun Chronicle

Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers Pivotal Science Olympiad Year Culminates in a Stack of Medals! by Beth Krieger and Nahuel Fanjul-Arguijo

Medals don’t drive Calhoun kids—passion does! But it doesn’t hurt enthusiasm one iota when Cougar participants in the NYC Regional Science Olympiad competitions return with a slew of medals—including a first-place finish. It’s just added proof that Calhoun students are becoming powerful contenders in these STEAM-based contests. Kristin Nastos, the Middle School science teacher who started the Olympiad program at Calhoun three years ago, is thrilled by the success the kids are having. But she’s even more excited that their success is bringing in more student participants each year: “We started with only 12 kids three years ago as a Middle School after-school club—not even a full team for the first competition— and then added an Upper School club last year with many of our original students,” reminisces Kristin. “But this year we grew to almost four full teams!” With the influx of students, Calhoun’s Upper Schoolers were able to compete this year in almost all of the events, finishing in the top 10 in three of the contests, from a field of 60 schools. Middle School students competed in all the events offered and finished the day with a grand total of eight medals—including a first-place finish in the Fossil test by Middle Schoolers Trey Loizzo ’21 and Miles Sugarman ’21. Also noteworthy—Olympiad rookies won six out of the eight medals in the Middle School competition!

Lucas Chapman ‘19 participated in the Robot Arm competition for the second year in a row, this time taking home a second-place medal! summer 2016

feature

Calhoun’s very first first-place medal at the Science Olympiad was won by Trey Loizzo ‘21 (left) and Miles Sugarman ‘21, both of whom prepared well for their Fossils test!

Last-minute adjustments to the Scrambler device gave Cody Wolf ‘21 (left) and Casi Hixon ‘21 the advantage that won them a second-place medal.

AGAINST THE ODDS

“Our school really encourages you to do what you want to do, what you’re passionate about. For girls, [that means that] if you are passionate about science, you can learn more about it and go into that field, and not feel afraid or judged.” —Gabby Chapman ‘17

Kristin and fellow coach Alba Polsley are beside themselves at the enormous enthusiasm that has infused the Olympiad program in its short existence—especially considering that it requires a lot of work before and after school. But a personal thrill for these two Middle School science teachers stems from the fact that their Olympiad teams are populated by an unusually large number of girls—especially in the Upper School, where interest among girls has “spread like wildfire,” observes Kristin. She acknowledges that, “as females in the STEAM realm, Alba and I want to encourage ladies to think of themselves as science and math people, because it is such a male-dominated field.” Clearly, their message is being heard and supported. “Our school really encourages you to do what you want to do, what you’re passionate about,” says Gabby Chapman ’17, a three-time Science Olympiad participant. “For girls, [that means that] if you are passionate about science, you can learn more about it and go into that field, and not feel afraid or judged.” Two senior girls have already taken that message to heart: next fall, Lindsay Randle ’16 is heading to Union College and Zami Seck ’16 to Boston University, both pursuing engineering. Gabby says she’s “almost 100 percent sure” she’ll enter some sort of science, math or STEAM field when she continues on to college; and teammate Caitlin Lung ’17, who Calhoun Chronicle

says she has been inspired by the science courses at Calhoun as well as her role in the Science Olympiad, reports she is also considering engineering or science for her future studies.

RISK-TAKING and COLLABORATION Alba thinks that many Calhoun students are first attracted to the Olympiad competition because of the positive experiences they’ve had with the project-based science curriculum in Middle School—including the popular straw-rockets unit in fifth grade and the hack ’n’ hurl catapult unit in seventh grade. The catapult unit tests the students’ understanding of force as well as potential and stored energy, and requires them to work with mathematical precision, as well as draw on woodshop skills and artistic flair for the design of the catapult (not to mention costumes!). “Students become deeply

feature

MS science teacher Kristin Nastos (right) makes the journey to this STEAM-based competition a whole lot of fun!

Gabby Chapman ‘17 (left) and Caitlin Leung ‘17 are STEAM superstars! They won third place in the plane-building competition, The Wright Stuff, and also entered the bridge-building event.

engaged in the engineering design process—for planning, testing, redesigning and retesting,” says Kristin, who notes the level of collaboration the project requires. “It’s a lot of fun to watch them problem-solve and be solution-oriented.” But even though it’s a competition, she also notes that the students are always less concerned about how far the projectile goes or who wins than they are about the experience and process of building something, trying to figure out why it doesn’t do as well as they wanted, and then watching it work. “Calhoun kids always ask why,” says Kristin. “They question everything. ‘Why am I doing this? Why should I do it this way?’ And that’s the joy of being here—it’s that there is no set way to do anything; if you want to come up with a different way of doing something, then go for it, and we will support you. It’s learning from the experience and moving forward.” This emphasis on process and risk-taking follows students throughout their years at Calhoun—and not just in science classes. Gabby notes that, even in her Upper School English and calculus classes, she’s been engaged in hands-on, project-based activities. “I think Calhoun really emphasizes experiential learning, and it really helps students understand what they are doing.” Zak Wegweiser ’17 believes that the science classes at Calhoun have “inadvertently been preparing us for [this kind of] competition all along,” because of the school’s emphasis on

inquiry-based learning. And although his team didn’t score as high as he would have liked, he calls the Olympiad experience “beyond valuable.” Reflects Zak, “Throughout the preparation process, our team learned so many science principles, from the physics of a pendulum to the biology behind certain bugs and fossils. I personally learned a lot about physics, and got to have fun with my friends, learning about mirrors and lasers, water and time, and all sorts of amazing stuff.” “It’s the thrill of the ride that motivates our students, not the finish line. Even if we don’t place, the kids have so much fun trying something totally different,” says Kristin. Evidently, her students agree. Lucas Chapman ’19 returns each year to the competition because “it’s a good source for me to be creative and to explore what I like; it helped me narrow down what I enjoy doing and what direction I might want to take.” Cody Wolf ’21 likes the freedom to “choose what we want to do, and . . . to do it independently.” Seventh grader Liam Hade gives a pretty direct reason for participating: “Well, we love science!” But even students who don’t know whether they “love science” or identify as “science kids” are discovering the joy of both the journey and the camaraderie. Sixth grader Sokhnamai Kane says she decided to enter the Science Olympiad this year “because I really wanted the challenge. And having my friend as my partner during the competition made it so much fun!” SUMMER 2016

feature

The bridge-building event tests how light a structure can be against how much weight it can hold. Here, Jean Baptiste Denamiel ‘19 (left) prepares to add weights as Justin Frasier ‘17 makes sure the bridge is stable.

Eighth grader Grace Peters solicits advice from MS science teacher/Olympiad coach Alba Polsley for the Wind Power event, a project- and test-based competition.

“Throughout the preparation process, our team learned so many science principles, from the physics of a pendulum to the biology behind certain bugs and fossils. I personally learned a lot about physics, and got to have fun with my friends.” —Zak Wegweiser ‘17

that comes with it; they always find ways to make it work. They are just unafraid to try anything.” The Olympiad also resembles a sport. The students have to practice collaboratively as well as individually—supporting each other and testing their skills—before competing as a team against some of the best schools in the region. It is this collaborative aspect, says Alba, that resonates and speaks so well to the strength of our students. So while competition is not inherent in the way learning happens at Calhoun, skill at collaboration gives our students an edge. Kristin, Alba and the students have high hopes that the Science Olympiad program will continue to grow—and there’s evidence that will happen. This year alone, there were 19 students new to the competition in the Middle School; most of them expressed interest because they had heard from friends how much fun the Olympiad was. And much like a successful athletic program, the better the teams perform, the more students want to join! But the big news is, the Science Olympiad is moving from club status to being a full-fledged curricular elective in the Middle School next year. Notes Alba, with satisfaction, “Calhoun is about to give the Science Olympiad the importance that it deserves!”

The Olympiad invites students to participate in a range of tasks, some of them research-based. In fact, many are college-level challenges, covering environmental science, physics, astronomy, biology and geology. But even though not all of the contests are project-based, and some of the material covered is outside a Middle or Upper School curriculum, the Science Olympiad is, in many ways, an extension of the interdisciplinary STEAM-based projects that our students have come to love. Some even view the traditional tests as “projects,” because of the way they need to gather and prepare information to make sense of what they are doing. Kristin attributes our students’ success at the Olympiad, whether it be in the project-based events or on the tests, to their willingness to take risks and collaborate. “Calhoun kids are so used to group projects and all the excitement Calhoun Chronicle

See more photos and videos at www.calhoun.org/olympiad.

feature

stu de nt newsmak e r s

Zak Wegweiser â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 spent hours testing and perfecting his project, Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s About Time; the aim was to estimate passing time by measuring water displacement. SUMMER 2016

feature

Class of 2016â&#x20AC;&#x201C;All Heart

PHOTO: TERRY GRUBER

facult y/staff news m ak e r s

Calhoun Chronicle

feature

and Soul! stu de nt newsmak e r s

The class with heart and boundless talent was on vivid display when our 60 seniors graduated on June 17, 2016, before a cheering and tearful audience of family, faculty, staff and friends. “Heart” was a recurring theme at this year’s senior week events. In his Class Day speech to Upper School students and faculty, Michael Fortunato ‘16 surmised that what distinguished these seniors the most, what bound them together—even though they were such an eclectic group—was that “we are good people . . . and I think it’s due to our experience at Calhoun.” That goodness was demonstrated by the Class of 2016 throughout their years at Calhoun—as mentors to younger and fellow students, as advocates for children at a local shelter, as entertainers at a local senior residence, as social activists, as fundraisers for a range of causes, as good friends and supportive classmates who tirelessly cheered one another on. That generous heart revealed itself, too, in the boundless thank-yous that seniors extended to the educators who encouraged and inspired them along the way. “Each graduate has stories about the teachers who turned them into young adults, who sparked an interest that may very well influence their path in life,” said graduation speaker Maryam Chishti ’16. Along with their heart, this class of gifted students will be remembered for their soul—musical soul—like the thrilling performance of “I Will Always Love You” by soloist Kyler Murria-Castro ’16, the skillful riffs of the 730 Jazz Ensemble playing “Crooked Creek,” and the wistful rendition of “Stop This Train” by Olivia Cohen ’16 and Jackson Lundy ’16 during the “Then and Now” slideshow. And these performances were just brief reminders of the vast talent among the members of the Class of 2016, which boasts not only musicians, but, as Michael observed, “budding writers, mathematicians, comedians, actors, biologists and engineers.” Tania Calle ’16 spoke of her classmates as confident risk-takers. “When I look at my class, I don’t see fear of challenge; only curiosity, only boldness.” And finally, this class was as diverse in their interests and talents as they were in their personal histories. During a poignant moment in his commencement speech, Upper School biology teacher Francesco Filiaci asked all of those present who were “immigrants . . . children of immigrants . . . and grandchildren of immigrants” to stand up. With barely a person left seated, onstage or in the auditorium, he asked, “If you believe that the wisdoms you have received in life come from a diversity of people and places, please stand.” With that, Francesco reminded us all that inclusiveness enriches our learning as a community, and our lives as individuals.

SUMMER 2016

feature

facult y/staff news m ak e r s

Class of 2016—Where They’re Going Calhoun students are continuing on to small liberal arts colleges and conservatories, technical colleges and large universities—public and private institutions, spread geographically across the country. And once again, our students defied projections and conventional “wisdom” when it came to college acceptances: A record number of members of the Class of 2016 applied early—and were admitted—to their top-choice schools: 27 applied Early Decision and 20 were admitted; another 14 applied Early Action to the school they’ll be attending in the fall. Forty percent of our seniors were admitted to everywhere they applied! But these heartening statistics only marginally reveal how thoughtful our students were during the process; what makes it clearer is how their destinations reflect the rich diversity and individuality of each and every one—many choosing to follow the road less traveled!

Bard College (3) Bennington College Berklee College of Music Boston University (2) Brandeis University Colgate University Davidson College Drew University (2) Emory University (2) Goucher College Indiana University Bloomington Ithaca College (4) Kenyon College Lewis & Clark College LIM College Loyola University Maryland Macaulay Honors College (CUNY) Manhattan College Muhlenberg College New School New York University

Pratt Institute Skidmore College (2) Smith College SUNY-Purchase College SUNY-Geneseo Syracuse University Temple University George Washington University University of Arizona University of Tampa Tulane University (3) Union College University of Chicago (2) University of Colorado at Boulder University of Miami University of Michigan (2) University of Rochester (2) University of Vermont (3) Wellesley College (2) Williams College

(Numbers indicate attendance by more than one student.)

1. (Front row, L-R) Isaac Bale, Lia Barnhard, Leo Bien-Aime 2. Tania Calle, graduation speaker 3. Kyler Murria-Castro, graduation soloist 4. Maryam Chishti, graduation speaker

Calhoun Chronicle

5. (L-R) Josh Copperman, Francisco Cifuentes, Lindsey Randle, Katherine Kotowski; (front) Javay Fraser

feature

Eighth Grade Commencement stu de nt newsmak e r s

“ We are not going to be kids forever. Let’s make sure we reflect on how fast our lives are going by so that we can make the most out of the time we have together and still find time to be kids!” — Caleb Rubin ‘20, eighth grade commencement speaker

5 1. (Back row, L-R) Evan Changar, J. J. Chansakul, Malcolm Cook; (front row, L-R) Jackie Kletter, Remi LeSage, Gabi Levy 2. Ruby Baker, eighth grade commencement speaker 3. Caleb Rubin, eighth grade commencement speaker 4. (L-R) Noah Shaub, Sydney Ashton, Sky Kind and Zoe Paulus 5. The eighth grade jazz ensemble closed out the commencement ceremony with a lively performance of “Let’s Groove.” Three members of the ensemble (L-R): Teddy Friedman, Luke Halverstadt, Tyrese Honeyghan SUMMER 2016

CLASS NOTES

Alumnae/i News 1960s

MARRIAGES Jordan Peele ’97 to Chelsea Peretti

Ilene Siegel Golembiovsky ’61 had a busy but exciting 2015! She married Don Dakan on August 11, and then in September, the couple relocated to Boynton Beach, FL, from New York. Congratulations on the big news, Ilene!

Daniel Romoleroux ’98 to Courtney Hoffman Simira Freeman ’01 to Lorenzo Bellard Emma Dumain ’04 to Adam Snider

BIRTHS To Lorin Munchick ’87 and Melissa Munchick, a girl, Aria James

Class of 1964 Mini-Reunion: (L-R) Lynn Schwartzberg Marlow, Laura Kogel, Nancy Gingiss, Susan Bonomo Catalano, Karen Biffer Horn and Alana Martin Frumkes [PHOTO: JACK GROSSMAN ‘16]

To Dan Fraidstern ‘96 and Katie Fraidstern, a boy, Jacob Noah

1950s

To Ethan Todras-Whitehill ’98, and Jennifer Whitehill, a girl, Tessa Muir (2014) To Adrienne Glasser ’96 and Win Rosenfeld ’96, a boy, Riley Day To Brian Peters ’97 and Yael Leopold, a boy, Quest Amiel To Katie Dreisbach ’98, a girl, Maren Chelsea To Peter Concannon ‘01 and Serafina Concannon, a boy, Thomas Aleksei

IN MEMORIAM Norma Joseph Hart ’46 Joan Propper Shapiro ’50 Joan Glickman Gillette ’51 Susan Slocum Hinerfeld ’53 Sandra Frackman Luftman ’53 (2014) Celia Blumenthal ’70 Ruth Licht (former MS English & social studies teacher) June Williams (former US history teacher)

Calhoun Chronicle

From the Archives: 1929 graduation brooch, donated by Ellen Monness, daughter of Gladys Baruth Gretsch ’29

1920s

Gladys Baruth Gretsch ’29, who died in December 1988, made a memorable contribution to the Calhoun archives through her daughter, Ellen Monness, who uncovered her mom’s commencement brooch—a traditional gift given to each of the girls upon graduation. Gladys, who was valedictorian of her class and “was always proud of her Calhoun days,” was active in the League of Women Voters in the late 1940s and helped establish the first UN headquarters in Lake Success, NY. Ellen notes that her mom’s two lifelong friends were ones she met at Calhoun, and adds, “My mother had a sparkling personality and was very loving; how thrilled she would have been to know and adore my eight grandchildren!”

Lynn Levy Zaubler ’51 attended her 65th Reunion with classmates Sandy Silverstone Stern and Sylvia Cohen Robbins in June. Lynn still lives on the Upper West Side, having worked in development at both Horace Mann and her college alma mater, Sarah Lawrence, where she worked on their East Coast capital campaign. Her son is a psychologist. Mina Baum Bernhard ’56, who is retired from her interior design business, writes that she keeps busy by taking literature and art classes at The New School in New York. Deanna Lichtblau Framson ’56: “I transferred from Connecticut to Florida in 1999. I’m still working in the travel industry and now have seven grandchildren, along with many nice memories of my Calhoun days!” Merryl Morris Traub ’56: “Our exciting news is that my husband, Alan, and I became great-grandparents on November 23, 2015, to a bouncing baby boy!”

Susan Bonomo Catalano ’64 continues her leadership in the New York fashion scene with Susan Bonomo & Co., a multi-line, contemporary showroom she opened in the city’s fashion district in 1994. She is also founder and president of the Bonomo Marketing Group, a sales and marketing company that focuses on women’s fashion apparel and accessories. Lynn Schwartzberg Marlow ’64 took time off from her two ventures in Boulder, CO—In Touch Healing Art and Sophia Sanctuary—to travel to New York this past May, to celebrate a collective milestone birthday with friends from the Class of 1964. The mini-reunion was hosted by Karen Biffer Horn and attended by fellow classmates Susan Bonomo Catalano, Alana Martin Frumkes, Nancy Gingiss and Laura Kogel. Allyson Young Schwartz ’66: After a decade in Congress (Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district, 2005–2015), Allyson is now president and CFO of the Better Medicare Alliance, a national coalition advocating for Medicare Advantage, a private health-insurance option available to Medicare beneficiaries. Though her work is in Washington, DC, she is still living in Philadelphia with her husband, David (of 46 years!). Allyson reports that she has “two wonderful grown sons,” Daniel and Jordan. Daniel and

class notes

Alums Return as Mentors at Sixth Annual Cougar Career Symposium Alums spanning seven decades returned to Calhoun as part of the sixth Annual Cougar Career Symposium on Friday, April 15, to share professional experiences and insights with Upper School students. The panelists provided invaluable perspectives to seniors, who were preparing for their six-week internships (a requirement at the end of senior year), and to juniors, as they look toward the experience in the coming year. The Calhoun graduates reflected on their transition from Calhoun to college, gave advice on what employers look for when hiring, and talked about internships and first jobs. Sponsored by the Alumnae/i Office, the event included a series of panel sessions that covered broad career themes for the students: Colleges to Careers—Navigating Your Path; Entrepreneurs in Action; “Traditional” Jobs—Breaking Stereotypes; and Women Trailblazers. The afternoon continued with a reception, when students had time to meet alums one-on-one and ask questions, followed by breakout groups during which students discussed the morning panels and the value of connecting with our alumnae/i network. For the alums, it was a unique opportunity to network with one another while supporting the current generation at Calhoun. Join Calhoun’s LinkedIn network: www.linkedin.com/groups/1931476

Javier Bautista ’07, director of People Ops, Bisnow Media Susan Brown ’62, vice president, director of finance and administration, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse Adam Campagna ’84, architect, Royal Jelly LLC Emily English Dimon ’03, producer, Leopard USA 3

Zeke Edwards ’91, director, Criminal Law Reform Project, ACLU Erica Fox ’68, vice president and associate editorial director, CDM Group Ryan Greene ’08, director, business development, RebelMail

If you are interested in being considered as a future panelist, please contact Bart Hale ’00, Director of Alumnae/i Relations, bart.hale@calhoun.org, or volunteer online at www.calhoun.org/volunteer.

Katie Jackson ’09, sous chef, Annisa restaurant Nancy Pelz-Paget ’59, director, strategic partnerships and senior advisor, Education & Society Program, The Aspen Institute 4

1. ( L-R) Erica Fox ’68, Ilana Plutzer ’90, Susan Brown ’62 and Nancy Pelz-Paget ’59

Many thanks to the following alumnae/i who participated in this year’s Cougar Career Symposium:

Ilana Plutzer ’90, cantor, B’nai Israel Reform Temple of Oakdale, NY; chaplain, Catholic Home Care Jessica Daniels Schwarz ’95, casting director, Jessica Daniels Casting

2. Emily English Dimon ’03 and Ben Waters ’10

Hannah Scarritt-Selman ’05, founder, Little Boo Boo Bakery

3. ( L-R) Javier Bautista ’07, Zeke Edwards ’91, Ryan Greene ’08

Grace Tuttle ’03, senior design researcher, Motivate Design

4. H annah Scarritt-Selman ’05 and Adam Campagna ’84

Ben Waters ’10, job captain, Gensler architecture

SUMMER 2016

class notes

Ways to Connect Online with the Calhoun Community

Calhoun website www.calhoun.org

Facebook facebook.com/calhounschool facebook.com/calhounalums

twitter @calhounschool

Instagram @calhounschool

YouTube youtube.com/calhounschool

Linkedin www.linkedin.com/groups/1931476

PINTEREST pinterest.com/calhounschool

Calhoun Chronicle

his wife, Lauren, both doctors in Philadelphia, have a daughter, three years old. Jordan is director of external affairs for the host committee of July’s Democratic Convention.

Nora Zelevansky ’95 has a new novel—her second—that came out this spring, Will You Won’t You Want Me? (St. Martin’s Griffin). The book is described as “a funny, often surprising novel about growing up when you are already supposed to be grown.” Nora’s launch included a reading at the West 82nd Street Barnes & Noble in April.

Beth Landau ’67 spoke eloquently at the memorial service for classmate and friend Peggy Kao Hsia ’67 in May 2015, after Peggy lost her brave battle with cancer. Beth remained one of the people closest to Peggy in her last years, speaking and visiting with her daily in the last weeks of her life, and serving as a great solace to Peggy at the end.

1970s

Mindy Fox ’71, who was named president of Crossroads Advisory in March 2013, provides consulting services to clients on sales, marketing and client-relationship strategies and related services. Previously, she had spent 20 years at Mercer, a global consulting firm, where she held various executive roles, including responsibility for the firm’s New York metropolitan market, and as U.S. region leader. Laurie Goldrich Wolf ’71, who has been a chef, food stylist, food editor, recipe developer and cookbook author for more than 30 years, has launched her newest venture: a company called Laurie & MaryJane, dedicated to producing high-quality “medicated food,” using cannabis as an ingredient. She also published a new book on the topic, Herb: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Cannabis (Inkshares, 2015; available at Amazon). Laurie’s advocacy for cannabis as a treatment stems from experience with her father’s end-of-life care as well as her own successful

management of a seizure disorder. She lives in Portland, OR, with her husband, Bruce, a photographer; their son, Nick, was married in May. “I wish that I had gone to the Calhoun as it is now,” says Laurie. “What a fantastic school; a gift to the students!”

1980s

Sieglinde Talbott Peterson ’81: “I have a daughter, Catherine, who is in eleventh grade and a son, William, who is in ninth grade. My husband and I have been married for almost 18 years and we have a great life in the outskirts of DC, but I miss my New York friends and the Calhoun community!”

Holly Hooper ’81, who still lives in New York, continues to follow her creative passion—working as a booking agent and musicians’ coordinator. Her projects encompass research, marketing, promotion, public relations and handling bookings for groups that span the classical, jazz, world music and fusion genres.

Stephan Kolbert ’86: “The Upper West Side Yoga and Wellness community is continuing to grow and change, adding classes to our schedule and scouting out a bigger location. We’ve had 7,500 people come through our door in the last three and a half years, among them Calhoun students, alumnae/i and parents!”

Maya Barnes Johansen ’81, Woodstock, NY, enjoyed seeing classmates at their 35th Reunion. Maya continues to work as a photo editor for The Image Works, an independent stock photography agency in Woodstock, NY, where she lives with her husband, Eric, and her two children, ages 14 and nine. She is looking forward to running in the New York City Marathon in the fall.

Jordan Walker-Pearlman ’86 goes back and forth between Los Angeles and New York, continuing his work as a film director, screenwriter and producer. During the course of his career, he has been nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards for his film The Visit; another movie, Constellation, works to promote racial healing in America.

class notes

Lorin Munchick ’87 and his wife, Melissa, welcomed their new daughter, Aria James Munchick, on November 23. They continue to live in Miami Beach, FL, where Lorin is the director of business development for an integrated brand development agency, focusing on the real estate and hospitality arenas. Ross Kleinberg ’88, Forest Hills, NY, runs his own PR freelance consultancy practice, KBERG Media, which specializes in strategic earned media relations for select consumer-facing and business-based partners. Meanwhile, he’s gearing up for two exciting fall joys: coaching Samantha (age eight) in soccer and watching Sophie (age 12) prepare for her big bat mitzvah celebration in November. Ross says he still “lives passionately for his Calhoun connections” (the famed annual Thanksgiving reunion!), plays recreational basketball with competitive spirit like big brother Neil ’85, and preaches uplifting quotes to his kids: “Smiles are free—don’t save them” and “The biggest burden is a great potential” are two favorites!

1990s

Dan Fraidstern ’96 “On November 16, 2014, I married Kathleen (Katie) Fraidstern, and we just welcomed our son, Jacob Noah, on May 11, 2016. He joins siblings, Max (seven) and Benjamin (five). We have moved to New Jersey and love the suburbs, but I still work in Brooklyn as a self-employed court-appointed family law attorney. Molly Mandlin Cornelius ’96: “These days, I’m working in my art studio and doggedly plugging away

at writing my own completely reimagined novelization of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. I’m now living in the Bronx with my husband, Rob, who is my rock, my cheerleader and the love of my life. We just celebrated 13 years together, and our third wedding anniversary is coming up at the end of July. Rob and I are also proud to volunteer on the senior staff of Double Exposure, Inc., which produces major gaming conventions several times a year and is an instrumental force in the rapidly growing indie game industry. I was absolutely thrilled to see everyone at the Reunion. The only shadow on this occasion was the palpable absence of our dear friend Kevin Silverman. From the very first night of the freshman camping trip, Kevin was a true friend and a fundamental part of high school for me. He was taken from us without warning and far too soon, but he will always be in my heart. I was so excited to reconnect and catch up on everyone else’s stories. It’s funny how, remembering my classmates, I can think, ‘It’s been way too long!’ and at the same time feel like it’s impossible that 20 years have gone by. It was good to go ‘home.’” Scott Jenkins ’96 was one of the people who traveled farthest to make it to Reunion 2016, coming from Woodland Hills, CA, to celebrate 20 years with his classmates. Scott currently works as a district manager for Tyco International. Danny Romoleroux ’98 celebrated his marriage to Courtney Hoffman on December 12, 2015. The couple lives in Sacramento, CA, where Danny is a teacher with Sacramento Academic and Vocational Academy.

s Billy Zifchak ’99 stopped by Calhoun with his family for the annual Carnival in May, bringing along his wife, Melissa, their two children—Nina (eight) and Sawyer (four), and Billy’s mom, Maggie Evans. It was Billy’s first time returning to Calhoun in 17 years, giving him a chance to tour the school with Bart Hale ’00, 2 Director of Alumnae/i Relations. Billy works as a franchise partner for The Grout Medic, a tile cleaning and restoration company, in Bergen, NJ. He lives with his family in Rockland County.

2000s

Thaïs Chu ’01 is living in Brooklyn and working as a freelance graphic designer, specializing in branding, typography, illustration, infographic, packaging, book, and poster design, as well as other

means of visual communication. Her work can be viewed at www.thaischu.com. Simira Freeman ’01 married Lorenzo Bellard on July 12, 2015; the couple both attended Trinity College. Rebecca Schept ’01 is currently serving as associate director for the University of Pennsylvania LGBT Center. She earned an MS degree in education, counseling and psychological services from Penn in 2010, and has worked for the school ever since. Lizzy Tepper ’01 has been working as a universal pre-K head teacher since the fall of 2014 at the New York Center for Child Development, a nonprofit organization that offers (continued on page 48) Todd Garrin ’02 received a special honor in May! Producer of ABC’s The Chew since 2013, he won this year’s 2015–2016 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show, Informative. Todd has been with the show since 2011, starting as a segment production assistant. Congratulations, Todd!

SUMMER 2016

class notes

Profiles Calhoun to Harvard: In Pursuit of Law by Stephanie Williams with Bart Hale ’00, Jack Grossman ’16 Three alums were all at Harvard Law School last year; Matt Sommer ’08 was in his final year, about to graduate; Justin Brooke ’06 was finishing up his second year; and Jackie Katz ’10 had just arrived at the ivied campus for her first year. Only four years separated them during their years at Calhoun, not to mention that, a few years earlier, Steve Feldman ’00 also went to Harvard Law; after he graduated, he headed first to New York, and then to L.A., where he’s a litigator. Is there anything about their early experiences that prepared them for or inspired them on their shared paths? Calhoun’s alumnae/i team had a chance to sit down with three of the four to talk about their journeys. (Sadly, Justin was in the middle of graduation and traveling, before beginning his judicial clerkship with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. We’ll have to catch up with him next time!) Tell us a bit about your experiences as law students, and now, for a couple of you, as practicing lawyers. Matt: When I originally went into law school, I was not initially thinking that I was going to practice as a lawyer. I was imagining that if I wanted to go into business or finance, a law degree would help me to pursue those goals. But when I got into law school, I absolutely fell in love with the law and common law reasoning. In many ways, I view it as applied philosophy. It peels back the window of why things in society work the way they do, and how they should work and how we can affect society through our ideas. Jackie: One important aspect that I enjoy about studying law is how certain fields are constantly evolving. For example, this semester in Trusts and Estates we discussed numerous areas of unsettled law, such as informal accountings in trust administration. I find it interesting how these topics are not static and that the laws may be adapted over time. This year I also took Corporations, Evidence and Constitutional Law (Fourteenth Amendment). In my first year, I was lucky enough to get into a Title IX seminar, which was extremely timely considering the national conversation on sexual assault on college campuses. It connected quite well to my job last summer at New York University’s Office of General Counsel. Steve: I loved my experience at law school. After graduating, I began my career at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York. I think there’s value in beginning at a large law firm, to get experience with what that world is like and how the field is practiced in that Calhoun Chronicle

environment. Clerking is a totally different perspective. Before moving to Los Angeles, I clerked for a federal judge on the Ninth Circuit. The experience of clerking is immensely helpful to becoming a litigator, because you understand how the briefs you are filing are being analyzed; you understand what’s important and what isn’t, what’s persuasive and what’s not. I am now a senior associate at Hueston Hennigan in Los Angeles, a firm focused on high-stakes business litigation. Right now, for example, I represent T-Mobile in a trade secrets case, Allergan in a false advertising case and Sumner Redstone in the various litigations many have read about in the papers. Matt: I’ve done some tax work, private equity work, but real estate finance is where I’ve done most of my work and that’s what I’m leaning toward. One of the best parts about Latham is that you don’t need to pick a practice right when you start at the firm. You have a couple of years to explore all the major groups: corporate, finance, tax, environmental and litigation. Is there any time during law school to do anything but study? Jackie: I was co-chair of the conference committee within for [Harvard Law’s] Women’s Law Association this year. We put together a two-day conference, bringing in dozens of amazing women to speak about their experiences in politics, technology and media. It included the president of the Boston City Council, a former speechwriter for one of the presidential candidates, reporters and editors from Slate and the BBC, and many wellestablished women at large law firms. I’m also a senior editor for the Harvard Business Law Review; I started in the fall of my first year as a 1L [first year] subciter, and it’s really been a great way to stay engaged in the academic side of corporate law. Matt: From my first year, I became involved in moot court as well as the Federalist Society. I’m still a member of the Federalist Society, and I’ve been to the symposium where they bring in professors and notable speakers. I was able to meet [Supreme Court Justice] Antonin Scalia several times through Harvard Law events with the Federalist Society. One of the fantastic things about Harvard is the exposure to great speakers and minds. Was there anything about your experience at Calhoun that has had an impact on your career or influenced you in some way? Matt: I think I took every single science and math class offered at the school . . . basically, anything John Roeder and Danny Isquith were offering! I’ve found that mathematical thinking is important in interpreting the law. Understanding mathematical principles and how to structure your thought in that way is similar to legal reasoning and the way you structure your arguments.

class notes

Steve: There’s absolutely no doubt Calhoun helped prepare me. The English program was incredibly strong at Calhoun and I still believe that it was critical to helping make me an excellent writer. At the end of the day, writing is probably the most important thing in litigation—you are trying to win cases largely through briefs in which you attempt to persuade a judge to do what you think is right. I certainly felt that I had been very well prepared for college; I was easily ahead of the game by the time I got there. I credit Calhoun with a lot of that. Jackie: I really enjoyed English and history; Bible as Literature and Latin American History were two of my favorite courses. The research papers we had to write at Calhoun were very useful in college—especially those that involved developing an original thesis and needing to think on your own. Phil Tedeschi and Kristen McEhliney [US English teachers] really helped me with my writing and were always willing to sit down with me to go over my essays. I did an independent study with Steve [Nelson] my senior year. I will always remember debating and discussing political issues with him. It was a great opportunity to sit down one-on-one each week and pick his brain. When it came to my senior internship, I worked at NY1 News; it was amazing to sit on a live set and research potential news stories. Just having an internship during high school was a great experience and helped me build my résumé. Matt: Calhoun helped me feel very comfortable speaking with my professors; I had friends [in college] who would do anything but go to office hours, and that hurts you. Calhoun definitely breeds a kind of person who is comfortable speaking with teachers and developing close relationships. You never feel intimidated by them, or think that you don’t have the right to ask questions. I also think Calhoun inspires you to want to explore ideas. . . . When I found something that interested me but wasn’t necessarily on point with class, I was able to go off and read it on my own. Jackie: Since Calhoun allows students to develop such close relationships with their teachers, I was definitely more comfortable approaching my professors in college; I wasn’t shy about forging those relationships. Calhoun teachers offer such individualized attention and build close relationships with their students. I still remain in contact with several of them. Steve: Calhoun was an incredibly special place. What really stands out to me is the closeness between all of us as a class . . . that camaraderie. Many of my closest friends are those I went to Calhoun with. Also, being treated as an adult at a young age is so important to development. Calhoun is a unique, special community—there’s just nothing like it.

Steve Feldman ’00: Syracuse University ’04 (Newhouse School of Public Communications; major: journalism); Harvard Law ’09; associate at Hueston Hennigan LLP

Justin Brooke ’06: Stanford University ’10 (major: philosophy); Harvard Law ’16; judicial clerkship, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Matt Sommer ’08: University of Pennsylvania ’12 (major: classical studies); Harvard Law ’15; associate at Latham & Watkins LLP [PHOTO: JACK GROSSMAN ‘16]

Jackie Katz ’10: Brown University ’14 (major: political science); Harvard Law ’17; summer associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

SUMMER 2016

class notes

Save the Dates! 2016-17 Alumnae/i Events ALUMNAE/I Pub Night Thursday, November 10, 2016 6:30–9:30pm, Location TBA Meet up with Calhoun friends and faculty at a local pub! Holiday Homecoming Luncheon Friday, December 16, 2016 12:00–2:00pm, 81st Street 12 Days of Christmas celebration and luncheon for recent graduates, catered by Chef Bobo Cougar Career Symposium Spring 2017 Date TBA Alumnae/i panelists speak to Upper School students and fellow alums about career paths and opportunities. Alumnae/i Reunion 2017 Friday, June 9, 2017 81st Street Building All alums welcome, with special celebration for classes ending in 2’s and 7’s Plus more surprises to come!

For more information about upcoming events, please contact Bart Hale ’00 Director of Alumnae/i Relations 646-666-6450

Calhoun Chronicle

educational and therapeutic services for children from birth through age five, their parents and the professionals and institutions that serve them. Lizzy earned her MSEd in early childhood general and special education from Bank Street College of Education in 2011. Paloma Woo ’01 has been a social worker at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai Roosevelt for the past five years. She earned a master’s degree in social work from Hunter College in 2011. David Kramer ’02 earned his MBA this spring, graduating from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business with a concentration in strategy and finance. Since last summer, he has been a vice president with Morgan Stanley Private Bank. He and his wife, Liz, live in Brooklyn. Arielle Silverman ’03 visited Calhoun this past May while on a surprise trip to see her parents for Mother’s Day. She has been living in Denver, CO, and is in her final year at the Nutrition Therapy Institute, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in holistic wellness. Emma Dumain ’04 celebrated her marriage to Adam Snider on May 7, 2016, at Toolbox Pilates Art Studio in Washington, DC. Emma is now a D.C. correspondent for The Charleston Post and Courier, where she covers the South Carolina congressional delegation, having transitioned in January from reporting for Roll Call. She and her husband met in 2013, when they were both reporters on Capitol Hill; Adam now works as director of public affairs at the

American Association of Airport Executives. Rebecca Dumain ‘09 was Emma’s maid of honor, and Julie Otton ‘04 gave a toast! Weslee Berke ’06 transitioned to a new job in January, moving from the Internet company Lifebooker to a position as customer service manager at Boxed Wholesale. Weslee caught up with classmates in June at her 10th Reunion. Sabrina Spiegel Zurkuhlen ’06 earned a well-deserved promotion at Calhoun this spring, when she was named the school’s Athletics Director by Head of School Steve Nelson. Sabrina began working at Calhoun in 2011, most recently serving as Associate Director of Athletics as well as a powerhouse volleyball coach—leading the Girls’ Varsity team to their fourth championship in four years! Anna Bernard ’07 received her master’s degree in social work from Fordham University, and is now a licensed social worker, working with high-risk children and families at the JCCA (formerly known as the Jewish Child Care Association). Ted Brandston ’07 has been working as a computer software developer at MakerBot Industries since his graduation from Ursinus College with a BS in computer science in 2011. MakerBot Industries is a Brooklyn-based company founded to engineer and produce 3-D printers. Mirella Brussani ’07 will be starting graduate work this summer at the Columbia Journalism School. She had been serving as the executive assistant at the ADD Resource Center, a nonprofit in New York that provides programs and services

class notes

for addressing ADD and ADHD— a job that is now being held by Jessica Neufeld ’07! Emily Capkanis ’07 is the latest alumna to return to Calhoun’s classrooms—but this time as a faculty member and coach! This spring, Emily taught Middle School art classes as a maternity replacement for Amy Konen. Earlier in the year, she served as head coach for the Middle School Cross-Country team while acting as an assistant teacher for photography classes in the Upper School. This summer, she expects to be teaching art classes at JCC Manhattan, on the Upper West Side. Sam Scarritt-Selman ’08 returned to New York this summer to take on a summer associate role at the law firm Dechert LLP. Sam is entering his third and final year at University of Michigan Law School, where he serves on the Michigan Business & Entrepreneurial Law Review. Daria DiLello ’09, who graduated from Bard College with a BA in photography in 2013, works in the

photo department at Vogue.com while continuing to do freelance photography jobs in her spare time. Many of her own projects focus on current feminist concerns, and her work is influenced by her background in psychology. See her work at www.dariadilello.com.

2010s

s Lauren Capkanis ’10 appeared this past spring in a new play called Harper Regan, written by 2015 Tony Award winner Simon Stephens (Best Play for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time). In the “isn’t it a small world” category, the play was directed by Terry Schreiber— parent of alumna Katie Schreiber ’06—and neither actress nor director knew about the Calhoun

Gabe Berenbaum ’12 debuted his first album, Start Again, which was released on April 21 and features a collection of twelve pop-rock tracks. As a composer, singer-songwriter and guitarist, Gabe draws on elements of jazz, pop, rock and R&B to create his work. The album was the culmination of three years of work—including videos filmed in Vail, CO, last winter. Gabe graduated in May from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s of music in media writing and production, and a minor in creative American music. The Start Again album is available on both iTunes and Spotify; listen to clips and see more at www.gabrielberenbaum.com.

connection! Since graduating from Emerson College in 2014, Lauren has been performing onstage, in web series and in film, and in 2015 was named Best Actress by the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival for her role in the film Summer Breeze. When she’s not performing or auditioning, Lauren can often be found playing the role of substitute teacher at Calhoun! Laura Daar ’11 is back in New York after having graduated from the University of Connecticut, and she has taken a position as a research technician at the Hospital for Special Surgery. She attended her 5th Reunion with classmates in June. Denisse Jerez ’11: “I am currently working at a firm called Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, which practices intellectual property law. I am a legal assistant and planning to go to law school within the next two years. I am also on the board as president of a nonprofit organization called Kubemas, an after-school program that tutors students who go to school in the South Street Seaport district.” Willy Kane ’11 regrets he was unable to attend his five-year reunion, but the good news was, it was the day of his graduation from the City Year AmeriCorps program, a national service program that trains teachers and then places them in underserved public schools. As part of his training this past year, Willy taught an eighth grade English class in San Antonio, TX. Next year, he’ll begin teaching at YES Prep Public Schools, which operates 15 schools in Houston. Willy graduated in 2015 from Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in history.

Alumnae/i Babies Wear Calhoun Proudly! Let us know about your newest addition, and we’ll send you a Calhoun Baby-T as a gift from the Alumnae/i Office! Send details and hi-res photos to: Bart Hale ’00, Director of Alumnae/i Relations, bart.hale@calhoun.org, or submit online at www. calhoun.org/alumniupdates.

Thank you to baby Arya, daughter of Yokasta Tineo ‘03, for modeling our Calhoun Baby-T!

SUMMER 2016

class notes

Simon Gilbert ’12 graduated from Oberlin College in May and shared this exciting news with science teacher John Roeder: “I got a job teaching physics/robotics at the Ranney School in New Jersey this coming fall. I’ll be a full-time teacher there, and I’m super excited about it!” Max Lemper-Tabatsky ’12 earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and sociology from Connecticut College this spring, having been a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honors Society and business manager for his a cappella group, Co Co Beaux. Max is returning to New York, where he’ll start a job this summer as an analyst at the financial services firm CamberView Partners, LLC.

Robin Sklar ’14, who just completed her sophomore year at BU, was the winner of Calhoun’s Pocket People Selfie Contest!

s Robin Sklar ’14, a declared film and TV major in the College of Communication at Boston University, spent her fall semester studying abroad in London, enabling her to travel around Europe. Upon her return, she interned with the in-studio production team at BU’s radio Station, WTBU, helping to set up, record audio, edit, and break down equipment for live bands that

Calhoun Chronicle

came to perform. She also served as a DJ on the radio station. Next year she looks forward to having her own radio show, and, hopefully, getting involved with BU’s TV station as well. By the way, Robin was the winner of Calhoun’s Pocket People Selfie Contest! Morgan Mitchell ’15 traveled to Baltimore for a week this winter, as part of her freshman-year studies at Emory University, in order to analyze and discuss racial disparities in the city. This was part of an AfricanAmerican studies course that used the unrest as a lens for the problems confronting urban black communities. Quoted in The Baltimore Sun, Morgan said, “On the news they aren’t explaining foreclosure rates or educational disparities. All they’re talking about is the violence. That definitely affects how people see things and how they try to address it.” In her free time last semester, Morgan hosted a talk show on Emory’s WRME student-run radio. Julia Presten ’15 was featured in an issue of Moda Magazine this winter, highlighting her entrepreneurial fashion line, Angelic NYC, which features clothing and accessories with an angel theme. In the article, Julia talks about how she utilized her Senior Work internship to launch the venture, and how she remains committed to giving back, with a portion of proceeds going to charity. Julia just completed her first year at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Read the article: modamadison. com/2015/12/10/julia-prestonangelic-nyc-you-are-your-ownangel

What’s New? Your classmates want to know! Please send photos and updates about job changes, moves, exciting projects, births, weddings or memories. Don’t be modest; your news is important to us! Send your news by email: alumni@calhoun.org Submit your news online: www.calhoun.org/alumniupdates

Former Faculty/Staff Julie Core (Middle School English and social studies, 1980 to 1995) has been running her own firm, Core Educational Consulting, since 2012, following her work for many years as director of admissions for the Hackley School. Julie’s consulting helps parents find the appropriate academic environment and opportunity for their children, drawing on her 25 years of experience in independent schools. Ruth Licht (Middle School English and social studies teacher, 1983 to 1995) passed away in January after a complication from diabetes. Ruth had most recently been teaching part-time at the Rudolf Steiner School as a member of the learning support team. Alfred Uhry (Upper School theater) had one of his plays, The Robber Bridegroom, revived by the Roundabout Theatre Company at the Laura Pels Theatre on Broadway this spring. The musical comedy, for which Alfred wrote the book and lyrics, was described as a “high-spirited revival” of his 1975 musical “about

a Mississippi that never was,” based on the 1942 novella by Eudora Welty.

s June Williams passed away last fall. She was a much-beloved, longtime Upper School history teacher who also served as “Den Mother” for the Class of 1966, which celebrated its 50th Reunion this spring. June is always spoken of with fondness by alumnae from the 1960s, who remember her for her student-centered connections and strong grasp of history, bringing the material alive for the girls. In her last years at Calhoun, she was in an administrative role, as Community Service Coordinator.

reunions

more photos online www.calhoun.org/alummedia june 3, 20 1 6

Alumnae Reunion Luncheon

Alumnae from the classes of 1951, 1956, 1966 and 1971 gathered this spring to celebrate their milestone reunions. Head of School Steve Nelson welcomed the attendees to the luncheon, held at Kefi Restaurant on the Upper West Side, and enjoyed swapping stories about Calhoun—then and now! 1

50th REUNION: CLASS OF 1966 2

1. Class of 1966: (L-R) Marion Kornicki, Allyson Young Schwartz, Jocelynne Welsh, Lillian Kean Appel, Monica Sprei, Margot Ross London and Vivian Engel Stein 2. Class of 1956: (L-R) Dorothy Aaron Fox, Mina Baum Bernhard, Dee Lichtblau Framson, Lynne Cashman and Merryl Morris Traub

60th REUNION: CLASS OF 1956 3

3. Class of 1951: (L-R) Lynn Levy Zaubler, Sandy Silverstone Stern and Sylvia Cohen Robbins 4. Lynn Levy Zaubler ’51 brought a memento from her Calhoun days—her Geane Linz Cup 5. Nancy Platzer ’71 and Robin Platzer-Judson ’71 enjoyed looking through their yearbook

65th REUNION: CLASS OF 1951

SUMMER 2016

reunions

june 3, 201 6

Alumnae/i Evening Reunion Graduates from the classes of 1976 to 2011 came ready to celebrate at this year’s reunion! And, in fact, turnouts for the reunion classes of 1991, 1996 and 2006 all set records for the evening reception! The event was also a chance to honor Phil Bender, who retired this spring as Middle School math teacher after 30 years.

40th REUNION: CLASS OF 1976 1

35th REUNION: CLASS OF 1981

30th REUNION: CLASS OF 1986

1. Sasha Schechter ’08 and Trevor Schechter ’03 came to reunion to celebrate MS math teacher Phil Bender’s retirement, as did a number of other alums and former faculty.

25th REUNION: CLASS OF 1991

Calhoun Chronicle

2. (L-R) Damaso Reyes ’96, Chris Chou ’96 and Katy Garfield Schansinger ’96

reunions

more photos online www.calhoun.org/alummedia

15th REUNION: CLASS OF 2001 3

20th REUNION: CLASS OF 1996

10th REUNION: CLASS OF 2006

3. (L-R) Maya Barnes Johansen ’81, Christine Zamora ’81 and Sieglinde Talbott Peterson ’81 4. (L-R) Sophie Harris ’06, Warren Rej ’06 and US English teacher Ellen Kwon

5th REUNION: CLASS OF 2011

SUMMER 2016

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage

PAID Permit NO. 566 Utica NY

433 West End Avenue New York, NY 10024 www.calhoun.org address service requested

To the Parents of Alumnae/i: If this issue is addressed to your daughter/son who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumnae/i Office with the correct mailing address. Call 212-497-6579, fax 212-497-6531 or contact by email: alumni@calhoun.org.

Class of

2016

Class of 2016: All Heart and Soul! See page 38