Family Album | December 2022

Inside: Catching up with Alumni

Faculty Spotlights

Alumni Association

News & Notes

Annual Report and more!

A Message from Bob Cooke and Stacey Kamps

It is a tremendously exciting time to be at Community School–we have emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, and there is a palpable sense of renewal that runs throughout the school. To a great extent, this is due to the elimination of the Covid-19 measures that helped keep the students, teachers, and staff of Community School safe for the past two-plus years. So many things that were set aside during the pandemic are now once again part of the fiber of the school: Plays, band concerts, big buddies working with younger students, Family Groups of multiple age students meeting, family style lunches (with everyone eating in the Community Center)–all of these are back with us once again. And inside the classroom we have returned to those elements of instruction that are so essential to how students learn best. Students are once again working in small groups designed to maximize individual learning, shaking hands at morning meetings, and interacting between homerooms, much of which had been paused for the last two years. And with masks now optional, students have the freedom to come to school how they are most comfortable.

It is good to leave most of our pandemic policies behind us. But Community School has long believed that we should keep looking for better ways to do things here, and we have learned some lessons from the pandemic. For instance, we now have our Nursery and Junior Kindergarten students eating together in the Community Center without other students present; that gives them the ability to concentrate on eating (sometimes a lot to expect of a three-year-old!) while also getting the experience of eating with multiple other students. Probably the most easily noticed change is the new carpool pickup system at the end of each school day. We won’t bore you with the details here, but there are some key lessons of the pandemic that have led to a much safer pickup system for parents and children. And though most of our meetings are in person once again, when necessary we do have virtual meetings to bring people together.

Community is the rare institution that embraces both tradition and change. This mix was highlighted for us at a recent alumni event on a Saturday morning at school. Some of our graduates from the 1960s were in town for their secondary school reunion (remember,

being in the class of 1965 means you were approximately 12 years old in 1965), and gathered at Community School for breakfast and camaraderie. They exchanged news about themselves and mutual friends, swapped stories about past teachers, and marveled at the changes in the physical school–some of them had not been back on campus in 50 years! They toured the school, exclaimed over the “new” gym (completed in 1973) and its beautiful windows, tried to figure out where their 3rd grade rooms had been, marveled at how small some things seemed, and of course loved seeing the old woodshop.

But the absolute highlight of the day was the personal connections they made with each other–after all, these are Community School graduates, and many of their best friends are those they first found more than 60 years ago. The most beautiful example of that was the attendance of former Kindergarten teacher Maxine Blaine at the breakfast, who first met many of them as new kindergartners in the 1950s. Maxine remembered their names, their siblings’ names, where they lived; in short, she continues to embody the individual care and attention that Community School teachers have shown toward students for more than a hundred years. This was delightfully displayed as Maxine sat and chatted with Mark Yu, a first year kindergarten teacher at Community School, exchanging stories with each other about the school and students. Mark and Maxine then walked to the Early Childhood Center, where Mark showed Maxine his classroom–a classroom that is named in Maxine’s honor!

So, now that the pandemic is largely behind us, what is next?

This fall Community School launched our Building Community Campaign, a capital campaign that will significantly improve teaching and learning, and address issues of accessibility. The $7 million campaign will create a new science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) building that will adjoin the school directly north of the gymnasium and Centennial Arts Center. STEAM embodies our belief that all of these elements are intertwined; as a great example of this, think about the learning that takes place in the woodshop, where students combine their math and engineering skills with artistic talent to create beautifully designed and crafted projects.

The new Broughton STEAM Center will replace the 80+ year-old shop and science building. This means that we will say farewell

to a facility that has seen generations of students create Viking ships and art, and more recently, explore their world through the wonders of science. It is bittersweet to say farewell to this old structure, but a good example of Community School’s belief in change and improvement while retaining innovative programs such as woodshop. This new building will unify our upper and lower division science teaching in a pair of labs with shared prep space, create a beautiful new woodshop (with an adjoining power tools room), expand our drama spaces to create both a teaching space and a costume and prop shop, and include new offices for staff and meeting and collaboration areas for students.

Importantly, the Building Community Campaign also addresses accessibility issues here at school. By attaching these new classrooms to the larger main building, students no longer are forced to navigate stairs and potentially icy walkways as they transition to woodshop and science classes. Additionally, we will be relocating the existing elevator (that currently only serves two of our four floors) so that it can reach all four levels in the main building. This is so important for us–students with physical challenges should be able to access all of their classrooms without being held back by the building layout, and employees, parents, and grandparents need to be able to visit every classroom without difficulty.

It is, truly, a wonderful time for Community School. Fully enrolled and financially stable, with innovative and engaging teaching, committed families, and bright and enthusiastic students, this is a place that is as strong as it has ever been in its history. Now, as we look forward to the next few years, it is our challenge and our privilege to imagine how Community School can continue to be a place to which alumni can return a half century after graduation, recognize that it is the same school they left, and see the exciting and innovative education that has been built upon that foundation.

Warmly,

Bob Cooke | Head of School

Stacey Kamps | President, Board of Trustees

Catching up with Alumni

Class of 2021: Henry Stotler and Lauren Hagan

Getting to see old friends you haven’t seen or talked to in a while can feel very special. That is why the Community School Class of 2021 reunion was so fun and important to celebrate. We were able to see the people we grew up around but don’t get to see as often anymore. The reunion provided us an opportunity to catch up on the new things about everyone’s lives and experiences at their new schools. Something fun that we got to do at the reunion was watch the sixth grade play of the current sixth graders. Even though it probably made us all a little jealous to see a traditional performance, it also reminded us of all the teamwork required of our entire class and teachers to produce our 6th Grade Play as two classes and two plays instead of a whole class and one big play like normal due to Covid-19. In the words of author Richard Paul Evans, “Old friends are memories personified.” This perfectly describes the Community School Class of 2021 reunion.

Class of 2020: Chris Tao and Harper Hall

On March 8, 2022, the Class of 2020 had a little reunion. With a strange finish to our sixth grade year and 24 months of uncertainty to follow, it was fantastic being back together at Community.

Reuniting with classmates you spent nearly a decade with, in some cases, felt incredible. We reminisced on our time together and noted the changes we could see in one another. The Class of 2020 is exceptional (or so we think), and it’s satisfying to see how Community School has shaped us and continues to impact us in mind, body, and spirit. We are all grateful for the start we got at Community!

Class of 2016: Noah Kleinlehrer

Although we have previously spent the past six years attending various secondary schools across St. Louis, there was always a special connection that united us wherever we were. While we would see alumni at school sporting events or cross-school occasions, we never had been together as one class before our reunion. To all convene in one place, sitting at the tables we had lunch at for years in our childhood, walking past the playground where we created friendships that still hold today,

and the classrooms and libraries where we discovered a love of learning made the day ever so special. Our reunion concluded with a slideshow of photos from all of our years at Community School. From laughs to affectionate expressions of joy, it was great to look back at our years of childhood and development. While we were all going on our separate journeys of discovery, it was a pleasure to be able to come together once more as the Class of 2016 to congratulate and recognize all our hard work while reminiscing on our time spent together.

Alumni Social: Jen Gosnell ’79

On December 15, 2021, we welcomed alumni, alumni families, and friends to campus for an Alumni Social. Guests included graduates from every decade between the 1950s and 2000s! We enjoyed reminiscing and sharing about what’s new at Community. We gathered in the Discovery Center, where we enjoyed wine and snacks, chatted, and looked through photographs pulled from the archives of the school and our classmates back then. Kristin Garrett Keller ’96, our current Alumni Board President, even brought some old shop projects for show and tell! This event has been added to our annual calendar, so please mark your calendars for January 12, 2023. We are moving to that date to better coordinate with the William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award assembly, which will be held that morning. Stay tuned for your invitation!

Campers Visit Studio Terra Nova

On June 10, 2022, students in Community School’s Clay Camp visited the studio of artist Carol Fleming Marks ’73. Campers learned about her process and the importance of persistence as an artist. They also had the opportunity to make clay art. Carol’s Studio Terra Nova is close to Community’s campus and is open for tours.

Current Community School Life Members

Community School has an esteemed group of Life Members who are elected by our Board of Trustees. Life Members are past parents, alumni, grandparents, teachers, and friends who have contributed their time and talents and shown a continuing interest in the school.

We were excited to bring back our annual luncheon, honor our current members, and welcome our newest ones on December 1, 2022. We will share photos in the next Family Album

The newest members include:

Christine Bugnitz

Lynn Christopher

Marni and Jeremy Deutsch

Stephanie and Mark Schnuck

Barbara and Andy Taylor

Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo

The current members include:

Stephen S. Adams, III ’69

Sharon Barnholtz

Bill Bauer

Julie and Lee ’70 Bearman

Donna L. Benson ’66

Maxine Blaine

William Bolster

Kimmie T. Brauer

Marjorie Broesel

Cindy and Jay Brown

Jutta Buder

L. B. Buffkins

Judi F. Coleman ’70

James Cooper

Steve C. Culver

Tina and David ’70 Danforth

Elizabeth Danforth ’74

Dan DeHovitz ’66

Nancy A. Diemer ’77

Henry Dubinsky

Peter A. Edison ’67

Steve Finerty

Darlene P. Finkes

Judith Gall

Susan Goldberg

Emily Gordon

Matthew Gould

Dudley H. Grove

Cathy Haines

Sonia ’48 and Harold F. Helmkampf

Thomas Helmkampf ’76

Michelle Henson

Signa and Robert R. Hermann, Jr.

Howard H. Hess

Kerry and William F. Holekamp

Susan Hollander ’69

Becky Hubert

Susan Hunkins

Holly McDonnell James ’81

Suzanne and Jim ’76 Johnson

Bette and William Jones

Karen Kalinowski

Kerrigan Kaplan

Lee Kaplan

Jennifer and Jim Koman

Carole Lemen

John Lemkemeier ’79

Nikki and David ’82 Lemkemeier

Sally Lemkemeier

Roz and Charles ’59 Lowenhaupt

Jane S. Mackey

Michele and James ’63 Maritz, III

Phyllis Maritz

Steve Maritz ’70

Anne ’51 and John McDonnell

Cynthia McDonnell

Patricia ’53 and Glenn McNett

Stephany Mendelsohn

LaVerna Meyer

Remembering Patricia Taylor

Patricia Taylor died peacefully on June 14, 2022, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she had moved to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren. Patty was born on November 21, 1928 in Covington, Kentucky. For the majority of her life, Patty lived in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduation from Webster Groves High School, Patty attended Washington University in St. Louis where she graduated with a degree in English Literature. She taught first

Eileen Morrison

Andrew E. Newman ’56

Bette A. Nuzum

Kiku Obata ’63

Ann Polster

Ken Potter ’78

Evelyn C. Pronko

Pam Qualy

Julie and Eric Ralph

Ben F. Rassieur, III

Mary Rassieur

Terry Rassieur

Mary and Edward Renshaw

Sandy Rogers

Sheillah Rogers

John T. Sant ’44

Ann Knight Schaper ’54

Marilyn Schnuck

Scott C. Schnuck

Stephanie A. Schnuck ’79

Ben H. Senturia ’55

Susan and David ’71 Sherman, III

Linda Smith

Barbara Stamper

Molly Strassner

Leah and John Stroup

Cindy Jones Todorovich ’58

Steven Turner

Jan Wisland

Marie Witscher

Stephen Wolff ’69

James H. Woods, Jr. ’48

Nina Wuestling

Caroline Zarinelli

grade in Webster Groves and Clayton before becoming the first grade teacher at Community School, where she taught until she retired. Patty loved reading and books, and was often asked to speak to various groups about children’s literature and fostering a lifelong love for reading. She remained in contact with her students and families all her life.

Patty was married to her husband, Jack (Walter) Taylor for 65 years, and she was mother to Jane Taylor, Tom Taylor and Ann Taylor Pratt.

Update from Jonelle Harris, Director of Diversity and Inclusion

In January of 2017, Community School’s Parent Diversity Group (PDG) hosted their first All Family Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event. The vision was to unite our school community to serve those outside our four walls. It is a way to honor Dr. King’s dream for us all.

Each year we select a variety of organizations to work with—everything from food pantries to nursing homes. We work with the different agencies to find out what their needs are and how we can best help them. Our Service Learning Student Council representatives participate not only in the presentation the day of but also in helping to spread the word about the event and why it is so important. Next to PDG’s All Family Bowling Night, this event has grown into one of the largest events we host. We average around 150 people who volunteer each year, which speaks to our school community’s commitment to service. In January of 2021, we had to move the entire event online via Zoom. PDG saw this as an excellent opportunity to help educate participants on the health disparities that Covid-19 highlighted and the impact it has in our community. The online event included poetry readings from Community School parent, Lyah Beth LeFlore-Ituen, inspirational words

from members of our Service Learning Student Council, and the sharing of engaging picture books that covered topics such as asthma, diabetes, anxiety, and people with disabilities. We also were able to hear from representatives from the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America: St. Louis Chapter and the Sickle Cell Association. We closed the event with the lighting of candles while listening to part of Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. It was powerful to see all of the lit candles while the words of such a remarkable man washed over us. We had about 75 participants who attended the virtual event and well over that number of people who donated items to give to various organizations that work specifically with those who were most impacted by Covid-19 due to a preexisting condition.

After each MLK Day of Service event, I always hear from some of our parents and students how much they enjoy being a part of this day. They truly appreciate the opportunity to help educate their children about the importance of serving, the variety of organizations that are working hard to help others, and how they themselves can have a positive impact on their community. This past school year, we were able to have our

service day in person which everyone was excited about. We weren’t able to go to many organizations to volunteer due to Covid-19 restrictions; however, we were still able to collect items that they needed and work together on campus to organize and get the items we collected delivered. There was such a sense of joy as we we were working throughout that morning.

We look forward to many more years of coming together to serve our community and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

If you are interested in being a part of our All Family MLK Day of Service event whether in person or through donations, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. We would love to have you!

Organizations we have served:

Junior League

Rose Hill House

The Salvation Army Family Haven

Independence Center

Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry

Gateway 180

Operation Food Search

St. Patrick Center

Youth In Need

Our Little Haven

Xale Reew Mi Project

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Faculty Feature Darci Cadieux

Enhancing Sixth Grade Leadership with Emotional Agility and Neuroplasticity

Stay Curious. Show Up. Be Plastic.

These are three core values of the sixth grade leadership class here at Community School. It may seem pretty simple, and the curriculum has been designed with that intent. Within these contexts, student leaders are given opportunities to flex their emotional agility and demonstrate their neuroplasticity as they continue to hone their individual and collective leadership skills. Emotional Agility is the ability to be with your emotions with curiosity, compassion, and courage. Resources used in sixth grade are largely based on the research of Susan Davis, Ph.D., a

psychologist at Harvard University, and Marc Brackett, Ph.D., a professor at Yale University. This is a topic that is gaining attention and momentum as we continue to navigate through life’s uncertainties during this pandemic. Well-being is dependent upon building awareness of self and others. That awareness requires one to STAY CURIOUS and, in return, allows one to fully SHOW UP.

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and adapt. It allows for more flexible thinking and better problem solving. By consistently creating new pathways in the brain, research is showing an increase in resilience and grit. Adapting to the challenges that present themselves on a daily basis, without complaint or added resistance, takes patience and practice. That work pays off when experiencing the transition from surviving to thriving. Getting unstuck and embracing change ultimately allows for greater well-being. Therefore, one should also strive to BE PLASTIC.

In class, the sixth graders are learning how well-being factors into leadership. They are increasing their emotional literacy by using a mood meter and applying practical strategies that keep them in the driver’s seat with these emotions. They are learning to lean into any emotion they are experiencing, refrain from

labeling it positively or negatively, and allow it to be the teacher that it is intended to be through that feedback. By Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotions, our leaders-in-training are becoming better equipped to inspire, motivate, and help change the world around them.

Sixth grade student leaders are also consistently priming their brains to be more flexible by practicing coordination and rhythm exercises that involve a juggling ball, syncopated finger taps, and drinking cups. Each exercise includes mildly stressing the brain to present opportunities to push through the stickiness and form new neural pathways, with the goal of not giving up on a given challenge. Breakthroughs happen when students are able to let go enough to allow their bodies’ natural, automatic intelligence to assist in the task. Oftentimes different parts of the body are asked to perform unique tasks, but finding the necessary synergy is what leads to success. New neural pathways are achieved as a result, and the undeniable mind-body connection is on full display.

Dr. Brackett states, “Emotional skills are the key to unlocking the potential inside each one of us.” They help provide us with a road map in times of uncertainty. One thing we can be certain of is that things change. We all need the flexibility to ensure that we can change too. Dr. Davis reminds us that, “Our values give us the opportunity to live our fullest lives and to be the people we aspire to become in challenging times.” That requires first identifying your values and then committing to them. Inside the leadership notebook of a sixth grader, this (growing) list looks something like:

Stay Curious (Not Judgmental)

Show Up (For Yourself and For Others)

Be Plastic (In Your Mind and Your Body)

Faculty Feature Rob Knight

Interviewed by Jennifer Thomas

Rob Knight has been teaching woodshop at Community School since 1997 and will retire at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. Before coming to Community, Rob was a clinical social worker at Child Center of Our Lady. “Becoming a woodworking teacher at an elementary school was not part of my plan regarding my career goals,” he recently shared. “My college degree and post-graduate training prepared me to work as a child therapist, primarily with abused children,” he said. “I was not looking to change careers; it just happened! Combining my passion for woodworking and helping children work creatively with their hands to become better thinkers has been like a magical dream come true.”

Rob’s involvement at Community extends far beyond the woodshop. For example, he helped start the Family Groups program, which builds groups comprised of a child from each grade (currently first through sixth grades) with a teacher. Groups remain the same year to year, and students develop wonderful friendships as they engage in activities and the older students mentor the younger ones. Rob recalled, “It was in my first year at Community, and we started by getting together for hot chocolate and doing craft activities. This was just before computers were being used, so we had to do all the groupings by hand!”

In addition to volunteering as a co-chair of the Family Groups Committee for many years, Rob has served as a co-chair of the Faculty Equity & Justice Committee, managed Community’s compost program, and built or refurbished furniture for the school. Rob and his wife Julie have three children, and they all graduated from Community School. Learn more about Rob’s background and work at Community in the interview below.

What inspired you to become a woodshop teacher? As a young child, I loved the opportunity to build and create things both useful and maybe not so useful. My dad would give me a brief lesson on the proper use of tools and safety, and then off I went making shields, swords, cars, airplanes, and boxes for all my junk. When finishing a project, I remember I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride; I think many of the students I have taught feel the same way.

My woodworking endeavors continued to grow as I went through high school and college. In high school, I had a brief industry of building custom speaker cabinets for my peers, and in college, I would make bookcases, shelves, and storage units for students living in dorms.

Why is woodshop important for students to learn? A woodshop is a special place for children to learn many life lessons and to be creative. Woodworking provides a tangible way for students to problem-solve, and their confidence grows as they figure out ways to fix their mistakes. Working deliberately

with your hands can be stimulating and relaxing; many students find working in the woodshop therapeutic. My teaching partner, Joe Mohr, and I constantly encourage students to be reflective about their efforts, attitude, and finished projects. Starting in first grade, students keep a journal that helps them organize their work and use it to write short reflective thoughts.

Share a favorite Community School

memory. Today, I am thinking back about 16 years ago when a snowstorm descended upon the St. Louis area during the morning commute to school, which caused many students and teachers to either be absent from school or arrive much later in the day. For most of the morning, I had the pleasure of helping supervise the students when sled riding; well, actually, I did a lot of sled riding myself.

What will you miss most about Community? The joy of the students. It’s a very joyful place. I’ll also miss working with Joe. It was great when he came on board as a co-teacher; we have a lot of fun working together.

If you could pick another subject to teach, what would it be?

I have always enjoyed cooking, so I’d work in the kitchen and maybe have a cooking class!

Why work at Community? I seriously cannot think of a better place to work. In all my years here, the administration has continuously supported my personal and family needs. Teachers are also very supportive of each other and passionate about teaching their subject area. Positive energy radiates from students and teachers, and no matter what classroom you enter, there is excitement and eagerness to learn new things.

What advice would you share with someone starting as a new employee at Community? Take the first year to listen, observe, and ask lots of questions. Also, don’t be afraid to add your voice and opinions. I’ve been a mentor to several teachers, and I always tell them that.

What are your hobbies? Gardening, cooking, building and riding bikes, hiking, and of course, woodworking! I am also an amateur audiophile; I have several shelves filled with stereo and Hi-Fi equipment. Listening to music is also an essential part of my life; it is more than a hobby.

What is something you are looking forward to in retirement? It’s going to be like being a kid again. I look forward to getting up and not worrying about things getting done during the day. I will have the freedom to play – it’ll be grown up play. I will also enjoy more time visiting my grandchildren. I have two and one on the way.

Last Stanzas: Debbi Krieg

Interviewed by Jennifer Thomas

Debbi Krieg is a collector. “I started my word collections in 2012 when I collected a poem a day,” she shared. “Then in 2013 I collected quotes. And then in 2014 I collected lyrics. I collected something every year for the last decade. It’s the best thing ever.” In January of 2022, Debbi resolved to memorize a poem a week. When deciding what to memorize, she goes back to the same week in 2012, reviews the poems she collected, and picks her favorites to memorize.

Her resolution served as the perfect bookend as we talked about her role at Community and the approach of her retirement in spring 2022. We met in the Discovery Center, where she worked as Community’s school librarian for 23 years. She told me about the four poems she had memorized in March and how each one felt like it could be her mantra for retirement. The title for this collection? “Last Stanzas.” She recited the last stanza of each poem as the sun shimmered through the window and danced across the table.

Debbi thought about reciting her “Last Stanzas” at our end-ofyear faculty meeting but wondered if she’d be able to get through them. When the day arrived, she pivoted and shared an excerpt from Sahara Special, a book that she reads with students each year:

School is a powerful place where things change, and wishes come true… It’s a place where you can grow up if you let yourself.

After finishing the excerpt, Debbi summed that, “This has been a powerful place, I’ve grown up a lot, I’ve found my voice… I have all of you to thank for this. I love this place, and I love you all.” Before sitting down, Debbi also recited a poem aptly titled, “Good Books, Good Times.” The meeting signaled the end of her time as our school librarian but not the end of Debbi’s collections – they’ll continue to inspire us and live on in the Discovery Center and beyond as we read the books that were in her care and as she stops by and shares her latest finds.

Read our complete interview to learn more about Debbi’s background and time at Community. Tell me about your background prior to starting at Community. I was in banking right after college until my youngest child was born. I was home for 15 years and sort of fell into the job at Community School when a friend said they were looking for a part-time librarian.

What makes Community unique in your experience? There are a bunch of good answers to this question – the school’s philosophy, programs, history, campus – but in my mind it all comes back to the people. I think of all the good people doing their part every day to enrich the lives of the children in our care.

Share a favorite memory from your time at Community. There are so many, but here’s a recent one. A few weeks ago, as I was

walking down the hall to the Discovery Center before school started, I glanced out the window and saw a student walking to her classroom. Right then a breeze caused a blizzard of dogwood blossoms to snow down on her. She stopped, raised her face to the sky, threw her arms in the air, and delighted at the beauty of the scene, as did I, watching her.

What will you miss most about

Community? I will miss my colleagues, of course, so many dear people! And, I had the great good fortune to get to know scores of parents through the years – those who volunteered in the Discovery Center. We had some good times! But mostly, I think, I’ll miss the children. Dostoevsky said, “The soul is healed by being with children.” I think that’s true. I’ll miss the rhythm of the school year, too, but I will miss the kids most.

What advice would you share with someone starting as a new employee at Community? I’ll just give the same advice a dear friend gave me, from Arthur Ashe: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. Oh, and it took me 22 years to believe this one enough to actually do it, but it really does help to get to school 15-30 minutes before you need to be there.

Beyond the Discovery Center

Debbi is not just a collector… she is a collaborator! Debbi frequently worked with Alissa Rowan (Drama Teacher), Taylor Mata (School Counselor), and Jonelle Harris (Director of Diversity and Inclusion) to identify books and other resources that would support students’ social/emotional growth and learning. They also developed the Community Reads video series to provide a way for the entire school to read the same book and connect it with curriculum that Taylor uses in the classroom. Each April, Debbi and Alissa worked together to infuse poetry everywhere during readings at lunch and by posting poems on bulletin boards and walls throughout the school – even in the bathrooms! This dynamic duo collaborated as members of the Family Groups Committee, as well.

Additionally, Debbi partnered with Veronique Gardet (Lower Division French Teacher) on “Story Time with Madame and Mrs. K” several times each year. They took turns reading books in English and French in each Lower Division grade. They often recruited students as helpers to act out stories using puppets as they read. This provided an opportunity for students to interact with other grades and to shine in a leadership role. “Those collaborations were a favorite part of my time at Community!” Debbi recalled.

School News and Updates

2022 Cornucopia

Winter Wishes were granted at Cornucopia, our biennial auction, on April 8, 2022. It was wonderful to be back together for a night of food, fun, and dancing – all in support of Community School. Proceeds support tuition assistance, faculty professional development, and school operations.

The night would not have been possible without the support of our Cornucopia Co-Chairs, Heidi Silberman and Katie Schankman, our Committee Chairs, and our generous sponsors and advertisers. We raised a total of $516,244 and are grateful to everyone who contributed by volunteering, bidding on auction items, supporting the paddle raise, and buying DASH and raffle tickets. It was a true community effort.

At the event, we revealed a special project we were fundraising for as part of our Paddle Raise. A year ago we asked our teachers the following: If you could wish for anything for your classrooms or for Community School, what would it be? We revealed those wishes at the event and asked our “community of Community” to help grant them. Wishes included Little learning spaces, new outdoor seating, updates to our woods and playgrounds, a school dog, and a new and improved teachers’ lounge.

Grandparent and Special Friends Day

We hosted Grandparents & Special Friends Day on May 6, 2022. Around 500 attendees joined us for performances and classroom visits. Our Lower Division Music Teacher, Meriam Dwidar, and Upper Division Music Teacher, Natalie Westerholt, created two wonderful programs themed around The Beatles. If children didn’t have someone attending, a Community School staff member served as a friend for the day.

Circle of Learning Speaker Series

Every year as part of our Circle of Learning series, Community School hosts an expert on parenting and teaching and invites parents and educators from across St. Louis to attend. Our fall 2021 speaker was Dr. Peg Dawson, a noted author and speaker. Dr. Dawson is the author of multiple books on executive functioning skills and is past president of the National Association of School Psychologists and the International School Psychology Association. Teachers and parents attended the free virtual event Executive Skills: What are they? Why do kids need them? How can I help my child acquire these skills? with Dr. Dawson on November 1, 2021, and she provided an additional professional development session for Community faculty.

6th Grade Play

Our 6th Graders produced and performed in “The Mystery of the Nile: Friendship Not Included,” written and directed by Drama Teacher Alissa Rowan with musical direction by Natalie Westerholt and Meriam Dwidar. Each student auditioned and had a speaking role, and many took on additional roles ranging from stage manager and publicist to set and costume designers to scenic painters and choreographers. Student leadership and engagement drove every step of the process, and everyone we spoke to agreed that the experience solidified their bond as the Class of 2022. “This play is not only a culmination of all the acting and singing skills they learned at Community,” Mrs. Rowan said, “but it is a testament to how their class works as a team.” The 6th Grade Play also marked the first time our school community could gather together for live performances since the pandemic started. It was wonderful to hear the buzz of each audience as they watched and cheered their friends on.

Lowenhaupt Award Recipient Alissa Rowan

Excerpt from Mr. Cooke’s speech from the Annual Meeting in May 2022:

Every year one Community School faculty member is recognized for his or her work furthering the education of young children through excellence in program development in their classroom, presenting educational information at conferences or workshops, or publishing works for other educational professionals. The award is named in honor of Henry C. Lowenhaupt, an important member of Community School in the 1970s. In addition to recognition tonight and in a permanent display in the main office, there is a cash award that accompanies it.

In the nomination that led to this year’s award winner, this teacher was described as “a builder of a program far above and beyond what is expected in an elementary school,” and who has made it her mission this year to return our entire school community’s experience back to normal.

She came to us in 2015 with a varied background that included marketing, sales, and event management. Of course, that is not why Community School hired her; rather it was her extraordinary talents and experience as a playwright, director, and teacher that brought Alissa Rowan to Community School.

Her work as a drama teacher here at Community is extraordinary. She directs plays for 8 grades – which can mean a dozen or more different plays each year – and takes the time to ensure that each play connects with the curriculum, to a subject students are studying, or to a social or emotional need that the grade as a whole is wrestling with. When she doesn’t have a play on the shelf that fits the need, she just writes a new one…but what you may not realize is that for Alissa, there is NEVER a play just sitting on the shelf that she can use. Every play, every year, is either entirely original, or has undergone a deep rewrite. Every year she comes up to me and says, “thank you for allowing me to write new plays,” and I think, “a lot of drama teachers would be demanding that I pay them to write plays, or refusing to do it altogether!”

(Please don’t share that observation with Alissa!)

What you may not realize is just how deeply her commitment to the growth of each individual student goes. Many drama programs are content to cast students in roles that serve the needs of the play; Alissa casts students in roles that serve students’ individual needs. Shy students get large speaking parts – but not before they are ready – students who need leadership opportunities are put in charge of set design, or stage managing –students who need the experience of working for others are given tasks that support a team.

This dedication to the social emotional growth of children extends beyond her program, however. For instance, when Taylor Mata, the school counselor, wanted to start a “Counselor’s Corner” video series, Alissa took on the videography and editing

duties. When we decided a few years ago to create an annual Veterans Day celebration, Alissa took that on – and then when the pandemic forced us to go virtual, she took over the direction of the video production. To create a shared sense of community revolving around literature, Alissa creates videos for our Community Reads series. And now that we are moving toward a more normal school experience, Alissa once more leads the way, lobbying to return to live performances in front of audiences, bringing the “community of Community” back together once more. Her contributions to us all go far, far beyond her classroom.

Perhaps most importantly, Alissa is kind, sincere, and genuine. Her love of Community School, the children in her care, and her peers here at work is unparalleled. She is committed to collaborating with others, which multiplies the positive effect she has throughout the school. Alissa has a great sense of humor, and can be relied upon to bring levity even in the midst of the stress of a drama production. She is committed to her craft, and has created a program that reaches every child, every employee, and into every classroom, but she remains modest and self-effacing.

I suspect that the only person here that is surprised Alissa is receiving this award is Alissa herself. If I asked her to, she could right now name multiple people who she truly thinks are more deserving of this recognition, and point out that she could not do her work without others. And I agree with this last point; she could not do it without others, but it is Alissa’s devotion to the idea of collaboration, and her belief in hearing all voices, that ensures that her work is really a reflection of us all.

Celebrating the 2021

2021 - 22 School Year

Alumni Association A Message from Kristin Keller

Dear Alumni,

First I wanted to start out with a big “thank you” to all the staff, teachers, and administrators at Community School. They have done an above-and-beyond job of navigating the Covid-19 pandemic and keeping our children safe, both emotionally and physically. The teachers and staff at Community School weathered the storm beautifully. Add it to the long list of ways that Community School excels in promoting child well-being. Head of School Bob Cooke said that he wanted the kids to have even some positive memories from attending elementary school during a pandemic and I truly believe that goal was met. Our children learned that there is more to school than just learning; it is about being a respectful member of a team with obligations to one another and roles to play in keeping one another safe. What a beautiful lesson for our children to learn.

That being said, I am thrilled to report that the 2022-2023 school year is off to a strong start and is feeling quite “normal.” We have all been anxiously awaiting the time when the children could gather for assemblies again, parents could freely attend school functions, and we could freely have alumni gatherings back on campus. We started off the school year with Goldy Day, a school-wide picnic with games, snow cones, and our beloved mascot, Goldy, parading around the school. This was the first Goldy Day in which alumni with school-aged children were also invited to attend. Goldy Day is a very fun event so we hope that in the coming years, alumni will feel welcome to attend that event with their young children to reconnect at Community School.

Additionally, we hosted a Community School Alumni Breakfast in early October. This was our first alumni breakfast, but it was an excellent event and one we hope to make an annual tradition for years to come. We had many in attendance from the Community School Class of 1964. They were a very fun bunch

and I am really impressed with how well this group has managed to stay connected since they graduated from Community. I am hopeful that each class of new graduates from Community School will be inspired to stay together as well as this special group of friends. The friendships we make when we are young are so pure and authentic; it is a genuine connection that we should all treasure and hold tight to. I am so proud of the Class of 1964 for honoring one another all these years.

The star of the morning, though, was retired and beloved teacher, Mrs. Maxine Blaine. Our current SK class made her a book of drawings and thank you notes and current SK teacher Mark Yu presented it to her. At the age of 101, she is living proof that hanging out with a bunch of 5 year olds for decades really does keep a person young. It was an honor and a pleasure to have her back on campus.

Please join us on January 12 at 6:00 p.m. for an Alumni Social. We will be honoring the recipients of the William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award during the day at an all-school assembly. The evening Alumni Social will be a great opportunity to reunite with old friends, hear about what’s new and exciting at Community, and learn about ways to continue your connection with us. This is a wine and cheese event (21 and over) and will take place on campus. You can email Kathleen Kelly at kkelly@ communityschool.com for more information.

Sincerely,

Kristin Keller | Alumni Association President

William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award

For over 100 years, Community School has nurtured innovators and leaders across a variety of fields and disciplines. Community School established the William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 to recognize those who have carried forward the mission of Community School as leaders in their community and profession, and who have shown appreciation and respect of the world.

Community School believes that the true measure of a school’s greatness can be found in the achievements of its alumni. This honor illustrates the profound connection between one’s formative years at Community School and one’s pursuit of excellence over the course of a lifetime.

Criteria

• The award is presented to a Community School alumnus or alumna who carries forward the mission of Community School as a leader in their community and profession, and who has shown appreciation and respect of the world.

• Nominees must have graduated from Community School.

• Current trustees and faculty/staff may not be considered for the award.

Nominations

• Nominations may be made by anyone except the nominee.

• Submit nominations by email by contacting the Director of Advancement, Kathleen Kelly, kkelly@communityschool.com or on the Community School website under the Alumni tab at www.communityschool.com.

Selection Process

Nominations are solicited and collected throughout the year. The Distinguished Alumni Award Selection Committee is an anonymous committee appointed by the Advancement Office. The award recipient and nominators will be notified by the Head of School or Director of Advancement upon selection, and the recipient will be recognized at an assembly during the school year.

Previous Winners

Dr. William H. Danforth ’38

John Dubinsky ’55

Carol McCarthy Duhme ’29

Founding Mothers

John Hartford ’50

Patricia Gamble Hecker ’34

Robert Hermann ’34

2023 Honorees

Charlie Felker ’96

Carol Fleming Marks ’73

Darcy Prather ’81

Judy Lorenz Tisdale ’52

Community School’s

HEAD OF SCHOOL AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THE THURSDAY | JANUARY 12, 2023

Program of Events

7:45 A.M. MORNING COFFEE WITH HEAD OF SCHOOL, BOB COOKE

8:15 A.M. PRESENTATION

8:50 A.M. BREAKFAST

PLEASE RSVP BY DECEMBER 15, 2022

ADVANCEMENT@COMMUNITYSCHOOL.COM OR (314) 991-0005

Alumni News and Notes

Academics

• Kate Oliver ’16 was the MICDS Class of 2022 Valedictorian and spoke at graduation in May. Kate was also a 2022 Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete in honor of her field hockey, lacrosse, and track and field successes as well as her academic accomplishments including being a member of the Cum Laude Society.

• Peyton LaMartina ’16, Maggie Maguire ’16, Kate Oliver ’16, and Frank Ragone ’16 were inducted into the MICDS Cum Laude Society. The MICDS Chapter of the Cum Laude Society is comprised of the top 20% of the senior class, and each inductee is required to have completed three or more Advanced Placement courses and be free of disciplinary infractions.

• Lillian Yanagimoto ’17, Sara Cao ’16, and Jacob Tuteur ’17 won awards for the Scholastic Writing Contest.

Athletics

• Brandon Mitchell-Day ’16 was the lead point scorer on his MICDS basketball team in various games, became a member of the 1,000 Point Club having earned over 1,000 points for MICDS Varsity Basketball, was named the High School StudentAthlete of the Week, and made the All-Metro Boys Basketball Second Team.

• Congrats to the 200 Medley Relay team at John Burroughs School for medalling in 4th place at the Class 1 State Championship in November 2022. Members include Xander Theodos ’18 and Camden Theodos ’20.

• Connor Kaplan ’17 earned 1st team All Metro League honors in soccer for John Burroughs School.

• Christopher Tao ’20 and the John Burroughs School boys cross country team placed third at state in Class 3.

• The Gateway Chess League recognized several students for their outstanding play, including Amaan Banga ’16 who placed 5th on Board 3 and Jack Parsons ’18 who placed 5th on Board 2 in the high school division.

Arts

• Spencer Ma ’16 and Diane Li ’18 participated in the MSHSAA District Solo/Ensemble Festival in March 2022 and earned the Outstanding rating in their string trio and flute, respectively.

• Hayley Edwards ’18, Katharine Pruett ’18, Carolina Sanchez ’18, and Lillian Yanagimoto ’17 were selected to participate in the Emerson Young Artists Showcase at The St. Louis Artist’ Guild. The Guild received over 280 entries from area high schools.

• SIUE received nearly 200 entries from regional high schools for their 2022 Annual High School Art Exhibition. Only 50 percent of submissions were selected, and they included works from Sara Cao ’16 and Julia Reichman ’17.

Service & Leadership

• Coumba Diallo ’16 earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for her work on youth in transition in St. Louis, Missouri and Saint Louis, Senegal. She created the Xale Reew Mi Project, dedicated to addressing the emotional health of older foster children and teens. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn.

• Noah Kleinlehrer ’16 testified before the Missouri House Committee on Bill 2000 – ‘Holocaust Education Week’ for Missouri Public Schools. After bringing the bill idea to Representative Schwadron, he was invited to spend the day with him and meet other representatives on the house floor and Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe to discuss Bill 2000. At Senior Night in April 2022, Noah announced that the bill officially passed.

• Hadley Altvater ’19 and Grant LaMartina ’19 were elected as the Student Council Grade Level Representatives for the MICDS Class of 2025.

• Elizabeth Clarke ’17 and Mia Schlottmann ’19 received Presidential Volunteer Service Awards for their outstanding service work in 2020 at John Burroughs School.

• Peyton LaMartina ’16 served as the MICDS Student Council Co-President during the 2021-22 school year. She got to help crown the 2022 May Queen at the annual May Day celebration. Peyton also spoke at several assemblies and served as a leader for her peers.

• Coumba Diallo ’16, Noah Kleinlehrer ’16, and Kyle Sha ’17 were three of the 46 Rams who earned a President’s Volunteer Service Award at MICDS.

Notes

• Caroline Kraus ’79, who spent the past several years traveling throughout the U.S. with her dog, Henry, has finished her documentary, Moments of Truth, and is working on her second memoir.

Where are our 2016 graduates going to college?

Bocconi University

Boston College

Bowdoin College

Bucknell University

Colgate University

Cornell University

Dartmouth College

Duke University

George Washington University

Indiana University

Iowa State University

Northwestern University

Saint Louis University

Southern Methodist University

The University of Tampa

Tufts University

Tulane University

University of California, Los Angeles

University of Chicago

University of Colorado

University of Miami

University of New Hampshire

University of Southern California

University of Virginia

Wake Forest University

Washington University in St. Louis

Yale University

In this season of gratitude, I’m grateful for the return to normalcy this year which has allowed us to come together in the ways we love best. Assemblies and plays are back, and the delight that the children have in simply being together is joyful. We’re able to serve family-style meals again, where the children sing grace and focus on the things that they’re thankful for – for friends, for family, and for each other.

I am thankful for your generous hearts, which have supported and sustained our school over the last 108 years and especially over these last three years. Without the robust support of our donors, we could not have created an environment over the last three years for students to thrive. In our recently-completed Pledge Week, we had an amazing third consecutive year of 100% support from parents, faculty, administrators, and the Board of Trustees. Thank you! I am so grateful to be part of such a caring community.

If you have not yet participated in this year’s Annual Fund, attached you will find information on joining. Please consider donating to support the programs that make Community School a leader in preschool and elementary school education. If you have already donated, thank you!

Yours in gratitude,

Kathleen Kelly | Director of Advancement

Giving by the Numbers

Why support Community School?

Community School is the premier preschool and elementary school, leading the way in early education in St. Louis. Recently, Niche.com ranked Community School with an A+ ranking, a wonderful honor and something we should all be proud of.

Your participation has two crucial components.

Participation shows the broader community that our school is strong and that our parent community believes in our mission. Because participation can easily be measured and used to rank our school, 100% participation is pivotal.

The funds raised from the annual giving program help ensure Community School is the regional leader in preschool and elementary education. The Annual Fund makes sure we are able to hire and retain the greatest faculty and staff while providing them with ongoing professional development, to maintain our beautiful 18-acre campus, and to provide a premier educational opportunity for our 350 students, allowing them to become the leaders of the next generation.

How can I maximize the impact of my gift?

Many companies offer philanthropic programs that will match charitable contributions made by employees. Matching gifts are an excellent way to help Community School obtain additional funds.

Employees wishing to secure a matching gift from their company must initiate the process directly with their employer on our behalf (inquire with your human resources, charitable contributions, or payroll department). Request a matching gift form from your employer and send a completed and signed copy along with your donation to Community School.

100% Parent Participation in Pledge Week

100% Administration Participation in Pledge Week

100% Faculty Participation in Pledge Week

100% Board Participation in Pledge Week

FOUNDING MOTHERS’ GIVING CIRCLE

Gifts of $10,000 or more

Jacqueline and Barry Albrecht

Anne and Doug Albrecht

Mandy and Brian Anderson

Sydney and Cory Bailey

Christine and Lee Broughton

Aaron Cregger

Elizabeth Danforth

Kate and Tom Danforth

Marni and Jeremy Deutsch

Danielle and Jeffrey Evitts

Leslie and Bradley Foss

Jennifer and James Gould

Sara and Will Gregerson

Mandi and Eric Holekamp

Benton and Rodney Jones

Vija Turina and Lal Karsanbhai

Kristin and Jesse Keller

Lauren and Kyle Kerner

Sally and Nicholas Kriegel

Pat Lane

Chrissy and Michael Laycob

Bridget and Zachary Long

Meghan and Thor Mathison

Sarah and Calvin Matthews

Anne and John McDonnell

Travis Noble

Suzanne and Theodore Rafferty

Lindsey and Evan Reed

Katherine and Steve Schankman

Audrey and Matthew Scherrer

Stephanie Schnuck

Stephanie and Mark Schnuck

Heidi and Ian Silberman

Terri and Robert Slavin

Barbara and Andrew Taylor

Amy and Zachary Varble

Chrissie and Bradford Werner

Jara and Michael Wong

1914 GIVING CIRCLE

Gifts of $3,500 or more

Jennifer Ehlen and Craig Albrecht

Mayo Amos

Christopher and Melissa Anstey

Nancy and Jesse Appleton

Belden Inc.

Brandi and Daniel Burke

Kathryn Galie and Brian Burkhardt

Eileen and Julian Carr

Brenda and Robert Cooke

Dan DeHovitz

Nancy and Donald Diemer

Jennifer and Corey Everett

Kora and Paul Felsch

Diana and Jason Flower

Mary Kaye and John Fort

Sarah and Lucien Fouke

Melissa and James Fox

Gayle and Ted Garrett

Patricia and Gary Gerhardt

Erin and Craig Gooch

Sarah Kovenock and Charles Gross

Jennifer and Timothy Hertel

Rhonda Hodges

Kristen and Richard Holton

Lotsie and Rick Holton

Stacey Kamps

Susan and Erich Lee

Chao Gu and Yi Li

Cynthia Maritz

Carolyn and Sean McCarthy

Maggie and Samuel Moore

Tara and Rob Neumayr

Kathleen and James Nowicke

Linda and John O’Hara

Angela and Bradford O’Neil

Amber and Daniel Pook

Jessica Shepherd Pratt and Wande Pratt

Christine and David Sachs

Premal Thaker and Sanjaya Saheta

Carrie and Jason Schnuck

Lauren and Coleman Sheehan

Sophia Baig and Umer Siddiqui

Mary and Stefan Sigurdson

Tammy and Tony Sonn

Katie and Nelson Spencer

Annie and Terry Stewart

Layla Hajjafar and Jason Taylor

Claire and Michael Todorovich

Leslie and Andy Vitt

Elizabeth and David Weiss

Nicole and Steve Wohlford

Emily and Ali Ziaee

GOLDEN EAGLE GIVING CIRCLE

Gifts of $1,000 or more

Arpana Agrawal and Ryan Bogdan

Lama Aleid and Saad Alkaade

Preston Amos

Susan and Robert Appleton

Kristen and Robert Armstrong

Kimberly and Patrick Bader

Janice and Asa Baker

Anthony Bardol

Donna Benson

Barbara and Barry Beracha

Brad Beracha

Eleanor and Leif Bergquist

Patricia and Barrett Boehm

Virginie and Harry Brightman

Sherin and Ryan Bruning

Carol and Jeffrey Burgess

Kara and Ben Cardinal

Christina Min and Dennis Chang

Sanjam Dhatt and Anahit Cheema

Sophia and Shawn Chen

Bomi and John Choe

Caitlin Kelleher and Dennis Cosgrove

Margit and Brent Craig

Kaitlyn and Brandon Crosby

Liz Lee and Edward del Rosario

Vijaya and V. Devineni

Michelle and Jay Dobbs

Julie Schwarz and Brian Edelson

Carrie and Sean Edelstein

Hope R. Edison

Kelly and Jim Edwards

Siri Eklund

Equifax

Carol Fleming

Virginia and Bobby Foster

Becky and Lucien Fouke

Marie Philipneri and Valentine Gnanarajah

Melissa Hector-Greene and Shanti Greene

Dorothy Haase

Lisa and Matthew Hall

Tonia Harris

Cynthia and David Heath

Sonya and Harold Helmkampf

Erin and Nick Hendon

Jennie Kwon and Augustine Hong

Liang Ma and Wei-Wei Huang

Liz and Christopher Hustedt

Sally and Harry Johnston

Farrah Fan and Jon Jones

Christina and John Karageorgiou

Suzanne Schindler and Andrianus Kardjaja

Jeannie and Brian Kelly

Kathleen and Seamus Kelly

Arthur and Ricke Kerckhoff

Carolyn Kroenlein

Jessica and Robert Kuhlman

Teresa Landrum

Ann and Peter Lazaroff

Carole and Jim Lemen

Lauren and Samuel Lindner

Esther and Frank Lu

Michele and James Maritz III

Phyllis Maritz

MasterCard International

Alyssa and Wayne McGee

Emily and Michael McGehee

Stephanie and Kenneth McGrath

Melissa and Robert Merlin

Julie and William Milius

Nicole Shen and Dan Mills

Caroline and Hudson Moore

Mayo and Daniel Morgan

Ellen and Tom Noel

Thomas Orsay

Sonie Orsay

Getha Jagannathan and Arvind Palanisamy

Michelle and John Peritore

Jaclyn and David Pollnow

Meredith and Jason Rabenold

Mary and B. Rassieur

Lynn and Benjamin Rassieur

Michelle and William Reisner

Julie and Jason Rhee

Maria Doyle and Robert Roth

Llewellyn Sale III

Amy Hilmer and Mauricio Sanchez

Laura and Robert Sandheinrich

Connie Schnuck

Maureen and Daniel Schulte

Emily and Phil Schwab

Carol and Phillip Schwab

Sangeeta Pande and Sandeep Sen

Tracy and Thomas Shepard

Elizabeth and John Short

Alicia and Vijay Shroff

Crystal and Nelson Spencer

Ray Spencer

Courtney and Ben Stotler

Henry Stotler

Elsie Luo and Derek Sun

Yana and Vladimir Tarasenko

Erin and Adam Taves

Christine and Randall Thompson

Terrence and Jennifer Tierney

Jennifer and Nicholas Tompras

Becky and Michael Vasta

Sarita Elizabeth and Philip Verghese

Geneen and Troy Von Kloha

Wells Fargo

Kelly and Patrick Wittenbrink

Carolynn and Stephen Wolff

Kimberly and Todd Wolff

Linda and James Woods

James Woods

FRIEND GIVING CIRCLE

Gifts of $1-$999

Tricia Adams

Louis Aliperti

Melanie and Jeffrey Altvater

Arthur Altvater

Christina Altvater

Hadley Altvater

Paul Anagnostopoulos

Charles Antoniou

Carol Armstrong

Allison Armstrong

Noor Riaz and Kasim Arshad

Mitzy and Adam Barnstead

Marieann Barratt

Bayer

Alexandra Bearman

Julie and Lee Bearman

Lee Bearman

Ashley Benson

Brittany Benson

Lanny Benson

Meredith Benson

Lauren Bergeron

Lori Berry

Jennifer Best

Shafia and Saqib Bhutto

Maxine Blaine

Boeing Company

Melissa and Greg Bohlmann

Ingrid Bonds

Grace Bridwell

Rebecka Briney

Sarah and Andrew Brubaker

Hayley and Eric Butler

Darci Cadieux

Sonia and Calvin Cajigal

Reagan Calcari

Molly Caldwell-McMillan

Phyllis Calhoun

Christi and Steve Callahan

Kathleen and Stephen Cameron

Kristin and Greg Campanella

Tiffany and David Charles

Sandra and John Cirrito

Meg and Thomas Claggett

Jermelody Collins

Wendy Cooper

Anne and T.J. Corrigan

Jamie and Robyn Corwin

Andrew Coultas

Jan and Robert Craig

LaToya Crockett

Nancy Curby

Jeanne and Paul Dalba

Scott and Nikki Dantuono

Tasha and Jeffrey Davis

Vickie and Howard Denson

Ira and William DeWitt

Coumba Diallo

Mawdo Diallo

Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo and El Hadji

Samba Diallo

Elliot Dole

Elizabeth Moss and William Dubinsky

Matthew Dunaway

Meriam Dwidar

Jade Edelstein

Jasmine Edelstein

Jemma Edelstein

Peter Edison

Clint Edmonson

Komel Choudhary and Hani El-Halawany

Nina and Thomas Ellinwood

Darla and Rick Ellsworth

Jessica and Chris Farris

Michael Fein

Linda and Steven Finerty

Jackye and Willie Joe Finnie

Kristen and Brad Fisher

Drew and Kathy Fitzgerald

Eleanor Fox

Megan Futhey

Therese Futhey

Veronique and Cyril Gardet

Hiram Gay

Margaret Williams and Philip George

Alexa and Chris Gibson

Susan and Paul Goldberg

Elizabeth Wiltshire and Jacques Gordon

Jennifer Gosnell

Deanna and Chauncey Granger

Beth and Christopher Graviss

Margaret and Harvey Gray

Elliot Gray

Mollie Gray

Randall Gress

Peyton Griffin

Angela and Jered Gruszka

Stephanie and Ahmet Gurbuz

Kate and Chris Haffenreffer

Becky and Mike Harman

Michelle and Scott Harris

Kelly and Stuart Harris

Eugene Harris

Jonelle Harris

Andranique Harrison

Sarah and Brent Haynam

Lorraine Branch and Dalfred Haynes

Amanda Hazelwood

Jesse Vrecenak and Charles Heffernan

Katie and Shawn Hellmann

Maggi and Thomas Helmkampf

Jessica and Jason Hendricks

Terry and Jennifer Hennessey

Robin and L. Shepley Hermann

Judy and William Higgins

Ericka Brownlee and Charles Hogue

Jason Hollander

Kris and James Holmes

Kara Horton

Margaret Shakbe and Hillis Howie

Kristin Hubert

Lylah and Eno Ituen

Hana Sharif and Marcus Jackson

Duha Al-Zubeidi and Muhammad Javed

Candace and James Jefferson

Vernetta and James Jefferson

Alex and Jack Jennings

Suzanne and James Johnson

Elizabeth Johnson

Ashley Johnson

Bob Johnston

Tamara Cooperwood and Korey Jones

Sofia Ghani and Bilal Khalid

Savera and Adeel Khan

Orisia and Brian Kirkpatrick

Julie Bugnitz and Robert Knight

Catherine Kohn

Angie and Randy Koning

Chantel and Joe Korfmacher

Madeleine Kraus

Deborah Krieg

Amy Kwentus

Amanda and Bart Lally

Maureen Ross-Lang and David Lang

Dorothy Lazarus

Cameron June and Anna Lemen

Kathy and Jason Lepsky

Angie and Michael Lesser

Jacqueline and James Levey

John Liebson

Kathleen and Matthew Linsenbardt

Michele and John Lochhead

Carol Loeb

Constance Lohr

Stephen Lott

Judith and Jeffrey Lovelace

Rosalyn and Charles Lowenhaupt

Elizabeth Lowenhaupt

Rachelle Luster

Elsje Macaulay

Stephen MacDonough

Jane Mackey

Kristine and Thomas Major

Lisa Steinhoff and Keith Mangles

Elizabeth and James Maritz IV

Lori and Mike Marusic

Taylor Mata

Vanessa and John Mattingly

Mike and Sarah McCarthy

Jennifer McCarthy

Mindy and Kristoffer McManemy

Antonia and Alexander Miceli

Maureen Hoessle and Brad Michaels

Joshua Milton

Diana and Vernon Mitchell

Ann Marie and Joe Mohr

Joan Graviss and Jack Mojecki

Chris Muñoz

Joey Murphy

Peggy and Andrew Newman

Daniel Nieva

Katie and David Norris

Bette and Richard Nuzum

Alvitta and Chizoba Okeke

Nathaniel Osborne

Stephanie Oteng

Martha Overcash

Tara and Kenneth Peterson

Alexander Podmaniczky

Ann and Carl Polster

April and Kenneth Powell

Kristala and Darcy Prather

Amy Miller and Rodney Prather

Elizabeth Pribor

Kesha and Antwon Proctor

Anita Bhandiwad and Karthik Ramaswamy

Tricia and Dan Reeb

Abby Reed

Barbara and Bill Reisner

Becky Ritter-Loos

Rose Roberts

Sheillah and Frederick Rogers

John Rogers

Clare and Tytus Rogoyski

Patricia Ross

Alissa and David Rowan

Eve Rudolph

Sallie Samuels

Dana Scott-Saulsberry and Charles Saulsberry

Elizabeth and Thomas Scatchard

Nancy and Frank Schmer

Haley Schmer

Koby Schmer

Sally and Terry Schnuck

Ted Schnuck

Lucy and Frederick Schwetye

Rita and Mike Scott

Donna Scott

Wayne Scott

Christine and James Secor

Anne and John Shapleigh

Jaehee and Sang Shim

Adam Shulenburger

Alixandra Simon

Leleya and Matthew Singer

Alexis Ambrose and Daniel Slavin

Ashley Austin and Donta Smith

LaChande Jimmerson and Gwendolyn Smith

Radhika and Zachary Smith

Linda Smith

Deborah and Scott Steiger

Moriam Khanam and Abdur Talukder

Patricia Kao-Theodos and Gus Theodos

Jennifer and Christopher Thomas

Sandra and Louis Tiger

Bonnie Tollefson

Lauri and Jim Torrie

Kara Townsend

Rainatou Traore-Gress

Jessica Trotter

Lisa and Steven Turner

Patricia and William Vibert

Carrie Vibert

Jian Cai and Dawei Wang

Irene Marusic and Russell Watters

Ellen and Richard Watts

Cynthia Weiler

Jack Weiss III

David and Hope Welles

Natalie and Andy Westerholt

Anne Williams

Lezlie and David Wilson

Jana Loftis and Lawrence Wilson

Marie Witscher

Colleen Wyss

Kelly and Jeffrey Zaleski

Diana and John Zentay

Ellen and Adam Zucker

Kimberly Denson

In memory of Clayton Rice

Howard Denson

In memory of Clayton Rice

Carol Armstrong

In memory of John Schaper

Louis Aliperti

In memory of Judy Tisdale

Operating Expenses and Giving

Paul Anagnostopoulos

In memory of Maria Anagnostopoulos

Jennifer and Terrence Tierney

In memory of Chloe Woods-Ward

Patricia and William Vibert

In honor of Marie Witscher

Constance Lohr

In honor of Marie Witscher

Constance Lohr

In honor of Sabrina Lohr

Michael Fein

In honor of Piper Davis

Philip George

In honor of Brooke and Graham Dunaway

Cynthia Weiler

In honor of Genevieve Moore and family

Marie Philipneri and Valentine Gnanarajah

In honor of Nithya Gnanarajah

Bequest in honor of Harvard K. and Patricia G. Hecker

Looking Forward

Community School has been a magical place where discovery, friendship, challenge, and care have combined to create a love of learning in children for more than 100 years. Gifts of all sizes from alumni and families have an immediate and lasting impact on today’s students. Your support of Community’s Annual Giving directly benefits everyone at the school. Be a part of the magic that continues to nurture the childhood soul and engage eager young minds. Included with the Family Album and Annual Report you find our 2023 Annual Appeal. Become a member of one of the following Giving Circles or Giving Societies:

Giving Societies

Every supporter is a member of a giving society.

Founding Mothers’ Society: Gifts of $10,000 or more Oak Leaf Society: Gifts of $5,000 or more

1914 Society: Gifts of $3,500 or more Golden Eagle Society: Gifts of $1,000 or more Friend Society: Gifts of $1-999

Changemakers

This giving society recognizes sixth-grade families who are transitioning to secondary schools and make a continued commitment of support to Community School. The membership is stewarded by the alumni family and can shift to the alumnus/a when they think the time is right.

The Oak Tree Society

Join the Oak Tree Society by making a planned gift to Community School and create a legacy of learning. There is no better way to touch the mind of tomorrow’s future. Contact the Advancement Office for more information.

William H. Danforth Distinguished Alumni Award