THE PENNANT - 2015/2016
40th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
And so our endings Were in truth A new beginning -Â And in the Chapel Full of hearts and lives and shining faces We gathered To begin to build A future from The proud treasure of our past. And we were together For the first time together Unified in mind and spirit And strangely, suddenly Filled with joy At our grand adventure. Students, teachers, administrators All as one In the great realization That the stones that the builders set aside Had indeed become a cornerstone And all of us were finally home. - Lynn Simek (Past Parent - Former Faculty Member) Thoughts on the Opening Convocation September 17, 1975
Celebrating 40
DOANE STUART - THE PENNANT - 2015/2016
40th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
years of Inquiry & Discovery
Features - 40 Years of Inquiry and Discovery - Kickoff - Short History - 40 years of Heads of School - Seamus - 40th Fac Spotlight - Historical Docuemnts / Quotes / Articles, etc... - Jena Cleary - 40th Alum Spotlight -?? - Then and Now - The next 40 years - STEM/ technology - Green Roof - Strategic Plan Departments - Message from the Head of School - Sports Update - with thunderchicken story - Arts and Music Update
The Doane Stuart School Board of Trustees
Does the Doane Stuart logo on the front cover look a little different? Maybe even retro? Well it should becuase it’s the original Doane Stuart Logo from 1975.!
Sharon Duker, CPA, President George F. Carpinello, Esq., Vice President Thessaly Bullard, ’92, Treasurer Ginna M. Roeding, Ph.D, Secretary Andrew Rose, Esq., Counsel Noel Hogan, Ed.D, CPA, President Emeritus John B. Robinson, Jr., President Emeritus Alan Boulos, MD Pamela J. Clarke, Head of School Terrence P. Flannery, MD, MS, CPE Mona Golub Karen Hitchcock, Ph.D Ellen Jakovic, Esq. ’78 Winifred A. McCarthy ’66 Patrick Turley, Esq. ’79
Message from the head of school
Our fortieth year is an important time to renew and celebrate the values we inherited from St. Agnes and Kenwood and to take a look at ourselves as we contemplate the future for Doane Stuart. We inherited the purposefulness of a serious academic program, and we have continued the tradition of excellence. We were bequeathed our determination to hold high lives of faith; however, rather than choosing between the Episcopal St. Agnes and the Catholic Kenwood, we elected to be Interfaith, to celebrate all religions and to understand the beauty and benefit of a life of faith.
During this 40th year we are orchestrating a strategic planning process; we are surveying the faculty and parents, students and alumnae/i and we will detail our needs, wants and plans for the future. We will examine our academic, arts and athletic programs, and we will set priorities for the next 3-7 years. Our Board of Trustees started our process with several hours of reflection and reinforcing our prime values of inclusivity, of serving students “from every quarter” and of always aiming at excellence. Enjoy our Pennant, please.
In our academic program we highlight active and collaborative learning, and we know that it is more important Sincerely, to ask a good question that to answer a question to which the teacher already knows the answer. Active learning means that our students are encouraged to explore deeply, to discuss idea and opinion, and to examine an issue from 360. Mrs. Pamela J. Clarke Head of School
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Rev. William D. Small ~ September 1975 Doane Stuart Co-founder and Chaplain Headmaster Emeritus of St. Agnes School
In 1975 two historic schools
– St. Agnes School of Loudonville, and Kenwood Academy in Albany, merged to form one interfaith school. Forged out of the hard work and tireless dedication to the ideals of both schools, Doane Stuart makes a statement about the importance of building a community that has at its core intellectual curiosity, understanding and respect.
Doane Stuart recalls its proud past by continuing to be a community of scholars and
“It is important to take time from our busy lives to remember our heritage... It is in remembering the vision that we are enabled to live fully the present moment, which in turn enables us to walk with courage, confidence and vitality...” - Sister Margaret Seitz
Headmistress (1978-1984) & Director of Upper School Students (1975 - 1978 Thoughts and memories of Doane Stuart’s founding written for the School’s 20th Annviersary Publication in 1995
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“ The atmospher e he educators that promotes serious study. The principles central to our historic predecessors – Kenwood’s commitment to providing an education for students from every quarter and St. Agnes’ sincere welcoming of students of all faiths - comprise the core of a mission that inspires and grounds us. We provide an education for all, promote the joy of discovery, educate to social responsibility and lay the foundation for a strong faith by promoting interfaith dialogue and teaching the basic tenets of all religions.
�
er e at Doane Stuar t is almost electric.
1975
1852
Kenwood Academy is
1870
2009
2015
Doane Stuart moves to its current location at 199 Washington Avenue in Rensselaer.
St. Agnes is founded The Doane Stuart School was founded from the merger of Kenwood Acad-
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40 Years of Discovery
40
th year
ff Kick -o
Doane Stuart’s 40th year had its official start at our Convocation ceremony on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 in the Golub Interfaith Chapel. This annual Doane Stuart tradition kicks off the year as students, faculty and staff gather to begin the process of once again binding our learning community together with shared goals and interests. Mr. Hodgkinson opened the ceremony with a prayer and a warm welcome and at the end of the service, bells were rung to start the year’s journey. This year we were honored to welcome Mrs. Elle Houle Dietemann and Mrs. Christine Roy Faber who joined us to ring in the new year. Mrs. Dietemann and Mrs. Faber are members of the class of 1976, the first senior class in what was, in September 1975, the first year we opened as The Doane Stuart School. Mrs. Sharon Duker, President of the Board of Trustees, offered the closing prayer.
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While the first day of school rang in the School Year, The 3rd annual Back-to-School Barbecue was the setting for our official kick-off to the anniversary year’s celebrations. Over 350 members of the community helped us celebrate. The perfect fall evening started with an exciting boys soccer match against New Lebanon. The Thunderchickens won 3-2 with an impressive final goal by Joey Rocchio ‘16, of Castleton. Following the game, everyone enjoyed great food, great friends and great school spirit! A huge thank you to Mona Golub (parent of Ira ‘15 and member of the Board of Trustees) and Price Chopper’s House of Barbecue, for cooking delicious hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad and macaroni salad, and to the families that brought side dishes and desserts.
Corn Roast:
a Tale of Two Schools Mrs. Clarke shares her thoughts
Whenever a person comes new to any school there are a host of traditions and vocabulary to learn, in addition to the many names; at Doane Stuart one learns the difference between a meeting, an assembly and a chapel; one learns that the Commons is really the cafeteria; that each pod is designated by a color and that the side entrance is called St Agnes. Traditions include some straightforward events: Christmas Chapel, Holly Ball and Convocation. But what of Congé? Kris Kringle week? And an all time first for me: CORN ROAST? Last fall I asked several students and teachers about this event. “It is actually homecoming without a dance.” “There is no corn.” “It’s probably a
hoax.” “I have no idea.” Not fruitful, so I waited and did some more effective research this fall. I discovered that Corn Roast is truly a mix of a tradition from Kenwood Academy and a tradition from St. Agnes, with a Doane Stuart addition. It starts with a varsity soccer game−boys one year, girls the next. During and after the game, corn is actually roasted over an open fire and devoured by hungry adolescents and faculty. S’mores have been added to this phase of a Kenwood tradition. Then students go into the Commons (remember cafeteria) and eat pizza. Following corn and pizza, chocolate and marshmallows, all repair to the gym
where new students and new faculty race in pairs down the gym towards a person holding a bowl containing green and blue strips. (The bowl might move as the pair approaches.) The winner chooses a green or blue ribbon and the other person gets the other color—they have now officially joined the Blue or Green Team. This was an important tradition at St Agnes. Then we play LOUP; one whole team hides someplace in the school, and the other team tries to find them. This was a Kenwood tradition on Corn Roast. So two traditions have been melded—joining our two predecessors together! Who knew?
"I discovered that Corn Roast is truly a mix of a tradition from Kenwood Academy and a tradition from St. Agnes, with a Doane Stuart addition." 2015/2016 | 40th Anniversary Edition | 6
40th anniversary alumni spotlight
A Lifetime of dedication A first-hand account of an extraodinary womam's place in Doane Stuart history.
By Susie Cleary Morse ‘89
1970, and the only one who made law review. Right after graduation, she went to work for the New York State Department of Public Service, which makes sure that we all have electricity and water and other essential services at a fair price. She wrote the public utility law in the State of New York for forty years. Her legislation was cutting-edge; it drew inspiration from models in other states and from the latest academic work.
My mom Jean Beverly Kosinski Cleary graduated Kenwood in 1959 and watched over me as I progressed through Doane Stuart from pre-K until my high school graduation in 1989. She served on the Board of Trustees for twenty years, from 1975 until 1994. Her life, and my life, were entwined with the life of Doane Stuart for my whole childhood. It is my privilege to share some of my memories of And third, Mom was committed to Doane Stuthat time with you. art. She was recruited to the Board of Trustees I think that some people may have a great va- as a young alumna, a bit more than 15 years afriety of projects in their adult life; a series of ter her high school graduation, at the moment community endeavors and hobbies. Not Jean of Doane Stuart’s creation. She was there for B., as my brothers call her. She had three all of the tension and compromise and ultibroad, deep commitments while I was grow- mately the cooperation that went into melding ing up. Doane Stuart was lucky to be one of the Sacred Heart model of Kenwood with the Episcopalian day school model of St. Agnes. them. I imagine that perhaps she did not say much First, she was committed to her family: to her in these meetings. I think instead she listened marriage to my dad, forty-five years strong intently, trying to understand the politics and next month; and to me and my two younger the positions, and carefully choosing those brothers. Second, she was committed to her moments when she would speak up in favor of career. Mom was one of only twelve women realizing the dream of continuing both schools in her Albany Law School graduating class of in an unprecedented and innovative model.
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I know one reason why she agreed to serve on the Board of Trustees, and that reason was Sister Margaret Brown, the first headmistress of Doane Stuart. Sister Brown had a vision for this new, united school and Mom was determined to help it thrive. In 1975 and 1976, in the heat of the negotiations to create the new school, Mom went to a lot of meetings on campus. Sometimes I came along, or more likely was dropped off when my babysitter’s time had run out and the meeting had not finished. When it was finally over, I would leave the secretary’s office, where Mrs. Evans was keeping an eye on me, and position myself in front of the Mary painting at the end of the long front hallway, near the old faculty lounge. Sister Brown would station herself at the other end of that long hall, near the portico, outside the room where the board meetings were held. I would run full tilt down the length of that hallway and hurtle myself into Sister Brown’s
40th anniversary alumni spotlight arms. She gave a good hug. Despite my requests for more, this was allowed only once per meeting. Mom’s service on the Doane Stuart Board started when I began preschool, and ended when my youngest brother headed off to college. It included several years as President of the Board and was just about exactly coterminous with her years of heavy household and childcare responsibilities. Our dining room table was her work space. It had a section for bills; a section for permission slips, report cards and other school stuff for my brothers and me; a section for the New York State Department of Public Service; and a section for Doane Stuart. When the ImaginAuction came around, the colored index cards came out. One color for each section of the catalog, and each card bore a witty Jean B.-drafted description.
and they peeked in from the residential corridor that connected to the chapel from the other side. They took in the whole spectacle, beginning to end. They were there not only to watch and bless the marriage, but also to celebrate my In 1996, I got married in the Doane Stuart, mother. They knew her. They had observed at that time also the Kenwood, chapel. It had her loyal and dedicated and top-quality work been fairly typical for an alum to secure the on behalf of the school. Her devotion to a chapel for a wedding, although this was one of cause was something they understood. the last that they allowed there. Our family’s Catholic priest and my husband’s family’s Con- And so let me close by saying to Doane Stuart, gregational minister jointly celebrated the ser- and to you its alumni -- Thank You. Thank you vice, and Mom and Dad both walked me down for understanding and appreciating my mom’s long and deep loyalty to this institution and for the aisle. honoring her with the Head of School award As the service began, the sisters of the Sacred today. Heart gathered around the edges of the congregation. They filled the balcony, and that little room off to the right side of the main entrance, In 2015, at the The Board met every third Thursday of the fall reunion weekend, month. On Board nights, mom and dad ofJean Cleary was ten did a hurried handoff at our front door and presented with the then we had leftovers, or one of Dad’s specialHead of School Award ties. When there was a Doane Stuart crisis, for her years of there she was on the phone, overseeing homework in between calls and letting other things pile up. She always gave maximum attention to the project of finding a new Head of School; she understood the importance of leadership, and always said that the pleasure of serving on the Board came out of her respect for and support of the vision that Heads of School had for Doane Stuart. Those Heads of School and everyone who has worked on Doane Stuart have done all right, too. Look at the thriving institution that has come out of all of these efforts. It is a beautiful thing.
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40th anniversary faculty spotlight
MR. H.
There are not many who can match the scientific creativity and inspiration and the breadth of interests and commitment to service, not to mention history, of founding teacher and legend Seamus Hodgkinson. There are plenty of men and women in the Capital Region who are good – even great – math and science teachers. There are many teachers who have made impressive achievements in science, math and technology in and out the classroom. But there are not many who can match the scientific creativity and inspiration and the breadth of interests and commitment to service of Seamus Hodgkinson. He often talks about the beauty and wonder of science, and science, for him, is an integral part of the spirituality that informs every aspect of his life. His deep commitment to science, to rigorous study, to his students and to the community is legendary. Seamus is an inspirational teacher who has touched the lives of thousands of students since joining our school as a founding faculty member in 1975. A native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, he stands as the motivating spirit and driving force behind our school’s Irish-American Exchange Program, which brings students from Belfast to Doane Stuart each year, helping our students and our guests to learn and practice peace and appreciation of difference. Seamus was one of only three educators chosen nationally to receive the Spirit of Anne Frank Award in 2006. He was honored by the Anne Frank Cen-
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ter for his outstanding commitment to students and to promoting understanding and social justice among people of all backgrounds. Co-coordinator (along with his wife, Patty) and math and science teacher for Doane Stuart’s Middle School, Seamus is an avid runner and advisor to the Running Club and the Outdoor Club. His Running Club provides inspiration for students of every athletic ability to develop healthy habits and understand the real satisfaction of challenging oneself physically. Seamus has many Boston, New York City and Miami Marathons to his credit, and he has hiked the Grand Canyon, rim to rim. A beloved track, cross country and soccer coach, he inspires character while teaching skills. Seamus’s love of the outdoors translates, too, into his efforts to help students who are experiencing personal difficulties. He often devotes time on the weekends or during school vacations to take students who are
having social or family difficulties for a hike on a peaceful mountain trail, giving them a break from troubles and the opportunity to talk comfortably and safely with a caring adult. Seamus is integral to the community service program at Doane Stuart, and participates in the Middle School’s monthly community service days. At the food bank or Ronal McDonald House, students and teachers discover a world beyond their own comfortable lives through their participation in community service activities. Discovery is the theme that runs through every one of Seamus’s classes. As a teacher of science and math, he builds on his students’ natural curiosity, inspiring even the least scientific among them to gain the confidence to ask questions and seek answers using the scientific method. Students learn to be in awe of both the simple and complex phe-
40th anniversary faculty spotlight nomena of the natural and mathematical worlds, to understand that the seemingly simple hides much complexity, while the apparently complex can mask a beautiful simplicity at its core. A critical part of Seamus’s work with his science students is to teach them the skill and the art of scientific writing. Students practice writing clear, organized and concise laboratory reports, with ever increasing independence and fluency, as they move from fifth through eighth grade. Seamus’s strength as a teacher is in his uncompromising devotion to the preparation of young students who can think, imagine, explore, experiment and write as scientists, and who will take their preparation and go on with passion and confidence to more advanced scientific study. With a laser-like focus on building the basic foundations of scientific learning in Middle School, Seamus provides our students with the essential tools to be the innovators of the future. As a teacher, Seamus believes that it is his mission to teach not just the minds but also the hearts of his students, to remind them every day of their duty to understand and respect others. As a teacher at Doane Stuart, he lives every day with a compelling combination of wonder and responsibility. Whether he is inspiring students in science or math, or coaching students on the soccer field or the track, Seamus is a role model for a purposeful, inquisitive, joyful, moral and peaceful way of life.
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The next 40 years
Our Green Roof serves as a living science lab.
During the planning stages of our roof, students in our Upper School Green Roo Class participated in discussions of the landscape design, which includes a patio, central garden, outdoor science lab, and accessib green space. Students also studie weather patterns, seed dispersal, and biodiversity to determine the types of plants and animals t could thrive on the roof.
Students in the Lower and Midd School will also benefit from the Students will study plants, anim the environment, and weather p They can measure the environm impact of the Green Roof by tak temperature readings from the classrooms below. After collectin and analyzing the readings, stud can gauge the roof ’s impact on e usage. Students of all ages learn make an hypothesis, collect data results and present their finding Doane Stuart values learning by and the Green Roof is the perfec laboratory.
Need Text re:green roof and benefits for “the next 40 years”
Architect: Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, Baker, Architects Construction Services: Sano-Rubin Construction, LLC Green Roof Professional: Edmund Snodgrass of Emory Kno Green Roof Installation: APEX Green Roofs Inc.
The Doane Stuart Green Roof Project was substantially funded by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporati Green Innovation Grant Program.
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The next 40 years
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ion’s
In May of 2014, Doane Stuart began construction on a 22,000 square-foot vegetative roof. .
Reduction of storm water runoff
plants _______
Improved air and water quality
growing medium _______
Reduction in Urban Heat Island Effect and roof/building temperature
filter fabric _______ drainage/storage layer _______
New habitats for insects and wildlife, promoting biodiversity
insulation _______ waterproof membrane _______ protection board _______ roof deck _______
Specialty nectar and pollen for local pollinators
Reduction in roof replacement waste thanks to extended roof life of 50+ years
Roof includes 5 categories of plants,
Innovative outdoor spaces devoted to science: classroom and lab area, environmental observation areas, a growing “living lab” for all levels of scientific research and education
containing over 70 species and 60,000 individual plants.
Due to the artificial topography on our
New and updated insulation and roof membrane
roof, micro-climates are also present,
Reduction in long-term roofing costs due to extended roof life of 50+ years
allowing for greater numbers of natural habitats for both flora and fauna. These
Newly available event space connecting to the Board Room for students, faculty, and the Doane Stuart community
artificial terrain elements are unique to Doane Stuart’s roof and enhance the
50-90%
Temperature on our roof can be DECREASED by
80 o during the summer, reducing cooling costs.
Hardy, drought-tolerant plants are best suited for Green Roof environments because they are more equipped to handle the weather conditions that exist on a roof. These plants are typically native to seashore, alpine, and desert regions and are therefore able to survive in environments often exposed to vast amounts of sun, wind, and rain. The vegetation on Doane Stuart’s Green
Our annual storm water r unoff can be REDUCED
Our roof can CAPTURE
Heat flow can be REDUCED by
1600 lbs.
10-30%
of C0 2 annually, improving air quality.
in cold climates, reducing heating costs.
aesthetic of the space.
60,000
INDIVIDUAL plants make up our Green Roof.
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The next 40 years
STEAM
Something about stem
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The next 40 years
This will be a quote about the importance of STEM and/or STEM at DS. This will be a quote about the importance of STEM and/or STEM at DS. This will be a quote about the importance of STEM and/or STEM at DS. This will be a quote about the importance of STEM and/or STEM at DS. This year students in the 3rd and 4th grade have been diving into exciting STEM related projects with the help of Mrs. Tami Schillinger (Olana Schillinger ’24) and Ms. Jennifer Hess (Ana Van Plew ’23 and Nick Van Plew ’21) who have volunteered their time to guide the group through a variety of projects that utilize a number of different skills and processes. STEM education is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that removes the traditional barriers separating the four disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and integrates them into real-world rigorous and relevant learning experiences for students. The engineering process is accomplished through Project Based Learning (PBL). Students go through an extended process of inquiry in response to a complex question, problem, or challenge. Rigorous projects help students learn key academic content and practice 21st Century Skills, such as collaboration, communication & critical thinking.
carry out challenges related to the theme. So far, this year groups have participated in activities and tasks centering on shelter, and what factors might one considered when building a shelter for different climates. Students also learned how different shelters were constructed in the past when materials and/or resources were limited.
Students were asked to brainstorm the different types of weather that would affect the kind of shelter they would build, as well as how to best construct their shelter based on those types of weather. Then, as a final test, both the shelters were tested under the extreme conditions one would expect during a storm. Following the great success “Shelter Challenge” completed two additional STEM. In November the students completed the “Magnetic Challenge.” They were asked to take on the role of a Civil Engineer, Activity Director, Magnetic Artist and Mechanic while designing a make-believe city made of magnets and magnetic reactions. The “mayor” then asked the group of engineers, designers and builders to design and construct a prototype of “Magnet Land,” Albany’s newest attraction! It was required that each prototype include landforms, a magnetic form of transportation, a magnetic sculpture (3-5 inches tall), a magnetic game or activity and one levitating magnet.
During the “Storm Shelter Challenge” students imagined that the year was 1815 and a huge storm was coming. Students had to build a shelter to protect themselves from the wind and rain, and it had to be constructed out of clay that they would make… without a recipe! Each group was given $30 to spend on building materials. As a group they had to budget the money they were given in order to purchase the materials they would need to build their shelter, using only flour, salt, oil and water. During the next challenge, “Let it Snow,” students were given a similar task, but this time there was a huge snow storm (flour!) Every month Ms. Schillinger and Ms. Hess on its way and they had to build a shelter using will focus on a STEM theme. They will meet paper, tape and popsicle sticks. The students joined together once a week to work on the projects, and after days of work and each week with the 3rd and 4th graders to
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The next 40 years
This year students in the 3rd and 4th grade have been diving into exciting STEM related projects with the help of Mrs. Tami Schillinger (Olana Schillinger ’24) and Ms. Jennifer Hess (Ana Van Plew ’23 and Nick Van Plew ’21) who have volunteered their time to guide the group through a variety of projects that utilize a number of different skills and processes. STEM education is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that removes the traditional barriers separating the four disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and integrates them into real-world rigorous and relevant learning experiences for students. The engineering process is accomplished through Project Based Learning
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(PBL). Students go through an extended process of inquiry in response to a complex question, problem, or challenge. Rigorous projects help students learn key academic content and practice 21st Century Skills, such as collaboration, communication & critical thinking. Every month Ms. Schillinger and Ms. Hess will focus on a STEM theme. They will meet each week with the 3rd and 4th graders to carry out challenges related to the theme. So far, this year groups have participated in activities and tasks centering on shelter, and what factors might one considered when building a shelter for different climates. Students also learned how different shelters were constructed in the past when materials and/or resources
were limited. During the “Storm Shelter Challenge” students imagined that the year was 1815 and a huge storm was coming. Students had to build a shelter to protect themselves from the wind and rain, and it had to be constructed out of clay that they would make… without a recipe! Each group was given $30 to spend on building materials. As a group they had to budget the money they were given in order to purchase the materials they would need to build their shelter, using only flour, salt, oil and water. During the next challenge, “Let it Snow,” students were given a similar task, but this time there was a huge snow storm (flour!) on its way and they had to build a shelter using
The next 40 years paper, tape and popsicle sticks. Students were asked to brainstorm the different types of weather that would affect the kind of shelter they would build, as well as how to best construct their shelter based on those types of weather. Then, as a final test, both the shelters were tested under the extreme conditions one would expect during a storm. Following the great success “Shelter Challenge” completed two additional STEM. In November the students completed the “Magnetic Challenge.” They were asked to take on the role of a Civil Engineer, Activity Director, Magnetic Artist and Mechanic while designing
a make-believe city made of magnets and magnetic reactions. The “mayor” then asked the group of engineers, designers and builders to design and construct a prototype of “Magnet Land,” Albany’s newest attraction! It was required that each prototype include land-forms, a magnetic form of transportation, a magnetic sculpture (3-5 inches tall), a magnetic game or activity and one levitating magnet.
In December, the students embarked on their next STEM project, the “Roller Coaster Design Challenge,” a fun introduction to the world of friction. The roller coaster, built with foam tubing, was required to have at least one loop and a “sideways twister.” In order for a group to have a successful run, a marble needed stay on the roller coaster track and land in a cup at the end. Through much trial and error students learned about the relationship between mass and force, The students joined together once a week to and how changing aspects of their design would affect the speed and accuracy of their roller coastwork on the projects, and after days of work and er. The students also became familiar with key experimenting with different types of magnets, physics concepts such as velocity and accelerametals and building materials, the groups pretion. sented their models to a construction engineer to be inspected and evaluated.
Did you know that in 1975 Bill Gates and Paul
Allen form a company at this time called Micro Soft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to develop and sell BASIC interpreter software for the Altair 8800.
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Alumni/ae news
2015 Reunion Weekend
2015 Reunion was a great success.
This year’s Reunion celebrations were kicked off with a cocktail reception in the John B. Robinson, Jr. Board Room and on the Green Roof (for those who didn’t mind the chilly temperatures). The room was filled with alumni/ae, faculty (current and past), and trustees. Everyone enjoyed looking through yearbooks, viewing the 1st Annual Alumni/ae Art Exhibit and reminiscing. Some saw friends they haven’t seen in many years while others were making new friends. We presented the 2015 Alumni/ae Award to Andrew Kauffman, DS ’10 at the Friday evening reception. On Saturday, Sr. Canty launched the day with an opening prayer; Leanne Robinson, DS ’94 and Peter Kutchukian, DS ’97, Co-Chairs of the Alumni/ae Association, presented the 1st Annual Meeting of the rejuvenated Alumni/ae Association and Pam Clarke, Head of School gave a State of the School address. We then moved into the Commons where Bishop Ball offered the blessing and we all shared the most amazing feast. After lunch we honored this year’s anniversary classes and presented this year’s Head of School Award to Jean K. Cleary, KA ’59.
Mark your calendars for next year’s Reunion celebrations, which will be held
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Celebrate
•
Reunite
•
Remember
alumni/ae news Alumni/ae Art Exhibition @ 2015 Reunion
With a heritage of nurturing artistic expression, our school has produced and encouraged many talented artists. In celebration of this strength, we were pleased to hold Doane Stuar’s first Alumni Art Exhibit at the 2015 Reunion celebration. All extended members of the Doane Stuart family including teachers and members of the religious community, were invited to participate. Work from both professional or extracurricular artist were enjoyed by alumi/ae and the entire DS Community. “Hay Fever” by Deb Shaw Saint Agnes ‘69 Leann Robinson Maine Doane Stuart ’94
Amy Atkins Doane Stuart ‘05 Pamela J Clarke Head of School “Birch Furls” by Russ McDowell Former Faculty
Patricia Testo Former Faculty
Mollie Flannery Head of School
“Colorful Blessings” by Aricka Ford Doane Stuart ‘00 2015/2016 | 40th Anniversary Edition | 6
Alumni/ae news
MEET YOUR Alumni/ae Association
Leanne Robinson-Maine, DS ’94 & Peter Kutchukian ductions in various capacities. She was Writer/ Producer on the award-winning independent feature documentary So Right So Smart narrated by Daryl Hannah (2009), which received a national release on PBS this year. She has received numerous Telly awards for her corporate and commercial video writing and editing work. Leanne is the Event Producer at USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference, which annually brings together over 10,000 attendees Leanne Robinson is a celebrated Producer, Writ- in arenas across the country, and has featured er and Editor. With a BA in Communications such speakers and talent as Hillary Clinton, & Theatre from The University of Notre Dame Desmond Tutu, Colin Powell, Al Gore, Bon and an MFA in Theatre from Ohio University, Jovi, Sheryl Crow and Maroon 5. Leanne attributes her passion for language and Leanne and her husband Justin have two storytelling to her background in drama. After daughters. Violet is 5 and Ava is 3. 3 years as a Trainer and Instructional Designer Leanne’s hobbies are singing, acting, and choat Trans World Entertainment, in 2006 Leanne reographing Flash Mobs for family functions. found the perfect fit for her unique combinaLeanne most recently coordinated a family tion of meticulous organization and out-of-the box imagination: Video and Event Production. Flash Mob for her brother Greg’s wedding. What is her favorite memory about Doane StuSince then she has worked on dozens of proLeanne is the sole proprietor of her own company, Creative Circus LLC, which she started in 2006 and is now mainly focused on contracting for MagicWig Productions, Inc., of which her husband Justin is a co-owner.
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art? Leanne says that is the hardest question to answer! But she says one of the things she always thinks very fondly on is having the chance to dedicate “Now and Forever” to my classmates & faculty at our graduation in the chapel. The fact that she “found her voice” both figuratively and literally at Doane Stuart (she says thank you to her Drama Teacher, Robert Whiteman, for encouraging her to take voice lessons!) made having the chance to sing it even more meaningful to me. The words of that song still really capture how grateful she felt to be a part of the Doane Stuart community.
"Didn't we come together, didn't we live together? Didn't we cry together, didn't we play together? Didn't we love together? And together we lit up the world.
alumni/ae news
PRESIDENTS
n, Ph.D., DS ’97
Peter has worked for Merck & Co., Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts as a scientific researcher for three years. Peter earned a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Psychology from the University at Albany (Presidential Scholar, Barry M Goldwater Scholarship), where he performed research on natural product isolation and the biological activity of nitric oxide. He then earned a PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University (NSF Fellow), where he studied crosslinked ('stapled') peptides and developed the drug design computer program Fragment Optimized Growth (FOG). He subsequently performed a postdoctoral fellowship at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR). One of his favorite projects at NIBR - the cognitive bias involved when chemists se-
lect compounds to carry forward during drug discovery campaigns - married his interest in psychology, which began in Psychology class back at Doane Stuart with Miss Wallingford and resulted in numerous training experiments on the family cat, with his interest in chemistry, which began with a less than noteworthy performance in Chemistry with Mr. Priest. In 2013 he joined Merck as a cheminformatician, where his current research focuses on using big data and machine learning to support the discovery of promising new therapeutic targets from phenotypic screens. He is currently editing a book entitled “Chemical Biology Informatics and Modeling.” Peter has one son Benjamin who is 14 years old.
The Doane Stuart Alumni Association Endi re
id quatio tem ame sapis in nobis conse ne ne num fuga. Que idusci alitatus pelia susdaeserum qui qui sequi ut dollaud iatibus autat re quias et que cum, 2015/2016 | 40th Anniversary Edition | 6
Discover the power of giving to
Doane Stuart 2014 - 2015 Annual Fund
$25,000 - $30,000 Anonymous Past Parent
$20,000 - $24,4999 Ms. Winifred A. McCarthy, KA ‘66 The McCarthy Charities, Inc $10,000 - $19,999 Ms. Pamela Clarke Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gorelik Mrs. Elizabeth Ramsey, SA ‘36* $5,000 - $9,999 Bernard & Millie Children’s Foundation Drs. Alan and Maria Boulos Dr. Terrence Flannery and Ms. Maria Holden Mrs. Victoria Hans ‘78 Mr. Thomas Lagan and Dr. Ginna Roeding Mr. Robert L. Morse and Mrs. Susan Rose Morse, ‘89 Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Mr. Daniel VanPlew) The/ Lawrence I and Blanche H Rhodes Memorial Fund Inc. (Ms. Barbara Egnot) Mr. and Mrs. John B. Robinson, Jr.
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UHY Advisors, Inc. (Mr. William Kahn) Mr. Daniel P. Van Plew and Ms. Jennifer Hess $2,500 - $4,999 Casale Construction Services, Inc. (Mr. and Mrs. Emily Casale) Joanmarie Dowling, Esq. and Joseph Dowling, Esq. Ms. Mona Golub Mr. Neil and Mrs. Jane Golub Mr. and Mrs. David Gordon Mr. James Hanaway and Dr. Katja Bock High Voltage Electric Service, Inc. (Mr. and Mrs. Gus Mininberg) Mr. David Lipson and Ms. Ellen M. Jakovic, Esq. ‘78 Mr. Robert Mains and Ms. Amy Durland Drs. Robert and Nina Sax Times Union $1,000 - $2,499 Albany Medical Center Hospital (Mr. and Mrs. James Barba) Mr. and Mrs. Guy Alonge, III Boies, Schiller & Flexner, LLP
(Mr. George Carpinello, Esq.) Bullard, McLeod & Associates, Inc. (Ms. Thessaly Bullard) Mr. George F. Carpinello and Ms. Beth Davies Carpinello Mr. Stephen Cleary and Mrs. Jean Cleary, KA ‘59 Mrs. Darlene E. Gallagher Dr. and Mrs. Stephen G. Hassett Head to Tail Pet Wellness Center (Ms. Marie DeBrocky) Dr. Karen Hitchcock Dr. Noel C. Hogan, Ed.D., CPA and Mrs. Nikki Hogan Mr. and Mrs. J. Wesley Jakovic Mr. George Kavanagh and Mrs. Cynthia Kavanagh, SA ‘70 Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Ms. Ellen Jakovic, Esq.)
“At Doane Stuart my teachers try to give us all they can every single day and they support us and encourage us in everything we do. If we are sad or upset they would probably do anything to make us laugh!” - Marcelo ’26 - Albany, NY
“While the quality of the
academics and college entrance rates are a big draw for Doane Stuart, the safe and challenging learning environment is an important factor.
Dr. Stephen and Mrs. Pamela Hassett
Coxsackie, NY Current Parents of Jack ’20, Neil ’22, Kate ’23 and Luke ’25
Lane Press of Albany, Inc. (Ms.Sylvia Daigle) Mr. and Mrs. Ross Lenet Mr and Mrs. Jonathon Linen Mr. and Mrs. Morris Massry Mr. and Mrs. Gus Mininberg Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nakushian Nielsen Associates Nixon Peabody LLP (Mr. Andrew C. Rose, Esq.) The Nolan Group (Mr. and Mrs. Derek Nolan) Novus Engineering PC (Mr. Mark Bagdon) Overit Media (Mr. and Mrs. Dan Dinsmore) Patricia Remmer, SA ‘41* Mrs. Sarah Reynolds ‘78 Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Schillinger Dr. and Mrs. David Stone Mr. and Mrs. Patrick W. Turley, Esq., ‘79 UBS Financial Services
Even more important is having a team of talented and passionate educators who are critical partners in helping us raise responsible children. It truly does take a village, and we are thankful that our children attend Doane Stuart.”
(Ms. Melissa Mirabile) Lee N. & Grace Q. Vedder Foundation $500 - $999 Mr. and Mrs. Syed S. Ahmad Mr. and Mrs. Roy Aibel Mrs. Constance H. Andrews* Mr. Mark Bagdon and Ms. Suzanne Sullivan Mrs. Jean J. Beard Mr. and Mrs. Ira Bethea Mr. Steve and Mrs. Lisa Brown Mr. and Mrs. Michael Casale Casey’s Restaurant (Mr. James Casey) Mr. and Mrs. James Cole Mr. Jose and Mrs. Constance Correa Drs. Jakov and Anica Crnkovic Dr. Michael Cullen Ms. Nancy Dearstyne Mr. Jerry Dollar and Mrs. Susan Poisson-Dollar Ms. Diana Gale, SA ‘58 GE Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Golde Golub Family Foundation, Inc. (Mr. Neil and Mrs. Jane Golub) Dr. and Ms. Scott Halle Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Halpert Mr. and Mrs. Richard Harris Mr. Charles Haviland and Ms. Maryanne Low-Haviland Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hilligrass Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Jennings Dr. Eugene and Dr. Irina Kaplan Mr. William Lynch and Ms. Loretta Simon Mr. and Mrs. David Nakushian Nigro Companies (Mr. John Nigro) Mr. and Mrs. David O’Leary Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Pratt Ms. Jennifer Regan and Mr. Sean Moran The Reverend Douglas Remer and Mrs. Sterling Remer, SA ‘70 Dr. Gary and Dr. Emilie Saulnier Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Smith Target Corporation The Vellano Corporation Mr. Jon Weilbaker and Ms. Patricia Tuz David Wells Mr. and Mrs. John Yanson $100 - $499 Dr. and Mrs. Keith Aibel Albany Country Club Ms. Elizabeth Alexander Anonymous Parent (Metz) – Ask Pam Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Frederic P. Atkins Austin & Co., Inc. (Mr. James Sidford) Ms. Erin Baillargeon The Rt. Rev. David S. Ball Ms. Sylvia Barnard Ms. Elizabeth Bede Mrs. Barbara Bemis Mrs. Ann Berkman and Mr. Thomas Berkman
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Mr. and Mrs. Chris P. Betts Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Blackburn Mr. Bryan Braun and Ms. Karoline Harrington Mr. and Mrs. Richard Brewer Ms. Carol Bullard Mr. and Mrs. David R. Buran Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Burke
“
Doane Stuart is a place where I can explore my different talents and interests. I am really interested in Science but I can also be equally involved in Art at the same time.” Monica ’20 - Clifton Park, NY Cellist, Figure Skater and Outdoor Club Member
Dr. and Mrs. Brian Bush Ms. Jill Byron Cafe Capriccio Cafe Italia Hon. Ronald Canestrari Dr. and Mrs. Orlando L. Cano Jr. Sister Margaret Canty, RSCJ Capital Repertory Theatre Ms. Karen Carr
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Mr. Allan Chlastawa and Ms. Valerie Gill CNY Healing Arts Colonial Cleaners Mr. Nathaniel Corwin Ms. Nancy Davis Ms. Pamela Dearstyne ‘82 and Mr. Ronald Eidshaug Mr. William DeTorres Mrs. Lesley DeVoe, SA ‘59 Ms. Marion DeWitt Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Doyle Mr. and Mrs. Larry Drebes Mrs. Marcia Dudden Dr. and Mrs. Erik Eddy The Edge - Halfmoon Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Sonjia Febrey Fly 92 Mrs. Joyce Fraser, SA ‘54 Fresh Market Mrs. Johanna George, SA ‘58 Dr. Joan S. Girgus, SA ‘59 Glimmerglass Opera Mr. Frederick Haggerty
Mrs. Elizabeth W. Hannock, SA ‘43 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hapeman Mrs. Lisa R. Hayes ‘76 Mr. and Mrs. James H. Hodgkinson Ms. Teresa J. Hoffman-Ashley, ‘84 Mr. James F. Hogan, ‘91 Mr. and Mrs. John J. Holden Mrs. Jo-an F. Howe, SA ‘44 Hudson Opera House Miss Mary Hurley Mr. and Mrs. Melvin R. Jackson Honorable Kathleen M. Jimino Ms. Carol Johns E. Stewart Jones, Esq. Mrs. Polly Jordan, SA ‘59 Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Keute Jr. Mrs. Nancy Kimbrough Dr. Timothy Kirby and Ms. Denise Hartman Mrs. Mildred Kling Miss Amelia Koethen Mr. Steven Kroll and Ms. Tricia Asaro Mr. Luis Leon and Ms. Birgit Asbornsen
Andrew Kauffman ’10
“From my first day of Pre-K until the day I graduated, Doane Stuart nurtured me and my fellow students in a close-knit community that fostered independence, creativity and a passion for learning. Individual differences and diversity are the fabric of DS and each of us was challenged, every day to achieve our own personal best.”
Albany, NY Business Review’s “40 Under 40 Future Business Leader” of 2010, Union College ’14, Marketing Professional and Entrepreneur
Dr. David Wells
Instructor of Advanced Biology, Molecular Psychology, Bioethics, Advanced Subjects in Cell Biology; Boys Varsity Soccer Coach
“After 11 years as an associate professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology at Yale University, I was drawn to teaching at an independent school for the freedom to develop curriculum. What I wasn’t expecting was that the students at Doane Stuart drive the curriculum with their excitement and enthusiasm. Half of the courses I teach are in direct response to student requests.”
Mrs. Elizabeth L. Lind, SA ‘69 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Long Mrs. Mary Ellen Loughney Courtyard by Mariott (Albany Airport) Courtyard by Marriott (Thruway) Mr. Jason Martinez Ms. Mary Mataccheiro General William Mayer Foundation (Mr. Reed Kennedy) Assemblyman John McDonald Ms. Theresa S. McMahon Ms. Bea McMordie Dr. Gregory Miller and Mrs. Robin Galinsky Ms. Pamela Minnick Ms. Melissa Mirabile Dr. Eric S. Molho and Hon. Stacy L. Pettit Mr. E. Andrew Mondore ‘75 Mr. and Mrs. John C. Murdock Murray Painting Ms. Kathleen Murray The Music Studio Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nielsen
Dr. and Mrs. Marcos Nieves Ms. Melora B. North ‘71 Mr. and Mrs. Sean O’Connor Mr. and Mrs. Terrence M. O’Hare Ms. Kristine Overbaugh Ms. Ann N. Rigley Rumors Salon & Spa Dr. and Mrs. John W. Sacca Mr. William Sacco Sano Rubin Construction Co. Mr. and Mrs. Djafer Sebkhaoui Mrs. Shigeko Shimazu Mr. and Mrs. Joel Simon Ms. Margaret Smalls Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Smith Dr. Stephen P. Smith and Ms. Barbara A. Boyle Mr. Carl Snavely Mr. Ian and Dr. Kirsten St. George Mrs. Diana Starns, SA ‘39 Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Stone Mr. and Mrs. Chris Tantakis Taub Plumbing and Heating
Teal Becker & Chiaramonte, CPAs, P.C. Mr. Robert Scott Thomson Dr. Ethel Cermak Tompkins* Congressman Paul Tonko Mr. Sean Turley and Ms. Karen Fagan Mr. Joe Urschel Dr. Ferdinand Venditti and Dr. Mary Ehlers Ms. Erin Z. Weaver ‘01 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weaver Ms. Candace N. White ‘91 Williamstown Theatre Festival Yankee Trails World Travel Mr. Adam Yanson Mr. Michael B. Yezzi ‘85 Dr. Ye Ding and Ms. Lei Zhang $1 - $99 Adirondack Museum Mrs. Mary Agnes Allen, SA ‘64 Miss Anjni Amin Miss Elaine Amy, KA ‘67 Mrs. Gretchen Armlin Professor and Mrs. Stephen Berk Berkshire Botanical Garden Miss Sybil L. Boardman, SA ‘61 Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Bowman Ms. Kathleen J. Bracken Mr. Nicholas Buttino ‘05 Mrs. Lauren Capuano Ms. Sandra Cassant Cheesecake Factory Mr. Robert Conway Mr. Eric and Dr. Claire Davenport Delmonico’s Different Drummer’s Kitchen Mr. Andrew Dorr ‘90 and Ms. Debra Laning-Dorr Ms. Cindy Dumar Mrs. Gertrude F. Dunbar, SA ‘45 El Loco Mexican Cafe Mr. and Mrs. Crawford Ellerbe EMPAC
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Mr. John Evangelista and Dr. Rebecca Cunningham Mrs. Lorajoy Feulner, R.N., SA ‘61 Mr. Chip Follert and Ms. Frances Maloy Ms. Michelle Forster Mr. and Mrs. Luke Forster Dr. John Foster Mr. and Ms. Michael Frangella Freestyle Fitness & Yoga Center Mrs. Brittany Garrison Mr. Bret Gaulin Ms. Susan Gomes Good Karma Studio Mr. Ben Gordon and Ms. Mary Taber Mr. Adam Hebert Mr. Joseph Hetko Ms. Lauree Hickok, KA ‘62 Hoffman Development Corporation Home Made Theater The Hot Yoga Zone Howe Caverns, Inc. The Reverend and Mrs. Leslie Hughs Mr. Michael Jonas and Mrs. Elaine Ottar Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Jornov Ms. Debra Josefchak, SA ‘68 Mrs. Barbara Kauke, SA ‘60 Mr. Richard Koch Mrs. Linda V. Kopek, SA ‘66 Mr. Peter S. Kutchukian ‘97 Mr. R. Ted Laguerre Lake George Steamboat Company Ms. Karen Leary Mrs. Heather Lee, SA ‘61 Mr. and Mrs. Howard Light Ms. Stephanie Long Mayfair Jewelers Mr. Angelo Mazzone Mrs. Regina McGrath, KA ‘61 Mrs. Marcia J. McNees, SA ‘41 Ms. Sandra Miller Mark Mininberg ‘14 Ms. Rachel Morgan
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Mrs. Kristine Moxon Mr. George Nagy Ms. Suzanne Nye Olde Bryan Inn Mrs. Kelly Post Mrs. Mariann Rand, SA ‘59 Mr. and Mrs. William Regan Ms. Gail Rheingold, SA ‘57 Mr. and Mrs. John Roche Mr. Edward Rossi and Ms. Coleen J. Rossi ‘78 Mr. and Mrs. Bill Russell Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schott Mrs. Yoko Segerstrom Mrs. Wilma Sheffer Mr. and Mrs. Peter D. Siciliano Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Sinnott Mr. and Mrs. Paul Smith Mr. Tycho Spadaro Spectrum 8 Cinemas Stageworks Hudson Stewart’s Ms. Darlene V. Suto, SA ‘66 Ms. Lauren T. Sweeney Swifty’s Mrs. Henrietta H. Thomas, KA ‘52 Dr. and Mrs. Maurice Thornton Ms. Marsha Tuchscherer, SA ‘63 Tumbling Tykes Ms. Alexandra Valenti Mrs. Elizabeth T. Webb, SA ‘38 Ms. Megan Wells Ms. Jalisa Williams Ms. Elizabeth L. Wilson, SA ‘73 Mrs. Elizabeth V. Witmer ‘86 Ms. Abigail Wolff Mariani ‘78 The Yoga Loft
*deceased
How to give: As you plan your gift to Doane Stuart, there are several ways to give:
Cash Gifts
Cash gifts are the simplest, easiest gifts you can make. Doane Stuart accepts cash, personal checks, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. To make your gift online, go to www.doanestuart.org/ support-us/give-online
If you prefer to send a check via U.S. mail, please use the envelope and card provided and make your check to “The Doane Stuart School” and mail it to: The Doane Stuart School Development Office 199 Washington Avenue Rensselaer, NY 12144
Gifts of Stock
Stock certificates may be transferred to Doane Stuart to be sold by us. Transferring stock directly from broker to broker avoids personal income tax. For stock transfer instructions contact the Development Office at (518) 465-5222, ext. 203.
“A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Andrew Nakushian ’16 honored his teacher and friend at señor Febrey’s memorial Service in January 2016.
What is the difference between a teacher and an educator? A teacher is someone who is paid to teach students. It is their job. An educator is someone who dedicates their life to teaching their students, both in and out of the classroom. Sr. Febrey did not just teach us Spanish he taught us many life lessons. He taught me “that there is always time for a slice of pie” and that “there is always time for a good joke”. Whenever I saw him in the halls he would quickly tell me a joke even if he had to be in class. Like “what does the fish do? Nada” For those of you who don't know Nada is the spanish word for nothing but it is also a conjugation of the spanish verb to swim. He never would say no to a joke no matter how corny. He was always there to listen when you had a problem whether it involved Spanish or not. He would always give good advice, though often not before a sarcastic response. We loved it. Sometimes he would act as a father figure and warn you of mistakes before you made them. Other times, he would let you make them and correct you. Either way, he really helped me learn and grow as a person. Sr. Febrey was loved by his students and colleagues. I never heard anyone say “ugh we have spanish class,” Everyone was always ready for the next adventure in the form of some creative story, typically involving monkey’s or terminators, when they entered the classroom. Everyone loved those stories and the weekly game day on Friday where we would play pictionary. We can’t forget Sr.’s creative bonus questions on the quizzes like “the dog bit me” or “I fell after the dog bit me”. Somehow we would all get it wrong, every time. If he didn’t make up a story that day he would tell us real stories from his past like the blizzard where he had to climb out of an upper level window to get out of his house; tell us about his car, how awesome it was and how he loved it; and his house, “the strongest in all of Florida”. Sr. Febrey was like no other, from jumping rope to talking about wrestling and basketball, okay and maybe occasionally showing off his wrestling and basketball skills. He was full of life and often the topic of discussion at the dinner table. Everyday was an adventure through the Spanish Language, Spanish Culture, and life. Through the course of the five years that I was his student he taught me many lessons and I have many memories I will never forget; both in school, and out of school, as I was fortunate that I was able to take advantage of the Spain trip last summer. Sr. Febrey was an educator who all teachers, regardless of subject, should strive to be like. Sr. Febrey I got the lesson. You were right there is always time for pie and a good joke.. He was not just my spanish teacher he was someone I could call a friend. I can speak spanish Señor... Vaya con Dios, Sr. Febrey Descanse en Paz y Adios. (Go with God Sr Febrey, rest in peace and goodbye)
Dear Doane Stuart Community: In December our community suffered a terrible blow when we lost Tom Febrey. His death saddened us all -- friends, students, alumni, colleagues, and of course his dear wife and our colleague, Sonjia. Many of us went to Rochester to his funeral, and then hundreds came to School for our January service for him. Bagpipes played; his band played; his friends spoke; a student wrote a piece of music for him; everyone tries to cope in different ways. Because Tom cared deeply for his colleagues, we are excited to announce a new endowment fund to be known as The Febrey Fund for Faculty Compensation. Generous parents and friends of the school have already contributed over $100,000 to this Fund; therefore, its earnings can be used immediately. The earnings, but not the principal, will be used for faculty compensation; as this Fund grows it will help provide for faculty members at the level they deserve. If you wish make a contribution to this Fund, please make checks payable to Doane Stuart Febrey Fund or go to www.doanestuart.org/ the-febrey-fund-for-faculty-compensation/. If you choose to make a pledge, we can send you a Memo of Understanding, which enables one to donate over a 3-5 year period. Honoring our friend and teacher in this way provides a tangible pathway to fulfill Tom’s desire for stronger faculty compensation. We are grateful to launch the Febrey Fund. Tom’s memory will always sustain our faculty. Sincerely, Pamela J. Clarke Head of School 2015/2016 | 40th Anniversary Edition | 6
40th year in review
THUNDER CHICKENS’ record breaking year
THE
Hat Trick Duo Leads Girls varsity soccer to Sectionals
A hat trick in soccer or hockey is the ultimate accomplishment. To score 3 goals in a game is a tough but not exactly rare feat. But to have two players score a hat-trick in the same game for the same team is almost unheard of. For comparison purposes, the English Premier League has only ONCE (since 1992!) seen two players score a hat trick for the same team in the same game. Louise Metz ’17 of Troy (midfield) and Antonia DiPreta ’18 of Clifton Park (sweeper) amazingly completed a double hat trick during a 6-0 victory against Rensselaer on October 7. This marked Antonia’s first hat trick of her DS career and lifted her total to 7 goals on the season. When asked to describe one of her goals from the game, Antonia deferred and shared the credit with her teammate, “[The goal] came off a beautiful cross and I made a run to the near post. When Louise crosses it over, I usually know where the ball is going.” Louise had a second hat trick two days later in their next league game, this time in a 5-0 victory over New Lebanon. Scoring backto-back hat tricks is also a rarity (achieved only 4 times in the Premier League). For Louise, this gave her (at the time) 11 goals on the season and 5 career hat tricks. Not too shabby for someone who normally plays defense on her club team! The girls soccer team hit the Northway and traveled to Fort Ann for the opening round of the 2015 Class D Sectionals. Although they didn’t move on to the next round, the 2015-2016 was undoubtedly a huge success for the lady Thunderchickens.
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BASEBALL IS BACK !
Grab some peanuts and Cracker Jacks because baseball is back at Doane Stuart! This was not an easy endeavor, though, as it took five years and at least one failed attempt before getting to this point. Fortunately, DS has a group of very committed students with a passion for the game. Coach Jim Wheaton, Doane Stuart’s new Upper School history teacher and new head coach credits Thomas Kirby ’18 of Athens, Michael ’17 and Kyle ’19 Jakovic of Albany and Sam Kinum ’17 of Delmar with working hard to build interest in a team for the 2016 season. In a smaller school with other very established spring sports, drumming up interest proved to be a bit difficult. So Thomas, Sam, Michael and Kyle asked Mrs. Clarke to approve a team and then convinced their classmates to sign up for it.
have played fall ball and have more experience, others haven’t played in a couple of years. We even have two of our Chinese students – Sam and Chris – who had never really even picked up a baseball before.” With this mixture of ability levels, no one was sure how the team would do. To be 3-6 at the halfway point of the season is a testament to how hard everyone has worked. This is also a team currently without a home field, opting to play all their games on the road. One of the highlights for the season came in the fourth game, a 3-2 victory over Heatly, Doane Stuart’s first win of the season. In that game, Doane Stuart ace Dan Sausto ’16 of Slingerlands fired a complete game, 7 inning 13K performance. At one point he mowed down nine Heatly batters in a row!
“We really worked hard to get the word out,” said Michael. “We had a big incoming freshman class. No one had asked the 8th graders before so we tried to get kids excited.”
Not one to rest on his laurels, Doane Stuart’s version of Nolan Ryan set what is believed to be a school record by tossing a complete game 18K masterpiece last week against Berlin. Dan issued one walk and allowed no earned runs. For a point of reference, the max number of strikeouts in a seven inning game is 21. Dan was three strikeouts away from a truly ridiculous and momentous feat: a perfect 21 strikeout game. In his three starts this year he has amassed impressive totals of 13, 13 and 18 strikeouts.
It clearly worked. And, at the halfway point the team has been better than expected, posting a 3-6 record. This is made all the more impressive since it is a relatively young and inexperienced team. “The enthusiasm has been great. Everyone is really upbeat,” said Coach Wheaton. “We have fourteen on the team this year, ten of whom are freshmen and sophomores. It’s a mixture of skill levels, too. Some
While the baseball season came to an end in the Sectional Quarter Finals versus perennial power Fort Ann, the game was emblematic of the team’s season. Going into the final inning with result no longer in doubt, the players did not give up, kept fighting as they have done all year and managed to score a run before the final out of the season. As of this writing it is still the only run that Fort Ann has
40th year in review allowed in Sectional play. Several players were honored with end of season awards by the Central Hudson Valley League. Kyle Jakovic ‘19 was named a Second Team Allstar, brother Michael ‘17 was named First Team Allstar, and the team’s lone senior, Dan Sausto ‘17 was named the league’s Co-MVP. The team was honored for it’s high class in its wins and losses, with the league Sportsmanship award. Finishing 7-7 in the first season back after such a long hiatus in the program is impressive in its own right. The buzz and pride in the school is only matched by the congratulations and complements the team has received from the various communities from which our students come, but also from observers of CVHL and Section II baseball. We look forward to another exciting and competitive season next year.
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40th year in review Weilbaker ’19 Competes at Nationals; Sets Personal Record
At the biggest track meet of the indoor season – the New Balance Indoor Nationals, run by the NSAF (National Scholastic Athletic Foundation) – Shea Weilbaker ’19, of Saratoga Springs, turned in his fastest mile to date, a blistering 4:38. Shea was one of 31 freshman milers from across the country that ran the sub 4:40 mile required to qualify for the Indoor Nationals, held at the Armory in New York City on March 13. At the Indoor Nationals, Shea encountered the best runners he had ever competed against. The stellar level of competition helped push Shea to his personal best of 4:38, which was good enough for 18th place for all freshmen throughout the country. His time also was fast enough to earn him second place for New York State. His time marks an incredible improvement since late December: he ran his indoor mile then in 4:46, which was good enough for second place in a freshman and sophomore race. To cut almost 10 seconds off of his indoor mile time in just under three months is remarkable. Even more impressive, though, is that Shea is still relatively new to running. He had only seriously trained for about four months!
“I had never been in a race that size. I am pretty sure I was the only one there who just started running. It was a totally new feeling having such a high level of competition. I knew I was going against a lot of the best runners in the country and it would be a good opportunity to lower my time.”
SCholar - Athletes honored
Meghan Araldi ’16 of Westerlo and Patrick Gorman ’16 of Hoosick Falls for their selection as the Doane Stuart boys and girls basketball scholar-athletes for the 2015-16 season. Both students exemplify the ideal of a student-athlete and we are pleased to offer this recognition. They were selected by Athletic Director Pat Light and Associate Head of School Lisa Brown. Congratulations, also to Meghan and Thomas Mathes ’16 of Coxsackie, for being named CHVL (Central Hudson Valley League) second-team all-stars for basketball for the 2015-16 season. For Meghan, this dual recognition as a second team all-star and scholar athlete speaks to her hard work, talent and dedication.
Team / Wins, Losses, Ties for 2015-2016
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Back to Back Mock Trial
Champs
40th year in review
DS proudly hoisted the blue and green flag over the Rensselaer County Courthouse for the second year in a row. Our Mock Trial team completed Back-to-back Rensselaer County Championships and had another undefeated run to victory! In this year’s county final, Doane Stuart beat Catholic Central in a close competition. Both sides performed admirably and Catholic Central fought well. Doane Stuart also beat Columbia High School twice and Emma Willard in the lead up to the County Championship. Catholic Central beat La Salle in the other semi-final match up. Up next for the Mock Trialites was the Northeastern New York Regional.
Becoming the Thunder Chickens
Doane Stuart had no mascot when it was founded in 1975. And a campaign
to find one wasn’t started until the early 1990s when students, with alumni input and the administration’s ability to veto the suggestion. Bill Brandow ’91, the upper school student council president at the time, recalled the students were aiming for “something both unique and slightly self-deprecating.” “We felt that DS needed to be represented by something strong but a little silly, and that didn’t take itself too seriously,” he said. The Thunder Chickens were born and most Doane Stuart students loved the name, but Alumni and administrators did not apprive. However the idea of the Thunder Chicken name wouldn’t die and students kept the conversation about the potential new mascot alive. A year or so later, a student named Christian Grattan got a chicken suit and started dressing up for games. Teams started unofficially calling themselves the Thunder Chickens. The name finally stuck and the Thunder Chicken was embraced by all. Now, 40 years after the School’s founding, and over 20 years after the Thunder Chicken made its debut, Doane Stuart is prouder than ever of it’s unusual mascot. News...
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40 Anniversary th
The
Doane Stuart
Gala Auction School
Visit
DoaneStuart.org
to view many more photos in the 40th Anniversary Gala Photo Gallery
40 th Anniversary
and
Saturday, april 2, 2016
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Wolferts Roost Country Club
Gala Auction
40th Celebrations and events
and
Breaks All Records rasing more than
$165,000!
On April 2, 2016 at the Wolferts Roost Country Club, we raised more than to benefit both Faculty Salaries and Financial Aid.
Hodgkinson, Senior Faculty Member. We are also indebted to our friend LeGrande Serras, who thrilled us all as we raised the most funds ever at the Gala.
We are grateful to our Honorary Chairs: Sharon M. Duker, President of the Board of Trustees; Tami Cole, President of the Parents Association; Leanne Robinson-Maine, DS ’94 and Peter Kutchukian, DS ’97, Co-Chairs of the Alumni/ae Association, and Seamus
We thank Corporate Sponsors, Honorary Committee Members, Parents, Past Parents, Alumni/ae and guests for their continued support for our faculty and students; we could not do this without all of you.
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40th year in review
Around the World with Doane Stuart
Over 30 students, faculty and staff have traveled across the globe with Doane Stuart this year and we welcomed students and teachers into our community from welcome our exchange students and teachers...
An enthusiastic group of Upper School students and faculty (and even a Head of School!) spent their spring break amidst the churches, museums, palaces, mountains and culture of Austria. The nine day excursion was led by Upper School Teacher and Academic Dean Bill Russell. He was joined by fellow Upper School teacher Dr. David Wells, Middle School Co-coordinator and teacher Mrs. Patty Hodgkinson and Head of School Pam Clarke in the chaperoning of a group of 18 students (Jessie Brozek ’16, Marko Crnkovic ’16, Antonia DiPreta ’18, Lucas DiPreta ’18, Dalton Hanaway ’17, Erin Hanna ’18, Alison Jones ’18, Sophie Lacijan ’18, Shan Leng ’17, Sam Lu ’17, Eli Miller ’17, Anna Murdock ’18, Will Murdock ’18, Andrew Nakushian ’16, Lauren Nelson ’16, Dillon Norton ’18 and Hannah Nye ’18). The tour kicked off in Saltzburg where the group visited the birthplace of Mozart and enjoyed a Sound of Music tour, which
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included the church and iconic gazebo used in the classic motion picture. While stationed in Saltzburg they traveled to the town of Berchtesgaden in the picturesque Bavarian Alps, complete with a visit to the area’s famous salt mines. The group then traveled on to Vienna, with a stop in Melk in Lower Austria to visit the famed Melk Abbey. During a full day of sightseeing in the heart
Around the world with DS tween the two schools. The school, Colegio Los Sauces has 5 campuses (four in Spain and one in Dublin). Ms. Bracken visited the four campuses in Spain, two located in Madrid (Torrelodones and La Moraleja), and two in Galicia (Pontevedra and Vigo).
Ms. Bracken toured Los Sauces with members of the School’s Admiinistration during her visit. of Vienna they visited St. Stephens Cathedral, and the Hofburg Imperial Apartments, which houses the Sisi Museum and the Spanish Riding School. The following day was packed with more adventures in Vienna, including a visit to the Schönbrunn Palace, Mayerling (the crown prince Rudolf ’s hunting lodge), the Seagrotto (an underground lake!) and the Lichtenstein Castle. Check back in for stories and first-hand accounts from our travelers, but in the mean time visit Mrs. Clarke’s blog, “The Clark Connection,” to read about her experience and the importance of travel and of “leaving your comfort zone.” Austria wasn’t the only far-off-land that was visited by a member of the Doane Stuart community during the most recent spring break. College Counselor and Assistant Director of Admission Kathleen Bracken traveled to Spain on behalf of Doane Stuart to explore establishing a semester exchange be-
Ms. Bracken reported that the schools were all quite similar, with Spanish as the primary language of instruction, but with required English classes. The students there have a strong command of English by tenth grade. They wear a uniform (similar to ours) until junior year and all students eat lunch together in the cafeteria, grouped by age. The schools all have the same ages, PreK through 12. All grades get time outside each day. Popular sports are soccer (fútbol) and basketball. Each campus has a pool, and every student takes swimming once per week. The class sizes are similar in size to those at DS, with lots of interaction between students and teachers, as well as lots of group work. Students have more choice in electives as they get older and there are extracurricular offerings such as dance, robotics and drama. Ms. Bracken came away impressed with the quality of instruction and warmth of students and staff alike at Colegio Los Sauces. Although Ms. Bracken had a busy itinerary vising and learning about the schools she did have the opportunity to spend some time soaking in the Spanish culture in the Salamanca Provence where she stayed. She also visited the Museo del Prado
and spent time in the Parque del Buen Retiro. The program is open only to sophomores and their families, who must agree to host a Spanish student for the first semester, while he or she attends classes at Doane Stuart. In the second semester, both students will study in Spain, and our American student will reside with the student’s family. Los Sauces offers a bilingual education; all students graduate with a high level of English fluency. Spanish language support will be offered to Doane Stuart students while attending classes in Spain. Ques-
Ms. Bracken toured Los Sauces with members of the School’s Admiinistration during her visit. tions about the exchange can be addressed to Mrs. Clarke (pclarke@doanestuart.org) or Ms. Bracken (kbracken@doanestuart.org). These exciting trips to Austria and Spain followed Doane Stuart’s annual visit to Northern Ireland earlier this year. Doane Stuart Instructor and Middle School Co-Coordinator Seamus Hodgkinson and Director of Admission Geoff Bowman, along
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40th year in review
with seniors Lydia Bagdon, Antoinette Bevins, Jessie Brozek, Kayleigh Dearstyne-Hulin, Thomas Geoghegan, Andrew Nakushian, Renee Ricci and Emma Schillinger, represented Doane Stuart in Northern Ireland from February 6 – February 16 as part of our Irish-American Exchange Program. In addition to attending seminar classes in Irish Language, and Irish History and Politics at Lagan College; this year’s trip again included visits to The Giants Causeway, Stranmillis and St. Mary’s University Colleges, a Coiste Political Tour of West Belfast and The Corrymeela Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. They also enjoyed a rubgy match, wet bouldering, a day in Dublin and much more. This year’s trip marks the 8th year of the program in which DS students visit Ireland as part of the exchange. Mr. Hodgkinson, who inspired the Irish/ American Exchange program, recently said of the trip: “I really want our visiting students to experience a society that is in the process of healing itself; to appreciate that such healing is a long and de-
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manding process; and to return home inspired to share their understanding of how Northern Ireland offers hope in a world where it is too easy to be cynical about, or feel defeated by, the enormity of the problems.”
Ms. Bracken toured Los Sauces with members of the School’s Admiinistration during her visit.
IRISH TEACHERS AND EXCHANGE STUDENTS
A TASTE OF
ISRAEL
table and Lentil Soup. The special lunch is made for our community by our Israeli and Arab student teachers Shira Siboni and Fadi Aweidah who are visiting from David Yellin College, Jerusalem, Israel. Shira spoke to Dave Greene who runs the cafeteria and provides breakfast and lunch for our 270 students. Shira’s grandmother owned a restaurant in Jerusalem for many years, so food has always been very important to her. “To get to know a culture, you learn about people’s clothes, holidays and food. Students at Doane Stuart know about the different
In 2012, with an introduction from our partners in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Doane Stuart created a partnership with The David Yellin Academic Co lege of Education, Jerusalem, Israel, to bring two student teachers, one Jewish and one Arab, to our school for several weeks each year. This offers the student teachers the opportunity to teach and learn in an environment in which diversity and respect for difference are key components of a school that emphasizes the importance of teaching students to live together peacefully, celebrating the beliefs, backgrounds and traditions of others. The goal of our two schools, is to teach peace to members of diverse communities, with the expectation that today’s students will carry forward these lessons in their own lives. The Commons, Doane Stuart’s Cafeteria, was transformed into an Israeli eatery on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. Students and faculty will be served Falafel in pita, Shakshuka, Israeli Salad and Vege-
We are from the same area. Bad things happen, and we can’t ignore that, but we are friends. It requires conversation but we can find a way to live together.” holidays from the Chapel program and from the Jewish and Muslim students that attend the school. We wanted to share our culture by giving them a taste of the food of the streets.” They wanted to prepare food that was known to Arabs and Jews, and they wanted it to be as authentic as possible. So Shira and Fadi donned aprons and have spent hours preparing the traditional feast. Dave and Mike Foley happily joined in to make this unique lunch a success.
Around the world with DS answered questions in Upper School history classes about what it is like to live in an area with so much conflict. “We speak about the conflict, but I want to share those aspects of our lives – food and culture – that are similar,” said Shira. “We want to show students that Arabs and Jews do live together, that we shop in the same stores and on the same streets. We are from the same area. Bad things happen, and we can’t ignore that, but we are friends. It requires conversation but we can find a way to live together.” And here they are, halfway around the world in the kitchen of an interfaith school, working together to share their food, culture and hearts with the Doane Stuart community. “It is good for the school that to have this experience,”in said Fadi asthe he prepared a 1975, majority of blender full of chick peas for tomorrow’s hummus. Doane Stuart.’s interna“This is a good experience for us, for the kids and tional came from for the school community. Foodstudents can make peace.”
Did you know
Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico? This reamined the case for many years. Now, DS welcomes most international students from China.
In addition to food, Shira taught Lower School students to sing in Hebrew and dance the Horra. Fadi has worked with the Kindergartners. Both led a Chapel about Peace and have shared samples of traditional as well as modern art and music. They also 2015/2016 | 40th Anniversary Edition | 6
The next 40 years
Spreading the Word
Families learn about Doane Stuart from you - every single member of our community. Our students, parents, teachers and alumni/ae are our greatest advertisers and ensurers that THE NEXT 40 YEARS will be the best they can be and that the students who will get the most out of a Doane Stuart edcuation find their way to us. This is our message, in the worlds of members of our community as the speak to prosepcive famileis at an Open House. It’s a message our community tries to deliver at Open Houses, school fairs, even during a improptu conversation at the grocery store wtih a parent hoping to learn more about the culture, academics and spirit their child might find at Doane Stuart.
Pam Clarke, Head of School Open House Welcome
We start our open house here in the Golub Interfaith Chapel because it is in this room that much of the special character of Doane Stuart is shaped and nurtured. The school’s approach to religion is to celebrate all the major religions of the world and to ask young people to understand why so many millions of people in this world embrace some form of religious or spiritual belief. We do not push them to a particular faith, but rather to an understanding of why a life of faith is important. So we have recently been here to learn the basic tenets of Buddhism; an Imam has explored the pillars of Islam; next week two of our parents will teach us about Passover in one Chapel and Holy Week in another. It is here that the most
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special aspect of Doane Stuart is realized—here that the bonds of community are forged and the rewards of mutual respect are understood. In this room we have many gatherings; our Upper School gathers four times a week for presentations and announcements: Andrew’s rocketry club meets upstairs at 3:15; the International Club will be serving a French lunch; the Mock Trial practice is at 3:30 pm; the track team is finally going outside; Mr. Foster’s 9th grade papers are due at noon. In one assembly our psychological intern helped us think about the value of maintaining positive personal relationships; in another, Marko ’16 explained the ‘app’ he has written for the iPad that provides a virtual HELP DESK for getting computer /phone/tablet repairs made by him and his team of student geeks. (Here a geek is a genius). Another chapel for grades 2-12 (with dress uniforms) celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; another explained the genesis of Doane Stuart as a merging of the very old Episcopal St. Agnes School in Loudonville with Albany’s Sacred Heart Kenwood School. This merger took place in 1975; the two original schools were founded in the late 19th century. A great deal of music takes place in this room: The grade 2-3-4 chorus sings at the LS concert or the Christmas Chapel; The Jazz band plays for the School
concert; Robert Weaver’s music class performs once each week; processionals and recessionals are played by Dawson or Stephanie, occasionally a bagpipe solo by Dalton. Parents and alumni/ae and friends join us here for special gatherings; the Christmas Chapel, with music and light and toys donated for those less fortunate; Graduation, where we say a bittersweet farewell to young adults we have known since they toddled into the nursery, or awkwardly bound into middle school, or rocked into the high school with that almost completely fake facade of “cool.” In this room skills are taught: a very particular skill is taught in this room: students speak here in front of their peers and their teachers every time we enter the room. A pair of seniors orchestrates our assemblies; 4th graders guide us all through the pledge of allegiance before describing the week’s learning of the Kindergarten-4th grade classrooms, and then a middle schooler reports on the explorations of grades five-eight; students are important speakers at every gathering. A by-product of learning to speak in public is learning to sit quietly and listen -- all our students practice attentiveness and purposeful listening, with only an occasional reminder from an adult. So I think of this room as the place where Doane Stuart is most Doane Stuart- and we all are at our best- singing, praying, laughing and learning—all in the glow of this lovely room.
Lisa Brown, Associate Head of School Open House Remarks
I am going to speak very briefly today about teachers and teaching at Doane Stuart (which, of course, means talking about students!) but I‘d like you to see my show and tell first and ask you a single, simple question. What do you see? Please think about it as I speak.
In my art history classes, we have been reading and thinking about vision and seeing, the process of what James Elkins calls “ mechanism and metamorphosis.” Seeing makes our mechanical or physical process of vision meaningful. A learning process, it sifts through our collected memories and experiences to translate the data that our vision collects. . My students and I become more and more fascinated by this idea. They have 16 or 17 years worth of memories and experiences; I have a few more than that. What happens when we look we look at a painting together? We see the same thing . . .
and yet, we don’t. Our shared cultural environment guarantees a certain amount of agreement about the images in front of us, but we actually see very, very different things. With the sharp eyesight of the young, they see details that elude me. With my age and experience, I see things that they can’t yet know. With the innocence and emotions of late childhood, they feel things when looking at an image that I have, perhaps, forgotten . . . and I can tell them about people and history that they yet to learn. When we work together, we see more: we see more deeply, more broadly – and we come away transformed . Elkins talks about the “ mechanism and metamorphosis” of vision and seeing. Teachers add metaphor to the mix – the layers of meaning, the narrative, the facts that support creativity and experimentation. Teachers are guides for the natural curiosity of children, guides who capture that curiosity and nurture it by providing a strong foundation of skills and knowledge, along with encouragement, strong expectations and support to enrich the world that each student sees and inhabits. Albert Einstein said “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” And what does a “passionately curious” person do? He or she sees the world as an endless pageant of surprises and questions to be studied and answered. Curious people are inspired to learn more – what is that pattern on the rug in the painting? – what does it mean? How can I learn more? I like to think that the talent of our teachers lies in the metamorphosis and metaphor of seeing -- whether in math, science, philosophy, art, music, on the playing field, in the lab or studio. Our teachers love
Spreading the word what they do; care deeply about students, personally and intellectually; are passionate and knowledgeable about why, how and what they teach . . . they are teachers who inspire. Einstein also said “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” And what is imagination? Imagination is being able to see the world that isn’t yet here. We need our kids to be able to see that world, to use the data their vision collects to see beyond what they know – and to have the confidence and competence to make their own discoveries. Our teachers help them do just that. If you take naturally curious and inventive kids and mix them up with talented, knowledgeable, curious and caring teachers in a school that celebrates inquiry, discovery and the rigor of learning, you have a wonderful mix of connection, inspiration – and to use another meaning of the word -- vision. If you allow the magic of discovery and learning to thrive (it is part of our mission), and if you believe in the importance of giving time and commitment to the process that helps kids truly see the world, you change lives. That’s what we do at Doane Stuart. Today you will have the opportunity of meeting and talking with our teachers and students, and sitting in on classes, experiencing the heart and soul ¬– ¬ the art, the science and the magic – of Doane Stuart. Have fun! You will make connections with some excellent people, and I think that you will be inspired to return. I started out asking you to look at these paintings: “The Annunciation,” one of my favorites, by Jan Van Eyck, from c. 1435, and “Three Musicians,” by Fernand Leger, a 1944 painting based on a drawing from 1924. I hope that you will have a moment to take a closer look and tell me what you see!
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The next 40 years Jessica Brozek ’16 (Hampshire University ’20) - Open House Remarks My name is Jessie Brozek and I’m a senior at Doane Stuart. I started as a freshman, and I have changed a lot since then. Let me give you an idea of what eighth grade Jessie was like. I loved to sing; I hated math; I made poor hairstyle choices; and I did not want to transfer schools. I was pretty awkward, and I loved my friends at my old school. We were all part of the drama club and leaving them was breaking my heart. I remember visiting Doane Stuart and thinking “this isn’t where I belong.” I never imagined that I would be the spokesperson for the open house. Freshman year, I had an amazing math teacher named Mrs. Forster. She used a computer program that she wrote herself to create our homework and quizzes. She put our grades into the program, and it gave every single person a slightly different quiz based on what we knew well and what we needed to work on. It was incredible! Math went from being my least favorite class, to my favorite class. We’re not given a formula and told to use it; we discover the formulas. I remember the day that we spent an entire class period deriving the quadratic formula. We weren’t even quizzed on it -- it was solely for our own understanding...and it worked! I loved algebra, geometry, I adored advanced algebra, and now I’m in Precalculus! My eighth grade self could never have imagined that. I have also pursued the passions that I was already
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aware of. I love to perform. I’ve taken vocal as my art class every year, and I have sung some unique songs over the years, and grown as a performer. I made a friend freshman year who is still one of my best friends today, and her family owns a recording studio. As a birthday gift, she gave me a chance to record one of my songs. That birthday gift ended up becoming a recording contract and now two of my original songs are on iTunes. One of my childhood dreams came true. It was connections I made at Doane Stuart that made this a reality. Now that I’m a second semester senior, I’ve become very sentimental. I’m going to miss my teachers, my friends, and making announcements at morning meeting about the quirky clubs I’m a part of such as GSA, drama club, cat club, tea club, and rocketry club. I’m going to miss hearing that the lower schoo
“We’re not given a formula and told to use it; we discover the formulas. I remember the day that we spent an entire class period deriving the quadratic formula. We weren’t even quizzed on it -- it was solely for our own understanding...and it worked!” is learning about the solar system, and that the eighth grade is selling pies to raise money for their annual trip to Washington DC. I’m going to miss the community so much, but being a part of it has prepared me for my next step. I was so skeptical about coming to Doane Stuart when I was in eighth grade, but now, I’m a believer.
Hello: My name is Jonny Hacker, and I am a senior and the student body president at Doane Stuart. This is the 40th Anniversary of Doane Stuart. I have been here for 12 years, although sometimes it does feel like 40! I say that because I can now look back on my 12 years and realize the impact Doane Stuart has had on me.
2006 Jonny Hacker ’16 (Hamilton ’20) Open House Remarks In Middle School, when Miss B. was a new social studies teacher, I quickly learned that her class wagoing to kill me. She taught us how to take notes in a way to maximize our learning: Cornell style, mapping technique, bullet points; all of this was new to me. I remember Mr. H’s physics labs- he would do the simplest things like dropping a piece of paper on the floor, and then turning it into the most interesting lesson I’ve ever had. Our teachers make class fun. High School was a big leap; well, not really. I was well prepared in middle school for tougher classes and more homework. One hardly hears the words synapse, tetrodotoxin, or oligodendrocyte outside of biology right? Well, not when you’re taking biology at Doane Stuart. It’s cool to be smart and talk about what you learned in the halls or at soccer practice. With College Counselor Ms. Bracken right at my side, I am days away from confidentially sending an early application to my first choice college. Academics are not the only element of school; social life is important too. When people ask me how many kids are in my grade, I say “around 35.” I always
Spreading the word
2016 get a ‘no way.’ What I always tell them is that I am good friends with every one of the kids in my grade. We are too small a school to be clicky. I am good friends with my teachers, too. Every day you will have a real in-depth conversation with at least three teachers outside of class. You may be thinking, “Wait Jonny, you’ve been here for like 40 years, of course you know everyone well.” Well, I recently talked to my new friends from Ireland – the exchange students who have been at Doane Stuart for fewer than three months –and they are great friends with everyone already, and they are loving their time at Doane Stuart. So whether you’ve been here all your life, or you just got here, I really believe Doane Stuart is the place to learn and to grow, to make friends in the process and to prepare yourself for whatever may lie ahead.
Each week, my office has the pleasure of chatting with students and families interested in attending Doane Stuart. Families seek Doane Stuart for the strength of our academic program, our dedicated and caring faculty, the warm, welcoming nature of our interfaith community and our success in graduating students who attend highly selective colleges and universities while pursuing lives of meaning and purpose. Suffice it to say, I love my job. I get to share this amazing school with our visitors. As an Admission Office we are cheerleaders for the school, proudly sharing this great story with the broader community. Our day-to-day work allows for interaction with kids pre-schoolers to high school upper classmen. We hold their hands for the first time as they nervously walk down the hall to Mrs. Stauder’s or Mrs. Cassant’s classrooms. We watch students develop public speaking skills and grow at Lower School morning meetings. We watch Middle Schoolers conduct independent, self-directed research that they proudly present at their Illumination Fair. We see Upper Schoolers win league co-MVPs, earn trophies for our Mock Trial team, compete nationally in track and crew, perform on stage and hopefully attend their dream schools. We see highs and lows; good days and bad; laughter and tears. It is a wonderful challenge and a privilege to be here and share this community with prospective families. In the past year we made significant changes to our open house program. We desired to offer a program that showcased the core of the Doane Stuart experience: excellent teaching, active collaboration and eager and bright students. We replaced the campus tour with faculty-led classes and a student and faculty panel. Now, families have the chance to learn about the solar system and second grade with Mrs. Garrison, analyze poetry with Dr. Foster in an Upper School English class, explore imaginary numbers with Mrs. Bemis in Upper School math and experience Middle School history with Mrs. Baillargeon and her various period costumes. To quote a visitor from one of our open houses: “Mrs. Morgan [Middle School Science] was AMAZING and truly the best part of the visit.” When asked about our student ambassadors, our visitors were equally effusive with praise: “[the students were] incredibly impressive! Will, Henry and [Monica] were all charming, at ease and informative.” I hope you enjoyed the excerpts of the speeches that were delivered at our four Saturday open houses this year. Individually and collectively, they should paint a familiar picture of the school we all know and love. Mr. Bowman received his B.A. in History from Union College in 2004. Upon graduation, he began his career in higher education as an Assistant Dean of Admissions at Union and then as an Associate Dean. He joined Doane Stuart in July of 2012 as the Dean of Students for the Upper School. In addition to his role as Director of Admission, Mr. Bowman also teaches history.
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40th year in review
Anniversary Speaker Series Doane Stuart welcomed three accomplished and captivating guest speaker throughout it’s 40th year. They engaged our community in topics we all think and care about: the emotional lives of children, the health of our planet and our realtationship with food and physical health.
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Anniversary Speaker Serires “Raising Cain” that was broadcast nationally in 2006.
Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D.
joines us to disucss ‘ Eight Things You Cannot Do For Your Children (But Wish You Could)” a topic all of our parents were eager to learn about! Dr. Thompson is a consultant, author and psychologist who specializes in children and families and has worked in more than seven hundred schools across the United States and Central America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Dr. Thompson has written nine books that focus on the emotional lives of adolescents, friendships, social cruelty in childhood, the impact of summer camp experiences on child development, the tensions that arise in the parent-teacher relationships, and psychological aspects of school leadership. His most recent book is Homesick and Happy. A dedicated speaker and traveler, Michael Thompson has appeared on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC 20/20, CBS 60 Minutes, The Early Show and Good Morning America. He has been quoted in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Time and U.S. News and World Report and has been a guest on NPR’s “Morning Edition” with Susan Stamberg, “Talk of the Nation” with Ray Suarez and the Diane Rhem Show. He wrote, narrated and hosted a two-hour PBS documentary entitled
Mr. Peter Neill
visited Doane Stuart as part of our “Excellence in Science Night” cleberating the School’s commitemnt to the sciences. Mr. Neill is the founder and director of the World Ocean Observatory (worldoceanobservatory.org) a web-based place of exchange for information and education about the health of the ocean. Neill previously served 20 years as President of the South Street Seaport Museum, New York, is co-founder of The Sound School and The Harbor School, and has dedicated his career to marine affairs. His most recent book, The Once and Future Ocean: Notes Toward a New Hydraulic Society, is now available.
Dr. Nina Marinello
is not your average nutritionist. She visited Doane Stuart to share with us an honest and humorous presentation addressing the food challenges we face and the value of having your own nutrition wisdom. Dr. Marinellos is a nutrition professor, writer and Brooklyn-born foodie who understands it’s not easy dealing with the limitless supply of tempting foods that surround us everyday. 2015/2016 | 40th Anniversary Edition | 6
40th year in review With honesty and humor, her presentation addressed the food challenges we face and the value of having your own nutrition wisdom. Dr. Marinello is an Associate Professor of Nutrition and Chair of Nutrition Science at The Sage Colleges in Troy, New York. She has earned undergraduate degrees in Biology and Nutrition Science, a M.S. in Natural Sciences and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. She is an experienced research scientist and nutrition educator. Her interests include the role of nutrition and genetics on health, athletic performance and weight management. Dr. Marinello is a member of The American Dietetic Association. For seven years she was The Healthy Professor columnist for the Albany Times Union writing on nutrition and wellness and continues to write a blog for Times Union online. Professor Marinello lives in Albany with her husband, Dr. Anthony Marinello. Both are from Brooklyn and met 42 years ago on the first day of college in Biology lab. They have 3 children, all Doane Stuart graduates, pursuing careers in medicine, law and education‌ enough said.
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Anniversary Speaker Serires
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