Children are natural
WRITERS A publication of The Elisabeth Morrow School
Spring 2016
Morrow Moment Excitement is evident in the faces of our students and their families at our biannual International Festival. The celebration of good food, good times and community was held in the Peter Lawrence Gymkhana earlier this year.
APPLETREE
Spring 2016
Appletree is a publication of The Elisabeth Morrow School 435 Lydecker Street Englewood, NJ 07631 www.elisabethmorrow.org Articles, images and other contributions from the extended Elisabeth Morrow community are welcome. Contact the communications office at jabernathy@elisabethmorrow.org or 201.568.5566 x7208. All submissions are subject to review and submission does not guarantee publication.
Editor Jan Abernathy Director of Marketing and Communications Design Erbach Communications Group
Content Contributors Aaron Cooper Andy Escala Liza Jones Hards Phyllis Kesslen Ronnee Lipman Ginny Smith
Photography and Photographic Contributors Shelley Kusnetz Stephanie Massaro Stephanie Nebel Robin Robison-Dillard
in this issue
On the Cover Eighth grader Ishan won two National Silver Medals in the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing competition. He will be attending New York’s Trinity School in the fall.
Letter from the Head of School
2
Appletree News
3
Cover Story:Writing
6
Feature: We Play
8
An update about exciting developments at school. Our new turf field and STEAM facilities; other news and events. Good writers aren’t born, they’re made — one grade at a time.
Teaching fitness and teamwork as a way of life.
The Legacy Lives On
10
Happy Anniversary!
12
Alumni and Parent Profiles
15
Achievement: Eighth Grade Moments
17
Athletics
18
Class Notes
19
Then and Now
20
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with these students. A gala honoring our 85th, Carolyn Milne and the Summer String Festival.
Here’s to you, Class of 2016.
Recaps and photos from the Eagles’ winter season.
Saluting Amelia Gold, Arts Department Chair.
Our Mission: The Elisabeth Morrow School pursues the highest educational standards in a supportive, creative environment. We challenge our students’ intellects, promote academic excellence, encourage independent thinking and cultivate individual talents. Our dedicated, experienced faculty fosters moral growth and social responsibility. Within our diverse community, we value tradition, innovation and the joy of lifelong learning.
a letter from the head of school
At The Elisabeth Morrow School, we often talk about the importance of the joy of lifelong learning. Three individuals, each retiring from their positions this year, embody this ideal that is so central to the EMS mission. After 17, 15 and 13 years in their positions, respectively, Penny Lippe, our Director of Development, Richard Pagano, our Business Manager, and Rosemary Mills Russell, the President of our Board of Trustees, move on. Penny has ably led our fundraising efforts since 1999. In her tenure, her team has focused on formalizing the annual giving calendar, developing and running multiple events and overseeing four capital campaigns. She and her team are currently managing the Investing in Excellence campaign that has produced the Community Field and, later this year, Innovation Alley in Little School. In her tenure here, the Apple Tree Fund has more than doubled, and, working with our tireless volunteers and Parents Association, she has produced numerous fundraising and “friendraising” events, including our Spring Galas, Winter Social, International Food Festivals and Family Field Days.
“Please join me in thanking these three wonderful people whose accomplishments reflect a lifelong commitment to learning ever more deeply about EMS...”
Since coming to EMS in February 2001, Richard has been instrumental in building the school’s assets and the endowment, in overseeing two major building endeavors and in generally formalizing and professionalizing the myriad accounting and business policy practices of the school. Richard has overseen the financial planning for the major expansion to the seventh and eighth grades and the purchase of additional property on Next Day Hill Drive, and he stewarded the school’s short- and long-term investments through the financial crisis in 2008. Rosemary steps down from the Board of Trustees after 13 years, the last five of which have seen her serve as President. Rosemary’s list of accomplishments on the board is long. In her time on the board, she has chaired the Development Committee and Committee on Trustees as well as two strategic planning committees. She assumed her presidency after being secretary and first vice president. She led the board through a head search process in 2012 as well as the current campus master plan, which has resulted in the Community Field and Innovation Alley being planned and built. Rosemary’s impact goes far beyond governance, however, and she and her husband, Jeff, have been generous leaders in several of our capital campaigns as well as in the Apple Tree Fund. Rosemary routinely speaks of the impact the school had on all three of her children’s (Caroline ’03, Julia ’07 and Ben ’09) lives, even now as they pursue their careers. She embodies what it means to hold a school in trust for future generations, and her presence on the board will be missed. Please join me in thanking these three wonderful people whose accomplishments reflect a lifelong commitment to learning ever more deeply about EMS and their roles within it so that our school could embody Elisabeth Morrow’s vision of “the best of the old and the best of the new.” We are a stronger school for their time, their energy, their talent and their passion. My best,
Aaron Cooper, Head of School 2 APPLETREE
appletree news
Bright Ideas Full STEAM Ahead by Aaron Cooper, Head of School
This summer, the sound of construction will once again come to campus. The Little School will be renovated, with a slight expansion, to form Innovation Alley, an integrated space for science, math, technology, art, library and gardening. The Kamiel Solarium, on the north end of the Grace Muller Courtyard, will anchor the space, which will be big and flexible enough for an entire grade — or up to five individual classes — to work in it at one time. At the same time, we will be updating several classrooms and renovating the building’s lobby. This project, funded entirely by the generous donations of our community, is part of our ongoing master plan. Read more on the following page...
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appletree news
Bright Ideas Continued from page 3...
This new space will support and enhance our students’ experience because it is built to support collaboration at many levels. Students across grades and age groups will be able to solve problems and work on projects together, enhancing their ability to think critically, to create and to communicate.
EMS Writers Once Again Excel in Scholastic Competition EMS students won five National Silver Medals in the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing competition, meaning that their work was among the top one percent of entries in the nation. Our national medalists were Ishan Walia (one award for memoir and one award for humor), Ava Merker (one award for flash fiction), Mikayla Benson (one award for short story) and Isabella Inouye (one award for memoir).
Teachers will be able to teach their subject areas as a part of a greater whole. Lessons learned in one discipline will bleed seamlessly into others and the core principles in each subject will be reinforced through their hands-on use in another. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this shift in physical resources is that our students and educators will work collaboratively around the idea of learning as a dynamic entity rather than a fixed goal. Typical of the type of work that will be co-created in Innovation Alley was a study of power and machines that led to the development of a monorail by second, third and fourth graders this spring. Third graders researched, designed and constructed a monorail to be carried on the bridges crafted by fourth grade students. Meanwhile, second graders built windmills to explore how such machines might be powered. This year, these students researched and created their work separately in science, art and technology class, and their work was later combined into a coherent whole, but next year, they will be able to do so in a purpose-built space with the concurrent help of specialists in each of these areas. Imagine for a moment the exciting flow of ideas between groups that now becomes possible once students are freed from the constraints of the traditional classroom. We look forward to the opening of Innovation Alley in the new school year and continuing to develop the most innovative, research-based methods for educating all of our students.
In January, EMS students won 46 regional awards in the competition. This year, more than 320,000 art and writing pieces were submitted by seventh through 12th grade students across the country, Canada and U.S. schools abroad.
They Came,They Saw,They Conquered! Elisabeth Morrow middle school Latin students placed second in the state at the National Junior Classical League’s statewide Certamen competition held at Basking Ridge High School in April. The team previously achieved a first-place finish in the Northern New Jersey, Level I Division competition held at Princeton University. The students battled for the championship against the winning teams from central and southern New Jersey. The title was won by Princeton High School. Certamen is a game of fast recall of facts about classical civilizations and their peoples, languages and cultures. Congratulations on a job well done, students!
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News, facts and events from The Elisabeth Morrow School
Community Field Opens We were delighted to open our new Community Field, with the striking EMS Eagle at its center, in January. Built as part of our master plan, the AstroTurfcovered field will provide a weather-resistant surface that can be used for recess as well as sports practices. “We are grateful that the support of our generous community allowed this to come to fruition,” says Aaron Cooper, Head of School. “Not only does it underline our commitment to healthy activity and competition for our students year-round, but it also provides a gathering place for cherished traditions such as Morrow House Field Day and Family Field Day.” The opening of the field was officially celebrated at our annual Morrow House Field Day in May, when we invited all families and students out to cheer on our middle school students in the traditional Green and White teams in traditional Field Day activities such as tug-of-war and relay races.
Summer Sure Looks Different at EMS! by Liza Hards, Director of Auxiliary Programs
This year, Summer Explorations provides great opportunities for innovative, creative learning and fun! For our youngest students, Summer 2016 will offer wonderful opportunities to explore their world through specially chosen themes such as “Be An Explorer,” “Be a Rock Star” and “Be An Olympian.” Art, literature, cooking, science, music and more will be incorporated into their daily activities. Second through sixth grade students will get to engage in many exciting activities that take advantage of their desire to work with their hands and produce something new and different. They will be able to participate in a Maker Design series with workshops in 3-D printing, vinyl design, video effects and filmmaking. Students can also choose
art workshops such as “Simply Sculpting,” “Jewelry Design” and “Animals in Art.” Summer is also about getting outdoors and taking full advantage of the warm weather, and students will be able to do that with sports programs on EMS’ new Community Field, including a soccer clinic held from August 8–12. Summer Explorations offers workshops such as “Nature Detectives” and “Homes and Habitats,” which take full advantage of our 14-acre campus. For the academically minded there are also chemistry, math, engineering and astronomy workshops and middle school students can enroll in high school entrance exam preparation classes or participate in our Counselor in Training program to develop leadership and interpersonal skills through a variety of experiences.
Math Masters Twenty-nine students from third through sixth grade participated in the statewide Math League contest held at The Pingry School in Short Hills. Accompanied by Beth Brennan, the Lower School Head, and math teachers Sarah Ehatamm, Dave Messler and Mary Ann Rota, students
competed in four rounds of tests. Grouped by grade, third grader William Glasser came in eighth, fourth grader Stephanie Lee came in ninth and sixth graders Purvi Jonnalagadda and Henry Choi came in eighth and seventh, respectively. Ian Maloney placed third in the sixth grade compe-
tition, qualifying for the national competition in mid-June. “We are all very excited about the results and very proud of our students. They were outstanding ambassadors and representatives for EMS,” says Aaron Cooper, Head of School.
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cover story These samples of writing by Ava Merker ’16 illustrate
2009
a developing writer’s progression, from her first tentative explorations of the written word in Chilton House to a more mature use of grammar and syntax in her graduating year. Ava won a Silver Medal in the flash fiction category in the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Competition.
2008
Children are natural by Ronnee Lipman, English Department Chair
Writing is a process of self-discovery and an expression of one’s values, opinions, fears, hopes and dreams. This powerful art form communicates who you are and what you believe. While the writing process is something that can be taught explicitly, the subject is not learned all at once but rather over time, with developmental progressions that are very evident to the writer and the reader. Toward the end of their time here, our seventh and eighth graders submit writing to the regional Scholastic Art & Writing competition, and for years, they have won many of the top awards. That is only one measure of the strength of our writing program. The process of growing from a young child who dictates a caption for a drawing to a skilled 13-year-old who can write gripping fiction as well as a thoroughly researched analysis of a social protest movement can seem bewildering. So, how do students get there? 6 APPLETREE
At EMS, we know that children are writers before they can even form their letters correctly. From the moment our students enter Chilton House, teachers model good writing by reading powerful examples aloud. Our youngest students also revel in dictating stories
At EMS, we know that children are writers before they can even form their letters correctly. about themselves and their artwork. In the kindergarten writer’s workshop, students draw pictures in their writing journals to help formulate ideas. Some children then write one word, while others are beginning to understand the concept of sentence construction. First graders zoom in on tiny moments — personal narratives — by visualizing the experience, sharing it orally in a strong sentence, adding details and ending with a feeling. A highlight of the second
2014
Ulysses: A Perfect Hero
A hero was defined by the ancient Greeks as a man who modeled courage, leadership, or cunning. Theseus modeled courage, and though revered by the Greeks, he did not encompass the additional characteristics. Achilles fought with exceptional determination; however, controlling his rage proved to be difficult. Although Ulysses, too, had a flaw, hubris, he eclipsed all other heroes because he epitomized each attribute: Courage leadership and cunning.
Courage means that a man has the mental or moral strength to withstand fear, danger, or
difficulty. Rather than risking any more of his men, Ulysses explored Circe’s island himself (pg. 48). Without knowing what dangers awaited him on land, he said to his mean, “I shall go ashore
2016
Winner Silver Medal
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ek Hide and Se r by Ava Merke
WRITERS grade is the publishing breakfast, an opportunity for families to see their students move through the continuum from brainstorming to publishing and from sentences to paragraphs. As the transition from learning to read to reading to learn is fully developed in the later years of elementary school, our students are ready to more closely mimic what they are encountering in literature and social studies. Strong leads and concluding sentences in paragraphs and more complex details and varied word selection become the hallmarks of good writing. Students are expected to correct their spelling, grammar and writing mechanics. They do this through developing their editing skills, and they utilize editing checklists and feedback from their peers to present a finished product that is much more polished than just a year before. Morrow House students’ writing matures from concrete summarizing to inferential and analytical five-paragraph essays. The ACER
Previous Page: Ava Merker ’16 in second grade; samples of the progression of her writing through the years. Above: Ava today.
paragraph structure (Assertion, Context, Evidence, Reasoning) forms the basis for all expository writing. Throughout middle school, students develop the ability to think critically and take a stand in writing with evidential proof, a skill that will serve them well throughout their academic careers and future employment. And, of course, our oldest students continue writing creative pieces (many of which go on to win awards) and listening to beautiful and vivid literature read aloud in the classroom. They explore new forms as well: Greek myths that are part of the sixth grade curriculum turn into song parodies that form the basis of music videos, and short form “flash” fiction keeps seventh graders entertained and engaged. By the time our students graduate, they have come full circle, and, in an echo of the first grade experience, they will write another personal narrative (now known as a memoir) that focuses on one of those small, yet important, moments of their lives. APPLETREE 7
feature story
Physical Education More than just child’s play by Ginny Smith, physical education teacher and Andy Escala ’83, Director of Athletics
We all know how important daily activity is to our children’s ability to learn, focus and grow into healthy adults. Although recess may look like mere child’s play, quality physical education programs are supported by extensive neuro-scientific research into the mind-body connection and provide developmentally appropriate activities for all ages. The goal, as in all academic subjects, is to create lifelong learners who are willing to take on new challenges with their bodies and their minds. In early childhood, our students engage in movement education. Through a guided discovery approach to learning, they explore all the ways their bodies can move. Exposure to a plethora of objects such as balls, beanbags, hula hoops, rings, buckets, scarves and Frisbees shows young children how these things can be manipulated in different ways through different actions. As they learn and practice new ways of moving their bodies and objects through space, they gain newfound confidence and ability to take on the physical world. Movement education also reinforces concepts that they are learning in the classroom and everyday life such as directionality, body shapes, body identification, locomotor movements and the relationship between their bodies, objects and their peers. When children advance to elementary school, the physical education program focuses on ensuring that our students achieve the physical literacy needed to give them the confidence, ability and desire to be physically active for a lifetime. The students begin transferring their newly learned movement patterns into more specific skills and enjoy using these skills in games. They crave swinging on climbing ropes and climbing cargo nets. They learn to jump rope, juggle scarves, throw, catch, kick, bounce, roll, dribble and strike with an extension such as a bat, paddle, racket and hockey stick. They also learn the proper techniques to perform a multitude of sport skills and have the opportunity to reinforce these not only during recess but also during morning, after school and weekend activities on campus.
8 APPLETREE
Important fitness activities are also incorporated into class routines as young students play tag games and practice aerobic movements to strengthen their cardiovascular system. A variety of dynamic exercises help to strengthen their muscles and improve their flexibility and muscular endurance. Students in fourth, fifth and sixth grade are tested at least twice a year to evaluate their individual fitness level. The world of interscholastic sports opens up to sixth grade students, who have the option to participate on interscholastic athletics teams with seventh and eighth grade students. As is the case with many country day schools, seventh and eighth grade students participate in a sports education model to fulfill their physical education requirements. The sports education program in the culminating years of middle school focuses on team building activities that develop character, problem-solving techniques and an understanding of the importance of cooperation and discussion to perform as a cohesive unit. Our sports offerings include soccer, softball, basketball, cross country, tennis, lacrosse and intramurals as well as non-competitive activities such as yoga, pilates, ice skating, squash and bowling. A key component of our sports programs is the no-cut policy, where all players get a chance to play on a team of their choice. All team members are given an opportunity to participate in each game and compete at their individual skill levels. EMS has nurtured students to the heights of Division I college sports as well as those who just enjoy the camaraderie of club teams. Ultimately, it is our goal that students leave our school as physically literate individuals who have the desire, skill and confidence to keep their bodies in motion in order to enhance their health and wellbeing throughout their lives.
APPLETREE 9
legacy 2016
too! l and we do oo h c S w ro or e E lisa beth M Dad loved Th
The Legacy Lives On by Jan Abernathy, Director of Marketing and Communications
Anniversaries are a time for looking backward with pride at all our school has accomplished, while at the same time looking forward with anticipation and excitement about where the future will take us. That is evident when we look at our legacy students, those who have had parents and other family members attend EMS before them, and who are sharing in the joy of lifelong learning, the values of the 4 C’s and the warmth of traditions that have been passed down through the generations. 10 APPLETREE
We deeply appreciate the commitment that our alumni families continue to make to our school, entrusting us with their most precious possession, their own children. This is not a trust that we take lightly and we strive to ensure that they will have all of the habits of mind necessary to become the thinkers and leaders that we can already see them becoming. EMS is truly a tie that binds these families, and we are proud to call them our own.
It’s like The Elisabeth Morrow School is part of our family!
Current Parents Who Are Alumni 2015–2016 Joseph A. Agresta, Jr. ’78 Joseph III, Abigale Victor Alvarez ’93 Gemma, Greyson Natalie J. Capan Amerkanian ’84 Garo Adrienne M. Buda Anderson ’79 Amelia Stephen A. Borg ’80 William
Alexandra T. Champ ’86 Harrison and Markus White Colleen Cooper ’79 Jack Bloom Alexandra T. Don ’97 Portia Andrew G. Escala ’83 Garrett Michele Esposito ’86 Robert Crandall
Nancy Fujita ’86 Olivia
Saumil R. Parikh ’86 Sareena, Shanaya
Jon D. Rustin ’93 Isaac
Joshua E. Hyman ’75 Charlotte
Rajnik W. Raab ’78 Benjamin
Carl J. Saphier ’79 Alia, Noah, Gabriel
Melinda M. Panella Insana ’82 Thomas, Anna
Anil S. Ranawat ’86 Viviana, Cooper
Carey B. White ’86 Shira Miller
Dana Romita ’84 Alexander
Fara White ’94 Samuel Chikvashvilli
Michael D. Rudelli ’92 Arthur
Felicia A. Zekauskas ’74 Ian Maloney
Courtney L. Myers Miglietta ’81 Gio, Alessandra, Madison David Oropeza ’75 Charlie
APPLETREE 11
advancement
Happy Anniversary! 85th Anniversary Black & White Ball Beloved former faculty member Carolyn Milne and the 20th anniversary of the Summer String Festival were celebrated on May 21 at our 85th Anniversary Black & White Ball. In addition to remarks from both Mrs. Milne and Amelia Gold, Arts Department Chair and Director of SSF, a highlight of the evening was a performance by the alumni of the Summer String Festival. “Events like this reinforce just what a special place this community is,” says Aaron Cooper, Head of School. “Our school has always been known for the strength of its faculty and its unique instrumental music program, both of which are unrivaled. It was wonderful to be able to highlight both while celebrating our 85 years in Englewood.”
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APPLETREE 13
advancement
International Food Festival Once again, our International Food Festival delighted young and old alike. A celebration of our culturally diverse community, which included creative arts and crafts, a huge variety of delicious food and plenty of opportunities for socializing among our families, the event was co-chaired by Angie Byun Chung and Dimitri Vermès and organized by scores of wonderful volunteers. “The International Food Festival is an event that brings together students, their families and our faculty and highlights the power of our community,” says Aaron Cooper, Head of School. “It’s no surprise that it evokes many powerful memories for alumni and their families alike because it is indeed so representative of exactly the kind of place that EMS is.”
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alumni and parent profiles
An Alumna Shares Her Love of EMS with Her Sons
by Jan Abernathy, Director of Marketing and Communications
There’s an old adage in advertising that says nothing sells better than word of mouth. So, it is fitting that word of mouth brought Felicia Zekauskas, a partner in ZINC, an advertising and design firm, to our school. Ms. Zekauskas ’73, P’13, P’18, who, with her husband, Peter Maloney, also writes and illustrates children’s books (The Magic Hockey Stick and others), moved to Hackensack when she was very young. She recalls that her mother, a public school nurse, learned about EMS from a fellow teacher whose daughter, Elaine Bennett, was attending the school. “She spoke so highly of Elisabeth Morrow that my mother decided to look into it.” Ms. Zekauskas remembers entering EMS in third grade, which at the time was in Morrow House. Her older brother attended Englewood School for Boys, now known as Dwight-Englewood. Beyond memories of shaking hands with Mrs. Chilton, her third grade teacher, Mrs. Matthews, on crutches, performing The Mikado and memorizing poems by Emily Dickinson, Ms. Zekauskas has lots
“The individual attention all of the students receive and the way that they are encouraged to pursue their passions make a difference.” of memories of music. “I remember all of the kids walking around with violin cases and being disappointed because I played the piano,” says Ms. Zekauskas, who carpooled with the granddaughter of former Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. “I’m sure that my love of drama, music and art came from EMS,” she says, adding, “Music filled the halls back then just as it does today.” Continuing her education at Hackensack High School and then Cornell University, Ms. Zekauskas was involved in many activities, a trait that she shares with her sons, Christian ’13 and Ian ’18. The family sought out EMS after September 11 brought them back to
Top left: Felicia Zekauskas ’73, P’13, P’18 and her third grade class at EMS; Above: Felicia and her husband, Peter Maloney; Left: Ian Maloney ’18 and Christian Maloney ’13.
Bergen County. “I arrived on campus and it seemed like it hadn’t changed at all; it was so spacious and open compared to the city schools we had been looking at.” Christian, a junior at Riverdale Country School, continues to play violin, loves Latin and history and has become a First Team All-Ivy cross country runner. “He took advantage of everything that EMS had to offer and brought it into his high school education.” Ian, a sixth grader, is a member of the EMS orchestra. He plays cello, trumpet and piano, and has been arranging music since he was in Little School. Ms. Zekauskas notes that Ian’s interests extend far beyond music and, thanks to EMS, he’s had plenty of opportunities to explore them. “He’s traveled with the math team to Houston, writes for the school newspaper and now has his own blog on baseball, mlbstatchat.com,” she says. Ms. Zekauskas says that EMS has been able to nurture her two very different children, allowing them each to excel in their own way. “The individual attention all of the students receive and the way that they are encouraged to pursue their passions make a difference,” she adds. Also important to Ms. Zekauskas is how diverse EMS has become. “Very little diversity existed when I attended, or even when Christian did,” she says. “The school has become a better reflection of society at large. It’s preparing them for the world we live in today.” APPLETREE 15
alumni and parent profiles
Pursuing Passions
A challenging environment taught alumna to exceed expectations by Jan Abernathy, Director of Marketing and Communications
As a student at EMS, Isabel Scher ’08 discovered that school is better when you get to do a lot of different things. “When I came here in sixth grade, I immediately noticed EMS students got the opportunity to do so much — whether it was art, or music or sports,” she says. “It was a change from my public middle school, where kids commit to one thing early and just focus on that.” Isabel continued to develop many passions throughout her education at the Bergen County Academies and Rice University, and next year, she will be heading off to China as part of the 111-member inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars, receiving a fully funded scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in economics and business at the new Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The political science major was chosen from more than 3,000 applicants for the program. Isabel and her twin, Daniel, joined their brother, Jeremy, a member of EMS’ first class of eighth grade graduates, after their mother attended a back-to-school meeting at EMS and at their middle school on the same night. “Just being able to make that side-by-side comparison, she knew that we belonged where our brother was,” Isabel says. “After a month in public middle school, we moved to Morrow House.”
Isabel also remembers playing soccer, although there was no girls team at the time. “Mr. Escala let two of us play with the boys — it was great that EMS could be flexible in that way.” Her varied interests paid off at Bergen County Academies. “I got to be in dance, student government and play every sport I wanted,” she says. Following her older brother to Rice University made sense because “Rice is a school that is about intelligence, not entitlement, just like EMS was.” She later fell in love with the city of Houston, and plans to work for a consulting firm there after her time in China is over. Isabel says that finding out that she won the fellowship — after an intense process that included a panel interview with senior executives and world leaders — was incredible. “Before coming into my senior year of college, I had this moment thinking of my 13-year-old self and her dreams, and how I was going to hold myself accountable to her. This is something that aligns with my core values of learning about other cultures, other people and striving for excellence. I felt like I had really earned something that I could be very proud of.”
Although the school year was already underway, Isabel was able to make friends easily. “Jason Brandner, Ali Goss and George Abitante are still among my closest friends and I see them whenever I am at home,” she says, adding, “In fact, Jason and I will be taking a birthright trip to Israel this summer.”
“When I came here in sixth grade, I immediately noticed EMS students got the opportunity to do so much — whether it was art, or music or sports.” EMS was a challenging environment for Isabel, where her teachers motivated her to do her best. A conversation with Head of School Aaron Cooper, who was then middle school dean, as well as her coach and Latin teacher, was a turning point. “I was meandering around in lacrosse practice and simply not paying attention. Mr. Cooper called me into his office and said, ‘People look to you to lead, and even if you don’t love this sport, you need to set an example.’ I knew then that what I did mattered.” Michele Bower, Isabel’s history teacher, never accepted less than her best work. “She always let me know that she had high expectations for me and she really pushed me,” Isabel says.
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Isabel Scher ’08 with brothers Jeremy ’06 (left) and Daniel ’08 (right).
achievement
Alumni Event A wonderful time was had by all as we welcomed more than 30 alumni to a cocktail party at American Cut in Englewood Cliffs. Designed by Danny Forster ’89, the latest Marc Forgione restaurant was an elegant setting in which our alumni reminisced with faculty members, including Amelia Gold, Mary Ann Rota and Janis Wein, as well as graduates who are now faculty members themselves, Andy Escala and Carey White. “The strength of this community is always on display at this fabulous event,” says Phyllis Kesslen, director of alumni and parent relations. “We are so proud of all that our alumni have accomplished and we enjoy hearing how EMS has shaped their lives.”
Eighth Grade Moments Students’ culminating year at The Elisabeth Morrow School creates many memories and bonds that cannot be broken among those who will soon leave us to share their talents with a wide variety of secondary schools. For every class of graduates, it is special and different and a lens through which they will view the end of childhood and the beginning of a whole new adventure. These are but some of the memories the Class of 2016 made this year.
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athletics
Winter Season Wrap-Up The boys basketball team worked hard this year on its skills and understanding of game situations and ended a competitive season with nine wins and five losses. Nineteen students from sixth, seventh and eighth grade played on the team, with seventh and sixth graders progressing well in gaining additional prowess on the court. Eighth graders Davide and Kris were three-point experts and several seventh grade students progressed well in playing the game. The girls basketball team finished with a solid win over Tuxedo Park. Its strength all season was its defense, which was quick on its feet and stopped many tough opponents. Seventh grader Kate led the team this year on offense and defense. Eighth grader Amy also was a force to be reckoned with in the paint. The team’s final record was 4–4, and the girls played hard for each win. As an added sports offering this term, students had opportunities for ice skating, bowling and squash at the Englewood Field Club.
Stay Connected!
Young Alumni Reunion
Alum and Current Student Connect at Rice!
Wednesday June 15, 2016 Noon to 1:30 p.m. The Russell Berrie Music Room in Morrow House RSVP to alumni@elisabethmorrow.org or call Phyllis Kesslen at 201.568.5566 x7315
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When Tania Min returned for her 25th anniversary homecoming at Rice University, she didn’t expect that her EMS sixth grader, Conrad, would be spending time with our own Becca Federman ’10. We are thrilled that Tania will be returning to the Summer String Festival as a counselor this year, where she will mentor countless other current EMS students.
class notes HOW TO SUBMIT CLASS NOTES Please submit alumni news and updated contact information to Phyllis Kesslen, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, at alumni@elisabethmorrow.org.
(foreign exchange teacher’s aides), and she is hosting a Spanish teacher this year. She and her 16-year-old son, Alden, are thoroughly enjoying the experience. Cordelia’s husband, Steve, works for Apple in Cupertino, CA.
1987
Tonin Mersch MacCallum is the founder of an interior design firm, Tonin MacCallum A.S.I.D., Inc., where she remodels homes in the New York metropolitan area, with occasional work on the Eastern Seaboard and California. Tonin lives in Manhattan and spends weekends in the Hamptons. Sadly, Victor Melnick, her companion of 43 years, passed away last December.
Regina Anastasia Bailey received her Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University, after which she attended Georgetown University Law Center and became a patent attorney. She then decided to switch careers and received her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is currently an emergency medicine doctor and director in Houston. In addition to holding a Master of Laws in health law from the University of Houston Law Center, Dr. Bailey has published multiple books and articles about health law and medicine.
1957
1994
1946
Barbara Milliren Legan lives in Rimrock, AZ, and is the CEO and owner of The Life Mentor and Barbara Legan, LLC, a human resources consulting company. In addition, she has advanced degrees in naturopathy, is a third level Reiki Master and teacher and is a passionate proponent of alternative methods of healing. Barbara’s son, John Edward Johnson III, and his wife live in Knoxville, TN, and her daughter, Barbara Jean Johnson, and her husband live in Baltimore. Barbara would love to connect with her fellow EMS classmates.
Melissa Leber, a physician and assistant professor of emergency medicine and orthopedics at Mount Sinai Hospital, lives in Manhattan with husband Jared Kutzin and her daughter, Sylvie Rose, born on November 22.
1998 Samuel Negin lives in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and is president of his own consulting firm, Financial Research Advisors, LLC.
1975
2007
Cordelia Pierson is the executive director at the Minnesota Environmental Fund in Minneapolis. She also serves on the board of her neighborhood organization, which hosts Amity Scholars
Jonathan Litt graduated from the University of Connecticut in May. He currently interns with a music management start-up.
IN MEMORIAM We were saddened to receive the news that Andrew W. Puchner ’82 passed away on March 5 after a lifelong struggle with heart disease. He was 45. Mr. Puchner, who lived in Bergenfield, graduated from Dwight-Englewood School and Kenyon College. He was a devoted employee of the Englewood Public Library, where he worked for 22 years. Mr. Puchner, who was also pursuing his master’s in library science at Rutgers University, will be remembered as a beloved family member, an avid reader and an active student. He was awarded his diploma posthumously in May. Mr. Puchner is survived by his parents, Peter and Betsy Puchner, an EMS trustee, and brothers Thomas ’85 and Edward ’88 and their families. David O’Leary, a beloved educator, musician and longtime EMS devotee, passed away last summer; he will be truly missed. Mr. O’Leary joined EMS in 1971, teaching math, science and music. He remained an active participant in the community well past his retirement, when he would return to campus to help with the sixth grade Medieval Day and play the piano.
At a beautiful eulogy given at his memorial service, his longtime colleague and dear friend, Susan Smolin, recalled Mr. O’Leary as among the finest of gentlemen and intellectuals — a true Renaissance man — who loved his students, his music and his passion for science and meteorology. Mr. O’Leary, who resided in Englewood, was a graduate of Yale University School of Music. There, he met his wife, Lore, who predeceased him by many years. Mr. O’Leary is survived by his nephew, Reed Mitchell, as well as many devoted friends and admirers. We are saddened by the loss of Dominic Kulik, father of alumni Dante ’10 and Nakai ’12, and husband of former EMS director of communication and public relations, Loraine. Mr. Kulik was the founding managing director of Industrial Ecology Capital Management Global; founder and chairman of Natural Systems Utilities, LLC; and managing director of Dakai Enterprises, LLC. Mr. Kulik died from an injury sustained while surfing in Puerto Rico. He also is survived by his parents, Alan D. and Nancy Careri Kulik, his sister, Regina Kulik Scully, and brothers, Alfred Kulik, MD, and Glenn Kulik. APPLETREE 19
then & now
class notes 2009 Maxime Menne attends New York University and lives in the East Village. In addition to her other duties as manager of the NYU men’s ice hockey team, Maxime photographs the team and works with its charity program. Upon graduation, Maxime plans to pursue a master’s in education at NYU and become an elementary school teacher. A trilingual speaker, she hopes to live abroad working in an international school. In her free time, Maxime loves to run, play ice hockey and travel. Megan Litt is in her junior year at Barnard College. This past fall, she spent the semester studying in Bologna, Italy, through a Brown University program.
2012 Edward (Eddie) Happle, a senior at Xavier High School, received academic honors this year. He plans to attend Lehigh University in the fall, where he was accepted early decision. Greg Litt is currently a senior at Riverdale Country School. He’s headed to Skidmore College in the fall, where he was accepted early decision.
Amelia Gold has been here during the school year and for the summer for more than 20 years, leading our arts programs to great heights. We salute the 20th anniversary of the Summer String Festival and look forward to many years of beautiful music from our students in the future.
2013 Alon Berkowitz, a Tenafly High School junior, has been selected to compete with the Israel U-19 Men’s National Lacrosse Team in Vancouver in July (he is #18 in the photo). Alon, a captain of the Tenafly High School varsity team (an honor typically reserved for seniors), scored more than 50 goals during the season, more than double the next highest scorer. He also earned a spot on the Tri-State Lacrosse team, a nationally recognized all-star program comprising players throughout New Jersey.
EMS Says Goodbye to Two Exemplary Educators After 38 and 17 years, respectively, of serving EMS students, our Little School reading specialists, Sandy Malko and Laurie Lester, are retiring this June.
Over their 55 combined years here, they have taught thousands of students to read. They have worked with students in small groups, in full classrooms and individually, supporting those who needed more time or practice. They engaged with parents to deepen the partnership between home and school and mentored teachers to become even better at supporting literacy in their students. Always forward thinkers, Laurie and Sandy utilized many professional development opportunities to enhance their practice. This year, as a team, and with the encouragement and support of Dr. Allison Egert, our director of special learning services, they spearheaded a shift in the reading support model which has been highly successful.
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Laurie, who came to EMS after 12 years as a classroom and resource teacher in Connecticut and New Jersey schools, brought with her a passion for literature and for teaching young children to read. An experienced teacher, Sandy first came to EMS as a parent when her boys, George and Anthony, were students here, and resumed her teaching career at EMS as a first grade classroom teacher. She will be remembered for the myriad ways in which she supported her colleagues and her students. We wish Sandy and Laurie the best in their next adventures, which will include travel, volunteer work, taking classes, reconnecting with friends and spending ample time with grandchildren, which will surely involve reading.
Ready to Lead Young people grow and learn through exposure to new ideas and by taking risks in a safe environment. Challenges that foster growth, strong character and a confident sense of self are an essential part of The Elisabeth Morrow School experience.
Your gift helps The Elisabeth Morrow School continue to be the incredible place where students learn to trust their own abilities. Ways to Give: The Apple Tree Fund can accept gifts by check, American Express, MasterCard, Visa or appreciated securities. • To give online: www.elisabethmorrow.org and click “Giving.” • To make a gift of securities, please contact Maureen York in the development office at myork@elisabethmorrow.org or 201.568.5566 x7222. Corporate matching gifts enable you to double, or even triple, your gift to EMS. Simply complete a matching gift form from your company’s human resources department and send it to EMS along with your gift.
The Apple Tree Fund
giving@elisabethmorrow.org www.elisabethmorrow.org/giving
The Elisabeth Morrow School 435 Lydecker Street Englewood, NJ 07631
calendar of events June 14...............................................................Graduation
We are proud to report that members of the Class of 2016 were admitted to the following secondary schools:
Abraham Joshua Heschel School
Horace Mann School
Academy of the Holy Angels
Masters School
Bard High School Early College (Queens, NY) Bergen County Academies
June 15.................................... Young Alumni Luncheon
Blair Academy Brearley School Bronx High School of Science
June 20........................................................Triple A Camp
June 27–August 12.................. Summer Explorations
August 15–19.........................Summer String Festival
September 7........... First Day of Classes 2016 –2017
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School
Immaculate Heart Academy Millbrook School Miss Hall’s School Montclair Kimberley Academy Paramus Catholic High School Pomfret School Riverdale Country School Saddle River Day School
Convent of the Sacred Heart (NY)
Saint Joseph Regional High School
Don Bosco Preparatory High School
SAR Academy
Dwight School
Solomon Schechter School of Westchester
Dwight-Englewood School
Trevor Day School
Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Trinity School
Frank McCourt High School
United Nations International School
Hackley School
York Preparatory School
High School of American Studies, Lehman College