MUSIC A Key to Learning Success
A publication of The Elisabeth Morrow School
Spring 2015
Morrow Moment During a third grade colonial schoolhouse reenactment, classmates react to a fellow student’s “whispering sticks” punishment for speaking out of turn.
APPLETREE
Spring 2015
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 Communications Design Erbach Communications Group
Content Contributors Paul Baly Michele Bower Aaron Cooper Melissa Ebeling Amelia Gold Liza Jones Hards Phyllis Kesslen Emily Spaeth
Photography and Photographic Contributors Shelley Kusnetz Robin Robison-Dillard Paul Sky Sammie Smith
in this issue
On the Cover Seventh grader Jessie plays violin in our Chamber Orchestra. She started lessons at EMS in the third grade. At EMS, all third graders have instrumental music lessons in school four times a week.
Letter from the Head of School
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Appletree News
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Cover Story: Music
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Feature: Living History
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An update about exciting developments at school. Summer String Festival celebrates 20 harmonious years; other news and events. Why the benefits for our students go far beyond developing artistic expression and creativity.
Engaged learning for life happens when students experience history as participants.
A Legacy of Trust
The Elisabeth Morrow School is the tie that binds generations.
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Advancement 12 A focus on supporters of The Elisabeth Morrow School’s mission.
Special Tribute
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Alumni and Parent Profiles
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Achievement: Eighth Grade Moment
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Athletics
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Class Notes
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Then and Now
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Remembering Stephen P. Jones, former Head of School.
Saluting our “seniors” at EMS.
Recaps and photos from the Eagles’ winter season.
The halls are alive with the sound of music.
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
As the school year winds down and we look forward to summer, there are some exciting developments about to happen here on our EMS campus. In addition to the myriad of programs for children – Triple A Camps, Summer Explorations, Summer String Festival and more — there will also be construction taking place as we significantly improve our field. The project involves slightly increasing the size, greatly improving drainage and installing a new turf surface using “Nike Grind” — old sneakers — as filler. Thanks in large part to a significant gift from an EMS family as well as donations from a handful of others, this project is being totally funded by donations outside of the school’s regular operating budget. The benefits of turfing the field and expanding its size are extensive — it will provide our fall and spring sports teams with additional practice space without having to leave our campus and it will offer an all-weather surface to be used year-round by our younger students for physical education, recess and many after school activities. So, when you’re visiting campus over the summer, don’t be surprised to see lots occurring on mid-campus. When you return to school in September, we look forward to being able to welcome all to Family Field Day on the newly named Community Field. During the coming year, we will continue working on additional initiatives in our master plan; you will be hearing more about these as next year progresses. For now, we are delighted to be completing a part of it that will bring such great benefits to our students so quickly.
“The benefits of turfing the field and expanding its size are extensive — it will provide our fall and spring sports teams with additional practice space without having to leave our campus and it will offer an all-weather surface to be used year-round by our younger students for physical education, recess and many after school activities.”
A rendering of the new Community Field. Its expanded size and all-weather surface will benefit sports teams and students of all ages.
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I wish you all some time in these warm months to relax and enjoy happy times with your families and friends. Next year, there will be lots to celebrate here at EMS during our 85th anniversary! My best,
Aaron Cooper, Head of School
appletree news
Bright Ideas by Amelia Gold, Arts Department Chair
Twenty Wonderful Years of Summer String Festival We are thrilled to celebrate the 20th anniversary year of The Elisabeth Morrow School Summer String Festival! With close to 300 students from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, France, England and Korea auditioning, this year’s Festival, from August 10–14, is shaping up to be our most musically enriching session ever. The students will be joined by more than 90 counselors, all of whom are alumni of the Festival choosing to give back to EMS by working at the Festival for community service or donating to the Festival’s Tuition Aid Fund. Read more on the following page...
Celebrate
20 Years
The Elisabeth Morrow School
Summer String Festival 2015 APPLETREE 3
appletree news
Bright Ideas
Summer String Continued from page 3
This summer, the repertoire that will be studied by the students will include works by Bach, Vivaldi and Copland. In addition, to celebrate this special musical occasion, the alumni will form an orchestra with the faculty and rehearse the entire week together with both Wayne du Maine and Amelia Gold as conductors. They will create a Super Orchestra with more than 150 artists. On Thursday, August 13, all alumni and their families will be welcomed back to campus for “SSF Alumni Day.” All alumni may join us for the dress rehearsal at 1:30 p.m. and the alumni reception at 3 p.m. We are so excited to include our alumni in the performance of Canon in D in the Peter Lawrence Gymkhana at 2:45 p.m. Please bring your instruments. We can’t wait to celebrate year 20 of the EMS Summer String Festival together!
Summer Explorations Offers New STEM Classes by Liza Jones Hards, Director of Auxiliary Programs
Students will have many opportunities to engage their minds, excite their curiosities and explore new pursuits right here at Summer Explorations. With many new, innovative courses, activities and themes, students from age three to 14 are sure to find something to pique their interest. This year, we are partnering with i2 Camp to offer immersive, hands-on STEM courses such as the Physics of Photography, Architects of Time, Building an Interactive Friendly Monster
For second through sixth grade students, we have more than 120 workshops and courses and exciting field trips and activities, including an all-camp carnival, while our youngest students have a chance to explore art, cooking, science and literature and outdoor play. Summer Explorations runs from June 22–August 7.
A World of Choices at Triple A Camp Week by Liza Jones Hards, Director of Auxiliary Programs
Arts, Athletics and Adventure are all part of the fun at our very own Triple A Camp Week at The Elisabeth Morrow School. Current EMS students from age four through eighth grade are able to participate in this exciting week, June 15–19. The Arts portion of the week features String Week and Jazz Week in the mornings and Theater Week in the afternoons. String Week is open to current student violinists, cellists and bassists entering first through eighth grades. Jazz Week is open to wind, percussion, brass, bass and keyboard players entering fifth through eighth grades. Theater Week has sections for second through fourth and fifth through eighth graders. Theater Week gives students the opportunity to work with improvisation, character study and scene development. Students have the opportunity to play sports during Eagle Sports Camp, which is also offered in the afternoons for students entering third
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and Digital Game Design with Scratch to fifth through eighth graders.
through eighth grades. This weeklong program is designed for students to learn and play sports offered in our Middle School program, including soccer, basketball and lacrosse. And finally, the Adventure part of the week features June Express for students ages four through fourth grade. Activities during the week include water play, games, arts and crafts, nature study, outdoor play, music, stories and more. Whatever their passion or preference, the students are able to design their week accordingly. The week culminates with performances by the String, Jazz and Theater groups for all to enjoy.
News, facts and events from The Elisabeth Morrow School
Fiddler Lyricist Workshops EMS Performance Sheldon Harnick, noted lyricist of Fiddler on the Roof, visited with our fifth and sixth grade thespians this winter. Our cast presented two of the show’s ensemble numbers and then participated in a question-and-answer session with Mr. Harnick. The musical, directed by faculty member Bronwen Eastwood, was performed in January.
EMS Students Earn Gold and Silver in Scholastic Writing Competition In March, eighth grade student Anne Choi earned a National Gold Medal in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for her memoir/ personal narrative, The Phone Call. This year, the awards, sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, received more than 300,000 entries from across the country and abroad, and less than one percent of the student works earned National Gold Medals.
Amelia Gold, Arts Department Chair, says, “It was an enormous thrill to have an artist of Mr. Harnick’s magnitude take the time to come and work with our young artists here at EMS. He was struck by the enormous talent and seriousness of our students and was riveted by their performance. For the fifth and sixth grade musical performers to come full circle with the lyricist who created the show was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for both the teachers and the students. Mr. Harnick gave the history behind the show and specific stage directions to the students. What an amazing day with a living legend.”
Students are first judged on a regional level, and in January, 18 EMS students earned a total of 23 regional awards. Of our four regional Gold Medalists, Anne was selected for national recognition. EMS also had eight Silver Keys and 11 Honorable Mentions. Our students were recognized in several categories, including poetry, short story, flash fiction, memoir and photography.
Success for Project Cicero Project Cicero NNJ just completed its successful third annual book drive. The organization, founded three years ago by Teddi Hunter P’14, P’15, P’19 and Jennifer Backer of Fort Lee, was formed to get new or gently used books into the hands of students in underresourced New Jersey schools. With more than 250 teachers attending the book distribution, held in the Peter Lawrence Gymkhana on March 7, Ms. Hunter estimates that the charity served more than 5,000 students through supplementing or creating classroom libraries. “This year, we collected more than 30,000 books from 20 local donor schools, including EMS,” she says. “It’s so gratifying to see what a huge impact students and parents in our local community can have when they work together toward a common goal.” APPLETREE 5
cover story
MUSIC: by Amelia Gold, Arts Department Chair
At The Elisabeth Morrow School, music has always been one of the disciplines at the core of our school community. We embrace Plato’s philosophy that we should “teach children music, physics and philosophy, but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning.” Music is the way we connect as a community and is one of the most powerful vehicles of artistic expression at EMS. More than 60 years ago, Jean Gilbert began the instrumental music program with a third grade violin program for interested students. Then, in fourth grade, all orchestral instruments were introduced, and the students had the opportunity to join the EMS Orchestra. Customized musical arrangements, many of which are still performed to this very day, were composed to accommodate the ability level of this special ensemble and a choral program was added to the school’s offerings. Now, enrollment in the instrumental music programs at EMS includes nearly 100 percent of the student body in third through 6 APPLETREE
eighth grade. The orchestra program, with more than 120 instrumentalists, has grown to be larger than the New York Philharmonic. In addition to the orchestra, we have two string performance groups: the Chamber Orchestra and Superchamber. The wind instrumental program was restructured in 2010 to include a Little School Band, Morrow House Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble and, in 2014, Stage Band. In 2014, the instrumental music program was formally integrated into the curriculum as a core subject, giving all students from third through fifth grade access to the highest level of instrumental instruction during the school day. And it’s not only our elementary and middle school students who play. Our traditional year-end Violin Playdown includes more than 200 performers in each of the school’s grades. The Elisabeth Morrow School music program has become a national model for successful music education. Our programs have been featured in local and national media and our students have performed at Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Bergen
Music Making in Chilton House by Emily Spaeth, Music Teacher
A Key to Learning Success
Performing Arts Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center and countless local community outreach concerts. Our summer program, the EMS Summer String Festival, founded in 1996 with the generous support of the Russell Berrie Foundation, attracts over 230 local, regional and international musicians ages 4–13 to the EMS campus for a weeklong festival. Every summer, more than 100 alumni ages 14–23 return to the campus for this extraordinary musical event. This exponential growth of musical experiences could only occur in an environment where parents, students, teachers and administrators are united in their passion and belief in the integral role of music education in developing the mind and spirit of the whole child. Although some scientific evidence suggests that music education has a positive impact on brain development characterized by improved focus, test scores and overall academic achievement, at The Elisabeth Morrow School, when we reflect upon the results achieved by nearly 85 years of staunch commitment to music education, we conclude that the benefits of this effort extend well beyond the academic sphere.
Music activities in Chilton House are designed to focus on the whole child and incorporate movement, dance, speech and improvisation. Children are active participants in lessons that use many different pedagogical methods, including Orff-Schulwerk, Dalcroze and Kodály. Current research suggests that a child’s brain is most prepared to absorb language between birth and age five. Music in itself is a language, and exposure to high quality musical experiences in the Early Childhood and kindergarten programs prepares the students for more challenging endeavors as they progress through Little School and Morrow House. Songs and chants, both familiar and new, are used to introduce the fundamentals of music: the highs and lows of melody, the short and long of rhythm and the loud and soft of dynamics. Additionally, these songs expose the children to new vocabulary, identification of rhyming words and the beginning steps to understanding the subtleties of language such as puns, jokes and traditional sayings. The children are also exposed to singing songs in other languages, including Spanish. Movement activities, which also include singing, are used to emphasize musical concepts such as steady beat and tempo, while improvisation, using singing, movement and instruments, teaches the students to trust themselves enough to try new ideas and new ways of doing things. The Chilton House music room becomes a place where all students feel comfortable to sing, dance and play, and that feeling then continues on their journey through Little School and Morrow House. APPLETREE 7
feature story
Living History: Experiences Make the Past Come Alive by Paul Baly, Middle School Head, and Michele Bower, Director of Curriculum and Secondary School Placement
“Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand.� This enduring quote from Benjamin Franklin is often used as the rationale behind experiential education. At The Elisabeth Morrow School, our students relive history as authentically as possible. We create spaces for an active, invigorated thinking and learning journey by creating an environment both in and outside of the classroom where students can see the big picture, feel history and connect the past with present issues.
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Beginning in kindergarten, students are engaged in the study of self, school, the community and beyond. They embrace multiple perspectives in their study of cultures and traditions. Experiential learning helps them develop curiosity and critical thinking skills. When students are engaged, they authentically experience the relevance of their learning, enhancing their motivation. Students build on this solid foundation when they enter the middle school years. One of the most powerful historical lessons comes right at the start of middle school, when fifth graders walk along the Hudson River as the early settlers did, climb the Palisades as the British did in 1776 and are “arbitrarily taxed” on Tax Day. They then exchange letters as part of Committees of Correspondence in order to see the Revolution through the eyes of the Patriots. In their study of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, students travel to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Founding Fathers walked, argued and created a nation. Fifth grade teacher Sanda Cohen notes, “History comes alive for our students, because throughout the year, they have opportunities to live, work, think and feel like those involved in establishing our country. They live history.” Throughout the sixth grade year, students are off campus visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and The Cloisters. In all cases, students see how architecture and art integrally complement history. Sixth grade history teacher Rick Lansdale explains, “When we turn to the Middle Ages, we ask students to imagine that, like one of Chaucer’s pilgrims, they, too, must go on a pilgrimage.” Students have a similar experience in their classrooms. For the Greek Olympics, students have the opportunity to write a myth or tragedy that conveys a lesson. On Medieval Day, they dance, perform and eat like those in the Middle Ages. Through these seminal EMS experiences, our students gain an insider’s view of the people, events and cultures of the past and understand the human connection that exists. The eighth graders get to put their study of the three branches of government to work in their annual trip to Washington, D.C. They go to the Supreme Court and watch a portion of a case and take a trip to the United States Capitol building to see congressional staffers jockeying for influence, after having studied the ways in which power is leveraged when laws are made.
From previous page, left to right: Students “living history” on Ms. Goldman’s Lenape Village trip; the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C.; the Greek Olympics.
Kidtown – A Study of Community by Melissa Ebeling, First Grade Teacher
What makes a community? How do you become a good citizen? What do communities need to thrive? As a culminating neighborhood community project, the first grade builds Kidtown, a model city created from cardboard boxes. After field trips to police and fire departments and local community organizations, students brainstorm about the needs of a community and each decides what building to make. The students collaborate and cooperate as they design, build and paint their box building. The student citizens along with their mayor (the teacher) discuss how the community should be arranged. They ask questions like, “should the police station be near a school to keep students safe?” “what buildings need the most space?” or “should banks be near stores?” After the buildings are carefully placed within the community, the students collaborate to create street signs, transportation, people and nature to complete their town. They discuss what it means to be a good citizen and develop rules. This integrated unit involves all subject areas. Reading, writing and oral language skills are utilized as students read stories like The Little House, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, Curious George Goes to the Hospital and Officer Buckle and Gloria. They also write their own stories using the town as their setting or describe their building and its importance. Math is used to measure their building’s length, width, height and perimeter and to practice beginning map skills. The students program Pro-Bot cars to travel between buildings and iPads document the entire process. At the Kidtown presentation, our students act as tour guides to share their town when their parents and other classes visit. Although only one of many experiential lessons they will have over the course of their years at EMS, Kidtown is often one of the most fondly remembered.
Experiential education is about so much more than the subject matter. It often requires group work, experimentation, trial and error, public performance and even failure. These less tangible lessons become just as valuable as the historical knowledge and remain with the students when they experience future challenges. APPLETREE 9
legacy 2015 EMS Legacies Honor Tradition, Look to the Future There is no question that respect for tradition is embedded in the DNA of The Elisabeth Morrow School. One way that tradition is passed on is through our graduates, who time and again have chosen to allow us the honor of educating their children in the fine institution that they call home. The education that these children receive today is not the same as the one of decades past, but our school remains steadfast in its core mission and philosophy, which provide the foundation for a successful life for our students. We know that it is not just high academic standards, experiential teaching and learning
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techniques and the incorporation of the arts into daily school life that will lead to success. It is also the values embedded in our 4 C’s – courtesy, consideration, cooperation and compassion – that ensure that our students gain a greater understanding of what matters in life and grow to become the thinkers and leaders that their families always envisioned. On this page is a picture of those carrying on the family tradition of being EMS students. We thank our alumni for their support throughout the years and look forward to many more generations of their families, and others, to come.
Current Parents Who Are Alumni 2014–15 Joseph Agresta, Jr. Joseph III, Abigail
James Cohen Jacqueline
Joshua Hyman Zoe, Charlotte
Dana Romita Alexander
Natalie Capan Amerkanian Shant, Garo
Colleen Cooper Jack Bloom
Melina Panella Insana Thomas, Anna
Michael Rudelli Arthur
Adrienne Buda Anderson Amelia
Andrew Escala Garrett
Courtney Myers Miglietta Gio, Alessandra, Madison
Jon Rustin Isaac
Stephen Borg William
Michele Esposito Robert Crandall
David Oropeza Charlie
Carl Saphier Alia, Noah, Gabriel
Alexandra Brill-Edwards Champ Markus White, Harrison White
Roberto Fata Enzo
Saumil Parikh Sareena, Shanaya
Fara White Samuel Chikvashvilli
Nancy Fujita Olivia
Anil Ranawat Viviana, Cooper
Felicia Zekauskas Ian Maloney
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advancement
Spring Benefit Our families enjoyed a wonderful Spring Benefit at the Alpine Country Club on May 2. A silent and live auction included priceless experiences and luxury items. Delicious food, signature cocktails and a great band ensured that this was an evening that our community won’t soon forget. Best of all, the gala benefits our wonderful faculty!
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Alumni Cocktail Party Our adult alumni gathered on April 28 at the trendy Brickyard Gastropub in Manhattan for our annual Alumni Cocktail Party. The evening was a resounding success. Former Eagles from the tri-state area were thrilled to reconnect with old friends and faculty, reminisce about fond EMS memories and network with alumni in the area. Many thanks to our dedicated alumni for keeping in touch and remaining so loyal to The Elisabeth Morrow School.
First Winter Social a Smash Hit! The Parents Association hosted The Elisabeth Morrow School’s first-ever Winter Social on February 5. This community event, billed as “a wonderful opportunity to see old friends, meet new ones and spend an evening out with the other EMS parents,” did just that, surpassing all expectations. More than 100 parents attended the event, enjoying the fabulous food, beautiful décor and a fun night out on a cold winter’s evening. Chairs Luisa Angioletti P’20, Dino Buzzerio P’13, P’15, P’19, Peter Maloney P’13, P’18 and Neeta Ogden P’20, P’22 truly outdid themselves! APPLETREE 13
special tribute
Remembering Stephen P. Jones, Former Head of School In January, Stephen P. Jones, 73, Head of School from 1989 to 2000, died of brain cancer at his home in Asheville, NC. Known for his exuberance, big heart and advocacy for social justice, Mr. Jones came to The Elisabeth Morrow School with his family and beloved dog, Bernie. Under his leadership, the school continued to grow, creating its first long-range plan, greatly increasing racial, economic and cultural diversity, formalizing a commitment to financial aid and need-blind admissions, adding a learning specialist and sponsoring before- and after-school activities to better serve the needs of working families. Mr. Jones was also instrumental in launching the Today’s Fund for Tomorrow Capital Campaign, which helped fund the Drapkin Science wing in the middle school, additional classrooms in the lower school and the Cohen Center, a large gymnasium and gathering space. Members of the EMS community established the Stephen P. Jones Endowment for Faculty and Staff Compensation in his honor when he retired. Dr. David Lowry succeeded Mr. Jones in 2000. “Mr. Jones was instrumental in launching the campaign that created the modern Elisabeth Morrow campus, developing state-of-the-art classrooms as well as a large gymnasium and gathering space that has enriched the entire community,” said Aaron Cooper, Head of School. “He had a passion for this school’s history and was able to marry a modern vision of the campus with respect for its original architecture in a way that was quite remarkable.” He added, “He was a kind, compassionate and caring man whose love for children and education reflected in everything he did.” A veteran, Mr. Jones graduated from Trinity College and received his master’s in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He worked as a teacher at the Park School of Buffalo, as a teacher, coach and head of the Shaker Heights, OH, campus of University School and as headmaster of Renbrook School in Hartford before joining EMS. He was founding Board President of the Cleveland Children’s Museum and served his communities through board service for the Cleveland Institute of Music, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, Homeward Bound of WNC, Asheville Greenway Commission, Mountain BizWorks, Asheville GreenWorks and Western North Carolina Historical Association. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Suzanne Ringler Jones; three sons: Andrew Jones; Cador Pricejones, married to Margaret Pricejones; and Nathan Jones, married to Elena Jones; seven grandchildren: Annabelle and Cador Jones; Esmay and Powell
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Pricejones; and Natalia, Isabella and Danica Jones; his brothers: Peter H. (Hal) Jones; Christopher Jones, married to Leslie Wright Jones; and Nicholas Jones, married to Sue Copeland Jones; foster daughter Christine Wheatley and many nieces and nephews.
alumni and parent profiles
Alumna Redefines ‘Early Enrollment’ by Jan Abernathy
Sometimes, a mother knows just what she wants, even before the baby arrives. So it was with Dr. Natalie Capan Amerkanian ’84, P’15, P’17, who remembers bringing her husband, Greg (“a proud product of public schools”), to campus when she was expecting her first son. “I had such a positive experience at EMS in my elementary years that there was no question in my mind that I would want our children to be able to have the same experience,” Dr. Capan said to her husband. He asked, “Why are you making your stand here? After all, we may want to consider this type of education when the children are older instead.” Dr. Capan replied that she believed strongly in the importance of a solid foundation where the groundwork is laid for good citizenship, study habits and zeal for lifelong learning. Her husband became so convinced that EMS provides these qualities that he joined the Board of Trustees in 2010. When Dr. Capan entered EMS, she was “an Armenian-speaking only child who immediately found [her] place in this wonderful and warm environment.” Although she was perhaps the only Armenian student here at the time, “even then, EMS had that wonderful gift of making everyone feel valued and celebrated for the diversity that they bring to the school.”
“EMS had that wonderful gift of making everyone feel valued and celebrated for the diversity that they bring to the school.” Researching schools in the Fort Lee library, Dr. Capan’s mother found out about The Elisabeth Morrow School and enrolled her in first grade. After graduation, Dr. Capan moved to DwightEnglewood before attending the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, concentrating in healthcare management. She then attended dental school at Harvard University and did her residency in orthodontics at Columbia University. She started her orthodontic practice in Englewood Cliffs in 2003.
The Amerkanian brothers, Shant ’15, Saro and Garo ’17.
Fondly remembering teachers such as Mrs. Bhagia and Mr. Penny, faculty members who taught both her and her children, Dr. Capan says that the focus on tradition and continuity also proves to be a unique quality of EMS. “I loved Field Day and the cocoa parties. Traditions such as the daily handshake, the 4 C’s and singing our school song are also wonderful ways that our children are able to connect with the rich past of EMS.” As her son, Shant, heads off to the Horace Mann School in the fall, Dr. Capan has been very pleased with the process of secondary school selection and says that EMS gave him “the opportunity to discover what was really important to him and to focus on that.” His brother, Garo, will graduate in 2017, and little brother Saro will be walking up the path to Chilton House before long. In the end, Dr. Capan says, the EMS experience is transformative. “The students here will take everything that they can out of this world. They are knowledge seekers and they are compassionate. It all works together.”
The Amerkanian family
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alumni and parent profiles
Carter Hirshhorn ’12: Breaking Borders An interest in service, sparked at EMS by Phyllis Kesslen, Director of Alumni Relations
Inspiration often comes when you least expect it. For Carter Hirshhorn ’12, it happened at an EMS assembly where he heard alumnus Daniel Scher ’08 speak about his involvement with Seeds of Peace, a leadership development program devoted to promoting international communication and understanding among conflicted peoples. This interest, followed by Carter’s own experience with Seeds, ultimately led to his creating Breaking Borders: Connection, Reflection and Action — an organization committed to fostering communication among teens of disparate backgrounds on difficult subjects, including race, religion and socioeconomic status. After participating in Seeds’ three-week intensive program during his freshman summer at Riverdale Country School, Carter was exhilarated. “I learned about conflict resolution through valuable dialogue with Palestinians, Jordanians, Egyptians and Israelis,” Carter remembers. “Upon returning home, I asked myself, what can I do here and now? I wanted to apply what I learned from a global standpoint to the local community,” he said. Subsequently, Carter met with teachers and the community service director at his high school, where he is now a junior. “I told them we wanted to develop a connection between Riverdale students and Bronx public school students to talk about issues rarely discussed in schools such as racial injustice, socioeconomic inequality, diversity and interfaith relations.” The administration was extremely receptive. As Carter explains, “Like EMS, my Riverdale education is discussion-based. My teachers encourage students to ask questions, challenge what we read, engage in lively discussion and form opinions, much in the same way that Mrs. Bower (our EMS history teacher) did.” Creating Breaking Borders wasn’t all smooth sailing. The most significant challenge was finding a public school in the Bronx with similar values willing to partner with Riverdale. After extensive research, the Marble Hill School for International Studies turned
Carter’s advice for EMS students interested in community service: • Go for it! • If you want to do something, don’t take “no” for an answer — we sent a lot of emails with no response and were discouraged at first. But, we didn’t give up and it paid off. • Don’t be afraid to ask for help and collaborate. It’s not about your idea; it’s about great ideas.
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Top left: Carter Hirshhorn ’12; Top right: Carter with his Breaking Borders group; Bottom Left: Breaking Borders featured at Riverdale Country School’s Diversity Conference in January.
out to be the best fit. Marble Hill is located just a few miles from Riverdale, has an extremely diverse population and a strong focus on community and global awareness. Breaking Borders held its first combined meeting in December, followed by a three-hour breakout session during Riverdale’s Diversity Conference in January. Carter’s concerns about an awkward first meeting never materialized. He recalls, “Right in the midst of the first meeting, kids engaged in awesome conversations that I never thought would happen so quickly. People really want to speak their mind and our group gives them a voice.” Currently, the group has 17 student members from Riverdale and 24 from Marble Hill. Carter is realistic in his hopes to set attainable goals to reach out to more schools over the summer and have more meetings. Breaking Borders is also working on creative ways to keep the conversation going via social media. Their ultimate goal is threefold: connection, reflection and action. Carter is returning to Maine this summer as a PS (Peer Support) for Seeds. He plans to take his passion for community service to college, where he wants to study political science and international relations. Given his enthusiasm, drive and dedication to social action, who knows what Carter will do next?
achievement
Eighth Grade Moment The eighth grade year is the end of the road for our students at The Elisabeth Morrow School and the beginning of a lifetime in which they will take into the world all that they have learned here. Whether it is special memories of the Greek Olympics, the Little School Concert or times with faculty members who made them explore, engage and challenge themselves, the Class of 2015 leaves with a shared sense of being members of this very special community. From the beginning of the school year to the end, it is a time filled with firsts and with lasts. The photographs that you see on this page are mere snapshots of a culminating year at our special school.
Spirit Week
. C . D , n o t g n i h s a W 9/11 Memorial Museum
APPLETREE 17
athletics
class notes 1946 Joseph (Joel) Boland III is a retired marketing communications executive and graduate of Middlebury College. He lives in East Grand Rapids, MI, with his wife, Mary Kathryn (Kati). Their two grown daughters and granddaughter reside out of state. Joel and Kati travel a great deal, and Joel would love to connect with old EMS classmates.
1959
Recapping the Winter Season The girls basketball team worked hard this season to improve its game. Each game got better and better, as the girls moved the ball more effectively and saw the court well. They ended the season with a fabulous lastsecond win over Tuxedo Park, who had beaten them earlier in the year, and ended with a record of 4–8. Although boys basketball faced tough competition this year, the team managed three wins over 14 games. The athletes played well, gaining many skills and increasing their understanding of game situations. As an added sports offering this term, students had opportunities for ice skating, bowling and paddle tennis at the Englewood Field Club.
After retiring from her career as a flight attendant with American Airlines, Pamela Krug Maloof found her second calling as a preschool volunteer near her Williamsburg, VA, home. She enjoys sharing the same love and caring that she experienced at EMS with the children at her school.
1965 Lucy (Muhlfeld) Kazickas recently opened her second artisanal cheese store and wine bar in Manhattan, Lucy’s Whey, on 93rd Street and Lexington Avenue. She has a similar shop in Chelsea Market. Lucy would love to have EMS families and alumni stop by to visit and shop!
1966 Chris Soldo is retired and lives in Santa Barbara, CA.
1970 Lisa Diaz Nash is the CEO of Blue Planet Network, a clean water nonprofit, which merged with Thrive Networks in 2013. Lisa lives in California with her husband of 29 years, Michael; they have two daughters, Sarah and Mary.
1973 Paul Lucas, a theatre producer in New York, will be bringing his new play, Trans Scripts, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. For more information on Paul’s play, visit www.transscripts.org.
1974 Dr. Stephanie Vomvouras is the Medical Director of Key Accounts for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. She lives in Chicago with her husband, their two teenage daughters and their two dogs. She still has fond memories of EMS.
1982 Jonathan Wooley is a doctoral candidate in public administration at Rutgers University. He lives in Fort Lee, NJ.
1984 Christine Escala and her husband, Phil Lucey, are pleased to announce the birth of their second child, Kiera Margaret, born on February 18, weighing 5 lbs., 5 oz. Older brother Cole (pictured) is thrilled, as is Uncle Andy – EMS Athletic Director Andy Escala. Christine and her family live in Albuquerque, NM.
18 APPLETREE
HOW TO SUBMIT CLASS NOTES Please submit alumni news and updated contact information to Phyllis Kesslen, director of alumni relations, at alumni@elisabethmorrow.org. 1987 Dr. Regina Bailey lives in Texas, where she is an emergency medicine physician and attorney.
1988 Kazu Fukada works for Mitsui & Company and lives in London with his wife, Rumi, and their two children.
1990 Yoshi Fukada graduated from Temple University and works for a real estate investment firm in Tokyo, where he lives with his wife and son.
2000 Allegra Stanek will receive her M.B.A. this spring from the KenanFlagler Business School at the University of North Carolina. This fall, she will join The Coca-Cola Company as an Associate Brand Manager.
2003 Amanda Blumenstein and her fiancé recently moved to Western Massachusetts, where she works as a crisis counselor with suicidal children and adults. Amanda is getting married this September in New Hampshire. After graduating from Columbia University in 2013, Emma Meyers worked in clinical research in critical care neurology at Columbia University. This fall, she will be attending Harvard Medical School.
2008 Avery Cohen is currently an NCAA Division 1 coxswain on the University of Rhode Island’s rowing team. She recently raced for the U.S. National Team at the Head of the Charles Regatta for the Paralympic Team, finishing in third place. Majoring in special education, Avery has been on the Dean’s List all five semesters.
IN MEMORIAM Beloved former faculty member Gloria Dunn, 87, passed away on January 23 after a brief illness. She was passionate about her work. Her son, Kerry, says,“She loved the kids, the teachers and just the community feeling of the school.” Ms. Dunn worked full time at EMS from 1967 to 2008 and as a substitute teacher for several years after that. Elizabeth Haberfeld, M.D. ’82 remembers Ms. Dunn’s classroom as being “full of joy for learning, creativity and nurturing support. She supported the uniqueness and talents, as well as the difficulties, of each child.” She added, “She helped me in what would turn out to be a multi-year struggle with math, but it worked out and I ultimately took college calculus and statistics, went to medical school and completed graduate work in epidemiology.” Mr. Dunn, who is a teacher at Leonia High School and The Hudson School, says that his mother is leaving behind a powerful legacy. “The reason that I became a teacher is because of her. She was a great mom and my inspiration.” Eric Hirsch ’81 met Ms. Dunn as a new student. “To this day, Ms. Dunn remains one of my all-time favorite teachers. Even in my first class at EMS in third grade, I can still remember her marvelous smile and how much I enjoyed being in her classroom. I could not have been welcomed to my new school by a better person.” Marianne Malmstrom, technology teacher, worked with Ms. Dunn as part of the third grade team. She remembers her colleague as a guiding force in the Lower School. “Gloria Dunn was masterful in sparking her students’ curiosity and igniting their desire to learn. Her own intellect and creativity inspired her colleagues and drove her passion as a lifelong learner,” she says.
In addition to Mr. Dunn, his wife, Marilu, and sons, Kris and Kyle, Ms. Dunn is survived by her son, Kevin, and her brother, George Banos. Her son, Keith, preceded her in death. Ms. Dunn’s memorial service was held at EMS on May 17. A generous bequest upon her death has allowed us to begin endowment in her name to support our tuition assistance program. Contributions can be made online or by check to The Elisabeth Morrow School, with Gloria Dunn Endowment in the memo line. We’re saddened to learn of the passing of Andrew Hyman, J.D. ’77, who died on February 25. Hyman, who lived in Princeton, graduated from the Horace Mann School, Columbia College and Fordham University Law School. He served under President Bill Clinton as Special Assistant to the General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and later as the HHS Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs. Hyman also served as Government Relations and Legislative Counsel for the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. In 2006, Hyman joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, where he directed the Foundation’s work on health coverage. Hyman was a champion of universal health care and served on the boards of multiple charitable organizations. He will be remembered for his dedication to social justice, his passion for politics and his deep love of family. He is survived by his children, Lily and Nathaniel; his parents, Allen and Valerie and his brothers, Joshua ’75 and Jonathan ’82, and their families.
APPLETREE 19
class notes
then & now
Elizabeth Dente attends Columbia University, where she has made Dean’s List for the past five semesters. She was selected to represent Columbia’s Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs in Paris on the “Global Tech Trek.”
2010 After graduating from Phillips Academy Andover last year, Jakob Solheim attends the University of Chicago, where he is studying economics and public policy. He also interns for a political journalist at the Institute of Politics in Chicago. Jakob can be reached at solheim@chicago.edu and would love to hear from his old EMS friends.
2011 Upon graduating from the Academy of the Holy Angels this June, Eva Gurian will be attending Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she plans to major in biology and run on the cross country track team. Selen Nehrozoglu attends the Academy of the Holy Angels, where she is graduating this June. She is currently choosing between a number of excellent colleges to attend this fall.
The Elisabeth Morrow School has always been renowned for the strength of its instrumental music program and our students have performed on stages near and far. But it all starts with our youngest students, not just learning the notes but feeling the rhythm. Can you help us identify the young musicians above? Please email alumni@elisabethmorrow.org.
2012 Jamie Yun Joo Koo is a high school student at the Yongsan International School in Seoul, South Korea. She hopes to return to EMS after her senior year in high school and work for Summer Explorations. Jamie plans to study film and sociology at college. Jeffrey Wade-Alexander Richardson is a junior at Saint Joseph Regional High School, where he is extremely active, participating in the robotics club, yearbook, chess club, biology club, Urban League NULITES and NAACP.
2014 Ryan Zihenni attends Bergen Catholic High School, where he plays soccer and runs track.
Stay Connected! Young Alumni Reunion Are you ready for summer? Our alums sure are! Pictured here are all of the alumni who chose to return as Summer Explorations counselors last year. 20 APPLETREE
Wednesday, June 10, 2015 • Noon to 2 p.m.
The Russell Berrie Music Room in Morrow House RSVP to alumni@elisabethmorrow.org or call Phyllis Kesslen at 201.568.5566 x7315
The Journey Begins at EMS Carolyn Milne, Little School science teacher, tells this story:
“I was working in my garden when a woman approached me and said, ‘I’m not sure if you remember me, but you were my daughter’s first grade science teacher and inspired her to love science. I wanted to thank you and let you know she started medical school last year. Thank you for putting her on this path.’ ”
Your gift helps The Elisabeth Morrow School continue to be the amazing place where students find their own paths. 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 Penny Lippe in the development office at plippe@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 Return Service Requested
calendar of events Tuesday, June 9...........................................Graduation
Wednesday, June 10....Young Alumni Luncheon Monday, June 15................................. Triple A Camp
(String, Jazz, Theater, Sports and June Express)
June 22–August 7............... Summer Explorations
(Weekly Programs)
August 10–14 .................. Summer String Festival
Wednesday, September 9......First Day of Classes 2015–2016
We are proud to report that members of the Class of 2015 were admitted to the following secondary schools: Academies @ Englewood Academy of the Holy Angels Bergen Catholic High School Bergen County Academies Bergen County Technical Schools Blair Academy Bolles School (FL) Choate Rosemary Hall Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School Convent of the Sacred Heart Dana Hall School Deerfield Academy Don Bosco Preparatory High School Dwight School Dwight-Englewood School Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Grace Church School Hackley School Horace Mann School Kent Place School Loyola School Masters School Milton Academy Montclair Kimberley Academy Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child Proctor Academy Riverdale Country School Saddle River Day School Saint Peter’s Preparatory School Solomon Schechter School of Westchester Taft School Trinity School York Prep