Appletree Fall 2015

CELEBRATING

85 YEARS

Teaching a love of lifelong learning

A publication of The Elisabeth Morrow School

Fall 2015

Morrow Moment The first day of school starting off on the right foot — with a handshake from Mr. Cooper in front of Little School.

APPLETREE

Fall 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 Marketing and Communications Design Erbach Communications Group

Content Contributors Paul Baly Beth Brennan Aaron Cooper Tricia Eickelberg Phyllis Kesslen

Photography and Photographic Contributors Greg Amerkanian Chris Anderson Shelley Kusnetz Margaret Mulder Robin Robison-Dillard

in this issue

On the Cover One of our kindergarten students commemorating our anniversary by using wooden pieces from our Handwriting Without Tears curriculum to spell out “85.”

Letter from the Head of School

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Appletree News

3

Celebrating 85 Years

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Responsive Classroom

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Memories about experiencing the “soul” of EMS for the very first time.

New activities for our Parents Association, new communication tools, other news and events.

Teaching a love of lifelong learning.

Our evidence-based educational approach yields lifelong academic benefits.

Graduation 2015

On June 9, 32 young men and women officially became Elisabeth Morrow School Alumni.

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Advancement 12 Morrow Society event brings longtime supporters together.

Alumni and Parent Profiles

Meet an Elisabeth Morrow School “lifer.”

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Achievement 16 Honoring two longtime staffers in their 20th anniversary year.

Athletics 18 Spring and fall highlights.

Class Notes

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Then and Now

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Making beautiful 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

I vividly remember my first day stepping onto the EMS campus. A cold but brilliantly clear day in early January, I arrived for my appointment early, but, like so many first-time visitors to campus, at the wrong place. After parking in the lot near Little School and walking up to — and then around — Morrow House, I arrived at my interview with David Lowry, our former Head of School. After meeting for a while, he took me on an extended tour of the campus.

Over the course of the next several hours, we spoke with students and faculty, and I sat in on classes. While I don’t remember every person I met and every class I saw, it is the feeling I had during that visit that has remained with me as though it were yesterday. I knew that this was an excellent school with a wonderful curriculum and talented, passionate teachers. I knew that the students were interested, engaged and capable and that families were caring and supportive. Those things were easy to see. The feeling I experienced that day was deeper. I felt that through these interactions, I was seeing into our school’s true soul. Over my 13 years working here, and my seven as a parent in our school, the connection I have with EMS has only deepened.

“Knowing what I do of Elisabeth Morrow and Connie Chilton, I believe that they would be immensely proud of our school, our students and our graduates, and I think they would be very pleased to see how the soul of EMS that they began so carefully cultivating 85 years ago still thrives today.”

While every school speaks about being “child-centered,” no place that I have seen embraces that to the extent that EMS does. Our students are known and cared for, and even more, they are valued and understood. From the moment they walk in, the handshake symbolizes the respect we have for them as partners in their learning. The notion of the child actively and intentionally being at the very center of his or her education is supported by every class, every lesson, every meeting and every decision. The impact of this approach is immense; I know as a father because I see it in Julia and Charlotte. I also see it in the way our graduates speak about their beliefs and in the way they know themselves as thinkers and leaders. And I see it in our alumni, who, decades after graduating, tell me the ways in which EMS shaped them more profoundly than any other school.

Knowing what I do of Elisabeth Morrow and Connie Chilton, I believe that they would be immensely proud of our school, our students and our graduates, and I think they would be very pleased to see how the soul of EMS that they began so carefully cultivating 85 years ago still thrives today.

You will see some of that reflected in these pages and, after reading, I think that you will agree.

My best,

Aaron Cooper, Head of School

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appletree news

Bright Ideas

by Phyllis Kesslen, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

New PA Initiatives Encourage More Parent Involvement Our Parents Association began the year with nine new committees, better ways to communicate with our families and new digital vehicles to help get families more involved in their children’s classrooms and the school community.

Read more on the following page...

Our Parents Association Executive Board (left to right): Saloni Parikh,Treasurer; Jen Cordover, Communications Coordinator; Fran Rowbottom, Executive VP; Adela Waymouth Skinner, President; Catherine Ferreira, Little School VP; Oksana Dlaboha, Secretary; and Melanie Weinraub, Chilton House VP. Not pictured: Alyssa Wilk, Morrow House VP.

APPLETREE 3

appletree news

Bright Ideas Continued from page 3

On the first day of school, the PA hosted a Kick-Off Breakfast to launch its many new initiatives and to welcome all families back to school. It was there that families had an opportunity to learn more about the new committees, including ones focused on community service and diversity awareness, a book group and a speaker series.

The breakfast was the first step toward strengthening the homeschool connection and creating a parent organization that is more open, inclusive and active. Last year, the PA made changes to its executive structure, which better distribute duties and responsibilities, and appointed a communications coordinator who is responsible for sharing PA news to the entire community.

“We are proud and pleased by the many changes in the PA this year,” says Adela Waymouth Skinner, PA President. “We think that they will go a long way toward making PA leadership accessible to all parents, and in encouraging more parents to get involved with volunteering at EMS in ways that are meaningful to them.” Skinner adds, “We are especially grateful to our Bylaws Committee, which worked so diligently to create our new and improved PA, and we look forward to an exciting school year!”

EMS seventh graders participated in ChemExpo at Liberty Science Center.

Seventh Graders Present at ChemExpo With a theme of “Chemistry Colors Our World,” the North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society once again sponsored ChemExpo at Liberty Science Center, and, once again, EMS seventh graders were invited to participate.

“ChemExpo is an opportunity for high school and college-aged chemistry students to present experiments to the public, and it is truly extraordinary for middle school students to get the chance to participate,” says Head of School Aaron Cooper. “EMS has been invited for several years and it is amazing to see how well our students measure up to much older students, not only in the quality of their activities but in their ability to interact with Liberty Science Center visitors of all ages.”

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A Great Start to the New Year Under a cloudless sky on a perfect September day, more than 50 new families gathered for a picnic on the lawn of the Head’s House. This traditional warm welcome to the EMS community was immediately followed by Family Field Day, which included inflatable slides, as well as food, fun and games for the entire family. This year’s Field Day attendees also enjoyed the sounds of a band featuring Caleb Shaia ’13 and his father, Greg, one of our trustees. We thank the Staphos and Rowbottom families for their wonderful work co-chairing the event.

News, facts and events from The Elisabeth Morrow School

New Face in Admissions Middle school librarian and guided study teacher Laura Khutorsky has become our new Associate Director of Admissions, replacing Kendra Pettis. Ms. Khutorsky will retain parts of her teaching role in Morrow House, including being an eighth grade advisor and working with the creative writing and writer’s workshop electives and programs. In her expanded role, she will concentrate on increasing new student enrollment in the middle school, as well as on outreach and retention. She also will work with parents to build stronger connections with the many communities from which we currently draw students.

“Laura’s enthusiasm and energy, her widespread relationships throughout our area, her experience with several middle schools as a teacher and parent and her knowledge of New York City schools will all serve her and the school well in this new position,” said Aaron Cooper, Head of School.

Associate Director of Admissions Laura Khutorsky

Front row: Manisha Pohani, Samantha Pianko, Vanessa Anderson-Zheng, Samantha Morra. Second row: Kara Gustafsson, Louise Michaud, Andrea Greenberg, Symonne Kennedy, Rurik Nackerud. Not pictured: Jaime Capizzi, Alexander Diaz, Cindy Cohrs-Brandt

EMS Welcomes New Faculty and Staff We are delighted to welcome new faculty and staff to our community this year. Our new hires include faculty members in every division, a new librarian and new team members in our arts and technology departments.

“Every year, we are impressed by the strengths that our new staff members possess, the energy and enthusiasm that they show in working with our students and the way in which they are embraced by our entire community,” says Aaron Cooper, Head of School.

NEW PORTALS Families and staff alike were greeted with new ways to share information when they came back to school this fall. For the first time, EMS now has passwordprotected areas on its website for both families and faculty. Our families will now have access to a Family Portal, which includes an online directory and provides a home for all of the school-related information that a family could need. From the Family Portal, they can also access our new Learning Management System, which allows them to see what their children are studying in school, class by class. The faculty and staff have their own portal for information that is useful for them, including professional development opportunities and scheduling information.

APPLETREE 5

cover story

CELEBRATING

85 YEARS Teaching a love of lifelong learning

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The Elisabeth Morrow School celebrates 85 years of nurturing young minds, 85 years of passion and inspiration, 85 years of creative and collaborative teaching and 85 years of building a rock-solid foundation of the kind of intellectual development required for success in today’s world.

by Aaron Cooper, Head of School

In April 1934, two years after she was married and left the dayto-day management of The Little School to co-founder Connie Chilton, Elisabeth Morrow wrote a letter to her mother, Elizabeth Cutter Morrow. The letter contained her oft-quoted philosophy on tradition and innovation: “Belief in the old education and hope and trust in the new.” The letter also included another section, rarely quoted, that speaks equally to the foundation on which this school was built. Elisabeth wrote that she and Connie wanted “to be sure we never forgot in The Little School to teach the children that they are individuals in a group working for some common purpose.”

collaborative work to enhance learning, our students continue to “work toward a common purpose” in our integrated STEAM program and orchestral music program beginning in lower school, through student-driven electives in the middle school, on interscholastic sports teams, through a vibrant Student Council and, yes, with blocks of all shapes and sizes.

Over the years, as Connie oversaw the school’s growth, and the Board of Trustees defined the school’s mission statement, these notions remained central to the school, and they still do today. Part of our mission is to “cultivate individual talents” in our students, and we explicitly believe in the importance of community to our students’ growth throughout their childhood years. With excellent teachers and mentors, our students pursue their interests and passions and inspire their classmates to achieve more, just as their classmates push them. Through learning our 4 C’s, our students understand the ways in which their actions impact others and the world around them.

As we celebrate the work Elisabeth and Connie started in 1930, we are reminded that they were guided by a strong belief in what is right for children, based in experience, careful consideration and vision for the future. The Little School was unlike anything that Englewood (or much of the rest of the country) had ever seen, and it opened up a new world of learning to toddlers. So, too, have other innovative elements of EMS been proven to be exactly what is right for children. Our emphasis on the campus as classroom continues to be an antidote to the “nature deficit” that modern children suffer, our renowned music program dovetails nicely with what we now know about the lifelong benefits derived from learning an instrument, our 4 C’s provide steadfast guideposts to ethical behavior as our students are increasingly global citizens and our focus on both learning and loving to learn builds a rocksolid foundation in intellectual development, essential for the nimble mind required in today’s world.

From the outset, we nurtured our young students with blocks, dramatic play areas complete with props, fully stocked libraries and the liberal use of color in learning spaces. What was radical and innovative in 1930 is now a mainstay of any excellent early childhood program. Today, as schools increasingly look toward

In 15 years, at our Centennial, and in another 85 years, I believe that these foundational notions will continue to be at the heart of what EMS does and is. While eagerly anticipating the tools the future will provide to enhance our students’ learning, we will embrace them ever mindful of our forward-thinking past.

‘Shining Light’ Carolyn Milne to Be Honored at Gala As part of our 85th anniversary celebration, our Gala will honor Carolyn Milne, recently retired Lower School science teacher and mother to three EMS graduates. “For more than 36 years, Carolyn has been a shining light of The Elisabeth Morrow School’s faculty, not only as a master teacher but also as the very embodiment of the 4 C’s,” says Aaron Cooper, Head of School. “We miss her warmth, dedication and passion for her craft and her students immensely.” Mrs. Milne, who came to the classroom after a successful stint as an executive at Xerox, was known as a colleague whose relevant and superior teaching methods showed her commitment to continued professional development.

The Gala also honors the 20th anniversary of our Summer String Festival, our summer music program that has provided top-notch musical instruction for generations of students.

APPLETREE 7

feature story

Responsive Classroom: Research-based program reinforces the 4 C’s

At Morning Meeting, teachers and students greet and welcome each other at the start of a new school day.

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by Beth Brennan, Lower School Head, and Tricia Eickelberg, Director of Early Childhood Programs

About 10 years ago, on a faculty professional day, we had the privilege of attending our first training in the Responsive Classroom approach. Many of us were nodding in full agreement as the presenters went on to describe an approach to education that is research-based and has a proven track record for dramatically transforming schools into a kinder, gentler community of learners.

Within the Responsive Classroom curriculum, there is a strong emphasis on social and emotional development, as well as character development. This approach to educating students fits seamlessly with our goal of molding students into citizens who reflect the 4 C’s in their words and actions. The 4 C’s — courtesy, consideration, cooperation and compassion — are the foundation from which all social norms are established at The Elisabeth Morrow School. The curriculum is positively impacting teacher effectiveness and student achievement, and, through further training, the momentum has continued to grow.

The Responsive Classroom approach improves the overall climate of a school community. It accomplishes this by focusing on building teachers’ skills in creating engaging academics, establishing rules and expectations that promote the safety of all community members and allowing them to create a calm, orderly environment that promotes individual responsibility and allows students to focus on learning.

Our faculty has demonstrated their commitment by attending Responsive Classroom workshops that are essential in implementing the program school-wide. Both the early childhood and lower school division heads hold certifications in the Responsive Classroom Course and the Responsive Classroom Advanced Course, and have attended the leadership conference, furthering their knowledge of school-wide implementation.

As the introduction to Responsive Classroom, we asked teachers to conduct Morning Meeting daily. Our school purchased resource materials to support teachers in establishing rules and expectations

during the first weeks of school, along with a chime for getting students’ attention. Time was devoted to modeling Morning Meeting components, and many of these have been modeled and practiced with our parents during Back-to-School Nights and other events.

Next, we focused on discipline as we studied The Power of Our Words: Teacher Language that Helps Children Learn. Every class has rules posted that promote the 4 C’s by establishing what a safe space feels like, sounds like and looks like for all community members. This step allowed us to use logical consequences in a non-punitive way. Students are part of the process in changing their attitudes and behaviors by acknowledging their mistakes, and working toward restitution.

The school-wide community component of Responsive Classroom was incorporated when All-School Assemblies began five years ago.

This brought the entire EMS student body together at numerous times throughout the year. This was followed by the Buddy Day program where older grade levels are paired with younger grade levels to share experiences or work on an activity.

Now, we are focused on student engagement by encouraging students to think about problems, generate ideas and behaviors needed to solve problems, explore solutions and share their thinking and ideas with others. This model also mirrors the same logic and skills needed to approach solving problems across the curriculum, including STEAM-related work.

At EMS, we are always promoting learning environments where students thrive academically, socially and emotionally, and we are proud to be using the Responsive Classroom, which has been deployed so successfully throughout the country. Setting goals and taking responsibility for reaching those goals, while not sacrificing how we treat one another, is clearly in line with our values, past and present.

An Approach that Promotes Positive Behavior Responsive Classroom uses proactive, positive and persistent communication systems to promote positive behavior among students. In Morrow House, we have reinvigorated our commitment to the 4 C’s in the 2015-16 school year by “redefining” the words so that we better understand how they apply to pre-adolescents today:

Cooperation is achieved when individuals intentionally work to accomplish together that which cannot be accomplished individually. Whether with academic group work, on athletic teams, in performance or through community service, students must listen, give of themselves and revise their own vision to be successful.

Courtesy is represented in our daily, thoughtful habits. Holding the door for someone, letting someone go first in the pizza line, pulling up a chair for another at the lunch table; while these actions seem small, their collective impact is significant.

Compassion stands as the most powerful and yet the most elusive of the 4 C’s. For compassion to thrive, it must be accompanied by action. Students must step outside of their own lives and make a sacrifice to help someone else improve their situation.

Consideration occurs when students place themselves in the shoes of others before making decisions. True intellectual and emotional maturity comes when people develop the disposition to consider deeply their own beliefs as well as the experiences and viewpoints of others.

By defining these words, they gain meaning and relevance. Our focus on the 4 C’s not only helps our students reconnect with the school’s tradition of character development and service — it also provides them with the tools and dispositions in order to make a positive impact on their school and community.

APPLETREE 9

graduation 2015

The Elisabeth Morrow School launched 32 graduates into their futures on June 9 with inspiration from Trustee Gregory J. Amerkanian: “Conquer with love, graduates. Be a hero.”

Gregory J. Amerkanian P’15, P’17, Member of the Board of Trustees:

Years ago, you received a gift of being able to come to EMS. You opened up that gift carefully and you have enjoyed its wonders for the years you have been here. You learned how to learn…how to continue learning. Like ancient civilizations or empires you encountered in history or social studies, you have built a foundation that you can build upon. That base is solid. Don’t be afraid to use its strength.

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Rosemary Mills Russell P’03, P’07, P’09, President of the Board of Trustees: There are many different types of people in this world. No matter who you are, always remember that you make a difference to at least one of them…you are important… and the world is a better place because you are in it.

From 2011–2015, two or more EMS graduates have matriculated at the following secondary schools: Dwight-Englewood School . .................................................................31 Academy of the Holy Angels ...............................................................24 Bergen County Academies...................................................................16 Riverdale Country School.......................................................................9 Horace Mann School...............................................................................8 Saddle River Day School .......................................................................7 Masters School.........................................................................................6 Blair Academy..........................................................................................6 Bergen Catholic High School..................................................................5 Academies @ Englewood........................................................................3 Hackley School.........................................................................................3 Peddie School...........................................................................................3 Dwight School..........................................................................................2 Fordham Preparatory School.................................................................2 Lawrenceville School...............................................................................2 Paramus Catholic High School...............................................................2

From 2011–2015, two or more EMS alumni have matriculated at the following colleges and universities:

Tanvi Jonnalagadda ’15, President of the Student Council:

Eighth graders, let’s make it our mission to give to people in our lives. For when we work toward helping others, we will know that we have accomplished something important with our lives, and that we have made everyone’s days worthwhile.

Emily Gruber ’11:

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New York University Columbia University University of Chicago University of Pennsylvania George Washington University University of Michigan Harvard University Washington University Yale University Barnard College Boston College Bucknell University Lehigh University Syracuse University Georgetown University Emory University Tufts University Tulane University Wesleyan University University of Miami University of Southern California American University Carnegie Mellon University

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2

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Colgate University Cornell University Drexel University Fairfield University Hobart & William Smith Colleges College of the Holy Cross Johns Hopkins University Muhlenberg College Northwestern University Princeton University Lynn University Northeastern University Oberlin College Rice University Pace University Smith College Boston University Brown University Duke University University of Colorado — Boulder University of Vermont University of Wisconsin

I would like to reassure you that you do not truly say “goodbye” to Elisabeth Morrow when you receive your diploma today. The spirit of EMS will always be with you.

APPLETREE 11

advancement

Morrow Society Celebration On a warm September evening, our Morrow Society supporters gathered at the lovely Englewood home of Neal and Anna Merker, longtime EMS parents. Rosemary Mills Russell, Board President, and Aaron Cooper, Head of School, welcomed and thanked these families for their support of our school’s mission. In a touching speech, Neal Merker P’08, P’11, P’16 noted that EMS has been the family’s “home away from home” for the past 19 years and credited the 4 C’s and the role that they played in shaping the fine community members his children have become. Although their youngest child is graduating this year, Neal noted that he would remain connected to our community, which has been so meaningful to his entire family.

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APPLETREE 13

alumni and parent profiles

A Family of Happy ‘Lifers’

by Jan Abernathy

Being an EMS lifer runs in Adrienne (Buda) Anderson’s family.

As the former trustee prepares to end her time as the parent of two students here, she has had the opportunity to reflect on entering our school as a three-year-old, and the traditions that helped shape her formative years — and her daughters’.

“We chose EMS for our daughters not only for the fantastic faculty and beautiful campus but also for the character growth,” Adrienne ’79 says. “For me, as for them, the day always started with a handshake, along with an eye-to-eye greeting, which taught confidence and respect for others.”

The Buda children grew up in Englewood, an easy commute for their father, a vascular surgeon at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. Adrienne’s brother, Joseph ’73, attended the Donald Quarles School until fourth grade, when their parents moved him to EMS. Adrienne followed a year later, and was one of the first students to be educated in Chilton House. “I loved the cozy library and the wonderful Cocoa Party with Miss Graham,” she says.

Field Day,” she says. “These wonderful traditions are now blended with new experiences and traditions such as cheering the girls on at a middle school cross country meet or lacrosse game and watching them play violin during the Concert for the Chicks. What is so special about EMS is that we all gained a solid foundation of ‘reading, writing and arithmetic’ combined with outlets for creative expression.”

In her active volunteerism, which included a three-year stint on the Board of Trustees that ended this year, Adrienne followed the example of her mother. “She inspired me to take on various volunteer jobs, including class parent, helping with the International Festival and chairing the annual Benefit Auction and the Book Fair,” Adrienne says. “Each volunteer job allowed me to meet many other parents and forge many friendships. I hope that I have inspired my daughters to do the same.”

After sixth grade, she moved on to Dwight-Englewood, which is also her husband, Chris’, alma mater. She graduated from Middlebury College in 1989 with a degree in classics. After completing a Sotheby’s American Arts course, Adrienne worked at the firm for most of the 1990s. She received an M.A. in American Studies from Columbia University in 1999.

After having her daughter, Katie, and with school selection on Adrienne’s radar, a return to EMS was the logical move. “When it

“We chose EMS for our daughters not only for the fantastic faculty and beautiful campus but also for the character growth.” came time to choose a school for our then-three-year-old daughter, Katie, EMS was the only school that came to mind. My husband knew the difference a private school education could make because of his experience at Dwight-Englewood, and he was completely on board from the beginning.”

A second daughter, Amy, followed a few years later, and will graduate from EMS this year. Katie ’14 now attends DwightEnglewood. The quality of the faculty and EMS’ traditions continue to resonate with Adrienne, who also was the school’s alumni coordinator from 2002 to 2009.

“I have been so glad to see our girls enjoy the same traditions I did during my years at EMS: the Cocoa Parties, writing and performing in plays during the Greek Olympics, playing in the brook, attending the annual Book Fair, playing violin in the orchestra and participating in the friendly competition of 14 APPLETREE

Above: The Buda and Anderson families today; Left: Adrienne as a child; Below: Adrienne with her family at a Family Field Day.

Alumna Author Releases Her First Book!

by Phyllis Kesslen, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

Beth Thomas Cohen ’88 just released her debut book, Drop the Act, It’s Exhausting! — one woman’s call to embrace the imperfections in our lives and our thoughts about relationships, love, sex, parenting, careers, self-esteem and self-image. According to Beth, “By no longer being ashamed or apologetic about how ‘we really feel,’ women will become more aware of who we are and more accepting of ourselves and one another.” Drop the Act is filled with wit, candor and refreshingly blunt observations. The Parents Association is excited to welcome Beth back to EMS on December 3 for a book discussion and signing.

After being in the fashion industry for 16 years, Beth needed more.

Writing a book was a natural extension for much of what she was already doing. Keeping a journal for years, Beth would share many of her insights and experiences with friends via email. She even began writing a book on pregnancy and emailed chapters to her friends. When her business partner casually mentioned Beth’s writing to a book agent and publisher, Beth seized upon this idea and, before she knew it, had a book deal in the works.

She reflects, “This book is my chance to give something back to the world and help so many women who struggle with life’s daily balance.”

Beth attributes many of her life’s accomplishments to her education.

In fact, she even quotes Anne Morrow Lindbergh in her book.

The characteristics of the 4 C’s — back then, the 3 C’s — and the nurturing environment at EMS laid the foundation for Beth’s confident and successful adulthood. The child of a divorced interracial couple, Beth recalls, “I was not a cookie-cutter kid.

“This book is my chance to give something back to the world and help so many women who struggle with life’s daily balance.”

Living in the tri-state area, I always felt different, but at EMS, I didn’t feel that way.” At EMS, Beth was accepted for who she was and her strengths were celebrated. According to Beth, “EMS taught me to be poised, elegant, an excellent communicator and a fine person.” Beth tells us that some of her best friends in life are those she made at EMS. Prior to her new life as author, Beth co-founded the agency B’Squared Public Relations, where she launched new fashion brands and breathed life into older ones. Previously, Beth worked as senior director at Lividini & Co., in-house public relations director at the luxury/accessories company Lambertson Truex and worked in the fashion department at O, The Oprah Magazine. Beth graduated from Ohio State University, where she met her husband, Brian. They live in Tenafly with their two daughters, Lila and Aidan.

Beth Thomas Cohen ’88

For more information on Drop the Act, It’s Exhausting!, visit the website, https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781630761233/Drop-the-Act-It.

SAVE Over 21 Party THE Alumni Thursday, April 7, 7:30 pm DATE Location TBA APPLETREE 15

achievement We salute these longtime staff members for 20 years of service.

Maintenance Master

by Jan Abernathy

Vito Liza learned an early and important lesson about working around children when he came to EMS 20 years ago: Put your tools away.

“My boss at the time said to me jokingly, ‘Make sure that you don’t leave any of your power tools lying around — remember children are very curious,’” says Mr. Liza, who came to The Elisabeth Morrow School to work in maintenance after a 25-year career as a Teaneck firefighter. “I went from working with 100 men to working with a lot of women and children, so I did have to alter my mindset just a little bit.”

Mr. Liza, who retired from the fire department at 47, got a second job because “I was able-bodied and thought it would be good to do something just to keep busy. I saw the ad for EMS — I didn’t even know where the school was — and the next thing I knew, I was being selected from a pool of 60 men for the job.”

Fast forward 20 years and the New Milford father of three is still on the job and “doing everything that the job requires. I clean, do light carpentry and set up for concerts and meetings.” The position keeps him so active, walking up and down the hills of the 14-acre campus, it’s like “going to a spa,” he says, and the variable nature of the work provides “a good bit of mental exercise.” Noting how quickly the time has gone by, he has fond memories of former colleagues such as principals Emily Hewetson and Jan Phend, whom he calls “wonderful and supportive.”

Like everyone at EMS, he agrees that the children are what make a school special. “It’s great that when you walk down the halls, they call out your name,” he says. “It’s always so nice to see the children active and to see them enjoying themselves on these beautiful grounds.”

An EMS Friend to Many

by Jan Abernathy

Brigitte Sorrentino considers her Elisabeth Morrow colleagues to be a second family.

After answering a classified advertisement for a lunch aide at our school 20 years ago, Mrs. Sorrentino was interviewed by former Head of School Stephen Jones and former Little School principal Emily Hewetson. “I was comfortable here from day one,” says Mrs. Sorrentino.

“Everyone makes you feel so welcome — and, of course, the children are wonderful.”

The lunch job at EMS came after Mrs. Sorrentino spent 16 years working for The Bergen Record as a district manager, supervising children on their paper routes. The mother of four and avid school volunteer worked in a variety of positions in her children’s schools before coming to EMS. About four years ago, Mrs. Sorrentino began working in Chilton House, providing early morning and after care for the students and substituting for faculty members when needed.

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“From my first day here, it never felt like a job,” she says. “It was always more than that. I am so appreciative that the administration gave me room to grow and try new things.”

Mrs. Sorrentino particularly remembers how her EMS family treated her in a time of deep sorrow. “I lost a son and my husband within two years of one another and the staff here couldn’t have been more helpful to me,” she says. “They gave me the time that I needed to recover and everyone was incredibly compassionate in what was a really difficult period.”

The rewards of her job are many and include regular hugs and notes from students and their parents. But most of all, it’s the satisfaction that she gets from shaping young lives that makes each day special. “When you love what you do, which I truly do, you wake up and it just seems like another great morning. I can’t believe it’s been 20 years.”

Book Fair Another Best-Seller The Parents Association once again outdid itself with a signature event, the Book Fair, held November 10–12 in the Peter Lawrence Gymkhana. This year featured author visits for the children from Brian Floca and Michael Northrop. For adults, Beth Brennan, Lower School Head, led a discussion on The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Dr. Shefali Tsabary while Paul Baly, Middle School Head, offered his thoughts on The Road to Character by David Brooks.

Like last year, we were thrilled to welcome several EMS alums and their families back

to campus to take part in the festivities, and Elisabeth Morrow’s nieces Constance M. Fulenwider, Elisabeth M. Pendleton and Reeve Lindbergh paid us a visit.

“There’s a reason that the Book Fair continues to be such an eagerly anticipated event,” says Aaron Cooper, Head of School. “The opportunity to learn about so many interesting books, complete some holiday shopping and have plenty of fun with friends is an irresistible combination.

We thank our co-chairs Naghmeh Shirkhan and Shabri Mitta for leading this fabulous event.”

APPLETREE 17

athletics

Spring

The Eagles’ boys tennis team competed against many high quality opponents and improved as the season progressed. Despite having only one eighth grader in the starting line-up, the team won a few individual matches. Sixth grader Alexander Cox (first singles) impressed opposing players and coaches with his formidable ground strokes. Seventh grader Cameron Woo played second singles and participated in several outstanding matches. With numerous players gaining valuable experience, the team looks forward to positive results in the spring of 2016.

Girls lacrosse had a solid season, which introduced many new players to the sport and saw many veteran players advance to the next level of lacrosse. The season ended with a tie score against Montclair Kimberley Academy, which had beaten the team earlier in the year — a wonderful testament to the team’s hard work throughout the many weeks of practice. While our eighth graders, who led the team in skill and experience, will be missed, we saw several sixth graders step up to score goals and shut down attackers, which bodes well for our returning 2016 team.

The 2015 boys lacrosse team demonstrated its skills, athleticism and grit in a successful campaign with hard-fought wins over the Far Hills Country Day School, Montclair Kimberley Academy and arch rival Dwight-Englewood. The team was led by nine eighth graders, who demonstrated their high work rate and game savvy throughout the season. James Wedgbury, who was new to goalkeeping this year, foiled opposing attackmen time after time, and, with confidence in our goalkeeping, our defense was able to challenge the other team and create turnovers. We learned that an assist is just as important as a goal, and it was a pleasure to see Shant Amerkanian set up his younger brother, Garo, for a number of scores. Good sportsmanship is always the hallmark of a good team, and EMS players demonstrated that prized trait at every game.

The girls softball team was led by eighth graders Sophia Shin, Catherine Buzzerio, Wynter Moore, Alis Tokatlioglu, Tanvi Jonnalagadda, Sydney Morris and Maggie Sheridan. They worked hard to improve their skills over the course of the season and played some good games by season’s end. Seventh graders Chelsea Hall and Sophia Lanava hustled in the outfield and added an element of enthusiasm to the team.

18 APPLETREE

Fall

Cross country did a nice job this season, working on their endurance, speed and mental discipline. We saw several sixth graders step up to the start line and really prove themselves in practice and in the meets.

We also had several eighth graders take a leadership role and push themselves to finish strong at every race, which helped the younger runners follow their lead. The final meet was the highlight of the season, with almost every runner achieving their personal best, and six of our runners getting medals. We were very proud of everyone’s accomplishments and improvement over the course of the season.

The EMS girls soccer team took the fields by storm this 2015 fall season!

Our fearless and expert goalkeeper, Kassidy Todisco, alongside our hard-working defenders, kept the opponents at bay game after game.

The tireless mid-field worked hard to transition the team from defense to offense and kept the energy alive. Kate Reilly, our top goal-scorer, played fiercely, always shared advice and encouraged team unity. The Eagles’ rotating forwards could be seen running back and forth ready to shot some goals. The team looks forward to setting the bar even higher next season.

The girls volleyball team made great strides in improving their skills over the course of the season. They learned to pass and serve the ball over the net and by season’s end they were able to volley the ball with the best of teams. Veteran eighth graders and all-around players, Chelsea Hall and LoLa Rock led the team setting and hitting in the front row. They where supported by their seventh- and sixth-grade grade teammates and, though they didn’t win a match, they had a few nail-biter games and improved greatly over the course of the season.

The middle school boys soccer team compiled a 7–5 record this fall, one of our most successful seasons in recent memory. Ably led by captain Jonathan Park, the team displayed its skills, effort, and scoring touch with exciting wins over Dwight-Englewood, Saddle River, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Alpine, Collegiate and Teaneck Charter. In those contests, we gained early control of the match and were able to apply fine offensive pressure while maintaining a tight defense. Even in the games we lost, we demonstrated a high work rate, fine teamwork and sterling sportsmanship. We enjoyed fan support at every game, and the cheers and applause meant a great deal to our squad. We will miss our eighth graders and wish them well when they play next fall.

class notes HOW TO SUBMIT CLASS NOTES We welcome news from alumni. Email Phyllis Kesslen, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, at alumni@elisabethmorrow.org.

1964

During a recent visit to the Northeast, Barbara (Morrison) Cheives stopped by EMS. One of our early black students, Barbara was thrilled to see how diverse EMS has become in the past 50 years. Barbara has lived in West Palm Beach for 25 years and has her own consulting company, Converge & Associates, specializing in diversity and race relations.

1970

James (Jim) Webster lives in Bozeman, MT, with his family and is a senior vice president, financial advisor at D.A. Davidson & Co., a regional investment firm based in the Northwest. Jim also serves as a trustee at Fountain Valley School of Colorado in Colorado Springs, from which his youngest son recently graduated. Jim sees EMS classmate Melinda Macdonald Twomey several times a year since she is also a trustee at the school, which her daughters attend.

1984

Dana Romita, an active parent volunteer, lives with her son, Alexander, who is in seventh grade at EMS, and her daughter, Sophia, who is a senior at Dwight-Englewood.

1992

Valia Glytsis is the founder of The Paradox of Leadership, a boutique leadership education firm serving clients globally. Her work includes executive coaching, training, workshops and leadership retreats. EMS was thrilled to invite Valia back to school in September to talk to our eighth graders about leadership.

1995

Robert Cambe lives in Edgewater with new bride Alison. Robert is the director of marketing at ReviMedia, Inc., a digital media company, which was ranked #41 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2014. Robert tells us, “I will always have a special place in my heart for EMS.”

1999

Claire Hambrick Simoglou is a manager of multiplatform scheduling and competitive analysis at A&E Networks. She and her husband, Christopher, recently moved into their new home in Eastchester, NY. Claire sends her best regards to all at EMS.

2000

Jordan Hurst Levine entered Harvard Business School this fall. He has been working at Tesla Motors since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011.

Evan Vogel, his wife, Mara, and their two-year-old son, Elias, reside in Morgantown, WV, where Evan works as a paramedic and is studying to receive his M.S. in emergency management from Capella University.

IN MEMORIAM Alexander Ix, Jr. We were saddened to learn that Alexander Ix, Jr., 87, died on September 28. A resident of Spring Lake, Ix was married to Annrose (Ann) Collins, an EMS trustee from 1969 to 1980. The couple had six children: Alexander III, Constance (Connie) ’67, Melissa ’69, Charles ’75, Mark ’77 and Sarah, who predeceased him, and 10 grandchildren. Ix spent his entire business career at Frank Ix & Sons, a family-owned textile company, where he became president in 1970.

He and his brother, Douglas ’37, and their families were esteemed, longtime members of the Englewood and EMS communities and the Morrow House library was named for the family.

Jean Timbrell We were saddened at the recent passing of Jean Timbrell, beloved EMS teacher for over 50 years.

Aaron Cooper, Head of School, said, “Jean was a classroom teacher, storyteller and reading specialist in her professional life. In her personal life, she visited more than 100 countries and all seven continents, often with her sister, Dorothy, or her husband, Clayton, who worked for the United Nations, at her side. She inspired hundreds of students — or perhaps more than a thousand — with her character She-Who-Remembers during the Lenni-Lenape study in third grade. She mentored dozens of teachers, many of whom were in attendance at her memorial service on campus to relive her impact and remember her through stories. Jean lived and breathed the mission of the school, never failing to cultivate the intellectual development of her students, never ceasing to try new things to deepen the impact of her teaching and always living by the ethos of the joy of lifelong learning.”

2007

Adam Kirsch, currently an M.B.A. candidate at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, is also CEO and founder of Yorango, Inc., which builds online tools for the real estate industry.

Yorango was recently named New York City’s Startup of the Year

by Tech.Co. Adam’s first startup, Beacon Records, a multimedia platform for electronic dance music consumers founded with fellow alum Chris Lavinio ’06, is now called Daily Beat Media.

EMS faculty and alumni were thrilled to see Brian and Michael Hajjar perform their musical theatre act, “Hajjar Hooligans,” at club 54 Below in New York City in May. The identical twins recently graduated from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, where they studied musical theatre.

2008

Joshua Hurst Levine is currently a senior at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ariana Panbechi is a senior at George Washington University, where she is studying art history in a five-year combined B.A./M.A. program.

She has been a Dean’s Scholar for the past two years.

2009

Jesse Roth is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania studying philosophy and political science.

APPLETREE 19

then & now

class notes

Send us your memories of

Music has always been an integral part of The Elisabeth Morrow School’s curriculum, as evidenced here by a 1979 picture unearthed and submitted by Courtney (Myers) Miglietta ’81. More than 30 years later, we are still at it, and more than 100 of our students recently opened for Itzhak Perlman at bergenPAC.

The Elisabeth Morrow School to help us celebrate our 85-Year Anniversary.

2010

In addition to her studies at Muhlenberg College, sophomore Zoe Homonoff works as a tutor in math, psychology and philosophy. She is also a member of the poetry club and Active Minds, a mental health awareness organization on campus.

Samantha Kirsch is studying fiber science and apparel design, majoring in fashion design management at Cornell University. She also has a concentration in management and marketing. Samantha is president of the undergraduate Net Impact Chapter, known on campus as the Sustainable Enterprise Association. Samantha would love to hear from her EMS classmates and can be reached at srk228@cornell.edu.

2011

Dante Kulik is currently attending Princeton University after graduating from Horace Mann in June.

2012

Nicolas Diaz, a senior at Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, is currently playing in a band, doing well in school and enjoying being with friends on the weekends. Nicolas attributes his musical creativity and passion to his years at EMS.

20 APPLETREE

2013

Andre Cervantes is attending Dwight School and is a certified EMT working on the Edgewater Ambulance Squad. Andre has played violin two years in a row at Carnegie Hall, and is preparing to audition for a third time. He was selected from thousands of applicants worldwide to attend a medical summer camp, called GPSA, in Guatemala, and worked alongside medical students from Duke and Harvard. Andre particularly enjoyed working at his medical post in San Mateo, volunteering at a local elementary school, speaking Spanish and learning the Mayan language K’iche’.

Hannah Wolfer and Maddy Kachikian ’14 (pictured right), former EMS teammates, won the first women’s doubles tennis championship in the Bergen County Tournament playing for Dwight-Englewood. Their former coach, Andy Escala, was thrilled to share their great news.

“ I hope I can send my kids to EMS. It is an amazing school.”

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.

Help make sure that your children’s children can get an EMS education.

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 Trish Felix in the development office at tfelix@elisabethmorrow.org or 201.568.5566 x7210.

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

SAVE THE DATE

85TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

Honoring Carolyn Milne & The Summer String Festival Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 6:30 pm The Rockleigh | 26 Paris Avenue, Rockleigh, NJ Cocktails | Dinner & Dancing | Auction of Unique EMS Items Performance by the 20th Anniversary Alumni Orchestra

UPCOMING

EVENTS

International Food Festival January 30, Graduation June 14 Peter Lawrence Gymkhana Triple A Camp June 20–24 Over 21 Alumni Party April 7, Summer Explorations June 27–August 12 7:30 pm, Location TBA Summer String Festival August 15–19