In the Loop - FCDS 2016 Summer Magazine by Fairfield Country Day School

In the Loop Summer 2016

2970 Bronson Road Fairfield, CT 06824 P: 203.259.2723 F: 203.259.3249 www.fairfieldcountryday.org

Headmaster

John R. Munro, Jr. Published by the Development Office

Cathy Bergstrom Cynthia Gorey Lauren Mulcahy Contributing Photographers

Cathy Bergstrom Joe Isola Robert A. Lisak Lauren Mulcahy Tim Oravec Vicki + Eric Photographers Barbara Viner Contributing Writers

Greg Bavedas ’93 Duncan Briggs Maggie Burchill Mandy McCubbin Andrea Millard Marie Mitchell Lauren Mulcahy Debbie Sullinger Design

Imagemark, LLC imagemark.net Printing

Graphic Management Partners This magazine is printed on paper made with 30% post consumer waste fiber processed with environmental chlorine-free sources and certified by Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) to the Chain of Custody standard.

Mission Statement Fairfield Country Day School provides an educational community dedicated to the personal growth and intellectual development of boys. Our balanced and challenging program is designed to help each student expand his desire and ability to acquire knowledge, stimulate his curiosity and creativity, and enhance his self-esteem and respect for others. Each boy’s individual development is encouraged in an environment that anticipates the future while appreciating the past.

2 A Letter from the Headmaster

contents

In the Loop Summer 2016

4 Fund for Country Day Celebrates Parent Participation 5 An Interview with Pen Vineyard 6 We are Judged by Our Deeds 10 Grand Canyon Trip 12 Commencement and Student Awards 15 School News 26 Alumni News 28 Class Notes 33 In Memoriam President

Mark A. Beaudoin Vice President

Patrick J. Shaw Treasurer

Alan B. Offenberg Secretary

Sheila Clancy Thomas Bachner Taylor Baldwin Cheryl L. Bundy Virginia K. Cargill Cindy Citrone Terilyn Esse Simon Fenner Lawrence G. Foley Kathleen L. Garvey Brandon P. Hall Kevin L. Harmon Brian Lawlor Leslie Noland Gerald G. Pearce, Jr. ’84 Robert D. Russo ’90 Elizabeth Solazzo James B. Vose ’67

Grand Canyon Trip page 10 Above: The ninth grade visits the Grand Canyon Cover: Jackson LaBonte ’17 and Max Papadatos ’17 studying the anatomy of a leaf

board of trustees 2015-2016

a letter from the headmaster J O H N R . M U N R O, J R .

Ensuring Academic Success at the Next Level

IN JULY 2015, a group of twelve faculty members and I gathered

for our annual curriculum retreat otherwise known as the July Colloquium. In our ongoing efforts to assess the level of preparedness of our graduates, we began to take a closer look at the curricula our boys encounter in their secondary schools. Over the last two years, three Upper School teachers set out to learn more about the mathematics, English, and history curricula at many of the secondary boarding and day schools that our boys attend after they leave FCDS. The goals of these visits were to answer the following questions: ■■ How well are boys from FCDS doing in these subject areas compared to their peers, and is their academic transition successful? ■■ What classes and what range of ability levels are offered in each discipline and what forms of pedagogy are used to engage students? ■■ What process is used to place incoming students in classes and how are students assessed in these disciplines? ■■ What recent changes and new academic initiatives are underway, and what role does technology play in these subject areas? ■■ What should FCDS do to better prepare our boys for academic success at the secondary school level? Rick Harrington, Upper School Math Coordinator, visited Taft School, Westminster School, Fairfield College Preparatory School, Greens Farms Academy, St. Luke’s School, Hopkins School, and Avon Old Farms School during the 2014-15 school year. John Fallon, Upper School English, and John Cullinan, Upper School history, together visited St. Luke’s, Choate Rosemary Hall, Taft, Hopkins, Salisbury School, and Berkshire School during the 2015-16 school year. Their visits included meetings with the academic department chairs and admissions officers, observations of classes, and conversations with our FCDS alums. Though responses varied from school to school, we drew the following overarching conclusions from their research: ■■ FCDS graduates are described as well prepared, confident learners. They are strong self-advocates and comfortably seek extra help when needed. Their intellect and character is highly regarded. One headmaster, in glowing terms, refers to our boys as the “Fairfield Five” for their positive impact in and out of the classroom. ■■ In general, our boys are placed evenly between the “regular” level classes and the “advanced” level classes and the determination for placement, especially math, differs widely by school. For example, some schools place great emphasis on SSAT scores and

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placement tests while others rely solely on the recommendations made by FCDS teachers. Our boys’ performance on secondary school math placement tests has been inconsistent and is an area we are addressing. ■■ Our English and history teachers discovered that the day schools tend to follow a more traditional philosophy toward content and assessment than the more liberal-minded boarding schools. ■■ Applications of academic technologies vary considerably as well. Some schools place a heavy emphasis on Smartboard, cloud-based and shared document technology, while others still rely mainly on markers and white boards. Our boys are extremely well versed in multiple platforms and quickly adjust to, and exceed, the technology expectations at their schools. Secondary school officials also commented on our boys’ strength in research skills and their practice of digital citizenship.

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“We remain steadfast in providing the highest level of academic preparation to ensure the success of our boys in the next chapters of their educational journeys.” In FCDS math department meetings throughout the year, and through discussion among English and history teachers, we have transformed the feedback from secondary school department chairs, admissions officers, and our own FCDS alums into the following action steps: ■■ We will carefully examine the variety of math placement tests given by the secondary schools and implement test preparation strategies for our 8th and 9th graders. ■■ We will bolster the development of essential math skills across the curriculum by exploring supplemental math enrichment programs, especially for our most advanced students. ■■ We will practice a broader range of writing “genres” in the English program with a focus on more frequent, shorter pieces. ■■ Across grades 4-9, we will place greater emphasis on annotation, a skill clearly valued at the secondary school level.

boys and intentional in our applications of a boy specific program here at FCDS; we are also committed to making the necessary curricular adjustments to best prepare our boys for the ever shifting landscape of secondary school academic programming. Our science and foreign language teachers will be on the road this year! – John R. Munro, Jr.

This exercise of carefully examining the secondary school math, English, and history programs has generated valuable takeaways that will continue to inform our curricular changes. We remain steadfast in providing the highest level of academic preparation to ensure the success of our boys in the next chapters of their educational journeys. We are committed to applying best practices in teaching In the Loop Summer 2016

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Fund

for Country Day

Celebrates Parent Participation Web Extra Watch our thank you video at http://bit.ly/29l4bnk

THANKS to the generous support of all FCDS families, we have made history! Every single current family made a gift to the Fund for Country Day. Reaching 100% parent participation is almost unheard of among independent schools, but we did it together! Thank you for showing your support, for showing the greater community that you believe in our teachers, our mission, and our commitment to the personal growth and intellectual development of your boys.

100% parents

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100% faculty & staff

100% Board of Trustees

A Community Where Every Member Makes A Difference.

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An Interview with Pen Vineyard DEAN OF STUDENTS

Pen Vineyard (middle) with his classmates at graduation

PEN VINEYARD is returning to FCDS after receiving his M.A. in Private School Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. Pen will resume his role as Spanish teacher, and is also looking forward to his new role as Dean of Students.

What are you most looking forward to when you return to FCDS? On several occasions during my program, I visited independent schools. During these visits, I realized just how much I missed working with kids. I also cherish my colleagues at FCDS, so I am excited to continue working with them.

What was your favorite part of graduate school? My favorite part of graduate school was learning from my cohort of independent school peers. It was a talented group of twenty-three individuals with diverse experiences. They have taught me a great deal and I feel privileged to have worked with them.

How do you think you will apply what you learned in graduate school to your position at FCDS? The program has given me a lot of ways to think about problems at independent schools. This year, I’ve taken coursework in a lot of different areas: leadership, learning cognition, instructional design, group dynamics, school finance and marketing, law, negotiations,

and design thinking. FCDS was at the forefront of my mind in each of these courses. I am excited to work with FCDS kids, parents, and colleagues to answer a simple question—What do we want to make of this place? That is a deceptively tough question. Collectively though, I think we have the answer.

What was your favorite thing about living in NYC and your least favorite thing? The best part of being in the city has been the food. Chef Kevin and his crew do great work at FCDS, don’t get me wrong, but I’ll miss the chicken tikka masala from next door. The worst part? My home is the size of a large closet and is located a couple blocks from a hospital. I won’t miss the apartment or the sirens!

Did you learn anything about other schools that made you appreciate FCDS more? I recently spent a few days studying the leadership at a really top-notch boarding school. I recall one meeting with faculty from different departments. Most had been there for many years, but when each one spoke, they began by stating their name and department because nobody knew one another. That gave me pause. FCDS is the sort of place where everybody knows everybody. That familiarity is part of what makes the school so special to me. In the Loop Summer 2016

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STEWARDSHIP W E A R E J U DGED BY OU R DEEDS STEWARDSHIP has been a part of the Country Day curricu-

lum for many years. This philosophy connects traditional teaching in the classroom with meaningful service to the community. Bridging these experiences provides an opportunity for boys to expand their knowledge about themselves, their community, and their environment. Each grade participates in community service initiatives; from bake sales to support the Beardsley Zoo, to coat drives, to a partnership with a senior center. Serving others becomes a part of the students’ educational foundation and the values of strong character are forged through service.

Day of Service The Parents’ Association initiated our first Day of Service on April 2. Over 200 people joined forces to give back to the greater community. After a welcome breakfast on campus, teams of volunteers dispersed into surrounding areas. Many of the groups braved wet weather while they tackled outdoor projects. Volunteers cleaned up Fairfield streets, a Southport park, and planted daffodils and made a pathway at the Fairfield Audubon. One group planted a garden for Horizons (an educational enrichment program serving low income students at Sacred Heart University) and read books to

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the students, while other volunteers planted a vegetable garden for Operation Hope. In addition to the outside activities, other groups made cookies and delivered them with notes to Operation Hope, snack bags were assembled and delivered to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, and flowers were arranged and given to patients at The Carolton Chronic and Convalescent Hospital. Many of the organizations sent notes to thank our school community for making a difference. Operation Hope wrote, “We are fortunate to be able to offer fresh produce to our Food Pantry clients, and it’s even more special considering it’s grown right on our property and planted with love by dedicated volunteers like those from FCDS and friends. We look forward to a bountiful harvest!” Horizons said, “Thank you to all the wonderful Fairfield Country Day School students and families who supported our students with shared reading and cold weather seed planting. We are so grateful for your time and energy!” In conjunction with the Day of Service, the Upper School boys created handcrafted bowls to raise awareness and money to help the fight to end hunger, as part of the Empty Bowls Project. The Empty Bowls Project is an international grassroots effort. Schools, organizations, and individuals create handcrafted bowls that are

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Web Extra Watch our Day of Service video at http://bit.ly/1sK0ayi

Top: Students planting daffodils at the Fairfield Audubon. Middle Left: Andrew Hess ’20 and Christian Kodweis ’20 carrying soil for the Operation Hope garden. Middle Right: Volunteers building garden beds at Horizons. Bottom: Isaac Korus ’18, Jack Alecia ’18, and Tyler Ferdinand ’17 selling bowls for the Empty Bowls Project.

displayed at different events and offered for a cash donation. All proceeds are donated to a local food bank. The bowls, designed to be keepsakes, serve as a reminder of all the empty bowls throughout the world. The boys chose Operation Hope to be the recipient of the money raised and they were proud to donate $448 to this great organization. Through community service and character education, we are helping to set the foundation for a lifelong commitment to service. Co-chair, Leslie Noland, said, “One thing I love about this day is that it will always be the day that keeps on giving in more ways than one. Imagine how many people the gardens that we planted will feed in the future.” FCDS will continue this new tradition with an annual day of local volunteering. In the Loop Summer 2016

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Freerice Program Teachers at Country Day are always looking at ways to tie their curriculum into lessons on stewardship and giving back. A great example of this connection is the eighth grade technology class, that is tackling world hunger through Freerice. Freerice is an online non-profit program that is run by and supports the United Nations World Food Programme. The goals of Freerice are to provide free education for everyone and to help end world hunger by providing rice for people in need. Once students sign-up, the site allows them to practice standardized test vocabulary, world geography, mathematics, and even art history. For every correct answer, Freerice donates ten grains of rice to a third world country in need of food. In a short amount of time, the boys in eighth grade contributed over 10,000 grains of rice and are committed to doing more. The students like playing because they know the impact they are making, and they are also gaining knowledge. Max Fuligini said, “I really enjoyed playing Freerice, I learned about new vocabulary and strengthened my math facts while giving people food who need it.” Freerice has been a rewarding experience as teacher Mandy McCubbin said, “Not only are these students practicing core skills for curriculum, they are acting as stewards of the world by using their time and roles as digital citizens to truly make a difference.”

Environmental Impact Another part of the School’s commitment to stewardship is the pledge to practice responsible environmental behaviors. The science curriculum across all divisions is grounded in helping students gain a

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better understanding of the natural world. Through science classes, the boys develop an awareness of environmental issues and take a leadership role in trying to better our planet. The Pre-K class collected used markers for the Crayola Color Cycle program which repurposes used markers into usable fuel. FCDS recycled over 2,570 markers. According to Crayola, “One box of eight recycled markers creates enough energy to prepare a breakfast that consists of brewing a pot of coffee, frying an egg, and making two pieces of toast; 308 markers produces one gallon of fuel, which is enough to power an SUV for fifteen miles; and 193 markers is enough to move a city bus for three miles.” Continuing with the recycling theme, the third grade partnered with Nike again to collect used shoes for their Nike-Reuse-A-Shoe program. Nike recycles them into new products, such as new shoes, sport courts, and gymnasium flooring. FCDS donated 196 pairs of shoes this year. In fifth grade science, students study trout in the classroom through a partnership with Trout Unlimited. Starting in November, students regularly observe about 150 trout eggs and record their development throughout the school year, until the fish are released into a local river. Through this interactive, hands-on program, students learned about the trout anatomy, the life cycle of fish, and studied the importance of clean watersheds and their impact on trout habitats. In preparation to release eighty fish into a local river in May, students took water samples from three different bodies of water and compared their results to those obtained by the EPA. After collecting information like temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen levels and reviewing local DEEP trout stocking maps, the students chose

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THROUGH OUR WORK IN AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM,

WE STRIVE TO IMPLEMENT CHANGE TO BUILD A HEALTHIER, MORE

SUSTAINABLE

CAMPUS. Left: Volunteers at the first Day of Service. Right: Kindergarten boys studying plants on campus during science class. Bottom: Chris Littrell with students releasing trout into the Mill River.

the Mill River in which to release the trout. The class also studied the clean-up of lead-contaminated soil found in the Mill River. More than thirty years have passed since the Exide Battery factory, located on the Post Road in Fairfield, closed. However, parts of the Mill River in this area still contain above-normal levels of lead. Students reviewed and discussed current remediation efforts as well as the negative impact the soil contamination has had on native species in our community. We don’t just teach environmental responsibility, we practice it. One of the school’s most beneficial environmental changes this year was eliminating single use plastic water bottles and plastic and paper cups. For years, FCDS offered plastic water bottles to faculty, staff, and guests. In addition to the plastic bottles, we had plastic and paper cups available for water, coffee, and tea. Giving up plastic bottles and cups is great for the environment and it also saves the school money. The school is saving over $3,000 annually with the elimination of plastic cups and water bottles. We used to go through around 7,500 bottles each school year. The EPA states that, “Only seven percent of the plastic waste generated each year is recycled.” In addition to eliminating plastic, the kitchen staff donates leftover food to Community Plates, an organization committed to transferring fresh, usable food that would have otherwise been thrown away to families in need. We hope that by teaching and demonstrating good environmental practices as early as Pre-K, our students will care deeply about the environment and be motivated to take action. Through our work in and outside the classroom, we strive to implement change by building a healthier, more sustainable campus. In the Loop Summer 2016

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GRAND CANYON TRIP CHANGE IS HARD, but often comes with a great reward.

For many years, the ninth grade class took their annual class trip to Miami, Mr. Paige’s favorite place. This traditional trip was something students looked forward to. When Mr. Runkel became Head of Upper School, one of the items he wanted to change was the destination of the ninth grade class trip, not because it wasn’t fun, but because it felt like Mr. Paige’s trip. It was time to try something new. In the fall, Mr. Runkel announced that the new class trip would be to the Grand Canyon. After the initial surprise of not going to Miami, the boys got excited. This particular ninth grade class was affable, inclusive, and cohesive and they rallied around the change. As the time drew closer, the excitement built for a bonding trip to a spectacular location that only a few of the students had previously visited. Departing FCDS on Thursday, April 28, fourteen students, Mr. Runkel, and Mr. Fallon flew to Las Vegas, Nevada where they were met by two tour guides. Their first stop was Valley of Fire State Park, the oldest and largest state park in Nevada. After a day of traveling, the boys were eager to hike and take in their surroundings. The second day included Zion State Park where five students did

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a challenging hike called Angels Landing. According to the zionnationalpark.com website, “The Angels Landing Trail is one of the most famous and thrilling hikes in the national park system. Zion’s pride and joy runs along a narrow rock fin with dizzying drop-offs on both sides. The trail culminates at a lofty perch, boasting magnificent views in every direction. Rarely is such an intimidating path so frequented by hikers. One would think that this narrow ridge with deep chasms on each of its flanks would allure only the most intrepid of hikers. Climbers scale its big wall; hikers pull themselves up by chains and sightseers stand in awe at its stunning nobility. The towering monolith is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Southwest.” The students thought the hike was exhilarating, awe inspiring, and something that will never be forgotten. After dinner, the last stop of the day was Coral Pink Sand Dunes where students got to snowboard or toboggan down the sand dunes. They had a blast! On the third day, the group left Kanab, Utah for Flagstaff, Arizona. On the way, the group stopped for a rafting adventure on the Colorado River in Paige, Arizona. While a bit cold, the boys loved the tour and learning about the history of the Grand Canyon

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and the Colorado River. The day ended with indoor rock climbing. Everyone tried it and a few of the boys were standout climbers. The fourth day was spent at the Grand Canyon National Park, where the group hiked the South Kaibab Trail. The trail offered wonderful views and the steepness was misleading on the way down. The hike back out was rigorous, and the boys did great. The group learned that of all the visitors to the Grand Canyon, only 5% actually hike the trails! On the last day the students enjoyed their visit to Las Vegas. They saw the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel and had dinner at Planet Hollywood. In total, the group hiked twenty miles, drove 1,000 miles in a van, and covered three states. They bonded over trying new things, playing cards in their room, listening to music, playing pranks on each other while sleeping, and reminiscing about their FCDS days. Mr. Fallon said, “This group is the nicest group of boys. Their camaraderie and enthusiasm set the tone for a wonderful trip.” The group learned that change can lead to wonderful moments. Connor Boyle reflected, “My favorite part of the trip was hanging out with my peers and hiking up and down the canyons and

mountains. My advice for the ninth grade next year is to have fun wherever you go and to make a lot of good memories with your peers.” Change is part of life and these boys will all experience big changes as they exit the Blue Door one last time as a Country Day student. The eighth graders have big shoes to fill, but ninth grader Harry Azadian left parting thoughts to the rising ninth graders, “My advice for the ninth grade next year is that it doesn’t matter where you go (on your class trip). The only thing that matters is having the time of your life, with the brothers that you will remember forever.”

Left: Liam Ballou taking in the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Above: Students at Red Rock State Park. Background: The ninth graders at the halfway point of their hike into the Grand Canyon.

In the Loop Summer 2016

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Fairfield Country Day School

Seventy-Ninth Commencement Exercises

class of 2016

Members of the graduating class will attend the following secondary schools: Michael Delbert Auray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salisbury School

Cameron Mitchell Purdy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffield Academy

Harris Bruce Azadian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staples High School

Drake Alexander Quental. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loomis Chaffee School

Ashton Williams Ballou. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. George’s School

John-Clement Raymond Sanzone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Joseph High School

Connor Edward Boyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fairfield College Preparatory School

Cole Alvin Sprinkle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choate Rosemary Hall

Andrew Tate Buckley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berkshire School

Cameron Tobin Sweedler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avon Old Farms School

William Paul Bundy, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Mark’s School

Michael Nicholas Thompson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Luke’s School

Sam Akers Klyver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. George’s School

James Ruger Stratford Whiteley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deerfield Academy

Timothy Major Oravec. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffield Academy

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COMMENCEMENT is a beloved tradition at Fairfield

Country Day and the School’s 79th commencement on June 15 was spectacular. The ceremony beautifully captured the spirit of Country Day and recognized the hard work and achievements of the ninth grade class, as well as some younger classmates who received ranking scholar awards and the Parents’ Association school spirit and citizenship awards. There was a palpable sense of community as guests and students celebrated the incredible ninth grade class as well as the departing eighth graders. The strong bonds between students and teachers were apparent throughout graduation, especially when the ninth graders processed in and were cheered, hugged, and congratulated by their teachers. Every graduating class is unique and leaves a special mark on Country Day, but this class in particular embodies what it means to be a Country Day gentleman. They are thoughtful, hardworking, good citizens, intellectual, and strong leaders. Over the last few weeks, the conversations in the halls and classrooms among the faculty have been about the ninth graders, their successes, and how each boy will make a positive impact at their secondary schools. Their futures are incredibly bright. The ninth grade boys have led with heart this year through their stewardship initiatives and being good citizens, making it that much more fitting that we welcomed United States Army Major Nicholas J. Bilotta ’94 as our commencement speaker. Major Bilotta is a graduate of West Point, where he was a four year letter winner and captained the Army lacrosse team in 2002. Since graduation, Major Bilotta has had a successful career in the military. He has served overseas multiple times including time in Iraq as part of the Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kunar Province in Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. He has taught at West Point, served as a Battalion Operations Officer, and is currently a Battalion Executive Officer. Major Bilotta has been recognized with over twenty awards. A few of his distinguished awards include Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal for Valor, Bronze Star Medal for Service, a Navy Achievement Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Instead of retelling stories and sharing his experiences abroad and on the battle field, Major Bilotta’s remarks focused on the founda-

United States Army Major Nicholas J. Bilotta ’94

Mrs. Beasie du Pont accepting her honorary degree from Headmaster John Munro during her 64th commencement.

tion Country Day provides students—instilling a strong work ethic, and helping in the development of positive character traits like honesty and self-responsibility. He also spoke about the power and significance of the School’s motto, “we are judged by our deeds.” Major Bilotta told students, “Many of you are headed out into a far less protective environment than you experienced here. The challenges you will face will be much more significant than those I had to deal with. You are entering a complex, fast paced, technologically advanced and often times confusing world. In front of you will be the constant conflict of the right way and easy way. The path of least resistance will pull you—it will convince you that you can get away with choosing the easy wrong. Just this one time—no one is looking—but deep down inside, you know to choose the hard right. You learned that here (at FCDS) and many of you may not know it yet, but your success in the future will be a result of your commitment to excellence right here. Do the right thing—all the time—especially when no one is watching. You will be judged by your deeds.” Major Bilotta spoke about opportunity and how our students are fortunate to have so many wonderful options available to them. From great schools, to traveling, to advanced technology, the possibilities are endless. “Opportunity alone does not equal success. Opportunity plus hard work equals success. We oftentimes find ourselves wishing versus working for what it is we want.” Major Bilotta spoke about failing chemistry his freshman year at West Point and having to work especially hard over the summer to pass. There were times he wanted to quit West Point and give up on all the work, dedication, focus, and commitment that came with being at such a rigorous school. His dad reminded him of the unique opportunity that was in front of him and pushed him to work hard. Major Bilotta made it through and told FCDS students, “That year changed my entire concept on the value of hard work. Surrounded by the nation’s best and brightest, I realized that hard work beats talent, when talent isn’t working hard, every time. You are not like everyone else. You are each afforded opportunities that do not come around often; finish the recipe with some hard work. When you fail, get back up and continue working hard. Just keep getting back up; and keep working harder. Your deeds will get you much further than your words.” There is no doubt this group of gentlemen will go off into the world and make it a better place. Good luck graduates!

In the Loop Summer 2016

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student awards and prizes

COMMENCEMENT 2016

NORMAN SCHAFF ’62 AWARD

James Whiteley, Grade 9

Carrigan Cullinan, Grade 7

Connor Wackerman, Grade 8

for achievement in technology

Daniel Duffy, Grade 8

Teddy Feroleto, Grade 7

Charles Simon, Grade 8

James Whiteley, Grade 9

Gavin Guterl, Grade 8

Sean Fox, Grade 7

Henry Beck, Grade 7

Michael Thompson, Grade 8

Riley LeBlanc, Grade 7

William Eykyn, Grade 7

William Smalley, Grade 7

Sean Fox, Grade 7

JOHN FIELD AWARD for research in history/English

H. THOMAS CAVANAUGH PRIZE

Nathaniel Duffy, Grade 6

Alexander LeBlanc, Grade 7

James Whiteley, Grade 9

for public speaking

Gavin McCue, Grade 6

Samuel Haskel, Grade 6

Steele Citrone, Grade 8

John-Clement “JC” Sanzone, Grade 9

Owen Newbauer, Grade 6

Robert Master, Grade 6

William Conzelman, Grade 8

Ryan McGuire, Grade 8 ARCHIBALD R.

Carter Hall, Grade 5

F. GEORGE DUPONT AWARD

RIHMAN BUSCH AWARD

HOXTON, JR. AWARD

Aneesh Roy, Grade 5

for excellence in debate

for excellence in English

for excellence and

Blake Burchill, Grade 7

James Whiteley, Grade 9

leadership in athletics

RANKING SCHOLARS

Anders Ernberg, Grade 7

Connor Rosow, Grade 8

Harris Azadian, Grade 9

Spencer Tuohy, Grade 8

Connor Boyle, Grade 9

Gavin Guterl, Grade 8

Sean Fox, Grade 7 Max Papadatos, Grade 7 JAMES STEARNS AWARD

Liam Spellacy, Grade 6

JAMES S. CURRIER AWARD

Anders Ernberg, Grade 7

for achievement in mathematics

JOHN CURTIS AWARD

James Whiteley, Grade 9

to a member of the ninth grade

for achievement in the

who best typifies enthusiasm,

Brendan Dunleavy, Grade 7 THE ELY AWARD FOR

performing arts

LAURENCE AND

character, and winning spirit

SERVICE TO FCDS

Ashton “Liam” Ballou, Grade 9

LUELLA GREGORY AWARD

Cameron Purdy, Grade 9

for academic improvement

Cole Sprinkle, Grade 9

DOUGLAS REED AWARD

John-Clement “JC” Sanzone, Grade 9

for achievement in foreign

Cameron Sweedler, Grade 9

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION AWARD

for ranking scholar in the ninth grade

SAMUEL FOSS HOLMES AWARD

language

Noah Bachner, Grade 8

for school spirit and citizenship

James Whiteley, Grade 9

William Bundy, Jr., Grade 9

William Conzelman, Grade 8

Harris Azadian, Grade 9

Cameron Purdy, Grade 9

Thomas Craley, Grade 8

Connor Boyle, Grade 9

EDWIN FOSTER BLAIR AWARD

Michael Thompson, Grade 9

Connor Wackerman, Grade 8

Michael L. Thompson, Grade 8

Presented to a member of the ninth grade who best exhibits leadership, achievement, citizenship, and

Left to Right: Board

gentlemanly bearing

President Mark Beaudoin,

Ashton “Liam” Ballou, Grade 9

Headmaster John Munro, and Edwin Foster Blair

2016 YEARBOOK DEDICATION

Award recipient Ashton

Greg Bavedas ’93

“Liam” Ballou FINERTY FACULTY AWARD Awarded to a faculty member who has demonstrated a special commitment to encouraging students in all areas of school life Lauren Hull, Learning Specialist CLIFF PAIGE '62 AWARD Awarded to a member of the Fairfield Country Day School community who embodies the spirit of FCDS through his or her compassion for others. His or her actions, in all facets of life at FCDS, demonstrate a consistent warmth and infectious optimism. Jenna Gabriel , Pre-K teacher

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Professional Development Fairfield Country Day is fortunate to have a robust professional development budget. Faculty and staff participate in workshops and attend conferences throughout the year because learning beyond the classroom walls is vital to professional growth. Faculty members regularly share what they have learned with their colleagues, in addition to implementing many of the new ideas into their teaching practices. The workshops and conferences faculty members attended this year demonstrate the breadth of our academic program—problem solving and differentiation in the math classroom, language training, best strategies for teaching reading comprehension, mindfulness practices for better classroom learning, teaching executive functioning strategies—to name a few. In addition to attending programs outside of school, the entire faculty and staff receive training onsite during professional development days. These days are critical to the faculty and staff, as they provide them an opportunity to collaborate, reflect, and learn from one another. This year, Derrick Gay, a well-known school diversity consultant, visited campus and worked with the faculty around ideas of diversity and inclusivity. The faculty member that traveled the farthest this year for a professional development opportunity was Latin teacher, Duncan Briggs. As part of a faculty exchange that

Mr. Briggs at Christ Church Grammar School in Perth, Australia

began with a teacher visiting our campus in the fall, Mr. Briggs traveled over spring break to the Christ Church Grammar School (CCGS) in Perth, Australia. He spent two weeks visiting classrooms and learning from the students and faculty. A highlight of the trip was a visit to the school’s innovative Design and Technology Center. In this state of the art facility, Mr. Briggs observed an incredible display of hands-on, maker projects in action: boys designing digital blueprints for race cars, constructing wooden surfboards and small boats, and welding the metal pieces that they required. The creativity, engineering and craftsmanship that Mr. Briggs witnessed demonstrated

firsthand the value of maker projects in an all-boys school setting. Mr. Briggs reflected on similarities and differences between FCDS and CCGS by saying, “One thing that this trip has made me appreciate about FCDS is the power of a small, tightly knit community. With over 1,700 students, CCGS operates on a much greater scale. I am grateful to have the small class sizes at FCDS, as well as the familystyle lunches that promote close studentteacher relationships.” The FCDS faculty are fortunate to receive such generous professional support, and to be part of a faculty community with a growth mindset.

Spring Musical Congratulations to the cast and crew on their amazing performance of Damn Yankees. Their rendition was spectacular. Thank you to Ms. Nelson and Mr. Balmer for their leadership and to all the volunteers who helped make it such an extraordinary production.

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Mural Project Ellen Griesedieck, the mastermind and artist behind the American Mural Project (AMP), visited FCDS in the spring. The AMP is an organization seeking to create “the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world—a mural 120 feet long, five stories high, and up to ten feet deep.” The project was started in 2001 and since then more than 10,000 students from sixteen states have helped. AMP purchased two factory buildings in Winstead, CT that will serve as a place for visitors, field trips, guest lectures, and workshops with local artists. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Ms. Griesedieck. The AMP came across many road blocks, especially with fundraising. Governor Malloy recently challenged Connecticut residents to help collect donations for the final stage of the project—renovating the factory buildings. In February, Ms. Griesedieck announced they raised an additional $1.4 million and would break ground this summer. During her visit at FCDS, Ms. Griesedieck worked with the ninth grade boys on sculptures for AMP’s future gardens. The boys each brought in a bottle (laundry detergent, juice bottles, cans, etc.) from home and wrapped it carefully in clay. After they designed and fired the clay, the boys put the finishing touches on their projects. They loved working with the artist and look forward to visiting their pieces when the garden is complete.

Makerspace

Top: Ms. Griesedieck and Cam Sweedler ’16 rolling the clay. Bottom Left: Cole Sprinkle’s ’16 finished sculpture. Bottom Right: Michael Thompson ’16 working on his sculpture.

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Being a leader in boys education means that FCDS teachers are constantly studying ways in which boys learn best. FCDS librarian, Maggie Burchill, visited a Makerspace workshop through the Westport library and saw the benefits of creating a Makerspace at FCDS. Makerspaces are creative, do-it-yourself spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. The decision to hold maker classes in the Learning Commons

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Top: Aiden Konig ’26 and Max Smokler ’26. Right: William Spencer ’23 , Jackson Henrich ’23, and Alexander Eykyn ’23.

was easy, as it is equipped with a 3D printer and other forms of innovative technology. Many schools are starting to initiate Makerspace classes because of the positive results. Edutopia stated, “The Maker movement is poised to transform learning in our schools. To counteract educational standards, testing and uniformity, this fresh approach emphasizes creation and creativity-products and processes born

from tinkering, playing, experimenting, expressing, and collaborating.” Mrs. Burchill introduced the first Makerspace to the Lower School boys in the spring. Because the older boys use the 3D printer and learn robotics in technology classes, Mrs. Burchill decided to go low-tech and see what the boys would make with recycled materials including cardboard, plastic

containers, rubber bands, duct tape, masking tape, glue, scissors, markers, staplers, construction paper, wooden scraps, and other safe materials that sparked the boys’ interest. This kind of Makerspace is less about the product and more about the experience. The boys created all sorts of imaginative projects, and more importantly, were completely engaged doing it. Their excitement was palpa-

Art and Technology Show This year’s art and technology show displayed students’ work across all grade levels. The fifth grade boys studied biomes in science class. They created commercials using the green screen and created travel brochures using a website called Padlet. Guests watched the third grade state commercials—the boys used the green screen to create persuasive commercials encouraging people to travel to the states they had studied. Eighth graders used Google Slides to share “Digital Life Similes” after examining the many ways technology has an effect on their lives. In addition, the art show featured artwork from each student ranging from pottery, drawings, watercolor paintings of trout that correlated to their science curriculum. A group of inventive seventh graders created an Iditarod team featuring Mr. Munro as the sled driver.

Web Extra Watch the Art & Tech Show videos at http://bit.ly/28Yx85t In the Loop Summer 2016

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ble and one Pre-K boy enthusiastically said, “I am going to make a nighttime garden and then a telescope.” Another boy saw some Chinese characters on a box and wanted to make some of his own. He was doubtful about how to do it and Mrs. Burchill heard another boy tell him, “Just do your best.” There were lots of encouraging comments and collaboration in all the grades. One of the most rewarding aspects of the Makerspace classes is seeing how focused the boys were, especially the ones who have a hard time sitting still during a more traditional class. Mrs. Burchill plans to continue Makerspace classes with the Lower School boys next year and is looking forward to seeing them make, tinker, and create. The possibilities are endless.

“Boys Have Heart” Action Research Update Librarian, Maggie Burchill, and Kindergarten teacher, Molly Hemenway, concluded the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Action Research project in March by conducting post-workshop interviews of the boys. The project consisted of a series of workshops with the Class of 2016 entitled, “Boys Have Heart.” Their research question was, Can workshops on gen-

der equality make boys better global citizens? The eight workshops—largely centered around the film clips from the documentary “The Mask You Live In,” written, produced and directed by Jennifer Seibel Newsom—

introduced the boys to facts and concepts that were entirely new to them. The data they gathered showed that boys can become better global citizens by simply being aware of the inequality between men and women. With this raised awareness, every boy came up with an action he could take to mitigate this imbalance. “One of the immediate challenges for the workshops was how to take these 14-year-old boys from their relatively sheltered viewpoints of life in Fairfield County to a global view of the issue of the gender equality,” said Burchill. “We could not start with the upsetting news stories from some U.S. campuses, or the harsh conditions for women in many countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe because the boys could not relate

3D Printing The seventh grade 3D Printing and Design class recently partnered with the Pre-K class for a fun project. Using a web-based design program called Tinkercad, the seventh graders helped the younger boys design a functional bubble wand by discussing various shapes and sizes. Each wand took about ten to fifteen minutes to print on our 3D printers in the Learning Commons. After all the wands were printed, the boys met up for some outside fun to test out their new creations.

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to that. We would lose them. Instead, we began with the boys themselves and talked about what it means to be a man and what it means to be a good man.” Teaching the boys about healthy masculinity was the first part of the project. The boys learned that many of the male role models in the media are very unlike the real-life men the boys know. Often the messages they get tell them men need to be athletic, financially successful, and in command of women. They saw how limiting this is and realized the good men in their lives are much more varied and nuanced than these simple, hyper-masculine ideals. One of the most important results of the workshops was the global viewpoint the boys began to exhibit. They came to understand that the actions we take in our own community have a ripple effect that can ultimately help or hinder the global community. The boys’ final assignment was to list ten adjectives describing global citizenship. Far and away the word they used the most was “kindness.” Hemenway said, “If that is the only thing they learned, this has been a great success. We are happy to report they learned quite a bit more than that!” Based on the interviews and the feedback from the boys, the workshops were successful in making the boys better global citizens by raising their awareness of gender equality. The boys began to understand that gender equality is not just a women’s issue, it is a human issue. It was clear from the interviews that they understood the idea that if any group of people is treated unfairly, it affects all people. Participating in the IBSC Action Research Project is one of the more challenging and rewarding experiences for teachers. The high standards required by IBSC make the researchers accountable for creating quality teaching practices that can be used in the future. Burchill and Hemenway presented their project at the 2016 IBSC Conference in June in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Wordmaster Challenge A team representing Fairfield Country Day School recently earned Highest Honors in the 2015-16 WordMasters Challenge™—a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 150,000 students annually. The sixth grade team scored an impressive 178 points out of a possible 200 in the last of three meets this year, placing them seventh in the nation. Competing in the difficult Blue Division of the WordMasters Challenge™, sixth graders Blake Braun and Tom Powell each earned a perfect score of twenty in the recent meet. Nationally, only fifteen sixth graders achieved this result. Other students who achieved outstanding results in the last meet of the year include fifth grader Troy Ashkinos and sixth graders Ryan Collins and Alexander Halpern. Troy Ashkinos and Blake Braun also qualified for individual Highest Honors in the overall competition. Troy’s cumulative score of fifty-six points and Blake’s score of fifty-seven points placed them among the top ten to fifteen students in their respective divisions. Congratulations to these boys who represented FCDS and made us proud!

Left to Right: Troy Ashkinos ’20, Ryan Collins ’19, Alexander Halpern ’19, Blake Braun ’19, and Tom Powell ’19

The students were coached in preparation for the WordMasters Challenge™ by teachers Mrs. Deborah Sullinger, Mrs. Margot Pearce, and Mrs. Nancy Stevens. The WordMasters Challenge™ is an exercise in critical thinking that first encourages students to become familiar with a set of interesting new words (considerably harder than grade level), and then challenges them to use those words to complete analogies expressing various kinds of logical relationships. Working to solve the analogies helps students learn to think both analytically and metaphorically. Although most vocabulary enrichment and analogy-solving programs are designed for use by high school students, WordMasters Challenge™ materials have been specifically created for younger students in grades three through eight. They are particularly well suited for children who are motivated by the challenge of learning new words and enjoy the logical puzzles posed by analogies.

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Mock Trials by John Fallon, English teacher There are few activities that awaken a young man’s inner competitiveness more than a mock trial. Perhaps they see it as the ultimate intellectual contest, or that it requires not only careful planning, but improvised debate. Or perhaps young men

just love shouting “Objection, your Honor!” over the frantic pounding of a gavel. Whatever the reason, I have long enjoyed mock trials in the classroom. I had riveting experiences myself as a sixth grade juror, an eighth grade lawyer, and a ninth grade witness. After I became a teacher, I knew it was a challenge I wanted to bring into my own classroom. Sixteen years ago, my ninth grade teacher modelled the mock trial after

New York Choral Trip On Friday, April 22, over eighty Fairfield Country Day boys traveled to New York to participate in musical performances at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rutgers Presbyterian Church. It was the first time Country Day students performed at St. Patrick’s and there were nearly five hundred people in attendance. The Cathedral’s Guest Choirs Concert Series features hundreds of performers each year from top-level high school, college, church, cathedral, and professional choirs from around the world. It was an honor to be included. The evening concert at Rutgers Presbyterian Church was one of the best performances to date. The audience was moved by the songs and showed their appreciation of the boys by giving them a standing ovation. Music director, Mr. Balmer, reflected on the day in an email to the students. “We raised the roof with our sound. Each song, each soloist, each musical moment was presented with care and dignity. Your voices and your ability to work together to create these musical performances have touched the lives of many people.” Congratulations to the boys and Ms. Nelson and Mr. Balmer on a job well done.

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Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and made the chief conspirators of the (in)famous general’s death face justice: did they save Rome from tyranny or commit cynical murder for their own benefit? We were assigned roles, either a lawyer or a character from the play, and we could use anything in the text as evidence for our cases. When I began teaching Julius Caesar, I knew I would implement the mock trial as the final unit. Students who had muddled their way through the play bolted upright in their seats at the words “mock trial”. Boys who had preferred to stay in the background during group projects suddenly were organizing their team members and helping them see inaccuracies in their affidavits. It was one of my favorite experiences as a new teacher. I couldn’t wait to implement it again. The next time the evil Lord and Lady Macbeth would face trial, but with a twist. With their guilt already certain, the question would now be: who is guiltier? The ninth graders set to work immediately and began parsing the text for any scrap of incriminating evidence to deflect responsibility from their client and characterize their opponents as the real evildoers. Was Lady Macbeth simply an ambitious spouse who watched in horror as her husband slew his way to the throne, or an amoral puppet master that orchestrated the entire bloodbath herself ? Was Lord Macbeth a naive extension of his wife’s influence, or a merciless killer who just needed a little push to get his hands bloody? The boys harvested the text, diving deeper and unpacking the nuances of important quotations to use as a rhetorical salvo in their battle of interpretations. But who would decide the Macbeths’ fate? A group of volunteer teachers watched the recorded testimonies and will ultimately decide which Macbeth faces the blade of the Royal Executioner. The boys needed to make their case clear and founded upon hard evidence in order to appeal to the jury’s logic and emotions. The mock trial allows for a variety of crucial 21st century skills to be developed.

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FA I R F I E L D C O U N T R Y D AY S C H O O L Ninth graders in Mr. Fallon’s class during their mock trial.

For the most part, the entire project is self-guided by the students. I give them a detailed guide covering all the different responsibilities and a series of due dates

for different elements, but beyond helping them craft and tweak their statements, examinations, and testimonies, they are in charge of building the case. It inspires

me every time seeing how much time and energy they invest. Watching them independently collaborate to break down a complex, nuanced text for shades of meaning makes me confident they are building the critical thinking skills to become, analytical young thinkers. More importantly, it is fun. Whenever I can be a true facilitator of joyful learning rather than a taskmaster or overseer, I am reminded about why I became a teacher: to share my passion for literature and lifelong learning. Also, banging a gavel and shouting “Order!” is really, really fun.

Get Social with Friends Like us on Facebook @fairfieldcountrydayschoolalumniassociation and @FairfieldCountryDaySchool

Already a member online? “Like” our pages and “share” our alumni social networks with your FCDS friends. Help grow our following as you connect with classmates and friends!

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Want to share your news? Submit your class notes at www.fairfieldcountryday.org/Page/Class-Notes

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1). The boys’ show of camaraderie and sportsmanship was fantastic during Field Day

3). Cameron Purdy ’16 won the Julius Caesar contest

2). Danny Duffy won the Geography Bee, beating out teacher, Mr. Phillipson 22

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4). Fifth grade students made and blasted rockets during science

5). The first grade had a great time with Soundwaters learning about animals in the Long Island Sound 6). Seventh grade students enjoyed their class trip to the Adirondacks

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 7). The second grade’s annual play about character inspired the audience 8). The fourth grade donning their Egyptian Crowns to conclude their study of ancient Egypt

9). The sixth grade worked with students at the Adam J Lewis Preschool during their final visit of the school year 10). Roman Gods swarmed the halls for the annual fifth grade Roman Feast

11). The ninth grade took the first grade students to see the construction crew laying the concrete on the new hockey rink 12). The Lower School and Upper School spring concerts were wonderful In the Loop Summer 2016

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Scoreboard By Brad Fallon, Athletic Director

Fall/Winter Update Varsity Squash The varsity squash team had a fantastic season, ending with a 4-2 record. Led by coach, Kristina Barnaby, and with co-captains, Sammy Klyver and Willy Conzelman, the “Boys in Blue” looked like a million bucks in their new uniforms! Novice eighth grade players, George Kessler and Matthew Spencer, broke into the top seven quickly and contributed immensely to the team with their smart play and good sportsmanship. Eighth grade newcomer, Tyler Ferdinand joined Henry Bartol, Gavin Guterl, Steele Citrone, and Brooks Klyver. Seventh graders new to the team included Will “Sunshine” Eykyn, Max Papadatos, Michael Beaudoin, Bennett Burki, and Jaffir Wajahat. James Whiteley, our only ninth grader and threeyear veteran, was also a quiet leader on the team. We would like to thank Attila Agh, the squash professional at The Gym at Southport Athletic Club. He did a wonderful job teaching the fundamentals, strategies, and the finer points of this fantastic game.

Varsity Basketball The varsity basketball team was led by first-year coach and former NCAA hoops player, Lewis Affronti. The Crusaders finished the 2015-2016 season with a record of 6-7. Coach Affronti did a masterful job molding this group of young men into a cohesive team. With last year’s three top scorers graduated, the five ninth graders on this year’s squad stepped up and became our new leaders! Incredible stars in other sports, they were relatively new to hoops. Harry Azadian, Tim Oravec, Cam Purdy, Cam Sweedler, and Liam Ballou worked tirelessly at improving their skills as the younger boys looked to them for leadership and guidance. The eighth grade Lau brothers, Andrew and Michael, were our leading

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Left: George Kessler ’17 preparing to hit the ball. Right: Ryan McGuire ’17 looking to pass the puck. Bottom: Cam Sweedler going up for a shot.

scorers. Their “run and gun” style set the pace for the rest of the team. Our biggest victory was against our rival, Greens Farms Academy, as the boys went on a 22-0 run to squeeze out a victory in Westport. Connor Wackerman and Andrew Wymbs led us in rebounding and blocked shots and Charlie Simon and Zach Pearce were our most vocal supporters. We look forward to having many of our younger players back on the hardwood next winter!

Varsity Hockey The varsity hockey team was once again undefeated! First-year head coach, Harry Geary, and assistant coach, Duncan Briggs, inspired their troops to their second straight unblemished record. The ninth graders

were our heart and soul—Connor Boyle, Michael Auray, Drake Quental, Cole Sprinkle, Michael Thompson, and goalies, Will Bundy and Andrew Buckley—led us to decisive victories over Taft JV, Hamden Hall JV, and the always tough Brunswick squad. The eighth grade had some standout players too—Michael Thompson, Spencer Tuohy, Jack Esse, Cooper Eckert, Quin Conopask, and Ryan McGuire all helped in making the season perfect. The cupboard is far from bare next year with seventh graders, Teddy Gravanis, Michael Callahan, and Brendan Dunleavy, ready to continue the streak in 2017!

Spring Update Varsity Baseball Varsity baseball finished the 2016 season with a 4-5 record. According to veteran coach, John Dorman, “This resilient bunch easily could have quit on the season after a 1-5 start, but instead they dug their cleats in and continued to work hard.” The team closed with three straight wins—playing their best games at the end of the year. Highlights of the season include: ninth grader, Harry Azadian’s grand slam to the right at Staples High School over their version of “the green monster”, eighth grader,

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Left: Harry Azadian ’16 throwing a fastball. Middle: Michael Mauricio ’17 looking to score a goal. Right: Shane Cooper ’17 leading the pack.

Charlie Simon’s first no-hitter, complete game against Rye Country Day, eighth grader, Andrew Wymbs’ two shots (double, triple) at Brunswick, and seventh grader, Cole Mascolo’s double against the Ludlowe High School freshmen. Azadian led the charge both offensively (.647 AVG, 4 HR, 13 RBI) and on the mound (3-2, 2.16 ERA, 28K). Charlie Simon (.318), Andrew Wymbs (.333), Cam Sweedler (.333), Michael Thompson (.455), and Cole Kirven (.389) all contributed in our offensive success at the plate. Defensively, Teddy O’Kane, Joe DeVellis, George Kessler, Cole Kirven, Michael Lau, and Tyler Ferdinand were solid in the field. Caleb Kirven and Tim Oravec manned the catching duties and Andrew Lau provided depth to the pitching staff. JC Sanzone and Noah Bachner both added great depth to our lineup. Special thanks to our new assistant coach, Joe Bartolomeo, who was a welcome addition to the FCDS staff. With many players returning next year, Coach Dorman is optimistic that the boys can improve on their 2016 record.

Varsity Lacrosse Varsity lacrosse finished a successful season without a loss in 2016. Coaches Greg Bavedas and Travis Berry did a master-

ful job leading the boys to reach their goal of “getting their picture on the wall”. Statistically, the team this year was absolutely out of sight. Defensively, they never gave up double digits, which is a testament to ninth graders, Cole Sprinkle and goaltender, Cam Purdy. Offensively, they were only held under double digits once against a tough opponent, Rumsey Hall, in a game FCDS ultimately won, 6-3. Furthermore, they scored nearly 100 goals this season, a testament to their offense, led by our face off midfielders, ninth grader, Connor Boyle and seventh grader, Blake Burchill. They were supported by attack men, eighth graders, Michael Mauricio, Pat Ciquera and ninth grader, Drake Quental. Sustaining our midfield effort were ninth graders, Liam Ballou and Andrew Buckley, eighth graders Jack Esse, Spencer Tuohy, and Zach Pearce, and seventh graders, Brendan Dunleavy, Michael Callahan, Sean Fox, Ben Gault, and Teddy Gravanis. The attack was supplemented with outstanding effort from eighth graders Cooper Eckert and Ryan McGuire. Finally, our awesome defense was led by Cole Sprinkle, Cam Purdy, and another ninth grader, Michael Auray, along with eighth grader, Connor Wackerman. The boys really missed playing with Michael Thompson this year, who was out the entire season with

a leg fracture. We do appreciate Michael coming to every practice and hardly missing a game as well. Way to go “tribe”, as Mr. Bavedas affectionately calls them.

Cross Country Congratulations to the FCDS spring 2016 Cross Country team and to their veteran coaches, Mrs. Pearce and Miss Crouch! Led by eighth graders Henry Bartol, Matthew Blasius, Shane Cooper, Ruan O’Toole-Douglas, and Connor Rosow, the harriers made steady progress throughout the season. Practices included runs in and around Greenfield Hill, challenging stair workouts that would have made Rocky proud and many, many campus loops, often with the duo of coaches Crouch and Pearce setting the pace. Their hard work in practices translated to strong finishes in meets. Seventh grader Will Sherts, eighth grader Ruan O’Toole-Douglas and sixth grader, Oliver Fenner, consistently placed in the top of their age groups. Connor Rosow, Henry Bartol, Matthew Blasius, and Warren Jaffee showed terrific improvement. Next year, we will look to Shane Cooper, Noah Maximin, Jaffir Wajahat, Mason Balocca, Andy Bordea, Nathaniel Duffy, Bobby Master, and Daniel Clavelli to emerge as our team leaders! In the Loop Summer 2016

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alumni news

An Interview with Asher Zelson Asher Zelson ’14 is a rising senior at Choate Rosemary Hall and started a great food blog called AsherZeats four years ago, while a student at FCDS.

When and why did you start AsherZeats? I began AsherZeats in September of 2012 with the goal of sharing my love of food with the world. My infatuation with eating blossomed from my family’s constant traveling. From that traveling, I discovered that there is really no better way to experience the cultures of those who are different than you than to eat. I found that if you seek to absorb all that wonderful information that you are presented with, food is the ideal stepping stone to launch you into the beautiful cultures and customs of a country (or state). Once I gained that mindset, starting the blog was easy: I just pulled up a Wordpress page and began writing.

How did your education at FCDS impact the blog? Did you write for the E-blotter? My education at FCDS was truly what sparked my love of creative writing. The wide range of books, novels, and short

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stories we read throughout my time at the school, along with the thought-provoking essays we wrote in English class, inspired me to think more creatively, and as a result pushed the limits of my imagination. The E-blotter was the perfect canvas to illustrate my newfound thoughts and growing creativity, and put my words out to the public. Mr. Paige helped me to hone my craft, and eventually I was writing for the E-blotter several times a week. My work for the E-blotter allowed me to develop my vocabulary and perfect my writing style, which proved to be beyond helpful in working on my blog.

Colony in Fairfield, Fleischers in Westport, Pepe’s in Fairfield, Bodega in Fairfield, Mecha in Fairfield, and Safita in Southport.

What is your favorite restaurant in Fairfield? What about top 10 list for Fairfield County?

Any advice to a student who might be interested in starting their own blog?

That is a really difficult question, but I think my favorite restaurant in Fairfield is Safita in Southport. My top ten in Fairfield County (in no particular order) is: Paci in Southport, Walrus and Carpenter in Bridgeport, Rothbard Ale + Larder in Westport, The Driftwood in Southport,

Work by the three P’s: Persistence, Promotion, and Passion, and you will succeed!

Do you write at Choate for the Choate paper? Yes, I write food reviews for the Choate newspaper, The News. It is a wonderful publication and I thoroughly enjoy writing for it, but I must say that the E-blotter trumps it any day of the week!

What was your favorite tradition at FCDS? What did you miss the most when you left? There were so many wonderful things at FCDS, but I would have to say that the family-style lunches and the concert choir are two traditions I miss most.

If you are an alum with a blog, please let us know. We would love to feature alumni blogs in future magazines. To share your blog, email Lauren.Mulcahy@fairfieldcountryday.org.

FCDS Alum and Special Agent, John Ringel ’80, Returns to Campus On April 8th the FCDS community welcomed Jon Ringel ’80, Senior Special Agent (SSA) with the United States Secret Service back to campus. SSA Ringel has been with the Secret Service for twenty-five years and we were very happy that he was so generous with

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Inaugural Men’s Night On May 12, FCDS welcomed over fifty alumni and friends back to campus for a Men’s Night. They mingled and reconnected with classmates and former teachers while sampling beer from Aspetuck Brew Lab. Chef Kevin Stawitz served a delicious dinner while alumni reminisced about their time at Country Day. Alumni ranged from the class of 1962 to the class of 2007. Top: Alumni and friends after a great dinner. Right: Steve Morse ’86 and Chris Morse ’93. Bottom Left: Rob Russo ’90, Luke Schnirring ’90, and Brett D’Elia ’90. Bottom Right: Kyle Kirki ’90, Ed Kirik ’63, Ben Paige ’04, Cliff Paige ’62, Anthony Bavedas, and Greg Bavedas ’93.

his time in the midst of what is a very busy schedule. SSA Ringel spent nearly the entire day at FCDS speaking with boys of all ages, including Kindergarten, second and third grades, and three sections of seventh grade US history and ninth grade Western Civilization. He impressed the boys with the tools of his trade sharing everything from his radio (with ear piece, of course), to his bullet proof vest, gas mask, and chemical attack response suit. He also showed the boys a video depicting the history of

the Secret Service along with some of the training that agents receive in preparation for their job. Ringel began working as a uniformed member of the Secret Service providing security at the White House. After five years he became a Special Agent and worked on the protection details for several Presidents, Vice Presidents, World Leaders, and First Ladies. He has more recently worked in a role that protects our nation’s currency and helped bring down a New England counterfeit ring run by nationals from Mexico and Ecuador.

SSA Ringel was an inspirational visitor who had great advice for our boys, especially those who showed an interest in one day doing what he does for his country. He told them, “Stay on the straight and narrow always, never do drugs, and put the greater good before yourself.” A special thanks to Ellen Boyle PP’16 for her help in bringing Mr. Ringel back to FCDS and to SSA Ringel for being so generous with his time. The boys were excited to have him on campus and we hope he can return next fall. In the Loop Summer 2016

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Class of 1962

Class of 1982

Class of 1995

with Brewster Ely ’62 at Brewster’s retirement from the Town School for Boys in San Francisco, California.

currently resides in Palm Harbor, Florida with his wife of eighteen years, Tina and their son Zack (16) and daughter Taylor (13). Rob is the Vice President/ General Manager for Majestic Athletic, a division of VF, based in Tampa, Florida overseeing their NFL, NHL, and Harley-Davidson businesses.

TODD MARR and his wife welcomed a baby boy, Griffen Burke Marr. They reside in New York, NY.

CLIFF PAIGE

ROB BRODERSEN

Class of 1983

Brewster Ely ’62 and Cliff Paige ’62

MICHAEL WEATHERLY said goodbye to the hit CBS show, NCIS, after thirteen years. He will be starring in a new CBS show called Bull.

Class of 1972

Class of 1984

ROGER W. RISLEY and his wife, Nina, recently moved to Port Charlotte, Florida. For the last three years he has had a successful direct to consumer/direct marketing consulting firm.

EMILIO (MIMMO) IASIELLO lives in Arlington, Virginia with his family. After leaving the government, he works as a cyber intelligence analyst for a private sector company.

Class of 1974

Class of 1986

is in his twenty-sixth year in London. He has three children in their 20’s – an environmental activist daughter (www. climatejourney.org), a soon to graduate son headed into business in London, and a musician and artist son with a year abroad coming up at University of Pennsylvania. Much of his time has been dedicated to rescuing a botanic garden on the Isle of Wight (www.botanic.co.uk). He said, “the kids say that I am a gardener when asked. It is a great time to be rejuvenating a botanic garden as issues like climate change and species loss are becoming more understood. Green the fields that lie about us...”

DEREK BLOOM and his wife Lauren (along with children Aidan and Sebastian) welcomed a baby daughter Lenox Celia Bloom last summer. Derek’s firm, Derek Bloom Architects, in Boston, has begun working with University clientele, while continuing their residential and commercial work.

JOHN CURTIS

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Class of 1999 CLEVE RUECKERT and his wife, Grayson, welcomed a baby boy Charles “Chase” Hellmuth Rueckert this winter.

got engaged to fiancé Charlotte Johnson. CHRIS JONES

Class of 2000 ALEXANDER CHARMOZ graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

THOMAS AURAY

LAWRENCE (“LARRY”) BROWN and Lisa Rinta-Tuuri were married on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at The Houstonian in Houston, Texas. Larry is Vice President Legal at JW Michaels, a premier executive search firm, and heads their office in Houston, Texas.

Chris Jones ’99 and Charlotte Johnson

Class of 1979 has been married for twenty years with two sons and a daughter. He has worked at local manufacturing company for thirty years and has good memories of FCDS.

Class of 1998

Jim Crowley ’91, Matt Wilcox ‘91, John Munro, and Isa Mujahid

MATT KOIZIM will be leaving the Baltimore Orioles at the end of summer to pursue an MBA degree at Yale’s School of Management. He’ll miss Baltimore and baseball, but looks forward to the new challenge.

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Class of 2001 and his wife Christina welcomed a baby girl, Avery Kate, weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces and 20 inches long. They recently moved back to the Fairfield area for Michael’s new position in New York, NY. MICHAEL THOMAS

Class of 2003 WHITNEY BRIGHTON married Marisa McGrann in November outside of Rome, Italy. The two met in college where they both played lacrosse.

Business School on May 23, 2016. He is graduating on the Dean’s List from the Business School and he received a cum laude award from the Law School. After graduation and completion of the New York State Law boards, he and friends are traveling to Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Phuket for a three week vacation. When he returns, he will work full time as CEO of Rocco and Associates Wealth Management in Fairfield, working with his dad and brother-in-law, Eric Johnson.

Class of 2005

Whitney Brighton ’03 and Marisa McGrann

MORGAN KEIM is an MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson.

BRETT GOLDBERG is attending a joint graduate program at Columbia University and the London School of Economics receiving degrees from both institutions in International Finance as well as a Masters in Public Policy. Furthermore, over the summer Brett will be a Summer Associate at the Federal Reserve where he will work in their Compliance Department. Prior to the Federal Reserve and graduate school, he was a Vice President in Risk Management at Banco Santander in Boston where he started working as an intern his senior year at Boston College.

married Christina Whittaker in July 2015. They live in Fairfield, CT. BRENDHAN HAAS

JOE KOIZIM recently commenced a master’s program in analytics at the University of Chicago, while continuing to work for Adaptly, a social media advertising company.

Class of 2004 and his brother HOWARD FOOTE ’00 founded a clothing company called Patrol USA after he graduated from the University of Colorado. He also started Heli Life. AUSTIN FOOTE

GRAHAM MOORE JR. will be completing his Masters this year in Fundraising Management at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies.

received a dual JD/MBA degree from Fordham Law School and CHARLIE ROCCO

CHARLES DAVIS took an analyst role at BlackArch Partners, an investment bank in Charlotte, North Carolina immediately following graduation from Colby College in 2013. After assisting with the completion of several mergers and acquisitions over two years, he moved to Chicago to take a job with the private equity firm H.I.G. Capital as an Associate in their leveraged buyout group. In an unexpected, but welcome, turn of events several months ago, Charles returned to New England when he was relocated to downtown Boston by his employer. He expects to stay in his current role for the foreseeable future, but will likely return to school to get his M.B.A. in the next two to three years. Charles is happy to serve as a resource to other alumni.

Class of 2007 JAKE DUNN graduated from Kenyon College in 2015. Jake was honored to receive the Jesse Falkenstein Award as a scholar-athlete playing four years of baseball and captain of the team junior and senior year. He finished with a career batting average of .400 and holds the college records in at bats, runs, hits, doubles and total bases. Jake lives in Manhattan with Connor Kistler ’07 working at Silicon Valley Bank in private equity. HUNTER HUEBSCH graduated from Middlebury in 2015 with a major in economics and film. He spent three months traveling alone all over Iceland. Currently Hunter is a freelance filmmaker, web and graphic designer, and photographer. He is about to return to Iceland to produce promotional videos for a professional fly fishing company. And he is working full-time as the Creative and Marketing Director at a start up in NYC. BRONSON L. KELLY graduated in May from Johns Hopkins where he was a member of the men’s lacrosse team. Presently, Bronson is living and working in New York city for Colliers International Real Estate. He lives with FCDS alumni James Cerruzzi ’07, Charlie Sumner ’07, and Andrew Johnson ’07. STEPHEN SEYMOUR graduated from Middlebury in January 2015. He played lacrosse all four years and was a New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association honoree. Currently working for a company called The Consulting Group and working in the Philadelphia area. QUINN SMITH signed a contract to play with the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL in September after playing at Avon Old Farms and Boston College.

Class of 2008 MATT CLARIDA

School this fall.

will start Columbia Law

In the Loop Summer 2016

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class notes

I N T H E LO O P • S U M M E R 2016

GREG GUDIS graduated from Columbia in May 2015 and works for J.P. Morgan’s Investment Bank in Manhattan. MIKE PALIOTTA signed a one year contract with the Rangers as a free agent. PETER TWEEDLEY graduated from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and is currently studying law at the City University of London. MAX WITTEK signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on May 1, 2016. He was a quarterback for the USC Trojans before finishing his college career with the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.

Class of 2009 TAYLOR CASEY looks forward to graduating from Brown University in December 2016 with a degree in Economics and East Asian Studies. This summer he is looking forward to working for the private equity firm Clearwater Capital Partners in mainland China. NICK CITRONE had an article published on the Tartan Sports Analytics website. The purpose was to “identify trends in the NFL Draft by plotting expected value added by position with each pick in the draft.” https://tartansportsanalytics.

com/2016/03/30/maximizing-draft-valueby-position/ finished his junior year at Dartmouth where he is studying economics and philosophy. Currently, he is working on obtaining approval for his honors thesis next year, which has been exciting. Alec is using economic game theory coupled with a computational cellular automation model to describe the evolution of property rights and economic markets, which has not been done before, but he hopes to come out of it with some interesting results. He will be working in New York City this summer for Related Companies’ Private Equity Real ALEC DUNN

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Left: Alec Dunn ’09 and Jake Dunn ’08. Right: Michael Urquhart ’09

Estate Team. He said, “I think it will be a great experience for me after I spent this past fall working in London for Almacantar, a commercial real estate investment and development firm.” finished his junior year at Tulane University. He still absolutely loves school and everything the city of New Orleans has to offer. James spent the fall semester traveling around Europe and studying at ICADE University in Madrid, Spain. This summer he will be living in New York city and working as in intern for NASDAQ.

WILL SARGENT graduated from Lafayette College with a BA in International Affairs and Asian Studies and a Minor in Chinese. He was captain of the Lafayette Ski Team which competed in the USCSA Finals in Lake Placid this past March.

JAMES JOHNSON

NOLAN PAIGE graduated from Stanford University in June 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies. He played on the Stanford men’s tennis team all four years as a starter both in singles and doubles. He will be going to Divinity School at Vanderbilt University beginning in the fall. During the summer of 2016 he will be a tennis pro at Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport. ALEXANDER ROSSETTI graduated from Santa Clara University in June with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a major in Studio Art. He was second in his age group in the Louisville Ironman in 2014 and 10th in age group at the World Championship Ironman in Kona Hawaii in 2014.

MICHAEL URQUHART attends the College Of Holy Cross. He is a junior and majoring in accounting. He will be interning with Ernst and Young this summer in New York City. He is on the varsity lacrosse team where he plays defensive midfield and broke a school record this year with fifty-three ground balls for the season. FCDS is what really got him to focus on proper studies (helping him get prepared and accepted into a college like HC) and his lacrosse development at FCDS was also outstanding- he loved Mr. McGrath as both a teacher and a coach.

Class of 2010 ALVIN HEUMANN is on the men’s squash team at Dartmouth College. For the first time in many years, they are ranked in the top five in the country. Alvin has been playing #1 since the beginning of January and has recorded wins over Princeton, Penn, and Drexel. The Dartmouth men’s squash team ended its historic season with a 6-3 victory over Ivy League foe Columbia in the consolation round of the College Squash Association Team Championship.

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Left: Andrew Hatton ’10 and Connor Kelly ’10. Middle: Will Slade ’11 running the ball. Right: LJ Foley ’13, Chris Swanson ’13, and Quinn Cahill ’13

CONNOR KELLY finished his sophomore year at University of Maryland. He is a member of the men’s lacrosse team. He played in the championship game last May in Philadelphia. He has an internship this summer in finance in Stamford.

WILL SLADE attended Episcopal High School and is now studying and playing rugby at Santa Clara University. This past spring break, his team travelled to Argentina to play rugby.

PETER SOLAZZO completed his junior year at Cornell majoring in physics. Peter is a member of Cornell’s varsity lightweight rowing team, continuing the rowing career he started at Andover. After his freshman year in college, Peter completed an internship at the Department of Justice in New Haven. This summer he will be returning for his second summer as an intern at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in Laurel, Maryland.

Class of 2012

DAVID WHITE is a sophomore at Amherst College where he plays hockey.

Class of 2011

JOHN ‘JACK’ BRADLEY graduated from Weston High School and in the fall he will be attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying guitar and music production.

finished his freshman year at Denison University where he plays lacrosse. He plans to major in economics and will be attending the London School of Economics this summer to take extra finance classes. PETER DOERING

GRAY JOHNSON

University.

will be attending Tufts

THOMAS SARGENT just completed his sophomore year at Johns Hopkins where he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Math.

Class of 2013

just finished his freshman year at Denison University where he plays lacrosse. His team won their conference championship. He will be living and working on Cape Cod this summer.

graduated from St. Luke’s and will attend Lafayette College in the fall.

RYAN SEYMOUR

QUINN CAHILL

will be a senior at Taft.

IAN CONNELLY will be a senior at Millbrook School. NICHOLAS CONZELMAN will be attending Hamilton College in the fall. PATRICK CRAIG will be the head tour guide at Loomis next year. PARKER DIAMOND graduated from St Joes in Trumbull in June. He has been an honor student, an active Student Ambassador, speaking at many local high schools on St. Joes behalf. He played tennis and was a team captain. This past year he became a volunteer fireman for the town of Easton. Parker received many offers to play college tennis and decided to attend Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. He is looking forward to college!

THEO ALLEN will be attending Boston College in the fall and rooming with old FCDS pal Jack O’Neil ’13. IAN ANDERSON

ZACHARY BRASSER

Millbrook School.

will be a senior at the Parker Diamond ’13 and Christopher Klabonski ’13 In the Loop Summer 2016

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I N T H E LO O P • S U M M E R 2016

CHANDLER DOUGLAS graduated from Fairfield Prep and will attend Georgetown University in the fall.

WILLIAM MCGRATH will be attending Dartmouth College.

will be attending Syracuse University in the fall.

Fairfield Prep.

KENNETH MOALES WILLIAM DUFFY

LJ FOLEY will be a senior at The Taft School.

will be a senior at

Celebrating FCDS Alumni Athletes We are collecting information on alumni who played a sport collegiately or profes-

IAN OFFENBERG will attend the University of Texas in Austin this fall.

sionally. Please let us know if you were a college athlete and if you played professionally. FCDS will recognize and celebrate the

IAN FROST will be attending Boston College.

graduated from Milton Academy and will be going to George Washington University where he will run on the indoor track and cross country team.

will be attending University of Connecticut. NOAH PEDERSON

PAUL HOUSEY

accomplishments of outstanding athletes with a “Wall of Athletes” next year. Email Lauren.Mulcahy@fairfieldcountryday.org.

HENRY PURDY

will be a senior at Ludlowe.

WILL NOLAND is going to Tulane University.

is taking a gap year in Hungary. After his return he will start at Quinnipiac University.

will be attending Chapman University in Orange, California.

CHRISTOPHER KLABONSKI will be attending George Mason University.

Farms.

HUGH LAVELLE will be attending Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

CHARLES SIMMONDS will be a freshman at the University of Richmond.

year member of the Choate varsity lacrosse team and a current co-captain. Michael is a lacrosse recruit committed to Union College in Schenectady, New York where he will also pursue his academic interests in environmental science and policy. This summer, Michael will serve an externship at Wetlands Studies and Solutions, Inc., a natural and cultural resources consulting firm in Virginia.

MATTHEW MCDERMOTT is going to Lafayette College in the fall.

MICHAEL SOLAZZO graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in May. Michael is a four-

WILLIAM STAPLETON will be attending Franklin and Marshall College.

MATYAS KRIZSAN

LIAM LOWSLEY-WILLIAMS

NOAH SAFFAN

will be a senior at Avon Old

Class of 2013 Gathering Alumni from the class of 2013 returned to campus for pizza, fun, and fellowship.

Above: Quinn Cahill, Garrett Stonehouse, Campbell Ashman, Ian Offenberg, Hugh Lavelle, and Billy McGrath. Top Right: Liam Lowsley-Williams, Billy Stapleton, Charlie Thompson, Will Duffy, and Noah Saffan. Bottom Right: Nicky Conzelman, Theo Allen, Paul Housey, and Michael Solazzo

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FA I R F I E L D C O U N T R Y D AY S C H O O L

In Memoriam JEFFREY LASHAR ’61

Brother of John Lasher ’55 and uncle to William Lashar ’12 passed away on February 21, 2016. MARGARET C. LERCHEN Left: Chris Swanson ’13 and Zach Brasser ’13. Right: Lazarus Brown ’15.

STEPHEN STONEHOUSE will be attending Elon University in the fall. CHRISTOPHER SWANSON

the Westminster School.

will be a senior at

will be attending Chapman University in the fall. ZACH SWEEDLER

GRANT SWEENEY will be attending Texas Christian University.

will be a senior at Greens Farms Academy. CHARLES THOMPSON

NICHLAS VRANOS will be attending Harvard University.

will be attending Quinnipiac University. DANIEL WINSLOW

AIDAN WISHER will be attending Syracuse University.

Class of 2015 LAZARUS BROWN attends Greens Farms Academy and just finished his sophomore year. He had the opportunity to sing at the Martin Luther King Assembly at GFA. JACK CURTIS is a student at Fairfield Warde and made All-FCIAC honorable mention as an outside linebacker for football.

What Are You Up To? Please send your news or photo to Lauren. Mulcahy@fairfieldcountryday.org.

Parent to Alex Lerchen ’98, Peter Lerchen ’00, and Andrew Lerchen and former FCDS librarian, passed away on May 12, 2016. DAVID A. SWEASY

Former faculty who taught English and history. The 1997 Blazer was dedicated to David. The words of his students best portray David's legacy to the young men he taught: “Mr. Sweasy personally has changed our perceptions of life. Live life to it’s fullest, learn and have fun! He became a ‘father figure’ to all of us. When we had a problem, a crisis, needed some advice or just wanted to talk, his door was always open and he would always listen. In our eyes, Mr. Sweasy is a man of many talents who showed us the value in everything that we do. He made us aware that all our actions should be part of a conscious thought process.” David passed away on December 13, 2015.

Left: Jack Sheehan ’14, LJ Foley ’13, Patrick Harper ’14, and Daniel Winslow ’13. Right: Sawyer Coseglia ’15, Sean MacDonald ’15, Brendan MacDonald ’15, and Stephen Panico ’15 played in the FCDS alumni hockey game. In the Loop Summer 2016

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2970 Bronson Road Fairfield, CT 06824 Address service requested

Parents of Alumni: If your son no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, kindly notify the school by sending his new mail and email address to development@fairfieldcountryday.org. Thank you!

save the dates! Friday, September 23 Back-to-School Bingo Friday, October 21 Oktoberfest Saturday, October 22 Homecoming Monday, November 21 Young Alumni Gathering Tuesday, November 22 Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day Saturday, December 17 Alumni Hockey Game For current news and events visit www.fairfieldcountryday.org

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