Meetinghouse | Winter 2023-2024 by Friends Seminary

FRIENDS SEMINARY 222 East 16th Street New York, NY 10003

WINTER 2023-2024

Meetinghouse THE MAGAZINE OF FRIENDS SEMINARY

Archives

In 2004, students in teacher Robin Bowman’s Upper School photography class created a portrait collage of Friends students. The 42 prints were made through the use of traditional darkroom techniques.

From Wonder to Witness Students and teachers travel to the front lines of the fossil fuel and emerging renewable energy industries.

+ Alumnus in the Field Matthew Ross '89 is combining law and business expertise to combat climate change.

+ In the Classroom See how Quaker concern for the Earth and the well-being of all who live in it is deeply rooted in our curriculum.

"In a portrait I'm looking for the silence in somebody." HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON

Notes on Silence

The 237th Year

What is Juneteenth?

Denman Tuzo writes on the privilege and blessing to share silence in the Fifteenth Street Meetinghouse.

A look back at the 20222023 academic year at Friends, including Reunion and Commencement.

Kirsti Peters tells the story of the holiday in a New York Times best-selling children’s book series.

Our Mission Friends Seminary educates students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, adhering to the values of the Religious Society of Friends. We strive to build a diverse school where students exercise their curiosity and imagination as they develop as scholars, artists and athletes. In a community that cultivates the practices of keen observation, unhurried reflection, critical thinking and coherent expression, we listen for the single voice as we seek unity. The disciplines of silence, study and service provide the matrix for growth: silence opens us to change; study helps us to know the world; service challenges us to put our values into practice. At Friends Seminary, education is rooted in the Quaker belief in the Inner Light—that of God in every person. Guided by the testimonies of integrity, peace, equality and simplicity, we prepare students to

ReDefinition of Beauty During the 2023 Upper School Day of Concern, a group of Upper School students created artwork that challenged society’s definition of beauty. Led by Visiting Artist Jennifer Croson, students selected images of traditional depictions of women from diverse backgrounds and identities—often created by men through a male gaze—and then altered the images. Their goal was to “radically redefine beauty” by their own standards, thereby inventively reimagining beauty, lifting these women from history and infusing their image with a new life and reality.

engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be. Adopted December 2015

The famous “Bottle Dance” is performed during the Act I closing scene of the spring musical, Fiddler on the Roof, at the Vineyard Theater. Celebrating 10 years of partnership with the Vineyard and Director Steve Borowka’s 20th production at Friends Seminary, Fiddler played four performances to sold out crowds April 14—16, 2023. In all, 47 students in Grades 7—12 were involved, on stage and off, making this the largest cast in over 10 years.

OPENING SHOTS

Bottle Dancers

OPENING SHOTS

Bottle Dancers

OPENING SHOTS

Notes on Teaching

Jazz Teacher Bob Rosen, recipient of the 2023 Teri Hassid Art of Teaching Award, presented a lecture, "Notes on Teaching," on April 19, 2023. Speaking in the Meetinghouse, which has served as his classroom for decades, Bob spoke about his love for teaching and the many students who have gone on to play jazz professionally, many of whom were in the audience.

OPENING SHOTS

Notes on Teaching

OPENING SHOTS

Soaring Owls David Williams ’23 goes for a spike in a Boys Varsity Volleyball home game vs. Avenues on April 17, 2023. Starting in spring 2022, Boys Volleyball at Friends is the newest addition to our growing Athletics program.

OPENING SHOTS

Meetinghouse 18 EXPLORING AMERICA’S ENERGY FUTURE Students Travel to the Source

22 TEACHING GREEN Fighting Climate Change In and Out of the Classroom

28 MATTHEW ROSS ’89 Harnessing the Power of Renewable Energy

HEAD OF SCHOOL

10 | New to Friends

12 | Marge’s Book Reviews

34 | Notes on Silence

38 | Commencement 2023

46 | Reunion 2023

54 | Celebrating Bo

64 | Their Light Lives On

68 | Eye to the Sky

EDITOR

DESIGN

John Galayda

WRITERS

PHOTOGRAPHY

John Galayda, Marge Gonzalez, Bryan Hogan, Bo Lauder, Jared Scott Tesler, Ashley Tripp, Denman Tuzo

Kyla Campbell, John Deptulski John Galayda, Ned Gerard

HEAD OF SCHOOL

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Robert “Bo” Lauder

Michael Mudho

ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL Devan Ganeshananthan

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Ashley Tripp

Bryan Hogan

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE Kyla Campbell

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH? A New Book by Kirsti Peters

BO LAUDER

WINTER 2023-2024 ISSUE

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

A Message from

CREATIVE DIRECTOR John Galayda

If you think you've spotted an error in this issue, we would be grateful if you could let us know at communications@friendsseminary.org. Thank you!

elcome to the Winter 2023-2024 issue of Meetinghouse, Friends Seminary’s community magazine. Much has happened on 16th Street since our last issue, and the 2022-2023 school year was particularly special. Continuing our commitment to providing equitable access to a Friends Seminary education, last year saw the most dollars to date allocated to financial aid as well as the introduction of two morning buses from Brooklyn to serve our growing student population from that borough. The year also marked the completion of the Campus Redevelopment Project, with the construction of the capstone project: a James Turrell Skyspace atop the 218 Townhouse building. More information to come soon, but I am excited to share this unique space with you! As a part of the celebration of the end of the Project, we also unveiled a number of plaques honoring some very special friends, including Ed Carroll '56, the School’s first Black graduate (featured in the previous issue of Meetinghouse), and two beloved former colleagues who passed in recent years: Robin Hoffmann and Larry Wilson. You can find these plaques as well as several others honoring major donors to the Light the Future Campaign when you visit the School. On a personal note, 2022-2023 was my 21st year of service at Friends, and as I reflect on two decades serving as Principal/Head of School, I am incredibly grateful for this place we all call home and the community it serves and nourishes. Meetinghouse is a place where we can share and celebrate all of the things that make Friends so special.

In this issue you’ll read about how our students are intensely experiencing Mother Nature through our curriculum to better understand how humans can take action as interconnected global climate crises threaten to push millions into poverty, trigger mass migration and fuel ever-more powerful disease outbreaks. You’ll also read about an alumnus doing important work in the field. We profile Kirsti Peters, our Director of Diversity, Equity and Belonging, and her recently released book on the history of Juneteenth. Our Academic Center Director shares some “Notes on Silence,” Faculty Emerita Marge Gonzalez is back with reviews of books recently written by Friends alumni and former faculty, and much more. As we turn our focus to the 2023-2024 school year, I am delighted to share that four new administrators of color have joined our team—an important step toward our goal of our school population being representative of the city that houses it. I look forward to sharing with you an update to our revised Faith & Practice, which will be a guiding force for the School as we focus on continuing a culture of connection and community—connections with one another as well as connections to our foundational Quaker identity. Happy reading!

Bo Lauder Head of School

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Meetinghouse 18 EXPLORING AMERICA’S ENERGY FUTURE Students Travel to the Source

22 TEACHING GREEN Fighting Climate Change In and Out of the Classroom

28 MATTHEW ROSS ’89 Harnessing the Power of Renewable Energy

HEAD OF SCHOOL

10 | New to Friends

12 | Marge’s Book Reviews

34 | Notes on Silence

38 | Commencement 2023

46 | Reunion 2023

54 | Celebrating Bo

64 | Their Light Lives On

68 | Eye to the Sky

EDITOR

DESIGN

John Galayda

WRITERS

PHOTOGRAPHY

John Galayda, Marge Gonzalez, Bryan Hogan, Bo Lauder, Jared Scott Tesler, Ashley Tripp, Denman Tuzo

Kyla Campbell, John Deptulski John Galayda, Ned Gerard

HEAD OF SCHOOL

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Robert “Bo” Lauder

Michael Mudho

ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL Devan Ganeshananthan

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Ashley Tripp

Bryan Hogan

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE Kyla Campbell

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH? A New Book by Kirsti Peters

BO LAUDER

WINTER 2023-2024 ISSUE

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

A Message from

CREATIVE DIRECTOR John Galayda

If you think you've spotted an error in this issue, we would be grateful if you could let us know at communications@friendsseminary.org. Thank you!

Bo Lauder Head of School

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

WELCOME to 16th Street

In September the School welcomed a talented, experienced and diverse cohort of new faculty and staff, particularly at the leadership level. Read more about our new community members below. To learn more, and to meet other faculty and staff new to Friends this school year, visit www.friendsseminary.org/newemployees. Adjacent portraits: Clockwise, from top left, Devan Ganeshananthan, Trupti Patel, Hassan Wilson and Nisa Bryant.

Devan Ganeshananthan

Trupti Patel

Most recently, Devan was the High School Principal at The American School in London, and he previously served as Principal of Edgemont Junior/Senior High School in Scarsdale, N.Y. Devan received an A.B. in Economics and Honors in Music from Brown University and an M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Trupti has 29 years of experience in international, public and independent schools as an upper elementary classroom teacher, Lower School library teacher and K-5 instructional coach. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and Elementary Education and an M.S. in Special Education. Most recently, she taught Grade 3 at Greenwich Country Day School and served as the Divisional DEI Coordinator. She will also be teaching a section of Grade 6 English.

Associate Head of School

Nisa Bryant

Meet all 19 members of the faculty and staff that joined Friends this year.

Dean of Faculty

Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management

Hassan Wilson

Nisa joins Friends from Collegiate School, where she served as Director of Admissions. She has previously worked at Suffield Academy in Suffield, Conn. She began her career as a track and field coach and history teacher, then transitioned to Assistant Director of Admissions in 2000, departing in 2010 as Senior Associate Director. She holds a B.A. in History and Sociology from Bucknell University and an M.S.Ed. in School Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

With an 18-year tenure at Friends previously, Hassan wore several hats—from a teacher to Science Department Chair and, most recently, Assistant Head of Upper School. A brief hiatus led Hassan to the role of Executive Director of Constellation Learning Institute, enriching his experience in online and blended learning while supporting various schools across the country. In addition to his new role as Dean of Studies, Hassan will also be teaching in the Upper School.

Dean of Studies

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

WELCOME to 16th Street

Devan Ganeshananthan

Trupti Patel

Associate Head of School

Nisa Bryant

Meet all 19 members of the faculty and staff that joined Friends this year.

Dean of Faculty

Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management

Hassan Wilson

Dean of Studies

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Many Friends Seminary alumni and faculty have published books over the years, and Margaret Gonzalez intends to read them all. In 2017, Marge, a former Friends French Teacher, parent of an alumna and former trustee, set out on a journey to read all the literature she could find from Friends alumni, faculty and staff. Below she reviews six recent works by Friends alumni and former faculty. Follow her literary adventures online at margegonzalez.net.

comments in a "Hate Folder." This book chronicles his attempts to reach out to his detractors and to find ways to reach the great divide. This quest is riveting, funny, scary, gutsy, surprising and illuminating. It goes through phases where he makes important discoveries. He learns from mistakes. He rebounds from setbacks. (Also, there’s a great riff on how Meeting for Worship at Friends played a part.)

Conversations with People Who Hate Me by Dylan Marron '06 The internet came along too late for me. I use it to get information and to contact people, but when I encounter a book that is steeped in this alternate universe, I begin to see the possibilities it offers. Dylan produces podcasts, and because he takes a progressive stand, anonymous listeners say outlandish things. Some suggest that he kill himself and state that being gay is a sin. Dylan saves these

This 272-page book reveals a courageous experiment. My religion believes in the “inherent worth and dignity of every human being.” But everybody believes this in theory. By reaching out to those in his "Hate Folder," Dylan has put into practice the hard part of this belief. //

We all wonder how to relate to those who see the world very differently from ourselves. I hope I’m not giving too much away by saying that the answer lies in avoiding debate and, instead, engaging in conversation, as it permits Dylan and his haters to see each other as human beings. How bad can a guy be if he has a dog named Cinnamon? Eventually Dylan begins facilitating conversations between others. He is willing to go places most would shy away from. A woman who is sexually assaulted finds herself called a liar by a stranger on the internet. I hope you will read about how that conversation and a subsequent one turned out.

Glitch Feminism by Legacy Russell '04 The world is set up with social constructs that seem to work for some but for others just don’t apply. Legacy posits the glitch as a way to make space, to assert

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

visibility, and to break through to liberation. She does this with erudition, authority and a style that can erupt into poetry. We all have experienced glitches with our tech gear. They are mistakes. But sometimes a mistake can be a beneficial opening, a break in the machinery that permits a new configuration. Here is how Legacy puts it: “Black people invent ways to create space through rupture. Here, in that disruption, with our collective congregation at that trippy and trip-wired crossroad of gender, race and sexuality, one finds the power of the glitch.” The ideas in this manifesto supersede the idea of inclusion, with its implication of letting the other through the door. The idea of the glitch is to lay claim to owned space rather than permitted space. This book teems with ideas. In her chapter "Glitch Ghosts" she challenges the readers to “ghost” the binary body. This verb—to ghost— is what you do when you don’t want to be in contact with someone —not answering any texts or messages. How would this work with the binary body? Well, I explain this to myself by looking at my female pit bull. It is an understatement to say that she has no feminine social constructs. She reminds me of how oppressive such constructs have been to human females throughout history— ordinary cisgender white females.

The oppression increases exponentially when the person is not white and not cisgender. Glitch Feminism offers change that takes courage. At first I thought this book was not for me, but as I got into it, I began to think that it was; its introduction to numerous artists and thinkers and the poignant substructure of the thought in lived experience may provide a way forward for everyone. //

Flower Diary by Molly Peacock Former Faculty The beauty of Flower Diary: In Which Mary Hiester Reid Paints, Travels, Marries & Opens a Door is not confined to its poetic prose; the tactile and visual elegance of the book itself is a complementary pleasure. The exquisite paintings

reproduced in each chapter, the use of shaded pages to mark interludes, the very quality of the paper make this an objet d’art you will not be tempted to earmark. Contrary to my usual careless habits, I used an old pressedflower bookmark as I read. Like Molly’s earlier book, The Paper Garden, this work is a blend of biography and memoir. As a paleontologist reconstructs a prehistoric animal from the fossil of one paw, Molly takes the limited clues to the life of Mary Hiester Reid (1854 —1921) and brings her to life. Having discovered a postcard Mary once sent, Molly conjures the scene. Instead of a lifeless postcard, we see what must have been. Not simply the account of a gifted painter, Flower Diary discloses a female artist crafting a way for creative life and marriage to coexist. As Molly puts it, “In a world of misogyny as dense as and threatening as any fairy tale forest, they painted together, side by side.” This harmony between artistic work and marriage is the door Mary Hiester Reid gently unsealed. Reading always strikes me as a privilege and never more than in reading Flower Diary. Molly’s writing is generous. She lets us see as much of her mind as can be safely revealed. She interacts with her subjects with an open heart. The book is uplifting and heartbreaking. Like her subject, she has opened a door. //

Little Wade and Watchtower by Sean March (Mullan) '95 Little Wade and Watchtower: Abigail and the Great Gang Trap tumbles young readers into the exciting and dangerous world of late 19th-century New York, where natural and supernatural forces converge, bringing on a cosmic battle of good and evil. Good is supposed to win, right? Well, not in this novel. Of the title characters, only Abigail abides in the world we know. She is a young girl harassed by an evil gang. Little Wade and Watchtower are her otherworldly saviors. But this is only the beginning of the cast of colorful, larger-than-life (often literally) characters that hover in the air and beneath the surface. This book is visually exciting from beginning to end. //

Diamonds by Camille Guthrie Former Faculty If Mrs. Maisel and T.S. Eliot had a love child, it would be Diamonds. In all the enchanting anachronisms and magical whimsy of these poems, there is always a tie to this life now. In "To Bring You News," the poet says, “Yet the real prevails/ The sea level rises idealism falls/And ruthless ideologies abound/Put your head down/We have serious work to do.” Diamonds mystifies and throws the reader off balance but in a way to make us more curious, more intent on mulling just a bit more. It takes on voices from the past and from works of art. Such delights as an apostrophe to H. D., a look at Seneca, a dating profile of Bosch and a monologue by Madame du Barry invite us to linger. //

The Mailbox Conspiracy by Alexander Silvert '76 I literally couldn’t put this book down. The Mailbox Conspiracy: The Inside Story of the Greatest Corruption Case in Hawai'i History is a story with good guys and very bad guys and a public defender who felt compelled to pursue every detail. Corruption is so breathtakingly brazen that it is no wonder that it took some convincing for people to see it. The reader is on the edge of her seat, wondering how truth and goodness will ever prevail against powerful foes without a shred of conscience. We wonder uneasily if Alexander’s judgment about who could be trusted and who couldn’t is sound. Prepare yourself for some heavy-duty suspense—lightly peppered with humor. //

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Every Day at Friends!

Follow Friends Se minary on Instagra m to keep up with th e latest news and see our communit y in action.

Every Day at Friends!

Follow Friends Se minary on Instagra m to keep up with th e latest news and see our communit y in action.

Exploring AMERICA'S ENERGY FUTURE

How we adapt to the next two decades of energy demand and infrastructure will dictate the course of the planet for the next millennia. Through Friends' Global Education Program, students explored firsthand the intertwining interests of energy generation in this country as well as the social equity issues surrounding them.

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Exploring AMERICA'S ENERGY FUTURE

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

EXPLORATION 1 | NIAGARA FALLS, NY

Students explored the past, present and future of hydroelectric power at Niagara Falls, on both the American and Canadian sides of the river. They traversed 130-year-old bedrock tunnels, feeling the thunderous vibration of the Horseshoe Falls. They then spent a day at Canadian Niagara Power to see firsthand how such powerful energy of the falls is harnessed and converted into a great source of electricity.

riends Seminary has always encouraged its students and faculty to think of themselves as participants in and shapers of a complex and ever‐changing world. The Friends Global Education Program strives to foster real-world engagement through strategic partnerships and global immersion experiences based on values of mutual respect, cross-cultural understanding, equity and justice. Whether traveling to mountain villages in Nepal to work on educational equity issues, or to an Indigenous tribe in the rainforests of the Amazon to work on a biodiversity field study, these immersion experiences are designed to inspire and empower Friends students to be global changemakers.

EXPLORATION 2 | TORRINGTON, CT

To better understand climate change, the global energy crisis and the promising field of renewable energy, a group of Upper School students and their teachers went to the source of the matter—down into coal mines, inside waterfalls and atop the choppy water beneath oceanic wind turbines.

d a o R e h t n o s d n e i r F

Students traveled to FuelCell Energy in Connecticut to get an exclusive look at proprietary technology that provides a clean, efficient alternative to traditional combustion-based power generation. The technology is complementary to an energy mix consisting of intermittent sources of energy, such as solar and wind turbines. Students walked the fuel cell assembly lines and spoke with the engineers behind this groundbreaking technology.

EXPLORATION 3 | BLOCK ISLAND, RI Six hundred feet beneath the turbine blades of the Block Island Wind Farm, the nation’s first off-shore wind operation, a small boat navigated the choppy waters below to provide its student passengers with a close-up view of how wind energy is captured. Students also visited the Block Island Power Company to learn about the island’s recent connection to the mainland power grid via submarine cable, replacing a fleet of diesel generators.

EXPLORATION 4 | WILKES-BARRE, PA Three hundred feet beneath the Earth’s surface, students witnessed how anthracite coal was extracted from the Lackawanna Mine, a 19th-century operation that ceased in 1966. Students also visited a nearby active strip mine and the town of Centralia, which sits on a subterranean fire that has been burning in the labyrinth of abandoned coal mines beneath the town since at least 1962.

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

EXPLORATION 1 | NIAGARA FALLS, NY

EXPLORATION 2 | TORRINGTON, CT

d a o R e h t n o s d n e i r F

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Understanding Climate Change & Local Impact Scientist teaches students about effects of climate change in New York City

Quaker concern for the Earth and the well-being of all who live in it is deeply rooted in our school.

G TEACHING R E E N Generations of Quakers have handed down a sacred commitment to the “unity of creation.” To live out this commitment, Friends students and teachers are taking action to protect the climate and foster sustainable forms of prosperity. In response to the urgent challenges posed by human-induced environmental degradation and climate change, our community aims to create a just and sustainable future for all. Quaker values are at the center of this work: stewardship inspires respect for Earth’s biodiversity; integrity calls us to leadership in environmental justice; simplicity reminds us to use only that which is necessary; community informs our understanding that collective action is necessary to achieve meaningful change. As custodians and beneficiaries of the Earth that sustains us, we embrace the environment in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. Our faculty educate for sustainability, with the knowledge that action grounded in understanding has power. The following are just a handful recent initiatives at Friends, in the classroom and out in the field.

In December 2022, James Booth, Assistant Professor and Deputy Chair of the Earth and Atmospheric Science Department at The City College of New York, led a conversation titled, “The Real-World Effects of Climate Change - Climate, Weather and the Difference.” Through this event, which was sponsored by the Science Department and the Center for Peace, Equity and Justice, he detailed how hazardous weather impacts our community and showcased his work in helping the city's efforts toward climate change preparedness.

Building Green, Equitable Cities Students win $5,000 grant for Green City Force During Day of Service last April, Friends hosted its annual Youth Philanthropy Initiative presentations. A $5,000 grant was awarded to the non-profit Green City Force, which was presented by Grade 9 students Ian, Michael and Maliha. Green City Force is working to build green, equitable cities for a generation of young residents of public and lowincome housing.

Coastal Cleanup Nets Over 400 Pounds of Trash Students remove and analyze trash from New York City beach Grade 6 partnered with Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Park Conservancy during the Day of Service. They had the opportunity to see the park, learn about New York City's waterways and participate in a beach cleanup, collecting more than 400 pounds of trash! Students then spent time analyzing the debris and reflecting on their role as stewards of our planet.

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Understanding Climate Change & Local Impact Scientist teaches students about effects of climate change in New York City

Quaker concern for the Earth and the well-being of all who live in it is deeply rooted in our school.

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Global Goalkeepers

The Art of Advocacy and Lobbying

Class of 2031 raises awareness for United Nations' plan to address climate change

Students travel to Capitol to lobby for a healthier environment

Grade 4 students in the Global GoalKeepers class investigated United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #13: Climate Action. Dedicated working groups—Fact Finders, Art Activists, Hope Chasers and Change Makers—shared what they learned to inspire the Friends community to take action in advancing this crucial goal. Students transformed the lobby and the Common Room into a gallery space with information and audiovisuals as part of their culminating project, Bringing About the Change.

Building a Steam Pipe Garden

During the Friends Committee on National Legislation Lobby Weekend last fall, Friends students collaborated with more than 100 Quakers from across the country, who came together to lobby congressional offices for environmental justice policies. The students participated in a series of workshops, and then put their training into practice by meeting with representatives from the offices of Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. .

Lessons in Nature’s Classroom

Abby Berman '23 discovers unexpected symbiotic relationship between a problem and a sustainable solution

Students apply lessons in math and science to understand nature outside of classroom

For her senior project, Abby Berman '23 built a recycled hydroponic vertical garden along a steam pipe that runs through her family's kitchen. "I practiced reframing things that could be seen as a problem (in this case the steam pipe) as a potential for a sustainable solution.” Science Teacher Alex Lavy guided Abby during the building of the garden, instructing her on how to install a battery-powered hydroponic system to cultivate her plants.

Restoring, Maintaining and Improving a Park for All Students work with Riverside Park Conservancy through North Park Initiative Grade 11 students volunteered with Riverside Park Conservancy this past spring. Students and faculty learned about the history of the park, the importance of the North Park Initiative, the power of green spaces, and the importance of access to these spaces. The mission of Riverside Park Conservancy is to restore, maintain and improve Riverside Park— in partnership with the City of New York—for the enjoyment and benefit of all New Yorkers. The North Park Initiative is focused on the ark north of 120th Street, which has seen years of neglect and disinvestment.

Students in Grades 7 and 8 participated in a Climate Action Day last April by applying concepts learned in math and science classes to environmental issues within the larger community. Led by Science Department Chair Dr. Shayri Greenwood and Math Teacher Rachelle Scolari, students measured the circumferences of trees in Stuyvesant Square Park in order to calculate carbon uptake and sequestration. Students also built models of the Annex building and redesigned it as a passive solar structure.

Composting with Earth Matter

Students partner with largest compost project in New York City Grade 10 students and their advisors spent the Day of Service on Governors Island with Earth Matter, the largest compost project in New York City. Students helped to prepare the lavender fields for the 2023 season and to break up plant matter for compost. This work is also completed by Grade 9 students and their parents during the annual Freshmen Lead in National Giving Event each fall.

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Global Goalkeepers

The Art of Advocacy and Lobbying

Class of 2031 raises awareness for United Nations' plan to address climate change

Students travel to Capitol to lobby for a healthier environment

Building a Steam Pipe Garden

Lessons in Nature’s Classroom

Abby Berman '23 discovers unexpected symbiotic relationship between a problem and a sustainable solution

Students apply lessons in math and science to understand nature outside of classroom

Composting with Earth Matter

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Cloud: W ords to

BAD

POWERFUL

2023—2024 SCHOOL YEAR

De sc

e rib

NERVOUS URGENT IMPORTANT IRREVERSIBLE

on Climate Change

CHALLENGING

SCARED

UPSET

CONFUSED

HOPELESS SCARY ANXIOUS MAD

As part of her independent study last spring, Abby Berman ’23 examined the attitudes of her peers and teachers toward climate change. Through surveying, she found that our community of students, faculty and staff is a bit more “anxious” than “hopeful” about climate change. Her work also showed that the community believes that climate change will have a significant impact on their lives in the future. Advised by Dr. Max Meyer, she created a final report that examined the School’s sustainability initiatives, both programmatically and institutionally.

ound Climate gs Ar C h elin ang Fe e

TAKING THE TEMPERATURE

Word ent d u St

ANGRY HOPEFUL PROBLEM REAL

HORRIBLE SORROW

CONCERNED DESPAIR

WORRIED FRUSTRATED STRESSED CURIOUS

OPTIMISTIC

IRRITATED

SAD GUILT

How much do you think climate change will affect your life now vs. in the future? # of Students, Faculty and Staff

Abby concludes that while Friends is serious about sustainability, she hopes that the School will adopt an approach centered around education, Quaker values, and operational sustainability, and that the School's culture can shift enough to directly influence everyday decisions made on campus.“This might look like an adult in the community considering both the price and environmental impact before ordering a package from Amazon,” she writes, “or cafeteria staff offering less meat to reduce carbon emissions.”

Now

Future

Somewhat

A little

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

Not at all

A lot

# of Students, Faculty and Staff

Measuring Hopefulness and Anxiety 35

Read the full report.

30 25 20 10 5 1 Anxiety

Students and their teachers are preparing for a global education experience to the Pacific Northwest to learn directly from Indigenous community leaders. In March 2024, a group of 18 Upper School students and their teachers will travel 2,500 miles to Vancouver Island off Canada’s Pacific Coast to examine the balancing concern for the environment with the realism of humanity’s need for natural resources. There, they will learn about the limitations of Western perspectives on “resources,” and witness shining examples of hope for the future that originate with Indigenous ways of knowing and being. By focusing on the logging industry in and around the area, students will examine the tensions and formidable challenges facing the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish bands of First Nations. Can land be shared? Can someone’s land that was stolen be sold? Who owns the trees and the rights of what to do with those trees on stolen land? What is the process of reconciliation ongoing in that area and elsewhere in British Columbia? Is it enough, especially compared with our own practices in the United States? During this week-long trip, which is organized by Friends’ Center for Peace, Equity and Justice, students will engage with professional foresters, urban farmers and aquaculture experts.

Learn more about this trip at fsglobaleducation.com and follow their journey on Instagram this March!

INDIGENOUS WAYS OF BEING

Hopefulness

1 = Least / 10 = Most

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Cloud: W ords to

BAD

POWERFUL

2023—2024 SCHOOL YEAR

De sc

e rib

NERVOUS URGENT IMPORTANT IRREVERSIBLE

on Climate Change

CHALLENGING

SCARED

UPSET

CONFUSED

HOPELESS SCARY ANXIOUS MAD

ound Climate gs Ar C h elin ang Fe e

TAKING THE TEMPERATURE

Word ent d u St

ANGRY HOPEFUL PROBLEM REAL

HORRIBLE SORROW

CONCERNED DESPAIR

WORRIED FRUSTRATED STRESSED CURIOUS

OPTIMISTIC

IRRITATED

SAD GUILT

How much do you think climate change will affect your life now vs. in the future? # of Students, Faculty and Staff

Now

Future

Somewhat

A little

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

Not at all

A lot

# of Students, Faculty and Staff

Measuring Hopefulness and Anxiety 35

Read the full report.

30 25 20 10 5 1 Anxiety

Learn more about this trip at fsglobaleducation.com and follow their journey on Instagram this March!

INDIGENOUS WAYS OF BEING

Hopefulness

1 = Least / 10 = Most

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

HARNESSING THE POWER OF

Renewable Energy Matthew Ross '89 is combining law and business expertise to combat climate change. Story by Jared Scott Tesler Photographs by Kyla Campbell

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

HARNESSING THE POWER OF

Renewable Energy Matthew Ross '89 is combining law and business expertise to combat climate change. Story by Jared Scott Tesler Photographs by Kyla Campbell

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

n 2002, having grown tired of practicing energy regulatory law, Washington, D.C.-based energy attorney, project developer and strategic advisor Matthew Ross ’89 became increasingly interested in renewable energy—that which is collected from renewable resources, such as biomass and waste, sunlight, geothermal heat, tides, waves and wind, which are naturally replenished on a human timescale.

It's a career that involves its fair share of challenges. “Almost every day feels like walking uphill in the rain and mud, with the wind against me. Balancing legal work and the businesses doesn’t make it any easier, as they all have needs that compete for my time and attention. It often feels like triage,” Matthew says. “However, the most rewarding aspect is developing the ability to handle these challenges and, ultimately, thrive in them. Being able to see the broader picture helps me know that this extra busyness isn’t permanent. I tried to teach myself patience by running marathons, thinking the long runs would allow me to overcome impatience. It didn’t work. I’m still impatient, but I did learn tenacity—and I apply that lesson to my work every day.”

“I knew I wanted to do something where I could help build something positive. Renewable energy was new and up-and-coming, and I figured I could grow into it as it grew as an industry,” recalls Matthew, who, while working at a law firm in London from 2002–2003, earned a certificate from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy, a graduate school at the University of Dundee, Scotland, focused on the fields of international business transactions, energy law and policy, mining, and the use of natural resources. “So, I found a new job with a mentor in the space, learned the fundamentals of the business, and grew from there.” Today, equal parts attorney and entrepreneur, Matthew serves as managing member of his solo law practice, RossLaw, PLLC. He also acts as business lead and general counsel for Bio Carbon Fuels, LLC, which specializes in converting waste into renewable energy and fuels, and Eco Energy International, LLC, which converts organic waste into green hydrogen. These roles combine his formal education in international relations and law with his professional experience as a lawyer and thought leader in the renewable energy space. “My work influenced my hobby, my hobby became a side hustle, and my side hustle is rapidly taking over to become my main work as these two businesses take off,” Matthew explains, noting that he hardly networks with other attorneys anymore, now seeing himself as more closely tied to the renewable energy community than the legal community. “I still practice law, but I envision transitioning to the business side full time over the next year or two.”

Matthew Ross '89

BUSINESS AS USUAL At RossLaw, PLLC, Matthew serves as an energy transactional attorney. As the law firm’s only employee, however, he is responsible for advising clients (namely, early-stage energy, commodities and technology companies), drafting contracts, conducting research and managing all administrative duties. At Bio Carbon Fuels, LLC, and Eco Energy International, LLC, Matthew functions as both lawyer and president, overseeing not only legal tasks but also those related to business development, fundraising, marketing and project development as well as managing partners, consultants, and others. Most notably, in order to sustain the growth of these businesses, he applies his widespread expertise in developing, permitting and financing renewable energy projects—including those in the bioenergy, biofuels, biogas, biomass, waste-to-energy and waste-to-fuels spaces.

Before founding RossLaw, PLLC, in 2019, Matthew worked at several large law firms, steadily rising through the ranks (from associate to partner), advising project developers, lenders, tax-equity investors, private-equity funds, technology suppliers and distributors, and contractors on all aspects of energy project development and finance—in addition to relevant transactional and regulatory matters—pertaining to renewable energy, energy efficiency, fuel technologies, and climate change.

He also provided energy service companies and large endusers of energy—commercial real estate developers, investors and managers—with energy efficiency and sustainability solutions and energy performance contracting. From 2009–2015, Matthew taught an American Studies course, Energy in America: From Black Gold to Green Power, at Georgetown University. His work has appeared in industry journals and he co-authored a chapter, “Addressing the Major Climate Change Issues,” for a 2010 Aspatore Special Report: Understanding Recent Climate Change Developments: An Immediate Look at New Environmental Litigation and Legislation Regarding Climate Change. Additionally, he has served as chair, moderator, panelist and presenter at conferences, forums, seminars and symposiums in the United States and abroad. Matthew has played a key role in numerous representative matters and transactions, including a 90million-gallon-per-year renewable fuels plant in Missouri; a zero-emissions coal-to-hydrogen project in Australia; a 500-ton-per-day waste-to-fuels project in

Schematic of Bio Carbon Fuels' patented technology for a Total Recovery Facility, providing green, renewable energy and zero waste.

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

Matthew Ross '89

Schematic of Bio Carbon Fuels' patented technology for a Total Recovery Facility, providing green, renewable energy and zero waste.

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

South Carolina; the conversion of cow manure from a 20,000-head farm into renewable gas for transportation use in New Mexico; and a six-megawatt solar photovoltaic project, with 18 megawatts in standby natural gas generation, in Massachusetts.

develop a passion for world affairs and exposure to other cultures and people.”

A FRIENDLY FOUNDATION Prior to attending college and law school, Matthew remembers being “very lucky to have had some great teachers who were able to shape the way I think and the way I see the world.”

Matthew, right, returned to Friends this past May to co-host an alumni event—a discussion with Math teacher Larry Carter.

At Friends Seminary, Matthew participated in Mock Trial and Model United Nations. He attended school trips to France and Italy. He enjoyed art classes with Daphne Taylor (Faculty Emerita) and music classes with Donald Bender and Bob Rosen. But most importantly, he developed an interest in English, history, languages and world affairs—which would later inspire his decision to major in international relations at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and enrich his experience as an International Business Law Fellow at Brooklyn Law School, where he received the American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Writing. Throughout his Lower, Middle and Upper School years, Friends faculty would leave a lasting impact (“The first person I ever heard utter the term ‘greenhouse effect,’ Ross recalls, was [Mathematics Teacher] Larry Carter in 1982!”). English Teachers Christina Moustakis, Ron Singer and Sarah Chinlund Spieldenner ’77 helped Matthew “learn to write well and analyze literature.” Social Studies Teachers Charlie Blank, Mitch Breit, and Jean Elliott Johnson taught him to “understand the broader context of events and how they shaped, and continue to shape, modern life.” And Language Teachers Anne Boster, Marge Gonzalez and Annette Kahn helped him "understand a world outside of New York City and

Matthew, left, with his fellow tennis teammates in 1989.

As for his fellow classmates, Matthew says, “We were friends, compatriots and competitors. We were, at times, co-conspirators. I still feel a connection to them, even if I see them infrequently.” It was this very connection, he notes, that prompted him to join the Alumni Council, which serves to strengthen relationships among alumni and the Friends community, advance the School’s mission, preserve its historical traditions, and support its current activities and plans for the future.

When asked what developments in renewable energy he looks forward to most, Matthew cites HBO’s medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, from which, he says, he learned that chaos isn’t a pit. It’s a ladder. "Through uncertain times and times of stress and upheaval, opportunities arise. This is what I look forward to. Not chaos or upheaval per se, but change.

The Friends mission—“preparing students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be”—and the Quaker testimony of stewardship continue to guide Matthew in his professional life every day.

As for the field of energy law, Ross refers to 19th-century French critic, journalist and novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr’s well-known aphorism plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose, which translates as “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

“In the first few years of my career, I felt prepared from Friends to engage in the world that is, but I felt something missing. I was doing fairly good work, but I wasn’t really building anything or contributing to bringing about a world that ought to be. This pull led me to focus on renewable energy, renewable fuels and sustainability. These were areas I felt, and continue to feel, can lead to an energy transition that will help bring about that change,” he says. “Good stewardship, to me, means taking care of what’s been given to us, not just for ourselves or our generation but for future generations. My wife and three daughters are the primary motivators for living out this testimony.”

“The same fight that Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla had a century ago over the best way to organize the energy business for the greater good of the country is still being fought. The main difference over the next couple of decades is that our energy supply will be far more diverse and far more locally produced than it’s been in the past. It’ll be a lot more renewable, of course, and it’ll come from much different sources,” Matthew says, highlighting such sources as dairy and hog farms, forestry slash, and landfills.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Matthew, center, with his classmates who served on the School's newspaper staff.

and promoting sustainable business practices in the waste management, agriculture and industrial sectors.”

Despite a successful and rewarding career spanning 25 years, Matthew admits that his greatest professional achievement has not yet been realized: “It hasn’t happened yet, but I believe it will be the nursing of my two start-ups into real businesses that can make a meaningful dent in curbing greenhouse gas emissions

“There will also be a lot of changes in how we consume energy. There’s already a big push to electrify on-road transportation and add biogenic fuel sources for aviation and marine transport. There will be a long legal battle ahead of us between utility companies, which own assets that are becoming increasingly endangered, and the public policy and business push toward more decentralized and distributed renewable generation. Our electric grid wasn’t designed for this new geographic dispersion of energy sources, so that’ll be a big adjustment as well. I hope I can be a little part of that change to help bring about the world that ought to be.”

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

develop a passion for world affairs and exposure to other cultures and people.”

Matthew, right, returned to Friends this past May to co-host an alumni event—a discussion with Math teacher Larry Carter.

Matthew, left, with his fellow tennis teammates in 1989.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Matthew, center, with his classmates who served on the School's newspaper staff.

and promoting sustainable business practices in the waste management, agriculture and industrial sectors.”

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NOTES ON SILENCE by Denman Tuzo My first visit to the Meetinghouse happened when I was 11 years old. It was a memorial service for Robert Gilmore, a member of the 15th Street Meeting. Coming from a Roman Catholic upbringing, I noticed a striking difference from my understanding of what transpired in houses of worship. I was accustomed to something that could be described as ornate and highly ritualized. Meanwhile, in the Meetinghouse, I encountered simplicity and silence. The silence, in particular, was pervasive and somehow strangely familiar. I remembered an even younger version of myself, sitting by a screen door while reading a book. I knew that on the other side of the door, there was a garden. In that moment, however, a notion of whether there was or was not a garden seemed to fall away. It was as if I was peering through a veil at shadows of things that might be. Instead of being afraid, there was a sense of contentment. This moment, without a story involving my book or the garden or even myself, was enough. It was all that was needed. It was over another decade before I found my way back to the Meetinghouse. As chance would have it, my last temp job out of college landed me at Friends Seminary! In the 23 years since, I have come to cherish silence due to both continued engagement with Quaker tradition and a deepening meditation practice. Our mission tells us that “silence opens us to change.” In “the world that is,” few things are truer than change. As a result, silence brings us closer to a truth that is meant to be experienced and not simply known. It puts us back in touch with what many of us had a sense of from a very young age, with or without a Meetinghouse, screen door or meditation cushion. Silence also supports stillness, fertile ground upon which we can cultivate the versions of ourselves that tend to respond and not react. In the stillness we can see endless creative possibilities, as opposed to the parameters of what allegedly should or has to be. It is a privilege and a blessing to share silence in community as well, as we do here at Friends. This act moves us toward a gentle abiding in togetherness, away from the turbulent self-absorption of I. In so doing, we sit knowingly or unknowingly with an intention and a capacity to be of benefit to someone other than ourselves. Together, in the silence, we are also reminded that we are not alone. Although anxiety, doubt and fear can quite suddenly dominate our respective fields of experience, kind words or a smile are oftentimes closer than we think.

THE SILENCE REVEALS. THE SILENCE RESTORES. I BEAR WITNESS TO THE SILENCE. THE SILENCE BEARS WITNESS TO ME. I EMBRACE THE SILENCE. THE SILENCE EMBRACES ME. THIS IS IT. I AM HOME. Denman Tuzo is the Director of the Academic Center at Friends Seminary. He joined Friends in 1999, and also leads a weekly meditation group open to faculty, staff and students.

I offer these final reflections about silence, a product of both my practice and my teachers (Thich Nhat Hahn in particular), that I come back to frequently. It is my sincere hope that they provide some encouragement, and reason to trust that in the silence you can find all that you need:

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FRIENDS for the FUTURE In 1786, Robert Murray, a prominent Quaker shipping merchant, left a bequest which provided a building and financial resources for Friends Seminary—thus the School was launched. During subsequent decades, Friends has held steady to its course, offering an exemplary education of academic excellence within the context of Quaker values. Following Murray’s example, other generous donors have made planned gifts, thereby providing current and deferred contributions to the School and significant benefits to themselves. These donors are members of Friends for the Future, a group who have chosen to express their admiration and affection for Friends Seminary through a charitable gift in their estate plan. As you plan for your future, consider how you can support future generations of Friends Seminary students by designating Friends Seminary as a beneficiary of your estate plans through a bequest, charitable trust, retirement or insurance policies.

OPENING DOORS “When I was on the School Committee many years ago, I saw what an outstanding education students were getting. I contributed a little each year and left a bequest in my will to help sustain the process.” Ruth Lofgren (1916-2018) Former School Committee Member

If you are over the age of 70 ½, consider making gifts to Friends through your individual retirement account (IRA). Gifts to recognized charities like Friends can be counted toward your required minimum annual distribution. This would make a direct impact on Friends, while possibly helping to lower your taxable income. For more information, contact Rebecca Holmes, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Gifts, at rholmes@friendsseminary.org or (646)-979-5058.

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O F C L A S S

2023 On June 12, 2023, 71 graduates crossed the stage at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park to receive their diplomas from Head of School Bo Lauder and Head of Upper School Blair Parker. The class was the 237th to graduate from Friends Seminary, joining an active alumni community of more than 5,000 graduates.

Speakers included Head of School Bo Lauder, Board of Trustees Clerk Isaac Henderson and graduates Nina Belcove, Julian Reyes and Petra Romero. Associate Head of Upper School Erin Mumford delivered the commencement address. “I have faith that, while you may face unexpected obstacles, you will have the strength, and the courage, and the ability to overcome them,” Erin told the graduates. “I know these past four years were not what you expected that first day of your freshman year. They weren’t what I expected either. And yet here you are with all that you have accomplished and all that you have to look forward to. The future will bring more surprises, and you are ready to meet them.”

O F C L A S S

S C E N E S from the P A R K

June 12, 2023

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S C E N E S from the P A R K

June 12, 2023

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2023 C L A S S

O F

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS

Amherst College

University of North Carolina

Barnard College

Northeastern University (4)

Berklee College of Music

Oberlin College

Boston University (2)

Occidental College

Brown University

University of Pennsylvania (2)

Clark University

Pitzer College (2)

Colgate University

Princeton University

Cornell University (2)

Rice University (4)

Dartmouth College

Rollins College

Duke University (3)

Skidmore College

Emory University (3)

University of Southern California

George Washington University

Stanford University

Georgetown University

Syracuse University (2)

Hamilton College (2)

Tufts University (2)

Howard University

Tulane University

Macalester College

Vassar College

McGill University

Villanova University

University of Miami (2)

University of Virginia

University of Michigan

Washington University in St. Louis (3)

Middlebury College

Wesleyan University (5)

Morehouse College

University of Wisconsin

New York University (2)

Yale University (2)

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

2023 C L A S S

O F

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS

Amherst College

University of North Carolina

Barnard College

Northeastern University (4)

Berklee College of Music

Oberlin College

Boston University (2)

Occidental College

Brown University

University of Pennsylvania (2)

Clark University

Pitzer College (2)

Colgate University

Princeton University

Cornell University (2)

Rice University (4)

Dartmouth College

Rollins College

Duke University (3)

Skidmore College

Emory University (3)

University of Southern California

George Washington University

Stanford University

Georgetown University

Syracuse University (2)

Hamilton College (2)

Tufts University (2)

Howard University

Tulane University

Macalester College

Vassar College

McGill University

Villanova University

University of Miami (2)

University of Virginia

University of Michigan

Washington University in St. Louis (3)

Middlebury College

Wesleyan University (5)

Morehouse College

University of Wisconsin

New York University (2)

Yale University (2)

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2022 C L A S S

O F

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS

COMMENCEMENT

2022

View images from Commencement 2022 at www.friendsseminary.org/classof2022 or access the QR code to the right.

Bard College

Northeastern University (2)

Barnard College

Northwestern University

Bates College

University of Notre Dame

Boston University

Occidental College

Bowdoin College

University of Pennsylvania

Brandeis University

Pitzer College

Brown University (4)

Princeton University

Bucknell University (2)

Reed College

Case Western Reserve University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

University of Chicago

Rice University

Clark University

University of Rochester

Colgate University (2)

Sarah Lawrence College (2)

Cornell University

Scripps College (2)

DePaul University

Skidmore College

Drexel University

Southern Methodist University

Emory University (3)

Syracuse University

Fordham University

University of Toronto

George Washington University (2)

Tufts University (3)

Georgetown University (2)

Tulane University (2)

Harvard University

Wake Forest University (2)

Haverford College

Washington University in St. Louis

Illinois Institute of Technology

Wellesley College

Lehigh University

Wesleyan University (3)

University of Miami

Williams College (2)

University of Michigan (2)

University of Wisconsin (2)

Middlebury College

Yale University (2)

New York University 44

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2022 C L A S S

O F

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS

COMMENCEMENT

2022

View images from Commencement 2022 at www.friendsseminary.org/classof2022 or access the QR code to the right.

Bard College

Northeastern University (2)

Barnard College

Northwestern University

Bates College

University of Notre Dame

Boston University

Occidental College

Bowdoin College

University of Pennsylvania

Brandeis University

Pitzer College

Brown University (4)

Princeton University

Bucknell University (2)

Reed College

Case Western Reserve University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

University of Chicago

Rice University

Clark University

University of Rochester

Colgate University (2)

Sarah Lawrence College (2)

Cornell University

Scripps College (2)

DePaul University

Skidmore College

Drexel University

Southern Methodist University

Emory University (3)

Syracuse University

Fordham University

University of Toronto

George Washington University (2)

Tufts University (3)

Georgetown University (2)

Tulane University (2)

Harvard University

Wake Forest University (2)

Haverford College

Washington University in St. Louis

Illinois Institute of Technology

Wellesley College

Lehigh University

Wesleyan University (3)

University of Miami

Williams College (2)

University of Michigan (2)

University of Wisconsin (2)

Middlebury College

Yale University (2)

New York University 44

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Reunion on Rutherford Alumni from the Classes of 2018, 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1988, 1983, 1978 and 1973 returned to campus during Reunion 2023 (May 19-21). Celebrating its 50th reunion, the Class of 1973 met in the Upper School Commons for a luncheon and pen pal party with their Grade 4 counterparts. They also toured the campus and ended the day with a roundtable discussion with Seniors. On Saturday, alumni from all classes attended faculty seminars, brunch, Meeting for Worship, an emeritus ceremony and offcampus receptions. The special day was also marked by two dedication ceremonies, which you’ll read about in the coming pages. To close out the weekend, alumni were invited to a Meeting for Worship with the 15th Street Monthly Meeting, followed by a community-wide Day of Service.

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FRIENDS REUNION 2023

Come Together

IMAGES FROM REUNION WEEKEND [1] Staff Emeriti Eva Townes and Michael Miller [2] Faculty Emeritae Joanna Pickett and Linda Chu [3] Peter D. Jenkins ’74, John Frye ’73, Mitch Sedgwick ’73, Sabrina Hamilton ’73, Amy Goldfarb ’73, Robert Sheinbaum ’73, Mark Vamos ’73 [4] Faculty Emeritus Charlie Blank [5] Judy Anderson ’66 [6] Danny Willner ’03 [7] Sarah Dolan ’03, Stephen Yan ’03, Kat Pozzi ’03 [8] Modern and Classical Languages Department Chair Christel Johnson, Arya Singh ’18, Chloe Kellner '18 [9] Sandford Ullman ’63, Susan R. Allersmeyer Foster ’63 [10] Ben Levine ’18, Richard Omar Payne ’18, Mateo Zules ’18, Camilo Durr ’18, Jackson Wald ’18, Abey Levin ’18 [11] Director of Diversity, Equity & Belonging Kirsti Peters [12] Shanice Kellman ’12, Middle School Psychologist Samantha Meltzer, Amani Steele-Ferguson ’12, Learning Specialist Megan Fenstermaker, Samantha R. Jacobs ’12 A full gallery of images from Reunion Weekend can be viewed at www.friendsseminaryphotos.com/Alumni/Reunion-2023.

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FRIENDS REUNION 2023

Come Together

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

HARRIET BURNETT

JOHN BYRNE

MICHAEL MILLER

PAUL QUATINETZ

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS EMERITA

ENGLISH FACULTY EMERITUS

FRIENDS REUNION 2023

Class of 2023

EMERITUS During Reunion, the School celebrated the induction of the Emeritus Class of 2023: Director of Admissions Emerita Harriet Burnett, Faculty Emeritus John Byrne, Staff Emeritus Michael Miller and Faculty Emeritus Paul Quatinetz. During a ceremony held prior to Meeting for Worship in the Meetinghouse, colleagues spoke on the many contributions of these four individuals who, collectively, served the School for 133 years. Following are excerpts from the Minutes of Appreciation for each honoree. “During her tenure at Friends, Harriet has overseen the expansion of enrollment to 803 students for the 2023— 2024 academic year. She has admitted almost three generations of Friends students and estimates that more than 3,000 students joined Friends in her tenure. Known throughout New York City independent schools simply as Harriet, she is in a select group of luminaries known by one name.” “John inspired many alumni to pursue careers in writing, and he would always tell aspiring writers to ‘never stop writing.’ He liked to push his students outside their comfort zones. John switched from teaching Upper School to Middle School English,

because he felt those students were at the cusp of intellectual and emotional development. John made holistic connections across the texts he was teaching; as one former student shared, ‘He tied Ethan Frome, the Bible and Hamlet all together.’” “Michael is one of the most warmhearted and outgoing members of our community, and his love for Friends has no limits. We have been privileged to hear Michael’s vocal talents, singing alongside the Meetinghouse Band and leading ‘Silent Night’ in the Winter Assembly. An avid gardener during his spare time, Michael is often tending to the greenery outside of the School. Michael has been a reliable source of positive energy, a great sense of humor, a heart of gold and pillar of faith.”

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF EMERITUS

LEARNING SPECIALIST EMERITUS

“Paul has served as a Lower and Middle School Learning Specialist and, most recently, as Co-Facilitator for Banana Splits, a group that supports students who have experienced family loss or separation. Beginning at Friends in September 1991, Paul has witnessed the expansive growth and importance of the Support Services Department. He has been a stalwart in his department, and it will be hard to imagine a Friends Seminary without him.”

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HARRIET BURNETT

JOHN BYRNE

MICHAEL MILLER

PAUL QUATINETZ

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS EMERITA

ENGLISH FACULTY EMERITUS

FRIENDS REUNION 2023

Class of 2023

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF EMERITUS

LEARNING SPECIALIST EMERITUS

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FRIENDS REUNION 2023

In Honor and Memory of

OUR FRIENDS Reunion Weekend featured ceremonies for three very special Friends community members—two, posthumously, whose Light continues to live on at Friends Seminary. On Friday, May 19, Ed Carroll ’56 returned to campus for an unveiling of a classroom dedicated in his name, honoring his resilience and bravery as the first Black graduate of the School. The light-filled classroom on the fifth floor of the Townhouse will be utilized by students and teachers for generations to come. During the ceremony, Head of School Bo Lauder shared an important historical document with the attendees: a 1944 petition signed by all but two Upper School students at Friends at the time calling for the School to admit “members of all racial, as well as religious, bodies to the great opportunity of education here at Friends Seminary.” The document was instrumental in the School integrating years before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision declared “separate but equal” standards of racial segregation unconstitutional. On Saturday, May 20, the community celebrated Robin Hoffmann during a plaque unveiling ceremony near the entrance to the Common Room—a space on campus where Robin spent countless hours caring for students.

Robin, who passed in 2021, became Director of Extended Programs in 1994 and she quickly made F.A.T. (Friends After Three) a household name. She created and implemented the comprehensive afterschool and extended day programs for Lower and Middle School students that we have today. “Robin brought light and joy into our lives,” former colleague Teri Hassid remarked. “The plaque means so much more than the words ingrained on it. It says we honor Robin’s support of the entire Friends community. It says we treasure her generosity of spirit, her humor, her creativity and her love of the folks who always came first in her lifetime.” Also on Saturday, a plaque honoring Larry Wilson, who passed in 2015, was unveiled outside the entrance to the Skyfield, a place where Larry supervised recess. Larry also worked as a crossing guard, receptionist and afterschool supervisor, as well as filling many other important roles over his 14 years at Friends Seminary. “Not only did he supervise but Larry also offered life lessons as he helped students learn to play fair,” former colleague Gordon Hulse said. “Teachers valued the insights he shared about students, often so different on the playground than in the classroom.”

IMAGES

TOP

From left: Head of School Bo Lauder speaks about Robin as family members Griffin Hoffmann ’09, Max Hoffmann ’14 and Taylor Hodges ’11 look on; Robin Hoffmann; the Common Room. MIDDLE

Counterclockwise: Ed Carroll ’56; Head of School Bo Lauder poses with Ed outside the classroom dedicated in his name; Ed speaks to attendees in the classroom named after him. BOTTOM

From left: Faculty Emerita Pam Wood, Gwen Wilson (wife of Larry), Yamacci Kevelier (niece of Larry), Kim KevelierWilliams (wife of Nate), Head of School Bo Lauder, Nate Kevelier-Williams; Larry Wilson; the Skyfield at Friends.

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FRIENDS REUNION 2023

In Honor and Memory of

IMAGES

TOP

From left: Head of School Bo Lauder speaks about Robin as family members Griffin Hoffmann ’09, Max Hoffmann ’14 and Taylor Hodges ’11 look on; Robin Hoffmann; the Common Room. MIDDLE

Counterclockwise: Ed Carroll ’56; Head of School Bo Lauder poses with Ed outside the classroom dedicated in his name; Ed speaks to attendees in the classroom named after him. BOTTOM

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C E L E B R A T I N G In 2022, the Board of Trustees hosted a party for Bo on the Upper School Terrace to celebrate his 20th year. In attendance were current and former trustees and administrators.

O Congratulations to Robert “Bo” Lauder, Friends’ 35th Head of School, on leading the Friends Seminary community for more than two decades.

n a warm spring evening last year, a group of educators, administrators, trustees and friends gathered on the School’s Terrace outside the Upper School Commons—a fitting location —for the celebration of a man who has spent more than two decades shepherding the Friends Seminary community to such great heights.

While the physical campus—its bricks and mortar—has undergone an evolution under Bo’s careful watch, so have the School’s programming and initiatives—from a broadening of its language offerings, to the creation of a Center to further the School’s mission, to the launching of annual community celebrations such as Peace Week, to an expansion of financial aid, just to name several.

The new Terrace is emblematic in that it is a location where one can stand at the Terrace edge and fully experience the beautiful juxtaposition between the redeveloped, state-of-the-art school above and below the Terrace, while the historic, timeless Meetinghouse stands just to the southeast—seemingly so close that one could reach out and touch both.

“In today’s world, being a Head of School is not an easy job," said Isaac Henderson, Clerk of the Board, during an address to attendees celebrating Bo last year. "It was never easy, but the challenges over the past 20 years have been unique, nuanced and divisive at times. But Bo persists, and we persist. Without a doubt, he cares greatly and deeply for this school and its people. Above all, he cares for our students.”

From that vantage point, you can stretch to see the windows of the Great Room below, and you can look skyward to see the two new floors of programming space that span across a series of buildings that have been masterfully and seamlessly connected to maximize learning space. Even higher up, you can see the retractable roof of the James Turrell Skyspace, a spiritual, experiential art installation, which sits adjacent to the Greenhouse.

To conclude his remarks, Henderson shared with attendees a list of some of the School’s successes during Bo’s tenure thus far. On the following pages, we look at 10 of these achievements.

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

C E L E B R A T I N G In 2022, the Board of Trustees hosted a party for Bo on the Upper School Terrace to celebrate his 20th year. In attendance were current and former trustees and administrators.

O Congratulations to Robert “Bo” Lauder, Friends’ 35th Head of School, on leading the Friends Seminary community for more than two decades.

To conclude his remarks, Henderson shared with attendees a list of some of the School’s successes during Bo’s tenure thus far. On the following pages, we look at 10 of these achievements.

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T 1

CENTER FOR PEACE, EQUITY + JUSTICE The Center for Peace, Equity and Justice—a substantial platform for the School’s Quaker values—was first named in the School’s 2008—2012 Strategic Plan. Its permanent home was finally realized as part of the Campus Redevelopment Project completed in 2019. The Center is led by a team of diversity, equity and belonging practitioners who are committed to a community engagement approach to teaching and learning that promotes peace, equity, and justice.

PEACE WEEK Begun in 2005, Peace Week calls the community to reflect on the Quaker testimony of peace as it relates to a pressing global or national challenge. The week includes classroom activities, division-wide programs and all-school events designed to deepen our understanding of core values and sense of social and environmental responsibility. Punctuated by an evening speaker, Peace Week brings to campus an intellectual and moral leader of great influence whose visit catalyzes deeper reflection and conversation.

COMMUNITY Since 2002, the School’s enrollment has expanded by over 150 students. This gradual growth has stabilized the School’s admissions, allowing for more precise budgeting and planning while also welcoming into the community hundreds of new families, enriching the School community. A specific focus—and a continued goal—has been the expansion of the diversity of students and employees to match that of the city around us. Currently, the student body is comprised of 42 percent students of color.

FINANCIAL HEALTH During Bo’s tenure, the endowment has soared from $6 million to $41 million, about a seven-fold eight-fold increase. In all, gift income over the past two decades totals more than $100 million for the endowment, the operating budget and capital improvements. The School’s financial aid budget has increased every year since 2002, and a total of $6.34 million was awarded to 20 percent of students this school year.

EXPANSION OF LANGUAGE OFFERINGS When Arabic was introduced in fall 2008, Friends was unique among New York City independent schools to offer it as a regular part of the program. Chinese followed in 2012. Today Arabic and Chinese classes are offered at every level from Grade 5 to Advanced, and Spanish instruction begins in Kindergarten. In all, five languages are now offered at Friends: Arabic, Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish, making World Languages the largest faculty department.

FAITH + PRACTICE Through a collaborative effort that included faculty, staff, students, parents and School Committee (Board) members, the first Faith & Practice document for Friends Seminary, a guide to how we live the Quaker testimonies, was approved and published in April 2012. Since such expressions of “faith and practice” are intended to be living documents as Friends engage in the continuing search for truth, the School undertook a process of updating our Faith & Practice during the 2022—2023 school year.

VISITING SCHOLAR PROGRAM Made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Visiting Scholar Program augments the curriculum by exposing students to scholars and artists who would not normally be accessible to them. Through classroom visits, demonstrations, small- and large-group discussions and a public lecture, these scholars inspire and motivate our students. Since 2009—2010, visiting scholars have included journalists, an architect, a poet, a prominent Quaker, an artist duo and an astrophysicist.

ACADEMIC CENTER Funded in part by a gift from the Class of 2008, the Mariana Wright Chapman Academic Center is a place for quiet study and collaborative work. The Center is staffed by writing and math specialists who provide support by way of drop-ins and appointments, and is open to all students in Grades 7—12. In addition, a peer tutoring program is overseen by the Academic Center Director.

INDEPENDENCE The long-anticipated independence from the New York Quarterly Meeting and the formation of a Board of Trustees was finalized in 2015. Most Friends schools had separately incorporated prior to this time, but Friends Seminary and the 15th Street Monthly Meeting had been so closely entwined that arriving at separate incorporation took many years. As a part of the separation, both parties agreed that the School would be guided by a set of Essential Principles, Practices and Procedures to maintain its Quaker identity.

CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT The Campus Redevelopment Project, completed in 2019, as the final initiative of the 2004 Master Plan, provided 40,120 square feet of new, purpose-built academic space. The campus, which is now fully wheelchair accessible, features a Greenhouse, Great Room, Upper School Commons and Terrace, two new floors for classrooms and a James Turrell Skyspace—the only skyspace attached to a K-12 school anywhere. The Skyspace is slated to open to public visitors in early 2024.

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Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

WHAT IS

In an installment of a New York Times best-selling children’s book series, Kirsti Peters, Friends’ Director of Diversity, Equity & Belonging, tells the story of Juneteenth, a federal holiday celebrating Black joy, perseverance and freedom—while calling to mind the difficult questions and truths about our country's history. As an educator, Kirsti Peters always thought it was important to tell children the truth when it comes to the history of this country. “I wanted to write children’s books that did that,” she said. “As adults, we often think we need to protect children from the realities of the world, and so we either hide the truth or we lie to them. We especially do this when discussing the racism that exists in this country, and that doesn’t help anyone. It actually creates more harm.” In 2022, Kirsti, who writes under the pseudonym Kirsti Jewel, published her first book, What is Juneteenth?, which explores how the newly designated federal holiday connects Americans to some of the most significant moments in American history.

Kirsti Peters

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WHAT IS

Kirsti Peters

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Q+A with Kirsti What led to the writing and publication of your first book? What is Juneteenth? is a project that actually presented itself to me. I wrote another children’s book focusing on Nina Simone and sent it to an imprint of Penguin Random House in November 2019. In February 2020, the imprint told me they wouldn’t be able to publish it. Receiving this rejection letter was kind of a big deal for me, because although I’ve identified as a writer for as long as I can remember, I hadn’t submitted my writing to publishing houses for fear of rejection. Soon, I’d realize that rejections could sometimes lead to other opportunities.

Fast forward to July 2020, I received an email from the same person who’d sent me the rejection letter, informing me that while they couldn’t publish the Nina Simone book, they had forwarded it to editors from the WhoHQ imprint of Penguin

Random House. Two of those editors, Jane O’Connor and Anu Ohioma, liked my style of writing and the research that I put into the Nina Simone book. They asked me if I’d be interested in writing a different book for the Who’s Who series. This one would be about Juneteenth. When I was an elementary teacher, I had this series in my library and my students loved them, so I was really interested in being a part of this project. My father was also born in Galveston, Texas, which is where Juneteenth started. Writing this book gave me an opportunity to learn more about history that has a direct link to my own personal lineage.

What are your book's goals? I wanted to ensure that throughout the telling of the story of Juneteenth, Black people were at the center and that I was telling the truth. Because Juneteenth’s story aligns with some of this country’s most difficult history (e.g., enslavement of Black people, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, Black Lives Matter), I was concerned that there would be pressure to sugarcoat the truth of what has happened in this country. Fortunately, my editors’ vision for the book was in alignment with my own vision and we were able to highlight these stories in ways that were developmentally appropriate. Another goal for the book was to ensure that as I was sharing the

complicated truth of this country, I was also highlighting the essence of Juneteenth, which is joy. Using joy as a tool of resistance and survival is something that Black people have done throughout many difficult moments in history, and Juneteenth is another example of this.

What were the greatest challenges in your research or the publication process? There were a few challenges throughout the process of writing this book. It was difficult ensuring that my writing voice aligned with the style and structure of the series, and breaking down some of our country’s ugliest history in a way that was developmentally appropriate. However, the greatest challenge of writing this book was finding out information about Juneteenth. At the time that I was doing research, there weren’t a lot of resources available about the history of Juneteenth. Yes, there were timelines available, and there were articles from local newspapers about the most recent Juneteenth celebrations, but I had to be creative around how I found out the details of the history of Juneteenth. Sometimes, it felt like I was collecting puzzle pieces to create a larger picture–one resource would lead me to another resource that would help me find out a larger story of Juneteenth. For example, I remember finding a resource that

shared that early celebrations of Juneteenth were held at a park in Mexia, Texas, but didn’t give me much more information, so I looked up that park, but could only find a picture of the plaque at the park. When I zoomed in on the plaque, it gave me a detailed account about the earliest Juneteenth celebrations that I was able to crosscheck and include in the book. Another helpful resource was the Library of Congress. I read a lot of powerful accounts from formerly enslaved people describing their first Juneteenth in 1865. Reading these accounts provided me with useful information that I hadn’t seen in other resources. Most importantly, these accounts allowed me to ensure that primarily Black voices were at the center of the book.

What was the most surprising thing you encountered when writing the book? One of the big “aha’s” I had when writing this book is how much of Juneteenth’s timeline is connected to major parts of Black liberation movements. From Reconstruction, to the Civil Rights Movement, to the Great Migration and the Poor People's March, Juneteenth celebrations seem to mobilize on the heels of major movements in American history. Then we have a few decades where you hear less

about Juneteenth (the 80s—00s). This pause also aligns with fewer national conversations around race. This, however, isn’t to suggest that people aren’t working against racism during this time—Black people have always been resisting and protesting; you can hear our resistance in our music. But it’s not until we see the formation of the BLM movement in the later aughts and 2020 when Juneteenth pops up again and is integrated into the national conversation about race. You could potentially teach the history of this country through the lens of the resurgence of Juneteenth over the decades, and that realization was fascinating to me!

How can Black people use Juneteenth to reclaim joy? In a time when many people in my community are talking about connecting to and honoring our ancestors, actively choosing joy has always been extremely important to our survival and to the possibility for us to thrive. When Juneteenth came around that year, the messaging that I was witness to was, in order for Black people to survive, we must choose joy—even in the midst of racial unrest. The message was that while we must continue to protest against racism in this country, we must use June 19 to honor our ancestors by choosing joy and rest.

On Juneteenth 2020, I went to an event called the LayOut at Fort Greene Park, and everyone was choosing to focus on joy by dancing (masked), jump roping, laughing and being in community at a time when everything felt dire. Celebrating in this way was/is intentional and important to the survival of Black people. We could use this day to be angry for being enslaved, for it taking 2.5 years for Black Texans to learn of their freedom, but the tradition of Juneteenth is to celebrate in community. Joy has always reminded us of our humanity in a country that has been dedicated to robbing us of our humanness. Violence against Black people continues. The legacy of chattel slavery reverberates throughout this country. As we continue to fight for Black liberation, our fight must always incorporate rest and joy. Since 2020, LayOut has become an even larger Juneteenth event. Black people from across the diaspora gather, and we dress up in beautiful outfits, which is also a tradition of the early Juneteenth celebration. I invite friends from various parts of my life, lay out plenty of blankets and red foods that are traditional to Juneteenth such as red cherries and red velvet cupcakes. I hand up the official Juneteenth flag near my station, and I spend the day laughing, dancing and resting. I honor my ancestors by choosing joy.

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A L O. O. K I N S I D E

What was your first thought when Juneteenth became a federal holiday? I was excited when I first heard that Juneteenth became a federal holiday. In my research I learned about people such as Texas politician Al Edwards, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and retired teacher Opal Lee, who spent decades trying to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. I write about all three Juneteenth activists in the book, and there is a beautiful picture book about Opal Lee, who, in her 80s, walked from Texas to Washington DC in support of making Juneteenth a holiday. She was present when President Biden signed the bill making the day a holiday. There were some people who assumed that Juneteenth suddenly became a holiday, but it’s important to recognize there are many people who dedicated decades of their lives to this. When the bill was signed, I was disappointed that some thought this bill was frivolous. I saw people on social media saying this was a distraction from other policies that needed to be changed. While I understand the points they were trying to make, it’s important that we recognize that two things can be true at the same time—we can make Juneteenth a federal holiday and still continue to demand that systems and policies that negatively impact Black people change.

Making Juneteenth a federal holiday is absolutely significant, because it is the first official act that this country has done to recognize that the enslavement of Black people happened in this country. In a time when states such as Texas are trying to soften the reality of enslavement in textbooks, Juneteenth being a nationally recognized holiday is pivotal.

How is the Friends community incorporating lessons from the book into the curriculum? The Friends Seminary community has been so lovely around embracing the What is Juneteenth? book. I had the opportunity to speak to all three sections of Elizabeth Gross’s Grade 7 history class right before their section on Reconstruction. I also did a presentation in Andrew Fox’s Grade 4 class around Juneteenth, as they were learning about the Great Migration. I know that some of the Grade 5 advisories also read sections of the book. In the future, I hope to create some Juneteenth traditions.

How has your research prepared you for your role at Friends? This is such an interesting question, because with the publishing of What is Juneteenth? happening at the same time as my first year as the Director of Diversity, Equity & Belonging at Friends, I told one of my friends that it feels like all of the things I’ve been working toward were coming together. As a teacher, I always thought it was important to tell children the truth when it comes to the history of this country, and I wanted to write books that did that. As adults, we often think we need to protect children from the realities of the world, and so we either hide the truth or we lie to them. We especially do this when discussing the racism that exists in this country, and that doesn’t help anyone. It actually creates more harm. As an educator, writer and DEB professional, I’m direct and always seeking truth. Sometimes, this can be shocking for folks, but I think it brings us closer to resolution, peace and joy when we’re honest about even the most difficult things.

What is Juneteenth? By Kirsti Jewel Peters Illustrations by Manuel Gutierrez Penguin Random House

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A L O. O. K I N S I D E

What is Juneteenth? By Kirsti Jewel Peters Illustrations by Manuel Gutierrez Penguin Random House

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of the following Friends Seminary alumni and emeritae.

Their Light Lives On Beginning in October 2023, the Friends Seminary Alumni Newsletter (friendsnewsletter.com) began to include the deaths of alumni, faculty and administrative staff in the “Class Notes” section of each issue. An archive of obituaries and tributes (beginning with those who passed in 2020) can be accessed via the “In Memoriam” section in the issue’s navigation. To report a death, and/or submit a memorial, please email Michael Mudho at mmudho@friendsseminary.org.

2020

Richard Cooley ’42 Barbara Anne Franzman Keely ’50 Mary Ford ’84 Harlan Hurwitz ’65 Mary Jaffray Cuyler ’60 Sabrina “Andrea” Loomis ’60 Rajesh Malladi Shastry (P ’22, ’26) Lawrence Pratt ’60 Nate Ranger ’76 Hollis Salzman (P ’18, ’21) Irving Santana ’90 Jonathan Small ’60 Jean Taylor Kroeber ’47

2021

Tara “Arya” Atluri ’20 Constance Black Engle ’54 Charmian Campbell Trundle ’34 Arthur Fink ’64 Judith Franks ’44 L. Bradford Greene '53 Robin Hoffmann (Emerita) Eric Jelin ’96 Dorothy Johnson ’37 Elizabeth Marshall ’75 Hunter McGuire ’39 Stephen Mittenthal ’55 Stephen Nellissen ’71 Phyllis Nemhauser ’68 Joseph Porrino ’62 Paul C. Ross ’49 Albert Sharke ’39

2022

Walter Bernhardt ’56 Judith Brodsky Franks ’44 Sylvia Colt de Almeida ’45 Carol Pomerance Cataldo ’73 Stephen Ramseyer ’57 Pamela Rossbach ’50 Jeffrey Sawyer ’77 Richard T. Scully ’42 Stephen Senigo ’63 Howard W. Solomon ’48 Margot Tishman Linton ’48 Pauline Walz Webb ’56 Richard P. Weeden ’51 Elizabeth Wolf ’59

2023

Glenna Burckel ’57 James Cooke IV ’93 Robert Lewis ’56 Judith Lyons Schenkman ’53 Lila Margulies ’92 Elizabeth Roebling ’64 Helen Trapasso (Emerita)

To read obituaries and tributes submitted by classmates and family members, please visit www.friendsnewsletter.com and select the “In Memoriam” section at the top of the page.

Meetinghouse | Winter 2023

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of the following Friends Seminary alumni and emeritae.

2020

2021

2022

2023

Glenna Burckel ’57 James Cooke IV ’93 Robert Lewis ’56 Judith Lyons Schenkman ’53 Lila Margulies ’92 Elizabeth Roebling ’64 Helen Trapasso (Emerita)

To read obituaries and tributes submitted by classmates and family members, please visit www.friendsnewsletter.com and select the “In Memoriam” section at the top of the page.

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Why Give to the Fund for Friends? Through your support, Friends Seminary can continue to offer an enriching and inspiring C O N N E C T I O N to an ever-changing world, and help our students bring about a world that ought to be.

YOUR FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT GIFT!

YOUR GIFT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS INITIATIVES SUCH AS: O

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING

FINANCIAL AID

FACULTY COMPENSATION & ENRICHMENT

The Fund for Friends, the School's annual giving fund, is the foundation of fundraising at our school. With your first—and most important—gift of the school year, you'll join more than 1,000 community members who give to the Fund. Additionally, the Fund fills the seven percent gap between revenue from tuition and fees and the actual expense of providing our students with the full experience of a Friends Seminary education.

Reach out with any questions to the Friends Advancement team at advancement@friendsseminary.org or (646) 979-5050, and give directly at www.friendsseminary.org/give.

Friends Seminary is a 501(c)(3) organization. Gifts to the Fund for Friends are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. By supporting the Fund for Friends, you can make a demonstrable impact on the experience of our current students, while also providing tax benefits for yourself and your family.

With cutting-edge offerings in design engineering, robotics, environmental science, coding and digital arts, Friends is preparing adept, innovative thinkers.

1 in 5 students at Friends receive financial aid, and a total of $6.34 million is awarded annually.

Friends proudly provides the most competitive salaries and supports numerous learning and growth opportunities for faculty and administrative staff.

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

ATHLETICS

CENTER FOR PEACE, EQUITY & JUSTICE

Students showcase more than a dozen annual productions, concerts and art shows.

Friends supports 23 Athletic teams: 5 Varsity, 4 Junior Varsity and 14 Middle School

The Center’s work includes Friends’ global immersion experiences, diversity, equity and belonging programming, and service learning opportunities.

YOUR FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT GIFT!

YOUR GIFT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS INITIATIVES SUCH AS: O

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING

FINANCIAL AID

FACULTY COMPENSATION & ENRICHMENT

Reach out with any questions to the Friends Advancement team at advancement@friendsseminary.org or (646) 979-5050, and give directly at www.friendsseminary.org/give.

With cutting-edge offerings in design engineering, robotics, environmental science, coding and digital arts, Friends is preparing adept, innovative thinkers.

1 in 5 students at Friends receive financial aid, and a total of $6.34 million is awarded annually.

Friends proudly provides the most competitive salaries and supports numerous learning and growth opportunities for faculty and administrative staff.

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

ATHLETICS

CENTER FOR PEACE, EQUITY & JUSTICE

Students showcase more than a dozen annual productions, concerts and art shows.

Friends supports 23 Athletic teams: 5 Varsity, 4 Junior Varsity and 14 Middle School

The Center’s work includes Friends’ global immersion experiences, diversity, equity and belonging programming, and service learning opportunities.

OPENING AN EYE TO THE SKY

COACH

ING

N D E S G E L

Friends Seminary and Quaker artist James Turrell announce the completion of Leading, the only public Skyspace in Manhattan, and the first attached to a K-12 school anywhere. Located atop the newly renovated townhouses, Leading serves as a spiritual and educational space for students, the community and the city. Turrell’s Skyspaces feature a ceiling aperture that frame the sky as a canvas. During dusk and dawn, the aperture is opened, and a curated internal light sequence distorts how color is observed by the human eye. Beginning February 2024, Leading will be open to the greater Friends community, and the general public. In January 2024, the School will share a visitation schedule and reservation system at friendsskyspace.com to experience the work of art. Access will be free. “Friends is honored to continue our relationship with James and his vision eight years in the making,” Bo Lauder, Head of School, said. “I’m inspired by my colleagues as they begin to craft unique programming guided by the Skyspace. We are excited to share this remarkable installation with the public and other educational institutions.”

After 33 years at the helm, Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach David Lieber coached his final game earlier this year. (He continues to serve as the School’s Athletic Co-Director.) His legacy includes 477 wins, two state championships, eight league championships and an induction into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame. He is the fourth winningest independent school basketball coach in state history. David is met by Loyola Head Coach Fred Agnostakis at center court prior to Friends’ final home game last season— a meaningful bookend to a remarkable career. In 1990, David coached his first game against Loyola, coached by Agnostakis. ABOVE:

IMAGES [Top] Looking through the aperture into the sky at dusk [Middle] An aerial of the space with the retractable roof open [Bottom] Students experience a show in the Skyspace

OPENING AN EYE TO THE SKY

COACH

ING

N D E S G E L

IMAGES [Top] Looking through the aperture into the sky at dusk [Middle] An aerial of the space with the retractable roof open [Bottom] Students experience a show in the Skyspace

FRIENDS SEMINARY 222 East 16th Street New York, NY 10003

WINTER 2023-2024

Meetinghouse THE MAGAZINE OF FRIENDS SEMINARY