2021 MAGAZINE
G arrison F orest
GFS GALLERY See more work from GFS artists of all grades at gfs.org/artwalk.
Samalie Kabenge ’23, We Disconnect (wearable art; photo by Stella Tognocchi ’23)
Ava Korzenewski ’22, Recontextualization
Rinka Hashimoto ’23, Story of a Person Pamela Luck ’22, Lady Gaga
Garrison Forest 2021 MAGAZINE
12 Celebrating the Class of 2021 18 Words of Wisdom: Career Day 2021 20 A Year Like No Other 22 Building Healthier Communities: Public Health in Action D E PA R T M E N T S
2 Letter from Chris Hughes Head of School
4 Lives of Purpose: Accomplishments and news from our community
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28
Spirit of Giving
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Class News
134 From the Archives: Lochinvar
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Faculty at the Forest
ords We Live By: Esse Quam Videri W By Madison Qualls ’21
MORE ONLINE AT GFS.ORG/MAGAZINE
ON THE COVER: Parrot Pattern By Kathryn Obrecht ’21 Kathryn, currently an undergraduate at Vanderbilt University, began at Garrison Forest as a preschooler. During her time at GFS, Kathryn participated in numerous activities, as she was a member of the Equestrian Institute, captain of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association Team, leader of the Ragged Robins and a co-head of Save the Turtles Club. Her cover art, she says, “was an experimentation with bright colors, imaginative figures and pattern making. I always considered myself to be someone who sees the world in bright dazzling light, and I try to capture my unique view through my art.”
E D I T O R I A L S TA F F
Rebecca Share ’22, After the Show Virginia Edwards ’22, Constellations
Michelle Placek Director of Communications and Marketing michelleplacek@gfs.org Tiffany Ogunwuyi Class News Editor
Emily Wilhelm Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing emilywilhelm@gfs.org DESIGN
PHOTOGRAPHY
Quin McCraw, Tiffany Ogunwuyi, Michelle Placek, David Stuck
Mid-Atlantic Custom Media Jeni Mann Tough, Director jmann@midatlanticmedia.com Sherley Taliaferro, Designer
Any opinions expressed in the annual Garrison Forest Magazine are those of the authors and/or interview subjects. Garrison Forest reserves the right to edit Class News for clarity, length and content. Class News Agents are responsible for the accuracy of their news. SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO: Garrison Forest School Alumnae Office 300 Garrison Forest Road • Owings Mills, MD 21117 • gfsalum@gfs.org • 410-559-3136
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
2 L ET T E R FR O M H E A D OF S CH OOL
DEAR GARRISON FOREST COMMUNITY,
What an extraordinary year it has been. The challenges at Garrison Forest School mirrored many of the challenges in the world beyond the Forest, including loss, isolation, uncertainty and fear. Nonetheless, I am incredibly proud of the work that was done at GFS, and immensely grateful for the support and good wishes of our wonderful extended community. Even though the past school year was historically difficult, facing those tribulations also brought some clarity to who we are as a school and what we value. I am writing this letter in the afterglow of a successful, in-person Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021 and with real optimism for the coming year, and so it feels appropriate to reflect for a moment on some of the lessons learned from the past 15-plus months. The Power of Resilience: Between the pandemic and the tumultuous political, social and cultural landscape of the past year, both the school and all members of our community had to discover and hone their inner sense of resilience. Whether it was canceling cherished activities, learning how to learn (and teach) online and in a hybrid environment, facing yet another COVID-quarantine or just dealing with the sense of isolation and separation, we all learned to channel our inner strength and ability to persevere. As we addressed national, global, social and political concerns throughout the year, we worked hard to build empathy, understanding and opportunities for productive discussion throughout the school. The Garrison Forest spirit was palpable throughout campus, as everyone from teachers to support staff to our youngest students worked hard to “find the joy” in our daily life and to look beyond the obstacles and limitations to find the opportunities and the laughter that help define GFS. The Power of Community: The difficult months that marked the end of the 2019-20 school year, when we were separated and all online, helped us all appreciate the value and the importance of our wonderful GFS community. When we were able to reopen the doors in fall 2020 to welcome all of our divisions back to campus, five days a week, it was so gratifying to see the response. For the year, we typically had more than 85% of our students physically on campus on any given day (and that number grew above 90% by the end of the year). One of the reasons we were able to reach that remarkable achievement GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
is because 100% of our faculty and staff made the decision to report for work, in-person, for the entire school year. I don’t know of any other school in the nation that can boast that statistic. Because of their dedication, we were able to maintain a safe and healthy on-campus environment, reveling in each other’s company (all while masked and socially distanced!) while also supporting those students who were not able to join us on campus. Every time we returned to in-person learning following a holiday or break, we saw again how connected our community is and how critically important those connections are to every member of our GFS family. The Power of Traditions: In a school like Garrison Forest, with more than a century of practices and structures in place, it can be easy to take some of those traditions for granted. This year, however, because some of those cherished traditions had to be skipped or altered, it created a renewed sense of value and importance for students and faculty alike. Especially in the second half of the year, we were so pleased to be able to return to some of those traditions — even if they had to look a little different from years past! Being able to hold a spring celebration week for the Fifth Graders (renamed “Camp Pivot”), a Courtyard event for Eighth Graders (which was actually “Courtyard on the Sea” this year), and Ring Week, Vespers, Prom and Commencement for our graduating Seniors all took on even more meaning and significance, because we missed them all last spring and had to work extra hard to pull them off safely. As one of very few schools that was able to offer full-time, in-person learning every day for every student who was able to be here, while also providing full academic and emotional support for those who remained in virtual learning, it was a year filled with real challenges and difficult decisions. But what I will choose to remember even more are the triumphs that we as a community achieved. By practicing our resilience, valuing the connections within our community and remembering and celebrating our values and traditions, we were able to provide our students and our families with a vital island of “normalcy” in the storm of last year. As I look forward to this year, and the chance to bring back even more traditions and connections, I am both proud of the work we have done and incredibly excited for the future of Garrison Forest School.
Christopher A. Hughes Head of School
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Resilience, Community and Traditions:
Finding Joy This Year
Preschoolers delivering paper lanterns to Chris Hughes to share a message of kindness and hope
elcoming new Grizzlies to GFS with a spirited, all-school W campus drive-through event
hris and Farida C Hughes reading to the Kindergarten class for the annual holiday storytime in our outdoor seminar space
Greeting staff members during the holiday drive-through gift pick-up
The Eighth Grade’s annual Courtyard Dance—this year, on the water!
elebrating the Class of 2021 with a traditional, in-person Commencement ceremony C in early June
losing out the 2020-21 school year with the first C in-person faculty and staff meeting of the year
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4 L IVE S O F P U R P OSE
Music in the Air
On any given day at GFS last year, music could be heard around campus. With COVID-19 protocols limiting indoor gatherings, our music teachers tapped into their creativity and took their classes outdoors for a safer way to practice their skills and showcase their talents. This innovative approach not only allowed our young musicians to continue their classes, it helped them share the love of music throughout campus. From Middle Schoolers drumming along to the Ghostbusters theme song around Halloween time to the Lower Schoolers filling the McDonald Amphitheater with music to a handchime concert performed by Upper Schoolers for our Preschool students, these outdoor symphonies created a joyful soundtrack for the year.
Fourth Graders Take on the Stock Market Since 2015, the Financial Literacy curriculum in the Lower School has taught students the importance of becoming financially competent and confident. Though this year’s programs needed to be modified due to COVID-19 restrictions, this vital program found ways to connect students to financial experts and give them real-world experience as they built a strong foundation in financial literacy. “Students who learn to manage their finances early and often become adults who are better equipped to live independently,” said Dana Livne, who teaches Fourth Grade and oversees the banking program and financial literacy curriculum. “Financial literacy for kids is so important because financial attitudes, habits and norms begin to develop between ages 6 and 12, when students are typically in first through sixth grade. Research shows that by the age of 12, students will develop an economic understanding that researchers describe as ‘essentially adult.’ By including lessons on smart money habits early in their cognitive development, we can encourage young people to save money, foster family conversations and empower students to be stewards of their own financial futures.” While students were not able to host the on-campus branch of M&T Bank last year, they continued to learn all about banking and
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
participated in virtual conversations with banking professionals, authors and financial experts, including with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, which featured a virtual tour of the bank. One of the key components of the program each year is learning about the stock market. During the year-long Stock Market Game, offered through Towson University, teams of GFS students are given $100,000 in virtual dollars to invest in the stock market. Each week, they track their portfolio and decide what stocks to buy and sell. Students learn how to analyze a stock and decide whether or not to invest. As a special activity this year, students got to participate in a virtual Q&A with Erik Bissonnette, Managing Director of Owl Rock Capital—and also the father of Annie Cate ’29. Mr. Bissonnette gave the girls the opportunity to choose a stock as a class that he would invest in for them. After doing research, the class chose Delta Airlines and tracked the stock’s progress each week on a bulletin board in their classroom. By the end of the school year, the stock had made a little over $100, and Mr. Bissonnette and his wife, Natalie Litz Bissonnette ’98, presented each girl with a personalized certificate with the $5 they had made on their investment.
L I V E S OF PURPOSE
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Building Connections and Confidence: The Equestrian Institute in Year Four Founded in 2017, the Garrison Forest Equestrian Institute is uniquely designed for top riders who want a high-quality equestrian program as well as the full Garrison Forest educational experience. The program, which is customized for each girl’s needs and ambitions, gives competitive riders in grades 6-12 the opportunity to advance their skills, expand their horsemanship knowledge and compete at a high level while enjoying the benefits and camaraderie of riding in a school program. In its fourth year, the Equestrian Institute graduated its first class of riders: Kathryn Obrecht ’21 and Lauren Eisele ’21, who had both been a part of the program since its inception. “As part of the Equestrian Institute, it’s not only the one-on-one attention students receive that advances their skills,” said Rick Harris, Director of Riding at Garrison Forest School. “A big benefit of the program is the relationship these riders develop with their horses and their trainers. Riding is about personal relationships; the traveling and field trips we do helps students develop their skills as horsewomen, not just riders.” Having ridden at GFS for 12 years, Kathryn credits her time in the Equestrian Institute with elevating her overall experience. “In many ways, riding has defined my experience at GFS, and the Equestrian Institute is an essential piece of that puzzle,” she said. “I’ve made stronger connections with my trainers from all of the one-on-one
Kathryn Obrecht ’21 and her horse, HTS Kings Ransom, “Kato”
lesson experiences and become so much closer with my horse since he has become a staple in my school day schedule. I’ve not only become a stronger competitor, but I’ve learned so much about horsemanship through the amazing field trip opportunities we were given.” Kathryn and Lauren both reflected on the tactical and the intangible skills they built as riders in the Equestrian Institute: “In four years, I have progressed from exclusively showing locally, jumping 2’6, to competing at national competitions, jumping 3’6 and beyond,” Kathryn said. “I’ve learned that success and consistency come directly from hard work and dedication, and it is these two qualities that have allowed me to develop a newfound confidence in and
Lauren Eisele ’21 and her horse, Lamor VDL, “Chuck”
out of the ring. Besides riding itself, I’ve learned so much about time management from the weeks I’ve spent away from school at shows. It has helped me become a more organized student and person.” “My time with the Equestrian Institute was life-changing,” Lauren said. “The number of skills and knowledge I have gained from the Institute is far more than I can count. By spending time with my horse, trainers and friends at the barn, I have learned that riding is much more than being on the animal; it is about learning how to persevere, communicate and build connections with the animals and people in the riding community.” “For Kathryn and Lauren as the first graduates of the Equestrian Institute, you really saw the development in their riding in their time here,” Rick said. “Being a part of the program gave them goals and focus in their riding and made them better competitors.” Kathryn points to qualifying for the 2019 National Horse show as a particularly meaningful moment for her as a rider. “At first, it seemed out of my reach since I had spent so many years watching the live-streams and following the top equitation riders at this show,” she said. “Yet I did it. To be there myself, competing in an equitation final that I worked hard to qualify for, was a fantastic feeling.”
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
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Meet the New Upper School Dean of Students:
LAUREN BAYLOR The Dean of Students plays a pivotal role in the daily lives of students, building relationships and trust while serving as a mentor, collaborator, champion and, sometimes, rule-enforcer. Luckily for Lauren Baylor, who joined the Garrison Forest School Upper School team as the new Dean of Students this summer, cultivating relationships and helping students find their paths is where she thrives. Coming to Garrison Forest from Howard County Public Schools, Lauren started her career as a high school teacher after graduating from Wake Forest University. While working for Howard County Public Schools, she served as a lead teacher and a leadership intern as well as a class sponsor. She also mentored new teachers through the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and brings experience developing diversity, equity and inclusion practices. As she prepared to jump into a busy first year at Garrison Forest, Lauren shared a few thoughts with us about joining the Upper School team.
What led you to a career in education? I come from a family full of educators—my aunt was a principal for a long time in Owings Mills, and many of my cousins and siblings-in-law teach. In addition to that family connection, I wanted to be able to have a positive impact on young people the same way so many of my high school teachers impacted me.
What do you most enjoy about working with students? Students are fun! Working with them means I get to have fun at work every day. I also love building relationships and seeing them grow and flourish over their four years.
What excites you about joining the Garrison Forest School community? GFS is such a joyful place, and I am thrilled to be part of this community where people so clearly love where they are and what they do.
How do you spend your free time? I have a 2-year-old Cavapoo named Nala who I’m obsessed with and love to snuggle. I also enjoy traveling, cooking, reading, teaching Pure Barre and hiking or camping with my husband.
What’s something you want Garrison Forest School students to know about you? I went to an all-girls school and it was one of the best experiences of my life, so I’m looking especially forward to working to ensure they have a great school experience, too. Also that I love to talk, so come say hello! GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
L I V E S OF PURPOSE
Recapturing the Magic of Mrs. Penny’s Fairy Garden In spring 2021, during the annual Day of Service, students and Head of School Chris Hughes worked to prepare space for a pollinator garden. In addition to brightening up the campus and providing another outdoor learning and observation space, the garden calls back to the much-loved and meticulously maintained garden known by a decade of enchanted children as Mrs. Penny’s fairy garden. Rhoda Archer Penrose, known as Mrs. Penny, was head of the Primary Department, which included the Infantry, from 1930 to 1948 and is remembered for instilling an appreciation for art, beauty and the natural world in her young students. The new pollinator garden will grow near where the Infantry once stood, behind Manor House and below the Chapel, the location of Mrs. Penny’s original garden. Made possible by a gift from Hap Hackney, who attended the Infantry, in honor of his sisters Ally Lou Hackney Altstatt ’45 and Carol E. Hackney ’47, the new garden was designed by Taffy Litz, former staff member, past parent and current grandparent of Elizabeth Thoeni ’32. The pollinator plants and overall garden will serve as learning and observational tools in a number of ways, giving current Garrison Forest students the opportunity to learn more about plant growth and life cycle, seed development and dispersal, plant and insect relationships and garden maintenance. They will also be able to observe insects and birds and conduct soil studies, and the garden will support a species in decline, monarch butterflies. In addition, the dye plants in the garden will be used for art classes for the collection and making of natural dyes.
Board of Trustees Honors Faculty and Staff with Commemorative White Oak From the school’s entrance off of Garrison Forest Road that blazes with color in the fall to the cherry blossoms that mark the spring near the Middle School and the delicate snow-covered branches adorning the outside of Lohr Hall in the winter, trees are and have always been an integral part of the Garrison Forest campus. In fact, there are seven trees on the campus that are over 100 years old; that’s one fewer than there were two years ago, when one of the school’s oldest trees, a white oak, was struck by lightning. The white oak is not only prominent in the school’s crest but stands as the state tree for Maryland. A historical symbol of peace and calmness, these trees represent rebirth and serenity. As they reflected on the challenging school year that was wrapping up, the school’s Board of Trustees wanted to recognize the efforts and dedication of the faculty and staff. The significance of the white oak on the Garrison Forest campus inspired the Board, and they will be replacing the lightning-struck tree, located near the pond, with a new white oak. President of the Board of Trustees August “Augie” Chiasera announced the gift at Commencement and at an end-of-year all-school meeting of faculty and staff. Once planted, the new tree will be marked with a plaque reading: “This white oak was planted by the Board of Trustees to recognize the faculty and staff for their exceptional leadership, resilience and dedication to our students throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020–21.”
The new garden in June 2021 Top left: Mrs. Penny in her original garden Left: Students, along with Head of School Chris Hughes, prepared the land during Day of Service.
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GARRISON FOREST ALUMNAE TAKING THE LEAD Martha Colhoun Williams ‘85 Joins Biden’s Interior Department Former Director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Martha Colhoun Williams ’85 was named as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Biden administration. Prior to her new role, Martha was the first woman to serve as the Director of Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Montana. Throughout her time in the department, from 2017 to 2020, Martha oversaw 700 full-time-equivalent employees and 50 state parks. Some of the key issues she contended with during her tenure included grizzly bear management, invasive aquatic species and chronic wasting disease. A multifaceted professional, she has served as legal counsel to FWP and taught as an assistant professor at the Land Use and Natural Resources clinic at the University of Montana. Martha is not new to the Department of the Interior. Prior to her time as a professor, she was the Interior Department’s Deputy Solicitor for Parks and Wildlife. Martha is fully embracing her role telling the Helena Independent Record, “For someone that’s interested in conservation, I’m like a kid in a candy store. I can’t believe some of the issues I get to engage in. They’re issues I’ve always read about or studied, so to be a part of it is thrilling.” Martha was also selected as a GFS Hall of Excellence honoree this year; please see page 31 for more information.
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
Alyson Grine ’88 Appointed to Superior Court of North Carolina Earlier this year, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper appointed Alyson Grine ’88 as Superior Court Judge to the Judicial District 15B, which serves Orange and Chatham counties. Prior to her new role, Alyson served as a prosecutor for the Durham Office of the District Attorney. With her appointment, Alyson became the first woman to be a Superior Court judge in the district as well as the only openly LGBTQ+ Superior Court Judge in the state. A true North Carolinian, Alyson graduated with her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law. She returned to teach at North Carolina, assuming the roles of Assistant Professor at the North Carolina Central School of Law and Defender Educator at the UNC School of Government. In an interview with The Daily Tar Heel in early 2021, Alyson noted the appointment feels like it has come full circle, explaining, “In a way, this is a homecoming for me because I live here in Chapel Hill, and I started out my career in Chatham County. Just being back in Pittsboro where I was once a wide-eyed young lawyer is really special to me.”
Britta Williams Brown ’04 Hired as a Senior Director for NBA’s Detroit Pistons In 2020, Britta Williams Brown ’04 was selected as the Senior Director of Basketball Administration for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. Stepping into the role amid a global pandemic as a woman of color in a predominantly male world brought plenty of challenges, but Britta brought a wealth of experience that helped prepare her for the tasks at hand. Her past positions include serving as Assistant Athletic Director at Eastern Michigan University, Assistant Director of Admissions and girls lacrosse coach at a private California school and Regional Director of Engagement for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her role, Britta is involved in every facet of the basketball operations department, including overseeing team operations and
logistics and assisting in day-to-day management of the department. Those charges took on more nuance in a COVID-19 world, as professional sports found their way to safely return to the court and field. Britta has embraced the challenge of the role and remaining adaptable while appreciating the opportunity in front of her. “The biggest responsibility I take on is making sure that I can excel in the role that I’m in so that I continue to create these opportunities for women after me,” Britta told M Live, a Michiganbased news site.
L I V E S OF PURPOSE
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Fighting Childhood Hunger with the Baltimore Hunger Project For the past several years, the Garrison Forest School Parent Association has partnered with the Baltimore Hunger Project, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing childhood hunger in the Baltimore area by providing weekend food packages to children identified as food insecure in a compassionate and dignified manner. Baltimore Hunger Project prepares and delivers more than 1,500 weekend meal bags, with need for their services only increasing during the pandemic. Though COVID-19 restrictions meant that GFS could not host its annual bag-stuffing event to provide food bags for the Baltimore Hunger Project, the community stepped up to create bags at home, and Lower and Middle School families contributed 1,200 bags to be distributed to food-insecure kids in the Baltimore region this year. 2020-21 Parent Association President Katie Willett Santarelli ’95, parent of Augusta ’25 and Grace ’29, and Vice President Courtney Gotlin, parent of Maggie ’23, Eva ’28 and Grace ’31, organized the event. Courtney is the 2021-22 Parent Association President.
Powerful Performances In the spring, Upper School dancers presented Every Story Must Come to an End, a performance that celebrated love, loss and new beginnings.
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
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Supporting Our Community: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at GFS While much of the past year-plus has been focused on navigating the challenges and changes of the COVID-19 pandemic, it also found people around the country confronting increasing instances of racism, injustice and violence. These events have had a profound impact on our community, and they provide a sobering reminder of the importance of our ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work. In June 2020, in response to widespread calls to address inequities and bias on our campus from all facets of the GFS community, the school created the GFS DEI Advisory Board, composed of faculty and staff members from across campus, as well as representatives from our Board of Trustees. Soon after, the Board of Trustees created a DEI Committee as well. These groups work to identify areas that need improvement or special focus and to hold the school accountable for making progress in these areas. At each step, schoolwide DEI work is grounded in our Core Values, our Statement of Respect and our desire to create a campus environment that fosters belonging, inclusion and empathy. One of the the Advisory Board’s goals was to provide transparency around the important work happening on the GFS campus; while you can find more details and up-to-date information at gfs.org/DEIAdvisoryBoard, here is an overview of a few of the main initiatives and programs: » Clarifying and structuring our DEI work by creating a vision
statement and organizing goals into three main pillars— Community Life and Care, Pedagogy and Curriculum and Recruitment, Retention and Support. » Engaging in regular schoolwide and age-appropriate workshops with outside facilitators for all students, as well as faculty and staff. The goal of these workshops is to create a common language and framework for cohesive community engagement through topics such as identity, empathy and belonging. » Amplifying student voices through the creation of student DEI advisory boards in the Middle and Upper Schools, which includes leaders from all identity-based student clubs and groups. » Providing more spaces for students, faculty and staff to gather, process and connect, both during difficult events and in calmer times. » Creating and supporting more opportunities for parent and alumnae connection. We were proud to welcome the Black Alumnae Association, with Tiane Hill ’03, Alumnae Board member and parent of Macy Hill ’25, at the helm, as well as host several virtual connection events for parents and alumnae.
In addition, in response to feedback, we were excited to welcome more parents than ever to our Parent Association meetings and the Community Life and Inclusion Committee of the Parent Association.
» Actively working to recruit and support a diverse faculty and staff, as well as providing support and guidance for new
faculty and staff as they acclimate to the GFS community. Though we are dedicated to the success of all of these initiatives and motivated by the progress seen so far, we understand and acknowledge that much of this work was long overdue and—always—there is more to be done. Our goal is to be thoughtful, strategic and inclusive to ensure any efforts we are undertaking are sustainable and helpful to our entire community. “Action plans, strategies and initiatives can all be productive, but inclusive antiracist work to dismantle interlocking systems of oppression requires deep personal work,” said Director of Community Life and Inclusion Carolyn Lewis, who co-chairs the GFS DEI Advisory Board with Head of School Chris Hughes and works closely with the Board of Trustees DEI Committee, the Community Life and Inclusion Committee of the Parent Association and the Black Alumnae Association. She also works with student affinity groups and oversees the annual New Faculty and Staff Orientation. “This is work that none of us has completed, is ongoing and requires significant disruption of bias and prejudice. We look forward to working with all constituencies, supporting endeavors, and advocating for a more just future and a community of belonging at Garrison Forest School.” We thank you for your support and partnership as we continue working to make Garrison Forest School a supportive, inclusive community for all students and community members. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Work at GFS: Vision Statement At Garrison Forest School, the building and nurturing of an inclusive, antiracist campus is a vital component of our community and our Core Values. Our work to promote diversity, equity and inclusion is integral to every aspect of school life, and is essential to ensure that our campus is a place where all students feel welcomed, encouraged, supported and heard. As a key focus across our campus, diversity, equity and inclusion work at GFS examines our schoolwide protocols, policies, practices and infrastructure with the goal of developing action plans that result in real and measurable progress.
Read more at gfs.org/DEIAdvisoryBoard GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
LIV ES OF PU RPO SE
Meet Our Facilitators
Bryanna Campbell, PSY.D.
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One of the key take-aways from listening sessions and other input the DEI Advisory Board received across all constituent groups was the need for schoolwide training and professional development in courageous conversations, cultural competency and other areas that will further the school’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. It was clear that this was vital in laying the foundation to ensure our students are able to respectfully engage at all levels and to create a shared language around DEI work. To lead these sessions, GFS partnered with experienced facilitators, psychologists Myque Harris and Bryanna Campbell, who both have experience facilitating group work around empathy, diversity and multicultural issues. Throughout the 2020-21 school year, Myque and Bryanna became an extension of our community, leading a series of four workshops for our students, as well as our faculty and staff. For students, the sessions were broken down by grade or division and featured age-appropriate discussions on identity, empathy, belonging, civil discourse and community connections. Each one built upon ideas covered in the previous session to begin creating shared language and skill sets to continue engaging with DEI work. While we will continue engaging with our professional facilitators, we have also built these topics and lessons into some of our curricula, school-led sessions and extracurricular activities, with the intention of supporting students as they have courageous conversations or work through challenging situations. We will also engage with additional professionals in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. The ultimate goal is to bolster our ability to support all students and create a more inclusive campus where everyone feels valued and has a sense of belonging.
Myque Harris, MS, LCMHC, RYT-200
OUR STATEMENT OF RESPECT The Garrison Forest School community is deeply committed to equity, honesty, kindness and respect as part of the educational experience. To this end, we: » celebrate diversity both within our community and our curriculum » are concerned for the well-being of all people » seek to build the self-esteem of all people » aspire to promote the understanding of all people.
We recognize the dignity and worth of all individuals. To protect their rights we confront bias, prejudice and discrimination. Garrison Forest School does not condone any behavior which is inconsistent with these tenets. We believe that it is unacceptable for our spoken and written language and behavior to demean anyone’s physical characteristics, as well as anyone’s ethnic, gender, personal, racial, religious or sexual identities. We, as individuals, must take responsibility for our words and deeds and respect all people.
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
12 FA R E W E LL T O T H E F ORE S T
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
FA R E W E L L T O T HE F OREST
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“Thank you to each of you and to all of you as a class. As much as any in the history of Garrison Forest School, yours is a class that should be remembered and revered for all that you did as the shepherds of our school this year.” — Chris Hughes, Head of School
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
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Celebrating Our Seniors As Juniors, the Class of 2021 left for Spring Break in March 2020 not knowing that they wouldn’t be together again on campus until the following fall. Through their grace, grit and spirit, they made the most out of their final year as Garrison Forest School students— and the school worked to preserve and celebrate the traditions and milestones that mark every Garrison Girl’s Senior year experience. The year started with a socially distanced Senior Sunrise and closed with our traditional Commencement ceremony.
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1. Kicking off the year with Senior Sunrise 2. Having a Senior picnic on the lawn at Lochinvar 3. Enjoying welcome-back waffles after winter break (with Senior class advisors Tasha Landis and Karin Riesenfeld) 4. Celebrating 100 Days with cups and cupcakes 5. Senior lifers—students who have been at GFS since at least First Grade—taking a walk down memory lane at the Lower School playground GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
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FA R EWELL TO TH E FO REST
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6 6. Finding their Ring Sisters on a chilly day 7. Faculty delivering a fun surprise 8. Telling their Senior Story with decorated tunics 9. Closing out the year with Senior Sunset at Lochinvar
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Where Are They Headed?
This fall, the Class of 2021 will be taking their talents to some of the best colleges and universities in the country! A challenging year and a half didn’t impact their ability—with help, guidance and support from our College Counseling team—to find their fit.
American University Boston University Bucknell University Clemson University (2) College of Charleston College of the Holy Cross Denison University Dickinson College Drew University Drexel University Elon University Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University George Washington University Gettysburg College Harvard University
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
High Point University Howard University Kenyon College Mount Holyoke College Naval Academy Preparatory School New York University (3) Princeton University Providence College Salisbury University Southern Methodist University Spelman College (2) St. Andrews University Syracuse University Temple University (2) Texas Christian University (2) The New School
The University of Tampa Towson University University of Maryland, College Park University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond (2) University of South Carolina (2) University of South Florida University of Vermont Vanderbilt University Villanova University Virginia Tech Wake Forest University Wellesley College
FA R EWELL TO TH E FO REST
CLASS OF 2021 COMMENCEMENT AWARD WINNERS
FACULTY AWARD
ALUMNAE AWARD
GEORGE M. SHRIVER AWARD
PHILIP J. JENSEN AWARD
Aurora Yin
Jillian Alexander
Madison Qualls
Carly Baker
True Blue: A Legacy of Spirit
Sharing traditions, memories and the sense of community creates meaningful connections for GFS families through the years.
See Class News for more legacy photos from our Eighth and Fifth Grade classes. THE LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Garrison Forest offers two renewable merit-based legacy scholarships for any new or current day students entering Grades 8-12 to board at Garrison Forest. Alumnae daughters, granddaughters and nieces are eligible to apply. For more information, visit gfs.org/legacy or contact Catie Gibbons, Director of Enrollment Management, at catiegibbons@gfs.org.
Molly Ianniello ’21 and mom Lauren O’Donnell Macsherry ’87 at Commencement.
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Words of Wisdom: CAREER DAY 2021 Navigating winding paths to success, overcoming obstacles, finding joy and using your voice: these were just some of the inspirational topics touched upon at this year’s Career Day at Garrison Forest School. Normally presented as a panel, this year’s program—which was rescheduled from 2020— moved online as a virtual event moderated by faculty members, while students submitted questions through the virtual platform. From health care to marketing to law, the 30 alumnae who joined us from around the country in March represented a wide range of industries and a variety of class years. As managers, entrepreneurs, artists, analysts, program managers and more, they shared their career journeys, advice and reflections with GFS Upper Schoolers and Eighth Graders.
Eighth Graders participated in Career Day while in their Advisory groups.
Career Day goes virtual! Though we hosted an online event this year, our panelists were as engaging and inspiring as ever.
On Networking and Building a Supportive Community: “Find a mentor or someone who can advocate for you early on.” — Sarah Riehl ’14
“Be generous with your time, connections and resources.” — Sarah Herbert Albritton ’78
“The people you surround yourself with absolutely affect the route your life will take, so surround yourself with intelligent, open-minded people.” — Emily Appelbaum Brennan ’96
“Start your networking now, and be kind; come from a place of giving rather than taking. Do that, and you’ll find no matter what you do, you will be tremendously successful.” — Arabella Knox Brockett ’01
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
On Change and Finding Your Path: “Don’t be afraid to start over.” — Jessica Jackson ’01
“Don’t be afraid of change, and don’t wait for someone to give you permission to do something you want to do.” — Grier May ’02
“You have to chase what you want, and you can’t give up or be deterred from it.” — Ali Carey ’10
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2021 Career Day Participants Advice for Your 18 18-Year-Old Self: “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It’s really important to be open and receptive to change. You have to know you’re capable of whatever you want to do, but you don’t need to know exactly what you want to do.” — Zoey Washington Sheff ’00
“As smart as you are and will continue to be, you are never the smartest one in the room, so it’s important to listen and learn from your colleagues because they are learning from you, too.” — Dawna Gardner ’87
On Finding Balance: “Do what makes you happy, because it’s going to take up a ton of your time.” — Jen Warfield Ritter ’92
“Set your boundaries and discover your other passions outside of work.” — Agnes Warfield-Blanc ’78
“You can have everything, just not at the same time.” — Vail Romeyn ’87
On the Garrison Forest Connection: “Garrison gave me the space and freedom to exercise my interests, whether I was great at them or not. My time there gave me a sense of confidence, adventure and opportunity.” — Valerie Hurt Bonham ’87
“Garrison helped me feel confident in my voice, no matter what environment I was or have been in.” — Clair Miller Boggs ’08
“This community doesn’t end. The Forest is a place you can always go back to when you need to rebalance yourself.”
A few of our virtual Career Day participants: Top row, from left: Sarah Herbert Albritton ’78, Dawna Gardner ’87, Sandra Baker ’71, Brita Bergland Allen ’07; bottom row, from left: Hiltie Gormley ’05, Angela Gustus ’93, Kasia Gatchalian ’98 and Becky Berger ’08
• Sarah Herbert Albritton ’78, President, Leadership Innovations • Brita Bergland Allen ’07, Program Manager, Virginia Health Catalyst • Sandra Baker ’71, Podcast Producer, Diane Rehm: On My Mind (WAMU 88.5) • Becky Berger ’08, Associate Attorney, Abramoff Neuberger, LLP • Emily Bishop ’10, Senior Account Executive, Social/PR, GKV • Clair Miller Boggs ’08, Assistant Director of Marketing and Digital Media, Maryland Zoo in Baltimore • Valerie Hurt Bonham ’87, Vice President and General Counsel, The Kennedy Krieger Institute • Emily Appelbaum Brennan ’96, Assistant Vice President, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc. • Arabella Knox Brockett ’01, Partner and CFO, The One Group of Keller Williams Legacy Central • Kristen Hill Brown ’07, President & Director of Operations,Brown Network Designs, LLC and Program Manager, U.S. Department of Defense • Ali Carey ’10, Managing Director, Tanzanian Children’s Fund (TCF) • Dawna Gardner ’87, Trademark Examining Attorney, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) • Kasia Gatchalian ’98, Emergency Communications Assistant Supervisor, Baltimore County 911 Center • Hiltie Gormley ’05, Senior Product Developer, Under Armour • Angela Gustus ’93, CEO and Co-Owner, The CMAG Group • Lisa Harrington ’73, President, lharrington group, LLC • Ana Henrich ’10, Associate, JLL • Jessica Jackson ’01, United States Probation Officer, Middle District of Florida • Shivonne Laird ’94, PHD, MPH, System Director of Community Health Impact, Bon Secours Mercy Health • Grier May ’02, Planning Consultant, Fidelity Investments • Bea Matkovic Mowry ’79, Exhibition Design Manager, Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum • Rachael Diamond Pines ’05, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Infectious Diseases • Liza Pulitzer-Voges ’72, Book Agent, Eden Street Literary Agency • Michele Sanger ’94, Director, Sanger Research Institute for Neurorehabilitation (SRI) • Sarah Riehl ’14, Portfolio Analyst, Brown Advisory • Jen Warfield Ritter ’92, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney, Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office • Vail Romeyn ’87, Producer, Helstrom (Hulu television series with Marvel Studios) • Ashley Nolan Sundquist ’05, Co-Owner, The Sundquist Company, LLC • Agnes Warfield-Blanc ’78, Executive Vice President, Fundraising and Development, U.S. Chamber of Commerce • Zoey Washington Sheff ’00, Fashion and Beauty Content Head, Bravo TV
— Kristen Hill Brown ’07
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
A Year Like No Other
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As the entire world battled COVID-19 for the last 18-plus months, schools were faced with a particular challenge: how do you ensure your students continue learning and stay connected while remaining safe? The answer was a school year that started out unlike any other — and ended a bit closer to normal than anyone thought would be possible. Through hard work, dedication, flexibility, imagination and lots — and lots — of Zoom meetings, the entire Garrison Forest School community came together to make this year a success. Here’s just a glimpse of what that looked like for the 2020-21 school year:
27,025
700
Zoom sessions
distributed, including hand sanitizer from the Parent Association and GFS blankets for easier lunches, hanging out and classes outdoors
lasting over 7 million minutes (classes and meetings) between August 1, 2020 and June 1, 2021
757
for faculty, staff and students tested on campus to safely return after holiday breaks
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
130 PCR tests processed
“Welcome Back” kits
people vaccinated
during the on-campus COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic held in May
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A-TENT-tion to Detail
One of the major factors in our success this year was our 110-acre campus, which gave us the space and opportunity to get creative. In addition to rethinking campus usage and repurposing spaces like the Dining Hall, the O’Zone and Garland Theater into classrooms, three large temporary tents were installed to maximize our use of outdoor spaces, yearround. Covered spaces in the Courtyard and near the Lower and Middle Schools provided spots for studying, hanging out and eating lunch. Heaters and side flaps were added in cooler weather.
The GFS Health Center Staff: Keeping GFS Safe Keeping our campus healthy and open five days a week, for all divisions, for the vast majority of the year is no small feat. Implementing a new, campuswide health check that needed to be completed, and monitored, daily. Interpreting federal and national guidelines for a school population that included young children and international boarders. Establishing
and reevaluating protocols and, more importantly, enforcing them. Making the tough call of when to require students to quarantine. Navigating requirements for international students and families. Planning on-site COVID-19 testing days and a community vaccine clinic. Oh, and also managing the daily needs of a busy healthcare center — the scrapes and bruises, medication and sore throats. In a year where a minor cough could mean a major situation, our Health Center staff took on the Herculean task of keeping an entire school healthy and safe, all with the compassion, care, humor and grace that are the heart of our community.
The hardworking GFS Health Center team (from left): Nurse Susan Richards, Health Center Director Kristin Franzen and Nurse Sophie Daly ‘07
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
Building Healthier Communities:
Public Health in Action As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on, the diversified and far-reaching field of public health becomes ever more vital. Garrison Forest School alumnae are fully engaged and making important contributions ensuring the well-being of our communities. As scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, mental health specialists, educators, environmentalists, policy experts, medical professionals and more, they are using their skills and compassion to impact the world.
Complex Problems, Simple Solutions: Katherine Paseman ’14 and Fix the Mask When presented with a challenge, Katherine Paseman ’14 combines her science and engineering background with her natural curiosity to find a solution. It’s an approach that she honed during her time at Garrison Forest School, where she conducted research in the Johns Hopkins’ Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design as part of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program and worked with Roominate, a Silicon Valley start-up, as her Independent Senior Project (ISP). After GFS, Katherine graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from MIT and worked at other start-ups, adding more technical skills and an entrepreneurial drive to her problemsolving mindset. In 2020, when COVID-19 struck, Katherine and her sister Sabrina, who is also a mechanical engineer, found themselves drawn to what has become one of the biggest topics of conversation as the world battles the pandemic: masks. After observing the many questions and misinformation surrounding proper mask selection and use, they wanted to design a mask solution that was comfortable, effective, affordable and accessible to everyone. Their idea turned into a prototype of a brace that fits over surgical masks to create a better and more comfortable seal, and Fix the Mask was born. Katherine found herself applying every
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
Katherine Paseman ’14 wearing a Fix the Mask brace
skill set she’d developed—and adding a few more—in her new role as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. “Our goal was to fight misinformation around COVID and to provide data-backed solutions to help people make decisions,” Katherine said. “We needed to approach researchers, pitch ideas and manage relationships. In a very short amount of time, we learned a lot about masks, manufacturing and business development.” In a crowded field of pandemic-related products, the knowledge needed to make this a successful venture went beyond the scientific know-how; they also needed to learn how to navigate approval and certification requirements, media outreach, research and development.
Of primary concern was ensuring their product was properly researched. They worked with research groups at several universities to test and vet their device with various types of masks. Katherine also recognized an opportunity and reached out to get current GFS students involved. Charlotte Ingram ’21 and Chloe Schnydman ’21 served as researchers on the GFS campus, working with Katherine to develop proper testing set-ups, data collection and documentation methods. Throughout the year, they tested theories about the relationship between light and filtration effectiveness and regularly reported their findings back to Katherine, who offered feedback and encouragement. In addition to providing valuable research back to Fix the Mask, involving GFS students was a way for Katherine to give back to the school and serve as a mentor for budding researchers. Because her WISE and ISP experiences were so formative to the entrepreneur and engineer she has become, her hope is to help current GFS students find that path for themselves as well. “My ISP changed the course of my life in a special way,” she said. “Being able to pay that experience forward is important to me.” She’s hoping to help students see the real-world implications of science and engineering research, an experience she
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Sara Bleich ’96 Named Senior Advisor for COVID-19 in Office of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Building on a career of public health-focused research, Sara Bleich ’96
Katherine Paseman ’14 and her sister Sabrina are cofounders of Fix the Mask
found enlightening as a student. “What’s magical about WISE and GFS is that it shows you that science is not this scary thing. Science doesn’t have to be complicated to be important,” Katherine said. The project helped Chloe Schnydman, who is attending Dickinson College and plans to double major in computer science and data analytics, make the connection. “I was given an opportunity to apply all the skills that I have learned over the years to a real-world project,” Chloe said of her experience. “I felt like I was doing something that could help people. When I presented everything to Katherine, she made it sound like this information could really help her company and the research. That made me realize that I want to contribute more.” As mask-wearing remains an important component in the public health battle against COVID-19, Katherine hopes the products she and her sister developed can continue making a difference. Thanks to Fix the Mask’s research-based approach to creating their product, mask fitters are now endorsed by the CDC as a way to improve how masks protect against COVID-19. Looking beyond the pandemic, Katherine’s hope is that the affordable, effective solution offered by Fix the Mask could also address other problems, such as wildfires and pollution, both issues seen in her home location of California, while still following the company’s mission of solving hard problems in the simplest of ways. Learn more: fixthemask.com.
stepped into the newly created position of senior advisor for COVID-19 in the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) upon Inauguration of the Biden-Harris administration. Her work focuses on the pandemic, economic recovery and federal nutrition assistance programs. Though COVID-19 has brought new challenges and deepened a wide variety of issues, Sara’s research in food insecurity, racial and social inequity in nutrition and how policies impact high-risk populations makes her well prepared to help guide the USDA’s response to the pandemic. Sara previously served as a White House Fellow from 2015 to 2016, where she worked in the Department of Agriculture as a Senior Policy Advisor for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services and the First Lady’s Let’s Move initiative. She also serves in several roles at Harvard University, as professor of Public Health Policy at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management, the Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and a member of the faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. The author of more than 160 peer-reviewed articles, Sara has co-authored a number of media articles in the past year on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting food security and nutrition in the U.S. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Columbia and a Ph.D. in health policy from Harvard, and was inducted into the GFS Hall of Excellence in 2017.
GFS Alumnae Join Vaccine Town Hall in February 2021 In early 2021, as the initial deployment of COVID-19 vaccines began to offer a glimpse of hope in the international fight against the pandemic, public health officials around the world launched awareness campaigns to reinforce the vital importance of getting vaccinated, dispel myths and misunderstandings and help underrepresented communities get the information and
services they needed. Garrison Forest School was proud to hold a virtual COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall, open to all GFS community members, to provide answers and perspectives from experts in the fields of medicine, community health and vaccine development, including three distinguished GFS alumnae. Joining the event were:
Panelist Stacy GarrettRay ’92, Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer of Ascension Healthcare
Panelist Matthew Laurens, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist with a primary research interest in vaccine development who conducts studies at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD), University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and at international sites in Burkina Faso, Mali and Malawi
Panelist Shivonne L. Laird ’94, System Director of Community Health Impact for Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH)
Moderator Jennifer Lawrence ’85, Director of the South Georgia Medical Center Diabetes Management Center
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
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WISE Partners with the University of Maryland School of Medicine for Exciting New Public Health Initiative The Women In Science and Engineering
(WISE) program has provided GFS students with opportunities to gain real-world experience in a wide variety of science-related fields, including public health, since its inception in 2004. Starting in summer 2021, WISE added another option for students to immerse themselves in the extensive world of public health. In collaboration with the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, six GFS Seniors are participating in a new Public Health Fellows Program. This pilot program pairs each GFS student with a graduate student mentor in the MPH program, which
features concentrations in Community & Population Health, Epidemiology and Global Health. Coming from a variety of backgrounds and interests, MPH mentors are educating GFS students about public health as a broad field of study and careers, as well as public health’s impact on human well-being and health equity across many dimensions. Students will learn firsthand about the intersection between public health, medicine and other disciplines and the range
of skills required for public health practitioners. The program covers key topic areas and activities relevant to professional skills needed in public health, including the complexities of using human subject research, the role of data analysis and presentation and designing public health educational and advocacy programs. Dr. Whei Moriarty, WISE Academic Coordinator, and Andrea Perry, Director of the James Center and Dean of Special Programs, are providing GFS enrichment and support, helping students make the most of this opportunity to take a deep dive into the ever-evolving field of public health.
A Public Health Priority: Focusing on Mental and Emotional Wellness A crucial component in the health of a community is
ensuring access to mental and emotional health and wellness resources. Particularly during a time that found so many people battling isolation, loneliness and loss, focusing on mental and emotional wellness is a priority. For students, the confusion, fear and disruption caused by the ongoing pandemic—amid important national conversations about social justice, discrimination and politics—created increased chances of experiencing anxiety, depression or loneliness. “One of the most important jobs we’ve had as educators the past 18 months or so has been making Lower Schoolers practice mindfulness during sure our students have the resources they need to be National Public Health Week last April. emotionally healthy,” said Shondra Cowling, Director of Counseling at GFS. Shondra has served as the Lower School counselor, working with the school’s youngest students, since 2006, and recently stepped into the Director role, where she works with the counselors in each division. She is also the parent of Nia ’19 and Nadiah ’30. “Talking about mental and emotional wellness, making personal connections and ensuring students have space and support to process what they’re experiencing is so important, for students of all ages.” GFS participated in National Public Health Week in April 2021, which focused on personal and community well-being and opportunities for making a positive impact on the world. In addition to talking to students about their own emotional health, activities focused on being outdoors, physical activity and finding joy even during difficult times.
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
The Reality of Mental Illness • 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. • 1 in 6 U.S. youths aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. • 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% by age 24. Source: National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)
FACULTY 25
It’s the Journey: Reflecting on 35 Years of Teamwork, Travel and Changes When Kim Marlor came to Garrison Forest School in 1986, she brought a few important skill sets. First, she came with independent and boarding school experience, having spent seven years living the teacher-coach-dorm parent life at another school. She brought a lifelong love of sports and movement that would serve her well as a coach of multiple sports—including badminton, tennis and basketball—and Chair of the Physical Education Department. And, she brought a willingness to give anything a try, even coaching lacrosse, a sport she didn’t know much about at the time. “It was serendipity. Walking around campus, it just felt good,” she says of her initial interview at GFS. “It just fit.” Two years after joining the staff, Kim moved on campus and lived in Robinswood for the next 17 years. She remembers fondly many memories in that space, including team dinners, movie nights and fun antics with her fellow residential life faculty. Though the Garrison campus was firmly a home base during that time, traveling the world had become one of her true passions. It started with a trip to France in high school and then junior year abroad in England during college. “That really set off the travel bug in me,” she says. Over the years, she ticked a lot of destinations off her “to-visit” list, including Spain, Greece, Africa, Japan, China and more, often leading groups of GFS students and traveling with her colleagues. It’s something she holds dear about her Garrison experience. “It’s that connection with kids, and the international component,” she says. “There was a time at Garrison where every Spring Break I was traveling somewhere in the world, seeing new places, learning, meeting new people, and I had children with me the entire time.” In 35 years at GFS, Kim describes seeing many changes—both tangible and theoretical. Sitting in the small conference room of the Elizabeth B. Searle ’74 Athletic Center, which opened in 2002, she vividly remembers tennis courts and a hitting board previously in that area, plus an outdoor beach volleyball space. On the philosophical side, she talks about the shift in approaching Physical Education primarily as a way to teach girls about sports; in more recent years, there is a wellness component that is important to ensuring students of all abilities get a well-rounded appreciation
not only of sports but of movement and taking care of themselves. Kim also talks about living through the implementation of Title IX and seeing girls and women have more equal access and support for athletics—a change in mindset that made a big impression on Kim’s decision to teach at an all-girls school. “I have young childhood memories of being told that I could not do things like Little League because I was a girl, even though I felt more comfortable playing soccer or baseball with the boys,” she says of her earliest understanding that things were not the same for boy and girl athletes. She started to see some shifts during her time in college. Because her alma mater, Springfield College, was known for physical education and was creating female as well as male physical educators, the facilities were excellent and there was a more equal distribution of resources. They were also one of the first colleges to offer athletic training courses and produce female athletic trainers, something that Kim notes is pivotal to supporting healthy female athletes. For Kim, teaching and coaching went beyond instilling the basics of a sport. It was about inspiring in her students and players
an appreciation for movement, confidence to try new things, the importance of making connections and the value of teamwork. “It’s socializing,” she says 1988 of teaching young girls about sports and games. “This is the way you’re going to meet people that you become interested in and have something in common with so you can start conversations.” When she checks in with players who have graduated, she asks if they are carrying their badminton racquets around campus or trying new activities to meet people. It’s an approach that earned her threeand-a-half decades worth of appreciative graduates and colleagues—as well as some notable recognitions. In 2019, the tennis team won the conference championships and Kim was recognized as the IAAM’s first-ever tennis Coach of the Year; in 2021, she was named the badminton coach of the year. So what does retirement look like for someone who never stops moving? Don’t expect Kim to slow down now: she lists an already-long agenda of travel plans in her near future and playing tennis, badminton, pickleball and whatever else seems interesting—just for fun. She may tackle a “chair of books” she has waiting for her. She also plans to stay active in conservation efforts, as connecting with animals has been a highlight of her travels, from friendly encounters with killer whales to observing mountain gorillas in the wild. In those moments of true connection, she says, “it’s like you’re given a gift.” Wherever she heads, she carries her time at GFS and the connections she’s made with her. “It’s the journey,” she says, “and watching my kids evolve in every sport. It’s a rush. Those are fond memories.”
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
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Faculty at the Forest SUPPORTIVE, COMPASSIONATE AND truly invested in the success of each student, our faculty and
staff are at the heart of Garrison Forest. Over the past 18 months-plus, they have not only embraced new ways of teaching and reimagined our campus spaces, but also provided a sense of calm and joy through a challenging time. They continue to exemplify the school’s core values.
Tracey Brocato
Deanna Gamber ’85
20-YEAR SERVICE PIN Each year since 1992, Garrison Forest School has honored faculty and staff who reach 20 years of service to the school, a recognition of remarkable loyalty and commitment.
Tracey Brocato
Deanna Gamber ’85
For 20 years, Tracey Brocato has shared her love for teaching and science with the GFS community. Whether she is working with her students building habitats for our campus critters, making solar ovens or examining pond life under a microscope, Tracey’s commitment is always evident. She pioneered the Lower School’s outdoor education curriculum and uses our entire campus to teach about plant and animal life, earth science, chemistry, physics, geology, oceanography, astronomy and meteorology. She was also instrumental in envisioning and helping design our new pollinator garden, which will support experiential student learning for years to come. The fact that our Lower Schoolers are fearless as they create “slug hospitals” and dig around to find various critters that they incorporate into their outdoor play is a direct result of Tracey’s influence and the excitement she generates with them around the natural world. Deeply committed to cross-curricular learning, Tracey believes that learning sticks best when we help students make important connections across disciplines. She also assists with the STEAM week initiative in the Lower School, helping to develop and deliver a compelling, fun and collaborative week for our Fourth and Fifth Grade students. In addition to her passion for teaching, Tracey consistently volunteers to help her colleagues and is genuinely a joy to work with.
Deanna returned to GFS in 2001 as Director of Development after 12 years in the advancement field. Since her return to the Forest, Deanna has been the rock that holds the foundation of GFS steady. In addition to managing the Development Office, her close work connecting development, enrollment, communications and the business office has helped define the public image and perception of the school. She has been the right hand and reliable voice to four very different Heads of School. The very definition of True Blue, Deanna has traveled tens of thousands of miles in support of both development and international recruitment. Under her tenure, among many other achievements, the Development Office has raised more than $90 million through her guidance of the annual fund, capital projects and gifts and planned giving. Deanna also serves as the staff liaison to the Development and Trusteeship committees, acting as an essential connection between the entire Board and the school. As chair of the school’s Reopening Task Force last fall, she worked with everyone from architects to tent companies to her counterparts in other schools to help ensure GFS could reopen quickly and safely. Deanna has worn many hats, and she has done it all with a great sense of humor and her ever-present Garrison spirit.
Lower School Science Teacher
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
Associate Head of School and Director of Development
FACULTY 27
2021 DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AWARD The Distinguished Teacher Award was established by Elinor Purves McLennan ’56 and Courtney McLennan Myhrum ’79 in 1980 to recognize excellence in teaching at Garrison Forest.
Heather Malone-Wolf Director of Dance
As the Director of our Dance program, Heather approaches everything she does with joy, empathy and kindness, and her reach truly extends to all divisions on campus. Whether she is teaching dance to our Fourth Graders, rehearsing with our Upper Schoolers, advising our Eighth Graders or co-advising Middle School’s Sisters In Unity affinity group, Heather is a positive force on our campus and a role model for her students. Heather works tirelessly to build students’ confidence, thoughtfully choosing music and choreographing pieces that encourage body positivity and inclusiveness and inspire personal growth. As Heather would say, she creates a “family” in the studio. Students learn from each other, confide in each other and collaborate with each other.
Heather’s reach extends far outside of her work in the classroom. Last summer, Heather joined the newly established Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board and, this past fall, she helped establish the Middle School election squad and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Junior Advisory Board. Heather’s passion for teaching dance, compassion for her students and colleagues and dedication to the Garrison Forest School community make her truly deserving of this award. At the heart of all Heather does is her relationships with students, where she often steps up as a second mom, confidante, mentor and leader that students and her self-proclaimed “dance daughters” can go to to share and process their triumphs, their struggles and everything in between.
2021 IRVIN D. MCGREGOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD The Irvin D. McGregor Distinguished Service Award honors a staff member who has shown an extraordinary level of dedication, commitment and excellence in service to Garrison Forest.
Kristin Franzen Director of the GFS Health Center
Without question, many staff members could be recognized for their extraordinary efforts this year. Nevertheless, when looking back, there is one person whose tireless efforts and commitment allowed GFS to be among the most successful schools in the world at facing the challenges of the pandemic, and this year’s Distinguished Service Award goes to Kristin Franzen. When she returned to Garrison Forest in summer 2020 after a few years away, Kristin immediately stepped in as the school’s “COVID specialist” and, before the end of the summer, agreed to become the Director of the Health Center. In the words of one colleague, “Kristin has literally done the impossible for GFS this year. Her commitment to this community is unmatched; her leadership guides us through unchartered waters, and her poise and grace under pressure is second to none. Kristin WAS the front line, answering questions from families, faculty, students and colleagues. She has directed and supported her staff who must continue to support each and every student on a daily basis.” Another colleague adds, “Even on the toughest of days, Kristin always has a smile on her face, remains optimistic and has the uncanny ability to find humor in any situation.” In addition to leading the Health Center, Kristin has worked closely with the entire leadership team, county and state health departments and school nurses and medical professionals across the country.
2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
BY THE NUMBERS
...
In addition to making vital operations of the school possible, the Fund also provides an important foundation for supporting our faculty and staff through their salaries and benefits.
Thank you! The Fund for Garrison Forest supports the daily operations of the school. Your generous donations help ensure every Garrison Forest student across the entire campus has an exceptional educational and co-curricular experience.
$1,480,453 raised overall for capital, endowment and operating support.
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81
OF ALUMNAE
OF PARENTS
%
Lower s chool
RS ‹ AKE E P S KS ‹ EST OO U B G Y › RAR › LIB
%
Marshall-Offutt Upper School
S enior Hous e
S hriver
100%
100%
OF FACULTY & STAFF
OF TRUSTEES
Hall
Manor Hous e
Pres chool IONS
AT ECOR ORM D
‹
›D
SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR THE OPERATIONG BUDGET The Fund for Garrison Forest Tuition & Fees
75%
Campus Center/ earle Athletic Center S
7% Endowment
8% Auxiliary
7% Other
3%
MENT E EQUIP C N A D › UMES ‹ › COST
Paw Print Turf Field
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PLEASE SUPPORT GARRISON FOREST THIS YEAR! Give, pledge or sign up for monthly installments online at gfs.org/give. Become a leadership donor for $84/month.
Go to gfs.org/reportongiving to read the 2020-21 Report on Giving (password: thankyou).
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S PIR IT O F G I VI N x xG x
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... Connecting the Dots ... › CLASS TRIPS ‹ › LAB EQUIPMENT ‹
› ZOOM
LICENSE S‹ › WEBCA MS ‹
G OKIN ‹ › CO T N IPME EQU
McLennan Library
G& HTIN › LIG N FOR G ‹ DESI ICAL U M S
Garland Theater
Lohr Hall
Tennis Courts
Hopkins Fields
Meadowood
Whitridge Pavilion Robinswood
O’Neill Middle S chool
› TRA
NSPO
Hathaway Fine & Performing Arts Center
Zolenas Turf Field
› TABLE/MITER SAW ‹ › CLAY ‹
RTAT
ION
‹
ULTY › FAC ‹ SING HOU
› COUR TYARD ‹ › MINIM ESTER ‹
D. & J. S mith Eques trian Center and S heridan Polo Arena
Illustrations by Diane Yu, former Chair, GFS Visual Arts Department
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2021 Hall of Excellence Inductees Established by the Class of 2000 parents and grandparents, the Hall of Excellence recognizes GFS community members who have made outstanding contributions to the school and broader community. BISRAT ABRAHAM ’96
CRYSTAL LEE ALSTON ’96
After obtaining her B.A. from Johns Hopkins, Bisrat served as a Fulbright Fellow in Eritrea, East Africa. She returned to the U.S. to obtain her Medical and Public Health degrees at Emory University and subsequently completed an Internal Medicine residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Her strong interest in public health led her to work as Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she investigated tuberculosis outbreaks both in the U.S. and abroad. Bisrat then completed an Infectious Disease Fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Her research interests focused on understanding predictors for poor clinical outcomes among those infected with HIV/ AIDS, particularly racial/ethnic minorities and women. She conducted this research as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cornell and subsequently joined the Bureau of HIV at the New York City Health Department. She also served as interim Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of HIV, during which time she launched an HIV prevention program focused on women. She has maintained her academic appointments at Cornell and has managed patients in the Infectious Disease clinic. Most recently, serving as the Associate Director for Pfizer’s Vaccine Clinical Research & Development Program, Bisrat played a key role on one of the teams that worked diligently to bring a COVID-19 vaccine to the public. During her time at GFS, she was the Jensen Award winner, Head of Cultural Awareness, Head of Art Club, and a member of the first Black Student Union as well as the Cum Laude Society.
Crystal joined GFS as a day student and a Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust (B.E.S.T.) Scholar in 1992 for Ninth Grade. Crystal won the Alumnae Award at Commencement and has been involved with Garrison Forest in the following capacities: first-ever Vice President of the School; member of the first Black Student Union as well as Forum and the Badminton team; Class News Agent; Alumnae Board member; Class Fund Agent; and 2016 Reunion Co-chair. A current member of the Garrison Forest Board of Trustees, she serves as the Chair for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and previously chaired the School Life Committee. She was hired as Director of Alumnae Affairs at Garrison Forest School immediately following her graduation from Loyola College of Maryland and was later promoted to Director of the Fund for Garrison Forest and then Associate Director of Development. Crystal became Associate Director of Admission in July 2011. In 2004, Crystal became the first B.E.S.T. alumna to serve on their Board of Trustees, and in July 2014, following 10 years of service, she stepped off the Board of B.E.S.T. to become its Director of Advancement. In 2016, she was named one of “40 under 40,” by the Baltimore Business Journal. “40 under 40” recognizes a group of innovators, professionals and entrepreneurs in the Greater Baltimore area who have made impressive strides in their lives before the age of 40.
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LILA BOYCE LOHR ’63 After graduating from Garrison Forest, Lila graduated from Vassar and was among the first women to study at Yale. She earned her master’s degree in education at Goucher College and studied business administration at Johns Hopkins University. Lila began her teaching career, then worked for 15 years at the Bryn Mawr School in many roles before her first headship at St. Paul’s School for Girls, a leadership role she held for over a decade. In 1995, she became the first female Head of School at Princeton Day, returning in 2007 as Interim Head. She held this critical interim position at a variety of schools before serving as Interim Head of School for Garrison Forest School for 2017-18. During that year, Lila advanced several projects, including the launch of the new dorm. After leaving Garrison, Lila served as Interim Head at Marin Country Day School in Corte Madera, Calif., and University Prep in Seattle. She most recently served as the Interim Head of School for St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, Va. A former columnist for Family Magazine, Lila has written extensively in national publications and professional journals, and she authored a Peterson’s Guide. Lila served as President of the Board of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools and as Vice President of the National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls, and has served on the boards of many local educational, cultural and community-based organizations. Lila joined the Garrison Forest Board of Trustees in 1996, serving as President from 2005 to 2011 and returned to the Board in 2019. In 2012, Lila was honored with the school’s Distinguished Alumna Award. She is married to Bobby Ittmann; they each have a daughter and two sons, and they share five grandchildren.
S PIR IT O F G I VI N G
MARTHA COLHOUN WILLIAMS ’85
Growing up on a farm in Maryland, Martha gained an appreciation for open lands, waters, wildlife and people. This passion led her to the West and a career spent fostering a love of the outdoors and stewarding the protection of natural resources. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana School of Law. In January 2021, Martha was sworn in as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. Preceding her appointment, she served as the Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks from 2017 to 2020. Previously, Martha was an Assistant Professor of Law at the Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana in Missoula, and co-directed the university’s Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic. She also co-supervised the Public Land and Resources Law Review and the Environmental Law Group. Martha served as Deputy Solicitor of Parks and Wildlife at the Department of the Interior for two years, providing counsel to the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service. She serves on the Boards of Directors for the National Conservation Leadership Institute and the Archie Bray Foundation and on the Advisory Board for the Franke School of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana. Martha is the proud mother of Katharine “Kate” Williams ’18, sister of Julie Colhoun Deford ‘79 and daughter of Julie Fisher Colhoun ’51.
STACY GARRETT-RAY ’92
A 1992 graduate of Garrison Forest, Stacy received her Bachelor of Science degree with a biology major and women’s studies minor from the University of Richmond, where she was a Cigna Scholar. Her medical degree is from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at the University of Maryland Department of Family and Community Medicine, where she served as chief resident. She received her Master of
Public Health and MBA from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Stacy currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer of Ascension Healthcare. Previously, she served as Vice President/Medical Director of the University of Maryland Medical System’s Population Health Services Organization and as the COVID-19 Incident Command Community Provider Liaison for the University of Maryland Medical System. She is a member of the Garrison Forest Board of Trustees and the University of Richmond Alumni Association Board of Directors. She is also active in the community and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Greater Baltimore County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Patapsco River Chapter of the Links, Inc., and is co-founder of Maryland Mercury Girls AAU Basketball Team. But, most importantly, she is the proud mom of Dominique Ray ’25.
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MIRIAM G. VANDERVEER, PAST FACULTY
Miriam, known affectionately as Mrs. Van, graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a major in Italian. She was a teacher for 47 years and worked at Garrison Forest School for 42 years as a Latin teacher, Chair of the Latin Department, college counselor, Dean of Students, Admission Director, Coach of the Field Hockey team, assistant to the Head of School, Board Member, and mentor to many students and faculty. In 1977, Mrs. Van was honored with the position of Trustee Emerita, a title she retained until her death in 2001. A widow with no children, she saw GFS as her family. A member of the Marshall-Offutt Circle, she made the largest gift in the school’s history up until that time as part of her bequest. The money provided an endowment to support faculty, as she wanted teachers to be able to retire with grace and dignity.
For a full list of Hall of Excellence inductees since 2007, criteria for selection and nomination forms, visit gfs.org/alumnae.
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Clear Connections The Garrison Forest spirit shines bright even through the screen, and though we had to move many of our signature events to a virtual platform, the connections were clear. From reuniting with friends to book discussions and learning pro tips for your Zoom style, our
alumnae took the opportunities to learn and laugh together while catching up and sharing their own experiences. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to campus and gathering in person as soon as we can!
TRIVIA AND SNOW & TELL YOUNG ALUMNAE EVENT Whether for trivia or just catching up with friends and teachers, virtual get-togethers brought us together this year.
THRIVING THURSDAYS
The GFS Black Alumnae Association presented “Thriving Thursdays,” a series of self-care events to celebrate Black History Month.
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SIPS, SNACKS AND STYLE VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR The Sips, Snacks and Style virtual happy hour was informative and fun thanks to our presenters, Melissa Harrison ’98, Aimee Ringgold (parent of Madisyn ’25) and Zoey Washington Sheff ’00.
GOLF AND TENNIS CLASSIC
This year, 90 golfers and 17 tennis players joined us to make the annual Golf and Tennis Classic a huge success! Thank you to our event chairs, Sana Naylor Brooks ‘85, Julie Martin McAllister ‘92 (P ‘22 and P ‘26) and Chad Meyer (P ‘21) and our many sponsors. See the back cover of the magazine for a full list.
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Reunion 2021: Technology + Tradition From Friday’s Elsie Foster Jenkins ’53 Community Service Lecture featuring keynote speaker Deborah W. Brooks, CEO and co-founder of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), to a fun virtual GFS trivia night and morning yoga with Ashley Nolan Sundquist ’05, to our annual chapel service and virtual class parties, Reunion 2021 highlighted the spirit, resilience and fun that are the cornerstones of our community.
Featured Speaker
Class of 1951
Deborah Brooks, this year’s Elsie Foster Jenkins ‘53 Community Service Lecture speaker
Members of the Class of 1951 celebrate with a virtual Reunion party
Take a peek behind the scenes of a virtual Reunion celebration
Current GFS Athletic Director Jessy Morgan and former GFS coach and teacher, the beloved Butch Darrell, film a question for the Reunion Weekend trivia event.
One of Reunion’s most cherished traditions, the Chapel memorial service, recognizes those we’ve lost over the past year.
We are so excited to welcome you back to campus! Join us at the Forest for Reunion 2022!
– May 6-7, 2022 –
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
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DEPARTING TRUSTEES
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2021-22
Thank you to the following Trustees for their service to Garrison Forest School: W. Bradley “Brad” Bennett James “Jim” M. Beam
Kimberly Hubbard Cashman ‘85, PP’19 and P’24 Gretta Gordy Gardner ‘86
Katherine “Katie” Willett Santarelli ‘95, P’25 and P’29
IN REMEMBRANCE: Katherine “Teensa” Brune Williams Former faculty member, Trustee Emerita and GFS parent Katherine “Teensa” Brune Williams died on April 18, 2021, at the age of 94. Teensa taught at Garrison Forest from 1961 to 1979, serving as Head of the Middle School for six years and Chair of the Math Department for her last three years before retiring. Her daughter, Katherine “Kathy” Brune Kimball ’69, also attended Garrison Forest School. A dedicated and gifted educator, Teensa is fondly remembered by generations of Garrison students as a kind, funny and no-nonsense math teacher. “Many tributes about Teensa speak about her passion for teaching and her unconditional support for her students,” Caroline “Stuart” Rinehart Stewart ’66 shared. “Yet, I would like to make an additional observation that is a new insight, at least for me. Esse Quam Videri has always provided a moral compass for numerous generations of students. My ‘aha’ moment came in realizing that motto applied so beautifully to Teensa as well. She exemplified being truly herself as a person and as a teacher; a wonderful model of the Garrison Forest Spirit!” Teensa’s family has established the Katherine “Teensa” Williams Math Chair Endowment in her honor. This fund will support the work of our exceptional math department and help ensure that we retain and attract the best leadership of this important program. If you are interested in making a contribution in honor of Teensa, please send your check made payable to Garrison Forest School to the attention of Deanna Gamber ’85, Associate Head of School, 300 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117. Please feel free to contact Deanna directly at deannagamber@gfs.org or 410-559-3135 with any questions. We are so grateful to Teensa’s family for recognizing her dedication to GFS with this fund.
Francis G. “Frank” Riggs Francis G. “Frank” Riggs joined the Garrison Forest School Board in 1988 and was honored as a Trustee Emeritus in 2008. He served as Vice President of the Board, was a member of the Executive and Trusteeship Committees, and chaired the Development Committee. Frank was also a member of the Equestrian Task Force, whose work resulted in a stronger and more financially viable program. Many members of Frank’s family claim Garrison Forest School as their alma mater. His sister, Bartie Riggs Cole, was a member of the Class of 1958, and his sister-in-law was Jay West Riggs ’59. Frank’s daughters Charlotte ’90 and Melissa ’98 also attended GFS, as did countless nieces and cousins. “Frank was a strong community leader in Baltimore, but with his many professional and civic commitments, he was always laser focused on his work as a GFS Trustee,” fellow Trustee Molly Mundy Hathaway ’61 recalled. “With a love and dedication for our school, he worked with effectiveness, boundless energy and always a quiet humility.” A champion for a formalized planned giving program, Frank pushed to have estate gifts as a pillar of the Development program. It was his impetus that led to the establishment of our legacy giving society in 1990 — the Marshall-Offutt Circle. Membership in the Marshall-Offutt Circle now stands at more than 230 members and has generated many six- and seven-figure gifts.
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD August J. Chiasera, President Helen Zinreich Shafer ’93, Vice President Amabel Boyce James ’70, Treasurer Emily Gardner Baratta ’88, Secretary BOARD OF TRUSTEES Crystal Lee Alston ’96 Patricia G. Autrey ’98 Cassandra Naylor Brooks ’85 Diana Warfield Daly ’74 David M. DiPietro Stacy Garrett-Ray ’92 Elisabeth Owen Hayes ’81 Sarah LeBrun Ingram ’84 Catherine Y. Jackson ’83 Elizabeth R. Kokinis Peter J. Korzenewski Jennifer E. Lawrence ’85 Lila Boyce Lohr ’63 Kristopher A. Mallahan Peter D. Maller Robyne O. McCullough ’07 Catherine Schroeder O’Neill ’93 W. Brooks Paternotte Christina N. Riepe ’91 George J. Sakellaris Elizabeth B. Searle ’74 Mary Hogans Utterback ’81 Elizabeth B. Warfield ’73 William L. Yerman EX-OFFICIO Anne M. Deady ’01 Deanna L. Gamber ’85 Courtney G. Gotlin Christopher A. Hughes Kristen M. Miller Ashley East Rogers ’97 TRUSTEES EMERITI Frank A. Bonsal, Jr. Robert S. Brennen Molly Mundy Hathaway ’61 Henry H. Hopkins Clare H. Springs ’62 Frederick W. Whitridge
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CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUST A charitable remainder unitrust (also called a CRUT) is an estate planning tool that provides income to a named beneficiary during the grantor’s life and then the remainder of the trust to a charitable cause.
The Marshall-Offutt Circle is Garrison Forest’s legacy society for those who have named the school in his or her estate plan. We deeply appreciate the 230+ people who have informed GFS of their planned giving intentions. If you have named GFS in your will, retirement plan, trust, etc., please let us know so we may include you in the Circle and invite you to donor events and more. We recommend you seek professional advice before drawing up your will. The following is an option to share with your estate planner: I give and devise to Garrison Forest School, located in Owings Mills, MD, the sum of $____ (or percentage of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal) to be used for its general support.
Please contact Deanna Gamber ‘85 with any questions: deannagamber@gfs.org or 410-559-3135.
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
A TRUE BLUE LEADER AND SUPPORTER OF GFS: REMEMBERING ELINOR PURVES MCLENNAN ‘56 Garrison Forest School lost a dedicated supporter and compassionate community member with the passing of Elinor Purves McLennan ’56 on September 12, 2020. Elinor was an active member of the Garrison Forest Board of Trustees for decades, serving as President of the Board from 1986 to 1990 and most recently as a Trustee Emerita. A treasured member of our community, Elinor received the Distinguished Alumna Award in 1982 to recognize her contributions to the school. Indeed, Elinor’s devotion to her alma mater was extraordinary. In 1980, she, along with her daughter, Courtney McLennan Myrum ’79, established the Distinguished Teacher Award. Presented annually at Commencement, this distinction recognizes excellence in teaching at Garrison Forest. Elinor’s incredible commitment to making Garrison the best it could be was reflected in her exceptional generosity to the school. Over the years, she supported all aspects of the school, from The Fund for Garrison Forest, to the endowment, to capital projects at the highest level. In recognition of her dedication and generosity, the library was named in her honor in 1997. “My mother poured her heart and soul into almost every aspect of GFS, as a student, a parent, and a long-time board member,” her daughter Courtney said. “Her love for the school and for the faculty and administration was strong and deep. She focused much of her energies on ensuring that GFS had the most talented and accomplished faculty. Ultimately, she was the consummate Garrison Girl!” Elinor’s enthusiasm and passion for Garrison Forest was unwavering. To ensure that her beloved school remained strong even after her passing, Elinor established a charitable remainder unitrust—please see the sidebar for more information— and named GFS as beneficiary. The proceeds from the trust will be added to the endowment and generate support of the school in perpetuity, ensuring future generations of Garrison Forest School students can learn and thrive at the school she dearly loved. We are honored by her unwavering dedication to our community.
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In Memoriam BABS PORTER, PAST FACULTY Barbara “Babs” Hamilton Porter passed away on June 30, 2021, at the age of 96. A welcome presence for generations of Garrison Girls, Babs held different roles in her more than 40 years at the school. From 1944 until 1987, she served as the Director of Admission, Registrar and math teacher. She is remembered as a firm but kind teacher and someone with an incredible work ethic and hearty laugh. “She was and always will be beloved by her students,” shared Sandra Stewart Naylor ’54. Her obituary in her local paper, The Jamestown Press, noted a recent letter from one of her students with the message, “You cared for each of us unconditionally and wanted us to be the best we could be.”
Her impact on her students extended beyond the classroom. A pilot who had her own plane, Babs taught a class in aviation and even took students up as part of the class. She also drove a carpool. As many classes of GFS alumnae fondly remember Babs, she also reflected on her time at the school. In March 2021, she shared the following with the mother of her great-niece, Vail Romeyn ’87: “I taught at and enjoyed Garrison Forest School for my whole life. I watched those kids—who are definitely all grown now with their own children and grandchildren—become self-sufficient, curious, loving and disciplined young women. It was my pleasure to be part of that wonderful community.”
ANN GRAY, PAST FACULTY Ann Gray passed away on May 2, 2021, at age of 88. Ann came to Garrison Forest School as a preschool teacher with the merger with the Valley School in 1975. She then served as Head of the Preschool from 1981 through 1999. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1954 from Randolph-Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, Va., and later obtained a master’s degree in education from the Johns Hopkins University. She has a daughter, Carroll Gray Keating ’78, and a son. Peter O’Neill, Head of Garrison Forest from 1994 until 2014, remembers Ann as an advocate for early childhood education: “Ann Gray was the most gifted and wisest early childhood educator I had the privilege of working with in my career,” Peter shared. “She had a profound understanding of and a fierce commitment to the developmental needs of children from the ages of 3 to 6. Before there was brain research, Ann Gray knew it was the time in a child’s life of the most important brain development.” He also shared one of his favorite memories: “One of my fondest memories of Ann, among many, was in my first few days of my tenure at GFS, when Ann told me she was planning the annual Preschool picnic for a Sunday in late August. I asked her if she had a rain date. Ann replied in her wonderful Hattiesburg, Mississippi Steel Magnolia’s accent, ‘It never rains on the Preschool picnic.’ I learned that day that not even God argues with Ann Gray. It was a lesson I never forgot.”
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IN MEMORIAM
July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021 Friends, classmates, beloved teachers and dedicated administrators and Trustees: Each year, we remember those we’ve lost. If you have treasured memories you would like to share, we encourage you to reach out to your Class News Agent to include your remembrances in next year’s magazine. “Life is short and we have too little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.” The words of poet Henri-Frédéric Amiel, shared by the Rev. Caroline “Stuart” Rinehart Stewart ‘66 at this year’s Alumnae Weekend Memorial Chapel Service.
Please note: If we have inadvertently omitted anyone, please contact us at gfsalum@gfs.org.
Elkin Goddard Alston ’58
Alice Hackney Altstatt ’45
Joan Riley Burchenal ’43
Keith McKenrick Burdett ’64
Eleanor Seggerman Campbell ’44
Shirley Aldrich Daiger ’47
Eleanor Merryman Hardy ’61
Virginia Harrison ’60
Alison Haygood ’97
Macy Putnam Janney ’52
Ann Hinman Lilley ’47
Leola Armour Macdonald ’56
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
I N ME I N ME MOMO R I ARMI AM
Jane Douglass Major ’52
Brent Hord Malarkey ’53
Marian Farrel McAleenan ’41
Elinor Purves McLennan ’56
Katharine Miller ’70
Mary Allison Millett ’40
Marianna Mead O’Brien ’47
Linda Hambleton Panitz ’57
Susan Matthews Peltz ’65
Rosamond Dana Putsch ’56
Helen Palmer Stevens ’70
Ellen Glessner Wadsworth ’52
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Sylvia Babcock Weaver ’43 2021 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
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FROM THE ARC HI VES
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Lochinvar By Dante Beretta, Ph.D., School Archivist, Upper and Middle School Latin
Originally part
of the large estate named Green Spring, the plot of land where Lochinvar resides—and for that matter, the entire GFS campus—was inherited by Ellin North Elder in 1847. The subdivided portion was a 578-acre parcel called “Green Spring Forest.” In 1903, William and Louise Page, from Denver, Colo., paid $5,900 for 13 acres of the property, along with the right to erect and maintain a residence and carriage road to the Reisterstown Turnpike. The Pages soon built a Victorian house on the property. A fire destroyed the original house in 1915, and a new, more elaborate house was built the following year. Some mystery surrounds the choice of name and style for the Pages’ rebuilt home. Despite theories that a pair of “maiden ladies who longed for their native Scotland” built Lochinvar, it is more likely that Mr. Page, who had graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and was an engineer, chose a “castle on a hill” design to reflect both the architecture of his alma mater and the insignia for the Army Corps of Engineers. The name “Lochinvar,” referring to the daring romantic hero of Sir Walter Scott’s poem “Marmion,” was used frequently at the turn of the 20th century, especially for racehorses and as a sobriquet for teenage lovers attempting daring elopements with their young bridesto-be. In Mr. Page’s 1918 Sunpapers obituary, the writer mentions that he spent “the early part of his life endearing himself by his unusual personality to a large circle of friends.” Although no information is available about Mrs. Page’s personality, one can imagine their enjoyment in constructing a fanciful yet imposing edifice that suggested both a Gothic fortress and a poetic medieval romance.
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Five years after Mr. Page’s death, Louise Page sold Lochinvar and eight acres to Henrietta Park Xanders for an estimated $30,000. Mrs. Page withheld a separate five-acre parcel upon which the Pages had built a small chapel. The deed emphatically states that the word “improvements” is not to be construed as including the chapel, which is not within the prescribed eight acres conveyed to Mrs. Xanders. Opposite the large entrance with quadruple doors was a single round-arched window that looked out into the woods. Glass windows flanked the interior. By the time of a survey for the Maryland Historical Trust in 1980, the chapel was “approaching a ruinous condition.” No traces of interior furnishings remained, but inscriptions painted in medieval letterstyle on either side of the peaked ceiling were still legible, spelling out the first lines of two children’s hymns, “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us’’ and “Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep.” Lochinvar underwent extensive decorating and refurbishing during the ownership of Henrietta and Israel Laucks Xanders. Their son and daughter-in-law, Susie Stinson Xanders Deering ’53, recalled hearing about interior changes during the early Depression years, 1931-1933. Altogether, the upgrades, which included major renovations that are still evident in the current dining room, took about two years to complete. While Lochinvar is basically a one-story house, making it perhaps the only ranch-style castle in the world, it did have second-floor housekeeper’s quarters consisting of a bedroom and bath upstairs. A second bedroom was added when the Xanders lived there. Mrs. Xanders died in 1959, and Mr. Xanders sold Lochinvar to GFS in 1964 for $85,005.
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Once the Montgomerys and their growing family took up residence
in Lochinvar, they often opened their doors to students. Lochinvar has remained the home for the Head of School, and later Heads have followed the Montgomerys’ practice of hosting students and holding GFS community events at Lochinvar. Since the Montgomery era, Lochinvar has been the venue for many types of school activities. In the 1970s, under Larry Hlavacek, informal period dramatic performances found a perfect setting both inside and outside the castle.
DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF AGGIE UNDERWOOD, Lochinvar was the scene of the annual Eighth Grade Roman Banquet, conceived by Middle School Latin teacher Joan McDonald as a way to celebrate students’ completion of Middle School. Draped in ancient garb, students hosted faculty and served an array of delectable dinner dishes, followed by dessert and a dancing performance.
a Grizzly as a Third Grader in 1998. She invited her classmates to a sleepover birthday party at Lochinvar, and, according to her mom, Peggy, “The kids were scared to death to misbehave so it was an easy party for us to host!” The Class of 1999 yearbook photo on Lochinvar steps presaged the tradition of the “100 Days” Senior photo with the class dressed entirely in white.
Sources: Maryland Land Records (mdlandrec.net); Baltimore Sun, Obituary for William Page, 9/20/1918; Melissa Allen, “Lochinvar” (unpublished paper, 1988)
The 2004 prom
was held at Lochinvar, and by 2010 it became the regular venue for this rite of passage for Juniors and Seniors.
LOCHINVAR
Peter and Peggy O’Neill’s daughter Cara became
When Chris and Farida Hughes
moved onto campus, they continued the tradition of hospitality at Lochinvar, regularly hosting faculty, staff and students for various events throughout the year, including a traditional haunted house—with a “Spooky Nook” for younger Grizzlies—for GFS students. During the pandemic, the grounds of Lochinvar became a safe outdoor space to hold campus events and celebrations such as Middle School Movie Nights, Senior Sunset and the 2021 Senior Prom. 2020 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL
136 WORDS WE LIVE BY: ESSE QUAM VIDERI
A Place We Call Home By Madison Qualls ’21 June 2021
As I reflected on my time at Garrison Forest School, and especially the past year, these are the thoughts I shared with my classmates during our Commencement: Now, I do not want to be cliché and redundant and say to you how this was an “unprecedented” time, and remind you of all the hardships we as a class, as a community, as a world have faced. We do not need to be reminded, because we lived through it. We lived through the mortality, the instability, the loneliness and isolation, the injustices and more. As I was reflecting on my years at Garrison Forest, I struggled to find a word that adequately defined our class, because strong just didn’t cut it. But, then I remembered that faded blue hat sitting under my bed with the words “Got Grit?” on the front. It was given to us by Mr. O’Neill in Lower School, and who knew, almost 10 years later, it would be the defining phrase of our class. And what is grit, you ask? It’s eating lunch in the cold weather to stay as safe as possible from COVID-19. It’s playing hour-long sports games and dancing in full concerts with masks on. It’s going to singing rehearsal outside in 30-degree weather adorned with hats, gloves, scarves and blankets and it’s logging onto Zoom and attending classes at 8:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m. and even sometimes at 11:00 p.m. to learn and to see your classmates, even if you might be thousands of miles away.
We were not discouraged by the challenge of this year, and as the world was rapidly changing around us, we hunkered down and allowed our spirit and strength to remain consistent. If at any point we felt ourselves begin to waiver, we had—we have—so many people standing with us. Our teachers, advisors, coaches, dance instructors, friends, siblings, moms and dads were there to support us, to love us, and I, along with everyone in my class, are so grateful for that.
And to the Class of 2021, my friends, thank you. Thank you for always giving me something to smile for, to laugh at, and thank you for becoming my friends I know will last a lifetime. There will never be a challenge too great for our class, and how we acted this year proves that. As our paths diverge away from the Forest, I see nothing but success in all of our futures. And if we ever get a little lost along the way, we know all we have to do is backtrace our steps along that path to arrive back at Garrison, a place we call home.
GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2021
Madison Qualls ’21
Madison Qualls ’21, lives in Randallstown, Md., and has been a GFS student for 16 years. She served as president of the school for the 2020-21 school year and was a head of Black Student Alliance and Ragged Robins, a head Grizzly Guide and a senior leader of Blue Allegro, the Upper School dance company. While at GFS, she completed a 15-week internship at Johns Hopkins University in the Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she learned about Vaccinomics, the study of genes and vaccines. This year, along with Jillian Alexander ’21, she worked to introduce a Community Honor Pledge in the Upper School. Madison is now attending Princeton University.
Thank you
to our 2021 Golf & Tennis Classic Sponsors and Chairs! 2021 Chairs: Sana Naylor Brooks ’85; Julie Martin McAllister ’92, P’22 and P’26; and Chad Meyer, P’21
Presented by
LUNCH SPONSORS:
HAPPY HOUR TO GO SPONSOR:
FOREST FLEET SPONSOR:
&
Charles P. Merrick, III
HEAD’S CART SPONSOR:
DRINKS ON THE LINKS:
FedData MULLIGAN SPONSORS:
RAGGED ROBIN SPONSORS:
CORPORATE SPONSORS:
Fidelity Mechanical Services Benchmark Automation & Controls
The Blue Family BrightView Landscape Services Fireline Corporation Magnum Contracting Miles and Stockbridge Mickey Misera Palatine Painting Perdue Farms, Inc.
Carpet Works C.J. Maintenance E&F Contracting, Inc Flo-Tron Contracting, Inc Obrecht-Riehl Properties Units Moving and Portable Storage
GRIZZLY SPONSORS: Loane Bros. Tents, Rentals & Awnings Sana & Andy Brooks
UMBRELLA SPONSOR:
MERCHANDISE SPONSOR: Haymaker Promotions, LLC
Strategic Factory
IN-KIND SPONSORS: SR&B Signs by Tomorrow
Save the date for next year’s event.
Monday, April 11, 2022 Green Spring Valley Hunt Club Chairs: Kevin McAllister and Julie Martin McAllister ‘92, P’22 and P’26
Garrison Forest School 300 Garrison Forest Road Owings Mills, MD 21117
gfs.org
CONNECT WITH OUR ADMISSION OFFICE! JOIN US IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY Read about in-person campus tours and virtual events at gfs.org/visit. Or, contact us directly at admissions@gfs.org to learn more!
VIRTUAL CAMPUS TOUR Start exploring virtually now with our campus tour: gfs.org/campus-tour.
CONSIDERING APPLYING? Admission Timeline
Please remember to recycle.
Garrison Forest School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions and financial-aid policies, employment practices and other school-administered programs.
