On the cover: “A lot of kids don’t necessarily think of themselves as mathematicians,” RCS Math Specialist Josh Bookin said. “But if you can connect with them on a human, interpersonal level, you can change their self-perception, helping them see themselves as problem solvers. And I think when a child recognizes that they can solve problems, that self-recognition — and what it does to their self-esteem — that’s why I go to work. That’s why I come here. I love that.”
6
Bulletin
RIPPOWAM CISQUA SCHOOL
Rippowam Cisqua School Bulletin is published by the Advancement Office
Karin Smith, Director of Communications & Bulletin Editor
Gary Lawson, Associate Director of Communications
Melissa Mirkin, Associate Director of Advancement
Caroline Vincent Mockridge ’81, Director of Advancement Operations
Daphne Viders, Director of Development
Lane Childs ’23, Summer Intern
Credits
Design: Good Design, Deep River, Connecticut
Photography: Lori Adelsberg, Michael Bowman, Minush Krasniqi, Lila Nachbar ’24, Clio Slocum ’25, Rhonda Spevak, streetflash/Shutterstock
Printing: J.S. McCarthy, Augusta, Maine
Board of Trustees
Abby Gerry, Chair
Ben Harris, Vice Chair
Oliver Bushnell, Secretary
Charlene Sy Ryan, Treasurer
Christina Bresani
Micki Buchanan
Nancy Dwyer Eaves ’92
James Fayed
David Gordon
Page Vincent Gosnell ’79
Ex Officio
Colm MacMahon, Head of School
Harry Grand ’93
Amy Harsch
Jennifer Buntman Indig
Samuel Kopolovich
Janelle Lika
Melissa Roth Mendez
D. Bryce O’Brien
Will Reeve ’07
Peter Scala ’98
Jordan Vogel
Jose Aldeanueva, Chief Financial Officer
Erin Tedesco Hoffman, Parents Association Chair
Forrest Mas ’04, RCSAA Chair
Daphne Viders, Director of Development
RIPPOWAM CISQUA SCHOOL
Fall 2024
“Rippowam Cisqua School does Halloween like nobody else,” Head of Lower School Emily Hyland said. “There are goblins and ghosts, princesses and unicorns, vampires and bumblebees... but above all, there is a sense of community. We come together for a playful, joyful day as we celebrate creativity and build memories together. Whether through the smiling faces at the Lower School parade, the beaming voices of the first through fourth grade performance, or the laughter at the Upper School costume contest, the sense that students, faculty, and families win when we come together is palpable on days like this one.”
Message from the Head of School
One of the aspects I enjoy most about our school magazine is that anyone can read it and find both the familiar and the new. In many respects, this parallels life at our school; while we are steeped in tradition, we are consistently progressing and changing in ways that positively benefit our students.
Nowhere on campus is this positive change more evident than in our latest construction project, our dynamic new Learning Lab. As you will read on the next page, this additional space will allow us to amplify our program and will benefit all our students. Our Learning Lab will encompass over 4,400 square feet of new learning space, providing the environment that our educators require to continue providing the outstanding programming that our students deserve and families expect. This expansion will include a writing center, a math commons area, and additional classroom spaces for small group instruction. My expectation is that this will prove to be a project that enhances the school experience for generations of students, and will also help RCS continue to stand out in the independent school world.
The pages ahead also celebrate the accomplishments of our students in academics, the arts, and athletics. As has always been the case at Rippowam Cisqua School, our students are engaged in a multitude of activities, and they are performing at high levels across the board. From external recognition in writing
and photography, to highly successful sports seasons and memorable stage performances, our students are vibrantly living the life of the school in much the same manner generations of students have in the past.
But the one historical constant in both this magazine and in our school is our community; we remain incredibly fortunate to have such engaged contributors to RCS. Our Giving Impact Report and celebration of volunteers demonstrates the remarkable ways in which people are giving to the school, both financially and in their time, talent, and energy. The generosity of our community remains a hallmark of this institution, and is something for which we are tremendously grateful. We simply could not accomplish all we do for our students without your help.
I invite all of you — alumni, parents of alumni, and friends — to return to campus and see everything that is happening. Our history matters a great deal to us, and the stories of your time at RCS shape who we are and what we do. So please, come back and say hello.
All my best,
Colm MacMahon Head of School
The RCS Learning Lab: Building a
Space to Match Our Curriculum
Rippowam Cisqua School’s new Learning Lab is well underway! Construction began in June on a writing center, a two-story math commons area, and additional classrooms and workshop space. By the end of October, concrete, steel beams, and wooden framing were beginning to clearly define the space.
But the Learning Lab structure isn’t all there is to the project, scheduled to be completed next summer. Almost two years ago, RCS assembled a team of educators who were asked to consider how the new Learning Lab would best be used.
The RCS Learning Lab Team
Erin Callaghan P’24, ’27, Assistant Head of School
Catie Bertoncin P’29, ’32, Director of Professional Development, Co-Director of Academic Support
Josh Bookin, Math Specialist
Miles Cameron ’93, P’26, ’28, ’30, Director of Innovation, Art Teacher
Emily Hyland P’28, ’31, ’34, Head of Lower School
Sarah McCay, English Chair, Upper School English Teacher
Jennie Prince P’27, ’31, Grade 1 Teacher
Kristin Sammeta P’30, ’34, Co-Director of Academic Support
The team worked closely with KG+D Architects in the building’s early planning stages, and now, they are visiting other independent schools around the country, researching how we can make the Learning Lab an integral part of the RCS experience.
The Math Lab balcony (top photo) and Math Commons with balcony in the background (below)
This aerial photo was taken by Michael Bowman on October 25.
Josh Bookin traveled to the California Bay Area in October.
“From my travels, the one word that encompasses my experience is affirmation,” Josh Bookin said. “In seeing how other schools have implemented Learning Labs, it is clear to me that the space we are building will further the levels of engagement and rigor that characterize our academic program. As a math specialist, I am incredibly excited to design a new space that will not only address the mathematical needs of our students, but also engage and propel their understanding and abilities forward with best teaching practices ever in mind. A true hub for learning, this space will welcome new opportunities for our students to expand their mathematical thinking in new and exciting ways.”
In December, Emily Hyland and Catie Bertoncin will meet with educators in the Mid-Atlantic states.
“The program at Ripp is a remarkable testament to what can happen when dedicated teachers use best practices to put forth a robust and dynamic program to meet their students’ needs and push them forward,” Emily Hyland said. “With additional dedicated spaces for focused instruction in math, writing, and interdisciplinary projects and beyond, the Learning Lab will only further amplify our faculty’s ability to stretch, support, and challenge every one of our RippKids. We could not be more excited to get to work!”
Catie Bertoncin added, “The purpose of our Learning Lab above all else is to create a space that fully captures the strength of the people and program we have cultivated for our students and faculty at Ripp. Additional dedicated spaces will provide us with the opportunity to engineer more experiences that directly support our mission to create independent thinkers, confident communicators, and engaged leaders. After many years of dreaming, bringing a project of this scale and importance to fruition inspires a tremendous sense of pride, gratitude, and possibility in the hearts of our faculty and students. Endless possibilities await, and we look forward for what’s next!”
In January, Sarah McCay and Jennie Prince will travel to peer schools in the Northeast.
“I am beyond excited about the possibilities of our Learning Lab,” Jennie Prince said. “Our elementary school students are embarking on their journey of becoming lifelong learners, and to have access to a space where students’ individual needs can be beautifully met is a gift. This will be a space for inspiration, reflecting the important work the students are undertaking. The teachers in the Lower School are proud of our curriculum, and we are excited to bring our emerging readers and mathematicians into this extraordinary setting that fosters creativity and curiosity.”
“The true excitement of the Learning Lab lies in the possibilities it creates for building lifelong learners,” Kristin Sammeta said. “This dedicated space for collaboration across grade levels, problem-solving through projects, and thinking creatively about content generates even more opportunities for us to build confident communicators and independent thinkers. We can’t wait to embark upon this next chapter.”
Josh Bookin, Math Specialist
Catie Bertoncin, Director of Professional Development, Co-Director of Academic Support
Emily Hyland, Head of Lower School
Sarah McCay, English Chair, Upper School English Teacher
Jennie Prince, Grade 1 Teacher
Welcome to RCS
Carrie
Coffee Director of Admissions
When I shared with my sister that I was having conversations about a role in the RCS Admissions Office, she reminded me of our high school drives, where we often dreamed of working in admissions. Our favorite days were spent touring prospective families at our all-girls high school in Monterey, California. As a senior, I became a head tour guide, spending my free periods welcoming families and sharing what made our school unique.
After high school, I attended the University of Washington in Seattle and
launched a career in advertising and digital media. At just 22, I found myself in an industry filled with smart, creative people, working for startups and big companies including Microsoft, Snapchat, and Stripe. The most pivotal opportunity was one that brought me from California to New York City to lead a sales team in the greatest city in the world.
I met my husband, Joe Ziemer, moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and quickly fell in love with the East Coast’s four seasons. After over a decade of letting my career take precedence, we settled in Brooklyn, and I began prioritizing a future with Joe and a family.
In 2022, while I was pregnant with our second child, Alice, we casually toured a home in Pound Ridge. This new phase of our lives began to take shape unexpectedly. Our admissions tour at RCS answered the question, “Is this the right next step for us?”
Rippowam Cisqua School and its community have transformed our lives. My daughter, Lola, now in Kindergarten, eagerly skipped to the Early Childhood House to high-five Tony and Mrs. Finch each day. The art classes, performances, and “big playground days” surpassed any other experience, and Joe made it a
Jose Aldeanueva Chief Financial Officer
I am delighted to join Rippowam Cisqua School. As a longtime local resident, I have known about RCS for many years, and now, it’s a pleasure to become part of this vibrant community. I am particularly grateful for the warm welcome from the School’s parents, faculty, and staff.
I have been very impressed by the students at RCS — by their talent and their dedication, and pointedly, by how kindly they treat one another. Equally
impressive are the faculty members who work with them every day to make this magic happen across all the grades.
From my perch on the second floor of the Ninth Grade House, I get to see it all come together in class and during recess — certainly a highlight of my days at RCS! These experiences make my role as CFO, focused on the business management and financial sustainability of RCS, particularly enjoyable and meaningful.
priority to be present for drop-off during the week. We are truly grateful for the warmth and support of this community.
Today, I am humbled to sit in the Admissions Office, meeting families and community partners who have cherished RCS for years. I am excited to welcome new families searching for the right fit for their children. The educational opportunities in our area are robust, and our children are growing up in a vastly different world than we did. The RCS faculty and community care deeply about our children, our world, and our future. Students are treated as individuals, encouraged to thrive and explore in a nurturing environment that fosters their growth.
RCS embodies excellence in both faculty and facilities, developing confident communicators and independent leaders. This next chapter in my career is dedicated to our families, and I look forward to strengthening these partnerships as we shape the future of our school and our kids.
See you on campus!
Carrie Coffee Director of Admissions
How Do We Show Off Our School in Two Hours?
We’ve all seen the lawn signs and ads — it seems like every school in the area holds an admissions open house on the same October weekend. So how do we ensure Rippowam Cisqua School stands out from the crowd? It takes weeks of careful preparation, with one goal in mind: giving prospective parents a clear sense of what their children’s experience would be like here.
The collaboration of our faculty, staff, and students is essential in making this vision a reality, and it is what made our Open House program on October 18 a tremendous success.
When parents are choosing a school, they’re weighing a multitude of factors. Families attending open houses have children of all ages and experiences with school. It’s no small task to encapsulate the essence of who we are and address the priorities that are top of mind for parents in just two hours. Yet, that’s exactly what we hoped to do.
This year’s Open House kicked off with a welcome reception in Centennial Hall, where senior administrators warmly greeted guests. Shortly afterward, parents were guided into the Playhouse, where they not only heard from Head of School Colm MacMahon and Director of Admissions Carrie Coffee, but were also treated to a short performance by third and fourth graders. The songs, featuring several outstanding soloists and more than a few theatrical gestures and flourishes, highlighted our vibrant performing arts program in a truly compelling way. Parents were then taken on a campus tour where they observed our students engaging with teachers in their classrooms. They also had the opportunity to see our beautiful spaces and got a sense of what a typical school day looks like for our students.
The final part of our event, by all accounts, was the highlight. Parents gathered in the Library and Media Center for a student question-and-answer panel discussion. Our students were well-informed, genuine in their responses, and delightful in every way. It wouldn’t be surprising if every parent in the room thought to themselves, I want my child to be just like that!
The Open House program showcased the core elements of our mission, with students demonstrating that they are
independent thinkers, confident communicators, and engaged leaders throughout.
Parents left with smiles and laughter, some even making connections and exchanging phone numbers, and an overall sense
of what wonderful opportunities could be in store for their children. Many reached out to us afterward, eager to share their thoughts.
“Thank you for your warm welcome today,” one guest wrote. “I truly enjoyed being a part of your terrific, well-organized Open House. I especially loved the format and the points of contact with the students. Of course, the opening musical numbers were a great representation of the talent and comfort of the children on stage, but I have to say the student panel was a highlight! The kids were just delightful! They were open, informative, and oh so refreshingly honest! I loved hearing them speak about their experiences at Ripp over the years.”
For our students, it was just another day at school. However, for our guests, it was a gift to be here on this campus, surrounded by these students, teachers, and facilities. In the two days following our Open House, 65% of the attendees submitted applications for their children. We are thrilled to begin meeting the potential new families who will continue to make this community so special.
Before RCS, I spent three years as the CFO at Buckley Country Day School, a JPK–Grade 8 independent school in Roslyn, New York, where I oversaw finance and operations. My prior professional background includes over two decades of experience in banking, corporate advisory, entrepreneurship, and industrial operations. I feel very fortunate to be in a position where I can bring a broad range of perspectives to
advance the mission of RCS and play a part in its continued success.
I live in New Canaan with my wife, Adriana, and our German Shepherd, Koby. We have two grown children who are very present in our lives: Nico, who attends business school in Philadelphia, and Cristina, who works in defense in Washington, D.C.
I grew up in Madrid, Spain, and came to the U.S. to attend college at the University of Notre Dame. Naturally, I
am a lifelong fan of Real Madrid and the Fighting Irish! Beyond athletics, I enjoy nature, music, reading, and spending precious time with my family.
As I continue to settle into my role, I look forward to meeting you on campus!
Jose Aldeanueva Chief Financial Officer
2024 Scholastic Awards
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards began in 1923 as a small writing contest with a $5 prize and six winning applicants. This year, more than 110,000 teens in Grades 7–12 from across the U.S. and Canada participated in the awards, submitting nearly 340,000 works for adjudication.
The program has been credited with identifying early talent in generations of America’s cultural icons, including Truman Capote (1932), Andy Warhol (ca. 1945), Sylvia Plath (1947), and Robert Redford (1954), each of whom won the award when they were in high school.
Photographer Richard Avedon (1941) called winning his Scholastic Award “the defining moment of my life.”
Congratulations to the nine RCS middle school students who took
home Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.
RCS Writing Awards in the Hudson-to-Housatonic Region
Grace Chinchilla ’25
Silver Key, ”Guatemala,” Poetry
Sophie Slocum ’25
Honorable Mention, “Our Nest,” Poetry
Gracie Eleck ’25
Honorable Mention, “Summer,” Poetry
Clio Slocum ’25
Honorable Mention, “The Dream That Died with Her,” Poetry
Charlie Baker ’25
Honorable Mention, “The Struggle for Accessibility,” Critical Essay
Sophie Rosen ’25
Honorable Mention, “Social Media Analyzed,” Critical Essay
Guatemala
Mossy green, lemon trees
Waterfalls on top of mountains Riding with my cousins On our ATVs
On the other side, another surprise!
Música plays near la marketa
I also hear Marimba near la tienda Walking near the markets Is the buzzing of excitements
New conversations, Oh how late it is It’s time for dinner, we’re medal-winners!
Tonight it’s Lomo
Me and my cousins will feast, no?
Thank you Mom, Tias, and Abuela You mean the world to me, Lo compartiré con todas!
It’s the next day, open to a new adventure I’m in a village now Outdoors, it is never a bore
My cousins and I
Going to my grandma’s store
Buying a snack
Don’t worry We’ll come back!
Now it’s family night
We will all reunite Don’t forget Max!
From the pond, he’s running back
What a time of fun
I feel like I have achieved the long-run
See you next year
Where we will all cheer.
Don’t feel sad nor bad, I got to spend time with family
Both with my mom and dad
So many memories that will never decay
Either in a village or city The remembrance will never go away
Bedford Free Library Poetry Contest
The winners of the 2024 Bedford Free Library Poetry Contest were announced at the annual Ice Cream Social on May 22, with plenty of friends, family, and whipped cream. Congratulations to Analise Braddock ’26 for winning first place in the 13- to 18-year-old category.
Here is her winning poem.
The Fight
In shadows deep, where darkness reigns, the eternal struggle, the age-old pains.
A battle waged since time began, between the forces of good and man.
In every heart, a flicker bright, A beacon shining through the night.
Courage stands against the tide, In the face of evil, it does not hide.
With swords of justice, they march on, Brave souls against the darkness drawn.
Their faith unyielding, their spirits high, They fight for truth beneath the sky.
But evil lurks in every guise, Its whispers subtle, its cunning lies.
It preys on weakness, feeds on fear, Spreading like a virus, ever near.
Yet still, the light will never fade, In the hearts of those who’ve stayed.
For goodness blooms in the darkest hour, Its strength revealed in every flower.
Though battles lost and victories won, The war continues ‘til all is done.
But hope endures, a steadfast guide, In the eternal dance of good versus evil’s tide.
Engaged Leaders: 2024–25 Student Council
On September 27, eight new representatives were elected to the Upper School student council following passionate speeches and a vote by students and faculty. Election speeches allowed candidates to address topics that were meaningful to them and the larger school community. Common themes emerged, including student wellness, the need for additional study hall time, and longer passing periods between classes.
“The process of preparing and delivering these speeches is invaluable for middle school students’ development,” Assistant Head of School Erin Callaghan said. “It requires them to think critically about issues that matter to them, organize their thoughts clearly, and articulate their ideas with confidence. When students
have a choice over program and decisionmaking, they just feel so empowered.”
Within their first month of holding office, student council members were already at work — judging the pumpkins at the all-school Jack-o’-Lantern contest.
“It was really fun,” Julia Schulster said. “I wanted to pick everyone. I loved how students could be so creative on something as small as a pumpkin.”
Student council representatives have also been brainstorming ideas for the Learning Lab, an initiative started by last
year’s council. Their participation in this process gives them a voice in shaping their own educational experience, reinforcing the importance of student agency and responsibility. Their advisors took note of the council’s suggestions, including breakout classrooms, help with homework organization, and even cozy pillows.
We are incredibly proud of all the candidates for their dedication, creativity, and commitment to improving our school community, and we look forward to seeing the great work they will accomplish!
The 2024–25 Upper School student council representatives are (top row, left to right) Grade 5 reps Julia Schulster and Daisy Swansburg, Grade 6 reps Gabby Jones and Charlotte Kenny, (bottom row, left to right) Grade 7 reps Knox Eaves and Poppy Mitchell, and Grade 8 reps James Butkiewicz and Renee Charles.
Friday Night Lights 2024
It takes a village to pull together our community welcome event each fall. Seeing our students, parents, faculty, and alumni on Meyers Fields is the greatest homecoming we could ask for. And we couldn’t have done it without you.
Bucks for Trucks: Kristy and Jim Clark • Stefani Scamardo-Haynes and Warren Haynes • Alexis Gevanter and Robert Gould
Fun and Games: Amy and Brett Harsch • Charlene and Daniel Ryan ’93
Fuel the Fire: Heather Williams-Avior and Tal Avior • Liz and Sasha Eysymontt • Jennifer Tedesco-Fayed and James Fayed • Lizzie and Will Gahagan • Laura and Ingo Stork genannt Wersborg
Dance with the DJ: Robyn Baldwin and Thomas Baldwin III • Tatjana and David Darmanovic • Sidne Koenigsberg and Robert Dumitrescu ’96 • Kelly Koyama-Garcia and Dalmau Garcia • Rahaleh Nassri and Thomas Hornbaker • Jilian and Christopher Minton • Allyson and Chris Pachios • Barbara and Brian Rees • Natasha and Matthew Robinson
General Underwriting: Jamie Schenk-Allyn and Anani Allyn • Betsy and Chris Ayala ’93 • Christina and Martin Bernstein • Lindsay Schindler and Aaron Byron • Ariel Flores and Colin Carlton • Patreece and Patrick Creegan • Susan Huntington-Davila and Paul Davila • Bianca and Daniel Harris • Charlotte and Samuel Jackson • Lauren and Evan Machowsky ’99 • Sarah and Scott Moody • SAGE Dining Services • Jennifer and James Vellano • Kathryn and Corey Wrinn
Event Committee: Kim Baranowski • Micki Buchanan • Emily Bushnell • David Oliver Cohen • David Crescenzi • Alexandra Fisher ’99 • Jessica Capshaw Gavigan • Jess Halfnight • Sara Haydock • Chiara Kershaw • Vanessa Khachane ’99 • Kelly Koyama-Garcia • Alexandra Lawrence ’97 • Melissa Mayer • Mike Mayer • Simone Melnick • Melissa Roth Mendez • Lauren Minear • Lyn Reardon • Liz Rini • Jamie Schenk-Allyn • Liane Slocum • Beth Snyder • Marie Walsh • Zan Young
Cornhole Captains: John Abraham • Will Haydock ’98 • Mike Struble • Joe Ziemer
Field Game Captains: Katy Foley • Jillian Gumbel • Jermaine Moure ’96
Financial Overview
In the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2024, you and 548 parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends contributed $4,500,000 in philanthropy to Rippowam Cisqua School. These contributions stand as a resounding endorsement of the school’s mission to enrich the lives of our students, faculty, staff, and the wider community. Through your unwavering support, we have created innovative programs and transformative experiences that empower our students with the essential tools and confidence to flourish, thrive, and succeed.
Dear Friends,
As I look through our long list of supporters and reflect on the past year, I’d like to share how deeply grateful I am for your generous time, talent, and treasure, which makes an immediate and lasting difference. When you contribute to the lives of our students and teachers, you directly foster the vibrant and nurturing learning environment that can be felt daily in the hallways and around campus at RCS. The relationships between faculty, staff, students, and parents — built on trust, care, and individualized attention — are the heart of what makes our school so special. Our faculty engage closely with each student, guiding them not only academically but also in their personal growth. Your exceptional commitment time and again allows us to continue providing these transformational experiences. Thank you for all the ways in which you care for us and help us thrive.
Warmly,
Daphne Viders Director of Development
Thank you for your generosity!
It is with great appreciation that we thank our donors. Every gift received, regardless of the size, helps sustain us. Your philanthropy has an immediate impact here that is felt not only today but for years to come.
Pacesetters
$50,000 and above
Anonymous
Anonymous
Kristy and James Clark
Abby and Lloyd Gerry
Amy and Brett Harsch
Elisabeth and Matthew Mitchell
Frank Richardson
The Richardson Foundation
Lisa Pagliaro Selz ’66 and Bernard Selz
The Selz Foundation, Inc.
Christina Bresani and Michael Struble
Annica van Starrenburg
Daniel van Starrenburg
Benefactors
$25,000–$49,999
Kirtley and Seth Cameron ’88
The Andrew K. Dwyer Foundation
Cindy and Andrew Dwyer
Melissa and Greg Fleming
Peter Freund ’91
Laura and Benjamin Harris
Stefani Scamardo-Haynes and Warren Haynes
Jennifer and Chaim Indig
Lyndsay Caleo Karol and Fitzhugh Karol
Pam and William Michaelcheck
Samantha and Bryce O’Brien
Allyson and Chris Pachios
Charlene and Daniel Ryan ’93
Lynnette Sodha
Ann Jackson and Ken Wilson
Leaders
$15,000–$24,999
Kelly and Richard Coles
Sharon and Ricky Dhall
Jessica Capshaw Gavigan and Christopher Gavigan
Jillian and Andrew Lam
Dorothy and Cliff Lanier
Janelle and A.J. Lika
Tyler and Schuyler Perry
Daphne and Zachary Viders
Brooke and Jordan Vogel
Sponsors
$10,000–$14,999
Jessica Behm
Caitlin and John Bourne
Emily and Oliver Bushnell
Jessica and David Crescenzi
Nancy Dwyer Eaves ’92 and Joshua Eaves
Ariel and Douglas Frankel
Elizabeth and William Gahagan
Cecily Fowler Grand ’65 and Gordon Grand
Jane Wilson Hall ’94 and Timothy Hall
Angelina and Monte Lipman
Sandra Lloyd
Lauren and Robert Minear
Payson and Grant Murray
Gucci and David Neville
Jaime and Jeffrey Overman
Karen and Michael Pray
Rose Foundation
Nicola and James Stephenson
Carolina and Thomas White
Patrons
$5,000–$9,999
Jacklyn and Stephen Alfano
American Securities Foundation
Bank of America
Sonja and Jim Bartlett
Kierstin Nagle Crane ’01 and George Crane
Sidne Koenigsberg and Robert Dumitrescu ’96
Elizabeth and Alexander Eysymontt
Jocelyn and George Eysymontt
Lauren and Todd Feinman
Marshall Field
The Marshall and Jamee Field Family Fund
Emily and Murray Fisher
Jaclene and Benjamin Ginnel ’95
Sandra Saiger and Roger Goldman
Marisha Pessl and David Gordon
W. Macy Johnson ’65
Yulia Pak and Samuel Kopolovich
Jesse Libby ’98
Lauren Saiger Machowsky ’99 and Evan Machowsky
Kara and Colm MacMahon
Courtney Hallock McGinnis ’88 and Michael McGinnis
Melissa and Gerardo Mendez
Christy Counts and Ben Morton
Kimberly and Evan Page
Consuelo and Seth Pierrepont
Seth L. and Consuelo W. Pierrepont
Family Foundation
Wenche and Harold Reinstein
Natasha and Gregory Rutherford
Meredith and Peter Scala ’98
Melissa and Robert Schyberg
The C.F. Roe Slade Foundation
Sara and Joshua Slocum
Heidi and Richard Sontag
Consuelo and Russell Spitler
Monica and Benjamin Stolbach
Nancy and Roger Strong
Sarah Strong ’09
Strong Foundation of New York
Lauren and McLain Ward ’91
Henry E. and Consuelo S. Wenger Foundation, Inc.
Nina W. Werblow Charitable Trust
Lindsay and Jordan Zaken
Partners
$2,500–$4,999
Catherine Derby-Bishop and Matt Bishop
BlackRock, Inc.
Alexandra Fribourg and Robert Brady
Brittany Bromley
Matthew Bromley
Brett and Miles Cameron ’93
Cristi Andrews and David Oliver Cohen
Mallorie and Daniel Corcoran
Abby and Michael DeGregorio
Elizabeth Cowan and Anil Fernando
Alexandra Fisher ’99
Jennifer Grossman and Daniel Fuchs
Jane and Antreas Ghazarossian
William Graustein ’60
Chrissie and Kit Hanson
Sara and William Haydock ’98
Rahaleh Nassri and Thomas Hornbaker
Charlotte and Sam Jackson
Eliza Waterman Keegan ’96 and Brendan Keegan
Your Impact Inspires Us
Thanks to your unwavering generosity to the 2023–24 Annual Fund, we successfully surpassed all our financial goals:
Current family participation is 96%.
Alumni participation is over 135 individuals and families.
Countless parents of alumni, faculty, staff, grandparents, and friends joined us this past school year.
Your gifts fuel our mission and serve as a direct investment in:
Purposeful recruitment and retention of exceptional faculty and staff
Academic excellence and innovation
Vibrant visual and performing arts programs
Competitive athletics programs
State-of-the-art technology
Intentional professional development
Enduring commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
Thank you for:
Your enthusiasm, perseverance, and kindness, which you demonstrate in so many ways
Your time and dedication
Helping us achieve these outstanding results
Your gifts to the Annual Fund, endowed and designated gifts, and capital contributions make greatness possible at RCS.
PACESETTERS
$50,000 and above BENEFACTORS
$25,000–$49,999 LEADERS
$15,000–$24,999 SPONSORS
$10,000–$14,999
PATRONS
$5,000–$9,999
PARTNERS
$2,500–$4,999 MEMBERS
$1,000–$2,499
FRIENDS Up to $999 TOTAL $4,500,000
Partners
$2,500–$4,999 continued
Vanessa Goldstein Khachane ’01 and Avi Khachane
Deena and Benjamin Kur
Kristle and Travis O’Brien
Rockefeller Capital Management
Rebecca and Alexander Rose
Jack T. Sinnott
Addie Lane and Jeremy Sisto
Alexandra and Jason Stull
Alison and Andrew Todd
Kendrick Wilson ’04
Members
$1,000–$2,499
Ashley and Vincent Andrews
Heather Williams-Avior and Tal Avior
Susie and Sam Aybar
Baird Foundation, Inc.
Michaela and Skip Beitzel
Nilda Taveras and John Belizaire
Barbara Bluestone
Cormac Bluestone ’93
Anna Wickes and Andrew Brodie
Brinley Burdick ’16
Colby Burdick ’10
Hannah Burdick ’14
Kendall Burdick ’14
Sarah Burdick ’08
Walton E. Burdick and Mary T. Burdick
Family Foundation
Betsy and Dort Cameron III
Claudine and Jonathan Childs
Carolyn and Whylen Cooper
Mary and Robert Cordero
Frederic R. Coudert Foundation
Cynthia Coudert ’81
Mary and Jeff Cox ’80
Tatjana and Mihailo Darmanovic
Catherine and Andrew de Montille
Carolina and Neil Desai
Dare and Tom Elliott
Justin Fagan
Alice and Jon Flint
Katy and Gifford Foley ’95
Alice You and Thomas Foley
GHK Capital Partners LP
Google
Sandra Coudert Graham ’83
Emily and Harry Grand ’93
Ilene and Mark Grossman
Anne Hill
Jewish Communal Fund
Paul Kessel
Morris & Jeanette Kessel Fund
Judy and Walter Kirkland
Adele Lawrence Knight ’10
Kellie and Brian Lakamp
Brooke and Scott Law
Daisy Lawrence ’17
George Lawrence ’16
Phipps Lawrence ’14
Jill and Philip Lawrence ’80
Natasha Moore and Brian Lombardi
Julie and Sean Lonergan
Deanna Berg and Ian MacLean
Gina Magill
Jim Magill
Rima and Brett Marschke
MasterCard
Claire and Justin McEvily
Michelle Anne Cruz and Timothy McLaughlin
Meek Foundation
Nina Meek ’71
Simone and Jed Melnick
Katie and Tyler Miller
Shirar and Richard Mugler III
Cindy and Maury Pagés
Jessica Fisher and Andrew Urkowitz
Denise and Alastair Valentine
Jennifer and James Vellano
Melissa and Roger Vincent Jr. ’88
Nancy and Roger Vincent Sr. ’59
Marie and Timothy Walsh
Shirley and Samuel Wells
Pam and Thomas White
Gloria and Gary Wisemiller
Anne Becker and Randy Wolfe
Katie and Corey Wrinn
Alexandra and Matthew Young
Marina and Rus Yusupov
Joane and Mitchell Zuckerman
Friends Up to $999
Sarah and Jonathan Abraham
Lori and Marc Adelsberg
Fatema Albader
Jamie Schenk-Allyn and Anani Allyn
Paramount Communications Fdn.
Will Reeve ’07
Elizabeth Langel and James Rini
Deborah Robbins
Bonnie Robins
Jillian Gumbel and William Robins
Burke Ross
E. Burke Ross Jr. Trust
Kim and Andrew Sagor
Jennifer and Michael Sicard
Kellie and Michael Sirignano Jr. ’97
Patsy Smith
Patricia M. and H. William Smith Jr. Foundation
Lauren Gonzalez Stone and Rob Stone (d)
Teal Pond Foundation
Angie Angier
Caroline Aronowitz
Thomas Artabane
Betsy and Chris Ayala ’93
Marc Ayala ’01
Alexandra and Carson Baker
Anne Meier and Dax Baker
Tricia and James Baker ’87
Reggie Baxter
Diane Belkevich
Caitlyn and Kevin Bertoncin
Jennifer Montgomery Bethlenfalvay ’65
Kristina Bianco ’05
Amy Parsons ’76 and Paul Bird
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
Olivia and Larry Blau
Friends
Up to $999 continued
Jennifer and Michael Block
Joshua Bookin
Emily Keiter Bowler ’96
Michael Bowman
Katherine and Robert Boyd ’75
Analise Braddock ’26
Carrie Brandt
Frances Denny and Joshua Brau
John Broderick
Sengdaian Rasichanh and Ryan Brodeur
Joanna and Jordan Brooks
Jessica Williams and David Brown
Boden Bubb ’22
Victoria Lins and Brian Bubb
Beryl Buchanan
Micki and Howard Buchanan (d)
Melissa Buell
Kim and Tom Bumbolow
Suzanne and Mark Callaghan
Bev and Mike Cappeto
Courtney Carbone
Mai and Chris Carlucci
Alice Carter ’68
Melissa Cavaliere
Katie and Britton Chambers
Annette Chappelle
Brooke Baxter and Wood Chatham
Lissa and Robert Cherubini
Donna and John Cirocco
Paige MacDonald Clarke ’01 and Garrett Clarke
Cassie Robbins and Thomas Clayton
John Cobb ’58
Yvonne Cognac
Ellen Sluder Cohen ’92 and Stephen Cohen
Corbin Coles ’19
Theodore Coles ’21
Andrew Coletti
Louisa Polos Condon ’01 and Logan Condon
Amy Conley
James Scott Cook ’54
Julie and Brett Cooper
Jennifer and Timothy Corcoran
Kristen Minor and Nathan Corser ’76
Storrs Lamb Coté ’79
Cheryl and Gerald Coyle
Patreece Williams Creegan and Patrick Creegan
Jim Crescenzi
Belle Crowell ’21
Wilson Crowell ’23
Elizabeth and Wyatt Crowell
Sara Crabtree-Crowley and Christopher Crowley
Seth Cunningham ’69
Lucas Curran
Stephanie Gentile and John D’Amico
Susie and Bob Danziger
Linda Dare
Cortney and Brian Davies
Susannah Davies ’11
Susan Huntington-Davila and Paul Davila
Rebecca and Paul D’Elia
Lisa DellAccio
Juliette Dellorusso
Valerie Dellorusso
Ron DeVito
Taylor Ebeling
Peter Ehrlich Jr. ’70
Jessica Franchino-Elder and Josh Elder
Brooks and Donald Eleck Jr.
Envestnet
Rosuara Nuñez and Gerald Erasme
Kate and Steven Ezell
Jane and Ken Faller
Caroline and Tim Falzone
Ryan and Ernie Fargnoli
Jenna Farr
Daisy Fauver ’16
Lily Fauver ’14
Tracy and Scott Fauver
Lucky and Kumu Fernando
Kim Baranowski and Paul Feuer
Nancy Finch
Kendall and Jason Fischer ’00
Deborah and Patrick Fisher
Linda and Roger Fisher
Rebecca O’Brien and Isaac Flattau
April Foley
Lisa and William Fornara
Lucius Fowler ’71
Cathryn Franchino
Diane and Tony Frasca
Madeline Galbraith ’16
Regina Gallary
Kelly Koyama-Garcia and Dalmau Garcia
Christian Garnett
Emily Gifford
Carolyn and Parker Gilbert Jr.
Kate and Daniel Ginnel ’71
Evemarie Giorgi
Christy and Michael Glynn
Page Vincent Gosnell ’79 and Arthur Gosnell
Jeffrey Grandy ’81
Tracy Grant
Carol and David Greenwald
Peter Greer ’50
William Greve ’17
Deirdre and Benjamin Grosscup
Annabel Grunebaum ’12
Charlotte Grunebaum ’14
Patricia and George Grunebaum
Sebastian Grunebaum ’11
Karina and Dave Guiteau
Julia and Jose Gutierrez
Cameron Hackett ’17
Sefita and Kerby Halaifonua
Jessica and James Ashlin Halfnight
Robbin Halfnight
Nicholas Hall-Risko ’09
Liz and Peter Hallock ’92
John M. Ham II
Anne Davidson Hardy ’70 and David Hardy
Joyia Goss-Harrington and Damon Harrington
Natalie Harrington ’13
Ashley and Teddy Harrington
Adelaide Herkert Harris ’72 and William Harris Jr.
Edward Haskell ’87
Martha Hennig
Joanna Hepworth
Allyson Montana and Nathaniel Hill
Michelle and Roger Hodge
Erin Tedesco Hoffman and Aaron Hoffman
Heather Clark and Nathan Holcomb
Megan Honey
Verna and Robert Hopkins
Bonnie and Geoff Horn
Sunitha and Geoffrey Howard
Emily and John Hyland
Laura and James Jaffe
Renee and Jamarr Jones
Susan Hockaday and Maitland Jones Jr. ’51
Andrea and Stephen Jones
Jones, Lang & LaSalle
Emily Lucas and Kenneth Jordan
Jordan Kanegis ’11
Nellie and Nicholas Kapur
Elizabeth Kast
Kristy and Brian Kearney
Amy Kaprelian and Patrick Kelleher
Danielle Cylich and Kevin Kennedy
Michelle and Peter Kenny
Chiara and Charles Kershaw
Sadia Ahmed and Ali Khan
Suzanne and Robert Kirkpatrick
Diana and Loring Knoblauch Jr.
Jessica Knopke
Susanne and Kenneth Kotowski
Lindsay Kroll
Deon and Vincent Kwarula
Veronica Segall and Miguel Kychenthal
Lindsay and Oscar la Fleur
Alix Johnston LaMotte ’92 and Gardner LaMotte
Heather and Anthony Langham
Lainie Zades and Michael LaVacca
Alexandra White Lawrence ’97 and William Lawrence
Gary Lawson
Virginia and Nick Leibold
Frederick Leonhardt ’71
Ellen and James Levenson
Nicole and Josh Levy
Hope Lika
Shirley Lindefjeld
Polly Linden ’83
Lois and Kenneth Lippmann
Jennipher and Joseph Lombardo
Dahiana Salazar and Carlos Londono
Amanda Lopez
Alexa Madrid ’18
Nico Madrid ’17
Sara Malekzadeh
Michelle Dobson and David Mallamud
Chase Mattison ’21
Hank Mattison ’18
Edward Mattison ’16
Dorothy and Edward Mattison
Melissa and Michael Mayer
Leslie Mayo-Smith and William Mayo-Smith ’71
Sarah McCay
Karen McFarlane
Wendy and Frederick McGaffey
Diana and AJ Merlucci
Microsoft Matching Gifts Program
Hope Mihailovich
Jocelyn Low Miller ’73
Rachel Cooke Mills ’84
Melissa Mirkin
Caroline Vincent Mockridge ’81 and Oscar Mockridge IV
Mondelez International
John Montgomery ’72
Sarah and William Scott Moody
Morgan Stanley
Sophia Morton
Elizabeth Mossman
Cindy and Jermaine Moure ’96
Erin Callaghan and Michael Nachbar
Rachel and Curtis Nagle ’97
Ruth (d) and William Neary
Stephanie and James Newhouse
Lakeya Graves Newton ’04
Heather Norberto
Silvia and Stephen Ohler ’66
Jay Oliver
Holly O’Neill-Melville
Cassandra Sperry Ordway ’77
Alicia and Stuart Orrick
Anela Djukic and Iran Ortiz
Katharine Smith Overlock ’64
Harold Pachios
Luanne Pachios
Marlene Paltrow ’78
Carolyn and George Papanicolaou
Parkway Exterminating Co., Inc.
Danielle DeMaio and Michael Paskin
Julie Bacon and Luther Peacock
Franco Pedicini
Min and Evangelos Pefanis
Peter Pell Jr. ’92
Marie Peña
Leslie and Tristan Perich ’97
Katie and Christopher Perry
Felicia Peterson
Devon Piekarz
Ellen and David Port
Seymour Preston Jr. ’58
Lolly Prince
Jennifer and Robin Prince
Alden Finch Prouty ’57
Nicole and Scott Putorti
Natalie and Whit Rawlinson
Lyn and William Reardon
Lisa Reda
Barbara and Brian Rees
Kate Birnbaum Regan ’93 and Michael Regan
Ellen and Eric Reimer ’73
Nancy Richardson
James Righter ’50
Jean Robertson ’65
Natasha and Derick Robinson Jr.
Gavin Robinson
Natasha and Matthew Robinson
Christie Densen Root ’81
Katherine and Joshua Rosen
Krystle and Andrew Roth
Doreen Wray Roth and Douglas Roth
Louis Rousso
Carrie Rush
SAGE Dining Services, Inc.
Susan and Elliot Sagor
Kristin and Pranay Sammeta
Maureen Sanders
Samantha Sanyshyn
Sandra and Will Sargisson
Suzanne Zuckerman-Schulster and Michael Schulster
Diane and Bob Schyberg
Michelle Searle
Jennifer and Kent Sednaoui
Megan and Kevin Sheehan
Angela Ringo and Daniel Sherman
Arielle and Jonathan Sherman
Sloan and Hardwick Simmons
Melanie and Anthony Sindaco
Amanda Seibert Skinner ’03 and Jacob Skinner
Liane and James Slocum
Sharon Slocum
Karin Smith
Beth and Ryan Smith
Kirtley Mitchell and Daniel Snydacker
Beth and Joshua Snyder
Sompo International
Hollen Spain ’18
Mahaylie Spain ’15
Kimberly and Douglas Speegle
Edwina Van Winkle Sperling ’61
Ridley Sperling ’93
Emily Stamm
Susan and Lawrence Sterne
Virginia McIntyre and John Stevens
Albert Stickney III
Adam Stockman
Tess Finnigan-Allen and Owen Strock
Creisa Llodrat-Subin and Joshua Subin
Missy Swan
Happy Menocal ’95 and John Swansburg
Rachel Sztul
Ana and Thiago Takahashi
Lisa Pao and Seth Tardiff
Jordan and Marc Tedesco
Serbesina Thaci
Chris Theriot ’82
Marilen Grosjean Tilt ’57
Andrew Toporoff ’07
Sonia and William Valentine
Lauren and Christian Vigeland
Jade and Derek Vincent
Susan Lynn and Frederick Volp
Whitney and Thomas Voûte
Jaclyn Vroman
Linda Weyant
Margaret Green Wheeler ’71 and Mark Wheeler
Talene and Julian White
Phyllis Williams
Jody and H.A. Wilmerding
Laura and Michael Wrinn
Michael Wyman ’73
Alice Wyman and Peter Wyman ’72
Pennie and Richard Young
Tracy Young ’82
Emma Zachary
Nora Zahner
Kvetoslava Mizerova and Juraj Zahorjan
Lindsay and Bryan Zaremba
Jennifer and Gordon Ziegler III
Carrie Coffee and Joseph Ziemer
Mary Brendler and Slim Zouaoui
Corporate Matching and Foundation Gifts
Many gifts are doubled through corporate matching gift programs. RCS appreciates the effort of those contributors who secured matching gifts for our school this year. If you work for a company that matches gifts or have access to a matching gift through a spouse, board member, or retiree, please obtain a matching gift form from your company and fill out our online form when you make your gift. Matching gifts are credited toward your personal gift to RCS.
Have questions? Call (914) 244-1293
Does your company match gifts? Check www.rcsny.org/matchinggifts
Foundations and Corporations
American Securities Foundation
Baird Foundation, Inc.
Bank of America
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
BlackRock, Inc.
Frederic R. Coudert Foundation
The Andrew K. Dwyer Foundation Envestnet
The Marshall and Jamee Field Family Fund
GHK Capital Partners LP
Google
Jewish Communal Fund
Jones, Lang & LaSalle
Morris & Jeanette Kessel Fund
Meek Foundation
Microsoft Matching Gifts Program
Mondelez International
Morgan Stanley
Paramount Communications Foundation
Parkway Exterminating Co., Inc.
Seth L. and Consuelo W. Pierrepont
Family Foundation
PNC Matching Gifts
Rockefeller Capital Management
Rose Foundation
SAGE Dining Services, Inc.
The Selz Foundation, Inc.
The C.F. Roe Slade Foundation
Patricia M. and H. William Smith Jr. Foundation
Teal Pond Foundation
Henry E. and Consuelo S. Wenger Foundation, Inc.
Nina W. Werblow Charitable Trust
Gifts in Kind
We deeply appreciate those who went above and beyond in hosting events that fostered an ongoing sense of community within our school by generating warmth and goodwill.
Jessica Behm
Nilda Taveras and John Belizaire
Brett and Miles Cameron
Kristy and Jim Clark
Jessica and David Crescenzi
Lizzie and Will Gahagan
Tracey and Scott Gerber
Abby and Lloyd Gerry
Sara and Will Haydock ’98
Michelle and Pete Kenny
Kellie and Brian Lakamp
Alexandra White Lawrence ’97 and William Lawrence
Claire and Justin McEvily
Elisabeth and Matthew Mitchell
Payson and Grant Murray
Erin Callaghan and Michael Nachbar
Tyler and Schuyler Perry
Consuelo and Russell Spitler
Christina Bresani and Michael Struble
Daphne and Zachary Viders
Zan and Matt Young
Current Parents
We are so fortunate to have an active and engaged parent body that rises to every challenge, recognizing the vital importance of annual giving. Rippowam Cisqua School triumphed this year, and the success of our Annual Fund was a testament to the incredible strength and generosity of our community. The Annual Fund is a cornerstone in support of our mission. We are grateful and proud to share a participation rate of an impressive 96% and extend a sincere thank you to each and every family who supported our school, playing a critical role in maintaining so many aspects of the RCS experience.
Annual Fund Chairs
Micki Buchanan
Kelly Coles
Harry Grand ’93
Amy Harsch
Early Childhood Leaders
Elizabeth Langel
Peter Scala ’98
Lower School Leaders
Will Gahagan
Sam Kopolovich
Janelle Lika
Upper School Leaders
Schuyler Perry
Tom White
Faculty and Staff Leaders
Alexandra Baker
Brooks Eleck
Tony Frasca
Sara Malekzadeh
Hope Mihailovich
Jay Oliver
Annual Fund Ambassadors
Caitlin Bourne
David Crescenzi
Abby DeGregorio
Alexandra Fisher ’99
Deborah Fisher
Ariel Flores
Ariel Frankel
Tracy Grant
Kelly Koyama-Garcia
Jermaine Moure ’96
Kristle O’Brien
Kim Sagor
Alison Todd
Grade 9 (90%)
Class of 2024
Angie Angier
Anne Meier and Dax Baker
Kim and Thomas Bumbolow
Julie and Brett Cooper
Brooks and Donald Eleck Jr.
Ryan and Ernest Fargnoli
Kristy and Brian Kearney
Deon and Vincent Kwarula
Julie and Sean Lonergan
Kara and Colm MacMahon
Payson and Grant Murray
Erin Callaghan and Michael Nachbar
Gucci and David Neville
Cynthia and Maurcio Pagés
Jennifer and Michael Sicard
Addie Lane and Jeremy Sisto
Grade 8 (85%)
Class of 2025
Alexandra and Carson Baker
Ellen Sluder Cohen ’92 and Stephen Cohen
Sara Crabtree-Crowley and Christopher Crowley
Cortney and Brian Davies
Brooks and Donald Eleck Jr.
Christy and Michael Glynn
Kerby and Sefita Halaifonua
Laura and Benjamin Harris
Kellie Lakamp and Brian Lakamp
Alix Johnston LaMotte ’92 and Gardner LaMotte
Julie and Sean Lonergan
Sarah and Scott Moody
Ruth (d) and William Neary
Kristle and Travis O’Brien
Tyler and Schuyler Perry
Karen and Michael Pray
Kate Birnbaum Regan ’93 and Michael Regan
Natasha and Derick Robinson
Rebecca and Alexander Rose
Katherine and Joshua Rosen
Liane and James Slocum
Sara and Joshua Slocum
Beth and Ryan Smith
Denise and Alastair Valentine
Annica van Starrenburg
Daniel van Starrenburg
Brooke and Jordan Vogel
Grade 7 (91%)
Class of 2026
Kristina Ruotolo and Jesse Braddock
Catherine and Thomas Butkiewicz
Brett and Miles Cameron ’93
Cristi Andrews and David Oliver Cohen
Julie and Brett Cooper
Tatjana and Mihailo Darmanovic
Nancy Dwyer Eaves ’92 and Joshua Eaves
Rosaura Nuñez and Gerald Erasme
Jessica Capshaw Gavigan and Christopher Gavigan
Emily and Harry Grand ’93
Randy Wilson Hall ’94 and Timothy Hall
Liz and Pete Hallock ’92
Sunitha and Geoffrey Howard
Jennifer and Chaim Indig
Lindsay Kroll
Dorothy and Cliff Lanier
Jennipher and Joseph Lombardo
Gina Magill
Jim Magill
Grade 7
Class of 2026 continued
Courtney Hallock McGinnis ’88 and Michael McGinnis
Annette and Christopher McLoughlin
Katie and Tyler Miller
Natasha and Gregory Rutherford
Melanie and Anthony Sindaco
Alexandra and Jason Stull
Ana and Thiago Takahashi
Jennifer and James Vellano
Daphne and Zachary Viders
Mary Brendler and Slim Zouaoui
Grade 6 (90%)
Class of 2027
Jamie Schenk-Allyn and Anani Allyn
Alexandra and Carson Baker
Brittany Bromley
Matthew Bromley
Joanna and Jordan Brooks
Brooke Baxter and Wood Chatham
Kristy and Jim Clark
Cristi Andrews and David Oliver Cohen
Mary and Robert Cordero
Abby and Michael DeGregorio
Nancy Dwyer Eaves ’92 and Joshua Eaves
Emily and Murray Fisher
Abby and Lloyd Gerry
Karina and Dave Guiteau
Stefani Scamardo-Haynes and Warren Haynes
Allyson Montana and Nathaniel Hill
Sunitha and Geoffrey Howard
Amy Kaprelian and Patrick Kelleher
Suzanne and Robert Kirkpatrick
Lindsay and Oscar la Fleur
Kellie and Brian Lakamp
Kara and Colm MacMahon
Elisabeth and Matthew Mitchell
Erin Callaghan and Michael Nachbar
Samantha and Bryce O’Brien
Anela Djukic and Iran Ortiz
Jennifer and Robin Prince Jr.
Charlene and Daniel Ryan ’93
Suzanne Zuckerman-Schulster and Michael Schulster
Addie Lane and Jeremy Sisto
Beth and Joshua Snyder
Christina Bresani and Michael Struble
Marie and Timothy Walsh
Grade 5 (92%)
Class of 2028
Anne Meier and Dax Baker
Sengdaian Rasichanh and Ryan Brodeur
Joanna and Jordan Brooks
Kim and Thomas Bumbolow
Brett and Miles Cameron ’93
Mai and Christopher Carlucci
Jessica Franchino-Elder and Josh Elder
Brooks and Donald Eleck Jr.
Elizabeth and Alexander Eysymontt
Deborah and Patrick Fisher
Jessica Capshaw Gavigan and Christopher Gavigan
Emily and Harry Grand ’93
Amy and Brett Harsch
Allyson Montana and Nathaniel Hill
Heather Clark and Nathan Holcomb
Emily and John Hyland
Renee and Jamarr Jones
Michelle and Peter Kenny
Natasha Moore and Brian Lombardi
Michelle and David Mallamud
Sarah and Scott Moody
Cindy and Jermaine Moure ’96
Jaime and Jeffrey Overman
Tyler and Schuyler Perry
Natasha and Gregory Rutherford
Sandra and William Sargisson
Melissa and Robert Schyberg
Liane and James Slocum
Ana and Thiago Takahashi
Carolina and Thomas White
Grade 4 (95%)
Class of 2029
Jacklyn and Stephen Alfano
Jamie Schenk-Allyn and Anani Allyn
Heather Williams-Avior and Tal Avior
Nilda Taveras and John Belizaire
Caitlyn and Kevin Bertoncin
Kristy and Jim Clark
Ellen Sluder Cohen ’92 and Stephen Cohen
Catherine and Andrew de Montille
Jennifer Tedesco-Fayed and James Fayed
Katie and Giff Foley ’95
Jaclene and Benjamin Ginnel ’95
Chrissie and Kit Hanson
Joyia Goss and Damon Harrington
Jennifer and Chaim Indig
Renee and Jamarr Jones
Kristy and Brian Kearney
Lindsay and Oscar la Fleur
Gina Magill
Jim Magill
Isabel and Chris Murphy
Allyson and Chris Pachios
Carolyn and George Papanicolaou
Charlene and Daniel Ryan ’93
Suzanne Zuckerman-Schulster and Michael Schulster
Angela Ringo and Daniel Sherman
Christina Bresani and Michael Struble
Alexandra and Jason Stull
Creisa Llodrat-Subin and Joshua Subin
Happy Menocal ’95 and John Swansburg
Grade 3 (100%)
Class of 2030
Sarah and Jonathan Abraham
Brittany Bromley
Matthew Bromley
Brett and Miles Cameron ’93
Kirtley and Seth Cameron ’88
Brooke Baxter and Wood Chatham
Rebecca and Paul D’Elia
Jessica Franchino-Elder and Josh Elder
Lauren and Todd Feinman
Elizabeth and William Gahagan
Abby and Lloyd Gerry
Marisha Pessl and David Gordon
Emily and Harry Grand ’93
Laura and Benjamin Harris
Erin Tedesco Hoffman and Aaron Hoffman
Rahaleh Nassri and Thomas Hornbaker
Emily Lucas and Kenneth Jordan
Michelle and Peter Kenny
Sadia Ahmed and Ali Khan
Janelle and A.J. Lika
Deanna Berg and Ian MacLean
Christy Counts and Ben Morton
Carolyn and George Papanicolaou
Lyn and William Reardon
Wenche and Harold Reinstein
Kristin and Pranay Sammeta
Megan and Kevin Sheehan
Alison and Andrew Todd
Jessica Fisher and Andrew Urkowitz
Brooke and Jordan Vogel
Lauren and McLain Ward ’91
Carolina and Thomas White
Anne Becker and Randy Wolfe
Zan and Matt Young
Marina and Rus Yusupov
Grade 2 (100%)
Class of 2031
Jacklyn and Stephen Alfano
Catherine and Matt Bishop
Micki and Howard Buchanan (d)
Ariel Flores and Colin Carlton
Mallorie and Daniel Corcoran
Jessica and David Crescenzi
Sharon and Ricky Dhall
Justin Fagan
Kim Baranowski and Paul Feuer
Alexandra Fisher ’99
Katy and Giff Foley ’95
Jennifer Grossman and Daniel Fuchs
Kelly Koyama-Garcia and Dalmau Garcia
Christian Garnett
Jessica Capshaw Gavigan and Christopher Gavigan
Marisha Pessl and David Gordon
Sara and William Haydock ’98
Emily and John Hyland
Natasha Moore and Brian Lombardi
Lauren Saiger Machowsky ’99 and Evan Machowsky
Melissa and Michael Mayer
Melissa and Gerardo Mendez
Cindy and Jermaine Moure ’96
Isabel and Chris Murphy
Kimberly and Evan Page
Jennifer and Robin Prince Jr.
Lyn and William Reardon
Liz Langel and James Rini
Krystle and Andrew Roth
Kimberly and Andrew Sagor
Megan and Kevin Sheehan
Tess Finnigan-Allen and Owen Strock
Lisa Pao and Seth Tardiff
Lauren and Christian Vigeland
Marie and Timothy Walsh
Grade 1 (90%)
Class of 2032
Jamie Schenk-Allyn and Anani Allyn
Jessica Behm
Caitlyn and Kevin Bertoncin
Catherine and Matt Bishop
Alexandra Fribourg and Robert Brady
Emily and Oliver Bushnell
Mallorie and Daniel Corcoran
Abby and Michael DeGregorio
Carolina and Neil Desai
Sidne Koenigsberg and Robert Dumitrescu ’96
Lauren and Todd Feinman
Elizabeth Cowan and Anil Fernando
Deborah and Patrick Fisher
Ariel and Douglas Frankel
Tracy Grant
Jessica and Ashlin Halfnight
Sadia Ahmed and Ali Khan
Yulia Pak and Samuel Kopolovich
Alexandra White Lawrence ’97 and William Lawrence
Janelle and A.J. Lika
Rachel Lexier-Nagle and Curtis Nagle ’97
Gucci and David Neville
Kimberly and Andrew Sagor
Meredith Scala and Peter Scala ’98
Monica and Benjamin Stolbach
Lauren Gonzales Stone and Rob Stone (d)
Happy Menocal ’95 and John Swansburg
Jessica Fisher and Andrew Urkowitz
Anne Becker and Randy Wolfe
Kindergarten (100%)
Class of 2033
Jacklyn and Stephen Alfano
Caitlin and John Bourne
Alexandra Fribourg and Robert Brady
Frances Denny and Joshua Brau
Emily and Oliver Bushnell
Jennifer and Timothy Corcoran
Rebecca and Paul D’Elia
Susan Huntington-Davila and Paul Davila
Caroline and Tim Falzone
Kim Baranowski and Paul Feuer
Rebecca O’Brien and Isaac Flattau
Elizabeth and William Gahagan
Karina and Dave Guiteau
Nellie and Nicholas Kapur
Lyndsay Caleo Karol and Fitzhugh Karol
Michelle and Peter Kenny
Chiara and Charles Kershaw
Melissa and Michael Mayer
Michelle Anne Cruz and Timothy McLaughlin
Melissa and Gerardo Mendez
Lauren and Robert Minear
Carolyn and George Papanicolaou
Liz Langel and James Rini
Natasha and Matthew Robinson
Christina Bresani and Michael Struble
Lisa Pao and Seth Tardiff
Shirley and Samuel Wells
Katie and Corey Wrinn
Zan and Matt Young
SPK (100%)
Class of 2034
Sarah and Jonathan Abraham
Jessica Behm
Mai and Christopher Carlucci
Catherine and Andrew de Montille
Sidne Koenigsberg and Robert Dumitrescu ’96
Elizabeth Cowan and Anil Fernando
Alice You and Thomas Foley
Jennifer Grossman and Daniel Fuchs
Emily and John Hyland
Charlotte and Samuel Jackson
Kristy and Brian Kearney
Suzanne and Robert Kirkpatrick
Claire and Justin McEvily
Isabel and Chris Murphy
Amanda Siebert Skinner ’03 and Jacob Skinner
Jade and Derek Vincent
Whitney and Thomas Voûte
Carrie Coffee and Joseph Ziemer
PK (95%)
Class of 2035
Anna Wickes and Andy Brodie
Kierstin Nagle Crane ’01 and George Crane
Stephanie Gentile and John D’Amico
Marisha Pessl and David Gordon
Jessica and Ashlin Halfnight
Sara and William Haydock ’98
Emily Lucas and Kenneth Jordan
Lyndsay Caleo Karol and Fitzhugh Karol
Gina Magill
Jim Magill
Simone and Jed Melnick
Min and Evangelos Pefanis
Kristin and Pranay Sammeta
Meredith and Peter Scala ’98
Megan and Kevin Sheehan
Consuelo and Russell Spitler
Jordan and Marc Tedesco
JPK (95%)
Class of 2036
Nilda Taveras and John Belizaire
Katie and Britton Chambers
Donna and John Cirocco
JPK (95%)
Class of 2036 continued
Carolina and Neil Desai
Eliza Waterman Keegan ’96 and Brendan Keegan
Brooke and Scott Law
Alexandra White Lawrence ’97 and William Lawrence
Claire and Justin McEvily
Lauren and Robert Minear
Cindy and Jermaine Moure ’96
Arielle and Jonathan Sherman
Kellie and Michael Sirignano Jr. ’97
Lauren and McLain Ward ’91
Faculty and Staff (100%)
Sarah Abraham
Lori Adelsberg
Fatima Albader
Caroline Aronowitz
Alexandra Baker
Reggie Baxter
Diane Belkevich
Caitlyn Bertoncin
Josh Bookin
Michael Bowman
Carrie Brandt
John Broderick
David Brown
Melissa Buell
Erin Callaghan
Miles Cameron ’93
Courtney Carbone
Melissa Cavaliere
Katie Chambers
Bob Cherubini
Donna Cirocco
Yvonne Cognac
Andrew Coletti
Amy Conley
Jen Corcoran
Timothy Corcoran
Storrs Lamb Coté ’79
Cheryl Coyle
Lucas Curran
Linda Dare
Lisa DellAccio
Juliette Dellorusso
Valerie Dellorusso
Ron DeVito
Taylor Ebeling
Brooks Eleck
Jenna Farr
Nancy Finch
Tess Finnigan-Allen
Bill Fornara
Tony Frasca
Regina Gallary
Emily Gifford
Rusty Giorgi
Christy Glynn
Liz Hallock
Natalie Harrington ’13
Joanna Hepworth
Megan Honey
Emily Hyland
Ken Jordan
Lily Kast
Jessica Knopke
Lindsay Kroll
Vincent Kwarula
Gary Lawson
Nicole Levy
Carlos Londono
Amanda Lopez
Colm MacMahon
Sara Malekzadeh
Sarah McCay
Diana Merlucci
Hope Mihailovich
Melissa Mirkin
Caroline Vincent Mockridge ’81
Sophia Morton
Lauren Moskovitz
Heather Norberto
Holly O’Neill-Melville
Jay Oliver
Franco Pedicini
Marie Peña
Chris Perry
Kathy Perry
Devon Piekarz
Jennifer Prince
Nicole Putorti
Lisa Reda
Gavin Robinson
Ward Sader
Kristin Sammeta
Sam Sanyshyn
Sandra Sargisson
Michelle Searl
Jennifer Sednaoui
Arielle Sherman
Karin Smith
Ridley Sperling ’93
Emily Stamm
Adam Stockman
Rachel Sztul
Serbecina Thaci
Daphne Viders
Jade Vincent
Teresa Visconti
Jaclyn Vroman
Katie Wrinn
John Yu
Emma Zachary
Lainie Zades
Nora Zahner
Lindsay Zaremba
Endowed and Designated Gifts
Endowed funds are established through major gifts to provide longterm resources for students, faculty, and programming. When a gift is made to the endowment, the principal gift is never spent and is instead invested, enabling the gift to generate income in perpetuity. Donors have created restricted endowment funds at RCS to support some of the following priorities.
Ninth Grade Parent Gift Fund
This fund was established by the Class of 2005 to support new learning opportunities for ninth graders while fostering an appreciation and continued love of learning at RCS.
Master Teaching Fund
This fund is an initiative created by the Alumni Association Board to recognize
faculty and staff at their milestone years of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and beyond for their service to the community. This grant was set up to encourage faculty and staff pursuit of interests while inviting their fresh insights back into our school community.
The Starr Foundation Fund
This designated gift was established in 1998 to help ensure that RCS is more
The Advancement Office is honored to partner with Rippowam Cisqua School’s engaged community, and we are so pleased to publish this Report on Giving to gratefully recognize all contributions recorded between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. Should you find any discrepancies, please accept our heartfelt apology and notify the Advancement Office at (914) 244-1293 or at viders@rcsny.org so we can correct our records. This report is based on information prior to our annual audit.
accessible to families with financial needs — especially those who otherwise would not be able to afford an RCS education for their children.
The Stephen Sanger Memorial Lecture Fund
This fund was established by the family in honor of Stephen Sanger ’60, who died at the age of 19 serving his country in the Vietnam War. Stephen’s brother Alexander ’61 worked together with his family and RCS in the fall of 2012 to establish a lecture program. Through the generosity of the Sanger family, one of the school’s Foundations of Education lectures bears the Stephen Sanger name each year. The purpose of the FES lectures is to invite outside experts to speak with members of our community about parenting, child development, and lifelong learning.
The Barbara Vincent Fund
The Barbara M. Vincent P’79, ’81, ’84, GP’07, ’08, ’14, ’16, ’16, ’18 Memorial Fund, founded by her family as a way to honor of her, was created to provide graduate study grants to RCS faculty and associate teachers. Barbara, an RCS alumni parent, was the first female Board chair, serving between 1982 and 1985. She was also a principal of Educator’s Ally, where she counseled many teachers and administrators about their jobs and careers, and was particularly instrumental in developing intern teaching programs in a number of independent schools. The fund supports beginning teachers and awards scholarship grants annually to intern teachers who wish to begin their graduate studies. In fall 1993, Barbara was described by the late Dick Wade as “an extraordinary leader who held a clear vision.”
This Report on Giving is for the exclusive and confidential use of the Rippowam Cisqua School community for school matters only. We share this with the expectation that our community will respect the privacy of such information and not use this information for personal gain or other improper purposes. This publication should not be reproduced.
Winter ’24 Sports Wrap-up
Boys Varsity Basketball
Coaches
Lucas Curran, Max Moise
OWL Athletic Achievement Award*
Sam Baker
Jake Davies
Chase Ettere
Ryder Ettere
Gavin Kwarula
Dylan Lakamp
Thompson Murray
Thomas Regan
Jack Sicard
*Received by all varsity players
“The varsity boys basketball team had a very successful season (10–1), losing only to Brunswick in a very competitive game. This year, the team played in Division A, which is the top division in the league. The team was mostly made up of soccer and lacrosse players and was one of the most athletic teams I have coached at Ripp. It was truly a team effort that led to our successful season, hence, I decided to nominate not one individual, but the entire team to receive the Owl Athletic Achievement Award. In the spirit of Rippowam Cisqua School, teamwork leads to success.”
— Coach Max Moise
“The varsity basketball team leveled up and played a much tougher schedule than the year prior. The team was led by ninth graders Sam Baker, Ryder Ettere, Gavin Kwarula, Thompson Murray, and Jack Sicard, as well as eighth graders Jake Davies, Chase Ettere, Dylan Lakamp, and Thomas Regan. The 10–1 record achieved by the Owls was ignited by a defense that forced opposing teams to frequently turn over the ball. As a result, the team was able to catch its opponents out of position for many fast-break points. The team chemistry they developed on the court was highlighted by a bevy of unselfish passing plays that had Ripp fans up and out of their seats in appreciation.”
— Coach Lucas Curran
RIGHT: Thomas Regan #21 rising high against Buckley
BELOW: Coach Max Moise in the team huddle
Girls Varsity Basketball
Coaches
Caroline Aronowitz, Emily Stamm
Most Improved Player
Charlie Sisto
Coaches Award
Ella Fargnoli
Most Valuable Players
Lina Halaifonua
Olivia Makaj
“This was such a special basketball season! We were led by a strong group of ninth graders, and each day of practice was filled with tons of laughs. The girls knew when to put their game faces on and had a hunger to win in each of our games. It was so wonderful to see each player improve greatly throughout the season, but more importantly bond as a team. The girls came together as teammates and friends to lead us through an incredible season!”
— Coach Caroline Aronowitz
ABOVE: The record for the season was 5–3 with great wins against Greenwich Country Day School and Sacred Heart.
BELOW: Everett O’Brien and Elliot Perry in action
Varsity Squash
Coaches
Storrs Coté ’79, Jennifer Sednaoui
Most Improved Players
Elliott Perry
Sophie Takahashi
Coaches Award
Ryan Butkiewicz
Most Valuable Players
Walker LaMotte
Matheus van Starrenburg
“The 15 members of the varsity squash team traveled to Saw Mill East every day for practice with instruction from Coach Asif Khan. Great improvement was seen in all our players, but special recognition was given to Sophie Takahashi and Elliott Perry with Most Improved Player awards. We ended the season with the RCS Cup — an intrasquad tournament won by Walker LaMotte, who also won the Most Valuable Player award, shared with Matheus van Starrenburg.”
— Coach Jennifer Sednaoui
Varsity Hockey
Coaches
Miles Cameron ’93, Gavin Robinson
Most Improved Player
James Eleck
Coaches Award*
Aiden Angier
Holden Cooper
James Eleck
Patrick Lonergan
Ciaran MacMahon
Lila Nachbar
Finn Pagés
* Received by all ninth grade players
Most Valuable Players
Brendan Lonergan
Patrick Lonergan
Ice Hockey at Ripp: Clinics and Competition
Rippowam Cisqua School’s 2023–24 ice hockey program was marked by growth and development on and off the ice.
Guided by coaches Gavin Robinson and Miles Cameron, the team made significant progress throughout the season.
RCS fielded two teams: a varsity team consisting of students in Grades
7–9 and a Grades 5&6 team. The skating clinics offered by the school create a seamless pathway from learning to skate to competing on the school teams, an initiative Mr. Robinson has seen come to fruition this season.
“Some of the players on the Grades 5&6 team have come from the learn-to-
skate program,” Mr. Robinson said. “So clearly it’s working in terms of getting the kids to try hockey and now getting them to play hockey.”
The season finished on February 22 with a game against Ethical Culture Fieldston School featuring RCS hockey siblings (we had nine sets).
The Lonergan Legacy
Julie and Sean Lonergan, parents of Brendan ’25 and Patrick ’24, have seen their children thrive on the ice.
“It all started with their older sister, Catherine, who tried figure skating and then switched to hockey. Her siblings followed suit, and now we have a defender, a goalie, and a forward in the family,” Julie said.
During their final year at RCS, Brendan ’25 and Patrick ’24 both received the Most Valuable Player award.
Growth and Development Through Hockey
The impact of the hockey program at RCS extends beyond the rink.
“The boys took on leadership roles at Ripp, partly because they are stronger players from their experience skating on other teams outside of school,” noted Julie.
This leadership was not limited to athletic prowess but included mentoring younger players and fostering a sense of community. The skating clinics offered by RCS gave Patrick and Brendan an opportunity to help younger skaters, and their development did not go unnoticed by their mother.
“Patrick helped a lot at the Friday clinics, taking some of the younger skaters under his wing, which helped him develop strong leadership abilities,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Patrick and Brendan are now attending Harvey School, and their future in hockey looks promising. “We have never put pressure on them to go beyond a certain point. The goal has always been to enjoy the sport and gain life lessons from it,” Sean explained.
Sean and Julie are also the parents of Madison, a new sixth grader this year. We look forward to seeing another Lonergan on the ice this winter!
Hockey Siblings
Scott and Reese Brooks
Grey and Harry Cameron
Holder and Scout Cooper
James and Maggie Eleck
Eve and Poppy Gavigan
Lily and Win Grand
Patrick and Brendan Lonergan
Ciaran and Neve MacMahon
Lila and Owen Nachbar
Grade 3 Changemakers
By Donna Cirocco, Grade 3 Teacher
Our third grade Changemaker performance on March 7 was a celebration of rigorous academics and the arts. For two months, students honed their nonfiction reading skills in social studies, pored over biographies and took notes in reading, composed outlines and essays in writing, created artwork in the art studio, and learned songs in music to prepare for this performance.
This rich, cross-curricular unit of study not only expanded their understanding of content areas but also deepened their reading skills. Third grade marks a developmental milestone for children as they shift from learning to read to reading to learn, allowing for a deeper exploration of new aspects of our world and periods of history.
And our third graders did just that. They became experts on the lives of changemaking individuals like Jane Goodall, Jackie Robinson, Walt Disney, and Amelia Earhart, who all share a legacy of breaking barriers. Students applied newly learned research skills to gather information, summarize, and synthesize. They wrote five-paragraph essays about their changemaker as
they learned how to take notes and incorporated writing skills such as sentence expansion and elaboration.
After an original musical performance directed by Lainie Zades in the Playhouse, the students invited parents to join them at their “Live Museum” in the Trustees’ Gym. Here, they brought history to life. Dressed as their changemakers and with informational posters and artwork they had created, students told their changemakers’ stories as family, faculty, and staff journeyed through the exhibition.
“Students learn best when they are passionate about the topic they are studying,” said Emily Hyland. “By creating high-interest content surrounding the theme of changemakers, we are not only ensuring that the students will be fully invested in their own learning, but also that we are broadening their own perspectives by introducing them to these meaningful people in history.”
We couldn’t be prouder of our students’ hard work, dedication, and investment in making this project a huge success. The third graders (and their changemakers) truly stole the show!
“The
is an
Changemakers unit
example of an RCS education at its very best: interdisciplinary, challenging, and most of all... lots of fun” — Emily Hyland Head of Lower School
AUCTION
Since as far back as the early 1990s, the biannual Benefit Auction has served as the pinnacle gathering of our school, bringing together parents, teachers, alumni, and even grandparents. This vibrant event creates a sense of unity and shared purpose over one night for RCS. The financial goals for the evening are set by the Board of Trustees, which seeks vital funding for the school to maintain and enhance the quality education and extracurricular programming through dollars that flow directly back into the operating budget.
Last year’s Flourish Benefit Auction Chairs Tyler Perry, Ben Ginnel ’95, Matt Mitchell, and Brooke Vogel garnered incredible enthusiasm, engagement, and generosity from the broader Ripp community. More than 350 people
gathered under a tent on Meyers Fields on Saturday, April 20, and we are still buzzing from the energy of the evening.
As with each auction year, an extraordinary amount of work goes into the success of this one night and it is done with nothing short of an army of volunteers, generous donors who procure a rich array of fantastic items big and small (of which we had 180 to boast and sell), and an equally generous group of supporters inside and outside the tent who came in person and online to browse, bid, and buy. A final element of fun and surprise is brought in by the auctioneer, and at Flourish, we welcomed friend and notable charity auctioneer Lydia Fenet.
Ranking as the second highest grossing auction to date, the Benefit
Auction raised nearly $1.5 million “and it is entirely in thanks to the munificence of our ecosystem,” said co-chair Tyler Perry.
Special callouts to volunteers Sarah Abraham, Brett Cameron, Carrie Coffee, Brooks Eleck, Jenn Grossman, Suzanne Kirkpatrick, Alexandra Stull, Carolina White, and Suzanne Zuckerman-Schulster. These women gave so much of their time and minds to this event, along with the team on the floral committee who worked tirelessly in the days leading up to April 20 to bring this magical night together.
“It was a true pleasure and privilege collaborating together,” volunteer Suzanne Kirkpatrick said. “I am thankful from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work (and fun) we had together over the past year.”
FLOURISH AUCTION CHAIRS
Ben Ginnel ’95
Matt Mitchell
Tyler Perry
Brooke Vogel
SPECIAL THANKS
Brett Cameron
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Sarah Abraham
Cristi Andrews
Caitlin Bourne
Catherine Butkiewicz
Carrie Coffee
Julie Cooper
Jessica Crescenzi
Brooks Eleck
James Fayed
Ariel Frankel
Beth Freedman
Lizzie Gahagan
Emily Grand
Jenn Grossman
Laura Harris
Sara Haydock
Kristy Kearney
Suzanne Kirkpatrick
Alexandra White Lawrence ’97
Payson Murray
Deanna Berg MacLean
Sam O’Brien
Allyson Pachios
Charlene Ryan
Stefani Scamardo-Haynes
Nicola Stephenson
Alexandra Stull
Alison Todd
Lauren Ward
Carolina White
Zan Young
Suzanne Zuckerman-Schulster
CORPORATE SPONSORS
Bedford Clothing Company
Constellation Brands
La Maison Fête
Maison Privé
Mast Market
oHHo & Flying Coffee
Pepsi-Cola of the Hudson Valley
Perennial Gardens
SAGE Dining Services
Turnbull & Asser
HEARTFELT THANKS
To all our community members who helped make this event possible, we thank you for your time, donations, and inspiration.
You have allowed us to Flourish.
Sarah Abraham Fatema Albader
Jackie and Stephen Alfano
Caroline Aronowitz
Alexandra and Carson Baker
Sonja and Jim Bartlett
Brooke Baxter
Reggie Baxter
Bedford 234
Bedford Clothing Company
Bedford Gourmet
The Bedford Playhouse
Michaela and Skip Beitzel
Nilda Taveras and John Belizaire
Catie and Kevin Bertoncin
Sammy Biondi
Boo-Hooray
Caitlin and John Bourne
Michael Bowman
Christine Braganza
Breezemont Day Camp
Honor Prouty Brody ’86
Frances F. Denny and Joshua Brau
Brittany Bromley
Matthew Bromley
Micki and Howard Buchanan (d)
Kim and Tom Bumbolow
Emily and Oliver Bushnell
Catherine and Thomas Butkiewicz
Erin Callaghan
Brett and Miles Cameron ’93
Kirtley and Seth Cameron ’88
CampGroup
The Capitol Theatre
Cara Cara Clothing
Courtney Carbone
Ariel Flores and Colin Carlton
Morgan and Josh Caspi
Melissa Cavaliere
Katie Chambers
Bob Cherubini
Jonathan Childs
Donna Cirocco
Kristy and Jim Clark
Carrie Coffee
Cristi Andrews and David Oliver Cohen
Ellen Sluder Cohen ’92 and Stephen Cohen
Rebecca and Todd Cohen
Kelly and Richard Coles
Andrew Coletti
Holly Connetta
Constellation Brands
Julie Cooper
Mallorie and Dan Corcoran
Storrs Coté ’79
Cheryl Coyle
Jessica and David Crescenzi
Cheryl Cronin
Beth and Wyatt Crowell
Sara Crabtree-Crowley and Christopher Crowley
Lucas Curran
Liane Curtis
Linda Dare
Juliette Dellorusso
Valerie Dellorusso
Ron DeVito
Sharon and Ricky Dhall
Tim Dose
Duchess
Sidne Koenigsberg and Robert Dumitrescu ’96
Katama Guernsey Eastman ’92
Nancy Dwyer Eaves ’92 and Blue Eaves
Jessica Franchino-Elder and Josh Elder
Brooks Eleck
Elliott Interiors
Justin Fagan
Jenna Farr
Jennifer Tedesco-Fayed and James Fayed
Elizabeth Cowan and Anil Fernando
Tess Finnigan-Allen
Alexandra Fisher ’99
Emily Neville Fisher and Murray Fisher
The Fleming Family
Footsie Reflexology
Diane Scrofani Frasca
Beth Freedman
Peter Freund ’91
Melissa Mirkin Frugis
Jenn Grossman and Danny Fuchs
Lizzie and Will Gahagan
Jen Gannon
Christian Garnett
Brandon Gaudin
Jessica Capshaw Gavigan and Christopher Gavigan
G.E. Brown
Abby and Lloyd Gerry
Christy Glynn
Golden Hour Vintage Bespoke Jewelry
Marisha Pessl and David Gordon
Emily and Harry Grand ’93
Randy Wilson Hall ’94 and Tim Hall
Liz Hallock
Natalie Harrington ’13
Laura and Ben Harris
Amy and Brett Harsch
Sara and William Haydock ’98
Stefani Scamardo-Haynes and Warren Haynes
Joanna Hepworth
HF Bar Ranch
Hickory and Tweed
Erin Tedesco Hoffman
Holderness & Bourne
Megan Honey
Rahaleh Nassri Hornbaker
Hotel Fouquet’s
Ariel and Douglas Frankel
Emily Hyland
Ken Jordan
Lyndsay Caleo Karol and Fitzhugh Karol
Lily Kast
Kristy Kearney
Eliza and Brendan Keegan
Chiara and Charles Kershaw
Suzanne Kirkpatrick
Jessica Knopke
Alexandra Kotur
Lindsay Kroll
Johan Kugelberg
Vincent Kwarula
La Maison Fête
Jillian and Andrew Lam
Alix Johnston LaMotte ’92 and Gardner LaMotte
Dorothy and Cliff Lanier
Alexandra White Lawrence ’97 and William Lawrence
Gary Lawson
Nicole Levy
Janelle and A.J. Lika
Natasha Moore and Brian Lombardi
Carlos Londono
LoveShackFancy
Deanna Berg MacLean and Ian MacLean
Kara and Colm MacMahon
Francesca and David Mait
Sara Malekzadeh
Golda and Barry Markman
Maison Privé
Mast Market
Claire and Justin McEvily
Courtney Hallock McGinnis ’88 and Mike McGinnis
Sabbath McLean
Melissa and Gerardo Mendez
Happy Menocal ’95
Lauren and Rob Minear
Elisabeth Weed Mitchell and Matt Mitchell
Caroline Vincent Mockridge ’81
Payson Murray
Gucci Westman and David Neville
New York Stoneware
Samantha and Bryce O’Brien
Kristle and Travis O’Brien
oHHo & Flying Coffee
Jay Oliver
Orangetheory, Mt. Kisco
Allyson and Chris Pachios
Carolyn Papanicolaou
Pepsi-Cola of the Hudson Valley Perennial Gardens
Chris Perry
Tyler and Schuyler Perry
Devon Piekarz
David Pogue
Jennifer Prince
Nicole Putorti
Lyn and William Reardon
Elly Dwyer Rice ’94 and Ethan Rice
Liz and James Rini
Rivey
The Rosen Family
Krystle Roth
Natasha Rutherford
Charlene and Daniel Ryan ’93
Jonathan Boyd, SAGE Dining Services
Samantha Sanyshyn
Page Sargisson
Sandra Sargisson
Meredith and Peter Scala ’98
Jennifer Sednaoui
Megan and Kevin Sheehan
Jennifer Sicard
Silver Spring Wellness
Karin Smith Rhonda Spevak
Consuelo and Russ Spitler
Shannon Spor
The Sports Haus
Emily Stamm
Nicola and James Stephenson
Monica Stolbach
Lauren Gonzales Stone and Rob Stone (d)
Christina Bresani and Michael Struble
Alexandra and Jason Stull
Claire and Chris Thile
Alison Todd
Turnbull & Asser
Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts
Jen and James Vellano
Viale Yoga
Daphne and Zach Viders
Village Social
Jade Vincent
Brooke and Jordan Vogel
Jaclyn Vroman
Wagon Wheel Fine Wines and Spirits
Marie and Tim Walsh
Lauren and McLain Ward ’91
Carolina and Tom White
Wild Fig
Wogies Bar and Grill
Zan Young
Emma Zachary
Suzanne Zuckerman-Schulster
And… Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Wine Wall!
Grandparents and Special Friends Days
The tradition of welcoming our grandparents and special friends to campus continued on May 9 and 10, and once again these wonderful few days brought a glow to the smiles of our students and faculty.
The practice of opening up our classrooms, science labs, hallways, and the Playhouse stage to those we love so dearly has truly provided many magical moments for us all. This year’s chair, Alexandra Stull, along with her
committee members, set the stage for two mornings that included activities such as an SPK performance, roundtable conversations on the Book Thief in Upper School English, a tower-making contest in our Innovation Center, math challenges, science experiments, and so much more.
“This was the best Grandparents Day ever,” grandparent Maureen Vincent said. “Everything looked beautiful, and the two classes I went to were so engaging and
Event Committee
Alexandra Stull, Event Chair
fun. What a unique and special way to learn.”
“Working with all the devoted volunteers for Grandparents and Special Friends Days was one of the most wonderful and rewarding experiences,” Alexandra said. “I am truly grateful to have been a part of this incredible team. I am really looking forward to next year!”
Until we see you again, grandparents, you are in our hearts.
Chiara Bettonagli • Caitlin Bourne • Mary Brendler • Micki Buchanan • Emily Bushnell • Julie Cooper • Jessica Crescenzi
We are grateful for the commitment and devotion of the grandparents who continue to support RCS in so many ways.
Betsy and Dort Cameron • Cindy and Andy Dwyer • Tracy and Ali Fayed • Marshall Field IV • Susie and John Freund
Cecily Fowler Grand ’65 and Gordon Grand • Jean and Ken Kearney • Consuelo and Seth Pierrepont • Frank Richardson
Debby Robbins • Lynnette Sodha • Nancy and Roger Vincent ’59
Spring ’24 Sports Wrap-up
Boys Varsity Lacrosse
Coaches
Christiaan Cacciotti, Miles Cameron ’93, Gavin Robinson
Most Improved Player
Patrick Lonergan
Coaches Award
Chase Ettere
Ryder Ettere
Thomas Regan
Most Valuable Players
Austin Davies
Jake Davies
“We’re incredibly proud of our young athletes and the remarkable effort they’ve displayed this season. Their dedication, respect for the game, and teamwork have been truly inspiring. Over the past few seasons, our lacrosse program has steadily grown, and we’re thrilled to have two strong teams this year. Go Ripp!”
— Coach Miles Cameron ’93
Girls Varsity Lacrosse
Coaches
Brooks Eleck, Natalie Harrington ’13
Most Improved Player
Lily Glynn
Coaches Award
Sophie Slocum
Most Valuable Players
Lily Grand
Gigi McGinnis
Maye Viders
“The girls varsity lacrosse team worked as a unit on the field. During games, the girls fearlessly rose above challenges, always putting their best foot forward to work towards a common goal. The teamwork the girls displayed was palpable, and their unwavering support for one another was undeniable. Together, they’ve developed as teammates and lacrosse players, and their growth has been a pleasure to watch.”
— Coach Natalie Harrington ’13
RIGHT: Boys varsity lacrosse award winners
Varsity Tennis
Coaches
Ken Jordan, Jennifer Sednaoui
Most Improved Players
Matthew Neary
Sophie Rosen
Coaches Award
Victoria Kearney
Lola Magill
Most Valuable Players
Henry Moody
Thompson Murray
“Varsity tennis went 5–1 for the season with matches against Rye Country Day School, Sacred Heart, Hackley, Whitby, BiCultural, and Greenwich Country Day School. The dynamic duo of Thompson Murray and Henry Moody, playing in the #1 doubles spot, was undefeated, as were Matheus van Starrenburg and Elliott Perry at #2. We worked on doubles positioning and strategy during practices prior to our matches, and the team loved their weekly fun days of 105 and King/Queen of the Court. All 18 members of the team competed in match play against another school, pairings being determined by the level of play of our opponents. It was a wonderful season, and despite one rainy week of canceled practices, we enjoyed some beautiful spring days on the courts.”
—
Coach Jennifer Sednaoui
Varsity Track and Field
Coaches
Matt Lacey ’15, Max Moise
Most Improved Player
Jules Sindaco
Coaches Award
Nevi McDaniel
Most Valuable Players
Paddy McGuinness
Miles Nuñez-Erasme
“The track and field team had a very eventful season, and there was never a dull moment. We saw improvements in sportsmanship, track and field acumen, and general work ethic across the team! Everybody played a part in the team’s overall success. A special shout-out goes to our MVPs, Miles Nuñez-Erasme and Paddy McGuinness; our Most Improved, Jules Sindaco; and our Coaches Award recipient, Nevi McDaniel. With the majority of the team returning next year, the future is very bright!”
— Coach Matt Lacey ’15
G raduation 2024
“I am honored to be here today,” Head of School Colm MacMahon said as he welcomed families, friends, and faculty to Rippowam Cisqua School’s 106th Graduation on June 6. “As the parent of a graduating ninth grader, I have been thinking a great deal about this celebration.”
And he was not the only individual with matriculation on his mind. Eighteen ninth graders and 32 eighth graders sat next to him on the stage, all minutes away from summer vacation, and, in September, secondary school.
In a ceremony that honored tradition and recognized the successes of both classes, English Teacher Brooks Eleck delivered the graduation speech, reminding students to “carry the spirit of loyalty, independence, and sharing wherever [they] go,” and Dean Melissa Cavaliere addressed the departing eighth
graders, advising, “Ask questions, seek new experiences, take some risks, and never stop learning.”
Mr. MacMahon and Board Chair Abby Gerry presented diplomas to the ninth graders and certificates of completion to the eighth graders. Director of Secondary School Placement Ridley Sperling ’93 welcomed all 50 students into the RCS alumni association, and announced that Holden Cooper and Ella Fargnoli had agreed to serve as the 2024 class representatives.
And then, wiith the formalities of the day concluded, students processed out of the graduation tent to a recessional performed by RCS music teachers Carrie Brandt, Bill Fornara, and Lainie Zades — the Parliament Trio — a fitting conclusion not only for the students, but also for Ms. Zades, who was retiring after 45 years with this final performance.
A Whirlwind of Emotions
By Holden Cooper ’24
When I woke up on graduation morning it felt like just an ordinary day, but then it hit me — today was the day I had been anticipating for the past 12 years. Having been at RCS since JPK, the school had become a second home to me. I jumped out of bed to shower, and that’s when the whirlwind began. Family members ran up and down the hallways, making sure they had everything they needed. My phone buzzed with messages from friends and family, all excited about the day.
Once breakfast was over, it was finally time to get dressed: blue shirt, white pants, navy blazer, and, of course, the RCS tie, which had been sitting in my closet for months, waiting for this very moment.
After breakfast, we got into the car for a drive I’d done over a thousand times, but this time it felt different. It was a bittersweet journey. On one hand, I was super excited to graduate, but on the other, it was the last time I would make this drive as an RCS student.
My dad dropped me off at Cushman House, where I met up with my friends and classmates for photos. We were all hanging out in the courtyard when Mr. MacMahon told us it was time to go.
Once the ceremony began, the feeling was surreal. And when Ms. Callaghan called out, “Holden Young Cooper,” I began what felt like the longest 15-foot walk of my life. Only one thing was on my mind: Shake with your right, grab with your left.
As I walked back to my seat, diploma in hand, I couldn’t help but reflect on the journey that had brought me to this moment. From my first day at RCS to now, every friendship, teacher, lesson, and challenge has shaped me. Graduation was a whirlwind of emotions — joy, nostalgia, excitement, and a touch of sadness. Surrounded by friends and family, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the community that had supported me for the past 12 years. This day marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, and as I looked around at my fellow graduates, I knew we were all ready to take on whatever came next, carrying the spirit of RCS with us.
Share Your Umbrella
Selected remarks by Grade 9 English Teacher and Associate Director of Secondary School Placement Brooks Eleck, chosen by the ninth graders to deliver the 2024 Graduation speech.
AII teachers have a special class that brings back a mixture of fondness and PTSD: their COVID class. And you all are mine! What a time that was in 2020! I am so happy we got to have a full year together this year. And what a year it has been.
I’d like to acknowledge your loyalty and support for one another. Day to day, you stand by one another and hold each other up. Remember that these bonds should continue beyond graduation. I love a good metaphor so here goes.
Picture an umbrella.
An umbrella is protection; it helps you stay dry (how appropriate for today). Maybe an umbrella is even a dancing prop.
An umbrella for today’s purposes is a shelter, and for today, it’s an RCS umbrella. RCS has literally and figuratively been home for all of you for long enough that it is now a big part of who you are.
In your future schools, you are not going to necessarily meet people who have had a similar middle school experience. You’ll be ready for the next chapter, no doubt, but parts of you are
just always going to still be here. You are fiercely independent. And while that independence is valuable, remember that collaboration and interconnectedness are equally important.
So, share your umbrella.
When your new friends are maybe unkind, share your umbrella. It’s not easy — being kind is hard. But since you have this fantastic shelter that will always take you in, share it.
When I reached out to some of my former students to ask what advice they would like to offer you, Blake Coté ’16 said to stay in touch with your RCS group; home friends are the best friends!
Remember your growth, challenges, and achievements. On Ms. Coyle’s gym board, there is a fantastic quote by Minor Myers Jr.: “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.”
Remember that the impact you have on others can easily be made positive in a simple gesture or even a smile.
I’m excited for all your future adventures and assure you that you are ready to face the world. It’s important to recognize how much you all have grown since you’ve been with us and I’d like to thank you all, specifically:
To Aiden: For your creative and generous spirit
To Sam: For your kindness and your heart
To Tasia: For your willingness to be bold
To Holden: For your ability to build a community
To James: For always bringing a sense of wonder
To Ryder: For your gentle and yet ferocious presence
To Ella: For your steady goodness
To Victoria: For always being inclusive and kind
To Gavin: For your humility and leadership
To Patrick: For your patience and kindness
To Ciaran: For being the anchor and the compass
To Olivia: For being the voice for your people
To Thompson: For being a keen observer with a fantastic sense of humor
To Lila: For being discerning and curious
To Gray: For your independent and kind spirit
To Finn: For your ability to illuminate the little but important things
To Jack: For your ability to see the big picture
To Charlie: For your determination and grit
So, will you extend your umbrella to others? I encourage you to carry the spirit of loyalty, independence, and sharing wherever you go.
Remember this most of all — doing good means talking the talk and being a little uncomfortable. It means saying the good over the bad, in every situation possible. I and all of us at RCS trust that you will take your place in the world seriously and take advantage of the many opportunities you have been offered and do that very simple old saying: Work hard and be nice to people.
Share your umbrella.
Thank You
Selected remarks from Class of 2024 Co-Presidents Tasia Bumbolow and Jack Sicard
Tasia: I would like to start by saying how appreciative Jack and I are to have had the opportunity to represent the ninth grade class for the 2023–24 school year. Having the title of class president has been an honor for both of us, and I am proud to be speaking for our grade today. Thank you to everyone who has come to celebrate both departing classes. We are so thankful to be able to share this day with our closest family and friends. I would also like to take the time to acknowledge our biggest supporters throughout the Capstone Year: our teachers.
Jack: There is a quote by Maya Angelou in my grandparents’ house that reads: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but the number of moments that take your breath away.” Grandparents, parents, faculty, or anyone who’s come to see their loved one graduate, look around you. These extraordinary individuals next to me are moving on to the next chapter
of their lives, and for me, and I hope most of you, this is one of those moments that takes my breath away. The graduating Class of 2024 is taking another step forward on our journey called life, and for each step in that journey, we owe a tremendous thanks to our parents and family who have helped us immeasurably along the way.
Tasia: Being in a class with fewer than 20 kids has given us the opportunity to truly get to know each other. Without the ninth grade program, I wouldn’t have become this close to people who are my best friends today. I think a strong, and tight-knit community is something a lot of schools strive for but don’t achieve.The RCS faculty and students are truly some of the best people to be surrounded by.
So, thank you to RCS for providing our ninth grade class with such a memorable experience, while teaching us what it means to be a leader and a part of such a connected, engaged, supportive, and compassionate community.
Happy Sailing
Selected remarks by Grade 8 Dean
Eighth grade is a unique time in your life. It’s a time when you begin to understand who you are and what you might become. You have spent years learning not just from textbooks, but from each other and the experiences you’ve shared. You’ve faced challenges, celebrated victories, and grown in ways that you may not even realize yet. It is natural to be nervous about what awaits you next, but I can confidently say that you are more than prepared. This is because you are all curious learners, kind, and understand what it means to work hard and play hard.
Humor, kindness, willingness to be uncomfortable — to do hard things — and an unrelenting insistence to have fun along the way. That’s it. That’s what it takes to leave the safe harbor of Ripp and sail on to the new adventures that await you on the horizon. That and maybe some sunblock.
Melissa Cavaliere
But if I may make one final request of you as your dean, don’t stop there. Keep going. I encourage you to use the skills you already have to continue to be successful, and to slow down long enough to pick up new skills along the way. The world is full of wonders waiting to be discovered, and each of you has a unique perspective to bring to those discoveries. Ask questions, seek new experiences, take some risks, and never stop learning. Your curiosity will be the engine that drives your growth and opens doors to incredible opportunities. Continue to be kind. The impact of your kindness is profound. Just ask our Lower School. Whether it’s a smile to a friend, a helping hand to someone in need, or simply listening when someone needs to talk, your kindness has the power to make the world a better place.
High school will present new social dynamics and challenges, but remember that empathy and compassion are
timeless virtues. Seek first to understand rather than to be understood. If you think something needs to change, be that change. If you find yourself feeling lonely, seek out another who might need a friend and pull up a seat. Always make room at the table. Be courageous — that discomfort you feel in your chest means you’re growing. Lastly, continue to have fun, and remember to take responsibility for your actions. As you grow older, you will gain more independence, and not to sound too much like Kipling — or was it Spider Man? — such freedom comes with great responsibility. Make choices that you can be proud of, and understand that mistakes are part of the learning process. Own your actions, learn from them, and move forward with integrity. I am so excited to see what you will all contribute to this world. Happy sailing, and smooth seas do not make skilled sailors, so get ready for the waves. Congratulations.
Farewell to RCS Families
Each year as we celebrate departing students, we must also say goodbye to families whose last child is departing. “You have enriched our school, and we are grateful for that,” Head of School Colm MacMahon said.
1 year
Karen and Michael Pray
Kate (Birnbaum) Regan ’93 and Michael Regan
2 years
Sarah Crabtree-Crowley and Christopher Crowley
Courtney and Brian Davies
3 years
Nidia Barco and Milton Chinchilla
Katherine and Joshua Rosen
Denise and Alastair Valentine
4 years
Karen Nuñez and Juan Moha
5 years
Christy and Michael Glynn*
9 years
Ryan and Ernest Fargnoli
Ruth (d) and William Neary
Natasha and Derick Robinson
10 years
Kerby and Sefita Halaifonua
Kristle and Travis O’Brien
Rebecca and Alexander Rose
Jennifer and Michael Sicard
Sara and Joshua Slocum
11 Years
Angie Angier
Jocelyne and Adrian Gray
Alix (Johnston) LaMotte ’92 and Gardner LaMotte
Elly (Dwyer) Rice ’94 and Ethan Rice
12 Years
Deon and Vincent Kwarula*
15 years
Beth and Ryan Smith
25 years
Annica and Daniel van Starrenburg
* The Glynns and the Kwarulas are no longer parents at RCS, but Christy and Vincent are still teachers!
Congratulations to the Rippowam Cisqua School Class of 2021
The following is a selection of colleges and universities at which RCS students have matriculated in the past five years.
American University
Babson College
Barnard College*
Bates College*
Binghamton University SUNY
Boston College*
Boston University
Bowdoin College*
Bucknell University*
Claremont McKenna College
Clarkson University
Clemson University
Colby College*
Colgate University*
College of Charleston*
College of the Holy Cross*
Colorado College
Columbia University*
Cornell Univeristy*
Denison University
Dickinson College*
Duke University*
Elon University*
Emerson College
Emory University
Fairfield University
Fordham University
Franklin & Marshall College
George Washington University*
Georgetown University*
Georgia Institute of Technology
Gettysburg College
Grand Canyon University
Hamilton College*
Harvard College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges*
Howard University
Indiana University*
Ithaca College
Johns Hopkins University*
Johnson & Wales University*
Juilliard School
Kenyon College
Lafayette College*
Lehigh University
Marist College
Marquette University
McGill University
Middlebury College*
Muhlenberg College
New York University*
Northeastern University
Northwestern University*
The Pennsylvania State University
Princeton University
Providence College
San Diego State University
Sewanee: The University of the South
Southern Methodist University*
Stanford University
St. Lawrence University*
Stanford University
Syracuse University*
Texas Christian University
Trinity College*
Tufts University
Tulane University*
Union College
University of California Berkley
University of California Santa Barbara
University of Chicago*
University of Colorado Boulder*
University of Connecticut*
University of Delaware*
University of Denver*
University of Maryland
University of Miami*
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri
University of New Hampshire
University of North Carolina*
University of Notre Dame*
University of Oxford
University of Pennsylvania*
University of Rhode Island*
University of Richmond*
University of Southern California*
University of St Andrews Scotland*
University of Tampa*
University of Texas
University of the Arts MT
University of Vermont*
University of Virginia*
University of Wisconsin*
UWC Atlantic
Villanova University
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest University*
Washington and Lee University*
Washington University in St. Louis*
Wheaton College
Williams College
Yale University
*indicates two or more students
Congratulations to the Rippowam Cisqua School Class of 2024
The following is a list of the secondary schools that our graduating ninth graders and departing eighth graders joined in September 2024.
Avon Old Farms
Berkshire School*
Blair Academy*
Brunswick School*
Choate Rosemary Hall
Fox Lane High School
Frederick Gunn School
Greens Farms Academy
Greenwich Academy*
Greenwich Country Day School*
Hackley School*
Harvey School*
Hotchkiss School
Iona Preparatory School*
John Jay High School*
Kent School
King School
Loomis Chaffee School
Masters School
Millbrook School*
Pomfret School
Sacred Heart Greenwich School of the Holy Child
Sleepy Hollow High School
St. George’s School
St. Luke’s School*
Summit High School (CO)
Taft School
*indicates two or more students
Upper School Academic & Athletics Awards 2024
Presented June 5, 2024
Hyperbole and Inspirational Speech
Hyperbole Winner
Dwyer Eaves ’26
Inspirational Speech Winner
Iris Cafiso ’26
Bryna Watkins Writing Award
Charlie Snyder ’27
Awarded to a member of the sixth grade class who has demonstrated passion and ability as a writer
Frankel Scholarship Prize
Layla Lakamp ’27
Awarded to the fifth or sixth grader with the highest grade point average for the year
National French Exam
Mention d’honneur (Honorable Mention)
Gray Neville ’24
National Latin Exam
Silver Medal and Maxima
Cum Laude Certificate
Holden Cooper ’24
Edmund Rose ’25
Magna Cum Laude Certificate
Lina Halaifonua ’25
Cum Laude Certificate
Charlie Baker ’25
Clio Slocum ’25
Wadleigh W. Woods Latin Prize
Holden Cooper ’24
Awarded for excellence in Latin
Spanish Prize
Aiden Angier ’24
Awarded for excellence in Spanish
National Spanish Exam
Medalla de Oro (Gold Medal)
Sophie Slocum ’25
Medalla de Plata (Silver Medal)
Grace Chinchilla ’25 (in the Bilingual category)
Matheus van Starrenburg ’25
Medalla de Bronce (Bronze Medal)
Sophie Rosen ’25
Isla Valentine ’25
Honorifica (Honors)
Henrietta Cohen ’25
Franco Moha ’25
Quinn Pray ’25
Jack Sicard ’24
Isaac Smith ’25
American History Award
Clio Slocum ’25
Awarded to a member of the eighth grade class for outstanding achievement in history
Harry Barber Sports Award
James Eleck ’24
Lila Nachbar ’24
Awarded to those ninth graders who have shown the greatest athletic improvement during their time at RCS
Paul and Audrey Fisher Art Prize
Lila Nachbar ’24
Awarded for outstanding ability in the visual arts
Sarah F. Fowler Drama Prize
Victoria Kearney ’24
Awarded for outstanding contribution to drama
Sarah F. Fowler Drama Prize (Tech)
Lina Halaifonua ’25
Awarded for outstanding contribution to drama/tech
Susan Fiala Music Prize
James Eleck ’24
Awarded for outstanding contribution to the musical life of the School
Ristorcelli Music Prize
Aiden Angier ’24
Awarded for the greatest improvement in music
Melanie J. Kraft French Prize
Ella Fargnoli ’24
Awarded for excellence in French
Prudence B. Read History Prize
Gray Neville ’24
Awarded for exceptional understanding and appreciation of history
Stanley M. Feret Mathematics Prize
Aiden Angier ’24
Awarded for exceptional interest, initiative, and accomplishment in mathematics
Jane Brooks Robbins Science Prize
Aiden Angier ’24
Awarded for genuine interest and enthusiasm in the field of science
Laura D. Paddock English Prize
Lila Nachbar ’24
Awarded for outstanding ability in all phases of English
Richard L. Wade Scholar Award
Ryan Butkiewicz ’26
Awarded to the seventh through ninth grader with the highest grade point average for the year
Ann Thacher Faculty
Award of Distinction
Holden Cooper ’24
Finn Pagés ’24
Awarded by the faculty to members of the graduating class who deserve special recognition
Trustees’
Prize
Aiden Angier ’24 and Charlie Sisto ’24
Awarded to a student, or students, in seventh through ninth grade who have shown the greatest academic improvement
Walter F. Wyeth Prize
Ciaran MacMahon ’24
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who has displayed the greatest consideration for others
Gertrude Pell Bishop Memorial Award
Gavin Kwarula ’24
Awarded to the member of the graduating class who has displayed outstanding athletic proficiency together with the highest qualities of good sportsmanship and team play, and who has maintained high standards of scholarship
Rippowam Cisqua Prize
Victoria Kearney ’24
Awarded to the student who is outstanding in qualities of leadership, character, and general school citizenship, this is the highest award conferred by the School. Presented annually on behalf of the family of Mrs. Francis W. Welch, the Rippowam Cisqua Prize represents the importance of our students’ desire to explore their talents to the fullest, and their appreciation that honesty, consideration, and respect for others are values that will help make the world a better place.
Waldo B. Jones Prize
James Eleck ’24
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who has exhibited creativity and original thought in a variety of media
“Kind to the core, Victoria is a true ambassador for the ninth grade and for Rippowam Cisqua School as a whole. Her consideration for others extends to the youngest members of our community. Whether they were getting out of their cars in the morning or walking through the halls, our younger students flocked to Victoria for a hug and a smile. For her Capstone Portfolio project, she worked with third and fourth graders to, in her own words, ‘paint through their feelings while having fun along the way.’ Her consideration for others extends to the adults in our community; she shows respect for the energy her teachers and coaches give by engaging fully in her studies and playing her hardest on the sports field or court. Her kind words have touched us all, often when a brief moment of caring was all that was needed to brighten our day. Leading by example, Victoria demonstrates that one can be a leader without having a title. Congratulations, Victoria.”
— Chris Perry, Grade 9 Dean
Message from the 2021–24 PA Chair
Every parent automatically becomes a member of the RCS Parents Association when their child is enrolled in the School. This invaluable group, dedicated to supporting the administration, faculty, and students, provides many opportunities for parents to become engaged throughout the year. Whether you attend an event or organize one, your participation in the Parents Association adds to the vitality of the RCS community and enhances the overall experience for your entire family.
Julie Cooper has been an active parent volunteer at RCS since September 2010, when her son, Jackson ’22, was in Mrs. Sorte’s JPK class. Over the past 14 years, Julie has been involved in everything from book fairs, holiday markets, and auctions to her most recent three-year tenure as the Parents Association chair.
At times, it’s amazing to reflect on the state of the world when I took on the role of PA chair in the summer of 2021. We were still wearing masks, our oldest children were newly vaccinated, and uncertainty loomed larger than we were accustomed to.
Fast forward three years, and we’ve regained our cherished normalcy. Personally, I’ve proudly cheered on my two oldest children (RCS lifers — Go Blue!) as they graduated from our ninth grade Capstone program. I observe them being profoundly prepared for whatever lies ahead, thanks to the dedicated faculty, staff, and administration of our school. Academically, I’ve witnessed RCS stretch and grow with pride. Our community has expanded to include new families who bring fresh perspectives to education and school life. Equally exciting is watching our physical plant grow to include a space that will allow all our students room to excel.
Throughout my tenure, we’ve maintained essential traditions that help create and strengthen community. From the fall Pumpkin Patch to the beloved Grandparents and Special Friends Days in spring, we’ve come together as volunteers
to serve the school we love. In planning and executing these events, our parent body has had the opportunity to connect with both their fellow class parents and across grade levels. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has contributed over the years.
A special thank you to the parents who’ve attended countless meetings as part of our PA executive team with me: Jessica Crescenzi, Lizzie Gahagan, Erin Tedesco Hoffman, and Michelle Kenny — you are rock stars! Your thoughtfulness, care, generosity, and innovative decisions have served our community well.
With two more years at RCS, I look forward to seeing you all in the halls, in the Playhouse, and on the athletics fields.
Warmly,
Julie Cooper PA Chair 2021–24
The Cooper family, back row, left to right: Scout ’26; Julie, PA Chair 2021–24; Holden ’24, a freshman at Blair Academy; and in the front, Brett, proud Ripp dad since 2010; and Jackson ’22, a junior at Blair Academy.
Thank You 2023–24 Parent Volunteers
The Parents Association plays a vital role in the life of our school, and its success depends on our volunteer base. We thank all those who gave so generously of their time throughout the year, especially recognizing those who accepted leadership roles for our events.
Executive Team
Julie Cooper, Chair
Jessica Crescenzi
Lizzie Gahagan
Erin Tedesco Hoffman
Michelle Kenny
Class Connectors
Joining the Parents Association roster are our class connectors, whose primary role is to organize events and create opportunities for the children and families within each grade. Their efforts strengthen our community, and in 2023–24, we gathered often — at school, at local venues, and in parents’ homes. Thank you for your welcoming hands.
Trustees of Rippowam Cisqua School are fiduciaries to the institution as a whole and are collectively responsible for overseeing the welfare of the School and the pursuit of its mission.
New Board Members
Sam Kopolovich
Sam serves as a director on the Strategy Team at American Securities, a middle market private equity firm. He joined American Securities in 2014 after living and working in the Middle East at Oliver Wyman. Sam held prior roles at Goldman Sachs and Corporate Risk International (Kroll). At American Securities, he conducts due diligence on potential acquisitions and works closely with portfolio companies’ leadership teams to develop and execute on their growth plans. Sam primarily works with companies in the energy, industrial services, capital goods and machinery, and packaging markets.
He received a B.A. in International Studies and an M.A. in International Politics from American University.
Sam was born and raised in Brooklyn and lives in Armonk with his wife, Yulia Pak, and their son, Simon ’32. They recently moved from Larchmont to be closer to the Rippowam Cisqua School community. Simon has attended RCS since JPK, and since then Sam has been an Annual Fund ambassador, most recently serving as one of the Lower School chairs.
“My family and I absolutely love the school and all the people that make it up,” Sam said. “I am eager to serve the community in any way that I can, and I am excited to add value growing and expanding its potential. Our family believes that RCS represents a special place and I know that working alongside other talented leaders can allow us to leverage the skills and resources we have while strengthening and expanding all that the school offers to families and their children.”
Forrest Mas ’04
Forrest is the director of North River Company, a privately held real estate investment and management firm based in New York City.
As a fourth-generation Bedford native, he is actively engaged in the community, and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Bedford Historical Society. He has also served as treasurer of the Board of the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York. Forrest graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2011 with a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics, and is an alumnus of Millbrook School, a private prep school in Millbrook, New York.
After serving on the Alumni Association Board for five years, Forrest has now taken on the role of chair of the Alumni Association Board. He lives in Bedford with his wife, Mackenzie, and their two children, Bowdoin (in PK) and Miller.
Erin Tedesco Hoffman
Erin Tedesco Hoffman is the chair of the Parents Association. An active parent volunteer and member of the PA since her family joined the RCS community, she has served as a PA executive team member for the past four years. She has notably been bringing the Pumpkin Patch to life each fall and Candy Houses to our homes in the winter.
Erin launched the bakery of Wogie’s Bar & Grill in New York City and is assisting with bringing Wogie’s to Katonah this winter.
Erin and her husband, Aaron, live in Katonah with their daughter, Beaux ’30. They are also the proud aunt and uncle of Leo ’29 and Jack ’34.
“The beauty of the PA is that it amplifies the magic of all that happens on the RCS campus, and gives parents the chance to participate in the everyday lives of their students,” Erin said. “We serve to welcome all our families with opportunities to get involved, and feel connected to our kids and to one another while creating memories and friendships along the way.”
Retirements Lainie Zades
On June 3, we came together on the Cushman House lawn to celebrate and bid a heartfelt farewell to Lainie Zades, a hallmak of the RCS music program for 45 incredible years. Parents, alumni, parents of alumni, current and former faculty and staff, friends, and even Lainie’s family members from as far away as Florida joined us to honor and thank Lainie for her immeasurable impact on thousands of students during her time at RCS.
“Thank you so much. I am overwhelmed by this reception and letters I have received during the past months after my retirement was announced,” Lainie said to the many
guests in attendance. “I feel many different emotions right now: happiness, sadness, trepidation, and ready for new adventures.
“But mostly I feel grateful to have spent my career working with some of the best and brightest students, parents, faculty, and staff that make RCS the amazing school and community that it is.”
Lainie grew up in a house filled with music. Her mother was a musician and teacher, her father was an educator who played the organ in their church, her brother played the cello, and she played the violin, piano, and guitar, and sang.
She formally began her musical journey at the age of six when she
“At RCS, they circle the wagons when you’re sad, they celebrate your happy moments — and I have celebrated every happy moment and sad moment in my adult life here. That’s a big deal.”
— Lainie Zades
entered Juilliard, playing the violin. By eighth grade she was also taking voice lessons at Juilliard. “I studied with some of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century there,” Lainie said. “They were all performers and teachers and tremendous role models for me.”
Lainie had just graduated from Juilliard when she arrived at RCS on a temporary six-month assignment to fill in for a music teacher who was on sabbatical. After only two weeks, Waldo Jones, who was the head of the Lower Campus and would became her mentor, told Lainie there wasn’t a position for her — but they would create one.
“I think I began my teaching career way before that,” Lainie reminisced. “I used to line my stuffed animals up. I pretended they were a choir while I conducted them in song. I also wrote plays and directed the neighborhood children in our backyard musicals.”
Lainie brought that same passion for the performing arts to RCS. She played a pivotal role in the traditions that mean the most to RCS families, from the many Lower School performances and plays to the Halloween and winter concerts, inspiring students and engendering a lifelong love of music. Ask any parent or student for a favorite Lower School memory, and you
“I’m going to miss the kids. I just love conversing with them, and I love sharing music with them. When I’m in my classroom, the rest of the world goes away. I thoroughly enjoy being with them, and teaching them, and being able to share with them the traditions of music that I learned when I was a child.”
— Lainie Zades
are likely to hear about “The Christmas Canon” at the Holiday Concert — with Lainie accompanying the children’s beautiful voices on her violin.
“I love the holiday program,” Lainie said. “And it’s grown over the years. I love all the different songs. I love that time of year. I feel like it gets everybody in the right spirit.”
“Ms. Zades is the reason I got into music in fifth grade in the first place,” Jackson Cooper ’22 recalled. “She inspired me and pushed me to continue my musical career and keep trying different instruments and trying new things. Part of the reason I really liked music was because
I thought she was so cool. I’d be playing on the big piano in the hall and she’d come in and say, ‘That sounds amazing. Keep going.’ She encouraged me along my entire musical journey.”
Lainie’s passion for music and her commitment to nurturing the talents of our students leaves an indelible mark on our community. From inspiring our youngest musicians to orchestrating heartwarming performances, Lainie has truly been integral to the heart and soul of our music program.
“Without question,” Colm MacMahon said, “Lainie will be remembered as one of the giants of RCS.”
“My favorite memory of Lainie is actually from the first year we took our fourth graders to sing the national anthem at Citi Field. Seeing Lainie up on the jumbotron, brilliantly leading our children, defined for me the outsized impact she has had on our school.”
— Colm MacMahon
Zades Fund for the Arts
In recognition of Lainie’s extraordinary contributions and to ensure her legacy continues to inspire future generations, the Board of Trustees has announced the establishment of the Zades Fund for the Arts.
The Board has designated an initial $50,000 in Board-directed reserve funds to a wide range of arts initiatives for JPK–Grade 9, including:
• Enhanced, high-quality sound and lighting for our visual and performing arts programs
• Funding for school-wide art shows, concerts, and plays
• Support for our educators with training and resources to enrich our arts curriculum
• Workshops and master classes conducted by professional artists
We invite our entire community to join us by contributing to the Zades Fund for the Arts. Your generous support will help us continue to provide exceptional arts education and inspire creativity in our students for years to come.
Have questions or would like to donate? Please reach out to Director of Development Daphne Viders at (914) 244-1293 or at viders@rcsny.org.
Retirements Nancy Finch
During her 12 years at RCS, Nancy Finch became a cherished member of the community, known for her warmth and dedication to students.
“I’m a people person,” Nancy said. “I love being surrounded by children.”
She started as an administrative assistant in the Lower Campus Front Office. Her position evolved when the school’s two campuses were brought together, leading to the creation of a new position that was a perfect fit for her: administrative assistant in the Early Childhood House.
Reflecting on her time at RCS, Nancy highlighted the significance of community and personal connections.
“You’re there to support teachers, students, parents, and caregivers. There’s so much to do, especially with young children,” she said.
While Nancy will miss the daily interactions and the wonderful people at RCS, she looks forward to spending more time at home with her husband and supporting their daughter, who has special needs. She plans to stay connected with the RCS community, possibly teaching in the after-school program or working in CAT a few days each week.
For the past three years, Nancy has been one of the first to greet children and parents outside the Early Childhood House each morning, always with a smile, rain or shine. We wish her all the best in her retirement.
Master Teaching Fund Grant Recipients
The Master Teaching Fund was established in 1992 by the Rippowam Cisqua School Alumni Association, led by Roger Vincent ’59, in honor of the School’s master teachers. Its purpose is to offer RCS faculty and staff who have completed more than five years of full-time service to the School an opportunity to engage in something that is meaningful to them. The belief is that, however the faculty or staff member chooses to use their grant, the resulting personal renewal
Tony Frasca Campus Security
derived from the use of the grant will organically transfer int o the classroom and ultimately be of benefit to our community. Past grants have been used to take trips across the country and around the world, to purchase technology equipment, and musical instruments, to learn a new language or skill, and more. Here, this year’s recipients share their experiences and their gratitude for the grants received.
Grant for 10 Years of Service
“I would like to sincerely thank the Alumni Association for awarding me the Master Teaching Fund grant. I am honored that my 10 years at RCS are being recognized. I consider myself fortunate to have found not just one, but two careers that I truly love. After serving 21 years as a Bedford police officer, my time here at RCS has brought me a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment. It is a privilege to continue serving and protecting the community.
“This grant will allow me to better provide medical treatment for my wife, Diane, who has been battling an invisible illness, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), an insidious, chronic pain disease of the central nervous system, for the past 10 years. As many of you are aware, the cost of medical care can be overwhelming. Having to make decisions about pain relief based on financial limitations is something no one should have to endure. If you know Diane, you would not realize she lives in constant pain — she is gracious, loving, and the most supportive partner I could ask for. Even in pain, she always puts me and those she loves first.
“Thanks to your generosity, I will be able to support months of physical therapy for her, along with more invasive treatments, without the persistent worry about the cost. This relief impacts every aspect of my life, including my role here at school. I take great pride in my job, particularly welcoming students each day with a smile and providing them with a strong sense of safety and security. Knowing I can offer both physical and emotional relief to my wife brings me immeasurable peace, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.”
Marie Peña
Co-Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; English Teacher
Grant for 10 Years of Service
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Alumni Association for the generous grant that allowed me to pursue and complete my graduate degree in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership. This incredible opportunity has deepened my understanding and enhanced my ability to cultivate inclusive environments in educational settings.
“The knowledge and skills I’ve gained are already making a significant impact on my work with students, faculty, and the broader RCS community, as I strive to promote equity and celebrate diversity. Your support has not only helped me achieve a personal academic goal but has also empowered me to lead initiatives that drive meaningful change. Thank you for believing in the importance of this work and for investing in my journey as an educator and leader.”
Joanna Hepworth
Grade 2 Teacher
Grant for 5 Years of Service
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the RCS Alumni Association for awarding me the Master Teaching Fund grant. This funding will allow me to pursue yoga training, which I am excited to incorporate into my classroom. Through these yoga classes, I will gain valuable skills that will help me introduce mindfulness and movement into the daily routines of my students. I believe that integrating yoga into the classroom will enhance their focus, reduce stress, and foster a positive learning environment. I look forward to sharing the positive impact this will have on my students.”
Serbesina Thaci
Jennie Prince
Grade 1 Teacher
Grant for 5 Years of Service
“Thank you so much for the generous MTF grant. It was an incredible gift to put the funds toward a trip to Spain with my husband. I love to travel, and it was a joy to explore the magical island of Menorca. Life is full and busy during the school year, and to be able to take time to recharge and to discover new places was a dream. I came back feeling fulfilled and rested!”
Spanish Teacher, Global Studies Teacher
Grant for 5 Years of Service
“I am excited to apply my Master Teaching Fund grant toward a teacher training program for Global Education. This opportunity will empower me to foster global citizenship among my students, equipping them with the skills and perspectives needed to navigate an interconnected world. Through this course, I will gain valuable strategies, activities, and resources to enrich my teaching practice, helping students develop a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, global issues, and the importance of collaboration across borders. Ultimately, this training will enhance my ability to prepare students for success in a globally connected society.”
“I am excited to apply my Master Teaching Fund grant toward a teacher training program for Global Education. Ultimately, this training will enhance my ability to prepare students for success in a globally connected society.”
— Serbesina Thaci
The
RCS Alumni Association Board
2024–25
Forrest Mas ’04, Chair
Charlie Carpenter ’13
Storrs Coté ’79
Jay Fischer ’00
Peter Hallock ’92
Sydney Mas Klehm ’07
Peter Kunhardt Jr. ’98
Alexandra White Lawrence ’97
Georgia Morley ’12
Jermaine Moure ’96
Lakeya (Graves) Newton ’04
Vanessa Seide ’93
Missy (Walker) Meyer ’07
Parents of Alumni Committee
Alexandria Altman P’15, ’17, ’19
Cyndi Azima P’19, ’22
Tracy Fauver P’14, ’16, ’18
Stefanie Feidelson P’08, ’11
Melissa Fleming P’11, ’14, ’15
Susanna Giordano P’06, ’08, ’12, ’17
Patty Grunebaum P’11, ’12, ’14
Michelle Hodge P’18
Lisa Kaufmann P’20, ’22
Heather Langham P’11, ’14
Anna Lee P’06, ’08, ’13, ’15
Karen McFarlane P’18
Mel Morley P’08, ’09, ’12
Suzanne O’Callaghan P’19, ’20, ’22
Felicia Peterson P’18
Cassie Robbins P’16, ’18
Kim Speegle P’14, ’15, ’17
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For the latest news from campus: rcsny.org
Alumni Class Notes
A Class of 1980 reunion! Pictured (from left to right) are Matthew
Bill
’80, Philip Lawrence ’80, Liz Durfee ’80,
Lamb Coté ’79, Christina
’80, Grant Miller ’79, Michael O’Callaghan ’80, Boku Prince ’80, Randy Van Kleeck ’80, and Betsy Burbank ’80. Also at the party but missing from this photo were Karen O’Callaghan Horan ’76, Chris Johnson ’82, and Michael Wood ’80.
McLain Ward ’91 and his horse, Ilex, at the Olympics
1980
“Everyone had a terrific time,” Michael O’Callaghan wrote about a September gathering that included many alumni from the Class of 1980. “I think it was more fun and enjoyable having everyone at our home in Katonah than anyone even expected.”
1991
Six-time Olympian McLain Ward captured his fifth medal, a silver, at the 2024 Games in Paris last summer in equestrian team jumping. He has now earned two gold and three silver medals. “Representing our country at the Olympic Games has been a privilege and an honor,” McLain wrote.
Binger ’80, Whitney Singleton ’80,
Jaffee
Storrs
Green
1994
Joshua Caspi lives in Greenwich with his wife, Morgan, and sons Oliver, age 14, Hudson, age 13, and Julian, age 11. Joshua wrote, “My two older boys attend and play football for Brunswick, and my youngest son just graduated from North Street School.” He added, “I completed the five-star hotel Fouquet’s New York
Tell Us What’s New with You!
To submit Class Notes: Send text and high-res images to Karin Smith at ksmith@rcsny.org. For short milestone information (engagements, weddings, births), please include full names and dates.
Madeleine Henry ’07 has published a new book!
in late 2022 and have been developing projects across the country, including a Robert Stern mixed-use project in my hometown that is getting underway. I have been a member of Greenwich Country Club for several years and take great pride in overseeing the development of the White Plains Hospital and new public school in Greenwich.”
2001
Vanessa (Goldstein) Khachane ’01 is excited to announce that this fall, after four years back in Bedford, two of her three children, River ’33 and Hawkins ’36, started at RCS this year. Go Blue! Vanessa works as a senior brand and reputation marketing manager at YouTube/Google and dedicates her free time to local nonprofits. She was recently named vice president of the Board of Bedford 2030, a nonprofit focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and preserving natural resources. Additionally, she co-founded the End the Silence Project to combat antisemitism and prejudice in Northern Westchester through open dialogue and educational programs. Vanessa looks forward to bringing this work to her alma mater.
2007
Maddie Burbank Conlee and her husband, Kyle, welcomed baby girl Eloise in February.
Madeleine Henry’s fourth novel, My Favorite Terrible Thing, was published in May. This mystery is about a famous author who disappears without a trace and the detective who discovers clues within the pages of her novel. Madeleine’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Post, and Entertainment Weekly
Maddie Burbank Conlee ’07, husband Kyle, and baby Eloise
Joshua Caspi ’94 and his family
Vanessa (Goldstein) Khachane ’01 and her husband, Avi Khachane
Alexandria van Starrenburg Vallely ’07 has a new baby boy!
2007
Leigh Needham ’08 with new husband Justin Pash and their dog, Tito
Sydney Mas and Hank Klehm were married in October. “It was so great to celebrate among many family and friends on what was a spectacular day,” said the new Mrs. Klehm. The couple will continue to reside in Manhattan.
Colette Salvatore and Daniel Whitaker were married on April 20 at the Tryall Club in Jamaica.
Alexandria van Starrenburg Vallely and her husband, Bud, welcomed baby boy
Pierce Coté and Julia Feiss recently engaged
Paynter Jackson Vallely into the world on September 20. Alexandria wrote, “He loves the fall in Bedford!”
2008
Alec Coté is working on getting his pilot’s license and started a new job in September.
Leigh Needham married Justin Pash at the childhood home in Bedford where she grew up. Their dog, Tito, celebrated with them.
2011
Adele Lawrence Knight has a beautiful new baby girl, Charlotte Alice Knight.
Pierce Coté recently got engaged to Julia Feiss. Pierce is working at Angelo Gordon and living in New York City.
2014
Charlotte Flemming earned her MFA from NYU.
Sydney Mas ’07 and her husband, Hank Klehm, leaving St. Matthew’s Church
Wedding guests and oldest friends Missy Walker Meyer ’07, Alison Bianco Allwin ’07, Sydney Mas Klehm ’07, Alexandria van Starrenburg Vallely ’07, and Colette Salvatore Whitaker ’07
Colette Salvatore ’07 is married!
2017
Liz Carlson won the The Ernest Henry Riedel Classical Studies Prize upon graduating from Tulane University this past spring.
2021
Paul Creegan graduated from Fordham Preparatory School in May and is now a freshman at Rochester Institute of Technology majoring in computer science with a minor in cybersecurity. Paul’s passion for technology was fostered at RCS, where he spent countless hours in the Innovation Center with Miles Cameron ’93 and learned all about theatre lighting from Michael Florio.
While at Fordham Prep, Paul had the opportunity to augment his computer science classes by taking classes in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and Python at Columbia University and Fordham University. Paul began working on lighting for the Fordham Prep Dramatics Society in freshman year. In his sophomore year he designed and created the lighting, and also led the technical lighting team (of four to five students) for two plays each year.
Paul was awarded the inaugural Fr. Freeman Innovation Award at the 2024 Fordham Prep STEAM Exposition, and he earned awards for Excellence in Computer
Science, Excellence in Technical Lighting, Contemplatives in Service, and General Excellence and Scholarship at his Senior Awards Ceremony.
2023
Ripp grads in Ecuador! In May, Mae Bartlett, currently a junior at St. Mark’s School, visited Ecuador and the Galapagos on a program led by St. Mark’s science teacher and fellow Ripp grad Lindsey (Heller) Lohwater ’95. Along with nine other students, Mae explored Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage City, with a gondola ride to take in mountain views, and visited the old city, which features cathedrals from the 1500s, beautiful plazas, and other amazing sites. Highlights for the rest of the trip included learning about medicinal plants and visiting a local indigenous school in San Clemente; visiting Cotopaxi National Park and Limpiopungo Lake; and observing birds, fish, and tortoises in the Galapagos.
After her first two years under the mountain top, Wren Freund has totally immersed herself in all that Berkshire School has to offer. She plays on the girls varsity soccer team and also enjoys playing tennis and squash. Over the summer, Wren traveled to Barcelona to play soccer, and also went to Nantucket and San Francisco.
After 11 years at Ripp, the thought of going to school far away from home was daunting for Saylor Pachios. However, after finishing her sophomore year at St. Paul’s School, Saylor now proudly says she has found her second home. Last year, she played varsity soccer, ice hockey, and varsity lacrosse. Over the summer she was a sailing instructor on Martha’s Vineyard. After challenging herself academically and athletically, her confidence has grown, and she is happily enjoying her junior year, excited to be back at St. Paul’s.
2024
Luke Childs had an amazing first year at St. Paul’s School, trying many new things, including squash and the ski team. A talented tennis player at RCS, Luke landed a spot on the boys varsity tennis team at St. Paul’s. During the summer, Luke played tennis at IMG Academy in Florida, and immersed himself in a six-week Spanish exchange program in Zaragoza, Spain.
During his freshman year at Deerfield Academy, Harry Mitchell played lacrosse and also tried wrestling. During the summer, Harry worked as a camp counselor at the Bedford Golf & Tennis Club, and also traveled to Kenya for a safari with his family. He is off to a great start in the valley this year as a sophomore!
Mae Bartlett ’23 and her St. Mark’s teacher Lindsey (Heller) Lohwater ’95
Paul Creegan ’21 graduated from Fordham Prep in May
Timmy Hall ’24 and Harry Mitchell ’24 met up on the lacrosse field
In Memoriam
We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the following members of our school community.
Rob Stone died on June 24, 2024. As a founder of the music magazine The Fader and the brand-strategy firm Cornerstone Agency, Rob bridged the sounds of the streets and corporate suites, giving early exposure to rappers like Kanye West and Drake while brokering lucrative endorsements at a time when corporate America was still resistant to hip-hop.
In high school, Rob was a soccer and basketball standout. He also developed a growing love for rap music, taping shows by influential New York disc jockeys.
“I realized that hip-hop culture could move the world,” he told Forbes, “because it was moving me.”
After graduating from Albany State University in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in business, Rob spent time at SBK Records and Arista before setting off on his own. Rob was the father of Charlie Stone ’32, Jett Stone ’32, and Mika Stone ’37, and husband of Lauren Gonzales Stone. He will be deeply missed.
Arney (Angus) Pulford ’45 died peacefully at her home in Wethersfield, Connecticut, on August 5, 2024. She was 94 years old. She was predeceased by her husband of 77 years, Robert Pulford, and her brother, David G. Angus ’48. She was born in New York City to her parents, Olive and William Angus. Eventually growing up in Bedford Hills, she attended Rippowam Cisqua School, Saint Margaret’s High School, and Barnard College.
Howard Buchanan, father of Andrew Buchanan ’31 , and Matthew Buchanan ’31 , and husband of RCS trustee Micki Buchanan, died on October 4, 2024. Howard was passionate about cooking, which led him to become one of the youngest students at the Culinary Institute of America. He went on to study at Cornell University where he completed a degree in hotel and restaurant management. Following college, Howard spent four years serving his country in the United States Marine Corps, where he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Mast Award. Howard enjoyed cooking, sailing, biking, skiing, running marathons, and spending time with family and friends. He has given so much time and devotion to the RCS community, and he will be dearly missed.
Ruth Neary, mother of Matthew Neary ’25, and wife of William Neary, died on October 6, 2024. Ruth attended Pace University and Baruch College. She found joy in broadening her perspective through exploring new cultures and landscapes. Music spoke to her heart, and Ruth’s own musical talent shone brightly when she played the drums, a pursuit that brought her immense pleasure and allowed her to express her vibrant spirit. Ruth’s relationships were nurtured with care, imbued with laughter, and strengthened by shared experiences.
Will Moody ’23 died on August 10, 2024. Will was well-known and well-loved in the Rippowam Cisqua School and Bedford communities. He was a kind and gentle young man, a leader, and a devoted friend. During Will’s time at RCS, he made an indelible impression on our community, both as a student and an athlete. He was a passionate tennis and soccer player. In just his second year at RCS, in his ninth grade year, he was elected by his peers to serve as Blue Team captain.
Will attended Greens Farms Academy for his tenth grade year. Will will be greatly missed, and our hearts especially go out to Will’s parents Sarah and Scott Moody, sisters Anne Moody and Mae Moody ’28, and brother Henry Moody ’26
Howard Buchanan with Micki, Matthew ’31, and Andrew ’31 in September
Photo by Jonathan Mannion
Planning for Rippowam Cisqua School’s Future
Imagine the Possibilities
Remembering Rippowam Cisqua School in your estate planning helps ensure a brighter tomorrow for our school.
The 1917 Society was established in memory of our earliest leaders and the year of the School’s founding — honoring those alumni, faculty, parents, and friends who made a choice to bolster the future of RCS by providing for the School in their estates and/ or by establishing planned gift arrangements that benefited both RCS and themselves. Today, all donors — whether through a bequest provision or a life income arrangement — are granted membership into the 1917 Society.
When you join our ever-growing list of individuals and families who have chosen to make provisions for RCS in their estate plans — including bequests, charitable trusts, life insurance, real estate, or other tangible property — you are making an investment in our future. You are giving our students opportunities to create connections today that will lead to unlimited possibilities.
Depending on your circumstances, a planned gift may not only greatly benefit RCS but may also provide some significant tax advantages for you and your family. Thank you in advance for considering including RCS in your estate planning.
1917 Society
Through a simple provision in your estate, request the following designation:
Trustees of Rippowam Cisqua School, a charitable and educational institution in Bedford, New York.
For more information, please contact Director of Development Daphne Viders at viders@rcsny.org or at (914) 244-1293.
