Hill
THE MAGAZINE OF GREENHILL SCHOOL
A Tradition of
Fostering Respect
SPRING 2017 | GREENHILL SCHOOL
On the cover:
Records of Respect
Fifth-grade Teacher Matthew Giorgio launched an exercise with his students to call attention to the theme of respect. When a student witnesses a peer showing respect (respect for one another, respect for the environment, respect for personal property, etc.), the student takes a record and writes on it, highlighting that peer’s model behavior. This collage of records is hung in the fifth-grade pod and has grown throughout the year. Mr. Giorgio explains, “The idea is to be more proactive in coaching our students to do the right thing. The more they are looking out for these behaviors and the more they hear about them, the more likely they will be to act with respect.” On this page: Students link arms in a song about friendship at our Founders' Day assembly.
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A TRADITION OF FOSTERING RESPECT
Campus Currents
2 A Word from Scott A. Griggs Head of School 3 Greenhill Fund - Thank You 4 Fall and Winter Highlights 6 School News 8 Head of School Search Update
10 Sports Recap 14 Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day 16 Faculty Leaders 18 Featured Student Work 19 Fine Arts Spotlight 20 Evergreen Online
Feature 22
A Tradition of
Fostering Respect 36 Alumni Reflections on Respect
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ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni 40 Alumni News 44 Class Notes 48 In Memoriam 50 Turning Points 52 Why We Love Greenhill
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SPORTS RECAP
Greenhill School is a diverse community of learners that strives for excellence; values individuality; fosters a passion for learning; promotes the balanced development of mind, body and character; encourages service; and instills a respect for others. Greenhill School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin in the administration of its educational policies and programs, admissions processes, financial aid programs, employment, practices, athletic practices and other School administrative activities.
Greenhill School 4141 Spring Valley Road Addison, Texas 75001 greenhill.org
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A Word from the Head of School Dear Greenhill Community, One of the aspects of Greenhill that I greatly appreciate is the fact that we continually innovate and improve the educational experience for our students. As we announced in our last issue, we completed the Building Community Campaign, which included the transformational Marshall Family Performing Arts Center. This winter, as we approached the one-year anniversary of its grand opening, we watched as this amazing space elevated our most beloved campus events, from the Nutcracker to Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day. We have also implemented changes in program and structure throughout our divisions to enhance the learning experience including: • Launching new phonics and spelling programs in Preschool and Lower School to strengthen fundamental skills • Transitioning from trimesters to semesters in the Middle School to give students greater time for academic learning and reflection • Opened an Academic Resource Center in our Upper School with two dedicated learning specialists to offer additional support for all students The results of our ISAS reaccreditation process have also offered the School the opportunity to reevaluate our operational processes. We completed an assessment of the School’s technology infrastructure and are currently implementing changes to improve technology across campus. We are also reviewing our financial sustainability in order to maximize the affordability and accessibility of a Greenhill education for the future. Finally, the historic presidential election in the fall has provided myriad opportunities for our faculty and staff to talk to our students about our core value and annual theme of respect. Our teachers have woven respect into classroom exercises and our eighth-graders had the tremendous opportunity of being in Washington, D.C. on election night during their annual trip to our nation’s capital. You can read more about their work and other demonstrations of respect on page 22. As always, I am incredibly grateful to be a part of such a dynamic and supportive community. Thank you for all that you do for Greenhill and have a wonderful summer. Sincerely,
Scott A. Griggs Head of School
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GREENHILL FUND
Greenhill Fund reaches 100% participation across Lower School! Thanks to the incredible efforts of our dedicated parent volunteers, Greenhill Fund reached 100% participation across the entire Lower School community by January! Middle and Upper School communities have also experienced excellent participation with 90% total participation as of April 1, 2017. Greenhill Fund reached its goal in March with a total of $1,653,800.* *At the time of magazine printing.
Thank you to our amazing volunteers who made this happen! Lower School Joy & Jordan Sebold O’Malley & Ben Dishman Lower School Team Leaders
Grade 5 Kate & Jon Kettles Tracey & Chris Kennedy Kathy & Gary Bridges
Primer O’Malley & Ben Dishman
Grade 6 Ashley & Rick Scheer
Elan & Augusto Sasso New Parent Co-Chairs
Grade 1 Michelle Wettreich Garza ’95 & Joel Garza Rosalind Lynam & Matt Pikar
Grade 7 Tracy & Kent Rathbun Lauren & Jeff Zlotky
Marsha Gaswirth Grandparent Chair
Grade 2 Leigh & Jeff Morales
Julie & Mike Weinberg ’82 Parent of Alumni Co-Chairs
Grade 3 Michelle Wettreich Garza ’95 & Joel Garza Rebekah & Benjamin Newman Denise & Dustin Marshall ’96
William E. Rose ’85 Board Chair Debbie Andres E. Pierce Marshall, Jr. ’86 Development Co-Chairs Leslie & David Benners Brett & Lester Levy, Jr. ’79 Greenhill Fund Co-Chairs
Preschool Joanne & Joe Yurich Preschool Team Leaders Prekindergarten Rosalind Lynam & Matt Pikar Kindergarten Joy & Jordan Sebold Denise & Dustin Marshall ’96
Grade 4 Julie Grossman Kronick ’83 & David Kronick Kaitlin & Elliott Prieur Marianna & Jon Yellen
Middle School
Rachel Davidoff Ladin ’91 & Brian Ladin Selwyn Rayzor & Rich Moses Lower School Team Leaders
www.greenhill.org/give
Grade 8 Aaron & Catie Enrico Pilar & Jay Henry
Upper School Angela & John Crates Upper School Team Leaders Grade 9 Rebekah & Benjamin Newman Grade 10 Randi Jacobs Grade 11 Debra & John Morgan Lori Stone
Preschoolers party with pizza and gratitude. Each class enjoyed a pajama pizza party when the class reached 100% participation. Questions about the Greenhill Fund? Anne Hudson Director of Annual Giving hudsona@greenhill.org 972.628.5512 phone
Grade 12 Kathryn & Stephen Arata Kristin & Dan Simenc
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FALL & WINTER HIGHLIGHTS
Greenhill’s Homecoming Court proudly poses on October 7
Greenhill Fine Arts presented the hilarious Tartuffe on November 4-6, 2016.
In Helen Fulton’s beloved tradition kids enjoy an ice cream social in their Blue 11 Heart of the Hill Group on Founders' Day.
The annual Primer Pie Contest on October 27 was as popular as ever with a record-breaking 857 votes and 54 entered pies.
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Head of Lower School Michael Simpson helps with the heavy lifting at Primer’s Annual Pumpkin Carving contest.
FALL & WINTER HIGHLIGHTS
Assistant Head of School Tom Perryman ’81 rouses the crowd on Founders' Day.
Middle School teachers celebrate Diwali on October 26.
Find the familiar faces! Greenhill Legends gather in September for their annual dinner.
The 66th Annual Nutcracker was performed by the Kindergarten Class of 2029 for the first time in Rose Hall in the Marshall Family Performing Arts Center.
Greenhill Fine Arts presented a spectacular performance of Cabaret on February 3-4, 2017.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Get up-to-the-minute news on our website! www.greenhill.org For these and other stories of student and faculty achievement, visit Greenhill’s newly designed website. News is accessible by scrolling down the site and perusing headlines. You can also access all news archives on the site. Find us on: facebook.com/GreenhillSchool twitter.com/GreenhillSchool instagram.com/GreenhillSchool
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SCHOOL NEWS
School News Read these complete stories and many more online!
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Eight Middle School students competed in a debate invitational at Garland High School. The team came away with 16 finalists and awards in five events, winning second place sweepstakes overall!
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The Sixth Annual Greenhill Charity Fashion Show included 50 fellow student models. Proceeds raised benefited the Grant Halliburton Foundation and were close to $10,000, the most raised in one year since the fashion show's inception in 2012.
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Primer teacher Tracey Pugh was selected to speak in February at an African-American Legislative Summit in Austin, held for Links, Inc., which is a volunteer service organization for AfricanAmerican women.
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Third-grade teacher Valerie Rhomberg was honored with the Outstanding Pre-Service Educator of the SMU Simmons School for 2017. Rhomberg received the most faculty votes for the honor.
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Two juniors were the champions of Lincoln Douglas debate and Worlds School debate respectively of the Harvard-Westlake invitational. Shruthi was also the top speaker of the invitational and received third place at one of the most selective Round Robins in the country.
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Head of Preschool Netra Fitzgerald has been selected as a Regional Co-Chair of Southwest for the People of Color Conference (PoCC) where she will lead the regional meetings, facilitating conversations and goal-setting.
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Five Upper School students were selected to attend the SMU Hart Global Leaders Forum, which offers students an opportunity to interact with national and international leaders in government, business, science and the media, including meeting George W. Bush.
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Upper School Spanish teacher Mary Tapia was honored with the Life Long Service Award by the Lone Star Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese.
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Upper School Counselor Priya Singhvi was awarded the Faces of Hope Award by the Grant Halliburton Foundation “to honor individuals in our community who work in very diverse ways to promote mental health every day.”
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Fourth graders under the guidance and leadership of Teacher Laura Flanagan, have initiated Team Green—a student dimension of the Green Team. The students are growing a tower garden in the classroom, as well as actively pursuing trash cleanup and healthy eating. “Greenhill should live up to its name,” says the team. “We need to make sure Greenhill is truly green.”
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SCHOOL NEWS
Head of School Search Update This past year the Greenhill Community completed a tremendous amount of research as we started the journey to identify Greenhill’s next Head of School. Below is a brief recap: • Created a robust Search Committee with representatives from all facets of Greenhill • Selected the largest nationally recognized educational search firm, Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CSA), to assist with the search • Surveyed our entire community and facilitated in-person interviews to identify needs for the School moving forward • Developed a Position Statement to give prospective candidates an overview of Greenhill and the Head of School position Thank you to everyone that participated in the Community Survey and the inperson sessions on campus. Your feedback provided the necessary background to CSA as they drafted the Position Statement and demonstrated your deep commitment to Greenhill as an educational institution.
Search Committee Co-Chairs Rusty Jaggers, Seach Committee Co-Chair Bruce Sostek, Search Committee Co-Chair Yasmin Bhatia Albertina Cisneros Scott Cotton Arun Dhingra Holland Gary ’93 Peter Kraus E. Pierce Marshall, Jr. ’86 Susan Palmer Will Rose ’85 Michael Simpson Julie Weinberg
Please continue to monitor www.greenhill.org/headofschoolsearch for ongoing search updates and watch for more formal communication in the fall.
Trevor Worcester Appointed Interim Head of Upper School for 2017-2018 has served as Modern and Classical Languages department chair since 2007, while also teaching Latin in both Middle and Upper School.
Trevor Worcester began his career at Greenhill in 1998. Over the course of the past 19 years, he has distinguished himself as a master teacher, exceptional advisor, and talented administrator. A Classics major from Bowdoin College, Trevor
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Trevor has been a member of the Upper School Leadership Team since 2001 and serves as co-chair of the Upper School Vision Committee. In this role, he is leading a group of Upper School faculty in identifying programmatic goals for the future direction of the Upper School. Worcester’s transition into the Interim Head of Upper School position will allow for a continuation of this work and an efficient implementation of identified initiatives in the coming year. In February, Mr. Worcester gave an introductory address to the Upper School, comparing his transition to visiting Fenway Park for the first time as a child from Maine. “When
you walk into Fenway for the first time, you are in awe of the history and tradition, and yet, having seen it for so many years on television, it’s familiar, too. That’s how I feel about this new position. I’m in awe at the responsibility of the office, but at the same time, I’m familiar and comfortable with Greenhill, and that’s how I want next year to be for the students and faculty.” Trevor’s wife Stephanie is the Middle School Learning Specialist at Hockaday, and his daughter Olivia will be a new ninth grader this fall. Once a new Head of School has been named, the administration will determine the appointment of a permanent Head of Upper School. Check out the more in-depth interview with Mr. Worcester at www. evergreengreenhill.org.
FALL SPORTS RECAP
Football Above: The Greenhill Hornets defeated St. Mark’s School of Texas, 42-27, for the first time in 13 years to kickoff the 2016 season. The Hornets finished with an 8-2 record, including a second-place showing in the SPC Small School Division. Top Left: This junior led the Hornets with 11 receiving touchdowns en route to earning all-conference honors for the first time in his career. Bryant scored touchdowns in a variety of ways this past season, including receiving, interception, punt return and kick-off return. Left: This junior earned All-SPC honors for the second straight season after finishing with 35 catches for 738 yards and seven touchdowns. Right: This senior threw for 2,248 yards and 23 touchdowns while also leading the Hornets in rushing with 716 yards and 13 touchdowns. He earned All-SPC honors for the second straight season.
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Fall SPC Award Winners: Xavier Bryant Michael Simpson Kassidy Woods Konnell Woods
FALL SPORTS RECAP
Girls Volleyball Below: The Hornets captured their second consecutive SPC championship after defeating E.S.D. in straight sets. The Hornets finished with a 31-7 record during the 2016 season, which was their second straight 30-win season. Far Left: This senior led the Hornets in kills and blocks this past season en route to earning her third consecutive all-conference honor. Fall SPC Award Winners: Ellen Margaret Andrews Allie Frymire Michal Mathis
Left: This junior was one of the Hornets’ top all-around players and was recognized for all-conference honors for the second straight season.
Boys Volleyball Far Left: The Hornets – who finished 25-5 overall – won the Red River Round-Up Tournament and FWCD Invitational and earned secondplace honors at the SPC Fall Championship. Middle: This junior was one of the Hornets’ top all-around performers during the 2016 season and was rewarded with All-SPC honors for the second time in his career. Left: This sophomore had a breakout season for the Hornets and was honored with All-SPC honors for the first time in his career.
Fall SPC Award Winners: Ananias Hayes Barrett Winchell
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SPORTS NEWS BRIEFS
Boys Cross Country Left: This junior finished seventh overall at the SPC Fall Championships en route to leading the Hornets to a fifth-place team showing. Zweig earned all-conference honors for the first time in his career. Right: This junior finished 17th overall at the SPC Fall Championships and was selected All-SPC for the second straight season. Fall SPC Award Winners: Daniel Brickman Matthew Zweig
Girls Cross Country Left: This freshman finished fourth overall at the SPC Fall Championships and led the Hornets to a second-place showing. The Hornet freshman was honored with All-SPC honors. Right: The Cross Country team celebrates their second-place victory at the SPC Fall Championship.
Fall SPC Award Winners: Cameron Crates Chandler Crates Maddie Hatfield Kaiti Ness
Field Hockey Top Left: This junior was a standout on the field hockey field en route to earning all-conference recognition for the first time. Top Right: This senior was one of the top offensive performers for the Hornets this past season and earned AllSPC honors for the first time in her career. Bottom: The Hornets finished 7-11-1 overall, including a fifth-place showing at the SPC Fall Championships under first-year head coach Brittany Johnson ’09.
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Fall SPC Award Winners: Mia Hirsch Isabelle Thompson
SPORTS NEWS BRIEFS
Collegiate Athletic Commitments Seniors Ellen Margaret Andrews, Max Mendelsohn, Rheagen Smith and Christian Quintero have committed to continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Mendelsohn and Smith signed a National Letter of Intent during a Signing Day Ceremony in February. Mendelsohn will continue his tennis career at Pepperdine University, a member of the West Coast Conference. The Tennis Recruiting Network listed Mendelsohn as a five-star recruit and is currently ranked 62nd in the nation in Junior Tennis. Smith will continue her soccer career at Texas A&M University, a member of the Southeastern Conference. A two-time AllSouthwest Preparatory Conference selection, Smith scored 20 goals to go along with 12 assists during her junior campaign.
Above: This senior has committed to Yale University to play basketball. A standout since freshman year, Ellen Margaret has been called “the best of what Greenhill has to offer.” She finished her career with a staggering 3,130 points, 1,602 rebounds, and over 400 assists. In the words of Coach Darryn Sandler ’95, “It was a privilege to coach such a talented player and an even bigger honor to coach such an incredible person.” Below: This senior plans to play soccer at Oral Roberts University. Chris was a four year standout in the boys' soccer program, serving as a captain for two years. He tallied 31 goals and 18 assists in his career and led the team to a second place SPC finish his senior year, the program's best finish in over a decade. Coach Greg Krauss said, “Chris is a skillful player who competes with a true passion for the game. His love of representing Greenhill on the field is second to none.”
Other senior athletes are still deciding on athletic commitments. Some of note include: Nate Eazor is planning to play tennis at Middlebury College. Jack Goodwin is planning to play tennis at Millsaps College. Michael Simpson is planning to play football at Trinity University. Douglass Smith and Konnell Woods are planning to play football, but are undecided at the time of magazine printing.
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GRANDPARENTS’ AND SPECIAL FRIENDS’ DAY
Grandparents Enjoy Greenhill's New Art Center
On November 18, 2016, Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day was held for the first time in the brand new Marshall Family Performing Arts Center—Greenhill's hub for performances and activity. Our campus guests were able to enjoy staggered check-in times and a customized program based on their child’s grade and interest. These included performances from all grade levels in Rose Hall and the Nancy A. Nasher & David J. Haemisegger Family Studio Theater. Thank you to our entire Grandparent community for your engagement and support of Greenhill School and especially to our Grandparent Chairs Marsha and the late Ron Gaswirth!
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FACULTY LEADERS
WHY I TEACH THE FACULTY LEADERS OF 2016-2017
Celebrating excellence in teaching and working at Greenhill School
Janice LaMendola Kindergarten Teacher
Celeste Sanders ’00 Middle School Math Teacher
Janice and her husband Dan LaMendola have four kids that grew up on The Hill, Michael ’10, ninthgrader Max, and sixth-graders Julianna and Skye.
Celeste is married to alumnus Byron Sanders ’01 and is the mother of two Hornets, second-grader Bailey and first-grader Bryce.
Janice LaMendola's first paycheck from Greenhill was as a last-minute fill-in referee at a volleyball game.
“Learning is emotional and the more positive an environment I can create for my students, the more likely they are to reach for the stars in everything else,” says Celeste Sanders, who can recall many emotional times, herself, as a student at Greenhill in the 90’s. She has spent her teaching career with a focus on better understanding the brain and how it learns. “I feel that if I can help a student walk into my math class and feel supported and confident in their current abilities and their ability to improve, then I can help them feel happy. They don’t have to like math, I just want them to like coming to math. I appreciate an environment like Greenhill in which I can experiment and try new things to help move this goal along.”
“I donned the zebra stripes and reffed my first game. I spent the next two years helping out the Hornets and coaching the club team.” At the time, Janice was a manager in the restaurant industry and sensed a calling toward education. She began her career at Greenhill as a teaching fellow, which eventually led to a Primer teaching position with former Greenhill Faculty Leader Peggy Frederickson. “It was there that I found my passion for teaching. After 21 years, two Heads of School, three Heads of Lower School, three Heads of Preschool, multiple coaching gigs, a few championships, three new buildings, and loving hundreds of kids I call my own, I am still here.”
Photography by © Michal Dembinski
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FACULTY LEADERS
The Penny Nicholson Award Winner Named in memory of an esteemed Greenhill colleague who served the business office for 15 years, the Penny Nicholson Award is given to a staff member who exemplifies such qualities as a genuine love for Greenhill, self-motivation, humility, and many other extraordinary qualities of Penny Nicholson.
Barry Ide Upper School Science Teacher
Lina Thompson Child Development Center (CDC) Teacher
Barry’s wife Olivia is the history department chair at Ursuline Academy and they just had their first child, a daughter named Ottoline Ellison.
Lina is married to Associate Director of Admissions Johnny Thompson. Their twins, Johnny and Jessi, will be new ninth graders in the fall.
He may owe his calling to the long line of educators in his family—both his parents and 80% of his family are teachers—but from the age of six, Barry Ide knew he wanted to teach. A native of Philadelphia and an alum of Juniata College in central Pennsylvania, Barry discovered a kinship to Greenhill when he arrived in the fall of 1999. “I felt at home because it was so similar, both in size and community, to Juniata.” Barry prides himself in fostering the opposite of the education he experienced. “I was bored with high school textbooks and desperate to get into realworld learning.” Barry even left high school a semester early to work with college students sailing the Atlantic and studying oceanography. “I want my classroom to be filled with scientists who are comfortable asking and answering their own questions.” Barry’s curriculum is indeed alive, exploring new questions in biology—and the real world— every day.
“It’s so rewarding to be around my babies in the CDC every day, watching them grow and discover,” says Lina Thompson. Known to many as Ms. Lina, she has worked at Greenhill in many roles since 2000. From Kindergarten to Extended Day to Summer on the Hill and even Greenhill Gala. She is filled with pride and love for her job. “I have the best job on campus,” she says. “Being able to love and care for the youngest future Hornets on campus is really fulfilling to me.” From teaching Spanish words like agua, to peacock imitation, to counting trees and chasing squirrels, Ms. Lina cares deeply about each baby she teaches—“I do it with a great big smile on my face and pride in my heart.” Ms. Lina is also full of gratitude. “Thank you to Cindy Page for being such a wonderful mentor to me, and to Greenhill School for embracing me and my culture, and allowing me to do what I do best—caring for precious children.”
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FEATURED STUDENT WORK
F AL L IN G
Story and Art by junior Grace Doyle Layout by senior Brooke Bulmash Excerpt from Greenhill’s literary magazine, Montage 2016, recipient of a gold medalist critique Silver Crown Award from Columbia Scholastic Press Association. “Gabriel darling, shut the window. It’s freezing in here,” said Marla, rolling over, and burying even deeper into her fluffy white duvet. From across the room came a sigh and then the pattering of small footsteps. The window shut with a click. “Mother, it’s nearly noon,” Gabriel said. “Shouldn’t you be up?” “Oh no,” said Marla, with a yawn. “It is a Wednesday, and I am dreadfully tired on Wednesdays.” “Mother, you are always tired.” “Except I am especially tired on Wednesdays. Leave me alone.” “But the sheep…” said the child. “I hear it will be chilly tonight. The sheep can keep their wool.” “But the horses…” “Let them rest, I’m sure they are as tired as I am.” “But the pigs they- ” “I felt like bacon anyways,” Marla snapped. Gabriel glared at her. “If you are so worried, do it yourself!” Marla said then covered her face with the sheets. With a frustrated sigh, Gabriel marched out of the room, grabbing his coat on the way, his stout fingers fumbling with the buttons until they were all done up. He pulled the lapels up until they covered his nose, then started out for the stables. Having spotted Gabriel, the pigs’ snouts poked eagerly through the chain-link fence. Gabriel smiled, and filled a bucket with feed. He felt quite an affinity for the pigs; their congenial personalities awarded Gabriel with constant companionship. “Okay, okay I’m coming.” Gabriel said with a smile. “Just let me-” and then suddenly Gabriel could no longer talk. He could not talk because he was screaming, and Gabriel was screaming, because when you are falling, falling, falling down a hole you had not seen, screaming is often the natural response. Gabriel braced for an impact, but it never came. It wasn’t until Gabriel’s throat had become raw, and voice cracked, that he stopped screaming. He then began to count, but the counting soon became tedious so he stopped. At that point Gabriel simply fell asleep, because when you are falling, falling, falling, and down has become up, and up has become down, there is simply nothing else you can do. Read the full story at www.greenhill.org/montage 18
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FINE ARTS SPOTLIGHT
Still from Red Line by sophomores Arfa Chowdhary and Quinn O’Brien
Greenhill art students continue to amaze us with their talent. With five of 22 high school films accepted at the SXSW Film Festival and photography awards across the DFW area, check out the latest in Visual Arts.
Still from Game Room by sophomore Siri Ketha
Photograph by senior Elise Andres
A sculpture garden emerged in the spring, featuring the works of sophomore Oliver Steinberg (foreground), sophomore Tyler Pitts, junior Max Kaiser, junior Zain Arfi, freshman Atiriya Iyer and sophomore Scott Wang.
Fish Watching, mixed media, by Noah Richmond Photograph by junior Gabrielle Coben
Faculty News In February, Art teacher Lesley Rucker was part of an exhibition in the Gallery at the Bath House Cultural Arts Center titled El CorozĂłn. Photography teacher Frank Lopez was featured in the Dallas Observer for his study of analogue and alternative photographic processes.
greenhill.org Painting by sophomore Kylie Quinn
Photograph by senior Mira Fradkin
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EVERGREEN ONLINE
evergreengreenhill.org Subscribe or add Evergreen Online to your news feed! Here you will find Greenhill’s budding reporters, the latest student voices, an array of interesting campus happenings, and heartwarming stories like this one.
Keeping up with Kindness By junior Maya Ghosh Inviting somebody new to sit with you at lunch. Smiling at somebody that you don’t know. Helping your parents carry groceries. Holding the door for the person behind you. Junior Maya LaRosiliere hopes these small actions and many other kind gestures will create feelings of happiness and joy throughout her community. Her movement, Plano Kindness, strives to make Plano more of a loving, thoughtful and caring community. “Right now, with the shootings, violence and political unrest that seems to divide us, I want to find a reason to make people happy and have people make each other smile,” Maya said. Maya, a girl scout, created a garden to donate food and made 120 blankets for Project Linus with her troop to complete her bronze and silver awards. She is now looking to complete her gold award through Plano Kindness. Gold awards have a requirement of 80 service hours and the project has to be sustainable. Initially, Maya wanted to aid the North Texas Food Bank and combat hunger in Plano. However, she changed her mind after hearing her father, Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere, speak about attending a panel on the impact of kindness. When her father told her about the panel, which included the Dalai Lama and Lady Gaga, Maya immediately knew that she wanted to help spread kindness and heal broken relationships in her community. Last year, after writing her journey book, which is a requirement for the gold award, Maya began to work with the North Texas Food Bank and started her movement “Plano Kindness.”
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Visit the website to read the full article. evergreengreenhill.org Find out more about Plano Kindness on: facebook.com/ planokindness instagram.com/ planokindness
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Greenhill on Social Media Have you visited, tagged and liked Greenhill School on your social media channels? Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Follow, comment, heart, share, retweet, and more! We love your participation. See p.43 for our Alumni Channels.
facebook.com/GreenhillSchool twitter.com/GreenhillSchool instagram.com/GreenhillSchool
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A Traditio Fostering Respect is a guiding force at Greenhill School. It is a principle so entwined with Greenhill’s mission, foundation and fortitude that the concepts are inseparable. Respect for each other and ourselves, for the world around us, for varying viewpoints, for individuality and community, for curiosity and opinion; we see inspiring examples on our campus and within our people every single day. In fact, respect is our theme this year, making this the perfect time to explore the virtues of how we foster respect throughout the Greenhill community, in the classroom, and beyond.
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FEATURE ARTICLE
on of g Respect
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FEATURE ARTICLE
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an Kasten, who retired last spring, was a true leader and mentor who promoted respectful, mindful discourse. He was also instrumental in helping Greenhill form its core values in 2002-2003. Here, he explains the history:
“As part of the strategic planning process in 20012002, various committees met throughout the year to explore ways of improving an already great institution. One of those groups, the Community Life Committee, comprising students, teachers, parents and administrators, identified the ideals that bind us together as a school. Thus, we formed a permanent group to breathe life into our three ideals. We emerged in January of 2004 with a name: Advancing Core Principles, which quickly became ACP. After a three-month committee writing and analysis process, we came forward with a single sentence that has guided our efforts ever since: Believing that Greenhill’s core principles of honor, respect, and compassion must be the foundation of our community life, ACP seeks to promote thoughtful discussion, constructive action, and personal growth based on those principles. Ever since, to keep these core principles at the forefront of our community, we focus on one per year, recognizing them through exercises, discussions, and assignments, as essential building blocks of character development.”
I think the kind of respect that matters most is what we earn. It is, in a sense, a by-product of a caring, authentic life. » Greenhill Legend Dan Kasten
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SHARING MUTUAL RESPECT A huge outpouring of support and gratitude filled Dan Kasten's retirement reception last spring. Hundreds of alumni, current students, colleagues, and parents of alumni came to speak to Mr. Kasten. He in turn, insisted on taking a special moment with every single person who attended.
FEATURE ARTICLE
Respect Through Cultural Literacy For Director of Equity & Inclusion Dr. Karen Bradberry, respecting one another is at the forefront of how we interact every day, but we must embrace it through the framework and context of community. “The Fulton family built this School and instilled a culture of open acceptance and understanding. Our students are part of that culture by way of invitation, and when they accept that invitation, they accept our cultural literacy. When we teach cultural competency, we talk about a common language through which we are governed— one where our character, our conduct, and our conversation adhere to that code.” Dr. Bradberry explains that every environment has a code of conduct. “We must equip our students with the skillset to navigate and address our differences. When our students speak about a subject that they feel strongly about—race, ethnicity, gender, politics, identity, etc.—we do so as allies in the context of our community. No one gets off the hook. We are in this together.” Sometimes our students get caught in the tricky parallel of individual respect vs. a larger gestalt view. “I steer my students toward the collective whole,” says Bradberry, using the example of a homeowners’ association. “I can have a blue house and you can have a gray house, but if one of us decides to put a giant neon-lit fountain in our front yard, it may not be according to neighborhood preference. Our actions need to serve the common good in collective agreement.”
When we teach cultural competency, we talk about a common language through which we are governed— one where our character, our conduct and our conversation adhere to that code. » Director of Equity & Inclusion Karen Bradberry
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Respect through Action in Upper School One way that Head of Upper School Laura Ross defines respect is with a quote from Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh: “In Buddhism we see that teaching is done not only by talking, but by living your own life.” Ms. Ross advocates the importance of reflecting on actions over words. “It’s not just about my words. Do I model respect every day in the way I go about my life as a leader in this community? Do I listen more than I talk? Do I learn people’s names and their stories? Do I try to bring compassion to conflict? Do I try to recognize my own triggers when things get stressful?” Ms. Ross also uses the peer-to-peer example of senior speeches during Upper School community time. “I think that our senior speeches every week are shining examples of respectful action amongst peers. Not only are they practicing essential skills of presentation and public speaking, they can also become very vulnerable when disclosing personal narratives, and their peers and teachers are always respectful, kind, and appreciative of the honesty. We also show respect to students by not censoring them. We don’t ask for their topics in advance, rather, we respect that they understand the opportunity they have been given and what it means to our community. Some of my favorite moments here have been listening to those speeches.”
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...their peers and teachers are always respectful, kind and appreciative of the honesty. » Head of Upper School Laura Ross
FEATURE ARTICLE
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Teaching Respect through Civil Discourse Every year, third graders do a large unit on the U.S. Government in social studies classes. Third-grade teacher Hannah Harkey explains, “On election years we delve deeper into that process as part of our government unit, but before we begin, we sit down and lead a lesson on civil discourse. We remind them that we all have different experiences, beliefs, and perspectives that make us unique and as such, we have different opinions. What fun would it be if we all liked the same things?”
Foundations of Respect in Preschool
After that discussion, third graders brainstorm together to create Rules for Civil Discourse. “We write down everything they think shows respect and helps foster positive conversations—what it looks like, what it sounds like, and how it makes them feel. Then they work in groups to pick the ones that they think are the most important and explain why. We compile all the rules and have them hanging in the class to refer to often. It helps them remember that we all have opinions and even if they are different, they are still valuable.”
Head of Preschool Netra Fitzgerald rolled out new Preschool Expectations messaging this year, organized in four pillars—be safe, be kind, be respectful, and do the best you can. These expectations were born from our core principles and presented in a way that young people can understand. “The children know them and know they mean different things in different contexts. In a community meeting, respect can mean keeping our hands to ourselves and listening. In the classroom, it can mean listening to your teacher or peers and lending comments or questions at appropriate times. When walking between classes, we respect others in their learning environments by turning off our voices.”
We remind them that we all have different experiences, beliefs, and perspectives that make us unique and as such, we have different opinions. What fun would it be if we all liked the same things? » Third-grade teacher Hannah Harkey
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FEATURE ARTICLE
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FEATURE ARTICLE
From the Classroom to Washington, D.C. “Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners.” – Laurence Sterne Every Monday, a quote like this one leads eighth grade meetings. “We change the quote every week, always addressing the annual theme,” says Eighth-grade teacher Jaye Andrews, also a leader on the Advancing Core Principles committee. “This year the committee is taking the pulse of the school from the perspective of respect. Our aim is to develop a model for practicing ACP values, creating a menu of choices for age-appropriate exercises.”
Crafting Respectful Communication In the winter, fourth graders wrote persuasive essays with advocacy topics ranging from gun laws to texting while driving to increasing trash and recycling receptacles in the neighborhood. Fourth Grade Team Leader Greg Krauss explains the assignment: “We look at how we should communicate with another person about a change we hope to initiate. One aspect of that communication is tone. We note how it is important to be firm in the request for change, but to be respectful in the way we communicate our thoughts. Additionally, we stress the importance of being able to support our claims with factual evidence and/or logical reasoning. One last piece that usually comes into play is that there are many people involved in making decisions, so we must take into account the perspectives of others.”
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Mr. Andrews was also with the eighth graders in Washington, D.C. during the November election. “We were all in the same room on election night and students were filling out a results-tracking sheet. We did notice that regardless of their feelings, they showed great respect for each other's viewpoints that evening.” Students saw greater evidence of respect at work on a trip to Capitol Hill. The class met with two Democrat and two Republican staffers who explained the true interworking of government in action. “They were a true community. Despite political rhetoric and disagreement, these people are getting the business of running a country done. Behind the scenes, they tackle issues in a pragmatic, respectful, and cooperative way,” Mr. Andrews reported.
FEATURE ARTICLE
We did notice that regardless of their feelings, they showed great respect for each other's viewpoints. Âť Eighth-grade teacher Jaye Andrews
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Respectful Expression in the Arts “We model respect for our students in the way we treat the art form we are teaching,” says Head of Fine Arts Terry Martin. “I believe any art form, whether a visual discipline like painting or photography or a performing discipline like music or theatre, begins with the impulse to tell a story. That story often takes the form of a gift. We give gifts to those we respect and those who are important to us. That expression has value.” “The very practice of art is the practice of showing and sharing respect. In every artistic project we work on, we practice that sharing. And in most instances, we work as a team in the telling of the story. The team must respect each other’s effort and time and everyone’s part in the creation process.”
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The very practice of art is the practice of showing and sharing respect. In every artistic project we work on, we practice that sharing. » Head of Fine Arts Terry Martin
FEATURE ARTICLE
Celebrating Differences in Heart of the Hill Groups Ninth-grader Josh Leffler has taken an active role as a student member of the ACP (Advancing Core Principles) committee. Under the guidance of ACP committee teachers, Josh introduced the idea of total school involvement, asking HOH groups to focus on respecting others’ differences through various activities. In the fall, Josh organized a puzzle activity. Each member of an HOH group decorated a puzzle piece with cultural identifiers such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or political views. Then the group assembled the puzzle and spoke about the metaphor of the close-knit Greenhill community. In January, Josh orchestrated a similar activity, asking everyone to fill in a card saying Please respect me for...
We need to respect each other, not despite our differences, but because of our differences. » Ninth-grader Josh Leffler
Josh is proud of the engagement he has seen. “We need to respect each other, not despite our differences, but because of our differences.” One student in his group ended the discussion by saying “We’re all different, but we also have connections. We can all find something in common.”
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Earning Respect in Athletics “Earning respect is an essential theme in all sports, no matter what the level,” says Head Track & Field Coach/ Assistant Football Coach Stacey Johnson. “As a coach, I have to earn the respect of my players by showing them I am 100% committed to helping them reach their highest potential and for our team to be successful. By showing my commitment to the players and giving them ownership, we lay the foundation of respect for each other.” Coach Johnson acknowledges that the demands of sports are challenging, but it is our teammates who keep us focused and motivated. “We understand that all of our opponents have the same common goal: to win. And they have dedicated as much preparation time as we have. We respect every opponent because they are going to bring out the best in us each and every time. And in the end when someone has a great game or race,
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I know that our athletes, win or lose, will be the first ones to congratulate our teammates and opponents because they have all earned our respect.” Girls Volleyball Coach Tatiane Diebert weighs in from a physical education perspective. “I think physical education is a unique vehicle for teaching and reinforcing respect and character education to young children. Our PE classes provide opportunities to explore, create, succeed, fail, and try again. PE teachers try to consistently model a positive attitude and reinforce the importance of being active and respectful to each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Since children are creatures of habit, we train their bodies and minds to get used to the rules and expectations of playing in a safe environment, while respecting others with good sportsmanship and giving their best effort daily.”
FEATURE ARTICLE
Social Awareness and Responsibility for the Greater Community Director of Community Service and Service Learning Sally Rosenberg has overseen more than 20 years of volunteering at Greenhill, enabling students to experience first-hand, beyond the classroom, what it is like to help others. “It’s a very rewarding thing to see,” she says. “Volunteering gives our students an opportunity every year to develop and practice virtues like generosity, kindness, compassion, and respect. Preschoolers sell artwork for 100 pennies to raise money for stuffed animals to comfort kids in need; the Primer class collects seeds and plants trees for the City of Addison; Middle Schoolers hold drives and volunteer at a childcare center for the homeless. Regardless of the activity, students also receive the added benefit of watching adult chaperones model service-oriented values.” “Engaging in community service helps students become active members of the greater community and has a lasting, positive impact on our society. Time spent volunteering enables students to acquire life skills and knowledge, as well as provide a service to those who need it most.”
Community Service gives our students an opportunity every year to develop and practice virtues like generosity, kindness, compassion, and respect. » Director of Community Service and Service Learning Sally Rosenberg Seventh graders travel to Operation Kindness with Mrs. Rosenberg.
Sally Rosenberg is retiring at the end of this year after an incredibly influential and transformative 24-year tenure at Greenhill School.
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Reflections on Respect Alumni weigh in on the importance of respect from their time at Greenhill to their lives today
Laurie Miller ’81
Laurie Miller is the owner and founder of Apple Care and Companion, a Dallasbased non-medical home care agency specializing in senior care.
Show mutual respect. I have seen first-hand the importance of mutual respect. Whether client, caregiver or employee, mutual respect is imperative to every relationship. I have watched as adult children answer questions for their parent without letting the parent respond. I have seen doctors and other medical professionals ask the adult children or caregiver a question about the senior instead of directly asking the senior when he or she was standing right there. It can be extremely demeaning. When seniors feel disrespected, it can lead to feelings of worthlessness, stress, and isolation. Caregiving is a tough profession and fostering respect, treating caregivers with dignity, and thanking them is an essential element in having a successful employee-employer and clientcaregiver relationship.
Action over words. I think that Greenhill fostered a culture where respect is an important ingredient for a successful life. From our personal relationships with one another to our learning environments, nature and the arts, Greenhill fostered respect with examples and actions and not just lectures and words.
Expect responsible behavior. At Greenhill, I felt a mutual respect between our teachers and students. As students, we were always given a lot of responsibility, even at an early age. I remember that our teachers would discuss issues or concerns with us rather than going to our parents first. We were expected to be responsible for ourselves. By the time we were seniors, as long as we followed the rules and were respectful, we were able to leave campus for lunch.
FEATURE ARTICLE
Dustin Marshall ’96
Dustin Marshall is the CEO of Hazel’s Hot Shot, a family-owned Dallasbased transportation company. He was also recently elected to the DISD School Board and has three children at Greenhill, third-grader Lily, firstgrader Jack, and kindergartener Hailey.
Assume the best in others. I think you show respect for others by being authentic and straightforward and by assuming that the motivations of others are always pure. It is most challenging to respect those who have different opinions than ourselves, but if we can successfully assume the best in others, then we can extend the same treatment to others that we would hope they would extend towards us.
See both sides. Greenhill helped me to value multiple perspectives. I learned this lesson from dozens of different teachers at Greenhill, and the debate team helped me to hone this skill. By arguing both sides of a topic, I developed the ability to see merit in different points of view.
Value relationships. Since joining the Dallas ISD School Board in June of 2016, I have spent a good deal of time reflecting on the concept of respect and on the value of relationships. The DISD Board has had a long history of dysfunction where it was common place for Trustees to show a lack of respect to their peers. I believe this disrespect creates a culture of confrontation. Instead, we need a cohesive group of leaders focused on improving outcomes for kids. I’ve tried to help break this cycle by showing respect even to those Trustees with whom I disagree most often.
Alan Bliss ’15
Alan is a double major in Economics and Mathematics at Occidental College. He is the president and founder of both the Conservatives of Occidental College and the Tiger Investment Club, and also serves as the Philanthropy Chair for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Seek curiosity in others. I think respect can be defined by keen curiosity: a genuine interest in understanding, appreciating, and learning from another person, message, or object. Comprehending the role of perspective in personal truth is the first step toward developing this sense of respect.
Give time to others. Greenhill taught me respect at a very early age. Ever since I began at Greenhill in second grade, every adult I interacted with rewarded me with the utmost respect. The time that teachers, coaches, and faculty spent listening to me and trying to learn from me was unique to Greenhill.
Find common ground. In my opinion, respect is essential to civility. Unless we respect someone and try to understand what they stand for (not necessarily agree), we will never find common ground for conducive discourse.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Congratulations to these Reunion Classes!
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Class of 1992
Class of 1997
Class of 2002
Class of 2007
Class of 1967
Class of 1982
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Class of 1987
A Message from Michael Waldman ’98 President, Alumni Association
Greenhill School 2016-2017 Alumni Board Matthew Abel ’05 Jarrod Beck ’96 Jeffrey Boyd ’06 Molly Bruder ’07 Megan Baumoel Considine ’97 Macey Small Davis ’94 Jonathan Fine ’11 Brad Friedman ’96 Ryan Fuchs ’98 Maggie Fulton ’07 Michelle Wettreich Garza ’95 Lauren Pritchard Goodman ’04 Katherine Hearty ’98 Shawn Hiner-Leamon ’05 Larry Ley ’68 Rachel Ingle Lorraine ’00 Clayton Lougee ’03 Dustin Marshall ’96 Shannon McSpadden ’94 Alex Merson ’96 Matthew Miller ’96 Louis Okon ’93 Bhavesh Pranav ’09 Byron Sanders ’01 Jared Sandler ’07 Cindy Solomon ’93 Cynthia Cooper Spigel ’97 Tianan (Joi) Windham Stephenson ’07 Jay Szor ’04 Carolyn Ley Thomas ’97 Tisha Vaiyda ’05 Michael Waldman ’98 Julie Kern Wilkofsky ’97 Danielle Friedman Zietz ’02
Dear Greenhill Alumni, It is fitting that the Alumni Association plays a vital role in the transition from student to alumnus. At the heart of that transition, which begins long before graduation day, is making sure students know they’re part of a global community of more than 4,000 graduates. Our activities are designed to support alumni in establishing new, renewing old, and sustaining active relationships within our alumni community. The foundation of our alumni network lies in the strength of our connections with one another and Greenhill School. Simply put, students and alumni enrich each other’s lives. It’s a two-way relationship. Just ask anyone who has mentored or shared their story with a student, or helped instill confidence in them as they entered a new phase of life. I’d love to hear your story about how you’ve impacted a student or alumnus and vice-versa. And keep in mind that as an alumnus of Greenhill School, you can take pride in knowing that each one of you can make an impact. You truly play a part in this vital piece of our mission. Social media, by the way, is one of the many great ways to stay connected with all things Greenhill. You can get a great insider view of campus: sports, debate, arts, and classroom activities. You can find Greenhill Alumni accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Who knows, you might even see a priceless photo of you or one of your classmates in all your teenage glory! I hope many of you attended Alumni Weekend 2017 and had a blast! Regardless of your reunion or class year, I hope you might someday stop by campus for a visit or to catch up with former teachers. If you find yourself in Dallas this spring or summer, please reach out to me and I will reacquaint you with everything Greenhill. I hope to see many of you soon! With Hornet pride,
Michael Waldman ’98 President, Alumni Association
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Alumni News Alumni Soccer Game December 31, 2016
Trending Topics Luncheon: Alumni Meet Mavericks' Voice December 12, 2016 Alumni gathered for a special event with Dallas Mavericks Television Play-by-Play broadcaster Mark Followill hosted by Jared Sandler ’07. Mark Followill is in his 16th season with the broadcast team of the Dallas Mavericks. This past summer, Fox Sports named him as one of their announcers for Copa America Centenario, which led to another opportunity: Mark served as an NBC announcer for several soccer matches at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He has also been a longtime contributor to popular Dallas radio station KTCK, Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket. He spoke candidly with our alumni about his journey in broadcast and trends in sports broadcasting.
Alumni Volleyball Games August 5, 2016
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ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni New York Reunion October 27, 2016 Top Left - Carly Weinreb ’10, Katherine Levy ’10, Elizabeth Bodzy ’10, Edie Margolis ’10, Mackenzie Naert ’10, Allyson Roseman ’10, and Chhavi Singhal ’10 Top Right - Sarah Clampett ’08, Eryn Norton ’08, and Alex Govenar ’08 Middle Left - Deok Kyu Chung ’12, Bronsin Ablon ’12, and Upper School science teacher Barry Ide Middle Right - Rachel Weinstein Lippman ’99, Brooke Oberwetter Coon ’98 and Michael Waldman ’98 Left - Bronsin Ablon ’12, Rachel D'Apice ’12, Deok Kyu Chung ’12, Brad Girson ’09, Eli Brooks ’12, Eric Klein ’12, Austin Ablon ’12, and Zoe Brice ’11 Bottom - Head of School Scott Griggs, Former Head of School Phil Foote, Greenhill Legend Mary Tapia with husband Carlos Tapia
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Alumni News Alumni Holiday Party November 22, 2016 Right: Toi Windham ’07, Miriam Kolni ’07, Yvette Ferrer ’07, Garrett Dobbs ’07, Kitty Stuart Corser ’07, Daniel BellGarcia ’07, Rachel Daneman ’07, Meera Krishna ’07, Liane Michnoff Smith ’07, Melissa Fulton McNally ’07, and Joi Windham Stephenson ’07 Middle Top Left: Morgan Christopher ’06, Brett Rubin ’06, Rick Sundeen ’06, Laura Ramirez ’06, and Zach Pritchard ’06 Middle Top Right: Samantha Fine ’12, Neal Sharma ’12, Elizabeth Aguebor ’12, Emitom Hillsman ’12, and Jordan Palefsky ’12 Middle Bottom Left: Robin Finkelstein Stone ’93, Cindy Solomon ’93, Kristin Briscoe Marinko ’93, Michael Barnett ’90, Jennifer Lux Chazanow ’93, Louis Okon ’93, Barbie Lane Wetteraurer ’93, and Lisa Stein Stoutmeyer ’93 Middle Bottom Right: Mark Adamson, Diana DeGrasse Adamson ’87, Scottie Pearson McDonald ’87, and Catherine Wally LaBelle ’87 Bottom: Megan Baumoel Considine ’97, Carolyn Ley Thomas ’97, Head of School Scott Griggs, Michael Waldman ’98, Josh Massoud ’98, Katherine Hearty ’98, Shannon Harris McSpadden ’94, Jared Earles ’98, and Michelle Wettreich Garza ’95
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ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Basketball Game December 21, 2016
Alumni Austin Reunion November 2, 2016 Right Top: Miles Andres ’14, Griffin Olesky ’15, Louis Andres ’12, Abby Shosid ’16, Travis Bryan ’12 Right Bottom: Alumni gathered at the Cedar Door in Austin. Below: Nicholas Suarez ’16, Alanna Jaffee ’16, Laura Ross Head of Upper School, Kyrene Moe ’15, Daniel Butbul ’15, and Ali Babool ’16
Alumni Volunteers Alumni volunteered in several Dallas locations this holiday season. Many thanks to those alumni and their family members who delivered for Meals on Wheels and collected gifts at the Northpark Angel Tree station.
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Hill CLASS NOTES
To submit information for class notes and alumni news, contact: Katie Young Director of Alumni Relations alumni@greenhill.org 972.628.5521 phone 972.628.6521 fax
1981 University of North Texas has named a scholarship in honor of Tom Perryman’s late father. In the music department at UNT, the Ray W. Perryman Music Scholarship will provide financial aid. Tom reports, “Though he was pre-med, my dad was a trumpet player and loved music!”
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FIND US ON:
1976
Chad Dunston spoke with students on campus during an Educational Seasoning event presented by SAGE, the food services provider of Greenhill School. Chad owns and operates Crystal Creek Cattle Company in Dallas.
The Class of 1976 gathered for their 40-year class reunion at the home of Valerie Skinner in Colleyville. Several classmates flew in for the event: Jerri Sines Mayer came all the way from Brooklyn, NY, Sasha Pyle from Santa Fe, and Nancy Rozelle O’Bryan from Phoenix. The evening included an exclusive viewing of “The Junior Toob.” Members of the class took a campus tour on Friday afternoon and visited some memorable spots including the Montgomery Library.
The Class of 1976 gathered for their 40-year class reunion at the home of Valerie Skinner in Colleyville
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Former student Tom Rogers returned to Greenhill for a workshop with sixthgrade students who had just finished reading his novel, Eleven, about a boy turning eleven on 9/11. Tom is a screenwriter and works on the Disney animated series “Elena of Avalor.”
John Perryman’s book Blood For Ghosts was published in late 2016 and is now available in bookstores and on Amazon. The eight stories in the collection dramatize the many ways Texans in the 21st century struggle to give voice to their ancestors and the region’s past, a task made increasingly difficult by the pressures of globalization, the lure of efficiency, and the claims of “progress.” John has published fiction, poetry, and criticism in a wide range of journals, including The Southern Humanities Review, The South Carolina Review, Concho River Review, RE:AL, and The Midwest Quarterly.
CLASS NOTES
Along with 60 scholars in total, Josh and Byron have travelled to each participating presidential center to learn from former presidents, key administration officials, and leading academics. They have also studied varying approaches to leadership, developed a network of peers, and exchanged ideas with mentors and others who can help them make an impact in their communities.
1998
State Representative Eric Johnson recently welcomed a group of Greenhill alumni and current students to his office for Texas Muslim Capitol Day. The day provided an opportunity for community members to learn about the democratic political process and how to be an advocate.
NewsChannel reporter and anchor Emily Luxen won an Emmy award at the Midsouth Emmys in Nashville, TN. Emily and her team were awarded the Emmy for excellence in coverage of a single news story over an extended number of reports.
1999 Regina Merson has started her own makeup line named Reina Rebelde, geared specifically toward Latin American women. The line officially launched in August 2016. Merson was interviewed by current students this year and featured in the Evergreen. Read the full article at www.evergreengreenhill.org.
2000 In Fall 2016, Daniel Solon returned to Greenhill for a workshop with fine arts students. Daniel is a writer, director and producer. His new works have been presented in London, New York City and across North America.
1996 Lauren Hunt Krauss and husband Greg Krauss welcomed daughter Adeleine (Della) Wynne Krauss on September 17, 2016. Della joins three siblings: Jaeger, Hagan, and Annie.
1997 Two Greenhill alumni have been named to the 2017 Class of Presidential Leadership Scholars. The Presidential Leadership Scholars program, a unique leadership development initiative, draws upon the resources of the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. The two alumni are Josh Goldberg, Director of Strategy, Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness in Bluemont, Virginia; and Byron Sanders ’01, Vice President and Private Client Advisor, U.S. Trust in Addison, Texas.
Lauren Hunt Krauss ’96 and husband Greg Krauss welcomed daughter Adeleine (Della) Wynne Krauss on September 17, 2016. Della joins three siblings: Jaeger, Hagan, and Annie.
Josh Goldberg ’97
Byron Sanders ’01
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Hill CLASS NOTES
2002 Joanna Fulton Lewis, husband Matt, and big brothers James and William (age 2) welcomed Clara Frances into the world on November 26, 2016. She weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and shares a middle name with her late great grandmother, Helen Fulton. Danielle Friedman Zietz and husband, Joshua Zietz, welcomed their second son, Calvin Jay, in December 2016. Their first son, Nathan Shawn, turned 3 in March.
2004 Former student Richard Margolin spent time on campus visiting with upper school students in robotics and engineering classes. Richard is the co-founder of Robokind, a Dallas based company that created MILO, a humanoid robot that helps children with autism and teaches STEM curriculum through interaction.
Former student Richard Margolin gathered with a Upper School robotics class in February.
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2005 Megan Fortenberry Porterfield married Perry Porterfield in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico on November 7, 2015. Five of her bridesmaids graduated with her in the class of 2005. Pictured from left: Lyndsey Cwikla, Michele Kleinman, Megan Fortenberry Porterfield, Jessica Ingle Poor, Shannon Mullen Stetson, and Taylor Kurz. Madelyn Chortek Eisenberg and Jared Eisenberg were married on November 12, 2016 in Dallas. The
bridal party included Greenhill alumni Max Brodsky ’01, Sam Chortek ’09, Amy Prescott ’04 and Shelley Rosmarin. The couple lives in Dallas.
2006 Zach Shor participated in the Alumni Lunch series in late 2016. The series brings young alumni to campus for a candid conversation about their journey from Greenhill to their current career. Zach is the COO of TopGolf, International.
Zach Shor ’06 (fourth from left) connected with Upper School students in fall 2016
CLASS NOTES
2007 Andrea Schpok Ross and Ben Ross were married on September 18, 2016. The Manhattan-based couple celebrated their wedding in Dallas with family and friends including Kristina Norderhaug, Yvetter Ferrer, and Jillian O’Donnell.
Andrea Schpok Ross ’07 included several alumni in her wedding party
Joi Windham Stephenson ’07 spoke with Upper School students in January. Joi Windham Stephenson, her husband, Dionte Stephenson, and son, Maximus, welcomed Titus Magnus Stephenson on August 2, 2016 at 1:26pm in Dallas, TX. He weighed 8lbs. 4oz. and was 21.5 inches long. Joi also participated in the Alumni Lunch Series in January where she chatted with Upper School students about her journey as a college athlete. Chase Feiger was named to Forbes magazine's “30 under 30” list for manufacturing and industry. Chase is the co-founder and vice president of business development for Silicon Valley-based Parsable, a startup aiming to digitize manual workflow operations for global industrial firms. The collaborative software that Parsable makes is used by industrial companies and teams, helping their businesses run more smoothly thanks to easier communication and project tracking. The startup has already garnered the world’s largest oil and oilfield services companies as customers and investors.
2008
2014
Ray Fontaine participated in the Global Grad show during the Dubai Design Week exhibition. Projects were chosen from 51 of the leading universities in 30 countries on six continents. Her design, HearCuffs, are interchangeable accessories that attach to hearing aids. Ray pursued the project as her thesis at the Pratt Institute where she completed her Masters of Industrial Design. She is collaborating with Embrace Hearing, a major retailer of high-end hearing aids, to develop attachment pieces created by artisans and designers.
Carmel Abuzaid visited campus in January to speak with a new Upper School club to address controversial topics called Another Perspective. Abuzaid spoke about the IsraelPalestine conflict and her views as a Palestinian-American.
2009 Cameron Andrew married Brianna Hill Andrew in Memphis, TN on November 19, 2016. Several alumni were in attendance including groomsmen Ryan Bates, Connor Ryan, Nate Griggs, and Andrew Smith, as well as best woman Caitlin Andrew ’05 and bridesmaid Carolyn Andrew ’11. Doug Daniels ’09 (right) along with sister Sarah Daniels ’11 (second from right) enjoyed a post-Homecoming rooftop cookout in October with fellow Hornets (L-R) Hayden Baker ’09, Abdullah Emad ’09, former student Steven Houghton, and Will Gietema ’11
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IN MEMORIAM
In Memoriam We honor the memory of alumni, former faculty, and staff members who have passed away in recent months. Our deepest condolences to their family, friends, and former classmates. Michael Bierner Father of Lara Bierner ’89 and Jonathan Bierner ’91 November 18, 2016 Lee Brandt Father of faculty member Lesley Rucker ; Grandfather of Taylor Rucker Barham ’06 and former student Judge Rucker September 25, 2016 Thomas “Tommy” Brennan Former Football Coach January 22, 2017 Richard Cassidy Father of Katy Cassidy ’86 February 8, 2017 Barbara Brundage “Bara” Colegrove Mother of Lloyd Colegrove ’79 February 5, 2017 Harold Dunk Father of Kirk Dunk ’87 and Dee Dunk Velvin ’83 November 7, 2016
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Maurice William “Bill” Epstein Father of Leonard Epstein ’76, Barry Epstein ’78, Jeff Epstein ’80, and Kevin Epstein ’87 November 28, 2016 Leo Fields Father of Sheryl Fields Bogen ’72, Amy Fields Rosenberg ’75, and David Fields (husband of Julie Ray Fields ’83); Grandfather of Elizabeth Fields Asen ’09 and Andrew Fields ’13; Step Grandfather of Joseph Bogen ’00 and Caleb Bogen ’06 February 12, 2017 Louise Gartner Mother of Gigi Gartner ’77 January 12, 2017 Ronald Gaswirth Father of Brad Gaswirth ’92 October 21, 2016 David Hurmis Father of Darrell Hurmis ’73 December 3, 2016
IN MEMORIAM
Irwin Joseph Grossman
June 25, 1931 - February 10, 2017 Irwin Grossman, a Greenhill Trustee since 1973, served as Board Chair from 1978 – 1981 and elected to serve ex-officio ever since. He passed away on February 10, 2017 at age 85. Per his obituary in the Dallas Morning News, “He was a man of great accomplishments and generosity, and a hero to family, friends and colleagues.” An engineer and real estate developer for over 60 years, he helped construct Greenhill’s original Preschool, Lower and Middle School buildings, as well as Zale-Fields Theatre. His other building accomplishments in Dallas included the Dallas Garden Center at Fair Park, Temple Emanu-El Youth building, the chapel and mausoleum at Temple Emanu-El Cemetery, and many more. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Irma, his son, Doug Grossman ’81 and wife Irene, daughter Julie Grossman Kronick ’83 and husband David, and grandchildren Rebecca and Rachel Grossman, seventh-grader Isabelle Kronick, and fourth-grader Anna Kronick. The memorial service was held on February 13 at Temple Emanu-El.
Steve Lassetter ’68 November 22, 2016 Paul Osborne ’66 October 4, 2016
Mary Clemmons Smith Grandmother of Jasmin Lawrence ’14, senior Rheaghen Smith, seventh-grader Skylar Smith, and kindergartener Elijah Smith November 27, 2016
Rheta Prager Mother of Laura Prager ’81, Linda Prager ’81, and Larry Prager ’86 December 16, 2017
Gertrude Smither Mother of former Director of Curriculum Mark Crotty; Grandmother of Kate Crotty ’15 and junior Stephen Crotty October 19, 2016
William “Billy” Ravkind Father of Brett Ravkind ’77 (deceased) and Kathi Sabastian ’81 January 29, 2017
Ryan Spiritas ’92 November 23, 2016
Chris Rittenmeyer ’96 October 16, 2016 Sheila Shor Grandmother of Zach Shor ’06, Rachel Shor ’09, and Sarah Shor ’13 January 24, 2017
Don Taylor ’76 Brother of Jesse Taylor ’75; Cousin of Anne Marie Corbett Eisele ’82 and Ed Corbett ’84; Uncle of Michelle Taylor ’99 October 3, 2016 Mary Corbett Taylor Mother of Don Taylor ’76 (deceased) and Jesse Taylor ’75; Aunt of Anne Marie Corbett Eisele ’82 and Ed Corbett ’84; Grandmother of Michelle Taylor ’99 January 18, 2017
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TURNING POINTS
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WEDDINGS
Levi David Haas Bauch October 21, 2016 Courtney Haas Bauch ’93 and Dominik Bauch
Leah Adele Saleh September 27, 2016 Anna Grossman Saleh ’04 and Keya Saleh
Alexander Ian Bodzy January 21, 2017 Sara and Matt Bodzy ’04
Titus Magnus Stephenson August 2, 2016 Joi Windham Stephenson ’07 and Dionte Stephenson
Hannah Victoria Crooks September 25, 2016 Alissa and David Crooks ’87 Judd Mercer Green September 9, 2016 Michelle Beck Green ’99 and Jamie Green
Cleo Pamela Ritzenhoff August 14, 2016 Rachel Marks-Ritzenhoff ’00 and Stephan Ritzenhoff 5
Clara Frances Fulton Lewis November 26, 2016 Joanna Fulton Lewis ’02 and Matt Lewis Caroline Ruth Lidji November 2, 2016 Ally Rosen Lidji ’04 and Barrett Lidji Manel Ignacio Olivier January 13, 2016 Charles and Anna Gruben Olivier ’93
Brianna and Cameron Andrew ’09 November 20, 2016
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Eleanor Kinney Baltakys ’09 and Rytis George Baltakys August 20, 2016
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Jenna and Josh Becker ’07 November 19, 2016
4
Madelyn Chortek Eisenberg ’05 and Jared Eisenberg November 12, 2016 Lauren Pully Graham ’07 and Dylan Graham December 31, 2016
Sloane Vivian Stein November 17, 2016 Jody and Kyle Stein ’99 Greta Ann Trammell October 21, 2016 Jennifer Boomer Trammell ’99 and Neil Trammell
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Megan Fortenberry Porterfield ’05 and Perry Porterfield November 7, 2015 12
Andrea Schpok Ross ’07 and Ben Ross September 18, 2016
Calvin Jay Zietz December 20, 2016 Danielle Friedman Zietz ’02 and Joshua Zietz
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WHY WE LOVE GREENHILL
Why We Love Greenhill Kerry Wildenthal Fagelman and Michael Fagelman ’91 The Fagelmans describe themselves as a “tight-knit four-pack family.” Their son, Walter, is a second-grader at Greenhill and his twin sister, Sophia, attends Hockaday. They have a large, close, extended family in Dallas, Colorado and Austin—many of whom have attended or currently attend Greenhill. Michael’s twin brother, Mitchell, and his wife, Kristen, are parents of Liam, a fourth-grader at Greenhill. When Kerry and Michael are not shuttling to sporting events or participating in Greenhill and Hockaday events, they love to travel — often with extended family. What makes Greenhill right for your family? We are drawn to this School’s world-class academic offerings led by passionate, experienced educators in an intimate, nurturing environment. This educational platform is supercharged by the stunning facilities on campus. We value diversity of thought, race and religion, which is emblematic of the Greenhill family. We really identify with Greenhill’s strong sense of community. How does the Greenhill of Michael’s experience compare to the Greenhill of Walter’s experience? We see in Walter’s experience the same freedom of thought and expression, and encouragement of individuality and character, that rang true in Michael’s experience. But the transformation of the campus facilities from then to now is mind-boggling. Michael generally knows his way around campus, but still can’t believe how incredible the facilities are today, and how fortunate Walter is to be at Greenhill. The challenging yet nurturing environment and freedom to express yourself has not changed a bit. Michael, how have your Greenhill connections helped you both personally and professionally? My Greenhill friendships have had a wonderful influence on my life, both personally and professionally. They have been my counselors, confidants, and supporters. They have helped guide me through every major life decision
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I have made. It’s incredibly reassuring to know that when I need advice or assistance, I can go to a friend who not only knows me, but has also shared many of the same experiences through Greenhill. The amazing accomplishments in their personal and professional lives, and their dedication to serving the community encourage and motivate me everyday. How has your Greenhill connection/history helped shape where you are now? Several of my closest friendships developed at Greenhill and remain incredibly strong today, in both my personal and professional life. The lessons of hard work, preparation, and especially the ability to communicate verbally and in written form are key tenets of my everyday life. These skills were honed (and honed, and honed) at Greenhill from a very young age. Why is it important to participate in our culture of giving? We place great importance on being involved in our children’s school and community – not just financially – but with our time. It not only provides an example and role-modeling lesson for our children, but it also shows the greater Greenhill community how important it is to our family.
Greenhill School 2016-2017 Board of Trustees
Greenhill School Advancement Office
Officers
Scott A. Griggs Head of School
William E. Rose ’85 Chair Waverly Ware Wilson ’86 Assistant Chair/Secretary Roy S. Kim ’88 Finance Chair/Treasurer Trustees Debbie Andres Stephen L. Arata Leslie Benners Yasmin Bhatia Albertina M. Cisneros Christopher I. Clark ’89 Manisha Desai Koshi Dhingra Ed.D. Angela Adkins Downes ’87 Tom Dunning Aaron Enrico Gary Fernandes Holland P. Gary ’93 Beth Gold David Greenstone Scott A. Griggs, Head of School David Haemisegger Jay Henry Joan Hill Ed.D. Maria-Cristina Jaramillo Rabbi Nancy Kasten Leslie Krakow Peter Andrew Kraus
Lester Levy, Jr. ’79 E. Pierce Marshall, Jr. ’86 Manju Menon Terry Oxford Guillermo Perales Tracy Rathbun Ashley Scheer Patricia Smith Bruce Sostek Bharti Subramanian Ph.D. Michael Waldman ’98 Clifford Weiner Neena Wiora Jeff Zlotky Former Board Chairs Electing to Serve Ex-Officio Sally R. Estes Trustee since 1976 Michael J. Halloran Trustee since 2002 David L. Johnson ’67 Trustee since 1987 H. Ronald Nash Trustee since 1987 Lifetime Trustee Daniel T. Phillips Trustee since 1997 Molly Fulton Seeligson ’60 Trustee since 2009 Rusty Jaggers Trustee since 1994
Julie Diaz Chief Advancement Officer Mel Curtis Administrative Assistant to Chief Advancement Officer Clayton Hollingsworth Director of Major Gifts and Donor Relations Anne Hudson Director of Annual Giving Kristy Joiner Advancement Services Coordinator
Theresa Jones Events Manager/Parents’ Association Liaison Joe Monaco Web and Media Services Manager Kerry Shea Director of Marketing and Communications Celeste Thomas Donor Relations Coordinator Emily Wilson Creative Services Manager Katie Young Director of Alumni Relations
The Hill magazine is published two times a year by the Advancement Office of Greenhill School. Questions? Comments? Contact: Emily Wilson wilsonemi@greenhill.org Greenhill School 4141 Spring Valley Road Addison, Texas 75001 greenhill.org Editorial Content: Emily Wilson and Katie Young Design: Team 938 Photography: Emily Wilson, Katie Young, Tom Kates, and various individual submissions. Printing: Ussery Printing
FPO
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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Dallas, Texas Permit No. 777
4141 Spring Valley Road Addison, Texas 75001 greenhill.org
If you receive duplicate copies of The Hill magazine, or a copy for your son or daughter who has established a separate permanent address, please let the School know by emailing us at joinerk@greenhill.org
Save These Dates For Greenhill Events Founders’ Day 2017 Monday, September 11, 2017
Homecoming 2017 Friday, November 3, 2017