GFA
Fall 2014
College matriculation
CLASS of 2014
Greens Farms Academy salutes the members of the Class of 2014, who will be attending the following colleges and universities: American University Babson College Bates College Bennington College Bentley University (2) Boston College (2) Bowdoin College Brandeis University Brown University Bucknell University (2) Claremont McKenna College Colgate University (2) Colorado College (3) Columbia University (2) Cornell University Dartmouth College (2) Dickinson College Duke University (2) Elon University Franklin and Marshall College
Georgetown University (2) George Washington University (2) Harvard College Harvey Mudd College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Johns Hopkins University Lewis and Clark College Manhattanville College McGill University Middlebury College Northeastern University Northwestern University (2) Oberlin College Olin College of Engineering Santa Clara University (2) Southern Methodist University (2) St. Joseph’s University Stanford University Susquehanna University Syracuse University
Tulane University (4) University of Alabama University of British Columbia University of California at Berkeley University of California at Los Angeles University of Denver (3) University of Miami (2) University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond (2) University of Rochester University of Southern California University of Virginia University of Wisconsin at Madison Villanova University Wake Forest University (2) Washington University in St. Louis (2) Western Connecticut State University Wheaton College Yale University
editorial
Greens Farms
Academy Features GFA Alums Strike a Chord in L.A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Departments
Greens Farms Academy Fall 2014 Volume 27
Editor’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Head’s Letter
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Editor
Graduation
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GFA News
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Frances Moore
Arts at GFA
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Editorial Assistant
Technology
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Alison Freeland
Associate Editor
Sara Glidden
Athletics at GFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Alumni Editor Mary Warner McGrade
Reunion
Photo Contributors
GFA Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Naru Photography Natalie Gagnon Highpoint Pictures Lindsay Russo Greens Farms Academy 35 Beachside Avenue PO Box 998 Greens Farms, CT 06838-0998 (203) 256-0717 www.gfacademy.org Greens Farms Academy is dedicated to guiding students through a rigorous course of study encompassing academics, arts and athletics.
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Alumni Snapshots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Milestones
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In an effort to streamline our mailing list, we are sending one magazine per household. If you would like extra copies, please email afreeland@gfacademy.org. Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor are welcome and may be edited for clarity and space. Please send all correspondence to Alison Freeland (afreeland@gfacademy.org). Alumni News We welcome news from alumni, parents, and friends of GFA. Please send your news and labeled photographs to Alumni News at GFA, or email them to alumni@gfacademy.org. The following minimum digital file size is required to produce a high-quality image 2.5" x 3.5" • # pixels 375 x 525 pixels • 550KB/ .tif • 100KB/ .jpeg
printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks
Board of Trustees
Shelley Goldsmith Co-Chair/Co-President Tricia Vanacore Co-Chair/Co-President Michael Berman Co-Vice Chair/ Co-Vice President Stephen Lawrence Co-Vice Chair/ Co-Vice President Zac Zeitlin, Treasurer Kara Bohnsack, Secretary Henry A. Backe, Jr., M.D. Carolyn Cohen Roger Ferris Michael Greenberg Janet Hartwell, Ex officio Richard Holzinger Arlene Howard Martha Gates Lord, Ed.D. ’74 Molly McGrath David Murphy Jeff Nixon Michael Rintoul ’84 Josh Samuelson Nancy Soule Peter Tauck Jim Wolfe
Advisory Council
Michael Berman, Tri-chair Michael Greenberg, Tri-chair Jim Wolfe, Tri-chair Shelley Goldsmith Board co-chair Tricia Vanacore, Board co-chair Janet Hartwell, Head of School Scott Balkan Vani Bettegowda Claire Foerster Stephanie Foster David C. Friezo Ward Horton Meredith Hutchison Gil Maurer Thomas J. Murphy Victor Nesi Clarence L. Nunn Kim Keller Raveis ’88 Dan Tishman
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editor
Letter from the Editor Dear Readers, Now and then I am reminded of the extraordinary at GFA. In May, I walked onto the front lawn before the Paul Simon concert. The sky was clear (at that point), and the deep blue of Long Island Sound lay in the background. The stage towered above me with speakers stacked 30 feet in the air. Only a few people were on the lawn, when the man himself walked onto the stage to do a sound check with his band. As if choreographed, they picked up guitars, drum sticks and horns, and when Paul waved his arm, the air exploded with the Zydeco percussion of That was your Mother from the Graceland album. The sky, Long Island Sound, and THE sound lifted me onto my toes in what was at that point almost a private concert. What an extraordinary place, I thought, where this could happen. Alison Freeland
Recently I spoke with a GFA alum interning at a financial company. He was grateful for the opportunity, but frustrated not to be able to explore his multiple interests. “It’s hard,” he said. “If you went to GFA, and if you had the kind of teachers I had, and you were encouraged to pursue your interests in all different directions, to be in a job that only uses part of you. I need to find work that offers more.” I thought, what an extraordinary education he’s describing. Many have commented on the new construction on campus. Several alums pulled into the driveway over the summer and realized the Performing Arts Center was finally going to be a reality. Their first reaction was, “Did they save the apple trees?” I thought, they have an extraordinary connection to the campus. (See page 11 for the apple tree story.) The cover shot for this magazine is from across the street at Burying Hill Beach, where among other things, GFA students study the Sound’s many species of seaweeds and animals. An extraordinary outdoor classroom, indeed.
Alison Freeland Director of Communications
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head
From the Head of School
Dear GFA Community, Looking out the window from the Head of School house, I can see mounds of earth, large machinery, and much activity, which means that work on the new GFA Performing Arts Center and the Global Studies Center is moving along on schedule. A state-of-theart theater and four classrooms to house our Global Studies program will be finished for the beginning of the 2015 school year. A strong performing arts program plus a myriad of other activities will keep the theater in constant use, and our expanding Global Studies program will occupy the classrooms. As usual, expanding bricks and mortar indicates an expanded curriculum. We have added a unique course to our existing International Relations curriculum: International Relations taught in Spanish. In addition, GFA has recently joined the Global Online Academy (GOA), and students will take their first GOA courses this fall. This is an opportunity for our students to take courses with students from across the U.S. as well as from international schools. A 21st century education demands not only global citizenship, but also knowledge and use of the many and varied aspects of technology. Our students across the three divisions are savvy and responsible technology users: from the Lower School students who program with Scratch, to the Middle School students who incorporate a technology component into their Capstone presentations, to Upper School students who are working with augmented reality and IOS programming. Indeed a brave new world. Elsewhere on campus we have a beautiful, newly outfitted classroom, patio, and secret garden for our inaugural PreK class. A rich, integrated curriculum, along with several overarching projects around water and Seed-to-Table, will ensure a deep learning experience and foundation for our youngest students. We are all very excited to welcome our “little ones� to a PreK through 12th grade school that will soon have a theater to showcase the high quality work that takes place here. Kind regards,
Janet Hartwell Head of School
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Let it Rain On Thursday, June 5, for the first time in memory, commencement was moved indoors because of rain. It wasn’t just a sprinkle—there was no debate about whether graduation should be inside or outside—it definitively poured. Girls in white dresses and heels ran through the courtyard, shielding their commencement finery, and cars parked on the rain-soaked grass. Inside the Coyle Gym, however, the class of 2014 carried on with its customary good humor and grace. Students learned a new processional route, and parents and friends spread all the way up into the bleachers. Valedictorian Mark Whittaker (left) encouraged his classmates to become their best selves. Guest speaker, Jim Ziolkowski (right) talked about his educational organization buildOn. By the time the new graduates processed out of the Coyle Gym, the sky lightened just in time for photos on the lawn. Congratulations to the responsible, resilient class of 2014.
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Commencement Awards 2014 Lynne Laukhuf Citizenship Prize: 9th grade–Kallie Fellows; 10th grade–Lauren Telesz; 11th grade–Adam Petno & Maddie Sweedler Class Prize: 9th grade–Claudia Bernstein and Mathieu Freeman; 10th grade–Samantha Furlong; 11th grade–Campbell Goldsmith Charles H. Dietrich Teaching Award: Ann Cotter Goldenheim Award for Excellence in Teaching: Griffen Stabler David K. King Scholarship Award: Mark Whittaker ’14 Francis Burr Hardon Award: Elizabeth Moley ’14 Lucie B. Warren Award: Francesca Garofalo ’14 Head of School Award: Ethan Friedson ’14 and Maggie Sherin ’14
Class Day Awards 2014 College Book Awards: Brandeis: Isabele Furman ’15 Brown: Claire Comey ’15 Dartmouth: Trent Turner ’15 Harvard: Ethan Petno ’15 St. Lawrence University: Madison Sweedler ’15 University of Chicago: Amalia Ebbesen ’15 Wellesley: Crosbie Marine ’15 and Avery Wolfe ’15 Williams College: Campbell Goldsmith ’15 Yale: Adam Petno ’15 Angela Van Acker Award: Touria Carson ’14, Conor Eckert ’14, Lauren Mounts ’14 Jane Kentor Dean ’52 Alumni Award: Claire Comey ’15 World Perspectives Award: Emily Agnew ’14 and Elizabeth Moley ’14 Wagner Award: Mark Whittaker ’15 Cum Laude Society: 11th grade: Rui Aguiar, Juliet Fontana, Campbell Goldsmith, Riley Grady, Crosbie Marine, Adam Petno, Ethan Petno, Trent Turner; 12th grade: Emily Agnew, Rachel Cohen, Camille Croll, Ethan Friedson, Elizabeth Moley, Joanna Moley, Jennifer Rattray, Jack Segelstein, Sophia Tepler Class Athletic Prize: 9th grade: Hans Forland and Alexandra Kimball; 10th grade: Ingrid Backe and Jack Mackle; 11th grade: Claire Comey and Riley Grady Edward J. Denes, Jr. Outstanding Athlete Award: Brendan Bieder ’14 Barbara Hellwig Rose Outstanding Athlete Award: Caroline Kruk ’14 Marijane Beltz Sportsmanship Award: Georgie Garner ’14 David M. Perry Sportsmanship Award: Mark Whittaker ’14
Visual Arts Award: Elizabeth Moley ’14 Visual Arts Purchase Award: Alyssa Matte ’14 Music Award: Elijah Furman ’14 and Kristen Muller ’14 Theatre Award: Gabriella Babun ’14 and Ethan Friedson ’14 Susan Conlan Award: Eric Dexheimer ’14 and Ethan Weinberger ’14 GLaD Prize: Mark Whittaker ’14 Barbara Conlan Award (Biology): Francesca Garofalo ’14 Roger B. True Science Award: Eric Dexheimer ’14 Roger B. True Science Research Award: Elizabeth McGonagle ’15 Jane Jessup Award (Latin): Eleanor Harned ’15 Joan Loomis Award (French): Camille Croll ’14 and Julia Yingling ’14 Martha Laffaye Award (Spanish): Elizabeth Moley ’14 The Mandarin Award: Ethan Weinberger ’14 and Mark Whittaker ’14 Whittle Award (History): Elizabeth Moley ’14 and Mark Whittaker ’14 Keller Award (Most Improved in English): Alyssa Matte ’14 Upton Award for English: Joanna Moley ’14 and Mark Whittaker ’14 Creative Writing Award: Elizabeth Moley ’14 GFAMAGAZINE FALL2014 | 7
GFA news Saying Goodbye? Each year GFA celebrates its retiring teachers, and this year the school community was sad to say goodbye to four whose work had a tremendous impact. Anne Hoover and Ann Cotter spent, respectively, 25 and 26 years in the lower school at Greens Farms Academy, while Jim Fitzpatrick put in 14 years, during which time he taught history in the Middle and Upper schools, served as Middle School Dean, and as Upper School Registrar. And for 13 years photography teacher John Hafey helped students view their world through a different lens (see p.12). Though they all officially retired at the end of the 2013-14 school year, it seems some just can’t get enough of GFA.
Anne Hoover
Ann Cotter
Jim Fitzpatrick
Hobbies: Tennis, yoga, reading, socializing
Hobbies: Visiting family, volunteer work
Hobbies: Vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard
Life in retirement: “I’m going to reacquaint myself with old friends … and read a lot of amazing books that have been sitting on my bedside table.” Hoover hopes to get back to exercising, and to donate some of her time in nearby school districts that need volunteers.
Life in retirement: Cotter has family around the East Coast and Midwest, and she plans to spend much more time with her children and grandchildren.
Life in retirement: Eventually “Mr. Fitz” will be moving down near his family in New Orleans, where he plans to work with local charter schools.
Why you’ll see her again soon: “I’m actually coming back to GFA in the fall to substitute in my old classroom,” she explained. “It makes the transition—the separation—easier. [Retirement is] a bittersweet feeling!”
Why you’ll see him again soon: “They try, try, try to get rid of me but they just can’t,” he joked. Mr. Fitz will be back at GFA from January to March substituting for a teacher who will be on maternity leave. Plus, he’ll be back in the Northeast periodically to visit his place on Martha’s Vineyard.
Why you’ll see her again soon: Hoover will be working in the GFA aftercare program two days a week. Parting words: “My heart will always be in teaching. If I’m not in the classroom at GFA, it will be somewhere else,” she said. “I never want to forget my time at GFA.”
In her 25 years here, Anne has
Parting words: “I’ve enjoyed my time at GFA. After 26 years you get to see the growth of the school. It’s very exciting to see the changes,” she said. “GFA gives teachers the freedom to try new things and do what we feel is best for the child. You really value that.”
devoted herself to her students, and she has offered wise advice to generations of GFA families. … We will miss Anne deeply, and we wish her a wonderful adventure in this new chapter in her life. —Connie Ennis, Head of Lower School
Parting words: “To me, the reason I stayed is the group of teachers,” he said. “In addition to being cordial, it was a very professional, upbeat, and very giving group of teachers. Of course,” he explained, “the remarkably good natured kids were a large part of the experience, too. They keep me young!”
We know Ann will continue to keep her hand in the world of teaching; we
“Whether teaching World History
will miss her deeply, and we thank her for
to sixth graders or opening the minds of
her many years of inspirational teaching
seniors in his course Black Gold: Oil and
at GFA!
the World Economy, Jim was an invalu—Connie Ennis, Head of Lower School
able member of the history department. A great colleague and a better friend, he will be sorely missed.”
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Ian Campbell, Department Chair, Upper School History
On June 30, Horizons welcomed 200 Bridgeport students in grades PreK-12 back to the GFA campus. The summer program, in its 15th year at GFA, provides academic support to students in PreK-8th grade to close the achievement gap, and provides college prep for high school students. The goal of Horizons is to assure that students graduate from high school, and are college- and career-ready. The 2014 Horizons staff includes 22 current and former GFA students, and two GFA faculty members.
FORMER FACULTY We are grateful for the many years of service to the school from three retiring trustees: Vincent D’Agostino, Terry Hogan, and Roger Tarika. We also welcome three new board members whose terms began this summer: Henry A. Backe, Jr., M.D., of Orthopaedic Specialty Group in Fairfield, whose fourth child will graduate from GFA in 2016; Josh Samuelson of PointState Capital, with a current 1st and 3rd grader; and Peter Tauck of Tauck Inc., father of four current GFA students.
Jim Benz, who taught art and art history at GFA from 1986-2000 is the new Director at The Peninsula School in San Francisco. Scott Reisinger, who was a history teacher, Assistant Head, and Head of the Lower School at GFA from 1988-1999 is the new Head of School at Trevor Day School in New York City.
Coyle Scholar Speech On Oct. 14, visiting Coyle Scholar, Dr. Ashley Stroupe, will be addressing students during the day and speaking to the broader community in the evening. Stroupe is an engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working on the Mars Exploration Rovers. Her research focuses on multi-robot teams in complex environments. The evening talk will be free and open to the public. Check www.gfacademy.org for event times and other information. GFAMAGAZINE FALL2014 | 9
This summer GFA began construction on a Performing Arts Center and Global Studies Center. For years the school has used the Bedford Gym for concerts, performances, speakers, and special events, and school officials say that this fixed-seat theater is a much needed facility. The Performing Arts Center and Global Studies Center will include a 450-seat theater, a lobby which will function as a visual arts gallery and event space, a set design workshop, two dressing rooms, a state-of-the-art Global Studies classroom, three additional classrooms, and an additional outdoor courtyard space.
Head of School Janet Hartwell is joined by students in the Lower, Middle, and Upper schools as they break ground on the site of the new building.
Construction on the new facility began in June and will continue through the 2014-15 school year. GFA anticipates a September 2015 opening.
Decades in the Making:
Performing Arts Center
Design: Roger Ferris + Partners
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Design: Roger Ferris + Partners Rendering of what the finished product will look like.
&
Global Studies Center
Despite the construction, the school has worked hard to preserve its iconic apple trees. Five of the trees now have a temporary home near the organic garden and will be replanted near their original location when construction finishes. GFAMAGAZINE FALL2014 | 11
arts
HAFEY’S Protégés John Hafey taught photography for 13 years at GFA before retiring last spring. His protégés have brought his insights with them to college, to their jobs, and to their personal work. Kiera Wood ’12: “Without [Mr. Hafey], I would not have gotten to where I am now as Photo Editor of the Columbia Daily Spectator and Summer Photography Intern at Sports Illustrated.”
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Andrew Glicklich ’10: “Mr. Hafey fostered my creativity and encouraged the development of my distinct photography style, encompassing textured water shots and macro photography.”
Kiera Wood ’12: Mr. Hafey was my academic adviser, mentor, and the person who let me explore and develop my love for photography. Without him I would not have gotten to where I am now as Photo Editor of the Columbia Daily Spectator and Summer Photography Intern at Sports Illustrated. I always carry my camera with me, except to class, and am known on campus and was known by athletes my first year at school as “that girl with the camera.” Now of course we have all been introduced and they constantly ask to see my work. I love exploring new spots, such as a Domino Park in Little Havana in Miami, and challenging myself to capture what’s going on in a scene. I believe that photography is supposed to capture the human experience and that is something I strive to do in every photo I take and something that is and can be constantly defined and redefined. Mr. Hafey was truly an amazing teacher and mentor, inspiring me and everyone he taught. It’s sad to see him leave the GFA community but I know I will always keep in touch with him.
Andrew Glicklich ’10: Mr. Hafey was a pivotal figure in my growth as a photographer. He fostered my creativity and encouraged the development of my distinct photography style encompassing textured water shots and macro photography. My passion for photography has continued past my experiences with Mr. Hafey; in college I was the president of the Columbia University Photography Society and I worked professionally in New York City shooting events for private clients, organizations, student groups, and Columbia’s administration.
Madison Leonard ’13: The Leonard girls LOVE Mr. Hafey! He taught all of us to think outside the box and let those creative juices flow. He inspired, encouraged, and nudged us to capture those special moments on camera. Mr. Hafey ROCKS!
Brian Hirschfeld ’12: Mr. Hafey encouraged me to try different pieces of equipment and push them to make the best and most interesting photos I could. Currently I am doing a number of things photographically. First, and most recently I have begun shooting sports photography for fun, most recently shooting the Belmont Stakes. I have been working on mastering hummingbird photography. I have been working on my review website (brianhirschfeldphotography.com), which now has between 5,000–10,000 views a month. Most interestingly however, I just received venture capital money for a medium format digital back concept that I have been developing and hope to be producing a prototype very soon.
Top down: 1. Wood: A shot taken during Wood’s internship with Sports Illustrated. 2. Glicklich specializes in textured water shots and macro photography, as seen here. 3. Leonard: her lens captures a different side of the Irish countryside. 4. Hirschfeld: Hummingbird 2014, Taken with a Nikon 800mm f/5.6 lens and Nikon D4s. Opposite page: 1. Wood: Domino Park, Little Havana, in Miami, FLA. 2. Glicklich: Ice cube on a wooden cutting board.
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TECHNO GFA Joins GOA
Greens Farms Academy has become a member of the Global Online Academy (GOA). Established in 2011, GOA offers diverse and rigorous credit-bearing courses to students in member schools around the world. GOA students participate in a global classroom, learning alongside peers with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Each course includes live classroom time using video conferencing technology, and a self-guided component that students complete independently. Credit is awarded by Greens Farms Academy for participating GFA students. This year 18 students will participate in a wide range of courses including Abnormal Psychology, Digital Journalism, Arabic Language and Culture, Medical Problem Solving, Java Programming, and Comparative Religions.
GFA IS DELIGHTED TO BE LAUNCHING A NEW WEBSITE THIS FALL. IT INCLUDES “RESPONSIVE DESIGN,” WHICH ALLOWS FOR EASY VIEWING ON ALL COMPUTERS AS WELL AS ON SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS. DURING EVENTS SUCH AS BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHTS, WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE ON HAND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND HELP YOU FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE NEW FEATURES.
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OLOGY ANOTHER DIMENSION OF TECHNOLOGY Taking the reins of technology in the Lower School, Josh Burker has been an innovator in the classroom and the GFA community. His passion is emerging technology, including the Maker Movement and all that entails. For years he has been encouraging students to take a hands-on approach to understanding the world around them—through projects like 3D printing and do-it-yourself creations. “I’m a proponent of constructionism,” he said. “Students work on projects to build an understanding of a topic. All of these types of projects are very hands-on and they blur the lines of any curricular area. Any project might also involve art, language arts, and math. We’re trying to broaden the scope of what technology is.”
Augmented reality
Greens Farms Academy has leapt into emerging technologies by incorporating “augmented reality” into the classroom. Using object and image recognition technology, augmented reality programs can transform everyday objects and images into an interactive and educational world. GFA Spanish teacher Elena Aniel-Quiroga created a “language wall” in her classroom, which allowed students to bring objects to life using tablets and smartphones. The World Perspectives Program published a brochure in April highlighting their year-end symposium. But rather than containing plain print, the images on the brochure link to videos of each student’s presentation when using an augmented reality app. Try it out! Download the Aurasma app, follow the “World Perspectives Program” channel, and use the app to scan the image below to see Lily McGonagle’s Horseshoe Crab Conservation Project.
GFA students have used 3D printing to create personalized name plates, among many other projects. 3D printing starts in the digital world, where students use computers to design their creations. GFA has three 3D printers for the students to use.
Oculus Rift The Game Design class at GFA used Oculus Rift to see how immersive virtual environments could be utilized in games. The classes discussed issues like frame rate, VR sickness, and future applications of this cutting-edge technology.
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athletics
GFA Honors
Three Scholar-Athletes
Last spring, the Fairchester Athletic Association named 13 Scholar-Athletes, three of whom were GFA seniors: Maggie Sherin, Brendan Bieder, and Caroline Kruk.
Maggie Sherin
Caroline Kruk
Brendan Bieder
The Scholar-Athlete Award goes to high school seniors who display excellence and superior achievement in both athletics and academics. To qualify, a student must have a GPA of 91 percent or better during junior and senior year; take a minimum of three Advanced Placement classes; and rank in the top 10 percent of the class. In addition, the student must have played at least one varsity sport during junior year, and two during senior year. Finally, the student must have earned an FAA All-League designation during junior or senior year. A committee of athletic directors decides the final honorees. While taking one of the most demanding course loads at GFA, Brendan Bieder was also a varsity athlete in three sports: soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. According to GFA Athletic Director Tauni Butterfield, Bieder is known on the fields and the court for his tireless work ethic. “He is extremely smart, analytical, and thoughtful,” Butterfield said. “He is a team player, ready and willing to lead when called upon.” Bieder now attends the University of Richmond. Caroline Kruk has been described by her teachers and coaches as a multitalented scholar and a top athlete. While completing
11 honors courses and six AP courses, participating in the honors Global Thesis program, and pursuing a diploma with a concentration in Global Studies, she also left her mark on the GFA athletic field. According to Butterfield, she was a four-year starting goalie for the soccer team, a defensive spark on her basketball team, and led by example on the softball field. “As an athlete, she portrays a work ethic you cannot teach, and a never-give-up (or in) attitude,” said Butterfield. Kruk attends Colgate University. Field hockey’s MVP for three years running, team captain Maggie Sherin also earned FAA All-League status the last two years, and was selected to the Western New England Prep School All-Star team for the past two years. A three-season varsity athlete, Sherin also played basketball and tennis. “She is a deep thinker who brings a first-rate work ethic as well as joy and dedication to all she does,” Butterfield said. Sherin is playing field hockey at Dartmouth College.
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The 2014 GFA sailing team was the largest in the school’s history with almost 20 members, according to Athletic Director Tauni Butterfield. A large reason for this, she said, was because two GFA families, Susan and Marko Sonnenberg and Sarah and James Gleason, made donations that enabled the school to obtain two more boats. GFA Head Sailing Coach Sam Blouin
Setting Sail for Success From the tepid waters of Tampa, Fla., to the icy swells of Seneca Lake, N.Y., Sam Blouin has spent the last 17 years honing his skills as a top-notch sailor. This past spring he brought his talents to GFA as the new head sailing coach, and in the fall he’ll also join the Lower School as a teaching assistant in Katie Mack’s second grade classroom. Coming up through the private school system in Florida, then leading his Hobart and William Smith College team to second and third place national rankings, Blouin knew he wanted to help guide burgeoning sailors. “I’ve always wanted to give back to those communities that helped shape me,” he explained.
“These gifts have allowed us to continue to grow and expand our competitive sailing program,” Butterfield said. “Our hope in making the donation was to give more freshmen the opportunity to be on the team and hopefully to build a stronger team for GFA,” said Susan Sonnenberg. The spring 2015 sailing team will compete with six boats.
Under Blouin’s leadership, the largest sailing team in GFA history was ranked 30th by the New England Schools Sailing Association. “[This season] I saw not just an improvement in skill-set, but they really came together as a collective team,” he said. “I enjoyed being able to show them how to be a team and work together.”
Can’t Get to the Game? Stream it for Free! Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Bleachers, an online service offering HD streaming of athletics, will be available to all current parents and alumni, free of charge, for the duration of the school year. Bleachers will stream live and pre-recorded GFA athletic competitions—both home and away—to parents, grandparents, and other supporters who can’t actually be at the game. You can also create and share video clips. To sign up, go to gobleachers.com/tour and enter your GFA email address. Once your account is activated, you can select the sports you wish to see and even have up to four other users to your account. Download the Bleachers app to watch games on your smartphone or tablet—sign up now to see archived games from the 2013-14 school year. For more information, visit www.gobleachers.com or email support@gobleachers.com. Questions? Contact customer support at 855.GOBLEACHERS (462.5322)
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SO UTH GFA Alums Strike a Chord with SOUTH
Dan Pritikin ’98 embodies the West Coast entrepreneurial spirit as co-founder and head of production at SOUTH Music and Sound Design in Santa Monica, Calif. Armed with a 10-year career in music production and advertising, a small collection of instruments and recording equipment, and an enviable Rolodex of potential industry clients, Pritikin and his two partners ventured out on their own in August 2009. In five years, their experiment has grown into an award-winning boutique production company for original music. SOUTH has struck a chord in a fickle industry and found success by appealing to top-tier clients such as Samsung, Nissan, and Target, while maintaining the homegrown cachet that keeps them fresh. It is the balance of industry gravitas and start-up vitality that gives SOUTH its edge, Pritikin explains from their hopelessly chic Santa Monica studio. In 2010, SOUTH acquired a second studio in Nashville to capitalize on the booming music industry there. “Advertising is a super trendy business—it’s really all about your marketing. There is always an interest in the new kids on the block. We are a top-tier shop. Small enough to stay creative and nimble, but clients call us for our customer service—we will lie down in traffic for you,” he jokes. SOUTH’s small team of producers, musicians, writers, and artists create original music while always prioritizing their clients—from advertising, film, and television. “Our mission is to inspire trust. Trust from our clients, from their clients, and from supporters of brands around the world. With your trust, we provide music and sound design of the highest quality through brilliant composition and innovative production,” their mission statement reads.
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Another secret to SOUTH’s winning recipe is collaboration. “Every project you work on is completely different. Everyone works on everything. We usually have between three and 10 projects going at the same time, and each employee has a seat at the table.” Since its inception SOUTH has relied on personal recommendations to grow its staff without sacrificing the laid-back, grassroots vibe. “We are not very big. Only eight full-time employees,” he explains. “That’s a great size for us to stay boutique and nimble and not get watered down and corporate.” SOUTH’s futuristic homepage features a section of casual photos of its employees simply enjoying their work, music, and each other. A careful eye might recognize two of these employees as fellow GFA alums. Pritikin credits his East Coast alma mater with connecting him with William Jayson ’01, who manages East Coast sales, and Chris Sammons ’05, who until recently was an integral part of the L.A. office. At the 2012 wedding of Pritkin’s former classmate Jay Allen ’98, Pritikin reconnected with Jayson, a fellow groomsman. Anyone familiar with GFA during the late 1990s will likely remember the Pinebarrens, a student-run band headlined by Pritikin with Allen on the guitar and
Far left: Dan Pritikin ’98 is the co-founder and head of production at SOUTH Music and Sound Design in Santa Monica, Calif. 2nd from left: William Jayson ’01 manages East Coast sales for SOUTH. He got the job after reuniting with Pritikin at the wedding of another GFA alum.
Jayson on the drums. Plucked by the two upperclassmen, who realized their shared love of music on the 1996 schooner trip, eighth grader Jayson auditioned to join the group. “I faked it until I made it at that audition,” recalls Jayson. “Then of course I felt really cool because I was playing in a band with high school kids.” The Pinebarrens was just the beginning of the Pritikin-Jayson collaboration. Months after the wedding, Pritikin hired Jayson to manage sales and client relations on the East Coast. “I knew what he had been doing at SOUTH and was always really impressed. I just asked him on a whim if they were ever in need of any help in sales,” says Jayson. “It was a right-place-at-the-right-time moment.” Jayson spends his days in a state-of-the-art shared workspace in TriBeCa drumming up business on the opposite coast. Asked what it is like working for a friend’s company, he smiles. “I have always worked for Dan in a music capacity. Sometimes it’s complicated because I put additional stress on myself to do right for my boss, who is also a close friend.” Pritikin agrees and says that there is “another dimension of your relationship that you are trying to be respectful of.” He explains, “The positives greatly outweigh the negatives.” After reading about Pritikin’s new venture in the “Class Notes” section of the GFA magazine Sammons blindly reached out to share his love of music.
“Chris contacted me directly and said—as will happen with a small school like GFA—‘I don’t know if you remember my brother…’ ” The next thing Sammons knew he was at SOUTH’s Santa Monica studio playing some of his music for the partners. Sammons was a proud employee of SOUTH and only recently left to try his hand at music creation in L.A. Pritikin says, “He is an extremely talented kid who really has it going on. He was a huge part of this company for the last year and a half.” GFA’s influence on Pritikin extends far beyond connecting alums with the small team. “The school was very supportive of your creative interests. Musically, students were encouraged to jump head-first into the Beachers, Blues, the concert choir,” recalls Pritikin. “That type of support stays with you in adult life. I look at this company, built on people pooling talents and it is not unlike the community we were encouraged to form at GFA.” Both Jayson and Pritikin also credit GFA with fostering a strong work ethic. “They don’t let you slack off,” Dan says with a laugh as he names some teachers who never took his mischievous bait. “Miss Bergeron let us record our jam sessions after school. Dave Perry, that guy introduced the idea of complex jazz to kids. And Mr. True. He said there has never been a class with more future leaders. I’ll never forget that.” —by Michelle Levi ’01
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PROFILE
ALUMNI
ALSO IN L.A.
Gold Sees Beauty in BUTI When Bizzie Gold ’03 founded BUTI yoga in 2010, she never expected her fitness movement would be named the No. 2 global fitness trend, attract a bevy of A-listers, or be featured on the TODAY Show, Shape, Self, and In Style magazines. Rather she was determined to redefine how women view their bodies, health and, of course, shed those last few pounds of baby weight. Three years later, as the founder and CEO of BUTI, Gold has trained more than 600 certified instructors across 26 states and six countries including Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Philippines, Singapore, and Australia; launched a tech-savvy, at-home fitness program; branded and distributed an award-winning nutritional program; and found a way to give back to local communities. “Of course I am proud, often in awe, of the success BUTI has seen in the last few years. It is beyond my wildest dreams. Watching women tap into a new sense of confidence and reclaim their health and wellness journey is incredibly rewarding,” says Gold. “But our nonprofit program, Reclaim Your BUTI, has really impacted my life in a deeply meaningful way.” In each city that BUTI hosts trainings, it offers two scholarship spots to women from local shelters for domestic violence survivors and the displaced or homeless. “We train them in BUTI to help them reclaim their feminine power and confidence in a positive way—all while getting themselves physically stronger to protect themselves in the future. We have seen huge success with this program—some are even able to leave the homeless shelter and use BUTI as their main source of income,” she explains.
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Gold left Fairfield County and moved to Hawaii where she spent years training in dance, nutrition, and yoga. BUTI fuses tribal dance, plyometrics, and power yoga into a high-intensity workout, which has drawn celebrity regulars such as Julia Roberts and Jennifer Love Hewitt. It boasts almost immediate physical results, but Gold stresses that a BUTI lifestyle does not end in the studio and argues that a sustained natural diet and conscious living are important factors to achieving optimal confidence boosting health. “How has GFA influenced my success?” Bizzie laughs. “You know that sign in the Middle School, ‘Dare to be Different, Dare to Be Yourself?’ I really felt teachers and students lived up to that. I was encouraged to push the limits and be the best version of myself. I want that for my students, for my children, and for myself.” “My education at GFA groomed me to seek greatness and gave me the academic skills necessary to create a successful start-up and grow it into what it is today.” Friends made at GFA have also had a personal and professional influence on Bizzie. In fact, after relocating to California, Bizzie reconnected with Christine Daley ’01 who became a business partner and until recently was the Director of Studio Outreach. Wondering where you can try out a BUTI Yoga class in New York and Fairfield County? Check out the website www.butiyoga.com which includes information about their online streaming classes, DVD programs and in-studio classes. Earlier this summer Gold and Daley were back in the area for an instructor training at Intensity in Westport —followed by dinner at Sakura, of course.
PROFILE
ALUMNI
ALSO IN L.A.
Living on One
Chris Temple—Living on One Chris Temple ’07 has always had a knack for adventure. During a gap year from Claremont-McKenna College, Temple worked for the Grameen Trust to help launch new microfinance organizations in New York, Mexico, Guatemala, and Columbia. He came back to his college’s Los Angeles campus a changed student and promptly founded the world’s largest student microfinance organization. Several semesters later, Temple and three fellow college students traveled to a small, rural town in Guatemala to document whether they could live on just $1 dollar a day. They could not have been prepared for what happened next. “We battled intense hunger, parasites, and the realization that there are no easy answers. But the strength of our neighbors and friends gave us hope that there are effective ways to make a difference,” he explains from a Santa Monica studio where he is editing his next film.
In 2012, Temple and his partner and co-executive director Zach Ingrasci founded Living on One, a production and social impact studio that creates films and educational videos to raise awareness and inspire action around extreme poverty. “Every job has its low points, but I get to wake up every day, do something I love to do, and tell the stories of incredible people from around the world. I’ve been super lucky to not only go to GFA, but to get an education from the world’s poorest and most marginalized people,” Temple says.
“My neighbors in Guatemala were some of the most generous, innovative, and courageous people that we have ever met. For billions of the poor it is not a choice to live with less,” he explains. “It’s not just a poverty of material goods, but of opportunity. They often don’t have access to things we take advantage of every day like education, financial services, nutrition, healthcare, and even access to clean water.”
Temple was one of three brothers who graduated from GFA and is conscious of the role his alma mater has played in his life and endeavors. “At first thought, I don’t think GFA was really central to inspiring philanthropy for me, but equally as important I think is it taught me to build close relationships with the community around me—something that has been a core focus to my films and experiences since graduating,” he explains. “Every day, in the hallways and the small classes, I was encouraged to listen to, understand, and respect the perspective of others. It was the close friends I made there who really pushed me to take school more seriously and continue to encourage me today. ”
While in Guatemala, the college students posted a video on YouTube describing their life-changing experience. With the help of social media, the video quickly jumped more than 700,000 views and inspired the boys to create a feature-length film upon their return—and after college graduation. Again the film was received with great acclaim and they launched a road trip in a 1978 school bus to help share their story and their film with people across the country. The tour events sold out quickly and culminated in an interview with Charlie Rose on CBS News This Morning.
Temple reminds himself to use his upbringing and education as an opportunity to enact change. “Living in a Syrian refugee camp and living on a $1 a day in Guatemala are about as far away from my Connecticut upbringing as possible. We often build these stereotypes about marginalized groups, but at the end of the day, we have to overcome our stereotypes, harness what GFA taught us, and listen to these communities,” explains Temple. “We shouldn’t feel guilty about the resources we have, but see them as opportunities to do more, reach more people, and make a difference in the world.”
alumni weekend
gfa reunion
GFA ALUMNI MOBILE APP
homecoming weekend
Oct. 17–18, 2014
Three great reasons to return to campus to see friends and faculty. All alumni and non-graduates are invited back to campus for a weekend of events including Fall Homecoming, Alumni Association meeting, a State-of-the-School Update, athletic events, and alumni gatherings.
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GFA is pleased to introduce a clever new way for alumni to stay connected: the GFA Alumni mobile app, powered by EverTrue! No matter where you live or how busy your schedule is, you will be able to connect with other alums and keep up to date with the latest GFA school and alumni news. To enroll, search for the “EverTrue” app. Once you have downloaded it, open it, and you will be prompted to search for your community. Type in “GFA” and select the correct community. FEATURES INCLUDE: • Alumni directory searchable by name, class year, college, industry, or company. • Integration with LinkedIn • Alumni events calendar • Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, and Instagram SUPPORTED DEVICES: • iPhone • iPod Touch
Visit www.gfacademy.org/alumni or call the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 256-7523 for the most up-to-date calendar of events. Please be sure we have your current email address! Send it to mmcgrade@gfacademy.org
• iPad • Android UNSUPPORTED DEVICES: • Blackberry • Windows Phone 7 • WebOS EMAIL VERIFICATION The GFA Alumni App for iPhone and Android uses email verification and is limited to use by confirmed alumni and non-graduates of GFA. FAQ Please go to gfacademy.org/alumni for answers to frequently asked questions. If you don’t find the answer, please contact us at alumni@gfacademy.org or call (203) 256-7523.
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“I INHERITED MY LOVE OF HATS FROM MY MOTHER, WHO WORE BEAUTIFUL HATS IN THE 1940s, 1950s, AND 1960s. MOST WOMEN WORE HATS IN THOSE DAYS.”
“One two-week summer workshop titled ‘Excellence in Teaching’ inspired me to want to stand out and be different, so students would be motivated to learn in my classes.”
THE MANY HATS
OF ROSE ANN MARTINEZ
“OFTEN STUDENTS ARE BORED SOLVING RUN-OF-THE-MILL WORD PROBLEMS, SO I MAKE UP PROBLEMS USING THEIR NAMES AND INTERESTS; I DRESS UP IN COSTUME AND GIVE OUT FOOD.”
NAME:
ROSE ANN MARTINEZ
YEARS POSITION: # OF # OF GRADE 5; AT GFA: COORDINATOR HATS: STUDENTS: 25
OF LOWER SCHOOL MATHEMATICS
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ABOUT 900
Greens Farms Academy
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Email. alumni@gfacademy.org
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October 2, 2014
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7 to 9 p.m.
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Coyle Gym
GFA will hold its first State-of-the-School address on Thursday, October 2, 2014, honoring Janet Hartwell and her leadership since 2003. This will become an annual opportunity to celebrate community and deepen our understanding of the school.
Connect with us on the web gfacademy.org
Please contact Greens Farms Academy to notify us of any change in address or if this issue is addressed to your son or daughter and they no longer maintain a permanent residence in your home. INCLUDE OLD AND NEW ADDRESSES.