GFA
GREENS FARMS ACADEMY MAGAZINE | SPRING 2017
MISSION GFA ENGAGES STUDENTS AS PARTNERS IN AN INNOVATIVE, INCLUSIVE, AND GLOBALLY MINDED COMMUNITY TO PREPARE THEM FOR A LIFE OF PURPOSE.
FEATURES 18
A Year of Inclusion
22
Commencement 2017
32
Signature Programs: A New Look
CAMPUS NEWS 3
Letter from Janet
8
Facilities Update
44
Athletics
50
The Arts
ALUMNI 59
Upcoming Events
62
Alumni Profile: North Pumiwat Shutsharawan ‘01
66
Class Notes
EDITOR Frances Moore DESIGN Lindsay Russo PHOTOGRAPHY Donna Beeman John Nash CONTRIBUTORS Christy Ball Tom Barry Alison Freeland Sara Glidden Aleksandra Johnson Jenn Klein Mary Warner McGrade
2016-2017 BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Shelley Goldsmith, P ’15, ’17, ’20, Co-Chair Tricia Vanacore, P ’13, ’14, ’16, Co-Chair Stephen Lawrence, P ’10, ’20,Vice Co-Chair Michael Rintoul, ’84, P ’15, ’17, ’19,Vice Co-Chair Zac Zeitlin, P ’22, ’24, ’28, Treasurer Arlene Howard, P ’19, ’21, ’23, ’25, Secretary Roger Ferris, P ’18, ’18, ’20, ’28 Henry A. Backe, Jr., MD, P ’11, ’16 Vani Bettegowda, P ’22, ’25 Michael Blitzer, P ’24, ’27 Elizabeth Koldyke Boolbol, P ’17, ’18, ’20, ’22 Richard J. Canning, P ’19, ’20 Carolyn Cohen, P ’14, ’17, ’19, ’21 David Durkin, P ’18, ’22, ’23 Stephanie Ercegovic, P ’20 Michael Greenberg, P ’19, ’21 Janet Hartwell, Ex Officio Ward K. Horton, P ’24, ’28 Lynne Laukhuf, P ’95 Kristen McDonald, P ’21, ’23, ’25 Samantha Rorer Mooney, P ’18, ’20 Kate Roth, ’90, P ’20, ’23, ’27 Nan Soule, P ’11, ’15, ’16 Peter Tauck, P ’15, ’17, ’19, ’21 Jim Wolfe, P ’14, ’15, ’17
ADVISORY COUNCIL Michael Greenberg, Co-Chair Jim Wolfe, Co-chair Talley Ackerman Scott Balkan Lynne Byrne David Capodilupo ’79 Claire Foerster Meade Fogel David Friezo Julie Gentile David Magrone Douglas McDonald Molly McGrath David McKane Tom Murphy Victor Nesi Kim Raveis ’88 Nick Savone Gregory Smith 4 | www.gfacademy.org
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL, JANET HARTWELL SIGNATURE PROGRAMS REACH ACROSS DISCIPLINES, DIVISIONS GFA can now celebrate three innovative signature programs: World Perspectives, STEAM, and Human Ecology and Sustainability. With the power to make connections across disciplines and divisions, our signature programs have interdisciplinary study at their core. World Perspectives from the Global Studies Department was the first and is the most mature of our signature programs and promotes transcultural exploration into the PreK-12 curriculum. Students learn about global issues from multiple points of view and recognize how their perspective affects the way they see and act in the world around them. A select group of 15-20 students take Global Thesis in 12th grade. In this course, they choose a global issue, conduct original research, and report their findings in a 30-page paper that they defend at the Annual World Perspectives Symposium (see page 40). Past topics include the economic crisis in the European Union, international terrorism, and the political challenge of dealing with climate change. STEAM is in its first year, and after taking courses in Engineering, Design Thinking Computer Science among others (see page 36), seniors undertake a culminating STEAM Independent Project in which they create physically manufactured objects or coded virtual systems that respond to real-life problems. Students move between cycles of critique and revision as they better suit a product to a client’s needs. They also think about the branding of their product, and work on presenting it, with an emphasis on public speaking. This year we have offered several courses, such as Marine Biology and Regenerative Landscape (see page 38), as prerequisites for next year’s Human Ecology and Sustainability concentration; integral to the concentration will be a senior Sustainability Seminar in which students will engage in action- and place-based learning, and part of this will be an off-campus immersion program. This upper school concentration is a natural outgrowth of our robust PreK-12th grade sustainability program and school-wide focus on being a sustainable school. GFA’s signature programs encourage our students to tap into passions and discover connections and relevance across their studies. Best wishes,
Janet Hartwell, Head of School Spring 2017 | 5
HEAD SEARCH UPDATE In January, Head of School Janet Hartwell announced her retirement from Greens Farms Academy effective summer 2018, and the search for her replacement is well underway. Shortly after her announcement, the Board of Trustees appointed Lynne Laukhuf and Carolyn Cohen to co-chair a Search Committee which is made up of trustees, teachers, and administrators. An Advisory Committee has also been formed comprised of teachers, administrators, parents, and alumni. In addition, the firm Educators’ Collaborative has been retained to aid in the process of finding our next Head of School. Search consultants Jean Lamont and John Mackenzie bring with them many years of experience as heads of school and search specialists. One of the key goals of this effort has been to incorporate broad input from the many GFA communities. During an extended stay on campus, the search consultants met with scores of community members and students, and have since heard from more than 300 constituents via surveys and subsequent conversations. Although it is difficult to imagine the school without Janet Hartwell’s leadership, her remarkable accomplishments, as well as the school’s mission, history, and financial stability are attracting the attention of excellent candidates representing a broad range of educators. It is anticipated that the Board of Trustees will announce the next Head of School by fall or early winter of 2017, with the new Head of School assuming his or her position in July 2018. The developments to date, and those yet to come, may be found on our website: www.gfacademy.org/headofschool.
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NEW TRUSTEES KATE ROTH ’90 Kate is a graduate of GFA who went on to Dartmouth College, where she received a B.A. in Social Sciences. She earned her Doctorate in Education as well as an M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education and her M.A. in Curriculum and Teaching from Columbia University Teachers College. Kate taught kindergarten, first grade, and Reading Recovery in several urban districts and has published more than 20 books for children on how to write. She recently wrote a book on writing instruction for teachers in grades PreK-5. Kate continues her career as a literacy consultant who coaches teachers around the country, as well as those at Horizons at GFA, on writing instruction. She lived in Shanghai, China, for many years with her husband Erik and three children (’20, ’23, ’27) before moving to Wilton in 2014.
KRISTEN MCDONALD Kristen McDonald graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in English. After spending three years in publishing, television, and contracting for the Coca-Cola Company, Kristen was the founding employee of a high-tech firm, Intradiem, where she performed a variety of roles including marketing, product development, creative services, and running their professional services group. She has been a prolific volunteer at GFA, where she has served as co-chair of Grandparents Day, class parent for multiple grades, and member of the MarComm and EPC Committees. She has served on several community boards including the Christ and Holy Trinity Preschool Board and Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County Executive Board. Kristen lives in Westport with her husband Patrick and their three children (’21, ’23, ’25).
SAYING GOODBYE
Trustee Josh Samuelson completed his three-year term on the board at the end of this school year. We thank him for his years of service and dedication to the school. Spring 2017 | 7
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ON CAMPUS
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FACILITIES UPDATE
We are pleased to share the plans for our dedicated Wrestling Gym and new and expanded Fitness Center. These two projects are part of our current capital campaign, Lead with Excellence. It is thanks to the generous commitments and gifts from our parents, past parents, alumni, and friends that these facilities will be possible. NEW AND EXPANDED FITNESS CENTER The new Fitness Center will be a feature at the entrance to the GFA campus. The one-story structure will provide much-needed cardio and strength training space. The exterior will be a zinc panel rainscreen with a large window wall. The interior is a single space with cushioned athletic flooring. The space is designed to be flexible, accommodating a range of equipment and incorporating an open floor area in order to support the many GFA fitness programs. It will be outfitted with updated strength and cardio equipment. The addition includes a reworking of the existing vestibule between the Bedford Gym and the Wrestling Gym. The new and expanded space, a long-awaited and welcome addition to the campus, is one that will benefit all of our students, faculty, and staff. DEDICATED WRESTLING GYM Currently the fitness center, office space, and Dragon Den (the former half-gymnasium built in 1971) will be returned to a dedicated wrestling gym. Serving our wrestling program, the space will be fully renovated and feature new floor and ceiling finishes. The renovations include adding windows along the west elevation under the existing overhang. The reconfigured Wrestling Gym will include state-of-the-art weight training and coaching equipment. The new space will provide our already successful wrestling program with a permanent home. Greens Farms Academy Fitness 35 Beachside Avenue Westport, Connecticut 06880
April 2017
rms Academy Fitness de Avenue Connecticut 06880
Fitness Addition | Proposed View 3
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Greens Farms Academy Fitness 35 Beachside Avenue Westport, Connecticut 06880
Fitness Addition | Proposed View 4
Fitness Renovations & Addition | Site Plan
April 2017
Greens Farms Academy Fitness 35 Beachside Avenue Westport, Connecticut 06880
April 2017
Wrestling Renovation | Proposed View 1
Greens Farms Academy Fitness 35 Beachside Avenue Westport, Connecticut 06880
Fitness Addition | Proposed View 2
Roger Ferris + Partners Design Spring 2017 | 11
DRAGONOIDS INSPIRED The Dragonoids robotics team came back from a two-match deficit to win the last two qualification matches and finish as the No. 6 seed with a qualifying record of 3-2-0. MC2 robotics (Staples High School)
This year the Dragonoids earned the Inspire Award, which sealed their No. 1 spot in the state of Connecticut. The Inspire Award recognizes the team that meets program challenges beyond creating a winning robot. The team accomplished this by participating in community events; helping other teams with coding and building robots; volunteering at Connecticut FIRST Tech Challenge events;
chose GFA along with i r (Staples) as the winning alliance. Following
learning real-world applications at PDC International (Norwalk); and
alliance selection, the teams won all of the elimination matches.
keeping a detailed journal of their building and coding process.
2
UP TO THE CHALLENGE GFA received national recognition from Save the Children this year as a part of the organization’s Every Last Child Challenge. The school received the National Champion for Children Award in honor of the school’s fall fundraising efforts, totaling $2,701.50. Presenting an award plaque to both the Upper and Middle School, Save the Children representative Courtney Nields said, “The world is in need of heroes like you, and every dollar you’ve raised is a huge help in getting us closer to a brighter world for children everywhere.” The funds were raised through two separate events at GFA. The Middle School Student Council collected donations during the MS Halloween Dance, raising a total of $1,600. Then — for the third year in a row — the Upper and Middle school faculty, staff, and students participated in Save the Children’s “Make the World Better with a Sweater” fundraiser. The event challenges participants to wear wacky holiday attire and drop off donations to show their support of children in need worldwide. The event raised $1,101.50. “We were very impressed with the creativity, teamwork, and drive
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you all collectively demonstrated,” Nields said. GFA joined schools from all over the country, including nearby Weston High School, which won the Best Use of Tried and True Techniques Award by hosting a bake sale. Other award categories were Best Use of Digital and Social Media (Brown University) and Best Use of Creativity (Adolfo Camarillo High School, CA). Save the Children is an international nonprofit with headquarters in Fairfield. The organization “gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.” For more information, visit www. savethechildren.org.
COYLE SCHOLARS The Coyle Scholar Program brings to Greens Farms Academy inspiring, prominent individuals of scholarly and contemporary interest, public servants, academicians, people of letters, or other public figures who have made a sustained and lasting contribution to education defined in its broadest sense.
DAMON WILSON This fall we welcomed Coyle Scholar Damon M. Wilson, who spoke to our community about why the U.S. must take a more active role in shaping its own future. We have a particular role to play in maintaining worldwide peace, he pointed out, and we can no longer sit back and watch. Wilson is executive vice president of the Atlantic Council, where he is responsible for programs and strategy. His work is committed to advancing a Europe whole, free, and at peace; to strengthening the NATO Alliance; and to fostering a transatlantic partnership capable of tackling global challenges and promoting its common values.
CHARLES STROUSE Then in the spring, students in all three divisions were charmed by the music and musings of composer Charles Strouse. He took students and faculty on a journey through his career, which included writing the music for Bye Bye Birdie, Annie and
Applause, as well as the theme for All in the Family, and the score for Bonnie & Clyde, among many other achievements in stage, television, and film.
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SPRING SPORTS SATURDAY
&
EARTH DAY
It started out a little dreary, but the spirit in this year’s annual Spring
kids in the lower divisions, and throughout the day, fans cheered our
Sports Saturday shone through, especially with the added Earth Day
varsity teams to victory and helped raise more than $3,900 for Pink Aid,
celebration that day. Upper School lacrosse athletes hosted a clinic for
an organization that helps women undergoing breast cancer treatment.
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Seed Balls 1. Mix clay/kitty litter and compost (5:1 ratio) in a large bowl and slowly add water until the mixture is blended and sticks together. 2. Create golf-ball-sized clumps, and make a hole halfway through the ball. 3. Drop two or three seeds into each hole, then squeeze the mixture to seal them in.
r e w o l F eds Se
4. Plant right away, or dry them out for later use. 5. Plant! Set them on the surface of the soil or toss out a random handful, if you’re adventurous. (You can create a shallow hole for each, but you don’t have to.) 6. Give them some water to start life out right. Tips: Check the seed packet to learn the best climate and growing season for your plant. If desired, organize the seed balls by type, labeling them so you identify them later. In the garden, you can add pole beans and squash to corn plants that are a few inches tall, or add flowers and flowering herbs in your vegetable beds.
Kitty Liter Compost Spring 2017 | 15
THE FUTURE OF OUR CHERRY TREES BY TOM BARRY
anticipation of the inevitable end of these trees’ lives, the Grounds
As you walk around GFA's campus over the past few weeks you
Department decided to propagate these trees so more could be
would have noticed the magnificent cherry blossoms. They are
planted for future GFA students to enjoy.
short-lived, but put on quite an impressive display. The Yoshino cherry blossoms, (also sometimes referred to as the Washington, D.C.,
The technique for propagating these trees is known as grafting.
cherry) in particular, have an incredible pinkish-white color. Petals fall
Hardwood cuttings are taken on dormant wood (called scion wood)
from the tree in unison like a rain shower.
and then is inserted into what is called a rootstock. Over time, the cutting and the rootstock grow together, and the plant starts growing
The Yoshino cherry trees on campus are nearing the end of their life.
as one. Grafting is a form of cloning, which means they are exact
The trunks are hollow and the decay in them worsens every year. In
replicas of the existing cherry trees.
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These cherry trees have been growing in a greenhouse for the past three years and were finally ready to plant this year. Over the past two weeks, the Grounds Department has planted more than 20 of these trees along the gravel access road out to the fields. We have put caging around these trees to protect them from deer browsing. In years ahead these cherry trees will provide an alley of beautiful cherry blossoms for the GFA community and visitors to enjoy. Read more of Tom’s blogs: www.fromthefields.wordpress.com
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GRANDPARENTS & SPECIAL VISITORS DAY Every spring we look forward to welcoming our extended community to Grandparents and Special Visitors Day. This annual event gives GFA family and friends a glimpse into Lower School life — from arts to athletics to education — and it gives our students a chance to introduce their school community to the special people in their lives.
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DRAGON DASH
We had a great turnout for this year’s Dragon Dash, a school tradition that raises money for the financial aid program. In a vibrant setting of live music, food trucks, and face-painting, 117 runners (and their children) participated in the Family Fun Run and 5K. GFA parent Tim Brown finished first in the 5K with a time of 17:37, followed by GFA eighth grader Caroline McCall with a time of 21:51.
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Fostering a Culture of Inclusion WITH DERRICK GAY
It is striking that a man often invited to speak at diversity conferences doesn’t like the word diversity. Dr. Derrick Gay points to the inherent problem in calling some people “diverse,” as it assumes there is a normal, and that they are different from it. “Let’s either reclaim the word diversity,” he says, “or chuck it and talk instead about inclusivity and community.” This year he brought his message of inclusivity to the GFA community and will continue the discussion throughout the next school year. Head of School Janet Hartwell invited Dr. Gay
different backgrounds are more generative,
to work with all students, faculty, staff, and
innovative, and produce better products and
even parents and trustees in a multi-layered
greater profits. The development of cultural
way.
competency is intentional and begins now.”
“I believe the work of building a truly inclusive
Andrew Jones, Upper School Head, sees
community is best done over time and is not
another benefit to Gay’s approach. “We live in
a one-shot fix,” she says. “I like that he talks
a political moment where people can’t seem
about redefining diversity from an identity to
to disagree without hating each other,” he
a critical cultural competence that all students
says. “And adults in our world are not doing a
need in a changing world.”
good job of modeling the ability to moderate conflicts. Derrick’s work is to help give us the
Gay explains that leadership in the 21st
personal tools and cultural competencies to
century will require collaboration and the
engage difference.”
ability to communicate across differences with respect. “Research consistently finds,” he
Giving people these tools can be seen
says, “that teams composed of people from
when Gay, a tall man with a quick wit, gets
Spring 2017 | 21
a group of students to think about their identities.
questions took us past race and nationality into a more personal realm.”
As a former teacher in several independent schools, Gay understands his audience. He challenges them
King said the discussions continued into his classes, especially English and history,
to define themselves and share the definitions with
where they talked about how the lessons learned could contribute to global
others. Part of the learning is in finding out which
mindedness, a focus at GFA. “His points are very important in our understanding of
parts of one’s identity one is willing or reluctant to
our neighbors. We can glean information about the people around us that allows us
discuss. Gay asks, “Who do you think you are, and how
to feel empathy for even the people we currently think it is impossible to relate to.”
do others see you?” He says a globally competent person learns to “see” and not just to “look.” When
Inclusivity work has not always been appreciated in schools because it is often a
someone says, “I have a challenge,” the response
one-off workshop or talk that doesn’t get woven into the fabric of the community.
shouldn’t be, “Well, I don’t have that challenge, so it
The ongoing work with Gay should have a greater impact. Alewa Cooper, Lower
doesn’t exist.”
School Head, says Gay will work with Lower School teachers to consider the curriculum, “so that we are proactive as opposed to being reactive, and create
At an Upper School assembly, students walked around
lessons that get to the heart of diversity matters such as bias and stereotypes. We
with post-it notes with descriptors on them that they
will work with students on how they can address what they see and hear.”
definitely wanted to rid themselves of. In many cases, a descriptor that was seen as negative by one person
“In the end,” Gay says, “the goal is to build a culture of inclusion and cultural
was seen as a desirable trait by another. Seeing the
competence.”
different reactions to the descriptors was enlightening, as were conversations in which students and faculty got to know each other better. Rising senior Liam King found Gay’s work inspiring. “It demonstrated to me that I do not know many of the most important things about people that I feel close with. For example, I learned that my math teacher, who is also my advisor and in whose room I spend much of my free time, has a passion for art. She was even president of her high school’s art club. Dr. Gay’s
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In case you missed it...
greensfarmsacademy A trip down memory lane with these lifers. #2005
greensfarmsacademy They’re Making the World Better With a Sweater for @savethechildren! #elfie #sweater
greensfarmsacademy Formal days bring out a special kind of Middle School mentorship!
greensfarmsacademy There’s nothing like the support of your friends to let you know you rocked it. Spring 2017 | 23
2017
Commencement Eighty-three seniors marched down the Greens Farms Academy front lawn on Thursday, June 8, taking their first steps toward the next stage of life. The GFA Commencement Ceremony was one of very few sunny days that week, and the warm weather enticed hundreds of family members and friends to campus to celebrate the graduates. The salutatorian and valedictorian for the Class of 2017 were, respectively, Anish Kosanam and Christopher Glynn. Recalling his high school career at GFA, Glynn said, “There are countless examples of GFA supporting our love for learning in each discipline and … supporting our quest to find our passions.” Learning, he said, didn’t end in the classroom, but was carried over to the extracurricular activities that accompany a GFA education, like sports, art, and theater.
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“Whatever one’s passion may be, and whether it resides within the
share three pieces of advice that he hoped would be memorable, but
classroom or outside of it, GFA gave us the ability to pour our hearts
joked that they could also be controversial.
into it. This has allowed our class, as well as the entire school, to become so successful in everything we do,” Glynn said.
First, he said, you’re smart, but you may not be as smart as you think you are. There will be others out there who are smarter than you, he
Kosanam also spoke on the theme of discovering passion through
said, but you can’t let that intimidate you.
education. In his case, he learned about more than just his topic when undertaking a tough independent science research project
Second, “you’re not as dumb as you think you are,” he said. “I’ve seen
on “Anticorrosive Coatings of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy to Reduce
this played out over and over again in my life. You can be in a position
Degradation Rate for Metallic Medical Implants.”
around fearless, bright, smart, intelligent folks, and doubt yourself, and not ask the questions. … I’ve found out that all people can be
“I was changed by the joy that I received from making discoveries
intimidated about their own intellect.”
that no other scientist in the world had made,” he said. “I became aware that education is not this arduous journey as I initially believed,
Finally, he said, your parents may not know everything, but they do
but was a journey in which each individual is able to find their own
know something. Don’t be too proud to take their advice, no matter
unique purpose.”
what age you are.
Harlem Children’s Zone founder Geoffrey Canada was this year’s
To see more Commencement Week moments, visit us on Flickr or
commencement speaker, and he took his time at the podium to
our www.gfacademy.org/commencement.
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“Whatever one’s passion may be, and whether it resides within the classroom or outside of it, GFA gave us the ability to pour our hearts into it. This has allowed our class, as well as the entire school, to become so successful in everything we do.”
Christopher Glynn Class of 2017 Valedictorian
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COMMENCEMENT 2017
COMMENCEMENT AWARDS DAVID K. KING SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
LYNNE A. LAUKHUF CITIZENSHIP PRIZE
9th Grade Norelisa Nascimento 10th Grade David Hoffman 11th Grade Celeste Matte
CLASS PRIZES
9th Grade Annabel Roth 10th Grade William McCall 11th Grade Katarina Flicker
CHARLES H. DIETRICH TEACHING AWARD Chris Mira
GOLDENHEIM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD
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Ginny Balser
Samantha Friedson FRANCIS BURR HARDON AWARD Michaela Cohen LUCIE B. WARREN AWARD
Eddie Lopez-Wortman HEAD OF SCHOOL AWARD Kallie Fellows Lily Goldsmith
“I became aware that education is not this arduous journey as I initially believed, but was a journey in which each individual is able to find their own unique purpose.� Anish Kosanam Class of 2017 Salutatorian
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COLLEGE MATRICULATION
The University of Alabama
Fordham University
Pomona College
Allegheny College
Furman University
Purdue University
Bates College
The George Washington University
Quinnipiac University (2)
Boston University (2)
Georgetown University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Bowdoin College
Hamilton College - NY
Rhodes College
Bucknell University
Haverford College
University of Richmond (2)
University of California, Berkeley
Howard University
Santa Clara University (4)
University of California, Santa Barbara
Johns Hopkins University
Southern Methodist University (2)
Carnegie Mellon University
Lafayette College
Trinity College Dublin
College of Charleston
Miami University, Oxford (2)
Tufts University
Colby College
University of Miami (3)
Tulane University (4)
University of Colorado at Boulder
Middlebury College
Union College
Colorado College
Mount Holyoke College (2)
University of St Andrews
Connecticut College
New York University (2)
Vanderbilt University
Cornell University
Northeastern University
University of Vermont
Dartmouth College (2)
Northwestern University
Villanova University (2)
Davidson College
Nova Southeastern University
University of Virginia (2)
Duke University (2)
Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences
Wake Forest University (2)
Eckerd College
Occidental College (2)
Elon University (4)
University of Pennsylvania (2)
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18 STATES
290+
ACCEPTANCES
6 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
$4,800,000+ IN SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS
Spring 2017 | 33
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS We are breathing new life into our Signature Programs, with even more innovative classes in World Perspectives and STEAM, and an entirely new Signature Program: Human Ecology and Sustainability, designed “to instill within our students the knowledge, skills and attitudes to make environmentally and socially responsible decisions, so they can create sustainable solutions for the future.” This coming year marks the first time seniors can graduate with this distinction. What we love most about these programs is that they’re for everyone — from our youngest students in PreK to our seniors who can graduate with a Signature Program concentration.
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Design Thinking 36 | www.gfacademy.org
ADDS NEW DIMENSION TO STEAM
g
S.T.E.A.M.
GFA’S SIGNATURE PROGRAMS are designed to weave throughout all three divisions, but it is a rare opportunity for the divisions to work together in the same academic course. At the star t of the year, the kindergar ten classes began exploring the concept of creating physical solutions to problems they frequently encounter. At the same time, Upper School Video Production and Digital Design Teacher Nina Yuen star ted the school’s first Design Thinking class. According to Yuen, this semester-long course “uses current emerging technologies to creatively address real-world needs.” In the first semester, the real-world needs were identified by GFA’s kindergarten classes. The two groups met periodically throughout the semester to go over possible solutions and test out prototypes of solutions. For example, one kindergartner lamented the amount of time it would take for him to put his shoes on in the morning. The solution? Senior Sami Canaan devised an all-inone jump suit/sneaker combo that would allow the student
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DESIGN THINKING
to get dressed and put his shoes on at the same time. (It came with detachable feet in case he wanted to take his shoes off without removing the whole outfit.) Another kindergartner found that when he was at school, he missed home. When he was at home, he missed school. Junior Liam King created a robe that could play ambient sounds he collected from home and school and could dispense scents that he collected from both locations. Other inventions included a toothpaste tube for two and edible paper and writing tools for those who get hungry in class. To inspire her students, Yuen will often show examples of work from contemporary artists/
designers and bring in guest speakers. The class was introduced to various 2D, 3D, and 4D (art based on perceptions of time) designs. Her hope was that they would use these approaches to express their ideas and prove mastery. The class assignments are designed to illustrate how students can narrow down solutions from a broad range of possibilities in order to make the creative process seem more manageable. Yuen also strives to create a supportive space where the students can feel comfortable testing out any idea. “Making art is hard enough, having it critiqued publicly is even harder. In this class, students feel safe to experiment, fail, and try out unconventional approaches,� she said.
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HUMAN ECOLOGY & SUSTAINABILITY
REGENERATIVE LANDSCAPES SOWING SEEDS OF SUSTAINABILITY
amount of rainwater flooding the drainage system.
Protecting the environment is a complex undertaking. Work in this area stretches far beyond recycling refuse or turning off lights, and
Another area of focus was the use of pesticides. “If you spray a
those at GFA who care to dig deeper now have an opportunity to
pesticide to kill off a pest, there are other beneficial insects that
take Regenerative Landscapes, a course taught by Head Grounds
you’re killing off as well,” Barry cautioned the group. (For years, GFA
Manager Tom Barry.
has used organic fertilizers, and adds beneficial plants to “outcompete” weeds.)
Part of the Human Ecology and Sustainability Signature Program, the Upper School class is a hands-on approach to understanding topics
Many days this fall, the class (as well as other curious students and
like loss of biodiversity, storm water management, wildlife habitat,
faculty) could be seen near the organic garden planting a meadow to
soil health, and food production, to name just a few. Using the GFA
attract beneficial pollinators, like hummingbirds and insects.
campus, Barry showed his students how they can effect positive change right here.
Senior Grace McGonagle explained, “The meadow will create a symbiotic environment where pollinators receive nourishment in the
For example, he told them, the “green roof ” above the Performing
form of nectar and pollen in exchange for pollination services.”
Arts Center is not merely an ornamental feature, but rather a collection of sedum species that filter pollutants and restrict the
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The group experimented with different techniques, like using mulch
and tarps to kill weeds without the use of pesticides, while promoting
In October, the class traveled to the New York City High Line for
the growth of resilient native species, like milkweed, that will return
inspiration for their final project: designing a regenerative landscape
each year.
for GFA. While implementing their ideas depends on whether they could get funding, Barry said seeing their ideas reinvigorated him.
“The big thing that I was really focused on,” said Barry, “was trying to get the students to be more aware and appreciative of the
“It forces me to look at what we’re doing in a new light, and find new
environment so they would have an understanding of how various
ways to improve our commitment to sustainability,” he said.
systems are interconnected.”
SOLAR CARS SHOW REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS The fifth grade solar car project incorporated concepts from all of
“We gave them robust challenges, and got them asking big questions
the Signature Programs, but Sustainability Coordinator Jackie Tran said
like, ‘What is the feasibility of going solar?’” Tran explained. “We asked
that the students’ main takeaway was a greater understanding of solar
them to look at what’s happening worldwide.”
power as a renewable energy source. Tran hopes to expand the unit next year, perhaps graphing data The project first asked students to do research on models of
from GFA’s solar panel dashboard as well as investigating how this
solar power. Working in partners, they applied their research to
renewable energy source would work differently in other cultures.
the construction of balsa wood solar-powered cars, taking into consideration factors like weight, aerodynamics, and the angle of the solar panel. They also had to figure out how the changing position of the sun would affect the car’s performance. The next step was to test out their cars, reflect on the results, and revisit/resolve any problems that they encountered. They also created posters to promote their products at the Middle School Science Expo. While fifth graders have designed solar-powered cars in the past, this year was different in its emphasis on research and applying the scientific method.
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WPP SYMPOSIUM: FINDING COMMON GROUND “The United States is going through a historic moment in which ideas about the American identity are being hotly contested. Yet divisions over national identity are neither new in U.S. history nor are they unique to the United States.” Victor Llanque Zonta, Director of World Perspectives, welcomed the GFA community to the sixth annual World Perspectives Symposium by pointing out that our differences can also create a common ground. For example, the reasons behind a cultural struggle might be unique, but “struggle” is something anyone can relate to. In her opening address, keynote speaker Simin Wahdat, a gender specialist, said that as a woman in Afghanistan, she faced severe — sometimes deadly — opposition just to get an education. Her work now is to ensure that other women from her home country be afforded that basic right. And while women’s rights vary throughout the world, every culture has its own struggle with this issue. Making transcultural connections — finding similarities instead of dwelling on differences — is at the heart of the World Perspectives Program, whose mission is to create for its students a “global competence for a life of purpose.” Each year the symposium showcases the ways divergent ideas can come together to promote cultural understanding. The symposium provides a platform for students to share ideas based on research about a topic of global significance, and the outside community is invited to listen in.Topics vary widely, from contemporary global issues to history to media to science: “Soft Power: Sports in Russian and Qatari Foreign Policy”; “Color-Seeing Capabilities in Marine Gastropods”; “Impartial Media: How Partisan News Networks have impacted the Syrian 42 | www.gfacademy.org
Continued on page 43
WORLD PERSPECTIVES PROGRAM
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Adventure Awaits... 2016-2017 WPP Trips
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRIPS French Language Immersion in Quebec City Thirty-five students in grades 6-8 went to Quebec City during the President’s Day weekend in February. There they learned about the French-Canadian culture through tours of the city; experiencing a historical reenactment of 19th century life; activities like snowshoeing and dog-sledding; and enjoying a traditional maple syrup dinner.
Science & History Behind the U.S. National Parks: Glacier,
Continued from page 40
Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons
Refugee Crisis”; “Special Operations Forces:The Rise of Shadow Soldiers
This trip gives 22 students in grades 6-8 the opportunity
and Modern Unconventional Warfare in U.S. Foreign Policy”; and “Bars
explore the wilderness of Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. Students observe wildlife, hike, camp, and raft, while gaining insight into the history of the region, the mining towns, and the parks.
Against Brutality: Black Lives Matter Movement in Hip Hop Music,” represent just a handful of the individual presentations this year. But they share a common characteristic in that they apply to many different cultures. One of the highlights this year was a panel titled: “The Challenge of Integration in Populist Times.” Moderated by News-Decoder,
UPPER SCHOOL TRIPS Ecology & Conservation Biology in Mozambique During the March break, 13 students were introduced to tropical field ecology in Gorongosa National Park, in Mozambique. Research included sampling forest vegetation, collecting insects, netting bats and birds, and studying frogs and lizards. They interacted with local students, scientists, guides, and the people who live in and around the park.
“a trustworthy, not-for-profit news service and global forum for millennials,” the online video chat featured students from GFA, the American School Foundation of Monterrey in Mexico, and King’s Academy in Jordan. The exercise gave students the opportunity to apply their own experiences and knowledge to the topic, while gaining an understanding of the issue through the eyes of another culture. Robin Tauck is a travel business leader and philanthropist, and co-owner and former president and CEO of Tauck, Inc., a global travel company that gives back “by sharing our knowledge and resources and acting
Wildlife in the Changing Andorran Pyrenees GFA students will be among the first to research the amazing biodiversity of the forests and alpine meadows, and identify the key species in the ecosystem and how they are changing. The trip concludes in Barcelona where they will explore the Catalan city by tasting the local cuisine and visiting the Gaudi-designed landmarks such as the “Sagrada Familia” church and the “Casa Mila.”
together to safeguard destinations of cultural and natural significance.” After learning about GFA’s World Perspectives Program last spring, Tauck was inspired to support what she saw as a critical part of education. “World Perspectives is tied to every part of your mission: partnership, innovation, inclusion, globally minded, and life of purpose,” she pointed out. “Helping the world become a better place is a worthy aspiration.” Attending the symposium for the first time this year, Tauck felt that the
Peru: Spanish Language Immersion Through staying with host families, students will use and build upon their Spanish language skills to experience life in the community of Piscacucho. Students will partner with the students, faculty, and parents at the local elementary school to create and complete a service project for the community.
News-Decoder panel was a great way to showcase the importance of fostering a global community. “Debating and critiquing issues with each other in real time — a live, globalized student think tank — was just fantastic,” she said. “This program provides the possibility of: “Yes, I can!’ I really saw that in their presentations and their papers.” Spring 2017 | 45
FALL Soccer grabbed headlines late in the fall season. The boys team, led by captains Rocco Babun ’17 and Michael Medvedev ’17 and head coach Chris Mira, made it into the FAA championship game and qualified for the New England Class C tournament. The girls, led by captains Lexi Kimball ’17 and Alexis
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WINTER Messina and senior Clare Mengel ’17, and head coach Paul Hennessey, made it to the FAA and New England tournaments. In cross country, Sean Minson ’18 received FAA Honorable Mention with a 13th place finish at the FAA Championship meet.
The season saw many records smashed in basketball and wrestling (see page 46), and having a home squash court was a first for the long-time GFA program. Boys basketball, led by Sunday Okeke ’17, Mack Muller ’17, Jacob Manton ’17, and Evan Roteman ’17, as well as head coach Doug Scott, made
SPORTS REVIEW
SPRING it to the FAA finals and New England championship game. The boys squash team placed second in New Englands with an individual win by Giani Panariello ’19 and with Duda Voldman ’18 and Marshall Bessey ’19 making it to the finals in their respective brackets.
Girls lacrosse made it to the FAA finals for the first time in over a decade, with a record-setting season (see page 46). In track and field, Olivia Sullivan ’17 came away as the No. 1 high jumper in the New England tournament, with a jump of 5’ 2”. Sullivan will
Southeastern University. Boys golf placed fourth at FAAs, and the school saw its girls golf team take its first swings this year. Ultimate Frisbee won Division II State Championships and boys tennis reached the first round of the New England tournament.
compete in track and field for Nova
Spring 2017 | 47
Record-Breakers
It was a year for the record books, with five different athletes setting a new bar in athletics.
LEXI KIMBALL ’17
Girls basketball captain Kimball became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,503 career points. She also notched 409 steals, 343 rebounds, dished out 189 assists, and had 99 blocks in her career, despite missing junior year due to an injury. Kimball will join the Georgetown University basketball team next year.
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HANS FORLAND ’17 AND SAM STUART ’18 Forland won his fourth straight FAA wrestling championship this year, and joined Stuart in winning their fourth straight individual WNEISWA titles (Stuart also won at FAAs). The duo are the first from GFA to win regional championships in the same season.
KATE PALIOTTA ’17
Paliotta and co-captain Caroline Rintoul ’17 led their girls lacrosse team to the FAA finals for the first time since 2004. Along the way, Paliotta broke a school record with 202 career goals. She was named All-American in the spring, joining Reid Berrien ’04 and Ingrid Backe ’16 as the only female GFA athletes to earn this distinction. She will play for Northwestern next year.
SUNDAY OKEKE ’17
Okeke broke the school’s all-time rebounding record for boys basketball, with 1,195 in total. Okeke also joined the 1,000-point club, with a career total of 1,219 points. Okeke will be a walk-on for Wake Forest University next year.
Spring 2017 | 49
TWO PROGRAMS WITH GREAT PROMISE
SQUASH The GFA squash program got a big boost with the construction of the new six-court facility completed in December 2016, finally giving our teams a home court. Under the guidance of Head Coach Attila Agh, the facility also hosts clinics for all ages and levels
WRESTLING
from beginners to nationally ranked college-level athletes. Agh has
With strong leadership from senior Hans Forland and junior Sam Stuart, the wrestling team had a record-breaking season (see page 44). The team competes in the Western New England Independent School Wrestling Association (WNEISWA) League, from which wrestlers qualify to compete at the Prep New England and National Tournaments. These tournaments feature some of the best wrestling in the Northeast and the country. With the addition of the dedicated wrestling gym, Head Coach Jack Conroy ’04 hopes to see continued growth of the program.
also brought in internationally and nationally ranked coaches and players for demonstrations and speaking engagements. In addition to the success of our competitive varsity and junior varsity teams (boys won the opening round of games at the U.S. High School National Team Championship Tournament and placed second in the New England tournament), the Middle School program saw immense growth, and this coming year the school will incorporate squash into the Lower School P.E. curriculum.
MENGEL GETS FAA SCHOLAR ATHLETE HONORS Clare Mengel ’17 was named an FAA Scholar Athlete this year, in honor of her “excellence and superior achievement in both athletics and academics.” Mengel was a leader for her team, earning All FAA honors, WNEPSSA honors, and AllState honors all three years on varsity. She also ran track and qualified to run the 3,000-meter run in New Englands. Academically, she maintained a cumulative GPA of over a 4.0 with no final grade below an A-. According to Athletic Director Tauni Butterfield, “Clare has the right combination of empathy, intellectual curiosity, competitive grit, perseverance, and academic integrity.” Mengel will play soccer for Lafayette College in the fall.
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DRAGON NATION: The Heart of GFA Athletics
FACULTY NEWS Jeffrey Baykal-Rollins, visual arts teacher, has been chosen as a contracted writer for
Our new athletics blog, Dragon Nation, launched in October, quickly gaining a loyal following. With
The College Board, writing new curriculum
game coverage, player profiles, and tons of extras, it’s become the hub for all things GFA athletics.
modules for the AP Studio Art Program
Stay connected: www.gfacademy.org/dragonnation
worldwide. Head Grounds Manager Tom Barry presented at the Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference, sharing his experiences on “Creating Excitement for the Living Landscape.” Dr. Sangeeta Dhawan, Upper School French teacher, was invited to join the Comité Exécutif of the American Association of Teachers of French, Connecticut chapter. She recently compiled “Connectiscope” — a database of local French resources for Connecticut teachers. Look for Upper School math teacher Jon Matte this summer on the Fox competition
GIRLS GOLF TEES OFF Dragon Nation scooped everyone with its story on a historic first for GFA: a girls golf team. Because of low numbers, girls playing varsity golf were on the same team with the boys. “It’s nice to have a team of people out there where we have the same strengths and are kind of on the same level,” said junior Bailey Mooney.
series SuperHuman, which “will test the abilities of ordinary people to use their extraordinary skills.” SuperHuman airs Mondays 9PM on FOX. Chris Mira, physical education teacher and varsity soccer and golf coach, recently
THE ART OF ATHLETES
completed a certificate in Sports Psychology
In its own odd little way, the world of
from California Southern. Using what he
sports here at Greens Farms Academy is full of art. Watching the fluidity of Mack Muller scooping up a ground ball hit to third base, or Kate Paliotta smoothly taking the ball to goal on the lacrosse field, can be
learned from his courses, he gave a “Positive Coaching” presentation to the GFA coaching community. GFA squash coach Attila Agh is a national coach for the U.S. Squash program, developing some of the top squash players
described as poetry in motion.
across the country. This summer he is also
If you walked into the lobby of the GFA
preparation for nationals.
Theater last week, though, you saw … a visual reminder of how multi-talented our students here on Beachside Avenue truly are.
training the Connecticut Regional Team in
Upper School history teacher Erin O’Grady was recognized by her alma mater, Georgetown University (CCT), in its 20th anniversary retrospective of their journal gnovis. O’Grady was one of the original editors, and in the spring edition contributed
www.gfacademy.org/dragonnation
a reflection on the journal’s early days. You can read it here:
Spring 2017 | 51
http://www.gnovisjournal.org.
This year the Upper School Theater took us on an emotional roller coaster ride with Oklahoma! in the fall and The Laramie Project in the spring. Middle School gave off a disco vibe with Xanadu Jr., and Lower School brought Beauty and the Beast to life. In fifth grade, the students tried something new, performing a series of one-act plays throughout the year. The Laramie performance won GFA its first-ever HALO Award for Best Contemporary Play.
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Performing Arts
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A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Matt Jackmauh ’18, Avery York ’18, Meg Nesi ’20, Tia Farlow ’20, Lazarus Brown ’18, and Tyler Bieder ’18 performed on the Carnegie Hall stage April 9, as part of the Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) concert series “Total Vocal.” They were accompanied on the trip by GFA’s choral music teacher Betsy Bergeron. “The Greens Farms Academy Choirs received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers as well as the exceptional quality of their audition recording,” said Dr. Jonathan Griffith, artistic director and principal conductor for DCINY. “These wonderful musicians not only represent a high quality of music and education, but they also become ambassadors for the entire community.” For this contemporary a cappella concert, GFA joined singers from around the world to form Distinguished Concerts Singers International, under the guidance of arranger/ producer Deke Sharon.
Photos by Nan Melville/DCINY Performance
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SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS ANDY MCILVAINE ’19
ISABELLA WHELAN ’19
KRISTIANA MODZELEWSKI ’19
CONNECTICUT SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS
CONNECTICUT SCHOLASTIC WRITING AWARDS
Charlotte Cohen ’19: Photography, Gold Key
Sarah Wagner ’20, Honorable Mention for her poem “Loss”
Sarah Klein ’18: Photography, Gold Key
Alida Deutsch ’20, Honorable Mention for her two poems
Claire Jansen ’17: Art Portfolio, Silver Key Jolie Rolnick ’19: Photography, Silver Key Andy McIlvaine ’19: Painting, Gold Key Isabella Whelan ’19: Photography, Gold Key Kristiana Modzelewski ’19: Film & Animation, Honorable Mention Tess Rebold ’17: Film & Animation, Honorable Mention
“Whispers” and “Saturday at the Office” Grace McGonagle ’19, Honorable Mention for her poem “Church Bells Keep Me Cold” Alex Nesi ’19, Silver Key for her personal essay “Freedom of Speech in the Eyes of an Eight Year Old” Gracyn Sollman ’18, Honorable Mention for her poem “Existential Miracle” Meg Sinnott ’17, Honorable Mention for her personal essay “My Mother’s Life” Olivia Sullivan ’17, Honorable Mention for her poem “Huroi Hitsugi (Black Sheep)”
SUMMER READS
Last year we asked our faculty for some summer reading ideas, but this year we decided we’d love to hear what our students would recommend. For the full list of student responses, visit us at www.gfacademy.org/recommendedreading
PREK
K
1
2
3
4
5
The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater
No, David! By David Shannon
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
My Weird School Series by Dan Gutman
Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
WondLa by Toni DiTerlizzi
Baylor Rothman, kindergarten: “[No, David!] teaches you what not to do.”
Laci Raveis, sixth grade: “I love this book and think that it is action packed and there is never something not going on. This book keeps the reader entertained for hours and is always fun to read it again!”
Milo Becker, 11th grade: “A People’s History is a great alternative from the classroom curriculum of American history, telling a narrative from the people through primary documents.”
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6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn
Wonder by RJ Palacio
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
Gone by Michael Grant
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Blake O’Looney, fourth grade: “It is a perfect book for third graders and older. I cried in some parts of the book, so I’m warning you that this book can be very sad in some parts. I love this book because I can really connect Mr. Mosley from the book to my dog Kiwi.”
Elek Krizsan, eighth grade: “These books are amazing because of the things he wrote about which hadn’t even been imagined before.Very well written and very intense with a good storyline.”
Clare Mengel, 12th grade: “It is a book that anyone of any age can read. Additionally, when I was reading it, I couldn’t put it down because it was so captivating.”
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A DAY GFA
at
7:00AM FARID RAISES FLAG 7:30AM ALÉWA GREETS LS STUDENTS 8:00AM CLASSES BEGIN 9:00AM 1000 GRILLED CHEESES PREPARED 10:00AM AP SCIENCE IN MARSH 11:00AM MS SQUASH RUNS ROUND ROBIN 12:00PM LS SETS TABLE FAMILY STYLE 1:00PM ORCHESTRA TUNES INSTRUMENTS 2:00PM INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS RUNS SIMULATION 2:40PM PREK/LS DISMISSAL 3:00PM ATHLETIC TEAMS TAKE THE FIELD 3:30PM BEE KEEPERS ATTEND TO HIVES 4:00PM ART STUDENTS CLEAN UP 5:00PM BLUES AND BEACHERS PRACTICE 7:00PM PLAY PRACTICE
Your gift contributes to the daily operations at GFA 58 | www.gfacademy.org
ANNUAL GIVING THE CORNERSTONE OF FUNDRAISING AT GFA A contribution to Annual Giving is the single most important gift you can offer GFA every year. Annual Giving is a recurring, yearly fundraising effort that runs from July 1 through June 30. The school relies on these funds to make up the difference between tuition income and the actual investment GFA makes in each student. All funds raised through Annual Giving go directly toward the current year’s operating budget to support and enhance the educational experience of every GFA student. Annual Giving comprises approximately 7% of the school’s annual operating budget, and supports the people and programs that make GFA a transformative experience for all of its students — dedicated faculty who nurture and challenge each student, individual attention, state-of-the-art technology in all classrooms, and financial support to provide the opportunity for a GFA education to all qualified students.
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TWO DONORS BOOST SCHOOL’S ENDOWMENT This spring GFA received two generous contributions to Lead with Excellence, our comprehensive campaign to complete the campus and strengthen the school’s financial foundation. The FM Kirby Foundation, according to its mission, “strives to make thoughtful and prudent philanthropic commitments to highly selective grantee partners. The goal is to invest in opportunities that foster self-reliance or otherwise create strong, healthy communities.” The F.M. Kirby Foundation, which had previously supported
Ward K. Horton, an F. M. Kirby Foundation Director (and
the school’s goal to build a Performing Arts Center, made
a GFA Trustee and parent) stated, “As a foundation, we
a commitment this year to support the school’s general
recognize the constant struggle independent educational
endowment, while also maintaining their annual fund support.
institutions face when it comes to bridging the gap between revenue and expenses. While the visual appeal of brick-
Endowment ensures the longevity of the school, provides
and-mortar projects builds excitement in a community, a
protection in times of economic downturn, supports the
healthy and growing endowment is essential to the long-term
operating costs of new buildings; provides funding for new
sustainability of a school like GFA. It is our pleasure to support
programs and increased financial aid; and supports faculty and
the school in this capacity and hope others will choose to do
staff through professional development.
the same.”
DAVID CAPODILUPO ’79 Long-time supporter of GFA and donor to Annual Giving, David Capodilupo ’79 made a major gift commitment to the capital campaign, specifically in support of our endowment. Capodilupo is the Executive Director of the Office of International Programs at MIT Sloan School of Management, integrating MIT’s business graduate programs, research, and entrepreneurial curriculum throughout the global landscape. He has been very active in the school’s alumni community, serving on the Advisory Council, and giving of his time and talent. He has also returned to the school as a speaker to provide insight and advice to current students. “GFA has continued to evolve and differentiate in a competitive environment, with an entrepreneurial and innovative strength and reputation. It is important to me that this path continue. GFA’s endowment seemed like the best place to start,” he said.
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Welcome Home REUNION 2017 GREENS FARMS ACADEMY
ALUMNI EVENTS
14 14 OCTOBER REUNION Honoring ’7s & ’2s
22 22 NOVEMBER ALUMNI PUB NIGHT
12 12 APRIL
ALUMNI COUNCIL MEETING
18 18 JANUARY
25 APRIL
SENIOR TRANSITION LUNCH
17 MARCH
ALUMNI COUNCIL MEETING
25
17 CAREER ASSEMBLY
5 5 MAY
AUCTION Celebrate Janet’s Legacy
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Lucy
BIGGERS ’08
Lucy Biggers ’08 was the keynote speaker at this year’s Senior Transition Lunch, which marks the graduating seniors’ induction into the Alumni Association. Lucy gave an honest and humorous account of her career choices which have included morning show anchor, reality TV star, and now on-air talent at NowThis Media. Much laughter ensued. Thank you, Lucy.
LEGACY
The Biggers family has a deep history at GFA. Lucy Biggers (left, and center) graduated in 2008, and her sister, Sarah (not pictured) graduated in 2005. The two are part of a legacy, going back to both parents: mom Sissy (Cargill) Biggers (right) who spent fourth through eighth grades with us, and R. Kelsey Biggers, Jr., (left) who graduated from GFA in 1973.
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m a J e i Zomb
This year the annual Zombie Jam a cappella celebration was extra special, as singers celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Beachers, the school’s male a cappella singing group, also known as Beachside Express. (The Harbor Blues is the school’s female a cappella group.) While Beachers founder Dave Perry was unable to attend, his wife Betsy was there to share in the fun, and to enjoy the honorary Perry performance given by alumni. The June 10 event included more than 30 performances by current students and alumni groups.
Spring 2017 | 63
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NORTH SHUTSHARAWAN ’01:
Thinking Outside the Box North Pumiwat Shutsharawan '01 has a lot of
health-conscious friends. Splitting his time between Fairfield County, New York City, and Southwestern Colorado, he is surrounded by people in constant motion. But whether they're heading to a gym class or down the side of a mountain, they share the common conundrum: How do you get substantial, healthy food when you're on the go? More than that, how do you get healthy food that's just a little outside the box? Born in Bangkok, Shutsharawan grew up in Norwalk. When his family moved here from Thailand, they found cooking was a way that they were able to hang on to a part of their tradition. In particular, Shutsharawan always looked forward to his mother's traditional Thai chicken noodle soup, a dish she served often. As he moved through high school at GFA and then college at Babson, his initial career path wasn't in the direction of the food industry. In fact, he first worked at a hedge fund in Greenwich: Lone Pine Capital. But after researching the idea for a software platform to teach teenagers about
Spring 2017 | 65
GUAY TEOW GAI Serves 6 INGREDIENTS 2 quarts Nit Noi Pasture-raised Chicken Bone Broth 1 lb. organic chicken breast (Fleishers) 1 lb. rice noodles (small) 1 lb. baby bok choy Bean sprouts Cilantro Scallion Fish sauce (or light soy sauce) Nit Noi Thai Fried Garlic Crushed Thai chili flakes Pickled Serrano peppers RECIPE Soak rice noodles in warm water for 20 minutes, remove, and set aside Poach chicken breasts in boiling water for 20 minutes, remove, and shred using two forks, keep water at a rolling boil Using a noodle basket, add rice noodles and cook until soft (about 1 min), remove, rinse with cold water, and place in serving bowl Add the baby bok choy and bean sprouts to the basket, blanching for about 45 seconds, add to serving dish on top of noodles In a separate pot, bring Nit Noi Bone Broth to a boil To finish: add shredded chicken to your layered noodles and vegetables, top with sliced scallion, pickled Serrano peppers and Nit Noi Thai Fried Garlic, add fish (or light soy) sauce, and crushed red Thai chili to taste and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. Ladle broth over dish neatly.
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personal finance, he realized he enjoyed being in an advisory role. He
the Colorado skiing town, so his idea is to test the waters by selling
began partnering with early-stage start-ups, helping them examine
traditional Thai bone broth and noodle soups here first. Their
financials and create projections.
company, Nit Noi Provisions LLC, attempts to nourish the body and open the mind and the palate.
He explained, “I ended up working with more food brands. I got really interested in that space.”
Shutsharawan feels very connected to the Westport community in particular — the place where he went to school, and where his
So interested, in fact, that he found himself right smack in the middle
parents live now — and is passionate about “building a brand that
of it, co-founding a catering/media company to promote Thai chefs
focuses on the community.”
and restaurants in New York City. Working with Fleisher’s Craft Butchery in Westport, Shutsharawan “However, we were realizing that, while on trend in New York
not only has a spot to sell his food, but he also has a means of getting
City, ethnic food — particularly solely Thai food — was still a large
quality bones from the butchery. He had a pop-up there on Tuesdays,
learning curve for most people,” he said.
Wednesdays, and Saturdays. He also has a spot each Thursday at the Westport Farmers Market.
A cross-country honeymoon trip with his wife brought the couple to Telluride, CO, and they fell in love with the small town. “It’s a skiing
The food is prepared by hand in East Norwalk at Wave Hill Breads
town, but it’s hard to get clean, healthy food,” he remarked. “We
bakery, where he and his team can closely monitor the small batches
thought, ‘We’re moving here, right. But, we’re too old to be ski bums
for consistency. Nit Noi Provisions packages broth in compostable
so we have to start something.’ And then Jill said, ‘We should make
containers — ones that are intricately designed to encourage people
and sell broth.’ ”
to repurpose them. But he really encourages people to bring their own containers, providing a discount to those who do.
Immediately, he thought of the comforting and sustaining soup his mother used to make. But before he could start a business 2,000
“We want to provide customers with something that’s clean,
miles away from his Northeast home, Shutsharawan realized he first
refreshing and a good value: a lunch that’s not overly expensive, and
needed to make sure the business model would work.
not overly filling, and part of your day multiple times a week,” he said.
Fairfield County provides a clientele similar to the community in
Learn more at: nitnoiprovisions.com
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FACULTY UPDATES
CONNIE ENNIS AND PAUL SHAPIRO Mrs. Ennis is the former Head of Lower School, her husband Mr. Shapiro is a former US Video Production teacher. Both left GFA in 2015. My husband, Paul, and I, moved to Whidbey Island, WA, the longest island in the US, a 45-minute drive and a short ferry ride north of Seattle. We spend a lot of time outdoors, gardening, salmon fishing, kayaking, hiking, reading, writing, and exploring the stunning beauty of Mt. Rainier, the San Juan Islands, and the Olympic Peninsula. Paul is immersed in photography, and is working on a show, “Panoramic Photos of the West” to open in Port Townsend, WA, this coming November. I’m doing a lot of writing, reading, and learning about horticulture, and I continue my passion for working with children through several local charities. We are both very fond of our 15 years at GFA; we miss our GFA friends, families, and students and enjoy following you all via the GFA website and on Facebook.
DAVE PERRY Former long-time Athletic Director at GFA. I am currently working as the rules advisor for Artemis Racing, which is the Swedish entry in the 2017 America’s Cup (May 26 – June 27) in Bermuda. In addition I continue to volunteer my time to US Sailing, the national governing body for sailing in the United States, and do as much match racing coaching as possible. FLORENCE RINK
that GFA students offered me for
Former MS and US French Teacher, Former US Class Advisor. She left GFA
his baby shower. I put them all in
in 2003.
my classroom now!
After moving to Santa Rosa 13 years ago, I started a new adventure at Sonoma Academy. At the time there were very few teachers because the school was just three years old. My first faculty meeting started with a council so, as you can imagine, I had a few adjustments to make to fit in the California style. As a teacher and department chair for World Languages, it’s been an amazing opportunity. My children, Alex and Jennifer, who were about 4 and 2 when we moved to California, are now both students at SA. It’s great for me to see how my children love it here after all the hard work that went into the building of this school. Alex only recently asked me to take down from his bedroom walls some of the Babar, Tintin, Le Petit Prince and even the two aerial drawings of a nursery
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I always read the GFA Magazine about you. I love discovering that you traveled here and there (and maybe used some of your French), that you now have this kind of job or most important that you are happy and embracing everything your life has to offer. I am always rejoicing over your accomplishments. If you want to be in touch with me, don’t hesitate! I’d be happy to hear from you, especially if you decide to take a trip to beautiful Sonoma Valley! I do miss my GFA friends, Beachside Avenue, and the views from that quaint small classroom upstairs.
Class Notes
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Class Notes
1990 BRINSLEY HORNER FOX Jeremy (my husband) just started a 6-month sabbatical at Yale, so we’re all living temporarily in Madison until the end of June. Brendan is adjusting to an American school in English but occasionally shows his French immersion roots when he calls his
including many years in China, I returned to
about a year ago. I loved this project for its
the home I left at our graduation. I am now
absurdity and profundity, but also because I
a GFA parent of an Upper, Middle, AND
had the opportunity to work with teenage
Lower schooler. It is wonderful and surreal
performers, and access my own teenage
to be back and experience the past and
experience in teaching them how to sing, and
present swirling together every day. I am also
how to be comfortable with hearing their
honored to be joining the Board of Trustees
voices out loud.
at GFA. MEREDITH KOCH RACHAEL STRACKA
Here’s a photo of me (No. 4) from my most
Still living in the San Diego area. I recently
recent para swim meet out in Cincinnati,
joined the adjunct faculty at Cal State San
where I got my official national classification
Marcos teaching in the graduate program for
of S8. Each class is comprised of athletes
social work in addition to my psychotherapy
with similar levels of function based on their
practice. Our daughter is eight now and
disability. This is the first step in my pursuit
having fun on the ranch with the horses. She
of making it to the Tokyo Paralympics in
participated in her first barrel racing last year
2020! Watch out for #endpianoviolence and
at a local rodeo.
#meremaid to start trending!
2008
2011
DEEPALI GUPTA
IDALIA FRIEDSON
My most recent project as a composer has
I was recently published in National Review,
been Ski End, a theatrical examination of
writing on quantum computers and national
when all the settling-in is done. Hmmm......
apocalyptic despair, ritualistic forms of play,
security. To read her piece, visit: www.
and of course skiing. The show was devised
nationalreview.com/article/447250/quantum-
KATE RUBEN ROTH
by Piehole, a group of collaborators based in
computing-race-america
teacher “Madame” and asks me why they have to hold their hand over their chest and say something that has the words “for which it stands.” Guess we’ve been a bit too Canadian lately and forgot to teach him the Pledge of Allegiance. Whoops. So I’m on a leave from my teaching job this year and worked most of the fall getting ready to move and to welcome tenants into our Calgary house. Right now I’m just being stay-at-home-Mommy, unpacking and settling into our rental house, adjusting to full-day kindergarten (half-day in Calgary!) and trying to figure out what the heck I’m going to do
After decades away from Connecticut,
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Brooklyn, and I started working on the music
3
1
2
1. Britt Hiller Hayes ’88 (photo TK) DDB North America Names Its First Chief People Officer 2. Laura Halper ’73 and Lydia Halper Chiappetti ’74, Katherine DeBoer ’73, Kendall Crolius ’71 3. Deepali Gupta ’08
6. Seth Hill ’98 and his wife Jennifer enjoying a "good, old-fashioned boot of beer." 7. Will McCalpin ’08 and Alex Perry ’06 Just a couple Connecticut kids hanging on Abbot Kinney in L.A. Alex had just returned from a two-week trip to South America for Patagonia but still made time for brunch and mimosas.
4. Meredith Koch ’08 5. Caroline Vickrey ’73
6
7
4
5
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1
1. Joey Hanlon Tate ’49 and her daughter Basi, who was a member of the class of 1978. 2. Alexandra Conrad ’97 I am married and have three boys…the last six years have been spent in central China (WuHan) where I’m working as a K-12 visual art teacher in the various international schools. 3. Anthony Ace Patterson ’07 and his wife Roza
3
4
4. Katherine DeBoer ’73 5. Christina Scherpf Grady ’97 and her family 6. Dr. Kim Stevens ’79 with daughter Claire and husband Tom at Comet Pizza in Washington, D.C. 7. Mary Schmidt Turbeville ’98 with her Navy Commander and "Commander in Training."
5
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2
7
Score one more REUNION 2017 GREENS FARMS ACADEMY
Honoring 7s and 2s
OCTOBER 13 8:00-10:00PM ALUMNI GATHER AT THE HORSESHOE SELF-HOSTED
OCTOBER 14 2:15PM ALUMNI GAME - FIELD 2 JV & THIRDS HOSPITALITY TENT DRAGON STORE OPEN 4:00-6:00PM OKTOBERFEST LOWER SCHOOL COURTYARD ALUMNI RECEPTION DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD “GOOD OLD A CAPPELLA” WITH BETSY BERGERON 8:00PM PRIVATE CLASS EVENTS OFF CAMPUS
YOUNG ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF NY GFA young alumni are organizing in New York City, getting together to plan a casual summer event to keep a growing group connected in the five boroughs. Olivia Newhouse ‘06 and Brooke McGrath ‘11, along with Miguel Silverstri ‘09, Anna Birinyi ‘09, and Nick D’Addario ‘04, met recently at Grand Central to talk through some options. Royal Palm Shuffleboard, Kings County Distillery, and Staten Island Rollerblading are all on the table. To get involved, contact alumni@gfacdemy.org, and we’ll get you connected.
Spring 2017 | 73
WAYS TO GIVE
BY CHECK Checks should be made payable to Greens Farms Academy and mailed to the attention of the Advancement Office.
BY CREDIT CARD ONLINE Credit card donations can be made online at www.gfacademy. org/giveonline. If you would like to make your payment over time, you can arrange a monthly or quarterly recurring gift.
APPRECIATED SECURITIES Gifts of stocks, bonds, or other appreciated securities allow donors to avoid paying capital gains taxes and qualify for a charitable deduction. Please contact the Advancement Office if you would like to make a gift of securities.
MATCHING GIFTS By taking advantage of your employer’s matching gift program, donors can significantly increase the amount and impact of their gift.
PLANNED GIFTS An easy and inexpensive way to make a gift to GFA is to make a commitment through your will. Please contact the Advancement Office for more information. All donations to GFA are tax-deductible.
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ANNUAL GIVING It All Starts Here
THANK YOU
On June 1, we celebrated the members of our community who offer their time, treasure, and talent all year long. They truly embody our motto, “Each for All.� Our Board of Trustees, Leadership Donors, Advisory Council, Annual Giving Class Captains, Parents Association, and Alumni Council dedicate themselves to building community, ensuring financial stability, and securing the future success of our school, all of which benefits our students today and tomorrow. Thank you!
GREENS FARMS ACADEMY
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S.O.T.S. GREENS FARMS AC ADEMY
State of the School: Celebrating our Enduring Values
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | 7:00PM | PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres followed by the program. Invitation to follow.