“The power of meaningful learning is maximized when it’s rooted in joy and play!”
—KIM WALKER, DIRECTOR OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLSecond-graders Bahar Basu-Kayal and Leela Khurana during recess
2 From Mabie House
3 In Her View
4 Commons Room
26 The Kent Place Start-Up Guide
32 Wider Perspectives: Alyssa Hwang ’16
36 “Economics Empowers People”: Elaine Schwartz
40 Keeping Pace
47 Class Notes
64 With Wisdom
Looking back seven years, when I became the 11th Head of School at Kent Place, I recall first the warmth with which I was welcomed. Warmth — shown to every new member of our community — is one of the hallmarks of our school culture.
From the moment a new student steps on campus, we do everything we can to make sure her transition is filled with support. Smiling student guides lead the effort, joined soon by our staff and faculty. During the first few days, orientation activities bring a sense of community that lays the foundation for an educational experience we believe is second to none.
Our commitment to community goes beyond a newcomer’s first days to incorporate not just students, faculty, and staff but also our families — and our extraordinary alumnae. That’s why our theme for 2023–2024 is “Deepening Connection in Community”: we’re always seeking ways to strengthen our bonds, for life.
In this issue of Kent Place magazine, we celebrate many facets of our vibrant community. On page 26, you’ll discover how we welcome students using the start of ninth grade as an example. On page 32, meet 2016 alumna Alyssa Hwang, who studies human connection through AI. And on page 36, get to know Elaine Schwartz, who has dedicated more than 50 years to Kent Place, as she talks about teaching here and her latest book, on economics.
Thank you for being an integral part of our Kent Place community. I look forward to our continued partnership as we deepen connections for a lasting impact on our students, one another, and our beloved school.
Yours for Kent Place,
Dr. Jennifer C. Galambos Head of School
WHEN YOU WERE A
A PART OF?
“Volleyball, Ensemble, and every single one of my AP classes.”
—CRISTIN O’HARA ’88
“
Taking part in the arts was an enriching way to practice skills (singing, acting, and dance) that have been a bonus in my life.”
—KATHRYN (HUDACEK) HARLOW ’90
“STAR! What always brought me to tears was ‘Silent Night.’ My junior year, my best friend, Susie, and I were given the duet. I sang the soprano and her contralto made up the harmony. For years afterward we would sing ‘Silent Night’ together joyfully. Still, the memory remains and causes me to weep.”
—CUSHING (PAGON) SAMP ’69
“Working on the Daisy Chain.”
—KATHY (HARTER) WEBSTER ’47
“I absolutely loved being part of the Glee Club and Triple Trio. Singing together was a wonderful bond, and the lyrics have remained all these years later. Music deliciously threads its way through all of our lives, doesn’t it?”
—PAM (SCHICK) KELSEY ’66
“Playing field hockey and running down the field on crisp fall days. And Miss Wolfe’s English classes.”
—PHYLLIS (TILSON) PIOTROW ’50
“Playing field hockey and, of course, STAR.”
—ELIZABETH (BUDD) BUGLIARI ’59“I particularly enjoyed being editor of Ballast my junior year and Cargoes my senior year, but best of all were the lifelong friends I made during my eight years at Kent Place.”
—DOREEN (CRAWFORD) DUN ’55
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM KENT PLACE
Upper Schoolers walk in by candlelight during the opening of STAR
“I love sharing pre-performance jit ters with my fellow performers as we gather in the theater before each STAR performance — tying one another’s sashes and ribbon and squeezing in last-minute preparations. The nervous energy quickly becomes excitement as we enter the Field House, candles in hand. It brings the entire school community together.”
—MEGAN ALTIER ’24
Some 1,000 Kent Place community members came together on December 20, 2023, to witness the 100th performance of STAR. More than 200 alumnae returned to campus, and many streamed remotely at watch parties hosted across the country.
Upper School students processed into the dark, silent Field House in stockinged feet, wearing the traditional white turtleneck and black bottom, each carrying a lit candle. For the next 90 minutes, choralists, instrumentalists, and soloists performed uninterrupted, as the audience eagerly held its applause until the conclusion of the program.
STAR celebrated cherishing the past and embracing the future. Among the performances were a rich repertoire of classic composi-
tions, music from around the world, and contemporary pieces, all selected to provide eternal messages of light, hope, peace, and joy. A special tradition was honored when alumnae joined students for the singing of “O Holy Night.”
“STAR performances are a wonderful way to build and strengthen connections in our community,” says Director of Performing Arts Edel Thomas, who has been a part of STAR for 32 years. “For a century, music has moved generations of our singers, instrumentalists, and audiences,” she says. “On this magical night, we came together to celebrate this 100-year tradition and our community.”
“I always knew I wanted to come to Kent Place. It was my dream school,” says Scarlette Liftin ’25. “I love to learn, and I just knew it would be a great fit for me.”
Two summer camp experiences with the Girls’ Leadership Institute (GLI) — during which she immediately connected with students and staff — reinforced her affection for the school.
When she arrived as a freshman, she wasted no time capitalizing on the opportunity.
Last year, she was the only sophomore — with seven seniors — to help found
and launch REBOOT (Rethinking Ethical Behavior Online for Oneself Together), a student-led initiative in partnership with the Ethics Institute, to empower kids to consider the implications of social-media use.
“Understanding the pros and cons of social media and practicing safe and balanced use of technology need to be normalized so students can function in the digital world in thoughtful and healthy ways,” she says.
Shortly after REBOOT’s launch, Scarlette got in touch with administrators at The Peck School, her K–8 alma mater,
to pitch the idea of a presentation to its middle schoolers. They said yes, and it was a great success. While working to expand the program to other schools and organizations, Scarlette also presents to KPS students and families. “Seeing the impact our message has not just on students but on parents, too, has been really powerful,” she says.
“Scarlette is a natural-born leader, but she has the style of a team player,” says Karen Rezach, Director of the Ethics Institute. “Not only does she have great ideas; she also has the dedication and vision to follow through with them. She’ll say, ‘I want to do this,’ and then actually does it.”
Another passion: field hockey. Scarlette competes for the Dragons and plays yearround for her club team. On the field, her indefatigable initiative is evident. On a family trip to Italy last summer, she researched a nearby club team and emailed the coach for permission to join a practice. No matter that it was a mostly male team, and that everyone else would be speaking Italian!
Last year, Scarlette came full circle, serving as a camp counselor for the GLI’s summer program. Director of GLI Holly Doyle was struck by Scarlette’s ability to juggle logistical demands with laserlike attention to students’ needs. “That’s an incredible talent for someone her age,” says Mrs. Doyle. “She finds such joy not just in learning and leading, but also in empowering others.”
For Scarlette, close relationships with teachers and students have been essential. “Being part of such a tight-knit community has been one of the most impactful aspects of my time at Kent Place,” she says. “The connections I’ve made are important to me, and I’ll carry them with me forever.”
MORNING MEETING [continued on p. 8]
IN THE LIMELIGHT. The arts (visual and performing) at KPS are now Instagram official! Follow all that’s happening in the studio and on the stage at Instagram.com/ kentplacearts. TAKING FLIGHT.
Our students will be traveling to some amazing places this year: a STEM trip to the Galápagos Islands, in Ecuador; an art, ethics, and French-language trip to France; and a STEM and Spanish-language
trip to Costa Rica. SPREADING THE LOVE. In honor of World Kindness Day, Kindergartners sprinkled notes of kindness all around the KPS community — students found them in hallways,
in classrooms, and outdoors around campus. CELEBRATING CREATIVITY. The Upper School Arts Committee debuted Artchives!, a once-a-trimester slideshow
STUDENT WRITING THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION
A student benefits from tailored feedback and guided practice as an English teacher will listen to, read, and discuss her writing.
In the mid-’90s, the Writing Center was created to provide a cross-curricular focus on writing and support for students outside the classroom. Three decades later, the center is a natural complement to the curriculum, giving students a place where the draft and feedback process that is part of learning to write effectively has free rein.
The Writing Center, located in the Teaching and Learning Lab, is open to all students in Grades 9–12.
Each trimester, the Writing Center is staffed by two English teachers, who sign up on a rotating basis throughout the week. Additional faculty and administrators can volunteer to help out during extra time in their schedule.
ANY SUBJECT, ANY FORMAT
The writing doesn’t have to be for an English-related course: Students bring college essays, history assignments, labs, extracurricular writing, math, scholarships, even job applications for insight and assistance.
School teacher
“For any student to work at her highest academic level, she must be thriving and mentally healthy,” says Julie Gentile, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning. “Mental wellness is an important aspect of education if we want learning to be durable and students to reach their potential.”
Kent Place takes student mental wellness seriously, as demonstrated by the number of
new programs, initiatives, and partnerships under way in recent years. Here’s a look at a few of them.
1. AUTHENTIC CONNECTIONS SURVEYS — disseminated annually to Upper Schoolers (since spring 2020) and Middle Schoolers (since spring 2021) — provide “invaluable data” on student well-being, says Ms. Gentile. They make it possible for the school to
compare the mental health of Kent Place students in relation to national trends in high-achieving schools and to more easily target cohorts of girls in need of support. The takeaway: Rates of anxiety and depression have improved in Grades 6–12 over the last few years. Most noteworthy, KPS ranks 83 percent in its overall well-being index, higher than the national average (82.1 percent).
showcasing both student and faculty visual and performing artwork. Viewers are invited to take a look and leave compliments on the slides. WE LOVE SISTERHOOD ACTIVITIES! Our Middle Schoolers collaborated with Primary School Spanish students on a Day of the
Dead altar. DEEP DISCUSSIONS. Over the years, women’s studies students invite faculty and staff to participate in a fishbowl talk about gender. They develop questions ahead of time and their teacher asks the group of faculty/staff volunteers to discuss
them among themselves while the students observe and take notes. SAVING THE EARTH, ONE MARKER AT A TIME. The Primary School Eco Team partnered with the Facilities Department to introduce TerraCycle boxes to the Primary School. This box
recycles all sorts of things, such as pens and caps, mechanical and wooden pencils, and highlighters.
CAREER INSPIRATION. Primary School students welcomed Katrina Moore, author of the Teeny Houdini series. Ms. Moore read passages aloud and [continued on p. 10]
2. LAUNCHED IN 2020–21, THE LEARN. LIVE. WONDER/GROW/LEAD. PROGRAM (in the Primary, Middle, and Upper Schools, respectively) is a powerful tool for integrated wellness work. Some examples: Piloted this year in the Primary School, a Mood Meter helps students to identify and rate their emotions. Middle Schoolers now complete a well-being survey (on a scale of 1 to 10) at the start and close of each Learn. Live. Grow. class, providing a “pulse-check” for teachers; Student Support Teams swing into action for those reporting less than a 3. In the Upper School, topics of emotional and mental health, such as personal resilience, are woven into Live. Learn. Lead. classes.
3. TWO NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSES — the Sixth-Grade Seminar on Ethics, Identity, and Leadership and Identity 7 — are helping students grow in their identities and their understanding and acceptance of one another.
4. THE BE BODY POSITIVE CURRICULUM, adopted last year in the Middle and Upper Schools, encourages conversations about mental wellness and helps students develop skills for self-compassion. Body Positivity Month is celebrated in February.
5. STARTING LAST YEAR, a student-led — and fast-expanding — initiative called REBOOT (Rethinking Ethical Behavior Online for Oneself Together) facilitates discussion on the subject of healthy use of social media.
6. NINE AFFINITY GROUPS and 10 interest groups have been introduced in the Upper School for students who identify similarly (affinity) and those who are curious to learn more (interest) to get together and talk about their experiences.
7. ENHANCED ADVISORY PROGRAMMING in the Middle and Upper Schools has embedded productive, scenario-driven conversations regarding DEIB.
8. FIVE LICENSED MENTAL-HEALTH PROFESSIONALS are on staff to care for KPS students. Many have a dedicated, online portal where students can anonymously submit questions and access information.
“Kent Place is working diligently to provide and increase programming that not only normalizes mental health, but also creates a safe space for conversation and avenues to seek support.”
—DANIELLE BARNES, UPPER SCHOOL COUNSELOR, ON BEHALF OF ALL THE KENT PLACE MENTAL-HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
How do you measure a year? For Kent Place Middle School students, it’s all about artifacts. Annually, starting at the beginning of school, students compile work samples from their classes and cocurricular activities in online portfolios for Parent–Student Advisor conferences in April.
The portfolio project has evolved since its inception, and 2023 was the first year students presented their portfolios to their parents in person. “They can get very nervous going into it,” says sixth-grade English teacher Amanda Freiler, “but they always knock it out of the park because they’re talking about themselves, which is one of the things they know best.”
To paint a vivid picture of their experience throughout the year, students choose artifacts that represent these categories: something I’ve learned, my very best work, where I’ve improved, where I need improvement, where I persevered, and something I’m proud of.
Taking pride in their learning is something Ms. Freiler considers a major benefit of the portfolio. “Girls are socialized not to celebrate successes loudly,” she says, “and the portfolio shows them it’s okay to talk about something they did a wonderful job on — it’s okay to take up space as somebody who’s proud of her work.”
BRAVE & BRILLIANT
When Nathalie Montesdeoca ’24 arrived at KPS as a freshman — from a very small, coed middle school — she felt a bit nervous. In fact, she uses the word shocked. “My old school was only Hispanic students, so we all had similar experiences and perspectives,” she says. “It was a shock to come to Kent Place, which is so much more diverse. I was interested to see how my point of view would compare to that of others.”
Four years later, the once reserved freshman has found her voice, says Sandra Medina, Upper School Spanish teacher and advisor for the Latinx Club and the Latinx Affinity Group, both of which Nathalie eagerly joined early on.
“She has always been very quiet and observant, a listener. She doesn’t rush to speak,” says Dr. Medina. “But now she’s no longer afraid to say things that may sound controversial. That’s how much she has grown as a critical thinker. The perspective she brings to conversations is eye-opening for many students, and so important.”
Indeed, as transformative as her Kent Place experience has been for Nathalie, the thoughtful senior has left an equally powerful mark on KPS.
Two cases in point:
One, as co-presidents of the Latinx Club, she and Marissa Garnica ’24 advocated for the school’s first-ever student-led Latinx Night in the Upper School. Collaborating with the Diversity & Equity Parent Group, which hosts a separate, parent-led event every year, their efforts were aimed at complementing and extending the activities of the Latinx Club and the Latinx Affinity Group. A cultural celebration — complete with food representing various countries — was held in November and was an empowering showcase of Hispanic heritage. Nathalie proudly represented the country from which her parents emigrated, Ecuador.
And two, Nathalie’s experiences and feedback to faculty, who often seek student inspiration, are reflected in a new elective — Displacements: The Latinx Experience, an interdisciplinary course housed in the English and History Departments. She felt “super proud,” she says, to have contributed to conversations that inspired the development of the course. “The class will be there after I graduate,” she says, “and it’s great to know that other students will learn about the experiences of Latinx people throughout history.”
Sharing her culture, breaking stereotypes, and nurturing a welcoming Latina community for current and future KPS students — these have been a quest for Nathalie, one she looks forward to continuing in college, she says. With an interest in STEM, she plans to study chemistry.
A four-year member of Green Key, she says she treasures the ability to connect with prospective students, some of whom are embarking on a path similar to her own. “I often meet students from Newark, where I’m from,” she says. “I love the opportunity to talk to them about how scary it can be to go to such a big, different kind of high school but how great Kent Place is. I don’t know if I would be the same person if I hadn’t come here. It shaped me as a person, not only my education but my confidence, too.”
answered questions about her career. The students even participated in re-creating scenes from the books. AN EMPOWERING DAY. Seventh- and eighth-graders in part two of a workshop called Cliques and Thrones learned about compassion for oneself
and others, practicing restorative conversations and communitybuilding. PHYSICS FUN. Upper School physicists had a blast measuring the speed of batteryoperated cars using sugar packets, meter sticks, and a stopwatch.
BUILDING THE FOUNDATION.
Just before school began, more than 60 Upper School students who hold leadership positions came together for the 2023 Student Leadership Summit. During that time, the division’s theme for the year was announced: “In Connection, We Pave the Way.”
HOW FAR YOU’LL GO. Our Middle School STEM Team qualified for the NJ State Science Olympiad competition! In March, the team will compete against the top 27 teams across all of New Jersey. Congrats to the seventh- and eighth-graders on their accomplishment!
In response to the Self-Study submitted by Kent Place in November 2022, the visiting team from the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools and the Middle States Association group presented schoolwide commendations. They praised KPS for its well-maintained campus, the school’s responsible financial planning, and the strategic visioning that galvanized the community around our 16-word mission statement. Here are five commendations the visiting team highlighted in their final report:
5LEARNING IN COMMUNITY.
The report commended us for “creating and sustaining a community that values diversity, multiple perspectives, and healthy risk taking; that grows through collaboration, introspection, and selfreflection; and that balances hard work with joy.” It also praised “an innovative faculty evaluation system, grounded in the KPS MESA (Multicultural Education Self-Assessment), which distinguishes growth from evaluation, providing clarity around what good teaching looks like at Kent Place.”
4LEADERSHIP. The report had praise for all levels, from the Board of Trustees (“dedicated to ensuring that Kent Place School continue to be a place where girls grow into powerful young women who advance the world”); to our Head of School (“bold and visionary”); to the Leadership Team (“creative and agile”); to a professional faculty (“evolving an inspiring and engaging curriculum”); to the dedicated staff (“ensuring that every aspect of the school is running according to plan”).
1
FACULTY AND STAFF. The report described our faculty and staff as “powerhouses of intelligence, talent, and drive” and “absolutely unstoppable.” It said, too, “Together you are doing work that is worthy of the very highest recognition and praise. And not only that — but you are very genuine people who clearly love what you do here at Kent Place, where it appears that you each feel a palpable sense of community and belonging.”
2STUDENTS.
“Your students and the learning we saw taking place in every classroom are testimony that your hard work is paying off,” the report marveled. “Students mirror all the traits you model for them . . . and are powerful, confident, intelligent young people who have a burning desire to advance the world.”
3OUR PROGRAM. The report commended us for establishing a “comprehensive, mission-driven, visionary, educational program that has been designed not only for excellence in traditional programming, but also in creating a nurturing home for girls to challenge themselves, see their potential, and become role models for future generations.”
“The egg has a perfect form — an oval shape, a symmetry to it; it sings out and declares its presence,” says Upper School art teacher Ken Weathersby, describing the subject for his Portfolio class’s first project of the year. “Yet the egg is very vulnerable,” he says. “It can easily break.”
The goal of the project, which Mr. Weathersby has assigned for 10 years, is to make an egg the protagonist of an image and to use formal means — such as angle, light and shadow, perspective, shape, and texture — to create a composition that conveys a mood of mystery, anxiety, or suspense.
Says Nina Choi ’24, “My egg is perched between the balusters of a staircase, partially lit by sunlight from an unpictured window. The sunlight illuminating half of the egg and reflected onto the wooden stairs is in sharp contrast to the dark staircase and wall, which dominate the painting.”
“My egg is in a very precarious position, like when you balance a fork on your finger,” says Charlotte Grushkin ’25. “It’s in the perfect spot, but if you move too suddenly or if a wind blows through, it will fall.”
A multistage project, students start by photographing a wooden egg to create a reference, then expand, modify, and enhance their composition as a large work in acrylic on paper, emphasizing dark and light as expressive tools.
“Working in monochrome,” says Nina, “particularly in black and white, I had to rely on other elements, such as contrast and composition, to create the desired emotional impact. Together, the contrast and composition evoke a dramatic sense of mystery and unease.”
Data science and coding enthusiast Sajni Shah ’24 is pursuing an independent study that explores data analysis and machine learning with Python — a high-level, general-purpose programming language — and how both can be applied to the field of finance.
Reserved for students in their senior year, the independent study is an opportunity for them to develop a program that extends beyond the scope of the courses they’ve already taken and to further apply their knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary areas.
Sajni approaches her program in five steps, which she says can be useful to anyone who is undertaking an independent, longterm research project.
STEP 1: Determine your ultimate goal. What would you like to learn and where would you like to end up with your research?
STEP 2: Great! You now have your big goal. Now break it down into a series of smaller ones. For me, I separated my research into three attainable chunks by trimester.
STEP 3: Lay your foundation. Figure out what you already know and what you want to discover, then determine all the tools you’ll need to complete your research.
STEP 4: Trial and error. Lots and lots of trial and error.
STEP 5: I’m still waiting to see what my step 5 looks like, but I’m hoping I’ll reach my goal — which is to create a data-analysis process using machine learning to look at historical stock data, predict future stock values, measure performance, and visualize prediction results.
Sajni says she looks forward to presenting her independent study at Kent Place’s Academic Symposium on Tuesday, May 21. And we look forward to hearing what she was able to accomplish!
The theme of the 2023 Ethics Institute’s Ethics and the Arts summer program — Public versus Private Art — explored the ethical issues that arise when an artist creates art for herself, for a broad audience as opposed to a specific one, or as a commissioned work.
The program, which takes place each summer with a different theme, invites rising seventh- through 12th-grade students — from across New Jersey — to take part in a creative and innovative experience that teaches the foundations of ethics and ethical thinking through hands-on artmaking, guided by professional artists and trained ethicists.
At the conclusion of this summer’s program, students painted an intricate mural in the Ethics Institute at Kent Place, one that will be studied and admired for years.
“The mural is reflective of everything we do at Kent Place,” says Karen Rezach, Director of the Ethics Institute. “Students were empowered to offer their feedback in order to create the vision for the mural, and then turned that vision into artistic reality.”
The mural concept was the result of testimonials from Kent Place School students, faculty, and staff about the Ethics Institute’s importance to our school community. A viewer might notice some symbolism: a lantern, for example, represents the KPS maxim (“With Wisdom She Lights the Way”); two distinct paths call to mind two perspectives of an ethical dilemma; a bee is a shout-out to Beatrice the Bee, featured in stories posing dilemmas for our youngest ethicists.
“It’s a lasting representation of the Ethics Institute at Kent Place,” says Dr. Rezach.
This summer’s participants from Kent Place were: Class of 2029, Olivia Cohen, Eva Joglekar, Eva Obalde, Mithra Saikumaar, and Eva Tolia; Class of 2028, Rose Fiala, Siara Gupta, and Sonia Nikhil; Class of 2027, Allsion Ha and Allie Weil; Class of 2026, Anabella Mendieta-Frost; Class of 2025, Elijah Hall; and Class of 2024, Celeste Rizzo. The professional artist was Carol Frost Olmsted, assisted by Jaime Conroy.
Statistics — the branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data — is formally introduced to Kent Place students via their sixth-grade curriculum with introductory concepts and builds through their senior year.
In the Upper School, the emphasis is on real-world applications, data analysis, critical reading, and writing.
“Statistics applies to many aspects of life and learning,” says Elena Iannuzzi, Upper School math teacher and Cochair of the Math Department, “from STEM to the humanities and from financial literacy to the ethical consumption of data. We strive to make the curriculum interdisciplinary.”
“Students are challenged to think critically and interpret data in an information-driven world,” says Peter Wertz, who teaches math in the Upper School. “Students in my AP Statistics class conclude their year by asking a research question that is of interest to them, gathering data from the outside world and their community, and developing evidence. From this, they learn how to work with, mathematically analyze, and interpret real data.”
“Taking statistics at KPS has made me a more knowledgeable consumer in everyday life. I now think about probability and trends much more than I would have,” says Cassie Miller ’24. “Many companies and apps — Instagram, for example — collect massive amounts of data about us users. Though the algorithms are incredibly complex, it’s been really helpful to have an understanding of how information is analyzed and used to derive insights about me and other consumers.”
Junior Pre-Kindergarten and Pre-K students practicing meditation and breathwork. Kindergartners finding solutions to interpersonal conflicts. First-graders selecting nutritious options at lunch. Second-graders showcasing good sportsmanship during friendly competition. Social-emotional learning (SEL) has become a fixture in the curriculum for our youngest students, and the tools they develop are on display every day.
“From getting the necessary skills to self-regulate emotionally to understanding boundaries and what it means to be kind, our students gain a foundation of how to coexist with one another at a very young age,” says Antonette Nivar-Rowe, who teaches SEL starting in JPK and extending through second grade.
Students meet weekly with Ms. NivarRowe to talk about such topics as emotions, sportsmanship, hygiene, boundaries, nutri-
tion, mindfulness, yoga, body positivity, friendships, bullying, self-esteem, honesty, and different family makeups. In addition, books, videos, worksheets, and group activities help the children practice the skills they’re learning.
“Imagine Kindergartners facing a conflict at recess,” says Ms. Nivar-Rowe, “and knowing how to self-regulate — that is, how to manage their behavior, reactions, and feelings regarding the situation — all before thinking about involving a teacher. This is SEL in action.”
Ms. Nivar-Rowe gives another example: “Our JPK students in particular love yoga. They enjoy the activity of trying the poses, and meanwhile are learning about collective breaths, meditation, and regulating their emotions. Taking three collective breaths is an especially powerful tool to self-regulate and we teach it to all of our students — and
Kindergartners
Sunny Lawrence, Callie Thornhill, and Ailee McCreary work together to make a healthy plate.
even encourage adults to join in.”
When students enter third grade, they start learning about more-mature concepts, ones that meet them where they are developmentally. In fact, the curriculum evolves all the way through Grade 12.
Leads: Chair of her department, teacher (primarily French but also, at various times, ethics, English, women’s studies, and Spanish), coach, advisor, six-time Global Trip leader, and even bus driver, Katharine MacCornack has donned many hats during her almost-20-year career at Kent Place. Prior to KPS, she attended and taught at a boarding school; “my roots are in campus life,” she says. “I try to be all things to all students all the time.” It’s an ambitious philosophy, one our students have benefited from tremendously.
Owns: A small horse farm in Hunterdon County. “I have two horses. My family was involved in breeding and racing Thoroughbreds, so horses have always been a part of my life. I love living the rhythms of life on the farm,” she says.
Competed: In national amateur-level squash tournaments, including a Howe Cup team for New York City. “I love the speed and fitness level and the mental concentration — which is also the quality of a good scholar,” she says. Head Coach of Varsity Squash for 12 years, Dr. MacCornack was also Assistant Coach of Varsity Golf for eight.
Earned: A master’s degree and her doctorate in French studies, both from Brown University, with a specialty in medieval literature and literary theory. She has written two books and more than 100 articles.
Drives: A 24-passenger KPS bus. She secured her commercial license in order to drive the squash team to off-campus practices. Although she no longer coaches, she’s still occasionally asked to ferry students to and fro.
Before KPS: Taught French at the University of New Hampshire and Hofstra University. “I loved the intellectual challenges of being a professor,” she says, “but I missed engaging with students in different ways. If we compartmentalize ourselves into one or two spaces, we don’t see the whole student. It’s really important for them to have that sense of belonging, being known and being seen. Kent Place is really good at fostering that.”
Recruiting and retaining the most qualified, student-centered faculty are top of mind for Julie Gentile, Kent Place’s Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning. “Professional growth is essential for making those two things happen,” she says. “It’s also about building a learning community on our campus, for both students and adults.”
In partnership with academic leaders and the Office of DEIB, Ms. Gentile is building on Kent Place’s strong tradition of professional growth like never before. A few key efforts:
ANNUAL FEEDBACK LOGS. A written dialogue between faculty members (who set their growth goals), in collaboration with their Division Director and Department Chair, is an opportunity for consistent affirmation and constructive feedback showing growth over time.
COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE (COP). Brought to KPS by Interim Upper School Director Evelyn Hanna, CoPs gather three or four faculty in a lesson study to explore a curriculum-centered strand of teaching and learning they’re passionate about, such as differentiated instruction or educational technology.
FACULTY ESSENTIAL EXPECTATIONS EVALUATION. This is a checklist of mission-aligned competencies — for example, building relationships with every student — that faculty and their supervisors review and sign each year.
STRONG DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON AND OFF CAMPUS. Last school year, for instance, visiting facilitator Liza Talusan presented a workshop that reinforced skills for all faculty to become identity-conscious educators, and department chairs attended a NYSAIS conference as a team and gained instructional coaching skills for motivating faculty.
Athletics at Kent Place continues to be strong in both competition and participation. Now we’re taking the key points of our Athletic Strategic Plan and incorporating health and wellness into every aspect of our program.
We recognize that athletics plays an important role in a student’s physical, emotional, and mental development and well-being. We aim for a transformative impact through programs and opportunities that inspire leadership and teamwork, forge the connection between mindfulness and movement, build relationships with peers, and encourage healthy living with balance and meaning.
To this end, and consistent with the vision outlined in Kent Place School’s strategic plan (Empower Girls. Advance the World.), we will create, deliver, and sustain programmatic excellence by:
• Designing an athletic-development pathway that provides a range of opportunities for students to progress from fundamental participation and skills acquisition to proficiency and performance at a level that enables them to reach their full potential
• Committing to varsity-program success at a level that attracts and retains scholar-athletes
• Promoting an environment that inspires the joy of effort, balanced leadership, active participation, and personal growth in the areas of sports, fitness, and recreational activities
• Building synergy among athletics, wellness, and academics, embedding athletics into student life as a natural extension of their educational program
The overall goals of this strategic plan are to continue the programs that have made athletics at KPS strong and to build on those programs with the resources and infrastructure to reinforce our institutional priorities: learning with purpose, leading with ethics, thriving in community, and investing in one another.
To fulfill our vision over the next several years, our efforts will be driven by four strategies, each of which is consistent with and reinforces the strategic plan of Kent Place as a whole:
• Prioritize personal growth and development.
• Promote athletic excellence.
• Build community.
• Ensure sustainability and accessibility.
As the Athletic Director in my second year, I’m proud of our teams and their successes. They’re testament to our student-athletes, but also to some often unsung heroes: their coaches.
At our recent fall Upper School athletic awards, I thanked our coaches for the countless hours they spent making practice adjustments and gameplay videos and for their consistent positive attitude, patience, and flexibility with our athletes.
We’re looking forward to seeing participants in all levels of sports and in each grade develop their skills in whatever sport they play and grow as leaders on and off the field. And you’re always invited to come out and cheer on our teams with me!
Athletic Director Vicky Browne joined Kent Place in 2022.
Erica Evans began her career at KPS as the Head JV Soccer Coach in 2019, moved up to Varsity Assistant Coach two years later, and was named Head Varsity Coach this season.
What was the highlight of the fall season? I have two. The first was winning 2-1 against the number-14-ranked team in the state. On paper, we should have lost that game. Despite the odds, though, the team gave their all and got the result we knew we were capable of. This shocked the county and put KPS on everyone’s radar.
The second was the overtime county game win against a team we had previously lost to. I knew this would be a tough match. We were down in the second half, but we were able to put in a goal toward the end of the second half to tie. We ended the game with a winning goal in OT and advanced to the next round of the county tournament. There’s no better feeling than storming the field as a team after a moment like that to celebrate a hard-earned victory.
How do you prepare the team for a game? Before every warmup for a game, I tell the team to get focused and start thinking about what they want to accomplish on the field that day. I want them to visualize how they want to play, what each of their roles is. Visualization is a great technique for building mental toughness and resilience.
FUN FACT: During the winter and spring seasons, Coach Erica is the Assistant Varsity Coach for track, helping mainly with jumpers and hurdlers.
Undefeated in conference play and achieving an overall 12-2 record, the Varsity Tennis team took home its eighth consecutive Union County Tournament trophy and captured the Watchung Division Conference title. The team is led by Head Coach Dave Phimsipasom and Assistant Coach Jill Olman.
Well-deserved recognition accompanied the superb season: NJ.com named the Varsity Dragons Union County Team of the Year and Keira Kapur ’26 Union County Player of the Year.
“This team has been so successful in the past because of the positive energy and hard work we put into every season,” says co-captain Mary Kate O’Connor ’24. “We were hoping to continue this, and with relief, I can say we definitely did.”
Weather-related calendar changes made for a grueling schedule — at one point, the athletes
Sarah Schweinberg is responsible for the prevention, examination, evaluation, emergency management, and treatment of student injuries. As a former Division I soccer player at Seton Hall, she knows how to adapt quickly.
“There’s no typical day in this job,” she says. “My schedule is always fluctuating and it ebbs and flows with the whole Kent Place calendar, as I work with athletes, dancers, PE classes, and all other members of the student body.”
Ms. Schweinberg and Assistant Athletic Trainer Katrina Presler provide prevention plans tailored to each sport and evaluate and rehabilitate injuries. During a game, it’s important to Ms. Schweinberg that her skills be available to all athletes, whether or not they’re Dragons. “That’s someone’s daughter out there,” she says, “and I want her to get the best treatment no matter which school she goes to.”
Lacrosse and field hockey player Aurielle Wolf ’25 says the trainers are there to support the mind as well as the body. “As you progress from a Middle School athlete to an Upper School athlete,” she says, “it can be tough, and an athletic trainer is a good person to talk to, because she understands firsthand the struggles of being a student-athlete.”
played seven matches in a row. “Tennis is a tough sport mentally, and with academics on top of it, the season can feel super long,” says Coach Phimsipasom. “What’s impressive is that they all keep it together and win.”
“Our season is condensed into a very intense two months,” says Annabelle Walter ’24, also a co-captain, “so we support one another and create a great relationship off the court that enables us to thrive when it’s time to compete.”
From heroics on the courts to dramatic matches on the grass, the Dragons have brought their fire to every competition. Here are just a few of the standout performances and memorable moments from this fall.
• Eighth-consecutive Union County Tournament win; Watchung Division Champions
• Union County Team of the Year
• Keira Kapur ’26 is named Union County Player of the Year
• Prep A Tournament Champions
• Alex Grinis ’25 surpasses 700 digs, making her the all-time leader at Kent Place
• Addison McGoey ’24 qualifies for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions by finishing eighth in the 5000 meter at the Group Championships
• Middle School Athletic Conference Tennis Champions for the second year in a row
PROUD OF OUR DRAGON! This summer, senior Emma Claire Quinn participated in the Women’s National Combine for USA Lacrosse. Emma Claire was one of 150 athletes, out of 900, selected to take part in the August combine. With only 44 roster spots available between the U18 and U16 USA teams, Emma Claire says she was happy for the opportunity to compete with some of the top players in the nation, and left the combine feeling fulfilled and inspired.
Then Emma Claire received an exciting phone call: She was asked to represent the United States on the U18 Women’s Lacrosse National Team at the Fall Classic tournament, in Sparks, Maryland. “Representing USA Lacrosse was amazing,” she says, “and I don’t think I fully understood the reality of the situation until I put on the uniform with the letters USA across the front. It wasn’t just about representing my country as a lacrosse player either, but about being a great person, too.”
Emma Claire will continue to play lacrosse at Boston College this fall.
Incredibly funny. Great character development. A high-stakes plot. And eggs. Lots of eggs. This was the Upper School’s fall musical production of Something Rotten! Our talented cast and crew stunned the packed theater on both sold-out nights. Kent Place’s adaptation was directed by Keri Lesnik, with musical direction by Neil Ginsberg and choreography by Amanda Hudson.
Catherine Gerbino ’24 as William Shakespeare
On November 15, before parents, teachers, and fellow Primary Schoolers, all 33 fifth-graders performed a spirited, imaginative staging of the Roald Dahl classic — and 2016 Spielberg film adaptation — The Big Friendly Giant (BFG). Under the guidance of theater teacher Cara Scarmack and collaborating closely with art teacher Melissa Wood, students were more than merely actors: they were empowered to develop ideas for the set, lighting, props, and costumes.
“The show became a tangible learning experience, requiring much more imagination, time, and care than simply ordering items from the internet,” says Ms. Scarmack.
Some behind-the-scenes highlights:
• Students painted boxes and tied on straps to create “helicopters.”
• Stacking construction paper, they crafted sandwiches and a giant-sized spoon for the BFG during tea with the Queen.
• Quinn Schwarz ’31 — who along with Lily Bracci ’31 played the Queen of England (the show was double cast) — devised an effective staging idea:
“Because Lily and I were facing the audience when we first saw the BFG,” she says, “we shouted as though talking to someone 40 feet tall.”
• In a scene with a dream-blowing horn, Sasha Tetley ’31 played a beautifully designed fake horn while Layne Cagle ’31 blew into her real trumpet, a script twist the pair thought up themselves. “When we share our ideas and talents, there’s a sense of serendipitous discovery in performance,” says Ms. Scarmack.
“Being behind the scenes, I love watching as the show evolves from our first readthrough to opening night, knowing I played a part in shaping it and supporting the cast and crew. In each production, I always love to see the final product of everyone’s talent and dedication, as well as the amazing community that’s built in the process.”
—VANESSA LEE ’24
This year, the Performing Arts Department returned to offering a Middle School Orchestra in addition to the trimester smaller ensembles and a chorus as well as the grade-level singing groups. The oncea-week rehearsals have shown again that students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 connect on a profound level when they have a common goal — to create collaborative performances. And it turned out to be a joy for us to work with all three grades.
We wanted to keep the continuity of skills (instrumental and singing) fluent for the entire year and at the same time let the girls choose their trimester art course in one of four programs: instrumental music, choral singing, dance, or theater.
Having groups incorporating as many Middle Schoolers who are interested means the more experienced players and singers can demonstrate their passion
and skill and also — just as important — encourage and help those who are less proficient. During the fall trimester, the connections students made with one another across grade levels as members of one of the large ensembles have been remarkable. For example, we had sixthgraders who led orchestral sections with eighth-graders in them.
Terrence Thornhill, who conducts all the orchestras at KPS, says participating in a large ensemble teaches the importance of playing within a section, and that being part of a sound that’s substantial emulates what professional musicians feel. “Working on an orchestral project is a shared experience that will foster friendships and a sense of community,” he says. He hopes, he says, to keep the Middle School Orchestra “a captivating and fun experience that will inspire the students to work outside of the
classroom so we can achieve even better musical moments.”
Neil Ginsberg, who conducts the Middle School Chorus in addition to the sixth-grade Bel Canto and the Select Choir for Grades 7 and 8, says there’s always lots of confidence and vocal power in numbers. “Where else can you be with more than 80 other singers and do something in unison and in harmony?” he asks. This is an opportunity for all the students to contribute to the group effort without feeling too exposed or vulnerable. “These experiences create community and a sense of being part of something bigger than yourself,” says Mr. Ginsberg.
This year, the orchestra and the chorus performed at the Middle School Celebration of the Arts. And they were spectacular!
Edel Thomas, Director of Performing Arts, is in her 32nd year teaching at KPS.
In your seven years at KPS, what have been some music-program highlights? I’ve had so many wonderful experiences in orchestra, choir, and more. Many of the pieces I’ve performed stay with me, even from when I first came here. For example, I still love “Hope Is the Thing with Feathers,” which I sang in Girl Choir in sixth grade, and my parents still mention my violin solo in “Scheherazade,” for which I received a lot of praise in eighth grade. I also remember the excitement of playing the electric violin for the first time in “Bollywood Strings,” in ninth. Kent Place has given me many opportunities to perform and even try out for auditioned groups, such as the Central Jersey Music Educators Association Region Orchestra and the Eastern Region ACDA Honor Choir.
Of all these experiences, I have to say that STAR is one I’ll never forget, especially with the tradition and community surrounding the rehearsals after Thanksgiving break, and of course the night itself. All of the pieces, especially combined pieces with the chorus and orchestra, are beautiful, powerful, and meaningful. STAR depicts unity as an event that brings the whole Upper School and alumnae together. In “Always Keep This Close,” it was written “You make more than music here. . . . We are one!” I’m grateful that I’ve had the chance to participate in the historic 100th STAR.
What music experience at KPS has challenged you to grow? I remember improving as a singer when I came to Kent Place as a sixth-grader. I auditioned for and participated in the ACDA Honor Choir that year. With that experience and singing in Girl Choir, I was able to refine my technique and took singing more seriously than before. One indicator was my audition for Glee Club, the Middle School a cappella group at that time. I didn’t make it in sixth grade, but made it the next year and saw the impressed look on the judges’ faces at my audition. This year, after stepping back a little from singing because of scheduling, I joined Chamber Singers. I love being a part of the group. I’ve been able to explore my voice, work on my technique, and lead many sectionals for KP Singers and Chorale.
Orchestra has also helped me develop leadership skills. I’ve led as concertmaster throughout the years and am Orchestra president this year. I also led my first hourlong violin sectionals and now understand that it can be difficult for teachers to keep our attention at the end of a long day.
Last spring, I composed and performed a piece called “Ocean” for solo violin for Music for Change. The music teachers, such as Ms. Thomas, Mr. Ginsberg, and Mr. Thornhill, have been really supportive of my composing and arranging music. For this piece in particular, I’m grateful to Ms. Mendez, the violin adjunct teacher, for helping me edit and play the piece to express my full vision.
What have you learned about yourself as a musician? Music has always been a big part of my life. I’ve been playing the violin since I was five years old and started singing around that time as well. However, I think it was in ninth grade when I understood how much I loved music and found that passion and emotion in the notes, discovering my strength in musicality. Now, whenever I play or sing a piece, I put myself fully into the music.
I realized that music is much more than just playing the violin, singing, or composing. It’s music itself that’s special, beautiful, and powerful. It’s the blend of the harmonies, the emotions and stories behind the notes, and the interconnectedness with the community of musicians and audience around you. I believe that this connection to the music and the community has made me a better musician.
Maya came to Kent Place in sixth grade and has been involved in many activities on campus since then. In addition to her music, she’s an editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, Ballast; a member of the Community Service Committee and the Mock Trial team; a Peer Education leader; and a representative of Honor Council. This year she started the Biology Olympiad study group, which meets monthly to study a variety of biology topics. She also plays soccer and runs winter and spring track.
“To me, my Senior Project is the capstone of my KPS dance experience. I’m taking all that I’ve learned here and transforming it into something I can give back to our school. As a young dancer, I was always inspired by the Senior Projects in “An Evening of Dance.” Now, as a senior, I get to perform for the younger students. I hope our dancing inspires them in the same way.”
—AVA ZINNA ’24
In October, the annual Kent Place Cabaret raised more than $3,000 for Susan G. Komen. Cabaret started in 2017 as a showcase for Upper School singers and an entertaining way to trade “serious” fare for student-selected favorites from Broadway and other musical theater. Depending on the year, Cabaret proceeds go to a nonprofit organization or scholarships for students participating in international choral performances.
For her third Cabaret, Isabella Deng ’25 chose “Good Morning Baltimore,” from Hairspray, which she describes as “a sunshiny song filled with so much life.” A member of Chorale, Chamber Singers, Treblemakers, and the New Jersey Youth Chorus, Isabella vividly remembers her first Cabaret, as a freshman: “I was incredibly nervous singing in front of an audience,” she says, “but it’s an amazing opportunity to grow and learn for future performances.”
Isabella credits her choral activities with teaching her the power of discipline and hard work and not to be afraid of bumps in the road. “Failure is completely part of the process,” she says, “and you should never be ashamed of trying.”
“I’m always moved by students who put themselves out there so early in the year,” says Director of Performing Arts Edel Thomas. “I’m incredibly proud of these young musicians who show us how to have fun doing what you love.”
As a Grade 9 team leader, Upper School math teacher Nancy Christoff sees firsthand the steep learning curve that students experience in the early weeks of school. “There’s so much that’s new, and it comes from every direction: new faces and systems, new assignments and expectations,” she says.
She’s ready to help. “I’m there to point them in the right direction,” she says, “to explain what’s important and relevant.”
Ninth grade is an important inflection point in students’ lives, and at Kent Place, that transitional experience is marked by a joyful process that helps students become themselves — and part of the Kent Place community. Ms. Christoff is just one of many people (along with programs) who help ninth-grade students find their footing.
Want to step into the shoes of an incoming ninth-grader? Here’s exactly what she'll experience.
Moving into ninth grade is a wonderful transition for students, no matter where they went to school in eighth.
For those who are “moving up” from the KPS Middle School, it’s a beautiful time they often experience as a big leap: they have greater flexibility and autonomy in their days. They’ve often been in awe of our Upper School students — people they’ve seen as role models — and then they become one of those students. When students come into the Upper School, it's a moment they've been looking forward to.
Then there are the students who are joining Kent Place in ninth grade — more than a third of the class. It's a big moment for them, too: they're experiencing a lot of newness.
In both cases, it’s a significant change. The girls are turning 14 or 15, which represents a shift in their self-awareness and identity. They couple that with a bit more freedom and many more expectations.
They’re one big step closer to their postsecondary experience. Ninth-graders are still very much thinking about the “now,” but there’s also a sense of “Wow, this is our last stop before we head off to whatever the future may hold for us.”
Evelyn Hanna, Interim Director of the Upper SchoolAs a check-in over the summer, some teachers conduct online faculty hours. Upper School English teacher Lisa Cohen, for example, offers optional Zoom meetings with students who want to chat about their summer reading. “Students are interested in meeting their teachers and seeing who some of their classmates will be,” she says.
Members of the incoming ninthgrade class experience their first major transitional moment at the June welcome event. Students chat with Kent Place rising seniors on the Presidents’ Council to ask questions and learn about their new home. They also participate in popular icebreaker activities with classmates, such as silently organizing themselves into a line based on their birthdays. Parents and guardians attend as a first opportunity to meet with the Upper School Leadership Team and strengthen their network with other families.
YOU’LL HAVE A NEARBY KPS FAMILY TO LEAN ON
Grade 9 students and families who are new to Kent Place are paired with an experienced host family who also have a ninth-grade student, and families typically connect over the summer. “The pairing provides new students with at least one familiar face the first day of school, as well as an insider’s perspective on the community, traditions, and what to expect,” says Adrianna DeGazon,
Director
of Middle and Upper School Admission and Financial Aid. Sometimes matched students really hit it off and become best friends.
“ When I was thinking about becoming a ninthgrader at Kent Place, I was worried about making friends. But every time I attended events and visiting days, I felt comfortable, accepted, and seen. It had the best vibe. During visiting days, several activities required us to have discussions with fellow visitors — this caused me to befriend several people before I even got accepted and chose Kent Place.”
—VIVIENNE VENGROFF ’27
“During the week and a half of preseason, I was able to meet all of the soccer-playing sophomores, juniors, and seniors. We had a lot of time to talk, and I connected with both the upperclassmen and the new girls who were going to be in my grade. Preseason really helped me feel like part of the Kent Place community.”
—MIRA EMANY ’27
YOU’LL FIND YOUR SQUAD DURING PRESEASON ATHLETICS . . .
For fall sports athletes — in soccer, cross-country, tennis, volleyball, and field hockey — preseason practice introduces students to teammates who will push themselves physically and open themselves up emotionally. Ice-cream breaks, shared music playlists, and bus-ride camaraderie? Check, check, and check. “Preseason is demanding for athletes and coaches,” says Athletics Director Vicky Browne, “but by the end, you’re already part of a family.”
. . . OR WITH FELLOW MUSICIANS
Athletes aren’t the only students who build connections with fellow enthusiasts: choral and orchestra retreats, which take place in the early weeks of the school year, give musicians a chance to find literal (and figurative) harmony with one another.
“I want to help students feel confident and empowered with their schoolwork.”
—ALICIA REGNAULT, EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIST AND SUPPORT SPECIALIST
YOU’LL GET A CUSTOMIZED, IN-PERSON SESSION WITH A PRO TO SHOW YOU THE TECH ROPES
In small groups before school starts, students learn the ins and outs of Kent Place tech — the MyKPS learning management system, on-campus printing, and email signature setups, for starters — from Educational Technologist and Support Specialist Alicia Regnault: “I’m a technology resource for them,” she says.
YOU’LL BE ABLE TO LEAN ON A SENIOR WHO WILL ACT AS A GUIDE AND A FRIEND
Each ninth-grade student is paired with a “senior sister” who shares at least one interest with her. Early during the school year, the pairs spend a full day together, making friendship bracelets, playing educational games, and building connections.
YOU’LL HAVE A FIRST-DAY CHEERING SECTION
At the Upper School gathering on the first day of school, older students get together in the Great Room. When the ninth-graders make their entrance, they get an ovation like no other. “The older students clap and hoot and holler,” says Dean of Students Michelle Murphy. “It’s really a sensational feeling.”
YOU MIGHT GET SOME SNAIL MAIL
Ninth-grade advisors, who are members of the Upper School faculty, mail handwritten notes to welcome them to the school. “It can be overwhelming coming into a new environment,” says Upper School math teacher Peter Wertz, who sends cards to all of his new advisees. “I want to let them know I’m here for them.”
YOU’LL DEVELOP TRUST IN (ACTUALLY FUN) COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES
A 77-person “lap sit” and outdoor challenge activities are among the tasks students undertake as part of the Out on a Limb community-building program.
“At the beginning of the year, we spent an entire day bonding with our grade with the team from Out on a Limb. We did different problem-solving activities where we had to work together, building teamwork skills and fostering connections within the community of our grade. After the day we spent with Out on a Limb, I had met almost every person in our grade and felt like I found something in common with everyone. The experience made me feel so excited for the year ahead.”
—HAYDEN MULLIGAN ’27
YOU’LL START TO BUILD A COMMUNITY AS A CLASS
The weekly Tuesday-morning meetings for each grade are designated for relevant announcements, updates, and reminders — but they’re also a shared class experience during which students come together without academic expectations. The class meetings are facilitated by students.
YOU’LL GO ON A FIELD TRIP AND SEE THE WORLD — AND YOUR CLASSMATES — IN A NEW LIGHT
Students visit Storm King, an Orange County, New York–based art center, to analyze the sculpture there from different academic perspectives: for example, historical, artistic, and mathematical. It’s an opportunity for students to experience their classmates and academic lessons in a unique setting.
YOU’LL GET THE INSIDER SECRETS TO SUCCESSFUL STUDYING Ninth grade is a big step up in academic expectations. Learning Support Coordinators Cendahl Cornellio-Alter and Melissa Nazon-Tolbert help students build the study skills they need to excel. “When a student can confidently manage their time, prioritize and practice active studying, and self-advocate, then they’re ready for all Kent Place has to offer them,” Ms. Cornellio-Alter says.
YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT THE UPPER SCHOOL PILLARS AND KPS CONVERSATION NORMS THAT WILL MAKE EVERY CLASS DISCUSSION REWARDING
How do Kent Place students communicate their ideas — and with one another — effectively? Four pillars, linked to passion, integrity, respect, and community, and five conversation norms help guide them. Students write papers about the norms and might follow an assembly about a specific pillar or conversational norm with an in-depth class discussion. “We want to make sure students understand and practice the skills we teach,” says Dr. Hanna.
YOU’LL GET A SPACE OF YOUR OWN It takes committees, a proposal, and an airing in front of the Student Senate. The payoff? A class lounge for students in ninth grade to call their own. Before “lounge approval,” all ninth-graders are placed in study halls monitored by faculty who are ready to help support the academic transition to the Upper School.
YOU’LL HAVE AN ADVISOR WHO CAN’T WAIT TO GET TO KNOW YOU
Once or twice each week, groups of eight or so ninth-grade students get together with their advisor. Some gatherings are for schoolwide programming; some are to guide students as they consider academic goals; some are more advisory-specific bonding activities. For advisor Judy Bianco, these meetings offer a chance to get to know students beyond their schoolwork. “I learn more about them as a whole person, a member of the community and a leader inside and outside the school,” she says.
“It’s really important to create a safe space where students can feel comfortable and open in talking about their experiences, questions, ideas, and difficulties.”
—MELISSA NAZON-TOLBERT, LEARNING SUPPORT COORDINATOR
YOU’LL LEARN TO THINK AND ACT ETHICALLY Ninth-graders are required to take the Foundations in Ethical Theories and Practices course. This flagship programming supports the school’s larger mission: to develop ethical leaders who advance the world.
AND AT THE END OF ALL THE EXPLORING . . .
. . . they will know Kent Place. For Dr. Hanna, the process of integration into the community often culminates in what she calls an “aha moment” for students, usually within the first few months of the academic year. “It’s an ‘Oh, I get it now’ moment,” she says. “They know they’re a unique contributor to this community, and that they’re also a part of something bigger than themselves. That’s when I feel like we’ve done right by our ninth-graders, and that they’ve been welcomed into the community.”
BY LAURA J. COLE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE MOSER
AALYSSA HWANG ’16 doesn’t believe in leaving well enough alone. Whether with datasets or user experiences, if the computer and information science doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania notices a better way, she feels compelled to intervene.
“I’m just like, hello, these things matter,” says Alyssa, who is researching how to better use AI interfaces to deliver complex information. “Sometimes the solution seems really obvious to me, and then I just do it.”
For example, while at Kent Place, a family friend was in an accident that left him paralyzed and unable to speak. When Alyssa visited him at his rehabilitation center, she thought living there must be kind of lonely, so she recruited a group of her friends to see him — and the center’s other residents — once a month. When she noticed that some patients got bedsores from being in one position too long, Alyssa, an avid knitter, started Stitches for Strength, a lunch-period gathering where she taught friends how to knit small pillows for the residents.
As an undergraduate at Columbia University, Alyssa was a computer science major because she wanted to do research in the school’s Natural Language Text Processing Lab. She was interested in how computer science could be used to understand and support humans.
During her junior year, she was talking to her mentor about his research project, which involved collecting samples of summaries. Because people will now type or say “tl;dr” before summarizing something, Alyssa asked if he was considering including idioms. He wasn’t. Natural Language Processing, or NLP, gives computers the ability to “understand” human language based on Standard American English. At the time, Standard American English dominated in language models because the available data largely came from sources like books and news articles, leading to slang and different dialects like African American English to go overlooked.
The conversation led to Alyssa’s thesis: addressing gaps in NLP would help make slang and African American English be more understood by taking a bottom-up approach. Language models group words with commonalities. For example, blue, yellow, and green would all be in a group for colors, and Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp would be in a group for social media. Her work examined adding words to multiple groups and expanding words in those groups, such as adding blue to a group of words meaning “sad” and chat, DM, FB, and Insta to the social-media group.
Now as part of her research at Penn, she’s working to make sure the information a computer produces is useful, rather than just accurate. Take Amazon Alexa, for example. To improve how people can use the audio interface to
follow a recipe, she entered the kitchens of people ranging from novices to experienced chefs and paid attention to where the device proved helpful — or frustrating.
“I figured out that inexperienced cooks typically wanted more hand holding and more-experienced cooks typically wanted broad instruction, so they could just do what they wanted on their own,” Alyssa says. “So sometimes research can help us figure out these broader categories so that maybe three sizes fit most, rather than a one-size-fits-all kind of approach.”
In computer science, one size fits all has been the standard. Many computer scientists concentrate on a typical user, which makes sense: it’s a utilitarian solution to a large problem, so they solve for the biggest group. But as with all utilitarian approaches, it can’t and doesn’t account for everyone — or even the typical user — all the time. Alyssa, however, is exploring how to expand requirements and preferences: what she would call a deep approach to Human–Computer Interaction rather than a broad one.
As an example, she cites a user who is doing something on a computer with only one hand. The person could be holding the machine with the other hand or holding a child or a pet or an object. Or the user may have only one arm or one hand. That’s a case when designing inclusively for the person who needs a solution all the time will also benefit the people who need it only on occasion.
Alyssa is passionate about inclusivity, and she’s mathematical about it. She follows the n + 1 rule.
“Whenever I want something, I try to make it so n + 1 people can benefit from it — or more than just me,” she says. “When I’m designing something, I’m more likely to design something that works for me. That’s true for most designers. I expect typical users to be just like me, but I also try to imagine they have vision loss or a mobility issue or are neurodivergent. I think of it as widening what we perceive the typical user to be.”
She applied that principle when starting the first mentorship program for her department at Penn. She had benefited from such a program during an internship at Google and wanted a similar option at Penn, so two years ago she launched a program, and now almost half of the PhD students have joined.
Alyssa says Kent Place helped her develop her can-do attitude, and the Ethics Institute, which she took part in while in Middle School, encouraged her to define her values and taught her to make decisions based on them.
“Kent Place really taught me how to think and learn and figure things out. I learned very early on how to figure out what I care about — fairness, equality, compassion,” she says. “I guess I just started noticing and then could never stop noticing.”
As part of her doctoral dissertation, in addition to proposing ways for voice assistants like Alexa to convert written text into more useful spoken communication, Alyssa is working to leverage large language models (LLM) — algorithms trained on vast amounts of data that are used to fuel generative artificial intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT, among other things — to revamp voice chatbots. The aim is to make it easier for a range of users to navigate spoken communication and access better descriptions of images and non-textual content.
Using a framework she developed to evaluate how LLMs analyze images, Alyssa was invited to test OpenAI’s GPT-4 with Vision before it was released to assess the new tool’s ability to accurately describe scientific images, which is critical for people who are blind or have low vision.
Upper School economics teacher Elaine Schwartz has taught generations of students the joy and value of economic thinking. Her latest book brings that same enthusiasm to an even larger audience.
BY ERIN PETERSON
“ECONOMICS PEOPLE” EMPOWERS
LAINE SCHWARTZ KNOWS that the idea of “the tragedy of the commons” — which argues that resources shared by a society tend to get overused, to their overall detriment — can be a challenging concept for students to grasp. So to help them understand it viscerally, she shows them how the idea plays out in their own lives. “We go to their lounges at the school, which are certainly an example of the tragedy of the commons,” she says with a laugh, “because sometimes they’re a mess.”
Then she takes the lesson a step further. She has students review four different economic approaches to the tragedy of the commons and asks them how they might apply the theories to solve the lounge problem. Students work in groups to discuss the pros and cons of each approach, then vote on the option they think is most likely to lead to cleaner, less chaotic spaces.
It’s a time-consuming project, but Mrs. Schwartz wouldn’t want it any other way. “I could do it in 15 minutes in class, but instead it takes much longer,” she says. “It’s an approach that gives students ownership of these ideas, and it’s fun. That’s the way I teach.”
Mrs. Schwartz’s ability to breathe life into the infamously dismal science of economics through concrete, unexpected, and relevant examples is one reason she was recently tapped by the London-based publisher Arcturus to write an introductory guide to the topic. A Degree in a Book: Economics, which came out in August, is a brisk and beautifully visual romp through the foundational principles of the discipline. The book is designed for anyone who wants to learn about economics without suffering through the stuffiness of a typical textbook.
The book is Mrs. Schwartz’s latest major work, but she’s kept up an ambitious slate of projects ever since she joined Kent Place, in 1971.
Originally a history teacher, Mrs. Schwartz had long harbored an interest in economics. At one point early in her teaching career, she spent the entire summer gobbling up economics books. By the late 1970s, she was offering students the chance to take economics as an independent study.
Soon, she was teaching the subject to entire classrooms of students, and by the mid-1990s, she had two published books on the subject — Economics: Our American Economy and Econ 101 ½: Everything You Never Learned About the GNP, the Deficit, and Other Mystifying Economic Facts of Life
In 2007 she launched a website, Econlife. “The idea,” she says. “is to show the synergy of economics, current events, and history with a daily post, and in 16 years I’ve never missed a day.” Her site has had more than 1 million visitors from more than 100 countries, and it continues to attract some 1,000 visitors every day. The project, she says, continues to fuel her work as a teacher, author, and cheerleader for economics.
Whereas Mrs. Schwartz always wants her students to have a firm handle on the facts, she’s also committed to shining a light on topics she knows will be particularly important to them. For example, she calls attention to some of the surprising economic challenges of being a woman. In one class, she explained details of a study that found that female Uber drivers tend to make less money than their male counterparts, in part because they typically drive more slowly. She also makes sure to highlight the accomplishments of
female economists such as Elinor Ostrom, whose analysis of the tragedy of the commons helped her become the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Economics, in 2009, and Clauda Goldin, who in 2023 became the first woman to win the Economics Nobel Prize solo.
Many students are so captivated by what she teaches that they find ways to get even more involved: one student helped her update the chapters about supply and demand from one of her books; others contribute posts for Econlife.
Currently Mrs. Schwartz teaches
“It’s an approach that gives students ownership of these ideas, and it’s fun. That’s the way I teach.”
—ELAINE SCHWARTZ
just one yearlong economics course, but she maintains an ambitious vision for the future of the discipline at Kent Place. She’s at what she calls “the very beginning” of an initiative with Economics and Financial Literacy Coordinator Alicia Rodriguez and Ethics Institute Director Karen Rezach that will incorporate more economic thinking throughout the curriculum and beyond Kent Place. “Economics empowers people,” Mrs. Schwartz says. “And I want to give students a sense of confidence, of ownership, and of excitement about the larger topic of economics.”
BOOK
To illuminate the benefits of comparative advantage, a section of Mrs. Schwartz’s book analyzes why T-shirt production is globalized: cotton farmers in Texas benefit from university research and financial subsidies that make cotton growing less expensive and more efficient, for example, whereas manufacturing facilities in China benefit from low labor costs.
Mrs. Schwartz has proved to be an adept translator between her classroom and her books. Here are just a few examples of how her work plays out in both.
BOOK A half-page graphic shows a ranking of economic systems from “free market” (Singapore) to “complete command” (North Korea), based on the Index of Economic Freedom.
CLASS
After discussing the travels of a T-shirt in the global economy, Mrs. Schwartz has students write an essay in class about “thinking economically.” They choose a topic on their own — land or labor, transportation and opportunity costs, for example — and work with her closely, and in person, to revise their essay. “I’m a believer in multiple rough drafts,” she says. “I want to pull them to the highest level possible.”
BOOK
To cover the topic of supply and demand, Mrs. Schwartz devotes an entire chapter to the market system.
CLASS
First, Mrs. Schwartz has students randomly choose a country, then asks them to sort themselves into an economic order between “entirely free market” and “complete command” based on their current knowledge of the country. They discuss their assumptions, and then Mrs. Schwartz gives a homework assignment: look up the country, learn more about it, and sort themselves again the next day. When they return, they often organize themselves very differently, which helps them internalize their knowledge of the topic.
%CLASS Since legalizing cannabis in 2021, New Jersey continues to refine the development and implementation of marijuana laws. To sharpen students’ understanding of the ways that regulation can shape the market system, Mrs. Schwartz has them write an 800-word letter to Gov. Phil Murphy to give him advice on an area linked to marijuana that they think would benefit from regulatory policy, from taxes to growers regulations.
Library, 1950s
Dear Alumnae,
From my desk in Mabie House, I can see students as they walk between classes and practice, down to lunch or to the bookstore. I find myself smiling often during the day as I hear their shouts of laughter or impromptu singing. Amid their academic achievements, their athletic prowess, and their artistic performances, our students are a testament to the commitment to excellence fostered at Kent Place. Their dedication, curiosity, and passion for learning have blossomed into remarkable accomplishments. They exemplify the very essence of our mission.
We share the values that define our institution: intellectual curiosity, ethical decision-making, and a commitment to the wellness of both mind and body. We share a dedication to nurturing leaders and empowering young minds to embrace challenges. The vision of our founders is flourishing as we cultivate a community of thoughtful, resilient, and compassionate leaders poised to make a meaningful impact in the world.
Your continued involvement in our community inspires us and contributes immeasurably to the school’s success. We’re nearing a major milestone: In the fall, Kent Place begins its 130th year. Your own journey
on this campus will forever be part of our history, our present, and our future.
As we celebrate the achievements of our students and reaffirm our commitment to developing confident, intellectual, and ethical leaders, we invite you to join us by visiting campus, attending an event, or connecting with students through our mentorship programs. Together, we can carry forth the legacy of excellence and sisterhood that unite us as proud members of this extraordinary community.
Coral Butler Brooks Director of Advancement
Olivia Zeiner-Morrish ’18 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award and in November embarked on her journey to Cambodia. For a year, she’ll be teaching English and acting as a cultural ambassador for the United States.
At Kent Place, Olivia was a member of the Ethics Bowl team and as a senior helped the team to a national championship. She also participated in Junior State of America, Windward, EconLife, and Studio Art.
“I was involved in many clubs and organizations,” she says, “and gained tremendous leadership experience, which has already served me well.”
Olivia also worked on a farm near her hometown, Washington, N.J. Her interactions with the immigrant population ignited a passion for working with communities in need. She went on to Trinity College, in Hartford, attracted by the opportunities for social science research and the diverse ways to be involved with its urban community.
Eager to make a difference, Olivia joined the Community Action Gateway, for first-year students. She immersed herself in research and collaborated with nonprofit organizations in the state capital.
“I studied in China after my first year at Trinity,” Olivia says. “It was my first time outside the country and it was fantastic. That drew me to study Asian politics and U.S. diplomacy within the Asian-Pacific region.” She then worked with her associate professor of political science for two years, focusing on Southeast Asia. That research culminated in her senior thesis on Myanmar, solidifying her desire to spend time living in and studying that part of the world.
Graduating summa cum laude in political science, with a concentration in comparative politics and a minor in community action, Olivia began working in American diplomacy with Southeast Asia at a think tank in Washington, D.C. There, she had colleagues with experience in Cambodia, sparking her interest in the country’s unique position, with its growing economy, youthful population, and significant ties to both the United States and China.
Olivia gained further experience through internships at the International Peace Institute and a position at a geopolitical intelligence firm, both in New York City.
In Cambodia, Olivia intends to collaborate with a nongovernmental organization. “I want to return with enriched experiences that contribute to discussions on the future of U.S. diplomacy within Southeast Asia,” she says.
She adds: “I found a love for research while working on my Cumulative Humanities Project at Kent Place and as a member of the Ethics Bowl team. These experiences laid a foundation for many research projects in undergrad, and have ultimately shaped my career goals in international affairs.”
Olivia plans to go to graduate school while continuing her career in international affairs. “I’ve been fortunate to contribute to conversations in influential spaces, such as the State Department, the United Nations, and think tanks,” she says. “I’m hopeful about my ability to support both the local and the global communities I care about.”
Now in its ninth year, the Parents of Alumnae and Current Parents Book Group was started by Nancy Reynolds P ’16 ’16 in 2014 to bring together those who enjoy reading and want to stay involved with KPS.
The group reads and discusses four books annually, usually contemporary and past national bestsellers, chosen from input from the participants. Each year’s selections have a central theme: this year’s theme, “Inspiration,” was selected by chairs Nancy Reynolds and Cristina Sierra P ’24. Themes in other years have ranged from higher education and global awareness to the immigrant experience and family.
Since its inception, the group — which has a dozen core members and a mix of current and former parents — has read more than 30 books, and each discussion is led by one of the participants. Depending on their interest in a particular book, all are welcome to attend any or all meetings, which are held both in person and virtually.
“As you might expect from Kent Place parents, the discussions are rich and engaging,” says Nancy. “We read a lot of historical fiction, and the conversations remind me of a college literature course. Participants are excited to hear others’ perspectives on a book and freely share their own views, often touching on personal experiences and family history.”
UP NEXT
April 19: When Breath Becomes Air, by
Paul Kalanithi
“I’m convinced that my desire to be a part of everything at college, athletically and club-wise,” says Christiana Nwachuku ’22, “stems from the amazing culture of Kent Place to pursue your heart’s desires, coupled with the diversity of girls I called my peers. I found myself standing beside nationally recognized Merit Scholars who were also representatives of the Social Committee, future engineers who were phenomenal dancers, and soon-to-be doctors with voices that would move you to tears at STAR. I happened to be a state champion and president of the Computer Science Club. With this background, I entered college with a dedication to continue my passions even while balancing the schedule of a student-athlete.
“I mean, hey, if I did it once, surely I could do it again! Being a student-athlete at Penn is undoubtedly a major commitment, demanding meticulous time management, grueling practices, and the discipline to continue studying (hard) immediately after. Somehow, though, amid all this running back and forth, I’ve found that — contrary to what a lot of people think— there’s time to further my identity beyond the track and in the classroom. I’ve joined the Ambassadors program of my undergraduate school (similar to Kent Place’s Green Key) and still have time to attend Penn Women’s Athletic Association meetings.”
Christiana, the 55-, 100-, and 400-meter state champion while a Kent Place student, has seamlessly transitioned into her dual role as a business major at the Wharton School and a Division I track athlete at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently a sophomore, Christiana has already amassed an impressive array of accolades in both indoor and outdoor events. Among the highlights are achieving 2023 Outdoor Second-Team All-America status (4 x 400m), qualifying for the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships (4x 400m), earning 2023 Outdoor First-Team All-Ivy recognition (4x100m and 4x 400m relays), competing at the USA U20 Outdoor Championships and securing fifth place (200m), and attaining the 2023 USTFCCCA All-Academic distinction. Her list of achievements extends to career highs and program records, illustrating the depth of her athletic prowess.
Christiana is not merely a student or an athlete; she takes on both with intense concentration, perseverance, time-management skills, and enthusiasm — and a sense of humor. Her demanding schedule provides a glimpse into the life of a collegiate athlete who excels in the competitive arena as well as the realm of academics.
8:30 a.m. What’s that noise? Snooze.
9:00 a.m. Snooze one more time
9:15 a.m. That noise again? Snooze. Wait, no, I have to get up.
9:17 a.m. “Your legs work. Move! Get out of bed!”
9:20 a.m. Get ready for the day. Pause. Stare into space. Get ready again.
phia and its beautiful skyline. It’s an amazing place to study. I try to go to virtual office hours to meet with my finance TA to ask questions. I’ll do any outstanding club deliverables at this time, too.
9:45 a.m. Finish any last-minute homework. Breakfast! The meal of champions. Eat, type, eat, type, eat, type.
10:00 a.m. Wait for the elevator — it almost always takes 10 minutes!
1:30 p.m. Quickly stop at my room before my next class. I have practice almost right after it ends, so I need sneakers.
1:35 p.m. Glance at the time. Head to my finance class. Back to Huntsman Hall, my home away from home. Once again, I rush to the elevator.
1:37 p.m. “Oh wait, don’t forget your track bag!” I run back to my room to grab it before the elevator arrives at my floor. Luckily, I get to avoid the infamous 10-minute wait.
1:40 p.m. Get to the lobby, step outside onto Locust Walk. It’s warmed up a bit.
foot arches taped up by the athletic trainer. Typically, this takes an hour, but when I’m coming from class, I usually spend 30 minutes here.
3:59 p.m. Somehow, I make it to the track on time. Lace up my spikes. Ready to conquer this practice!
6:00 p.m. Onto the next portion of practice — in the weight room.
7:30 p.m. Emerge from the weight room. Whoa, it’s dark outside.
10:10 a.m. Step outside onto Locust Walk. Ah, nothing like fresh (cold) air slapping you in the face.
10:12 a.m. Walk to my accounting class, just over the bridge, with a few friends. Mentally prepare ourselves.
10:15 a.m. Accounting! This is by far my favorite class this semester.
11:50 a.m. Emerge from the depths of Huntsman Hall (where the classroom is). I’m kind of hungry. Should I get sushi? No, way too early. Back to my apartment for lunch.
12:15 p.m. Attempt to heat up some leftovers. As usual, unsuccessful; settle for the dining hall next door. I take this time to catch up with friends as we eat.
1:45 p.m. Finance. The name is Bond. James Bond.
3:16 p.m. Ah, the mad dash to Franklin Field, on the other side of campus, begins. I can’t be late for practice (not again). Push-ups will be in order if I am.
3:20 p.m. Power-walking (running) down Locust Walk. Scarfing down a protein bar in the process. I hope I don’t see anyone I know.
7:35 p.m. Back to the locker room. Quick shower and change into “civilian” clothes. Team dinner, anyone?
12:45 p.m. Time to do some work! Head back to my apartment to study in the Rooftop Lounge. There’s a gorgeous, 360-degree view of Philadel-
3:30 p.m. Burst into the locker room at the Palestra. Rummage through my locker; I need a clean practice shirt. I check the weather and change from my school clothes into practice gear.
3:35 p.m. Jog to the training room for some physical “pre-hab,” also known as my training-room routine. Prehab rituals are a must. Roll out, stretches, massage guns, some strengthening exercises, and my
7:45 p.m. Trudge to the dining hall. My legs, my arms! Sit down and eat with my lovely teammates, talk about our day. A moment to unwind and connect with them.
8:30 p.m. That was delicious! Walk back to my room to get my chargers for the study session that will ensue. Mentally prepare for this final stretch of the day.
8:45 p.m. In my room. My bed looks so toasty. And I’m so tired from practice . . . no, it’s a trap. Grab my chargers and head to Van Pelt Library (my favorite study spot).
9:00 p.m. Study, usually with friends in a Group Study Room. Many phone breaks. Much talking will occur.
1:15 a.m. All right, I need eight hours of sleep Back in my room, get ready for bed. It’s time to hit the hay. Rinse and repeat tomorrow.
Udele Tagoe ’94 is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist who specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and has been in practice, in the United States and Ghana, for more than 15 years. She’s now pursuing a gynecologic oncology fellowship in the Bronx.
After KPS, I traveled a straight line: undergrad, med school, residency, private practice. I thought any break — a semester abroad, a gap year — might derail me from my goal. Once I was a gynecologic surgeon, I knew I had made the right career choice, but I felt that something was missing.
This feeling came to a head seven years into practice. By then, I’d married, become a
mom twice, and had a busy practice. I knew I was helping people, but I felt increasingly drained and wondered what the point of all the striving was. Perhaps my priorities were shifting, as I now had a family to take care of, but I knew that wasn’t it. The growing discontentment led to burnout, and in 2012 I decided to stop practicing medicine.
I took the time to figure out what and
who I wanted to be — and why. A few family and friends thought I had gone off the deep end. Thankfully, the people who mattered most were incredibly supportive as I sorted myself out. Eventually, in 2014, I found my way back to medicine and surgery; however, it took another eight years to step into what I always wanted to do as a doctor.
I’m currently pursuing a gynecologic oncology fellowship, an intense three-year training program on treating women with gynecologic cancers. I had wanted to apply for the fellowship during residency, but at the time I didn’t think I was a competitive candidate. What finally gave me the courage to go after my dream was taking a job, in 2017, as a gynecologic surgeon in Ghana, where my family is from, and realizing that there were only two certified gynecologic oncologists in a country of more than 30 million people. While there, I encountered many women who needed cancer care for whom I had difficulty finding a formally trained gynecologic oncologist. I became frustrated that I could’ve provided their care had I pursued my dream earlier and not let insecurity stop me. I was at a crossroads: do I leave my successful practice in Ghana to become a trainee again (in my mid-40s!) or do I stay with what’s safe? I moved back to the United States in 2022 to start the program, and I plan to return to Ghana to practice gynecologic oncology after I graduate.
This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my career. Going from trainer to trainee again after all these years is humbling. The workload and sleep deprivation can be overwhelming, and there’s that pesky imposter syndrome, which rears its head every so often. However, I say with confidence that this was one of my best decisions, and I know this because I no longer feel something is missing.
For this column, I thought about what inspires me, and my initial response was “Success.” But what constitutes success? Yes, there are wins, but success is also working through fear, fatigue, missteps, detours, and risk, recognizing that they’re what propel you to the wins. Success is pushing through the difficult times so they can grow you into the person you’re meant to be, unapologetically, and on your own terms. This is the success that inspires me.
1942
Emily (Churchill) Wood emily_wood46@hotmail.com
1947
Anne (Campbell) Dowell annedowell@triad.rr.com
Good to hear from many of you — we do like to keep in touch with those of us still around. In addition to news, I asked what you loved being part of at KPS.
Betty (Correll) Durling is in Whitehouse, NJ, in warm months and Windsor, FL, in colder months. She walks with a cane due to weak leg muscles. She raises cattle and enjoys watching their calves. She has seven great-granddaughters and one great-grandson. She liked how well Kent Place was planned and run.
Nancy (Vreeland) Waits has had health problems and was in the hospital for months. She’s better now and back in her apartment on the eighth floor of her retirement home in Winter Park, FL. She goes to meals and many exercise classes. Due to macular degeneration, she reads with a magnifying glass. Her two daughters live nearby, and her grandchildren live close and in Orlando. She enjoyed Glee Club and the Christmas programs.
Evelyn (France) Kalagher lives in Bennington, VT. She says life is good. She went to the Saratoga Casino, where she won $1,645. She likes her house and the pond out back and has been taking physical therapy for balance. She usually cooks at home but gets crab cakes from the dining room. Her niece, Katie, lives an hour away, and her nephew, Greg, recently came for a visit from the San Juan Islands, where he lives. She loved Miss Wolfe’s English class — where the teacher told us: “Think.”
Eleanor (Rathbone) Nichols really likes her retirement home, The Cypress, in Charlotte, NC. We had a good conversation. She goes to all meals and gets around in a wheelchair. She has four sons and “all come to see me when they can,” she says. They have children, so she has grandchildren. Her oldest son, Bill, lives nearby.
Helen (Preus) Mairs says, “All is well here.” She continues to exercise and sing with her group. She’s enjoying lectures on diplomacy. Her daughter Heide may move up north from Houston. Elizabeth lives near-
by, and Julia lives in Indian Wells, CA, and came home briefly. Her son, Rob, and his wife have a son at Washington University and a son at Middlebury. She loved being in Miss Wilcox’s Latin class. She thanks Sue Speers for writing the motto in her yearbook: “Scutum is our shield. Vinum is our drink.”
Sue (Savage) Speers says, “I had a grand two months this summer, leaving my retirement home to spend time in my house, sharing it with the oldest grandson, his wife, and their two boys, one 2 years old and the other 6 months.” She gets around using a rollator. “Special events/times at Kent Place were my favorite,” she says: “field hockey games, the Christmas STAR, marching in to ‘Masters in This Hall,’ and any English class with Miss Wolfe.”
Kathanne (Harter) Webster is doing well in her retirement home in Dedham, MA. She has four daughters. Two live near her, in Connecticut and Rhode Island; one lives in France and one in Switzerland and they both visit her often. Her house on Webster Lake is just an hour away so they go there often. She uses a walker to get around and often goes up to the dining room for meals. Kathy has 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She says she remembers with great pleasure working on the Daisy Chain.
Giovanna (Mancusi-Ungaro) Breu and her husband, Joe, are healthy and love living next to DePaul University’s music building, where they can hear good practicing almost every night. Their son teaches at Illinois State University, in Normal, and plans to be home for Christmas. Their daughter, Eugenia, is an RN at a hospital near Katy, TX, doing 11-hour shifts in the critical-care ward. She’s a lieutenant in the Texas State Guard and helps when needed. She and her husband, Randall, and their two daughters, Zoe (11) and Alexis (10), will be in Chicago for Christmas, and she’s taking them to see The Nutcracker. Her sister Diana, who lives in Provence, came from France for a visit this fall.
Sad news: Bobbie (MacWhinney) Schneidewind passed away on October 31, 2023. She had just turned 94 on October 17. She died peacefully in her retirement home in Atlanta. We will certainly miss her, and send our sympathy to her family.
Kent Place received word from Carol Cowan ’69 that her dear friend Nancy Purdy passed away on January 31, 2024. Nancy had been living at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge with her spaniel, Henrietta. Carol, who had a 50-year friendship with Nancy, said there would be a service in Madison, NJ, at a future date. Our condolences to Nancy’s friends and family.
1948
Caroline (Price) Hemmings: Still going at 93 and life is good here at Kendal at Lexington. My walker keeps me mobile. Live with my curly-haired housemate, Fletcher, a miniature poodle. He’s great company. A big hello to all ’48s!
1950
Liz (Dun) Colten lizcolten@aol.com
Penny (Burley) Thomas mbtedt@gmail.com
Kent Place received word that Anne (Waterman) Sykes passed away on July 21, 2023, in Chalfont, PA. Our condolences to her family and friends.
Phyllis (Tilson) Piotrow: An eventful 2023 for me — not one but two suspicious fires in my summer and winter condo communities, one only 50 feet away, but luckily no one was injured, and my house and I were spared. Then two exciting 90th-birthday celebrations: first, my son and daughters arranged a Lake Sunapee cruise for some 60 relatives and friends. Next my hiking group held a celebration where I was presented with an “oldest-living-member cane,” a tradition in many New Hampshire towns and organizations. Finally, my Johns Hopkins colleagues interviewed me for a celebration of the Center for Communication Programs, which I founded 35 years ago. It’s now the largest center in the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. I’m still marching along, more slowly now with painful arthritis in my right shoulder, but still writing a somewhat controversial biweekly newspaper column addressing personal, local, and national challenges.
1951
Mary-Carey (Bachmann) Churchill mcchurchill@gmail.com
Had a lovely note from Dulcy (Green) DuPont, who is living in Mendham.
In Memoriam
Marian (Pecot) Lowry ’44 November 22, 2023
Nancy L. Purdy ’47 January 31, 2024
Barbara (MacWhinney) Schneidewind ’47 October 31, 2023
Anne (Waterman) Sykes ’50 July 21, 2023
Henrietta (Simler) Buch ’51 November 2, 2023
Joyce (Cudlipp) Wiggin ’51 October 5, 2023
Karen (Miesem) Maurer ’54 October 21, 2023
Sara Lippincott ’55 October 29, 2023
Margot (Saur) Meyer ’56 September 15, 2023
Virginia (Cox) Tulloch ’56 January 11, 2024
Patricia (Downs) Ramsay ’60 November 8, 2023
Paige (Seely) Longstreth ’86 August 24, 2023
Dulcy didn’t graduate from Kent Place, but she made her mark while she was there. I remember her riveting performance in Monsieur Beaucaire. Two of her granddaughters, however, did graduate from KPS. She and Peter have two daughters and two sons, so she’s always busy with the family. Nice to hear from her!
Also, great to hear from Ann (Jones) Jones, who reports that she has moved to the North Fork of Long Island to be near her daughter. Her former home with husband Brad, who died four years ago, was on John’s Island, FL.
MJ (Cabrera) Shaw came to Florida last November for a Thanksgiving family get-together. We drove from West Palm Beach to Vero Beach to stay at her son’s condo and had a great lunch with Jim Toffey. He’s still grieving Sally, but we had some good
IN REMEMBRANCE: MARGOT (SAUR) MEYER ’56, LEADER AND FRIEND Margot (Saur) Meyer ’56 believed the values of leadership and friendship were strengths she developed during her time at Kent Place, and she applied them throughout her lifetime. She considered these to be extraordinary gifts, and her engagement with her alma mater stemmed from a desire to give back to the institution that nurtured these values. As a result, Margot was a generous, lifelong supporter of Kent Place, and in 2016, she was honored with the Barbara (Wight) Biddison ’30 Distinguished Alumna Award.
In more recent years, Margot became actively involved with the Ethics Institute at Kent Place, who wrote this touching tribute:
We lost a dear friend on September 15, 2023, with the passing of Margot (Saur) Meyer ’56. There are few people who have influenced the work of the Ethics Institute at Kent Place School as much as Margot. A woman who was devoted to those whom she loved — namely, her family and lifelong friends — she was equally devoted to those initiatives she envisioned would make the world a better place.
Several years ago, Margot became involved in the work of the Ethics Institute. Her ideas, her vision, and her strong belief that “ethics” was the most important “practice” that we could teach our students led directly to the launching of the National Middle School Ethics Bowl at the Ethics Institute at KPS. Each year at the bowl, we award the Margot Meyer Ethical Leadership Award to the school/team who demonstrate a deep understanding of the multiple perspectives of an ethical issue and are willing to listen thoughtfully to those who hold differing points of view.
Margot was a fascinating person with a myriad of interests. She readily shared her gifts as a talented musician, a skilled athlete, and a creative and introspective writer. Her poem “Creative Inclination,” dedicated to her alma maters, Kent Place School and Sweet Briar College, is proudly on display on the Ethics Institute’s wall of inspiration.
We are grateful for Margot’s friendship, kindness, humility, and genuine concern for others. Her legacy will live on in the work of the Ethics Institute at Kent Place School. She will forever be remembered not only by those who knew her, but also by those who will benefit from her vision and generosity.
laughs and memories. MJ played golf all summer in Vermont “in a cart,” she says apologetically. In other words, she doesn’t walk the course pulling her bag on a cart anymore. Oh boy.
Sadly, two friends and classmates have recently passed as I write this in November: Joyce (Cudlipp) Wiggin and Henrietta (Simler) Buch. Their respective daughters informed me of their passing in loving notes. The women were friends of each other and mine from kindergarten through grade school, Kent Place, and Mount Holyoke, then as young marrieds with young children in New Jersey. Joyce, who was our class scribe for many years, had a wonderful 66-year marriage to Mitch Wiggin, who died 36 hours after she did. We weren’t surprised, as they were so close. They had two daughters and five grandchildren. Hennie, who changed her name to Henri, was widowed and leaves three daughters and three grandchildren. Very disheartening to see old friends go.
Yours truly is still kicking — well, more like swinging a mallet on the courts at the National Croquet Club in West Palm Beach. Lots of fun. In December, our family of 10 (two couldn’t make it) met in Antigua to celebrate my big 9-0 and three of their birthdays, 30, 60, and 65. There will be great merriment. Lucky me.
If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know. Frankly, there are darn few of us left!
1954
Marianna (Ruprecht) Mitchell mariannarmitchell@gmail.com
Jay (Hoffman) Schmitt: This year my husband and I are celebrating our 40th-wedding anniversary. Pretty good for our second! We’re both doing well and still enjoying our lives together. I continue to drive and am up and about most days. Also, in a number of church groups, reading constantly, going to our wonderful museums, and enjoying vintage hand sewing. I hope all of you are as well as can be expected! I’d love to see you once again to laugh and reminisce about our KPS days. Our 50th reunion was just a marvelous time, wasn’t it? My very best to each of you!
Ricky (Kaplon) Adams: Unfortunately, I believe there are fewer of us now. Well, we’re old, but good. I haven’t seen any classmates in many
years. I feel very positive about my eight years at KPS. They provided a great intellectual and life foundation. I’m still active in dog events; they’re fun and such a wonderful human-and-canine-bonding experience.
Kent Place heard from Amanda Maurer that her mother, Karen (Miesem) Maurer, passed away on October 21, 2023. Our condolences to Karen’s family and friends.
Molly (Harding) Nye: We’ve now lived at Brookhaven at Lexington, a CCRC, for two years. We thoroughly enjoy it, our apartment, all that it offers, and our many friends. We go to Sandwich, NH, where we have a farm, many weekends. We’re finding that all chores and activities there seem to take longer than they used to and that we tire more quickly. Happy 85th birthday, everyone. Isn’t it amazing we’ve gotten this far?
Elizabeth (Budd) Bugliari bugliarie@gmail.com
Miller and I continue to live in Tewksbury Township, with two donkeys and one Irish setter. Brady, the setter, completed his show career by winning his championship and is now retired. It was great fun watching him strut his stuff and then come home and be his normal, affectionate, goofy self. Miller is still at Pingry as special assistant to the headmaster and varsity soccer coach. He reached an extraordinary 934 career wins this year. We send our love to you all.
Liddy (Morrison) Baker: We traveled to Scotland to celebrate my husband’s 91st birthday — a wonderful trip. All the Bakers are well. We are blessed.
Bundy (Harding) Boit: My husband, Bob Boit, died October 24, 2023. He had a fall in January and didn’t recover well. We were married for 55 years and had a great and interesting life together. My stepchildren, Nick and Peggy, are wonderful, and our sons, Sam and John, join in all the family support. John and his family now live at the end of our driveway. I continue to love life in Maine, writing plays, playing the piano, and composing. Hope all is well for each of you.
Sammy (Hart) Renfro: Hello from the Deep South (Atlanta). We’re mostly homebodies at this point in
our lives. Our children and grandchildren are all grown up. We have seven great-grandchildren. We are blessed.
1960
Anne (Sonnekalb) Iskrant anne@iskrant.com
Winnie (Hesson) McCormick: Enjoying independent living at Williston Place in Williston, VT. The staff and community members are friendly. There are many activities and walking is great in town. My son lives nearby with his wife and three girls. One goes to Vermont Commons School, the other two to Christ the King. My daughter, husband, and their daughter and son live in Fairfax Station, VA. Her next young-adult book will be published in fall 2024. I can’t wait! I keep in touch with Jane (Boyle) Gerrish in Maine.
Sandy (Lee) Simmers, Purcellville, VA, writes that her two boys and four grandchildren live in Truckee, CA, and Hailey, ID, so visiting is infrequent. She spent five activity-filled days in Truckee this past August and the same over Thanksgiving in Hilton Head, SC, with the Idaho family, whose two boys attend school in the East. And this included a visit with Sandy’s sister, who lives in Charleston. Seems like everyone is a plane ride away. Sandy still spends most of her time as a “farmer,” keeping fields, fences, barns, lawn, implements, and animals in working condition. She’s also, fortunately, still in “working condition,” a little slower and creakier, but able to play pickleball and line-dance. She and her racquet partner, Helen, won the National Senior Pickleball Games 80s age group (3.5 skill level) this July in Pittsburgh. What makes her happy: simple stuff like being outdoors,
watching her donkeys play tug of war with a stick, the new calves playing tag and practicing head-butting, planting a vegetable garden, mowing the lawn. “I feel blessed to still be active,” she says.
Jane (Boyle) Gerrish, Kennebunk, ME, lives at Huntington Common, where she finds happiness in her cottage, eating a daily meal with others and enjoying a variety of activities pool, writing poetry, and exercise classes. She shares leadership of adult Sunday school and a small group in someone’s home through her church. “The mass shooting in Lewiston devastated us in this geographically huge but small-in-community state,” she writes. She finds beauty in the fall colors and, as the cold continues, the feathery art of frost on her sun-porch windows. Does everyone remember Jane’s beautiful voice at STAR?
Lilian (Eken) Najarian and her husband continue to live in Huntington, on Long Island, grateful to be 10 minutes away from their daughter and her family and an hour away from their son and his family. Their five grandchildren range in age from 3 to 14, and Lilian and her husband are involved with them almost every day. They still host Thanksgiving and Christmas (with the families’ help). “We text, FaceTime, and have sleepovers,” she writes. Lilian is very interested in ancestry and volunteers with the local historical society, photographing and conserving its vast collection of historical clothing. Her family plans to visit Sanibel in early spring. She reads every day and keeps up with the constantly distressing and depressing news. Here are some of her book recommendations: Black Cake, by Charmaine Wilkerson (Mount Holyoke Book Group);
Booth, by Karen Joy Fowler (not Barbara Booth); Our Missing Hearts, by Celeste Ng (very moving); Beneath the Same Stars (the U.S.–Dakota War), by Phyllis Cole-Dai (also very moving); and Trust, by Hernan Diaz.
Pat (Downs) Ramsay, who lived in Falmouth, ME, passed away November 8, 2023, from Alzheimer’s. You can read the formal obituary in the Portland Herald and the New York Times. I’d like to tell you what I remember about Pat. Yes, she worked for causes like civil liberties and women’s rights, worked with the ACLU, was an election monitor in Kyrgyzstan, worked in communications for clients like the government of Angola, the Sierra Club, and Planned Parenthood. She was also a great field hockey teammate and got classmates together in Maine for a book group after a reunion. Through the years in western Massachusetts, New York City, Philadelphia, Columbia, MO, and Maine we got together. Pat took friends and family seriously. And she had a curious mind, a passionate soul, and the most infectious laugh.
Barbara (Booth) Drobnyk writes that she and Bruce are doing fine. They recently celebrated their 62nd anniversary and have four wonderful daughters, three living within 20 minutes of them and one in California. They also have eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, both born this year. They moved from Morristown, NJ, about 40 years ago to Sanibel Island, FL, and are now living in Ft. Myers. Last year’s hurricane was the worst they’ve seen, but thankfully they survived it with very little damage. They try to enjoy every day and feel very lucky to have made it to their 80s.
I, Anne (Sonnekalb) Iskrant, in Ardmore, PA, have been battling breast-cancer metastasis for several years, breast cancer in 2004 and again in 2011. New medications give me hope, and they work for a while but then they don’t. Right now, I’m good, but I’ve decided (unless my wonderful new doctor finds another solution) that quality of life matters, so I don’t want to take medications whose side effects take that away. I’ve enjoyed being your scribe. Through email, we’ve exchanged memories and thoughts, recommendations for books and movies, stories that make up our lives. We can still do that, but it may not make it into Kent Place magazine. It’s a gift of living a long life. I told Jane (Boyle) Gerrish that at this time of year, her beautiful voice singing at STAR resounds in my head. Also, Louise Penny has a new book. And my grandson is now playing soccer and the piano (not at the same time!).
1961
Anne (Harding) Woodworth: My book Trouble received the 2022 William Meredith Award for Poetry. Of course, it was during the pandemic, when there was no possibility of a group celebration. Such a festivity was held on November 18, 2023, in Bethesda, MD, for the new recipients as well as the previous ones, like me. Tansy (Howard) Blumer and I meet for lunch occasionally in D.C. and we have our class Zoom calls every now and then. To anyone who hasn’t attended our Zooms yet, you’re always welcome. We’d love to see you.
1963
Louise (Hall) Grauer louise.a.grauer@gmail.com
“When I was in college at Radcliffe/Harvard ’62 and graduate school, Harvard PhD ’66, there was no women’s rowing. I had my first opportunity to row when I had a fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute in 1986–87; I was also a Resident Scholar in Dunster House at Harvard. At that point, Harvard had a recreational sculling program that was open to all genders, and I began to learn to scull in a single. I was invited to join the House crew (for intramural competition), so in my 40s, I was rowing in an eight for the first time with college students. My primary career is as a professor of psychology at UCLA — I’m a visitor at Harvard in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology. When I returned to Los Angeles in 1987, I began to row in Marina Del Rey. I did encounter age discrimination, but my current coach, Iva Boteva, who has been coaching me for about 20 years, took me seriously and enabled me to become a decent rower. My favorite boat is the quad, and I’ve had quite a bit of success racing in it. Head of the Charles was a huge reach; l didn’t know if I would have the stamina when I started training. But I was in a single event with 25 other women between 70 and 90, and the experience was inspirational!”
Patty (Marks) Greenfield ’58, competed in the Head of the Charles Regatta in the Women’s Grand Veteran Singles [age 70+, 80+] division on October 1, 2023. She’s captured rowing here, toward the end of the race, by classmate Deborah (Haigh) Dluhy.
1964
Gail (Giblin) Flynn
gailgiblin29@gmail.comOur 60th reunion is upon us, and I’m hoping many of us will be able to attend. I think back on memories that remain very special to me: STAR; making the beautiful Daisy Chain in the daisy fields in Bernardsville; Green and Gold team competitions; the joy of bonding as seniors with our “little sisters” in the freshmen class; “civvies” on Fridays with prior permission; half-day Fridays; random birthday cakes from Trost’s; the new wing with library and science labs; and best of all, lifelong friendships. Big change for me, as I’ve moved to Portland, OR, to live with my daughter, Kate. I miss the East Coast terribly but am making the adjustments as needed. Be well, be safe. Hoping we’ll get a good group together for our 60th.
Deborah Wiley: I’ve had the pleasure of extensive travel this year, from snorkeling in the eastern part of Indonesia, to supporting high school education and food programs in Tanzania, to following in the footsteps of Frederick Law Olmsted in England, to relearning about the early-Renaissance artists in Florence. Sally (Cissel) Greenwood was in Rhode Island for three weeks — a joy to spend quality time with her. My grands, Harper (7), at Wheeler School in Providence, and her brother, Hudson (2½), bring lots of laughs.
From Judy (Wynn) Newhouse: “I could hardly have asked for a better summer. Lots of fun time spent with our six grandkids and family adults. Christmas had us heading north from Florida and more family time in the New York City area and Vermont. That said, though, travel is more difficult these days as aging and, in my case, Parkinson’s (managed well with meds) have taken a bit of a toll. I often think of wonderful times at KPS. Those were the days! Best to all.”
Susan Mayhew is on the mend and back to the real world after the better part of a year dealing with hip and knee surgeries. Her suggestion to everyone: Take care of those joints to avoid replacing them! She has great memories of our 50th reunion, which was awesome.
Candy (Connor) Eardley continues with her seemingly endless adventures into New York City from her home in New Jersey. Always fun and funky
places requiring a LOT of walking. I envy her energy! She says she recently enjoyed a book by Koren Zailckas and was reading the acknowledgments when she saw the author’s thanks to her agent — none other than Binky Urban. Binky has been a sought-after literary agent in New York for decades.
Wendy (Oschwald) Barbellion gets in touch with me a few times a year, usually with a big burst of information. She was in Switzerland early last summer for the graduation of her eldest granddaughter, Sofia, from Le Rosey. Sofia then went on home to Costa Rica and Wendy carried on to Gstaad, which has been one of her favorite haunts for years. She enjoyed brilliant Alpen scenery, fine wine and food, and random hikes through the mountains. I spent a few years in the same vicinity a long time ago. Idyllic!
Dr. Janet B. W. Williams
jbwwny@gmail.com
C’mon, Class of 1965! Please write and let us all know your news! It’s been a year full of tough physical challenges and wonderful volunteer opportunities. Now I’m working as hard as before but not getting paid for it! Focusing on depression, anxiety, and suicidality in kids has given me a way to use my skills for compelling goals. Grandkids, ages 6 and 3, live in California, along with two of my three sons; the third runs his two restaurants in Rhode Island. I try to stay active with yoga, kayaking, and lots of PT.
Jane (Kolarsey) Kusterer: Great year with two milestone birthdays — Gene’s 90th and my 75th — so we had a great trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to celebrate. A beach trip in June with son Keith and my little grandson, KJ, gave us more happy memories. Life is good and we feel blessed.
Noreen (Buchanan) Secrett: Broke foot and had screw inserted in January 2023. Unfortunately, there are still problems, but it could be worse. For the first time since COVID, I had a wonderful 2,040-mile drive through France to deliver possessions to my daughter, who has lived there since 2009. As a volunteer with the English National Trust, I’m co-running Christmas wreath–making sessions for the public. This is our 10th year, and we’ve also organized two Easter sessions — very rewarding.
Willingly, I often look after my son’s little dog, who’s smaller than a cat!
1966
Linda “Lindy” (Burns) Jones finallylbj@gmail.com
Greetings, dear classmates! How wonderful it’s been to “see” many of you on our class Zooms over the past year or two. I encourage more of you to join when possible, as we have so much to share with one another.
I’ve journeyed through the first year of Gerald’s cancer treatment and am greatly appreciative of the support of KPS classmates (and husbands). Playing my flute, spending time with our daughters and families (all nearby), and continuing on the board of Mass Audubon help to keep my blades sharp. Our grandsons’ sporting events (mostly ice hockey) provide much joy for all of us and add to our many blessings. I’m very worried about our country, though, both politically and environmentally, and hope the next generation will experience true democracy, peace, and a recovering Earth!
Patricia (Hodge) Parks: The year has included lots of great travel, much of it to spend time with family. How time flies: My oldest grandson (of six) is a college sophomore and the youngest is 10. Just yesterday . . . and we can all finish that statement. The year 2023 will finish off with trips to Hawaii, Martha’s Vineyard, and New York City. Exciting, but more important is that all those adventures are with my children and grandchildren. I continue with my seven dogs and cats. May everyone try to keep their spirits up at a time where it’s difficult to do. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season.
Nia (Eldridge) Eaton: I continue to enjoy my post-corporate-America job as a docent at Winterthur (Henry Francis du Pont’s Museum, Gardens, and Library) and the Brandywine River Museum. History, the arts, and horticulture come together to enrich my life, and I enjoy introducing these hidden treasures outside of Philadelphia to our guests. My boxer, Future, rules my life with a benevolent paw. My Sweet Briar classmates spent a glorious weekend of reflection and reconnection for our 75th-birthday year in October — COVID blew up our 50th reunion so we decided times a-wasting. Life is good.
Pam (Schick) Kelsey: Despite not having had a (grand) daughter attend KPS, I still feel amazingly attached to the school. Compiling our class Vimeo, which I recently played on our class Zoom, brought back many fond memories. Happily, I’ve gone back to school with Muffin (Krieger) Slonaker and seen pals over lunch or through visits over the year. I did have a recent conflict, however, while attending our granddaughter’s volleyball game at Lawrenceville against KPS . . . I just cheered for both sides! KPS won in overtime.
Judy Small: I’ve been able to focus more on writing recently, with slow but steady work on a memoir and, always, poetry. I’ve started volunteering with Third Act Bay Area to help stop funding by major banks of fossil-fuel investments. After attending, with my brother Fred, a conference in Oakland of Coming to the Table, I’m thinking more concretely about reparative steps I can take as I learn about my ancestors’ role as enslavers, in New England as well as Missouri.
1967
Elizabeth (Wilson) Hetman: At 75, in June I received a new right shoulder; it took six months to recover. I welcomed a new grandson in September, so I now have two — Odin and Damon.
1968
Barbara Wiss barbarawiss@gmail.com
1969
Gay (Garth) Legg gaylegg@gmail.com
I had a busy summer with my youngest daughter, who lives in Greenwich Village, New York City, and was happily married in June at our house in Brewster on Cape Cod. Fun since I got to do all the flowers! My two other kids and four granddaughters are also living in Massachusetts, in Carlisle and Marblehead, and I expect to be spending more time there soon since I have twin grandsons due just before Christmas. We’re still living full time in Baltimore, and I’m still doing a lot of floral design, writing, photography, and painting, as well as working on projects connected to the Garden Club of America. Photographed Untermyer Gardens,
Did you know there used to be a specific dining hall for boarding students and that it was in what’s now the Choral Room? Many of our alumnae have fond memories of spending time with classmates and faculty in that space (left, from the mid- to late 1950s). In 1995, an expansion and renovation in the location we see on campus today gave way to the McDermott-Wight Dining Hall, which has served many wonderful meals to students and employees since it opened its doors. In fall 2022, Meriwether Godsey, a women-led company known for its from-scratch cooking, became our food service management company. Over the years, the Dining
has been a favorite place for deepening connection in community.
What was your favorite food in the Dining Hall? We’d love to hear about it; please email communications@kentplace.org.
in Yonkers, NY — it’s amazing and worth a trip. Maybe we can schedule mini-reunions in Boston and New York City, or perhaps there are lots of you who head to Florida, or we could visit Libby Down Under, or ski with Leigh in Colorado, or taste wine with Lucy and Diane in California . . . Amid political chaos and a world at war and in turmoil, it’s good to stay in touch — 55 years!
Mary Robinson: Fun to think of you, my KPS classmates, and the rambunctious group we were once upon a time! I’m well, still taking courses at Harvard’s Institute for Learning in Retirement, teaching an online course on spiritual support for medical and nursing staff through Union Seminary, in New York City, and enjoying summers in coastal Maine. Volunteering at our church’s meal program for the hungry and homeless in Cambridge, where we feed about 200 folks every Friday. The combination keeps me on my feet most days. One daughter is in medical school, another in an MBA program at Dartmouth. Very grateful.
Comfort Halsey: I’m grateful for the health of all in my family, a wide circle of women friends, and meaningful volunteer work. Our
daughter, Eliza, continues to teach elementary school in Los Angeles and our son, Thomas, recently moved from Montana to South Carolina. We’ll miss those trips to the Rocky Mountain West, but at least he’s in the same time zone now! I’d welcome a mini-reunion in Boston. And inspired by Lucy and Mary, I sent a summer photo, taken on the Missouri River, not far from Helena, MT.
Harty (Platt) du Pont hartleydupont@aol.com
Lisa Schmucki lisaschmucki@gmail.com
Harty (Platt) du Pont: I recently had dinner with Lis, Buff, Lynn, and Trisha in Summit. It’s wonderful that we’ve been able to maintain our friendships for so many years. I regularly speak to Hallie, who lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I’ve been writing poetry and this summer I submitted one poem to an international competition, which made the list out of 2,500 submissions. As a former sports and feature writer, I feel inspired to continue.
I established the Hartley Du Pont Fellowship for the School of the Arts at Columbia. The university matched
my gift, which will benefit students who can’t afford tuition.
Judy Chamberlain: We’re in South Carolina for the winter and having fun with our horses. I sent a picture of Twinkle and me heading into an obstacle during a recent combined driving competition. With her mane flying, my friends call her “the Farah Fawcett” of minis.
Betzi (Ulrich) Powers: John and I continue to travel a lot — Alaska, Europe, Iceland, and even the continental United States (Vail, Williamsburg, Branson) this past year. When at home, we enjoy every activity and opportunity in our retirement community of Encore on the Lake, southwest of Pittsburgh. Our oldest grandson is a sophomore at Bethany College, my alma mater and his dad’s. I think the Class of ’70 is ready for another reunion! We can celebrate our 50th college anniversary.
Katie (Green) Snowdon: It’s been quite a busy year. In the spring, Dick and I went to Petra, Jordan, and much of Egypt. Amazing to see the iconic Great Sphinx and the pyramids up close and personal. We were then able to decamp to our beloved Nantucket for four months, returning just in time for our son Al-
exander’s wedding to Hayden McCall in Charlottesville. Love to all!
Beth Sullebarger: Joy Weiner visited me in Cincinnati in the spring, and we had a blast sampling local landmarks, museums, eateries, the ballet, and even a fabulous yard sale, where we both bought straw hats. In summer, Dave and I made our annual pilgrimage to visit Liz Van Lear and her partner, Kurt vom Orde, at her family cabin in Bath County, VA, where we enjoy taking long walks and tubing down the Cow Pasture River. In fall, we sold our house in Glendale, Ohio, and spent a week in Oaxaca, Mexico, a colorful old city with lots of art, ancient ruins, and fabulous food. Now getting settled in our new home just a half-mile away but with a bedroom on the first floor.
Professionally, I received a national award for a historic rehabilitation project in Cleveland that I consulted on as part of a team led by the Community Builders. Commodore Place, an affordable-housing project, is a mixed-use historic high-rise with almost 200 apartments, where residents of all incomes have access to shopping, dining, social services, the arts, and cultural opportunities. This was the capstone of my career, as I’m winding
Come visit us! Events and engagement opportunities can be found on Kent Place’s website and social media pages. Contact Lainey Segear, Senior Director of Community Engagement, at (908) 273-0900, ext. 335, or segearl@kentplace.org, if you would like to host a virtual or in-person gathering. Note: Dates and locations are subject to change.
Thank you to all who came out to some of our more recent Green and Gold on the Road events.
Turn to page 56 to see more photos.
• April 19: Parents of Alumnae and Current Parents Book Group
• April 26–27: Alumnae Weekend
• May 20: Legacy Luncheon
• June 6: Young Alumnae Networking Event
down my historic-preservation practice. I continue various volunteer jobs, though. My favorite is chairing a fundraiser featuring Jenn White, the host of IA on NPR, who will speak to an audience of 400 in March.
Lis Bensley: Delighting in my two grandchildren. I had a lovely visit with Harty, Tricia, Lynn, and Buff while back east to work on a screenplay for a short film of my novel, The Glimpse, which has won five independent book awards. We’re hoping to tempt Hollywood to make it a feature film. Working on novel #2. It’s a long, slow process. Wish I had Ms. Moulding around for comments!
Joy Weiner: Among all the highlights this year was a visit to Beth Sullebarger in Cincinnati and attending Amy (Meislin) Pollack’s 50th anniversary in New Jersey. Beth is a historic architecture preservationist and I’m an architecture nerd. Beth gave me an incomparable tour of the city to see historic planned neighborhoods, notable buildings, an awesome food hall, two museums, and a ballet performance; we also went to a dinner party, and some outstanding restaurants. It was a whirlwind three days and we had a ball. After too long of a hiatus, Amy and I finally connected. It was as if no time had passed at all. I was thrilled to be part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations at her country club. Friends and family were regaled with stories of Amy and Marty’s long and successful marriage. Only Betzi (Ulrich) Powers is married longer. I continue to work in Manhattan and enjoy time at my house in upstate New York. Summer was filled with friends and family, swimming in the lake, visits to Saratoga for dance performances, and attending concerts at Tanglewood. I look forward to catching up with all at our next reunion.
Mary (Prendergast) Kinney: Jef and I are enjoying our quiet retirement in Oxford, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, almost a stone’s throw as the crow flies from Katie (Green) Snowdon in Claiborne and Pat Glibert in Easton. We continue to aggressively pursue an elusive COVID antibody solution for the significantly large and government-overlooked immunocompromised population (organ-transplant recipients such as Jef; and the many, many with various cancers and autoimmune diseases). Me? I’m on an intra-year goal to
become a (partially) bionic woman, thanks to years of body abuse playing field hockey, lacrosse, softball, and skiing in my youth, much at KPS. Two total knee joint replacements: left in August, right in November. Looking to dance my way into the next reunion!
Janet Osmun-Culver: The year 2023 was a hard one for me. My daughter Cathy and granddaughter Ami were hit broadside at the end of May. Ami had a severe concussion just a few weeks before high school graduation and her AP exams. With patience and support, she graduated. Cathy put her arm out to protect Ami and shattered the windshield in two places, causing a concussion, fractured skull, and brain bleed. Still dealing with memory problems and the doctor said probably a year of recovery. I had a silent heart attack with lower left lobe residual damage and must watch my stress. My mom passed away July 29 from a second case of COVID but was ill for only a couple of days this time. So, I’m taking it easy now and trying to stay out of trouble. Eric, my grandson, is on the President’s List at Merrimack College, in North Andover, MA, so he’s a bright star. Ami is doing well as a freshman at Champlain College, in Burlington, VT. I wish everyone well.
Emmy (Perina) Katz: I’m in India as I write. Bruce and I joined a twoplus-week trek in Sikkim, in the Himalaya; arrived back to civilization about two hours ago. We tented the entire trek. Glad to be in a hotel with a warm shower! The group walked along the Nepal–Sikkim border for a few days before heading east. We were going toward Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world. The views were spectacular. All is well with the family. We did some hiking last summer in the White Mountains with the grandkids. Was in Santa Fe earlier.
1971
Jamie Gifford-Modick
jamie.giffordmodick@gmail.com
Thank you to Deborah Besch for serving as Class Secretary for the past few years. And welcome (back) to Jamie Gifford-Modick, who has volunteered to take over.
The first to send a note was Connie Murphy, with the sad news that her husband died in January 2023. She’s learning the challenge of being
a 70-year-old single woman: “I refuse to call myself a widow,” she says. Along with trips to see family and friends, she says, “I’m giving myself time and space to re-create myself.”
Another loss. Janet (Yeaw) Carhart wrote on Facebook, “I need to share that our beautiful, loving, wonderful son, Tommy, passed away.”
I pause here, thinking of these two classmates and what they’re going through, and then I write on.
Sue Cory, retired from her architecture practice, continues to sleuth away with the seventh book in her Iris Reid crime series. She was a speaker at the Crime Bake panel for mystery writers in New England.
Mimi da Silva is retired from her psychotherapy practice. She and her wife live in Bradley Beach, NJ, and have twin boys in college and a high school senior daughter in the throes of college applications. In Mimi’s free time, she’s getting back into photography. She’s planning on attending a Buddhist mindfulness retreat this year. Impressive!
Heath (Holland) Faraci and husband moved to Charlotte, NC, after 25 years in Greenwich, CT. Summers are still in Jackson Hole. “Happy to see classmates here or there,” she writes.
Amy Shinn has been living happily in Maine for the past 30 years, and her sister Deborah Shinn ’69 lives nearby.
Michèle Ory wrote of her good KPS memories. She’s keeping busy with learning Spanish, being a multilingual volunteer greeter in Liège, Belgium, and traveling. She was in Colombia last year. She’s been to the States several times, but sad to see such a divided country. She has two sons who don’t live too far away from her.
Gail (Campbell) McBride and her husband spent a month driving around the Southwest in their pop-up camper. She’s a retired nurse, has two sons and two grandkids, and lives a bit south of Big Sur. I can only imagine the beautiful sunsets she sees, as well as the sunrises that Kathy Cook can experience. She writes, “Hello, classmates, I hope you’re all doing well. A big year for us turning that decade mark! I’m happily retired, and my wife and I spend most of our time in our new home on Cape Cod.”
Jeanne (Pettit) Ferris’s daughter, Veronica, married Matt Sheehan on October 23, 2023: “He doesn’t mind
watching the many movies we’re addicted to,” Jeanne says, “such as Bull Durham.” Gotta be a good guy.
I (Jamie), did some travels: a bike tour down the Istria coast with my brother, another one in the lake district of Germany, and then a hike over the Alps — senior citizen–style, with hotel reservations and luggage transfer, so kind of cheating but still challenging and breathtaking.
Via Facebook I know that Debbie Besch and Evie Edwards got together, as did Blake (Rimbault) Zoephel and Barb (Weiger) Lepke-Sims
Deanne (Koeniger) Spoor is married to Tom, a surgeon, and they have one daughter, also a surgeon, living in Greenville, SC. She is married to a doctor, and they have two young children. Deanne is a retired orthoptist, trained at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. She’s an avid tennis player, golfer, and a Life Master bridge player. Tom is just about retired; they take golf trips and enjoy traveling and visiting their daughter and family. She keeps up with Patty (Brundage) Copley, who still lives and works in New York, and visited her many times up until COVID.
Kathi Paton and daughter Grace celebrated their birthdays this year by visiting Ireland and Italy.
And a surprise entry! Charlotte Zinsser was still on the class list I received, so I tracked her down and sent off an email. She left after 10th grade to go to early college at Simon’s Rock, in Great Barrington, MA, and now lives in Virginia after a teaching career.
Just as I was sending this off, a note came from Ann (Holloway) Stone: “I’ve lived a peaceful, simple life in western North Carolina since 1975. My son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren live in Oregon. I’m at a loss, old friends, to put the good and bad of 50 years in a nutshell, so I’ll just say this . . . I wouldn’t change a thing.”
1972
Thank you to Lili (White) Durling for her years of service as Class Secretary. If anyone is interested in taking over, please email singera@kentplace.org.
1973
Francine Lynch: In September, I took a hiking trip in Cornwall, following the famous Southwest Coastal Path, which runs 650 miles along the scenic
English coast. Beautiful, rugged scenery. Challenging trails. Historic ruins and charming fishing villages. Stayed in lovely inns and enjoyed local fare such as pasties and cream tea.
Susan (Weissglass) Morgan: Had a great visit with Suzanne (Schmidt) Schneck and her daughter, Gabriella Harvie, in Richmond, VA, on a special Harvie family history tour an architectural historian friend and I curated for them, the first weekend in October.
Lisa Krieger: I was delighted to hear from our biology teacher Janet Foord. Although her age (95!) has limited her beloved sport of sailing, she and her husband live a comfortable life in a senior community with lots of exercise classes and exciting bridge competitions. All is well here in California. Besides our terrific KPS reunion weekend, a highlight of my year was hiking the Tour du MontBlanc with friends — a 110-mile loop in the Alps through three countries (France, Switzerland, and Italy). It’s a challenging but spectacular landscape.
1974
Cathy Slichter cathy.slichter@gmail.com
1975
Patti Neale-Schulz pattischulz1919@gmail.com
1978
Patricia (Friedman) Marcus balibliss@yahoo.com
Honi Kawut: I’m loving my career as a chiropractor and am contemplating my next phase. My daughter, Arielle, was married to her wonderful husband, Jeff, on April 30. They live in Washington, DC. My son, David, lives in Burlington, VT, with his girlfriend, Ashley, and they’re moving back to Massachusetts in 2024. Mark and I travel the world, spend time with our families, and love life.
Bobo (Mangan) Delaney: I sent in a picture (see photo section) of KPS alums at the funeral reception for my dad, Tom Mangan, in 2022.
In 2023, Jennifer Dorsey ’87 was awarded a competitive fellowship through a partnership of the Organization of American Historians and the Japanese Association for American Studies, with the support of the Japan–United States Friendship Commission. Every year, the coalition selects two American historians to spend two weeks at Japanese universities giving lectures and seminars and advising students and researchers about U.S. history. She spent the month of June in Japan as a guest of Aichi Prefectural University (Nagoya), where she gave lectures on topics in African American history and public history.
1980
Joy (Charles) Kay P ’08: I’m still the executive director at the Montclair Inn, in Montclair, NJ. Bryan and I have been married for 36 years and are now new grandparents. Reagan Joy Kay was born on May 13, 2023. We’re thrilled!
1981
Kathryn (McDaniel) Nenning kathryn@nenning.com
Thank you to Tracey (San Filippo) Henick for serving as Class Secretary. If you’re interested in taking over the role, please email singera@kentplace.org.
Katherine (Bailey) Rogg: I’m enjoying swimming and substitute-teaching during my retirement in sunny St. Petersburg, FL. I was married February 28, 2023, to George M. Rogg.
1984
Jennifer Thomas meezertee@gmail.com
Jennifer Thomas: Greetings from North Carolina! I’m both excited and dazed/confused that our reunion is in 2024. I can’t believe it’s been 40 years! Life continues with its challenges and celebrations. I’m still a working musician, both teaching and performing, and working remotely for a New York City/Princeton–based insurance brokerage firm, which I love. I’m also in the process of building a professional metaphysical practice. My 89-year-old mother is still playing golf in Pinehurst twice a week, and my 26-year-old daughter, Mia, is in her fourth year as a high school theater teacher. Last summer, I had an amazing reunion with sisters Cara Boyle ’85 and June Boyle ’81 in Copake, NY. I’ve also had the honor of getting to know Marge (Wynn) Randolph ’56 through church. I’m in touch with Lisa (Settle) Callaway, who recently moved to Wyoming, among others, through the beauty and magic of Facebook, where our class continues to be in touch.
Deborah Molho: My partner, Sal, and I have made beautiful Tarrytown, NY, our home for the past seven years. We’re both very active in the motorcycle community, especially with the Honor Flight and Rolling Thunder events. My motorcycle culture photography is an important part of my life, and I hope one day to turn the photos
from my website (athenasgarage.com) into a book. After almost 100 years in business, our French bookstore in Rockefeller Center closed in 2009, but Dad and I continue to sell books online. I miss my best friend and classmate Zita de Zagon, who moved to Italy last year. I’m in touch with Chrissie McMahan on a regular basis, as well as Cathy Eld, Alison Gant, Sue Faux, and Becky Wood
Karen Little
rucr8tive@aol.com
Anne Bentley: My husband and I caught up with Clarissa Wilmerding in October on a quick trip from Virginia through New Jersey to Vermont. Chizzy continues to serve adults, young adults, and children through Wilmerding Equestrian. Also in October, I met up with Holly Mackay, who recently adopted an English Lab puppy named Tavish, who is adorable.
1986
Susan Gibson nibbles.inc@gmail.com
Thank you to Susan Gibson for volunteering to be Class Secretary.
Hello from Boulder, CO. I’m excited to reconnect with the Kent Place community. I have many random jobs and volunteer as a community organizer fighting for affordable housing. Last year, I stayed with Amy (Wanggaard) Hausmann and her husband in their unbelievably beautiful house in New York.
Thank you to Liz Horn for this sad update: Our class has experienced the heartbreaking loss of two of our sisters, both to cancer. Yun Won Cho died in August 2018 and Paige (Seely) Longstreth died in August 2023. We have so much love for and memories of both of them and extend our sympathy to their families.
Ellis (Hensler) Siedem: I’ve been living in Madison for the last 20 years, where my husband, Pete, and I raised our children — Ryan (22), Jason (21), and Kate (19). Kate is a freshman in college and we’re enjoying “empty nesting.” I’m happy to have more time for my volunteer work with their schools and with the New Jersey chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. In addition, in my spare time I play a little more paddle tennis and golf. I still love to drive by Kent Place and I’m looking forward to our next reunion.
Sheri (Guempel) Morgan is living on the beach in New Jersey with her husband of 20 years and hangs out with Dr. Karin Johanson at her lake house. Sheri’s 19-year-old son, Everett III, studies architecture at Catholic University, in D.C., and her 17-year-old son, Hunter, is a junior at Neptune High, where he’s a great baseball player. Sheri has worked for Weichert Financial for 30 years and spends her free time cooking, playing baseball, walking, and doing puzzles.
Sarah (Otis) Humphrey writes, “First time chiming in! I live in Darien, CT, with my hubby and 10thgrade son; no empty nest quite yet. I pretty much live in a lacrosse bubble with three of my four kids playing the sport at the collegiate level — Stanford, USC, and UNC — and on the national stage on the U20 US National team. Those are my three daughters; my son has boycotted sports after being dragged to too many lacrosse tournaments. I’m no longer practicing law but try to fill my days with tennis, paddle, and supporting my four maniacs the best I can. I still see Ellis and Melissa but would love to see more of you! Maybe the next reunion.
Sarah McFarland Taylor: We got our son off to his first year of college, my coedited book, Religion and Outer Space (Routledge, July 2023), came out, and I broke my arm, but it was on a fun cycling trip through Slovenia and Croatia with classmate Anne (Heller) Morrissey, so no complaints. I also had a blast singing karaoke in Scottsdale with Lauren Harrison and loved seeing Amy (Wanggaard) Hausmann at Olana Historic Site, where she’s executive director. Sending love to all!
Cynthia Cameron: In July 2021, I moved to Toronto to take a job as the Keenan Chair of Religious Education at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. I love Toronto — it’s a wonderful city to live and work in.
Stephanie Schwartz: I’m still an editor and graphic designer at a nonprofit mental health association in New York City (since 1997). Dancing, choreographing, and painting keep me sane — and enjoying life in the Hudson Valley. Lately I’ve been thinking of my KPS experience and am extremely grateful.
Miriam (Kaffke) Mulry: After 30 years in HR and talent acquisition for management consulting and tech
firms, I retired in 2021 from IBM. After seven years in Delray Beach, FL, last fall my husband and I moved to Truckee, CA (Lake Tahoe), to ski, hike, and play golf. The Sierra Nevada saw a record amount of snow, making for a banner ski season ending in May. My stepdaughter is a captain in the Army, Special Operations, and my stepson is a chemical engineer in Philadelphia. I regularly saw Katy and Ellis when I visited my dad in Bernardsville.
Amy (Wanggaard) Hausmann: Matt and I recently sold our home in Brooklyn, and after living in New York City for almost 30 years, we’re now full-time country folk. We fixed up an 1830s building in a tiny town in the northern Catskill Mountains in the upper Hudson Valley. I serve as director of Olana, a beautiful historic house museum in Hudson. It’s been so much fun to see friends like Susan Gibson, Sarah Taylor, Liz (Harrison) Kubany ’87, and Cara Boyle ’85 at Olana. If you’re up my way, please visit.
Mary Madigan: I moved to Santa Fe in February 2020 after 25 years in New York and about two minutes before the pandemic broke out. I landed here as an arts leader and was unhorsed when my executive director position was cut. I hung on, and now I lead public programs and communications at the School for Advanced Research, an anthropology, humanities, Indian arts think tank. I’m pushing programming to evolve from talks and lectures to multifaceted series that also present the arts. I love the high desert of New Mexico. It’s always been my home. It’s been heartening to see Susan Gibson, Caitie Clark, Kristin Potter, and Lisa Cohen here.
1987
Ginny (Boyer) Losito glosito@me.com
1988
Melissa (McCarthy) Madden melissamccarthy@me.com
Hi, Class of ’88, from Summit, where it’s Thanksgiving week as I write, and my whole family is gearing up for turkey, birthdays (all teenagers in the house now!), and Christmas trees. Besides our two kids and two crazy dogs, I’m busy teaching Pilates and managing a Club Pilates studio, where I see KPS-ers of all generations every day. This past September, I had the pleasure of attending Carter
(Flegal) Townsend’s wedding. It was a perfect weekend mini-reunion with Elizabeth (Dotoli) Hibbett, Margot (Fell) O’Connor, Mercer Reeves, and Jane Armstrong, as we celebrated Carter, who reunited with her high school sweetheart, Tony Innamarato, to tie the knot in a gorgeous setting on a lake in Far Hills. Congrats to Carter and Tony! And happy New Year to all of you — cheers to 2024!
Meena Patel: I was honored and thrilled to attend the wedding of Kate Simpson and Doug Currier on July 29 in North Yarmouth, ME. In attendance were Kate’s sisters, Josie Simpson ’92 and Anne Simpson; their mother, Katherine (Meyer) Simpson ’59; and their aunt Anne (Meyer) Hoffman ’72.
Cristin O’Hara: I’m still at Bank of America, running the Restaurant Group for the company. Thirty years at this institution or its predecessors. Living in Boston and our farm in Vermont with my husband, four cats, three horses, four chickens, and three ducks. I miss my friends Bonnie, Phoebe, and Dede. I keep in touch with many classmates and my KPS friendships are held close to my heart.
Carter (Flegal) Townsend: Jane Armstrong, Melissa (McCarthy) Madden, Margot (Fell) O’Connor, Elizabeth (Dotoli) Hibbett, and Mercer Reeves joined me to celebrate my marriage to Anthony Innamarato.
1989
Vanessa E. King squamlake@gmail.com
Jen (Goldberg) Goldman: Vanessa King and I caught up at our 30th Princeton reunion in May 2023. Vanessa is still living in Switzerland and running biotech companies, when not skiing and mountain climbing. Most recently, she started Tenpoint Therapeutics and raised $70M from a top-tier syndicate of biotech venture investors to develop regenerative therapies for eye diseases. Also, she’s channeling her KPS days and is very involved with a group of female biotech CEOs, aka the Biotech Sisterhood. My (Jen) update is that earlier this year, I embarked on a new chapter of my career, working independently to provide consulting, education, and advocacy around Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. I’m still based in Chicago but spending time in Napa and traveling for professional and personal fun. I recently became the secretary elect for
our premier global organization, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, and in this role am the sixth female in the officer ranks in the organization’s 35-plusyear history.
Katherine Bailey ’82 to George M. Rogg
February 28, 2023
Kate Simpson ’88 to Doug Currier
July 29, 2023
Carter (Flegal) Townsend ’88 to Anthony Innamarato
September 23, 2023
Erin Landers ’06 to Jay Peters June 22, 2023
Alexandra Lentini ’08 to David Percevejo September 9, 2023
Carlie McCumber ’14 to Nick Hamilton
May 25, 2023
Liz (Graham) Woolcock ’04 a son, John “Jack” Reed Woolcock
September 18, 2023
Emily (Hislop) Gordon ’07 a daughter, Madison James Gordon July 21, 2023
Emily (Landers) Stergiou ’08 a daughter, Artemis Mauve Stergiou June 1, 2023
Torrie (Williams) Nelson ’09 a son, Theo Nelson July 2023
Corey Szumski ’09 a daughter, Aubrey Maverick Link May 18, 2023
Kelsey Landers ’10 a daughter, Eloise Faulkner O’Hara September 27, 2023
Hannah (Benn) Davis ’11 a son, John Renwick Davis May 26, 2023
The end of the calendar year brings exciting events and opportunities for our alumnae to gather both on and off campus. It’s a chance for us to celebrate the bonds of sisterhood and reconnect during a festive time. And how special was it to have more than 200 alumnae return to campus for our 100th STAR performance!
STAR
1. 2022 classmates Emmy Wheatley, Iman Handy, and Allie Sussman
2. 1991 classmates Katina Houvouras, Aimee (Cullen) Reali P ’23 ’29, and Liz Hines, with Cece Reali ’23
3. Meyra Green ’64, Valerie McEntee ’70, and Lisa Schmucki ’70 enjoy the pre-STAR reception
4. STAR Watch Party in Los Angeles, hosted by Meena Patel ’88: Meena and Laura Scarano ’06
5. A large showing from the Class of 2021!
6. STAR Watch party in Newburyport, MA, hosted by Jessica Angell ’92: Sarah (Angell) Jones ’98, Jessica, Carolyn (Partridge) Horner ’89, Stephanie (Thornton) Cannata ’89, and Amy (Rosoff) Sampson ’93
7. Emily (Flynn) Lipnick ’98, Melissa (Conlin) Archuleta ’94, and Tara (Kullman) Millman ’97
8. STAR Watch Party in Washington, D.C., hosted by Madison Mastrangelo ’15: (back) Abigail Evangelista ’19, Madison, and Isabelle Donatelli ’15; (front) Olivia Manousos ’17
9. More than 200 alumnae join students to sing “O Holy Night”
10. 2016 classmates Olivia Mukherjee, Katrina Peterson, Sabrina Hunte, Maddie Reynolds, Carolyn Bailey, and Bunmi Oyenusi
ANNUAL NYC HOLIDAY GATHERING
11. Natalie Anzevino ’17, Joy Jack ’16, and Alissa Anzevino ’11
12. Emily (Deddens) Mize ’05, Meghan (Brophy) Persutti ’04, and Hilary Sayia ’04
1990
Maren (Eisenstat) Vitali mevitali@comcast.net
Maren (Eisenstat) Vitali: I’m still working as a library media specialist at Eisenhower Intermediate in Bridgewater, NJ, and lecturing at state conferences about the importance of libraries remaining up to date and relevant through makerspace and hands-on activities. I’ll be speaking at the NJ Association for School Librarians Conference this December as the Clever Librarian once again! We’ve begun to look at colleges with Kelan as he’s a high school junior; Aidan is a junior, too, a biology major at Gettysburg College.
Katie (Johnson) Lewandowski: I was honored to be chosen by the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Eastern Illinois University as the 2023 Undergraduate Research Mentor. My department chair nominated me, and one of the students I work with wrote a letter of support. I love introducing college students to the world of scientific research. Doing undergraduate research while I was a student at Vanderbilt certainly had a huge impact on me. I hope to be doing the same for the students I work with.
1991
Andrea (Carson) Tanner acarsontanner@gmail.com
Amy Allen: I’m thrilled that my first book of poetry, Mountain Offerings, will be published with Rootstock Publishers of Montpelier, VT, in April 2024, timed perfectly with National Poetry Month. The poems are rooted largely in the outdoor world and in Vermont, specifically, and use the natural world to convey broader themes centering on connection, love, and loss.
1993
Courtney (Mead) Nagle courtney.a.mead@gmail.com
Gabrielle (Costanzo) Long: My family had a wonderful summer vacation in Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. While waiting in line for the Gunstock Mountain Coaster, we chatted with a dad who attended Middlebury with AJ (Poor) Murphy ’94. Back home in East Hampton, my 7- and 9-yearolds stayed busy with junior lifeguard training, lacrosse practice, and karate. My kids are happy in second and fourth grade, where they’re in
a dual-language Spanish immersion program, and I volunteer when I can with the PTA. My best to all!
Stephanie (Burlington) Daniels: I’m celebrating 22 years of teaching theater at Wheaton College, in Norton, MA, by directing Jonathan Larson’s Rent It’s a total throwback to my senior-year project, connecting AIDS awareness and education through the theater. It’s been a joy-filled rehearsal and production. I think of all of you and Bob Pridham very often. I’m healthy and doing well. Reunion was a blast!
1994
Christina (Dughi) Tonzola ctonzola@gmail.com
1996
Rachel Platt racheldplatt@gmail.com
Amy (Zucker) Kohen amykohen@gmail.com
1997
Kate (Mattern) McGee katematternmcgee@gmail.com
Tara (Kullman) Millman: Marty and I are still in Summit with Sebastian (12) and Travis (10), who are keeping our lives interesting. Teenage hormones are in full swing, and we’re here for it. They make me think about my fifth- and seventh-grade years at KPS. If I could survive them, so can they. Just no one said I’d have to survive them twice! I’m working with Audrey (Pukash) Bilsborrow ’90 — and it’s so nice that she’s a KP alum. Marty and I both work from home and enjoy traveling, concerts, and time with family and friends. I speak with some of you and see a lot of you on Facebook. I’m always here, in the blue house across from Oratory Prep, if you want to hang out IRL.
1998
KC (Anthony) Artemenko kcartemenko@gmail.com
1999
Iris Blasi iris.blasi@gmail.com
Cynthia Keenan
cindy.keenan@gmail.com
Barbara Mellen: My family and I have had another great year! I took my son to England to visit Pam Mellen ’01 and her family. A blast was had by all! Continue to do well at work, winning another trip to Italy. But the two most important things in my life are my 8-year-son and volunteer work. My son has been interested in scouting since I’ve volunteered with Girl Scouts, so we started a local chapter of Navigators USA, a secular, alternative, all-gender scouting organization. We’re getting ready to take our first camping trip. I’m also still active in domestic-violence work, as well as fighting to stop censorship and book bans in Florida. A bannedbook movie series that my partner and I put together was recently featured on ABC Action News Tampa Bay and Univision Tampa Bay (putting that Spanish to work). Although this is a long, hard fight, we’re not stopping!
Christine with daughters
Abbie ’30 and Caroline ’28
The daughters of 26 alumnae are currently enjoying the same outstanding education and traditions as their mothers did when they were students at Kent Place. In recognition of this special group of graduates, KPS holds an annual get-together. During the gathering, alumnae reminisce about their fondest memories and talk about what they have in common with their daughters — and what’s different. Curious about the perspective of alumnae with daughters at their alma mater, we asked one mother about her experience of two generations of KPS-ers.
“It’s a treat to be on the Kent Place campus daily with my two daughters, Caroline ’28 and Abbie ’30. Despite a couple of new buildings over the last 30 years, the vibe remains the same — there’s a happy energy of student excitement. My daughters love going to school. They look forward to seeing friends in the morning before classes start, spirited history debates, making music with the dynamic Middle School Orchestra, and sports and games with green and gold bows in their hair. They love being a part of the Kent Place community, and I love seeing them grow in self-advocacy and confidence.
“At a recent Alumnae Parents gathering, I chatted with more than a dozen women who also highly valued their Kent Place education and chose the same for their daughters. Even though we may have graduated decades apart, we were instantly connected with memories of Step Sing and mascots, turning our class rings on Ring Day, and Morning Meeting seating arrangements. The Kent Place experience is a gift.”
2000
Christine Ryan ceryan@gmail.com
Meghan (Valerio) Kaminski: My family and I relocated in 2020 to Summit, where my daughter now plays in a soccer league on KP’s lower field — memories! I recently caught up with Jihan Quail, Julianna Muir, and Ayirini Fonseca-Sabune for dinner and a show in New York City. I was also happy to see Jen (LaRosa) Peterson, Melissa (Chang) Volkert, Michelle (Mohr) Nash, Erinn (Johnson) Costantino, and Heidi Milton for a get-together over the summer, along with our pack of crazy kids.
Paris (Martin) Quintana: We took a long overdue KPS trip to Palmetto Bluff, SC, with Lauren (Bouffard) Young, Corinne (Desjardins) White, Katie (Feder) Lennon, Paige (Bradbury) Calla, Courtney (Reilly) Stafford, Brooke Worthington, and Sarah Stern. It was amazing to be able to take time out from our busy lives and families (we have 17 children among us) to catch up . . . it feels as if no time has passed. We’re hoping to make it an annual Lady Dragons weekend.
2001
Kimberly (Frye) Alula kfrye05@gmail.com
Sara Pickett-Tucker saralizpickett@gmail.com
2002
Erin Sauchelli e.sauchelli@gmail.com
2003
Gina Ferraioli ginaferraioli@gmail.com
2004
Laura Kleinbaum lkkleinbaum@gmail.com
Liz (Graham) Woolcock: My husband, Owen, and I welcomed our second son, John “Jack” Reed Woolcock, on September 18, 2023. His big brother, Charlie, is thrilled!
2005
Cara Manket cara.manket@gmail.com
2006
Danielle Auriemma dvauriemma@gmail.com
Lydia Deutsch lydia.deutsch@gmail.com
2007
Nida Abdulla nida.11.abdulla@gmail.com
Caitlin Black cblack@fandm.edu
Sara Santos sarajosantos@gmail.com
Emily (Hislop) Gordon: My husband, Tyler, and I welcomed our second daughter, Madison James, on July 21, 2023. Big sister Charlotte loves her new role and calls her little sister “Squeaky.” We’re enjoying settling in as a family of four.
2008
Allison Oberlander oberlander.allison@gmail.com
Alexandra Lentini: I’m happy to report that I recently got married and bought a home (all within three weeks!) on Long Island. Allison Oberlander was a bridesmaid and an integral part of our big day. I’m also celebrating four years working at NBCUniversal in entertainment marketing.
2009
Courtney (Alpaugh) Simmons courtney.simmons513@gmail.com
Allison Goldberg afg813@gmail.com
Sarah Gadsden: I completed the evening MBA program at Georgetown University.
Torrie (Williams) Nelson: My husband, Greg, and I welcomed our son, Theo, in July. He joins big sister Lilly.
Corey Szumski: My husband, Ryan, and I welcomed a baby girl, Aubrey, in May.
2010
Carly Uhlman carly.uhlman@gmail.com
2011
Lizzy Miggins lizzymiggins@gmail.com
Malina Welman malinawelman@gmail.com
Hannah (Benn) Davis: We welcomed our son, Jack, in May and are enjoying the first few months of parenthood. We recently moved to Chatham and happen to be down the street from classmate Joanna (Mleczko) Celli
2012
Victoria Criscione victoriaacriscione@gmail.com
To continue building a KPS community in their current city, 2015 classmates Madison Mastrangelo and Isabelle Donatelli hosted a D.C.-area alumnae “Friendsgiving,” an event they hope will become annual. Pictured here: Abigail Evangelista ’19, Olivia Manousos ’17, Shayna Gleason ’13, Anna Fountain ’13, Isabelle, Lara Brachman-Goldstein ’14, Madison, and Mia Wright ’14
2013
Juliette Norrmén-Smith: Since 2021, I’ve been living in Paris and working at UNESCO (the United Nations Education, Science, and Culture Organization). As an education-policy specialist, I work with ministries of education and partners from around the world to develop plans and programs for equitable digital transformation in education. Inspired by my experience as a teacher, I advocate for infusing the link between happiness and learning into all levels of policy through the UNESCO Happy Schools initiative.
2014
Carlie (McCumber) Hamilton: Nick (Delbarton ’14) and I got married on May 25, 2023, at Pleasantdale Château, in West Orange, NJ.
2016
Katrina Peterson: I’m living in Brooklyn, where I’m a painting assistant to a contemporary artist. We’re currently working on a solo show that’s set to open in April at Peres Projects, in Milan. I also work for a small, independent record label and recording studio, Better Company Records. I’m enjoying a range of creative endeavors — I have two new music videos out for the band San Fermin, with more to come.
• Notes will be collected via Google Form. You will receive a link to this form from your Class Secretary or, if your class doesn’t have a secretary, directly from the school.
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1. Liddy (Morrison) Baker ’59 and husband John in Scotland to celebrate his 91st birthday
2. Sammy (Hart) Renfro ’59 and husband Jim with her stepgrandson, his wife, and their new baby
3. Granddaughter of Sammy (Hart) Renfro ’59 with her family
4. The judge presenting Brady, Elizabeth (Budd) Bugliari’s ’59 Irish setter, with his championship ribbon
5. Judy (Wynn) Newhouse ’64 with family on Nantucket
6. Jane (Kolarsey) Kusterer ’65 and Gene along the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia
7. Elizabeth (Wilson) Hetman ’67 and new grandson Damon
8. Comfort Halsey ’69 and husband Greg by the Missouri River
9. Emmy (Perina)
Katz ’70 and Bruce at Mt. Kangchenjunga
10. Betzi (Ulrich) Powers ’70 kayaking in the Rocky Mountains with grandchildren Ash and Cole
11. Liz Van Lear ’70, Kurt, and Lily, their sweet miniature poodle
12. 1970 classmates Beth Sullebarger and Joy Weiner in their new straw hats
13. Judy Chamberlain ’70 and Twinkle in a competition
14. Amy Shinn ’71 in a grassland preserve in Kennebunk, ME
15. Ann (Holloway) Stone ’71
16. 1971 classmates Evie Edwards and Debbie Besch
17. Kathy Cook ’71: Cheers to the next decade!
18. Veronica, daughter of Jeanne (Pettit) Ferris ’71, and her new husband, Matt Scheehan
19. Michèle Ory ’71
20. Susan Cory ’71
21. Kathi Paton ’71 and her daughter enjoying la dolce vita on the Ponte Vecchio
22. Francine Lynch ’73 on a hiking trip along the coast of Cornwall
23. 1973 classmates Susan (Weissglass) Morgan and Suzanne (Schmidt) Schneck
24. Fueled by a croissant! Lisa Krieger ’73 hiking the Tour du Mont-Blanc
25. Honi Kawut ’78 and family at daughter Arielle’s wedding
26. KPS alums with Bobo (Mangan) Delaney ’78 at her father’s funeral reception
27. Joy (Charles) Kay ’80 P ’08, Justine Kay ’08, Christian Kay, Kersten Miller, Bryan Kay, and granddaughter Reagan Kay at Wightman’s Farm
28. Katherine (Bailey) Rogg ’82 and family at her wedding in Venice, FL
29. Deborah Molho ’84
30. Jennifer Thomas ’84 and Marge (Wynn) Randolph ’56
31. Cara Boyle ’85, Jennifer Thomas ’84, and June Boyle ’81 in Copake, NY
32. Ellis (Hensler) Siedem ’86 and family
33. 1986 classmates Melissa Dunne-Ryan and Sarah (Otis) Humphrey enjoying a Nantucket sunset
34. 1986 classmates
Sarah McFarland Taylor and Anne (Heller) Morrissey in the Slovenian Alps
35. 1986 classmates
Amy (Wanggaard) Hausmann and Sarah McFarland Taylor at Olana State Park, NY
36. 1988 classmates
Kate Simpson and Meena Patel
37. Congratulations to Kate Simpson ’88 on her marriage to Doug Currier.
38. 1988 classmates
Jane Armstrong, Melissa (McCarthy)
Madden, Carter (Flegal) Townsend, Margot (Fell) O’Connor, Elizabeth (Dotoli) Hibbett, and Mercer Reeves celebrating Carter’s marriage to Anthony Innamarato
39. 1989 classmates Jen (Goldberg) Goldman and Vanessa King at their 30th Princeton reunion
40. Andrea Carson
Tanner ’91 and Stephanie Carson ’87 with their parents and Andrea’s husband and children
41. 1993 classmates Kamilah (Ross) Heartwell and Stephanie (Burlington) Daniels in Boston
42. Kent Place
Connections: Cherie Alcoff ’93 (left), who works at Beach Point Capital, discovered that her client at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Carolyn Bailey ’16, is also a KPS alum.
43. 2000 classmates
Jihan Quail, Meghan (Valerio) Kaminski, Ayirini Fonseca-Sabune, and Julianna Muir in New York City
44. 2000 classmates
Michelle (Mohr) Nash, Melissa (Chang) Volkert, Erinn (Johnson)
Costantino, Jen (LaRosa) Peterson, Heidi Milton, and Meghan (Valerio) Kaminski in summer 2023
45. Class of 2000 Lady Dragons exploring the Lowcountry by boat: Paige (Bradbury) Calla, Paris (Martin) Quintana, Courtney (Reilly) Stafford, Corinne (Desjardins) White, Katie (Feder) Lennon, Brooke Worthington, Sarah Stern, and Lauren (Bouffard) Young
46. Charlie and Jack, sons of Liz (Graham) Woolcock ’04
47. Madison and Charlotte, daughters of Emily (Hislop) Gordon ’07
48. Erin Landers ’06 at her wedding, with grandmother Sarah (Lager) O’Brien ’56, mother Jenny Landers, and sister Kelsey Landers ’10
49. Emily (Landers) Stergiou ’08 with husband Alex and baby Artemis
50. Kelsey Landers ’10 with her new baby and grandmother Sarah (Lager) O’Brien ’56
51. Alexandra Lentini ’08 and husband David Percevejo
52. Ali Lentini ’08 with classmate and bridesmaid Allison Oberlander
53. Corey Szumski ’09 and daughter Aubrey
54. Hannah (Benn) Davis ’11 with her husband and their new son, Jack
55. Carlie McCumber ’14 and Nick Hamilton at their wedding at Pleasantdale Château
Hana Charnley ’17 is an investor with the Anthemis Group’s Female Innovators Lab Fund (FIL). The FIL cultivates entrepreneurial talent in women across the financial-services sector, and at $50M, it’s the largest early-stage fintech fund dedicated to companies founded by women. Before joining Anthemis, Hana was an analyst at First Republic Bank, with the Tech/VC group in New York. She graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in management, a specialization in entrepreneurship and innovation, and a minor in anthropology. She was a member of the field hockey team, the Wharton Leadership Academy, and Wharton Ambassadors.
What’s the most fulfilling part of your job? Meeting incredible founders and learning about what they’re building. The venture-capital ecosystem has a way to go in terms of gender equity; companies in the United States founded solely by women receive just 2 percent of the total capital invested in VC-backed startups. Female-founded businesses are a massive market opportunity, yet they’re severely underfunded; it’s amazing to be part of a fund and an investment team that help women develop high-impact startups in fintech and embedded finance. I also love that I get to watch our portfolio companies grow and scale. It’s rewarding and exciting to see the founders’ visions come to life.
How did KPS prepare you for your career? By first fostering my awareness and passion around driving resources to women. In college, I volunteered as a coach with Girls on the Run, encouraging young girls to lead a confident and healthy lifestyle, and in my first job out of college, my amazing Tech/VC team at First Republic Bank was led by a woman. Now at Anthemis, I’m incredibly proud to work on a fund with all female investors and also that firmwide 65 percent of our investment team are women.
I credit Kent Place with opening my eyes early to the importance of mentorship, networking, and having role models to help support and guide us (shout-out to my senior sister!). This foundation informed my career decisions and has enabled me to build a strong network of strong women while working on diverse teams.
What does a typical day look like? Every day is different, and that’s one of my favorite aspects of the job. I spend my days doing a mix of meeting founders and learning about what they’re building, chatting and catching up with other investors, doing research and digging into interesting industries or verticals, and conducting diligence on an exciting investment opportunity.
What’s your favorite KPS memory? Too many to count! As a lifer, I loved Field Day in Primary and Middle School (go Gold!). I also always looked forward to Spirit Week and had so much fun dressing up with my classmates and participating in the festivities.
Please forward any address changes to the Kent Place School Advancement Office updateinfo@kentplace.org
“WHEN PEOPLE GET EXCITED ABOUT A TOPIC, THEY ALSO HAVE A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP IN IT.”
Elaine
—ELAINE SCHWARTZ
of concrete
how she