Stanwich Magazine Fall 2015/Winter 2016

Stanwich Heart The Magazine of The Stanwich School

Fall 2015/Winter 2016

Squash Team Wins National Championship Digital Photography Gallery Project Blessing Update

Proof: Hands-on learning excites the mind!

Full

STEAM Ahead

In This Issue 30 Full STEAM Ahead

Proof: Hands-on learning excites the mind!

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From the Head of School

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From the Board of Trustees

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From the Parent Association

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Life at the Lower School

Charles Sachs

Naomi Azrak and Andy Richard

Janine Kennedy, PA President 2015-16

Meaghan Mallin, Associate Head of School and Head of Lower School

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Life at the Upper School

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Lower School Physical Education

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Upper School Athletics

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National Champions

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News & People

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Upper School Gallery

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Alumni

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Project Blessing Update

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Jerome Murphy, Head of Upper School

Rob Higle, Director of Athletics

Fall Season Wrap-up

Stanwich Wins National Middle School Squash Title

Interesting Items, Current Events, and Profiles

Digital Photography

Who, What, Where & When

A look at Stanwich’s Initiative in Cybatanzit, Rwanda

“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” –William Shakespeare

STANWICH HEART MAGAZINE • FALL 2015/WINTER 2016 The Stanwich Heart is published by the Communications and Advancement offices of The Stanwich School HEAD OF SCHOOL

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

ASST. DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

COPY EDITOR

Charles Sachs

Laura Dianis

Ann O’Leary

Elizabeth McIntyre

Christi Wong

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Laura Dianis, Rye Sports Photos, Jeff Magliola, Mia Simonsen, Faculty, Parents

The Stanwich School

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

257 Stanwich Road Greenwich, CT 06830

Naomi Azrak/Co-Chair, Andrew Richard/Co-Chair, Charles Sachs/Head of School, Lisa Bailey Cassidy, Tiffany Benincasa, Mark Carbone, Susanne Clark, W. Gregory Drennen, Kathy Candel Epstein, John Esposito, Lorraine W. Gordon, Joli Gross, Rev. Nathan Hart, Jan Kärst, Janine Kennedy, Liz Oestreich, Roger Paradiso, James Raezer, Richard Sanders, Diane Sebold, Edward L. “Bud” Sinclair, Jon Yenor

203-542-0000 www.stanwichschool.org

“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”

–Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Stanwich Heart

From the Head of School A Valuable Conversation

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ecently I had a valuable conversation with a current parent and former trustee about Stanwich’s unique learning environment and its crucial importance not only in the ethical grounding of our graduates but also in their academic achievement. It was affirmed through my conversation that Pat Young’s seminal vision to incorporate an accelerated academic program that would challenge students to reach beyond their too easy grasp into a learning environment with higher social and behavioral expectations which exceeded our society’s ambivalent norms 18 years ago. Today, this vision is the daily reality of hundreds of students as they are engaged meaningfully for academic achievement and ethical grounding.

Everyone who visits Stanwich is immediately struck by a general sense of decorum that — if it were not so clearly leavened by our community’s friendliness and the mutually supportive interaction between students and teachers — might seem formal.

Whether or not a first time visitor can fully appreciate the Stanwich culture, there is a clear visceral sense that student life at Stanwich operates on a different level.

Since I am unable to say it better, I quote here several nuggets in the material provided me by the parent: “Perceived teacher support and caring was associated with greater interest in class and school, which in turn positively affected grade point averages.” 1 “Much of the available research shows that supportive schools foster positive outcomes by promoting students’ sense of ‘connectedness,’ 2 ‘belongingness’ 3 or ‘community’ 4 during the school day. These terms are used interchangeably here since they all refer to students’ sense of being in close, respectful relationships with peers and adults in school or of being contributed and influential members of the school.”

The conclusions of these reports make intuitive sense to me and resonate in my growing understanding and appreciation of our school. Despite the on-going cultural techno-

logical and economic upheaval, we can as a small school listen better and respond more effectively to serve individual and collective needs. Although many schools aspire to create such a warm, supportive, caring learning environment to encourage risk-taking and stimulate achievement, I know of none that do it better than in our close community of motivated students and caring adults.

In a recent report from The Harvard School of Graduate Education, Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern for Others and the Common Good through College Admissions, one recommendation is for college admissions offices to look for students with a greater ethical engagement and attention to the common good. Overall, the report is recommending revising the basis on which students should most appropriately be assessed for selective college admissions. With the inundation of applications from students with extraordinary test scores complementing a comprehensive checklist of standard activities, clearly something else is necessary for the most selective colleges and universities to sort out the best from the rest.

My parental conversation and accompanying research overview affirmed Pat Young’s seminal vision to integrate accelerated academics which challenge our students to extend beyond their comfort zone with social and behavioral expectations much higher than our popular society’s ambivalent norms.

Although many schools aspire to create such a warm, supportive, caring learning environment risk-taking

to and

encourage stimulate

achievement, I know of none that do it better than in our close community of motivated students and caring adults.

Every article between these pages from STEAM to Project Blessing are examples of our mission in action, fostering ethically aware students with attention to the common good built into their DNA. Enjoy the highly interactive and interpersonal photos displayed within this magazine. I learn something new practically every day and hope you learn more about Stanwich as you continue reading.

Charles Sachs, Head of School

1 Competence, Autonomy, and Relatedness: A Motivational Analysis of Self-systems Processes (Connell & Wellbourn 1991) 2 Resknick et al. 1997 3 Baumeister & Leary 1995 4 Schaps, Battistich, & Soloman 1997 www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 3

From the Board of Trustees Commitment & Collaboration

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e are pleased to write to you as the new Co-Chairs of the Board of Trustees, and are excited about the opportunity to lead a talented and dedicated group of trustees. We both believe that with commitment and collaboration, we can make a meaningful impact on the school’s success in the coming months.

We take the reins from Steve Lorenz who led the Board with a steady hand during a time of transition. During Steve’s tenure, the Board oversaw the integration of the full Stanwich program on the Greenwich campus and managed the process that led to the appointment of Charlie Sachs as the new Head of School. Steve devoted extraordinary energy, expertise and time as a Board member and we thank him immensely for his service to the school.

Since September, the Board has been extremely busy on a variety of fronts.

The Board reviewed the Stanwich Mission Statement and Vision Statement (collectively referred to as the Mission).

While the essence of the Mission as originally conceived by Pat Young is immutable, the articulation of the Mission should occasionally be reviewed and updated to reflect the natural evolution of the school.

Therefore, after extensive discussion and with input from administration, faculty and Mrs. Young, the Board has approved a new articulation of the Stanwich Mission (opposite page).

With the goal of refining and enhancing the school’s well-established, rigorous curriculum, a comprehensive review of the academic program is underway. Key faculty leaders at all levels are spearheading a project to map the academic and values curriculum in order to minimize redundancy in the academic sequence, develop a more consistent progression and more active student engagement

with character and leadership development, and more clearly emphasize the vertical sequence of skills acquisition in writing, public speaking, and technology.

A Task Force — comprised of Board members, administrators, faculty and parents — has been established to investigate the feasibility and desirability of adding the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program to the Senior House, although its work is in the early stages.

We are pleased with the early success of the Annual Fund Campaign, which is attributable to our dedicated faculty and trustees — both at 100% participation — and at this stage, over three-quarters parent participation. We are deeply gratified by this expression of support for the school and thank you for your generosity.

The Board reiterates our commitment to ensure the growth and success of Stanwich.

Much has been accomplished in the school’s short history, but there is much more to be done. As we approach the months and years ahead, we are inspired by the myriad individuals who make our community so special — teachers who know and cherish their students, students who eagerly anticipate the school day, parents who support their children’s personal as well as academic growth, and alumni who continue to think of Stanwich as “home.”

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we thank you for your continued support of Stanwich. We look forward to working with you to advance this unique and precious institution.

We are inspired by the myriad individuals who make our community so special — teachers who know and cherish their students, students who eagerly anticipate the school day, parents who support their children’s personal as well as academic growth, and alumni who continue to think of Stanwich as “home.”

Naomi Azrak & Andy Richard, Co-Chairs

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Stanwich Heart

Our Mission The Stanwich School provides an accelerated academic program within a community that inspires students to be their best, help others be their best, and make God’s world a better place.

The Stanwich School Experience The Stanwich School is a coeducational, independent, college-preparatory school serving students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Our supportive community of faculty and parents is dedicated to educating the whole student — mind, body and spirit.

At Stanwich, exemplary faculty deliver focused, individualized attention that challenges students to achieve their personal best. The academic experience is enriched by vibrant visual and performing arts programs, a competitive yet inclusive athletics program, and meaningful service learning.

Stanwich holds its students not only to high academic standards, but also to high ethical standards.

These ethical standards are based on the shared values of the Jewish and Christian traditions, as expressed in the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. Our distinctive “values curriculum” embraces students of all faiths and backgrounds, and emphasizes the “Stanwich Seven” virtues: Courage, Compassion, Commitment, Wisdom, Honesty, Forgiveness and Joy. As Stanwich students mature, we expect them to become leaders in our community who, upon graduation, are equipped to succeed in college and lead lives of character and purpose.

www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 5

From the Parent Association

Janine Kennedy

President, Parent Association

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ur school is blessed with great families and faculty. The Stanwich Heart beats loud and strong every day. There is a huge connection between our children, families and faculty by the way we reach out and take care of each other. The Stanwich Seven of Commitment, Compassion, Wisdom, Courage, Honesty, Forgiveness and Joy are evident in each day, and I am honored and proud to be part of this very special school.

Stanwich’s Parent Association supports

the school in every possible way. We organize many social functions and contribute when needed. As mentioned before, we have organized coffee mornings, cocktail parties, helped with refreshments for Back To School Nights, supported parents and faculty with educational talks, the Book Fair, Spirit Day, Trivia Night, decorated school dances, organized special assemblies for the students in Primary and Intermediate Houses and have produced great Spirit Wear. We draft and send weekly parent emails, make sure that each new family has a host family, show constant appreciation to our faculty, and help with library, service learning and sustainability efforts.

We look ahead to the second half of the school year with great excitement! This year, The Stanwich School turned 18. Happy Birthday Stanwich! We kicked off 2016 with a busy January that saw Parent Education talks, a well-attended Service Learning

Fair, and Charter Day Celebrations where we officially welcomed Charlie Sachs as our Head of School. February brings a Faculty Appreciation lunch that is made and presented to the faculty by the parents. The rest of the year will be filled with movie nights, a spring formal, more special assemblies, an all school art show, Pinot and Paint (parents only), the PA Spring Luncheon, musicals, dramas, concerts, and numerous Field Days.

To top it off, we have the biggest party of the year – the Annual School Benefit on April 29! We are happy to say that former Stanwich teacher David Kantor will be performing with his awesome band.

From the above, you can tell we are hard at work supporting the school and having fun at the same time. If anyone is interested in joining the PA Board for 2016 -2017, please feel free to reach out to Jenn Frascella, our current PA Vice President.

See Page 37 for Upcoming Special Events!

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Stanwich Heart

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1-4 R osemary Wells at the Book Fair 5 Dog Walking Fun 6 Trivia Night 7-8 C harter Day Cocktail Party

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Fall 2015/Winter 2016 7

Life at the Lower School

Meaghan Mallin

Associate Head of School Head of Lower School

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often say that I have the best view in the house from my office in the main building. My office windows are a portal into the joy we share in big and little moments throughout each day at school.

It begins with morning arrival, where I catch a glimpse of our dedicated teachers greeting our children with big smiles, hearty handshakes, and enthusiastic welcomes, regardless of the weather or how busy the day ahead might feel. I see our students romp up the stairs, their faces lit up with the excitement of seeing a

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friend, laughing with a teacher, or simply just because they are looking forward to another great day at Stanwich ahead. I see the magic of play unfold each and every day on our hill and playground. There is nothing quite like the sound children make when they run out to recess; it is the sound of sheer delight! I watch their smiles as they throw a football with their teacher, toss a Frisbee with a pal, or, enjoy the simple pleasure of making it across the monkey bars. And throughout the week, I see our youngest ones walking over from Wildwood full of excited chatter and big smiles, excited to be up at “the big school” as they affectionately call it.

Of course, the joys we share as a Lower School community stretch far beyond the vantage point from my office windows. Our students have learned and grown immeasurably inside and outside of their classroom walls in these past weeks and months.

They have given their all to their academic

pursuits, pushed hard on the athletic field, shared their creative talents through art and music, honed their public speaking skills at our daily assemblies, and exercised their moral compasses in our values classes. And this learning and joy even stretched beyond our walls, as they engaged in field trips everywhere from the local police station, to Philadelphia, to Mohonk Mountain House, to spreading holiday cheer through the gift of song while visiting residents at Nathaniel Witherell. Our children are living out the Heart of Stanwich each day, being their best, helping others be their best, and making God’s world a better place.

Walk through the buildings here on any given day and you will see it: the joy of Stanwich. It resonates throughout all that we do and is palpable in our classrooms, hallways, and above all, in the faces of our children. What a view we have, to see our children thriving in a school where they are happy each and every day!

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Kindergarten math time

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G rade 1 exploring Greenwich Audubon

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Grade 2 buoyancy lesson

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Grade 3 on an incline

9-10 G rade 6 discovering Mohonk Mountain 11-13 Grade 4 Civil War Wax Museum 14

G rade 5 enjoying Lake Placid

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Life at the Upper School

Jerome Murphy

Head of Upper School

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hile our students were busy engaging their minds preparing for exams, our community continued to demonstrate its spirit through its commitment to giving back and helping others. In addition to our Grade 7 and 8 students devoting their service efforts to assisting local organizations in preparing for the holiday season with needed supplies, students led food and toy drives and volunteered their time throughout the fall season helping the less fortunate in our community.

Our Senior House students also showed their Stanwich Heart by supporting the school in its ongoing commitment to Project Blessing.

I commend the students who signed to up to be part of our newly formed Project Blessing Advisory Board. Under the direction of Shaun Fletcher and founding former Head of School, Pat Young, even more of our students will have the opportunity to engage in these wonderful projects—all of which speak to our students’ intrinsic desire to give back! Further supporting our mission to make God’s world a better place, our Senior House students continue to work on their Moral Leadership Projects, an initiative which allows our 10th graders to create an independent cause or to align themselves with a concept that is meant to identify a need and help those who are less fortunate in the world. Our 11th graders are now in the process of putting their 10th grade ideas and visions into action to make the world a better place.

In addition to the interest our students have shown for Project Blessing, it has been a joy to see how our Seniors House students have connected with some of our other new Enrichment programs. Our Robotics team continues to work together after school, as

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they prepare for their upcoming regional competition versus other New England independent schools in April. Our committed Model UN students have also been gathering after school, as they prepare for their first competition in May at the UN building in New York City. Our newly formed Yearbook committee has also drawn attention, as students gather weekly to learn about publishing and to provide materials and insight into this year’s school yearbook. Including additional programs such as Performing Arts, Open Art Studio, and Student Ambassadors club, our new Enrichment programs have allowed our Senior House students to connect with interests and skill sets that further their development and growth (and enhance their high school transcripts as well!).

More importantly, perhaps, our Enrichment programs have allowed students to work together across grade levels and help foster a vibrant after school community.

Our Junior House students have also enjoyed engaging in new elective offerings this term. It has been wonderful to see our 7th and 8th graders engaged weekly in such offerings as Forensics and Debate, Psychology, Vocal Ensemble, and Math Enrichment, to name a few. These programs allow our middle school aged students the opportunity to work with different peer groups to explore individual interests outside of the classroom. Of equal importance, our Junior House electives help kids connect with interests and skill sets that are not always identifiable through their daily academic experience.

Even while our students have been busily engaged in these new offerings, our Upper Schoolers have also shown their

commitment to developing their “body,” as evidenced by a fall sports season that saw wonderful achievements from our boys’ and girls’ soccer and football teams, and helped promote a palpable sense of school pride within the student body. Under the direction of our Athletic Coordinator, Gary Bingham, we look forward to an exciting winter season, as our teams in basketball, squash, and volleyball prepare to compete against our Fairchester league opponents.

In celebrating the school’s emphasis on mind, body, and spirit, we cannot overlook the influence our Triskelion Cup competition has had on our Senior House students this year.

Now in its second year, our three houses – Stowe, Twain, and Hale – compete in monthly events for prizes and for possession of the Triskelion trophy awarded at the end of the year to the House that has accumulated the most points over the course of the school year.

Last, but certainly not least, we celebrate and give thanks for all of the wonderful social opportunities our students have enjoyed this term. Under the direction of Gary Dunn, our active Student Government has worked hard to enhance student life. When we reflect on the events from the 1st term: the JH Sleepover, Halloween dance, Winter Formal, trip to the NY Yankees game, and Student/ Faculty basketball game, to name a few, our students have clearly managed a healthy and active menu of social opportunities.

As we reflect on the first half of the school year, we should also take time to give thanks for being part of such a special community here at Stanwich. Our children are so fortunate to be part of a school family that truly cares for them and always has their best interests at heart.

Stanwich Heart

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1-2 G rade 7 “Fun Tech Tuesday!�

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Grade 9 NASA Mock Disaster Simulation

4-5 Triskelion Cup competition 6

Upper School Winter Concert

7-8 G rades 11 & 12 Moral Leadership Program trip to Mountain Lakes Park 9 10 www.stanwichschool.org

Grade 9 trip to Heifer Farm International

10 Grade 8 students in the science lab Fall 2015/Winter 2016 11

Lower School Physical Education Rob Higle

Director of Physical Education

Here’s what’s keeping us active in PE classes: Ladder Golf Gaga Ball Gymnasium Games Soccer Ultimate Frisbee Team Handball Field Hockey Badminton Pickleball

Volleyball Basketball Rock Climbing

Flag Football Spartan Challenges Running Fitness Stations Floor Hockey

Rye Sports Photos • www.ryesportsphotos.com

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Stanwich Heart

“You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.”

–Michael Jordon

www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 13

Upper School Athletics

The Girls’ Soccer team ended the season with a record of three wins and three losses. We were fortunate to have two travel team players who demonstrated good leadership and were able to control the midfield as well as being our main goal scorers. Our goalies, strikers and sweepers were forceful, winning many tackles, and were able to get the ball to the midfielders. In the last three games, the girls outscored their opponents, recording sixteen goals to nine. The team should be congratulated on their improved skills and performance.

girls’ soccer coaches bingham & stephens

fall sports report 14 Fall 2015/Winter 2016

Stanwich Heart

football

Girls’ Soccer Mia Simonsen • Football and Boys’ Soccer photos, Rye Sports Photos • www.ryesportsphotos.com

coaches katona, mandia & murphy

It was another successful season for the Spartans on the soccer field this fall with the boys posting a 5-2 record. While the Spartans dropped their first game, the boys came together and won five of their final six games of the season. The Spartans got on the winning track with a victory over Windward, and followed up that victory with wins over Wooster and Hackley. After a defeat to Rippowam-Cisqua, the Spartans got on a roll to end the season with wins against Brunswick and Whitby. The final game was a thrilling 2-0 win versus Whitby, as the Spartans scored two goals in the second half to claim the victory. All in all, it was a great season as they boys came together, played hard and played for each other. They were extremely unselfish and fought until the final whistle.

sailing

coaches weatherseed & kelly

www.stanwichschool.org

The Spartan football team used their heart, understanding of sportsmanship, and the respect they developed for each other and the game of football all season long. Despite facing larger and more experienced opponents, the players consistently gave their best effort. Players came to practice each day eager to learn, have fun, and always striving to meet the expectations of their coaches. At the end of every practice and game, each player made it a practice to shake each coach’s hand to thank them for their time and efforts. As coaches, our message to the players was consistent all season: we don’t judge success by the results on the scoreboard; we measure success by each player’s growth contributing to the team’s growth, by how well payers handle adversity and conflict, by the level of commitment shown, and by determining the level of respect shown by players toward each other, their opponents, and the officials.

boys’ soccer coach cardarelli

The Stanwich sailing team had a fantastic fall season in the 420 fleet. All 12 dedicated sailors learned essential sail theory, rigging, and tuning techniques based on different wind speeds. The team sailed in a variety of conditions up to 15 knots of sustained wind with rolling waves that made for some unforgettable surfing. As a result of their combined effort, the team has improved their boat-handling skills and gained the confidence to skipper and crew while responding to the dynamic weather patterns found on Long Island Sound. This group of young sailors mastered the skillset necessary to sail upwind and downwind while negotiating wind shifts and strong currents. By the end of their season, the team was fleet racing inside Riverside Harbor and putting into practice the various right-of-way rules.

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Upper School Athletics

national champions

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Stanwich Heart

Stanwich Wins National Middle School Squash Title Team Values Drive Championship Win!

The Stanwich School’s squash team walked away as the Boys’ Division III champions at Yale University for the U.S. Middle School Tournament. Congratulations are in order for the focused and determined team of Harrison Azrak, Ashley Hatstadt, Nikita Kovalev, Blake Newcomer, Max Orwicz, and Cameron Paradiso.

“The players used their grit, experience, and good judgment to win the title,” said Coach Merilyn Stephens This is the second time Stanwich has taken the national title for squash, with the first honor won in 2010.

www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 17

News By Laura Dianis

A+ for STEAM Expo

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t Stanwich’s fall STEAM Expo, 27 popular science, technology, engineering, arts, and math workshops kept attendees engaged in thought-provoking discovery at the 1-day educational showcase. Offerings such as Energy Power Play, Spy Detective & Fingerprinting, Wartime Intel: Breaking Math Codes, and Environmental Engineering had students engaged in learning during the dynamic Expo hosted at The Stanwich School on Saturday, October 24. The annual event featured more than two dozen hands-on, energizing workshops for 150 academically curious children in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 from all over Fairfield and Westchester counties.

“Children in the workshop were presented with two or three puzzles that they needed to explore with a partner.

They devised their own conjectures, looked for patterns and explored the connections between math and nature,” said Libby Kappler, Lower School Math Enrichment Specialist talking about the Art of Ancient Math Puzzles workshop she offered. “Our project was similar to a typical day in Grade 5 math class, so I was really highlighting how a typical Stanwich math class is run.”

Attending the Science of Singing workshop, fourth-grader Sol Hochman said, “Dr. Worra had a model of the vocal chords which helped us to learn how people are able to sing notes.”

Talking about the Squid Dissection workshop, fellow fourth-grader Kay Lentini remarked, “I used the squid’s pen and wrote my name with the squid ink. I also learned that squid are invertebrate animals.”

To round out the experience, parents attended a keynote panel discussion on “Discovering and Developing Your Child’s Gifts,” offered by Dr. Jerry Brodlie, pediatric psychologist and head of psychology at Greenwich Hospital.

Following the keynote, parents attended one of three insightful, thought-provoking workshops on the topics of “Simple Steps to Avoid Environmental Toxins,” “Environmental Engineering: Improving Children’s Lives in Rwanda,” and “7 Ways to Support Your Student’s Study Practice & Keep Your Sanity.”

According to Stanwich Parent Melinda Lorenz, organizer of STEAM Expo, nearly 70% of the students in attendance came from other schools. For all of the attendees, “STEAM Expo engaged students in intellectually stimulating brain games,” said Lorenz. “While it was an afternoon of excellent academic enrichment, for many of the parents, it was an opportunity to see Stanwich’s stellar faculty in action.”

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Congratulations to the

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students in Grades 3 through 8 (2014-15) who were recognized by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth!

To qualify for CTY, students must place in the

95th

percentile - or higher - in math and/or verbal testing.

Pillars of Stanwich The Stanwich Seven values — commitment, compassion, wisdom, courage, honesty, forgiveness and joy — are intrinsic components of the daily Stanwich School experience for students, faculty and parents.

To visually represent these values, all of the school’s students and faculty affixed their thumbprints to 18 pillars encompassing the Stanwich Seven and the Heart of Stanwich: Be the best you can be, help others be their best, and make God’s world a better place.

This colorful and inspirational sculpture garden now beautifully greets visitors as they enter the campus’ main driveway.

Stanwich Heart

Stanwich is Committed to Parenting With Parents Stanwich kicked off a year of Parent Education events in October with an inspiring workshop led by Laura Gauld, author of the summer read for Stanwich parents, Parenting: The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have. Gauld captivated an audience of over fifty parents with a message that true education springs from reestablishing a commitment to character, attitude and purpose. Her presentation was filled with funny anecdotes and practical advice on how to deal with the daily challenges of parenting and left parents energized and excited to try to put some of her ideas into action at home.

Stanwich is fortunate to have a long-standing relationship with Laura Gauld, and her husband and co-author Malcolm Gauld, who have served on Stanwich’s advisory board and were instrumental in working with founder, Pat Young, to form the Stanwich Seven values.

In response to feedback from a number of parents who attended the October workshop, the Parent Education Committee has coordinated with Laura Gauld and Pam Hardy, The Biggest Job Coordinator, to bring our community a very special opportunity to help parents get on the same page. Because we bring different backgrounds, values and visions with us to our parenting experience, we need a common vision for raising our kids, and we need shared principles to support and drive that vision. On Saturday, February, 20, Stanwich will host an early evening workshop and dinner for couples who would like to work on getting on the same page with each other. Please stay tuned for more details.

–Saskia Reilly, Parent Association Parent Education Chair

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Saturday, February 20, 4:30pm - Parenting: Getting on the Same Page Couples workshop with Laura and Malcolm Gauld and Pam Hardy Early April - Values Education: The Home/ School Connection Stay tuned for more details

Mathletes Head to the Fairfield County Math League Six Upper School students are putting their mathematical abilities to the test six times this school year as part of the Fairfield County Math League – Sam Eichmann, Niaomi King, Brandon McClean, Jenny Matute, Helen Wang, and Arthur Wang.

The FCML meets are held six times a year at Wilton High School where students from each school attempt challenging problems, both individually and as a group.

The top 12 teams will qualify for a state-wide meet in April at Greenwich High School. www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 19

News

Some Enchanted Forest

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t was “some enchanted afternoon” when a group of 60 students ranging from Grades 1 through 11 performed at the Junior League of Greenwich’s Senior Breakfast and Enchanted Forest event at the Greenwich Hyatt. In addition to family and friends, students were accompanied by faculty members Caroline Worra, Kreg Gotschall, Kerry Gotschall, and Morgan Murphy. The annual fundraiser featured decorated trees, gingerbread houses, children’s and family events, and drew 3,500 attendees over the two-and-a-half day event.

According to Kristen Kratky, Junior League of Greenwich volunteer, Stanwich School’s performance contribution was well-received by all attendees. “We can’t thank you enough for sharing your students with the Greenwich senior community. The performances from your three choirs were a big hit with all of the attendees,” said Ms. Kratky.

Stanwich’s Caroline Worra reflected on the day saying, “We witnessed magical moments as the seniors looked endearingly at the young students and listened gleefully to their pure singing voices. There were numerous seniors who waved their hands in the air in delight with each note. The success of the event exceeded our expectations.”

In addition, a group of generous Stanwich parents purchased the school’s tree, which beautifully graced the Admissions foyer during the holiday season.

The Gift Is In The Giving An essential part of the school’s mission is to “promote awareness of and service to others.” Instilling a commitment to volunteerism among the students and parents is an integral part of the school’s educational goals. In an effort to brighten the holiday season for residents of Nathaniel Witherell, Stanwich students performed a number of songs at the short-term rehab and skilled nursing center.

On two Friday afternoons in December, Lower Schools students spent time with the residents, singing in the center’s assembly room.

The Primary House Stage Dazzlers and Spirit Singers (15 students) performed 15 songs. The Intermediate House Singing Spartans, (45 students), sang seven songs that spread the Hanukkah and Christmas spirit including two songs featuring each of them with solos and choreography and a medley of eight Christmas carols during which the residents were invited to sing along. As a memento of their visit, the students presented letters and handmade holiday cards to the residents.

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Stanwich Heart

Level Up Village Partnership Creates a Global Perspective

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hen Stanwich students began their first 3D printing class with Level Up Village in the fall of 2014, they sent videos to their global partners in Mali about themselves, their families, their pets and hobbies such as riding horses, sailing and skating. Then it was their turn to watch the video letters sent from their global partners in Mali.

When the first boy in Mali introduced himself to his Stanwich partner, he set the tone for the whole semester. “Hello William. This is my donkey and behind me is the field I’m in charge of.” As the boy spoke, the children at Stanwich could see that his classroom had a dirt floor and open walls. Then when the next girl spoke, the students learned that there was little electricity where they lived because there were only three solar panels for the entire town, and that rather than turning on a faucet, she had to fetch water from a well.

Beyond the Classroom It is easy for schools to say that they are educating their students with the softer skills for life beyond the classroom, but to actually do this is quite a challenging task.

Technology has changed the way we need to educate our students. Education today goes beyond rote memorization and facts.

All of those facts we used to teach are now easily accessible through a quick tap of a button. It is not enough to provide rigorous academics and cutting-edge technology.

We also need to help our students develop a strong moral compass, with an understanding and emphasis on global citizenship. By partnering with LUV, our students are able to further develop and grow those softer 21st century skills.

“It gave us a different perspective. What we saw as half-empty, they saw as half full.”

Stanwich students are paired with students taking the same class in one of LUV’s global partner schools in Mali, Mumbai and Haiti. Through a combination of discussion, hands-on activities and interactive media, students learn about the daily lives of their partners and work with them to solve a real-world problem. The Stanwich students also learned first-hand about issues in other countries when a LUV class had to be changed because of the Ebola outbreak.

Stanwich was scheduled to partner with Liberia for a LUV class, but because of Ebola and the banning of public gatherings, that class was postponed.

Running LUV courses as part of our after school enrichment program has allowed us to expand our STEAM offerings, as well as our values and moral leadership programs in a meaningful, authentic way.

LUV courses teach our students new

skills such as app development or the dissection of insects and frogs as a means to learn about the human body and organs systems. Even more important, by video conferencing and the exchanging of video messages, our students are connected to peers in other countries who are working on the same STEAM projects.

In addition to training Stanwich teachers, LUV provides a fully developed curriculum for its courses. The focus of the curriculum is how technological tools, in conjunction with critical and creative thinking, can be used to solve problems. A portion of the tuition that Stanwich families pay for LUV programming funds the courses and supplies for our global partners and furthers STEAM education in the developing world.

Global Perspective For students to acquire a deeper understanding of the world and true global perspective, just learning about other countries is not enough. Students need to connect with students like themselves in these countries. The LUV programming made this possible. Months after the course, the Stanwich students were asked what they remembered about their global partner school in Mali and what they learned during their LUV class. A fourth grader summed up the whole experience, “It gave us a different perspective. What we saw as halfempty, they saw as half full. We have to be grateful for what we have and not upset with what you don’t have. It doesn’t mean anything to you as when you see it with your own eyes, connected to you, and this is real and they do need help.”

— Ilana Grady, Director of Wildwood Cottage and Assistant Head of Lower School

Flag Football Fun This fall both the Stanwich Greenwich Flag Football teams, Seahawks and Lions, won the Super Bowl for the respective Levels A and B. The teams were Stanwich 4th and 5th graders, and the Seahawks were coached by Michael Breheney and Jamie Benincasa.

The Seahawks finished 8 in 1, and played the team they lost to for the Super bowl, and won.

The Spartan Bowl, played on Stanwich Field in November, saw Stanwich 2nd and 3rd graders – The Stanwich Saints, coached by TJ Ramirez – play a very close game against the 4th and 5th graders. www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 21

People By Laura Dianis

Oh Doctor!

Michelle Wakim ’17 is a lot like the typical teenager — she arrives to school by 7:45am, attends a full course load of classes, checks in with her friends during her free periods, and heads to volleyball in the afternoon before going home to study.

Unlike the typical teen, this past summer Michelle woke early, took a train from Old Greenwich to Grand Central, then a subway to Columbia University. Michelle’s summer was consumed by her internship at the neuroscience department at Columbia where she wrote a paper on the positive effects of statins in stroke patients that is in the process of being published. We recently sat down and talked to Michelle about her experience and plans for the future.

Who did you work with at Columbia?

I worked with a group of medical students under the supervision of Dr. Bruce, in the neuroscience department. There were four people working in my group; two medical students, one undergraduate, and myself.

What surprised you the most?

I was surprised about the intensity of the field. We would meet with patients and we had to keep our calm, no matter what the situation was. We had to get information (from the patients) even if it was uncomfortable.

Will you study to be a neurosurgeon?

The internship made me realize that neurosurgery is not for me. It’s too in-depth. I’ve always wanted to be a surgeon, so I want to be a plastic surgeon or work in general surgery — maybe a little bit of both.

Any idea about college?

As much as I would like to go to an Ivy, I don’t think I would like the pressure. In my cultural Middle Eastern background, you’re expected to be a doctor or a computer scientist. I do want to be a surgeon, but right now, I want to get through my MCATs and see where that takes me.

What’s next?

I applied for an internship to work with Dr. Rick Buchola in the genetic lab at Yale. It would be five to six days a week studying DNA, how to use centrifuges, and how to understand chromosomes purely.

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Participating in Irish dance since the age of 5, Sophomore Maeve Sebold took 9th place at the New England Region Irish Dance Championships held in Providence, Rhode Island. Maeve qualified to compete at the World Irish Dance Championships to be held this March in Glasgow, Scotland.

This holiday season, Lower School students Isabella Long and Caroline Volkwein performed the role of Marzipan on Point in the Nutcracker at the White Plains Performing Arts Center. Freshman Daniella Sushko also danced in the performance.

DAVID WOOD By the Numbers A quick look at this accomplished Grade 8 musician:

1+ Favorite style of music: classical. Plus everything else.

2 Number of instruments he plays: Piano and cello 3 Favorite composers: Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and Beethoven 5-40 Minutes to play one song 8.5 Age he started playing piano 11-14 Hours he practices per week 30+ Professional performances Limitless Pieces he has memorized ALEXANDER GARDNER, a Junior at Stanwich, sails at a near-professional level all year round, while balancing it with his academic life at school.

Alex takes two Advanced Placement classes, AP English and AP History, in addition to the regular classes giving him a full course load.

Alex is looking forward to the future. “I want to get into a good school and I want to go for business and law,” he told The Stanwich Post.

Because Alex sails, he has the added challenge of balancing his sailing life with his academic life.

“Sailing for me is the most important thing …The feeling of being out on the water and the serenity of sailing gives me pure bliss,” he gushed.

Alex’s life is like sailing; he will use the wind to go in any direction he wants to go. Although school has been a little rocky, he knows a smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.

– Samantha Erfe, contributor to The Stanwich Post www.stanwichschool.org

Alex Gardner (pictured center) at the fall High School Keel Boat Race at the Stamford Yacht Club.

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 23

People

Music and drama teacher by day, opera star by night! Stanwich’s Dr. Caroline Worra has a long list of accomplishments in her professional career, including a Grammy nomination, and has been hailed by Opera News as “one of the finest singing actresses around.”

In addition to a performance with the Boston Lyric Opera as Abigail Borden in Lizzie Borden at Tanglewood, Caroline recently performed in the opera Amleto at Opera Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her performance in Amlet also aired on 350 radio stations across the country. Dr. Worra also worked with John Astin (yes, Gomez from the Addams family), in Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss with the Baltimore Concert Opera.

In January, Caroline starred as Hanna Glawari in Utah Opera’s production of The Merry Widow. And Caroline can teach her students that “practice, practice, practice” gets you places, because she was recently the soprano soloist for the Beethoven Mass in C at Carnegie Hall.

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The Stanwich School’s CFO and Business Manager, Patty Foster, recently served as a panelist at the Connecticut Chapter of Professional Women in Business focused on independent school campuses. Along with panelists from Hotchkiss School, Deerfield Academy, Pomfret School and Hackley School, Patty engaged the audience on the importance of security, fiscal oversight for facilities, and ensuring all students are allowed to stay worry free while focusing on learning.

Patty has more than 20 years in accounting and business management, working for KPMG Peat Marwick, MasterCard International and the NewPower Company prior to starting at Stanwich in 2004. She is a CPA and holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.

Congratulations to Director of Communications, Laura Dianis, for winning the grand prize (people category) in Greenwich Magazine’s photo contest for the image, Irish Eyes, taken at last year’s Grade 4 Immigration Simulation.

Faculty members Christi Wong and Nikki Miller showed their Spartan spirit at October’s SONO Half Marathon.

Photo: Kent Miles

www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 25

Gallery

digital photography

Upper School

For the first time this fall, we offered digital photography as an elective to Upper School students. Through various photography assignments, students learned both the technical and artistic fundamentals of digital photography. Students began the semester learning the basics of camera operation, and as the semester progressed, students used their photography skills to explore the elements and principles of design. For both their first and last assignments of the semester, students created presentations of a selected well known photographer and then re-created elements of that photographer’s style in their own work.

Students will continue to use photography as a way to explore our environment. Next on the agenda, students will continue to familiarize themselves with Photoshop Elements and the process of printing a great digital photograph. –Jane Graham, Upper School Art Teacher

Andria Warren 2019 26 Fall 2015/Winter 2016

Valerie Romo 2018 Stanwich Heart

Eric Altmann 2016

Daniella Sushko 2019

Isabel Vigale 2018 www.stanwichschool.org

Michelle Wakim 2017 Fall 2015/Winter 2016 27

digital photography

Clarita Valdes 2018 Lily Grady 2019

Ian Davis 2016 28 Fall 2015/Winter 2016

Stanwich Heart

Living the High Line On a delightful Friday afternoon, a group of a dozen students traveled into New York City with Upper School art teacher Jane Graham to visit the Whitney Museum and walk on the High Line.

“I took a lot of photos of a lot of interesting things,” said Lily Grady 2019. “On the trip, I also learned to take pictures of things using a higher ISO in darker environments.”

Niaomi King 2016 www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 29

Cover Story

30 Fall 2015/Winter 2016

Stanwich Heart

Full

A look at the inquisitive multicurricular learning taking place and the power of critical thinking, imagination and student engagement.

STEAM Ahead

By Meaghan Mallin

Eyes widening, jaws dropping, squeals of excitement … this is the new Lower School STEAM curriculum in action! This fall, students in Grades PreK-6 have embarked on this exciting and innovative new curricular initiative, which has our young ones rolling up their sleeves and diving into hands-on and inquiry-based STEAM projects.

As the acronym indicates, STEAM based learning allows our students to take on the roles of scientists, technologists, engineers, artists, and mathematicians, via dynamic and meaningful projects and challenges. While STEAM is regularly built into our curriculum throughout Grades PreK-12, in order to engage our students more directly this year, we have carved out designated time on Fridays where special STEAM challenges take place. It is a joy to watch our students’ faces light up while they engage in these exciting and hands on lessons. From using circuits to design and create motorized robots, to playing with polymers while making slime, to our Intermediate House students competing in challenges with their multi-grade level, collaborative STEAMteams, our STEAM lessons make the joy of learning come alive. Our students might not realize that while they are busy having a great deal of fun, there is vital learning and skill set developing happening that will serve them for years to come.

STEAM based projects tap into essential skills for our students to develop in order for them to become leaders and innovators in future years. The challenges that we are asking our students to tackle during STEAM time are helping them to develop key 21st century skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving, creative thinking, and adaptability. These activities are also helping them to develop key interpersonal skills, required for strong leadership. As they work with their peers towards a common goal, they are developing their ability to collaborate and cooperate with others, as well as to communicate clearly. All of these are skills widely recognized as the key qualities our children will need to be successful leaders throughout their education, and comprise the skillset colleges and employers will be looking for in the coming years. We are providing our students with the tools essential to their future success.

Of course, our students aren’t thinking about the long term when they are getting their hands messy, making new discoveries, figuring out a solution with a peer, and feeling the sense of accomplishment that comes when you successfully tackle a challenge. They are simply immersed in the joy of learning and the wonderful feeling that comes from stretching one’s mind to new heights.

www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 31

Cover Story FACULTY STEAM INSIGHTS There has been an explosion in the field of genetics.

In SCIENCE, we are unlocking so many secrets about the genomes of organisms, and how outside factors can affect how we express our genes. It’s exciting to talk about these new revelations in the classroom, giving students a peek into the world of biomedical engineering.

–Shannon Hubertis, Upper School Science Teacher

Today’s increased accessibility to TECHNOLOGY, combined with the burgeoning DIY movement in tech, has rapidly helped to break down gender and age stereotypes creating nearly limitless opportunities for everyone to expand their use of technology and apply it to global challenges.

–John Ramahlo, Director of Technology

“Project based education allows students to fail forward. Failure is central to ENGINEERING, and successful engineering is all about understanding how things break or fail. Our physics students experienced this when building a hovercraft. It failed four times before they experienced success.”

–Shaun Fletcher, Upper School Science Teacher

“In teaching ART there is an unlimited number of ways to solve the same problem. I can give the whole grade the same assignment, and each piece of artwork will look different. It celebrates creativity and imagination.”

A Closer Look At Our Projects Wildwood: CD Spinner Art Challenge: Design a CD spinner to test the property of centripetal force.

Our young ones put their hands to work to explore centripetal force and the magic of mixing lines and color through motion in creating their CD spinner color wheels. After successfully building and decorating their spinners, our Wildwood students witnessed some science within their spinners as two colors appeared to become one.

Wildwood: Slime Lab Challenge: Create messy madness in the Slime Lab! Our budding chemists rolled up their sleeves to measure, mix, and make predictions while creating their slippery substance. We call it playing with polymers, they call it slime!

Wildwood: Volcanoes Challenge: Create a chemical reaction to make a volcano explode!

Our young scientists delved into both chemical reactions and color experimentation when they exploded their very own volcanoes at Wildwood. This was clearly a favorite among our Wildwood students.

K – Grade 6: Marshmallow Architecture Challenge: Apply the design process to build the tallest freestanding structure possible using mini-marshmallows and toothpicks.

After each student designed his/her own blueprint plan, in small groups, students decided on a final plan, then built their tower. It was amazing to watch how different thinkers approached this task, and impressive to see even our youngest students meet this challenge head on, building some of our most successful structures.

PH and IH: Motorized Creations Challenge: Design and build a motorized creature or drawing machine Our Primary House students were challenged

–Leanne Bloom, Lower School Art Teacher

STEAM allows children to experience MATHEMATICS through the artistic beauty of nature, such as exploring the geometry of Mondrian’s work with a close eye on space and perimeter.

–Libby Kappler, Lower School Math Enrichment Teacher

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Stanwich Heart

with completing an electrical circuit between a motor and a battery pack, as well as to build a device for the motor to attach to.

Grade 1 & 2 students giggled with delight as their Drawbots jumped all over, creating colorful designs on paper, and the excitement of our Grade 3 students was palpable, as the Vibrobots they designed came to life when their motors turned on.

PH: Matter Matters!

Challenge: Explore the properties of matter via mixing particular materials to create a new substance.

Our grade 1&2 scholars explored the properties of matter through the science of creating GOOP and Cloud Dough. Through measuring, mixing, and a fair amount of mess, our students witnessed how matter can change before their very eyes. Our Grade 3 scientists had a tastier lesson on matter, in discovering how energy can cause matter to change while precisely mixing delicious materials to make their very own ice cream. Hands on learning at its best!

PH: Marble Runs Challenge: Work with a team to build a successful marble run using limited materials.

Students worked as mechanical engineers in collaborative groups in order to design and build their marble runs. Using various materials to create their runs, students tapped into key skills of anticipatory planning, critical thinking, and problem solving. There were great cheers of excitement each time a run was successful!

PH: Paper Aerodynamics Challenge: Design and build an aerodynamic paper airplane.

Students learned about aerodynamics as the study of how objects behave in the air and how forces in the air act upon them. After lessons on efficient design, students built their own airplanes and tested them to see which properties

made the aircrafts most aerodynamic.

GAINING STEAM

IH: Watercrafts Challenge: Collaborate with your fellow young engineers in your STEAMteam to design and then build a boat, using limited materials, that can float and hold weight.

Each group’s boat was tested in water in order to determine which STEAMteam built the strongest and most efficient watercraft.

Over the past few years, Upper School

IH: Stomp Rockets Challenge: Work with your STEAMTeam to design and build a paper rocket that will travel the farthest distance when launched.

After each team collaborated to plan and implement their design, the entire Intermediate House gathered on the hill to watch the rockets launch. Each launch was met with cheers and excitement, and after measuring each distance, a winning team was declared.

photography, engineering, physics, and

IH: Edible Vehicles Challenge: Work with your STEAMTeam to design and build a vehicle made entirely of edible parts.

After collaborating to create and build their vehicles out of edible materials including pretzel rods and cookies, the STEAMTeams entered the testing phase. A vehicle was considered a success if it could roll down an inclined plane.

IH: Paper Cup Walk Challenge: Collaborate with your STEAMteam to design and build a platform structure that can support the weight of an adult.

Students tapped into their engineering skills to create a platform using limited materials, including paper cups and cardboard. Once built, each platform was tested to see if it could withstand the weight of an adult.

Meaghan Mallin is Associate Head of School and Head of Lower School.

students have been gaining STEAM.

Both classroom-based and extra-curricular offerings in science, technology, engineering, arts and math have

been bolstered to include computer

programing, math competitions, digital robotics. “This whole STEAM movement has been a golden opportunity to push our students’ intellectual curiosity to a new level. The integration into our

traditional curriculum has proven to be

a very effective way to teach kids complicated concepts,” said Craig Bolotin, Stanwich’s educational technologist.

To keep their minds stretched, Stan-

wich’s robotics team went from a club into a competitive unit in only a matter

of months. Under the tutelage of Mr. Bolotin, a trio of Senior House students,

called Team Spartans, honed their C

programming skills and took an impressive eighth place finish in the 2015 New

York/New Jersey Botball Robotics Tournament. It was the team’s first entry into

a competition and saw them competing against teams from all over New England and the tri-state region.

“There was no adult interaction

allowed during the actual competition.

This required the kids to take ownership

of what they were doing,” said Jerome

Murphy, Head of Upper School. “The object of the game is to build a robot that will earn the maximum amount of points

by collecting and distributing poms or

ping pong balls across the board at various locations,” said Mr. Murphy. “The

students wrote programs and built the robots to successfully complete the various tasks laid out for them.”

Feeling confident with their computer

programming abilities, Team Spartans is looking forward to competing in its second

annual Botball Tournament this May in New Jersey. www.stanwichschool.org

—LAURA DIANIS

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 33

Stanwich Alumni Class of 2015

1

2

Class of 2015

3

1

V ictoria Slater ‘15 with her Connecticut College Sailing team at Halloween (second from left)

2

S am Varshisky ‘15 with his Fordham Water Polo team (bottom left of first row)

3

D ay After Thanksgiving Alumni Reunion

4

C lass of 2014 Alumni stopped by the Upper School during their winter break

SHARE!

S Tell us what you’ve been up to and share some photos with us! alumnirelations@stanwichschool.org

34 Fall 2015/Winter 2016

4

Class of 2014 Stanwich Heart

Project Blessing Update Project Blessing is The Stanwich School’s long term initiative that includes the creation of a school and a water system in Cybatanzit, a rural Rwandan community. Since 2008, Stanwich students have raised funds for the local villagers to purchase the mountain the village sits upon, built a freshwater well, created waste management and irrigation systems, and built a threeclassroom nursery school and playground.

A LOOK AT PROJECT BLESSING After receiving the Board of Trustees’ Humanitarian Grant in 2008, Upper School science teacher Shaun Fletcher traveled to Cybatanzit, Rwanda, where Project Blessing was born.

GOALS OF PROJECT BLESSING

ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY YEAR

• Build K–6 school: The Blessing School

2008 - Founded 2009 - Land purchased 2010 - Water Well installed 2011 - Kindergarten classroom #1 2012 - Kindergarten classroom #2 2013 - Kindergarten classroom #3 2014 - Kindergarten classrooms open 2015 - Foundation built for Grades 1, 2 & 3

• Provide educational resources for the Blessing School • Offer travel opportunities to Rwanda for students • Create a cultural exchange program

SUMMER 2016 - One World One Vision Partnership Stanwich students, trained by an ophthalmologist, will conduct eye exam field work screenings.

Results of the screenings will be used to provide local villagers with corrective lenses.

www.stanwichschool.org www.stanwichschool.org

Fall 2015/Winter 2016 35

SUPPORT THE GROWTH The Stanwich School

Thank you to the 2015-16 Annual Fund Campaign Leaders!

Trustee Advancement Chair Jon Yenor Annual Fund Campaign Co-Chairs Trustees: Naomi Azrak and Lisa Bailey Cassidy Class Captains Wildwood: Nathan & Nancy Hart Grade 1: Tony & Paige Recchia Grade 2: Tim & Kim Yantz Grade 3: Peter Maloney & Joli Gross

7%

ANNUAL FUND

82%

TUITION

11%

REVENUE FROM INVESTMENTS, FEES & OTHER

[ ] The Annual Fund

The Annual Fund supports the foremost priority of Stanwich: the student experience.

Annual Fund donations enhance the daily life of students by supporting faculty, innovative programs, personalized education and a supportive learning environment.

Your gift makes this possible. With your support, The Stanwich School will continue to thrive.

Grade 4: David & Alexandra Hochman Grade 5: Steven & Katey Goldberg Grade 6: Russ & Joan Mirabile Grade 7: Greg & Jessie Drennen Grade 8: Jon Yenor & Caroline Brecker Grade 9: Alan & Elizabeth Thomas Grade 10: Ward & Diane Davol Grade 11: Ed & Diane Sebold Grade 12: Susan Gardner LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

The Patricia G. Young Society..............$40,000+ Golden Rule Society................$30,000–$39,999 Triskelion Society.....................$20,000–$29,999 Founders Society ....................$10,000–$19,999 Headmaster Society....................$5,000–$9,999 Blue White Society......................$2,500–$4,999

“Support Stanwich” at www.stanwichschool.org to learn more about the Annual Fund 36Visit Fall 2015/Winter 2016

Stanwich Heart

SAVE THE DATES FEBRUARY February 26

Faculty Appreciation Lunch

MARCH March 8

US Talent Show

APRIL April 8

WW Movie Day

April 8

JH Spring Formal

April 15

PH & IH Movie Night

April 19

Spring Open House

April 21

Pinot and Paint for Parents

April 22

All School Art Show

April 29

Annual Benefit S

MAY May 5

Grandparents Day

May 6

SH Triskelion Cup Gala

May 13

JH Musical - Grease

May 18

PA Spring Luncheon S

May 20

SH Musical - The Wiz

May 20

JH Spartan BBQ & Bonfire

May 24

IH Spring Concert

May 26

US Spring Concert

JUNE June 1

PH Field Day

June 3

IH Field Day

June 2

Graduation S

June 7

IH Musical - Annie

June 9

US Advisory Flag Football & Picnic

June 10

Closing Ceremony

June 13-24

Camp Stanwich/Summer Institute

S

Alumni community welcome

The Stanwich School 257 Stanwich Road Greenwich, CT 06830

38 Fall 2015/Winter 2016

Illustration:Stanwich Veronica Turek, HeartGrade 8