Bulletin: The Miss Porter's School Magazine, Spring 2021 by Miss Porter's School

Be Informed

SPRING 2021

THE MISS PORTER’S SCHOOL MAGAZINE

www.porters.org

Kristabel will join the Nova Nine next year as the student head of school. Assistant Director of Admission, Multimedia Designer

Christina Yu

Ruth E. Mendes Associate Director of Digital Marketing and Communications

Diane R. Johnson, M.P.H. Chief Communications and Public Health Officer

communications@ missporters.org

Editor

Head of School

Kathleen Clute

Katherine G. Windsor, Ed.D.

Miss Porters School

Montse Galbany

ILLUSTRATION

Susan Martell Jenkin

Tamara Johnson Photography

Stephen Wang

Maureen McElhinney

Sarah Blanchard

Susan Martell Jenkin

Diane R. Johnson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kathleen Clute

PHOTO CREDITS

Ruth Mendes

COVER IMAGE

Ana D. Calciano ’07 Associate Dean of Students

Moth Design

DESIGN

Kirkwood

PRINTING

“Active listening is crucial to strengthening community. Recent events have made an immense impact on our student body. I’ve seen work from the Office of Equity and Inclusion with the help of alliance and affinity leaders [who are] giving guidance to what we want to do to cultivate belonging.”

60 Main Street Farmington, CT 06032

Kristabel Kenta-Bibi ’22

Letter from

Katherine G. Windsor, Ed.D. Head of School

• SPRING 2021 •

Informed Miss Porter’s Community, A head of school’s job is to make meaning of the landscape around her and use that knowledge to make decisions on behalf of the institution. This year, 2021, marks my 23rd year as a head of school and my 13th as head of our beloved Miss Porter’s. Because I have so much experience, one might imagine that I have everything I need to lead during the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racism in America. In many ways, I have been completely prepared and, in others, woefully unprepared. Given the unprecedented times, I often feel like I have more questions than answers, but in seeking answers, I am growing as an individual and a leader. Despite the challenges, the past year was filled with many successes, as highlighted in the pages that follow. We have stayed true to our mission and centered the students in all our decisions. In the first convocation of the year, I shared with the girls that to keep our community safe from COVID-19 and to ensure that everyone could experience a feeling of belonging, we would need to put “we before me.” I reminded the students that the virus did not discriminate based on whether you were a boarder or a day student or even your class year when it came to transmission. I also stated that we would need to be more intentional than ever to create community while masking and social distancing. I am thrilled to say that the girls stepped up to the challenge of building community at every turn.

The future is bright for Miss Porter’s School, not because we will eventually put COVID-19 behind us and return to normal, but rather because we will take what we have learned and put it beneath us to create a stronger foundation. We have approached this period focused on the call to action of our mission statement. We have been informed, bold, resourceful and ethical global citizens, and we have embraced the work our school needs to do to become anti-racist and, in doing so, shape a changing world. I can’t wait to welcome you back to campus as soon as it is safe and to show off the renovations to one of our oldest buildings, Main, which is now perfectly positioned for a new future. You will also be greeted by a head of school who herself has been changed by what she has experienced. I close with a quote from the Persian poet Rumi, which I think perfectly captures the paradox of leadership in a time when it is impossible to know all the answers and at a time when the most successful and influential leaders commit themselves to learning while leading: Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. Be safe and be well,

In this issue

People

Donor Profile

Leaders Belong Here

Ancient Profile

Nancy White Wheeler ’90 on why she put Miss Porter’s School in her will.

Meet our 2020-21 student leaders, the Nova Nine.

Dr. Meghan E. Brett ’94, hospital epidemiologist, shares her experiences on the COVID-19 front lines.

On Campus

A look at moments on campus.

Ancients gather for the school’s third annual Worldwide Sit-down Dinner.

A letter from Head of School Katherine G. Windsor.

A sampling of Ancient events.

Seen & Heard

Sneak Peek

The Zoom classroom of Elizabeth Simison.

Miss Porter’s School

Regulars

Graduation

The class of 2020 graduates online.

Sit-down Dinner

Student Awards

We recognize students who received academic awards in 2020-21.

Then & Now Past meets present.

Head of School

Faculty News

What our faculty members have been learning, doing and presenting.

Ancient Gatherings

Class Notes

Remembrances

All photos featured in the Bulletin were either taken prior to the COVID-19 outbreak or in accordance with Miss Porter’s School COVID-19 protocols. MPS adheres to the strictest COVID-19 guidelines in alignment with national, state and local health department recommendations.

Staying Informed Nurturing an equitable, just and anti-racist future.

Features

Safe and Informed

How to thrive during a pandemic.

03 In this issue

About our photography

• SEEN AND HEARD •

In a year that has seen a global pandemic, escalating racial tensions, a contested presidential election and more, in this Bulletin we have chosen to focus on one particular element of our mission — educating young women to become informed. If we are to “shape a changing world” in ways that are both impactful and ethical, if we are to make good on our Community Call to Action to enact change, then we must seek out and determine what is real and what is true and listen to the voices and stories that are so often ignored and left on the margins. We must stay #Informed. What does “being informed” mean to you? Share your images and stories on social media using the hashtag #Informed and tag us: @MissPortersSchool and @missporters FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM + TWITTER

Miss Porter’s School

Enjoy the issue.

Diane R. Johnson, M.P.H. | Chief Communications and Public Health Officer Kathleen Clute | Editor Ruth E. Mendes | Associate Director of Digital Marketing and Communications Christina Yu | Assistant Director of Admission, Multimedia Designer

P.S. YOU CAN REACH THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE AT ANY TIME AT:

communications@missporters.org

ies. nch

Seen and Heard

Sweet treats

A sam plin g

of M

Mu i’s

Ancient Mimi Kirk ’57 and Chief Advancement Officer Christine Pina cooked up a sweet surprise for boarders who were adapting to quarantine far from home last fall. Ms. Pina, Michael Bergin, Katherine Windsor and others tugged a red wagon full of “Mimi’s Munchies”— confections from Sweet Equations bakery — from dorm to dorm on Sunday evenings during fall trimester I to bring a little cheer to the girls.

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“I cannot thank you enough for the ways in which you have leaned into our health and safety protocols while prioritizing your relationships with one another.”

ce an st

WAY TO GO!

oc ial

Socce

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— From a November 18 all-school email from Chief Enrollment and Student Affairs Officer Liz Schmitt

all G nF eo l d ud

ame Day.

Game ON! All Founders League play may have been canceled, but three teams from Miss Porter’s were able to face off against Kent School at a special Game Day on November 7. It was a special treat for seniors from both schools.

With strict COVID-19 protocols in place, the field hockey, soccer and volleyball teams competed in front of parents and spectators watching on a livestream.

• SEEN AND HEARD •

So psyched to be back at afternoon activities!

Miss Porter’s School

WINTER MUSICAL

Two different casts starred in the school’s winter 2020 musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a funny and poignant look at the challenges of adolescence. Pictured here: Helena Lessne ’20.

07 Seen and Heard

SAFETY FIRST

When COVID-19 made indoor socializing risky, campus life moved outside. Thanks to the addition of camp chairs, Adirondack chairs and fire pits, the girls were able to read, study and enjoy each other’s company all fall.

The show must go on! Acadia Webb ’24 plays the flute at Demonstrations of Learning, fall trimester.

The Dance Workshop performs “Nova Caeli.”

Paul i na

Az zu

’2 1r el a

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• SEEN AND HEARD •

Callie Go dfr ey ’

. ub cl

ool’s elite 1,0 s ch 00 -p oi

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MPS Athletes Score Triple Crown The 2019-20 academic year was the most successful in the school’s athletic history, with the basketball, soccer, and swimming and diving teams capturing Founders League championships. The swimming and diving team also won the DII New England Championship for the second year in a row.

We also celebrated an individual Founders League Championship with Alex Poole ’20 taking home that prestigious award for cross country. Basketball standout Callie Godfrey ’20 joined the school’s elite 1,000-point club, and seven seniors signed to play college sports.

HELPING HEALTH CARE HEROES

Members of the class of 2020 directed their class gift of more than $1,000 to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center for the purchase of personal protective gear for hospital staff.

Miss Porter’s School

These Two Are Tops

Leslie Li ’21 signed with the University of Hartford to play Division I golf, and Natalie Godoy ’21 was named one of the region’s top 60 high-school players with an All-New England award in January.

Main gets a makeover! The heart of campus got bigger this year with the renovation and expansion of 60 Main Street. The venerable old building has been updated and enlarged for new generations of students who will enjoy its new dining, study and community spaces. The $22 million project was financed almost entirely by generous gifts from the Miss Porter’s School community.

Seen and Heard

60 M ain at th e rn tu

the of ury. cent

Staying Informed

Miss Porter’s School

Nurturing an equitable, just and anti-racist future

SARAH PORTER EMBRACED THE RADICAL NOTION THAT GIRLS DESERVE THE SAME EDUCATION AS BOYS.

“I think we’re headed in the right direction, but the work never stops.” MARIELA VAZQUEZ ’21

Staying Informed

STUDENTS LISTEN TO MADAME ATHENA CHANG ’92 PRESENT AT THE FEBRUARY 2020 COMMUNITY DAY.

Sarah Porter founded her school in 1843 because she embraced the radical notion that girls deserve the same education as boys. Now, nearly two centuries later, her successors are purposefully and intentionally working to eliminate structural and institutional practices that uphold systems of oppression. In essence, creating an anti-racist institution furthers her commitment by working toward a future that is more equitable, just and inclusive for all young women.

STUDENTS ENJOYING A SUNNY DAY IN FARMINGTON WHILE TAKING A BREAK FROM HISTORY CLASS.

MISS PORTER’S STUDENTS IN THE EARLY 1900S.

Miss Porter’s School

Sarah Porter was radically brave for her generation. She created space for girls and women when it was traditionally not accessible to them. “What Sarah Porter said at the beginning was that girls aren’t going to be defined by the stereotypes that society has of them,” said Susan Martell Jenkin, the school’s chief equity and inclusion officer.

Thus, it is reasonable to take the next leap and complete her vision that historically did not include all girls and all women. Ms. Martell Jenkin said, “This actually allows us to ask the intersectional question: ‘What about Black girls, what about Asian girls, what about LGBTQ students?’ We must challenge these assumptions if we are to live in the founding vision of Miss Porter’s School. We want to make sure that all young women have a sense of belonging at Porter’s.” One way the school is doing that is with a five-person Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) charged with identifying areas of inequity and creating ways for the

community to learn about and across socio-cultural identities, interrogate systems, and teach students to think critically about how they shape a changing world in an equitable fashion. Along with Ms. Martell Jenkin, Amanda Friedman was appointed as the school’s first dean of equity and community life last summer. The school also has two assistant deans of equity and inclusion and an equity and inclusion coordinator. “Building a sense of belonging demands that we are bold in our approach as we create an anti-racist and equitable institution,” said Head of School Katherine G. Windsor. “It means we have to do the work that others may think is risky. But by keeping the students at the center of our decision-making, we can only land on the right side of history. The time is now to be the leader that Sarah Porter would expect us to be. We must prepare our students to shape a changing world that must be changed.”

“Ancients leading at every level” The work to institute change is well underway at all levels. This includes more inclusive representation on the Board of Trustees and the Alumnae Board (AB), the recruitment and retention of employees of color, and the launch of a three-year diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiative led by Ancients (see p. 17). All members of the community — from students, to faculty and staff, and even parents — are being asked to commit to both learning and unlearning through personal development opportunities. At the Board of Trustees level, each committee has an anti-racist goal. The Investment Committee is focusing on the management of the endowment (see sidebar) through an anti-racist lens. At the January trustee meeting, Mellody Hobson, CEO of Ariel Investments, shared perspectives of how the school can incorporate inclusivity into the use and management of its financial resources. Ancients are also embarking on their own journey of discernment. The AB, for its part, recently voted to amend its bylaws and make the newly constituted DEIB committee a permanent standing committee. After completing training from the Disruptive Equity Education Project, the AB is now hosting the Foundational Series to encourage Ancients to have honest interpersonal dialogues about their experiences in Farmington.

“The time is now to be the leader that Sarah Porter would expect us to be. We must prepare our students to shape a changing world that must be changed.” KATHERINE G. WINDSOR

“It’s really incumbent upon us as an institution to recognize that the needs of our Ancient community around belonging change as different kinds of people come to the school and as each of them desires that their experiences here allow them to be their evolving and authentic selves,” said Christine Pina, chief advancement officer. “All of the experiences that make people individuals are much more amplified now than they have been in the past, so if we’re really talking about shaping a changing world, we have to think about our own institution first. And Ancients are asking us to do that.”

Reckoning with the past, looking to the future Deana Jones -Jean’s grandfather was a rural Georgian who didn’t learn to read until he was 65. Yet his drive to find better work and provide for his family “was the reason I was able to go to a Brooklyn school that prepared me to earn a scholarship to attend Porter’s, which prepared me to earn a college scholarship and eventually run my own business,” she said. Saba Brelvi ’91, a Muslim-American and daughter of Indian immigrants, knew she was different from most of her classmates at Miss Porter’s School in the late 1980s. “But I still somehow felt deeply that I belonged at the school and that the school belonged to me,” she said recently. “That’s a powerful feeling, and one that all MPS students deserve.” The two Ancients are now drawing on their own life stories to lead the Alumnae Board’s Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB). The panel’s members underwent coaching this winter as they prepare to host a series of listening sessions with Ancients about their experiences at school. “My hope is for us to hear, understand and honor the experiences that don’t make it into Bulletin or Class Notes,” said Ms. JonesJean ’99. “All of these stories represent part of the MPS legacy, and every Ancient voice is critical in helping us continue to evolve and pave the way for ALL of the women who will continue to shape our changing world.” The Alumnae and Development Office has retained the Disruptive Equity Education Project (DEEP) to help Ancients in planning, visioning and creating a DEIB road map over the next three years. “We heard from hundreds of Ancients last spring when there were so many racial tensions,” said Sarah Blanchard, director of alumnae relations. “There were a lot of hard stories about how they were treated when they were at school.” “If we can really do the hard and transformative work necessary to make MPS a more equitable and just institution,” said Ms. Brelvi, “I think we will be a stronger school and a stronger community of Ancients for doing so.”

Staying Informed

Community Call to Action Adopted in April 2019 by the Board of Trustees and School Leaders We are the living legacy of Sarah Porter. At a time when women were undervalued, she created an intentional community for young women to gain greater agency in their lives. In doing so, Miss Porter’s School supported future pioneers and leaders to reach their full potential. While Sarah Porter’s vision was radically brave in nature, it was not accessible to all women. In order to fully realize an inclusive vision of education for all young women, we must interrogate our history while cultivating the future of our community. Like our founder, we are both bold in our desire for change and limited by the scope of our experience. To expand Sarah Porter’s vision to be more fully inclusive and equitable, we must: 1

Commit to the work of building a school community rooted in the inherent worth and dignity of each member, with courage and integrity.

Grapple with the responsibility of enacting change, both within and beyond our time in Farmington.

Hold ourselves accountable for our own limitations, while forging a foundation for future leaders to fix the mistakes we leave behind.

Miss Porter’s School

In doing so, we contribute to a more just chapter in our institution’s legacy.

STUDENTS SHARE THEIR FINDINGS DURING THE FEBRUARY 2020 COMMUNITY DAY.

15 Staying Informed

STUDENTS LISTENING TO A COMMUNITY DAY SPEAKER IN THE FALL OF 2019.

Getting it right in Farmington From August through January, the OEI hosted nearly 40 workshops for students, faculty and staff and facilitated three all-school Community Days aligned with this year’s school theme of “Be Informed.” It has worked with the Office of Student Life to bring a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) lens to key programs like advising, class deans and grade-level programming. And, day in and day out, it has helped individuals listen to and learn from each other. Faculty have also pledged to be more equitable in their grading and teaching. Curricular materials and practices are being reviewed to ensure they are meeting the school’s call to action (see sidebar). Faculty have also been challenged to expose students to the broadest possible range of voices and perspectives. “The school has made it a priority for our faculty to examine this and has pushed us to make changes,” said Cate Rigoulot, an environmental science teacher and an advisor to AWARE, the campus’s Association for White Anti-Racist Education. She has brought an anti-racist lens to her classroom by exploring with students how closely racism is entwined with environmental issues, as people of color are disproportionately affected by pollution. On January 7, the day after a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, teachers made time to give students a chance to discuss and process what had happened. “At Porter’s, it’s been instilled in us that we should have these important conversations, even when it’s difficult,” said Wendy Wang ’21, of Hong Kong.

“The school has made it a priority for our faculty to examine [equity] and has pushed us to make changes.” CATE RIGOULOT

“I really appreciate how they dedicate time and space for very current and important conversations,” said Ms. Wang. When violent protests roiled her home city last fall, Liz Schmitt, chief enrollment and student affairs officer, and Ms. Martell Jenkin both reached out, asking what they could do to help, she said.

“I really appreciate how they dedicate time and space for very current and important conversations.”

traditions and the way it has adapted through nearly two centuries, credits it for the DEI work it is doing, and looks forward to becoming an active Ancient. Kristabel Kenta-Bibi ’21 is one of the three leaders of Sister2Sister, the affinity group for Black and African American students. “From my perspective, I have been welcomed since Day One, which is great,” she said. But for some Black New Girls, “there has been a hesitance about whether they feel welcomed or not. What’s great about the equity and inclusion office is that they want to address problems at hand through community meetings and one-on-one talks.” “Justice and equity as the pervasive issues of our time are things that our own country has not figured out yet,” says Ms. Friedman. “We are just a microcosm of that. I think that our school is invested in a meaningful and authentic way in trying to do the right thing and move our institution toward those aims. But it can’t happen without the collective responsibility of everyone in the community.”

WENDY WANG ’21

Students are finding connection, support and common identity in the school’s 10 affinity groups. “I think Porter’s is really growing into itself and into its mission,” said one of the leaders of SPECTRUM, an affinity group for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning and/or queer (LGBTQ+). “The school is on the right path.”

Miss Porter’s School

“I think we’re headed in the right direction, but obviously, the work never stops,” said Mariela Vazquez ’21, of Hartford, Connecticut. She’s the student head of diversity and belongs to the Black & Latinx Alliance and the HOLA affinity group for Hispanic and Latinx students. Ms. Vazquez finds a lack of socioeconomic diversity in the student body more concerning than its racial and ethnic makeup.

“When I came into the school, I felt a lot of cultural shock that was very scarring for me to go through at such a young age,” she said, noting that most students come from backgrounds far more suburban and affluent than hers. But she treasures the school’s

“I think that our school is invested in a meaningful and authentic way in trying to do the right thing and move our institution toward those aims.” AMANDA FRIEDMAN

Staying Informed

MISS PORTER’S GIRLS THEN AND NOW.

Trustees embrace DEI The Board of Trustees has embraced the school’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) by incorporating anti-racist goals into the full spectrum of its responsibilities. “Each committee is thinking about this issue and how we can be impactful,” said Board Chair Nancy K. Simpkins ’73. “It’s important that the girls see the board is working on this, as well as the administrative team and faculty.” The board has added more people of color, recognizing that “Ancients of color have traditionally been underrepresented,” said Ms. Simpkins. And it has begun leveraging the power of its $150 million endowment to seek out investments in minorityowned businesses.

“We want to use our endowment as a tool to advance our anti-racist commitments,” said Michael Bergin, the school’s chief financial and operating officer. “We’ve always screened for women — we’ve always been very strong advocates for the role of women in various organizations — and now we’re expanding that to look for people of color and other underrepresented populations in terms of whom we do business with.” Working with the school’s outsourced chief investment officer, Offit Capital, Miss Porter’s School has enjoyed a long-term relationship with Ariel Investments, a Black-owned equity manager, and recently made an investment in Pendulum Holdings, a Black-owned, firsttime fund that invests in minority-owned businesses. The CEOs of both firms spoke at the January board meeting.

The board is also incorporating DEI into decisions about purchasing, including the selection of contractors for the $22 million renovation and expansion of 60 Main Street. “Buildings and grounds is another example of where we are making sure that the large contractors we deal with, if they haven’t already thought about these DEI issues, that they have agreed to do so,” said Ms. Simpkins. “That they’ve agreed to be in conversation with us and, hopefully, they’ve already started their own action plans.” There’s much work remaining to be done, she said, but “we are making this a priority. How can we walk the talk?”

• FACULTY NEWS •

What our faculty members have been learning, doing and presenting. History Teacher Katie Ayers earned her Ph.D. in sociology from Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Science Teacher Emily Bryk, who also writes guided reading texts for primary school students, was a guest author for a second grade class in Ardsley, New York.

Miss Porter’s School

History Teacher Eugene Cassidy received an OESIS Intrepid Innovator Award for showing the courage to understand the needs of each student, engaging individual students in a context that is comfortable, and making personal learning a lifelong experience. OESIS (or Online Education Strategies for Independent Schools) is a faculty-focused nationwide innovation network of schools and teachers dedicated to incorporating learning models that emphasize innovative practices in pedagogy, curriculum development, 21st-century assessment and school culture change.

Dance Teacher Tessa Grunwald attended the first virtual National Dance Education Organization Conference in October 2020. She also co-directed and choreographed a full-length performance for the Immix Dance Project, which received a Connecticut Dance Alliance Jump Start Award for newly established and up-and-coming dance companies in the state.

Chinese Teacher Miao Hwang was a judge for the National CLASS Essay Contest held by the Chinese Language Association of SecondElementary Schools. Theater Teacher Alexandra London

Thompson took a Juilliard School

course titled The Role of Theater in Time of Crisis, which was taught by New York University playwright and critic Carol Rocamora. Sophie Paris, director of the

Institute for Global Education, was a guest lecturer in a microcourse titled Embedding Virtual Exchange in Your Classroom or Program, offered by the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG). She also served on a panel at the 2020 GEBG Virtual Global Educators Conference that explored how to provide students with opportunities to make authentic and meaningful connections with their peers and to take action to create positive change in their various communities even while socially distanced. Math Department Chair Michelle Perry participated in One Schoolhouse’s “Cohort for Department Chairs and Instructional Coaches: Supporting Faculty During Hybrid Learning.” Rebecca Plona, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, presented a webinar on gratitude

and leadership for One Schoolhouse’s Academic Leaders Professional Development Series. History Department Chair Cathryn Stout was named a presidential fellow by the In Trust Center for Theological Schools, an organization that works “to strengthen theological schools by connecting their leaders to essential resources for mission vitality.” Art History Teacher Jennifer Terzian curated “Nostalgia,” an exhibition featuring work by Ann Toebbe and Carly Glovinski, at Standard Space in Sharon, Connecticut. A work by Art Department Chair Grier Torrence was shown in “At Home in the Studio,” a virtual exhibition presented by the Bowery Gallery in New York City. History Teacher Lisa-Brit Wahlberg was selected for the Goethe Institut’s Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP), which will provide an expensepaid trip to Germany. The program seeks to “strengthen the grassroots bonds of the transatlantic partnership” and “enhance the global competence of students.”

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“One of the ways I can do some small part to empower women and the success of women is to support women who come through Miss Porter’s. That is truly what’s on my mind.”

Nancy White Wheeler ’90 Including Miss Porter’s in her estate plans

fter graduating from Miss Porter’s School in 1990, Nancy White Wheeler spent a summer at Surrogate’s Court in New York City helping to settle the estates of people who had died without wills. Upset to see their money transferred to city coffers, Mrs. Wheeler recorded her own final wishes on loose-leaf paper. Miss Porter’s School was a beneficiary of that first will and testament.

The task of sorting out the bank accounts of people whose money would become the property of New York City was “eye-opening,” said Mrs. Wheeler, who was 18 at the time. “I just wanted to make sure all of what little I had should be directed to the places I wanted it to go.” Now 48, a business owner and a married mother of three who lives in South Orange, New Jersey, she has updated her estate plans over the years. But one thing has remained constant: the unrestricted bequest to the school she calls “one of the best decisions I made in my life.”

“Miss Porter’s remains very important to me, and keeping it in my will is an easy and meaningful thing to do,” said Mrs. Wheeler, who has served as a trustee, on the Alumnae Board and in many other capacities as an Ancient. She is the founder and principal of Financy, an educational consultancy that helps young people build financial literacy. Mrs. Wheeler, like many Miss Porter’s girls, attended the school with the help of financial aid. She then worked her way through the University of Pennsylvania. She knows how important it is for the school to have resources to help promising young women get a Miss Porter’s education. And she believes the current pandemic has made a Porter’s education more important than ever. “We’ve lost more than a million women in the workplace,” she said of those who had to stop working during the pandemic. “One of the ways I can do some small part to empower women and the success of women is to support women who come through Miss Porter’s. That is truly what’s on my mind.”

Donor Profile

• SNEAK PEEK •

THE ZOOM CLASSROOM OF

Elizabeth Simison Now in her third year as an English teacher at Miss Porter’s School, Elizabeth Simison is also the school’s second Innovative Teaching Fellow, helping the faculty examine and adapt their assessment and grading practices to be more transparent and equitable. “Standards aren’t new,” she said, “but being more transparent and explicit about them is.” Her contributions as a teaching fellow build on a mastery-based learning framework she piloted in a public school before coming to Miss Porter’s, as well as her work toward the Ed.D. that she expects to earn this spring from the University of Connecticut. Timothy Quinn, chief academic officer and dean of faculty, said Ms. Simison was not only a talented teacher, coach and advisor, but “will also be a thought leader beyond Miss Porter’s School.”

Like every other faculty member, Ms. Simison has had to adapt creatively to coronavirus challenges. In her case, that meant setting up a Zoom classroom in a spare bedroom amid the family’s emergency COVID-19 stockpile. “I’m a creative person who used to have a really fun, engaging classroom,” she said. Now she has a home office brightened by flower pens, color-coordinated bookshelves and a black Labrador retriever nestling under her desk.

Miss Porter’s School

“While the pandemic has presented unanticipated challenges for schools, it has also provided a great opportunity to change and evolve,” said Ms. Simison. “It’s exciting to contemplate where we will be a year from now.”

Sneak Peek

These used to be fun when I could share materials in the classroom.

DIY FLOWER PEN:

NESPRESSO PODS:

COLOR-CODED STICKY NOTES:

For my sanity.

English 10 class.

Core principles of my

He and I both need regular walks!

HOOPER'S LEASH:

MAC & CHEESE:

SQUEEZABLE DONKEY:

This childhood favorite is more of a comfort food now. I keep a few boxes in the house in case of emergency!

Also acts as a paperweight and reminds me not to make assumptions (ha ha). Odysseus in bathrobe and shades! From the Spa-dyssey corner of my classroom in Hamilton, where students could unwind during breaks.

07 SPA-DYSSEY:

I rearranged my shelves to provide a more interesting Zoom background for my students.

COLOR-COORDINATED BOOKSHELF:

BACKPACK PINS

Miss Porter’s School

Leaders belong here: The Nova Nine

The 2020 -21 Nova Nine have been enthusiastic, patient and committed student leaders during a most unusual year. Despite a global pandemic, racial and political unrest, and a contested election, they worked hard to foster community and guide difficult conversations. From hosting office hours for distance learners to teaching New Girls how to do the Cupid Shuffle, these seniors have met the community’s needs while upholding the importance of tradition.

01 HEAD OF SCHOOL ⁄ Leela Rosaz Shariyf ’21 02 SECOND HEAD OF SCHOOL ⁄ Emma Thompson ’21 03 CO-HEAD OF MAIN ⁄ Alice Fang ’21 04 CO-HEAD OF MAIN ⁄ Angela Yuan ’21 05 CO-HEAD OF NEW GIRLS ⁄ Ruby Eisler ’21 06 CO-HEAD OF NEW GIRLS ⁄ Ella Bursky ’21 07 HEAD OF DIVERSITY ⁄ Mariela Vazquez ’21 08 HEAD OF ATHLETICS ⁄ Marjorie “Mojo” Plants ’21 09 HEAD OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES ⁄ Mary Emma de Compiegne ’21

Leaders Belong Here

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Leela Rosaz Shariyf ’21

FA C

T: I’M

P SU S TO RE-BOUGHT CO O

KIE D

OU G

H IN

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I want to show students, especially New Girls, that leaders don’t have to speak the loudest or the most often. Listening to the other members of the Nova Nine allows me to ensure everyone’s input is included in our decisions, and listening to students helps me make sure I’m representing their interests. I hope I’ve been able to help our community stay connected during this difficult year.

ON BEING HEAD OF SCHOOL

,B U

Brooklyn, New York

T MAKING CREP D A ES

YS A W

HOMETOWN

Y LL

O GO

SECOND HEAD OF SCHOOL

Emma Thompson ’21 HOMETOWN

Stamford, Connecticut ON BEING SECOND HEAD OF SCHOOL

I decided to run for second head of school because I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and run for something that would allow me to have a direct impact on the student body. As second head, I have loved being able to create spaces, virtual or in person, that allow for the community’s unique sense of belonging at Porter’s.

Miss Porter’s School

HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

I’ve been given the opportunity to have unique experiences that I would not get anywhere else. I have been able to try so many new things that I would have never thought of and have become my best advocate. FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS

The dining hall, especially during dinner time! You can always go in there and have a good time filled with smiles and laughter.

25 CO-HEAD OF MAIN

Leaders Belong Here

Angela Yuan ’21 HOMETOWN

Beijing ON BEING CO-HEAD OF MAIN

I am honored to have had the privilege of learning alongside my amazing friends and faculty members who supported me as I grew. At Porter’s, my thought process was challenged and refined by the diverse community with the pliability of ceramic dough. FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS

The Hamilton Porch, where I usually eat my dinner while appreciating the pastel-colored Farmington sunset. CO-HEAD OF MAIN

Alice Fang ’21 HOMETOWN

Beijing ON BEING CO-HEAD OF MAIN

This position enables me to celebrate some of the best parts of Porter’s — traditions, activism and community — through art, one of my favorite mediums of expression. HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE:

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My first Welcome Tradition has always been a special piece of memory. Somewhere during the night was when I first felt like I was a part of this community. Also, Naples’ Buffalo wings will forever have a place in my heart.

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HEAD OF ATHLETICS

Marjorie “Mojo” Plants ’21 HOMETOWN

MOST GRATEFUL FOR

Londonderry, Vermont

The friendships and memories I’ve made.

ON BEING HEAD OF ATHLETICS

I love being head of athletics because I get to promote a fun and positive environment within the Porter’s community.

WHAT MAKES HER HAPPY

Skiing, dining hall bagels, friends, family, my dog, snow and listening to music!

CO-HEAD OF NEW GIRLS

Ella Bursky ’21 HOMETOWN

Westminster, Vermont ON BEING CO-HEAD OF NEW GIRLS

One of the most rewarding things was to see the seniors with their New Girls at the beginning of the year! I love watching them connect and build friendships with one another.

N C I T:

The ceramics studio. I am also one of the heads of Bowl-A-Thon, so I am constantly in the studio making pieces and attending workshops throughout the year.

FAVORITE PLACE ON CAMPUS

O FA R M S !

CO-HEAD OF NEW GIRLS

Ruby Eisler ’21 HOMETOWN

West Hartford, Connecticut

Miss Porter’s School

HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

Porter’s has shaped me into who I am as a person and has instilled in me the values of hard work, confidence and resilience. The experiences I have had — from InterMission to playing all levels of sports to everyday interactions during community times — have helped me grow into the person I am meant to be.

FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS

The “nook” above the Crisp Gymnasium. It was difficult to find a comfortable place where my friends and I could be together while adhering to safety protocols. Luckily, we found the nook! This space checks all the boxes for us and has created the best memories!

Leaders Belong Here

27 HEAD OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Mary Emma de Compiegne ’21 HOMETOWN

Midland, Texas ON BEING HEAD OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES

I enjoy every aspect of my position as head of student activities. It brings me great joy to plan and host activities for my classmates to experience. This school year has been very unique. However, I think we have well managed these unforeseen changes in our campus life. HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

My favorite thing about being a student at Porter’s is the bonds I have made with the amazing people that make up our community. In 20 years, I will look back at the memories and I have no doubt in my mind that I will still be one phone call away from reminiscing with my Porter’s friends. WHAT MAKES HER HAPPY

Time with my friends, especially my roommate, Mariela.

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Mariela Vazquez ’21 D

HOMETOWN

I T I V E BA LLR

HEAD OF DIVERSITY PET OM

Hartford, Connecticut ON BEING HEAD OF DIVERSITY

I am proud to be head of diversity at Porter’s and I’ve wanted this position for a long time! I contribute to this school by identifying systemic injustices and challenging the school to do better. HER PORTER’S EXPERIENCE

For a school that’s been around since 1843, Porter’s changes a lot every year. I love how we are both committed to fun traditions and able to keep up with the times.

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Safe & Informed

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How to thrive during a pandemic

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Safe & Informed

f one were to make a Miss Porter’s School dictionary for 2020-21, it would include words and phrases like “virtual” and “Zoom,” and those that embody the school’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts of MPS: “masking,” “physical distancing” and “sanitizing.” A visual lexicon would show fire pits, Adirondack chairs, workout cubes painted on playing fields, and dining tables with plexiglass dividers.

But those are just the visible elements of an extraordinary behind-the-scenes effort that made it possible for most girls to return to campus for in-person learning last August, and for the school to adapt and adjust as the coronavirus upended normal life across the globe. Yet, if 2020 was a year like no other, so was the school’s response. “We had one goal,” said Head of School Katherine G. Windsor. “Doing what was essential in order to have our girls safely in the classroom with the faculty.” Because of COVID-19, students who went home for spring break in March 2020 did not return. Classes shifted to the Zoom videoconferencing platform after break, and seniors had a virtual graduation. “At first it was pretty worrying because we didn’t know what was going to happen,” said Reina Salama ’22, a day student from Unionville, Connecticut, who brought a classmate from Saudi Arabia home to finish the semester with her. “What was nice was that when we ended up going back [after break], the school had already figured out the schedule and it was a relatively smooth transition.” Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Faculty Timothy Quinn said the teachers were “simply amazing. It was hard, it was messy, but they stepped up and I’m so proud of what they did.” The school switched to a trimester model that reduced the number of classes students had to take at any one time, which was something that had been under consideration before COVID-19. The sudden switch to online learning was not as difficult as it might have been because faculty had already been working on ways to leverage technology to improve teaching and learning.

Miss Porter’s School

“We didn’t just adapt to COVID,” said Mr. Quinn. “We did it in ways that are going to make us better in the

“I would never have taken for granted sitting in another friend’s dorm room before.” LILY JENDEN ’22

long run.” The faculty had smaller class sizes but more sections to teach in order to allow for physical distancing in the classroom. At the same time, “they stretched themselves to serve students in 10 different time zones with a 17-hour spread,” he said. Getting students back on campus was an enormous lift. In June, the school hired its first public health officer, Diane Johnson, M.P.H. She worked closely with Katie Riccobon, the COVID-19 coordinator, and Liz Schmitt, chief enrollment and student affairs officer, to develop and implement protocols for bringing students back to campus and keeping the entire school community safe. Seeking to be guided by the science, Dr. Windsor said, “I needed a public health expert who could work with me on ‘What do you do to keep people from getting sick? How do you change behavior? And how do you communicate these changes effectively?’ Diane was brilliant.” But she stressed that the school’s successful adaptation to the pandemic was a team effort. “We all needed to do the work to get it done, and we did it together,” she said. That collaboration included offering thousands of COVID-19 tests, setting up tents for dance and athletics, adding hand sanitizing units, renovating the Colgate Wellness Center, and organizing dorms by grade level in order to limit interaction between different groups. The school also put interscholastic

$21K

Mandated Signage

St ill, ne yo er ev

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$3.2K

Outdoor Chairs

the d ay ...

Still, everyone is eagerly awaiting the day when the campus community can be more connected. “I really hope, particularly for the New Girls, that the social interaction reaches the levels it was before, given that it’s safe enough to do so,” said Lily Jenden ’22, a boarding student from England. “That is one of the most special things. I would never have taken for granted sitting in another friend’s dorm room before.”

the When

Meanwhile, Miss Porter’s School will do what it always has: evolve, excel and endure. For generations, Porter’s girls have rejoiced in the song “Farmington Is Our Home!” As Ms. Schmitt noted in a campus email early in the pandemic, “Our location is important … but that sense of home is not about bricks and mortar alone. It is about the creation of self, relationships and memories that transcend time and space. In the coming weeks and months, we will be asked to achieve the latter in the absence of the former, and I know that we will not only survive but thrive.”

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$1.6K

Portable Sanitizing Stations

Thank You

athletics on pause while devising training regimens that athletes could do alone in a physically distanced fashion. Music lessons became virtual and performances featured masks and distancing. The fall play, “Puffs,” moved online. Ceramics students made pots over Zoom. Fall Traditions adhered to distancing and density guidelines and included virtual components as well.

$6K

Outdoor Dance and Athletics Tents

$12K

Dining Table Barriers

$136 per test

Over 4,300 tests

2,453 student tests

$53k per week

1,854 faculty & staff tests

31 Safe & Informed

Your donations helped offset COVID-19-related costs incurred during the fall trimester.

Graduating class of 2020 a

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Miss Porter’s School

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Historic class of 2020 graduates online “Our class is a testament to what it means to be Porter’s girls,” Lila Connors ’20, the student head of school, told her classmates during their virtual graduation ceremony on May 29, 2020. “The strength and grace we have shown during this time of uncertainty are unparalleled.”

the class of 2020 would be “all the more memorable” because of the disruption caused by COVID-19. “Challenges bring us closer as communities, and even though we have been separated by distance, there is no doubt the Miss Porter’s community became closer this spring,” he said.

Instead of filing onstage at Brooks Field to receive their diplomas, the girls gathered in a “Zoom room” to watch the livestream of a prerecorded graduation ceremony together. Their diplomas and green felt “Porter’s 2020” pennants had arrived via FedEx.

In early spring, the school sent each of the girls a special memento to commemorate their most unusual graduation — a small bowl made of wood salvaged from the European copper beech tree that stood outside 60 Main Street since Sarah Porter’s time. The tree was found to be diseased and was removed in November 2018. The school also unveiled a very public tribute to the class of 2020: The circular area in the walkway bisecting Brooks Field is now adorned with bricks that bear each graduate’s name.

Standing in front of the Ford Library, Head of School Katherine G. Windsor told them they were “creative, resilient and uplifting leaders” and promised an inperson celebration when it is safe. Timothy Quinn, chief academic officer and dean of faculty, said

Graduation

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“The strength and grace we have shown during this time of uncertainty are unparalleled.” —Lila Connors ’20

• SIT-DOWN DINNER •

The dinner is a tradition that began in 2018 during the school’s 175th anniversary year, when multiple generations of Ancients gathered in homes, restaurants and cafes to share a meal and refresh their connection to the school and one another. This year, Ancients from the class of 1948 to the class of 2019 participated, and the continent of Africa was represented for the first time with a two-person meal in Senegal. Each host fashioned her own event, with menus ranging from potluck to haute cuisine and decor that often included daisies and the color green.

Miss Porter’s School

“It’s so varied,” said Chrissy Cox ’93, who led the planning for the 2020 event with the Alumnae and Development Office. “There’s no set way it has to be. It’s whatever the hosts and guests want to do. Moving forward, we’re sad this year couldn’t happen, but we’re excited for next year and figuring out what will make it more inclusive for people with mobility issues or who live in smaller markets.”

Los Angeles, California.

Westwood, Massachusetts.

Some 640 Ancients in 81 locations gathered on March 1, 2020, for the school’s third annual Worldwide Sit-down Dinner, just days before in-person events were canceled because of the coronavirus.

Dakar, Senegal.

More than 600 Ancients gather for the school’s third annual Worldwide Sit-down Dinner!

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Ancient Gatherings

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Austin, Texas.

• ANCIENT GATHERINGS •

A SAMPLING OF ANCIENT EVENTS

Looking Back “There’s so much sadness and so much grief that permeates everything right now, so being able to speak some words about valuing connection, renewing connection and leaning into connection strengthens us all and gives us the ability to press on.” —Rev. Dr. Fairfax F. Fair ’75

Service of Remembrance

Miss Porter’s School

Ancients remembered 43 of their fellow alumnae, 21 trustees and 16 former staff during Reunion Weekend in a virtual Service of Remembrance led by the Rev. Dr. Fairfax F. Fair ’75.

The service allowed Ancients “to remember and give thanks for the lives of people with whom we shared this special place, people who shaped us through our interactions, and, in some instances,

who showed us what we were capable of and might never have discovered on our own,” said the Rev. Dr. Fair, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, Texas. It was an honor to officiate at the service, she said later. “There’s so much sadness and so much grief that permeates everything right now, so being able to speak some words about valuing connection, renewing connection and leaning into connection strengthens us all and gives us the ability to press on.”

“It was powerful to be reminded that this amazing place we remember continues to be an amazing place and that the girls who are there today are having a similar experience. It’s different from ours, but it’s shaping them in similar ways and encouraging them to be introspective in the ways we were introspective.” —Jenn Gorzelany Weinheimer ’95

Oh, what a (virtual) reunion! The 2020 COVID-19-induced virtual reunion shattered records, with 415 Ancients from 42 states and 14 countries attending. A real-time walking tour and other online activities brought the campus to life for classes ending in 0s and 5s, which enjoyed virtual class meetings and organized events. The rich selection of activities included a chat with author Tory McCagg ’80, an Ancient-led “Leadership in the Workplace” discussion, yoga for healing and more. The class of 1980 earned the Class of 1947 Bowl for the highest level of participation in the Annual Fund (34 percent), while the class of 1970 achieved the highest gift total across all priorities: $250,503. Jane H. Rothschild ’75, of Australia, was the Ancient who participated from the greatest distance, and McKenzie M. Roller ’20 and Meriwether Cowgill Schmid ’45 took honors as the youngest and oldest Ancients who attended. But the highlight for all was a chance to reconnect with old friends and forge new bonds for the future.

“People were excited to see old friends in a year that was really tough. It was definitely a bright spot to be able to come together and have a fun time, and also to just remember good times from school and reconnect.” —Liza Oneglia ’95

“I loved it because it was not only inclusive of people all over the world; there are a number of Ancients in our class who look back at their years at Farmington with many misgivings. They are people who would not have come to an on-campus reunion, but a number of them did show up for the virtual events and were very glad they did.” —Lisa Kunstadter ’70

Ancient Gatherings

• ANCIENT GATHERINGS •

SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE ANCIENT EVENTS

Looking Forward Farmington Chats MAY 27, 2021

Women in Medicine: Leading in a Crisis JUNE 7, 2021

Women in STEM Careers: Advice for the Young Tech Professional JUNE 24, 2021

Women in STEM Careers: Taking Risks at Work LEARN MORE AT:

porters.org/ancients-events/ #upcomingevents

OCTOBER 1-3, 2021

Reunion Weekend

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Miss Porter’s School

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Classes ending in 1 and 6: Mark your calendars now for Reunion 2021. We look forward to celebrating with you, so watch for emails with additional information or visit porters.org/reunion.

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39 Ancient Profile

Dr. Meghan E. Brett ’94 Made for the moment

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he novel coronavirus pandemic is a crisis that demands much of many. And few are as well positioned to respond as Meghan E. Brett, M.D., ’94, an

So when COVID-19 came to New Mexico, she was able to deploy all her expertise on behalf of the 556-bed University of New Mexico Hospital, where she helped develop protocols and guidance to keep patients and staff safe. That institution, the only Level I trauma center in the majority-minority state, offers care for medically underserved populations. “My job was busy before February,” she said in an interview last year. “It’s always been busy. Early on in the pandemic, there was anticipation that there would be a large surge and it would be over. Now we’ve had to adjust our response for a marathon instead. It blows my mind that it’s still nonstop nine months into this. It’s great that we flattened the curve upfront to not exceed hospital capacity. However, we haven’t determined which public health measures are most effective to reduce ongoing transmission yet are sustainable in the long run.”

ADVICE FOR ANCIENTS

“The biggest thing I could ask of anyone at this time is to take care of yourself and your community. … Mask up until we see what the vaccines do.”

ho Sc te r’s

Dr. Brett earned her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of New Mexico. She underwent a two-year training program in public health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, in Colorado, as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer.

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Dr. Brett’s interest in public health began in medical school, when she ran a health clinic for migrant farmworkers in Connecticut. What later attracted her to infectious diseases, she said, was the ability to “look at systems and also at whole people.” For example, one can’t treat tuberculosis or vaccinate people without a good supply chain. She attended Miss Porter’s School by accident, tagging along on an admissions visit with a middle school friend from their hometown of nearby Avon, Connecticut. “I had no intention of applying at that time,” said Dr. Brett, one of only 44 Ancients in New Mexico. “But I was so inspired by the women who were speaking that I went back and advocated with my parents for going to Porter’s.” Not only did she attend, but younger sister, Kate Brett Goldman ’95, came as well. “I loved the diversity, I loved the friendships, I loved the academic rigor without being distracted,” she remembered. “And never being told you couldn’t do things because you happened to be female.” Married in 2011 to Marc Limmany and now mother of two young boys, Dr. Brett fondly recalls the sense of community she experienced at Miss Porter’s — both at the school and in the wider community. “There were a lot of things we could get involved in as students that could make a difference in the world.”

• CLASS NOTES • 01

Submitting your note!

DEADLINE

August 1, 2021 DELIVERING PHOTOS

Please submit your digital photos at the highest possible size and resolution. Photos must be sized 1 MB or larger. BY EMAIL

Share your note via email: classnotes@missporters.org THINGS TO NOTE

If emailing from your phone or computer, make sure that the software doesn’t shrink or compress your photos. Lowresolution or low-quality photos may not be included. — Digital photos are preferred. Prints may be mailed, but we cannot return them.

1950s

1980s

Susy Hastings Mallory ’58 On the off chance that anyone from our class finds herself near Memphis or Bozeman, Montana, where our family spends a lot of time, please reach out. I would love to reconnect. In the next several months I will publish “Blue Amen,” my first collection of poems. Just in case anyone might be interested. I send wishes for good health to everyone during our happy birthday 80th year.

Ashley Jones Tagatac ’82 Hi all! What a crazy year. The one thing that has kept me going is the Ancient community. The Alumnae Board and the Board of Trustees are amazing teams guiding MPS and the Ancients through these challenging times. I thank them. Please take a look at the Ancients site on the MPS website for updates on all the work done to keep the girls safe, as well as our DEI work. We also held several events to connect Ancients either casually or with educational pieces.

1960s Brenda Johnson Dick ’66 and John Dick (whom I was dating in 1966) and May Humphreys Fox ’66 and Charlie Fox at Freycinet Lodge, Tasmania, Australia, February 2020. The photo below was taken days before our Three Capes trek of four days with 20-pound packs … we looked a lot soggier at that point!

— Please provide the full names of every Ancient in the photo (from left to right) and the date and location of the occasion. Include your name, your year and a caption for every image. —

Miss Porter’s School

Please note that Class Notes will appear in print and online versions of the magazine.

On a personal note: I have loved having Madeline Tagatac ’16 home for her junior spring (not sure she would say the same). Her study abroad in Korea was canceled, so we spent the spring cooking and gaining the “COVID-19.” I have been working from home since February, when she came home, and am so happy to have more time now that I am not commuting to NYC from Stowe each week. Of course, that time was sucked up by work ... but I’m thankful to be employed! I loved having more time with the college kids when Cameron came home to join his sister in March. They are back on campus now, so Chris and I are empty nesters again. If you have not seen Susan Cattaneo’s live performances on Facebook, please take a look. They are amazing, uplifting, and a reminder that we have great talent in our class! I loved the Zoom call we had earlier in the year. Maybe we can do it again? I also want to thank our class reps, Susan Reed and Pammy McKee. They are doing a great job, and I will join them next fall when I roll off the AB and the BOT.

Left to right: Lauren Goldfarb Russo ’98, Marie-Denise Dormis ’97, Kate Hemphill Gwin ’97 and Abby King ’96.

• CLASS NOTES •

41 Class Notes

Olivia Colon marries Matt Heslop in Singapore.

1990s Kate Hemphill Gwin ’97 Farmington girls in Savannah, Georgia, celebrated the marriage of Kate Hemphill ’97 and Geoffrey Gwin on October 12, 2019.

Mallory Cushman Amory ’04 On May 17, 2020, my husband and I welcomed our first child, Ames Caldwell Sanderson Amory. Soraya Gallegos ’04 and Catherine Lindroth ’04 are together as they celebrate Ali Cappuccio’s wedding day in Hartford, Connecticut, in September 2019.

2000s Cara Scotti Dargis ’01 Greetings, Farmington! I was thrilled to have my Miss Porter’s ladies by my side as I married Drew Dargis on October 18, 2019, in the French Quarter of New Orleans. We had such a great time celebrating in NOLA together! I have since settled back into life in New York City, where I work as a physician assistant in Hematology/Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Wishing all of my fellow classmates the best! 02

Caroline Gottlieb Virenius ’02 was married in the fall of 2020 to David Virenius. We kept the wedding small, local and outside. Miss Porter’s girls were obviously on my micro guest list, including Elizabeth Burkhardt Bos ’02, Dinah Saglio ’02 and Beata Celejewski ’02. Missed the many who couldn’t be there.

Left to right: Maura Droney ’01, Jennifer Watts Labinski ’01, Jenny Zimmermann Manley ’01, Cara Scotti ’01, Drew Dargis, Kelley Mooney ’02, Laura Wagstaff ’01.

Eleanor Bradley Healy ’05 My husband Mike and I welcomed William Wells Healy (“Wells”) on September 28, 2019. We are over the moon in love! Olivia Colon ’06 married Matt Heslop on July 26, 2020, in Singapore, where they currently reside. We had a small wedding to comply with Singapore’s safe distancing measures (20 people max) and will be celebrating with our family and close friends in the future. Nisha Kapur ’07 On October 12, 2019, I married Scott Siedor at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Ledyard, Connecticut. I couldn’t have celebrated this day without my fellow Ancients by my side. Years later and I am so privileged to still have these incredible women in my life. 03

Left to right, top row: Kendra Nealon, Gabriella Korba, Katherine Dzialo, Caitlin Gibbons, Kaitlin Faticoni, Ana Calciano, Nisha Kapur Siedor, Scott Siedor, Sarah Cummings, Allie Rodis, Allison Lotts, Ashley Rose McLaury. Bottom row: Kristen Guest, Laura Bibby, Trisha Kapur, Clare Porter.

• CLASS NOTES •

Claire Karwowski ’09 shares news of her wedding in August 2019 in Zurich, where she currently resides, and this photo of her Farmington sisters. It is because of the strong linguistics foundation I built at Farmington that I am able to live and work abroad. As a boarder, building friendships with international students opened up so much of the world to me.

Rachel McGrath ’09 hosted an MPS engineering class at her place of employment, Pratt & Whitney, in February 2020. The class is pictured here with one of the newest jet engines.

Krystin DeLucia ’10 was married in November 2019 and enjoyed the celebration with her New Girl and Old Girl. 06

2010s Phillipa (Pippa) L. Biddle ’10 married Benjamin Q. Davidson on June 1, 2019, in Dover, Delaware.

Candace Seda ’11

Miss Porter’s School

On September 1, 2019, I married Roshan Selvaratnam of Malaysia on the roof of Ponce City Market in Atlanta. We enjoyed our multicultural celebration by dancing the night away with friends, family and a few Ancients too!

Left to right: Martha M. Biddle ’12, Abigail W. Biddle ’16, Eva Goodman ’10, Pippa Biddle ’10, P. Ridgely Biddle ’80, Loring Allen ’80, Montana Ortel ’11, Gillian Stoddard ’10. Missing from the photograph: Jennifer Bard ’80.

Left to right: Old Girl/bridesmaid Kendra Nealon ’09, Krystin DeLucia ’10, New Girl Jacqueline Bashaw ’13, and Isabel Blank ’13.

Left to right: Candace Seda ’11, Savannah Chandler ’11, Roshan Selvaratnam ’11, Jessica Garafola ’11, Chimebere Nwoaduh ’11.

REMEMBRANCES

Anne Cox Chambers ’38 | 1/31/20

Nancy Bush Ellis ’43 | 1/10/21

† Adele Wulsin Bennett 1948 — Sister † Rosamond Reed Wulsin 1939 — Sister-in-law R. Reed Wulsin 1974 — Niece Katharine Hill Stanton ’46 | 2/11/20 Katharine Stanton LeMond 1975 — Daughter † Katherine Isham White 1957 — Cousin † Eleanor Isham Dunne 1954 — Cousin Grace Dyer Aarons ’47 | 12/23/19 † Katharine Whitaker Dyer 1926 — Mother

Amanda Taylor 1987 — Granddaughter

Dorothy Bush Koch 1977 — Niece

Sarah Gamwell Cochrane ’47 | 5/1/20

† Margaretta Blair Cox 1911 — Mother

† Dorothy Walker Bush 1919 — Mother

† Margaret Riker Harding 1950 — Cousin

Ann Hyde Gould ’38 | 12/9/20 Barbara Hixon Wilson ’40 | 9/1/20

Kelsey Bush Nadeau 1965 — Niece

Mary Gamwell Reed 1953 — Half Sister

† Mary Carter Walker 1924 — Aunt

† Gertrude Riker Gamwell 1912 — Mother

Elizabeth Walker Holden 1946 — Cousin

† Susanna Gamwell Zezza 1955 — Half Sister

† Margaret Hixon Hanson 1933 — Sister

Suzanne Walker Robinson 1959 — Cousin

† Frances Riker Duncombe 1916 — Aunt

† Joan Hixon Martin 1942 — Sister

† Nancy Walker 1918 — Aunt

† Anne J. Riker 1948 — Cousin

Eileen Herzfelder 1972 — Cousin

Sophie Black Dingle 2004 — Granddaughter

Barbara Hanson Pierce 1964 — Niece Sheila Pierce Ortona 1990 — Grandniece

Ginevra Mitchell Hunter ’43 | 4/15/20 Dale Pirie Cabot 1949 — Stepsister

Betsy MacColl Campbell ’42 | 8/24/20

Ginevra K. Chandler 1971 — Daughter

† Leeanne Gwynne MacColl 1945 — Cousin by marriage

† Barbara King Fennelly 1928 — Aunt

† Marion D. Farwell 1962 — Niece

† Marjorie King Belden 1921 — Aunt

Alexandra Campbell Maegdlin 2003 — Granddaughter Ashley K. Walker 2006 — Cousin twice removed † Annie Burr Auchincloss Lewis 1920 — Cousin Joan Hixon Martin ’42 | 3/28/20 † Margaret Hixon Hanson 1933 — Sister † Barbara Hixon Wilson 1940 — Sister Barbara Hanson Pierce 1964 — Niece Sheila Pierce Ortona 1990 — Grandniece Elizabeth Alexander Goddard 1968 — Niece Caroline H. Goddard 2005 — Grandniece

Marjorie Mitchell Hampton 1943 — Cousin † Suzanne Pirie Pattou 1947 — Stepsister † Ginevra Fuller King 1896 — Grandmother † Susanne Shaw Hooe 1950 — Cousin Ginevra Hooe Stephenson 1978 — Cousin Emily Cabot Chamblin 1977 — Stepniece Anne J. Mitchell 1952 — Niece Margaret Taylor Phelps ’44 | 5/29/20 Evans Phelps 1968 — Daughter Marion Taylor Dann 1947 — Sister † Cecilia Evans Taylor 1916 — Mother Dorothy Dann 1971 — Relative by marriage

Mary Young Mason ’42 | 1/21/20

† Elizabeth Blackburn Taylor 1944 — Sister-in-law

Elizabeth P. McCarter 1974 — Cousin

Marion Taylor 1974 — Niece

Christina M. Johnson 1997 — Granddaughter

Courtney Taylor Marsters 1966 — Niece

† Gloria Bond Tenney 1942 — Sister-in-law

Cecilia Taylor Bloomer 1967 — Niece

† Madeleine McCarter Kelly 1922 — Cousin

Elizabeth B. Taylor 1970 — Niece

† Ellen McCarter Doubleday 1916 — Cousin

Nancy Clement Stout ’45 | 10/13/20

Suzanne McCarter Tifft 1950 — Cousin † Madeleine Violett Martin 1940 — Cousin Ellen M. Violett 1941 — Cousin † Eleanor McCarter Young 1908 — Mother † Isabelle McCarter Young 1908 — Aunt † Madeleine Kelly 1951 — Cousin Emily Taylor Andrews ’43 | 10/27/19 Caroline G. Dillingham 2012 — Grandniece Ceseli Dillingham Foster 1960 — Niece

Mary Oates Davis ’46 | 12/13/19 Elizabeth Beers Fierro ’46 | 4/5/20 † Alice Dodge Kimball 1922 — Aunt † Ann Ewing Solley 1946 — Cousin † Patricia Ewing Richter 1944 — Cousin Jennifer B. Ewing 1952 — Cousin

Remembrances

Margaret Wulsin Kite ’46 | 10/28/19 † Pamela Pardee Wulsin 1945 — Sister-in-law

Nancy Moreland Bomonti ’49 | 12/24/20 † Helen Gould Moreland 1918 — Mother Beverly Pullman Carter ’49 | 4/27/20 Julia Childs Augur 1964 — Cousin Catherine Childs Bentley 1960 — Cousin † Edith McBride Bass 1950 — Cousin † Madeleine Childs Pullman 1921 — Mother † Claire Childs McBride 1923 — Aunt Maddin M. Nelson 2007 — Cousin twice removed Valerie Greene Flynn 1981 — Cousin Meredith Bass Nelson 1976 — Cousin Casey J. Flynn 2012 — Cousin once removed Heather M. Flynn 2014 — Cousin once removed Polly Park Dyer ’49 | 10/26/19 † Grace Tingue Curran 1926 — Mother Neva Dyer Egan 1972 — Daughter Katherine N. DuHamel 1977 — Niece Emily DuHamel Brower 1981 — Niece † Lilian Tingue Swan 1922 — Aunt † Harriet Payne Park 1919 — Aunt Barbara Park MacDougall 1951 — Cousin † Elizabeth Park Henry 1946 — Cousin † Sally Park Pollock 1945 — Cousin † Julia W. Park 1931 — Aunt Charlotte N. DuHamel 1987 — Niece Elizabeth G. DuHamel 1978 — Cousin † Sally Gardiner Murray 1949 — Cousin Elizabeth M. Gardiner 1956 — Cousin † Sally Quimby Gardiner 1926 — Cousin once removed Grace C. Williams-DuHamel 2011 —Grandniece Anna I. Kirk 2011 — Relative

† Deceased

Miss Porter’s School was very sorry to learn of the passing of these Ancients, trustees and staff, and we extend our deepest condolences to their families and friends.

• IN MEMORIAM • Holly Lesan Giacalone ’49 | 2/10/20

Anne M. Haywood ’51 | 8/2/20

Elisabeth Waterworth Russell ’55 | 1/31/21

† Genevieve Sullivan Robertson 1927 — Mother

Mary Haywood Metz 1956 — Sister

† Elisabeth Dean Kennedy 1915 — Aunt

Sarah Ives Scully ’49 | 6/3/20

Vale Asche Russell ’51 | 1/31/20

† Sarah Holter Ives 1922 — Mother

† Bettyann Asche Murray 1957 — Sister

† Elizabeth Ives Clark 1947 — Sister

Anna B. McCullough 1983 — Niece

† Elizabeth Holter Jennings 1924 — Aunt † Sarah Sage Holter 1891 — Grandmother Isabel Fuller Fox 1949 — Cousin Louise Shepard Walsh ’49 | 7/18/20

† Edwina Mead Gagge 1930 — Second Cousin Katherine R. Huppert 2010 — Cousin Elizabeth Covington Smith ’55 | 1/12/21 Karen M. Covington 1989 — Niece

Ellen McCance Parker 1954 — Cousin

Mary McGrath Thacher 1950 — Sister Cordelia Reid McCuaig ’53 | 2/12/20

E. A. Adair Smith 1979 — Daughter † Vesta Culbertson Morse 1936 — Aunt Anne Windfohr Marion ’56 | 2/11/20

Pamela Reid Trippe 1957 — Sister

Holly Simonds Callery ’58 | 9/3/20

Linda Robb Boardman 1985 — Daughter

† Elizabeth Sprague Stout 1924 — Mother

Lucy Joyce Brennan 1952 — Sister

Louise F. Reid 1974 — Niece

† Elizabeth Simonds Maynard 1947 — Sister

† Lindsley Brennan Tricot 1984 — Niece

Muriel Allsopp Nadal 1967 — Niece

Anne Joyce Wyman ’49 | 3/12/20

Edith McBride Bass ’50 | 9/5/20

Susan Chappell McCabe ’54 | 8/3/20

† Claire M. Bass 1975 — Daughter

† Adelaide Chappell Booth 1929 — Cousin

Elizabeth Maynard Gordon 1975 — Niece † Hope Richardson Simonds 1926 — Stepmother Lansing Simonds Moran 1962 — Stepsister Carlin Whitney Scherer 1952 — Stepsister

Meredith Bass Nelson 1976 — Daughter

Wendy McCabe Messick 1982 — Daughter

Julia Childs Augur 1964 — Cousin

Ann Chappell Nyhan 1962 — Cousin

Sally Davis Pratt ’60 | 11/30/19

Catherine Childs Bentley 1960 — Cousin

† Ellen Stuart Poole 1926 — Cousin

† Helen H. Chatfield 1964 — Cousin

Jean McBride Greene 1951 — Sister

Suzette de Marigny Smith 1960 — Cousin

† Elizabeth Nichols Forker 1930 — Aunt

Valerie Greene Flynn 1981 — Niece

† Caroline Smith Chappell 1930 — Mother

† Charlotte Nichols Davis 1936 — Mother

Beverly Pullman Carter 1949 — Cousin

† Joan Stuart Richardson 1924 — Cousin

† Sarah Nichols Kerr 1932 — Aunt

† Claire Childs McBride 1923 — Mother

† Barbara Chappell Copello 1951 — Sister

† Mary Nichols Keasbey 1942 — Aunt

† Madeleine Childs Pullman 1921 — Aunt

† Elizabeth Smith Brown 1928 — Cousin

Brenda Johnson Dick 1966 — Relative by marriage

† Emily Brown Fritzinger 1959 — Cousin

† Pauline Dodge Webel 1926 — Stepmother-in-law

† Louise Smith Bross 1957 — Cousin

† Sallie Meyer Pratt 1922 — Mother-in-law

Maddin M. Nelson 2007 — Granddaughter

† Elizabeth Chappell Reeves 1926 — Cousin

† Anita Aldrich Smith 1913 — Cousin once removed † Helen Aldrich Dick 1914 — Cousin once removed Casey J. Flynn 2012 — Grandniece

Jean S. Chappell 1956 — Cousin Lisette J. Bross 1989 — Cousin Wendy Gartner Rowland ’54 | 11/25/19

Anne Frothingham Cross ’62 | 12/20/20 † Margaret Kelly Warner 1917 — Great-Aunt Caesara Frothingham Wendin 1963 — Sister Laetitia Frothingham Mead 1970 — Sister

Heidi Bingham Stott ’54 | 10/22/19

Helen H. Chatfield ’64 | 3/22/20 † Elizabeth Nichols Forker 1930 — Cousin

Nancy Clow Oden ’50 | 12/13/19

Kathleen Fell Connor 1976 — Daughter Grace Bingham Ott 1980 — Niece

† Sally Davis Pratt 1960 — Cousin

† Marion F. Clow 1917 — Cousin

Eleanor Bingham Mallory 1978 — Niece

Lucy Mackall Sachs 1965 — Cousin

Heather M. Flynn 2014 — Grandniece

Anne Mitchell Taylor ’50 | 4/22/20 Natalie Campbell Walden 1968 — Cousin † Marjorie Mitchell Maguire 1942 — Sister † Angela Mitchell Meeske 1941 — Cousin Anne Bahlman Miley 1973 — Niece † Helen Graydon Carrington 1913 — Great-Aunt † Joanna Mitchell Radway 1939 — Cousin

Miss Porter’s School

† Evelyn Dean Lanman 1931 — Aunt

Emily Stevens Willets 1954 — Sister Anne McGrath Lederer ’53 | 7/9/20

Caroline H. Warner 1981 — Cousin

† Laura Winter Dean 1890 — Grandmother

Joan Stevens Bingham ’53 | 10/31/20

Joan McCance Warner 1952 — Cousin † Louise Haviland McCance 1925 — Aunt

Abigail Bingham Endicott 1964 — Cousin

Margaret Mackall Vancil 1954 — Cousin

† Frances Berry Hutchison 1935 — Aunt

† Charlotte Nichols Davis 1936 — Cousin

Tiffany Bingham Andrews 1953 — Cousin

† Mary Nichols Keasbey 1942 — Cousin

Alexandra Pierson Griffin 1979 — Cousin

† Sarah Nichols Kerr 1932 — Cousin

Cordelia S. C. Pierson 1981 — Cousin Margaret Bingham Turner 1966 — Cousin † Clare Mallory Macdonald 1954 — Cousin

Catherine Mitchell Robertson 1939 — Cousin

Edith Kunhardt Davis ’55 | 1/2/20

Barbara Mitchell Erskine 1948 — Sister

Martha K. Davis 1979 — Daughter

† Jean Mitchell Bahlman 1944 — Sister

Anne Meserve Davis 1954 — Cousin

Jean H. Maguire 1977 — Niece

Joan Paton Tilney 1946 — Cousin

Emily A. Maguire 2005 — Grandniece Harriet Robinson Taylor ’50 | 7/5/20 A. Trumbull Taylor Ogilby 1974 — Daughter Brittany Ogilby Shroyer 1999 — Granddaughter

Mary Austin Conzelman ’52 | 10/26/19

† Florence Palmer Douglas 1957 — Cousin

Suzanne McCarter Tifft 1950 — Cousin † Pamela Paton 1956 — Cousin † Martha Knapp Kunhardt 1884 — Grandmother Elizabeth Brokaw Henry ’55 | 1/25/2021 Lauren Beardmore Ivanhoe 1978 — Stepniece

Ellen Bowman Perman ’65 | 5/30/20 † Eleanor Hempstone Bowman 1942 — Mother † Mary Thompson English 1937 — Aunt † Elizabeth Noyes Hempstone 1910 — Grandmother Elizabeth Perman Nehdi 2000 — Daughter Elizabeth N. Boyd 1951 — Cousin Constance Wardrop Combes ’67 | 12/1/20 C. Spencer Love ’67 | 3/15/20 Lela P. Love 1968 — Sister

Hathaway Gamble Barry 1968 — Sister † Rosamond Reed Wulsin 1939 — Aunt † Pauline Foster Reed 1910 — Grandmother R. Reed Wulsin 1974 — Cousin Erica B. Leisenring ’69 | 4/7/20 Katharine Hoblitzelle Walling 1970 — Stepcousin Trimble Hoblitzelle Stamell 1976 — Stepcousin † Katharine Wells Hoblitzelle 1947 — Stepaunt Susan Bissell Parker 1960 — Aunt Lindsay Scott Leisenring 1980 — Sister-in-law Lucy H. Hoblitzelle 1979 — Stepcousin † Anne du Pont Peyton 1885 — Great-Great- Aunt Aurelia W. Erwin ’72 | 2020 Barbara Wechsler Fleming ’72 | 4/6/20 Nina Renshaw Griscom ’72 | 1/25/20 Lily E. Baker 2010 — Daughter Sandra J. Lin ’90 | 7/22/11 AnnaRose M. King ’04 | 1/3/21 FORMER EMPLOYEES

Barbara S. Backman | 11/21/20 Gifts Administrator 7/7/93–7/10/09 Mrs. Mary McIntosh | 7/1/20 Math Teacher and Director of Studies 7/1/76–6/30/01 Marianna Mead O’Brien | 1/9/21 Former Interim Head of MPS 1992–93 Mr. William Schnippert | 12/10/19 Physics Teacher IN MEMORIAM

Beryl Gao P’17 of Shanghai passed away on October 9, 2019. A leading businesswoman in her home city, Ms. Gao served Miss Porter’s School as a trustee, a founding member of the International Advisory Committee, and a member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. She was the mother of Annie Yang ’17. Ms. Gao was a great ambassador for the school and a real pro at interacting with people, said former trustee Sharon McQuade P’11, who attended a reception and dinners

“She wanted to make connections for the school,” she said. “She truly believed in our mission and what Kate Windsor wanted to do for girls’ education. She opened the doors to China for us.” Fraser Bennett Beede ’81, who served on the Board of Trustees and the International Advisory Committee with Ms. Gao, remembered her as bringing “business expertise, an entrepreneurial spirit and vision to the board. She was very much a strategic thinker and had a global perspective that was invaluable for the board.” Ms. Gao was a director and vice president of Yueda Real Estate Group, a leading real estate developer based in Shanghai. She was also the chairwoman of CloudHealth Medical Group Ltd., also in Shanghai, which focuses on whole-genome tests and health solutions. She earned her B.S. from the Fudan University School of Management in Shanghai and an M.B.A. from Massey University in New Zealand. Ms. Gao is survived by her husband, Yi “Ian” Yang, and her daughter, Annie. “She truly believed Porter’s would change me and my perception of the world, and she was right,” said Ms. Yang. “She joined the Board of Trustees and hoped to bring in her knowledge as a way to show her gratitude toward Porter’s and the community. ... I would like to pass on her words to everyone to never lose hope and your beautiful smile.”

Margaret (Peggy) Taylor Phelps ’44, P’68 was a former trustee and dedicated volunteer who served Miss Porter’s School in many capacities from 1966 until 2004. She passed away on May 29, 2020, at age 93 in Claremont, California.

Remembrances

† Kendra P. Gamble 1964 — Sister

Ms. Gao hosted in Shanghai in 2016 to introduce school leaders to some of the city’s prominent families.

Born in Buffalo, New York, to Reginald and Cecilia Taylor ’16, Ms. Phelps studied art history at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. In 1959, she and her first husband, Mason Phelps, moved to Pasadena, California, where she became involved in the Pasadena art world and served as a board member or trustee of several arts organizations. A decades-long patron of the arts in Southern California, she was also a collector whose holdings ranged from a $12 wooden giraffe from a South African street market to works by Josef Albers and Jasper Johns. During her years of service to Miss Porter’s School, Ms. Phelps was a trustee from 1978 to 1984; a volunteer for her class’s 25th, 35th and 60th reunions; an Alumnae Board member from 1967 to 1969 and co-vice president from 1969 to 1970; a class representative from 1996 to 2003; a Sarah Porter Society member beginning in 1970; and a member of the Campaign Advisory Council from 2005 to 2011. She is survived by her sister, Marion “Taddy” Dann; two children, Mason Phelps Jr. and Evan Phelps; four grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her second husband, Nelson Leonard, and her son Taylor.

“She truly believed in our mission and what Kate Windsor wanted to do for girls’ education. She opened the doors to China for us.” — Sharon McQuade P’11, on Beryl Gao

† Deceased

Polly Gamble Cherner ’69 | 2/7/20 † Priscilla Reed Gamble 1936 — Mother

IN MEMORIAM

• IN MEMORIAM •

IN MEMORIAM

Hugh C. Macgill P’98 passed away on February 16, 2020, at the age of 79. Mr. Macgill was a trustee of Miss Porter’s School from 1996 to 2002, parent of Alex Rankin Macgill ’98, and a member of the Sarah Porter Society.

Edith (Edie) McBride Bass ’50, P’75 & ’76, G’07 known for her joie de vivre and her dedication to friends and family, died on September 5, 2020, at age 88.

William (Bill) Edward Pike P’86 died of COVID-19 on March 18, 2020, at age 91. He was a trustee and the father of Elizabeth C. Sheehy ’86.

A resident of West Hartford, Mr. Macgill was remembered as a lively personality, dedicated public servant, and champion of the law to improve people’s lives. He served as dean of the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Law from 1990 to 2000, where his achievements included the construction of a new law library, and he remained on the faculty until 2014. During his time at UConn, he also helped establish a tax clinic, partnerships for transactional and child advocacy clinics, and a clinical fellowship. His tenure produced the Insurance Law Center, the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal, and the university’s first two Masters of Law degree programs.

Miss Porter’s School

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Rankin; their two children, Alex and Charlie Rankin Macgill; and Bianca and Flora, his two adored Scottish Terriers.

Born in Lake Forest, Illinois, to Walter Paul and Claire Childs McBride, Ms. Bass attended Vassar College after graduating from Miss Porter’s School. Following her marriage in 1955, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she and her late husband raised five daughters and a son. Ms. Bass was a dedicated patron, volunteer and board member at a number of Nashville-area organizations, particularly the Ensworth School, which all of her children attended, and Cheekwood Estate and Gardens. She served Miss Porter’s School in various capacities from 1974 through 2012, including as a trustee from 1991 to 1997, a member of the Alumnae Board from 1975 to 1981, a reunion volunteer for six reunions, a member of the 150th Campaign Committee, a class representative and more. She was also a member of three giving societies at the school: Farmington Founder, Ivy Society, and Moonbeams Circle. In 2005, the school awarded her the Daisy Pin in recognition of her outstanding service. Ms. Bass is survived by her children Leslie McKinney Bass, Meredith Bass Nelson ’76, Lisa Bass Foote, Jean Maddin Bass and Jack Maddin Bass III, and several grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter Claire McBride Bass ’75 and her husband, Jack, M. Bass Jr.

Mr. Pike was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, the son of Alice Swinscoe Pike and Harry H. Pike. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Harvard Business School, Mr. Pike served aboard a destroyer during the Korean War before retiring from the Navy and embarking on a distinguished 30-year banking career. At J. P. Morgan & Co., he rose to become executive vice president. Later, he operated his own investment office, which afforded him the time to pursue personal interests that included traveling, fly fishing, and serving on civic and corporate boards. He was a member of the Vestry of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan, Connecticut. Mr. Pike served Miss Porter’s School in many capacities throughout the years, including as a trustee from 1992 to 1998, a Parent Committee member for seven years and chair for four, a volunteer on the 150th Parent Campaign Committee, and a member of the Farmington Finder and Sarah Porter societies. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Catherine Crawford; daughter Elizabeth C. Sheehy ’86; and sons Daniel William and Robert Crawford Pike.

Remembrances

In 2020, Mrs. O’Brien and her family established the Marianna M. O’Brien Head’s Discretionary Fund to provide support for the nonfaculty staff members who do so much for the students. Gifts may be sent to the school care of Jose Lugo, manager of gift services, or made online at porters.org/annual-fund.

Marianna Hilliard Mead O’Brien Interim Head of School 1992-93 Former Interim Head of School Marianna Hilliard Mead O’Brien passed away January 9, 2021, on Martha’s Vineyard, surrounded by family. Mrs. O’Brien, known as Muffin, was born in 1930 to George Houk Mead of Mead Paper Co. and Elsie Talbott Mead, a philanthropist. From her parents, she absorbed important life lessons regarding family and philanthropy, and she benefited from a home environment that encouraged young girls to speak up — a trait she carried forward. Mrs. O’Brien graduated from Briarcliff College and worked at Harper’s Bazaar until her marriage to Frank “Junie” O’Brien in 1955. Together, they raised their four children while holding numerous roles at the Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts. That blending of dormitory and family life would later inform Mrs. O’Brien’s time in Farmington. In 1980, the O’Briens founded O’Brien Associates, an educational consulting firm. “Mom and Dad were dedicated to young students,” said Elsie O’Brien Aubrey ’76, who became a teacher herself. “They understood teenagers and were experienced in boarding school life. They guided countless students and families to the right fit.” Mrs. O’Brien became involved with Miss Porter’s School in the 1970s, when her three daughters were enrolled. She served multiple terms on the Board of Trustees, providing leadership

as both vice president and secretary, and she served on the 150th Campaign Committee, when she truly became the voice and face of MPS. With her husband, she established the O’Brien Teaching Fund, which supports faculty projects and trips. Mrs. O’Brien served as interim head of school from 1992 to 1993. “An interim role has challenges, but Muffin (with Junie’s enthusiastic support) embraced the opportunity,” said Emily “Missy” Crisp ’59 P’83 ’87, who chaired the Board of Trustees at the time. “Muffin brought energy, experience, commitment — and a ready smile. Thinking back, I could not imagine anyone who could have done it better.” “Mom invested time in getting to know the girls and making sure each girl knew how wonderful she truly was,” said daughter Louise “Weezie” O’Brien ’78. Elsie Aubrey noted that “Mom believed relationships did not end with the school year.” In treasured letters she received from students, Mrs. O’Brien was thanked for her smiles, hugs and great talks. In 2006, the school awarded her the Daisy Pin. In addition to Elsie and Louise, Mrs. O’Brien is survived by daughter Dorothy “Dede” Baker ’74 and son Frank O’Brien III and their families, including 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her husband preceded her in death.

Student Awards SPRING AND FALL 2020

Because of COVID-19, it was not possible to hold in-person award ceremonies last year. Miss Porter’s School honors these students here and extends our congratulations on their achievements.

Miss Porter’s School

*Denotes those who received an award as a junior.

ALICE HAMILTON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE

Mayrra Sardjito ’20 ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION AWARD

Kelly Ray ’20 BROWN UNIVERSITY ALUMNI AWARD

Ruth Torrence ’21

Lauren Schramm ’20 Shamreethaa Seeniraj ’21 Madyn Singh ’20 Ruth Torrence ’21 Sarah Wagner ’20 Amy Wang ’21 DARTMOUTH COLLEGE BOOK AWARD

BRYN MAWR COLLEGE PRESIDENT’S BOOK AWARD

Anne Violette Astruc ’21 CUM LAUDE SOCIETY

Anne Violette Astruc ’21 Jami Biddle ’20 Linda Cai ’20 Anna Foster ’20 Laura-Joelle Geschwindt ’20 Laura Herscovici ’20 Ella Hough ’21 Jennifer Kang ’20 Helena Lessne ’20 Sarah Mende ’20 Charis Ng ’20 Sofia Olivares ’20 Freya Ou ’20 Yubin Park ’21 Alexandra Poole ’20 Alexa Robertson ’20 McKenzie Roller ’20 Mayrra Sardjito ’20 Sophie Schaeffer ’21

Ella Hough ’21 DORA QUINTANA PLOUGH WRITING PRIZE

Sofia Olivares ’20 DORIS M. PROUT LATIN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Sophia Foschini ’22 DORIS M. PROUT LATIN IMPROVEMENT AWARD

Darlie Kerns ’20* DOTTY MORRELL COLEMAN AWARD FOR SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN ATHLETICS

Laura Gouvin ’20 ELIZABETH NOYES HEMPSTONE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLASSICAL AND MODERN LANGUAGES

Jackie Beaule ’20 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AWARD

Bunny Rutledge ’20 FARMINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY AMERICAN HISTORY PRIZE

Naima Small ’21* FLORENCE PALMER DOUGLAS ’57 MEMORIAL AWARD

Sarah Wagner ’20

HAGGIS BAGGIS LITERARY AWARD

Sarah Mende ’20 HARVARD/RADCLIFFE CLUB BOOK AWARD

Mariela Vazquez ’21

MARY PARKER FOSS NEW GIRL AWARD

Elizabeth Akomolafe ’23 MARY S. McINTOSH PRIZE IN MATHEMATICS

Maisy Hoffman ’20 MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT PRIZE

Anna Foster ’20

HUGHES ART AWARD

Sara Baltser ’20 HUGHES MUSIC AWARD

Freya Ou ’20 JANE DURSTON GROAT PRIZE

Natalie Brennan ’20 JEAN D. GREY THEATRE PRIZE

Laura Herscovici ’20 JOANNA MITCHELL RADWAY MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR HISTORY OF ART

Susan Zheng ’20

MISS PORTER’S SCHOOL COMPUTING & SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Christine Park ’21 MISS PORTER’S SCHOOL EXCELLENCE IN HUMANITIES PRIZE

Leela Rosaz Shariyf ’21

for Academic Achievement

Naima Small ’21 for Character

Amy Wang ’21 SARAH B. MACLENNAN HUMANITIES AWARD

Susie Sun ’20 SHIRLEY LANGHAUSER AWARD IN HISTORY

McKenzie Roller ’20 SMITH COLLEGE BOOK AWARD

MISS PORTER’S SCHOOL EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE PRIZE

Shamreethaa Seeniraj ’21 MISS PORTER’S SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

Darian Gordon ’20

KAY SMEDLEY PRIZE FOR HISTORY

MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE BOOK AWARD

Alizeh Raza ’21

Charis Ng ’20

LINDA FULTON BURNS MEMORIAL AWARD

PHYLLIS KATZ WELLESLEY COLLEGE BOOK AWARD

Audrey McMillan ’20

Sasha Provost ’21

LUCY BYRD PEGAU AWARD

POLLY LAUGHLIN MEMORIAL TROPHY AWARD

Elle Choi ’20

Yubin Park ’21

RENSSELAER AWARD

HEAD’S AWARD

Emma Thompson ’21

PROFESSOR ALEX CHENG PRIZES

Ana Bartkiewicz ’20

MARIA MCKINNEY PRIZE FOR ENGLISH

PRINCETON BOOK AWARD

Alba Clarke ’20

Marjorie Plants ’21

Ella Bursky ’21 ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY BOOK AWARD

Maddie Beaule ’21 TRINITY COLLEGE BOOK AWARD

Julia Luppino ’21 VASSAR BOOK AWARD

Seo Won Yun ’21 VIRGINIA CORRIGAN TRACY PRIZE FOR JOURNALISM

Jennifer Kang ’20 WILLIAMS COLLEGE BOOK AWARD

Ella Hough ’21 YALE BOOK AWARD

Astrid Lipkens ’21

Student Awards

Miss Porter’s School

Then & Now

Join us October 1-3, 2021, for Reunion Weekend, celebrating classes of 1s and 6s! INFORMATION AT:

MAKE A GIFT TODAY!

porters.org/reunion

porters.org/giving

Miss Porter’s School

60 Main Street Farmington, CT 06032

SAVE THE DATE | REUNION 2021

Bulletin: The Miss Porter's School Magazine, Spring 2021

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Bulletin: The Miss Porter's School Magazine, Spring 2021

Nancy White Wheeler ’90