Miss Porter's School Bulletin Spring 2024

THE MISS PORTER’S SCHOOL MAGAZINE

Land Acknowledgement Statement

At Miss Porter’s School, we acknowledge the Tunxis Indigenous People as the original inhabitants and stewards of the lands that we call home. The history of this land is difficult to piece together, and the stories told were shaped by settler colonialism. We recognize the need for a fuller understanding of the

Tunxis and our shared past. Because of this, we must speak the truth as it is currently known. The Head of School, Board of Trustees, and senior administrative leadership commit to honoring the past and understanding our responsibility for the future.

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

What does it mean to be sustainable?

Any institution that has been in existence for over 180 years would be considered an exemplar of sustainability. And yet the future of Miss Porter’s is not a given but rather dependent on policies and practices necessary to ensure our strength. It is as much about stewardship as it is about leadership.

Since 1843, Miss Porter’s has been in Farmington, educating girls and remaining true to our mission. Miss Porter’s School educates young women to become informed, bold, resourceful and ethical global citizens. We expect our graduates to shape a changing world. It is a school built by women, led by women and designed for women. The stewardship of our community provides the foundation for each generation of leaders to lead and to do what is best for the students.

At MPS, sustainability is not merely a buzzword or a passing trend. It is a fundamental principle guiding our actions toward ensuring our well-being and that of the planet.

It is how we engage with one another on our historic and iconic campus and how we interact with our community. It is how we take responsibility as a school for the land on which it sits, formerly of the Tunxis Indigenous people. It is our commitment to our neighbors in the Farmington Village and to people around the globe. It is a fundamental value captured in our mission statement that is the root of our efforts today and sets a vision for the future.

In this edition of the Bulletin, you will learn more about the MPS commitment to sustainability, which extends beyond mere environmental concerns. It encompasses social responsibility, economic viability and the preservation of resources for generations to come.

It includes academic opportunities for international travel for our 11th grade class and the studentrun Earth Club, which prepare us to be conscientious global citizens who are equipped to address complex environmental challenges.

The school is actively reducing energy consumption and improving waste management and operational efficiency. We recognize our institutional responsibility to minimize our carbon footprint while ensuring our collective community impact is meaningful and valuable to others. We take responsibility for our stewardship of the school’s land and its resources, including the historic campus and the endowment, which provides an annual source of revenue.

At Porter’s, you will see the tenets of sustainability in the multitude of decisions we make as we live the words of our mission to shape a changing world and maintain our position as the school of consequence for women and girls.

All members of the Porter’s community have a role to play in sustainability simply by leaving the school better than when they came.

In this issue

People

Donor Profile

Zoë Olivia Barnswell ’16: Lifting up the next generation.

Ancient Profile

Tamara Smith ’90: Three callings shape one rewarding journey.

30

Karen Blakelock ’12 Shaping our nation’s energy future.

On Campus

Seen & Heard

A look at moments on campus. 18 Championing the environment Earth Club leaders are taking climate action. 20 Sneak Peek Patrick Reardon helps students discover their musical passions.

40 Then & Now Past meets present.

Head of School

A letter from Head of School Dr. Katherine G. Windsor.

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

Ancient Gatherings A sampling of Ancient events. 35 Class Notes

Features

Something worth fighting for By integrating environmental topics in academics, MPS is empowering students to be responsible stewards of the Earth.

Sustainability in action

MPS is reducing its environmental footprint while maintaining its traditional character.

FAMILY WEEKEND

During a hands-on learning lab in chemistry class as part of Family Weekend, students conducted experiments with acids and bases.

Students enjoying a stunning fall day in Farmington during Opening Day 2023–24.

Miss Porter’s School

SAFETY SMARTS

“Headphones out, heads up” is what students chalked on a school path during 9th Grade Program Day. The message was instilled as part of instruction focused on safety and situational awareness.

StudentsshowtheirPorter

’s pride during Spirit Week .

•

Demonstrations of Learning

During the fall 2023 Demonstrations of Learning, students shared their class projects with the larger community.

New York City (NYC) art trip

Participants in the Porter’s NYC art trip visited the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they met with photographers and ceramists.

Varsity athletes were celebrated for their talent, leadership and dedication at the 2023 Fall Athletics Banquet.

SPOTLIGHT ON ATHLETICS

Miss Porter’s School

Steam soup and dumplings were on the menu for students in the Advanced Topics in Chinese and Chinese 1 courses as they celebrated Spring Festival.

TRICKS AND TREATS

Students seek Halloween tricks and treats at the homes of faculty and staff. What a frightfully fun night!

Playing with new sets of mahjong, students took part in the new winter trimester tournament.

FUN AND GAMES

ASIAN FEAST

GOING FOR THE WIN

MPS soccer players huddle during their game against Westminster in the 2023 Founders League championship bout. •

SCIENCE FICTION, SCIENCE FUTURE

In a field trip to the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation in Hartford, Conn., students got to tour the facilities and learn how the center provides medical training using robotic technology.

atLittleMeeting

during 2023 Reunion.

BRINGINGCAMPUSTOLIFEWITHNEW PLANTS.

Something worth fighting for

By promoting an interdisciplinary academic approach to environmental topics, Miss Porter’s School is empowering girls to become climate change problem-solvers.

Every October, most junior students at Miss Porter’s School have the opportunity to learn firsthand about ecological issues in Costa Rica. For 10 days, their classrooms are rainforests, farms, coasts and an eco-lodge located in a collectivist community. Their teachers, in addition to the Porter’s faculty members leading the trip, are local conservationists, farmers and nature guides, but also butterflies, raptors and sea turtles. The lessons they learn about the Central American country center on the rise of ecotourism, efforts to protect ecosystems, and how these two domains intersect and clash.

“In Costa Rica, I witnessed many individuals’ passion for sustainability and environmental conservation. I listened to how these individuals implemented their love for the environment into their careers,” says junior student Kinley Simmons ’25 about her participation last year in Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminar (AIS) Global Intensive: Costa Rica Culture of Conservation. “While working alongside inspiring groups of people who are dedicated to making positive change and preserving what’s left of the gift that is nature, I realized that community is not only a strong system of support but a powerful tool for change.”

This AIS Global Intensive course is designed to immerse Porter’s students in a mix of in-class and hands-on learning about the social, economic and environmental dynamics of ecotourism in Costa Rica. More broadly, it engages them in considering how traditional ecological knowledge and Western science can complement each other to promote conservation. By participating in field investigations and citizen

“It’s an experience that can impact students for the rest of their lives. They discover they have the chance to make a positive change in the future.”

OSCAR ROLLÁN, SPANISH TEACHER

DRONE FOOTAGE CAPTURED BY SPANISH TEACHER OSCAR ROLLÁN SHOWS STUDENTS ON A BEACH IN COSTA RICA, REMOVING TRASH AND PREPARING TO RELEASE BABY TURTLES.

Rollán co-led the trip with teachers from the science and history departments, and their diverse perspectives helped illuminate the complex environmental issues in Costa Rica. This interdepartmental collaboration on an environment-related course aligns with the Porter’s focus on interdisciplinary education that prioritizes “sustainability & innovation” as one of five key pillars together with “information & expression,” “the human experience,” “global citizenship” and “systems & institutions” aimed at enabling students to shape our changing world.

Recognizing the increasing urgency of climate change, Porter’s has prioritized it as one of many “pressing problems” along with “identity-based discrimination,” “income inequality,” “media literacy,” “threats to democratic institutions” and “the impact of artificial intelligence” that it is purposefully integrating as a subject of inquiry across academic disciplines.

“We know that our students need to be uniquely prepared to face this challenge affecting our civilization,” says Tim Quinn, chief academic officer. “Climate change is not just a science problem. In fact, we probably already know the scientific solutions. It’s also a problem that’s political, psychological and economic. … It’s an interdisciplinary issue, so we need to treat it that way.”

science projects, the students monitor wildlife migration patterns, evaluate the health of rainforest trees and observe organic agricultural operations. As they research and reflect on these topics through discussions, presentations and an assessment, they gain an in-depth understanding of Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, Indigenous ways of knowing the land and the different ways to make an impact in sustainability work.

“They see professionals loving what they do, because their job is important not just for themselves, but for the environment and the area where they live and work,” says Spanish Teacher Oscar Rollán, who helped lead the AIS Costa Rica trip in 2023. “It’s an experience that can impact students for the rest of their lives. They discover they have the chance to make a positive change in the future.”

Porter’s weaves environmental subjects into curricula in a variety of ways. Starting in Grade 9, all students take STEM 9: Environmental Lab Science & Conceptual Physics. One assignment involves self-reflection on lifestyle habits and making eco-friendly changes such as taking shorter showers, eating fewer animal products or buying less plastic. In AIS Environmental Science, 11th and 12th graders explore humans’ impact on the natural world, and study topics such as ecological systems, human population growth and resource use, and sustainable farming. The course culminates in a mock global climate summit that requires making proposals to solve climate change.

“I want the students to consider the impact they are having on the planet, and to be empathetic to humanity as a whole,” says Science Teacher Cate Rigoulot, who teaches both of the above courses. “I also want to build their appreciation of nature, so that they feel it’s something worth fighting for.”

Other ways the environment is explored academically are through science courses on freshwater ecology and oceanography; a Spanish language course focused on sustainability in the Hispanic world; and an AIS philosophy course Quinn teaches called The Good Life that, in part, invites students to contemplate their relationship with nature. In the English Department, meanwhile, the Literature of the Environment: Writing for Climate Justice course looks at how writers use their craft to defend the planet. Students use an ecocritical lens to study how writers influence environmental action, and they then develop their own climate justice works.

Elizabeth Simison, dean of academics and an English teacher who has taught Literature of the Environment, is involved in Porter’s efforts to further integrate climate change as a learning topic across its courses in arts, humanities, languages, math, sciences and social sciences. The work is driven by the school’s commitment to learning that is relevant, future-focused and mission-driven. Simison says a main goal of this work is to help students understand the role they can play in global efforts to address climate change.

“We are preparing students to be productive members of society and to realize their civic responsibility,” Simison says.

For Samantha Flibbert ’25, learning about environmental issues through the AIS Costa Rica, AIS Environmental Science and other courses has provided clarity on the complexities of the climate crisis. She says she has particularly enjoyed doing a lab assignment that involved comparing different types of climate models to understand the future of climate change. Through what she has learned so far about environmental topics, she has come to appreciate the need for diverse approaches to combat the climate crisis.

“I understand the world must come together to fix the damage we’ve inflicted, and this means sharing perspectives and knowledge,” Flibbert says. “To reverse and mitigate our negative effects on the planet … we collectively cannot make it very far without considering all perspectives.”

A STUDENT TRACKS THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEAN SPROUTS AS PART OF A GENETICS EXPERIMENT.

“I want the students to consider the impact they are having on the planet, and to be empathetic to humanity as a whole. … I also want to build their appreciation of nature, so that they feel it’s something worth fighting for.”

CATE

RIGOULOT, SCIENCE TEACHER

What our faculty members have been learning, doing and presenting

Humanities Teachers Alysa Auriemma

’03, Katrina Council and Chris Doyle attended Teaching Native American History in the Classroom and Beyond, a conference held last year by the Association for the Study of Connecticut History. The event focused on Indigenous-related scholarship and teaching strategies for K-12 teachers, students and scholars.

Last August, the Hartford Courant published an op-ed, “Dementia and a Historian Confronting Forgetting,” written by Humanities Teacher

Chris Doyle

Rebecca Plona P’26, director of the Teaching and Learning Center and curriculum coordinator for 9th- and 10th-grade students, has been invited to join the board of trustees at Buxton School, a private coeducational college preparatory school in Massachusetts.

“It’s a great way for me to be of service, and they are excited about my experience with progressive education and nontraditional learners,” Plona says.

Last fall, Chief Academic Officer Tim Quinn published two articles, “Educators Aren’t Always Asking the Right Questions About AI” in Intrepid Ed News, and “Assessing Student Learning: Beyond Cumulative Exams” in Open Doors Blog, which is published by One Schoolhouse.

Science Teacher Cate Rigoulot began a yearlong course titled Four Seasons of Indigenous Learning in order to add more Indigenous perspectives to her classes.

Latin Teacher Kelly Woodbury attended What We Do Matters: Rediscovering the Joy of World Languages at the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers’ fall conference. She also participated in the Differentiation in the Latin Classroom: Latin for Everyone workshop.

As a Black woman who has worked in a high-tech role, Zoë Olivia Barnswell ’16 distinctly understands the challenges of working in a field still dominated by white men. At JP Morgan Chase & Co., where she worked for three years as a software engineer, she noticed the number of racially diverse women in her unit was small.

But Barnswell says being a minority in the workplace did not hold her back, because of how supported she felt in exploring technology as a student at Miss Porter’s School. She specifically credits the engaging teaching styles and encouragement of former teachers Susan Martell Jenkin now the school’s chief equity and inclusion officer and Matthew Poage with igniting and nurturing her passion for computer science.

“At Porter’s, I learned just how exciting technology could be [and] that you can use technology as a means to find a solution for many different problems,” Barnswell says. “In an industry that typically isn’t filled with women and people of color, it was so important to be encouraged to pursue my interests.”

After graduating from Porter’s, Barnswell completed a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Princeton University. Last year, she paused her career to attend the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she is completing a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in entrepreneurship and innovation.

All along, Barnswell has purposefully stayed connected to her alma mater. In 2021, she served as the moderator of a discussion panel in which three Ancients with

Zoë Olivia Barnswell ’16

Lifting up the next generation

established STEM careers discussed their professional experiences. She has also mentored multiple students and alumnae, sharing with them anecdotes about her career journey and offering insights on navigating the technology job market.

“I love to be able to make that personal connection, to really get to know them and help them through the different challenges they’re facing and also to see them succeed,” Barnswell says.

Barnswell says the confidence she gained at Porter’s also emerged through her role as a co-head of the Black Latina Alliance (now the Black & Latine Alliance), for which she helped organize movie nights, cultural meals and other events to foster community among Black and Latine students. She says creating an “inclusive and brave space” on campus for diverse students was vital to her personal growth and sense of agency.

That desire to lift up others like her informed her work at JP Morgan Chase, where she volunteered for diversity initiatives. She has also sought to advance such efforts at Porter’s; last year, she made a donation to the school’s equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

“I was thinking about the legacy I want to leave at Porter’s and how I want to make that community stronger and better for students of color coming after me,” she says. “I do feel very strongly about supporting women and supporting people of color in different spaces who don’t necessarily always feel like [those spaces] were built for them. So [if there’s] any way that I can help uplift students and help empower the school to do that, I’m happy to continue donating my resources.”

Championingthe environment

At Miss Porter’s School, sustainability isn’t just a topic students learn about in the classroom it’s a priority they work toward through Earth Club, which has the mission to promote sustainability and love of the outdoors, and to bring awareness to environmental issues. Their sustainability work includes tracking and reducing students’ food waste, planting edible gardens, and volunteering for the Farmington Land Trust, a charity that protects more than 300 acres of natural terrain.

ANGEL SHI ’24

MARGARET FENNEBRESQUE ’25

KATE HEBARD ’25

KATHRYN AUSERE ’24

Miss Porter’s School

Here, Earth Club 2023-24 leaders Kathryn Ausere ’24, Angel Shi ’24, Margaret Fennebresque ’25 and Kate Hebard ’25 speak about their environmental actions and how they hope to mitigate climate change. This conversation has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

Why was it important for you to become involved in Earth Club?

AS: I’ve been interested in the environment since I was a little kid. I have a lot of ideas about sustainability, and how the school can become better at it.

KH: I joined to honor my grandfather. He was a high school biology teacher, and he instilled in me from an early age that we have to respect and protect the Earth. Through my involvement in the club, it feels like I have a connection with him and also with the world around me.

KA: Every year, my family takes a trip to Dallas to see relatives, and I have observed that the landscape of that city is much more artificial, with highways and concrete, than it is here in Connecticut. That has opened my eyes to the need to safeguard the natural world. I also joined because it’s so much fun participating in the grounds cleanup for Earth Day.

MF: When I was in middle school, a neighbor invited me to help care for bees, and I learned how important they are to the environment as pollinators, and how at risk they are as a species. That made me want to get involved with Earth Club to make our campus more sustainable.

Which Earth Club initiative have you enjoyed the most?

KH: We organized a spring cleaning fundraiser where students and faculty donated their unwanted items for a sale. We raised about $300, which we used to buy a serviceberry tree,

a native plant that’s a vital habitat for birds and bees. We planted it in a nature preserve owned by the Farmington Land Trust. It was special to contribute to Porter’s sustainability legacy and see our work positively impact the land.

MF: For me, it was volunteering at the Farmington Land Trust’s fundraiser to support its planned Wilcox-Bushley Homestead Environmental Learning Center. We set tables and served people, and Angel played the flute. It was cool to meet new people and see how the community comes together to support the environment.

AS: I enjoyed participating in the 2023 Student Sustainability Summit, where we joined with students from other local independent schools to listen to environmental speakers, share about our sustainability projects and work together to come up with new solutions to climate change.

KA: One of my favorite activities has been gardening. In the spring, we got to plant our own garden with vegetables such as cherry tomato, kale, cauliflower, squash, broccoli and pumpkin. In the fall, we harvest what we have grown. Participating in this process of planting a seed and, a few months later, seeing it become a plant that can sustain life—it’s miraculous.

How does being part of Earth Club shape your sense of agency in protecting the planet?

MF: We get to see the benefits of our work, and it makes me feel like I can make real, lasting change. It increases my confidence that I can be an environmental activist and get more done for the Earth.

KA: One time I felt I was really making a difference was with our work on food waste, which produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. We weighed the food waste students produce at lunch, and used nudging techniques to get them to change their behavior. We were able to reduce lunchtime food waste by an average of 15 pounds. Seeing hard evidence of our impact was rewarding.

AS: It is fulfilling to see how all our projects evolve and attract more people who want to work with us for the planet. Climate change is such a big problem; being able to work together and do our part to solve it creates hope.

KH: The climate crisis can feel extremely overwhelming, and we’re the first generation to really see its impacts on our daily lives. That can make you feel really hopeless, but it can also instill a sense of duty in you. That’s what Earth Club helps to fulfill. It allows us to talk about these issues and find solutions, which makes things feel a lot more manageable. It’s really rewarding being able to feel like you’re doing something for the world.

Photo by Angel Shi ’ 24

Patrick Reardon

Walk by the Music Building at 5 Mountain Rd., and you might hear Gregorian chants one day and a performance of Taylor Swift tunes the next. For Music Director Patrick Reardon, engaging students in exploring old and new music helps illuminate its unifying effect.

“One thing I love so much about participating in music is that it’s a shared experience throughout time,” says Reardon, a seven-year Miss Porter’s School educator who lives on campus with his wife, three sons and two dogs. “It connects you to the past, and it connects you to the present and to those around you.”

The historical building brings its own distinct energy to the music-making mix. Built in 1885, it features Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and a large wood-burning fireplace on each of the two floors, which Reardon describes as “warm, cozy and inviting” the same vibe he says he strives to create for the music program.

Together with his students, Reardon brings the space to life in diverse ways from the classes he teaches in music theory, songwriting and composition to his conducting of the MPS Chorus and the Sarah Porter Singers vocal ensemble to his advising of the senior a capella group, the Perhilettes. #WeWantPerhilettes! He also oversees the department’s 12 teachers and conductors and directs the annual musical, which this year was Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.”

The rhythm of Reardon’s musical life is all over the scale. He previously taught at public and independent schools in Illinois, performed in a male a capella group and an internationally competitive barbershop quartet, and completed a choral residency at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. He also was a tenor in the Chicago Symphony Chorus, which earned him a Grammy Award for a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s choral-orchestral masterpiece, “Messa da Requiem.” He plays the saxophone and piano and sings in Porter’s faculty rock band, No Evidence, which performs rock music from the 1970s to the 2000s.

In describing his teaching style, Reardon calls himself a “shepherd” who guides his students to discover and ignite their passions. “They are so willing to take on a challenge that interests them,” he says. And often “they just knock it out of the park.”

MICROPHONE

Our faculty band, No Evidence, has performed songs by the Rolling Stones, Pat Benatar, the Beatles, Journey and Queen.

02 SAXOPHONE

I love making music with several instruments: voice, piano and sax!

03 CONDUCTOR BATON

The baton represents the incredible ability to communicate and collaborate through music.

04 MUSIC ROOM

With its historical charm and comfortable feel, this is a special space for making music.

05 UGLY SWEATER TROPHY

I won this one Christmas it adds fun to the classroom.

Tamara Smith ’90

Three callings shape one rewarding journey

Like the best educators, Tamara Smith ’90 is invested in her students’ development not just academically, but also as human beings. A French teacher at the American School in London (ASL), an independent K-12 college-preparatory day school, Smith creates learning experiences that meaningfully connect to students’ lives and to the larger world and help them develop their socio-emotional intelligence, communication skills and global citizenship.

For one assignment, she helps students draw ties between their personal passions and the larger world by investigating and then teaching about a Francophone social changemaker. Another involves watching a short film about domestic violence and engaging in reflective conversations with classmates on how the topic might relate to their own peer dynamics. To lift spirits and create awareness of the power of kindness on well-being

during the COVID-19 pandemic, she asked each student to perform 20 acts of kindness, document them on Instagram while respecting recipients’ privacy and write about the experience.

Outside of her classroom teaching, Smith helps students pursue independent study projects in their areas of interest. She is also a faculty mentor to multiple student clubs, provides guidance to international learners and organizes schoolwide flash mobs. She has served on school groups committed to equity and inclusion and taught figure skating as an extracurricular activity.

“We have a familial atmosphere here and kids who are very excited to learn. The relationships with students go far beyond simply being in a classroom together,” says Smith, who has taught at ASL since 2015. “All of these ideas they’re exposed to give them a rich appreciation for what is going on in the world and prepare them to become courageous global citizens.”

Smith’s affinity for teaching is closely interwoven with one she has for languages. In addition to English and French, she is also fluent in Spanish, Italian and Russian, and knows some German. Languages have figured prominently in her career in diverse ways, including in previous teaching roles in the United States and Russia, as a French curriculum development specialist for Doctors Without Borders, as a volunteer for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and, soon, as a volunteer for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France.

After Porter’s, Smith went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in comparative literature at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Upon graduating, she taught at private schools in Texas and Michigan for four years. When her husband was offered a job in Russia in 2004, they moved there with their two daughters, then ages 3 and 1. Two years later, she joined the first post-Soviet Russian private school in Moscow, where for eight years she led its foreign languages department and designed an English curriculum.

“The

Olympic values inspire people to aim for the best and to come together and connect.”

It was the 1976 Winter Olympics in Austria that played a role in sparking Smith’s love of languages at age 4, when she watched Soviet figure skaters Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev perform their gold medal-winning performance. She noticed their team jackets featured letters she didn’t understand, and her mother told her about the Cyrillic alphabet.

“It was the first time I was aware English wasn’t the only language in the world,” she says. “It was an aha! moment for me … and I was fascinated by languages from that point on.”

Smith says that her fascination was nurtured at Miss Porter’s School, where she appreciated being part of a close-knit and diverse community and learning from teachers who encouraged her intellectual exploration and enlivened lessons with relevant personal stories. She says she also enjoyed learning from English Teacher Nancy Henderson and French Teacher Carol Plough about the nuances of translating children’s literature. Smith says her experience at Porter’s helped solidify her plan to be an educator and has shaped her teaching style ever since.

“Our teachers went above and beyond for us. I have a real sense of wanting to pay it forward, to give back for all that teachers did for me when I was a teenager,” she says.

That defining Olympic TV moment of Smith’s childhood also ignited an enduring enthusiasm for the Olympic Games, and particularly its commitment to build a better world through sport and the values of excellence, respect and friendship. Being accepted as a volunteer for the Sochi Winter Olympics was a “dream come true.” In supporting the ice sports athletes of Team France, she says she was inspired by their passion and tenacity and the strong sense of camaraderie among all athletes. Using her language skills to bridge cultural divides at the games was also deeply fulfilling, she says. The satisfaction of that experience has motivated Smith to volunteer at this year’s Summer Olympics in France, where she will be assigned to support the athletes and diplomatic entourage of a nation’s delegation within the Olympic Village.

“The Olympic values inspire people to aim for the best and to come together and connect,” Smith says. “Language is such an integral part of that. As people from different countries interact with each other on and beyond the playing field, language brings everyone together.”

How Miss Porter’s School is creatively pursuing environmental stewardship

Sustainability in action

With climate change now an urgent issue that affects us all, Miss Porter’s School distinctly understands the need to operate in harmony with the natural world. But as it is an institution established in 1843, many of its buildings feature construction methods and materials from around that time period, which means making them green is no small thing. Porter’s also cherishes its heritage, and any modifications it makes to its buildings must follow the protocols of the Farmington Historic District Commission. So when it comes to sustainability, operational leaders at Porter’s strive to balance reducing the school’s environmental footprint with maintaining its traditional character.

“We are committed to being an organization where sustainability and environmental stewardship are hallmarks of who we are,” says Michael Bergin P’19, chief financial and operating officer. “The tension really is, how do we balance the importance of the historical nature of our campus while also seeking approaches and products that allow us to be more eco-friendly?”

Bergin and his wife live in a campus residence built in 1740, making it one of the oldest buildings on campus. Many of the other approximately 65 buildings on the 40-acre site, including classrooms, dormitories, administrative offices and faculty residences, also have old bones, so to speak. To make these buildings more sustainable, Bergin says, the school embraces an approach he calls “adaptive reuse” identifying creative ways to optimize energy efficiency and waste reduction while keeping distinctive architectural elements. He says over the past 16 years, the school has invested about $40 million in its campus and only added 8,320 square feet, all without constructing any new buildings.

“We feel like one of our best ways to be stewards of our resources and mindful of the climate is to upgrade, enhance and renovate a space that already exists rather than to build a new space,” Bergin says.

In 2021, the school’s signature building at 60 Main St. required several structural changes to improve its functionality and accessibility, plus an expanded dining hall to accommodate all 300-plus students. The renovation process provided the opportunity to incorporate several sustainability features, including LED lights, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, window

glazing to reduce heat loss, new insulation in the walls and roof, and a digitally automated heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. The renovated Main still retains much of its historical charm, including the original red brick facade and the white oak floors in the parlors.

In addition to Main, other buildings on campus have also been upgraded with modern HVAC systems, including multiple dormitories and the M. Burch Tracy Ford Library. This intelligent technology makes it possible to centrally monitor and control temperatures in multiple spaces

“We feel like one of our best ways to be stewards of our resources and mindful of the climate is to upgrade, enhance and renovate a space that already exists rather than to build a new space.”

MICHAEL BERGIN, CHIEF FINANCIAL AND OPERATING OFFICER

square feet added to campus over the past 16 years — without constructing any new buildings.

8,320 gallons of oil used annually in building operations, compared to 210,000 gallons 13 years ago.

according to occupancy and usage patterns and the presence of open windows or doors, which allows for using energy more efficiently.

“Instead of going around to each thermostat and manually changing temperatures, now it’s all automated, which is really helpful for our ability to conserve energy,” says Rich Higley, director of buildings and grounds.

The school has also pursued cleaner heating methods by replacing some oil-burning furnaces with natural gas ones, which emit fewer environmental pollutants. This change has been made to multiple buildings, including Main, the Hacker Theater, the Mellon Gym, the Crisp Athletic Center, the Ward dorm, the Leila Dilworth Jones ’44 Memorial Building and the Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris ’71 Student Center. As a result, the school has reduced its annual oil usage over the past 13 years from 210,000 gallons to 90,000 gallons. Efforts are underway to further expand natural gas heating systems across campus and reduce the use of diesel generators.

90K

SOLAR PANELS ON THE POOL AND SQUASH BUILDING.

“Being intentional about sustainability at Miss Porter’s School means [leaving] the place better than we found it.

Making improvements that allow us to be good environmental stewards while keeping the history of our school alive is extremely important to Miss Porter’s.”

RICH HIGLEY, DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

NATIVE PLANTS SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS AND LAND STEWARDSHIP AT PORTER’S.

Recognizing the key role of renewables in sustainable energy, MPS has also been steadily increasing its use of solar power. The school added solar panels to its Pool and Squash Building that generate 115 kilowatt-hours of energy per year equivalent to 18 percent of the energy needed to operate the building. This year, the school is further expanding solar power capacity to include the Admission Office located in the Greene House, and it’s evaluating the Gaines Dance Barn for an additional array.

Porter’s focus on sustainability extends outside the buildings to the surrounding natural environment the lawns, gardens and trees that make up about threequarters of the campus. Groundskeeper Hayden Mixsell is passionate about introducing more native species, which, because they are well adapted to the region’s conditions, can thrive more easily with fewer resources such as water and fertilizer. Consisting of diverse perennial flowers and trees such as tulip poplars and red maples, native species are also important habitats for local wildlife, including pollinators such as butterflies and bees that are vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems.

“Sustainability is really front and center in all of our practices, from tree selection all the way down to the grass we use in the lawns,” Mixsell says. “It’s about following the logic of nature, and having the right plants in the right places.”

Miss Porter’s School

Mixsell and his fellow grounds team members engage in eco-friendly horticultural and landscaping practices in several other ways: planting trees in locations that can give buildings shade as a natural way to cool down interiors; turning fallen autumn leaves into compost that they can use to enrich the soil; and choosing plants that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also provide sustenance for humans, such as blueberry bushes, chokeberry shrubs and peach trees. They also created the school’s treasured Swan Pond, a stormwater retention pond planted with water-loving perennials and shrubs that help prevent flooding by absorbing and filtering rainwater.

“Being intentional about sustainability at Miss Porter’s School means [leaving] the place better than we found it,” Higley says. “Making improvements that allow us to be good environmental stewards while keeping the history of our school alive is extremely important to Miss Porter’s.” 18% of the energy needed to operate the Pool and Squash Building is generated by solar panels.

Bergin notes that sustainability is becoming an increasingly important part of Miss Porter’s School’s campus master plan. It’s an approach that encompasses responding to the more eco-friendly lifestyles of its community members; for example, the school has installed two electric car-charging stations on campus, and it pays for half the cost of chargers faculty members want to add to their homes. As the school continues pursuing ways to be greener, these efforts are being documented on a new sustainability page on the school’s website, a project that involves the participation of several students. Porter’s is also keen to collaborate with community partners to advance progressive environmental action. Recently, the school partnered with the nonprofit Farmington River Watershed Association to support fish migration by removing a degraded dam located on a part of the river on campus.

STUDENTS COLLECTING ORGANISMS FROM FARMINGTON RIVER TO STUDY IN THE LAB.

Shaping our nation’s energy future

Karen Blakelock ’12

AsMaine explores how it can mitigate global warming, it is benefiting from the expert insights of environmental justice advocate Karen Blakelock ’12.

In her role as a policy advisor in the Maine office of The Nature Conservancy, Blakelock works to boost the state’s investment in clean energy, such as wind and solar, and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases that overheat the atmosphere. The mammoth task of decarbonizing an entire state economy at a pace that matches the urgency of the climate crisis is one Blakelock approaches with a spirit of cooperation in her interactions with diverse stakeholders, including legislators, energy companies, other environmental groups and community members.

“I remember being so blown away by this cool little alien being,” she says. “The natural world is just such an important part of who I am.”

Blakelock’s appreciation for nature’s wonders was further nurtured at Miss Porter’s School, where, as a member of the crew team, she spent many hours rowing on the scenic Farmington River. But she says the biggest gift she gained from MPS was self-esteem.

The natural world is just such an important part of who I am. ”

“Lobbying and policy advocacy are all about relationships. It’s a real team effort,” Blakelock says. “In Maine, it feels like most people are coming at it with good intentions, which makes me more excited about the work.”

Blakelock’s excitement about protecting the planet was sparked during a 5th grade field trip to a wildlife center in her hometown of West Hartford, Connecticut. That’s where she had her first encounter with a newt, and her memory of the exotic-looking, red-and-orange creature is still vivid almost 20 years later. “

“Porter’s helped me develop my self-assurance. That is what allows me to be able to talk with elected officials, industry leaders and others with confidence,” she says.

After Porter’s, Blakelock completed a bachelor’s degree in political science and government at St. Lawrence University and then a master’s degree in environmental law and policy at Vermont Law & Graduate School. She then spent five years exploring her interests and talents in jobs such as wilderness trip leader, ski lift operator, sailboat deckhand and English teacher in Vietnam, a period she says was vital to finding her path. Her climate policy work has included roles at the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 25 governors working toward America’s net-zero future.

At The Nature Conservancy, Blakelock’s work encompasses everything from presenting research to government committees to writing op-eds for newspapers to consulting with scientists on climate data. While the progress can be slow going, she is encouraged by the momentum she sees and stays focused on the big picture.

“When it comes to climate action, perfect is the enemy of good,” she says. “Coal use is in decline. Renewables are becoming more prominent. More people are buying electric vehicles. … Federal investment in green technologies is spurring market growth. … There really is change taking place, and that gives me hope.”

Karen Blakelock ’12

Looking Back

Family Weekend

Last fall, families of MPS students got to experience life on campus firsthand and mix and mingle with each other at our 2023 Family Weekend in late October. The event included classroom visits, a case study session on the college admissions process, a bowl-making workshop, opportunities to observe athletics practices and music and dance showcases, a luncheon for families of color, and an address by Head of School Dr. Katherine G. Windsor. Also on tap was a guided walking tour by the Farmington Historical Society on the town’s involvement in the Freedom Trail, in which abolitionists helped formerly enslaved people.

Rising soccer phenom

We are thrilled to share that Brooke Pearson ’24 was selected by United Soccer Coaches as a Fall 2023 High School All-American soccer player! The distinguished designation is awarded three times a year to amateur athletes who are considered to be among the best players in their sport. Pearson has been playing soccer since she was age 3, and says, “I always knew soccer was my sport. … I love the feeling of happiness and warmth I get every time I score a goal, win a game and make a good pass.” A midfielder at Porter’s, she says, “Everyone on the Porter’s team wants to go to that next level. So I think it’s helpful to have been playing with such athletes they definitely push me all the time, every day.” In the fall, she will play Division 1 soccer at the University of New Hampshire. Go, Brooke!

Reunion 2023

The mood was festive on campus last October at Reunion Weekend 2023, which was geared to Ancients with class years ending in 3 or 8, but attracted Ancients from many other years. At the celebration, Ancients participated in activities such as a horticultural tour showcasing the campus’s diverse flora, a book fair featuring publications by Ancient authors, a formal dinner for all reunion classes and a s’mores & cocoa nightcap. Among the highlights were beloved MPS traditions such as the Little Meeting talent show and Singing in the Garden led by current and former Perilhettes.

Porter’s first Eagle Scout

Beatrice Kibler ’26 is the first student in MPS history and one of the first girls in America to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouts BSA. A founding member of Troop 223G in Pacific Palisades, California, Kibler held scouting leadership roles such as patrol leader and high adventure crew leader. She also earned 43 merit badges in areas such as citizenship in the nation, lifesaving and oceanography. Last summer, Kibler completed a 60-mile backpacking trek in the mountains of northern New Mexico. She also completed a one-mile open-ocean swim off the coast of Catalina Island. For her Eagle Scout project, she led a team of scouts over three days in building benches for housing facilities for formerly unhoused youth in California.

Looking Forward

MPS summer roadshow

Miss Porter’s is hitting the road this summer! Look out for Head of School Dr. Katherine G. Windsor as she travels throughout New England to share with you about learning and life at Farmington:

TUESDAY, JULY 9

Kennebunkport, Maine

MONDAY, AUGUST 12

Mount Desert, Maine

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

Nantucket, Massachusetts

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16

Little Compton, Rhode Island

Visit porters.org/calendar for the most up-to-date event details, or email alumnaerelations@ missporters.org with questions.

JUNE 25–28, 2024

Building female leaders in education

Current and aspiring women education leaders across the country will gather at MPS from June 25 to 28 for Wonder Women, an experiential training program to build their leadership skills, habits and mindsets. Co-hosted by Porter’s Center for Global Leadership, the four-day event will focus on topics such as exploring personal authority at work, leveraging the strengths and networks of female leadership, and using design thinking to achieve organizational change. Among the speakers will be Head of School Dr. Katherine G. Windsor. Geared to women working in diverse roles in K–12 education, the event will help participants including Ancients who participate develop their ability to perform as authentic, creative and effective leaders.

AUGUST 14, 2024

See you at our summer social!

Miss Porter’s Ancients and other members of the school community are invited to our annual summer reception on Martha’s Vineyard. Hosted by Ancients and parents, this popular summer tradition brings together current, past, and incoming MPS students and their families for socializing over cocktails and mocktails. Head of School Dr. Katherine G. Windsor will share an update on Miss Porter’s School today and goals for the school in the coming years.

Make your voice count

In order to better understand, represent and engage with our population of graduates, the Alumnae and Development Office is collecting data through our ongoing Ancient Census. More than 1,700 Ancients have already responded have you? If not, email alumnaerelations@missporters.org to receive your unique ID and survey link. Help us make gains in our diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging practices by completing the Ancient survey!

1955

Bev Sutherland and Jane “Goodness” Olayiwola ’10, the first recipient of the 1955 Memorial Scholarship. Here, they enjoyed meeting for lunch in Woodbury, Connecticut.

1978

A group of Ancients gathered in New York City to celebrate the opening of “Divine Pathways,” a textile installation by Anne Patterson. Installed in The Cathedral Church of Saint John, it featured an immense field of colorful ribbons Patterson calls “light pathways that are connecting heaven and Earth.”

1984

Nancy Tupper Ling has published a new children’s book titled “One Perfect Plan: The Bible’s Big Story in Tiny Poems.” The picture book introduces young readers to the story of the Bible through fun, engaging poems and breathtaking illustrations.

Nancy Tupper Ling writes: “Look at the amazing panel of stained glass that fellow classmate and friend Fiona Clark created for our home. This is one of four panels. She’s so talented!”

Left to right: Missy Casscells-Hamby, Hope Dana ’79, Leslie Slaughter Needham ’79, Sarah Blake, Anne Patterson, Maria Manuche, Elizabeth Sands, Carol Neiley, Bradley Berger, Sarah Whalen Robinson and Mary Truslow.

Submitting your note!

Aug. 1, 2024

DELIVERING PHOTOS

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

Please note that we are not able to publish all photos submitted for Class Notes.

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.

Please provide the full name and class year 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.

1989

Amanda Marcantonio Reynal has published her first book, “Designing Rooms with Joie de Vivre: A Fresh Take on Classic Styles.” She stopped in New Canaan, Connecticut, for a book signing and Q&A that was hosted by Ancients Julia Ballentine Peter ’88 and Hilary Auchincloss Wittmann ’88.

Left to right: Ashley Prymas ’92, Alison Frye Cabot ’86, Sara Hannafin ’88, Theo Rand Dotson ’88, Kathryn Knight Sellschop, Katie Cassidy Sutherland P’23, Hilary Auchincloss Wittmann ’88, Amanda Marcantonio Reynal, Julie Ballentine Peter ’88, Kate Zipser Crooks ’88, P’19, Tina Crisp Miller ’87 and Suzannah McLain Smith ’88. Not shown: Joan Esposito Brothers ’88, Amanda Lehman ’88 and Jen Roberti.

1997

While working at Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton, Massachusetts, Rachel Jennings stumbled upon an artwork titled “Miss Porters the Rolling Giraffe.” Artist Elizabeth Denny found the MPS sign while exploring the Mill River in the state. Rachel writes: “I guess Miss Porter traded in her bun for some ossicones!”

2001

Priscilla (Bisnath) Ramcharan recently self-published “Globalization of Hearts,” a book about the lives and interests of two globally minded Trinidadians, one living in Denmark and one living in the United States. Ramcharan founded and runs Project Love Global, a nonprofit that helps children in need who live in Trinidad.

Kelly Washburn was honored as a top nurse practitioner in providing transgender health and medical services. The list, which was published in the winter 2023–2024 edition of Portland Monthly magazine, was developed through a survey of health care practitioners in Oregon.

2010

Margaret Abigail (Abbie) Pratt became engaged to her partner, Riley, who planned a touching proposal that incorporated one of Abbie’s favorite Porter’s traditions: the New Girl ring ceremony traditionally held at the gazebo during Singing in the Garden. Riley reached out to Porter’s to obtain the gazebo’s dimensions, and engaged a carpenter to create a miniature replica. Following another Porter’s tradition, Riley mailed out yellow ribbons to Abbie’s loved ones for them to write

their best wishes. During a getaway to Asheville, North Carolina, where the pair stayed in a decked-out treehouse in the Appalachian Mountains, Riley proposed to Abbie with a handwritten letter and presented the gazebo, which contained an engagement ring and the ribbons. “It took her breath away and created many happy gasps and tears,” Riley writes. “We hugged for a while, kissed, and she said, ‘A million times, yes.’”

2012

Ancients gathered in Boca Grande, Florida, for the wedding of MacKenzie Johnson Platt

Class of 2012 Ancients (left to right): Hilary Fitzsimmons, Andrea Trump, Daphne Coty, Hilary Kozak Willis and Haley Hughes.

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.

Suzanne Tompkins Ramseur ’43 | 7/10/2023

Katherine P. Ramseur 1971 Daughter

† Sylvia Buffinton Tompkins 1951 Sister-in-law

Iris Jennings Vail ’46 | 11/29/2023

† Beatrice Black Bremer 1921 Mother

Siri Vail Burki 1971 Daughter

† Annie B. Jennings 1874 Great-aunt

Anne Larsen Simonson ’47 | 12/10/23

Susan Z. Ritz 1971 Daughter

Vivian Weyerhaeuser Piasecki ’48 | 7/10/2023

† Lynn Weyerhaeuser Day 1949 Sister

Vivian Day Stroh 1975 Niece

Joan Lewis Danforth ’49 | 6/12/2023

† Annie Burr Auchincloss Lewis 1920 Aunt

Leonora Moffat Ellison ’49 | 9/29/2023

† Edith Moffat Harding 1939 Sister

† Harriett Moffat Sheeline 1940 Sister

† Mary C. Sheeline 1975 Niece

Leonora M. Sheeline 1976 Niece

Anne Gibb MacKenzie ’49 | 11/4/2023

† Elsie McIlwaine Gibb 1924 Mother

† Joan Gibb Widdifield 1945 Sister

Blair MacKenzie Van Brunt 1979 Daughter

† Elizabeth Wiese Holcombe 1942 Aunt

Claire McIlwaine Porter 1965 Cousin

Anne McIlwaine Hemingway 1966 Cousin

Jane McIlwaine Berry 1969 Cousin

Audrey Holding McCargo ’49 | 9/30/2023

Heather M. McCargo 1978 Stepdaughter

† Marian McCargo Bell 1949 Sister-in-law

Andria Rowley Lawson ’50 | 9/22/2023

† Dorothy Curtis Rowley 1922 Mother

Andria F. Lawson 1981 Daughter

Jean Campbell Beaven ’51 | 12/19/2023

Elizabeth Campbell Ashby 1950 Sister

Barbara Hunt Campbell 1959 Sister-in-law

Patricia Derr March ’52 | 6/15/2023

† Lowrie Sage Flagg 1917 Cousin

† Katharine Derr Barney 1918 Aunt

† Harriet Haight Shutt 1926 Aunt

† Marjorie Flagg Strawbridge 1938 Cousin

† Mariana Mann de Saint Phalle 1948 Cousin

Nancy Mann Israel 1949 Cousin

Dorothy D. Darling 1968 Cousin

Carlin Whitney Scherer ’52 | 12/15/2023

† Hope Richardson Simonds 1926 Mother

† Hope Norton Iaccaci 1920 Cousin

† Virginia Goldsbury Flower 1926 Godmother

† Clara Legg Scherer 1927 Mother-in-law

† Elaine Richardson Woodward 1933 Aunt

† Elizabeth Simonds Maynard 1947 Stepsister

† Elaine Scherer Romaine 1954 Sister-in-law

Priscilla Harding Heublein 1955 Stepsisterin-law

† Holly Simonds Callery 1958 Stepsister

Nannette Foss Orr 1958 Cousin by marriage

Lansing Simonds Moran 1962 Half sister

Elizabeth Maynard Gordon 1975 Stepniece

Catherine Whitney Welles 1979 Niece

Dorothy B. McCagg 1980 Stepniece

Ashley Romaine Sczupak 1987 Niece by marriage

Caroline R. Welles 2008 Great-niece

Joan McCance Warner ’52 | 12/29/2023

† Louise Haviland McCance 1925 Mother

Caroline H. Warner 1981 Daughter

† Elizabeth Ferguson McCance 1927 Aunt

Anne Robinson Warner 1948 Sister-in-law

† Louise Shepard Walsh 1949 Cousin

Ellen McCance Parker 1954 Cousin

Suzanne McCance Huguley 1979 Cousin

Catherine Parker Hyotte 1996 Cousin

Ella L. B. Warner 2020 Granddaughter

Clarissa L. Parker 2023 Cousin twice removed

Anna Taylor Caleb ’53 | 8/12/2023

† Mary Hammond Taylor 1924 Mother

Florence Hammond Phillips 1954 Cousin

Briggs Jones Coleman 2001 Relative by marriage

Mary Burke Engstrom ’53 | 11/14/2023

† Phebe Thompson Burke 1950 Sister-in-law

Hannah Patience 2015 Granddaughter

Eloise F. Palkimas 2024 Granddaughter

Margaret Rice Stout ’55 | 12/16/2023

† Clare Kellogg Stout 1925 Mother-in-law

Hope Stout Connors 1955 Sister-in-law

Hope B. Connors 1981 Niece

Cynthia G. Stout 1983 Niece

Pamela Romaine Beckett 1984 Niece by marriage † Deceased

Katharine W. Kean ’57 | 7/25/2023

Diana Chapman Kamilli ’59 | 8/2/2023

† Carroll Ferguson Chapman 1926 Mother

† Elizabeth Ferguson McCance 1927 Cousin

† Marion T. Osborn 1957 Cousin

Helen Osborn Braun 1958 Cousin

Caroline J. McCance 2012 Second cousin

Clarissa L. Parker 2023 Cousin twice removed

Lillian Taggart Andrews ’60 | 5/21/2023

† Eunice Parish Atkins 1902 Grandmother

† Dorothy DuPuy Taggart 1931 Mother

Marion Taggart Silliman 1955 Sister

Susan Taggart Ruhl 1957 Sister

Ann Taggart Gordon 1964 Sister

† Eunice DuPuy Culver 1926 Aunt

Elizabeth Taggart Fitzsimmons 1962 Cousin

Isabel Lucom Clark ’65 | 9/15/2023

Amanda M. van Voorhees 2006 Stepniece

Laura B. Gary ’76 | 12/12/2023

Laura Gary Thorne 1959 Aunt

Tracy D. Gary 1969 Stepaunt

Katherine N. DuHamel ’77 | 10/8/2023

Elizabeth G. DuHamel 1978 Sister

Emily DuHamel Brower 1981 Sister

Charlotte N. DuHamel 1987 Sister

† Grace Tingue Curran 1926 Great-aunt

† Polly Park Dyer 1949 Aunt

Neva Dyer Egan 1972 Cousin

Amenity J. Applewhite 2001 Second cousin

Anna I. Kirk 2011 Niece

Grace C. Williams-DuHamel 2011 Niece

Alexandra N. R. Licholai 2022 Niece

Sarah Murphy Means ’77 | 11/29/2023

Jane Murphy Barton 1972 Sister

Rebecca Clothier Case ’85 | 12/18/2023

† Melinda Clothier Biddle 1976 Sister

† Sarah Fisher Bond 1870 Great-greatgrandmother

† Juliette Bond Massey 1897 Greatgrandmother

† Gladys Bond Baxter 1911 Great-aunt

Annabelle Evans Stiffler 1982 Cousin

FORMER EMPLOYEES

John Rosati | 7/1/2023

Buildings and Grounds, 1983–1995

Maria V. Sousa | 7/26/2023

Housekeeper, 1985–2005

IN MEMORIAM

Margot Anne “Topsy” Larsen Simonson ’47, a trustee of Miss Porter’s School from 1981 to 1985, died peacefully on Dec. 10, 2023. She served on the school’s alumnae board from 1968 to 1971, and was the mother of Ancient Susan Z. Ritz ’71.

Born in New York City on Aug. 28, 1929, to Margaret (Zerbe) and Roy Larsen, Topsy spent much of her early life in Fairfield, Connecticut. After graduating from Miss Porter’s School, Topsy attended Sarah Lawrence College, and graduated in 1951 with a childhood development degree. In 1952, she married Gordon H. Ritz Sr. and they moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1957, the family, now including three children Susan, Gordon “Cracker” and Margot “Muffy” moved to Minneapolis.

While raising her children, Topsy volunteered for the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Guthrie Theater, Walker Art Institute, Jungle Theater, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the Minnesota Orchestra. She helped found the Children’s Theater Company and served as one of its trustees for more than three decades. Her final board member role was for The Friends of the Mississippi River.

Topsy raised her children and remained close with her first husband after they divorced in 1971. Drew C. Simonson, her second husband, was an avid traveler whose fly-fishing adventures took them to exotic locales worldwide. After Drew died in 1991, Harold H. “Sandy” Tearse Jr. brought his calm presence to her life until his death in 2016. At age 85, she fell for Kingston Fletcher, her cruise mate and steady companion through the rest of her life.

Topsy is survived by brothers Johnathan (Mary Peacock) Larsen and Christopher Larsen; her three children Susan (Ethan Atkin), Gordon (Leone) and Margot Ritz; her grandchildren Margot (Adam) Marquit, Charlotte Zwick, Erica (John) Abbett, Mitch Ritz, Daniel (Michelle) Otter, Nina (Matt) Otter, and Elisa Otter; and nine great-grandchildren.

THEN

Originally a general store owned and operated by abolitionist Samuel Demming in 1809, “Jiggs” has also served as a U.S. post office, village store and safe haven for the Mende people, who sued the U.S. government for their freedom after being enslaved on the Amistad.

1800s

The building was recently renovated for use as a multipurpose space through a generous donation from the Sharp family. Dedicated in April, Sharp House is now used by Porter’s for classes, meeting space and community functions.