MKA revıew
THE MAGAZINE OF
MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY SP R I N G 2 0 18
EXPANDING
OUR VIEWS THROUGH
Global EXPERIENCE
THE MAGAZINE OF
MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY SPRI N G 20 18
Editors Gretchen Berra Kim Saunders
F E ATURE
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Design Aldeia www.aldeia.desgn
Expanding our views through Global Experience
Copy Editor Diane Lundy Assistant Editors Debbie Allen Eric Gutierrez Allí Shearin Photographers Doug Allen Michael Branscom Steve Clayton David Hollander David Kenas Derek Morf Karen Schifferdecker
DE PARTME NTS
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F ROM THE HE AD MASTER
03 A ROUND
MKA Campus, student and faculty news
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38 T RUSTE E 41 A LUMNI
N EWS
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G E NE ROUS L I FE Stories of Giving
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NOT ES
ON THE COVER Sasha Aronson (’18) stands atop Srd peak, rising 1,400 ft. above the walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia looking out across the Adriatic Sea.
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Evidence of our mission is found in the KNOWLEDGE, VISION and INTEGRITY of our students and our alumni: K N OW L EDGE • Academic excellence • Intellectual independence • Love of learning VISION • Personal engagement with the world • Understanding of human complexity • A sense of humility and compassion I N TEG R ITY • Strength of character • Responsibility as a citizen and leader • An honorable and generous life
FALL 2015
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F RO M T H E H E A D M AST E R
BY T HO M AS W. N AMMACK
From the Headmaster At the core of effective teaching and deep learning are three simple words, “feedback and adjustment.” As a classroom teacher, I used to ask my students for feedback every two weeks. On a 3x5 note card, each student would respond to two questions: “What do you need more of in this class?” And, “What do you need less of in this class?” It was a simple exercise that provided me with insight about the student experience in my classroom and developed a sense of ownership for that experience among my students. For anyone interested in the art of teaching, observing an athletic practice or a performing arts rehearsal can be revelatory because the feedback and adjustment are immediate and observable. Several years ago, I observed Primary School physical education teacher Ralph Pacifico instruct a class of kindergarten students on how to dribble a basketball. No five-year-old can stand with a basketball in his or her hands for long without bouncing it, so prior to any instruction, the basketballs were bouncing—off of shoes, knees, maybe a nose or two and then skittering away across the gym floor. At the beginning of the lesson, Coach P asked each child to hold a ball in two hands and lightly toss it up in the air, just a few inches or so, and catch it again and repeat. He walked among the children, coaching, and encouraging. In a few moments, every student was successful at this action. Then Coach P demonstrated how to drop the ball and catch it when it bounced back up. The children did this again and again with small corrections and lots of praise from Coach P. The next move was to drop the ball and as it bounced back up, give it a little smack downward and catch it on the rebound and repeat. By the end of the class, even those students whose brains and bodies had
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not caught up with one another were dribbling a basketball. It was a master class in the power of feedback and adjustment. Each student’s success and growth at MKA relies on expert instruction and a desire to learn. A teacher’s expert instruction fosters a student’s risk-taking, perseverance and self-awareness. A student’s desire to learn inspires a teacher’s creativity, resourcefulness and care. The theme of the Spring Review is changing our views through global experience - it is about the impact of feedback on a grand scale, how our experiences with new people, cultures and environments lead us to adjust our attitudes, beliefs and actions. Like the lesson in physical education, there is scaffolding that makes learning possible, in this instance built over years not minutes, readying MKA students to engage with and not just visit locations such as Tanzania, Guatemala, Spain, France, China, Croatia and the Blackfeet Reservation in Wyoming. Every year at Commencement I am filled with pride at the quality of the graduates whom we are deploying into the wider world of college and beyond. “Expanding Our Views Through Global Experience” reveals the intentional scaffolding that has benefited our students as well as the opportunities for feedback and adjustment that prepare them for life-long learning. ■
A A ROUN D M KA
IN T HIS SECT IO N : Big News Campus News Student News Homecoming Faculty News Athletics
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A SIGNATURE EVENT AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE ANNUAL STUDENT VS. FACULTY BASKETBALL GAME WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 26TH AND THE EXCITEMENT IN THE AUDITORIUM WAS PALPABLE. Organized by the Middle School Student Government under the leadership of CherylAnne Amendola and Maria Arellano, along with help from PAMKA, led by Suzanne Weinberg, and with the support from almost every Middle School faculty member and parents, a huge crowd came out to cheer on the players and enjoy the nail biter of a game where the students beat the faculty by one point with a score of 31-30! 6th and 7th graders started off the night with a scrimmage against one another. Chamber singers sang the national anthem prior to the main event of faculty versus the 8th grade students. The Middle School Pep Band played
throughout the game and the Middle School Step Team added to the entertainment during halftime. Baked goods donated by parents, a half-time free throw contest, special event T-shirt sales and cottage coin drives (The Freshavocado cottage won!) added to the fundraising success of the night. This year’s charitable recipients, selected by the students (traditionally, one local and one national or international organization), are, CASA, and Save a Child’s Heart, who together will receive almost $7,000! CherylAnne says about the event, “Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who committed their time and gave their love during the game. The night was a huge success, the measure of success being the excitement in the room. The stands were packed with smiling kids! While the score had us down by a point, it was definitely a win for the teachers as well.” Congratulations to all involved!
FIELD TRIP The Upper School’s Environmental Science class took its annual trip to study the water quality of the nearby Peckman River. They found plenty of aquatic life, lots of dissolved oxygen, and cleaned up some “evidence of human presence.” Students get a lot out of this trip every time and soon will delve into analyzing the data they collected.
Global Citizens It was our pleasure to host 14 Chinese students visiting from Shanghai at MKA’s Upper School for the day. They were each paired with a Chinese language student whom they shadowed throughout the day. The visiting students are currently involved in an exchange program, and many of them are considering spending a semester or longer at a US school in the future. After school, they attended activities at the Asian Culture Society. Congratulations to Meghna Maharishi ’18 on her article ’99 Red Balloons: The Story of Immigration in the U.S. and Germany, being published on The New York Times Student Journeys blog. Meghna's capstone project was the only one chosen to be published from this international trip!
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THE MKA COMMUNITY IS REMARKABLE AND OUR DONORS ARE INCREDIBLE! Parents, alumni, grandparents, students, faculty, and staff came together on 10/20/17 to surpass our MKA Day goal of 650 donors, thereby releasing a $150,000 Board Challenge gift! We have now raised more than $800,000 from over 925 donors to date to benefit our students and faculty. Once again, the MKA community proves that one day really does make a difference. Together we can do amazing things! THE UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY DEPARTMENT held their annual Hemmeter Lecture series, this year named “Attaining Peace Through Diplomacy” with great success. This lecture was given by career diplomat Declan O’Donovan. Declan has served as the Irish ambassador to several countries and organizations including: Poland, Japan, Morocco, Portugal and the United Nations. He was also one of the key diplomats in facilitating the AngloIrish Peace Accords in 1985. Declan spoke about the process of creating peace from a
diplomat’s perspective. He is a remarkable historian and shared a wealth of stories and wisdom on the topic. THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE visited the Primary School for a special interactive assembly. Pre-K students learned all about structures during the “Build It Up” presentation where they explored the story of the “Three Little Pigs” and worked together to build structures and test them with the powerful Wolf 3000 machine. Students in K-3 learned about weather in a “How to Build a Storm” presentation where they made a cloud from liquid nitrogen, created snow, and finished the show with an amazing tornado!
I N T H E SW I F T P LAYG ROUN DS FLEX CLASS, MKA Middle School students began learning Swift coding to guide a character through a 3D world. They tackled goals using the same code professional developers use every day. Students will continually build on what they’ve learned and create even more complex code using commands, functions, loops, parameters, conditional coding and variables.
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UPPER SCHOOL FRENCH TEACHER Meg Slotkin designed and taught a unit of slam poetry in her French 4 Honors class for the first time. Learn more about the lesson and experience in the latest faculty blog post, “Slam Poetry.... en francais!” THE SIXTH-GRADE WELCOMED author Dr. Janice Cohn, who came seeking feedback on her latest book in progress. The book tells the true story of how a town in Texas rallied to support its small Muslim population after its mosque was destroyed by arson. Students read the manuscript and provided feedback on the text as well as reviewed photographs Dr. Cohn is considering for the book. The subject of the book connects to sixth grade studies in social studies, English and advisory. Students look forward to seeing their contributions incorporated in the published version of the book. We hope Dr. Cohn will return to visit again when the book is published.
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News Shorts ST U D E N T L I F E The MKA Surfrider club started the year with 30 students and several faculty members volunteering to clean up the beach in Spring Lake, NJ. They picked up over 30 pounds of trash, consisting mostly of small plastic bits that are deadly to wildlife. Surfrider is a great organization providing vital information to help us understand the meaning of our actions. [ 1 ] There was much enthusiasm and excitement during the Upper School’s Student Life Fair. Over 60 clubs, CSIs, student publications, and other student organizations were represented. New organizations this year include MIT Launch, Robotics Team, Toni’s Kitchen, and MKA Greenhouse. Ninth graders and new students in particular enjoyed browsing the many offerings. [ 2 ]
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The Drug and Alcohol Awareness Committee at MKA in conjunction with the support of PAMKA funding, worked tirelessly so that Upper School students had the pleasure of listening to NBA star Chris Herron tell his remarkable and inspirational story during his keynote presentation during Drug and Alcohol Awareness week. The program offered invaluable insight to our students. As with any school, our students face temptations with alcohol and drugs, and it is vital when educating them that they have someone they can relate to. Chris Herren was a teenage basketball sensation at Durfee High School. He had a prolific collegiate career at Boston College and Fresco State before being drafted in the 2nd round of the 1999 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. Chris went on to play at the
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Boston Celtics and overseas in five different countries. From the age of 14, Chris struggled with alcohol and drug abuse. As his basketball career flourished, so did his spiral into full blown addiction. Now nine years sober, Chris travels the country as a motivational speaker, sending his message to schools, colleges, prisons, professional, and collegiate sports teams. Chris’s story was documented in an ESPN 30 for 30 Documentary, Unguarded. This documentary has served as a source of content for the Senior Health curriculum. Chris spoke candidly to the Upper School students about alcohol and drug experimentation in the teenage years, and how decisions in this time period can affect an individual’s short-term and long-term life and those of his or her families. It was a very powerful afternoon, and we thank Chris for coming to MKA to share his story. [ 3 ] ML K DANCE PE RFORMANCE The MKA Middle School Dance Program, directed by Middle School F&PA teacher Monica Elmore, held its annual performance to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as well as other prominent human rights activists from around the world, on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. It was a wonderful evening that began with a heartfelt introduction by SEL Director Maria Arellano and continued with many outstanding performances at all grade levels that covered a variety of dance genres, such
as Latin, ballet, tap, modern, hip-hop, and Bollywood. Highlights included the story of Ruby Bridges with original choreography by the seventh- grade semester-long dance class and the premier performance of the MKA Middle School Step Team coached by Yesenia RaveloRodriquez. Congratulations to all on a beautiful and moving performance! [ 4 ] ML K JAZZ BAND LUNCHEON The MKA Middle School Jazz Band performed at the luncheon in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Friday, January 19, 2018. Family members joined students for a special southern lunch menu while the Jazz Band (fresh off a full-day workshop with members of Diane Moser’s Big Band) performed jazz classics that were popular during Dr. Martin Luther King’s lifetime. This year’s program featured two traditional jazz tunes from New Orleans, considered the birthplace of jazz: “St. James Infirmary” and “Little Liza Jane.” The energetic audience also enjoyed the Brazilian bossa nova tune “The Girl from Ipanema,” one of the very first tunes considered to be of the rock and roll genre; “Caldonia”; and the classic pop jazz tune “I Found a New Baby.” What a great way to end a week of celebrations honoring all those who stand up and speak out for equal rights for all! [ 5 ] Keep up with all the news at mka.org
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Congratulations to Tim Lynch who was featured on Ars Technica in an article titled: “The Usenet Deep Space Nine recapped who helped inspire modern TV criticism.” In the article the author, Nathan Matisse says, “If you watched DS9 and lived on the Internet in the ’90s, you likely read Tim Lynch.” Congratulations to Kristi Delfino on her article entitled “Teaching Authentic Culture through Social Justice” being published in the January/February edition of the Language Educator magazine!
PUBLISHED! Congratulations to Middle School Spanish teacher Yesenia Ravelo-Rodriguez for the publication of her first children’s book, ¡Mis Actividades Favoritas!—En Casa!
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A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO all the students on the MKA Mock Trial team, Coach Wolfson and Coach Tompsett who took home the County Championship for the first time since 2005!
Congratulations to Upper School Fine and Performing Arts teacher Anthony Cuneo who debuted, with great acclaim, his exhibition Traces at The Painting Center. All of the work in Traces developed slowly, layer by layer, playing with textures, and opaque and translucent fields of color. Sometimes marks are scratched through, or laid on top of a surface in graphite or paint. All kinds of mark-making tools have been used, from brushes to fingers to repurposed packaging forms. Shapes derived from decorative traditions and images linked to personal memories come and go throughout the series. Cuneo remains interested in the charged tensions between apparent opposites— chaos and order, emotion and intellect, creation and decay, and even the impulse to beauty wrestling with the desire for truth. The amazing exhibit ran from October—November.
As part of MKA’s commitment to professional development, Middle School history teacher Jess Bishop ’04, and Upper School History teacher Kyle Salkin, traveled to Stanford University to participate in two Gilder Lehrman teaching seminars. Gilder Lehrman is an organization dedicated to improving history education through literacy. Jess participated in the seminar on the Supreme Court, and Kyle participated in one on the Gilded Age. They shared resources, ideas, and lesson plans and gained much knowledge in a life-changing week of learning alongside fellow teachers from all over the country!
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Student
Achievements
Congratulations to Bennett Knowles ’20 who won the 2017 NJ PGA Junior Tour’s “Player of the Year” in the 11-15 year old division! Bennett has conquered tremendous feats this summer, and we are so proud!
of her work ethic and achievements. She puts in a lot of extra time on the weekends and practice time to sing in multiple choirs and festivals.” We wish you all the best, Kiki, as you continue to pursue your music career!
MKA Senior, Ethan Kuhl, will have the honor of seeing his junior independent history thesis, The 1964 Surgeon General’s Report: Catalyst for Social Change and Policy Against Big Tobacco published in the Winter 2017 issue of The Concord Review. Founded
Brava! MKA senior, soprano Kiki Porter wins the 2nd place solo award in the NJ All-State Opera Festival for her aria “Va godendo vezzoso e bello” by Handel! She also earned honorable mention and was chosen with only three other finalists to participate in a Master Class with acclaimed opera singer John Hancock. Kiki also participates in the NJ All-State Chorus and the All- Eastern Treble Choir and is a member of the Upper School Chamber Singers and a Music Captain for the a cappella group, Remix. Upper School Choral Director Maria Gilmartin says, “I’m so proud
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in l987, this prestigious publication recognizes exemplary history essays by high school students, and is distributed to 44 states in the US and in 38 countries around the world. This is the ninth MKA paper to be published in The Concord Review since 2007, and the third in the past three years. Upper School History Department Chair David Korfhage says, “I’m very proud of Ethan’s achievement. The history department is proud to have another student paper published in The Concord Review, which we view as a testament to the strength of our history research program.” The Junior History Research Project is an alternative to the traditional American History AP course and requires every member of the junior class to spend six months conducting independent, in-depth
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Congratulations to Zoe Lynch ’21 on winning the Google/Snapchat #MyFutureMecontest! There were over 22,000 entrants and only five finalists were flown to New Orleans for the final round, where they attended the TEDSWomen Conference and worked on coding a filter for Snapchat. Zoe was then the winner of this competition, and she was flown out to CA to receive her well-deserved recognition.
research, using both primary and secondary sources, into an aspect of American history, prior to writing a thesis which can range anywhere from 3,200-6,500 words. Congratulations to Ethan on this tremendous accomplishment!
Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) announced announced Zoe Lynch ’21 as the winner of the 2017 Congressional App Challenge for high school students in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District. Zoe’s charitable services app GiveGetNJ pairs people in need with charitable organizations that provide local services, and the app helps pair donors with local charities.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO MKA’S A CAPPELLA GROUP: REMIX! Directed by Maria Gilmartin, Remix was awarded 2nd place in the Quarterfinal round of the International Competition for High School A Cappella (ICHSA) held at the Grunin Arts Center in Toms River. They will advance to the Semifinals on March 24th. Alex Melitz ’18 received the Outstanding Vocal Percussion Award. The group performed “What Now” with Lizzie Appel-Caraccioli ’20 as soloist, “Where Are U Now” with Caitlin Ladda ’19 and Casey Borella ’19 soloing, and “Rise Up” with Ariel Grossman ’21 as the first soloist accompanied by two other solos by Casey Borella ’19 and Jennifer Shan ’19. Kiki Porter ’19 and Rob D’Alessandro ’19 are music captains of the group, Keenan McAuliffe ’18 is dance captain, and Ellie Kallay ’18 choreographed the performances. Follow Remix on Instagram at mkaarts or visit their website at www.mka-remix.com.
THIS FALL, THE EIGHTH-GRADE PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE
HALLOWEEN Parents, special friends, faculty, staff, and students alike all enjoyed the parade of costumes and the parties that followed during the Primary School Halloween festivities. Headmaster Thomas Nammack and Head of Primary School Ginger Kriegel dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head and joined in the fun with the students. Special thanks to Stacey Polanskyj, the grade level parent reps, and the class parents for their help with the classroom parties. We also send a huge thank you to Coach Pacifico for emceeing his 26th Halloween Parade, this year dressed as “The Joker!”
performed an outstanding production of Witold Gombrowicz’s absurd farce, Ivona, Princess of Burgundia. This Polish play from the 1930s gave the cast the chance to explore the petulance and immaturity of the ruling class, the definition of beauty, and the objectification of women. Although the play is 80 years old, many of the themes were disturbingly relevant. In preparation for the performance, the students learned acting styles such as clowning and comedy of manners. This year’s show also included physical acting work from the British theatre company Frantic Assembly. While the themes were weighty, the performances were spectacularly ridiculous, and everyone involved had a fantastic time working on the show.
The MKA Jazz Café featuring the jazz bands from both the Upper School and the Middle School took place on Tuesday evening January 30, 2018. Both bands gave rousing performances to a packed and appreciative house. Although hindered by some untimely absences due to illness, the Middle School jazz band was able to rally with the help of Rob Henke, MKA Middle School’s brass assistant, who filled in for the ailing lead trumpeter. They covered jazz standards including “St. James Infirmary,” “Caldonia,” and “I Found a New Baby,” as well as the well-known Latin tune “The Girl from Ipanema.” The Upper School jazz band performed the second set of the evening that featured the classics “Green Onions,” “Tastes Like Chicken,” “Big Dawg,” and “Cut to the Chase.” Both bands combined for the final number of the evening, the traditional second-line tune from New Orleans, “Little Liza Jane.” Band directors Linda Larkin and Chuck Olsen congratulate all the players on a wonderful evening of music making and enjoyment!
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All-School Gathering MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY’S ANNUAL ALL-SCHOOL GATHERING EPITOMIZED EVERYTHING THAT MAKES MKA SPECIAL: A COMMUNITY THAT IS AS DIVERSE AS IT IS UNITED.
Headmaster Thomas Nammack welcomed over 1,034 students, 200 faculty, staff members, special parents, Trustees, and alumni guests to the school’s 24th All-School Gathering saying that, “Our school is now in its 134th year, and has endured for such a long time because it has the courage to change and evolve and to re-examine the questions that relate to what is best for our students. That’s what keeps us on our toes and keeps this place getting better every year.” Student talent was exhibited by exemplary performances from the Primary School Bellringers who sang “America the Beautiful,” the Middle and Upper School Jazz Ensembles, the Middle
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and Upper School Strings Ensemble, the Middle School Dance Ensemble, the Upper School Choreography Workshop, and the newly rebranded Upper School a cappella group, Remix, who performed an unbelievable rendition of “What Now” as originally performed by Rhianna, featuring soloist Lizzie AppelCaracciolo ’20. MKA’s flourishing athletics program was celebrated with the announcement of well-deserved athletic awards to student athletes as well as by rousing performances from the MKA Cheerleader and Step Teams. Academic endeavors as well as Fine & Performing Arts and Athletic achievements were
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honored with the presentation of MKA sweaters to meriting students The school’s renowned faculty was recognized by Alumni Council President Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00 who presented the Founders’ Cup for Teaching Excellence to The Fleming 15—Tom’s 4th grade class of 2016-17—in honor of the late Tom Fleming who passed away suddenly last year. Andrew Roselund ’19 played a beautiful and moving cello performance to honor his beloved, former teacher. Middle School 8th Grade Student Government President Ava DiLorenzo ’22 remarked to the audience, “MKA is a family, and I’m proud to be a part of it, especially during these crazy
PARENTS Welcome New MKA Parents! MKA hosted our New Parent/ Host Reception at Mayfair Farms in West Orange. With over 375 people in attendance, the guests met and mingled and current host parents welcomed our new parents to the MKA Community. It was a wonderful night celebrating our 180 new MKA students and their families!
FACULTY MKA welcomes new hires for the 2017-2018 school year. These highly skilled professionals join our exceptional team of faculty and staff, bringing their expertise and energy to our community! CHAEQUAN ANDERSON – Middle School Chorus MONICA ASHLEY – Primary School Admission Assistant ROSALIE ASIA – Middle School History
times that we’re living in—earthquakes, wild fires, hurricanes and the turbulent times in Washington, DC.” Upper School Senior Class President Keenan McAuliffe ’18 led one of the celebration’s most special moments as he read the name of each kindergartner as they crossed over a small bridge to be welcomed by seniors and presented with a toy cougar. Finally, Upper School Student Council President Kerrie McGuire ’18 remarked, “I’d like to think my time at MKA has made me a better student and, more importantly, allowed me to become a better person. ...The atmosphere at MKA allows you to embrace who you are while gaining valuable perspectives about societal issues.” From the sea of MKA spirit clothing to the cheers for kindergartners receiving MKA Cougars, school spirit was high and the morning concluded with the youngest member of the Class of 2030, Abby Hegarty, helping Headmaster Nammack officially ring in the start of the 130th school year.
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ASHLEY CONDE – Social Media Marketing Manager MELANIE BIEBER ’03 – Primary School Student Counselor JOCELYN FINE – Primary School F&PA Chair SUZANNE GIARRUSSO – Primary School, Pre-K REMLYN GONGOB – Upper School Registrar MILLER HUGHES – Upper School Learning Specialist CHRISTA LEONARD – Upper School F&PA, Art FAY LONSINGER – Primary School Recess Aide MARNIE MCNANY – Communications Assistant KENNETH MISCIA, JR. – Tri-Campus Security Director DIANA MURELLI – Upper School Mathematics HUMA NIAZI – Primary School Science Specialist LAELA PERKINS – Development Office, Director of Special Events CODI SCARPELLO – Business Office, Business Associate ROSHNI SHAH – Middle School, Fourth Grade
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Season of Giving MKA IS AN ADVOCATE FOR GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, and as such created a tri-campus program called a Season of Giving along with the Parents’ Association of MKA (PAMKA). Deemed a success by all, a Season of Giving was created to help give back to local organizations in Montclair and Essex County. Students, parents and faculty alike were asked to donate a variety of items from board games and men’s outwear to homemade holiday decor, toiletries, mittens and hats, baby clothes, animal food and much more. This program was supported and made possible by PAMKA. Students at the Primary School left toys under the Giving Tree and decorated it with the mittens, hats, and scarves. The kindergarten students and their families packed the mittens, hats, and scarves into backpacks for the Toni’s Kitchen Backpack Program. THE UPPER SCHOOL also participated in the donation drives for Toni’s Kitchen and Valley Settlement but led the donation collections for Bridges Outreach (an organization that provides food and necessities to the homeless in Newark and surrounding areas), Covenant House (a home in Montclair for homeless teens), Raphael’s Life House (a home for homeless mothers and infants), and Montclair Animal Shelter. The team at Covenant House was particularly grateful for the winter decorations as they were looking forward to making their house feel more like a home for their youth this holiday season. The school’s advisor groups brought their gifts to the Upper School Academic Center for a celebration of giving. A group of students sorted through all of the gifts and packed them on the bus that visited each location. “Throughout this Season of Giving, students had the opportunities to learn more
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“ Throughout this Season of Giving, students had the opportunities to learn more about hunger and homelessness in NJ, the organizations in need, and the people whom they serve.” about hunger and homelessness in NJ, the organizations in need, and the people whom they serve,” said Kerry Verrone, Upper School Dean of Student Life. “In addition to the donation program, our advisor groups created assembly presentations and activities for our students to help give them a greater understanding of the impact we are creating on our campuses. Throughout the year, MKA and PAMKA work together on various programs that help benefit the underprivileged in Montclair and surrounding towns and that is something we are really proud of. We are beyond thrilled with the support we received from our students, their families and our staff for the Season of Giving, and we are excited to start planning the next event.”
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THE COUGAR VISITED ALL PRIMARY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS to give the classes each a special present: a mission for Kindness Week. Each class received a special box with a super-secret mission inside. The boxes contained an idea to spread kindness in the school building or community along with all of the materials the classes needed to complete their projects. The classes were all successful in completing their missions and reflected on the experience at the Primary School Thanksgiving Share.
THE ENTIRE MKA COMMUNITY collected non-perishables to donate to the Montclair Human Needs Food Pantry. Over 3,000 cans and boxes were collected from our three campuses. The Middle School students, faculty, and staff also donated money to provide 26 frozen turkeys and were able to make a monetary donation of $600 to the Pantry.
TEAM ZOEY IS AN ORGANIZATION CREATED IN HONOR OF ZOEY PENNY, a child from Verona who suffers from Progeria, which is a rare, rapid-aging condition. For the past several years, members of the MKA community have graciously lent their support to Team Zoey by raising money and awareness for Progeria research and volunteering to work at the annual Team Zoey Turkey Trot 5K. The Middle School also selected Team Zoey as their charity of choice for the student-faculty basketball game in 2012. Team Zoey is grateful to MKA for their love and friendship! ON OCTOBER 5TH, THE MKA PREK/3RD GRADE BUDDIES VISITED ALSTEDE FARM IN CHESTER, NJ with a mission: to pick fresh produce to help feed people in need. While there, they picked five large boxes of string beans while enjoying some fresh air, a hay ride, and acquiring some knowledge of agriculture from one of Alstede’s farmers. The next day, the students walked to deliver the green beans to Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair. They toured the soup kitchen’s dining room, kitchen and pantry
and had the opportunity to ask questions. Anne Merin of Toni’s was happy to receive the beans and told the students that they would be used to feed about 90 people. One of the 3rd graders noted on a written reflection about her experience: “It feels good to help people that need it. I liked picking the beans and then giving them away.”
THE GOAL OF THE VIP CLUB, headed by Adam Erbes and Shea Hammond, and advised by Rob Leather, is to host social occasions and better social experiences for children. The first event was a movie night held in the Upper School’s Academic Center. There were 19 MKA student volunteers, and ten children who enjoyed an evening watching a movie, and plenty of popcorn.
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Abhay Bhandari is combining his love for baseball and community service to help bring baseball equipment to kids in the US and around the world. Bhandari teamed up with his local coaches and training center to gather much-needed equipment for Pitch In For Baseball.
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Homecoming
2017 Fun was had by all on MKA’s beautiful, and lively Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2017!
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A RO U N D M KA
The MKA Alumni Relations office hosted several events during Homecoming Weekend, bringing over 200 friends, Trustees, faculty, staff and alumni of classes from the ’02s and ’07s, back to campus as they gathered to enjoy their Reunion Luncheon and to honor Karestan Chase Koenen, PhD ’86, the recipient of the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is bestowed in recognition and appreciation of an outstanding achievement by an alumna or alumnus who has achieved distinction in some field of endeavor, or through outstanding character or dedication has been of special service to humanity. Karestan is currently a professor at Harvard where she does research and teaches about trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The broad goal of her work is three-fold. First, she studies why, when exposed to a similar traumatic event, some persons develop PTSD while others are resilient. Second, she investigates how trauma and PTSD influence weight gain and alter long-term physical health including chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type-2diabetes. Third, she documents the global burden of trauma and PTSD through her work with the World Mental Health Surveys. Dr. Koenen also advocates for victims of sexual violence. With the fall season in full swing, families from all three campuses showed their cougar pride, cheering on the MKA volleyball, soccer and football teams throughout the day. Attendees enjoyed the many festivities lining Lloyd Road including student-run tables selling food and lots of MKA swag. Saturday evening cocktail parties brought alumni from across the country returning to Montclair. Classmates reconnected with each other and reminisced about their times at MKA. The reunion celebrations were at venues all around the town, which perfectly capped off the days’ festivities with great food, friends and fare! On Sunday, the third annual alumni soccer game took place on Muenster Field with 16 alumni players in attendance and many of their family and friends cheering them on. This event has become a signature program as alumni spanning the decades love to come together and play with other former cougars on the field. This year a face painter was on-site to entertain the children present at the game.
See more photos of Homecoming at mka.org
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A RO U N D M K A
Nominees were announced for the 9th Annual Planet Connections Awards at Theatre Row!
On September 16, 2017, the Upper School’s Fine and Performing Arts Department kicked off their season with Arts Under the Stars,
Planet Connections Theatre Festivity will be hosting its annual awards ceremony honoring the finest of an outstanding season. The Planet Connections Festivity is New York's premiere socially-conscious arts festival. The Festivity is designed to invoke the power of art in motivating philanthropy, community outreach and social change.
a full arts program in the school’s newly built amphitheater. The night included jazz piano performances, performances from Chamber Singers, several select Strings performances, performances by our actors of select original short scenes, student artwork displays, and delicious refreshments. Over 150 people attended the event and witnessed the talent of the impressive student artists. Upper School Fine and Performing Arts Chair Nicole Hoppe said, “I love the casual nature of this event and the sense of community it provides. Everyone gathers around—some sitting on stone seats or picnic blankets, others standing—and catches up with each other while we change from one performance group to another. By the end of the night, everyone agrees that they are excited for the year of arts events ahead.”
Huge congratulations to the cast and crew of MKA’s They Say We’ll Have Some Fun production which was nominated for two awards as part of the festival: Outstanding Overall Production of a Play for Rob Gelberg ’10, MKA’s Playwright-in-Residence, and Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Caitlin Ladda ’19, who played the character Sarah in the play.
PLAY ON!,
the Upper School’s Fall Play, directed by Upper School Fine and Performing Arts Department Chair Nicole Hoppe, was produced and performed to great success! Mrs. Hoppe says, “Play On! has been so fun to work on. It is a challenge because it is a play within a play, and everything in the show goes wrong. It has been an exceptional growth experience for our actors because they are essentially playing two characters within the show. We performed to sold-out audiences and left everyone in stitches.”
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MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
A RO U N D M KA
BIG News ENDURING LEGACY: Ginger Kriegel
A Revered Teacher, Mentor, and Thought Leader Retires from MKA After 41 Years
“ Ginger’s career as a teacher and administrator at MKA is remarkable not just for her length of service, but also because she stands out as one of the most influential and effective leaders in our school’s 131-year history. Ginger is progressive in her philosophy and resourceful in the implementation of innovative programs. She is a truly child-centered educator who has inspired an entire generation of MKA faculty.” –Thomas Nammack, MKA Headmaster
Ginger Kriegel began inspiring MKA kindergarten students in 1977; and as a teacher and leader, she has been setting high expectations for all Brookside students and faculty, and for herself, ever since. She has been consistently passionate in developing best practices for student-centered instruction, particularly in the areas of literacy and socialemotional development. During her 15 years in the classroom as a kindergarten and a first grade teacher, Ginger was a dedicated learner and part of an innovative group of teacher leaders who collaborated with University of Pennsylvania professors and implemented a literature-based curriculum for teaching reading to young students (no more Dick and Jane readers!). Ginger’s classroom became a laboratory for researchers interested in what reading looked like when students read real books. Asked to share her expertise at numerous conferences and schools in the 1980’s, Ginger helped to propel change in the teaching of reading nationwide. Ginger was named Brookside’s Language Arts Coordinator in 1992 and soon forged a collaboration SP RIN G 2 018
with the cutting-edge Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University. Later, she became Assistant Head of Campus and then, in 1999, she was appointed Head of the Primary School. Throughout her years of leadership, she has maintained her focus on student learning and curricular innovation and has worked closely with her faculty to build a culture of respect that celebrates learning for everyone. “ Ginger’s continual research regarding best teaching practices ensures that the youngest members of our community receive the best education possible in an environment of joy, thoughtfulness, and purpose.” –Kathleen M. Logan, President, Board of Trustees
Ginger’s hope for the future is that MKA students will always seek to build empathy and act on Brookside’s motto –“We care. We are kind. We are the Cougars.” She will be remembered for her profound dedication to MKA students – for encouraging students to explore a wide variety of experiences beyond the walls of the classroom, to develop their passions, and to be the heroes of their own stories. “ She has launched so many young children into life knowing they are loved, that they are talented, and that they are part of a community. MKA is a better place having benefited from the hard work and wisdom of Ginger Kriegel.” –former parent
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A RO U N D M K A
Music Shorts MKA CELEBRATES THE ARTS WITH WINTER MUSIC CONCERTS ON ALL THREE CAMPUSES In his MKA debut on Thursday, December 7th, 2017, Chaequan Anderson led the Middle School choristers in a most successful and joyous Winter Concert! The students performed a varied program from around the world that helped to ring in the winter season, holiday events, and a happy New Year.
The US Choral Music Program held their annual Winter Concert featuring the Chamber Singers, the Concert Choir, and Remix, MKA’s a cappella group. There were approximately 60 students performing in front of a large audience. Everyone enjoyed hearing various vocal and instrumental soloists such as Ariel Grossman ’21, Casey Borella ’19, Kiki Porter ’18, Rob D’Alessandro ’19, Chyna Brodie ’19, Jennifer Shan ’19, Caitlin Ladda ’19, and others. The Advanced String Orchestra, accompanied the choirs along with professionals Dimitri Hadjipetkov on violin, and Joe Soriano on trumpet for pieces from Handel’s “Messiah” and Vivaldi’s “Gloria.” It was an exciting evening featuring songs and lyrics that spanned the years from 1595 to modern day music. Remix performed two new songs, “Rise Up” and “Where Are U Now.” There was a gorgeous duet of “Fire and Rain” by Casey and Kiki that earned a standing ovation. The evening was heartwarming, joyous, and festive. This was especially true when an old MKA tradition returned—Ms. Gilmartin invited the audience members to join in the finale song of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from The Messiah. Veteran faculty and parents walked up to the stage to sing along- side the choir students. In addition, Weiss Auditorium was decorated by student and faculty volunteers to look like a winter wonderland. It was clear that the students and all involved put a lot of care and effort into making this a very special and memorable concert.
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MKA review / Montc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
The Upper School Concert and Jazz Bands performed their annual Winter Concert in Weiss Auditorium. The two bands prepared for this concert all semester, and performed classical and contemporary works from the “Battle Pavane,” by Tielman Susato (1551), to selections from the Broadway show The Lion King. The Jazz Band started off the evening with “Green Onions,” by Booker T. and the M.G.’s, and the concert band ended the evening with a couple of holiday favorites, “Let it Snow” and “Winter Wonderland.” Chuck Olsen said, “I am proud of the work the students did this semester, and I am looking forward to starting work after the winter break on a whole new program for the Spring!” The MKA Middle School entertained all with their Winter Band Concert. Bands from grades four through eight performed music that rang in winter and the midnight hour, depicted camels traveling across the desert, and evoked a folk dance from Appalachia. They also performed a fanfare to the Greek god, Apollo, and created music that described the power of electricity. The eighth-grade ensemble also performed a world premier piece of “Sounds of Orkney,” written especially for them by MKA Middle School band director Linda Larkin.
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ATHLETICS 2017 FALL 2017 TEAM AND STUDENT-ATHLETE HONORS AND AWARDS During the recently completed 2017 Fall Athletics season, the following MKA teams, coaches and athletes achieved honors:
FIELD HOCKEY Head Coach: Gia Nappi (2nd Year) Record: 12-9-1; 2017 NJISAA Prep B State Champions Sophia Garrubbo ’1 Capt. Alix Talkow ’18 Capt.; 1st Team All-SEC; 1st Team All-Essex/Union Conference; NJFHCA Senior All-Star Game; MKA Players’ Player Award; 1st Team All-Prep B; 2nd Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger; Fall Captain’s Prize Recipient; 2nd Team All Non-Public, NJFHCA Gigi Jacobson ’19 Honorable Mention All-SEC; 2nd Team All-Essex/Union Conference; MKA Defensive Player of the Year Award Stephi Vencalkova ’19 Capt.; Honorable Mention AllEssex/Union Conference Amanda Mack ’20 2nd Team All-SEC; 2nd Team All-Essex/Union Conference; 1st Team All-Prep B Lindsey Yu ’21 2nd Team All-SEC; 1st Team All-Essex/Union Conference; MKA Rookie of the Year Award; 1st Team All-Prep B; 3rd Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger
FOOTBALL Head Coach: Anthony Rea (4rd Year) Record: 2-8 Michael Hermo ’18 Capt. Keenan McAuliffe ’18 Capt.; MKA Weiner Award John Sweetwood ’18 Capt.
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Trey Wilson ’19 Capt.; MKA Offensive Player of the Year Award Luciano Calandra ’20 MKA Most Improved Player Award Clay Morris ’21 MKA Rookie of the Year Award
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY Head Coach: Matthew Bach (1st Year) Record: 7-2 2017 NJISAA Prep B State Champions Matthew Petrocelli ’18 Capt.; MKA Coaches Award; 3rd Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC Nicholas Wilson ’18 Capt.; MKA Most Valuable Runner Award; 1st Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC Charlie Koenig ’20 MKA Rookie of the Year Award
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY Head Coach: Matthew Bach (1st Year) Record: 5-4 Leelah Klauber ’18 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Evelyn Wallace ’18 MKA Most Spirited Award Anna Schaller ’19 Capt.; MKA Coaches Award; 2nd Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger; Super Essex Conference Runner of the Year, Star Ledger; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC
Harrison Walker ’18 Capt.
Anna Bradley ’20 1st Team All-American Division, SEC
Adam Erbes ’19 MKA Defensive Player of the Year Award
Maggie Astley ’21 MKA Most Improved Runner Award
BOYS’ SOCCER
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Head Coach: Rob Leather (4th Year) Record: 11-7-3; 2017 NJISAA Prep B State Champions
Head Coach: Christie Welsh (2nd Year); 2017 Super Essex Conference Coach of the Year Record: 17-4-5; 2017 NJISAA Prep B Co-State Champions; 2017 Essex County Co-Champions; 2017 NonPublic B North State Sectional Champions; 2017 Non-Public B State Co-Champions
Ahmed Abukwaik ’18 Capt.; MKA Players’ Player Award; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 1st Team All-Prep B; 1st Team All Non-Public, SCANJ; 3rd Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger Conor Daly ’18 Capt.; 2nd Team All-Prep B Nico Espinosa-Dice ’18 Capt. Jason Gertz ’18 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Benjamin Kubany ’18 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Seth Kaplan ’19 3rd Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 1st Team All-Prep B Dylan Ladda ’19 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 1st Team All-Prep B; 1st Team All Non-Public, SCANJ; 2nd Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger Andrew Garofalo ’20 1st Team All-Prep B Jonathan Park ’20 MKA Players’ Player Award; 1st Team All-Prep B Will Horn ’21 3rd Team All-Essex County, ECCA Zach Wheeler ’21 MKA Rookie of the Year Award; 2nd Team AllAmerican Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 2nd Team All NonPublic, SCANJ
M KA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
Jaclyn Kemly ’18 Capt. Kerri McGuire ’18 Capt.; MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B; 1st Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger Dani Golden ’18 Capt.; MKA Coaches Award; 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Prep B Rylie Frieder ’19 Honorable Mention All-Liberty Division, SEC Ally Raff ’19 Honorable Mention All-Liberty Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Prep B Arianna Jobst ’20 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B; 1st Team All Non-Public, Star Ledger
Katie Gyves ’18 Capt.; Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Micaiah Lewis ’18 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Mia Bohi-Green ’19 MKA Most Improved Player Award; 2nd Team AllAmerican Division, SEC Michaela O’Hare ’19 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Ainsley Manlowe ’20 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC Emily Talkow ’20 MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 2nd Team AllAmerican Division, SEC
VOLLEYBALL Head Coach: Mike Tull (13th Year) Record: 6-16 Zoe Kusnierz ’18 Capt.; MKA Coaches Award Sarah Abukwaik ’19 Capt.; MKA Players’ Player Award Maira Castro-Conteh ’19 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC; Honorable Mention All-Prep B
Alexis Riley ’20 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Prep B
Nyla Williams ’19 Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC
Sarah Hobbs ’21 MKA Rookie of the Year Award; 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 1st Team AllPrep B
PJ Dowd ’21 MKA Rookie of the Year Award
GIRLS’ TENNIS Head Coach: Bill Wing (21st Year) Record: 12-6 Joelle Crichlow ’18 Capt.; Honorable Mention AllAmerican Division, SEC
A RO U N D M KA
CONGRATULATIONS TO Christie Welsh who was named the Super Essex Conference Girls Soccer Coach of the Year by nj.com and The Star Ledger. Coach Welsh guided the MKA Girls Soccer Team (17-4-5) to the program’s first ever Essex County and NJSIAA Non-Public State titles. The Cougars also captured the NJ Prep State Championship as well.
CONGRATULATIONS TO the recipient of the MKA Fall Captain’s Award, Senior Field Hockey Captain Alix Talkow ’18. The MKA Captain’s Award is given out each season to that male OR female captain who has exhibited the qualities that we look for in our team captains—leadership, dedication, respect, work ethic, and being a role model both on and off the field. As a player, Alix’s confidence has grown more and more, and she has quickly established herself as one of the top field hockey players in Essex County. Her positive attitude and relentless work ethic has propelled her to become a Division I collegiate-bound athlete as she will head to Lafayette College next year where she will continue her field hockey career.
EXPANDING OUR VIEWS THROUGH
Global EXPERIENCE
Cort Bosc
Director of Global Experiences program
In November of last year, I gave a Tuesday Talk to the community on how I came to be involved in global education. I talked about how my introduction to the global community came mainly through soccer—how seeing and playing in matches all over the world made me appreciate and value travel and intercultural exchange. I also shared how travel was a priority in my home. My parents didn’t have a lot of money but they made very conscious decisions about how to spend it. And most went, and still goes to family travel. In fact, they recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary by traveling to New Zealand as a part of The Lord of the Rings Tour.
I spoke about my first solo travel experience at age 22, spending nearly a year over the course of two in Cuba, where I learned that family is both a fixed and relative experience and that people make a place feel like home. I also came to realize that the skill that required most of me in order to survive and thrive in this new environment was empathy. The more I travelled, the more that skill was honed. As I told our community last fall, travel has had a profoundly positive impact on who I am as a person. Since becoming a teacher I have led 14 different travel experiences on 5 continents, and I am constantly thinking about why we should continue to offer these experiences and why our students should seek out travel and exchange, even when and perhaps because we are bombarded with images of an unsafe and unsecure world. In essence, what is the purpose and value of Global Education? Roman Krznaric, a social philosopher and author talks a lot about the power of what he calls, “outrospection.” Outrospection is the idea of discovering who you are and what you want to do with your life by stepping outside of yourself, discovering the lives of other people and other cultures. To him, the key skill to outrospection is empathy. We hear a lot about empathy these days as important to everything from entrepreneurship to engineering. When Krznaric talks about outrospection, I think he is saying that empathy is not just about being a better, more moral person. It is also a skill that helps to develop critical and creative thinking and in many ways, fosters positive social change. We make assumptions about people all the time in the form of prejudices and stereotypes, and these assumptions get in the way of seeing the uniqueness and individuality of others. By cultivating empathy, we are more able to see past these assumptions and more effectively interact with others. It makes sense then to believe that Global Experience at MKA empowers our students to think critically about and cultivate empathy for the classroom beyond our walls and to gain the skills necessary to be more informed, ethical, and active global citizens. Global Education is all about providing experiences for students to lean into discomfort, to practice living in that discomfort so that when they engage with environments and others who are different than they are, they feel confident, compassionate, and excited. But how do we cultivate empathy, such a critical and sought-after skill? Global Education forces students to connect with others across differences, which in and of itself is an act of social and political change. These
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global experiences are also exposures to a redefinition of classroom, and an introduction to lifelong learning. Students participate in them because we know that they will learn and grow. It stretches them. For Freshman, the Global Citizenship Course is the first intro to Global Education at the Upper School. The course is about addressing one essential question—How can I be a more engaged member of a global community? MKA students not only need to become informed about what is happening in the world, but they must also develop the skills to engage in the global community, problem-solve, and affect positive change. In this semester-long course, we work within the framework of “design thinking” developed by the Stanford University d. school. During the year, students identify and define an important global or local challenge and create and communicate a plan of action to address this issue. Through activities, conversations, and research, students grapple with global issues from an ethical perspective while cultivating the prerequisite skills of the discerning researcher and problemsolver, from consideration of media bias and effective project management to engaging ways to pitch a message. The Global Experience at the Upper School continues as a part of all their classes but crystalizes in the various trip offerings during the year of which they will all have the opportunity to participate. Travel like the kind that happens at MKA provides the experiential and conversational environments where students can refine their ability to empathize. To go back to Krznaric, the right kind of travel experiences don’t just make you a better person, they are better for you and the world. Each one of these trips builds on a particular theme, a type of learning experience – whether that’s an immersive service experience in Guatemala with a local NGO, a month-long exchange in Chile, or building intercultural competency and problem-solving skills at our sister school in Karatu, Tanzania. There are plenty of other reasons for why we offer these experiences—service, language acquisition, academic enrichment, etc. but one of my favorites is that they are everything that is great about independent school education—meaningful and singularly unique experiences that help a community develop connections between students and faculty in ways not possible in the classroom.
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Maureen Bates Primary School Coordinator of Curriculum & Instruction Primary School Global Experience Coordinator
Cultivating Empathy THE MKA GLOBAL EXPERIENCE AT THE PRIMARY SCHOOL
shared with others At the Primary School, cultivating empathy lays in the community. the foundation for students’ global experience. We Ages four through help children to build both affective and cognitive nine are critical years for empathy. As children develop affective empathy, developing social-emotional they share others’ emotions. To be problem-solvers learning, openness toward multiple perspectives, and caring citizens, though, children need cognitive and agency to create change. Various curricular empathy – the ability to understand a different structures at the Primary School, such as the perspective and imagine what action they might take Responsive Classroom approach, our commitment to help. to diversity and inclusion work, our focus on A walk through the building shows empathy developing a world-class multicultural in action. On the playground during curriculum, and all of our socialmorning recess, a Pre-K child notices emotional initiatives (such as the that another child has fallen down. anti-bullying program and Dr. The child rushes over and pats the The Primary School Ross Greene’s approach to other child on the back, helping collaborative problem solving) her up and telling the teacher, lays the groundwork for help to set the foundation for “Sam is hurt!” In kindergarten, during Exploration time, one participation in MKA’s global students’ ethical engagement with the world. child has taken a block from The Primary School the hands of another. Tiny experience programs by lays the groundwork for tears begin to trickle down the face of the block-less child. A helping children to develop an participation in MKA’s global experience programs by caring teacher approaches and helping children to develop inquires about what happened, understanding of identity an understanding of identity asking the child who took the and community. Research shows block, “How is your friend feeling and community. that schools foster empathy in right now?” The question prompts students when they build a multicultural the child to look closely at the face and curriculum, which helps children understand expressions of the other, reading the other their identities and the identities of others. child’s nonverbal communication for clues. In a Additionally, as children develop an understanding Morning Meeting in first grade, children use a of who they are, they develop an understanding of picture chart with matching words to share how what it means to be in a community with others they are feeling, boosting their self-awareness —in their families, in their classrooms, in their and emotional vocabulary and developing an neighborhoods, on their teams, and elsewhere understanding of others’ perspectives. In second beyond MKA’s walls. This understanding of grade, during a read-aloud of an MKA core work, community sets the stage for engaging with Those Shoes, by Maribeth Boelts, students make communities outside their own realms of experience connections to the character who can’t buy the shoes as they move into the Middle and Upper School. he wants and discuss ways the other characters Throughout Pre-K through third grade classrooms, could respond. In third grade, an inquiry project children develop both affective and cognitive provides students with the opportunity to research empathy, gaining the skills necessary to be ethical a social issue about which they are passionate and and active citizens of MKA and the world. to create a persuasive social action project that is
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MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
Dennis Hu Upper School Mathematics Teacher Upper School Coordinator of Diversity & Inclusion
MKA’s Global Experience program has provided me with some of my most cherished memories of my teaching career. While chaperoning students in an unfamiliar setting can sometimes feel quite daunting, the vicarious thrill in seeing the world through the students’ eyes makes it wonderfully fulfilling. Through travel, our students are challenged to become more informed global citizens, allowing them to broaden their vision and re-evaluate their perspectives. These trips may take them far away from MKA, but they reinforce what our students have learned in school while also allowing them a glimpse into what their education can look like when it is unconstrained by the confines of a classroom. On these trips, we may travel together as a school group, but each student’s experience is remarkably personal and unique. For some students, their participation in MKA’s Global Experience programs represents a logical extension of their established interests, e.g. world language, history, or service. For others, they may be hesitantly embarking on what they predict will be a once-in-a-lifetime
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expedition to a foreign land. Ironically, these presumed singular journeys have sometimes turned out to be quite the opposite, after students discover a personal connection with another culture that develops into a lifelong passion. From walking on the Great Wall of China, riding a dogsled in Quebec, or presenting a Guatemalan family with the keys to their new home, students experience some incredible memories through MKA’s Global Experiences. However, it is often the unscripted events that bring about some of the most meaningful and lasting moments. Through confronting the inevitable obstacles that arise while traveling, students are compelled to collaborate, think critically, and practice resilience together. While students might be inspired to travel through their interest in other cultures and desire to learn more about the lives of others, their experiences while traveling teach them more about themselves and their own culture, shaping their own identities. My own experiences while traveling have been notably formative for me, and I feel incredibly fortunate that I have had the opportunity to share this passion with MKA students through our Global Experiences offerings.
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Emily Jane O’Dell ’97, PhD I have been very fortunate to live a singular life on the road as an academic, writer, and adventurer. I’ve dug up mummies at the Great Pyramids in Egypt, uncovered an ancient temple at the Royal Pyramids of Sudan, excavated a medieval Islamic bazaar in Turkmenistan, and preserved Sufi shrines on the Silk Road. I’ve lived in Lebanon, Indonesia, Oman, and all five ’stans, and traveled to over 50 countries. How did MKA prepare me to be a global citizen? Serving as an editor of the MKA literary magazine and newspaper prepared me to write on global issues for The New York Times, Al Jazeera, Christian Science Monitor, Salon, NPR, and Huffington Post and function as a global mentor for the Coalition for Women in Journalism. Patty Forbes’ superb creative writing seminar and George Berry’s promulgation of the absurd made a lasting impression, and I have tried to pass on their pedagogy of self-expression to my university students in Lebanon and Oman. Madame Mamchur’s insistence on being so immersed in French culture that one almost “becomes” French provided a playful, effective model when I later studied fifteen new languages (from hieroglyphs to Persian) and blended into countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. From J.C. Svec’s generous theatrical support, I learned how to create new work, and later saw my plays produced on a New York stage—this year, I directed and starred in the first performance of Our Town in the Middle East.Performing Pilobolus dance pieces with Rick Kitts helped me later leap with passion into studying Sufi whirling with dervishes in Turkey, shaman trance in Mongolia, Malian dance in Bamako, and capoeira in Colombia. The leadership and fearlessness I exercised as captain of the tennis and softball teams and vicepresident of my class later informed my social justice work with Syrian refugees, children with cancer in Beirut, and Sudanese migrant workers. My global experiences have fundamentally changed me as a person and shaped my understanding of the world and myself. The Global Experience program is essential for empowering MKA students to flourish as informed, ethical, and adventurous global citizens capable of affecting positive change and building bridges across communities to increase understanding and empathy in the world—a natural resource in short supply.
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M KA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
Kristi Delfino Middle School World Language Teacher Middle School Global Experience Coordinator
learn about South and Central At the Middle School, we seek to build upon the American countries in their foundations laid at the Primary School and continue Spanish classes; fifth grade French to develop empathy, critical thinking, and global students explore Paris digitally. While it is not citizenship. From our classroom curricula to our practical for all of our students to travel at every advisory program, students are encouraged to level, they are encouraged to bridge the gap between reflect not only on their own experiences, but on the their school and the world around them and begin experiences of others, and to take an active role in to reflect on the differences that define us and the improving our community. similarities that unite us. The school-wide emphasis on multicultural The Middle School also presents the first education can be seen throughout the Middle opportunity for our students to experience an School. Topics such as cultural MKA-sponsored international trip. The appropriation and activism are annual eighth grade trip to Spain and explored in English and social “Travel is the biennial seventh and eighth grade studies classes. The mathematics fatal to prejudice, trip to France allow our students to and world language curricula use what they learn in their World have made strides to incorporate bigotry, and narrowLanguage classes in the real world. socially conscious lessons that mindedness, and many The programs of both trips focus on encourage students to apply what of our people need cultural and academic study in the they are learning to local and target language with daily excursions global issues like inequality and it sorely on these to important historical and cultural the environment. Science classes accounts.” sites. Most importantly, however, the learn the essentials of conservation trips expose students to different cultures and climate change, and the fine and and ways of life. This experience is one of the performing arts draw inspiration from most rewarding at the Middle School, and serves as artists and movements around the world. a springboard into the multitude of trips that await Campus-wide service learning initiatives allow them at the Upper School. students to see firsthand that their actions can have Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, a positive impact on the MKA community and the bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our community-at-large. people need it sorely on these accounts.” At the One of the challenges of our campus is the wide Middle School, we hope to nurture students who developmental range of our students. We strive to are reflective and thoughtful global citizens and to expose even the youngest of our students to the prepare them for opportunities that lay ahead. world through technology. Fourth grade students
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Brandon Carter ’18 During the summer of my sophomore year, I traveled to Tanzania with my peers to help build sidewalks for a school, learn about my ancestry, and participate in a homestay with a family. While there, we visited a Maasai tribe. Not only did I see kids with dirty faces and flies buzzing about them that completely changed my view of what it means to be poor, but after I saw a very different concept of marriage and family. Their tribe leader has over 30 children and several wives. Though birth defects are common among the children—they attend a one room school, have no technology and never shower—I saw smiles on their faces and they were happy with their families. This experience made me appreciate, more than ever before, that material things are not important when you have a loving family. It also taught me that a culture’s norms and traditions may be different than ours yet still work well. Additionally, upon returning home to my very comfortable environment, I was inspired to help create a new club at school called the FAME Tanzania Club. Our mission is to raise awareness and money for the Foundation for African Medicine and Education hospital in Karatu. I am proud that there was a table set up at this year’s Homecoming, and that in addition to fundraising, we were able to educate our peers, parents and alumni on the efforts of this medical center to provide quality healthcare to people in rural Africa. While learning about Native American culture on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana, I observed a ritual known as the Sundance. Sundancers must fast for seven days and eliminate all contact with
the outside world until the last day, when they dance and sing prayers under a large colorful teepee. They believe that this ritual brings you closer to the spirits through sacrifice and prayer for someone in need. When speaking with the tribe leader Tom, he asked three friends and me if we would Sundance for someone we didn’t know. We all looked at one another and hesitated to answer. Tom said, “You are all selfish. I wouldn't hesitate to Sundance for any of you.” In that moment, I realized Tom was right—we were selfish. I sat there reflecting and it prompted change within my heart. If ever called upon to Sundance for someone, I wouldn’t hesitate. During my visit to Tanzania in the summer of 2016, I learned that meaningful volunteerism to affect change in a foreign land requires local input, not imposing solutions based on your own culture and beliefs. I’d like to persuade anyone doing service abroad to include the perspective of the locals in any effort to help them. My own aha moment came when a Tanzanian man told me about an American engineer that thought he was helping local women by building a well closer to the village, thereby reducing the extremely long walk to get water. The engineer failed to realize that these daily walks provided the women time and opportunity to discuss and solve local problems. As a result, the village began to experience financial and social problems that they had hadn’t been able to regulate in the past. Had the engineer engaged the women in his planning, he would have realized that this communication forum needed to be preserved. Such collaboration takes more effort, but likely avoids greater damage to the communities one is intending to serve.
Sukriti Krishnan ’18 The Global Experience program is one of the best experiences I have had during my high school life. Without it, I would not be the person I am today, or be pursuing half of the interests I am reaching towards. The first trip I signed up for was a trip to Guatemala after hearing it involved building homes for underprivileged kids. I had already had experience working with kids, so this trip piqued my interest. Guatemala was one of my first times doing service work outside of New Jersey, and it opened up a whole new area of service for me. After returning from the Guatemala trip, I could not shake the impact it had on me, leading me to sign up for another service trip the school offers—to Montana. These trips not only increase and expand the perspectives of students, but they also help them learn about cultures and some of the hardships faced in the global community. These service trips are a great opportunity for all students, and it allows them to learn more about the community and realize that the smallest things can make a big difference in someone’s life.
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Speak, Learn, Explore Students studying in Level 2H Spanish or above are eligible to participate in an immersion program. For the entire month of February, MKA hosts five students and one teacher from Instituto Abdón Cifuentes, a prestigious private school in San Felipe, Chile. They spend their first few days visiting and exploring NYC before settling into classes. The students have a complete schedule in which they get to choose the classes. They have an advisory group, a house, go to clubs, and participate in Community Service Initiatives.
Elizabeth Squires ’18
This year, the visiting teacher spent time at the Primary School working with Anne Banegas and the Pre-K and kindergartners.
In June of this past summer, I attended MKA’s “Development by Design” Global Experience trip to Croatia. As the first of its kind instituted here at MKA, the trip was truly an experiment to see how well fifteen high school students could balance work and play. After learning the complexities of “design thinking,” as our trip leader called it, we set off to apply our problem-solving skills to the developing society of Croatia—characterized both by its growing economy and its rich history following the Balkan Wars. The “Development by Design” project-oriented platform, as conducted by ATLAS Workshop, proved to be very effective in allowing us to immerse ourselves in meaningful, hands-on work in a way I never thought possible. Following our initial research in the nation’s urban capital, Zagreb, we narrowed our focus and began closely examining the economic adversity through the impact of tourism as we travelled down the coast to Split and Korcula. There, we gathered in small groups to interview tourists, locals, and entrepreneurs and propose new ways to boost the economy and respective tourism industry marketed specifically to the Croatians we met and interacted with. Going in with an openended research question taught us that, in addition to our observations, we needed to invoke our curiosity and creativity in order to achieve the most rewarding solutions. Beyond fond memories of splashing each other in the Adriatic Sea, our two-week trip to Croatia this summer was able to uniquely empower us as travelers, researchers, and professionals—not just individually, but collaboratively.
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In June, our students and one faculty member are travelling to Santiago, Chile to spend three days in the capital city before heading up to San Felipe. Our faculty member will leave after the first 8-10 days and the students will spend the rest of their time alone in Chile studying at IAC. They will attend classes, participate in extracurricular activities, do community service and travel in the nearby areas much like our guests do here. Each student will live with a host student and family. The hope is that our students will practice their Spanish skills in a real life setting and be immersed in daily Chilean life.
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Sarah Willis ’18 To put it simply, MKA’s Global Experience program has changed my life. As a shy freshman (the only one on the trip), I chose to go to Guatemala and found that with risk comes reward; I learned how to function in a new environment and how to effectively lean into discomfort all while building relationships with upperclassmen and improving my then-basic Spanish skills. As a sophomore, I opted for an entirely different —but still way out of my comfort zone— trip: backpacking in the Big Sur. I wanted to challenge myself physically, but I found that the biggest challenges I overcame were in developing grit and teamwork. Days spent sweating in the hot sun and nights huddled around a campfire became a cycle of regeneration—each day, I woke up with the world at my feet. This past spring and summer, I participated in the Chilean Exchange Program. I hosted two girls in February and stayed with one of their families in Chile for a month. While in Chile, I referred to the Chilean fútbol team as “us,” learned parts of their national anthem, and dove headfirst into improving my Spanish (I’m near fluent). I have Chilean friends whom I still talk to every day despite being 5,000 miles apart from each other. I’ve been both humbled and energized thanks to my time spent exploring the world around me. I’ve been so fortunate to have the opportunity to choose my own path, each experience the perfect fit for me (my younger sister, while also an alumnus of the program, has and will participate in completely different experiences). I am a profoundly changed person, student, friend, and family member, and every day I learn more from my time spent studying the world.
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Sydney Polinchock ’19 MKA’s extensive Global Experiences program has exposed me to many new places, people, and cultures since I was a freshman. So far, I have participated in the Literary England trip and the Montana service trip to the Blackfeet reservation. While the Literary trip certainly took me to parts of England I had never visited, it was really the Montana trip that I feel has changed my life. I’m usually a pretty shy person around people I don’t know, and that has hindered my experiences on past trips, but, as I quickly learned, there was no room for shyness in Montana. From day one I was thrown into the Blackfeet culture by participating in a Sundance, where several tribe members dance for four days and nights without eating or drinking, in order to give their strength to another tribe member. Everyone we met was incredibly open and happy to tell their story and talk about the history of the Blackfeet, as well as problems they are facing today. The Montana service trip has helped me grow as a person by making me more aware of the everyday obstacles Native Americans are faced with and the ways I can make a difference. It also helped me come out of my shell and create lasting connections, both with MKA students and with tribe members like Tom Crawford, who invited me and my friends to his Sundance next summer. I am incredibly grateful that I was able to go to Montana and expand my knowledge of another culture, and I am very excited to continue expanding my horizons on the upcoming Tanzania trip, which I’m sure will be another amazing adventure.
Kian Abrishami ’19
Leelah Klaubler ’18 Sprawled across the walls of my bedroom are brightly colored depictions of the Golden Gate Bridge and the forests of back country California that I trekked through with nine other students. We started the trip in the heart of bustling San Francisco, experiencing the views from Coit tower and the never-ending walk up Lombard street. We journeyed into the back country shortly after, driving down Highway 1 in awe of the sights before us. Mountains loomed on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. When we reached the base of our first climb, all conversations stopped short; before us leaned a majestic monster, untouched by human experiments and certainly impossible to conquer. Each day of our journey through Big Sur taught me perseverance, resourcefulness, minimalism, and respect. We carried every necessary item on our backs and used what nature offered us as a place to camp for the night. As we crossed each mountain peak and stared down onto the seemingly endless miles of forests, we dreaded returning to the busy city. Living and thriving off purely natural environments, that are disappearing at an alarmingly high rate, has instilled in me a passion for conservation and goals for preservation. In our minds, even after the completion of the trip, we knew that Big Sur could only ever be conquered by climate change. We utilized each moment of our ten days, attempting to absorb every ounce of beauty, yet found that whichever way we looked there was always more.
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My name is Kian Abrishami, and I am a current junior at MKA. I've been at MKA ever since 4th grade, and learning at MKA really excelled my growth, not only as a student but as a person. MKA has helped me find my passions and allowed me to focus on my strengths while polishing my weaknesses. I believe that innovation drives the world, and this is why I am starting an innovation lab at MKA with MIT's help. MIT Launch Clubs enable high school students around the world to create start-ups and bring them to the real world. One of the biggest keys to becoming a successful entrepreneur is iteration. And being high school students, we are in our prime to start iterating, inventing, and launching because there is very little to lose at this stage. My passion for innovation and entrepreneurship started when I designed and built a water generator that produced clean drinking water from the humidity in the air in the summer of freshman year. This project reminded me of my vast capabilities as a high school student attending the catalyst for my innovative entrepreneurial career. I believe that more knowledge about science and math can make innovation easier. This is why I am currently taking two sciences (one AP and one Honors so that I can get into AP next year), advanced math, and an AP level computer science course at MKA. My friends often laugh at the absurdly little amount of free time that I have in my schedule. Although it may seem like a heavy course load, I absolutely enjoy every second of those classes and would not trade this privilege for all the free time in the world. Every good entrepreneur knows when to take advantage of an opportunity when he or she sees it, so when I saw the Croatia: Development by Design trip on the Global travel board, I knew I had to go. Learning and living in Croatia really opened my eyes and changed my perspective on microeconomics. Learning from people who worked in the National Bank of Croatia, farms, jewelry stores, innovation hubs, and ice cream shops gave me a large variety of perspectives on government and business. This trip made me feel very thankful and privileged that I was able to learn so much about such a rich and developing economy and culture in Croatia. As a matter of fact, I think that word really sums up my MKA experience—privileged. I am privileged to be a part of such a warm and welcoming community, privileged to learn at accelerated rates, privileged to pursue my career as an entrepreneur, and most of all, privileged to say “I go to MKA.”
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Lauren Morisseau ’11
Kaan Yarar ’09 Throughout my MKA experience, I often found access points to a more global perspective through the experiences and opinions of my classmates and faculty members. No lesson, conversation, or debate was taken in a vacuum, and context played a defining role in the outcome of each. I often found that the context revealed one of my personal blind spots— whether it was a history I did not know, a culture I did not understand, or a perspective I never considered. Rather than leave these areas to lie, I found myself being challenged to confront them. It takes a truly intentional, collective energy to encourage growth, pull you from your comfort zone, and challenge your world view, all without leaving the Upper School campus. That is exactly the energy that I found in my classmates and teachers. Beyond that, the MKA community encouraged me to explore beyond the comfort of my desk. Recognizing the power and potential growth gained from widening my global perspective, an MKA faculty member encouraged me to pursue service-travel opportunities in Central America, the South Pacific, Africa, and Central America—both through student trips, and through a gap year that I took between graduating from MKA and my undergraduate education. These experiences inspired in me a penchant for cultural exchange, language learning, knowledge sharing, and a greater appreciation for the nuance that is often lost in the broad-sweeping, generalized conversations that so often surround global issues. These experiences were crucial to my personal and professional development and launched me into an incredibly gratifying careerpath where I hope to continue working on globally relevant issues. The Global Experience program taps into this same atmosphere. With an intentional focus on thinking processes, ethics, and practical, project implementation, this program offers students a toolkit to unpack complex issues and interact with them with a solutions-oriented mentality. Behind these student’s efforts will come better ideas, more committed leaders, and a stronger global community. By taking the student out of the vacuum, we give their ideas a real chance—I believe the Global Experience aims to achieve just that.
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Though the words “social justice” had yet to enter my vocabulary, it was within the MKA classrooms that I first began to explore issues of race, class, religion and identity as well as the Upper School’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and critical social inquiry. I remember sitting in the school’s first Gay-Straight Alliance meeting, feeling my awareness of the world changing, a seed of justice taking root in my mind. I remember visiting a mosque as a guest with my World Religions class, marveling at my experience in a house of worship different but also similar to my own. I learned at MKA that as long as I was respectful and not voyeuristic, moving out of my comfort zone and exposing myself to others’ realities was the best way to holistically learn about the world and how best to contribute to it. It is no wonder then that I went on to study anthropology in college and filled my evenings working with brilliant LGBTQ and racial justice activists on my campus, who I was privileged to know. When I graduated, I began working in refugee services as an English Language instructor. This work taught me an immense amount about language as a barrier to accessing basic human rights, like healthcare and education. In an attempt to understand more about the way language and identity operate in the world, I applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Rwanda and arrived here in September 2016. I teach English vocabulary to first year students at a polytechnic college, and I learn just as much from them as they do from me. Though it has been a while since graduating from the Upper School, I recognize how my experiences at MKA have shaped me as an educator and a traveler. I am thrilled to know that MKA continues to prioritize its commitment to developing global citizens through the Global Experience Program, and I know that many students will be well prepared, as I have been, to travel with justice in mind.
Riley Rendino ’21 In 8th grade, I had the opportunity of going to Spain with three chaperones and other Spanish students in my grade. The trip not only gave me the chance to immerse myself in the Spanish culture but also strengthened my relationships with my peers. We left school the Friday going into Spring Break. The fun started from the second the bus pulled out of the MKA parking lot and did not stop. Traveling with friends is a lot different than traveling with family. While I enjoy traveling with my family, there is something exciting about travelling with friends, especially classmates. In Spain, we shared many laughs and crazy experiences. One of my favorite parts of Spain was exploring the shops in Salamanca, the local town where we stayed. There was a joyería, or jewelry store, which I went to every day. By the end of the trip, the owners of the store knew us and would frequently speak to us in Spanish, which was beneficial. The food was amazing, and I tried many new dishes. Once, my friends and I went to a tapas (Spanish appetizers) restaurant. We ordered the whole menu and split the cost. Surprisingly, we only had to pay about ten dollars each, which was well worth the delicious food. While we did have a lot of free time, we attended an international school near the local town square most mornings. Some students dreaded the thought of attending school, but everyone ended up enjoying it. We used our Spanish skills in real life scenarios and enjoyed some Spanish churros in the midst. The Spanish trip was an unforgettable experience, and I am happy to have been part of it.
Isa Lucas ’21 My name is Isa Lucas, and I'm a freshman. Last summer, I experienced the trip of a lifetime when I became immersed in the culture of Chile and the Spanish language through the Chilean Exchange Program. I've always been a strong Spanish student. The language is essential to my family, and it's always been a large part of who I am. When the opportunity arose for me to go to Chile, I took it. Living in Chile challenged me to think quickly, cultivate new social relationships, and engage in the unknown. I cannot say this was easy for me. I was shy and barely spoke my first few days. However, I continued to persevere and challenge myself. I decided that I would try to meet one new person daily. Sometimes I was successful. Occasionally I fell short, but in the end, I created many friendships and several memories. I shared incredible experiences and many laughs, from trying to find the ice cream shop in downtown San Felipe or playing with the Pre-K students. The highlight of my experience was my host family. They are the most kind, loving, and gracious people I've ever met. My sisters, Isi and Flo, are two of my best friends and [we communicate through] WhatsApp every other day. Chile was never easy. Learning a new language and culture never is, but it was worth it because the friends, teachers, and amazing families supporting me made my experience one of discovery, learning, and growth.
Isabella Szyfer ’21 During the Spring Break of my 7th grade year, I traveled with about 20 or so French-speaking students from my grade and the grade above me to France. The goal of the trip was to experience the culture of France and to practice the French we had learned in class in a real-world setting. We spent the first three days of the trip in Paris, where we took in the sights, had amazing crêpes from street vendors, and took advantage of the opportunity to explore the Louvre in small groups. From Paris, we took a train to the seaside city of Nice, where we stayed for the remaining five days of the trip. In the mornings, we attended a French school, where my class learned about the passé composé, a subject that, although confusing on the first day, was finally grasped during the latter part of the classes. In the afternoons, the group would take the train to other towns along the coast, such as Cannes. We returned at night for dinner and an occasional visit to a nearby playground. Two years after this trip, it still remains a highlight of my middle school career. My roommate on the trip, a girl who was in my French class that year, is now my best friend, and someone to whom I talk every day. The material that I learned during my classes was reviewed this year during my French 2 Honors class. The independence that we were given on the trip was unprecedented, and the amount of French that I used in a setting besides my classroom was definitely beneficial to my overall speaking and understanding of the language.
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Fun was had by all at MKA’s Cougar Pride Day!
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PAMKA BOARD OF OFFICERS Karen Gulliver President* Sue Gyves Secretary Tripti Singh Finance Vice President* Stephanie Salzman Communications Vice President
Dear MKA Families, As a parent, I’m so proud of how MKA provides our children with the skills necessary to be active and ethical global citizens in a world that is growing increasingly more complex. We are a community of parents, faculty, staff, students and alumni that are intellectually curious and personally engaged with the world. PAMKA supports this intellectual curiosity and engagement in many ways, one of which is our annual Faculty Trust Grant Program. PAMKA Faculty Trust Grants fund curricular related global travel and field experiences to give our faculty unique insights and experiences that they can take back to their classrooms, and our students continually reap the benefits of these inspirational and educational global experiences that enrich the classroom experience in a unique way. Another opportunity for our community to celebrate our commitment to making MKA such a special place that allows our children to realize their infinite potential is PAMKA’s Spring Fundraiser. Aptly themed “Swing Into Spring” it promises to be fun for all! Sincerely, Karen Gulliver,
Tina Jordan Community Vice President Debbie Turvey Volunteer Coordinator Vice President Alison Cirenza Special Events Vice President Stacey Polanskyj Primary School Campus VP Lisa Tilton-Levine Middle School Campus VP Rebecca Zaref Upper School Campus VP *Two-year position. All others are one year.
THE PAMKA MISSION STATEMENT PAMKA is a parent volunteer organization established to provide opportunities for parents to participate in the support and enhancement of the students’ educational experience at Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA). PAMKA pursues its mission working in cooperation with the school administration through activities consistent with the policies and goals established by the Board of Trustees of MKA.
PAMKA President
UPCOMING PAMKA EVENTS
April 14, 2018 PAMKA’s Spring Fundraiser This year we will “Swing Into Spring” at the lovely Wilshire Grand Hotel in West Orange. Gala Chair Amy Fusco and the Gala Committee are planning a truly enjoyable evening of celebration for the MKA community. The lucky winner of the traditional tuition raffle will be announced at the event.
May 12, 2018 Cougar Pride Day PAMKA BOARD OF OFFICERS: (L-R) Debbie Turvey, Stephanie Salzman, Tripti Singh, Sue Gyves, Alison Cirenza, Rebecca Zaref, Karen Gulliver, Lisa Tilton-Levine, Tina Jordan, Stacey Polanskyj ’92
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Join the entire MKA Pre-K through 12 community, children and parents, for a day filled with school spirit at the Middle School campus.
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PAMKA Grant
MKA’S PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION, PAMKA AWARDS FOUR FACULTY TRUST GRANTS In 1978, PAMKA awarded the first Faculty Continuing Education Grant for $150 to faculty member Barbara Rabuse to purchase books for her doctoral study. In 1997, the program was renamed the PAMKA Faculty Trust to offer grants to faculty to pursue field-oriented, transformative courses that would enlighten them and enrich their students’ classroom experience in a unique way. PAMKA is proud to award these grants, and this year’s recipients will join the list of over 100 faculty members who have received Faculty Trust Grants since the inception of this program in 1978. Over $550,000 has been awarded throughout the years and our students have continually reaped the benefits of these inspirational and educational experiences. PAMKA President Karen Gulliver and 2016-17 PAMKA Grant Committee Chair Mary Johnson celebrated the 2017 recipients at MKA’s annual start of school meeting and invited each of them to present their findings to the faculty/staff.
CATHERINE GAYNOR, Middle School science teacher, traveled to Nova Scotia, Canada to undertake an exploration into the art behind science. She took an art course that looked at plants, landscapes and the night sky. She also saw the incredible tides in the Bay of Fundy. Catherine hopes to inspire students to think about their own senses and how they observe the world around them in an interdisciplinary manner. CYNTHIA DARLING, Upper School English teacher, participated in the Bluegrass Writers Studio Summer Residency in Lisbon, Portugal. She focused on the Poetry workshop, pushing herself beyond her comfort zone, to grow in her own writing education. Being the student in writing workshops will help her with own Writer’s Craft students. RIVER XINPING HE, Upper School Chinese teacher, visited Xi’an, China for 20 days to volunteer in the Terra-Cotta Army Museum and Shaanxi Wildlife Research and Rescue Center. She immersed herself in the history and culture of China and collected visual materials for her classes and Middle School Chinese classes. When River shares her
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Dimitri Hadjipetkov
experiences with students at both campuses, she will help them learn what Chinese people’s real lives look like. DIMITRI HADJIPETKOV, Tri-Campus Strings Director, used his PAMKA grant to follow the footsteps of legendary virtuoso violinists and composers Antionio Vivaldi and Niccolo Paganini. These two composers wrote masterworks that have stood the test of time and are taught to MKA students in their original versions. Dimitri’s exploration of the deep worlds of these composers will
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enrich his own education and professional growth. Sharing his experiences with his students will enhance the connections they make between the music and the time of composition and the historical background of these composers. PAMKA is proud to support these exciting projects that we are sure will enrich and inspire not just the participants but our community as a whole. Congratulations to all of the recipients!
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Dr. River He
Book Fair
Parenting Workshops FEBRUARY 24TH, 2018 A winter calendar highlight for many parents is PAMKA’s annual Parenting Workshops. Once again, this great event brought local experts to campus to discuss relevant topics for our children.
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PAMKA’s 2017 “Wild West… Saddle Up and Read,” the largest Scholastic Book Fair in the country, was once again a truly resounding success. Led by Tri-Campus Chairs Catherine Halbert and Erica Amsinger, our magnificent PAMKA volunteers transformed spaces and organized events that brought a sense of adventure to the MKA community. Marc Brown and R.L. Stine helped kick off the Book Fair at our Sunday Event when they delighted an audience of children and adults with their newest book, Mary McScary. Brad Meltzer did double duty inspiring both our Upper School students and our
youngest cougars at the Primary School. Students at the Primary School also enjoyed wonderfully interactive presentations by Peter Brown and Peter Reynolds. Jordan Sonnenblick, Karuna Riazi, and Francisco Stork motivated our Middle School students to believe in their abilities, always dream big, and keep writing. As always, thanks go out to Scholastic for their support, especially Judy Newman (a former MKA parent) and Carol Levine, and to the parents on all three campuses who dedicate so much of their time to make this remarkable event possible.
With a focus on anxiety and our children, the workshops were helpful and informative for all who attended. The PAMKA Parenting Workshops Chair Sha Lepore worked with a committee to bring these wonderful speakers to our school: Julie Adelman, Helaina Altabef, Thomas Kavanagh, Deborah Jarow Russ, and Dr. Rolando Sousa.
Blood Drive PAMKA’s Fall Blood Drive, which took place at the Upper School in November, was a wonderful success, thanks to the many students, faculty, staff, and parent donors who took part.
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Global learning is enhanced through the use of technology in the classroom.
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OFFICERS
Dear MKA Community, As an educational institution, MKA’s core mission is to teach. And we believe that our students’ education is about more than learning to solve a math problem or to use the correct grammar rule. It is also about becoming personally engaged with the world, understanding human complexities, and acquiring the skills to become a responsible citizen and leader. In order to achieve these goals, our students need exposure to ideas, cultures, and beliefs that seemingly contradict one’s own. Though perhaps uncomfortable at first, such exposure is vital to real growth. I am a parent of two MKA graduates. When my younger son returned from the eighth-grade fieldtrip to Williamsburg, he said, “Now that’s how to learn—I could see, feel and touch things as if I were actually in colonial times.” Over the years, I have thought about that comment whenever my sons traveled to destinations around the globe. Sight and touch are simple but immersive learning tools. Travel allows for the kind of sensory experience that can engender a deeper appreciation and respect for others. And it is this attempt at understanding cultures, beliefs, and people unlike us that moves us towards a more empathetic world. MKA’s Global Experience program provides our students with just such an opportunity. The world is complicated and our program may be our students’ first real chance to see it firsthand and to try to understand it. It is not enough for us to be a college preparatory school—we need to prepare our students for the world beyond college as well. To succeed in educating our students, we must help them cultivate empathy, care, and compassion on a global scale. With technological advances, the world may seem smaller today, but it is actually big and complex, and the earlier we expose our children to it, the better equipped they’ll be to make sense of it. If our students graduate with the ability to know what matters in life and to be good citizens of the world, then we have done our job.
Kathleen M. Logan President Christina A. Cotton Vice President Linda H. Sterling Vice President Jeffrey G. Szilagyi Treasurer David A. Crichlow Secretary MEMBER TRUSTEES Merrick G. Andlinger Naveen Ballem ’90 Jennifer A. Barbetta Anya C. Barrett ’89 James L. Bromley Evelyn M. Colbert Paige L. Cottingham-Streater ’79 Carolyn N. Everson Clifford B. Finkle IV ’92 Peter J. Fusco ’89 Karen T. Gulliver Tracy E. Higgins Barbara Holmes Michael V. Johnson Thomas W. Nammack Kenneth S. Rivlin Luke A. Sarsfield III ’91 Jaclyn V. Spedaliere ’00 Mei-Mei H. Tuan HONORARY TRUSTEES Aubin Z. Ames ’54 John E. Garippa Alice M. Hirsh Susan H. Ruddick Newton B. Schott, Jr. ADVISORY TRUSTEES Barry W. Ridings ’70
With warm regards,
Robert L. Tortoriello
Kathleen M. Logan, President, Board of Trustees
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Pan Mass Challenge The MKA community came together at the Pan Mass Challenge, a two-day, 200mile bike ride across MA benefiting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Among the attendees were Trustee Linda Sterling, parents Manika Sood and Prashant Bhatia, and 5th grade teacher Kristen Sigler. They were joined by over 6,200 riders, and 4,000 volunteers (one of whom was 8th grader Katie Nossa). MKA’s strong presence at this important event speaks to the extraordinary values of our community. Congratulations to all involved on raising 48 million dollars for the DanaFarber Cancer Institute for lifesaving cancer research and treatment! You can read more about this cause at www.pmc.org.
TURKEY RIDE As sponsors of the 5th Annual Montclair Bikery Turkey Ride, MKA is excited to share that Montclair Bikery presented a $29,046 donation to Human Needs Food Pantry of Montclair, New Jersey last November. Two hundred and twenty-five turkeys were also donated to the Food Pantry on the day of the ride. A big thanks to Linda Sterling, MKA Board Member and past parent, for her continued work, as well as all other members of the community who participated in the Turkey Ride!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Back Row (L-R) Merrick Andlinger, Paige Cottingham- Streater ’79, Robert Tortoriello (Advisory), Jennifer Barbetta, Karen Gulliver, Anya Barrett ’89, Barbara Holmes. Michael Johnson, James Bromley. Seated (L-R) Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00, Evelyn Colbert, David Critchlow, Kathleen Logan, Thomas Nammack, Linda Sterling, Jeffrey Szilagyi,Clifford Finkle ’92 NOT PICTURED: Dr. Naveem Ballem ’90, Christina Cotton, Carolyn Everson, Peter Fusco ’89, Prof. Tracy Higgins, Kenneth Rivln, Luke Sarsfield ’91, Mei-Mei Tuan
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Diana Utech ’75 and Frank Godlewski ’76 enjoying their time at the photo booth during the 2017 Reunion Cocktail Party.
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EVENTS!
FROM THE MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Dear Fellow Cougars: A new season is often perceived as a time for change, and we on the Alumni Council are truly embracing the concept. Internally, we’ve restructured our committees to align more closely with our priorities and goals. Most notably, we’ve established an Alumni Engagement Committee to focus on recruitment and the organizational health of the Council. As always, we will recognize some outstanding MKA community members through our awards process; our nominations this year were spectacular! I am so proud of our Council members and all of our alumni community for working together to achieve great things. In 2017, the Alumni Council voted on Dr. Karestan Koenen ’86 as the Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Dr. Koenen was gracious enough to speak at an Upper School Assembly on mental health and was warmly welcomed by students and faculty alike. Congratulations to Dr. Koenen, and thank you for your important contributions and advocacy in the fields of psychology and mental health. Our Events Committee has been busy planning our social events. On February 21st, we hosted an Alumni Event in NYC at District Tap House. We’ve also been supporting the MKA Alumni Office with some exciting events this spring. Our regional events in Los Angeles on January 23rd and in San Francisco on January 24th were great successes. I encourage the alumni community to submit nominations for our Founders’ Cup Award. This is a very prestigious and important award, and your voice matters! Nominate today at https://www.mka. org/alumni/celebrating-our-alumni Finally, as the 2017-2018 school year comes to a close, the Alumni Council is seeking new members. Please contact me or the MKA Alumni Office for information. As we progress on this path of change and improvement, I ask that you join our movement and reconnect with MKA in a way that you may not have before. I am so proud to represent a community of amazing people who are passionate about driving positive change.
Alumni Volunteer Celebration April 17, 2018 6:30-8:30 p.m. Location TBD Alumni Phonathon April 30, 2018 Middle School Higgins Common Room Alumni Spring Social May 3, 2018 New Jersey Philly Alumni Reception* May 9, 2018 Location & Time TBD Klank Klassic/Alumni Games Day June 16, 2018 Middle & Upper School Fields *If you would like to host a regional event, please contact Eric Gutierrez at egutierrez@mka.org
SAVE THE DATE! MKA HOMECOMING & REUNION WEEKEND OCTOBER 19-21, 2018 Celebrating classes ending in ’3 and ’8, and the 50th Reunion Year Classes of 1968 from The Kimberley School and Montclair Academy *To join your class reunion committee, email Eric Gutierrez at egutierrez@mka.org
Best, Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00 Alumni Council President
Executive Committee Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00 President Amanda Englander ’04 Executive Vice President Brittany Berckes ’06 Secretary
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John Thompson ’03 Treasurer Klaudia Pyz ’98 Networking Vice President Council Bryan Becker ’96 Jared Cook ’01
Rich Cosgrove ’84 Jessica Arismendy Crawford ’04 Pamela D’Amato Davis ’89 Caitlin DiRuggiero ’06 Anne Fetherston ’88 Michael Fortunato ’02 Joanne Pundyk Goldberg ’87
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Lauren Hyman Kaplan ’93 Cooper Knowlton ’03 Jennifer Jones Ladda ’84 Angela McCaffrey ’06 Nilie Pajoohi ’89 Stacey Polanskyj ’92 Diane Ridley-White ’84
Jessica Simpson-Cook ’99 Advisory Committee Dan Carson ’83 Rich Stanton ’87
A LU M N I N E WS
Alumni Thank-a-thon
Young Alumni Happy Hour Young alumni from the classes 2004-2013 enjoyed a spectacular late summer evening on September 19, 2017, in an amazing ambiance on the second floor of the Social Bar & Lounge in New York City. With over 60 alumni in attendance, this muchanticipated event provides young alumni with the opportunity to visit with one another and former faculty, and it’s a great way to stay connected with MKA. Headmaster Tom Nammack was joined by Associate Director of Admissions Zandi Nammack, Director of Development Geoff Branigan (also a former history teacher) and other members of the Development and Alumni Relations team. A great time was had by all!
This past November, MKA hosted its first ever Alumni Thank-athon by phone. Several current students in grades nine through twelve joined alumni volunteers to make phone calls to our generous alumni donors thanking them for their recent contributions to MKA. Alumni welcomed the opportunity to chat with our current students and learn about what they love most about their MKA experience.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWA RDS MKA follows the lives, and proudly celebrates the accomplishments, of its alumni. Two awards specifically honor outstanding alumni achievement. The annual Distinguished Alumni Award bestows recognition for outstanding achievement, and the Athletic Hall of Fame Award is given every other year to an individual, team, or coach who has brought distinction to the school through excellence in athletics. In addition, the Founders’ Cup is awarded by the Alumni Association in recognition of MKA’s strong tradition of teaching excellence, dating back to 1887. The award is presented each year to an outstanding faculty member who is most representative of the best qualities of MKA teaching. The Awards Committee of the Alumni Council, chaired by Jennifer Ladda ’84, welcomes your participation in nominating candidates for these awards. Please visit www.mka.org/alumni/ celebrating-our-alumni for criteria, past recipients and nomination forms.
College Alumi Luncheon
WINTER SOCIAL
On January 4th, MKA welcomed its college-aged alumni back to campus for the annual College Alumni Luncheon. The alumni ate lunch in the Dining Hall while they caught up with former classmates before heading back to school for the spring semester. MKA faculty were invited to stop by to say hello, and the alumni were able to tour the Academic Center, Green Roof, the renovated World Language and English departments, and brand-new Dance Studio. It was great to see the alumni back on campus reconnecting with teachers and friends!
their Annual Winter Social in New York
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In February, the Alumni Council hosted City. This fantastic event brought alumni from a variety of classes together to enjoy a fun evening. A special thank you to the Events Committee: Bryan Becker ’96, Nillie Pajoohi ’89, Stacey Polanskyj ’92, Klaudia Pyz ’98, and Jessica Simpson-Cook ’99.
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A LU M N I N E WS
10 Reasons To Sign Onto
MKA Connect
THE NEW CONNECTIVITY aNd NETWORKING aPP fOR MONTCLaIR KIMBERLEY aCadEMY
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
MKA friends you lost touch with User-posted photos — both new and nostalgic Inner-circle job postings to advance your career Advice from your trusted MKA network User- and MKA-posted events
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Young alumni internships, jobs and mentors Social media channels to keep up-to-date Real-time conversations for immediate response A network of thousands Miss out and you’ll miss a lot
Log on to customize your MKA Connect today. Give us an 11th reason — yours —updates section. 44
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MKAConnect.org
A LU M N I N E WS
Senior Dollar Drive
MKA Alumni Cocktails & Connections
Congratulations to the Class of 2018! During the week leading up to MKA Day, MKA seniors participated in a “Senior Dollar Drive” where they were asked to make their first gift to MKA’s Annual Fund to support an area in the school of their choosing and to leave their legacy. The senior class reached 89% participation, the highest in MKA history by far. The students seemed excited to be able to give back to MKA, and were eager to encourage their friends to do the same. What’s even more exceptional is that the generosity did not stop with the senior class. We had several contributions from underclassmen keen to get involved. Here’s to our caring cougars!
REGIONAL EVENTS The Alumni Relations team kicked off their regional events with a reception on September 12, 2017. Noel Thorbecke Estes ’66 and her family graciously opened their beautiful home in Weston, Massachusetts to host this gathering of graduates from The Kimberley School, Montclair Academy, and MKA. Associate Director of Alumni Relations Alli Shearin additionally hosted a dinner for Boston area college-aged alumni in where they enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and making new ones! In January, Headmaster Tom Nammack, Director of Development Geoff Branigan, the Alumni Relations team traveled to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Alumni from TKS, MA, and MKA gathered for an intimate and fun-filled evening reengaging and learning about MKA’s future endeavors.
COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES MKA’s Director of Family Programs and Giving, Jenn Baratta P’23 & P’26, spearheaded the annual College Care Packages event in collaboration with the Alumni Relations team. The Class of 2017 Parents of Alumni gathered to assemble care packages for our most recent graduates during the mid-fall semester. A huge thank you to Beth and Steve Milke P’15 & P’17 for hosting this wonderful event in their home. A special thank you to all the parents who participated and donated something to be included in the packages as well as to the Alumni Council who also included a special gift welcoming the recent grads into the Alumni Association.
Alumni Winter Games The MKA annual “day-after-Thanksgiving” Alumni Winter Games were played on Friday, November 24, 2017 at MKA’s Upper School Gymnasium and Clary Anderson Arena. As usual, the evening concluded with a Happy Hour at Upstairs at Tierney’s which had an outstanding turnout with over 80 guests in attendance that included all players and other alumni along with family members and friends. MKA’s hockey coaches Tim Cook and Kenny Smith attended both the game and post-game reception. Coach Cook, in his second year at MKA, took advantage of this opportunity to meet the players he
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had heard so much about. He was warmly received, and he and his student players received best wishes for a successful season. This year, the teams were split between Young Alumni versus Veterans, and the Young Alumni won the 2017 Hockey Alumni Game. The fifth annual Al Rehus Alumni Basketball Game, held in memory of Al Rehus, a beloved and treasured member of the MKA family who passed away in September 2012, was held in the Upper School Gym with the Rehus family in attendance. Coaches Jessica Bishop ’04 and Tony Jones led a lively competition between odd and even years.
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Homecoming
2017 CLASS REUNIONS
SAVE THE DATE
MKA HOMECOMING & REUNION WEEKEND OCTOBER 19-21, 2018 Celebrating classes ending in ’3 and ’8, and the 50th Reunion Year Classes of 1968 from The Kimberley School and Montclair Academy *To join your class reunion committee, email Eric Gutierrez @ egutierrez@mka.org For more information, visit www.mka.org/homecoming 46
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G A GEN EROUS L I F E
YOUR GENEROSITY SUPPORTS OUR STUDENTS. We believe in our ability to empower our students and we know that to support new generations our future must include expanded and renovated facilities, robust Annual Giving, and a stronger Endowment that provides security and confidence.
A G E N E RO U S L I F E
Kate Lindsey ’72 Tell us a bit about yourself
After graduating from college, I went to Morgan Stanley where I worked for four years—initially as an administrator and then as a senior analyst in the Strategic Planning Department of the firm. In 1979, I moved to Washington, DC when I was married and took a job on the trading floor of American Security Bank trading foreign currencies and shortterm government securities. One of my clients was Georgetown Day School, a large independent school of 1,050 students. They were looking for a CFO to lead the relocation of the high school to a new facility. I was eager to take a job that would give me more time with my family, and I took the plunge and became the school’s first CFO. Going into educational administration has been a decision I have never regretted. I stayed at GDS for nearly 25 years, then traveled to NYC to be the CFO at The Hewitt School (similar to Kimberley—an all-girls school of 525) and returned to DC in 2013 to take the job as Assistant Head and CFO at Sidwell Friends School where I have stayed for the past five years and will retire from in June. But, for the past four years, I have really had two careers. In addition to being the Assistant Head and CFO at Sidwell, I am also the Chairman and CEO of Alpha Corporation, a top 50 civil engineering firm with offices nationwide. Alpha is a firm founded in 1979 which I inherited from my husband who died in May of 2013. With over 220 employees and consultants, my firm provides construction management and design services for a wide variety of clients around the world. Our work focuses on the National Park Service, large infrastructure programs and embassies. In conjunction with this unexpected new career, I have worked to build a strong culture within the firm in support of STEM education, and I have served on the board of STEMconnector and Million Women Mentors—an organization established to promote engineering and technology to young girls and college professionals throughout the United States. Fairly ironic since I think the best grade I had in math while at Kimberley was a dismal C+. What do you consider some of your greatest professional accomplishments to date? How did your time at Kimberley help you achieve them?
I am someone who has been fortunate enough to be
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at the right place at the right time and had strong, wonderful mentors who helped me along the way. My greatest accomplishment, other than the raising of my two sons, has been to be a founder of NBOA, an association devoted to best practices for CFOs in independent schools. The group began with 23 people who wanted to ensure that those that came into the profession had the best possible chance for success. NBOA membership now includes 1,400 schools and is the second largest private school association in the country. I was a board member for 15 years and its president for four. Happily, the association has been instrumental in helping to shape the industry and focuses on financial sustainability and best practices to this day. I have also been selected as an Entrepreneur of the Year due to my work with STEMconnector—an honor that was totally unexpected and came as a real surprise to me. What are some of your favorite memories of TKS?
h, there are so many. Miss Hamilton describing O eating a pickle when describing Hamlet; Mrs. Thorson trying to teach a group of us how to play bridge; Miss Nesbitt, desperately trying to teach me math—a lost cause (I was a late, late bloomer on that front); and finally Miss Logan—tough as nails on the outside, but a wonderful coach who taught us a great deal about the importance of sportsmanship and team work. But, perhaps my best memories are my late summer days spent with my MKA friends playing field hockey at Tegawitha. Our expression, “You cannnot take Tegawitha with ya, can ya” was our battle cry...oh yes, and stealing food from the dining hall... not good. Why do you support MKA?
I support MKA because it is a school that strives to give a wide variety of students the opportunity to shine and find their passions by offering a broad and deep curriculum. MKA has really worked hard to provide a balanced program of exceptionally strong academics, equal commitment to the fine and performing arts and a wide variety of choices with a competitive athletic program. Nearly all students can find their passion and pursue their interests. That is rare now in schools, and MKA continues to shine by being an educational leader. From my experience as a private school administrator, I know how critical contributions are to the success of school operations. Giving back is an essential responsibility by those of us who benefited from their school experiences. I loved MKA (or Kimberley as it was known to me then), and I am happy to support the school.
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A G E N E RO U S L I F E
The Fuchs Family
Mike, Beth, Danielle, and Jaime Fuchs have been part of the MKA community since 2010. Danielle and Jaime have thrived during their time at MKA, in the classroom, on the stage, and on our athletic fields. A highlight of the Fuchs family’s MKA experience has been the Global Experiences program. They have hosted multiple students from Chile, providing them with a taste of everyday life and culture in the US. This experience has been eye-opening for Danielle and Jaime to hear about the different standards of living in other parts of the world while also sharpening their Spanish skills. They laugh about the funny misunderstandings that occur from their translation attempts. They now know to tell exchange students that they can flush their toilet paper while in the US. Many of the exchange students come from homes that do not have heat or modern plumbing. Danielle spent four weeks living and attending school with one of the families in the Chilean Exchange program. During her stay, she went to the mountains,
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the beach, and even went camping. She FaceTimes regularly with her Chilean friends and hopes to visit them before heading off to college. Danielle was also part of the first community service trip to Blackfeet Nation in Montana. Beth and Mike feel that “these differences and challenges teach our children, build resilience, and remind them how thankful they should be for their lifestyle.” Jaime participated in the Zion Backpacking and Wilderness Leadership trip this past Spring Break. Her group started in the Valley of Fire, moved through Zion National Park, canoed down the Colorado River and the Black Canyon Water Trail ending their journey at Chavez Crossing in Sedona, AZ. Jaime is looking forward to the Lost Coast Backpacking and Wilderness First Aid Training trip in California this year. Mike enjoys playing and coaching soccer and rarely misses Jaime’s games. Beth’s friends call her a professional volunteer, for her dedication to PAMKA and to Happiness is Camping, a nonprofit camp
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for kids with cancer. Outside of MKA, Danielle sings in an international high school choir in addition to holding leadership positions in several local and international organizations. Jaime plays soccer year-round and is a member of the MKA’s Girls Varsity Softball Team. Jaime also participates in Student Government and the Upper School’s Library Leadership Committee. Mike and Beth feel fortunate to have both girls at MKA. According to Beth, they “value all the academic, arts, athletic, and other programs that benefit our children as well as those programs that enrich the teaching staff and trickle down to our children.” Mike adds that “we understand that it costs more to operate MKA than is collected in tuition, so we support the school in as many ways as we can, which includes our personal involvement as well as our financial support of the capital campaigns, Annual Giving, and PAMKA.” MKA is grateful and proud to have Mike, Beth, Danielle, and Jaime as part of our community.
The Heritage Society A G E N E RO U S L I F E
“Having been a MKA “lifer” and faculty brat, I greatly appreciate the preparation MKA provided. We were guided by a wonderful faculty who challenged us and opened our minds to new vistas. My wife, Lizzie, and I want others to be able to have such an experience.”
— J. Martin Brayboy ‘80
Legacy
Leave a lasting legacy. Learn more about the benefits of MKA’s planned giving opportunities. www.mka.org/plannedgiving Contact Lainey Segear, Major Gifts Officer at lsegear@mka.org or 973-509-7933. SP RIN G 2 018
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C CL ASS N OT ES
The Kimberley School Class of 1966 will be reuniting and reconnecting at a special summer event over the weekend of July 27-30, 2018, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
C L ASS N OT ES
E D I TO R ’S N OT E
The deadline for news for the FALL MKA Review is May 1, and the deadline for the SPRING issue is January 1. News can be submitted at any time in response to the Alumni Office’s annual mailing, on the back of Annual Fund remittance envelopes, via mail or email to MKA Alumni Associate Director Alli Shearin (ashearin@mka.org), or your Class Representative. We keep ongoing files for each class and welcome photographs in digital or hard copy. If your class does not have a Class Representative listed, please consider volunteering for the position! It is a great way to re-establish contacts with old friends, does not require a great deal of time, and is essential to the ongoing vitality of the school. Thank you.
MKA sends its sincere condolences to 1939 the family of who / MA /
Charles McGinley,
passed away on May 24, 2016.
1941
/ TKS /
/ Mrs. Enid
Hyde, 5402 Duvall Drive,
Bethesda, MD 20816, enidghyde@aol.
com / MA / MKA send its sincere condolences to the family of Dwight Tenney who passed away November 30, 2017. Dwight was a graduate of Lehigh University and proudly served in the US Navy aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard during WWII.
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75TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
writes: “From the days of Miss Waring and Miss Jordan when the school was so small the music room was / TKS / Pam Capps Davis
a converted garage. Sadly, I was married and widowed very young to Jim Parsons, (MKA) brother of Frances Parsons ’43, but went on to college at the University of Wisconsin and Stanford, remarried, have four children and lived most of my life in Hawaii— home of my father’s family. I’m now living in Lexington, KY near my daughter, granddaughter and two great grandchildren. I can still recite all the words to “Hail Alma Mater—dear school we love so well” etc. but will spare you that. Hope you all have a wonderful reunion. MKA sends sincere condolences 1944 to the family of , / MA/
Donald Ward Castle
who passed away on July 3rd at the age of 90.
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/ TKS /
/ Mrs. Leigh
Smith, 847 Franklin
Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, lbsmith15@yahoo.com Leigh Smith writes: A call from
Cynnie Carswell Blair is truly
Pam Capps Davis ’43 with her newest great grandchild.
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delightful. She had the last MKA news before I did, and was full of enthusiasm about the way her 90th birthday and year had gone. She may well be the only one of us still riding a bike (I don’t mean exercycle!). It’s something she enjoys in summer on Long Island. The rest of the year activities in her “retirement” home are extensive and include interesting trips. Sally duBois Moberg is another cheerful-sounding classmate,
MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy
but we know her daily doings are limited by health issues. She remains very happy about having moved to Ashville, SC with daughter Sarah and family from NJ, and especially enjoys any chances to see her grands and several greats, part of her son “Duby” and family in West Virginia. Ann Gerhauser Buchbinder’s
husband reluctantly sent word that Ann’s memory is failing her. Cards from old friends are always appreciated. (Contact me or MKA if needing her address.) A spell of extreme downpours kept me from having a muchanticipated annual get-together with Pete Lamborn Peters, who was practically marooned on her Vineyard premises. While we did have a good phone chat, she was more than eager for her ride back to her Princeton home, now that she’s stopped driving. Rudd Trimble Kenvin’s husband, Roger, widower friend of our class to the extent he’s an honorary member, asked a grandson of mine, living near him in the Los Angeles area over for an afternoon chat. They share interest in writing, acting, and music. Roger had photos of their 1952 wedding on hand, and grandson Steve (son of Pam, my youngest) now 34, was quick to phone me about the interesting, informative occasion. Your secretary is now a nonagenarian, having celebrated for at least a ten-day period in August, when all the younger members of my pleasantly large family could get to the Vineyard for at least a few days. Only great grandchild then was eldest grandson Charlie Smith’s Mariposa (“Po”), nearing three; in October on UN Day we welcomed her baby brother Ansel. I truly appreciate the full life and all my good fortune, living here near a daughter who gets me to events at night. I’m extremely grateful for having been given golf and piano lessons early so I can still “play” both; golf badly except on two short holes; piano working weekly with
Class Representative
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L E GAC Y FA M I LY
“ A man cannot leave a better legacy to the world than a well-educated family.” THOMAS SCOTT
MKA is proud, fortunate and grateful to have a community that includes generations of families whose members have attended our founding schools of Brookside, The Kimberley School, Montclair Academy and today’s Montclair Kimberley Academy.
A Family Legacy The Donatiello Family
Danielle: The Donatiellos have been attending MKA since the merger in 1974 up until 2017. How amazing is it that my father’s baseball coach and my biology teacher were one and the same (Shoutout to George Hrab)? With my father, my four siblings and I having all walked the halls of the same school, we are able to connect over a tradition that really matters—our education and our respective journeys down a path that has led us each to experience our own success. Jenna: I loved going to a high school that was part of my family’s history—listening to their old stories and actually being able to picture what they did. My classmates used to always point out photos of siblings and my dad or come show me old yearbooks with them in it. I used to love the look on my friends’ faces every time a teacher would say something like, “Your father used to do that same thing.” People actually knew my family at MKA, and that made it easier to connect with teachers and alumni. How would you describe the value of an MKA education?
Mark: MKA will take a personal interest in each student. They know their students. They push their students. The high school curriculum is as good as it gets.
Photo above: Mark Vincent ’07, Jenna ’17, Danielle ’09, Nancy, Mark ’79, Nicholas, Anthony
Why is it important to you that your family has the same school experience that you did?
Mark: Nancy and I have always felt that a solid education creates the foundation for future success. MKA provided me with that education and much more. My children have experienced firsthand how far the MKA
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community extends. My high school friends and teammates have traveled hours just to see my kids’ baseball or softball games. They have all met fellow MKA students and classmates in other states. We wanted our children to have that kind of high school experience and opportunities. This was an easy decision.
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Danielle: It is tough to put a price on your education, especially an extensive and high-quality education. I do not believe I would have gone to The George Washington University had I not attended MKA for high school. I do not believe I would be a Product Manager for one of the largest technology manufacturers in the country had I not attended MKA. I gained knowledge, confidence, and a robust skill set that prepared me for more than I could have imagined.
A G LE EGAC N E RO Y UFA SM LIF LY E
Jenna: I think that the value of an MKA education is that the school only accepts the best effort that each student has to give. The teachers are actually involved in the academic experiences of their students and they always give their all. While it’s challenging and requires a lot of hard work, I never felt overwhelmed by my classes because there was a great support system in the MKA community, and I think that community is what really highlights what is so great about MKA. What are your fondest memories of MKA and why?
Mark: My fondest memories came from the friendships with teammates & coaches that developed playing football and baseball. To this day, when we get together we still talk about the Riverdale game. Our coaches were our teachers and our friends. My best man, Jim Chudomel, was my college counselor and my coach. Danielle: I look back at my time at MKA, and I am proud to say I attended this school. I spent four years of my life growing up with some truly amazing people. As a student, I felt that my opinions could be heard and were appreciated in a safe environment. I could talk to any member of my class and connect with them on some level. MKA was an inclusive and tolerant place where I was able to meet friends that I will have for life. Not to mention that I was able to travel to Guatemala with Habitat for Humanity and Ireland for May Term before I even entered my twenties. Jenna: My fondest memories are definitely the house competitions and being a Strong House captain. I still think about my first day at MKA sitting up on the stage with all the other freshmen and new students, hearing Dr. Flocco announce that MacVicar’s hat
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had chosen us. It’s really an experience unique to MKA, and the competitions were always a great way to end a hard week or leave off before breaks. Go Lions! What are aspects of MKA that you hope never change?
Mark: George Hrab. He was there for me ( ’79), he was there for my son Mark ( ’07), my daughter Danielle ( ’09), and my daughter Jenna ( ’17). I hope that MKA will always have teachers that take a personal interest in the success of their students. Danielle: MKA always encouraged students to be themselves, and I hope students always continue to do so. I always remember looking forward to Homecoming, Spirit Week, Snowball, and other events, and I would encourage all future MKA students to embrace the school spirit and camaraderie. I hope MKA never stops offering opportunities of a lifetime for teenagers that will shape their futures forever. Jenna: The school spirit that everyone had. From wearing tutus for house competitions to having half of the student body go to an important football game, it really changed the atmosphere and made those experiences that much better. Can you please talk about your transition to college? How did MKA help with that
Danielle: I recall freshman year being assigned my first group project and feeling completely comfortable with it. My peers were expressing concern, and I could not understand it. I realized that MKA had prepared me for the types of projects I would be facing at college. A collaborative environment did not frighten me; I welcomed the opportunity
to learn from others and hear different perspectives.
Jenna: I actually had a really smooth transition into USC. MKA really prepared me for what to expect with college classes, especially when it came to essay writing. The block-schedule also got me used to an almost lecturestyled class, like my college courses. While I did get a little homesick out in California during the middle of my first semester, I received my care package from the alumni council and it really helped to have that little piece of high school with me. How did your experience at MKA influence who you are today?
Mark: MKA prepared me, more than college, to be able to meet the challenges that I would face. There is no doubt that my high school experience has had an impact on who I am today. Danielle: MKA introduced me to all different types of personalities. I learned a lot about who I am as a person, how to respond to others, and how to express myself clearly. I learned leadership skills, in the classroom and on the field, that have translated into confidence in my abilities in the workplace. I gained lifelong friends (including two of my bridesmaids) and memories that will last a lifetime. Jenna: MKA taught me a great work ethic. I learned how to manage my time well and achieve the goals I set for myself. Whether it was in the classroom or on the field, I learned from my peers, coaches, and teachers what it means to do work that you can be proud of.
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C L AS S N OT ES
a nursing home patient or her own electric piano weekly, and once a month playing songs from many decades for residents who enjoy singing along. Stay well and keep me posted! / MA /
/ Mr. William Grant, 537
Milano Road, Kissimee, FL 34759, grantwb@cfl.rr.com William (Bill) Grant writes: Busy year for I think the only living member and class agent MA ’45. Three granddaughters married. Plus, trips to San Antonio (SPN) and NYC (Mises) to promote my US constitution Article V amendment to gives states right to propose amendments w/o having to go thru hoop of a convention. ALEC possibly interested in co-sponsoring. Write for more information.
1946
/ TKS /
/ Mrs.
Eleanor Ketcham,
Lighthouse Rd, Gay Head, MA 02535, ellieketcham@aol.com
Eleanor Ketcham updated the Alumni Office—Joan Denney Carlisle reported from Chatham on the Cape where she has lived for several years. One of her sons lives nearby and, as a professional landscaper, keeps her property looking great. Another son retired from his career in the Firestone Library at Princeton to live in Plymouth, Mass, nearby. Another son lives in Hartford and another is an artist in southern Maine. He recently was commissioned to create a mural for a hospital near his home. Joan says she celebrated a major birthday this past summer..... earlier than most of us because she was a year older than we were when we were all at Kimberley. She “lost” a year when she lived on the Riviera in France with her mother while her father was in Spain during the time of the Spanish Civil War. He was with the International Telephone Company, assigned to Spain, but he joined his wife and daughter in France for a respite each month.....a common way of business life in that period, she said.
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Our Kimberley class had two English girls for our high school years during WWII. Sheila Hancock lived with Jeanne Jordan, and Corinna Cunliffe lived with Bambi Merck (who was a year older), and both were our classmates. These two girls were sent by their parents to live in America with family friends because of the bombing of London. As adolescents, most of us were oblivious to these classmates’ experiences in wartime England, just as we didn’t know that Joan had spent several years on the French Riviera, or that Christa Arnold had lived in Germany until about 1940. I had a wonderful chat with Nancy Lockerty Hoffmann who moved from Pasadena, California, to Charlottesville, VA. when her son Jim and his family relocated there. She says she loves her lovely retirement community with a balcony overlooking Virginia hills. Jim’s daughter, Chandler, graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from college and now works in NYC. Nancy’s other two sons live in Italy and Hong Kong, too far to visit now. “Been there, done that,” says Nancy. The Hoffmann’s raised their three boys in HongKong, the Philippines, and Hawaii as Bill’s work moved him to various sites in Asia. When the boys came to college in the US, Nancy and Bill bought a house on Martha’s Vineyard as their US base, and then they retired there until Bill died about twenty years ago. That’s when she moved to southern California....and now to Virginia.
1947
/ Mrs. Louise
Hannegan, 49 Canterbury
sbcglobal.net
/ MA /
70TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ Mr. John Leonhard, 51
Fromm Court, Mahwah, NJ 07430,
Gail Bren let the Alumni Office know that her husband, Donald
MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
passed away on January 19, 2017. Donald was inducted into the MKA Athletic Hall of Fame. He graduated from Denison University, having lettered in football and baseball. Don would be named defensive back of the year, his senior year; he was awarded the Mike Gregoy Award for outstanding defensive play and voted to the 3rd Team Little AllAmerican Team. During this time, Don set multiple school records that held for over 40 years. He was then inducted into Denison’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Don was drafted and served in the US Army. He later became the Assistant Football Coach for Pennsylvania Military College. The team went undefeated. Don then began his career in insurance. Don loved sports, and when he wasn’t watching one of his kids or grandchildren play in a game or watching a college football game, you would find him playing golf or enjoying the challenge of picking the perfecta and trifecta winners at Beulah Park, a hobby that led him to become a race horse owner for a brief period. He was dearly loved by his family and will be sorely missed.
1950
/ TKS /
/ Mrs. Audrey
Maas, 4551 Gulf Shore
Blvd. North, #804, Naples, FL 34103, rdlew@aol.com MKA sends their
deepest condolences to Suzanne Tull whose husband, William “Bill” Tull, passed away on January 26, 2017.
1951
/ TKS /
/ Mrs. Gail
Marentette, 93 Glen
Avenue, Llewellyn Park, West Orange,
/ TKS /
Lane, Lakeville, CT 06039, weezieh@
1948
Bren,
NJ 07052 / MA / Gail Marentette
let the Alumni Office know that Nancy Jones Trescot passed away on August 18, 2017. The MKA community sends their sincere condolences to the family.
1952
/ TKS /
/ Mrs. Martha
Moran, 8011 Strauff Road,
Baltimore, MD 21204, martha.moran1@ verizon.net
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Goodwillie Swann.
Nancy Kelly Class of 1952
writes that she is happily mainly retired. Still involved in volunteer work in the educational field. Do a fair amount of Fundraising for Lyford Cay Foundation, particularly supporting the FOCUS programme for underserved young Bahamian students. Play golf, enjoy pilates and being active socially.
Nancy Kelly
1953 Our sincere condolences go 65TH REUNION
OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ MA /
out to Philip Smith whose wife, Bonnie, passed away on May 29, 2017.
1954
/ TKS /
/ Ms. Georgia
Carrington, 38 Silver
Spring Lane, Ridgefield, CT 06877,
carrgeo@aol.com MKA
sends their sincere condolences to the family of Amy Beebe who passed away April 21, 2017. / MA /
/ Mr. Sheldon Buck, 51
Cornell Road, Wellesley, MA 024827408, sheldonbuck@me.com
1955
/ MA /
/ Mr.
Lawrence Martin, P.O.
Box 1058 , Lexington, VA 24450, martinlexington@centurylink.net
1956
/TKS /
/ Ms. Susan
Ferdinand, 125 Limerick
Lane, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, facesbyferdinand@gmail.com
Condolences to the family of Jane
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Jane passed away in February 2017. Mother of two and a retired English teacher, Jane had been in failing health following her retirement. She relocated from Atlanta to Pittsburgh to be close to her daughter, Eliza, and her grandson, and suffered a heart attack not long after the move. Our 2017 Poll indicates that most, if not all of us, will be glad that 2017 is behind us. Your descriptions of this year ranged from “nauseating” to (the most optimistic) “open-ended” and were skewed heavily toward the “distressing-frustrating-horriblefrightening-exhausting-tough” end of the distribution. So, here’s to 2018! It has to be better, right? By the time this is published, you’ll already know. LOL And here’s our news, arranged in the socially acceptable way, by your married (if you are/were married) name, even though I still think of all of you by your maiden names. I apologize, in advance if you are offended by the inclusion of a couple of political references, but I don’t think we can deal with 2017 happenings without them. Nicole de Jurenev checked in with season’s greetings and the correct spelling of her name (lower case d and a space between de and Jurenev—who knew!?) I know she’s all grown up and “Nicole” to her friends, but she’ll always be “Nini” to me. Sorry, Nicole. Jane Romeyn Dunning lost her beloved husband of 57 years in August. Celebrating the holidays for the first time without Harry has been a challenge, writes Jane, but she has had the support of their team which includes “two children and seven grandchildren with four awesome young people in their twenties, and my son’s second family, ages 11 and 7 and the littlest, Harry 3, who will be 4 in April. I am surrounded by many blessings.” Ann deVausney Hallowell was joined by 14-week old Charlie, an English Cocker Spaniel, after the
MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy
loss of his predecessor, Willie. She hopes to do some agility training with her bright new family member. Politics have defined Ann’s life for many years and she shared this: “My biggest hope for 2018 is that Robert Mueller’s report rids us of Trump and his whole dysfunctional team before they can do any more damage to our country, and our people.” Carol Barnard Ottenberg has been on the road again, with visits to Maine, Alaska, and a springtime Road Scholar trip to Big Bend National Park in Texas. In Maine, she spent time with Nancy Prescott Ward and Gail Zabriskie Wilson and “enjoyed sharing memories of early TKS days on Plymouth Street in a small memoir about the adventures of my brother’s pet crow.” Carol-are you going to publish this so we can all enjoy it? Carol VanBrunt Rasic reports that the highlight of her year has been a Thanksgiving visit from West Coast residents: daughter, Lynn, son-in-law, Michael, and, most important of all, “our newest grandchild, James Harrison, who at six months has the most wonderful smile” (Carol, somehow, I can picture your smile as you write that.) Molla Kaplan Reisbaum writes, “I am too young to have children and grandchildren this old! Where have all the years gone? Wasn’t it just yesterday that we” With her ongoing career in real estate sales at Coldwell Banker, travels with husband Alvin, recreational bridge (as opposed to Joanne Weisser Salomon’s professional bridge career), and three children “gainfully employed” and “grandchildren working on their educations” (Anna, a Junior at Tulane; Ethan a Freshman at the University of Maryland; Solomon, a Freshman at the University of Michigan, Joshua, a Junior at the Beacon School, NYC; and Miranda, a 7th grader at the Hannah Senesh School in Brooklyn). Molla still finds time to share frequent
Class Representative
57
C L AS S N OT ES
lunches with Joanne Weisser Salomon, Sally Bever Zwiebach, and me. Speaking of Joanne Weisser Salomon, our Sapphire Life Master in Contract Bridge—she is also my reading coach (with help from Sally and Molla) and shares with me the frustration of warring offspring. Her latest communique reads: I wanted to write you that this was the first Thanksgiving dinner at which my daughters did not have a fight. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, so I’m a cockeyed optimist looking forward to next year. On a happier note, I saw a great movie, “The Meyerowitz Stories,” and read an excellent book, Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perotta. “Happy Holidays to all, or not to offend Trumpites, “Merry Christmas!” Linda Lovell Smith, husband Larry, and daughter Sabrina enjoyed “a great Nat Geo small ship trip on Alaska’s Inland Passage, filled with flora and wild fauna, and calving glaciers. The naturalists were amazingly talented and great fun.” The Smiths celebrated the holidays at their Martha’s Vineyard home. In their spare time, reports Linda, they are trying to eliminate that incredible pile of “stuff” that we all have to tackle if we plan to downsize. Nancy Prescott Ward is still active, with husband Bob, working in their answering service. Running like mad to keep up with technology, which has impacted their business in a serious way, they are happy that son Rob has taken over as president of the company. Rob, who lives only minutes away, also presented them with his first child, grandson Andrew Robert Ward, who joins their grand team of “Asbury Park grands, Morgan (8) and Malcolm (2 ½)” and Maine grands, Oscar (14) and Iris (13). Friends, if you are on Facebook, please “friend” me. That is mostly how I keep up with everyone. Gail Zabriskie Wilson. In May, Gail packed up their home in
58
Greenwich and joined sister Aubin in a continuing care residential community in Naples, Florida, where their parents have spent 16 years. Then, lest the dust have time to settle in Naples, the family headed north to Maine for 4-5 months and had time there to connect with Linda Cole LeStage, Carol Barnard Ottenberg and Betsy and Bob Cole. Gail reports that “Betsy Beatty Matlack’s mother died this summer just short of her 110th birthday. The end of an era for all of us whose parents were friends.” Sally Bever Zwiebach and Burt bit the bullet, sold their home of many years and down-sized to an apartment in Roslyn, Long Island. Says Sally, “…we enjoy our new apartment, although the physical act of moving almost killed me.” The effects of the ordeal seem to have worn off quickly, as Sally is up to her eyebrows in another course in Greek history, and she and Burt enjoy the Manhattan theatre and opera scene. MKA sends sincere condolences to the family of Janet Goodwillie Swann, who passed away in February 2017. MKA sends sincere condolences to Jane Romeyn Dunning, whose husband, Harry Dunning, passed away in August. MKA sends sincere condolences to Betsy Beatty Matlack, whose lost her mother this past summer. / MA /
/ Mr. Eric Jaeckel,
PO Box 20153, Boulder, CO 80308, efjaeckel@hotmail.com /
/Dr.
Lawrence Nazarian, 82 Brickstone Circle, Rochester, NY 14620, LFredN @aol.com
1957
/ TKS /
/ Mrs. Thelma
“Tam” Miller Knight, 3001
Linton Blvd. No. 201C, Delray Beach, FL 33445, tknight115@aol.com
reported the death of who passed away in September 2017. MKA sends sincere condolences to her family. Tam Knight
Drika Agnew Purves,
MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
1958 / TKS /
60TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ Mrs. Diana Little, 1-K
Buckingham Road, West Orange, NJ 07052, littlecorp@verizon.net / MA /
/ Mr. Henry Agens, 86 Eagle
Rock Way, Montclair, NJ 07042, hymelee@earthlink.net
Most of us in the Montclair Academy Class of 1958 realize that this year marks the 60th anniversary of our graduation. By any measure, that’s a significant milestone to contemplate and ultimately celebrate. As you would expect, MKA will be holding its homecoming/reunion luncheon on Saturday, October 20th, along with other events and activities over that weekend. Seventeen(17) of us(out of a class of 31), most of us with our wives, came to our 50th Reunion ten years ago. Few if any MA classes have even approached that kind of turnout for their 50th. I would love to see us equal or even top that number this year. Those I spoke with at the time told me they really enjoyed getting together again. Quite a few, Frank Sachs for example, mentioned how surprised they were at how much fun we had. Well let’s do it once more! Therefore, in the months ahead, you will be receiving information about the October 20th reunion. I hope you’ll sign up. I am trying to resist being maudlin about our days dwindling down to a precious few, but the inexorable march of time tells me it’s true. We were/are a good class. We need to see each other again! Proud Papa Jack Roth tells me his son Jamie(James) recently passed the Maryland bar on his first try. A number of years ago, Jamie received a degree in civil engineering from the Coast Guard Academy. He’s shifted gears so to speak in recent years and got a law degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Jamie is married and has two sons. Incidentally, Jack told me that at Jamie’s Bris (brit milah), the rabbi asked him
C L ASS N OT ES
what kind of name “James” was for a nice Jewish boy. Jack replied, “What did you think I should have called him…Irving?” Until that time, keep punchin’— Hy Agens
1959
/ TKS /
/ Ms. Jarvis
Reilly Nolan, 15612
Via Marchena, San Diego, CA 92128, jarvisno@aol.com
1960 let the Alumni Office know that her sister ’73
Carroll
passed away on July 27, 2017 after a 5-year battle with ovarian cancer. Carroll was remembered at Maine Audubon where she worked for over 30 years in a memorial service in September. There will be a Carroll Tiernan memorial meditation garden created in her name there. Tiernan ’60
1961
/ Mrs. Winifred
Sage Wilson, 13819 Vidal
Place, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123 /
/ Mrs. Suzanne Hardy, 47 Bartlett
Parkway, Winthrop, MA 02152
1962
/ TKS /
/ Barbara
Creed, 501 Portola Road,
#8185, Portola Valley, CA 94028, bbcreed@aol.com / MA /
1965
/ TKS /
/ Ms. Katharine
“Kitty” Haines, 174 East
74th Street, Apt. 9F, New York, NY
/ TKS / Susan Madrigan
/ TKS /
tradition of documentary and fine art photography exemplified in the work of Edward Weston, Edward Curtis, and William Christenberry. For more details on John’s recent project, go to: http://ow.ly/S57530hHwFB.
/ Mr. W. Doug Donald,
189 Sedgefield Circle, Winter Park, FL 32792, D1Donald@aol.com
10021, khaines22@aol.com
“MKA sends sincere condolences to the family of Katherine Bonniwell who passed away on August 31, 2017. Classmate Susan DeBevoise Wright wrote the following message: Kate grew up in Montclair, NJ and was among the smartest of the 38 girls in our class at The Kimberley School. With a great sense of humor, she kept Louise Brundage Lynch, Kathleen Schaffer, and me and her other high school friends laughing. At Vassar, she majored in Art History and developed friendships... After Vassar Kate attained her MBA degree at Stanford Business School. She enjoyed a highly successful career managing LIFE and People magazines. Kate had an eye for beauty. For years, she took art classes and was a talented artist. Her ceramics and paintings were beautiful. Kate’s happiest years came later in life when she married Bill Leibovitz and then had a son, Alex. Bill and Alex were the joys of her life. I loved the times we spent together.
1963 The Alumni Office was notified by 1964 William Cook of the passing of his 1966 sister, on March 16, 2017 55TH REUNION
OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ TKS /
Nancy Cook
who passed away due to cancer. / MA /
/ John Benigno, 597
/ MA /
/ Mr. A. Craig
Cameron, 11 Bay Point
Dr., Ormond Beach, FL 32174, ccameron@cameronhodges.com /
/ Mr. Douglas Fitzpatrick, 70
Hansell Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096,
Eastern Vista, Sedona, AZ 86351
johnbenigno@hotmail.com
The Alumni office just learned of the passing of Richard Kuzsma, who died on April 17, 2017. Our sincere condolences to his wife, Dianne.
Congratulations to John A. Benigno, who opened a new exhibit at Rosemont College Lawrence Hall Gallery. The exhibit features photographs from his “Adobe Church Project,” which is a visual narrative in the
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writes: I’ve been 1967 performing and teaching improv / TKS / Margot Escott
MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy
comedy here in south Florida for the past several years. I teach improv for therapists and for folks with mood disorders and am currently doing a pilot program for folks with Parkinsons. This September, I’m presenting at the First Annual Yes, and Conference on Psychology & Improv in Chicago. I still work as a therapist and have podcasts, Improv Interviews at margotescott.com, where I interview psychologists who use improv and some of the biggest names in improv today. Life is good. / MA /
/ Mr. Craig Perry, 3467
Pinestream Road, Atlanta, GA 30327, craigcperry@aol.com
1968 /TKS /
50TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/Ms. Avie Claire Kalker, 10
Knolls Road, Williamstown, MA 01267, heraldicone@gmail.com / MA /
/
Mr. Geoff Gregg, 6108 Percheron Trail, Summerfield, NC 27358, tartanone @triad.rr.com
1969
/ TKS /
/ Ms.
Christine Hannon,
97 North Street, Northampton, MA 01060, channon@smith.edu / MA /
/
Dr. Edward A. Griggs Jr., 100 Cedar Street, Apt. B24, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
As I write this column, snow, ice and rain are in the forecast. When you’re reading it, I hope it’s sunny and warm! Here’s the news from a few classmates: Pat Benner says, “Things are good for me here in CA. I split my time between LA and San Francisco (West Marin/Stinson Beach) with a very active and rewarding Landscape Design business in both places and my significant other in Stinson Beach. Both of my kids are in SF, so it’s great to be able to see them often.” It was great to hear from Andy Goddard after many years. She reports, “I am still residing in Chestertown, on MD’s Eastern Shore, “Land of Pleasant Living.” I closed Andy’s, (restaurant/bar/ music venue), after 20+ years and
Class Representative
59
C L AS S N OT ES
am now director of RiverArts, a member-supported arts organization with two galleries, KidSPOT, our children’s creativity center and a separate education center and clay studio. Lots of plates to keep spinning.” Ellen Hare and her husband, Frank Mazzeo, divide their time between houses in Bradenton, FL and West Caldwell, NJ. Ellen would love to hear from anyone living nearby either place.
1970
/ TKS /
/ Ms.
Leslie Bryan, 844 East
Morningside Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324, lbryan@dsckd.com / MA /
/ Mr. V. James Castiglia
Esq., 3 Lark Lane, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438, vjc@vjamescastiglia.com /
/ Mr.
/ TKS /
/ Ms. Deborah
Peck, Esq., 128 Victoria
Bay Court, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, deborahpeckesq@gmail.com / / Mrs. Linda Finney Williams P.O. Box 1446, Nantucket, MA 02554, czarinalinda@comcast.net
MKA sends its sincere condolences to the family of Tacey Phillips Carroll whose mother, Martha Belden Phillips, passed away on May 25, 2017. / MA /MKA sends deepest condolences to Erin Crawford ’74 and family on the passing of William Crawford on December 9, 2017 after fighting pancreatic cancer.
1973 / TKS /
45TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ Ms. Susan Read, 38 College
Peter Webb, Mile Slip Farm, 48 Mason
Circle, Staunton, VA 2240
Road, Brookline, NH 03033, pwebb@
Susan Madrigan let the Alumni Office
winerbennett.com
MKA sends sincere condolences to Barry Ridings whose father, Lester Williams Ridings, passed away on June 20, 2017.
1971
/ TKS /
/ Miss Philippa
Bowles, 39 Orts Road,
Hamburg, NJ 07419, wvbond60@ gmail.com / MA /
/ Mr. Jeffrey Jones, 77
Monroe Street, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009, coastdaylight98@yahoo.com /
/
Mr. Anthony Vitale, 10 North Wood Avenue, Apt. 601, Linden, NJ 07036 Tony.Vitale@TVOD.com Jeffrey Jones wrote: After teaching for 42 years, the last 35 at the college level, I retired this past December. I’m looking forward to doing more volunteer work with the Verona Rescue Squad and the Amtrak/National Parks Trails & Rails Program. I have a new full-time job: building my model railroad in the basement. It is a pleasure to serve as your class agent/representative and to forge closer ties with our Alma Mater. Congratulations to Geoffrey Close for receiving the 2017 New Jersey Five Star Wealth Manager Award. He has won six years.
60
1972
know that her sister Carroll Tiernan ’60 passed away on July 27, 2017 after a 5-year battle with ovarian cancer. Carroll was remembered at Maine Audubon where she worked for over 30 years in a memorial service in September. There will be a Carroll Tiernan memorial meditation garden created in her name there. Nancy Lee ’75 wrote: We (Robert Nagel ’73 and my sister Janet Scheel ’76) wanted to share that our parents, Mr. & Mrs. Nagel, passed away over the past year: our father died in October, 2016; our mother in April, 2017. Many of our classmates knew our parents through the parties that they threw for our friends. / MA /
/ Mr. Thomas C. Galligan,
504 Main Street, P.O. Box 2156, New London, NH 03257, tgalligan714@gmail. com /
/ Mr. Gregory Lackey, 138
Paupukkewis Trail, Medford Lakes, NJ 08055, gregory.lackey@usps.gov
1974
MKA sends deepest condolences to Erin Crawford whose husband Bill Crawford ’72 passed after fighting pancreatic cancer for 14 months on December 9, 2017.
1975
/ MKA /
/ Mr. Paul
Zuckerberg, 1790 Lanier
Place NW, Washington, DC 20009, paul.zukerberg@gmail.com
wrote: We (Robert Nagel and my sister Janet Scheel ’76) wanted to share that our parents, Mr. & Mrs. Nagel, passed away over the past year: our father died in October, 2016; our mother in April, 2017. Many of our classmates knew our parents through the parties that they threw for our friends. Nancy Lee
’73
We ( 1976andwrote: my sister
/ MKA / Nancy Lee ’75 Robert
Nagel ’73
Janet
Scheel ’76) wanted to share that our parents, Mr. & Mrs. Nagel, passed away over the past year: our father died in October, 2016; our mother in April, 2017. Many of our classmates knew our parents through the parties that they threw for our friends.
1977
/ MKA /
/ Mr. Robert
Hubsmith , 16 Warren
Road , Maplewood, NJ 07040, roberthubsmith24@gmail.com /
/ Mr. Andrew Pedersen,
5 Whipporwill Valley Rd, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716, apedersenco@ gmail.com MKA sends sincere condolences to Keith Ridings whose father, Lester Williams Ridings, passed away on June 20, 2017.
1978 / MKA/
40TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ Ms. Jane Lugaric Burkhard,
299 Crown Road, Kentfield, CA 94904, / TKS /
/ Ms. Erin Cuffe
Crawford, 121 Clarewill
janeburkhard@comcast.net /
/ Ms. Pamela Zeug, 60 W. 57th
Avenue, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043,
Street, #15F, New York, NY 10019,
erincrawford@verizon.net
pzeug@downinggroup.com
Congratulations to Seton Beck and Erin Crawford for receiving the 2016 New Jersey Realtors Circle of Excellence Sales Award.
MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
C L ASS N OT ES
1979
/ MKA /
/ Dr. John
Brink, 1246 Beach Haven
Road, Atlanta, GA 30324 /
/ Shawn
1991
/ MKA /
/ Ms. Dara
Marmon, 330 E.39th, Apt.
21D, New York, NY 10016, daramarmon
Ortiz, 2163 Gilbride Road, Martinsville,
@gmail.com /
NJ 08836, csaortiz@optonline.net
105 Franklin Street, Apt. 4, New York,
1981
NY 10013, luke.sarsfield@gs.com / MKA /
/ Mrs. Laura
Itzkowitz (Laura Reisch),
37 Nottingham Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726, howardandlaura@optonline.net
1983 1984
35TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018 / MKA /
/ Mrs.
Jennifer Jones Ladda, 17
Belleclaire Place, Verona, NJ 07044, jjonesladda@gmail.com
Congratulations to Charles Shulman for receiving the 2017 New Jersey Five Star Mortgage Professional Award. He has won five years.
1986
/ MKA /
/ Ms.
Sherry Ahkami, P.O.
Box 3187, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067, shirin@sdspineinstitute.com /
/ Ms.
Jennifer Remington-Knodel, 44 Hamilton Drive East, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, jenremknodel@aol.com
1987
/ MKA /
/ Mr. Dennis
Rodano, 14 Wayland
Drive, Verona, NJ 07044, rodanod@ verizon.net /
/ Ms. Lynne Yellin, 413
Ridgecrest Drive , Chapel Hill, NC 27514, lynnegy@aol.com
1988 / MKA /
30TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ Mrs. Susan Rankin, 106
Jefferson Drive, Tiburon, CA 94920, surankin@microsoft.com
1989
/ Mr. Luke Sarsfield,
/ MKA /
/ Mr. Louis
Lessig, 2009 Morris
Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003, llessig@ brownconnery.com /
/ Mr. Josh
Raymond, 33 Oak Place, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, jraymond@ trenklawfirm.com
Congratulations to Ralph Amirata who was recently sworn in to the position of Superior Court Judge. He will be sitting in Morris County.
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heard from Marc who is moving to Napa, CA with his family to pursue a dream. He therefore declares himself the winner. Congratulations to Dana Holwitt who is being recognized as part of the Atlantic Medical Group Top Doctors in the January 2017, issue of NJ Monthly.
Dara Marmon Hauser,
1992
/ MKA /
/ Dr. Enrique
Neblett, 718 Ainsley
was also named one of the four fittest chefs in America by Men’s Health earlier this year. sf.eater. com/2017/9/25/16347312/spqrmatt-accarrino-shelley-lindgren10-year-anniversary
1996 com /
/ MKA /
/ Ms. Tanya
Barnes.tanya@gmail.
/ Ms. Erica Hirsch, 10 West
15th Street, #710, New York, NY 10011, ehirsch77@yahoo.com /
/ Mr. Lee
Vartan, 3 Swayze Lane, Chester, NJ 07930, ldvartan@yahoo.com
1998 / MKA /
20TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ Ms. Gemma Giantomasi,
80 Avon Drive, Essex Fells, NJ 07021,
Court, Durham, NC 27713, enrique.
gemma.diaco@gmail.com
neblett@gmail.com
Congratulations to Newark chief policy advisor Tai Cooper will join the administration of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to be the deputy chief policy advisor, a move made with the full support of Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka.
MKA would like to send deepest condolences to Doreen Oliver, whose sister, Monique Oliver, passed away March 30, 2017
1993 1994
25TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018 / MKA/
/ Mr. Jason
Awerdick, 23 Greenbrook
1999
/ MKA /
/ Ms. Sandra
Tritt, sandratritt@
gmail.com /
/Mr. Alexander Holz,
Drive, Bloomfield, NJ 07003,
233 E. 3rd Street, Apt. 3C, New York,
jasonawerdick@gmail.com
NY 10009, alexbhlz@gmail.com
Congratulations to Jon Accarrino who was recently named Digital Innovator of the Year by the Local Media Association. The top honor was awarded to Accarrino for his revenue, content and platform extension strategies for KSL-TV and KSL NewsRadio in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can see some of his innovations yourself in the KSL TV smartphone and ConnectedTV apps. www.localmedia.org/ three-take-top-innovator-awards Cheers to Chef 1995 His popular San Francisco / MKA/
Matt Accarrino.
restaurant, SPQR, celebrated its 10th anniversary in the fall of 2017. To celebrate, SPQR created a special anniversary menu giving diners a snapshot of his awardwinning dishes over the years. The multiple Michelin-starred chef
MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy
Congratulations to Jessica who graduated from Rutgers University with an Executive MBA in Marketing and Finance in May 2017.
Simpson-Cook
2000
/ MKA /
/ Mr. John
Garippa, 2741 NE 58th
Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308, oceanhut@aol.com /
/ Mrs. Anna
Cook, 5 Highview Court, Wayne, NJ 07470, anna_labowsky @yahoo.com /
/ Mrs. Jaclyn Spedaliere, 60 E.
Oak Street, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, jaclynspedaliere@gmail.com
Congratulations to Michelle Latzoni on the birth of her son, Cooper Norris Morgan, born September 16, 2017.
2001
/ MKA /
/ Ms. Dana
Pisacane, 119 Downey
Street, San Francisco, CA 94117, dana. piscane@gmail.com
Class Representative
61
C L AS S N OT ES
2002
/ MKA /
2010
/ Mrs.
Melissa Fortunato
Slomienski, 58 Oldchester Road, Essex
/ Ms. Devon
Barrett, 109 Llewellyn
Road, Montclair, NJ 07042, dlb792@
Fells, NJ 07021, slomienski@icloud.
aim.com /
com /
51 Grove Lane, West Caldwell, NJ
/ Miss Emily Santangelo, 27
/ Mr. Matthew Palmisano,
Woods Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424,
07006, matt.r.palmisano@gmail.com
emilyannesantangelo@gmail.com
writes: I married on September 3rd, 2017. We have stayed together since 2009.
2003 / MKA /
Shaylin Schundler Daniel Kwartler ’11
15TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ Ms. Judith Ferreira, 819
2011
Clifton Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104-3211, jferreir@pratt.edu /
/ Ms. Melanie
/ MKA /
/ Seth Bynum,
32 High Street, West
Orange, NJ 07052, seth.bynum1@
Bieber, 20 West 72nd Street, Apt. 302A, New York, NY 10023, mel.braverman@
gmail.com /
gmail.com
Deer Trail Road, North Caldwell, NJ
Congratulations to Casey Breslow on the birth of her new baby!
2004
/ MKA /
/ Ms.
Katherine Santoro, 333
River Street, Apt. 539, Hoboken, NJ 07030, kate.santoro@gmail.com
/
/ Brendan McCaffrey, 235 West
102nd Street, Apt. 10i, New York, NY 10025, brendan.a.mccaffrey@gmail.com
Congratulations to Rebecca Beyth on her marriage to Gavin Stern on November 18, 2017. Congratulations to Allison Currie Brown and Steve Brown on their new baby, Hannah Elizabeth Brown, born January 5, 2018.
Big brother Shawn enjoying his little brother Niko
2006
e.g.kozak@gmail.com /
/ Mr. Manav
/ Mr. Ed
2008
2013
angelamccaffrey@gmail.com
2007
/ MKA /
/ Mr. Brian
May, 22 N. Bayard Lane,
/ Mr. Harry Raymond, 19 E. 7th
10TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ Mr. Matthew Metzger,
/ MKA /
5TH REUNION OCTOBER 20, 2018
/ Elizabeth “Lizzie” Amato,
235 Elizabeth Street, Apt #1B, New
ljamato420@mac.co /
York, NY 10012, metzgemb@bc.ed
Bozik, bozik@me.com
/ Ms. Cara Placentra, 111 Worth
caraplacentra@mac.com
S, Apt. 905, Arlington, VA 22202,
Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, casey.
raymond.harry@gmail.com
/ Ms.
Angela McCaffrey, 93 Rensselaer Road,
Street, Apt. 19B, New York, NY 10013,
/ Mr. Edmund
/ Ms. Casey
Musicant, 573 Farmdale
NJ 07042, erosini32@gmail.com
Natalie Azzoli, 8
10038, nat6888@gmail.com /
/
Kozak, 320 23rd Street
/ MKA /
Congratulations go out to Max Herrmann, who has signed a contract to play with the Los Angeles Angels. Herrmann pitched in the prestigious Cape Cod League for the Brewster Whitecaps, in 2016 summer action. He was a four-time academic all-conference honoree, as well as twice picked up Big Ten Distinguished Scholar status.
/ MKA /
/ MKA /
2012
Rosini, 32 Edgemont Road, Montclair,
/ Ms.
Spruce Street, Apt. 50H, New York, NY
com /
2005
Congratulations to Daniel Kwarlter on his marriage to Shaylin Schundler ’10.
musicant@gmail.com / / MKA /
Street , Apt. 3, New York, NY 10003,
Congratulations to Allison Currie Brown ’04 and Steve Brown on their baby, Hannah Elizabeth Brown
/ Ms. Carina Wong, 9
07006, carinamwong@gmail.com
Congratulations to Lhenee Riddick McKoy and Shawn McKoy on the birth of their new baby boy Niko Alexander McKoy. Niko joins his big brother Shawn Jr, who is loving his little brother.
Mahwah, NJ 07430, bmay88@gmail.
62
/ MKA /
Congratulations to Breanna and Sham Conley on their engagement
Jones
2009
/ MKA /
/ Mr.
Brian Purcell, 89
Davis Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, bnpurcell4@gmail.com /
/ Ms. Jane
Lalwani, 132 Blue Heron Drive, Riverside
Stanton, 240 South Mountain Avenue,
Court, Secaucus, NJ 07094-2391, 201-
Montclair, NJ 07042, janestanton1
617-5312, manav.lalwani@gmail.com
@gmail.com
MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
2014
/ Mr. Ed
/ MKA /
/ Ms.
Kassandra Fotiadis,
kassandra_fotiadis@brown.edu
2015
/ MKA /
/
Kori Durando,
koridurando@gmail.com
Science teacher and electric motorcycle rider Mr. Rich spent the day with MKA alum Nicole Romola at an electric vehicle event she organized on the Columbia University campus. She was a
C L ASS N OT ES
Isaiah Thompson ’15
Shaylin Schundler ’10 and Daniel Kwarler ’11 at their reception, along with other MKA alums.
AT A GLANCE MARRIAGES 20 0 4 Rebecca Beyth and Gavin Stern November 18, 2017 201 7 Shaylin Schundler and Daniel Kwartler September 3, 2017
IN MEMORIAM 1939 Charles McGinley, May 24, 2016 19 4 8 Donald Bren,January 19, 2017 195 1 Nancy Jones Trescot,August 18, 2017 195 4 Amy Beebe, April 21, 2017
Faculty member Ben Rich and Nicole Romola ’15 at Columbia University
leader in the Environmental Action club at MKA and is now a leader in the eco-reps club at Columbia. Congratulation to Isaiah Thompson, who was named one of Lincoln Centers Emerging Artists for 2018. Recipients will receive monetary award and gift from sponsor Movado. He was recently featured on the Jazz At Lincoln Center’s recent release of CD entitled, Handful Of Keys, a CD that celebrates 100 years of jazz piano players. Isaiah plays two numbers on the CD with The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra.
SP RIN G 2 018
2016
/ MKA /
/ Ms. Zoe
Bieler, zoe.bieler
@gmail.com /
/ Mr. Charles Rilli,
/ MKA /
/ Ms.
Jenna Donatiello,
jdonatiello12@aol.com /
195 7 Drika Agnew Purves, September 2017 19 6 0 Carroll Tiernan, July 27, 2017
crilli33@gmail.com
2017
195 6 Janet Goodwillie Swann, February 2017
/Mr. Matthew ’Matt’ Rubenstein,
mattrubenstein98@gmail.com
MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy
19 6 4 Nancy Cook, March 16, 2017 19 65 Katherine Bonniwell, August 31, 2017 19 6 6 Richard Kuzsma, April 17, 2017
FACULTY, FORMER FACULTY, STAFF AND TRUSTEES William McBride, March 8, 2014
Class Representative
63
Support Students Enhance Academics Improve Facilities Make Your Annual Fund Gift Today!
www.mka.org/giving For more information contact Talia Selove, Director of Annual Giving at tselove@mka.org
64
M KA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my
SP RIN G 2 018
i
MON TC L AIR K IM B E R L E Y AC ADE MY 20 1 VALLEY ROAD, M O NTCLAIR, N J 07042
Global Experience at MKA empowers our students to think critically about and cultivate empathy for the classroom beyond our walls and to gain the skills necessary to be more informed, ethical, and active global citizens.