Moravian Academy Journal: Compassion (Spring 2022) by Moravian Academy

JOURNAL COMPASSION

SPRING 2022

CONTENTS

Features:

The Search for a New Head of School Begins Jeff Zemsky says goodbye to Moravian Academy.

Introducing Adrianne Finley Odell Meet the incoming Interim Head of School.

Eighth Grade Heads South West It was a cultural spring break trip to remember.

Compassionate Counseling We celebrate and learn from our campus counselors.

34 2

ABOUT THE MORAVIAN ACADEMY JOURNAL

DEAR READER, When the 2021-2022 school year began, in many ways it felt like Moravian was entering a new era. We started the year fresh, three campuses united under a new mission. Gradually, as health protocols allowed, field trips returned. Grade-level, campus-wide, and even allschool gatherings were possible again. We began connecting with each other, in-person, in ways we haven’t experienced in a long time. By the spring, our school became mask-optional, and smiles graced our beautiful campuses one again. While it sometimes feels like this new era has been defined by the pandemic, we would argue that it has actually been defined by compassion -- the theme of this issue. Yes, you will read about exceptional academic achievements, the return of live audiences to student performances, adventures near and far, and all kinds of success stories. But, these experiences don’t happen in a bubble. The amazing feats of our students and faculty are happening in the midst of a pandemic while complex societal issues unfold. So how do we make it all happen? How do we learn and laugh and celebrate when life feels so heavy? We show each other compassion. From the podium at Swain where eighth-graders lift up their friends and loved ones (and pets and historical figures!) with inspiration speeches, to a record-breaking year collecting donations for the Holiday Hope Chest Downtown, to Comenius Projects approached with empathy, this year has seen our learners take the lead when it comes to giving those in our community and beyond a helping hand. Compassion is at the heart of the courageous conversations that have been central to the community-building we’ve undergone this year. It has been one of the driving forces of our progress as a school. We also took the opportunity to highlight three of our school superheroes this issue: our school counselors! Flip to page 34 to read more about how their radical compassion, life-changing social and emotional learning tools, and support of each and every student help to create the strong community that feels like home to so many generations of alumni and families. When we take the next steps into the future with our compassionate learners leading the way, we are sad to be doing so without Head of School Jeff Zemsky, who after six incredible years, is saying goodbye to Moravian Academy. Thanks to his visionary leadership, Mr. Zemsky leaves us at a time when we have never been more optimistic about our future. Taking his place as the Interim Head of School will be Adrianne Finley Odell, with the search for permanent Head ongoing. As you read the stories in this issue, take heart. Like our students, be inspired to show compassion, even when it’s hard. On the Swain, Downtown, and Merle-Smith Campuses, we enter this exciting new era together, and we can’t wait to see what’s next. Sincerely,

Stephanie Vasta Director of Marketing & Communications

Julia Fox & Amanda Kulakowski Associate Directors of Communications

The Moravian Academy Journal is published three times per year. Unless otherwise noted, articles may be reprinted with credit to Moravian Academy.

EDITORS

Julia Fox Stephanie Vasta

DESIGN

Imagevolution

HEAD OF SCHOOL Jeffrey Zemsky

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jackie Andreychak Jill Beil Anileys Bermudez Elena Caponianco ’23 Erin Coffey Dr. Brian Crowe JoAnne Daniels Gonzalo del Real Lisa Dubreuil Julia Fox Megan Franzyshen Dr. Peter Kish Valarie Kuehner Amanda Kulakowski Angie Lande Debbie Lindsay Nick Lucas Jennifer Mitchell Alejandro Monedero Dr. Catherine Moore Rev. Jennifer Nichols Susan Parent Juan Rojo Wendy Sheetz ’85 Swain Campus Parent Association Yuli Vanegas Karen Washington Bob Zaiser Jeff Zemsky

PHOTOGRAPHY

Tom Amico Gonzalo del Real Julia Fox Jewel Kislin ’23 Amanda Kulakowski Moravian Academy Archives Susan Parent Stephanie Vasta Lindsay Woodruff

ADDRESS

Office of Institutional Advancement 7 East Market Street Bethlehem, PA 18018

CORRESPONDENCE Office of Communications 7 East Market Street Bethlehem, PA 18018

Moravian Academy’s mission empowers us to become limitless learners as we discover new ideas and create new self-expressions. We do more than check boxes; we celebrate the unique potential of every individual. Our path to academic excellence harnesses the teachable moments of both success and failure, as we explore the complexities of our world with curiosity, confidence, and compassion. Our commitment to courageous conversations means that we actively learn from and support the different identities we embody, we respect each other’s views, and we lead with head and heart. Immersed in an environment of love and understanding, our students answer the questions: Who am I and who can I become?

JOURNAL | SPRING 2021

AROUND CAMPUS

The Search for a New Head of School Begins “We thank Jeff for his visionary leadership over the last six years and for invigorating Moravian with a ‘Culture of Curiosity.’ With Jeff’s direction, we have made strong and innovative progress under unprecedented circumstances. The Swain/Moravian merger has had a positive impact on our community and our ability to be the premier school destination for students, families, and educators. We have defined and launched a new student-centered vision and mission for the school. Once-in-a-generation upgrades have been made in inconspicuous but essential areas like insurance, information systems, and management of our endowment. And under Jeff’s guidance, the administration and faculty have worked tirelessly to keep our students learning and developing through a global pandemic. Jeff has been instrumental in these achievements, and we appreciate all he has done for the benefit of our students and school.” — Chris Weiler Chair of the Board of Trustees

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

After six incredible years serving as a visionary Head of School, Jeff Zemsky will say goodbye to Moravian Academy at the end of the 20212022 school year. He shares the following message with our community. It has been an honor and a pleasure to lead this school for the past six years. After extensive reflection with my family, I have come to the decision that this will be my final year as head of school of Moravian Academy. While there are rarely natural or easy times for such transitions, I believe now is the time for me to refresh and expand my personal mission and for our school to continue its journey forward with fully energized leadership. This is a season of change for many of us, including for leaders, as we seek ways to recover and restart from the hard but rewarding work of leading communities through unprecedented times of a global pandemic and social awakenings. I have always seen my work as a calling and have been proud to answer the call at Moravian. My goal has been to preserve and strengthen timeless Moravian values while also engaging in continuous,

are inheriting. Pursuing this vision has meant deepening our student-centered

The Next Steps

practices, promoting collaboration and authentic learning, integrating social and

We will start a thoughtful,

emotional learning with academic learning, and taking professional innovation to

thorough, and national search

new levels. It has also meant forming new partnerships between diverse community

for our next permanent

members who share a belief that education should be transformative.

head to join Moravian in July

sustained improvement to reshape the future of the school for the world our children

2023. The Search Steering These initiatives have grown across our school into a shared love for curiosity. It is here

Committee is co-chaired by Lori

at Moravian that the habits of learning are celebrated as the highest and longest-lasting

Schoeneman, Board Vice-Chair,

purpose of going to school. It is here at Moravian where there is a home for all those

and Amy Ahart, Trustee. Upon

who seek to know what they do not yet know and who remain perpetually fascinated by

recommendation of the Search

new ideas and perspectives.

Steering Committee, the Board has engaged Resource Group

I cherish what I have learned here about giving space to new people and perspectives

175 to support the interim and

alongside our traditions and established ideas. This tenet of our Moravian heritage

permanent Head of School

provides a valuable context for the signature challenges of our time: how to be

searches.

connectors, to listen to diverse viewpoints, to have courageous conversations, and to assemble coalitions of the passionate and the ambitious. This is also the foundation of our school: three individual school campuses and cultures that are united by a shared mission and purpose for learning. I will hold with me the bright memories of music at Vespers, virtue presentations in the Old Chapel, Coffeehouses at Merle Smith, the joyous students running in the doors at Swain, and the roar of the Moravian crowd during the playoffs. And while I believe this is the right time for our school, my family, and me, my heart is nonetheless heavy as I share this news. I am as enthusiastic as ever about our school’s future, starting with a return of community gatherings and traditions this spring. I am excited to travel with the 8th graders to New Mexico over spring break and to see the Class of 2022 graduate in

Portraits of a Learner The work to define the distinct character, philosophies, and practices that bring our mission and vision to life on each campus continues. As we develop the Portrait of a Learner on the Downtown,

June. I look forward to a smooth transition and setting the interim head up for success.

Swain, and Merle-Smith

I want to send my deepest thanks to everyone who has offered support, kindness,

we received from our

and encouragement to me, Courtney, and our children, Eli and Jo. Thank you for your advice and support in all forms, during even our most challenging times. I want to thank the Board of Trustees for their support and for their visionary stewardship of our school. I am grateful to have worked alongside incredible educators whose passion and

Campus using the feedback community, we are excited to find the next leader who will unite and uphold the differing identities of our school.

dedication will always be inspiring. Sincerely,

Jeff Zemsky

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: www.moravianacademy.org/headofschoolsearch

Head of School

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

AROUND CAMPUS

It is an absolute honor to be named as the Interim Head of School of Moravian Academy for the 2022-2023 school year, during the school’s 280th anniversary. I am humbled to have the opportunity to lead a school whose history includes being descended from the first school for girls in the American colonies, established by a 16-year-old Countess, Benigna Von Zinzendorf, as well as the vision of D. Esther Swain who launched the Swain School in 1929, 187 years after Countess Benigna realized her vision. Moravian teachers are masterful educators who are united across three campuses to support young people during some of the most important years of their lives as they answer the questions, “Who am I and who can I become?” I am excited to partner with Moravian’s dedicated and talented teachers and staff to continue inspired programs such as the Comenius Project, Spanish Immersion,

Introducing Adrianne Finley Odell Interim Head of School

Beginning July 1, 2022, Adrianne Finley Odell will join Moravian Academy as the Interim Head of School for the 2022-23 school year. Get to know Adrianne in her message to our community. Learn more about Adrianne, her background and experience, and the search for the next Head of School by scanning the code or visiting www.moravianacademy.org/headofschoolsearch.

and Outdoor Education. It is a privilege to serve as a school leader in these complex and transformative times. I believe the ultimate purpose of school is to provide an inspired environment for young people to acquire a love of learning through authentic experiences, to gain a deep understanding of themselves and others, and to build confidence to make their own unique contributions to the world. In partnership to support our limitless learners realize their unique potential, Adrianne Finley Odell Interim Head of School-Elect

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Dr. Armistead Webster

Named Associate Head of School

Dr. Armistead Webster, previously Head of The Swain School, has been promoted to the position of Associate Head of Moravian Academy beginning July 1, 2022. Moravian Academy is a large school with three campuses and almost 1,000 students. Armistead will provide additional support to our school, provide continuity of leadership with the planned Head changes in the next two years, and is an excellent educator and leader from whom our entire community will benefit. Armistead has deep experience in both the classroom and school administration. He began his career in education as an elementary teacher in New York and Colorado before becoming an administrator. After holding two public school principalships, he moved into independent education to become Lower School Principal at the Norwood School (PK-8) in Maryland. Armistead remained there for eleven years before being appointed Head of School at Renbrook School (PK-9) in Connecticut. In 2014 he became Lower School Head at Gilman School (PK-12) in Baltimore before being appointed the Head of The Swain School in 2020.

Campus Directors Who will lead our campuses in 2022-23 and beyond? We welcome Dr. Abby Mahone to the Downtown Campus, celebrate the promotion of Megan Franzyshen to Director of the Swain Campus, and continue under the steady leadership of Dylan Deal at the Merle-Smith Campus.

Dr. Abby Mahone

Megan Franzyshen

Dylan Deal

Director of the Downtown Campus

Director of the Swain Campus

Director of the Merle-Smith Campus

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Red & Gold Games Day Returns

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

After a year-long hiatus from the traditional field day, the Red & Gold Games returned in full force. Our amazing team captains kept the school spirit running high, bringing the hype as Downtown Campus students joined them and the rest of the Upper Schoolers on the Merle-Smith Campus.

“Kudos to the seniors,” said Head of

Red and the Gold teams for their

School Jeff Zemsky. “Many of whom

good sportsmanship. You all truly

lived out a dream they’ve had since

have the Heart of the Lions.

By Julia Fox

first grade.” A huge thank you goes to Manny After a morning and afternoon of

Oudin, Becky Miller, and the

friendly competition, we are proud to

entire physical education team for

announce that the 2022 winner by a

planning the games. We are greatly

margin of only two points is the Red

appreciative of our faculty, too, for

Team! Congratulations! We are proud

making the Red & Gold comeback

of every single member of both the

one our students won’t forget.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS ON THE COMENIUS CORNER AT www.moravianacademy.org/redandgoldjournal

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Christmas Vespers 2021 Moravian Academy rang in the holiday season in love and light.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Moravian Academy held its 2021 Upper School Vespers Service in Central Moravian Church and streamed it live for the community. On Thursday, December 9, at 7 PM, an in-person service returned for members of the Merle-Smith Campus. On Wednesday, December 15, the Downtown Campus watched a pre-recorded Christmas Vespers Service together as it was streamed live for our community. Thank you to the many members of our school who made this year’s Vespers possible and to the families and alumni who joined us virtually.

< Our 2021 Morning Star Soloists (from L to R): AJ Williams ’29, Katherine Anthony ’29, Lucia Scott ’29, Addison Johnson ’29, Desi Hernandez ’29, Sebastian Pascuzzi ’29, Shafiq Sharif ’29, Fayzaan Jali ’29 JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

AROUND CAMPUS

2022 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists By Lisa Dubreuil Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically

YiYi Chen ’22

talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in

Sebastian Holbrook ’22

the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth

Christian Manja ’22

nearly $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several

Anna Mayer ’22

requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.

Samit Mohapatra ’22

About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist

Seven Moravian Academy students have qualified as finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Please join us in recognizing the following students for this tremendous achievement:

standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National

Favor Ufondu ’22

Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

Theodor Urban ’22

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Rohan Mehta ’23 Named

World Science Scholar By Julia Fox The World Science Scholars (WSS)

The Scholars will begin a two-year

With the program now in its fourth

program, an initiative of the World

journey of learning and discovery with

year, the 2021 cohort brings the total

Science Festival, announces its newest

WSS faculty, including Nobel and

number of Scholars to 150 students from

and largest class, with 48 young

Breakthrough Prize winners, best-

25 countries, with 74 active Scholars

Scholars from 16 countries. Rohan

selling authors, and experts working at

and 76 alumni. Upon completion of the

Mehta ’23 has made the exclusive list.

the cutting edge of their fields. Faculty

program, Scholars become members of

members include renowned physicist

a growing alumni network who maintain

These exceptionally talented

and author Brian Greene, pioneering

bonds, help support future cohorts

mathematical minds will have an

cardiologist and evolutionary biologist

by serving as mentors, and provide

unparalleled opportunity to apply their

Barbara Naterson-Horowitz, trailblazing

informal college advice to new Scholars.

abilities to unexplored disciplines. Led

computer scientist Stephen Wolfram,

Through the growing alumni network

by world-renowned experts, Scholars

Breakthrough Prize winner Cumrun

and mentorship opportunities, students

examine the ways that advanced

Vafa, innovative biochemist Mandë

are able to create an educational and

mathematics skills can be applied to

Holford, Nobel Laureate Barry Barish,

social community of talented individuals

solve complex challenges in a wide

and many more.

that will extend well into the future.

range of multidisciplinary fields.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

AROUND CAMPUS

Students Excel at the Pennsylvania By JoAnne Daniels, Debbie Lindsay, Peter Kish, and Wendy Sheetz

Students on the Swain, Downtown, and Merle-Smith Campus presented their Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) projects at Northampton Community College. Here are the results:

SWAIN CAMPUS SWAIN CAMPUS WINNERS:

Emma Estrada ’27 Effect of Temperature on a Solar Powered Phone Charger first place

Abbie Criscuolo ’26 Comparative Absorbency of Various Fabrics first place

Virginia Kraus ‘26 The Antibacterial Effects of Different Types of Honey first place, perfect

Joshua Goldberg ’27 How Does Temperature Affect the Bounce of a Ball? first place

Murathime Daisley ‘26 Which is the Best Method of Purifying Water? first place

Tyler Shankweiler ‘26 The Effect of Mass on the Distance a Car Travels first place

Olivia Laible-Warner ’27 The Effect of Cocoa on the Melting Time of Chocolate first place

Jacob Ellis ‘26 Which is the Best Method for Baking Cheesecakes? second place

Joe Sixsmith ’27 Does Your Drink Conduct Electricity? first place

Julie Feliciano ‘26 The Bacterial Growth on Various Type of Masks first place, perfect

Toler Wreaks ’27 Effect of Disinfectant Wipes on Bacterial Growth first place

Justin Jankowski ‘26 The Heat Absorption of Various Colors first place

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

PERFECT

*Student also presented project in the Lehigh Valley Science and Engineering Fair. Many students are being invited to present their projects in person at Penn State (State College) from Sunday, May 15 to Tuesday, May 17. We are so proud of our students and their projects!

Junior Academy of Science Fair DOWNTOWN CAMPUS WINNERS: Nikhil Skandan ‘26* Experimental and Computer Simulation Studies to Understand Altitude Stability of NASA’s SuperBIT Telescope first place

Anika Mehta ’27* Mathematical Models For The Spread of COVID-19 first place Vivian John ’27* How Different Types of Liquids Affect the Way Radish Plants Grow first place

Aayona Vikram ‘26* Reduction of Pollution Using Water first place Aadi Deshmukh ‘26 ACL Bot first place

Maddie Yang ’27 How Does the Material of a Bowl Affect the Melting Rate of Ice Cream? first place

Okezue Bell ’23 Novel Implementation of a Cheap, Bio-Sensing Neuroprosthetic first place, perfect Anjali Shankar ’23 Effects of OTC Medications on the Heart Rate of Daphnia first place, perfect

PERFECT

Dhwaith Shyamkumar ’24 Converting Hazardous Waste to Harmless second place

Chloee Dah ‘26 Determining the Best Ice Melt second place

Jonathan Kim ’27 How Do Different Launch Angles Affect Flight? first place

Cole Kanuck ‘26 The Bouba-Kiki Effect first place, perfect

James FitzRandolph ’27 Does a Ball’s Mass Affect the Distance it Travels? first place Sarah Carter ’26* pH Levels’ Effect on Color of Avocado Dye first place, perfect

MERLE-SMITH CAMPUS WINNERS:

PERFECT

Ambrose Cole ‘26 The Strength of Plastic first place Shiv Patel ‘26 Which Type of Bridge is the Strongest? first place

Logan Hancik ‘26* What Soil Type Has the Greatest Load-Bearing Capacity? first place

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

AROUND CAMPUS

“Zengineers”

Head to the Lego League Robotics World Championship By Megan Franzyshen

The “Zengineers,” including Justin Jankowski ’26 from the Swain Campus and Nikhil Skandan ’26 from the Downtown Campus, are headed to the Lego League Robotics World Championship!

They are part of the “Zengineers,” a

The team heads to Houston, Texas

group of middle schoolers from the

for the first ever Lego League

Lehigh Valley who make up the LV Core

Robotics World Championship on

Robotics Team. Recently, this group

April 20-23, 2022.

of five Lego and robotic enthusiasts competed in the regional Lego League

To keep up with their adventure, be

Robotics competition and became the

sure to follow @moravianacademy

FLL PA East Regional Champions!

on social media!

READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE AT moravianacademy.org/zengineers

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Sixth-Grade Cell Project Is Larger Than Life By Jennifer Mitchell Members of the Swain sixth-grade science classes researched and made jumbo replicas of animal cell organelles to create a cell installation in the science room. During their study of cellular biology, students were challenged with choosing an organelle and researching the appearance and function. Together in small groups, they created 3D models of each animal cell organelle by sewing, gluing, stuffing, cutting, painting, and spraying recycled craft materials found throughout the school. The final task was to work as a grade level to install and hang their organelles to construct a classroom size animal cell. Complete with over 45 individual organelles and QR codes that explained their functions, the larger than life animal cell was open for all grade levels to step inside and explore.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

SWAIN SCHOOL

Swain Winter Music Performances By Anileys Bermudez Over the month of January, Swain music students performed—for the camera alone—a dizzying array of ensemble pieces. Almost fifty performances were filmed, from guitar through the classics like “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by E. Grieg or “The Nutcracker II. March” by P. I. Tchaikovsky to bucket percussion under black lights and a body percussion production. All grades showed their musical talent and passion for working together, a hallmark of the Swain campus!

VIEW THE PERFORMANCES AT www.moravianacademy.org/swainwintershows

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Upper School Sets Sail with

HMS Pinafore

From the beloved team of Gilbert and Sullivan, HMS PINAFORE brings farce to the high seas, or at least a dock at Portsmouth! A soaring score, witty rapid-fire lyrics, romance, and hilarity ensue on the silliest ship in the Queen’s Navy! MA Theatre joyfully returns to comedy as we return to the musical stage! Congratulations to the entire company on an amazing show!

TO WATCH A RECORDING, VISIT : www.moravianacademy.org/hmspinafore

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Off-Campus Adventures:

Field Trips Return in Full Force

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

OUR COMMUNITY

Outdoor Education Program at the Swain School Campus By Jennifer Mitchell The Swain School Campus has an

They explored wildlife, connected with the

Group dynamics are the focus of fifth

active Outdoor Education program

world around them, and enhanced their

through eighth grade, as the students took

that blends, supports, and bolsters the

science and social studies curriculum with

a day to work on personal development

classroom experience. Each grade offers

in-depth and hands-on experiences.

and team building through guided activities

developmentally appropriate outdoor

and an outdoor high ropes course at Blue

field trips that are tailored to enhance

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary hosted

classroom curriculum. The overall goal

our second and third grade students

of the Outdoor Education program is to

for an immersive expansion of their

In addition to our academic outdoor

provide immersive exposure to nature

science curriculum including a local to

curriculum, we offer optional experiences

where students can learn about the world

global approach to conservation and

for grades three through eighth. These trips

around them and interact with peers in

environmental protection.

are designed to serve students that want

new and challenging ways. To achieve

Mountain Resort.

to go above and beyond the experiences

these goals, each grade takes a series of

Fourth grade students hiked a section of

provided in the Outdoor Education

trips throughout the year. Although the

the Appalachian Trail as a part of their

program. Recently, some seventh and

program officially begins in fourth grade,

social studies unit on Appalachia History

eighth students set up camp on the

the beginning and lower school also offers

& Geography. Team building is introduced

Sassafras River in Maryland where they

outdoor opportunities to support the

as they learn games and challenges along

fished, camped, kayaked and spent time

mission of the Outdoor

their hike.

relaxing outdoors.

Education Program. In the fall of 2021, students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade benefited from the program by visiting a variety of outdoor education organizations across Lehigh, Berks, and Northampton counties. Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade students visited the Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, a Wildlands Conservancy location in Emmaus, PA.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

A Sweet Field Trip: Third Grade Goes Maple Sugaring By Alejandro Monedero, Jackie Andreychak, and Valarie Kuehner

Third grade explored the Kettle Creek Environmental Center where students went maple sugaring. We visited a sugarbush, an area in the forest where maple trees are tapped to collect sap. The students learned about the process and history of making maple syrup firsthand including hands-on instruction on tapping a tree and a taste of the real all-natural maple syrup. This educational program was designed to be an outdoor (and cold!) learning experience with history and ecology as its main theme. “My favorite part about going to the sugar bush was when we learned about how the Native Americans made maple syrup.” -- Theo ’31: “Lo que más me gustó fue probar el sirope de Arce, el sabor fue increíble y aunque fuera un poquito fue como estar flotando en el aire.” -- Andrew ’31 (Spanish Immersion Program)

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Meditation and Mindfulness with Reset Outdoors By Dr. Catherine Moore In November and December, all the

Apeirogon, we spent time outdoors in

with being alone with my thoughts for

Class of 2023 embarked on a light hike

Jacobsburg State Park, being mindful of

such an extended period of time without

and solitude experience in nature with

ourselves and the space we inhabit.

distractions like music. I was comforted

Reset Outdoors. Much like the work of

by the confidence and kindness shown

Dalia el-Fahum and her dissertation

“I was a little nervous but mostly excited

from the very beginning by Connor and

of collecting the sounds of her natural

about the experience,” said one student.

the rest of the Reset Outdoors team.”

environment in Colum McCann’s

“I was worried about how I would deal

Exploring Near and Far in Outdoor Education Outdoor Education with Mr. Ferdinand not only returned but expanded to include seventh and eighth-graders this year! Groups of faculty, students, and parents ventured out to local hiking trails and parks to take in the great outdoors together on a series of weekend trips. Bonding and beautiful views? Sign us up!

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

FEATURE

Students Embark on

Southwestern Adventure for Spring Break Moravian Academy partnered with Cottonwood Gulch, an organization that “creates outdoor learning adventures for youth from all backgrounds that foster personal growth, strengthen community, and inspire stewardship of the natural world” to give students an unforgettable experience.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

By Jeff Zemsky On Sunday, March 20, 2022, eighth-graders from the Swain and Downtown Campuses departed for the trip of a lifetime in New Mexico, along with Head of School Jeff Zemsky and teachers Gonzalo del Real (Merle-Smith Campus) and Erin Coffey (Swain Campus). During their adventure, students: • Traveled on a day trip through Gallup, New Mexico, to near Window Rock, Arizona, to visit a farm on the Dine Resevation, where we learned how to make fry bread and Navajo tacos. • Explored an ancestral Puebloan ruin and hiked up to see the cliffs pictured on this issue’s cover. Along the way, we sang, talked about how the red rocks formed, and played silly games. • Climbed rocks, hiked, and continued to explore the vast ruins of Chaco Canyon. • Bonded around the campfire as we discussed how to lean into our personal challenge zones and how to recognize our growth and the support from others around us. • Learners returned with many stories ⁠— and hopefully many life lessons. It was wonderful to watch them make the change from just seeking experiences to furthering the expedition by working together. We talked about living in the challenge zone, asking for support from others, and being responsible for ourselves and for others. We learned life lessons and formed new friendships that learners will take with them into the future.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COTTONWOOD GULCH EXPEDITION AT www.cottonwoodgulch.org. JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

AROUND CAMPUS

Acclaimed Authors Meet with Students Dragons, Giants, Women and Wayétu

By Elena Capobianco ’23 The Merle-Smith Campus was treated to a special in-person visit from author Wayétu Moore, whose memoir The Dragons, The Giant, The Women will be read by ninth graders as part of the FIRE curriculum in the spring semester. Wayétu was born in Liberia in West Africa and immigrated to the United States in the midst of the Liberian Civil War in the early 1990s. Her memoir documents those experiences, beginning from the perspective of herself as a five-year-old relatively unaware of the dangers, and the “Dragons,” surrounding her. Her father,

Augustus Moore, the “Giant” of the

identity? The reason for this dilemma is

story, shepherds her family across the

easily answered: an identity cannot be

Liberian border into Sierra Leone and

described in one word. For example, Ms.

eventually to the U.S., where his wife,

Moore is a mother, an author, a Texan,

Wayétu’s mother, was studying on a

a Liberian, and an inspiration to young

Fulbright Scholarship.

students looking to find themselves.

Ms. Moore folded back a new layer of

To put it simply, Ms. Moore opened her

her identity with each new slide of her

audience’s eyes to the idea that identity

presentation. She struck creativity and

is ever changing. She asked to look

curiosity into the hearts of her captive

inward and think about who we really

listeners as she brought them with her

are and she has impacted her listeners’

on a journey of self discovery.

identities through sharing her journey in finding her own.

Initially, the definition of identity seems simple. Identity is who you are and how you perceive yourself yet, why is it so difficult to describe one’s own

THIS IS AN EXCERPT. TO READ THE FULL STORY INCLUDING STUDENT REFLECTIONS, VISIT www.moravianacademy.org/wayetu

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Apeirogon-auts Assemble! By Dr. Brian Crowe “We don’t have to love each other. We don’t even have to like each other,” says award-winning author Colum McCann, “But we must understand each other.” On Wednesday, November 17, ninth and eleventh graders gathered in Dyer Auditorium for a special Zoom Q&A session with Colum McCann, author of Apeirogon and winner of the National Book Award for a previous novel, Let the Great World Spin. Our students joined with others from schools across the country who had also read Apeirogon, which centers around

The University and the Universe: A Visit from Ken Ilgunas

the stories of two men, one Palestinian (Bassam Aramin) and

By Julia Fox

personal storytelling to build empathy between young

Journalist, author, and backcountry park ranger Ken Ilgunas

people so they can improve their communities and the world

the other Israeli (Rami Elhanan), who have both lost daughters to violence relating to the larger conflicts in the region. In relation to his work as a novelist, McCann is also cofounder of Narrative 4 (N4), an organization that “uses

spoke to Merle-Smith Campus students on October 20, 2021.

together.” Over the summer, English teachers Drs. Brian Crowe

Ken Ilgunas is the author of several memoirs, including

in Kentucky that focused on curriculum development, and

Trespassing Across America, an account of his 1,700-mile hike along the route of the Keystone XL pipeline. After sharing his story with students during assemblies in Dyer Auditorium, Ilgunas offered advice for aspiring writers and adventurers alike. “There’s the university and the universe, “ he says. “All the

and Catherine Moore attended a Narrative 4 conference many students have recently expressed interest in and begun training as N4 Story Exchange Facilitators.

THIS IS AN EXCERPT. TO READ THE FULL STORYAND VIDEO, VISIT www.moravianacademy.org/mccann

schools we go to that we’re either required or encouraged to enroll in. Then there’s the universe, which is absolutely everything outside of the university. And I think you kind of need both to have a full education.” When asked if he has writing advice for Moravian Academy students, Ilgunas says that the key is to “create conditions for yourself to write in the most honest and uncensored way possible.” And, of course, he adds that reading widely and writing consistently are important, too. Moravian Academy thanks Ilgunas for inspiring our learners to go on their own adventures!

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

Marking Moravian History

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

By Rev. Jennifer Nichols Two hundred fifty years ago in 1766, a small group of women and girls migrated on foot from the Moravian School for Girls in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to open a new school for girls in Salem, North Carolina. Of the 20 walkers, there were twelve girls aged 13 to 17. One of those girls, Salome Meurer, kept a detailed journal of her travels. And this fall, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Salem Academy and College, a small group of women recreated a similar month-long walk from Bethlehem to Salem, using Salome’s journal to recreate their journey.

Before they left from Bethlehem,

Our second-graders loved hearing

these historic reenactors took time to

about the maps that modern walkers

meet with our second and seventh-

used to reenact the route, since they

grade classes, both of whom study

studied maps as part of a social studies

Moravian history as a part of their

unit. And we all enjoyed imagining the

curriculum. They shared their research

500-mile journey, and what it was like

process, what they learned about our

250 years ago, versus what it would

educational ancestors, and what it

be like for the women walking in their

meant to them to bring history to life in

memory. Many volunteers worked for

this way. They also shared the stories

over a year to plan the modern trip, and

of those who walked 250 years ago,

the walkers arrived in North Carolina

including Salome, age 16, Elizabeth

on October 26.

Oesterlein, age 17, who attended the Girls School in Bethlehem and became

After their presentation, our second-

the first teacher at the girls’ school

graders gathered in God’s Acre to

in Salem, and Anna Rosina Boeckel,

locate and lay flowers on the grave of

age 14, who eventually returned to

Anna Rosina Boeckel. Now when they

Bethlehem and is buried in God’s Acre

walk through the cemetery on their

on the Downtown Campus.

way to lunch, they can see her marker and remember her story, and this connection to our past.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

AROUND CAMPUS

Holiday Happenings

We had so much to celebrate across cultures and campuses. Here are a few highlights!

The Day of the Dead ofrenda, or altar, is a pre-Hispanic tradition that has lasted centuries and has become an integrated part of the Catholic religion in Mexico and Central America. Students created a community ofrenda honoring loved ones or icons who have passed on. | Merle-Smith Campus

Second-grade celebrated Setsubun, a Japanese holiday that commemorates the coming of spring, by crafting spirit masks with something they should improve about themselves written on the back. On Setsubun, learners went outside and cast out bad spirits by throwing birdseed while declaring “Oni wa soto!” (“Bad spirits get out!”) | Downtown Campus With so much to be thankful for, students marked Thanksgiving with a favorite tradition, Harvest Feast! Swain School Campus Halloween is a favorite, especially for our Swain and Downtown Campus learners. We saw a lot of great costumes during Trunk or Treat events (Swain) and the return of the parade with first-grade/senior buddies! Big smiles and bright colors shined during the spring celebration of Holi, the festival of colors celebrated in the Hindu tradition. | Merle-Smith Campus

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Compassion A Concern for Others A Call to Action A Force That Fuels the Good On Our Campus In Our Communities and Around the World

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

AROUND CAMPUS

Downtown Campus

Middle School Service Day By Jill Beil From preparing food for soup kitchens to making toys for shelter dogs, students spent the morning giving back to our community in countless creative ways. Some of the service projects include: •

Wrapping and assembling gift boxes for the Holiday Hope Chest

•

Preparing canned goods for a food bank delivery

•

Writing letters to members of the military

•

Creating holiday decorations for Meals on Wheels

•

Reading and recording stories for PreK friends

•

Bagging lunches for Trinity Soup Kitchen

•

Making dog toys for local animal shelters

•

Designing games and a newscast for a senior center

WATCH A VIDEO FEATURING STUDENT INTERVIEWS ONLINE AT www.moravianacademy.org/msserviceday.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Swain Campus Parent Association

Season of Giving

By Swain Campus Parent Association Starting in late fall until Martin Luther King Jr. day on January 17, 2022, the Swain Campus Parent Association coordinates the Season of Giving. An outward focus resonates strongly with the Swain community and the Season of Giving elicits support from the Swain Family toward outreach opportunities during this multiple week effort. During the holiday season, partnerships with the Camelot House, The Boys and Girls Club of Allentown, and Fellowship Manor help grant wishes for deserving children with special needs, spread extra holiday cheer to the elderly, and raise over one thousand dollars for the programing at the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown. The Season of Giving ends with a Kindness Campaign. The Kindness campaign encourages our school community to perform random acts of kindness. Different grade levels work together to fill a kindness lantern with red and white pom poms, make a kindness chain, or deliver kindness messages. The goal is to fill our community with over three thousand acts of kindness! This coordinated outreach effort is not only an opportunity to support the less fortunate members of our community, but also an opportunity to teach compassion and caring for one another to our students.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

AROUND CAMPUS

Second Grade Takes on the UNICEF

Kid Power Challenge By Yuli Vanegas As our second grade class was

were embarking on our campaign to

Immediately, we started doing our

preparing to do their daily reading

get not only our classroom into this

additions and subtractions to calculate

routine, one of our students, Narayan

beautiful journey but the entire Lower

how many books we needed to read

’32, noticed a special announcement.

School on the Downtown Campus.

in order to accomplish our goal as a

Immediately, Narayan’s eyes opened

So, let me backtrack a little bit so you

or 24,000 stars! Students practiced their

wide, and he enthusiastically said, “We

can better understand how beautiful this

presentation skills and their Spanish by

can donate our stars for meals to the

story is. When children read and answer

going to MABC and introducing their

needy!” Learning A-Z had teamed up

questions, the program gives them stars

idea to our community, and the rest of

with UNICEF Kid Power to launch the

as an incentive, which they can use to

the class visited each SIP classroom in

Learning A-Z and UNICEF Kid Power

play a game and purchase clothing for

the Lower School to present the idea in

Classroom Challenge, which empowers

their robot or furniture for their house.

a more personal way.

students to donate meals to the needy

My class decided, unanimously, to give

in exchange for stars (rewards).

up their playing rewards and donate

As another student, Iris ’32, said, “...not

classroom. We are going for 30 meals

their stars for meals to the needy. What

only do we work and learn but we also

Before I could comprehend what he was

a glowing moment this was. Everyone

help our community.” I am very proud

talking about, he had donated most of

was cheering and enthusiastically

of every single one of them. ¡Segundo

his stars in exchange for three meals.

rejoicing at the idea that they could

grado es una estrella!

Within a few minutes, he had sold the

make a difference!

idea to the rest of the class, and we JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Shining the Spotlight on

Compassionate Counselors Get to Know Kristi Johnson ‘97, Helene Perucci-Kinsman ‘99, and Lindsay Lee When we think of compassion at Moravian Academy, many of the stories covered in this issue jump to mind: campus-wide community service projects, empathetic approaches to academic subjects, and general generosity. Sometimes, compassion matters most in situations that happen behind the scenes, when a student needs a gentle encouragement or extra support to reach their full potential. This is where our campus superheroes come in: our school counselors. the school. She says, “When I transfered to Moravian in high school, I developed a true love of learning! MA had such a positive impact on my life, that I wanted my children to benefit from it as well.” Our community -- one that embraces the unique potential of every learner -- doesn’t exist on its own. It’s shaped by professionals like Kristi, who provides a safe environment where students feel comfortable expressing their experiences and emotions. She wants students to know “that I am there to support them in any way that I

Meet Kristi Johnson ’97

can while they are navigating through

Before starting as a counselor on the

compassion. “As counselors, we are

Downtown Campus three years ago, Kristi worked in the Bucks County public school system for over 16 years. Not only is she our counselor, but she is also an alumna and the proud mom of four current students: Addison ‘29, Aidan ‘27, Amelia ‘36, and Michael ‘27. “I find that helping my children overcome challenging situations has enhanced my overall counseling approach. I also believe it helps me identify with our parents in the community,” she says. Like Lindsay, community is important to Kristi, and it’s because of the strength

this successfully, Kristi tells us, is here to help guide our students through their educational journey. An effective counselor is one that not only has empathy for their students, but has to have the desire to help. I wake up every morning, ready to come and help our students the best way that I can,” she

Meet Helene Perucci-Kinsman ’99 Helene’s calling to teaching social-emotional learning and mindfulness led to her finding a “home base” at the Swain Campus after traveling to and from Lehigh Valley schools. While she was thrilled to be able to give students these “life-changing” tools, it was difficult to build relationships based on “trust, understanding and compassion”

says.

when her programs only lasted eight weeks.

When she isn’t wearing her counselor

place where she could support and advocate

hat, Kristi loves being “just another” MA mom. Some of her favorite experiences are attending “magical” events that showcase our students’ musical talent.

She knew she wanted to find a permanent for students in a culture of understanding and compassion. She found that place at Moravian Academy. An alumna of Moravian, Helene began her

of the Moravian community that she

time as an MA student in seventh grade. She

moved back to the Lehigh Valley so

shares that experience with her daughter,

that her children could have the same

who is currently an eighth-grader on the

experience she did when she attended

their time at school.” The key to doing

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

FEATURE

Swain Campus looking forward to learning on the Merle-Smith Campus. “I loved my Upper School experience,” says Helene. “I had incredible teachers who supported and challenged me and had a tight-knit group of friends. The community at MA always felt accepting of all kiddos, and I feel that at Swain. It is a magical place because all the faculty and administration cares deeply for the well-being of the student body.” As a counselor, Helene believes in “positive regard always.” “Every child, every person, is trying their very best. It is my job to help advocate for them, listen to them, and support them. Behaviors are just signals to us as educators that kids are having difficulty meeting an expectation, so either we need to give them more resources and support to help them meet those expectations or potentially change our expectation of them and meet them where they are.” Like Lindsay and Kristi, compassion is the “driving force” of Helene’s work with students. “When we approach students’ struggles with compassion opposed to judgment, they feel more safe to talk, make mistakes, and grow from those opportunities to learn.”

Meet Lindsay Lee Lindsay joined the Merle-Smith Campus as counselor in fall 2020, bringing with her a wide range of experience as a restorative justice facilitator and trainer, a victim advocate, a trauma counselor, an educator, a project manager, and a therapist. and how we can support or heal the “My passion is working with young

collective in addition to the individual

people and helping them reach their full

in front of me. Being a part of those

potential as whole, healthy individuals,

transformations is a perpetual highlight

thriving in whatever context they

of my career,” she says.

choose,” she says. While Lindsay may not have Since becoming a part of Moravian,

experienced Moravian pre-pandemic,

Lindsay has been a champion of our

instead of “returning to normal,” she

school. “It’s been a pleasure to begin

sees an opportunity to “fundamentally

to see the true colors of Moravian

redefine what it means to be in

Academy come through especially in

community with each other and how

the past few months,” she says. “The

we show up for each other as human

moments that stick out are when we

beings.” She works every day to

are able to come together, whether in

“intentionally cultivate radical empathy

celebration or in healing, to support and

and understanding” critical to a

grow together.”

compassionate community.

Community is important to Lindsay,

“Radical compassion is key to seeing

whose background as a social worker

and understanding the humanity of

trained her to “work towards healthy

the individual in all circumstances, no

systems as well as healthy individuals,”

matter what a person is going through,”

which colors everything she does. “I’m

she says.

always leaning into the bigger picture

Advice from Our Counselors Lindsay, Kristi, and Helene shape our culture of love, understanding, and compassion, but they don’t do it alone. It takes all of us, together, to create the community that so many alumni, teachers, and students have said feels like home. Our incredible counselors offer some parting advice for families: • Give your kids the space to make mistakes, even big ones. They are huge opportunities for learning and growth. • Remind yourself that “It’s okay to not be okay.” You don’t have to be or achieve anything in particular to be valuable. Your worth as a person is not conditional. • Know that we counselors truly are a team working together to set our students up for success (academically, behaviorally, socially and emotionally).

JOURNAL | SPRING 2021

AROUND CAMPUS

Current Events at the Middle School

Middle School teachers give learners the tools to explore the complexities of our world with curiosity, confidence, and compassion. • Ms. DiMarco’s Social Studies class learned the various governmental systems in ancient civilizations and how to interpret modern governments. • Mr. Lucas offered a question and answer session so students could write questions on note cards to share their immediate concerns regarding the situation. Part of the discussion revolved around compassion in times like these and considering our community members who may have familial connections to either Ukraine or Russia. • Mrs. Turcotte provided background and perspective from her own life experience of how Ukrainians have their own unique identity, culturally with music, food, dance, art, dress, and religious observations. • Mr. Walp facilitated daily discussions on Ukraine while making connections to recurrent curricular themes of human rights and spheres of influence. • Mr. Laubscher incorporated media literacy skills to help students identify and navigate information. • Mrs. Riker used a quick read of Animal Farm to make students aware of Russian history and to illustrate propaganda and a dictatorship action.

Coins for Ukraine By Nick Lucas & Laura Riker What began as collecting spare change in the Downtown Campus Middle School turned into a school-wide initiative to raise money for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Now, every homeroom has a collection jar as students find creative ways to raise funds in support of Ukrainian refugees.

The Swain School Campus

Community Mandala By Angie Lande On Monday, March 7, 2022 a large mandala was hung in Rogers’ Commons. Started by third, fifth, and seventh-grade students, community members were invited to draw or color the mandala. Mandalas represent life, wholeness, and unity. A sunflower was chosen as the initial design to send healing and prayers to the people in Ukraine. The act of creating a mandala is a calm, quiet, meditative experience. Art supplies were left out next to the mandala so as many community members as possible could add their unique artistic touches while taking a quiet, reflective moment.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Dr. Joshua Sanborn, Lafayette Students Speak on

War in Ukraine

By Julia Fox Lafayette College history professor

unique perspective as students living

“I thought of my life for several minutes,”

Dr. Joshua Sanborn and two Lafayette

abroad as the war unfolds.

she said. “The war just divided my life:

students, Anastasiia (right) and Reni (left), presented on the war in Ukraine.

What was before that and what “There are no winners in war,” Anastasiia

was after.”

told the packed auditorium. “The On Wednesday, March 16, students and

consequences have been devastating

After graciously sharing their

faculty on the Merle-Smith Campus

even for my Russian friends and people

experiences and expertise, all three

gathered in Dyer Auditorium for a

who live there. And that’s not even a

guests answered thoughtful questions

special presentation on the crisis. Dr.

fraction of what Ukrainian people have

from students and faculty. Everyone

Sanborn, an expert on the history of

experienced.”

was surprised by the bell that signals

Russia and Eastern Europe, provided

the end of the school day; they were so

historical and geopolitical context on

Reni, who traveled to the United States

immersed in the personal stories and

the situation.

only weeks before the war began,

their deeper understanding of the crisis.

remembers waking up to hundreds of Then, he turned over the microphone

text messages from friends and family

Moravian Academy is so thankful to Dr.

to Anastasiia, a Lafayette senior, and

on the night of the invasion, including

Sanborn, Anastasiia, and Reni for what

Reni, a first-year Lafayette student. Both

one that read, I heard the bomb.

was an incredible learning experience

grew up in Russia. The pair shared their

for all.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

MA Welcomes

Guatemalan Exchange Students

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

By Gonzalo Del Real & Juan Rojo

We were pleased to have Melanie Vazquez Lopez ’22 and Mariana Gil ’26 join us on the Merle-Smith and Downtown Campus, respectively. They visited us from Guatemala through an exchange program organized by Faces & Our Cultures, a Guatemala-based group that believes “a cultural exchange is an experience of integral growth.”

Melanie and Mariana stayed with

of the exchange. It has not yet been

families within our community while

determined whether this year’s

attending school. Diana Lopez ’22 and

students will travel abroad.

family are hosting Melanie, while Profe Gonzalo del Real, his daughter Arwen

The partnership between Moravian

del Real Sobiech ’26, and family are

Academy and the Faces & Our Cultures

hosting Mariana. The students returned

program has been on hiatus for the

home on December 9, 2021.

past several years due to the pandemic. We are pleased to bring the program

“I was happy to be here and excited to

back with the goal of growing it while

meet new people,” said Melanie.

creating additional opportunities for cross-cultural immersion and travel

In the summer, there is an opportunity

experiences in the future.

for American host students to spend several weeks in Guatemala as part JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

A Winter Wonderland for Recess Ted Rosenberger ’84 MA Continues a Joyful Tradition By Amanda Kulakowski Thanks to Moravian Academy alumnus and current Swain School parent, Ted Rosenberger ’84 MA, our Swain School friends had a snowy treat all week to enjoy during recess. For the past couple of years, when the weather was cold enough for snow but Mother Nature didn’t cooperate, Rosenberger would lug his snow machine to the Swain School Campus and create a snow hill for our students to enjoy during recess. This year was no exception. Once again, he created a winter wonderland. All week, giggles, screams, and laughter could be heard throughout the day as the students bundled up and went sledding. It is never an easy setup for Rosenburger, (he was on campus checking on the snow at 3 AM), but as he told us this year, “The smiles and screams of joy from the kids motivate me to solve the problems each year and get it working!”

READ MORE ON THE COMENIUS CORNER AT www.moravianacademy.org/winterwonderland.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

I really wanted to highlight and dive into the everyday struggles of teenage girls.

The Balance of Burden

A Novella About the Struggles with Mental Health Ava Noel ’24 takes a creative and compassionate approach to her Comenius Project. A signature experience at Moravian

thought, would be to examine the topic

When asked by her advisor, Dr. Crowe,

and a transformative one for students,

through fiction. That’s why she’s writing a

why she channeled her research into

the Comenius Project pays tribute to

novella. She says:

a novella as opposed to a traditional

the Moravian scholar who inspired

research paper, Ava shared the following:

the school’s founders in 1742. Upper

I just wanted to show the different things

Schoolers design an independent honors

that girls deal with, whether that’s going

To me, it can’t be a research project

project and bring it to fruition under

shopping and the sizing not being the

because it would just be more numbers.

faculty mentorship. Come spring, the

same in every store, and being so caught

Seeing a number or statistic of how many

results are presented to—and celebrated

up with the numbers. That’s the first

people have depression, I don’t really

with—the school community.

chapter, [...] the girl shopping with her

think that does enough. I really wanted

mom and not feeling comfortable asking

to highlight and dive into the everyday

When it came time for Ava Noel ’24 to

her mom for a bigger size, even though

struggles of teenage girls.

start her Comenius Project, she knew

she fit into a smaller one at a different

that the research would only be one part

store. I thought this was something that

The discoveries that students make

of a comprehensive project about mental

was really important that a lot of people

through independent research drive

health issues in teenage girls, like anxiety,

need to see.

many of their passion projects and inspire

depression, and struggles with body

students’ best creative work.

image. A more compelling approach, she JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Inspiration Speeches By Erin Coffey The Swain Campus inspiration speeches are a long standing tradition for eighth grade students, completed during their final year as a Swain Cougar. For over the past ten years, Swain students spend the first couple of months of their eighth grade year choosing, researching, and learning more about an inspirational figure. This year, students were inspired by grandparents who are scientists, entrepreneurial parents, older siblings, fictional book characters, olympians, social activist actors, selfless caretakers, supporting coaches, and even birds. As a capstone for Swain’s extensive public speaking curriculum, these eighth-grade students prepare and deliver a speech to an audience of fellow eighth graders, teachers and school administrators, and sixth and seventh-grade classmates, with an accompanying slide show presentation, to an audience of school community members. The speeches include biographical information highlighting inspiring moments, personal anecdotes, and supporting reasons why their chosen inspiration figure is inspiring to them. Each speech, lasting between five to ten minutes, is both a nerve-racking and monumental moment for each student and one that Swain students look forward to as they head into their eighth-grade year. It is their special time to shine as they honor a remarkable and inspiring individual.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Justin Jankowski ’26

Henry Zohn ’26

about his father

about Oprah

“He is inspiring to me because of his hard work, determination, and dedication to his fa mily.”

“She’s generous, successful in countless categories, and possesses a powerful and fla mboyant personality. I a m most inspired by the fact that she has founded her own school to inspire, educate, and empower girls in South Africa.”

AROUND CAMPUS

The Class of 2026 shines at the podium for this special Swain School Campus tradition.

Murathimeningai Daisley ’26

Abbie Criscuola ’26

Kyra Snow ’26

about her older brother

about her grandmother

about her guinea fowl, Kitty

“He is my inspiration because of his relentless caring spirit, his exceptional abilities, and his wisdom beyond his years. He radiates confidence, kindness, and hu mility.”

Grandma’s passion, “My interest, and thirst for knowledge was clear. She didn’t just learn how to be a scientist—she learned how to be the best scientist she could be.”

“She made new friends, she moved on with her life. She didn’t let grief consu me her. She persevered and lived her life, instead of just existing in it.”

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

An Update from Karen Washington, the Director of

Community & Inclusion At the start of the school year, I reflected

my time on the Merle-Smith Campus,

The objective of this activity is to help

on our collective goals for the year to

where I work with students in both the

us all be aware of the ways we might

nurture the minds and spirit of students

Black Student Union and the Student

celebrate each other or have things in

across campuses. The work had

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

common, but to also be aware of hurtful

been set before us, as a school, to see

committee. Both groups have worked

experiences that community members

value in broadening perspectives and

tirelessly this year to build community

face so that we recognize areas for

creating a balance of learning through

by organizing events and facilitating

improvement and growth. In terms of

the lenses of window and mirror; that is

discussions on compelling topics of

“windows and mirrors,” the BSU is a

to say, recognizing that both views are

their choosing. In February, the DEI

prime example of a space on campus

valuable. Furthermore, helping students

committee engaged the entire campus

where not only students who identify

grow in that process is valued as an

community (students and adults) in

as Black come together to celebrate

integral part of achieving our mission as

an all-school activity in the AWC. We

their culture and shared experiences,

they “actively learn from and support

stood in one huge circle, into which

but it is also open to students from

the different identities [they] embody,

we stepped according to experiences

other backgrounds as a space for

[they] respect each others’ views, and

we have had. A wide range of prompts

opportunities to learn more about

[they] lead with head and heart.”

from the benign “step into the circle

those experiences.

if you like pineapple on pizza” to the

Though I do travel to other campuses,

more painful “step into the circle if you

I maintain an office and spend much of

have heard religious slurs on campus.”

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

CONTACT KAREN WASHINGTON, DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITY AND INCLUSION, AT KWASHINGTON@MAMAIL.NET

OUR COMMUNITY

Gender Education and Sexuality Expert, Deborah Roffman, Holds Workshop with Faculty

in the coming months will include

time focusing on having courageous

examining practices in school as well

conversations with children. The

as having Deborah meet with parents

focus is to help adults feel confident

in the future. This is an important

in helping children as they grapple

commitment of which we, as a school,

with questions, and (where age

are immensely proud.

appropriate) to advocate for

For our all-school professional learning day on February 22, master teacher and nationally recognized consultant Deborah Roffman spent the day on campus to engage adults in conversations regarding sexuality and gender education.

themselves when confronted with Partnering with parents is a critical

tough situations.

part of growing in a community together. In January I had an

Continuing to have conversations

opportunity to engage with the Parent

with campus leaders, faculty, staff

Association, facilitating a discussion

and parents keeps me confident

on the values of diversity, equity, and

that Moravian Academy is a place

inclusion in our school, and ways we

where the commitment to create a

can build a community of belonging

community of belonging remains at

at Moravian Academy. It was a well

the forefront. I remain proud to work

received, lively discussion where

with other professionals on campus

participants shared openly their

who see this work as integral to

desires for that sense of belonging for

Moravian Academy’s mission. Feel free

their children, especially. We talked

to reach out for additional information

about the importance of getting to

about our programs.

know each other better, the dangers We recognized that this is an area

of making assumptions first, and

where many of us (parents/guardians

ways to avoid that practice. In March,

and faculty/staff) have many questions,

we offered another workshop, this

and we are proud to have the support not only of our administration, but also of our alumni. In conversations with William “Bill” Humphries ’69 and his sister Marilyn ’71, benefactors of The Bill and Congetta Humphries Memorial Fund for LGBTQ Studies, we were encouraged to begin this work in earnest. While the day with Ms. Roffman included information on a plethora of topics, more importantly, her presentations led to valuable feedback from faculty. Having reviewed this data, Deborah and I are assembling an action plan to help move the school forward to a place where centering the child and creating a safe space for them is the first priority. Our ongoing partnership

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

SOCCER

GIRLS’ TENNIS

CROSS COUNTRY

It was another winning season for both

The varsity girls’ tennis team, which

The boy’s cross country team took the

the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams. Both

was noted by The Morning Call as one

gold at the District XI Championship!

reclaimed their crowns as District XI

of the best teams in the Lehigh Valley,

Theo Urban ‘22 led the boys’ team by

Champions—the boys’ for the ninth

has a lot to be proud of after finishing

finishing in 5th place overall with a

consecutive year and the girls’ for the

the season undefeated in regular play

17:53 while Sam Carter ‘22 ended up in

fourth. Their journeys to the PIAA State

as well as capturing both the Colonial

10th with a 18:07. The girl’s team took

Championship were cut short, with the

League and District XI team titles.

third place in Districts overall, with

girls’ team making it to the Quarterfinals

Isabella ‘22 and Francesca Bartolacci ‘24

Lily Eyvazzadeh ‘22 as our girls’ top

and the boys’ team advancing to the

advanced to the PIAA 2A Girls’ Doubles

finisher in 13th place, and Sophie Lee

Semi-finals. There was another high

Quarterfinals, where their incredible

‘22 earning a 17th place finish, which

note to their exceptional season: Chloe

season came to an end.

qualified them to compete at the PIAA

Oudin ‘22 and Gennaro Mazzella ‘22 were named to the All State Team by the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Championship meet.

FIELD & COURT

FIELD HOCKEY

BASKETBALL

SWIMMING & DIVING

The field hockey team worked hard

Our varsity girls’ basketball team’s

Swimmers took home medals,

this season, seeing a lot of success

season came to an end in the District XI

advancing to States, and had

on the field. Their season ended in

tournament semi-final round. The team

some personal best swims. A big

district semi-finals. Nikki Chiaradia ‘22

finished the season with a 9-13 record.

congratulations goes to our boys’ swim

was recognized as the lehighvalleylive.

The future looks promising as they will

team who took home silver medals

com Player of the Week during the fall

return the entire group next season.

with a second-place team finish at

season for her sharp ability to “to find

Our varsity boys’ basketball team

the District XI Swimming and Diving

the cage with consistency.”

unfortunately did not qualify for post-

Championships. Alexa Fegley ‘22 took

season play, finishing with a 7-15 record.

gold as the District XI 2A Girls Diving

With a strong core of players coming

Champion for the third consecutive year.

GOLF The golf team played exceptionally well, advancing to the Colonial League Championships where they took the silver. Evan Eichenlaub ‘23, Thomas

back and some talented underclassmen, both teams will utilize off-season play to continue to develop. We look forward to a promising future season!

Young ‘24, and Sebastian Holbrook ‘22 ultimately advanced to the District XI Boys AA Championship. Thomas ‘24 was the District XI Golf Champion, followed closely by Sebastian ‘22 in third place.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Visit Moravian Academy from Anywhere in the World

The Admissions Team Launches Virtual Campus Tours

Now, the historic and modern buildings, winding pathways, and sprawling green spaces that make up our unique campuses are only a click away. Reconnect with Moravian Academy; scan the QR codes below to start your virtual tour now!

Tour the Merle-Smith Campus

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Tour the Swain School Campus

Tour the Downtown Campus

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

A Look Back at the Limitless:

All-School Celebration By Jeff Zemsky, Head of School

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

This fall, we set out to bring back some of our most beloved traditions, including Country Fair, Alumni Reunion, Founders Day, and a Lovefeast in Central Moravian Church. We have longed for these events for over a year. Having these experiences again created yet another milestone in the life of our school. It was also a week that our varsity teams returned to the Colonial League and District playoffs, and our middle school soccer teams played each other. I will always remember this as the first week that I truly experienced the fullness of our student life experience as a new, larger school. It is a week, especially combined with the return of Halloween parades and trunk-or-treats, that I want to remember for years to come. Our school also set out to try things we’ve never done before, like hosting a giant, outdoor, live music concert, featuring 6 student groups and 3 professional bands performing on the same stage. Friday’s Limitless concert brought over 850 people

to Steelstacks and showed us that our community loves being together. This was the first chance for us to gather in celebration as a newly configured school. It was inspiring to see so many people enjoying music together - or, in the case of the youngest students, simply running and playing - in front of the beautiful Steelstacks, which were illuminated in school colors. As the night went on, and alumni and students and parents and faculty mixed together, I saw people finding new connections across our campuses and also people reconnecting with ideas and memories from throughout our school’s long history. True to tradition, these events were made possible by many hands working together. So many faculty, staff, and parents contributed to the success of these events by organizing and coordinating hundreds of details required to throw events of these magnitudes, helping students prepare their performances and keeping them safe during the events, and encouraging and championing our community throughout the weekend.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

The

Winners

of the 14th Annual 5K Event

By Susan Parent

Two hundred runners, walkers, and strollers hit the 5K course on Saturday, October 23, on the Merle-Smith campus. Congratulations to all race participants! Below are the winners of the 2021 5K Walk/Run Event.

STUDENT MALE RUNNERS 1. Treyton Messman ’22 2. Krish Gupta ’24 3. Greg Hine ’24 STUDENT FEMALE RUNNERS 1. Lily Eyvazzadeh ’22 2. Tessa Francis ’25 3. Sophie Lee ’22 ADULT MALE RUNNERS 1. Daniel Eyvazzadeh 2. Andrew Lauden 3. Chris Eckman ADULT FEMALE RUNNERS 1. Valerie Zeltzman 2. Megan Eyvazzadeh 3. Constance Villa

A big thank you goes to our amazing volunteers who made this community event truly magical. We couldn’t have done it without the additional assistance from Maintenance, Dining Services, and the Athletics too.

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON THE COMENIUS CORNER AT www.moravianacademy.org/5k2021

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Alumni Reunion Weekend 2021 Alumni came out in record numbers for Reunion Weekend! Special thanks go to Sem and Prep grads who engaged in tours, luncheons, dedications, and reconnecting after 50 and 60 years! Moravian Academy graduates also highlighted 5, 10, 20, and 25-year reunions. It was a weekend to remember! Special thanks go to GJ Atwood-Waller ’80 for creating “Limitless Together,” a digital photography keepsake from the weekend’s activities, which you can view online at the link below.

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON THE COMENIUS CORNER AT www.moravianacademy.org/reunionweekend2021 JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Moravian Academy Raises $169,819 for

Giving Tuesday By Bob Zaiser & Susan Parent

You made it happen! A total of 535 donors donated $169,819. Thank you for your participation and generosity during the Giving Tuesday campaign. Together we’ve met and exceeded our goals, speaking volumes to the hard work of our teachers and students on all three campuses. GIVING TUESDAY TOTALS • The Downtown Fund engaged 138 Donors raising $25,054 • The Swain Fund engaged 85 Donors raising $20,461 • The Merle-Smith Fund engaged 123 Donors raising $16,360 • The Moravian Fund engaged 198 Donors raising $107,944 These numbers are unprecedented and our gratitude for our collective community is immense. We could not do this without your support — thank you!

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Come Together The Benefit for Moravian Academy By Bob Zaiser The theme of this year’s Benefit for Moravian Academy was appropriate. Use whatever Beatles song you want like “The Long and Winding Road,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “From Me to You,” “With a Little Help From My Friends,” or “All You Need Is Love.” The song “Come Together” really captured the evening of Saturday, April 9, 2022. “Come Together” is exactly what members of the Moravian Academy community and its three campuses did at the in-person event that was the centerpiece of three days of community and live and online fundraising. Parents, alumni, and friends from the Downtown Campus, the Swain Campus, and the Merle-Smith Campus all joined together to enjoy each other’s company, taste fine food from Catering by Karen Hunter, participate in a live auction, took a chance with our sweepstakes, and listen to the music of GEM Recording artists, The Weeklings, a Beatles tribute band. This was our first in-person fundraiser for our three campuses with the Benefit for Moravian Academy and the first fundraising event like this since the beginning of the pandemic. We are pleased to report that close to $190,000 has been raised for the school. Special thanks go to parents Beth Brown, the Benefit Chair, and her Co-Chairs, Colleen Marshall, Kauser Jaffer, and Lisa Suppan. JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Moravian from Coast to Coast:

We’re Back on the Road! In March, Susan Parent made new friends and collected alumni stories in Arizona. Thanks to everyone who met with us, including: Alex Binford-Walsh ’10, Nick Wagner ’01, Nick Smith ’96, Roy Fegley ’69P, Gine Flury ’67P, and Jill Gomery ’65S!

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Keep an eye out for upcoming trips. Bob Zaiser and Susan Parent look forward to seeing you.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

CLASS NOTES

Class Notes SUBMIT YOUR NEWS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE! We love to help you celebrate your milestones. Send us a quick note and a picture if you have one and we’ll include your news in the next issue of the Moravian Academy Journal. Swain Campus alumni, we look forward to featuring your notes in future issues! Be sure to share your news with us! Send submissions to: bzaiser@mamil.net

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

1948

1982

1995

Jane Stahl Hergenhan ’48P, from

Paul Isaac ’82MA shared that “I ran

Brian Naisby ’95MA happily shared,

Portland, OR, shared “I’m well along

the Boston Marathon Virtual Run on

“Abbot Grim Naisby was born in the

with my husband Ken of 62 years,

October 9th and received the coveted

late summer of 2021 and will be in the

4 adult married children and 11

unicorn 125th Boston Marathon Medal

class of ’39 or ’40! Here is a pic of Abbot

grandchildren. All love living in the west.

and T-Shirt. It was my 19th marathon. I

and me hiking. He thought hiking was

We moved here on our honeymoon.

also received the “Philippines” Bronze

the funniest thing and loved looking

I’m wondering how many of our MPS

Award from United States Track & Field.

around. In this photo, he is just straight

graduates ( class of 1948 ) besides Pat

In addition, I was featured in “Tuesday’s

up relaxing. We are enjoying our time

Lawler and I are still here?”

with Toyota” on the United States Track

together and he’s learning every day.

& Field website which qualified me for a

Brian Naisby ’95, Korin, and Abbot

1964 Recently it was reported in the Morning Call that Charlene Donchez Mowers

VIP membership with them this year.”

1988

’64P was named the Senior Advisor

Diana (Wolfe) Rosberg, ’88MA,

to Historic Bethlehem Museums as

writes, “Bengt and I have great news

of March 1st. The shift in leadership

to share. We are moving on to our next

permits Charlene to focus on the next

international adventure, in Mumbai,

steps leading to Historic Moravian

India. Bengt will be the Deputy Head of

Bethlehem being designated a World

School at Oberoi International School,

Heritage Site.

and I will be working to strengthen

1972 Rob Hamill ’72MA writes, “As we are in our 50th year reunion, I have been blessed with a second childhood where I am still doing all the things I’ve wanted

pedagogy and learning in the Primary School. This is my seventh international school since 1992 and offers fantastic prospects for professional fulfillment alongside the cultural and culinary excitement of this ancient city.”

since I graduated. We have an empty nest and are proud of our kids: I have a mature sawmill/woodworking business after a long career as a stock broker, and this will be my 42nd year as a whitewater kayak guide. We have three ski houses, a woodlot, a backyard with a swimming hole and surfing wave, and health. This reunion I’ll build a 50 foot bonfire to eclipse the 40 footer from ten years ago. JEEEEP.”

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

2002

2007

Stacy (Lipschutz) Seltzer ’02MA

Laura Heath-Stout ’07MA shared, “In

founded 3G Philly, a group for the

November, my partner Allegra and I

grandchildren of Holocaust survivors in

welcomed our child, River Benjamin

Philadelphia and across the Delaware

Heath-Stout, to the world.”

Valley. The group’s mission is to honor our grandparents through education,

Casey Noble Stockmal ’07MA is loving

advocacy and peer support in order to

life! After graduating from Lehigh, Casey

uphold the pledge of “never again.” To

spent 8 years working in Industrial Real

learn more about our efforts and our

Estate Development across PA. For the

events, please visit www.3gphilly.org.

past two years she has been working

2003 Lauren Calabrese ’03MA has been promoted to Lehigh University Women’s

2000 Maya Rodale ’00MA writes, “My historical novel, THE MAD GIRLS OF NEW YORK was published April 26, 2022. It’s based on the real life of Gilded Age stunt girl reporter NELLIE BLY who got her start in journalism by feigning insanity, getting herself committed to the notorious Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum For Women and writing about it for the biggest newspaper in New York City. In 1887. As a single, twentythree year old woman. It’s a novel that combines my love of history, New York City, and novels where women triumph. For more, visit www.mayarodale.com.”

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

head soccer coach, effective February 1. Along with graduating from Lehigh with her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2007, Calabrese also earned her Master of Arts in Education (in 2011) and English (in 2013). Calabrese is also an adjunct professor in the English Department at Lehigh; for the past three years, she has taught Research and Argument during the spring semester.

2006 Shelby Asen ’06MA writes, “I’m now working at the AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) as a senior meeting coordinator.”

with her family to bring the historic Wilbur Mansion in Bethlehem back to life as a hotel, restaurant, and event center (thewilbur.com). The project also consists of managing the construction of a 50 unit apartment building onsite, the Wilbur Views. Casey very recently got married to her best friend, Mike Stockmal, and had the winter wedding of her dreams which included skiing in her dress, tying the knot next to a frozen lake, and exiting the aisle under a tower of wooden skis! She is still actively riding horses in barrel racing events and spends winter weekends coaching ski racing to little kids at Blue Mountain.

CLASS NOTES

Jessica Vara ’08MA writes, “I recently got married to my husband Eli Gordon and bought a house in New Jersey where I live with my husband and golden retriever. I work in New York City at a Real Estate Development firm as a project manager/in-house Architect. In this role I coordinate, manage and implement all activities related to successful construction projects in Manhattan and Jersey City. While I am not working or playing with my dog, I am usually found running, hiking or

2008 Patrick Klemm ’08MA writes, “My wife and I welcomed our first child, Evelynn Brooke Klemm on July 26, 2021. I also caught up with Alex Kahan (’08 alum) to continue our annual Eagles away game trip--something we’ve been doing together since 2014 (Arizona, Seattle, Kansas City, New Orleans, Minnesota over the years). This year, we went to Denver, Colorado. I recently became a Senior Product Manager for Five Below. A key project that I led this past year was piloting our first omni-channel initiative, ship-from-store. This year, I’ll be leading the next iteration of our omni-channel strategy: piloting a buyonline, pick-up in store pilot, which will hopefully roll out later this year.”

2010 After graduating from Moravian Academy, Alex Binford-Walsh ’10MA went to Colorado College for three semesters and attended a study abroad program with SEA Education Association (Woods Hole, MA). Thinking he would join a buddhist monastery, he left Colorado College and volunteered in southern Arizona for a local ranch and conservation organizations. Realizing volunteering

fulfilling my desire to explore the world.”

isn’t a good long-term plan, he enrolled

2009

received a BS and is currently finishing

Greg Duckloe ’09MA writes, “I married

and Rangeland Management. Alex plans

my wife Flora on September 4, 2021

to continue to work on conservation

at a ceremony at her parents’ home in

efforts in southern Arizona.

at the University of Arizona where he up his Master’s in Wildlife Conservation

Wiltshire in the English countryside. It was a beautiful wedding and we were blessed to have a number of family and friends in attendance from both sides of the pond. Following the wedding, we enjoyed a ten day honeymoon in the Maldives and my parents hosted a reception for us back in Pennsylvania in late December for those that couldn’t make the trip overseas. In May, I left my job at RM Sotheby’s for a new role as the Sales Office Development Coordinator at DK Engineering, a Ferrari specialist dealer and service facility just outside of London. DK operates at the very top end of the collector car market and is world-renowned as the leading marque specialist in several models of Ferraris, which certainly makes for an exciting day-to-day as you can imagine!”

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Katharine Swantak ’11MA shared that “I got married in August to Mike Hart. I’m also now an Educational consultant for a company called ConnectPrep. I also just adopted two bulldogs named

Arden Ashford ’14MA shared that, “I currently work for Nestlé USA in the Marketing department. I support the

Samson and Tony.”

Global Brands division, which includes

2012

and food brands. Before Nestlé, I

Ani Acopian ’12MA is a director and

eCommerce division. I currently live in

Sameer Kandola ’10 MA writes “I had

conceptual artist based in Los Angeles,

Arlington, Virginia, but come back home

been working as a senior associate

CA. She has been awarded Forbes

to Pennsylvania often as I work

in the global healthcare investment

30 Under 30, Young Guns 18, and

remotely still!”

banking division at Citigroup based in

Adweek Creative 100, amongst others.

NYC, but recently I’ve moved to Park

Select clients include Airbnb, Chipotle,

Aaron Donahue ’14MA shared that, “In

City, Utah, near Salt Lake City where I

Coachella, GIPHY, Instagram, Interscope

2020 I was accepted to and enrolled

joined a healthcare private equity fund,

Records, MTV, Red Bull, T-Mobile,

in the Savannah College of Art and

DW Healthcare Partners.

VSCO, W Hotels, and Will Smith.

Design’s Performing Arts MFA program.

Ani is also the co-creator of several

Since then I have not only been doing

2011

Webby-nominated & Shorty-awarded

well, but I also started my own comedy

Adam Blair ’11MA recently got engaged

companies including Amazon Dating,

production company called ’Mazel Tov

Scrubhub, and Postdates.

Cocktail Collective.’ We have released

2010

and will be getting married in December. His fiancé’s name is Erica and they met at Lehigh University.

2013 Courtney Bell Asteak ’13MA writes, “I live in the Lehigh Valley own a home with my new husband Matt - we just got married in September. My name is officially now Courtney Asteak. I have worked for PPL Electric for 5 years now in various engineering roles and have recently been promoted to Reliability Supervisor for the Lehigh valley and Pocono areas.”

2014

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

an assortment of international culinary worked at Newell Brands in their

14 projects, two of which being short films. Our sketches have garnered local attention and our most recent short film, ’I Got a Thing for Blondes’ won an award at a film festival out of Atlanta, our first of many responses so far. When I graduate in June I’ll be heading to Atlanta to further pursue a career in acting and filmmaking.

Kira Ivarsson ’14MA shared via

Makenzie O’Brien ’15MA writes, “I am

LinkedIn, “I’m extremely excited for the

currently a second year medical student

next challenge modernizing software

at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic

for the VA with Rise8! It’s a fitting way

Medicine in Erie, PA. I have really

to celebrate Veterans Day this year

enjoyed becoming an active member in

and to continue to better the lives of

the Erie community outside of medical

the servicemen and women I was so

school. I am a volunteer soccer coach

fortunate to work with before.”

for the Erie Admirals Club soccer organization. I also started a volunteer

Marlee Senderowitz ’14MA writes

organization called Brighten A Day

that “After graduating from Moravian

Erie where we collect thousands of

Academy in 2014, I went on to attend

homemade cards and deliver them to

the Georgia Institute of Technology. I

UPMC Hamot Hospital and Shriners

graduated in 2019 with a B.S in Materials

Children’s Hospital in Erie PA. In June I

Science and Engineering and has

will be starting my third year of medical

remained in Atlanta, Georgia since. This

school where I will be doing rotations at

year, I started as a Senior Associate

Jefferson Health NE in Philadelphia PA.”

Account manager at Alpla, a global plastic packaging company. Here, I am able to combine her technical expertise with my entrepreneurial side. In my free time, I have been enjoying taking improv classes at a local theatre along with

2016 Arianna DiMarco ’16MA shared that she is in her second year of teaching 6th grade social studies at Moravian

art classes.”

Academy. She also successfully

2015

Degree from DeSales University. Lastly,

Jeff Brown ’15MA writes, “I’m currently

Smith, in December, who is the Mayor

halfway through my second year of

of Wind Gap, PA. They will get married

medical school at the USF Morsani

this July.

College of Medicine in Tampa. I’m in the Select program, which means that I will be returning to the Lehigh Valley in May to do my 3rd and 4th years at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Some of the extra-curricular activities I’m involved in include research (most recently I just got accepted to present research at an Emergency Medicine conference in San Diego), I’m a tutor for first year medical students at USF, I’m the vice president of the school’s “Covid-19 and Pandemic Response Club”, and I’ve been playing some pick-up soccer in my spare time!”

obtained her Masters of Education she got engaged to her fiance, Wesley

2017 Nikki Pearce ’17MA shared recently, I graduated from Villanova University in May, 2021. I was an economics major and finance and real estate minor. I moved to New York City in August and started working for Morgan Stanley. I am an analyst on the Equity Swaps Trades Support Team. I am fortunate to not only have friends from Villanova living in the city, but also friends from Moravian! In my free time, I love to stay active by going on walks and working out.

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

Desales University Men’s Basketball Team advanced to the MAC Freedom Championship Semifinal with the help of Moravian Academy alum, Jordan Holmqvist ’19MA.

THE SWAIN SCHOOL CAMPUS Alexa Dectis ’07SS shared “I do have news! I was just named to the Forbes 30 Under 30! As a child, Dectis acted on “Sesame Street,” and that early experience inspired her to attend law school and use her analytical skills to protect minors working in Hollywood. Today, she oversees all legal issues surrounding minors in Skydance Media productions.

Alumni/ae Deaths OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WE HAVE LOST.

Sally Avery ’61S May 16, 2021 Bruce Becker ’69P March 3, 2021 John Callahan Jr. ’66P July 22, 2021 Shirley Williams Campbell ’47S January 27, 2021 Josephine Grace Massey Henry ’38S January 6, 2022 Cheryl Hoffman Corsa ’69P June 17, 2021

HELP US SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS! If you’re a Swain School alum or know someone who is, send your class notes to Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, at bzaiser@mamail.net!

Alice Hoelzel ’61S September 5, 2021 Suzanne Holton Hunsicker ’48S July 10, 2021 Lilia A. Kozicky ’88MA December 17, 2021 Diane Martin (’23 Parent) January 4, 2022 Dr. Virginia E. Maulfair ’56S August 13, 2021 Rayne James Aubrey McKay ’21 March 22, 2022 Kathleen Teeple Monastero ’62S October 1, 2021 Elsie Stevens Norton ’71S February 22, 2022 Michael J. Schmerbeck ’10MA April 2, 2021 Thomas J. Smull ’65P January 5, 2021 Richard C. Theis ’53P February 14, 2021 Sandra Avery Titus ’63S January 2, 2021 C. Dean Weidner ’74MA June 20, 2021

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

JOURNAL | SPRING 2022

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Mark Your Calendar Upcoming Events To view a full list of events, visit www.moravianacademy.org/calendar. May 16, 2022 June 3, 2022 June 4, 2022 June 9, 2022

Last Day of School for Class of 2022 Baccalaureate Commencement Last Day of School (Swain Campus, Preschool-Grade 3; Downtown Campus, Preschool-Grade 5) June 10, 2022 Last Day of School (Merle-Smith Campus, Grades 9-11; Downtown Campus, Grades 6-8; Swain Campus, Grades 4-8) June 20 - August 19, 2022 Summer Explorations* August 30, 2022 First Day of School (Merle-Smith Campus) August 31, 2022 First Day of School (Swain and Downtown Campuses) *Summer Exploration dates depend on camp program enrollment.

THEN NOW

Field hockey players Wendy Sheetz ’85 hugs Stephanie Fuhr ’84. Denise Adomshick ’85 and Nancy Coale ’84 look on. (1983, courtesy of the Moravian Academy Archives)

The 2021 field hockey team celebrates an overtime win. (2021, courtesy of @mafhock21 on Instagram)

Moravian Academy Journal: Compassion (Spring 2022)

Articles inside

Class Notes

Institutional Advancement

Field & Court

Feature: Compassion

Our Community

Around Our Campus

Letter From The Editors