Oldfields Magazine Fall 2009 by Oldfields School

OLDFIELDS FALL 2009

Women WhoDare

OLDFIELDS M

May Programs Green Pages

Volume 29 Number 1 Fall 2009

Feature Women Who Dare

Oldfields Magazine Staff

Editor: Janine K. Brennan P’11 Design: Shoot the Moon, Inc. Photography: Janine K. Brennan P’11; AK Dragoo Photography, LLC; Angeline Kim ’11; Lili Weik Photography, Ltd.; Jeff Worsham

11 14

Contributors: Fran Acle, P’09, Sidney Persing Banaszak ’84, Jillian Bledsoe, Kate Briante, Madison Cole ’10, Patricia Cox, Elizabeth Dvorak-Little ’82, Parnell Hagerman, Jane Hammann, Amira Lockhart ’12, Eric Miller, Amy Roden, Ansley Smithwick, Kate Worsham

Departments At Oldfields

Alumnae and Development Office Staff

Alumnae Weekend Graduation At the Barn After School Opening Days Stage Productions Our Copper Beech Fall Family Weekend

16 19 24 26 28 30 32 34

Taylor Smith, Director of Development Janine K. Brennan P’11, Director of Communications Mark J. Brennan P’11, Director of Annual Fund Joan Carter Jermakian ’81, Director of Alumnae Eliza Broaddus, Assistant Director of Alumnae All letters and editorial comments should be directed to: Oldfields Magazine 1500 Glencoe Road Glencoe, MD 21152-9321 410.472.4800 Communications@OldfieldsSchool.org

Developing Oldfields 37 Alumnae Matters Class News Milestones

© 2009 by Oldfields School. Oldfields Magazine is published twice a year by Oldfields School. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively. Oldfields is a private, nonprofit, educational corporation. Oldfields is an organization described in section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and all contributions to Oldfields are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Correspondence for Oldfields School should be addressed to: Oldfields School, 1500 Glencoe Road, Glencoe, MD 21152-9321.

38 39 48

Editorial Inquiries: Articled submissions and letters are welcome and should be sent to the editor, at Oldfields Magazine, 1500 Glencoe Road, Glencoe, MD 21152-9321. Submission guidelines are available upon request. Oldfields Magazine and Oldfields School are not responsible for loss, damage, or other injury to unsolicited manuscripts, photography, or artwork. Any letters sent to the magazine may be published in upcoming issues of Oldfields Magazine or other publications of Oldfields School. The editor reserves the right to edit published letters for length. Oldfields Magazine is a controlled circulation publication. Circulation questions and address changes should be sent to Oldfields Magazine Circulation, 1500 Glencoe Road, Glencoe, MD 21152-9321.

On the cover: Elizabeth (Brittany) Dvorak Little ’82 at the races in Afghanistan.

Printed on recycled paper.

Fan us on Facebook!

From theHEAD OF SCHOOL To My Oldfields Family: I have been overwhelmed by the support that I have received from the Oldfields family during my first year as Head of School. Whether it is through charming notes of encouragement from alumnae from the 1940’s, a fantastic turnout at regional gatherings, annual giving that exceeded expectations by four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, or an unbelievable Alumnae Weekend which has fostered the new declaration that “Every year is a reunion year,” the Oldfields community has supported Judy and me with both their financial resources and their hearts. The School is making significant progress during a year in which the nation is struggling through our worst recession in decades. We started the year with an enrollment increase of twelve percent! What was even more remarkable was the quality of these young ladies. They are “typical Oldfields girls,” each contributing to the overall strength of the School community. Some are athletes, others scholars and still others gifted in the arts, but what marks them all as Oldfields girls is their largeness of heart. We often talk about the supportive Oldfields community and how it allows young women to develop self esteem and confidence; however, sometimes we forget that this also propels our students towards lives of excellence. I just had a conversation with an alumna from the 1980’s yesterday who spoke of entering Oldfields as a shy, quiet adolescent and how Oldfields prepared her for a successful life in business and the courage to advocate for herself. That courage that we inculcate has led the School to adopt a theme of Women Who Dare. Throughout the year we will have outside performers and speakers, many of them Oldfields alumnae, who focus on this theme. In addition, many teachers will be teaching books that center on the theme and even the dramatic productions of the year reinforce this theme. Recently I watched the television show, The Next Iron Chef, to see Holly Dinning Smith ’84, a gifted chef from the Washington state, compete for the ultimate prize. The judges stressed the importance of creativity and daring as they gave her lamb kidneys and jellyfish to work with. Oldfields prepared this daring woman well as she moved on to the next level of competition! While pursuing our new yearly theme, we have not forgotten about last year’s theme, We Are EcOSchool. We have become part of the Green School Alliance and are part of the Green School Challenge to reduce our carbon footprint. We are also in the process of finalizing plans to eliminate all of our kitchen waste, turning most of it into compost for our organic garden. As you can see, many exciting things are happening here at Oldfields. Although we all mourned the passing of Duncan McCulloch III, we also are proud that we have been able to sustain the School while maintaining the “feeling of family” that goes back to the School’s founding in 1867.

OLDFIELDS SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2009-2010 Chair Scott S. Menzies P’03

Reflections on

Women WhoDare

Vice-Chair John W. Hawks Treasurer Alfred Morrison Secretary Trish Grimmel P’06 Head of School Taylor A. Smith Sunny Adams P’91, ’93, ’03 Ilana Feldberg Adelman ’88 Carol Atterbury ’74 Kenneth H. Buchanan P’07 David Carroll P’13 Samantha Coker ’90 Richard D. Darrell P’06 George R. Floyd P’82 Denise Alexandre Le Comte ’72, P’06 Jane McColl Lockwood ’86 Christina Appleby Martinelli ’83 Thomas P. McDonough P’10 Elliott Watts Niespodziani ’97 Frank Palmer P’12 Corbin D. Riemer Robert A. Rosenbaum P’10 Lee Douglass Simmons ’98 Archibald A. Smith, III Lisa Wood Wright ’84 CHAIRS EMERITI Helen Frederick Gray ’51, P’83 Alan E. Kerry P’98 Edgar H. Lawton, Jr. P’85 Denise Alexandre Le Comte ’72, P’06 Ralph S. O’Connor P’75

Sincerely,

J. Calvin Rivers, Jr. P’88 William Scanlan, Jr. P’93

Taylor Smith

Jane Isdale Schaefer ’52, P’84 Michael Simpson P’85

FALL 2009

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

E A T U R E

It wasn’t easy to leave family and friends behind in Staten Island, New York and move to rural Maryland, but Anna Austen McCulloch bravely made the trip. The farmhouse was sparse, and there wasn’t a school nearby for her eight children, but she persevered. Her daring, moral fortitude, and spiritual faith persisted and now, 142 years later, her legacy continues in the form of Oldfields School, its exceptional students, and its dedicated alumnae. Raising women of Courage, Humility, and Largeness of Heart has long been

our School’s motto yet often it is only through “daring”

that these qualities are exhibited.

Daring to have the courage to stand up for one’s beliefs, daring to have the humility to put others’ needs before one’s own, and daring to show love and compassion for another is how we inspire our students to live their lives. Throughout this year we are guiding our girls in ways they can challenge themselves physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually. They are being encouraged to follow in the footsteps of strong role models so that Oldfields will continue to be a school known for its Women Who Dare.

FALL 2009

n tribute to the Oldfields theme ‘Women who Dare,’ I was asked to contribute some thoughts on my profession. As a Post-Conflict International Development Specialist, I am involved in a career that is considered daring by many. Indeed, working in post-conflict countries to facilitate peace-building has been daring, I suppose. However, the daring aspect was not part of the appeal for me. It is a highly ‘adventurous’ career – of this there is little doubt – but often the work has been as profoundly challenging as it is has been rewarding. As for the ‘adventure factor,’ I frequently get more of it than I would really like. More often, we are not working exclusively in post-conflict zones either, since the line between post-conflict and current conflict has become increasingly blurred, as the case of Afghanistan illustrates. I have been evacuated out of

a number of countries when the ‘adventure level’ got too high. In 2006, I was evacuated out of Bangladesh when the government collapsed and the State of Emergency was imposed. In 2007, I was in Pakistan when Presidential candidate Benazir Bhutto was assassinated and the country devolved into deep civil unrest. In 2008, I was in our office in Afghanistan when the windows were blown out in a bomb blast that killed 8 civilians. And these are some of the incidents I will talk about; other events were too grim to reflect upon. So what is it that I do, exactly, I’m often asked. Basically, I facilitate capacity-building to post-conflict governments. This support can take on many forms, but often it boils down to helping provide legal, technical and/or operational assistance to newly-elected, post-conflict government bodies in order for them to better serve the needs of their citizens.

If it sounds a bit strange, the reality of how this support really translates to on-the-ground projects can sometimes be stranger. And often it is very surreal. Sometimes, I am figuratively pinching myself, wondering how this all happened. Am I really providing legal and strategic advice to the Government of Serbia… or am I just having an out-of-body experience? How is it possible that the United Nations thinks that I’m qualified to serve as Operational Liaison for the first democratic election in Afghanistan? Or, more to the point – how on earth did I get into this god-forsaken mess? Who said that this career was a good idea anyway and when am I going to be able to get a shower? The reasons for how and why I ended up working in war zones are difficult to articulate. When one is most committed to something, it can be very challenging to provide a rational explanation for the cause, I have found. To be honest though, I really didn’t choose my career; I rather think that it chose me. That is not to say that I fell into it blindly. No, not at all. I fought for it every step of the way. And I am still fighting for it. I would like to blame (or to credit) Oldfields, but really, my feet started down this path before I ever even heard of Glencoe, Maryland. By the time I started Oldfields, I already had developed an intense, potentially clinicallyunhealthy preoccupation with war. It began with the realization that half of my family was of German descent and the other half Jewish. My academic understanding of World War II became clouded by the deeply personal connection I felt with both the oppressor and the victim. How was it, I asked myself, that this one group of people that birthed my mother – the Germans – could have propagated an extermination campaign against my father’s group of people – the Jews?

War doesn’t arise out of a vacuum – this was obvious. I became vexed by the sociological underpinnings of the causes of conflict. How do we, as human beings, come to the point where we are able to create and rationalize even the most extreme and inhumane measures to justify oppression, murder, annihilation of our neighbors? What is the progression of events by which we, as a society, go from being ‘civilized’— abiding the parameters of our societal rules, morés and constructs—to throwing these out the window and becoming ‘barabarians’? And how does the revocation of justice stoke the underpinnings of war? How do we get to the point where the bizarre, the illegal, the unethical, the immoral is not only tolerated, but it is endorsed, justified and seized upon as the only possible and morally ‘justifiable’ response? It was this progression of events from suppression and injustice to outright armed conflict that I wanted to understand and quantify. Yet, these concepts could not be pondered from an academic standpoint only. I had to travel from the theoretical contemplation of conflict, away from the ivory Oldfields tower, to living and breathing the war-ravaged reality….

E A T U R E

Xiaochun “Chun” Wang ‘12 has dared to travel to Oldfields from China, where she was ranked fourth in the country for her age group in swimming. Chun now swims for the Merritt Athletic Club Swim Team, where she recently won eight of eight qualifying heats, and subsequently won six of eight races at the meet the following day. She is determined to excel at swimming, and we applaud her efforts.

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

And so I did. I found myself being drawn to the shell-pocked villages of Bosnia and Kosovo, and later to the decimated landscape of Afghanistan, Pakistan and a myriad of places in between. My journey has been a gritty and grimy safari into the humanitarian sinkholes of the planet. I could honestly attest before a court of law that I’ve jumped, with both feet, into some of the most reeking, conflict-ravanged cesspools of humanity, with little regard as to the possible effects these situations might have on my personal, emotional or psychological well-being. That might be called daring to some; others would probably deem it just plain stupid or irresponsible. What have been the consequences then? On the one hand, I consider that I’ve been extremely fortunate to have had so many rich and amazing opportunities to help reinstitute rule of law and peace-brokering frameworks in various post-conflict communities. In Bosnia, I helped municipal government bodies understand and implement the Dayton Accords. In Kosovo, I was in charge of legal training programs to provide capacity-building and accountability to newly-elected parliamentary officials under UN Resolution 1244. In Afghanistan, I provided consultations and strategy advising to the Afghan Ministries of Interior, Defense and Foreign Affairs. I will be the first to admit that, if I choose to brag about what I do, the work can sound pretty interesting. Sometimes, it even feels fulfilling and meaningful. But more often, people who do what I do find it difficult to talk about what we are doing in self-congratulatory terms. Deep down, it’s hard to bask in the satisfaction that our work is achieving a sustained effect in righting the wrongs. Typically, people become post-conflict specialists because they are driven by their convictions and imagine that the work involved in rebuilding broken

FALL 2009

E A T U R E

Rayven Vinson ’10 dares to exhibit exceptional sportsmanship. She is this year’s recipient of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) League’s Jim McCoach “Leader of the Pack” Award. This award is given to one senior, selected by judges from the 31 participating schools, who has been a runner for four years, is an ambassador of the sport of cross country, and exhibits outstanding teamwork and leadership skills.

societies will bring its own rewards. While these are good motivators, usually within the first year or so, that initial glow of satisfaction or reward becomes obscured by the pervasive suffering and sadness that comes of working in the ashes of a conflict. Many of the efforts we have striven to achieve, while appearing profoundly meaningful at the time, were later eroded, or even reversed, by self-seeking institutions or corrupt power-brokers. Many of us no longer believe that we are helping facilitate a genuine, lasting peace. Working continuously in post-conflict environments provokes a pervasive feeling of being deeply disillusioned and sad about our general state of humanity. To again and again witness catastrophic examples of man’s utter inhumanity towards fellow man is disheartening, at best. We ask ourselves, with each new conflict, Is it possible that once again, we have allowed the greed or the oppression of one group – in the name of race, creed, ethnicity, tribal supremacy – to rob others their right to live, to breathe, to exist? Sometimes sadness is the only overriding emotional take-away. Working to protect and restore justice after it has been ripped apart by war is far more challenging than preserving it beforehand. I have made the analogy that it is like trying to glue a Constitution back together with Silly String.

In Kosovo, for example, I managed a training and capacity-building program intended to strengthen the newlyelected municipal and parliamentary government bodies. The goal was to provide support for these bodies so that they could effectively conduct their job as public servants under UN Resolution 1244. While these goals may certainly sound meaningful, the atrocities that occurred before Kosovo became a ‘de-facto’ UN protectorate rendered the actualization of these goals virtually obsolete. What had occurred there had shattered people’s confidence in rule of law and in the ability of government to uphold the law. Neither the politicians nor the constituents had an ounce of conviction in the ability of legal mandates to provide any meaningful safeguards or assurances of protection. The citizens had even less confidence in their government representatives to enforce or to safeguard their rights provided under the law. Even if all the tenets of the United Nations Resolution 1244 were to be fully implemented in Kosovo or if the Dayton Accords were to be rigorously applied in Bosnia, the reality is that people would likely never again feel safe in their homes, having witnessed neighbor killing neighbor. After working in the Balkans with OSCE/ US Department of State between 1997 & 2001, I was subsequently offered

the opportunity to serve with the UN in Afghanistan. So I moved to Kabul where I supervised a fiercely-dedicated national staff in preparation for Afghanistan’s first-ever democratic elections of 2004. For many of us internationals, our first experiences in Afghanistan were amazing, fascinating, fulfilling and frustrating. I traveled throughout the Central Region, providing legal and procedural training to Afghan election officials in order to provide them with the knowledge and tools to manage the election process. Thousands of staff had to be hired to work in the 80,000+ voter registration and polling stations that were established across the country. Because men and women would be voting in separate facilities, women were presented with a monumental and historic opportunity of being able to work for a salary—many for the first time. They were not just given the right to earn an income, but were being offered the chance to serve their communities as managers and facilitators of the registration and election processes. Many men encouraged their wives, daughters and sisters to take an active role in the exercise, not only because of the income it brought to the family (the voter registration centers were open daily for 6 months), but also because of the community importance and the prestige involved in participating in such an important government exercise. (Not all Afghans shared this point of view, but many did.) I conducted trainings for female election staff in unheated schools, in open fields, in community centers. It was so bone-numbing cold at times that I could barely write on the white board. Sometimes I thought my fingers would drop off. Yet, the Afghan women rarely, if ever, complained. They were so pleased to have the opportunity to work after all those years under Talibandictated ‘house arrest,’ that they were happy to have the chance to participate

E A T U R E

Autumn Gem Oldfields School was the first high school in the country to preview the documentary Autumn Gem. The film “explores the extraordinary life of China’s first feminist Qiu Jun (1875-1907). An accomplished writer, women’s activist, and leader of a revolutionary army, Qiu Jin boldly challenged traditional gender roles and demanded equal rights and opportunities for women.” The following day, the husband-wife team of directors, Adam Tow and Rae Chang, visited the School for a question and answer session. The girls were intrigued to learn about the woman called “The Chinese Joan of Arc,” and how she dared “to redefine what it meant to be a woman in early 20th century China.” On the Autumn Gem blog, Adam Tow wrote: The theme for Oldfields this year is, “Women Who Dare,” so it was an ideal fit for our documentary. Thanks to Maria and the rest of the Oldfields staff for having us! And, big kudos go out to the terrific students at Oldfields. They really made us feel welcome at the school. Our presentation at the school was a little different than at previous screenings. Because the student body watched the film the day before, we came prepared to speak about our backgrounds and how we got to where we are today. Taking our existing Keynote presentation as a base, we added lots of fun biographical slides on us. I showed them drawings that I had made back in high school and college. Art and drawing eventually led to my interest in photographer (though it did take a long time for me to have my own camera), which ultimately led to videography and Autumn Gem. They asked us question after enthusiastic question about the film, about us, and about our next steps. It was very rewarding to be able to share our film and our lives with them; it's our hope that our example will help inspire them to work on their own creative endeavors. It's certainly been an exciting career for the two of us!

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

Jamie Hagerman, 2006 Olympic bronze medalist and daughter of Dr. Parnell Hagerman, conducted an assembly for our students about being “Women who DARE.” Jamie’s definition is women who “Dream of a goal, Accept reality, Reject negativity, and actively Engage in pursuing the goal.” Using her own experience as an ice hockey player, Jamie challenged our students to set a target and start working toward it. Her warm anecdotes and incredible experiences, both on and off the ice, showed her true spirit as a world class athlete and human being.

FALL 2009

E A T U R E

and contribute towards such a historic moment. The Region I was responsible for—Central Region —was nationallyrecognized in the 2004 elections as successfully achieving the highest percentage of female voter turn-out in the country. Those elections were heralded as a resounding success and the international community felt we had given something meaningful to the Afghan people. The most remarkable facet of the 2004 elections was the defiant display of individual courage and community bravery exercised by the Afghan people. The Taliban and insurgent groups had threatened that on Election Day, they were going to orchestrate a series of large-scale terrorist attacks across the country. They promised that they would unleash a spectacular display of catastrophic attacks, targeting polling stations and voters and resulting in mass civilian casualties. They urged all civilians to boycott the elections and for everyone to stay in their homes. The International Community and the Coalition Forces were put on highest alert since we could not adequately assess

the Taliban’s capabilities for execution of such a catastrophe and felt the threats were very credible. While we, the Internationals, were confined to our compounds on Election Day, the Afghans left their houses to vote. The mothers, the fathers, the sons and the daughters trudged down the muddy rural roads and lined up for hours at the voting stations, waiting for the historic opportunity to democratically elect their first president. They, too, had heard the threats and were well-aware of the Taliban’s intent to target those who participated in the elections. (Radio broadcasts reach 70 or 80% of all Afghans, even those in the rural outposts.) Yet, all over the country, the Afghan election staff left their houses and came to work in their voting stations, as did the voters. An unimaginable record of more than 10.8 million Afghan voters decided to make the choice to vote, knowing they were risking death. I heard stories of men and women who left their houses at 4 and 5 in the morning on Election Day since it was a 3- 4 hour walk to the nearest polling station. There were rumors that

some of the stations, unsure of the precise number of voters were in the area, might run out of ballots. Hence, people wanted to come as early as possible to ensure that they would get a ballot. Some voters, I’m told, dressed themselves in the white clothes of the martyr. They knew that by casting their vote, they were risking being killed… So, they prepared themselves for this possibility and dressed themselves in martyr’s clothes and defiantly walked the three hours to the polling station to cast their vote…. Clearly, they were not going to take death ‘sitting down.’ They believed in the possibility and hope for change. They knew that only by leaving their homes and defiantly stepping forward could the will of the people triumph over the possibility of violence. They were willing to risk being killed to exercise free choice. Flash forward five years. Since 2004, I have worked in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Haiti, Kuwait, Ghana, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro….. quite possibly, there is another place or two I’ve forgotten. But it is has been Afghanistan that keeps calling me back. I’ve now completed seven contracts in that country, both with the UN and with the US Government. I’ve served in Kabul where life can almost be normal and internationals can buy smoked salmon and Starbucks coffee (in the gourmet supermarkets and cafes that cater to foreigners). I’ve been confined to the walled UN Compound in Parwan where we were never allowed out of the compound and had to shower with water piped in from the river. Most recently, in 2008 and 2009, I’ve been embedded in the US Base in the remote deserts of Farah on the Afghan-Iranian border. And in these diverse regions, I’ve worn all sorts of hats. Besides the election operations work, I’ve provided support and advising to the Afghan Government ministries (Ministries of Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs),

I’ve formulated assessments for the US Government on the efficacy of US Government-funded development projects, and I’ve designed and managed micro-enterprise projects as alternatives to opium production. These opportunities have afforded me an amazing panoply of experiences and insight into the Afghan culture. I am deeply grateful to the Afghan people for sharing with me their hopes, their dreams and their fortitude. Time and time again, they have demonstrated profound courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable oppression. But now, as we’ve seen in the media, their hope is fading. In 2004, they were willing to risk their lives to have a say in their government…. And now they are asking themselves, what does elected government mean to me when we are neither safe in our homes nor on the roads and we cannot feed our families. People are losing faith in the ability of their ‘democratically-elected government’ to provide for their security and for their basic needs. They are also losing confidence that the International Community can provide the appropriate kinds of support needed for the government to do its job and to help facilitate economic development. Most of the hundreds of Afghan people I have worked with, encountered and whom I have known do not have lofty goals—they just want to live safely and to provide for their families. Moreover, no one I have ever met supports the Taliban or the insurgency. What is placing the country on the brink of disaster is the inability of average law-abiding citizens to earn a living wage from subsistence farming or to safely travel to a job that that can pay enough to support their families. This situation is placing the whole society on a dangerous precipice. The Afghans are caught in a pendulum between survival and desperation. In order to survive, many are willing to provide support to whatever

E A T U R E

Ariel Taxdal ’10 was a daring member of a four-person team, representing Maryland, that won the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The Team also won “High Team in Reasons.” The World Dairy Expo, which draws competitors from around the world to compete in cattle-related contests, also offers exhibits and seminars related to the industry. Ariel, a day student whose family operates Broom’s Bloom Dairy, has been raising cows most of her life. A member of 4H, she shows two or three cows in various competitions every year. She is the granddaughter of Hope Harlan Dallam, Class of 1949. Her Great-Grandmother was Ariel Webster, Class of 1923, and her Great-Great-Grandmother was Harriet Williams Webster, Class of 1895.

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

May Programs 2009 O S

E A T U R E

F F

A M P U S

Carole Schmick ‘00 graduated from Oldfields and then went to Lynchburg College, graduating with a BA in communications. After entering the corporate world, Carole worked for Virginia Episcopal School for two years and then recruited for a company called Maxim Health Care Services. All the while, she could not part ways with her love of food. The passion she had for food led her to Baltimore International College. She studied baking and culinary arts. Today she is back at Oldfields, daring to cook passionately! She looks forward to advancing her “future with food” at Oldfields.

FALL 2009

entity that can give them income and/or security to provide for their family – if only for another day. History has not written the final chapter for Afghanistan but the International Community – mainly the US – are the key actors. Remarkably enough, after eight years in the country, we have not figured out what kind of role we, the actors, should be playing. I pray that the judgment of history will not render our efforts in Afghanistan as failures of what should have or could have been done for the Afghan people. As I mentioned initially, the work I am involved with might be considered daring by some, but I do not feel that daring is the right word. In more than a decade of conflict work, I can honestly say that the people who are truly daring are those who endure and survive conflict and who bravely march forward in the face of oppression with dignity and courage, looking toward the future. If the pain or the despair of our work gets too intense, we the International Conflict Specialists, can throw in the towel on this ‘Adventurous Career’ and quit anytime

we like. Many of my colleagues have done so, and I do not blame them. As I indicated earlier, the challenges and the profound sadness of working in the ashes of broken communities can weigh very heavily on the heart. Yet, I can come back to the US – to the Land of SUVs and Godiva chocolates – any time I like. Even with the ‘lousy economy,’ there are still jobs to be had. Generally, too, one can count on being able to travel to and from work in the US without fear of being taken out by a sniper or being killed by an Improvised Explosive Devise (IEDs). In my opinion, the truly daring among us are the people – particularly the women – I have worked with who risk their lives in order to work, to go to school, to vote, to survive. These are women who are not just surviving but who are hoping and working for a better future for themselves and their families in the face of what appears to be utter hopelessness. These are the daring people, the unrecognized heroes who truly deserve our applause and support. - Elizabeth Dvorak Little ’82

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

O S

F F

he 2009 May Program was a great success. The nine programs offered were incredibly diverse and provided multiple options for the girls who wished to stay on campus and for those who were interested in traveling. There were two brand new programs and seven repeat offerings. Students and faculty both had only positive things to say about their experiences this year. For the students interested in doing a May Program off campus there were four options. Two groups traveled to Europe: World War II in Europe and The

FALL 2009

O S

A M P U S

Language, History and Culture of France. For the history buffs, World War II in Europe provided an opportunity to visit the places they had only read about in their World History II class. They visited such famous sites as the beaches at Normandy and Anne Frankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house in Amsterdam. The students who spent May Program in France had a very different experience as they focused on French culture. Their home base was a small family run hotel in Paris but they ventured outside the city to visit such places as the Loire Valley and Versailles. In Paris, they visited many museums and important sites such as Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. The other two off-campus programs found our girls traveling to New Orleans to work for Habitat for Humanity and to the South to walk in the footsteps of those who fought for their rights during the Civil Rights movement. For the second year, we sent a group of girls to the New Orleans area to do their part in the

program entitled Reach One, Teach One our students interned as teaching assistants at two area public schools. The girls received hands on experience in working in an elementary or middle school classroom. In the other new program this year, Digital Storytelling, the students learned how to use such programs as Photoshop Elements, PowerPoint, SMART Board and Windows Movie Maker to create stories in new formats. Each girl learned new ways to capture an audience using digital media. Chesapeake Flora and Fauna gave the girls an opportunity to learn about the diversity of plants and animals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed region. The girls studied the various habitats through classroom activities, local hikes, field trips to Havre de Grace and the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and an overnight trip to Assateague Island. This program incorporated labs and art activities. Healthy, Wealthy and Wise taught the girls life skills such as shopping on a budget, healthy cooking, car maintenance and some basic womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

on-going efforts to rebuild the gulf coast that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The students who participated this year found themselves working hard every day to help others. They also had time to visit New Orleans and take in some of the unique culture of the area. Freedom Ride was a very successful program once again. The students spent the first week on campus researching the major events of the Civil Rights Movement and during the second week they traveled to Atlanta, Memphis, Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery to visit the sites made famous during the Civil Rights Movement. The on-campus programs offered a wide variety of options for the girls who chose to stay at school. In a new

safety. The girls also spent time each day doing physical workouts and had the opportunity to do some meditation and learn about the science of acupuncture with professionals from those two professions. The other on campus option was Outdoor Experience, which has been offered for years. The girls spent most of their days canoeing, hiking, caving, and kayaking. In addition, they learned basic survival skills such as map and compass reading with the use of a GPS

F F

A M P U S

which they used on their camping and hiking trip in the Shenandoah National Park. The girls also were introduced to the natural history of the Baltimore region and spent a day banding birds and making primitive baskets. In addition to the May Program offerings, two students pursued independent projects. One student traveled to Jamaica where she did community service work in the public school system by teaching students how to use the computers and helping to set up a library. The other student spent her days learning about various aspects of the horse industry. She followed a horse veterinarian on his rounds for a few days, learned how to design courses for horse shows and how to judge at a show.

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

R E E N

A G E S

The Green Pages

Leading From the Front We work hard at OS to practice what we preach and right now that couldn’t be more evident than with the transportation choices exhibited by Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Dr. Hagerman. There should be no doubt that our administration is on board with ecOSchool! If you were to walk or drive through campus in the early morning or late afternoon you may actually have your own sighting of Dr. Hagerman buzzing around campus on her electric red scooter. Rather than driving her automobile and burning fuel, she moves rapidly from Old House, to her house, and back to the athletic fields on her red electric bike. Or, you may see one of two Prius’s that live on campus owned by Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Both the Smiths and Dr. Hagerman have made powerful and supportive actions to support ecOSchool. It is a great sign of a leader when they

are able to lead from the front and in our case at Oldfields, we are lucky to have both our Headmaster and our Assistant Headmaster making huge commitments to the air quality of our small campus. I recently asked Mr. Smith and Dr. Hagerman why they have chosen these eco-friendly forms of transportation. Mr. Smith was eager to share, “Judy and I have always sought to live simply and, as a result, use the smallest amount of our natural resources as possible.” He elaborated, “Before we bought our Priuses this summer, I had a Honda Hybrid. Because the hybrid cost more money to purchase, I certainly did the calculations concerning whether it would ‘save me money’ in the long run. Comparing it to a [similar] gasoline-powered car, I discovered that I would break even after 80,000 miles because of the reduction in gasoline use and the tax credit. However, even if we

had not saved money as a result of the purchase, Judy and I decided to make a purchase of these cars because of their positive impact on the environment.” Dr. Hagerman had many reasons for her decision and she explained, “Because it’s more fun than my car, it’s more economical and I’d really look stupid riding in my car from my house. I knew when I came that I had to get something that was way more efficient than my car. I want to get to events and sports and not have to park the car and use gas. So when I saw this for sale up on the island where I go in Maine, I knew this was the answer. If I got a moped, I’d still be using gas and transporting the smelly stuff in my car. But the electric bike uses electricity which only requires about 30 minutes to recharge. I can go for a week around campus without charging it.” When I asked Mr. Smith and Dr. Hagerman if they were happy with their new transportation choices, they both eagerly replied regarding how glad they were with their decisions. Mr. Smith said, “We love our Priuses. We spend much less time at the gas station.” Dr. Hagerman added, “Oh my goodness, I love it, except when it rains, but wet clothes do dry.” As we begin to further develop our missions for ecOSchool, it is important that both the Smiths and Dr. Hagerman are recognized for their efforts and commitments as we strive to lessen Oldfields School’s carbon footprint. I asked both Mr. Smith and Dr. Hagerman how they felt that their actions supported ecOSchool. Mr. Smith replied, “I hope we are setting good examples for the entire community.” Dr. Hagerman saw both the fun benefits for herself and the community health, “It makes me look better that I really am [on board] in terms of ecOSchool. And, more importantly, it makes me and others think about our efforts and what we can all do to support this school.” - Amy Roden

FALL 2009

Bay Day 2009 Teaches Valuable Lessons The weather was cold and rainy in April, but the spirits were high as the entire OS community embarked on a day-long adventure to the Chesapeake Bay! The School was divided into groups that went to three separate locations. The twenty four community members that spent the day on the Skipjack, the Stanley Norman, met their mate and skipper at the docks in Annapolis. Once they climbed on board, they suited up in rain suits and sailed out to the Bay. While on the water they learned how to read maps, raise the main sail, and find their sea legs on the rough surf. Just a few minutes away, twenty-nine OS students and faculty were learning about the Meredith Creek watershed and honing their canoeing skills in the Arthur Sherwood program. Half of the group spent the morning on the workboat, Marguerite, learning about the health of the Bay, the watershed, and the wildlife within the Chesapeake. As soon as the girls hopped into the workboat, a Bald Eagle flew into a nearby tree to take a closer look at them, and just down the way, on either side of the dock, were two pairs of Osprey.

Once the boat was on the Bay, the girls learned how to dredge for oysters and why the 99% drop in the oyster population, since the late 1890’s, is having a dramatic (and traumatic) effect on the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The girls learned that oysters are the best natural filters of algae and other debris in the water, and therefore they help keep the water clean and oxygenated. Once the oyster population declines, the water loses clarity and oxygen and the whole eco-system suffers. The other half of the group, in the canoes, was learning about the watershed along the Meredith Creek and how erosion and development play a key role in the declining health of the Bay. They brought up soil samples with their paddles in order to see the dark, smelly mud that has resulted from “dead zones” in the bay due to eutrophication. The students understood that the decline in the oyster population and the increased sediment in the Bay have led to the dead zones. The time on the canoes was a highlight for the girls as they all learned how to row and steer, encouraging one another.

R E E N

A G E S

The majority of the School was located at the Philip Merrill Center. Eighty-eight students, faculty, and staff were divided into three groups lead by two guides from the Bay Foundation. Everyone was given a tour of the Center itself, which until a few years ago was, in fact, THE Greenest building in the world. The groups were introduced to the unique, and often surprisingly efficient, building materials through hands-on examinations of each type. This ranged from the Styrofoam used as insulation (effective and it doesn’t break down – perfect!) to the old pickle-vats used to catch rain-water for the bathroom sinks. They also observed how the composting toilets at the facility cut the water-use by 90%! The entire community was lucky to be able to participate in such an incredible field trip and everyone walked away with new knowledge and a better appreciation for our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. I encourage you and your daughter to change your practices at home to help sustain the Bay. These changes can include anything from unplugging your phone charger after you’ve “juiced up” to switching to all-natural cleaning agents to conserving water by limiting shower-time or using water-saving toilets. As Eric, one of the guides at the Philip Merrill Center says, “It’s just that easy, folks!” - Amy Roden

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

At OLDFIELDS

L D F I E L D S

Alumnae Weekend

FALL 2009

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

L D F I E L D S

Garden Party

Graduation 2009 â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have run a race, you have taken a journey here at Oldfields no matter whether it was for five years, or for one year, and this is the occasion which recognizes that passage.â&#x20AC;?

FALL 2009

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

L D F I E L D S

OLDFIELDS ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

L D F I E L D S

Senior Graduating with High Honors Senior with a grade point average for the senior year of over 90% Katherine Wilson

JUNE 5, 2009

RIDING AWARDS

Seniors Graduating with Honors Seniors with a GPA for their senior year of over 85% Katherine Anderson Donata Bechstein Hee Seung Han Kelsey Rogers Morgan Schafer

Most Improved Rider Kristen Johnson Horsemanship-Sportsmanship Donata Bechstein Horsemaster Award Katy Wingerter

SCHOOL RECOGNITIONS

ATHLETIC AWARDS Varsity Club For students who played on three varsity teams this year.

GREEN AND WHITE 2008-2009 Team Captains Green Team: Hae Keum Chun White Team: Emily Acle 2008-2009 Team Spirits Green Team: Nicola Kyei White Team: Bryanza Dean Winner of the Green and White Cup 2008-2009 Green Team 2009-2010 Team Captains Green Team: Nicola Kyei White Team: Bryanza Dean 2009-2010 Team Spirits Green Team: Amanda Geary White Team: Mikeala Semexant

FALL 2009

Senior Recipients Katherine Anderson Tasheba Morgan Annie Viccellio Underclass Recipients Donyae Arroyo Sara King Jennifer Baker Alexis McHarg Kate Brennan Rebecca Mooney Tiffani Caesar Elisabeth Palmer Grace Camut Elizabeth Poston Alexis Crawford Christina Rock Annabelle Gould Marifer Romo Martha Hazard Elizabeth Santangelo Charley Howe Katy Wingerter Kristen Johnson Eliza Witherbee

Admission Liaisons for 2009-2010 Liz Poston and Lauren Heneghan

ACADEMIC AWARDS

2008-09 Academic Integrity Board Mana Shaw

English Senior: Natasha Kachikwu-Oweh Underclass: Ariel Taxdal

2008-2009 School Judiciary Board Emily Acle and Marguerite Copeland Class Agents for the Class of 2009 Emily Acle and Angelica Jackson Winner of the Cover Design for the 2009-2010 School Planner Kristin Johnson 2009 May Court Crown Bearer: Donata Bechstein Flora: Tasheba Morgan Maid of Honor: Emily Acle May Queen: Angelica Jackson

“What we do in private that no one knows about, or that few people know about, that truly defines who you are. Let there be continuity – consistency between the public and the private you.”

Fine Arts Margaret Nevens Art Award Emily Acle and Hae Keum Chun Foreign Language Spanish: Mana Shaw French: Ali Baker Mathematics Calculus AB Award: Wanzhen “Lesley” Gao Pre-Calculus Award: Ariel Taxdal Performing Arts Theatre: Angelica Jackson and Charlotte Shapiro Music: Tian Hong “JoJo” Yao Dance: Rayven Vinson

Social Studies Senior: Lesley Gao and Kelsey Rogers Underclassman: Rayven Vinson Daughters of the American Revolution Award Yoonah Choi Lamp of Learning Award Students who received First Honors for all three terms this year

“As women in the 21st century you will have so many ways to contribute to the world. You can be anything you want to be and I would encourage you when you are faced with those infinite possibilities, to remember Antonio Novella’s statement that ‘service is the rent we pay for living.’ In the final analysis, find something that you are passionate about.”

Yoonah Choi Parker Phelan Angeline Kim Rayven Vinson SiNa Lee Katherine Wilson

Science Dept. Chair Chemistry: Eon Jung “Angeline” Kim Physics: Hae Keum Chun Biology: Katherine Wilson

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

L D F I E L D S

FACULTY AWARDS

Trustee Prizes

Nancy I. O’Connor ’75 Excellence in Teaching Prize Given each year to recognize excellence in teaching, on the basis of a ballot response from the alumnae classes of 2004 and 2007 Dori Reigner

Eighth Grade Trustee Prize Ashley Carroll

l o e p v e m D l e a n n o i t s s Profe McColl Teaching Award This award is made possible by a generous endowment gift from Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McColl P ’86 to recognize outstanding teaching. Kevin Yeager Seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 90% or above for their entire career at Oldfields Katherine Anderson Donata Bechstein HK Chun Lesley Gao Hee Seung Han Kelsey Rogers Katherine Wilson Second Honors For the student with the second highest senior GPA in a challenging course of study Hee Seung Han Taylor Smith Prize for First Honors For the student with the highest senior GPA in a challenging course of study Katherine Wilson The State of Maryland Merit Scholastic Award In recognition of excellence in scholastic achievement by earning a cumulative average within the top five percent of the graduating class Hee Seung Han

FALL 2009

Freshman Trustee Prize Elisabeth Palmer

Sophomore Trustee Prize Angeline Kim Junior Trustee Prize Madison Cole Senior Trustee Prize Ashala Powell

ALL SCHOOL AWARDS Gold Key Award To the Student Ambassador whose outstanding support and cooperation working with the Admission Office has done the most to convey the Oldfields spirit to visiting families Kate Bayer

Katherine Culbertson ’65 Award For the first year student making the greatest contribution to the School Lauren Heneghan Marian Culbertson ’63 Award For the underclass student making the most positive effort for its own sake Liz Poston

L D F I E L D S

Mary K. McPherson Award For the underclass girl with the highest academic average in a challenging program Rayven Vinson Christine Heartfield Memorial Prize For outstanding interest and participation in athletics Tasheba Morgan Nimick Athletic Award For all around athletic proficiency, good sportsmanship and team spirit Eliza Witherbee Joseph T. Brennan II Award For the girl who, by her own efforts, has made the most significant progress during the current year Kate Tsoleas Edith Liddell Twiss ’28 Memorial Prize For the student who has exhibited the highest standards of good citizenship Lesley Gao Leroy M. Polvogt Award For the girl who, by example and by deed, has been the most constructive influence on underclass girls Katherine Wilson Marion H. “Chip” Allen Memorial Award For the student who best exemplifies past Board Chair, Marion H. “Chip” Allen’s, personal qualities of thoughtfulness and warmth through demonstrated concern for the overall well-being of the Oldfields community and the individuals who comprise it Donata Bechstein

Lorna M. Kelly Award This award is given for the underclass girl who, in the opinion of the teaching faculty, possesses the greatest love of learning for its own sake. Rayven Vinson Helen E. Travers Award For the senior who, in the opinion of the faculty, has made the greatest overall contribution to the school Angelica Jackson Elizabeth Leeds Memorial Award To the senior girl who, in the opinion of the faculty, best exemplifies the spirit and ideals of the School, which are expressed in the Oldfields motto Courage, Humility, and Largeness of Heart Emily Acle

“You take with you all of those experiences, people, loved ones, friends and acquaintances who have helped you in the past. Those people who have been part of your life whose voices you will hear from time to time in your head when you face the most difficult of circumstance. In that sense you are not truly leaving Oldfields.”

Head of School Award Given each year by the Head of School to recognize an outstanding senior Charlotte Shapiro

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

At theBarn

FALL 2009

L D F I E L D S

Although campus was quiet during the summer as most of the Oldfields girls headed home for break, the barn was still bustling with activity. A handful of highly dedicated and horse-crazy girls spent much of their summer exercising horses, taking lessons, and attending horse shows with their Oldfields trainers. In addition to our current riders, we also had a few alumnae who elected to come back to Oldfields and train with us again; it was like an “old home” week that lasted all summer! The girls kept our tried and true school horses fit as well as helped to “test drive” some potential donation horses that arrived late in the spring and early in the summer. All told, we have received eight new horses for the girls to use this year; a few are on loan to the school and a few others are officially donated. This group of horses includes: a stunning and successful Junior hunter; a scopey jumper/equitation prospect; a well known working hunter who is now enjoying a step down to the 2’6” level; a beautiful moving warm blood who started his career as a dressage horse and is learning to be a hunter; a very quiet and kind young prospect who is teaching the girls how to school a green horse; two lovely geldings who are steady both in the ring and out cross country; and a super cute large pony that all the girls beg to ride! When the summer riders were not busy schooling horses at home, they put in great performances at a variety of rated shows in Virginia including Loudoun Benefit in June, Cavalier Classic at Culpeper in July, and Lexington National in August. Their stellar riding earned them many ribbons including a handful of division Championships as well as qualifying points for numerous fall Medal finals. The girls have continued horse showing this fall with another trip to Culpeper for the USGPL Finals competition. Two Oldfields riders attended this show and represented the school very well by bringing home the Reserve Championship in the Older Large Junior

Hunter division. The girls will continue to have a busy school year with a lot of exciting venues on their schedule. In line with this year’s school theme of “Women Who Dare,” the riders are putting their skills to the test by participating in a variety of riding opportunities. Recently, one of the seniors, Katy W., undertook the daunting task of riding in a three day jumping clinic with renowned Olympic veteran George Morris. Mr. Morris has a reputation for being very direct and demanding of his students and this clinic was no exception! Katy rode with determination and poise throughout the clinic and earned a handful of coveted compliments on her position, technique and the quality of her horse, who is one of Oldfields’ most recent donation acquisitions. The regular group of show riders will continue to challenge themselves and master their show nerves this fall by competing at three shows in Virginia including two Medal Finals as well as at a handful of Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team shows. We are excited to have fourteen riders signed up to compete on the IEA team this year. With ten returning riders and four new girls on the team roster, the girls are sure to have a strong year competing against other schools and private stable teams

L D F I E L D S

throughout Maryland and Virginia. In addition to clinics and competitions, many of the girls with very little or no show experience will be expanding their comfort zone by testing themselves in a series of In-House horse shows. These shows are held on campus and are designed to give every rider in the program a chance to try her hand at showing without the pressure or added financial burden of traveling to competitions. For many girls this is a great chance to enjoy some friendly competition and showcase their riding improvements while for others it is a stepping stone to future showing opportunities. On many beautiful fall afternoons in Glencoe, both the girls and the Oldfields community really enjoy this experience. With our fall season well underway, the Oldfields riding program is looking forward to continuing its tradition of success, camaraderie, and horsemanship throughout the year. - Kate Worsham, Director of Riding

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

L D F I E L D S

Serious Varsity Volleyball Goes to Playoffs

FALL 2009

tiebreaking 15 point match. Aces were made. Kills were released. When the smoke cleared, Oldfields stood victorious, 15-11. Second place was ours! Oldfields had home court advantage for the Quarter Finals and hosted Glenelg. Oldfields had been getting better each day, after each practice and each game. They started practice for the playoffs energetic and determined. That was the team that Glenelg met, and lost quickly to, in three straight matches. The players communicated extremely well and attacked their opponents quickly. The first match was won easily due to almost perfect serving, at 25-17. Only one was missed. This was the closest the team had come to a perfect serving game (and subsequently, free ice cream!) all year. Everyone was very proud. The second game saw three missed serves and the scores crept closer together, 25-20. Jamila H. went on a long string of service points that kept the match at a safe distance. In the third game, Oldfields was shaken during the first five minutes and missed serves, caused hitting errors, and communication trailed off. They quickly snapped out of it and rallied to come back from their slow start. Near the end of the match the teams were playing point for point, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, and finally Glenelg broke away

L D F I E L D S

clean. Taylor F. and Marguerite C. took us to a quick 12-1 lead with aces and kills. The tides had changed. Although Catholic rallied and kept fighting, Oldfields’ dominance at the beginning was enough to win 25-20. Once back on the other side of the court, we slipped back into the first match mod and were defeated in the third, 12-25. The entire fourth match was point for point, until Taylor F. took us to a 23-21 lead. To Oldfields’ dismay, Catholic’s best server was up and she scored the four points needed to clinch their win and championship spot. Oldfields fought hard all night and we are very proud of all the players’ accomplishments over the season.

Getting OS faced the top-division seed St. Timothy’s School in their last regular season game. Due to the recent winning streak Oldfields had been on, there was more to this game than just another win or loss. If Oldfields could pull off the victory they would take second place in their division. This would give them at least one home game in the playoffs. The last time Oldfields faced St. Tim’s it resulted in a 0-3 loss. Stakes were high. The first match did not go well, resembling one of the past games, and St. Tim’s quickly took a 1-0 lead by holding Oldfields to 11 points. Attitudes changed between games and some fire was lit. Oldfields came back to challenge their opponents and took the second match, 25-21. One of the most memorable plays of the season took place during match 2. Still slightly uneasy from the first loss, Frannie B. went up for an attack from left front and placed a kill right behind St. Timothy’s School’s two best blockers. The intensely emotional reaction, scream, and fist pump were all signs that Oldfields was there to fight for a win. For the rest of the night, the two teams battled back and forth with the lead and final results. St. Timothy’s took match three. Oldfields took match four. With fans from both schools at their loudest, the girls played a

and produced a 24-22 lead. Taylor F. stepped up during this clutch situation. If there was one missed serve Glenelg would have won, but we played to game four, and dinner got cold. Under pressure, Taylor F. served up four beautiful, powerful serves, three of which were aces to win the game! This was Oldfields’ first playoff volleyball win since three years ago. In the semi-finals, Oldfields needed to do what no other team had been able to do all season – beat Catholic High. They had to do it in the worst gym in the conference (Catholic’s ceiling is low, the gym is crowded and small – totally the opposite of our home court). It was not to be. The girls arrived excited, nervous, and pumped up. Energy was great on the court and on the bench. The first match caught us off guard though. Although we practiced receiving lower to adjust for the ceiling issues, passes weren’t making it up to the setters, eliminating our best weapon against Catholic: our hitting game. Catholic also unleashed powerful serves all night. The first game was over quickly, with a 10-25 loss. Then attitudes quickly changed. The first match was forgotten. Stephanie O. was coming in to play liberio, a strictly defensive position, in order to receive as many of the serves as she could and keep passes

Here are some of the final team statistics over the season: SERVING

Aces (176 Total) – Taylor F, 64; Marguerite C, 28; Mikeala S, 27; Kristen J, 22; Frannie B, 13; Jamila H, 11; Tiffani C, 6; Kayleigh L, 3; Erica K, 2. Most Consistent - Frannie B, 87%; Kristen J, 85%; Taylor F, 81%

Women Who Dare to Care are involved in community service at Oldfields. This semester these dedicated students have visited residents at Broadmead Retirement Home, bringing their smiles and companionship. As Sparks School celebrated its centennial, our students enthusiastically joined in the festivities. The girls painted the faces of the elementary students,

ATTACKING

scooped ice cream at the Social, and assisted at the Book Fair. “Team Oldfields”

Kills (185 Total) – Taylor F, 49; Marguerite C, 39; Mikeala S, 24; Tiffani C, 22; Kristen J, 21; Frannie B, 18; Jamila H, 7; Kayleigh L and Erica K, 2; Lauren E, 1. Most Consistent – Jamila H and Lauren E, 100%; Marguerite C, 91%; Taylor F, 88%

ran in the annual Walk/Run For the Kids’ Sake, sponsored by Villa Maria, and

SETTING

Assists (134 Total) – Mikeala S, 67; Kristen J, 61; Taylor F, 3; Tiffani C, Jamila H, and Lauren E, 1 each. DEFENSE Blocks (27 Total) – Taylor F, Tiffani C, and Marguerite C, 8 each; Frannie B, Mikeala S, and Kristen J, 1 each. Digs (113 Total) – Taylor F, 42; Tiffani C, 19; Kristen J, 13; Erica K, 12; Stephanie O, Mikeala S, and Frannie B, 7 each; Marguerite C, 3; Jamila H, 2; Kayleigh L, 1.

returned on Halloween Day to lead the children in a costume parade. On campus, the community service students support our ecOSchool recycling campaign and have organized a can drive for the Hereford Food Bank. They consistently inspire us all to care for those around us.

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

L D F I E L D S

U P D AT E F R O M T H E A C A D E M I C O F F I C E

Opening Days

Thanks, Dad! 28

FALL 2009

The faculty came back from summer vacation refreshed and eager to welcome the returning students, and especially those who are new to Oldfields, into the classrooms. The students are all ensconced in a variety of classes, sports and afternoon activities, grade-level seminars, and a myriad of clubs in the afternoons. The Introduction to Behavioral Science class, a new course that is being team taught by Maribeth Littlefield, Parny Hagerman and Taylor Smith, is a welcome addition to the history curriculum. During the first trimester, Mrs. Littlefield and her students will delve into relevant social issues such as race relations, gender issues, the role of media, and controversies concerning the criminal justice system. With Dr. Hagerman, the students will be introduced to the basic theories of normal and abnormal psychology and how they surface in today’s society. Throughout the last trimester, Mr. Smith will present the basic tenets of cultural anthropology. Two other courses were revamped and reintroduced this year in the math and science departments: Statistics, taught by Christine Gilmore, and Physics Honors, taught by Justo Anguita. Sangmi Kim and Yeji “Vicky” Lee, two interns from Korea, arrived in the middle of September and have truly become an integral part of the “Oldfields Family.” They were instrumental in starting an “Asian Cultures Club” and they are available in the library to work with several of our Korean and Chinese students who may need assistance with languagerich classes such as English and history. Throughout the year at

faculty meetings, Sangmi and Vicky will conduct informal information sessions with the faculty concerning current issues facing Asian students. As students are required to write more research papers across the curriculum, both faculty and students received a formal introduction to the databases which are available in the George Nevens Library by our librarian, Maria Vaporis. The students were instructed on how to conduct more efficient research using authorized resources. Finally, Oldfields continued the Self-Study portion of the AIMS Accreditation and Evaluation process in earnest this fall. This careful and reflective study of every aspect of the “workings of the School” will include the input of all faculty and staff members over the next 18 months. Under the guidance of two co-chairs and a Steering Committee, subcommittees meet to discuss and examine areas such as governance, programs and program administration, health and safety, advancement, and residential life at Oldfields. A full report, based on committee findings, will be shared with and critiqued by a Visiting Team in the fall of 2010. Based on its visit, the Team will make commendations and recommendations for improvement.

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

L D F I E L D S

Another Opening, Another Show! Have you ever wondered how a play is chosen for the Oldfields theatre program? It starts with knowing which girls are interested in performing on stage and for which season. With that knowledge, I spend time reading a variety of plays while thinking about each of the girls who expressed interest. I have found that humor, intrigue and multi-layered characters are of great interest to the girls. Each play is chosen because it has all the requirements that I listed above and because I could hear the voices of specific students in these roles. This past year Steel Magnolias graced the Oldfields stage. Filled with hilarious dialogue between the characters, the play reminded us that, in good times and bad, the underlying love and devotion of family and friends remain as fragile as a magnolia bloom with the strength of steel. The set for the entire play was Truvy’s Beauty Shop, in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure if she is married or not) the outspoken, wisecracking Truvy gives free advice while she styles everyone’s hair. This includes Ousie (I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for forty years); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a “good ole boy.” Although the main storyline involves Shelby, her mother, and Shelby's medical battles, the underlying group-friendship among all six women is prominent throughout the drama. The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women, was a satire about a women’s

FALL 2009

theatre group putting on a performance about five ladies being tried for betraying Anastasia Romanov, daughter of a Russian Czar. While the play had some humor, the drama unfolded as we heard each woman’s story of why she betrayed Anastasia and to what lengths she went to do it. The play, which combined history with comedy, was interactive and the audience was judge and jury. If the audience sustained or overruled an objection, the cast had separate dialogue to choose from for their different routes to the play’s end. Each performance could potentially have a different result, and many students saw every performance just so they could see how the show ended. The spring performance was A Cabaret and An Evening of One Acts. The Cabaret was written by faculty members Jillian Meyers-Beldsoe and Cortney Bledsoe and featured charming anecdotes intermingled with song. An Evening of One Acts featured Tell Me Another Story, Sing Me A Song directed by Leslie Gao ’09, and scenes from The Good Doctor directed by Charlotte Shapiro ’09. The scenes were the “final exams” for the Directing/Production class. These two students read and analyzed a variety of plays in order to select their final production piece. They learned first-hand about advertising, auditioning, casting, directing, and designing as they worked to produce their final presentations. They were responsible for planning and executing all aspects of the rehearsal process, including incorporating their own costuming, lighting, and set design into a final production. Each production this school year; A Voice of My Own in the fall, Regarding

Electra the winter show and The Fantasticks, the spring musical, supports our wonderful theme of the year; Women Who Dare. Covering a broad spectrum from Sappho to writers of the present day, A Voice of My Own pointed out not only the triumphs of women in literature, but also the discouragement, derision and disbelief to which they were too often subjected. This play evoked the words and feelings of women who were frequently obliged to hide behind anonymity or male names in order to practice their art. That they succeeded so brilliantly in their efforts is not only a tribute to these talented women in particular but, in a more general sense, to the irrepressible spirit of the entire “other half” of humanity, whose voice could not be denied. - Kate Briante Please plan on joining us for our winter and spring productions: REGARDING ELECTRA Written by Maurice Valency Directed by Kate Briante January 29 - 7:00 pm January 30 - 7:00 pm January 31 - 2:00 pm THE FANTASTICKS Written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt Directed by Kate Briante Musical Direction by Charlotte Evans April 30 - 7:00 pm May 1 - 7:00 pm May 2 – 2:00 pm

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

Our Beloved Copper Beech

FALL 2009

n August, our beloved Copper Beech tree was removed. Disease had consumed the trunk, creating a precarious situation for a tree of that magnitude. It took over eight laborious hours for the branches to be trimmed so that the trunk could finally be dismantled in sections. Well over one hundred years old, the tree had welcomed generations of girls as they passed beneath its limbs to become Oldfields Girls. Sidney Persing Banaszak ’84, a proud member of the “Tree Climbers Association,” shares her fond memories of this magnificent campus landmark. “OK, fine, call me a tree hugger, I will wear that title with pride. I have only a handful of trees in my life that have been a sort of home to me. Most of them are in Florida where my aunt lives and, to this day, I am able to visit them. They take me back to a magical time called childhood. The one tree that was my most favorite was at Oldfields. It will never be climbed again, never hugged or looked up to again. I only have pictures to see and think “wow, I used to climb all the way up there?” We called it “the elephant tree” because of the smooth grey bark it had, and the thickness of its branches and trunk. It must have been a million years old, in our minds at least. Every Saturday we would meet there and climb. Our club was named after Hawley Rodger’s own childhood club, the TCA (Tree Climbers Association). We had the tree divided up into parts with names to the parts. The first level was called “heaven”. Heaven started at the first low branch and went a part of the way up then turned into “paradise”. Paradise was the part that was a little tough to get to because of one part of the tree where you would actually have to take yourself a little away

from the trunk (dangerous to do in such a giant) and go out on a limb to reach another branch well enough to get a good grip. Looking back now I laugh at the names and smile because I guess we decided that even just being in the tree was “heaven” and then, if you were to get all the way up there (points to the tallest part), you were in paradise. Reaching paradise was always cause for celebration, and prayer; for you then had another climb ahead to get back down. I did a lot of praying in that tree. It is appropriate to pray when you are in heaven, I think. I would go there every chance I could get, in between Saturdays, and climb. I am a climber by nature so when I saw this tree for the first time not only did I want to get in it, I felt at home. The elephant tree grew right next to Carroll House dorm, and by Old House. I could sit up there, untouchable. People would look up to me, quite literally. I was strong, different, and high. When I climbed to the tippy top of the tree I could see the taxi’s before they hit campus and could yell to the girls in Gookies that they were on their way. I loved that tree, it held me. I felt the strength of its limbs, the smooth bark that never really scratched my skin, well, not as bad as other trees. This tree was home to me. When there was a lot to think about I would climb, it would take me away. There is nothing else you can really think about when you are in the middle of making darn sure you are not going to fall out of the tree you are currently climbing. Hands firmly grip...feet placed just so. It’s all a matter of leverage,

leverage, look up to the next branch, plan your next step. There was no room for fret when you were climbing the elephant tree. At its base the branches were thick. You could sit in the bend of one and pretend to be a wild cat lounging in the jungle. The branches were pretty far apart low down and as you climbed further it was easier for the branches were closer, easier to reach. It was as if the tree had given you the test to get past a certain point and when you got there your prize was that it was easier to get up further. Just being in paradise was a prize. I know the faculty, all of which I regarded as parents to me, were concerned at the height to which I climbed. I heard their warnings and made a vow to never fall. The vow went unbroken for the 30 years I knew Elephant Tree. There was no fear, partly due to age, but also due to the fact that I knew the tree so well. I am glad I was not there for the cutting down of the elephant tree, I really don’t think I would have been strong enough to witness it. A good friend of mine was there for me.

L D F I E L D S

Sarah Greenhalgh ’83 wrote to me: ‘When I looked over to the corner where the tree had stood there was a huge empty space. The horizon on that side of campus was changed forever. It was so empty, void of shade and green branches. I hope that something equally wonderful is put there in its place, something the next generation of girls can remember and love too.’ And I agree, something to cherish, something to remember and hold close, literally. Another tree could take its place, but then again, it cannot.”

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

L D F I E L D S

Fall Family Weekend

L D F I E L D S

Announcing the Middle School at Oldfields by Helen Fitz Excellent learning environment. Dedicated and passionate teachers. Outstanding educational opportunities. A “feeling of family.” All of this and more will soon become available to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade girls at The Middle School at Oldfields. The Oldfields School mission emphasizes a belief in maximizing the potential of each girl, academically and socially. This philosophy will be the cornerstone of The Middle School. Oldfields is a school where “one size fits all” teaching methods do not exist, and where girls learn how to support one another at a time in their lives when cliques and exclusion of individuals can take place. “I wish my daughter could have attended Oldfields even earlier.” Time after time, these types of comments have been heard at alumnae gatherings, parent receptions, read on Facebook threads, or reported on parent and alumnae surveys. This recognized need precipitated the discussion of adding a middle school to our exceptional boarding and day school. Oldfields recognizes that girls grow and change rapidly during these middle school years and that every girl can be guided to find success, self-esteem and develop a strong sense of self, in the right environment. We believe that the right environment exists in a small, single-sex community where girls can taste some independence, develop some glimmers of self-confidence, and dare to explore non-traditional subjects. The middle school core curriculum will include the Humanities—English and Social Studies—and STEM—a melding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, where girls will benefit from hands-on and experiential learning. They will also receive instruction in art, physical education, music, drama and foreign language. Oldfields is committed to maintaining small class sizes where academically talented girls will receive enrichment or extra challenge while students who need more attention to develop strong skills will be supported by a Learning Specialist. Girls will also participate in a wide array of Oldfields opportunities that may include offerings such as field hockey, tennis, dance and the equestrian program. They will also delight in participating in experiences such as the Big Sister/Little Sister program, the Green and White spirit competitions, the hiding of the Thing-a-ma-bob, and the May Program—two weeks of hands-on experiences at the end of the school year. All girls. Small classes. High standards without high pressure. Boarding school advantages in the day time. Sleeping at home at night. What more could a middle school girl ask for? To learn more or to apply, contact Dr. Parny Hagerman at HagermanP@OldfieldsSchool.org or (410) 472-4800.

FALL 2009

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

L D F I E L D S

DevelopingOLDFIELDS

New Faculty & Staff 3. 1.

Oldfields School Fall Admission Picture 2009

6. 2. 5. 1. A recent graduate of Hollins University, Eliza Broaddus is the new Development Assistant/Assistant Director of Alumnae. As a Woodberry Forest School faculty daughter and a Foxcroft School graduate, she is very familiar with the boarding school environment. Eliza previously did an internship with the development office at Woodberry Forest that translates well into her work for Oldfields. Eliza will be coaching indoor soccer and co-coaching lacrosse with Amanda Gilmore. She is excited to meet alumnae and hear all about their time at Oldfields! 2. Helen M. Fitz is a graduate of Towson University, and has an MLS from University of Maryland. She worked for the Baltimore County Public Library for ten years, rising to the position of Branch Manager at the Reisterstown Library. She then spent 23 years at Ruxton Country School serving in a variety of capacities including, most recently, Middle School Head. With the closing of Ruxton Country School, Helen was pleased to be called upon to help create The Middle School, which will continue to emphasize Oldfields’ educational philosophy of maximizing each girl’s personal potential. Helen lives in Carroll County with her three daughters, her husband and a pug.

FALL 2009

3. Amanda Gilmore went to The Hill School and graduated from Colgate University, where she played field hockey, majored in history and minored in education. She has worked in both The Hill’s and Colgate’s admission offices, and now brings her talents to Oldfields where she is the Assistant Director of Admission. Amanda coaches field hockey and lacrosse and is a dorm parent in Jane House. She enjoys traveling, especially to the beach. 4. Gary P. Huss, the Business Manager, has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland (Accounting), a masters from Loyola (MD) (Counseling Psychology) and a Ph.D. from Florida State University (Family Studies). He was born and raised in Towson and currently resides in Harford County. He enjoys golf, basketball and watching movies. 5. Joan Carter Jermakian graduated from Oldfields in 1981 and returned in 2009 as the new Director of Alumnae Affairs. After graduating with a dual major in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Lesley University, Joan taught for more than twenty years at the elementary school

level in both the private and public school settings in the DC Metropolitan area. Teaching is truly Joan’s passion but she has been recently pursuing a career in events planning. She looks forward to managing the many special events and gatherings that occur at Oldfields each year. She encourages all of our alumnae to come back and visit anytime! Joan lives in Jane House with her two daughters, Rosie who attends Virginia Tech and Claire a future OS girl, and their cat Smokey. 6. Christina Sandoe Klintebäck is a graduate of Kimball Union Academy and Colgate University, where she played varsity ice hockey and majored in International Relations. After a year and a half of humanitarian work in post-war Kosovo, she switched tracks and was encouraged by a friend to give admissions a try. She has worked in admissions for six years, at both boarding and day schools in Baltimore and Washington, DC. She is thrilled to be back in the all-girls boarding environment and lives on campus with her husband and baby son. Christina enjoys international travel, reading, and cheering on the Red Sox.

As the fall leaves begin to turn, you can bet the Oldfields Admission Office is on the road. In fact, we shall be on the road for 80 days between the five people responsible for a portion of our enrolled students. Christina Klinteback, a graduate of Kimball Union Academy and Colgate University, who had been in Admissions at Alexandria Country Day and St. Timothy’s School, is the newly appointed Director of Boarding Admission. She shares the bulk of the travel duty with Amanda Gilmore, a graduate of The Hill School and also Colgate University. Amanda worked summers in The Hill Admissions Office and is the perfect candidate to be the Assistant Director of Admission. Cory Jackson ’85 P ’11, P ’13 is not new to the office, but is new to the post of Director of Day Admission. With the opening of The Middle School at Oldfields in the fall of 2010, Cory will be responsible for all day applications in the Middle School and the Upper School. She will be joined in this endeavor by Helen Fitz, the new Head of the Middle School. They will comb the 20 mile radius around Oldfields, seeking matriculants for all of our grades, 6-12. Taylor Smith will also join in the fun by traveling to China, Vietnam, Thailand, India and Great Britain. We will also be looking to Bermuda and the Bahamas, where students are seeking

education in girls’ schools in the States, much like what they are used to at home. In all, we will initially travel to 14 states and seven foreign countries. By late fall we will begin visiting states where members of the Parent Alumnae Network have identified schools and potential students for us to visit. We are continuing to hold Open Houses for local families to visit classes, meet current students, and speak with a panel of our teachers to discuss all the intricacies of Oldfields life.

During the Saturday night “Coming Home Celebration,” The Parent Association sponsored various types of auctions which raised $42,308.45. Fran Acle, President of The Parent Association 2008-2009, presented a “check” to Taylor Smith, Head of School, at Awards Night.

Oldfields Begins AIMS Accreditation Process Oldfields faculty and staff have embarked upon the self-study part of the Association of Independent Maryland School (AIMS) Accreditation Evaluation process. The self-study is the “heart of the evaluation process” because it causes the School to carefully and seriously reflect upon, and examine, every aspect of school life. Under the guidance of co-chairs Ansley Smithwick and Tiffany Harrison, a Steering Committee was formed and 12 sub-committees were created to analyze the workings of each area of school life including the philosophy of Oldfields, governance and programs, program administration, finance, operations, and institutional advancement. The self-study process will continue throughout the next year and will culminate in a Self-Study Report. In November 2010, a Visiting Team, after having read this report, will come to Oldfields and observe us “in action” by sitting in on classes, meeting with office staff and convening with trustees, parents and students. At the end of the visit, the School will receive a Team Report with commendations and recommendations. Oldfields will analyze the Team Report and create an Action Plan which “charts future school development” within the following year. This Plan is reviewed by the AIMS Accreditation Committee which recommends to the AIMS Board of Trustees whether accreditation should be granted. Five years following the visit, Oldfields must submit a Five-Year Report, which must indicate that significant changes stipulated in the Action Plan have been made. At the conclusion of the accreditation process, “the successful school is granted accreditation because it has demonstrated compliance with AIMS Standards and has shown a high degree of congruence between its philosophy and daily practice.”

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

AlumnaeMATTERS In Memoriam Cynthia Bullock Lake Woodger 1932 – 2009 Oldfields has been blessed with a remarkable number of women who have “given back” to the School they loved after their academic careers there were over. One such person was Cynthia Bullock, Class of 1949. I was privileged to know her and be her friend, not at Oldfields, alas, but at Vassar and then on, for the rest of her life. She came to Oldfields after the death of her mother, a very painful time for her and was quick to say that the School gave her the support and love she desperately needed and she loved it always. Cynie graduated from Vassar in 1953 and went on to Union Theological Seminary’s School of Sacred Music. She married Ben Lake, a Presbyterian minister and lived in a variety of different communities mostly in the semi-north of New York State. They adopted Whitney and Amanda and were delighted when Amanda chose to go to Oldfields, a member of the Class of 1982. Oldfields was a tradition in her family. In 1883 her grandmother, Joanna Ridgely graduated from the School and her sister, Sheila Bullock Tucker, graduated in 1955. Cynthia’s love for music and beautiful soprano voice opened many doors for her. She sang in operas in regional theatre and later, had an acting career at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, The Bristol Riverside Playhouse, Off-Broad Street Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse and The Candlewood Playhouse. She coached singers at Lawrenceville School

38 FALL 2009

and was a mentor for young talent at Westminster Choir College. She served on McCarter’s Board from 1978 to 1986 and was also involved in Princeton Pro Musica. Ben Lake died in 1986 and eight years later she married Bruce Woodger who had ties to Martha’s Vineyard as she did. It was one of those marriages made in heaven, full of love and support and understanding. When the tenure of George S. Nevens, Jr. as Head of School was over and Oldfields fell into a bad financial situation, she was then on the Board of Trustees and one of the school’s Saviors, those who pledged capital sums to save the school and then, in their infinite wisdom, hired Hawley Rogers to be Head. As President of the Oldfields Alumnae Association, I joined the Board in 1980 where I saw first hand how Cynthia’s grace mixed well with her smarts as she

took on the chairmanship of the Development Committee and began the Herculean task of organizing a small constituency into believing it could make a difference. Annual Giving increased along with the emergence of capital gifts to the school. Oldfields survived and prospered and that was because of Cynthia and others like her, and because of the wisdom and vision of Hawley Rogers. I remained on the Board through a good deal of 1986 and had the privilege of working with her. She gave me the courage to take on the job of first Alumna Chair of the Board and supported all of us in our work to make Oldfields strong. She threw her energies into our first Capital Campaign to raise 4 million dollars for faculty salary endowment and was on hand to celebrate its success. Oldfields was never a project for Cynthia. Rather, it was one of the “homes” she loved, full of people who meant a great deal to her. During her school days, she acted and sang in Miss Randolph’s productions of Gilbert and Sullivan, became a Student Officer, Green Team Captain and May Queen at her graduation. She was beautiful, smart, warm and a joy to work with. On the 31st of January 2009, she died peacefully in her sleep from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Courage, Unselfishness, Largeness of Heart – Cynthia was an Oldfields Girl. Helen Frederick Gray Oldfields Class of 1951

U M N A E

M AT

T E R S

Class Notes 1939 Evelyn “Evy” Wheeler Swift

1945 Helena Fletcher Patch – I’m planning to move soon to a retirement home.

1947 Joan Stuart-Wortley Bishop

Joan Stuart-Wortley Bishop – After all these years I still see Ann “Norbie” Van Norden McDuffie. She is just as nice as she was at Oldfields. We all should be so lucky to have such longtime friends. Best to all in my class of ’47 and all others I knew at school.

Class of 1959 at their 50th reunion.

1948

1955 Elizabeth “Wendy” Woodhull Bersing

Anne Haight Dutka – I thoroughly enjoyed my three years at Oldfields and am sorry that with time and distance, I have not kept up with any of my classmates. At the two later reunions I went to, only Ann Brooke Holt was there from my class. I still travel as often as I can and in August I will be going to Kenya and Tanzania for my next trip.

1950 Mary Truby Graff Black

1953 Jeanne Colket Connell Margaret “Margo” Boocock Hurley

1954 Marie-Louise “Wawa” Graham Ingersoll

Florence “Fifi” Whitney Clark – I had a wonderful barge trip through France with all my children and grandsons last summer. I’m going to Russia on a riverboat cruise in September 2009. I’m still riding six days a week. Life is great.

1957

a wonderful Dutchman and they are presently living in Barcelona, Spain. It would be wonderful to hear from classmates.

Linda Brereton Wirts

1958 Marianne Harvey Olsen

1959 Elfrida “Frida” Barrow Moore

Glenn Reynolds Martin – It was wonderful to see Elfrida “Frida” Barrow Moore, Elizabeth Jean “B.J.” Hesseltine DeBree, and Mary Ellen Burke Partel for our 50th! I see Melinda Page Hamilton and Harriet “Taddy” Matthews Cork from time to time and they look great! My husband and I have two wonderful children and four fantastic grandchildren.

1961 Susan Lloyd Scannell – My last child, Kirsten, got married on June 20, 2009 in Cape Cod. It was a wonderful wedding but sad to be the last child. She married

Adelaide “Fiddle” Walker Walton – I am doing well, enjoying retirement. I just had a hip replacement, and am looking forward to getting back to a more active life. Would love to see any classmates who come near Boston or Concord.

1962 Silvia Wust Puky

Katharine Knapp Sherwood – Both Duncan and Carter are now married with solid careers. Duncan and Laura have a 3-month old son, Connor. Tony and I just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with a delightful Mediterranean cruise. I am still playing lots of competitive tennis; USTA and local leagues. We love St. James, North Carolina!

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

U M N A E

M AT

T E R S

Class of 1964.

Lucinda “Cinda” Train Longstreath – We had a wonderful summer; saw Wendy Fruland Hopper. Very successful summer art show. My daughter, Libby, has followed in her mother’s footsteps; she has an art show in the Adirondacks in October. DC visits are welcome; give a shout!

in Bridgehampton all summer, and then he isn’t sure what the next chapter of his life will be yet. Needless to say, it’s a tough time to be looking for a job. But we’re confident that he’ll find SOMETHING! And Gerrit continues to work at Deutsch Bank, but seems to work in enough free time to fish wherever he is! So all’s well with all the Vreelands!

1965 Jane Farley Simonds – I am keeping up with my croquet and am currently ranked number two nationally. I’m very busy with my grandsons, ages eight and six, and granddaughter, age three. My husband, Bill, is winding up his 43rd year teaching at Green Vale School.

1966 Carolyn Gibbons Abernethy

Cinda Longstreth ’64, Dee Allen ’64, Libby Longstreth, and Susan West Ross ’64 in Newport, March ’09.

1963

1964 Jacquelin “Jackie” Thomas Carey

Blair Bartol MacInnes – Three new grandchildren enhanced our lives this year; two girls and a boy, bringing us to eight. I stay in close touch with Wendy Goodyear Griswold and Marguerite “Maggie” Tenney Embry. Can’t break those bonds.

FALL 2009

Sarah Shaver Bauernfeind – George and I are traveling quite a bit to visit our wanderlust children all over the US. When not traveling, we can be found either in Kentucky or in Bonita Springs where we own a condo. We have been drawn to Florida ever since meeting there over 43 years ago! We plan to retire to Bonita Springs once the market recovers.

Antoinette “Toni” Carter Vreeland – My life is busy spending time in Baltimore in the fall and spring, Bridgehampton, Long Island during the summer and Ocean Reef (Key Largo, Florida) in the winter, so I’m never quite sure where I am when I wake up in the morning! Our youngest son, Corbin, just graduated from Trinity College (Hartford, Connecticut) this past May, so our college tuition checks are finally behind us! So far, nobody has decided to go to graduate school, so we’re taking a deep breath...we’ll see! Walker, now 30, has his own morning radio show on WBAZ, 102.5 (in Easthampton, Long Island) which is the station I’ve been listening to for many years, so I wake up to his cheerful voice all summer which is great fun! Taylor, 26, has been living in San Diego for the last four years working as a financial analyst for JMI Realty, but his firm is moving to Austin, Texas, so he will be moving there in the fall. He’ll miss the wonderful surfing in California, but he’s looking forward to being in Austin which is apparently a great city to live in. Corbin is ocean lifeguarding

Susan Drinker – To my classmates who do not, or cannot correspond by e-mail... thinking of all of you and putting it out there that we will be 45 in 2011. We all promised we would gather together every five years and we are quite a fun fest when we do, so let’s start to think where and how. I miss you and hope to see you again before I depart the planet (no current plans to do so, but we never know, now do we…).

1968 Anne Crimmins

U M N A E

M AT

T E R S

Cinda Train Longstreth ’64 When Henry Ward Beecher said, “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures,” then surely he must have been speaking about Cinda Train Longstreth ’64. Her modern paintings of the Adirondack Mountains combine her own sensitivity and artistic vision with the stunning natural beauty which surrounds her Keene Valley studio. The result is vibrant images of the peaks in glorious colors, as seen in different seasons, times of day, and varying weather. Although the majority of her work is paintings, she has also produced serigraphs and drawings. She has worked in a wide variety of media, including oils, wax, plastics, acrylics, glue, charcoal, pastels, spray paints, tempera, graphite and inks. Her wide range and flexibility create paintings that seem to “move” – one can almost feel the cool breezes rippling through the wildflowers as the sun begins to set. After studying art at Oldfields School, Cinda went on to study at the Corocoran

Anne Crimmins – I continue to enjoy retirement. I’m busy with substitute teaching, volunteering at Ronald McDonald House, being Grammy, and some travel. I see Lisle Loosli Bradley often and my grandchildren love her.

School of Art (Washington, DC), Signoria Simi’s School of Drawing (Florence, Italy), and at the Department of Art (Kansas State University). She has also taught art to pre-school children and elementary children in Washington, DC. A mentor, and great influence, on Cinda and her work was the artist Harold Weston. It was Weston’s work and efforts that led to the beginning of The National Endowment for the Arts. She was proud and honored when PBS created a major documentary called A Bigger Belief in Beauty – The Life and Paintings of Harold Weston and called her to lend her creativity and memories to the film. The film was made to augment a retrospective exhibit of Weston’s work, and subsequently used for the pledge drive in New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Her work has been shown in nearly 50 exhibitions and in some 500 individual collections across the country. Cinda is a woman who dares to express “her own

Anne Crimmins ’68 with her family

nature,” and the beauty of the world around her, through her art.

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

U M N A E

M AT

T E R S

1971 Edith “Deedie” Clark Bouscaren – In January, Margaret “Grace” Richards Coit and I traveled to Peru for ten days. It is an amazing country with warm people and beautiful countryside. We took the Andean explorer from Cusco to Puno.

1972 Christopher Brooke, Elizabeth Gay (Dix) Brooke ’69, and Elizabeth Anne Brooke

Denise “Dede” Alexandre Le Comte Susan “Susie” Sillcox Repko

Barrie Blazer Conner – Our daughter Caroline married Edward Buckley Greathouse on May 16, 2009. The wedding was at Second Presbyterian Church with the reception at our home. Our younger daughter, Frances Clay, was her Maid of Honor. What a blast we all had! Caroline and Buck live on his farm in Central Kentucky and Frances Clay lives on our family farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. They are ten minutes apart!

1977 Robin Brown

1969 Elizabeth Gay (Dix) Brooke – We are celebrating our 30th year of owning our B&B inn on Cape Cod. Beyond our innkeeping duties, we are often found doing volunteer work on behalf of animals. Christopher Hubbell McCambridge – I am now a “grandma!” Octavia McCambridge was born last October. It is so fun.

Verlinde Hill Doubleday – Verlinde is the president of the Garden Club of Houston for 2009. Denise “Dede” Alexandre LeComte – Elise “Hoppy” duPont Stearns ’71 and Sarah “Sally” Rockefeller Bogdanovitch ’71 (a.k.a. Hop and Rock) stopped by my house! Really awesome to see them both after so many years!

1973 Robin Brown Kearton Vanessa “Vinnie” Weber

1970 Gail Southard Canzano – Every time the Oldfields magazine arrives, I open it expectantly, looking for news from YOU! I think the class of ’70 may have the absolute worst response rate. Come on guys! If I can do it, you can. I didn’t even graduate! Next year is our 40th reunion. It would be so cool to see everyone. Start planning NOW. I need someone to walk to the Gunpowder with me.

FALL 2009

1978 Lydia Crow Taylor

Katharyn Slater Hart – OS holds a special place in my heart, as it does for my daughter Audrey Hart ’06 and sister, Serena Slater Wilson ’84.

1980 Cornelia “Lia” Wallace

1981 1974 Diana Kaiser Bulger

Kate Bedford – Still on the road leading the life of the gypsy. It was so great to see everyone at our 35th reunion. Colby Gordon Johnson – I am proud to write that my son, Gordon, graduated from James Madison University, and our daughter, Jean “Jeanie” Johnson ’07, will be a graduate in the class of 2011.

The daughter of Barrie Blazer Conner ’74 at her wedding.

Robin Brown – My son, Ross, just transferred to Vanderbilt for his sophomore year, so he is closer to home. In June I marked ten years at Ingram Book Company and celebrated five years of marriage and, for some reason, it looks like I’m turning—is that a 50?—this year. How can that be? Would love to hear from all my buds from ’76, ’77, ’78... Cannon? Linda? Sandi? Where are you? I’m on Facebook, and can be reached at vexil77@comcast.net.

Victoria “Vicki” Aubinoe – My husband, myself, and our daughter have created a business called Bizzy Brands. Our tee shirt line is called Bizzy Teez. The tee shirt looks like a coloring book page. It comes with twelve fabric markers to color in the shirt. Extra tees can be bought separately for people with more than one child. Our first theme (sea animals) is almost ready for store and website sales. I am working on a number of other themes for the kids to color in. They are great birthday presents, projects, and gifts to make for family members. After exactly one year of construction we have been back in

1982 Kim Smoyer

Lisa Sonshine ’80 recently visited with Joe and Dotty Hordubay our house for a year and a half after renovating it. We love it! Maybe we can throw a daytime BBQ for alumni and their families—that way more people can come. Lou Pierce Bradner – Jim and Lou Bradner live in Richmond, Virginia, and have been living there with their two daughters, Pierce, 16, and Caroline, 13, for 20 years. Life has been busy with work, school, and sports. I have reconnected with Oldfields friends in the past year and it has been wonderful. If ever in Richmond, would love to catch up. 804-285-2597

Frannie Pope Hohman – I am so happy to reconnect through Facebook with my OS sisters. I went to the reunion in April ’09 and got a chance to see many old friends and even make new friends with girls I didn’t know that well in school. One of the highlights of that weekend was meeting and singing with Dubious Dozen and Images. I have so many wonderful and wonderfully naughty memories of school. It was truly a life defining time for me. I went on to Boston University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting. From there I went on to work in theater, voice-over work for computer games and radio, and commercials. I am married to a wonderful man; we have two children and live in Tiburon, California, fifteen minutes north of San Francisco. Currently I am busy raising Oliver, 9, and Elliott, 6, but occasionally find time to act with a San Francisco based comedy troupe, to which I belong, called “Funny But Mean.”

U M N A E

M AT

T E R S

Julie Hupfeldt Miller – I am happily married nineteen years to Andrew “Skip” Miller of Baltimore, Maryland. I am a retired preschool teacher (at the moment) but intend to go back to it. We have two beautiful boys Cody, 11, goes to Jemicy School and Drew, 14, goes to Boy’s Latin School, both here in Maryland. We had the most memorable time at Alumnae Weekend 09! Attendance rocked ... all thanks to

Franny Pope Hohman ’82

Kami Landy – I just returned from two weeks in Spain, getting my studio apartment ready to be rented. Return flight passed through Dusseldorf, Germany— how lovely! I’ll have to go visit on purpose now.

Shawn Goldstein ’80 and Joan Carter Jermakian ’81 remain close friends

Jelene Joan Dover Dressler ’82, Megan Mardiney Hill ’82, Katie Trautlein Atwood ’81, Lisa Hewitt Cassara ’83 on Fire Island, Summer 2009

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

U M N A E

M AT

T E R S

Joann Falciani – I am currently training for a half marathon in September. Mary Ann Lai Herron – Our family is doing well and enjoyed our summer. Annie participated in an art camp. Sarah went to a science camp and I worked at Echo Hill Outdoor School for two weeks teaching 4-6 year olds. Lots of fun!! Cory Jones Jackson – I still love my job in the Admission office and am thrilled to be working on The Middle School at Oldfields. Parker ’12 is in her third year here and is a 5-day boarder, a member of Dubious and leader of Playmakers. Liza ’13 started her freshman year as a day student and is already making her own mark on the OS campus. I am really looking forward to the class of 85’s 25th this year and hope we will have a 100% turn out from our class. Go GREEN!

Left to right: Whitney Riggs O’Connor ’82, Louise Scheffenacker Prusak ’82, Jelene Joan Dover Dressler ’82 on Nantucket Island, Summer 2009 Facebook! Saw Barbarba Magee Buckley ’84, Louise Scheffenacker Prusak, Whitney Riggs O’Connor, Jelene “Joan” Dover Dressler, Asifa Hassam, Sarah Greenhalgh, Adrienne Russo, Heather Woods Keller, Ellen Gale Conner ’83, Lou Pierce Bradner ’81, Joan Carter Jermakian ’81, Lisa Hewitt Cassara ’83, Marizy Sphorer McKinney ’81, Liza Strode, Stephanie Fretz Cormier, Frannie Pope Hohman, Peggy Johnstone Burkett, Sidney Persing Banaszak and sooooo many more.... I cannot name them all! Next year I want to see YOU! We are all so thrilled to have Taylor Smith back and running the school ....it’s like coming home!

1983 Barbara Lynn Dulin

Kerin Bean Grall – I gave birth to my sixth child, Mathieu Robert Grall, on February 26, 2009. He came home to all his brothers and sisters as they were home from college for Spring Break! Jessica is now 21 and in her junior year at U-Conn; Nicolas, 19, is a freshman and playing football for Ithaca College.

FALL 2009

The class of 1984 at its 25th reunion Elizabeth is 13 and going to high school this fall and Sarah, 10, is going to middle school. Thomas just started a threeyear-old program and Mathieu will be keeping me busy at home. I would love to hear from some classmates and hope everyone is doing well.

everyone is having a fabulous summer, too! It’s been so fun to catch and keep up with all my OS buddies on Facebook! Speaking of which, I was able to see Margo Chertock in DC a couple weeks ago and had a wonderful visit!

1985 1984 Asifa Hassam – I am happy that I was finally “found” after 25 years. It was truly a beautiful “homecoming” this past spring. I am looking forward to giving back to our wonderful OS community. Nelle Chilton Dixon – We have enjoyed a busy beautiful summer thus far. In addition, we are embarking on the thrilling experience of pony ownership, so those of you whom I consider experts in this field, be forewarned; you will be hearing from me, as I will need lots of advice! For our next adventure, we’re off to Montana to a dude ranch, Yellowstone, and a possible visit with relatives in Jackson, Wyoming. Hope

Sims Boulware Bulluck Leigh Martin O’Connor

Carolyn Kelley Baugus – Hi everyone! I’m living in Atlanta with my husband, Jim, and our two sons, Ollie, 11, and Bennett, 8. We live near Chastain Park and have loved walking over to listen to the outdoor concerts. Keep in touch, I’m on Facebook. Elizabeth Petry Goldman Beckley – Alumnae weekend was better than I had ever expected. It was wonderful to see everyone doing so well, and what a great turn out! My husband, Guy, and I love living on the Eastern Shore. If anyone is in the area, please be sure to give us a call and say hi!

1986 Anne McIntyre Colclough Ann “Anna” Barker Gerrow Virginia “Gigi” Abel Long

Amanda “Mandy” Fisher Killen – I was married on June 6, 2009, to my husband, Jay Killen. We had a wonderful ceremony at our church in Southaven, Mississippi with all of our family and friends in attendance. Jane McColl Lockwood – Hi everyone! Everything is pretty good here in Charlotte. My kids are getting older which means, unfortunately, so am I! We are enjoying a lazy summer before gearing up for seventh, fifth, and third grades. I have recently joined the Oldfields Board of Trustees and I am looking forward to the challenge and to reconnecting with many of you, especially those I haven’t seen since we walked down the hill in June of 1986! As my mother would say...”remember where you came from and who helped you along the way.”

U M N A E

M AT

T E R S

1987 Esther McMaster Andrew Carolyn Ewing Woods

Samantha Safdie Miller – Thanks to all of the social networking sites it’s been so easy and fun staying in touch with my friends from Oldfields. Elizabeth “Wizzie” Wentz Stewart, Lauren Brumbach Rothermel, and Devon Parsons ’88 and I “chat” more now than when we had class together. I’m still down in Florida. Polo season here is over and now I’m back to helping the green ponies along during the very hot and humid summer. Hope everyone is doing great and I’m sorry I couldn’t make it back to see Hawley and Taylor. I’m definitely in for our 25 year reunion, though, so watch out.

1988 Rebecca Rivers Schrader Cynthia Thiele

Barbara Baisley – Hi everyone, it was wonderful to see everyone at Polly Williamson McArthur’s party. We can’t possibly be reaching that milestone in our lives. I have been plugging away at my dissertation and am starting to see light at the end of the tunnel and perhaps a return to life away from the computer screen. Hope you had a relaxing summer.

It’s been 20 years since the Class of 1989 graduated!

14, 2009. My husband Paddy and I have our hands full, but in a good way. Paddy and I also have a few flat and steeplechase horses in training. Love to all.

1992 Pamela “Pam” Irvin Jordan Mary Simmons Evans Alyssa Boyle Starzyk

Anita Megginson Brown – My husband and I are expecting a little girl in November. This will be a great addition to our two sons who are both excited about the sister that will be around.

1990 Wanda Cole Frieman Katherine “Katie” Salisbury LaDawne Lampton White Lisa Zawacki

1991 Julie Snyder Greenspan Leslie Falini Young

Leslie Falini Young – Hi all. I’m back in Unionville, Pennsylvania. I have two children; Rory Patrick, born February 27, 2008 and Saoirse Reese, born January

Rory Patrick and Saoirse Reese, children of Leslie Falini Young ’91

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

U M N A E

M AT

T E R S

1993

1996

Cynthia “Cindy” van der Nat

Kathryn Allen Catsman Adrienne Seligman

1994 Allison Fair Chambliss Thayer Doffermyre Rust

1995 Anne Ervine Kathryn “Kate” Kelly Lacy Winn Sakellaris

Elizabeth Hoogenboom – Hi Everyone! I am doing well. Still living in NYC and working for Michael Skurnik Wines, a wine importer/distributor, and loving it! I had a great time seeing Anne Ervine, Page Scully, Amanda Cutter and Barkley Cutter in January ’09 for a ski vacation in Colorado. I also enjoyed a surprise visit from Julianne “Julie” Dickinson and was able to arrange a brunch with her, Dana “Tyler” Watkins Taylor and Adrienne Seligman ’96. I also took a trip up to Boston to visit Dana Kelly and had a blast. Lots of OS reunions for me in ’09 and I’ve loved them all! I hope there are plenty more to come!

FALL 2009

Bridget Read – Bridget moved to New York City to work for Ogilvy & Mather as an Advertising Account Supervisor within the healthcare industry. She works with consumers and healthcare professionals as an advertising digital specialist to launch websites and mobile applications. She has loved exploring NYC and taking full advantage of the arts and theater.

1997 Shelley Short Matthews Wendy Stewart Amanda Delcher Sutton

Nena Adams Meurlin – My most recent news is that we just welcomed a healthy baby boy on July 22, 2009. His name is Harrison Buchanan Meurlin. Elliott Watts Niespodziani – Hi everyone! I recently got married to my rock star husband, Nick Niespodziani, in May. He’s the lead singer and songwriter in several bands in Atlanta (Y-O-U and

Yacht Rock Revue to name a few). Check them out at www.pleaserock.com. I’ve been working at Turner Broadcasting for the past five years and love it. Nick and I set sail on our honeymoon in September to Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Costa Brava. Woo-hoo! Hope everyone is doing well!

T E R S

2004

2007

Vienna del Sol Tahira Lindsay

Catherine “Kate” Maddox Alexandra “Lex” Miller Catherine Ann “Cat” Kirschenmann

1999

2005

Claire Higgins Jennifer Stelmach Ashley Vizzi

2006

Erin Stevens Henrie

Enjoying the merry-go-round is Starling Marie Nowell, age 4, the daughter of Starling Crabtree Nowell ‘97

M AT

and I can truly say that I have experienced no better joy then watching my little boy grow and learn new things every day. I am still enjoying my work as a therapist but at the end of the day I am always eager to get home to my beautiful baby boy, wonderful husband, and, of course, my two sweet puppies!

2000 Madeline Ryan, daughter of Casey Latrobe Ryan ‘97

U M N A E

Courtney Brown – I just moved out to Berkeley, California to start my Ph.D. program at the Haas School of BusinessUC Berkeley.

Shavonne “Shay-Shay” Ward

Madeline “Maddy” Darrell Elizabeth “EB” Hurley Phoebe Larner Krislyn Payne

PAST FACULTY NOTES Tonya Grudier Montgomery – Tom and I welcomed our precious little boy, Thomas Mitchell (who we’re calling Mitchell), on Wednesday, April 22 at 2:43 p.m. He weighed in at 9 pounds, 3 ounces and is 22 inches long. He is a cuddle bug who loves to be held, and we are absolutely in love!

2001 Rosa “Gunter” Davis Victoria “Vicky” Hunter Paige Rabalais Lindsey Ringwald

2002 Ellen “E.J.” Ruchman

2003 Ashley Brant Catherine Ford

Maddy Darrell – Hey Oldfields! I hope everyone is doing well out there in beautiful Glencoe! My dad (Richard Darrell, Trustee) says everything is running smoothly. I transferred from Virginia Tech to The Savannah College of Art and Design. I love it! Savannah is so pretty and I really enjoy all my classes. I am majoring in advertising design. Big hugs and kisses to everyone!!! Mitchell Montgomery, son of Tonya Grudier Montgomery

Starling Crabtree Nowell – I am living in Nashville, Tennessee with my family and working at Regions Bank in their mortgage division. I’m hoping to get back to Oldfields soon for my 15 year reunion in 2012 to celebrate with all my girlfriends!

1998 Charlotte Bair Carolyn “Dealey” Campbell Lee “Dougie” Simmons

Jennifer Winter Horne – This past year has been busy but thrilling at the same time. With the birth of my son, Robert, Jr., I have been experiencing the wonderful joy of parenting! It truly is something that mere words could never describe. Every day is a new adventure

The Class of 1999 celebrated its 10th reunion!

The Class of 2004 celebrated its 5th reunion!

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE

U M N A E

M AT

T E R S

M I L E S T O N E S Births

Caroline “Biddy” Baxter Pauley ‘56

A son, Sayid Talishkhan, to Valerie Theberge ’87 on March 30, 2009

was a dedicated volunteer who focused

A daughter, Whitley White, to LaDawne Lampton White ’90 on February 5, 2009

Greenwich, Ct. She died on March 5,

A son, Samuel Gordon Cavallo, to Ange Grand Cavallo ’94 on March 16, 2009 A son, Harrison Buchanan Meurlin, to Nena Adams Meurlin ’97 on July 22, 2009 A daughter, Madeline Louise Ryan, to Casey Latrobe Ryan ’97 on August 20, 2009

Marriages Amanda “Mandy” Fisher married Jay Killen on June 6, 2009 Elliott Watts married Nick Niespodziani on May 24, 2009 Taylor Jones ’00 married Micah Gremillion on April 25, 2009

homes in Hobe Sound, Fla. and

2009. Born in Beeville, Tex., Biddy was a passionate supporter of programs that made a difference in the lives of the less

who also played a crucial role in directing

The beautiful bride Taylor Jones Gremillion ‘00 and her bridesmaid, Stefanie Stelmach Childers ‘00.

In Memoriam

supporters. She was a director of the

of the Hot Line in Greenwich, Ct. and the president of the board of the Boys & Girls

Gretchen Glover Motter ’34 August 24, 2009

Club of Martin County in Hobe Sound, Fla. She was also a champion angler and

Ellen Gorham Motter ’35 February 2, 2009

hunter, holding the International Game Fish Association's world record for an off-

Nancy Donaldson Starring ’43 September 11, 2009 Bathsheba “Bash” Anderson Veghte ’45 May 30, 2009 Cynthia Bullock Lake Woodger ’49 January 31, 2009 Caroline “Biddy” Baxter Pauley ’56 March 5, 2009 Lois Frazier Hackett ’64 August 14, 2009

Amanda Lake ’82 August 19, 2009

FALL 2009

fundraising efforts and recruiting new

Family Center in Greenwich, Ct., a founder

Marguerite “Mimi” Wilson ’72 October 15, 2009

This distinguished Largo Core Society pin honors all planned giving donors for their support of the mission of Oldfields School.

fortunate. She was a hands-on volunteer

Linda Babcock Wilson ’67 March 21, 2009

Sam Cavallo, son of Ange Grand Cavallo ’94

Our Gratitude.

on helping families and children near her

A son, William Buchanan Harrell, to Sheila Wiley Harrell ’90 on August 25, 2009. A daughter, Saoirse Reese, to Leslie Falini Young ’91 on January 14, 2009.

Your Pin. Your Legacy.

Nancy M. Wagner Director of Alumnae, 1966 to 1973 July 19, 2009

shore catch of white marlin. While living in Nantucket, Mass., she was an active member of the Nantucket Anglers Club and the Nantucket Yacht Club. Biddy also greatly enjoyed flower arranging and won five Fenwick medals, the highest honor bestowed by the Garden Club of America. She was the past president of the Greenwich Garden Club and also was a member of the Jupiter Island Garden Club.

Largo Core – largeness of heart – is the name given to the society established to recognize those with the vision to include Oldfields School in their estate planning. As a member of the Largo Core Society, you will have an important impact in shaping the values and traditions of generations to come and in ensuring a strong future for Oldfields as the School moves towards its 150th anniversary and beyond. Your legacy will be an investment in the future of young women and our world.

The pin is both a memento and a symbol. As a memento, it modestly conveys our appreciation for your planned gift commitment. It is also a tangible indication of your enrollment in the Largo Core Society. As a symbol, it unequivocally makes a statement about your belief in the importance of our future mission. We would be gratified and honored to provide you with a Largo Core Society pin if you have: • Provided for Oldfields School in your will or trust. • Designated us as the beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan, savings bond, bank account, or life insurance policy. • Created a planned gift that returns fixed or flexible income to you or others. We welcome the opportunity to have a confidential conversation with you at no obligation. If you are already a member of the Largo Core Society, or would like information, please contact Dr. Parnell Hagerman at 410-472-4800.

OLDFIELDS SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT Oldfields School is committed to the intellectual and moral development of young women. In a culture of kindness and mutual respect, we encourage each student to make the most of her academic and personal potential. We seek to guide each student to grow in character, confidence, and knowledge by encouraging her to embrace the values of personal honesty, intellectual curiosity, and social responsibility.

OLDFIELDS SCHOOL 1500 Glencoe Road Glencoe, Maryland 21152-9321

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit 1167 Baltimore, MD