Oldfields Magazine Spring 2010

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The Dog Issue.

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Volume 29 Number 2 Spring 2010

Features

Oldfields Magazine Staff

Dogs, dogs, dogs

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Haiti: A Mystical Country

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Editor: Janine K. Brennan P’11 Design: Shoot the Moon, Inc. Photography: Janine K. Brennan P’11; Martha Hazard ’10, Marifer Romo ’10, Sarah Valentine ’98 Contributors: Kate Briante, Joanna Gleason ’64, Joan Carter Jermakian ’81, Mary McQuinn-Vinyard, Amy Roden, Ansley Smithwick Alumnae and Development Office Staff 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

Departments At Oldfields Global Awareness Day At the Barn Alumnae Weekend

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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 26 Alumnae Matters Class News Milestones

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© 2010 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.

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.

Printed on recycled paper.

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From theHEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Friends of Oldfields:

OLDFIELDS SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2009-2010

It is crucial for any school to focus on short-term goals, while never losing sight of the long-term strategic goals and objectives of the institution. During the last two years, the Board has concentrated on dealing with the challenges presented to us by a crumbling economy and a mounting deficit. I am pleased to report that we are well ahead of the very aggressive five-year financial plan that we launched two years ago, and it is now time for us to plan more for our long-term future through the creation of a Strategic Plan. The School has launched a new strategic planning process using guidelines established by the National Association of Independent Schools. However, the process done right is time-consuming and will not be completed until well into the 2010-2011 school year.

As a result, we have decided to update the most current plan to reaffirm the strategic goals of the school.

At the late January Board meeting, the Board voted to approve a Strategic Plan that included the following eight goals: • Strengthen the School’s finances • Balance and maximize the student population by promoting the School’s mission and vision • Develop and maintain educational programs that are both rigorous and flexible to maximize “Each Girl’s Success” • Recruit and retain a talented and capable faculty • Design the next phase for technology by developing a plan that supports both operational and educational needs of the School • Provide and maintain facilities to support our program • Build and maintain a committed, cohesive, and effective Board of Trustees • Establish a culture of accountability among all constituents of the Oldfields community The Board further defined more specific objectives under each goal, as well as responsible parties who will help us to pursue the stated goals and objectives. The Strategic Planning Committee of the Board of Trustees will supervise the overall process.

As the Head of School, I am particularly excited about this process because it not only helps us to plan for our future by defining specific goals, but also reflects the fact that we are in a position to think strategically rather than simply meeting the current needs of the School.

Ch air Scott S. Menzies P’03 Vice-Chair John W. Hawks Treasurer Alfred Morrison Secret ar y 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 C. Carroll P’13 Richard C. 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 Stephen D. Newton Frank R. Palmer IV 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

Sincerely,

Ralph S. O’Connor P’75 J. Calvin Rivers, Jr. P’88 William Scanlan, Jr. P’93

Taylor Smith

Dogs,dogs,dogs.

No family is complete without a dog (or several) and the Oldfields family is no exception.

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

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hat a grand family Oldfields dogs have always had. Girls! Girls to throw balls, girls to share treats, girls ever generous with scratches and ear rubs.

My own first dog came soon after my family moved to the campus. I was ten, and my father had accepted the position of math department chair. My mother was the school nurse. This was a happy move for me – Maryland was warmer than Massachusetts, and Oldfields had horses. Heaven. When I came home from school one fine fall day to find that a wagging black mutt with brown eyebrows and a curled up tail had moved from the Baltimore City Pound to our house, I wept for joy. Finally, after years of lobbying, I had a dog.

Everyone loved Rex. I was proud that the Oldfields girls loved him almost as much as I did. Those of you who went to Oldfields during Rex’s reign might remember that he always had something in his mouth – a gift to proffer. He paraded in front of Gookies with a leaf

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or a scrap of paper held delicately in his lips, which he would offer to anyone who spoke to him. He’d wait expectantly, and the giftee would become the giver, and he’d graciously take it back, delighted with the whole exchange.

One day, Mr. Nevens and my father went down to the harbor in Baltimore.

This was before it was the tony Inner Harbor; it was rough and tumble, but it was the place to get fresh oysters. The two men shucked all day, spearing themselves almost as often as the oysters, but finally the Nevens and the Coales joined for a fancy dinner. Oysters Rockefeller was the first course.

I think Sandy Nevens and I were eleven or twelve. I loved oysters.

Sandy, well Sandy was polite. Rex had never been fed a morsel from the table, but would lie quietly underneath, waiting for the meal to end, when he would “gift” us with any dropped napkins.

I can still hear my mother’s shriek, when, two hours after the meal, Rex dropped Sandy’s soggy oyster into her outstretched hand, proud as ever.

The Nevens had Wilbur the basset hound. He was all basset hound: sags and slobber, droopy eyes and sweet nature, slow as Saturday study hall, unless Mr. Nevens’ car was driving toward his house. Then I swear that basset flew! He was a brown and white streak of speed, flying up the drive on his stumpy legs to beat Mr. Nevens to the door. It didn’t matter how worried you were about your Latin test, you had to laugh.

Miss McPherson famously had a wonderful Kerrie Blue Terrier. Remember Bogie? I learned about dignity and commitment and unconditional love from Miss McPherson and her Bogie. He was always perfectly groomed, in full show trim. His coat gleaming. His head held high, dark eyes trained on Miss McPherson. He accompanied his equally well-turned-out mistress everywhere.

Now, this was in the days before designer dog food, and Bogie had a sensitive digestive tract. He regularly produced audible explosions of flatulence so very noxious, that giggles could be heard three classrooms away. A pernicious green cloud surrounded the dog, fanned by his pert, docked tail. Miss McPherson never budged in her affection. She never let on that her Bogie had actually been the first one to punch that famous hole in the ozone.

There were more dogs of course.

The Grants’ glamorous English Setters, my mother’s Siberian Husky and my father’s Standard Poodles. Cheyenne the sweet Collie. The art teacher’s Labrador and oh, remember Mr. Shaw’s Cocker Spaniels?

I never felt any envy when Rex presented the other girls with his gifty leaf.

I figured they were missing their own dogs, and I was proud of mine. The campus dogs contributed mightily to that magical feeling of family which has always been Oldfields.

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Jane’s Puppies Growing up on a farm in Middleburg, Virginia, Jane Kelso ’57 came to an understanding of the relationship between humans and animals. An endless array of animals...from bottle fed lambs in the laundry room to Border Collies, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Bull Mastiffs and endless Fox Hound puppies ... to three brothers and a sister, all were part of the Kelso farm life. “My family was ’dog nuts’,” Jane admits, “and we owned all kinds of breeds, but we always had retrievers.” From her childhood experiences, Jane acquired a basic respect for animals and found that similar rules apply to people: give and take, don’t make assumptions, and don’t judge others.

Jane grew up riding and fox hunting which taught her about partnerships and achievement. Later in life, she applied these lessons while training and competing with field trial retrievers. Focusing on achievable goals resulted in the making of two Dual Champion AFCs – one a Labrador, Warpath Macho, and the other a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Capital City Jake.

She became a professional Retriever trainer in 1980 and, after returning to Virginia, established Mountain Run Kennel. During the past twenty years, the kennel grew from a field trial training facility into an acclaimed five-star boarding kennel. The kennel features private suites complete with heated

floors, comfortable beds, couches and televisions. The suites are attached to shaded dog runs, which overlook the wooded Virginia countryside and ponds filled with fish. Many owners sign up their “furry family member” for a massage, hydrosurge bath, nature walk, or group play time complete with balls and frisbees. Friday night pizza, special holiday dinners, sheepskin bedding, birthday party celebrations (complete with cupcake) or Frosty Paws (doggie ice cream) before bed are all additional options. Mountain Run Kennel, which offers door-to-door pick-up and delivery of your pet, caters to the high-end clients who truly want their dog to have special attention.

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What A Good Dog!

With its beautiful facilities, excellent service, and stunning setting, it isn’t unusual for the master to want to switch places with the pet. “We often have gentlemen say to their wives, ‘You take the dog on vacation and I’ll stay here and fish,’” Jane laughs. While Jane is still involved with Mountain Run Kennel, knowing she has an attentive staff on site allows her to take care of her horses and dogs and continue raising Labrador puppies on her farm in Rappahannock. She now limits herself to two litters a year, which gives her ample time to ride and fox hunt.

Jane prefers to raise Retrievers because they are such versatile animals and a joy to have as a pet. She currently owns six Retrievers (plus a “Terrier who keeps them in line”) because she “can’t part with them.” Although Jane considers raising a puppy to be a well-behaved pet and a loving member of a family to be the highest honor, she has also raised Retrievers who have gone on to be agility

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champions, therapy dogs, and seizure dogs (dogs who can detect when a seizure is imminent). The Labrador Retriever puppies come from four generations of field trial bitches, owned by Jane and selected for their excellent temperaments, looks, and structural soundness.

She believes that nurturing and careful selection through generations aids in raising top-quality dogs. She carefully chooses sires for their bloodlines and abilities and believes that working dogs produce healthy, intelligent, and tractable puppies.

During the gestation period, Jane provides a calm and loving environment on her farm. An excellent diet, plenty of exercise and personal attention are given. All Jane's dogs live with her in her house and all of her puppies are raised there also.

Jane believes in a preventative and holistic approach for the health of her animals and only natural foods and supplements are given. She takes great care in providing a natural and nutritionally rich diet for her bitches and

puppies. She follows Wendy Volhard’s Natural Diet guidelines and prepares most of her dogs’ meals at home. She also follows a minimal vaccination protocol. Before a puppy is allowed to go home, Jane will work out a diet that will be good for the puppy and will fit into the owner’s lifestyle. Jane believes that in addition to careful genetic selection, puppies should have a nurturing, rich and stimulating early environment.

Although forty-nine days seems a short period of time, it is critical in the development of your puppy. It is the breeder’s job to register every detail of this process and interpret this information for the new owner. In the first few weeks of the puppies’ lives you can often find Jane in the whelping box, paying close attention to every move and whimper. Any lack of sleep is more than compensated for by the fun of puppy watching. This early attention provides Jane with the opportunity to get to know each and every puppy. This is critical for the prospective owner and is one of Jane's strengths as a matchmaker. After spending time with the owner and gaining an understanding of his or her lifestyle and personality, she is able to see that the right puppy gets to the right home.

What A Good Dog! has been providing thousands of canines and their families fuller, happier and healthier lives together. Members of our staff are dedicated and passionate professionals who have advanced degrees in animal behavior and certifications including Therapy Dog International and Association of Pet Dog Trainers. We participate in continuing education with internationally renowned experts featuring cutting-edge concepts and techniques. We work extensively with local rescue organizations, local and national breed clubs, and community organizations.

What A Good Dog! has something uniquely relevant to offer at every crucial stage of a dog’s development, from helping very young puppies adjust to their new homes to life stage coaching for mature dogs. We also offer private lessons and classes for you and your dog at the competitive level. In our mind, every dog is a champion and we just unleash potential.

Founder Mary Remer ’69 is an internationally renowned breeder, handler, trainer, and judge of English Bull Terriers; she has won the Westminster Dog Show’s “Best of Breed” for Bull Terriers more than fifteen times in addition to placing in the prestigious Terrier Group. She has earned multiple titles in Agility, Obedience and Rally.

Mary is a licensed American Kennel Club judge and serves on the Board of Directors for the Bull Terrier Club of America as well as numerous other boards. She is a featured expert for media including television (Animal Planet) and radio, and is a widely respected trainer and thought leader in animal behavior. Mary donates time doing behavioral consultations for a variety of rescue organizations.

Mary Ann Wadsworth Rich ’31 (1913-2006), bred and exhibited nine generations of splendid “Vilmar” champions between 1946 and the 1960’s.

Her first pointers were Ch. Tempo’s Ariosa and Ch. Beacon’s Ranger. Her mentor was Charlie Palmer, the famous handler.

Her foundation bitch, Vilmar’s Patty, drew heavily on Herewithem bloodstock through Benbrook (Homer Blackburn) and Cady (Charles Cady) and produced Hall Of Fame Ch. Vilmar’s Lucky in 1952.

Mary Ann once stated that, “without Bob Maloney’s breeding program, none who have top winning dogs would ever have been able to breed anything that holds true.” This independent woman was a force in the reactivation of the American Pointer Club and became President for

Almost half of the pet owners surveyed admit they sometimes talk to their pet. And 80% of those people stated that on those occasions, the animal seemed to respond by means of sounds, facial expressions, or body language.

two terms (1955 & 1956). She was the Gaines Dog Breeder of the Year for 1956, and was the breeder of America’s first solid orange pointer to become a champion (1954). In 1975, Mary Ann Wadsworth Rich was inducted into the American Pointer Club’s Hall of Fame.

Reprinted with permission of the American Pointer Club, Inc.

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HAITI : A MYSTICAL COUNTRY

Old Dog’s Eyes

In the eyes of a dog I see God. If you know dogs, this is not sacrilege.

You won’t shout, “Blasphemy!” If you don’t know dogs, God is as forgiving.

And perhaps, in another life, you will be so blessed.

My old dog is dying. I have known his eyes for quite nearly thirteen years. Let me tell you about those eyes.

In his youth, those eyes saw fun. They saw joy and mischief with an innocence no human can attain. Even the eyes of a baby human possess a knowledge of self, of ego. But not a dog. A baby dog is relieved of any self-awareness. I think God knew that we would need a constant reminder, so He gave us dogs.

My old dog, whose every breath is an effort right now, was a puppy who showed me the divine. “How?” say the deprived. How could a dog point to heaven? “Well,” I answer, “does an angel of the Lord waste a moment on worry?

Doesn’t an angel of the Lord revel in the beauty of today? Does an angel love me

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for all of my imperfections, all of my slights, in spite of my atrocious inattention?”

My old dog was an example.

He was physical perfection; Michaelangelo’s David blushed in comparison. In his prime, my old dog hunted with purpose, without agenda, by instinct. He was without deliberation when he killed.

He showed me the Law of Nature.

I learned that if God gave me the priviledge of being able to think about killing, with that priviledge came the responsibility of not. Of finding ways to work things out.

My old dog’s eyes showed me God. If my husband left me for a week, without explaining where he was going, without telling me he would be back, would I leap for joy straight into his arms and shower him with kisses when he returned? I would accuse him of all kinds of infidelities and worse. I would bathe him in the boiling oil of my own insecurities. But my old dog showed me The Way. I leave him for a week, and when I get back I am bathed in love and adoration. Gratitude. “You came back!

I missed you.” The proverbial all-loving Father welcoming his prodigal son.

Humans are incapable of such love.

Dogs and God. He has slept in my bedroom for all of his life. I wonder about humans who chain their dogs in the back yard. Or worse. There is so much worse. We nailed our own God to a couple of twelve by twelves, so why should I worry about all those dogs chained in backyards?

Because God sent me my old dog so I would know better? Because He created

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Haiti is a land rich in many ways, enchanting and captivating. The sky, the sea, the blues, the greens, the valleys, the mountains, the laughter, the

A German woman and her Portuguese Water Dog, Pablo, spent 10 days in Haiti after the earthquake. Pablo alerted rescuers to the whereabouts of a 69 year old woman buried under a building.

The woman was pulled alive from the rubble.

Pablo is credited with finding five other people.

me: this soul who was born loving the creatures He made first? I look into the eyes of my old dog, and I see that God. In my old dog’s eyes I can see a God who loves the Humans who kill each other for what? Oil? Power? Revenge?

Wealth? Humans who leave Him all the time, and use His name to justify, or excuse, their agendas. They come home to Him and He still does a happy dance.

He welcomes us.

How did I see all of this in my old dog’s eyes? I looked with my heart, and I listened with my soul. It was all there, in my old dog’s eyes.

-Patience Coale Renzulli ’72

poverty, the friendship, the glistening black skin and brilliant white smiles…

All is love in this country. This article, illustrated with some of my pictures on Haiti, is produced as the homage I want to offer to this mystical and amazing land which has made such an unbelievable impression on my life.

- Joanna Gleason ’64

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HAITI : A MYSTICAL COUNTRY A flood of words comes to mind when the country Haiti is uttered. It evokes a rush of emotions that can only be described through images. Only through such images can this land of resilience and august brilliance be aptly described as a “country born before its time.”

Upon looking at these photographs, I am overcome with a sense of gratefulness and humility. They express a unique view into a culture that is not only touching to the eye, but also equally enriching for the soul.

Haiti is a country with a turbulent history, ravaged by strife and the stinging of a violent past. Nevertheless, when I view these pictures, I am reminded of the perseverance that accompanies such difficult times, in the bright smiles of freshfaced youth amongst the breath-taking panoramas of verdant land. In the end, the people endure and live with grace amid arduous circumstances. Through festivals and religious ceremonies, Haiti keeps the heart of its traditions beating at a fervent and lasting peace. Despite the struggles in daily life, there is a tenacity that lingers and adamantly cries independence, love, and vivaciousness.

As the images beckon these words, I bow to this fragile yet supple place many people can proudly call their home.

- SHEI SANCHEZ (From the preface of the book Haiti: A Mystical Country written by Joanna Gleason ’64 and Jean Sénat Fleury).

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Haiti reminds me of that old man who told God: “I cannot read and do not know the prayers. All that I know is the alphabet. I will recite it to you, and you will put the words and the sentences together.”

- DANIEL KEDAR, HAITI: PORTRAIT OF A COUNTRY

I first discovered Haiti in 2004 when I went there with one of my photographer friends from Texas. In a wa,y both of us were adventure junkies, but really I wanted to change my focus from sports photography to photo journalism. That first trip opened my eyes to such bad poverty that I did not even know existed.

More importantly, I met the Haitian people and learned how they endure and live within such arduous circumstances.

Later on, for two years, Haiti became my second home. There I met my Haitian husband, Jean Sénat Fleury, who helped me to understand the customs and cultures of some of the most fascinating countries in the world. Experiencing all the color and excitement of Haiti life, I traveled to numerous locations photographing places such as Port-au-Prince, Pétion-Ville, Cap-Haitian, Gonaives, Saint-Marc, Jacmel, Saut-D’Eau, capturing the essence of everyday life.

Haiti is a resilient society whose rural communities, in particular, have developed coping mechanisms in response to a long history of underdevelopment and political instability. Like other fragile states, however, Haiti is also beset by

Haiti is like an ache in the bones. It breaks your heart daily with its beauty and suffering. The political in-fighting and spiritual mystery intoxicate like a narcotic. The proud daughter of Africa and France, the nation was forced to grow up in isolation because she was too strong, too independent and too strange: a country born before its time.

- MAGGIE STEBER, DANCING ON FIRE

widespread poverty and inequality, economic decline and unemployment, poor governance, and instability. About 65% of all Haitians work in the agricultural sector, which consists mainly of small scale subsistence farming. A large part of the population survives by the informal economy.

However, the hard conditions of life don’t affect, in any way, the character of about 9 million citizens living on the island. Haitians are cheerful people even though they live in one of the poorest countries in the world. They are also very artistic people. Haitian art, especially

painting and sculpture, is among the most appreciated in the world. Examples of Haitian art can be seen throughout the country on buses, churches, houses, clothes…all brightly decorated with scenes and patterns in vivid colors.

Haitian art is unique and combines the art of African ancestors with French influence.

What I first love about Haiti is the tradition of Carnival. Haitian Carnival is the annual “Celebration of Life” that takes place throughout Haiti. The Carnival season in Haiti is a holiday period during the two weeks before the traditional Christian fast of Lent. As the most anticipated cultural event of the year, the Haitian Carnival is celebrated though dancing, singing, and parades.

It draws from elements of the African and French customs, including music, masquerades, and dancing.

A few weeks after Carnival begins is the season of Rara. A vibrant annual street featival, Rara includes Voodoo followers who march loudly into public spaces. It takes on an active role in politics and other aspects of life. During the six weeks of Lent, Rara bands parade for miles, playing music, dancing, and performing rituals for Afro-Haitian spirits, their ancestors, and local “big men.”

“loas.” Loas supposedly help with everyday problems. In exchange, Haitians “serve” the loas by participating in ceremonies and making food offerings.

Voodoo is an inseparable part of Haitian art, literature, music, and film. In 1986, following the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier’s dictatorship, hundreds of Voodoo practitioners were killed on the pretext that they had been accomplices to Duvalier’s abuses. Today, Haiti’s government has officially sanctioned Voodoo as a religion, allowing practitioners to perform ceremonies, from baptism to marriage, with legal authority.

Haiti is going through a volatile transition right now on behalf of all hard working individuals, who have been fighting daily for human rights, for making a difference, and pouring all their hearts and souls into what they do in hope of peace. The priorities are clear: education, health care and agricultural production. The solution, after the terrific earthquake on January 12, 2010 in which more than three hundred thousand died, and millions of people were homeless, requires a national economic plan and international aid. I saw that

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charities were helping with some immediate problems in Haiti, but I keep thinking that the tragedy of the earthquake has given an opportunity to the Haitian government, with the support of the international community, to attack the root of poverty in Haiti.

I still believe economic prosperity and social stability will make Haiti a competitive country in the Caribbean.

Strengthening Haiti’s economic and social infrastructure will change Haiti from a “fourth world” country to one that is worthy of regional and international respectability. If the world can focus the efforts of international aid on funding projects of reforestation, soil conservation, repairing irrigation systems and in helping the country to become self-sufficient with new businesses, jobs, roads and infrastructure, then there is a chance that Haiti will turn herself in the right direction.

VOODOO IN HAITI African slaves brought the religion of Voodoo to Haiti. Although most Haitians today are Catholic, their ancestral beliefs are still very strong. Haitians believe in powerful spirits known as

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The Green Pages

Dogs...

EcoWeek 2009 at Oldfields School was a huge success! In preparation for The Green Cup Challenge competition, hosted by The Green School Alliance, and as part of a continuing commitment to becoming a Maryland Green School, a week of fun and educational environmental activities was held.

Monday was the kick-off day for The Green and White Clothing Drive. Over 1,000 clothing items were generously donated by faculty and students to be “reused” by needy people within Northern Baltimore County.

On Tuesday, the environmental science class taught our community about the importance of reducing Oldfields’ “Ecological Footprint.” In the afternoon, art teacher Dori Reigner hosted a holiday ornament workshop using repurposed materials including old CDs, buttons, ribbons, and glitter. Many of the girls hung their ornaments on the

Christmas tree in the library.

Aubrey B.’14, excited about the activity, said, “I never would have thought CDs would make such an awesome ornament.” That night, students assisted Chef Eric Miller, and guest pastry chef Brigid Lawler, in the dining hall. The girls were invited to roll fondant and decorate a gingerbread cake in the shape of Old House, our landmark building. The finished masterpiece was proudly entered in a decorating competition hosted by The Flik/Compass Group.

During Wednesday’s morning meeting, volunteers, including faculty members Julia Franklin, Maribeth Littlefield, and three students, bravely tasted foods while wearing blindfolds. They had to determine whether the peanut butter, crackers, milk, chocolate, and potato chips were organic or non-organic. The results surprised everyone, particularly the

volunteers. They all thought the organic milk tasted far better than the nonorganic version!

The Big Bear’s Bus Café drove onto campus for Wednesday’s assembly.

Jeremiah Luce, the owner, talked about the family business and its goal of creating the smallest possible impact on the environment. The Bus Café operates on used vegetable oil that he receives from restaurants. He brought his pump and filter to demonstrate how he pumps, filters, and uses the oil to operate his bus.

Afterwards, he and wife Anna served the girls delicious root beer floats!

After school, Maria Vaporis, our Geography teacher and librarian, led students and faculty members in making therapeutic “hot socks.” Each person brought a sock, filled it with rice, and then added drops of scented organic oils including lavender, cinnamon, lemon, and peppermint. The socks can be heated in the microwave to create a relaxing and refreshing “heater.” “This was my first EcoWeek and I had so much fun making hot socks. Now I have something to keep me warm without using electricity for heat!” said Adaeze N.’10. Helen Fitz, head of The Middle School, said, “This was also a wonderful, creative, and inexpensive way to make a popular gift item.”

On Thursday morning, the environmental science class revealed the school’s energy bills to the community.

Many of the figures were met with gasps of disbelief. When the Green Cup Challenge was concluded, the School’s engergy costs had reduced dramatically.

The girls gained a renewed sense of the importance of conserving energy not only for the benefit of the environment, but also for the stewardship of the School.

Be a green pooper-scooper.

The ideal is to flush your dog’s poop, so it will get the same treatment as human waste; you can even buy flushable, biodegradable poop bags.

The runner-up option is tossing a biodegradable poop bag in the trash.

EcoWeek 2009 at Oldfields

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Dogtime.com

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Oldfields School is now an Official Maryland Green School!

At OLDFIELDS

Two years after committing to seek Green School certification, Oldfields School has been awarded the stamp of approval from the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education as well as the state of Maryland. This award is a huge honor and Oldfields is thrilled to join the list of Maryland Green Schools and Centers!

Maryland Green Certification is difficult to achieve since a set of established criteria needs to be met throughout the

Frontline Fridays

entire campus. With the guidance of Ms. Amy Roden, Sustainability

Oldfields Student Wins Art Contest

Coordinator, Oldfields documented its

that leading by example is an important

programs, initiatives, and instruction

lesson to teach our students. To demon-

that related to environmental education

Dori Reigner’s Honors Portfolio class participated in the first annual Baltimore County “Maryland Green Schools Best Practices: Using Art to Persuade” contest sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection and Resources Management.

There were several hundred submissions, from both public and private schools throughout Baltimore County, for this year’s contest.

We are thrilled to announce that Christiana Schelfhout ’10 won the high school division for her work titled, “Bee Green.” Additionally, the following students received honorable mention in this competition: Alison B. ’10, Rachel E. ’10, Lauren H. ’10, Ariel T. ’10, and Jojo Y. ’10.

The winners and their art teachers were honored at an awards ceremony at the Old Courthouse in Towson on April 8. Christiana received a citation from Baltimore County honoring her winning entry in this contest, as well as a cash prize. Dori Reigner also received a citation and a small stipend for the Oldfields School art department for her contributions.

During the ceremony, Baltimore County Executive, Jim Smith, honored the winners of the contest and their teachers for their work and contributions to green practices in Baltimore County. When Christiana was asked to describe her work and her inspiration, she represented Oldfields School very well. We are extremely proud of all of the students in the Honors Portfolio class.

The faculty and staff at Oldfields believe

and awareness within the immediate,

strate their largeness of heart, the faculty

and extended, communities. The top

and staff, led by math teacher Christine

“five” achievements from our applica-

Gilmore, have started a weekly communi-

tion included: the development of

ty service initiative. For $2 each Friday,

ecOSchool, the establishment of outdoor learning centers such as the revitalized School pond and the community garden, the celebration of EcoWeek, the Bay Day adventure, and the successful campuswide recycling program. This is just the beginning; look for exciting adventures and programs from ecOSchool in the future.

faculty and staff are allowed to wear jeans to work. The monies raised are donated to various organizations.

In the second trimester, Frontline Fridays, together with Playmakers and the Black Awareness Club, was able to raise over $600 for Doctors Without Borders, an organization assisting with earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Champions!

On Friday, May 7th, the Oldfields varsity badminton team became the 2010 IAAM League Tournament champions. The team was lead by #1 ranked and undefeated junior Nini Liu, who captured the singles title from the two-time champion from Friends School and the #1 doubles team of Ashley Lewis ’10 and Mikeala Semexant ’11, who made it all the way to the finals. While Ashley and Mikeala didn’t win the doubles championship title, they played the best they had ever played against one of their toughest opponents of the season, last year’s defending champions from Notre Dame Preparatory School.

The overall title of Tournament Champions caught all of us by surprise, as we were so focused on cheering on our finalists during their matches. What makes the recognition even more special is that it took a whole team to earn it. We couldn’t have done it without a very solid win from junior and #2 singles player Erin May and two strong wins from the #2 doubles team of Julia Wang and Amber Atkinson, both graduating seniors. Also noteworthy is the #3 doubles team of Victoria Scarlet ’12 and Taylor Franks ’11, who made it to the semi-finals of the consolation round. The #4 doubles team of Ariel Taxdal ’11 and Ada Nwosu ’11 and #3 singles player Lucy MacAlister ’10 all had to face tough opponents in their first round and, while they didn’t win their individual matches, they played very admirably.

Our regular season record was 7-6, which placed us in 4th place overall out of ten teams. Our story is truly a classic underdog story, where the little school wins against the badminton giants through passion, hard work and great team work . . . oh, and maybe a few smashes here and there.

Coach: Mary McQuinn-Vinyard Manager: Caroline Parks ’11

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Global Awareness Day

Global Awareness Day 2010 was celebrated in April with much fanfare. The

entire School community played a part in bringing the world to Glencoe, Maryland.

Student “teachers” led the classes to teach about individual areas of the world.

Among the many classes offered were: A Snapshot of Nigeria; Learning about the Bahamas; Aloha! Welcome to Paradise; Becoming Korean; and Southern Comfort.

The community tasted curry in the class Great like Ghana, ham and biscuits in Virginia is for Lovers, and marzipan and fig cake in Portugal. Japanese anime art was taught, as well as Chinese lettering. Native costumes were encouraged and many of the students were dressed beautifully.

Oldfields was also fortunate to have two guest lecturers on campus. Mr. Ibrahim Dabo presented a powerpoint titled A Refugee’s Success: from Sierra Leone to Baltimore, which chronicled his personal journey to the United States. Mr. Rommel Loria brought rice cakes for the students in his class, Flippin’ Awesome: Learning About Filippino-American Culture, and used humor to proudly explain his heritage.

Nada Brahma, a three piece ensemble, brought “world music” to Oldfields. The group uses indigenous instruments and traditional songs to create their own interpretive music which blends many cultures. Mr. Tim Gregory, the founder of the group, explained the history and evolution of native instruments. The rhythmic music caused many to dance around the David Niven Theatre in an impromptu conga line!

Chef Eric Miller and his staff created an exotic dinner feast with entrees from Morocco, India, Ethiopia, The Dominican Republic, Peru, China, Thailand, and Malaysia. A French picnic and Mediterranean antipasto station were offered, as well as a Pho soup station. Salads from Bulgaria, the Middle East, and Korea were also served. Qatayef, flan, and baklava were offered for dessert.

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At theBarn

l a n o i P rofess

New Riding Facilities Riding was instituted as an integral part of the Oldfields School curriculum in the 1800s. The popular program quickly grew and, by 1916, the School had hired a full-time Director of Riding. Since that time, Oldfields has been known for its success in interscholastic competitions, on the hunter and jumper “A” circuit, and in combined training, as well as for the riding accomplishments of several notable alumnae, including three-time Olympian Lana DuPont Wright ’57.

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The School has always been committed to providing a safe and satisfying experience to all its riders. However, despite the continued strength of the program, the School’s riding facilities have not kept pace with those of other schools. The addition of a new, larger indoor ring will allow more students to participate, will make the School more attractive to prospective students, and will provide a venue for local shows.

The present riding facility was constructed in 1988. It was actually an existing warehouse that had been donat-

ed and moved to the location on the riding hill. Two additional bays were added in order to increase its size to 100 by 180 feet, or 18,000 square feet. This facility has served the School very well; however, we soon outgrew this space. Plans have been discussed for a new facility for years, and a new riding ring was incorporated into the Master Plan that was created in 2005. During the fall of 2009, the School took a new look at its capital needs. Once again, even in this smaller, more conservative list of needs, the riding ring became the top priority.

Although there had already been some fundraising initiated to construct this much-needed facility, the blizzards of 2009-2010 have necessitated that we take immediate action to build an updated indoor facility. After the third major winter storm in February, the structural integrity of the existing indoor riding arena was compromised, resulting in the condemnation of the building.

Fortunately, this happened near the end of the indoor riding season, but we still need to replace the facility as soon as possible. Failure to do so would affect the quality of our program and most probably School enrollment.

Located on the site of the present indoor riding ring, the proposed replacement facility will be 120 by 240 feet, or 28,800 square feet. This is an ideal size, as it will allow us to accommodate all of our Oldfields riders with greater ease and safety, as well as enable us to host local and interschool horse shows. This new facility will be designed to maximize the space that is dedicated as a riding surface, as well as allocate some space for spectator seating, restroom facilities, and a meeting room that could double as a horse show office as needed. A permanent ring fence will be constructed on the interior that frames the actual riding space. There will be a moveable barrier that can be placed within the open riding space to create a holding area or a

warm-up area for horses that will not interfere with the riding area. This design will allow for the ring space to be altered as needed to suit both daily lesson usage as well as horse shows. On one long side of the arena, on the outside of the permanent ring fence, there will be space set aside to house bleachers, a judge’s stand, jump storage, and the enclosed room containing the restroom and the meeting area.

The riding surface will consist of the sand and Eurofelt Prime blend that was used to upgrade the footing in the now condemned indoor arena. The riding department has been more than pleased with the performance and maintenance requirements of this footing throughout the past six months, and will strive to duplicate it in the new riding arena. In addition, a sprinkler system will be installed to control dust and manage the consistency of the riding surface.

Overall, the proposed facility will allow the riding program to continue with its current activities, as well as provide the flexibility for future growth within the program, both in terms of rider numbers, as well as activities hosted at Oldfields by the riding department.

The fundraising for the new riding facilities will occur in three phases. The first focus will be on the new indoor riding ring, which will cost approximately 1.5 million dollars. Subsequently, the School will need an additional 1 million dollars in order to endow the building’s maintenance. The third phase will allow the School to upgrade the present stable facility and will cost an additional 1 million dollars. The total cost of all three phases will be 3.5 million dollars, 1 million dollars of which will be used as an endowment for the riding facilities.

There will be a variety of naming opportunities in all three phases. In the first phase, a donation that will cover half the cost of the ring ($750,000) will allow the donor to name the facility. In

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addition, a plaque will be displayed outside the front entrance of the ring honoring lead donors whose generosity has allowed us to construct the ring. This plaque will be headed by the School motto, Courage, Unselfishness, and Largeness of Heart, in recognition of those qualities embodied in the riders, their horses, and in these donors.There will be three levels of donations honored. Gifts in excess of $100,000 will be designated as “Grand Prix,” gifts in excess of $50,000 as “Working Hunter,” and those in excess of $10,000 as “Junior Hunter.”

The Corgi is a favorite of horse folk. He’s a short, long dog that is just as at home herding cattle as sitting on your lap in front of the TV. Welsh legend has it that the Corgi was a gift from the fairies. Little in stature, but big of heart the Corgi was a cattle dog, ratter and family pet to the ancient Welshmen. A stiff penalty was given to anyone who would dare to steal a family’s Corgi because they were so important to the farmer.

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Alumnae Weekend 2 0 1 0

Alumnae Weekend took place on April 16th-18th. Our weekend kicked off with Founder’s Day, honoring Anna Austen McCulloch. Marguerite Copeland ’10, our School president, dressed up as the spirit of Mrs. McCulloch and recreated the School’s history for the community.

We then processed to the Immanuel Church cemetery where Reverend Kingsley Smith presided with a reading and a blessing. Dubious and Images sang “Amazing Grace” for us as we reflected privately as a community. The spring day was picture perfect and it gave us an opportunity to think about how the spirit of Anna Austen McCulloch lives in each and every one of us.

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The Alumnae/Faculty Art Show took place after lunch in Rodney-Hook Hall.

Twenty artists from the United States and Bali participated in the show. Art work, photographs, books, textiles, and ceramics were shipped in for the weekend. Some artists were on hand to share and discuss their work with the community. It was a wonderful collaboration of the variety and talent we have in and amongst our constituency. Thanks again to all of the artists who made the effort to get their work here to Oldfields. Many of the pieces were sold in the auction on Saturday night at the Reunion Celebration. All of the profits went directly to Oldfields.

The Alumnae Association meeting took place on the Saturday of Alumnae Weekend. This was an opportunity for our alums to hear the state of the School from Taylor Smith. We also brought back the tradition of inducting the senior class into the Alumnae Association. The girls received a rose from Mr. Smith and their alumnae pin from Ms. Jermakian.

Alumnae and Senior Awards were given out during the meeting. The recipients of all of the awards are listed below.

At the meeting, Faith Nevins gave a brief introduction about the new riding facility that is to break ground this summer. Photos were on display of what the new indoor riding ring will look like.

Immediately following the Alumnae Association meeting, we walked up to Immanuel Church to the Memorial

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Service to pay honor to all of our alumnae who have passed away within the last year. This service is touching on many levels and reminds us of the importance of our Oldfields affiliation.

After the Memorial Service and despite the chilly wind, a delicious fajita lunch was enjoyed by many, especially the Class of 1960, who all had matching hats made for the weekend. Many of our alumnae were able to tour the School, see the art show, and spend some time walking the halls of Old House with friends reminiscing about their time at Oldfields.

Hunt Valley Marriott was the place to be on Friday night for our cocktail party and preview of the auction. Alumnae, trustees, faculty, staff, and friends gathered to reconnect and celebrate their coming back to Oldfields.

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The Class of 2000 opened their Ten Year Prediction Letters with Mr. Smith and Mr. Rogers at the Head’s House.

The Class of 2000 even wrote a twenty year letter to be opened in 2020!

Saturday evening was spent in the beautifully decorated gymnasium. The décor resembled that of a classic, country barn complete with green and white linens and flower arrangements. We enjoyed a sumptuous dinner of coq au vin and bouillabaisse prepared by our very own Flik Dining.

An spirited auction took place after dinner. We had several live auction items up for bidding that created quite a lively competition between the Greens and the Whites! Thanks to all who donated to the auction. All the profits made from the auction helped to offset the cost of the weekend.

We danced the night away to the delightful sounds of The Jody West Band. A great time was had by all and I encourage you to put April 15th-17th, 2011 on your calendar for next year!

ALUMNAE AWARDS Reunion Chair Awards Helen Ducie Minich ’60 and Amanda Deford Henderson ’90 The Oldfields Money Pillow Awarded to the alumnae class with the highest percent of participation in annual giving to the Oldfields Fund. This year’s recipient is the Class of 1964.

Lucinda Train Longstreth ’64 represented her class at the Alumnae Association meeting during Alumnae Weekend.

The Jane Isdale Schaefer ’52 Trustee Prize Ilana Feldberg Adelman ’88 The Peggy Samson Harris ’36 Distinguished Service Award: Asifa Hassam ’84 The Alumnae Cup

The McCulloch Family Award Mary King McPherson

Cameras flashed continuously as the Class of 2010, dressed in their finest, gathered to observe the first traditional milestone in the countdown to Graduation. The 100 Nights to Graduation celebration began with a sparkling cider toast, followed by an elegant seated dinner in the Garden Room.

The Gerber daisies floating in vases and flickering candles helped set the mood for an evening of laughter, reflection, and anticipation.

Joining in the seniors’ festivities was Oldfields alumna Charlotte Bair ’98, the evening’s speaker. She kept the audience laughing as she humorously

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100 Nights ’til Graduation!

Jack Palmer, Trustee

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by Joan Carter Jermakian ’81 Photography by Sarah Valentine ‘83

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described her Oldfields days. While her career path has not followed the course she envisioned in high school, she stressed to the students the importance of being flexible and open to lifelong learning. “Never turn down an opportunity to try something new,” she said, “because you never know when that experience will help you in the future.”

Charlotte also spoke about the friendships she forged at Oldfields, and the special bond shared by alumnae.

Recently, Charlotte has attended Oldfields gatherings and has delighted in meeting alumnae from various decades, all bound by a love for the School. Her message of “lasting friendships and giving back” was a powerful testimony to the seniors.

After dinner, everyone gathered to watch a power point presentation in tribute to the Class of 2010, created on behalf of the junior class by their officers, Kayleigh Lauman, Annie Kauffman, and Bridget Heneghan. The seniors giggled and reminisced as their Oldfields years flashed before them.

The Class of 2010 then walked to the Head’s House, where a fondue party awaited them. As they wrote their 10-Year Prediction Letters and ate fresh fruits and yummy cake dipped in warm chocolate, the students imagined their futures. Each girl received an engraved silver frame as a memento of the special evening.

Hosted by the Oldfields Alumnae Association, this evening not only celebrated this point on the road to graduation, but also to began each senior’s transition from student to alumna.

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R E T A S THE N O I T C U D O PR S D L E I F D L O AT The time is the present, the place the ruins of Agamemnon’s palace at Mycenae, where a tour guide points out matters of interest to a group of tourists. As they move on, a young man stays behind to speak to a young girl who has been silently watching the group and, magically, almost imperceptibly, the centuries begin to fall away.

She becomes Electra, and he is Orestes, the children of the slain Agamemnon. They are joined by Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, and the great tale of crime and retribution begins to unfold. As the revenge against Clytemnestra escalates and the fatal deed occurs, the past vanishes as suddenly as it appeared, leaving us once again to contemplate the quiet, dusty ruins, and the haunting, terrible secrets which they hold.

In 413 BC Euripides wrote Electra, the story of the famous legend of the House of Atreus. His play deals with the same episodes that Aeschylus presents in his play, Choephori, and in Sophocles’ version of Electra. In 1976 Maurice Valency wrote Regarding Electra. It was first presented by the Herbert Berghof Playwrights Foundation in New York City.

In its winter production of Regarding Electra, Oldfields School presented characters who exhibited fierce love and loyalty. Their emotions celebrated the tenacity of the human spirit, while

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Top 5 Dogs from Films: Character Name: Fang Breed of Dog: Neapolitan Mastiff Film: Harry Potter Films Character Name: Hooch

exposing the darkest side of the human soul. This riveting tale of betrayal, murder and revenge was as compelling and timely today as it was 2800 years ago.

“The Fantasticks,” the longest running musical in the world, graced the Oldfields stage this spring. Featuring the memorable song, Do You Remember?, sung beautifully by Rachel Adams ’11 as El Gallo, this musical was captivating from start to finish. Director Kate Briante said, “I look forward to the challenge every year of choosing the best musical to showcase the talent at Oldfields School. I knew this was the right show, at the right time, for these talented girls.” Under the musical direction of pianist Charlotte Evans, and accompanied by harpist Jacqueline Pollauf, the Oldfields community enjoyed a show that opened offBroadway in 1960 and is still playing in New York today.

Seniors Louisa Jenkins and Tahira Wyche were perfectly cast. Jenkins played the role of Louisa, a day dreamer with an active imagination. Wyche, as Matt, was a helpless romantic. Both seniors have been valuable members of the campus a capella groups, Images and Dubious Dozen, and their voices harmonized perfectly.

Juniors Adriana Del Castillo and Bridget Heneghan, as the fathers Hucklebee and Bellomy, played convincing roles as they plotted to have their children fall in love. Together they decided to instigate a mock feud in order to help the boy and girl fall in love.

They figured that this would give them the excuse to say “no” to the budding relationship. This disapproval, they hoped, would ignite the childrens’ attraction for each other. The fathers went so far as to hire El Gallo to stage a mock abduction of Louisa, so that Matt

would become a “hero” and “save her” from a horrible fate. After this act of devotion, Louisa and Matt fell more deeply in love.

Kaitlyn Watt, a junior in her first year at Oldfields, and Lauren Heneghan, a senior in her fourth and final show on the Oldfields stage, portrayed the comedy team of Henry and Mortimer, El Gallo’s “assistants.” Together, they had the audiences roaring, as they displayed truly impressive comedic timing.

Christiana Schelfhout, indispensable as The Mime, performed in her eighth, and final show before graduation. She has been a dedicated member of the Oldfields Theatre Department since her freshman year and is looking forward to pursuing acting next year at Cambridge University, in England. The Mime was assisted by The Player, Kori BrierleyBowers, an eager freshman who shows great promise for future productions.

In Act II, the children realize their parents staged the entire feud and their love fades slowly away. Later, after Louisa and Matt experience some of life’s disap-

Breed of Dog: Dogue De Bordeaux Film: Turner & Hooch pointments, they reunite once again and everyone lives happily ever after.

This engaging production was supported by stage manager Liz Poston ’11 and crew members Christina Rock ’12 and Soraya Isaacs ’13. “The whole process of designing the set with the girls, creating the costumes, staging the show and, finally, working with my two wonderful colleagues, has been a delight!” exclaimed Kate Briante.

Character Name: Toto Breed of Dog: Cairn Terrier Film: Wizard of Oz Character Name: Frank Breed of Dog: Pug Film: Men in Black Character Name: Beethoven Breed of Dog: Saint Bernard Film: Beethoven

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DevelopingOLDFIELDS In November, Taylor and Judy Smith travelled to Asia on a recruitment trip for the Office of Admission. They attended international school fairs sponsored by The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), met with consultants, and visited students at local schools in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, and New Delhi.

While in Asia, Taylor met some fantastic girls and had conversations with many who would be interested in coming to Oldfields. One, from Hong Kong, was so interested that she arrived in January as a mid-year student. Another, from Vietnam, will be arriving in September 2010 as an 11th grader.

When not recruiting students, Taylor took the time to strengthen relationships with school consultants. One consultant was subsequently able to visit the school in February, and brought a potential student for an interview. His experience of touring the campus, meeting with faculty and students, and understanding the School’s mission and philosophy will be an advantage in placing girls who will benefit from, and contribute to, the Oldfields experience.

Taylor and the Admission Office deemed the trip “a success” and look forward to continued working relationships with the consultants and students from these countries.

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Gatherings Galore!

The Alumnae Office has had a busy year of planning gatherings throughout the United States and in London. Director Joan Carter Jermakian ’81 and Assistant Director Eliza Broaddus have kept Head of School, Taylor Smith, and Head of School Emeritus, Hawley Rogers, busy as they spread the good news of Oldfields’ progress and development.

Gatherings are a great way to get together and share stories, updates, and fellowship about our beloved Oldfields. If you would like to host a gathering in your area, please contact Joan in the Alumnae Office to organize your event.

Events such as “socials” are currently being planned in your area by the Alumnae Taskforce. This year Asifa Hassam ’84 has been tireless in her efforts to plan informal get-togethers in Baltimore and DC. Asifa has coordinated three very fun, and wellattended, socials that have helped fellow alumnae network and stay current on the happenings at Oldfields. Thank you, Asifa!

Socials can be coordinated by anyone at anytime, anywhere! The goal is to have Oldfields alumnae “clubs” that would gather to participate in attending sporting events, visiting cultural exhibits, or just socializing with fellow alumnae in the area. So far, we have great interest in forming groups in DC, Baltimore, and New York City. If you would like to be an alumnae leader like Asifa, please contact Diandra Luker Douglas ’74 , Associate Joan in the Alumnae Office.

Head of School Dr. Parnell Hagerman, and JermakianJ@OldfieldsSchool.org Judy Smith in New York City 443-662-1018

Taylor Smith, Head of School; Hawley Rogers, Head of School Emeritus; and Joan Carter Jermakian ’81, Director of Alumnae; with her parents, Carroll and Rosemary Carter P’81. The Carters graciously hosted a gathering at their home in Washington, DC.

The following hosts have been extremely generous in opening up their homes to our extended Oldfields community: • Louise Scheffenacker Prusak ’82, Baltimore • Tim and Lisa Wyman, parents of Alex ’99 and Leigh ’07, Easton • Margarita “Margie” Pardoe Rooke ’76, Philadelphia • David and Kathryn Beecken, parents of Erica ’99, Chicago • Julia Cooter Cook ’82, London • Illana Feldberg Adelman ’88, New York City • Virgina “Jenny” Waters Reynolds ’78, Charleston • Esther McMaster Andrew ’87, Atlanta • Mary Ratrie Wick ’63, Richmond • Carroll and Rosemary Carter, parents of Joan ’81, Washington, DC

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AlumnaeMATTERS Class Notes 1944 Barbara “Bobbi” Souder Fowle – Now that we are “old and grey,” I have especially fond memories. Much love to the Class of ’44!

1947 Joan Stuart-Wortley Bishop Titine “Tina” Gibert Farwell – My daughter, Pharr Adams Bozievich ’73 took a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins in Elementary Education and is now teaching. She has an 18 year old son. Both live with me.

Mary “Jill” Saunders Ashmead – I have moved to Cathedral Village, a retirement home. Very nice. Lots of friends moved in the same time I did.

1948 Anne Haight Dutka – Last year’s trip was an African safari in August. It was lots of fun, but back-crunching in Land Rovers! We ate some interesting food, stayed in some unusual tented camps, and saw lots of exotic animals – many from a hot air balloon. Still enjoying life and family and still doing a lot of volunteering – they can’t dock my pay if I am late or want time off!

1950 Mary Truby Graff Black

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on September 19, 2009, her daughter, Amanda Lake ’82 died. It was very comforting to have many Oldfields “family” at the services, including Taylor and Judy Smith and Joe and Dotty Hordubay.

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Jeanne Colket Connell Margaret “Margo” Boocock Hurley Jeanne Colket Connell – Still in the saddle, I have some good ponies for sale.

Margaret “Margo” Boocock Hurley – My granddaughter, Elizabeth “EB” Hurley ’06 graduated from Virginia Tech in May after a busy winter on the ski team. Cameron was in Denmark studying during spring term while a student at Washington and Lee University.

Matt is a sophomore at West Point and is playing lacrosse for their team. Tom Hurley, Woody and Blair Dewing are at Episcopal High School for their freshman, sophomore and junior years. Brett has applied and may join them next year when he becomes a freshman. Sarah lives in Houston and Jack is went Vancouver for the Olympics. He was one of the planners for the security and safety of all the Olympic Games. I’m still getting excellent health care from Johns Hopkins with frequent chemotherapy. I hope to be calling people during the telethon to ask them to give support to Oldfields so that others may receive the same type of education today.

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1960 Ann Fisher Falby – Still in Petersborough, still skiing, traveling, gardening, still playing West African music, still making art, still have four wonderful adult children, have one special grandchild. I am blessed.

Linda Brereton Wirts

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Miriam “Mimi” Griffith Jones — So happy to see our granddaughter, Amanda “Mandy” Jones ’09, graduate last June (and not in the rain). Always fun to return to Oldfields. The School is so large now with all of the beautiful buildings. We only had Old and New houses and a tiny gym. A lot has happened in those 57 years, and all for the good. I urge my classmates to support this wonderful school!

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On the Trail…

Ann Brooke Holt ‘48 Ann Brooke Holt ’48 has been a search dog handler since 1980 and has trailed a bloodhound since 1984.

Brooke is an instructor and board member with the Virginia Bloodhound Search and Rescue. She is also a member of Mid-Atlantic D.O.G.S., the National Police Bloodhound Association, and was a judge for the American Bloodhound Club.

Through the years, Brooke and her dogs have responded to a wide range of search missions including the Armenia earthquake, Mexico City earthquake, and the mudslide in Puerto Rico. She lectures and instructs all around the country on several dif-

Marie-Louise “Wawa” Graham Ingersoll ’54 on vacation in Egypt 2010

Nina Carter Russelli Del Turco – We still live in Rome, Italy, when not in the United States. We downsized in June over there and are still getting settled!

All seven children are in the States— nobody in the same city. We have 18 grandchildren between us (I have 7, Duccio has 11) with another due in March! My mother, Hester B. Tomlin Carter ’29 is 98 and still perky. We see her and my sister, Antoinette “Toni” Carter Vreeland ’66 in August.

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Marie-Louise “Wawa” Graham Ingersoll

Marianne Harvey Olsen

Florence “Fifi” Whitney Clark – All eight grandsons are doing well. Three are in college at North Eastern, Trinity, and Emerson, while one is at Hotchkiss.

I had a wonderful trip to Russia in September and am going back to Africa in June for the fourth time. I have sadly just retired my dressage horse.

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Christine “Chris” Smith Rocca – I think we are crazy, but we just bought a very small second home in San Diego, California, as we have two children and two grandchildren there. Still riding, still have the dogs – just everything seems to take more time! Best to all.

ferent aspects of search and rescue.

A retired veterinarian, she lives in

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Rockville, Maryland, with Leni, her

Elizabeth “Wendy” Woodhull Bersing

Silvia Wust Puky

1963 Blair Bartol MacInnes – Two more new babies in 2009, giving us eight grandchildren. All delicious. I have seen Wendy Goodyear Griswold, Marguerite “Maggie” Tenney Embry, Marina Craven Kaiser, and Judy Wakeman Ferenbach this year. All are well and delightful.

Elfrida “Frida” Barrow Moore Alston Osgood Wolf – Allen, my husband, died in November of 2008 after dealing with “Kennedy” brain cancer.

Enjoying going to Asheville, North Carolina to see my daughter and two grandsons. Does any of our class play bridge online?

Libby Park Frazier ’63 with granddaughter Felicity Frazier at the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club in Boca Grande, Florida

Teedee Blue, Past Trustee, and Kandi Sanger ’62

air-scenting search dog, and Bitter Sweet, her bloodhound.

Sheila Bullock Tucker – This past year was a very sad one for me and my family.

My sister, Cynthia Bullock Woodger ’49, died from ALS on January 31, 2009, and

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Heaven Can Wait Dubbed the “Daredevil Granny” by the national media, Susie Mann ’48 chose a “bucket list” over cancer treatment.

In September, 79-year-old Timonium resident Susie Mann fulfilled a lifelong dream to go skydiving. Despite severe nausea leading up to the moment of her descent, Mann took the plunge from a plane at the Skydive Space Center in Titusville, Florida.

“I figured if President Bush could do it, I could do it, too,” says Mann. “I don’t know what I expected, but I thought there would be a feeling of speed when you fall 10,000 feet. I didn’t feel like I was moving. I didn’t hesitate to jump at all. You know you aren’t going to get down any other way.”

Although 11 other family members and friends joined in the adventure, Mann was the last to land. “I’m on the ground just looking at my mother, this tiny speck in the sky,” recalls her daughter, Louise. “We are just standing there on the ground, and she is watching over us. If that’s not symbolic, I don’t know what is.”

So what brought Mann to soar the skies? While on the mend from a heartvalve replacement and triple-bypass surgery in March, Mann was discovered to have another serious health issue. “They were testing for a bleeding ulcer,” explains her daughter-in-law Ann Weadock. “It turned out to be inoperable, stage-four stomach cancer which had spread to the liver.”

But instead of being devastated by the

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news, her primary focus was how long she had left to live. “The doctor was very reluctant to tell me how long I had left, but he told me in July that I had six to nine months, and I was like, ‘Good, that gives us time to do things.’”

While her oncologist, Dr. John Downs of St. Joseph Medical Center, recommended a combination of chemotherapy and radiation in hopes of prolonging her life—a regimen that causes debilitating nausea and weakness—Mann had other plans: She opted to make the most of the time she had left. “Chemo was out of the question right away,” says Mann. “Would it be different if I had felt like I was dying? Maybe. But I had no symptoms.

Other than shortness of breath, I didn’t feel sick.” Says Downs, “We recommended the possibility of some drugs and

chemotherapy. She was open-minded—it wasn’t that she didn’t listen. But she was pretty clear that she didn’t want that, not in the short term, especially since she is so asymptomatic.”

As a nurse and president of New Yorkbased Access Nursing Services, Mann’s daughter, Louise Weadock, has had her fair share of experiences with cancer patients.

“I said to my mom, ‘Are you serious about this?’ And she was,” says Weadock.

“First, she had to understand how this cancer was going to progress through her body and that the doctor would help her through the pain, and once she did, she said, ‘Yes.’ I am a nurse, and I deal with patients in home care and hospitals all the time. The key is to keep their spirits as high as you can, so I said, ‘Well, in that case, we will do a ‘bucket list’ for you.’ That meant setting up things she could look forward to every four to six weeks.”

The night of the news, some of the family gathered for dinner on the terrace of the exclusive L’Hirondelle Club of Ruxton. Inspired by the terminally ill characters in the 2007 film The Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, Mann and her family refined her list of adventures to do before she died. “A few weeks earlier, Louise had gone hang gliding and called me to tell me what wonderful fun it was,” says Mann. “So when the bucket list idea came up, either she or I said, ‘hang gliding,’ and then we came up with skydiving. Once you start thinking along those lines, the imagination keeps going.” (Not that Mann’s carpe diem attitude is anything new. Even before the diagnosis, the inveterate traveler had recently gone gorge-swinging over the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls and swimming with great white sharks near Cape Town, South Africa.)

To date, Mann—the mother of four and grandmother of four—and her family and friends have gone on several bucket-

list adventures, from hang gliding in Middletown, New York (“I went up 4,000 feet,” says Mann. “It was very peaceful, very bird-like.”), to swimming with the dolphins in Marineland, FL. Also on the list: hot-air ballooning, an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) escapade in Sedona, AZ, and a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.

Mann’s doctors have not always been happy about her treks. “At one point, one of her doctors said, ‘What are you doing?’” recounts Louise. “‘Your mother has cancer. What happens if she goes swimming with the dolphins and gets to the bottom and can’t breathe?’ I told my Mom what the doctor said, and asked her, ‘What do you want to do?’ She said, ‘Follow the yellow brick road—that’s what we are doing.’”

Mann’s joie de vivre has not gone unnoticed—she has become a media darling, dubbed “Daredevil Granny” and “Super Susie” by CBS’s The Early Show, which has featured her on a number of morning spots detailing her adventures.

“She has been such an inspiration to so many people,” says Ann Weadock. “Her grandkids and kids are begging, borrowing, and stealing to take time off from their jobs to join on these trips.” (CBS has also joined along to chronicle her adventures and gives updates on “Super Susie” after every trip.)

Mann has also caused somewhat of a stir at her retirement community. As another resident heads down the hallway with her walker, Mann—lovingly known as “Grandy” to her family—jokes, “Wanna go skydiving?”

“The biggest surprise to me is that residents have come up to me, and they’ve said, ‘I’ve had chemo and radiation therapy, and I wish I had done what you are doing,’” says Mann. “My impression is that they have this cloud hanging over them. Their cancer may be in remission, but they don’t know when it is coming back. They’ve been through it once, but who wants to go through it again?”

Mann’s optimistic attitude stems in

part from her New York City and suburban New York childhood, where living life to its fullest was encoded in the family genes. “We were always a family who did things,” says Mann, whose father, John Kirkland Weeks, was an umpire at the U.S. Open and whose mother, Geraldine Boardman, was an accomplished equestrian who competed at Madison Square Garden.

A family tragedy in 1967 also shaped Mann’s attitude toward life. Her oldest son, John, just 16, had a diving accident in Lake Roland that left him a quadriplegic. “When something happens, you don’t have a chance to react—you just do,” says Mann. “John broke his neck, and we got him to the hospital on a Saturday night. They set his neck and put weights on his head, but I couldn’t see him until the next morning. His very first words to me were, ‘Happy birthday, Mom.’ “ I thought, ‘Oh, my God, you’d better come up with something,’ so I said, ‘Thank you very much.’ The first thing I threw at him was that President Roosevelt became crippled at a young age. I said, ‘Look at what he was able to accomplish. You are young enough where maybe you can do even more.’” (John Weadock is now a favorite tutor at Sylvan Learning Center in Melbourne, Florida, and, at 58, is one of the longestliving quadriplegics in the United States.)

Says Dr. Downs, “I am not a psychiatrist, but she has seen her own family

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members, who are younger, suffer severe limitations. She feels that she has led a relatively long life, and her number-one concern is quality.”

While the Christmas holidays will be spent at home, for as long as her health holds out, Mann has added whitewater rafting and snorkeling to “the list.”

“Louise says Mom’s bucket list is killing her,” jokes Ann. “I know my bucket list is going to include going to the spa.

We’ve done it all with her.”

Sitting in her sunny Mercy Ridge apartment surrounded by family photos and brightly colored needlepoint that seems to mirror her Technicolor life, Mann never stops smiling as she reflects on her unexpected star status in the twilight of her life.

“This has caught on by accident,” says Mann. “If I have a message, it is to live life to the fullest and enjoy. There are a lot of people who revel in the lemons, but they can make lemonade if they try hard enough.” And as much as she has inspired others with her positive attitude, she says that others have inspired her.

“This has helped me appreciate what I have, and it has made me realize how very afraid people are to talk about death and dying. People will say, ‘Do you mind if I ask a question?’ And I’ll say, ‘No, go ahead,’ but they are uncomfortable.

Dying is just another part of living.”

-By Jane Marion This article appeared in the December 2009 issue of Baltimore magazine.

Reprinted with permission.

The theme for the Oldfields School year is Women Who Dare, and Sewall W. “Susie” Mann ’48 was certainly a woman who dared to live life to the fullest. Despite a terminal cancer diagnosis, she continued to seize the day by embarking on a series of adventures until the end of her life. On Susie’s website, her daughter wrote, “So, at 6:15 p.m.

2/15/10; without much fanfare and with so much grace … Sewall Boardman Weeks Weadock Mann set out on a new adventure taking her last leap without a kite or a parachute.” Susie, a true Oldfields Girl, continues to inspire us all.

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1964 Jacquelin “Jackie” Thomas Carey Beirne Donaldson – Sadly, my father passed away this summer (August 7, 2009) followed by his sister, my aunt, Nancy Donaldson Starring ’43 and my uncle John, the remaining sibling.

Incredible to lose one’s entire older generation in two months. My mother remains of all. Love being in touch with anyone from Oldfields. Hope the School can go on and on.

Elizabeth “Libby” Park Frazier – Pepper and I are thoroughly enjoying being grandparents. Felicity was joined by a sister in February. We are still splitting our time between Boca Grande, Florida and Nantucket. We went to an Oldfields Gathering this past summer where we saw Taylor Smith, some old friends, and past students of Pepper’s.

Hope everyone has a great winter.

Melinda Wilson Fuller – Life is fine in upstate New York. My younger son, Christopher, married Adrienne Kenetz at our beloved Heart Bay on Lake George in September and now lives in Colorado.

My grandson, Will, is now sixteen months and happily living in the Boston area with his parents, Jason and Elisabeth.

1971 Seashols Starks – Greetings from Atlanta! Call if you are ever in the area.

I’d love to see my Oldfields friends.

1972 Denise “Dede” Alexandre Le Comte Susan “Susie” Sillcox Repko

1973 Robin Brown Kearton Vanessa “Vinnie” Weber

Diana Kaiser Bulger

Carolyn Gibbons Abernethy

1968 Anne Crimmins

1969 Marigil “Gil” Moran Walsh – I am living between Florida; Ligonier, Pennsylvania; and Martha’s Vineyard. I have started my own design company, “Gil Walsh Interiors,” after having been involved in four design firms over the past 37 years. My firm is based in West Palm, Florida, but I do work all over the United States.

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Robin Brown

Cornelia “Lia” Wallace

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Lydia Crow Taylor Margaret Ulle – Is still teaching at Catholic Charities!

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Virginia “Ginny” Casasco – My partner of the past 18 years, Sue Lucarelli, and I exchanged marriage vows on August 14, 2009 at sunset on Cape Cod while staying at the B & B owned by Elizabeth Gay Dix Brooke ’69. Alexandra, our nine-year-old daughter, had been urging us to formalize our union for years. On July 6, 2009 our daughter Elizabeth was born and has filled our home with wonder anew. After 25 years in NYC, we moved to Hudson nine years ago and have been absorbed in the restoration of our 1830’s home. Our garden is grand but the house continues to be a work in progress. I’d love to hear from you all.

Barrie Blazer Conner – All is well in Prospect! Our oldest daughter, Caroline, married Edward Buckley (Buck) Greathouse on May 16, 2009. Frances Clay, her younger sister, was her maid of honor. The reception was at our home (1793 log home!) on Preakness day!

Now both girls live in central Kentucky ten minutes apart from each other and my mother – how great!

Marie “Marizy” Spohrer Gaskell – On October 16, 2009, Marizy Spohrer exchanged “I Dos” with long time beau, Stephen Andrew Gaskell in San Francisco California. Maid of Honor, witness and photographer extraordinaire was none other than Frances “Frannie” Pope Hohman ’82.

Joan Carter Jermakian – Thanks to all the alumnae who came to Reunion 2010.

We hope to see more of you in 2011.

The family of Heather Wistar Labudde ’81: (L to R) Timothy, Doug and Christopher Labudde

Christopher, son of Heather Wistar LaBudde ’81, is shown with the senior pastor receiving a Bible during Sunday School.

1982 Kim Smoyer Margaret Goodale Mason – I was really happy to reconnect with Taylor Smith this fall after the passing of my aunt, Jane Goodale ’44. My husband, Randy, and I have two great kids – Max, 15, and Julia, 14, and are still living in Minnesota.

Timothy, son of Heather Wistar LaBudde ’81, reading at school.

Marizy Sphorer Gaskell ’81 and Stephen Andrew Gaskell exchanging vows

Elizabeth, daughter of Ginny Gasasco ’79 Virginia “Ginny” Casasco ’79 with her partner Sue Lucarelli and daughters Alexandra (9), Elizabeth (8 mos).

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Katie Trautlein ’81 visited France in September 2009.

Rosie and Claire Jermakian, daughters of Joan Carter Jermakian ’81.

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There are 44,892,454 dog owners in the United States, who own a total of 62,995,801 dogs. Nineteen percent of owned dogs are adopted from an animal shelter.

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Barbara Lynn Dulin

Sims Boulware Bulluck Leigh Martin O’Connor

1987

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

Esther McMaster Andrew Carolyn Ewing Woods

1991

Mariah “Mimi” Sibley Wolffe – I had such a great time at the Philadelphia Gathering this past fall at the home of Margarita “Margie” Pardoe Rooke ’76.

Awesome to see Hawley Rogers, as well as Taylor and Judy Smith again. I am so happy Taylor is back! I encourage everyone to go to these fun gatherings.

Jamie Cathcart Rood – I am still living in Charleston, South Carolina. If anyone is ever down this way, please look me up. Currently I stay busy managing a nature center for the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and do nature photography.

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Julia Snyder Greenspan Leslie Falini Young

Carla Puky – This is my third year at Saint James School and I continue to enjoy the experience. On November 6, 2009, I became an aunt for the second time, this time from my sister, Irene Puky McLin ’98 and her husband, Dan.

Elise “Lelei” Jennings Coyle – Living in Wilton, Connecticut with Chris and our three boys...no Oldfields girls in our house yet! Hoping to see many of my old Oldfields friends at our 20th (gulp) in 2011! Miss you all and can’t believe how time has flown since 1991!

1988 Rebecca Rivers Schrader Cynthia Thiele

1992 1984 Asifa Hassam

Rock Island August 2009 Ashley Sloan Cary, Polly Williamson McArthur, Ashby Parrish Webber, Barry Caldwell Maddux and our kids Class of '88.

Christine Hopman – Life is good!

Living in Northern Virginia, working for Lockheed Martin and traveling the world. Proud mother of three dogs.

Would love to hear from my Oldfields buddies (chopman@savi.com).

The Class of 1990 celebrated their 20th reunion in style!

1989 Carey Smith Johnson – Great job getting Oldfields back on track! I’m in St. Louis, Missouri and have had my own business for six years now doing murals and faux painting (www.mountjoydesigns.net). I have two awesome boys, Mitchell, 16, and Aidan, 10. Hello to all. I am on Facebook – look me up to catch up!

Diana Fulford Lacasse – I celebrated my 40th by running my first marathon last fall. We are in our third year at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburg. Jack is eight, Ellie is six, and Finn is one. So glad Oldfields is having a good year.

Pamela “Pam” Irvin Jordan Mary Simmons Evans Alyssa Boyle Starzyk Yasmine Khouri – Yasmine lives in Canton, Baltimore, Maryland. She has a MBA in non-profit management and is pursuing a degree in international management at Johns Hopkins University.

She works for Johns Hopkins Hospital in the department of marketing.

1993 Cynthia “Cindy” van der Nat Laura Powell – Ran marathon number four this past November. All is well.

Currently looking for work. Still living in Ardmore.

Lacy Blalock Stahl ’93 and her new husband, Mark, on their honeymoon enjoying dinner in Grand Cayman in December 2009.They were married June 20, 2009.

Cody and Drew Miller sons of Julie Hupfeldt Miller ‘82

Polly Williamson McArthur ’88 on her 40th birthday in May 2009, surrounded by her Oldfields girls!

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Lakin Cutter Williams ’88 and family in York, Maine

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Shavonne “Shay-Shay” Ward

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

2000 Erin Stevens Henrie

Allison Fair Chambliss Thayer Doffermyre Rust

Sarah Trattner Lazer – I got married to Grant Ross Lazer on September 13, 2009 in Bethesda, Maryland. Claire Janine Gershon was maid of honor and Agueda “Aggie” Ramirez was a bridesmaid.

Grant and I can’t wait for my 10 year reunion. See you then!

Jen Widmer Bazela – Just got married on August 1, 2009. Caroline Jones was the maid of honor, Caroline Bowers Evans, Lauren O’Connell Buckley, Kelly Garrels Goulart, and Cabell Williams were the bridesmaids.

Additionally, we have some other news!

We are expecting…twins! They are honeymoon babies. My how my life has changed! I will send in pictures of our little ones when they arrive.

1995 Anne Ervine Kathryn “Kate” Kelly Lacy Winn Sakellaris Julianne “Julie” Dickinson – Julie is now a special needs teacher in the Houston school district. She is currently augmenting her masters to obtain her credentials for administration.

Brynne Hartley Peck – I am enjoying my life in Newport, Rhode Island with my husband and three kids. I’m in the real estate business and I just started a new company (www.stagenewport.com).

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Emily Deutschman Tamberino – All is well in beautiful Colorado. Hannah, two and a half years old, and Lucy, fifteen months, are an absolute joy. Hannah is an awesome little skier, and Lucy has just learned to walk/run! I am still the director of communications at Vail Mountain School, and Mark runs our family restaurant/bar, Kirby Cosmo’s. He’s about to open our second restaurant! Facebook is a marvel, and I enjoy checking in to see how my Oldfields friends are doing. One of my ladies, Edith Walker Harris, lives right down the street! We’ve enjoyed reconnecting, and my girls play with her daughter, Hemingway. Hello to all the wonderful faculty and staff who I had the privilege to work with…10 years ago!

Campbell (13), Finley (3), Mac (6), sons of Brynne Hartley Peck ’95

Charlotte Rich – Charlotte Rich is the Education Director at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.

Aneesha Marwah – I graduated from college in May 2009 and am now working for the Louisiana House of Representatives.

Elizabeth “Bess” Harkey – Bess is in Manchester, England at the University of Manchester where she is working on her master’s degree in Corporate Communications.

2008 Caitie Cunningham Natalia Bialkowska Alexandra “Alex” Neal Roldine Richard

2009 Emile Acle Angelica Jackson

2006 Madeline “Maddy” Darrell Elizabeth “EB” Hurley Phoebe Larner Krislyn Payne

2001 Rosa “Gunter” Davis Victoria “Vicky” Hunter Paige Rabalais Lindsey Ringwald Claire Janine Gershon, Sarah Trattner Lazer and Aggie Ramirez '00 at Sarah's wedding

Feby “Libby” Cash – Libby Cash graduated with highest honors from Ross University School for Veterinary Medicine in August 2009 and is now an intern in Waltham, MA.

2002 Ellen “E.J.” Ruchman

2003 Emily Tamberino ’95 and family at Piney Lake in Vail Summer 2009

1996 Kathryn Allen Catsman Adrienne Seligman

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

Claire Higgins Jennifer Stelmach Ashley Vizzi

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Caroline Jones, Caroline Bowers Evans, Jen Bazela ’94, Lauren O’Connell Buckley, Kelly Garrels Goulart, Cabell Williams at Jen’s wedding.

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1997 Shelley Short Matthews Wendy Stewart Amanda Delcher Sutton Shelley Short Matthews – Shelley Short has married Colin Matthews and is living in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a recruiter for NCR in Atlanta, while Colin attends law school.

Ashley Brant Catherine Ford Alexandra “Alexie” Blue – I’ve moved back to Baltimore from Denver this past summer. I am working at Jemicy School as a teacher’s assistant and coach and am absolutely loving it!

Jay and Hilda Harder ’01 November 2009

2004 Vienna del Sol Tahira Lindsay Tom and Rachel Keller Miller ’02

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A Serenity Garden to Honor Our Legacy Jarvis Gilbert Nichols ’38 April 27, 2008 Evelyn Wheeler Swift ’39 June 6, 2009 Anne Halbach Bumsted ’39 August 23, 2009 Annette Tower Ragsdale ’41 June 6, 2008 Jane Van Pelt Carstensen ’42 April 29, 2008 Nancy Bell Hull ’45 April 2, 2010

Alaina Jaspers Rook

Births A daughter, Elizabeth Casasco Lucarelli, to Virginia “Gini” Casasco ’79 on July 6, 2009 A daughter, Caroline Brunault Mullen, to Rachel Smith Mullen ’95 on August 5, 2009 A daughter, Elise Marion Cross, to Ann Allen Cross ’92 on August 20, 2009 A daughter, Sofia Margarita McLin, to Irene Puky McLin ’98 on November 6, 2009 Faculty A daughter, Alaina Jaspers Rook, to Alison Jaspers on December 10, 2009

Marriages Rachael Keller Miller ’02 to Tom E. Miller on August 23, 2008

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Alice Bryson Woodbury ’47 April 10, 2010 Shelley Short ’97 to Colin Matthews on May 30, 2009 Jennifer Widmer Bazela ’94 to Frank Bazela on August 1, 2009 Virginia “Ginny” Casasco ’79 to Sue Lucarelli on August 14, 2009 Sarah Trattner Lazer ’00 to Grant Ross Lazer on September 13, 2009

Elizabeth M. Dickson ’49 September 25, 2009 Sewell “Susie” Weeks Mann ’49 February 15, 2010 Frances Ganoe ’51 March 3, 2009 Katherine Braxton Huntley Galleher ’54 January 6, 2010

Marizy Spohrer Gaskell ’81 to Stephen Andrew Gaskell on October 16, 2009

Ann “Andy” Hickok Warner ’54 March 11, 2010

Hilda Graham Harder ’01 to John Harder on November 7, 2009

Sandra “Sandy” Smith Mongendre ’65 January 2, 2009

In Memoriam

Joseph “Pa” Wesley Parker former Director of Food Services November 9, 2009

Helen Macomber Stinson ’30 April 24, 2008

As a result of the desire of several groups of alumnae to support the School while honoring deceased classmates, the School has created Largo Core, an environmental garden surrounding the pond near the base of Graduation Hill. This garden will honor members of the Largo Core Society, those alumnae and friends of the School who have included Oldfields in their estate plans. It will also memorialize the lives of other alumnae and friends of the School.

During the last several years at Oldfields, there has been a growing interest in environmental issues, as reflected by last year’s theme, “We are ecOSchool,” and by our participation in The Green Cup Challenge, part of the National Green School Alliance. Both students and faculty have been active participants in the environmental club and have created an organic garden on campus. The environmental sciences class has challenged itself to improve our environment through a number of projects, including the revitalization of the school pond.

For years, the school pond, located near the base of Graduation Hill, has been a focus of life on campus. In the late 1800s through the mid 1900s, when seniors were required to wear uniform shoes as they walked down Graduation Hill for the last time, the pond became the repository of hundreds of shoes as students celebrated their passage into the next stage of their lives. The story is told that when the School dredged the pond decades later, scores of decaying shoes were unearthed. During the 1990s, Oldfields showed its environmental concern by redesigning the pond area in order to prevent run-off into the neighboring stream. A smaller pond was recreated as the result of a donation from the estate of Virginia Webb, mother of Wendy Rogers.

The garden will be a place of remembrance, and also a place of learning, and will include the pond. The garden will provide a research space for science classes as an outdoor environmental learning center. Benches will be included in the design so that other classes on campus can use the space.

This space will also be used as a gathering area for students, faculty/staff, and Alumnae.

A walk made of stones will cut through the garden that will be inscribed with the names of those alumnae and friends who have left a bequest to the School through the Largo Core Society, as well as those who have been memorialized by friends and family through an endowment donation of at least $2,500.

These gifts will allow the School to preserve the garden in perpetuity, while supporting other important needs of the School. Additional naming opportunities will also be available.

If you would like more information about the Largo Core Serenity Garden please contact Taylor Smith, Head of School, at 410-472-4800.

Helen Bradshaw Billings ’30 February 26, 2010

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The Largo Core Society 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.

Martha Osborne Adams ’48 Mertze Anderson ’75 Anonymous (3) Katherine Trautlein ’81 Edith Clark Bouscaren ’71 Elizabeth Atkinson Bryan ’39 Jacquelin Thomas Carey ’64 Riley Chapin ’83 Pamela Prizer Chernick ’66 Samantha Coker ’90 Barbara Trotter Collins ’77 Janna Conti ’81 Lara Burns Cunningham ’65 Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Darrell Margaret McKee Elwood ’75 Carol Hubbell Engebretson ’72 Elaine Foster ’51 Terrell Garrard ’62 Helen Frederick Gray ’51 Daphne Preece Hellmuth ’55 Laura Hoskins ’94 Kingsley FitzHugh Jack ’64 Cory Jones Jackson ’85 Susan Hadden Lawrence ’65 Dede Alexandre Le Comte ’72 Jennifer Littleton ’84 Elizabeth Turner Love ’90 Carlisle Van Meter Mayer ’78 Scott Menzies Polly Williamson McArthur ’88 Dawn Danagher Peters ’78 Ronald Romanowicz Susan West Ross ’64 Bunny Salisbury Katharine duPont Sanger ’62 Maria Carter Satterfield ’44 Eloise Gilbert Savi ’42

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William Scanlan, Jr. Jane Isdale Schaefer ’52 Sarah Buck Schmader ’82 Robin Gimbel Senior ’71 Carla Simmons Cannon Simpson Stoffel ’76 Michael Simpson Margaret Ulle ’78 Vanessa Weber ’73 Elizabeth Humrichouse Werth ’37 Natalie Riegel Weymouth ’61 Mariah Sibley Wolffe ’83 Lisa Wood Wright ’84 Katherine Wright ’90 We also offer our appreciation to the following donors, now deceased, who have provided a gift through their estate in perpetual support of Oldfields School: Marion H. Allen III O. Frederick Bates Susan Brandau ’30 Edward D. Cobb Elise Eppes Cutchin ’24 Elizabeth M. Dickson ’49 Caroline Gouveneur Dillon ’45 Reynolds duPont, Sr. Stephen Fuller Jane Goodale ’44 Margaret Samson Harris ’36 Elizabeth Lee Boothe Howell ’21 Katherine Young Keck ’19 Elizabeth Eierman Kennedy ’44 William T. Littleton Duncan McCulloch III Kim York McNamara ’63

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

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.

Janet Coit Meegan ’38 Gay Griscom Mehegan ’56 Terence Nolan Jane Morton Norton ’26 Margaret Hamilton Riley ’11 Margaret Sutor Rood ’31 Armistead P. Rood Jan Scott Beverly Bissell Sullivan ’66 Regina Johnson Tomlinson Helen “Miss Herky” E. Travers Lily Dulles Van Pelt ’26 Mary Mixsell Waldron ’28 Ann Hickok Warner ’54 J. Michael Welsh Gretchen V. Welsh Nancy “Twinkie” Crompton Wendell ’39 Cynthia Bullock Woodger ’49

Wendy Rogers and her dog, Digby

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