The Lamp - Fall 2011 by Oldfields School

The Lamp

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 5 Fall 2011

Ne w sl et t er

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O l df i e l ds

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Dear Alumnae, Parents, and Friends:

he year is off to a fantastic start. We welcomed 62 new girls to the Oldfields community in August, as the School builds towards a full enrollment of 180 next year. While the enrollment of most other schools is shrinking, Oldfields has grown by 50 students in the last three years. We are one of only two NAIS schools in the entire country who have grown by over 10% in each of the last three years. The key to our growth is our commitment to maximizing the potential of each student in a challenging, but nurturing environment. In trying to describe the success of Oldfields in the 1980s and 1990s, one educational consultant said, “Oldfields is successful because it is mission-driven. They know who they are and do what they say.” It is to this mission that we have successfully returned.

We have adopted a theme for each year during my four-year tenure. This year the theme is “Honoring Traditions and Embracing Change.” Much of our focus is aimed towards introducing our students to the rich, vibrant history of the School. During the summer, each student and faculty member read Mary McPherson’s history of the School, A Feeling of Family. In addition, the first senior presentation, given by Student Head of School Alexandra “Ali” Towne ’12, was about the legacy of Miss Herky and its influence on her as a student at Oldfields. We are also blessed to have several new legacies, including one new freshman whose great-great-grandmother graduated from Oldfields in 1895! You will discover that much of what we are doing this year focuses on the School theme, including our Annual Giving solicitations and the focus of April’s Alumnae Weekend. We are even working on an update of the Oldfields history by collecting a series of interviews and letters from alumnae, past parents, and former teachers. I couldn’t be more proud of the progress we have made during the last four years. It is all due to the foundation established by 145 years of alumnae and faculty. I urge you all to share your favorite memories of Oldfields with me. Keep our beloved School in your hearts!! Sincerely, Taylor Smith Head of School

Inside

Fall Family Weekend • Oldfields Welcomes New Faculty and Staff Members• Oldfields Races for the Cure • Development Office Update

Fall Family Weekend E very autumn, as the leaves begin to change color, Oldfields welcomes parents, families, and friends for the School’s Fall Family Weekend. This year’s weekend, held on October 14 and 15, had a great turnout of family members and friends who came to celebrate their Oldfields girl! On Friday morning parents attended classes with their daughters. Class periods were shortened so that each family was able to experience every class on the student’s schedule. The girls loved showing their families their classrooms and introducing them to their teachers and friends.

After a tasty lunch in the dining room, we enjoyed some afternoon entertainment in our newly renovated David Niven Theatre. The entire community was treated to a performing arts assembly. A friendly tone was set for the show with an opening song performed by the AllSchool Choir. Other vocal offerings included performances by the School’s a cappella singing groups, Dubious and Images. We had a few vocal soloists and an instrumental performance on a Chinese harp, called the Guzheng; all were very enjoyable. The After-School Dance class delighted us with two unique pieces, while Steppers put on a lively show. The Middle School students performed a theatrical montage of the immigrant experience, called Distant Shores by Natalie Pilcher, and Upper School students in the Acting Intensive class recited monologues.

On Friday afternoon an informational college meeting was offered for all junior and senior parents. Director of College Counseling Cortney Bledsoe discussed the office’s philosophy and the timeline of the college process. There was also a short presentation on the features of Naviance Family Connection, a web-based college counseling program accessible to Oldfields students and parents, followed by a question and answer session to address parent inquiries and concerns. Friday evening was filled with fun community events. While the after-school sports games and practices were rained out, the In-house Horse

The Lamp • Fall 2011

www.OldfieldsSchool.org

Show, held in the indoor riding ring, was well attended. Following the parent cocktail party at the Head’s House, the School community and guests came together for a wonderful meal prepared by Oldfields’ very own dining services. To set the mood for the evening events, the gym was transformed into a bingo hall, complete with green and white tablecloths and a delectable spread of desserts.

For the third year in a row, the School’s Vera Bradley & More Bingo was a huge hit! Students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the School all came together to take part in a friendly competition to win Vera Bradley and Coach handbags and fashion accessories, donated by members of the School community. There were several fundraisers in place during the weekend. To raise money for the JuniorSenior Picnic, a yearly tradition, the junior class sold home-baked goodies and cupcakes to be delivered to students throughout the year. The Riding Department sponsored a bake sale, which raised over $300, to donate to Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure. The Parent Association held a fun raffle for the students with items graciously donated by current parents, as well as a silent auction and a live auction during bingo.

Head’s House, which ultimately sold for $750.00! Thank you to all of our donors, bidders, and volunteers for making this year’s auction such a success. Proceeds from the auction will be used to enrich the educational experiences of Oldfields students. After parent-teacher conferences, the weekend came to a close with a delicious brunch on Saturday morning. There was also great attendance at that morning’s Parent Association meeting, where the parents discussed leadership and plans for this school year. Parent Association meetings are generally held on the first Monday of every month. New members are always welcome!

We were glad that so many parents could join us for Fall Family Weekend 2011. If you were not able to make it this year, we hope to see you in 2012. Thank you to all of the current parents for sharing your wonderful daughters with us.

The silent auction was also very successful. Forty-eight items were donated by faculty, staff, and friends of the School. Donations ranged from “an evening of baking” at a faculty member’s home to a hand-painted Oldfields cooler, to a “Chocolate Lovers” basket. Several local businesses also generously donated gift cards and merchandise. The highest bidded item of the evening was a dinner for six, at the www.OldfieldsSchool.org

The Lamp • Fall 2011

Oldfields Welcomes New Faculty and Staff Members Mrs. Pamela “Pam” CrowderThompson ’85 Pamela “Pam” CrowderThompson, an Oldfields alumna, attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Towson University. She and her family reside in nearby Towson where she has continued her involvement with the School. Pam enjoys the outdoors, playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She has been a substitute teacher for Baltimore County for ten years. On the athletic field, Pam has coached soccer and has been coaching girls’ lacrosse since 1999. Pam is also a certified field official for both women’s lacrosse and women’s field hockey. Pam was previously an assistant coach for the Varsity Lacrosse Team at Oldfields and is currently working with the younger girls to develop a lacrosse program for the Middle School. Pam’s daughter, Alyson Thompson ’12, is also an Oldfields girl. Pam is active in the Parent Association and is the 2011-2012 vice president, as well as the Alumnae Reunion Coordinator in the Alumnae Office.

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Ms. Sarah DeStefano Sarah DeStefano attended the University of Vermont where she was a fouryear member of the Varsity Women’s Lacrosse Team. She finished her career with 60 points on 43 goals and 17 assists in 39 games with the Catamounts. Sarah earned numerous academic awards during her time at UVM and was awarded the school’s Russell O. Sunderland Memorial Trophy, given to athletes who have overcome obstacles to compete at a high level in athletics. The Eliot, ME native was a two-time member of the America-East honor roll and received her B.A. in history with a minor in political science. From 2009-2011, Sarah served as a division one assistant lacrosse coach at Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA. While at Saint Francis, she also received her teaching certification for secondary social studies and citizenship education. She has coached at numerous lacrosse camps throughout the northeast that include Merestead Field Hockey/Lacrosse camps, UVM Elite Lacrosse camp, Players Choice Camp at UMass Dartmouth, Northeast Top 215, and the Northern Rise. Sarah recently served as a coach for

Team Revolution and Seacoast United Lacrosse this past summer. “The boarding school environment is the perfect place for young studentathletes to excel both in the classroom and on the athletic fields,” says DeStefano. She believes that student-athletes are able to maximize their potential by learning in an environment where individual strengths are recognized. She is excited to be coaching Varsity Basketball and Lacrosse for the 2011-2012 school year at Oldfields. In addition to teaching history, Sarah enjoys running along the Gunpower trail, reading, learning about new cultures, cooking, and being an animal enthusiast. Ms. Elizabeth “Beta” Eaton Elizabeth “Beta” Eaton joined the Oldfields science department upon graduation from Colby College in Waterville, ME with a B.A. in science, technology, & society and a minor in geology. During her time at Colby, Beta was involved in campus and residential life as a head resident. Additionally, she worked with the admission office as a tour guide and with alumni relations. www.OldfieldsSchool.org

Originally from Yarmouth, ME, Beta has spent most of her time actively involved with the waterfront. She coached high school sailing in Portland, ME while at Colby and for five summers on Buzzards Bay. A graduate of Tabor Academy in Marion, MA, Beta, was a member of the school’s Varsity Field Hockey and Crew teams. She is excited to be back in an independent school setting and to work with the Oldfields Field Hockey Team. Beta enjoys the beautiful rural location of Oldfields, but also appreciates the easy access to Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay. She resides on campus as a dorm parent and helps to lead the Environmental Club. Ms. Ran “Sunny” Liu Ran “Sunny” Liu is from China, a country with over 5,000 years of splendid history. She grew up in an “educational environment” since both her parents served as math teachers in middle and high schools. Sunny also has a twin brother who plays traditional Chinese Chess. Her childhood dream was to become a teacher. After overcoming many obstacles, her dream has come true. She is the Mandarin teacher at Oldfields. Sunny has a great interest in languages and speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, English, conversational French, and her local dialect. She hopes www.OldfieldsSchool.org

to explore more languages, as she believes that a new language will bring her a new life. She loves intercultural communication and sharing knowledge with others about her home country of China. In her spare time, Sunny enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, and singing. Ms. Claire Mueller Claire Mueller, our athletic trainer, began her athletic training career in 2004 at New York University, where she worked predominantly with the Women’s Volleyball and Men’s Wrestling teams. After seven years with NYU, she joined the Oldfields community this fall. Claire attended Springfield College where she was a four-year member of the Pride’s Varsity Swim Team. She received her Masters in public health from New York University in 2010. Additionally, she completed her first half marathon in May 2011. Ms. Monique Neal Originally from Wilmington, DE, Monique attended the University of Delaware where she received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in English. While at Delaware, she

participated regularly in fitness and conditioning courses and played intramural tennis. Monique spent three seasons as an assistant tennis coach at Mercersburg Academy and two seasons as Girls Thirds head coach at ChoateRosemary Hall School. Monique came to Oldfields from Choate-Rosemary Hall where she was an English teacher, dorm advisor, and advisor to international students. Along with serving as the head JV Tennis coach, Monique teaches 11th and 12th grade English classes and lives in Carroll Dormitory as a dorm parent. Ms. Anneke Skidmore Anneke Skidmore, the Director of Boarding Admission and International Students, is originally from Winchester, TN. After graduating from St. Andrew’sSewanee School, she continued to Pennsylvania for her undergraduate study at Dickinson College. She graduated from Dickinson College in 2009 with a B.A. in history and re-entered the boarding school world as an admission officer. Anneke has worked in Massachusetts for the past two years and is thrilled to be relocating to the mid-atlantic and joining the Oldfields community. When she is not working, she can be found reading, running, or traveling. The Lamp • Fall 2011

Oldfields Races for the Cure

n October 23, 2011 Oldfields School turned PINK as students, parents, faculty, alumnae, and friends joined more than 30,000 runners and walkers in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Led by The Parent Association and planned for more than a year, Team Oldfields came out in force. More than 150 excited members of the Oldfields community woke up early, donned their green, white and pink gear, and exercised in support of the fight against breast cancer.

Leading up to the big day, the Community Service girls did a great job of promoting this event by educating the community, showing inspirational videos, and spearheading “Pink Fridays.” On these special Fridays, the School community was encouraged to wear pink to raise awareness of breast cancer. Registration tables were set up outside the dining hall on these days so that students and faculty could register to join in the race. Additionally, the Riding Department hosted a “pink” bake sale during Fall Family Weekend. The event raised over $300 which was donated to the Susan G. Komen Fund. Team Oldfields made it across the finish line to celebrate with breast cancer survivors. Oldfields students, faculty, and friends high fived and cheered for the survivors as they came through the line. Breast cancer affects a woman in the United States every three minutes. Hopefully, with the support of Oldfields School and others, this dreaded disease will be eradicated. “The promise of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all, and energizing science to find the cures.”

The Lamp • Fall 2011

www.OldfieldsSchool.org

Development Office Update

ven in a year of significant economic challenges, alumnae, parents, and friends of Oldfields have continued to show their unwavering support of the School. Their financial gifts help support the operating budget of the School and we appreciate their inspiring generosity. Thanks to the support of our donors, Oldfields has a lot to celebrate! For the 2010-11 fiscal year, Oldfields raised over $1.6 million dollars in gifts and pledges. This includes $945,000 in Annual Giving which exceeded our goal by 24%. We also had a remarkable record of 100% faculty and staff and 100% Board of Trustees participation in the Annual Fund, testimonies to the dedication to the girls and the School. Oldfields received a $20,000 grant from The F.M. Kirby Foundation for the purpose of

adding four additional SMART Boards to our classrooms. International Humanities, a Maryland Foundation which supports the arts, donated a $20,000 grant to Oldfields for the purpose of holding a music series in The David Niven Theatre. Three fall performances were scheduled including Stanley Wayne Mathis, a Broadway performer; The Maryland State Boychoir; and The Old City String Quartet. Several more entertaining events are planned for the spring. The parents of the Class of 2011 donated $50,000 to renovate The David Niven Theatre with new seats, paint, carpet and tile, and hanging microphones. Seat plaques honoring “someone special” were recently attached to many of our seats. Contact Laurie Hurd, Director of Development, at 443-662-1016 or HurdL@OldfieldsSchool.org

save the date for alumnae weekend

April 27-29, 2012

for more details on how you can honor someone in The David Niven Theatre! The School reached its goal of $350,000 to rename The Octagon Room, which is at the center of learning in the Nevens Library, for Jan Scott, former teacher, coach, dorm parent, director of development, and assistant head of school at Oldfields in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Although she was primarily an administrator at the end of her career, she never lost sight of the importance of what happened in the classroom. She was a voracious reader and clearly understood the value of an Oldfields education and the commitment to each girl’s success.

Head of School Taylor Smith and Judy Smith cordially invite you and a guest to attend a gathering to hear about exciting upcoming developments at Oldfields School Wednesday, November 30, 2011 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cocktails Colony Club Christine Wilmer Barkus ’73 564 Park Avenue New York, New York 10065 212.838.4200 Subway 59th Street R.S.V.P. Joan Carter Jermakian ’81 P’15, Director of Alumnae Affairs 443.662.1018 • JermakianJ@OldfieldsSchool.org

www.OldfieldsSchool.org

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Upcoming Events

PHONE: (410) 472-4800 FAX: (410) 472-3141 E-MAIL: BroaddusE@OldfieldsSchool.org FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/Oldfields.School Editor: Eliza Broaddus www.OldfieldsSchool.org

December 7 Admission Open House 9 The Old City String Quartet at 7:00 p.m. 9-11 Closed Weekend 11 Holiday Program and Holiday Dinner 16 Winter Break begins at 1:00 p.m. January

2 16 27 28 29

Winter Break ends – Students return Admission Open House Winter Play (The Secret Garden) at 7:00 p.m. Winter Play (The Secret Garden) at 7:00 p.m. Winter Play (The Secret Garden) at 2:00 p.m.

O l d f i e l d s S c h oo l

1500 Glencoe Road Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152

O l d f i e l d s S c h oo l

November 11-13 Closed Weekend 14 Formal Thanksgiving Dinner at 6:00 p.m. 15-18 Term I Exams 18 Thanksgiving Break begins at 1:00 p.m. 24 Thanksgiving 27 Thanksgiving Break ends – Students return 28 Term II Begins 29 US History Field Trip to Philadelphia 30 NYC Gathering at Colony Club at 6:30 p.m.

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