T H E
L A M P
A NEWSLETTER FROM OLDFIELDS SCHOOL
VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1 FALL 2015
INSIDE STEM Career Day Invest In Girls
Narrowing the Gender Gap Oldfields’ Innovative Programs in STEM and Finance By Alicia Bowers P'17, Director of Communications
Spirit Campaign Already Making a Difference Notes from Riding Hill College Counseling Corner Fall Family Weekend Shout Outs New Director of The Oldfields Fund
During Career Day " I learned about so many different occupations, including architecture, construction accounting and interior design. It was inspiring to see the amount of female representation in a stereotypically maledominated field. Career Day taught me that I am capable of pursing anything, no matter what my gender!" – Megan ’17
Megan '17, Jenaba '17, and Isabelle '16
The "girl power" is tangible on Oldfields’ campus. Strong women leaders are plentiful in the classroom, on the athletic fields, and amongst our administration. Sometimes it is easy to forget that in the "real world" beyond our campus, women still have new ground to break. Female professionals remain underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workforce, although to a lesser degree than in the past. One of the greatest disparities occurs in engineering, with only 13% of engineering positions being filled by women.* Finance is another male-dominated career path. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2013 only 32% of financial analysts and only 25.7% of personal financial advisors were women. This fall Oldfields is proud to take part in two innovative programs designed to expose our girls to the many careers available to them in engineering and finance which they may not have initially considered. *Science and Engineering Indicators, 2014 National Science Foundation.
Narrowing the Gender Gap STEM Career Day
continued
Oldfields was chosen to host more than 50 students from seven local public and private schools as part of the Women in Associated Builders and Contractors Professional Career Day. On September 29, our Garden House construction site provided these budding engineers, architects, and builders with the perfect location to learn and explore. Women presenters from the fields of engineering, construction, accounting, and design interacted with the girls throughout the day. Special thanks go out to Southway Builders, who are building our new Garden House and were represented by project manager, Malindi Lankatilleke, for allowing these students to utilize the site. Thanks also to Michelle Wittig of Mechanical Engineering and Construction Corporation for organizing this wonderfully educational day. Invest In Girls
Oldfields School Alumnae Mobile App STAY CONNECTED iPhone or Android Locate and contact OS alumnae based on class or city. Search “Oldfields School ” in your App store.
The sophomore class has an exciting opportunity this year! Thanks to the generosity of alumnae Glennie Reynolds Martin ’59 and Wendy Goodyear Griswold ’63, the fall 10th grade seminar series is being presented by Invest in Girls, a nonprofit organization established in 2010 whose mission is to teach high school girls financial concepts, expose them to female role models in the financial field, and introduce them to financial services companies and career paths in finance. Topics will include budgeting, personal finance, and philanthropy throughout four workshops. Discussions on taxes, interest, financial goal setting, etc. will provide an excellent foundation for girls aspiring to careers in the financial sector. Exposure to women in finance and visits to financial service companies like Goldman Sachs and the New Year Stock Exchange are also possibilities. Thank you to Glennie and Wendy for giving back to fellow Oldfields girls of a new generation!
The
SPIRIT CAMPAIGN By Anne Ragland Finney P'97, Director of Development
Already Making a Difference
Everywhere you look, you can see an enhancement to the campus made possible by your generous gifts to our Spirit Campaign. Thank you for giving more than $9.3 million dollars toward our $12 million goal. Only $2.7 million left to go! Wait until you see the new Garden House! The roof and insulation are on, and the balconies are under construction. Before you know it, they’ll be doing all the finish work inside. Seventy percent of our faculty and staff live on campus, and this beautiful facility will house four families in the new twobedroom apartments. Every day there are girls going in all directions – to sporting events, amusement parks, community service functions, and of course shopping! Getting them there is now easier and more comfortable than ever before, thanks to the two new buses donated to Oldfields this fall. A new 25-seat Ford Starcraft bus and a 14-seat Mercedes bus are now sporting the Oldfields logo around town, thanks to wonderful donations from a past parent and two current Trustees.
Miss Nan’s Library is our own version of the formal living room, and we’ve given it a face lift. A new ceiling, a fresh coat of paint, and new carpeting have it in tip-top shape for studying in the cozy window seat or holding receptions and informal meetings. The most beautiful room on campus is "open for business" once again. Just in time for match play to resume this fall, our five tennis courts were beautifully re-surfaced. Saved from the erosion of the stream by the miracles of engineering, the courts remain exactly where you remember them, but with a state-of-the-art surface now in place. Keeping our beloved Old House in the best possible condition starts at the top. Although new roofs are not one of the most visually exciting improvements, they are definitely important. Old House received a new roof this summer, and now there will be no more leaks in Heaven! Thank you to every one of you who have demonstrated your largeness of heart by donating to the Spirit Campaign!
UPDATES
Notes from Riding Hill Oldfields hosted its first home Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) horse show in September, and our team was named Reserve Champion of the day. One of our own girls, Gabby ’16, earned the Sportsmanship Award at the September IEA event. The official show steward chose her because of the earnest manner in which she motivated and encouraged each teammate in every class throughout the show. Olympic double gold medalist Joe Fargis, international competitor and Olympic Silver Medalist eventing rider and trainer Kim Severson, and leading lady rider on the US Eventing leaderboard for the last 5 years Sally Cousins, held clinics at Oldfields in our beautiful indoor arena, providing fabulous opportunities for OS girls as well as for riders from the surrounding community. The fall riding program is filled to capacity with enthusiastic equestrians who spend their afternoons heading up Riding Hill, just as generations of Oldfields girls have done!
College Counseling Corner • 97% of the Class of 2015 is now enrolled in a four-year college. • 40+ colleges and universities are scheduled to visit Oldfields this year. • Over 60% of OS seniors have applied to at least one college or university for early action or early decision.
Top photo: Gabby '16 helping Mary Hannah '19 Middle photo: Polly '16 at Fall Family Weekend Exhibition Bottom photo: Director of College Counseling Megan Hoover talks to parents
Underclassmen are ahead of the curve! All eighth, ninth, and tenth graders have already been introduced to Naviance, a college and career readiness software platform, and have begun building their resumés! Congratulations to Sarah ’16. She was our first senior to apply and be accepted to her top choice, the University of Mississippi. Relax, the rest of you will be there soon!
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT FALL FAMILY WEEKEND COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER…
This year was bigger and better than ever. • 154 guests on campus, including parents, siblings, and special friends! • Perfect weather for after-school athletics by day and for bonfires and s’mores by night • Over 60 items donated to the Parent Association for their Silent Auction, which raises funds to be used for fun activities for the girls • More talent than ever at the Performaning Arts Showcase
Thank you to everyone who participated!
SHOUT OUTS!
The generosity of the Oldfields community is overwhelming. Thank you to all the individuals and groups who continue to make Oldfields ever better for our girls. Alumnae Gatherings
• The fun doesn’t stop when the school year ends. Thanks to our hostess in Nantucket, Carolyn Gibbons Abernethy '66, Dr. Hagerman saw a wonderful group at Carolyn’s home on June 19th. • Also in June, Spirit Campaign Chair Susan "Silly" Sillcox Repko '72 hosted a luncheon in Connecticut at her home. Thank you, Silly, for the many ways in which you give back to Oldfields!
Parent Association A special shout out to the Parent Association for all they do to support our girls under the guidance of their officers, President Jennifer Singer P’18, Vice President Trish Redding P’17, Secretary Julie Selby P’17, and Treasurer Janice Mahaffey P’19. • Thank you to the Parent Association and students who decorated the entire campus with pumpkins, mums, corn shocks, and straw bales to bring the spirit of the fall season to our girls!
• Finishing off the summer was a luncheon in beautiful Martha's Vineyard hosted by Julie Moran Graham '71 in August.
• Kudos to the Parent Association for raising more than $9,200 through their Fall Family Weekend Silent Auction, which funds the exciting and fun activities they plan for our students throughout the year. Martha's Vineyard Gathering: second row, Gay Richardson Smith ’68, Mary Ellen Burke Partel ’59, Head of School Dr. Parnell Hagerman, Julie Moran Graham '71, front row, Alyssa Boyle Starzyk ’92, Ashley Carroll ’13, Madeline Henderson ’14, Patty Reese Vanderwarker ‘62
• Back at home this fall, the Baltimore Gathering, hosted by Jennifer Huff Erdman ’88 P’11, drew a large crowd of alumnae from four different decades. If you would like to attend Baltimore Gathering: Head of School Emeritus Hawley Rogers or host a gathering, please P’82 GP ’12, ’17, and Jennifer contact Joan Jermakian ’81 Huff Erdman ’88 P ’11 P’15 at 443-662-1018 or JermakianJ@OldfieldsSchool.org.
• Thanks for the great job with fall activities including s’mores and folk singers. The scene was adorable as girls brought out their blankets and pillows and roasted marshmallows around the fire. STEM Donation A big thank you to current parents Valerie J. Sill and Dr. G. Dennis O’Brien (Elizabeth ’17) who have donated two Makerbot Replicator 5th Generation Desktop 3D printers to the School. Our girls’ exploration of 3D printing, from design and production, to demonstrations and participatory access, will open up new possibilities for learning in a wide variety of classes.
DE I TA L– JULY 2016 JUNE 2017 • MI •
E
U
•
LA
A GLORIOUS CELEBRATION OF OLDFIELDS’ RG
Y
A• ED
AC
CRE AT
G
E
COMING
YOUR LE
F O RT E Z Z
CORE O •
150TH ANNIVERSARY
WON’T YOU JOIN US?
REMEMBER OLDFIELDS
1867
IN YOUR WILL OR TRUST
New Director of The Oldfields Fund The name and face may be familiar. That's because Ryan W. Kirk has served on the development staff at Oldfields for the past three years as the Associate Director of Development. He was recentley asked to step into an additional role as Director of The Oldfields Fund effective July 1, 2015. “It was a no-brainer for me” says Kirk. “The Oldfields community is a very generous and caring group, and fundraising for the School is actually a very enjoyable and rewarding thing to do as a result. I’m excited for the year ahead as we look to further engage our alumnae, parents, and friends while we continue to spread the news about the great things that Oldfields is doing for our girls.” Ryan can be contacted at 443-662-1017 or at KirkR@oldfieldsschool.org.
OLDFIELDS THE
FUND
At no other point in a young woman’s life are so many caring individuals focused on her success as a student, a leader, an athlete, an artist, or an adventurer. YOUR GIFT MAKES ALL OF THESE POSSIBLE AND MORE:
SMALL CLASS SIZES
an average of 8 girls
6 NEW COURSES
offered this year
NEW UNIFORMS
for our sports teams
YOUR GIFT
TRULY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Oldfields School
1500 Glencoe Road Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152
www.OldfieldsSchool.org