Dear Alumni,

As we reach the midway point of another school year at Old Trail—my fifth as a member of this remarkable community—I am reminded how quickly time passes. Images of our opening day and special community-building events such as Feast in the Field, the Halloween Hullabaloo and Fall Family Movie Night are still fresh in my mind, yet preparations have already begun for our Old Trail School Class of 2023 graduation ceremony.

It’s during these moments of reflection that I am especially grateful for the chance to meet and reconnect with all of you. This winter, I had the privilege of sharing wonderful Old Trail stories with many of our graduates—some who are still in high school (Sebastian Reyes ’21 and Maya Kinney ’22, to name a few)—as well as women who graduated from Old Trail as high school students (Ruth Ruston Hoffman ’58 and Diana Kenney Woodhouse ’68). Despite the different generations and experiences, two common themes quickly and unmistakably emerged through conversation: the enduring love our graduates have for Old Trail and its community, and the ways in which OTS has prepared our alumni for life. It truly is a testament to the school, and I never tire of hearing about and feeling those connections.

Alumni Day

It was wonderful to see many of you return for our first Alumni Day at Old Trail on May 27, 2022. An especially touching moment occurred when I overheard a conversation between Marilyn (Meyers) Buckey ’64 and Elizabeth Byrd ’89. Marilyn was wearing a very special and beautiful gold necklace that she purchased many years ago at an Old Trail auction. When Elizabeth saw it, she remarked, “I helped make that!” Upon further inspection, Elizabeth found her initials on the piece! It was a wonderful example of how all our alumni are connected through their Old Trail experience.

Please save the date for our next Alumni Day, which will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees will be honored at a special community assembly, enjoy student musical performances, take a tour of campus and visit classrooms, and have lunch with Sarah Johnston. If you would like more information or are interested in attending, please contact Development Assistant Michelle Schaeffer at mschaeffer@oldtrail.org or call 330.666.1118 ext. 306.

Cuyahoga Valley 5k And Fun Run

On June 11, we will host our first 5K and fun run at Old Trail beginning at 9 a.m. The race is open to the general public and we would love for any alumni in the area to participate. The course will weave through campus and Cuyahoga Valley National Park, providing runners a beautiful backdrop for competition, socialization and camaraderie. Registration information will be forthcoming. In the meantime, please save the date and plan to attend!

Ots Fund

I am grateful for the support so many of you have shown for the OTS Fund. The OTS Fund is our school’s top philanthropic priority fulfilled every year directly by our community of families, faculty, alumni and friends. If you have already given, thank you. If you have not, please consider making a gift.

I hope to connect with you on campus, via email or on the phone soon! On behalf of Sarah, and the entire Old Trail community, thanks for being an integral part of what makes Old Trail special.

Joe Vogel Associate Head of School

Overall

23% of all gifts came from alumni, alumni parents and grandparents

The OTS Fund has a profound impact on the school and the students in our care. Because of your generous support, together we raised more than $422,000 from 619 gifts last year.

$250

52% of all gifts were under $250

30 % of donors gave more than they did last year

Parents

22% increase in parent donations

36 % of parents increased their gift from 2020-2021

The 1920 S Society

The 1920s Society recognizes individuals who have included Old Trail School in their estate planning. These gifts, past and future, support the school in profound and countless ways.

If you are interested in joining The 1920s Society or considering a gift to Old Trail School, we would love to discuss this with you or your financial advisor. Please contact Joe Vogel at jvogel@oldtrail.org or 330.666.1118 ext. 482.

INCREASE 15% in the number of gifts overall Alumni