Quill Magazine Spring 2016 by Pike School

The Pike School 34 Sunset Rock Road Andover, Massachusetts 01810-4898

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SPRING 2016

FEATURE STORY Student Leadership

A vibrant Annual Fund reflects our unity and strength as a learning community because the money we raise together supports every child every day. Please consider making a gift to the Annual Fund via the enclosed envelope or by visiting www.pikeschool.org/mygift.

Pike students take the lead in countless way

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New Trustees Profiles Meet the newest members of Pikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership board

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PIKE NEWS Page 10

At Pike, every child is an important part of our community. So is every gift.

ALUMNI NEWS Page 20

MESSAGE FROM MUDDY

IN THIS ISSUE

Message from Muddy

In This Issue SPRING 2016 The Quill is a publication of The Pike School’s Offices of Communications and Advancement

here has been a great deal of conversation in educational circles for some time now about 21st Century skills and how they cultivate leadership. While we continue to emphasize the traditional three R’s of reading, writing and ’rithmetic, we are as concerned with other traits such as confidence, creativity, compassion, commitment, and cooperation which we see as keys to success. These concepts are not new to Pike. For years, I have heard from parents of our graduates and teachers and administrators at secondary schools of how they feel so fortunate to observe how Pike students demonstrate those abilities in a variety of ways. Pike is part of the Independent School Data Exchange (INDEX), a group of the finest independent schools in the country. Several years ago, the elementary schools in that group helped develop the Mission Skills Assessment (MSA). Over a five-year period, INDEX and Educational Testing Service have developed a scientifically based assessment of six character skills:

• Teamwork • Creativity • Ethics • Resilience • Curiosity • Time Management

These skills have proven essential for success in school and in life. The assessment gives each school a more scientific way to measure its curriculum’s success at meeting the goals outlined in its mission. We continue to look for ways to better prepare our students in these areas. Our graduates go on to take advantage of the many opportunities presented to them not only because they have the academic skills they need to excel but also because they have the confidence in themselves and the commitment to their new communities to be leaders, supportive friends, and fully engaged members of their schools. In the pages to follow, you will find examples of the positive outcomes of a Pike education. Enjoy!

Office of Advancement Rod Boyer, Director Cathleen Gable, Stewardship Coordinator Christen Hazel, Associate Director Donna Richards, Coordinator Office of Communications Jonna Doucette, Associate Kate K. Moran, Director Our Mission The Pike School seeks to develop within its community a lifelong love of learning, respect for others, the joy of physical activity and a creative spirit. A Pike education is a journey that prepares students to be independent learners and responsible citizens. The Pike School 34 Sunset Rock Road Andover, MA 01810 Tel: 978-475-1197 Fax: 978-475-3014 comm@pikeschool.org www.pikeschool.org

FEATURE: Student Leadership How student leadership can take on many forms

PIKE NEWS Find out what’s been happening at 34 Sunset Rock Road

FACULTY PROFILES

Learn more about our honored faculty and staff

CAMPUS NEWS

12 NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES PROFILES A chance to learn about our new board members

ALUMNI NEWS Hear the latest news from classmates and fellow alumni!

Nicole Pollack

Photography: Jonna Doucette Christen Hazel Jaimee {K} Photography Tom Kates Photography Kate K. Moran Katherine Taylor Copy Editor:

Writers: Rod Boyer Jonna Doucette Christen Hazel Kate K. Moran Muddy Waters Design/Layout:

CLASSNOTES PROFILES

Alyson Gerber ’98, Frank Cai ’14, Sarah Leary ’84

EVENTS

GIVING BACK

All School Visiting Day Annual Fund Kick Off Event

Doug Warner

On the cover: Swinging with Friends (Photo: Jaimee {K} Photography) 2015-2016 Board of Trustees Lucy Abisalih Claudia Bach, Secretary Marcy Barker, Treasurer Firdaus Bhathena, Chair Robert Borek David Brooks Lynne Capozzi Eliana Castro ’00 Elizabeth Cieri ’05 Heather Clark Bobbie Crump-Burbank Tasneem (Dahod) Dohadwala ’96 Scott Ginsberg Monique Johnson Meerie Joung, Vice Chair Brian Lawlor Mark Nichols ’78 Kim Packard Len Pierce Sean Riley Leslie Rosas Carrie Smotrich ’78 Richard Vieira Trustees Emeriti Gary Campbell ’69 Shamim Dahod Timothy P. Horne ’51

@PIKESCHOOL

THE PIKE SCHOOL SPRING 2016 THE QUILL

FEATURE: BUILDING STUDENT LEADERS

FEATURE: POSITIVELY MIND-GROWING

Building Student Leaders: How The Pike School Cultivates Confidence, Creativity, Compassion, and Commitment What does great leadership look like? At Pike, cultivating student leadership is a critical part of our mission. We value curiosity, risk-taking and active learning, and strive to develop students who embrace key attributes of leadership such as confidence, creativity, commitment, and compassion. According to Forbes.com, “Some people think leaders are born — they naturally possess the social intelligence and charisma that motivates others to work together. Others believe that leaders are made — they build their skills with practice, experience, and mentoring.

THE QUILL SPRING 2016 THE PIKE SCHOOL

solvers, and people who think critically

SO WHICH IS IT: BORN OR MADE?

and independently. We see it as our role to enhance our students’ growth as leaders and create a community that

“It turns out that both camps are right. Researchers have found that leaders come by their talents partly through genetics but mostly through hard work and persistence. In fact, one study from The Leadership Quarterly1 on heritability (that is, the innate skills you bring to the table) and human development (what you learn along the way) estimated that leadership is 24 percent genetic and 76 percent learned.”

supports this endeavor.

As a learning community, we believe that leadership can be developed, and much of how teachers and students interact daily at Pike relates to nurturing character traits that develop students’ capacity to learn and grow as compassionate community members, creative problem

at Pike.

COMPASSION AND CHARITY ACROSS CONTINENTS He was prepared to see a difference of cultures. But, in the spring of 2014 when student Pratik Alladi visited the Indian village where his grandfather grew up, he

What does great leadership look like?

was struck by how different the schools were from what he experiences every day

“Some students sat on the floor because they didn’t have chairs,” Alladi, now a seventh-grader, remembers. “They didn’t have a library or many books at all. They didn’t have clean drinking water.”

THE PIKE SCHOOL SPRING 2016 THE QUILL

FEATURE: BUILDING STUDENT LEADERS

“We decided to focus on books and clean water.”

FEATURE: BUILDING STUDENT LEADERS

The public school, located in Punnel, an area outside of Warangal city in Telangana, India, is home to approximately 250 students. The toilets, located outside, have no roofs or running water. There is no air conditioning, and the children must learn in heat that sometimes reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit. He returned from India with a mission to help those students. And he knew he could count on his Pike family to be creative and compassionate and join in. Pratik talked to Head of Upper School Colleen Welsh, who encouraged him to take action. She said the school would support such a service project, but that Alladi had to be committed, take a leadership role, and work to plan and organize it. Alladi enlisted his friend Andrew Fitzgerald as co-leader. The two quickly came up with a plan.

THE PIKE SCHOOL SPRING 2016 THE QUILL

“Pratik told me about the school, and I wanted to help, too,” said Fitzgerald, now also a seventh-grader. “We decided to focus on books and clean water.” With the support of the Pike faculty, they organized and held a casual dress day last February at which students could ditch the dress code for one day – for a price. “Dress down day was popular,” said Alladi. “We raised $600 – as much as a government worker in Punnel makes in three years!” They spread the word and held a book drive at the end of school year which yielded three huge boxes of books appropriate for the students in India. The school will now have its own library for the first time. The money was already used to purchase a water filtration system so students now have clean water to drink. In addition, Alladi and Fitzgerald sold some of the donated

books and with the money bought stainless steel plates for eating lunch and stainless steel cups for drinking water. Previously, these students in India had to take turns eating lunch because there were not enough plates and mugs. Now, the entire school can eat their lunch at the same time. Alladi and Fitzgerald had an opportunity to visit the school in person over spring break last year, and were able to see firsthand the difference they made in the Indian students’ lives. “It was a great trip,” said Alladi. “We’re ready to do more.” Fitzgerald and Alladi plan to visit again this July. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to go back and help,” says Fitzgerald. Whatever the future brings for the children in India, the service project is helping many students at Pike better understand different cultures, and is putting into action one of Pike’s core objectives — building the leaders of tomorrow.

TEACHING OTHERS One of the most valuable, meaningful and anticipated leadership opportunities available at Pike happens in our “buddy” programs. In the Lower School Grade Partners program, pre-K and first grades buddy up, while kindergarten and second grades buddy up. And then Lower School and eighth and ninth grade students partner in our Upper/Lower buddy program. We know programs like these benefit everyone involved. For older students, buddy times provide leadership opportunities where they build their confidence and are motivated to be their best when mentoring and modeling behavior for younger students. These gatherings are a chance to demonstrate Upper Schoolers’ capacity to teach, a chance to work with younger students to create something meaningful, and a way of joining with peers to support each other in building an authentic and broader sense of community.

THE PIKE SCHOOL SPRING 2016 THE QUILL

FEATURE: BUILDING STUDENT LEADERS

among the buddies, such as playing name games to get to know one another, reading favorite stories with and to each other, playing board games together, and eating lunch and playing outside. Depending on the activity, different grade levels take charge in developing the agenda and preparing the materials. These simple, everyday experiences of taking the lead build the confidence and skills for these Pike student leaders.

THE PIKE SCHOOL SEEKS TO DEVELOP WITHIN ITS COMMUNITY A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING, RESPECT FOR OTHERS, THE JOY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND A CREATIVE SPIRIT. A PIKE EDUCATION IS A JOURNEY THAT PREPARES STUDENTS TO BE INDEPENDENT LEARNERS AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. – THE PIKE SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

“The smiles on both students’ faces glow with pride and excitement.”

Benefits for younger students are numerous, as well. They gain from older students examples of modeling respectful behavior, social skills, and working collaboratively toward a goal. Building a friendship with an older student further develops a child’s sense of identity as an important member of the larger community. There’s nothing more joyful than watching two Pike students of vastly different ages greet each other across the library, down a hallway, or across a jam-packed, all-school assembly. The smiles on both students’ faces glow with pride and excitement.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE Over the past year, The Pike School has taken steps to build on its current use of social emotional learning from the classroom to the community. Michael Eatman, director of Community Life, has helped establish a partnership with 6seconds, a global organization that asks the question, what if a billion people were practicing emotional intelligence to create positive change? As a network leader, Eatman has engaged our community to explore ways of using both our thinking and feeling to make optimal choices. One of the ideas explored is that it is important for us to recognize

that emotions are data. Eatman asks questions such as, “Have you ever had an experience where you went from using your intellect to acting, and wished you had taken a moment to use your emotions to help in the situation?” and “Have you ever been in a situation where you solely used your emotions to make a decision and realized that you needed some support from your intellect?” In November, The Pike School participated in Talents for Tolerance, a workshop offered by 6seconds leaders. Over 20,000 people in more than 700 workshops around the globe explored what is necessary to create more compassion. Almost 10 percent of the Pike community participated in this event on Pike’s campus. The faculty in two divisions has begun exploring how these competencies can work for setting professional and personal goals.

Bolstering students’ emotional intelligence helps them better manage relationships with their peers, better navigate other social networks, and better influence and inspire others – all important to their current and future success as leaders, contributors, and members of their communities. Resources: Forbes article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ northwesternmutual/2015/03/23/are-leaders-bornor-made/ Benefits of buddy programs: http://www. educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/davies/ davies001.shtml#sthash.JIm8tcgF.dpuf

Emotional intelligence is also being used with students in Middle and Upper Schools’ ALBANIE alliance, a group designed to help students enhance their cultural awareness and community engagement.

Typically in Upper and Lower School buddy gatherings, students work collaboratively on projects and activities, with the older students providing guidance and leadership and younger students offering ideas and hard work. At times these projects have a service component, such as holiday cardmaking and our fall field trip to Smolak Farms to pick apples, which were donated to Neighbors in Need and Esperanza Academy. At other times, activities are meant as fun ways to build relationships and camaraderie

THE PIKE SCHOOL SPRING 2016 THE QUILL

CAMPUS NEWS

DENISE ELLIOTT • 10 YEARS

Which living person do you most admire?

Temple Grandin (and her mom). What is your motto?

AARON HOVEL • 15 YEARS

What do you like best about being a part of the Pike community?

Which talent would you most like to have?

Pike is a welcoming community that is very supportive of everyone — faculty and staff, parents and students.

Nose-riding a surfboard.

Which words or phrases would you say you most overuse?

Check their eyes, their ears, and whether they hear another language at home!

THE LEARNING ITSELF IS SURE TO FOLLOW. -JOHN LUBBOCK

Which living person do you most admire?

Jimmy Buffett. He created his own subculture and has built a life around being happy and enjoying life. Which talent would you most like to have?

“Failure is ALWAYS an option!”

LUCILLE GENDRON • 10 YEARS

What is your motto?

JANET COOPER • 20 YEARS

What do you like best about being part of the Pike community?

I love the children! I go home every day with my heart bursting from the love of our Pike students. Which talent would you most like to have?

I love to dance and I hope that I am able to keep dancing and choreographing dance for years to come. Which living person do you most admire?

Big Papi (David Ortiz) of the Boston Red Sox. He does so much for our city!

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

DID YOU KNOW?

TOM MCTEAGUE • 10 YEARS

AVERAGE TENURE OF TEACHING FACULTY AT PIKE IS

“Accept your responsibility.”

OF FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS HOLD AT LEAST ONE MASTER’S DEGREE

ED SANTELLA • 15 YEARS

What is your motto?

“If God is willing ….”

YEARS

“Awesome!”

Children and adults alike are free to develop their strengths and address their challenges in a supportive environment. It is a real privilege to work with such a knowledgeable group of adults who really care about children and aid them as they grow academically, socially and emotionally.

Which words or phrases would you say you most overuse?

10 82%

Which words or phrases would you say you most overuse?

What do you like best about being part of the Pike community?

My mom.

IF WE SUCCEED IN GIVING THE LOVE OF LEARNING,

I admire anyone who donates their time to help others.

I’d like to be able to write catchy commercial jingles — the kind that get lodged in your brain and that you find yourself humming or singing all day long.

Which living person do you most admire?

The following people are being honored for their years of service at Pike this spring.

Which living person do you most admire?

Do it now! (If not, you might forget what it was that you had to do — or where you put it!)

What is your motto?

HONORING OUR FACULTY AND STAFF

I like being surrounded by people who are ridiculously serious about putting kids first, but who also have a solid sense of perspective and a significantly above average sense of humor.

How about a favorite quote by Stephen Covey instead? “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They’re either speaking or preparing to speak. They’re filtering everything through their own paradigms, reading their autobiography into other people’s lives.”

TRISH FARO • 10 YEARS

From left to right: Carolyn Tobey, Stephanie Santella, Denise Elliott, Tom McTeague, Janet Cooper, Ed Santella, Trish Faro, Aaron Hovel, Lucille Gendron, and Muddy Waters

What do you like best about being a part of the Pike community?

What is your motto?

What do you like best about being part of the Pike community?

The students at The Pike School are the best!

STEPHANIE SANTELLA • 10 YEARS Which living person do you most admire?

The person I most admire is my mother. After 21 years of working with the mothers of students and 10 years of being a mom, how could I not admire my mom? She is an incredibly genuine person and I would be honored to be just like her when I grow up. Which talent would you most like to have?

Whatever anti-procrastination is. Sadly, I am a very talented

Stephanie Santella procrastinator. I’d also like to be able to run without getting

CAROLYN TOBEY • 30 YEARS Which living person do you most admire?

My father. At the age of 90, he continues to work as a consultant in the semiconductor industry. He stays current with technology, and thrives on having meaningful conversations with people whether they are family members, business contacts, those who provide services, or strangers who are seated next to him on planes. “Age is all attitude” is his

motto.

Which words or phrases would your students say you most overuse?

“Sit down.” What do you like best about being a part of the Pike community?

I have been encouraged to grow professionally and personally. My colleagues are supportive and eager to collaborate to make a Pike education the best it can be.

injured. I used to have that, but apparently I have lost it.

THE PIKE SCHOOL SPRING 2016 THE QUILL

CAMPUS NEWS

THE JOY OF LEADING

NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES PROFILES

A Q&A with new Board Chair Firdaus Bhathena

Long-time Pike parent (P’12, ’15, and ’18) and Board member Firdaus Bhathena assumed the role of Board Chair beginning with the 2015-16 school year. Bhathena is a software entrepreneur “who loves to solve real problems and make customers insanely happy.” He is currently the CEO and Founder of Bevy, a company creating solutions for consumer photo storage and sharing. Bhathena’s previous projects include founding Relicore and WebLine. As a Board member, Bhathena was instrumental in the success of the campaign that built the Dahod Center for Community and Creative Learning and the expanded arts wing and community spaces. He has also played a key role on the Board’s marketing committee, which is seeking to ensure a robust admissions pipeline.

What is the job of the Board of Trustees?

There are many official definitions of what the Board of Trustees’ job is, but the bottom line is that we are here to support our school and our head as best as we can. We help set and promote the vision and mission of the school, develop strategic goals, ensure financial stability, and establish by-laws to ensure that the school is in compliance with legal requirements. What we don’t do is just as important. We don’t get involved in the day-to-day operations of the school. Instead, we focus on long-range issues while always being available to assist Muddy [Waters, Head of School,] whenever needed.

How would you describe the current Board, its members, and their approach to the work they are doing?

Pike is lucky to have a Board that is diverse, talented and, above all, committed to the well-being of the entire Pike community. Board meetings are always well attended, highly interactive, and everyone is focused on making a substantive difference. I can say unequivocally that even when we disagree with each other we never lose sight of the fact that we are united in our desire to do the right thing for Pike. What’s more, our trustees are never content to be in

THE PIKE SCHOOL SPRING 2016 THE QUILL

A chance to learn about our new Board members

maintenance mode. This is a group that is always looking for ways to improve the school for our students.

What are you most excited about as you take on leadership of the Board?

The new strategic plan that was put in place by the Board recently is the North Star by which we are guiding our day-to-day actions. Refreshing the look and feel of our outward presence with the new “Positive Energy” message is a great example of Pike preparing for the future in keeping with our strategic plan. I am most excited about working with the team on attracting additional and critical resources through Our Shared Tomorrow, a nascent initiative to expand our endowment. This work will strengthen the school today and for generations to come, and it’s heartening to know that my peers and I have had that kind of impact.

What do you hope to achieve during your time as Chair?

The Pike Board has a tradition of never standing still. We live in exciting, and sometimes tumultuous, times, where the only constant is change itself. I hope to ensure that the Pike Board is capable of the kind of support that the Pike community deserves as we embrace technology, diversity, fiscal sustainability, and different ways of learning in the years to come.

In your opinion, what are the main benefits to becoming a member of the Pike community? Pike is a whole-family experience. It is not a place where you drop your children off and hope for the best. Everyone participates in the challenging, yet nurturing, environment at Pike, and that is exactly what children need to thrive and function at their very best. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be involved in such a substantial way. It’s a small way to repay the things that Pike has given my family and me.

David Brooks P’15, P’16, P’19 currently serves as Head of Global Equity Trading for The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC, the Boston-based fundamental equity investment boutique for BNY Mellon. There he oversees trading, portfolio implementation, and execution services. This strong financial background, which includes a stint at State Street Research and Management Company and a degree from Georgetown University, will provide important guidance for the Pike Board. Brooks is a long-term strategist, particularly as it applies to his work with the Board, where he hopes he can help Pike develop a financial model that ensures the school’s financial foundation for the next 20 years or more. While Brooks brings a keen understanding of financial markets to his role as a trustee serving on both the finance and audit committees, his biggest contribution may be his love and appreciation for what makes Pike exceptional; his wife Val and he appreciate the Pike value proposition. “We have been thrilled with the educational, personal and social development we’ve seen in our daughters,” he said. “The socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of the student body, along with the encouragement and acceptance of different schools of thought, have greatly benefited our children in their time at Pike.” Brooks enjoys time spent with his family. Since college, he has been a regular volunteer with Special Olympics, an area of service he now shares with his daughters. A couple of years ago, he took up piano lessons.

No stranger to Pike, Eliana Castro ’00 is no stranger to education, either. Currently a history teacher at Abbott Lawrence Academy at Lawrence High School (she’s planning to enroll in a Ph.D. program to study urban education and become a teacher educator), Castro lends a unique perspective to the Board. “My experiences as a teacher, as an alumna, and as a person of color have made me sensitive to the challenges that young people are facing and the trends affecting education,” she said. Castro is just the second alum to be appointed to the Pike Board in the recently created role of Young Alumni Trustee. She brings several years of leadership experience on various school- and district-wide committees, and brings a strong voice to her work. At Pike’s 2015 Annual Fund Kick-Off, she spoke about her transformative experience as a student here. “Pike became a family for me,” she said. “I can honestly say that much of the success I have experienced to date — and the success I hope to experience in the future – is directly related to the person I was becoming at Pike.” That experience fuels her philanthropic support of the school, as well. “I feel strongly that my gift enables Pike to continue to foster a community of learners who understand and care deeply for one another,” she said. Asked about her extracurricular activities, Castro noted, “I enjoy running, reading, and knitting. I also compete in an annual student-teacher dance competition at LHS and have practiced Shotokan Karate since 2005.”

“While I’ve since confirmed that I never would have been a child prodigy (my 10-year-old daughter can master any song I’m working on in half the time), I’m drawn to the creativity, logic, and commitment required to progress, and am fully hooked at this point.”

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CAMPUS NEWS

“Pike is a whole-family experience. It is not a place where you drop your children off and hope for the best. Everyone participates in the challenging, yet Monique Johnson P’20, P’22 has already contributed a lifetime of service to Pike. She’s been active in her children’s classrooms and through the Parents’ Association, and she has extended that commitment to become an integral part of the Board of Trustees’ marketing and advancement committees. Johnson’s personal touch was evident in Pike’s recent presence at Andover Days and the Frost Fest, for example. It makes perfect sense given that she is a professional event designer with her own company, Monx Design House. “I love creating concepts, and my experience collaborating with teams across the corporate, nonprofit and social arenas allows me to contribute a creative approach to the Board,” she said. Johnson also has a passion for education. “As a first generation American, I know the sacrifice my parents made to provide a strong education and where it has taken me,” she said. “My husband Norbert and I chose Pike because we wanted our children at a school that valued excellence, catered to each of our children’s different learning styles, and encouraged them to be their best.” Johnson’s belief in the power of education is also reflected in her volunteer work with Northshore Women for Hope, which supports the girls at Esperanza Academy. “Many, if not all, of the girls who attend are being exposed for the first time to what a strong education can bring to their life and the lives of their families,” said Johnson. “My involvement there and at Pike is a small way to positively impact our local community.”

The career of Carrie Smotrich ’78, P’17, P’22 includes senior leadership stints in public service, political fundraising, and non-profit consulting, so there is a natural nexus between her professional work and her work as a trustee engaging in mission, long-term strategy, and fundraising. Smotrich has seen the school from myriad angles. She has been part of the Alumni Council, the Parents’ Association’s Class Parent structure, and the advancement committee of the Board, to name a few. Being an alumna of the school also provides perspective. “The school has physically changed since I attended, but the quality of the faculty and the focus on innovative learning have only improved,” she said. Of course, she’s an advocate for Pike and for the power of the community to impact the school. As a new trustee, she hopes the Board can encourage others to join in efforts to strengthen Pike. She sees philanthropy as one tool. “Providing our children the opportunity for a strong education in an innovative environment where teachers get access to the most current training is a priority,” said Smotrich. She and her husband Tom Samoluk give to Pike not only for the current wellbeing of the school but for future generations, as well. “Just as those who came before us gave for our current benefit, a better and stronger Pike benefits us all — alumni, current students and students in the future.” In conversation, it’s clear that family is a priority for Smotrich, both in her decision to send them to Pike and how she parents.

The legal acumen and Board-level experience of Leonard Pierce P’19 will certainly inform his role as a trustee. As a partner at WilmerHale, a large international law firm, Pierce has represented Boards and their directors as they pursue best practices and their fiduciary responsibilities. Stints as a Board member and the Vice President-Legal for the Greater Boston Boy Scouts of America and as a Governor-appointed commissioner to the Massachusetts Service Alliance (a group that foster’s community service and volunteerism) have expanded his trustee acumen.

nurturing, environment at Pike ....” -F irdaus Bhathena, Board Chair

Prior to joining the Pike Board, Pierce and his firm provided pro-bono representation — with a successful resolution – to the school. He served on Pike’s Advancement Committee last year, after having served on the Annual Fund Team for many years, and he continues as a core member of that group. “I’ve come to know firsthand that Pike’s community is very generous — not only through philanthropy, but also through volunteerism,” Pierce said. ”That’s what it takes to position Pike to meet our children’s ever-changing and technologically advancing world.” Pierce and his wife Marybeth have enjoyed watching their daughter mature as a student and person while at Pike. “The personalized educational experience that comes with wonderful and dedicated faculty and small class sizes are very important to us,” he noted. When not working or volunteering, Pierce is often training for or competing in a range of marathons and triathlons.

“I try to spend as much time as possible with my children reading, playing, skiing, and going on adventures,” she said. An active runner and Pilates student, she also enjoys hiking and travel. She and her family also support Lazarus House, the United Teen Equality Center, and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless.

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CAMPUS NEWS

FUNDING THE FUTURE

On a Mission to Cultivate Sustainability What does a school that truly embraces sustainability look like? Does it have a comprehensive composting program? Would it have a beautiful nature trail that identifies dozens of local plant species? Would it support teachers in integrating natural elements into their curriculum? The Pike School is proud to celebrate our success as a leader in the field of educational sustainability. One of our sustainability leaders, Upper School teacher Tina Morris, was recently honored with a 2015 New England Environmental Education Alliance Award. Praised for her creative and innovative approaches to environmental education programming, and for making a permanent contribution to environmental education, Morris was the only recipient in the Non-Formal Environmental Award category. Since the adoption seven years ago of a Sustainability Strategic Plan, The Pike School has become home to a beautiful one-and-a-half mile nature trail that loops and weaves through the school’s surrounding woodland acres, providing scenic views and footpaths for the Pike community to appreciate and explore. This year, a student-designed, student-produced trail guide will become available for all visitors. In addition, new signage is being installed to mark dozens of local plant species.

Composting is another huge endeavor that The Pike School has undertaken. Every year, thousands of pounds of food waste from the kitchen and dining room go to a local farm for composting. Composting barrels can be found not only in the cafeteria but also all over the school. Events hosted at Pike feature all compostable items such as cups, coffee cups, napkins, and utensils. To help reinforce our commitment to this mission-based undertaking, all Pike faculty and staff members were encouraged to attend an environmental education workshop as part of their professional development. David Sobel, environmental educator and author of many books, including “Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens: The Handbook for Outdoor Learning” and “Wild Play: Parent Adventures in the Great Outdoors,” led the workshop. Participants learned how critical it is for children to play outside for strong cognitive, social, and emotional growth. For instance, building a fort at a distance from well-intentioned, hovering adults requires children to sort out the hierarchy of tasks and responsibilities needed to create a successful structure. Pike is committed to cultivating these environmental education and sustainability opportunities at every turn.

Norcia-Riley Memorial Arts Fund Promises Creative Impact

“Josephine loved art and creativity and she loved Pike,” noted Sean Riley, who worked with Josephine’s extended family to establish the fund. “She understood that the arts could be transformative, and as a parent she really valued the creative culture that existed at Pike.” Norcia-Riley’s fund will allow annually a small group of students to explore the arts through first-hand experiences, like studio time with working artists, behind-the-scenes work at a theater, or witnessing an exceptional musical performance from the musicians’ perspective. “The opportunity to work with professional artists or in professional artistic settings, to take part in the work of creating and creativity, is invaluable,” noted Chris Vivier, Chair of the Arts Department. He added that students at this age are really tuned into their creativity: “Having deep and authentic experiences in the arts will help them see what the possibilities are and will inspire them.” Drama teacher Trisha Gordon agreed: “We want to create experiences that stick with these kids, that they will remember and carry with them both because they learned something about the creative process and what it takes and also because this THE PIKE SCHOOL SPRING 2016 THE QUILL

The Pike School encourages donors to explore establishing named endowment funds. These funds are typically part of the school’s endowment and can direct crucial annual monies to donor-specified programs or uses. For funding requirements and guidelines, please contact Rod Boyer in the Advancement Office at 978.409.6601 or rboyer@pikeschool.org

Pike is pleased to announce the establishment of the Josephine Norcia-Riley Memorial Fund for the Arts. The fund seeks to support extraordinary extracurricular experiences in the arts for students in the Upper School that will inspire them and deepen their understanding and appreciation of the arts and the artistic process. The fund was established in memory of Josephine Norcia-Riley, wife of Sean Riley and the mother of Cameron ’16 and Emma ’17. She passed away from cancer in 2013.

CAMPUS NEWS

experience was perhaps the planting of a seed that grew into a lifelong passion.” The arts have long been an important part of the Pike experience. “When we built the current arts spaces – The Dahod Center for Community and Creative Learning, the Abisalih Family Fine Arts Wing, and the McGrath Family Music Wing – we confirmed our commitment to the arts as integral to our students’ learning,” said Head of School John “Muddy” Waters. This fund furthers that commitment in really exciting ways, and we’re grateful to Sean and Josephine’s family for making these opportunities possible.” “I wanted a way to create a lasting link between Josephine and this place she loved and which has meant so much to us and our children – she was so involved in the school and saw how it impacted Cam and Emma,” said Riley. “An endowment fund in her memory that will continue on in perpetuity seemed like an incredible opportunity to honor her, her love of the arts, and Pike.” Donors who wish to further the impact of the Josephine NorciaRiley Memorial Fund for the Arts are invited to make additional gifts to the fund. For more information, please contact Rod Boyer in the Advancement Office (978.409.6601; rboyer@pikeschool.org).

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CAMPUS NEWS

Write of Passage: Pike’s Eighth Grade History Project

ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING – AND ENLIGHTENING – PARTS OF EACH

“I have always believed that our research paper helps students be very well prepared for writing in high school and beyond. One of my students this year told me that her brother just went back to the material we gave him as he was trying to write a paper for a college course he was in. We often hear from students who are surprised that their new high school peers struggle with writing a persuasive essay. A great deal of time goes into this project for teachers and students alike, and I feel it is time very well spent.” -Muddy Waters, Head of School and Upper School History Teacher

STUDENT’S EIGHTH GRADE EXPERIENCE IS RESEARCHING AND WRITING AN IN-DEPTH ESSAY ON A HISTORICAL TOPIC OF THEIR CHOICE. HERE ARE SOME QUOTES FROM STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE WHEN ASKED TO REFLECT ON THIS UNDERTAKING.

“One of my favorite aspects of the research paper is that students get to choose their own topic. They really dive deeply into a subject that they’d love to know more about. Students often choose subjects that escape the usual attention of history class, and they end up enthralled by their new knowledge and proud of their expertise.” -Thomas Lynch, Upper School History Teacher

“I am so thankful that it prepared me for all of the writing I do in high school.” -Emily Michaels ’15

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“When I think back to the eighth grade history paper at Pike, I think of long, restless nights that were totally worth it. It was really good for me to learn the process of writing a research paper and to work toward something big like that. Writing that paper has helped me so much in three subjects already this year. I’m really glad I had the opportunity to do some cool research on a topic that I got to pick.” - Tristan Latham ’15

“When I think back to the eighth grade history paper at Pike, I am grateful for the preparation it gave me for my papers this year!” -Sarika Rao ’15

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ALUMNI CLASSNOTES

ALUMNI CLASSNOTES Past Faculty Dorothy Erickson writes, “2015 was a quieter year for our family after a wedding, a new great grandchild, and a trip to Ireland with Lydia in 2014, but there were many happy occasions for us to be together and make new memories. In January, Cyndi, Libby and I will explore Burma together. Can’t wait!”

’97 Sarah Wilkens ’97 writes, “I am assistant general counsel for Lightower Fiber Networks in New York City. I moved to Manhattan in 2013 and love it here.” Judy Clifton Gessner ’67 ran into the Pike seventh graders.

1940s

1980s

’45 Salley Macartney Osborn ’45 writes, “My husband Bill and I have been married for 65 years. We have two children, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Throughout the years, we have always had animals: dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens and ducks, and two horses. My hobbies are artwork, writing, and piano. I have written and published a book of poems for young children and a novel for pre-teens.”

’87 Naima Amirian-White ’87 and family have recently purchased a house directly on picturesque Lake Lure in western North Carolina. It rests on a cove where “Dirty Dancing” and scenes from “The Last of the Mohicans” were filmed. In addition, they have added seven llamas to their farm. Daughter Yasmin, 8, has named some Tony, Tina, and Mudspots. She writes, All the best to Pike alums in 2016!”

1960s

’88 Alison Derderian ’88 and Rima ElHoss Hopkins ’88 visited Pike on September 24, 2015 and took photos.

’67 Judy Clifton Gessner ’67 ran into the Pike seventh graders on their annual trip to the AMC Mountain Classroom while hiking the trail herself!

1970s ’74 John Margolis ’74 writes, “My brother Hal Curtis ’68 will be hiking the Appalachian Trail starting May 13, 2016. It’s honoring our mother Lillian Prince Margolis who passed away November 2, 2014. He will be raising funds in her memory for Merrimack Valley Hospice.”

’88 Jon Velishka ’88 became a Lieutenant Colonel in July at the Pentagon and just became a Battalion Commander at Fort Hood, Texas.

1990s

’95 Melissa Armstrong Fabick ‘95 writes, “Over Christmas I was able to return to Pike with my husband and sons William, 4, and Charlie, 1.5, along with my brother Douglas ‘98 and his daughter Ryder, 2.5. We enjoyed playing on the playground by the Lower School. I enjoyed sharing fond memories of my Pike school days with my sons and niece!”

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2000s ’04 Elizabeth MacMillan ’04 writes, “I run into Caitlin Feeney ‘04 in New York City frequently and go out for Mexican food.” ’04 Piers MacNaughton ’04 is part of a research team studying the effects of air quality and cognitive thinking in an office environment. Through a double blind study, the team is able to change the indoor air quality to measure its effect on an individual’s cognitive traits performance. Early results show an eco-friendly indoor environment increases one’s crisis response, strategy, and information usage thinking which can result in higher daily productivity. ’06 Caroline Leed ’06, creator of the e-commerce company Smiling Button, opened her first showroom this past December in south Boston. Featured in The Boston Globe, Leed is celebrating her first year in business and has added trunk shows in six major cities.

’92 Travis Jacobs ’92 writes, “About 10 years ago I graduated law school and started my own business law and litigation firm The Jacobs Law, LLC, in Boston. LLC” in Boston. I got married in 2012 and now have a threeyear-old son. I enjoy going out on our boat and teaching my son to fish, working around the house, and what I do for work. Would be happy to hear from fellow alums.” ’92 Jessica Parr ’92 writes, “I have been elected a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Election is based on peer review of one’s scholarship. I have also been invited to present some work at Yale University’s Early American Seminar next fall.”

Dorothy Erickson

’95 Joseph Giallanella ’95 and his family recently relocated to Burlington, Vermont where he is managing the baby care brand for Seventh Generation. Please reach out if you are visiting the Vermont area!

’95 Morgen Peck ’95 writes, “My husband and I welcomed Austin William Lackenbauer into our family this past April. Big brother Lucas is very excited to have a little brother.”

Jon Velishka ’88 became a Lieutenant Colonel in July at the Pentagon and just became a Battalion Commander at Fort Hood, Texas.

2010s ’11 Naveen Rajur ‘11 writes, “I’m going to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and majoring in entrepreneurship. I started my own small start-up in high school and am working for a tech startup in college. Pike helped instill in me a genuine love for learning.” ’12 Alexander Moore ’12 writes, “Recently admitted and will be attending Trinity College class of 2020.” ’13 Joshua Hurst ’13 is studying in Israel for four months on a kibbutz. The program includes multiple day trips as well as two week-long excursions to Poland and an Israeli military camp.

’14 Zoe Hsieh ’14 writes, “I joined one of the Northshore tennis league teams, dance pretty much every day for over two hours each, and I am principal chair for flute at Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras and got in senior districts. Basically, I invest the majority of my time in those three areas, other than school.” ’15 Nick Tilson ’15 writes, “Love boarding at Exeter. Sports are good and academics are hard, but interesting. Miss everyone at Pike!” ’15 Barrett Hodgson ’15 writes, “Having a blast making new friends and exploring new opportunities at Saint John’s Prep!”

In Memoriam Vera (Warburton) Buchanan, passed away January 24, 2016, in Gloucester. Buchanan lived in Andover for many years and worked as the school librarian at Pike for 20 years, retiring in 1995. If you would like to send in your memories of her and wishes for the family, please email: chazel@pikeschool.org. Marta Hornidge passed away February 18, 2016. “Marta was a history teacher for 30 years at The Pike School in Andover where she was widely remembered for her contagious enthusiasm for the subject matter and for teaching students to think independently, express their opinions, and to challenge the status quo. Her students also loved her for being a free spirit. Sometimes on spring days, when the windows of her classroom were wide open, the class discussion would be interrupted by the sound of the donkey she had ridden to school, or the arrival of Mopsy, the family poodle, jumping through the open window. After leaving The Pike School, Marta spent several years teaching special education at Belmont Country Day School,” writes her son Richard Hornidge ’60. She is also survived by Richard and daughter Patricia ’61. If you would like to send in your memories of her and wishes for the family, please email: chazel@pikeschool.org. Doug Roehm passed away November 24, 2015. He taught English at Pike from 1989-1998. If you would like to send in your memories of him and wishes for the family, please email: chazel@pikeschool.org.

Alison Derderian ’88 and Rima El-Hoss Hopkins ’88 visited Pike

’07 Elizabeth Kelly ’07 writes, “I recently received my master’s degree in bioethics at University of Pennsylvania and am currently enrolled in their law school.” ’09 Lydia Godo-Solo ‘09 is a junior at Bowdoin College and plans to major in French and economics. Lydia will spend the next 6 months studying in Toulouse, France, and soaking up all things French including the language, literature, and culture.

’13 Dakoury Godo-Solo ‘13 is a junior at Phillips Academy and thoroughly enjoys his classes, particularly his Japanese course. During the summer of 2015, GodoSolo spent five weeks in Yokohama, Japan, studying the language and culture. He is involved in Key Notes, an acapella singing group, track, spoken word poetry, and theater at Andover. In December 2015, Godo-Solo played the role of Duane in the Andover production of “I”. Recently, he was chosen as a cast member for “Black Gods of the Asphalt”, an original play written by Dr. Onaje Woodbine. He will travel to South Africa June 18 - July 4, 2016 to visit Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Grahamstown where they will perform for Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls during the Grahamstown Fringe Arts Festival.

Stay Connected with Pike Class notes: We want to hear from you!

Have two lines’ worth of news to share with your old Pike classmates? Submit it at pikeschool.org/classnotes Morgan Peck ‘95 and her husband welcomed Austin William Lackenbauer this past April.

Call Christen Hazel at 978.409.6608 if you have any questions.

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ALUMNI CLASSNOTES

DEAN SPOFFORD ’66 RECOLLECTIONS

Upon reading Dan Currie ’65’s article in the Spring 2014 issue of The Quill Magazine, Dean Spofford ’66 was inspired to submit his own recollection of his time at Pike. I recently climbed the White Mountains in New Hampshire. My first climb of Mount Washington was September 12, 1972, according to the log in my Appalachian Mountain Club guide book, and I visited several times in summer and winter over the intervening years. My last ski day in those mountains took place on Mount Cranmore: Fine snow, 10 degrees, with blue sky and good friends. All of this could not have been better!

Though I do not see much snow living in backwoods Florida, I do love my old home town of West Boxford, Massachusetts, where I used to serve as library trustee and planning board member. I try to get up there and to the New Hampshire mountains three or more times a year, reconnecting with friends, even dropping by Pike a few years back. On November 22, 1963, when the word of a special end-of-day assembly was announced, some of us in Mrs. Alden’s homeroom believed that this special meeting was to announce a delay in the school’s move to Sunset Rock Road. We heard something quite different from Mr. Harding: President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Mr. Harding’s talk with us was long, as I recall, and thought-provoking. With our dismissal from this special assembly, Pike school activities ended forever at the old Hidden Road location. After Thanksgiving recess, we met on the new campus at Sunset Rock. Mid-day sports at the Case Memorial Cage, gym, ice rink and Bancroft Field loom large as key in building my perseverance. My coach was Mr. Stevens, who also taught mathematics and home room. Some days we jogged over and back from Sunset Rock.

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My work as an industrial photographer and photo lab manager was interesting, challenging, and all too often made hectic by deadlines and travel. If you owned stock in a high-tech company, you have probably seen my work in one of your annual reports. I also did data acquisition photography, making interferograms and ultra-high speed photography, shooting 44,000 frames per second (normal filming is 24 frames per second). An event lasting approximately six seconds expands out to 16 minutes of viewing — extreme slow motion. With the camera pulling 450 feet of 16mm film in about six seconds, at the end of a day we would have almost a mile of film to process in-house. By contrast, if you downhill ski, go charter sailing or SCUBA diving in the Bahamas or Caribbean, you may well have chosen your vacation destination on viewing my work back in the 1970s and 80s. Becoming a photographer was due to my dyslexia or ADD. I’ve never been diagnosed. However, I wanted nothing to do with school early on. Photography came to me easily; the darkroom was a great refuge to work in. I still cannot spell, and even now when I am tired there are some typefaces that I cannot read. A great example is the word “repudiate.” I saw it as “redupiate,” visually flipping it. Confusing!

This was, I will admit, years ago before personal computers with spell check. You could not look that spelling up and so could not understand the word. I was stuck until one day I saw it correctly as it was set down! In my days at Pike, dyslexia and ADD were not recognized. My grades were C’s and D’s. When I got to study away from my parents, and could do homework with the TV and radio turned on, my grades rocketed to a GPA of 3.8. To this day, I read with the TV and radio on, and, yes, I can give you the plot of the TV program, the radio stock market numbers, and, of course, the content of my book. Digital photography and desktop publishing ended chemical photo lab and analog photography work for me. I moved on to landscaping and construction. Reading blueprints is intuitive. I operated heavy equipment and enjoyed being outside in all types of weather year-round, keeping fit by physical labor while on the job. For now, Florida is my retirement home; at some point I shall return north to live.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

“The education I received at Pike was amazing.” - Alyson Gerber

ALYSON GERBER ’98 NEW YORK, NY When Alyson Gerber ’98 graduated from Pike, she shed her adolescent insecurities, literally. In March of her sixth grade year, she was diagnosed with scoliosis and needed to wear a back brace for 23 hours a day throughout the rest of her Upper School experience. For years, she didn’t tell anyone about what she went through. Today, she’s sharing her story with everyone by publishing her debut middle-grade novel called “Braced.” “The book is so much bigger than my story. It’s the story of every adolescent who feels like people can actually see his or her insecurity,” said Gerber. She cherishes the memories of her Pike experience but also remembers the way she felt as she moved through life at school wearing a brace. Pike is where she learned to write.

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Amy Buelow Photography

“The education I received at Pike was amazing,” said Gerber. “I learned how to read, write, and study there. If you don’t know how to do those things, you cannot learn.” Gerber attended Pike from first through eighth grade and remembers her teachers fondly, including Mrs. Candace Alsop, Mrs. Vuvu Maqubela, and Mr. Doug Roehm. “Mrs. Alsop truly believed in me. She saw me for who I was,” said Gerber. Using the skills she learned at Pike, she went on to The Governor’s Academy and thrived. There she, like many teenagers in a new environment, reinvented herself. She never mentioned the back brace she had worn for the past three years. “It was almost like something that never happened to me,” said Gerber. “High school is a great time to be whoever you want to be.” Though Gerber didn’t talk openly about her experience, she did keep a journal.

“I entered college as a theater major, but changed my mind,” said Gerber. “In my junior year, I took a studio class at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. I quickly realized that I didn’t want to act. I wanted to sit in the back and write scenes.” After graduating from Connecticut College with a B.A. in English, she followed her passion for writing to the New School in New York City where she received her M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Teens. That’s where she got an assignment to write about her most humiliating experience. “I remember thinking, ‘This is easy and horrible at the same time,’” said Gerber. “My experience wearing a brace has a universal appeal to all adolescents. We all have that ‘thing’ that we think is wrong with ourselves and, as an adolescent, we think everyone is talking about it. Often, people can’t actually see what we think is so obvious. In my case, the ‘thing’ that bothered me was visible.” Her work earned her a creative writing scholarship.

When she sat down to write her first novel, her experience was the starting point for the plot, but the story quickly became fiction as the main character, 12-year-old Rachel, works hard over the summer to contribute on the soccer team only to find out that she needs to wear a brace because her scoliosis has worsened. “I always thought I’d write an autobiography, but it didn’t turn out that way,” said Gerber, who poured all the emotions she felt at Pike into her book’s character. “Every adolescent can relate to Rachel. We all struggle to fit in, to do our best, and to make friends. In the book, the brace becomes a character in a way.” Gerber hopes all adolescents have the opportunity to shed that “thing” that takes up so much mental energy. “Braced” will be in stores March 27, 2017.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

FRANK CAI ’14 ANDOVER, MA Frank Cai ’14 is using Andover High School’s (AHS) physical plant as his lab to test energy use and ultimately save the school money. “It’s so big and there are so many resources there,” said Cai. “Teachers are excited about what we’re doing.” He’s part of a team of students called The Energizers who are monitoring the energy use of AHS day and night. Cai came to Pike as a new sixth grader, and credits the faculty with much of his early success and ability to think outside the box. “The most significant skill Pike taught me was the ability to look at a problem differently,” said Cai. “If a solution doesn’t work, I don’t back down, ever. I just keep chipping away at it until I find a solution.” Cai remembers one Pike teacher most vividly.

“Mr. Paul Heinze is energetic and he thinks differently,” said Cai. In the short time Cai attended Pike, his experience made an impression on him. Thanks to Pike, Cai is well prepared for all that AHS has to offer including the academic rigor of his honors classes, his heady electives, and his work with The Energizers. “As a sophomore this year, I have the freedom to take electives,” he said. “My favorite by far is Java programming.” It’s no surprise that his most exciting project to date has been the energy audit of AHS because it combines his passion for solving real-world problems with complex math and his keen interest in saving energy.

“In mid-December [2014], there was an announcement on the intercom. It explained that the school needed help with monitoring an energy problem at AHS,” said Cai in his online blog about the project. At first, he was reluctant to join the team because the project seemed daunting. In the summer of 2015, AHS installed six panels to monitor and record the energy output of different regions in the school. Cai and his team members started analyzing the data, crunching the numbers, and realizing the potential for AHS to save thousands of dollars annually. He was hooked. “A mentor friend of mine created a script in Python which allows us to read graphs and deduce trends more efficiently,” said Cai.

Today, they continue to monitor the energy levels at AHS and hope to expand their outreach to other Andover public schools and even to Pike, who is meeting with Cai this spring to discuss the possibilities. Stay tuned for more details on how Cai’s project is bringing him full circle back to Pike.

“The most significant skill Pike taught me was the ability to look at a problem differently.” - Frank Cai

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“I’ve always been drawn to business and technology,” said Leary. “I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My uncle, Henry Nassar ’56, ran Nassar Ford, a successful local car dealership for decades. My grandmother and her brothers started a grocery distribution company in the 1930s. I’ve always been energized by the idea that you can create something from nothing.” Leary comes from a large New England family including 20 cousins that gathers several times a year. Her mother Joyce Nassar Leary ’56 attended Pike and so did her brother and sisters Robin Leary Taylor ’87, Shannon Leary Morton ’89, and Alex Leary ’92. Today, Leary’s niece Avery ’20 and nephews Luke ’20 and Preston ’18 are enjoying a Pike education, too. “When I walk the same halls with my niece and nephews as I did when I was a student, I tell them how lucky they are to be a part of a special community at Pike,” said Leary. “When I visit Pike, I am reminded of how much my childhood communities mattered – my family, my school and my neighborhood. For example, in my neighborhood growing up, we all knew each other’s name and helped each other out. Neighborhoods are, in a sense, the original social network that have existed for hundreds of years.”

SARAH LEARY ’84 SAN FRANCISCO, CA

She recalls feeling safe and having fun playing with the other kids in the neighborhood. Today, her mother lives in the house she herself grew up in on Hidden Road. Her mother Joyce and uncle walked to school every day because, at

The concept for Sarah Leary ’84’s latest startup company is rooted in the neighborhood she grew up in around the corner from Pike. Nextdoor is a private social network that connects neighbors with each other and their community.

“At Pike, I got used to being around smart people. I wasn’t intimidated. I was invigorated.” - Sarah Leary

“When my co-founders and I started thinking of the possibilities of a network like Nextdoor, we thought, ‘I don’t know if we will be successful, but the world needs it,’” said Leary. “We launched the website right before Halloween, one of the most neighborly holidays of the year.” Today, there are over 90,000 neighborhoods using Nextdoor -- representing over half of all neighborhoods in the United States. “We started with one neighborhood in California, and then added 10 more neighborhoods across the country -- and then 10 more, etc.,” she said. “By the end of the first year, we were up to 175 neighborhoods across 24 states.” Leary attributes her success to three key influences: her family, her neighborhood, and her Pike experience.

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that time, Pike was located almost across the street. Leary and her siblings continued that tradition of walking to Pike from their home on Spring Grove Road. Her sister Robin and her family now live just a few streets away and helped to start Nextdoor Sunset Rock for the neighborhood that surrounds The Pike School. As a result, Leary still feels a strong connection to the Sunset Rock neighborhood where she grew up. Unfortunately, most Americans have lost touch with their local neighborhood and feel disconnected. In fact, before starting Nextdoor, Leary knew only one of her neighbors in her San Francisco neighborhood. “Prior to 2010, I had spent 15 years building online communities,” said Leary. “I was connected to hundreds of friends and family members on Facebook and professionals on LinkedIn, but I realized that I didn’t have an easy way to connect with the people right outside my front door. Turns out others also felt like they were missing that connection to their neighborhood.” As she and her steadfast colleagues started to put down roots in new communities, buy homes, and build families, the idea of creating a social network for their neighbors to connect became more important to them, and they publicly launched Nextdoor in October 2011.

“We didn’t invent neighborliness. Nextdoor is an ice breaker. It makes it easier to start a conversation with people who live around us,” said Leary. “Neighbors all over the country are using Nextdoor to connect with each other. They post anything from recommendations for a local babysitter to items for sale to missing cat reports to rally cries to save a local park.” These online connections have led to actual neighborhood gatherings, block parties, and even wine tastings. As Nextdoor continues to grow, Leary is grateful for the foundation she received at Pike. “As a five-year-old, I certainly wasn’t aware of how lucky I was to attend Pike,” said Leary. “But I began to understand as I moved through my time at Middlesex and Harvard. Some of my classmates couldn’t handle the rigor or competitiveness at Harvard. At Pike, I got used to being around smart people. I wasn’t intimidated. I was invigorated.” She recalls many teachers with fondness, including Mrs. Diane Appleton, Mr. David Frothingham, Ms. Hobbs, Mrs. Sue Wish, Mr. John Hopkins, Mrs. Deborah and Mr. George MacNaughton, Mrs. Lila Bhan, Mr. Bruce Crawford, and Mrs. Pam Palmer. “Mrs. Palmer inspired me. I felt like she really cared about me. She always wanted to find the magic within each child,” said Leary. “I don’t remember Pike teachers as strict. It’s just that they had standards.” Leary tries to hold onto the values she learned at Pike as she continues to build a team at Nextdoor. Coincidentally, Paul Howe ’85 is part of Nextdoor so the topic of Pike comes up often. They often invoke Pike’s motto “non sibi solum (not for oneself alone)” as they work to bring people together and serve their communities. “Like at Pike, it’s the people that who at the heart of what we do at Nextdoor,” said Leary. “It’s about the team that comes together that matters most to me.”

The Leary family in Utah (back) Shannon ’89, Joyce ’56, Alex ’92, Sarah ’84, Robin ’87, (front) Preston ’18, Avery ’20, Luke ’20

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ALUMNI EVENTS

All-School Visiting Day 2015 Pike graduates returned to campus to reunite with friends and teachers as part of All-School Visiting Day November 25, 2015. Some alumni were selected to participate in a panel discussion to share their perspectives with the eighth grade students about the transition to high school.

Tristan Latham ’15

Clayton Britt ’15, Brianna Lawlor ’15, Hannah Onofrio ’15, Elena Ranalli ’15, Bella Borek ’15, Kaitlyn McKinnon ’15, Abby Zerbey ’15, Samantha Davidson ’15, Vinay Metlapalli ’15

Helen Salvatore ’14, Suning Wang ’14, Alana Rafiee ’14, Chris Mellen ’14, Caroline Payne ’14, Eva Altvater ’14, Claire Sweeney ’14

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Josh Hurst ’13, Ryan Lattanzio ’13, Leah Hamann ’13, Niko Skrivanos ’13, Grace Anthony ’13, Kiarah Hortance ’13

Drew Ginsberg ’12, Natalie Lopez ’12, Kat Hodge ’13, Connor McKernan ’13, Allison Attarian ’13, John Rullo ’12, Sitara Rao ’12, Hadley Goodman ’13

Alexa Matses ’14 and Maddie Zerbey ’14

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ALUMNI EVENTS

Annual Fund Kick-Off Event The Board of Trustees, Annual Fund team, and other special donors celebrated community and commitment to giving at the Annual Fund Kick-Off reception October 28, 2015. The program included: Muddy Waters, Head of School — Thank you to the Board of Trustees for guiding the school and to faculty for their great work in the classroom, underscoring both groups’ 100 percent commitment to the Annual Fund

ean Riley, eighth grade Gift Chair and Trustee — Remarks about importance of giving back to S Pike in a milestone moment that warrants significant reflection and appreciation

Aaron Hovel, Director of Technology — Highlighting the faculty-led initiative to open a MakerSpace and the impact this learning has already had on students at all grade levels

liana Castro ’00, Trustee — Personal story about how her Pike experience has contributed to her E success today and the importance of giving back to Pike

Firdaus Bhathena, Chair of the Board of Trustees — Acknowledgement that the alumni story is a great example of the importance of supporting the school to continue its work transforming lives

Liza Waters P’98, P’00, P’04, Allison Vieira P’15, P’16

Caroline Shi and Tong Zhu P’22

Carolyn and Marty Tucker P’16, P’18, P’21 and Mark Carroll P’18, P’20

Sean Riley P’16, P’17, Head of School Muddy Waters P’98, P’00, P’04, Leslie and Belisario Rosas P’10, P’17, P’17

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Director of Advancement Rod Boyer, Akash Vallecha P’20, P’23, Wen Lu P’22, Dan Ruan P’17, P’19

Lisa Andrews P’17, and Lynne Capozzi P’14, P’16

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NON SIBI SOLUM not for oneself alone

Tim Horne ‘51 is in the front row, second from the left

COMMITTED: THE STORY OF A LASTING GIFT Alumnus and past parent Tim Horne ’51 discusses the motivation behind including the Pike endowment in his estate planning My life at Pike began in 1943 when the school was located in

When planning my charitable giving over the years, I

Shawsheen Village. My older daughter, Tara Horne ’75, was

favored Pike with more financial gifts than my prep school

enrolled at Pike in 1967. She graduated from the ninth grade

and college. Why? Independent day schools below the high

in 1976. After I served as Board Chair in the late 1970s, I

school level generally do not receive the financial attention

thought my long association with the school was over.

that higher education institutions do. And yet these schools

Daughter Tiffany Horne ’95 was born in 1981 and started her

provide the solid foundation for learning, personal growth

schooling at Pike in 1986. So, my interest and involvement

and confidence-building that is essential for our children’s

at Pike was awakened once again. Tiffany graduated in 1995

future success. For my part, I think of Pike as a pleasant and

and now has two young daughters of her own who will soon

rewarding haven when our children are still children.

be ready for Pike.

That is why I have left a sizable gift in my will earmarked

Both of my daughters have benefited from their learning

for The Pike School Endowment Fund, which the school has

experiences at this wonderful school. It provided and

highlighted as one of the priority needs for the future. I hope

continues to provide a warm and nurturing atmosphere that

that others within the Pike community will do the same.

prepares our children to grow into capable young adults ready for high school and beyond.

What will your legacy be?

It’s not every day that you can touch the future, but that’s exactly what happens when you include Pike in your will or estate plan.

Including Pike in your will:

EVERYONE CAN BE GREAT, BECAUSE EVERYONE CAN SERVE. -MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

>> is simple; >> doesn’t affect your current financial situation; >> allows you to stay flexible if your circumstances change; >> can provide considerable tax advantages; and >> ensures that Pike remains a vibrant place of learning

The Vallecha family in Madrid, Spain

For more information, contact Rod T. Boyer, Director of Advancement, 978.409.6601 or rboyer@pikeschool.org If you have already made provisions for Pike in your will or estate plan, please let us know. We would like to show our appreciation for your commitment and welcome you into our legacy society.

The Pike School 34 Sunset Rock Road Andover, Massachusetts 01810-4898

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SPRING 2016

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At Pike, every child is an important part of our community. So is every gift.

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