They’ve Got the Power

Throughout the fall term, students in Sustainable Campus Energies examined the renewable technology Pomfret has employed to be a green and environmentally friendly school. The class learned about Pomfret’s electrical generation and use by touring the cogeneration boiler system and biomass and micro-hydroelectric turbines.

The students’ exploration set the groundwork for their signature assessment — to reduce the School’s energy consumption, expenses, and utilization of resources. They focused their efforts on the source of most of the electricity usage in dorm rooms — vampire devices. A vampire device is any technology that continues to utilize electricity when plugged in and not in use. For their assessment, the students took initial electrical meter readings before educating the dorm residents about vampire energy and ways to reduce consumption.

“It was amazing to see the students invested in the challenge of reducing energy consumption,” shared Science Teacher Brian Geyer, who taught the sustainability class. “They explored science in their own way and came up with some unique solutions.” Days after their first visit, the students returned to the dorms to take follow-up readings and analyze the impact of their public service announcement. Dorm residents took the challenge to heart and reduced their usage by 17 percent. Now that’s power!

Experiential Travel Fund

During their time on the Hilltop, many Pomfret students choose to travel in the US or abroad. They return transformed by their experience and excited to share what they have learned with others. But experiencing the world can be expensive, and not everyone who wanted to participate in a travel program at Pomfret could afford to do so — until now.

Pomfret is pleased to announce a new fund that will offset the cost of Pomfret’s Experiential Travel Program. “For the first time in our history, the ability to pay will no longer be a barrier to participating in the travel program at Pomfret School,” says Chief Financial Officer Ed Griffin.

Beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, every three- and four-year student who registers for a travel-based program will have the option to apply for financial relief. Decisions will be based on the family’s ability to pay and financial awards will range from a partial reduction of the program fee to full forgiveness.

Pomfret plans to keep growing the travel program and the fund that supports it in hopes that every student will take advantage of the amazing opportunity to better understand themselves and the world around them.

On to Bigger Fields

Best of luck to both Dylan Johnson and Nate Watson as they take their academic and athletic games to the next level. On National Signing Day, the pair signed National Letters of Intent to continue their lacrosse careers at the Division I level. Dylan will join the UMass Minutemen, while Nate will play for the Quinnipiac University Bobcats.

During the spring 2022 season, Nate was named a USA Lacrosse All-American. Postgraduate Dylan was also named a USA Lacrosse All-American three times.

Additional Griffins plan to continue to pursue their sport at the collegiate level next year. An event will be held in the spring to celebrate their commitments.

NEPSAC Stars

Ten student-athletes earned individual accolades from NEPSAC this fall for their efforts on the field, court, and course. Boys cross country runners Jack Heroux ’23 and Dolan Pols ’23 were named Division III All-NEPSAC and Adam Tillinghast ’24 earned honorable mention recognition. For their success on the field hockey pitch, Grace Long ’23 received All-NEPSAC Class B honors and Avery Valente ’24 collected an honorable mention nod. On the football field, Matt Steele ’25 was one of only two sophomores awarded NEPSAC Eight-Player Football honors, while his teammate Geno Rovero ’23 received an honorable mention. In soccer, Eva Guidone ’24 and Devin Walcott ’23 earned honorable mentions in their respective NEPSAC classes. For her efforts on the volleyball court, Rosi Martines ’24 also collected honorable mention recognition.

“We are proud of the dedication these students have shown to their team and Pomfret this fall,” said Director of Athletics and Afternoon Programs Mo Gaitán. “This is a great group of student ambassadors who embody what it is to have Pomfret Pride!”

Overtime

After the girls varsity soccer game ended regular play in a tie, Pomfret and Millbrook Schools stood with bated breath on the sidelines as the penalty shootout began. While soccer games often end in ties — this game was different. It was Pomfret / Millbrook Day. It was the final event in the day-long rivalry competition.

On Millbrook’s first penalty kick, Goalie Layla Pini ’25 dove for the ball and made an outstanding save. Shots made by Paige Anderson ’24, Anna Davis ’24, Gracie Needham ’26, and Eva Guidone ’24 all ended with a swish of the net. The Griffins were up 4 to 3 on the Mustang’s final penalty kick. With Layla’s second fantastic save, Pomfret won the game. The crowd of fans, dressed in red and black, and the rest of the girls varsity soccer team flooded the field to celebrate the final win of the Battle for Route 44.

“I’m so proud of our students — both on and off the field — in our convincing victory over the Mustangs,” said Head of School Tim Richards. “Whether they were participating in a game or being fantastic spectators, they carried themselves with dignity and class.”

Wins from football, boys and girls JV soccer, JV volleyball, and JV and varsity field hockey teams also contributed to the Pomfret / Millbrook Day victory. After the win on the girls varsity soccer field, our boys cross country team placed third at the NEPSTA Division III Cross Country Championships and added another point to Pomfret’s winning tally.

It was an exciting bus ride home — east on Route 44, back to the Hilltop — where students continued the celebration by ringing the victory bell.

Fall Dance Showcase

Students in Advanced Dance Repertory wowed the Pomfret School community at the Fall Dance Showcase. Choreographed entirely by the nine student dancers, the performance was the culmination of all their hard work throughout the fall term.

Dressed in white and black outfits that expressed their individual style, the performers displayed a variety of global dance styles and techniques in their routines. Each number — whether it was a solo, duet, or small or full group performance — contained a nice mix of rhythm and musicality. Their love for dance was visible in their movement and the smiles on each of the dancers’ faces as they shared their gifts and talents with the audience.

Legendary Season

This fall, the boys cross country team earned top finishes in numerous invitational races, won many small meets, and had a strong finish at the NEPSTA Division III Championship.

At the first multi-school invitational of the year — the Canterbury Invitational — the team finished first ahead of their nine opponents. Dolan Pols ’23 broke the race tape, followed by Jack Heroux ’23 who finished fifth. Four days later at the Marianapolis Invitational, Pomfret finished second, and Dolan and Jack finished in the top five once again. Pomfret placed second at the Richard Miller Invitational against some top Division II and III teams in their third race in the span of one week.

Of the five dual and small meets Pomfret competed in during the second half of the season, the Griffins won all but one — where they finished a close second. The fast legs of Luke Corrigan ’25, Josh Long ’24, Tim Nazarov ’23, Sean Rhatigan ’25, Jobie-Lewis Rogers ’25, Adam Tillinghast ’24, and Jack Ventresca ’23 helped contribute to the victories. At the New England Championships, Pomfret placed third — only one point behind the second-place finisher.

“Of all the teams that I’ve coached here in twelve years, these young men had the highest Pomfret finish at the NEPSTA Championships,” said Boys Cross Country Coach and English Teacher David Ring. “They are both the legacy of the teams that came before them and the one that future teams will look to for inspiration.”

Vote

Why do you vote? Photography and digital arts students answered this question through their art. While most of them are not even old enough to vote, this did not stop them from sharing their opinions on issues that appeared on ballots across the country in November and the importance of voting.

The project was inspired by Silver Circle Gallery, a local art gallery in the nearby town of Putnam. The exhibit Every Vote Counts: Why I Vote asked high school students and local artists to submit pieces that express the passion behind their politics. Most students focused on universal issues such as human rights or the environment, while others illustrated the importance of making your voice heard on Election Day. “I was amazed at the students’ response to the call for artwork. The things they were thinking and cared about were a wide scope,” shared Gallery Director Lisa Andrews. “Some of their pieces showed that voting doesn’t have to be about politics — it can be about the future of our country and planet.”

Students in the digital arts class used Adobe Photoshop to create photo composites and Adobe Illustrator to create original illustrations. Most of the photography students captured original photos and added text in Adobe Photoshop.

Concerto at Carnegie

When flutist Hannah Park ’24 stepped onto the stage of Carnegie Hall, she was wracked with nerves. It was an unusual feeling for her. Since 2021, she’d placed in the top three in nine international and national competitions and never felt as nervous as she did in the prestigious New York City concert venue.

But a minute into her performance of A. Mozart’s “Concerto No.1 in G Major,” she began to relax. As she continued to play, she felt more comfortable and by the end of the song, Hannah was proud of her accomplishment. She took in every second, holding on to the moment and experience.

Hannah’s performed at Carnegie Hall as a part of the American Protégé Winners Recital following her second-place win in the Fall 2021 American Protégé International Music Talent Competition. Additional recitals will be held this summer to honor her first-place win in the 2022 American Protégé competition. She will get another chance to perform Mozart’s difficult piece, which has a lot of unique notes and techniques that showcase the skills of the performer. “I know I can improve on some components for my next performance this summer, but I am pretty proud of myself,” says Hannah.

All-Gender Housing Coming Soon

Starting in September 2023, Pomfret will begin offering an all-gender housing option. “The decision to create an all-gender housing option is in direct response to a demonstrated need within our community,” Head of School Tim Richards said. “Over the past several years, a number of students (current and prospective) have indicated a strong desire to reside in a place that aligns with their gender identity, and it is our responsibility to support them.”

In recent years, several peer schools have successfully launched all-gender housing programs. Following their lead, Pomfret formed an exploratory committee last year to investigate the need for and viability of establishing an all-gender housing option on campus. The committee is currently working to identify a location. Interested students will be asked to complete an application and participate in an interview this spring.

Ye Olde Bike Shoppe

The Hilltop was brimming with activity throughout the Project: Pomfret period. For ten days, twenty-five project groups of students and faculty focused on questions that intrigued and perplexed them and aligned with one of the six domains of our Certificate Program.

After learning the basics of bicycle mechanics, the Ye Olde Bike Shoppe group turned the Makerspace into a bicycle repair shop. They began by inspecting each bike and cleaning the parts before replacing brake lines and other necessary components. By the end of the project period, they’d repaired more than fifteen bikes for members of the Pomfret community. “I enjoyed learning the skills needed to repair a bike,” said Max Pertsoff ’23. “It was great to see the finished product and know I made the repairs myself.”

The Project: Pomfret period culminated in a two-day project fair where students presented their findings to their classmates, teachers, and families. Each group shared the memories and artwork they created and the skills and knowledge they learned during the two-week project period. Comment end