Fall 2012
Rippowam Cisqua School
Bulletin In This Issue:
Graduation 2012 Strategic Planning Update Annual Report of Donors
Mission Statement
The mission of Rippowam Cisqua School is to educate students to become independent thinkers, confident in their abilities and themselves. We are committed to a dynamic program of academics, the arts, and athletics, and support an engaged faculty to challenge students to discover and explore their talents to the fullest. Honesty, consideration, and respect for others are fundamental to Rippowam Cisqua. In an atmosphere that promotes intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of learning, Rippowam Cisqua strives to instill in students a strong sense of connection to their community and to the larger world. We, as a school, recognize the common humanity of all people and teach understanding and respect for the differences among us.
Our donors are extremely important to us. We make every effort to insure accuracy in reporting, but if we have made an error of any kind, please accept our sincere apology and bring it to our attention so that we may correct our records. Contact Ryan Smith (914) 244-1292 or ryan_smith@rcsny.org with any corrections.
1 Rippowam Cisqua School
Bulletin Fall 2012
Rippowam Cisqua School Bulletin is published by the Advancement Office: Edlira Curis, Director of Annual Fund and Alumni Relations Manager Aggy Duveen, Website Manager and Master Teaching Fund Coordinator Barbara Jarvis, Advancement Executive Assistant and Campaign Manager Ryan Smith, Director of Development and Communications Debe Stellio, Advancement Operations Manager Bob Whelan, Associate Head of School
Table of
Contents
Send address changes to alumni@rcsny.org. Credits: Design: Peapod Design, New Canaan, CT Photography: Tim Coffey, Stamford, CT
Board of Trustees Amanda Riegel, Chair Alexandria S. Altman, Vice Chair William D. McLanahan, Treasurer Scott A. Barshay, Secretary Steve Bean Ralph J. Bernstein Robert S. Boyd ’75 Charles Buckley Kirtley Cameron Dr. Neil J. Capolongo James A. Diamond Gregory J. Fleming James D. Kallman Dr. Elizabeth L. Kilgallon, DVM, dACVS Stuart Kovensky Desta Lakew Philip S. Lawrence ’80 Anna P. Lee James B. Renwick ’63
4 Graduation 2
22 Richie Meyers
Ex Officio Matthew Nespole, Head of School Katie Boyd, Parent Association Chair Deborah A. Hurrell, Assistant Head for Finance and Operations Robert F. Whelan, Associate Head of School Christopher J. Wirth ’94, RCSAA Chair
26 50th Reunion
Letter from the Head of School Matthew Nespole
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2011-12 Student Awards
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RCS in Pictures 2011-12
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Focusing on the Board
17
Faculty Award Recipients
18
Strategic Planning Update
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Beyond the Rippowam Cisqua Classroom
30
Alumni Profiles
34
Class Notes
45
Annual Report
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Letter from the
Head of School While independent schools in the United States are not bound by the strict, often uncompromising, regulations that local, state, and federal governments impose on their public school counterparts, they are bound by their Boards of Trustees, parent bodies, and commitment to shaping the hearts and minds of the children in their care, to advance their respective missions, and ultimately provide an outstanding, unique educational experience. There are associations at both the national and state level (in our case it’s the National Association of Independent Schools and the New York State Association of Independent Schools), which accredit independent schools. At the core of every accreditation process is a school’s ability to demonstrate that it is advancing its mission, and is committed to ongoing growth and improvement. In October of 2007 Rippowam Cisqua hosted a three-day visit from a New York State Association of Independent Schools Visiting Accreditation Committee. The committee included sitting heads of school, department chairs, finance directors, and teachers from various NYSAIS schools. Using a comprehensive self-study that RCS undertook during the 2006-2007 year
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as a starting point, the Committee analyzed virtually every aspect of our School community and operation. Their methodology included one-on-one and group interviews with faculty, students, parents, administrators, and members of the Board of Trustees. While the Committee’s final report concluded that RCS is indeed what we all know it to be – a place that builds confident lifelong learners who become caring, inquisitive young adults – there were issues that we needed to consider as we work to maintain the dynamic community that makes learning the truly meaningful experience that it is. This coming April several members of the NYSAIS Decennial Visiting Committee will be returning to RCS to check on our progress. Because of the tireless efforts of our dedicated, talented faculty and administration, we will be well positioned to share the tremendous growth that has occurred over the past five years. Much of this growth was shared with our community in the Planning for Excellence in the 21st Century Mid Plan Update that was part of the Spring 2011 Bulletin, and that commitment to growth has continued through the present day.
Our commitment to the enhancement of our facilities is reflected in the transformation of our Lower Campus Library, the renovation of the 5th and 6th grade classroom wing, and the refurbishment of our athletic spaces on the Upper Campus. Going forward, we are taking steps to improve additional elements of our facilities that will provide state of the art teaching and learning spaces for our students and faculty to work in, with much of that work focused on the Upper Campus. Our efforts to integrate technology into our program are demonstrated by the installation of SmartBoards in twenty six classrooms, an expanded research curriculum, and the integration of technology in many core courses. This year, thanks to the generosity of our parent body, we will have mobile technology carts that will provide our Lower Campus students with iPads, and our Upper Campus Students with laptops in their classrooms. We will continue to place emphasis on the training required so we can ensure that our teachers are well positioned to thoughtfully utilize these 21st century technology tools to enhance student learning.
“Rippowam Cisqua has grown and will continue
“RCS is indeed what we all know it to be – a place that builds confident lifelong learners who become caring, inquisitive young adults.” scope and sequence that guides teaching and learning across all the grades on both campuses. The faculty’s own dedication to lifelong learning serves as a powerful example for our children, and underscores our commitment to providing the finest educational experience possible. Rippowam Cisqua has grown and will continue to do so in the coming years to ensure that we are creating a place where curiosity, joy, and achievement are at the core of what we do. This formula has served the School well, and will continue to do so for generations to come. Warmly,
to do so in the coming years to ensure that we are creating a place where curiosity, joy, and achievement are at the core of what we do.” The Committee’s recommendations included enhancing our physical plant, integrating technology into our program, strengthening the ongoing professional growth and development of our faculty, and ensuring that our curriculum had both horizontal and vertical consistency across all grades and campuses.
Since 2008 our talented, dedicated faculty has attended over three hundred and sixty professional conferences. Countless hours of meeting and teacher planning time has been devoted to conversations and work sessions devoted to the horizontal consistency and vertical integration of our curriculum that has resulted in a coherent
Matthew
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Graduation 2012 A nearly packed tent of four hundred or so spectators came to witness the commencement day of the ninth grade graduating class and to celebrate the departing eighth graders. Upper Campus children in grades five through eight were there along with parents, grandparents, friends, relatives, teachers from both campuses, and alumni. Some were standing, others were seated, but all were bubbling with conversation and excitement about the upcoming summer events; waves were exchanged from across the tent, and students were chattering in ever-changing pokes and giggles. The sky was gray but not threatening, though the weather report said there could be a shower. Just as Maestro Robellard and the musicians began the procession march, and all in attendance rose to watch the 9th graders enter, didn’t a misty sprinkle of rain start to fall, as if on cue. Except for the music, the tent was now silent, losing its noisy din. This rite of passage was about to unfold.
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Graduation 2012 continued…
The pace of the procession was slow and purposeful. It was the antithesis of the fast paced, hard-nosed competition to which these graduates have become accustomed on the playing field. Here, each ninth grader was dressed to “the nines” and their tall stature and poised demeanor were so evident as to make them appear as adults, ready to roll out and face the future head on. Moving toward the stage, they were the full focus of all in attendance. Each of them has been part of this audience in the past but, on this day, they were center stage.
The ceremony moved through awards and the announcement of the Red-Blue competition. This year the Blue team won, and screams of joy and triumph erupted from at least half the student body. It is the most middle school moment of this otherwise formal ritual, a testament to the friendly rivalry that energizes the entire year. The ninth graders invited Michael Kober, 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teacher, to be their graduation speaker. He congratulated the students on their accomplishments, with thanks to the ninth graders for leading the student body and completing a rigorous and challenging academic curriculum. He offered the graduating class three gifts to accompany them on their journey forward. The first was a compass, representing the guidance their parents and teachers have given them, a tool to help them plan where they want to go; the second gift, a journal and a pen, to record the ups and downs of their journey; and finally, a pair of binoculars to better see the expanding horizon ahead. It was a fitting and moving speech tailored for this class of graduates. Head of School Matthew Nespole had some pointed advice for the graduates. He said, “Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.”
“The trick,” he said, “is to figure out which are the things that matter most.” Mr. Nespole also quoted Charles Darwin, and this seems to be particularly relevant to the newly minted alumni: “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.” Starting in PreKindergarten, many of those graduating are twelve year veterans of the Rippowam Cisqua School. This day represented the culmination of triumphant wins and painful losses, mixed with glorious success, all in the endeavor to be better prepared for what lies ahead. The class of 2012 is a persevering group. They fall hard, pick themselves up, wipe off the dirt, tend to their wounds, and ask, “What’s next?” They have fight in them, not from anger or aggressiveness, but from purpose and the drive to succeed. They don’t give up. When the commencement ceremony was finished, the throngs spilled from the tent out to a beautiful green field and a calm evening. The graduates moved to another tent where dinner was served. Dancing to techno music, something sounding like it was out of Star Trek, this new generation of Rippowam Cisqua graduates danced into the night, the finale to a very long and well traveled path.
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Graduation Remarks 2012 Matthew Nespole Head of School
Christopher J. Wirth ’94
For those of you up on stage today – our departing 8th graders and the members of the Class of 2012 – this is your day. It’s a time for you to celebrate your accomplishments and enjoy this ceremony and the parties that will follow with your friends and classmates. While today is about you, remember there are others here, such as your teachers and your parents, who also want to celebrate your accomplishments, to share with you how much they love you, and to let you know how proud they are of you. Over the past few days, many of you have spent time talking with your teachers and thanking them for being there to support and guide you during your journey through RCS. I know I speak for all of them when I say that, while working with you was sometimes very demanding, it was a tremendously satisfying and joyous undertaking. The energy, curiosity, and joy of learning that you brought with you through our doors every day makes our school home. While your teachers are certainly proud of you, and wish you well as you venture off to your next school, I know their hearts will be just a touch emptier when the day is done and you leave school for the last time as an RCS student. I ask that you give your parents a longer leash than you might on other occasions. Let them hug you a bit longer than you may like, and hug them back. Thank them for what they have given you. Your RCS experience has instilled a love of learning in you that, in the years to come, will continue to spark your curiosity and enable you to find solutions to the problems and challenges you will face. While you may not yet fully realize the value of the educational experience you’ve received here, I hope you realize you would not be up here today if not for the unconditional love your parents have for you.
Chairman of the RCS Alumni Association Board Congratulations to the Rippowam Cisqua School class of 2012. Likewise, congratulations to the departing eighth graders from the class of 2013. Today is your day, and this ceremony marks the culmination of your extraordinary efforts.
For those of you who’ve heard my graduation remarks in the past, you know I like to give a bit of advice and provide something for our departing students to think about as they leave our School community. So here’s my advice: Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least. The trick, of course, is figuring out which is which. During your high school years, college careers, and beyond, you’ll need to work through this, and I imagine the things that matter most may shift at different points in your life. Try and keep yourself focused on the complexity and importance of figuring this out. If you do, you’ll most likely make the right choices, and be sturdy enough to keep all the balls juggling in the air. Remember when you set these priorities there will be people involved, perhaps the most important people in your life. Thinking about how your goals and priorities will affect others is an important mental exercise to engage in from time to time. Here are a few departing thoughts: Charles Darwin once said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.”
As chairman of the Rippowam Cisqua School Alumni Association, I am honored to speak to you on this occasion. I am especially fortunate to officially welcome both accomplished grades to the Rippowam Cisqua Alumni Community. When you depart today, I encourage you to remember to stay connected to this remarkable place. Over the past few months we have had a Red-Blue Alumni fundraising challenge, and a very generous Alum offered a $25,000 New Donor challenge if we were able to get fifty new first time Alumni donors. I am extremely proud to announce that both challenges were a tremendous success, the competition was fierce, and while the Blues were winning all along, the Reds came back in the last few hours before the close of the challenge and won. I have to admit, I cheered “Go Blue!” throughout this challenge; nonetheless, I am very proud of the winning team, and most of all I am proud of our community coming together, in the spirit of our teams, our memories, and the lessons we learned at RCS, to support the School. The time comes for all of us to realize our dreams and make our mark in the world; and, when you do, I hope you’ll remember that it began here. Thank you again to all the teachers of Rippowam Cisqua School for their amazing work and congratulations to our newest Alumni!
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Graduation 2012 continued…
Michael Kober
Key Note Speaker When the class presidents asked if I would be the graduation speaker, my heart stopped momentarily. I actually hate to speak publicly, even at Parents’ Night, so speaking at graduation would be a personal challenge. What could I possibly say to ninth grade students and their parents on such a memorable day that would be meaningful to them? Yet, the ninth grade trusted that the right words would be spoken, and I thank them for their confidence. Graduation is a day of memories. The celebration allows you graduates and your families to look back at the struggles you faced and to measure the achievements that each of you have made during your time at RCS. For five students in the class of 2012, your journey started twelve years ago in JPK. Two members of the class entered in SPK, two more entered in Kindergarten, then two new peers joined you on the Lower Campus in the first and fourth grades. Four members of the class entered in fifth grade, and the group was rounded off when the last three members came to the Upper Campus in sixth grade. No matter
when you came to RCS, the School community was enriched by your presence, your humor, and your unique styles of learning, sharing, and living. We celebrate your successes as individuals, and as a group – a group that can never be replicated. Look at your accomplishments. You dealt with the academic rigors of ninth grade while going through the secondary school placement process (just a little stressful
time during this past year). You went beyond the facts with your thesis research to analyze many social issues in our world today. You entertained the School community with Revels and the spring musical. You were ambassadors to the outside community with your work on a Habitat project, the Midnight Run, and many of your portfolio projects. Your music, writing, and art revealed your creativity, and the Red-Blue Competition was fierce throughout the year.
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Graduations mark the end of a period of study. You have completed this part of your education successfully, and there is so much more learning that awaits you. Graduation celebrations are also referred to as commencement ceremonies because they mark the beginning of a new journey. As you move on to new schools, you will embark on new journeys in life that will be different than the one you are completing today. At commencement ceremonies gifts are traditional and so I would like to pass on three gifts to carry as you begin your new journey in life. The first gift that might be helpful to you is a compass. It is a bit old-fashioned. You might prefer a GPS device, but there is a reason for this particular gift. Like a GPS device, a compass gives you a sense of where you are, and can help you plan where you want to go. Unlike a GPS device, a compass needs you to manipulate it. It takes time, some patience, and it is not easily mastered the first time you use it.
As you move ahead in life, you will need to apply time, patience, and some practice at making the right decisions before you get on the path that is best for you to follow. You will have to rely on your own senses to guide you; but, if you take the time to stop and orient yourself you will realize you have an “inner compass” that your parents have given to you through their examples and the values they taught you. Rely on this “inner compass.” It will serve you well. Hopefully, you will also have a sense of direction from the skills that all your teachers have helped you to develop over your years at RCS.
My second gift is a journal and pen. This is a traditional commencement gift. As you venture ahead on your new journey, take the time to find a quiet spot, somewhere away from the noise of the world. The world can bombard you with too many distractions and pressures that will add confusion to your life. Spend some time reflecting on yourself, your goals, and your dreams. Write down your goals and dreams in a journal. A pen is slower than a keyboard, but there is an advantage to slowing life down. The extra time you give yourself to reflect will help you keep your focus on what is important to you. A handwritten journal will allow you to record your own history to physically hold, review, and treasure in years to come. It is important to know where you have been as much as to know where you want to go. The last gift I would pack for your journey is binoculars. This gift will help you look toward the horizon. By looking ahead, you can anticipate the challenges and plan the best route to follow. Each generation brings new hope to the world, and each generation has unexpected challenges. Your grandparent’s generation had to face the Great Depression and a worldwide conflict. Your parents faced a period of social revolution that made them question the authorities they had been told to trust. Your future is full of new opportunities. Most of you will be working at jobs that haven’t been created yet. There is so much promise that lies ahead. Be lifelong learners and seek new skills that will help you to succeed in life. Keep focused on the horizon and your goals. The age of information in which you live offers new freedoms, but it also poses new challenges. You have access to more information than all the generations that preceded you. How you use the Internet and social networking will reveal much about you as a person. Contacts are easy to make, but relationships require skill. Your future will also require you to consider multiple perspectives. Be careful not to simply look for the quick answer
that easily pops up on a computer screen. Probe and gain a depth of understanding about issues. The world is now so interconnected that, in the words of Thomas Freidman, a journalist for The New York Times, “The world is flat.” Through the flat screens of electronic devices, our world is now a global community without separation of time or space. In this “New World,” you need to continue being ambassadors to others though your words and actions. Your family, your friends, and the RCS faculty have confidence in you and the world you will create. Each generation brings change, and this change is necessary because it brings new hope. Each generation provides a recommitment to what makes us, as humans, the best we can be. So, as you pack up and leave RCS to journey into your future, take along the “inner compass” that your family and teachers have provided, bring a journal in which to write your own story, and your personal binoculars to keep your eyes on the bright horizon that you alone can achieve. To the Class of 2012, I wish you all the best of luck on your different journeys, and please come back to keep us posted on your adventures and discoveries.
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Graduation 2012 continued…
Congratulations to the Rippowam Cisqua Class of 2012
Congratulations also to the Rippowam Cisqua Class of 2009
The following is a list of Secondary Schools where graduating 9s and departing 8s will attend in September 2012:
Below is a list of colleges and universities at which more than one student, in the past four years, has matriculated:
Asheville School (NC) Avenues (NYC) (2) Berkshire School (4) Brooks School (2) Choate Rosemary Hall (3) Danbury High School Deerfield Academy (4) Fox Lane High School (4) Greens Farms Academy (5) Hackley School (3) Horace Mann (2) John Jay High School (3)
Bates College Boston College Boston University Brown University Bucknell University College of Charleston College of William and Mary Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University George Washington University Georgetown University Hamilton College Harvard University Hobart and William Smith Johns Hopkins University Lehigh University
King School (3) Le Rosey, Switzerland Loomis Chaffee School Millbrook School (2) Miss Porter’s School Northfield Mt. Hermon (3) Rye Country Day School St. George’s School St. Luke’s School Taft School (2) Westminster School (3)
Middlebury College New York University Oberlin College Princeton University St. Andrews College in Scotland Trinity College Tufts University Tulane University Union College University of Chicago University of Colorado/Boulder University of Michigan University of Pennsylvania University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Wisconsin/Madison Wake Forest University Yale University
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2011-12
Student Awards Each year, Rippowam Cisqua students are recognized at the local and national levels for their scholastic achievements. The 2011-2012 award recipients have distinguished themselves in a diverse array of fields, including foreign languages, geography, history, mathematics, science, expository and creative writing, athletics, and the arts. Their accomplishments are both a reflection of the talents and hard work of our students and teachers, and an affirmation of the commitment to scholarship and excellence that is embodied by the entire RCS community.
French Awards Each year, The American Association of French Teachers sponsors the National French Contest known as Le Grand Concours. Nearly 100,000 students across the United States competed in the contest in 2012, and in Westchester alone, more than 1,100 students competed. The contest features 70 questions incorporating listening, reading, and grammar concepts. Last May, eight Rippowam Cisqua students in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades placed in the top ten rankings of the Westchester New York Chapter. Five of these students also placed in the top ten National rankings. Sophie Boyd, Sahra Denner, Natalie Harrington, and Annabelle Nemeth all earned bronze medals, and Aaron Casella earned a silver medal. The students who placed among the top ten in Westchester and/or nationally are: Seventh grade students Maia Bernstein – fifth in Westchester Sahra Denner – third in Westchester; ninth in the Nation Lily Fauver – ninth in Westchester Eighth grade students Aaron Casella – second in Westchester; third in the Nation Maggie DeDomenico – tenth in Westchester
Natalie Harrington – fifth in Westchester; sixth in the Nation Annabelle Nemeth – fourth in Westchester; fifth in the Nation Ninth grade students Sophie Boyd – fifth in Westchester; fifth in the Nation
Spanish Awards In the spring of each year, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese sponsors the National Spanish Examination. The exams are the largest of their kind in the United States—well over 140,000 students participated in 2012—and they feature two forty minute sections incorporating listening, reading, and grammar concepts. Twenty one Rippowam Cisqua students earned awards for their performance: Level 1: Honorable Mention: Peter Giordano, Cameryn Lacey, Jared Reeber, Andrew Roth, Christopher Stern, and Gabe Tishman Medalla de Bronce: Ryder Beitzel, Gabrielle Brooks, Oliver O’Reilly-Hyland, and Isabel Seaborn
Medalla de Plata: Elliot Gilbert, Barrett Goldstein, Alex Needham, and Nikki Schoen Medalla de Oro: Cian McGillicuddy and Lily Steinman Level 2: Medalla de Bronce: Isabel Donohoe Medalla de Plata: Madison Blair Medalla de Oro: Olivia Davis, James Mattei, and Georgia Morley
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Awards continued‌
Upper Campus Athletics and Academic Awards Athletic Awards: John H. Odden Lacrosse Prize Elliot Gilbert, Barrett Goldstein, Annabel Grunebaum, Sophie Potter, and Thomas Tenney
Latin Awards For nearly four decades, Latin students have devoted the second week of March to the National Latin Exam, an exam set under the sponsorship of The American Classical League and The Junior Classical League. The exam is given at seven levels, and Rippowam Cisqua students sit for three of those levels. In 2012, more than 150,000 students from around the country, and countless more students from around the world, sat for the exam. At Rippowam Cisqua, seventh graders participate in the Introductory Level exam, eighth graders participate in the Latin IB exam, and ninth graders take the Level II exam. The following seventh grade students received awards: Special Honors and a ribbon for a perfect score: Jackson Corrigan Certificates of Outstanding Achievement: Alex Rabinowitz, Olivia Selmonosky, and Kyla Spence Certificates of Achievement: Phipps Lawrence, Paul Mercedes, Henry Mockridge, and Dario Volterra The following eighth grade students received awards: Gold medals and summa cum laude certificates: Beatrice de Vaulx, Jack Kilgallon, and Tibbon Steinman Silver medals and maxima cum laude certificates: Fesseha Michael, Sophie Potter, and Lindsay West Cum laude certificates: Youssef Asaad and Ryan Rothfuss
Gillian Roth Softball Award Sophie Boyd Stephen D. Miller Baseball Award Charlie Carpenter and Chris Stern Harry Barber Award Isabel Donohoe and Peter Giordano Academic Awards: Hyperbole Paul Mercedes and Harrison Rice National Geographic Geography Bee Jake Lustig Bryna Watkins Writing Awards Chloe Barshay, Natalie Bartlett, and Homer Gere Frankel Scholarship Prize Chloe Barshay and George Lawrence American History Prize Aaron Casella and Sophie Potter Jane Brooks Robbins Science Prize James Mattei Laura D. Paddock English Prize Sophie Boyd and Olivia Davis Prudence B. Read History Prize Olivia Davis Stanley M. Feret Mathematics Prize Sophie Boyd and Olivia Davis
Melanie J. Kraft French Prize Sophie Boyd Spanish Prize Georgia Morley Wadleigh W. Woods Latin Prize Jack Kilgallon Ristorcelli Music Prize for Improvement Isabel Donohoe Sarah F. Fowler Drama Prize Sophie Boyd, Michael Cerutti, William Conway, Peter Giordano, James Mattei, and Georgia Morley Paul and Audrey Fisher Art Prize Annabel Grunebaum and Sophie Potter Susan Fiala Music Prize James Mattei Ann Thacher Faculty Award of Distinction Peter Giordano, Liesl Hennig, and James Mattei Trustees’ Prize Isabel Donohoe and Gabe Tishman Gertrude Pell Bishop Memorial Award Barrett Goldstein and Annabel Grunebaum Walter F. Wyeth Prize Graham Offermann Waldo B. Jones Prize Sophie Boyd and William Conway The Rippowam Cisqua Prize Georgia Morley
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NCTE Promising Young Writers Program 2012 Impromptu Essay and Selection of Best Works
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program is the most prestigious and longest-running student art and writing contest in the world. Over 165,000 entries in art and writing are received each year from regional programs across the country and, in 2012, approximately 2,000 writers in grades seven through twelve earned Regional Gold Key pins and certificates. Two Rippwriters earned Regional Gold Key awards, nine Rippwriters earned Regional Silver Key awards, and seventeen Rippwriters earned Honorable Mentions. The Rippwriters who were awarded Regional Gold Keys were: Sophia Gutfreund and Oliver O’Reilly Hyland. The Rippwriters who were awarded Regional Silver Keys were: Michael Badey, Hannah Burdick, Olivia Davis, Chris Glynn, Cian McGillicuddy, Sophie Potter, Lily Steinman, Dario Volterra, and Lindsay West. The Rippwriters who were awarded Honorable Mentions were: Jack Beaumont, Gabrielle Brooks, Genevieve Capolongo, Aaron Casella, Jackson Corrigan, Olivia Davis, Beatrice de Vaulx, Sahra Denner, Cian McGillicuddy, Sara Mendoza, Oliver O’Reilly Hyland, Sophie Potter, Amelia Riegel, Tibbon Steinman, Lindsay West, and Youssef Asaad.
Poetry Live! Poetry Live!, a celebration of creative writing held annually during National Poetry Month in April, provides students with the opportunity to read their poetry aloud in front of an audience of parents, teachers, fellow writers, and other guests. This event, which is in its 11th year, took place at the Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck and featured student poets from Fox Lane High School, Rye Neck Middle School, Mamaroneck High School, Hommocks Middle School, Westlake High School, and Rippowam Cisqua. Poetry Live! is sponsored by the Village of Mamaroneck Council of the Arts. Eight RCS students participated in the event and presented their original poems. Prior to the event, the students’ works were collected and published in an anthology. The eight RCS poets were Haley Casper, Evan Kieltyka, Jack Kilgallon, Cian McGillicuddy, Henry Mockridge, Alexandra Needham, Christopher Stern, and Lindsay West.
Bedford Free Library Poetry Contest Jackson Corrigan won first place in his age group for his poem.
Teen Ink Three students were published in Teen Ink, a monthly publication for students in grades 7-9: Charlie Carpenter, Maggie DeDomenico, and Natalie Harrington.
The Promising Young Writers Award Program for eighth graders was established by the National Council of Teachers of English to recognize students’ writing talents, emphasize the importance of writing skills, and support excellence in writing. Eighth grade students were nominated from all over the United States. Each student submitted two pieces of writing that were read by teams of English teachers. Papers were judged on content, purpose, audience, tone, word choice, organization, development, and style. Aaron Casella won an award in the impromptu essay category for his submissions.
Creative Communications Celebration of Today’s Writers This national contest publishes an annual hardcover anthology of selected works submitted by middle and high school students. A panel selects those to be published. The following Rippwriters will have their works published in the 2012 anthology: Kendall Burdick, Olivia Selmonosky, and Sean Speegle.
Pine Tree Press This national contest publishes an annual hardcover anthology of poetry. Judges select the works to be included in the book, which will be available in December of 2012. Students who were published in the most recent edition include: Madison Blair, Elliot Gilbert, and Annabelle Nemeth.
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RCS in Pictures
2011-12 The Drowsy Chaperone
Lower Campus Field Day
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Upper Campus Field Day
Walk to Cisqua Day
16 Role of the Rippowam Cisqua Board of Trustees:
Focusing on
The Board New Members of the Board Charlie Buckley
Stuart Kovensky
The Rippowam Cisqua Board is a volunteer body that serves as the guardian of the School’s mission, focusing on strategic issues and on the long term well-being of the School. It is the Board’s responsibility to ensure that the mission is appropriate, relevant, and vital to the community it serves. The Board monitors the success of the School in fulfilling its mission and concentrates on the big picture while leaving the School’s daily operation to the Head of School. Members of the Board have a fiduciary responsibility to the School for sound financial management, engaging in strategic financial planning, and assuming primary responsibility for the preservation of capital assets and endowments. The Board and the Head of School work in partnership in fulfilling these main principles to best serve the School.
RCS Board of Directors
Charlie Buckley is the Global Chief Operating Officer within the Investment Banking Division of UBS. An active RCS volunteer, Charlie has served on the Athletic Advisory Council for the past two years and as an Annual Fund volunteer. In addition to his efforts at RCS, Charlie has been active for the past eight years with the Fresh Air Fund, both in hosting two children and in the annual fundraising efforts.
Stuart is a Co-Founder, Director, and member of the Investment Committee of Onex Credit Partners. He has served as an Annual Fund volunteer for RCS and has served on the Byram Hills Education Foundation. He and his wife Nicole are the parents of Ryan ’13, Jack ’16, and Luke ’19. They live in Armonk. Stuart earned a B.S. degree from Binghamton University, and an M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Amanda Riegel, Chair Alexandria S. Altman, Vice Chair William D. McLanahan, Treasurer Scott A. Barshay, Secretary Steve Bean Ralph J. Bernstein Robert S. Boyd ’75 Charles Buckley Kirtley Cameron Dr. Neil J. Capolongo James A. Diamond Gregory J. Fleming James D. Kallman Dr. Elizabeth L. Kilgallon, DVM, dACVS Stuart Kovensky Desta Lakew Philip S. Lawrence ’80 Anna P. Lee James B. Renwick ’63
Charlie and his wife Robin live in Bedford Corners and are the parents of Tyler ’12, Hannah ’15, and Briggs who is a year old.
Ex officio Matthew Nespole, Head of School Katie Boyd, Parent Association Chair Deborah A. Hurrell, Assistant Head
Charlie earned his undergraduate degree in Applied Math and Economics from Brown University.
for Finance and Operations Robert F. Whelan, Associate Head of School
Christopher J. Wirth ’94, RCSAA Chair
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Alumni Association
Faculty Award Recipients
The Alumni Association Faculty Award is presented on behalf of the RCS Alumni Association at the time of retirement or departure from employment at RCS to individuals with twenty years or more of fulltime service, primarily in the classroom. At the end of the 2011-12 academic year, Mrs. Sandi Klein and Mrs. Cathy Stadler were each presented with the Alumni Association Faculty Award. The awards were given by Christopher J. Wirth ’94, Chairman of the RCS Alumni Association, with congratulations to Sandi and Cathy on their remarkable careers and with grateful appreciation for their dedication and commitment to the Rippowam Cisqua students and families.
Cathy Stadler
Sandi Klein retired this year after having taught Kindergarten at RCS for 28 years. Cathy Stadler worked as a first grade teacher at RCS for 25 years and is now joining her husband at the Spence School in Manhattan, where she will embark on new experiences outside of the classroom in a new role as an administrator. The passion and dedication that both Sandi and Cathy brought to RCS has helped shape many generations of RCS alums and is best captured in a note that Sandi received from one of her former students: “I’m teaching Kindergarten and I love it! There is no way I can say ‘thank you’ to you and all of my teachers at RCS, but please know how much I appreciate the great start you gave me. It is because of teachers like you that I am now teaching.”
It is because of teachers like Sandi and Cathy that RCS is a special place where learning and joy fill the classrooms and the hallways each day.
Sandi Klein
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Strategic Planning
Moving Forward In 2008, the Rippowam Cisqua School’s Board of Trustees and its Strategic Planning Committee developed a comprehensive plan to advance the School’s long-term success. The planning process was an inclusive one, reflecting the collective ideas and concerns of nearly one hundred participants from all of the School’s constituent groups. The Plan crafted a vision for the School’s future that reflected its core values and addressed the questions: How can we improve upon what we do? What do we need to do to make that improvement a reality? In the past four years, much progress has been made towards achieving the Plan’s targeted goals and objectives. These accomplishments were shared with the School community in a Mid Plan Update that chronicles the action plans in the three key areas: Program, People, and Place. To learn more about the strategic plan, and the update, you can go online at www.rcsny.org. Since 2008, RCS has made progress in renovating and upgrading its facilities on both campuses. These improvements have provided enhancements and addressed
many short-term pressing needs. As Head of School Matthew Nespole noted, “We have much more to do. The demands of a 21st century learning environment are complex, and we want to ensure that our physical spaces mirror the quality of teaching and learning that’s taking place on both campuses.” The 2010 renovation of our Upper Campus classrooms and our Lower Campus library have indeed had a transformative impact on teaching and learning at RCS. As Matthew noted, “The ability for the educators in our new classrooms to better meet the needs of our students was enhanced significantly
One in a series of updates on Rippowam Cisqua’s Long Range Strategic Plan initiatives
through the introduction of SmartBoards in each room and more effective design of the existing space – which allowed more creative classroom groupings and a more welcoming atmosphere. Improved lighting, contemporary furniture, and better storage all contribute to a more vibrant platform for student learning. Our Lower Campus library renovation has been equally powerful. The expanded footprint, dramatically improved lighting, and the introduction of technology has turned this vital center of our Lower Campus into a favorite gathering place for our students, faculty, and families. It’s with these success stories in mind that we are excited to look at what’s ahead.”
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What’s next?
Over the years, the physical development of both campuses found conversions and improvements made on an as-needed basis, always with an appropriate eye on costs and preserving existing buildings. In 2011, the final components of the Campus Master Plan were completed and the Board of Trustees identified the next phase of potential improvements as follows:
Upper Campus Significantly upgrade science classrooms and enlarge the library. • Restructure and redesign both the campus entrance and the main building entrance to create an attractive, accessible, and obvious “front door” to the School. • Address site-planning issues related to traffic, parking, and student drop-off where current conditions pose safety hazards. •
Lower Campus Reorder the campus entrance area to create greater clarity, visual simplicity, and a lobby that enhances circulation space without sacrificing the functionality of program spaces. • Create an inviting interior area for casual gathering, which makes the main building entrance a focal point. •
Athletic Facilities Enhance and strengthen the athletic facilities with the proposed creation of two new playing fields. • Install a watering system and scoreboards to enhance the existing playing fields. • Provide increased program resources to more actively support coaches and students in the athletic program. •
“We have much more to do. The demands of a 21st century learning environment are complex, and we want to ensure that our physical spaces mirror the quality of teaching and learning that’s taking place on both campuses.”
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The RCS Board of Trustees voted to begin the process of implementing the next steps of the Strategic Plan’s key components in the areas of facility improvements, as well as increasing endowment and current use resources to support professional growth and development opportunities for faculty, continued improvements to technology, and an ongoing commitment to needbased financial aid for qualified and deserving students who could not otherwise afford an RCS education. Over the course of the months ahead, the Board will begin to lay the foundation for a capital campaign to support these initiatives, likely to launch publicly at the end of 2013. Watch for more information on these pages as the plans unfold!
Campus Improvements 2008-2011 ✓ Renovated the Lower Campus
library ✓ Renovated eight classrooms on
the Upper Campus ✓ Purchased a three-acre property
located at 20 Clinton Road to expand our athletic opportunities ✓ Integrated 26 SmartBoards across the two campuses ✓ Strengthened school-wide sustainability initiatives ✓ Installed solar panels on Lower Campus ✓ Introduced the Rocket® Composter ✓ Broke ground on the Parent Association RCS Garden ✓ Implemented water conservation initiatives ✓ Installed new gym lighting to conserve electricity
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Technology Rolls Along at RCS This fall, students and faculty on both campuses will have even greater access to technology as a result of carefully targeted efforts to incorporate technology with learners across grade levels. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of families at the Mariposa Auction in the spring, mobile learning labs requested by faculty on both campuses have become a reality this fall. Lower Campus faculty have access to a mobile lab cart featuring twenty new iPads, which will allow teachers to put technology directly into the hands of students. Upper Campus faculty and students have a mobile lab cart that features twenty MacBook Air computers, which will allow for more flexible opportunities to enhance learning through the integration of the broad menu of options that the portable MacBooks will offer. Other technology upgrades over the summer include: Installation of an Eno Board (an interactive whiteboard) in the Spanish classroom on the Lower Campus • Installation of projectors in JPK classrooms • Upgrades of the Lower Campus computer lab with twenty of the most current iMacs, which will run the Lion operation system. • Installation of a professional grade sound system in the SkyRoom to enhance student presentations and performances. • Upgrades of forty Upper Campus computers with the most current iMacs, which will run the Lion operation system. • Installation of SmartBoards in both computer labs and in three foreign language classrooms. • Many behind the scenes changes that provide a more robust network with greater stability, larger storage capacity, and solid backup scheme. •
For true learning to take place, students need to be engaged, and through the effective integration of technology, opportunities for RCS teachers to engage students in ways that previously hadn’t been possible have increased significantly over the last few years. 2012-2013 promises to be yet another year of exciting growth!
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Celebrating
Richie Meyers Saturday, June 9th, was an extraordinary event in honor of Coach Richie Meyers’ 45 year tenure with RCS. Despite the gray skies and the drizzling rain, the Upper Campus courtyard tent was packed with over 200 parents of alums and alumni, as well as current parents, faculty, and staff, to honor Coach Meyers and his achievements over the years. The event began with a performance from an alumni jazz band who set a wonderful tone for the event making a range of standards truly sparkle. The band included Erik Perry ’08, Ben Perry ’05, Scott Collins ’09, Cam Krane ’09, Peter Quinn ’05, and J.J. Clarke ’92. Also playing in the band were current student Jackson Corrigan ’14, parent of alum Bill Nelson (Charlie Nelson ’10 and Henry Nelson ’08), and Upper Campus music teacher Bill Fornara (also father of Jonny Fornara ’17 and Tommy Fornara ’15). Bill Nelson doubled up by opening the convocation with a bagpipe overture. Speakers included Head of School, Matthew Nespole, former Heads of School Dick Wade and Eileen Lambert, Alums Alex Soros ’01, RCSAA chair Christopher Wirth ’94, and Richie’s longtime friends Robert Tanenbaum and
Members of the RCS Alumni Band: Erik Perry ’08, Ben Perry ’05, and Parent of Alum Bill Nelson P’08, ’10
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Denny Barrett. Each of the speakers reflected upon Coach Meyers as a master teacher, a singular character, and a philosopher. Bill Barrett, Head of the Upper Campus and also Coach Meyers’ nephew, read a quote from the novel Prince of Tides – “I am a teacher, a coach, and a well loved man – and it’s more than enough!” This sentiment seemed to sum up much of Richie’s life as one who gave all his passion and skill to his profession and the kids he was mentoring. “When I played, I played with a passion; when I coached, I coached with a passion; but I am most touched now, by the passion, love, and attention you are all giving me today,” said Coach Meyers when he took the stage at the conclusion of the event.
Former Head of School Dick Wade brought the assembled crowd back to an earlier time in Coach Meyers’ career at Rippowam. Mr. Wade recognized the sparkle and the magic in Coach’s character and strongly encouraged the growth of Richie’s career during his tenure at RCS. Mr. Wade particularly enjoyed Richie’s storytelling skills, humor, and charm, which he said “enriched life on campus.” Alum Christopher Lawrence ’86 reminded all in his note for Richie’s tribute book: “He was a wonderful spirit around the little Rippowam town--always upbeat and always ready for a laugh with students. I think he made everybody feel a little bit lighter on their feet every single day.”
Coach Meyers’ childhood friend and teammate, Robert Tanenbaum, traveled 3,000 miles to join the celebration. Mr. Tanenbaum, a New York Times bestselling author, first played sports with Richie as a twelve year old boy and the two have remained friends ever since. As a team member, Mr. Tanenbaum remembers Richie as a selfless player, with a competitive and courageous spirit, but one who would win not because he was the fastest or the most skilled, but because of his character and values. “Personal responsibility” and “self reliance” were the mantras guiding Richie’s approach to sports and life. Mr. Tanenbaum recited a line from Shakespeare’s Henry V “…if it be a crime to covet honor, then I am the most offending soul alive,” and Richie Meyers is also an offender, one who always coveted honor and that is why those who know him not only love him, but also deeply respect him.
Former Head of School Eileen Lambert, who worked with Rich Meyers for
Legendary high school football coach and longtime friend, Denny Barrett, spoke of Rich as a family member and friend, emphasizing his deeply caring and loyal character. Richie was a well-loved man who had the support and strength of his family and friends to carry him through difficulties and tragic moments in his life. As a result, Richie became increasingly stronger and wiser, passing on his values and understanding of life to all those around him, particularly his students.
Former Heads of School Eileen Lambert and Dick Wade
“When I played, I played with a passion, when I coached, I coached with a passion, but I am most touched now, by the passion, love, and attention you are all giving me today.” nineteen years, spoke of her admiration for the impact he had on the Rippowam Cisqua community. As Head of School, Eileen deeply valued Richie’s dedication to every child’s dignity. “Each child is unique, strong, and talented if you take the time to help them discover themselves,” noted Eileen, “and Richie did that beautifully!” Alex Soros ’01 spoke about Richie Meyers the philosopher, a man whose wisdom about right and wrong have helped shape both Alex and his brother Greg, as well as countless friends and classmates. Richie’s life lessons, taught through coaching, have helped RCS students become better men and women, have impacted their understanding of what matters in life, and helped them find inner strength in winning their battles. “He always told me to play taller than I was, smarter than I
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Alumni Profiles continued…
am, and lead better than I think possible,” wrote Andrew Kurian ’84 in his note submitted to RCS about Coach Meyers. Near the end of the ceremony, Christopher Wirth ’94, chairman of the Alumni Association spoke about Richie being not just a coach, but a source of strength for his students and a good friend. Many alumni continue to describe Coach Meyers as one of the better coaches they have met as they moved on to playing sports in high school and colleges. On behalf of the Alumni Association, Chris presented Coach Meyers with the Alumni Association Faculty Award, an award given by the Alumni Association for over 20 years of service to the RCS community. Richie was also presented with a special gift – a book of quotes, stories, and reflections from Richie’s current and former students, Rippowam Cisqua families, faculty, and staff about Coach and his influence in their lives. A closing highlight of the ceremony, and a very emotional moment for all, was Matthew Nespole’s announcement of the naming of the Ripp playing fields as "Meyers Fields" in Rich’s honor. In closing, with his daughter Julie, and his grandson William at his side, Coach Meyers extended a heartfelt thank you to his family, the School community, and all the guests and friends for celebrating and honoring him. He offered a special thank you to his own coaches, noting that they were the ones who “saw the good in me and shaped my life early on.”
Joe McMenemon ’01, Teddy Kunhardt ’01, Alex Soros ’01, Alex Boies ’01, Marc Ayala ’01
Kate Levy ’96, Jermaine Moure ’96
Richie Meyers, Karen Koeppl
With regard to his career at Rippowam Cisqua, Richie concluded by saying “During all these years of coaching, I have been the lucky one – can you imagine going to work every day, knowing that you might make an impression on someone’s life?" As Richie stepped off the stage the resounding applause and standing ovation reminded that he had done just that.
Matthew Nespole announcing the naming of the “Meyers Fields” on stage with Richie Meyers with his daughter Julie and grandson William
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Dick Wade, Richie Meyers, and teacher Dan Viglione
Teacher Chris Perry, Richie Meyers, teacher Kathy Perry, Ben Perry ’05, and Eric Perry ’08
Teacher Paul Ragonesi with Christopher Wirth ’94
Louisa Polos ’01 and Richie Meyers
Former Heads of School Dick Wade and Eileen Lambert, Upper Campus Director of Admissions Ashley Harrington, former teacher Ann Thacher and former teacher John Ham
Peter Scala ’98, Gus Levy ’98, Richie Meyers
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Class of 1961- 62
50th Reunion
Front Row, (left to right): Alex Sanger, Margherita (Margie) Bailey Baldwin, Anita de Breganca Stockbridge, Deborah Choate, Sallie Adams Hoffman, Jane Bishop Putnam, Daphne Trent Holzman, Anita Pagliaro, John Renwick; Back Row (left to right): Jamie Robertson, Ben Smith, Sandy Putnam, Susie Branch
The boys from the class of 1961 and the girls from the class of 1962 returned to Bedford for a 50th reunion weekend on May 18–20.
night followed by a visit to RCS on Saturday morning and a luncheon at the School. On Saturday evening, Anita hosted a dinner at her home for her classmates and other local RCS alums.
Congratulations to Alex Sanger ’61, Susie Branch ’62, Anita de Braganca Stockbridge ’62 and Jane Bishop Putnam ’62 for organizing a wonderful 50th reunion for their class. Getting back in touch with everyone was no easy task, but the reunion committee was determined, and they worked hard to locate almost all of their class members. As a result, thirteen alums and their spouses returned to Bedford for a remarkable weekend of remembering and reconnecting. The activities included a gathering on Friday
The visit on campus began with breakfast in the library. Everyone enjoyed a cup of coffee together while looking at the award plaques hanging outside of the library where the Red-Blue captains and the names of other award winners are listed. Bob Whelan, Associate Head of School, and Edlira Curis, Alumni Relations Manager, joined the group for a tour of the old hallways and classrooms, including a visit to the playhouse (formerly the gym and the theater), a visit to one of the renovated sixth grade classrooms (formerly
the music room) and a walk through the beautiful garden, right across from the old kindergarten classroom. “I remember lots of play and teachers who took an interest in the whole child. I went on to many great schools but I had my best learning and best teachers here at RCS!” said Sally Adams as the group reminisced about their days at RCS. Stories about Mrs. Paddock’s English lessons, the 7th grade geography project, and various gym and theater performances reminded the former classmates of many of the attributes that defined their years at the School: critical thinking, project based lessons, and the pure joy of learning—all of which continue to define an RCS education today.
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“Do you remember when we met…” An amazing moment for all to treasure came when Jane Bishop Putnam and Sandy Putnam stood in front of their former kindergarten classroom where they first crossed paths over fifty years ago. “Do you remember when we met…” was the song that came to everyone’s mind, and they recounted the story of how and when their relationship started. Here is that story in Jane’s words:
You mentioned that you and Sandy were kindergarten friends – can you tell us what you best remember from that year? Are there any special memories of your Rippowam kindergarten teacher? RCS
JP
Sandy and I talk so much about Ripp and our childhood, which was totally centered around the School. We not only started together in kindergarten, but the two of us repeated it because of our age. We were only four when we first entered the School, but we spent two years getting through it! Sandy’s mother, who is still alive, always said it was because his fine motor muscles weren’t developed enough, and because I have four younger siblings, so my mother needed me out of the house! Anyway, what we remember most about kindergarten is our teacher, Mrs. Coryell, whom we adored. We remember circle talks, we remember the sand box and the jungle gym, I remember the boys forming posses to chase after the girls (Sandy being one of the leaders) as we would bring rhinestones or something considered precious at the time to use as lures.
Then and Now: Jane and Sandy in front of the RCS Kindergarten classroom.
Naptime on woolen plaid blankets with tassels, and lots of musical chairs also come to mind. Sandy remembers my buck-teeth and I remember his Nordic sweater. We always were friends.
Did you follow separate paths upon graduating from RCS? When did you run into each other again? RCS
truly excellent teachers, and some who were quite controversial. We think of Bonnie and Sylvester, the king and queen of the lunchroom, who cooked up the best fried chicken and spareribs we’ve ever had to this day. Sandy also loved the canned ravioli. RCS What was it like coming back to RCS for your 50th reunion?
JP
We had an eighth grade romance which set up a lifetime of keeping an eye on each other. Sandy went off to St. Mark’s School, I went to Miss Porter’s, and we made sure we ran into each other a lot. We had many friends in common and kept up a vague correspondence. I think we always knew what the other was doing. Sandy went on to Harvard and I went to Italy for art school, then Katharine Gibbs in Boston when he was in Cambridge. Several in and out years followed and we finally married in 1975. RCS When you both think of RCS, what comes to mind instantly, apart from each other? JP
When we think of Rippowam we think of our fabulous class. We made lifelong friends who, to this day, we count on as best friends. We had some
JP
Coming back to our 50th reinforced our memories of a great childhood and an education that we both appreciated and count as the most important building block of our academic lives. It was so wonderful to see friends we hadn’t seen in fifty years and those that we see often. Our committee, headed by Alex Sanger ’61, had so much fun planning it. I hope we can continue to stay connected. We were so impressed by the new RCS and only wish we could start again (not really...), but what a great show the School put on for us and we really appreciated it. Thank you and the Advancement team for all you did for us—it was fantastic.
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Beyond the
Rippowam Cisqua Classroom While fashion trends may come and go (see the photos from 1970 and 1971 on the next page), science at RCS remains as strong today as it was more than 40 years ago...
active and dynamic student body, a general philosophy focused on innovation and advancement, etc. I couldn’t be more excited!
Sammi Cannold ’09 was recently named an Intel Science Talent Search semi-finalist for her three-year comparative study on the Finnish Educational System. Her work was completed under the auspices of Byram Hills High School’s Authentic Science Research Program, where she received the Excellence In Science Research Award. Sammi has also received recognition for her accomplishments on the national debate circuit as the top Lincoln-Douglas Debater in New York State and the fifth highest ranking for a female debater in the country. Sammi will be attending Stanford University in the fall. We caught up with Sammi in August.
SC I’m pretty set on studying education policy—my study really cemented a love of, and passion for, that realm. Stanford allows its undergrads to take courses at the Education Graduate School, so I’m really looking forward to exploring the field further and to hopefully conducting more in depth research during my four years.
Where are you headed in the fall and what shaped your choice?
How did your years at Rippowam Cisqua cultivate your interest in research? Did Rippowam Cisqua prepare you well for your science courses in high school?
RCS
SC
In a few weeks, I’ll be headed off to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. The way I see it, I didn’t really choose Stanford—it chose me. I dove in and realized that Stanford had everything I was looking for in a school—a stellar education policy program, an incredibly
Any thoughts about what you might want to study at Stanford? RCS
I also plan to study theater—more specifically, theatrical direction since I love the way drama works and have been interested in it for many years. Of course, countless RCS theatrical productions were instrumental in developing that passion! RCS
SC RCS does an impeccable job of teaching students not just how to learn and discover, but also how to love learning and discovery.
Sammi Cannold ’09
Our balloon project in Mr. Duveen’s 8th Grade Physics class really opened my eyes to the beauty of hands-on research. After weeks of calculations, finally seeing our huge aerial contraption soar made me realize how hard work, dedication, and commitment to exploring a hypothesis can really lead to something incredible; and what was best about it was that Mr. Duveen didn’t tell us what to do. Instead, he let us test ideas on our own, watched us fail, helped us back onto our feet, and let us test out our new and improved ideas again and again. I’m incredibly grateful
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Who’s Who? We need your help! If you can identify any of these young scientists from the 1970s, please let us know. You can send an email with any background, anecdotes, subsequent successful experiments in science (or fashion) to the Alumni Office (alumni@rcsny.org).
for that exploratory experience. Countless other RCS teachers offered similar extraordinarily empowering and inspiring learning experiences; from exploring ourselves through Mrs. Doniger’s 4th grade “About Me” books to exploring the world around us through Mrs. Greenwood’s 7th and 8th grade poetry units, Rippowam Cisqua really taught me and my classmates the value of discovery.
“RCS does an impeccable job of teaching students not just how to learn and discover, but also how to love learning and discovery.” Lower Campus – Mrs. Fitzgerald’s Science class, 1971
Upper Campus Science lab, 1970
RCS could not have prepared me better for high school; the Lower Campus gave me an invaluable foundation and deep appreciation for discovery. The Upper Campus encouraged an inquisitive mindset and the idea that there is no right answer. Since high school is so focused on point of view and selfdirected learning, Rippowam Cisqua gave me the perfect tools to succeed. I’m sure I will find the same to be true at Stanford in the years to come!
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Alumni Profiles
RCS Around the Globe Anders Crofoot ’76 and Emily Wood Crofoot ’70 in New Zealand Emily and Anders – you are both today Rippowam Cisqua School alums, but you attended separate schools? How did you meet? RCS
EC
Anders and Emily Crofoot
In October of 1998, Anders Crofoot ’76 and Emily Wood Crofoot ’70 moved with their children, David (aged 10) and Sarah (aged 8), to New Zealand where they bought a 7,000-acre farm on the North Island. They have since built a very happy and successful life on the iconic farming station at Castlepoint, New Zealand and are indeed an example of the “Dare to be True” spirit of Rippowam Cisqua. Despite the distance, Emily and Anders have remained connected to Bedford and Rippowam Cisqua School. They enjoy receiving news from RCS and have maintained close ties with fellow alums and friends.
I attended the much smaller Cisqua School and I graduated before the merger of the two schools. Anders, however, started attending Rippowam, but subsequently graduated from Rippowam Cisqua School in 1976. We actually first met while Anders was still an RCS student. I am six years older and I often used to babysit for his younger siblings. For many years to come we were just acquaintances and our relationship did not begin until we had both finished our studies and had started working. After graduating from RCS, Anders went to boarding school (Phillips Academy in Andover, MA) and then to Dartmouth College. When Anders returned to Bedford in 1985 we reconnected again. We met often and Anders would frequently help out at the Braewold farm. It all happened quickly and two years later we were married.
What inspired you to move to New Zealand and build your farm there? RCS
EC
One could say Anders and I began our life journey together in New Zealand. After we got married we went to New
Zealand for our honeymoon at which time I confessed to Anders: “I have a dream to farm one day in New Zealand.” I have always had a strong connection with the land coming from a family with a seven-generation history of farming in the United States. I grew up at Braewold, a 300-acre farm in Mount Kisco. As a young girl, I also grew very attached to New Zealand and their way of farming through family connections. We had many relatives visit us frequently from New Zealand and I traveled there several times and spent months working on farms. New Zealand has always been on the cutting edge of agriculture and that always fascinated me. The temperate climate of New Zealand is also an important factor we considered as it allows us to grow livestock locally and naturally, which was no longer possible in New York. The timing of our move was also determined by the sale of our farm in New York, as the town of Mt. Kisco and the surrounding areas were increasingly becoming more urbanized, making it very difficult to continue farming there. Last, but not least, another factor that motivated us to make some quick decisions was the young age of our children – I knew I wanted to farm in New Zealand one day, and I also knew that we had to move while our children were young enough to adapt easily to a new place and life.
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RCS What can you share with us about your transition to your new farm, life in New Zealand and, most importantly, do you have a kiwi accent by now? EC
Castlepoint is located on the East Coast of New Zealand, and has been run as a big farm since the mid 1800s and it carries important historical and cultural value, along with marvelous natural beauty and a spectacular coastline. Therefore, although we moved to Castlepoint with significant knowledge on farming and land, there was still a lot to learn and understand about the history of the place, as well as the particular soil, terrain, wind, and weather patterns we were working with which affect every level of decision making. In fact, the wind is so powerful and can be so unpredictable at Castlepoint, that everyone has a fascinating wind story. Castlepoint is also a much more isolated area than the urbanized Mt. Kisco. At first, the change was dramatic for Sarah and David as they were transferred from the large Bedford Hills elementary school, to a school with very few children; but they have completely enjoyed the exquisite natural beauty of Castlepoint and life on the farm. They have both developed passions for the local favorite activities. As a place with high winds, surfing is definitely one of the attractions that brings people to Castlepoint and David is a passionate surfer and is a graduate of the Raglan surfing school. Sarah is now a regional hockey rep, having played for Wararapa and Central Districts, right up to National Hockey League level. She is currently attending Massey University studying agribusiness and is very fond of farming as well. By now, though, we have all become New Zealand citizens and are fully integrated into the local life and culture. We are very involved with local churches, schools, other farms and organizations, even the local government assisting with various regulations and legislations. Both Anders and I believe strongly in
Castlepoint Station Modern-day Castlepoint Station, first settled in 1847 as one of New Zealand’s first sheep runs. The station now stretches along 12 kilometers of the Wariapa’s coastline (North Island) covering an overall area of 2952 hectares, made up of flat ocean terraces and imposing hill country. (Castlepoint: The Story of Life on an Iconic New Zealand Sheep and Cattle Station by Lorain Day)
contributing to the community we live in, just as our families back home have always done. Anders, for example, is also the local fire chief and I assist with various fundraising efforts for the volunteer fire brigade and other causes. With regard to our Kiwi accent, Sarah and David have most definitely acquired their Kiwi accent (unlike Anders and me) and they would proudly say that they have completely gone native!
Can you describe your work at Castlepoint farm?
and finance. At Castlepoint there is a strong commitment to technology and our sophisticated set up makes it a very attractive place to work, which has helped us recruit and retain highly qualified staff. The iPhone has become a very useful device in farming as well and we make good use of it to facilitate communication and transfer data! We both find working in New Zealand extremely exciting and rewarding as New Zealand remains on the cutting edge of the agriculture business.
RCS
EC We manage a farm with twenty thousand sheep and one thousand head of cattle. Sheep are for dual purpose – carpet wool and meat. Cattle is for beef production. The climate is not right for dairy production. Anders has an undergraduate degree in both computer science and psychology so the general consensus seems to be that Anders brings 20th century skills to the management of the farm, and I have mastered the 19th century skills in terms of hard work, connection to the land, and understanding of crops and livestock. So, with regard to day-to-day operations, I am responsible for human resources and livestock and Anders has taken over technology, development,
How many RCS alums have visited you and your farm in New Zealand? RCS
EC
Family and friends visit us frequently from back home. My parents (James and Twink Wood) visit us every year and spend a few months with us, which is wonderful. Roger Vincent ’59 and his wife visited us recently as well. It is always fun when people come and visit and we encourage that as we continue to maintain close ties with home and RCS. I enjoy receiving and reading the Alumni bulletins. While back home, at the time when RCS celebrated its 75th anniversary, I was very involved with the Alumni Board and the publishing of the Dare To Be True book.
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AC
The best surprise was when my classmate, Blair Nichols, stopped by to visit us. While travelling in New Zealand she had heard that there was an American farming at Castlepoint by the name of Anders Crofoot. Convinced that there could not be too many Anders Crofoots in the world, she decided to stop by and confirm that I was her fellow RCS classmate.
Alan Adriance and his class stuck with me very specifically. John Odden, who introduced lacrosse to Rippowam Cisqua, was also one of my favorites.
a book written recently by Lorraine Day about this enchanting farming station, its history, and the success story of Emily and Anders Crofoot. Strong will, hard work, and a genuine desire to feel connected to the land and its natural rhythms and cycles have also been critical to the life story of the Crofoots. Despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002, Emily Crofoot continues to work hard on her farm. The only few limitations as a result of her diagnosis are not being able to continue to pursue some of her passions such as gardening and textile art. Thirteen years after the Anders moved to Castlepoint Station, their farm won the 2012 Wairarapa Sheep and Beef Business of the year award, being described by the judges as “a shining example of industry’s best practice.”
Your life has been inspirational – any special message you’d like to share with our young alums? Do you have any advice for our current Ripp students?
In closing, the imagery from Lorain Day’s book transports us to Castlepoint as the day draws to an end and we get a glimpse of the beauty and peacefulness that surround their farm:
EC I am a firm believer that strong roots are important in order to stretch out. Although the decision to relocate to New Zealand felt spontaneous at the time, it was, in fact, a lifetime in the making for me, because of who I was and where I came from.
“The Hills are quiet now; the wind, the ever-present wind, has dropped a little and the fronds of the date palms in the driveway are murmuring gently. The paddocks are stocked with fat sheep and sleek, shiny cattle, behind fences and gates that lock together in every combination known to man – and then some. Emily’s dust-covered Rhino is parked beside the garage, and Anders wants to see what the weather forecast is for tomorrow…The wind is blowing across the hills and the laneway’s catching the last of the sun along the cliff tops, while down below surf is pounding through the gap, and the lights are coming on at the homestead.”
Is there anything in particular from your RCS education that you carry with you? RCS
EC
Thinking about grammar, I often think of my Cisqua teachers telling me about sentence diagrams. I am thankful for my Cisqua teachers sitting on my shoulders today providing me with that grounding. In particular, I remember Eleanor Fening, my science teacher, Audrey Fischer who taught art and geography, Jane Burditt who taught English, and Betsy Stout who taught history. AC
RCS
Emily, Anders, and Blair Nichols
What about your siblings? Any other farmers in the family? RCS
EC
When my family sold the farm in Mt. Kisco, both my brother and I bought our own farms. My brother Steve, a Cisqua alum, is now living in Montana on a cattle ranch with his wife and four children. AC
The Crofoots were farming two or three generations ago, but there’s no other recent history of farming. I was introduced to farming through Emily and her family. My sister, Krista ’81, who went to RCS for a few years, is married and lives in New York City. She danced with the New York City ballet for some time, then worked in modeling in New York, and eventually became an interior designer. My younger sister, Tjasa ’86, is currently living in Pennyslvania with her husband and her three children. After my father passed away, my mother (Pepper Crofoot), who taught at Rippowam Cisqua for over 25 years, also moved to Pennsylvania to live with her.
AC Family is a key element of this foundation we receive early in life, but a good teacher is also critical in shaping who we are today. At the end of my freshman year at Dartmouth, I decided to take an introductory course in computers and it is simply because I had a wonderful teacher that my first course in information technology turned into a lifelong passion for me.
It is not surprising then that innovative technology is one of the factors contributing to the successful farming at Castlepoint. “Emily and Anders are so set up to date with technology and really pushing the boundaries in that respect that I’ve got everything possible available to me as a manager” says Stu Neal, the farm manager in a quote from Castlepoint,
The Crofoot Family
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Chris Hanson ’06: All-American Barrett was not surprised to learn of Chris’s successes in college and sports, and he reflected fondly on Chris’s competitive spirit and his extremely kind and outstanding character. “He was an excellent student who led by example,” said Bill. We were able to connect with Chris over the summer and ask him a few questions about his successes thus far and his hopes for the future.
Chris, what can you tell us about your time as an athlete at RCS? How many sports did you play? Any particular impressions about your coaches? RCS
CH
“The Ivy League announced the All-Ivy teams for men’s squash on Friday and Dartmouth’s Chris Hanson (Greenwich, Conn.) and Nick Sisodia (Chicago, Ill.) each made the first team. Hanson was a unanimous selection to the first team after competing the entire season at No. 1 singles for the Big Green. In 18 matches at first singles, Hanson went 14-4, including 5-2 in conference matches. He had a six-match winning streak in the heart of the Dartmouth season, which helped the Big Green finish seventh at the Potter Cup. It is the third straight year the junior has made First Team All-Ivy.” (www.dartmouthsports.com)
During my time at RCS I played soccer and lacrosse. In 9th grade, I was co-captain of the lacrosse team. My athletic experience at RCS was incredible, with special thanks to my coaches Mike Topchik and Bill Barrett for making it such a memorable experience. The highlight of my sports career at Ripp was being down 2 goals in lacrosse to Brunswick and coming back to win by 1 in the last minute of play.
Where did you go after RCS and how prepared did you feel for both high school and college after having attended RCS? RCS
CH
I went to St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, CT after graduating from RCS in 9th grade. I excelled at St. Luke’s immediately, thanks to my schooling at RCS, which eventually led to my acceptance to Dartmouth College. Over my six years at RCS, my teachers and coaches instilled a great work ethic in me, in both academics and athletics.
You excel at both athletics and academics – what do you think makes you successful at both? RCS
Chris Hanson ’06 is now a senior at Dartmouth College, where his academic and athletic achievements have been exceptional. Chris graduated from Rippowam Cisqua in 2006 with a strong work ethic and deep love for learning and sports. Head of Upper Campus Bill
CH I have come to realize the importance of having a great work ethic. Nothing I have accomplished, in both academics and athletics, came easily;
everything took weeks and months of hard work and preparation. Having the ability to “see” the future payoff of the work that I put in every day has been the key to my success. RCS When you think about RCS, what comes to mind? CH
The first thing that comes to mind is Red team vs. Blue team. I remember loving everything about that competition, specifically that one of my best friends was on Blue and I was on Red. We competed against each other all the time and yet still remain friends today.
What are you most proud of that you’ve accomplished so far? RCS
CH
I am most proud of my academic and athletic success at Dartmouth College thus far. It is great to be able to think back on all of the days, weeks, months, even years of preparation that I did and how it has all brought me to where I am today. Specifically, I am most proud of earning 1st Team All-American three years in a row and Academic AllAmerican this past season. RCS Where do you see yourself in ten years? CH
In ten years I hope to be still involved in U.S./Dartmouth squash. I am going to go on the professional squash tour when I am done with college, then hopefully go on to attend graduate school. With that in mind, ten years from now I would like to hopefully be putting my graduate degree/professional squash experience to good use in cultivating young American squash players. Squash is a small sport, but a growing one, and I hope to play a pivotal role in its future development in America.
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Alumni
Class Notes Emmy’s granddaughter, Maddie Howson
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Tom Trumpy is still living in Brussels, Belgium, and was sorry to miss his sixtieth reunion. He is planning vacations to exotic places such as Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Tunisia. He is closing up his law practice and helping his wife plan to retire soon. Tom writes: “After a ten year absence I was in the U.S. on September 10 and May 11th (St. Paul’s 55th reunion) and revisited Bedford, St. Matthew’s (where my parents are buried), Rippowam, and the Historical Society (my father’s antique shop which he sold to them). Those willing to risk an impromptu Trumpy visit are reciprocally welcome! Looking forward to hearing news about the reunion and how everyone is doing.”
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Jean (Jinny) Tilt Sammis is married to Jesse (Sam) F. Sammis III. They have a daughter, Suzanne, who is married to Jim Cabot and they have two children, Jimmy and Lila. Jean and Jesse also have a son, Jesse, who is married to Paige and they have four children, Eliza, Eleanor, LeeLee, and Mason. Jinny says that they all live in Greenwich, CT. She also writes: “Sam’s real estate business is in Greenwich – New England Land Co., Ltd – and we have extensive interests in Randolph, VT, which also includes a home. In VT we own the lovely Victorian “Three Stallion Inn” with its Morgan’s
Pub and Restaurant, the beautiful 18 hole Montague Golf course and the 1300 historic Green Mountain Stock Farm, now a ten acre minimum real estate development, incorporating the Inn as well as having about fifteen miles of great trails for hiking, biking, x-c skiing, snowshoeing, and riding. Obviously as we get a bit older, we are not slowing down! Since music is important to both Sam and me, it is wonderful to have the Chandler Music Hall (a mini Carnegie Hall) right in Randolph. We also host musical events at our Inn, as well as weddings, reunions, bike and canoe groups, and small business functions. Alums who love VT, should look up the Inn on the web and enjoy. Better yet, come and visit. We are located between Woodstock and Montpelier. Easy to reach. Look forward to seeing you. I hear good things about “Ripp” through Roddy and Marilen Tilt.
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Emmy Hall Ehrlich writes: Attached is a picture of my 9 year old granddaughter, Maddie Howson, in front of Rippowam, where she played in a lacrosse tournament. She lives in Rye with her parents, two brothers, and a sister. My five other grandchildren are close to us in San Francisco – two in the city and three in Menlo Park. I see classmate Cynthia Brown Lloyd occasionally; she has moved from the East Coast to Berkeley. Recently classmate Marilen
Grosjean Tilt and her husband Roddy met my husband and me at the Barnes Museum in Philadelphia. Besides a considerable amount of travel, we are busy with family, golf, eternal home repairs, the Teaching Company tapes, and an assortment of hobbies. Retirement is very time consuming!
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Jean Robertson, a Professor of Art History at Herron School of Art and Design, was named a 2012 Chancellor’s Professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. This is the most distinguished appointment an individual faculty member can attain at IUPUI. Robertson was publicly recognized for her achievement at the Chancellor’s Academic Honors Convocation on April 19. Recently, Oxford University Press also published the third edition of her co-authored book, “Themes of Contemporary Art: Visual Art after 1980.” The second edition of the book has been published in three languages: English, Korean, and Chinese. You may view the book at the following link: http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subje ct/ArtArchitecture/History/ModernContemp orary/?view=usa&ci=9780199797073
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Charlie Branch married Christine Lehner this past June in Hasting-On-Hudson NY. All Branch siblings attended the wedding.
Cynthia Branch Mas ’71, Charlie Branch ’66, Susie Branch ’62, Ben Branch ’63
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Anne deLain W. Clark writes: “I turned 51 this year at the end of May, and it feels good to have over half a century of life experience. This is already looking to be a very eventful year. I will be retiring from New Mexico state government in November and, after a couple of months to myself, will be starting my own business as a mediator/facilitator/ organizational culture consultant. Then in February, my youngest, Sawyer, will be 18. In March, my grandfather is due to celebrate his 100th birthday. In mid-May my eldest, Grace, will graduate from the University of New Mexico with a bachelors in nutrition, and, just before my 52nd birthday, Sawyer will graduate high school. A year of significant milestones and changes. In June, Blair and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary and 33 years together as a couple. This month marks our 31st anniversary of moving together to New Mexico. There are so many milestones we go through in rapid succession in our late teens and early twenties: starting high school, reaching the age of majority, graduating high school, starting college, casting our first vote, reaching the legal drinking age,
graduating college; then maybe we go on to graduate school, start a career, find a life partner, have children, in no particular order. My husband and I found each other before I even graduated high school. It feels like I passed all those milestones just a few years back and now, not only am I about to retire from my first career, but I’ve also been part of my daughter’s passing the first six with the seventh on the close horizon and my son’s passing the first and being on the cusp of passing the next two. I still like to say that I haven’t figured out what I want to be when I grow up, but I’m not sure that is true anymore. I see my retirement from state government as another graduation and, in this next phase, I have a small luxury in no longer needing to earn a living. My pension from the State of New Mexico has already been earned and (being in excellent health, with a grandfather of 99 and grandmother of 95), I expect that pension to pay out at least twice as long as I paid into it. Now I am at a crossroads with opportunities rising all around during a time when opportunity feels scarce for many. In November 2011, I saw Charlie Rose interview Dov Seidman, author of “HOW: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything” and CEO of LRN. I was so impressed with what I heard, I set my sights on meeting this man who had crafted a business philosophy completely in line with my own. In May 2012, I met Dov in the Manhattan office of LRN. It was just before he was leaving for Israel to talk about the newly released Hebrew translation of his book. Dov travels all over the world speaking about the HOW philosophy to political and business leaders, with five to seven appointments and speaking engagements per day. Not only does he waive all speaker’s fees, he gives away copies of his book to whomever is interested. To connect with this revolutionary business visionary is a true gift. Because of this connection, my swan song from my tenure as a public servant to New Mexico will be to expose my department of over 500 employees to the philosophy of HOW through training and copies of Dov’s book.”
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Daryl Bright Rosenbaum writes: “So happy to be in a wonderful marriage. We’ve been blessed with a beautiful girl, Lily, now six, so, yes, I’m 46 with a 6 year old, but there are a lot of us in the same boat! We live in the coastal Carolinas, with our boat docked right across from Masonboro Island, an eight-mile long barrier island, which is a dedicated bird sanctuary. We moved here from Boulder, Colorado and it’s hard to say which is more beautiful – the ocean or the mountains. From Rippowam Cisqua, I went on to Miss Porter’s, then to Johns Hopkins, transferred and graduated from Columbia University. I own three businesses, first and foremost a design company, DESIGN RESULTS (www.design-results.com); HomesbyOwner.com/Wilmington and a little art school, The Bright Art School. My husband is an awesome realtor, who also works from home, so we get to spend a lot of time with our daughter. Our tenth anniversary is coming up in September. I’d love to hear from anyone young or old. I still smile to think I was the first girl to be president of the SAB (is it still the Student Activity Board?) and to win the Rippowam Cisqua Prize. I do remember, the book I received when awarded the Rippowam Cisqua Prize was Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations and there was not one single quote by a woman! Not one! I hope everyone is doing well. I’m on Facebook as Daryl Bright Rosenbaum. Best wishes to all!”
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Kirsten (Kiki) Thompson writes: “I am have been living in Verbier Switzerland for the past 20 years. I am a sculptor and have just founded a sculpture park and residency. I have a husband, Mike and two lovely children, Eloise 5, and Oliver 3.
Class Notes continued…
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Richard Adelmann – upon graduating from RCS, Richard went on to Kent School and then Business Administration at NYU (Leonard N. Stern), continued on to work for Smarte Carte, Inc. in Minnesota and then volunteered to open European Markets for the company. “My intention has always been to return to Spain,” says Richard. “After this company was fully established in EU, I passed over to consulting and currently work in one of the largest Japanese Corporations, Marubeni. My role is International Business Development Director. I also got my EMT (Paramedic) and volunteer for Red Cross in Spain and emergency units. I am based in Madrid. I am happily married with three beautiful children and a wonderful Spanish wife. I do miss Rippowam and spent three years there with special memories, despite the cultural and language difficulties.
Ivan (12), Erik (10) and Katya (4)
Sara Heckman Doering writes, "My husband and I relocated our three kids from Cleveland, OH to Clayton, NC (near Raleigh) four years ago. I went to nursing school at Duke for my BSN and now I’m working at Durham Regional Hospital on the Mother-Baby Unit (aka post partum). My husband, Jonathan, owns a small and growing remodeling biz, and my kids are soon to be in 9th, 7th, and 5th grades (Brendan, Connor, Ciara). We also have a five year old Pit-Lab mix named Annie whom we love sooo much. Hope you are all healthy and happy!" Laura Goldblatt Jessen writes, “My husband Chris and I relocated from NYC to Sarasota, FL three years ago. We have
been spending our summers in the Hamptons since then. I suppose that makes us Snowbirds?! Yuck! Hate that term! We have no children but adore our pets and nieces and nephews! We recently sold our last property in NYC so, other than philanthropic work, technically we are retired for the time being. We plan to spend the next year or two traveling on our new boat, ’The Fish Tank.’ You can follow us on Facebook (Fish Tank Siesta Key).” Holly Sexton writes: “I am still in Florida, now six years, and working for John Hancock the last thireen years spending my free time between community/ volunteer activities, paddle boarding, boating, etc. trying to get to Maine in the summer when I can. I had the chance to catch up with Tamlyn (Tammy) Freund and the rest of her family this spring in Captiva. It was great to see her and catch up with Peter as well! Would love to see more Ripp people!” Ashley Weld Taylor writes: "I live in Stowe, VT with my husband and two kids, Reed (8) and Grace (5). I am a lawyer and do estate planning and health care law for my local firm. My husband (Richard) is a physician in the emergency department at Central VT Hospital. We love living in Stowe-great community and wonderful backyard! Let us know if anyone comes up this way-would love to see you. My half-brother Peter is still at Ripp-hard to believe! Hope you are all well!
Class Agent Libby Prezzano Whitman writes: “I live in Bedford (about 1/4 mile away from Ripp!) with my husband Cutler, who is a Ripp graduate, and our three kids, Kate, Harry, and Addie (ages 4, 8, 11). If you are ever in the area let me know! I had so much fun catching up with Cyril O’Neil at his brother Aaron’s wedding in Vail, CO last summer. Cyril has a very successful company out in Hollywood called Ghostlight LA. They provide custom vehicles for movies such as “Catch Me if You Can” and “Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle” among many others. You can search it at ghostlightla.com.”
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Chadbyrne R. Dickens, who lives in Manhattan, has had a fruitful and adventurous year attending over 100 concerts and writing reviews for numerous national publications including JamBase. He exclaims that highlights included covering the Bonnaroo and All Good Festivals, in addition to following Dark Star Orchestra for five nights and interviewing many of his musical heroes.
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Roger Vincent: My wife Melissa and I moved to Ithaca, NY this summer where I’ll be working for Cornell. We’ve only been here a few weeks, but we love it so far and are enjoying all that upstate New York has to offer.
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Geoffrey Hoffman got married in May 2010 at his wife’s mother’s backyard in New Canaan, CT. Then, after more than ten years in New York City, they moved to Darien, CT in March of 2011. In June, Geoffrey started working at Jefferies in Stamford, later to find out that he works just down the hall from Tyler Lifton ’90. It’s a small world! Geoffrey and his wife are having fun fixing up their house and settling in.
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Jordan Berns: Jordan lives with his wife and two children (Ryan 5 and Hadley 3) in Cohasset, MA. He continues to work in Commercial Real Estate and recently joined a local company on the South Shore of Massachusetts.
Ryan and Hadley Berns
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Class Agent Angela Grand Cavallo – shares with us a photo of her son Sam Cavallo – Age 3 at Dogg Day at the Bedford Club in October 2012. Angela Grand Cavallo is also class representative for 1991. Please send her your news or get back in touch! angegrand@gmail.com
Peter Freund and his wife Mimi now live in Bedford with their twin girls, Winnie and Wren (RCS class 2023). Winnie was in Mrs. Sorte’s class and Wren was in Mrs. Adorno’s class last year. They are starting SPK this fall.
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Nancy Dwyer Eaves: My husband Blue and I welcomed our son, Knox Thompson Eaves on April 11th. Knox joins his big sister Paige and his big brother Dwyer. Things are great, but busy!
Knox Eaves
Andrew Morris lives in Danbury CT with his wife Eliza and their daughter Harper. He works at New Canaan Country School and will be continuing graduate work this fall.
Sam Cavallo
Angela Grand Cavallo ’91, Jessica Chatfield ’91, Caroline Treadway ’91 and Alex Rawlins ’91 at Jenny Heath’s wedding on Nantucket.
(left to right): Winnie and Wren Freund
Rud Niles tells us that he got married in 2010 to Jennifer (Kelling) Niles. Over the summer they moved from NYC to Katonah. Rud runs the family’s business, The Niles Insurance Agency, which is also located in Katonah. His wife, Jen, has a jewelry and handbag line called Madame Mathilde.
Mary Tilt Hammond writes, “Last October, I married Stephen Hammond in Charleston, South Carolina. Rippowam alums at my wedding included my entire family- parents and siblings (Emlen Tilt Cabot ’84, Elizabeth Tilt Weiner ’85, and Roddy Tilt III ’99) plus Kate Abbott Wartels ’92, Harry Grand ’93, and Malcolm MacDonald ’99. We have been living in NYC, where I am Marketing Director for ELLE Magazine. However in the fall we are moving full-time down to Charleston!”
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Elly Dwyer Rice: August Dwyer Rice, born April 6, 2012, joins Elly, Ethan, big brother Andrew, and pug Pudding.
Franklin Foster, Hayden Baker, Caroline Treadway ’91, Jenny Heath ’91, Alex Rawlins ’91, Katie Heath ’00, Andrew Heath ’97, Jessica Chatfield ’91 at Jenny’s wedding.
Class Notes continued…
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Liberty Howell married Joe Orlowski (pictured right).
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Samantha Scala Burley writes: “My husband returned home from deployment in May and we are now stationed in Maine. We have a two year old and are expecting our second child in August.
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Tristan Perich writes, “Greetings from Newfoundland! I’ve been mostly off email since I’m on my honeymoon, but here’s some news from me! Lesley Flanigan and I got married on July 13 at Bedford Presbyterian Church. She and I met in 2006 in grad school at NYU/Tisch, where we were both studying the intersection of art and technology. We are both musicians/visual artists, share a passion for everything from experimental music to cute animals, and live together in NYC. We had a tiny wedding among family and a couple old friends (including Arjun Ponnambalam ’97), followed by a big party the next day in Brooklyn, then immediately skipped town to spend a few weeks together driving as far North as we can. We’ve stopped through Maine, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, and today got off the ferry in Newfoundland. Next stop: Labrador (and if we're feeling particularly adventurous we might hop a plane up to Iqaluit, the capital of Canada’s far-north Nunavut province). Stay tuned.”
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Lisa Kamen Lubart is about to celebrate her first anniversary of marriage with fellow Cisqua kindergarten classmate Adam Lubart. The two were married last July at the Turks & Caicos (pictured right). The couple was joined by several RCS alumni, including: Zack Kamen ’02, Gus Levy ’98, Alex Jaffe ’98, Mary Boies ’98, Chesley Andrews ’98, Erika Kessel ’98, Dan Mara, Jake
(left to right) Alison Banks, Samar Jamali, Cecil Howell ’98, Liberty Howell ’95, Joseph Orlowski, Jack Dourakos, John Orlowksi, Kurt Arsenault. In front: flowergirls, Olivia and Mina and ringbearers, John and Drew.
Grand ’98, Lindsay Carleton ’98, Frankie Celenza ’02, Luke Celenza ’07, John Carr ’98, Alexandra Hauspurg ’03 and Philip Hauspurg ’01. Adam proposed two years earlier on the Rippowam playing fields where they had first reconnected in 1997. Lisa and Adam live in New York City where Lisa works as the Director of Media Relations for Blue Ribbon Restaurants and Adam is about to enter his second year at Columbia Business School.
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Julie Bancroft and Eliza Ghriskey have been interning together at Vanity Fair in the photography department for the summer, “which has been amazing, to say the least.” There has been a LOT of reminiscing on our days spent at Rippowam, but mostly they have consisted of our extreme awkward stages and how we are so thankful we have moved past them (i.e. red hair, both our
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braces, and our “fashion sense” which almost exclusively consisted of double popped collars). Julie is heading into her junior year at Denver University, but will be studying abroad in Brussels this upcoming fall! Also working in NYC, Isabel Bird is living here for the summer and interning at the Frick Collection. She says she loves working in a small, cozy museum and is learning a lot. Isabel currently studies at Yale University and is about to head into her senior year.
Class Agent Eliza Ghriskey writes: “Hello Class of 2006! Since graduation, we have been through high school, we have started college, and we have changed a lot since our years at RCS. Friendships have remained and somehow, we always continue to act as we did in middle school when we are around each other. I went to St. George’s in Newport, RI with a bunch of other RCS grads for high school and have since then been at College of Charleston in South Carolina. This year has gone by so quickly and I can’t believe that I’m a junior at college (I stayed back a year in high school because I was “young” for our grade). I will be spending my fall semester in Barcelona, Spain, which I couldn’t be more excited about. As for catching up with old classmates, I spent the fourth of July with Elizabeth Sednaoui, Jordan Kemp, Nick Stanley, Justin Wright, and Jacob Greenberg which was fantastic since I haven’t seen them since Christmas (for the most part). It’s been great running into people in the city this summer; it’s always nice to reconnect. Hope everyone is well and enjoying their summer before returning for their final year of college! Please feel free to contact me at my e-mail erghrisk@g.cofc.edu to submit class notes for the next bulletin or if you would just like to get in touch with me! Avery Laird is spending the summer out west in Montana. She has sent many pictures to our friends of the beautiful scenery, which she has encountered on
the hikes she goes on every day (How neat is that?). If you follow her on Instagram, I guarantee you will dream that you are floating down the river with her. Avery is an upcoming senior at University of Vermont, but spent her past semester in Australia on the gold coast where she learned a lot but, most importantly, perfected her tan! Lizzie and Avery also had the chance to meet in Thailand and attend a music festival together. Lindsay Laird is living in Montauk for the summer. She has been very active on Instagram and has displayed so many beautiful shots of her summer so far. Living on the beach must be the worst! Lizzie Needham just got back from yet another semester spent in China (surprise, surprise). We are glad to have her back but, unfortunately, she is heading out of the country again and is spending the month of July in London taking classes at London School of Economics. Put away your passport and stay home already, Lizzie!
Luke Celenza says: “Since Ripp, I got into the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and won a silver award. Along with other winners of gold and silver, I performed at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in NYC. I also met President Obama as a presidential scholar in the arts and, along with other artists, I gave a collaborative arts show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Last year I flew out to the “Tuscia in Jazz Festival” in the Italian province of Tuscia, and we won the competition. I will be going back in two weeks to play at the festival again. I just recorded and released my first record and it’s available everywhere. I’m going into my third year at Juilliard. I study with Frank Kimbrough, who is the pianist in the acclaimed Maria Schneider orchestra. Next year I will study with Kenny Barron.
Elizabeth Sednaoui is interning at an internet startup company called BFF TV. On weekends, Elizabeth is either in NYC or on Fisher’s Island with her family and friends.
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Class Agent Alison Bianco and Colette Salvatore ’07 were both studying at the London School of Economics this past summer.
Internship Opportunities for RCS Alumni Are you looking for talented interns? Does your company offer an internship program that you might like RCS alumni to be aware of? You may contact the RCS Alumni Office at alumni@rcsny.org for information on how to support RCS alumni.
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Class Notes continued…
Colby Eisen is studying Public Health at Johns Hopkins and spending this calendar year in South Africa. She spent the first half of the year living with a Zulu family in a township of Durban and is headed to Cape Town next! She says “Hopefully my recently obtained Zulu language skills will make it a little easier to learn Xhosa, I’m told there are more clicks in this one, but a girl can dream. One of the highlights of the past semester was the nationwide shavathon for cancer research and awareness where South Africans either dye their hair or shave their heads. Boy, was it weird being bald!”
business visits to the Chinese ministry and the U.S. Embassy. We were able to speak to representative spokespeople for China and ask them anything we wanted. While we’re here we also are making up a business model plan to improve life in China and will be presenting it to a panel of investors. It’s called the Dragon’s Den.
Liam Murphy writes: “I’m doing an internship with Fareed Zakaria right now, and going to Germany with my family in August. I’ll be returning to St. Paul’s School in the fall for senior year.”
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Vincent Sottile recently won second place honors in the Engineering category at the Westlake HS Science Fair. His presentation topic was "Developing A More Efficient Rescue Robot Driving System." There were over 200 science research sophomores representing high schools in Westchester and Putnam Counties.
Ways to Reconnect with RCS and Alumni
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Madeline Henry is working in a neuroscience lab in New Haven for two months.
Colby Burdick writes: “I’m at St. George’s and captain of the varsity field hockey and tennis teams and a member of the national Spanish honors society, and tour guide head at SG. I’m looking at colleges in the northeast and spending the summer working in Nantucket.”
Alexandria Van Starrenburg is involved in YPO (Young Presidents Organization), for kids of members 19-24. It’s a four-week program studying Chinese politics and business in five cities (Beijing, X’ian, Chengdu, Wuxi, and Shanghai). Alexandria says, “We have done special
Xandra Coleman writes: “Since leaving Ripp, I have started studying Japanese. This summer I am doing a home stay program in rural Japan. As I write this, I am talking to my host sister in Japanese. I’m also going to a school here, where I both take and teach classes.”
Retired Faculty Dick Barnes, who taught fifth grade at Ripp from 1958-1964, and took boys and girls on summer “Barnestorming” camping trips to western national parks, then taught in public schools for thirty years in nearby Ridgefield, CT, where he has been retired now for over sixteen years, has fond memories of his former students and their parents, as well as his colleagues. He still plays a lot of tennis in and around Bedford with old friends, and would enjoy hearing from you at richardkbarnes@hotmail.com
Rippowam Cisqua School – Alumni Page and the online Alumni electronic directory (www.rcsny.org) Did you hear about an alumni event coming up, but don’t have all the details? Did you miss a recent event and would like to read about it or even check out some photos? Make sure you visit the School’s website and check out the Alumni Pages for all the latest news and updates. Also email alumni@rcsny.org to give us your most current contact information. Rippowam Cisqua Alumni on Facebook – The Official RCS Alumni Group
Did you know you can find Rippowam Cisqua Alumni on Facebook and even catch up on latest news and postings from other alums or the School? Simply log on to Facebook and search for “The Official Rippowam Cisqua Alumni Group” and begin reconnecting with RCS alumni today. Rippowam Cisqua Alumni on LinkedIn
Whether you are looking to hire young talented professionals or thinking of a career change, be sure to join the RCS alums on LinkedIn to find out more about fellow RCS alums and their professional careers.
Check Out Our Online
Ripped Apparel Store!
Large Selection of RCS T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Tote Bags, and Other Fun Items Visit www.rcsny.org to visit the online store and place an order today‌ Just in time for the holidays!
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RCSAA Welcomes Two
New Board Members RCS Alumni Board of Directors 2012-13 Christopher Wirth ’94, Chair Board of Trustees Ex-Officio Stephen Ohler ’66, Vice Chair Susannah Sard ’58, Secretary Richard Cahill ’92, Treasurer
Gustave L. Levy II
Caroline Vincent Mockridge
Gustave (Gus) L. Levy II is a 1998 Rippowam Cisqua School graduate, Red team member, and brother to fellow RCS alums Vanessa Seide '93 and Kate Levy '96. After graduating from Rippowam Cisqua, Gus attended Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine and then the University of Colorado at Boulder where he earned a BA in Economics in 2005. Currently, Gus lives and works in Manhattan as a commodities trader and a business retail electricity consultant for a joint venture called Ampere Energy Solutions, LLC. He is also a part time lacrosse coach at the Upper Campus teaching the varsity boys. Gus joined the RCSAA Board in April 2012.
Caroline Vincent Mockridge graduated from Rippowam Cisqua School in 1981. She is a Blue team member and mother of three Rippowam Cisqua School students: Henry Mockridge ’14, Brewster Mockridge ’16 and Chase Mockridge ’18. Caroline is an active RCS parent who dedicates countless volunteer hours in support of the School. Caroline joined the RCSAA Alumni Board in April 2012 and is excited about further supporting RCS with its alumni outreach.
Meg Atkin ’76 Todd DeSimone ’93 Katie Prezzano Durfee ’82 Nancy Dwyer Eaves ’92 Harry Grand ’93 Randy Wilson Hall ’94 Gus Levy ’98 Cynthia Mas ’71 Forrest Mas ’04 Bill Meyer ’84 Caroline Mockridge ’81 Philip Ohler ’75 Elly Dwyer Rice ’94 Vanessa Seide ’93 Lisa Pagliaro Selz ’66 Elsie Swank ’04 Ex officio Matthew Nespole, Head of School Bob Whelan, Associate Head of School
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In
Memoriam
Benjamin S. Clark, Jr. ’53 Benjamin S. Clark, Jr. ’53, aged 74, pro-bono human rights lawyer, died April 26, 2012, at St Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY, after a valiant twelve-year struggle with cancer. Born in New York City on April 19, 1938, Ben graduated from Rippowam in 1953 and continued his studies at the Millbrook School and Hamilton College. During his professional career, Ben worked as a reporter and held a position as the Editorial Manager of the Mt. Kisco, NY, office of the White Plains Reporter Dispatch, until 1970. He then moved to Chatham, NY, to partner a real estate agency with Jean and Christopher Price. Ben, however, remained an avid student, particularly of the Law, and decided to enroll in evening paralegal studies at Russell Sage College. A professor there, recognizing his student’s intellectual ability, persuaded him to pursue a legal education. Ben enrolled in the Western New England University School of Law, in Springfield, MA, in 1998. Although then over 60 years old, Ben continued to work full-time, while commuting two evenings a week to law school. He graduated on May 18, 2002.
The following year, he passed the New York State Bar on his first attempt, despite undergoing a one-year treatment for colon cancer, discovered just after graduation. After passing the Bar, he joined forces with his Hamilton College friend, retired attorney John Hand of Cambridge, MA, who specializes in pro-bono legal work for the disadvantaged. Ben’s practice focused particularly on helping death-row inmates in the American South, and beleaguered African refugees seeking asylum in the United States. Ben did legal research for briefs in post-conviction death penalty cases in South Carolina and Florida. He did extensive country conditions research to support asylum applications for people who had been tortured for political reasons in Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ben was greatly admired and loved as he was engaged in many community organizations, most notably the Village of Chatham Zoning Board of Appeals, and Friends of The Chatham Public Library. His interests and generosity ranged far and wide. In October 2011, he received the New York Planning Federation’s Levine Award for Community Service, in recognition of his volunteer efforts on behalf of the Village of Chatham.
Ben leaves his sisters Charlotte Clark de Bresson ’51 (and Edgar de Bresson) of Paris, France, Elizabeth (Tibby) Clark ’60 (and her partner Laila Tofte) of Pound Ridge, NY, and Ella Clark ’55 of West Cornwall, CT. Ben was a strong supporter of Rippowam Cisqua and remained connected to the School over the years. “You can always count on me!” said Ben, in a recent phone conversation with the Alumni Offices at RCS, as he expressed his love and support of the School.
James Preston Parish ’71 Jamie Parish ’71 died May 23, 2012 at age 55. Formerly of North Salem, NY, and Doylestown, PA, Jim is survived by his wife Deirdre, daughter Katherine, father Richard, sisters Linda (class of ’62) and Winifred (Robert) Gross class of ’64, brother Richard (Robert) class of ’68, and step-brother George Lauther IV (KK).
Planning for Rippowam Cisqua’s
Remembering Rippowam Cisqua in your estate planning helps assure a brighter tomorrow for the School. The 1917 Society was established in memory of Rippowam Cisqua’s earliest leaders and the year of the School’s founding; it honors those alumni, faculty, parents, and friends who have chosen to ensure the future of RCS by providing for the School in their estates and/or by establishing planned gift arrangements that benefit RCS and themselves. All donors, whether through a bequest provision or a life income arrangement, are automatically granted membership in the 1917 Society. You can remember Rippowam Cisqua through a simple provision in your estate. Whether giving through your will, living trust, life insurance policy, or qualified retirement plan, you should make your designation for “Trustees of Rippowam Cisqua School, a charitable and educational institution in Bedford, New York.”
1917 Society
For more information, please contact Bob Whelan, Associate Head of School, at bob_whelan@rcsny.org or 914-244-1291.
2011-12 Annual Report
Thank you
What is Annual Giving?
Why Give?
The Annual Fund makes everything at Rippowam Cisqua possible. Gifts to the Annual Fund provide direct support for a dynamic program of academics, athletics, and the arts, making it possible for an exceptional faculty to challenge students to discover and explore their talents to the fullest. This unrestricted support enhances library collections, supports technological innovation, ensures financial assistance for socio-economic diversity, and increases opportunities for teachers to grow professionally.
Like most independent schools, RCS relies on taxdeductible gifts to meet its immediate needs. Annual Fund dollars are a critical resource that represent more than 7% of the School’s total annual operating budget, an indication of the vital role it plays in the life of the School. The very act of participating with a gift of any size positions the School to attract support from foundations and corporations, so a single gift can actually spur additional gifts. Your Annual Fund support has a profound impact on the quality of the teaching and learning that takes place every day, and demonstrates confidence and belief in an RCS education.
“My goal is to inspire my students to do their best while knowing that, for each student, this sense of “best” will be different. I want my students to believe in themselves and know that I’m here to support them in whatever way I can.” Amanda Brandon
“It was clear to me when I finished college that I wanted to share my passion for art with others through teaching. My hope is that I am translating to my students the joy and love that I have towards creating, working collaboratively, and imaginatively solving problems.� Isabel Dominguez
“The best part of teaching at Rippowam Cisqua is that both the kids and the faculty love being here. Our students actually find that they are motivated when they truly can enjoy learning.� Tom Morrissey
“I enjoy sharing my passions with others while providing exposure to new ideas and creating positive experiences. Kids are great, and the journey that teacher and student travel together toward knowledge is fulfilling and rewarding.� Lou Tocco
“It is a privilege to see the wonder in my students’ eyes and share their enthusiasm as they embark on learning the basics of science in my classroom. Watching them discover the beauty, mystery, and phenomena found in nature refreshes my batteries every day!” Tanis Moore
“I don’t like to teach, I love to teach. Teaching gives me the opportunity to live, for eight hours a day, in the world of children. It is a world of excitement, wonder, enthusiasm, joy, possibilities, learning, discovering, play, and fun.” Dan Viglione
“RCS is a special place simply because of the children and the people with whom I work. I enjoy being able to wear different hats; I am a math teacher, but I can also share my passions and strengths with my colleagues and students. As teachers, we are seen not only as educators, but also as human beings.� Michael Florio
76 Parent’s Assocation
Dear Parents, As I prepare to pass the baton to my successor as chair of the Parent Association, Katie Boyd, I am filled with a mix of great pride for what we’ve been able to accomplish, and sadness that my two-year term is already over. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to serve this wonderful and special school and to work with so many exceptionally talented and generous parents, administrators, teachers, coaches, and staff. I am so grateful to the executive PA committee members, the committee chairs, and the countless parent volunteers who gave so much of their time and resources to bring our School community together and to raise money to support our many initiatives. Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, with proceeds from the A.P.P.L.E. Sale, Holiday Sale, Bulb Sale, Raffle, and Book Fairs, we were able to underwrite much needed audio equipment for the Lower Campus Skyroom, the Lower Campus Butterfly Garden, Faculty and Staff Appreciation lunches, the All School Picnic, Lower Campus Field Day T-shirts, support for the Science Fair, and provide gift cards to every member of the faculty and staff at the holidays. We also continued our support of the RCS Garden, funded gift certificates for the Book Fair to all newly admitted students, provided each division head additional support for their discretionary funds which supported campus programming and lectures, underwrote the screening of “Bag It,” and underwrote a range of Community Service activities. Your support truly makes a difference in the lives of students and teachers. Rippowam Cisqua will always be dear to my heart and, as my family approaches its twelfth year here, I continue to be impressed and delighted by the caliber of the education, and the true dedication and love the teachers have for their students. I know that Katie shares my enthusiasm and love for this School and I have no doubt that she will be a tremendous advocate and leader. I hope you will join me in welcoming her and continue to offer the incredible support you so kindly offered to me. There is so much to be grateful for, and proud of, and so much more to be done. With deep gratitude,
Patty Grunebaum
Parent Association Underwriting Made So Many Things Possible (left to right): Bag It, Daffodil Bulb Sale, Science Fair, Field Day T-Shirts.
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2011-12 Parent Association Volunteers ! Parent Association Executive Committee
Holiday Gourmet Sale Cathy Alessio, Karen Doniger, Polly Goldman, Pam Lawson
Patty Grunebaum, Chair Katie Boyd, Vice Chair Tracy Fauver, Vice Chair, Grades 7-9 Storrs Cote ’79, Vice Chair, Grades 5-6 Christy Guettel, Vice Chair, Grades 3-4 Whitney Brown, Vice Chair, Grades 1-2 Suzanne O’Callaghan, Vice Chair, Grades JPK-K Donna Brown, Treasurer Caroline Mockridge ’81, Communications Ashley Diamond, Parent Connection
Holiday Raffle Nellie Gilligan, Suzanne O’Callaghan
Committee Heads All School Picnic Whitney Brown, Suzanne O’Callaghan A.P.P.L.E. Marian Fife Book Fairs Lower Campus: Terry Gottlieb, Pam Lawson Upper Campus: Melissa Fleming, Kim Speegle Bulb Sale Carolyn Gilbert, Mel Morley Candy Houses Beth Schreiber, Cindy Offermann Community Service Lower Campus: Alison Kallman Upper Campus: Susie Danziger Faculty Lunch Whitney Brown, Anna Lee, Lara McLanahan, Suzanne O’Callaghan Grandparents Days Lower Campus: Suzanne O’Callaghan Upper Campus: Angela Lowman Green Team Nick Gutfreund
Parent Connection Ashley Diamond Photographs Lower Campus: Lynnie Ohler Upper Campus: Ginny Tobeason Ripped Apparel Gina Lodolini, Regina Spain School Garden Diana Knoblauch, Anna Lee, Diana Rice, Liz Taggart School Uniforms/Lost & Found Marta Alfaro, Andi Davis Walk to Cisqua Day Marsha Chambers
Class Representatives JPK Kim Handler Allyson Pachios SPK Cyndi Azima Whitney Hill Kindergarten Polly Goldman Kim Manocherian Beth Schreiber Grade 1 Marta Alfaro Tina Falci Ysbell Kearns
Grade 2 Nellie Gilligan Debbie Heine Natasha Restrepo Grade 3 Heather Frelinghuysen Karen McFarlane Loren Teolis Grade 4 Diana Knoblauch Chris Lee Lisa Nahas Grade 5 Meg Burdick Jill Lawrence Ginny Tobeason Grade 6 Marsha Chambers Melissa Fleming Kim Manocherian Grade 7 Angela Lowman
Veronique Pittman Kim Speegle Grade 8 Elizabeth Kilgallon Dina Nemeth Beth Stern Grade 9 Allison Bamford Andi Davis
78 Auction
Mariposa Auction 2012
More than one million thank yous
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Dear Friends, Thank you to every member of the Rippowam Cisqua School community for your immense outpouring of support for the Mariposa Auction 2012. The enormous, record-breaking success of this year’s Auction shows the community’s continued support for the mission statement of our School and our faculty and staff, to whom the evening was dedicated. It is inspiring to see the teachers’ commitment to educate our children in such a loving and nurturing fashion that allows the students to emerge strong, independent, and ready to soar. The Mariposa journey began for me well over a year ago. For the seven months that made up the Auction “season,” I had an opportunity to work with countless members of the RCS community. You all showed your support by offering time, donations, and words of encouragement. I am especially grateful for the members of the Auction Committee, who stood by my side, offering their time and efforts to our collective mission: to create an incredible event that focused on building community spirit while raising money to support our students and teachers. I will be forever grateful for this journey we shared as a community. Sincerely,
Stephanie Small Auction Chair
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Auction Volunteers ! Auction Chair
Faculty Dinner
Stephanie Small
Meg Burdick
Assistant Auction Chair
School Projects
Loren Teolis
Auction Office Co-Chairs Angela Lowman Caroline Mockridge
Donations Chair Ashley Diamond
Auction Office Donna Brown Linda Corso Mary Evnin Suzanne O’Callaghan Kim Speegle
Grade Tribute Pages Kimberly Fox Mimi Freund Debora Heine Anna Lee Suzanne O’Callaghan Diana Rice
Advertising Lisa Flemma, Chair Stephanie Agranoff Katie Boyd Sandy Faitell Polly Goldman Michelle Holmes Claudia Neary
Jill Lawrence, Co-Chair Rhonda Spevak, Co-Chair Michelle Garber Solomon Hope Perelman Dawanna Veneable
Raffle Cathy Alessio
Catering Robbins Wolfe Catering Melissa Fleming Whitney Brown Kirtley Cameron
Veronique Pittman Polly Goldman Hadley Scully Vanessa Smith Melissa West
Advisory Committee Alexandria Altman Cyndi Azima Whitney Brown Tracy Fauver Amanda Riegel Sheryl Tishman
Event Production Paige Levine Rob Sisco
Faculty Coordinator
Bulletin Boards
Missy Swan
Christine LaRegina Anne Citrin
Interior Design
Copywriting Joyce Corrigan Caroline Mockridge Loren Teolis
Setup and Display Angelina Lipman, Chair Maria Badey Katie Boyd Anne Citrin Ariane de Gunzberg Patricia Flinn Mimi Freund Suzanne Galli Lori Lustig Kim Mirkin
Tricia Swift
Photography Ariane de Gunzberg Tim Coffey
Logo Photos and Videos Kylie and Keate Barker
Advancement Office Edlira Curis Susie Danziger Aggy Duveen Barbara Jarvis Debe Stellio Bob Whelan
Business Office Susan Eng Patty Hughes Debbie Hurrell Dottie Korovich Carol Rothstein
Logo Artist Jo Lynn Alcorn
Graphic Design Janine Megna
Printing Ed Furci - Printech
A few of the many reasons to support
The RCS Annual Fund
The Annual Fund is the School’s most important ongoing fundraising activity. Like most independent schools, tuition revenues at RCS do not cover the entire cost of running the School. Tuition provides approximately 84% of the annual operating budget with the Annual Fund supplying 7%. The School relies on this source of income in order to meet the essential needs of students and faculty. This year, the difference between tuition revenues and total operating expenses amounts to approximately $5,100 per child. Our Annual Fund goal this year is $1,200,000 and 100% community participation. Each year, we achieve remarkable results, thanks to the incredible efforts of our volunteers and the generosity of our community. If you would like to make a gift, please take a moment to fill out the enclosed pledge envelope and send it back to us with your contribution. If you have questions about the Annual Fund, please contact Eldira Curis at 914-244-1294 or edlira_curis@rcsny.org
Non Profit Org US Postage PAID Permit No 6030 Bedford NY
Rippowam Cisqua School P.O. Box 488, Bedford, New York 10506 Lower Campus: 914-244-1200 Upper Campus: 914-244-1250 www.rcsny.org