FacULtY PrOFiLes
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WHat is ace?
aLUmni cHaLLenge
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FacULtY PrOFiLes
WHat is ace?
aLUmni cHaLLenge
There’san adage about strategic plans—or at least there should be—that says they take six to 12 months of intense work to create, and about three seconds to put on the shelf. A strategic plan is supposed to serve as a mirror and a map, simultaneously reflecting an organization’s mission and values while also plotting its direction. Decisions abound, beginning with choosing who should be involved in the planning, establishing the plan’s temporal length, and determining how it should be implemented.
Even before the New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation team made their recommendation last fall, Rocky Hill School was due for a new strategic plan. We set an ambitious timeline: spend the winter and spring planning, with implementation beginning in the summer and fall of 2012.
Having participated in strategic planning processes at the university level, I was concerned that after opening with much excitement and participation, the plan would lose momentum.
Rocky Hill has managed to avoid this typical pitfall. After having spent hundreds of people hours last spring under the leadership of trustee Mary H. Grant, we created a three-year road map that charts the immediate course of the School, leveraging our strengths while cleaving closely to our history and mission. The speed with which we worked, the wide net that we cast in order to ensure input from all constituencies, and the thoughtful planning that ensued, all validated and buoyed our efforts.
In this our first year, the School will focus on four goals:
• Enhancing the educational experience
• Forwarding passion-based learning
• Deeply infusing technology across the curriculum
• Developing mutual partnerships
This issue of The Bulletin is dedicated to exploring the School’s strategic plan. As the head of Rocky Hill, I find nothing more exciting than seeing our ideas come to fruition. Spurred by our board of trustees and led by faculty, staff, and administrators, our strategic plan has already taken hold in every division. A small sampling:
• Grades 2 and 4 have implemented project-based learning (page 11), which synthesizes a variety of skills and knowledge under the umbrella of a single question. These units, which can be as short as a week to as long as a month, help introduce real-world problem solving to those areas that historically have remained all too theoretical.
• A one-to-one iPad program (page 9) in the Middle School is revolutionizing what, how and where students learn. In every class I’ve visited, from social studies to math to science and geography, the iPad has opened new avenues for exploration.
• Massive open online courses (page 7) are taking higher education by storm. These web-based classes, which
are known best through websites like Coursera or edX and enroll tens of thousands of students, will absolutely revolutionize how we think of learning at the college level. At this time, however, we don’t know what that means. Will such courses replace some community colleges? Will they augment all four-year degrees? Will they reduce student debt? Rocky Hill, like all independent schools, will follow these developments closely. Until then, however, we will take advantage of what are mostly free offerings. Already, we have a dozen or more students taking online classes, with weekly supervision coming from our own faculty.
Throughout this magazine you will read of many more examples of how the School’s strategic plan is taking hold across campus. Of course, we need to measure whether these innovative ideas are working. Otherwise, we won’t know if our proposals are adding value to the educational experience. Luckily the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, led by trustee Stephen Siegel and comprising trustees, faculty and administrators, has devised benchmarks by which to measure progress. Directors of strategic initiatives will report regularly, ensuring that we don’t leave success to chance.
One of the unintended consequences of the strategic planning process was the creation of our new tagline, “Small School, Big Opportunities.” I love this saying for the same reason I love the strategic plan: it’s who we are, and it’s what we believe. We know that our students have chances to do things that students elsewhere simply never experience. Rocky Hill’s strategic plan will never be just a document on a shelf. Its powerful benefits are already being felt, and I’m confident that these dividends will be compounded as we broaden and deepen its reach.
I hope you enjoy reading about Rocky Hill’s successes and its future, and I hope you’ll stop by and see the strategic plan come to life. I know you’ll be impressed and excited about what lies ahead.
Access updates on the strategic plan’s progress at www.rockyhill.org/strategicupdate.
“We know that our students have chances to do things that students elsewhere simply never experience.”
Atsa Zah ‘15
Ei Yazh Foster ‘16
Sven-Axel Wadensten ‘13
Andrew Foerch ‘14
John Paul Santos III ‘18
Cassidy Santos ‘17
Perry Clark ‘19
Amaia Aldazabal ‘16
Capri Catanzaro ‘15
Julia Asadorian ‘15
Sabrina Dumas ‘16
Will Janikies ‘17
Max Lehouiller ‘20
Alexis Weiler ‘20
Sydney Boss ‘23
Charlotte Boss ‘22
Eliza Barker ‘25
Dylan Lehouiller ‘21
Alexander Lehouiller ‘24
Luke Lehouiller ‘26
(Missing from photo): Ethan Moyer ‘18
Charlotte Roch ‘18
Anemone Mars ‘93
SeQuahna Mars ‘96
Karl Wadensten ‘78
Ronald Foerch ‘85
John Paul Santos Jr. ‘90
John Paul Santos Jr. ‘90
Richard Clark ‘85
Erika (Waldman) Aldazabal ‘81
Robert Catanzaro ‘49
Michael Baccari Jr. ‘79
Samuel C.H. Dumas ‘79
Trixie (Webber) Dumas ‘81
Pam Dumas ‘56
William Janikies ‘83
Lia (DiLeonardo) Lehouiller ‘90
Mary Lynne Kennedy ‘80
Monica (Iacono) Boss ‘91
Monica (Iacono) Boss ‘91
Richard Barker Jr. ‘83
Richard Barker Sr. ‘54
Lia (DiLeonardo) Lehouiller ‘90
Lia (DiLeonardo) Lehouiller ‘90
Lia (DiLeonardo) Lehouiller ‘90
Don Moyer Jr. ‘88
Don Moyer Sr. ‘62
Dawn (Dunley) Roch ‘83
Raymond Roch ‘83
Faculty Profile: Cappelletti
Passion-Based Learning
Faculty Profile: Conroy
iPad Program
Faculty Profile: Goldstein
Project-Based Learning
What is ACE?
New for 2012-13
Staff Profile: Entwistle
The Bulletin is made possible by:
Jonathan M. Schoenwald, Ph.D., Head of School
Karen Gibson, Director of Communications & Marketing
Beth DeGerlia, Director of Development
Liz Cochran, Development Office Manager, Director of Alumni Relations
Kaitlyn Dulac, Development Assistant
Photography: Terry Coes, Ruth Clegg, Glenn Osmundson, Rob Lee, Coffee Pond
Proofreading: Paul Tukey, Maria Emmons, Cathy Washburn
Connect with Rocky Hill School: www.rockyhill.org/alumni
Matthew Bradley, Student Billing & Accounts Payable Manager
New faculty and staff for 2012-13
Matt has an associate degree in accounting and a certificate in business administration from Three Rivers College in Norwich, CT. He has extensive finance, accounting, computer and analytical skills that will be put to good use in the Business Office.
Megan Cicchese, Academic Center for Enrichment Intern
Megan’s responsibilities focus on applying a variety of teaching methodologies inside Lower School classrooms. She helps with the ACE “push-in” model, which is having an enormous impact on all students. Megan earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and language pathology from the University of Massachusetts.
Kaitlyn Dulac, Development Assistant
Kaitlyn received a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Ithaca College, where she was an All-American and Academic All-District softball player. Kaitlyn went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration from Ithaca and then a law degree from Marquette University Law School.
Benjamin Greenfield, Upper School Physics Teacher, Coach
Ben received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in physics from Boston University in 2012. He captained BU’s sailing team and is the head instructor at Newport Yacht Club. In addition to teaching Upper School physics, Ben is one of Rocky Hill’s sailing coaches.
Amy Laurent, Lower School Academic Center for Enrichment Learning Specialist
Amy has a wealth of experience in both regular and special education. She most recently worked with students in kindergarten through grade 3 at the Wolf School in East Providence. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education from Boston College. Her daughter Alexa ‘26 attends Rocky Hill’s preschool.
Annie Reznik, Director of College Guidance, Upper School English Teacher
Annie is an experienced college admissions professional who has worked on both the college and high school sides of admission. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Mercyhurst College and her two children attend Rocky Hill, Anthony ‘27 and Caroline ‘25.
Chelsea Rheault, Upper School Spanish Teacher, Coach
Chelsea has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Chelsea spent two years teaching ESL in Ecuador before going back to school to get her master’s degree in TESOL at New School University. In addition to teaching Upper School Spanish, Chelsea assists with the girls’ varsity basketball team.
Kelly Shamburg, Second Grade Teacher
Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in media production with a minor in theatre from Quinnipiac University and a master’s degree in elementary education from Lesley University. Kelly has worked as an associate teacher in a fifth grade and second grade classroom at Belmont Day School outside Boston.
Darshell Silva, Librarian, Technology Integrator
Darshell has been a teacher librarian for seven years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in applied communications and a master’s degree in library and information studies with a specialization in school library media, both from the University of Rhode Island. Darshell has two children at Rocky Hill, Eliana ‘27 and Andres ‘19
Julie Van Deusen, Teaching Fellow, Coach
Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and statistics from Williams College and was a member of the varsity swimming and diving team there. Julie has worked with children as an activity leader at Horizons for Homeless Children in Boston and as a tutor and assistant teacher at Williamstown Elementary School in Massachusetts. Julie teaches Upper School algebra and coaches Rocky Hill’s varsity cross country team.
Ed has been a Rocky Hill School trustee since 2005 and served as co-vice president prior to being elected board president last October. He and his family have been active members of the Rocky Hill community for 14 years, daughter Erica graduated in 2011 and sons Michael ‘18 and Steven ‘14 are current students.
Professionally, Ed had a very successful 28-year career in the financial services industry, including working as executive vice president and general auditor for Citizens Financial group, and chief auditor for FleetBoston Financial Group’s global operations. He has extensive experience in operating risk management, corporate governance and management advisory services.
In addition, Ed lends his expertise to several organizations’ boards including Delta Dental, Pyramis Global Advisors, Washington Trust, and Crossroads Rhode Island, and formerly served as vice chairman of the board of Bryant University. He is chairman of the board of CharterCARE Health Partners, Rhode Island’s newest hospital system, with 579 beds, 3,200 employees and annual revenues of $330 million. He also became a member of Cherrystone Angel Group, a private equity investment group, in 2012.
Ed’s wealth of business and leadership experience will be a tremendous asset to Rocky Hill, as the
School seeks to realign its operating priorities, increase financial resources, and deliver on academic goals and strategies.
In HIs Own wOrds
“I would first like to thank immediate past president W. Michael Sullivan and other board members whose hard work over the past few years has helped position the School for success.
“I am encouraged by the successful creation—and ongoing implementation—of the strategic plan. With a clear vision and measurable goals, the School is well aligned to provide the best private school experience in Rhode Island. You will see as you read through The Bulletin that we are laser focused on providing big opportunities for students, many of whom are already reaping the benefits of strategic initiatives.
“This is an exciting time for Rocky Hill, and I am honored to be a part of it as board president and also as a father. My wife, Paula (PTL Mentor Committee chair and co-chair of the Gala Committee), and I couldn’t be happier with the direction in which the School is headed; the experiences our children have had over the past 14 years; and the tremendous efforts of faculty, staff and parent volunteers who make those experiences possible.”
Changes in leadership to Rocky Hill’s board of trustees occurred at the October 23, 2012 Corporation Meeting. The School would like to thank former officers Michael Sullivan, dick Barker ‘54, Wilson Saville and Michael Kraemer for their time and commitment. The School would also like to recognize outgoing trustees Lisa Palin ‘95 and Henry sharpe ‘72 for their years of service to the School.
Edwin J. Santos, President
Ande Frost, Vice President
Edwin Furtado, Treasurer
James Lehouiller, Secretary
Mitchell Edwards
Mary H. Grant
Mary Ann Hackett
Charles P. Iacono ‘99
William N. Janikies ‘83
Michele A. Nota
Gordana Novakovic-Petteruti
Joan Osowa
Wilson G. Saville II
Ceileidh Siegel ‘01
Stephen F. Siegel
Stephen G. Soscia
W. Michael Sullivan
“With a clear vision and measurable goals, the School is well aligned to provide the best private school experience in Rhode Island.”
Edwin J. Santos Board of Trustees President
MikeCappelletti loves his job. He is upbeat, enthusiastic and extremely grateful to be teaching English in Rocky Hill’s Upper School.
While teaching is something at which Mike excels today—and the one thing he said he would continue to do even if he won the lottery—it was not always his first career choice. A film major in college, Mike wrote screenplays and considered moving to New York or California to pursue a career in the film industry. Mike eventually realized, however, that he was not ready to make such a drastic lifestyle shift and turned instead to coaching lacrosse. He quickly determined that what drew him to coaching was not the Xs and Os of the sport, but the relationships.
“I came to the realization that I had a lot of really good coaches and teachers throughout my life,” he said. “And this awareness brought me down the path to discovering what I wanted to do on a daily basis in my life to be really happy. It’s rewarding to relate to kids in any activity and then see that light bulb moment when the experience changes them.”
Mike came to Rocky Hill in 2011 after having taught in two much larger schools, one public and one private. Teaching 120 students in five classes, Mike felt he was spread too thin and wasn’t able to devote as much time as he wanted to individual students.
Mike was drawn to Rocky Hill and the opportunity to have more one-on-one time with the students he worked with. “It’s a lot more manageable here,” he said. “At other schools, kids fall through the cracks and I can’t catch them. Here, I’m able to follow up. Teachers at Rocky Hill are allowed to try to be excellent.”
Mike is one of the most devoted teachers at Rocky Hill, not only to teaching, but also to coaching, advising and generally pouring his heart into every facet of his job.
“It’s impossible for me to not care about my advisees,” he said. “I want to know what is going on in their lives, and I enjoy doing nice things like buying them lunch from time to time.”
In his classroom, Mike said he has always believed teaching to be a two-way conversation, and the Harkness method practiced at Rocky Hill fits perfectly with his style. He said he enjoys being able to quantify class discussion by charting the activity around the table and showing students concrete data on participation trends. Mike said he is often tempted to jump into the conversation himself, but he sees the value in letting his students sift through the awkwardness and discomfort on their way to a breakthrough. That is not to say, however, that he won’t guide them if they get too far off track.
“In my mind, it’s my responsibility to teach them how to guide themselves and how to get from A to B,” he said.
Mike said that, although skeptical at first, he is now “drinking the Harkness method Kool-Aid.” Beyond learning the English curriculum, Mike’s students are becoming equipped for life in other ways around the Harkness table.
“For them to be able to say, ‘I don’t agree with you, but can you
tell me why you feel as you do, I’d love to listen?’ is huge,” he said. “Our kids are great at compromise. They learn to ask why and how to get information from each other.
“I would hope that every single student, when asked, ‘What is your greatest skill?’ would say, ‘listening.’ After having been a part of Harkness, listening is one thing that makes them so much better. ”
Mike believes that the skills Rocky Hill students learn around the Harkness table will translate easily into a college setting.
“If kids can learn by the end of their time at Rocky Hill to ask why, they are going to be able to take care of themselves really well, whether they are in a class of 300 at UConn or a class of 15 at Kenyon,” he said. “They will be the ones asking questions or wanting to meet with the professors and stand out in that way.”
Mike’s collaborative approach to teaching involves always referring to “we” when talking with his students and focusing on solving problems together. He believes that he has as much at stake in his students’ accomplishments as they do, and that attitude translates into genuinely caring about their success or failure.
“The kids here are really lucky that they have so many people holding them accountable, making them toe the line every day, constantly thinking about how to make them better and being honest about what they can do and how they’re going to do it,” he said.
Mike holds himself accountable by keeping a journal and being honest about self-reflection. “It’s simple to take the easy road. It’s harder to do the right thing every day, ask yourself what went wrong, and never make that mistake again.”
So far, Mike is making all of the right moves: connecting with students, guiding them in the classroom, and leading them on the lacrosse field. It’s hard not to be thrilled with his positive impact and optimistic outlook.
“I like helping kids go from good to great,” he said.
“Teachers at Rocky Hill are allowed to try to be excellent.”
Rocky Hill prides itself on being a leader and innovator in the evolving realm of student-centered education. Since 1999, the School has led the charge with an Upper School laptop program, SMART boards in the Middle School, and a Lower School iPad program. “What’s next?” was a driving question behind the strategic planning process. The plan unfolded to harness the numerous opportunities for independent study and e-learning through massive open online courses like edX, MIT OpenCourseWare, and Coursera, as well as other collaborative partnerships. Thus began the creation of an extended curriculum for students seeking to expand their academic portfolios and follow a particular interest. Independent learning environments provide more responsibility and more independence for learners.
“Something as self-designed as an independent study enables you to learn about what you love, but also disciplines you so that you must make the time to do so,” Jeannette Stacey ‘13 said. “Other schoolwork is no longer a priority over your own interests, as they become just as important.”
In the pilot year of the program, the School is providing mentorship for Upper School students participating in online courses through accredited providers and those engaging in semi-independent studies supported by weekly tutorials. This year’s courses include AP studio art, computer programming, advanced mathematics, economics, history, creative writing and psychology.
In order to qualify for the newly established Certificate of Distinction, students may complete either four online courses, or two to three online courses complemented by an internship. Armed with a diploma and a Certificate of
Distinction, students will leave Rocky Hill prepared for the rigors of a college curriculum, while demonstrating their proficiency in 21st century skills and their ability to take advantage of learning opportunities beyond the traditional realm.
Nicholas Cicchetti ‘13 drew on his experience in the creative writing forum: “In such an immediate and personal environment, writing becomes a simple but challenging endeavor intended only to entertain and inspire. Rather than writing for a grade, I write for enjoyment and self-improvement. That person who would normally be called an instructor is now an editor, with the sole intent of improving my work and my creative skills. A smaller class allows the movement of ideas to be unstructured and uninhibited, with everyone’s interests and curiosities having a genuine influence on the areas of focus.”
This school year has also initiated a collaboration between Code Academy, an online provider, and some of our senior advanced calculus students.
“To bridge the gap between learning coding fundamentals and understanding advanced programming, the online course gave us the option to implement our knowledge of JavaScript to learn other coding languages,” Robert Petteruti ‘13 said. “The programming course has allowed me to further my knowledge in general computer programming and website building, interests I plan on pursuing in college next year. I believe that this online course has given me an essential skill set needed to design a website for my very own nonprofit organization, Project Literacy.”
Similarly, students who wish to be the architects of their own curriculum realize the need to find ways to meet their graduation requirements while
diversifying their portfolios with selections from the School’s various elective offerings. The School endorses and supports the needs of students, enabling them to transfer core courses—like Nicholas Charbonneau ‘13, who is taking American history via MIT OpenCourseWare.
“Being able to continue my learning in a course of my choosing has allowed me to transcend the confines of a restricting curriculum and, to a certain degree, has given me control over my education,” Nick said. “Rocky Hill’s mission is to prepare its students to successfully and independently manage the demands of college and beyond. Without question, by allowing this option for its students, Rocky Hill is fulfilling and surpassing its obligation in this regard, while encouraging and supporting students in their quest to follow their interests in a particular discipline.”
Lily Hanlon ‘13 provided additional insight on the independent study program: “The independent study of psychology has allowed me to learn the material at a fast pace and to focus on each topic in depth. I have also sharpened my time-management and organizational skills that will be essential next year in college, where I will be responsible and accountable for my independent work.”
With a wealth of open courseware opportunities at its disposal, Rocky Hill will redefine the balance between traditional learning within its core curriculum and learning in the wider world. Independent learning opportunities and the Certificate of Distinction provide students the control to develop and share their intellect, passions and talents. In broadening their horizons in this manner, Rocky Hill students become worldwide learners—to the benefit of themselves and those with whom they share the communal learning experience.
After13 years as Rocky Hill’s Middle School math instructor, Theresa Conroy has honed her craft and has become one of the School’s most revered teachers.
Theresa’s path to Rocky Hill was not as straightforward as some. She was a Division I college athlete in Ohio, and has a background in K-12 special education. She left a job coaching basketball at Brown University for a demanding position at a behavioral school in northern Rhode Island. Wanting to have at least some athletics in her life, she took on a part-time role as Rocky Hill’s girls’ varsity basketball coach. Two years later, she accepted the teaching position she still occupies today.
Theresa said she loves teaching math because it is so black and white, but continues to learn and grow as an educator.
“I might not be learning new things about the algebra itself,” she said, “but I do have to learn new ways to bring it into the classroom and keep the subject exciting.”
From building bridges and playground models to check writing and designing apartments, Theresa’s assignments reach students on multiple levels. Those who may not be strong at math initially may enjoy painting or designing and are engaged in mathematics in that way.
“You’re preparing them for the rest of their lives,” she said. “I like the challenge of trying to get each student to have a solid foundation, while making the subject fun. When students see the value in math, when you relate it to real life, they buy in.”
Technology is another way through which Theresa is able to reach her students. She noted that students today do not learn in traditional ways, and she has had to adapt her teaching style over the years. Recently she has integrated SMART Boards (interactive whiteboards) and now iPads into her lessons.
This year, the math textbook is on the iPad and has interactive elements. Students reinforce their math skills while playing
educational games and moving at their own pace.
Theresa was quick to point out that even with advances in technology, it is essential to maintain a balance between traditional methods and using technology in a worthwhile way.
“It is not my goal to make everything computer oriented,” she said. “The students are still in Middle School, and still need to learn how to organize a notebook and take handwritten notes.”
Individual work in Theresa’s classroom is balanced with collaboration. While learning the skills and concepts of the Middle School mathematics program, students also learn how to teach each other, how to work collectively and how to ask for help.
“Trying to solve a problem with another person is a huge life skill,” she said. “Group projects don’t go away, even as an adult.”
In mathematics and in life, Theresa underscores the importance of not getting too wrapped up in oneself and being willing to assist your peers.
“We’re all trying to get to the same spot. What differs is how fast we’re trying to get there and how much we want to help others,” she said. This notion of helping others is embedded in the Middle School philosophy, and Theresa explained that her colleagues have always been willing to go the extra mile for one another.
Theresa is an accomplished athlete who was inducted into both her high school and college athletic halls of fame. She sees sports and coaching as yet another way to connect with students and become a better teacher.
“A lot of students relate to athletics; it does carry over into the classroom,” she said. “The kids see you in a different light on the playing field and any time you can combine athletics and academics, you’re going to have a different student.”
Having coached at both the Middle and Upper School levels at Rocky Hill, Theresa
has great respect for the athletic program, and knows that reaching out to athletes at a young age can be life-changing. The most important coaching goals for Theresa are that her players enjoy the sport, love being on a team and understand the importance of having teammates.
“I want to teach them about dedication, working hard and about winning and losing,” she said. “Middle School is about taking on challenges, taking risks and learning how to be successful.”
Theresa’s commitment to balance and keeping the bigger picture in focus has enabled her to stay current, to make a lasting impact on students and to keep her work enjoyable. What has made her such an outstanding teacher at Rocky Hill is connecting with students on multiple levels and teaching them more than just math.
Her advice for all students would be “that they need to love to learn, love to explore different pieces of the world and challenge themselves.”
Taking her own advice, Theresa is constantly trying new things—paddle boarding, for example—and loves exploring all that Rhode Island has to offer.
“[Students] need to love to learn, love to explore different pieces of the world and challenge themselves.”
Eighthgrade students settle around the table in science class and unlock their iPads. They locate lab reports, which were completed using a note-taking application, and click the share button, sending the reports directly to the teacher’s computer. Within their lab reports, the students have included photographs taken with their iPads during the experiment, audio clips in which they describe the major concept being investigated and a shared data table that the class produced in Google Docs.
For their next experiment, the students will be plugging temperature probeware directly into their iPads, which will record and plot the boiling points of a mixture of liquids in real time. They will then go online to try to identify the liquids using this data.
A year ago, all of this would have been done with paper and pencil, followed perhaps by a trip to the computer lab on a different day. Now, with their iPads, what the students can access, create and share is remarkable.
The one-to-one iPad program put an iPad in the hands of every Middle School student. In use throughout the day and at home, iPads have become an integral part of students’ learning experiences. Last year, when Middle School faculty evaluated their options in terms of technology, the versatility and portability of the iPad brought it to the fore, and the one-to-one iPad initiative was pursued. It is the right tool to support Rocky Hill’s technology-infused curriculum. The iPad makes research and collaboration easy. Student work is produced, organized and turned in using the tablet; work is even published to the web via the iPad,
when appropriate. The iPad fits with Rocky Hill’s belief that technology is part of lifelong learning, and that it is the School’s responsibility to design learning experiences for students that teach them to use this new technology judiciously, confidently and creatively.
Some of the innovative and interesting ways that iPads have been used this year include: accessing and using online math e-textbooks; taking notes in Notability in library class, and then emailing the notes to Darshell Silva; taking photographs of geometric shapes found on campus and adding notation to them in a collaborative document; accessing the Internet to research 19th century sailing ships when a question was posed based on a novel in English class; creating a health journal for Traci Fairchild; using the student response system Socrative to take short, spot quizzes to check understanding; logging into Kidblog to post blogs responses to interesting writing prompts in English; following upto-date polling data on the presidential candidates in the battleground states for government class; using iCal to keep track of long-term projects and learn about
time management; reading short, high interest articles in Flipboard; following a teacher-created iBook for eighth grade expositions; and even creating an iBook to show what students know.
These are just some of the stories emerging from this new chapter in the Middle School. It is exciting to know that the seeds of unimagined stories are being planted now as students and faculty learn the best uses of this tool together, to be discovered and enriched in the months and years to come. We look forward to sharing these discoveries with you.
Elementaryschool is such a magical time and just about everyone has fond memories of teachers from that period in their lives who made them feel loved and valued. Such teachers have a knack for leaving long-lasting impressions of their kindness, energy and optimism.
After 34 years of teaching in Rocky Hill’s Lower School, Donna Goldstein has made those types of impressions on hundreds and hundreds of children. For some families, she’s even had the special opportunity of teaching multiple generations. In her class this year, Donna teaches Max Lehouiller ‘20, whose mother, Lia (DiLeonardo) Lehouiller ‘90, is a former student.
“It is such an honor,” Donna said. “It is so hugely rewarding to be part of people’s lives for another generation and see these kids grow up.”
Donna sees her role as an educator as so much more than just teaching students to read and write. She becomes part of their lives—like family—and is intent on making them feel good about themselves.
“Everybody has a talent,” she said. “It’s my job to ferret that out, to help them feel connected and to give them a reason to wake up in the morning and want to come to school.”
It is apparent that Donna’s talent is teaching. It is something she has wanted to do since the sixth grade, and has successfully done at Rocky Hill for more than three decades. She started here in her early twenties, and has since married and raised a family.
“I’ve grown up here at Rocky Hill, professionally and personally,” she said.
Donna is motivated and inspired by her students, particularly those with learning differences. “When those kids can walk through the door and hold their head high every day and are compliant with everything we’re asking them to do, however difficult, they are the inspiration
for me. Those children who struggle emotionally, academically, they are the heroes,” she said.
Donna enjoys watching the progress of her former students, and is even more thrilled when they visit. According to Donna, the typical reaction of students who come back is, “I didn’t realize the room was so small.”
Students, colleagues and fashion trends have come and gone over the years, but one thing has remained constant: the way children develop. “I know what my kids need,” she said. “I know what’s going to happen to the average fifth-grader developmentally by the spring.”
That is not to say that Donna hasn’t changed with the times when appropriate. She embraces advances in technology, such as the implementation of iPads into her classroom, but emphasizes the need for balance.
“I owe it to my kids as educated college-bound students to expose them to certain things,” she said. “I’m not going to overlook a traditional method simply because there’s an app for that.”
In the classroom, Donna encourages her students to maintain balance as well. She teaches them that listening is just as important as talking; to respect one another, and to recognize that everyone has a voice and deserves to be heard.
In addition to teaching, Donna has a passion for politics. She is also interested in mental health advocacy, and recently finished a 12-week course on the brain and mental health disorders sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Donna exercises every day, and loves to read.
When the time comes, Donna will go out on top, as a Rocky Hill icon, having left an indelible mark of professionalism and positivity on the School. She will forever be a beloved part of Rocky Hill and the
lives of her students. It doesn’t sound like that day is coming any time soon, however, as Donna continues to be a vibrant part of the Lower School.
“When you’re that emotionally invested in these kids—their hearts, their minds, their souls—you just can’t think of a better way to spend your day,” she said.
“It’s my job to help them feel connected and to give them a reason to wake up in the morning and want to come to school.”
Project-based learning (PBL) is an in-depth instructional approach built upon probing questions and real-world activities that engage and motivate students. One of the first strategic plan initiatives to be implemented this school year, PBL has the potential to transform the way students interact with teachers, peers and the world around them.
In early September, Thom Markham, a nationally-recognized expert on PBL, guided Lower School teachers through the process of developing PBL experiences. At the core of this new teaching methodology are what Markham identifies as the 10 principles of authentic PBL: teaching concepts, not content; teaching critical thinking through contextual challenges; starting with questions; emphasizing innovation; teaching and assessing collaboration and communication; focusing on quality; teaching drive, passion, and purpose; practicing planet craft; learning from students; and infusing PBL into technology
Kelly Shamburg (Grade 2) and Charlie Laurent (Grade 4) began piloting this methodology in September, with the goal of developing, planning, implementing and assessing two complete PBL experiences by the end of the school year.
One of the key components of any PBL experience is the driving question. The development of the driving question is an extremely important and collaborative process involving teaching colleagues. The question goes through several rounds of discussions in order to refine and distill it down to one that inspires a genuine and challenging basis for a PBL experience. One simple rule of thumb is, “If you can Google it, then it is not a driving question.”
This year, driving questions for Grades 2 and 4 were developed using strict professional design protocols
from the Buck Institute of Education, and refined by Markham. The design process included intensive questionand-answer sessions between teachers in order to distill the project idea down to one, all-encompassing and authentic question which drove the entire project. Teachers also worked together to design the project components and identify the core standards addressed and directly taught through the project.
At the elementary level, the typical project experience lasts four to six weeks, or between 15-20 hours of instructional/project time. Each project requires students to prepare and give a presentation to an “authentic audience.” Additionally, students are evaluated not only on their final products, but also on their individual work ethics and collaborative skills, commonly referred to in modern educational parlance as “21st century learning skills.”
The Grade 2 driving question was, “How can the community help me achieve my hopes and dreams?” Students interviewed their parents about networking using letter writing. Students interviewed people in the Rocky Hill community and used podcasts to discover how they could achieve their goals and aspirations by networking. They also created a web of their contacts, and hosted a networking night to display their webs and discuss how they networked with the community to achieve success.
Fourth grade developed a driving question that challenged students to discover the historical stories that Hopelands, the School’s most historic building, holds within its walls. The driving question, “If the walls of Hopelands could talk, what stories would they tell us,” challenged students to conduct historical research, embark on a field trip to The Rhode Island Preservation Society, and interview Rocky Hill community members in order to uncover the rich history
of the building. As a culminating and authentic presentation of the stories they collected, each child presented a piece written in the voice of a personified Hopelands. These stories were recorded as podcasts and presented to members of Rocky Hill’s administrative team and board of trustees.
At the end of the year, and with the goal of expanding project-based learning to other grades, Charles Laurent and Kelly Shamburg will begin a structured reflection process under the guidance of Thom Markham, and additional Rocky Hill teachers will undergo PBL training. Lessons learned from these projects will be invaluable in designing future PBL experiences.
Rocky Hill’s Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE) is an academic support and enrichment program for K-12 students. It began as an adjunct program in 1994—known as the Better Learning Center until 2008— and has grown and developed over the years to help meet the various needs of the Rocky Hill community. The purpose of the program, which currently enrolls 48 students across all divisions, is to support students who need tutoring and/or might have documented learning differences. ACE teachers create goals with students and parents, work with students during the day to teach specialized methods or study skills, and educate faculty on the needs of each student. When appropriate, classroom accommodations may be put into place to help students reach their full learning potential. ACE also provides a Middle School literacy class, and has adopted a “push-in” program in the Lower School, where ACE teachers work with classroom teachers to differentiate instruction. All ACE programs are geared to meet the needs of all learners school wide.
On any given day, Brendan Lada ‘13 can be found combing the halls of the Upper School, the Carriage House or the ACE building, engaging students and teachers alike with his magnetic, upbeat personality. Brendan has attended Rocky Hill since he was in third grade, and when he transferred here, he immediately appreciated the structure and support he found in Belinda Johnson’s class. This need for
structure was further enhanced when Brendan started receiving ACE services for extended time on standardized tests.
ACE services were more firmly established for Brendan when he entered Middle School. Rebecca Andreozzi, Brendan’s ACE teacher, helped him organize materials, prepare for tests, and manage assignments by using a planner and checking it periodically, adding another layer of structure for Brendan. He found this structure particularly helpful in meeting the high standards expected of him in his sixth grade history course.
Brendan was so excited about a sixth grade history project that he shaved his head to transform more fully into an Egyptian priest. ACE teachers were right by his side for this project to give Brendan the support he needed. He learned time-management skills, brainstormed ideas utilizing graphic organizers, and wrote the report in the proper structure and format.
“The best thing about Middle School was the multitude of projects that added a physical component,” Brendan said. “Being physically involved helps me to learn the concepts more thoroughly.”
The Middle School is rich with hands-on projects such as the “sludge project” that occurs in eighth grade science, various history projects, and the holiday gift and playground project in math class.
This notion of tactile learning has also come into play in the Upper School. Brendan is particularly adept in ceramics, and has several pottery pieces that are prized possessions. In geometry, Brendan built a model, which incorporated a combination of squares and hexagons. This sort of exercise
helped Brendan to learn concepts more thoroughly. Rocky Hill’s projectbased learning, coupled with the repetition and application of important organizational, study, and learning skills taught in ACE, has made a positive impact on Brendan’s learning.
As an Upper School student, Brendan was also taught the effectiveness of writing an outline for an assignment and successfully internalized this essential learning tool, which is so effective for providing organization. During a recent session, he shared with other students that he never starts a written piece without this tool. Brendan has become an independent learner, and is truly a role model for other ACE students.
“ACE transformed my academic performance by providing tools and strategies that have enabled me to learn more effectively,” he said. “I know I wouldn’t have done as well at Rocky Hill without this support.”
So now that Brendan is a senior, what is next for him? He applied to Bentley University, Bryant College, and the University of Tampa and said that he feels prepared to continue his education at the next level. “Rocky Hill and the ACE program have profoundly impacted my life,” he said. “I will carry the knowledge and skills I learned here with me to my next home, wherever that may be.”
“ACE transformed my academic performance by providing tools and strategies that have enabled me to learn more effectively.”
The following are a few of the new initiatives implemented during the 2012-13 school year. Thank you to everyone who helped make these programs a reality.
1. Amelia Caramadre ‘14 donates blood and Gesele Henderson ‘14 gives moral support during a community-wide blood drive. The School teamed up with the Rhode Island Blood Center to collect 42 pints of blood, which will help save 126 lives!
2. Nicholas Charbonneau ‘13 reads a passage from The Hill during the literary magazine’s relaunch reception. Editor-in-chief Michael Levy ‘14 worked tirelessly to produce a journal full of exemplary student writing and visual art. Special thanks to Steven and Donna Levy, who arranged for and organized the printing.
3. Courtney Harrington ‘13 presents at Community Share, a new Upper School program during which seniors share an important part of their lives with the entire Upper School community.
4. The School accepted 18 new students through its merit scholarship program. These students scored in the 90th percentile or higher on independent school standardized tests.
5. Nicolas Mancini ‘17 and Mohamad Alremeithi ‘19 are shown working together on a robotics project as part of the Middle School Winter Recreation program.
6. Head of School Jonathan Schoenwald teaches an Upper School history course on the Cold War and the 21st century.
7. Allison DeGerlia ‘16 uses the new water fountain in Flynn, a gift from the Class of 2012. Other notable renovations included a new tile floor and a paint job in Gibson and Hale, and safety lights in the student parking lot.
8. Darshell Silva, the School’s new librarian and technology integrator, leads the International School Library Day Bookmark project, where Lower School students exchanged bookmarks with other students from around the world. Darshell also led a project of the Library of Congress and the Internet Archive where Middle School students selected and archived websites that they felt were important to today’s youth.
9. Ninth-graders get ready to participate in a bonding exercise during their trip to the Berkshire Outdoor Center in Becket, MA. This location replaced the traditional annual trip to Chewonki.
Onany given day, Art Entwistle IV is likely to be seen whizzing around campus on a white golf cart, on his way to set up a sports field or tend to a student-athlete. He is smart, caring, fastidious and has a seemingly limitless supply of energy, all of which help him to excel in his roles as Rocky Hill’s athletic trainer and assistant athletic director.
Art is very serious about sports medicine, a field he had worked in for 12 years at both the college and professional levels before coming to Rocky Hill in 2007.
“I like working with this age range [Middle and Upper School]; they heal really fast, which is awesome,” he said with a chuckle. “But I like seeing these kids mature and grow. I like to educate the kids, and I am able to do so at this level.”
Watching Art interact with Rocky Hill’s student-athletes, you quickly realize that there’s more going on than taping ankles and icing elbows. He said he likes working with teenagers because they are open to suggestions and don’t already think they have all of the answers (at least when it comes to sports injuries).
“I always tell kids to ask questions. They come in and say, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ and what I tell them, what a doctor tells them, is just an educated hypothesis. They need to ask more questions about their health and not just accept everything they’re told.”
When he was a junior in high school trying out for the hockey team, Art was hip checked into the boards and injured. His performance suffered, and he was subsequently cut from the team. There was no athletic trainer at his school, he said, to help him figure out what was wrong, and there was no one to advocate for him to the coach.
It was that incident, an interest in anatomy and a lifelong desire to help people that propelled Art into the athletic training profession. He earned a bachelor’s degree in allied health science from Lyndon State College and a master’s of education in athletic training from Plymouth State University. He is a certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and a Rhode Island Licensed Athletic Trainer (LAT).
Part personal trainers (prevention of injuries), part EMTs (initial evaluations), part physical therapists (easier rehabilitations), and part counselors, athletic trainers are the utility players of sports medicine.
“I have a general knowledge of every single step, so I can refer athletes to the appropriate people,” Art said. “Most of the time I can do what I need to do in-house.”
A recent study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in October noted that high schools with athletic trainers have lower overall injury rates.
Art underscored the importance of having athletic trainers in high schools to take the pressures off of coaches who—without
any medical training—are not equipped to make initial injury assessments, which can be so crucial for student-athletes.
“What you need is appropriate initial care,” he said. “I try to figure out what sort of injury the person has, or if what they’re feeling is a major traumatic injury or not.” Additionally, Art stressed the importance of preparation and the prevention of injuries from occurring. “I emphasize off-season exercise, living a healthy life, making smart choices and eating healthy,” he said.
In his role as assistant athletic director, Art oversees the safety of the fields and equipment, which dovetails nicely with the prevention goals of athletic training. From processing health forms to dispensing uniforms, Art also enjoys the organizational aspect of his job.
“I am very happy to have implemented a protocol for school-wide concussion care,” he said. “The information is sent out to everyone who needs to have it regarding exercise, sports, school and classroom accommodations. Being a small community makes it a lot easier to get the kids the care that they actually need.”
Art is committed to being a lifelong learner in the field of health science and sports medicine and that drive and devotion means that Rocky Hill’s student-athletes are getting top quality care when they visit his office.
A principle that goes a long way in defining Art as a person would be his belief in homeostasis, which is perhaps a fancy way to say, “everything in moderation.” Art described the concept as, “the belief that one should not go too far to one extreme over another in a hope to maintain balance.”
At home, Art balances out his life by playing soccer, hanging out with his fiancée and dog, and rooting for the Boston Bruins.
High schools with athletic trainers have lower overall injury rates.
-American Academy of Pediatrics
The 2012 spring season was amazing in many ways. Our boys’ varsity lacrosse team advanced to the SENE championship game. The girls’ varsity lacrosse team had a nice season as well, and had a record number of players earn SENE All-League honors. The varsity golf team had one of their best finishes since golf became a league sport four years ago. The varsity tennis team showed promise, though they unfortunately came up short in the league standings. The varsity sailing team finished in second place, falling one point shy of the winner in the state sailing championship.
In Middle School, our boys’ lacrosse team finished well above .500 with victories over perennial powerhouses such as Gordon, Moses Brown and Wheeler. The girls’ lacrosse team and coed tennis team both had extremely tough schedules, but many players improved tremendously.
The 2012 fall athletic season was spectacular as well. The boys’ varsity soccer team advanced to the New England tournament for the fourth straight year, and Robert Petteruti ‘13 and Jorge Echavarria ‘13 were named to the NEPSAC All-Star Team. The girls’ varsity soccer team had one of their best seasons in the past 10 years, and defeated some of the top Class C schools in New England. The varsity field hockey team showed improvement, and three players received Rhode Island Interscholastic League All-League honors. Our varsity cross country team had a record number of student-athletes compete and the team performed exceptionally well in the SENE championship meet.
The coed blue soccer team advanced to the championship game in the Middle School soccer tournament held at Rocky Hill. Finally, the Middle School girls’ field hockey team was one win shy of having a perfect season.
Please visit www.rockyhill.org for a complete list of seasonal athletic award winners.
Lauren Silva ‘16, Abigail Siegel ‘17 and Isaac Spivack ‘17 were accepted to the RI Junior Division All-State band.
Brandon Morsilli ‘18 was selected by the New York City Dance Alliance for a ballet scholarship.
Boys’ varsity basketball co-captain Troy Pierre-Louis ‘13 scored 49 points in the team’s opening game.
Kaylyn Walsh ‘14 raised more than $3,000 for Wheels for Mustard Seed.
Zachary Jennings ‘16 received a $1,000 scholarship for flight lessons from Ocean State Aviators, the local chapter of Experimental Aviation Association.
Michael Levy ‘14 raised $690 to support prostate cancer research during his No-Shave November pledge drive.
Jenna O’del ‘16 was published by The America Library of Poetry, 2012.
The Certamen Team beat out some of the best schools in the country at a competition held at Roxbury Latin School in November. Sophomores Brady Dill, Raymond Mancini, Amanda Siegel, and Shane Woolley finished 5 points behind the first-place team and 45 ahead of third.
The following students qualified for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth 2012-2013 Talent Search: Megan Caruso ‘17, James Frost ‘17, Jackson Hawkins ‘17, William Janikies ‘17, Elizabeth Furtado ‘17, Bridget Kist ‘17, Alejandro Perez ‘17, Anessa Petteruti ‘17, Cassidy Santos ‘17, Abigail Siegel ‘17, Isaac Spivack ‘17, Crosleigh Thoms ‘17, Clarice Jennings ‘18, Michael Santos ‘18, Brianna Cardona ‘18, Ethan Moyer ‘18, Susanna Mello ‘18 and Abigail Costantino ‘18
Nicholas Cicchetti ‘13 is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.
Jeannette Stacey ‘13 is a National Merit Commended Scholar.
Elias Bello ‘13 was honored by the National Hispanic Recognition Program for being in the 98th percentile nationwide among Hispanic SAT testers.
Jessilyn Ring ‘15 and her dog, Twilight, won first place in showmanship and fourth in obedience at the 2012 Eastern States Exposition.
Alec O’del ‘18 was the runner up in Odyssey Magazine’s Candy: Sweet Science contest with his entry of “O’delicious Chocolate Peppermint Bark.”
Bradley Adam ‘13 finished first out of 148 boats at the 420 North American Championships. He finished fifth at the US Sailing Junior Championships on San Francisco Bay.
Shane Woolley ‘15 and Brady Dill ‘15 achieved perfect scores on the National Latin Exam. William Larcom ‘12 received a college scholarship offer as a result of his performance on the exam.
The following students received medals at the 2012 Rhode Island Music Educators Association Solo & Ensemble Festival: Abigail Siegel ‘17, Amanda Siegel ‘15, Issac Spivack ‘17, Joseph Voccola ‘18, Clarice Jennings ‘18, Brenna Miller ‘15, Anessa Petteruti ‘17 and Lauren Silva ‘16
Jackson Hawkins ‘17 was promoted to the rank of Star Scout.
Robert Petteruti ‘13 received General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo’s Young Leader Award.
Rocky Hill received the Rhode Island
Division II 2nd Place Award for the 2011-12 Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart fundraising program.
Upper School physics teacher Ben Greenfield was part of a select team in the US Sailing Team Racing National Championships, and finished fourth overall in a field packed with many collegiate All-Americans and Olympians.
Upper School math teacher Andy Washburn and his rowing partner won the Grand Master Double race (and broke the course record) at the 2012 Head of the Charles Regatta.
Alan Blasdell ‘13 earned the rank of Eagle Scout for Troop 1 Saunderstown.
In 2012, as part of the Most Improved Student Program, the PawSox recognized the following students for exhibiting strong improvement in some aspect of their school lives: Kent Hanlon ‘18, Clarice Jennings ‘18, Michael Santos ‘18, Alec O’del ‘18, Megan Caruso ‘17, John Ponte ‘17, Crosleigh Thoms ‘17, Nicolas Mancini ‘17, Allison DeGerlia ‘16 and Ava Lamoureux ‘16
Senator Jack Reed presented Alyssa Grayson ‘19 with a commendation for her work to preserve wolves.
Soccer Rhode Island named Jared Barroso ‘16 Boys Premier Player of 2012.
Anna Yamada ‘13 won silver medals in the snowboard slalom and giant slalom events (junior women division) at the 2012 USASA National Championships.
Jason DeGerlia ‘19 won first place in forms and flying kicks at the Northeast Family Martial Arts Interschool Competition.
1. Lower School students and parents enjoy Kite Day
2. Alessandra Antonelli ‘13 and Nicholas Cicchetti ‘13 show off their senior class pride during Spirit Week.
3. Sixth-graders inspect a puffer fish aboard Cap’n Bert’s vessel during Enviroweek.
4. The winning best ball team of Mike Carney ‘04, Steve Carney, John Carney ‘88 and Evan Grossman pose at the 2012 Fall Classic. The annual golf and tennis tournament and dinner auction fundraiser raised more than $38,000.
5. Naseem Ankoma ‘25 speaks during an allschool morning meeting.
6. Seventh grade students pose in Jamestown, where they traveled to study geology at Fort Wetherill and Beavertail State Park.
7. Evan Rodriguez ‘20 tests out his hand-made floating vessel as part of a fifth grade science project.
8. Middle and Upper School Latin teacher Matt Gnolfo plays the drums during Winter Solstice.
9. Eliana Paulino ‘27 and Jackson Davis ‘26 harvest carrots from the Garden Classroom.
10. Chloe Ponte ‘19 and Megan Dignan ‘19 prepare for the annual all-school Winter Concert.
11. Douglas Cochran ‘16 clears the high jump during the 2012 Middle School field day.
12. Lenore Kerachsky and Katie Kerachsky ‘23 enjoy GrandFriends’ Day together.
Whata tribute, what a party!
Alumni attendance at Reunion more than doubled in 2012.
The Alumni Association’s annual meeting was held Saturday afternoon, followed by a party hosted by Head of School Jonathan Schoenwald and his wife, Jana Bruns, to honor milestone class years and to welcome to the Class of 2011 as new alumni. The celebration continued in Campbell Center with all alumni, faculty and friends catching up and reminiscing about Rocky Hill.
A huge achievement celebrated that night was the successful completion of the Alumni Challenge—15% participation in the 2011-12 Annual Fund.
On behalf of the Alumni Association, Trixie (Webber) Dumas ‘81 presented the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award to Rich Clark ‘85 and Lia (DiLeonardo) Lehouiller ‘90 who were applauded for their individual commitment to the School’s 10,000 square foot Garden Classroom project.
Everyone enjoyed the tribute to Paul Tukey, who announced his retirement after 36 years at Rocky Hill. Accolades to Paul were heartfelt and humorous and included pair of “golden loafers,” which Paul donned for the evening. Tributes were led by Karl Wadensten ‘78, and shared by longtime colleague Terry Coes, and former students Linda Wadensten ‘85 and Mary Lynne Kennedy ‘80. On behalf of the Alumni Association, Brenda Burke ‘88 and Sarah Shaw Siskin ‘78 presented Paul with a $500 gift certificate to Lockwood Marina. They also announced that donations would be made to the School to dedicate a restored
section of the iron fence and an inscribed brick in the garden walkway in his honor. It was a memorable evening and many thanks go out to Reunion Committee members Charlotte Pillsbury Wood ‘79, Sarah Shaw Siskin ‘78, Brenda Burke ‘88, Lauren Friedman ‘02 and Trixie (Webber) Dumas ‘81. We also thank Antonio’s Bakery, Big River Spirits, Roch’s Fresh Foods and Taylor Rental for their support.
We are calling all alumni, faculty and friends to join us for Reunion on June 1, 2013, especially milestone years ending in 3 and 8 and we will welcome the class of 2012 as our newest alumni. We are looking for volunteers to help on the Reunion Committee and ask you all to save the date and register for Reunion 2013 at www.rockyhill.org/reunion.
If you would like to get involved in planning Reunion 2013, let the alumni office know by emailing: alumni@rockyhill.org.
I’d like to express, belatedly but very sincerely, my heartfelt thanks for the spectacular retirement tribute which you afforded me at Reunion in June. Rocky Hill has been such an important part of my life for so long, and it was terrific to see so many of you there, catch up on what you’re doing, share wonderful memories of your time here, and to hear you say, each in your own way, that I had been a meaningful part of your experience at the School. Being able to work closely with kids, to help them to fulfill their potential and achieve their dreams is why we go into this business, particularly at a small school like Rocky Hill. As I stood there on the stage that evening with Karl Wadensten ‘78, proudly wearing my gold bass Weejuns, I knew—if I’d ever questioned it—that I had made the right choice. Whether I knew you best as a teacher, a coach, your college counselor, or—as is the case with most of you—in a combination of these roles, each of you is an important part of the tapestry of my career, and I am profoundly grateful for a celebration that meant a great deal to me and my family. Thanks again for an evening that I will never forget.
By: Liz Cochran, Director of Alumni Relations1. Trixie (Webber) Dumas ‘81 presents the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award to Rich Clark ‘85.
2. Alumnni Association President Sally Kenyon Grant ‘87 presents the 2010-11 Alumni Annual Fund Participation Award to the classes with the highest participation: 1949, 1954, 1961, 1974 & 1979. The largest collective giving for the second year in a row was awarded to the Class of 1979.
3. Dave Gannon ‘87 and Lori Denham Howard ‘88
4. Donna Goldstein greets former faculty members Motria Holowinsky and Pam Dumas ‘54 at the celebration.
5. Former faculty member Richard Dixon and Lee Steele ‘54 at the Milestone Reception.
6. L auren Friedman ‘02, Alicia Cook ‘96 and Lauren Marsh ‘02.
7. Back (l-r): Patrick Mellor ‘08, Matt Hart, Barrett Cavanagh ‘08, Andy Washburn, Brendan Schultz ‘08, Jack Murphy, David Curtis ‘08 and Hudson Hackett ‘09 Front(l-r): Jared Carr ‘08, Cathy Washburn, Hannah Knowles ‘08, Remy Corvese ‘08 and Ted Broderick ‘08
8. Janina D’Abate ‘78, Sarah Shaw Siskin ‘78 and Kym Wadensten.
9. Will Mitchell ‘04 and fiancé Barbara Sherfey.
10. Joshua Matteson ‘82, Robert Kornacki ‘86 and Kim Kornacki.
11. Nathan Maine ‘92 and Thomas Walsh ‘92
12. Gerald Pluviose ‘00 and Paul Tukey
13. Richard Prager ‘77 speaks with Terry Coes at the Milestone Reception.
Onbehalf of the Rocky Hill School Alumni Association, I want to say that we are all excited for what this new year brings to each of us and to our alma mater. We would like to give special thanks to all the alums that gave so generously in 2012 and encourage our alumni friends and family to continue to share in our goals of alumni engagement, volunteerism and school spirit in 2013.
For increased alumni engagement, 2012 was a fantastic year. We started the year off right with record attendance at the annual alumni basketball games. The regional events were casual get-togethers that were great fun for all. Reunion saw the number of alumni in attendance double from that of the previous year, highlighted by a special celebration honoring retiring faculty member Paul Tukey. We met the challenge of 15% participation in the 2011-12 Annual Fund, surpassing the National Association Independent School average for alumni giving by more than 2%. And at Homecoming, we knocked it out of the park with record attendance.
This spring and throughout 2013, we will continue our efforts to expand alumni activities, events and participation in school-wide initiatives. We are excited to offer our alumni regional activities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and Washington D.C. this year. In April, we will partner with the Parent Teacher League in co-sponsoring the signature fundraising event, Catch the Wave gala. This dinner, dance and auction will raise critical funds for the School in support of the strategic plan. In June, we will celebrate milestone years for classes ending in 3 and 8 and elect new Alumni Association officers and board members.
This is an exciting time to be a Rocky Hill alum. Our school is everchanging, and with the strategic goals
in mind, we invite alumni to come back to campus for mentoring events with Rocky Hill students. Career Day on January 31, 2013 is a perfect example of this effort. There are also opportunities for alumni to: partner with faculty to develop independent study and internship programs; make suggestions for community connections that may help build robust after-school and vacation programs for students; engage in the ongoing planning process by sharing potential school initiatives; and support the School financially by participating in the annual giving challenge.
Through these above-mentioned mutual partnerships, the Alumni Association can leverage resources and facilities to expose students to an array of unique educational opportunities. There is so much more we as alumni can do, and we want to hear from you; we want to get you involved. Please look for invitations on Facebook and LinkedIn; emails from the School and your class scribes; and, of course, those evergreat Rocky Hill postcards in your mailbox.
Again, our best wishes to you, your family and friends for a wonderful 2013 filled with peace and cheer. Our special thanks go out to all the alumni who have given back so generously of their time, talents and treasures.
The School and the Alumni Association are pleased to have brought back Career Day, with the goal of exposing juniors and seniors to the real-life college experiences and career paths of Rocky Hill alumni. Speakers (as of 1/9/13) included:
• Brenda Burke ‘88
Physician/Rheumatologist, Lifespan
• Stuart Flanagan ‘05
Managing Partner, Newport Renewables
• Daniel Gilman ‘95
Co-Creative/Design Director, iClickMedia; Co-Creative Director, Visual Stream
• Sally Kenyon Grant ‘87
Office of Policy & Government Affairs, Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development
• Jonathan Hough ‘84
Director, BMO Capital Markets
• Mia Ann Caetano Johnson ‘89
Partner, Johnson Law Associates
• Mary Lynne Kennedy ‘80
Neuropsychologist, Southern New England Rehab Center
• Liana Jo Magner ‘91
Principal, Mercer Investment Consulting
• Annie Millican ‘03
Dir./Founder, Awamaki Lab at Awamaki
• Sarah Cohen Rosendale ‘98
Teacher of the Deaf, Northern RI
Collaborative’s Auditory-Oral Program
• Ceileidh Siegel ‘01
Director of Project Management, G-Form
• Melissa Tukey ‘98
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Fellow, Boston Medical Center
• Steven Ursillo, Jr. ‘90
Principal & Director of IT & Assurance Services, Sparrow, Johnson & Ursillo
• Karl Wadensten ‘78
President, VIBCO, Inc.
Alumni Association President Sally Kenyon Grant ‘87 and Director of Academic Center for Enrichment Holly Cotta at Homecoming.Rocky Hill’s campus was buzzing with activity for Homecoming 2012. The sun was shining brightly as students, parents, alumni and friends gathered together to celebrate the blue and white. The celebration actually kicked off on Friday with a pep rally, the Upper School athletic games and the Homecoming Dance. Both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams won and the field hockey team earned a tie. It was the Middle School athletes’ turn on Saturday and while the soccer teams did not come up with a win, the field hockey team beat North Kingstown 3-0. As the games ended, the festival got into full swing with games and activities run by the students and PTL volunteers. Additional highlights included live music by Rocky Hill’s own boy band and a special ceremony for the Class of 2012 to officially dedicate the outdoor Harkness table sponsored by their parents.
Thank you to the more than 65 alumni who came back to campus and spent the day playing, cheering and reconnecting with friends and faculty. Some notable moments included: former headmaster Alan Flynn and former music director Jeff Duclos cheering on the soccer teams, and three generations of alumnae on the field hockey field with Pam Dumas ‘56 as the alumni coach, Trixie (Webber) Dumas ‘81 playing on the alumni team and Sabrina Dumas ‘16 playing on varsity. With more than 35 alumni participating (pictured at left), the alumni teams were victorious with two wins and a tie. Final scores: field hockey 2-1, girls’ soccer 8-3, boys’ soccer 3-3. Thank you to the many volunteers and participants who made Homecoming memorable, we’ll see you all in 2013!
For yourself, as a gift, or to honor someone special, a brick in any one of three campus brick walks is a lasting legacy. Contact the Alumni Office at 401-884-9070, ext. 132 or order online at www.rockyhill.org/brickwalk.
Roberta (DeWolf) Hopkins’ granddaughter Lauren Fitting was married in Waterford, CT in June 2012. Granddaughter Jillian Lewis is studying for her MS at Quinnipiac College.
Carla (Gibson) Cook wrote: “We are still sharing time between Saint George, UT (October-May) and Jamestown, RI. Our children and six grandchildren are in WA, OR, CT and NY, so having two houses works well for wonderful visits. We have extra rooms in each place if friends want to see beautiful red rock scenery or spend time at the beach in Jamestown. Once a year we take off for parts unknown. This year we head to Sri Lanka and Borneo in February. Hope all my classmates are doing well and enjoying life to the fullest.”
After 45 years as a teacher, Jim Doyle enjoys the peace and quiet of retirement.
Jeff Ellis was recently very ill with a variant version of Guillain-Barre syndrome called Miller Fisher syndrome, but has made a remarkable recovery and should be back on his feet by April or May. On a lighter note, he and his wife are collecting mittens and hats for the less fortunate through the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in his home state of Michigan. Jeff sends his best to his classmates and RHS.
time here. As she toured the Carriage House, she recalled her time in first, second, third and fourth grades and how art classes were held in the current preschool building. She brought pictures and documents of many memories including a certificate for Proficiency in Roller Skating from Riverdale Roller Skating Rink dated May 8, 1957.
Janice Rinaldi visited campus in October with former RHS kitchen staff member Maureen Palermo. As she toured the buildings, she remembered many wonderful things that happened during her
1967 Scribe: Lucy Tillman alumni@rockyhill.org
1968 Scribe: Nancy (Hoxsie) Mead hoxsiemead@aol.com
Nancy (Hoxsie) Mead and her husband, Andrew, “continued our walk from London to Rome by walking another 500 miles from Rome to the Adriatic Sea. We refer to it as the ‘pizza walk,’ since neither of us lost an ounce despite the hilly terrain.”
Nancy also visited the RHS Garden Classroom last summer.
1969 Scribe: Christine (Hoxsie) Morris stringbait@tds.net
Al McCreery and his wife, Katherine, live in Warwick with their two Shih Tzus, and he works at Sturdy Memorial Hospital. Al plays an Irish drum called a Bowdhran in bands that play locally at pubs and other venues in Rhode Island. Until recently, he was playing at Ward’s Publick House every Sunday. Al enjoys these opportunities because percussion has been a part of his life since he was a young man.
1970 Class scribe volunteer needed alumni@rockyhill.org
Doug Swann’s older daughter Jayme, who lives in Orlando, gave birth to Doug’s first grandchild, Ian, on March 22. His
www.rockyhill.org/classnews
younger daughter, Megan, is head coach of the University of California, Merced’s women’s soccer team. Megan was married in July. Doug purchased a home in Orlando and plans to retire in two years.
1971 Scribe: Roger Ray rray4@cox.net
Jon Hall lives in Bellingham, WA and works on an Alaskan gold mining project.
Roger Ray’s son Jonathan graduated from Gordon College and teaches French at Salem Public High School. Roger’s daughter Jennifer, 11, is a fine soccer player in the Warwick Firefighters League. Roger hopes that more of his classmates will get in touch.
1972 Scribe: Lori (Silverstein) Dorsey oreocatri@cox.net
1973 Scribe: Catherine (Tingley) Fairbairn alumni@rockyhill.org
Bill Langlois reflected: “As we at RHS look back, and today support our legacy, I look for common ground at our School. As Headmaster Hale drove the school bus to and from school, he was transporting future leaders. I today also transport RHS students to and from school and hope that they become future leaders. It is an honor.”
Barbara (Shippee) Strassman welcomed a granddaughter, Aliyana, last July. Barbara’s son will be married next September. Barabara’s business has expanded, and she spends three months a year in Pennsylvania. She began offering a new type of healing work called Divine Matrix. She lives in Sharon, and was thrilled to learn about Rocky Hill’s Garden Classroom. She has a meditation garden and a sacred geometry garden that includes the flower of life symbol, also known as the symbol of creation, and the Star of David. Visit her website: www.thesolewoman.com.
1974 Scribe: Joyce E. Hempstead joyce.hempstead@roxburylatin.org
Candace Hammond was signed to Trident Media in New York, who, through their new e-book division, released her novel, The Best Worst Year,
last May. She is balancing journalism and radio on Cape Cod with completing her next book, Being Good. Her three kids are doing great: Dylan, 34, works in addiction recovery in Boston, Ben, 29, is a music producer and DJ in Cambridge, and Emma, 27, is opening the Whistle Pig Korean Bistro in Bozeman, MT.
Joyce Hempstead’s son Peter graduated from Oberlin College. He lives in West Philadelphia and works in music production. Her daughter Bethany lives in Brooklyn. Joyce works for Roxbury Latin School and said it has been fun to see RHS students succeed at the Certamen scrimmages over the last few years. She noted that RHS is the only Rhode Island school that attends the scrimmages.
Peggy (Campbell) Sanders moved to Charlotte in August with her husband, Darren, to be a part of the House of Israel. Darren works in HVAC and Peggy is starting a photo/art business, Peggy Sanders Creations, online. She’s on Facebook, and plans to include a blog and Etsy shop for her paintings and photo notecards. Her daughters are in Vermont and doing well, as are her parents, Hugh and Lorli.
Jane Vachon Zarchen wrote: “We sold the house in Wakefield, and have been ‘horticulturalists at large’ for a few years. We have been traveling the US with my bouvier, Moxie Field Vachon, visiting many fabulous plants and people in their native habitats. Favorites include New Orleans, Sedona, and right here in little ol’ Wilmington, NC. We live in a big house on the river and are doing pretty well.”
1975 Scribe: Donna (Tocco) Greenaway dgreenaway@cox.net
1976 Scribe: Mary Jean (Keebler) Roche mjmom02@aol.com
Tim Pillsbury is a self-employed electronics and software engineer in New Hampshire. Tim and his wife, Meg, have seven children ages 9-27; all are well.
1977 Scribe: Susan (Magee) Rinebolt suebru1212@juno.com
Richie Prager reconnected with folks at the NYC alumni gathering and at his 35th reunion. Richie is still on Wall Street after 30 years, managing trading and liquidity strategies at BlackRock. His three kids are grown and out of college—all Dukies, of course. The eldest son is engaged to his
college sweetheart and will marry in April. Last August, Richie safaried in Zambia—an amazing experience with dear friends.
1978 Scribe: Sarah (Shaw) Siskin forked427@comcast.net
Margie Greene lives in Sausalito and is raising two teenagers. The oldest heads to college next fall and loves basketball. Margie recently caught up with Janina D’Abate on her visit to California.
Sarah (Shaw) Siskin and her husband, Peter, are doing well, with the exception of Hurricane Sandy. Sarah and Peter got through the storm with some damage to the house, and are working to get their community back from the destruction. Sarah is looking forward to the Catch the Wave gala on April 20 and Reunion on June 1. As the Alumni Association secretary, Sarah hopes alumni will get involved by attending and hosting regional events.
1979 Scribe: Charlotte (Pillsbury) Wood charlottepwood@comcast.net
Dan Bentley and his wife, Carolyn, celebrate their 31st year of marriage this year. They have three children, three grandchildren, and live in Texas with their daughter Hope, 11. Dan is a senior vice president with Bank of America, and makes time each summer to visit his brother Frank and RHS.
Sherry A. Branson-Calafato married Frank Calafato on October 6 in San Diego.
friends, and appreciating the moments of joy found in daily life.”
Betsy Blanchard Rafferty is happy to report that Evans Plating Corporation celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2012. Besides working hard at the family business, she stays busy playing indoor soccer, and frequently sees Jeff Clark, Jen Young Schnell and Elisa Silverstein Heath. “We have dinner and reminisce about Rocky Hill. We have a rip-roaring time; I’m laughing all the way home. If you’re in the area, just let me know. We would love to see you.”
Betsy and 24 of her strongest friends participated in the MS Jet Pull to benefit the Rhode Island Chapter of the National MS Society. They pulled a FedEx 757 aircraft across the tarmac of T.F. Green Airport on October 13.
Liz Prager-O’Brien is the marketing coordinator for the University of Rhode Island’s Office of Admissions and teaches in the Writing and Rhetoric department. Her husband, the proficiency-based graduation coordinator at Narragansett High, makes her laugh every day. Her daughter is a junior at South Kingstown High and is on the tennis team; her son thrives playing tennis, analyzing sports and investigating history. Liz said, “We enjoy a simple life, sharing laughter with our kids and their
Charlotte Pillsbury Wood and family recently moved to the San Francisco Bay area. “Everything is new, which is both exciting and daunting. We’re enjoying the fact that we can walk or bike everywhere. Jeff Clark was by for a visit in September and it was great to see him. Now that we’re so close to San Francisco, if any of you are in the area, please call.”
1980 Scribe: Mary Lynne Kennedy mlkmdw@juno.com
Mary Kane Chapman shared that her cousin, Stephanie Clark (daughter of Meryl Wilson Clark ‘71 and David Clark ‘71 and niece of Jeff Clark ‘79) is serving in Afghanistan. Mary hoped that everyone will send their best wishes.
Mary Lynne Kennedy wrote: “I had a great trip this past summer to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe with my family. We all love to camp and found a beautiful spot in Yosemite in the back country. One of the most over stimulating parts of our trip was flying into Las Vegas. While Vegas is not our style, it was worth seeing at least once. My daughter is now a fifth-grader at RHS and having a wonderful experience. We feel very grateful.”
1981 Scribe: Lisa (Batty) Spicuzza spicuzza2@cox.net
1982 Scribe: Pamela (Timperley) Buckenmaier alumni@rockyhill.org
1983 Scribe: Jo-Anne (Coghlin) Intrator jcintrator@comcast.net
1984 Scribe: Erin E. Clement eec0715@cox.net
Charlie Blanchard won the 2012 R.I. Golf Association Amateur Championship, which he also won in 2002. In 2013, Charlie will be coaching the new professional indoor box lacrosse team, the Rhode Island Kingfish, which will play at URI’s Boss Arena.
1987 Scribe: Sally K. Grant robandsally@comcast.net
Sally Kenyon Grant’s children Sophie and John Grant Staugaitis gathered pumpkins for their neighborhood’s welcome baskets.
Paul Zarrella and his wife, Kayla, are pleased to announce the birth of a baby girl, Cecilia Beatrice Zarrella.
1988
Scribe: Spurgeon W. Thompson III spurgeonthompson@hotmail.com
Megan Robert Tambaschi lives in London and is studying to be a vet at the Royal Veterinary College. She will graduate in 2014.
Scribes: Rhaea N. Photopoulos alumni@rockyhill.org
Sally is federal policy coordinator for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. She is on Capitol Hill each week advocating for legislation that will impact the growth of jobs in Maryland. Sally’s son played the lead role of Bert in his school’s fall production of Mary Poppins. Sally credits her mom, Jan Grant (former RHS faculty), for her son’s amazing theatrical singing and dancing skills.
1989
Mia Ann (Caetano) Johnson mcaetanojohnson@verizon.net
Mia Ann Caetano Johnson and her husband, Eric, live in Cowesett with their boys Eric, 5, and Alex, 4. Eric is a police detective and also practices law. Mia practices corporate law with Johnson Law Associates and started a new business brokerage company, Northeast Campground Brokers, focusing on selling campgrounds and RV parks throughout the Northeast. She travels a good deal, but loves her new career path.
Last year, Ken Foster was appointed chair of the President’s Sustainability Council at Concordia College, where he is also chair of the global studies program. He has been teaching at Concordia for five years. He took the concert band on a performance tour of China in May (Ken speaks Chinese).
1985 Scribe: Elisabeth Brown zeph2pixie@yahoo.com
1986 Scribe: Lauren M. Smith smith.lauren_m@yahoo.com
Elizabeth “Poppy” Matteson Billings is entering her fifth year with Fallon Community Health Plan in Worcester. She recently received a promotion to team lead programmer III. In March 2012, she skied in Austria and Switzerland for 10 days.
Page Cooper Sciotto sent in a photo from an impromptu RHS gathering at the home of Kristin Fain Dahl in East Greenwich on August 4, 2012. Sarah Akemi (Flynn), Brian Clement, Liz Stone ‘92, Kevin Sciotto, Michael Zarrella, Scott Metzger and Scott Fain ‘89 attended.
Priscilla Dumas Kubas is in Palm Desert, CA, dividing her time between her three children, teaching technology at an elementary school, and volunteer activities. Priscilla and her son Nick, 13, ran a Turkey Trot 5K in Oceanside, CA.
Mia’s son Eric attended Rocky Hill’s camp last summer and seeing campus brought back fond memories. She would love to hear from alums in the area.
Brian Kudish included a picture of his son Matthew, 8, and daughter Liza, 6. Brian has been married for 10 years to his wife, Debbie, and lives in Franklin, MA, the same town as John Carney ‘88. He has great memories of RHS and plans on bringing the family to visit.
Brad Davey recently finished his doctorate in educational technology at Pepperdine University. He and his wife live in North Kingstown and own Technology for Learning Consortium, Inc., a professional educational consulting company. They work on a variety of projects including advising technology adoption initiatives and implementation; curriculum development; and educational program evaluation for national groups like NASA and NOAA. They enjoy their work and the continually changing nature of the challenges they face.
They have also co-authored two books on literacy and countless articles on learning with technology. They travel throughout the US for work and pleasure, speaking at conferences and events. By combining work and play, they are able to enjoy skiing in Colorado for most of the winter and sailing on the bay in RI during the summer.
1990 Class scribe volunteer needed alumni@rockyhill.org
Kristin Walberg Urbach is the membership director at US Sailing in Newport, and moved back to Rhode Island after working in Washington, D.C. for several years.
1991 Scribe: Liana J. Magner liana.magner@mercer.com
Dan Carney, his wife, Mara, son Hugh, 14, and daughter Hope, 8, moved to Phoenix, after nearly four years in Lakewood, OH. He will manage a five-
year statewide network expansion project for Cox Business, where he has worked for 11 years. Hugh is a freshman and is almost Dan’s height. Hope is in third grade, plays the piano, and loves just about every sport. Mara is a full-time mom and wrote a blog about nutrition and eating right called Change Your Diet, Change Your Life (jumpingofftheturniptruck.blogspot.com).
Colin Delaney and his wife, Jessica, welcomed Harper Clementine on November 6. Big sisters Teagan and Charlotte have been a great help, and are very excited to have a new little sister. Colin has lived in Milton for almost a year and a half, and loves it.
Meredith Kates Forster lives in Middletown and works part time at Hathaway Elementary School in Portsmouth as a literacy interventionist/ reading specialist. Her husband, Matt, has an orthodontic practice, Forster Orthodontics, with offices in Newport and Tiverton. Their three girls, Hope, 6, Sophie, 8, and Julia, 10, love horseback riding, piano, violin, theater and anything outdoors. They spend lots of time at the beach, on the boat, and skiing in the winter. Their Bernese mountain dog, Jetty, is the best brother.
Danielle Leighton lives in Somers, CT. Daughter Willa, 4, is excited to start kindergarten next year and loves dance, gymnastics and wrestling. After more than six years in primary care at a community health center, Danielle will soon be starting at a gastroenterology practice in Northampton. Danielle’s father, Barry Leighton, a former Rocky Hill faculty member, retired last year at the age of 71.
Andrea Lombardo DeMichele lives in Sudbury, MA with her husband, Adam, daughter Lily, 8, and son Carter, 6. Andrea works for a New York-based investment management firm.
Liana Magner moved to Boston from Atlanta in 2010. She is a partner at Mercer, and lives in Beacon Hill. Liana enjoys the outdoors and adventure travel; she surfs, runs, bikes or skis whenever she can.
Kalene Hafey Phinney lives in East Greenwich with her four kids: Aidan, 11, Maeve, 9, Davin, 7, and Declan, 3.
Carolyn (Broccoli) Wren lives in East Greenwich with her husband, Chris, daughter Molly, 9, and son Liam, 6. She is a pediatric massage therapist and has a practice in West Warwick. She also stays busy leading groups in environmental and outdoor education.
1992 Scribe: Crystel (Siebel) Hoyt girtthesquirt@aol.com
1993 Scribe: Lisa (Dorson) Borge lrborge@gmail.com
Lisa Dorson Borge shared a photo of her sons: Jack, Sam and Luke.
Sarah Nuri is a guest services and ticket sales manager at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, ID.
Trevor Whitson, his wife, Vivian, and daughter, Valentina Q’orianka, were proud to welcome Sebastian Antonio into the family on October 12, 2011. They live in Dallas, with great support from loving grandparents both nearby and in Peru. Trevor left management consulting at Bain & Company to take a position at Ticona Engineering Polymers, a business of Celanese Corporation in Dallas. Since joining in July 2011, Trevor has directly supported the general manager and has recently been promoted to manage the Americas’ business for the Vectra® LCP, Zenite® LCP, and Thermx® PCT products.
1997 Scribe: Marianne C. SanAntonio msanantonio@mail.une.edu
Karlton Bontrager lives in Los Angeles and works as a freelance private English tutor. He would like to find an opportunity that is more permanent, but enjoys working with his current students.
Bethany H. Carland-Adams welcomed daughter Gillian Olivia Adams on May 2.
1994 Scribe: Tracey (Brown) Banach tracey_eb@hotmail.com
Weston Davey has been living in the Hudson Valley for almost four years, and is a museum technician at the FDR Museum and Library in New York. Weston moved from Chicago, where he went to graduate school for historic preservation at the Art Institute of Chicago. He is married and has a five-year-old son, Adrien.
1995 Scribe: Rebecca M. Krasnof alumni@rockyhill.org
1996 Scribe: Erica (Harrington) Perkoski ericaharrington@msn.com
Peter Carney’s children (photo sent in by Kristin Kacewicz Clarke ‘04.)
Christen (Roehr) Suratt has three children: Baleigh, 6, Payton, 4, and Jasper, 18 months. Christen’s husband, Joshua, is a federal police officer at a Naval Station in Jacksonville. Christen teaches nine amazing, autistic boys in a K-1 classroom in Jacksonville. Last year her school went from a rating of F to A, which is a great accomplishment in her area. She misses all at RHS, and is on the lookout for Ms. Sanderson…any word about her?
Emily (Card) Muzzy sent in a photo of her family at a breakfast with Santa event. Emily also reported that Susana Lorente has a one-year-old baby girl.Mena Suvari, Sulev Suvari ‘90, his wife, Trisha, and their brother AJ visited campus last summer. They saw Paul Tukey and Donna Goldstein, and shared fond memories.
summer of fun (trips to Paris, New York, DC, Mississippi, and a Bourbon Trail road trip through Kentucky), she moved to Chicago. She works at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business as an assistant director of career management, developing career-related programming for the full-time MBA students and advising them on job-search strategy.
Aaron Ketrow and Kathryn Koch were married on October 13 at the New York Yacht Club in Newport.
1998 Scribe: Katherine (Hoagland) Scott khscott@hotmail.com
1999 Scribe: Megan (Andreozzi) Fox mcandreozzi@gmail.com
Susan Dorson Cardones sent in a picture of her daughter Audrey.
2000 Scribe: Stephanie Soscia ssoscia@gmail.com
In October, Jed Hancock-Brainerd starred in the Willbury Group’s production of Lungs in Providence.
Tony Pastore wrote: “After working at RHS in 2007, I left for Spain for three years. I reunited with former RHS science teacher Corinne Dedini at Atlanta Girls School. An opportunity popped up at La Jolla Country Day in San Diego and I am in my second year teaching Spanish there. I am working on my MA in Spanish linguistics at Middlebury during the summers.”
2001 Scribe: Bridget Sullivan bsullivanrd@gmail.com
Caroline Carney and Jonathan Hayes welcomed Vienna Livingston Hayes into the world on October 16, 2012. Vienna is perfect in every way, shows a budding interest in fine art, and looks forward to her first visit to Rocky Hill.
Bridget Sullivan is engaged to Michael Garmisa, a lawyer with the Philadelphia Public Defender Association, and is planning a summer/fall 2013 wedding in Rhode Island. Bridget is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, LLP, and enjoys working in a primary care provider role. Bridget enjoyed mentoring an eighth grade Rocky Hill student with her exposition project, and hearing news from campus from her father and Ceileidh Siegel. Bridget looks forward to connecting with classmates during the holidays.
2002 Scribe: Kristin (McLimans) Mitchell alumni@rockyhill.org
Lauren Friedman lives in South Florida and works as the special events and membership director at the JCC in Boca Raton. She is a race director for three 5Ks a year and recently completed her third half marathon.
2003 Scribe: Nicholas F. Pereira nickfp@gmail.com
Scribes: Kristin (Kacewicz) Clarke kskacewicz@gmail.com Kathryn A. Donnelly kathryndonn@gmail.com
Kristin (Kacewicz) Clarke wed Elliott Clarke on September 29, 2012 in Newport.
Shalaine Fradette wed Gregory Zamfotis in Newport on October 27.
Catherine Clement completed her master’s degree in social work at the University of Michigan in April. After a
Ashley (Evron) Machala wed Eric Machala ‘00 on June 1, 2012 at Saint Gregory the Great Church in Warwick, with a reception at OceanCliff in Newport. The wedding party included Meghan McCarthy, Kathryn Donnelly, Stephanie Mattioli ‘11, Jerry Pluviose ‘00 and Bryan Machala ‘02 Several other alumni also attended. “It was a wonderful day filled with love and happiness shared with all our friends and family.”
Caroline N. Mauro lives in New York and is a fashion stylist for Barneys.
Meghan McCarthy’s animated short, Inspector Lint Eastwood and The Case of the Missing Sock won Best Animation at the Los Angeles Film and Script Festival. Meg also hosts a web show called Movies with Meg.
Hope Sholes is a senior compliance analyst at Smith & Wesson in Springfield, MA and is engaged to Charles Pinder, who is in Afghanistan as a defense contractor. A 2014 wedding is planned.
Samuel Tyree works in Binghamton, NY as the front office manager of a DoubleTree hotel. “I have been here for six months and plan to continue advancing my career before moving back to NYC.”
2005
Scribe: Kate Corvese kate.corvese@gmail.com
Allison Friedman is the digital traffic manager for Cendyn in Boca Raton. “I work with major hotel chains and hospitality clients including Trump Hotels and Real Estate, Starwood Resorts and Universal Studios Hollywood Events. I was selected to participate in a management leadership and personality workshop to help shape the company’s 2013 mission statement.”
Scribes: Laura Verardo-Goodrich laura.verardogoodrich@gmail.com
Miguel A. Dominguez miguel.dominguez77@gmail.com
Austin Ahlborg is a freelance cinematographer in Los Angeles. He shot a travel video (www.vimeo.com/45034289) in Hawaii while visiting his brother. He is employed by Red Bull and is shooting a documentary about break dancing all along the West Coast called Break’n Reality.” Learn more at www.redbull.com
Bianca J. Ursillo was a finalist at the 2012 Fusion Film Festival for her graduate feature screenplay I’ll Tell You No Lies.
Scribes: Patricia L. Capuano pcapuano@gmail.com Courtney Lada courtney.e.lada@gmail.com
Amee Amin moved to India 18 months ago to attend medical school.
Ian Cameron took two years off from Middlebury after his sophomore year and did affective neuroscience research at Brown. He’s back at Middlebury and will graduate this spring.
After graduating from Brown, Trish Capuano moved to South Florida. She works as an event planner in the Miami/ Fort Lauderdale area. Visitors from the Rocky Hill family are always welcome.
Jordan Farrales graduated with an economics degree from the University of South Florida and works as an analyst with Galbraith Capital, the third largest hedge fund in the Tampa Bay Area.
Elise Flanagan works at Ralph Lauren as an assistant merchandiser for a new brand called Denim & Supply. Whenever she is not consumed with emails and reports, she is out with friends in the East Village. She sees herself working there for the next five years, working up to the level of a merchandiser, and then seeing where that experience will take her.
Tim Harsch works for a startup in San Mateo, CA that has an office in India. He has made the trip back and forth a few times this year, which has been amazing. Fortunately, he is a big fan of Indian food.
Rome Kirby is in San Francisco, sailing for Oracle and preparing for the America’s Cup.
Kassandra Kist lives in New Jersey and works at Deloitte as an auditor in Princeton for Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Recently, Courtney Lada made the move to work at a social media marketing agency in Washington, DC, running the Facebook and Twitter accounts for the lotion company Eucerin.
Wynn Mitchell lives in Boston and is a restaurant and events manager at Radius in the financial district.
Hyerim Shin lives in Seattle and works at Microsoft as a software development engineer.
Alex Skeen lives in New York City, and works in publishing/fashion. He landed a job straight out of college at Condé Nast, and works with all of the brands/magazines they own including covering NY Fashion Week for Style.com, The Met Gala/Fashion’s Night Out for Vogue, Best Dressed Lists for Vanity Fair, and much more.
Gray Twombly works as a private chef on yachts. He has visited some amazing places in the last few years, including Costa Rica, Mexico, almost the entire Caribbean, Spain, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Florida and the Keys.
Scribes: Hannah C. Knowles hannahcknowles@gmail.com Sarah L. Knowles sarahlknowles@gmail.com Allison E. Rooney allisonerooney@gmail.com
Bakhtiyar Baidaralin works in the sales department of Hanna Instruments, a science instruments company in Woonsocket. Bakh likes the job and the challenges that it has to offer.
Ted Broderick graduated in May 2012 from Gettysburg College and works in Boston’s financial district.
Barrett Cavanaugh graduated in May from UVM with a BS in engineering and is employed and living in Connecticut.
David Curtis graduated in May 2012 from Gettysburg College, and is pursuing a master’s degree in sustainability management from Columbia University.
Allison Rooney graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, having studied psychology. She works as an extended day teacher at Brimmer and May School in Chestnut Hill and lives in Boston with fellow Rocky Hill classmate, Hannah Knowles. Hannah graduated in May 2012 from Gettysburg College and works at Robert Half International.
Sarah Knowles graduated in May 2012 from Connecticut College, majoring in architectural studies and art history. She works as the assistant director of admissions at Falmouth Academy, where she helps coach the basketball and lacrosse teams. She is excited for the spring when Falmouth plays Rocky Hill in lacrosse.
Tim Papa graduated from George Washington University with a BBA in May and moved to Brooklyn in August. “I’m working as a photographer and studying for my real estate license. I’m living the dream, across the river from Dave Curtis and a few blocks from my sister, Jill.”
Steven Tilley started graduate school at Johns Hopkins University, where he is pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering.
Jacqueline Weixel graduated from the College of Wooster and teaches French to high school students in Thailand. She plans to stay for at least a semester (maybe more).
2009 Class scribe volunteer needed alumni@rockyhill.org
Hudson Hackett, his brother Phil ‘10 and friends held their annual Turkey Bowl the day after Thanksgiving. Alumni in attendance included: Ted Broderick ‘08, Brendan Schultz ‘08, Walter Filkins ‘08, Patrick Mellor ‘08, John Gibbons, David Curtis ‘08, Walmen Dumaliang, Remy Corvese ‘08, Seth Curtis ‘12, Barrett Cavanagh ‘08, Anthony DonFrancesco, Steven Sparhawk ‘08 and Tory Dumas ‘10
2010 Scribe: Sarah Taylor staylor7@conncoll.edu
Anne “Shreve” Cameron studies communications with a concentration in media arts and a minor in PR/marketing at Simmons College. She is also a Red Bull Wings Team member. “We sample the product, drive the Mini Cooper with the can on top, clear up misinterpretations of the product, and look for those in need of energy. It’s been really fun and has helped me with my major, because we are directly part of Red Bull’s marketing approach.”
Chelsey Frost joined Boston College’s varsity rowing team and loves it. The crew is working towards competing at the ACC’s and the Henley Royal Regatta (UK) in June 2013. Chelsey is still a communications major and studio art minor, and plans to attend graduate school for architecture.
2011 Scribe: Stephanie Mattioli smattioli@my.uri.edu
Phoebe Bartlett wrote: “I had qualms about starting over at Boston University. Going from a class of 38 to a class of 4,000 turned out to be a much bigger leap than I had anticipated. Though I expected college in the city to be different, I couldn’t help but feel lost without all those comforts that made me feel so connected to everything and everyone at Rocky Hill. As my third semester at BU comes to a close, I am looking forward to everything that the school still has to offer me, but I will always be grateful for the education I received at RHS and all of the warm and caring classmates and staff there.”
Camden DiMicco wrote: “RHS is a time I will always remember. The relationships I established with teachers and friends are priceless.”
confident individual. I try to challenge myself every day, which is a skill Rocky Hill taught me. In the last year, I have completed a summer abroad program in Italy, created an Italian Club on campus at URI, and began to research potential universities for my study abroad next fall.”
Miranda Puddington wrote: “My college experience at Simmons College in Boston has been great so far. I am enjoying nursing school and getting ready for clinical placement. I didn’t realize what a great science foundation I got at Rocky Hill School and how it has helped me in college. Thank you, Rocky Hill.”
2012 Scribe: Shannon M. O’Rourke shannonn28@verizon.net
Aaron Bullock enjoys his time at University of Tampa as a finance major and member of the varsity crew team. He is in the second seat of a 4+ sweep boat.
Sarah Taylor is a double major in art and psychology at Connecticut College and looks forward to traveling abroad for four weeks with a few friends from school during Christmas break.
Maki Tazawa spent four months in Queensland, Australia, studying the rain forest, tree kangaroos, and admiring all the region had to offer, including the Great Barrier Reef. “I just finished a semester in Oxford, England. Since leaving RHS, I have worked at Casey Trees and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, as well as with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Save the Bay back in RI. I am looking forward to getting back to GW, where I am studying international affairs and environmental studies.”
Xiaotian “Dennis” Wu visited campus over the summer and met with Head of School Jonathan Schoenwald
Jonathan Pine will be attending Quinnipiac University, studying political science and communications. At the end of the summer, he was promoted to assistant director at Amherst Nike Junior Tennis Camp, and most recently worked as a deputy field organizer for the Rhode Island State Democratic Party on the successful Cicilline for Congress campaign. Jonathan said that Phil Gyampo was working as an intern for the Cicilline campaign as well.
Sam Jedrey wrote: “Rocky Hill as a college preparatory school has done its job successfully. I feel that I am able to manage my time efficiently, balancing course work with personal leisure time and social activities. I appreciate and am thankful for everything Rocky Hill has done for me.”
Miguel Lara wrote: “I made a hard decision by leaving competitive soccer for good, and am no longer playing for Clark University. However, I am now working on the school’s admissions team and for residential life and housing as an RA. I continue to referee soccer and recently traveled to California for nationals and to Pennsylvania and New Hampshire for regional events. I am very glad to see the great things happening at the Hill. All the best for another amazing school year.”
Stephanie Mattioli wrote, “I cannot believe that I am already a sophomore. Rocky Hill has truly shaped me into a
Maria Charbonneau is in the pharmacy program at the University of Rhode Island. When her nose is not in the books, she can be found attending ballroom dance classes or with her new friends from the Newman Club, cooking dinner once a week.
Lauren Gertz is majoring in forensic psychology at Quinnipiac University. She is an active member of the Student Programming Board and the Community Action Project. Lauren is also a tour guide for the admissions office.
Sam Hallowell and Giles Van Gruisen were recently in San Francisco with a number of other sailors competing for an Oracle Racing-sponsored spot in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. Sam is one of seven sailing for the team, and Giles is the media crew member. The team trained with Oracle Team USA and sailed on the AC45s for two days, and Giles was there documenting it.
Ben Hardy was traveling in Lakey Peak, Sumbawa, Indonesia, and Bali.Katie Meringolo is a nutritional science and sociology major at Pepperdine University. She is a part of the Delta Gamma sorority, and will travel to Florence for a semester next spring.
Shannon O’Rourke is at Roger Williams University, majoring in marine biology and minoring in sustainability. She is a candidate for a residential assistant position next year and looks forward to being a counselor at Rocky Hill’s Summer Enrichment Academy this year.
Photo from Florida alumni gathering in December 2012: Shirley Friedman, Murray Friedman, Lauren Friedman ‘02, Richard Koblick, Allison Friedman ‘05, Marc Blumstein, former RHS staff member Muriel Hall and Director of Alumni Relations Liz Cochran.
On December 19, 2012, Rocky Hill lost Dick Barker ‘54, one of the School’s most supportive and involved alumni. It is with great admiration and appreciation that we honor Dick’s many years of service; he will be greatly missed.
In the 1984 edition of The Bulletin, Dick wrote: “My involvement with Rocky Hill Country Day School goes back to a September morning in 1947, when a Ford beach wagon ‘school bus’ picked me up in Cranston to take me to my first day of school. The next six years were some of the most memorable for me...” Sixty-five years later, Dick was still an engaged and important member of the school community who left a legacy of service unmatched by any other.
Dick attended Rocky Hill through the eighth grade (the School only served students through ninth grade at the time), graduated from high school in 1957, and attended Bryant College. He went on to have a very successful career in banking and finance.
Dick was quick to return to Rocky Hill as a volunteer and served as a member and officer of the Alumni Association from 1968-1988. Dick joined the board of trustees in 1984 and served as president from 1988-1993. He returned to the board in 2000 as treasurer and held that position until this past October when he was designated an honorary member. He stilled served on the School’s Finance Committee and was a trusted adviser to the head of school and business manager.
Dick and his wife, Carol, have shared a lifetime with Rocky Hill and we have been truly blessed to call them family. They are pictured above watching their granddaughter Eliza ‘25 at GrandFriends’ Day 2012.
Robert F. Audet (6/9/12)
3/5/2012 - 12/19/2012
Son of library volunteer Olga (Roy) Audet, brother of trustee and former head of Lower School Joan Osowa, uncle of Jill Millard ‘94
Richard S. Barker Sr. ‘54 (12/19/12)
Former board president, trustee, father of Richard S. Barker Jr ‘83, grandfather of Eliza Barker ‘25, father-in-law to ACE teacher Whitney Barker
Dorothy Downing Hagen “Dede Forker” (9/14/12)
Former third grade teacher (1992-1993)
Dr. Joseph DiMase (4/28/12)
Father of Sherrie DiMase (former ACE faculty), grandfather of Shane Woolley ‘15
William A. Foster (1/23/2012)
Father of John Foster ‘74
Arnold T. Galkin (11/20/12)
Father of Paul Jonathan Galkin ‘67, husband of former PTL president Alice Galkin
Alexander Gray III (12/7/12)
Father of Alexander Gray ‘99
Cassandra J. ‘Sandy’ Lovejoy (10/31/12)
Former librarian (‘83-‘07), mother of Jonathan Lovejoy ‘87
Lawrence Stang Millard (7/17/12)
Grandfather of Nathaniel Awkerman ‘14
Milan Novakovic (10/3/12)
Father of trustee and former PTL president Gordana Novakovic-Petteruti, grandfather of Alina ‘09, Robert ‘13 and Anessa Petteruti ‘17
Dr. Ando I. Suvari (3/2/12)
Father of Lt. Col. Sulev ‘90, Yuri ‘94 and Mena Suvari ‘97.
Clarke N. Westall (5/1/12)
Father of Katrina Westall ‘01
Last year the Journal of Consumer Psychology published an article titled, “If money doesn’t make you happy, then you probably aren’t spending it right.” The first two suggestions on how to best spend your money were:
1. Buy experiences instead of things.
2. Help others instead of yourself.
I couldn’t help but think that committing to an independent school education falls quite neatly into these categories.
Certainly as a parent, student or alum, you became a member of the Rocky Hill community in order to receive an invaluable educational experience. For some, tuition is a very manageable expense, and for others it represents a significant challenge; most would agree, however, that it is money well spent. We can all recall particular teachers, projects, friendships or personal successes that we could never put a price tag on. These experiences are possible thanks to a carefully constructed community of students, teachers and parents who are all committed to getting the most out of each and every day. Rocky Hill builds a strong student body not by admitting only those who can readily afford an independent school education, but by admitting students who will thrive here and contribute to the life of the School. A strong commitment to need-based financial aid and merit scholarships makes selectivity and accessibility possible. In turn, each individual student’s experience is enriched by an overall diverse and dynamic group of learners.
Now, let’s get to the second suggestion of how best to spend your money. Who hasn’t felt the satisfaction that comes from helping someone? A simple gesture or a significant outreach can have a lasting impact on the recipient. When it comes to education, we can’t all impact students in the same way that teachers do, but when we give back as volunteers and donors, we support the magic that happens in each and every classroom. If you believe that an independent school education for your own child or yourself is/was a meaningful pursuit, then you can surely see that supporting the same opportunity for another child is a substantial and potentially life-changing gift. And what if the student who needs tuition assistance is your child’s best friend, the class valedictorian, or a student leader whom others aspire to emulate—the impact of that gift of support is even more significant and far-reaching.
I hope that when you make a commitment to Rocky Hill School it does make you happy. A great education is a gift that lasts a lifetime and I can’t think of many investments that yield a comparable return.
We extend our thanks to all who support Rocky Hill. Live well, give generously, and be happy!
ReAd the 2011-12
AnnuAl RepoRt At RoCkyhill.oRg/ AnnuAlRepoRt
FInanCIal assIstanCe bY the nuMbers
144 $15,035 $11,429 $2,000-$24,000
Students receiving financial assistance (remission, merit scholarship, financial aid)
Average financial aid award
Average scholarship award range of financial assistant awards
Last year alumni giving rose to 15%—double the number of alumni donors from 2010-11—which resulted in achieving the Alumni Participation Challenge and securing an additional $5,000 for the School. Thank you to all who participated and helped us reach our goal.
If alumni reach 17.5% participation in the 2012-13 Annual Fund by June 30, 2013, Alumni Challenge founders will donate an additional $6,000 to the School.
Please support this year’s challenge and the Annual Fund today. Give online at www.rockyhill.org/giveonline. (Alumni participation as of December 14, 2012 was 6%.)
Alumni Challenge Founders
Monica (Iacono) Boss ‘91
John Carney ‘88
Kim Magner Carney ‘89
Sally Kenyon Grant ‘87
Jonathan Hough ‘84
Charles P. Iacono ‘99
Liana Magner ‘91
Dawn (Dunley) Roch ‘83
Ray Roch ‘83
Kevin Sciotto ‘86
Page Cooper Sciotto ‘86
Ceileidh Siegel ‘01
Sarah (Shaw) Siskin ‘78
Lauren M. Smith ‘86
“As a senior, I realize all of the special opportunities and responsibilities the School and the financial aid program have provided for me. I am a senior prefect and I feel as though Rocky Hill is my second family. I also feel prepared for college, where I wish to study medicine, and, hopefully, to one day receive my doctorate degree.
“I owe all of my success in my high school and college careers to Rocky Hill School, and the special people that donate and support the financial aid resource for students who need it.”
TheParent Teacher League (PTL) is eager to support the mission of Rocky Hill’s strategic plan with its upcoming gala fundraiser Catch the Wave on April 20, 2013.
Partnering with Rocky Hill’s Alumni Association, the PTL will work to raise funds that will have a significant impact on each student in the areas of academics, arts and athletics. Funds raised will support the School’s ongoing initiatives, which include technology equipment, professional development, scholarship support and more.
The PTL encourages all parents to volunteer and become an active part of the Rocky Hill community. Ultimately, your participation helps our children realize their full potential. The parent community understands that Rocky Hill is indeed a small school with big opportunities. We look forward to your help in achieving these goals.
2011-12 PtL funded Projects
• Lower School cameras
• campbell cafeteria renovations
• community Service Projects
• field day Supplies
• financial Aid Program
• kirkland gibson faculty Summer Enrichment fund
• Middle School iPad Accessories
• Projectors in Lower & Middle School
• Professional development
• national Sportsmanship day Speaker
• the crest yearbook
• Speaker forums
• Upper School Water fountain installation
PtL Supported Events & Programs
• Eighth grade dinner
• barnes & noble book fair
• book buy back
• box tops for Education
• faculty Appreciation Luncheon & Events
• fall classic
• fall Welcome reception
• Founders’ Day
• Lower School Boys’ Day Out
• Lower School Girls’ Night Out
• Mentor family Program
• Senior Seminar
• Speaker forums
• Upper School Pasta night
• World cultures Week
parents arounD CaMpus:
1. George Grayson participates in the fourth and fifth grade EnviroEd program, with daughter Alyssa ‘19 and Jaylene Lanzot ‘19.
2. (From left): Art teacher Kara Dunne, and PTL members Sue Withers, Rosita Ball, Kristin McCaughey and Laura Dignan at a PTL-sponsored faculty appreciation luncheon.
3. Jonas and Tracie Seed enjoy the PTL Welcome Reception in September.
Lower and Middle School Moving Up Day ceremonies were held on June 7, 2012. Parents, faculty and classmates gathered to honor fifth and eighth grade students who were moving up to the next division. Congratulations to all students, including the following award recipients:
Grade 6 Faculty Book Prize
Georgia Saville ‘18
Grade 7 Faculty Book Prize
Abigail Siegel ‘17
Grade 8 Faculty Book Prize
Allison DeGerlia ‘16
Grade 6 Scholar
Olivia DePasquale ‘18
Grade 7 Scholars
Annessa Petteruti ‘17
Grade 8 Scholar
Lauren Silva ‘16
Flynn Awards for Sportsmanship
Zachary Jennings ‘16
Julia Janikies ‘16
The Williams College Book Award
Sabrina Dumas ‘16
Middle School Fine Arts Awards
Zachary Jennings ‘16
Sabrina Dumas ‘16
Middle School Faculty Citizenship Award
Allison DeGerlia ‘16
Joan Osowa Lower School Citizenship Award
Chloe Ponte ‘19
Lower School Marshall Book Prize
Second Grade
The Mary S. Wright Go FOURTH Award
Alyazya AL-Hebsi ‘19
Nine Season Athletes
Luke Ardente ‘16
Sabrina Dumas ‘16
Julia Janikies ‘16
(From top): Joan Osowa, trustee and former head of Lower School, presents the Lower School Citizenship Award to Chloe Ponte ‘19; The Class of 2019 before their fifth grade Moving Up Day ceremony; The Class of 2016 before their eighth grade Moving Up Day ceremony.LastJune, the Rocky Hill community bid farewell to Paul Tukey, who retired from the school after 36 years of teaching, coaching and administrating. Paul’s many contributions to the School were celebrated at Reunion 2012 when he was honored and presented with special gifts from the Alumni Association. Friends, family, colleagues and former students sent Paul off with a night to remember and wished him all the best as he headed into retirement.
As has become a tradition at end-of-the-year meetings, the School acknowledged faculty and staff milestones and bid adieu to those who were leaving to pursue other opportunities.
5-YEAR MILESTONE
Liz Carley, Kindergarten
Rich Dempsey, Head of Upper School
Sherrie DiMase, Lower School ACE
Art Entwistle, Athletic Trainer, Assistant Athletic Director
Rob Lee, Upper School Social Science
Nancy Maguire-Rambo, Middle & Lower School Spanish
Eric Wyzga, Lower School Science
10-YEAR MILESTONE
Liz Cochran, Director of Alumni Relations & Development Office Mgr.
15-YEAR MILESTONE
Maureen Fahey, Upper School Math & Community Service Coordinator
Barbara Feingold, Business Office
FAREWELLS
Greg Crout, Middle School Math & Science
Jack Crow, Second Grade
Allison Demetros, Librarian
Susan Derderian, Upper School French
Liz Diaz, Upper School Spanish
Sherrie DiMase, Lower School ACE
Barbara Feingold, Business Office
Ted MacDonald, Lower & Middle School Technology
Marcia Moon, ESL
Jon Spencer, Upper School Physics
Joanne Temkin, Preschool
Paul Tukey, College Counselor, Upper School English
Amy Wood, Upper School English
Lindsey Yates, Special Events Coordinator
Dane Ardente
Kathryn Barrall
Alexander Boghossian
Aaron Bullock
Michael Caramadre
Maria Charbonneau
Seth Curtis
Sarah D’Agostino
Bryan Erickson
Ezekiel Farrell
Lauren Gertz
Samuel Hallowell
Benjamin Hardy
Joseph Jordan
Jordan Karnes
Ford Kelly-Riley
Cameron Kilroy
Victoria Kue
William Larcom
Christina Leahy
Katherine Meringolo
Abby Moylan
Matthew Nota
Shannon O’Rourke
Robert Parker
Steven Petteruti
William Pontarelli
Emma Powers
Julia Ritter
Katherine Roberts
Cooper Robinson
Petra Ross
Victoria Sceery
Tingying Su
Tyler Thran
Aidan Toohey
Giles Van Gruisen
Ci Wang
Laura White
Simon Winokoor
Yin Yefko
The University of Montana
Eckerd College
Curry College
The University of Tampa
Bentley University
URI College of Pharmacy
The University of Maine
Merrimack College
Quinnipiac University
Clark University
Quinnipiac University
Hobart College
Coastal Carolina University
Gettysburg College
Springfield College
Connecticut College
Saint Michael’s College
Alfred University
Clarkson University
Emmanuel College
Pepperdine University
Elon University
Castleton State College
Roger Williams University
Roanoke College
Harvard University
Saint Joseph’s University
Siena College
Roanoke College
Wake Forest University
Rhodes College
Brandeis University
University of Rhode Island
George Washington University
University of Vermont
Savannah College of Art & Design
Entrepreneurial Business
Drexel University
Emmanuel College
Syracuse University
University of Vermont
On Friday, June 8, 2012, Martin Keen of KEEN Footwear spoke to students, faculty, family and friends during Commencement Exercises. Steven Petteruti addressed his classmates as valedictorian and Lauren Gertz presented the senior class gift: a drinking fountain in Flynn Academic Center.
Lifer Award
Almost Lifer
Alumni Athletic Achievement Award
Flynn Award for Sportsmanship
Sheldon Art Award
Howland Music Award - Instrumental
Howland Music Award - Vocal
Bell Gurnee Dramatic Arts Award
Foreman Award in Fine Arts
Spanish Language Award
Classics Book Prize
Campbell French Prize
Sharpe English Award
Gregor Award in Mathematics
MacMahon Science Award
Knight Book Award
Freshman Class Scholar
Sophomore Class Scholar
Junior Class Scholar
Senior Class Scholar
Mauran Bowl
Carpe Diem Award
Kirkland Gibson Award
SanAntonio Faculty Award
Community Service Award
Dane Ardente
Matthew Nota
Katherine Meringolo
Abby Moylan &
Ezekiel Farrell
Victoria Kue
Lily Hanlon ‘13
Hannah Thoms ‘13
Shannon O’Rourke
Ford Kelly-Riley
Yin Yefko
Victoria Kue
Maria Charbonneau
Katherine Roberts
Ford Kelly-Riley
Steven Petteruti
Tyler Thran
Abby Moylan
Brady Dill ‘15
David Golding ‘14
Lily Hanlon ‘13
Steven Petteruti
Tingying Su
Maria Charbonneau
Middle School
Meg Myette
Matt Gnolfo
Michele Nota