RPCS Laurel Leaf - Fall 2013

An Education Above

TM

Laurel Leaf Fall 2013

Hope for Future of Mental Illness Treatment

Zink’s Breakthrough Research Provides

I

n early November, as this year’s Sarah Crane Cohen Visiting Scholar in the Humanities, Dr. Caroline F. Zink, 1995, returned to the Sinex Theater podium for the first time since her senior speech to share her latest neurological research. While at RPCS, Cary—as we affectionately call her—was a Semiquaver and received the Sidney Silber Award for her love of learning, intellectual curiosity and achievement in the fields of math and science as a senior at Class Day. After graduating from RPCS, Dr. Zink received a B.S. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Emory University. She performed her post-doctoral training in the Unit for Systems Neuroscience in Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and is currently a neuroscientist in the division of Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging Genetics at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Dr. Zink spoke to the Upper School students during the day Jean Waller Brune with Dr. Caroline F. Zink, 1995 and to the greater community in the evening about her efforts in determining the biological basis for mental illness. Dr. Zink explained that current medicines for mental illnesses are imperfect, as they do not all target the correct neurotransmitters. Therefore, many patients’ symptoms are not relieved with their prescribed medicine. Dr. Zink’s current research focuses on isolating symptoms one at a time, finding the correlating neurologic activity, and then investigating the genetic influence on that activity.

Dr. Zink has made significant progress identifying the neurologic activity associated with lack of motivation, a symptom of many mental illnesses and one that has been stubbornly resistant to current treatment. Through fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), she has been able to measure brain activity and determine that the striatum is the area of the brain involved in motivation. In the experiments she created and ran at the Lieber Institute, she found that healthy people experience higher levels of brain activity in the striatum when highly motivated. Dr. Zink expects that in people with schizophrenia, there is lower brain activity, relative to the norm, in the striatum.

Once Dr. Zink and her fellow researchers at the Lieber Institute identify what area of the brain is involved, as they did with motivation and the striatum, they can investigate the genetic influence on that brain activity. The goal is to target these influences and develop effective treatment to prevent and relieve the symptoms. Through new research, there is hope.

About the Sarah Crane Cohen Visiting Scholar in the Humanities Lecture Through the generosity of the late Charles Crane, a Baltimore businessman and philanthropist, an endowment was established at Roland Park Country School in 1993. This fund was created in loving memory of Mr. Crane’s mother, Sarah Crane Cohen, a warm and compassionate woman who possessed a genuine fondness for all people. The Sarah Crane Cohen Visiting Scholar in the Humanities endowment brings a distinguished educator to campus each year.

Hope, Love, Help

In mid-October RPCS held the 5th annual Robinson Health

Colloquium. Generously funded by former Trustee and parent of an alumna James G. Robinson, who believes that parents must be fully engaged in the lives of their daughters, the Robinson Health Colloquium focused this year on adolescent depression awareness. RPCS has partnered with Karen L. Swartz, M.D., founder and program director of the Johns Hopkins University Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) to provide a comprehensive program to educate the community about the medical illnesses of depression and bipolar disorder. Depression affects approximately five percent of today’s teenagers and adolescent girls suffer from it at a rate nearly three times that of boys their age. As part of the colloquium, an Upper School Assembly was held featuring a panel including Dr. Swartz, our alumna, current parent and school physician Amy Winkelstein, 1992, and

other psychologists and social workers. Mary Beth Marsden, news anchor at WBAL Radio, moderated the panel and asked each of the panelists to leave the students with a final thought on adolescent depression. Each of the panelists shared a consistent message of hope, love and help. Hope that things can and will get better because medical advances make treatment more accessible and understandable; love for yourself as an important person and for your friends; help because treatment for yourself or someone you care for is available. As part of the Colloquium, Dr. Swartz led a faculty workshop in the afternoon and presented an evening for parents and other interested adults in the community. RPCS is incorporating the ADAP curriculum into Upper School Issues classes in all four grade levels this year. In subsequent years, it will be an integral part of the 9th Grade curriculum.

(L-R) Beth Robinson deVilliers,1996, James G. Robinson, Mary Beth Marsden, Dr. Karen Swartz, Dr. Heather Powell, Dr. Maggie Seide, Dr. Amy Winklestein, 1992, Allyson Michael, LCSW-C and Jean Waller Brune

Roland Park Country School

&

❧ Andi Weinberg, 2016, had an exciting summer playing field hockey. Andi was selected to represent the Chesapeake region in the National Futures Championship that was held in June at Virginia Beach. (Senior Natalie Faust also attended and competed in the U19 division). Andi’s team, Tokyo, won the Gold Medal for the U16 division. After attending the National Futures Championship, Andi was also invited to play in the AAU Junior Olympics which were held July 29–August 3 at the University of Michigan. ❧ Caitlin Curtis, 2015, competed in the IronGirl triathlon in August and came in 9th in her age group.

❧ Hannah Krich, 2015, took 4th place in two equestrian events at the Maryland State Fair in September. Hannah has been participating in the State Fair since she was four years old, first in grooming and fitting and then in equestrian events. She has taken many different ribbons, including a Reserve Champion ribbon and first and second places. ❧ Quid Nunc editors Megan Beto, 2014 and Abbey Muhly, 2014, won the first place award for Best Content, Coverage, and Organization for the 2014 yearbook at the 2013 Yearbook Camp held by Jostens at Gettysburg College in July.

❧ Ella Frankel, 2014, was named a semifinalist in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program and is eligible to compete further for National Merit Scholarship awards. Seniors Abbey Muhly and Ava Todd were named Commended Students. Ciara Johnson, 2014, was named one of the 3100 Outstanding Participants in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. The National Achievement Scholarship Program was initiated in 1964 specifically to honor academically promising students and is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarship. These awards have been given to high school students since 1955. ❧ Toni-Ann Williams, 2014, placed 45th in the all-around competition at the World Gymnastics Championship in Antwerp, Belgium in September. Toni-Ann competed against 134 athletes from 57 countries, placing 37th on floor exercise and 38th on vault. Williams, who retains dual citizenship, is the first athlete to compete internationally for Jamaica in women’s artistic gymnastics. In addition to representing that nation at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, she has earned various state, regional, and national titles in the U.S. Junior Olympic program.

Ava Todd and Kristin Polk

❧ Seniors Ava Todd and Kristin Polk were ranked 8th in the nation in the 2013 Platform Tennis National. They made it to the semifinals of the national tournament in Philadelphia for girls under 18.

The Varsity volleyball team

❧ In October, the Varsity volleyball team volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House of Baltimore during activity hour with the children. The team brought face paint and [continued on next page]

RPCS Welcomes New Trustees Laura George Cochran, 1990 graduating, she began her is a graduate of Wittenberg career in advertising at The University, where she majored Martin Agency in Richmond, in Psychology with a minor in working on multiple accounts Biology. She earned a Master’s including Mercedes-Benz, of Occupational Therapy from Saab and Amgen. She also has Boston University‘s Sargent experience in Direct Marketing College of Allied Health which she gained through Professions. Since returning her employment at Capital to Baltimore in 1998, she has One. Natalie is a dedicated worked for Care Resources in community service volunteer Towson, providing contractual whose experience includes (L-R) Laura Cochran, Natalie Nichols, Lee Roebuck, and Fran Smith services for various school involvement with Maryland systems and regional medical facilities, with a focus on Family & Children Services, Maryland Antiques Show of pediatrics. Laura was an active member of the RPCS Hunt Valley, and the Junior League as well as extensive Alumnae Board for seven years. She also is a lifetime involvement with both Roland Park Country School and member of the Roland Park Presbyterian Church where Gilman. Natalie and Matt have eleven year old twins, she has served in many capacities including Sunday Abby, RPCS, 2020 and Jake, Gilman Class of 2020.

School teacher, member of the Board of Deacons and Lee Roebuck will serve a one-year term, ex officio, currently as president of the Buildings and Grounds on the Board of Trustees as President of the RPCS Committee. Laura and her husband John have a Parents’ Association. A native of Philadelphia, PA, she daughter Maddie, in the Class of 2021. Their family has received her B.A. in English from Sweet Briar College many Roland Park Country School connections. in Virginia. Prior to moving to Baltimore, Lee was W. Kyle Gore has just completed a one-year term, Assistant to the Vice President of Strategic Management ex officio, on the Board of Trustees, co-chairing the Group, Inc. specializing in executive development 2012–2013 Annual Giving Campaign with his wife seminars for Fortune 500 companies. In Baltimore, she Paula. Kyle is a Managing Director and Principal for was assistant to the Executive Director of the Baltimore CGA Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of Legg Mason, City Medical Society. She is now a full time community Inc. Kyle also served as Managing Director for RBS volunteer having served in various positions at Gilman Greenwich Capital and as Managing Director and School, the Junior League of Baltimore and the William co-head of Structured Finance for Legg Mason Wood S. Baer School Partnership Board. She also coaches field Walker, Inc. He is a frequent speaker at commercial real hockey at the Club level and for USA Field Hockey’s estate industry events and has served on the advisory Futures Program. Lee and her husband Charles are the boards for RealShare Media Net Lease conferences, parents of Emily, 2016.

Commercial Property News Net Lease, and The Real Frances E. Smith previously served on the RPCS Estate Finance Journal. Kyle has been an active volunteer Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2006 and continues for Dartmouth for over 25 years, having served as to prioritize Roland Park Country School among her Class Head Agent, member of the Alumni Council and volunteer and philanthropic interests. A former Chair of currently as a member of the Class Executive Committee the Enrollment and Financial Assistance Committee and and the Leadership Gifts Committee for his Class. Kyle member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Fran recently was appointed to the national Dartmouth was educated at the University of Maryland Baltimore College Alumni Fund Committee. Kyle and Paula have County. Her community activity includes service on the two daughters at RPCS: Regan, 2015 and Cailin, 2017. board of Gilchrist Hospice Care at the Greater Baltimore Natalie Kay Nichols will serve a one year term, Medical Center and The High Rock Foundation. Fran ex-officio, as co-chair with her husband Matthew, of and her husband Duncan have long-standing close the 2013–2014 Annual Giving Campaign. A native of connections to RPCS through Fran’s daughter Amy Richmond, Natalie received her Bachelor of Science Anderson, who teaches Middle School Theater, their in Business from The University of Virginia. After three alumnae daughters and two granddaughters in the Lower School.

V2013 Kent Sabbaticals

❧ news

LYNDA-MARIE ALLEN~Lower and Middle School French Lynda spent a week in Santa Fe, NM where she immersed herself in Spanish colonial history. She visited El Rancho de las Golondrinas, a circa 1700 land grant from the Spanish king held by the same family well into the 20th Century. Today, it is a living history museum and contains not only the original adobe buildings but also several original historical structures from throughout northern New Mexico. Readers of the American Girl series, Josefina, will recognize the ranch as the setting. Lynda also visited many museums, including the Palace of the Governors, America’s oldest governor’s residence, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, and the New Mexico Museum of History. She cannot wait to share her experiences with her Third Grade Spanish class when they read Meet Josefina in class.

DAVID BROCK~Upper School Science Department Chair – STEM Institute David traveled to “the big West,” visiting Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Devil’s Tower, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Rock Mountain National Park. David’s specific goal was to examine the impact of global climate change on the pine beetle invasion on the forest stands out West.

In addition, Yellowstone is the heart of “archae” country (one of the three domains of life) with the special organisms that live in hot springs. David took hundreds of photos which he plans to use in his ecology class to teach about the origins and evolution of early life on earth.

KITTY DAVIS~Assistant Head of Lower School for Early Childhood Education Kitty traveled to Honolulu to attend the Ninth NAREA (North American Reggio Emilia Alliance) Summer Conference. The Mid-Pacific Institute, a Pre-K–12 independent school in Honolulu, was host to the conference honoring the child as learner, collaborator and citizen. The conference was anchored by The Wonder of Learning exhibit presented at the University of Hawaii, which allows its viewers to gain an idea of the ways children learn, and the Reggio Approach of making learning visible. Kitty, accompanied

by Pre-K teacher Karen Macfarlane, learned how to better adapt an inquiry based curriculum where the child is the leader in her/his own discovery and understanding of their world.

Through activities and lectures, the importance of play and discovery were reinforced. Kitty returned

&

fall

sports wrap•up

notes

Varsity Volleyball In front of a packed crowd in the RPCS Athletic Complex, the RPCS Varsity volleyball team swept Mercy (25-23, 25-12, 27-25) to claim their first ever title in the B Conference and their first volleyball title in ten years. Assistant coach Dani Kell Steinbach remarked, “The 2013 Varsity volleyball team ended the season with a bang, winning the IAAM B Conference Championship. The team, led by captains Ariana Rodriguez and Alexis Green, held the number two spot in the league for most The 2013 Varsity volleyball team of the season, behind Mercy, whom the REDS defeated in the championship match 3-0. It was a season of hard work, dedication, and spirited team play from the REDS that brought home the trophy in the end.”

Varsity Tennis Allie Graul, 2015 and Cailin Gore, 2017 won No. 3 doubles in the IAAM A Conference Championship.

Varsity Soccer The Varsity soccer team knocked off the undefeated team of IND in the semifinals to earn a place in the IAAM B Conference Championship. Despite an inspired effort and overwhelming fan support, RPCS lost to Friends 1-0 in a tightly contested game.

[continued]

crafts to share with the residents, and since the weather kept them inside, they played “sitting” volleyball in the activity room. It was a truly rewarding service experience for the team as they learned about the Roland McDonald House Charity, got a tour of the House, and were able to help put smiles on the faces of the children and their families.

❧ In September, ten local students were recognized as scholar athletes by U.S. Squash for the 2012–13 year. To be recognized as a scholar, a person must have a combined 3.5 GPA and play in 4 U.S. sanctioned tournaments. Katie Tutrone, 2013, a 4 time winner and now a student at Harvard University, tops the list for Maryland.

Cross-Country State Champions! Three girls finished in the top ten and earned medal honors: Hannah Rhea, Alayna Gibson and Keeley McNamar.

IAAM All-Stars Soccer~Mackenzie Birely and Francesca Whitehurst Tennis~Allie Graul and Cailin Gore Volleyball~Ariana Rodriguez and Olivia Stevens Field Hockey~Natalie Faust and Emily Roebuck Congratulations to the following Student-Athletes who signed a National Letter of Intent in November to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level: Katie Bolte~Lacrosse CeCe Finney~Lacrosse Abbey Muhly~Lacrosse Toni-Ann Williams~Gymnastics

The Athletic Hall of Fame

2013 Varsity soccer captains

Middle School Cross Country Congratulations to the IAAM League Culminating Meet Winners and the DC/MD Private Middle Schools

is intended to pay tribute and extend recognition to those individuals and/or teams who have made a significant contribution to RPCS athletics. If you would like to nominate an individual and/ or team to be a part of this prestigious group, please consider submitting a nomination form to the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. Selection criteria and the nomination form can be found at www.rpcs.org.

Contact Katy Spencer, spencerk@ rpcs.org Middle School Cross-Country Alayna Gibson, Keeley McNemar and Hannah Rhea

with a renewed commitment to the philosophy of the RPCS Preschool, where children learn from actively investigating the world around them and where play, the child’s work, is their most important way of learning.

JUSTIN HILL~Upper School History Justin traveled through Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to examine how public memory of the Civil War is presented and has changed over the last generation. It used to be typical for Civil War sites to focus on military events and portray the armies of each side as courageous and honorable. In the wake of the Civil Rights Movement and new historical scholarship, this has changed at sites run by the National Park Service, such as Fort Sumter, to include an emphasis on causes, namely slavery, and to place military events in their political, economic, and social context. By contrast, private Southern museums and sites, such as the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, still avoid or marginalize these elements. Justin visited numerous public and privately run Civil War sites to gather evidence on the reasons for this pattern and will incorporate it into lessons in his AP United States History course.

LINDSAY SAFFER~Lower School, First Grade Lindsay traveled to Hawaii to learn more about its history and culture. She stayed mainly on the big island of Hawaii, but also took a day trip to Oahu, where she visited Pearl Harbor, the sites of the U.S.S. Arizona and the U.S.S. Missouri, as well as the Punchbowl cemetery where many who served in Pearl Harbor are buried.

On the big island, Lindsay visited the Jaggar Museum at Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, and the Captain Cook monument. Lindsay brought back books to read with her class, including Aloha Is…, Snow White and the Seven Menehune and A Coconut Named Bob. Lindsay was interested in learning about leis, what flowers are used and when they are presented. The First Grade will make leis using paper flowers to mark various occasions throughout the school year.

❧ Ella Charon, 2013, received photo credit for her three pictures in the August newsletter for Earl’s Place, a housing and homeless shelter in Baltimore. Ella is currently in Kenya on a service trip with the Elewana Project until November 24. Ella spoke with US students in an assembly in October along with Topher Kerr from the Elewana Project. RPCS is hoping to partner with the Elewana Project on a community service trip to Kenya in July. ❧ Jennifer Hinkle, 2008, graduated from Boston University in 2012 and is now a photographer/designer. Her illustration was selected for the cover of Nature magazine July 11, 2013 issue. ❧ Martha Dillard Gomer, 1965, received the inaugural Martha Gomer Outstanding Child Nutrition Supervisor Award, which was established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in Gomer’s name to honor her exemplary service in the critical area of child nutrition. The award was presented at a state meeting of the North Carolina School Nutrition Association (SNA), held this past summer.

❧ Judy Comotto, Director of External Programs, was awarded the Penzance Plate by the Young Victorian Theatre Company for her help in making their transition to RPCS this summer seamless. The award goes to someone who makes an outstanding behind-the-scenes contribution to the Theatre Company.

❧ Sylvie Van Helden, Upper School Photography, was selected for a juried show at the Maryland Art Place from September 19–October 26. The exhibit includes works from Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania artists. It was juried by Kristen Hileman, Curator of Contemporary Art and Department Head at the Baltimore Museum of Art. ❧ Tara Kramer, Lower School Physical Education and Varsity golf coach, was inducted into the Phoenixville Area School District Sports Hall of Fame in October. This is the third class to be enshrined at Phoenixville.

JJMMRC Exhibit

❧ The Juanita Jackson Mitchell Multicultural Resource Center’s permanent traveling exhibit chronicling the life of Juanita Jackson Mitchell and family will be on exhibit on the second floor of the Miller Senate Building in Annapolis.

It will be on display through April 2014. Kudos to Janice Moore and Evelyn McClarry, co-directors of the JJMMRC for sharing Crusader for Freedom with the public, especially in Maryland.

KELSEY TWIST SCHROEDER, 2001~Upper School Dean of Students Kelsey traveled to Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY for her first sabbatical. A summer community dedicated to the arts, education, religion, recreation, and youth, it is the perfect place for intellectual, spiritual, and physical growth and restoration. In addition to sailing, enjoying the beach with her two children, going to the symphony, and reading, Kelsey had the opportunity to enroll in a seminar with Duke Professor and behavioral economist, Dan Ariely. Ariely’s most recent research focusses on understanding how dishonesty really works and [continued on back page]

Kent Sabbaticals 2013

[continued from inside]

how to promote honor in various contexts. This course will help inform her work with the student Honor Board and also helped her introduce new research-based practices that promote honor to the Upper School community.

GREG TIMM~Upper School Mathematics and Scheduling Greg traveled to China for three weeks this summer. He visited Beijing to see the Forbidden Palace, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall. In Xian Greg saw the Terra Cotta Warriors, and in Chengdu visited the Giant Panda Reserve.

Greg’s highlights were seeing the Himalayas in Tibet and climbing up to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. He also cruised the Three Gorges area of the Yangtze River and ended the trip in Hong Kong. Greg experienced a home stay in a country village and visited various schools and factories. Greg chose to visit China to learn more about Chinese culture and history in order to better understand our boarding international students from China.

AERIE TRESKA~Upper School English, Department Coordinator After years of wanting to visit the land of both Anne of Green Gables and her own maternal ancestors, Aerie traveled north to Prince Edward Island, Canada by way of New England and New Brunswick. Aerie takes great pride in being a member of a green community here at RPCS, and thus combined multiple nights of camping (in Laramie State Park, ME and near the Bay of Fundy) with a weeklong stay in an off-thegrid, solar paneled cottage in Goose River, PEI, facing the

warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In addition to visiting the home of L.M. Montgomery, searching tiny cemeteries for signs of Irvings and McLarens, combing the beach for sea glass, and enjoying her summer reading, Aerie took nearly 2000 photographs as part of her passion for the art of visual storytelling. She looks forward to continued work in her English classes on the connection between imagery and language, the impact of landscape on literature, and the fecundity of one’s ancestry as a catalyst for compelling prose and poetry.

JANINE VREATT~Sinex Theater Technical Director, Upper School Theater–Design Elements Janine traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, to attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Festival spans the month of August and showcases countless performance types and styles in fantastically diverse performance spaces all over the city of Edinburgh, ranging from churches to underground tunnels to yurts to dedicated theater venues. She attended bunraku style puppet shows, straight plays, musicals, cabarets, aerial acrobatics performances, and sketch comedy, among others. Over the course of four days she attended sixteen different shows, some with elaborate projection work, some with gigantic actor-driven puppets and complex scenic machinery, and some with no scenery at all. Many of the performance spaces were not unlike RPCS’s own Tyler Studio, in terms of equipment and square footage, allowing Janine to re-imagine potential new and creative uses of that unique space. Some of the shows incorporated fantastical elements which would be exciting to bring to the students on the Sinex Theater main stage, like puppets, and iPads and projections as scenery. Overall, Janine returned from the Fringe re-inspired as a designer, teacher, and lover of theatrical design.

Laurel Leaf

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAID

Roland Park Country School 5204 Roland Ave. Baltimore, MD 21210

Baltimore, MD Permit No. 3621

Fall 2013 www.rpcs.org

Get the free mobile app at http://gettag.mobi

{Classes of 2009–2013}

Please forward contact information and updates to Missie Mack, Director of Alumnae Relations, mackm@rpcs.org or 410-323-5500 x3040

planned giving Who would you rather be the recipient of your IRA account— the government or Roland Park Country School?

student artwork

We want to keep in touch with you!

Please share your current mailing and email address with the Alumnae Office.

For more information about making a deferred gift to RPCS, contact Ginny Wood Delauney, Director of Gift Planning, delauneyg@rpcs.org or 410.323.500, ext. 3139.

Sherry Xu, 2014, mixed media