FALL
2020
the bulletin
Stoneleigh-Burnham School
connected than ever
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FA L L
2020
Connect with SBS
Editor
sbschool.org
Maeve Ryan, Marketing & Communications Manager Design Peter Chilton, peterchilton.com Editorial Board Stephanie Luebbers, Head of School Susan Mattei, Director of Development & Alumnae Relations Kathleen Tuck Fontaine ’83, Assistant Director of Development & Alumnae Relations Mark Luebbers Cole Whitaker, Assistant to the Head of School & Special Projects Manager Kristen Mariotti, Assistant Head of School for Enrollment & Strategy Sharon Weyers P’13, Associate Director of Admissions & Director of Financial Aid Contributors Lauren Cunniffe P’09, Director of College Counseling & Academic Dean Sara Gibbons ’98, Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life Bri Rooks ’18
“Life will present you with unexpected challenges but you know this — you’re living through one right now. You are changemakers. You are activists. You are harder than steel, and you are ready for what’s next.” - Student Life and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator Sam Sattin Torres ’08 in her Commencement Address to the Class of 2020
“The DEI Task Force is creating a strategic vision to ensure that SBS has the institutional commitment to make diversity, equity and inclusion a reality for all students, current and future.”
- Board of Trustees Member and Chair of the DEI Task Force Dr. Denise Bruner ’70
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Change of address? Email kfontaine@sbschool.org or sbschool.org/alumnae/update-contact-info/
“What I learned at SBS was how to be comfortable in speaking up and out — especially when it was challenging — and how to develop confidence in myself as a creative.”
- Brianna Zimmerman ’15 reflecting on her time at SBS, after her work was published in The Yale Review
in this issue: 2
How We Are MORE by Maeve Ryan
3
Embracing Change by Stephanie Luebbers
4
Annual Report by Susan Mattei
5
SBS’ Distance Learning Program by Mark Luebbers
9
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at SBS
the bulletin F A L L
2020
10 10 Things You Didn’t Know About
Lauren Cunniffe
by Bri Rooks ’18
11 Bringing Back the Junior Ring Ceremony 12 The Owl Bond - 1980’s SBS Alumnae
Reconnect Online
13 Class Notes 16 In Memoriam 17 Coda
by Sara Gibbons ’98
We’d like to know what you think! Do you have story ideas? Send comments on the bulletin and story ideas to communications@sbschool.org
ABOVE: Assistant to the Head of School & Special Projects Manager Cole Whitaker and his daughter (future SBS Owl, Class of 2036) wear SBS branded neck gaiters.
Stoneleigh-Burnham School
574 Bernardston Road, Greenfield, MA 01301 413.774.2711 sbschool.org the bulletin is printed with vegetable based inks on 10% post-consumer recycled FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper.
ON THE COVER: Illustration design by Peter Chilton
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How We Are By Maeve Ryan
As you’ll learn throughout this issue, Stoneleigh-Burnham’s decision to go remote this fall demonstrated the strength we have as a school and as a community. While difficult, the bold move was necessary in order to ensure the greatest safety for our community. In March, when Governor Baker mandated that all schools in Massachusetts close due to the pandemic, SBS was prepared. Faculty and staff quickly began implementing new skills as they modified and altered their curriculum and approaches. The work was challenging but despite the crisis we faced collectively, we also discovered new ways of connecting with one another. An early example of this was SBS’s cookie giveaway to the local community in early May. Head of School Stephanie Luebbers’ idea to pay it forward with SBS Co-Directors of Dining Services Jeff VanIderstine’s and Carrie Holmes’ delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies was just one small way for the School to let our local friends and families know that we are here for them, no matter what the circumstances. SBS’ commitment to providing a consistent, equitable, and robust learning experience to our students – no matter where they are – helped inform the name of our new comprehensive distance learning program. We named it MORE (Meet Our Remote Experience) because it goes above and beyond the average distance learning program. As you will discover in Mark Luebbers’ article on page 5, the process of getting where we are today involved a great deal of time, energy, and innovation. This should come as no surprise; this kind of commitment to the School’s mission, values, and culture is always at the heart of our work. 2
Here are just some of the ways we are MORE: Distance Learning Program In June 2020, SBS began the transition to a new learning management system, Canvas, which is widely used at high schools and universities and, unlike Google Classroom, is accessible around the world. Over the summer, SBS faculty also participated in an intensive training program with One Schoolhouse, a leader in online education. This training provided teachers with the skills to deliver the distance learning program with consistency and effectively transition back to in-person instruction when the time comes. Additionally, we have developed formal co-curricular programs and class meetings, remote social events for students, wellness and physical activity programming, and strong student support systems including college counseling and academic support services. As part of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work, we incorporated culturallyresponsive and trauma-aware teaching practices. Admissions & Enrollment Although the Admissions team at SBS is accustomed to welcoming families to campus for Revisit Day, the pandemic required the team to reimagine what this event could be remotely. The team worked quickly and closely with the technology department, faculty, and administrators to develop and provide a robust and connected program for potential students. Because of its online accessibility, SBS’ Virtual Revisit Day on April 3 welcomed not just local families, but families from all across the United States and from several international locations. The program was also recorded for those who could not attend. Kristen Mariotti, Assistant Head of School for Enrollment & Strategy said, “Although in-person connection is always best, we will be using what we have learned from this year to continue to provide an online option for most of our events moving forward. It is meaningful to be able to reach such a diverse group of families from every corner of the globe in new and exciting ways.” Development & Alumnae Relations Alumnae are now finding ways to stay involved through Stoneleigh-Burnham Connect, the new online community. It offers alumnae-to-alumnae networking, alumnae-tostudent mentoring, affinity groups, events, and an alumnae directory. The Development & Alumnae Relations team is also offering webinars to bring a little slice of school life to alumnae and keep them informed. Upcoming webinars are focused on the Equestrian Center, International Baccalaureate Program, and Teaching Music Through Distance Learning. This fall, Leadership Council Day and the 1869 Society recognition program are also slated to take place online. Director of Development & Alumnae Relations Susan Mattei commented, “Your amazing support – emotionally, financially, and virtually – has made us so grateful. We hope you enjoy Stoneleigh-Burnham Connect.”
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Letter from the Head of School
2020
Embracing Change
B
ig changes mean big decisions. Often, these big decisions come with a few second-guesses, but, as I look back on the move to create a remote fall and our clear statement of commitment to deep and sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion work, I am not second-guessing. My confidence stems from the knowledge that the input and expertise of many knowledgeable and caring people across the spectrum of SBS constituencies help us make the best decisions for our school. Our School has had to change, adapt, and, yes, grow in so many ways over the past months. The pandemic has required that we think differently about how we deliver our mission, and the movement for social justice has demanded that we reflect on our culture and policies in order to bring them into alignment with our values. There will be setbacks and challenges, but the course is clear, and we are embracing the changes with positivity and an eye to becoming a better and stronger SBS.
On May 19, I wrote, “We end the year with a great deal of pride in how our community has adapted and continued to provide the key elements of a Stoneleigh-Burnham School education: strong academics in a supportive community which values student voice.” Not long after, SBS was called on by students and alumnae to commit to becoming a more diverse and equitable community. We have acknowledged where we have come up short, pledged strategic action, and developed a structure for moving forward with accountability and the clear sense of purpose necessary for sustainable change. The diversity, equity, and inclusion work in which we are immersed is, unequivocally, building a better SBS, one that is more fully a supportive community which values and respects each individual’s authentic self.
As the School has adapted and grown during these challenging months, so have I. Working through screens (or The decision to return to remote learning this masks) makes community-building more “As other schools have made fall was made with the tireless work of the important, while also making it more adjustments and been hesitant senior administrative team and the Board of delicate and complicated. I’ve had to think Trustees. Once we announced the decision, of creative ways to keep the members of to change, we have jumped in families were very supportive and have the community (and myself!) connected and embraced the process.” offered important insights and suggestions. and positive, while also recognizing We were then able to focus on developing and taking advantage of serendipitous a rich remote program, and, this fall, administrators have turned opportunities to do so. Ultimately, I’ve reinforced my belief in the their focus to preparing the campus for the girls’ return. Following power of honest and transparent communication. through with the decision to be remote for the fall has required Early in the pandemic, our Board of Trustees Chair Lynn Kehoe the flexibility of our hard-working faculty and staff. The Summer ’77 frequently reminded me to look for silver linings. At that point, Academic Planning group and our technology team provided the everything was hard, and my usual glass-half-full nature was tested. support to implement our move to the Canvas learning management Now, I see so much more clearly that growth comes from these system and to have all of our teachers train for remote learning kinds of trials. As other schools have made adjustments and been using the One Schoolhouse teacher training programs. We built hesitant to change, we have jumped in and embraced the process. a daily schedule that allows for synchronous and asynchronous This silver lining says a lot about the strength and confidence of work in multiple time zones, a full co-curricular and physical the SBS community, and it bodes well for our future. activity program, and we made the social and emotional needs of our students a priority. We’ve also built in more family connections to ensure that every SBS student has a compelling experience in the fall.
Stephanie Luebbers Head of School 3
Annual Report to Donors JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020 Thank you for your support of Stoneleigh-Burnham last year. You were with us every step of the way – as we celebrated the 150th Anniversary in the fall and through our quick transition to remote learning in the spring.
The Sum of Your Generosity
Your Impact
ANNUAL FUND......................... $553,441 (Operating support) Restricted gifts and bequests........... $22,163 Endowment.................................. $23,318 Equestrian Center campaign........... $99,250 Capital projects.......................... $332,795
THANKS TO YOU… Major renovations to the Geissler Gallery building now give students a bright and fresh space to pursue their interests in the visual and performing arts.
TOTAL GIFTS................. $1,030,967*
• Replaced doors and windows • Repaired damage • New paint and carpeting
THANKS TO YOU… New paddocks now make it possible to improve the turnout for horses and ensure that students have safe and healthy horses to ride.
Your Participation By Constituency NUMBER OF DONORS 15 26
• Buckley steel fencing • Automatic heated watering system
28 ALUMNAE CURRENT PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
97
CURRENT STUDENTS
373
38
PAST PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS & FRIENDS CURRENT AND FORMER FACULTY & STAFF TRUSTEES
36
FOUNDATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES
• Iampietro Scholarship • Elizabeth Ebel Scholarship • Sally Mixsell Scholarship • Amy Spencer Scholarship
PERCENTAGE GIVEN
22% 36%
THANKS TO YOU… Gifts for endowed scholarships now provide new sources of funding to help students afford an SBS education.
ALUMNAE CURRENT PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS CURRENT STUDENTS
11% 6% 24%
PAST PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS & FRIENDS CURRENT AND FORMER FACULTY & STAFF TRUSTEES FOUNDATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES
<1% 1%
* Development Office reports are reconciled with the Business Office annually and audited by an outside accounting firm. For more information on giving at SBS, please contact Director of Development and Alumnae Relations Susan Mattei at smattei@sbschool.org.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LOYALTY. THANK YOU! 4
THANKS TO YOU… The Annual Fund will help give SBS crucial operating dollars needed for the rough economic times ahead and offer girls the means to pursue their dreams. • The Class of 1970 Match inspired the second highest Annual Fund total in School history.
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SBS’ DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM THE TRANSITION TO OUR REMOTE EXPERIENCE By Mark Luebbers
In early March, as the global upheaval brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic was building, the winter term at Stoneleigh-Burnham was coming to an end. As students left for spring break, it was already clear that school would be different when they returned, and perhaps for a long time to come. Just how much SBS would need to change didn’t become fully apparent until Head of School Stephanie Luebbers made the decision that all classes for the spring term would begin a week later than scheduled, and that the entire academic program would be conducted online, at least for several weeks. As it turned out, the online program lasted through the end of the school year, and is continuing through the fall trimester. From the initial hurried planning stages during spring break, to the uncertain early days of spring classes, and through the online graduation ceremony in May, SBS students, as well as their teachers, support staff, and parents, were challenged to be creative and flexible. Yet they were also able to preserve their essential spirit of community, even while being scattered across time zones and continents. The first major lift in the move to bring SBS online fell to the Technology Department: Tod Pleasant and Jason Brown. In early March, as the model for spring classes went from a partial reopening to a combination of live and online classes and then to a full-remote program, Jason and Tod recognized that they would
need to build a unique platform to serve the needs of the teachers and students, and that once this was accomplished, they would be working hard to support everyone as they tried to get used to this new way of learning. Classes would need to be held using Zoom or Google Meet, and Google Classroom, already in use by SBS teachers, would become an even more important tool for managing class communications and materials. However, because Google has limited accessibility outside the U.S., especially in countries like China, its Classroom platform would be unavailable to some students. Moreover, other potentially useful online tools like YouTube might also be unavailable, because they fall under Google’s ownership umbrella. The only solution was to build our own website under an SBS domain, which would be accessible around the globe, 24/7.
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Distance Learning Program CONTINUED
SBS Marketing & Communications Manager, Maeve Ryan, having some experience with website construction, put the necessary pieces together, and the Stoneleigh-Burnham Distance Learning Annex was up and running in less than 48 hours. From there the focus shifted to Jason, who, with the help of SBS Chinese teacher Tiantian Wang, purchased essential cloud storage that would be available everywhere. Next he created an internal “dropbox” where teachers could place files, reading materials, notes, videos of their classes, or other resources, so that students could access them on their time. He also set up standing online Chats, where students or teachers could go for technology help, and others where members of each department could collaborate over methods and materials.
The start of spring term was delayed a week in part to give faculty a chance to retool their curriculum, organize and convert their materials into accessible formats, and learn the new skills and practices necessary for online teaching. They worked to master the practical aspects of using the annex dropbox, video conferencing tools, and a new attendance procedure, while also converting materials or finding new resources for their students that would be accessible online. Most of all they worked to find ways to stay connected to their students. Tod and Jason held faculty training sessions, showing teachers how to use the dropbox and suggesting ways to move classes to an online format.
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Once classes resumed on this remote platform, the job for Jason and Tod became a constant seesaw of managing content on the Annex as well as the needs of people in the community – a community spread all over the planet.
“This persistence to look at the realities of everyday life around her may have been the most valuable outcome of the project. ‘Sometimes it was very frustrating to write about the pandemic,’ Gina ’21 said, ‘but I clung to hope, and was determined to make the best of it.’”
Jason spent many days organizing and uploading files in the dropbox, downloading and then posting them on the Annex, then finding solutions for the many problems that arose in the various Chats. Under these distanced conditions, accurate and efficient communication was an even bigger challenge than usual. Technology problems can be very sensitive for some users, both adults and adolescents, who
may be insecure about their skills. Clear, patient, and reassuring language became the big priority. Tod said he now has a new and “enormous respect for people who do troubleshooting over the phone,” but his help wasn’t limited to just good words. He made a number of “road trips” to local families to provide, fix, or replace hardware, or investigate internet problems. In those first days of the transition to remote learning, Academic Dean Lauren Cunniffe P’09 somehow had to create a daily schedule that would allow all students in all classes to finish before noon in order to avoid conflicts caused by time zones or international borders. “We recognized we couldn't use our traditional 8am-4pm teaching
schedule because it would mean too much time on screens,” said Lauren. She also had to fit all the classes into a reduced number of daily and weekly hours, find time for the online extra-help sessions, and build two sets of online resources for the Distance Learning Plan: one for students and one for parents. While “some schools tried to duplicate their normal schedules and had to quickly back off and make adjustments, we didn't need to make any changes to the schedule,” added Lauren. The process helped inform the faculty as they worked on a much more comprehensive schedule for the fall, found at sbschool.org/more.
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Student Life and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator Sam Sattin Torres ’08, wanted to find a way to preserve Housemeeting in this remote environment. She decided to create a weekly video, to be posted on the website, that would be as close as possible to having everyone in the Capen Room. She said she really just learned how to do it on the fly. “I wanted to share something that felt like SBS, was compassionate, and human. I had never really shot or produced videos before, so I took a few courses on basic video editing and storyboarding. There was quite a bit of flying by the seat of my pants, but I loved that about this.” Sam said she worked hard to make sure everyone was safe and secure online and that everyone had equal ability to give input and have access to the meetings. She was really pleased that many students and faculty members wanted to contribute content to the videos, and she received terrific responses to Housemeeting in both live and recorded forms. English Department Chair Kara Fagan knew that her students would be managing a lot of emotions, over and above the practical demands of trying to do schoolwork away from school, and she wanted them to have the chance to express their feelings while also practicing their writing skills. Kara started each class by giving her students a poem which they read and analyzed together, and then gave them a prompt to spur some reflective writing. Kara said, “The writing prompts were always openended. For example, after listening to the spoken word poem “Hair” by Elizabeth Acevedo, students were asked to ‘write about a message or idea that you personally have been taught or internalized that you
have or want to resist, reject, or reclaim.’” Similarly, her eighth grade Humanities class turned their ongoing journaling projects into “joy” or “happiness” journals so they could write about, “...things that made them laugh that day; their strengths; what they appreciate about others; places that give them peace and joyful experiences, etc.”
2020
Taewoo Lee, the father of Gabi Lee ’22, watched the closing of campus with concern. Gabi had grown more confident and capable in her first year at SBS, and this disruption for her was disappointing. Moreover, getting Gabi home to Seoul was a complex challenge, because South Korea was already locked down, and international travel would be nearly impossible for several weeks. Gabi was happily taken in by the family of classmate Arwen King in Charlemont, Massachusetts, until a flight could be booked, then she stayed with a local guardian in Boston for a few days until she could fly home. Gabi was quarantined at home for two weeks, and she attended her online classes and worked on assignments. Her father said the hardest part was “a time difference of 14 hours.” While Gabi had to stay up until late to finish the online courses, “she was motivated and responded well to the praise from her teachers,” said Taewoo. “Even during online classes, it was inspiring to see my friends through the shared screen in classes,” added Gabi.
would record their daily experiences in the coming months: what they saw, heard, and felt as the world around them changed profoundly. Karen called the project “Recording Our Times” and the exciting part for Gina was that they were allowed to present their findings in whatever medium suited them: Google Docs, spiral notebooks, bound journal, or even annotated photographs or images, video/vlogs, or blog posts. Gina jumped into this assignment. Yet, as she started to write about the impacts of the pandemic on her community and the world, the upheaval and tragedy around her were hard to reconcile. She wrote about everything: changes to the SATs, the challenge of shipping a package, and other aspects of everyday life that she had taken for granted and which were suddenly in disarray. “I often tried to persist in what became relative normalcy, and to stay positive, but it was hard.” This persistence to look at the realities of everyday life around her may have been the most valuable outcome of the project. “Sometimes it was very frustrating to write about the pandemic,” Gina said, “but I clung to hope, and was determined to make the best of it.” She summed up her tenacity with the phrase that has become something of a mantra at SBS: “We’ve got this.”
When classes resumed online for Gina Wisner ’21 at her home in upstate New York, her History teacher Karen Pleasant reminded the class that she wanted them to think like historians, and that they were living in a unique historic moment which needed to be preserved. She proposed a journaling project in which each student
Back on campus, Dance teacher Cat Wagner was faced with big challenges throughout the spring: students and studios spread across continents and time zones; the collaborative creative process, so essential to successful dance projects, disrupted and diffused by time, distance, and isolation. Cat needed to shift the
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Distance Learning Program CONTINUED
way she and her students thought about dance projects. However, her IB students still needed to complete assessments. The seniors needed to “perform” a dance piece, choreographed by her or another dance professional for their Internal Assessment, and the juniors needed to create their first solo composition so they could complete the other assessments in their senior year. She knew her students would need to adapt in order to meet these requirements so she asked her students, with their families’ help (and sometimes permission), to set up reliably accessible spaces to dance, and to help record their dancing. She worked with the senior class, both during class time and office hours, over Zoom, demonstrating choreography and watching them perform it. She made videos with movements in a variety of different ways, with detailed explanations. Some students recorded their dances outside (one in a parking lot) and others danced in their bedrooms,
SBS
kitchens, or living room spaces. Juniors hosted discussions of their group project in process via “Feedback Charts” and through group discussion over Zoom. After all of the work that Cat and her students devoted this spring, she’s learned lessons that she plans to apply to her distance learning classes in the fall… making sure that audiences can view content in multiple ways, and allowing students to do some of their own video editing.
pandemic has required creativity, initiative, perseverance, and cooperation; qualities that are fortunately in plentiful supply in our students, teachers, staff, and families. All of the expertise and resources gained through the Distance Learning Program have gone into the development of our new remote learning experience: SBS MORE. To learn more about how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time, visit sbschool.org/more.
As a school, Stoneleigh-Burnham was never intended to be distant. Being a “remote community” is definitely not part of the School’s culture, written in its mission, or part of its history. Nonetheless, there are many ways that the essential spirit of voice and togetherness, which is in the air on campus, can be adapted to a different environment born of necessity. Maintaining the spirited learning community at SBS during the unique challenges of the
Please note that this article was condensed to fit the bulletin; to read it in its entirety, please visit sbschool.org/alumnae/bulletin.
Reunion 2021 Reunion AD
FRIDAY, JUNE 11 – SUNDAY, JUNE 13 8
#OWLYOUNEEDISLOVE
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2020
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at SBS & Our Response to Racism Just four days before the Class of 2020’s Virtual Commencement on May 29, 2020, George Floyd was killed during an arrest in Minneapolis. As a nation, we collectively mourned Mr. Floyd as well as the senseless loss of so many other Black lives. As a community, we also celebrated the hard work of our senior class, the most culturally diverse in the School’s 151-year history and a class that had been displaced from campus due to a global pandemic. The jarring paradox of these two events ignited a very necessary and important reaction from our recent alumnae and students. Their voices were loud as they demanded that SBS do more to fight bias and systemic racism in our community. On the Monday following Commencement, Head of School Stephanie Luebbers sent the first of three summer letters to the SBS community. “It is clear that our responsibility right now is to step up and take action. We have committed our school to examining and reflecting on our own complicity by acknowledging our biases, moving away from racial bias, and condemning racism and hatred,” she wrote. Stephanie’s letters, as well as letters from our Alumnae Board and Board of Trustees, stated our stance of solidarity with our students and alumnae of color. They also outlined a clear, comprehensive plan of action and the detailed steps SBS will take to build a stronger community of inclusion where anti-Blackness and racism of any kind have no place. Since 2018, SBS faculty, staff and students have been actively engaged in individual and collaborative diversity, equity, and
inclusion work. This ongoing work has been facilitated by the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee in collaboration with our Social Justice Consultants from UMASS-Amherst: Dr. Keisha Green and PhD Candidate Alisha Jean-Denis P’25. Working closely with our social justice practice partners, SBS faculty and staff have been educating themselves by reading, attending workshops, and participating in professional development training in order to better support their curriculum and students. Areas of formal review include the curriculum, the Community Handbook, and faculty/staff hiring and retention practices. We humbly commit ourselves to organizing our efforts and work in this area, and communicating them to our community on a regular and consistent basis. One of the ways SBS is doing this is via DEI Open Community Forums led by Sam Sattin Torres ’08. These are opportunities for the SBS community to share ideas and resources, ask questions, provide answers, and support one another. Additionally, our DEI Task Force, student leaders, and academic and student life planning groups continue to meet to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion is the foundation for our class discussions and curriculum work. To learn more, visit sbschool.org/diversityequity-inclusion.
Dr. Keisha Green (left); Alisha Smith Jean-Denis P’25, PhD Candidate (right).
The Stoneleigh-Burnham Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Sam Sattin Torres ’08, Student Life and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator Ellen Carter, Director of Counseling Kara Fagan, English Department Chair Apple Gifford P’23, ’26, Director of the Academic Center Kristen Mariotti, Assistant Head of School for Enrollment & Strategy Ravi Pillalamarri, Mathematics Department Chair Hannah Richards P’25, Visual Arts Department Chair Karen Suchenski P’16, Humanities Teacher, Community Service Coordinator Brittany Weiss, Director of International Admissions, Marketing & Communications Assistant
The Stoneleigh-Burnham Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force Dr. Denise Bruner ’70 Leslie Powers P’15 Sam Sattin Torres ’08 Olly Ajao ’21
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Faculty Profile
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Things You Don’t Know About Lauren Cunniffe
Get to know Academic Dean and Director of College Counseling Lauren Cunniffe P’09! In addition to working for SBS for almost two decades, Lauren is an avid cyclist who has traveled extensively around the world. In 2009, she was mentioned in The New York Times’ story, “Counselors Make Their Tour of Colleges a Long Workout,” as one of six counselors who participated in a 12-day, 400-mile bike tour. As you’ll read below, Lauren also played a crucial role in the development of SBS’s Distance Learning Plan. It’s no surprise that her professional work in academia and her love of cycling have a common thread: they both involve hard work, curiosity, risk-taking, and making global connections… representing the very essence of SBS.
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I started working at SBS in 2001.
2
I went to Hamilton College in upstate New York.
3
I have four bikes (two road bikes, one gravel bike, and one fat
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What I love about our students is that they’re incredibly smart, open-minded, and curious about everything. I cherish the way they embrace being themselves, have fun with their friends, and demonstrate compassion and concern for social justice issues on a daily basis.
bike) and I ride all year long, outdoors and indoors. I’ve also toured colleges entirely by bike with other college counselors for the past
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11 summers.
My favorite thing about my role at SBS is getting to work with students across all grades to support them on their journeys. No day is the same and everything that comes my way is always interesting. I
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Back in the 1980s, I lived in China for a year and a half and taught
challenge anyone to find smarter students and colleagues at any
English to non-English majors at a university in Hunan province. In
school in the world.
my work at SBS, I was also invited to visit NYU Abu Dhabi. I was so grateful to have the chance to see the region, the university, and
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Nafisatou Mounkaila ’13! 5
I’ve done a couple of full Ironman triathlons. I got in the habit of
I’m inspired by people who experience setbacks or disappointments and make use of them in order to learn and grow.
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In order to recharge, I need solitude, my bikes, and my books.
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One thing I wish I’d known when I was younger was that a place
not letting myself think about the 90-mile training ride I was on and instead just focus on “one mile at a time.” I encourage students to focus on small tasks to get them to the larger goal.
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like Stoneleigh-Burnham existed!
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2020
Bringing Back the Junior Ring Ceremony By Bri Rooks ’18
When I started at Stoneleigh-Burnham in the ninth grade, I was very shy and nervous about participating in any club or activity. However, with the support of my classmates and the community, I gained the courage to try new things and joined the Student Alumnae Association (SAA). When I heard about the Junior Class Ring Ceremony at one of their events, I immediately knew it was a tradition that needed to be brought back to SBS - not just to celebrate my class, but to honor all of the future classes that would head into their senior years. As a member of the Student Alumnae Association, I had the opportunity to network with a number of alumnae during Leadership Council Day in October of 2016. It was there that I met Melissa Leach Dickson ’72. Over lunch, Melissa asked if the Junior Class Ring Ceremony was still held. She explained how it united the junior class as they moved into their senior year. This engaging conversation with Melissa conveyed to me just how special the ceremony was back when she was a student, and how important it would be for my class as we headed into our final year at SBS. I knew I had work to do. To get the ball rolling, I spoke with Assistant Director of Development & Alumnae
Relations Kathleen Tuck Fontaine ’83 who showed me SBS yearbooks with photos from past Junior Class Ring Ceremonies, as well as the Dean of Students to learn more about what it would entail to bring back this tradition. I also had conversations with my classmates and the SBS faculty; both groups unanimously approved the idea and supported my proposal to reinstate the ceremony. After planning the various and intricate details of the event, we asked Melissa Leach Dickson ’72 to give the ceremony’s Keynote Address. On May 17, 2017, we celebrated the revitalized Junior Ring Ceremony in the Capen Room with friends, family, faculty, alumnae, and other community members. Not only was it a great way to head into our senior year, it gifted the Class of 2018 with the distinction of restoring a very important tradition in the School. Now as I look at my class ring (which I wear every day), I am reminded of the incredible things that my classmates are doing all over the world. While we might all be in different places doing different things, we know that we are always there for one other and I, for one, will forever be grateful for the opportunities that my Stoneleigh-Burnham sisters gave me.
Melissa Leach Dickson ’72 and Bri Rooks ’18 wearing their Junior Class Rings.
Bri Rooks is currently a junior at Drew University double majoring in Media and Communications and English. At Drew, she works in the Office of Alumni and Parent Communities, the IT Department, and the Career Center. She has served as an intern with the public relations firm JMG and with a nonprofit fighting homelessness called Family Promise.
Junior Class Rings from the Classes of 1965 SPH, 1971, 1972, and 1989.
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The Owl Bond
1980’s SBS Alumnae Reconnect Online Last spring, in the wake of losing long-time Stoneleigh-Burnham faculty, coach, and college counselor (the grand “Old Owl” himself: Tom Iampietro), many Stoneleigh-Burnham alumnae began to gather online to share stories, comfort each other, and reconnect to the school held so dear in our hearts. And as the pandemic began to circle the globe, Stoneleigh-Burnham alumnae began to hold tighter to one another. Groups of alumnae from various classes began to gather electronically and Zoom events gained momentum. One such group of about 20 alumnae from the early 1980s – many of whom played soccer under the tutelage of Iampietro – transformed a text group into weekly Wednesday Night Zoom gatherings. Erasing decades, once again these “Stoneleigh-Burnham girls” found
themselves laughing, telling stories, supporting one another, and sharing everyday joys and concerns. The group, which includes Janet DeLucia Cimmino ’81, Jennifer Jones McIntyre ’81, Bridget O’Brien ’82 P ’24, Tricia Thorn Heaton ’83, and Jodi Sojka Villani ’83, envisioned a mentorship program that would allow alumnae to be an even more supportive presence to current SBS students and welcome SBS seniors into the wonderful group of Stoneleigh-Burnham Alumnae upon graduation. While this dream to support SBS seniors is still in the early stages of planning, we welcome your feedback and participation. Email the Alumnae Relations Office at alumnae@sbschool.org
TOGETHER You are a vital part of the strong team that supports the mission of girls’ education at SBS. Matching Funds will Double Your Gift: Every Annual Fund gift made through December 31st – up to a total of $50,000 – will be matched dollar for dollar by the Board of Trustees. Please renew your gift today. support.sbschool.org/GiveNow 12
the bulletin F A L L
Class Notes
2020
1957 MAB
Roberta Gerber Hopefully, the new semester will energize both students and faculty to not just go beyond the boundaries of digital communication, but to discover new paths of learning and sharing. Good luck to all.
1957 SPH
Clara Swartzentruber ’16
Submit class notes and photos at sbschool.org/alumnae/classnote. If you would like to request contact information for another alumna, please call the Alumnae Relations Office at 413-774-2711 x317, or email alumnae@sbschool.org.
More Class Notes and photos are online at sbschool.org/alumnae. Submitted photos must be larger than 500 KB. We cannot guarantee photos under this size will be printed.
1951 SPH
Joan Walthers Parks I would love to hear some news from my classmates from 1949-1953! For years as our class scribe I “nagged” you for news. Some I heard from and others I didn’t. I wonder how many of the 21 of us are still left! My dear husband of 62 years, Gib, passed away in December of 2018 here at our winter home in Clearwater, FL. I still maintain our home in Westminster, MA but we began spending more and more time here in Florida. Our three daughters, one in Chelmsford, MA, one in Pembroke Pines, FL, and one in Fitchburg, MA convinced me to remain in Florida due to the virus instead of returning to Westminster for the summer. It was a very difficult decision knowing that I wouldn’t be seeing them and most of the grands for a year. We have ten grands and 2 great grands. I am fine. I have a lot of friends here, and I take part in all our activities and manage to keep very busy.
1954 MAB
Sandra Swanson Fries My husband and I have been retired from teaching for over 20 years. We are in our 80’s and are enjoying our combined family; his five and my five children, 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. I’ve been watercolor painting for the past 12 years and
have enjoyed some success, most recently winning an award in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America’s Kenosha Wisconsin show. We are staying home and staying safe in this unprecedented time. My photos are of the last two times our family has been able to get together, last Christmas and a preSt. Patrick’s Day dinner. Since then Covid-19 has kept us apart. The two teen grandchildren in the photos are both students at Taft. I would love to hear from anyone from my Burnham class.
Winifred Steele Walker During my four years at Stoneleigh-Prospect Hill I was fortunate enough to bring my own horse to board at school, and to learn more about my horse and riding. While reading through the Spring 2020 issue of The Bulletin I saw in the “Then and Now” the photos of the horses and riders. The photo in the lower left corner of page 12 includes me riding my horse, Toka Star. What a surprise! I am second from the left. I think the lighter colored horse on the far right is none other than Sir Vaughn. He was there the four years I was at Stoneleigh-Prospect Hill. I’m wondering if any other alumnae of that timeframe remember their riding as well as the school or private horses. The rider and horse next to me on the left could be Marion Williams on Pepper Que. What a great memory this is. I’ve owned and ridden quite a few horses and ponies since my Stoneleigh years. I’m doing quite well, making every effort to stay well during this COVID time in our lives. I pray and hope for a positive, healthy solution to this virus. Be safe, and my best to all.
1959 SPH
Barbara Meistrell I live in Saint Joseph, MO now with daughter number two, Betsy Reinhold and her husband Bob. I have the entire third floor as my apartment. I love it. My daily exercise is walking up and down 37 steps numerous times during the day. For the past three years I have been selling rings at festivals and other events throughout the state. I decided to take this year off due to the Covid-19 outbreak, so for me this year has been really quiet. I have not even dared to take a trip to Florida to visit my grandchildren. I hope that any of my classmates are staying well during these Covid-19 times. I am doing well and still miss my time at Stoneleigh. Take care everyone and stay well.
1964 SPH 1954 SPH
Joy Gibbs Timko Elizabeth, Joy’s daughter, wrote to share that her mother is currently in a nursing home in Whitby, England. They talk about Joy’s time at StoneleighProspect Hill prior to her leaving early, at age 15, to enter Yale.
Linda Cudmore Morris Best wishes to all. We are well. I am still a coloratura soprano (I was awarded the Sue Brett Voice Cup at graduation in 1964), as well as a lifetime member of the Navy League of the United States and former President of the Navy League’s Denver Council (nlus. org), a nationwide organization supporting all of the
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Class Notes
1964 SPH
(continued) sea services. I am also a member of the Colorado Emerald Society (coemsoc.org). I am in touch with Jeannie Porter Jennings, who lives nearby in Colorado, Cheryl Marcelle Remple who lives in Longmont CO, Anne Morris who lives in NYC, and via phone calls to Pat Hall Hunt who is doing well in Massachusetts. Jeannie, her husband, and family, continue to run the wonderful Kinder (Kit) Porter Scott Foundation in Lincoln NE, a non-profit
age I am going to be married this summer. His name is Frank Long and he is a wonderful guy. I met him at a church dinner where I was talking to my table about my Burnham years. He walked by and asked, “Who went to boarding school?” When I responded, he said, “I graduated from Pomfret!” The rest is history. I hope this finds you all well and safe.
had passed. He had been an inspiration to me for many years. I am sending prayers and good vibes to all who are struggling with this Covid-19 crisis.
1971 SBS
Lynda Decker Gallagher In September, 2018, SBS friends gathered together for the weekend. We enjoyed good food, long walks, reminiscing about our days together at SBS, and catching up.
1983 SBS
organization helping to save the lives of children with asthma and brain trauma. Cheryl and her husband Dave Remple have been, and will be again, our guest speakers at Denver’s Navy League dinner meeting in November, regaling member guests about their many years of adventures in the UAE running the Falconry Hospital, and wonderful adventures in that area of the world. They are enjoying their retirement and are very busy. Finally, I survived brain surgery back in September of 2019 following an outdoor musical performance when I fell three large steps downward and hit my head on the large cement steps. OUCH! Thank heavens for my outstanding brain surgeon and staff, and for so much loving family and friendly support during recovery. Finally, with the Coronavirus, Tom and I so miss our two grandchildren and family in northern California and hope to travel there in the fall. Tom misses flying for Delta, but he’s really become a photography enthusiast.
1965 MAB
Meredith Anderson Lang I usually don’t write to the alumnae news as I think my life is pretty mundane. However, at my ripe old
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Pictured are, from left to right: Marion Browning Piro, Valerie Ritter David, Joanne Riihiluoma Hunt, Holly Off Arnold, Kathryn Breech, Sutzie Anger Canzonetti, Lynda Decker Gallagher, Gigi Abbo. Not pictured is Robin Abbott Burwick, who had joined us on the phone from her home. Friends of Robin’s, who died last November, planned to gather together in March to celebrate her life at Gigi Abbo’s home in Boca Raton, FL. Our plans were put on hold due to Covid-19, but we will get together next year. Robin touched the lives of hundreds of families and children throughout her 30 year career as a teacher and director at the JCC in Worcester, MA. Her kind, gentle and loving ways were her trademark and she is deeply missed by family, friends, and community members. Our thoughts are with her husband, son, daughter, and sweet granddaughter.
1978 SBS
Tina Livingston-Ford Retired again! After leaving the DC public Schools, in October 2019, I’ve graduated to become a full time MEEMA! My newest grandfella Jayson, is now six months old! He and his brothers, Micah and Mason, are a handful of handsomeness. They’ve been a welcome distraction, after having recently lost my husband in December and my mom in February. I was also, very saddened to hear that Tom Iampietro
June Coolidge Scott This December I finally graduated with a Master’s in Disability Studies. I have been appointed the latest member of the Cape Abilities Human Rights Commission. I continue to work on Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives through my business as well as teach.
1985 SBS
Suze Stutzman Genereux Class of 1985, I was so bummed our on-campus reunion was cancelled, re-do 2021! I am still making art and sewing up a storm currently. I have been very busy designing PPE and creating designer masks along with making a couple of hundred masks to donate to those in need. My husband and I have also been selling my dog-themed masks to raise money at our pet boutique, Uptown Dog in Cape Cod, to help feed local pets hit hard by this current pandemic. I also designed two special SBS masks with my photographs of our school as a fundraiser for the SBS Annual Fund. Please contact me if you
the bulletin F A L L
are interested in ordering one of these. My landline number is: 781-837-3979. I would also love to reconnect with anyone from our beloved school, please reach out to me.
this job I was working as an art teacher in a middle school in Eastern Oregon where I had fun with art and taught kids about art, graphic design, yearbook, illustration and more. I was also able to take some students to England, Ireland, and Wales. I found myself looking to buy a home in Ireland, it was that much fun!
2020
ADMISSIONS VIRTUAL VISITS 10:00AM - 12:00PM EST via Zoom
1998 SBS
Kate Echeverria I became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine specializing in Large Animal Internal Medicine this past spring. I work at Ocean State Equine Associates in North Scituate, RI specializing in equine internal medicine.
2016 SBS
Suze ’85 modeling her SBS mask
1992 SBS
Emily (Leelee) Harrison I’m currently living in Pensacola, FL where I work as an admissions counselor at an online university. I enjoy scuba diving and collecting shells. I am 12 weeks away from finishing a Master of Psychology degree. I loved our virtual reunion, and it was wonderful to be able to visit with old friends afterwards! I miss SBS with all of my heart!
1994 SBS
Cathy Manning Since the pandemic hit I have been even more grateful for my online teaching job. Continuing to teach English to non-native speakers from all over the world, I have been able to interact with so many more people than I ever would have expected. Before
Charlotte Minsky Like many of my class of 2016 classmates, I finished up my undergraduate degree this year. I will be heading to the University of Cambridge to pursue an MPhil in the History and Philosophy of Science before returning to Massachusetts in 2021 to begin a PhD at Harvard University’s Earth and Planetary Sciences department. I remain forever grateful to the SBS teachers who broadened my intellectual horizons and nurtured my love of learning. Clara Swartzentruber I wrapped up my undergraduate degree at Bryn Mawr College in Music with a concentration in vocal and choral music performance, albeit in quarantine and not quite as planned! As much as the quarantine has been a setback and challenge, it’s been a blessing in disguise in that it’s given me time to reconnect with SBS friends. I will, maybe, be staying in Philadelphia following graduation to continue my career as a freelance singer before continuing to grad school in a year or two. Things I’m looking forward to when the Covid-19 craziness subsides include a recording of Ola Gjeilo’s music in London with the choir of Royal Holloway in late summer, and a concert of Venetian polychoral music with Piffaro in October! I am so grateful to be able to make a living doing what I love, and even more grateful to the SBS community for giving me the tools to advocate for and believe in myself enough to make it happen. SBS will always hold a huge and important part of my heart, and I’m so proud to call myself an alumna.
2017 SBS
Bri Rooks In August I got an internship with JMG Public Relations in NYC - very exciting! I have been doing a lot of work with the Alumni House at my university. I actually just got a new position there that I was working at all summer.
November 11, 2020 December 9, 2020 January 18, 2021 Participate in a community meeting, engage with current students, learn from faculty and administrators, and take home the recipe for our famous chocolate chip cookies! Please contact our office at admissions@sbschool.org to learn more about our upcoming virtual visits and to connect with a member of the admissions team.
SBS Middle School and High School IEA Teams are 2020 Regional Champions!
Claire Drahzal ‘24 competes in the Princeton Summer Series with her horse Zanzibar.
To learn more about our award-winning Equestrian Program, British Horse Society Certification Program, and Community Riding Program, contact SBS Equestrian Director George Halkett at ghalkett@sbschool.org.
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Class Act 50th Reunion Match Inspires Fellow Alumnae When the Class of 1970 began thinking about its 50th Reunion, they could never have imagined the impact the coronavirus pandemic would have on their celebration and their alma mater. A small group of generous alumnae from the Class of 1970 pooled their resources and offered $70,000 in matching funds to double all Annual Fund gifts. Designed to honor their 50th Reunion, their kindness allowed the School to generate great interest during a difficult time. Including outright and documented planned gifts, the Class of 1970 donated a total of $861,687 for their 50th. Class of 1970 alumnae celebrating their 49th Reunion in June 2019. (l-r) Dr. Denise Bruner, Gretchen Bates, Anne (Quantrell) Dennen, Darcy (McCormick) Tarbell, Anne Sears, and Kathy (Seyffer) Opdycke.
Bequests and insurance policies are just two of the easy ways you can give through your will or estate plan. If you want to learn more, contact Susan Mattei, Director of Development and Alumnae Relations, development@ sbschool.org or 413.774.2711 x247.
In Memoriam Listed Left to Right, Top to Bottom: NAME
CLASS DECEASED
Miriam Wight MacKenna
1936 SPH
12/31/2019 (not pictured)
Jane McEttrick Miller
1947 SPH
3/11/2020
Lucille Carley Harrison
1948 MAB
11/18/2019
Jane Petersen Uschold
1948 MAB
3/9/2020
Hope Johnson
1949 SPH
8/26/2019
Susan Lund Stephens
1953 MAB
2/13/2020
Sheila Shea Powers
1955 MAB
2/20/2020
Betsy Bigelow
1958 MAB
8/25/2019
Susan Bagg Nolder
1965 SPH
5/24/2020
Louisa Davis
1968 SPH
3/31/2020
Deborah Dillon Pearce
1968 SPH
5/27/2020
Lisa Goff Kapela
1982 SBS
7/15/2020
Contact Kathleen Tuck Fontaine â&#x20AC;&#x2122;83 in the Alumnae Relations Office with any questions at alumnae@sbschool.org, or 413.774.2711 x317.
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the bulletin F A L L
2020
Coda By Sara Brown Gibbons ‘98
This past year, the Student Council was finalizing edits to the dress code, trying to craft a more inclusive dress policy. I was asked by the Council, as an alumna and their co-advisor, about how the dress code had evolved over the years. I shared that when I was first admitted to SBS, blue jeans and graphic tees were not allowed, and I had to purchase a whole new wardrobe to attend the school. It was during my sophomore year, when I served as class representative to the Student Council, that the dress code was changed. Lilah Mejia ’96 was Student Council president and led the group through the process to get blue jeans approved for daily wear. Most days I don’t think about being an SBS alumna. I go about the academic day and my houseparent duties focused on the tasks typical of the work. Rarely do I think about my time in high school, at the place where I went to high school. Every now and then a student will ask about an experience I had, much like StuCo did, or what a tradition looked like. I can usually recall the information they are asking for, but not always the spirit of the event or moment. However, I can clearly remember those StuCo meetings held in Candy Iampietro’s classroom. It's the spaces around campus that can quickly revive a memory. Alex Loud’s classroom brings me back to European History with Mrs. Fuller, especially the comedic day the class hid in her Suburban van parked out back. Walking past Miriam Przybyla-Baum’s classroom, I think of 9th grade English with our teacher Dan Verdery and his wild gesticulations, and the way he maintained my interest in class discussion.
The Capen Room can transport me to senior year’s holiday decorating when Meg O’Brien ’98 and I drove to Ames to get more felt for handmade elf shoes and the exhaustion of the following day after staying up too late. Other spaces like the Blue Room can bring me back to the day I toured campus in the spring of 1994 and the varsity softball team was gathering at reception for an away game. The players kept poking their heads in the room to see the prospective student (me) and I tried to avoid eye contact because I was so nervous. I not only have my memories from SBS as a student, but am lucky to be forming more memories as an employee. I think of the laughter at a holiday party with my advisees Ellen ’19, Nina ’20, and Fiona ’21. I’m reminded of Tillula ’13 and Aminata ’13 cooking chicken and saltfish in our apartment and the boisterous gathering of students waiting for a bite. I will never forget Yvette ’09, Molly ’09, and Anne ’09 sitting around the duty desk sharing stories while helping me fold the invitations to my wedding. I have the joy of being a part of the current students’ experience, and hopefully becoming part of their SBS memories in time. And despite the fact that we are not together in person this fall, this will be a memorable year with opportunities to connect with each other. I often wonder what stories will stay with them, and what memories they will be able to recall. I know these students and my time with them will stay with me long after they graduate, much like my school experience is with me now.
“I not only have my memories from SBS as a student, but am lucky to be forming more memories as an employee.”
Sara Gibbons ’98 is the Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life. She is also the Senior Class Dean, a houseparent, and art teacher. After graduating from SBS, Sara attended St. Lawrence University and earned a B.A. in Fine Art. In 2014, she received the Stoneleigh-Burnham School Trustees Award for Teaching, which recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies the substance and spirit of the distinctive concept of great teaching that is cherished at our school.
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Stoneleigh-Burnham School 574 Bernardston Road | Greenfield, MA 01301
sbschool.org
Parents: If this issue is addressed to your daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumnae Office at alumnae@sbschool.org, 413.774.2711 x317 or online at sbschool.org.
Upcoming Online Events October 27, 2020
Alumnae Webinar: Bringing the Barn to You!
November 10, 2020
Alumnae Webinar: An Overview of the International Baccalaureate Program
November 11, 2020
Leadership Council Meeting
November 11, 2020
Admissions Virtual Visit Day
November 19, 2020
Alumnae Webinar: Teaching Music through Distance Learning
December 9, 2020
Admissions Virtual Visit Day
January 18, 2021
Admissions Virtual Visit Day
To register for an alumnae event visit:
Stoneleigh-Burnham Connect sbsconnect.org A virtual alumnae network for engagement including job connection, class directories, mentoring, and event information.
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