OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
AND STONELEIGH-BURNHAM SCHOOL ANSWERS
You have played an important role in building on and improving the quality of Stonleigh-Burnham’s academic program, the strength of our community, and the dynamism of the student experience.
Thanks to you, SBS is now offering a new internship program, and we have doubled down on our signature programs: the International Baccalaureate, riding, speech and debate, and the arts. With your incredible support, SBS is now a Middle Years Program (7th and 8th grades) candidate school with the International Baccalaureate Programme (IB). We are planning an aligned, grades 7-12 academic curriculum that includes the IB diploma.
I want to thank you and all our amazing alumnae who support the School with time, dedication, and yes, financial contributions. I am so grateful.
The new Empowerment, Ethical Global Citizenship, and Voice Center (EEV) has organized our incredible offerings, including the Emerson Scholars, the Faculty Professional Development Cohort, the Parent Education webinars, and Wingspan, our immersive and experiential learning program at the end of the year. Along with the important work that is happening daily, we are developing a new Strategic Plan.
Thank you for helping Stoneleigh-Burnham School thrive.
NEW ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Robert Gilmore P’24, a familiar face on the Stoneleigh-Burnham School campus as the parent of recent graduate Charlotte ‘24, has joined the School’s Board of Trustees. No stranger to the unique needs of independent schools, Bob brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to community service. His involvement with organizations such as the YMCA, Dakin Humane Society, and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce demonstrates his dedication to giving back. Bob’s leadership and financial expertise are invaluable assets to the Board.
STAY CONNECTED WITH SBS. Tag us on social media! Use the hashtag #SBSOwlsForLife Instagram.com/sbschool Instagram.com/StoneleighBurnhamAlumnae Instagram.com/SBSequestrianVimeo.com/StoneleighBurnham
REUNION 2025
The Possibility to Build Connections | May 30-June 1, 2025
Reunion Weekend is a time to gather with friends and classmates with whom countless memories were made. Explore the campus, reconnect with old friends, and create new ones. Join us this spring for a weekend of fun, friendship, and tradition.
Register now and enjoy “Early Owl” reduced rates! Easy to do through the QR code or online at support.sbschool.org/EarlyOwl
Mark your calendar: May 30-June 1, 2025. Let’s make this reunion unforgettable!
The 2024-2025 Stoneleigh-Burnham Alumnae Board is busy planning a fun-filled and relaxing weekend.
Heather McDonald Whiteman ’86, President
Mary Dooley ’03, Vice President
Kyo Yamada ’91, Secretary
Allison Small Annand-Partello ’83
Katie Troyanski Clifford ’99
Hayley Descavich ’08
Ashley Girard ’02
Charlotte Lewis-Hankus ’72
Rachel Hobbie ’82
Resa Schuster Ike ’85
Pam Dempsey Kostanski ’82
Jennifer Jones McIntyre ’81
Elizabeth Tichenor ’86
Monée Neal Vance ’12
Emily Gamelin Vickers ’02
Beth Schuster Williams ’84
Kelsa Fuller Zereski ’88
Join the Ladies of the 80’s and Support the Boiler Project
Join dedicated alumnae from the 80’s and fellow classmates to keep Stoneleigh-Burnham School warm this winter. Your gift can help ensure that Stoneleigh-Burnham School can improve its aging heating system with two new boilers. An impressive $52,763 from 65 donors is in hand towards the goal of $160,000.
Mail your gift in the enclosed envelope or give online at sbschool.org/donate.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We are delighted to recognize your incredible generosity and that of our entire Stoneleigh-Burnham community. On October 26, 2024 we celebrated a remarkable achievement of surpassing the special $250,000 fundraising goal set in place through a matching gift.
Thanks to more than 300 generous donors, $266,335 was given to the School. This was matched with an incredible $250,00 by SBS Trustees Drs. Denise Bruner ‘70 and Paul Schipper. “Paul and I offered to match gifts to the SBS Annual Fund because we believe in this school. We are grateful to all who joined in on this match to make it a success.”
We pay tribute to the harmonious blend of dedication, passion, and philanthropy that has fueled our school’s success.
Your commitment to SBS is instrumental in providing our students with an exceptional education, fostering a vibrant campus culture, and ensuring a bright future for generations to come.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we extend our sincere gratitude to each of you for your generosity and unwavering support. We are truly honored to have you as part of the Stoneleigh-Burnham family.
Dr. Denise Bruner ’70
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
Devoted Alumna Helps Future Owls Take Flight
Jacquie (Wieber) Woods ’48 SPH supported her school annually as a leadership donor. When she passed in April 2024, SBS received word that she had included the School in her will. Jacquie was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. Following high school at SBS, she went on to attend Pine Manor Junior College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and then studied art in Paris. She graduated from the New York School of Interior Design and worked as an interior designer in San Francisco. Two of Jacquie’s nieces are also SBS alumnae: Jacquie (Cuddihy) Lincoln ’70 and Patty (Cuddihy) Zimmerman ’72.
Jacquie’s legacy will live on in the lives she is changing through education at her alma mater. If you are considering a gift to SBS through your will or trust, please contact Senior Director of Advancement Susan G. Mattei at 413.774.2711 x247 or development@sbschool.org
Jacquie (Wieber) Woods ’48 SPH (right) with Sally Mixsell ’69 in 2018.
Barbara (Mayo) Llewellyn ’69 Chair, Board of Trustees
CLASS NOTES & IN MEMORIAM
The first things we all turn to in the bulletin are the Alumnae Class Notes and In Memoriam tributes. We are excited to announce that we have moved them online. This digital platform will allow us to share more stories, photos, and updates and keep everyone connected.
Please scan the provided QR code to get started.
EMERSON SCHOLARS: “Herstory” in the Making
Designed to keep our “herstory” alive and provide an opportunity for authentic original research, our inaugural Emerson Scholars partnered with faculty and designed their area of study. Juniors Sophia and Sara presented their topics at the recent 1869 Society Dinner.
Sophia’s research project is focused on energy and sustainability at SBS. Her project will culminate in a timeline of focusing on environmental outlooks within the community and how external developments in the world of energy technology could have impacted the school.
Sara didn’t need to think long to select her project. A junior deeply committed to the SBS dance program, she spends three to four hours daily in classes such as Company, Pointe, International Baccalaureate Dance, and the after-school dance program.
SBS Volleyball
By Lisa Moore
GRIT, GRACE, AND GREAT TEAMWORK
The serve ricocheted into the air off the passer, who kept it in play. The setter sprinted off the sideline and popped the ball high into the center court. The middle reached back with all her might and sent it across the net. The opponent recovered with a quick set, and a sharp attack, directly into the waiting hands of our middle, a crushing block! The Owls leapt in delight…in a game of mistakes there are beautiful moments when it all comes together! Volleyball at Stoneleigh-Burnham is a unique experience.
We rely on our wits, skills, and most of all each other. There are hard-fought victories and heartbreaking losses, but there is always joy. The love of volleyball and team permeates everything we do.
Head Coach, Varsity Volleyball and Athletic Director
Emerson Scholars - Sophia ‘26 and Sara ‘26
Lucy ‘26
HEATHER M c DONALD WHITEMAN ’86
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA | PRESIDENT, SBS ALUMNAE BOARD
FAMILY:
My extremely patient husband Chris and I met in college and then started dating a few years later. We have 3 boys: Sam (28), who went to UGA, Jack (25), who went to Appalachian State, and Peter (22), who went to Ole Miss before deciding to pursue work as an electrician. We have a 3-year-old Frenchie named Cooper and our newest bullmastiff named Andy Reid (Eagles).
WHY I VOLUNTEER ON THE ALUMNAE BOARD:
Stoneleigh-Burnham (SBS) was pivotal in my life. I repeatedly hear from alumnae that this is also true for them. Our stories are different but the result is the same: SBS changed our lives. Working on the Alumnae Board helps keep these alumnae engaged and allows us to pay it forward.
BEST THING ABOUT GIRLS’ EDUCATION:
As SBS says, “We find our voice.” The teachers knew how to teach and guide girls, both academically and socially. Expectations were set on being prepared, and social behavior was also reinforced peer-to-peer as well as by faculty. My friends from co-ed private schools did not have the same feelings of nostalgia that I did and still do.
CODA
Coming to an all girls independent school like this, I knew it would be an experience unlike any other school.
When being asked what my favorite thing about this school is, the first word that comes to my mind is “community.” Although it feels like I am overusing this word sometimes, it’s the most accurate word to describe what made this school feel like a second home to me and many others. This is why as an Residential Assistant, I’ve never had to deal with homesick middle schoolers and 9th graders, because when they joined Stoneleigh-Burnham, they were immediately able to find a place in the community and find people they love to live with.
Along with having a small community, comes a lot of great opportunities. SBS offers so much to do, and it is up to the students if they want to take advantage of that. For example, SBS now
By Karleen ’26
Karleen is a 3-year boarding student from New Jersey and president of STARS, the Student Alumnae Relations Society.
offers students internship opportunities which they can take if it relates to their potential career path choices. This is only one of the many, many, leadership opportunities at Stoneleigh-Burnham.
Events like Mountain Day, Spearth Day, and Vespers, bring all of us together, creating memories and creating a sense of pride in being part of something bigger. These moments remind us that SBS isn’t just a school but a place that feels like home and will stay with us forever. I am grateful to be part of such a vibrant and supportive community, and I know that each of us—whether a current student, an alumna, or part of our extended SBS family— shares in that sense of connection.
Heather McDonald Whiteman ’86 welcomes the Class of 2024 to the Alumnae Society.
574 Bernardston Road Greenfield, MA 01301
sbschool.org
Families: If this issue is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumnae Office at alumnae@sbschool.org or 413.774.2711 x317
Not receiving the Alumnae Newsletter? Contact us at advancement@sbschool.org
FRONT COVER Meet Ayumi ‘27, an artist who discovered her love for art at a young age in Japan. Now a junior at Stoneleigh-Burnham School, she explores her passion through vibrant colored pencil drawings and oil paintings, often focusing on still life and animal subjects.
UPCOMING 2025 EVENTS
ALUMNAE MINI-REUNIONS
January 11 | Miami, FL
Host: Meredeth Meryman Landis ’84
February 1 | Wellington, FL
Host: Beth Schuster Williams ’85
February 2 | Vero Beach, FL
Host: Judith Howard Whitney-Terry ’56 MAB
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS
January 18 (Virtual) • April 12-13
August 16 (Virtual) • October 25-26
ALUMNAE BOARD MEETINGS
April 5 • June 1 • September 27 • December 6
ALUMNAE CAREER DAY
April 11
ANNUAL FUND STUDENT PHONATHONS
April 17 • April 24
ALUMNAE MONTH
May 1-31
COMMENCEMENT
May 30
BACK COVER A local student, Ruby ‘27 finds joy in the art loft in Geissler Gallery. She explores her creativity through a variety of mediums, including detailed pencil and pen drawings, intricate knit and sewn creations, and mixed media.
REUNION WEEKEND
May 30-June 1
ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING & 1869 SOCIETY DINNER
October 25
To register for an upcoming event, visit sbschool.org.