Winter 2013 by South Kent School

The Hillside S o u t h K e n t S c h o o l M a g a z i n e | Winter 2013

The Hillside 2013 Volume L Number 1

Head of School’s Report

Editor: Thomas Javery Communications Coordinator

Hero Path

Copy Editor: Mary Flemming Brown

Contributors: Laura Brande Carol-Ann Bruen Cheryl Moore Lynn Mellis Worthington Send address changes to: South Kent School 40 Bulls Bridge Road South Kent, CT 06785-1199 (860) 927-3539 x206 email: advancement@southkentschool.org

South Kent School adheres to a longstanding policy of admitting students of any race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other schooladministered programs. Mission Statement South Kent School is an independent, college preparatory school for boys. Since its founding, South Kent has maintained ties with the Episcopal Church. Three principles define the school: Simplicity of Life, Self-Reliance, and Directness of Purpose. We offer, by living simply, an uncluttered environment for lively and rigorous learning. We encourage our students to become self-reliant in order to develop competence and self-esteem. We value directness of purpose: we want each student to welcome the challenge to focus his energies, to set goals, and to work to meet them. South Kent School fosters these principles in a community, small in numbers, that provides a safe and supportive family structure. We embrace diversity and cherish honesty, courtesy, and compassion. In this energizing atmosphere, we provide leadership opportunities that develop a student’s sense of responsibility and service. We nurture in our students, regardless of belief or religious affiliation, a thoughtful engagement with spirituality. Visit South Kent School’s website at

www.southkentschool.org ..._ _ _ ...

Printed on recycled paper

Cover2 • The Hillside Winter 2013

hen a young man attends South Kent School, he is doing so at a pivotal time in his life. It is a time of transformation - of leaving one’s community of origin, arriving in a new place, adapting, learning new skill sets, learning to thrive, determining what his place is in this world and how he can contribute. It is an inevitable process that we embrace at South Kent and define as, the Hero Path. Each student’s experience and progression along his path is unique, and we often find that boys are at different stages when they arrive at South Kent School: some newly departed from home, others further along the path and already feeling comfortable and competent with their inner and outer worlds. Our goal as teachers is to help guide our boys along this path while instilling in them the values of academic, athletic, and character excellence. The concept of a Hero Path, as developed by author Joseph Campbell, is a powerful idea that can be found, in one shape or form, in societies around the world. And as evidenced in cultural rites-of-passage and traditions, success on the path requires a transformative education that provides structure and a formalized approach. This has inspired us at South Kent to address our boys’ education in a new way, blending our founding principles of Simplicity of Life, Self- Reliance, and Directness of Purpose with a school experience for the 21st-century world that gives boys the intellectual, moral, physical, and social foundation for scholastic achievement in college, and provides the foundation for productive citizenship in adulthood. To this end we have created our Affinity Program: a systematic process that introduces new students to the concept of what it means to partake in a Hero Path, and puts into practice the values that we teach at South Kent School. The boys continue to grow in confidence and knowledge as they explore, interpret, and employ the lessons they learn, intertwining classroom curriculum with age-appropriate and challenging field experiences. The Affinity Program places each student from the 5th, 6th and PG Forms into an Affinity Group which rotates among three separate Calls to Action: Call To Service, which requires a student to use his gifts and talents for the benefits of the community; Call to Adventure, which fosters a deeper understanding of the self and instills in our students an appreciation for the natural world; and Call to Explore, which provides our boys with the opportunity to explore and express themselves through participation in the arts. Each year a student’s participation brings new perspective and growth and allows him to explore different facets of himself through experiences that he may not normally be exposed to in the course of his everyday life. In this issue of The Hillside, we feature our Call To Explore Affinity Group. Through involvement in drama, singing, movement, poetry, story-telling, video production, and other artistic endeavors, our boys at South Kent School have the chance to release their inner artist and explore hidden talents they may not have realized they had. Opportunities such as performances and presentations for the community draw boys out, making them comfortable with different forms of expression, encouraging them to accept themselves and embrace their talents. Continued on page 3

inside

The Hillside

Volume L, Number 1 Winter 2013

“The present generation, while possessing sophisticated knowledge and competencies in academics, athletics and in manipulating the digital world, have lost many of the foundation skills necessary to physically build, maintain, and steward their own immediate world.”

see page 6

6 FRONT&CENTER

Letters to the School

Board of Trustees

Winter and Spring Athletics

A Timber Frame of Mind

Learn how building with their hands builds our boys’ minds

Inspiring Creative Excellence

Art teacher Cheryl Moore shares her insights on opening opportunities in art to the students of South Kent School

ALUMNI

Alumni Profiles

Class Notes

In Memoriam

inSchool Missives Dear Mr. Vadnais, I have been back to The Hillside numerous times, most recently the summer of ’11. I am in awe of what is happening to/ with the School, and I sing its praises every opportunity I get. I know SKS is not the same place it was when I graduated back in 1976, but I get the sneaky feeling the values remain the same, which is what the School’s success is really about. Prior to my leaving the School, I let GHB know that some day I would come back-- to teach and make a difference. Right now I think I continue to make a difference, and so much more, at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton. But five years from now?? Who knows! Until then, know that I am Cardinal and Black in my heart; I am who I am today because South Kent will forever be a part of my body and soul. Make magic happen, Andy!

For digital back issues or to get The Hillside on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, visit:

www.southkentschool.org/magazine 1923

T KELN H T O OU H O

S C

T S E V HARCTION AU

EKEN

WE MILY A F L L

To Reach Us...

2 • The Hillside Winter 2013

HARVEST AUCTION SAVE THE DATE FRI OCT 18 2013

Reed Martin ‘76

Editor’s Note: We welcome any correspondence that you might be willing to share with us. Please email letters to the editor to magazine@southkentschool.org. You can also send mail to Hillside Letters, South Kent School, 40 Bulls Bridge Road, South Kent, CT 06785. All letters may be edited for content. Letters received by The Hillside will be considered for publication unless otherwise stipulated by the sender.

2nd ANNUAL

In an exciting start for the 2012 Fall Family Weekend, the South Kent School community came together in the Brown Gymnasium with tremendous enthusiasm for the first annual Harvest Auction. Thanks to close to 200 in attendance and a variety of contributions, parents, trustees and faculty raised their paddles to bid on items ranging from trips around the country and the world, art work, and gift certificates to local restaurants and inns, to a signed official US Olympic team women’s soccer jersey, donations for the boys and even being Headmaster for a day. The auction raised about $40,000 dollars with $13,500 going directly to improving the quality of student life for the boys. Kathy McCann, Associate Director of Admission, and Priscilla Loomis, Director of the Parent Committee at South Kent School,

organized the festive event. “This auction was outstanding and added to an already fabulous Fall Family Weekend,” said Andy Vadnais, Head of School. “I am very thankful to Kathy and Priscilla for putting together such a wonderful event and am thrilled that our parents had a terrific weekend, too,” he added. The night began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres during the silent auction followed by the boys joining their parents for dinner and the live auction. South Kent School is deeply appreciative of the efforts and donations that made the auction possible and demonstrated the power of the community. “Planning for next year’s auction is already underway; we look forward to another evening of a lot of laughter and fun while raising money for our boys,” said Vadnais.

SOUTH KENT

S C H O O L

S T O R E

Engraved Crest Ceramic Mugs

Vineyard Vines Crest Ties

continued from inside front cover: In an article about Cheryl Moore, South Kent’s art teacher and co-leader of Call to Explore, you will see how she uses art as a way to encourage expression and risk-taking among her students. We also catch up on the lives of three former SKS students as they discuss the role that art and the Hero Path had on their life’s choices throughout their collegiate careers. When our graduates leave the Hillside, they are confident young men. They are armed with the necessary tools and values to approach life with integrity, self-respect, optimism, energy, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. The Hero Path, however, does not end with their time at South Kent; it prepares them for life’s further quests as they continue to navigate their path.

Andrew Vadnais vadnaisa@southkentschool.org

Men’s and Women’s Play Dry Polo

Charles River 1/4 Zip Shirt

To get your hands on all the latest SKS gear, visit:

“But if a person has had the sense of the Call -- the feeling that there’s an adventure for him -- and if he doesn’t follow that, but remains in the society because it’s safe and secure, then life dries up... if you have the guts to follow the risk, however, life opens, opens, opens up all along the line.” – Joseph Campbell

store.southkentschool.org Winter 2013 The Hillside • 3

The Board of Trustees

Investing in South Kent School South Kent’s Chairman of the Board Jeffrey Rosenberg

Dear Friends, he past two years at South Kent have been a time of tremendous growth. Long dreamed-of initiatives for our Center for Innovation are under way, technology is thriving in our classrooms and improvements to our buildings and grounds are transforming our campus. All of these initiatives help us showcase what we as South Kent Alumni have always known: that South Kent School is an exceptional place in which to learn, grow and develop the skills needed to succeed as respected and caring citizens of our world. With continued support from our Hillside family, we are poised to continue along this path to excellence. South Kent could not exist as it does today without the generous support and commitment of our parents, alumni, grandparents, trustees, faculty/staff and friends. Their continuous support and investment in South Kent School is what enables us to offer such an exceptional educational experience, providing resources to help retain and attract an outstanding faculty and enhance our capabilities in technology that allow us to continue working towards the goal of developing our campus to meet the needs of the 21st century. It is investments like these that make up the difference between the cost of tuition and the actual cost of educating our students. Contributions to the South Kent Annual Fund help support a broad range of programs and play a crucial role

4 • The Hillside Winter 2013

in helping our students achieve their full potential. The school is fortunate that so many people believe in the value and quality of the South Kent experience and that they choose to demonstrate their support by making a philanthropic gift and investing in the future of our school. South Kent, like all other independent schools, depends on this generosity to continue its mission-driven educational offerings. Continued progress on our Center for Innovation remains a key focus of our 2013 initiatives with many plans in the works for additional buildings, garden centers, and integrated student classes. Upcoming projects in the sports arena include the refurbishing of the existing hockey rink into a state-of-the-art center that matches the high caliber status of our elite athletic teams, as well as improvements to the existing soccer fields in order to bring them up to status for elite level play. As you consider investing in the future of South Kent, please keep in mind that gifts of all sizes make a difference. It is the collective effort of our community that enables South Kent to continue producing lifelong learners who are responsible, contributing members of our global learning environment. Sincerely,

Jeffrey G. Rosenberg Board of Trustees, Chairman

Mr. Jeffrey G. Rosenberg, ‘80 Ms. Susan Hecken Gardner, ‘80 (Chairman) Bila Family Partnership Mr. James M. Garnett, Jr., ‘74 General Partner Citi Head of Risk Oversight Mr. Lincoln Day, ‘83 (President) Mr. Robert H. Hacker Generation Marine Finance President Mr. Jeffrey L. Heath, ‘71 The Rev. William C. Riker Jr., ‘59 Mr. Curtis Himy, ’84 (Vice President) PET/CT Imaging of Berkeley Mr. Kai Chin, ‘67 (Treasurer) Wells Fargo Bank

Mr. William Marcus Kruer Convergence Technologies, Inc. President/CEO

Mr. Andrew J. Vadnais (Secretary) South Kent School Head of School

Mrs. Kathleen Lindenmayer, CAPT, USN (Ret). ’79

Mr. Harold W. Bogle, ‘70 Credit Suisse Managing Director Mr. Jeffrey Burke, ‘85 UBS Financial Services Vice President

Mr. David Lyon, ’94 Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Mr. Fitz Robertson, ‘05 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Mr. Charles Rosenberg, ‘87 Cherrybrook Kitchen President & CEO

Prof. Rodney L. Burton, ‘58 Univ. of IL at Urbana-Champaign Prof. Aerospace Engineering Mr. George H. Bartlett (Emeritus) Mr. Jeffrey W. Conover, ’76 The Northern Trust Company Mr. Legare W. Cuyler, ‘58 Senior Vice President (Emeritus) Mr. Frederick K. Day, ‘78 SRAM Corp. Mr. McLean Erskine, ‘99

Mr. John S. Farber (Emeritus) Old Trails School Headmaster

Mr. Christopher Farr, ‘84 The Shipley School Director of External Affairs

Mr. John Farr, ‘58 (Emeritus)

Mr. John L. Garceau, ‘94 Thomas & Hutton Eng. Co.

Ms. Sally Wister (Emeritus)

Mr. Noble F. Richards, ‘49 Mr. Hani Farsi, ’86 (Emeritus) Corniche Group / Mohamed S. Farsi Foundation Dr. Charles P. Whittemore, ‘39 CEO & Founder / Chairman (Emeritus)

Mr. Matthew Gardella, ‘87 Edwards Wildman Partner

Over the past two years investments have funded: • Development and planned construction of a Faculty Village to retain and continue to attract high caliber faculty and staff. • Upgraded networks and bandwidth on campus, enabling us to keep up-to-date with the latest in technological advances. • Complete adoption of iPads within the South Kent curriculum making South Kent the leader in the field of integrated classroom technology. • Restoration of shutters on the Old Building. • Installation of “SmartBoards” in all classrooms.

News Network

http://www.cardinalnewsnetwork.org

• Incorporation of new equipment and technologies to advance AMG to its highest level. • Installation of a video editing lab that has elevated the popular Cardinal News Network. • Installation of a 3D printer and retooling of the robotics program to enhance exercises in applied technology. • Investments in professional development opportunities for faculty and staff. • Upgrades to campus aesthetics, weight room, buildings and grounds. Winter 2013 The Hillside • 5

inclass CFI

By Lynn Mellis Worthington

here is a new type of learning going on that harkens back to an age that many probably think has been lost. Students involved in the Center for Innovation are learning how to use their hands to create timber frame structures from wood beams and posts. Sixth formers and postgraduate students meet for double blocks four times a week and have created the shell of two timber frame sheds that measure 6 feet by 8 feet. Associate Head of School Richard Chavka is one of the teachers leading the students. He is joined by Head of School Andrew Vadnais and Dr. Jed Struckus. The Center for Innovation course, Historic Building Technologies, has been abbreviated to just CFI around campus and is part of the overall curriculum being developed for the new property on South Kent Road. “We designed the stewardship course in two parts. One, focusing on the big issues

6 • The Hillside Winter 2013

involving sustainability, the other, historic building technologies,” said Mr. Chavka. “Timber framing fits because it provides an experiential component that both considers the historic integrity of the site and offers a look at the big picture idea of resource use.” Students enjoy the opportunity to use their hands and work with wood. Many have never operated power tools before. “It’s all fun,” said Jason Salvaggio, a sixth former from Hanson, MA, who admits he had never done wood-working before. “It is a great opportunity to learn outside of the classroom.” The boys work in teams of two on beams, cutting away sections of wood so they fit perfectly together. Many times they enjoy light banter as they work together. “It’s great because so many of my teammates are in the class,” said Nick DiNicola, a post-graduate from Wolcott, CT, who is on the U-18 Selects Academy hockey team. “It gives us another opportunity to bond, outside of practice.” Five different work stations are set up for the students in a former dairy barn that was re-located to the main School campus from the former Arno farm. A new concrete floor was poured for the building, and portable heaters were set up in the structure during this winter.

The timber framing class is all about learning to take a concept or a goal from a mental representation to an actual physical outcome.

Below: Nick DiNicola and Nicholas Iafrate having a little fun before getting to work on timber framing; Facing page clockwise from top right: Dr. Jed Struckus laying out plans for the day; Noah Williams measuring the cut line for the end of a rafter; Eduardo Camet, Sander Boroczky and Dr. Struckus check that their cut is perfectly square; Myles Mcfadden using a hand saw to cut timber.

special faculty member, who joined the team last spring, carefully guides students in the process. Dr. Struckus is a neuropsychologist who particularly enjoys working with adolescents. After purchasing a house in Cornwall of timber frame construction that dated back to 1850, Dr. Struckus began to learn about the construction techniques as he worked to make improvements. “I fell in love with the methods, the tools of timber framing, and the acts of restoration and renewal,” he said. What followed was a class in timber framing at Hancock Shaker Village. He and his wife Lisa began to invite a number of high school students and young adults in college to work on their home and learn the timber frame techniques. “I embrace the philosophy of neural development that espouses the maxim, ‘learning by doing,’ and thus believe that it’s not enough to read about something or watch it being done,” Dr. Struckus said. “You actually have to physically connect with any topic or concept in order to fully master it at the brain level.” This interest eventually led him to South Kent School. He has developed this curriculum for the School to teach timber framing. He was surprised this fall to find out that only four of the 20 students in the class had any prior building experience. “Only a generation or two ago, nearly all young men had fairly well developed abilities at building or repairing things, a consequence of necessity,” he said. “The present generation, while possessing sophisticated knowledge and competencies in academics, athletics and in manipulating the digital world, have lost many of the foundation skills necessary to physically build, maintain, and steward their own immediate world.” From a neuropsychological point of view, entire areas of the brain associated with some forms of ‘creating’ and ‘preserving’ are not being developed.” Dr. Struckus is enjoying working with the students each week.

“The timber framing class is all about learning to take a concept or a goal from a mental representation to an actual physical outcome,” he said. “The class is also a laboratory that allows the student to take intellectual concepts like the Pythagorean Theorem and discover the practical utility of such concepts in the real world (such as calculating a rafter’s length). It’s always easier to learn and master knowledge when you have an appreciation for what that knowledge can actually do.” The hope is that the CFI students will help create a large timber frame structure on the CFI campus in the spring by partnering with professional timber framers. “Our students will have erected the very first new building on the new campus, something that I am certain they will remember the rest of their lives,” Dr. Struckus said. “There is nothing quite like creating something useful, and knowing that it will continue to be useful long after we are all part of history.”

Winter 2013 The Hillside • 7

inuniform Fall Athletics

CARDINALS

8 • The Hillside Winter 2013

VARSITY SOCCER Cheryl Moore

CROSS COUNTRY

PREP SOCCER

Prep Soccer The 2012 South Kent Prep Soccer team had a solid season but, unfortunately, it ended in disappointment. The team was unable to reach its ultimate goal of winning the New England title, but they accomplished many things and represented themselves and the school well on all occasions. The Cardinals finished the season with an overall record of 11-5-3. Once again the Cardinals took on the best teams in the New England prep school ranks as well as some top teams from outside the region in a very competitive schedule. The marquee win was a 1-0 home victory over Hotchkiss, avenging an early season loss. However, the team’s season will be remembered more for the experiences they shared together than the scores of the games. One of those experiences was the chance to play in the biggest high school soccer tournament in the country, The Gateway City Soccer Classic, in St. Louis, Missouri. The team was able to visit the city for four days and did many exciting things in addition to earning two ties against nation-

ally ranked high school teams. South Kent toured St. Louis University and Washington University and spoke with the coaches after training on campus. The entire team went up in the famous St. Louis Arch and spent time exploring downtown. During the middle of the season, the team put on its annual clinic for young players at the Washington Montessori School, and the team enjoyed the experience just as much as the youngsters whom they taught. Late in the season the highlight was certainly a 2-0 victory over Suffield, not because of the score but because the team won the match in the midst of a heavy snowfall. With snow accumulating on the field from the start of the game, the team went about playing beautiful soccer despite the conditions. At halftime, the lines were shoveled off so the teams would know when the ball was out of bounds, and by the time the game ended there were two inches of snow on the field. It was quite a sight and a remarkable experience, especially for some of the players who had never seen snow before. The season ended in the New England quarterfinal game, a 1-0 loss with 1 minute left in the second overtime, at the hands

Above Left: Tre Durham taking the ball from a Hotchkiss player. Above Right: Patrick DiAngelo about to score a goal against Kent School.

of Roxbury Latin, who went on to win the tournament. South Kent played admirably that day but could not score the goal that they needed. However, this team was the ninth consecutive team to earn a spot in the New England tournament and did so despite numerous major injuries to important players. Most importantly, this team was made up of fine young men and quality scholars, 14 of them earning academic honors in the first term of 2012. Several players earned individual honors for their play. Matias Correa, Trey Durham, Simon Hernandez, Aaron Laranetto, Cameron McFarlane, Raimundo Pardo, Giovani Riello, and Shakhai Trott were all selected to various All-Star teams. Trott took home the team’s Most Valuable Player Award, Correa earned the Golden Boot as the team’s top scorer, Durham and McFarlane shared the Most Improved Player Award, and Mickey Watson earned the Coaches Award at the School’s fall sports banquet. Submitted by Coach Owen Finberg Winter 2013 The Hillside • 9

Fall Athletics

Varsity Soccer Our goal from day one was to win. This was a pretty reasonable goal considering we had most of the team back from last year. In addition to the return of most of our boys, we also had a group with experience that ranged from having never played at all, to having played for maybe a few years. This put Coach Lou and me in a very tough position when we had to choose our final team. Our first week of practice was interesting to say the least, but more importantly, the boys were having fun - brushing off the cobwebs where the soccer experience used to be, and getting to know the new faces on the field. Each day, the team seemed to get just a bit more of what we were trying to teach them. Our season started almost too soon, with the boys having absorbed only bits of what we were actually trying to get through. It’s safe to say this is where we realized the team was different in games from what they were in practice. Our first game was at Hotchkiss. The first half, or at least the first 25 minutes were a true eye opener, showing great movement on the field from our boys and, finally, clinching a goal from a header by sixth former Garrett Fox. This was the only goal we would see all day, as our game took a turn for the worse, and we were stuck playing catch and chase for the second half. It was clear that we had great potential on the field; we just needed to find a way to harness the more positive side of our game. This became most clear in our tie against St. Luke’s. 10 • The Hillside Winter 2013

It wasn’t until our first match against the Master’s School that we showed our true abilities. At this point in the season our record stood at an impressive 6-1-1, but Coach Lou hadn’t been completely satisfied with our level of play. Master’s started the game aggressively, not giving our team much room to move the ball and find good opportunities. They managed to put one in on a great shot just above the 18. We went into the half down 1-0. The energy was high for both teams, and we were hungry for goals. We went into the second half as a different team, this becoming most clear when fifth former Chao Huang shot and scored a beautiful goal from the opposite post. Our team cheered as if it were the first goal all season, which in some way, it was. About ten minutes later, we sealed the game with a perfectly placed shot off a free kick from post-graduate Luc Chatelain. We had finally found our game but also one of our toughest opponents. We wouldn’t lose again for the rest of the season, facing the rest of our league, including Watkinson, Chase and Christian Heritage. Then came the play-offs that appeared very similar to that of the year before.

Again, Master’s put up a great fight keeping the game scoreless, even through overtime. We were faced with the most pressure we had all season, a shootout. We tallied our most confident shooters: Devonte Duckworth, Stephane Bossio, Zach Pereira, Garrett Fox, Raul Chamale, Long Hoang and Detre Bell, who was in goal as well. Shot after shot, as Coach Lou faced the opposite direction, our boys did it. We beat them! The next day we were faced with the second challenge, our rivals, Christian Heritage. The game was again scoreless until late in the second half when Luc Chatelain scored. At this point, we started playing a defensive game in order to hold onto our lead. Only giving them one opportunity, we held on, the whistle blew, and again we were champions. Each player this year was key to our success. Although it took us longer to find our game, we found camaraderie from day one. It was this that seemed to be the fuel for our success and led us to be back-to-back champions. Thank you, boys, for another great season, and for another grey hair in my beard. Submitted by Coach Marcus Cooper

Cross Country The South Kent cross country team began the season with only two runners returning from last year’s top seven, and so the season began slowly for the squad, with a fifth place finish and sixteenth place finish in the Oakwood Friends and Canterbury invitationals. The team did not give up easily and clearly worked harder than most of its competition-and soon made progress. Thus, in the first home meet on South Kent’s notoriously difficult Hillside course, the Cardinals earned victories over Christian Heritage, St. Luke’s, Marvelwood, and Harvey. This progress continued for the whole season. Although the squad only came in fourth in the HVAL championships and eighteenth in the New England championships, its margins of defeat to the top teams in the league grew smaller and smaller as the weeks of training passed. In this respect, South Kent lost to Watkinson by 64 points in the first league meet but narrowed that margin to 19 points in the massive New England championships. (This narrow margin at the New Englands was especially impressive in

light of the size of the meet--big meets tend to inflate scores and margins of victory--and the absence that day of two top South Kent runners, Lei Yang and Shihao Hu, for an academic obligation.) The Cardinals even eked out a 28-29 victory over Salisbury during the regular season, something that never would have happened at the start of the year. Because of this progress, Father Klots--the team’s coach--was pleased to award varsity letters to eight runners at the end of the season: fourth former Zixiang Tang; fifth formers Cheng Chi, Pat Curry, Joel Garcia, Shihao Hu, Takenori Tabata, and Tetsuro Yamato; and sixth former Lei Yang and Joel Garcia, who ran his way to all-league honors, winning the Anne Funnell Cross Country Trophy for the Most Valuable Runner, and Lei Yang winning the Arthur W. Brown Cup for Most Improved Runner. Submitted by Coach Stephen B. Klots

From far left to right: Raul Chamale during a game against Master’s School; Chao Huang leaping to stop the ball from going out; Cross Country team members Bohan Chen, Shihao Hu, Takenori Tabata, Tetsuro Yamato, Cheng Chi, and Zixiang Tang as they pass Fieldhouse.

Winter 2013 The Hillside • 11

inperspective Finding Creativity

Drawing Out Talent HIDDEN

High school is a time for learning, growing, maturing, and if you ask most normal 14 – 18 year old boys, a time for taking some chances. Teachers, like Mrs. Cheryl Moore, understand this need to explore, and she loves to give her students the opportunity to do just that. Whether it’s taking the athlete and putting a paintbrush in his hands or putting an academically focused student on stage, this chance opportunity might mark a defining point for a student along his “Hero Path”. Based on the work of Joseph Campbell, a Hero Path is a concept embraced by the South Kent School community. It is a model for how to live life successfully, recognize and adapt to a changing world, thrive when presented with new challenges, and leave a community better than you found it. In essence, a young man’s Hero Path at

12 • The Hillside Winter 2013

SKS prepares him for collegiate success. But beyond that, it teaches a process that will propel him forward through his life, make him a better and happier person, and create success – for himself and the community he lives in. We met up with three former SKS students and asked them to take a few moments to reflect with us on the impact that South Kent, and especially Cheryl Moore’s art classes, have had on their Hero Path, their success in college, and what lessons they will take with them as they prepare for the next chapter in their lives.

Jackie Carmichael

In 2009, Jackie Carmichael attended South Kent School for his post-graduate year. He expected it to be a year focused on improving his basketball game and preparing for college. What he didn’t expect was that it would also be a year of personal growth and inspiration. But after embracing the principles of SKS, and with a little help from Mrs. Moore’s art class, that is exactly what he found. “I grew up in Kansas and played pretty much every sport I could. I loved being outside,” Carmichael explained “and thought that sports would be my main focus while at South Kent School.” And while basketball did remain a key factor in his experience at SKS, Carmichael is also quick to point out that it was the incredible people and relationships that he formed with his classmates from all over the world that really helped him develop into the man he is today. Currently a senior at Illinois State University, Carmichael adheres to many of the principles and lessons that he learned at South Kent and from his art teacher, Cheryl Moore. “Mrs. Moore was an amazing teacher with so much energy and enthusiasm towards her students and her love for art,” says Carmichael, who signed up for Cheryl Moore’s Drawing & Painting class in his first semester at South Kent. “Her art program helped me understand how everyone is different and express themselves in unique ways. I think understanding that goes a long way in relating to the many different people you find in your community.” Always artistic, Carmichael loved to draw and sketch as a kid. But it was at South Kent School that he learned his artwork could provide a release and refuge from life’s

everyday stresses. “Mrs. Moore taught me to relax and lose myself in the artwork, to expand my mind as an artist,” says Carmichael. “She said that a piece may not come out perfectly or even the way it was envisioned, but art is art, and what you put on the paper is an expression of yourself.” Carmichael remembers always learning something new in Mrs. Moore’s class. “She taught me to enjoy and embrace art in a completely different way, and to develop an appreciation for all kinds of art.” When pressed, however, he does admit that abstract and futuristic art is his favorite. “I love seeing what people can imagine, even if it is a little wacky.” As Carmichael makes plans for postcollege, he knows that art will continue to play a major role in his life, even if he doesn’t have the time to sketch as often as he might like. He also knows that the lessons and guidance he received while at South Kent School, and in Mrs. Moore’s class, will follow him down whatever career and life path he chooses. And when asked if he has any advice he would like to pass on to today’s South Kent students, he states, “Just go in with an open mind and don’t worry about what other people think. You will truly enjoy your experience, and it is a great way to discover a talent you might never even know you had.”

Facing page left to right: Painting by Andrew Crowley; Photograph by Leo Fan; Self-portrait by Jackie Carmichael; This page left to right: Jackie Carmichael’s SKS Photo; Painting by Jackie Carmichael.

Winter 2013 The Hillside • 13

Finding Creativity

Andrew Crowley

Andrew Crowley grew up playing baseball and basketball in Canton CT, an area not far from South Kent School, when he enrolled in 2010 for his post-graduate year to play on SKS’s prep basketball and baseball teams. And while at the time he may not have considered himself particularly artistic, after one year in class with Cheryl Moore, he definitely considers himself to be an artist today. “I took both of Mrs. Moore’s art classes for the one year I was at South Kent. She continually encouraged me to explore my talents and push my abilities as an artist,” says Crowley. “That enabled me to experiment with higher levels of art work that I might otherwise not have had the opportunity to do.” Today, Andrew Crowley is a student at the Community College of Rhode Island. Blending his two favorite activities, he is studying graphic design and participating

14 • The Hillside Winter 2013

in a work-study program creating logos and drawings for the sports teams at his school. And most exciting, he is beginning to receive commissions from people requesting his artwork for their homes. His plan is to transfer to a 4-year college next fall and continue his education in graphic design or architecture and work towards a career in which he can best use his drawing skills. “Through the South Kent program I was able to find out what I was truly gifted at and use it to the best of my abilities,” says Crowley. “Without Mrs. Moore I would not be where I am today. She inspired me to uncover my artistic talents and showed me ways to improve my skills and make my art stand out.” Indeed, Mrs. Moore and his experience at South Kent School certainly left an impact on Crowley. The tight-knit South Kent family was a fantastic experience for him, and he credits it for helping him mature and grow as an individual. “The lessons I learned there are always in the back of my mind when I’m dealing with situations in my life today,” he says. “There was always someone to talk to and lend a helping hand. South Kent is a place where I felt comfortable and supported by everyone around me.” He also credits Mrs. Moore’s words of encouragement and welcoming environment with enabling him to discover his true talents as an artist. “She provided a relaxing atmosphere where I was able to forget everything else for a little while and really get into my work.” Andrew fondly remembers a favorite project that he did while in class. It was a pastel of the North Lighthouse on Block Island and he considers it the first “real” piece of artwork that he ever did. “Through all the projects and pieces I did, I learned to strive for the best and

stay consistent in my work.” Principles, he says, he learned during his time at SKS and from his understanding of the Hero Path. For students today who might be hesitant to participate and try something new, Crowley offers this piece of advice. “Take a chance. You never know what you might find out about yourself or where the path may lead you.” For Andrew Crowley, it seems his path is leading to success.

Leo Fan

Leo Fan is a twenty-one year old student of Photojournalism at the Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York. Growing up in Shaoxing, China, he never imagined the effect that an art class he would take in his 6th Form at South Kent School would have on his life and the artistic path he would choose. “I had a good art education ever since I was a kid, so I always considered myself artistic,” says Fan, “but it was at South Kent that I guess most people began to view me as a photographer.” Add that early training in art to a teacher who instills in her students a sense of confidence and daring that is still embedded within them long after leaving the halls of South Kent, and there is no stopping a student like Fan from believing that he has what it takes to succeed. Arriving in 2009, Fan was sent to South Kent School by his parents who were looking for a well-rounded all-boys school in America in which to educate their child. South Kent offered excellent academics, and athletics, and provided a variety of artistic outlets. As a student, Fan took every opportunity to enjoy all that South Kent had to offer. He played basketball, golf and participated in triathlon. But it was the art program, and an advanced art class he took with Mrs. Moore that left the most enduring mark. “The art program at South Kent provided not only the basic art skills,” says Fan, “but also a sense of what art is. It broadened our horizons, allowing us to enjoy doing art.” Going beyond the basics and rising to meet a challenge is a fundamental lesson that Fan remembers learning at South Kent. In addition to acquiring new art skills in painting and drawing, Fan was encouraged to pursue his other artistic interests and develop his passion for photography.

“I was given a lot of opportunity to do camera work for Mrs. Moore and photography pieces within the community,” says Fan. “I got good enough that people started using my photographs for drawings and as a basis for other art projects.” After several months in Mrs. Moore’s class, he discovered what many previous students realized: that art isn’t just about learning how to draw and paint. Rather, Mrs. Moore teaches an appreciation for art in all its forms and encourages a student to explore a deeper understanding of what he is capable of doing. When he looks back, one of Fan’s favorite projects was for his application to Rochester Institute. Taking him almost three months to complete, he credits this project, and the training Mrs. Moore provided, to teaching him the patience needed to complete a piece of art to the best of his ability. It is a lesson he well remembers when he approaches a project for one of his classes today, and a lesson he will take with him as he plans for his future career as a photographer. Facing page left to right: Self-portrait by Andrew Crowley; Andrew Crowley’s SKS photo; painting by Andrew Crowley; This page left to right: Leo Fan’s SKS Photo; Drawing by Leo Fan; Recent photograph by Leo Fan.

Photos from the Hillside – By Leo Fan This 20-page hardcover coffee table book is the prefect gift for anyone who has spent time on the Hillside. Filled with photos taken by Leo during his time here at South Kent School, this photo book is sure to elicit fond memories. Available for purchase at: store.southkentschool.org

Winter 2013 The Hillside • 15

inperson Portrait of an Educator

Inspiring Creative Excellence Art Teacher Cheryl Moore Leads Students on a Journey of Discovery... About Themselves, Art, and the Hero Path Cheryl Moore guiding Nicholas Pezza on his painting

rom the moment you step into Cheryl Moore’s art studio at South Kent School you are aware that this is no ordinary high school art class. Soothing music streams from speakers. Inspirational pieces of art made by former students line the walls. And work areas, filled with professional tools and equipment, entice the aspiring young artist to pick up a pencil or paintbrush. It is an atmosphere that soothes and relaxes, yet, at the same time, engages the senses and stimulates the desire to create. Bringing to life an environment that is both relaxing and inspiring, where the students can leave the stresses of their academic classes behind for at least a little while, is what attracts many students to Mrs. Moore’s class - not to mention the fact, that on cold winter days, students may be welcomed with freshly baked treats and hot chocolate! And while this may sound a bit more like a social club setting than a classroom, Cheryl Moore is nothing less than serious when it comes to guiding her students through the techniques

16 • The Hillside Winter 2013

and practice needed to succeed in one’s art. “I believe that there is artistic ability in all of us,” notes Mrs. Moore, “and to unlock these talents often requires a different perspective on the world around us.” This philosophy is one that is echoed in the founding principles that guide the students at South Kent School, helping them grow in confidence and knowledge as they explore, interpret and employ the lessons they learn. Simplicity of life, self-reliance and directness of purpose are values embodied in South Kent’s Hero Path, which attracted Mrs. Moore to SKS in the first place and inspired her to want to teach and guide these young men as they continue to explore new paths, much like she herself has done throughout the course of her career. Growing up in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Cheryl Moore did not need to go far from home for artistic inspiration. The idyllic countryside and picturesque town setting made famous by Norman Rockwell provided plenty of fodder for the aspiring young artist.

However, it was her love of dance that first drew her into the arts, and she would begin her educational career in 1983 as a dance teacher in a small town in the Berkshires, about an hour’s drive north of South Kent. She remained there for three years until a series of knee injuries forced her to change paths, and her talent for painting and drawing took center stage. From dance to drawing to her involvement in theater, Mrs. Moore has found many avenues to express her love for the arts. But since 2008, it has been South Kent School, in her art studio where students proudly display their finished pieces in windows for all to see and enjoy, that Mrs. Moore calls home. We caught up with Mrs. Moore recently to discuss some of the reasons why art is important in a young person’s life and what motivates her to teach. As always, she inspired us not only with her artistic talents, but with her words as well.

SKS:

Cheryl Moore

What was it that inspired you to become involved in art and led you to teaching? I’ve always been an artist. I’m very “right-brained.” I started drawing at an early age and won a few awards in middle school. Then my family moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where I was inspired by the work of Norman Rockwell. It was as a student in high school that my talent was nurtured and encouraged by several wonderful teachers. I attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where I earned my degree in fine arts, while at the same time traveled home to the Berkshires to perform with the Olga Dunn Dance Company. My first teaching position was as a dance teacher at Berkshire School, in Sheffield, MA, where I stayed for three years until a series of knee injuries put an end to my dance career. At that point my husband Walter, who is also a current teacher at South Kent, and I accepted positions at Darrow School in New Lebanon, NY. During my twenty-six years at that school, I taught art, theater and dance. I was also asked to revive and build their theater program. What drew you to South Kent School? Andy Vadnais, the Head of School at South Kent, was a former colleague of ours at Darrow, and he invited Walter and me to join him here at South Kent School. We were both ready for a change and excited about the chance to join the excellent team of teachers and students we met here at SKS. And the classes you teach...? I currently teach five courses in Drawing, Painting and Advanced Studio Art, mostly to sixth formers and post-grad students, but there are a few fifth and fourth formers that occasionally take my class as well. What do you like best about teaching the students at South Kent? I enjoy the process of helping my students find their ability and develop their talent. I like that the art studio is a focal point of our campus. The boys are proud to display their work in the studio windows for the community to see. It pleases me that so many of the boys come in during their free periods. I like that teaching art gives me an opportunity to get to know the boys in a way that goes beyond the traditional classroom or player/coach relationship.

Ben Gardner ’12 expressing his passion for fishing through paint. Winter 2013 The Hillside • 17

Portrait of an Educator

Do you have an overall philosophy or approach when it comes to teaching?

Boys absorbed in their artwork in the Maggie Smith Visual Arts Center

Drawing and Painting can be a spiritual endeavor. I tell the boys on the first day of class, “I want art class to be the best part of your day.” Acquiring and developing a skill comes from practice and from having good examples to learn from. I use a series of exercises designed to engage the right hemisphere of the brain, and the art studio walls are covered with paintings and drawings done by my former students. The combination of visual awareness, along with the progressive development of their motor skills often results in a break-through moment for the beginning artist. I truly believe there is artistic ability in all of us, but to access that talent often requires the ability to take a different perspective on the world around us.

How does your classroom setting encourage the students to develop this “different perspective” on the world? The boys have a lot on their minds when they come into my classroom. They bring the stress and pressure of their academic classes, and I strongly believe that the art studio should be a refuge, where a student can relax and push that stress aside for a little while so that he can open his mind to new ideas. When the boys enter the art studio, there is always music playing. I try to keep it soothing, but current. The room is warm and well lit. At the end of a section, I’ll surprise them by bringing in some homebaked treats. There’s hot chocolate and tea in the winter. It’s comfortable and yet the atmosphere is a serious one. And do the students seem to respond well in this environment? You can’t learn to draw and paint if you are stressed. We have a relaxed work schedule, although I do put finishing dates on all assignments. You will rarely find a boy wandering, unless he’s visiting and checking out his classmate’s work. They are engaged and, for the most part, interested in what they’re doing. And students know they always have the opportunity to come in during their free blocks to work. I also try to spend a few minutes, several times a class, at each boy’s desk to help him move forward with his assignment. Which topics do you think pose the biggest challenge to your students? Actually, the biggest challenge comes right at the beginning of the year, when the students just aren’t sure if they can succeed. They see the excellent work on the walls of the classroom and can be intimidated. It only takes a short time, though, for them to settle in and realize that it’s a process, like learning to ride a bike. Baby steps. 18 • The Hillside Winter 2013

I’m sure that you have some boys who come to your class and think art is just “not my thing”. When I find I have a student who is struggling, I’ll give that student a little more of my time in class. I’ll encourage and guide his hand a little more as well. I try to recognize and reinforce progress and minimize frustration. I find that the boys who enthusiastically want to be here, even having never taken an art class, learn to be good observers. They listen closely and know that they have to pace themselves. They naturally become more confident and when that happens, they improve. How does the process you employ in teaching art relate to South Kent School’s idea of the “Hero Path”? We recognize that boys arrive at South Kent at different stages of their Hero Path. In art, they arrive in my class at different levels of ability and experience. They will all learn new skills. For some, the process truly takes them out of their comfort zone. The challenge can be frustrating, and progress at first may be slow. It has been my experience that, at some point, the young artist “gets it”. Something clicks and his creative expression starts to blossom. He masters the fundamentals and wants to take on new challenges. Do you find having a class of all boys to be an advantage when it comes to having them express their artistic side? Having taught co-ed classes, I can say that an all-boy class definitely has fewer distractions! Seriously though, there does seem to be a healthy exchange of conversation between the boys during the drawing process that crosses some of the social and language boundaries that may exist outside of the studio. What impact do you hope that the exposure to art will have on your students? My hope is that many of my students will continue to express themselves artistically beyond their coursework here. I hope that they gain an appreciation for the arts and their value not only in education, but in the broader community as well. I want my students to look at the world differently. I want them to see the concepts that were introduced in the studio and apply them to the “real world”.

Winter 2013 The Hillside • 19

Portrait of an Educator

You also lead the Call to Explore Affinity Group with your husband Walter. Can you tell us about that?

Students in their costumes for the Call to Explore play The WWI Christmas Eve Truce

It’s all a part of the Hero Path, stepping out of one’s comfort zone to try new and unfamiliar experiences. We are currently in our second year as coordinators, and our intent is to provide the boys with opportunities to proceed along their path through the arts. In my group, the boys can participate in theater, music and dance - talk about stepping out of one’s comfort zone! But I am proud to say that the program has become very popular, especially dance. Before we started this program, theater was not popular among the boys at SKS, where as now they take pride in the performances. It was difficult at first, but it has gained acceptance and popularity. It’s great to see these young men willing to take on new challenges and try new things. It’s what the Hero Path and the affinity programs are all about.

As a final note, is there one take-away you want to leave the students with? That exploring the arts should be fun. There is no stigma in taking art or participating in theater. It’s okay to put yourself out there. People won’t laugh or heckle from the audience.

FUN FACT: Cheryl has created the School’s beautiful holiday cards for the past five years. 20 • The Hillside Winter 2013

T N E K H T SOU L S C H O O

ANNUAL PORT RE

2011-2012

1923

To see the Annual Report go to www.southkentschool.org/alumni

Keep up with the latest SKS happenings by liking the SKS Facebook page!

www.facebook.com/SouthKentSchool Winter 2013 The Hillside â&#x20AC;˘ 21

intouch Class Notes

JUST CHECKING IN

ALUMNI GET-TOGETHER

RETIREMENT

MARRIAGE

NEW JOB

CHILDBIRTH BIG MOVE

We’d love to hear from you! Please remember to send in your class notes by mail, or by emailing Carol-Ann Bruen bruenc@southkentschool.org. Don’t forget the picture!

1935

Jerry Waller

In Sept., Jerry, Nancy Waller, Joan Wister, Peg Waller Burhoe, Sally Wister Parrott and Sydney Waller met at Sydney’s Cooperstown home, to celebrate Nancy’s 94th! Jerry celebrated his 96th Dec. 20th! Jerry and Nancy still live in their Hilltop home --”the Farm” -near Cherry Valley.

1946

Walter Strohmeyer

I traveled to Russia and Germany in summer of 2012 for a month and spent one week in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Met with my German friends and made new German friends. Traveled with the father of a German student who spent his junior year at SKS. Continued swimming ½ K in Long Island Sound up until the last day of October.

1945

Lawrence Brown

Wendy and I had a “mini SKS reunion” with Tom and Joan Buell in Pt. Orchard, WA in October. Great to see them as always! None of us have changed!!

Stephen Garnett

I am looking forward to my 85th birthday in January and my SKS 70th reunion in 2015! 22 • The Hillside Winter 2013

Allen Perrins

2012 INA World Championship, Nonsuch 30, 1st place, 6-day rendezvous held at Greenport, NY. Granddaughter Andrea and cat “Maude” as crew.

1948

Mason Nye

Regards to all my class members! I am recovering from a serious neck injury but otherwise feeling fine and am still in good health.

1953

Anthony Crossley

The school for autistic children that my wife, daughter and I founded 10 years ago, InKids, has gone from 6 to 40 full-time and 50 part-time students. The success of this non-profit has demonstrated once again that there is so much more in giving than receiving.

Robert McClenahan

1949

Very proud of SKS the older I get. No other school like it!

Jean and I moved to “The Villages” in central Florida in 2004. Had to give up tennis for my back, but play golf 4 or 5 times a week. (Touch life!) Health is good and life here is really great!

Paul Veeder

Del Hitch

1950

Joseph Scott

I am getting too old to fish, but my dog and I spend a lot of time looking at birds and the ocean changes every day.

1951

Paul Matthews

Visited my cousin Legare Cuyler on Cape Breton. I made a trade of a painting I made for a chair Legare made from a lobster pot!

Oldest grandson, Lansing, is in his second year at St. Joseph’s University on a baseball scholarship.

Bill Worthington

Received the Truro MA Council on Aging’s “Senior of the Year Award” for his dedication and service to the community. “I am really flattered,” Worthington said of the award. “I consider myself such a washashore and have only been doing the things I like to do.” Looking at the list of previous winners, he notes, “So many of them I know – people who did valuable and important stuff. It truly is an honor to be up there with them. It feels unexpected and good.”

Above: Nancy, Jerry Waller and Joan Wister at Sydney Waller’s Cooperstown home

1954

1963

My doctor recently said I would live to 90 or more. “That depends on the quality of life”, I said. “No!”, he replied. “It depends on the quality of your doctor!” If he’s right, I’ll be contributing to the South Kent Fund for some years to come.

SKS, keep up the good work!

John Severance

1955

Robert Gibbons

Still drilling, filling and billing four mornings a week. Golf, gardening and boating keep me active. It was a very busy summer with visitors, both friends and families.

1962

David Chamberlain

Enjoying my retirement in Colorado and Florida. We have a new Bichon puppy named “Izzy” who keeps us happy. We sadly lost our beloved Schnauzer last December. My granchildren are thriving in Denver. Taking life on a slow bell. Below: Siblings Alan 54’, Ann and Jay Greener at Lincoln Center following the University Glee Club of NYC Concert with the Dartmouth Aires

Tom Dingman Jay Greener

I am fighting the presumed effects of Agent Orange, coronary artery disease and Parkinsons, and although it is difficult to get around, I hope to be back on the Hillside for my 50th.

Leland D. Potter

Retired to Vermont to ski. Survived triple bypass surgery and recovered in time to ski with Linda – wife of 45 years.

1968

Thomas Williams

After teaching middle school math the past few years at The Willow School in Gladstone, NJ, I have decided to retire. I am very active in road bicycling with my wife, Muffin, and really enjoy it. Also, I am substitute teaching at local schools and as of now feel pretty busy for a guy with not much to do! I am sorry, but it looks like I won’t be able to make it for our 45th reunion in June, but who knows, maybe my plans will change.

Center for Innovation Think-Tank Invitation

May 4

2013

www.southkentschool.org/thinktank From Andy Vadnais, Head of School As I travel the globe on behalf of South Kent, I frequently engage in conversations with many of you who feel as we do about the importance of South Kent’s new Center for Innovation curriculum, particularly those areas that involve sustainability and resource use. Many of you have encouraged me to think in new ways about how we can leverage our combined assets of land, water (including Hatch Pond), and forests, etc. George Bartlett put it best when he spoke of solving ecological issues first in one’s own backyard! Small steps that encourage not discourage. To take our programs to the next level, the School needs the expertise and perspective from those of you working in fields of water management, organic farming, historic preservation, restoration ecology, timber management, entrepreneurship, alternative energy generation and construction. Our overall goal is to figure out how to use our resources wisely as a living laboratory where we can formulate viable solutions to the vast array of environmental problems we face, with many of these projects to be managed by the boys. I am extending an invitation for you to attend an organizational meeting held here on the Hillside on May 4, 2013. My intent is for this to be fun, intellectually engaging and invigorating for all. I welcome all who are interested in hearing about our program and would also like to share their expertise with us. If you would like to join us for the day or have any questions please contact Rich Chavka, CFI Director (860)927-3539 x 229 or email chavkar@southkentschool.org. I look forward to meeting you and to some very interesting discussion!

Winter 2013 The Hillside • 23

intouch Class Notes

Annual SKS

Golf Tournament

Thursday June 13, 2013

1977

Jay Swan

I am an IT consultant at Aetna in Hartford, CT, through iTech Consulting Services.

1978

Rob Kay

Bobbi and I just moved into a 1920’s bungalow. We are downsizing since both boys will be in college next year. Now more time for biking and skiing and less time on the yard, etc. All the best to everyone in 2013.

Hiroshi C. Yamamoto

My family and I have recently moved to Tokyo. We are all doing well.

1980

Ward Parsons

[Sent in from Ward’s mother] Ward has been in Singapore for 3 years with Heidelberg Printing Co. He is returning to Sweden with his wife 24 • The Hillside Winter 2013

Jennifer and son Henry and they are expecting a son in December. Loved South Kent!! Hope one of his sons will also go there.

because of his outstanding advocacy and education efforts on behalf of the local child welfare community.

Thomas Winter

1985

[From his mom, Josie Winter] Tom is Controller for much of Brazil and Paraguay for ADM do Brasil. His oldest daughter graduates from Emerson College in May, and his middle daughter started at DePaul in the fall of 2012. Youngest daughter is still in school in Brazil.

1982

David Crampton

Adoption Network of Cleveland Ohio has selected David Crampton, PhD, to receive the 2012 Triad Advocate of the Year Award. This annual award is presented by Adoption Network of Cleveland to those who have made a significant contribution to the adoption and/or foster care field. Crampton is being honored

Cortright Sandstrom Five-year-old Grace Anne and 2-year-old “CJ” keep me on the run. All is good!

1991

Jeremy Marks

Jeremy is now assistant principal and school counselor at Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona.

Lieut. Col. Bill Denham

son of Doug Denham ’65 and Dede Denham, former faculty members at SKS, is currently Director of Operations for his squadron and is based at Kadena, Okinawa. If classmates want to get in touch, his email address is billdenham@me.com

Below: Bill Denham prepares his plane to go out on maneuvers with a flight of F-15s from a base on Guam.

1993

Robert Patton

Robert and Kathryn are happy to welcome John Robert Patton born September 1st, 2012, 7 lbs., 15.5 oz.

2001

Jimmy Luxbacher Above: Matt Baker (2nd from left) and Matt Jones (Far Right), Class of ’92, at the Las Vegas Half Marathon; Middle: Newborn John Robert Patton; Right: Proud Papa, Robert Patton, Mom Kathryn, big brother Edward and John Robert Patton.

1992

Matt Baker

I recently moved from San Diego to DC. Taking over more hotels. Matt Jones and I got together and ran the Las Vegas Half Marathon on Dec. 2nd.

Just wanted to give you a heads up that Amy and I were blessed with a wonderful little girl back on April 11th. Her name is Audrey Grace Luxbacher and she IS AMAZING. We will be relocating for work to NE NJ, Bergen County, in February, and I hope to visit more! I hope everything is going well on the Hillside.

Alumni Weekend 2013

June 14-16, 2013 All alumni are invited back for this special event, but if your class year ends in “3” or “8” this is your year to celebrate! For updates and information, visit www.southkentschool.org. If you are interested in helping organize your Class Reunion, please contact Carol-Ann Bruen. bruenc@southkentschool.org Winter 2013 The Hillside • 25

intouch Class Notes Jason Slusher

Married Rachel Jones at the bride’s parents’ home in Bel Air, MD, on November 17, 2012, with South Kent Chaplain, the Rev. Steve Klots, performing the ceremony. Jason is working as a carpenter and doing some hockey coaching while Rachel finishes up her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The couple is living in Bel Air.

2003

Gavin Fazio

Clockwise from top left: Father Klots, Jason Slusher and Rachel Jones at Jason and Rachel’s wedding; Jake and Ashley Coley as they are first announced as Mr. and Mrs. Coley; Jeremy Blutstein at the Hollywood Screenplay awards dinner; Father Klots, Gavin Fazio, Lauren Nicoll, Colin Kennedy ‘03, Nate Lusk ‘01, Ben Ruzzo ‘01, and Kealan Rooney ‘03 at Gavin and Lauren’s wedding.

On August 11, 2012, Gavin married Lauren Nicoll in an outdoor ceremony on the campus of Endicott College (where the bride and groom met) overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The Rev. Steve Klots, South Kent Chaplain, officiated in the ceremony, and the couple was also joined by Colin Kennedy ‘03, Nate Lusk ‘01 Ben Ruzzo ‘01, and Kealan Rooney ‘03. Gavin and Lauren are currently living in Charlestown, MA, where they expect to be joined by their first child later this spring.

Jonathan Guss

Jonathan graduates from Berkeley Law School in May, 2013. After he takes his Law Boards, he will be an associate at Mayer Brown in Palo Alto, CA. He currently works for the California Supreme Court.

2004

Jake Coley

In early October, Jacob and Ashley Coley were married in Bucks County, PA. They are really excited for their 3 month trip around the world in March and to start their young lives together in Princeton, NJ in the Fall.

2005

Jeremy Blutstein

I was a finalist in the Hollywood Screenplay contest with my script “Charlie Finally Loses It” for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Here is the website that shows the results of the contest (http://www. hollywoodscreenplaycontest. com/contest/past-winners2010/2012-official-finalists) You have to scroll down to the spec script category to see my name.

2010

Ian Fleming

[From his grandmother] Ian is spending his 3rd year as an exchange student at the University of Bamberg, Germany. He will finish at Clemson in 2014. Many thanks to all of you at SKS!

2012

Jimmy O’Connor

Currently attending and playing hockey at Southern New Hampshire University with Jimmy Gabrione ‘11 and Nick Riccio ‘10. Jimmy and I are roommates and our room is covered with SKS decorations! Thinking about SKS every minute.

26 • The Hillside Winter 2013

inmemoriam

William “Bill” W. Lynch ‘39, passed away on October 27, 2011. Bill was raised in Connecticut and graduated with honors in geology from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. After college, Bill served in the U.S. Army during World War II. His service in General Patton’s army took him from Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge. After the war he attended Cambridge University in England. He and Bill and his wife Violet Dobson Cook met as young teens, dated in college, and were married in 1944, and spent the next sixty- seven years together. After Cambridge he taught math and science for a year before attending Yale University, where he earned both a masters and a doctoral degree in educational psychology. He then taught at New Haven State Teachers College, the University of New Hampshire in Durham and Indiana University. He retired in 1987. An unselfish and caring person, Bill was loved and admired by family and colleagues. He was truly a gentle person and a man of rare integrity.

Peter Morgan ’45, passed away peacefully, painlessly, at sunset in Perth, Ontario, after living 85 years in medicine, teaching, writing, editing, music, and the world- embracing Bahá’í Faith. Morgan filled many roles, physician, scien-

tific editor, fantasy novelist, opera writer, Baha’i devotee and barefoot runner, to name but a few. Morgan was born in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 1, 1927. He graduated from Albany Medical College in New York in 1955 and practiced clinical neurology and electroencephalography. In 1970, he moved to Canada to earn diplomas in epidemiology and community health at the University of Toronto in Ontario, where he later became an assistant professor in the department of preventive medicine and biostatistics. He wrote a 560-page fantasy novel called The Words of the Papermaker that he self-published in 2006 under the name Peter G. Angelin. He also wrote an opera called Open House. W. Donald Roberts, Jr. ’45, of Keswick, Virginia, passed away at home on Monday, July 23, 2012. Don was born in New York City on November 7, 1926, and grew up in Pelham, New York, and Winnetka, Illinois. Don lived in Evanston, Illinois; Dayton, Ohio; Northbrook, Illinois; Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin; Sarasota, Florida and Keswick, Virginia. Don attended South Kent School in Connecticut, New Trier High School of Winnetka, Illinois, and then enlisted in the Army Air Corps., four months prior to his 18th birthday in 1944. Upon his return from service, Don attended the University of Illinois. Don was an advertising salesman and also went into business with his father as

Vice President of Roto Forge Corporation in Rockford, Illinois. During Don’s life he was an avid boater, tennis player and Green Bay Packer fan. He was a devoted father who was always involved in his children’s activities including being a scout master, volunteer football coach, and cherished mentor.

John D. Washburn Jr. ’59, 70, a retired contractor, died November 18, 2010. He was born in North Adams, Massachusetts. He was a life member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in North Adams. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn and sons, Andrew, Bryan and David Washburn.

Harvey W. Hobbs ’49, passed away at home on December 18, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Sally Hobbs. John G. Mosher ’52, died Sept. 27; he was 77. Mr. Mosher spent much of his career as a skiing instructor in St. Gilgen, Austria, before relocating to Arlington in 1983. He was the U.S. Information Agency’s director of overseas cultural and policy programs from 1983 to 1988 and served four of those years on the executive board of the U.S. Olympic Committee. In 1988, he was appointed director of international programs for Special Olympics International. He advocated the international expansion of Olympic programs in countries such as Brazil, Austria, Latvia and the Ivory Coast. He graduated from Princeton University in 1956 with a degree in classics, then joined the Navy and was stationed in Japan until 1959. Five years later, he published “Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide,” a comprehensive guidebook to the city, written under the name Gouverneur Mosher. The Washington Post called it the “definitive book for the serious traveler,” and the book went into its 14th printing in 1992. He was an expert on Japanese postage stamps and wrote 22 articles on this subject. Lawrence “Lance” Halsted ’54 passed away in January, 2012.

William King Love III ’65 of St. Charles, Missouri, died on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at the age of 65. Loving husband of Margaret Love; beloved son of the late William King, Jr. and Elizabeth Love; devoted father of Christopher Love, Elizabeth Shirk, Claire Simmons and Jacob Miller; cherished grandfather of Collin, Emily, Austin, Anna, Grace and Brady. Elizabeth Duncan ’78, of Clinton, formerly of Sherman, died Jan. 25, 2013. Ms. Duncan was born July 19, 1960 in New Milford, daughter of Marjorie Coote Barker of Washington and Roger Duncan of Kentucky. She graduated from South Kent School in 1978 and earned her degree from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy in 1984. Ms. Duncan was employed at New Milford Hospital, New Britain General Hospital and, most recently, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in New London. Winter 2013 The Hillside • 27

inretrospect Reflections

The Pigtail, June 6, 1953

28 â&#x20AC;˘ The Hillside Winter 2013

for

SOUTH KENT S C H O O L

Two Special Challenges Offered South Kent Fund Challenge

Center for Innovation Challenge

A small group of Trustees have generously offered a Challenge that will match dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 all new and increased gifts to The South Kent Fund between January 15 and June 30, 2013. The purpose of this Challenge is to encourage greater overall participation in our annual campaign.

The Sharpe Family Foundation has offered a Challenge Grant for South Kent School. This Challenge will match dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000 all gifts to the Center for Innovation raised before June 30, 2013. The purpose of this Challenge is to help fund the construction of a new classroom building for South Kent School’s Center for Innovation.

Your gift to The South Kent Fund is an investment in our students, faculty and the programs we offer here on the Hillside. All gifts, regardless of size, have an impact on the daily life of the School. Please consider a gift to The South Kent Fund today. If you would like to learn more or have any questions, please contact: Tim von Jess, Director of Development • (860) 927-3539 x205 • vonjesst@southkentschool.org To make your gift securely online, visit our web page at: www.southkentschool.org

South Kent School 40 Bulls Bridge Road South Kent, CT 06785-1199 860-927-3539

Parents of Alumni

If this publication is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the alumni office of a preferred mailing address by calling (860) 927-3539 x206 or emailing us at advancement@southkentschool.org. Thank you!

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