Sycamore Magazine - Summer 2015 by Sycamore School

NYLE KARDATZKE SYCAMORE LEADER LOOKS BACK

PAULA FAIR THE RETURN OF A MUSIC ICON

ALUMNI STORIES EVA D. AMBROSIO GREG CURTIN MYTILI BALA

ACCOLADES FOR MUSIC, MATH & SCIENCE

ON THE COVER: Sycamore siblings Maren (1st grade) and Jonah (2nd grade) Smith on the Sycamore School playground. ON THIS PAGE: Sycamore students enjoy Key West during the 1999-2000 school year. (From the Sycamore Archives.)

ON THIS PAGE: Head of School Diane Borgmann with three third graders raise the flags each morning during the school year.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOR VIDEO, STORIES, HISTORY AND MORE ABOUT THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF SYCAMORE SCHOOL, GO TO SYCAMORESCHOOL.ORG/THIRTY

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

SSA REWIND: 2015

NATIONAL SCIENCE BOWL SUCCESS

SYCAMORE HELPS INDIANA WIN MATHCOUNTS

MUSICIANS EARN AWARDS

NYLE KARDATZKE

PAULA FAIR

EVA D’AMBROSIO

GREG CURTIN

MYTILI BALA

GRAD SPEECHES

HEAD OF SCHOOL

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

Diane Borgmann

Larry Fletcher

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Mike Rosiello

Holly Lee

HEAD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

INNOVATION LAB

Francine Clayton

Patrick Juday

THIRD GRADERS AND KENYA

HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

SYCAMORE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

CAREER SHADOWING

2015 COLLEGE CHOICES

Glenna Lykens

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Kathy Hackwelder - President

Jamie MacDougall

NEWS AND NOTES

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS

AUCTION DONORS

Sycamore School 1750 W. 64th St. Indianapolis, IN 46260 317.202.2500 www.sycamoreschool.org

VOLUME 9, No. 1

Dr. Susan Karpicke

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Sycamore is having a birthday! Sycamore School started in the fall of 1985, so this fall, Sycamore will be 30 years old! In school years, Sycamore is a young adult, and a mature and sophisticated young adult at that. Although many things at Sycamore have changed in 30 years, the mission has remained constant: “Sycamore School exists so that academically gifted children can experience the enriched, accelerated education they need to reach their potential and to lead responsible, constructive, fulfilling lives.” This mission guided Sycamore at its creation, and it is still what propels us forward today.

well-attended alumni events in order to maintain engagement. We are beginning to use alumni more often as resource people. FACULTY COMPENSATION: Early Sycamore faculty taught here at a personal sacrifice. They didn’t complain, because they were dedicated to Sycamore. At the beginning there were no benefits (well, free coffee and free parking). Now, through strong initiatives on the part of our Boards through the years, our teachers are compensated at or above industry standards, and we offer a full component of benefits, including a generous retirement package. FINANCES: In the early days, Sycamore charged a very low tuition, which resulted in low budgets for many things, including faculty and staff compensation. We had an administrative infrastructure that could not provide for all of the needs of an independent school. Over the years as we’ve grown in sophistication, we continue to operate with a lean administration; however, we have added critical positions to make sure we can provide

Other things have remained unchanged: passion and commitment to our mission; high quality of our faculty; strength of our program; culture of excitement and fun in learning; high quality of our graduates. I could go on; however, these things are the essence of Sycamore, and these things remain strong and steady.

SO WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 30 YEARS? OUR FACILITY: Sycamore started in a rented church in 1985 and then leased our current facility from Washington Township, beginning in 1989. We purchased this facility in 1996 and have had two capital campaigns to address facility needs. We have built the Early Childhood wing; renovated both the Middle School and Lower School wings; built the Art Room, Band Room, Gym, and Theater; and relocated and renovated the Library. The old 1950’s vintage school building is scarcely visible today.

“SYCAMORE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF INSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION AND

COMMUNITY VISIBILITY: In 1985, Sycamore was virtually unknown in the broader Indianapolis community. Thirty years later, we are much more visible and present in the community. While community visibility and presence is something we work on constantly, progress is certainly noticeable! High schools recruit our graduates very assiduously. We have been involved in community-wide events—not only to raise our visibility, but also to contribute to the community in which we live. Sycamore is an asset for Indianapolis and for employers in Indianapolis as they endeavor to recruit and retain talent. We provide an important community resource that is not available in may cities across the country.

AN INSPIRATIONAL

STORY OF RESPONSE TO A NEED.”

OUR PROGRAM: Educational programs and curricula must evolve with the times in order to be effective. The Sycamore educators from 1985 would hardly recognize methods and strategies we implement today. (Eileen Prince, the only founding faculty member still on staff, has experienced this entire evolution, and she’s ridden the wave admirably.) Technology, of course, is a central component of the changes in instructional methods. In 1985, no one had heard of an iPad, nor could anyone have imagined the myriad ways we employ them to enhance instruction. OUR ALUMNI: We didn’t have any alumni until 1989, when we acquired our first four. Now we have 839 alumni in our database, and our oldest alumni are nearing 40 years old! We host regular and

all necessary functions at a high level. This has meant increasing levels of tuition, but still in line with other independent schools in Indianapolis. For the first 25 years, Sycamore only invested in cash. Over the past 4 years, our Board of Trustees has begun to invest in a long-term and a mid-term investment pool that is a quasi-endowment. We manage our budgets prudently, and our reserves are conscientiously invested. We did not take a draw on these investments for the first 3 years, but now we do, according to our Investment Policy. The proceeds from these investments are earmarked for financial aid. Over time that infusion of money into our budget will help us keep tuition increases as low as they can be. We are in a very strong and stable financial position.

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP: In the beginning, Sycamore faculty and staff were so busy building a school and a program that there wasn’t much time remaining for professional leadership. That has clearly changed! Sycamore is an active member of NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools), ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States), NAGC (National Association of

Gifted Children), IAG (Indiana Association for the Gifted), and various other disciplinespecific or function-related associations. In every case, Sycamore faculty and staff have served as leaders, presented often, shared ideas freely, and taken on roles to advance the specific organization or association.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? This is probably the most challenging question in education today. With technological advances happening at an ever-accelerating speed, we really don’t know what the world will be like in 30 more years. We are educating kids for an unknown future. That’s why teaching them to think, both critically and creatively, and teaching them to love learning are the best gifts we can give them. There are a few things I know about the future: GREAT TEACHERS WILL NOT BE REPLACED BY TECHNOLOGY. I believe the future of education belongs to the best teachers who know how to best employ technology to enhance instruction. The human element will always be important. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE STUDENTS WHO NEED SCHOOLS LIKE SYCAMORE. We have to be able to stimulate, educate, and motivate our best and brightest. They will be the leaders that will solve the problems of today and tomorrow.

Longtime Sycamore School teaching assistant Debbie Bonhomme retired following the 2014-15 school year, and was honored with a reception, along with departing teachers Toni Hillman, Amy Ramage, Meredith Fischl and Erin Bortz.

SYCAMORE WILL STILL BE HERE! IT MAY LOOK DIFFERENT, INSIDE AND OUT. It may be filled with children of our current students. Sycamore is here to stay, and it’s too good not to be better! Sycamore is a prime example of institutional evolution and an inspirational story of response to a need. Our work will never be complete. We will change and we will grow— that’s imperative. The best is yet to come! I am proud and honored to be a part of it. Onward and upward! Best regards,

Sycamore history teacher Tony Young talks with members of the Sycamore class of 2011 during a May reunion.

SSA 2015 WRAP: AUCTION, TEACHERS AND SUCCESS The Sycamore School Association was busy and productive during the winter and spring, hosting events for our entire community. In January, our Coffee and Conversations kicked off and continued through the end of spring with guest speakers discussing Art is FUNdamental, Sycamore’s Language Arts curriculum, an update on intelligence testing and IT and communications at Sycamore. In February, the Auction for Advancement returned, raising over $155,000. More than 300 Sycamore parents, teachers, staff, board members and friends of the school gathered to celebrate at the Ritz Charles. A special “thank you” goes out to our generous auction sponsors, The National Bank of Indianapolis, Goelzer Investment Management, The Dermatology Center of Indiana, Conner Insurance, Paul Henderson Plumbing and Wedgewood Builders. Head of School Diane Borgmann welcomes more than 300 friends of Sycamore to the 2015 Auction for Advancement.

The text bidding for silent auction items was fast and furious with 3,222 bids placed during the night! Items included unique teacher experiences, autographed memorabilia, artwork from each class, a gourmet chocolate making class, an international progressive dinner and much, much more! The top 3 most popular items by bids were “Blast off with Mr. McCarter (148 bids), Behind the Scenes with Mr. Richens (89 bids), and Lunch and Movies with Mrs. Lykens and Mrs. Mills (78 bids). During the live auction, participants raised their bid paddles for a tour of the New York Stock Exchange (Grossman), Behind the Scenes tour at the Zoo, an Instant Wine Cellar, a trip to Chicago with Mrs. Prince, Pick Your Own Parking Space, 2 Hours of Court Time at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers Owners Tickets, a private plane ride to the Wilds, Indy Bucket List of items and experiences, a Contemporary Art Experience, and a Cocktail Party with Zoo Leaders! Wow! Thank you to all of our donors who helped make our silent and live auction possible, and a special thank you to our teachers and staff who continue to donate much sought after experiences for our children! In addition to the silent and live auctions, participants were incredibly generous by supporting this year’s “Fund-an-Item” - Tools for Innovation. The innovation tools included a 3D printer, a 3D imager, 12 Makey Makey invention kits, 24 Macbook laptops, an Epson Interactive Projector and 1 Mac Mini! At the end of the night, for the first time, our event ended with an after party which included a signature cocktail, a live band and entertainment. SSA wishes to thank everyone who made this evening such an incredible success! Thanks to Stephanie Grabow (chair), Tammy Wilkerson, Kathy Hackwelder, Susan Loftus, Lily Pai, Sumi Maun, Lynda Parziale, Leslie Katz, Beth Peyton, Holly Lee, Jenna Graham, and Rob Nichols. During March, our teachers were treated to lunch during our Conference Day Luncheon and our Annual High School Alumni Panel

brought back Sycamore young alumni from Carmel High School, Cathedral, Brebeuf, University High School, Mercersburg Academy, North Central, and Park Tudor. Our young alumni answered questions about their transition from Sycamore to high school and gave a sneak peek into student life at each of their schools. In April, Staff Appreciation Week honored our wonderful teachers and staff. During the week, the staff was treated to snacks/drinks in the teachers’ lounge (Monday), coffee and smoothie bar (Tuesday), a huge Italian theme lunch primarily from food made by Sycamore parents (Wednesday), pizza and salad lunch from Roselli’s AND Gift bags to all faculty and staff (Thursday), and breakfast with egg casseroles, sausage gravy, hash browns, quiches all made by parents (Friday). Thursday’s gift bags were decorated by students at QUEST and included numerous thank you notes from parents and students as well as generous gift cards for Panera Bread! In addition, numerous teacher duties including lunch, recess, and carpool were covered by parents. Thank you to everyone who made this week extra special for our amazing faculty and staff! In May, the Middle School 500 Party went off campus for the first time to K1 Racing in Fishers. Students raced, ate, played games and had tons of fun! Our All School Carnival also returned this year after a 3 year absence, but for the first time was held at night and outside. We had an overwhelmingly positive response with over 200 students attending! Families enjoyed a beautiful, fun filled evening with grilled veggie burgers and hotdogs, a cake walk, bounce houses and a dunk tank with teachers and staff who braved the icy water while being cheered on by adoring students. Middle School students ran all of the games for the Lower School and EC children and manned the prize room where children redeem their tickets. The event was a huge success and a wonderful way to end the year! n

Sycamore Science Bowl team with Coach David Schuth pictured at national event in Washington, D.C.

SYCAMORE SCHOOL FINISHES IN TOP 8 IN NATION IN SCIENCE BOWL COMPETITION

The Sycamore School Science Bowl team competed in the national Science Bowl competition in Washington DC in April, and earned a spot as one of the top 8 teams in the country. Sycamore lost their first Double Elimination round, giving them an early setback. They rebounded to win their next three matches and earn a chance at a high national placing. “They dominated their round-robin round, going 7-0.” Said Coach David Schuth. The Eagles eventually lost in the fifth round to Hopkins School, 90-80. To get to the national competition, Sycamore competed at the state event, fielding two teams, and battled each other for the top spot, with Team A eventually earning first place and Sycamore Team B second in the competition at Indiana State University. The Eagles topped 12 other middle school teams. TEAMS Team A: Alex Gu, Aiden Sher, Varun Chheda, Grace Lee, Andrew Wu Team B: Brendan Hurley, Jack Milton, Brian Liu, James Yin, Aaron Chai Both Sycamore teams are coached by Mr. Schuth. n

INDIANA MATHCOUNTS TEAM WINS NATIONAL TITLE Sycamore School 8th grader Alex Gu made it to the final 12 in the individual competition at the National Raytheon MATHCOUNTS Championships, held in Boston this year on May 8 and helped lead the Indiana squad, coached by Sycamore math teacher, Trent Tormoehlen, to the team title at the prestigious middle school math contest This is the 2nd time Indiana has won the MATHCOUNTS National Championship. The first was 1995, and Indiana has also been runner-up on multiple occasions and only finished outside the top 10 four times since 1994. As one of 12 finalists, Gu advanced to the “Countdown,” where the students competed in a head-to-head, best-of-five questions bracket live on ESPN3. Gu was one of three from Indiana in the final 12, and he was seeded #3 based on his written exam.

The Sycamore MATHCOUNTS team after winning the state championship.

says. “After the written test, Alex was 3rd, Kevin and Nathan tied for 7th and Joey was tied for 9th (though tie breakers knocked him out of the countdown). We are pretty sure no other state has ever had all four students place that high and that our team score was one of the highest ever. The last eight years, the national winner has either been California, Texas, or Massachusetts. The two biggest states with major tech industry and a state with the two leading math/science universities in the world (Harvard/MIT).”

“FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE,

THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST PERFORMANCES BY ANY TEAM

“Alex has always been special in his ability to focus and concentrate for long periods of time,” Tormoehlen says. “He has spent more time solving math problems in his four years at Sycamore than any other student I have taught. He also exemplifies a very important trait for working on and solving difficult math and computer science problems: the ability to debug and analyze his errors. He always works to figure out why he makes mistakes. He tries to figure it out himself, then, when he is stuck, he is very willing

FROM ANY STATE.”

to ask for guidance.” Alex’s 3rd place finish in the written was the 2nd best ever by a Sycamore student. Christ Mihelich was first place in the written in 1995 (2nd overall after the countdown round). “I loved watching our team deal with the pressures of being one of the favorites,” Tormoehlen said. “They were very mature in their approach and were very appropriate in their behavior and practice the days before the contest, but also were able to enjoy the experience and meet a lot of new friends.” The 224 final mathletes who were competing represented the 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories, State Department schools and Department of Defense schools. “From a historical perspective this was one of the best - if not the best - performances by a single team from any state,” Tormoehlen

“Indiana having it’s name next to those states is a big deal.” In the best of seven individual finals, Indiana’s Kevin Liu from Carmel (the top seed and last year’s runner-up) defeated Andy Xu, of South Carolina. Kevin is the third Indiana champion in the past six years. Mark Sellke from Lafayette won in 2010, Sycamore’s Chad Qian won in 2012, and Liu this year.

The MATHCOUNTS competition begins each year in the fall, with 100,000 middle school students. After a series of competitions at the regional and state levels, the competitors are narrowed down to the top four students from each US state and territory. SYCAMORE MATHCOUNTS TEAM WINS STATE TITLE The Sycamore School MATHCOUNTS team earned the top spot in the state championships this spring. The team of Gu, Andrew Wu, Brian Liu, and Aidan Sher took first place overall, narrowly edging Carmel Middle School by 0.5 points. All ten Sycamore students finished in the top 37. Gu’s placing earned him a spot with the other top 4 finishers to compete in the National MATHCOUNTS Competition as team Indiana. Earning special recognition were Wu in 5th place, Liu in 8th place, Varun Chheda in 10th place, and Arunabh Sinha in 14th place. Also competing for Sycamore and finishing in the top 40 were Aiden Sher, Grace Lee, Agrayan Gupta, Amy Tian, and Aaron Chai. “Over 600 students earn the opportunity to represent their school each year in the MATHCOUNTS competition program in Indiana,” says Tormoehlen. “Having all 10 of our competitors finish in the top 40 is a testament to their hard work and dedication over the past couple of years.” n

Sycamore School’s 2015 ISSMA honor recipients.

MUSICIANS AT SYCAMORE EARN AWARDS

the state level from Sycamore. In addition, this year there was also a saxophone trio. The student musicians performed music for a judge, who critiqued the student’s performance. The score was then tallied and each student or group earned a rating (gold, silver, bronze, participation). SOLOS - GOLD RATINGS FLUTE: Michelle Hong

On a Saturday in late February, 32 Sycamore band students participated in the ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble Festival, marking the largest number of Sycamore students to qualify in school history.

ALTO SAXOPHONE: Emily Schwartz TRUMPET: Justin Kinchen FRENCH HORN: Madalyn Sailors TROMBONE: Connor Granlund VIOLIN: Abby Ko

The ISSMA solo and ensemble festival is unique in the world of academic competitions. There are no grade level divisions or Middle School and High School divisions. Instead, students are entered in one of five group levels based on the difficulty of the music being performed. Group I is reserved for the most difficult music and there is a required list of pieces that students must select from to enter in Group I. At most schools, the students who are participating in group I events are upperclassman in high school. Very few middle school students make it to the state level, and if they do, they are probably the only student from their school, and most entries will be soloists. It is practically unheard of to find middle school ensembles at the state level because to put together an ensemble, you must have several really strong players who need to be on compatible instruments. This is the second year in a row of having a woodwind choir (18 members), a brass quintet and a percussion ensemble make it to

ENSEMBLES - GOLD RATINGS ALTO SAXOPHONE TRIO: Joe Chandler, Emily Schwartz, Ethan Piper BRASS QUINTET: Justin Kinchen, Robbie Sheffield, Madalyn Sailors,

Connor Granlund, Sarah Robertson

SOLO - SILVER RATING CLARINET: Priya Moorthy

ENSEMBLES - SILVER RATINGS: WOODWIND CHOIR: Janvi Bhatia, Margot Helft, Laura Jannetta, Cassie

Kaplan, Peggy Brooks, Annie Klemsz, Brian Liu, Chandler McGruder, Richard Nargang, Katherine Galstian, Soumya Gupta, Brendan Hurley, Pranathi Jothirajah, Lillian Klemsz, Julia Mann, Priya Moorthy, Arya Narayanan, Thomas Tanselle MALLET QUARTET: Rachel Moore, Lydia Copeland, Anjali Nata n

a month after I first heard of the school, I was introduced as the Interim Head of School.”

FINDING NYLE KARDATZKE: A FORMER HEAD OF SCHOOL REMEMBERS HOW SYCAMORE GREW “Nyle Kardatzke was my bar for a Head of School. And every principal I would meet after that wouldn’t hit the Kardatzke bar. Of course, he is the only one who would be greeting students with a clown nose on. I never met anybody that did that, or could recite lines from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. I mean, where was I going to go?” — Paula Fair It was 1992. Sycamore School was entering its eighth year in existence – a length of time that allowed growth from the original seat-of-thepants start-up “dream” with 110 students and six full-time teachers in a too-small building near Butler. Three years earlier – in 1989 - the school moved to its current home, leasing a facility abandoned by the Washington Township district in Indianapolis, and in need of repair, renovation and new construction.

But gone was the first Head of School, Gene Eib, a former public school principal who oversaw the difficult first two years, guiding the parents and teachers through days of not enough space, flooded classrooms, lack of funds and a brand new and untested curriculum. But he also saw instant growth. Enrollment jumped above 160 in the second year. Eib had given way in 1987 to a former teacher, Alice Bostwick, who would remain as Head of School through the 1991-92 academic year. By that time, there were 325 students in the school. Staff numbered more than 50. The budget for the 1991-92 year was $1.2 million. It was time for the school to find an administrator who could combine the start-up, boot-strap mentality with a vision for the future, someone who had a experience leading staff and working with a board of directors, a leader who knew how to both inspire and let others take the credit. Enter Nyle Kardatzke. He was a man not necessarily looking for a job, but was also not working at the time. In 1992, Bostwick left during the summer, just before school started. Kardatzke, a man with Midwestern virtues that included thoughtfulness, likeability and a small ego, was living in Kansas. But his wife had connections to Indianapolis. “I found myself moving to Indianapolis by virtue of my wife’s employment,” Kardatzke says. “My wife was a pediatrician and she had done her medical work here at Riley Hospital. There was a parting of ways between Sycamore and (Head of School) Alice Bostwick who was one of the founding teachers who had worked very hard for the school. She was leaving and this colleague of my wife called me in Wichita and said that the school would be looking for a Head of School. Exactly

Sycamore had essentially lucked into finding the man who would lead the school for the next 13 years. “I had been running private schools for 15 years,” he says. “This school was young and at a level of development that I found fascinating. Coming here was kind of like going back to my origins – almost like a Peace Corps experience in that we were figuring out things as we went. “Frankly, we were young and naive.”

“IT WOULDN’T SURPRISE ME TO FIND THE SCHOOL IMITATED BY OTHER SCHOOLS ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR

Kardatzke, who quickly endeared himself to the students with his humorous – or some might say goofy – habits that included a clown nose and constant patter of jokes in the hallways, was all business when it came to finding a way to help the school become a solid piece of the educational landscape in Indianapolis.

VERY BRIGHT KIDS”

“What Sycamore was when I came was just at the right stages of development where I think I could contribute something,” he says, hoping the school and directors could value what he could do. “We had a lot of fun,” Kardatzke says. “I was part of a process that was already underway, and I found an ambitious Board of Trustees that wanted to plan the future and start acting on it.” It wasn’t some longdesigned plan of mine - maybe God had it in mind – but it was not my plan (to be at Sycamore). But I was very happy that it happened - it was a good match.”

“I called a consultant that I had known, and he helped us do the long-range planning,” he says. “Amazingly, the long range plan was not something that just sat on the shelf. It turned out to be a blueprint that led us to purchase this campus, to become accredited, and to start raising serious money. A number of very generous donors appeared and lifted us just like a rocket from where we had been. It is such a transformation, that if anybody knew the school 20 years ago and drove up here, they would only recognize the school by the intersection because there is nothing (the same) that is visible from the outside of the building” But if you ask Kardatzke about his memories of his time in charge at Sycamore, he unfailingly goes to his memories of students.

“The fact that it is such a fun place to interact with the kids is one of the big things that I have always appreciated – still appreciate,” he says. “It wouldn’t surprise me (to find the) school imitated by other schools that are attempting to provide the education that is needed for very bright kids,” he says. “Kids who are going to learn in their own special and unique ways.” Kardatzke, who still makes a handful of yearly appearances at school events, and who sits in on some planning committee activities, says he has no doubt the school has found its niche and sounds proud of his time invested at Sycamore. “I feel that I was very fortunate that I landed in the right place,” he says. “Often when I was here, if anybody complimented me on my work, I would tell them I was fortunate to jump on a moving train. n

Kardatzke added just the right amount of leadership to keep the momentum rolling in his early years at the school.

PAULA FAIR MAKES A RETURN TO SYCAMORE Little did anyone at Sycamore School know what they were getting when they hired music teacher Paula Fair. Knowing now what we do, the recruitment, as it were, of Fair, was unspectacular. The results? Anything but. Sycamore’s Head of School at the time, Alice Bostwick, needed a music teacher. It was 1991, and Fair was working in the IPS system. She had a neighbor who was evangelical in her comments about Sycamore. “I was neighbors with one of the math teachers, Sue Hoffer. She had a son who was the same age as mine, Chris - they were toddlers. We met in the middle of the street and talked. She was brilliant and talked a lot about the school where she taught. At the end of that first year, she came to me and said ‘They are looking for someone to start an instrumental music program.’” It was the first step in Paula’s journey to starting one of the top middle school music programs in the country. “We set up an interview, and I interviewed (with Alice) for the first time,” she says. “Then I kept calling her. ‘Are you ready to hire me?’ I would ask. (Bostwick) would say, ‘We are still interviewing.’ I’d wait a few days and call her again. I think I had two interviews, and I think they hired me because everybody else said, ‘No, I don’t think so.’”

“So I am not sure the original idea was that it was going to be a big program,” Fair says. “I think (Alice) would have been happy with a handful of kids making music. It just got bigger and bigger and bigger.” Paula Fair quickly went to work, and it didn’t take long to find success. She took Sycamore’s first Symphonic Band to the Indiana State School Music Association that year, earning the highly-sought 1st Division honors in the inaugural performance at the contest. It would be the first of many honors that Fair and her student musicians would bring to the school. Quite a feat for a new program at a school that was just six years old. When she left in 1999, Fair had built one of the top private middle school music programs in the country. Fair led the band as Sycamore School performed at festivals in New York, Cleveland and St. Louis during her decade at Sycamore. in New York City, they performed as part of the National Invitational Band Competition, one of only 11 bands in the entire country to be chosen to perform, and the only Middle School band deemed worthy of the honor. But it was the behind-the-scenes efforts that allowed the Sycamore students and musicians to be able to perform on the national stages. Fair held music camps for the band each summer, breaking them into beginner and advanced camps, culminating in public performances at the end of what was usually a hot, sweaty week of fun and work. She also worked with the younger students throughout the year, including coordinating a “Kindergarten Opera”, and enlisting 8th grade students to help direct and build stage sets for her performances.

“WHAT I DISCOVERED AT SYCAMORE

WAS HOW QUICKLY STUDENTS PICKED

IDEAS UP, AND THEIR INTENSE NEED TO STUDY THE

“What I discovered here was how quickly (students) picked (ideas) up,” she says. “And their intense need to study the whole thing.

WHOLE THING.”

The next step was figuring out how to create the program from the ground up, and who would take part in the music program at Sycamore. “Alice asked how we should set this up,” Fair remembers. “I said, ‘They all need to play in the band,’ so we need to make it compulsory.” Bostwick was more relaxed about her ideas of making the band and orchestra a required class. Fair had other ideas. She was told the school wouldn’t require student to participate. By the time October came around, it was the students had made the choice.

that you would play something. And they did.

“Everybody in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th, minus two or three kids, played,” Fair says. “By the third year, I started the Cadet Band, and that was compulsory. They did agree (to that). The same year, third grade became the string orchestra, and it was compulsory.” Then fifth grade and Middle School music were an elective, but the expectation was

“I remember this: I was teaching two-year olds, and I would sit on the floor with my Ovation guitar, and they would sit around me. I remember I had a capo, and would move it up or down the guitar neck. One of the little two-year olds asked ‘why are you doing’ that?’ I said I am doing it to change the key. ‘well, how does that work?’ he asked. “So, by the end of the 20-minute class, we were discussing Pythagoras and the theory of the shortened string,“ she says. “They were just fascinated. You don’t find that many places.” Inquisitive behavior from the students never ceased to surprise and delight the music teacher. “We are studying Gutaf Holtz from the 20th century (in music history),” she says. “I would play different movements, and they would always come up and hover around the CD player, writing things down. They would ask if they could borrow the CD. “And that’s the thing,” Fair continues. “If you can get a student that comes in the next day and says ‘I got online, and watched video’…if they take it out of the classroom and then bring it back, then you have done something. They do that a lot here.”

Fair broke new ground by working with the band to release two CD’s during her time at Sycamore. Sounds of Sycamore ‘96 was recorded at The Lodge Recording Studio in Indianapolis. It was followed by Sounds of Sycamore, Vol. 2, recorded in 1999, featuring live performances from New York, St. Louis and Cleveland. The Cleveland set also included a performance by the Sycamore School Jazz Ensemble.

as an educator at this school. And that was the problem - there was not life after here. Sycamore is a different school - entirely unique. There is no other place like it.“

Sycamore continues to emphasize the importance of music in education and for the development of young minds. Current Band Director and music teacher Candi Granlund has set her own standards as she has built on the tradition of excellence set by Fair. In 2015, 32 band members competed at the prestigious ISSMA Contest. The band earned eight gold medals, as six soloists and two ensembles picked up the top awards at the event. The band continues to tour other cities, competing in contests and performing at other schools.

“When I introduced myself at James Madison University, I interviewed with Dr. Rooney, because I wanted to do my Masters with him,” Fair says. “I had my CD’s. He was interviewing me, and I was interviewing him. I asked if he wanted to listen to my CD (of the Sycamore band and orchestra performing). He listened to it, and looked at my portfolio. The music ended, and he closed the portfolio and said ‘You know, you aren’t going to find this here.’

Fair eventually got back into teaching, teaching music at James Madison University.

“I said, ‘I figured that.’” For Fair, she left Sycamore after nine years to move with her family to Virginia. She left behind the music program, but carried – and still carries – a lot of Sycamore School lessons with her. “I was so much a better musician and better teacher after my experience here. I carry everything I learned over the nine years at Sycamore. There is a collegial thing happening at Sycamore that you don’t find in many schools. With every teacher here, if you learned that somebody was doing something innovative, there was real sharing. And you grow

Paula Fair returned to Sycamore School in the Spring of 2015, greeting friends and alumni who came back to see her and honor her. Sycamore hosted a Friday reception for current parents and teachers in the Sycamore Library. On Saturday night, Sycamore hosted a 21-and-over event, with locally-brewed craft beers and hors d’oeuvres and food. Sycamore Head of School Diane Borgmann spoke briefly and Fair talked about her time at Sycamore and the importance of music in education. n

EVA D’AMBROSIO, CLASS OF 2002

“And I think the difference at Sycamore is high expectations, not for performance necessarily, but for potential,” she says. “We were always treated like we were capable of understanding complex concepts.” What is different about D’Ambrosio is the direction her life took after school was done. Her path has taken her to Washington DC, and now to Turkey, where she works internationally as the Vice Consul at the US Embassy in Ankara. It was at Indiana University that the former Sycamore student learned the Turkish language in addition to majoring in Economics, providing a unique skill set for her current position. She also interned at the State Department while at IU.

“I remember discussing whether machines could be truly creative. Though I often brought down the class average gradewise, I was always made to feel like I had something valuable to contribute to the conversation.” D’Ambrosio started at Sycamore in 1st grade, and continued all the way through graduation. It was her love of the small classes and individual support that she says was integral in her development. “I remember singing songs with Miss Sandy, a field trip to the Falls of the Ohio, and being co-Pythia with Kara Findley during the Greek mythology unit in 5th grade,” she says. “When I was struggling with math, Paula Jurgonski’s patient one-on-one attention made a huge difference in my eventual understanding,” D’Ambrosio says. “Mrs. Prince’s art classes gave me profound appreciation for art not just as personal expression, but as a product of history and culture.” As she remembers her time at Sycamore, one class in particular seems to stand apart from the others, and has guided her postSycamore life.

“I was a Wells Scholar, which opened a lot of doors for me in terms of meeting interesting visitors to campus, as well as giving me great academic support,” she says. “While at IU, I interned with the State Department, which solidified my interest in representing the U.S. abroad. I took the Foreign Service exam as soon as I was eligible, at age 20.”

“Mr. Stroebel’s history classes were foundational for my understanding of international affairs. I am still grateful to him for allowing us to watch the news in his classroom on September 11th, 2001. He said that this day would likely define my generation like President Kennedy’s assassination defined his. He was right.”

As a Vice Consul, D’Ambrosio serves as an official representative of of the United States, assisting and protecting the citizens of US citizens who are in Turkey. The office also helps facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the Turkey and the US.

D’Ambrosio was one of just a few students over the past 30 years who decided to attend Broad Ripple High School after graduating from Sycamore. She was able to get involved on multiple levels at the school, leading to a diversified resume, especially for someone who wasn’t yet out of high school.

After graduating from IU, Eva didn’t waste much time in moving into her current role. “I was assigned to the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai, India where I was an Economic Reporting Officer,” she says. “After that I was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey where I currently work as the assistant to our Ambassador, John Bass.” Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Computers (who was taking his high school equivalency exam at age eight and making computers out of his dorm room at age 18) once told Fortune magazine that you should “try never to be the smartest person in the room. And if you are, I suggest you invite smarter people or find a different room.” D’Ambrosio echoes those thoughts. “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room,” she says. “Being surrounded by such bright classmates at Sycamore was humbling, and taught me that it’s not just brains that matter - it’s curiosity, kindness, and creativity. I loved team projects like Science Olympiad. I learned about sentence diagramming and algebra, but also about impressionism and dystopias.

“Broad Ripple was very different experience from Sycamore. Sycamore gave me such a solid academic background that in high school I could really focus on my extracurricular activities. I was in Broad Ripple’s theater program, was the captain of the soccer team, and helped publish a literary magazine. I also had an internship with the Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis, which led to my interest in the Foreign Service and my current job as a U.S. diplomat.” When asked if she stays connected to many of her longtime friends from her days at Sycamore, Eva is quick to answer. “Oh yes, we stay in touch and I still love them all. I’m especially close with William Huster, Neil Shah, Alexandra Cochrane, David Sledge, Kara Findley, Caty Green, Kirstie Reinecke, Rickpaul Dhindsa, Laura Marcus, Fletcher Heisler, and many more!” As far as her next job within government, D’Ambrosio says she knows only the short term future. “In the Foreign Service we work on 1 to 3 year assignments. In September I will move back to DC where I will work with the Office of the Trade Representative on trade agreements with South and Central Asia,” D’Ambrosio says. “After that? Who knows?” n

YCAMORE ALUMN

D’AMBROSIO IN TURKEY AS VICE-CONSUL FOR UNITED STATES

When Eva D’Ambrosio (‘02) looks back at her time at Sycamore School, she, like many graduates, remembers teachers, friendships, and how she was prepared for high school.

SYCAMORE ALUM LOOKING FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE

“My first 20 years were typically normal for a middle-class American,” Curtin remembers. “The last ten have been extraordinary.” “Playing rugby at Georgia Tech introduced me to teammates from Ireland, Wales, South Africa, and Argentina. The following summer I quit school and moved in with a teammate living in England. I took a job over there and began to make my own decisions. If I wanted to do something,” he says, “all I had to do was find a way to pay for it and I’d be on my way. I explored my limits and discovered my standards were much lower than what I was living with in America.”

GREG CURTIN, CLASS OF 2000

Greg attended Sycamore from Kindergarten through 7th grade, in the years 1992 to 1999 and spent a year at Zionsville High School before he relocated to Atlanta for the rest of his prep years.

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” - T. S. Eliot

It was in college where Curtin began to follow his heart, and find the “next” fulfilling and exciting adventure

In the midst of travels that have taken Greg Curtin to dozens of countries, he came home this spring to see a former teacher.

He originally went to Georgia Tech in the fall of 2004 to study mechanical engineering and play rugby, and he stayed two years. He also attended summer classes at Georgia State to study physics. As a rugby player, he was named to the Georgia Area All Star and USA South All Stars teams. Curtin traveled to England in the Summer of 2005 to work, and then took a semester off in Atlanta in the fall before transferring to the University of Kentucky in the Spring of 2007 to play football (Curtin was a 2-year starter and team captain at Duluth (GA) High School playing linebacker, strong safety, and wide receiver, and he became their long snapper while studying finance. While at Kentucky, he was named to the SEC Honor Roll that fall.

Curtin, who started at Sycamore in Kindergarten in 1992, staying through his 7th grade year, is currently based in Kenya. He returned to Sycamore when former music teacher Paula Fair, returned for two days in early 2015. “I didn’t appreciate Mrs. Fair until long after she and I had both left Sycamore,” he says. “My love for music has grown over the years. I listen to a pop hit and dig into the chords, check the sheet music and try to guess how many supporting instruments are in the background. “I wish I could go back and pick her brain as a 10 year-old.” For Curtin, coming back to Sycamore was a chance to return to a place that gave him his most consistent sense of place in a life filled with diverse educational travels. The school also instilled a foundation for exploration and travel that he pocketed and expanded upon. “I learned a lot from the field trips we took,” he says. “I remember swimming with sharks in the Florida Keys then learning about the different feeding techniques various species of shark used later in class. It was so much easier to retain the material in class after seeing different kinds of sharks act differently when I tried to feed them. “While traveling the world, I’ve continued to seek out these kinds of experiences where I surround myself with something new and interesting in order to better understand it,” he says. “I still enjoy reading but I prefer pairing book knowledge with personal experience.” For much of his adult like, Curtin has embraced the idea of the

“I went to six schools, quit to work twice, and finally finished six and-a-half years after I started.”

In the Spring, 2008, Greg headed back overseas to the Vienna Business School to learn more about international finance, and then went to the London School of Economics and Political Science for a summer. He was back at the University of Kentucky for one more semester in the Fall of 2008, this time playing rugby and continuing his finance studies. He then spent half a year in 2009 working in Chicago before finishing his degree in Finance at the University of Tennessee in 2010. After this circuitous route to a degree, his professional travels were similar, spurred by a realization that he could go anywhere and make life work. “I could go a lot further (professionally) overseas than I could at home,” he says. “If I’m living in China and hear about a company in Brazil hiring voice coaches, I’ll shoot them an email and have a Skype interview. I don’t like limiting myself until I find something I’m truly passionate about. “I believe when I find a girl I want to marry, I’ll end up doing what she wants so I might as well do what I want now while I’m still on my own.”

Still, with all the experiences, one senses Curtin has an embedded desire to grow roots in his life, and at some point will find a home that doesn’t involve a suitcase. “My short term goals are to stick with one company for a while and be patient. It’s been easy for me to move onto something more exciting so I’d like to fight through a job for a couple years to prove to myself and others I can do that.” Besides Fair, Curtin said a couple of his favorite teachers gave him a love and deeper knowledge and desire to learn about history – and reminded him that Michael Jordan wasn’t important to everyone. “Mrs. Snyder taught me in 3rd grade. She also took us to an Amish farm where I played basketball with a very talented Amish child that had never heard of Michael Jordan,” he says. “Mrs. Snyder taught me that even if all of the people in my life knew Jordan, I should be aware that there are many other people in the world who have different values, interests and hobbies. “I’ve found that to be very true this last decade of globetrotting.” Curtin had Mr. Stroebel for 7th grade history, and said he was the teacher that a young Curtin connected with the best. “To this day I love digging into the context of historically important moments and people. I spend my free time watching documentaries and reading up on surrounding issues. He made me care about the past and try to learn from it,” he admits. “As one of just two male teachers at Sycamore, Stroebel also modeled for Greg that is was ‘ok to teach.’ “I ended up teaching adults in China,” he says. “I had no fear as I remembered how Mr. Stroebel commanded his classroom and made the past come to life.” As with many Sycamore alums, the experience of their years at the school informs their adulthood decisions and sensibilities. “I found the experiences gained from the field trips, art and music education made Sycamore special,” he says. “Being forced to perform in a 6th grade play, make science fair and history day presentations, join the middle school olympics, and travel around the Eastern USA really set me up for success. “Mrs. Prince did an amazing job throwing every important painting and scultpure at us in her slides,” he continues. “After seeing many of the world’s most treasured works in museums around the world, I’m one of the only young visitors who knows the artists and periods of pieces in the museums. I tell people I learned all this in the 4th or 6th grade. They are dumbfounded. I think a lot of the art and music pumped into me by Sycamore has served me well as an adult. “It’s too bad I didn’t recognize this sooner.”

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. - George A. Moore n

YCAMORE ALUMN

modern, millennial have-a-new-job-every-few-years nomadic existence. It has served him well.

“From the beginning, Sycamore was unique,” Bata remembers. “I went to Sycamore from 6th to 8th grade, graduating in the class of 1997. Teachers really cared about learning—whether in Spanish, the arts, music, math, social studies, or science. Students were challenged to think critically and creatively in every subject.

“I went to Lawrence Central for the first two years,” She says. “I went to the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities for the latter two (graduating

“As a Bernstein fellow at CJA, I have worked on active cases and investigations to hold human rights abusers in the U.S. accountable for torture, extrajudicial killings, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,” she says. “While our investigations are confidential, I can share that I am staffed on one of CJA’s pending cases against a Colombian paramilitary leader alleged to be responsible for the deaths of two human rights defenders in Colombia. CJA sued this defendant on behalf of families of the decedents after he was extradited to face drug trafficking charges in Florida.

in 2001). Sycamore was excellent prep for both schools. As a freshman, I tested into the most advanced math class offered for 10th grade. I placed into the advanced science course (human physiology and anatomy) instead of freshman biology. I also placed into Lyceum (most advanced English) and Spanish II.

I have also worked on a range of projects to promote accountability and transitional justice in Sri Lanka, a country that emerged from 26 years of war in May 2009. Among other things, I helped gather evidence for an ongoing U.N. investigation and documented the link between impunity for war crimes and the occurrence of post-war atrocities.”

“I also met warm, genuine people who continue to be among my closest friends today.” After leaving middle school, Bala says her high school experience was made easier by attending Sycamore.

Meeting at Stanford University with Navi Pillay, the former U.N. high Commissioner for Human Rights.

LAW SCHOOL GRAD FOUND SOCIAL JUSTICE SPARK AT SYCAMORE Mytili Bala has always been interested in social justice. One particular assignment at Yale Law School turned her to a career in human rights. Bala, a Sycamore grad (’97) who spent her formative middle school years at the school, lives in San Diego and works as a Robert L. Bernstein International Human Rights Fellow at the Center for Justice and Accountability. It’s a heavy job: she works on active cases and investigations to hold human rights abusers in the U.S. accountable for torture, extrajudicial killings, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. How did this midwest middle school student find her way to California and became an integral part of working for a solution to human rights issues?

Talking to her, she looks back at her Sycamore years and credits her teachers for planting the idea that she could make a difference and instilling a world view in her teenage mind. She paired it with hard work and intelligence, and an instinct for following her heart. “I owe a lot to Sycamore’s teachers, who prioritized our educational development above all else,” she says. “I left Sycamore understanding how to think critically and creatively about the world.” Bala credits a trio of teachers for helping form who she would become. “I had three teachers who have changed my educational trajectory,” she says. “Mr. Stroebel was one of them. He challenged us as 7th and 8th graders to think about geopolitics, human rights, imperialism, apartheid, and the Holocaust. He wrote his own texts, used board games like Diplomacy, and assigned graphic novels like “Maus” to provide a rich learning experience that few middle school students get. He asked kids to think like adults, for which I am eternally grateful. From Mr. Stroebel, I learned that I should never feel too young, too removed, or too inexperienced to ask complex questions and search for answers.” Mrs. Prince encouraged similar critical thinking for Bala in art, “teaching us about different periods in art history and asking us to apply techniques with our own creative twists.” She says Mrs. Andrade taught biology through hands-on dissection of a sheep’s heart and cow’s eye, trusting kids with scalpels to learn something in the process. She also credits music teacher Mrs. Fair, who took the band to Carnegie Hall.

Robert L. Bernstein is the founder of Human Rights Watch and the former CEO of Random House. He partnered with Yale Law School many years ago to launch young careers in human rights. According to Bala, CJA is an international human rights organization that uses litigation to hold perpetrators individually accountable for torture and international crimes, develop human rights law, and advance the rule of law in countries transitioning from periods of abuse.

“Sycamore definitely put me on the right track when starting high school. I ran out of AP offerings at Lawrence Central by my second year and decided to transfer to the Indiana Academy, a two-year magnet school in Muncie. It was here that my Sycamore education really shone through. I had teachers who—like Mr. Stroebel at Sycamore—pushed me to think critically about the world and back up ideas with sound analysis.”

“I MET WARM, GENUINE PEOPLE

Bala explains that what they are trying to do is hold abusers accountable and partner with countries to uphold the rights of victims.

“The work is rewarding—we collaborate with brave in-country partners to hold powerful human rights abusers accountable. By filing lawsuits in the U.S. or Spain, we hope to springboard accountability efforts and broader conflict transformation in the home country. We develop partnerships with incountry partners and diplomats to advance the rights of victim and survivor communities to seek truth, pursue justice, and obtain redress.”

WHO CONTINUE TO BE AMONG MY CLOSEST

FRIENDS TODAY.”

Bala attended to the University of Chicago, graduating with a B.A. in Economics in 2005, took a year off, and went to Yale Law School, graduating with a J.D. in 2009.

“I’ve always been interested in social justice, but I have Yale Law School to thank for my career in human rights,” Bala says. “As a law student at Yale, I edited the human rights journal, studied transitional justice as a fellow in postPinochet Chile, and interned at a human rights organization working on caste abuse and police torture in India. “I worked in general commercial litigation for four years after law school at two major law firms, where I gained trial advocacy and solid legal writing experience. I returned to the human rights world in August 2013, accepting the Bernstein International Human Rights Fellowship from Yale Law School to work with the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA).”

Bala, who says she loves the sunshine of California and the friendship of former classmates like Kieran Evans and Ashley Raynor, tells us a a good book to read on the concepts of her day-to-day job is Justice Cascades by Kathryn Sikkink. When asked about what she aspires to as her career grows, Bala reaches back to lessons of patience and about following her heart; ideas that were planted while at Sycamore. “I am not sure about next steps,” Bala says. “But I will continue to look for interesting opportunities in human rights and global justice.” n

YCAMORE ALUMN

Though she joined Sycamore during her middle school years, she quickly found Sycamore to be different than previous places she had gone to school.

BRANDON HURLEY

NICOLE HAY

Sycamore was, and has always been, a place of change for me. Born in San Francisco, I moved to Indiana, and by extension, Sycamore, five years ago. Without the help of others; friends, teachers, and family, I probably wouldn’t be who I am today, yesterday or a year ago. They really are just that important.

I remember adamantly stating my opinion at the dinner table late one evening. “No! I don’t want to go to Sycamore!” For a second grader, I was stubborn in my ways. When my parents informed me they were switching my place of education, I was dead set on making them see their error.

me the My will

In my public school, I was accelerated. I was first to turn in my math problems, always knew the answer, and read the advanced books. That’s what it felt like being gifted; a pleasant stroll down easy street. I never had to put much effort into what I was learning. At Sycamore School, right from the first step, I had been more like a furious sprint than a walk.

All the good times must be celebrated too; hiking in the Smokies, swimming in the Keys, training at Culver, and sightseeing in DC.

I was eternally inwardly cursing all the homework and due dates, but every time my mother or father brought up different options, I stalked up to my room with the indignant air of a teenager.

I appreciate the assistance of all the teachers who helped throughout the years, supporting me in my efforts to adjust to changes at Sycamore, and middle school the next, brought to me. teachers have served roles as friends, instructors, and advisors. I miss each one of them in their own way as I leave.

GRADUATION SPEECHES: EXCERPTS FROM STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEECHES

GRACE LEE “Pass go and collect 200.” Sounds like a game. Graduating from Sycamore could be the final piece in the puzzle that our teachers and parents have helped us build during our stay at Sycamore. Or, it could be a new beginning, just simply another turn, in another game of monopoly. But for some of us, leaving Sycamore isn’t just a strategic game move; this is the only school, the only home we’ve ever known. For others, this was similar to Park Place or Boardwalk - a well-calculated, temporary landing site before reaching the next move.

Lastly, I wish to tell you all something, one thing. I call on all of you to cast out doubts and harbor no fear of change. Change is a beautiful wonderful thing to be welcomed with open arms and sheltered with the warmth of one’s heart. Sycamore has helped me transform into something greater that I once was, and I believe that neither I nor my classmates would have become who we are today had we not attended this school. I am simply smarter, more mature and truly a better person that the “me “ of fourth grade, and that whom I would become had I not moved here. I also believe that anyone who has spent time at Sycamore as a student, a teacher or parent, has been bettered by extension. And this change, in itself, represents the spirit of Sycamore and its greatness. n

How dare they suggest I was not up to the challenge?. And the teachers cared more than any others I could have had. Teachers never treated me any different than the straight-A students. An acknowledgment to Mrs. Prince for never asking why on earth I needed muffin wrappers for an art project. A nod towards Mrs. Crady for not saying a word about the horrid handwriting on anything I turned in. A general recognition to every single staff member that works at Sycamore. Even though I never really knew what I was doing here, surrounded by all these smart people, I found my way to Sycamore, and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. So as I go off to high school, and we all go away to live our individual lives, I will say something I don’t believe I’ve ever said before. Thank you Sycamore School. n

Sycamore has not only taught us academic lessons, but rather, built a pond of memories that we can both remember and learn from. Memories we’ve collected range from the transportation parade we had in EC3, learning how to write in cursive, studying ocean life, the Washington D.C trip, writing sonnets in 5th grade, studying Romeo and Juliet, to writing complete literature analyses. In math, we’ve learned how to count to a thousand in kindergarten, and getting our first taste of multiplying two-digit numbers in first grade, to observing the wonderful world of different bases in fourth grade. We scampered through nature in the Smoky Mountains, watched evening sunsets in Florida, and built leadership skills during our trip to Culver. From exploring the balances between negative and positive space, to learning art theory, we could never walk into art class and know what to expect. From mummifying chickens to building mini-Greek temples to writing timed essays, Sycamore has never failed to challenge us in conventional and unconventional ways. Our teachers and parents have helped us master the art of gaining all the necessary skills in order to play at higher levels. And for that, let us thank our teachers and parents for helping us through this unforgettable journey. n

Sycamore welcomed many of the graduates of the class 2011 back for a reception in May at the school. This group heads to college in the fall, and their college choices are listed on page 24.

One of the most important aspects of the Sycamore education is empowering students to explore new ideas and stretch the boundaries of what they might think they can accomplish. With that in mind, the Auction for Advancement’s Fund-an-Item project for 2015 was the Innovation Lab. The Innovation Lab will be a place where student can explore new concepts, use equipment to test new ideas and collaborate in a space that can be used both before and after school.

“THE

”We really want to see the Innovation Lab used across all our curriculum areas,” she says. “We are seeing a shift in education that is more focused on teaching process and allowing kids to tackle problems, and this is a space outside of class where our students can learn how to engineer, innovate and solve problems.” Lykens mentions current parts of the Sycamore curriculum that will benefit from having the designated area for exploration. Students in our Lower School have a unit on simple machines, a bird unit, ecology unit and an energy unit that will add the resources of the Innovation Lab to create more depth and a greater hands-on approach to the topics.

INNOVATION LAB CAN BE A CATALYST”

“It’s a place where teachers can let students explore and experiment with hands-on tools, technology, crafts and supplies,” says Glenna Lykens, Head of Lower School. “The space supports our ideas of creating an area for critical thinking, discovery and problem solving.”

SYCAMORE THIRD GRADERS EXCHANGE BOOKMARKS WITH STUDENTS IN KENYA

With the addition of a designated area for the exploration of new ideas, Lykens believes it will be a place to benefit all students across multiple areas of expertise.

Sycamore third grade teacher Deb Reidy arranged a bookmark exchange with a third grade teacher at the International School of Kenya. She was put in contact with the teacher and school through an author named Susan Hughes. Mrs. Reidy’s homeroom students made bookmarks and wrote short letters to the students there and received the same things from them.

“What I like is the idea that our teachers can pass the torch to our students in many of these areas to allow those kids to be change agents, allowing us to work on higher level thinking skills and remove one of the ceilings in our learning,” Lykens says. “Technology is continually changing, and we can incorporate those changes into our learning and curriculum, whether it is in math, science, language arts or even historical research.

“The Innovation Lab can be a catalyst to exploring ideas for not just our students, but teachers too.” n

The children at the school in Kenya come from many different countries. “It has been a wonderful way for Sycamore students to connect with children from all over the world,” Reidy says. The email from the class of third grade students in Kenya, written to the Sycamore third grade students:

Hello Grade 3, Thank you so much for our lovely bookmarks. We hope you enjoy ours. Nairobi is a wonderful place to live. We have constant spring weather, beautiful flowering trees and bushes and MANY birds! You can seen a picture of kids in our class. It is also on the school’s website http:// www.isk.ac.ke/ Our school has about 850 kids from Pre-K to 12th grade. We have 90+ nationalities represented, WOW! That is a lot of different languages and accents floating in the air :) We all get along beautifully and share in the Karibu “welcome” spirit of Kenya. Many of us travel to other countries during our school holidays. Our parents mostly work for embassies or the UN, and some work for private companies. We love it here! We are getting ready (writing our scripts) to perform our Wax Museum of Global contributors. We will send you pictures :) Each year, Sycamore 5th graders travel to Chicago to learn art history with Mrs. Prince at the Art Institute of Chicago. Photos by Beth Grabhorn.

Our teachers, Ms. Skiman Jones and Ms. Musyoka are fun! n

CHICAGO FIELD TRIP

INNOVATION LAB DEBUTS AT SYCAMORE

CAREER SHADOWING: QUOTES FROM SYCAMORE STUDENTS In 2015, the graduating class at Sycamore started a new version of a Sycamore tradition. Career Shadow Day, as it will be formally known in the future, allowed the students a day away from the academic routine but not a day away from instruction. The students did not have to make up any missed class work or homework because all 8th Grade classes were canceled. The trend-setting group went out into the career field of their choice to shadow a mentor on a Friday in March. Some students who had made previous arrangements shadowed during the February vacation or during parent/teacher conferences; however, they were still rewarded with the day off. Some were even invited to return for a second visit thus enabling them to shadow twice if they chose to. This new twist to an 8th Grade time-honored tradition was overwhelming popular among the students. The following are some quotes from the students regarding their time at the office: I had the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to shadow Dr. Jan Turkle, a famous cosmetic plastic surgeon. There were two days when I

2015 COLLEGE CHOICES

shadowed Dr. Turkle. The first day I went to her office where I met many patients and watched her inject the Botulinum Toxin. The second day I was able to actually scrub in and observe three surgeries, and I learned many new and interesting facts about the plastic surgery specialty. Dr. Turkle showed me the anatomy and taught me things that I had never known about. Many people say that plastic surgery is not important and that it doesn’t save lives; however, my career shadowing taught me that it may save lives as well as save souls. —Priya Moorthy I shadowed Dr. Koehler who is a bio-engineer at IUPUI. This was a great experience for me because I was able to observe the daily routine of a researcher as well as briefly participate in a laboratory procedure. —Faizan Khatib I shadowed Judge Mathew Kincaid, the Boone County Superior Court I. I had a really great experience with Judge Kincaid and enjoyed many parts of his day that are not usual parts of a work day, such as working from multiple different places in the courthouse. Judge Kincaid also

One of the highlights for our students each year is the performance from Jonathan Sprout. The Pennsylvaniabased musician is a Grammy-nominated artist who writes about heroes in our culture, and what it means to be a hero. Third grade teacher Deb Reidy handles getting him to come to Sycamore, and he not only performs, but also works with our students in songwriting sessions after his performance in the theater. n

taught me a lot about the paths that I could take if I was interested in going into law. —Thomas Tanselle Dear Mr. Kokan, Thank you for teaching us about the interesting career of computer programming. We were enthralled by the material you had prepared for us upon our arrival, such as your videos and analogies of complex concepts. Your advice encouraged us to try to become computer programmers, which we are thankful for. We greatly appreciate that you took time off from your busy day and enjoyed your explanation of the career path. We plan to enter the field in the future as a result. —Brendan Hurley, Alex Gu, Andrew Wu n

Our 2011 Sycamore alums are graduating from high school this year, and here are the college choices they have made. Congratulations and best of luck as they move on to the next phase of their education. Ball State University

Purdue University

Butler University

Princeton University

Columbia University

Stanford University

Davidson College

The College of Wooster

DePaul University

University of California - San Diego

DePauw University Indiana University Johns Hopkins University Miami (OH) University Massachusetts Institute of Technology

GRAMMYNOMINATED MUSICIAN JONATHAN SPROUT VISITS SYCAMORE

University of Chicago University of Pennsylvania Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University Yale University n

SYCAMORE NEWS & NOTES

SYCAMORE SCHOOL SWEEPS STATE SCIENCE BOWL COMPETITION

TWO SYCAMORE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WIN WRITING AWARDS

Sycamore Team A earned first place and Sycamore Team B earned second place in the Science Bowl state competition at Indiana State University. The Eagles topped 12 other middle school teams. The Sycamore Team A earned the honor to represent Indiana at the National Science Bowl Competition to be held in Washington D.C. in late April, where they earned a top 8 finish. TEAM A MEMBERS:

Alex Gu Aiden Sher Varun Chheda Grace Lee Andrew Wu TEAM B MEMBERS:

Brendan Hurley Jack Milton Brian Liu James Yin Aaron Chai BOTH SYCAMORE TEAMS ARE COACHED BY MR. SCHUTH. n

schools at the Science Olympiad Regional Tournament at St. Joseph’s University. Several individuals earned top placings at Regionals.

SYCAMORE 6TH GRADER EARNS TOP ART AWARD; FOUR IN TOP 100

Out of hundreds of submissions in the Scholastic Art Awards, Peggy Brooks (7th grade) was one of 40 students who won a Silver Key award. Zoe Mervis (8th grade) was one of 48 who received an Honorable Mention Award. The Scholastic Art Awards represents the most comprehensive national annual assessment of the creative spirit among American teens. The judges look at three core values: freedom of expression, a blind adjudication process, and work criteria based on originality, technical proficiency, and emergence of personal voice. Students in 7th through 12th grade submit digital images of their work, which is juried by more than 50 jurors solicited from the local arts and education community. n

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY | 1ST PLACE

Priya Moorthy & Amy Tian CRAVE THE WAVE | 1ST PLACE

Karen Wang & Owen Wright EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN | 2ND PLACE

Katherine Galstain, Priya Moorthy, & Anjali Natarajan DYNAMIC PLANET | 2ND PLACE

Varun Chheda & Brian Liu BRIDGE BUILDING | 3RD PLACE

Kendrick Mernitz & Amy Tian ELASTIC LAUNCH GLIDER | 3RD PLACE

Joe Chandler & Richard Nargang ENTOMOLOGY | 3RD PLACE

Karen Wang & Nicky Ivan METEOROLOGY | 3RD PLACE

Janvi Bhatia & Nicky Ivan ROBO-CROSS | 3RD PLACE

William Hall & Parker Passarelli SIMPLE MACHINES | 3RD PLACE

Kendrick Mernitz & Janvi Bhatia SOLAR SYSTEM | 3RD PLACE

Brian Liu & Varun Chheda

TWO SCIENCE STUDENTS EARN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AWARD

DAVID SCHUTH COACHES THE SYCAMORE

Sycamore Middle School Scientists medaled in five events, (including a pair of state titles) at State Science Olympiad Competition at Indiana University.

ROBOTIC TEAM EARNS STATE TITLE

SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM. n

Olivia Childress (6th grade) won the top prize, the Pacini Award, at the statewide Symphony in Color contest. A number of Sycamore students excelled in the 2015 event that chooses 100 finalists from all the entries. From these top 100, 36 are chosen as gold ribbon winners, and the best of these 36 was chosen as the overall winner, earning the Renato Pacini Award. In addition, Anna Sanborn (5th grade) won a gold ribbon, and Katie Hur (4th grade) and Isabel Hargrove (4th grade) were named finalists. Gold Ribbon winners, including the Pacini Award winner, were displayed this spring at Hilbert Circle Theater, and exhibited at the Indiana State Museum from throughout April. n

Below are the team members who earned top places in their individual events. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY | 1ST PLACE

Varun Chheda

AUTHOR VISITS SYCAMORE

TRIVIA TIME | 1ST PLACE

Brian Liu & Arunabh Sinha SOLAR SYSTEM | 2ND PLACE

Varun Chheda & Brian Liu POTIONS & POISONS | 4TH PLACE

Varun Chheda & Brian Liu ROBO CROSS | 5TH PLACE

Parker Passarelli & Arunabh Sinha To make it to the state level, the teams had to compete at a regional qualifier, and Sycamore placed 2nd out of 10 participating middle

Sycamore’s First Lego League Robotics team competed in the state competition in Fort Wayne. The EAGLES Have Landed earned the Indiana State Champion out of 250+ teams statewide for best robot programming and first place for best robot performance. First year Sycamore teacher Jim McCarter coaches the team. n

Peter Lerangis (author of the Seven Wonders series, and the Seven Wonders Journals) visited Sycamore School as part of his national book tour introducing The Curse of the King (#4 in the Seven Wonders series. He ate lunch with a group of 4th graders and spoke to groups of Lower School and Middle School students, in addition to a presentation for the entire Lower School in the Sycamore Theater. n

BAND EXCELS AT FESTIVAL IN ST. LOUIS The Sycamore School Symphonic Band performed in the National Adjudicators Invitational Festival in April in St. Louis, Missouri, marking the ninth appearance for the band at the NAI festival. It was the first year that the band performed in the festival in Group IV, a high school category. The category is based on the level of difficulty of the music with I being the easiest and VI being college level music. In 1998, when the Sycamore band first performed in the festival under the direction of Paula Fair, the group participated in Group I, the beginning level middle school category. In 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 the bands, under the direction of current band director Candi Granlund, participated in the honor festival in Group III, the advanced middle school/beginning high school category. The students not only earned the ninth superior rating in band history, but were also named an honor band by earning the outstanding percussion award. This was the first time a Sycamore ensemble was named an honor band in addition to the superior rating. n

SPACE SHUTTLE: SUCCESSFUL SYCAMORE MISSION

VAUGHT EARNS GEOGRAPHY BEE CROWN Fifth Grader Christopher Vaught edged defending champ Shaan Mishra to be named the Sycamore Geography Bee Finalist. The contest featured multi-grade participates 5TH GRADE

Dylan Shelton, Vaught 6TH GRADE

Nicky Ivan, Jack Miller, Mishra 7TH GRADE

Varun Chheda, Cameron Hillsman Sycamore School 5th grade science students participated in a mock Space Shuttle launch, mission and landing as part of their curriculum. Students used a near-real size shuttle cockpit, a full mission control team and seven astronauts. Each student had a specific job description and wsa part of a small team that had to perform tasks integral to the event. As part of the mission, we provided streaming video for parents, family and friends to watch what was happening at mission control. n

SCIENCE STUDIES NEUROPLASTICITY Mr. Schuth’s Middle School science classes studied neuroplasticity (also known as brain plasticity) this year, and the students wore goggles that altered their vision as they tried to toss beanbags onto a piece of paper. After practicing, the students were able to compensate and hit the target. But once they removed the goggles, they couldn’t hit the paper until they practiced again without the goggles. It was an example of the brain’s ability to change and adapt. Nueroplasticity refers to changes in neural pathways and synapses due to changes in behavior, environment, neural processes, thinking, emotions, as well as changes resulting from bodily injury. n

ROWING TITLE FOR MATEI Justin Matei (Sycamore ‘13) was part of the winning crew for the Culver Military Academy’s Boys Varsity 4+1 boat (along with Sterner, Pippenger and Elliot) at the Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championship in Nashport, Ohio. The winning crew qualified for the National Scholastic Rowing Championship in Cherry Hill, NJ.. n

8TH GRADE

Michelle Yin, Aaron Chai

MR. COX VOLUNTEERS AT NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL FINAL FOUR It’s the seventh time the men’s Final Four has been in Indy, but none of these events, not to mention the Super Bowl, Big Ten Championships, the women’s Final Four — the list goes on — would be here without volunteer manpower. Ryan Cox has volunteered for multiple sporting events during the past several years. For this tournament, his role was point guard for the three-day March Madness Music Festival, where he helped with crowd control. Cox, a 4th grade teacher and Athletic Director at Sycamore School, said he enjoys showing off Hoosier hospitality, “making sure everyone feels welcome in our city. When the spotlight is on Indiana, I like being involved.” “We like putting on a party and being a great host. The Indiana Sports Corp. and business leaders do such a great job, and we’re able to pull off a great event.” FROM INDIANAPOLIS STAR / APRIL 3, 2015 n

SYCAMORE NEWS & NOTES

2015 AUCTION DONORS

GOLD MEDALS FOR SYCAMORE AT ISSMA STATE SOLO AND ENSEMBLE CONTEST

SIGNATURE ($15,000)

Ainsley Bale

Aaron Dean

Heal Thyself

Ball & Biscuit

Deck The Walls

Jeff Hearn

National Bank of Indianapolis

Bazbeaux’s Pizza

Delicia

Paul Helft

Allison Bentel

Jane DiMarzio

Lori Henderson

GOLD ($2,000)

Pam Benz

Lauren Ditchley

Jennifer Hendry

Goelzer Investment

Jennifer Berger

Rita Dunn

Cara Hermacinski

Management

Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano

Eddie Merlot’s

Becki Heusel

Sycamore School Board of Trustees

Bonefish Grill

Elements Massage,

Toni Hillman

Debbie Bonhomme

Indianapolis North

Mia Hindman

Diane Borgmann

Sissy Engle

Holder Mattress

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre

Fashion Mall

Hollyhock Hill

Conner Insurance

Erin Bortz Melissa Branigan

Ferguson Bath Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Emiko Homma

The Dermatology Center of Indiana

Bravo!

David Fink

Cami Hovda

Bob Brody

Meredith Fischl

Duane Hunt

Jamie Browning

Fit Wright

Joanna Jockish

Laura Brueckmann

Flat 12 Bierwerks

Patrick Juday

Melissa Burke

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Indiana Pacers

Dusty Burwell

and Wine Bar

Indiana Repertory Theatre

Buca Di Beppo

Larry Fletcher

Indianapolis Colts

California Closets

The Fludzinski Family

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Carmel Dental Group

Fogo de Chao

Carmel Orthodontics

Fountain Square Brewery

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Carmel Theatre Company

Fresh Market

Indianapolis Zoo

Cathedral Marble & Granite Inc

Fresh Thyme

Indy Reads Books

Cerulean Restaurant

Frontera Grill

Indy Speed Wax

Cheesecake Factory

Lori Fulk

Invoke Studio

Chilly Water Brewing Company

G. Thrapp Jewelers

Julie Ciaccia

Game Preserve

Jeanie Gensheimer Martial Arts, LLC.

Ganache Chocolatier

Jimmy Buff-it’s Auto Detailing

(SSA) Executive Council

Claddaugh Irish Pub & Restaurant

Georgia Reese’s

Joanna Jockish

TsT Home Improvement

Classic Cakes

Chad Gerson

Joe’s Butcher Shop

Vasey Commercial Heating & Air Conditioning

Julie Clawson

Rhonda Gerson-Hurwitz

Susan Karpicke

Francine Clayton

Gigi’s Cupcakes

Leslie Katz

Cleary Vacuum

Gilchrist & Soames

Keystone Construction

The Cole Family

The Grabow Family

Catherine Kirkendall

Laura Conder

Giordano’s Pizza

Bill Klenk

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

Jenna Graham

Klipsch

Candi Granlund

Beth Koehler

Corporate Fine Art Group

Jo Dee Grau

Kona Grill

Ryan Cox

Green Bean Delivery

Kroger

Linda Crady Crown Liquors

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre

Kumon Math & Reading Center - Pickwick

CVS Pharmacy

Jeff Hagerman

Coolleene Lahr

Dairy Queen Zionsville

Harley Davidson North

Lancome

Dammann’s Lawn and Garden Center

Harley Davidson South

Latitude 360

Elizabeth Harlow

Holly Lee

Dick Day

Wendy Harlow

Linda Lewis

Days Furs

Erica Harrison

Courtney Lickliter

Michelle Hong and Marina Morgan both received a gold medal for their piano performances at the ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble Contest. They also earned the Gold designation at the district level. According to Sycamore’s Music Teacher and Choir Director, Laura Brueckmann, both girls performed brilliantly at a level that includes high school juniors and seniors. n

2015 STEM GIRLS CONFERENCE ROUSING SUCCESS The sold-out “Curiosity, Confidence, Challenge” Girls Conference (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math-based workshops and speakers for middle school girls) saw more than 400 students from across the state descend on Sycamore School in March. It is one of the significant annual events hat Sycamore produces and hosts. The conference is coordinated by Judith Mills. n

RELAY TEAM BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD

SPANISH STUDENTS EARN FIRST PLACE

Sycamore Spanish students competed at the Concurso Académico 2015, and earned a number of first place awards in the Middle School, First Year and Second Year categories.

Many current and former teachers, staff and parents attended services for Sycamore teacher Mary Lou Waters, who passed away during the school year. Mary Lou was a beloved Sycamore Middle School Social Studies teacher for many years. Her family graciously named Sycamore School’s FundOne program as one of two suggested memorials for friends and family to donate to in her name. n

SILVER ($1,000)

SCOZZARO EARNS PERFECT SCORE AT NATIONAL MATH PENTATHLON TOURNEY

Paul Henderson Plumbing

Sycamore 4th and 5th grade Mathletes competed at Ben Davis High School in the National Pentathlon Tournament, highlighted by Sydnie Scozzaro earning a perfect score with a 15 point total. She also earned a Gold Medal and spot in the Pentathlon Hall of Fame.

The Allison Family

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING: HS LEVEL I | 1ST PLACE

CS Kern

Madalyn Sailors

OTHER AWARD WINNERS

DataComm

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING: HS LEVEL II | 1ST PLACE

CULTURE: MS | 1ST PLACE

Matt Hurley and Laura Jannetta GRAMMAR: MS | 1ST PLACE

Nicky Ivan GRAMMAR: MS LEVEL I | 1ST PLACE

Varun Chheda HOUR AND NUMBERS: MS | 1ST PLACE

Sydnie Scozzaro IMPROMPTU SPEAKING: MS | 1ST PLACE

Nicky Ivan

Wedgewood Builders

BRONZE ($500) Briarwood Animal Clinic CIty Real Estate Advisors Complete Office Supply The Conder Family

SILVER MEDAL Georgia Bott

Newco Metals

Katherine Galstian

HONORABLE MENTION Julia Thompson

The Pergande Family

LATINO DANCE: MS | 2ND PLACE

PENTATHLON AWARD Charlotte Thompson

Sycamore School

PENTATHLON AWARD Fatima Khan

Administrative Team

PENTATHLON AWARD Kate Fryburg

Sycamore School Association

Ethan Kacena-Merrill LATINO DANCE: HS LEVEL I-II | 2ND PLACE

Zoe Mervis & Priyanka Ranga 2nd NON-STOP CONVERSATION: MS | 1ST PLACE

Nicky Ivan/Ethan Kacena–Merrill NON-STOP CONVERSATION: HS LS LEVEL II | 1ST PLACE

Katherine Galstian & Grace Lee POETRY RECITATION: MS | 1ST PLACE

Christopher Vaught POETRY RECITATION: HS LEVEL I-II | 1ST PLACE

The boys 4 x 400 relay team set a Sycamore School record at a meet in April. The boys team ran the relay in 4:06:38, smashing the school record of 4:11. Members of the relay team are Agrayan Gupta, Robbie Sheffield, Chandler McGruder, and Max Mukhin, with Coach David Fink. n

FORMER SYCAMORE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER PASSES AWAY

Mathematics Pentathlon is a program of interactive problem-solving games for students in grades K-7. The team is coached by Kindergarten teacher Ruth Moll, third grade teacher Mary Jo Wright, and Sycamore parent Tammi Scozzaro. n

2015 AUCTION DONORS (LIST CURRENT AS OF 2.23.15)

7E Fit Spa Of Zionsville

Grace Lee

Akimi Acupunture LLC

POSTERS: MS | 1ST PLACE

Aladdin Food Managment Service

Rhea Acharya & Elsie McNulty SCRAMBLED SENTENCES: HS LEVEL I | 1ST PLACE

Altum’s Nursery

Madalyn Sailors

Andretti Motor Sports

VOCABULARY: MS | 1ST PLACE

Shelli Andrews

Cassie Kaplan

Tiffany Applegate

VOCABULARY: HS LEVEL I | 1ST PLACE

art + space

Madalyn Sailors 1st

Artisano’s Oil and Spices

VOCAL: MS GROUP | 1ST PLACE

Bagger Dave’s

Emma Hermacinski, Aisha Kokan, Leah Tan, Rhea Bhatia n

Katie Baker

Houseworks

2015 AUCTION DONORS The Loftus Family

Peapod

Lisa Lueck

Benjamin Pecar

Sycamore School Board of Trustees

Glenna Lykens

Lynn Pels

Jamie MacDougall

Peterson’s Restaurant

MacKenzie River Pizza Co.

The Peyton Family

Maggiano’s

Phil Mickelson Foundation

Markey’s Rental and Staging

Piada Italian Street Food

The Martinson Family

Pottery Barn Kids

Mashcraft Brewery

Pottery by You

Mass Ave Toys

Prime 47

Michael Maurer

The Prince Family

MBP Catering

Kimberly Pursch

Jim McCarter

Ram Restaurant & Brewery

Cindy McKay

Amy Ramage

McNamara Florists

Joan Rau

Monique McWilliams

The Rasmussen Family

Seema Mernitz

Red Lion Grog House

Michael Mervis

Deb Reidy

The Woodhouse Day Spa Carmel

The Josh & Lynn Mervis Family

Reis Nichols

The Yoga Studio

Mid-America Beverage Co.

LeRoy Richins

Together Wellness

Phyllis Miller

Dianne Ridings

Tony Stewart Foundation

Judith Mills

Becky Ristow

Trent Tormoehlen

Amy Miltenberger

Robert’s Camera

Towyard Brewing

Mitchell’s Fish Market

Rock Bottom Brewery

Tresses Salon

Ruth Moll

Rocky Ripple Clayworks

The Truesdale Family

Monarch Beverage

Mike Rosiello

Tyler Winery

Travis Morgan

Salsbery Brothers Landscaping

Vine & Table

Morgan Stanley

Schakolad Chocolate Factory

Seema Verma

Denise Murphy

David Schuth

Karen Vohra

MyArt

Scotty’s Brewhouse

Walt Disney World Co.

Divya Narayanan

Seasons 52

Walter Knabe

NCAA Hall of Champions

David Sheffield

The Wilkerson Family

Rob Nichols

Karen Shirrell

Jennifer Williams

Oaken Barrel Brewing

Jeannie Shull

Heidi Wilson

Company

Roxann Silvius

Wonderlab

Oakley’s Bistro

Beth Simpson

The Wright Family

Ocean Prime

The Simon-Stuart Family

Mary Jo Wright

Off The Wall Sports

Madeleine Briscoe Smith

Tony Young

Mary O’Malley

Spire Wellness

Lynn Zhao

Michelle Oldham

Jonathan Sprout

Zink Beverage Company

On The Border

St. Elmo’s

Zionsville Kumon

Outre

Starbucks Coffee Company

Zionsville Tri Kappa n

Lily Pai

Deb Stewart

Carol Paik

John Strickland

Painting With A Twist

Style Salon

Catherine Pangan

Sullivan’s Hardware

Noami Patterson

Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Payless Liquors

Sun King Brewing Company

Sycamore School Association Executive Council Target Tastings - A Wine Experience Taxman Brewery & Restaurant

THE RT OF PERSONAL SERVICE

The Alexander The Center For Performing Arts The Dermatology Center of Indiana The District Tap The Kitchenette The New You Esthetics Corporation The Tile Shop The Trade Source

DOWNTOWN

CARMEL

107 North Pennsylvania Street

East Carmel Drive Near Keystone Ave.

NORTHWEST

GEIST/FISHERS

Ditch Road and 84th Street

Olio Road at 116th Street

THE ONEAMERICA TOWER

WEST CARMEL/ZIONSVILLE

MERIDIAN-KESSLER

WESTFIELD/CARMEL

106th and North Michigan Road

One American Square

49th and Pennsylvania Street

East 146th Street at Cool Creek Commons

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WESTCLAY®

320 North Meridian Street

Towne Road near 131st Street

CASTLETON

GREENWOOD

West Smith Valley Road and SR 135

Bash Road and East 82nd Street

261-9000

www.nbofi.com

Member FDIC

Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage

1750 West 64th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED www.sycamoreschool.org 317.202.2500

Band in St. Louis/Bridge

PAID

Permit NO.984 Indianapolis, IN