Tatnall Today Fall 2015

Fall 2015

TODAY

M A G A Z I N E

Making Melodies and Memories in Italy Page 12

A New Place to Tinker, Imagine and Explore Page 14

New Faces in Our Learning Spaces The Tatnall School welcomes new faculty and staff members to campus.

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Number Talks Tatnall’s youngest mathematicians develop computing strategies and reasoning abilities.

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Fall 2015

Table of Contents

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FEATURES

12 14 16 19

Making Melodies and Memories in Italy Tatnall chorus wows crowds at the Vatican, the Pantheon and more.

A New Place to Tinker, Imagine and Explore Lower School students get new creation lab for hands-on discovery.

Cracking the Unsolved Mysteries

Whodunnit? Help solve the mystery of the missing microscope. (First clue: It wasn’t Colonel Mustard.)

A Family School Legacy Tatnall celebrates its 85th year of inspiring young hearts and minds.

Making Her Mark

Back on the Field

Caroline Tatnall Ketcham ’58 is honored for her devotion and service to her grandmother’s school.

All-American Lecia McDermott ’85, who helped lead Tatnall to a state championship as a player, is back as field hockey coach with plans to build a new winning tradition.

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Foreword MA GAZINE

Signs of the Times: Creativity and Forward Momentum

TODAY

A MESSAGE FROM CHARLIE

It was a busy and productive summer across The Tatnall School campus as we prepared to celebrate our 85th year. In addition to returning sweeping campus sightlines obscured by overgrown brush, athletic fields were reseeded, gardens replanted, air handling systems upgraded, classrooms refurbished, and the frequently used gym lobby was completely renovated and renamed Beekley Commons. Before the school year began, new signage also was created and installed by our Tatnall Operations team, welcoming new visitors and assisting old friends with wayfinding across our magnificent campus.

The Tatnall School 1501 Barley Mill Road | Wilmington, DE 19807 (302) 998-2292 | www.tatnall.org

Most recently, the Board of Trustees, the faculty and I have been focused on institutional “wayfinding” as we work together to chart Tatnall’s auspicious future.

Having completed an extensive market research project this summer, we have been engaged in a thorough and thoughtful strategic planning process. Requirements for 21st-century learning in an increasingly complex world, as well as the competition among Wilmington area schools for mission-appropriate students, have informed our deliberations and planning efforts. Our next chapter is sure to leverage our excellent faculty, inspire our students and reinforce the hallmark cohesiveness of the Tatnall community established by Mrs. Tatnall over eight decades ago. Expect to learn more specifics as we reveal the strategic plan early in 2016.

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

One of the focal points of this academic year has been our school-wide theme of creativity. Teachers and students have been challenged to harness, release and share their creative spirits throughout the year in all they do. The energy is palpable as young people and adults try on and test out new ideas and approaches. We encourage each other to pose questions, to wander along paths less traveled, and, as senior Bennett Atwater ’16 urged his peers at the Opening School Exercises on Sedgley Lawn, to be fearless in chasing interesting ideas down all academic, artistic and athletic rabbit holes. It should come as no surprise to alumni, parents and friends that at Tatnall, we embrace that chase! Creativity serves as a powerful drive wheel, inspiring interdisciplinary collaborations, use of new technologies including 3-D printers in all four divisions, new international study and travel opportunities, new research and service opportunities, and new leadership roles for our students, artists and athletes.

Of course, Tatnall’s 85th year (page 19) is a perfect opportunity for all of us to proudly reflect on our storied heritage and accomplishments while also leaning confidently into an exciting future. All the new signs on campus point toward success!

Yours sincerely,

Charles A. Tierney III Head of School

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Tatnall Today is published twice a year by Tipton Communications. Copyright by The Tatnall School.

EDITOR Nicole Fullerton, Tipton Communications, (302) 454-7901

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS Michael J. Talarico, (302) 892-4333, mtalarico@tatnall.org Anita Marcial, (302) 892-4337, marcial@tatnall.org

PHOTOGRAPHY Jim Graham ’77, Sean Dalton, Theodore Saad and Tatnall staff

2014–2015 BOARD OF TRUSTEES President, Caroline Brown Lintner ’83 | Vice President, Frank J. McKelvey III | Vice President, Stephen D. Marvin ’88 | Secretary, Carolyn J. Walker | Treasurer, Thomas P. Ferry Peter W. Atwater | Michele M. Cross | Cynthia A. Hewitt ’69 | S. Mark Hurd | Caroline Tatnall Ketcham ’58 | Margaret L. Laird ’86 | Elizabeth D. Maron | Dana M. Nestor | Wendy A. Owen | Mary Lu Currin Pamm ’78 | Rebecca King Rogers ’79 | Thomas C. Shea Jr. | J. Vincent Watchorn III ’87 | Cindy Pettinaro Wilkinson ’88 | David T. Woods | Terri M. Young

ADMINISTRATION Head of School, Charles A. Tierney III | Head of Upper School, Timothy J. Quinn | Head of Middle School, Rebecca Rollinson | Head of Lower School, Deanna L. Bocchetti | Head of Preschool, Aimee C. Neff Business Manager, Paula L. Hager | Director of Athletics, Patrick L. Jones | Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid, Allison M. Price | Operations Foreman, Barry T. Kintz

ALUMNI COUNCIL President, Cindy Pettinaro Wilkinson ’88 | Vice President, Rebecca King Rogers ’79 | Secretary, Kay Sierer Hill ’67 | Immediate Past President, Brian J. Carney ’97 Christopher C. Debnam ’81 | Blair C. Dickerson ’72 | Anne Tatnall Gross ’56 | Michele Centrella Harra ’97 | Amanda A. Jacobs ’02 | Susan Chase LeBaron ’64 | Caroline Brown Lintner ’83 | James A. Magee ’89 | Keith E. Morton ’74 | Mary Lu Currin Pamm ’78 | Abigail Williams Schneider ’97 | Jonathan B. Silver ’06 | Linda Archangelo Sygowski ’71 | Lexie Hynansky Vadas ’88

The Tatnall School admits students of any race, color, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin and ancestry to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Around Campus

Tatnall Torpedoes Swim Team Makes a Splash This summer, under the direction of head coach Emilie Hager ’16 and assistant coaches Michael Mariner ’15, Sydney Castagna ’16 and Katie Mariner ’17, the Tatnall Torpedoes Swim Team enjoyed an undefeated 5-0 season. The team will now move up to the A division,

the top division in the North Brandywine Swim League.

The team also raised $4,120 through a Swim-a-Thon for the Peter Godshall Memorial, a fund created in memory of Peter Talley Black Godshall ’11.

Winning with Class

With the blast of a cannon shot, 400 Tatnall students, families, alumni and friends set off in the first Tatnall Fun Run in celebration of the school’s 85th anniversary in September. The runners and walkers showed the hive is very much alive as they paced the 1.75-mile course on Tatnall’s campus.

The Tatnall School recently received a banner, a $500 grant and five state tournament passes for receiving a 2014– 2015 Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) sportsmanship award. As part of the award, Tatnall will send two student delegates and an adult delegate to the DIAA Student Leadership Conference. Go Hornets!

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Around Campus

Cultural Exchange Brings Danish Students to Tatnall Tatnall welcomed 17 Danish students to campus this fall from our sister school, Skive Gymnasium & HF, in Skive, Denmark. As part of a week-long cultural immersion experience, students attended classes and a potluck dinner

and visited attractions in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City. This spring, Tatnall teachers Jennifer Scott and Bill Schluter will complete the exchange when they lead a group of our students to Denmark and London.

From the Hornet’s Nest: 2014–2015 Athletic Highlights ■■

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Meet the Coach: Cesidio “CC” Colasante Tatnall’s new assistant soccer coach, CC Colasante, (pictured in black shirt at right) brings an extensive soccer background to Tatnall’s fields. CC played at LaSalle University, earning AllAmerican honors during his senior year. After college, CC played professionally with the Philadelphia KiXX for four years.

Tatnall from the Top Ever wonder what it might be like to have a bird’s-eye view of Tatnall? Recently, a certified drone pilot captured some fantastic aerial shots of our 110-acre campus during the Annual All-School Picnic. Pictured is the football game against Dickinson High School.

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7 State Champions (Running Program— Individual and Relay Teams) 2 DIAA State Champion Teams (Boys’ Cross Country and Girls’ Cross Country) 2 DIAA State Runner-Up Teams (Boys’ Spring Track & Field and Girls’ Spring Track & Field) 7 First Team All-State Selections 5 Second Team All-State Selections 40 First Team All-Conference Selections 21 Second Team All-Conference Selections Third Place in State Tennis Tournament (Boys’ Tennis) Fifth Place in State Golf Tournament (Kevin Levitsky ’15) Delaware Cross Country Runner of the Year (Stephen Garrett ’15) Delaware Swimmer of the Year (David Crossland ’16 – second consecutive year!)

Scholars on the Road Tatnall’s Dr. Bruce Chipman (left) will speak about “Film as a Cultural Reflector and Predictor in Two Iconic American Movies of the 1960s” as a featured lecturer for the 18th Tower Hill Forum. Past forum speakers have included George Will, Stephen Ambrose, Elie Wiesel, Joe Biden and Congressman John Lewis.

This summer, alongside recent grad Yiying Sheng ’15, Upper School science teacher Sharon Kreamer traveled to an international horseshoe crab conference in Japan after being recognized as an expert in the field.

Applied Knowledge Teresa (Ziyu) Pan ’16 and Melissa Jernakoff ’17 are following their passion for birds through a yearlong independent study and internship at the Delaware Museum of Natural History.

While Teresa is identifying and labeling the bones in birds’ skeletons, Melissa is working to transfer handwritten records for some of the museum’s bird egg collections from the late 1800s and 1900s to a digital format.

Emily Bennison ’16 recently designed a children’s rainwear line to win the third annual Wrapped in Color! fashion show presented by the Crayola Experience. As the competition winner, Emily will intern with NYC designer Carol Hannah Whitfield.

Campus Updates

Fourth Grade Campout

This summer, Tatnall’s operations team reseeded the athletic fields, replanted the campus gardens and installed new signage to direct our visitors across campus. The Beekley Commons area (pictured above) was also recently unveiled.

Previously the gym lobby, the renovated space displays the school colors and functions as an inviting meeting space for students, athletes and guests.

Along with their classmates, Grey Fisher, Jimmy Catalano and Michael McGinley (pictured above) recently enjoyed games on the Sedgely Lawn and s’mores in Head of School Charlie Tierney’s backyard. The overnight campout resulted in lifelong memories for the “seniors” of the Lower School.

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In the Classroom

New Faces in Our Learning Spaces The Tatnall School is excited to welcome new faculty and staff members to campus this year.

Tim Quinn Head of Upper School Why he joined Tatnall’s team: “The school’s motto, “Omnia in Caritate” (“All things in love”), matches perfectly with my educational philosophy.”

Tijen Ozcan Upper School chemistry teacher

Richard Willard Fourth grade teacher What inspires him to teach: “I had some amazing teachers who I still remember fondly. They showed me how a love of learning is something to be treasured. I hope to instill my students with the same ideology—our brain is our best asset, and we need to use it well.”

Karen Coviello Assistant Kindergarten teacher Her favorite part of working at Tatnall: “The staff. There is such a supportive and welcoming atmosphere here at Tatnall. It makes coming to work a pleasure!”

What she’s looking forward to this year: “By getting students excited about chemistry, I hope I can ignite a passion that encourages each student to further pursue the sciences throughout their educational paths.”

Richard Hanel Upper School art teacher Why he joined Tatnall’s team: “After retiring from the public school system, I experienced some bittersweet emotions about losing the rewarding connections I’d made with young people and the joy of sharing in their creative process. When I got the call about the position at Tatnall, I couldn’t have been happier to bring my expertise here.”

Martha Owens Preschool teacher

Alyson Greenwood Middle School English teacher What she’s most looking forward to: “I’m excited to share my passion for reading and writing with students, and I hope my enthusiasm for learning is contagious!”

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Why she became a teacher: “Knowing that I have an instrumental part in molding the future success of young lives—that’s inspiration in itself.”

Amanda Peltz Preschool administrative assistant Her favorite part of working at Tatnall: “Each day that I come to work, I am surrounded by smiles on happy faces and the sound of laughter throughout the building. What’s not to love?!”

John Noel ’93 Director of Auxiliary Programs His favorite part of working in a school: “You never know which one thing will make a positive impact on a student. I have the luxury of being able to empower others to chase those moments.”

Lecia McDermott ’85 Middle School physical education teacher How she approaches teaching: “Physical education and playing sports are all about personal development and individual growth.”

Sheila Posatko Middle School Latin teacher What inspired her to teach: “I have always loved language, and what better way to help people than to interact with the world’s future leaders, thinkers and peacemakers?”

Sarah Quinn Director of Upper School Admission What she loves most about her job: “I have participated in the admissions process as a student, a teacher, a coach, a parent, and an admissions professional, so I often have a shared experience with the people who walk into our office.”

Rowena Gutana Strings Program Director How she approaches teaching: “For each grade I teach the basics, but I also try to make lessons individualized by selecting different music for every ensemble and student.”

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Around Campus

Metamorphosis in Tatnall’s Monarch Waystations This fall, while walking along the Tatnall Meadow Path, Preschool science teacher Nancy Flanagan discovered five monarch caterpillars in three minutes.

While the overall monarch population has plummeted in recent years due to herbicide-based agriculture, the Tatnall campus serves as an oasis for the near-endangered species. Thanks to two certified Monarch Waystations that support the growth of the milkweed plant, the butterflies’ nursery, food source and home, the monarchs have an environment in which they can thrive. The Monarch Waystations also give Tatnall students the unique opportunity to observe the species in their natural environment.

“The excitement of watching the monarch metamorphosis never disappears,” says sixth grade science teacher Lauri Leary, who includes the butterfly observation in her class’s insect classification

unit. Mrs. Flanagan, who introduces her young Kindergarten citizen scientists to the butterfly life cycle, adds, “The dramatic change is amazing to children, teachers and parents.”

During the species’ metamorphosis, students watch as the monarch caterpillars (larvae) eat an entire 6-inch milkweed leaf before shedding their skin for the fifth time to reveal bright green, jewel-like chrysalises (pupae). Over the course of two weeks, students watch patiently and eagerly as each pupa changes from green to black and orange, before finally splitting open for a butterfly to emerge.

Caroline Pankow ’22 took a particular interest in the monarchs and checked the developing chrysalises each day. “I have never been able to see a butterfly come out of its chrysalis. It is something that I find really, really cool!” she says.

After emerging from the pupae, the butterflies pump up their wings, exposing them to the air so they are prepared to fly during their magnificent migration to Mexico. During a celebratory butterfly release, students watch the monarchs sip nectar from the wildflowers on the edges of Tatnall’s fields as they slowly flutter away from their homes in the campus Monarch Waystations.

Tatnall’s campus is an outdoor classroom with unmatched access to large, diverse tracts of land. In addition to the Monarch Waystation, students benefit physically, emotionally and intellectually from hands-on experiences in the following facilities:

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90-acre Downs Conservancy Three Schoolyard Habitats, certified by the National Wildlife Federation A registered arboretum with more than 200 trees 2.25 miles of maintained nature trails

Number Talks Result in Computational Fluency Tatnall’s youngest mathematicians have been active participants in a daily routine designed to develop computational fluency and mathematical reasoning. Referred to as “Number Talks,” this contemporary pedagogical strategy has been gaining support in classrooms across the country.

Number Talks was introduced to the Tatnall community at the beginning of the school year by Kindergarten teacher Jeanne Poggi and first grade teacher Ramona Dowling.

After attending a workshop presented by Dr. Faith Muirhead, Associate Director of the University of Delaware’s Professional Development Center for Educators, the two teachers decided that the approach would be beneficial for their young students.

“I was confident attending Dr. Muirhead’s workshop would enrich my math instruction and guide me to be a better math facilitator,” says Mrs. Dowling. “I am always interested in what the newest research says about how children learn math,” Ms. Poggi adds.

Each day, Ms. Poggi and Mrs. Dowling present their students with a new problem to solve. During the talks, the children participate in a conversation that facilitates open learning and the development of mathematical language. The students are asked to look for relationships, so they must rely on concepts and strategies that go beyond basic memorization.

Jeanne Poggi uses dot cards to engage her Kindergarten students during Number Talks

Number Talks follow a six-step format that allows students to develop mathematical flexibility and understanding: 1. The teacher presents the problem.

Number Talks problems are presented in traditional and nontraditional forms. Dot cards, ten frames and models are often used to begin the talks.

2. Each student reaches an answer.

Students are given a set amount of time to work through the problem individually.

3. Students share their answers.

The students share their findings and results with the class.

4. Students share their thinking.

Student volunteers share their mathematical strategies and explain how they arrived at their answer.

5. The class discusses the most efficient way to find the answer.

After thoughtful consideration, the class identifies the correct answer and discusses the most effective solving method.

6. The steps are repeated for additional problems.

Ms. Poggi and Mrs. Dowling have both witnessed the benefits of Number Talks, noting the confidence and math skills their students have developed.

The two have also partnered with Dr. Muirhead and, based on their observations and experiences, will coauthor a chapter that will appear in Dr. Muirhead’s upcoming book. Stay tuned!

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In the Classroom

Narrator David Poyta ‘22

Wolf Evan Cox ‘22

Foreign Language Students Bring Fairy Tales to Life Each year, Tatnall’s sixth grade French, Spanish and Latin students prepare for one of the foreign language department’s most beloved traditions—the foreign language fairy tale plays. Over the course of the term, students develop their foreign language abilities as they expand their vocabulary repertoire, learn to form sentences and, eventually, master a common fairy tale script. The students’ hard work culminates in a performance that demonstrates each student’s language development.

This year, Tatnall’s Spanish students performed “Ricitos de Oro y los Tres Ositos” (“Goldilocks and the Three Bears”); the French students performed “Les Trois Petits Cochons” (“The Three Little Pigs”); and the Latin students performed “Julius et Caulis” (“Jack and the Beanstalk”).

In preparation for the big performances, the students practice an internationally recognized methodology known as the Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM). Based on the belief that student learning is accelerated when an action accompanies the spoken word, the method ties gestures, music and theater to specific vocabulary words.

Using the method, the Middle School students’ language skills develop rapidly. By the end of the term, the students are confident, enthusiastic communicators who are ready to take the stage. With their newly developed foreign language skills, and the addition of props and costumes, the students are able to deliver entertaining performances for their classmates and friends.

1st Little Piggy Caroline Pankow ’22

3rd Little Piggy Jonah Thomas ’22

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2nd Little Piggy Delaney Campanelli ’22

Art Students Make Their Mark Through Beautiful Prints Under the instruction of art teacher Richard Hanel, students in Tatnall’s Upper School printmaking class are exploring art and science as they blend elegance and precision with history and innovation. Throughout the course, students will create beautiful prints using traditional and contemporary forms of printmaking, while also refining their personal techniques.

At the beginning of the trimester, students explored relief printing, a process in which a design is cut or etched onto a printing surface and the protruding edges of the design are coated in ink. To foster a creative and collaborative environment, each student was given an equal portion of a large linoleum block. While every student had the opportunity to individualize his or her own printing block, also known as a matrix, the class worked together to integrate each of the unique ideas into a unified relief print.

Later in the semester, the class will explore Solarplates—lightsensitized, steel-backed polymer surfaces—as a modern-day form of printmaking. Since being introduced by German artist Dan Welden in the 1970s, Solarplate etching has proven to be a safe, economical and versatile alternative to customary etching.

During the Solarplate process, a piece of artwork is created on a transparent film, either acetate or glass. Once the artwork has been created, the students will overlay the film on the Solarplate and expose the film and plate to the sun. Essentially, the drawn image will be transferred to a plate, which can then be used to create a relief print.

Mr. Hanel’s printmaking class is just one example of the interdisciplinary nature of the Upper School art curriculum.

While the classes are grounded in tradition, students have countless opportunities to express their creativity and experience classes that merge traditional academics with innovative artistic practices.

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Making Melodies and Memories

in Italy

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“ This trip will last forever in the memory of the choristers. They will be telling their children’s children about it.”

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t’s not every day that Tatnall students perform at the Pantheon, one of the most iconic buildings in Rome, built in 126 AD.

During a trip to Italy in June, 22 students and 14 adult chaperones toured parts of Italy, experiencing its beauty and culture. “Seeing firsthand the cities, venues and museums was amazing for all of us,” says Wilson G. Somers, Tatnall’s director of choral music, who led his seventh trip to Italy. “You can read books and go online, but nothing replaces being there and especially being surrounded by the sound generated in the awesome acoustics of these centuries-old buildings. The singing of repertoire old and new becomes magical in these places.”

Highlights of the seven-day trip included performances in Rome at Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri (the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs), the Vatican and the Pantheon; in Montecatini Terme at the International Choral Festival with choirs from Norway, Ireland, Italy, France and Chicago; in the small mountain town of Massa e Cozzile at a friendship concert with a local Italian choir; and in Siena at the Duomo, a medieval cathedral and one of the world’s most significant historic places.

The choral trip to Italy is just one of the many global opportunities offered to Tatnall students.

Each year, students are invited to broaden their global understanding and engagement during trips to Spain, Costa Rica, Denmark, France and England.

that were built for concerts,” says Noelle Picara, the director of the Upper School women’s chorus and co-director of the Upper School mixed chorus. “Some of the pieces we sang were written hundreds of years ago and performed in these cathedrals without modern sound equipment. Students got to sing these songs as if they’d gone back in time to sing them the way they were originally intended to be performed.”

Singing at the Vatican was the trip’s highlight for Robb Dehney ’17.

“Learning about the culture firsthand, instead of from a textbook, gives you a different perspective into the culture, the people and life in Italy,” he adds.

Mr. Somers says that hearing other choirs sing a diverse repertoire of music inspires the students to further their choral study. In fact, they are learning a new song, “Tango to Evora,” for their spring concert at the students’ request. “This trip will last forever in the memory of the choristers. They will be telling their children’s children about it,” Mr. Somers adds.

Choir member Tori Knox ’17 had the opportunity to experience Italy with her entire family, who went on the trip with her. “My favorite memory was the fellowship circle, where we had dinner and sang songs with other choirs from around the world,” she says.

“Students sing in a classroom every day, several times a year in our theater, and in several other locations in Wilmington. However, in Italy, they got to experience the sound of their voices in many cathedrals

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A New P lace to

TINKER, IMAGINE

& EXPLORE his fall, the “Dr. Frankensteins” of the Lower School brought toothbrushes to life in Tatnall’s new Tinker Space.

and arts and crafts supplies. Lego walls are planned for the closet doors, and a wireless access point allows students to use laptops and iPads in the lab.

The members of the newly formed Tinker Club used tiny pager motors and coin cell batteries to transform the toothbrushes into mini-robots that scuttled about the corners and crevices of a tabletop maze.

At the front of the room hangs one of the classes’ first projects: wooden letters spelling “Tatnall Tinker Space” decorated with glitter, feathers, whole crayons, nuts and bolts and even wooden blocks.

The students’ first challenge: to build a maze for the BrushBots using toilet paper rolls, construction paper, paper clips, PlayDoh and any other materials found in Tatnall’s new Tinker Space. Even a book filled with wallpaper samples makes a student’s eyes light up.

“We’re here to provide guidance, but really, it’s up to the students to imagine, design and create their own projects,” says technology teacher Colleen Hoban, who leads the club with librarian Heather Brooks.

For the Tatnall Tinker Space, a closet has been filled with plastic tubs of construction materials

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Similar spaces are appearing in classrooms across the country, combining elements of science labs, woodshops, computer labs and art rooms to encourage student experimentation, engineering and discovery. Their hands-on philosophy stems from a grassroots, do-ityourself movement marked by annual Maker Faires, where people of all ages showcase robots, rockets, pedal-powered machines, mobile muffin cars and a variety of other homemade projects.

The Maker Education Initiative estimates that 1.8 million people nationwide are engaged in educational maker spaces each year.

“Tatnall has always been a school where creativity is valued,” Mrs. Brooks says. “Students learn best when their hands and heads work together with their hearts to investigate their world and build meaning through their discoveries.”

design challenges beyond the rich experiences they are already getting in the daily curriculum,” Mrs. Hoban says.

For another activity in the Tatnall Tinker Space, IT Director Geoff Weyer led the students in taking apart a laptop computer and then provided keyboards and other small appliances for the students to disassemble with small tools.

In August, Lower School faculty members experienced being makers firsthand by building catapults in the new lab. (Fourth grade teacher Rick Willard and first grade teacher Renee Greene flung a bottle cap the farthest on their catapult!)

“I like to make a lot of different things, and the Tinker Club sounded fun,” said third grader Katie Payne ’25 during one of the club’s early morning meetings.

Fourth grader Bastián Micolucci ’24 says his interest in technology led him to join the Tinker Club.

In addition to the weekly club, Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Hoban anticipate teachers will plan classroom projects in the new lab. A 3-D printer is also being ordered for the space this fall.

The lab also encourages students to share ideas and work together to solve problems. “We want them to learn grit and experience science, math, engineering, and

“The Tinker Space will be further transformed by the imaginations of the children and the teachers using the room,” Mrs. Brooks adds.

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CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS

CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS

CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS

Cracking the Unsolved Mysteries A footprint. A stray hair. And a missing microscope.

This scene isn’t ripped from “CSI” or “Law & Order”; however, in Sharon Kreamer’s classroom closet, Upper School students study the scene and use critical thinking skills to answer the age-old question, “Whodunit?”

“Students are often great at observing the scene, documenting the evidence and putting together a presentation on what they think happened and why,” says Sharon Kreamer, the Upper School science teacher who started the forensic science class last year.

Kreamer strives for the course to be filled with hands-on activities

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with real-world applications.

For example, students examine dog, cat and human hair under a microscope, analyze fingerprints and make casts of footprints. Many activities require students to draw on their knowledge from other subjects.

For example, examining blood splatters requires the students to calculate different angles and heights using geometry and trigonometry.

These activities are applied to crime scenes throughout the semester, ranging from a stolen purse in the library to buried

fake bones in the grass. For the final exam, students must examine a mock murder scene, applying their lessons and interviewing faculty suspects and witnesses.

“It’s meant to show them how unreliable eyewitness testimony can be,” adds Mrs. Kreamer with a smile.

Fast Facts about Fingerprints

To hone their research and writing skills, students must also examine and prepare reports on the O. J. Simpson case, the Aaron Hernandez trial, and other highprofile cases. Wilmington police detectives will also visit the class to share insights on wait times for lab tests, smelly cadavers, paperwork and other aspects of daily police work that aren’t always portrayed accurately on television shows.

Caroline Silverman ’16 says television shows, especially “Criminal Minds” on CBS, led to her interest in a forensic science career.

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ecause of sweat glands in B finger ridge pores, fingerprints are left on glasses, tables, paper, walls and other surfaces.

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ll of fingerprints’ ridges form patterns A called loops, whorls or arches:

While examining his fingerprint on an index card, Bobby Jeffers ’17 says he thought the topics and materials were compelling. “My favorite part is all of the hands-on activities,” he adds.

In the spring, Tatnall will also offer a second forensic science course, allowing students to continue their studies in this subject. One of the activities will involve using chemistry for toxicology screens.

“The kids are fascinated by the subject,” Mrs. Kreamer says, “and the field is always changing, so as an educator you never get bored.”

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L oops begin on one side of the finger, curve around or upward, and exit the other side.

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horls form a circular or spiral W pattern.

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rches slope upward and then down, A like very narrow mountains.

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I n 1901, the first murder was solved by using fingerprints to identify a suspect.

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oalas and chimpanzees also have K fingerprints similar to humans.

Already watched every episode of “CSI” a hundred times but still thirst for more investigations? Check out the resources below.

The World’s Most Expensive Stolen Paintings More than 47,000 artworks go missing each year, and they’re typically not recovered by authorities. The BBC documentary “The World’s Most Expensive Stolen Paintings” examines the mysteries surrounding such crimes: http://documentaryheaven.com/ worlds-most-expensive-stolen-paintings/.

Bones Don’t Lie

A Vision of Crimes in the Future

Written by Katy Meyers Emery, a PhD candidate at Michigan State University, the “Bones Don’t Lie” blog is a mixture of anthropology, archaeology and forensic osteology in detailing the cultural and historical information that can be learned from the dead: http://www.bonesdontlie.com/.

In his 2012 TED talk, “A Vision of Crimes in the Future,” global security advisor Marc Goodman details how technology’s rapid development could allow crime to take a turn for the worse: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-E97Kgi0sR4.

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Teacher Spotlight

An Experiment Taking Flight “Nerve-racking.” That’s how physics teacher Josh Gates describes the launch of a high-altitude balloon on a sunny July day in North Carolina.

Looking to collect data and capture a perfect picture of Earth’s curvature, the balloon traveled for more than three hours and reached an altitude of more than 100,000 feet before bursting and landing about 40 miles away.

“Receiving the first packet of data was a huge relief, and every time I didn’t receive one for a few minutes, that anxiety started all over again,” he says.

Gates’ passion for trying new things led to the high-altitude balloon project. “I continue to learn with each experiment I pursue,” he says. “Tatnall teachers dedicate time to expanding their knowledge and applying it to real-life explorations similar to learning a new programming language for my experiment.”

The balloon consisted of a GPS-tracking radio transmitter, a sensor suite with an accelerometer, a pressure sensor to calculate altitude, internal and external temperature sensors and a camera that took frequent still images and videos.

“As we began chasing the falling balloon, I was astounded by how the predicted travel correlated with the actual track it took. There were so many variables that could have tremendously affected its path both ascending and descending,” Gates says.

With data, a stellar image and an overall sense of pride, Gates looks forward to continuing his exploration with another balloon launch—this time with new modifications and updates. Gates is also mentoring 85th Anniversary Scholar Vincent Smeal ’16 in developing a self-made detector for a high-altitude balloon.

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching recently selected Josh Gates as a state finalist for Delaware. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government for teaching mathematics and science in grades K-12. Gates’ application featured videos of his classroom teaching, evidence of his students’ successes and a reflection on his eight years at The Tatnall School. The national finalists will be announced in 2016.

Rose roughly

20 miles into the air

( that’s about a third of the way to space!)

3:00 HRS The overall journey lasted three hours—an hour and a half before bursting and an hour and a half descending.

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The balloon initially measured 6 feet in diameter and burst at 30 feet in diameter.

A Family School Legacy

85 Years of Growing Hearts and Minds Our Founding Story Some of the world’s greatest organizations started in garages. Tatnall traces its beginnings to the first floor parlor of Mrs. Tatnall’s Rodney Street home in Wilmington.

The story begins with Mrs. Tatnall’s commitment to her students.

Nicknamed “Fanny” in her childhood, Frances Dorr Swift Tatnall moved to Wilmington with her five siblings and parents in the 1890s. She completed her education at The Misses Hebb’s School at Franklin Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, and later returned to the Wilmington school to teach Latin, French and English.

However, in 1930, the headmistress of the school decided to move to Virginia and announced that The Misses Hebb’s School would close after 50 years.

Mrs. Tatnall vowed to continue her students’ education. Her husband, Henry Lea Tatnall, supported her effort and drew plans for converting the first floor of their home into a school. After frantic renovations and preparations, Mrs. Tatnall’s School for Girls opened in September 1930 with 23 pupils.

A Growing School When the United States entered World War II, Tatnall students sold stamps and held annual card parties to benefit the war effort.

The same era also marked a time of growth for the school. In 1940, Mrs. Tatnall’s School for Girls became the nonprofit corporation The Tatnall School, Inc. with a new Board of Trustees headed by William “Chick” Laird. “Mr. Laird was very fond of Mrs. Tatnall and played an integral role in helping her build the school,” says Cam Yorkston ’67.

In 1945, total enrollment exceeded 100 students, leading The Tatnall School to expand to 2506 Delaware Avenue the following year and move the Preschool and primary grades into this building. As the school continued to expand, Tatnall students later moved to the Sedgely Building on the Barley Mill Road estate.

Cam remembers how Mrs. Tatnall would sit in a large upholstered chair in the Sedgely Family Room, and the entire school would gather to sing “Happy Birthday” and present a multi-tier cake from Three Little Bakers, a local business that later opened a well-known dinner theater. Now called Founder’s Day, Mrs. Tatnall’s birthday is still celebrated by students, their grandparents and special friends each October.

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Interested in learning more about The Tatnall School’s history? “ A Widening Horizon: Seven Decades of The Tatnall School” by Sara Tucker Garrison ’63 is available in Tatnall’s Ederic Library and the Hornet’s Nest.

In 1974, Showcase also became a credit-bearing course for Upper School students, allowing them to hold performance rehearsals during the day as well as nights and weekends. Through this course, more than 1,000 students have received intensive instruction on acting, technical design, construction, costumes, makeup and other aspects of theater.

Evolving from Daisies to Hornets In 1953, Tatnall’s board recognized a national trend toward co-education in day schools and allowed boys to continue their Tatnall studies through the sixth grade. Five years later, boys were also allowed to complete their high school education at Tatnall.

“I was the middle of three boys, so going to school with girls whom I met in kindergarten was like having sisters,” says Larry Lincoln ’64.

He also recalls how eight boys and two coaches would play touch football on a basketball court twice a week. “The coaches were half-brothers and played with unabashed sibling rivalry,” he says.

“My brother Steve and I were always on opposite sides just to maintain the intensity.”

As the boys grew older, these informal teams evolved into a varsity team, achieving its first victory in a 20-to-18 match against Wilmington Friends School in 1963.

In 1964, The Tatnall School’s first co-ed class marched into the Beekley Lobby to accept their diplomas. By this time, the Hornet had been adopted as the new school mascot, along with the colors black and gold.

Tatnall’s athletic program would continue to grow and add lacrosse, swimming, golf and other teams through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Thanks to this growth, Tatnall students can now participate in more than 20 different varsity sports.

Immersive Experiences In the 1970s, Tatnall expanded its course offerings to include subjects such as archeology and speleology, the scientific study of caves. The emphasis on hands-on activities led to many Tatnall traditions including Famous Persons Day, Latin Day and making bread and applesauce for the school’s Thanksgiving feast.

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“After 40 years of directing in three different theater facilities, I still get excited, and perplexed, and moved, and energized by what Showcase has come to mean to me… and others. The collective legacy of talent and fond memories remains in the fiber of the school and in our theater program,” says Dr. Bruce Chipman.

Our School Today With approximately 600 students and 130 faculty members on its 110-acre Barley Mill campus, The Tatnall School proudly continues its tradition of providing excellent academic, arts and athletic programs in a loving family atmosphere.

“Founding her school in the midst of the Great Depression, Mrs. Tatnall epitomized undaunted courage, commitment to others and hope for the future. My hunch is that she would applaud how we balance our traditions and new ideas,” says Head of School Charlie Tierney.

Additional gatherings for the school community, a revitalized advising program, the adoption of new technologies in all divisions and international experiences for students are examples of “new ideas” that Tierney believes would receive Mrs. Tatnall’s approval.

For the future, Tierney says The Tatnall School is looking to preserve its tight-knit community and continue to prepare students for the challenges they will encounter later in life.

“Similar to Mrs. Tatnall’s first 23 students in 1930, our students today value hard work, hands-on learning and time with lifelong friends,” he adds. “And, of course, a scoop of strawberry ice cream to celebrate Mrs. Tatnall’s birthday!”

Tatnall Timeline 1930 After teaching English, French and Latin for seven years, Mrs. Frances Dorr Tatnall opens the Mrs. Tatnall’s School for Girls in the renovated first floor of her home at 1500 North Rodney Street, Wilmington.

1940 – Mrs. Tatnall’s School for Girls becomes the nonprofit corporation The Tatnall School, Inc. with a new Board of Trustees. William Laird serves as the board’s first president.

1941

Tatnall students sell -45 stamps and hold annual card parties to benefit the War Loan Drive during World War II. Because of the scarcity of tea and sugar, ice cream becomes the featured food at these parties, a tradition that continues to this day.

1968 – Tatnall wins its first football championship in the Delaware Independent School Conference.

1972 – Introducing an innovative Nova curriculum, Tatnall -74 breaks the year into nine 22-day terms to expand its course offerings and allow students more time to develop skills or accelerate their studies through advanced study opportunities. Showcase, Famous Persons Day, Latin Day and Thanksgiving meal preparations are among the Tatnall traditions that grew from Nova’s emphasis on immersive, hands-on experiences.

1982 – The school opens the Laird Arts Center, which includes an auditorium, band and choral rooms, art studios and a practice room.

1986 – The growth of the athletics department continues with the introduction of lacrosse and golf teams. Swim teams are also formed in the early 1990s.

1996 – Tatnall opens the Welles Activity Center, which includes a gymnasium, music room, computer lab and lobby.

1945 – For the first time, total enrollment exceeds 100 students.

1946 – The Tatnall School expands to 2506 Delaware Avenue, which houses the Preschool and primary grades.

1952 – Tatnall students move to the Sedgely Building on the 15-acre Barley Mill Road estate. Tatnall’s Preschool and primary grades remain at 2506 Delaware Avenue until the 1960s.

1953 – Tatnall’s board recognizes a national trend toward coeducation in day schools and allows boys to continue their Tatnall studies through the sixth grade. The following year, half-tuition scholarships encourage boys to enroll in the third and fourth grades.

1958 – The board decides to allow boys to complete their high school education at The Tatnall School.

The Tatnall School’s first 1964 co-ed class marches into the Beekley Lobby to accept their diplomas.

Tatnall receives an unusual 1966 donation—an Atlantic Richfield Company gas station patterned after the Lysicrates Temple in Athens, Greece. The station is moved from downtown Wilmington to Tatnall’s campus.

2001 Thanks to the continued growth of the athletics department, Tatnall students can now participate in 24 different varsity sports.

2007 Tatnall opens the 23,000-square-foot Laird Performing Arts Center, which includes a 40-foot proscenium with a 38-foot-deep stage, scene shop, multipurpose room, and state-of-the-art electrical, lighting and sound systems.

2015 – With approximately 600 students and 130 faculty members on its 110-acre Barley Mill campus, The Tatnall School proudly continues its tradition of providing relevant and compelling academic, arts and athletic programs in a loving, family atmosphere.

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Student Spotlight

As Told by the 85th Anniversary Scholars The 85th Anniversary Scholars Program was established to promote independent scholarship and celebrate the creativity of Tatnall’s students. Six scholars were selected by a faculty committee based on the quality of their proposals, their opportunity for individual growth and the achievable scope of the project. The students will present their explorations during a celebratory presentation in April 2016.

Alex Richmond ’17 – A Creative Journey Through Music Composition and a Memoir “I am composing an original piece of music for Tatnall’s band over the course of two terms. After completing the piece, I will instruct the band on how to perform my work.”

CJ Derecskey ’17 – Advocating for Transgender Social Awareness through a Visual Arts Collection

Victoria Humphrey ’16 – Industrial Design: The Interface between Art and Technology

“My project contains one goal—dissolving stereotypes about transgender people by giving outsiders an inside glimpse into transgendered people’s lives and journeys.”

“I will produce industrial designs including two pieces of jewelry, a piece of lighting and a furniture piece. My inspiration for these pieces stems from the natural patterns present in plants, animals, fungi and other microscopic shapes.”

David Klemens ’16 – Statistical Methods in Baseball Defensive Shifts “My passion for statistics and baseball has led me to embark on my individual exploration of defensive shifts in Major League Baseball, specifically the Houston Astros.”

Vincent Smeal ’16 – Particle Physics and Relativity: Taking Flight with a HighAltitude Balloon “I am putting my fascination and knowledge of particle physics to the ultimate test—attaching a self-made detector to a highaltitude balloon, accurately counting the number of muons passing at different altitudes. The detector, composed of scintillators, photomultipliers and Arduinos, will measure the ionizing radiation, the muons.”

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William Copeland ’16 – Behind the Scenes of Film Production “There is more to writing films than bright lights and fancy costumes. During my journey, I plan to explore the creative process behind film production: technical designs, scriptwriting, lighting, set designs, costumes and plots.”

“I wanted to be better. I saw The Tatnall School as the way to enter the world I wanted to be a part of—the world of exciting, important ideas and intellectual challenges. I got that starting at Tatnall, and I have it still.”

Enhancing Her Grandmother’s Legacy “At age 15,” says Caroline Tatnall Ketcham ’58, “I wanted to be better, and I saw becoming a student at The Tatnall School as the way to enter the world I wanted to be a part of—the world of exciting, important ideas and intellectual challenges.”

“Wonderfully challenging” teachers like Mrs. Oviatt, the Latin teacher, held Caroline to a high standard. Mrs. Stephens, in literature, with her “marvelous sense of humor,” and her own rich appreciation for the written word, planted a seed that became a lifelong interest in things English; Mrs. Squire, who taught both British and modern European history, motivated Caroline to continue her studies in history and to become a teacher. For Caroline’s 75th birthday this past June, the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award traveled to Oxford, England, where she and her husband Rob spent three weeks exploring and enjoying the deeply rich historical atmosphere of the city. “I first learned about those ‘dreaming spires’ in tenth grade,” she said, “and I have always longed to spend time there.”

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Alumni Connection began participating in volunteer activities as well, such as making quilts for the annual alumni golf outing and acting as an agent for the class of 1958. She joined the Red Oak Legacy Society and plans to leave the school “as much as I can.”

More importantly, she and Rob found Tatnall very receptive to their idea of creating a flexible, permanent fund to support the values they have long believed essential to education and to life: Honor, Civility and Respect. The fund helps Tatnall promote these ideals by creating targeted projects and activities; for example, the fund was used last year for the eighth graders’ visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

Caroline Tatnall Ketcham and Charlie Tierney in front of the Sedgely Building

With an undergraduate degree from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and a master’s degree from Georgetown University, she began her career as an educator in Washington, D.C.: first at the Washington International School, known for its globally focused programs, and then as a teacher of both contemporary European history and geometry at The Field School, a small private school in downtown Washington. In addition to teaching, she was Dean of Students and Head of the Upper School at a school whose mission is remarkably similar to Tatnall’s. During her tenure, The Field School doubled in size and gained its first accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Now a member of The Tatnall School’s Board of Trustees, Caroline aims to preserve and enhance the legacy of her grandmother, the school’s founder, Frances Dorr Swift Tatnall. “My grandmother’s words and her life inspire me, and I am proud that the school is still hers in terms of its values—its ability to reach every student as an individual,” she says.

“Each of us—each student, alumnus, parent, teacher, and leader— shapes the school’s character, just as the school has shaped ours.

I enjoyed growing with Tatnall as a 15-year-old, and it’s a great pleasure to continue that process today,” she says.

“Caroline was an incredible leader,” says Dale Johnson, the current head of The Field School, who considers Caroline a mentor and friend. “She strengthened the school organizationally, while personally helping students and their parents navigate the most challenging years of adolescence.” Caroline was instrumental in building the school’s stellar reputation for its small class size, individualized approach and nurturing community.

Tough, but Fair “I was told that my students considered me tough but fair,” she says. “I got both of these qualities from Tatnall. My mentors there were demanding of excellence but generous in their devotion to all of us.”

In 1996, an opportunity to change careers presented itself and thus commenced a new and equally rewarding job at Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington. She held a variety of positions during the course of her second 15-year career there, but none so pleasurable as selecting books for people and guiding them toward reads that she sensed would fit their taste.

Back to Sedgley One Founder’s Day, about 10 years ago, Caroline decided to intensify her involvement with the school. She had donated to Tatnall over the years and attended occasional events, but she

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Caroline and her husband Rob

Back on the Field: Former Tatnall Student Returns as Field Hockey Coach Lecia McDermott ’85 remembers a highlight of her years at The Tatnall School: winning the state championship in field hockey.

Today, Lecia, an All-American champion, hopes Tatnall’s girls’ field hockey team can experience the same excitement and feeling of accomplishment that she did 30 years ago.

“As Tatnall’s field hockey coach, I emphasize effort and good sportsmanship, making sure all the students hear me praising those qualities,” Lecia says. “I think it sets the stage for them to find ways to praise each other even if they aren’t winning at the time.”

Upon graduating from Tatnall, Lecia was awarded a partial scholarship to play field hockey at the University of Delaware, where she also played lacrosse. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and worked in her family’s plumbing and heating supply business. Coaching, however, has always been her inspiration. “I started coaching my daughter’s lacrosse team. I have always enjoyed sports, so being able to continue being part of a team has been a wonderful part of my adult life,” she says.

When the opportunity arose for Lecia to come on as a field hockey coach at Tatnall, she jumped right in. “This is a great fit for my skill set, and I love working with kids and getting to use my athletic background. It was an honor to be selected for the position and to work with such great people,” she says.

Lecia can’t emphasize enough how hard all the coaches at Tatnall work to develop the students’ individual skills. “We want them to enjoy being part of a team and see progress in how they work together. I tell my players that whether you are a starting varsity player or on the sidelines, everyone plays an important role on the team as a whole. And I am grateful they chose to play field hockey,” she says.

Thanks to Tatnall, Lecia has found success in her life on and off the hockey field. “The teachers and coaches inspired us to be good people and gave us many opportunities to excel in our areas of strength. Tatnall’s can-do philosophy, paired with the support of my family and coach Anita Marcial, helped me feel comfortable from a young age in a very male-dominated industry. Tatnall gave me the confidence I needed to be my best,” she says.

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Alumni Connection

Nurturing a Dream and Starting an Online Tutoring Marketplace In the past, students looking for help with their homework would have to stay after school or attend a study group. However, thanks to new technology developed by Richard Werbe ’12, students now have a better alternative. Studypool, which was started in Richard’s dorm at Emory University in 2014, helps students find tutors on the web who can answer their homework questions quickly.

“At 14, I discovered my love for the Internet and an interest in developing innovative technologies that can help people as they expand their horizons,” says Richard. “At age 17, I sold my first company, Stockniche. I knew from back then that creating online businesses was what I wanted to do.”

The idea for Studypool came to Richard at The Tatnall School.

“My classmates would get stuck on questions in subjects such as algebra or physics, and I would get chased around by eager students looking for quick help and explanations to their questions,” he says. “I thought, why isn’t there a resource for all these students with this problem?”

Richard and Studypool cofounder Jiaming Zhong started the site from their dorm rooms and skipped classes to get it off the ground. Within a month of the site going live, Studypool already

had thousands of users, which prompted the founders to move to California to focus on growing the company. Today, Studypool has 22,000 tutors from around the world and has seen more than 150,000 questions posted on its site in addition to another 50,000 pieces of other study-related content. The company has received more than $1.2 million in funding from 500 Startups, a seed fund and startup accelerator program.

Richard, who attended Tatnall from first to twelfth grade, thanks the school for giving him the necessary tools to take on new challenges in his life. “I learned how to reach not only my academic goals, but also my personal ones. Importantly, I learned how to reach out to others for help, as well as help others,” he says.

Besides excelling in academics, Richard was also involved in numerous extracurricular programs at Tatnall, including performing with the jazz band and playing tennis on a state championship team. “My time at Tatnall was a time of personal discovery, and the school nurtured me well. It is a great environment for learning in every sense,” he adds.

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100% Success: Faculty and Staff Campaign Makes History What an impact! For what is believed to be the first time in Tatnall’s history, the Fund for Tatnall reached the 100% participation level for the 2014 Faculty and Staff Campaign. This means all Tatnall faculty and staff members contributed at some level to the annual giving campaign. A huge thank you goes out to Tatnall’s faculty and staff members who have demonstrated their commitment to our school and students and have supported the school’s mission beyond the classroom.

FACULTY AND STAFF CAMPAIGN

100% Participation

26th Annual Tatnall Golf Classic This past May, the 26th Annual Tatnall Golf Classic raised more than $48,000 to benefit Tatnall’s financial aid program. This year’s event marked our most successful golf outing to date!

Sponsored by The Tatnall School Alumni Association and hosted at Hartefeld National Golf Club, the event provided alumni and friends of the school with the opportunity to hit the links in support of Tatnall.

Amanda Ploener ’13 and Suzy Chase LeBaron ’64

Congratulations to each of our winners!

1st Team Low Gross (Men): Lee Champagne, Scott Champagne ’04, Tim Porter ’05 and Mark Chernekoff 1st Team Low Gross (Women): Cinda Cattermole, Julie Morgan, Deb Piper and Jackie Rosswurm

Brian Marvin ’90, Kiadii Harmon ’96, Ari Abel ’89 and Rick Deadwyler ’89

Mark Your Calendars: 27th Annual Golf Classic The 27th Annual Golf Classic will take place on Thursday, June 2, 2016. Sponsorship opportunities and open slots for individual players are available for the four-man, scrambleformat outing. Enjoy a day out on the links! Alumni, parents and friends welcome!

Devon Daniels, Lisa Sylvester, Mary Lu Pamm ’78 and Diane Ferry

For more information or to reserve your spot, call Director of Alumni Relations Anita Marcial at (302) 892-4337.

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Alumni Connection

Volunteer Profile: Celia Kaucic

Founder’s Society: Become a Member

Volunteers are a vital part of the Tatnall community. Through time and talent, our dedicated volunteer groups enrich our students’ experience and support the mission of The Tatnall School.

Celia Kaucic, for example, has contributed to countless volunteer projects since joining the Tatnall family four years ago. After beginning her parent volunteer experience as a Playbill costume mom, she has since worked with Home & School, The Black & Gold Club, The Fund for Tatnall, Latin Day and the annual Greens Sale. According to Celia, volunteering not only gives her an opportunity to meet parents, faculty and students, it also gives her an opportunity to connect with her children, David ’16 and Luke ’19.

“Everyone should have a go at volunteering, whether it be in the Preschool and Lower School classrooms or the Upper School concession stands,” Celia says. “While volunteering, you see how Tatnall functions and you get to see your children at work or play.”

Interested in helping out? Please contact the Advancement Office at (302) 892-4335 to learn more about Tatnall’s many volunteer opportunities.

When you become a member of the Founder’s Society, you join parents, alumni, past parents, faculty and staff, and friends who support our efforts to make a direct impact on our students and help champion our rich Tatnall tradition. Membership and participation in the society shows an advanced level of commitment to Tatnall.

Founder’s Society members have their names included in the Annual Giving Report and are invited to attend the Founder’s Society cocktail reception, hosted by the Head of School and the Chair of the Board of Trustees. To join the Founder’s Society, please contact the Advancement Office for details at (302) 892-4335 or submit your gift of $1,000 or more to be recognized as a member of Tatnall’s Founder’s Society.

Thank you to all of our current Founder‘s Society members for your generosity!

Alumni Receptions This past spring, Tatnall’s Alumni Office hosted regional reunions for alumni living in Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C. The receptions gave our out-of-town alums the opportunity to meet with Head of School Charlie Tierney, reconnect with old classmates and form friendships with other local Tatnall graduates.

Reid Schluter ’05, Kendall Trainer ’07, Lock Jacobs ’08 and Liza Fragomele ’08

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Alice Winkler ’04 and Emily Filippone ’04

Kerry McCue ’10 and Marlee Caine ’10

Kris Wolff ’88 and Teresca Haman James ’88

Rich Hall ’78, Amy Zintl ’79 and Paul Zintl ’68

Irene Laird Jennings ’93, Cal Wick, Ann Wick, Alletta Laird Tate ’88 and Peg Laird ’86

Homecoming Weekend 2015 The “hive was alive” during Homecoming Weekend 2015.

On Friday, October 23, Tatnall held its official 85th Anniversary Party. Guests enjoyed a night of fun, food, drinks, auctions and live music from Kristen and the Noise. On Homecoming Saturday, class reunions and the annual Alumni Party gave Tatnall grads an opportunity to reconnect and reminisce. Thank you to all who came out in celebration of this historic and remarkable year!

Henry Boswell, Sr., with his son, Henry Boswell, Jr. ’27

Founder’s Day, Grandparents and Special Friends Day Always one of the most anticipated and exciting days of the year, Founder’s Day was once again full of fantastic choral and instrumental performances as the entire school gathered in celebration of Mrs. Tatnall. Prior to the Founder’s Day celebration, more than 350 Tatnall grandparents filled the halls across campus during Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

Kay-Ann Boswell

Class of 2015 Senior Challenge

Bonnie and Charles Copeland

Thank you, Class of 2015, for reaching the 100% participation level. You made a difference during the Senior Challenge and left a lasting legacy with your class gift.

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Class Notes ’63

’69

Over the past two years Page Gentleman has been an avid gardener, and she’s been pleased with her results! She Page Gentleman ’63 also recently signed up to be a host through Airbnb, a website that helps people list, find and rent lodging. Page notes, “If any Tatnall people are coming to Cape Ann, look me up in Manchester-by-the-Sea. I’d love to have some visitors from home!”

Sandra Battaglia writes, “My son will graduate from Tatnall in June 2016.

He has been Sandra Battaglia ’69 loving life at Tatnall, and it has been great to reconnect with the Tatnall family, this time as a parent!”

Mary Louise “Wiesy” Lauffer ’66

’66 Mary Louise “Wiesy” Lauffer writes, “I am enjoying retirement after many years as an art educator in St. Thomas on the Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Felch, for leading me in that direction!” Since retiring, Mary Louise has been spending time tending her tropical gardens, boating, creating artwork, playing music on the steel pan, mandolin and fiddle, and volunteering as an art teacher. She also recently started a small sea glass jewelry business called Virgin Sea Glass. Mary Louise married Carl Butler in 1986.

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Thomas Stat writes, “Forget retiring!” Thomas was recently named chief operating officer of IA Collaborative, a leading innovation consultancy based in Chicago that does work for Nike, FedEx, United Airlines and Abbott. He is also actively involved in two new businesses he founded—Rivet Radio, an Internetbased news radio mobile application, and HERE Life, an off-campus student housing development in Champaign, Illinois, that has 550 residents and acts as a marketing and research platform for major brands.

Thomas’s eldest daughter, Taylor, is now married and working at Leo Burnett, a Chicago-based global advertising agency. His youngest daughter, Madison, is a junior in high school and an avid figure skater, and his wife is successfully continuing her medical and health writing business.

He adds, “I’m actively in touch with many of my Tatnall classmates!”

Rick Deadwyler ’89 and Ted Dwyer ’90

Alums Selected to Coach the Amateur Athletic Union’s All-Star Games This summer, Ted Dwyer ’90 and Rick Deadwyler ’89 were selected to coach the Amateur Athletic Union’s summer all-star basketball games. Dwyer, who coached for the Dream Chasers, and Deadwyler, who coached for the Role Models, worked to provide their team members with guidance and support throughout the games.

Aside from being part of the AAU league, both teams also serve a special purpose in the local community. The Dream Chasers are part of the Boys & Girls Club and are funded by the William T. and Mary A. McLaughlin Educational Fund, while the Role Models focus on supporting local youth by encouraging athletic and academic achievement as well as role model–like qualities.

Jim Graham ’77

’71

’77

Pam McCue enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, Louise, Katherine and Henry, at home in Philadelphia.

Photographer Jim Graham traveled to Greenland and Iceland this summer. It was his first trip to Greenland and his seventh to Iceland.

upcoming Broadway Charity Songs album, which also features a song by musician and singer-songwriter Sting. Last, but certainly not least, Timothy married Laura Brandel on Labor Day 2015.

’72

’82

’98

Daphne Stevens writes, “Being 72 with my passions intact, I am moving to Northampton, Massachusetts, a liberal city where I can work to help save our planet, access vegan food and encourage others to become vegan for the planet and their health.”

She adds, “The bike trails are awesome!”

Leslie McFadden writes, “I am entering my third year as the premier English language arts teacher at Back to Basics Learning Dynamics, both as a member of their private school faculty and as a writing, SAT prep, and study skills instructor. I lost my mother last December and am currently living with my 93-year-old father as his primary caregiver. We are hanging in there and hope that 2016 brings more good than negative items to our lives.”

Branden D. Brooks Esq. recently passed the Missouri Bar Exam and is currently working as a child advocacy attorney with Voices for Children in St. Louis.

’74 Patrick D. Singer writes, “I will celebrate turning 60 on November 27, and my health issues could fill a medical journal!” Patrick recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of his graduation from Wilmington University and will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his graduation from the Delaware Campus of Widener University in 2017. He adds, “In my 41 years away from Tatnall, I have gained two nieces and two nephews, as well as two great nieces and two great nephews. My eldest niece and nephew both graduated from Tatnall.”

Timothy Huang ’93

’93 This year, Timothy Huang’s show, “Costs of Living,” won the 2015 New American Musical Award and a slot in the National Alliance for Musical Theater’s festival in New York. His song “Home” will be featured in the

’04 For the past six months, Andrew Ferry has been touring the country as the assistant audio engineer of the Broadway show “Matilda The Musical,” currently on its first national tour.

’07 Emma Wisniewski-Barker received her PhD in physics from the University of Glasgow in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

’10 Philip E. Drexler writes, “In May 2015, I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a master’s degree in engineering.” In August, he joined ZS Associates, a sales, marketing consultancy and technology firm.

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Class Notes

Missy Meharg ’81 Reaches 500 Career Wins Mark Missy Meharg, head coach of the University of Maryland’s eighth-ranked field hockey team, picked up her 500th career win recently when the Maryland Terrapins defeated the Miami University RedHawks 6–2.

Meharg, who is currently in her 28th season as head coach, is the fourth Division I head coach to reach the mark. During her tenure, Meharg has led Maryland to 7 NCAA titles, 16 Final Fours and 20 conference championships and has been named NFHCA National Coach of the Year an unprecedented 9 times.

Missy Meharg ’81

Ashely Debnam Hodges married her University of Delaware sweetheart on June 6, 2015. She started medical school at the University of Vermont College of Medicine in August 2015.

Tim Rabolt is currently a graduate student at George Washington University and interned at the White House during the summer and fall of 2015.

Gregory Stellon graduated from Susquehanna University in 2014. He is now working at Animas Corporation, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

’12

’11 Chantille Kennedy graduated from Bryn Mawr College in May 2015.

Casey Miller writes, “This past spring, I graduated from the University of Delaware’s School of Nursing as a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the University of Delaware’s nursing honors society chapter. I recently passed my nursing boards and am now a registered nurse within Christiana Care’s Critical Care Nurse Residency program! I’m so excited!”

32 :: Tatnall Today :: Fall 2015

Jonathan Barley-Alexander spent January through May 2015 in Japan, where he interned at Kanagawa Sohgoh High School as an English instructor. After finishing his college career at Gettysburg College, he plans on moving to Japan and becoming “a catalyst between the American and Japanese cultures by teaching and beginning an English immersion school in a not-so-internationalized section of Japan.”

David Huffman started working full time at Ernst & Young, a multinational professional services firm, this fall.

Brittany Leoni, a student at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, is grateful for her recent internship at the cable channels CNN and HLN.

’13 Adam Reynolds entered his junior year at Lynchburg College, where he plays on the school’s soccer team.

Rebecca “Becca” Salter is a student at the University of Virginia and is currently competing on a NCAA cross country and track team.

’14 Madison Lodge, a student at Claremont McKenna College, completed an 8-week internship at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children during the summer of 2015. During her internship, Madison took part in a clinical observation in orthopedics and research in the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Lab. Will Margolin attends North Carolina State University. He studies industrial systems engineering, works as a resident assistant, plays club water polo and runs club cross country and track and is an honors program member. Will also recently passed the national EMT exam.

In Memoriam Jan Hasbrouck Schwab ’50, the valedictorian of the Class of 1950, passed away on June 28, 2015.

Carol “Beth” Fager Haubois ’87, a member of the Class of 1987, passed away on August 5, 2015.

Help Us Hit Our Stride!

Although we are off and running, there is still time to help us hit our stride!

Your participation is crucial to the success of The Fund for Tatnall. We are so proud of our faculty and staff who not only gave their time and talent, but also gave their resources to reach the 100% participation level during the 2014–2015 Faculty and Staff Campaign. As we celebrate the 85th anniversary of our school, we are counting on the support of the entire Tatnall community. Please join our faculty and staff members as we race toward our participation and fundraising goal for 2015– 2016. Demonstrate your commitment to the creativity, innovation and vision of our students and our school community by making your gift today!

The Advancement Office is accepting gifts through Thursday, December 31 to be counted for the 2015 tax year.

Ways to Give Check Contributions Checks received in envelopes postmarked prior to December 31 will be acknowledged and receipted for 2015.

Credit Card Contributions Gifts can be made online at www.supporttatnall.org or mailed and received before December 31 to be counted for 2015.

Give by Texting Giving has never been easier! Simply text @Tatnall to 52014 and follow the prompts. Once you register, your information will be saved so you can make subsequent gifts at any time with two quick texts.

Gifts of Appreciated Securities Stocks must be transferred before the end of the business day on December 31 to be counted for 2015.

Please call (302) 892-4333 for transfer instructions.

1501 Barley Mill Road Wilmington, Delaware 19807

NON-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 224 Wilmington DE

(302) 998-2292 | communications@tatnall.org

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Help Us to Grow Our Tatnall Community!

Thank you to all who have promoted The Tatnall School by referring a friend or family member. Your recommendations and support have allowed us to welcome a number of new Tatnall families into our community.

Should you know someone who would be interested in taking a tour, attending one of our open houses or just having an informal chat, please contact our Admission Office at (302) 892-4285 or admissions@tatnall.org.

For more information on admission deadlines and upcoming events, visit www.tatnall.org/admissions.