UPFRONT

How exciting it was to welcome our Bears back to campus in September, exactly six months since the School was ordered to close campus last spring for what we thought was a two-week pause of in-person learning. Whether our students returned in person or online, the spirit of our Baldwin sisterhood and the sense of community that comes with being together was incredible. I know that our faculty and staff felt the same way.

The 2020-2021 school year has been quite a journey. I am grateful for the unwavering efforts of our faculty and staff to help our students return to school and give them a sense of normalcy amidst a worldwide pandemic. These past months have been a testament to Baldwin’s resiliency, resourcefulness and commitment to our mission and each other. The re-opening of school was a Herculean effort on the part of many community members. I invite you to read all about it on pages 4-5 and, throughout this issue of Echoes, to see examples of how we creatively reimagined classes, co-curriculars, special events, traditions and more.

Our Cover Story provides an update on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work underway at Baldwin. This work reflects Baldwin’s commitment to building a space that allows our students to be empowered, validated, seen and heard and to celebrating our community, which is a wonderful mix of cultures, people and perspectives. We embrace each person as a unique individual, recognizing our differences and commonalities – and, as a school commmunity we stand against racism and acts of hate in any way, shape or form. This belief is central to our mission as educators committed to shaping young women prepared to make a lasting impact on the world. It reflects our core values of respect, honesty, compassion, responsibility and learning, our community's desire to continually do better and our belief that today's Baldwin girls are the future agents of change that will create a more just world for all.

As you will see in this article, Baldwin’s work to support these values and beliefs includes a range of programs for students, faculty, staff, parents and alums, plus new initiatives focused on systemic change under the leadership of Ms. Stephanie Allen, who joined our Leadership Team as Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. I am grateful to so many members of our community, including parents and alums from across the generations, who have partnered with us in these critical conversations.

This issue of Echoes marks one year since Baldwin was ordered to close campus due to the pandemic. It provides a glimpse into all the ways that we have worked to meet the challenges facing our school community – from different modes of teaching and learning and COVID-related health and safety protocols to important conversations about race, equity and inclusion on campus and outside of Baldwin’s gates. I hope you join me in the shared sense of purpose and pride for all our community has done and will continue to do in support of Baldwin’s students and mission.

Marisa Porges ’96, PhD Head of School

facebook.com/marisaporges Instagram: @MarisaPorges Twitter: @MarisaPorges

RING DAY REIMAGINED

Although the Class of 2022 couldn’t hold their Ring Day last spring, as soon as campus reopened in the fall, this now-junior class celebrated this beloved tradition! With masks and social distancing, the Class of Blue reimagined this longstanding tradition and made it their own! The students celebrated with votive candles, individual pizzas and remarks from class officers and Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges '96. The Class of Blue made wishes for Baldwin and each other during this meaningful event.

13- and 14-Year Clubs Meet with Kindergarten

Senior students in the 13- and 14-Year Clubs took it upon themselves to arrange a Zoom meeting with the Pre-K and Kindergarten students. The younger Bears were given a coloring page with a blank blazer on it. During the meeting, our seniors showed off their red blazers as the Pre-K and Kindergarten students colored their own blazers in their class color – Gold for Kindergarten and Purple for Pre-K.

2020 – 2021 Board of Trustees

Baldwin’s Board of Trustees has been hard at work all year with virtual meetings. Members of the Board are: Patricia Weiser (P ’22, ’24), Chair; Brian Halak (P ’22, ’24), Vice Chair; Rachel Stern ’83, Vice Chair; Martha Ortiz (P ’16), Treasurer; Sejita Page (P ’19, ’22), Secretary; Tom Bachrach (P ’29, ’31); Amanda Bernard (P ’26); Darren Bramen (P ’22, ’23); Susanna Choo (P ’26, ’28), President, Parents' Association; Jennifer Cross (P ’23); Pontea Dixon ’98; Karen Doak ’01, President, National Board of Advisors; Mary DockrayMiller ’83; Peter Greenhalgh, Faculty Trustee; Fred Kountz (P ’29), Faculty Trustee; Stephanie Romeika La Nasa ’96 ; Crystal Jones Lucky ’82; John Pearlstein (P’21, ’24); Dr. Marisa Porges ’96, Head of School; Gene Pratter (P ’94); Nathan Raab (P ’30); Phil Rosenzweig (P ’22); Amy Sobel ’86; Kevin Steele (P ’22); Ricki Weisberg’98, President, Alumnae Association Executive Board; Julie Wollman ’77; Senior Trustee Samuel R. Scott (P ’96, ’98, ’00); and Honorary Trustees Rachel Funk Jenkins ’44 and Blair D. Stambaugh.

NEW MEMBERS THIS YEAR:

Amanda Bernard (P ’26) studied political science at The London School of Economics and Social Science. She previously worked for Newsweek International and BBC News. Occasionally, Amanda will work as a consultant, primarily on briefings and speech writing.

Darren Bramen (P ’22, ’24) is an investment officer at Veritable, LP with a strong background in finance and taxation. He graduated with an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and holds a BA in Business Economics from the University of California.

Susanna Choo (P ’26, ’28) is the 2020-2021 Baldwin School Parent Association President. Her professional life has focused on underserved communities while actively advocating for equity and excellence in those communities. She holds a BA from Boston College, MA from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in Quantitative Methods and Education Policy. Pontea Fazeli Dixon ’98 is a director on the Investment Grade (IG) Credit Sales desk at Wells Fargo Securities. She actively participates in recruiting and mentoring efforts for Wells Fargo and was appointed as co-head of WomenGoFar, the firm’s Women’s Network. Pontea earned a BA in Economics from Cornell University’s College of Arts and Science in 2002, where she was a member of the Women’s Lacrosse Team.

Fred Kountz (P ’29) is a faculty trustee and has worked at Baldwin for nine years. He is currently the Upper School Dean of Students and a 10th grade history teacher. Fred served with distinction in the United States Army (Reserve Component) as a Cavalry Platoon Leader and Executive Officer. He holds a BA and MA in History from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. on the court, Gene was a partner in and General Counsel of the law firm of Duane Morris LLP. A 1975 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a graduate of Stanford University, she is a member of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section and the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Committees on Professional Responsibility and Professional Guidance.

Nathan K. Raab (P ’30) is the president of The Raab Collection, LLC and a consultant on historical manuscripts for major private and public sector organizations. He is also the author of the nonfiction narrative, The Hunt for History (Scribner, 2020). He has handled the collections of several American historical families, including Thomas Jefferson, Dwight Eisenhower, Martin Luther King, Jr., Gerald Ford and F. Scott Fitzgerald. He holds a BA in French and International Relations from The University of Pennsylvania, having previously attended the Haverford School ('96).

Class of 2021 Legacy Students Receive Pins

Each year at Baldwin, it is a wonderful tradition for families to celebrate their Baldwin legacy. Thirteen members of the Class of 2021 honored this special bond with family members who also attended Baldwin. Although they weren’t able to gather together this year, Baldwin mailed special legacy pins to each senior. The senior legacy students and family members are (pictured left to right and top to bottom): Rani Bleznak (sister Simi Bleznak ’19); Christina Cappola (sisters Katherine Cappola ’19 and Alexandra Cappola ’24); Abigail Dubinski (sister Hannah Dubinski ’18); Elina Emami (sister Armina Emami ’20, cousins Laila Ahmadinejad ’97, Tara Ahmadinejad ’03 and Tina Ahmadinejad’02); Isabelle Hagino (sister Melia Hagino ’18); Kristen June (sister Sarah June ’10); Sarah Kait (sister Julia Kait ’19); Isabelle Kauffman (mother Stacy Katchman ’83); Theresa Kay (mother Alyssa Kay ’87, sister Christa Kay ’23 and aunt Christa Fabiani ’79); Taylor Levinson (cousins Kathleen McMahon ’22 and Tara McMahon ’18); Tessa Pearlstein (sister Joelle Pearlstein ’24 and cousin Lily Simon ’07); Lexington Smith (sister Haley Smith ’18); and Skylar Zachian (sister Rachel Zachian ’15).

Michael Buglia participates in the "Do It Yourself" pizza party with daughters Olivia ’33 and Ella ’31.

BSPA: TOGETHER IN HEART, IN-PERSON OR APART

Throughout the year, the Baldwin School Parents’ Association (BSPA) has been reimagining ways to thank teachers and staff, to fundraise and to sync-up with our Baldwin community during these virtual-laden times. Their mantra for the year has been "Together In Heart, In-person or Apart." In this spirit, they planned numerous all-school events including a Halloween pumpkin painting and sale, a Fall Survival Basket raffle and an all-division online Scholastic Book Fair complete with a virtual fireside reading with Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges ’96. The BSPA also sponsored a fun virtual “Do It Yourself” pizza party for Lower School fathers and daughters. The group has also reimagined their largest parent-driven fundraiser, the Community Auction and Dinner. This year, parents can participate in the MasterSeries@ ALUMNAE: UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TheBaldwinSchool - a virtual, four-event series Have you moved recently? Have a new email or phone number? Visit Baldwin’s website offering attendees a rare and up-close entertaining at www.baldwinschool.org/alumnae/resources to update your contact information. experience with subject matter experts.