7 minute read
UPFRONT
For more than a century, The Baldwin School has provided girls with an exceptional educational experience that enlightens, challenges and prepares our graduates to lead successful and impactful lives. As a Baldwin alumna, I know first-hand the difference this School can make in a young woman’s life. And thanks to the support of our faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, parents, alums and friends of the School, we will continue to be successful long into the future.
In this issue of Echoes, on pages 6 - 7, you will see how Baldwin is always adapting its programs and spaces to what our girls need most. In September, we were excited to unveil major renovations to our iconic Residence building, which reimagined its second floor as a permanent home for our Middle Schoolers. The results bring a smile to my face each day, as I walk through our Residence halls and see classrooms filled with laughter and learning. With increased demand for our Pre-K and Kindergarten program, we also updated Residence spaces for our youngest Bears. Baldwin’s Early Childhood Center (ECC) now spans two floors and includes larger classrooms, dedicated spaces for our ECC specials and additional rooms for after-school programs.
Last fall, we announced the public phase of The Future Is Baldwin comprehensive campaign, which calls for $25 million in strategic investments to ensure our School realizes a future that matches our Baldwin pride. This issue’s Cover Story, on pages 16 - 21, takes a look at the campaign and its strategic priorities. You will learn more about how the campaign advances our groundbreaking programs and supports new curricula, including authentic, interdisciplinary learning experiences we deliver like no one else, and how it ensures spaces inside and outside the classroom keep pace with our spirit of innovation.
It also shares details about our goal of growing Baldwin’s endowment to help our School be less reliant on tuition for general operating expenses and further secure our financial future. In this way, endowments are a symbol of trust in a School’s mission and people, and reflect a commitment to our School, to each other and to future generations of Baldwin girls. I have been deeply moved by how dedicated and generous our community has been in supporting these campaign goals. With your help, I know that we will meet – and hopefully exceed! – our $25 million fundraising goal.
Now, more than ever, Baldwin’s all-girls education provides our students invaluable opportunities at a crucial time in their development as we help them become confident, successful and resilient young women. Thank you for believing in Baldwin and for your unwavering support.
Marisa Porges ’96, PhD Head of School
facebook.com/marisaporges Instagram: @MarisaPorges Twitter: @MarisaPorges
2021 – 2022 Board of Trustees
Alumnae Fall Virtual Events
BALDWIN’S 2021 – 2022 BOARD OF TRUSTEES GATHERED IN OCTOBER FOR THEIR FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR. Members of the Board are: (Row 1, front) Kim Heuer (P ’27)*; Julia Pudlin ’02*; Whitney Bachrach (P ’29, ’31) President, Parents' Association*, Rachel Stern ’83, Vice Chair; Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges ’96; Amy Sobel ’86; Jennifer Cross (P ’23); Sejita Page (P ’19, ’22), Secretary; Row 2: Gene Pratter (P ’94); Carolyn Jones ’73 (P ’14)*; Amanda Bernard (P ’26); Brian Halak (P ’22, ’24), Vice Chair; Pat Weiser (P ’22, ’24), Chair; Laura Small ’04, President, National Board of Advisors*; Scott Deitz (P ’17)*; Row 3: Phil Rosenzweig (P ’22); Marje Armstrong (P ’31)*; Alicia Roebuck ’05, President, Alumnae Association Executive Board*; Blair D. Stambaugh, Honorary Trustee; Kevin Steele (P ’22); Raphaelina Loke (P ’06, ’08, ’10), Faculty Trustee*; Row 4: Darren Bramen (P ’22, ’24); John Pearlstein (P ’21, ’24); Martha Ortiz (P ’16), Treasurer; and Bridget Doherty, Faculty Trustee*. Not pictured: Tom Bachrach (P ’29, ’31); Pontea Fazeli Dixon ’98; Thomas Heverin (P ’26)*; Stephanie Romeika La Nasa ’96; Senior Trustee Samuel R. Scott (P ’96, ’98, ’00); and Honorary Trustees Rachel Funk Jenkins ’44. *New board member
ALL-SCHOOL THANKSGIVING ASSEMBLY HELD OUTSIDE
Nearly 40 alumnae returned for this year’s All-School Thanksgiving Assembly, which was held outside on Lower Field. Despite the cold weather, the entire community enjoyed all the special moments including the beloved Turkey Song performances with our 13- and 14-Year Club seniors, our Pre-K and Kindergarten students and our alumnae. The assembly video can be found on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/BaldwinSchool, and photos can be seen at www.baldwinschool.smugmug.com.
Baldwin's youngest Bears (top) and Seniors Katie McMahon, Kaya Weiser, Devon Shatzman, Kyndall Brown and Zoe Lebowitz (bottom) sing the traditional Turkey Song. TOP: Melissa Broder ’97, BOTTOM: Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin ’81
The Office of Alumnae Engagement hosted a number of virtual events last fall. In October, Melissa Broder ’97 discussed her most recent novel, Milk Fed, which is a bittersweet and erotic account of a woman's intertwining relationship to food, her mother and her sexuality. In November, Dr. Crystal Jones Lucky ’82 moderated a conversation with Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin ’81 about her most recent book, Read Until You Understand: The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature. Dr. Griffin has taken to heart the phrase "read until you understand," a line her father, who died when she was nine, wrote in a note to her. She has made it central to this book about love of the majestic power of words and love of the magnificence of Black life. In December, the alumnae office hosted a Virtual Sparkling Wine and Cheese Pairing. Alumnae sipped along with a wine connoisseur from "What Am I Drinking?!" Wine School in Bryn Mawr, who guided attendees as they tasted and compared wine and cheeses.
Community Members Explore DEI
Parents, students, faculty and staff have been immersed in a number of diversity, equity and inclusion events throughout the school year. In October, three Baldwin students — Maya Clever ’22, Eri Maeda ’23 and Riya Rao ’25 — had the opportunity to attend the 10th Mid-Atlantic Region Diversity virtual conference, which involved thoughtful discussions and exercises working around DEI. Also in October, Middle School Director Dr. Shauna Carter and Grade 4 Teacher Jaimee Fitzpatrick (P ’32) attended the Inter-Ac and Independent Black Alumni Association’s Black Independent School Educators Forum at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. There they met up with Ellie Wright ’09, Middle School Director Dr. Shauna Carter, Grade 4 Teacher Jaimee Fitzpatrick (P ’32) and alumnae Ellie Wright ’09 and Brooke Hutchins ’09. In Brooke Hutchins ’09 enjoyed catching up at the IISBAA’s Black Independent School Educators Forum. November, the Parents of Black Students Association kicked off a monthly book club that encouraged the Baldwin parent community to "Continue the Conversation" to combat racism and encourage DEI and belonging by reading Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum. These discussions are a safe space for parents within the Baldwin community to learn, engage in conversations about how race impacts us all in the United States and gain a better understanding of the variety of racial and ethnic experiences and perspectives represented in the larger Baldwin community. Also in November, six students — Maya Clever ’22, Camille Murray ’22, Milan Thornton ’22, Brianna Wright ’22, Nateerah Ransome ’23 and Aleida Skogland ’23 — attended the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) 2021 Online Student Diversity Leadership Conference, which is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of Upper School student leaders from across the U.S. and abroad. More than 10 faculty and staff members attended the 2021 NAIS Online People of Color Conference in November, which is the flagship of the NAIS commitment to equity and Eri Maeda ’23, Riya Rao ’25 and Maya Clever ’22 attended the Mid-Atlantic Region justice in teaching, learning and organizational development. Diversity conference.
Camille Murray ’22, Kaitlyn O'Malley ’22, Megan Magee ’22, Annelise McGowan ’22, W&L students Mackenzie Walter ’18, Rebecca Hagigh and Elizabeth Grist, Anna Raffaeli ’22 and Izzy Antanavicius ’22 pose for a photo after the retreat.
To kick off the Upper School Leadership Retreat this year, students had special training about Academic Honesty, which is this year's main theme chosen by the Senate. They launched the theme with meaningful training from the Cullum S. Owings Memorial Fellowship at Washington and Lee (W&L) University. Owings Fellows travel to high schools around the country to educate students on the value of academic integrity and the merits of honor codes. Mackenzie Walters '18 returned to Baldwin as an Owings Fellow, noting that her strong sense of personal integrity and her commitment to the Honor System at W&L was born from her experiences at Baldwin.
ALUMNAE: UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION
Have you moved recently? Have a new email or phone number? Visit Baldwin’s website at www.baldwinschool.org/alumnae/resources to update your contact information.
