UPFRONT

While the 2020-21 school year was like no other, I’m proud to say that Baldwin led the way. Through a year of challenges, our community came together to support our students, faculty, staff and families — ensuring that we provided our Bears the best possible education while nurturing their personal passions and cultivating their sense of sisterhood, even amidst a worldwide pandemic.

From the start of the COVID-19 crisis, Baldwin committed to safeguarding the health of the community, first and foremost, and to the delivery of the Baldwin program in the most complete way possible. To fulfill these aims and support our community throughout, we applied an “only at Baldwin” level of creativity, flexibility and highly collaborative problem solving to everything that we did. Learn more about how the pandemic shaped Baldwin's present and future on pages 14-15.

While we could not come together on campus for our Classes of Red reunion, we were excited to gather alumnae from across the generations for a number of Back-to-Baldwin virtual events this spring. Highlights included a Mindfulness Lunch and Learn with Pax Tandon ’96, the chance to join fellow alums for a night of fun and trivia, and a Paint and Sip class with Lower School Art Teacher, Andre Teixeira. In addition, there was a moving ceremony to honor our 2021 Alumnae Award winners Farah Jasmine Griffin ’81, Binney Connell Wietlisbach ’81, and Anjelika Paranjpe Temple ’01. It was wonderful to have so many of alumnae join us for these special moments and for reunion class gatherings, too. It was my 25th year reunion as well, and the Class of 1996 had a fantastic time catching up on Zoom! Read more about the reunion events and amazing 2021 Alumnae Award winners on pages 22-25.

As we approached the spring, I was thrilled that we could celebrate Baldwin’s Class of 2021 with a poignant in-person ceremony held under a tent on campus. This Class of Red, finishing their high school careers in the midst of a global pandemic, proved they are a lively and accomplished group. In addition to their daily moments of pride in and out of class, these 63 amazing young women earned 248 acceptances from 149 colleges and universities throughout the country, and were collectively offered more than $1.8 million in merit-based scholarships. What’s more, they brought a unique blend of fun and kindness to our Schoolhouse. Although Commencement marks the start of a new chapter for our Seniors, we know these resilient Baldwin Bears are prepared to make significant and lasting contributions wherever they head next. As Ava Olson ’21 shared during her Commencement speech, “If there’s anything our [Baldwin] years have taught us, it’s that failures are just successes waiting to happen.”

With the start of the 2021-22 school year upon us, I am hopeful that the fall will bring a more normal Baldwin experience for all of our Bears. It will still require resilience and flexibility from every member of our Baldwin community, and I appreciate your continued commitment to Baldwin’s mission and our students throughout. Your support ensures that we can provide our Bears the best education and most Baldwin experience possible.

Marisa Porges ’96, PhD Head of School

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

ALEX WAKE’05 RUN ANDWALK GOES VIRTUAL

At a time when we needed it most, the Baldwin community went outside and recharged with the Alex Wake ’05 Run and Walk. This year’s event was completed anywhere and anytime participants chose between April 24 through May 1. Students, parents, alumnae, faculty and staff got outside during Spirit Week and enjoyed the beautiful weather while celebrating Alex’s life. Proceeds support the scholarship fund created in Alex’s name. All participants received a new finisher medal and were entered for a chance to win some great gift cards.

MasterSeries@TheBaldwinSchool

Each year, the Baldwin community comes together to support our largest parent-driven fundraiser, the Community Auction and Dinner. This festive and highly anticipated event is crucial to the School’s fundraising efforts. This year, the community came together with a virtual four-event series to raise much needed funds and connect with one another. Attendees enjoyed Cocktails & Conversations with bestselling author Jennifer Weiner (P ’21); a History Show & Tell hosted by Karen Pearlman Raab and Nathan Raab (P ’30), principals at The Raab Collection and preeminent American dealers in rare documents and artifacts; a Wine Tasting hosted by Brian Freedman (P ’29), a wine, spirits, travel and food writer, restaurant and beverage consultant and wine educator; and In the Kitchen, where they joined Chef Tyler Akin of Le Cavalier at the Green Room in Hotel DuPont for a virtual cooking demonstration. LEFT: Lauren and Andrew Yorks (P ‘25, ‘26) enjoyed the History Show & Tell; RIGHT: Author Jennifer Weiner (P ‘21) discussed her book Big Summer during Cocktails & Conversations.

Alumnae Induction Luncheon

On June 9, 63 members of the Class of 2021 were welcomed into the alumnae community with a special luncheon on the back porch of the Residence. The newest members of the Class of Red each received a special gift from the Class of 1971, a copy of the book The Hill We Climb by poet Amanda Gorman. The idea of celebrating their own enduring class bond and sharing it with the most recent graduating class was formed during a Class of 1971 Zoom gathering this spring. The idea was put into action as members personalized each book and created bookplates with a warm congratulatory message. Ricki Weisberg ’98, President of the Alumnae Association Executive Board, offered a few remarks, and the event concluded with the annual bell ringing.

A senior displays the inscribed bookplate. Rhea Jain ’21, Olivia Stratton ’21 and Elina Emami ’21 enjoyed their lunch and their new copy of The Hill We Climb. Skyler Knox ’21 rings the bell.

RING DAY

This spring Baldwin celebrated Ring Dinner and Ring Day with the Class of 2023. With a socially distanced ceremony held outside on Middle Field, the sophomores received their rings. They also decorated the Schoolhouse in a “Gold Mine” theme.

MARCHING-IN CELEBRATION

The Class of 2022, Class of Blue, received their blazers and showed them off during their Marching-In Ceremony, which also included members of the Class of 2021. During the ceremony, they debuted their senior song and received advice and pins from their senior sisters.

Middle School Service Day

In May, the Middle School assisted the local community with acts of service. Coordinator of Civic Engagement Ida Malloy created several off-site and on-campus activities for the students, who participated in writing letters to senior citizens, decorating onesies for infants, making dog treats for animal shelters, creating murals and inspirational art, sewing face masks and beautifying Bryn Mawr and the Harriton House. The students and the community partnerships benefited from this experience.

New Alumnae Volunteer Leadership

On July 1, the Alumnae Association Executive Board (AAEB) and National Board of Advisors (NBA) welcomed new leadership. Alicia Roebuck ’05, AAEB President, and Laura Small ’04, NBA Chair, will continue to strengthen the alumnae network and support the priorities of the School. The AAEB and NBA plan networking Alicia Roebuck ’05 Laura Small ’04 and regional events, help connect alumnae with current students and provide opportunities for alumnae to connect with each other and the School. If you would like more information on how to get involved or ideas for programming, please contact the Alumnae Office at alumnae@baldwinschool.org.

CLASS OF 2024 CELEBRATES BANNER DAY

Baldwin officially welcomed the 9th Grade, the Class of 2024, Class of Purple, into the Upper School. Although their event was a bit delayed this year, the students made up for it with their space-themed banner that will be on display for their remaining time in the Upper School. In lieu of presenting the banner to Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges '96 in the Assembly Room, Grade 9 walked their banner down the driveway from the Residence to the North Door. Upper School students, faculty and staff lined both sides of the driveway and cheered the Class of 2024 as they went by.

UPPER SCHOOL CELEBRATES BUILDING BRIDGES

This spring, Upper School students celebrated Building Bridges Day, which is a student-led event that includes workshops, speakers and activities that address issues of diversity and identity. Led by Hana Ahanger ’21 and Sophia Tavangar ’21, the theme of the day was “My Activism.”

Hana Ahanger ’21 Sophia Tavangar ’21 The opening speaker, A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, founder of SHE Wins and community activist, set the stage with her dynamic presentation. She shared that activism is the “inability to leave something alone,” and she encouraged each student to find her passion and act.

A’Dorian Murray-Thomas

Students spent the rest of the day in meaningful, cross-grade discussions, workshops and other activities on diversity and equity.