Echoes
The Magazine for Alumnae, Students, Families and Friends of The Baldwin School
WINTER 2017
The Baldwin School Installs 8th Head of School, MARISA PORGES, Ph.D.
CONTENTS | WINTER 2017 FEATURES
14 16 INSTALLATION OF MARISA PORGES, Ph.D. On September 9, 2016, Baldwin’s 8th Head of School, Dr. Marisa Porges, was entrusted to lead Baldwin into the future, instilling in our graduates the confidence, tenacity and independent thinking that brings lasting personal and professional fulfillment.
DEPARTMENTS 1 UPFRONT
4 BOOKSHELF
5 LEGACY PROFILE
6 ACADEMICS
8 ARTS
Design: Veronica Utz
We welcome letters regarding the contents of the magazine and/ or issues pertaining to the School. Letters must be signed. The editor retains the right to edit at her discretion.
12 HOMECOMING
13 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
18 WHY I GIVE
19 FACULTY FOOTNOTES 20 CLASS NOTES
Assistant Editor: Nova Morgan
All photographs are identified left to right unless otherwise noted.
facebook.com/baldwinschool facebook.com/baldwinalumnae facebook.com/baldwinathletics
Editor: Lisa A. Algeo
Photo Credits: Katie Brogan Ozeck, Matthew Wright with Fig Tree Photography, Motto Films, Jay Gorodetzer, Ashley Grinder Photography, Mark Tassoni, University of Utah, The Irish Times, Andy Boyle
10 ATHLETICS
ALUMNAE MEMORIES & MUSINGS As she began her tenure as Baldwin’s 8th Head of School, Dr. Marisa Porges reached out to alumnae and asked them to share their favorite Baldwin memory. Here, we compile just a few memories and musings.
Please send correspondence to: Lisa A. Algeo, Editor, Echoes The Baldwin School 701 Montgomery Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 lalgeo@baldwinschool.org For general alumnae requests or information, please contact the Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement: Stacy Gallagher, Chief Advancement Officer sgallagher@baldwinschool.org or 610-525-2700, ext. 286
@baldwinschool @baldwinathletic
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youtube.com/baldwinschool
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Alumnae Group ow.ly/cdGas
The 701 Blog
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UPFRONT I
t has been an incredible honor assuming leadership of an institution that gave me so much over the years and had such a lasting influence on my life. These first six months have been both comforting and inspiring. The Baldwin traditions that I hold dear are thriving, even as its innovative programming still leads the way in girls’ education.
My installation ceremony on September 9 was nothing short of amazing (see pages 14-15). I was moved by the five glass keys presented to me, representing the five pillars that make up the Baldwin community: alumnae, parents, students, trustees and faculty and staff. It’s because of these groups working together that Baldwin can offer the best for our girls – preparing them to be confident, accomplished women with vision, global understanding and the determination to change the world. We were fortunate that day to have the keynote address delivered by Adrienne Harris, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. Ms. Harris shared with our girls and wider community a fantastic message about the importance of strong and self-assured young women who stand firm in the face of adversity and opposition. It was wonderful to see our students so energized by her remarks. If you haven’t had a chance to view the videos and photos from that day, please find time to visit baldwinschool.org/installation. In addition to getting to know the students and their parents over the last several months, I’ve also had the chance to connect (and reconnect) with many of our alumnae. This summer, I asked them all to share their favorite memories of Baldwin. The response was tremendous, and some of these uplifting stories can be found on pages 16-17. I also had the opportunity to visit alumnae in Washington, D.C., Boston, New York City and London — my thanks to everyone who joined us. I look forward to seeing even more fellow alumnae as I travel to Florida and the West Coast this spring! I hope you enjoy this latest edition of Echoes and, like me, find inspiration in today’s Baldwin girls. They are doing so many incredible things in the classroom, on our athletic fields, on our stage and beyond — and will no doubt make a lasting impact wherever they go from here. Marisa Porges, Ph.D. Head of School mporges@baldwinschool.org facebook.com/marisaporges Twitter: @MarisaPorges
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UPFRONT
“Women on the Rise” Speaker Series AN EVENING WITH MARISA PORGES, Ph.D.
Baldwin proudly kicked off its “Women on the Rise” speaker series in December, giving access to women harnessing their passions and forging new paths. Supported in part by a fund established by Baldwin alumna
Dr. Porges has been traveling to various cities visiting our alumnae to introduce herself and share current happenings from Baldwin. To date, she has visited with alumnae in Washington, D.C., Boston, New York City and London. Spring 2017 cities and dates are being finalized and will be shared soon.
Katherine Leone ’15, Elizabeth Mantlemacher ’15, Zoe Cantor ’14 and Gina Sullivan ’94 at the Washington, D.C., event.
Ruth Hochberger ’68, the series began with Monica Yunus, an American operatic soprano and co-founding director of the New York-based Sing for Hope, which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to make the arts available to all. On March 15, we invite
On April 19, we invite
you to hear JiaJia Fei,
you to hear Sarah Robb
Director of Digital at
O’Hagan, Founder of
the Jewish Museum,
ExtremeYOU. Mrs. O’Hagan
a digital strategist
is described by the
sought after for her
media as everything from
experience working
“Superwoman undercover”
at the intersection
to the “Queen of the Jocks” to the ultimate
of integrated
example of where fierce businesswoman,
marketing, branding,
mother and fitness fanatic combine. Formerly
social media, web,
the President of Equinox and prior to that,
e-mail, mobile and
Global President for Gatorade, Mrs. O’Hagan
multimedia content strategy for modern
founded a movement she currently leads called
and contemporary art. Formerly with the
“Extreme Living” - helping individuals, teams and
Guggenheim Museum, Ms. Fei is a graduate
businesses unlock their potential by discovering
of Bryn Mawr College.
their own uniquely exploitable traits.
NBA Fall Leadership Meeting
This fall, alumnae leaders on Baldwin’s National Board of Advisors (NBA) traveled from all over the country to work on initiatives that
Lauren Sheerr Beshears ‘00, Cara Howson Pilsbury ’53, Dr. Marisa Porges and Martha Watson Shaw ’63 gather in Boston.
include ways to continue to engage alumnae with Baldwin and each other. In addition to reconnecting with the school, the NBA enjoyed lunch with Upper School leaders, a Lamplighter Tour of School, classroom visits, the Homecoming Pep Rally and a presentation given by this year’s Baldwin Scholars. The second day was dedicated to committee work, with the Student Engagement, Alumnae
Members of the Class of 1993 with Dr. Marisa Porges and the host of the NYC event, Ruth Hochberger ’68.
Engagement and Financial Engagement committees working on their current objectives and setting new goals for the year.
CELEBRATION OF PHILANTHROPY
On October 26, the Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement hosted its second annual Celebration of Philanthropy, an event to express appreciation to our generous benefactors and showcase the impact of philanthropy at The Baldwin School. This event recognized community members who are either part of the Elizabeth Forrest Johnson Society, have made cumulative gifts of $1,888 or more from July 2015 to June 2016 or have given to the School for 20 or more consecutive years. 2
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Elizabeth Becker, Director of the Lower School, Mary Halak (P ’22, ’24), Mary and Terry Steelman (P ’16, ’18) and Patricia Weiser (P ’22, ’24) enjoy the festivities at Baldwin’s annual Celebration of Philanthropy.
UPFRONT
2016-2017 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Baldwin’s 2016-2017 Board of Trustees members are: Row 1 (front): Martha Ortiz (Co-Vice Chair and Treasurer), Amy Sobel ’86 (Secretary), Elissa Getto ‘65, Marisa Porges, Ph.D. (Head of School), Mary Osirim, Rachel Gerstenhaber Stern ‘83, Sejita Page; Row 2: Patti Dietrich, Patricia Weiser, Mary Dockray Miller ‘83, Jennifer Cross (President, BSPA), Christie Reed (Faculty Trustee), Alexis Egan McCarthy ‘81; Row 3: Brian Halak, Stephanie Cohn Schaeffer ‘85, Lisa Ameisen ‘76 (Executive Board President, Alumnae Association), Carolyn Simpson Scott ‘74, Raphaelina Loke (Faculty Trustee); Row 4: Terry D. Steelman (Chair), Peter Leone (Co-Vice Chair), Stephanie Romeika La Nasa ‘96 and A. Steffen Wright Crowther ’68 (Senior Trustee). Not pictured: Adam Grant, Tracey Holgren Ivey, Christopher Marr, Megan Nicoletti, V. Paige Pratter ‘94, Stephen Raynes, Phil Rosenzweig, Sara Scott ‘96 (President, National Board of Advisors), Warren Thaler, Rachel Funk Jenkins ’44 (Honorary Trustee), Blair D. Stambaugh (Honorary Trustee), John M. Dewey (Senior Trustee) and Samuel R. Scott (Senior Trustee).
NEW BOARD MEMBERS THIS YEAR Jennifer Cross (President, Baldwin School Parents’ Association [BSPA]) has held numerous positions within the Baldwin Community, including Treasurer of the BSPA and the Book Fair event chair. Jennifer is the Director of Finance and Co-Owner of Trystar, a power generation manufacturing and distribution company. Jennifer received her BA from St. Lawrence University, with double majors in Psychology and English Literature. She also holds an MBA from Villanova University. Jennifer is a member and ambassador for the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors and spent many years volunteering at hospitals and community outreach programs helping to support the families of burn patients. Jennifer currently resides in Narberth, PA, with her husband, Dr. Caleb Cross, her daughter Aislynn ’23, and her son Benjamin.
Adam Grant is the Wharton Class of 1965 Professor of Management and Psychology. He has been recognized as Wharton’s top-rated teacher and one of Malcolm Gladwell’s favorite social science writers. He is the author of “Give and Take,” a New York Times bestseller translated into 27 languages. His speaking and consulting clients include Google, Goldman Sachs, Merck, Disney Pixar, the U.S. Army and Navy and the World Economic Forum, where he has been honored as a Young Global Leader. He earned his Ph.D. in
Organizational Psychology from the University of Michigan and his BA from Harvard University. Adam currently resides in Bryn Mawr, PA, with his wife Allison, and daughters Joanna ’26 and Elena ’29.
Raphaelina Loke (Faculty Trustee) joined Baldwin’s Department of Mathematics in 2001 teaching all levels of mathematics in the Upper School. She is the Dean of Upper School Students and has served as the Dean of the Senior Class and as an Upper School advisor. Raphaelina holds an MA in Applied Mathematics from Lehigh University, an MA in Mathematics from Old Dominion University and a BS in Mathematics from St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame. Before joining Baldwin, Raphaelina was an Adjunct Professor of Mathematics at Albright College and Alvernia College, where she taught courses ranging from Algebra to Business Calculus to Differential Equations. Raphaelina currently resides in Wallingford, PA, with her husband Kian Niu. She is the mother of Gabrielle Niu ’06, Danielle Niu ’08, Noelle Niu ’10, Michael Niu and Samuel Niu.
Sejita Page is a former President of the BSPA (2012-13) and an active volunteer both in the Philadelphia community and at The Baldwin School. In Philadelphia, she currently serves as an advocate at Lift Philadelphia and as an Advisory
Board member and volunteer at Our Closet; both of these organizations focus on helping less fortunate people in need. At Baldwin, Sejita currently serves as a member emerita of the BSPA Executive Board and has held positions on numerous Baldwin School and BSPA committees since 2006. Prior to her time as a mother and volunteer, Sejita was an elementary school teacher in a variety of urban education settings in Philadelphia, New York City, Boston and San Francisco. She attended Wheelock College focusing on elementary education and earned her BA in History with a minor in Spanish from Bryn Mawr College. Sejita currently resides in Wynnewood, PA, with her husband Mark and daughters Celia ’19 and Clara ’22.
Rachel Gerstenhaber Stern ’83 is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Resources and General Counsel at Factset. She joined the company in 2001 and now provides global oversight and is responsible for Investor Relations; Human Resources; Facilities and Real Estate Planning; Third-Party Content and Strategic Partnerships; Knowledge Management; and Leadership Development. Rachel manages two of Factset’s largest offices located in India and the Philippines. She is a member of the Board of WESFACCA (Westchester/ Southern Connecticut Chapter of the Association of Corporate
Counsel), Vice Chairman of the Board of Friends of the Neuberger Museum of Art at SUNY Purchase College; and Treasurer of the American Foundation for the Courtauld Institute of Art. Rachel received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, graduated summa cum laude from Yale University, and received her master’s degree with distinction from the University of London. Rachel resides in New York with her husband Alexander and daughters Elana, Arielle and Amanda.
Patricia Weiser is the founding member of The Weiser Law Firm. She received her law degree from the Widener University School of Law. While in law school, she served as an intern for the Honorable Clarence J. Newcomer, U.S.D.J. for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has been admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Patricia’s practice is focused on shareholder class action litigation challenging management misconduct in connection with corporate takeovers and disputed contests for corporate control. Patricia currently resides in Villanova, PA, with husband Robert and daughters Kaya ’22 and Alexandra ’24.
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Baldwin
BOOKSHELF Sunset at Dawn: The Human Struggle Book Four Eve Ottenberg Stone ’71 Sunset at Dawn depicts the off-world war raging against humanity in which angels and fighters battle humanity’s enemies.
A Mysterious Life and Calling: From Slavery to Ministry in South Carolina (Wisconsin Studies in Autobiography) Edited with an introduction: Crystal Lucky ’82
Editor: Farah Griffin ’81 This collection of essays by 15 scholars of history and literature establishes black women’s places in intellectual history by engaging the work of writers, educators, activists, religious leaders and social reformers in the United States, Africa and the Caribbean.
A memoir of Reverend Mrs. Charlotte Riley, including life in urban Charleston before and after emancipation, her work as a preacher at multiracial revivals, the rise of African American civil servants in the Reconstruction era and her education and development as a licensed female minister in a patriarchal church. Crystal Lucky discovered Riley’s forgotten book in the library archives at Wilberforce University and provides an introduction and notes in the memoir.
Georges Seurat: The Art of Vision
The Royal Coder (The Royal Series)
Caroline Ferree ’77
Sally Samuels Slifkin ’69 and Laura Slifkin Venos Smart princesses don’t just “princess” all day! The Royal Series explores career paths anyone (even royalty) can enjoy. While we can strive for a royal future of dressing up and leisure, we can also create fulfilling career paths that make our days bright. The Royal Coder is about a princess who is curious about technology. She grows up to become a software engineer who creates apps, uses a 3D printer to make crowns for her friends and hosts hackathons at her palace.
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Toward an Intellectual History of Black Women (The John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture)
Michelle Foa ’93 While Seurat is known for his innovative use of color theory to develop his pointillist technique, this book is the first to underscore the centrality of diverse ideas about vision to his seascapes, figural paintings and drawings.
Write and Wrong: Writing Within Criminal Justice, A Student Workbook Written reports and other types of writings by criminal justice and social science professionals can directly affect people’s lives. Thus, it is crucial for the writer to effectively convey his or her message in a coherent and organized manner. Write & Wrong: Writing Within Criminal Justice, A Student Workbook is a comprehensive workbook that guides students through the entire process of writing an academic-style paper, by teaching them how to conduct library research, how to take notes without plagiarizing, how to cite in proper APA style and how to complete a final draft of a paper.
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International and Interdisciplinary Insights into Evidence and Policy (Contemporary Issues in Social Science) Ashley Thomas Lenihan ’96 Contributors to this highly original book address the many questions raised by researchers and policymakers about the complex and often uneasy relationship between evidence and policy from an international and interdisciplinary perspective. They explore both the institutions acting as evidence brokers and the different methods used to collect, assess and use evidence in a variety of national and international settings, by drawing on their experience of working in international contexts and in different disciplinary and policy environments, and in some cases analyzing their own involvement in the evidencebased policy process.
So Sad Today Melissa Broder ’97 Melissa always struggled with anxiety. In the fall of 2012, she went through a harrowing cycle of panic attacks and dread that wouldn’t abate for months. So she began @sosadtoday, an anonymous Twitter feed that allowed her to express her darkest feelings, and which quickly gained a dedicated following. In So Sad Today, she delves deeper into the existential themes she explores on Twitter, grappling with sex, death, love, low self-esteem, addiction and the drama of waiting for the universe to text you back.
Robert Love’s Warnings: Searching for Strangers in Colonial Boston Cornelia Dayton ’75 In colonial America, the system of “warning out” was distinctive to New England, a way for a community to regulate those to whom it would extend welfare. Robert Love’s Warnings animates this nearly forgotten aspect of colonial life, richly detailing the moral and legal basis of the practice and the religious and humanistic vision of those who enforced it.
Expressions of Nature Coloring Book: Create, Color, Pattern, Play! (Zenspirations) Joanne Fink ’77 Inside this inspiring coloring book are 32 pages of enchanting nature designs just waiting for your creative touch. Discover new ways to express what’s in your heart by adding color, patterns, text and illustrations to these extraordinary designs. Talented artist Joanne Fink provides 16 colorful pages of easy-to-follow artistic advice on patterning, drawing and coloring techniques.
Descendant: The Complete Nikki Glass Series Jennifer Bellak Barlow ’83 (Jenna Black) For “Immortal Huntress” and cunning private investigator Nikki Glass, vengeance trumps all in this complete collection of acclaimed author Jenna Black’s addictive urban fantasy series. The omnibus edition of all four Descendant novels, as well as the e-novella Pros and Cons that takes place between the events of Deadly Descendant and Rogue Descendant is a must-have for all urban fantasy fans.
LEGACYPROFILE
Where Leadership Begins HEATHER YOUNG ’92 Heather Young ’92 is a leader — from her Baldwin days as class president, to her work as an Assistant District Attorney advocating for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to her current career in corporate investigations. This penchant for leadership and desire to give back was first nurtured at Baldwin, and the promise of these values was what led her mother to choose Baldwin for Heather and her two sisters, Christina Young Morovati ’87 and Kimberly Young Olivia ’92. “My mother used to tell us ‘nobody can take away your education,’” said Heather. “It was important to her that we had the best education from the outset, because she knew that education and selfassurance would serve us throughout our lives.” Early on, Heather experienced the unique gift of unquestioned confidence in oneself and one’s gender that Baldwin instills in its girls. Encouraged by teachers who wanted their students to question everything, make their own discoveries and draw their own conclusions, Heather found ways to give back while holding leadership positions during almost every year of school. Active in Service League, Heather has always found it important to give back, holding toiletry and other drives for the less fortunate during her time as class president.
“They are so different and learn in completely different ways,” notes Heather. “Yet they are both known so well by the faculty and supported in their interests and their learning styles.”
Heather with her daughters Sophia and Bella. After college and law school, Heather continued her work on behalf of those who were not always in a position to help themselves. As an Assistant DA, she prosecuted perpetrators of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault, and later investigated a criminal ring targeting underserved populations by falsely selling them condemned properties. Heather later brought her investigative experience to a corporate setting, taking on the task of collaborating to remediate her company’s investigative program in North and South America to reinforce compliance to policy, as well as state and federal laws. “It was at times a daunting task,” Heather recalls. “But, like I had so many times before throughout my career, I told myself: ‘you’re a Baldwin girl, you’ll figure it out.’” There were several teachers who helped build that self-possession, along with a lifetime love of learning. Ms. Ameisen ’76, history teacher, encouraged dissection, deconstruction and discussion of issues, sent Heather to a leadership
seminar and supported her in taking on leadership roles throughout her school career. Ms. Willis, math teacher and class advisor, emboldened her to take on significant community work in her role as class president and stood behind any decision she made. “The teachers are what make the school what it is,” she said. “The experiences and traditions were also hugely influential, like Ring Day and a month-long immersion trip to Germany that I participated in with four other fellow ninth and tenth graders, organized by Frau Losoncy.” The confidence, leadership skills and passion for service honed during her time at Baldwin are what led her entire family to unanimously decide to send her two daughters to the School years later. Sophia Szpilczak ’25 and Bella Szpilczak ’27 fell in love with Baldwin after their first visit, while Heather’s husband, Maksym Szpilczak, was taken with the poise of the Lamplighters who provided their tours and the enthusiasm of first grade teacher Missy Morgan, who taught both girls.
She recalled a recent conversation with librarian Emily Woodward regarding a somewhat obscure and out-of-print book on a topic that had captured Sophia’s interest. “She had researched it and found a link to the text so that Sophia could read this book,” Heather said. “The fact that the girls’ interests are encouraged and supported is so crucial to instilling that feeling that they can do anything – because they have people who will help them figure out what their ‘anything’ is and then guide them in pursing those passions.” Heather feels her fellow alumnae play a role in inspiring the young girls of today. She looks forward to Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges drawing in more alumnae and inspiring them to become more active in the School. “Alumnae are the best advocates for the School’s future,” she said. “From publicity to career days, to sending their own daughters here – they are valuable in so many ways beyond financial donations, and we need them to be involved because we must protect and preserve allgirls education.” Heather is excited for what is in store for Baldwin, for her own girls and for the world that will benefit from the young leaders the School is developing every day.
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ACADEMICS Twenty Percent of Seniors Honored by National Merit Baldwin is excited to announce that 12 students — 20 percent of the senior class — have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Margaret Frantz, Anika Iyer, Madeleine Marr, Pallavi Sreedhar, Lila Williams and Jessica Zhang have been recognized as Semifinalists for their outstanding performance on the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). In addition to our semifinalists, Jane Bradley, Sally Chen, Olivia Lanchoney, Sumrin Mudgil, Katherine Phillips and Annie Xu have been Row 1 (front): Olivia Lanchoney, Jessica Zhang, Pallavi Sreedhar, Jane Bradley, Madeleine Marr, Sally Chen, Katie Phillips Row 2: Annie Xu, Margaret Frantz, Sumrin Mudgil, Anika Iyer, Lila Williams
named National Merit Commended Students. Commended student Jane Bradley has also
been selected as a finalist in the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP), which is an academic honor earned by approximately 5,000 Hispanic/Latino students worldwide.
GRADES 5 & 11 PARTNER TO REVIEW TEXTBOOKS
Emma Barnes ’24, Sharzad Shojaian ’18 and Cate Roth ’24 work together on their textbook.
MS Service Day
Baldwin’s Middle School students and faculty engaged in many different activities in the service of others this fall. The 6th grade had
In October, the Grade 11 Honors U.S. History class visited Grade 5 to share drafts of American history textbook chapters they had written for a fifth-grade audience. The juniors were asked to decide where to start a U.S. history textbook and to justify their choice of opening framework. Fifth graders, who are learning to provide constructive feedback to fellow writers, sat down with the juniors to read and advise on their work in progress. 6
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rich discussions about what service means and each girl’s role and responsibility as a global citizen. The 7th and 8th graders made 250 sandwiches, 125 breakfast bags, 100 fall snack bags and decorations, 75 placemats and 200 utensil packets in just 90 minutes. Cathedral Home and Project HOME were very grateful for these items. The remainder of the day was spent in direct service at three local sites: Smith Playground and Playhouse, SHARE and Bartram Gardens. Experiences like these help our girls see that their words and actions matter in and outside our Baldwin community.
ACADEMICS Baldwin Publishes “The Baldwin Review” In November, Baldwin published “The Baldwin Review,” its first-ever collection of individual research papers produced by Upper School students. The project was initiated by Eliza Thaler ’18, and its purpose is to provide a tangible platform for students to display their projects and papers that are independent from class assignments. Because a Baldwin girl’s intellectual curiosity is limitless, the journal is inclusive of a wide variety of different topics and includes 10 research papers. Printed copies can be purchased at the School Store. You can access the entire journal online by visiting issuu.com/thebaldwinschool.
2016 -17 Baldwin Scholars
This year’s four senior Baldwin Scholars are hard at work in a concentrated and self-directed course conducting scholarly research within a field of their own interest. Anika Iyer is investigating the experiences of women in STEM fields, Yumi Zhao is studying how self-choice and parent-choice affect the experiences of Chinese students in the United States, Annie Xu is examining the ways that the growing field of Dance Therapy is influencing the world of dance as a whole and Madeleine Marr is integrating legal theories about discrimination with feminist historical theory.
MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT Baldwin’s Middle School held its second annual interdisciplinary experiential learning project in December. This year’s project was Middle School students from Ms. Lee’s homeroom work on their solar home. based on “survival.” The students worked in design squads to complete four station challenges: • Robotic Rescue – Students took on the role of rescue robot operators, remotely piloting robots and writing code to detect and interact with the environment. • Model FEMA – Students answered questions for disaster relief and prevention funds, allocating these funds into various mitigating infrastructure. • Structural Build – Shelter is the first order of business in a disaster scenario, and one of the most common survival structures is the lashed lean-to. Students built structures to protect their groups. • Passive Solar Homes – Using common materials, students built scale models of passively heated solar homes. The objective was to create a structure that could stay warm using the energy from the sun. Design squads “earned” supplies during each of these station activities, which they used to construct a boat that was raced in the Baldwin pool.
Kindergarten and Grade 5 Butterfly Project
This fall, the Kindergarten and fifth graders participated in a Monarch tagging project. Each year Monarchs travel through the Pennsylvania area on their journey to Mexico, which can be more than 2,800 miles long. With the help of fifth grade students, the Kindergarteners tagged Monarchs and recorded the numbers for an organization known as Monarch Watch. This tagging process helps scientists study the migration route and the Monarch population. Wenter Haley ’29 enjoys tagging her butterfly.
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ARTS “ELLIS ISLAND REVISITED”
All-School Autumn Art Exhibition
The first student exhibition of the 2016-17 school year was installed in the Residence Art gallery in October. The All-School Autumn Art Exhibition featured work from all three divisions of the School and all five studios of the Upper School (Painting/Drawing, Sculpture, Ceramics, Jewelry and Darkroom Photo). From kinetic sculptures by the third grade to collaborative printmaking of the Middle School to individual achievements in the Upper School studio disciplines, the Art Department was proud to share the work of our Baldwin student artists with our Baldwin community and prospective families during our fall Open House.
The Art Department hosted an Invitational Exhibition: “Catherine Bancroft: Ellis Island Revisited” in the Fackenthal-Pethick Gallery in the Residence. Catherine taught English and History at Baldwin in the 1980s and cosponsored a two-year speaker program, “Women Creating,” with current Baldwin teacher Vicky Gold. Catherine returned to Baldwin this fall as a painter: her timely exhibition, “Ellis Island Revisited,” is an empathetic recreation of portraits documenting individuals and nationalities that helped form our American tapestry. Catherine partnered with the Welcome Foundation, a nonprofit organization created by Baldwin alumna Marina Tomazinis ‘88 to help refugees stranded in Greece, by donating 10 percent of all proceeds from painting sales. 8
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ARTS Maskers Perform “Sister Act”
The Upper School Maskers presented “Sister Act” in November. Sold-out audiences enjoyed the story of diva want-to-be Deloris Van Cartier (played by Sarai Brown-Alexander ’17), who witnessed her boyfriend murder an undercover police officer and then hid in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent!
PRINTMAKER VISITS GRADES 10-12
GRADE 6 & 7 MUSIC SHOWCASES
Our Grade 7 girls worked hard in Music Exploration class. They learned about complex rhythms, creating their own rhythmic composition and several STOMP-style pieces that incorporated every-day materials into their music. In addition to this rhythmic component, the girls also worked on singing and learning how to play the guitar. The Grade 6 students worked on reading and writing rhythms, singing and playing Orff Instruments. They showcased all that they learned and invited guests to participate in a “rhythm challenge.”
Grade 1 Bucket Fillers
Photography teacher Frances Merritt Thompson and Samantha Soard pose with students Alissa Liu ‘19, Alexa Diecidue ’19 and Lexi Phelan ’19.
On October 28, Baldwin’s combined painting and photography classes were treated to a printmaking workshop led by visiting artist Samantha Soard, who is a recent graduate of the California College of Art and Design in Oakland, CA. She led our girls through the process of trace monotypes and discussed the time-honored tradition of textiles in feminist artmaking. The students ended the session creating personalized images on fabric.
This year’s Grade 1 play came from the book “Bucket Filling from A to Z” by Carol McCloud and Caryn Buttzke. Our students presented the 26 letters and showed us how easy it is to be a bucket filler. WINTER 2017 ECHOES
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ATHLETICS Fall Sports Highlights POLAR BEAR BOWL
The Varsity Field Hockey team hosted Strawberry Mansion High School from the Philadelphia Public League for a friendly game to close out the fall season. Strawberry Mansion’s program is only two years old and had only four games on their schedule. Unfortunately, their last game of the season was cancelled so Baldwin Head Coach Karen Lancaster and Assistant Coach Tori Whitcher arranged a game to be hosted at Baldwin. The Strawberry Mansion seniors were honored and the teams gathered for a fun post-game dinner to celebrate the season.
Seniors Gabe DiClaudio, Alexa Bartels and Joely Simon celebrate their win against the junior class.
The 2nd Annual Polar Bear Bowl was played on Lower Field on November 18. The Class of Gold juniors played hard against the Class of Blue seniors, with the Class of 2017 as the victors. The seniors then played a team of our faculty and staff, who earned a close 12-6 victory in the fun community event that was filled with a lot of school spirit and pride.
The Varsity Soccer team finished the season with an overall record of 17-7, the best record in program history. The Bears went undefeated in the non-league (100) and recorded 11 defensive shutouts. Baldwin earned the #3 seed in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association tournament, advancing all the way to the state semifinals. The offense produced a school record 53 goals and sophomore forward Gia Vicari ’19 scored 27 goals, a single season scoring record. The Bears return 9 of 11 starters in 2017 and the future of the program looks bright. The Varsity Tennis team completed the season with a 13-2 overall
STUDENTS SIGN LETTERS OF INTENT
record and 5-1 Inter-Ac League record (2nd place). Baldwin earned three medals at the Inter-Ac League tournament. Emma Sass ’17 won the silver medal at 1st Singles, Lauren Wang ’18 won the silver medal at 2nd Singles and Francesca Douglas ’18 won the gold medal at 3rd Singles.
Jennifer Dietrich ’17 and Zara Wenzinger ’17 look forward to participating in collegiate athletics.
Jennifer Dietrich ’17 and Zara Wenzinger ’17 signed NCAA letters of intent at a college signing ceremony held on November 14. Jennifer committed to Bucknell University for track and field and Zara committed to Duquesne University for crew. 10
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ATHLETICS 2016 Golf & Tennis Outing FALL ATHLETES EARN ALL-INTER-AC LEAGUE HONORS A school record of 11 student-athletes earned AllInter-Ac League recognition for their outstanding performance during the fall season. Pictured, front row: Francesca Douglas ’18, Lauren Wang ’18, Alexa Bartels ’17, Emma Sass ’17 (1st team, tennis) and Haley Tavares ’18 (1st team, volleyball); back row: Lila Williams ’17 (1st team, cross country), Henriette Gust ’18 (2nd team, cross country), Kahlaa Cannady ’17 (1st team, soccer), Natalie Sgro ’19 (2nd team, soccer), Gia Vicari ’19 (1st team, soccer) and Caroline Kiser ’17 (1st team, volleyball).
Left: Adrian Cox, Deb Surgi, Dr. Marisa Porges, Megan Adelman ’23, Amy Griffith Adelman (P ’23) and Arlyn Landow (P ’22, ’25) pose with this year’s check. Right: US Head of Athletic Association Jennifer Dietrich ’17 and Dr. Porges celebrate a good putt.
The 2nd Annual Blue Gray Golf & Tennis Outing was a huge success at Green Valley Country Club. More than 100 people attended the event, which raised more than $145,000 for Athletics. Special thanks to event co-chairs Amy Griffith Adelman (P ’23) and Arlyn Landow (P ’22, ’25) and all the members of Blue Gray, the Athletic Department and The Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement for organizing and leading such a great community-building and fundraising event. Amy and Arlyn in their 2 years as co-chairs of the event have raised more than $250,000 for Baldwin Athletics. The proceeds will go to purchasing uniforms and equipment that will benefit all of the Polar Bears.
DR. NICOLE DETLING PRESENTS AT BLUE GRAY SYMPOSIUM The 2016 Blue Gray Symposium featured guest speaker Dr. Nicole Detling, Sports Performance Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Exercise and Sport Sciences Department at the University of Utah. Dr. Detling’s presentation focused on the topic of “The Multi-Sport Athlete vs Specialization.” She presented a slideshow and answered questions from the audience about the pros and cons of playing multiple sports versus only one sport at the youth and high school level.
Madeline Perry Named Associate Director of Squash Baldwin welcomes Madeline Perry as its new Associate Director of Squash. Madeline, who hails from Northern Ireland, is a former women’s World #3 player, British Open runner-up and 15-time Irish National Champion. Madeline arrives at Baldwin from Australia, where she has been working as head coach at the East Coast Squash Academy and as New Zealand Women’s World Championship coach. The wealth of international experience that Madeline will bring to Baldwin promises to help strengthen the foundation to the long-term success of Baldwin Squash. WINTER 2017 ECHOES
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HOMECOMING 2016 The Upper School Athletic Association hosted a two-day Homecoming extravaganza in October that started with the first-ever all-School pep rally, followed by a team barbecue and fun by the fire
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pit. Saturday’s festivities began with the traditional
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community pancake breakfast, a country-themed festival on Middle Field, a barbecue and Inter-Ac League games for the Upper School. Our Fall Upper School teams won 3 out of 4 games to win homecoming day vs. league opponent Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. 3 4
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1 Grade 10 students (Back row) Celia Page, Jane McAleese, Lexi Phelan and (seated) Anisha Devas and Simi Bleznak enjoy the pancake breakfast. 2 Varsity soccer team manager Morgan Montoute ’17 leads the pre-game huddle with a motivational pep talk. 3 Sophomores Alexa Diecidue, Sean Tuckman, Gia Vicari, Lauren Bracken, McKenna Matus and Olivia Tornetta enjoy the fire pit. 4 Hana Twyman ’23 and Carley Taylor ’23 try out the country line dancing. 5 Georgia Dahm ’19, Laura Pellicano ’19 and Haley Tavares ’18 play hard during the volleyball game. 6 Juliana Charles ’20 takes the ball down the field during the field hockey game. 7 Violet Paiva ’23 rides the mechanical bull during the Homecoming festivities. 8 Tennis team members Teagan Krane ’19, Torrie Smith ’20, Dagny Tepper ’17 and Alexa Diecidue ’19 get ready to play Springside Chestnut Hill.
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Athletic Hall of Fame 2016 On October 13, Baldwin proudly celebrated its 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame. Four individuals and one team were recognized for their dedication to athletics and their achievements. The Athletic Hall of Fame celebrates excellence and extraordinary achievement in athletics. These impressive athletes have been instrumental in helping mold Baldwin athletics to what it is today. These women are The Baldwin School’s 2016 Hall of Fame recipients (seated): Jessica Perrucci Riley ‘93, Pat West and Sara Greenberg ’05; (standing): 2000 Head Cross Country Coach Suzanne Valutas and Assistant Coach Heather Ho.
proof that Baldwin girls’ determination and commitment extend beyond the classroom.
THIS YEAR’S RECIPIENTS
Sara Greenberg ’05
Jessica Perrucci Riley ’93
Sara’s athletic contributions as a three-sport athlete during her Baldwin years (lacrosse, soccer and basketball) culminated with her being recognized with Baldwin’s highest athletic recognition, the White Blazer Award. Her Baldwin days found Sara as both leader and athlete, serving as captain of all three sports. After leaving Baldwin, Sara played Division I lacrosse at Yale University and achieved postgraduate success in athletics through her participation as a member of Israel’s National Women’s Lacrosse Team and played in the 2014 World Cup in Toronto.
Jessica’s athletic contributions as a three-sport athlete during her Baldwin years (field hockey, basketball and lacrosse) culminated with her being recognized as a White Blazer Award Winner. Jessica served as captain of all three sports in her senior year. She received many accolades that included All-Main Line, member of the Private I’s All-Star Team for field hockey and basketball in senior year and a candidate for Main Line “Athlete of the Year.” Jessica played Division I lacrosse and field hockey at Lafayette College. Presently, Jessica coaches at Summit Lacrosse Club, STEPS Elite Lacrosse of NJ and Kent Place School in Summit, NJ. She is an active board member for Summit Lacrosse Club and Sum it Up Lacrosse.
2000 Cross Country Team
Marjorie Lindsay Reed ’39
Patricia West
Marjorie’s athletic contributions as a three-sport athlete during her Baldwin years (field hockey, tennis and basketball) culminated with her being recognized as a White Blazer Award Winner. The Reed Scholarship that honors excellence in teaching and is given annually was named in her honor.
During her 21 year tenure as the Director of Athletics at Baldwin, Pat pioneered many new initiatives that are still in effect today. She was involved in founding the Inter-Academic League for Girls, helping to frame its philosophy and purpose and served as the organization’s first president. She also helped to create Baldwin’s mascot, a polar bear named Winnie, and began the School’s Homecoming and bonfire traditions. She was also responsible for introducing the official gym uniform, which consists of Baldwin themed shorts and shirts. Following her retirement in 2001, The Baldwin School established the Pat West Award, which is given every year to a sophomore or junior who has played at least one varsity sport and has the intention of playing in college.
In August 2000 when Baldwin’s Cross Country team came together for pre-season training, the mood was optimistic. Head Coach Suzanne Valutas and Assistant Coach Heather Ho had high hopes for a winning season; but not an undefeated season. “The team didn’t dare to dream quite that big a dream,” Valutas said. The team consisted of 22 runners, the largest team in the Inter-Ac League at the time. They gave each other confidence, and everyone was determined to pull together as a group. Each individual set goals for themselves and achieved those goals. They were fortunate enough to have an injury free season and spent time doing a lot of hill work sprints, pool workouts, scavenger hunts and early weekend runs. Their hard work paid off, as the 2000 Baldwin Cross Country team became both State and Inter-Ac Champions. WINTER 2017 ECHOES
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INSTALLATION of MARISA PORGES, Ph.D. 8th Head of School
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The Baldwin School | September 9, 2016 4
1 Baldwin’s Class of 2017 performs their class song. 2 Grade 7 students Caroline Prendergast, Kristi Kesslick and Carly Goldenberg get ready for the ceremony. 3 Sophia Szpilczak ’25 enjoyed the balloon drop. 4 Seniors Jane Bradley, Jennifer Dietrich, Lauren Fosnocht, Sally Chen and Courtney Loomis were the installation’s Masters of Ceremony. 5 Adrienne Harris, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, gave the keynote address. 6 Terry Steelman, Chair of the Board of Trustees, officially welcomes Dr. Marisa Porges as Baldwin’s 8th Head of School. 7 Fourth graders Israel Carter, Joy Ying and Naomi Gaye patiently wait for the festivities to begin. 8 Jennifer Dietrich ’17 addresses the audience during the installation ceremony. 8
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IN HONOR OF MARISA PORGES, Ph.D.,
gifts were made by the donors listed below in support of her appointment as The Baldwin School’s 8th Head of School.
Arnold and Eileen Porges Carolyn Cummings Addison ’96 Stacy Feinberg Brylawski ’96 Joseph La Nasa and Stephanie Romeika La Nasa ’96 Sara Scott ’96 Warren and Erica Thaler
Jolley Christman Robert Diamond and Martha Ortiz Emily Scott Frankel ’00 Joanne Tulin Lane ’96 Jennie Kerson Pritzker ’96 Ajit and Rajeev Sachdeva Melanie Sheerr ’96 Nancy-Beth Gordon Sheerr ’67
Allan Blutstein and Rachael Goldfarb ’95 Brian and Patricia Dietrich Kevin and Erin Frakes John McElroy and Mary Scott McElroy ’53
Kimberly Webb Palacios ’96 Amy Sobel ’86 Patricia West Thomas Wheeler and Helen Justi Wheeler ’74
William Shoemaker and Sarah Lange
Mark and Roberta Abraham Marjory Yewer Alexander ’65 Robert Bair and Dorothy Dorsey Bair ‘49 Carmen Hoyme Bannon ’96 Robert and Kim Baron Deborah Benjamin ’63 Lauren Sheerr Beshears ’00 Joanne Brasberger Amy Brezin ’96 Terri Brody ’73 Anne Plutzer Burns ’96 Laurie Cato Betsey Trotter Chalmers ’60 Michael and Susanna Choo Benjamin and Ruthi Cohen Andrew and Patricia Coler Dianna Collins Terence and Cynthia Conger John Crowther and A. Steffen Wright Crowther ’68 Michael Eastwood and Alexis Dudden ’87 Edward and Ruth Fackenthal Juliette Anderson Galbraith ’96 Stacy Gallagher Brian and Alison Gattuso Nancy Greytok Allison Goodwin ’89 Deborah Havert Richard Henderson and Alisan Buckley Henderson ’49 George Hill and Helene Zimmermann Hill ’46 Tara Holmes John and Judy Huffaker Abigail Joseph ’96 Elizabeth Keller Ashley Thomas Lenihan ’96 Barbara Losoncy ’91 Terry and Nadine Maenza
Joseph and Lynn Manko Joseph Manko and Jennifer Porges ’83 Brian and Kimberly Matus Lauren Harrar McMichael ’96 Jonathan and Christina Miller Christopher and Jennifer Moller Amy Saler Ostroff ’85 Bret Pearlman and Marion Fox Pearlman ’85 Annette Polan ’63 Gregory and Diana Porges Stefanie Porges ’80 Robert and Virginia Pratter The Salvitti Family Alfred and Patricia Sanford Robert Schwendinger and Tatjana van der Horst Schwendinger ’65 John Scott and Gwinn Heilner Scott ’58 Paul Scott and Carolyn Simpson Scott ’74 Samuel and Lynn Scott Mark Sheehan and Lorna Weir Richard and Betsy Sheerr Kamil Redmond Shields ’96 Maisha Smart ’90 Blair Stambaugh John Stanger and Penny Wilson Stanger ’66 Matthew Stecker and Claudia Baldassano Carl and Kathleen Stratton Maksym Szpilczak and Heather Young ’92 Charlotte Taylor ’45 William Thorkelson and Susan Flood Thorkelson ’70 Lee Tuttle and Jean Griffey Tuttle ’51 John VanderZwaag and Emmeline Hunter VanderZwaag ’75 Jill Harmelin Wehler ’96 Harvey and Judith Zalesne
Alexander Stern and Rachel Gerstenhaber Stern ’83
James Sibley and Jane Rowen Sibley ’65 Jonathan Sprogell and Kathryn Taylor ‘70 Elizabeth Swoope Sweetow ’65 Prakriti Tandon ’96 Hossein Alidjani and Laila Rajabi Gregg Alleyne and Kathleen Christophe Dennis Alston and Robin Dasher-Alston Charles Bakst and Elizabeth Feroe Bakst ’63 Todd and Kathryn Bessemer Gwen Bland Katherine Howe Book ’57 Korel and Elizabeth Bowman Edward Bradley and Teresita Diaz-Bradley Gary Breylinger and Barbe Ballard Breylinger ’52 Mary Kathryn Brophy ’08 James Burness and Margaret-Ann Leavitt Burness ’88 Michael and Gina Carter Jennifer Casey ’71 Elizabeth Chesick Sarah Christman ’96 Lindsay Conway ’96 Caleb and Jennifer Cross Marcus and Michele Davey Natanya DiBona ’91 Drew and Susan Dorfman Larry Dubinski and Vicki Markovitz Bayard and Michelle Fleitas Heather Tashman Fritts ’96 Matthew Frost and Amy Smith Frost ’86 Andrew and Pamela Goldman Willard Gordon and Barbara Hippel Gordon ’48 Louis and Anne-Mette Hansell Miryam Harvey Maxine Baker Jackson ’96 Rachel Funk Jenkins ’44 Sheila Kambin ’91 Robert and Anne Kamrin
George Keitt and Gretchen Pendill Keitt ’49 Philip and Claire Kim William Korn and Elizabeth Kron Korn ’77 Michael Kraus and Suzanne DiLenge Kraus ’90 Jane Krumrine ’55 Lieutenant Colonel Abigail Linnington Timothy Lucky and Crystal Jones Lucky ’82 Walter and Susan Mostek Taylor Nickens ’13 Margaret Cormeny O’Brien ’60 Howard and Karen Phillips Jane Stellwagen Polk ’52 Karin Reath Carl and Jean Reynolds Alexandra Leys Rickenbacker ’49 Philip Sass and Karen Buchkovich-Sass Patricia Riihiluoma Shaw ’47 Blair Soffe ’85 Nicolas Spychalski and Gabmara Alvarez-Spychalski Suzanne Stein ’02 Richard Strickler and Diana Hole Strickler ’69 Deborah Surgi Bianca Jordan Swift ’96 Margaret Broughton Tenney ’51 Suzanne Tiernan ’67 Nicholas Viek and Jeanne Barrett Viek ’44 Cantor Eliot Vogel Volnie Whyte and Sacha Page John Williams and Ellen DeLea Sherri Willner Laura Wright ’72 Regina Powers Wright ’96 Gregory and Helen Yep Dalila Zachary ’96
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As she began her tenure as Baldwin’s 8th Head of School, Dr. Marisa Porges asked alumnae to share their favorite Baldwin memory. “My most powerful and poignant memory of Baldwin is entering the third grade in September of 1938. Only a few weeks after disembarking the HMS Queen Mary, clutching the little brown dictionary that was to expand the few English phrases I had learned before our hasty departure from Germany, I found myself surrounded by happy girls greeting me. After two years in German schools, where nothing I did escaped the stern teachers, I thought I was in heaven. I could write much about what I learned in the following years, how well I was prepared for life, but this memory belongs in my heart, not just my head. And there’s a bit more: when I returned to teach third grade at Baldwin, I found myself in that same room.
“Baldwin shaped the person I am. My friends I made there are still my best friends. Even though we all have kids and crazy schedules, we took a trip together this year and it was like we were back in high school again. College was easy for me after being at Baldwin. I remember the names of all the teachers who provided me the best education I could have ever wished for. I remember my Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Rhodes and the play we put on, ‘The Selfish Giant.’ I remember our timed arithmetic tests with Mrs. Schlyer in the 2nd grade. I remember history with Mrs. Pressman and Mr. Morse. I am currently in the process of looking for a school in NYC for my daughter to attend Kindergarten. I keep waiting to walk into a school and get the same feeling I had walking the halls of Baldwin, but I can’t seem to find it. If I lived anywhere remotely close to Bryn Mawr, I would send my daughter there without question. It truly is a special place and memories I have from my days there are ones I will cherish for life. — Jennifer Kivitz Roth ’99
— Doris Gundert-Caspar Balant ‘47 “ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING on a new presentation at the Cornelia Otis Skinner Theater Workshop, Lois Goutman decided we needed to know who Cornelia really was. She took us up to a room in the attic in one of the towers of the Residence. There, covered with dust, were several large steamer trunks. She opened the trunks, and within them were costumes once worn by Cornelia Otis Skinner, author, actress and to this day still one of Baldwin’s most illustrious graduates. Mrs. Goutman lovingly pulled these costumes out one by one, and as she told us Cornelia’s story in her sonorous actor’s voice, we sat in a circle on the floor in the half light of that attic tower, our blue tunics becoming filthy in the unswept dust of decades. We touched Cornelia’s fabulous velvet capes, placed the extraordinary hats on our heads, pulled on long gloves from another era. It was magic. And we felt a part of something not just older, but bigger. Not just history, but ‘Her-story,’ ‘Our-story.’ In that penumbrous attic, we felt that we were within a unique and important tradition of amazing women, not because someone told us we were, but because we had this visceral experience of this history, as if we were being offered a secret, as if Mrs. Goutman were inducting us into a society of savants for which we bore a unique responsibility.”
— Dorothy Potter Snyder ’78
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B DW WI INNSSCCHHOOOOL L . OR R BA A LLD .O GG
“While at Baldwin, I experienced some of the most memorable classes of my whole education - in particular, I really enjoyed AP Art History with Ms. Mungall, English with Miss Smedley and Ceramics with Mrs. Gold. I pursued my interest in music by participating in a chamber music ensemble and in a band for a production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.’ As I look back on my time at Baldwin, I think about the power of single-sex education and small class sizes for an introverted student like me. I also think of how amazing it was to see every leadership position occupied by a female classmate. I was inspired by my classmates and by the staff of the School to pursue my dreams and to work hard. I don’t live anywhere near the School and I rarely see anyone from Baldwin, but I always look forward to issues of Echoes so that I can read about the interesting things that people are doing. — Alexandra Kelley ’01
“As I reflect on Baldwin days, I recall being inspired by Miss Cross. Our morning meetings allowed us to know God’s presence as we started the day. I had the opportunity to go out with a boyfriend to my aunt and uncles’ home in Bala Cynwyd. Miss Cross gave me the key to the school and instructions to return by midnight. There is no way that I would have been even one second late. The trust and understanding were amazing. I was inspired to write the class song and, of course, I can still sing all the words along with the words I wrote for honoring our faculty and class officers at Running In. I haven’t thought of them for years. One last memory, as a boarder, I had the grand surprise of hearing Christmas carols being sung (from a radio I thought initially). Then I came down the steps to see the gloriously decorated tree and see my friends singing. The next year, I decorated, sang and waited for the smiles on the faces of the newbies who were as surprised as I was.” — Pat Bray Owen ’57
Baldwin, both in its academics and in its overall culture, changed everything for me. I made friends for the first time in my life, and I actually started enjoying classes. My grades shot up, and I learned I wasn’t bad at math and science after all. I ended up going to Duke and graduating magna cum laude, which would have been unthinkable to me before Baldwin. I will forever be grateful to Baldwin for the momentous changes it made in my life — to the point that I dedicated my most recent young adult book, Nightstruck, to Baldwin. I also based the school in that novel loosely on Baldwin. Anyone who’s ever walked past the Residence in the fog will recognize the setting of a certain scene! — Jennifer Bellak Barlow, ’83
“I was a boarder, graduating class of ‘55. Those were certainly different times! I came to Baldwin from a small coal mining town in West Virginia. I learned so very many things in my years there — how to get along in a tight knit group of girls for long periods of time, how to use my mind for the very first time and most importantly, how to put my thoughts on paper in a coherent way. I learned from Miss Cross that women should think of themselves as independent people who could accomplish whatever they set out to do. This was radical thinking in the mid-1950s. I had some bumps in the road of my days at Baldwin, and from these trying times I learned resilience — something that has surely served me well in the years that have followed. I will always be grateful to Baldwin for teaching me how to think as well as how to live as productive a life as I could manage.”
— Nancy Bloom Orovitz ’55
“I WAS A BOARDING STUDENT from 9th grade until graduation. On the first night we arrived, Miss Cross met with all new boarders in the Assembly Room. What I remember most from her welcome talk was her saying, “You are all new here. No one knows who you are, so you can be any one you want to be. Make the most of your time at Baldwin.” Her comments made an impression on me, and from then on I was not afraid to be who I wanted to be. I also remember my introduction to the library. As a partial scholarship student, I was assigned to work in the library. Because I hated to shelve books, I offered to pick up the newspapers and bring them down to the library. So after morning Assembly in the Residence, I would walk directly to the library, check in for work, then turn around and walk back up to the Residence mailboxes, pick up the newspapers and hike back down to the library, thus significantly reducing the time to shelve. The impact of my library experience: I became a professional librarian and worked for 35 years in academic and special libraries.” — Anne Griffin Schlosser ’58
“Having started Baldwin in 5th grade, I feel extremely lucky that the bulk of my youth was spent in such an empowering, challenging and supportive environment. My class was one of the smallest, numbering just 35 strong-willed and opinionated young women. The personal attention I got from my teachers was second to none and I loved spending my extracurricular time with classmates working backstage in the theater and writing for/editing The Hourglass. My time as field hockey goalie, however, is best left for history’s lesser noticed footnotes. Baldwin gave me the confidence to explore my curiosity without limits. The leadership skills I learned at Baldwin guided me through several career changes (pre law to theatrical lighting design to web design) and other professional challenges. Now, as creative director of a web design and digital marketing agency in Washington, D.C., there is no doubt in my mind that every one of my professional and personal successes stem from my years at Baldwin. In an industry that is often challenging for women, I have never once doubted what Baldwin instilled in me - that I could be anything I wanted, no matter what.”
— Eve Bell-Simon ’87
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Why I Give
Time, Talent and Treasure
Patti Dietrich (P ’17) Is Happy to Give Patti Dietrich has been an active participant in the Baldwin community since her daughter Jennifer ’17 began Pre-K. She began with involvement in The Baldwin School Parents’ Association (BSPA), as Treasurer and chairing the Gala. The Dietrich’s have also given generous financial gifts to Baldwin throughout their association with the School in addition to Patti’s enormous contribution of time. PARENTAL PRIORITIES: When they became parents, Patti and her husband, Brian, knew they wanted to make education a priority. Patti also felt passionate about being fully available to her children. Running her own technology consulting firm allowed her to consolidate her business to operate exclusively for husband Brian’s law firm, giving Patti the flexibility to make her own schedule and make parenting her top focus. When Jennifer turned four, Patti conducted an exhaustive search of the area’s independent schools. Baldwin was the clear winner and has proven to be the best choice. “Baldwin is just the perfect fit for Jennifer,” Patti said. “She has never given a thought to going anywhere else in 14 years. Baldwin is her home.” STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE: “I was lucky that I had a daughter who liked seeing me around school,” Patti recalls. “She thought it was cool, and I was happy to be there.” The culture of involvement among Baldwin parents meshed perfectly with 18
the Athletic Association for her senior year. Jennifer will be attending Bucknell University for Track and Field in the fall.
Brian, Andrew, Jennifer and Patti Dietrich pose for a family photo during Jennifer’s National Letter of Intent Signing for the track team at Bucknell University. the Dietrich’s desire to be involved in their children’s school experiences. The manner in which the faculty and parents all support each other for the benefit of the girls made it easy to climb the ranks of the BSPA, as Patti held the positions of Treasurer, Vice President, Executive Vice President, President and Past President. Patti joined the Board of Trustees as a full member in 2011 and is currently in her sixth year. She chaired the Board Committees of Admissions for three years, Marketing for one year and the Retention Initiative Task Force for two years. “When it’s your turn, you step up to the plate, and I believe so fully in the School’s mission that it was a pleasure to help in every way.” Over the years the Dietrich’s have been the host to many new families joining the Baldwin community. Understanding the importance of philanthropy, Patti also rose through the ranks of The Baldwin Fund, volunteering as a Fund agent, Division Representative and then Chair for five years. Patti also had the honor of being named a cochair of Baldwin’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, a three-year project that culminated in a yearlong celebration for the School. This year Patti not only volunteers her time as
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Baldwin Fund Co-Chair and Senior Class Parent Representative, she comes full circle as President of Blue Gray, the parent organization dedicated to enhancing Baldwin’s athletic program. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING: Patti believes in the mission of Baldwin, but also in the process the faculty follows, as she has seen the student-driven model shape who her daughter has become. Providing opportunities to take on leadership roles, to allow the girls to make decisions, have hands-on experience and be the driving force behind their education and their activities, fosters a unique confidence and pride in all they do. She sees this guided autonomy as a process that builds upon itself year after year. “Even the bumps in the road seem like they are part of the learning process,” she says. “The girls are given a wide enough berth that they do occasionally struggle or even fail, so they can learn from the experience and come out stronger - that is so important.” In Jennifer’s case, she has excelled in athletics including soccer and track, serving as team captain for both sports; elected Athletic Association representative for all four years in the Upper School and Head of
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE: As Jennifer’s time at Baldwin draws to a close, Patti fully intends to maintain her presence at the School and plans to find an appropriate position to continue her work for Baldwin. While she looks forward to Jennifer becoming a strong female leader throughout her college career and beyond, she knows the importance of ongoing support for the work Baldwin is doing. “The world landscape is ever-changing, and we need Baldwin to be around for another 128 years to continue producing the women who will change our world for the better,” she urges. Patti sees the beginning of Dr. Porges’ tenure as Head of School as an exciting step toward making that happen. She believes someone who has lived through that singular Baldwin “process” of building confidence and leadership skills and who knows what today’s girls are experiencing every day will have a unique perspective on how to move the School forward. “There is a palpable buzz – among the girls, the faculty and in the greater community,” she said. “There is always excitement around ‘the new,’ but this is different; there is a sense of hope and anticipation of great things to come.” With parents like Patti and Brian Dietrich supporting them, the faculty, staff and students will be well poised to secure Baldwin’s position as the premiere all-girls independent college preparatory school for the next 128 years and beyond.
Faculty Footnotes Each year faculty and staff are invited to apply for grants that provide opportunities to explore new areas of their discipline or to recharge after a busy school year. The following grants were awarded in 2015-2016 REED FELLOWSHIP FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Named in honor of Marjorie Lindsay Reed ’39, this award provides funds to further enhance a faculty member’s role in the classroom. Kathy Gates was last year’s recipient. She used the funds to travel to Boston University and attend the 2016 Poetry Institute for K-12 Educators. In addition, in recognition of the National Parks’ Centennial, Kathy visited Arizona and explored National Parks in that area including The Grand Canyon and The Petrified Forest. As a result of this amazing experience, she included a research project about U.S. National Parks in the third grade States unit this year. THE AGNES AND SOPHY DALLAS IRWIN FUND
This fund aims to enrich a teacher’s life and was awarded to both Athena Athopoulos, who traveled to Greece to visit family and friends she had not seen in nine years, and Raphaelina Loke, who traveled to China with her daughter Gabrielle Niu ’06 as her personal docent and tour guide. She visited ancient cities of Chinese civilization – Beijing, Datong, Taiyuan and Xi’an – spending time in museums and cultural heritage sites.
ANNE C. SHOEMAKER FUND This fund includes two grants to be used for personal enrichment or refreshment of self and spirit. This year’s awardees were Tina Yen (Little Shoe), who traveled to Taiwan to spend time with her 96-yearold grandmother and to learn more about her family's history, and Janice Wilke (Big Shoe), who pursued an art pilgrimage with her husband to Amsterdam, Haarlem, Den Hague and Ghent. FRIENDS OF RUTH FIESEL FUND Established in 1986, this award aims to enrich a teacher’s intellectual or cultural life and was awarded this year to Caedmon Haas, who attended a week-long retreat for Latin teachers, where all communication for the week had to be in Latin.
THE LOIS PRESSMAN SABBATICAL FUND This fund was created in 2015 to honor Lois Pressman, teacher and administrator at Baldwin from 1976-2014, allowing a faculty member to pursue new knowledge in a way that will be personally enriching and will have a direct, beneficial impact on students. This year’s recipient was Dr. Gretchen Boger, who traveled to France and Switzerland, her first visit to both countries, both for her own enrichment and to inform her teaching of modern world history. She spent time in Geneva, the Alps, Paris and Normandy.
BALDWIN BENEFITS FUND Established in 1991 by the Parents’ Association, these awards are given for curriculum development or enhancements. Awardees included Matthew Bunn, Stephanie Greer, Fred Kountz, Caitlin McLane and Christy Renninger.
THE BLAIR D. STAMBAUGH AWARD FOR STUDENT AND FACULTY ENRICHMENT
Established in 1999 in honor of Blair D. Stambaugh’s 20th anniversary at Baldwin, this award recognizes cooperation, ingenuity and enrichment. It was presented to Miryam Harvey, who used the funds to lead a 9-day trip to Peru for six Upper School Spanish class students this past June. Miryam and her students experienced first-hand the importance of learning language and history outside of the classroom.
TRUSTEE RECOGNITION AWARD This award recognizes the contribution of a member of the faculty, staff or administration who has gone above and beyond his/her job description for the benefit of the Baldwin community. Both Elizabeth Becker and Emilio Cacciavillani were presented with this award.
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Each year, The Baldwin community comes together to provide lifechanging opportunities in the classroom, art studio, theater and on the field. Your support of The Baldwin Fund allows our students to reach their personal bests and become accomplished women with vision. Your support strengthens our community and allows our students and faculty to thrive. Make an investment in Baldwin’s future today with a gift to The Baldwin Fund by visiting www.baldwinschool.org/gift.
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Spread the Word! Do you know a family that would be a good fit for the Baldwin community? Please share our upcoming spring open house dates with them so they can learn first-hand what an exceptional experience Baldwin provides. Private tours and personalized visits are also available. Contact Admissions: Admissions@baldwinschool.org (610) 525-2700 x290
Schedule your visit today: MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL March 9 LOWER SCHOOL March 16 ALL SCHOOL April 19 Register at BaldwinSchool.org/openhouse.