Dwight Today Summer 2016

Summer 2016

DWIGHT TODAY A Magazine for the Global Dwight Community

Volume 11, Number 2

DWIGHT’S GLOBAL VISION

PREPARING STUDENTS TO THRIVE ANYWHERE

FIVE GLOBAL CAMPUSES

AT CARNEGIE HALL

SCOTT ROSENBERG ’85

CHAMPIONING CHANGE IN AFRICA

JAYA BHAVNANI

BUILDS A WORLDWIDE CLASSROOM A TICKET TO GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

DWIGHT STUDENT TRIPS

Dwight is dedicated to igniting the spark of genius in every child. Kindling their interests, we develop inquisitive, knowledgeable, self-aware, and ethical citizens who will build a better world.

DWIGHT TODAY

Feature Stories Five Global Campuses at Carnegie Hall

Jaya Bhavnani Builds a World-wide Classroom

A Ticket to Global Leadership: Dwight Student Trips

Scott Rosenberg ’85: Championing Change in Africa

Hats Off to Our 2016 Graduates!

Plus Foundation, alumni, and more

Laurie Silbersweig Editorial Director

Emily Chase Design Director

Kerry Tkacik Associate Editor

Louisa Childs Head of Communications

Photography: Ivan Halpern, Jill Levine, Stan Schnier, Mike Sheehan, Ilene Squires, Ann Liu Suwen, Dwight staff Printing: Queen City Printers Inc., Burlington, VT Copyright © 2016: Dwight School

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CHANCELLOR’S LETTER | DWIGHT TODAY

Dear Dwight Community, Five Dwight Schools stretching across three continents share the same singular commitment to igniting the spark of genius in every child. No matter where in the world students attend Dwight, they are inspired to find their passions and excel in their own unique ways.

Dwight students are also united through the universal International Baccalaureate curriculum, which was designed to cross — and transcend — national boundaries. IB schools like ours envisioned a world in which students everywhere were equipped with the communication and critical thinking skills needed to bridge cultures and countries to collaborate and solve problems on a global scale. So, too, does the IB provide the ideal framework for educating global citizens who are agile, highly desirable job candidates poised for success in our increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Our IB curriculum also offers ample opportunities for Dwight students to learn together and explore common units of inquiry across date and time zones. We extend this collaborative approach well beyond the classroom, as Dwight global students come together to showcase their talents in arts programs, including the 20x20 Exhibit and our annual Carnegie Hall concert;

and through exchange programs that put them into the shoes of their peers living in other countries. You will read about these enriching eye- and mind-opening experiences in this issue of Dwight Today — all of which are designed to have a lasting impact. That is our express goal.

As members of the Class of 2016, who most recently celebrated their milestone graduations on Dwight campuses around the world, move on to the next leg in their educational journeys, they do so equipped with the skills and ambition to develop innovative solutions to international challenges and to take their place as the next generation of global leaders.

We extend our congratulations to all of our 2016 graduates and welcome them as the newest members of our dynamic global network of alumni. No matter where life takes them, they will always share a common educational experience that will bind them together for a lifetime. And they will always have a home at Dwight.

Fondly, Stephen H. Spahn Chancellor of Dwight School

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DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

A PASSPORT TO THE

CUISINES OF THE WORLD

We mixed, mingled, and enjoyed tasting the many delicious treats that were prepared in abundance at this year’s International Food Festival. Curated

by Dwight’s global community, the food took us on a gastronomic journey around the world — and back! Thank you to the Dwight Parents Association for planning this great event!

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INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL | DWIGHT TODAY

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DWIGHT TODAY | GLOBAL VISION

Five Global Campuses

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#DwightCarnegieHall | DWIGHT TODAY

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DWIGHT TODAY | GLOBAL VISION

Feet were tapping, hands were clapping, and smiles were a mile wide! And when it was over, the audience was on its feet applauding the 221 Dwight students from around the world who performed on the illustrious Carnegie Hall stage in our 2016 global concert entitled “Music for Dance.”

Students traveled to New York for the big event from Dwight campuses in London, Seoul, and Shanghai. They were joined by those participating in our Open World Program and students from the ICL Academy for Film and Performing Arts in Los Angeles, making for the largest number of performers to participate in this Dwight annual event since it began more than a decade ago.

An ambitious program that united the two closest art forms, music and dance, this year’s cross-campus concert was a stunning success that involved students spanning grades 4-12. Musicians and singers were paired with dancers to perform a wide repertoire, from classical to jazz, and from Chinese traditional folk music to pop. While they had been preparing for months on their own campuses, it was only during the week of the concert that they all gathered in New York to rehearse together. With the support of their music and dance directors — and an amazing amount of talent — the students performed together seamlessly.

It was not all work and no play, when students touched down in New York! They had time to visit some museums, tour The Big Apple, socialize, and forge friendships in between concert preparations.

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#DwightCarnegieHall | DWIGHT TODAY

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DWIGHT TODAY | GLOBAL VISION

“This year, our concert brought the Dwight cross-campus collaborative process to life in every way,” reports Music Director Alistair Hamilton. “It included music and dance orchestrated, choreographed, and composed by faculty and students from around the world. Students auditioned virtually, and music directors from our international schools shared ideas and cultural traditions the same way, before meeting in New York to rehearse and perform as one family. This process illustrates the benefits of being part of an active global network of schools that values the arts and provides students with unprecedented opportunities, such as performing together at Carnegie Hall.”

While it was hard to say good-bye, students have been keeping in touch via social media and met up again this spring for exchange programs in London (grade 5), Seoul (grade 7), and Shanghai (grade 9). These memorable experiences and connections will last a lifetime.

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#DwightCarnegieHall | DWIGHT TODAY

Carnegie Hall —

A Global Collaboration

TRULY A GLOBAL EXTRAVAGANZA, THE CONCERT FEATURED OVER 200 STUDENT AND FACULTY PERFORMERS FROM DWIGHT CAMPUSES WORLDWIDE. HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM EACH CAMPUS: From opening both acts, to leading the throwback toe-tapping finale — an ABBA medley — New York students anchored the show. They performed contemporary, jazz, classical, and opera pieces, and also accompanied their global peers with music, vocals, and dance.

Unforgettable Chinese cultural flavor was contributed by students from Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School, who performed two native folksongs featuring the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument; a lively Urgur folk dance; wearing beautiful bright red costumes; and including multi-media elements.

Seoul students treated the audience to a classical piano duet and led musicians from all of The Dwight Schools in “Happy,” the spirited penultimate number.

Dwight School Seoul musicians also played a

variety of instruments, including the harpsichord, double bass, drums, and piano.

London students kept the beat with guiros, an agogo bell, a repique, and a quica — all Latin American percussion instruments — during a rousing samba.

Their moving rendition of “Dance with My Father,” a contemporary ballad, was accompanied by a dancer from the ICL Academy for Film and Performing Arts.

Open World students pursuing their spark of genius in dance added stunning ballet accompaniment to several scores. The ICL Academy for Film and Performing Arts contributed a stirring performance of a contemporary song, “Human,” and a short video capturing “behind the scenes” rehearsal experiences.

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DWIGHT TODAY | FACULTY Q&A

JAYA BHAVNANI

BUILDS A WORLD-WIDE CLASSROOM DWIGHT HAS LONG BEEN AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN INTRODUCING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, SO IT’S NO WONDER THAT DWIGHT WAS AMONG THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS TO INTRODUCE IB COURSES ONLINE. HEADING UP THIS EXCITING INITIATIVE IS JAYA BHAVNANI, WHO FIRST CAME TO DWIGHT IN 2010 TO TEACH MATHEMATICS. WE SAT DOWN WITH MS. BHAVNANI TO LEARN ABOUT HER JOURNEY FROM INSIDE THE CLASSROOM TO THE ONLINE GLOBAL CLASSROOM. A GOOGLE SEARCH BROUGHT YOU TO DWIGHT ORIGINALLY. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT? I was teaching math and physics at an IB school in Santiago, Chile, and planning to visit my daughter in Syracuse during break. Knowing that I was going to have a very long layover in New York City — and ever-curious about IB education — I googled IB schools here and two came up: Dwight and UNIS. I wrote to both to see if I could arrange for a campus visit, but it was the summertime and only Dwight responded. I met Chancellor Spahn and coinciden-

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tally, there was an opening in the Math Department. Long story short, I joined Dwight and couldn’t be happier!

WHAT DREW YOU TO TEACHING? Growing up, I always wanted to be a scientist. I loved physics and math ... and Einstein and Newton.

I went to Bombay University and graduated with a BA in Science and a Master’s degree in Mathematics. When I graduated, I needed to work and found a teaching position where I had gone to high

JAYA BHAVNANI | DWIGHT TODAY

school. When I entered the ninth grade chemistry classroom for the first time, I loved it right away. I found working with children

worldwide to pilot online courses and it was a game-changing moment. We were building it from the ground up, but of course,

The IB curriculum at Dwight is inquiry-based and promotes the development of peaceful, innovative, and creative people, which is what we need in today’s world.

to be inspiring and I never looked back. I thought I had been a fool to want to be a scientist!

I earned another graduate degree in education and when my husband, an engineer, was relocated for work, we moved to the Sultanate of Oman for five years, where I taught the Indian curriculum at the Indian Central School in Muscat. We relocated again to Dubai, where I taught the British curriculum in the Dubai GEMS School for seven years. I really enjoyed living in Dubai, which is close to India, enabling us to visit family easily. From there, we moved to Chile for another seven years. It was at Santiago College, where I taught the third curriculum — the IB. I found it to be the very best of all three and wanted to learn more, which led me to google IB schools in New York and ... you know the rest!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE IB? The IB curriculum at Dwight is inquiry-based and promotes the development of peaceful, innovative, and creative people, which is what we need in today’s world. I am passionate about the IB mission, Learner Profile, and dedication to providing a holistic international education to empower tomorrow’s leaders. The IB doesn’t just “talk the talk,” it “walks the walk” by putting principles into action in the classroom. At Dwight, we all live and breathe the mission. And because Dwight is an international community, the IB comes alive in so many additional interesting and innovative ways.

As a fan of the IB and part of the IB Educators Network, I have also led IB workshops, serve as a moderator and examiner for the IB, and as a site visitor and consultant to schools seeking IB authorization.

WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE IB TO LIFE ONLINE CAME ALONG, WHAT DID YOU ENVISION? It was such an exciting prospect not just for me but also for Dwight!

Dwight was selected by the IB as one of six original schools

our program was rooted in Dwight’s long-standing expertise and we could draw on our collective experiences in the classroom to bring the best teaching to students without access to an IB education through our Open World. We envisioned a Dwight campus without borders.

HOW HAS DWIGHT’S ONLINE PROGRAM GROWN? We started with 12 courses and just a handful of students in 2014 and have grown to 17 IB courses plus 13 AP courses and 80 students all over the world. Students pursue online courses for a variety of reasons: They might be homeschooled or seeking flexibility in their schedule to pursue their passions at a high level, such as athletes and performers. Or they may want to add challenging coursework to their high school transcripts, or like some Dwight students, they may wish to take advanced classes over the summer.

Currently, we have 20 online students in the ICL Academy for Film and Performing Arts in LA; several of whom flew to New York in February to participate in our global concert at Carnegie Hall. So did four students who are studying at the nation’s top ballet schools and taking their high school classes online with us.

It was wonderful to see their amazing talents shine on stage. Of course, I know them as students, but to discover them as gifted filmmakers and performers was thrilling!

In addition, some of Hollywood’s brightest young actors are Dwight online students, including: Yara Shahidi of the ABC hit series “Blackish,” and winner of an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress and recipient of a Young Women’s Leadership Network award; and Disney star of “Girl Meets World” Rowan Blanchard. We also have students who want to be professional athletes, training and competing in sports, ranging from tennis and basketball to hockey and ice skating.

More and more students will be joining us each year.

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DWIGHT TODAY | FACULTY Q&A

WHAT MAKES DWIGHT’S OPEN WORLD INNOVATIVE AND UNIQUE? Many of the same things that make Dwight School innovative and unique. First and foremost, it is student-centered. We offer students the choice to take online classes alone or to pursue a blended learning experience in which they spend some time on campus doing lab work, meeting with teachers, and participating in activities. Either way, they become part of the Dwight community, receive college counseling, and benefit from the same personalization that we provide to students in the classroom. We pride ourselves on our flexibility and aim to provide the most personalized online private school education available.

Dwight has a long tradition of academic excellence and now we offer those attracted to learning through technology an engaging and rigorous educational experience. We use the latest learning platform, will be adding new courses, and were so excited to have our first graduation ceremony this June!

I have to thank my team for the success of the program and, of course, thank Dwight’s senior leadership for making me part of their vision of a global virtual classroom. It has been a highly

Ms. Bhavnani as a student in India

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rewarding experience to see how successful and happy our teachers and students are!

WHAT IS YOUR SPARK OF GENIUS? It is finding solutions to complex problems with a positive attitude.

I really enjoy tackling challenges and problem-solving. For two years, in addition to teaching and before I devoted my time to the Open World Program full-time, I was the Director of Scheduling for Dwight, which entails moving countless pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle around to fit every student’s needs and within the teaching spaces we have available on campus. The most challenging of all was scheduling classes for students who, for example, wanted to take all three IB science courses with labs or three languages at the same time. We never said no to a family and always found a way to make it work. I do the same for our online students.

WHAT IS A LITTLE-KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOU? I am a passionate Bollywood fan! I love Indian music, and the Bollywood film industry just so happens to be based in my hometown.

No matter where in the world I go, I always stay true to my roots.

JAYA BHAVNANI | DWIGHT TODAY

DWIGHT’S OPEN WORLD PROGRAM/ THE PREMIER CHOICE FOR ONLINE LEARNING

program

TYPES OF PROGRAMS: Purely online classes only, or “blended” programs, where students take online classes and also participate in on-campus activities

• What it is: Online high school courses, including IB and AP Empowering online learning with Pamoja • Who it’s for: Students seeking an exceptional, personalized, and rigorous college preparatory experience in a more flexible setting • Director: Jaya Bhavnani

“Black-ish” star and Open World student Yara Shahidi attended the White House Annual Science Fair.

at Dwight

WHEN IT STARTED: 2012

FIRST GRADUATION: 2016

NUMBER OF STUDENTS: Over 50 students completing all courses online and over 30 doing partial coursework

NUMBER OF CLASSES OFFERED: Over 60 classes will be in 2016-17

GRADES:

Open World students from both coasts came together in person – many for the first time – for the Carnegie Hall concert.

Currently 9-12, with a Middle School program starting in 2016-17

HOME CITY OF STUDENT WHO IS FARTHEST AWAY: Hong Kong

STUDENTS’ SPARKS OF GENIUS: It runs the gamut! Ballet, hockey, tennis, acting, figure skating, and others

In June, the program celebrated its first graduating class in an intimate celebration in Dwight’s Quad.

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Bentley House theater students dazzled the crowd with a performance of One Man, Two Guvnors.

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DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

SKATING — AND SHINING BRIGHTLY — UNDER THE STARS!

Thank you to our Parents Association for hosting another fun-filled ice skating party in Central Park. Dwight’s mascot, Augustus, joined in the festivities with students and their families. He demonstrated some smooth moves on the ice!

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LEADERSHIP PROGRAM | DWIGHT TODAY

Sixth Graders Demonstrate Leadership:

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Sixth graders found themselves doing something they’ve never done before. How they navigated unknown waters successfully is both a testament to them and to the Middle School leadership program Dwight launched this year.

What did they do? They planned, cooked, and served a dinner to their parents ... they created a pop-up restaurant, if you will, in Dwight’s Quad, as the culminating event of their ten-week program.

“Our goal was to provide students with a variety of learning and experiential opportunities, in keeping with Dwight’s vision of educating the next generation of global leaders,” says Head of Middle School Ron Posner. “Sixth graders learned about different leadership characteristics and styles before tackling a group project in which they took on different roles and collaborated to bring it to fruition.”

“By putting students in unfamiliar situations, they build grit and resiliency. Research shows this will help them prosper later in life,” explains Mr. Posner. “We came up with the dinner idea, which had limitations such as trying to cook without a kitchen! We had to improvise.

Students researched different means of preparing food and devised a way to serve a hot meal without a stove or oven.”

The solution? To sous vide (seal food and cook it in a temperature-controlled bath).

Students met with food industry experts, thanks to a three-way community partnership among Dwight; alum Jacob Hadjigeorgis ’02, owner of Jacob’s Pickles restaurant and creator of Jacob’s Pickles Digs NY, a non-profit supporting urban farming in New York City; and The Insurgo Project, founded by chef Harold Villarosa to nurture farm-to-table and sustainability practices. Sixth graders learned about these practices from the pros, along with methods of meal planning, food handling, customer service, etc.

Throughout, students enhanced their IB “approaches to learning” (ATL) skills: thinking, research, communication, collaboration, and self-management. They divided into working groups: operations, front of house, back of house, marketing … they perused cookbooks, designed the menus and invitations … decided who would cook, serve, entertain, and lead

as general manager based on individual strengths and talents.

Grit. Determination. Raising each other up.

Doing your job and doing it well, so you don’t let anyone on your team down … so they can do their jobs. These are ingredients for cooking up leadership skills in a microcosm such as a restaurant. And these are the ingredients sixth graders mixed so well. They were deservedly proud of their accomplishments: “We did it, we pulled it off! Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and no one could have done this alone. We couldn’t have done it without each other.” – Gwynne “We basically ran a business for a night and learned a life lesson about how to come together as a group to achieve something big like a business.” – Bernardo “Everyone stuck to their task. We really got into the moment, were one unit, and had fun. We were proud of the outcome; the food was great, the parents enjoyed seeing us at our best. Learning leadership skills is more than important — it’s required. You have to learn how to take charge in any situation … good, bad, fun, scary.” – Luca

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20 TULIP GARDEN

COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM

ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTER OF NEW YORK

MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE [3]

TUCKER SQUARE GREENMARKET NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

CENTRAL PARK ZOO

TD BANK HAN DYNASTY RESTAURANT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART [5] CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN REDEEMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY [15] BELVEDERE CASTLE, CENTRAL PARK PURE YOGA NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOILA CHOCOLAT APPLE STORE THE MARJORIE S. DEANE LITTLE THEATER TRADER JOE’S [8]

PHELPS HOUSE RESIDENCE [4]

THE NEW YORK BUDDHIST CHURCH

THE BRONX HIGH SCHOOL OF SCIENCE THE CLOISTERS STONE BARNS CENTER [1]

Dwight students not only travel the globe, they also visit a wealth of destinations in The Big Apple on field trips that tie into, and supplement, what they’re learning in the classroom. Here are just some of their stops.

#NYCIsOurClassroom

MORRIS-JUMEL MANSION

DWIGHT TODAY | OUR URBAN CAMPUS

ARTIST STUDIO

CHELSEA MARKET

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY FRENCH INSTITUTE ALLIANCE FRANCAISE

ELLIS ISLAND [13]

AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND BROOKLYN ROBOT FOUNDRY [10]

NEW YORK CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER [14]

IFC CENTER

MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE

BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC GREENWOOD CEMETERY [11] CONEY ISLAND [12] CONSTRUCTIONKIDS WEAVING HAND NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM

MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA ELDRIDGE STREET SYNAGOGUE

TENEMENT MUSEUM

LA MAMA EXPERIMENTAL THEATER CLUB

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY THE PUBLIC THEATER

LAB SCHOOL UNION SQUARE GREENMARKET RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART

BREADS BAKERY

MATERIALS FOR THE ARTS NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE [9]

UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS [6] BARRYMORE THEATRE RICHARD RODGERS THEATRE BOWLMOR TIMES SQUARE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF THE ARTS EVERY MOTHER COUNTS

PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN LOWER SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL UPPER SCHOOL

LEGEND

ST. LUKE'S THEATRE

SAMUEL J. FRIEDMAN THEATRE

PAULA COOPER GALLERY JACK SHAINMAN GALLERY DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY

LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER TENAFLY NATURE CENTER

CARNEGIE HALL

BROADWAY COMEDY CLUB

LINCOLN PLAZA CINEMAS NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY STEELCASE SHOWROOM

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DWIGHT TODAY | GLOBAL VISION

A TICKET TO GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

DWIGHT STUDENT TRIPS

“Shadowing students around Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School for just two days has taught me more about the culture of youth in China than I could have ever learned from a textbook.

I have been fortunate enough not only to have the chance to follow them around, but to be able to connect with them as if I had known them for at least a few months.” – Maxwell Feiner

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03 MARCH SHANGHAI PUDONG AIRPORT

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LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT

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SEOUL INCHEON AIRPORT

On just the second day in Shanghai, ninth grader Maxwell said it better than we could: There is no substitute for experience … no substitute for learning by doing. Dwight’s commitment to educating the next generation of global leaders is brought to life a number of ways — through the International Baccalaureate curriculum, through our diverse community of faculty and students hailing from over 40 countries, through our culture of global-mindedness — but perhaps nowhere as immediately and profoundly as through exchange programs with Dwight campuses that span three continents.

This year, Dwight was delighted to extend its long-standing tradition of exchanges for fifth graders with our campus in London by launching two new programs: one for ninth graders with Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School and another for seventh graders with Dwight School Seoul.

EXCHANGES | DWIGHT TODAY

DESTINATION SHANGHAI: MARCH Some of the ninth graders on the trip had met Dwight students from Shanghai just a month prior, when SHANGHAI they performed together in our PUDONG global concert at Carnegie Hall in AIRPORT February. It was great for them to reconnect so soon thereafter; for others, new friendships were quickly forged during the trip. Together, they stayed in dorms, attended classes, and shared their cultural traditions both formally through performances at assemblies and informally by bonding as teenagers.

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Students visited Old Water Town, Ling Yin Temple and Green Tree Plantation, the Shanghai Museum and Urban Planning Exhibition, marketplaces, and so much more. They were on the go non-stop, beginning with early-morning exercises that are part of the daily routine of students in Shanghai. Stepping into their shoes, students from New York reflected on the eye-opening experience in their blog:

“Over the course of this trip, I was given the chance to meet many Dwight Qibao students and to shadow them throughout their school day. I found this aspect of the trip to be the most interesting, fun, and enriching. When we first met, I was so amazed to see how much I could connect with them over school classes/life and just about being a student in general. I also discovered, that they are interested in the same movies, music, and books as I am, which is really cool being that they live in a different country with a completely different culture.

Other times, I bonded with the students were at the zoo and playing sports, which was really fun. I think that I learned the most from meeting the students because I really learned about Chinese culture while finding the ways that our lives are different.” – Damini Kohli “From New York to Shanghai, what a difference there is! Before I came to China, I didn’t really realize what I had been missing … I was awed by the beautiful sights and interesting culture … I believe that going with a group of friends to China for my first time opened up my mind to trying different things … The places we got to see were so wonderful and I got to learn so much.” – Regina Castellanos Matus “Before the trip I wasn’t sure what to expect of Shanghai. I had heard it was a cultural hub, where a myriad of varied schools of thought, eth-

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DWIGHT TODAY | GLOBAL VISION

nicities, and religious groups coexisted. This description of the city made me realize that in many ways Shanghai is similar to New York. This city proved to be an extremely culturally rich one, with delightful and varied cuisines, and museums with incredible artifacts and artwork … Staying at Dwight Qibao was also very interesting because we got to experience and learn about the Chinese students’ lifestyle … Now I can successfully describe Shanghai to people. Shanghai has the same fast-paced, big-city vibe that New York does and like New York, it’s very versatile in every sense … It was a very eye-opening and educational trip; by far my favorite school trip!” – Anika Jeyaranjan As hoped, students returned to campus with new perspectives, expanded world views, and enriched by the experiences they shared

in Shanghai. And as hoped, they came home with one thing more: “I made a lot of friends whom I hope to keep in touch with. I now am looking forward to Carnegie next year because I know I will see many Qibao students who I met in the last ten days!” – Damini Kohli

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EXCHANGES | DWIGHT TODAY

DESTINATION SEOUL: APRIL Seventh graders who ventured to Dwight, situated in the heart of Seoul’s Digital Media City (the Silicon Valley of Korea), received a warm SEOUL INCHEON welcome before diving into their AIRPORT week-long adventure in one of Asia’s most interesting capitals; Seoul is distinguished simultaneously by its rich history dating back 2,000 years and cutting-edge technology as the world’s most wired city.

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Students spent time with their cohorts at Dwight School Seoul, attending classes in design; media; and in the Korean language and culture, including traditional music, cooking, and Taekwondo.

When students ventured beyond campus, their itinerary was filled morning to night with visits to the beautiful Mt. Buk-ak trail and Cheonggyecheon Stream, the ancient Gyeongbokgung Palace and Buddhist Jogyesa Temple, the bustling Namdaemun Market, Namsan Tower, Namsan Hanok Village, several museums, and more.

Upon their return to New York, students shared their impressions of this wonderful experience with their classmates through a presentation in both words and pictures. Here are just a few of their reflections: “My experience in Korea was great.

We saw a different culture, different city, and we learned new things about the world.” – Fernando

“On Thursday afternoon, we went to Namsan Hanok Village and did three activities. We first tried on the traditional Korean ‘Han-Bok.’ The girls tried on long skirts, chima; and a short jacket, jeogori. The boys tried on pants, baji; a vest, jokki; and a top under the vest. Next, we went to a calligraphy class where we learned how to write some words in Korean: happiness, haengbog; love, salang; friendship, woo jong; and peace, pyeonghwa. Later we put them on canvases. Lastly, we made bowls out of the traditional Korean paper called hanji. We had a lot of fun learning more about the traditional Korean culture.” – Bella “The trip overall was very interesting because I got to experience a new culture that was very different than mine. While I enjoyed every activity that we did, the Temple really stood out for me. I recommend to sixth graders that they take this trip next year!” – Gabriella

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DWIGHT TODAY | GLOBAL VISION

DESTINATION LONDON: MAY For nearly two decades, Dwight students in grade five have headed across the pond for their first experience abroad. This year’s class couldn’t LONDON HEATHROW have been more excited to be paired AIRPORT with Dwight School London buddies, stay with their host families, and jump into their seats on double-decker buses and the tube to take in the city’s monumental and historic sites, including the Tower of London, Big Ben, the London Dungeon, the Houses of Parliament, Scotland Yard, 10 Downing Street, Covent Garden, the British Science Museum, Borough Market, and the London Eye … not to mention, a Harry Potter tour!

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As the week unfolded, students tasted new foods, embraced a new culture, and bonded as a class with each other and with their London buddies. Their trip blog illustrated that they were learning a great deal and having an awesome time. After saying good-bye to their friends, they didn’t have to wait more than a hair’s breadth to see them again; their London buddies boarded a plane just one week later headed for New York for a reciprocal exchange program!

They, too, stayed with host families while exploring many of The Big Apple’s most notable spots and attractions.

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By stepping into the shoes of peers in other countries, Dwight students broaden their perspectives, develop lasting connections, and return home forever enriched by the experience. Each trip is another stop on their journey of becoming the next generation of global leaders.

GLOBAL COLLABORATION | DWIGHT TODAY

BRINGING THE DWIGHT GLOBAL FAMILY TOGETHER

“What we think, we become.” This ancient Buddhist saying was the theme of our 2015-16 20x20 Exhibit, a collection of artwork created by students across The Dwight Schools. The global artistic collaboration traveled to and from Dwight campuses around the world, with New York as the last stop on this year’s tour.

The 20x20 Exhibit was the brainchild of one student, Jin Hanbyul Lee ’16 of Dwight School Seoul, who had an idea two years ago to spark a global conversation and unite our network of schools in an exciting and creative project. He invited students in grades 6-12 from each campus to participate in a thought-provoking dialogue and contribute their individual interpretations to an exhibit that would journey around the world.

With no limits placed on creativity, and a few logistical considerations in mind — each piece

THROUGH ART

would have to be the same size — 20x20 inches — and capable of being shipped flat in just one package that would make its way from school to school, the exhibit concept was born.

As the call to participate spread across Dwight campuses, a flourish of artistic activity ensued.

Students were eager to share their creative sparks of genius. Each school contributed 20 multimedia works of art showcasing a wealth of collective talent and intriguing individual perspectives. This year was no different; and with our new campus in Shanghai, even more students participated.

We want to thank Jin for his imagination and leadership in uniting our global family in this creative collaboration, which has become an annual tradition, illustrating that global vision is more than a pillar — it’s a way of life.

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DWIGHT TODAY | ON CAMPUS

THE STUDIO

AT RIVERSIDE CAMPUS

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RIVERSIDE CAMPUS STUDIO | DWIGHT TODAY

Innovation is at its most organic state in the younger years. That’s why we developed our very own STEAM lab: The Studio.

— Chris Allen, Head of Dwight Preschool & Kindergarten

A studio is where ideas take form and flight. And that’s exactly what happens in ours — a maker space in which preschool and kindergarten students create and explore ... in which the boundaries between art and science blur ... and in which learning centers are customized to spark each student’s curiosity.

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DWIGHT TODAY | INNOVATION 2.0

DWIGHT’S SPARK TANK As the year drew to a close, students were putting the finishing touches on their presentations to The Dwight School Foundation Spark Tank Committee in the last of three

Spark Tank events this academic year. Some were excited to demonstrate their progress over the last few months; others were feeling the jitters that can come from presenting new

CONTINUES TO FUEL STUDENT INNOVATION

inventions — all were well prepared, thanks to the help of Spark Tank faculty mentors.

Spark Tank is an incubator designed to nurture innovation, entrepreneurship, and

We were delighted to hear from students who returned for another round of feedback.

They listened to initial suggestions and implemented them quite well. So, too, were we delighted to welcome new students who have just begun to work on developing their Spark Tank projects.

— Dave Lindsey, Spark Tank Committee Chair leadership in Dwight’s community. Students who have novel ideas and inventions work in this unique year-round program with mentors Matt Moran, Head of Technology and Innovation; Bentley Ferraina, Quest Teacher; Steve Farnsworth, Upper School Design Tech Teacher; and Alana Zussman, Timothy House Technology Teacher.

Faculty guide students through five stages of project development: idea, research, prototype, execution, and launch stages.

Together, they design, tinker, think, rethink, re-tool, and revise.

Some of our young entrepreneurs have also been matched with mentors on the Foundation’s Spark Tank Committee comprised of

MARIA’S OWN Project RUNWAY Fifth grader Maria presented her spring/summer line of children’s clothes in a runway fashion show held in The Great Hall, featuring her classmates as models. Inspired by all the colors of the ocean, from the water and fish to coral reefs, Maria designed a collection that transported us to the seashore!

One of several students participating in Dwight’s Spark Tank — a unique incubator designed to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship — Maria coordinated the event under the guidance of two mentors from The Dwight School Foundation’s Spark Tank Committee: Drew Pizzo (Isabella ’15, Stefano ’18) and Jessica Capiraso (Gwynne ’22, Grace ’25).

She also enlisted help from faculty mentor Matt Moran and Director of Special Events Libby Clark. Congratulations to Maria on a fabulous show!

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SPARK TANK | DWIGHT TODAY

In the second and third Spark Tank events, students took to the stage and were welcomed by judges of the Spark Tank Committee, which includes: Chair Dave Lindsey (David ’18, Maggie ’19, Jackie Ray ’21), Patricia Abadie Capel (Nicolas ’26, Lucas ’30), Jyotsna Bean ’96, Jessica Capiraso (Gwynne ’22, Grace ’25), Paul Dean (Sophia ’19), Daniel Klein (Theo ’15, Mae ’19, Hippolyte ’28), Maarten Maaskant (Junior Nicolle ’19), Drew Pizzo (Isabella ’15, Stefano ’18), and Nuno Teles (Mada ’19, Maria ’22). A more informal Spark Tank event, where students presented around a conference table rather than from the stage, was also convened for new Timothy House presenters.

After a Q&A with each presenter or group of presenters, judges offered their expertise and later convened to evaluate the presentations in greater detail and document their feedback in writing. Mr. Lindsey commended the students on their progress. “It’s an honor to serve on the Committee, which is innovating alongside the Spark Tank program. Our passion as judges is to fan the flames inside all of you. We were delighted to hear from students who returned for another round of feedback. They listened to initial suggestions and implemented them quite well. So, too, were we delighted to welcome new students who have just begun to work on developing their Spark Tank projects. No matter their stage of development, they all begin with an idea!” Congratulations one and all!

A NUMBER OF STUDENTS TOOK THE PLUNGE AND PRESENTED NEW IDEAS IN THE SECOND AND THIRD SPARK TANK EVENTS OF THE YEAR: JACK BASORA ’18 DAVID LINDSEY ’18 ILAN PESSELEV ’18 PRODUCT NAME: SUIVANT NYC

NEW TO THE TANK

industry experts from the Dwight community, deepening their experiences. Spark Tank is part of The Dwight School Foundation’s larger Spark of Innovation Program created to encourage K-12 students to apply for grants to help take their creative concepts with real-world applications into the marketplace.

THE DETAILS: Backpack hooks made with 3D printers DANIIL FRANTS ’17 PRODUCT NAME: RADIATION DIFFRACTOR

THE DETAILS:

A device for teachers that demonstrates a complicated physics concept

THE DETAILS: A line of men’s clothing for and by youth

AADAM AMANAT ’17 DENNIS DANILOV ’17 DANIIL FRANTS ’17 GRAHAM GUTHART ’17 WILLEM MOLKENBOER ’17 PRODUCT NAME: 3D PRINTED WALL HOOKS DANIIL FRANTS ’17 ETHAN STAMATAKIS ’17 PRODUCT NAME: STAM

THE DETAILS:

A line of backpacks and other fashion items with hand-painted art

MINI-TANK INVENTORS

MATEUS ’24 PROJECT: A music app to help kids with stage fright

ZOE ’24 PROJECT: An active play-date app

AUDREY ’25 PROJECT: Creating and selling children’s books to raise money for endangered marine life GRACE ’25 DANIELLE ’25 PROJECT: Helping kids eat healthier food

LULU ’25 PROJECT: A cooking kit for kids MAYA ’25 PROJECT: Afterschool tutoring by kids for kids

AVA ’25 NIKA ’25 ALY ’25 PROJECT: Teaching people about sewing unique things ELI ’25 EDEL ’25 HENRY ’25 PROJECT: A toy to ease the pain of shots for children with hemophilia MAX ’25 JONAH ’25 FOUAD ’25 PROJECT: Hair products for children

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DWIGHT TODAY | INNOVATION 2.0

SPARK TANK LEVELS CHECKLIST

IT ALL STARTS WITH A GREAT IDEA! WITH ONE IN MIND, STUDENTS WORK TO ADVANCE THROUGH FIVE SPARK TANK LEVELS. LEVEL 1 - IDEA • Explain the problem to be solved • Describe the main features of existing products and solutions • Justify why a new solution is necessary • Develop a proposal for a new solution LEVEL 2 - RESEARCH • Develop a list of criteria for success and test the criteria with the intended audience • Research and test options for producing the product or service • Outline a plan to produce the solution, including time and resources needed • Produce a draft budget LEVEL 3 - PROTOTYPE • Create a prototype of the product (or a pilot of the service) • Test the prototype with the intended audience and collect feedback from trials • Create a plan for developing the proto type into a finished product • Produce a detailed budget including costs and pricing LEVEL 4 - EXECUTION • Refine the prototype to produce a finished product that is ready for the intended users • Develop inventories (or other capacities) to meet the demand of the intended users • Set up processes for sharing the project with the intended users (e.g., taking orders, processing funds, etc.)

• Define the needs of the project as it pro gresses to launch stage LEVEL 5 - LAUNCH* • Produce a marketing plan and marketing materials • Provide the product or service to the in tended audience • Develop staff and ongoing support to make the project sustainable *Students who successfully complete Level 5 receive a $2,500 college scholarship

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Spark Tank Project OurDwight Named of Dwight School Born from his tenth grade Personal Project, OurDwight is the popular app created by Calvin Solomon ’17 to provide students with the latest information and happenings on campus. Since introducing it last year, Calvin has further developed his app through Spark Tank and seen it become an indispensable resource for our whole community. We congratulate Calvin on reaching the fifth of five Spark Tank project development stages: product launch! This achievement entitles him to a $2,500 college scholarship from The Dwight School Foundation. And we couldn’t be more delighted to announce that OurDwight will become our school’s official mobile app this fall!

OurDwight Try Dwight School’s New Mobile App! Bringing Dwight School to Your Fingertips

• Daily bulletins • Cycle day reminders • News and announcements • Instant sports updates • Faculty and staff directory • Photos, videos, and more

www.dwight.edu/app

DWIGHT TODAY | FOUNDATION UPDATE

• Student financial aid grants to 62 students • Funding for over 160 faculty professional de velopment grants • Funding for Spark Tank innovation grants • Funding for Art Spark grants for opportunities beyond the classroom • Community building with the annual Spring Benefit, alumni reunions and events, and Volunteer Appreciation gatherings • Volunteering to make a difference: The Board of Trustees, Annual Fund Committee, Spring Benefit Committee, Senior Gift Committee, Alumni Council, Spark Tank Committee, and Art Spark Committee

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Is Dwight in your carry on this summer?

Stock up on Dwight gear by visiting the school store at www.dwight.edu/store

PHONE POUCH ULTRA-SOFT SWEATSHIRT

STUDENT-DESIGNED NEW CONCEPT SUNGLASSES *NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

TO-GO MUG

RALLY TOWEL

BEACH TOTE

BASEBALL CAP

DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

PUUUULLLLL! Lower School students competed on color teams at our annual Field Day, held at the Dwight School Athletic Center.

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FIELD DAY | DWIGHT TODAY

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DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

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• SWIMMING: LOTTE PAULIS ’17 GRABBED GOLD AND SET AN ACIS RECORD IN THE 100-YARD FREESTYLE [1] • GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL: ACIS TOUR NAMENT QUALIFIERS [2] •

BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL: LED BY UNDERCLASSMEN TO QUALIFY FOR THE NYSAIS DIVISION B BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT [3]

• BOYS JV BASKETBALL: ACIS TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALISTS • BOYS AND GIRLS 7/8 BASKETBALL: PLAYED IN ISAL TOURNAMENT AFTER DOUBLE-HEADER VICTORY OVER STEINER [1]

[4A]

[7]

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WINTER HIGHLIGHTS

[5]

[8]

ATHLETICS | DWIGHT TODAY

[2]

[3]

SPRING HIGHLIGHTS • VARSITY TRACK & FIELD: MARKUS PEDERSEN ’16 PLACED THIRD IN THE 800-METER RACE AND GIRLS’ 4X100-METER RELAY TEAM PLACED FIFTH IN ACIS CHAMPIONSHIP [4, 4A] • BOYS VARSITY BASEBALL: DECISIVE VICTORY IN ACIS DIVISION B CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THREE STRAIGHT WINS AGAINST LEMAN [5] • VARSITY GOLF: CONCLUDED REGULAR SEASON UNDEFEATED AND CLAIMED FIRST-EVER LEAGUE TITLE [6] • GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS: FINISHED SECOND IN THE ISAL NORTH DIVISION — THE HIGHEST LEAGUE FINISH IN RECENT YEARS [7] • BOYS VARSITY TENNIS: PLACED THIRD IN THE ISAL NORTH DIVISION AND FIFTH IN ACIS [8] • RUGBY: MAX TUANA ’17 AND JAHFARI MITCHELL ’17, PICTURED, SELECTED TO PLAY FOR THE MET NY ALL-STAR JV RUGBY TEAM [9] • 7/8 TRACK & FIELD: ANNABEL HAPP ’20 PLACED THIRD IN 200-METER HURDLES AND JOEY DALY ’20 PLACED THIRD IN 400-METER DASH AT GOTHAM GAMES

[6]

[9]

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DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

ARTS

DWIGHT STUDENTS FOUND INNUMERABLE WAYS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS: At the Winter Art Exhibit, our community was treated to a diverse and thought-provoking collection of works.

Students rocked out and showcased their musical talents at the Winter Conservatory Concert.

Student artists unveiled their beautifully crafted and curated work in the Senior IB Visual Arts II Final Exhibition.

“Grey skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face!” Dwight actors did just that in our Mainstage musical production of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

We were drawn in by the beautiful student artwork created for the Spring Art Exhibition.

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ARTS | DWIGHT TODAY

A packed house watched Dwight’s IB Film Showcase and voted for this year’s winners: Chloe Ming ’17 for Best Trailer and for Best Narrative Short, along with co-creators Henry Hull ’17 and Dawn Jansen ’17; Moritz Goerges ’17 for Best Performance; Paula Kutschera ’16 for Best Experimental Short; and Finn Grollo ’17 for Best Documentary Short.

Student-performers and composers took us on a musical journey in the Spring Concert.

The Spring Conservatory Concert also saw an abundance of musical talent among Dwight students.

Upper School students demonstrated their theatrical talents, performing scenes in German, Russian, and English, an original solo performance piece, and a classic comedy sketch at Spring Scene Night.

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DWIGHT TODAY | ALUMNI PROFILE

SCOTT ROSENBERG ’85

CHAMPIONING CHANGE IN AFRICA

“When I came to Dwight in seventh grade, the school offered me an opportunity to flourish, to succeed — and to start down the road to become who I would ultimately become,” explains Scott Rosenberg ’85. Who he would become is Professor of African History at Wittenberg University. Participating in the Peace Corps would also turn out to be a life-shaping experience, from which Scott emerged as a steadfast champion of the people of Lesotho, a small country surrounded by South Africa on all sides.

AN EMPOWERING DWIGHT EDUCATION “Chancellor Spahn took me under his wing and encouraged me to try new things and follow my passions,” Scott says. “I have specific memories of him and of the school supporting and empowering me. It was the right environment for me. For example, I loved history. While Dwight did not offer AP American History, my history teacher, Will Gooden, nurtured that pursuit and arranged for me to take the exam at the church next door. Another example is when Coach Hank Cadra pushed me and my peers to be better people. I was not a very

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good basketball player, but I tried and tried.

He knew how much I enjoyed history and one day, he asked me to tutor a teammate in history during practice. While we were in the library, Coach told the team: “‘If you all work half as hard as Scott does on the court, the team would be champions.’ I’ll never forget that.”

Following Dwight, Scott also flourished in college at Kenyon, where he double majored in history and sociology. “Sociology opened my mind to issues of global poverty and global inequality,” he shares. At the same time, “I knew that the Peace Corps was out there and something that I wanted to do. When an African historian joined the faculty, I fell in love with Africa. It was an inspiring year in which we learned about apartheid and became advocates, fighting against the tide by sleeping on the college lawn until Kenyon divested itself of companies with holdings in South Africa a week later. At Kenyon, I was with like-minded peers who were interested in seeking global change and it was all very exciting.”

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME By the time he was a senior, Scott had discovered a part of the world that would become his home away from home: Africa; his senior thesis on apartheid as a system of economic discrimination (in addition to racial discrimination) was his passport there through the Peace Corps. Three weeks after graduation, Scott was on a plane to Lesotho, where he would spend the next 27 months farming in a rural co-op with no electricity or running water trying to grow vegetables and sell them.

“I became a good farmer and interested in sustainability,” Scott recalls. “I love agriculture as a result of this experience.”

The first night in Lesotho, as Scott watched the sun come up, he re-read one of his favorite books, Walden. In this classic chronicle of immersion in nature, Thoreau writes, “Life is but a morning star.” ... Amazingly, “The name of the village I was assigned to was called Morning Star,” Scott recounts.

“I knew it was the place to be.”

No one spoke English in Morning Star and it took nine months for Scott to become comfortable getting by, but it didn’t take

SCOTT ROSENBERG | DWIGHT TODAY

long for him to become enamored of the people of this remote village. It soon became the nexus around which much of his life would revolve for years to come. “I began to care profoundly for the country and its people who have a deep sense of pride. I developed a passion for them and for their welfare.”

When Scott returned to the U.S., it was with a Peace Corps fellow scholarship in hand to Ohio University, where he earned a Masters in International Affairs and African Studies, followed by a PhD in African History at Indiana University. He received a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Award to return to Africa and write his thesis on Lesotho’s national identity, specifically, how such a poor landlocked country can have a legacy of such deep and enduring pride.

A few years later, Scott landed at Wittenberg University in Ohio, where he has served as Professor of African History for the last 16 years and became Chair of the Peace Corps Prep Program (the second in the U.S.) five

years ago. “Over time, I have taught a number of students who were a lot like I was: passionate and open to exploring the world.

I hope that I offer them what Dwight and Kenyon provided me — encouragement and mentorship.” No doubt, he has.

Scott has certainly engendered in his students an interest in making a difference in the world. Since 2003, he has led annual service learning trips to Lesotho for almost 400 Wittenberg students. Together, they have tackled projects designed to help the youngest residents of one of the 30 poorest countries in world with the second highest HIV rate: orphans, HIV-positive, and vulnerable children. During their month-long visits, they have built houses through Habitat for Humanity, repaired rooves, and planted gardens. So, too, have they equipped schools without books, chalkboards, or even chalk with bright educational paintings of shapes, letters, numbers, equations, maps, the life cycle of the butterfly, and more — fundamental learning tools that are both sorely needed and beautiful — and now built into the schools’ permanent structure.

“When I began these service trips to Lesotho, I took 22 students with me to dig latrines and I thought it would be great to take students every four years or so to tackle other such needed projects. But the following year, 40 students volunteered and by 2011, almost 10% of the student body had applied to go on a service trip. I had to turn down half of the applicants due to capacity!”

TACKLING THE CURRENT CRISIS The volunteer work has continued every year but Scott was compelled to speed up efforts this spring due to a dire situation: Lesotho has been suffering its worst drought in 100 years and the number of families unable to meet survival needs due to food insecurity jumped from 25% to 50% in just a few months.

Scott is working on an urgent humanitarian project to provide food and nutritional supplements to 3,000 orphans under the age of 5 suffering from severe malnutrition and stunting, which causes long-term cognitive

and physical impairments — and threatens the well-being of an entire generation. Scott

Chancellor Spahn took me under his wing and encouraged me to try new things and follow my passions. I have specific memories of him and of the school supporting and empowering me. is hoping that he and others dedicated to the cause can provide enough pre-packed meals of food supplemented with 21 vitamins to stave off the potentially devastating consequences of drought. They have been hard at work raising awareness and money for the effort, and packing meals through the non-profit Pack Away Hunger organization in Indianapolis. These lifeline meals are being sent to Lesotho by the World Food Program and distributed on the ground by the non-profit organization Touching Tiny Lives. To support this urgent effort, please contact Scott at srosenberg@wittenberg.edu.

Scott, who has dedicated his time and energies to raising funds and resources to subsidize this and other projects designed to improve the quality of life in Southern Africa, has served as President of the Friends of Lesotho, an NGO, for the last five years.

More recently, he was named Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Lesotho — a well-earned, and indeed, distinguished role for a man who has devoted so much of his life to the tiny country that captured his giant heart.

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DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

Fun at the Young Alumni Cocktail Party

Dwight alums from the Classes of 19942013 met to share good cheer and great conversation at the Young Alumni Cocktail Party at Jacob’s Pickles restaurant. A special thank-you to Jacob Hadjigeorgis ’02, owner of Jacob’s Pickles, for making this event possible. We had a blast — and can’t wait to see our alums at Reunion on October 15!

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YOUNG ALUMNI COCKTAIL PARTY | DWIGHT TODAY

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DWIGHT TODAY | ALUMNI PROFILE

IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY FOR RESTAURATEUR JALEENE RODRIGUEZ ’04

“Dwight introduced me to people of so many different cultures,” recalls Jaleene Rodriguez ’04, who joined Dwight in sixth grade after her family relocated to Manhattan from Rockland County. “The student body at my previous school was not diverse and coming to Dwight opened the door to meeting people from a host of different backgrounds. The experiences of getting to know, and communicating, with people from around the world has served me well in so many areas of life, including business.”

Business is a family affair for Jaleene, who together with her sister, Jewelle ’06, co-own and operate a chain of Don Coqui restaurants, and represent the third Rodriguez generation in the restaurant business. Their grandfather, Jimmy Rodriguez, Sr., began by selling seafood from a pushcart in the Bronx before converting it to a storefront and then to a restaurant called Marisco del Caribe with his son, Jimmy Jr. Jimmy Jr. became a noted restaurateur and in the 1990s added Sofrito and several dining establishments criss-crossing Manhattan and the

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Bronx known as Jimmy’s, drawing a power clientele ranging from pro athletes to politicians.

Don Coqui, like Sofrito, features Puerto Rican cuisine with family recipes on the menu. The restaurant, as billed on its website, “represents several generations of ‘Dons’ and ‘Doñas’ who have paved the way for us.”

The Doñas of today, Jaleene and Jewelle, take turns working around the clock. Literally. Jaleene spearheads all the operations during the day — inventory, finances, HR, marketing, and reservations — to ensure that everything runs smoothly when Jewelle arrives for the evening rush. Jewelle oversees the back of house, food preparation, front of house, and all-important customer service.

“Our father, who has been in the business for over 30 years, taught us that quality, consistency, and customer service are fundamental to success,” explains Jaleene. “He eats, sleeps, and dreams restaurants!”

FAMILY TIES When Jimmy Jr. launched the first Don Coqui in New Rochelle in 2009, he called

upon his daughters to participate. They answered with a resounding yes and together, they opened more locations in White Plains, Upper Manhattan, and on City Island. With Jimmy Jr. as organizational director, the family business expanded further and now includes soul food establishments: Get Soul in New Rochelle, Uncle Al’s in the Bronx, and combined Latin and soul food at Sapitos in Spanish Harlem and the Bronx.

“The restaurant business is in our blood,” Jaleene says, on behalf of both her siblings; in addition to Jewelle, their younger brother, Jimmy III, who attended Dwight, manages one of the Don Coqui spots. The sisters, who were honored by the New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at its 2014 Women in Business Luncheon for their contributions to expanding business within the Hispanic community, attribute their success to Jimmy Jr. “Our father taught us everything he knows … not to repeat the same mistakes that he made and that you can achieve anything that you put your mind to,” Jaleene shares. “He provided all of us with a great blueprint.”

JALEENE RODRIGUEZ | DWIGHT TODAY

It’s no surprise that the sisters ended up working together because they were always interconnected. “While we pursued different passions at Dwight, our paths always

The secret to their success, reports Jaleene, was Coach McElaney. “His method was to create a team — a family — with one goal: To win via defense. He told us that any team

encouraged me to excel as a middle-distance runner so that I could distinguish myself.”

And so Jaleene did, working hard, training and persevering, even fighting through

Dwight introduced me to people of so many different cultures. ... The experiences of getting to know, and communicating, with people from around the world has served me well in so many areas of life, including business.

came together. I was on a few different sports teams and my sister became the manager of those teams so that we could spend more time together while traveling to and from games. Jewelle has always been my collaborator and partner in crime. Now we are business partners and decision-makers,” Jaleene says proudly.

A SCHOLAR-ATHLETE At Dwight, Jaleene was on the track, cross-country, and basketball teams. “One of my greatest memories is from eighth grade when the Girls Varsity Basketball team went to the New York State championships,” Jaleene remembers. “We didn’t win but Chancellor Spahn, himself a basketball player, was overjoyed with our team’s progress that year!”

can show off with good offense, but defense is the key to success. On a personal level, Coach taught me how to become an awesome threepoint shooter. I practiced and practiced a technique he showed me over and over again.

And I’ve since taught it to my kids!”

“I loved my Dwight teachers and coaches and was impacted by all of them in some way, shape, or form,” Jaleene reports. In addition to Coach McElaney, she credits cross-country and track coach Ms. Sferrazza for her development as a runner. “Thanks to Coach Sferrazza’s guidance, I went to college to compete as a middle-distance runner.” Jaleene explains, “I started at Dwight as a sprinter, but she told me that sprinters were commonplace at the college level and Jewelle, Jimmy III, and Jaleene

physical pain at times. It was well worth it.

Jaleene’s resolve took her to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, as a middle-distance runner recruit.

At Marist, Jaleene converted her athletic talents into a bachelor’s of science degree in sports medicine with a minor in business administration. Her goal: To do something different than the family business.

Jaleene’s major required that she spend so much time with other athletes in pursuit of their training that it left precious little time to devote to her own sport. But it did enable her to launch a career in personal training. After graduating from college, Jaleene worked at the Sports Club of LA in Manhattan, where celebrities and professional athletes trained. While she had embarked on a path of her own with every intention of continuing, it wasn’t long thereafter that Jimmy Jr. upended her plans!

When Jaleene and Jewelle joined their father at Don Coqui, they tapped into their experience as teenagers working alongside him during school and summer breaks. It seems that their family legacy was predestined. For Jaleene, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

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DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

HATS OFF TO OUR

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GRADUATION | DWIGHT TODAY

The Class of 2016 is truly world-class! Graduates proudly hail from over 15 countries.

Congratulations to the Class of 2016, who shared their remaining moments together at Dwight’s 144th Commencement ceremony at the beautiful Metropolitan Museum of Art. They donned caps and gowns to receive their well-earned diplomas and celebrated this milestone achievement with family, friends, faculty, and staff of the Dwight School community.

Valedictorian Sofia Reidbord and Salutatorian Emily Eidler, a member of Dwight’s 13Year Club (pg. 53), bid farewell to their classmates with addresses that were inspiring, funny, and deeply moving. They reflected on the unique journey they took together as a class; the unflagging support they received from faculty and staff throughout their academic careers; Dwight’s commitment to igniting their sparks of genius; and their own grit and determination, which led to their accomplishments. In addition, the duo spoke of Dwight’s dedication to fostering global-mindedness, and the diversity of people, languages, cultures, and insights found in our global community.

Dwight’s global family includes Chairman of the Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School, Qiu Zhonghai, who traveled from China to be a special guest at graduation.

He brought greetings from our sister school and made a unique presentation to Chancellor Spahn.

The Class of 2016 will always share some very special memories that will remain with them wherever life’s adventures lead. And we know they are headed for great things!

Our graduates will be attending top colleges and universities in the U.S. and around the world this coming fall.

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DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

Dwight has fostered an education that has transformed us all into global citizens with open minds, where we were taught to think beyond the walls and dimensions of the classroom.

- Sofia Reidbord, class Valedictorian

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GRADUATION | DWIGHT TODAY In his final words to the graduating class, Chancellor Spahn said, “As you look ahead to college, I encourage you to continue challenging yourself; to be the best version of yourself; and to seek teachers, coaches, advisors, and mentors who will guide you on your new path. … Sometimes, a mentor arrives unannounced, but more often appears when a student is ready. Be ready. And take risks. You may stumble or falter on your path, but you will also get up, persevere, and excel. If you follow your passions, you will accomplish extraordinary things. Finally, keep innovating. In the spirit of The Dwight School Foundation’s Spark of Innovation and Spark Tank Programs, which have taken flight this year, I encourage you to keep originating and advancing in all your pursuits. Keep your spark of genius alive. Be yourself. And remember that wherever life takes you, you will always have a home at Dwight. Good luck!”

THREE CHEERS FOR THREE MEMBERS OF DWIGHT’S 13-YEAR CLUB! Three students in this year’s graduating class share a history that goes back to their days as Dwight kindergarteners in 2003: Joshua Sweren, Emily Eidler, and Matthew Davis (pictured left to right) are members of our 13-Year Club! Find out what each had to say about their time at Dwight.

Spark of genius

Best Dwight memory

“My love and passion for film”

No single spark of genius, but “a lot of interests that Dwight has cultivated”

“The ability to learn new things quickly and independently”

“Winning a championship with the JV Basketball team in tenth grade and beating Collegiate that same season!”

“Third grade: Calling NASA to ask how many moons Saturn had ... Tenth grade: Designing an eco-friendly outfit for my Personal Project”

“The various school trips we have gone on as a grade (London, Washington, DC, and Frost Valley)”

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DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

Varsity Soccer Team ’79 Beth (Vogel) Graham ’66 (Franklin) reports that she is living in an art resort town in the Tampa area. Beth has two dogs and a cat, and she enjoys tennis, yoga, and walking, as well as creating, teaching, selling, and supporting art.

Nancy (Schaffir) Gershman ’74 (Franklin) On January 25, “NY1 News” featured Nancy’s work as a memory artist at VNSNY/ Haven Hospice in their “New Yorker of the Week” segment, spotlighting how Nancy sits with family members of the terminally ill and collects their most precious memories to “make a picture of memory for which they have no photos.” Nancy explains, “This realistic-looking, digitally manipulated photograph then reconnects them to joy rather than dread — energizing them for what’s ahead.” The full news piece can be found at:

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http://bit.ly/1USfizU. To contact Nancy or rectors and work with truly transformational opportunities to improve the delivery of learn more, visit www.artforyoursake.com.

Richard J. Henley ’74 (Franklin) “After liv- healthcare around the country. ing in the Northeast since my school years, we Wishing all a great summer!” finally relocated to the South! Living in the Bruce Blau ’76 is planning the Dwight, FrankFlorida Panhandle, we appreciate the best of lin, and Anglo 40th Class Reunion for October many worlds: warm weather, southern living, 15, 2016. Stay tuned for more information! incredible beaches on the Gulf National SeaDavid Strauss ’76 (Franklin) is “thrilled to shore, and not worrying about snow and ice be back on the Upper West Side” after 25 storms. We live on the beach overlooking the years in Larchmont, NY. David writes that it Pensacola Naval Air Station where the Blue has been wonderful to reconnect with classAngels perform their amazing aerial acrobatmates and invites you to keep in touch with ics, and the Navy Seals train by parachuting him at dostrauss@yahoo.com. into the Gulf. We see dolphins and manta rays frolic in our warm waters. There is also Sean Skilling ’77 “1.2 million years ago, an amazing Naval Air Museum, which draws when I graduated from Dwight, it was still visitors from across the country. They offer an on the East Side. Other oddities of those exciting program for teens where they ‘live’ days included film in cameras, records, telefor two weeks on a simulated aircraft carrier phones that were attached to walls and only and learn to take off and land on the carri- came in black, and three networks on TV, er. It is so realistic that those who attend this only some of it in color. program are enthralled with the educational Since I graduated, most of that has changed. hands-on experience. It’s a great opportunity I went to Tufts, and graduated as a triple mafor children and grandchildren alike! jor in English, History, and Theater. NeedHaving long led healthcare organizations, I less to say, I was ill-prepared for anything am now providing advisory services to private with those majors. I got married and moved equity firms and their portfolio companies, back to New York. I really wanted to direct as well as to hospitals and health systems. I live theater, so I became a union cameraman am fortunate to serve on several boards of di- and worked on the cable TV show “Woman’s

ALUMNI | DWIGHT TODAY

Day.” Finding that work less than challenging, I went on to McCann-Erickson, the ad agency, as an assistant producer. An even worse choice, I went back to the production side and worked as producer on the same cable TV show I had left before. Then on to the NY Blood Center as an industrial video producer, and then finally, back to an ad agency, Young & Rubicam, where I happily put in the next 18 years.

I produced commercials for Advil, Sears, KFC, STP, and many other clients. In 1989, I was Vice President and Director of New Technologies, having moved into editing commercials in-house.

By 1991, I was developing websites for clients, including the very first websites for the US Army and the US Postal Service. Within two years, I was Senior Vice President, Creative and Production Director of Y&R/ Brand Dialogue. I remained with BD until 1999 when the whole thing was sold off as part of the Internet bubble. I went off to the Continuing Medical Education division of Y&R, but the heart was no longer in it!

In 2003, my wife and I moved to Connecticut, and we have two children, ages 15 and 11.

I run a small internet business, with a heavy emphasis on databases. The greatest accolade that I can give to Dwight is I couldn’t imagine my children getting a lesser education, so we home-school our kids. My son reads voraciously and has his own copy of the Oxford English Dictionary, and has completed his first of six novels. His book (high fantasy) is 600 pages and 300,000 words (and we are looking for a publisher). My daughter is deeply interested in religion right now, but cats are still pretty high on her list. I cannot think of anything to add to the last 39 years, except that I am very happy, and hope everyone else from the class of ’77 is as well!”

Andrew Chait ’78 and his wife Hedy Hartman ’72 (Franklin) are keeping busy with their son Jeremy, age 11. Andrew reports, “We try to travel each summer, and this summer will be to New Orleans. One of our favorite trips was two summers ago when we visited the MLB Hall of Fame in

Cooperstown and Niagara Falls.” Andrew and his brother, Steven, are running the Ralph M. Chait Galleries since the passing of their father last June. “Everything is going well. We have the gallery, and do four antique shows per year in New York City, Wilmington, Philadelphia, and Nantucket.”

last three years of high school sparked my love of learning and passion for literature and contributed perfectly to where I am today. If you are ever in Texas — somewhat near Austin or Houston — do stop in! Until then, visit 40 Acre Wood on Facebook. I’d love to hear from any former classmates!”

Heidi Stein Frazier ’80 “I carried my love of learning through college (Dickinson College) and graduate school (North Texas State University) to open a small shop of used books.

Somehow I landed in rural Texas on 40 acres, replete with chickens and a pony among other assorted critters, where I successfully home schooled three children, two of whom recently graduated from college and one more who is following her siblings’ path. Tucked away in the tiny town of Lexington (which boasts the honor of being home to Snow’s, which serves ‘Texas Best Barbecue’), my store, 40 Acre Wood, serves the community as a type of modern-day, literary general store where men and women discuss everything from, well, that above-mentioned barbecue to politics, and where children always leave with a free book, just for walking in the door. Having shipped to all 50 states and one or two abroad, books are also sold online in an ongoing attempt to ‘reach the outside world;’ or perhaps it’s to bring the outside world to the treasures of Lexington, TX, and, of course, to 40 Acre Wood.

(Besides, one cannot live on barbecue alone.) I have no doubt that attending Dwight for my

John Bandman ’84 “Currently, I’m an English and ESL teacher at New York Institute of Technology and The Art Institutes, educating secondary school and college students. On the side, I continue to use my wine credentials to educate and consult restaurants about beverage and table service. I appeared in the 2015 film “The Duel of Wine,” and continue travelling internationally to pursue my teaching careers. After working many years in fine wines and foods, I had switched career trains to continue using cross-cultural building skills in my other passion: teaching. That desire resulted in two more graduate degrees, plus formal teacher training. Part of my role as an educator is helping others deliver new information to diverse audiences — an important stepping stone in education which enables us all to share valuable information with others.”

Miles Ladin ’86 has been working in New York City as an artist, photographer, and journalist. After covering 30 seasons of New York Fashion Week for Women’s Wear Daily, he produced a limited edition artist’s book

Alumni Council members Paula Cope ’71, Reza Sarbakhsh ’00, Ian Lustbader ’74 (Franklin), and Peter Timmins ’90 gather at The Dwight School Foundation’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Cocktail Party.

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DWIGHT TODAY | COMMUNITY

that combines his pictures of supermodels with text by author Bret Easton Ellis. Miles will be showing his project, “Supermodels at the End of Time,” in a solo exhibition at Station Independent Projects on the Lower East Side this October. A second solo show titled, “American Dreamin’,” will take place in December at Chelsea’s Hudson Guild Gallery. For those seeking fashionable pictures of their upcoming wedding or event, Miles welcomes commissions!

Jonathan Blyth ’89 was promoted to Commander in the United States Navy Reserve.

He is becoming the Deputy Public Affairs Officer for the Joint Task Force National Capital Region 58th Presidential Inauguration.

He resides in Washington, DC. James Felder ’89 James is writing for television and feature animation; and is working on a revival of Ben-10 on Cartoon Network, and an animated feature for 2018 release.

For the past ten years, James has taught in the Dramatic Writing Department at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where he also serves as Area Head of Admissions for his department. Recently, James returned to Dwight to participate in an alumni career panel for Upper School students.

Kirk Spahn ’95 married Jenny Alden in a ceremony in California this spring. Kirk’s groomsmen included Blake Spahn ’89 (best man) and Shiv Vasisht ’95. Kirk and Jenny reside in Los Angeles, where Kirk founded the ICL Academy for Film and Performing Arts. The ICL Academy is a highly selective and accelerated

Kirk and Jenny in California

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program for students passionate about a career in the entertainment industry.

Shiv Vasisht ’95 and his wife, Vail, welcomed their third child, Zoe Isabel, on Father’s Day, June 21, 2015. Her older brothers, Kiran (7) and Caden (4), are very excited to have a little sister. Shiv was recently appointed Head of Americas Equity-Linked Capital Markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a firm he joined in 2013 after spending 14 years at UBS Investment Bank. Shiv, Vail, and their three children currently reside in Darien, CT. Shiv and family at home in Darien, CT

Keith Hyatt ’97 “In the 19 years since graduation, life was never boring. I got my BA in Graphic Design and a graduate certificate in homeland defense, and I studied timber frame home building with an expert in the woods of New Hampshire. I learned that depth perception and spatial acuity are helpful in construction. I’ve dabbled in photography, completed The Grucci’s training program in pyrotechnics, and found my passion in the family business. I am a luxury travel advisor based in New York City. My latest interest is virtual reality. If anyone shares my interest or wants to catch up, email me at khyatt@tzell.com.”

Laura Giraldo ’00 recently finished her last year as an MYP Spanish Teacher at Dwight. An integral member of the World Language Department since she joined Dwight as a teacher in 2010, Laura reports that “Dwight has been a home away from home” first as her High School and then as her workplace. Recently, Laura accepted the position as Head of Department in a school

in Florida where she will begin in the fall.

Laura is thrilled to move and take on this new challenge, but will miss her students and colleagues. She reports that teaching at Dwight has “been an incredible experience” that she “will cherish forever.”

Matthew Grogan ’08 writes that he is working as a “hairnet lawyer for the family baking company, expanding the business with deals in East Asia and Central America, while aspiring to be a fine uncle to my newly born nephew.” Matthew explained that in describing himself as a “hairnet lawyer,” he refers to the attire he must don while walking the company’s production floor!

Juliana Barrett ’12 will compete in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, representing South Africa in fencing, in Women’s Epee. She won the African Zonal Qualifier in Algiers to qualify. Juliana graduated early from Northwestern University with a BA in Political Science. To follow her accomplishments in the world of fencing, check out https://www.facebook.com/JBarrettFencing.

Juliana at the Olympic Trials

Share your latest news with your classmates for the next issue of Dwight Today. Send news and a photo to Amy Tsoutsouras ’05, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs, 291 Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024; or via email to atsoutsouras@dwight.edu.

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How do you say “green” in Spanish? These students in the Class of 2031 know the answer! Spanish and Mandarin instruction at Dwight begins in preschool, preparing students to be the next generation of global leaders from the earliest moments.