FALL 2010
In the very first yearbook of The Ethel Walker School— The Pepperpot—there is a wonderful description of Ethel Walker and her first class of students at dinner one evening:
A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL BESSIE SPEERS
“On a certain memorable evening in October, a solemn little group of eleven girls took their places about a cheerful and pretty table. At the head of the table sat Miss Walker, bravely trying to conceal with smiles her inner agitation and terror.”
All of us who are teachers and educators can relate to this vignette because it so honestly portrays the amazing privilege and responsibility of educating the minds and hearts of talented students, whom we want so much to prepare for life. In 1911 The Ethel Walker School opened its doors to ten girls, seven teachers, and one dog. Because of the courage and vision of our founder, we now are entering the 100th year of The Ethel Walker School and will celebrate the Centennial in style on October 1, 2011—a date corresponding to the very first day of School 100 years ago! As the 16th Head of Walker’s, it is an extraordinary privilege to invite you to celebrate this Centennial milestone with friends, alumnae, students, parents, and trustees from all over the world. We have talented and diverse committees planning many activities and events leading up to our
Centennial Celebration. This year begins with a Founder’s Chapel on October 6. This first Centennial newsletter presents highlights of the year’s activities scheduled to follow that opening event. We look forward to sharing photos with you throughout the year and hope that our Centennial newsletters will keep you abreast of Centennial plans for the year ahead. We want to bottle the excitement for you and send it to you throughout the year. We always welcome your ideas and of course hope that you will mark October 1, 2011, on your calendars now. Our Centennial Co-Chairs are hard at work on this birthday party of a century and look forward to sending you an official invitation. In the meantime, we are proud to present our Centennial logo, which was designed by the North Charles Street Design Organization, a Baltimore firm, in collaboration with the
Centennial Co-Chair Committee and School. The logo embodies the grace and elegance of Walker’s without being too formal or austere. Walker’s is grounded in academic excellence, which is central to our mission. We also believe in educating the whole person in mind, body, and spirit. The Centennial logo represents the strength of our mission with the solid pillar of the Sundial in the center, while around the perimeter are references to the history and tradition that make this community strong and vibrant. We are also committed to marking Walker’s Centennial in a way that reaches beyond our campus and ourselves. My belief is that a true Centennial must reaffirm Walker’s commitment to making a difference in the world; certainly countless Walker’s alumnae have done so effectively in their communities by using their determination, intellect, and passion.
Centennial @ Walker’s CONTINUED FROM FRONT
To this end, on November 17 we have a Centennial Day of Service planned across the country and abroad and encourage you to participate wherever you are and in whatever way you can. As I said to faculty and staff at opening meetings this year, we are all very fortunate to be the ones who steward this wonderful school into and through its Centennial. There are not many times we are able to celebrate a 100th birthday of friends, family members, or organizations we care about. Imagine the School to be a person turning 100 years old. It is time to pay respect, to celebrate the accomplishments, friendships, and milestones that have taken place within this lifetime. Imagine the beautiful faces of those we may have known who have lived to be 100 years old. There are beautiful wrinkles of wisdom and lines of experience and care that adorn someone who figured out how to live for 100 years!
A Centennial Preview— Upcoming Events In this edition of Centennial @ Walker’s, you will find a description of many of the Centennial-related special events we have planned for the coming year, along with several event dates. Be sure to check the Centennial page on our website, www.ethelwalker.org/centennial, to confirm dates and times and learn of new events and visits to your area, as visits and events will be added throughout the year.
Thanks to the talent and stewardship of so many teachers, students, past Trustees, and friends who have been part of the Ethel Walker communities in years gone by, The Ethel Walker School is turning 100. It is time to pay our respects, to put our own experiences aside, and invest in the future of girls and young women in the world. The Ethel Walker School will continue to make a difference in the world. Celebrate with us this year!
Mark the Maypole Be sure to visit with Head of School Bessie Speers as she visits a city near you this year. Bessie will be asking all guests to sign purple and yellow streamers—depending on your spirit club. These ribbons will be used as our maypole ribbons during Centennial weekend.
Founder’s Day Chapel and Centennial Chapel Series This Kick-Off Chapel is scheduled for October 6, 2010. The Beaver Brook Committee is planning an entertaining and educational performance about the rich history of our School. Past faculty members will be invited and honored during this Chapel as well. Governor M. Jodi Rell is scheduled to present the keynote address. In addition, the Centennial year will be punctuated by a series of Centennial Chapels featuring speakers of note which will be of interest to students, faculty and our greater community. At press time, the following dates and speakers are confirmed: October 27th - V. Courtland Smith, Director of Riding at Culver Academy and equestrian expert December 1 - Mara Liasson, National political correspondent, NPR, and FoxNews contributor We have more exciting speakers in the works—we will keep you posted via our Centennial web page.
Alumnae Authors & Artists Our Art Department has invited alumnae to display their work in a variety of shows to be held on campus and virtually throughout the year. During the Centennial Celebration weekend, alumnae authors and artists will be recognized with a special reception. If you would like to share your artwork or written works with our community, please contact Deborah_ altschwager@ethelwalker.org (artwork) or Priscilla_jackson@ethelwalker.org (articles, books). We are delighted to showcase the work of our alumnae!
Commemorative Centennial Book The Centennial Book is being written by George Brown, son of Marion Morton Brown ’44. The book will be released and available for sale during Centennial Weekend (September 30 through October 2, 2011). Mr. Brown will include a biography of Ethel Walker Smith and the 100-year history of the School. Mr. Brown has spent many hours on campus scouring the archives, and he has also done extensive interviews with alumnae, board members and faculty. This book will be a keepsake and a Walker’s heirloom that all alumnae will want to have.
Walker’s Woods Walking Trail: Commemoration Ceremony Every member of the Ethel Walker community appreciates the beauty of our setting and that of the adjacent Walker’s Woods. Faculty members and students are working to mark the walking trails through the Woods, and benches will be installed to provide an enjoyable and informational Walking Trail. During Centennial Weekend, there will be a commemoration ceremony of the Walking Trail as well as tours through the Woods.
Simsbury Friends & Family Fun Run
Centennial Worldwide Day of Service
National Centennial Environmental Symposium: Food for Thought The Environmental Symposium on June 16-17, 2011, will focus on Food Literacy in the Classroom, Cafeteria and Community. Food literacy is an understanding of food from how and where it is grown, to how it is processed and prepared, as well as nutrition. Plans for this multi-day event include an on-campus farmers market, field trips to the Community Farm of Simsbury and Billings Forge Community Works, as well as interesting and informative workshops. Walker’s alumna and National Resources Defense Council president Frances Beinecke ’67 will be a featured keynote speaker at the Symposium.
The Centennial Day of Service is scheduled for November 17, 2010, to connect students with the greater Walker’s community. Two students are taking the lead on this project. Parents and local alumnae will be invited to campus to join students in a variety of service projects. The Day of Service will include alumnae around the country and around the world.
The Ethel Walker School has been part of the Simsbury community for 93 years since its relocation from New Jersey in 1917; we will share our Centennial with the community via a Fun Run through the magnificent Walker’s Woods in the fall of 2011. More events in collaboration with the town are being explored at this time.
Virtual Suns versus Dials Competition A worldwide, online photo and trivia competition between the spirit clubs is on its way, and we hope you will participate in the spirit of your club. A winner will be announced during the Centennial Celebration weekend.
Our Middle School wellness program this year includes a section on food preparation and nutrition, and this curriculum will be presented at the symposium. Food literacy and education among our youth is an ever-increasing topic of concern, with the nation’s childhood obesity rates heading upwards every year. We will provide attendees with critical and useful information they can bring back to their classrooms and communities.
Centennial Book Club: Half the Sky The Centennial Book Club is a vehicle to connect faculty and the EWS community of alumnae, parents, and friends. The book for this year is Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Walker’s faculty will be leading discussions through online blogging and teleconference. Pick up your copy of this meaningful book today; we’ll keep you posted on discussion dates.
Introducing Our Centennial Logos In spring 2010 we began the process of designing a series of logos to commemorate Walker’s Centennial. The design process included input from faculty and administrators as well as the Centennial co-chairs, and the execution of design options was conducted by a design firm located in Baltimore. Through a discovery process which included research in the archives, interviews with faculty, administrators, alumnae and trustees, and a complete understanding of the School’s mission over the past 100 years, the new logo/seal series was designed. Varied color options as well as the more casual design option depicting “Walker’s 100” will provide us with versatility depending upon use. As you can see, the new logo pays tribute to the School’s Sundial, blending a contemporary design with a more historic surround. The mark spans a century, both in design elements and context.
CAMPUS NEWS
Share Your Walker’s Memories: Eve Chilton Weinstein ’79 My most poignant and happiest memories at Walker’s are of the time I spent singing and dancing. Miss Sala’s passion for music inspired me. I studied voice and choir with her and sang under her direction with The Grapes. Miss Sala cast me in the Spring Musicals where I sang and danced my heart out. Dance classes, taught by Mrs. Marshall in the beautiful dance studio, were always a lot of fun. Each year, I performed in a dance concert featuring Mrs. Marshall’s choreography. Both Miss Sala and Mrs. Marshall gave me every opportunity to study and perform in music and dance. I was so fortunate that EWS had such strong performing arts programs. If you have a memory that you would like to share with the Walker’s community, please send it via email to leeann_harris@ethelwalker.org. Thank you!
Did You Know? This year Walker’s has enrolled 253 students. There are 39 Middle School students and 214 Upper School students. Within the Upper School there are 97 day students and 117 boarders. This year we have 48 international students hailing from the following 13 countries: Afghanistan, Bahamas, Barbados, China (and Taiwan), Dominican Republic, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Lithuania, Namibia, Philippines, and Spain.
Save the Date! Centennial and Reunion Weekend
To commemorate 100 years of excellence in educating young women, The Ethel Walker School will be hosting a Centennial Weekend Celebration and two class Reunions during the weekend of September 30, 2011; the Centennial Celebration Dinner will be on October 1, 2011. Memories, friends, teachers and speakers will all participate in this fabulous weekend, when we anticipate over a thousand visitors to campus. Join us for a Centennial Chapel, experience Walker’s Today!, cheer our athletic teams, enjoy the commemoration of the Walker’s Trail through the Woods, reunite with friends, revel at our celebratory dinner dance, and enjoy fireworks on the Hill, among a myriad of other planned events.
www.ethelwalker.org The Ethel Walker School Fund for Annual Giving—Make your Donation Today! 230 Bushy Hill Road Simsbury, CT 06070
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