Sundial Winter 2010

THE

SUN DIA L Winter 2010

The Magazine of The Ethel Walker School

Walker’s Women in Science

Commencement 2009 Family Weekend 2009 Campus News Take Note Centennial Preview

S AV E T H E D AT E S 2 0 1 0 THE

February 5 Vero Beach, FL Reception

May 2 EWS Combined Test (Equestrian)

February 13,14 Alumnae Board Event at Stowe, VT

Dogswood Day – It’s a Surprise!

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May 14 – 16 Reunion 2010

PUBLISHED BY

February 20 EWSPA True Colors Auction February 25 San Francisco, CA Reception February 26, 27 Junior Family Weekend

May 19 Educational Forum June 4 Middle School Promotion

March – Walker’s at Wellington

June 5 Prize Night

April 16 Grandparents Day – NEW!

June 6 Commencement

April 29 All School Art Trip

September 10 First Day of Classes

April 29 Educational Forum

October 29, 30 Family Weekend

Head’s Day – It’s a Surprise!

October 1, 2011 Centennial Gala Event!

Winter 2010

The Magazine of The Ethel Walker School

The Ethel Walker School 230 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070 860.658.4467 | www.ethelwalker.org

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Vivian K. Elba,

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

& COMMUNICATIONS

vivian_elba@ethelwalker.org Sandra Baker, DIRECTOR, ADVANCEMENT SERVICES Bessie Speers, HEAD OF SCHOOL Tom Speeers, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Diane Thomas, DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE Kristen Weldon, SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

2010–2011 — Our Yearlong Centennial Celebration

EDITORIAL BOARD

Sandra Baker, DIRECTOR, ADVANCEMENT SERVICES Molly Bouffard, ADVANCEMENT SERVICES ASSISTANT Windy Black Jansen ’03, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNAE RELATIONS Bessie Speers, HEAD OF SCHOOL Kristen Weldon, SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY

2010 BOARD OF TRUSTEES David J. Castellani P’09,

Deborah Williams MacKenzie ’55

PRESIDENT

AVON, CT

LAKE FOREST, IL

Margot Campbell Bogert ’60,

VICE PRESIDENT

BEDFORD HILLS, NY

Richard Maine P’09,

Letitia McClure Potter ’55, P’85,

TRUSTEE EMERITA

GREENWICH, CT

Brooke Gaffney Redmond ’90

TREASURER

AVON, CT

Bethany Altschwager Richard Bergen Photography Vivian Elba Jill Harrington Rich Prager Tom Speers Kristen Weldon

CONCORD, MA ADDRESS CLASS NOTES TO:

Iain Howard-Sorrell P’09,

Donya Nagib Sabet ’90

SECRETARY

AVON, CT

NEW YORK, NY

Stuart M. Bell

Staley Cayce Sednaoui ’76

WILKES-BARRE, PA

Elizabeth Rockwell Cesare,

Kristen Weldon The Ethel Walker School 230 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070

SKILLMAN, NJ TRUSTEE EMERITA

Or submit via email to: alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Glenn A. Sieber P’09

SOUTH NORWALK, CT

SIMSBURY, CT

Elizabeth Sivage Clark ’67, P’04

Emma Simon ’89,

CHICAGO, IL

ALUMNAE BOARD PRESIDENT

SEND ADDRESS AND EMAIL CHANGES TO:

alumnae@ethelwalker.org EX-OFFICIO DESIGN

AVON, CT

E. Kaye Cowan

John Johnson Art Direction & Design

Elizabeth Cromwell Speers P’16,

ACTON, MA

EX-OFFICIO

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Terry Crescimanno P’13 EX-OFFICIO, PRESIDENT, PARENTS ASSOCIATION

PRINTING

SIMSBURY, CT

The Elm Press

Abigail Trafford ’57

NEW BRITAIN, CT

WASHINGTON, DC

Clive DuVal III P’09

Carol Watson, M.D. ’90

SHARON, CT

PLAINVILLE, CT

Kathanne Fowler P’12

Abra Prentice Wilkin ’60

WEST HARTFORD, CT

CHICAGO, IL

The Ethel Walker

School

ALUMNAE BOARD Emma Simon ’89 PRESIDENT

Gabriela Porta Beecher ’91 VICE PRESIDENT

Alicia Kelly ’97 SECRETARY

Jennifer Alter Abt ’89 Elizabeth Borland Blodgett ’91 Emily Cole-Chu ’00 Fernanda Gilligan ’96 Katherine Hypolite ’04 Mary Lotuff ’83

Anna Karvelis ’10 STUDENT ALUMNAE BOARD REPRESENTATIVE

Molly Love ’64 Celeste Royall Niarchos ’64 Amanda Pitman ’90 Jennifer Rodts ’86 Nancy Hathaway Steenburg ’68 Catherine Terry Taylor ’79

230 Bushy Hill Road Simsbury, Connecticut 06070 p 860 658 4467 f 860 658 6763 www.ethelwalker.org The Ethel Walker School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origins in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other schooladministered programs.

A 5 a.m. Pep Rally!

Walker’s was the subject of WFSB-TV’s “Cool Schools” series on December 4. Students gathered in Abra’s from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and were featured in a dozen live segments during the CBS affiliate’s top rated morning news, along with four pre-taped segments highlighting Equine Science, Residential Life, Art from Nature and Video Storytelling. The students made sure to show the entire state of Connecticut that Walker’s has SPIRIT!

IN THIS ISSUE Message from the Head of School

2

On Campus & Beyond

4

Commencement 2009

4

Opening Days 2009

10

Family Weekend 2009

18

Faculty & Staff News

23

Walker’s Women in Science

28

Junior/Senior Projects

30

Alumnae in the Sciences

38

Alumnae News

40

Walker’s Out and About

40

A Tribute to Sue Cesare

43

In Memoriam

44

Take Note Updates and news from your Walker’s classmates and friends

45

Centennial Preview

71

Supporting Walker’s

74

10

4

30 32 18

On the Cover: Ashlyn Kerstyn ’11 is a day student from Granby, CT. She is a gifted musician — a vocalist in the Grapes, the Choir, and the Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and String Ensemble as a violinist. She has competed at the CMEA All States for singing since a freshman at Walker’s.

“What I love most about Walker’s is the relationships I have formed with my teachers. My teachers push me academically, but are always there to guide me with support and advice when I need it — you can tell that deep down, they honestly want to see their students succeed.” On the cover, Ashlyn adjusts solution pH by adding sodium hydroxide to mixtures of various of acid-base indicators in Walker’s chemistry lab.

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PHOTO BY RICHARD BERGEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Winter 2010 1

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

A few years ago, I heard Dr. Shirley Tilghman, President of Princeton University, address an audience of students and faculty. She emphasized the need for more women in science, contending that women are underrepresented in this field. In the 19th century, myth stated that women had smaller brains than men, contributing to their “absence of thought and logic, and incapacity to reason,” yet that same century also saw discoveries made in physics that paved the way for the breakthrough of modern physics.

Marie Curie’s collaborative research on radiation was an important and revolutionary contribution to the field and she received a Nobel Prize in 1903. In 1908 Curie received another Nobel Prize. Eleven other women have received Nobel Prizes in the sciences, yet in the realm of the workplace and the research lab the world needs more women to find their place.

At Walker’s, 98% of our students take more than the required three years of science.

While the breadth of courses in science and other disciplines at Walker’s is exciting, what is most noteworthy is the way our teachers are engaging students. They understand that this is a new day and that we must work with students in ways relevant to this changing media age.

To this end, our classrooms are changing. Michael Wesch, a professor from the University of Kansas who speaks about the exponential change demanded by this new media age, contends, “the writing is on the walls and the walls of our traditional classrooms must come down.” No longer do walls define teacher and student repertoire. Students in our Astronomy course met at 4 a.m. up on the hill at the van Gemeren 2 THE SUNDIAL

Observatory to study the morning sky. Girls taking Equine Science painted muscle groups onto a willing white horse from our stable and then examined the way he moved in the ring. Students in our Middle School learn about where their food comes from by tending to our own organic garden and preparing for a visit to the new Community Farm of Simsbury.

Students in Environmental Science study population growth by visiting a local graveyard to chart data on life spans. Students interested in medicine recently attended the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Awards to hear from other women in the field.

Chemistry teacher Dr. Julia Sheldon recently met with a Middlebury College professor to learn how to engage students in maple sugaring, which happens right here on campus. Students studying economics with Michele Harris worked with the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center on a semester long project to raise funds for children’s cancer research. Much more about Walker’s investment in the sciences, student experiences, and Walker’s alumnae in science is featured in this publication.

At Walker’s we have students who are bright, ambitious, and purposeful about their academics. It is our responsibility as educators in the 21st century to make learning relevant to the lives our students will lead.

Successful teachers inspire students to love learning. One measure of our success is hearing

fewer of the proverbial questions, such as “how long does this paper have to be?” or “what do I need to know for this test?” Instead, the 21st century classroom has permeable walls and empowers students to learn not only to acquire information but also to create it and challenge it.

Several months ago, Walker’s AP Biology teacher Dr. Suzanne Piela received an appreciative letter from Heather Erny ’08. Heather talked about her experience the summer after graduation when she was training a 6-year-old rider.

The young girl was undergoing treatment to shrink a tumor in her

It is our responsibility as educators in the 21st century to make learning relevant to the lives our students will lead.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES body. She asked Heather to explain why her “counts are low.” Heather talked about RBCs, WBCs and platelets, explaining as much as she could in “kid-friendly terms.” She wrote, “being able to explain this to the little girl with the Make-a-Wish poster above her bed what was going on in her tiny body meant more to me than my AP score….when I am brushing out a little girl’s hair that is coming out by the handful…I am more grateful that I could make her stronger because I could translate the biology to her.”

Learning at Walker’s is about making meaningful connections, and most often these connections enable students to ponder and try their hands and hearts at solving real life problems.

The world in which our students will live calls for them to think and work creatively and collaboratively. Sue Cesare, our Trustee Emerita and former school head has said so aptly, “the respect and love Walker’s students and teachers have for each other is extraordinary.” I couldn’t agree with her more and each day I witness creativity and collaboration that is truly inspiring.

Walker’s takes girls and science seriously; I hope you enjoy this collection of news and articles with a focus on science. Thank you for your loyal and ongoing support as we continue to create, connect, and have the courage to expand the walls of our classrooms and our lives!

"The most effective way to do it is to do it." ~ Amelia Earhart Since my last posting in the Sundial, we’ve been actively “doing.” Walker’s administration and Board of Trustees have embarked on a three-year plan to aggressively reduce our operational deficit, with the goal of running the School at breakeven. With the first year completed, I am pleased to report we are ahead of schedule, having exceeded our plan by a significant margin. Enrollment figures for this fiscal year exceeded our objectives, and with strong controls in place we expect to exceed our projections for the current year. The positive momentum continues to build, culminating in Standard & Poor’s (S&P) recently conferring upon Walker’s an investment grade credit rating. In their evaluation, S&P specifically referred to our strong leadership and results under Bessie Speers for the basis of their positive outlook and confidence. It is worth noting that fewer than 8% of all private schools have earned this distinction.

The strength of our credit rating and the positive outlook for the School have allowed us to restructure our outstanding debt, adding to the strength of our balance sheet and financial stability. This is no small accomplishment, given the skepticism that remains in the overall markets following the most severe market downturn in over 70 years. With this important accomplishment completed, we can now turn our attention with confidence and enthusiasm to future generations attending The Ethel Walker School.

Looking forward to our Centennial celebration, the Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Debby Mackenzie ’55 and Glenn Sieber P’09, has created a new Strategic Plan, which has been approved by the Board. Bessie and others will begin to communicate the details of the Strategic Plan to alumnae, parents and interested parties over the coming months.

Alas, with all of this hard work completed and success achieved, there remains more to do. Compared to most schools, our historical pattern of giving, in terms of participation level, offers great upside potential. If you’ve never given before, contribute what you can, no matter what the amount. Percentage numbers matter greatly and are one important measure of success. If you’ve given in the past, please do continue to support The Ethel Walker School. Your generosity will be spent prudently and wisely, and will directly benefit the women of the future.

Be effective, and commit to doing it!

With appreciation,

David J. Castellani P’09 Elizabeth C. Speers

PRESIDENT, THE ETHEL WALKER SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

HEAD OF SCHOOL Winter 2010 3

ON CAMPUS & BEYOND

Commencement – June 7, 2009

“Pay attention to ways that you can combine your intelligence and intellectual might with compassion and humility, for it is in this combination that you will help transform and inspire the world.”

With this charge from Head of School Bessie Speers, Walker’s newest group of graduates tossed their white mortarboards into the air and began on their next journey in life.

On a perfect late spring morning, close to 1,000 family and friends of this 97th class of graduates gathered beneath a massive, billowing white tent to celebrate a class known for its academic, artistic and athletic excellence. Lee Woodruff, author (Perfectly Imperfect and In An Instant), television personality and co-founder of Remind.org (an organization dedicated to assist wounded servicemen and their families), provided graduates with a “Letterman’s Top Ten” list to ensure they become great shareholders of the world. Among them, “learn to laugh at yourself,” “find mentors,” “follow your passions and don’t fear

4 THE SUNDIAL

The Class of 2009 ON CAMPUS & BEYOND

Alexie Alvarado Sara Benjamin Marisa Brignole Brianna Carillo Heather Carley Blair Casey Rebecca Castellani Devin Costa Taylor Cousins Jordan Dell Emily Dreskin Katherine DuVal Samantha Elser Jennifer Feingold Michaela Garrity Morgan Gass Katherine Gavin Catherine Haas Lisa Howard-Sorrell Valerie Jarvis Courtney Lynn Kokulis Jee Hye Lee Sue Jin Lee Brennan Maine

change,” “vote!” and “be in the moment.” “Your time at Walker’s has been the kiln that has forged your wisdom to act.”

Woodruff recalled to the graduates how life can change “in an instant,” and that these curveballs would allow them to discover someone within themselves they didn’t even know existed.

Shonelle McKenzie Katherine Molloy Mi Ji Moon Caitlin Moss Elizabeth Nadeau Michelle Nye Alanah Percy Amanda Petruskevicius Samantha Polley Katherine Reid

Sue Jin Lee ’09, Senior Class Sue Jin Lee President, reminded her classmates of several things they have all learned during their time at Walker’s: nothing is impossible; value your relationships; and believe in yourself. “We have emerged!”

Isis Richardson Alyssa Segala Jennifer Sieber Da-Rye Sohn Heather Soltis Kaila Tiedemann Cheryl Tourigny Lindsay Truglio Molly Turro Elenor van Gemeren Spencer Waybright Melanie Welcome Grace Wilkins

Lee Woodruff

Winter 2010 5

ON CAMPUS & BEYOND

Student Awards & Prizes

THE THEATRE PRIZE Awarded to a student who has demonstrated talent, discipline and commitment to theatrical productions during her time at Walker’s.

HEATHER CARLEY THE TECHNICAL THEATRE PRIZE Acknowledges the work and commitment of the “Techies,” without whose backstage efforts no theatrical production would be possible.

CHERYL TOURIGNY THE PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT PRIZE Awarded to a student who excels in at least two of the three disciplines offered within this department. In addition, it is awarded to a student who has contributed extensively to the artistic life of The Ethel Walker School community.

ALANAH PERCY THE VISUAL ARTS PRIZE The 2009 Visual Arts prize recognizes three principal characteristics of a promising artist: genuine inquisitiveness, the passion for invention, and a consistency of purpose.

DA-RYE SOHN

THE BROWN BOOK AWARD Awarded to a junior selected by the English Department who demonstrates the best combination of academic excellence with clarity in written and spoken expression.

ABIGAIL ENDLER THE WELLESLEY BOOK AWARD Honors “a high ranking student in the Junior Class who has demonstrated intellectual curiosity and excellence in scholarship.”

ARIELLA FREUND THE HARVARD/RADCLIFFE BOOK AWARD Awarded to an outstanding member of the junior class who has displayed excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with her achievements in other fields.

ANNABELLE HICKS THE DARTMOUTH BOOK AWARD Awarded to a sophomore who has demonstrated outstanding academic and leadership qualities and whose character, imagination, and concern for others have had a positive impact on our school.

SHARON TORHO THE SMITH BOOK AWARD Awarded to a junior who exemplifies the academic achievement, leadership and concern for others that characterizes the thousands of women who have graduated from Smith College.

SARA FOITOVA

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THE TRINITY BOOK AWARD Awarded to a junior for high scholastic standing and service to her school.

COLBY EISEN THE YALE BOOK AWARD Awarded to a member of the junior class who has outstanding personal character and intellectual promise.

ABIGAIL ENDLER THE INSTRUMENTAL PRIZE Awarded to that student who best exemplifies a musician striving to improve her ability, technique, repertoire and expression on her chosen instrument.

HEATHER SOLTIS THE MADELINE SALA CHOIR GIRL OF THE YEAR Awarded in recognition of a student in the choir who best exemplifies the qualities of dedication and willingness to cultivate and maintain a high standard of musical excellence.

MICHELLE NYE THE VIRGINIA CHILDS RAMSEY HINMAN PRIZE Given to a student who has made outstanding contributions to the choir and Grapes, and has given her talent freely to the Music Department.

ALANAH PERCY

THE DOROTHY SILVERHERZ DANCE PRIZE This prize is awarded to a student who is dedicated to the art of dance, studying for all three seasons.

JEE HYE LEE THE ELIZABETH OLSON MARSHALL DANCE PRIZE Awarded in honor of Elizabeth Olson Marshall, the first head of dance at The Ethel Walker School and the founder of Dance Workshop.

CATHERINE HASS AND MICHELA GARRITY THE VOORHEES CUP For the all-around athlete who has also shown good sportsmanship and school spirit at all times during her years at The Ethel Walker School SPENCER WAYBRIGHT

THE MERITORIOUS EFFORT CUP Honors a senior who has worked conscientiously towards improving her skills in athletics. She has outstanding spirit, enthusiasm and determination.

MELANIE WELCOME THE WILLIAM C. LICKLE ATHLETIC CUP Awarded yearly to a student whose skill and accomplishment in athletics has brought recognition to herself and to the school.

KATHERINE DUVAL THE WILLIAM C. LICKLE RIDING CUP Awarded annually to a student for outstanding achievement in riding and scholastic endeavors.

ELIZABETH ABOODY AND COLBY EISEN THE MARY SCOULLER NELSON ENGLISH PRIZE Given each year in honor of Mary Scouller Nelson, who taught English at the school from 1963 to 1987.

BLAIR CASEY THE FRENCH PRIZE ELIZABETH NADEAU THE LATIN PRIZE JENNIFER SIEBER and ABIGAIL ENDLER THE SPANISH PRIZE CAITLIN MOSS THE HISTORY PRIZE VALERIE JARVIS THE SCIENCE PRIZE CAITLIN MOSS THE MATHEMATICS PRIZE Awarded annually to a student who has excelled in advanced courses offered in the department. It is awarded for creative, effective problem solving, intuitive insight, persistence and intellectual curiosity.

SARA FOITOVA THE RPI CERTIFICATE Awarded to the junior with the most outstanding academic record in mathematics and science, who demonstrates potential for success in a science or technologicallyoriented profession.

HYUN JUNG MOON

THE DAY OF SERVICE AWARD Awarded to a student who has satisfactorily completed her annual service requirement every year and completed at least 24 hours of community service during the current year.

BRIANNA CARILLO, LOALES CRUZ, ABIGAIL DEMKE, ELENA FAHRLAENDER, CATHY HAAS, ALISON JACKMAN, EMILY KESSLER, AMMARA MALIK, KATHERINE PELLON, DEBORAH PLACE, MAHORI SHIGETA, AND SHARON TORHO. THE FACULTY SERVICE AWARD Awarded to a student who has satisfactorily completed her annual service requirement each year and completed at least 40 hours of community service during the current year.

ALEXIE ALVARADO, ALYSSA BROATCH, LAURA CHOTKOWSKI, JORDANA CLARKE, GRACE COUGHLIN, ABIGAIL ENDLER, KATHERINE GAVIN, CELINE HAEBERLY, TAHARA JORDAN, SARA KAMILLATOS, RACHEL KEENEY, SAMANTHA LEPORE, DARA LONGHINI, BRIA MCCURDY, JENNIFER MENENDEZ, DELE ODUMOSU, KATHERINE REID, KELSIE SHELTON, KAILA TIEDEMANN, EDIE TINKER, MOLLY TURRO, AND ELLIE VAN GEMEREN

THE CLARISSA GREEN CUP For the “Old Girl” who has done the most toward creating good school spirit.

DANIELLE BLACK THE HELEN BLAIR MEMORIAL PRIZE Given to a senior who has shown gentleness, serenity, and sensitivity during her time at Walker’s.

ALANAH PERCY THE BARBARA AND ELIZABETH BYRNES MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR EFFORT AND ACHIEVEMENT Awarded to that senior who has always tried to do her best, who has shown unusual determination and resourcefulness, and has left her mark in many areas of school life.

MELANIE WELCOME THE EMILY CLUETT PRIZE FOR COURAGE AND FORTITUDE Awarded to a senior who has the courage to stand up for truth and the fortitude to meet the challenges of every day life.

SARAH BENJAMIN THE CUMMINGS PRIZE Awarded to a senior who has made a contribution to the school, especially among the underclasswomen, by encouraging, through example, an atmosphere of willing helpfulness, courtesy, and friendliness.

JORDAN DELL

THE HEAD'S SERVICE AWARD Awarded to a student who has satisfactorily completed her annual service requirement each year and completed at least 75 hours of community service during the current year.

CATHERINE BAKER EMILY DRESKIN THE PRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, GOLD LEVEL Awarded to a young adult who has completed 250 or more hours in a twelvemonth period.

JENNIFER SIEBER THE CICERONE SOCIETY PRIZE These two young women demonstrated the passion and dedication that is necessary to be a superb Cicerone.

VALERIE JARVIS AND BRITTA HOLUM THE MARGARET MALLORY CUP For the “New Girl” whose spirit in work, conduct and athletics has been most distinguished.

EMILY KESSLER THE BRUNHILDE GRASSI CUP For the student who has shown the most sustained good spirit in academic work, athletics and community living.

CATHERINE BAKER

THE ISABEL JACKSON MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR FAITHFULNESS AND DEPENDABILITY Awarded to a young woman who has shown a strong sense of responsibility and who has lived up to her obligations in all phases of school life.

ELIZABETH NADEAU THE CATHERINE HENDERSON MURTAUGH PRIZE Awarded to the student who has acted on her potential by demonstrating transformation, by discovering the ability to

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THE COMMUNITY SERVICE PRIZE Awarded in recognition of the student who contributes substantially to the Community Service program at Ethel Walker over the course of her career here.

MOLLY TURRO

ON CAMPUS & BEYOND

transcend earlier patterns or limitations. She has achieved intellectual and scholastic transformation, emerged and contributed in leadership and service to the community and enhanced her own life from a passion that gives her pleasure.

EMILY DRESKIN THE CARY PAGE MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR VERSATILITY Awarded to a student who uses her aptitudes generously for the good or pleasure of others.

DA-RYE SOHN THE HENRY B. SARGENT MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR KINDLINESS AND GOOD FELLOWSHIP Awarded to a senior who is happy, generous, outgoing, and constructive and who uses her gifts positively for others.

HEATHER CARLEY THE ALISON STONE MEMORIAL PRIZE Awarded to a student who has recognized the resources of the school and who has challenged herself fully within our community.

VALERIE JARVIS

Middle School Promotion Ceremony June 5, 2009 New Upper School freshwomen exit Walker’s Chapel following the Middle School promotion ceremony, celebrating their achievements in the Middle School and the learning yet to come.

THE FACULTY PRIZE Awarded to a student who has consistently demonstrated not only intellectual curiosity but also fervor for learning.

SARA FOITOVA THE TRUSTEES’ PRIZE 2009 This year the Trustees’ Prize is awarded to a student whose service to the community has been creative, selfless, and often under the radar. She has a way of seeing what needs to be done, and doing it without needing fanfare or thanks. Whether helping her fellow Big Seven members or collaborating about community service projects, she is enthusiastically committed to getting jobs done and others involved.

MOLLY TURRO THE BEATRICE HURLBURT PRIZE FOR CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE ELENOR VAN GEMEREN THE PRIZE FOR SCHOLARSHIP For the most outstanding student.

CAITLIN MOSS

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The Class of 2009 included a diverse group

of students departing Walker’s to study architecture, medicine, psychology and more at colleges and universities throughout the nation — over 351 applications were submitted to 203 institutions. Two students were recruited for riding and three for athletics, while another pair decided to enroll at their chosen schools in January 2010 after spending time abroad.

TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Caitlin Moss, Gettysburg College, Amanda Petruskevicius, DeSales University, Spencer Waybright, Stevens Institute of Technology, Morgan Gass, Becker College, Brennan Maine, Northfield Mount Herman School (PG), Marisa Brignole, Saint Michael’s College, Courtney Kokulis, College of the Holy Cross, Melanie Welcome, Choate Rosemary Hall (PG), Lindsay Truglio, Northeastern University, Alyssa Segala, Post University SECOND ROW FROM TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: Cheryl Tourigny, Franklin and Marshall College, Shonelle McKenzie, Green Mountain College, Jordan Dell, Bryant University, Katherine Gavin, Rochester Institute of Technology, Alexie Alvarado, Furman University, Grace Wilkins, Auburn University, Brianna Carillo, Texas A&M University, Katherine DuVal, Trinity College, Samantha Polley, Keene State College

2009 Cum Laude Society (l-r) Elenor van Gemeren ’09, Elizabeth Nadeau ’09, Annabelle Hicks ’10, Abigail Endler ’10, Caitlin Moss ’09, Jee-Hye Lee ’09, Da-Rye Sohn ’09, Heather Soltis ’09, Lindsay Truglio ’09

THIRD ROW FROM BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: Elizabeth Nadeau, Northeastern University, Da-Rye Sohn, University of Wisconsin SECOND ROW FROM BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: Taylor Cousins, University of Arizona, Jennifer Feingold, Saint Joseph College, Britta Holum, Colorado College, Katherine Reid, High Point University, Rebecca Castellani, College of the Holy Cross, Catherine Haas, Marist College, Heather Carley, West Chester University, Alanah Percy, Gordon College, Michaela Garrity, James Madison University, Kaila Tiedemann, University of Vermont, Valerie Jarvis, Bates College BOTTOM ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Jee Hye Lee, Cornell University, Emily Dreskin, Purdue University, Sarah Benjamin, Lynn University, Molly Turro, Northeastern University, Jennifer Sieber, Providence College, Devin Costa, Drew University, Elenor van Gemeren, Bates College, Heather Soltis, Furman University, Lisa Howard-Sorrell, Brandeis University, Michelle Nye, University of Richmond, Katherine Molloy, Colby-Sawyer College NOT PICTURED: Blair Casey, Hamilton College, Samantha Elser, Riding, Sue Jin Lee, Boston University, Isis Richardson, Quinnipiac University, Min Ji Moon, Boston University

The 2009-2010 Big 7 Top row, from left to right Abigail Endler ’10, Head of Service, Alexis Stephan ’10, Head of Judiciary, Chelsea Keyes ’10, Head of Activities, Caroline Kieltyka ’10, Head of Day Students Bottom row, left to right: Kiara Riles ’10, VP of Student Body/Head of Proctors, Sydney Satchell ’10, Student Body President, Ariella Freund ’10, 12th Grade Vice President

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Opening Days 2009 “September is to teaching what spring is to life,” said English teacher Roger Cantello during opening faculty meetings in late summer, as students from across the region, nation and world prepared to arrive on campus for Walker’s 98th Opening Days. This year, the School experienced its highest Upper School enrollment in a decade, with 222 girls, a 37.8% increase from just five years ago.

Students arrived on campus over a span of several days; returning athletes, international students, boarders, returning seniors and other groups each experienced their own special welcome and orientation. Seniors in brightly colored shirts were on hand to ensure New Girls were made to feel at home quickly.

Girls from China, The Republic of Moldova, El Salvador, Japan, Venezuela, South Korea, and Germany joined girls from across Connecticut and across the nation in the procession to Opening Chapel, anticipating a year of friendship, exploration and discovery.

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Winter 2010 11

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Technology @ Walker’s: 2010 Focusing on preparing Walker’s graduates to succeed in the 21st century, School leaders have strengthened their commitment to educating students on the use of information and communication technologies. To this end, a new curricular element has been added to the Freshman Seminar that focuses on technology, media literacy, and digital citizenship. A primary goal of this curriculum is to empower students to become responsible, efficient consumers and producers of digital information. Moreover, instructors Sarah Edson and Stephen Reynolds aim to raise students’ awareness of their “digital footprint” and help them discover how their use of technology can positively or negatively affect their lives.

In the class, students examine a variety of online Beaver Brook Computer Lab tools that support and enhance learning. They explore how the Web has evolved to become a participatory environment in which anyone can publish content and provide opportunities for collaboration.

Students also learn methods for finding information efficiently, validating sources, synthesizing research, generating new ideas, problem solving, and communicating and collaborating with peers.

Class participants examine issues surrounding privacy, copyright, digital content ownership, social networking, and cyberbullying. In the spirit of service learning, the section culminates with the students collaboratively creating a web-based guide for the entire Ethel Walker community on how to successfully manage one’s digital identity.

Habitat for Humanity & ServCorps – Spring Trips and Fundraisers Planned The Habitat Club at The Ethel Walker School is preparing for its sixth build in March, 2010. This will be Walker’s third year participating in Collegiate Challenge, an alternative Spring Break trip for high school and college students sponsored by Habitat for Humanity. This year’s destination is Americus, GA, the “birthplace” of Habitat.

Students will also travel to Texas with a group from Avon Old Farms School with ServCorps, a build program which focuses on relief efforts in storm ravaged communities. ServCorps was founded by Ethel Walker Alumna Ruth Harrison Grobe ’69 and her husband Rich in 2001, and Walker’s students have been volunteering for ServCorps locally for several years. Students are actively preparing fundraisers to raise money for their trip expenses as well as for building supplies. They raked leaves this fall and on December 6th and 13th provided gift wrapping services at Borders Books in Simsbury, with a final fundraiser on February 2, 2010 at Flatbread Restaurant in Canton. Your support in these

12 THE SUNDIAL

efforts is greatly appreciated.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience the heartwarming feeling of helping others at a time in their lives when most of their peers are focused on themselves, who they are, where they are going and how they are going to get there. They return from the trips as young adults filled with compassion and hope for others and the desire to help improve substandard housing. They learn the importance of giving a helping hand and make lifelong friends in the process. For one week of their high school year, they are able to forget about homework, college applications, deadlines and social activities and can focus on truly making a difference in the world.

For more information, visit www.habitatforhumanity.org or www.servcorps.org.

ERIN CORBETT, DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS

With the bulk of our travel season now behind us, the Admission Office looks forward to a winter filled with visitors from all over the world. Our travel this year has included Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, California, South Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, and Michigan! This represents an increase in domestic recruitment based upon the tremendous amount of demographic research done by Farrell Swain. With her guidance Erin Corbett and research, we were able to look closely at the areas we wanted to target and look equally as closely at the areas where we may need less of a presence. Our attendance at secondary school fairs remained consistent, due largely in part to our Alumnae Ambassador Network, organized and led by Kristen Mariotti. As always, word of mouth from loyal alumnae, past and current parents is our best means of recruitment.

Please contact the Admission Office at 860.408.4200 if you have referrals or would like to host an admissions gathering. If you are interested in joining our Alumnae Ambassador Network, please contact Kristen Mariotti at 860.408.4205, or via email at kristen_mariotti@ethelwalker.org.

Impressions of The Impressionists Students in Rich Prager’s French 3 class were recently assigned to research an impressionist painter and to do a presentation — in French, of course — to their class on the life and works of that artist. The presentations included a brief biography, images of five paintings, and a detailed analysis of a favorite painting. Artists chosen were Degas, Matisse, Monet, Renoir, Rousseau and Van Gogh.

Walker’s is fortunate to be located within a few miles of the Hill-Stead Museum, a National Historic Landmark with an extensive collection of impressionist works owned by the property’s original owner, Alfred Atmore Pope. Mr. Pope’s daughter, Theodate, designed and founded the nearby Avon Old Farms School, and is well known for being one of the first female architects, and among the most innovative. The week after the presentations, Mr. Prager took his students for a tour of the museum, where they French students gathered at the Hill-Stead saw works of Degas, Matisse, and Monet, among others. Coincidentally, the paintings that two of the students had chosen to analyze in depth were on display at the museum.

Students and Mr. Prager were the only visitors to the museum at that time accompanied by their docent, and it was a special experience. Mr. Prager says, “Degas’ ‘Dancers’ and Monet’s ‘Haystacks’ were breathtaking. One of my best field trips ever, and I’ve been on many.”

In spring, the All School Art Trip will find Walker’s entire student body visiting many more of the region’s superb museums.

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Admissions Update

ON CAMPUS & BEYOND

Notes from Back on campus we regularly hear from recent Walker’s graduates about how well prepared they were for college, often in contrast to their new friends and roommates. We’re quite proud that our students credit Walker’s with the success of their transition.

“Because of Ethel Walker’s supportive environment, it was easy for me to be brave and try completely new things, like joining the men’s rowing team or signing up for a hard class, because I had already learned at Walker’s that if you take the initiative and go for it, people will respect you and be willing to help you if you need it. Walker’s taught me to embrace opportunity…without fear, and gave me confidence in myself and my ability to succeed.”

Emily (EV) van Gemeren ’07 Dartmouth College, Psychology & Education

“I can safely say I am leaps and bounds ahead of my peers when it comes to knowing how to study and more importantly, knowing how to learn. I was recently told by my advisor that I have a confidence and self-awareness she rarely sees in someone my age and it is precisely why she believes I will succeed. I find I have accumulated a strong foundation not only in science, but also in the ability to accept failure and stress and turn it into growth and motivation. I thank Walker’s, because without six years of preparation for these next four, I would surely have given up by now.”

Rebecca Castellani ’09 The College of the Holy Cross, Pre-Medicine

“Washington and Lee resembles Walker’s in many ways — smaller classes, close relationships with professors, and a pervasive love of knowledge that overwhelms students and faculty alike. While I certainly have a great deal of fun here, especially within my sorority, I find that I’m able to balance this with rigorous academics and numerous extracurriculars much more easily in comparison to my peers. Just like when I was at Walkers, I’m always busy with something, from running to Organic Chemistry lab, to chorus, to volunteering in town, to being the Director of Standards and Ethics in my sorority (much like my previous position as Head of Judiciary!). I owe so much of my experience so far at Washington and Lee to the culture of Walker’s, where learning is a dynamic process.”

Kelly Harris ’08 Washington and Lee University, Pre-Medicine

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FIELD HOCKEY

SOCCER

VOLLEYBALL

• CISAC Champs fifth year running, third year both league and tournament champs.

• Second place in CISAC league, three players selected to AllLeague.

• First year of fall competition, New England class B quarter finalist, ranked #15 in all of New England and #3 in Class B for New England.

• Five players selected to All-League Honors; Captain Alexis Stephan ’10 and Caroline Kieltyka ’10 selected as New England All-Stars.

• Five Walker’s players participated in The National Field Hockey Festival in California in November. This is the largest and most prestigious field hockey event in the nation; Coach Mimi Duran coaches the Connecticut Team.

• The field hockey team started the year with participation in Relay for Life, and preseason skill and conditioning development in early August. The team also participated in the Susan G. Komen Play for the Cure wearing specially designed pink uniforms, raising over $800 in conjunction with the volleyball team.

• Alissa Dzis ’11 and Captain Sydney Satchell ’10 selected to New England All-Stars.

• During the season the soccer team not only traveled to Trinity College to watch Katie DuVal ’09 play, they also engaged in a variety of team building activities and a day of community service at the Community Farm of Simsbury and assisted at the Farm’s Fall Festival.

• The soccer team participated in preseason on campus, arriving in late August for a week of conditioning and skill building.

• Captains Bableen Bajwa ’10, Katia Charov ’10 and Brittany Dingler ’10 all selected to New England All-Stars.

• Volleyball team members participated in preseason training and spent a day volunteering at the Community Farm of Simsbury.

• Along with the field hockey team, Walker’s volleyball participated in the Susan G. Komen Play for the Cure fundraiser, selling baked goods, tie-dyed t-shirts, and collecting donations. The team wore specially designed pink shirts for the match, raising over $800 in conjunction with the field hockey team’s efforts.

EQUESTRIAN UPDATE Fall 2009 was dominated by equestrian competition at the highest levels. EWS riders qualified for the Maclay Regionals in Westbrook, CT, The USET Finals in Gladstone, NJ, The Medal in Harrisburg, PA, The New England Equitation Finals in Springfield, MA and the Maclay Finals in Syracuse, NY. Below, some highlights: • Nancy Vinal ’10, Julia Fowler ’12, and Samantha Elser ’09 were in the top 30 out of 80 competitors at the Maclay Regionals in Westbrook, chosen to compete at the Maclay Finals in Syracuse, where over 200 riders competed.

The same trio of riders competed at USET Finals and The Medal Finals and represented the EWS team positively. Julia Fowler was

4th and 6th in the Low Junior Jumpers and Low Junior Classic at Syracuse.

• Eleven riders qualified for The New England Equitation Finals.

Julia Fowler ’12 won and Kate Hamel ’12 placed 8th in the Open Class on the first day of

competition. The next day, 239 riders competed in the Open Warmup Class with three Walker’s riders placing in the top 12: 5th-Samantha Elser ’09 11th-Julia Fowler ’12 12th-Nancy Vinal ’10 • Elizabeth Aboody placed 8th at the preliminary level at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials held in Unionville, PA.

Jesse Nestor ’11, winner of the CHJA Junior Medal Finals held at The Fairfield County Hunt Club, August 15, 2009. Jesse is trained by Joanna Holdredge ’99. Kate Hamel ’12 placed 7th.

• Our Interscholastic team has competed twice so far this year, coming in 2nd and 4th. The IEA continues to gain in popularity as a springboard for college recruitment.

• The EWS Fall Horse Trials ran smoothly with just over 60 competitors in its 12th year.

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ATHLETICS UPDATE

ON CAMPUS & BEYOND

Mountain Day 2009

Nature Does the Talking What is there to say about Mountain Day which a blaze of autumnal color, fresh air, and friendship does not say on its own? Long a part of the School’s history, Mountain Day begins as students and faculty are told at the last moment possible that the following morning entails a late start, a lazy breakfast in Abra’s, and then a hike to the top of nearby Talcott Mountain to enjoy the spectacular view of the Farmington Valley and beyond. Walker’s campus is clearly visible from the top of the 1.5 mile trail, as are vistas for hundreds of miles to the north, south and west. The Heublein Tower stands at the top of the ridge; built in 1914 by businessman Gilbert Heublein as a summer home and retreat, this 165 foot tall structure is truly an architectural marvel. Mr. Heublein modeled this structure after buildings in his native homeland of Bavaria.

Mountain Day wrapped up with a picnic lunch atop Walker’s own ridge at the edge of Walker’s Woods, with a close up view of campus.

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Supporting the Bawa Health Initiative Bawa is a small village of about 500 inhabitants located in northwest Cameroon, Africa.

Residents have no access to clean water, indoor plumbing or proper sanitation. Because of its many health challenges, Bawa is an endemic focus of a long list of tropical diseases. There is no health clinic located in Bawa to provide even routine health care to its residents.

The Middle School Community Service Club has Ginger Bruns ’14, Jillian Davey ’14, Darcy Hughes ’14 and Annika Geno ’14 review focused its efforts towards Bawa fundraising materials. raising money to support the Bawa Health Initiative, whose mission is to provide primary health care to the residents of “I am so proud of them – I see “It’s really important to help Bawa, to prevent the spread of how involved they are getting people on the other side of infectious disease, and to ensure and how they can see beyond the world. It’s making me access to clean water. Students themselves at an age where it is learned of this initiative through feel good helping people difficult for them to see Drs. Kristen and Dennis beyond their own needs and who need health care so Richardson, parents of wants,” enthuses Middle badly,” says Club member Katherine ’14 and Marjorie ’15.

School math teacher Lee Ann Kate Richardson ’14.

Both are on the faculty at Harris, who coordinates the Quinnipiac University, where an Club’s efforts. enterprising student group, SIFE “It’s really important to help (Students in Free Enterprise), buys all the coffee people on the other side of the world. It’s making produced in Bawa to sell at their Cameroon Café me feel good helping people who need health care on campus, and sends the proceeds back to Bawa. so badly,” says Club member Kate Richardson ’14.

The Richardsons are both deeply involved in The Club presented a Chapel program to initiatives in Bawa, and Walker’s Middle School educate students about the many challenges faced students felt strongly that their efforts should

by Bawa residents, and hopes to raise significant focus on raising funds for a health clinic in this funds while building long term relationships with impoverished village. the people of Bawa through a pen pal program. A Students began their research for the project future trip to Africa is a goal as well. in Spring 2009, and their fundraising efforts For more information on the Bawa Health began this fall. They are selling fair trade coffee as Initiative, visit www.bawahealth.org. well as handmade potholders. The kick off to their official fundraising period began with the Family Weekend Bazaar.

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WALKER’S MIDDLE SCHOOL:

Family Weekend 2009 18 THE SUNDIAL

A weekend boasting beautiful fall foliage welcomed families from near and far to campus with a bevy of activities to enjoy with their daughters as well as time spent learning about this year’s curriculum, having meetings with faculty, and discussing topics of interest including the college counseling process. The Ethel Walker School Parents Association hosted a reception featuring entertainment by The Grapes, where parents reconnected and forged new friendships.

The annual Walker’s Bazaar featured the School’s dozens of clubs offering information on their missions as well as delectable fundraising items — the BLSU (Black and Latina Student Union) smoothies gain more popularity with every passing year. While most of the athletic games were cancelled due to rain, there was some serious competition

ON

at Walker’s First Annual Family Kickball game, held in the front circle!

At Family Weekend Chapel, School Librarian Priscilla Jackson was awarded The Galbraith Chair, an honor bestowed upon a faculty member’s distinguished performance in the classroom and for contributions to the life of the School. Ms. Jackson’s expression of glee as she walked down the aisle to receive her award was priceless as students, parents and faculty colleagues gave her a standing ovation (see page 23).

Many families visited the Archival Selections display, which provided a look at the first fifty years of Walker’s history as the School approaches its Centennial. Included in the display were letters written home from a student at the School when it was still located in Lakewood, New Jersey;

a curriculum guide from 1951, and several fascinating scrapbooks providing a look at School life. An extensive archival exhibit will be assembled for Walker’s Centennial Celebration. For more on Walker’s archives, see page 20.

Families enjoyed attending classes with their daughters, visiting with Head of School Bessie Speers at the Head’s House, and unleashed their creativity by making beautiful pottery bowls for Walker’s annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, held each spring.

Quality time with family, faculty and friends is what Family Weekend is all about, and this year’s attendance was record setting!

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ON CAMPUS & BEYOND

Keys to Walker’s Past – The Archives Project Walker’s has a massive historical resource in its archives, which provide extensive information on the history of the School from its founding in 1911. Each year, Reunion classes are treated to a “Museum” depicting their graduation years – even athletic uniforms and theatre props. Over the years, the archives, which are located in a climate-controlled room in the Library, have continued to grow thanks to the plethora of materials alumnae and friends send for safekeeping Walker’s history. With Centennial approaching, the School is making a concerted effort to continue to enhance this valuable resource with the use of specialized materials and, most importantly, the time and expertise of volunteer Cynthia Harbeson, a Simmons College trained archivist who was most recently on staff at the Connecticut Historical Society. We are also fortunate to have a group of gifted and interested volunteers in place to help Cynthia with this project so that we may continue to look into Walker’s past to benefit its future. If you are interested in joining the archives volunteers with even a few hours of your time each month, or would like to provide financial support to ensure a more robust archival initiative to support our Centennial, please email Vivian Elba at vivian_elba@ethelwalker.org.

At right, Cynthia chronicles her experience to date with Walker’s Archives.

20 THE SUNDIAL

Tackling the Archives “What have I gotten myself into?”

These were my first thoughts upon entering the Elizabeth Nash Muench Archive room at the end of August.

There was barely room to walk once inside the door due to the volume of materials and history contained in this special place. Once I set to work it wasn’t long before I realized there was a treasure trove of materials in those boxes that I could not wait to dive into. There is a bit of a “treasure hunt” element to archival work!

The Ethel Walker School is perhaps more fortunate than other institutions because the archive room exists and contains much of the history of a School that has operated for almost one hundred years. Photographs, course catalogs, faculty notes, meeting minutes, yearbooks, alumnae bulletins, scrapbooks, trophies, even letters from a student written to her parents while she attended Walker’s when it was still located in Lakewood, New Jersey — so many little pieces that together form the School’s history.

Many schools store their archives in damp basements and have lost much

Each fall, Walker’s Memorial Chapel honors those who have touched our community and have passed away during the previous year. This year, English teacher Tom Deeds shared this eloquent reflection with students and faculty.

of their history due to mildewing of valuable documents. Walker’s archives indeed benefit from this quality space in the Bell Library.

With a background in library science and archives, and experience in assessing and arranging institutional archives, I knew within minutes of first entering the room that I could be of assistance. My first task was to upgrade the organizational structure of the space with a goal of attaining high archival standards. In my first few weeks, I did a rough inventory of the collection, placing like materials together and stacking photographs by size so that they remained undamaged until they could be organized. Quality storage materials are vital to this process.

My greatest joy has come from the students who occasionally visit me and so often share in my excitement over the materials. During Family Weekend, I had a number of students stop in because they wanted to show their parents something they had seen while they visited me. The young women are particularly interested in the clothing and uniforms that hang in one corner of the room and are always disappointed when I tell them that they can’t try them on or take them home!

We are continuing to invest many, many more hours to ensure the materials are easily accessible and used to their greatest potential, and it is exciting to know that these materials will be used to great extent for the Centennial Celebration. We are up to the challenge despite a limited budget; in the next few weeks, other volunteers will join me in my work so that the archives room will be ready for use when The Ethel Walker School commences its Centennial Celebration.

This summer I had occasion, with friends, to do some outdoor grilling over an open wood fire. It brought back memories of campfires I had started and stoked in the past, and it led to some reflections about life and its meaning. I think the first thing everyone notices about a campfire is how beautiful, hypnotic and attractive it is. Campfires are involving objects of quiet meditation. There is little need to talk in the presence of fire, and whatever talk that does arise is usually significant rather than small talk. It occurred to me that perhaps watching fires throughout the ages has enabled human beings to evolve the capacity to meditate. There is an urge to bring fire into our sacred ceremonies. The Hindus are particularly known for Vedic fire rituals.

They set up sacred fires in temples for many important holidays, weddings and funerals. Even here at Walker’s, we have the vestiges of this impulse as we light candles with no particular need for light in our beautiful chapel. In an age of instant-on lights, it is worth remembering firelight and its centrality to the home and the temple. We even speak of hearth and home in one phrase as if the two are co-equal, primary symbols of human experience. Recently anthropologists have argued that fire and cooking food have led to important evolutionary changes that divided humans from the other higher primates. (A theory that, by the way, puts women at the center of an important evolutionary advance because typically women kept the fires and did the cooking.)

A second impulse we have at a fireside is to keep it going. It is hard, so long as there is fuel, to let it die. The ancient Persian Zoroastrians tended an eternal flame, and today we honor John F. Kennedy with a similar flame at his gravesite.

But all this talk of fire is preliminary to drawing a comparison that is the true focus of what I would like us to reflect on today. Traditions are like fires. In our case, The Ethel Walker School is a living tradition that burns like a sacred fire. Each generation tends the fire and keeps it alive through memory and the reenactment of traditions such as the Sun/Dial inductions and the Old Girl show last Friday. As we approach our centennial year, we should contemplate our traditions and be sure that we reenact them well with due care and gratitude in order to ensure that the flame is passed on to future tenders of the sacred flame. At Memorial Chapel we remember, love and merge with our predecessors both in sorrow at their passing but also in joy that we share this excellent school with so many wonderful people.

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ON CAMPUS & BEYOND

Memorial Chapel 2009

ON CAMPUS & BEYOND

EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT AND OUTREACH:

The Community Farm of Simsbury In 1884, over 75 acres of farmland were deeded to the Town of Simsbury by town forefather Amos Eno. Eno was born in Simsbury and as a young man moved to New York City, where he made a handsome fortune in banking and real estate. In 1884 he purchased the farmland from the State of Connecticut and donated it to the Town of Simsbury “for the support and care” of the town’s poor. Since that time, the Farm had been used to raise dairy cattle, vegetables, tobacco, chickens and nursery stock.

In August 2009, Simsbury’s First Selectman Mary Glassman signed a lease between the Town of Simsbury and the newly formed non-profit organization Community Farm of Simsbury, Inc. (CFS), for the property. CFS is an alliance whose goal is to produce crops via sustainable farming practices, to provide resources for learning to public and private schools and community groups, to “provide food to the poor of Simsbury” as in the Farm’s original deed, and to offer community service opportunity and outreach.

Walker’s is a founding partner of the Farm; Head of School Bessie Speers is Board Chair and alumna Brooke Redmond ’90 serves as Special Advisor to the Board based on her work as Executive Director of the Farm-Based Education Association.

Service learning opportunities have included cleaning up the site, trimming shrubbery, and removing brush. On November 1, close to 1,000 area residents attended the Farm’s opening Fall Festival, where the Walker’s soccer team was out in full force, assisting with registration, tours, raffles and activities.

Prior to the event, Walker’s volleyball team had spent many hours assisting with property cleanup. Plans are underway for teaching and summer camp programs on the site, which will expand Walker’s resources for experiential learning in science, environmental issues and community service.

While the Farm land is owned by the Town of Simsbury, operations will be managed by the Board of the CFS. The mission of the CFS is “to preserve the Town Farm as an environmentally sound sustainable working farm, providing education, building community support and serving the local community and its poor.” To learn more, visit www.communityfarmofsimsbury.org.

Clearing brush; the property required significant clean up efforts after a long period of dormancy

Members of Walker’s varsity volleyball team with CFS Executive Director Tim Goodwin

22 THE SUNDIAL

Celebrating — and helping out at — the Farm’s first Fall Festival

MARY GEORGIS, HISTORY DEPARTMENT

This past July and August, I participated in a Fulbright-Hays GPA (Group Projects Abroad) field study to Russia. The travel grant was organized by the European Studies Council at Yale University and led by its director, Dr. Brian Carter. As a member of our group of fourteen high-school teachers from New England and New York, I attended a series of pre-departure lectures and workshops at the MacMillan Center for International Studies at Yale. There we discussed our project proposals, our itinerary, our host universities in Russia, and what cultural adjustments we might expect to make upon our arrival.

We spent the first ten days of the trip in Moscow studying at the Russian State University for the Humanities (RGGU). Because the title of our project was “Understanding Medvedev’s Russia in its Historical Context,” our experience was a fascinating blend of the “old” and the “new” Moscow. In addition to attending lectures by university faculty, authors, politicians, and bankers, we visited museums, centuries-old monasteries, and ultra-modern shopping complexes. Highlights include visits to the Moscow Times (the leading English-language newspaper in Russia) office, the American Embassy, and the ballet.

Certainly one of the best parts of the program was that we had formal language instruction regularly—this made a world of difference and I was very grateful for it when I met my host family in Vladimir and discovered that they spoke no English.

Vladimir, best known for its golden days as a medieval capital of Russia and its magnificent cathedrals, was founded in 1108 and is home to 315,000 people.

I lived with my host, Natasha, and her two sons in their apartment for the three weeks I was there. I enjoyed making the forty-five minute walk from the apartment to the KORA Center of Russian Studies—our host institution in Vladimir. While in Vladimir, we continued our language lessons and visited a working vodka factory, a bread factory, and the largest prison in Russia. We also traveled to the neighboring towns of Suzdal and Murom (“neighboring” being a measure of distance to be interpreted in the most Russian sense of the word, as Murom was a two-hour drive from Vladimir!).

Three of us caught the 12-hour

train from Vladimir to St. Petersburg for a whirlwind visit to the Hermitage, the famous Church of the Spilled Blood, and a boat tour on the Neva River and into the Gulf of Finland.

I am looking forward to incorporating what I’ve learned of the “new” Russia into my unit on post-1917 Russia and sharing it with my students through video, photographs, literature, and discussion.

School Librarian Priscilla Jackson Named Galbraith Chair Walker’s beloved head librarian Priscilla Jackson was awarded the Galbraith Chair during Family Weekend at a ceremony before faculty, staff, parents and students.

The Galbraith Chair is one of the highest honors bestowed to faculty at Walker’s, meant to recognize a member of the faculty for distinguished performance in the classroom and for contributions to the life of the School.

Following careers as a children’s librarian and radio personality, Ms. Jackson joined Walker’s as audiovisual specialist for the new Bell Library when it opened in the fall of 1987. She also served as housefaculty, living in Smith until 1991, and over the years has advised the Minority Student Interests, Animal Issues and Book Clubs.

An avid thespian, she has been active with the Theatre Guild of Simsbury and has appeared in several Walker’s musicals as well. Ms. Jackson is also a familiar face behind the reference desk at the Simsbury Public Library, where she has worked part-time since 1999, and for which she was presented an award for distinguished service in 2008. In 1998 she became Director of Bell Library, the position she holds today. Her daughter, Holly, grew up at Walker’s and is a graduate of the Class of 2002. Music Chair Laurie MacAlpine held the Chair prior to its award to Ms. Jackson.

Our congratulations to Ms. Jackson!

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FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

Report from Russia

FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

New Faculty and Staff Molly Bouffard

ADVANCEMENT SERVICES ASSISTANT

Molly Bouffard began her work as the Advancement Services Assistant in the Development Office in January, 2009. Prior to joining Walker’s, she was a member of the development team at The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA, and later at Hartford Hospital. Molly studied art history at Smith College, graduating in 2006. She enjoys the outdoors, cooking and yoga. Molly lives in East Hartland, CT, with her husband Keith and her dog, Zeus.

Molly Bouffard

Alice Chrystal

Alice Chrystal

EVENTS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

Alice Chrystal joins us as Events and Summer Programs Coordinator where she will be planning and developing summer camp initiatives and reserving the Chapel for weddings and special events. Alice has a background in music as a performing artist in voice, piano and musical theatre and served as a music educator in the Connecticut Public Schools. She also served as chairperson for the Connecticut Music Educators Association Northern Division, planning and organizing music showcases for student performances. Alice has served as Activity Director and Coordinator for two retirement communities in Connecticut. She has a B.A. in English from Sacred Heart University and state music certification from the University of Bridgeport, along with a certificate in supervision from Tunxis Community College.

Sarah Edson

ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY ANALYST

Sarah joins our community as a member of the Technology department and was most recently with the Connecticut Education Network, a group that brings access and training in technology to schools. She has also worked as an instructional design specialist at the University of Connecticut Health Center and an educational technology project editor and producer at Pearson Prentice Hall and Houghton Mifflin. She holds a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University. Sarah and her husband Nick live in Simsbury with their beloved dog, Zoe.

Sarah Edson Andrea Fleming

DEAN OF STUDENTS AND DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE

A lifelong educator who has taught visual arts and served as a school counselor at many levels, Andrea joins the Walker’s community as the Dean of Students and Director of Residential life. She was most recently counselor and Director of Student and Residential Life at the Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School in Waltham, MA. Andrea earned her BFA in Fine Arts from the University of Arizona at Tucson, her M.Ed. in Educational Counseling at the University of Phoenix (AZ) and is in the process of pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Phoenix.

Andrea lives on campus with her husband Mark and sons Collier (CJ), 3, and Hudson, 1.

Andrea Fleming

24 THE SUNDIAL

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION

Mary Beth is a long time resident of West Hartford, and is founder and cocoordinator of the West Hartford Lacrosse League for Girls, as well as the President of the Connecticut Chapter of US Lacrosse. Her experience in creating outreach programs for the lacrosse league and managing the many activities of US Lacrosse will serve us well as Ms. Hodson assumes a part time role in the Admissions Office, focusing on Middle School admissions. She is also assistant coach of Walker’s JV Lacrosse team.

Mary Beth Hodson Windy Black Jansen ’03

Windy Black Jansen

A graduate of Walker’s herself, Windy Jansen brings her love of the School to her work in the Development Office and to her role as an Upper School advisor.

After graduating from Walker’s, Windy attended Bates College, graduating with a major in political science and a minor in educational studies. She graduated in June from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a Master’s degree in Education Policy and Management. Windy has worked in development and admissions at the Brookwood School in Manchester, MA, and also worked at The Cobb School, Montessori in Simsbury. She recently returned to Simsbury with her husband Dustin, whom she married in June 2008.

Deann Keating

Deann Keating

MANAGER, DIDDLE’S DEPOT

Deann Keating joined the Walker’s Business Office in February 2009 as a parttime Support Specialist and moved to Diddle’s in November. She comes from a clerical background in both the business and education fields, including the Farmington Public School system. Currently, she also works part-time at the Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton, CT as its gift shop manager as well as serving as an officer for the Center’s volunteer fundraising organization. Deann and her husband enjoy working inside and outside their historic house which was built in 1891.

Cynthia Mottoloese

Cynthia Mottoloese

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNAE RELATIONS

BARN MANAGER

Cyndi joined Walker’s as Barn Manager in late summer. She spent seven years as the manager of Lionshare Farm in Greenwich, CT, and also worked for Olympic rider Anne Kursinski. Cyndi began her equestrian career with Walker’s Head Trainer, Linda Kossick Langmeier. Prior to joining Walker’s, she worked at Collinson Howe Venture Partners. A Girl Scout leader and delegate for the Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Cyndi lives on campus with her daughter Samantha.

Debra Palazzolo

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE/BILLING MANAGER

Debra joined the Business office in late 2008. She loves to make ceramics, play golf and bowl, and enjoys her three wonderful dogs, Sphynx Cat and a 25-yearold Blue Front Amazon Parrot. She loves to cook and is always looking for new recipes to try!

Debra Palazzolo

Winter 2010 25

FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

Mary Beth Hodson

FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

Stephen Reynolds

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

Stephen lives in Amherst, MA with his wife Jenny Hincks Reynolds and two daughters, Abigail ’13 and Lila. Stephen has extensive experience working in technology. Most recently, he worked in software development and intelligence for America Online. His experience also includes working as MIS Director, in digital layout and design, and in research for both non-profit organizations and corporations. Stephen, a graduate of Depauw University in Greencastle, IN, grew up in New Harmony, IN.

Stephen Reynolds Dr. Sheri Schmidt

Dr. Sheri Schmidt

DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Sheri joins the staff at Walker’s after 17 years of working in Diversity and Social Justice Education at the college level. She has taught in the Schools of Education at both UMass Amherst and Springfield College, and is also an Assistant Professor in the School for Social Work at Smith College. Prior to her work in the classroom, Sheri served as the Coordinator of Diversity Education at Texas A&M University where she developed co-curricular Diversity Education programs for faculty, students and staff. Sheri earned her doctorate in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her research and publications have focused on teaching about systemic racism, inclusive leadership and the intersections of stratification beliefs and conceptualizations of racism. Sheri lives on campus with her partner Stephen Dunn and their son, Jason.

Brooke Sheldon

LANGUAGE FACULTY

Brooke is a graduate of St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in French and spent a semester studying in Dijon, France.

She has taught French at both the middle school and high school levels, most recently at the Emma Willard School, in Troy, NY. At Walker’s, Brooke teaches French at most levels and is a house/faculty member in Cluett dormitory.

Brooke Sheldon

Kristen Weldon

Kristen Weldon

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SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Kristen joined the Development team this past winter and has been steadily increasing her involvement on campus ever since. Kristen’s work in Development includes event management and communications to alumnae. She is also Walker’s JV field hockey coach, and an Upper School advisor and dorm affiliate.

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Kristen earned her degree in English and Marketing, and was a member of the All-Conference Varsity Field Hockey team. She lives in Avon and is an active runner, participating in running events most weekends.

WENDY ALLERTON, DEAN OF UPPER AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, DEAN OF FACULTY

As the lazy days of summer give way to anticipation of a new school year, teachers and students everywhere wish for just a few more days of summer fun. This year, Walker’s faculty wish was granted with a wonderful series of opening meetings that incorporated plenty of the outdoors into the “curriculum.”

On our first day together as a full faculty, we engaged in a meaningful dialog about the book we had all read over the summer, Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum.

The book served to be a wonderful catalyst for bringing the conversation we had started last spring forward into the new year: how can we become a truly inclusive community? How can we better serve students of all ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds? How can we care more for all of our students at this important stage of their identity development? Lively conversation in large groups and breakouts brought to light this important global issue.

The following day, the focus shifted towards another aspect of life at Walker’s that we are all deeply committed to: environmental stewardship. History and English teacher Carol Clark-Flanagan commented at the start of the day, “This institutional goal has become central to our mission and has tremendous momentum in many different places thanks to the commitment of many teachers, students, and staff. We are becoming Faculty and Staff recognized as an Service Awards important, Each June awards are presented committed, and to members of the Walker’s innovative player community to celebrate their in environmental commitment to the School. In education. What June 2009, the following were better way to start recognized: the year than to take stock of what Elinor Abbe, DEAN OF UPPER SCHOOL AND FACULTY, 5 YEARS we are doing and Clarissa Basch, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE to spend some time COUNSELING, 5 YEARS thinking about Michele Harris, FACULTY, 5 YEARS possibilities and Kristin Nicolle, ATHLETIC TRAINER, 5 YEARS opportunities as Diane Thomas, DIRECTOR, ANNUAL GIVING & PARENT RELATIONS, 5 YEARS we move forward?"

Maria Villaescusa, FACULTY, 5 YEARS Each faculty Gwen Couch, FACULTY, 10 YEARS member signed Joanna Holdredge ’99, FACULTY, up for one of 10 YEARS several choices Michael Coster, FACULTY, 25 YEARS of activities that John Groff, FACULTY, 25 YEARS

Down on the farm…at the new Community Farm of Simsbury

Letterboxing in Walker’s Woods

brought them outside on a beautiful late August day.

Some chose to take a strenuous hike through Walker’s Woods. Others chose a more leisurely tour through the School’s organic garden. Several went for a trail ride. Another group went on a letterboxing excursion and others took a tour of the new Community Farm of Simsbury, which will play a role in the School’s academic and environmental mission. Each trip focused on how we might apply the ideals of environmental conservation into curriculum and how we may better capitalize upon the extraordinary natural resources we have just outside our windows.

The day culminated with a picnic lunch near the van Gemeren Observatory. From our vantage point on the top of the hill, we felt proud to be involved in the work of educating girls in such a beautiful setting.

Joyce McIntyre, FACULTY, 25 YEARS Rich Prager, FACULTY, 25 YEARS

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FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

Faculty Summer Meetings – Inside and Out

Walker’s Women in Science

T

oday’s science curriculum at Walker’s reflects the School’s commitment to encouraging women to explore careers in the sciences, where the gender gap remains just that — a gap — but translates into opportunity.

While Walker’s students are required to take three years of science, an impressive 98% of the School’s graduates exceed this requirement. By graduation over 50% of Walker’s students take five or more years of science!

The combination of hands-on, real-world learning, as evidenced by curriculum in astronomy, for instance, which finds girls studying the night skies in our observatory, or environmental science, where students investigate the biodiversity of Walker’s Woods or produce videos with strong environmental messages, is carefully designed to fully engage them and prod them towards further exploration.

The UCLA study commissioned recently by the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS) points out that girls’ school graduates rate themselves more successful and engaged in precisely those areas in which male students have historically surpassed them — mathematics, computers, engineering, and politics. The findings may undermine opponents of girls’ schools, who argue that single-sex education accentuates sex-based stereotypes and widens the gender gap. The unpopularity of the hypotheses expressed by Harvard’s former president Lawrence Summers in 2005 illustrates widespread rejection of antiquated views that point to “issues of intrinsic aptitude,” better suiting men to careers in science.

“Science progresses best when observations force us to alter our preconceptions.” ~Vera Rubin 28 THE SUNDIAL

Walker’s curriculum, and indeed, extra-curricular and service learning options, illustrate the School’s commitment to all branches of the sciences and underlines the realization that while a student may not choose a career within the defined realms of science, understanding the value of this subject matter is essential to be a citizen of the world in the 21st century. The practical applications of the sciences in daily life are limitless. Opportunity is given to students at every turn so they may touch a field or delve deeply into it via their Junior/Senior project and possibly continue their exploration in college.

Science Curriculum @ Walker’s: 2009-2010 UPPER SCHOOL

Equine Science

Physics Conceptual Physics Honors Conceptual Physics Honors Physics AP Physics

Forensics

Chemistry Honors Chemistry AP Chemistry Biology Honors Biology AP Biology Astronomy Environmental Science

Psychology AP Psychology Independent Study in Science/Medicine Junior/Senior Project in Science/Medicine MIDDLE SCHOOL Ecology Life Science Earth Science

Science Curriculum @ Walker’s: 1952-1953 General Science Biology

Physics Chemistry

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WALKER’S & SCIENCE

Junior/ Senior Projects

in Science KATIA CHAROV ’10 PARTICLE PHYSICS CAMP Stanford University EPGY (Educational Program for Gifted Youth)

WHITNEY EDWARDS ’11 MARINE BIOLOGY/LOBSTERING Fisher’s Island, NY

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Beginning with the class of 2007, Junior/Senior projects became a requirement for graduation at Walker’s. These varied on or off campus experiences allow students the opportunity to pursue a topic in depth outside of the regular classroom setting and provide an invaluable opportunity for career exploration. Students use the project to explore a professional interest or a topic they are passionate about and do it in a way that is meaningful to them. The project work is accomplished over a two week period during a break in the academic year. Students must keep a journal during the project, and a paper describing the project and evaluating its success is due two weeks after returning to school. Students are expected to make a brief presentation shortly thereafter.

Walker’s students regularly choose to explore the sciences for their projects.

Here are some excerpts from this year’s written reports.

I never thought when I took AP Physics B as a junior that I would need to remember how to calculate the force on a charged particle in a B-field. The description of the particle physics course said that it was open to anyone in grades 9-11 who had taken at least Algebra 2 and Intro to Mechanics. I thought that since I’d taken everything through honors pre-calculus and AP physics that I would be well ahead of my classmates and that the course would be easy; I should have known better. My instructor moved at a terrifying rate through electricity and magnetism (topics we’d taken two months to learn at Walker’s), and I found myself amazed that I could spend more than ten minutes on one problem. We had class in the morning (two and a half hours of lecture), then lunch and then a two hour homework session in which we’d all sit in the dorm common room puzzling over our assigned problems. Prior to camp I hated working in groups because I tend to do a lot of thinking to myself before I even start a problem and I find it difficult to share with others. But working on these problems it was essential to collaborate with my classmates; we worked in small teams not because we were told to but because our combined brain power was just enough to complete the problem sets.

I’d like to go into research some day but always shuddered at the prospect of working as a team. Now I know how essential it is. Needless to say, I learned so much about physics and am considerably more interested in pursuing it further in college.

The yellow traps with the green entrances did the best overall in every situation, catching 40.83% of lobsters caught. The black traps caught 32.11%. The green traps and the yellow traps with the orange entrances did the worst, catching 14.68% (green) and 12.39% (yellow/orange).

This data proves my hypothesis wrong, showing that lobsters do have a preference for the color trap they are going to enter. I think the lobsters can see the color yellow/green better…because they are natural colors on the ocean floor unlike the orange on the yellow/orange trap. Having the orange entrance may have caused the lobster to be hesitant about entering the trap. Black traps could be seen as a rock to crawl into and hide so that could be why more lobsters went into that pot. The green trap caught the second least; this could be from lobsters thinking they are walking into eel grass or seaweed and are skeptical of going inside because there could predators there they can’t see.

Shell disease is slowly killing lobsters; there is no cure for it yet. Scientists aren’t sure what is causing this problem. How we treat the environment may be having an effect on the lobster population, making it harder for research to be done…and for the fishing business. The die off of lobsters would affect the stability of the ocean; lobsters are a keystone species and without them seaweed would take over and there would be one less animal to eat all the dead organisms on the ocean floor.

OBSTETRICS-GYNECOLOGY DR. CAROL WATSON ’90 Enfield and Avon, CT

ABIGAIL ENDLER ’10 FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY Connecticut Valley Hospital, Middletown, CT

SHANELL PERCY ’10 ORTHODONTY/DENTISTRY Longmeadow, MA, Windsor and West Hartford, CT

Some women choose to have a natural birth where they will not take any pain medication and just want to focus on the connection they have with their baby during the birthing process.

Similar in purpose to natural birthing, I also learned about hypnobirthing. A couple came in saying that they plan on practicing hypnobirthing which consists of a low-lit environment, with not a lot of noise or speaking, and also includes replacing standard birth terms with ones that have a less negative or painful connotation. For example, instead of “pushing” the couple would use the term “breathing down the baby.”

I really enjoyed this project and learned more than I thought possible. Being able to see the good and the bad (and I know I did not come close to seeing the ugly) of what being an OB/GYN entails was the most amazing experience I have ever had. I recently had a college interview and a great portion of that interview was spent talking about my project because I believe the interviewer could see the excitement and energy it sparked within me. Completing this project has confirmed that this is the field I want to go into. Being an OB/GYN would give me the opportunity to touch so many lives, so many ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Watching Dr. Watson, I found that she is more than a doctor; she is a mentor and a friend who has the whole well-being of her patient at heart. And it is very evident that she loves her job and is not just in it for the paycheck that it brings. Dr. Watson is not who I want to be, but is who I aspire to emulate. I hope that one day I can touch as many lives as she has. She has taught and told me and it is evidenced by her life that you can become and accomplish anything you put your mind to with hard work and discipline. So I know that I can and I will become an OB/GYN.

On one day of my internship, I accompanied a psychologist from CVH to court for a competency hearing. I was able to sit in on the hearing as the psychologist testified as to whether he believed that his patient had been fully restored to competency or whether the patient should remain at CVH for a longer period of time. The most important thing that I took away from this experience was the difference between the defendant in a court of law being found not guilty by reason of insanity or by reason of incompetence to stand trial. The term “not guilty by reason of insanity” means that at the time that the crime occurred, the defendant was not in their right mind. On the other hand, the term “incompetent to stand trial” means that at the time of the trial the defendant was not in his or her right mind, and therefore it would not be fair to put them through a trial. In the case that I witnessed during my time at CVH, the patient had to go to court in order to ascertain whether his competency had been restored. If he was deemed competent, he would be required to go to court for his crime. If he was not deemed competent, the judge would allow him to remain at CVH for a given period of time, and once that period of time was up he would be taken into court for yet another competency hearing. (This process would continue until he was deemed competent to stand trial.)

My internship at the Connecticut Valley Hospital reaffirmed my belief that forensic psychology is my true calling in life. As I got to know the patients, I was truly inspired and amazed by their capacity to remain kind, caring individuals despite what they are going through.

I learned about the mouth, and that each tooth is categorized and has its own name. I learned what a tooth looks like beneath the surface. There are roots within the root canals of a tooth; the root canals contain pulp and are surrounded by dentin which is covered by enamel. The tooth is separated into two sections: section A which is above the gums and section B which is below the gums. While in Dr. Hausman’s office I learned of some tools used in dentistry through my observation of a hygienist cleaning a patient’s teeth. I also learned about some of the most common dental procedures: implants, fillings and root canals. While in Dr. Gange’s office I became familiar with tools used in orthodontics, and became familiar with the most common orthodontic procedures: impressions, bonding, and the tightening of braces.

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WALKER’S & SCIENCE

DANIELLE BLACK ’10

WALKER’S & SCIENCE

EQUINE SCIENCE:

Not Just for Riders Newly introduced to Walker’s science curriculum in Fall 2008, Equine Science, taught by Dr. Suzanne Piela, is a yearlong science elective, an intense equine biology class that encompasses the anatomy and physiology of all the systems of the horse, nutrition, toxicology, parasitology, health management, neonatology, epidemiology, and sports medicine.

While the curriculum is of special interest to Walker’s riders, it is also beneficial to students interested in veterinary science, or careers in medicine and biology.

The course is not just lecture based but features guest speakers, current events, journal articles, field trips, case studies, and weekly labs.

The Ethel Walker barn lends itself as a natural classroom for this course and allows students to gain hands on experience and apply what they have learned in the classroom to real life situations.

Once they have received a strong foundation in most of the systems of the equine body, students are able to apply that knowledge as they work up different cases during the second half of the academic year. Students in this class develop strong problem-solving skills as they learn how to ask the right questions to obtain a medical history and interpret physical exam and diagnostic test findings.

This course also teaches students to recognize signs of injury and disease in their own horses, so that they can be proactive and work with the School’s riding staff to contact a veterinarian for further evaluation.

Equine science students used non-toxic paint to illustrate equine skeletal and muscular systems.

32 THE SUNDIAL

CURRICULUM EXPLORED

In Michele Harris’ economics class, introductory macro and microeconomic concepts are certainly explored – supply and demand, scarcity and costbenefit analysis just to name a few. But Ms. Harris has expanded the scope of this course to include attention to how contemporary environmental issues directly tie into the study of economics.

Ms. Harris feels strongly that students, especially girls, learn best when learning does not take place merely in the vacuum of a textbook and the confines of a lecture. She has therefore chosen Economics by Example by David R. Anderson as a supplemental text, comprised of current case studies as a real-life enrichment to the traditional curriculum.

The text presents a diverse array of dynamic case studies, including: “Do Tree Huggers Deter Growth and Development? — Myths, Labor Markets and Environmentalism,” and “Pollution: How Might Economics Help Save the Planet? — Cap-and-Trade Programs as a Market Solution to Problems Large and Small.”

In Ms. Harris’ classroom her students have particularly enjoyed and found value in the lessons gleaned from the “tree hugger” case. In fact, she and a few students discussed the case for a Connecticut Public Television piece that focused on Walker’s environmental initiatives.

In this case study, a concept that the students study from their textbook is brought to life – trade-offs – and in this case, trade-offs between jobs and the environment. “Experts” debate about whether or not economic growth and economic protection are mutually exclusive.

The students begin by learning that a balance needs to be created between the creation of lumber-related jobs and the protection of wildlife. The case becomes more complex as students learn that there are many jobs that are impacted by the environment in addition to logging, including tourism, manufacturing and sales, and camping equipment and recreational vehicles. In addition, medicines are often by-products

of the rainforest, which then in turn affect jobs in hospitals, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and research labs. Since the students taking this class are all juniors and seniors, job procurement is already very much on their minds!

Of course the students are more familiar with the other side of the debate, that is, the knowledge that trees serve vital functions, from carbon sequestration, whereby trees absorb carbon pollution that leads to global warming, to providing breathable oxygen in the air.

Students learn that tourism, environmental cleanups (i.e.

Hurricane Katrina), lowimpact construction and the manufacture of eco-friendly products create jobs; in fact this employment sector is currently experiencing growth.

Reasonable policymakers who don’t go to extremes can secure these low resource jobs, while at the same time protecting the natural resources we need to sustain life and provide our productive resources.

The students are often surprised to find out that the ideal level of pollution is not zero. They come to this case study having learned from their text about marginal costs and benefits – so they understand what is meant when the author says that the ideal level of pollution lies at the point at which marginal benefits no longer exceed marginal costs.

Ms. Harris wants the girls to know that going to college to study economics opens the door to careers in many different branches of economics.

Environmental and natural resource economists make it their job to achieve the balance between slowing deforestation (environment) and supporting economic growth (employment) by exposing the costs and benefits of environmental policies.

The final lesson learned is that all aspects of a “green” policy should be considered and should be reasonable. According to Roger Bezdek and Robert Wendling of Management Information Services, “The U.S. debate about environmental protection often assumes that saving natural resources means losing jobs…Our survey of the environmental-protection employment climate led to the opposite conclusion.”

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WALKER’S & SCIENCE

The Economy & The Environment

WALKER’S & SCIENCE

Environmental Science and Real World Challenges Environmental Science is not an ordinary course of

study at Walker’s. To say that teachers and students are responding to the challenge of 21st century education would not be accurate; Walker’s is leading the way into this uncharted territory. Co-teachers Jill Harrington and Carol Clark-Flanagan, in recognition of their groundbreaking work in this area, recently presented at the National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS) Annual Conference in Bethesda, MD and at the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) conference on 21st Century Uses of Technology. Walker’s will host an NCGS Think Tank on environmental initiatives for educators this spring featuring curriculum designed by Ms. Harrington and Ms. Clark-Flanagan. The two are currently applying to present at the next National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Conference as well.

How is Walker’s doing this? By encouraging and making space in the curriculum for student driven change. Students who sign up for environmental science spend the first semester with Ms. Harrington barreling through advanced science, moving quickly and not plunging too deeply into the material. This provides them with a context for current issues and for investigations that look for solutions to real challenges posed by creating sustainability and changing longterm behavior. History and English teacher ClarkFlanagan joins the class during the second semester, when it shifts to a seminar style course. Art teacher Bethany Altschwager and Tom Deeds, who teaches Ethics, lead units on digital photography, sculpture and corporate responsibility. In the context of this course, sustainability is not a destination as much as it is an invitation to think about possibility — about a high quality vision that extends far into the future.

“Environmental Science gave me an eye opening experience that broadened my perspective on better ways to work with the environment instead of against it.”

Nancy Vinal ’10

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Jill Harrington, left, and Carol Clark-Flanagan

Fostering Collaboration The Simsbury campus is simply the starting point.

Everywhere at Walker’s, girls learn that what they say and do matters. In the spring term of Environmental Science, that experience is thrown into sharp relief as students connect with communities outside of campus.

They learn quickly that thorough research, presentation skills, and timeliness matter, and that good communication skills are the engine that pulls sustainable change into the station. Getting people and organizations on board is what students in this course do; they experience the power and necessity of collaboration in creating awareness and in pressuring constituencies to consider and to adopt sustainable behaviors. They respond to high expectations because the expectations seem real to them. Ms. Clark-

Quality Communication is Vital The message the Environmental Science students “get” is that collaboration and partnership are critical to healthy, vibrant communities. Their written work is no longer between just the teacher and themselves. Presentations in Environmental Science move beyond the safe environment of admiring friends and supportive teachers. Students learn firsthand that written documents make impressions: with town officials, heads of non-profits, teachers at other schools and even our own business manager. If the product is uploaded onto YouTube or an organization’s website, it is there in full view of the public, to be critiqued continually.

A Viral Opportunity Surprisingly, it takes only one visible project to attract attention from outside the community. This past

Recently, Ms. Clark-Flanagan took sophomores Lainey Battiston ’12 and Alex Silver ’12 to Choate Rosemary Hall to the kick-off of the highly successful Green Cup Challenge (GCC), now in its fifth year; this is Walker’s third year of participation. Independent schools

spring, the Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA) directors commissioned the class to design and produce a video for their website and outreach programs. They had seen a documentary on community access television made by the previous year’s class about the efforts and attitudes toward “going green” by town government and schools. They spoke with the girls about their organization and how they hoped this video could help get their message out.

The resulting video was much appreciated by the FRWA. Originally, student projects were envisioned through brainstorming between students, Ms. Harrington and Ms. Clark-Flanagan.

The students’ research and production talents are now in demand. Director of Riding Kathleen Battiston asked the students to outline the feasibility of Walker’s composting its own barn manure instead of paying for its disposal. The Tree Committee, a subcommittee of Simsbury’s Open Space Committee, is hoping that our students will design a “Tree Unit” that could be posted on the town’s website and used in schools. For every project, students are required to put together a written business plan and SWOT* analysis, and must present their plan and analysis for approval.

Over two dozen projects, from small to large, have been completed by this class during the past three years. (continued on next page) *SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

are challenged to reduce their energy consumption over a period of several weeks; the winner is the school who has reduced usage by the highest percentage. The first GCC was launched in 2006 among three schools; in 2007, the GCC included fifteen boarding schools

and joined with the Green Schools Alliance. Today, the Green Cup Challenge includes 150 day and boarding, and public and private schools, in over 24 States and Canada.

2010 Challenge Dates: January 25 through February 22, 2010

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WALKER’S & SCIENCE

Flanagan says, “It’s much easier to hold their feet to the fire when they sense what they are doing is real.

Jill and I can insist on daily effort, on a level of engagement, on deadlines, and the quality of the final product — whether it’s an email requesting an interview, a presentation to the Board of Trustees, or a pamphlet publication. We are expecting our students to demonstrate tangible mastery.”

WALKER’S & SCIENCE

Immersion in the “Real World” more immersion classes. This requires leadership and What Ms. Harrington and Ms. Clark-Flanagan have vision among educators. Ms. Clark-Flanagan and Ms. discovered is the design of these projects, if left up to Harrington would add that it will require leadership the students, becomes grounded in and widens the from the students themselves. Let scope of their investigation.

Risk taking and the very real them “have at” the real world. Give Content and action merge.

Innovation and imagination become possibility of failure move front them permission to fashion solutions to challenges we do not important, even essential, elements and center as the girls have answers to and ones not yet on of problem solving. Rigor takes on collaborate with the outside our horizon. Pay attention. Watch new meaning, organizing the world. what they do. As Pat McGuire, students’ project work into president of the re-envisioned something more complex than what Trinity College in Washington D.C. insists, “We need they are used to. Along with the students, Ms. Clarkto see their horizons as our own.”

Flanagan and Ms. Harrington have become more agile and open to new directions. They all have come to see If you have suggestions or projects Envi Sci students that innovation is inherently disruptive. Risk taking can put their collective shoulder to, please get in touch and the very real possibility of failure move front and with Jill Harrington and Carol Clark-Flanagan at center as the girls collaborate with the outside world. jill_harrington@ethelwalker.org or Pat Bassett, President of NAIS, insists schools need carol_clark-flanagan@ethelwalker.org

MOVIES WITH A MESSAGE — FIRST PLACE INSPIRATION Walker’s has come to use video storytelling as an added option for student projects. After our Green Cup Challenge video won first place in the national competition for GCC videos, students have been increasingly encouraged to use video as a vehicle for their messages. Walker’s is determined to produce another quality entry for this year’s GCC. The best to come of the public viewing of Walker’s student video pieces in venues like MTV, YouTube and more, is that students at other schools can now imagine what they might do in new ways. On campus, it has inspired other girls to make movies with a message. A new campus movie lab, with equipment dedicated to filmmaking, is accessible to all students. The admissions office has commissioned students to make two videos, and for their Junior/Senior Project, Connie Wall ’11 and Samantha Remillard ’11 are crafting a Centennial video. As more students and teachers see its relevance to expressing their goals and passions, more are expected to incorporate video into their projects. Let it come!

Coming This Summer: Science Camp at Walker’s — Stay tuned for details!

36 THE SUNDIAL

Walker’s & The New Connecticut Science Center — Collaboration on Tap In June 2009, the Connecticut Science Center opened at Adriaen’s Landing in downtown Hartford, and

by August had already welcomed its 100,000th visitor. The $165 million Center’s mission is “dedicated to inspiring lifelong learning through interactive and innovative experiences that explore our changing world through science.”

Major donors and exhibit sponsors at the Center include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lego, Pfizer, United Technologies, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and more — all of them innovative, forward-thinking organizations located within Connecticut. The Center boasts 150 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater and four educational labs, and offers education in all areas of science, from physics to forensics, geology to astronomy.

Since 2007, before ground was even broken for the Center, Walker’s has been discussing sharing resources with their team, underlining the mutual belief that women are needed in an increased role in the sciences. Walker’s

students have already mentored groups of visitors for a member lab, “Waves & Music.” The Center is considering running Walker’s awardwinning Green Cup Challenge video in its own kiosk at the museum, and is also reviewing a list of exhibit and activity suggestions designed by Walker’s faculty specifically for the spaces available onsite, such as an organic garden in one of their three greenhouses, a wet lab, and even a mural depicting women in science.

The Center is hoping to embed into its curriculum field trips to our Simsbury campus, the van Gemeren Observatory and Walker’s Woods; given that the topography in Hartford is more urban, the Woods would enable the Center to offer its visitors and students hands-on study of the environment accompanied by their teachers, with Walker’s students as guides and teaching assistants. The Center is committed to the environment; in fact, it is currently awaiting LEED Certification just as Walker’s Head’s House was awarded.

Offering an extensive outdoor curriculum would enhance their

Emily Mainolfi ’12 assists a workshop student mission to educate students about preservation and conservation, and the science of nature.

For more information on the Connecticut Science Center, please visit www.ctsciencecenter.org

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The van Gemeren Observatory – Astronomy and Community

The van Gemeren Observatory serves not only as a campus landmark and an example of solar energy usage, but as an essential component of Walker’s astronomy curriculum. Students learn during mandatory evening observation sessions which supplement their study of the solar system, the stars, the galaxies and beyond. In addition, Dr. Stephen Gensemer opens the Observatory to the public every Friday night during the academic year, weather permitting. “Regulars” attend frequently, along with families and community groups such as scouts and seniors. The new Connecticut Science Center hopes to use the Observatory to supplement its astronomy curriculum.

WALKER’S & SCIENCE

Alumnae in the Sciences

Throughout the decades, graduates of Walker’s have made their mark in the sciences – from medicine to environmental issues and even to scientific illustration.

CAROL WATSON ’90, M.D. PLAINVILLE, CT Obstetrician-Gynecologist Dr. Carol Watson received her doctorate from Albany Medical College in 2000 and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Connecticut Health Center in 2004.

Prior to pursuing her medical degree, Carol received a bachelor’s degree from Yale University. Her time at both the undergraduate and graduate levels was influenced tremendously by her experiences while at Walker’s. In fact, Carol continues to credit two of her teachers, Mr. Carrington and Ms. Perillo, as being among the most influential educators she has encountered in her journey. Of their inspiration she has remarked, “Math and science had always been difficult for me, but both teachers gave me the confidence to attack math with an intensity that carried into all other aspects of my life. They taught me to believe in myself. When I left EWS, I left with the feeling that I could accomplish anything.” Among many awards, Dr. Watson was recently named a Top Doctor by her medical peers in the October 2009 issue of Hartford Magazine. She owns a private practice with offices in Enfield and Avon, CT and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG). Carol is also an attending physician at both Johnson Memorial and Hartford Hospitals. In addition to her many professional responsibilities, Carol recently joined Walker’s Board of Trustees as of Fall 2009. The School looks forward to benefitting from Carol’s wisdom in the years ahead.

KRISTEN ALLEGUE ’01 NEW YORK, NY Sales Consultant, Women’s Healthcare, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Kristen's love of science began early during her time at Walker's with her fascination with Dr. Sheldon’s chemical explosions and Mr. Dreyfuss’ animated demonstrations of biological processes.

Inspired by her experience at Walker’s, she spent two summers during Upper School interning as a flavor chemist at OSF Flavors. In her senior year at Walker’s, she developed an independent food science study under the direction of Dr. Sheldon. The experience solidified her desire to expand her knowledge of chemistry via a chemistry major at Trinity College. While in college, Kristen completed a thesis and spent a summer in San Diego, CA, involved in a diabetes drug discovery program at Pfizer, Inc. Following graduation from Trinity in 2005, Kristen worked as an Associate Research Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry at Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. Looking to work more closely with her customers, she made the move into sales, utilizing her knowledge of products and processes to benefit her clientele.

38 THE SUNDIAL

PORTLAND, OR Naturalist Painter and Designer Nancy Klos has taken an interdisciplinary approach in her career as a naturalist painter and designer. She uses her experience as an artist for over 25 years to inspire an appreciation of the natural world and to “cultivate the creative spirit in every child” when she teaches scientific illustration in both public and private school settings. Her beautiful tapestries and paintings include images of monarch butterflies, owls, underwater scenes, dogs, turtles, and cats, to name a few. She has worked in numerous school settings with students in grades K-12, and as an ArtistIn-Residence with Young Audiences of Oregon and Southwest Washington States to bring science to life through scientific illustration. Klos has said of her work, “It’s not so much about making an artist out of a student, but enabling them to perceive their world through the action of drawing – and being able to integrate that into another discipline, science.”

Much of Nancy’s work focuses on the natural environment, something she became passionate about during her days at Walker’s. She has said of her time as a student that Walker’s Woods were a particular area of inspiration. “How beautiful the Woods were and how much I now appreciate all the work that has gone into sharing those woods with the greater community.” To view more of Nancy’s work and representations of the world around us, please visit her website at www.klosstudios.com. Nancy’s work has also been featured on television programs such as Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Artbeat and HGTV’s Modern Masters, and she has recently been asked by a former student to work with her to develop her portfolio for college admissions.

WHITNEY SMITH ’03 LAKE FOREST, IL Veterinary Student Whitney is currently enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine program at Ohio State University, studying to be a veterinarian. Whitney majored in Biochemistry at Trinity College and spent each school year and summers working as a research assistant to Dr. Timothy Curran, coupling alkynylpeptides to a tungsten complex in order to study secondary protein folding. Throughout her time at Trinity, she worked as a teaching assistant for seven science laboratory classes and was a mentor for a first year seminar.

At graduation, Whitney was awarded the Connecticut Valley Section of the American Chemical Society Award, given for outstanding achievement in the study of chemistry.

In the two years between Trinity College and Ohio State University, Whitney focused her work in the field of veterinary medicine. She spent nine months at Star Meadow Animal Hospital in Farmington, CT, and continued this work on weekends after joining an equine sports medicine practice. She added to her busy schedule by working overnights at Farmington Valley Veterinary Emergency Hospital. She continued these three jobs until enrolling at Ohio State University this fall.

Whitney writes, “I couldn’t have achieved any of the above without my education from Ethel Walker. My time at EWS taught me leadership, responsibility, organization, and time management.

Above all else, the passionate teachers at EWS taught me how to work with everything I have and how to utilize the resources around me. They helped me to realize my strengths, and also my weaknesses. The life lessons I was lucky enough to obtain are something that set me apart; an asset I achieved during my once in a lifetime opportunity at boarding school.”

Winter 2010 39

WALKER’S & SCIENCE

NANCY SMITH KLOS ‘77

ALUMNAE NEWS

Walker’s Out and About

Fishers Island

J. Geddes Parsons, Hilary Walker Hotchkiss ‘75, Bessie Speers

Back Row: Tom Speers, Ken Edwards GP’11, Jerry Bogert Front Row: Trudi Edwards P’11, Ann Edwards GP’11, Margot Campbell Bogert ‘60, Whitney Edwards ‘11, Bessie Speers

Margot Campbell Bogert ‘60, Peggy Campbell, Elizabeth “Libbie” Hubbard Cook ‘44, Bessie Speers

Christopher Edwards P’11, Jean McIntire Leuchtenburg ’43

Maxine Arnold ’44, Staley Cayce Sednaoui ’76, Kathy McCarthy Parsons ‘75

Lady Barbara McIntire Gorham ’39, Tom Speers

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Ligonier, PA ALUMNAE NEWS

Alyce Gammon Fiedler ’84, Holly Legler Cortes ’91, Donya Nagib Sabet ‘90

Back: Alyce Gammon Fiedler ’84, Ellen Carroll Walton ’50, Gretchen Miller Elkus ’60, Bessie Speers, Holly Wilcox Barry ’63, Holly Legler Cortes ’91, Donya Nagib Sabet ‘90 Front: Esther Ricketts Stiles ’37, Jean Butterworth Wickwire ‘38

Nantucket, MA

Windy Black Jansen ‘03, Anne Dobbin Bailliere ’59, Bessie Speers, Jennifer Krimmel Walther ‘80

Susan Rand Whitlock ’62, Katherine Conlon ’10, Susan and Raymond Conlon P’10

Stonington, CT Back row: Usula Bitter Ulmer ’54, Margaret “Marnie” Springer Denham ’51, Pamela Brewster Duffy ’74, Bessie Speers, Betty Richards Tripp ’54, Katherine “Kate” Robinson, wife of former trustee Barclay Robinson, Sara “Sally” Kellogg Goodrich, former Trustee and staff member Front Row: Alyce Gammon Fiedler ’84, Penelope Johnson Wartels ‘62

Winter 2010 41

ALUMNAE NEWS

Philip Johnson Glass House New Canaan, CT

Minneapolis, MN Lucy Rosenberry Jones ’59, Damaris Welles ’71, Dana White ’72

Stephanie Bothwell Grillo ‘90, Nancy Lombardo Valente ’91, Micaela “Miki” Porta ’86, Gabriela “Gaby” Porta Beecher ‘91, Gail Sheppard Moloney ’56 and husband Phil, Anne Crandall Campbell ’78 and husband David, Ashley King Goddard ‘79 and husband Preston

Darien, CT Tom Speers, Bessie Speers, Elise Truebner Henning ‘61, Gabriela “Gaby” Porta Beecher ‘91, Cristina “Tina” Orsi Lirot ‘74, Marybeth Hodson, EWS Admissions, Dee Stephan, EWS Director of Athletics, Jane Orndahl ’71, Cornelia Guest ‘70

Simsbury, CT Brooke Gaffney Redmond ’90, Bessie Speers and Simsbury’s Diane Nash at The Community Farm of Simsbury

US Open, August 2009

Below: Stephanie Horsky Battle ’78 at the US Open with work colleagues

On Campus Abra Prentice Wilkin ’60, Deborah “Debby” Williams MacKenzie ’55, Elizabeth “Liz” Nash Muench ‘55

42 THE SUNDIAL

Charlotte Weidlein ’05, Melissa Timbers ‘05

Sue Cesare Honored with CAIS Award TRIBUTE

Elizabeth “Sue” Cesare, a member of Walker’s Board of Trustees for the past 23 years, received the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools Award in honor of her lifelong commitment to excellence in Connecticut independent schools. The Award is presented to a person, group of people or institution that has provided an inspiring example of leadership and commitment to the improvement of education for children in Connecticut.

The award was presented to Ms. Cesare by Tom Main, Head of King Low Heywood Thomas School (today referred to as King), where Ms. Cesare was Head of School for many years. Ms. Cesare also co-founded the Runnymeade School in Vermont, and has been a vital source of knowledge and guidance on Walker’s Board for close to a quarter of a century.

During her tenure as president of the Board of Trustees at Walker’s, Ms. Cesare was instrumental in many initiatives including the renovation of The Beaver Brook Academic Center.

Sue Cesare with CAIS President Dr. Douglas Lyons

In accepting the award, Ms. Cesare talked about the hallmarks that distinguish great schools, one of which is “Teachers who make a profound difference in the lives of their students.”

Sue Cesare addresses the Walker's community at Bessie Speers' installation in September, 2007.

Ms. Cesare headed the committee which conducted the search for Walker's new Head of School.

Winter 2010 43

ALUMNAE NEWS IN MEMORIAM

Elizabeth Olson Marshall

Carolyn Wilson, English Faculty

Beth Marshall was head of Walker’s Dance Department for over twenty-five years. She founded Dance Workshop and encouraged her students to choreograph and study a variety of dance techniques.

The Elizabeth Marshall prize, created in her honor after her retirement, recognizes the accomplishments of the student heads of the Dance Workshop. The Elizabeth O. Marshall Concert, held every fall, offers students a chance to learn firsthand about the professional dance world as they watch and dance with professional performers from New York City and Hartford.

Beth studied under the renowned American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham at Bennington College in Vermont where she earned her B.A. She received her Masters degree in Modern Dance from Mills College in Oakland, CA. In the words of her colleague and former Walker’s Dance Head, Dorothy Silverherz, Beth “had the highest of standards and promoted with great dedication the value of dance as an educational experience.”

After retiring from Walker’s, Beth taught in the Adult Learning Program of Greater Hartford and was a longtime member and Eucharistic Minister of Old St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

In October 2009, Walker’s lost one of its most beloved faculty members to a long and courageous battle with cancer. Carolyn Wilson had retired as of June 2009, having carried on teaching through many years of difficult treatments.

Carolyn’s students were often gathered in a circle, passionately discussing a piece of literature while she led the conversation with compassion and true enjoyment. Her warmth, wry sense of humor, and great talent touched the lives of faculty, staff, and of course, her many students over the years.

Carolyn taught French and English in New Jersey for a few years after graduation from Montclair State College, and took a number of graduate courses at Columbia University. She then decided to pursue her other love, the theatre. She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and then toured in musical comedy, also appearing off Broadway and in workshop productions. After her marriage and the birth of her son Gregory she returned to the workforce.

She came to Walker's in 1996 as Assistant to the Head of School, and returned to the classroom in 2001. She has said this felt like having come full circle, but “as a different, more complete person.”

Carolyn’s passing follows that of her beloved husband, Donald. She leaves behind her son Gregory, daughter in law Clea, and beloved grandchild Sanavene, her sister Lois and brother in law Richard Meserole.

Life demands that we act decisively, yet it so often presents us with what seem to be just too many choices. I have no easy answer for what to do about that, because we all face that truth every day. The great Hebrew thinker Maimonides said, “Teach thy tongue to say, ‘I do not know,’ and thou shalt progress.” Somehow, whatever ladders you’ve chosen, or will choose, to climb, you will find your way. Just remember to listen, to avoid labels and hasty judgment, to strive for excellence but not perfection, to value and nurture community, and to accept sometimes not knowing. You’ll be fine.

-EXCERPT FROM CAROLYN WILSON’S CUM LAUDE INDUCTION ADDRESS, APRIL 2009

44 THE SUNDIAL

The Ethel Walker

TAKE NOTE

School

Alumnae Updates 46

1930s

We need your email address as well as any changes to your home address. Please send this information to alumnae@ethelwalker.org.

46

1940s

50

1950s

56

1960s

Thank You!

59

1970s

62

1980s

66

1990s

68

2000s

70

Births & Adoptions

70

Marriages & Unions

70

In Memoriam

70

In Sympathy

Please stay in touch!

Class Correspondents are listed by class year. These notes include news received between May and October 2009. All Class Notes must be submitted

by April 15 for the Summer ’10 Sundial.

Send submissions to windy_jansen@ethelwalker.org

Join our Facebook Community!

Walker’s official Facebook Alumnae page, “Ethel Walker Alums,” is growing by the day!

Keep up with photos and news about your friends, and reconnect with old classmates!

Walker’s is LinkedIn! Keep business connections flowing through Walker’s LinkedIn network!

Join “Walker’s Suns and Dials” today at www.linkedin.com!

Follow Walker’s on Twitter:

Weddings at Walker’s Walker’s offers special arrangements and discounted fees for alumnae and their families interested in wedding ceremonies in our beautiful Chapel. Many ancillary services and local referrals are provided.

When it comes time to celebrate that very special day, please contact Alice Chrystal at alice_chrystal@ethelwalker.org, or at 860.408.4273 for details.

ethelwalkersch

Photos of events

on and off campus are available at a new location for viewing and purchase at http://ethelwalkerschool.smugmug.com/ Email alumnae@ethelwalker.org for password login!

Winter 2010 45

TAKE NOTE

Alumnae Updates

1936 Carol Lucas Elsaesser and Dora Bromo Bradley both live in Casa Dorinda in Montecito, CA, along with other Walker’s girls Peggy Whipple Wright ’44 and Sallie Morphy Colmery ’48.

1941 Elizabeth Vernlund Goodwin 70 Whitewood Road Torrington, CT 06790-4018 (860) 482-2704 bettygoodwin@snet.net Elizabeth Carpenter Davis 745 Hollow Road Staatsburg, NY 12580-6327 (860) 482-2704 Class Correspondent Betty Vernlund Goodwin writes: “During the first snowfall of the season in October five classmates from 1941 were cozy and warm in a delightful Chappaqua restaurant, talking non-stop, laughing and reminiscing about the ‘old days’.

Momentarily dismayed to think we had known each other for 70 years, we turned that into pride that we were all able to make the trip and enjoy our long friendship and the old-fashioned values of our early days.

We parted reluctantly, promising to meet again in the spring, and the two Bettys drove to Staatsburg, NY, to assemble past and present news from other classmates for this bulletin. Most are widows now and provided personal, family and travel news, along with a good sprinkling of sports activities in many cases.”

The Class of 1941 at a luncheon in October. Back (l to r) Lorna Harrah Bruen ’41, Betty Carpenter Davis ’41, Betty Vernlund Goodwin ’41. Front (l to r) Margaret Nichols Allport ’41, Faith Hall Harvie ’41.

46 THE SUNDIAL

Faith Hall Harvie, mother of three, with five grandchildren, had the recent pleasure of traveling with her daughter, Eleanor, in Sienna and on the Rhine River.

In a far different travel experience, Eleanor’s oldest son, Erik, an Annapolis graduate, is currently assigned as a helicopter pilot, sometimes flying over Iraq. His homecoming is scheduled for February 2010.

Margaret Nichols Allport has one son George, in New Jersey, and a grandson, Peter, an attorney in Chicago, married to an attorney. She also has a granddaughter, Tara, who lives and works in New York City. An avid cruise ship traveler, Margaret is acquainted with ocean travel, the Black Sea and many European rivers. She and Faith live in the same retirement community and enjoy it very much.

Lorna Harrah Bruen has debated a move for a couple of years, but is still at this point near her brother in Rhode Island. She is thinking of moving to be near her son in Alexandria, VA, where she already owns an apartment. She adds, whimsically, “I’ll let you know my plans, if I ever have any.”

Betty Vernlund Goodwin, “Vernie” (three children, four grandchildren) has had an occupational, travel and medical year. During the winter, she commuted to the state capitol daily, where she was assigned to an information desk while the legislature was in session, keeping track of bills in progress. She then worked parttime in real estate during summer and fall.

Part of her summer was different in that her oldest granddaughter, Tanja, a junior at a Brazilian University in Rio de Janiero, urged her family and “Grammie” to visit for two weeks with a chance to have Tanja use her fluent Portuguese to serve as their guide. Rather than hotels, she arranged for everyone to stay in a friend’s apartment. They had the proximity of great beaches to entertain them, along with sightseeing and at-home parties with Tanja’s friends. On the medical side, Vernie warns us all, “with any hint of a vision problem, run, do not walk to the nearest eye doctor.” With early detection, she is back to vision as good as before her diagnosis and new treatment for macular degeneration.

A miracle for sure.

Betty Carpenter Davis (speaking of miracles) has no children, but five grandchildren and four greats (Ah, all borrowed from Put Davis, of course)! The grandchildren have loved going skiing with her in Vail, CO, while the little ones enjoy the New England visits and riding with Betty. She still has five horses, three barn cats, (the “mouse patrol”) and always at least one rescue dog, a greyhound from the track. After 60 plus years, she finally ended her fox hunting career and is now running

of 15, (four children, four spouses, six grandkids and herself) at the Silver Tip Ranch adjacent to Yellowstone Park in Montana. All enjoyed the trip tremendously, especially the fishing and riding. Beyond that, one of her sons lives in Sun Valley, ID, and another in Virginia fox hunting country. The end of her report was cut off by the urgency of going out shooting with one of her sons, on the opening day of duck hunting. A busy life!

Not just all fun, though. Like Betty, she too battled flooding on her farm property due to record rainfall.

Overseas, she visited Prague and Krakow and other cities between the Elbe River and Baltic Sea. And, to add planning ahead, she has lined up an assisted living apartment, “if and when she needs it.” The rest of us say, certainly not yet, if ever!

Betty Carpenter Davis ’41 riding “Golden Peak”.

a trail riding club of nearly 70 riders. “Just as much fun, but no hounds.” She finally had to give up skiing too, due to the altitude at Vail of 8,000 to 11,000 feet. She still takes annual holidays ranching and riding in Montana and Arizona.

Our story of the year was hers about flying 3,000 miles to “defend a horse!” The background: Her past five years’ horse assignment in Montana has been a gentle and obedient “perfect” mount, from which in 2006 a wealthy Texan lady guest managed to fall off and sue the ranch for $250,000 for internal injuries. In 2008 when the case finally came to federal court in Missoula, MT, Betty was invited to testify on the competence of that trail-wise and sure-footed horse. Others testified too and the ranch won the case along with all court costs. So there!

Back home, Betty is extremely busy with her animals and 1790 house. Last summer’s record rains caused ponds to overflow through the house and garage and washed out the driveway! She works as a volunteer with the local 4H and also on various town committees including farmland preservation, open space, local and county politics, and the local historical society. A cancer survivor, she also belongs to the “spare parts club” with two metal hips and a pacemaker. Three cheers for modern medical miracles. Above all she is grateful for the good fortune of having many friends and an extended family to cherish.

Barbara McClurg Potter, owner of homes in Florida and Maine and a farm outside of Chicago, interrupted the Maine “stay” last summer to assemble her family

Barbara McClurg Potter ’41 high atop a camel in Turpan, China.

Bessie Cowles Armour (three children, six grands and five greats) must find just keeping track of birthdays a challenge. Two sons live near her Delray Beach, FL, condo. A daughter and her family reside in California, and all the rest are in the Boston area. Bessie summers in Chatham on the Cape where all can congregate, and she sometimes sees Faith. At the end of the season, all travel to a family camp in Maine where sports are available in safe settings for all ages. Bessie herself is taking up golf for the long run, but still plays some of her favorite, tennis. At home in Florida, she is involved in volunteer work, less lately in the school library and more in the local soup kitchen.

Nancy Lawrence Sargent (four sons and four grandchildren) lives in Connecticut in a retirement complex named Duncaster. By coincidence she was planning a visit with Margaret later in October. Her children are scattered, for sure, with one son, Peter, in Thailand (with semi-annual visits home) representing individual American investors. One granddaughter, Anne, was a Fulbright Scholar and spent a junior year abroad in Bologna, Italy. Her sister, Elizabeth, traveled extensively with the Yale Glee Club, and after

Winter 2010 47

TAKE NOTE

Alumnae Updates

graduation, attended graduate school at Cornell University. A grandson, Jonathan, graduated last June from Wesleyan where he played varsity baseball and basketball. She and Vernie plan to get together for the first time in ages having learned throughout our class notes that they live less than one hour apart. That will be fun!

Jean Gillespie Belsito still lives in Stamford, CT and is mourning the recent loss of a dear brother whose sons fortunately live in nearby New Canaan, CT. They are very helpful and comforting to Jean. She no longer indulges in having any animals around since chasing after them is difficult for her still ailing knees. She can drive, however, so that enables her to get out and enjoy her independence.

Ruth Mathes Gerrity, "Fuffy,” (two sons and three daughters), is limited in activities due to her hearing disability, but enjoys the family help and sociability of those nearby, including two greats. She also stays in touch with Jane Ill Van Duyne, whom she still calls “Gub.” Jane and Gardner Van Duyne have three children, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild. They lost their oldest, Carl, to lymphoma at age 37 when he was at the height of a promising education and career progression. He graduated from Princeton, had his Ph.D. from Stanford, and was teaching at Williams. He was also on the Council of Economic Advisors for the White House. Jane and “Duke” have moved to a retirement community, while still spending time at their beach house where daughter, Sally, lives and helps as she can. Younger son, Peter, lives in Greenwich, CT and works in New York in commercial real estate. All eleven convened for Thanksgiving at the beach house.

All of us at our 60th Reunion remember how determined Duke was in helping Jane with her diminishing eyesight and that she was able to do so much. Additional problems followed for both, including Jane’s back fractures, now recovered, and Duke’s broken hip from which he is learning to walk again.

He’ll do it too, we know! We bless you both for your fortitude, and wish you a full recovery.

Jean McCullough Geddes also has some very sad news to share, in the loss of her oldest son. She herself is managing to stay very active and we are pleased with that. She recently returned from a fishing trip to the Keys and still plays golf four times a week.

She has been state champion many, many times… state, not just club!

Jean and Betty reminisced on the phone about the time that they were skiing together at Vail, or rather

48 THE SUNDIAL

“climbing” over a ridge with Jean’s then two very small boys. She followed that memory with report of a new challenge, not for herself this time, but for one of those two small boys, grown up. The younger one along with his wife and another couple, are planning a ‘round the world trip in a 60-foot sailboat! They’ll leave from some Floridian offshore island, pass through the Panama Canal, then by Hawaiian and other pacific islands to Australia, the coast of Africa, through the Mediterranean and back to Florida, we presume. Can anyone venture a guess on how long that trip will take in a 60-ft. sailboat?

An impossible question, but good luck!

1943 Caroline Berry Laporte 1943 Gipsy Trail Club Carmel, NY 10512 845-225-4241 845-225-7630 clapor@verizon.net

1944 Patsy LeBlond Clasgens still lives on a 70-acre farm outside of Cincinnati, OH. She recently retired as head of the volunteers at Mercy Hospital after 25 years of service.

Cynthia LeBlond Clasgens ’70 and Patricia LeBlond Clasgens ’44, P’70

1945 Martha “Molly” Darling Bell 363 East 76th Street Apartment 19C New York, NY 10021-2436 212-744-8264 212-472-5947 molly@kirkpalmer.com

I received a nice note from Betty Irving Ballantine who says her husband is getting around although he has problems walking. She has had a problem with her eyes, but sees pretty well at the present time and enjoys having grandchildren nearby, as does her husband.

“The Golden Girls,” class of 1945 at their mini-reunion in Boston this past summer.

Amey Amory DeFriez writes of a pleasant mini reunion in Boston, MA this summer with Grace McGraw Parr, Sally Whitely, Sophie Chandler Consagra, Payne Payson Middleton and Dottie Hirsch Loebl. They all had a grand time visiting historic and cultural sights along with a ride on the famous swan boats. I missed Amey at Walker’s Reunion this spring. She spent a day on campus having agreed to be an integral part of the Centennial, but had to return to Boston because of prior engagements.

Margie Auger Kennerly says she is recovering well from a hip dislocation in October 2008 and has returned to her condo in Connecticut after it was flooded.

Connecticut had a great deal of rain this year causing the ground to soften in several areas which precipitated tree loss during several wind storms. There was even a tornado in Farmington.

Heloise Bacon Power writes that all is well but the third largest forest fire in their area has burned sixtyeight thousand acres about thirty miles away leaving Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez covered in ashes. Jane Cole Graves enjoyed the picture of the mini reunion of “The Golden Girls” in Boston sent by Gracie. They were all smiling in the rain. Lois Baldwin Chapin was sorry to miss the Boston get together, but looks forward to another time. She plans to visit Jane Cole Graves in October and was sad that Payne cancelled her visit to see Lois in Nantucket. Jane sends wishes for safe trips and good health to all.

Diana Dempsey Treco comments that like many others she is making a move to a retirement spot, all new and in the village of Chagrin Falls, OH. So far there have been no bites on her house in Gates Mill. She has seen a lot of Margie Auger Kennerly, who has struggled with a smile to get back on track after hip surgery.

Julie Jackson Young was surprised to see the picture of her whole family in living color in the last Sundial bulletin. All is going well, but she is not traveling this year. She still sees Louise Brooks Willard. She has a granddaughter living with her while working for the public defender, and another granddaughter who is living in Santa Fe. Her youngest grandson is in the Marine Reserve and his platoon was leaving for Afghanistan in November. All prayers are the situation will be better then.

Payne Payson Middleton has had a busy year.

February and March were spent on the farm in South Carolina with many guests. She had been teaching English at the English Speaking Union. It was fun explaining “gonna” or “gotta” to a Korean musician.

Summer was spent in Italy in the Mediterranean sun, with swimming and lots of stairs to climb which kept her fit as a fiddle. Payne wanted to take another writing course at Sarah Lawrence but the class was full so she went to Marymount and learned a bit more about writing a memoir, but has not started hers yet.

Jean Reddy Armour lost her husband Stanton in May after 61 wonderful years together. He had been ill for a long time. The family adored him and it was a difficult loss. Jean plays bridge with Hobby McLaughlin Shank and Franny Robertson Chandler weekly. Jean is painting a bit and has two new puppies, a springer spaniel and a longhaired dachshund. Quote: “Have I lost my mind? Clearly, yes!”

Freddie Schaefer Wright was sorry to miss the Boston reunion, but would like to make the next one. All her family is well. They spend six months in Michigan and six months in Fort Wayne, IN, where she is able to keep in touch with her good friend Ann Higbie Eckrich ‘54.

Dottie Hirsch Loebl mentioned that Amey organized the Boston gathering down to the finest detail.

Activities included two museums, the Arboretum, a picnic, and a duck tour of old Boston, as well as a performance by the Boston Pops. She says she sees Hannah Griffith Bradley, who has had her challenges, but has a great spirit. She adds that Janice Tompkins Spurr has been miserable with lyme disease but is better.

Winter 2010 49

TAKE NOTE

Alumnae Updates

I flew to Seattle in August to see my oldest son and his wife in Port Townsend, WA. It is a very different and beautiful part of the country, at least for those of us who live here in the northeast. Dan took me up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains, which is above the clouds at 5,300 feet high. The view was spectacular. The grass in the area is dry and brown because of a water shortage. The mountaintops have very little snow due to global warming. The temperature is quite cool, particularly at night. Port Townsend is on a parallel with Nova Scotia, so like the rest of the population in the area I wore my son’s sweatsuit.

A reminder: our 65th reunion is coming up and I wish you would all come. The campus looks lovely, the School is growing and we have a first-class Head of School, Bessie Speers. I hope if she travels to your area you all get a chance to meet her. Reunion for classes 50 years and up is easy. We drink and dine at Bessie’s lovely new house the first night and the next night dine in our old gym, now Abra’s Dining Hall. See you at the May Reunion, and in the meantime, happy holidays.

Also, if any of you have a new address do notify either me at molly@kirkpalmer.com or the Alumnae office at alumnae@ethelwalker.org.

1946 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1947 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1948 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1950 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1951 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1952 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1953 Susan “Susie” Kleinhans Gilbertson 18 Buttonwood Lane Rumson, NJ 07760-1008 732-842-2057 732-741-0435 svwg@comcast.net

1954 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251or kristen_weldon @ethelwalker.org

1955 Letitia McClure Potter 44 Rockwood Lane Greenwich, CT 06830 203-869-6069 203-253-5653 lmpotter@earthlink.net Class Correspondent Tisha McClure Potter reports:

1949 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

50 THE SUNDIAL

I am delighted with the news offerings from many of our class. Thank you for giving us a taste of your recent activities. I still would like to hear from those who have been silent for years. Write or email me any time.

Flash! Our 55th Reunion is coming up May 14th. We had such a memorable one five years ago. Let’s do it again. Put the date in your calendar and come!

First, it is with great sadness that I report the sudden death in August of our delightful classmate Lavinia “Vinnie” Russell. She was a suite-mate during our junior year. At Walker’s she participated in the English club, current events club, and French club, sang in the choir and Grapes, and played basketball and golf. Here is a little about Vinnie’s post Walker’s years: After graduating from Smith College, Vinnie lived and worked in New York City. Always fond of literature, she worked for several publishing firms including J. B. Lippincott, G. P. Putnam’s, and the Hearst Corporation.

Then, for many years she was with the Asian Art Department of auction house Christie’s, in New York.

After retiring from Christie’s, she continued to work part time for the distinguished dealer and collector, Robert Ellsworth. Her volunteer work included various activities for the Colonial Dames’ Abigail Adams Smith House. I especially remember Vinnie as the white rabbit in our Sun play, based on Alice in Wonderland. She had a wonderful, sonorous voice which I shall never forget. I know you will join me in sending our sympathy to her brother, John, and niece, Minty.

Congratulations to Tina O’Neil Lyons for her book Zeckendorfs and Steinfelds: Merchant Princes of the American Southwest, which is in its second printing, and she has already received a royalty check — all very exciting. There is a lot of local interest in Arizona driving the sales, keeping her on the go with book signings, talks and promotional events. Copies may be obtained through the Arizona Historical Society. Tina adds, “can’t believe I have a grandson graduating from high school this school year and another who is a sophomore.” She and Dan are planning a trip to the Baltic with an extended visit to Sweden next summer.

Congratulations also to Mary Heck Ulman who received her master’s in history in the spring of 2008.

After a five-year hiatus to study, she now can turn back to her research and writing about Clara Spence, founder of The Spence School.

Hopie Hollister Swenson enjoyed a summer cruise, organized by Yale, to odd spots (as she put it) in the Mediterranean, accompanied by her daughter-in-law.

With only 80 passengers and arranged by Yale, it was a wonderful trip.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Russell Broda had a knee replacement a few days before Thanksgiving and will recover at her son’s home not far from her own home in Marietta, GA. Her other son, Rob, is living in Simsbury not far from Walker’s. A grandson who graduated from Salisbury last June is attending the University of Vermont.

Meg Doubleday Buck and Austin took their family to Belgium, 15 in all, to trace family roots. Cousins, siblings, and in-laws enjoyed one another on this special trip. Meg and Austin went to the Normandy beaches without the family during the 65th anniversary celebrations of D-Day. Finally, Meg is happy to be walking free of foot pain after foot surgery three years ago. I would say she has determination and patience.

Maybe I mentioned in an earlier issue that Emmie Alexander Kerney and her husband, Jim, left Vermont for Freeport, ME. They are pleased with that decision and enjoy having their “baby” Grand Forks nearby to cruise the coast. Emmie and Jim were off to Ireland to visit a friend of Jim’s and then do some sightseeing.

Suki, note that Emmie lives not far from you.

Suki Holmes Welch is all about music and grandchildren. She continues to enjoy her choir and chorus participation while following the sports activities of two Maine grandsons. She likes their focus on sports and their friends have positive, healthy outlooks. It does keep her busy traveling from game to game in all seasons. Montana was her destination this summer to see daughter, Phoebe, and her family. Much to her delight, her Montana seven-year-old granddaughter, Lindsay, is showing talent and an interest in music. This Thanksgiving Suki will travel west again, this time to visit Hilary and her family in Colorado.

Right now, mid-October, Natalie Emery nee Fesenmyer, is on the Outer Banks of North Carolina surf fishing with her children. Natalie is also busy with the building of a new wing for her church, a fellowship hall. She always was talented with architectural projects and designed a wonderful house for herself. Car racing continues to be a passion and she races her BMW Z4 M coupe two weekends and also two days a month.

“Thank heavens! I’m really enjoying driving better and faster,” she reports. I hear Natalie has to keep her foot easy on the pedal as she motors around local town and country roads.

Patricia Marx Ellsberg wrote a long and wonderful email which follows: “This fall seems to be a harvest time in my life. I have been meditating for decades and for the last three years I recently have been leading guided meditations as part of a course, ‘Awakening Joy’ at www.awakeningjoy.info. The course has reached thousands of people online as well as in person here in Berkeley and gives me a chance to sing the melody of my soul. One of my meditations is published in the current November issue of the Yoga Journal, much to my delight. I am working on making a CD of the meditations and have put up a very rudimentary website for the first time in my life related to this work

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(www.PatriciaEllsberg.net). At the same time, a documentary is being released called The Most Dangerous Man in America; Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (see www.themostdangerousman.com).

It was made independently of us and turns out to be a compelling film which received excellent reviews. It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, the New York Film Forum, and in Los Angeles in September. It will be shown at other film festivals and in a number of major cities next year before airing on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) next fall. I’m in the film as part of our love story and Dan and I often speak after the premieres. Our son Michael will be getting married in July to a wonderful young woman, Jena La Flame, who runs the Jena Wellness Center in New York City. His book, The Power of Eye Contact, will be published by Harper Collins this February and he has become a successful internet marketer and editor. So I feel very blessed and engaged in life and send love to all of you.”

Tisha notes: this September while driving and listening to National Public Radio (NPR), surprise, there was Patricia’s voice coming out of the radio. She and her husband were being interviewed about the film and her voice was fantastic over the airwaves.

Janie Brown Leidal is continuing to thoroughly enjoy living in the Aloha state of Hawaii — great golf, fantastic deep sea fishing — our families love to visit us throughout the year. Hope all is well at EWS, my salvation during 1952-1955!

Carol Large Calhoun is having success with her artwork and writes: “An invitation to show my work this summer at an informal resort on Isle La Motte, a Champlain Island, has jump started my paying attention to my paintings, about which I’ve been casual to the point of irreverence — witness: car and sneaker treads on the back of a couple of paintings! Barn boards were a handsome background to 36 paintings at Fisk Farm, which is the site of 480 million-year-old coral reef. It is the oldest of its kind in the world and once was located where Zimbabwe now is on the equator. Both Radio City Music Hall and my master bathroom have the marble that once was quarried there, but the stone now is protected by a preservation trust. The highlight for me was having Tom and Liz Nash Muench at one of the exhibit’s receptions. Carol finds that galleries are proliferating in the Middlebury, VT, area, where two galleries are showing her paintings. She states further, “We may be in the hinterland by some perspective, but there is so much going on that I find life intrudes on painting time. It makes me think of Mrs. Galbraith’s insistence on self-discipline which didn’t seem to work with me.” Carol found time to attend her reunion at Wheaton where she discovered classmates she had

52 THE SUNDIAL

Tom Muench, husband of Liz Nash Muench ’55, with Carol Large Calhoun ’55 at Carol’s one-person art exhibit in Isle La Motte, Vermont.

hardly known during her college years, who were very interesting, and she wished they had spent more time with one another earlier. As for travel, her prescription is to travel far afield while she has the stamina, saving Europe, cruises and golf for her dotage.

I’m sure that many of you had 50th reunions from college this past spring. I did. Our Vassar dormitory lodging had an elevator — a comment on our age. Of the several Walker’s graduates who went to Vassar, Mary Lou Parsons Alonzo, Tania Goss Evans and I were able to attend. I was pleased to see Mary Lou after 50 years! She looks well and is intensely involved in the Episcopal Church. Remember she trained as an Episcopal priest. Tania was asked to give a toast at our gala Saturday night dinner, which resonated with our classmates. The Class of 1959 was on the cusp between the old, traditional ways of the fifties and the new age of Aquarius in the sixties, just beginning to break into new territory and willing to question and challenge “the way it is done.” She distilled that experience beautifully.

What a wonderful surprise to hear from Susan Findlay Cathey who is enjoying living in Manalapan, FL. The weather is beautiful, with lots to do, and it is a wonderful place for grandchildren to visit — she has seven. Her son John has five, two boys and three girls, two of whom are twins, and her daughter, Dina Cathey Millard ’79, has a son looking at colleges and a daughter in day school. Susan adds that she is well and looks forward to visits from her northern friends.

This summer I, Tisha McClure Potter, committed myself to having a green, as in organic, lawn — no herbicides and pesticides for me — just organic fertilizer.

Well, with the rains the weeds were in heaven. I find

hand weeding the critters overwhelming and probably not very successful. After bags of jewelweed, crab grass, wild strawberry and some clover, personally pulled, the sward still has large patches of the offenders. Any suggestions for next spring?

Meanwhile, I hope you will keep in touch even if I don’t send in the reminders. My email is LMPotter@earthlink.net.

And remember the 55th Reunion for ’55 is coming up in May. Your presence is encouraged and will make the difference. Until then may you have health, prosperity and happiness and the time to enjoy them.

Class Correspondent Adrianne Massie Hill writes: Thanks very much to each of you who called or emailed me with your news. I appreciate the time that you took as I know that everyone has a busy life.

Although our next Reunion is two years away, I have recently learned that as part of the Centennial celebration to be held in October 2011, those classes like ours which would have gathered in May 2011 and 2012 will be combined, specifically, our class and the class of 1957. The celebration will take place during the weekend of September 30 through October 2, 2011, with the main event of the Centennial to be held on Saturday, October 1. I think it’s a good idea to combine adjacent classes and to link Reunions to the Centennial, and look forward to being there very much.

Just before sending these notes to school I had a good conversation with Phoebe Haffner Andrew. She and Lucius had tentative plans for a trip with mutual friends to St. Miguel de Allende for the Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2. The festival is apparently one of Mexico’s most colorful.

1956

Peg Peck Blosser sent a thoughtful note about the continued travels and activities that she and her husband, Denver, are enjoying: family trips and reunions here and there in the United States, a visit with Nancy Lanphier Chapin and her husband, Chick, in Charlottesville, VA, in August, a cruise which departed from Copenhagen, on to Oslo, Edinburgh, the tip of Scotland, Dublin, Amsterdam, the Kiel Canal, and return to Copenhagen, golfing trips in the southeast coming up this fall and a Blosser family reunion at Thanksgiving in Hilton Head, SC. Peg modestly says “With all these trips, our golf games should be getting better, but not necessarily so! We just enjoy playing different courses.” A number of our classmates enjoy golf and wonder if we might be able to play when and if we gather for a reunion. Are there golf captain volunteers …Peg? Peg remains involved in her local cancer society which hosts a golf tournament to be held this month, and is very active in the organization’s Tree of Hope campaign to aid those with the disease who have difficulty financing treatments, drugs, and transportation. Peg serves on the Board of Governors at their club in Aiken, SC, plays some bridge and mahjong, and she goes on to say that with dogs in their household, their house suits them better than a condominium…at least right now!

Adrianne Massie Hill 2772 Peachtree Road N.E., #10 Atlanta, GA 30305 404-846-0407 404-790-6209 travelinghills@yahoo.com

From Chatham, IL, Nancy Lanphier Chapin sent a delightful email in early October. After hearing from Peg Peck Blosser that the Chapins and the Blossers had recently met in Charlottesville, VA, at Nancy’s daughter’s for a recital, I wrote Nancy to tell her that

Priscilla Reynolds Roosevelt ’59 and Deborah Williams MacKenzie ’55 aboard the Sea Cloud II Cruise.

Deborah Williams MacKenzie and her husband, David, were aboard the Sea Cloud II this past summer along with Priscilla Reynolds Roosevelt ’59, who was a guest lecturer on the ship. Debby writes, “Priscilla spoke about the Russian effort after the Battle of the Bulge. She is a Russian history scholar and she did a fine job in bringing us to realize that WWII was an allied front with Britain, United States and Russia. It seems so odd that after seeing Normandy that we would be so friendly with the Soviets. But it was a long war.”

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nothing goes unnoticed as far as our class is concerned! Turns out that Nancy’s son-in-law, Curt, an amateur cellist, established a foundation to provide instruments to young professional musicians, and he and Nancy’s daughter, Anne, sometimes arrange private concerts with the musicians. Nancy and Chic attended his 60th University of Michigan Law School reunion after spending much of this year very involved with the many celebrations of Abraham Lincoln’s two-hundredth birthday on February 12. Nancy is president of the Sangamon County Historical Society which since 1961 has been responsible for the preservation of the county’s history other than the area’s favorite son, Abraham Lincoln. During the summer the farmer Chapins enjoyed bumper crops of raspberries, beans, potatoes and lettuce along with two visits from their California granddaughter.

Clarina Schwarzenbach Firmenich and I keep in touch on a regular basis, and she sent a note in September with her news from Geneva. For the past 10 years Clarina has volunteered with a support group of cancer survivors as a consultant for the selection of wigs, cosmetics and other enhancements after radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. Her hospital-based group, “Bonne Mine, Bonne Moral,” is patterned after the Estee Lauder program, “Look Good, Feel Better.” I can’t think of anyone who is better suited to do what she does. Clarina spent the summer at home and was particularly pleased that her son, Antoine, his wife, Christina, and their daughters spent the summer in Geneva, too. As the young Firmenich family are living in Singapore, visits in either city are infrequent. Clarina’s son, Patrick, his wife, Valentine, and their two children, Adrien and Laetitia, live nearby. Clarina’s companion, Dusan Sidjanski, serves as an advisor to Jose Manuel Barosso, President of the European Commission.

Missy Turnbull Geddes and I had a brief telephone conversation. Missy says that everything with her is pretty much the same except that she and her husband, Max, now have three grandchildren in college, and so they are “making the rounds” to California, Boston, and Pennsylvania to visit them. The Geddes’ live in Oyster Bay, NY. We have a new bride! On May 16, 2009 Lorna Sargeant Langdon was married to Butch Pfaelzer.

Lorna and Butch had known each other for several years, both were widowed, and so with Lorna’s son and two daughters and Butch’s three daughters they have begun their new life together in Chicago. Butch is a native of Chicago and a graduate of Amherst College.

Congratulations, Lorna!

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In early October I had a conversation with Barbara Bidwell Manuel, who is recovering at home after surgery in late September for cancer which was diagnosed in June. She assured me that she is comfortable, and taking this time to recuperate. We discovered that we have another mutual friend: our new organist and choirmaster, Dale Adelmann, here at the Cathedral of St. Philip. Dale was at Cambridge University when Barbara was there in charge of the Choir’s concerts and tours. I had the privilege of hearing Barbara in the Gloriae Dei Cantores choir when they came to Atlanta in 2007 — outstanding. Thinking of you, Barbara.

In September, Dorothy Doubleday Massey sent an email reporting her daughter Mary and husband Sam live near Dorothy in Santa Fe where Dorothy and Mary are co-owners of their fine, independent bookstore, Collected Works. While the rest of the country and the world were downsizing, Dorothy and Mary moved to larger quarters at the corner of Galisteo and Water Streets in downtown Santa Fe, just a few blocks from the historic Plaza. The website for the store is www.collectedworks.com. What a success story! (Mal and I are on the email mailing list of the store and are always interested in the variety of programs and signings that are held there.) Dorothy also mentioned that she had recently seen Pat Love Anderson and her husband, Derek, who were visiting from California.

Gail Sheppard Moloney and I picked up right where we left off in April. Gail and Phil spent their summer in Greenwich, CT, and planned to head to their home in Vero Beach, FL, in November where they will spend Christmas. Gail is an adept long distance traveler as she visits her three daughters and their families on a regular basis when they are not near the Moloneys. Gail’s daughter, Hillary, and her family are in London, while Courtney, her husband, and five children ages seven and under, have recently moved to Vermont. Daughter Kim and her husband are in Scottsdale, AZ. Gail recently received a spotlessly clean bill of health after a few years of difficult medical problems. Gail makes everything sound very easy as she moves gracefully among these spots. Gail is also a Sudoku aficionado!

She claims that it will keep her from becoming senile. I can’t even get one done!

Carol Keeney Munro sent a long note with her news, and she writes exactly as if she were here in person!

She wrote that she had seen Diana Forman Colgate in Hobe Sound, FL, at the funeral of a mutual friend just before Diana joined the rest of us in New York in April.

Keeney (yes, she’s still Keeney!) and her husband, Dick Munro, after living in New Canaan, CT, for many years, now divide their time between their homes in the

Thousand Islands in the summer and Naples, FL, during the winter. Their summer home is near Betsy McNally Ravenel’s where the Munros visited along with Lorna Sargeant Pfaelzer and her new husband, Butch (“great man” says Keeney). Keeney writes also, “many giggles!” The Munros are going at full speed with many volunteer jobs in both spots. Keeney goes on to say, “Can’t believe that our number two granddaughter, Izzy Munro, chose to go off to boarding school (Brooks, because of boys)! Number one granddaughter, Grace, and number three, Alice, are attending the Nichols School in Buffalo, NY, where their father, John, our oldest son, is Assistant Head of School and Head of the Middle School.” (Notes Adrianne: John was very highly regarded when he taught at Fairfield Country Day School while our son, Gordon, was a student there.)

Keeney continues, “Doug, our middle son, loves living in Lake Placid, NY, and is working at the Adirondack Nature Conservancy. Our third son, Mac, is in Jackson, WY, with our grandson, Henry, who is seven. We are off to Wyoming for Grandparent’s Day this fall.” It was good to hear from Keeney again. To be continued, please!

Edie Radley and I had a very good telephone visit in early October. Edie lives in Edgartown, MA, where she serves on the Ethics Committee of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She is also on the Board of the Vineyard Nursing Association, a home healthcare agency. Edie’s biggest responsibility, however, is looking out for her sister, Liz Radley Anderson ’53, who is in a nursing home in Rye Brook, NY. Edie goes back and forth between the two locations and is very close to Liz’s daughter, Katy Gray.

When I telephoned Lisa Whitman Ricketson her thoughtful husband, Scott, picked up the phone. We had a very cordial conversation, and then, after telling me that Lisa was out at that moment, mentioned that he had just come home from the hospital after surgery!

I called Lisa the following week to check on his progress which is very good, she reports. Lisa and Scott live in Westwood, MA, and when in top form, both of them play tennis. Lisa volunteers at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where she uses her good writing skills. During the winter months the Ricketsons spend some time in Florida.

In July I had the great pleasure of seeing Mary Laird Silvia here in Atlanta, GA. Earlier this year when Mary and I were on the phone, she mentioned that she was considering a trip to Atlanta to visit a nephew who lives only inches away from us. Off to the airport I went to meet her, and as I was waiting in the arrival area, I began to hear very loud cheering and applause! I wondered if Mary always traveled with a retinue!

Finally, I saw what the activity was all about…and

perhaps some of you have had the same experience.

The large crowd that had gathered was there to welcome soldiers returning from Iraq. There are several large military bases in the Atlanta area, and I was surprised that the soldiers were coming into the commercial airport. The sight of the many young men and women coming towards me was something that I will never forget. One soldier was carrying a tiny teddy bear dressed in fatigues, as he and his very young wife embraced, it was all that I could do to regain my composure before seeing Mary.

We spent a very happy day together. Mary and her husband, Pete, live outside of Washington in Falls Church, VA, in a setting that would lead one to believe that they were very far away from a large city. Not so, since it is an easy trip to Washington, D.C. Mary and Pete are on the list for a retirement community in Pennsylvania which means that they will probably move within the next two years. In the meantime they are busy preparing for a cruise to South America and Antarctica this winter. I know that I keep writing this but truly, visiting with Mary made it hard to believe so many years had passed since we had last seen each other.

September 2009 brought not only horrendous rains and floods to Atlanta but much more important, September brought Serena Stewart to visit us! We couldn’t have had more fun, and although our sightseeing was somewhat curtailed by the weather, the three of us enjoyed good conversation, lots of laughs, and a wonderful musical that opened at the Alliance Theater here which we hope will continue on to New York and other cities. The show is entitled Come Fly with Me, set to the music of Frank Sinatra with choreography by Twyla Tharp. Not to be missed if it should come nearby.

Serena is very active at Hope Lodge in New York where she spends at least two days a week. Hope Lodge is part of the American Cancer Society, and has 27 different locations in the United States, offering adult cancer patients and their caregivers free, temporary housing during cancer treatments. Serena is a “jack of all” at Hope Lodge, guiding needlepoint classes, running bingo games, and helping out anywhere and everywhere as needed. Serena also came to Atlanta to perform surgery on my needlepoint projects! She is good!

The visit flew by, and we look forward to the next.

Mal and I spent a very enjoyable summer, a few short trips in and out of state, a holiday from singing at the Cathedral, and the pleasure of having our son, Mal, and his family move into a house only a mile from us. When we moved to Atlanta in 2004 the state was in the midst of a terrible drought, and so the rains of this fall, although a great relief, have brought much devastation to the surrounding farm areas as well as to parts of the city. Cleanup efforts continue. We have resumed our

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musical activities, both of us singing in the Cathedral Choir at St. Philip’s, I also in the Evensong Choir, weekly recording for the blind and print impaired at the Georgia Radio Reading Service, weekly bridge, and lots of visits with the younger Hills, granddaughter Caroline being the centerpiece! I have a delightful two piano partner, Linda Bath, and we play almost every week together. Of late I have been catching up on some reading gaps, specifically, the novels of Edith Wharton and Henry James. We will spend Christmas here in Atlanta, and are very happy that our younger son, Gordon, who lives and works in Denver, CO, in a law firm, will be joining us for 10 days.

I trust that each of you received the letter from Bessie Speers, Head of School, dated August 5, 2009 with the sad news that Connie Irwin Bray died on July 10. Gail Sheppard Moloney and I spoke on the phone at that time as she had always kept in touch with Connie and both had graduated together from Vassar. Connie and her late husband, Steven F. Bray, lived in Weston, CT, and founded the Chocolate Lace Company in Bethel.

Bonnie King Harrison sent us chocolate lace every Christmas — nothing better.

Thanks very much for sharing your news with me. Your class secretary really enjoys her job!

1957 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1958 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1959 Lynn Sheppard Manger 8 East 81st Street New York, NY 10028-0201 212-772-3068 212-717-5944 Martyn Smith Belmont reports she “just moved – happy as a clam in my new digs. Seven grandchildren, lots of tennis, bridge, friends and the occasional house to sell.”

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1960 Phyllis Richard Fritts 910 Ladybug Lane Vero Beach, FL 32963 772-234-7096 772-492-0272 prfritts@earthlink.net Class Correspondent Phyllis Richard Fritts reports: Bea Vander Poel Banker emails, “2008 was quite a year! Husband Bindy had a second open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve from nine years before. Not unexpected but still worrisome. He also had hip surgery in May of 2009. If you have back pain, check out your hips because the latter is a much easier operation than the former. Since May things have been great. Children visiting from Florida and South Carolina. Still have two in New York City which is wonderful. Kingsley and Ashley love the Big Apple! My mother, EWS ’37, is charging along remembering more than I do. Hope to see you all at our big 50th Reunion in May 2010! Let’s all return while we are still hale and hardy. Ali promises me she will come from Argentina...the rest of us have no excuse as we are closer!”

Margot Campbell Bogert is still very involved with the Frick Collection in New York. Plus, she and Abra are deep into plans for our Reunion in May. Frinde Aldrich Maher writes “I hope to make it to our 50th Reunion. I retired last year after 27 years of being a Professor of Education at Wheaton College, and like the lucky ones our age, I am enjoying non-profit work, especially the Boston Women’s Fund, travel (this fall France and Egypt!) and my grandchildren in Brooklyn — Louisa is seven and Alex is five. I am still living happily in Jamaica Plain, MA, with John McDermott, my husband of 15 years. I look forward to seeing everyone in May!” Caryl Van Ranst Dearing reports “Our daughter was married in September 2009 on Martha’s Vineyard and I am recovering. It rained but we were able to pull it off.

Our family will be moving to the island the beginning of 2011. We have one child living in Carmel, CA, and two in Massachusetts, so this is the best place to be as I have spent all of my 67 years on island during the summers and other times. It will make it easier to see grandchildren and kids and we have friends who have moved to the island full-time. I am still knitting, stitching, golfing and playing tennis. Jim and I are also scuba divers and dive in warm water.”

Harriet (Betty) Blees Dewey writes, “I always thought as we grew older we would have more time to get things done but that myth has been shattered. We do a lot with our 15 grandchildren, going to games and assemblies. Eleven of them have grown up within 40 minutes of home, so we are very lucky. Summers are spent on Martha’s Vineyard and during winters we are in Ridgefield, CT. Last winter we went south to Antarctica for January. A wondrous trip and totally away...no internet or cell phones. That was a bonus we had not thought of until we were there and living in the present.”

Cynnie Kirkland Kellogg says, “Our zone in New Jersey is hosting the Garden Club of America annual meeting in 2010 and I am one of the co-chairs. We are up to six grandchildren, three boys and three girls ranging in age from one month to twelve years. Lots of fun! We took the twelve-year-old twins to the Galapagos this summer which was amazing. I am still riding, skiing and trying to play golf!”

Merry (Nipper) Bragonier Bouscaren shares this, “I saw Abra and Jim in late August at my daughter’s wedding. She looks great! Presently, I am selling real estate for Sotheby’s in New Canaan, but hope to retire in the near future and spend some time with my son who is an artist living in Luzech, France, and some time in the United States to be near my daughter who, now married, works as a lawyer in Boston.”

Susan Shierling Riegel Harding says, “I had a wonderful visit with Pat Kelsey Schultz as she came over to Lexington, VA, while I was visiting my ex mother-in-law who will be 100 on January 14th! Mom actually drove me into town so we could play bridge!

Wish her longevity genes could be passed on to me but it bodes well for my daughter, Tatiana Riegel. Tatiana just got back from the Venice Film Festival which premiers the latest movie she edited, The Men Who Stare at Goats, starring George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey and Ewan McGregor. The movie looks like it will be good for laughs. Kelsey was in great shape. I guess it is due to her triathlons. Can you believe it? She and I promised to be there for the 50th!”

From Abra Prentice Wilkin: “Most of us are thrilled Chicago did not get the summer Olympics and look forward to the return of peace and quiet and some honest politics in our toddling town. Meanwhile, it has been a busy year filled with weddings, travel and fun.

My son, Anthony Anderson, was married on Halloween 2008 in Santa Barbara and Nipper’s daughter, Caroline Bouscaren, my goddaughter, was a beautiful August bride in Nantucket. Carroll Townsend Tickner, the other godmother, almost made it but at the last minute

stayed home to nurse her husband, John, back to health after some surgery. Margot Campbell Bogert and I are back on the Ethel Walker Board of Trustees because we are both so impressed with Bessie Speers, the new Head of School, and all she is doing with our alma mater. Our 50th Reunion in May is truly a time to return to EWS and celebrate. I am also helping with the EWS 2011 Centennial Celebration. Jim and I still enjoy Hobe Sound winters where I see lots of Alita Weaver Reed and Rusty Hawkins Quaintance ’57. I also visit New York City frequently where my daughter, Ashley, lives with three grandchildren. My daughter, Abra, has moved to San Francisco, CA.” Virginia Jones Bush reports “Life is always busy in the educational consulting world, now that my daughter, Jennifer, is working for me in Asia out of Singapore. We are doing quite a bit of work out there which is exciting with a different culture to learn about in depth. Otherwise my life is full of exciting travels, sailing and skiing with two grandchildren whom I get to spend all summer with. Hope you are well and I will be there on May 15!”

Marilyn Hodges Wilmerdine says “I’m living in Aspen, CO, enjoying always the beauty of the place. One daughter’s family lives here also, and my other three children and their families live on Long Island and in Montana. Ten grandchildren are growing exceedingly fast! I look forward to our 50th and catching up with old friends and reviewing our lives.”

Ali Mestre diBidondo reports that she has lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since 1960 and was married to an Argentine, Jules Bidondo from 1966 until 2003 when he died from leukemia. She has two daughters.

One is single and has her own clothes shop for young women and is doing quite well. The other one is married. She works for a production (publicity) company and is married to a professional golfer. They have two children: Julio, age four, and Miguel, age one. “We all live within four blocks distance in the city and usually spend weekends together at my country house 45 minutes from town. I have taken up playing bridge and love it. I work for a nonprofit organization that helps hospitals. Hope to go to the Reunion. All the best.”

1961 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

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1962 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org Penelope Johnson Wartels loves being a grandmother. “Winnie, the daughter of our son, Jon Edward, and his wife turned a year old in June. Wyatt will be married in San Francisco, CA, in September. A great trip to anticipate with a few extra days in Napa!”

1963 Robin Frost Bessin 184 South Gate Lane Southport, CT 06490-1464 203-259-1406 561-351-0567 burrfrosty84@aol.com

1964 Cynthia Higgins Roby 40 Cable Roadway Sausalito, CA 94965-2302 415-332-6556 croby@earthlink.net

1965 Shelley Rea Gilbert 216 East 61st Street New York, NY 10065-8506 212-759-0211 srg02@aol.com

1966 Stephanie Burns 72 Campground Road Lee, NH 03824-9801 603-659-7030 603-969-9929 stephanieburns@comcast.net

1967 Caroline Adams Muller 14 East 75th Street Apartment 6E New York, NY 10021 301-580-5459 muller.caroline@gmail.com

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Jesseca Ferguson invites you to visit her new website: www.museumofmemory.com .

1968 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org Barbara McPherson Sanders is currently a member at a co-op art gallery in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Look for her work at www.steamboatgallery.com

1969 Katherine Murphy Ingle 918 Windsor Road Glenview, IL 60025 847-724-8560 katymi@ameritech.net Cate Lord 30363 Hilltop Drive Evergreen, CO 80439-8753 303-674-7419 303-674-0696 catelord@earthlink.net Class Correspondent Katy Murphy Ingle reports: Many thanks to those of you who sent in news — also, it was great to hear from Ingrid Kaufmann Hamilton and Ginger Bevis Littleton after so many years! Since the Reunion, I’ve had a busy summer and fall, with several commissions and new outlets to sell my cards.

My daughter, Gina, decided to go back to school to get her masters in Theater Direction in Bern, so I made a quick trip to visit her in August before she started and saw lots of family and friends. Meanwhile my son, Daniel, graduated from the Art Institute of San Diego in interactive media (programming, websites, etc.) so Bill and I went out for the festivities and enjoyed some time at Laguna Beach as well. By the way, I see Laurie Cherbonnier Nielsen and Mary Morehouse Ethington regularly, since they live nearby.

Ginger Beavis Littleton writes, “I’ve procrastinated until now sending in some news and so my ‘boyfriend’ of five months wrote the following note for me. He knows something of my EWS past and this is what he knows about me now! He’s a physics professor at the Air Force Academy and plays soccer too. I wish I could see you all. I’d be happy to host an ‘as far as we can get away from Beaver Brook’ party in Colorado Springs if anyone is interested.”

Here’s what you might want to know about Ginger Bevis Littleton. She has two awesome girls: Peggy, graduate of American University, citizen of our nation’s capital, is launching her career as businesswoman or teacher. Gayle, a junior at Denver University is off to learn about international business in Uganda — Gayle, is there any? Ginger has two cool dogs, Duffy and Mia. The dogs put Ginger through the paces of agility trials and the girls put her through the paces of Mom trials.

Bob, her husband of nearly 25 years, left Ginger, girls and dogs last summer when he lost his battle to an autoimmune disease that took away his marathoner attitude toward life. Ginger continues to be musical in her approach to life — teaching her grade school students at King Elementary the “Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts” song; we all remember that one, right? She sings with a high brow group called Abendmusik, a skilled group of vocal musicians. On top of that, this girl is a published composer — just visit her at www.BriLee.com and you’ll see. She plays soccer and coaches lacrosse for 3rd and 4th graders who recently learned the value of jelly beans as training incentives.

All those agility trials keep that girl you knew in ’69 living in a body most 40-year-olds would want. If you know the Kodaly music method then you understand how she reaches those kids who can read music in special ways. By the way, she is now a darn good skier and not afraid of those black diamond runs they have in Colorado. Oh, I forgot she doesn’t ski with her glasses on so as far as she knows they are green runs. Ginger Bevis Littleton is charging into the rest of her life…she just recently said, “Quit while you are ahead, I still like you but not for long.” Have a great time and sorry that Ginger couldn’t join you at this past Reunion. Have a drink on her. Smile and enjoy!

Ingrid Kaufmann Hamilton says, “Since the last time I wrote I have one bit of really happy news: I became a grandmother for the second time — my daughter, Jennifer, gave birth to a very healthy 9 lb. 15 oz. baby girl and called her Teagan Elizabeth. Big brother, Finn, is very pleased with the new arrival. Just to spice things up bit, the baby arrived on Jennifer’s birthday, October 8th. I’m still on my way to recovery, with seemingly endless little pitfalls along the way. Traveling is out of the question as my mobility is still fairly restricted. My intentions of visiting my growing family in Boston and of moving back to the Bahamas are therefore still on hold. But — here’s to positive thinking! Please enclose my sincere regards to all — I wish everyone good health and really look forward to the next Sundial. I hope lots of people write.” (Note: Ingrid has had a knee operation, a broken leg, and two hip replacements in the last two years! She asked me to enclose her new e-mail address: ingi.kaufmann@web.de)

From Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa: “Jodha Singh and I are looking forward to going to New Zealand at the end of November and then on to Melbourne, Australia, for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. I will be presenting a morning worship experience with yoga and meditation. I’m especially looking forward to learning more about the indigenous aboriginal spirituality and art.”

Lisa Elkinton Barr reports, “I just went to New York City because my husband was attending a medical conference. We had a wonderful dinner with Susan Nichols Ferriere and her husband, Patrick, and then Susan and I spent a delightful afternoon wandering around the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Spending time with Susan is always a special and rejuvenating experience!”

From Laurie Cherbonnier Nielsen: “I really enjoyed the class party at Ruth Harrison Grobe’s house, although I wasn’t able to attend all the events. I loved seeing everyone after so many years and hope to come back for our 45th Reunion! Right now Emily is a junior at Swanee and Genevieve is a senior at North Shore Country Day School, and we are in the throes of applying to colleges.”

1970 Gail Chandler Gaston 202 East 75th Street New York, NY 10021 212-744-0070 gcgaston@aol.com Alison Parker and her husband are living in the small town of Bristol, VT. She is working as a nurse practitioner in primary care, travelling and enjoying nature as much as possible. Her two grown children are living in Vermont and Oregon. Alison invites anyone up her way to call or stop in.

Pamela Constable has spent this year between Afghanistan and Pakistan for The Washington Post, but will be taking a leave in January to write a book for Random House on life and society in Pakistan. “My animal shelter in Afghanistan is busier than ever and makes my life worth living.”

Whitney deRoulet Bullock’s daughter, Alexandra, married Matthew Olsen in New York City in late August. The two met while students at Clark University.

Carroll is living in Millbrook, coaching swimming with both Beacon and Mount Saint Mary College, and Perry is living in New York City working for the Patrina Foundation. Whitney and Clark are now spending much

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Leslie Brooks is moving to Rockport, MA, “933 feet from the ocean!” Her recently released book is Love Incarnate: I Have Come to Tell a Story of Love.

Allison Snyder Brates has three children in or graduated from college and two still at home. Allison is a licensed therapeutic massage practitioner.

Gail Chandler Gaston’s son, Jamey, is at the University of Colorado, Boulder, earning a BA in Architecture. Daughter, Frances, is a business major at Marymount Manhattan.

1971 The family of Linda Payson deRoulet ’47 attend her daughter Alexandra’s wedding at The Metropolitan Club in New York City.

Front row from left: Whitney deRoulet Bullock ’70, bride Alexandra Bullock Olsen, and Linda Payson deRoulet ’47.

of their time in Pompano Beach, FL. Anyone heading the Fort Lauderdale way is welcome to visit!

Pamela Kraemer Klurfield and her husband, Rob, live in New Vernon, NJ. This year they travelled to Paris and then New Orleans to visit their son Dewey, who graduated from Skidmore and is a teacher with the Teach For America program. Daughter, Avery, is a senior at Rollins. Pam began teaching four years ago and is currently a doctoral candidate at Drew University.

Cynthia “Clancy” LeBlond Clasgens writes, “Hello to all my classmates! The past couple of years, I have been busy with real estate, community theater, animal nonprofits, drawing, enameling and making stained glass. There’s never enough time for everything!”

Jean Hamilton 661 Bering Drive, #201 Houston, TX 77057-2137 713-785-6817 jlhamilton@marathonoil.com

1972 Joanna Betts Virkler 15826 Lake Ridge Road Charlotte, NC 28278-7930 704-588-1959 joannav2000@aol.com Susie Churchill Bowman writes “Karen Brooks was on the Vineyard visiting friends this past summer. She is a wonderful singer-songwriter. My son, David, and I had a delightful time sharing songs and Irish tunes with her on a deck overlooking Lake Tashmoo. David and Karen’s son Loren, were cabinmates at Camp Agawam in Maine a dozen years ago!”

Frances Brown White has three sons. Kenny is at Stanford, Philip at Santa Clara, and Nick is in the process of applying to colleges. Her husband, Pip, is an architect, and Frances has a part-time private psychology practice and rides several times a week. Aloha!

Kim Conway Coleman’s son Reed married Lindsay Burnett last April in Palm Beach. Kim and Payson are proud grandparents of two boys and two girls, all under age three!

Hope Baldwin McLeod writes that she has become a contributing writer for two magazines: Wisconsin Trails and Home Education. She also performs as a part-time musician in an ensemble called “6 around 1” and in a duo with her daughter, “Hope ‘n Yazmin,” playing guitar and piano respectively. Hope also has a five-acre sustainable garden — a must for starving musicians!

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Susie Churchill Bowman ’72 and son David playing along with Karen Brooks ’72 on Martha’s Vineyard this past summer.

1974 Vanessa Guerrini-Maraldi Wilcox 580 West End Avenue New York, NY 10024-1723 212-877-3413 vgmwilcox@nyc.rr.com Vanessa Guerrini-Maraldi Wilcox writes, “We had a fun and cozy 35th Reunion. It was great to get together and share memories and stories. More classmates need to return for our 40th. EWS looks great. Bessie Speers is wonderful and is doing a terrific job as the School nears its 100th anniversary.”

1975 Doris “Veda” Pendleton McClain P.O. Box 1722 Louisville, KY 40203 502-384-7041 veda_mcclain@yahoo.com Class Correspondent Veda Pendleton McClain reports: The Class of 1975 sadly reports the death of our classmate Laria Markov Stafurik on June 6, 2009, at her home in Ocean Township, NJ. Laria will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

This class agent business is tough when you’ve been out of touch with your classmates for the past 30 plus years. It would be really nice if classmates would email me their news contributions. I speak with Nyoka Browno Woods each month. We have been in touch ever since our days at Walker’s. I am also friends with Jody Agerton and Flavia de Olivera on Facebook.

My life has been full. Four of my five children are adults and I have five grandchildren. My eldest daughter, Marian, is a doctoral student at the University of Georgia. She works in career services, is married to Harrell, and they have two sons, Isaiah, age 2, and Elijah, six months. My second daughter, Lauren, is a graduate of Agnes Scott College and works for an Arkansas senator on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. David, my third child, is a graduate of Arkansas State University and works for an Arkansas congressman in his state office in Jonesboro, AR. He is married to Ashley, and they have three children, Kaleb, age 4, Olivia, age 2, and Lauren, six months. My youngest daughter, Jennifer, recently graduated from Spalding University in Louisville, KY. Micah, my youngest child, is a student at a performing arts magnet high school.

After 20 years in education and mostly in higher education, I have opened a consulting firm, Veda

McClain Consulting, specializing in education consulting and parent coaching. My book, titled The Intentional Parenting Plan, was released in August by AuthorHouse. Webinars on parenting will be available in January 2010 at http://vedamcclain.com. Look for me in the movie, Not A Fan, premiering summer 2010, by City on a Hill Productions.

Classmates, let me hear from you. Has anyone heard from Leslie Baldwin, Margaret Broadus Saling, Ligia Reid de Vela, Leslie Reskin Neilan, Lisa Greenleaf, Tracey Gibbons, Candy Coombs, Midge Blakeslee or Lori White?

1976 C. Elizabeth Connery Mitchell 9 Pearl Street Marblehead, MA 01945-3417 781-631-2860

1977 Michelle Turner 94 Saint Anns Court Somerset, NJ 08873-4407 732-214-9816 Wendy West Brenninkmejer reports “I have started a web-based company promoting integrative healers and doctors. Please check out www.healerswest.com and email me the names of great healers and doctors you know!”

1978 Kimberly Brown Morrow 106 Summers Run Annapolis, MD 21401 410-757-1060 kabmorrow@comcast.net

1979 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org Ruth Wick Brooke writes, “Dear Class of 1979, I wish that I could be there with you for the 30th Reunion, but again I can’t do it this year. I’m getting nostalgic in my old age! Was just rereading the wonderful yearbook

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Kerri put together recently and loving every page (thanks Kerri!). Jill Ashbey Pejoves’ words about how she didn’t love her Walker’s experience, but that it wasn’t the friends or the School, but really a reflection of the times and her state and stage in high school hit home for me too. I love you all and am sorry I’ve been so out of touch — my loss! So here’s my brief update: Soon after graduating from Dennison University I married Peter Brooke, also a Dennison graduate, in 1984. I made a life out of horses, including various jobs — all fun but not terribly fulfilling. In 2000 we adopted our first child Alexandra Brooke (Alix — after our EWS Alex of course!) Next was the adoption of our second child, Thomas Brooke, in 2003. Have been happily mothering and parenting, believe it or not! In 2005, after several years of more fun but not terribly fulfilling or unusual careers, and after trashing my body through riding and other fanatical athletics I discovered Svaroopa yoga. I’ve been going through a transformation ever since but that’s for another long story for another time. I am now teaching yoga and living with Peter and my kids in Vermont and loving, loving, loving it all.”

Linda Loteczka Gilbert ’80 with Angie Heughan ’79 and Angie’s children, Erik, 13 and Callie, 12.

1980 Deana Washburn 12 Craig Place Cranford, NJ 07016-2307 908-272-4229 908-931-9766 deanadw@aol.com Linda S. Loteczka Gilbert writes, “Angie Heughan and her children Erik, thirteen-years-old and Callie, twelve-years-old (my godchildren) spent a wonderful week with us in the city in May. Angie’s birthday is

62 THE SUNDIAL

May 29th. We celebrated at Tavern on the Green and had so much fun in New York City.”

1981 Ann Marenakos 77 Addington Road Brookline, MA 02445 617-879-6062 617-216-1643 marenakos@gmail.com

1982 Eve Agush 77 Addington Road Brookline, MA 02445 617-216-1643 evalorca@rcn.com Leila Howland Wetmore reports, “My family and I beach-hopped this summer visiting some of the most beautiful beaches in the east coast (we think!). Very relaxing and fun. Charlie taught both girls to body surf like pros! Finley is in the sixth-grade and loves karate while Eliza is in the fourth-grade and spends her free time at the dance studio. Spent the last day of summer with Whitney Reigel Mooney and her boys at a water park. Woohoo! Hoping for a visit from Tracey Reifler on a pause from her worldwide travels. Already looking forward to the next big Reunion to get everyone together again!”

Class Correspondent, Eve Agush writes, “This summer Rob and I took a much needed vacation to New Orleans and loved the vibe of the city. The people were great and if you ever go, definitely stop at ‘Yo Mama’ on St. Peter for delicious Anthony Costarelli, son of Class food and drinks. I also Correspondent Eve Agush ’82, made a trip to Kripalu coming home from the Big Apple and became a Radiant Circus. child yoga certified instructor and will bring the great knowledge to my existing children’s yoga program. I will also begin teaching yoga in the public schools of Brookline to children on the autism spectrum. Anthony is eightyears-old, in second grade and plays piano, takes tap dance and yoga and loves to roller skate. I had the

Claudia S. Ingham completed her Ph.D. earlier this year. She is busy with her business, Ecological & Agricultural Consulting. This summer she taught biology for University of Phoenix at the Oregon campus and is now an instructor in the Animal Sciences Department at Oregon State University. She still enjoys riding her horse and flying with her husband when the skies permit! In May, she and Conan visited New York City and Boston then got together with Eve Agush and her family and Sue Czepiel. Also, in June, she and Conan traveled to France, southern England and Prague.

Katie and Allison, daughters of Ashley Bourne Dewey ’82, and Stark and Riggs, sons of Emily Eckelberry Johnson ’82 at Ashley's house on Lake Champlain.

fortune to see both Claudia S. Ingham and husband Conan Schleicher and Sue Czepiel, with whom my family and I spent a very enjoyable day at Quincy Market. Actually Sue and I see each other as often as we can.”

Ashley Bourne Dewey says, “We sold our Riverside, CT, house last June and moved up to our house in Vermont on Lake Champlain full time. We are five miles down the road from the Basin Harbor Club, north of Middlebury and south of Burlington. As I am writing this, Emily Eckelberry Johnson and her family (Stark, seventh-grade and Riggs, fifth-grade) are here for their annual summer visit — lots of tubing on the lake, s'mores and many laughs! My daughter, Katie, will be a junior at Deerfield and my younger daughter, Allison, will be in the eighth grade. Allison toured boarding schools in the fall. Hope you all had a great summer!”

Sadly, Rocio Pellerano de Cabre’s twin boys have been diagnosed with NBIA, a rare brain syndrome. As a result, Rocio has been involved in fundraising directed towards research and finding a cure for her sons' condition. She would appreciate hearing from any Walker's alumnae who might share advice or ideas in raising awareness and funding for NBIA. She can be contacted at 305-450-5527 or by email at rpellerano@gmail.com

1983 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1984 Caroline O’Brien Thomas 30 Joy Place Cohasset, MA 02025 781-383-2385 781-248-0863 carrieandbobthomas@comcast.net

1985 Elizabeth “Betsy” Potter Giddings 6 Wellington Heights Road Avon, CT 06001 860-679-9593 860-841-5625 dearepg@aol.com Class Correspondent Betsy Potter Giddings writes:

Members from the class of 1982: Caitlin Nammack Weissman, Leila Howland Wetmore, Lee Gowen Marine and Emily Eckelberry Johnson.

Hello everyone! Tick, tick, tick…the Reunion clock is ticking! If you have not begun to make your plans for our class’ 25th Walker’s Reunion, please consider starting today! The event spans the weekend of May 14-16, 2010 and will be filled with reconnection and good times! Walker’s is a beautiful place, but what

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made it even more spectacular was all of you! Staying connected with some daily or memorable happenings in each of our lives supports our Walker’s connection as a sure thing. That’s right, a sure thing! We got it in 1985 and still have it today!

As for myself, I keep in touch with Allison Ross Hofstetter regularly. Despite our long distance connections we share many laughs, vent daily gripes onto each other’s deafened ears and somehow have just the right thing to say to each other when taxed by the daily grind. She is alive and well in Florida taxiing dogs and I am due north in Connecticut taxiing children.

It is all good! I often reflect on a motivational comment made by a wise woman that “You get out of whatever you are doing by whatever effort you put into it.”

Guided by this, I have to say that I am living life well connected with friends, family and Walker’s! It’s a sure thing! As we close 2009 and look forward to 2010, take care of your sure things, or at least the things that keep you connected with who you are: health, happiness and friends! Hope to see all of you soon!

Christina Wood-Smith Lindgren writes “My little girl, Elle, just started kindergarten this year and my son, Chris, is in the third grade. We live in Charlottesville, VA, and I work as a Technical Services Manager for the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. Translation: I do IT work. I hope to make it up there in May. I have not been back for a Reunion yet.”

Elizabeth Pryor Bradley says, “After eight-and-a-half years out of the office, I am returning to museum work.

I am starting a position at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA, which will run through the end of January. I am excited to be back among the artwork and interested to see how it all goes with the daily demands of home and kids. Speaking of which, Eleanor, age 8, and Willa, 6 are enjoying school. Gerrit, after leaving a small IT firm, is looking for something bigger and better. I hope everyone is doing well.”

1986 Micaela Porta 3777 Independence Avenue Apt. 16D Bronx, NY 10463 718-601-4409 enginebooks@yahoo.com

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Christina Wood-Smith Lindgren ’85 with daughter Elle and son Chris.

1987 Lori Stewart PO Box 330774 West Hartford, CT 06133-0774 860-205-9920 ews1987@gmail.com Class Correspondent Lori Stewart reports: Many of us will be turning 40 this year: For those of you who have reached this new milestone, congratulations. I wish you a decade unlike any that have preceded it thus far. For those of you with birthdays later in the year, hurry up and join us already.

Class Correspondent Lori Stewart ’87 and son Caiden, in front of the U.S. Capitol building on the eve of the Presidential inauguration in January 2009.

As I reflect on this past decade for myself, I note Yale, motherhood, corporate and nonprofit board experiences, the decision to start my own business, renewing and sustaining valued friendships with Patricia Barnett-Pinott ’86 and Buffye Michelle Warthaw ’86, among others, returning to Disney with our family now that my son is old enough to really appreciate it, and attending the inauguration of President Barack Obama among this decade’s highlights. I am sure there have been additional noteworthy occurrences, but these are what come to mind as I sit to write at this time. I cannot wait to see what the next decade will hold!

Speaking of decades, for three decades now, since the third grade, Kelly Schmidt and I have been blessed to have continued our friendship. In the past year we have participated as teammates in adult spelling bees (where our team won best costume — don’t ask), as associates on nonprofit committees, enthusiastic spectators at cultural outings including a children’s summer arts celebration, a jazz violinist premiere and the Connecticut Forum, and finally as the best of

friends in each other’s birthday celebrations. Kelly has attended my mother’s 70th surprise birthday celebration, and each and every celebration in honor of my son from the baby shower to his most recent fifth birthday party. It is hard to believe that my little man is five-years-old already, almost the age that Kelly and I were when we first became friends. Additionally, I am blessed to continue fairly frequent communication with Wendy Martin and Tara Harris.

Through pure serendipity, while attending a recent board leadership meeting, I heard a woman introduce herself and distinctly state “Paleologos” as her last name. Knowing another phenomenal woman with the last name of Paleologos, I, of course, had to inquire further and discovered that she not only “knew of a Maria Paleologos Green who attended Walker’s, but she also happened to be her mom.” Although we weren’t able to converse at length because of our meeting, she noted that Maria is doing well.

As for some of our other classmates, in response to my attempted September mass emailing, I received warm hellos from Sigrid Kuhse, Mary Jo Dornan Pollard, and Lamonda Williams. I also received the following updates:

a little person. People may talk about the “terrible twos,” but we find there are many wonderful things about this age! He constantly amazes us with his observations and by delighting in so many things we adults overlook or take for granted. Regarding work, I have now been at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington, DC, for 7-1/2 years, which amazes anyone who knew me in my twenties when I moved around quite a bit. GAO evaluates federal branch agencies and programs at the request of Congress, and I am a senior analyst in its environmental division. Most recently, I’ve looked at mountaintop coal mining in Appalachia and chemical use on United States crops.”

Melissa Pearman Stambaugh says “I can’t believe that it has been so incredibly long since we said adios to Ethel Walker’s. Seems like yesterday…almost. I have been living in Olympia, WA, for 15 years now and have two beautiful boys, Sam and Silas, age 11 and two, respectively. The great northwest is beautiful and amazing.” Lori’s note: Melissa also indicated that she was searching for Kim Franklin Ray. I hope the two of you were able to connect.

As a final note, about that “er, um, mass emailing” referenced above; the School has only a handful of email addresses for our class, some of which are no longer valid, as I learned in my September effort. If you did not receive my September mass email to our class, but would like to be included in future electronic mailings, then please email me, or the School, with your correct address. Please. We would like to stay in touch with you and include your pertinent updates in our next edition of Take Note so please send them along! Can’t wait to hear from you! As always, sending love and best wishes, Lori

1988 Josey Ballenger ’87 and her son Tucker this past April.

Josey Ballenger writes that “2009 has been an eventful year so far, but tough at times! After running for roughly 20 years, I decided to fulfill a longtime dream by training for a marathon. After four months of training and raising more than $6,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor and memory of several individuals, I finished the San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon on May 31st in 4:13:30, faster than I had expected. What’s more, I thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly keeping up with all the ‘running Elvises’! On the family front, my son, Tucker Alexander Ballenger, was two-years-old in September 2009, and my husband Scott and I are having a blast watching him develop into

Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

1989 Fiona Cox 7757 35th Avenue, NE Seattle, WA 98115-4812 206-568-2390 206-605-5355 fccox@yahoo.com

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Fiona Cox ‘89 and fiancee Chuck Wolfe.

Class Correspondent Fiona Cox’s law practice, which she started earlier this year, focuses on nonprofits, tax and contract law. Her eldest daughter, Anoushka, attended our 20th Reunion in May and is currently trudging through the college application process while dreaming of a gap year. Her youngest daughter, Claudia, lives in Australia with her father’s family where she is a freshman in a co-ed boarding school, the Hamilton & Alexandra College, and owns a horse. She spends all of her free time with “Barney.” Fiona is excited to announce that she became engaged to Chuck Wolfe, a Seattle land use and environmental attorney, who has two children, Amy, a sophomore at college, and Aaron, a senior in high school. Fiona and Chuck plan to wed in June of 2010.

Carolyn Espasas Muchacho worked in hospitality sales management in Puerto Rico and Miami for about 10 years. She also received her real estate and mortgage license and currently handles property Daughters of Carolyn Espasas management. She Muchacho ’89. has been married since 2000 and has three girls, ages six, four, and four months. She works from home so that she can spend time with her girls.

Caroline, Marshall, and William Maclain Schroeder (right), children of Elise Simko Schroeder ’89.

1990 Tatyana Bradford Ouhrabka 160 Rumstick Road Barrington, RI 02806 401-247-9838 tatyana@cox.net

1991 Gabriela Porta Beecher 363 Main Street New Canaan, CT 06840 203-972-2121 646-702-6666 gbeecher@yahoo.com

1992 Marie Mahmouzian Compton 580 Animas View Drive #3 Durango, CO 81301 970-759-3501

1993 Toan Huynh 7 Cavalier Drive Hamilton, NJ 08619 609-588-6807 toanwah@yahoo.com Nan Flanagan writes “I was married at EWS on October 2 to Richard Taplin, a native of Virginia who was living in Los Angeles and working in the

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1996 Drusilla Carter 308 South Cedar Street Pageland, SC 29728 843-672-3339 jdrusillacarter@gmail.com

1997 Karen Crowe 39 Melrose Street Apartment 2 Boston, MA 02116 617-695-6781 kcrowe79@gmail.com

Nan Flanagan ‘93 and Rick Taplin married at Walker’s on October 2, 2009.

entertainment industry when we met in early 2008. We had a fabulous fall wedding day and the Chapel looked gorgeous! My bridesmaids were my three sisters, two cousins and two close friends. Rick and I honeymooned in Antigua following the wedding and are settled back in Boston, MA. Walker’s girls at the wedding included Kate Flanagan Shoss ’97, one of my sisters and also my matron of honor. Kate was eight months pregnant at the wedding and looked beautiful. Carol ClarkFlanagan, my mom, Blythe Fichtenholtz Peck, my cousin Wendy Smith, another cousin Christy Coyne Hearon, and Meg Mahoney, history teacher at Walker’s, were also in attendance.

The wedding of Nan Flanagan ’93 (l-r): Kate Flanagan Shoss ’97, Nan Flanagan, with mother of the bride and Walker’s history and English teacher, Carol Clark-Flanagan.

1994

1998

Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

Brooke Berescik-Johns 429 East 65th Street Apartment 24 New York, NY 10021-6967 brookebjohns@gmail.com

1995

Class Correspondent Brooke Berescik-Johns writes: “it was so picturesque to have our wedding on the EWS campus — we were very lucky to have a perfect fall day. I married Margo Meyerhoff and had Walker’s bridemaids Katherine Estock and Meaghan McLean Boisfeuillet ’99.”

Alexandra Townson 666 West Ferry Street Apartment #4 Buffalo, NY 14222-1625 716-308-6697 alexandratownson@hotmail.com

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Alumnae Updates

1999

Lizzy Heurtematte also reports exciting family news: “My husband and I just had our first baby. Her name is Alessa Victoria Alfaro and she was born on May 19, 2009. Hope all is great with you!”

Vivienne Felix 434 McCartney Street Apartment 1F Easton, PA 18042 484-597-0633 vivienne_felix@yahoo.com Class Correspondent Vivienne Felix writes: “Hi everyone! I hope that all is well with all of you.

After a summer that flew by too quickly, I took a brief vacation in Florida and the Bahamas with my family. I still live in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania and work in the field of college development. I miss everyone from Walker’s and wish that there were more chances to see everyone. But, I’m happy to say that in August, I was able to spend time with Sheng Han and celebrate her wedding!”

Vivienne also forwards these updates: Kristin Haviar graduated in May 2007. She says that since then she has been working a lot and trying to enjoy not being in school.

Jacklyn Feliciano is also busy. She is currently a case manager at a federal corrections facility and lives in Philadelphia, PA. Antionette Perry Bethea writes “Hello Walker’s family! I am still living in Baltimore, MD, with my husband, John, and oneyear-old Elijah. Life is good.

Antionette Perry Bethea ’99 and her son.

Sheng Han says, “I got married in August.

Vivienne, Ipsita and Crystal were in attendance. It was nice and a lot of fun! I live in Alexandria, VA with my husband and 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier.”

Rebecca Sherlock reports that she is living in Boston, MA, with her partner, Molly, and her best friend Rebecca. She says; “I’m now a doctoral student at Boston University’s School of Education studying coaching. My research focus is developing coaching techniques to use with intellectually disabled athletes. I am also the Special Olympics area coordinator for Brookline, MA! I’m very busy, but I absolutely love what I’m doing!”

68 THE SUNDIAL

Meaghan McLean Boisfeuillet writes that she and her husband celebrated their first anniversary on Alessa Victoria Alfaro, daughter August 22nd. They “just of Liz Huertematte ‘99. welcomed a two-month-old golden retriever puppy to our home on our anniversary, which my husband claimed was ‘specially ordered.’”

Shannon Lenz writes “Hey all! I am living in Connecticut and working at Taft, teaching science, coaching soccer, and heading a senior girls’ dorm. I have been working on my master’s degree and hope to finish this August with a master’s in chemical and life science with a concentration in biology. I’ve also been busy planning my wedding. I got engaged in July and Chris and I are planning to have our ceremony at EWS next October.”

Marisabel Portillo is missing home as she writes to us from overseas. “I’m living in Abu Dhabi, UAE from September 2009 to September 2010. I’m a reading comprehension specialist for a student with autism. My company asked me to head here, so I did. I’m on the Abu Dhabi Striders running team, play volleyball and plan on spending my free time in Dubai, camping, hiking or climbing, and traveling this part of the world. I may visit Lebanon, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, and Africa.

Life is pretty awesome. Hope everyone is doing well!”

2000 Emily B. Cole-Chu 140 Nassau Avenue Apartment 2 Brooklyn, NY 11222 860-941-7443 emilycolechu@gmail.com

2001 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

2002 Stephanie Caviglia 41 Turtle Rock Court New Paltz, NY 12561 914-456-5199 sc284@aol.com

2003 Thara K. Mathews 7305 Quarry Chase Trails Plano, TX 75025 972-618-0741 thara_matthews@hotmail.com Windy Black Jansen says, “Hi girls, I think that most of you know that I came back to Walker's this summer as the Director of Alumnae Relations. I love being back and suppose I proved everyone right that it would happen at some point! The girls are great and sitting in morning meeting with my advisees brings back a flood of fond memories. My husband and I are in the process of moving from Cambridge, MA, to Simsbury, CT. I loved being in Boston for the year and completed my education major at Harvard in June. Although I will miss the buzz of city life, I am looking forward to moving into our own home and not having city traffic. Please be in touch whenever you are in the area. I would love to catch up with you all!”

Jessica Bruen writes: “I graduated from Post University in May 2008 with a degree in Equine Science and have since been working as a tech at New Milford Hospital. I’ve decided to continue my education and obtain my Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license and then go on for my Registered Nurse (RN) one!

2004 Your class needs a Class Correspondent! This is a great way to stay in touch with your classmates. If interested, please contact Kristen Weldon at 860-408-4251 or kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org

2005 Meredythe Goethe 155 Ayrshire Lane Avon, CT 06001 860-803-9320 righteousscrubabe@aol.com

Nicole E. Rougeot 2787 Torrington Street Torrington, CT 06790 860-489-7153 860-309-6443 nicole.rougeot@gmail.com Alexandra B. Tapley 58 Garden Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-441-0625

2006 Ebony Moses 303 Chadwick Avenue 2nd Floor Newark, NJ 07018 973-273-0456 mosese@bc.edu Alle S. Cohen 9609 Mockingbird Trail Jupiter, FL 33478 561-744-7747 alleshane@hotmail.com

2007 Carter E. Margison 24 Cider Brook Avon, CT 06001 860-677-4282 860-839-0770 carter.margison@gmail.com Emily Casey 446 Cedar Lane New Hartford, CT 06057 860-489-4700 860-573-6646 emily.casey@colorado.edu

2008 Lauren E. Milka 10 Woods Lane Simsbury, CT 06070 860-651-4217 860-882-7071 Kathleen A. Kirby 425 Coppermill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 860-257-9725 860-882-2195

Winter 2010 69

TAKE NOTE

Alumnae Updates

Births & Adoptions

In Sympathy

1999 Elizabeth “Lizzy” Heurtematte Alessa Victoria Alfaro May 2009

BARBARA ALLEGAERT, mother of Lynn Allegaert ’64

Marriages & Unions

BETTY GALT BROWN, grandmother of Brice Barry Russian ’89

1956 Lorna Sargeant Langdon To Butch Pfaelzer May 2009

MARK A. ASMAR, former legal counsel HELEN BREWSTER, mother of Pamela Brewster Duffy ’74

EDMUND N. CARPENTER, a former trustee and husband of Carroll Morgan Carpenter ’59 and father of Mary W. Carpenter ’68

1979 Eve Parish Chilton To Sal Martirano August 2009

THE RT. REV. JOHN B. COBURN, a former trustee and father of Judith Coburn Klein ’65, Sarah Coburn Borgeson ’71, and step-father of Ann Struthers Coburn ’67

1997 Alicia Kelly To Michael Benedetto September 2009

BOB DARLING, brother of Julia Darling Spahr ‘61

1999 Nora O’Connell To John Richardson September 2009 1983 Mary Lotuff To Richard Feeny October 2009 1993 Nan Flanagan To Richard Taplan October 2009 1998 Brooke Berescik-Jones To Margo Meyerhoff October 2009

In Memoriam 1923 HARRIET FELTON PARKER, aunt of Katherine Milmine Reed ’54 1932 FRANCES STANLEY STOUT 1933 ALEXANDRA GRANGE HAWKINS 1940 RUTH ROWE PHILBRICK 1943 ELIZABETH TOWNSEND HARDWICK 1943 MARION CARRY RICH 1943 SUSAN KENNEDY BRANDE

MICHAEL DUFFY, husband of Pamela Brewster Duffy ’74 FERNAND FINAN, husband of former French teacher Wadad Finan REVEREND MARK HALL, father of Sarah Hall Fargo ’62, Deborah Hall Coburn ’64 and Pamela Hall Mahony ’67 PATRICIA JONES, mother of Susanna Jones, former Head of School CAROLE R. MESSERSMITH, grandmother of Abigail Endler ’10 and mother of Amy Endler, former Director of the Annual Fund KAREN NELSON, former Walker’s music instructor DOUGLAS R. NICHOLS, father of Susan Nichols Ferriere ’69, uncle of Paisley Fonda Haller ’71 DEACON WILLIE PICKETT, grandfather of Erin Corbett EMMA JANE VON EULER, daughter of Nancy Mack von Euler ’79 CAROLYN WILSON, former Walker’s literature and history teacher and former Assistant to the Head of School

Join our Facebook Community!

Walker’s official Facebook Alumnae page, “Ethel Walker Alums,” is growing by the day!

Keep up with photos and news about your friends, and reconnect with old classmates!

Walker’s is LinkedIn!

1955 LAVINIA RUSSELL

Keep business connections flowing through Walker’s LinkedIn network!

1956 CONSTANCE IRWIN BRAY, cousin of Sally Chapin Levin ’59

Join “Walker’s Suns and Dials” today at www.linkedin.com!

1963 ELIZABETH SCHWARZENBACH DILEO 1975 LARIA MARKOV STAFURIK

70 THE SUNDIAL

Follow Walker’s on Twitter: ethelwalkersch

A

P R E V I E W

Birthday celebrations provide a

time to reflect, to reminisce, to celebrate, and to aspire to more.

The one hundred year “birthday” of The Ethel Walker School is a milestone. To reflect upon our history is to honor the principles upon which Ethel Walker founded this institution of excellence.

These principles have benefitted generations of women and will continue to inspire future generations. We are so fortunate to associate ourselves with a School that has always believed in the full potential of women.

We each have our own stories and memories of our experiences at Walker’s and of how our lives were shaped by our education, our friends, and the connections we treasure. Our collective recollections and feelings make for a most rich and vibrant history.

On October 1, 2011 the entire School community — students, alumnae, friends, parents, faculty, and staff — will convene to celebrate this milestone birthday!

An on-campus core team has done extensive research into best practices gathered from other schools’ milestone celebrations, conducted focus groups among alumnae, faculty and staff, and has implemented student involvement through initiatives both in and out of the classroom. In addition, this team has laid the foundation for committee structure

as well as commissioned the production of a keepsake commemorative book. They are presently working on initial planning for the many celebratory events that will surround Centennial and garner excitement across the country. Our thanks to Director of Alumnae Relations Windy Black Jansen ’03, Senior Development Associate Kristen Weldon, and volunteer Anne Black P’03 for this important effort.

This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we invite you to be a part of celebrating our past and shaping our future!

A PREVIEW OF THE MANY SPECIAL EVENTS PLANNED FOR OUR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Gala Celebration October 1, 2011 Gala and Centennial Chapel October 1, 2011 Fishers Island Golf Classic Fall 2010 Centennial Chapel Series Ongoing 2010 Environmental Symposium 2010 Virtual Tug of War – Suns versus Dials Ongoing 2010 Walker’s Women Around the World 2010

The School will be hosting many regional and local events to connect and reconnect our alumnae with the School, their classmates and friends, and current students from coast to coast and beyond.

We hope all our alumnae will participate and encourage other classmates to do the same.

If you would like to offer participation as a host in a particular location, we welcome your ideas and would very much enjoy connecting with you. Please do let us know!

Winter 2010 71

CENTENNIAL PREVIEW

The Celebration of " One Hundred Years of Excellence !

CENTENNIAL PREVIEW

Centennial Committee Teams are Forming

Sundial Centennial Committee

A milestone of this magnitude cannot be planned alone, nor should it be! The help of alumnae, students, faculty, staff and friends will enable Walker’s to celebrate one hundred years in a manner that is reflective of all that this history encompasses. Various committees have already begun to take shape.

1930s

Honorary Executive Committee

Comprised of Alumnae, Friends and Past Parents CO-CHAIRS Abra Prentice Wilkin ’60 Elizabeth Nash Muench ’55 Brooke Gaffney Redmond ’90 Donya Nagib Sabet ’90 Adele Harman Waggaman ’37 Nuala O’Donnell Pell ’42 Constance Lavino Bell ’48, P’72, ’75 Roberta Gertsell Bennett ’53 C. Austin and Marguerite Doubleday Buck ’55, P’79 Deborah Williams MacKenzie ’55 Margot Campbell Bogert ’60 Thomas and Margaretta Bredin Brokaw ’66 Leslie Hailand Newman ’66 Francis Beinecke Elston ’67 Lisa Pagliaro Selz ’69 Sarah Gates Colley ’75 Staley Cayce Sednaoui ’76 Eve Chilton ’79 Suzanne Fairchild Kovner ’86 Emma Simon ’89 George E. Kelly, Jr. P’93, ’97 Anne Winton Black P’03 Kathanne W. Fowler P’12

Comprised of Alumnae and Friends Ann Hemingway Symington ’36, P’69 Catherine McIntire Leslie ’37 1940s

Barbara McClurg Potter ’41, P’75 1950s

Nancie Magee Bourne ’53, P’77, ’82 Maude Urmston Chilton ’53, P’77, ’79 Betty Richards Tripp ’54 Letitia McClure Potter ’55, P’85 Terese Treman Williams ’55, P’80 Lucy Rosenberry Jones ’59, P’80 1960s

Elise Truebner Henning ’61 Susan S. Ford ’63 Pamela Peck ’68 Ann Watson Bresnahan ’69 1970s

Deborah Bell Spoehel ’75 Helen Potter Wagner ’75 Kimberly Bourne Fisher ’77 Cecily Chilton Matthai ’77 Deborah Rush ’77 Elizabeth Smith van Gemeren ’77, P’07, ’09 1980s

Sarah-Jane McCarthy Markoe ’80 Margot Ross Rose ’80 Ashley Bourne Dewey ’82 Clarissa Potter ’85 1990s

Gabriela Porta Beecher ’91 Nancy Flanagan ’93 Marguerite Kelly ’93 Alicia Kelly ’97

Beaver Brook Centennial Committee

Internally comprised of faculty, staff, students and current parents Faculty and Staff Carol Clark-Flanagan P’93, ’97 Maureen Fiedler P’95, ’98 Kim Blanchard P’06 Gwendolyn Couch P’07, ’10 Michele Harris P’08 Lee-Ann Harris P’13 Roger Cantello P’14 John Groff Meg Mahoney Kenneth Poppe Parents Elizabeth Potter Giddings ’85, P’13 Terry Crescimanno P’08, ’13 Trustee’s Council

This committee is comprised of all former and current Trustees Please note these committees are not final and names will continue to be added to them as the Centennial planning process continues. If you are interested in helping with the Centennial or being on a committee please contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org.

Volunteer opportunities include archival work, speakers, gala event, Centennial Chapel series, art exhibits, regional events, Centennial book clubs and your new ideas! The sky is the limit and we encourage participation and suggestions, both big and small.

2000s

Elizabeth Emily van Gemeren ’07 Elenor van Gemeren ’09

President’s Council

Honors the work of all former Board of Trustee Presidents Amey Amory DeFriez ’45, P’67, ’69 Deborah Flagg Scott ’48, P’74 Beverly Vander Poel Banker ’60, P’82 Claudia Ramsland Burch ’68 Elizabeth Rauch Rainoff ’53 Suzanne Chapin Berl ’64 Aileen Turnbull Geddes ’56 Elizabeth Rockwell Cesare Margot Ross Rose ’80 C. Hugh Hildesley P’85 72 THE SUNDIAL

Term: 1967-1975, President: 1972-1975 Term: 1967-1985, President: 1975-1980 Term: 1974-1984, President: 1980-1982 Term: 1979-1985, President: 1982-1985 Term: 1971-1990, President: 1985-1990 Term: 1987-1993, President: 1990-1993 Term: 1991-1996, President: 1993-1996 Term: 1986-2001, 2003-2009, President: 1996-2000 Term: 1996-2008, President: 2000-2005 Term: 1998-2008, President: 2005-2008

S H A R E

Y O U R

M E M O R I E S

Your time at Walker’s is an integral part of the story that makes our School what it is today.

Please submit your stories so that we may collect a complete history of the past one hundred years!

What was Walker’s like when you were a student? What do you remember the most about the School, the teachers or life on campus? Please submit your “While I Was at Walker’s” stories to us via email, mail, or even via telephone if you choose.

Do you have an old uniform, a holiday card from a former Head of School, a sports trophy or other Walker’s memorabilia? If so, we would love to be able to expand our archives to include your history.

With your help, we can expand our collection and display our history for all to see over the course of our Centennial year and beyond! Learn more about the archives project on page 20.

Get Creative!

Logo Contest Do you have a vision of what this milestone means to Walker’s? Put your creative stamp on our Centennial year by submitting a logo that will commemorate this landmark moment! Create a logo that will be used throughout our yearlong celebration of the Centennial and will find its way into the archival history of the School.

Logo sketches must be sent to the Alumnae Office or emailed in electronic form. Once submitted, the School owns all images and reserves the right to alter or combine submissions in any way.

The Centennial logo will be unveiled during the summer of 2010. This is where your talents and vision can make a true mark on the School’s history.

Walker’s Website — The Centennial Section Our team is in the process of creating a Centennial section on our website, www.ethelwalker.org/Centennial. This will be a central location where an abundance of Centennial related information will be kept and updated frequently. We’ll include For the latest on Centennial plans, visit information on volunteer www.ethelwalker.org/Centennial opportunities, local and regional events, archival initiatives taking place on campus and around the community, photos, “While I Was at Walker’s” stories, and more! We will keep the Centennial area filled with fresh content, so check back frequently for updates and new sections.

Please email us with suggestions or ideas for what you would like to see.

For all Centennial related questions, suggestions and submissions, please email alumnae@ethelwalker.org, or contact Windy Jansen ’03, Director of Alumnae Relations, at 860-408-4259, or Kristen Weldon, Senior Development Associate, at 860-408-4251.

For submissions via mail, please send to Alumnae Relations at The Ethel Walker School, 230 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070.

We look forward to hearing from you!

KEEP US POSTED! In this exciting pre-Centennial time, we want to make sure our parents, alumnae and friends receive the most updated news and information on events and initiatives. If you have updated contact information including a mailing address, an email or telephone number please let us know so we can update our records. Staying in touch is important, as you are indeed a part of Walker’s history!

Winter 2010 73

CENTENNIAL PREVIEW

“While I Was at Walker’s”

SUPPORTING WALKER’S

FROM YOUR PARENTS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

As defined in the Walker

Book, “The Ethel Walker School Parents Association (EWSPA) strives to build community by fostering connections both among Walker’s parents and between parents and the School. Every Middle and Upper School parent or guardian is a member of the Parents Association.” EWSPA is unique in that it is a combination of Middle School and Upper School, boarding and day student parents.

Together we offer our time, talents, and treasure to further the goals of the School; these efforts ultimately benefit our daughters.

EWSPA is an organization that is still a work in progress. Last year, the charge was to unite the Middle School and Upper School Parents Associations into one fully functional organization. By-laws were drafted, and the structure of committees was revised, even as the events that mark the Walker’s school calendar took place as scheduled. The organizational foundation was put into place. This year, as we move forward, we will be able to build on that foundation.

There are many ways that parents can participate in making the Walker’s experience richer for their daughters. There are hands-on opportunities — making sets and costumes for a drama or musical production, baking for Teacher Appreciation Week, helping at Dogswood Day. EWSPA members can help at an Open House, as a Parent Ambassador at a recruitment event, or assist with the Walker’s Fund for Annual Giving.

The True Colors Auction on February 20th is our primary fundraiser, and it is also a great social event.

EWSPA sponsors morning coffee and conference calls at intervals throughout the year. In addition to the October Family Weekend, there are Holiday Parent Socials in December.

Educational research on the involvement of parents in schools shows that children achieve at higher levels when parents and teachers/staff work together.

Communication is the key, whether among parents, or between parents and the School. The Parents Association is always open to suggestions and ideas to help support our daughters during their years at Walker’s. Please feel free to contact me at crescimanno@hotmail.com, or call (860) 827-8050.

Terry Alan Crescimanno P ’08, ‘13 PRESIDENT, EWSPA 2009-2010, TRUSTEE

74 THE SUNDIAL

THE ETHEL WALKER SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION 2009 – 2010 The EWSPA Board Terry Crescimanno P’13 PRESIDENT Carla Gregory P’13 VICE PRESIDENT Gail Shelton P’12 TREASURER Katrina Turner P’14 SECRETARY Maureen Margolis P ’11, ’12 CHAIR, ALL SCHOOL COMMITTEE Igor Alvarado P’09, ’11 CHAIR, US ACTIVITY COMMITTEE Loida Nicholson P’14 CHAIR, MS ACTIVITY COMMITTEE Laura Patrina ’11, ’13, ’14 and Elise Rosenstock P’11, ‘13 CO-CHAIRS, AUCTION Donna Jones P’10, ‘13 US MEMBER-AT-LARGE Konstantia Papapateras P’15 MS MEMBER-AT-LARGE Sue Reid P’09 PRESIDENT EMERITA Class Representatives Class of 2010 – Advisor, Kim Overtree Bunita Keyes, Lilia Kieltyka Class of 2011 – Advisor, Suzanne Piela Gina Ballard, Sarah Lloyd, Dave Truglio Class of 2012 – Advisor, Matt Bavone Mel Hamel, Paula Place Class of 2013 – Advisor, Meg Mahoney Renee Daguerre-Bradford, Melissa Regan Boarding Parent Representatives Sarah Lloyd P’11 Eileen Smith P’10 For additional information on the Parents Association (EWSPA), please contact Diane Thomas, Director of Annual Giving and Parent Relations at 860-408-4255, diane_thomas@ethelwalker.org

Tad Smith P’10, Parent Chair of The Walker’s Fund, is joined by daughter Victoria ’10 and wife, Eileen. Tad has been instrumental in planning and facilitating this year’s annual giving program. If you have not yet made your donation to The Walker’s Fund, please visit www.ethelwalker.org/annualfund. We appreciate your participation.

SUPPORTING WALKER’S

EWSPA True Colors Auction PREVIEW Join us: Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 7:00–10:00 p.m.

Imagine the ride of a lifetime in the limited edition Enzo Ferrari, a peaceful weekend stay at a guest house in New Mexico, or surprising your EWS student with the thrill of meeting UCONN basketball star Rebecca Lobo. How about owning one of the beautiful wooden horses created by students with a local artist? These are just a few of the catalog offerings at the True Colors Auction, which will feature a spirited live auction led by Hugh Hildesley P’85, Executive Vice President of Sotheby’s for North and South America. Co-chairs Laura Patrina and Elise Rosenstock have planned an evening of delicious food and suspenseful bidding.

Our goal for this year is to double our results from last year, with a target of $60,000. An online auction will be held prior to this event with a separate catalog of products and services including many more luxury vacation items.

We invite alumnae, past and current parents, grandparents and guests to register for this enjoyable event. Auction donations are appreciated through January, 2010.

Bidding is Open! www.ewstruecolorsauction.cmarket.com For details, visit our website at www.ethelwalker.org/support or contact Michele Harris at michele_harris@ethelwalker.org or 860-408-4269.

Thank you for your support!

Save the Date for Reunion 2010!

May 14–16, 2010 Classes ending in the 0s and 5s!

Registration will open by March for the weekend you don’t want to miss!

Come back to the campus you loved and enjoy guided walks through Walker’s Woods, Miss Walker’s Strawberries and Cream Brunch, dinner with your class, the Parade of Classes, the Ba-Na-Na (not to be missed!) and much more!!

We’ll have information and registration on the website soon, but be sure to mark these important dates in your calendar.

We look forward to seeing you!

Winter 2010 75

SUPPORTING WALKER’S

The Development Office The Development Office is always interested in knowing how we can best serve the alumnae, parents and friends of The Ethel Walker School. To help us keep our records up-to-date, please contact the office with address or email changes, so that you continue to receive news about the School. We will continue to send our electronic alumnae newsletter to keep everyone informed of the most current news and events. If you are not currently subscribed to receive this communication, please email alumnae@ethelwalker.org and we will add you to the list. If you have questions about making a donation to the School, please contact any of the staff listed below.

Thomas G. Speers, III, P’16 INTERIM DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 860/408-4256 | email: tom_speers@ethelwalker.org Eleanor Barnes, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 860.408.4254 | email: eleanor_barnes@ethelwalker.org Windy Black Jansen ’03, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNAE RELATIONS 860.408.4259 | email: windy_jansen@ethelwalker.org Diane Thomas, DIRECTOR, ANNUAL GIVING & PARENT RELATIONS 860.408.4255 | email: diane_thomas@ethelwalker.org Sandra Kaye Baker, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT SERVICES 860.408.4257 | email: sandra_baker@ethelwalker.org Molly Bouffard, ADVANCEMENT SERVICES ASSISTANT 860.408.4258 | email: molly_bouffard@ethelwalker.org Kristen Weldon, SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE 860.408.4251 | email: kristen_weldon@ethelwalker.org Susan Riggles, DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT 860.408.4252 | email: susan_riggles@ethelwalker.org

Online Giving available at www.ethelwalker.org/annualfund

Ways to Support Walker’s Cash, Check or Credit Card Many gifts are cash contributions that are made by check or credit card. These gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law and provide immediate funding for the School.

Securities and Property Gifts of stock, other securities or property benefit the institution and provide the donor with a tax deduction for the fair market value of the gift when it is made. Additionally, the donor does not have to pay capital gains tax on the appreciated value of the stock or property.

Matching Gifts Many companies provide their employees with the benefit of increasing their gifts to certain organizations by matching those gifts. Please check with your employer about their matching gifts program.

Planned Giving Gifts made through estate planning provide for the future growth of the School as these gifts, unless otherwise specified, are directed to the School’s endowment. The Ethel Walker Heritage Society honors those who have made provisions for Walker’s in their estate plans.

Gifts-in-Kind Walker’s welcomes gifts in kind including donations of goods and services that meet the educational and programmatic needs of the School.

Special and Restricted Gifts Walker’s has a number of funds that have been established by donors for special purposes such as the support of educational programs, scholarships or endowment.

For further information about making a gift, please contact Tom Speers, Interim Director of Development, at 860-408-4256

Visit Your Alumnae Portal Today!

Visit www.ethelwalker.org/alumnae often for the latest updates from campus and the Walker’s alumnae community!

76 THE SUNDIAL

The Ethel Walker Heritage Society F

ounded in 1911, The Ethel Walker School is an independent, college preparatory school for young women in grades 6 through 12.

We believe that women’s education equals opportunity.

This opportunity takes many forms and the result is a particular quality of education that is not found in coeducational institutions. The arts, athletics, leadership opportunities, close bonds with teachers and advisors, and friendships that often last a lifetime are all indispensable elements of a Walker’s education. In this caring setting, Walker’s girls make the journey of discovery through which they develop their natural talents, find their unique voices and emerge as strong, confident young women.

Today, nearly a hundred years later, we have created a philanthropic society to honor the vision and spirit of Ethel Walker, the School’s founder. We call this select group The Ethel Walker Heritage Society. Ethel Walker herself set the example for such philanthropy by naming the School as beneficiary in three separate trusts. Her gifts are truly gifts that continue to support the institution long after her lifetime.

The Ethel Walker Heritage Society is a critical element in the continued endowment growth of the School as it prepares to enter its second century, since most planned gifts are designated for the School’s endowment.

Endowment provides critical income for the financial stability and growth of the institution.

Donors to The Ethel Walker School who make all or a portion of their gifts through their financial or estate plans (bequest, trust, gift of life insurance, real estate, retirement account, or life income agreement) often receive significant tax benefits and are recognized as members of The Ethel Walker Heritage Society.

The School encourages all members of the Walker’s extended family to remember the School in their wills or through other planned gifts which can produce both current and deferred income. All those who have made such plans need only to notify the School in writing to become a member of the Society.

As the School establishes a professional planned giving program during the 2009-10 academic year, we welcome your inquiries.

The Ethel Walker Heritage Society Frances Beatty Adler ’66 Joan Garver Anderson ’57 Beverly Vander Poel Banker ’60, P’82 † Mrs. Marie D. Ballenger P’71, GP’87 † Constance Irwin Bray ’56 Ann Watson Bresnahan ’69 † Hope Nesbit Brown ’43 † Helen Watson Buckner ’36 † Frances Hazen Bulkeley ’44, P’68 Claudia Ramsland Burch ’68 † Mr. Paul M. Butterworth Elizabeth Rockwell Cesare Ann Blair Clark P’78, ’97 † Ruth Cleveland Leslie Davies ’96 Mr. & Mrs. John B. Davies P’96, ’00 Clarissa Yantis Downey ’53 Natalie Fesenmyer Emery ’55 Mr. & Mrs. Gary N. Flood P’94 Dr. Walter W. Frederick P’89 † Alice G. Gay, Fomer Faculty † Sally Young Gevalt ’38 Stephanie Bothwell Grillo ’90 Ruth Harrison Grobe ’69 Kate Crichton Gubelmann ’67 † Harriet Henderson ’18 C. Hugh Hildesley P’85 † Katharine Lee Howard ’36 Frieda Jacobs ’71 † Louisa Livingston Kennedy ’52 † Elizabeth Grant Lasell ’32, P’62

Catherine McIntire Leslie ’37, P ’62, ’66 † Doris Merrill Magowan ’32 Alison McCall ’72 † Vernon Lynch Merrill ’44 Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth F. Mountcastle, Jr. P’72, ’74 Elizabeth Nash Muench ’55 Leslie Hailand Newman ’66 † Frances McKee O’Brien ’26, P’57 † Harriet Parker ’23 Judith N. Phelps, Former Faculty Letitia McClure Potter ’55, P’85 Elizabeth Rauch Rainoff ’53 Nancy Rathborne ’59 Shannon Young Ray ’80 Sarah Johnson Redlich ’78, P’10 † Barclay Robinson Margot Ross Rose ’80 † Hester Jones Sargent ’37, P’63, ’65, ’68 Mary Bebel Schinke ’81 Deborah Flagg Scott ’48, P’74 Mr. † & Mrs. Robert H. Spilman, Sr. P’76 Elizabeth Austell Straight ’68 † Molly Mixsell Waldron ’32 Nancy Cooper YoungWilliams ’48, P’70 Abra Prentice Wilkiin ’60 Terese Treman Williams ’55, P’80 † deceased

For further information about planned giving, please contact Tom Speers, Interim Director of Development at The Ethel Walker School: 860-408-4256 or tom_speers@ethelwalker.org

The Ethel Walker

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School

230 Bushy Hill Road Simsbury, Connecticut 06070

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