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SPRING 2022 The Meadowbrook Magazine is published by The Meadowbrook School of Weston, 10 Farm Road, Weston, MA 02493-2493 www.meadowbrook-ma.org President of the Board of Trustees Christopher M. Austen ’81 P ’18, ’18, ’23 Head of School arvind s. grover Guest Writer and Editor Maura King Scully Contributing Writers Pam Scafati Jesse Kucewicz Art & Design Direction Dan Beard Design Photography Norm Harnick Jesse Kucewicz Joshua Touster
ON THE COVER: Sixth grade students Ayaan M. (in foreground) and Dylan O. use tools to tap the maple trees on campus as part of their science unit. Guided by their teachers, they and their classmates collect sap, organize and analyze data, and then boil down the sap to make syrup. ABOVE: After shaping his artwork using paint pens to create a base layer, Junior Kindergarten student Noah T. switches to watercolor to add the finishing touches to his painting in Caroline Kurman’s art class.
Contents F E AT U R E S 4
Driven to Learn Our youngest students in Junior Kindergarten explore learning in a whole new way by designing and building the coolest cars they can imagine
10 Worlds of Possibility Eleven years after it was introduced to Meadowbrook Middle School students, the Mandarin language program continues to garner excitement from its enthusiastic learners
16 Closing in on 100 As the school nears its centennial, the leadership looks ahead to a celebration and the next 100 years
D E PA RT M E N T S 2
From the Head of School
20 Meadowbrook Moments 26 Athletics Report 30 Advancement 34 Faculty News 38 Board of Trustees 40 Arts Report 42 Alumni News 48 In Memoriam
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from the head
A Message from the Head of School
BY ARVIND GROVER
The goal for this year was deceptively simple: offer a full program to our students. As simple as it sounds, it took a monumental effort from all—parents and guardians, the board of trustees, the administrative team, and of course, the faculty—they all collectively put the student experience first and made it happen. And now, with milestones like graduation and awards day in sight, I am looking back with amazement at what we’ve accomplished. After a year of limited games and few or no spectators, Middle School athletics was once again a huge part of the student experience. Our middle school student-athletes enjoyed an —dare I say it?—epic year. Our varsity
soccer teams shone in the fall, most notably at the Under the Lights game vs. our friendly rival Belmont Day School. Held at Babson College, the Under the Lights games resulted in two wins by Meadowbrook, as both the girls and boys teams came through victorious. Then, later on in the winter at a similar event—Friday Night Hoops—Meadowbrook once again came out with the sweep, with the girls team getting the W in spectacular fashion with a once-ina-lifetime buzzer-beater shot! We also added a new sport: for the first time, the Meadowbrook co-ed volleyball team competed and finished their first season with a winning record. Of
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course, I am not even touching on the many other athletics accomplishments of our students and coaches this year, in everything from lacrosse to cross country to softball and more. When I say full program I’m also thinking about the complete academic experience, things like working in groups, showcasing student work to parents and guardians, doing lab experiments in science, participating in math competitions, and taking field trips. One especially joyful day this winter had our 2nd graders making mini-presentations to visitors (fellow students and other faculty members) about an animal they had studied as part of their rainforest unit. These presentations were impressive! Second graders used resources from the library to research facts about their chosen animals; then they put together interactive presentations using their iPads. They created 3D models of their animals using materials from the EurekaLab and then wrote a report. Let me tell you—I learned a lot that day about sloths, howler monkeys, and macaws, oh my. There’s more, of course—we’ve had plays, community service projects, visiting authors, concerts, a celebration of Earth Day, and a book fair, to name a few. We’re moving forward with anything that serves the best experience for our kids. What’s come into sharp focus for us is how critical ALL elements of the school program are for the students to flourish. We know academics are our bread and butter, and we know equally that without the other parts of the program, the academics can’t fly as far. As you look through the pages of this magazine, enjoy the full program through the photography and articles—we’ve delivered on our goal. Our teachers have stepped up and made this a year to remember for the students. And the students, as always, amaze and delight me with their tenacity, curiosity, and endless enthusiasm for learning. Team Meadowbrook is as strong as ever, and I couldn’t be more proud! u
At the annual Under the Lights soccer game held at Babson College, 8th grader Katharine E. takes the ball down the field. Both the boys and girls teams finished the night with wins for Meadowbrook. SP RI N G 2022
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jk car show
DRIVEN The annual JK Car Show gives Meadowbrook’s youngest students a chance to flex their creativity, practice design thinking, and just plain have fun.
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his definitely isn’t your ordinary car show. The Junior Kindergarten Car Show at Meadowbrook, a staple for the past seven years, is a veritable feast of fantastical creations. This year, for example, it included a car named Emerald, bedazzled with bright green fringe and a swimming pool. The car Star Screen featured an onboard candy machine and a treasure-keeping compartment. And Fast Wing not only had jet wings that allowed it to fly—it was also able to ingeniously maneuver under water.
“The JK Car Show is super hands-on,” says Head of Lower School Rashna Mehta. “In fact, the way the entire unit is structured is supportive of how students learn and reflects where they are developmentally. It allows students to have some context for learning with something they’re familiar with—a car. They learn how cars work, and then have choice and voice in designing their own car. They’re introduced to design thinking—to prototyping and getting feedback—in a way that’s super fun. And when they’re done, they have the opportunity to share their learning with others as they answer questions at the car show.”
Real-Life Applications The car show is the culmination of a six-week unit that incorporates imagination and creativity along with literacy, math, and artistic and fine motor skills. And as JK teacher Elizabeth Twomey points out, “it’s a first foray into design thinking in a way that’s engaging, relevant, and developmentally appropriate.” The car show MEA DOW B RO O K M A G A Z I N E
allows students to go through the steps of design thinking—understand, define, imagine, prototype, and try—using something familiar that is part of their everyday life. “Kids are very excited and very curious about cars. It lends itself to so many real-life applications,” she says. The unit starts with reading the 2007 book If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen. “Then we ask students, ‘What do you think would improve cars? What would make them better?’ and they begin to brainstorm. Then we tell them that they are now going to have the chance to invent their very own dream cars and bring them to life.” First, however, students begin by familiarizing themselves with the parts of a car. They identify the major elements, which, for JK purposes, are the steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, tires, license plate, headlights, taillights, and side mirrors. With that working list in hand, students then explore an actual car. Twomey and fellow JK teacher Ann Abbott Freeman drive their cars to the back of the building, adjacent to the JK classroom. With the cars shut off, keys safely stowed,
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“They’re introduced to design thinking—to prototyping and getting feedback—in a way that’s super fun. And when they’re done, they have the opportunity to share their learning with others as they answer questions at the car show.” – R A SH N A MEH TA , H EA D O F LO W ER SC H O O L
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“Every year, 8th graders walking by poke their heads into the classroom and say excitedly, ‘I remember doing that! I still have my car at home!’” – E L I Z A BE T H T W O M EY, J K TEAC H ER
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and the parking brakes set, the teachers open their cars’ doors and windows and give JKers the chance to explore. “The kids are amazed,” says Twomey. “We’ll hear, ‘this is the first time I’ve been in the front seat of a car!’” Inevitably, with students inside and outside of the car, they discover that turning the steering wheel causes the tires to move. Back inside, the class works cooperatively to design one large group car, using a refrigerator box as a base. Once finished, their creation is incorporated into the classroom’s dramatic play area, becoming one of the tools that help students of this age begin to differentiate between what is real and what is pretend. With this foundation laid, students move on to creating their own dream cars. They begin by prototyping, drawing multiple iterations and naming them before settling on one car, which may involve elements from multiple versions. Once they have a fixed blueprint, they go “shopping” for parts among recycled materials gathered by the JK team. “We ask faculty to bring boxes. Lots of boxes,” says Twomey. “Shoeboxes or cereal boxes make a good car base; jewelry boxes are good for some of the interior elements.” For the first time this year, she notes that JK students were able to use the EurekaLab as part of the car-building process. “The kids were super excited. When they found out they could go to the EurekaLab, they were so enthusiastic, you would have thought we told them they had extra recess!” And there’s no doubt that the EurekaLab enriched the students’ experience. In addition to their teachers, they were able to work one-on-one with EurekaLab Coach Sue Fisher and Director of Innovation & Technology Jonathan Schmid to laser cut wheels for their cars. The lab’s many supplies also allowed them to expand upon their designs—if their car had a pool, for example, they could create a diving board using popsicle sticks or pool toys using pom-poms and pipe cleaners.
Finishing Touches Once their creation is complete, students are tasked with drawing final car portraits. They label the different parts of their cars using phonetic spelling, which gives them a chance to practice sound-letter correspondence. Then they each make a “how to build a car” book, which gives them the opportunity to reflect on the design thinking process they just went through. Lastly, they write an adventure story about their car that incorporates all of the storytelling elements—setting, characters, conflict, etc. Over the years, the unit has also grown to incorporate early math skills. “They go on a car scavenger hunt and
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count how many different state license plates they can identify as well as plates with specific numbers and letters,” Twomey says. “Then they’re able to graph what they’ve found.” At last, the time comes for JK students to show off their creations to others. They start by sharing their cars with their 6th grade buddies. “They are so excited by it. They are invested and engaged because they are the experts on their own cars,” Twomey explains. Families are then invited in one morning for the official JK Car Show, where students give the first of what will be many presentations in their Meadowbrook careers. This year, for the first time, Twomey notes that the JK team sent home guiding questions, with helpful suggestions for parents and guardians to learn more about the cars as well as the process children went through to make them. “We included things like, ‘What do you love about your car?,’ ‘Why did you choose these materials?’” she says. Speaking of this year, there was special excitement for 2022: After two years of being held virtually because of Covid-19, the JK Car Show was back in person. While everyone was thrilled to have a live event, the JK team incorporated valuable feedback from the virtual presentations. “We heard from parents that the videos gave them a better understanding of everything that went into the process, so [Theater and Film Teacher] Mike Scafati created a video for this year as well.” Twomey’s very favorite part of the car unit, however, actually doesn’t involve JK students or parents. Rather, it speaks to the JK Car Show’s staying power as a learning experience. “Every year, 8th graders walking by poke their heads into the classroom and say excitedly, ‘I remember doing that! I still have my car at home!’” u SP R I N G 2022
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mandarin
Eleven years ago, the addition of Mandarin to the Middle School language curriculum introduced our students to a non-Latin-based language.
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Could a middle school with 122 students in three grades support four languages? As Head of Middle School Justin McLean recalls, that was the question in 2009, shortly after he joined the middle school faculty. “I was asked to serve on the Mandarin task force, which would make a recommendation about adding Mandarin to our language program.” After a year of study, the task force endorsed the idea, seeing it as “consistent with Meadowbrook’s dedication to excellence in all endeavors,” McLean says. The task force’s report was part environmental assessment, recognizing the growing influence of Mandarin in area independent and public education at the middle and high school levels. “We found that at other schools, Mandarin provided a language learning opportunity for students who struggled with inflected language learning,” meaning nouns with cases and verbs that conjugate. And Meadowbrook itself was seeing “many more families where one or both parents spoke Mandarin or had Mandarin speakers in their families.” McLean calls offering Mandarin, which Meadowbrook began doing in the 2010-2011 school year, “a significant Meadowbrook milestone.” “It goes hand-in-hand with our quest for excellence in all areas and our commitment to diversity in an ever-changing world. It’s also important in helping students develop a global frame of mind. By offering a non-Eurocentric language, we are communicating which things are worth learning.”
Expert Needed Once the decision was made to offer Mandarin, Meadowbrook had to find an outstanding teacher to launch the program—something the task force found was critical to the program’s development at other schools. Meadowbrook found that person in Ms. Bo Hu, a Chinese national who had come to Boston University to earn a master’s degree.
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Hu started at Meadowbrook by teaching the Mandarin language in the middle school, eventually branching out to offer Chinese Cooking as a middle school elective and an introductory Mandarin class for students ranging from JK to 2nd grade in the after school enrichment program. “The children adore Bo,” observes Mrs. Barbara Campbell, director of the after school program. “She makes learning Mandarin so much fun, with age-appropriate games, songs, and hands-on activities.” “Bo is a great teacher,” agrees Languages Chair Sara Rigelhaupt. “She has a way of building relationships with each student so she can meet the needs of all of them. And her use of everything from technology to learn sentence structure to calligraphy brushes to draw the characters really engages students.” According to Hu, in a typical middle school Mandarin class, she will start by introducing a Chinese character and new vocabulary. “I talk to students about the Chinese character, the fact that it’s based on an image, and how it developed. Then they may play a SmartBoard game or a card game to learn vocabulary and grammar. Using reading passages from the text, students will learn about Chinese culture, whether it’s cuisine, festivals, or weddings.” Through Zoom, Mandarin students regularly connect with Chinese “buddies,” middle school students who are studying English. “The Chinese buddies help Meadowbrook students with their
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“Students love learning about the different culture, they love the Chinese characters—so many of them are visual learners—and they love practicing what they learn.” – BO H U, M A N DA RI N T E AC H ER
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language skills and then are able to ask questions about America,” says Hu. For homework, students may have to translate a passage— which they will post online where their buddies can also give feedback—as well as submit voice recordings of reading the passage out loud. “The small class size means I’m able to build close connections and give each student attention to the fullest,” she continues. “Students love learning about the different culture, they love the Chinese characters—so many of them are visual learners—and they love practicing what they learn.”
Putting it to the Test Hu’s former students enthusiastically endorse her assessment. “I loved taking Mandarin at Meadowbrook,” says Aleena Bacorro ’21, now a sophomore at the Winsor School. “There were only four people in my class. It made for a really comfortable environment. People felt like they could take risks, and everyone was able to work at their own pace. And Ms. Hu is a great teacher. She put a real emphasis on the culture behind the language.” Bacorro, who is now taking Mandarin II at Winsor, found the transition easy. “When we started, I was definitely ahead of other students.” Joshua Levine ’20, who calls Mandarin “my favorite class at Meadowbrook,” found himself in a similar position at Nobles and Greenough. “Ms. Hu set me up to do really well at Nobles,” he says. “I won the Freshman Language Award, which is given to the strongest student in a modern language.” Former students also recall earning top marks on the annual Mandarin language test. Hu had researched a test they could take since there was no equivalent to the National Latin Exam or Spanish Exam. “I found the Youth Chinese Test (YCT), which is administered by the Chinese Education Administration Bureau to non-native speakers of Chinese around the world—so it’s an international test,” Hu says. “Grade 6 takes level 1; grade 7 takes level 2; grade 8 takes level 3 or 4. The YCT level 3 is pretty challenging. This year, we had five students elect to take level 4.” Of course, the ultimate test for any language learner is to speak it in its native country. Meadowbrook launched a trip to China in 2016—open to all students—for that purpose, with a plan to offer it every other year. According to McLean, a small group went in 2016; in 2018, there were 27 students. (The 2020 trip was canceled due to the pandemic; Meadowbrook hopes to offer the trip again when China is open for international travel.)
Hu planned those trips carefully to give students a rich and varied experience. “We don’t just do the touristy stuff,” she says. “We visit a local school in Beijing where the Mandarin students meet their buddies and go to Chengdu to see pandas. We also take a kung fu class, work with shadow puppet artists, go to the Peking Opera, and do calligraphy. Students get to experience Chinese culture in China.” Chloe Chao ’19, who went on the 2018 trip, recalls it was “like being thrown into the deep end.” “I found I was able to translate on the trip for students who didn’t take Mandarin,” she says. “We saw pandas, which was the highlight of my life, and ate wonderful food everywhere. We visited a school, the Forbidden City, the Water Cube in Beijing—every day was so packed.” Now preparing for the Mandarin AP exam, Chao finds that she is able to converse with her relatives. “I can now talk to my grandmas in Mandarin. And it’s opened up a lot of avenues to converse with my relatives in China. It’s satisfying for me to be able to use the language and make connections.” Though Levine’s heritage is not Chinese, he is confident that his study of Mandarin will prove to be useful in the future. “Being able to speak Mandarin will benefit me in the long term,” he concludes. “It will provide a lot of opportunity no matter what I decide to do.” And that worry about whether a middle school of 122 students could support four languages? Unfounded. “Our language classes at Meadowbrook are the perfect size,” says Rigelhaupt. “And offering four languages is what makes Meadowbrook stand out.” u
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Closing in on
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The Meadowbrook School opened its doors on Farm Road in Weston in 1923. It was incorporated as a country day school for boys and girls from age 4 through sixth grade. Much has changed over the years, of course— with new buildings, programs, and the addition of a middle school. But as Head of School arvind grover sees it, there has been one constant.
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“The Meadowbrook spirit is one of continuous improvement,” he says. As the school looks ahead to its 100th anniversary in the 2023-2024 academic year, “we recognize the fortitude of generations of faculty, administrators, families, and board members who came before us. They definitely set us up for success in delivering the highest level of education possible.” “One hundred years is an extraordinary period of time,” reflects Board of Trustees President Chris Austen ’81, P’18, ’18, ’23. “What started as a small country day school has grown into the extraordinary place that we see today. Meadowbrook is now a school with one of the most innovative academic programs in the country, one with an incredibly dedicated faculty and families who care deeply for their children, learning, and Meadowbrook itself.”
Full Speed Ahead
Under grover’s leadership, Meadowbrook is now engaged in a visioning process to determine how the school wants to launch its next 100 years. Rather than strategic planning, grover calls it “strategic sprinting,” fitting as Meadowbrook makes its way out of the tumult of the pandemic. “Through Covid, we learned that we could reshape on a dime and be extraordinarily successful. It showed us capabilities we never could have imagined— how quickly we could change our curriculum and our classrooms,” he says. “The pandemic also helped us to recognize what was truly important: how interconnected emotional health and academic success are, how much we value face-to-face time with our families, and how much we benefit from involving “What started as a small country day school has grown into the extraordinary diverse teams in decision place that we see today. Meadowbrook is now a school with one of the making.” “Now we most innovative academic programs in the country, one with an incredibly are thinking dedicated faculty and families who care deeply for their children, learning, about what we need to and Meadowbrook itself.” – C H RI S AU ST E N , PR ESIDEN T, B OA R D O F TRUSTEES take Meadowbrook to the next level,” he continues. “What will excellence look like? Like grover, Austen sees excellence and What will the school look like? What will the innovation as the school’s through-line. As faculty look like? What do we need to provide Meadowbrook takes stock as it approaches this so that students and faculty can bring their milestone anniversary, Austen observes that best selves every day?” the school is decidedly not resting on its lauReflecting on the work in progress, Ausrels. “You can’t stand still,” he adds. “We have to ten observes that while there are no definites be committed to moving forward, building on as of yet, “families and faculty can rest assured our strengths, and determining what we want that the future will be one where Meadowfor the future.”
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brook continues to build on its core strengths. That means being ahead of the curve in our approach to teaching students and developing faculty. It means building a community of families that is inclusive, one where they have the tools they need to help their children be successful in a rapidly changing world.” “I’ve been around Meadowbrook for 50 years. I started as a student in 1973,” Austen concludes. “While there’s been a tremendous amount of change, we’ve always been a place driven by a sense of innovation and moving forward. We’ve always had outstanding faculty and families who care so much about their children, education, and Meadowbrook itself.” No matter what the new vision entails, “we’ll be building from a really strong place.” u
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Archive photos show the Meadowbrook of yesteryear, with notable similarities to today – sports, field trips, and hands-on learning.
CE LE BRATION S TO C OME Plans are in the works for a slate of events to mark Meadowbrook School’s centennial over the 2023-2024 academic year. “We are in the process of forming a planning committee and determining all that the celebration will involve,” says Chief Advancement Officer Michele Daly. “Everyone will be invited: alumni, current families, parents of alumni, grandfriends and friends, as well as current and former faculty.” Stay tuned for details!
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Meadowbrook’s Got Game B Y M AT T G A B E L L I E R I
The fields and courts on Farm Road remain another place for our Middle School students to learn, have fun, and shine. This year brought a new offering to the athletics roster: co-ed volleyball. The team had a terrific inaugural season, finishing with a 6-1 record. The cross-country team also had a great season. Meadowbrook runners participated in the Roxbury Latin Invitational where 7th grader Emme S. came in fourth out of 160 runners. In the fall, both the varsity boys’ and girls’ soccer teams participated in Under the Lights at Babson College, our annual match against our friendly rival, Belmont Day School. Both Meadowbrook teams were victorious! Likewise, the winter season brought Friday Night Hoops at Belmont Day for the varsity basketball teams. The girls’ game was a nail-biter: They won off a steal and a basket with three seconds left. The boys’ won by a more comfortable 19 points. The dance team continued to perform at halftime this year during our home basketball games—much to the delight of spectators who were invited back to watch the action in person as of February 1. Basketball enjoyed another innovation this year: starting in mid-February, home games from the Grinker Gym were live-streamed and accessible on YouTube. Finally, Meadowbrook’s squash team posted another impressive season, finishing with a 6-3 record. As this magazine went to press, Meadowbrook’s spring sports season was in full swing. Students were running, passing, scoring, hitting, and volleying on teams including boys’ lacrosse, girls’ lacrosse, softball, baseball, track and field, tennis, and rock climbing. Plans were in the works for a first-ever spring Friday Night Lights event at Meadowbrook with Belmont Day—this one matching up boys’ and girls’ varsity lacrosse teams. We were also looking forward to the annual Middle School Sports Night: a chance to recognize 8th graders for their achievements on and off the field as well as their dedication and hard work. MEA DOW B RO O K M A G A Z I N E
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advancement
Meadowbrook Under the Stars Glamping, anyone? This year’s Meadowbrook Fund launched with a spectacular camping-instyle-themed evening. Called Meadowbrook Under the Stars, the inaugural event celebrated $1 million raised toward a $2.35 million goal for the school’s annual fund, thanks to commitments from 100% of the board of trustees, 98% of the faculty, and many, many families. Nearly 400 attendees gathered in and around a tent festooned with paper lanterns, stars, and plenty of fairy lights. All enjoyed delicious food and drink—including s’mores for dessert, of course—while catching up on the dance floor, around fire pits, and by the digital photo booth. Every detail was beautifully laid out, thanks to the creative vision of Barrett Yates Mack P’25. “People were elated to be there,” notes Chief Advancement Officer Michele Daly. “It was the first time in two years that the parent community could gather. For newer families, it was the first Meadowbrook event they had ever attended.” If you haven’t yet made your gift to the 2021-2022 Meadowbrook Fund, there’s still time. Donate online at meadowbrook-ma.org/ giving or by mailing a check payable to The Meadowbrook School to the Advancement Office, The Meadowbrook School of Weston, 10 Farm Road, Weston, MA 02493.
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Winter Festival The Winter Festival on March 5 delivered plenty of fun for the whole family. More than 370 parents, guardians, students, siblings, and grandparents turned out for the morning’s activities, which included sledding, crafts, a snow globe bounce house, and pictures with the Meadowbrook Moose. Attendees enjoyed a variety of baked goods along with hot beverages served up by the Muddy Water Coffee truck.
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Falling for Autumn On Saturday, October 2, under a bright blue sky, the Meadowbrook community turned out en masse to celebrate the return of a time-honored tradition, FallFest. After a year of pandemic restrictions that forced the cancellation of most in-person gatherings, this year’s FallFest felt more jubilant than ever before. With bounce houses, giant bubble-making, pumpkin painting, a petting zoo, and more, our students had plenty of fun activities to keep them busy. The barbecue lunch, prepared by our own Flik team, provided families and alumni delicious eats while they joined together to reconnect. The Meadowbrook Moose even made an appearance to take pictures and be a part of the excitement.
Welcome Back! With the return of in-person gatherings, the time was right to bring back a beloved Meadowbrook tradition: the Check-in Dinner, typically held the December following graduation. The Class of 2021 gathered at the school on December 16, 2021; the Class of 2020, who missed out last year, came on March 3, 2022. The casual gatherings were an opportunity for Meadowbrook’s newest alumni to reconnect with classmates, faculty, and administrators and report on their early months of high school.
Meadowbrook Network on LinkedIn Looking for an internship? A first job? Or maybe you want to start a business or explore a career change. Whatever your aspirations, you’ll find the insights and connections you need on the Meadowbrook Network on LinkedIn. This valuable tool harnesses the power of our remarkable alumni and parent community. Join whether you’re seeking professional advice or are willing to give it. It’s easy: Log on to LinkedIn, search for “Meadowbrook School of Weston,” and click “join to connect,” or scan the QR code at left. See you online! SP R I N G 2022
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faculty news
Prioritizing Our People Meadowbrook’s newly minted Head of People, Alex Smith, shares his thoughts on his first six months on the job. BY ALEX SMITH
As Meadowbrook’s first head of people, my focus is entirely on the faculty experience. My job is to support faculty so that they can support our students and carry out the mission of the school. I’m honored to be able to work with such an impressive group of professionals and foster our unique Meadowbrook culture. The fact that Meadowbrook created this new role indicated to me that the school truly cares about its culture and its people. Of course, it’s been interesting to start this role—one of building relationships—in the context of a pandemic. We’ve been working hard to create connections among the faculty and make our team as strong as possible, despite some trickier-than-usual circumstances. I’m proud to say that Meadowbrook has proven to be extraordinarily agile and flexible. In the past two years, we have hired a number of people on one- or two-year terms because we’re continually reassessing the needs of our students. I’m proud that we’ve continued to be an attractive place for the best educators seeking new opportunities. I’ve heard frequently from candidates that they
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are looking specifically to work at Meadowbrook because of our reputation of being a great place to work.
Inside the Classroom
Our lower school science program has benefited this year from the addition of two new staff members: Jessica MacManus and Meredith Houghton. Jessica, the lower school science chair and STEAM instructional coach, joined us from Cape Cod Academy where she was the STEM education coordinator. Meredith, a lower school science teacher, was previously a program educator at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Their combined energy and enthusiasm has taken the lower school science department to the next level, engaging our students in remarkable ways. Under their leadership, Meadowbrook
for the first time participated in the Invention Convention, a global program that teaches students problem-identification, problemsolving, and entrepreneurship. We are fortunate, too, to have experienced faculty who have stepped up to take on new roles. This includes Sandy Smith, a former 4th grade teacher who has become a lower school math specialist. By all accounts, Sandy is doing an outstanding job in supporting students who either need extra help in math or who are excelling and require more challenge. And it is a testament to the strength of a school’s culture when a faculty member chooses to come back. Such is the case in the middle school with the return of Chaitali Thakar. Seasoned Meadowbrook families will know that Chaitali taught 5th
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grade at Meadowbrook for 12 years before returning to her native California to teach at the Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito. Newer families will welcome the opportunity to get to know this gifted educator.
Outside the Classroom
The new team in our Auxiliary Programs department has brought a whole slew of fresh ideas and approaches. Director of Auxiliary Programs Kristi Jacobi started last year; she was joined this year by Assistant Director Mason Kaye, the former director of community programs at the Sequoyah School; and Coordinator Latoya Sanderson-Smith, whose wide-ranging background includes positions at Tufts Health Plan and Phillips Brooks House at Harvard University. With this talented cadre in place, Meadowbrook’s summer
camp offerings have been reimagined and rebranded as Branches at
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Meadowbrook, an unparalleled set of experiences that gives kids an opportunity to grow. Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of excitement for Branches; early enrollment has exceeded expectations. It’s going to be exciting to watch it all come together over the summer. As we move into the summer and then the fall, I look forward to completing my first full year at Meadowbrook. I am grateful to everyone for the warm welcome and the enthusiasm for the possibilities of my role. Change—like adding a new position to the Meadowbrook constellation—can be challenging. I’ve found wonderful excitement for the future of the school and ideas about how we can keep moving in a direction that ultimately allows faculty to fulfill our mission to know, love, and challenge every child. u
Thank you to the new members of Team Meadowbrook who have helped make this year a success: Marisa Bellovin, 4th Grade Teacher Christina Donovan, School Nurse Sabrina Dwyer, Director of Parent and Alumni Engagement Laila Flores, 5th Grade Teacher Ann Abbott Freeman, JK Teacher Madi Garland, After School Teacher Joey Gottlieb, Multicultural Teaching Intern Meredith Houghton, Lower School Science Teacher Mason Kaye, Assistant Director of Auxiliary Programs Trinity Johns, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellow Jesse Kucewicz, Communications Assistant
Jessica MacManus, Lower School STEAM Coordinator Sarah Nourie, Middle School English teacher Derek O’Toole, Facilities Technician Megan Pierce, SK Teacher Katrina Regan, Student Support Services Latoya Sanderson-Smith, Auxiliary Programs Coordinator Alexander Smith, Head of People Nevien Swailmyeen, Admissions Associate Ariana Taghaddos, Lower School Counselor Chaitali Thakar, Middle School Social Studies teacher Jamie Tso, Middle School Science Teacher
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faculty news
Lindsay Christine Glenwerks
Clarke Edward Howland Kaye
Claire Elizabeth O’Toole Gaia Louise Trauvati
New Arrivals Evan and Cori Glenwerks welcomed Lindsay Christine Glenwerks on May 14, 2021. Mason Kaye and Julianna Howland welcomed Clarke Edward Howland Kaye on February 14, 2022. Kim and Chris O’Toole welcomed Claire Elizabeth O’Toole on January 14, 2022. Madison and Dan Powers welcomed Lucy Joy Powers on October 26, 2021.
Lucy Joy Powers
Leah Weintraub and Emmanuele Salvati welcomed Gaia Louise Trauvati on May 7, 2021. Jamie and Benjamin Tso welcomed Eden Betty Tso on January 18, 2022. Liz Wand and Brian Dean welcomed Wren Elkhart Wand-Dean on September 22, 2021.
Eden Betty Tso
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Wren Elkhart Wand-Dean
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Weddings Nevien Swailmyeen married Hamzah Quereshi in Woodbridge, New Jersey, on August 26, 2021. Latoya Sanderson-Smith married Sashauna Smith-Sanderson in Boston on December 23, 2021. Yocelin Gonzalez married Anthony Taylor Jr. in Waltham on August 1, 2021.
Yocelin Gonzalez and Anthony Taylor Jr.
Experts Speaking Justin McLean “Intersection of Identity and Values,” Leadership + Design 5.0 Fall Convening, September 29, 2021, Denver, CO. Kristi Jacobi “Entering a Newly Created Auxiliary Leadership Role and Making an Impact” (with Sam Greene and Kent Hercules), Summer Programs and Auxiliary Revenue Collaborative (SPARC) National Conference, October 17-21, 2021, Scottsdale, AZ. Latoya Sanderson-Smith and Sashauna Smith-Sanderson
arvind grover Heads of School Panel: (Re)Building Community & (Re)Shaping School Culture Impacted by Covid (with heads of school at Milton, Pingree, and Montrose), Parents in Independent Schools Annual Meeting, January 12, 2022. Dan Riles Taught master’s-level education course, “Designing a New Context for Learning,” February 12-13 and April 12-13, 2022, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. “Develop PreK-4th Graders’ Computational Thinking and STEAM Skills with Playful KIBO Robotics,” (with Jason Innes and Kimberly Walker), Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) webinar, April 27, 2022. Lauren Jennings and Sharon Palmer “Integrating RULER With Other Approaches,” RULER [Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing and Regulating emotions] 2022 Conference: Caring, Connecting and Collaborating, March 9-10, 2022, online. Alicia Mathewson Opening leader of chanting for Yoga Reaches Out, yogathon to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital, April 10, 2022, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA.
Nevien Swailmyeen and Hamzah Quereshi
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board of trustees
Welcome New Trustees Megan Craigen Megan Craigen is an Equity Research Analyst at Putnam Investments in Boston. She is responsible for evaluating companies in the U.S. retail sector and making buy/sell recommendations for the Putnam Funds. Megan has been in the investment management industry since she joined Putnam in 2002, serving in various operating, marketing, and investment roles before becoming the firm’s U.S. Retail Analyst in 2007. Prior to Putnam, Megan worked as an Account Executive at Digitas, an advertising firm now part of Publicis Groupe, in New York and Boston. She also served as a Legislative Associate for a U.S. Senate sub-committee in Washington, D.C. Megan joined the Brigham Health Board of Trustees in September 2020. Prior to that, she served as a member of Brigham Health’s Board of Overseers from 2008-2020 and as part of the Executive Committee for the Board of Overseers from 2014-2020. She is a Trustee of the Murray Family Charitable Foundation and previously served as Treasurer and Trustee of The Wellesley Community Children’s Center.
Megan is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Harvard College. She earned her M.B.A. in 2002 and her A.B. (cum laude) in 1997. While at Harvard, Megan was a member of the varsity women’s golf team and the varsity field hockey team. Megan and her husband, Joe, are parents to Meadowbrook students Samantha (5th grade), Charlie (3rd grade), and Lily (2nd grade).
Rudina Seseri Rudina Seseri is Founder and Managing Partner of Glasswing Ventures, where she leads the firm’s investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled enterprise software as a service (SaaS), cloud, Information Technology (IT) software, and vertical markets. Prior to Glasswing, Rudina led investments and held Board of Directors roles at ChaosSearch, Inrupt, Navigant (acquired by Veritas), Verusen, Zylotech, CrowdTwist (acquired by Oracle), among others. She also serves as an independent director on the boards of M&T Bank and MSC Industrial. Previously, Rudina was in the Corporate Development Group at Microsoft Corporation, where she led a number of
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new trustees
successful acquisitions and investments. Prior to Microsoft, she was an investment banker in the Technology Group at Credit Suisse, where she was responsible for multibillion-dollar acquisitions and financings. For the past five years, Rudina has been appointed by the dean of the Harvard Business School as Entrepreneur-in-Residence. She is an inaugural member of Rock Venture Capital Partners, a member of the Business Leadership Council of Wellesley College, and was previously an Advisor for GSK Consumer.
Esperanza Watkins Esperanza Watkins is the former Vice President of External Affairs and Government Relations for Cambridge College. As part of the senior executive team, she expanded the College’s visibility within the local, state, and federal government and was responsible for securing state, private, and federal funding. During her tenure at the College, Esperanza successfully raised money from the Massachusetts State Legislature by proposing a first-of-itskind initiative. In addition, she developed new fundraising strategies with the president and the Board of Trustees by leveraging and creating new relationships with the community and donors. She was responsible for all expansion
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Her philanthropic work includes serving as Vice-Chairwoman of the Philanthropy Board for Boston Children’s Hospital. Rudina graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a B.A. in Economics and International Relations and holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies. Rudina and her husband, Adrian Ketri, are parents to one Meadowbrook student: daughter, Livie, who is in 2nd grade.
projects, including a $40-million dollar renovation and development project in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Previously, Esperanza was the first Hispanic District Director for U.S. Congressman Martin Meehan. In this role, she worked with the congressional delegation on economic revitalization projects, public policy initiatives, veteran affairs, and constituency relations. She also served as a senior advisor on several local, state, and federal political campaigns, including those of the late Senator Ted Kennedy and former presidential candidate John Kerry. Esperanza was one of three founders of the first Latino community bank in Lawrence. Through her work, the bank ultimately raised $13 million dollars to begin its operations. She was recruited by the United Nations Association to help run its New England Chapter while finishing her Master’s in Public Administration at Northeastern University. She has served as a Program Associate at The Organization of American States in Caracas, Venezuela. Esperanza and her husband Rick are parents to two Meadowbrook students: Victoria (4th grade) and Ricardo (8th grade).
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arts
With Flying Colors Every year, Meadowbrook art teacher Caroline Kurman finds a new and exciting way to bridge the topic her students are learning about in the classroom with what they create in her art class. This year, while 2nd grade students were studying rainforest animals in the classroom, the art room provided them an extra opportunity to flex their creative muscles through the art of printmaking. The students created sketches of birds, which they transferred onto foam trays by tracing and creating an impression in the material. Once the foam was prepared, the students learned how to carefully roll the ink, and transfer their impressions to paper for the final result. The students’ prints lined the hallways surrounding the second grade classroom during their rainforest pop-up exhibit, where each child presented research on a different rainforest animal to faculty and other students.
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alumni news
Alumni Spotlight: Nina Hanlon ’92 Independent schools are proving to be a fulfilling second career for Nina Hanlon, Meadowbrook’s Alumni Trustee. In July, the veteran educator will join the Brooks School in North Andover as assistant head of school. Hanlon comes north from Greenwich Academy in Connecticut, where she spent 11 years in a number of different capacities, including history and English teacher, rowing coach, assistant head of the middle school, and director of enrollment and financial aid. She began her independent school career as a faculty member at her alma mater, Nobles and Greenough. Act I Hanlon’s first love—and career—was acting. After graduating from Brown University, she went on to earn an M.F.A. in acting from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. She traces her theatrical aspirations straight back to Farm Road. “I got the bug at Meadowbrook in our 6th-grade musical ‘West Side Story.’ I played Anita, and we really tore it up. We should have won an Oscar and Tony,” she says with a laugh. “I come from a family of educators, but everybody in my family is also an artist in some form, so I was inspired to pursue my own artistic journey in acting.” Hanlon spent several years on stages and sets before pivoting to independent school work. “I had always been a teacher, even through college, through the summers, even at Nobles, where I was a peer counselor and tutor. I came back to education because it fed my soul. Going on commercial auditions just wasn’t the same fulfillment that I had when I was in the classroom with students.” Hanlon is looking forward to starting in her assistant head role at Brooks. “It’s a new challenge and I’m always looking for something that makes me nervous and excites me at the same time,” she reflects. “In admissions, I’ve been missing the hum of the daily school environment. This role brings me back into that, which is a big plus. And then there’s John Packard, who’s the head of school at Brooks—he is just an extraordinary
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leader. I want to keep learning,” says Hanlon, who is finishing her M.Ed. in private school leadership at Columbia Teachers College. “I want to be better at what I do now and hopefully make Brooks an even stronger community.”
View from the Board In recent years, Hanlon has reengaged with the Meadowbrook School: She is in her second year as an alumni trustee. “I was so honored to be asked to serve on the board,” she says. “Right now, I believe I’m the only board member who lives out of state. And so the fact that I could participate via Zoom was huge for me. Now that I’m moving back to the area, I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to be there in person.” “I love hearing about all the amazing work that’s happening at Meadowbrook—how much has changed and yet how much is still the same,” she continues. “It sounds like, with arvind’s leadership, Meadowbrook just keeps getting better and better. I love that it’s constantly aspiring, listening, and adjusting. I love being a part of the conversations about what is best for Meadowbrook and for students, whether it’s Covid-related, DEI work, financial assistance, or facilities, all these different conversations I wouldn’t be otherwise privy to professionally. I find it all to be really inspiring and exciting.” Hanlon calls the ability to see the inner workings of a school from the trustees’ side “eye-opening.” “It’s been helpful to gain first-hand knowledge about the role of the trustees and find that balance between being supportive in the right places and stepping back, knowing the school knows what to do. Now I can take all this knowledge with me into my new role.”
Nina with her husband Ron and children, Simone and Dylan.
Another thing Hanlon will take with her to Brooks: many, many warm memories of Meadowbrook. “Meadowbrook is where I learned how to love school,” she concludes. “I learned that I was smart and capable and that my teachers believed in me. And school wasn’t easy for me. When I got to Meadowbrook in 2nd grade,
I wasn’t a rock star academically. But by the time I graduated, I felt so confident in myself that when I got to Nobles, I felt ready and solid in my abilities in a way I’m not sure I would have if I had gone elsewhere.” u Nina Hanlon ’92 is Meadowbrook’s Alumni Trustee
“I love hearing about all the amazing work that’s happening at Meadowbrook—how much has changed and yet how much is still the same. It sounds like, with arvind’s leadership, Meadowbrook just keeps getting better and better.” – N IN A H A N LO N ’ 9 2 SP RI N G 2022
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alumni news
GRADUATION 2021 Blue skies, sun shining: The weather on June 16, 2021, could not have been more perfect. And that was a very good thing, since for the first time—with a nod to Covid—Meadowbrook moved graduation outside to Hinds Field under a big tent. Because of a pandemic limit on the number of guests per graduate, the event was livestreamed on Zoom. Guests tuned in to watch from as close as Weston and as far afield as China and the Philippines. Mathematics teacher Evan Glenwerks was the Beloved Speaker, who spoke to the uniqueness of each student. His warm and inspirational words were regularly punctuated with math puns and jokes. Brooke Simko served as class speaker, summing up the experience of those at Meadowbrook since JK as well as those who joined for Middle School. Head of School arvind grover wrapped up the ceremony, thanking students and families alike for their many contributions to the Middle School and the Meadowbrook community.
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alumni news
Class of 2021 Secondary School Decisions EMILIE ANDREWS Noble and Greenough School
AARUSHI DESWAL Winsor School
ARYA LAL Dana Hall School
ASH PEREZ-REYZIN Needham High School
ALEENA BACORRO Winsor School
BELLA DOLAN Newton South High School
JACOB LEWIS Newton North High School
DEREK QI Wellesley High School
RAVI BHAT Carlsbad High School, CA
PETER DOWD Commonwealth School
HEIDI LI Wellesley High School
KAYLEE RIVERA Brimmer and May School
NICO BROWN Noble and Greenough School
ELIZABETH FITZPATRICK Winsor School
CHARLIE MCCAFFERTY Cambridge School of Weston
BROOKE SIMKO Middlesex School
LEO CAAN Berkshire School
HENRIK GOMBOS Concord Academy
GRANT MITCHELL Cate School, CA
ELLIE SUN Newton Country Day School
JAMES CASTLE Costa Rica International Academy
LAURA GREEN Dover-Sherborn High School
ZACK MITTELSTADT Noble and Greenough School
QUINN THOMSON The Roxbury Latin School
ALI CHRISTENSEN Nipmuc Regional High School
ANIKA GROFF Weston High School
CHAR MONE Milton Academy
ANASTASIA WAGNER Wellesley High School
ELLA CONNOLLY Concord Academy
SOPHIA HAHN Noble and Greenough School
GENEVIEVE NELSON Groton School
ADALIA WEN Rivers School
KEFAN CUI Concord Academy
ANDREW KAN Weston High School
AUDREY PATZ Dexter Southfield
OLIVIA WILKINSON Concord Academy
LEO CUNNINGHAM Concord Academy
AXEL KAPOOR Concord Academy
BRADY PAYNE Milton Academy
KAT DAI St. Mark’s School
JASON KOKONES Phillips Academy
SOPHIA PENG Concord Academy
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Class of 2017 College Decisions JESSICA BARGAMIAN Dartmouth College
DAVID D’ALESSANDRO Washington University
CHARLES RUMRILL University of Southern California
DREW TEMEL Duke University
KENDALL BARTEL Barnard College
AAYUSH DESWAL Cornell University
CHRISTOPHER SCHOTT Case Western Reserve University
DOMINIC TUNG Gap Year
CATHERINE BERTOLINI University of Vermont
AUDREY FERRELL University of Michigan
TATE SEEMAN PG Year, Deerfield Academy
BENJAMIN UBEDA unknown
KATHERINE BURSTEIN Harvard College
OLIVIA FISHER Cornell University
GRIFFIN SEIDEL Brown University
BASHA WAXMAN Princeton University
GRIFFIN CALLAGHAN Stanford University
MAC HADDEN Dartmouth College
ANDY SHEN University of Southern California
ANDREW ZHAO Harvard College
ZACHARY CAMPANA Skidmore College
ALEXANDRA LEE MIT
ANGELA SHEN Boston University
PRIYA THAKORE Colby College
LUKE CARAPEZZA unknown
KALI LONG Columbia University
DANA SILVIAN University of Chicago
CHELSEA CHO Dartmouth College
PHOEBE MUGFORD Amherst College
BENJAMIN SIMPSON Syracuse University
ALEXANDER DANOFF Harvard College
RYAN MURPHY Vanderbilt University
ZOE SZEMAN Colby College
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in memoriam
Let’s Get Social Connect with us on social media to get an inside look at all the amazing things that happen on our campus!
We fondly remember the following members of the Meadowbrook community who have passed away.
A L UMNI :
The colors of autumn are showing off on our campus today!
Add a comment... October 8, 2021
GERTRUDE BURR ’35 February 12, 2021 Meadowbrook 6th Grade students in Madame Sewell’s French class are building scary monsters in the EurekaLab, challenging their descriptive vocabulary skills and hands-on maker abilities.
PATRICIA J. FOSTER ’48 May 28, 2021 DANIEL A. BROSSEAU ’12 August 4, 2021 KATHERINE L. SHEPHERD ’99 January 11, 2022
Add a comment... December 13, 2021
GR A N D PA RE N T S , A LU M N I PAR ENT S , A ND F R I E N D S : DAVID GOLDBERG Grandfather of Hayden K., Sander K., and Ilana K. February 13, 2021
Third Graders and their seventh grade buddies got bundled up for sledding and hot cocoa this morning. These Buddy Time activities help students build friendships with their peers from all grades!
JOSEPH TAYLOR Grandfather of Axel K. March 14, 2021 OWEN NEE Grandfather of Genevieve N., Oliver N., and Elizabeth N. May 7, 2021 BEVERLY KIVIOR Grandmother of Olivia P., Claudia P., and Audrey P. May 12, 2021
Add a comment... February 2, 2022
Last Friday marked the start of this year’s Meadowbrook Hands for Hope! This student-driven service group will design and 3D print custom-fit prosthetics for kids in need, all in just over two months! Add a comment... April 4, 2022
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During their biographies unit, 2nd grade students used posters, iPads, and portraits to showcase what they had learned about a historical figure. Pictured here, 2nd grader Isabelle S. chose to study Helen Keller. SP RI N G 2022
THE MEADOWBROOK SCHOOL
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