Winter 2019
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Editor Karin Storm Wood Communications Specialists Tori Gibbs Angela Johnson Meadows Class Notes Editor Jacque Jones Photography Tori Gibbs Angela Johnson Meadows Juliana Thomas Contributors as noted Layout CZ Design The Packer Magazine is published twice a year by The Packer Collegiate Institute, 170 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Nothing herein may be reprinted wholly or in part without the written permission of Packer’s Development Office. The Packer Collegiate Institute © 2019 Packer is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). More content at www.packer.edu/magazine
Bruce L. Dennis Head of School Karin Storm Wood Director of Communications Tori Gibbs Communications Specialist Angela Johnson Meadows Communications Specialist Sara Shulman Director of Development David Minder Director of Alumni Susan Moore Director of Annual Giving Aaron Heflich Shapiro Manager of Development Services Shriya Bhargava-Sears Manager of Special Events Rebecca Frisch Campaign Associate Communications (718) 250-0264 Alumni (718) 250-0229 Registrar (718) 250-0263 General (718) 250-0200 www.packer.edu
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Board of Trustees Leadership 2018-19 Deborah Juantorena P’19 Chair Cynthia Gardstein ’66 IVAc Vice Chair Karen Snow P’25 Treasurer Richard Story P’17, P’19, P’24 Secretary Steven Fineman P’20, P’29 Reed Lowenstein P’24, P’26 At Large
Alumni Association Leadership 2018-19 Geoffrey Brewer ’82, P’26 President Sasha Baumrind ’00 Vice President Jeremy Schiffres ’07 Secretary Cynthia Gardstein ’66 IVAc Ellin Rosenzweig ’52 Directors Emeritae
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Head’s Message
4 On Campus
Dr. Jennifer Weyburn will serve as Packer’s 10th Head
of School... U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand shares stories of voting rights activists... Samburu leader Chief George Lemerketo visits from our partner school in Kenya... Science teacher Alice Lurain is honored.
12 INTRODUCING “LITTLE PACKER” Above: The creation of the Packer Early Learning Center [see cover story on page 12] opened up space in Founder’s Hall for a new Lower School art studio. Here, Third Graders explore abstract forms.
The Packer Early Learning Center opened its doors in September. Learn how our Preschool philosophy and program shaped the building’s groundbreaking design.
20 Alumni News Visual effects genius Luke DiTommaso ’97 was the 107th
Founder’s Day speaker… Barbara Minakakis ’71 IVAc and Maggie Levine ’82 remember English teacher Jane Rinden… Upcoming alumni events in Florida and DC and Reunion 2019.
28 Class Notes 46 In Memoriam
On the cover: Kindergarten students in the renovated and expanded Hart Library.
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Head’s Message
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As I consider my tenure as the ninth Head of School, I feel extraordinarily proud of my colleagues.
Members of the Pre-K Fours joined Dr. Dennis for an informal ribbon-cutting in September.
Recently I was asked what kind of leader I have tried to be during my tenure at Packer. First and foremost, I have tried to put students first in all decisions. Treating our faculty and staff well has also been a major priority. Operating with consideration for every individual is not only the right thing to do, it helps set a standard for how we treat one another and our students. I have always sought the very best for our students and families. Consequently, I have sometimes had to take tough stands. “Good enough” is not good enough at Packer: we seek excellence. To that end, I have been able to recruit incredible talent. I would put our senior leaders up against any in the country for intelligence, work ethic, creativity, and quality of performance. As for our teaching faculty, many schools have a few outstanding teachers, but what’s remarkable here is the extreme depth and quality of our teaching bench. As I consider my tenure as the ninth Head of School, I feel extraordinarily proud of Packer’s professional community. I’m humbled that their collective talents, offered in service of our wonderful students and families, represent a significant part of my legacy. Putting people first has also meant that it’s often tempting to invest all of our resources into our human capital, through hiring an excellent faculty and creating transformative programs for our students. But as a leader I have also taken seriously the responsibility of investing in the institution itself. In fact, enhancements to Packer’s physical spaces go hand in hand with my commitment to people. The campus improvements that the Board and I have made over the last decade have demonstrated a respect and support for the excellent work going on here, so that now our modernized and beautiful campus reflects the quality of the outstanding work going on within our classrooms. It was this spirit that guided the four-year process in which we developed plans for the new Packer Early Learning Center, which is featured in this issue. You will see how the design of the space was directly informed by our early-learning philosophy as conveyed to our architects by our expert Preschool faculty and administrators. Despite being a new facility, its design complements and reflects Packer’s existing spaces, most of which now visibly and intentionally juxtapose modern and traditional elements. Both the ELC and the newly renovated Hart Library (which appears on our cover and in our feature story) demonstrate how we have tried to pay homage to Packer’s history. I’m proud knowing that this effort not only will endure for many decades, but that it is also connected to a cornerstone of our School’s mission — respecting the past while looking to the future.
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On Campus
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PACKER ATHLETICS once again dominated the fall season. Six teams — Girls Varsity Volleyball (pictured), Boys Varsity Soccer, Boys JV Soccer, Girls Varsity Soccer, and Boys and Girls Cross Country — won a total of eight championships and earned slots at three New York State Association of Independent Schools tournaments. “It is an honor to be at a school where our student-athletes can shine in play but also in life,” says Darrin Fallick, Packer’s Director of Athletics. Visit www.packer.edu/athletics for more fall coverage.
A Head of School with Experience on Three Continents
DALE GONCHER P’19
In July, Jennifer Weyburn will succeed Bruce L. Dennis as Packer’s Head of School, only the 10th in nearly 175 years. Dr. Jennifer Weyburn has worked as an educator and school leader around the world, but she has local roots. She was raised in Westchester, earned a B.A. in history at Yale University, and began her teaching career at Saint Ann’s School. “Ever since I began my career, just down the street, I’ve been impressed by Packer’s reputation both for academic excellence and for its authentic commitment to developing students as individuals.” After a few years of teaching Middle School, she moved to Hong Kong, then Ningbo, China, and then back to New Haven, Connecticut to lead the teaching program at the Yale-China Association. Even though she had previously studied French and Spanish, it was Mandarin that sparked her fascination with the differences among languages and cultures. Struggling to speak Chinese as an adult also influenced her perspective as an educator. Experiencing “the anxiety that learners sometimes feel” helped her become “a much better teacher.” In 2002, she returned to New York, earning an M.A. in English education from Teachers College, Columbia University and then teaching at New Rochelle High School. When her husband, Garrett Kyle, began the M.B.A. program at Emory University, Dr. Weyburn moved to Atlanta International School. She started her school leadership journey there, serving as a grade dean and Middle School Head.
During that time, Dr. Weyburn earned an Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy at Vanderbilt University, and had two children, Will and Louise, now 13 and 10. After nine years in Georgia, the family moved to China, where she became the Deputy Head of School for Educational Programs and Student Learning at Shanghai American School. “Going to Shanghai was a return to my love of Chinese culture. We wanted to offer that to our children.” Three years ago, they moved to Denmark, where Dr. Weyburn now leads Copenhagen International School. She admires the Danes’ commitment to healthy living: “exercise, R&R, work, families, and good eating. Life in balance.” Though they have cherished their years abroad, Dr. Weyburn called her appointment to serve as Packer’s 10th Head of School a “dream come true.” The whole family is eager to call Brooklyn home, and her children are excited to come to Packer. As she settles into her new position, she looks forward to asking deep questions: “What are the things that everybody cherishes? What are your recent successes? Once you understand the path the School has been on, you can guide the next steps.” An enthusiastic and gregarious learner, she traces her love of school leadership to the relationships she makes. At the 100-year-old Shanghai American School, connecting with alumni was an unexpected pleasure, and she looks forward to meeting many generations of Packer students. “Engaging with children and families is one of the greatest joys of being an educator and school leader. Packer has flourished for so long on a tradition of close partnerships with families and deep connections between students and faculty. It’s an incredible foundation to build on, and I look forward to the work immensely!”
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STUDENT VOICES
“You could see how the system was rigged to benefit those on the executive side. And I was really angered by that. What made me even more upset was that the wealth [differential] between the classes is really, really big. Even though we are young, I feel like we can make a difference in the government today to benefit us in the long run.” — Eighth Grade student
Middle School students explored socio-economic status and inequality through “The Game of Social Life” in the annual Middle School Equity Simulation. They gathered in small groups to grapple with the impact of money, education, and health on their outcomes in the game, then extended the conversations to consider how these factors impact the lives of real people. The upcoming schoolwide 2019 Packer in Action program will build on these themes. Students will explore the intersections of money, power, and respect both internally at Packer and in relation to the city at large.
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Partners in Education: From Kings County to Kenya and Back For over a decade, Packer has partnered with Ndonyo Wasin, a residential primary school for children from the nomadic Samburu people of northeastern Kenya. An annual summertime exchange allows Packer faculty to travel to east Africa to collaborate with Ndonyo Wasin’s teachers and students. In November, Packer hosted the Samburu leader, Chief George Lemerketo, for a discussion about the goals of the partnership, the students’ progress, and the ongoing relationship between the two schools. Chief George encouraged the Packer community to continue to stay involved with the primary school: “Come and make the project continue by supporting it.” Students also welcomed Chief George to a Lower School Assembly where they sang the Ndonyo Wasin song Papalai Ntoipoyeki and posed questions about life at the school in Kenya: “What is your role in the Samburu community in Kenya? How did you decide that education is one of the most important things children need in northern Kenya?” “It was truly delightful to have Chief George visit to celebrate our longstanding relationship with the Ndonyo Wasin School,” said Preschool and Lower School Division Head Bill McCarthy. “We were able to share the wonderful work that takes place in the division and individual classes in regard to our partnership with the Ndonyo Wasin School and the Samburu people.” This fall, Fourth Grade Teacher Tim Jensen extended his work in Kenya through a classroom math exchange. Connecting via Skype and Facetime, students at both schools simultaneously opened an envelope and solved the math challenge inside. He reflected on the success of the endeavor: “The 7,500 miles between us collapsed.”
Being “Bold and Brave” with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Packer’s Third and Fourth Graders welcomed U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to the Hart Library in early November to discuss her recently published children’s book, Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote. The students enthusiastically shared with Senator Gillibrand their knowledge of both the famous and the less well-known activists featured in the book. They also asked about her proudest accomplishments as a senator (her work with the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund and ending the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy) and about the time it took to write the book (“About six months”). She added, “I really like reading books about people. I love learning how they overcame challenges, and learning about the decisions they made.” Director of Diversity and Equity Semeka Smith-Williams organized the Senator’s visit with the help of Packer’s divisional diversity coordinators; Chris Rush and Megan Kilgallen of the Hart Library; and Packer parent Eddie Joyce P’27 of the Cobble Hill bookstore Books Are Magic. “She was so relatable and engaging with the kids and her overall message was inspiring to all,” said Ms. Smith-Williams. Thanks to the generosity of Packer families, each student received a signed copy of Senator Gillibrand’s book to share with family and friends. WINTER 2019 | 7
Science Faculty Member Alice Lurain Honored
Working to Support Community and Equity: The Packer PA Class trips, athletics gear, instrument rental, and more — these are some of the ancillary costs of a Packer education. The new PA Community Fund aims to provide deeper financial resources for students and their families for expenses they incur related to Packer activities in the classroom and beyond. In its pilot year, the program requires only that families submit a form indicating the eligible expenses to be reimbursed up to a per-student limit of $200. Families receiving financial aid are now also eligible for PA Community Pricing, which provides discounts on PA event ticket prices and merchandise. “The goal of the Parent Association is to provide a range of family and community supports,” says PA President Lisa Lambert. “We’re committed to ensuring that all families can engage as full members of the Packer community.” The fundraising activities of the Parent Association also underwrite enhanced student experiences through the PA Enrichment Fund, which helps faculty members cover new initiatives in their classes. This fall, the English Department arranged for professional actors from Childs Play NY to perform as well as lead acting workshops to prepare the Seventh Grade to perform scenes from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (pictured).
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As faculty and staff members gathered back on campus to start the new school year, Upper School Science Teacher Alice Lurain was awarded the 2017-18 Parent Association Excellence in Teaching Award. Established in 2005, the annual award celebrates the professional achievements of one of Packer’s master teachers who demonstrates consistent excellence through his or her ability to inspire and educate Packer students. In writing their nominations, Packer families and colleagues spoke to Dr. Lurain’s strengths as an educator: “Hers is one of the most respected voices on the Upper School Faculty. She truly sees each student’s individual strengths and is able to clearly articulate how they can improve.” Another wrote: “She recognizes and embraces the idea that teaching involves the whole child. She doesn’t pay lip service to the concept... [it is] the lens through which she views all of her interactions.” A colleague wrote: “[Alice] sets the standard for excellence as a professional, both as a classroom teacher as well as a colleague. Plainly put, she makes chemistry cool.” Dr. Lurain is a graduate of Wesleyan University, where she was Phi Beta Kappa, and earned her PhD in Organic Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a previous recipient of the Stutt Chair for Excellence in Teaching Math, Science, and Technology. Receiving the award, she reflected on her career at Packer: “I love that every day as I walk through the halls of Packer, I exchange greetings with students, faculty, and staff. It is a wonderfully welcoming and affirming feeling to be seen and acknowledged with warmth, and often, with enthusiasm. I don’t take this for granted, and I think it reflects the strength of our relationships and the value we place on community in our school.”
Risa Glickman’s Art Graces Packer Once Again This fall, the Shen Gallery showcased the artwork of former arts faculty member Risa Glickman, who retired in June 2018. Inspired by her environment, Glickman’s colorful paintings, drawings, and sculptures depict “the industrial areas of Brooklyn” to the “calming scenes of Maine” and snapshots from her travels. “It was such an honor to curate Risa’s exhibition in the Carol Shen Gallery. I have been witness to both Risa’s dedication and love of her students and her drive and passion to create her own work for over 20 years. Looking through Risa’s work spanning the last 30 years is truly inspiring. From the evocative landscapes to the whimsical sketches from Maine to Chinatown, the show gives our community a wonderful window into Risa’s lifetime of making art,” said Art Teacher Elizabeth Eagle. Risa reflected on her time at Packer and how it influenced her as an artist, saying: “Packer enriched me beyond words. I worked with an enormously talented group of colleagues and hundreds of eager students. The children, especially, have had quite an effect on my art and the way I approach it. Always inquisitive, sassy, and creative, they have given me the desire to make more art and to expand what I love to do.”
Risa met with Lower School classes in the Carol Shen Gallery to share her artist’s practice and talk about her technique. Third and Fourth Grade students practiced observing and sketching their peers — a technique straight from Risa’s sketchbooks of diner occupants. Here, a First Grader observes silicon worms after Risa explained to the students her process for making a mold to cast their shapes. Top: Art Teacher Elizabeth Eagle and Risa Glickman at the exhibit’s opening.
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New at Packer CELEBRATING COMPUTER SCIENCE Through a series of workshops, guest speakers, and crossdivisional collaborations during December’s Computer Science Education Week, students, teachers, and parents had the opportunity to see how computing works and is applied in different settings, and to discuss the impact of technology on society.
LEARNING ONLY YES MEANS YES In response to the rise of the #MeToo movement and its relevance at Packer and beyond, students in the Eighth Grade and Upper School participated in consent workshops last fall led by Packer faculty members who were trained by Hallways, an organization that partners with independent schools to promote social and emotional wellness. The topic of consent was also explored in Fifth and Sixth Grade health education classes, the Lower School curriculum, and a pair of workshops for families.
US FACULTY MEMBERS TEACH EACH OTHER In December, Packer launched Pelican Academy, a series of afternoon workshops on pedagogy by and for Upper School faculty. Classes featured in the program’s inaugural year include Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Empowering the Student Mind; Promoting Civil Discourse in the Current Events Classroom; and Effective Group Work in Inquiry-Based Classes.
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COMPOSTING COMES TO CAMPUS In an effort to create an even more sustainable campus, Packer is now officially converting its food waste into compost through the New York City Department of Sanitation’s Organics Collection Program. Spearheaded by Tené Howard ’97, Director of Global Learning and Community Engagement, the program made its debut in September with vivid signage designed by Lucy Andersen ’08. In addition, students received training on sorting waste, organics, and recycling, including a workshop on composting, seed planting, and rooftop gardening designed for our Preschool students.
ADVANCING RELIGIOUS LITERACY History Department Head Monika Johnston has been appointed a Religious Literacy Education Fellow with Harvard Divinity School’s Religious Literacy Project [RLP] for the 2018-19 academic year. In this role, she advises and partners with the RLP to strengthen the network of educators advancing principles of religious literacy in secondary schools and community colleges. She is currently teaching Religion, Conflict, and Peace, an Upper School elective designed around the method and pedagogy advocated by the RLP.
NEW DESTINATIONS FOR THE TENTH GRADE For the past five years, Tenth Graders traveled together to Andalucía, Spain, for Packer’s International Symposium program. Beginning in January 2019, the program takes students to Greece and Peru. While abroad, the sophomores explore topics including the complexities of refugees, migration, and diversity in modern Europe and innovative and ecological solutions for developing rural areas.
PACKER ARTS presented a vibrant fall season with the Upper School’s production of Gogol’s The Government Inspector and the Middle School’s charming, sold-out presentation of Seussical (pictured). The Shen Gallery featured Retrospective, an exhibit of work by former faculty member Risa Glickman [see page 9] , followed by Timeline, a multimedia show by Packer parent Stephen Sollins P’19, P’24. In December, the Chorus welcomed singers from Mary McDowell Friends School to share in music making while the Wind Symphony made its annual pilgrimage to the MetLife Building. The Atelier in the new Packer Early Learning Center and the new Lower School art studio in Founder’s Hall offered inspiring environments for our youngest Pelicans to explore and create [see story on page 12]. For more arts coverage and performance videos, visit www.packer.edu/arts.
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Introducing the Packer Early Learning Center
[continued on page 14]
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ALL PHOTOS BY JULIANA THOMAS
The 15-year tenure of Head of School Bruce L. Dennis has many legacies. One that will resonate for years to come is his ambitious plan for Packer’s campus, which he and the Board of Trustees have brought into being over the past decade. While overseeing the renovation of the Science Building, the Lower School, the Upper School, and the top floors of the Middle School, Dr. Dennis and the Board
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[Continued from page 12]
also focused on Packer’s long-term future
and art studio were created in the former
by seeking an opportunity to acquire new
Kindergarten space in Founder’s Hall. Both
space. In 2014, they purchased the building
the Joralemon Street and Clinton Street
at 100 Clinton Street, one block north of
projects were completed by Hudson Studio
where Packer has stood since its founding.
Architects, whose relationship with Packer
Their vision was to create a state-of-the-art
began in 2008.
Preschool and thereby open up spaces on the main campus for new uses. After extensive planning with input from faculty and a two-year gut renovation, the Packer Early Learning Center opened in September. At the same time, the Hart Library was renovated and expanded and a brand-new Lower School Innovation Lab
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Last fall, Preschool and Lower School Head Bill McCarthy and Pre-K Threes Head Teacher Lynnette Arthur sat down on the top floor of the Packer Early Learning Center with Hudson Studio Architects principal James Wagman P’14 and architect Anne Bannon for a lively discussion about the building’s design. Alumnus Benjamin Prosky ’95, executive director of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter and the Center for Architecture, kindly moderated on behalf of the magazine.
Play is the work of children. When they’re in the block area, it’s not just playing with blocks. They’re learning math concepts, they’re learning about negotiating with a friend, they’re learning about balance, gravity, science. When they’re in any area — at the water table, in dramatic play — they’re learning to make sense of the world. —L ynnette Arthur, Pre-K Threes Head Teacher
Bottom right: Lynnette Arthur, Ben Prosky, Bill McCarthy, Anne Bannon, and James Wagman
Ben Prosky ’95: At Packer’s beginning, the Brooklyn Female Academy was committed to introducing new and innovative learning spaces. With this building, you had the opportunity to extend that vision. For the project to reach its full potential, what aspects of Packer’s early-learning philosophy did you feel the architects most needed to understand?
Lynnette Arthur: We have dedicated this entire building to the
Bill McCarthy: In the Preschool, our Reggio Emilia philosophy
for community? Now, if you’re in the Threes, you’re hanging out not just with the Threes, but with Kindergarteners.
puts children at the center of their own learning. It’s about every child having incredible potential in so many ways. It’s about them expressing themselves through innovation, music, and art, and us giving them opportunities to build on that. We worked closely with Hudson throughout the process. We traded books, materials, and ideas. We created vision statements. The decisions that were made weren’t top-down decisions. The teachers in the division gave feedback on every single detail, down to rug colors and finishes. Ben: What is possible here that wasn’t possible in the old space? Bill: Our Preschool program has never been under one roof
or even had classes across the hall from each other.
repurposing of materials, to cultivating a sense of sustainability. We compost, we recycle. And the children love it here. This is their space. This is their building. Just being able to send a child down the hall into the Innovation Lab or to another classroom is new. Bill: This is also making us think, what are the opportunities
Ben: In terms of sustainability, the building itself is groundbreaking. Can you talk about that? James Wagman: This is the first preschool in New York that
has a high-performance “Passive House” construction. These big windows around us have three layers of glass and very tight gasketing so that very little air can leak in either direction. And it’s very quiet because of these windows and the way we insulated the building. Lynnette: We do definitely notice the sound proofing. I can have
a full-fledged dance party, and Shelley [Gargus, who teaches the Pre-K Fours in the adjacent room] is totally unaware of it!
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Ben: If a building is leaking heat, it’s actually polluting
the environment through carbon emissions. It’s also really inefficient in terms of how much it costs to cool or heat.
Ben: We’re in this incredible rooftop Atelier [above]. Looking at it from the outside, I’d like to live in it! Why is it an important part of the Early Learning Center?
James: We’re using 30% less equipment [than before] to
Lynnette: The central tenet of the Reggio Emilia philosophy
run the building.
Ben: Passive house construction is not inexpensive, but over
time, it’s really good for —
Anne Bannon: Reducing your footprint. Ben: Right. In New York City, 73% of carbon emissions come
from buildings — not cars!
James: And we’re controlling and filtering the air that comes
in and goes out. You’re getting very clean air, which we’re hoping will reduce the [airborne illnesses] you get with kids. Anne: Because we were sealing things up so well, we were
very careful to use low-VOC to no VOC products throughout the entire building. If we hadn’t been so careful about that, we’d be sitting here saying, “Why do we smell plastic?”
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is that children can construct their own learning. One of the key components of their development is their relationship and exploration of simple materials. Our Atelier is a space where students come to create, explore, and experience themselves through art. It’s a beautiful space, brimming with natural light, openness, creativity, and curiosity. And the space is designed so that students have direct access to materials without having to ask for help. Bill: The materials are curated by our children, our families,
and our teachers. Everybody brings things from home [to repurpose]. I carried over two bags of recycled items today. Lynnette: If you look behind you, there are bottle caps,
cardboard, corks, and things that people usually throw away. Everything on that shelf was donated by our community. We ask families to bring in interesting materials from home or work, or from time spent in nature. We like materials that
are open-ended because they can be transformed and they require some imagination. Repurposing these everyday materials encourages exploration, supports creativity, and stimulates thinking. And in the process, our students make small yet impactful steps toward sustainability and participate in conservation in a meaningful way. Bill: On admissions tours, parents will ask, “Is that an art
studio?” And I pause for a second, and I say, “Art does happen in here,” but this space is really a center for inspiration. It’s a center for curiosity and wonder, for thinking and for collaboration, for language, for building. It’s for children to ask questions, and for us to evoke questions from them. Children can come up here during choice time, class time, and open studio times throughout the week. You’ll see children in small groups, sometimes just two or three working with our Atelier teacher, Robin Koo, or a classroom teacher. Lynnette: The idea of choice time is that play is the work of
children. When they’re in the block area, it’s not just playing with blocks. They’re learning math concepts, they’re learning about negotiating with a friend, they’re learning about balance, gravity, science. When they’re in any area — at the water table,
The relocation of Packer’s Preschool program opened up space for the creation of a new Lower School Innovation Lab (top) and art studio (above) in Founder’s Hall as well as the expansion of the Hart Library (see page 19). Bill McCarthy emphasized the deliberate continuity between the two locations. In both the Early Learning Center and the new Lower School spaces, he added, “we wanted natural elements that would also complement Packer’s darker, more Gothic finishes.”
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in dramatic play — they’re learning to make sense of the world. They’re reenacting things and conversations that they hear at home and trying to make sense of it all. Ben: The Early Learning Center has an Innovation Lab. For children aged three to five, what does that mean? Lynnette: Think of the word innovation: the idea of creating
something out of nothing, taking an idea, thinking in a way that no one else is thinking. Just in saying that, you’re describing almost every child on earth. In a developing country, a child can take a random container and turn it into a toy. [We’ve brought that perspective to] this lab, where the children can interact with materials in ways that will teach us and show us the potential. Bill: [The Innovation Lab] isn’t limited to scientific research.
It’s a place for children to think out of the box, to [formulate] those big, critical-thinking questions that can help guide their learning. Our hope with the Innovation Lab is that it’s a center of research that extends to the classroom. We have this state-of-the-art technology. In this building and in the Lower School’s new Innovation Lab on the main campus, innovation allows children to think more broadly,
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to engage in the iterative process and in design thinking. This is their future and that’s the way of the world. Ben: Kids are some of the best design critics. How are they reacting to the space? Bill: One of Packer’s core values is joy, and this building
has quickly become a very joyful place for our children and for our families. The children are showing joy, they’re showing sensitivity, and they’re coming together as a community. I think that that’s the best example of happiness. And happiness and confidence are primary factors in how children learn best. Lynnette: Right now, everybody is just in love with the
potential that the space offers. We are excited about how we are growing into it, and how it’s becoming home. Ben: Innovation and opportunity. For architects, what better
reaction could you have?
P
For more on this conversation and additional photos of the Packer Early Learning Center, visit www.packer.edu/magazine.
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Alumni News
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Luke DiTommaso ’97 was the featured speaker at this year’s
107th Founder’s Day Chapel. After graduating from Packer, he studied computer art at the School of Visual Arts and worked in post-production at DuArt Film & Video and as a freelance visual effects supervisor around the world. He is currently a co-founder, chief operating officer, and visual effects supervisor for The Molecule, a visual effects and virtual reality studio in New York and Los Angeles. He has worked on popular shows and films such as The Americans, The Path, Ballers, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Zoolander 2. He is an active member of the Visual Effects Society, Post New York Alliance, and the Directors Guild of America, and a senior thesis advisor and professor guiding the next generation of visual effects artists at The School of Visual Arts. After his Founder’s Day speech, Luke shared some thoughts on his Packer days and his career in tv and film. How did Packer’s faculty influence you beyond the years you spent here? I remember having remarkably frank conversations with George Boutis in health class that were both eye opening and hilarious. But as a coach and Peer Support leader, George was a formative model for me of quiet and centered leadership. Back then George Snook had a ponytail, leather jacket, and coffee mug in the shape of a skull. History class with him was like hanging out with a rock star. His courses were so vivid (and rigorous) that the Italian Renaissance and French Revolution somehow became an indelible experience in my life. Linda Gold was so gentle and nurturing, with a dose of quirky that was simply disarming. When she spoke about authors and read passages, her voice and passion were transfixing. She brought the page to life for me, like playing a movie in my mind. All three engaged me directly in a way that I hadn’t experienced before coming to Packer. And then there is Ken Rush, the legendary art teacher who changed my life. He welcomed me to the fifth floor art studio and nurtured me as an artist. He encouraged me with boundless, infectious energy and gave me the confidence to focus my attention and apply to art school. I remember him telling me, “You’re already an artist — go do what you’re supposed to do. The success will come.” What’s your typical day like at your company, The Molecule? Some days I’m VFX [visual effects] supervising on set or on location. Typically there will be a scene that requires something impossible, or dangerous, or magical, or simply impractical. I will be involved with a production from discussing the very first concepts, then scouting locations, planning logistics, guiding the shoot, and often shooting additional photography.
Other days I’m at the Molecule facility, where we have an open floor of VFX artists, supported by producers, tech people, and administrators. For a specific project that I’ve supervised, I will communicate the director’s creative intent to the team, review the technical methodology of how to achieve that vision, monitor their work in progress, and approve final shots before they are turned over to the client to be cut into the show. I’ll often review our work with the filmmakers directly. What is your proudest moment as a visual effects artist and filmmaker? Over the years as a VFX supervisor, I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented filmmakers, sometimes on big productions, sometimes on critically acclaimed shows. Having my name in the credits has always been a thrill. But in the full scope of filmmaking, VFX is a relatively narrow contribution. Important, but specific. My proudest moment was being invited to be a director. Through circumstance, one day the producers of The Path asked if I was interested in directing the show for a day. That set me on a course to join the Directors Guild of America and take a leap forward in my career. I’ve directed only a few times on a couple shows, but to be given the trust and responsibility of helming productions on that scale was deeply gratifying. What advice do you have for student filmmakers? Be as prolific as possible and avoid being precious and self-conscious about your ideas. Just go out and shoot, improvise, experiment, pay homage. Then cut it together and see what works and doesn’t. You can shoot and edit a short movie on your phone. Next time you catch yourself scrolling, make a two-minute movie instead. Check out a reel of Luke’s VFX — and more — at www.packer.edu/foundersday.
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Jane (top row, second from left) chaperoned several Packer trips to Russia in the late 1970s.
Remembering Jane Rinden Jane Rinden taught Upper School English from 1967 to 1981 and was chair of the English Department for 11 years. She passed away on July 23, 2018. Jane Rinden was a beloved master teacher who was as devoted to her students as they were to her. Marilla Palmer Zaremba ’71 IVAc recalled Jane’s early years at Packer: “Mrs. Rinden got my attention the first day I saw her: she was stylish, hip, and smart. I’ll always remember her that way.” Elizabeth Shine Bishop ’71 said, “She seemed so eternally young and full of energy. She was such an inspiring teacher.” Robert Litt ’81, too, is one of scores of Packer students upon whom Mrs. Rinden made an impression: “In my young eyes, she was so serious. It took me a long time to notice that when she asked her discussion questions, it was with a smile, and when she spoke to you out of the classroom, she would speak with much affection.” Many of her students credit their becoming teachers to Jane. One, Amy Finkel Cobb ’71, said of her: “She was a young teacher with radical ideas and was not afraid to stray from the traditional approach to teaching. And I loved her for it. Whenever anyone asks me which teacher inspired me in my
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own teaching career, I always talk about her. Her passion for reading and discussion made this reader so very happy.” Jane maintained friendships with many of her former Packer students. Janet Mainzer ’71 offered this: “I’m only one of many who owes Jane Rinden a glad debt for her teaching, and for friendship graciously extended after graduation. While in graduate school I was fortunate to live near Jane and [her husband] Thor. One memory is especially vivid: a brilliantly sunny and breezy afternoon when I helped them divide the overgrown coral bells and astilbe in their backyard, and came home with a generous gift of plants for my garden— all bundled up in pages from the New York Times.” Janette Payne ’80 wrote, “She was supportive of me both at Packer and after. She came to watch me row at Princeton.” During her tenure at Packer, Jane advised Packer Current Items and chaperoned several memorable trips to Russia in the late 1970s. Elizabeth Svenson ’80 remembered Jane as “an extraordinary teacher” and described her trip to Russia as “an amazing experience I will always carry with me.” Betsy Gilbride DeSoye ’71 spoke for Jane’s many hundreds of Packer students: “Thank you to Mrs. Rinden from the bottom of my teenage heart.”
Along the way, Jane taught us to be subway-smart. And to become resilient. Those years at Packer were rough ones. In early spring of 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered; two months later, Robert F. Kennedy. The next spring, the Stonewall riots. The Vietnam War, all the time. College students were organizing, demonstrating; and in the spring of 1970 at Kent State, four were killed by the Ohio National Guard. Terminating a pregnancy was illegal. How did Jane Rinden manage her students’ heartbreak — and anger? She let us talk, and argue; and sweetly, deftly refused to offer her own thoughts during our passionate class discussions. Flavia Mastellone remembers: “I loved her and was always exasperated at the way she would lead us into debates about controversial topics, and never hinted at her own opinion.” Exasperating, yes — but Jane Rinden knew how to give young women their own voices. And backbones. — Barbara Minakakis ’71 IVAc.
She was a young teacher with radical ideas and was not afraid to stray from the traditional approach to teaching. And I loved her for it. — Amy Finkel Cobb ’71
Barbara Minakakis ’71 IVAc and Maggie Levine ’82 were among the many friends, former colleagues, and students who spoke at Jane’s memorial service, which was held in the Packer Chapel on October 28, 2018. Excerpts of their respective remarks are below. Mrs. Rinden was an immediate hit with our class. To Jana Miller North she was “classy and smart”; to Marilla Palmer Zaremba, “stylish and hip.” Amy Plumb Oppenheim recalls her “calm, lovely deep voice and wonderful way of speaking” and Christine Dombrowski, her “grace.” Mrs. Rinden had her students reading Pirandello, Stein, Ferlinghetti, Kazantzakis. Mary Byrne remembers being assigned Eldridge Cleaver’s Soul on Ice and says: “This low-key, gentle teacher was a radical who ran under the radar to teach us the relevancy of literature to real life.” She taught her students to appreciate, as Helen Zrake Dodson puts it, “the power of words.” And the power of different types of expression. She sent us out to the far east of Midtown — a grittier place in those days — to see Truffaut’s Jules et Jim and Alan Arkin’s Little Murders; to the New York City Ballet; to MOMA; and to Broadway to see Claire Bloom in A Doll’s House.
Her real gift was her ability to see her students individually, to make each one feel recognized and valued. It didn’t matter if they were not, as Leslie North ’80 said, “lit likers who would eventually go on to major in English.” Every student had something to offer. And isn’t that what we all want as human beings? To be seen? To be appreciated? And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that, like Barbara, many Packer and Chapin students have memories of Mrs. Rinden asking to speak with them outside of class. On Facebook and in condolence letters, many recounted stories of disappointing Mrs. Rinden in some way. Yet they never described any sense of feeling “guilt tripped,” as Barbara’s students joked. What stuck with them was the feeling of how much Mrs. Rinden seemed to care about them. I have my own vivid memory of Mrs. Rinden asking me to stay after class. It was in Room 319 — right behind that door. I stood next to her desk, and she started to explain how disappointed she’d been with a Chapel announcement I’d recently made. It was odd. She was so uncharacteristically inarticulate. And as she struggled to describe what about my demeanor had troubled her (I’d probably been too glib or lacked poise), I saw tears forming in her eyes. I couldn’t fathom it: how could one Chapel announcement have affected her that much? But now, as I stand in the same spot where so long ago Mrs. Rinden watched me fail to present my best self, I marvel at just how much I mattered to her. Jane, if you’re watching, I hope I’m doing a better job today. — Maggie Levine ’82
Go to www.packer.edu/rinden to read all of the speakers’ remarks from the memorial service for Jane Rinden. If you would like a copy of Jane’s memoir or information about the art collection of Jane and Thor Rinden, please contact Maggie Levine ’82 at maggielevine718@gmail.com.
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Alumni Events Round-Up
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Young Alumni Summer Party [1] In July, young alumni visited two8two Bar and Burger on Atlantic Avenue — owned by Packer alumna Anastasia Yatrakis Thanopoulos ’92, P’25, P’30, and her husband Billy Thanopoulos. The Packer Athletics Department provided raffle prizes, and the evening offered alumni a chance to catch up with one another and meet the new Director of Alumni David Minder.
Packer on the Road: Boston [2] Boston-area alumni from the Classes of 1966 to 1999 came together for a July meetup. They shared Packer memories, talked about different ways to be involved with Packer, and made plans to attend Reunion in April! From left to right: Anne Hoffman ’66 IVAc, Heather Campbell ’66 IVAc, Meredith Moore ’97, Adrienne Ellman ’99, Joshua Segal ’99, and David Minder.
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“Being Our Authentic Selves” and Connecting with Students [3] In November, Packer alumni from the Classes of 1981 to 2012 gathered with faculty, staff, and students of color for last fall’s annual Alumni of Color Connect event. The crossgenerational conversation, led by seniors Noelle Parks ’19 and Satya Sheftel-Gomes ’19, focused on the challenges of moving between communities, questioning fit and code-switching, and being one’s authentic self. Thanks to those alumni who participated this year. Please email dminder@packer.edu if you’d like to be a part of the next event!
Catch up with Benjamin Prosky ’95 Alumni Board member Ben Prosky stopped by the new Packer Early Learning Center to chat with Director of Alumni David Minder — and to lead a discussion about the new center, featured on page 12.
Check Your Inbox We’ve launched a new alumni newsletter to keep you informed of the latest news from Packer and each other. Want to suggest an alumni story or give us feedback? Please email David Minder at dminder@packer.edu.
Get Involved! We believe that we all have a role to play in helping one another, strengthening the Packer community, and helping the world around us. We invite our alumni to take a moment and find a way to be involved in a way that is meaningful to them. Whether you want to become a Class
Thank You!
Agent, visit a classroom, or participate in
On November 27, people around the world celebrated #GivingTuesday by donating to institutions that make a difference. On that day, the Packer community, including dozens of alumni, came together to raise over $55,000 in support of Packer students!
a service project, we would love for you to remain involved at Packer. Take a moment to fill out our new volunteer form and tell us how you would like to help! Visit our new volunteer page at www.packer.edu/alumnivolunteer.
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Connect with Packer Online You are all a part of the Packer community — and we invite you to stay connected with us, wherever you are, by checking out our new Alumni content on Packer’s new website! • Keep up with the latest alumni stories at www.packer.edu/alumninews. • Learn about upcoming events at Packer and across the country at www.packer.edu/alumnievents. • Strengthen the Packer community and learn about the many different ways to get involved at www.packer.edu/alumnivolunteer.
Upcoming Events PELICANS OF COLOR RECEPTION Tuesday, February 26 Meet fellow Pelicans of Color at our annual cocktail reception at Packer.
PACKER REUNION 2019 Saturday, April 13 Join us to celebrate milestone reunions for classes ending in a 4 or 9. Whether you are in the Class of 1969 or 2014, please join us! Take a moment to catch up with your former classmates, meet other Packer alumni, and reconnect with Packer. (Don’t fall within a reunion year? You are still encouraged to join us!) You Can Help Want to support your reunion celebration by being a volunteer? Please contact dminder@packer.edu. You Can Make a Difference Help represent your class, make a challenge to increase giving, and see how many of your classmates will join you in supporting students with a gift in honor of your reunion. Please visit www.packer.edu/reuniongifts. Learn More Find accommodations, the day’s schedule, who’s attending, and more at www.packer.edu/reunion.
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Packer on the Road! FLORIDA Monday, February 18 through Friday, February 22 Please check the Packer website for specific locations. To request a visit, please contact dminder@packer.edu.
WASHINGTON, DC Tuesday, March 5 Packer will be visiting DC at The Old Ebbitt Grill. Take a moment to join us, catch up with one another, and hear about what’s happening at Packer.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
www.packer.edu/reunion Who’s Attending | Accommodations | Volunteer
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November saw the debut of The Scoop, a multimedia installation in the Front Hall offering a wide representation of student life at Packer. Designed to provide students with a reflection of themselves as well as a glimpse into the lives of their peers, The Scoop features photos and video of curriculum highlights, school events, and extracurricular activities, and posts students’ responses to questions about their favorite Packer experiences.
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170 Joralemon Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 250-0200 www.packer.edu
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