Christopher Federico Head of School
christopher.federico@roeper.org
Denita Banks-Sims Director of Development denita.banks-sims@roeper.org
Keeping in Touch Editorial Committee
THE ROEPER SCHOOL 41190 Woodward Avenue Bloomfield Hills Michigan 48304 248/203-7300 www.roeper.org
ENERGY 2
Christopher Federico, Head of School
NEW FACES ON THE STAFF 3 Carolyn Borman, Communications Assistant
NEW FACES ON THE BOARD 14 Emily Wine, Assistant to the Head
VERY GOOD NEWS FOR THE ROEPER INSTITUTE 16 Sarah Miller, Associate Director, The Roeper Institute
MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL CLUBS 18 Gloria Despard, Birmingham Campus Assistant
TRADITIONS RETURN! 17 First Friday Cross-Campus Gathering, Halloween Festivities, Peace Day, Roeperfest
MORE GOOD NEWS 24 Birmingham Campus Park, Sara’s Room, Designing for the Difference, The Shops @ Roeper
ALUMNI UPDATES 26 Juliette Olejnik, Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund News, Roeperpalooza, 40-Year Reunion, Retired Staff, Fighting Tuna Restoration, 50-year Reunion, Weddings and a Baby
PASSINGS 34
PARTING THOUGHTS 35 Denita Banks-Sims, Director of Development & Publications
THE LEGACY SOCIETY 36
COVER ART
Stage IV stage-wide agreements. This artwork, created by the students, is displayed in every Stage IV homeroom and special class. It says:
The St IV Agreement Be kind and respect others Be positive and responsible for you. Take care of our community and its spaces.
It is a beautiful October day The sun is streaming into my office in the Hill House through the bright red, orange, and yellow leaves that stand just outside my open window; the air is cool and fresh and carries with it the chatter and the laughter of Stage I students on their daily outing It is only one of many great days I have had in my short time as Roeper’s Head of School
We are understandably cautious about declaring a return to ‘normal’, but without a doubt a weight has been lifted and an energy has returned to our campuses That energy has already powered whole-school assemblies, and homeroom buddies, and Stone Circles, and stage meetings, and Coffee Talks, and Parent-Teacher Conferences, and rehearsals for Cabaret, and we look forward to maintaining and harnessing that energy throughout the year
Keeping that energy flowing is important because we all know that having these great days takes a lot of work from a lot of people, who devote their own personal energies to ensure the success of our students as individuals and our school as a community It also means making sure that we are devoting our energies to the right things To me, those right things fall into three broad categories that combine to make Roeper the unique place it is, remembering always that “commitment to social responsibility, development of a social conscientiousness, and contributing to the betterment of the world on the human level are to be the center”1 of everything we do here
First is to advance our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ), and in particular to move forward the work of the DEIJ audit that was completed in the spring As a faculty, we continue to participate in professional development led by experts in fields such as restorative practices and courageous conversations
We recently added language to our community guidelines to make explicit our commitment to inclusion and antioppression and are also introducing a bias incident reporting procedure and tool so that we can both respond better to these incidents when they occur and track trends so we can address them on a systemic level This month we will be convening a community steering committee to prioritize and guide the next phase of the work arising from the report of the DEIJ Audit
Second is to ensure that we are delivering high quality professional learning to our staff and faculty so that Roeper remains a leader in the education of gifted students In some domains, this means looking outside the school for experts or forming partnerships to build our capacity, as we have done, for instance, with the HartmannEton Center for Teaching and Learning to better support our twice exceptional students In others, it means taking advantage of the wealth in inhouse expertise that Roeper teachers already possess: for our fall professional development day, Roeper faculty and staff will be learning from their peers about everything from the equipment in our new makerspace to design thinking to responsive classrooms
Third is for us to continue to reach the widest possible audience of gifted students in southeast Michigan and to ensure we are living up to our aspiration to admit every child who has the “ability to profit from the program ” This means both making sure that people know about the value of a Roeper education and having the necessary resources in place — the people, the facilities, and the finances — to continue to serve our community into the future
Looking forward to many more great energized days to come F
Christopher Federico Head of School
Keeping energy flowing is important because we all know that having great days takes a lot of work from a lot of people, who devote their own personal energies to ensure the success of our students as individuals and our school as a communityCarolyn Borman Communications Assistant
This is a series of posts from new members of the Roeper faculty and staff sharing a little about themselves through their answers to our questions Please join us in welcoming them to our community
These new members of our community were nice enough to complete a questionnaire telling us something about themselves. Our two Directors — Lower School Meghan Stott and Interim Middle/ Upper School Susannah Nichols — added first person observations. Thank you all!
From Megan: Rachel BlumJose is our new Stage III Head teacher who will be working closely with Ciaran McQuiston Rachel comes to us with experience teaching in Montessori schools, understanding the foundational elements of progressive education Rachel’s inquisitive nature and curiosity are what attracted her to Roeper Rachel shares, “I believe we are all lifelong learners and that my students teach me the most important lessons We all learn from one another as we build relationships Faculty, staff, students, families, community members, and other stakeholders are all connected at Roeper, and I envision us all lifting one another up in support ” We are so fortunate to have Rachel join our team!
Rachel’s responses to the questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching; are you working with other faculty; who is your Roeper mentor?
I will be working with Ciaran in Stage III, teaching second and third graders I have already been welcomed via group chat by the Stage III team, and I consider all of them to be my mentors, as well as Meghan Stott! I’m excited to learn from them as well as from my students
What were one or two highlights of your life?
One major highlight of my life is music I often reminisce about my days in high school and college doing musical theatre, choir, and a capella Music is very important to me It helped me form an identity I was once told that I “always have a song in my heart ” I have pretty bad stage fright
when performing by myself, but I love performing with a group My stepdad also sings and plays the drums, and my daughter is taking voice lessons now
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
I want to visit the Arctic Circle — I would love to see the Northern Lights! I would do a tour of Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden Reading so much about the school system in Finland has me intrigued — a school visit there would be a must! I would also like to visit the birthplace of my ancestors in Eastern Europe I just read a book that took place in Alaska, and now I want to go there and experience the beauty of the landscape The cold does not bother me at all! I would rather be cold than hot
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
I feel very fortunate to have grown up in one of the most exciting, diverse and artistic areas in the world — New York City! I grew up in Brooklyn and came back to the city after college graduation I was always an independent child and teenager and loved taking public transportation by myself I come from a family of educators
My dad taught Middle School Social Studies, and my mom worked for the Board of Education’s budget department My husband’s family is also in education His aunt is a principal; his uncles are teachers; his mom was a school librarian; and his sister works for Rochester Community Schools
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I love to read, watch movies and shows, sing, play piano, and discover new things about Michigan I enjoy trying new restaurants and love a good independent bookstore I love spending time with my family too! I have three children aged 11, 10, and 6 We go up north to Walloon Lake whenever we can I love being near water It is calming to me
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
I love teaching math! I enjoy using handheld materials to illustrate and reinforce concepts I believe there are many ways to solve problems, and I like to give children different options Some love to use mental math and explain solutions Some like pencil and paper Some like to work with peers It’s best when they come up with methods on their own without prompting I also loved using technology to teach virtually during the 2020/2021 school year There are so many cool tools online now! I like using Screencastify or another screen recording tool to create a short how-to video for students, for example
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
Everything! The campus is beautiful I felt so at home during my first visit In addition, the staff and faculty I met on that first interview day and beyond have been incredible! I feel like a valued member of the Roeper community already I know my individualism and creativity will be embraced here, and that will allow me to be the best teacher I can for my students
From Meghan: We are so fortunate to have Karrie Chagnon join the Lower School team this year Her expertise and experience working as a Special Education teacher will allow her to work closely with our educators and students to provide support in both literacy and mathematics Her passion for understanding how children learn can be seen in her teaching methods and through her interactions with children
Karrie’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching, are you working with other faculty?
I will be working as an Academic Interventionist for the Lower School with the school support team I will be supporting students and teachers in various academic areas
What were one or two highlights of your life?
The main highlight of life is the family we’ve created I married my husband in 2014, and we had our son in 2016 We have created quite the team and love going on adventures together
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
I am open to many places in the world to live for a year Initially, I imagined somewhere picturesque such as Switzerland or Austria I would love to have access to the mountains and the towns around them I love to spend time in small towns, getting to know the people, traditions and lifestyles But I am also drawn to many other European countries and cities as well as Asian countries and cities At the end of my college career, I spent two months in Ghana, teaching and exploring I would love to go back and spend more time there as well
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
I grew up on the east side of Michigan, at the base of the thumb, called the Blue Water Area It’s a small city named Marysville where much of my family still lives I frequently visit my friends and family that live there and now as an adult, am amazed at the area and the beauty of the river and lake
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
When I am by myself, I enjoy running, reading, watching TV and catching up with friends When I am with my family, we enjoy traveling, mostly to Northern Michigan We spend many weekends in the Traverse City area, as well as Standish The more we can be outdoors, the better! My family and I enjoy biking, golfing, hiking, ORV trail riding and playing games in the yard It has also been fun watching my son get involved in some sports and being part of a team
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
As an interventionist, I become excited and passionate about all the skills or subjects I teach I typically focus on reading, writing and math, and during each of these subjects separately, I enjoy the subject greatly Many times, during instruction and practice, I might feel like it is my favorite subject to teach But in the end, I think reading might be my favorite I love teaching the word reading skills, comprehension skills and the love of reading It is awesome to see it all come together for students!
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
There is no question that Roeper holds great values and philosophies for the school and their community I could see from my research that students and staff are given great opportunities for learning But the main aspect that appealed to me about Roeper is the kind and caring community Each time I met with a team from Roeper, I felt welcomed and comfortable I knew that if I could feel that from the interview process, that I would feel that all year long
From Susannah: We welcome Class of 2017 alum Ben Fisher back to teach in our English department
Since graduating Roeper, Ben has received his degree from the University of Michigan (Go, Blue!) and received High Honors for his thesis — The Semiotic Sidequest: A Taxonomy of Poetics in Interactive Digital Narrative Ben has been teaching high school English at Lake Orion High School and is returning to Roeper in part so that he can forge more meaningful relationships with students and give them the attention and feedback they deserve Ben also plans to serve as a coach in our Forensics program alongside Dan Jacobs
Ben’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching, are you working with other faculty, who is your Roeper mentor?
I will be teaching Classical Literature and Expository Writing Keep your eye out for a multimedia literature elective (or some mutation thereof) I hope to offer in the near future!
What were one or two highlights of your life?
During college, I participated in the New England Literature Program, where I spent more than six weeks living technology-free with 39 other students and studying Transcendentalist and regional literature The immersive learning I did there helped shape how I teach and think about literature and texts
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
Iceland I have a great interest in the Icelandic Sagas and visited Iceland briefly a few years ago I would love to see and visit the sites where the stories happened and experience the culture that one of the oldest literary traditions in Europe shaped The landscape (volcanoes, glaciers, hot springs, and lava fields) is also just incredibly beautiful and unique
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I love camping, archery, story-based video games, knitting, and improv
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
I love looking at the ways stories are told differently through different media Literary theory — thinking about how, why, and what happens when we tell stories — is my jam
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
I graduated from Roeper and am excited to be returning to the community I am energized by Roeper’s dedication to teaching for a better world and helping its students become self-realized
and conscientious individuals and community members
From Susannah: Adam hails from Oakland University and UMass with a BA in Political Science and Masters in Public History Adam’s deep passion and expertise in American History will be invaluable as he takes over 7th grade social studies and Middle School electives Previously a member of Seaholm’s notable flex program, Adam’s students will be treated to his wonderful story-telling and ability to make connections between wide-ranging historical themes
Adam’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching, are you working with other faculty?
I’m happy to be joining Roeper as a Social Studies/ Humanities teacher in the Middle School I’ll be primarily responsible for leading 7th grade American History and teaching a selection of electives as the year goes on
What were one or two highlights of your life?
Between 2017 and 2020 I lived and studied in Boston, Massachusetts, where I was a graduate student and museum professional It was an amazing opportunity to live in such a vibrant community and meet thousands of people who come to learn about the incredible history of such a revolutionary city
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
A dream of mine would be to spend a year living and travelling in the British Isles As a lover of history, I’m drawn to the vast and interesting histories on offer from all periods of history From the prehistoric to the modern, it would be a dream
come true to spend so much time on such a historical pilgrimage
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
I was born and raised in Berkley, Michigan, and I have a big mixed family I’m one of five siblings, an uncle three times over, and have dozens of cherished cousins My partner Andrea, our cat Raisin, and I currently live in Auburn Hills
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy video and board games, kayaking, swimming, reading, film, theatre, and community activism I’m very thankful for the incredible group of friends I have who help ease my challenges and celebrate my successes with their camaraderie and solidarity
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
I’m incredibly passionate about the power of history and the narratives we tell each other To me, history is not about just putting interesting things in a case and admiring the view History can be an ethical practice of self and collective reflection that gets us to ask questions about who we are, where we come from, and challenges us to create a better world
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
Roeper is a unique community I’ve found myself drawn most to the values and principles embedded in the philosophy and ethos of the school I value the efforts at shared decision making that includes students and other members of the community which transforms the relationship between those who help guide our learning and those who learn into one of collaboration and deliberation To me, those efforts align with what I think being in a learning community is all about
From Susannah: Megan is a graduate of Louisiana State University and University of Holy Cross She holds a BA Political Science and Secondary Education Megan’s versatility and authenticity proved that she has what it takes to thrive at Roeper She’ll be taking over the 8th grade social studies curriculum as well as electives of her own design
Megan’s responses to our questionnaire:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching, are you working with other faculty, who is your Roeper mentor?
I will be joining the Social Studies department teaching 8th grade Global Studies as well as some electives
What were one or two highlights of your life?
This is a tough one I would say seeing my first group of students graduate, and knowing I had some small role in their journey was a great feeling I don’t think I will ever forget Another would probably be following through on the decision to move across the country because I never thought I would be brave enough to do that
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
I’ve always wanted to at least visit New Zealand and Patagonia for their natural beauty, so either one of those would be great
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana I can be living anywhere, but New Orleans is always home No matter where I’m living, I like to think I bring a bit of New Orleans flavor with me
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I love playing video games, and I’ve also recently started playing Dungeons and Dragons!
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
This past year, my favorite lessons happened to be about the period of time between the World Wars, which came as a bit of a surprise, but I very much look forward to teaching about that time period again
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
I love that this school helps to mold good people and not just good students That has always been my own philosophy when it comes to teaching
CAT GALLIGAN ’13From Meghan: Cat Galligan is a Roeper alum, Class of 2013, with recent experience working as a substitute teacher in the Lower School and as a camp counselor at the Roeper Summer Camp Her passion and love for working with gifted students is clearly seen in her interactions and lessons with our students We are so grateful to have her return to Roeper while pursuing her graduate degree in Education
Cat’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching, are you working with other faculty, who is your Roeper mentor?
I am a Stage III Team Teacher; I am working with Lori Talbott I will get to teach my own math and reading groups, and support Lori for social studies and language arts lessons My mentor is Stage II teacher Elizabeth Stayer, Class of 2000
What were one or two highlights of your life?
When I was six, I watched a space shuttle launch in Florida Pretty hard to beat that
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
Marquette, Michigan I fell in love with the UP while attending Michigan Technological University Marquette is the biggest city in the UP — so I could experience the rugged charm while still having creature comforts (like Starbucks) within reach
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
My younger siblings, Gina and Griffin Galligan, recently graduated from Roeper (Class of 2021) I am currently living in the same town I grew up in (Clarkston), and I have a fluffy black cat named Juno
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I love to make all sorts of art: watercolor paintings, character designs, digital art I also enjoy narrative video games
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
With my background in materials science and engineering, I am looking forward to running STEAM activities with my students I learned to think like an engineer, and I hope I can impart some of that engineering/scientific perspective
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
I’m a Roeper alumna In fact, I started at Roeper as a first-year student in Stage III I feel very lucky to work at the school that made such a supportive environment for me
From Susannah: Angie is an incredible mental health practitioner She’s most recently been serving as an Associate Professor of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University It’s clear that Angie gets people — her effusive and thoughtful demeanor with both students and staff wowed us, and her unflinching dedication and work toward meeting the needs of gifted children and advancing initiatives of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice make her an absolutely invaluable member of our Birmingham team Angie also joins the ranks of us staff parents — she’s the mom of Lower School students Blyden, Isla, and Emery
Angie’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching, are you working with other faculty?
I am the Student Support Counselor for the Birmingham Campus I look forward to supporting Middle and Upper School students, their families, as well as faculty and staff in my role
What were one or two highlights of your life?
Becoming a mom was one of the greatest highlights of my life (in addition to meeting my amazing husband!) Another highlight was defending my dissertation and completing my Ph D
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Mexico Puerto Vallarta is beautiful I love and appreciate the collectivist nature of Mexican culture
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
I was born and raised in small town in Southwest Virginia If you talk to me long enough, you will
likely pick up on my accent I moved to Michigan in 2015 with my husband and three children (also our 120-pound Newfoundland and two orange cats)
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Does attending too many soccer practices and soccer games every week count as a hobby?
When I’m not spending all my free time at soccer practice or at games, I love watching movies, connecting with friends, and traveling
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
While I am not in a formal teaching role at Roeper, I am actively working to expand the knowledge that social work professionals have regarding gifted children Social workers, including school social workers, do not receive any training on how to identify and support the needs of gifted children, which is a significant gap in our training My hope is that through presentations, professional development, and other opportunities that social workers will begin to understand how to identify and support the needs of gifted children
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
I deeply appreciate The Roeper School’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice The Roeper community, including faculty and staff are incredible, and I am so grateful to be part of the team!
From Susannah: We are so fortunate to have Rebecca Nelson join us for the first semester, as Katie Quinn is on leave after recently giving birth to triplets Rebecca comes to us with a wealth of experience in teaching, communications, and publishing Rebecca has returned to her roots in Michigan and has found great joy and success in teaching, most recently at Hart Middle School in Rochester Her compassionate nature, alignment with Roeper’s philosophical ideals, and content-
area expertise make her an ideal fit for our school, and we are thrilled to have the chance to partner with her
Rebecca’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching, are you working with other faculty?
I’m teaching three sections of ninth grade American Literature and two sections of Creative Writing this semester
What were one or two highlights of your life?
Bearing witness to my only child’s life (he’s now 20 and a junior at The New School in NYC); what a privilege to guide him and watch him grow! Also, living in Mexico City for four years during my youth It was difficult to be away from all that was familiar back in Michigan, but it was an enriching experience that continues to inform my daily life and worldview
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
I’d head straight to Spain and tour the whole country, maybe walk the Camino Santiago pilgrimage route I’m lucky to have traveled in Europe, but I didn’t get to Spain, despite my eagerness to go (fueled by my college studies)
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
I’m an editor and writer with a background in publishing and communications Born in Grosse Pointe and raised mostly in Michigan, I lived in a northern Chicago suburb for 21 years, returning home to the Great Lakes state a year ago I’ve been teaching since January, including a long-term assignment in an English Language Arts resource room at Hart Middle School in Rochester Hills
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Reading (mostly novels and memoirs), walking our dog in the woods near our home, cooking, and spending time with my siblings and their children, as well as reconnecting with longtime friends
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
Teaching English gives me the opportunity to encourage young people to become lifelong readers and help them polish their writing skills, preparing them for whatever they go on to do in their lives
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
Hailing from around here, I knew Roeper to be an excellent and progressive school, and the more I looked into the philosophy and the Roepers’ background and outlook, the more interested I became I feel lucky to be part of this learning experience
teachers and other specialists to show how science intersects with many other areas
What were one or two highlights of your life?
I would definitely have to say the births of my two children, Jaxson and Addi are the highlights of my life Being able to watch their wonder and curiosity makes me want to explore with them and continue learning
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
If I could live anywhere in the world for a year, it would be in New Zealand I traveled there as a high school senior for a month and would like to return with my children It would be interesting to take them somewhere where the seasons are reversed There are so many wonderful natural areas to explore It would give me an opportunity to visit old friends and introduce my children to their children
From Elisabeth Stayer: We are elated to welcome Sosha Haynes, Roeper alumna (Class of 1996) and current parent (Jaxson, Stage IV and Addi, Stage II), to The Roeper School faculty as the Lower School Science teacher for Stages I to III Sosha brings with her years of experience as a science educator with particular strengths in curriculum development and implementation of the NGSS national science standards Most importantly, as evidenced in her interviews and sample lessons, Sosha understands gifted children, the importance of nurturing creativity, and how to engage young scientists
Sosha’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses will you be teaching, are you working with other faculty?
My position is Lower School Science teacher I will be working with the students in Stages I, II, and III I look forward to collaborating with homeroom
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
I was born in Colorado, though I grew up mainly in Michigan I attended Roeper for Middle and High School (graduating in 1996) My three siblings also attended Roeper (for various numbers of years) My mother taught at Roeper for many years at the Upper School I knew when it was time for my two children to go to school, I had to look at Roeper Both of them instantly fell in love We make the drive from Dearborn daily because we believe in the Roeper philosophy It is so important to have them learn at a school that fosters their curiosity and understands that the students should be the center of the classroom
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
As a family, we love exploring outside We get out into nature as much as possible We are looking forward to the snow falling to get back to our favorite sledding hill We also love playing card and board games and having family movie nights I enjoy baking, running, working out, and learning I like to keep up with the advancement in science by reading articles and listening to podcasts
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
I’m most excited to nurture curiosity Seeing students wonder about nature and phenomena brings me joy I love seeing their eyes light up when they discover science on their own I look forward to guiding the students and pushing them to think deeper about the observations they make of the world around them
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
I would like to say everything!! Being able to bring to life science for students starting in the youngest grades is so exciting Being able to watch students grow throughout their years at Roeper is something I look forward to I hold the Roeper philosophy dear to my heart I look forward to working with the entire staff to make sure the children are excited about learning
From Carolyn Borman: Hans is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher who respects children and understands that Roeper students need to understand the reasons behind what they are told He also commands respect from his students who appreciate his love of music and in turn are eager to learn He moves through his lessons quickly to keep up the interests of even his most active students while at the same time knowing when it’s time to stop to focus on a particular piece of information like what to do when you have a sticky key! Hans came to Roeper in Spring of 2022 with the skill and knowledge to teach both instrumental and vocal music!
Hans’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses will you be teaching, are you working with other faculty?
Music Teacher PreK through Stage IV / General Music / Band / Chorus / Keyboarding / World Music
What were one or two highlights of your life?
My wife, stepson and grandchildren Drums!
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
Scotland It looks so incredibly beautiful
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
Music has become my life and greatest love I am very proud of my family’s history here in Detroit with my father’s business having lasted for three generations I was born in Detroit
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Recording music at home, writing music, practicing piano and beating on my drums
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
I love the history of music and teaching children about origins of where much music came from, particularly, African music European music is also quite vast and deeply rooted I love rock music and its origins as well related to jazz music
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
My initial views of Roeper’s website were what I first noticed, that it immediately stated its focus on social equity and focus on the child Roeper is not only a school designed to enhance the learning of the gifted child, but to help every child here to become a healthy and happy contributing citizen of the world Everyone here at Roeper has shown the highest standard of excellence from their human resources to teaching staff Also, the music room here is amazing! I’m so very happy to be here
From Susannah: Steve comes to us with a wealth of experience in helping people grow into their best singing selves, both individually and within ensembles In getting to know Steve, we loved hearing about the innovative and justice-oriented ways he’s approached performances in the past and his ability to see music as a vehicle of growth for both the performer and the audience Despite entering Roeper — and our music program—in a time of turbulence, Steve has been able to be a steady presence: self-assured yet humble, determined yet patient We are thrilled to welcome him to our faculty
Steven’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching, are you working with other faculty?
I’m the new vocal music teacher for the Middle and Upper School I’ll be leading our four existing vocal groups and teaching a course on vocal technique this semester I’ll also be the music director for Roeper’s musical theatre productions starting in the new year, working closely with Alex Pedica
What were one or two highlights of your life?
Graduation days are very significant milestones for everyone, and finishing my doctorate at the University of Michigan felt like a huge one for me Another memory was much more unexpected: two years ago, my friend Brian Giebler called me with the news that our first album was nominated for a Grammy As it was during the pandemic, we weren’t able to attend the ceremony in person, but it really was thrilling to be nominated!
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
I’d love to live in Sweden for a year, both in populated and rural areas Some of my ancestors came from there, and I’d like to learn more about the
land they inhabited, their language and culture, and how environmental activism and conservation efforts have been so successful there
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
I was raised by my single mom in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is outside of Philadelphia As an only child in a mostly rural area, my life at school made up most of my social life And within each school, “in” was within musical groups, plays, and musicals where I discovered a deep and lasting feeling of belonging That has remained true ever since I have an expansive “chosen family” of great friends and colleagues I also have a cozy household with my two-year-old cats, Milo and Sven
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Music takes up a lot of my time and bandwidth, even outside the classroom; I attend a lot of performances and give many myself I also enjoy baking, craft projects, board and video gaming, reading, and walking/hiking
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
I think of music as a language, and I enjoy helping others learn to understand and communicate with it, developing fluency in singing, reading, writing, and playing instruments I’m especially passionate about developing musical ability without allowing shame to take over while building the skill
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
The commitment to the student’s individuality and freedom while working to increase their abilities was the first thing that I appreciated about Roeper I think self-knowledge should be a big part of education and can increase everyone’s quality of life Artistic development is an individual path, even as we work together on building skills and enjoy lots of collaboration
From Susannah: When you enter Logan’s classroom, you instantly smile He is the dynamic kind of teacher who is rock-solid in his content area and pedagogy -- especially helpful when stepping into a class mid-stream -- and who also brings a caring and fun demeanor to the work In interviewing Logan, we quickly came to see that the only thing that excites him more than teaching science is being part of a thriving community We look forward to seeing all the ways that Logan will become a mentor and leader in the lives of our students
Logan’s responses to our questions:
What is your new position at Roeper — details like what courses you will be teaching, are you working with other faculty?
Biology Teacher Intro Biology, Advanced Biology, and electives like human anatomy and physiology
What were one or two highlights of your life?
Graduating Wayne State University at the top of my class (Summa Cum Laude) and getting engaged to my longtime partner Noa Chandler
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
Japan I would like to work at a school in Japan to learn about their educational philosophies, see the countryside, and experience the cultural differences
What are some things you’d like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?
I am a native of Oakland County and attended Walled Lake Schools My grandparents have a home in Leland, MI that the family travels to for gatherings
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Traveling or “mini-adventures” are one of our favorite things to do I enjoy quality time outdoors biking, paddle boarding, and hiking Japanese animation is a hobby of mine
What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?
Teaching itself is my love with the best part being that any lesson on any given day can become special Some lessons that I have enjoyed teaching are the suturing practice lab or the microbe cultivation lab The students are the engine that drive great lessons
What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?
The community, reputation, and positive remarks from family members F
we would like to thank
JULIA RAPHAEL, Class of 2023, was elected as the new Student Representative Julia has been at Roeper since Stage II and is now Senior Class President and the Vice Moderator for Student Government Among her many interests and activities, she plays violin and volunteers with a genetics research nonprofit, miRcore In her role as Student Representative, Julia will serve on the Education and DEIJ committees
ANDREW BLECHMAN was elected by his colleagues to serve as a Faculty Representative on the Board of Trustees Andrew has been teaching science at Roeper since 2012, offering classes in Astronomy and Physics at the Upper School, and serving as Department Chair He also mentors the Physics Club for Roeper students Andrew will serve on the Education Committee and the Policy Committee
AMY BETH FLEISCHER is the parent of a current 11th grader and has been an active volunteer with RPC (Roeper Parent Community) for many years Amy is also a licensed CPA, having
Wine Assistant to the Head
worked professionally for more than 20 years In addition to her service to our community, she has extensive experience volunteering with charitable organizations such as American Red Cross and Forgotten Harvest Amy Beth will serve on the Development and the Policy Committees
RYAN FRINGER joined the Roeper community in 2019 with his two children Ryan began serving as a non-trustee on the Policy and Bylaws Committee in 2021 before joining the Board officially this year In his professional career, he is the Director of Graduate Medical Education for Beaumont Health, the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, and a physician at the Emergency Center at Beaumont-Royal Oak Ryan will continue his work on the Policy Committee as a trustee and will also serve on the DEIJ Committee
MYKOLAS RAMBUS ’96 is no stranger to the Roeper Board of Trustees Before graduating from Roeper in 1996, he served as a Student Representative After graduation, he served as a trustee once again before moving out of state He has spent his professional life as an entrepreneur, with contributions to startups, a Fortune 1000 company, and nonprofits along the way Mykolas is back at Roeper, as a parent, and begins another Board term serving on the Trusteeship and the Development Committees
JEFF STAFEIL has two sons who graduated from Roeper as well as a daughter who is currently in the 11th grade All three children joined Roeper in their Lower School years In his professional life, Jeff is the CFO of Adient PLC, and has experience serving on corporate and nonprofit boards Jeff will serve as Co-Chair of the Finance Committee and will also serve on the Buildings and Grounds Committee
JULIAN WONG is a proud Roeper parent to two sons in 7th and 9th gradesl The family has been part of the Roeper community for nearly a decade In past years, Julian has taught Chinese ink painting and Japanese martial arts (Aikido) enrichment classes to Roeper students Professionally, Julian is an artist and designer, and we look forward to his time on the DEIJ, Buildings and Grounds an Development Committees
The Roeper School is grateful for the time, dedication and stewardship of all our trustees, and we look forward to a successful year F
I am incredibly pleased to announce that, along with several dedicated partners, The Roeper Institute has been awarded an extremely competitive and coveted Jacob K Javits Gifted & Talented Students Education Program Grant Award totaling more than $2 5 million dollars over five years!
The federal Department of Education opens this award periodically, and it represents the only federal dollars dedicated to gifted and talented education, specifically intended to address inequities in existing gifted and talented programs This investment will fund the continuation of the very successful Matter of Equity work that began in Detroit more than five years ago At that time The Roeper Institute and The Roeper School began in earnest to consider our role in the inequitable landscape of education in southeast Michigan that allows some gifted and talented students access to identification and education that meets their needs but leaves many more behind
By way of background, in 2016, The Roeper Institute (a separate but school affiliated 501c3), took stock of this enormous need and heeded an internal call to be part of the solution in increasing educational equity for gifted and talented students After concentrated relationship building with key stakeholders in the educational landscape in Detroit, a successful case was made for the inclusion of the needs of gifted and talented students in the larger efforts to advance educational equity in Detroit The Roeper Institute applied for, and received, an Educational Leadership Award matching grant from The Edward E Ford Foundation to seed an unusual public-private collaboration for advancing this cause A Matter of Equity (MoE) was created to provide intensive education and training in evidence-based best practices for identifying and serving economically disadvantaged and racially/ culturally marginalized high-potential students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) The original MoE project successfully launched a Professional Learning Community (PLC) in DPSCD, first with an intensive cohort of both DPSCD and Roeper teachers and, proving its responsiveness and flexibility both with COVID and newly revealed needs, expanded education to principals and finally to school counselors and psychologists Additionally, in part as a result of this project, DPSCD was able to create a robust
Sarah Miller Associate Director, The Roeper Institute
district-wide Gifted & Talented Education (GATE) plan and succeeded in securing Board approval for its implementation Just as the original grant was ending, DPSCD was at the precipice of deeper and more sustainable change as they looked to the ’22’23 school year and the rollout of this new GATE program Everyone’s sights were set on how to continue the partnership and this critical work Despite this Javits Grant money never before being awarded in the state of Michigan, as Michigan is one of the few states with no mandate or funding for gifted education, we made a strong (and successful!) argument that the children in Detroit deserve this investment With a bold vision and collective determination, the original Matter of Equity program succeeded in making real change for gifted and talented students in the Detroit Public School Community District Building on the established, highly successful public-private partnership MoE model, this new Javits funded project, Matter of Equity 2.0, is ready to be a catalyst for greater change for gifted and talented youth in Southeast Michigan, centering the students most often left out of the conversation — those that are racially/culturally marginalized, economically disadvantaged, English language learners (ELL) and students with disabilities (2e) MoE 2.0 offers a robust, evidence-based vision and practical roadmap to expand the scope and scale of the foundational work and create sustainable systemic change
Joining with established and new partners including Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Kennesaw State University and Wayne State University, we know this grant has the potential to position DPSCD as the leader in serving gifted and talented students in the state of Michigan This important work will raise awareness about the exceptional needs of gifted and talented students and to elevate the message that refusal to serve gifted and talented youth is NOT a neutral proposition, as well as provide a roadmap for how other school districts can create and sustain equitable GATE programs We know gifted students exist in every school and district, and these children, like all children, deserve an opportunity to reach their potential It is truly an honor to be awarded a 2022 Javits Award and are incredibly grateful for DPSCD’s ongoing partnership and leadership in identifying and educating underrepresented gifted and talented students F
Matter of Equity 2 0 offers a robust, evidencebased vision and practical roadmap to expand the scope and scale of the foundational work and create sustainable systemic change
the
ANNUAL FUND: The Roeper Annual Fund supports everything from faculty salaries and professional development to financial aid and technology — all of which fuel student engagement, learning and success. Community support of the Roeper Annual Fund ensures we continue to build a vibrant and dynamic community for every student who calls Roeper home. www.roeper.org/donate
THE SHOPS AT ROEPER: The mission of The Shops at Roeper is to provide a variety of Roeper-branded apparel, gift items, and school spirit items for our student, parent, alumni, faculty/staff and grandparent communities. All proceeds support our Roeper Financial Aid & Scholarship programs. www.bit.ly/theshopsatroeper
MOSAIC: THE AUCTION FOR ROEPER The MOSAIC Auction is a fundraising event to support Roeper’s need-based financial aid programs and professional development for faculty and staff. The MOSAIC Auction will take place April 21, 2023.
AMAZON SMILE: Did you know that when you make an Amazon purchase through smile.amazon.com, Amazon gives a percentage of your purchase to your favorite charitable organization at no cost to you? We’re excited to share that The Roeper School is available on Amazon Smile, which makes it easy to support our school’s Annual Fund efforts each time you make an eligible purchase. Check out Amazon Smile and start making a difference with each order!
KROGER REWARDS: Supporters can enroll their Kroger Plus Card online at www.krogercommunityrewards.com, select The Roeper School and choose “Enroll.”
Within 7 – 10 days of enrolling, every time shop at Kroger using your Kroger Plus Card, the school will earn rewards that contribute to our Annual Fund.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact Shani Yapa-Kimpson at shani.yapakimpson@roeper.org or 248/203-7314.
ROEPER difference
We are delighted to share with you ways to sustain Roeper
What happens when Roeper kids are given the opportunity to explore their passions? Well, at the Birmingham Campus it begins with a celebration, as 30 clubs and affinity groups gathered October 4th for the annual Extracurricular Expo. From Beekeeping to Fashion Video, to Disease Research to Student Unions and everything in between, students gathered to make connections with those of similar interests. Backed by a Faculty/Staff advisor(s), students are responsible for registering their club, finding a faculty advisor, and leading/organizing club activities.
MS/US S.D.A.C. (Student Diversity Advisory Committee) to plan student body activities and represent the needs of the diverse population at Roeper
MS/US ROEPER FORENSICS/DEBATE for any skill level to develop performance and public speaking skills and participate on the Forensics Team
engage in comic
to create community and a safe space for people with unconventional families
to connect with other Jews and strengthen the Jewish Community as well as learn about Judaism
MS/US FUN, FUN, FUN to plan fun activities for the M/US
to build connections and relaationships between Middle & Upper School girls
to talk about paleontology and geology
MS/US READ ’N FEED BOOK CLUB to promote reading Cori Hatcher
“This fabulous and inclusive tradition continues to thrive within our Roeper Community,” commented Carolyn Lett, originator of the Expo event “Students feel empowered, and invested, in their identities and interests ”MIDDLE SCHOOL MS BOOK CLUB (MSBC) to promote reading Cori Hatcher MIDDLE SCHOOL D&D for 6th & 7th Graders to play Dungeons & Dragons Lee Drain Ben Shepard MS/US ROEPER CHEER/ DANCE TEAM an extension of the school’s dance program with a school spirit aspect Bella Dease Amy Cova MS/US BLACK STUDENTS BLACK STUDENT UNION (BSU) to be a safe space for Black students that also works on broader community engagement Claire Martin Patrick Harris MS/US ARPON HEROES to learn a new game with its creator Julian Lelievre Brian Hewitt MS/US THE ROEPER COMIC CLUB to discuss and culture, including comic books, comic-cons, etc. Neel Grover Kevin Kildea MS/US UMATTER CLUB to educate and provide resources/support for mental health at Roeper Lydia Carlson, Maeve Stott, Irena Thomas Amy Cova Terryn Husband, Signe Smith, Ava Thomas, Irena Thomas/ Carolyn Lett Dan Jacobs Johnathan Dinneweth Kevin Kildea Ava Thomas Carolyn Lett MS/US Lily Stafeil, Sandra Smith-Johnson Barb Lasecki-Webb Evan Broad, Aiden Song & Rachel Wine Ben Fisher Anna Stuntz Ben Shepard
WE ARE BACK! The dedication to recreating iconic traditions and to creating new ones — like our Head of School playing bagpipes for the “First Friday” festivities — signals a welcome return. We have embraced the occasions to meet, greet, and celebrate our special community.
International Day of Peace is on Sept 21st , founded by the UN We celebrated on the 20th with our annual tradition of gathering around the Peace Pole for speeches from students about the history of Peace Day and the Peace Pole, a reading of alumna Jaanaki Radhakrishnan’s poem “Peace is a Ribbon”, singing the song “Peace Like a River” led by Hans and Nicole, the “peace begins with me” meditation led by Amy, and the Kids Peace Pledge Before the gathering, classes read and discussed books on peace and this year’s theme of “end racism, build peace ” Shoshanna orchestrated our peace project this year: kids created peace flags by responding to the prompt “peace begins with me when I ” and these flags have been on display between the Peace Pole and the bridge to the Steward Building
More about the Internation Day of Peace — https://www un org/en/observances/international-day-peace
Roeperfest, the school’s annual Fall picnic, was chock-full of food treats prepared and sold by student groups; games of chance, bubble blasters and dunk tanks; choreographed dancing as well as rousing karaoke; and endless smiles as Roeperians gathered to enjoy this mainstay of school culture
Special thanks to the Roeper Parent Community/RPC for their great leadership and tireless efforts!
The new park, now open for play, boasts a significant play area, a garden seating plaza, beautiful landscaping improvements with many new trees, an open grassy area for field sports, a basketball court, shot put, discus, and a long jump area Finishing touches to the park, including the rain garden, are underway A virtual tour is available at www.bhamgov.org/adamsparktour The Adams Park Development Project was made possible by the City of Birmingham Parks & Recreation bond and a gift from Roeper Longtime collaborator and friend of Roeper, Michael J Dul & Associates, designed the beautiful renovations
Far left: Sara’s older brother Rick ’91 spoke to gathered family and friends. Center: Dominic Gilette joins his and Sara’s sons Luca, Mateo and Jonas the ribbon cutting. Above: Sara’s parents Judi and Richard and brothers Rick ’91 and Brian ’99 unveil the plaques.
A few millennia ago, all of us at Roeper City and Country School were crammed together in Bloomfield with George and Annemarie We were squished into every corner But lunch was served, and there was a faculty lounge
We bought an old elementary school; much was gained and some things were lost The absence of lunch service was terrific for Primo’s, which sent many a pizza to my daughters Students felt distant from the Head, whose only office was back in Bloomfield Faculty learned to be accessible every instant Roeper was Roeper in an inadequate building Heck, Roeper could be Roeper in a barn Even a noisy barn
Now, with sustained commitment from across our community, we have made this building better -- again We’re retrieving some of what we had, and gaining facilities we never had
Roeper can be Roeper in a nicer building, where our amazing teachers can take a little break, students can find a quiet place to work, meals are available, and the Head can be present
It’s wonderful for all of us who love this school It’s a wonderful opportunity to use these spaces well, to help Roeper be even more Roeper
Not only are we online 24/7 at https://bit.ly/theshopsatroeper, but there will be in-person shopping days, too! Check the Roeper Record for dates and times Stop by! We’re located in the lobby of the Steward Bldg at Bloomfield We look forward to seeing you!
MICHAEL MRSAN ’18 was one of 68 students nationwide to receive the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation award for his research in physics at Miami University, Ohio
The first presentation was national in Orlando and guests featured several retired astronauts including keynote speaker Dr Harrison Schmitt and Scott “Scooter” Altman (who was the Top Gun movie lead stunt pilot who gave the famous upside-down “flippin’ the bird” sequence) Michael was also seated with two other astronauts Doug Hurley and Karen Nyberg who gave him sound academic and career advice
The second presentation was in Oxford, Ohio, from Hall of Fame Astronaut Christopher Ferguson and Miami University President Dr Crawford After an intimate dinner at President Crawford’s house and receipt of the Miami University President’s Challenge Medal, Michael accepted his award a second time from astronaut Christopher Ferguson in the University auditorium Michael’s professors and fellow students were also in attendance to hear his acceptance speech
SAM WOLSON ’07 directed a film that won an Emmy for Outstanding Interactive Media His film, Reeducated, is a virtual-reality documentary that takes viewers inside a reeducation camp in the Xinjiang region of China, guided by the recollections of three men who were imprisoned together at the same facility Watch the video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/FGUyo5dxke8
Career Builder and iHeartRadio Black Information Network have partnered to connect 100,000 Black job-seekers looking to advance their careers with employers This initiative also offers a free 45-minute career coaching session with professional coaches from around the world OLA ROBINSON LAWYER ’95 is honored and thrilled to be part of this fantastic initiative She is listed as a preferred coach, so share with your networks, sign up, and remember to select her as your preferred coach!
Where are the Black superheroes? That question posed back in 1993 sparked a revolution with the creation of Milestone Media The documentary, Milestone Generations tells the story of four Black creators who changed the face of superhero storytelling One of these creators was Roeper alum DWAYNE McDUFFIE ’80. Now on HBO Max, this documentary chronicles the all-too-brief history of Milestone Media, the first-ever comics company owned by Black artists and telling the stories of Black characters
Pictured L to R: Brian Genoa ‘90, Riki Mack ‘02, Miranda Beebe ‘84*, Janea Wilson ‘18, David Golden ‘06, Steven Scott ‘74
On October 28th, an enthusiastic group of alumni came together for the Annual Meeting of the Roeper Alumni Leadership Council Their daylong meeting on the Birmingham Campus included a Q&A with our new Head of School, presentations from Roeper staff, conversations with students, a tour of the newly renovated spaces, and planning for the year ahead The Alumni Leadership Council meets monthly online with the mission to develop, encourage, and grow alumni support for
Not pictured: Craig Hicks ‘82*, Brad Rourke ‘83, Donna Ancypa Holmes ‘87, Ola Robinson Lawyer ‘95, Ryan Sosin ‘03
the School’s mission and to maintain and promote lasting and meaningful connections between the School and its alumni We look forward to
Thanks to everyone who came out to support our first-ever Roeperpalooza held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on July 31! Musical acts featured (1) Jen Cass ‘89, (4) Alison Albrecht ‘18, Noah Sklar ‘20, and (2) Clyde Granzeier ‘21 Alumni Bands included (5) Conquistadors of Love featuring Alex Calderwood ’20, Tristan Wilson ’20, and Adam Cornier-Bridgeforth ’22, as well as (3) Red Grovers/Hujaza Collective featuring Brian Genoa ’90, Jeff Deutsch ’94, Kevin Deutsch ’91, and Mike Schiller ’93 Special thanks to (1) Adam Acey ‘89 for emceeing the event and Jeff Deutsch ‘94 and Brian Genoa ‘90 for putting it all together! David Veillette ‘13 and Linda Vernon graciously shared photos from the event
What do you do when it’s time for your 40 th high school reunion but there is a global pandemic preventing you from traveling? You ZOOM-UNION!
The Roeper Class of ‘80 and friends scheduled Zoom-unions between November and May last year, and people showed up! Reconnecting this way sparked enthusiasm for an in-person reunion which was held in Michigan the weekend of July 22 – 24 As I am one of the few Class of ‘80 grads still living in the area, I scheduled our reunion events at and near my home in downtown Farmington These included canoeing and kayaking at Kensington, a free concert and dinner in downtown Farmington, breakfast at the Farmington Farmers Market, lunch at the Roeper Hill House, a tour of the Lower School Campus, dinner out, a campfire and s’mores at my house, and breakfast at a local brunch place Special guests included Dick Tobin, Frank Blondale, and Nick Lauer, all of whom we were delighted to see In true Roeper fashion, we were so busy talking that we never got to the free concert or lit the campfire, but the din of familiar voices provided all the music and warmth we needed
Now that we have rediscovered how much we love being together, we are scheduling another series of Zoom-unions for the 2022/23 school year with plans for another in-person gathering in three years for our 45th If you’d like to join us, here are the Zoom-union dates and link
Looking forward to “seeing” you!
Sunday, February 19, 2023 5:00 – 6:00pm EST Join these online meetings by copying and pasting this URL into your browser’s search bar:
Sunday, May 21, 2023 5:00 – 6:00pm EST https://us04web.zoom.us/j/692613968?pwd= ZDR5eGdpTFVvdVdNSWJkWXN2YWpuQT09 Sunday, July 23, 2023 5:00 – 6:00pm EST
Or go to zoom.com and type in the following information when prompted: Meeting ID: 692-613-968 Meeting Password: 546806
An informal summer gathering/potluck of mostly retired Lower School teachers and staff was held at former Lower School Director Lorene Porter’s home in Metamora on Friday, July 26 Everyone had a wonderful time reminiscing and sharing thoughts and feelings about Roeper’s past, present and future In attendance: Jarie Ruddy (art), Emery Pence (Lower School science, moving to Middle School Director), Linda Pence (Lower School science and Assistant LS Director before moving to Middle School), Nan Griffith (Stage IV homeroom), Sue Williams (administrative assistant), Bob Williams (volunteer extraordinaire), Deb Veillette (PE and still going strong), Jennifer Evenson (vocal music and flute) and Carolyn Borman (Stage IV homeroom before and after working at Middle and Upper School) Dorene (Lorene’s twin) and her husband were also present
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Evenson. F
The Roeperian Order of the Fighting Tuna was created by Brian Felder — Class of 1985 Although the Tuna is a very important part of the community, it also stands as a reminder to just have fun “l think that a danger in high school and middle school is that everything seems so deeply serious,” said previous Fighting Tuna Ned Baker 2007/08
Thanks to the generosity and ingenuity of 1995/96 Fighting Tuna Sara Puzey Mendez (also current parent/faculty member), the wooden Tuna sign has been restored to its original splendor and a new plaque noting the names of the 37 Tunas to-date, has been hung in a prominent alcove in the senior hallway and looks quite glorious
Roeper held a 50-year class reunion on Saturday, October 22nd, for the Classes of 1971, 1972, and 1973 The event was a culmination of a two-year effort by the Planning Committee that resulted in a lovely gathering Many smiles, laughs, and fun conversations recalled school events and old friendships It was a highly emotional event since many had not seen each other, or the school, for nearly 50 years
Thirty-seven alumni, 13 guests, and two former teachers traveled from as far as Oregon, California, Massachusetts, and England for a full day of
activities preceded by a Friday evening meet and greet at the Rose Room in downtown Birmingham
The reunion included a welcome and lunch in the Main Building (Hill House), a tour of the Lower and Middle/Upper School campuses, a tribute to deceased classmates, faculty, and staff, and an informative presentation about the history of the school The evening concluded with a reunion dinner at Granite City Food and Brewery where former teachers Dick Halsey and Sid Fox were honored A 50-year booklet was created to commemorate the reunion and was distributed to all within the graduating classes of 1971 – 1973
Doug Winkworth died peacefully in his sleep the early morning of August 25th at the Southfield home he shared with his loving wife of 53 years, Mary Beth Winkworth Doug was cherished by his son Rob, Rob’s wife Diana and his grandson Owen He is survived by his brother Paul and his wife Susan
Doug was a seminal visionary and student of the Roeper philosophy His leadership and tenure as the school’s longest serving Chair of the Board of Trustees truly shaped the trajectory of The Roeper School His devotion to our foundational principles and our status as a trailblazer in gifted education trained our sights on a bright future while honoring our glorious past
From 1994 to 2005 — years that truly demanded our grit and our commitment — Doug led the way His profound intellect, his architectural and aesthetic sense, his relentless passion for equity and justice, and his unwavering commitment to the School set the standard for compassionate stewardship of the Roeper mission
In 2003, the Winkworth Plaza, the playful knoll of rounded lawns that centers our magnificent Bloomfield Hills Campus, was dedicated to Doug for his unparalleled contributions to Roeper
Sheldon Cohn, 66, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, died after sunset on October 19, 2022 Loving father of Jonathan and Jeremy; son of the late Joyce and the late Judge Avern Cohn; stepson of Lois Cohn; former husband of Barbara Cohn; brother of Leslie Magy ’74 and Thomas Cohn *77; former brother-in-law of Elyse Friedman and the late Dr David Madgy
In addition to his remarkable and celebrated career in advertising, Sheldon was a generous and creative contributor to a myriad of Roeper endeavors that advanced the school and most recently partnered with other Roeper alumni to produce a loving tribute to Jimmy and Vi Morris
Dr Vinay Reddy died Thursday, October 13, 2022, at his home Vinay’s life was about love, community, and helping and working with others to bring goodness into the world These values and approach to life started in a loving home, nurtured and focused at Roeper School, and then strengthened and practiced at MIT, SLU, U of M and throughout his time teaching and working as a pediatrician and eating disorder specialist As a champion for better care for individuals with eating disorders, he helped found SMEDA, Southwest Michigan Eating Disorder Association with the hope of bringing team-based treatment of eating disorders to southwest Michigan
Vinay is survived by his wife Laura Smidchens, his sister, Marlita Reddy-Hjelmfelt ’79 and her husband Eric Hjelmfelt, along with a number of other relatives — and cats Sniffy and Cataract F
Shara passed away on August 22 of this year She was the daughter of Wendy and Mark Evans and sister of the late Kiera Evans, Class of 2000
The sunshine that streams in through the skylights on the tri-level Dennis Naas Commons at the Birmingham Campus is at its most brilliant from the top floor
Since the completion of the first and second floors, these skylights have channeled the outside elements to fulfill a space that is the literal and figurative heart of the campus
The completion of the Designing for the Difference Capital Campaign was realized in phases, and while most of the project came to life in the Spring of 2017, the second phase was delayed and was most recently unveiled at the start of the 2022/23 academic year with the special ribbon-cutting ceremony of Sara’s Room and the Learning Center
The full completion of the Dennis Naas Commons transformed The Roeper School
The full completion of the Dennis Naas Commons transformed The Roeper School
Your partnership was essential and we are grateful for the hundreds of donors who placed Roeper among their philanthropic priorities and donated to this historic effort
Your partnership was essential and we are grateful for the hundreds of donors who placed Roeper among their philanthropic priorities and donated to this historic effort
Central to this transformation was the incomparable generosity and leadership of Laura and Pete Karmanos Their pacesetting contribution to Phase I, and Laura’s steadfast guidance as Co-Chair of Phase II, provided the foundation for the preferred future we only imagined at the advent of this meaningful effort
Laura once noted, “Everything we do for gifted children stems from our belief that their gifts should be supported The Designing for the Difference campaign helps fulfill that promise ”
… Promise kept!
Yours, F
The transformation of the Birmingham Campus is finished. Right: Peter and Laura Karmanos take a tour with Head of School Christopher Federico.
In honor of school founders George and Annemarie Roeper, The Roeper Legacy Society recognizes and honors those donors who have made a commitment to support The Roeper School through a planned gift.
Planned gifts will allow Roeper to thrive for generations to come. Membership to The Roeper Legacy Society is achieved by providing a gift to Roeper in one or more of the following ways:
• naming The Roeper School as a beneficiary in a will or trust;
• establishing a Charitable Remainder or Charitable Lead Trust with The Roeper School as the beneficiary;
• naming The Roeper School as the owner and beneficiary in a will, trust or a life insurance policy;
• naming The Roeper School as a beneficiary of a retirement asset, such as a 401(k) or 403(b) account;
• gifting personal property or real estate to The Roeper School.
All members of The Roeper Legacy Society will receive commemorative memorabilia celebrating the vision and progressive ideals established by George and Annemarie’s remarkable legacy. Contributors will be recognized at a special donor reception and in publications and digital references throughout the year.
Remembering The Roeper School in your will and estate plans is an investment in the future. For our children. For our community. For our world.
Let us help you sustain the school that you love. Leave your legacy to Roeper.
Please contact: Denita Banks-Sims, Director of Development denita.banks-sims@roeper.org 248.203.7312
This document is for informational purposes only.
Please consult you personal financial advisor, attorney, or accountant regarding the creation of a planned gift.
To join the Legacy Society, you may tear off this form along the perforation, complete it, and mail it to Denita Banks-Sims at The Roeper School/41190 Woodward Avenue/Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-5020 or click on this link to an interactive PDF: https://bbk12e1-cdn.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/1006/misc/misc_212427.pdf or scan the QR code.
THANK YOU. Your support is part of an extraordinary heritage, and we are delighted to welcome you to The Roeper Legacy Society. You have made an enduring contribution to our future.
The Roeper Legacy Society recognizes and honors those donors who have made a commitment to support The Roeper School through a planned gift.
Yes, I/we are pleased to confirm our estate provisions for The Roeper School as follows:
