Volume 24, Issue 1
2020-2021
About U.S.
A Publishing Tradition of The Unquowa School
A Message From the Head of School
I
have two very worn sticky notes on the philodendron pot that sits on my desk here at school. They’ve been there roughly since last March, a
We responded nimbly as a faculty this past spring to the need for full remote learning to taking our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism
few weeks after it became clear that we would all be sheltering in for the
(IDEA) initiative to a Zoom format to continue student and family engagement
foreseeable future and that I would be one of many school folks who would
in our justice and equity conversations, and we built an expansive health
be working simultaneously to create a vibrant remote learning world for our
center this past summer that has prepared us for keeping our students and
students that spring and to plan for the safe re-opening of our campus in
staff healthy and safe as we returned to school this fall. We have kept our
the fall.
school doors open every day since then.
On one of those worn sticky notes is scribbled a wise reminder from
Alums from eighteen to eighty-eight continue to express pride in their
James Baldwin: “Not everything that’s
school’s direction, a direction derived
faced can be changed but nothing can
from and clarified by Unquowa’s century-
be changed that isn’t faced.” These
old mission “to develop, educate and
words are from Baldwin’s unfinished
prepare our family of children with an
manuscript entitled Remember This
unafraid spirit to achieve their personal
House, which addresses the history
best in a changing world.” This mission
of race in America. Although Baldwin
was formed to serve students during
only finished thirty pages of the
a world pandemic over a hundred
project by the time he died in 1987, the
years ago and its bedrock concept has
manuscript’s intent to “re-member,”
impressively continued to do so through
or restructure, our country’s history
last spring and this fall and winter as
continues to be a guide post for those
we faced the impact of yet another
of us who are now charged with helping
pandemic and the call to be part of
young people to see our country’s
the positive move to right our country’s
history in a more informed and honest
history as well.
light.
A quote from the poet Emily
A poem that I often circle back to,
Dickinson, perhaps the most famous
“Of Hope and History,” by the late Miller Williams is a strong companion
and willing of modern shelterers, fills the second sticky note on my desk. It
to Baldwin’s manuscript for those of us who work with young people.
reads, “Life is a spell so exquisite that everything conspires to break it.” Our
Williams’ poem also speaks to our democracy’s need to establish equality
overarching goal, as a progressive, student-centric school, is to partner with
and justice for all, warning us that we must keep our eyes on this goal as
our families to protect that exquisite spell of life so that together we may
the “long gift” we owe our children, whose own eyes “are already set on a
raise and educate children who become adults who are personally happy,
land we will never visit”.
who are engaged in meaningful work and who are ethical.
I have always loved Williams’ expression “long gift” because, as a
It has been through the energy, grit and skill of a brave and loving team
concept, it’s such a warm companion to the “unafraid spirit” we aim to
of teachers and a committed group of tireless parents who have held hands
instill in each young person who comes through Unquowa. This past
with those teachers this past spring, fall and winter that we have been
spring it became a chilling companion as well to Baldwin’s words as my
able to keep their kids connected to our school, when nationally school
faculty, executive board and I faced making the changes to our school
seemed unfindable. The endless work of our visionary Board of Governors
that would help us to “re-member” or restructure our school in order to
and the unwavering generosity of Unquowa’s parents present and past,
soundly face the fall ahead.
grandparents, alumni and a larger steadfast community of friends have
Over the past decade and a half, our school has constantly re-examined
supported our efforts to heed Baldwin’s call to face this year’s challenges
the innovative programming that serves as a framework for providing our
and to protect the exquisite spell of life we have here at Unquowa from being
children with the “long gift” of unafraid spirit, as well as the campus and
broken by any and all conspiring forces.
facilities that support that programming. We had to ramp up that effort this past spring, summer and fall as we
I send my sincere gratitude to those of you who understand the importance of our work and who help us to make it possible. I am inspired
pivoted to new solutions in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the
to be spending the 2020-21 school year with all of you.
heightened call to addressing racial injustice in adequate terms.
Sharon Lauer, Head of School
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Tradition ~ Standing the Test of Time and Better than Ever! The Unquowa School opened its doors in October of 1917, just months before the outbreak of the 1918 Flu Pandemic. Its fresh-air country day school philosophy suddenly became not just appealing but essential. Students wore their winter hats and coats all day in active classrooms with the windows cracked open, no matter the temperature, and outdoor learning and play, an important element of the new school’s philosophy, quickly became an important health feature as well. Today, 104 years later, as we find ourselves in a similar pandemic, the original philosophy and traditions still hold true. Health and safety continue to be paramount, and Unquowa’s founding hallmarks are still profoundly relevant as we work to keep both the academic and social lives of our kids going strong. We hope that you’ll enjoy this issue: it’s a testament to the fact that meaningful, joyful learning can happen during challenging times!
Fun in the Winter Sun ~ Unquowa Tradition of Outside Play I was out for a hike with a friend recently, discussing what a lovely day it was. The temperature was 39 degrees when we realized that our idea of what constitutes outdoor weather has really changed of late! There is a saying in Denmark, “There is no bad weather, just bad clothing!” Here in the Unquowa Early Childhood Department we fully embrace that motto. From Muddy Buddy rain suits to full-in winter gear, we have found ways to enjoy our time outdoors rain or shine no what matter the weather! Being outside is a fundamental part of our philosophy and crucial to healthy child development. In my PreK classroom we aim to spend at least two hours outside every day - and that’s on a cold day! What exactly are we doing out there? We are learning in the most important way - through play! Children who spend more time outside develop a deeper connection to nature and are more passionate about conservation. Through imaginative outdoor play students learn problem solving, how to cooperate with peers, and most importantly how to have fun without an adult leading the activity. Most of us grew up spending a majority of our free time outside, but sadly that is not the world our children live in. I have seen in my years of teaching just how much young children need the chance to be wild, free and unstructured! Each day my students are learning outside; recent lessons have included bird-watching, searching for shapes and symmetry in trees, looking for signs of winter and reading street signs but there are also many opportunities to simply explore, observe and just play! This has been a cornerstone of Unquowa education since 1917 and this year students of all grades are outside more than ever. Here’s hoping that when we come out of this pandemic people will still embrace the importance of spending time in the great outdoors!
Faith Barbuto, PreK Teacher
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Examining and Challenging Tradition Mark Twain said that history does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes. While the circumstances of a historical event cannot be replicated, the power dynamics that underpin the conflict often mimic those of other times throughout the world. After exploring the seismic impact of ancient innovations and revolutions last year, the seventh grade humanities students are learning the importance of staying abreast of current events and transforming themselves into global citizens. They are studying world geography and cultural elements (e.g., government, art, economic systems) to build a comprehensive understanding of our world’s current state. As part of their weekly curriculum, students rotate the responsibility of selecting a news story and deliver a presentation to their peers. First, the student explores a reliable news source and finds an article that interests them. Once the teachers have approved it, the student becomes a pseudo-expert on the matter in preparation for their presentation. Their study culminates in demonstrating their knowledge by leading a guided Socratic seminar with their peers. So far, the topics have ranged from social justice in sports to international cyberattacks. Russia’s treatment of dissident Alexei Navalny has been of great interest, spanning many weeks as the story unfolded. The discourse is always civil, but the students are encouraged to ask difficult questions and be open-minded. They tackle these challenging issues with maturity and are gaining confidence in their insights. Throughout the remainder of the year, we will cover foreign policy and diplomacy, always with a close eye on the patterns that emerge when taking a long look at history. The world can be a frightening place when solely focused on its conflicts, but to our seventh grade Humanities class, the problems we face as a country and world are solvable, and our students are undeterred. The future is in good hands.
Vincent O’Hara, Humanities Teacher
Preparing for Winter In science, the first graders have been investigating the difference between weather and climate and comparing the changes that happen to the Earth and animals across the four seasons. In looking at the changes that animals go through in the winter, we discovered that bears are not the only animals that hibernate! Bats, hedgehogs, box turtles, and bumblebees are just a few of the many animals and insects that snuggle in for the winter. Just like the Unquowa students in the 1920’s, first graders created hibernation dens along the trail in the woods behind the school, serving as a way for us to connect with animals settling down for the season.
Mauren Diallo, First Grade Teacher
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Brook Lessons ~ An Unquowa Tradition! In the tradition of outdoor learning that began when our school was founded over a century ago, our sixth grade students recently invested serious time internalizing the scientific method, using the Horse Tavern Brook just steps from our classroom as our science lab. Students spent three consecutive days splashing around the edges of the brook on the grounds of The Unquowa School campus with their notebooks, rulers and measuring vessels, investigating in real world application, no nonsense practice with appropriate tools and simple traditional techniques. During these sessions, observations were made and measurements were taken and recorded. Analysis was conducted to compare hypotheses made back in the classroom based on textbook reading and viewing curated video clips. Real field work application always trumps isolated textbook explanations. This year’s sixth grade can confirm that learning the scientific method in the middle of a babbling brook beats sitting at a desk any day!
Cameron Ross-MacCormack, Sixth Grade STEAM Science Teacher
Trek to the Horse Tavern Brook Seventh graders wrapped up a science unit on habitats, ecosystems, and the needs of living things by getting wet and collecting live specimens from the Horse Tavern Brook to determine the health of the stream by documenting the residents found in it. We found snails, scud larvae and several species of minnows to declare our stream a level 2, mid-range quality of water stream. Not perfect but not bad as far as water quality goes.
Craig Knebel, Upper School Science Department Chair
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (IDEA) The Unquowa Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism Committee (IDEA) has been busy this winter hosting events that celebrate diverse voices and educate our community. We independently watched the documentary, Dawnland, about Indigenous erasure and then had a virtual conversation with Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy), who was a senior advisor on the film. We also learned from author Sonya Huber, professors Dr. Chris Emdin and Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, and activists around the country for our speaker series, How The House Was Built, co-sponsored by The Fairfield Museum and History Center, Fairfield Yabantu, and Pequot Library. This series illuminated the history of the social justice movement in the US and its relation to current issues and movements. The IDEA Committee welcomes all in the Unquowa community to join us in our mission to ensure an inclusive, welcoming, representative, and educationally comprehensive experience for our students and families.
Krissy Ponden, IDEA Co-Coordinator
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Memory Project, Syrian Lunch and a Visit with Chef Mona Eighth graders had the incredible opportunity to enjoy a special Syrian lunch from Sanctuary Kitchen in New Haven, and have a virtual visit with Chef Mona, a Syrian refugee, who shared her story with us. The eighth graders learned about the conflict and the challenges facing refugees and then heard firsthand from Mona what it was like to have to leave the home that she loved and forge a new life in America. For their contributions to The Memory Project this year, the students painted portraits of Syrian children who currently live in refugee camps after escaping the ongoing civil war in Syria. The portraits the students painted were delivered to the children in Syria as a way to spread hope through art and work toward a kinder world.
Krissy Ponden, Visual Arts Teacher
It is Project Feederwatch Time! Grade three students have the opportunity to assist in documenting bird species that call our school grounds their home this winter. This data will directly help The Cornell Lab of Ornithology determine species diversity in our surrounding area and help estimate the population and range for those birds that visit us. Our feeders are filled weekly with both sunflower seeds and suet in an effort to introduce our students to a large variety of birds this season. On our very first feederwatch, students assisted in locating and identifying a total of five species of birds including BlackCapped Chickadees, White-Breasted Nuthatches, Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker and even a House Finch. We’re off to a great start and look forward to seeing our feathered visitors throughout the winter.
Chandler Wiegand, Upper School Teaching Assistant
Exploring Our Senses When learning about our five senses kindergartners had so much fun making mud! With the mud we made “mud faces” on our trees in the Unquowa woods. We added leaves, rocks, acorns or whatever we could find in nature to make a face. Exploring our senses wasn’t over yet. We continued to make “mud” inside with chocolate pudding, crushed oreos and even a gummy worm added to the sensory fun.
Ann Palm, Kindergarten Teacher
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Practicing Mindfulness Our fourth graders are fully engaged in the benefits of mindfulness! Each day in the classroom, we start by opening all the windows, turning off the lights and ringing a chime to signal “two minutes of mindful listening.” During these two minutes, students are encouraged to practice a recently learned breathing technique or affirmation. We use square or triangle breathing, 4:8 breathing or heart and belly breath. Through the use of affirmations, students are learning to offer kind words to others and especially to themselves. We begin by thinking of a loved one and then repeating silently in our minds, “May you be happy...May you be healthy... May you be safe...May you be strong.” Then we practice this same mantra focusing on ourselves. Students brainstormed more possible personal affirmations as well, “You are brave...You are kind...You are generous...” Students were asked, “How do you feel after silently repeating an affirmation to yourself?” The responses included: “I feel safe, I feel calm, I feel ready for the day...” Later in the day, at lunch time, our fourth graders combine mindfulness practice with leadership skills. Each day, two fourth graders ring the bell and announce to the student body what the chefs have prepared for lunch. Afterwards, the fourth graders lead the dining room in a breathing technique, yoga pose or affirmation before the food is served. This has served as a terrific way to center ourselves, take a moment to breathe, acknowledge gratitude and realign for our afternoon at Unquowa. We are so proud of the commitment and leadership and mindfulness skills fourth graders are developing and sharing.
Carlene Gordon, Fourth Grade Teacher
Parents Practice Mindfulness Too!
“It’s wonderful that the Inner
Originating as part of Linda Lantieri’s Inner Resilience Program, Unquowa parents have
Resilience Mindfulness Parent Group
participated in the Inner Resilience Mindfulness Group since 2013. As a parent of Unquowa
has continued to meet because
graduate Tess Haskel ’16, I participated in Linda’s original group and have led the group for
scheduling time for ourselves is
the past five years following Linda’s retirement.
harder now than it was before, but
During the course of the program we cover topics that include: meditation, mindfulness,
probably more important. And as
active listening, coping with conflict, managing strong emotions, among others; as well as the
a parent, I have found the skills I
application of these concepts to real life situations, relationships and family.
am practicing and the support of
There is much richness to every discussion and many group members find the experience to be highly valuable, and have participated for many years, finding new learning each year.
the group very helpful during these challenging times.”
This year the Inner Resilience Mindfulness Parent Group is meeting virtually. While we miss our in person time, we are enjoying practicing mindfulness and seeing each other from the comfort of home. Our Zoom skills have improved and we are really getting some benefit from making the time for self care through thoughtful and meaningful discussions, and meditations.
Annie Zimmerli, PsyD & Parent of Tess ’16
David McKinnis, Unquowa Board Member, Mindfulness Group Participant and Parent Of Alex’18
Dedicated Writing Seminar Space Each year, the fifth grade class receives a unique opportunity: a daily class entirely dedicated to practicing and perfecting their writing! Whether students enter the grade excited to write, or nervous about their abilities, Writing Seminar is always a fun, exploratory, and engaging class that meets students where they are and takes them to new heights. This year, we have added a new benefit for the Fifth Grade Writing Seminar: a dedicated Writing Room! In the Writing Room, students have incredible views to inspire their work, loads of natural light, and a space that showcases their hard work. So far, students have already published many pieces - two favorites have included a narrative story of their choosing, and a scary story inspired by writing tips from the scare master himself, R. L. Stine! Each time we publish, we read our stories aloud together, give a HUGE round of applause for the brave and unafraid spirits we see in our classmates, and proudly display our work for the Upper School to see.
Eric Snow, Fifth Grade Teacher
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All You Need is Love In November, PreK was busy cultivating their spirit of gratitude. They studied Native American cultures and folktales and learned that the concept of giving thanks is deeply embedded into these teachings. Native peoples gave thanks to the Earth and the animals. Our students showed gratitude to the Earth by helping the chefs put the Unquowa garden to bed for the winter. We created our own gratitude boxes to collect things that bring us joy and make our hearts full. To honor World Kindness Day we made thank you hearts for all our teachers and staff and put them on their cars in the parking lot. PreK was so enthusiastic about this activity that we had to rush inside and make more to be sure every car got a note! While we were outside performing our act of gratitude, Mother Nature gave us a gift - a pile of leaves just made for jumping for joy!
Faith Barbuto, PreK Teacher Krissy Ponden Awarded Art Educator of the Year! Selected by the National Art Education Association (NAEA) interest group, Unquowa Visual Arts Department Head Krissy Ponden was recently awarded the Independent School Art Education (ISAE) “Art Educator Of The Year” Award. The NAEA and ISAE are honored to recognize Krissy for all her efforts to help shape the future of art education in independent schools. Congratulations Krissy!
Unquowa Students Honored with State & National Art Awards! Two of our eighth grade students, Sabine Wadadli and Daniela Lujan, have been selected to have their work on display at the sixth annual National Art Honor Society/National Junior Art Honor Society (NAHS/ NJAHS) Juried Exhibition sponsored by the National Art Education Association. Out of 1,187 submissions, 93 works were selected including Sabine’s conceptual art piece, If I Don’t Make It I Love You,
and Daniela’s print, True Butcher’s Guide. You can view NAEA’s virtual exhibition by visiting arteducators.org.
Additionally, Sabine, Daniela and Alex Renzulli each received
Is It Just A Number? My project is to bring awareness to the 6 million Jewish people that died during the Holocaust and the tragedies that occured and are in danger of being forgotten. ~ Alex Renzulli
Honorable Mention at the recent CT Regional 2021 Scholastic Art Awards. Their works can be viewed on the virtual exhibition at ctartawardsexhibit.net.
Krissy Ponden, Visual Arts Department Chair If I Don’t Make It I Love You The rights conferred by the Second Amendment should never be more important than the lives that have been lost from gun violence. This is our chance to make a change and take a stand to stop another child, another parent, or another teacher from becoming victims of a school shooting.
~ Sabine Wadadli
True Butcher’s Guide This is an honest butcher’s guide revealing the truth about the meat industry. Slaughterhouses contribute to air pollution: meat contains a lot of preservatives and saturated fat,which leads to heart disease: and the land the slaughterhouses take up means trees have to be cut down.
~ Daniela Lujan
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In This Together! A Glimpse into Our Day Since our 2020-2021 school year began in September we have been so happy and fortunate to safely return to school. Our “Unafraid Spirits” have continued to flourish, learn, explore, laugh, play and grow together, all day and every day in our special Unquowa community.
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page 10
Something Sweet from the Kitchen While the usual over-the-top sweets smorgasbord was not in the cards for Winterfest this year, the kitchen staff could not depart for winter break without sharing some sweet delight with the kids. The Unquowa kitchen had a blast making treat boxes for the students which included caramel corn, blueberry jam thumbprint cookies, and a Winterfest classic: chocolate dipped clementines. One of the items we most missed making were the crowns and shields made from a roll-out sugar cookie recipe we have been using for years. If you like, you can use this recipe to make a batch of your own at home. You can dip them in chocolate, frost them, or cut them into rounds to make cookie sandwiches and just imagine Winterfest in your mind!
Jess Toebe, Head Chef
Unquowa Sugar Cookies Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour 1 ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 1 pinch ground cinnamon 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract Directions: 1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon to combine. 2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and mix to combine, scraping well after everything is incorporated. 3. Add the flour mixture all at once (unless your mixer physically can’t handle that), and pulse the mixer on low a few times to avoid a floury cloud from poofing up out of the mixing bowl. Mix on a low speed just until the flour is incorporated, scraping down the bowl as necessary. Form the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour. 4. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thick. Cut the dough using your favorite cookie cutter and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. 5. Bake until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. For even baking, rotate the pan halfway through baking. Transfer the baked cookies to a cooling rack and cool completely before decorating or serving.
Growing New Ideas in the Gator Garden Winter is a time for rest and reflection, and if you’re a gardener it’s one of the most exciting times to dream up all the delicious fruits and vegetables you will begin to grow in the spring. If you are me or Chef Will you are even more excited about planning the many new endeavors to be tackled in our Unquowa Culinary Garden in the coming months. In addition to the usual growing of fresh fruits and vegetables, we will be focusing on teaching the kids about the importance of composting, perennial gardening, and cultivation inspired by indigenous peoples. We are really excited to dig in with the kids, and give them a hands-on experience in growing sustainable food and seeing how that impacts personal health, the health of the environment, and how it plays a role in our community. Welcome spring! we are ready.
Jess Toebe, Head Chef
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Hong Bao and Lion Dancing! Unquowa parent, Mrs.Toolan joined our kindergarten and fifth grade students for a virtual visit to celebrate Chinese New Year. She taught the students how to say greetings like “Gong Xi Gong Xi” and “Xin Nian Kuai Le” which translate to “congratulations,” “happiness to you” and “Happy New Year.” She also treated the students to Hong Bao, a traditional lucky red envelope that contained money and mandarin oranges. Children usually receive Hong Bao from their parents, grandparents and relatives on Chinese New Year to bring them good luck and fortune. Students ended their celebration with the “The Lion Dance” to scare away any evil spirits and to bring in luck and prosperity for the new year.
Self Portraits: Old & New! Second grade examined the wonderful artwork of Kehinde Wiley, looking at his pieces which weave old styles with the new. This gave students the opportunity to appreciate the ever evolving world expressed through art. Wiley’s statement, “All art is self-portraiture,” reminds us that we all bring our own experiences and emotions to what we create. We are able to showcase our unique traits through our own artwork. Solidifying this knowledge, the students spent thoughtful time making their own amazing self portraits in the recognizable style of Kehinde Wiley.
Betsey Young, Second Grade Teacher
After-School Storytelling Club The Dungeons & Dragons Club, which began last year, has been going strong (and nearly nonstop) despite the pandemic. Through D&D, students can go on epic quests to save the world, allowing them a chance to feel powerful at a time when so much feels out of their control. We were able to meet virtually during the summer, and starting in the second trimester this year, eighteen Upper School students have been meeting across three online groups on a weekly basis for an hour and a half of wonderfully escapist fun, intrigue, and adventure. We’re incredibly proud to be able to continue offering this after school activity that has grown immensely popular over the last few years.
Eric Snow, Sammy Brownlow and Noah Appleton, Dungeons and Dragons Club Advisors
5K Friday Fun Perhaps it was the track and field unit last fall where our students mastered the techniques of running short sprints, long sprints and middle distance events. Maybe it’s their drive to achieve lofty goals during PE class. For all we know, it may simply be their infinite amounts of energy. Whatever the reason, our sixth grade students have elevated PE’s Fun Friday to a whole new level. No longer is Friday game day - it is now 5K Friday. The excitement on Fridays is infectious as more and more sixth graders are participating in running a 5K, or 25 laps around our 200 meter track. We encourage all Upper School grades to join us on what has become a personally rewarding Friday adventure. Go Gators!
Sarah Pollex, Physical Education
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The Show Must Go On! While this is no ordinary school year, one staple that remains constant is our weekly assemblies. Of course, these require a bit of reconfiguring but one thing we learned from the spring is that virtual assemblies can still capture the magic of Unquowa’s weekly assembly. Ms. Lauer and I meet weekly after school to re-create the stage element of assembly and record, then it’s back to the editing room where assembly comes to life. Each week, we have performances, eighth grade speeches and announcements. And of course each assembly ends with Ms. Lauer’s saying, “Have a great day,” followed by the ringing of the bell. On Wednesdays in homerooms students around the school meet and watch the assembly all together at the same time. While it isn’t “exactly” the same, it feels close. Unquowa Broadcasting Network continues to live on.
Lloyd Mitchell, Director of Operations & IT
The Coronation Tradition Continues... While the COVID pandemic may have put Winter Festival on hold, the crowning of this year’s king and queen could not wait! Seventh graders Michael Jones and Madison Mitchell were filmed being COVIDsafely crowned by last year’s king and queens, Jack Barbuto, Ryley Tate-Padian and Karleigh Schmidt, then first graders were filmed waving to their royalty from a distance. The most crucial part of the ceremony, and the reason it could not possibly be postponed, was the Royal Decree from Michael and Madison that Pajama Day, which always happens on the last day before Winter Break, would still occur, Winterfest or no Winterfest! Do not despair, we will not let the fortieth year of this great Winterfest tradition be passed by... Can you say, “Springfest,the Movie?”
Science Fair Redesigned! Our fourth, fifth and sixth graders have been busy engineering and designing for the 2021 Virtual STEM Fair. Sixth grade students were tasked with developing solutions to everyday problems. Fifth grade students conceptualized and produced toys, considering play, fun and safety etc. Fourth grade students addressed global issues including climate change. Students decided on a problem to address, researched what has already been done and then designed a unique solution. Students selected materials, developed prototypes and ran trials. What do you do when something goes wrong? Our student scientists learned, we go back and redesign and then test again. Be on the lookout for the STEM Fair Virtual Gallery highlighting all the student-generated STEM projects, out now!
Cam Ross-MacCormack, Carlene Gordon, Sammy Brownlow - Stem Fair Science Teachers
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The Fund For Unquowa...Join Us Now!
There’s still time to be part of this splendid group of donors whose generosity supports extraordinary programs which benefit every student, and every teacher every day at Unquowa.
~ Peter Lanni and Melody Waterhouse, 2020 Fund For Unquowa Co-Chairs
2020-2021 Donations as of February 28, 2021 Current Parents Athena and Daniel Adamson Natasha Auguste-Williams Eric and Lisa Broder Enrico Cacciatore and Kathryn Ingram Cacciatore Susanna Carrillo and Andrew Foote David Cooper and Charis San Antonio Cooper Bradford and Seena Cushman Marlon and Karin Dale Peter and Bridgett di Bonaventura Michael and Lauren Ehrlich Ryan and Marianna Erenhouse Carlos Esteves and Corti Cooper Elizabeth and Harris Falk
Charles and Margaret Farinella Ariana and Luke Ferrandino Michael and Kusumarn Fleming Jennifer Frascatore Bowman and Jennifer Garrett Rahul Ghai and Priyanka Singh Michael Higgins Christopher and Melissa Howe Stephen and Gina Jones Gerard and Shannon Kavanaugh Tré Kayumba and Hannah Onchak Matthew and Rachel Kelley Dan and Crissy Kelly Gedas Keras and Giedre Kere Bill and Beth Krueger
Philipp Kusche and Melody Waterhouse Maggie Lehnerd-Reilly and Kerry Reilly Tim Lewis and Alisyn Camerota Amber and Alex Leykikh Jeffrey and Rosalind Looby Elizabeth McCance Saral and Heidi Mehra Daniela Ami and Bruce Musser Vincent and Donna O’Hara Celiane Oliveria and Marcos Borges Kim and Neil Phillips Scott and Laurie Renzulli Will and Alison Roberts
David Ryan and Susan Breen Joe Saint and Elizabeth Hayes Mike Scotto and Vicki Hornbostel Michael and Karen Speller Sandra and Michael Srihari Gregory and Hilary Tanner Tara Tanzer Alexander Thomson and Katie Shields Thomson Peter and Jo Toolan Aryn and Rebekah Wadadli Bojana and Michael Weatherly David and Heather Winkelmann Jenah and Jack Yeung
Alumni Claire Abate ‘14 Steve Aikenhead ‘54 Elizabeth W. Brew Boyd ‘70 Jonathan Brew ‘72 Samantha Brownlow ‘07 Eric Dawson ‘76
Henry du Pont ‘81 Joan du Pont ‘50 Lauren Gabriele ‘98 & Steve Diforio Richard Harriss III ‘52 Brooke Jones ‘18 Kelly Jones ‘19
Evan Lawrence ‘68 Lily Panagos ‘19 Lola Panagos ‘17 Lucy Panagos ‘16 Victoria Polito ‘91 George Wheeler Seeley ‘53
Olivia Seymour ‘14 Max Spitzer ‘06 Cecily Stoddard Stranahan ‘47 John Richard Turner ‘48
Faculty, Staff & Friends Andrew and Gina Arnold Samantha Brownlow ‘07 Bruce G. Lockhart Scholarship Fund Janice and Dick Cerone Peggy and Phillip Chappell Robert and Deborah Colantuoni John and Mary Curran Michael and Jennifer Dooher Chriss and George Gombos Douglas and Daneen Grabe Mark and Sara Greenawalt Paul and Ellen Greenberg Robert and Joyce Hobbie
Craig and Jennifer Knebel Barry Kresch and Leslie Miller Peter Lanni and Cornelia Gallo Sharon Lauer and Jerome Joseph Debbie and Brian Leidlein David and Sharon Mack Karl and Lynn Martone MasterCard Bruce and Sally McDermott Estate of Richard McKinley III David and Elizabeth McKinnis Brian and Sharon Miles Paula Moloney
Ralph Money and Laura Babala Jacqui and John Mudre Nor’ Easter Foundation Ann Palm Steven and Joan Panagos Vivian Perez Ted Morton Photography Sarah and Ross Raggio Roberts Family Charitable Fund Matt and Gail Smith State Street Foundation Alan and Debbie Steckler Sankar and Subhashree Sunder
Kevin Taylor (Taylor Family) The McCance Foundation Stanley and June Topar United Way of Central & Northeastern Connecticut Visa Incorporated Voya Financial Joel and Nicole Whidden Stephen and Doni Wisdom Jessica Wolf
Grandparents..................................In Honor Of Joseph and Jan Bevan......................Dylan McCormick ‘16 Anna Panagos-Chandler....................Liliy Panagos ‘19 ..........................................................Lola Panagos ‘17 ..........................................................Lucy Panagos ‘16 Kit Corti and William Cooper..............William Esteves Cooper ‘27 (Grade 2) ..........................................................Micah Esteves Cooper ‘29 (Kindergarten) Teresa De Carvalho............................Sofia De Carvalho ‘26 (Grade 3) ..........................................................Olivia De Carvalho ‘27 (Grade 2) ..........................................................Dominic De Carvalho ‘30 (PreK) Dion and Rachelle Ehrlich...................Beckett Ehrlich ’23 (Grade 6) ..........................................................Cassidy Ehrlich ‘29 (Kindergarten) Matthew Evans..................................Dylan Phillips ‘21 (Grade 8) Charles and Shelby Hodgkins............Rose Choniski ‘28 (Grade 1)
Virginia Klein..........................................Halie Perkins ‘19 Sharon Lauer and Jerome Joseph.........Vivian Kelley ‘25 (Grade 4) Shelley Levi and Kevin Sorhaindo...........Anthony Vendittio ‘23 (Grade 3) ..............................................................Archer Venditto ‘31 (Transitional K) Richard and Kathy Mongelluzzo.............Olivia Albenze ‘12 ..............................................................Rachel Albenze ‘15 Mona Mulvey..........................................Katherine Viteretto ‘10 Joan Phillips...........................................Dylan Phillips ‘21(Grade 8) Mary Jo Scott........................................Samantha Renzulli ‘18, ..............................................................Alex Renzulli ‘21 (Grade 8) Suzanne and James Spiecher................Jaxon Spiecher ‘28 (Grade 1) Deborah & Stephen Sylvestro................Ava Sylvestro ‘24 (Grade 5) John Trainer...........................................Sebastian Kerr ‘25 (Grade 4)
Donate to the 2020 Fund For Unquowa by June 30, 2021 - online at unquowa.org/giving or use the enclosed green envelope
page 14
Notes From the UPA It seems like yesterday that we welcomed all of our new and returning students to start our new school year. Our first UPA meeting went down in the Unquowa history books as our first-ever virtual meeting. The screen was filled with many tiles representing our dedicated community. We moved our second meeting outside to Owen Fish Park which yet again was another Unquowa history-making event. Despite the challenges the UPA was off and running from day one, starting with a Teacher Appreciation Day which included a walkway of potted mums! One for every teacher and staff member to take home. We displayed many signs on our cars and posted some on the grounds showing our appreciation. The potted mums were a big hit! November proved busy creating different ideas to support the Mercy Learning Center. We ran our annual food drive and with thanks to the parents and eighth grade students we held a very successful two day coat drive as well. We rounded off the year with our annual holiday gift card drive to support our neighbors in need at the Fairfield Family Services with our community proudly donating $1,500 in virtual gift cards. Our Teacher Appreciation Breakfast in February was a wonderful and tasty success. Catered by Gruel Britannia, we provided individually wrapped meal orders for all staff and teachers with a delivery to Unquowa just in time for breakfast! The students created many heartfelt appreciation notes and artwork that was displayed for all to see. The UPA continues to sponsor the Parent Mindfulness Workshop series, has launched new items through our online Gator Goods spirit wear shop and has consistently kept busy planning and supporting many new events and activities: Our Virtual Composting Workshop and Family Magic Evening were huge hits and our Annual Wine Tasting “The Social” was yet another historic moment at Unquowa. “The Social” was a virtual event with over forty participants supporting the school and allowing them to chat with fellow parents for the first time in the school year. We are so thankful to our dedicated community that made this event such a success. UPA’s signature event is coming up soon - The Annual Gala and Auction “A New Dawn, A New Day, I’m feeling Good.” This year’s Gala and Auction will be held virtually from Monday, April 19th - 22nd. Save the dates and watch for more details.
Kate Tate-Padian & Heather Winkelmann, Unquowa Parents Association Co-Presidents
The Fund For Unquowa 2020-2021 Join our community of splendid donors whose generosity underwrites the extraordinary programs which benefit every student, and every teacher every day at Unquowa. Give now to support the unique experiences our students receive throughout their year with experiential learning, cultural and creative activities, performing arts and our STEAM hub, the Makerspace.
Peter Lanni and Melody Waterhouse, 2020 Fund For Unquowa Co-Chairs Go online at unquowa.org/giving or use the enclosed green envelopes
In Baby News! Welcome Baby Margaret! Congratulations to Upper School Teaching Assistant Chandler Wiegand and his wife Jillian Maher who are proud new parents of their daughter Margaret Wiegand who was born in January this year.
page 15
Alumni News Condolences Former Head of School William C. Simon, passed away November 15th, 2020 at the age of 74. William (Bill) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and a Master’s degree from Fordham University both in English. Bill had a lifelong career as an educator living in Ohio and NY and finally settling in CT with his wife Janet where he served for six years as the Unquowa Head of School from 1998 to 2004. Joan Miano Joakim passed away earlier this year on January 13th. Joan studied French at Mount Holyoke College and then began her career in teaching. Joan was former Head of The Unquowa School for four years from 1975 to 1979. Later on, a highlight of her career was a summer program for her students “ Summer in Saint Pierre” and a successful time as an ESL teacher. Born in 1930 Joan had a deep love for her family and European travel. Former student Phillip Alexander Miano Unquowa Class of 1978 and son of Joan Miano Joakim, sadly passed away at the age of 55, one day prior to his mother’s passing in January. Graduate of the University Of Connecticut, Philip was an avid motorcyclist and made many friends on his Harley. He served his country as a Special Forces medic and was the proud father of his two daughters, Evelyn and Esmé Miano, of Weston, CT. Our deepest sympathy go out to the Joakim Miano family. Jenna Godfrey ‘11
Lauralton High School sophomore Kelly Jones ‘19 continues to
is currently attending
have success in Cross Country! Recently Kelly was highlighted
Fordham University
in the media for finishing second in the SCC Division B race
School of Law and
(20:54) and placing sixth overall in the league. Her season
her twin brother
honors include ALL SCC and Coaches All-State selection.
Andrew Godfrey ‘11
Academically, Kelly has achieved high honors every quarter,
has a Software Engineer
is a member of the Spanish Club, Mock Trial, recipient of the
position at Google.
Spanish underclassmen award and is a competitive Irish dancer. Unquowa Alum Lauren Baratz Logsted ‘76 is the author of 40 books for adults, teens and children, including The Sisters 8 series for young readers which she created with her husband Greg Logsted and their daughter Jackie. Her most recent novel Joint Custody co written with her daughter Jackie Logsted was released in
January and received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. A sequel, The Great Gatz, will be released near the end of the year.
This year’s captain of the Fairfield Prep Soccer Team Will Hansen ‘17 had a great season 11-2-0, leading his team to win the FCIAC Championship! He will be attending Providence College in the fall. His sister Morgan Hansen ‘11 received her BS from Franklin Pierce University in 2019 and has been happily working in Quality Control for Blue Buffalo, a pet food division of General Mills since her graduation. Pictured here with Alum dad Kristopher Hansen’ 83 and mom Donna Hansen. Sasha Mack ‘05 had a very busy year in 2020! She graduated from University of Michigan with her MBA in May and is now employed at Facebook /Instagram. In November, in a small fall micro wedding (due to Covid) Sasha married her now husband Dan Volz. Congratulations and best wishes to Sasha and Dan! Caroline C. Barney is an award-winning author of The Trebor Tales series. Known at Unquowa as Caroline Chilvers Barney ‘89 her busy career began in advertising in New York City during which time Caroline was named one of the Top 40 People Under 40 In Advertising to watch by AdAge. She now lives with her husband and two daughters in Connecticut. Taking a break from the NYC pace, Caroline is following her passion for writing and recently released two books - The Trebors Tales and Return of the Malpeds.
THE UNQUOWA SCHOOL 981 Stratfield Road, Fairfield, CT 06825-1697
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Unquowa Culture: Our Unafraid Spirits!