Head of School
Unquowa has long been a school that asks students to turn off and store their cell phones from arrival at school until getting into transportation at the end of the day. We have always been a school that builds outdoor play into its daily curriculum, and our teachers understand the value of lowsupervised recess from early childhood through 8th grade. We have always been a school that fiercely protects the meaningful inclusion of the visual and performing arts for students - young and old - while managing to also provide a substantial curriculum of critical thinking, reading and writing, and a math program that guarantees students’ completion of at least algebra but often geometry before they graduate and move on to day and boarding high schools.
So when Jonathan Haidt’s latest book, The Anxious Generation, arrived to rave reviews this past March, I was enthusiastic not because it was a new message for our school but because it reinforced what we already believe and practice. My hope was that Haidt’s book would offer additional advice on how both schools and families can support young children and adolescents to live thoughtfully in a world of increasing technology.
A Publishing Tradition of the Unquowa School
access to chatrooms and social media sites competes with our ability as a school to use meaningful learning software like Google classroom during our school day while still keeping our kids’ minds in the real classroom with their teachers and classmates.
Turning off cells and storing them during the school day is no longer enough. We have realized that more is needed if as a school we are to improve our ability to protect our kids from the subtle growing impact of the online world while continuing to recognize and use the aspects of technology that truly do contribute to rich learning. Our faculty do not want to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” and become Luddites; we want to be thoughtful and careful educators.
In our hearts, we all know that children need to spend their growing years in the real world, not the curated online one, if they are to develop a strong sense of social and emotional well-being. Living with hours of online life - be it in front of an iPad as a toddler or on social media and online games as an older child - gives the developing minds of children and adolescents a false sense of who they are in relationship to the real world and consequently can lead to the anxiety and depression that Jonathan Haidt’s research describes.
Haidt’s book has been a welcome reinforcement to the conversations our faculty have already begun to have about the challenge of keeping the impact of cell phones and social media out of our school day. Younger and younger children own phones, phones have become wristwatches, and the creep of kids’ creative
With that in mind, this past spring we assigned The Anxious Generation as summer reading for all members of our school community, both faculty and staff. We also invited parents to join us in this summer reading and have scheduled an interactive book discussion for Thursday, October 10th for the community to follow. Faculty, Unquowa families - present and past - and community guests will gather to discuss this challenge. We will suggest how we can work together - home and school - to thoughtfully improve our children’s and our own relationship with technology. Yes, that means modeling as well. We adults need to learn how to put down our phones and to stop scrolling when we are with our young people.
I watch our kids throughout the school day here at Unquowa and I have not lost hope. What I most often see is curiosity and real interaction with each other and a genuine desire for involvement in the real world with their classmates and teachers. We have only to model and support that real interaction and involvement to turn the tide we see coming. Could a sabbatical from our own devices one hour a day, one day a week, one week a year be a brave start?
Wishing you all a restful summer offline…
Sharon Lauer, Head of School
Highest National Award!
We are so proud to announce that the most recent edition of Pen & Paper, Volume 13, “New Horizons” has won three prestigious awards between the two major scholastic publication associations we are a part of. First, the American Scholastic Press Association awarded us a First Place award. Secondly, and more prestigiously, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association awarded us both the coveted Gold Crown Award as well as a Gold Medalist Certificate with a score of 916/1000 points (which includes an All Columbian honor for our work on the essentials of creating a successful literary-art magazine). When we received the Gold Medalist Critique, the reviewers at CSPA had this to say about the various works in our publication:
“Eye catching”
“Excellent”
“Beautiful color”
“Almost mystical”
“Love the spot of color”
“Words create visual images”
“Poignant and personal”
“A perfect ending”
“Art compliments the poem, provides imagery for it”
“Creative premise”
“Juxtaposition of desert and mountains - stunning”
“So many overlapping intricate layers”
“So good - I couldn’t believe it was written by a 5th Grader - so mature!”
“So descriptive”
“Mesmerizing”
“Powerful”
“The entire Voices of Change section is outstanding!”
And, finally, in our write up, the CSPA reviewers wrote:
“Pen & Paper is so impressive. As I read the poetry and short stories, I had to keep reminding myself of the youth of the contributors. The photography and art works evoked the same reaction. It is inspiring to see so much talent and creativity. Congratulations on your Gold Medalist and All Columbian honor!”
In addition, our very own Alegria Rojas (Class of 2025) was awarded a Certificate of Merit for photography by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for her contributions to this last edition of the magazine (especially for her stunning photograph titled “Albatross” about which the reviewers exclaimed: “Amazing action shot!”). Congratulations, Alegria! And congratulations to the entire Pen & Paper staff! View our award winning Pen & Paper, Volume 13 at: unquowa.org/pp-13/
- Eric Snow, Pen & Paper Advisor
Fund For Teachers Fellow Recognition
Congratulations to our Social Studies chair, Ariel Warshaw, who has officially been recognized as a Fund for Teachers Fellow based on her unwavering dedication to creating a transformative learning environment that positively impacts students. She has joined a nationwide cohort of passionate individuals committed to personal and professional development. Ariel was granted $5000 by Fund For Teachers to explore the experiences of the Hibakusha (survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings) across Japan, examining how culture influences reconstruction and peace studies in both traditional and modern Japanese society. To complete the funding of this experience Ariel was awarded the Unquowa 2024 Birdsall Faculty Award as well. Her goal is to develop a unit focusing on the atomic bombings, utilizing oral history, primary sources, and personal testimonies. Ariel is visiting Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kyoto, and Osaka during July for her research, and we look forward to seeing her bring this experience to life in her classroom and our broader community. Congratulations again to Ariel on this remarkable accomplishment!
Voices of Change
The 7th annual Voices of Change conceptual art show and reception was held in May at Robert Valle Designs in the historic Arcade Mall in Bridgeport. This year, all 8th grade students presented their art and writing on issues ranging from gun violence to the pressures of social media beauty standards. Each student selected and thoroughly researched a topic that was of interest to them and that they want to see change for the better. They looked at the historical, social, and cultural influences that impacted the issue, delved into data, and read narratives from individuals impacted by the issue. Working in a wide variety of media, students created art pieces that spoke to their chosen topic and presented them in a new way to engage viewers to recognize the importance of the issue. Alongside the artwork, the students’ artist statements were posted detailing the issue and posing a call to action. Each student’s work can be viewed on the digital gallery along with a video interview where they discuss their project.
These projects are timely, powerful, and illuminate the realities of the world that our young people live in. It is my hope that they cause adults to pause and reflect and, better yet, move them to take positive action to help create a better world for us all. Our 8th graders will be leading the way. View the 2024 Voices of Change at unquowa.org/voc-24/
- Krissy Ponden, Visual Arts Teacher
Virtual Poetry!
Each year the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers (CTCOLT) offers a virtual poetry contest, inviting hundreds of students from Connecticut schools in 7th through 12th grades to compete, by reciting poetry via Zoom, in the languages that they study. Each student received a poem at their level and teachers helped explain the meaning. This year, we had five students participate in either Mandarin, Spanish or Greek poetry recitation against four hundred language learners from other schools. During recitation, students were required to stand up and address their virtual “audience” on the screen. They were graded by how fluent they sounded, their body language, and how much they understood the poem. All the students worked very hard to prepare for this contest. We couldn’t be more proud of each of them! Congratulations go out to our gold winner, Kyra Karayiannis, for winning first place in her recitation of a Greek poem.
- Carina Blackwell, Mandarin Teacher
Earth Day Spirit!
Unquowa 1st through 8th graders visited Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT to celebrate Earth Day! As you may know, we as humans share this planet with MILLIONS of different species of plants, animals and other organisms; so we decided to honor Earth Day by visiting the zoo to connect with just a few of the species that the planet helps provide for. Students saw animals as small as prairie dogs, as big as Bison, as gentle as a two-toed sloth and as vicious as a leopard! During this trip, we also sat in on a wildlife show where the zookeepers brought out a turtle and legless lizard for everyone to see and learn about. This talk truly made everyone think about how one type of animal can be crucial for the survival of multiple other species; this significant species is referred to as a keystone species. By the end of our day (which included a scavenger hunt through the zoo!), our students felt their place and connection with the other organisms that we’re lucky enough to share this beautiful planet with. The students now have a better understanding of why it’s important to protect mother Earth!
- Joshua Bartosiewicz, Science Teacher
While the rest of the school was off to the zoo, the PreK and Kindergarten classes had a full run of the Unquowa campus and made good use of it. From hands-on snacks, an edible Earth moon cake, and rolling our own Earth shaped meatballs for lunch, the kids really loved getting to be in the dining room and having some one on one time with the chefs. Next, we had an animal encounter with creatures from Earthplace. We got to meet a salamander, snake, turtle and screech owl. We learned lots about these fascinating and adorable animals, all of which are native to Connecticut. After a bit of outdoor play, we scrubbed up and headed into the dining room for a pasta bar, complete with our own homemade meatballs. The chefs surprised us with a really fun dessert, worms in dirt! Next up was an outdoor sing-a-long with the Upper School music teacher, Mr. Coe. Art class was also outside and inspired by nature. Our school gardener, Ms. Amie, had some fun Earth Day arts and crafts set up in the Makerspace and outside on the new picnic tables. We made bird feeders and hung them up for our feathered friends. Our Earth Day Mandarin lessons taught animal names in Chinese and focused on water pollution. As the saying goes “Every day should be Earth Day!
- Faith Barbuto, PreK Teacher
Visiting the Outer Island!
To close out the school year the 7th graders embarked on their last adventure in science and took a trip to a magical oasis in the Thimble Islands of Branford, CT known as Outer Island. Outer Island is the furthest island out in the Thimbles (hence the name, “Outer Island”) and has a long history behind it, both anthropogenic (human) and environmental (geologic). To reach the island, our class needed to take a 15 minute boat ride through the Thimbles which was an incredible experience in itself. There are over 300 islands in the area!
Upon arrival to the island, the school group was welcomed by the Island Keepers who are stationed on the island with US Fish Wildlife Services (USFWS) and volunteers from the organization “Friends of Outer Island.” The first activity was a combination of bird surveying, I-Spy, a tour and history (human and environmental) lesson of the Island. The students were given binoculars and a list of clues and things to be on the lookout for (such as birds known as a Double-Crested Cormorant or an Oystercatcher). As we walked around the island in search of certain items and organisms, the students also received a history lesson of the area.
After lunch, students gathered in the lab and split into three groups to use water quality measuring instruments like a thermometer, hydrometer, and pH strips. They collected water samples from tide pools and the dock, testing them to monitor aquatic ecosystem health under the Island Keeper’s supervision. Students conducted water quality testing and learned about the invasive Asian Shore Crab. They collected and studied the crabs, distinguishing between male and female, and recorded the data for species population monitoring. By the end of the trip, students understood the difference between a wildlife refuge, which focuses on the health of organisms and the ecosystems and a National Park, which is targeted towards tourism. Students also learned the responsibilities of the Island Keeper and about some of the studies conducted on the island along with their significance. Overall, students spent a blissful day on Outer Island and more importantly were able to establish a stronger connection to the natural world we are coexisting in.
- Joshua Bartosiewicz, Science Teacher
Preparing for the Solar Eclipse!
PreK spent time learning about things in the night sky! We started with a moon craft made by painting on black paper with a salt water solution that turned white when dry. We also learned about what makes day and night in preparation for the solar eclipse! Students all took turns being the orbiting Earth while another student, playing the light giving sun, shone a flashlight on them. Through this activity we experienced why some parts of the earth see light while others are in darkness. In another activity, to create a visual representation of the solar eclipse we started by cutting out a white circle and taping it to a blue paper. Then each child traced around the circle with a yellow or white piece of chalk. Smudging the chalk was the fun part! We removed the paper and could see what the sun would look like when the moon was in front of it during the solar eclipse. PreK was ready and excited for the big event!
- Faith Barbuto, PreK Teacher
Newsies Junior!
The 6th through 8th grade performing arts students delivered a remarkable performance of Newsies Junior! Audience members were captivated by the amazing acting, beautiful singing, and energetic dancing shown by all of the cast members. All of this could not have come together without the dedication and talents of the completely student-run Upper School tech crew as well! This show told a story that the community of Unquowa tells every day. We all have a voice, and when we work together, we can do anything! Bravo to the entire cast and crew of Newsies Junior! for a fantastic show.
- Megan Kirk, Performing Arts Teacher
Finding Nemo KIDS!
Students in the 4th and 5th grade were extremely excited to put on their own mini musical Finding Nemo KIDS! Telling the tale of Nemo, a young clown fish who gets scooped up by a scuba diver and a father on a mission to find his son. The 4th and 5th graders worked together to share the story of friendship, perseverance, teamwork and bravery. Using all of the skills they have been working on in performing arts the students put on a fabulous show! Congratulations to the entire cast of Finding Nemo KIDS!
- Megan Kirk, Performing Arts Teacher
Rockin’ The House!
Music filled the air! Instrumental music, to be specific. Our talented Upper School Instrumental Ensemble held their very own evening concert for another successful year. Musical selections covered classical, rock, jazz and more before closing out the evening with an impressive African Percussion Ensemble performance under the direction of Kwamé Henry Jones. Family and friends could not have been more enthusiastic and gave a spirited standing ovation in appreciation for our talented 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th grade musicians.
- David Coe, Performing Arts Teacher
May Day Gathering!
A beautiful morning was shared celebrating the arrival of spring along with Unquowa grandparents, friends, and family. Students in every grade enthusiastically entertained their guests with a festive concert, including a sneak peak performance by Upper School students for their upcoming spring musical Newsies Jr. The morning culminated in the traditional Maypole dancing and a noon dismissal allowing families to spend the remainder of the day together, making Unquowa May Day a perfect welcome to spring!
Paper Crane Mania!
As part of my new Fund for Teachers Fellowship, I set a challenge for the Unquowa community to fold 1000 paper cranes, known as a senbazuru, so that I could hang them this summer at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan. A senbazuru is a symbol of peace, happiness, and well wishes. Unsurprisingly, the entire school embraced the challenge and quickly got to work. Students in all of our grades were consumed by origami mania, and many families even signed up to fold cranes at home. Within 10 days, our goal had been surpassed! Once the 1000 cranes were folded, 7th and 8th graders began sorting, organizing, and threading them in preparation for their big trip to Hiroshima. With the help of Mr. Casey, we were able to attach 25 strands of 40 cranes each on a custom built hanger. The cranes are making their long journey over to Japan, and will be hung in the park as a gift from the Unquowa community. What better way to connect our school to this fellowship than through a symbol of peace - we could all use more of that in the world!
- Ariel Warshaw, Humanities Teacher
Lower School Art and Literary Magazine
Working with the Lower School Art and Literary Club members on Unquowazine Volume 5 has been such a pleasure. The students have worked tirelessly on all the various stages of the magazine development. This year, the Unquowazine team have included more original content in the form of interviews, comics, and book reviews. Together with their staff, Mila and Arianna worked very hard on all of the various components. They did a fantastic job of being mindful of each student’s work while honoring its authenticity. As their advisor, I enjoyed guiding them and gave them structure and support when needed. I could not be more proud of the effort our younger students put into Unquowazine. Kudos to all of their hard work and dedication! View the 2024 Unquowazine Volume 6 at: unquowa.org/unquowazine-6/ - Karen Engelke, Unquowazine Advisor
Wrapping Up a Jam-packed Year!
What a year this has been for our 8th graders! Over the past school year, the 8th grade class participated in service learning alongside the Park City Compost Initiative. They dove into compost science and maintenance in the Unquowa School garden, honing their skills by working with food scraps from our kitchen. This hands-on experience helped them grasp different composting elements and the significance of environmental stewardship. As a result, they earned the title of certified Compost Apprentices!
Our 8th graders also welcomed back Dr. Matthew Croasmun, Director of the Life Worth Living (LWL) Program at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, for their final workshop together. This was part of our Life Worth Living ethics series, which included three full morning workshops, and five sessions during Advisory. Designed and facilitated by Dr. Croasmun and humanities teachers Ariel Warshaw and Eric Snow, the last three-hour workshop asked 8th graders to consider the role of suffering and failure as part of what it means to be human and how those experiences lead us towards a “life worth living.” Prior to this workshop, 8th graders explored various schools of thought around suffering in their advisory session: perspectives from monotheistic faiths, secular philosophical approaches, and Buddhist teachings. This workshop was a deeply reflective and meaningful experience for students.
On Wednesdays at our Weekly Assemblies, starting in late Fall, our graduating class offered personal words to the larger school community as they individually presented their 8th grade speeches. At Unquowa, 8th grade speeches are significant capstone projects where every one of our students share meaningful topics with the school community, such as friends, family, perseverance, secret talents, and passions. 8th grade speech preparation is a long process starting in September with speechwriting and ending in late fall through spring with deliveries. For some long-time students, the topics of these speeches have been years in development. Our 8th graders are visible leaders and role models at Unquowa, and the younger students listen with rapt attention to what the oldest students want to share with them. We are all so proud of each and every student on their speech day. There’s nothing like it!
Finally, as the year came to an end it was time for our 8th graders to unwind and enjoy each other’s company before graduating and moving off on new paths! Our graduating students embarked on their highly anticipated class trip to Woodloch for three days of riding horses, playing ping pong and fostering deep bonds before their graduation day.
Over the year, our 8th graders hosted well-attended pancake breakfasts and organized and ran the many exciting activities for Founders Day, all to raise funds towards their class trip. We will miss them deeply, wish them all the best in high school, and look forward to seeing them at Founders’ Days and Winter Fests in the coming years!
Proper Good-byes for the Class of 2024
The entire school community gathered for Closing Ceremonies the morning of the last day of school to celebrate our graduates. Awards were presented and personal tributes written by the faculty were read to each graduate. Students in PreK through 7th grade sang “My Wish” to the 8th graders after which there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
After a special video slideshow devoted to the Class of 2024, the 8th graders formed a receiving line in front of the stage, and Ms. Lauer invited the 7th graders to “take the 8th grade seats.” This symbolic “moving up” marked the change in school leaders from the outgoing class to next year’s 8th graders, the Class of 2025! Younger students, faculty and staff then came forward to walk through the line of graduates, offering congratulations, hugs and high fives.
2024 Awards
William J. Grippin Award
Virginia Murphy
Unquowa Award
James di Bonaventura
Board of Governors’ Award
Owen Epstein
Headmaster’s Cup
Michael Toolan
Robert L. Cleveland Award
Chipili Dumbwizi
John P. Blessington Award
Virginia Murphy
Alison D. Gray Award
Zeylah McDowell
Janice Shannon Award
Mason Gray
Elizabeth Curtis Award
Virginia Murphy
John F. Turlick Award
Owen Epstein
Class Agents
Jack Ferrandino
Kyra Karayiannis
Unquowa Parents Association Award
Oola Breen-Ryan
Costume Closet Key
Sylvia Barbuto
London Acunto
Margaret Travers Award
Trésor Kayumba
Gator Bowl
Owen Epstein, Aidan Omisore, Adrian Omisore, Chipili Dumbwizi & Virginia Murphy
Backstage Crew Recognition
Owen Epstein
The Class of 2024 returned in the evening on June 4th with their families, friends, Board of Governors, faculty and staff for Commencement - a ceremony of recognition and closure to mark the end of their time at Unquowa and to celebrate their transition to high school.
Salutatorian Michael Toolan kicked things off by welcoming everyone and encouraging his fellow graduates to remember that “not only are we remarkable, but we are doing this one last thing together as a family.” Michael acknowledged that Unquowa uses the word “family” a lot when talking about the school, and that he used to think that it was an overused marketing buzzword, but now, as he graduates, he “sees that it perfectly captures the essence of our experience here.”
After Michael’s speech, Ms. Lauer announced the winners of our traditional awards and introduced our graduation speaker, the Venerable Shim Bo - Buddhist Chaplain, Sacred Heart University, who met the graduating class a year earlier during their 7th grade World Religions Speaker Series in Humanities Class. He was their favorite speaker of the series and, given his peaceful and engaging manner, it was easy to see why. As he addressed the graduates, he reminded them that it doesn’t help to worry about the future, when the only time you have any control over is the present moment. He reminded everyone to “inhale, exhale, repeat.”
Following Venerable Shim Bo’s speech, diplomas were conferred by our Board President, Joan Panagos. Then, valedictorian Virginia Murphy reflected on her 10 years at Unquowa through fictional diary entries beginning in PreK and continuing until 10 years past graduation. She spoke about her wonderful, dedicated teachers and how much she and her classmates have grown academically during their years here, but above all she emphasized the bond she and her fellow 8th graders have, saying, “Each of us had a unique experience here, but the common thread is our friendships. We are all close and grateful for the relationships we have formed.”
The ceremony closed as the graduates processed down the aisle in a cloud of confetti. With that, we said goodbye to the Class of 2024, extremely proud of who they are in this present moment and excited for everything the future has in store for them. While we will miss this class, we wish them all the best and look forward to their return as alumni on Founders’ Day.
The Class of 2024 are heading off to these High Schools in the fall and we wish them all the best!
Tessa Balmer..................................................Marvelwood School
Piper Carrillo-Foote.................................................Lauralton Hall
James di Bonaventura...................................Suffield Academy
Chipili Dumbwizi...........................Fairfield Warde High School
Owen Epstein................................................Staples High School
Jack Ferrandino.....................................................Hopkins School
Bryael Gonzalez...........................................Shelton High School
Mason Gray......................................................Cheshire Academy
Kyra Karayiannis...................................Greens Farms Academy
Wyatt Lieberman...........................................Cheshire Academy
Sarah Maximin..................................Growing In Grace Academy
Zeylah McDowell..........................................................St. Luke’s School
Addie Mulvehill.......................................................Staples High School
Virginia Murphy...................................................................Lauralton Hall
Adrian Omisore.........................................................Cheshire Academy
Aidan Omisore................................................Cheshire Academy
Anson Pitts..............................................................Hopkins School
Ava Sylvestro..............................................................Lauralton Hall
Coco Thomson.............................................................Berkshire School
Emily Toolan....................................................Greens Farms Academy
Michael Toolan........................................................................King School
Bird Banding!
Unquowa 5th graders visited the Birdcraft Museum at The Connecticut Audubon Society to observe bird banding! Bird banding is one of the oldest and most important techniques used for collecting essential data during spring and fall migration. The field experience was a hands-on extension of their unit on “Birds and Our Earth.” Students found it fascinating to see how the “Banders” gently handled the captured birds while they collected the necessary data. Many of the students volunteered to release the banded birds safely back into the wild. Such a wonderful spring field experience!!!
- Colleen Noyes, Science Teacher
Tending to our Unquowa Garden
This spring the 1st graders were hard at work in the Unquowa Garden with Ms. Amie! They really enjoyed focused garden lessons where Ms. Aime had them planting, learning about the growing process, and harvesting. The first graders also took the opportunity to pop into the garden during recess times to water the plants and check on the progress of our yummy veggies, fruits, and herbs. The class was able to harvest and deliver freshly picked produce and herbs to the kitchen for everyone to enjoy at lunchtimes. A true farm-to-fork experience!
- Maureen Diallo, First Grade Teacher
Celebrating Diversity through Family Trees
Students in 2nd grade showcased their creativity and celebrated diversity through a heartwarming Social Studies project centered around their family trees. Each student crafted a unique poster detailing their family history, traditions, and cultural heritage. From tracing their roots across different countries to sharing stories of family traditions and customs, each presentation was a celebration of the rich tapestry of cultures within our classroom.
It was evident that the students had not only created beautiful posters but had also fostered a sense of unity and acceptance within the classroom. Second graders set a powerful example for embracing what makes us all so special.
- Stephanie Satonick, Second Grade Teacher
The Best Way to End our Social Studies Course!
One of the most important reasons to learn history is to gain an understanding of how it impacts modern society. Too often we fail to see how our past has influenced our present, and this leads to a level of disconnect. For the final assignment in 6th grade humanities, we wanted to highlight our individual cultural heritage - where we came from and how we celebrate this history today. Culture is nuanced and layered in a way that can lead to true appreciation and understanding of one another.
The object of this assignment was to bring to life the richness of culture and its impact on our lives. Too often, young scholars experience school without ever having the opportunity to pridefully share and learn about their own cultures.
American history, particularly colonial history, is often written as a story about European settlers, enslaved Africans, and Indigenous people. This assignment allowed us to expand our knowledge and demonstrate that there are many cultural groups who have been a part of American history and have contributed to this country. Their cultures have also enriched our society. During their research, the 6th graders had to examine and learn about the roots of many cultural expressions including the origins of foods, dance, and clothing. This assignment was inspired by the incredibly informative documentary entitled, High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America - Tré Kayumba, Humanities Teacher
Kindergarten Camping!
Camping Day is a spring tradition for Kindergarteners at Unquowa! Our young adventurers hiked into the Unquowa woods to immerse themselves in the great outdoors. Students learned camping skills such as pitching a tent for shelter and collecting water for their cooking and washing needs. After setting up camp, students took time to reflect in nature with some peaceful meditation. Then it was onto the task of building fairy houses for the magical fairies they had created with Mrs. DesGranges in art class. Activities paused only momentarily to eat a treat of warm, gooey s’mores before packing everything up to hike back out from the woods. It was a great day to be a Kindergartner at
Unquowa! - Ann Palm, Kindergarten Teacher
Spring Runners!
This spring season, the Unquowa cross country team showed great resilience and perseverance in the face of obstacles. There were numerous challenges including new courses at familiar venues, weather, injury, illness, even major interstate road closures!
Did it stop the Unquowa Gators? Not a chance! Each time, runners faced the challenges head on and just kept running. A feat in and of itself! When we got off the bus at a meet or started a warm up at practice, runners put aside any fears and worked hard to complete the task ahead. This paid off in the numerous achievements of the team and the continued progress each and every member made this season. We could not have been more proud of this hard working team! Go Gators!!! - Joey Casey, Cross Country Coach
Fairchester League
Overall Standings:
5th Girls
-5th Avery Holtz
-4th Salma Mehra
-2nd Alysa Yeung
6th Girls
-3rd Zaheera McDowell
-2nd Alex Murphy
7th Girls
-2nd Sierra Iacovella
8th Girls
-4th Piper Carillo-Foote
-3rd Zeylah McDowell
-2nd Emily Toolan
-1st Virginia Murphy
5th Boys
-4th Noah Clark
7th Boys
-3rd Asher Tulupman
3/4 Spring Soccer
Fairchester League
Final Championship Standings: 5th Girls
-3rd Avery Holtz
-2nd Alysa Yeung
6th Girls
-3rd Zaheera McDowell
-1st Alex Murphy
7th Girls
-2nd Sierra Iacovella
It was a fantastic spring season training with our 3/4 soccer team! Our 3rd and 4th graders came to practice every Friday, excited, determined and ready to give it their all. The main goal for this younger soccer program is to provide an opportunity for our student athletes to have fun, learn the sport and develop skills. We are so proud of our players for their dedication on the field, they really worked hard to improve their soccer skills. This group was so much fun to coach and it truly was a spring season to remember!
- Ryan Taylor, Director of Athletics
Gators in Training
Our Gators in Training (grades K-2) had a great spring season! This was many of our students’ first time playing organized soccer and it was so much fun to watch their growth, throughout each and every week. The excitement in their eyes while they scrimmaged and learned positions and basic soccer skills was so rewarding, it truly was a fantastic group! We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for our young gators on the soccer field, we look forward to having everyone back and training again in the fall season!
- Ryan Taylor, Director of Athletics
Another Fun Field Day!
Signaling that summer was just around the corner, our Unquowa Field Day 2024 was a blast! The 7th grade “crew” did an amazing job hosting activities and ensuring that everyone had fun at each station. Older students provided guidance to the younger ones as they worked together in teams and our Gator spirits soared up high for the much anticipated all school final event of tug-of-war!
Gator Spirit Swag is Online!
Enjoy shopping for Gator swag and gifts for the entire family in our online Gator Goods Spiritwear store. Orders will be shipped directly to your home address.
Alums - check out the “Class” gear! unquowa.org/gator-goods/ or scan QR code
Gators Abroad!
Unquowa student travel experiences with EF Tours are back! During Spring Break a group of students in grades seven and eight traveled to Costa Rica for eight eventful days. These enthusiastic travelers embarked on a memorable journey filled with exploration, adventure, and meaningful experiences.
Day 1: marked their arrival in Costa Rica, greeted warmly by their Tour Director and bus driver. Following a day of travel, they settled into their hotel and ventured to a local mall before enjoying a pasta dinner and retiring for the night, eagerly anticipating the adventures to come.
Day 2: brought the group face-to-face with Costa Rica’s tropical climate as they embarked on a Crocodile cruise, marveling at diverse bird species and crocodiles amidst the mangroves. After a satisfying lunch, they made stops for snacks and photos before returning to the hotel for some leisurely pool time.
Day 3: was dedicated to their service learning project, planting mangrove trees near Parrita town and learning about the importance of conservation efforts. A boat ride to collect mangrove seeds rounded off the day, reinforcing their commitment to environmental stewardship.
Day 4: provided a more relaxed itinerary with a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park, where they encountered diverse wildlife and enjoyed a picturesque beach excursion. A surprise dinner of pizza added to the day’s delights.
Day 5: offered a soothing break with a day spent enjoying the hot springs, providing a serene contrast to the previous days’ activities.
Day 6: brought a mix of adventure and cultural immersion, from a chocolate tour to ziplining through the rainforest canopies and a lively dance class, showcasing their newfound Latin American dance moves.
Day 7: began with kayaking at Lake Arenal, followed by a visit to La Fortuna Waterfall to swim and sightsee. A surprise dinner of pizza capped off another memorable day.
Day 8: marked their journey back to San Jose, with stops at a local restaurant for lunch and a coffee tour at Britt Coffee factory. Ending the trip with pool time, dinner, and folklore entertainment, the group reflected on their transformative experiences before preparing for their return home. Throughout their Costa Rican adventure, the group forged lasting memories, deepened their understanding of conservation efforts, and embraced the beauty and culture of this vibrant country. Next spring’s EF Tour adventure group will be heading off to Ireland!!!
- Lloyd Mitchell, Unquowa EF Group Leader
Notes From The UPA
Happy summer from the Unquowa Parents Association! A big thank you to all of our parent volunteers for their inspiration, hard work, and dedication to the Unquowa community this school year. What a year it was!
In April, under the helm of Auction Co-Chairs Elizabeth Saint and Jenna Venditto, the Unquowa Parents Association hosted its Spring Auction, Gators in Wonderland. Top hats, tea cups, and giant flowers transformed Unquowa into Wonderland for one magical night. Attendees embraced the theme dressed in everything from garden party formal to Cheshire Cat onesies. Guests picked roses and played giant chess while sipping jewel-toned specialty cocktails and dining on roasted carrots, corn pudding and beef pies served on a 32 foot Mad Hatter’s table. Overnights at award-winning Winvian Farms, baseball tickets, restaurant gift cards, Lower School art projects, priceless experiences with our faculty and staff, and a hotly contested chance to be “astronaut for a day”, all provided opportunities to raise record amounts of funding for our School by the Brook. Much appreciation to all who made it possible!
The UPA also sponsored both the 5th-6th and 7th-8th Grade Spring Socials, featuring DJs and dancing, magic, pizza, a bonfire, s’mores, and more! Our beloved faculty were recognized with plants and gift cards for Teacher Appreciation Week, the graduating 8th Graders were given commemorative sweatshirts, the Community Closet supported the school’s commitment to reduce clothing waste, and the UPA remained dedicated to community service by hosting a Children’s Book Drive to benefit Darien Book Aid.
As we enjoy these peaceful summer months and look forward to the fall, we hope to see all of our parents at the monthly UPA meetings, community initiatives, and events in the new school year ahead!
- The Unquowa Parents Association
National Parks Study!
Students in grade four enjoyed learning about the history of the National Parks Service. They explored pivotal figures like John Muir, a wellknown environmental activist who helped convince President Theodore Roosevelt to set aside land for national parks. They also learned about the history of President Roosevelt’s establishment of Montana’s National Bison Range. Their study of the National Parks Service culminated by examining the design of the National Park Service arrowhead as a symbol that reminds us of the culture and history of the parks that we aim to protect. The students went on to create their own Arrowheads depicting symbols that represent what they value and wish to hold dear to them.
- Karen Engelke, Fourth Grade Teacher
Update on Change for Change!
In their second year of Change For Change, the now 3rd graders were once again very successful in their efforts to raise money for Save the Children! The students reached out to our community once again to donate their change and in the classroom they had a great time sorting, counting and computing the total amount of money that they had collected. Eager to report their success, the 3rd graders had a blast making the big announcement at assembly to the whole school that they had raised $441.37!
Grade three would like to thank the community and everyone who contributed their “change” to this special cause and they take great pride in shouting out loud for everyone to hear… Go Gators!
- Wendy Kerr, Third Grade Teacher
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Making an Impact!
In a heartwarming community effort, Unquowa 5th grade students partnered with their PreK buddies to collect boxes of cereal to support Operation Hope Food Pantry in Fairfield. At our weekly assemblies over a four-week period, the older students had fun showcasing their cereal box character outfits, while the younger students helped them collect the cereal donations. The entire school got behind this effort, resulting in over 100 boxes of cereal being donated. Congratulations to our 5th graders for imparting the importance of making a positive impact to the community and to their younger buddies!
A mini reunion was held at our new tradition of inviting alums back to Unquowa four years after their graduation, for an evening of Stromboli, good laughs and reconnecting with old classmates. This year we welcomed back the class of 2020! Their closure at Unquowa was a unique one as we ended their final year virtually, due to the pandemic. It was great to see their unmasked faces again and to hear about their plans and excitment for the future.
Summer Camp At Unquowa returned to campus this summer and with its return came our alums who made up the majority of the staff during the four weeks of fun! Knowing the importance of the Unquowa experience, our alums delivered a truly magical camp experience for all campers that attended. We look forward to having even more alums back next summer!
Evangelina Scianna ‘13 recently paid Unquowa a visit! We were thrilled to reconnect Evangelina with her past teachers and new faces as well. She even bumped into a previous classmate, Alexandra Deustch (class of 2015), who is now an educator at Unquowa herself. Evangelina just graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, MA with a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. In July, she will relocate to Oahu, Hawaii to start her career as a school speech and language pathologist. Thank you for coming back to visit and best of luck in your new venture. Keep us posted Evangelina!
Alums Heading Off To College!!!
Recently we heard from these Unquowa students who have graduated from high school and are now preparing to head off to college in the Fall. We wish them the very best of luck as their next exciting chapters unfold.
Krystle Garcia .........................................Salve Regina University
Hailey Geppert .....................................Sacred Heart University
Roy Krueger......................................................Wesleyan University
Claire Roberts ............................................................Yale University
Alexandra Schwartz .....................................Providence College
Zoe Schwartz ..................University of California San Diego
Isabelle Spencer............................................University of Tampa
Travis Stuart ....................................................................Elon College
Jason Yang ...............................................................Tufts University
Alums - Remember To Keep In Touch!
Do you have any news to share?
Need to update your information?
Please contact us at alumni@unquowa.org
See you at Founders Day - Saturday, October 19th!
For all those who were able to give this year, the result of your generosity is reflected in these pages. Many thanks to our donors for making this year‘s Fund For Unquowa a record-breaking success!
THE FUND FOR UNQUOWA
Their Childhood. Their Future. Your Priority. 2024-2025 fund is now open. To give, please go online at unquowa.org/giving , or scan the QR code!
