The Unquowa School 2021-22 Annual Report

Thank You For Your Support!

THE UNQUOWA SCHOOL Annual Report for 2021-2022 School Year

“The mission of The Unquowa School is to develop, educate and prepare our family of children with an unafraid spirit to achieve their personal best in a changing world.”

from the Board President ~

When we look back at the 21’-22’ school year, you come to appreciate the many small but significant steps that were taken by the dedicated teachers and staff to have the fully open and Unquowa style experience for our students. We returned to the experiential learning that helps children explore topics that interest them deeply. The arts and humanities performances and projects allowed the children to express themselves and gain confidence in who they and who they want to be.

We have engaged parents and families again to join in the Unquowa experience and attend performances, feel the joy of watching the Wednesday assemblies and share in excitement of sports competitions. For many families who may have only been here a few years and were restricted in some activities because of the pandemic, we are taking every opportunity to have them become involved and become immersed in the Unquowa community.

The board will be spending part of this coming year engaged in developing our next Five Year Strategic Plan. By working closely with the senior leadership of the school, we help to identify and inform the current challenges and future needs. This will allow Ms. Lauer and her team to determine future capital improvements and curricular enhancements.

We are enormously grateful to the generosity of our current parents and all our Unquowa community for their gifts to the annual Fund for Unquowa. This year we exceeded our goal by over 10% thanks to broad participation.

As we look forward to our 105th year, we appreciate the enormous efforts of the many stewards of this institution. We stay true to our mission to educate the whole child to have the unafraid spirit and to take confident, bold steps in a changing world.

Joan Panagos, Board of Governors President Mother of Lucy’16, Lola’17 and Lily’19

from the Head of School ~

Three years ago at the 2019 Annual Meeting, when we could not yet have imagined the global pandemic and the racial justice challenges that would come in that year’s spring, I began my remarks by reading the poem “Of Hope and History” by the late Miller Williams. Written at the turn of the 21st century, Williams’ poem presciently focused on our need as adults to keep our eyes on the “long gift” we owe our children, children whose own “eyes are already set on a land we will never visit”.

Our focus this evening is to look back at our school’s past year and its accomplishments - both fiscal for our institution and academic, social and developmental for our children - and to look forward assuring ourselves that we are truly focused on the “long gift” we give our children that will prepare them to live in and contribute to the land that their eyes are already set on and that we will never visit.”

Over the past year:

• We received our school’s ten-year re-accreditation from The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, and our broad self-study goal was enthusiastically affirmed by that accrediting body - that as a twenty-first century progressive school we remain child-centric and we partner with our families to guide children on their path to becoming adults who are engaged in meaningful work, who are ethical and who are subsequently personally happy.

The Future is in Our Care

• We have been able to return to our school’s true family-style Farm to Fork dining program, where teachers guide conversation and manners and where menus contain foods that are organic, sustainable and fair trade acquired.

• We re-started our powerful format of in-person weekly community assemblies where 8th graders are able to address their younger schoolmates with capstone speeches, where all students perform and where students, teachers and parents make community announcements.

• We returned to full athletic competition with other Fairchester independent schools, complete with spectators.

• We re-activated our school’s full performing arts program, which included bringing Winter Festival back to our stage and gymnasium last December and last spring relaunching our Upper School Musical program with the staging of Mary Poppins.

• Our 7th and 8th grade Voices of Change installation art project returned to its in-person gallery exposition, allowing our students to voice their opinions through visual arts to a larger community

All of this was accomplished while continuing to provide the strong academic programming in the sciences, mathematics, world languages and the reading, writing, humanities program that our school was known for before the pandemic, that lasted throughout the pandemic without let up and that continued as we transitioned back to normal school life last spring.

This year:

• Our 8th grade returned to their weekly service learning program, alternating between spending time at The Feroleto Children’s Development Center to bring our school’s nationally recognized reverse inclusion program to student there who have medical and developmental challenges and on alternate weeks to working with Park City Composting Initiative here on campus to build and support our school’s composting program which supports our school gardens and our kitchen.

• We are working with Grace Farms and Yale University’s renowned Life Worth Living Program to develop a three season retreat version of that program at Grace Farms, allowing our 8th graders and their teachers to explore such questions as: what is worth wanting, to whom do I answer and what does it mean for life to go well? Our partnership with Yale and Grace Farms to deliver this program through day-long retreats in the powerful setting of Grace Farms will not only enhance its meaning for our students but it will also model a new way for the Life Worth Living Program to then be delivered to other middle school students in the future.

• And finally, we have begun a new cycle of strategic planning that will examine the carefully constructed plan created in 2017, our centennial year, by a thoughtful team of Unquowa board, parent and staff members, asking the question, “What did we learn over these past few extraordinary years and how do we bring that wisdom to our planning for the future of our school?”

Alums from eighteen to eighty-eight continue to express pride in our school’s direction, a direction derived from and clarified by Unquowa’s century-old mission “to develop, educate and prepare our family of children with an unafraid spirit to achieve their personal best in a changing world,” a mission that was formed to serve students during a world pandemic over a hundred years ago and whose bedrock concept has impressively continued to do so through the past two plus years as we survived the impact of yet another pandemic while simultaneously working to be a meaningful part of a positive global conversation around social justice.

I want to thank our tireless, talented and visionary Board of Governors, our gifted and experienced team of teachers and staff, our committed group of parents who continue to hold hands with those teachers to give their kids the best school experience and to support our faculty and staff in ways both practical and emotional, and finally Unquowa’s parents present and past, grandparents present and past, alumni and the larger steadfast community of friends through whose continued generosity we have been able to successfully continue our mission.

We are here to teach kids how to live well in the world: to experience the mystery and satisfaction of learning, to understand the power of collaborative intellectual achievement, to find their own voices and to make ethical decisions along the way. I want to offer my sincere gratitude to those of you who understand the importance of our work and who help us to continue

Sharon Lauer, Head Of School

The Future is in Our Care

from the Treasurer ~

I am pleased to report another successful year financially for the Unquowa School. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, we continued multi-year improvements both financially and physically. Revenues from all sources again exceeded expenses, while net cash flows continue to grow. This gave us the ability to invest nearly $100 thousand dollars in the building to make the school both a healthier and happier place. Excellent attention to keeping expenses within budgeted ranges was evident across all parts of the Unquowa Community.

The Unquowa School’s leadership team took action to address changing realities of the economy and demographics both to area independent schools and the State of Connecticut, and we benefited from those strategies. The Admissions Office worked hard to improve the school’s brand awareness to prospective parents and to expand the school’s enrollment catchment area. This has resulted in strong Admissions statistics for 2021-22 with an accompanying improvement in both tuition and net tuition revenues. The Finance Committee continues to focus on key variables and risks so we can identify potential challenges to Unquowa’s financial foundation.

The Second Century Campaign for Endowment, along with new grant revenue, has enhanced the school’s endowment and nonrestricted reserves, which are now nearly $1.7 million. Parent giving via The Fund for Unquowa and the overall support from the Unquowa Parents’ Association continue to play a vital role in bridging the gap between tuition and what it costs to provide a diverse education environment for all our students at Unquowa.

Building on the experience and know-how of its first 105 years, our school remains excited to execute our strategic plan. With your support, Unquowa will remain well positioned for continued favorable results and financial growth in an ever-changing Connecticut. I hope you will continue to help us achieve our goals.

Karl Martone, Board of Governors Treasurer Father of Max’09

The Future is in Our Care

Annual Giving ~

The Fund for Unquowa had its best year ever in 2021-2022, receiving gifts totaling more than $225,000. With the theme of “Back to Our Future,” our community helped us rebound from years of necessary pandemic focus and return our gaze to the future – specifically the futures of our students.

The Fund for Unquowa not only provides vital support for programming, financial aid, student activities, professional development and salaries. It also supports socio-economic diversity, artistic exploration and updates to our campus and technological resources, not to mention helping to bring inspiring musicians, artists and other leaders to our children.

Last year, our community generously embraced the shared responsibility that hangs over the school door: “Cura Futuri Nobis. The Future is In Our Care.” Please accept our gratitude and keep us as your philanthropic priority.

Melody Waterhouse, 2021 The Fund For Unquowa Co Chair Mother of Lara, Gr.8 and Max, Gr.6

Total $225,285 - From July 1, 2021 through June 30 2022

CENTENNIAL CIRCLE (25,000 AND UP) Michelle Vendley and Peter Sullivan

LEADERSHIP CIRCLE (15,000 - 24,999)

1917 FOUNDERS’ SOCIETY ($10,000 TO $14,999)

John Freeman Paul and Ellen Greenberg Steven and Joan Panagos Alexander Thomson and Katie Shields Thomson

THE WINTERFEST SOCIETY ($5,000 TO $9,999)

Adam J. Lewis Academy Inc Athena and Daniel Adamson BlackRock David and Elizabeth McKinnis Maggie Lehnerd-Reilly and Kerry Reilly Will and Alison Roberts Alison and Mark Smith Gregory and Hilary Tanner Peter and Jo Toolan David and Heather Winkelmann

THE BROOK SOCIETY ($2,500 TO $4,999) Frode and Mary Foss-Skiftesvik Mark and Sara Greenawalt Sandy and Kate Haviland Shane Herlet and Patricia Caira Philipp Kusche and Melody Waterhouse Robin and William Pompa Lillian and Matthew Raben Daniel and Leona Yin

THE GARDEN CIRCLE

($1,250 TO $2,499)

Fairfield County Community Foundation Christopher and Melissa Howe Matthew and Rachel Kelley Bill and Beth Krueger Sharon Lauer and Jerome Joseph Michael and Karen Speller Alan and Debbie Steckler

THE MAYPOLE SOCIETY ($750 TO $1,249)

Leah Gambal Alfageme and Santiago Alfageme Peter and Bridgett di Bonaventura Ariana and Luke Ferrandino Steven and Sandra Frost Michael Higgins Dan and Crissy Kelly

Andrew Lerner and Angela DeRose Tim Lewis and Alisyn Camerota David MacAllaster’73 MacAllaster Family Foundation Brian and Sharon Miles Paul,Weiss,Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP Mike Scotto and Vicki Hornbostel George Wheeler Seeley’53 Nor’ Easter Foundation (Henry duPont’81)

Matt and Gail Smith Sandra and Michael Srihari Wharton & Garrison LLP Stephen and Doni Wisdom

THE GATOR SOCIETY

($350 TO $749)

John and Anna Acunto Eric and Lisa Broder Janice and Dick Cerone

Michael and Jennifer Dooher

Kelly and T. Brooks Barrett’47

Irisel DeJesus

Craig Drake

Bowman and Jennifer Garrett

Frank and Jennie Gulden

Haskell Family Foundation

George and Amy Helmer Gilbert and Penny Herlet Stephen and Gina Jones

Peter and Rachel Kushel

James and Maria Mulvehill

Daniela Ami and Bruce Musser

Craig and Jennifer Knebel

Peter Lanni and Cornelia Gallo

Susan Maklari’90

Karl and Lynn Martone

Constance and James McClellan

Michael McCormick and Alison Bevan Ted Morton Photography

Jacqui and John Mudre Deirdre and Eric Kurzenberger Ade and Joann Omisore

Lily Panagos’19

Lola Panagos’17

Lucy Panagos’16

Lysandra Pamias Vivian Perez

Michael Proctor and Anne Peters Scott and Laurie Renzulli

Goldman Sachs

Daniel Simmonds

Tara Tanzer

Christian and Jessica Toebe Karen and Dan Williamson Jenah and Jack Yeung

FRIENDSOF UNQUOWA

(UP TO $349)

Claire Abate’14

Susan Amble

The Future is in Our Care

Michele and Andrew Ames

Christopher Anderheggen’70 Andrew and Gina Arnold

Gabriel Auguste

Peney Auguste

Natasha Auguste-Williams Nancy and John Awad Ralph Money and Laura Babala Ernesto and Faith Barbuto Celiane Oliveria and Marcos Borges

Christopher Boudreau’89

Christian and Sara Brebbia David Ryan and Susan Breen Jonathan Brew’72

Elizabeth W. Brew Boyd’70

Norma Castro

Betty Chica Edward Christie’74

Robert and Deborah Colantuoni Carlos Esteves and Corti Cooper

David Cooper and Charis San Antonio Cooper Katharine Corti and William Cooper John and Mary Curran

Denny Dumbwizi and Belinda Chibbonta Marlon and Karin Dale

Cheryl Bennett-Davidowitz and Robert Davidowitz

Eric Dawson’76

Maureen and Djibril Diallo Christopher and Jacqueline Dillon Anne Marie Dooher

Eva Dooher Joan duPont’50

Dion and Rachelle Ehrlich Michael and Lauren Ehrlich Helene Rousseau Epifano’67

Adam and Jennifer Epstein Elizabeth and Harris Falk Charles and Margaret Farinella

Michelle Feeney

Tarell and April Floyd Miriam and Pink Folmar

Susanna Carrillo and Andrew Foote State Street Foundation

Jennifer Frascatore Steve Diforio and Lauren Gabriele’98 Paul and Diane Galasso

Nancy Seeley Gilliland’47

David Romo and Nicole Ginsberg Chriss and George Gombos Amy Greenberg’10

Aaron Gruen’17

Richard Harriss’52

William and Jean Ann Heise’55

Jackie Hellen

Joe Saint and Elizabeth Hayes

Daniel Pitchenik and Laurie Israel Brooke Jones’18

Kelly Jones’19

Maria and Peter Karayiannis

Aidan Kavanaugh’21

Gerard and Shannon Kavanaugh

Samantha and Brendan Kelley

Lucinda White and Thomas Kelley

Robert and Sharon Kelly

Charles and Megan Kirk Lisa and Michael Kirsic

Evan Lawrence’68

Debbie and Brian Leidlein

Jeffrey Lockhart’46

Jonathan Lieberman and Julie Lucas David and Sharon Mack Sasha Mack’05

Bruce and Sally McDermott’09 Saral and Heidi Mehra John Michniewicz and Lisa Brown-Michniewicz

Barry Kresch and Leslie Miller

Lloyd and Kathy Mitchell

Richard and Kathy Mongelluzzo

Erin and Ryan Morris

Paul and Megan Mountcastle

Lavi Bellumkonda and Vik Muktavaram

Ashley Nechaev

David and Amber O’Connell

Tré Kayumba and Hannah Onchak Elisha and Oliver Page Anna Panagos-Chandler

Ginger Parsons

Tim and Krissy Ponden

Ruth Powell

Mark and Loren Rubino Sarah and Ross Raggio John and Patricia Randolph Philip and Ruth Reed Natalia Rojas-Restrepo and Alexander Rojas James Ruckle and Carolyn Gaines Ruckle’53

Gabriella Manina and Luca Savi

Mary Jo Scott

George Wheeler Seeley’53

William Parker Seeley’50

Gianina Serrano Andrew and Andrea Shantz Madeline Shantz’19

Laura Sheehy’88

Linda and William Shelton’55

Shelley Levi and Kevin Sorhaindo Harald and Stephanie Stavnes Rev. Cecily Stoddard Stranahan’47

Lee Streett’51

Alloe Stokes Sankar and Subhashree Sunder

Diane and Peter Swift Trevor and Lisa Sylvestro

Henry Tanner

William Tanner

Kevin Taylor

Ryan Taylor’06

Andrea and Brian Theodore Alice and Kyle Truscott

Jonathan Truslow’59

John Richard Turner’48 Anthony and Jenna Venditto Derek Yach and Yasmin von Schirnding

Bojana and Michael Weatherly

Joel and Eden Werring

Chester Williamson

Judy Williamson

Sandra and Bryan Wilson

Jessica Wolf

Shabiroon and Woodrow Vereen Jr. Charlotte Yin’16

Linda Ziac

ALUMNI

Claire Abate’14

Christopher Anderheggen’70

Kelly and T. Brooks Barrett’47

Christopher Boudreau’89

Jonathan Brew’72

Elizabeth W. Brew Boyd’70

Edward Christie’74

Eric Dawson’76

Anne Marie Dooher’16

Eva Dooher’19

Joan duPont’50

Helene Rousseau Epifano’67

Steve Diforio and Lauren Gabriele’98

Nancy Seeley Gilliland’47

Amy Greenberg’10

Aaron Gruen’17

Richard Harriss’52

William and Jean Ann Heise’55 Brooke Jones’18 Kelly Jones’19

Aidan Kavanaugh’21 Evan Lawrence’68

Jeffrey Lockhart’46 David MacAllaster’73 Sasha Mack’05

Susan Maklari’90 Sally McDermott’09

Lily Panagos’19

Lola Panagos’17 Lucy Panagos’16

Carolyn Gaines Ruckle’53

George Wheeler Seeley’53 William Parker Seeley’53 Madeline Shantz’19

Laura Sheehy’88

William Shelton’55

Rev. Cecily Stoddard Stranahan’47

Lee Streett’51 Jonathan Truslow’59

John Richard Turner’48 Charlotte Yin’16

COMPANIES & FOUNDATIONS

BlackRock

Goldman Sachs

Haskell Family Foundation

MacAllaster Family Foundation

Nor’ Easter Foundation (Henry duPont’81)

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP State Street Foundation

The Future is in Our Care

IN KIND

Alison Roberts

American Ballet Theatre

Areion Global

Areion Global, LLC

ASF Sports & Outdoors

Blow Dry Southport/Westport Blue Button Farm

Boho Prep Life Bonda Restaurant

Bowman and Jen Garrett

Bridgett & Peter di Bonaventura

Cheryl Bennett-Davidowitz (Los Cabo & Sugar Beach, Viceroy Resorts)

Chris & Jenny Licht Colony Grill

Cycleology Bike & Ski

D&S Ballroom Dance

Dan Williamson

Danielle Pitts David Coe

Diana Haskell (Diana Haskell Photography)

Dr. Bojana Jankovic Weatherly, MD Easton Cycle Works

Elliptica

F & J Tree Services

Fairfield Florist

Fairfield Indoor Tennis

Fairfield Theatre Company

Ferguson Hockey & Lacrosse Club

Gabriele’s Steak House GCA Genevieve Lau

Ginger Parsons

Grand Isle Resort & Residences Grit Ninja Happy Hands Art & Pottery

Happy Hands Pottery Haute Energy

Heather and Dave Winkelmann Heather Winkelmann (Winvian Farm)

Jacqui Mudre

Jessica Stafford

Jo Toolan

Joan Panagos KidStrong Fairfield Krissy Ponden Kuku Fleiming Levitt Pavilion

Little Pub

Lorraine Hurley

Maplewood Senior Living Mecha Noodle Bar

Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield Mind Factory Escape Games

My Adventure Park at Discovery Museum

NexGen Games

Outdoor Design

Pablo Bellagamba

Pamela Einarsen (Pamela Einarsen Photography)

Party Hardy

Patti Popp (Sport Hill Farm) Peter Toolan (Benebone LLC)

Pokemon Plug Rock Climb Fairfield Salon Marlene at Studio One

School Of Rock

Shannon Vaughn (The Stand Vegan Café) Skin by Kataryna

Starbucks Sugi Acupressure

The Adventure Park at The Discovery Museum

Bennett-Davidowitz Family Cheesecake Collection

The Circle Diner

Cooper Family Farinella Family Frost Family Hamel Families Howe Family Kavanaugh Family

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert McKinnis Family

Pitts Family Rojas-Restrepo Family

The Sono Baking Company

The Studio at Penny Lane

Tanner Families

Winkelmann Family Trader Joe’s

Trevor Sylvestro (Fairfield Theatre Company) Virginia Casey Westport Country Playhouse Wonderland of Ice Wondrous Roots Wondrous Roots Inc. Woodstock Inn & Resort Yeung Family

Norma Castro...................................................Ethan Perez(Grade 6) Betty Chica......................................................Ary Moreno(Grade 3) Katharine Corti and William Cooper ..............Micah Esteves Cooper(Grade 2) and William Esteves Cooper(Grade 4) Dion and Rachelle Ehrlich...............................Cassidy Ehrlich(Grade 2) and Beckett Ehrlich Miriam and Pink Folmar..................................Roy Krueger’20, Robert Krueger’22 and Bryant Krueger John Freeman...................................................Addie Mulvehill(Grade 7) Diane Galasso..................................................Ava Sylvestro(Grade 7) Jackie Hellen....................................................Dahlia Tomei Gilbert and Penny Herlet.................................Cole Herlet(Grade 6) Sharon Lauer and Jerome Joseph.....................Vivian Kelley(Grade 6) Shelley and Kevin (Sorhaindo) Levi...............Archer Venditto(Grade 1) and Anthony Venditto III(Grade 5) Constance and James McClellan.....................Jojo Williamson(PreK) Richard and Kathy Mongelluzzo.....................Olivia Albenze’12 and Rachel Albenze’15 Anna Panagos-Chandler...................................Lily Panagos’19, Lola Panagos’17 and Lucy Panagos’16 Philip and Ruth Reed.......................................Ashlee Kirk(Grade 5) and Ethan Kirk(Grade 8) Mary Jo Scott...................................................Alex Renzulli’21 and Samantha Renzulli’18 Alloe Stokes.....................................................Steele Malkin Lucinda White and Thomas Kelley ................Graham Kelley(Grade 3) Chester Williamson..........................................Jojo Williamson(PreK) Judy Williamson...............................................Jojo Williamson(PreK) Linda Ziac........................................................Jacklynn Ackley and Samantha Ackley

The Future is in Our Care

Unquowa

The Unquowa School Endowment

Total as of June 30, 2022 $1,692,535 When Unquowa celebrated its first 100 years during the 2017-18 school year, the Board launched the Second Century Campaign for Endowment in an effort to dramatically strengthen the school’s financial foundation. A strong endowment is vital to every independent school. Endowment funds, some of which are restricted, are carefully invested so that a portion of earnings each year will provide critical resources to the school and it’s students.

A healthy endowment protects against the potential impact of future market or enrollment fluctuations and ensures unwavering support for curriculum, innovative programming, financial aid commitments and faculty.

NAMED ENDOWMENT FUNDS AT UNQUOWA

Created with endowment gifts of $25,000 or more

Proceeds from family funds may be directed by the donor towards an area of interest at the school or may be unrestricted for the school’s leadership to determine where they are needed most. We are so grateful to these donors who have already established Named Funds in Unquowa’s endowment.

Legacy Giving Society

Our celebration of The Unquowa School’s first 100 years is a chance to look back...and to look ahead.

As alumni, parents, grandparents and faculty came together to mark this historic milestone, we had both the opportunity and responsibility to launch Unquowa’s second century from a position of financial strength.

Established in 2012, Unquowa’s Carl Churchill Legacy Giving Society is named for the school’s longest sitting headmaster. Mr. Churchill’s twenty year tenure shaped the early years of Unquowa’s history and laid the firm foundation for its progressive philosophy.

Legacy giving offers a unique level of long-term security that strengthens Unquowa’s financial foundation for the future. As with all giving to the school, donors have the option of directing a legacy gift towards an area at the school that they are passionate about or leaving it unrestricted for the school’s leadership to determine where it is needed most.

We are so grateful to these dedicated families who have made a bequest to Unquowa in their wills or whose family has established a legacy gift in their name to support the school for years to come. Please let us know if you have made a bequest to Unquowa so that we can thank you and recognize you as a member of the Carl Churchill Legacy Giving Society.

~ Steve Aikenhead, ‘54

~ Georgiana Brewer Beach,* ‘26

~ Kate and Sandy Haviland, Charlie ‘10, Grace ‘13

~ Craig Knebel, * former faculty

~ Bruce G. Lockhart,* ‘48

~ Norman Morse,* ‘33

~ Joan and Steve Panagos, Lucy ‘16, Lola ‘17, Lily ‘19

~ Ruth Powell, former faculty

~ Carolyn Gaines Ruckle, ‘53

~ Jean Carpenter Winton,* ‘34

A variety of legacy giving methods are available at Unquowa and each offers a different path that can be taken to support the school while providing possible tax and inheritance benefits to the donor and their family. Since the school is not in a position to provide financial advice, if you are considering making a planned legacy gift, we strongly urge you to discuss these options with your financial advisor.

Together we are making Unquowa stronger for the students who are here now and for those who will join the Unquowa family in the future. On behalf of all of them, thank you.

To learn more, visit the Giving section of the school’s website or contact Janice Cerone in the Business Office at 203-362-2561 or janice.cerone@unquowa.org.

* deceased

We have carefully reviewed the names listed in this report but recognize that errors may still occur. Please accept our sincere apology if your name has been omitted, misspelled or incorrectly listed. So we may correct our records, please notify Jacqui Mudre, Director of Communications at jacqui.mudre@unquowa.org.

The Future is in Our Care