T H E
L A M P
A NEWSLETTER FROM OLDFIELDS SCHOOL
VOLUME 9, NUMBER 1 FALL 2017
Head Elect David Perfield Visits Oldfields Welcome to the family, Perfields! We wish you could have seen the reaction of the students when Head Elect David Perfield surprised them with a visit during Morning Meeting on October 19. David came back to Oldfields to attend the October Board meetings, but stopped by the theatre on his way. The girls gave him a warm welcome and a robust cheer when he joined Head of School Ansley Smithwick and All-School President Joy Brown-Bryant on the stage. He is a natural! The student body made a strong connection with David when he met them during the search process, and that bond continues to grow. "My family and I are thrilled to be joining the Oldfields community. I look forward to learning from a wonderful group of girls, talented faculty,
and a community that is committed to the School's history and purpose. With time and collaboration, we will consider the future of Oldfields, being mindful of its rich traditions, and also being aware of what's most important for our girls during this influential time in their lives," shares David. David will be coming back to campus several times throughout the year. The OS girls are also looking forward to meeting David and Lisa’s daughters, Anna (6) and Lexi (4), who are excited to see the horses and their new home when they come to visit campus for their first time. We hope they are ready to have lots of big sisters! We know everyone in the entire community joins us in welcoming the Perfields to our Oldfields family!
Oldfields School | 1500 Glencoe Road | Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152 | 410.472.4800 EACH GIRL'S SUCCESS
Taking care of the School you love!
The
SPIRIT CAMPAIGN By Anne Ragland Finney P'97, Director of Development
Only $691,636 to go! With six months to go in the Spirit Campaign, we only have $691,636 to raise! Why get involved in helping finish out the Campaign? To make sure OS has the resources to keep working its “magic” as it educates future generations of young women who will call Oldfields their home, just as you did.
Want to give where your gift will help the most? Dorm renovations! Chances are that the same dorm furniture you had in your room is still being used today. Enhancements to the dorms will provide a more up-to-date and cozier environment for our current students and will certainly make an impression on visiting families. The Anna Austen McCulloch Endowment in honor of the Oldfields 150th Anniversary: Endowment is the “trust fund” for the School, helping ensure OS will be financially strong in all the years to come. Unrestricted Giving: Unrestricted gifts provide the administration and the Board the flexibility to direct funds to where they are most needed. Invaluable! You love Oldfields, and you want it to continue being here for future generations of OS girls. You can make that happen by making your gift to the Spirit Campaign! Every single gift makes a difference! Please contact either Spirit Campaign Chair Silly Sillcox Repko ’72 at (203) 940-6393 or repkofam@optonline.net or Director of Development Anne Finney P’97 at 443-662-1016 or FinneyA@OldfieldsSchool.org. It’s easy! Just a quick phone call is all it takes!
Oldfields belongs to all of us! You can impact its future!
$12
MILLION GOAL
$691,636 TO GO
$11,308,364 RAISED
What is your favorite part of Fall Family Weekend? Students and faculty alike look with anticipation towards that magical weekend in early October when they get to share their school with parents, siblings, and special friends. This year, as the campus buzzed with over 140 guests, was no exception.
Making new friends
Everyone has their "tried and true" favorite events – watching the Performing Arts Showcase, attending academic classes, meeting other parents at the Head of School’s reception, or maybe it’s the parent/ teacher conferences! Whatever your favorite – we are so glad to have shared this time with our wonderful Oldfields families!
Watching dancers perform
The in-house horse show
Science class!
Enjoying the change of season
Seeing field hockey stretch the limits
Daughters and moms
Hugs!
Little brothers toasting marshmellows
SHOUT OUTS! We are always overwhelmed by the generosity of the Oldfields community. Thank you to each and every one of you who support Oldfields in so many ways!
Baltimore Gathering Leah and Ramsay Whitworth, parents of Faith ’19, generously opened their beautiful home to a large Leah and Ramsay Whitworth P ’19 number of the Oldfields family for the Baltimore Gathering on the evening of October 19. Ramsay’s colleagues on the Board came out in force, and several Heidi duPont '95, Gay Richardson Smith '68, and of Faith’s friends Addie Goldfrank '96 added a delightful touch to the party. A fabulous time was had by all! Many, many thanks to the Whitworths for hosting such a lovely party for Oldfields!
Do YOU know someone who would make a great OS girl?
Tell her about Oldfields!
Contact Admission for more information. 443-662-1009 Admission@OldfieldsSchool.org
Philadelphia Gathering Many thanks to Carol Atterbury ’74, who hosted a wonderful gathering for Oldfields alumnae and parents at her home in Devon, PA, on October 27. The guest of honor was Carol’s Green teammate, who happened to be a skeleton, complete with hockey stick, OS tunic, and dragon boa! We all Carol Atterbury ’74 had a terrific time together, as Oldfields girls and their families always do. Thank you, Carol!
Lexington Parties Barrie Blazer Conner ’74 hosted Head of School Ansley Smithwick and Director of Development Anne Finney P’97 to a delicious lunch at Barrie Blazer Conner '74 (middle) with Ansley Smithwick, The Thoroughbred daughter Frances Clay, granddaughter Conner, husband Sam Club of America in Lexington, KY, on November 9. Not only did we get to see Barrie, but we also had the pleasure of dining with her husband Sam, daughter Frances Clay, and granddaughter Conner, who stole the show. After Ansley Smithwick with host lunch during a quick visit to Van Thompson P'15 a fabulous local needlework shop, we were able to meet Barrie’s other daughter, Caroline. Many thanks to Barrie and her family for their Kentucky hospitality! That evening, Van Thompson, Ansley Smithwick, Patricia Storey father of Eliza ’15, gave an DeCamp '46, Dick DeCamp elegant party for Oldfields at The Lexington Club, the oldest club west of the Appalachians. Alumnae from the area, along with Head of School Ansley Smithwick and
Director of Development Anne Finney P’97, were treated to delectable hors d’oeuvres and libations, topped off by the stories of Patricia Storey DeCamp ’46, who as a 12 yearold girl spent many days Charlotte Mayer '14 with her mother, watching famous race Carlisle VanMeter Mayer '78 horse Man o’ War pose for the statue by Herbert Haseltine. A grand time was had by all! Thank you, Van, for throwing such a lovely party for Oldfields!
Oldfields Parent Association
Upcoming Alumnae Gatherings
Also a special thanks to all who participated in the Fall Family Weekend Silent Auction. Whether you made a donation, bid on a special item, or helped run the event—we deeply appreciate the support since this is the OPA’s only fundraiser, and all proceeds go directly to sponsor fun events for the students.
Board Member Liza Lee has graciously offered to host the New York City Gathering on Thursday, December 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Colony Club on Park Avenue in Manhattan, courtesy of our wonderful alumna sponsor, Christine Wilmer Barkus ’73. We are really looking forward to this one! Hope you can be there!
As always, a big shout out goes to the Oldfields Parent Association for making the campus burst with fall splendor just in time for Fall Family OPA President Jennifer Singer and daughter Olivia '18 Weekend. Many girls came out to help the OPA decorate for the holiday season.
None of the above would happen without our wonderful OPA officers, President Jennifer Singer P ’18, Vice President Kerry Carroll P’18, Secretary Jennifer Manning P’20, and Treasurer Maggie Carroll P’19. A heartfelt thank you to them and all who helped make Fall Family Weekend such a success!
Academic Update Look what's new in the classroom
Nelly '18 in Forensics
HIGHLIGHTS
Three new courses were added to the curriculum this year. Topics in Contemporary Society: Psychology, Sociology, and Economics provides the student with an introduction to these three engaging and relevant subjects, one per trimester. This triad course is taught by members of the history department, Maribeth Littlefield P’07, Anna Littlefield ’07, and Ryan Kirk. Don and Dori Reigner, both veteran art faculty members, are teaching Introduction to Sculpture that combines not only the basic elements of sculpture, but also a study of preeminent sculptors. The students love trying something different and enjoy getting their hands dirty! Finally, Astronomy, taught by new faculty member, Caroline Morris, was added to the curriculum and keeps our girls looking to the stars.
Admission Update Where in the world is OS Admissions?
Shanique Garcia and Liana Sato '94 in Tokyo
It has been a fast-moving recruitment season as the Oldfields Admission team (pictured above) has taken to the road to continue recruiting great prospective students. In the last three months, Oldfields has traveled to four countries and over 30 cities internationally and across the US!
We love meeting girls from all over the world, but cherish our time on campus engaging in all the community activities that make Oldfields so special. In early October we hosted a great Open House for prospective families. In early October we hosted a great Open House for prospective families. In the beginning of November, Director of Admission Shanique Garcia attended the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA) meeting in Washington, DC. The Admission Team is spreading the word about Oldfields far and wide, but your voices can help us share the magic of Oldfields as well. If you know a girl who is looking for a life-changing experience, encourage her to contact us to learn more!
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities are also expanding. The Photography classes and the Government and Politics Honors class took advantage of our close proximity to Washington, DC, and went on field trips to the National Air and Space Museum, the Hirschhorn Museum, and the National Museum of American History. The STEAM Club has also visited a glass blowing studio in Baltimore and the National Museum of Health and Medicine. The faculty at Oldfields is committed to expanding the academic experience of our girls each and every year.
Clark Courtney '11 teaching Chemistry to Molly '19
Our Riders Do It All!
Athletics Update
What’s the best thing about the Oldfields Riding Program? It’s all the choices! Our girls are not limited to just one option when they ride at Oldfields. They can choose from hunter/jumpers, equitation, eventing, dressage, and foxhunting!
Oldfields Recognized for Excellent Sportsmanship.
Director of Riding Amy Phillips brings in professional equestrians from all fields of riding both for on-campus clinics and to teach weekly lessons. Oldfields is one of the few girls’ boarding schools in the country to offer competitive eventing and dressage programs.
As always, the fall sports season was filled with exciting games, team bonding, and personal growth. Two of our outstanding teams, field hockey and soccer, played unbelievably competitive games despite often having no substitutes, and at times, were even a player down! Field hockey actually took two top ranked teams into overtime despite having the same 12 players on the field the entire game! Talk about heart and pure physical endurance – these girls had both!
Our girls have the option of showing hunter/ jumpers/equitation in Wellington, FL, with Joe Fargis, and they can also choose to go to Aiken, SC, to train in eventing, dressage, or hunter/ jumpers with top trainers.
However, the true highlight of the season was the impressive number of Character Coins awarded to the Oldfields players, teams, and coaches by the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) All in all, we received an unprecedented 8 coins!
Oldfields riders show in their areas of expertise at rated, local, and Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) shows, and they hunt with both the Green Spring Valley Hounds and the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club.
The IAAM believes there is more to an athletic contest than just winning. In an effort to put their beliefs into action, each varsity coach is given two Character Coins to present to opponents who display the significant elements of fair play, integrity, and respect. OS athletics has always had a tradition of emphasizing good sportsmanship and are proud of our athletes every year, but it was indeed gratifying to have our outstanding character recognized by our opponents!
Oldfields is fortunate to be located in the middle of some of the best horse country in the US, and our girls are taking advantage of every single opportunity available to them!
Top: Emma ’18 on Allure earns 4th place in Jr. Open Novice at the Virginia Horse Trials. Bottom left: Eleni ’22 on her horse Finnistan captures 2nd place at First Level at the PVDA Fall Show Bottom Right: Sophia ’21 on Carolina’s Punch wins the 2’9” Thoroughbred Jumper division at the Sugar Loaf Series Finale.
Congratulations to all the students who dedicate hours every day to remaining fit in mind, body, and spirit!
Character Coins were received by Savannah Ay ’18 for soccer, Kennedy Green ’19 for volleyball, Grace Vernarelli ’20 for field hockey, Karina Charanjiva ’18 for tennis, Laura Yang ’19 (2) for volleyball, Coach Caroline Blaum for field hockey, and the entire Field Hockey and Cross Country teams
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Oldfields School 1500 Glencoe Road Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152
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www.OldfieldsSchool.org
WE ARE SAVING A SPOT FOR YOU! PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!
Oldfields Alumnae Day! April 28, 2018