InSpeyered - The Speyer Legacy School

InSpeyered
News from
The Speyer Legacy School
Spring 2015
The Speyer Legacy School Odyssey
The woods are lonely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
- Robert Frost
A
s my time at Speyer draws to a close, I am reminded of
how often I have recited the lines above from my favorite Robert Frost poem to parents, faculty, and staff. I have
long felt that we are all dedicated and committed pioneers
on the rapid progression from a start-­up school to an ever-­
increasingly recognized and highly admired school. With
this monumental undertaking, there always seem to be
many miles yet to go, but we are willing and able to press
on. I have been proud to be a part of this team, but never
more so than this past year.
We want every Speyer student to be able to judge what is
right, care deeply about what is right, and to do what is right
even in the face of pressure from without and temptation
from within. This is an age-­old challenge for every person,
every parent, and every teacher. Parents and teachers are
often the first and most powerful moral teachers in a world
that increasingly bombards children with negative moral
influences and messages.
The great philosopher Heraclitus reminds us “character is
destiny.” There is much we can do to help children understand what good character is, and how it will help assist and
guide them in every area of life. This is tedious work; this is
hard work, but it is important work. Let us always stand committed to helping students assume more and more of the
responsibility needed for solid and lasting moral character.
First grade scholars surprised Dr. Barter with a special work of art.
The time has come for me to close my chapter in the annals of Speyer Legacy School. All of our dreams and aspirations have not been fulfilled, but we still have a clear vision, courage, and willingness to teach a new generation
of eager learners with the latest scientific and technological
thinking, as we retain a solid core foundation in the liberal
arts. We have built successfully from our strengths, as we
overcome our weaknesses. While there will always be miles
to go before we sleep, we have come a long way.
I shall depart with everlasting gratitude and deep appreciation for the friendship, support, and unique quality of this
school community. May you always have the vision to think
anew and the courage to act anew.
Richard F. Barter
Dr. Barter joins in on a game of chess.
Speyer Joins American International
Private School League
S
peyer is ready to enter the world
of competitive sports, joining
the American International Private
School League as provisional members for the 2015-16 school year! This
is a wonderful opportunity that allows
our scholars to participate in quality
athletic competition in the best tradition of collegial sportsmanship, providing even more opportunities to
grow both as scholars and individuals.
All first year teams are provisional
members and qualify for full league
membership upon completion of
the first year. Provisional members are eligible for competition in
all sports, and are able to participate
in post-season and championship
play after their first year. Speyer joins
along with the British International School of New York and Hunter
Middle School. AIPSL members include Avenues, Manhattan Country
Day School, Mandell, Cathedral, and
many more.
Team sports are set to include Middle
School co-ed soccer, and discussions
are currently underway to also include
co-ed basketball and cross country
teams. In true team spirit, we look
forward to debuting Speyer team uniforms featuring our new sports logo
(below) this fall! Let’s go, Speyer!
"We are honored to join the AIPSL. An athletic program
is just another addition to an already terrific after
school program at Speyer. We are looking to be as
successful in athletics as we have been in other fields
such as debate, chess, math, and geography. We are
very excited to fill up the trophy case and put Speyer at
the top of the Private School Map."
- Adam Smilowitz,
Middle School PE Instructor
On the Road
T
he third graders have been “on the road” all year
long…or perhaps one could even call their track “off
road”. The year began by traveling the tale of Lewis and
Clark as the members of the Corps of Discovery, where
scholars tackled rough terrain, inclement weather, and
interactions with Native Americans. As members of
the Corps, the group made essential collaborative decisions in order to cross the United States and map the
newly purchased land. Each Corps member had “indispensable skills” and brought something unique to the
team. Even the class’ trusty dog, Seaman, survived this
perilous journey.
Third graders continued their journey “on the road”
throughout the second half of the school year, traveling
back in time to Ancient China and the Silk Road. The
class read Chengli and the Silk Road Caravan, noting
the various challenges that China’s natural barriers and
landscapes brought upon caravan workers. Scholars
have become expert researchers, each choosing a topic
about Ancient China to delve into deeply. Their findings came to life on June 5, when the Boulevard transformed into a Chinese Marketplace filled with games,
aromas, martial arts demonstrations, and more!
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Scholars prepare materials for the “Chinese Market.”
Tall Tales
I
n late March, fourth graders welcomed guests to tour their Exploration Gallery. While walking through the
Gallery, one was treated to a myriad of
samples of scholars’ hard work: personal and explorer tall tales, explorer final
projects, tall tale postcards, and mythical sea creatures. Personal tall tales featured the scholars themselves as tall tale
heroes, while explorer tall tales featured
Spanish and Portuguese explorers from
the Age of Exploration. Scholar stories
were brought to life with tales that wove
together history and fiction, extraordinary feats, and descriptive hyperbole!
Scholars also presented final explorer
projects including biographical graphic novels, videos and expository narratives written in the style of Jean Fritz.
Scholars share their work with parents
and classmates during their Exploration
Gallery event.
Run for Kenya
F
or the past six years, Speyer has participated in Change 4
Change, an annual initiative that raises funds for our sister
school, The Caroline Wambui Mungai Foundation Home and
School, located in Wangige, Kenya. After hearing Connie Burton
discuss Change 4 Change and depict a day in the life of students
at the Home, rising second grader, Janani Bhagat, decided that
she wanted to take the initiative a step further. Janani decided to
organize a run to raise additional funds for the Kenyan school—
the Mother’s Day Mini Marathon!
When asked what sparked her idea to do more for the Home,
Janani stated, “Dr. George Mungai [founder of the Wambui
Mungai Foundation Home and School] said the students got a
bus from Speyer’s Change 4 Change Drive, but I wanted them
to get more than a bus. I wanted the kids to get some things that
they want, not just what they need.” With support from her parents, Connie, and her teachers, Lemor Balter and Abbie Rindfuss,
Janani created flyers, posters, and mapped out a course! All of her
determination and hard work paid off. After five weeks of planning, the Mother’s Day Mini Marathon took place in Riverside
Park on May 10, with a total of 14 participants – including four
Speyer families! Over $300 was raised from this event! Dr. Mungai was thrilled to accept this generous donation. In a letter to
Janani, he stated that the funds would be used to purchase two
new bikes to be delivered to the Home; one for the boys and one
for the girls. Dr. Mungai expressed sincere appreciation, stating,
“The kids have always desired to learn riding a bike. Their dream
has been met by Janani’s kindness and efforts.”
Janani is a true inspiration for change, and her concern for the
wellbeing of others is heartwarming. Janani eagerly stated, “I
would like to raise money next for some beds for the children. It
makes me happy to help. I can’t wait to see pictures of the children riding the bikes.” She plans to host this run every year!
Mother’s Day Mini Marathon Speyer participants.
Janani Bhagat, ready to run!
3
Science Teacher, Nermeen Dashoush, Receives Ph.D.
C
ongratulations, Speyer Science Teacher, Nermeen
Dashoush! Nermeen receieved her Doctorate in Science
Education from Teachers College, Columbia University,
where she is also an adjunct professor of Curriculum Improvement. Her thesis, which she defended in March, was
entitled “Establishing a Community of Practice between an
Elementary Educator and a Scientist as a Means of Professional Development”. Speyer parent and respected TC professor, Dr. Charles Basch, sat on Nermeen’s committee and
was a big part of her experience.
“Speyer scholars understand that the desire
to learn can never be turned off. Curiosity has
no boundaries, so it always finds a way. This Congratulations, Dr. Dashoush!
degree is not the end of my education because
I truly believe in no ceiling learning, which is at the core of the Speyer philosophy.”
– Nermeen Dashoush
7th Grade Travels
Back in Time
I
n late March, 7th Grade scholars stepped into the
17th century to explore, first-hand, the emerging
culture of Plymouth Colony and the traditional way of life for the Wampanoag Tribe. Plimoth
is well known for its role-playing historians, who
represent real colonists from the 1620’s, and its
replica Wampanoag home site. Scholars found it
both compelling and fun to learn from experience
and conversation with these "live sources".
One scholar recounts, "I thought it was really intriguing to actually meet with people in real life,
who were live role players. Since we were capable
of asking the role players questions about their
lives, it felt like we went back in time, and it was
super interesting."
Fun in the open air.
Kicking off the special overnight program, scholars were treated to an authentic 17th century English supper—eating with their hands—and happily
learned that back then, desserts were eaten along
with the dinner entrée! Once the sun set, scholars
ventured out to a colonial style house, which they
toured by candlelight. The tour guide then led the
group out to an open field, where they were able to
take in the star-filled sky. "The sky was so open and
clear, and the field was so quiet,” said one scholar.
Thank you Brigid, Jackie, Paul, and Radley for
chaperoning this trip!
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Scholars go back in time.
Speyer’s Ballerina
R
ising 5th grader, Eliza Pritchard,
is a spirited, fun loving, and passionate student, who is also a natural
born dancer. At the age of four, Eliza
began taking introductory ballet lessons at Ballet Hispanico, and was cast
in her first stage production at the age
of five. Yearning to learn more than
simple movement techniques, Eliza
expressed a strong desire “to do real
ballet”. Her parents, Christine and Joe,
knew then that ballet was more than
a hobby for Eliza. At the age of seven,
Eliza was enrolled into the world-renowned School of American Ballet,
located at Lincoln Center, where she
currently studies. This past fall, Eliza
was cast as a Toy Soldier in the famous production, The Nutcracker.
She performed in 24 shows from November 28-January 3, and managed
to never miss a day of school! We took
some time to chat with Eliza about
her experience, hobbies, and how she
manages to stay so en pointe!
What first drew you to ballet?
I went to a preschool that was right
across from a ballet school. I would
see big girls standing outside wearing
leotards, stretching and warming up,
and I knew I wanted to be like them. I
wanted the pointe shoes, a ballet bun,
and the whole nine!
What has been your favorite performance to date, and what is your favorite memory from the experience?
How did you balance all of your performance shows with schoolwork?
Since the stage [Lincoln Center] and
school are so close, I would come to
school, run to ballet for my show, and
then run back! Some nights I stayed
up really late doing homework, but
my teachers were very understanding
and flexible with deadlines. So I didn’t
miss anything!
In The Nutcracker, we would be in a
cabinet that doesn’t “turn alive” until
music starts. We were hidden behind
a big sheet. I would get nervous, but
once the music started and the curtain
went up, I felt excited. You just start
dancing and let it out. I
just let loose and don’t
have to think about it
because I’ve done it
so many times. I had
one dress rehearsal,
24 shows, and a ton of
practice rehearsals.
What are some of your
other hobbies and interests?
I like to swim, and I also
like acting and singing.
I like to do things for talent shows. For fun, I also like to write
my own movies on iMovie. I get my
brother [Speyer Scholar, Hudson] and
all my friends to be in my movies. I’m
working on one now where my brother and I are left home alone. We start
fighting a lot but then end up having a
dance party and eating candy.
Eliza poses outside of the theater before her first performance
in The Nutcracker.
Tell me about the support you’ve received from the Speyer community.
A lot of people came to see me in the
Nutcracker. It was nice to know that
since I cared so much about something, that other people also cared to
see me doing what I love. Everyone
was really supportive, and it was fun
getting to see friends that came to
watch me during intermission.
What advice would you give to others
starting out in ballet?
If you stay focused and determined,
and never give up, you can pursue
your dream. It’s not only about being
focused though; it’s also about having
fun and doing what you love to do.
You should always have fun.
The Nutcracker! My favorite memory
from the experience was coming out
of the casting room, knowing I got
in the show. I ran out to my dad who
was waiting on the couch throughout
the eight-hour audition. I remember
being shocked I got in as a Soldier because the Soldiers are usually really
tall. I was so excited!
What do you want to be when you
grow up?
Definitely a dancer…either with The
New York City Ballet or Boston Ballet.
Beyond dance technique, what has
ballet taught you?
Ballet has taught me a lot about discipline. It’s easy to get distracted, but
ballet helps me stay focused. When
performing, you always have to know
the person in front of you and the
number of counts you’re on…anticipating the next step. Just like real life,
you have to keep it all balanced. On
stage, you have to balance everything
that’s going on around you.
What does it feel like to know that
you are performing with so many
people watching? Do you have any
secrets to maintaining composure?
Ever get nervous?
So what’s next?
I want to be in a lot of ballet shows.
Some people say they get tired of it,
but I don’t see that happening. After 24
shows, I still wanted to perfect things.
You can always improve. And in two
to three years, I’ll learn to go on pointe!
Eliza in costume as a Toy Soldier.
5
OM! Mindfulness and Meditation
“L
isten to the chime. Count your breath as it rises and
falls. Close your eyes and notice your thoughts.” These
are a few key phrases you would hear if you walked into
Speyer’s Mindfulness and Meditation course. This year,
Mindfulness was introduced to 5th and 6th grade scholars as an elective and was introduced as an area of study in
Lower School Yoga Program BLUE.
In an effort to incorporate a sense of calm in the midst of a
typical day in New York, studying the art of being mindful
is a valuable lesson. Teachers Dina Pomeranz and Ashley
Smith-Santos collaborated to begin teaching these very
skills to scholars as a method for coping with daily ‘noise’.
These methods of practice take scholars on a journey of exploring ways of becoming more conscious of experiences
and present with their thoughts. One scholar commented,
“One day, after mindfulness and meditation, I was walking
down the street and stopped to listen to the wind.”
The early steps of teaching involved exposing scholars
to simple techniques; being mindful of posture, open to
Ashley Smith-Santos with her yogis during a read-aloud moment
following instruction.
Dina Pomeranz leads a Middle School group meditation.
“In my experience,children in my classes
have gained confidence, self-awareness
and emotional regulation. I have seen
small transformations in their daily
living, and their ability to share what
they experience has touched my own life.”
– Kindergarten teacher, Ashley Smith-Santos
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sound, and aware of one’s breath. Breathing is a core concept that scholars came to know as their anchor. Scholars
learned to think of breath as a safe harbor—a way of brining
oneself back to the present moment should thoughts wander or anxiety rise. Mindful eating was also studied, where
scholars were encouraged to savor taste and appreciate
color and smell.
“As the year has progressed, and I hear
anecdotes from parents, teachers
and students on how this mindfulness
practice has helped to alleviate stress,
cope with difficult feelings and deepen
focus and concentration, I know we are
onto to something here.”
– 5th grade teacher, Dina Pomeranz
Yoga, an ancient form of exercise that helps with focus,
balance, flexibility, and strength, has played an integral role
in developing body awareness. The Middle School elective
incorporates yoga into lesson plans. Through practice,
scholars are able to make full connections between the
mind and body. The Lower School BLUE course is mainly
focused on teaching yoga with a child-friendly approach.
Through a series of games, partner work, yoga poses, and
stories, younger children are given an opportunity to explore their minds, bodies and hearts. This builds a foundation for long-term practice that they can take with them
throughout life to better regulate emotions and behaviors
in healthy ways.
Upon integrating mindfulness and yoga into their daily
lives, scholars have reported experiencing better sleep, improved ability to cope with anxiety and manage emotions,
and a general increase in awareness of surroundings. Additionally, studies show that direct benefits of practice include increased focus and attention, well-being, flexibility
and strength (both in mind and body), and general growth
in overall sense of compassion and empathy. The main goal
of this elective is to teach scholars a sense of awareness of
the present moment. Additionaly, this supports initiatives
in the lessons taught in
the School’s Second Step
Program. Upon reflection, the hope is that one
makes a connection with
a situation of relevance
in their own life, drawing
upon specific emotions.
Mindfulness helps one
cope with these emotions and experiences so
that you are not reacting,
but instead, responding with a sense of keen
awareness, using tools to
be able to pause, reflect,
and be fully present.
Scholar in a popular yoga pose.
Climb Every Mountain
R
ising 6th grader, Ben Miller (age 10), has been climbing
mountains since he was three. Each year in late August, Ben and his parents, Pamela and Bob, visit Putnam
Camp, in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks. Together they climb 7-8 Peaks over the course of two weeks.
Ben walks to school every morning from the Upper East
Side. This has helped him learn to deal with any inclement weather he may encounter while on the mountain.
Hiking in the rain is not a barrel of laughs. Ben says, “If it
is very muddy, it makes for slow going. It is hard to walk
through ankle-deep mud.”
By the age of five, Ben completed the Order of the 23—23
different mountains that are less than 4,000 feet. Once he
climbed the Order of the 23, Ben set his sights on completing the 46 High Peaks, which are over 4,000 feet in
elevation. Of the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks, Ben
has climbed 27 to date!
Ben relishes taking in the views from the top, and has
developed a deep connection with the outdoors. He has
even grown to love freeze-dried food! Recounting a day
trip climb, Ben says, “One time, we got all the way up to
the top of a mountain and I realized I had forgotten my
Ben takes in the view from the top.
Ben preparing his campsite.
High Peak climbs typically take around 6-8 hours a day of
climbing before you can pitch a tent and prepare dinner.
The next day is spent continuing to climb another 7-8
hours. Often times, the climb can take up to three days to
complete. Ben carries with him a 40- pound pack (nearly
half of his body weight), which contains all of his supplies.
lunch. So, I just ate my Dad’s Gorp-- a camping classic of
good old raisins and peanuts.”
Hiking is more than just getting out into the woods; it
is about learning how to deal with different situations
and adapting to them. To help prepare for these climbs,
Ben’s long term climbing goal is to complete the 46 High
Peaks, which the Miller family plans to all do together! We
look forward to celebrating with Ben when he reaches the
top of Peak 46!
Look for more information on the “46ers” by visiting
www.the46ersfilm.com.
WordMasters of Speyer
T
he 2014-2015 school year marks Speyer’s first year at competing in the national WordMasters Challenge, a vocabulary competition based on completing analogies. Grades 3-6 enjoyed their first experience participating
in the competition. With great excitement, we congratulate our 3rd graders, who placed 1st in the country for the
third and final WordMasters meet of the year. Over the course of the year, our 3rd graders placed 2nd overall at the
national level! Well done!
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A Glimpse of the Arts at Speyer
“E
ducating the mind without educating the heart
is no education at all” – Aristotle
Lower School Musicale
On February 6, the Lower
School scholars performed a
variety of their favorite musical compositions from their
explorations in music with
Miranda Hentoff, Speyer's
Music Teacher. The Musicale
demonstrated the deep, process-oriented work we do at
the Speyer Legacy School, and
highlighted the scope, range,
and musical accomplishments
of our scholars.
Artists at Work
Art Teacher, Morgan de Rham
has developed an Art Curriculum at Speyer that consists
of three main components:
implementing of cross-curriculum projects, ensuring the
development of various art
skills by utilizing various techniques, and infusing the lessons with Art History.
Lower School musicians put on a spectacular Musicale.
Middle School Concert
On April 28, Middle School
scholars showcased their
original compositions based
on a musical concept of their
class' choice. With guidance
and from teacher Miranda
Hentoff The 5th graders chose
counterpoint and ostinato,
the 6th graders worked with
consonance and dissonance
and melody and accompaniment, and the 7th grade
explored music as story. The
concert was an audio/ visual
experience for the audience,
as the recorded compositions
were played on a smart board
showing their multi-track
recordings done on Garage
Band, a robust digital recording app. The scholars blended
music theory, composition,
and their knowledge of music history with technology to
create compelling and sophisticated pieces.
Scholars amazing artwork on display.
Dance
Lower School NDI Performance is full of energy and fun.
Middle School Concert wows a full crowd on the Boulevard.
8
Whether scholars were studying the Hudson River and creating drawings based on the
Hudson River School of Painters or studying Ancient Greece
and creating plaster masks for
a class play, each grade fulfilled
the five basic techniques of
Art: drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and sculpture.
Moreover, scholars developed
skills utilizing the Elements of
Art and Principles of Design.
Applying and understanding
these methods supports the
growth of fine-motor development and problem solving
techniques.
Scholars recently celebrated
American Roots Music in their
spectacular “Event of the Year”
performances with National
Dance Institute. Throughout
the year, scholars in K-4 have
been practicing with weekly NDI
classes led by Kelly Buwalda, and
their culminating show was
quite a treat! The K-1 performance portrayed the spirit of
early rock, bluegrass, ragtime,
and soul through choreography and storytelling. The
performance by 2-4 graders
highlighted various genres of
American Roots Music, including blues, boogie, bluegrass,
spirituals, folk, funk, and soul.
Let’s Hear it for the Band
A
dedicated group of 10 musicians participated in the Middle School Band Elective,
often trying a hand at playing instruments
that are unfamiliar. Led by teacher, Rod Alonzo, the Band met three times a week over
the last trimester, and mastered four songs:
"Higher and Higher", "This Old Heart of Mine",
"Jumpin' Jack Flash", and "Happy". Using an
array of instruments such as piano, electric
guitar, electric bass, xylophones, bongos, and
drums, the students learned to play as an ensemble. This past trimester's group included
Sarafina Belafonte, Eli Berliner, Laura Gonzalez, Emily Hazim, Sofia Kouklanakis, Paige
Linzo, Isabel Orr, Drake Roth, Sarah Weiner,
and Thisbe Wu.
Thank you, Malena and David Belafonte, for
assisting Rod with logistics and providing
musical advice!
Middle School Band members during a jam session.
Band members finding the beat.
Focusing on the six string.
Middle School Theater Troupe
I
n January, the Middle School Theater Troupe performed
Celeste Raspanti's I Never Saw Another Butterfly, a moving portrait of the struggle of the Jewish children living in
Prauge during the Second World War. The cast was comprised of 10 actors: Serafina Belafonte, Gabrielle Chernomorsky, Alexander Emerson, Theo Kubovy-Weiss, Harper
Learmonth, James Lee, Isabelle Orr, Daniel Sidi, Jenifer
Weng, and Maya Yanowitch. Assistant Director, Laura
Gonzalez, played an integral role as well.
On June 9, the Troupe will be performing Agatha Christie's
Mousetrap. We look forward to another wonderful show!
A scene from the troupe’s performance of I Never Saw Another Butterfly.
9
Dispatch from Debate
S
uccess in debate demands delving deeply into divisive deliberations, researching key issues, and
fine-tuning public speaking and persuasion skills. By all of these measures the Speyer Debate Team has
had a very successful year, indeed!
Facilitated by Debate Coach Radley
Glasser, Speyer had an undefeated
season in the Empire State Division
of the Middle School Public Debate
League. Throughout the year, Spey-
Talented Speyer Debaters.
Debater in action.
er earned more Top School and Top
Team awards than any other school in
the New York League. This is despite
tough competition from schools such
as Dalton, Hunter, Anderson, and
Hackley. Considering Speyer scholars
are primarily matched against other team’s 8th graders, this is quite an
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achievement! At the National Championships, Speyer came in 2nd place
as an overall school, above any other NY area team and ahead of much
longer running programs.
Debaters had great results individually as well. The team of Alexander
Gerstenhaber, Drake Roth, and Max
Selendy made it to the Grand Final
round of the Urban Debate League
State Championships, placing 2nd
overall.
Alexander
was rated as the 4th
ranked
individual
speaker at the States
Level. At the National
Championships, the
team of Max Eastwood, Aidan Kahn,
and Tiago Gonzales-Gangemi ranked
4th in the nation
with Tiago as the 4th
ranked
individual
speaker.
The teams of Michael Manta, Andrew
Binder, and Ethan
Joo – Nayu Lee, David Gonzalez, and
Harper Learmonth –
Charlotte Ritz-Jack,
Ruby Gonzalez, and
Shaye Martin – Max
S, Alexander, and
Drake - and Jenifer
Weng, Yoheidy Feliz,
and Jenna Mackenroth, all won first
place titles at regular
season tournaments.
Finally, Max S, Andrew, Jenifer, and
Jaclyn each received
Top Overall Speaker at various tournaments, bringing
home the coveted
Speaker’s Gavel Award a record number of times.
Debaters are looking forward to events
next year with an expanded team as
we incorporate 8th grade debaters,
and welcome rising Middle Schoolers!
Geography Bee:
Scholar
Attends State
Championship
Z
achary Chosed, rising
6th grader, competed in
the finals of the Geography
Bee State Championship on
March 27 in Albany, NY. The
competitors (100 total) were
broken into five groups of
20—Zachary was the only
5th grader among his group
(most of the students were
7th and 8th graders). While
he did not qualify for the final round, Zachary correctly
answered many questions
during the group elimination process, and has already
set his sights on next year’s
finals! We look forward to
seeing what next year holds
for all Speyer Geography Bee
Scholars, as they are so very
passionate about their geography studies.
Zachary accepts his certificate of
achievement during a class celebration
before leaving for the State Championship Competition.
Author and Illustrator, George O’Connor, Visits Speyer
O
n May 12, George O’Connor treated the Speyer community to a very
special visit to our scholar-packed
Library! O’Connor is the widely acclaimed author and illustrator of the
New York Times best selling graphic novel series, Olympians, a creative
re-telling of classic Greek myths.
Scholars of all ages anxiously waited
their class’ turn to visit with O’Connor,
proof of the author’s thriving Speyer
fan base—a true testament to the curriculum, as our Greek myth enthusiasts feverishly devour his work! The
author’s visit was intentionally scheduled to coincide with Speyer’s spring
curriculum, which is rich of mythology. From Kindergarteners studying
magical myths and tales of the Greek
gods, to older scholars learning of the
ancient myths and history of Egypt,
Rome, China, and Greece, O’Connor’s work is relevant and relatable
throughout all classes.
O’Connor shared stories regarding
his early childhood aspirations of becoming a graphic novelist. He spoke
with great passion about his writing
process—from the sketching of initial ideas, to deeply researching primary source materials, to reaching
book completion. During each of his
four lively presentations, O’Connor
breathed life into his stories by shar-
George O’Connor takes questions from enthusiastic scholars during his presentation.
ing a magnitude of original sketches
and detailing the revision process.
The crowd relished the opportunity
to learn, first hand, the backstories of
each of the gods in O’Connor’s novels.
presentation to a group of 4th and 5th
graders, O’Connor checked his email
during a quick break in sessions—
he found eight new messages from
Speyer scholars waiting in his inbox!
At the end of each group presentation,
O’Connor encouraged scholars to
contact him via email and promised to
respond. Just 20 minutes after his first
O’Connor signed over 100 books for
his Speyer fans before departing. He is
currently working on Apollo, the 8th
volume of Olympians.
A Year in the Making: Makers’ Lab Fun
W
hat a wonderful year we have had in the Makers’ Lab! Time
spent in the Lab is most exciting, as our scholars are constantly
dreaming and creating! It is both fascinating and fun to be in the
Lab with scholars, supporting them as they think, design, collaborate, problem solve and MAKE, MAKE, MAKE! Check out a list of a
few projects that have been created in the Lab this year:
• Design of cars, homes, toys, baked goods, trains, landscapes,
characters, and more using an online computer aided design
tool, TinkerCad (creations were then printed by our 3-D printers!)
• Creation of physical interfaces to the computer using MakeyMakey boards and Scratch
• Programming of a dance game and the creation of working
dance pads that go along with it
• Creation of a tiny virtual drum-kit, a working windmill, stop motion animations, original music compositions, a robot that paints
Jackson Pollock like designs, sumo wrestling robots, a marble
maze entirely enclosed by giant Legos…and much, much more!
Sparks fly in the Lab.
11
2014-15 Parents Association: Year in Review
S
peyer has an amazingly talented and active parent body. We are very fortunate to have each and every one of our
parents involved in the Community at various levels—from committee chairs to library volunteers, your time and
dedication does not go unnoticed. Christine Russell-Pritchard, 2014-15 PA President, reflected on the impact that the
PA had upon Speyer this year, saying, “This has been a year of tremendous growth for the Parents Association, as new
initiates have really taken shape. As the PA President for the 2014-15 school year, I have enjoyed working with so many
enthusiastic and extremely supportive parents! Together, through your efforts, we have organized and accomplished
wonderful things. I am confident that the PA will continue to grow and flourish.“
Admissions Committee
The 2014-15 Admissions Committee was comprised of 40+ Speyer parents who worked diligently throughout the year
to showcase Speyer to prospective families.
This year, there were…
• Nine evening Admissions events held
• Three volunteer training sessions
• Twelve off campus outreach events (across four boroughs)
• Dozens of student onsite visits and parent tours
• 60 new students (so far) across grades K - 7
Fun facts about our 60 new students:
• Speak at least 15 languages
• Come from 19 different preschools and 22 various
public and independent schools
• 4,600 miles = farthest distance traveled by a new
attending family (all the way from Moscow, Russia!)
Green Committee
The Green Committee supports the understanding, exposure, and
recognition of natural and organic process both inside and outside
of the School. In addition to working on environmentally conscious initiatives, the Green Committee also organizes a number of
fun family and weekend activities throughout the year.
Green Initiatives this School Year
• Green Team
• Whole Kids Foundation $2,000 Grant recipient
• School composting and recycling program
• Terracycle (program to recycle snack bags)
• Forest Friday
• Camp/Wilderness Survival Skills Workshop
• Farm Family Trip
• Fall and Summer Family Camping
Green Team Activities
• Repotting of plants
• Installation and harvest of the Grow Tower
• Recycle paper and make seed balls (seed bombs)
• Up-cycle old t-shirts into reusable tote bags
Green Team members working on the Grow Tower.
Social Committee
SpeyerSocial held several all inclusive parent and family events throughout the year, enhancing the camaraderie of the
Speyer community. This year, the following social events took place:
• Monthly “coffees” at Whole Foods after drop off.
• Grade-wide get-togethers where parents of scholars
in the same grade had the opportunity to socialize
outside of Speyer.
• The 6th Annual Ice-Skating Party including music,
dinner, and fun for the whole family. Over 300 people
attended this amazing event!
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• Fall and spring parent get-togethers at Tavern on
the Green.
• 2nd Annual Speyer Movie Night showcasing the creative, award-winning work of four Speyer Parents.
• Motherhood Undefined: A One-Woman Musical-an
evening of songs and stories, laughter and tears by esteemed Broadway actress and parent, Stacie Morgain Lewis.
Library Committee
The Library has grown exponentially over the past school year! Thanks to the wonderful volunteers that worked tirelessly to sticker, scan, and shelve roughly 20,000 books into our system! Below are some fun statistics about our readers:
Top Three Classes
by Check Outs:
1. 3B: 909
2. 1B: 725
3. KB: 555
Top Three Patrons of the Library
1. Millie Bell, 3B, 192 checkouts
2. Davin Kahn, 3B, 163 checkouts
3. Zadie Schonfeld, KA, 118 checkouts
Author Visits Included:
Edward Einhorn, Melissa Guion, Adam Gidwitz,
George O’Connor
Total Checkouts September 1, 2014 to May 21, 2015: 6,658
Speaker Series
Committee
“Life of the Mind” Speaker Series events
were a big hit! Speyer hosted four events (over
160 guests in attendance), all geared towards exploring the
topic of risk. Guests included: endurance swimmer, Lynne
Cox; art panel, Ashton Hawkins, George McNeely, and
George Lewis; board certified internist, Dr. Susan Freedman; and Speyer parent and author, Amy Fusselman.
Scholars on the ice during the 2015 Annual Speyer Skate Party.
Community Service Committee
2014-15 was another successful year for the Community
Service Committee! Led by a creative and engaged team
of parent volunteers, the committee organized a diverse
calendar of events that provided Speyer scholars and their
families many opportunities to make a difference for others.
2014-15 Executive PA Committee members hard at work.
Highlights include:
• New York Cares Coat Drive: In December, Speyer collected and contributed over 120 warm winter coats to New Yorkers in need.
• God’s Love We Deliver (GLWD) Holiday Bag Project: Speyer participated in
the now-annual Holiday Bag Decorating project, creating beautifully decorated shopping bags for GLWD to use to deliver holiday meals to those
clients that are too ill to shop or cook for themselves.
• Staples Food Drive: Our community collected over 10 large boxes of food
staples during the weeks after Thanksgiving and donations were personally delivered to St. Paul’s Food Pantry by Middle Schoolers.
• Change 4 Change: This year, over $1,400 was raised to support critical projects at The Caroline Wambui Mungai Home and School in Kenya (Speyer’s
sister school).
• Soles4Souls Shoe Drive: During the last two weeks of school, the community is invited to donate gently used and outgrown shoes to Soles4Souls,
an organization that fights the impact of poverty in the US and overseas by
distributing shoes directly to those in need.
And last - but not least: The Community Service Committee identified a need
for service within our own community and stepped up to organize and manage the School’s Lost and Found.
Speyer Store
The Speyer Store’s first year has been
one of great success! With the help of
many dedicated volunteers and loyal customers, the Store became this
year’s primary source of funding for
the PA, enabling various social events
throughout the year to come to life.
At a glace, the Store Committee…
• Worked with Middle School and
Administration to plan the Inaugural Middle School Dance
• Provided year-round support to
various PA Committees, selling
tickets, special books, etc.
• Supported scholar endeavors, facilitating the sale of hand crafted
and/or scholar created items
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Event Co-Chairs, Michele Felsher and Mila Jeneste.
Gather
: Over 300 Speyer Community Members
gathered for the 6th Annual InSpeyered Evening
& Auction on May 14th.
The group included current and incoming parents, faculty and staff, and
friends. The evening began at 6pm with signature
cocktails being served,
Silent Auction Bidding already in progress, and lots
of talking and laughing.
The evening progressed
to the Live Auction and
the Paddle Raise. The last
attendees left well after
10:30pm!
Faculty members enjoying a celebratory Speyer evening.
Give: The Auction would
not have been possible if
it were not for the tremendous generosity of all of
our parents. The monies
raised from Class Basket
Donations, Catalog Ads, Speyer parents enjoying each others company.
Underwriting, Ticket Purchases, Silent and Live
Bidding, and Paddle Raise
Donations
amounted
to over $350,000! As the
school’s largest fundraiser, we rely a great deal on
the success of this event.
Our families did not disappoint, and once again
raised significant funds
that will directly benefit
each and every student,
faculty, and staff member
at the School. Speyer is inSpeyer Dads raise a glass.
credibly fortunate to have
such committed and generous families.
Grow
: Speyer is able to continue growing its programs, technological abilities,
and faculty and staff as a direct result of the funds raised during this evening.
More importantly, we continue to grow as a community the more we come together to celebrate, get to know each other, work together, support each other,
and share our hopes and dreams for our children.
Thank you all for such a wonderful and successful evening!
14
Dr. Barter and Speyer Parent, Peter Nakada.
InSpeyering
21st Century
Learners
Gather, Give, Grow
concluded with a Paddle Raise for a
special project, InSpeyering 21st
Century Learners: Limitless Access to Knowledge. Teachers,
Amy Wright and Rod Alonzo,
walked us through the exciting changes that would occur
at Speyer if we were to have the
funds to purchase mobile satellite hubs that would contain the
technology to bring an astounding amount of information and
technology right to our scholars
at a moments notice. These specialized resources would provide
unlimited access to all areas of a
learner’s interests. This additional
technology would allow Speyer
to continue to fuel learners diverse interests and passions.
Thank you to those that have already donated nearly $70,000 towards this project. For additional
information or if you are interested in making a contribution
towards this wonderful project,
please contact the Advancement
office at
[email protected].
Middle School Forms Student Government
By Speyer Scholars, David Gonzalez and Sarah Weiner
F
orming a Government
The process for forming a student government began
with the very basics. Stripping the process back to square
one, scholars were in control of every aspect of the government’s formation. This began in the fall with conversations and meetings to determine the need or desire
for self-governance of some kind. With a mandate to go
forward, scholars took on the challenge of creating
a government from scratch. Faculty advisors offered
presentations on styles and types of democratic governments from around the world and then took a
back seat in what turned out to be an extensive, deliberative and successful constitutional convention.
Speyer scholars eschewed standardized formats of
student government and created their own Parliamentary-based system with a mix of equal and proportional representation. They debated and, more
importantly, managed to form consensus and compromise on issues of leadership offices, representation, and voting system.
Elections were set for January 12, to set eleven representatives from across the three grades. Each grade
would choose two representatives from across the
grade, and then each class had one more representative of its own choosing. The constitutional convention had set that leadership of the Council would be
determined by the Council itself once convened.
Candidates submitted self-nominations with approval from parents and advisors and then made campaign
posters and wrote speeches to present to their grade.
These candidates brought a range of arguments for why
they would be best to represent the grade and make responsible decisions to improve Speyer. After the speeches were made, that Tuesday, Ms. Snow and Mr. Glasser
counted the ballots and announced the Scholars' Council: Eli, William, Jenna, Emily, Charlotte, Drake, Alexander, Max E., David, Sarah, and Max S. Very soon after, the
Scholars' Council got to work.
The Council’s Accomplishments
The very first thing we did as a council was figure out
speaker and secretary for first and second term. We each
ranked our choices out of everyone, and through a single
transferable process of voting, the first two speakers and
secretaries were chosen. The speaker’s job was to both
set up the agenda for the meetings and run the meetings. The secretaries would record all the events. The next
position chosen was for the vice-speaker position. The
speaker chose their top three choices, and the top person
who was interested would be assigned to the position.
The vice-speaker would both replace the speaker in the
event of absence and oversee the committees.
Then, we created our most urgent committee: Social
Committee. We had the middle school dance (March 20th,
2015) coming up and the PA wanted our help. We chose
a person from each grade on the Scholars’ Council and
then one person per class outside of the Scholars' Council
to create the Social Committee. Each week the people on
the Social Committee would report back to the rest of the
Scholars' Council on how everything was going.
Member of Speyer’s Student Government.
The next thing we did was create a Service Committee to
help manage ideas for possible ways to help the community around us. Like the Social Committee, this is a standing committee made of a mix of Scholars’ Council representatives and other scholars with a passion for this area.
Applications came in expressing interest in a range of issues, from animal cruelty prevention to LGBT rights. We
currently have two members from outside the Scholars’
Council and are still open to applications from interested
scholars from the fifth and sixth grades. While the committee is still very new, an event for Camfed (an organization supporting education for girls in Africa) is already in
the making with the assistance of a parent.
Once these committees had been established, we began
to do our own work, hearing grievances and proposals
for improving our time in the Middle School. We have
discussed ways to improve social/emotional learning,
consulted with Mr. Deards on the Code of Conduct, and
begun planning an exciting mentorship program to build
community and encourage leadership.
Considering that we have had only around half of the
year to put together a full student government, we have
accomplished a lot and hope to accomplish more and
more, making Speyer all the better every year.
15
Let’s Dance!
Success of the Inaugural Middle School Dance
“C
an we please, please have a school
dance?” scholar Serafina Belefonte asked
her mother, Malena. Upon reflection, Malena
knew that Serafina’s desire for Speyer to hold a
school dance was most likely also the wish of
every other Middle School scholar. Soon after,
plans were put into action!
The idea to hold a Middle School Dance was in
favor by all. To begin the process of planning
the event, a Dance Committee was formed in
conjunction with the Speyer Store Committee. Comprised of members of the Scholars
Council, members of the Middle School student body, and parent volunteers, the Dance
Committee held weekly meetings over a
three-month period to gather ideas. Parent
volunteers served merely as guides during
these meetings, making sure everyone was
in agreement with regards to an event theme,
invitations, the music playlist, food, and décor.
Excitement around the Middle School rapidly
began to build!
Middle Schoolers getting in the groove.
On March 20, the entrance to the Dining Hall
was transformed into a “red carpet” event
space! Middle Schoolers anxiously waited at
the top of the stairs to make their grand entrance into their first school dance! The event’s
“Old Hollywood” theme was visible in details
throughout: from stars that hung from the ceiling representing each Middle School scholar,
paparazzi snapping photos, swag bags and
popcorn—every aspect was thought through!
The Dance was an unforgettable evening,
filled with camaraderie and Speyer Spirit. Next
year’s event is already being discussed with
great anticipation- see you on the dance floor,
Middle School!
Photo booth fun.
16
Scholars are full of smiles on the dance floor.
Snapshot in front of the Hollywood sign.
The Evolution of the Speyer Store
D
uring last summer’s construction,
a permanent home for the Speyer
Store was built. With nothing but bare
walls and a few clothing racks, Speyer
parent and Board Member, Malena Belafonte, agreed to take on the project of
bringing the Store to life, Speyer style!
With over 20 parents attending the
first Speyer Store Committee Meeting,
many were eager to participate in the
Store’s expansion process. Together,
the Committee decided to expand the
products sold in the Store to include
more than just clothing items, adding
backpacks (Speyer was the first school
to partner with Mad-Pax Backpacks, a
line that has become quite the rave),
accessories, books, and more!
A monetary structure for Store revenue
was quickly put into place—proceeds
would fund the Parents Association.
With assistance from PA President,
Christine Russell-Pritchard, PA Vice
President, Mica Vanterpool, and PA
Treasurer, Alex Salem, a procedure to
begin accepting credit card payments
was set. Additionally, thanks to the
help of Speyer parent, Anna Wilson, an
inventory log was created. This newly
adopted system allows every item to
be logged in a systematic manner. For
customer ease, receipts are automatically emailed upon transaction.
With the desire to configure a well-organized team, a formal Committee
structure was subsequently designed,
with Sub Committees consisting of
Sales, Promotions, Personnel, Décor,
Bus-Family Communications, Special
Events, and Manual. Store hours were
put into effect, and thanks to the help
of many dedicated volunteers, morning, afternoon and special event shifts
were appointed.
Realizing that there was a limited window of time during pick-up and dropoff for parents to shop the Store, it became evident that special events and
collaborations would greatly enhance
profit. The Store’s first special event was
a Back-to-School Sip & Shop collaboration with J.Crew at Columbus Circle.
formed Student Body Government
(led by teacher, Brigid Snow) to create
the Inaugural Middle School Dance.
With its’ business connections, the
Store Committee was able to secure
incredible deals with many vendors. A
team of volunteers worked with Malena and the scholars to put together an
The Store quickly sets
sights on doing even
more to give back to
Speyer. This school
year, the Store partnered with various
PA Committees, providing
augmented
support for all parties.
Partnerships included collaborations with
both the Social Committee (selling tickets for the Annual Ice
Skating Party through
the Store) and the Library Committee (partnering during Book
Malena Belafonte in the Speyer Store.
Fairs and selling books
written by visiting authors and Speaker Series guests).
extremely successful and fun Middle
School Dance! Additionally, the Store
As many Speyer scholars are quite enhas been directly involved in the detrepreneurial, the Store set a special
sign of a logo for Speyer Sports Teams
policy allowing scholars to sell their
and fan wear!
products. Currently, scholar created
Store merchandise includes: Snazzee
This has been a year of great develheadbands and accessories by Leah
opment and teamwork. The Speyer
Efran, jewelry by Sarafina Belafonte,
Store’s intentions are deeply rooted
and coming soon, a cartoon collecwithin the heart of the PA, in that all retion by Rowan Walter.
turns directly support initiatives within
each of the PA Sub Committees. AnyThe Speyer Store Committee has
thing for the good of Speyer! Thank
evolved into more than just a store.
you, Speyer Store Team, for your endThis winter, the Committee proposed
less commitment and support!
the idea of a Middle School Dance to
the Administration. Upon approval,
Malena worked with Speyer’s newly
The Dragon’s Hoard: Volume I
H
ave you check out The Dragon’s Hoard, Speyers Literary Magazine run by an
Editorial Staff of Middle Schoolers? This literary work, led by Editor-in-Chief
and Middle School teacher, Brigid Snow, is available electronically. Hard copies
are available in the Library!
Volume I, hot off the press.
17
Kindergarten Reception
O
n May 19, the Inaugural Kindergarten Reception took
place at the home of Kelly and David Gerstenhaber. Kelly,
a Board Member and one of Speyer’s Founders, enjoyed welcoming new families into her home, where the initial plans
and dreams for Speyer first emerged. Over 30 families attended this event, where Current Kindergarten Parents were
able to meet the Incoming Kindergarten Parents. Many stories and wonderful memories were shared—a good time was
had by all! Speyer looks forward to making this an annual
Kindergarten tradition as our community continues to grow!
Speyer Highlights
Over the Years
DEBATE
More Top Team and Top School awards
than any other school in the
New York Debate League
2nd Place School in the
National Debate Championship
Speyer Debate Team reached the
Finals of the New York State Championships
Many Top Speaker “Gavels” in advanced
and novice decisions in both the New York
Debate League and the Urban Debate League
CHESS
National K-1 Chess Champions
National K-5 Chess Champions
All Girls Under 10
National Chess Champions
Current K Parents enjoyed meeting Incoming K Parents.
All Girls Under 10
Individual Co-Champion
Fifth Grade National Champions
Sixth Grade National Champions
Two Time New York City Champions
MATH
NY State Math League
6th Grade Champions
Sixth Grade New York State
Math League Individual Champion
Regional Math Counts Competition
6th Grade Individual Champion
National Math Madness Competition advanced to round of 16!
Placed in Top 2% of the Math League USA
International 5th Grade Contest
Parents share stories from a wonderful school year.
18
LAST CHANCE!
Contributors:
Rod Alonzo
Richard F. Barter
Malena Belafonte
June 30th is the last day you can
help The Speyer Legacy School
reach a record setting
100% Parent Participation.
By making your gift today,
at any level, you will be
significantly enriching the lives
of our students and faculty.
There is still time.
Make your gift today:
speyerlegacyschool.org/supportspeyer
Thank You!
Marissa Berber
Kris Berger
Janani Bhagat
Kelly Buwalda
Michelle Byron
Heather Chaet
Becky Cohen
Nermeen Dashoush
Morgan de Rham
Kate Fiscus
Radley Glasser
David Gonzalez
Miranda Hentoff
Amanda Kagan
Rita Koplin
Jen Krug
Francesca Lanning
Ben Miller
Rene Mitchell
Dina Pomeranz
Eliza Pritchard
Lindsay Robbins
Elizabeth Ross
Sharon Roth
Christine Russell-Pritchard
Cat Sheridan
Adam Smilowitz
Ashley Smith-Santos
Brigid Snow
Michelle Stark
Dorianne Steele
Sarah Weiner
Donna Wingate
Amy Wright
We make every effort to avoid errors
of any kind, and apologize for any
omissions or typographical errors.
19
The Speyer Legacy School
925 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
www.speyerlegacyschool.org