Dive In - Rocky Hill School

Transcription

Dive In
strategic PROGRESS
FACULTY PROFILES
WHAT IS ACE?
Alumni Challenge
bigopportunities
By: Jonathan M. Schoenwald, Ph.D., Head of School
T
here’s an adage about strategic plans—or at least there
should be—that says they take six to 12 months of
intense work to create, and about three seconds to put on the
shelf. A strategic plan is supposed to serve as a mirror and a
map, simultaneously reflecting an organization’s mission and
values while also plotting its direction. Decisions abound,
beginning with choosing who should be involved in the planning,
establishing the plan’s temporal length, and determining how it
should be implemented.
Even before the New England Association of Schools and
Colleges accreditation team made their recommendation last fall,
Rocky Hill School was due for a new strategic plan. We set an
Aja Mulvaney ‘18 takes notes on her iPad during library class. The Middle School
ambitious timeline: spend the winter and spring planning, with
iPad program is just one of the many big opportunities at Rocky Hill.
implementation beginning in the summer and fall of 2012.
Having participated in strategic planning processes at the
are known best through websites like Coursera or edX
university level, I was concerned that after opening with much
and enroll tens of thousands of students, will absolutely
excitement and participation, the plan would lose momentum.
revolutionize how we think of learning at the college
Rocky Hill has managed to avoid this typical pitfall. After
level. At this time, however, we don’t know what that
having spent hundreds of people hours last spring under the
means. Will such courses replace some community
leadership of trustee Mary H. Grant, we created a three-year road
colleges? Will they augment all four-year degrees? Will
map that charts the immediate course of the School, leveraging
they reduce student debt? Rocky Hill, like all independent
our strengths while cleaving closely to our history and mission.
schools, will follow these developments closely. Until
The speed with which we worked, the wide net that we cast in
then, however, we will take advantage of what are mostly
order to ensure input from all constituencies, and the thoughtful
free offerings. Already, we have a dozen or more students
planning that ensued, all validated and buoyed our efforts.
taking online classes, with weekly supervision coming
In this our first year, the School will focus on
from our own faculty.
four goals:
Throughout this magazine you will read
“We know that
• Enhancing the educational experience
of many more examples of how the School’s
• Forwarding passion-based learning
strategic plan is taking hold across campus.
our students have
• Deeply infusing technology across the
Of course, we need to measure whether these
curriculum
innovative
ideas are working. Otherwise, we
chances to do
• Developing mutual partnerships
won’t know if our proposals are adding value to
things that students
This issue of The Bulletin is dedicated to
the educational experience. Luckily the Strategic
exploring the School’s strategic plan. As the
Planning Steering Committee, led by trustee
elsewhere simply
head of Rocky Hill, I find nothing more exciting
Stephen Siegel and comprising trustees, faculty
never experience.”
than seeing our ideas come to fruition. Spurred
and administrators, has devised benchmarks
by our board of trustees and led by faculty,
by which to measure progress. Directors
staff, and administrators, our strategic plan has
of strategic initiatives will report regularly,
already taken hold in every division. A small sampling:
ensuring that we don’t leave success to chance.
• Grades 2 and 4 have implemented project-based
One of the unintended consequences of the strategic planning
learning (page 11), which synthesizes a variety of skills
process was the creation of our new tagline, “Small School, Big
and knowledge under the umbrella of a single question.
Opportunities.” I love this saying for the same reason I love
These units, which can be as short as a week to as long
the strategic plan: it’s who we are, and it’s what we believe. We
as a month, help introduce real-world problem solving
know that our students have chances to do things that students
to those areas that historically have remained all too
elsewhere simply never experience. Rocky Hill’s strategic plan
theoretical.
will never be just a document on a shelf. Its powerful benefits are
• A one-to-one iPad program (page 9) in the Middle
already being felt, and I’m confident that these dividends will be
School is revolutionizing what, how and where students
compounded as we broaden and deepen its reach.
learn. In every class I’ve visited, from social studies to
I hope you enjoy reading about Rocky Hill’s successes and its
math to science and geography, the iPad has opened new
future, and I hope you’ll stop by and see the strategic plan come to
avenues for exploration.
life. I know you’ll be impressed and excited about what lies ahead.
• Massive open online courses (page 7) are taking higher
Access updates on the strategic plan’s progress at
education by storm. These web-based classes, which
www.rockyhill.org/strategicupdate.
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LEGACYFAMILIES
(From top left):
Atsa Zah ‘15
Ei Yazh Foster ‘16
Sven-Axel Wadensten ‘13
Andrew Foerch ‘14
John Paul Santos III ‘18
Cassidy Santos ‘17
Perry Clark ‘19
Amaia Aldazabal ‘16
Capri Catanzaro ‘15
Julia Asadorian ‘15
Sabrina Dumas ‘16
Will Janikies ‘17
Max Lehouiller ‘20
Alexis Weiler ‘20
Sydney Boss ‘23
Charlotte Boss ‘22
Eliza Barker ‘25
Dylan Lehouiller ‘21
Alexander Lehouiller ‘24
Luke Lehouiller ‘26
(Missing from photo):
Ethan Moyer ‘18
Charlotte Roch ‘18
Anemone Mars ‘93
SeQuahna Mars ‘96
Karl Wadensten ‘78
Ronald Foerch ‘85
John Paul Santos Jr. ‘90
John Paul Santos Jr. ‘90
Richard Clark ‘85
Erika (Waldman) Aldazabal ‘81
Robert Catanzaro ‘49
Michael Baccari Jr. ‘79
Samuel C.H. Dumas ‘79
Trixie (Webber) Dumas ‘81
Pam Dumas ‘56
William Janikies ‘83
Lia (DiLeonardo) Lehouiller ‘90
Mary Lynne Kennedy ‘80
Monica (Iacono) Boss ‘91
Richard Barker Jr. ‘83
Richard Barker Sr. ‘54
Don Moyer Jr. ‘88
Don Moyer Sr. ‘62
Dawn (Dunley) Roch ‘83
Raymond Roch ‘83
Cover: Benjamin Hodosh ‘16 takes a plunge during the December meeting
of the Upper School Polar Bear Club. Photo by Angelo Gemma ‘13.
TableofContents
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4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16-17
18-19
20
21
22-29
29
30
31
32
33-35
Head of School Report
New Faculty & Staff
Board of Trustees Report
Faculty Profile: Cappelletti
Passion-Based Learning
Faculty Profile: Conroy
iPad Program
Faculty Profile: Goldstein
Project-Based Learning
What is ACE?
New for 2012-13
Staff Profile: Entwistle
Athletics
Around the Rock
Reunion 2012
Alumni Report
Homecoming 2012
Class News
In Memoriam
Student Artwork
Development Report
PTL Report
2012 Year-End Review
The Bulletin is published annually and is distributed free of charge to alumni, parents and friends of Rocky Hill School.
The Bulletin is made possible by:
Send alumni news and address corrections to:
Jonathan M. Schoenwald, Ph.D., Head of School
Director of Alumni Relations, Liz Cochran
Karen Gibson, Director of Communications & Marketing
[email protected]
Beth DeGerlia, Director of Development
Rocky Hill School
Liz Cochran, Development Office Manager, Director of Alumni Relations
530 Ives Road
Kaitlyn Dulac, Development Assistant
East Greenwich, RI 02818
Photography: Terry Coes, Ruth Clegg, Glenn Osmundson, Rob Lee, Coffee Pond
Proofreading: Paul Tukey, Maria Emmons, Cathy Washburn
Connect with Rocky Hill School:
www.rockyhill.org/alumni
3
FreshFaces
New faculty and staff for 2012-13
Matthew Bradley, Student Billing & Accounts Payable Manager
Matt has an associate degree in accounting and a certificate in business administration from Three Rivers College
in Norwich, CT. He has extensive finance, accounting, computer and analytical skills that will be put to good use
in the Business Office.
Megan Cicchese, Academic Center for Enrichment Intern
Megan’s responsibilities focus on applying a variety of teaching methodologies inside Lower School classrooms.
She helps with the ACE “push-in” model, which is having an enormous impact on all students. Megan earned a
bachelor’s degree in speech and language pathology from the University of Massachusetts.
Kaitlyn Dulac, Development Assistant
Kaitlyn received a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Ithaca College, where she was an All-American
and Academic All-District softball player. Kaitlyn went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration
from Ithaca and then a law degree from Marquette University Law School.
Benjamin Greenfield, Upper School Physics Teacher, Coach
Ben received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in physics from Boston University
in 2012. He captained BU’s sailing team and is the head instructor at Newport Yacht Club. In addition to teaching
Upper School physics, Ben is one of Rocky Hill’s sailing coaches.
Amy Laurent, Lower School Academic Center for Enrichment Learning Specialist
Amy has a wealth of experience in both regular and special education. She most recently worked with students in
kindergarten through grade 3 at the Wolf School in East Providence. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s
degree in education from Boston College. Her daughter Alexa ‘26 attends Rocky Hill’s preschool.
Annie Reznik, Director of College Guidance, Upper School English Teacher
Annie is an experienced college admissions professional who has worked on both the college and high school
sides of admission. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Mercyhurst College and her two children attend
Rocky Hill, Anthony ‘27 and Caroline ‘25.
Chelsea Rheault, Upper School Spanish Teacher, Coach
Chelsea has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Chelsea spent two
years teaching ESL in Ecuador before going back to school to get her master’s degree in TESOL at New School
University. In addition to teaching Upper School Spanish, Chelsea assists with the girls’ varsity basketball team.
Kelly Shamburg, Second Grade Teacher
Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in media production with a minor in theatre from Quinnipiac University and a
master’s degree in elementary education from Lesley University. Kelly has worked as an associate teacher in a fifth
grade and second grade classroom at Belmont Day School outside Boston.
Darshell Silva, Librarian, Technology Integrator
Darshell has been a teacher librarian for seven years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in applied communications
and a master’s degree in library and information studies with a specialization in school library media, both from
the University of Rhode Island. Darshell has two children at Rocky Hill, Eliana ‘27 and Andres ‘19.
Julie Van Deusen, Teaching Fellow, Coach
Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and statistics from Williams College and was a member of the
varsity swimming and diving team there. Julie has worked with children as an activity leader at Horizons
for Homeless Children in Boston and as a tutor and assistant teacher at Williamstown Elementary School in
Massachusetts. Julie teaches Upper School algebra and coaches Rocky Hill’s varsity cross country team.
4
WELCOMEAboard
E
Edwin J. Santos
Board of Trustees President
“With a clear vision and
measurable goals, the
School is well aligned to
provide the best private
school experience in
Rhode Island.”
Changes in leadership to Rocky Hill’s
board of trustees occurred at the October
23, 2012 Corporation Meeting. The
School would like to thank former officers
Michael Sullivan, Dick Barker ‘54,
Wilson Saville and Michael Kraemer for
their time and commitment. The School
would also like to recognize outgoing
trustees Lisa Palin ‘95 and Henry
Sharpe ‘72 for their years of service to
the School.
d has been a Rocky Hill School
trustee since 2005 and served as
co-vice president prior to being elected
board president last October. He and
his family have been active members of
the Rocky Hill community for 14 years,
daughter Erica graduated in 2011 and
sons Michael ‘18 and Steven ‘14 are
current students.
Professionally, Ed had a very
successful 28-year career in the
financial services industry, including
working as executive vice president and
general auditor for Citizens Financial
group, and chief auditor for FleetBoston
Financial Group’s global operations. He
has extensive experience in operating
risk management, corporate governance
and management advisory services.
In addition, Ed lends his expertise to
several organizations’ boards including
Delta Dental, Pyramis Global Advisors,
Washington Trust, and Crossroads
Rhode Island, and formerly served as
vice chairman of the board of Bryant
University. He is chairman of the board
of CharterCARE Health Partners,
Rhode Island’s newest hospital system,
with 579 beds, 3,200 employees and
annual revenues of $330 million. He
also became a member of Cherrystone
Angel Group, a private equity
investment group, in 2012.
Ed’s wealth of business and
leadership experience will be a
tremendous asset to Rocky Hill, as the
School seeks to realign its operating
priorities, increase financial resources,
and deliver on academic goals and
strategies.
In His Own Words
“I would first like to thank
immediate past president W. Michael
Sullivan and other board members
whose hard work over the past few
years has helped position the School for
success.
“I am encouraged by the
successful creation—and ongoing
implementation—of the strategic plan.
With a clear vision and measurable
goals, the School is well aligned
to provide the best private school
experience in Rhode Island. You will
see as you read through The Bulletin
that we are laser focused on providing
big opportunities for students, many of
whom are already reaping the benefits
of strategic initiatives.
“This is an exciting time for Rocky
Hill, and I am honored to be a part
of it as board president and also as a
father. My wife, Paula (PTL Mentor
Committee chair and co-chair of the
Gala Committee), and I couldn’t be
happier with the direction in which
the School is headed; the experiences
our children have had over the past 14
years; and the tremendous efforts of
faculty, staff and parent volunteers who
make those experiences possible.”
2012-13 Board of Trustees
Edwin J. Santos, President
Ande Frost, Vice President
Edwin Furtado, Treasurer
James Lehouiller, Secretary
Mitchell Edwards
Mary H. Grant
Mary Ann Hackett
Charles P. Iacono ‘99
William N. Janikies ‘83
Michele A. Nota
Gordana Novakovic-Petteruti
Joan Osowa
Wilson G. Saville II
Ceileidh Siegel ‘01
Stephen F. Siegel
Stephen G. Soscia
W. Michael Sullivan
5
goodtogreat
By: Karen Gibson, Director of Communications & Marketing
M
ike Cappelletti loves his job. He is upbeat, enthusiastic
tell me why you feel as you do, I’d love to listen?’ is huge,” he said.
and extremely grateful to be teaching English in Rocky
“Our kids are great at compromise. They learn to ask why and
Hill’s Upper School.
how to get information from each other.
While teaching is something at which Mike excels today—and
“I would hope that every single student, when asked, ‘What
the one thing he said he would continue to do even if he won the
is your greatest skill?’ would say, ‘listening.’ After having been a
lottery—it was not always his first career choice. A film major in
part of Harkness, listening is one thing that makes them so much
college, Mike wrote screenplays and considered moving to New
better. ”
York or California to pursue a career in the film industry. Mike
Mike believes that the skills Rocky Hill students learn around
eventually realized, however, that he was not ready to make such
the Harkness table will translate easily into a college setting.
a drastic lifestyle shift and turned instead to coaching lacrosse. He
“If kids can learn by the end of their time at Rocky Hill to ask
quickly determined that what drew him to coaching was not the
why, they are going to be able to take care of themselves really
Xs and Os of the sport, but the relationships.
well, whether they are in a class of 300 at UConn or a class of
“I came to the realization that I had a lot of really
15 at Kenyon,” he said. “They will be the ones asking
good coaches and teachers throughout my life,” he
questions or wanting to meet with the professors and
“Teachers
said. “And this awareness brought me down the path
stand out in that way.”
to discovering what I wanted to do on a daily basis
Mike’s collaborative approach to teaching involves
at Rocky
in my life to be really happy. It’s rewarding to relate
always referring to “we” when talking with his students
Hill are
to kids in any activity and then see that light bulb
and focusing on solving problems together. He
moment when the experience changes them.”
believes that he has as much at stake in his students’
allowed to
Mike came to Rocky Hill in 2011 after having
accomplishments as they do, and that attitude translates
try to be
taught in two much larger schools, one public and
into genuinely caring about their success or failure.
one private. Teaching 120 students in five classes,
“The kids here are really lucky that they have so
excellent.”
Mike felt he was spread too thin and wasn’t able
many people holding them accountable, making them
to devote as much time as he wanted to individual
toe the line every day, constantly thinking about how
students.
to make them better and being honest about what they
Mike was drawn to Rocky Hill and the opportunity to have
can do and how they’re going to do it,” he said.
more one-on-one time with the students he worked with. “It’s a
Mike holds himself accountable by keeping a journal and
lot more manageable here,” he said. “At other schools, kids fall
being honest about self-reflection. “It’s simple to take the easy
through the cracks and I can’t catch them. Here, I’m able to follow road. It’s harder to do the right thing every day, ask yourself what
up. Teachers at Rocky Hill are allowed to try to be excellent.”
went wrong, and never make that mistake again.”
Mike is one of the most devoted teachers at Rocky Hill, not
So far, Mike is making all of the right moves: connecting with
only to teaching, but also to coaching, advising and generally
students, guiding them in the classroom, and leading them on the
pouring his heart into every facet of his job.
lacrosse field. It’s hard not to be thrilled with his positive impact
“It’s impossible for me to not care about my advisees,” he said.
and optimistic outlook.
“I want to know what is going on in their lives, and I enjoy doing
“I like helping kids go from good to great,” he said.
nice things like buying them lunch from time to time.”
In his classroom, Mike said he has always believed teaching to
be a two-way conversation, and the Harkness method practiced
at Rocky Hill fits perfectly with his style. He said he enjoys being
able to quantify class discussion by charting the activity around
the table and showing students concrete data on participation
trends. Mike said he is often tempted to jump into the
conversation himself, but he sees the value in letting his students
sift through the awkwardness and discomfort on their way to a
breakthrough. That is not to say, however, that he won’t guide
them if they get too far off track.
“In my mind, it’s my responsibility to teach them how to guide
themselves and how to get from A to B,” he said.
Mike said that, although skeptical at first, he is now “drinking
the Harkness method Kool-Aid.” Beyond learning the English
curriculum, Mike’s students are becoming equipped for life in
other ways around the Harkness table.
Upper School English teacher Mike Cappelletti and Cailee DeAngelis ‘16 participate in
“For them to be able to say, ‘I don’t agree with you, but can you a Harkness discussion.
6
apassiontolearn
By: Belinda Snyman, Dean of Academics
R
ocky Hill prides itself on being
a leader and innovator in the
evolving realm of student-centered
education. Since 1999, the School has
led the charge with an Upper School
laptop program, SMART boards in the
Middle School, and a Lower School iPad
program. “What’s next?” was a driving
question behind the strategic planning
process. The plan unfolded to harness the
numerous opportunities for independent
study and e-learning through massive
open online courses like edX, MIT
OpenCourseWare, and Coursera, as
well as other collaborative partnerships.
Thus began the creation of an extended
curriculum for students seeking to expand
their academic portfolios and follow a
particular interest. Independent learning
environments provide more responsibility
and more independence for learners.
“Something as self-designed as an
independent study enables you to learn
about what you love, but also disciplines
you so that you must make the time to
do so,” Jeannette Stacey ‘13 said. “Other
schoolwork is no longer a priority over
your own interests, as they become just as
important.”
In the pilot year of the program, the
School is providing mentorship for Upper
School students participating in online
courses through accredited providers
and those engaging in semi-independent
studies supported by weekly tutorials.
This year’s courses include AP studio
art, computer programming, advanced
mathematics, economics, history, creative
writing and psychology.
In order to qualify for the newly
established Certificate of Distinction,
students may complete either four online
courses, or two to three online courses
complemented by an internship. Armed
with a diploma and a Certificate of
Distinction, students will leave Rocky
Hill prepared for the rigors of a college
curriculum, while demonstrating their
proficiency in 21st century skills and
their ability to take advantage of learning
opportunities beyond the traditional
realm.
Nicholas Cicchetti ‘13 drew on his
experience in the creative writing forum:
“In such an immediate and personal
environment, writing becomes a simple
but challenging endeavor intended only to
entertain and inspire. Rather than writing
for a grade, I write for enjoyment and
self-improvement. That person who would
normally be called an instructor is now an
editor, with the sole intent of improving
my work and my creative skills. A smaller
class allows the movement of ideas to
be unstructured and uninhibited, with
everyone’s interests and curiosities having
a genuine influence on the areas of focus.”
This school year has also initiated a
collaboration between Code Academy, an
online provider, and some of our senior
advanced calculus students.
“To bridge the gap between learning
coding fundamentals and understanding
advanced programming, the online course
gave us the option to implement our
knowledge of JavaScript to learn other
coding languages,” Robert Petteruti
‘13 said. “The programming course has
allowed me to further my knowledge
in general computer programming and
website building, interests I plan on
pursuing in college next year. I believe
that this online course has given me
an essential skill set needed to design
a website for my very own nonprofit
organization, Project Literacy.”
Similarly, students who wish to be
the architects of their own curriculum
realize the need to find ways to meet
their graduation requirements while
diversifying their portfolios with selections
from the School’s various elective offerings.
The School endorses and supports the
needs of students, enabling them to
transfer core courses—like Nicholas
Charbonneau ‘13, who is taking American
history via MIT OpenCourseWare.
“Being able to continue my learning in
a course of my choosing has allowed me
to transcend the confines of a restricting
curriculum and, to a certain degree, has
given me control over my education,” Nick
said. “Rocky Hill’s mission is to prepare its
students to successfully and independently
manage the demands of college and
beyond. Without question, by allowing
this option for its students, Rocky Hill
is fulfilling and surpassing its obligation
in this regard, while encouraging and
supporting students in their quest to follow
their interests in a particular discipline.”
Lily Hanlon ‘13 provided additional
insight on the independent study program:
“The independent study of psychology has
allowed me to learn the material at a fast
pace and to focus on each topic in depth. I
have also sharpened my time-management
and organizational skills that will be
essential next year in college, where I will
be responsible and accountable for my
independent work.”
With a wealth of open courseware
opportunities at its disposal, Rocky
Hill will redefine the balance between
traditional learning within its core
curriculum and learning in the wider
world. Independent learning opportunities
and the Certificate of Distinction provide
students the control to develop and share
their intellect, passions and talents. In
broadening their horizons in this manner,
Rocky Hill students become worldwide
learners—to the benefit of themselves
and those with whom they share the
communal learning experience.
7
balancingact
A
fter 13 years as Rocky Hill’s Middle
educational games and moving at their own
School math instructor, Theresa
pace.
Conroy has honed her craft and has
Theresa was quick to point out that even
become one of the School’s most revered
with advances in technology, it is essential
teachers.
to maintain a balance between traditional
Theresa’s path to Rocky Hill was not
methods and using technology in a
as straightforward as some. She was a
worthwhile way.
Division I college athlete in Ohio, and has
“It is not my goal to make everything
a background in K-12 special education.
computer oriented,” she said. “The students
She left a job coaching basketball at Brown
are still in Middle School, and still need to
University for a demanding position at a
learn how to organize a notebook and take
behavioral school in northern Rhode Island. handwritten notes.”
Wanting to have at least some athletics
Individual work in Theresa’s classroom
in her life, she took on a part-time role as
is balanced with collaboration. While
Rocky Hill’s girls’ varsity basketball coach.
learning the skills and concepts of the
Two years later, she accepted the teaching
Middle School mathematics program,
position she still occupies today.
students also learn how to teach each other,
Theresa said she loves teaching math
how to work collectively and how to ask for
because it is so black and white, but
help.
continues to learn and grow as an educator.
“Trying to solve a problem with another
“I might not be learning new things
person is a huge life skill,” she said. “Group
about the algebra itself,” she said, “but I do
projects don’t go away, even as an adult.”
have to learn new ways to bring it into the
In mathematics and in life, Theresa
classroom and keep the
underscores the
subject exciting.”
importance of not getting
“[Students] need to
From building bridges
too wrapped up in oneself
and playground models
and being willing to assist
love to learn, love
to check writing and
your peers.
to explore different
designing apartments,
“We’re all trying to
Theresa’s assignments
get
to the same spot.
pieces of the world
reach students on multiple
What differs is how fast
and challenge
levels. Those who may not
we’re trying to get there
be strong at math initially
and how much we want
themselves.”
may enjoy painting or
to help others,” she said.
designing and are engaged
This notion of helping
in mathematics in that way.
others is embedded in
“You’re preparing them for the rest of
the Middle School philosophy, and Theresa
their lives,” she said. “I like the challenge of
explained that her colleagues have always
trying to get each student to have a solid
been willing to go the extra mile for one
foundation, while making the subject fun.
another.
When students see the value in math, when
Theresa is an accomplished athlete who
you relate it to real life, they buy in.”
was inducted into both her high school and
Technology is another way through
college athletic halls of fame. She sees sports
which Theresa is able to reach her students.
and coaching as yet another way to connect
She noted that students today do not learn
with students and become a better teacher.
in traditional ways, and she has had to
“A lot of students relate to athletics; it
adapt her teaching style over the years.
does carry over into the classroom,” she
Recently she has integrated SMART Boards said. “The kids see you in a different light
(interactive whiteboards) and now iPads
on the playing field and any time you can
into her lessons.
combine athletics and academics, you’re
This year, the math textbook is on the
going to have a different student.”
iPad and has interactive elements. Students
Having coached at both the Middle and
reinforce their math skills while playing
Upper School levels at Rocky Hill, Theresa
8
(From top): Middle School math teacher Theresa
Conroy works with Eric Aceto ‘18 in her seventh grade
math class. Theresa instructs the Middle School girls’
basketball team.
has great respect for the athletic program,
and knows that reaching out to athletes at
a young age can be life-changing. The most
important coaching goals for Theresa are
that her players enjoy the sport, love being
on a team and understand the importance
of having teammates.
“I want to teach them about dedication,
working hard and about winning and
losing,” she said. “Middle School is about
taking on challenges, taking risks and
learning how to be successful.”
Theresa’s commitment to balance and
keeping the bigger picture in focus has
enabled her to stay current, to make a
lasting impact on students and to keep her
work enjoyable. What has made her such
an outstanding teacher at Rocky Hill is
connecting with students on multiple levels
and teaching them more than just math.
Her advice for all students would be
“that they need to love to learn, love to
explore different pieces of the world and
challenge themselves.”
Taking her own advice, Theresa is
constantly trying new things—paddle
boarding, for example—and loves exploring
all that Rhode Island has to offer.
tabletterritory
By: Mike Jedrey, Head of Middle School & Tom Adams, Director of Technology
E
ighth grade students settle around the table in science class and unlock their iPads. They locate lab reports,
which were completed using a note-taking application, and click the share button, sending the reports
directly to the teacher’s computer. Within their lab reports, the students have included photographs taken with their
iPads during the experiment, audio clips in which they describe the major concept being investigated and a shared
data table that the class produced in Google Docs.
For their next experiment, the
students will be plugging temperature
probeware directly into their iPads, which
will record and plot the boiling points
of a mixture of liquids in real time. They
will then go online to try to identify the
liquids using this data.
A year ago, all of this would have been
done with paper and pencil, followed
perhaps by a trip to the computer lab on a
different day. Now, with their iPads, what
the students can access, create and share
is remarkable.
The one-to-one iPad program put an
iPad in the hands of every Middle School
student. In use throughout the day and
at home, iPads have become an integral
part of students’ learning experiences.
Last year, when Middle School faculty
evaluated their options in terms of
technology, the versatility and portability
of the iPad brought it to the fore, and the
one-to-one iPad initiative was pursued.
It is the right tool to support Rocky Hill’s
technology-infused curriculum. The iPad
makes research and collaboration easy.
Student work is produced, organized
and turned in using the tablet; work is
even published to the web via the iPad,
when appropriate. The iPad fits with
Rocky Hill’s belief that technology is
part of lifelong learning, and that it is the
School’s responsibility to design learning
experiences for students that teach them
to use this new technology judiciously,
confidently and creatively.
Some of the innovative and interesting
ways that iPads have been used this year
include: accessing and using online math
e-textbooks; taking notes in Notability in
library class, and then emailing the notes
to Darshell Silva; taking photographs
of geometric shapes found on campus
and adding notation to them in a
collaborative document; accessing the
Internet to research 19th century sailing
ships when a question was posed based
on a novel in English class; creating a
health journal for Traci Fairchild; using
the student response system Socrative
to take short, spot quizzes to check
understanding; logging into Kidblog
to post blogs responses to interesting
writing prompts in English; following upto-date polling data on the presidential
candidates in the battleground states for
government class; using iCal to keep track
of long-term projects and learn about
time management; reading short, high
interest articles in Flipboard; following
a teacher-created iBook for eighth grade
expositions; and even creating an iBook to
show what students know.
These are just some of the stories
emerging from this new chapter in the
Middle School. It is exciting to know that
the seeds of unimagined stories are being
planted now as students and faculty learn
the best uses of this tool together, to be
discovered and enriched in the months
and years to come. We look forward to
sharing these discoveries with you.
Noah Jackson ‘18, Michael Santos ‘18 and Thomas
Ricci ‘18 collaborate on their iPads.
9
familyfirst
E
lementary school is such a magical
for me. Those children who struggle
time and just about everyone has
emotionally, academically, they are the
fond memories of teachers from that
heroes,” she said.
period in their lives who made them feel
Donna enjoys watching the progress
loved and valued. Such teachers have a
of her former students, and is even more
knack for leaving long-lasting impressions
thrilled when they visit. According to
of their kindness, energy and optimism.
Donna, the typical reaction of students
After 34 years of teaching in Rocky
who come back is, “I didn’t realize the
Hill’s Lower School, Donna Goldstein
room was so small.”
has made those types of impressions
Students, colleagues and fashion trends
on hundreds and hundreds of children.
have come and gone over the years, but
For some families, she’s even had the
one thing has remained constant: the
special opportunity of teaching multiple
way children develop. “I know what my
generations. In her class this year, Donna
kids need,” she said. “I know what’s going
teaches Max Lehouiller ‘20, whose
to happen to the average fifth-grader
mother, Lia (DiLeonardo) Lehouiller ‘90, developmentally by the spring.”
is a former student.
That is not to say that Donna
“It is such an honor,” Donna said. “It is
hasn’t changed with the times when
so hugely rewarding to
appropriate. She
be part of people’s lives
embraces advances in
for another generation
technology, such as
“It’s my job to help
and see these kids grow
the implementation
them feel connected
up.”
of iPads into her
Donna sees her role
classroom, but
and to give them a
as an educator as so
emphasizes the need
much more than just
for balance.
reason to wake up in
teaching students to read
“I owe it to my
the morning and want
and write. She becomes
kids as educated
part of their lives—like
college-bound
to come to school.”
family—and is intent on
students to expose
making them feel good
them to certain
about themselves.
things,” she said. “I’m not going to
“Everybody has a talent,” she said. “It’s
overlook a traditional method simply
my job to ferret that out, to help them feel
because there’s an app for that.”
connected and to give them a reason to
In the classroom, Donna encourages
wake up in the morning and want to come her students to maintain balance as well.
to school.”
She teaches them that listening is just
It is apparent that Donna’s talent is
as important as talking; to respect one
teaching. It is something she has wanted
another, and to recognize that everyone
to do since the sixth grade, and has
has a voice and deserves to be heard.
successfully done at Rocky Hill for more
In addition to teaching, Donna has a
than three decades. She started here in her
passion for politics. She is also interested
early twenties, and has since married and
in mental health advocacy, and recently
raised a family.
finished a 12-week course on the brain
“I’ve grown up here at Rocky Hill,
and mental health disorders sponsored by
professionally and personally,” she said.
the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Donna is motivated and inspired
Donna exercises every day, and loves to
by her students, particularly those with
read.
learning differences. “When those kids
When the time comes, Donna will go
can walk through the door and hold their
out on top, as a Rocky Hill icon, having left
head high every day and are compliant
an indelible mark of professionalism and
with everything we’re asking them to do,
positivity on the School. She will forever
however difficult, they are the inspiration
be a beloved part of Rocky Hill and the
10
lives of her students. It doesn’t sound like
that day is coming any time soon, however,
as Donna continues to be a vibrant part of
the Lower School.
“When you’re that emotionally invested
in these kids—their hearts, their minds,
their souls—you just can’t think of a better
way to spend your day,” she said.
(From top): Mena Suvari ‘97 and fifth grade teacher
Donna Goldstein visit during summer 2012; Donna
instructs Jillian Caruso ‘20 in the classroom; Donna
and Sabrina Dumas ‘16 enjoy Homecoming 2012.
learningindepth
By: Charlie Laurent, Head of Lower School, Fourth Grade Teacher
P
roject-based learning (PBL)
is an in-depth instructional
approach built upon probing questions
and real-world activities that engage
and motivate students. One of the
first strategic plan initiatives to be
implemented this school year, PBL
has the potential to transform the way
students interact with teachers, peers
and the world around them.
In early September, Thom
Markham, a nationally-recognized
expert on PBL, guided Lower School
teachers through the process of
developing PBL experiences. At the
core of this new teaching methodology
are what Markham identifies as the 10
principles of authentic PBL: teaching
concepts, not content; teaching critical
thinking through contextual challenges;
starting with questions; emphasizing
innovation; teaching and assessing
collaboration and communication;
focusing on quality; teaching drive,
passion, and purpose; practicing planet
craft; learning from students; and
infusing PBL into technology.
Kelly Shamburg (Grade 2)
and Charlie Laurent (Grade 4)
began piloting this methodology in
September, with the goal of developing,
planning, implementing and assessing
two complete PBL experiences by the
end of the school year.
One of the key components of any
PBL experience is the driving question.
The development of the driving
question is an extremely important
and collaborative process involving
teaching colleagues. The question goes
through several rounds of discussions
in order to refine and distill it down
to one that inspires a genuine and
challenging basis for a PBL experience.
One simple rule of thumb is, “If you
can Google it, then it is not a driving
question.”
This year, driving questions for
Grades 2 and 4 were developed using
strict professional design protocols
from the Buck Institute of Education,
and refined by Markham. The design
process included intensive questionand-answer sessions between teachers
in order to distill the project idea down
to one, all-encompassing and authentic
question which drove the entire
project. Teachers also worked together
to design the project components and
identify the core standards addressed
and directly taught through the project.
At the elementary level, the typical
project experience lasts four to six
weeks, or between 15-20 hours of
instructional/project time. Each project
requires students to prepare and give a
presentation to an “authentic audience.”
Additionally, students are evaluated not
only on their final products, but also
on their individual work ethics and
collaborative skills, commonly referred
to in modern educational parlance as
“21st century learning skills.”
The Grade 2 driving question
was, “How can the community help
me achieve my hopes and dreams?”
Students interviewed their parents
about networking using letter writing.
Students interviewed people in the
Rocky Hill community and used
podcasts to discover how they could
achieve their goals and aspirations
by networking. They also created a
web of their contacts, and hosted a
networking night to display their webs
and discuss how they networked with
the community to achieve success.
Fourth grade developed a driving
question that challenged students to
discover the historical stories that
Hopelands, the School’s most historic
building, holds within its walls. The
driving question, “If the walls of
Hopelands could talk, what stories
would they tell us,” challenged students
to conduct historical research, embark
on a field trip to The Rhode Island
Preservation Society, and interview
Rocky Hill community members
in order to uncover the rich history
of the building. As a culminating
and authentic presentation of the
stories they collected, each child
presented a piece written in the voice
of a personified Hopelands. These
stories were recorded as podcasts and
presented to members of Rocky Hill’s
administrative team and board of
trustees.
At the end of the year, and with
the goal of expanding project-based
learning to other grades, Charles
Laurent and Kelly Shamburg will begin
a structured reflection process under
the guidance of Thom Markham, and
additional Rocky Hill teachers will
undergo PBL training. Lessons learned
from these projects will be invaluable
in designing future PBL experiences.
(From top): Fourth-graders Elisabeth Thompson
‘21 and Sinead Burnett ‘21; Second-graders Derek
Block ‘23 and Jack Turner ‘23.
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aceodyssey
By: Holly Cotta, Director of Academic Center for Enrichment
R
ocky Hill’s Academic Center
structure was further enhanced when
for Enrichment (ACE) is an
Brendan started receiving ACE services
academic support and enrichment
for extended time on standardized tests.
program for K-12 students. It began as
ACE services were more firmly
an adjunct program in 1994—known as established for Brendan when he
the Better Learning Center until 2008— entered Middle School. Rebecca
and has grown and developed over the
Andreozzi, Brendan’s ACE teacher,
years to help meet the various needs of
helped him organize materials, prepare
the Rocky Hill community. The purpose for tests, and manage assignments
of the program, which currently enrolls
by using a planner and checking it
48 students across all divisions, is to
periodically, adding another layer
support students who need tutoring
of structure for Brendan. He found
and/or might have documented
this structure particularly helpful in
learning differences. ACE teachers
meeting the high standards expected of
create goals with students and parents,
him in his sixth grade history course.
work with students during the day to
Brendan was so excited about a sixth
teach specialized methods or study
grade history project that he shaved
skills, and educate faculty on the needs
his head to transform more fully into
of each student. When appropriate,
an Egyptian priest. ACE teachers were
classroom accommodations may be
right by his side for this project to give
put into place to
Brendan the support
help students reach
he needed. He learned
“ACE transformed
their full learning
time-management
potential. ACE
skills, brainstormed
my academic
also provides a
ideas utilizing graphic
performance by
Middle School
organizers, and wrote
literacy class, and
the report in the proper
providing tools and
has adopted a
structure and format.
strategies that have
“push-in” program
“The best thing
in the Lower
about Middle School
enabled me to learn
School, where ACE
was the multitude of
teachers work with
projects that added a
more effectively.”
classroom teachers
physical component,”
to differentiate
Brendan said. “Being
instruction. All ACE programs are
physically involved helps me to learn
geared to meet the needs of all learners
the concepts more thoroughly.”
school wide.
The Middle School is rich with
hands-on projects such as the “sludge
STUDENT SUCCESS STORY
project” that occurs in eighth grade
On any given day, Brendan Lada
science, various history projects, and
‘13 can be found combing the halls
the holiday gift and playground project
of the Upper School, the Carriage
in math class.
House or the ACE building, engaging
This notion of tactile learning
students and teachers alike with his
has also come into play in the Upper
magnetic, upbeat personality. Brendan
School. Brendan is particularly adept
has attended Rocky Hill since he was
in ceramics, and has several pottery
in third grade, and when he transferred
pieces that are prized possessions. In
here, he immediately appreciated the
geometry, Brendan built a model, which
structure and support he found in
incorporated a combination of squares
Belinda Johnson’s class. This need for
and hexagons. This sort of exercise
12
helped Brendan to learn concepts
more thoroughly. Rocky Hill’s projectbased learning, coupled with the
repetition and application of important
organizational, study, and learning skills
taught in ACE, has made a positive
impact on Brendan’s learning.
As an Upper School student,
Brendan was also taught the
effectiveness of writing an outline
for an assignment and successfully
internalized this essential learning
tool, which is so effective for providing
organization. During a recent session,
he shared with other students that he
never starts a written piece without
this tool. Brendan has become an
independent learner, and is truly a role
model for other ACE students.
“ACE transformed my academic
performance by providing tools and
strategies that have enabled me to learn
more effectively,” he said. “I know I
wouldn’t have done as well at Rocky Hill
without this support.”
So now that Brendan is a senior,
what is next for him? He applied to
Bentley University, Bryant College,
and the University of Tampa and said
that he feels prepared to continue his
education at the next level. “Rocky Hill
and the ACE program have profoundly
impacted my life,” he said. “I will carry
the knowledge and skills I learned here
with me to my next home, wherever
that may be.”
newfor2012-13
The following are a few of the new initiatives
implemented during the 2012-13 school year. Thank
you to everyone who helped make these programs a
reality.
1. Amelia Caramadre ‘14 donates blood and
Gesele Henderson ‘14 gives moral support
during a community-wide blood drive. The
School teamed up with the Rhode Island Blood
Center to collect 42 pints of blood, which will
help save 126 lives!
2. Nicholas Charbonneau ‘13 reads a passage
from The Hill during the literary magazine’s
relaunch reception. Editor-in-chief Michael
Levy ‘14 worked tirelessly to produce a journal
full of exemplary student writing and visual art.
Special thanks to Steven and Donna Levy, who
arranged for and organized the printing.
3. Courtney Harrington ‘13 presents at
Community Share, a new Upper School
program during which seniors share an
important part of their lives with the entire
Upper School community.
4. The School accepted 18 new students through
its merit scholarship program. These students
scored in the 90th percentile or higher on
independent school standardized tests.
5. Nicolas Mancini ‘17 and Mohamad
Alremeithi ‘19 are shown working together on
a robotics project as part of the Middle School
Winter Recreation program.
6. Head of School Jonathan Schoenwald teaches
an Upper School history course on the Cold
War and the 21st century.
7. Allison DeGerlia ‘16 uses the new water
fountain in Flynn, a gift from the Class of 2012.
Other notable renovations included a new tile
floor and a paint job in Gibson and Hale, and
safety lights in the student parking lot.
8. Darshell Silva, the School’s new librarian and
technology integrator, leads the International
School Library Day Bookmark project, where
Lower School students exchanged bookmarks
with other students from around the world.
Darshell also led a project of the Library of
Congress and the Internet Archive where
Middle School students selected and archived
websites that they felt were important to today’s
youth.
9. Ninth-graders get ready to participate in
a bonding exercise during their trip to the
Berkshire Outdoor Center in Becket, MA. This
location replaced the traditional annual trip to
Chewonki.
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theartoftraining
O
n any given day, Art Entwistle IV is likely to be seen
any medical training—are not equipped to make initial injury
whizzing around campus on a white golf cart, on his way
assessments, which can be so crucial for student-athletes.
to set up a sports field or tend to a student-athlete. He is smart,
“What you need is appropriate initial care,” he said. “I try to
caring, fastidious and has a seemingly limitless supply of energy,
figure out what sort of injury the person has, or if what they’re
all of which help him to excel in his roles as Rocky Hill’s athletic
feeling is a major traumatic injury or not.” Additionally, Art
trainer and assistant athletic director.
stressed the importance of preparation and the prevention of
Art is very serious about sports medicine, a field he had
injuries from occurring. “I emphasize off-season exercise, living a
worked in for 12 years at both the college and professional levels
healthy life, making smart choices and eating healthy,” he said.
before coming to Rocky Hill in 2007.
In his role as assistant athletic director, Art oversees the
“I like working with this age range [Middle and Upper
safety of the fields and equipment, which dovetails nicely with
School]; they heal really fast, which is
the prevention goals of athletic training.
awesome,” he said with a chuckle. “But I like
From processing health forms to dispensing
High schools with
seeing these kids mature and grow. I like to
uniforms, Art also enjoys the organizational
educate the kids, and I am able to do so at
aspect of his job.
athletic trainers have
this level.”
“I am very happy to have implemented a
Watching Art interact with Rocky Hill’s
lower overall injury rates. protocol for school-wide concussion care,”
student-athletes, you quickly realize that
he said. “The information is sent out to
-American Academy of
there’s more going on than taping ankles
everyone who needs to have it regarding
and icing elbows. He said he likes working
exercise, sports, school and classroom
Pediatrics
with teenagers because they are open to
accommodations. Being a small community
suggestions and don’t already think they
makes it a lot easier to get the kids the care
have all of the answers (at least when it comes to sports injuries).
that they actually need.”
“I always tell kids to ask questions. They come in and say,
Art is committed to being a lifelong learner in the field of
‘What’s wrong with me?’ and what I tell them, what a doctor
health science and sports medicine and that drive and devotion
tells them, is just an educated hypothesis. They need to ask more
means that Rocky Hill’s student-athletes are getting top quality
questions about their health and not just accept everything they’re care when they visit his office.
told.”
A principle that goes a long way in defining Art as a person
When he was a junior in high school trying out for the
would be his belief in homeostasis, which is perhaps a fancy way
hockey team, Art was hip checked into the boards and injured.
to say, “everything in moderation.” Art described the concept
His performance suffered, and he was subsequently cut from the
as, “the belief that one should not go too far to one extreme over
team. There was no athletic trainer at his school, he said, to help
another in a hope to maintain balance.”
him figure out what was wrong, and there was no one to advocate
At home, Art balances out his life by playing soccer, hanging
for him to the coach.
out with his fiancée and dog, and rooting for the Boston Bruins.
It was that incident, an interest in anatomy and a lifelong
desire to help people that propelled Art into the athletic training
profession. He earned a bachelor’s degree in allied health science
from Lyndon State College and a master’s of education in athletic
training from Plymouth State University. He is a certified Athletic
Trainer (ATC) and a Rhode Island Licensed Athletic Trainer
(LAT).
Part personal trainers (prevention of injuries), part
EMTs (initial evaluations), part physical therapists (easier
rehabilitations), and part counselors, athletic trainers are the
utility players of sports medicine.
“I have a general knowledge of every single step, so I can refer
athletes to the appropriate people,” Art said. “Most of the time I
can do what I need to do in-house.”
A recent study presented at the American Academy of
Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in October noted
that high schools with athletic trainers have lower overall injury
rates.
Art underscored the importance of having athletic trainers in
Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director Art Entwistle on his golf cart with
Ava Lamoureux ‘16 during Founders’ Day 2010.
high schools to take the pressures off of coaches who—without
14
Athletics
By: Chris Tashjian, Director of Athletics
SPRING 2012
The 2012 spring season was amazing in many ways. Our boys’
varsity lacrosse team advanced to the SENE championship game.
The girls’ varsity lacrosse team had a nice season as well, and had
a record number of players earn SENE All-League honors. The
varsity golf team had one of their best finishes since golf became
a league sport four years ago. The varsity tennis team showed
promise, though they unfortunately came up short in the league
standings. The varsity sailing team finished in second place, falling
one point shy of the winner in the state sailing championship.
In Middle School, our boys’ lacrosse team finished well above
.500 with victories over perennial powerhouses such as Gordon,
Moses Brown and Wheeler. The girls’ lacrosse team and coed
tennis team both had extremely tough schedules, but many
players improved tremendously.
FALL 2012
The 2012 fall athletic season was spectacular as well. The boys’
varsity soccer team advanced to the New England tournament
for the fourth straight year, and Robert Petteruti ‘13 and Jorge
Echavarria ‘13 were named to the NEPSAC All-Star Team. The
girls’ varsity soccer team had one of their best seasons in the past
10 years, and defeated some of the top Class C schools in New
England. The varsity field hockey team showed improvement,
and three players received Rhode Island Interscholastic League
All-League honors. Our varsity cross country team had a record
number of student-athletes compete and the team performed
exceptionally well in the SENE championship meet.
The coed blue soccer team advanced to the championship
game in the Middle School soccer tournament held at Rocky Hill.
Finally, the Middle School girls’ field hockey team was one win
shy of having a perfect season.
Please visit www.rockyhill.org for a complete list of seasonal
athletic award winners.
(From top): The Upper School recreational sailing team enjoys a fall sail in September;
Joe Jordan ‘12. controls the ball during a varsity lacrosse game; The Middle School
soccer team plays during Homecoming 2012; Mary McKenney ‘16 drives the ball
upfield during a varsity field hockey game.
15
aroundtherock
Lauren Silva ‘16, Abigail Siegel ‘17
and Isaac Spivack ‘17 were accepted to the
RI Junior Division All-State band.
Brandon Morsilli ‘18 was selected by
the New York City Dance Alliance for a
ballet scholarship.
Boys’ varsity basketball co-captain Troy
Pierre-Louis ‘13 scored 49 points in the
team’s opening game.
Kaylyn Walsh ‘14 raised more than
$3,000 for Wheels for Mustard Seed.
Zachary Jennings ‘16 received a
$1,000 scholarship for flight lessons from
Ocean State Aviators, the local chapter of
Experimental Aviation Association.
Michael Levy ‘14 raised $690 to
support prostate cancer research during
his No-Shave November pledge drive.
Jenna O’del ‘16 was published by The
America Library of Poetry, 2012.
The Certamen Team beat out some
of the best schools in the country at a
competition held at Roxbury Latin School
in November. Sophomores Brady Dill,
Raymond Mancini, Amanda Siegel, and
Shane Woolley finished 5 points behind
the first-place team and 45 ahead of third.
The following students qualified for the
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
2012-2013 Talent Search: Megan Caruso
‘17, James Frost ‘17, Jackson Hawkins
‘17, William Janikies ‘17, Elizabeth
Furtado ‘17, Bridget Kist ‘17, Alejandro
Perez ‘17, Anessa Petteruti ‘17, Cassidy
Santos ‘17, Abigail Siegel ‘17, Isaac
Spivack ‘17, Crosleigh Thoms ‘17, Clarice
Jennings ‘18, Michael Santos ‘18, Brianna
Cardona ‘18, Ethan Moyer ‘18, Susanna
Mello ‘18 and Abigail Costantino ‘18.
16
Nicholas Cicchetti ‘13 is a National
Merit Scholarship semifinalist.
Jeannette Stacey ‘13 is a National
Merit Commended Scholar.
Elias Bello ‘13 was honored by the
National Hispanic Recognition Program
for being in the 98th percentile nationwide
among Hispanic SAT testers.
Jessilyn Ring ‘15 and her dog,
Twilight, won first place in showmanship
and fourth in obedience at the 2012
Eastern States Exposition.
Alec O’del ‘18 was the runner up in
Odyssey Magazine’s Candy: Sweet Science
contest with his entry of “O’delicious
Chocolate Peppermint Bark.”
Bradley Adam ‘13 finished first out
of 148 boats at the 420 North American
Championships. He finished fifth at the
US Sailing Junior Championships on San
Francisco Bay.
Shane Woolley ‘15 and Brady Dill ‘15
achieved perfect scores on the National
Latin Exam. William Larcom ‘12 received
a college scholarship offer as a result of his
performance on the exam.
The following students received medals
at the 2012 Rhode Island Music Educators
Association Solo & Ensemble Festival:
Abigail Siegel ‘17, Amanda Siegel ‘15,
Issac Spivack ‘17, Joseph Voccola ‘18,
Clarice Jennings ‘18, Brenna Miller ‘15,
Anessa Petteruti ‘17 and Lauren Silva ‘16.
Jackson Hawkins ‘17 was promoted to
the rank of Star Scout.
Robert Petteruti ‘13 received General
Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo’s Young
Leader Award.
Rocky Hill received the Rhode Island
Division II 2nd Place Award for the
2011-12 Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart
fundraising program.
Upper School physics teacher Ben
Greenfield was part of a select team in
the US Sailing Team Racing National
Championships, and finished fourth
overall in a field packed with many
collegiate All-Americans and Olympians.
Upper School math teacher Andy
Washburn and his rowing partner won
the Grand Master Double race (and broke
the course record) at the 2012 Head of the
Charles Regatta.
Alan Blasdell ‘13 earned the rank of
Eagle Scout for Troop 1 Saunderstown.
In 2012, as part of the Most Improved
Student Program, the PawSox recognized
the following students for exhibiting
strong improvement in some aspect of
their school lives: Kent Hanlon ‘18,
Clarice Jennings ‘18, Michael Santos ‘18,
Alec O’del ‘18, Megan Caruso ‘17, John
Ponte ‘17, Crosleigh Thoms ‘17, Nicolas
Mancini ‘17, Allison DeGerlia ‘16 and
Ava Lamoureux ‘16.
Senator Jack Reed presented Alyssa
Grayson ‘19 with a commendation for her
work to preserve wolves.
Soccer Rhode Island named Jared
Barroso ‘16 Boys Premier Player of 2012.
Anna Yamada ‘13 won silver medals
in the snowboard slalom and giant slalom
events (junior women division) at the 2012
USASA National Championships.
Jason DeGerlia ‘19 won first
place in forms and flying kicks at the
Northeast Family Martial Arts Interschool
Competition.
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SCENES FROM CAMPUS
1. Lower School students and parents enjoy Kite
Day.
2. Alessandra Antonelli ‘13 and Nicholas
Cicchetti ‘13 show off their senior class pride
during Spirit Week.
3. Sixth-graders inspect a puffer fish aboard
Cap’n Bert’s vessel during Enviroweek.
4. The winning best ball team of Mike Carney
‘04, Steve Carney, John Carney ‘88 and Evan
Grossman pose at the 2012 Fall Classic. The
annual golf and tennis tournament and dinner
auction fundraiser raised more than $38,000.
5. Naseem Ankoma ‘25 speaks during an allschool morning meeting.
6. Seventh grade students pose in Jamestown,
where they traveled to study geology at Fort
Wetherill and Beavertail State Park.
7. Evan Rodriguez ‘20 tests out his hand-made
floating vessel as part of a fifth grade science
project.
8. Middle and Upper School Latin teacher
Matt Gnolfo plays the drums during Winter
Solstice.
9. Eliana Paulino ‘27 and Jackson Davis ‘26
harvest carrots from the Garden Classroom.
10. Chloe Ponte ‘19 and Megan Dignan ‘19
prepare for the annual all-school Winter
Concert.
11. Douglas Cochran ‘16 clears the high jump
during the 2012 Middle School field day.
12. Lenore Kerachsky and Katie Kerachsky ‘23
enjoy GrandFriends’ Day together.
13. Michael Caramadre ‘12 pictured at RDW
Group, Inc., during his senior internship.
17
reunion2012
By: Liz Cochran, Director of Alumni Relations
W
hat a tribute, what a party!
Alumni attendance at Reunion
more than doubled in 2012.
The Alumni Association’s annual
meeting was held Saturday afternoon,
followed by a party hosted by Head of
School Jonathan Schoenwald and his wife,
Jana Bruns, to honor milestone class years
and to welcome to the Class of 2011 as
new alumni. The celebration continued in
Campbell Center with all alumni, faculty
and friends catching up and reminiscing
about Rocky Hill.
A huge achievement celebrated that
night was the successful completion of the
Alumni Challenge—15% participation in
the 2011-12 Annual Fund.
On behalf of the Alumni Association,
Trixie (Webber) Dumas ‘81 presented the
Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award
to Rich Clark ‘85 and Lia (DiLeonardo)
Lehouiller ‘90 who were applauded for
their individual commitment to the School’s
10,000 square foot Garden Classroom
project.
GONE FISHIN’
Everyone enjoyed the tribute to Paul
Tukey, who announced his retirement after
36 years at Rocky Hill. Accolades to Paul
were heartfelt and humorous and included
pair of “golden loafers,” which Paul donned
for the evening. Tributes were led by Karl
Wadensten ‘78, and shared by longtime
colleague Terry Coes, and former students
Linda Wadensten ‘85 and Mary Lynne
Kennedy ‘80. On behalf of the Alumni
Association, Brenda Burke ‘88 and Sarah
Shaw Siskin ‘78 presented Paul with a $500
gift certificate to Lockwood Marina. They
also announced that donations would be
made to the School to dedicate a restored
18
section of the iron fence and an inscribed
brick in the garden walkway in his honor.
It was a memorable evening and many
thanks go out to Reunion Committee
members Charlotte Pillsbury Wood ‘79,
Sarah Shaw Siskin ‘78, Brenda Burke ‘88,
Lauren Friedman ‘02 and Trixie (Webber)
Dumas ‘81. We also thank Antonio’s
Bakery, Big River Spirits, Roch’s Fresh
Foods and Taylor Rental for their support.
Looking Ahead
We are calling all alumni, faculty and
friends to join us for Reunion on June 1,
2013, especially milestone years ending in
3 and 8 and we will welcome the class of
2012 as our newest alumni. We are looking
for volunteers to help on the Reunion
Committee and ask you all to save the date
and register for Reunion 2013 at
www.rockyhill.org/reunion.
If you would like to get involved in
planning Reunion 2013, let the alumni
office know by emailing:
[email protected].
Reunion 2013
Saturday, June 1
A Message from
Tukey
I’d like to express, belatedly but
very sincerely, my heartfelt thanks
for the spectacular retirement tribute
which you afforded me at Reunion
in June. Rocky Hill has been such an
important part of my life for so long,
and it was terrific to see so many of
you there, catch up on what you’re
doing, share wonderful memories
of your time here, and to hear you
say, each in your own way, that I
had been a meaningful part of your
experience at the School. Being able
to work closely with kids, to help
them to fulfill their potential and
achieve their dreams is why we go into
this business, particularly at a small
school like Rocky Hill. As I stood
there on the stage that evening with
Karl Wadensten ‘78, proudly wearing
my gold bass Weejuns, I knew—if I’d
ever questioned it—that I had made
the right choice. Whether I knew you
best as a teacher, a coach, your college
counselor, or—as is the case with most
of you—in a combination of these
roles, each of you is an important part
of the tapestry of my career, and I am
profoundly grateful for a celebration
that meant a great deal to me and my
family. Thanks again for an evening
that I will never forget.
(From top): The Class of 1987 - Derrick Maloney, Sally
Kenyon Grant, Sara Lawson Viener, Leslie Marshall
Cooper, Stephen C. Mendes, Paul Zarella, Bob Breslin
‘83, Dave Gannon and Samantha Brown; Betsey Hall
Gresh ‘93, Abigail Lundblad Smith ‘93, Paul Tukey and
Bridget Neary Lawton ‘93 enjoy Reunion.
1
2
8
3
9
4
10
5
11
6
12
7
13
SCENES FROM REUNION 2012
1. Trixie (Webber) Dumas ‘81 presents the
Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award
to Rich Clark ‘85.
2. Alumnni Association President Sally
Kenyon Grant ‘87 presents the 2010-11
Alumni Annual Fund Participation Award
to the classes with the highest participation:
1949, 1954, 1961, 1974 & 1979. The largest
collective giving for the second year in a
row was awarded to the Class of 1979.
3. Dave Gannon ‘87 and Lori Denham
Howard ‘88.
4. Donna Goldstein greets former faculty
members Motria Holowinsky and Pam
Dumas ‘54 at the celebration.
5. Former faculty member Richard Dixon
and Lee Steele ‘54 at the Milestone
Reception.
6. Lauren Friedman ‘02, Alicia Cook ‘96 and
Lauren Marsh ‘02.
7. Back (l-r): Patrick Mellor ‘08, Matt Hart,
Barrett Cavanagh ‘08, Andy Washburn,
Brendan Schultz ‘08, Jack Murphy,
David Curtis ‘08 and Hudson Hackett
‘09 Front(l-r): Jared Carr ‘08, Cathy
Washburn, Hannah Knowles ‘08, Remy
Corvese ‘08 and Ted Broderick ‘08.
8. Janina D’Abate ‘78, Sarah Shaw Siskin ‘78
and Kym Wadensten.
9. Will Mitchell ‘04 and fiancé Barbara
Sherfey.
10. Joshua Matteson ‘82, Robert Kornacki ‘86
and Kim Kornacki.
11. Nathan Maine ‘92 and Thomas Walsh ‘92.
12. Gerald Pluviose ‘00 and Paul Tukey
13. Richard Prager ‘77 speaks with Terry Coes
at the Milestone Reception.
19
alumnivoice
By: Sally Kenyon Grant ‘87, Alumni Association President
O
n behalf of the Rocky Hill
School Alumni Association, I
want to say that we are all excited for
what this new year brings to each of
us and to our alma mater. We would
like to give special thanks to all the
alums that gave so generously in 2012
and encourage our alumni friends
and family to continue to share in
our goals of alumni engagement,
volunteerism and school spirit in
2013.
For increased alumni engagement,
2012 was a fantastic year. We
started the year off right with record
attendance at the annual alumni
basketball games. The regional events
were casual get-togethers that were
great fun for all. Reunion saw the
number of alumni in attendance
double from that of the previous year,
highlighted by a special celebration
honoring retiring faculty member
Paul Tukey. We met the challenge
of 15% participation in the 2011-12
Annual Fund, surpassing the National
Association Independent School
average for alumni giving by more
than 2%. And at Homecoming, we
knocked it out of the park with record
attendance.
This spring and throughout
2013, we will continue our efforts
to expand alumni activities, events
and participation in school-wide
initiatives. We are excited to offer our
alumni regional activities in Rhode
Island, Massachusetts, New York
and Washington D.C. this year. In
April, we will partner with the Parent
Teacher League in co-sponsoring the
signature fundraising event, Catch
the Wave gala. This dinner, dance and
auction will raise critical funds for
the School in support of the strategic
plan. In June, we will celebrate
milestone years for classes ending
in 3 and 8 and elect new Alumni
Association officers and board
members.
This is an exciting time to be a
Rocky Hill alum. Our school is everchanging, and with the strategic goals
20
in mind, we invite alumni to come
back to campus for mentoring events
with Rocky Hill students. Career
Day on January 31, 2013 is a perfect
example of this effort. There are also
opportunities for alumni to: partner
with faculty to develop independent
study and internship programs;
make suggestions for community
connections that may help build
robust after-school and vacation
programs for students; engage in
the ongoing planning process by
sharing potential school initiatives;
and support the School financially
by participating in the annual giving
challenge.
Through these above-mentioned
mutual partnerships, the Alumni
Association can leverage resources
and facilities to expose students
to an array of unique educational
opportunities. There is so much more
we as alumni can do, and we want to
hear from you; we want to get you
involved. Please look for invitations
on Facebook and LinkedIn; emails
from the School and your class
scribes; and, of course, those evergreat Rocky Hill postcards in your
mailbox.
Again, our best wishes to you, your
family and friends for a wonderful
2013 filled with peace and cheer. Our
special thanks go out to all the alumni
who have given back so generously of
their time, talents and treasures.
Alumni Association President Sally Kenyon Grant
‘87 and Director of Academic Center for Enrichment
Holly Cotta at Homecoming.
careerday
The School and the Alumni Association
are pleased to have brought back Career Day,
with the goal of exposing juniors and seniors
to the real-life college experiences and career
paths of Rocky Hill alumni. Speakers (as of
1/9/13) included:
•
Brenda Burke ‘88
Physician/Rheumatologist, Lifespan
•
Stuart Flanagan ‘05
Managing Partner, Newport Renewables
•
Daniel Gilman ‘95
Co-Creative/Design Director,
iClickMedia; Co-Creative Director,
Visual Stream
•
Sally Kenyon Grant ‘87
Office of Policy & Government Affairs,
Maryland Department of Business &
Economic Development
•
Jonathan Hough ‘84
Director, BMO Capital Markets
•
Mia Ann Caetano Johnson ‘89
Partner, Johnson Law Associates
•
Mary Lynne Kennedy ‘80
Neuropsychologist, Southern New
England Rehab Center
•
Liana Jo Magner ‘91
Principal, Mercer Investment Consulting
•
Annie Millican ‘03
Dir./Founder, Awamaki Lab at Awamaki
•
Sarah Cohen Rosendale ‘98
Teacher of the Deaf, Northern RI
Collaborative’s Auditory-Oral Program
•
Director of Project Management, G-Form
•
Melissa Tukey ‘98
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Fellow, Boston Medical Center
•
Steven Ursillo, Jr. ‘90
Principal & Director of IT & Assurance
Services, Sparrow, Johnson & Ursillo
•
Karl Wadensten ‘78
President, VIBCO, Inc.
Members of the Class of 2012 cut the ribbon on the
new outdoor Harkness table.
homecoming2012
By: Liz Cochran, Director of Alumni Relations
R
ocky Hill’s campus was buzzing with activity for Homecoming 2012. The
sun was shining brightly as students, parents, alumni and friends gathered
together to celebrate the blue and white. The celebration actually kicked off on
Friday with a pep rally, the Upper School athletic games and the Homecoming
Dance. Both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams won and the field hockey team earned
a tie. It was the Middle School athletes’ turn on Saturday and while the soccer teams
did not come up with a win, the field hockey team beat North Kingstown 3-0. As
the games ended, the festival got into full swing with games and activities run by
the students and PTL volunteers. Additional highlights included live music by
Rocky Hill’s own boy band and a special ceremony for the Class of 2012 to officially
dedicate the outdoor Harkness table sponsored by their parents.
Thank you to the more than 65 alumni who came back to campus and spent
the day playing, cheering and reconnecting with friends and faculty. Some notable
moments included: former headmaster Alan Flynn and former music director Jeff
Duclos cheering on the soccer teams, and three generations of alumnae on the field
hockey field with Pam Dumas ‘56 as the alumni coach, Trixie (Webber) Dumas ‘81
playing on the alumni team and Sabrina Dumas ‘16 playing on varsity. With more
than 35 alumni participating (pictured at left), the alumni teams were victorious
with two wins and a tie. Final scores: field hockey 2-1, girls’ soccer 8-3, boys’ soccer
3-3. Thank you to the many volunteers and participants who made Homecoming
memorable, we’ll see you all in 2013!
For yourself, as a gift, or to honor
someone special, a brick in any
one of three campus brick walks
is a lasting legacy. Contact the
Alumni Office at 401-884-9070,
ext. 132 or order online at
www.rockyhill.org/brickwalk.
21
classnews
1947
Roberta (DeWolf) Hopkins’
granddaughter Lauren Fitting was
married in Waterford, CT in June 2012.
Granddaughter Jillian Lewis is studying for
her MS at Quinnipiac College.
1958
Carla (Gibson) Cook wrote: “We are
still sharing time between Saint George,
UT (October-May) and Jamestown, RI.
Our children and six grandchildren are in
WA, OR, CT and NY, so having two houses
works well for wonderful visits. We have
extra rooms in each place if friends want to
see beautiful red rock scenery or spend time
at the beach in Jamestown. Once a year we
take off for parts unknown. This year we
head to Sri Lanka and Borneo in February.
Hope all my classmates are doing well and
enjoying life to the fullest.”
After 45 years as a teacher, Jim Doyle
enjoys the peace and quiet of retirement.
1959
Jeff Ellis was recently very ill with a
variant version of Guillain-Barre syndrome
called Miller Fisher syndrome, but has
made a remarkable recovery and should be
back on his feet by April or May. On a
lighter note, he and his wife are collecting
mittens and hats for the less fortunate
through the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in
his home state of Michigan. Jeff sends his
best to his classmates and RHS.
1966
22
Janice Rinaldi visited campus in
October with former RHS kitchen staff
member Maureen Palermo. As she toured
the buildings, she remembered many
wonderful things that happened during her
Submit your news at www.rockyhill.org/classnews
time here. As she toured the Carriage
House, she recalled her time in first, second,
third and fourth grades and how art classes
were held in the current preschool building.
She brought pictures and documents of
many memories including a certificate for
Proficiency in Roller Skating from Riverdale
Roller Skating Rink dated May 8, 1957.
younger daughter, Megan, is head coach
of the University of California, Merced’s
women’s soccer team. Megan was married
in July. Doug purchased a home in Orlando
and plans to retire in two years.
Roger Ray
1971 Scribe:
[email protected]
Jon Hall lives in Bellingham, WA and
works on an Alaskan gold mining project.
Roger Ray’s son Jonathan graduated
from Gordon College and teaches French at
Salem Public High School. Roger’s daughter
Jennifer, 11, is a fine soccer player in the
Warwick Firefighters League. Roger hopes
that more of his classmates will get in touch.
Lucy Tillman
1967 Scribe:
[email protected]
Nancy (Hoxsie) Mead
1968 Scribe:
[email protected]
Lori (Silverstein) Dorsey
1972 Scribe:
[email protected]
Catherine (Tingley) Fairbairn
1973 Scribe:
[email protected]
Christine (Hoxsie) Morris
1969 Scribe:
[email protected]
Barbara (Shippee) Strassman
welcomed a granddaughter, Aliyana,
last July. Barbara’s son will be married
next September. Barabara’s business has
expanded, and she spends three months a
year in Pennsylvania. She began offering
a new type of healing work called Divine
Matrix. She lives in Sharon, and was
thrilled to learn about Rocky Hill’s Garden
Classroom. She has a meditation garden
and a sacred geometry garden that includes
the flower of life symbol, also known as the
symbol of creation, and the Star of David.
Visit her website: www.thesolewoman.com.
Nancy (Hoxsie) Mead and her husband,
Andrew, “continued our walk from London
to Rome by walking another 500 miles from
Rome to the Adriatic Sea. We refer to it as
the ‘pizza walk,’
since neither of
us lost an ounce
despite the hilly
terrain.”
Nancy also
visited the
RHS Garden
Classroom last
summer.
Al McCreery and his wife, Katherine,
live in Warwick with their two Shih Tzus,
and he works at Sturdy Memorial Hospital.
Al plays an Irish drum called a Bowdhran
in bands that play locally at pubs and other
venues in Rhode Island. Until recently, he
was playing at Ward’s Publick House every
Sunday. Al enjoys these opportunities
because percussion has been a part of his
life since he was a young man.
scribe volunteer needed
1970 Class
[email protected]
Doug Swann’s older daughter Jayme,
who lives in Orlando, gave birth to Doug’s
first grandchild, Ian, on March 22. His
Bill Langlois reflected: “As we at RHS
look back, and today support our legacy, I
look for common ground at our School. As
Headmaster Hale drove the school bus to
and from school, he was transporting future
leaders. I today also transport RHS students
to and from school and hope that they
become future leaders. It is an honor.”
Joyce E. Hempstead
[email protected]
1974 Scribe:
Candace Hammond was signed to
Trident Media in
New York, who,
through their new
e-book division,
released her novel,
The Best Worst Year,
last May. She is balancing journalism and
radio on Cape Cod with completing her
next book, Being Good. Her three kids are
doing great: Dylan, 34, works in addiction
recovery in Boston, Ben, 29, is a music
producer and DJ in Cambridge, and Emma,
27, is opening the Whistle Pig Korean Bistro
in Bozeman, MT.
Joyce Hempstead’s son Peter
graduated from Oberlin College. He lives
in West Philadelphia and works in music
production. Her daughter Bethany lives
in Brooklyn. Joyce works for Roxbury
Latin School and said it has been fun to
see RHS students succeed at the Certamen
scrimmages over the last few years. She
noted that RHS is the only Rhode Island
school that attends the scrimmages.
Peggy (Campbell) Sanders moved
to Charlotte in August with her husband,
Darren, to be a part of the House of Israel.
Darren works in HVAC and Peggy is
starting a photo/art business, Peggy Sanders
Creations, online. She’s on Facebook, and
plans to include a blog and Etsy shop for
her paintings and photo notecards. Her
daughters are in Vermont and doing well, as
are her parents, Hugh and Lorli.
Jane Vachon Zarchen wrote: “We sold
the house in Wakefield, and have been
‘horticulturalists at large’ for a few years. We
have been traveling the US with my bouvier,
Moxie Field Vachon, visiting many fabulous
plants and people in their native habitats.
Favorites include New Orleans, Sedona,
and right here in little ol’ Wilmington, NC.
We live in a big house on the river and are
doing pretty well.”
college sweetheart and will marry in April.
Last August, Richie safaried in Zambia—an
amazing experience with dear friends.
Sarah (Shaw) Siskin
1978 Scribe:
[email protected]
Margie Greene lives in Sausalito and is
raising two teenagers. The oldest heads to
college next fall and loves basketball. Margie
recently caught up with Janina D’Abate on
her visit to California.
Sarah (Shaw) Siskin and her husband,
Peter, are doing well, with the exception
of Hurricane Sandy. Sarah and Peter got
through the storm with some damage to
the house, and are working to get their
community back from the destruction.
Sarah is looking forward to the Catch the
Wave gala on April 20 and Reunion on June
1. As the Alumni Association secretary,
Sarah hopes alumni will get involved by
attending and hosting regional events.
Susan (Magee) Rinebolt
[email protected]
1977 Scribe:
Richie Prager reconnected with folks at
the NYC alumni gathering and at his 35th
reunion. Richie is still on Wall Street after
30 years, managing trading and liquidity
strategies at BlackRock. His three kids are
grown and out of college—all Dukies, of
course. The eldest son is engaged to his
friends, and appreciating the moments of
joy found in daily life.”
Betsy Blanchard Rafferty is happy
to report that Evans Plating Corporation
celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2012.
Besides working hard at the family business,
she stays busy playing indoor soccer, and
frequently sees Jeff Clark, Jen Young
Schnell and Elisa Silverstein Heath. “We
have dinner and reminisce about Rocky
Hill. We have a rip-roaring time; I’m
laughing all the way home. If you’re in the
area, just let me know. We would love to see
you.”
Betsy and 24 of her strongest friends
participated in the MS Jet Pull to benefit the
Rhode Island Chapter of the National MS
Society. They pulled a FedEx 757 aircraft
across the tarmac of T.F. Green Airport on
October 13.
Charlotte (Pillsbury) Wood
1979 Scribe:
[email protected]
Dan Bentley and his wife, Carolyn,
celebrate their 31st year of marriage this
year. They have three children, three
grandchildren, and live in Texas with their
daughter Hope, 11.
Dan is a senior vice
president with Bank of
America, and makes
time each summer to
visit his brother Frank
and RHS.
Sherry A. Branson-Calafato married
Frank Calafato on October 6 in San Diego.
Charlotte Pillsbury Wood and family
recently moved to the San Francisco Bay
area. “Everything is new, which is both
exciting and daunting. We’re enjoying the
fact that we can walk or bike everywhere.
Jeff Clark was by for a visit in September
and it was great to see him. Now that we’re
so close to San Francisco, if any of you are
in the area, please call.”
Mary Lynne Kennedy
1980 Scribe:
[email protected]
Mary Kane Chapman shared that her
cousin, Stephanie Clark (daughter of Meryl
Wilson Clark ‘71 and David Clark ‘71
and niece of Jeff Clark ‘79) is serving in
Afghanistan. Mary hoped that everyone will
send their best wishes.
Donna (Tocco) Greenaway
1975 Scribe:
[email protected]
Mary Jean (Keebler) Roche
1976 Scribe:
[email protected]
Tim Pillsbury is a self-employed
electronics and software engineer in New
Hampshire. Tim and his wife, Meg, have
seven children ages 9-27; all are well.
classnews
Liz Prager-O’Brien is the marketing
coordinator for the University of Rhode
Island’s Office of Admissions and teaches in
the Writing and Rhetoric department. Her
husband, the proficiency-based graduation
coordinator at Narragansett High, makes
her laugh every day. Her daughter is a
junior at South Kingstown High and is on
the tennis team; her son thrives playing
tennis, analyzing sports and investigating
history. Liz said, “We enjoy a simple life,
sharing laughter with our kids and their
Mary Lynne Kennedy wrote: “I had
a great trip this past summer to Yosemite
and Lake Tahoe with my family. We all
love to camp and found a beautiful spot in
Yosemite in the back country. One of the
most over stimulating parts of our trip was
flying into Las Vegas. While Vegas is not
our style, it was worth seeing at least once.
My daughter is now a fifth-grader at RHS
and having a wonderful experience. We feel
very grateful.”
23
classnews
Lisa (Batty) Spicuzza
1981 Scribe:
[email protected]
Pamela (Timperley) Buckenmaier
[email protected]
1982 Scribe:
Jo-Anne (Coghlin) Intrator
1983 Scribe:
[email protected]
Erin E. Clement
1984 Scribe:
[email protected]
Charlie Blanchard won the 2012 R.I.
Golf Association Amateur Championship,
which he also won in 2002. In 2013, Charlie
will be coaching the new professional
indoor box lacrosse team, the Rhode Island
Kingfish, which will play at URI’s Boss
Arena.
Last year, Ken Foster was appointed
chair of the President’s Sustainability
Council at Concordia College, where he
is also chair of the global studies program.
He has been teaching at Concordia for
five years. He took the concert band on a
performance tour of China in May (Ken
speaks Chinese).
Sally K. Grant
1987 Scribe:
[email protected]
Sally Kenyon Grant’s children Sophie
and John Grant Staugaitis gathered
pumpkins for their neighborhood’s
welcome baskets.
Sally is federal policy coordinator for
the Maryland Department of Business and
Economic Development. She is on Capitol
Hill each week advocating for legislation
that will impact the growth of jobs in
Maryland. Sally’s son played the lead role of
Bert in his school’s fall production of Mary
Poppins. Sally credits her mom, Jan Grant
(former RHS faculty), for her son’s amazing
theatrical singing and dancing skills.
Priscilla Dumas Kubas is in Palm
Desert, CA, dividing her time between her
three children, teaching technology at an
elementary school, and volunteer activities.
Priscilla and her son Nick, 13, ran a Turkey
Trot 5K in Oceanside, CA.
Elisabeth Brown
1985 Scribe:
[email protected]
Lauren M. Smith
1986 Scribe:
[email protected]
Elizabeth “Poppy” Matteson Billings
is entering her fifth year with Fallon
Community Health Plan in Worcester. She
recently received a promotion to team lead
programmer III. In March 2012, she skied
in Austria and Switzerland for 10 days.
Page Cooper Sciotto sent in a photo
from an impromptu RHS gathering at the
home of Kristin Fain Dahl in East
Greenwich on August 4, 2012. Sarah
Akemi (Flynn), Brian Clement, Liz Stone
‘92, Kevin Sciotto, Michael Zarrella, Scott
Metzger and Scott Fain ‘89 attended.
Brian Kudish included a picture of his
son Matthew, 8, and daughter Liza, 6. Brian
has been married for 10 years to his wife,
Debbie, and lives in Franklin, MA, the same
town as John Carney ‘88. He has great
memories of RHS and plans on bringing the
family to visit.
Kristin Walberg Urbach is the
membership director at US Sailing in
Newport, and moved back to Rhode Island
after working in Washington, D.C. for
several years.
24
Paul Zarrella and his wife, Kayla, are
pleased to announce the birth of a baby girl,
Cecilia Beatrice Zarrella.
Spurgeon W. Thompson III
1988 Scribe:
[email protected]
Megan Robert Tambaschi lives in
London and is studying to be a vet at the
Royal Veterinary College. She will graduate
in 2014.
1989
Scribes: Rhaea N. Photopoulos
[email protected]
Mia Ann (Caetano) Johnson
[email protected]
Mia Ann Caetano Johnson and her
husband, Eric, live in Cowesett with
their boys Eric, 5, and Alex, 4. Eric is
a police detective and also practices
law. Mia practices corporate law with
Johnson Law Associates and started a new
business brokerage company, Northeast
Campground Brokers, focusing on selling
campgrounds and RV parks throughout the
Northeast. She travels a good deal, but loves
her new career path.
Mia’s son Eric attended Rocky Hill’s
camp last summer and seeing campus
brought back fond memories. She would
love to hear from alums in the area.
Brad Davey recently finished his
doctorate in educational technology
at Pepperdine University. He and his
wife live in North Kingstown and own
Technology for Learning Consortium,
Inc., a professional educational consulting
company. They work on a variety of projects
including advising technology adoption
initiatives and implementation; curriculum
development; and educational program
evaluation for national groups like NASA
and NOAA. They enjoy their work and
the continually changing nature of the
challenges they face.
They have also co-authored two
books on literacy and countless articles
on learning with technology. They travel
throughout the US for work and pleasure,
speaking at conferences and events. By
combining work and play, they are able to
enjoy skiing in Colorado for most of the
winter and sailing on the bay in RI during
the summer.
1990 Class
[email protected]
Liana J. Magner
1991 Scribe:
[email protected]
Dan Carney, his wife, Mara, son
Hugh, 14, and daughter Hope, 8, moved
to Phoenix, after nearly four years in
Lakewood, OH. He will manage a five-
year statewide network expansion project
for Cox Business, where he has worked
for 11 years. Hugh is a freshman and is
almost Dan’s height. Hope is in third grade,
plays the piano, and loves just about every
sport. Mara is a full-time mom and wrote
a blog about nutrition and eating right
called Change Your Diet, Change Your Life
(jumpingofftheturniptruck.blogspot.com).
Colin Delaney and his wife, Jessica,
welcomed Harper Clementine on
November 6. Big sisters Teagan and
Charlotte have been a great help, and are
very excited to have a new little sister. Colin
has lived in Milton for almost a year and a
half, and loves it.
Meredith Kates Forster lives in
Middletown and works part time
at Hathaway Elementary School in
Portsmouth as a literacy interventionist/
reading specialist. Her husband, Matt,
has an orthodontic practice, Forster
Orthodontics, with offices in Newport
and Tiverton. Their three girls, Hope, 6,
Sophie, 8, and Julia, 10, love horseback
riding, piano, violin, theater and anything
outdoors. They spend lots of time at the
beach, on the boat, and skiing in the winter.
Their Bernese mountain dog, Jetty, is the
best brother.
Danielle Leighton lives in Somers,
CT. Daughter Willa, 4, is excited to start
kindergarten next year and loves dance,
gymnastics and wrestling. After more than
six years in primary care at a community
health center, Danielle will soon be
starting at a gastroenterology practice in
Northampton. Danielle’s father, Barry
Leighton, a former Rocky Hill faculty
member, retired last year at the age of 71.
Andrea Lombardo DeMichele lives
in Sudbury, MA with her husband, Adam,
daughter Lily, 8, and son Carter, 6. Andrea
works for a New York-based investment
management firm.
Liana Magner moved to Boston from
Atlanta in 2010. She is a partner at Mercer,
and lives in Beacon Hill. Liana enjoys the
outdoors and adventure travel; she surfs,
runs, bikes or skis whenever she can.
Carolyn (Broccoli) Wren lives in
East Greenwich with her husband, Chris,
daughter Molly, 9, and son Liam, 6. She
is a pediatric massage therapist and has a
practice in West Warwick. She also stays
busy leading groups in environmental and
outdoor education.
Crystel (Siebel) Hoyt
1992 Scribe:
[email protected]
Lisa (Dorson) Borge
1993 Scribe:
[email protected]
Lisa Dorson Borge shared a photo of
her sons: Jack, Sam and Luke.
Emily (Card) Muzzy sent in a photo of
her family at a breakfast with Santa event.
Emily also reported that Susana Lorente
has a one-year-old baby girl.
classnews
Sarah Nuri is a guest services and ticket
sales manager at Schweitzer Mountain
Resort in Sandpoint, ID.
Trevor Whitson, his wife, Vivian,
and daughter, Valentina Q’orianka, were
proud to welcome Sebastian Antonio into
the family on October 12, 2011. They
live in Dallas, with great support from
loving grandparents both nearby and in
Peru. Trevor left management consulting
at Bain & Company to take a position at
Ticona Engineering Polymers, a business
of Celanese Corporation in Dallas. Since
joining in July 2011, Trevor has directly
supported the general manager and has
recently been promoted to manage the
Americas’ business for the Vectra® LCP,
Zenite® LCP, and Thermx® PCT products.
Marianne C. SanAntonio
1997 Scribe:
[email protected]
Karlton Bontrager lives in Los Angeles
and works as a freelance private English
tutor. He would like to find an opportunity
that is more permanent, but enjoys working
with his current students.
Bethany H. Carland-Adams welcomed
daughter Gillian Olivia Adams on May 2.
Tracey (Brown) Banach
1994 Scribe:
[email protected]
Weston Davey has been living in the
Hudson Valley for almost four years, and is
a museum technician at the FDR Museum
and Library in New York. Weston moved
from Chicago, where he went to graduate
school for historic preservation at the Art
Institute of Chicago. He is married and has
a five-year-old son, Adrien.
Rebecca M. Krasnof
1995 Scribe:
[email protected]
Erica (Harrington) Perkoski
1996 Scribe:
[email protected]
Peter Carney’s children (photo sent in
by Kristin Kacewicz Clarke ‘04.)
Christen (Roehr) Suratt has three
children: Baleigh, 6, Payton, 4, and Jasper,
18 months. Christen’s husband, Joshua, is a
federal police officer at a Naval Station in
Jacksonville. Christen teaches nine amazing,
autistic boys in a K-1 classroom in
Jacksonville. Last year her school went from
a rating of F to A, which is a great
accomplishment in her area. She misses all
at RHS, and is on the lookout for Ms.
Sanderson…any word about her?
Kalene Hafey Phinney lives in East
Greenwich with her four kids: Aidan, 11,
Maeve, 9, Davin, 7, and Declan, 3.
25
classnews
Mena Suvari, Sulev Suvari ‘90, his wife,
Trisha, and their brother AJ visited campus
last summer. They saw Paul Tukey and
Donna Goldstein, and shared fond
memories.
Katherine (Hoagland) Scott
1998 Scribe:
[email protected]
Megan (Andreozzi) Fox
1999 Scribe:
[email protected]
summer of fun (trips to Paris, New York,
DC, Mississippi, and a Bourbon Trail road
trip through Kentucky), she moved to
Chicago. She works at the University of
Chicago Booth School of Business as an
assistant director of career management,
developing career-related programming for
the full-time MBA students and advising
them on job-search strategy.
Aaron Ketrow and Kathryn Koch were
married on October 13 at the New York
Yacht Club in Newport.
Susan Dorson Cardones sent in a
picture of her daughter Audrey.
Stephanie Soscia
2000 Scribe:
[email protected]
In October, Jed Hancock-Brainerd
starred in the Willbury Group’s production
of Lungs in Providence.
Tony Pastore wrote: “After working at
RHS in 2007, I left for Spain for three years.
I reunited with former RHS science teacher
Corinne Dedini at Atlanta Girls School.
An opportunity popped up at La Jolla
Country Day in San Diego and I am in my
second year teaching Spanish there. I am
working on my MA in Spanish linguistics at
Middlebury during the summers.”
Bridget Sullivan
2001 Scribe:
[email protected]
Caroline Carney and Jonathan Hayes
welcomed Vienna Livingston Hayes into the
world on October 16, 2012. Vienna is
perfect in every way, shows a budding
interest in fine art, and looks forward to her
first visit to Rocky Hill.
Catherine Clement completed
her master’s degree in social work at the
University of Michigan in April. After a
26
Bridget Sullivan is engaged to Michael
Garmisa, a lawyer with the Philadelphia
Public Defender Association, and is
planning a summer/fall 2013 wedding in
Rhode Island. Bridget is a pediatric nurse
practitioner at Mt. Airy Pediatrics, LLP,
and enjoys working in a primary care
provider role. Bridget enjoyed mentoring
an eighth grade Rocky Hill student with
her exposition project, and hearing news
from campus from her father and Ceileidh
Siegel. Bridget looks forward to connecting
with classmates during the holidays.
Kristin (McLimans) Mitchell
2002 Scribe:
[email protected]
Lauren Friedman lives in South
Florida and works as the special events and
membership director at the JCC in Boca
Raton. She is a race director for three 5Ks a
year and recently completed her third half
marathon.
Shalaine Fradette wed Gregory
Zamfotis in Newport on October 27.
Ashley (Evron) Machala wed Eric
Machala ‘00 on June 1, 2012 at Saint
Gregory the Great Church in Warwick,
with a reception at OceanCliff in Newport.
The wedding party included Meghan
McCarthy, Kathryn Donnelly, Stephanie
Mattioli ‘11, Jerry Pluviose ‘00 and Bryan
Machala ‘02.
Several other
alumni also
attended. “It was
a wonderful day
filled with love
and happiness
shared with all
our friends and
family.”
Caroline N. Mauro lives in New York
and is a fashion stylist for Barneys.
Meghan McCarthy’s animated short,
Inspector Lint Eastwood and The Case of the
Missing Sock won Best Animation at the Los
Angeles Film and Script Festival. Meg also
hosts a web show called Movies with Meg.
Hope Sholes is a senior compliance
analyst at Smith & Wesson in Springfield,
MA and is engaged to Charles Pinder, who
is in Afghanistan as a defense contractor. A
2014 wedding is planned.
Nicholas F. Pereira
2003 Scribe:
[email protected]
2004
Scribes: Kristin (Kacewicz) Clarke
[email protected]
Kathryn A. Donnelly
[email protected]
Kristin (Kacewicz) Clarke wed Elliott
Clarke on September 29, 2012 in Newport.
Samuel Tyree works in Binghamton,
NY as the front office manager of a
DoubleTree hotel. “I have been here for six
months and plan to continue advancing my
career before moving back to NYC.”
2005
Scribe: Kate Corvese
[email protected]
Allison Friedman is the digital traffic
manager for Cendyn in Boca Raton. “I work
with major hotel chains and hospitality
clients including Trump Hotels and Real
Estate, Starwood Resorts and Universal
Studios Hollywood Events. I was selected
to participate in a management leadership
and personality workshop to help shape the
company’s 2013 mission statement.”
2006
Scribes: Laura Verardo-Goodrich
[email protected]
Miguel A. Dominguez
[email protected]
Austin Ahlborg is a freelance
cinematographer in Los Angeles. He shot
a travel video (www.vimeo.com/45034289)
in Hawaii while visiting his brother. He
is employed by Red Bull and is shooting
a documentary about break dancing all
along the West Coast called Break’n Reality.”
Learn more at www.redbull.com.
Bianca J. Ursillo was a finalist at the
2012 Fusion Film Festival for her graduate
feature screenplay I’ll Tell You No Lies.
2007
Scribes: Patricia L. Capuano
[email protected]
Courtney Lada
[email protected]
Amee Amin moved to India 18 months
ago to attend medical school.
Ian Cameron took two years off from
Middlebury after his sophomore year
and did affective neuroscience research at
Brown. He’s back at Middlebury and will
graduate this spring.
After graduating from Brown, Trish
Capuano moved to South Florida. She
works as an event planner in the Miami/
Fort Lauderdale area. Visitors from the
Rocky Hill family are always welcome.
Jordan Farrales graduated with an
economics degree from the University of
South Florida and works as an analyst with
Galbraith Capital, the third largest hedge
fund in the Tampa Bay Area.
Elise Flanagan works at Ralph Lauren
as an assistant merchandiser for a new
brand called Denim & Supply. Whenever
she is not consumed with emails and
reports, she is out with friends in the East
Village. She sees herself working there for
the next five years, working up to the level
of a merchandiser, and then seeing where
that experience will take her.
Tim Harsch works for a startup in San
Mateo, CA that has an office in India. He
has made the trip back and forth a few
times this year, which has been amazing.
Fortunately, he is a big fan of Indian food.
Rome Kirby is in San Francisco, sailing
for Oracle and preparing for the America’s
Cup.
Kassandra Kist lives in New Jersey and
works at Deloitte as an auditor in Princeton
for Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Recently, Courtney Lada made the
move to work at a social media marketing
agency in Washington, DC, running the
Facebook and Twitter accounts for the
lotion company Eucerin.
Wynn Mitchell lives in Boston and is a
restaurant and events manager at Radius in
the financial district.
Hyerim Shin lives in Seattle and works
at Microsoft as a software development
engineer.
Alex Skeen lives in New York City, and
works in publishing/fashion. He landed a
job straight out of college at Condé Nast,
and works with all of the brands/magazines
they own including covering NY Fashion
Week for Style.com, The Met Gala/Fashion’s
Night Out for Vogue, Best Dressed Lists for
Vanity Fair, and much more.
Gray Twombly works as a private chef
on yachts. He has visited some amazing
places in the last few years, including Costa
Rica, Mexico, almost the entire Caribbean,
Spain, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Florida
and the Keys.
2008
Scribes: Hannah C. Knowles
[email protected]
Sarah L. Knowles
[email protected]
Allison E. Rooney
[email protected]
Bakhtiyar Baidaralin works in the
sales department of Hanna Instruments,
a science instruments company in
Woonsocket. Bakh likes the job and the
challenges that it has to offer.
classnews
David Curtis graduated in May
2012 from Gettysburg College, and is
pursuing a master’s degree in sustainability
management from Columbia University.
Allison Rooney graduated from
Franklin & Marshall College, having
studied psychology. She works as an
extended day teacher at Brimmer and May
School in Chestnut Hill and lives in Boston
with fellow Rocky Hill classmate, Hannah
Knowles. Hannah graduated in May 2012
from Gettysburg College and works at
Robert Half International.
Sarah Knowles graduated in May 2012
from Connecticut College, majoring in
architectural studies and art history. She
works as the assistant director of admissions
at Falmouth Academy, where she helps
coach the basketball and lacrosse teams.
She is excited for the spring when Falmouth
plays Rocky Hill in lacrosse.
Tim Papa graduated from George
Washington University with a BBA in May
and moved to Brooklyn in August. “I’m
working as a photographer and studying for
my real estate license. I’m living the dream,
across the river from Dave Curtis and a few
blocks from my sister, Jill.”
Steven Tilley started graduate school
at Johns Hopkins University, where he is
pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering.
Jacqueline Weixel graduated from the
College of Wooster and teaches French to
high school students in Thailand. She plans
to stay for at least a semester (maybe more).
2009 Class
[email protected]
Hudson Hackett, his brother Phil ‘10
and friends held their annual Turkey Bowl
the day after Thanksgiving. Alumni in
attendance included: Ted Broderick ‘08,
Brendan Schultz ‘08, Walter Filkins ‘08,
Patrick Mellor ‘08, John Gibbons, David
Curtis ‘08, Walmen Dumaliang, Remy
Corvese ‘08, Seth Curtis ‘12, Barrett
Cavanagh ‘08, Anthony DonFrancesco,
Steven Sparhawk ‘08 and Tory Dumas ‘10.
Ted Broderick graduated in May 2012
from Gettysburg College and works in
Boston’s financial district.
Barrett Cavanaugh graduated in May
from UVM with a BS in engineering and is
employed and living in Connecticut.
27
classnews
Sarah Taylor
2010 Scribe:
[email protected]
Anne “Shreve” Cameron studies
communications with a concentration in
media arts and a minor in PR/marketing
at Simmons College. She is also a Red Bull
Wings Team member. “We sample the
product, drive the Mini Cooper with the
can on top, clear up misinterpretations of
the product, and look for those in need of
energy. It’s been really fun and has helped
me with my major, because we are directly
part of Red Bull’s marketing approach.”
Chelsey Frost joined Boston College’s
varsity rowing team and loves it. The crew is
working towards competing at the ACC’s
and the Henley Royal Regatta (UK) in June
2013. Chelsey is still a communications
major and studio art minor, and plans to
attend graduate school for architecture.
Sarah Taylor is a double major in art
and psychology at Connecticut College
and looks forward to traveling abroad for
four weeks with a few friends from school
during Christmas break.
Maki Tazawa spent four months in
Queensland, Australia, studying the rain
forest, tree kangaroos, and admiring all the
region had to offer,
including the Great
Barrier Reef. “I just
finished a semester
in Oxford, England.
Since leaving RHS,
I have worked at
Casey Trees and the
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural
History, as well as with Senator Sheldon
Whitehouse and Save the Bay back in RI. I
am looking forward to getting back to GW,
where I am studying international affairs
and environmental studies.”
Xiaotian “Dennis”
Wu visited campus
over the summer
and met with Head
of School Jonathan
Schoenwald.
28
Stephanie Mattioli
2011 Scribe:
[email protected]
Phoebe Bartlett wrote: “I had qualms
about starting over at Boston University.
Going from a class of 38 to a class of 4,000
turned out to be a much bigger leap than I
had anticipated. Though I expected college
in the city to be different, I couldn’t help
but feel lost without all those comforts that
made me feel so connected to everything
and everyone at Rocky Hill. As my third
semester at BU comes to a close, I am
looking forward to everything that the
school still has to offer me, but I will always
be grateful for the education I received
at RHS and all of the warm and caring
classmates and staff there.”
Camden DiMicco wrote: “RHS is a time
I will always remember. The relationships
I established with teachers and friends are
priceless.”
Jonathan Pine will be attending
Quinnipiac University, studying political
science and communications. At the end of
the summer, he was promoted to assistant
director at Amherst Nike Junior Tennis
Camp, and most recently worked as a
deputy field organizer for the Rhode Island
State Democratic Party on the successful
Cicilline for Congress campaign. Jonathan
said that Phil Gyampo was working as an
intern for the Cicilline campaign as well.
Sam Jedrey wrote: “Rocky Hill as a
college preparatory school has done its job
successfully. I feel that I am able to manage
my time efficiently, balancing course work
with personal leisure time and social
activities. I appreciate and am thankful for
everything Rocky Hill has done for me.”
Miguel Lara wrote: “I made a hard
decision by leaving competitive soccer for
good, and am no longer playing for Clark
University. However, I am now working
on the school’s admissions team and for
residential life and housing as an RA. I
continue to referee soccer and recently
traveled to California for nationals and
to Pennsylvania and New Hampshire for
regional events. I am very glad to see the
great things happening at the Hill. All the
best for another amazing school year.”
Stephanie Mattioli wrote, “I cannot
believe that I am already a sophomore.
Rocky Hill has truly shaped me into a
confident individual. I try to challenge
myself every day, which is a skill Rocky Hill
taught me. In the last year, I have completed
a summer abroad program in Italy, created
an Italian Club on campus at URI, and
began to research potential universities for
my study abroad next fall.”
Miranda Puddington wrote: “My
college experience at Simmons College in
Boston has been great so far. I am enjoying
nursing school and getting ready for clinical
placement. I didn’t realize what a great
science foundation I got at Rocky Hill
School and how it has helped me in college.
Thank you, Rocky Hill.”
Shannon M. O’Rourke
2012 Scribe:
[email protected]
Aaron Bullock enjoys his time at
University of Tampa as a finance major and
member of the varsity crew team. He is in
the second seat of a 4+ sweep boat.
Maria Charbonneau is in the pharmacy
program at the University of Rhode Island.
When her nose is not in the books, she can
be found attending ballroom dance classes
or with her new friends from the Newman
Club, cooking dinner once a week.
Lauren Gertz is majoring in forensic
psychology at Quinnipiac University.
She is an active member of the Student
Programming Board and the Community
Action Project. Lauren is also a tour guide
for the admissions office.
Sam Hallowell and Giles Van Gruisen
were recently in San Francisco with a
number of other sailors competing for an
Oracle Racing-sponsored spot in the Red
Bull Youth America’s Cup. Sam is one of
seven sailing for the team, and Giles is the
media crew member. The team trained with
Oracle Team USA and sailed on the AC45s
for two days, and Giles was there
documenting it.
Ben Hardy was traveling in Lakey Peak,
Sumbawa, Indonesia, and Bali.
Katie Meringolo is a nutritional
science and sociology major at Pepperdine
University. She is a part of the Delta
Gamma sorority, and will travel to Florence
for a semester next spring.
Shannon O’Rourke is at Roger
Williams University, majoring in marine
biology and minoring in sustainability.
She is a candidate for a residential assistant
position next year and looks forward to
being a counselor at Rocky Hill’s Summer
Enrichment Academy this year.
Photo from Florida alumni gathering
in December 2012: Shirley Friedman,
Murray Friedman, Lauren Friedman ‘02,
Richard Koblick, Allison Friedman ‘05,
Marc Blumstein, former RHS staff member
Muriel Hall and Director of Alumni
Relations Liz Cochran.
InMemoriam
classnews
Remembering Dick Barker ‘54
On December 19, 2012, Rocky Hill
lost Dick Barker ‘54, one of the School’s
most supportive and involved alumni. It
is with great admiration and appreciation
that we honor Dick’s many years of
service; he will be greatly missed.
In the 1984 edition of The Bulletin,
Dick wrote: “My involvement with
Rocky Hill Country Day School goes
back to a September morning in 1947,
when a Ford beach wagon ‘school bus’
Photo Credit: Gordana Novakovic-Petteruti
picked me up in Cranston to take me
to my first day of school. The next six years were some of the most memorable for
me...” Sixty-five years later, Dick was still an engaged and important member of the
school community who left a legacy of service unmatched by any other.
Dick attended Rocky Hill through the eighth grade (the School only served
students through ninth grade at the time), graduated from high school in 1957, and
attended Bryant College. He went on to have a very successful career in banking and
finance.
Dick was quick to return to Rocky Hill as a volunteer and served as a member
and officer of the Alumni Association from 1968-1988. Dick joined the board
of trustees in 1984 and served as president from 1988-1993. He returned to the
board in 2000 as treasurer and held that position until this past October when he
was designated an honorary member. He stilled served on the School’s Finance
Committee and was a trusted adviser to the head of school and business manager.
Dick and his wife, Carol, have shared a lifetime with Rocky Hill and we have
been truly blessed to call them family. They are pictured above watching their
granddaughter Eliza ‘25 at GrandFriends’ Day 2012.
3/5/2012 - 12/19/2012
Robert F. Audet (6/9/12)
Son of library volunteer Olga (Roy) Audet, brother of trustee
and former head of Lower School Joan Osowa,
uncle of Jill Millard ‘94
Richard S. Barker Sr. ‘54 (12/19/12)
Former board president, trustee, father of Richard S. Barker
Jr ‘83, grandfather of Eliza Barker ‘25, father-in-law to ACE
teacher Whitney Barker
Dorothy Downing Hagen “Dede Forker” (9/14/12)
Former third grade teacher (1992-1993)
Dr. Joseph DiMase (4/28/12)
Father of Sherrie DiMase (former ACE faculty),
grandfather of Shane Woolley ‘15
William A. Foster (1/23/2012)
Father of John Foster ‘74
Alexander Gray III (12/7/12)
Father of Alexander Gray ‘99
Cassandra J. ‘Sandy’ Lovejoy (10/31/12)
Former librarian (‘83-‘07), mother of Jonathan Lovejoy ‘87
Lawrence Stang Millard (7/17/12)
Grandfather of Nathaniel Awkerman ‘14
Milan Novakovic (10/3/12)
Father of trustee and former PTL president Gordana
Novakovic-Petteruti, grandfather of Alina ‘09, Robert ‘13 and
Anessa Petteruti ‘17
Dr. Ando I. Suvari (3/2/12)
Father of Lt. Col. Sulev ‘90, Yuri ‘94 and Mena Suvari ‘97.
Clarke N. Westall (5/1/12)
Father of Katrina Westall ‘01
Arnold T. Galkin (11/20/12)
Father of Paul Jonathan Galkin ‘67,
husband of former PTL president Alice Galkin
29
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STUDENTARTWORK
Alessandra Antonelli ‘13, mixed media
Daniel Samudio ‘16, graphite drawing
George Duan ‘13, oil painting
Jeannette Stacey ‘13, colored pencil
Michael Levy ‘14, acrylic painting
Nicholas Cicchetti ‘13, India ink
Nick Parker ‘12, ceramics
Emma Fitzelle-Jones ‘15, artist trading cards
Jacqueline Holmes ‘14, Sharpie drawing
Leah Galkin ‘13, acrylic painting
Nana Yao ‘14, acrylic painting
Sven-Axel Wadensten ‘13 & Brendan Lada ‘13,
ceramics
13. Matthew Nota ‘12, ceramics
14. Yin Yefko ‘12, photography
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30
givingback
Read the 2011-12
Annual Report at
rockyhill.org/
annualreport
By: Beth DeGerlia, Director of Development
L
ast year the Journal of Consumer Psychology
published an article titled, “If money doesn’t make
you happy, then you probably aren’t spending it right.”
The first two suggestions on how to best spend your
money were:
1. Buy experiences instead of things.
2. Help others instead of yourself.
I couldn’t help but think that committing to an
independent school education falls quite neatly into these
categories.
Certainly as a parent, student or alum, you became a
member of the Rocky Hill community in order to receive
an invaluable educational experience. For some, tuition is
a very manageable expense, and for others it represents a
significant challenge; most would agree, however, that it
is money well spent. We can all recall particular teachers,
projects, friendships or personal successes that we could
never put a price tag on. These experiences are possible
thanks to a carefully constructed community of students,
teachers and parents who are all committed to getting the
most out of each and every day. Rocky Hill builds a strong
student body not by admitting only those who can readily
afford an independent school education, but by admitting
students who will thrive here and contribute to the life
of the School. A strong commitment to need-based
financial aid and merit scholarships makes selectivity and
accessibility possible. In turn, each individual student’s
experience is enriched by an overall diverse and dynamic
group of learners.
Now, let’s get to the second suggestion of how best
to spend your money. Who hasn’t felt the satisfaction
that comes from helping someone? A simple gesture or
a significant outreach can have a lasting impact on the
recipient. When it comes to education, we can’t all impact
students in the same way that teachers do, but when we
give back as volunteers and donors, we support the magic
that happens in each and every classroom. If you believe
that an independent school education for your own
child or yourself is/was a meaningful pursuit, then you
can surely see that supporting the same opportunity for
another child is a substantial and potentially life-changing
gift. And what if the student who needs tuition assistance
is your child’s best friend, the class valedictorian, or
a student leader whom others aspire to emulate—the
impact of that gift of support is even more significant and
far-reaching.
I hope that when you make a commitment to Rocky
Hill School it does make you happy. A great education
is a gift that lasts a lifetime and I can’t think of many
investments that yield a comparable return.
We extend our thanks to all who support Rocky Hill.
Live well, give generously, and be happy!
financial assistance by the numbers
144
$15,035
$11,429
$2,000-$24,000
Students receiving financial assistance
(remission, merit scholarship, financial aid)
Average financial aid award
Average scholarship award
Range of financial assistant awards
Alumnichallenge
Last year alumni giving rose to 15%—double the
number of alumni donors from 2010-11—which resulted in
achieving the Alumni Participation Challenge and securing
an additional $5,000 for the School. Thank you to all who
participated and helped us reach our goal.
If alumni reach 17.5% participation in the 2012-13 Annual
Fund by June 30, 2013, Alumni Challenge founders will
donate an additional $6,000 to the School.
Please support this year’s challenge and the Annual Fund
today. Give online at www.rockyhill.org/giveonline. (Alumni
participation as of December 14, 2012 was 6%.)
Alumni Challenge Founders
John Carney ‘88
Kim Magner Carney ‘89
Sally Kenyon Grant ‘87
Jonathan Hough ‘84
Charles P. Iacono ‘99
Liana Magner ‘91
Dawn (Dunley) Roch ‘83
Ray Roch ‘83
Kevin Sciotto ‘86
Page Cooper Sciotto ‘86
Sarah (Shaw) Siskin ‘78
Lauren M. Smith ‘86
studentvoice
By: Angelo Gemma ‘13
“As a senior, I realize all of the special opportunities and
responsibilities the School and the financial aid program have
provided for me. I am a senior prefect and I feel as though
Rocky Hill is my second family. I also feel prepared for college,
where I wish to study medicine, and, hopefully, to one day
receive my doctorate degree.
“I owe all of my success in my high school and college
careers to Rocky Hill School, and the special people that donate
and support the financial aid resource for students who need it.”
31
supportsystem
By: Kristin McCaughey, Parent Teacher League Member and Gala Chair
T
he Parent Teacher League (PTL) is eager to support the mission of Rocky Hill’s
strategic plan with its upcoming gala fundraiser Catch the Wave on April 20, 2013.
Partnering with Rocky Hill’s Alumni Association, the PTL will work to raise funds
that will have a significant impact on each student in the areas of academics, arts and
athletics. Funds raised will support the School’s ongoing initiatives, which include
technology equipment, professional development, scholarship support and more.
The PTL encourages all parents to volunteer and become an active part of the Rocky
Hill community. Ultimately, your participation helps our children realize their full
potential. The parent community understands that Rocky Hill is indeed a small school
with big opportunities. We look forward to your help in achieving these goals.
2011-12 PTL Funded Projects
• Lower School Cameras
• Campbell Cafeteria
Renovations
• Community Service Projects
• Field Day Supplies
• Financial Aid Program
• Kirkland Gibson Faculty
Summer Enrichment Fund
• Middle School iPad
Accessories
• Projectors in Lower & Middle
School
• Professional Development
• National Sportsmanship Day
Speaker
• The Crest Yearbook
• Speaker Forums
• Upper School Water Fountain
Installation
PTL Supported Events & Programs
• Eighth Grade Dinner
• Barnes & Noble Book Fair
• Book Buy Back
• Box Tops for Education
• Faculty Appreciation Luncheon
& Events
• Fall Classic
• Fall Welcome Reception
• Founders’ Day
• Lower School Boys’ Day Out
• Lower School Girls’ Night Out
• Mentor Family Program
• Senior Seminar
• Speaker Forums
• Upper School Pasta Night
• World Cultures Week
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2
32
3
4
Parents around campus:
1. George Grayson participates in
the fourth and fifth grade EnviroEd
program, with daughter Alyssa ‘19
and Jaylene Lanzot ‘19.
2. (From left): Art teacher Kara Dunne,
and PTL members Sue Withers,
Rosita Ball, Kristin McCaughey and
Laura Dignan at a PTL-sponsored
faculty appreciation luncheon.
3. Jonas and Tracie Seed enjoy the PTL
Welcome Reception in September.
4. Second grade parents participate in
the Field Day tug of war.
movingup
Lower and Middle School Moving Up Day ceremonies were
held on June 7, 2012. Parents, faculty and classmates gathered
to honor fifth and eighth grade students who were moving up to
the next division. Congratulations to all students, including the
following award recipients:
Grade 6 Faculty Book Prize
Georgia Saville ‘18
Abigail Siegel ‘17
Allison DeGerlia ‘16
Grade 6 Scholar
Olivia DePasquale ‘18
Grade 7 Scholars
Annessa Petteruti ‘17
Grade 8 Scholar
Lauren Silva ‘16
Flynn Awards for Sportsmanship
Zachary Jennings ‘16
Julia Janikies ‘16
The Williams College Book Award
Sabrina Dumas ‘16
Middle School Fine Arts Awards
Zachary Jennings ‘16
Sabrina Dumas ‘16
Middle School Faculty Citizenship Award
Allison DeGerlia ‘16
Joan Osowa Lower School Citizenship Award
Chloe Ponte ‘19
Lower School Marshall Book Prize
Second Grade
The Mary S. Wright Go FOURTH Award
Alyazya AL-Hebsi ‘19
Nine Season Athletes
Luke Ardente ‘16
Sabrina Dumas ‘16
Julia Janikies ‘16
(From top): Joan Osowa, trustee and former head of Lower School, presents the Lower School
Citizenship Award to Chloe Ponte ‘19; The Class of 2019 before their fifth grade Moving Up Day
ceremony; The Class of 2016 before their eighth grade Moving Up Day ceremony.
33
(From top): Karl Wadensten ‘78 honors Paul Tukey at Reunion 2012; Liz Carley rings a
peace bowl at the 9-11 ceremony; Maureen Fahey poses for a photo; Jack Crow in the 2012
production of The Music Man.
farewells &
milestones
L
ast June, the Rocky Hill community bid farewell to Paul Tukey,
who retired from the school after 36 years of teaching, coaching
and administrating. Paul’s many contributions to the School were
celebrated at Reunion 2012 when he was honored and presented with
special gifts from the Alumni Association. Friends, family, colleagues
and former students sent Paul off with a night to remember and
wished him all the best as he headed into retirement.
As has become a tradition at end-of-the-year meetings, the School
acknowledged faculty and staff milestones and bid adieu to those who
were leaving to pursue other opportunities.
5-Year Milestone
Liz Carley, Kindergarten
Rich Dempsey, Head of Upper School
Sherrie DiMase, Lower School ACE
Art Entwistle, Athletic Trainer, Assistant Athletic Director
Rob Lee, Upper School Social Science
Nancy Maguire-Rambo, Middle & Lower School Spanish
Eric Wyzga, Lower School Science
10-Year Milestone
Liz Cochran, Director of Alumni Relations & Development Office Mgr.
15-Year Milestone
Maureen Fahey, Upper School Math & Community Service Coordinator
Barbara Feingold, Business Office
Farewells
Greg Crout, Middle School Math & Science
Jack Crow, Second Grade
Allison Demetros, Librarian
Susan Derderian, Upper School French
Liz Diaz, Upper School Spanish
Sherrie DiMase, Lower School ACE
Barbara Feingold, Business Office
Ted MacDonald, Lower & Middle School Technology
Marcia Moon, ESL
Jon Spencer, Upper School Physics
Joanne Temkin, Preschool
Paul Tukey, College Counselor, Upper School English
Amy Wood, Upper School English
Lindsey Yates, Special Events Coordinator
34
classof2012
College Placement
Dane Ardente
Kathryn Barrall
Alexander Boghossian
Aaron Bullock
Michael Caramadre
Maria Charbonneau
Seth Curtis
Sarah D’Agostino
Bryan Erickson
Ezekiel Farrell
Lauren Gertz
Samuel Hallowell
Benjamin Hardy
Joseph Jordan
Jordan Karnes
Ford Kelly-Riley
Cameron Kilroy
Victoria Kue
William Larcom
Christina Leahy
Katherine Meringolo
Abby Moylan
Matthew Nota
Shannon O’Rourke
Robert Parker
Steven Petteruti
William Pontarelli
Emma Powers
Julia Ritter
Katherine Roberts
Cooper Robinson
Petra Ross
Victoria Sceery
Tingying Su
Tyler Thran
Aidan Toohey
Giles Van Gruisen
Ci Wang
Laura White
Simon Winokoor
Yin Yefko
The University of Montana
Eckerd College
Curry College
The University of Tampa
Bentley University
URI College of Pharmacy
The University of Maine
Merrimack College
Quinnipiac University
Clark University
Quinnipiac University
Hobart College
Coastal Carolina University
Gettysburg College
Springfield College
Connecticut College
Saint Michael’s College
Alfred University
Clarkson University
Emmanuel College
Pepperdine University
Elon University
Castleton State College
Roger Williams University
Roanoke College
Harvard University
Saint Joseph’s University
Siena College
Roanoke College
Wake Forest University
Rhodes College
Brandeis University
University of Rhode Island
George Washington University
University of Vermont
Savannah College of Art & Design
Entrepreneurial Business
Drexel University
Emmanuel College
Syracuse University
University of Vermont
On Friday, June 8, 2012, Martin Keen of KEEN Footwear spoke
to students, faculty, family and friends during Commencement
Exercises. Steven Petteruti addressed his classmates as
valedictorian and Lauren Gertz presented the senior class gift: a
drinking fountain in Flynn Academic Center.
Commencement awards
Lifer Award
Almost Lifer
Alumni Athletic Achievement Award
Flynn Award for Sportsmanship
Sheldon Art Award
Howland Music Award - Instrumental
Howland Music Award - Vocal
Bell Gurnee Dramatic Arts Award
Foreman Award in Fine Arts
Spanish Language Award
Classics Book Prize
Campbell French Prize
Sharpe English Award
Gregor Award in Mathematics
MacMahon Science Award
Knight Book Award
Freshman Class Scholar
Sophomore Class Scholar
Junior Class Scholar
Senior Class Scholar
Mauran Bowl
Carpe Diem Award
Kirkland Gibson Award
SanAntonio Faculty Award
Community Service Award
Dane Ardente
Matthew Nota
Katherine Meringolo
Abby Moylan &
Ezekiel Farrell
Victoria Kue
Lily Hanlon ‘13
Hannah Thoms ‘13
Shannon O’Rourke
Ford Kelly-Riley
Yin Yefko
Victoria Kue
Maria Charbonneau
Katherine Roberts
Ford Kelly-Riley
Steven Petteruti
Tyler Thran
Abby Moylan
Brady Dill ‘15
David Golding ‘14
Lily Hanlon ‘13
Steven Petteruti
Tingying Su
Maria Charbonneau
Middle School
Meg Myette
Matt Gnolfo
Michele Nota
35
rocky hill School
530 Ives Road | East Greenwich, RI 02818
SAVETHEDATES
save the date area:
Catch the Wave Gala
Saturday, April 20
Reunion 2013
Saturday, June 1
Summer Enrichment Academy
June & July 2013
www.rockyhill.org/sea
Fall Classic
Monday, September 30
Reunion 2013
Then. Now. Always.
Homecoming 2013
Saturday, October 12
Visit www.rockyhill.org/calendar for more events

Dive In - Rocky Hill School

Transcription

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