Bulletin Fall 2011

T H E W I L L I S T O N N O R T H A M P T O N S C H O O L F A L L 2 0 1 1

BULLETIN

FALL 2011 BULLETIN 1

Please send class notes, obituaries, and changes of address to:

The Williston Northampton SchoolAlumni Office19 Payson AvenueEasthampton, MA 01027T (413) 529-3301F (413) 529-3427

Established in 1915, the Bulletin is published by the Advancement Office for the benefit of alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of The Williston Northampton School.

Head of SchoolRobert W. Hill III

Chief Advancement OfficerEric Yates

Director of Alumni RelationsMelanie Sage

Director of CommunicationsTraci Wolfe

Assistant Director of CommunicationsKathleen Unruh

Communications AssociateKathryn Good-Schiff

DesignMary Zyskowski

BULLETIN Volume 98, Number 1

Left: Illustration by Monique Park ’05(Carnegie Mellon ’09)

Cover photo: Eric Poggenpohl

www.williston.com Follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/willistonnorthampton

Features

14 On a Mission: Charting a Course for the Community

Learn how the new mission statement and value statements were written last year.

16 Academic Excellence BY TRACI WOLFE

The Williston Scholars Program offers an intensive seminar experience rarely found in high school.

18 Collaboration BY KATHRYN GOOD-SCHIFF From stem cells to brain surgery, Jared Choi ’12 shares the story of his summer experience with Dr. Robert Jackler ’72 at Stanford Medical School.

20 Community BY TRACI WOLFE

What does it take for a diverse group of 89 freshmen to become a class?

22 Individuality BY MELANIE SAGE

Nonie Crème ’90 makes her mark (in some amazing nail polish colors!) in the fashion world.

24 Leadership BY KATHRYN GOOD-SCHIFF

Williston Northampton students lead by listening, teaching, and in the process, learning.

Departments

3 From the Head of SchoolA letter to the Williston

Northampton community from Robert W. Hill III P’15

4 Campus NewsThere is a lot that’s new

on the Williston Northampton campus, including some faces.

12 Sports ReviewThe Wildcats excelled

both individually and as teams last spring.

26 Class NotesCatch up on all the

alumni news.

60 In MemoriamRemembering those

members of the Williston Northampton community we have lost.

64 From the ArchivesThe school’s seal, like

the institution itself, has evolved over time.

THE WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL 2

moving in September 2011


I hope you will agree that our new mission statement captures the essence of Williston Northampton because purpose, passion, and integrity are everywhere present in our lives here. All one needs to do is watch a teacher guiding a class, a coach instructing her team, or a student performing on stage to see these cornerstone principles in action. Indeed, as extensions of the Williston Northampton community, our alumni, families, and friends embody the spirit of our mission statement as well. You, too, are purpose, passion, and integrity in action, in your communities and in the world. As we hope to inspire this generation of students through the education we provide them, so do you inspire them in the stories of your lives. Thank you for all you do for Williston Northampton. If you have thoughts you’d like to share about our new mission statement or would like to tell us about Williston Northampton friends who are living embodiments of purpose, passion, and integrity, I hope you’ll be in touch.

With best wishes,

Robert W. Hill III P’15

F R O M T H E H E A D O F S C H O O L

You can keep up with what’s happening at Williston Northampton through Bob’s blog: The Head’s Perspective: http://info.williston.com/headsperspective/

Because I remain an English teacher at heart and a history enthusiast by choice,

I am interested in the stories we tell one another and the words we choose to tell them. Writing and the expression of ideas and identity are certainly at the center of our curriculum and our community here in Easthampton. So when I joined Williston Northampton last year, I read everything I could about the school and the two extraordinary institutions from which it was formed. In the course of exploring, I spent time critically examining the school’s mission statement, which had last been updated in 1995. In the fall of my first year, I asked our faculty to join me in considering our mission and what it said about us as a community. A conversation began then that continued throughout the year. The result, as you’ll read in this issue of the Bulletin, was a new mission statement that reflects who we are as an institution today and yet also captures what we aspire to be as a learning community. As part of this self-assessment process, we also affirmed five values that serve as the foundation for the school. Academic excellence, collaboration, individuality, community, and leadership are part of the fabric of a Williston Northampton education. They are woven into all we do—every day in our classrooms, on our fields, and in our studios. Our mission rests on those five values.


“ WE ARE EAGER TO WELCOME this new class of faculty to our ranks this fall,” said Peter Valine, Dean of the Faculty. “This group, which is a little larger than in the past few years, will be distinguished by the energy and passion that they will contribute to our campus. Williston Northampton also will be well served through the experiences that seven members of this cohort have accrued working in other independent schools. I am excited about this enthusiastic group of well-rounded men and women who will actively embrace their various roles at Williston Northampton and who will be inspirational role models for our students.” Elisabeth S. Belisle Science TeacherElisabeth earned a degree in Biochemistry from Mount Holyoke College in May 2011. While at Mount Holyoke, Elisabeth served as an Organic Chemistry PLUMS mentor (Peer-Led Undergraduate Mentoring System). She also participated in research projects at Baystate Medical Center.

William D. Berghoff P’14, ’15Science Department Head Bill received a BA in Chemistry and Geology from Bowdoin College and has done graduate work at Wesleyan University. He comes to Williston Northampton from Choate Rosemary Hall, where he served as Form Dean, Chemistry Teacher and Physics Teacher, and coached swimming and water polo from 1993 to 2011. Prior to Choate, Bill served on the faculty at Suffield Academy and Wilbraham Monson Academy.

Caitlin Bradley Math TeacherCait earned a BS from Dickinson College with a major in Mathematics. She was the assistant cross country and track coach at Hamilton College.

Christopher J. Dietrich Director of Financial Aid and Admission Data CoordinatorChris earned a BA from Amherst College with a major in American Studies, and an MA and Liberal Studies Degree from Wesleyan University. Chris has returned to Williston Northampton after working at The Taft School as Assistant Director of Admission and at The Loomis Chaffee School as Associate Director of Admission.

Kyle T. Hanford ’97 English TeacherKyle received a BA from Ithaca College, majoring in English, and an MEd in English Education from Boston College. He is also working toward an MA in English from the Bread Loaf School of English (Middlebury). Kyle taught English at Canton High School (Canton, MA) and was the assistant coach of the boys’ hockey team.

Nicholas S. Katzenbach ’00 French TeacherNick earned a BA from Wesleyan University, majoring in French Studies. He also played varsity soccer at Wesleyan. Since graduating, Nick has been involved in media production enterprises that include research, editing, production, and translation.

Adrienne Mantegna ’94 English TeacherAdrienne earned a BA from UMass and an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College. She returned to Williston Northampton in September after spending a year as Program Director at the Firehouse Learning Center in Monson as well as an Adjunct Faculty/Writing Instructor at Bay Path College.

Kyle P. Maurer Science TeacherKyle received his BS from Cornell University, majoring in Materials Science and Engineering. He taught Physics

C A M P U S N E W S

and Chemistry to grades 10-12 at Sabis International Charter School in Springfield, MA. Kyle also is a rowing coach for the Northampton Youth and Community Rowing, Inc. in Northampton, MA.

Donald R. McKillop, Jr. History TeacherDonnie earned his BA from Middlebury College in May 2011, with a major in Political Science and a double minor in Psychology and American Studies. While at Middlebury, Donnie was team captain of football and baseball. This summer he was a teaching intern at Choate Rosemary Hall.

Kathryn M. Noble Dean of StudentsKathy has both a BS in Physical Education and an MS in Physical Education, Teaching, and Administration from Springfield College. Kathy was the Director of Athletics at Lawrence Academy and has also served as Director of Athletics at Proctor Academy, Miss Porter’s School, and The Rivers School.

David B. Sanders Science TeacherDavid earned a BS from Morehouse College, with a major in Biology and a minor in French. He previously taught Biology and French at Thomas Jefferson School in St. Louis, MO.

Matthew Spearing Director of Student Activities, Science TeacherMatt earned a BA in Environmental Studies and Government from St. Lawrence University. After graduation, he was the International House Coordinator at St. Lawrence. He went on to work in international schools in Abu Dhabi and Egypt. He has also worked two summers with the Seeds of Peace organization in Maine.

New to Campus

This fall, the Williston Northampton community welcomed not only a new group of students, but new faculty to both the Middle School and Upper School.


T H E P H Y S I C A L P L A N T S TA F F worked particularly hard on a number of projects, most notably the changeover of the school’s largest dormitory, Memorial Hall, to a cleaner and greener gas heating system. The change in infrastructure includes new carpeting and furniture, and this year’s students are enjoying the results of Physical Plant’s hard work. In addition, Clapp Memorial Library has been refurbished and equipped with new technology and work spaces, funded in part by the Senior Parent Class Gift in 2011 through support of the Parents’ Fund. New carpet, new lamps, and a rearranged space make the library even more of a campus center than it was before.

Librarian Mary Paige P’04, ’09 shared that when nearly all the books were back in place, and even as students had started to arrive, Jeff Tannatt, Head of Physical Plant, said to her, “Well, you know, Mary, since we have to drill holes anyway for the lamps, do you want to change the reference area?” Ms. Paige said she hadn’t considered changing the library’s reference area, wanting to keep things simple for Jeff and his able crew of John LeBlanc and Bruce Tanguay. She said, “In my peripheral vision, I saw John and Bruce avert their eyes and start to slide away, but Jeff was true to his ethic; he wanted the best library possible. And we did it; I helped where I could, but he completed the final rearrangement by putting in long hours that last weekend before classes started. And it was the right thing to do—perfect!”

8 weeks of summer work, not air-conditioned

The Library Project by the Numbers

42,137 (about 15.8 tons) of books moved, and most of them three times!

4,434 feet (about 4/5 mile) of shelving involved

9,108 square feet of carpet installed

9/7/111:53 p.m., last shelf done

60 new pieces of furnitureand improved lighting

Williston is always a bustling place in the summer, and this year was no exception.


IT WILL TAKE some additional time to digest and reflect upon what we experienced in June. I do know that this particular journey had a deeper effect on my psyche and worldview than most of our previous travels, but I can’t yet articulate what it was that got inside my head. Our group of seven students (Tom Chandler ’12, Brendan Hellweg ’14 , Emma Hing ’13, Max Reichelt ’12, Denison Marsland-Rello ’13, Colin White, Anton Wozniak ’14) and Janine Norton P’13 arrived in New Delhi on June 10 to begin our three-week adventure. For the first two days, we crisscrossed the city, taking in some of the major cultural sites (Qutab Minar, Gandhi Memorial, Jama Masjid), and adjusting to the heat. Then it was on to Mandawa and the beautiful painted Haveli. Here we were invited into people’s homes, visited with the shopkeepers, and finally started to sense that we weren’t in Kansas anymore. Over the next few days, we covered an amazing amount of territory in ‘our’ bus. Rajeev, our guide, kept the group engaged with his brain teasers (one of the perks of being a former math teacher), and Dev the driver kept us safe on what were alleged to be highways across the desert. From Mandawa to Udaipur, we visited the Junagarh Fort, the ‘Rat’ Temple, and a camel breeding farm. We stayed in the Khimsar Fort and wandered the night markets of Jodhpur. In Udaipur, we finally stopped moving for a few days, staying at the magnificent Udai Kothi. Here we visited the City Palace, went for a sunset cruise on the lake, and had a cooking lesson on the rooftop of our hotel. On to Jaipur, where we enjoyed an elephant ride at the Amber Palace and visits to local artisans (carpet weavers, potters, gem cutters).

In Rathambore National Park, we had two scheduled outings to look for tigers. The morning excursion proved uneventful, with no tigers sighted. The afternoon expedition was a different experience. The light drizzle that was present at the start of our drive turned very quickly into a torrent of water that was beyond description. The open air vehicle had water inches deep, and cameras were stashed away as deeply into their cases as they could get. We rode under blackened skies, blinding rain, thunder and lightning, and sat as a herd of sheep blocked the road. We didn’t see any tigers, but the drive back to our camp was more exhilarating than any Disney ride could ever be. No first time visit to India can skip the Taj Mahal. Sunrise at the Taj was not the isolated and peaceful experience that I had hoped for, but it was amazing nonetheless.

The evening view from the other side of the river was much more inviting. Soon it was time to pack, and we were on to Dubai. The contrast between India and Dubai was startling to say the least. From the marble clad baggage claim area, to the fleet of Rolls Royces outside the terminal, it was obvious that we were in a different place. With less than two days, we had a lot to accomplish, so we checked in and went to the Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai (105 degrees outside, 30 degrees and snow- covered inside). The next day we took in the sights of the old and new Dubai, from the souks to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. It’s an interesting city, but its description as the “Las Vegas of the Middle East” is fairly accurate. Air conditioned bus stops? Time to return home.

by Ed Hing ’77, P’13, Fine Arts Teacher, Film Club Advisor, Ski Team CoachFirst Person

We’ve been back for three months now, and I’m still thinking about the twelfth edition of the Williston Northampton Photo Expedition, this time to India and Dubai.

C A M P U S N E W S


THE WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON

SCHOOL was pleased and proud to welcome actor, writer, and artist Alan Alda, grandfather to a member of the Class of 2011, as June’s Commencement speaker. The 121 graduating seniors, their families, and the Williston Northampton community gathered on the Quad on Saturday, June 4, to mark the 170th Commencement in Williston Northampton’s history. The Commencement program included the announcement of senior prizes, the induction of new Cum Laude Society members, the presentation of diplomas, and words from Emilia Caligiuri, the senior class speaker, who hails from Sag Harbor, N.Y. In addition, several graduates were honored with senior prizes, which are presented annually at Commencement as voted by the faculty. The Valedictory Prize, given to the senior deemed by faculty members to be “pre-eminent in academic achievement,” was

awarded to Sarah Claire Fay of South Hadley, MA, who is now attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sarah also received the The Sarah B. Whitaker Prize—also known as The White Blazer Award—which honors Whitaker, co-founder of the Northampton School for Girls and co-principal from 1924 to 1962. The White Blazer is “given to the young woman who has distinguished herself with the greatest contributions to the academic, athletic, and community life of the school, while exhibiting exemplary leadership and integrity.” The Archbald V. Galbraith Prize, given in honor of the school’s eighth headmaster, is awarded to a male student considered to be an exemplary representative of the school when it comes to “academics, athletics, and citizenship.” This year, the Galbraith Prize was given to Jose Antonio Alvarez of Chicago, IL, who currently is attending Northwestern University. Finally, the Henry E. Donais Jr. Award, given to the senior “who has manifested a love of the natural world and who has taken an active interest in the protection and preservation of the world’s environmental resources,” was awarded to Dongyang Cheng of Houston, TX. Don is attending Harvard University.

Seniors enthusiastically sing the alma mater one more time.

170th Commencement: A Celebration of the Class of 2011

Alan Alda


C A M P U S N E W S

THE WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON

SCHOOL celebrated the opening of the 171st academic year at Convocation on Friday, September 16, in the Quad. This year’s distinguished speaker was Professor Shamus Khan of Columbia University. The program also included a welcome from Senior Class President Adrian Mendoza ’12, the awarding of faculty chairs, and recognition of faculty members who have served the school for 25 years. Shamus Khan is an assistant professor in the department of sociology at Columbia. He was the inaugural scholar in residence at the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy, and he directs the culture in the social sciences group,

F O L LO W I N G CO N V O C AT I O N , seniors and faculty

members attended Fall Senior Dinner, where they were

addressed by this year’s guest speaker, United States

Marine Corps Captain Colin D’Amour, a member of

Williston’s Class of 2003. Captain D’Amour served in

Afghanistan from March 2010 to February 2011. He

shared what leadership means to him personally and

in the context of the modern United States military.

the business and politics group, and the elite research network at the University. Khan is currently researching the history of elites in New York City, the structure of fame, and deliberative decision-making in multiethnic groups. His first book, Privilege, explored the life of an elite boarding school. Khan also has written on the development of gender theory and political decision-making. He is editing a book on research methodology, The Practice of Research (Oxford), and a monograph titled Exceptional: Elite New York and the Story of American Inequality. In 2011-12, Khan will be in residence at the Cullman Center of the New York Public Library, where he is the Andrew W. Mellon Fellow.

Conovocation 2011 Challenges, Inspires, and Honors

Adrian Mendoza ’12

Shamus Khan


Faculty Honored at Convocation

EACH FALL at Convocation, the school recognizes outstanding long-time faculty who have been an integral part of the Williston Northampton community for 25 years. This year, the following three faculty members were honored.

Bob Bagley P’96, ’03 has taught the breadth of the Mathematics curriculum. He spearheaded a review of the Geometry curriculum and developed a topics course, enabling students to have further options in math. Bob has served the school in many roles over the years as dorm head, track coach, graduation marshal, and as a member of the grounds crew for a number of summers.

Peter Gunn is an extraordinary teacher of History and Economics who has inspired countless students on their way to intellectually engaged lives, and he coaches students annually in the statewide We The People program. Peter is also a long-time squash coach at the school. His presence in the wider community is equally impactful; he chairs the Easthampton School Committee, teaches at Smith College, and coaches various youth teams.

Mimi King P’11, ’15 has made her mark in the Middle School by helping her students discover the math skills that provide a firm foundation for future success. Her pun-filled classroom generates a positive spirit that makes learning fun. She has also been a dedicated dorm parent.

David Koritkoski received the inaugural Prigmore Chair in History. “Coach K,” as he is known, is renowned for his engaging presence in the history classroom, his dedication as an advisor, and his passion as a swimming coach. He was elected to the faculty in 1999.

Jane Lucia P’13, ’16 received the David H. ’35 and Edward J. Goodman ’37 Science Chair. An innovative teacher of life science, Jane is also responsible for the community garden and its integration into her curriculum. This summer she took a graduate course in long-term forest research through Harvard, and her students’ data will be used for that study. She was elected to the faculty in 2005.

Marcia Reed received the Hagedorn Family Faculty Chair. She has come to define Williston Northampton’s studio arts program in painting and design, and countless Williston Northampton alumni have remained in touch with her over the years as they have pursued

their own careers in art. She has taught painting workshops and retreats in Italy, the Caribbean, and closer to home in Maine, and she is the curator of the Grubbs Gallery, which connects Williston Northampton to local and nationally recognized artists. She was elected to the faculty in 1978.

Matt Sawyer received the Henry M. ’52 and Judith M. Zachs faculty chair. An English teacher, coach, advisor, and all-around school person, Matt Sawyer has an “enduring quality,” according to former Williston Northampton headmaster Denny Grubbs P’88. He was elected to the faculty in 1994.

The school also honored the following four dedicated faculty members as recipients of endowed chairs.

L-R: Peter Gunn, Mimi King and Bob Bagley.


John Bul Dau

Author of God Grew Tired of Us Visits Williston Northampton

I N T E R N AT I O N A L H U M A N I TA R I A N

and author John Bul Dau was a special guest on campus November 8. In preparation for his visit, many students, including those taking World Civilizations and all Middle School students, read his memoir, God Grew Tired of Us. The book chronicles Dau’s journey as one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” He traveled over 1,000 miles by foot, subsisted in the desert, and finally arrived in the United States as a refugee. He has since attended Syracuse University and created the American Care for Sudan Foundation, which has raised more than $170,000 to build a clinic in southern Sudan. Dau’s visit to Williston Northampton, which was supported by a gift from the family of Sarah Wattles Perry ’77, provided an opportunity for the entire school community to reflect on the questions and challenges of global citizenship. Dau’s address is now online at www.williston.com/webcasts.

Annual Fund Success

L A S T Y E A R , the Williston Northampton Annual Fund surpassed its goal and raised $1.47 million for the school. Just as exciting, our participation rose eight percent, with 21 percent of alumni making a gift this year. A great part of that success was because of the hard work of our volunteers—thank you to the terrific team of Class Agents! And thank you to everyone who contributed to last year’s success. Your generosity makes this enterprise possible—every gift made a difference to Williston Northampton, and we’re grateful for the support of our alumni, parents, and friends! Here’s something to celebrate: The Class of 2011 challenged the faculty to see which group could achieve the highest percentage of Annual Fund participation in what became the race for the Frog of Annual Fund Awesomeness. It was a close contest, but the faculty (91% participation) edged out the seniors (83% participation). The faculty was awarded the frog at the last Assembly of the year, but the Class of 2012 will be ready to take back the trophy this year.

2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 1 P A R T I C I P A T I O N

If you’d like to volunteer to help with next year’s Annual Fund, please contact Traci Wolfe at 413-529-3311 or [email protected].

C A M P U S N E W S

21% Alumni

71% Parents

24% Parents of Alumni

15% Grandparents

91% Faculty

42% Staff

Author John Bul Dau visited Williston Northampton in November.


LY N N E B A R R E T T is the author of three story collections, The Secret Names of Women, The Land of Go, and Magpies. She co-edited Birth: A Literary Companion and The James M. Cain Cookbook. Her work has appeared in Delta Blues, A Dixie Christmas, Miami Noir, One Year to a Writing Life, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine,

Night Train, The Southern Women’s Review, and many other anthologies and journals. She has received the Edgar Allan Poe Award for best mystery story from the Mystery Writers of America and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. She teaches in the MFA program at Florida International University, edits The Florida Book Review, and lives in Miami.

A N D R E D U B U S I I I is the author of a collection of short fiction, The Cage Keeper and Other Stories; the novels Bluesman, House of Sand and Fog, and The Garden of Last Days; and a memoir, Townie. Published in 20 languages and made into an Academy Award-nominated motion picture, House of Sand and Fog was a finalist for the National Book Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Booksense Book of the Year. It was also an Oprah Book Club Selection and reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Dubus has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Magazine Award for fiction, and the Pushcart Prize. He is a member of PEN American Center, has served as a panelist for The National Book Foundation and The National Endowment for the Arts, and has taught at Harvard University, Tufts University, Emerson College, and the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, where he is a full-time faculty member.

Writers’ Workshop Series 2011

The Writers’ Workshop Series, now in its 14th year at Williston Northampton, brings some of the most accomplished writers of today to the campus and school’s classrooms. Founded by Williston Northampton parents Elinor Lipman P’00 and Madeleine Blais P’00, ’04, the series has welcomed authors including Chris Bohjalian, Arthur Golden, Tracy Kidder P’92, Tom Perrotta, Richard Russo, and Curtis Sittenfeld. English faculty required several of the authors’ books as reading for their classes, and students attended the public lectures before enjoying a private class with each writer. The Writers’ Workshop Series continues to be a unique opportunity for students to learn about writing from those who do it best.

National Book Award nominee and poet Nikky Finney visited Williston Northampton in October.

N I K K Y F I N N E Y is the author of four collections of poetry: On Wings Made of Gauze; Rice, recipient of a PEN America Open Book Award; The World Is Round, recipient of the 2004 Benjamin Franklin Award for Poetry; and Head Off & Split, nominated for the National Book Award just before her arrival on campus. She also wrote Heartwood, a collection of short stories for literacy students, and edited The Ringing Ear, an anthology of African American poets writing and reflecting on that historical American geography known as “the South.” A recipient of the Kentucky Foundation for Women Artists Fellowship Award and The Governor’s Award in the Arts, Finney has taught at Smith College and Berea College, and is a former faculty member at Cave Canem, a writing home for African American poets. She is presently professor of creative writing at the University of Kentucky.

A L I S O N PAC E is the author of five novels: If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend, Pug Hill, Through Thick and Thin, City Dog, and A Pug’s Tale. Her essays have appeared in several anthologies, including It’s a Wonderful Lie: The Truth About Life in Your Twenties, Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, and Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit. She lives in New York City, where she teaches creative writing and is at work on another book.


This most recent championship continues an unprecedented streak of success for the team, which has lost only two games in the last four seasons.

AWA R D S

The most prestigious awards given at The Williston Northampton School for athletics—the Denman Trophy for Boys and the Alumnae (Knee) Award for Girls—are awarded “for general excellence in athletics, with emphasis on good sportsmanship and helpful spirit” by a vote of the school’s head coaches.

The Denman Trophy for BoysIsaac Sterman ’11 Isaac certainly left his mark on the program during his three years at Williston Northampton. During the fall, he was one of the top water polo goalies in New England. He leaves Williston Northampton as the best diver ever, having broken school records consistently. He was the team MVP and earned All-New England honors

during both his junior and senior years. He also earned an All American nomination. During the spring, Isaac was one of the top pitchers in the Western New England Prep Baseball League, over the last three years earning ten wins and striking out 146 batters in only 104 innings. He earned All League recognition the past two years and this year was named the Pitcher of the Year in the Cleary Division. He is widely considered by his coaches to be a poised and resilient competitor who always played his best in the biggest games.

The Alumnae Award for GirlsAbby Hatch ’11 and Meaghann Treacy ‘11Abby has been a strong contributor to the school’s athletic program since the day she stepped foot on campus as a seventh grader. During her senior year, she was a rare three-sport captain. In the fall, she had an exceptional career in the varsity girls’ soccer program, earning four letters while also earning an MVP award and gaining all league recognition her senior year. As a sophomore, Abby demonstrated

Spring Sports

The Williston Northampton Wildcats had a terrific spring, with several individual and team landmarks to celebrate. As always, the Wildcats are as well known for their skill as they are for their sportsmanship as they traveled throughout New England competing against other NEPSAC schools.

I N D I V I D UA L H I G H L I G H T S

Jonathan Deaton ’12 is an accomplished gymnast on the national level. A member of the Men’s Junior Olympic National Team, Jon competed in the Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships in Long Beach, CA. He placed sixth all-around and finished in second place in the floor exercise. His performance earned him a place in the USA Gymnastic National Championship, in St. Paul, MN, where he placed second all-around in the 16-18 age group. He missed first place by only .100 of a point. In the individual 16-18 age group events, Jon won first place in the floor exercises and in the valult.

Lacrosse midfielder Bridget Instrum ’12 was named U.S. Lacrosse All-American in recognition of her outstanding 2011 season, and teammate Katie Cavanaugh ’12 was named an Academic All-American. Instrum and Cavanaugh led the Wildcats to their sixth straight Western New England Class B Championship this past season.

I N S T R U M ’ 1 2D E A T O N ’ 1 2 C A V A N A U G H ’ 1 2

S P O R T S R E V I E W


her exceptional athleticism by picking up a new sport, squash, and earning three varsity letters in it. She finished her career as the school’s number two squash player. In the spring, she was a team captain and Davis Award winner on the very successful varsity girls’ lacrosse team. During her four years, the team lost only two games. Beyond her significant achievements, Abby is widely considered by all of her coaches to be a selfless teammate, a fierce and tireless competitor, and the definition of a great sport. Meaghann had an equally impressive career at Williston Northampton during her four years, earning 12 varsity letters and captaining all three of her teams as a senior. In the fall, she was an outstanding mid-fielder on the varsity girls’ field hockey team. In the winter, Meaghann was arguably the best goalie in the history of the girls’ ice hockey program, having started for four years in goal. She was particularly outstanding during her junior year when she was named the top goalie in NEPSAC Division 1 Girls’ ice hockey. During the spring, Meaghann also was a huge contributor to the girls’ lacrosse program, starting in goal for her fourth year. Beyond her outstanding career, she is widely considered by her coaches to be a tremendous teammate, a terrific competitor, and a wonderful representative of the school.

S P R I N G T E A M H I G H L I G H T S

Crew: The team competed successfully at a number of regattas this spring, including the 7th Annual Lowell Invitational, the 14th Annual Saratoga Invitational, and the US Rowing Northeast Junior District Championships. Three members of the Class of 2011 were recruited and are NCAA Division One athletes in rowing: Matt Slodden at the University of Pennsylvania; Alexis Speliotis at the University of Louisville; and Becca MacDonald at the University of Notre Dame.

Track and Field: Boys (5-6) and Girls (7-4)At the New England championships, the team finished in ninth place led by junior Danny Rowe, who finished 2nd in both the 100 and 200. The girls had their finest finish since 2008 by finishing in 5th place as a team. Eighth grader Gabby Thomas had an outstanding season as Williston Northampton’s best athlete in every event she competed in. At the New England championships, she earned All New England recognition in four events. She earned bronze medals in three events: the 200, the triple jump, and the 4 x 100 team—remarkably this relay team was made up of four 8th graders—joining Gabby were classmates Alex Dibrindisi, Sophie Sharp, and Lena Gandevia. In

addition to her three bronze medals, Gabby became a New England champion when she was the clear winner in the 100. Sophomore captain Devon Greenwood also had an excellent season in her two events—the 1500 and 3000. She, too, earned All-New England by finishing 4th in the 1500 and third in the 3000. Also earning All-New England recognition was senior Kay Samples-Smart for her 2nd in the discus and her fourth in the shot put. Junior Rachel Fechser took 5th place in both the triple jump and the high jump, while senior Lauren Goodman took 4th in the javelin.

Girls Lacrosse: (11-1): The varsity girls’ lacrosse team enjoyed another terrific season. The team scored 160 goals during the season, while only giving up 36, limiting their opponents to just over 3 goals a game. According to national high school statistics, this scoring defense ranks Williston Northampton second in the nation. The team’s strong season kept alive its streak by winning its 6th consecutive Class B Western New England league championship. The eight graduating seniors left a very impressive legacy, having only lost two games in their four years in the program. Two players—Bridget Instrum ’12 and Karly Simpson ’11 —were named NEPSAC All Stars last spring for their outstanding play.

S T E R M A N ’ 1 1C A V A N A U G H ’ 1 2 H A T C H ’ 1 1 T R E A C Y ’ 1 1


new mission statement, there was also the need to articulate what the school’s values are today. Although there was consensus that the mission statement did not define the school as it is now, there was a question about how to go about writing a new one. That was the task faced by the Williston Northampton community and Bob Hill. Mission statements serve many purposes: they can be inspirational, aspirational, and maybe, in some cases, simply state the obvious. Williston Northampton needed to decide how to define its beliefs, and there is always a risk of diluting meaning by being too broad, or missing large ideas by being too specific. And so at the first faculty meeting of the year in the fall of 2010, teachers and administrators were asked to divide into groups and choose words that they felt defined the Williston Northampton experience. Each group presented their ideas at the meeting, and Mr. Hill collected the responses to begin the process of consolidating the faculty’s ideas. English teacher Sarah Sawyer, Assistant Academic Dean for Program Development Kim Evelti, and Academic Dean Greg Tuleja were asked to begin by consolidating the suggested language. It became clear that there were themes to what each faculty group had written, and

On A Mission: Charting A Course for the Community

the issue became weaving the language into a meaningful statement of purpose. Ms. Sawyer, Ms. Evelti, and Mr. Tuleja worked through the winter, and finally, in the spring, they presented the mission statement to the faculty. Ms. Sawyer said the number of emails between the three of them seemed to number in the billions at times. She added, “We worked to convey the idea that we can enjoy lots of kinds of kids. I happen to think we do that well in this community. When we finally presented the first statement to the faculty, we had anticipated some of the responses through our work. The fun part was showing it to the faculty and hearing applause.” Purpose, passion, and integrity have long defined The Williston Northampton School, but not in so many words. That changed last spring when the Board of Trustees voted to approve the school’s new mission statement. In addition, the school defined five values on which the mission statement rests: academic excellence, collaboration, community, individuality, and leadership. It is clear on campus that the mission statement is resonating with students and faculty, and there is a strong belief that the school’s alumni are the living embodiment of the mission statement in the world. We hope you agree.

WHEN ROBERT W. HILL I I I P ’15 arrived on campus last fall, Williston Northampton had had the same mission statement for over 15 years. It was long and rambling, and many on campus believed it was not an accurate reflection of the institution and its aspirations. Written in 1995, the mission statement did not feel like the living document it should be, and it no longer resonated with those on campus. Today, Williston Northampton has grown in many ways. This fall, the school welcomed 528 students, 447 in the Upper School and 81 in the Middle School. Representing 22 states and 24 countries, the student body is a diverse group in every sense, and it certainly reflects today’s world. The faculty is no different. It is a community of men and women—87 percent of whom have higher degrees—representing a wealth of experience. All together, the faculty teaches 145 classes, 37 of which are honors or Advanced Placement courses. But is what the school is doing today truly different than what it was doing in 1841 or 1924 or even 1972? What happens in the classroom—between teachers and students, and students and their peers—remains at the heart of a Williston Northampton education. Academic excellence is at the core of all the school does, but as part of the process to write a


Archivist Rick Teller ’70 looks at Northampton School for Girls’ and Williston Seminary’s original mission statements at www.williston.com/archives.

(Our mission, as approved by the Williston Board of Trustees, May 2011)

The Williston Northampton School inspires students to live with

purpose, passion, and integrity.

On A Mission: Charting A Course for the Community OUR VALUES: ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, COLLABORATION, COMMUNITY, INDIVIDUALITY, AND LEADERSHIP

We worked to convey the idea that we can enjoy lots of kinds of kids. I happen to think we

do that well in this community. When we finally presented the first statement to the faculty,

we had anticipated some of the responses through our work. The fun part was showing it

to the faculty and hearing applause.” ~ English teacher Sarah Sawyer

“


Fine Arts teacher Natania Hume enjoys the opportunity to work closely with students in developing the Contemporary Art and Culture course. An intensive independent project is part of the class’s extensive curriculum.


LEARNING, AT ITS BEST, is a purposeful enterprise, and there are moments when it is inspiring, even thrilling. There are flashes when you realize that you love what you are learning, and you want to read more, hear more, discuss more—not because of a test—but because you want to know more. It is moments like this that inspired the creation of the Williston Scholars Program last spring. Similar to the traditional Oxford tutorial style of teaching, students work closely with a faculty member, in classes limited to a small number of students, to dive deeply into the subject matter. In addition, the program includes an independent study project, directed by the faculty member, which allows students to synthesize the classroom experience into a project that builds on what’s learned in the classroom. The program offers Williston Northampton students the opportunity to delve deeply into subjects, to explore what they know and even better, to explore what they want to know. This fall, teacher Peter Gunn, adjunct professor of History at Smith College and Williston Northampton faculty member for 25 years, directs one such Williston Scholars class. Working with History faculty at Amherst College, Smith College and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mr. Gunn has developed a course

that is a cross-cultural study of colonial New England, with a special emphasis on the Connecticut River Valley. The class engages students in an investigation of pre-contact Native American history and then examines contact and interaction during the 17th and early 18th centuries from multiple perspectives. Because Williston Scholars will learn as much about the creation of good history as they do about history itself, independent scholarship is a vital part of the program. The class meets two evenings per week with Mr. Gunn and includes a series of visits from Five College scholars. Students then pursue their independent projects by studying recommended texts, making visits to local archives, and attending lectures and other educational opportunities in the Five Colleges. In addition to the course offered by Peter Gunn, Fine Arts teacher Natania Hume is teaching Contemporary Art and Culture this year. This course focuses on contemporary art in the context of social, economic, political, and scientific events since the mid-20th century. Students are exploring the functions of the artist in society, and the effects that globalization, technology, and diverse social movements and phenomena have had on contemporary art. In addition, students are investigating how historical

Collaborating Purposefully, Learning Passionately

A C A D E M I C E X C E L L E N C E

We believe that our students reach the highest level of academic excellence when they

seek and accept intellectual challenge. Williston’s supportive and rigorous culture motivates

students to become critical thinkers, clear communicators, and creative problem

solvers while developing the confidence to share their talents.

events and social and political conflicts have informed art from the 1950s through the present, including how various themes in contemporary art have been informed by popular music, theater, and dance. During the second trimester of the course, students will create a significant portfolio or research project based on an aspect of the course from the previous trimester. They will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the work of a specific artist or musician and create their own projects, which will be displayed or performed for the Williston Northampton community. In this way, the course is highly individual and fluid. It will evolve each year according to students’ areas of interest, and in this way is ultimately student-centered. This kind of intensive study—and the opportunity to work with professors at some of the nation’s best liberal arts colleges and universities—is unique to Williston Northampton. These new courses are just the beginning of a program that is emblematic of the core of the education we provide today’s students. Additional courses will be added in the coming years across disciplines, and faculty members are already designing new curricula for future classes that allow them to take advantage of Williston Northampton’s partnerships within the Five College area.


M A N Y S T U D E N T S A R E M OT I VAT E D

to get the most out of summer learning experiences, but Jae Won “Jared” Choi ’12 had the privilege of an exceptional internship this summer thanks to an opportunity offered by Dr. Robert Jackler ’72. Between visits to his home in Korea, Jared spent a month at Stanford School of Medicine in the Otolaryngology Department, doing everything from helping with stem cell research to observing brain surgery in the operating room. Dr. Jackler, who is Sewall Professor and Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education, says simply, “We like to teach.” As a premier teaching hospital, Stanford educates countless students, including a small, select group of enthusiastic, mature, high school students during the summer. Jared was the first Williston Northampton student to take advantage of this opportunity, and based on the results of this year’s internship, Dr. Jackler would be happy to host another well-qualified student next summer. Perhaps this collaborative relationship is the start of a new tradition. Jared was selected for this rare opportunity through nomination by his teachers. “Jared’s name was the first to

come to mind,” says his advisor Kurt Whipple. “He is an outstanding student who is very serious about his studies.” Jared himself is more modest, saying that he applied for this internship because he is “moderately good at everything” and wanted to get some hands-on experience to help him decide which major to pursue in college. Jared describes his time at Stanford as “incredible. Not only did I get to do lab work, but I got to actually watch doctors and surgeons perform surgeries. I also got to follow doctors at the clinic and see how they diagnosed different patients.” For the first two weeks, he shadowed doctors in the ENT (ear, nose, and throat) building as they visited patients. He also donned blue scrubs, a white mask, and a green surgery cap to visit the operating rooms and observe Dr. Jackler operating on a brain tumor, as well as other ENT surgeries. For the second half of his internship, Jared spent time in the ENT research lab, which is “one of the world’s leading centers trying to overcome deafness,” according to Dr. Jackler. There he saw both animal and stem cell experiments, including one that was working to regenerate the cochlea artificially for people who are born without this portion of the inner ear. “Without the

From Lab to Operating Room at Stanford

C O L L A B O R A T I O N

We promote a collaborative learning experience for our students by leveraging the resources of the

outstanding colleges and universities surrounding our campus. Williston’s location in one of the

country’s most vibrant research and artistic corridors gives our students and faculty the opportunity to

research, create, and investigate across a broad spectrum of subjects at a highly sophisticated level. The

connections our students form on campus and beyond allow them to gain a broader context for their

studies, valuable communication skills, and the beginning of a lifelong professional network.

cochlea,” Jared says, “the vibration of your ear bones cannot be acknowledged by your brain, causing deafness.” Although “everything was surprising and exciting,” Jared was particularly interested in cellular research. “My knowledge and interest in stem cells really surprised the researchers,” he says. “On some occasions, they allowed me to take part in the experiment, so I was able to get a lot out of my time in the research lab.” In offering this internship opportunity to high school students, Dr. Jackler intends to share the enthusiasm for science that he first discovered while he himself was a high school student at Williston Northampton. He has particularly fond memories of his science and math teachers who, he says, “opened my eyes to a fascinating world of knowledge that I could work to master.” “John Gow in particular was so inspiring,” he continues. “He really taught me how to appreciate the beauty of science, to truly understand systems, instead of just memorizing.” After graduating from The Williston Northampton School’s first co-ed class in 1972, Dr. Jackler attended Brandeis University. He was able to enter with sophomore standing and finish in three years thanks to the many AP courses he had taken. He still remembers the spark


of enthusiasm he felt in the labs at Williston Northampton and sees it daily in his work at Stanford, where “many bright people are willing to share knowledge and inspire each other to reach their full potential.” The many bright people Jared encountered this summer at Stanford are part of a collaborative group dedicated to their patients and their research. “Medicine at this high level, where we’re dealing with complicated, life-threatening diseases, is a team sport,” Dr. Jackler says. It involves the skills of many different experts—doctors, nurses, anesthetists, therapists, researchers, and other professionals—who must constantly communicate with each other in order to deliver integrated care. In this situation, one must be dedicated not only to individual excellence but also to team excellence. Through his experiences accompanying the doctors on their rounds, Jared was able to witness these specialists interacting in various circumstances, both with patients and with colleagues. He appreciated the time in the lab as well, since biomedical engineering is a major he is strongly considering. “The general idea that I gained from this internship really helped me narrow down what I want to major in,” he says. “And I just want to tell you that this internship was amazing! It was more than I expected it to be.”

Jared describes his time at Stanford as “incredible. Not only did I get to do lab work, but I got to actually watch doctors and surgeons perform surgeries. I also got to follow doctors at the clinic and see how they diagnosed different patients.”

From Lab to Operating Room at Stanford Dr. Jackler and Jared Choi in the clinic.


Fostering Community in Ninth Grade and Beyond

To start the year off with a two-night trip away with the entire ninth grade class definitely strengthened our sons’ bonds with their eighth grade classmates, and more importantly, encouraged them to go outside their safety zone and develop relationships with new classmates, literally from around the world. ”~ Todd and Cheri Pyser P’12, ’14

“


I T I S E A S Y TO F O R G E T how overwhelming the first year of high school can be for some students, both academically and socially. Finding your place—even in a community as welcoming as The Williston Northampton School—can feel overwhelming. When you consider that students come to campus prepared differently for high school, and that sometimes, they arrive with English as a second language, the challenges the year presents are clear. In September 2008, the Ninth Grade Advising Program began with a simple but absolute goal: to provide extra support to students as they make the important transition to Upper School. Strong academic and social guidance for all ninth grade students creates the foundation for a successful Williston Northampton experience. The Ninth Grade Program’s goal is to help students understand how much support they have available to them and how best to use that support to be successful at the school. It also aims to foster powerful and lasting friendships among ninth graders and to strengthen the relationships between day and boarding students. The Ninth Grade Program is built on a foundation of C.O.R.E. (Curiosity, Organization, Reflection, and Empathy).

These qualities apply to what happens in the classroom, in the dormitories, and in the broader Williston Northampton community. Before classes begin, the ninth grade takes a two-night orientation trip, where they are introduced to the idea of C.O.R.E. Throughout the year, teachers and advisors refer back to the lessons learned during the trip. Study skills workshops, special Assemblies, and community service projects also reinforce these messages throughout the year. While the program is a purposeful exercise in fostering connections among the students, it also strengthens the connections among the adults who work closely with the ninth grade class. That includes the faculty advising team that is chosen by the program’s coordinators, Allison Marsland P’13 and Matthew Sawyer. Ms. Marsland, who is a Senior Associate Director of Admission as well as a Dorm Head in 194 Main Street (not to mention a softball coach), and Mr. Sawyer, who is an English teacher and a football and baseball coach, work together closely with each other and with a team of dedicated faculty in support of the Class of 2015. The many roles both play at the school also allow them to see the different facets of Williston Northampton that the ninth graders experience. “The key word is support,” Ms. Marsland explains. “As students make the

Fostering Community in Ninth Grade and Beyond

C O M M U N I T Y

Williston’s community is a global one, bringing students from around the world to Easthampton to create a

residential and learning environment known for its friendliness, inclusiveness, and breadth of talent. This diverse

community exposes our students to multiple perspectives allowing each to grow and learn from another.

Students leave Williston with a broadened understanding of themselves and the global world they inherit.

transition to Upper School, we need to be focused on helping them.” That involves being cognizant of the diversity of students represented in the first-year class. This year, the Class of 2015 arrived on campus from across the country and around the world. There are 45 boys and 44 girls; 65 percent are boarding students, and 35 percent are day students. Like the Upper School as a whole, 16 percent have self-identified as students of color, and approximately 45 percent are receiving at least some financial aid to attend the school. The challenge is to build community, and that involves finding adults who are ready to commit to the ninth graders not just this year, but year after year. Mr. Sawyer adds, “Good communication between adults and students—and between adults about those kids—is the most important thing. We begin by identifying students who need extra support, and we’re proactive about reaching out as early as possible.” Building community at Williston Northampton is a thoughtful enterprise; it doesn’t happen overnight or by itself. Ms. Marsland and Mr. Sawyer, along with a dedicated group of faculty, make that possible, and the result is a first-year class that stands on a foundation built to last throughout the Upper School experience and beyond.


A S A J U N I O R A N D S E N I O R at Williston Northampton, an important theme began playing itself out for Nonie (Ramirez) Creme ’90, one that would portend things to come. “Pre-prom my room would transform into a salon,” says Creme, founding creative director of the wildly successful designer nail lacquer company butter LONDON. “I used to cut everyone’s hair, and do everyone’s nails. I’ve always taken a tremendous interest in making people feel beautiful and pushing the envelope to do so.” For Creme, that interest, instilled early on by her fashion-conscious mother, was nurtured and amplified at Williston, something Creme, a Houston native, never would have predicted would happen at a New England prep-school. “I was a bit of handful as a teenager,” Creme recalls; “and so my parents said, ‘boarding school it is.’ I applied to Northfield Mount Hermon, Choate, and Williston, and I remember having this preconception about northeastern prep schools, that they’d be buttoned up and Kennedyfied. But when my mother and I arrived at Williston for our visit, and I saw a group of older students kind of punked out, that notion was shattered. I recall thinking to myself, ‘Wow, there are kids like me here.’ It seemed like a place where individuality was encouraged.”

For Creme, being at Williston solidified her early impressions of the school, and opened her eyes to a new way of being in the world. “Williston was a crucial experience for me,” she says. “I hadn’t ever really been far from home before, and to be honest, I was a somewhat spoiled diva kid when I arrived. I didn’t know how to make a bed or do a load of washing, so for me, the practical education that came with being on my own was really important.” Equally meaningful for Creme was the sense of family she discovered. “When you go to prep school, the ratios aren’t the same as being in your nuclear family, so in a way you start to parent and mentor your peers, and they you. We were a self-managing group at Williston, and when times were rough, we knew we had each other’s backs. To this day, the largest circle of friends in my life is from Williston.” Creme went on to Scripps College, where she double majored in Fine Arts and Art History, and “fell madly in love with a younger boy from a crazy English rock-and-roll family.” That boy’s name was Lalo Creme, and after Warner Brothers offered him a record deal, the couple set off for London. Creme’s early days in England were invigorating, but also sobering. “I was living in a squat in West London with the

Nailing It: Nonie Creme ’90 and butter LONDON

band. The boys went out on tour, and I suddenly realized I was penniless.” But the same moxie and scrappy creative instincts that had served Creme so well earlier, shone through again. “I went back to my roots,” Creme reflects. “I asked myself, ‘What skills do I have that I can utilize quickly?’ I’d always enjoyed giving my friends manicures, and so I decided to go to night class to earn my nail certificate.” Creme continued studying modern fashion, and became increasingly intrigued with iconoclastic style maven Vivienne Westwood. Creme “literally camped in front of Westwood’s studio for weeks on end” hoping to land a job. “Finally someone accepted my CV,” recalls Creme, “and Vivienne took me on as an unpaid intern.” She laughs: “There’s nothing better for a young punk than to work for an old punk.” During her time with Westwood, Creme continued sharpening her skills as a manicurist, and was eventually talent spotted. “It was a real kismet kind of thing. This woman approached me at a show and said she was a rep for fashion photo shoots. She liked my nail work, and asked me if I would be interested in coming on-site to do nails for photo sessions. My first job was a Gucci campaign—I think Mario Testino was the photographer.” From campaign work for magazines and ads, Creme entered the world of

I N D I V I D U A L I T Y

We value the power of individual expression and encourage students to develop, share,

and pursue their unique passions. We support personal growth and self-discovery by

promoting meaningful participation in a wide array of academic, artistic,

community service, and athletic programs.


Nailing It: Nonie Creme ’90 and butter LONDON

backstage beauty prep for live shows. “I became known for creating bespoke nail colors mixed to align with the top fashion houses,” says Creme. In 2005, butter LONDON (named by Creme’s co-founder for the famous Mike Myers’ “Saturday Night Live” sketch, “Coffee Talk with Linda Richman”) was born. Now based in Seattle, butter LONDON is rapidly making inroads into the $17 billion-a-year nail polish industry, but responsibly so. All butter LONDON lacquers are EU-compliant and lovingly designed by Creme herself, who also writes all copy for the company and oversees butter LONDON’s graphic identity and packaging. In homage to her husband’s London “street” roots and to the country in which Creme herself says she feels most at home, she also assigns “dark, naughty, English names” to all of butter LONDON’s lacquers, a process, she adds, that is “usually done over a bottle of wine.” While Creme is now a little more than two decades removed from her Williston Northampton experience, she is still unabashedly pushing the envelope for the sake of beauty, just as she did in her dorm room. “What I love best about my work is being able to share my vision about the way color and nails should look with the average consumer. I want people like my 70-year-old mother to know that it’s OK to wear black.”

Nonie’s current favorite color is Wallis (named for Wallis Simpson), from butter LONDON’s Autumn/Winter 2011 line.


T H E 2010 - 11 S C H O O L Y E A R was Bridget Choo’s second year as International Student Coordinator at Williston Northampton. Officially, her role is to be a resource for students making the transition to school in another culture. But she is also growing a program of leaders in which she encourages her students to think of ways to tap into their innate passions and create positive impacts in the community. Students come to Ms. Choo with their ideas when they have a strong interest in something beyond traditional course work. Midori Tagawa ’12, a student from Japan, has a passion for international relations. Last year, she told Ms. Choo she wanted to initiate a project focused on intercultural understanding. She hoped to share aspects of her culture with people to whom it is unfamiliar, and also facilitate reciprocal sharing of other people’s cultures. Ms. Choo asked her to write a vision statement, and the Community Literacy Project was born. This cultural exchange program was made possible by Midori’s leadership and that of the seven other international students who volunteered to visit Easthampton’s nearby Center School and share with the elementary school children information about their native cultures and languages. “I was very pleased to meet the kids and to be able to teach them some

of our culture, both the differences and the similarities,” Midori says. “I enjoyed teaching them Japanese counting, colors, animals, and other simple things. They were fast learners, very cute, and so eager to be friends with us.” Working with groups of kindergarteners and second graders, the Williston Northampton students taught basic lessons and led activities in several languages each week, exposing the students to Japanese, Chinese, Czech, Hindi, and Spanish. When the devastating earthquake and tsunami occurred in Japan last March, the newly-formed relationships at the Center School took on more significance. Midori remembers the children asking if her family was OK and felt comforted by their concern. “We made paper cranes together [to raise money for relief efforts], and although paper cranes are not easy for small kids to fold, they enjoyed touching my culture,” she says. Midori was not the only international student at Williston Northampton who had ideas for reaching out to the wider community. Tereza Kickova ’11, a student from the Czech Republic, completed AP Spanish Language as a junior. She was planning a senior-year independent study with Spanish teacher Eugenio Garcia P’10, ’12 and expressed interest in teaching Spanish to younger students. With Ms.

Student Leaders Share Languages and Cultures

L E A D E R S H I P

We teach that leadership begins with personal integrity and extends to

responsibility to others. Williston’s students are valued for their fairness, kindness,

generosity of spirit, and desire to make authentic contributions to our school,

to our local communities, and to the world beyond.

Choo’s help, Tereza created a curriculum for Williston Northampton students enrolled in Ms. Choo’s Spanish II class to teach the language at the Center School. The Spanish curriculum included content that was appropriate to the age of the children, including numbers, colors, and animals. The Spanish II students were challenged both by their teaching and by learning the curriculum from Tereza in Spanish. Ms. Choo noted that her students became more engaged with and passionate about the language when given the opportunity to teach it to young learners. She further notes that her students and their projects embody the spirit of Williston Northampton’s new mission statement. “Nothing will hold water unless is comes from people’s passion,” she says. “Everything that comes from my office is student-driven.” And she provides both the encouragement and the direction that channel those passions into purposeful community benefits. “We’re in the business of creating leaders here,” she says of the school as a whole. “I’m just an opportunist. I find out what students care about and help them create projects that are intergenerational and intercultural—truly reflective of our community.” This year, the project is continuing and becoming more defined. During the fall trimester, Ms. Choo and her English


Language Learners (ELL) class of seven students shared personal stories about their lives in Thailand, Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, while Center students were supported in sharing personal stories about their lives in Easthampton. In this way, connections will be constructed over time involving students’ personal identities and their understandings of culture. During the winter and spring trimesters, Ms. Choo’s Spanish students will again present a Spanish curriculum. Midori will continue to be involved as well. “Since I absolutely loved them, I am going to continue to visit the children at Center this year,” she says. “I am so looking forward to it.” It’s a classic win-win situation. The local schools are in need of language programming and cultural literacy. Williston Northampton has international students in search of challenging and fulfilling projects. These student leaders being formed at Williston Northampton go above and beyond the basic expectations of high school students. They all have full course loads and work on their leadership projects during activities period, study hall, or other moments of scrounged time. In the beginning of the year, when Ms. Choo challenges them to come up with projects, she says, “Don’t tell me what your dream is unless you really mean it. I’ll believe you, and we’ll make it happen.”

I find out what students care about and help them create projects that are intergenerational and intercultural—truly reflective of our community. ~ Bridget Choo, International Student Coordinator

Send us your notes!

n S E N D your notes and digital photos to your class representative(s).

n C L A S S R E P S—Please send your completed notes to [email protected] by January 15, 2012, for the spring Bulletin.

n I F YO U H AV E Q U E S T I O N S , or would like to volunteer as a class representative, contact Melanie Sage at (413) 529-3301 or [email protected].

Northampton School for Girls


P R I O R TO T H AT, school publications featured ornate designs, reflecting the Victorian tastes of the time, while the official stationery sported engravings of the campus. But in the 1880s, an attempt was made to create a visual brand. A woodcut featuring the dour features of Samuel Williston appeared in a few publications. It never caught on.

A R O U N D 1890, a seal was introduced that would remain in use for eight decades. The device comprised a circular shield with the school’s name and date of founding surrounding the attributes of academia: a globe, compass or calipers, quills, scroll, and books, with the motto “Christo et Ecclesiae” (Christ and Church). The origins of the motto remain unclear, since despite our “Seminary” name and the Calvinist convictions of the founder, we were always, at least nominally, a secular school.

N O R T H A M P TO N S C H O O L F O R G I R L S’ seal was a lozenge illustrated with a tree, presumably an elm. There had been a “sacred elm” on campus, central to ‘Hamp tradition. The earliest appearance of the device is in a 1941 yearbook. It is hand-drawn there, as it is in many school publications, for the next 30 years. In fact, the only surviving example of an engraved Northampton seal is on commercial stationery from the 1950s and 1960s. There is evidence suggesting that the seal never really acquired “official” status. At no point did Sarah Whitaker or Dorothy Bement use it on school letterhead, nor does the logo appear in the school catalogue until the late 1960s, long after they had retired.

F O L LO W I N G T H E 1971 M E R G E R , Williston Northampton sought an icon that reflected our combined traditions and the elm tree was central to both Northampton and Williston. The school adopted the image of an elm, well-rooted, thriving, with the light of the rising sun streaming over Mount Tom. While there has been an evolution in the design, it is the seal we use today.

From the Archives by Richard Teller ’70 Williston Northampton Archivist

An old school like Williston Northampton has a rich iconography, evoking Old Elm Trees, Phoenixes, a variety of bells, and much more. It may surprise some, then, to learn that the idea of a school seal arose only late in the 19th century.

The archives collect school documents and memorabilia of all kinds. We’re especially interested in student journals and letters, academic work, photographs, and much more. We’d also like to fill in gaps in certain school publications, notably Northampton School yearbooks from 1934 and 1956, and many issues of the Northampton Annual Catalogue, Pegasus, and The Willistonian. Right now we’re particularly seeking summer reading lists from over the years. Don’t let these important pieces of our history be lost to future generations! If you have material you would like to share or stories to tell, please contact archivist Richard Teller ’70 at 413.529.3288 or [email protected].

O U R H I S T O R Y

www.williston.com/give

E V E R Y Y E A R , we rely on the generosity of alumni, families, and friends of The Williston Northampton School to help make possible the education we provide. Students have opportunities that inspire them to discover what they love and to try new things that might change the direction of their lives.

Thank you for making your Annual Fund gift and keeping the school strong and vibrant throughout the year. We are particularly grateful for your support of the 1841 Society. Your leadership gift makes an incredible difference to the school and to today’s students and faculty.

T H E W I L L I S T O N N O R T H A M P T O N A N N U A L F U N D

Building a Bridge to an Education

19 Payson AvenueEasthampton, MA 01027(413) 529-3000www.williston.com

Change service requested

Parents: If this issue is addressed to your son or daughter who no longermaintains a permanent address at yourhome, please notify the Alumni Oficeof the correct new mailing address bycontacting us at [email protected] (800) 469-4559. Thank you.

Non-profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDBurlington, VT 05401Permit No. 19

Whatever you call it, please join us in Easthampton for Reunion 2012: June 8-10!

Williston

WNS

NSFG

Northampton School for Girls

Williston Academy

’Hamp

The Williston

Northampton

School

Documents

Bulletin Fall 2011