St. Mark's Magazine Summer 2021
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THE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2021 COMMUNITY MEMBER REFLECTIONS P. XX 1 ST. MARK’S | SUMMER 2021 MY ST. MARK’S CHILLING FOR A CAUSE ST. MARKERS including Nick Sparrow ‘22 and Frances Hornbostel ‘21 took part in a Polar Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics Massachusetts on March 20 on West Campus. 1 ST. MARK’S | SUMMER 2021 PHOTOGRAPHPHOTOGRAPH BY AL WILLIAMS BY PHOTOGRAPH BY ST. MARK’S | SUMMER 2021 1 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME CIX | SUMMER 2021 Learn how Peter Kazickas ‘11 is living a life of consequence in Zimbabwe. FEATURES IN BRIEF ST. MARKERS After a most unusual year, the Class of 2021 went out 20 in style. 5 8 38 WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT ST. MARK’S We asked, and you responded. What makes our School so special? LESSON PLAN: INSIDE MY WORLD: THIS IS ME: 14 Antiracism in the St. Mark’s curriculum Books and biking with Eric Monheim Peter Kazickas’ Uncommon story PRIZE DAY WEEKEND Celebrating the Classes of 2020 and 2021. 7 12 SENIOR MOMENT COLLEGE-BOUND ATHLETES ST. MARK’S MAGAZINE EDITOR CALEB COCHRAN CREATIVE DIRECTION 40 2COMMUNIQUÉ MANAGING EDITOR KRISTEN WALSH CLASS NOTES: ASSOCIATE EDITOR Correspondence from fellow alums SANDRA LEVANDOWSKI, P '13 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS DEVLO MEDIA, JARED CHARNEY, DEPARTMENTS KATHLEEN DOOHER, SANDRA LEVANDOWSKI, P ‘13, BETH MICKALONIS, ADAM RICHINS, AL WILLIAMS 6 10 4 ON THE COVER HAND LETTERING BY SARAH 32 ACTION STEPS: LEADERSHIP CHANGE: FROM THE DESK OF: SAMPSON/2COMMUNIQUÉ; PHOTOGRAPHY BY New climate plan announced Moore named Board president John Warren on the challenges of COVID MICHAEL SEAMANS INDIVIDUAL 9 11 60 EXPRESSION CELEBRATE: CHATTER: THAT TIME WHEN: Three alumnae inspired by the arts. Three faculty reach 20-year milestone Megan Miantsoko ‘21 Favorite places and spaces ST. MARK’S | SUMMER 2021 3 FROM THE DESK OF IN BRIEF LESSON PLAN Toward a More Inclusive Curriculum Returning, Stronger During a typical year, summer is a time for teachers to take a break from school, but We have all been touched by COVID-19 Admirable student leadership focused While limitations caused by COVID- 2020 was not that kind of year. Instead, in one way or another, and the memories our attention on events in the larger world 19 remained in the spring, we also saw four faculty members from St. Mark’s of the pandemic will be with all of us for beyond our campus, especially import- harbingers that provide optimism about History and Social Sciences Department met years to come. The physical and mental ant in 2020–2021. During our February a more normal 2021-2022. Vaccination (virtually) to brainstorm effective ways to toll on everyone has been substantial, and Community and Equity Day, students led trends are encouraging. We have every create a more equitable learning environ- for those who lost loved ones and liveli- group conversations for peers and adults confidence that we will be allowed to ment for their students—specifically to help hoods to COVID, the toll is even greater. reflecting on the meaning of the phrase organize our classrooms in a manner that ensure that curriculum planning and faculty As I reflect upon that reality, I especially Black Lives Matter, analyzing biases that makes group interaction easier. intentions reflect “a decidedly antiracist appreciate the approach of our students can attach to gender identity, and asking Whether our students are heading to department in support of an antiracist to the 2020-2021 academic year. While the extent to which social media helps or college next year or returning to the full school,” according to History and English the word “resilience” has, perhaps, been harms a social movement. program we plan to resume in the fall, these teacher Rex (Dejai) Barnes. overused to characterize their approach to Students made School Meeting an St. Markers will be stronger because of the the year, it is an apt descriptor. opportunity for learning and reflection admirable way they have met the chal- THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE TABLE—which Although spirits understandably too, with the Asian Students Association lenges of 2020-2021. St. Markers who are included Barnes, Adam Jewell (history flagged upon occasion, students were presenting a video documenting instances returning will, surely, be all the more ready, teacher and chair of the History determined to make the best of the situ- of recent violence against Asians, Asian because of this year’s experiences, to wel- Department), and history faculty members ation. Again and again I heard students Americans, and Pacific Islanders, and come new students, collaborating to build Rob Calagione and Dave Lyons— say, “this year is what we make it.” Indeed, Students 4 Sustainability providing sugges- that strong community which is a hallmark included self-reflection and accountability. our students’ strength of character showed tions for reducing your carbon footprint of our School. The group tackled issues like uprooting through. I cannot emphasize enough and making the case for urging govern- habits that could favor one group of the care and support provided by faculty ment leaders to impose carbon dividends. students over another and questioning the and staff, which was essential to keeping Informed by advice from student leaders, need to add or subtract certain readings student spirits positive and to ensuring the Dean’s Office organized conversations to provide ample time for a deep dive into extra attention to individuals at moments for reflection on the context and outcome JOHN C. WARREN ’74. ED.D. an issue. of academic or emotional need. of the Derek Chauvin trial. HEAD OF SCHOOL (CONTINUED...) 4 ST. MARK’S | SUMMER 2021 PHOTOGRAPH BY KATHLEEN DOOHER PHOTOGRAPH BY SANDRA LEVANDOWSKI ST. MARK’S | SUMMER 2021 5 IN BRIEF IN BRIEF (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE) Remote Student “We don’t just want to exclusively teach in general, and also what is their burgeon- white, presidential history, for example,” ing position in these really complicated Teaches CAD Barnes says. “It would be boring, for one, issues at St. Mark’s and beyond.” and it would do a disservice to the students, Barnes has found success by integrat- WHILE ATTENDING ST. MARK’S as a remote classmates could familiarize themselves as presidential history represents only one ing current events into his curriculum. student in 2020-2021, Zifan (Carl) with CAD over seven 2.5 hour sessions. narrative among a complex constellation of He kicked off the fall term, for exam- Guo ’22 decided to take on a teaching When COVID hit, Carl took his plan narratives informing U.S. history.” ple, with a section on the popularity of assignment of his own, instructing IV remote, teaching seven different sections Jewell adds, “To look at this nation American yard signs supporting various Formers on the use of Computer Aided of IV Formers. today—the past few elections, the Black movements or beliefs. Design (CAD) as part of the School’s “I faced a lot of challenges as I experi- SENIOR Lives Matter movement of last summer “The activity was an opportunity for experiential learning program. enced what it is like to be a teacher,” Carl to today, the January 6 insurrection on students to engage with ideas and ideol- NEW CLIMATE Carl’s interest in CAD began as a says, “such as adjusting the level of diffi- TEACHER the Capitol, the Derek Chauvin murder ogies literally and figuratively around our ACTION PLAN III Former, when he joined St. Mark’s culty so the material is less overwhelming MAKES trial—and combine that with what our school,” Barnes says of signs in neigh- FIRST Robotics competition team as a and making sure no one is distracted in Pathways Prefects and Black@SM have borhoods surrounding St. Mark’s. “Most ANNOUNCED winter sport. As a member of the team, breakout rooms. Different groups certainly HISTORY done and asked for, and what our AAPI importantly, it set the tone for this year as ON EARTH DAY, April 22, St. Mark’s School he sought to expand his knowledge base had different paces, and as the teacher, VETERAN ART TEACHER Barbara Putnam made [Asian American and Pacific Islander] one that would approach history as living announced the release of its new Climate by researching resources shared by the I had to adjust on the spot. I definitely St. Mark’s history in 2020-2021, becoming students are saying today, you can see the or lived—the idea that the historical disci- Action Plan. Titled “Lions Live Green,” greater FIRST robotics community online. feel more empathetic to my teachers after the first woman to hold the title of Senior sheer weight of history is upon us.” pline is not a litany of names and dates that the plan focuses on actions the School “I found an excellent forum called doing these seminars.” Teacher. Ms. Putnam just completed her occurred a long time ago. Rather, when is taking to combat climate change, Chief Delphi (chiefdelphi.com),” Carl feels that there is an even greater 42nd year on the St. Mark’s faculty and BUILDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION handling and discussing texts, images, including lowering greenhouse gas emis- Carl says, “with numerous teams benefit to learning Computer Aided replaces Rick Umiker, who retired in 2020, Antiracism curriculum, both implicit and ideas, and events, I want my classes to sions, conserving resources, and inspiring discussing their obstacles and sharing Design, as CAD skills learned in high as the longest-serving current member of explicit, is not something new for the think about the ways in which these histor- students to become leaders of environ- their successful experiences with the school can have great implications beyond the St. Mark’s faculty.