WINTER 2018 The Westonian Magazine IN THIS ISSUE: BEHIND THE NUMBERS Annual Report for 2016–2017 The [R]evolution of Science at Westtown FIG. 1 Mission-Based Science Meets the 21st Century The Westonian, a magazine for alumni, parents, and friends, is published by Westtown School. Its mission is “to capture the life of the school, to celebrate the impact that our students, faculty, and alumni have on our world, and to serve as a forum for connection, exploration, and conversation.” We publish issues in Winter and Summer. We welcome letters to the editor. You may send them to our home address or to [email protected]. HEAD OF SCHOOL Jeff DeVuono James Perkins ’56 Victoria H. Jueds Jacob Dresden ’62, Keith Reeves ’84 Co-Associate Clerk Anne Roche CONNECT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Diana Evans ’95 Kevin Roose ’05 Amy Taylor Brooks ’88 Jonathan W. Evans ’73, Daryl Shore ’99 Martha Brown Clerk Michael Sicoli ’88 Bryans ’68 Susan Carney Fahey Danielle Toaltoan ’03 Beah Burger- Davis Henderson ’62 Charlotte Triefus facebook.com/westtownschool Lenehan ’02 Gary M. Holloway, Jr. Kristen Waterfield twitter.com/westtownschool Luis Castillo ’80 Sydney Howe-Barksdale Robert McLear Edward C. Winslow III ’64 vimeo.com/westtownschool Michelle B. Caughey ’71, Ann Hutton Brenda Perkins ’75, Maximillian Yeh ’87 instagram.com/westtownschool Co-Associate Clerk Jess Lord ’90 Recording Clerk WINTER 2018 The Westonian Magazine Editor Lynette Assarsson, Associate Director FEATURES of Communications Manager of The (R)evolution of Web Features Greg Cross, 16 Science at Westtown Associate Director of Digital Communications Contributors Behind the Numbers Kris Batley ’81, Director of 25 Westtown’s 2016–2017 Annual Report Alumni Engagement Mary Brooks, Archivist Anne Burns, Director of Communications and Marketing Courtnay Tyus, DEPARTMENTS Director of Annual Giving 02 DEAR FRIENDS 14 FACULTY Design Letter from Head of PROFILE Aldeia School Tori Jueds Steve Compton www.aldeia.design Principal Photography 03 NEWS FROM 46 ALL IN THE Ed Cunicelli AROUND ’TOWN FAMILY What’s happening The tradition Additional Photography Greg Cross on campus? continues Tom Gilbert ’76 10 ARTS GALLERY 48 A LOOK BACK Performing arts Dickie Jenkins 11 FIELDS & COURTS 50 CLASS NOTES Season roundup Catch up on EMERITUS: BEHIND THE COVER alumni news David Barclay ’52 As part of the Design 12 PAST IS J. Barton Harrison ’47 Engineering course, PROLOGUE 65 FROM THE Arthur M. Larrabee ’60 students have designed and The more things ARCHIVES Katherine Niles McLean ’57 made a series of mechnical and myoelectric prostheses change… Winter recreation for a young student born without a left hand. This iteration was printed on Westtown’s stereolitho- graphic 3D printer; an Arduino board, used for processing electrical signals from the client’s arm, is visible in the prosthesis. DEAR FRIENDS: LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL TORI JUEDS Definitions, Discernment, and Dialogue One afternoon this fall, when the trees Most importantly, Westtown stu- had turned and the sun was low in the dents understand the importance of sky, I found myself in Main Hall 03 with a effective communication because they handful of Upper School students who were are learning to carry their truths into voluntarily laboring over a difficult task. the world. To persuade an audience of They were wrestling with the meaning of something untrue yields a poor harvest; terms like systemic racism, racial prejudice, so said Socrates in the Phaedrus, and discrimination, and privilege—fraught, un- this is why our teachers, advisors, and comfortable terms, which are nevertheless coaches daily help young people discern key to our ability to converse productively their passions and convictions, and about race. express them in word and deed. This These students sacrificed the last hours is why our sixth graders delved deeply of sunshine that day because they had into the refugee experience—reading perceived a problem in communicating memoir and non-fiction, meeting with about race at Westtown. They had observed a local refugee resettlement group, and that when discussing diversity, multicul- taking a virtual reality tour of war-torn turalism, and inclusivity, the same word or Syria—and then carried these truths into term might convey two different meanings the world through blogs, websites, and to two different people—even two different videos. This is why students in United Westonians—inviting miscommunication States history turned their studies of the and even distrust. As remarkable as was Civil War into original monologues based that observation for high school students, on real and fictional soldiers, politicians, still more remarkable is that they took and civilians, slave and free, from that it upon themselves to pave the way for era. This is why third graders researched productive dialogue by proposing common the work of civic, religious, political, and definitions of key terms. Careful deliber- service leaders in local communities, ation and discernment resulted in a set of and then shared their findings through thoughtful definitions, prefaced by this intentional message on the Opinion musical theater in a production entitled Board: “We encourage you to use these terms and definitions during your Friendly Neighborhood Helpers. And conversations, as we think having this ground level of understanding will foster this is the work of all Westtown science more enriching and constructive discussions.” students—the theme of this issue of The I enjoyed being present for even a few minutes of this work. Some Westonians Westonian—who understand the scien- may know that I am a language geek. I love parts of speech and the construction tific method as a very particular kind of a good sentence. I get a thrill when I receive the Word of the Day from of discernment, and scientific writing dictionary.com. I am fascinated by etymology—from the Greek ἔτυμος (real, as the means of conveying discoveries actual) and λόγος (word). And the root of my love of language lies in the and insight to a broader audience. challenge of communication: the confounding task of accurately conveying It is a wonderful thing to be part of a thing, person, or experience to a person unfamiliar with it. The work of our a community that appreciates discern- definition-writers was all in service of this great challenge. ment and communication. Thank Steeped in diversity, Westtown students appreciate that people come to any you, Westonians, for all your efforts given conversation from a variety of different backgrounds. Steeped in Quaker to communicate more effectively and practice, Westtown students further understand that if we are to communicate share your truths more widely! effectively, we must build from a shared foundation of words commonly under- stood and carefully chosen. 02 The Westonian Magazine Tiles Live On, see page 4 for full story. News from Around ’Town WINTER 2018 03 NEWS FROM AROUND ’TOWN Tiles live on During the renovation of the Head of School house, the tiles surrounding the kitchen fireplace were carefully lifted from the mortar by David Jones of our Facilities Department (who did much of the renovations himself) prior to the fireplace removal. The tiles were collected and given to Westtown’s Archives, with the exception of a few that were selected for a wall hanging to return to the Head of School house. Archivist Mary Brooks documented the history of the tiles, and a brass plate was placed on the back of the wall hanging with the following information: These tiles were created by Ellen “Pooh” Brown ’38 as part of a larger group that surrounded a kitchen fireplace in the new Head of School house in 1976. The tiles reflected Westtown, Quaker education, and the Harrison family— original occupants of the house—and were installed by Ellen herself. The tiles Changes in the were removed and repurposed during Alumni Office renovations in 2017. After nearly eleven years as Director of Alumni Engagement, Kris Batley ’81 has moved to a new role as Westtown’s Director of Stewardship and Research.Karl Vela ’03, who has been in the Advancement Office over LENAPE SKILLS three years, has assumed the role of Director of Alumni When the fourth grade Engagement. Karl has already begun to think of new trip to Cape Henlopen, DE, and meaningful ways to bring our alumni closer to the was sidetracked because school and each other. “Kris has left big shoes to fill, but of remnants of a hurri- I’m up for the challenge!” he says. Kris is also excited cane, Teachers Shelagh about the possibilities of her new position and looks Wilson and Hillary Simons, forward to learning more about what Westonians want, decided to take students to show donors the impact of their gifts, and to nurture The tiles selected for the wall hanging to Westtown’s lake for an deeper relationships with all of our constituents. represent the immediate surroundings overnight—and to dive of the house and the peace that deeper into their unit pervades. They rest in an oak board on the Lenape Native We want to hear from you! Please send feedback in any form you choose. Address it to “Editor” and share your (provided by Westtown’s woodshop) with American tribe. Students thoughts about any aspect of the magazine. We will do a back bevel to suit the contemporary built Lenape shelters and our best to publish as many letters as will fit. We may style of the house. (see photo on page 3) structures, learned skills edit for space, and we’ll always confirm with you what we and games of the Lenape. intend to publish. Our email is [email protected]. 04 The Westonian Magazine THE GENDER QUESTION: Tradition and Evolution When I was a Westtown student in the ’90s, Girls Collection was one of my favorite parts of the day.