A Landmark in Coeducation 40 Years of Alumnae MIDDLESEX Spring 2016 I from the Head of School
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MiddlesexSpring 2016 A Landmark in Coeducation 40 Years of Alumnae MIDDLESEX SPRING 2016 i From the Head of School The Wisdom of Experience Spring came late to Middlesex this year, experiences our graduates have had. I following a mild winter that seemed like a real have since had a number of conversations blessing after the epic snows of January and with alumni about experiences running the February, 2015. In the absence of big drifts, gamut, not crossing the abuse boundary but we watched Landry House sprout from the expressing the range of experience that has hillside next to Higginson House and the stayed with people throughout their lives, steam plant begin its transformation into the from situations we would now consider Music and Campus Center. And, as always, bullying and hazing to instances of great the sprouting and transformation of the kindness. I have been very grateful for the young people who currently give life to the small but meaningful number of responses School provided great energy for the com- to the letter—grateful for the care with which munity as our students “learned their lessons the responses have been written and the and played their games . where the days grace with which our alumni have reflected. that made them happy made them wise” The invitation stands and the door to conver- (to quote from Monk Terry’s morning sation is open, and our understanding of the prayer paraphrasing John Masefield’s poem, myriad ways a teenager’s experience changes “Biography”). The work of youth is the work his or her life continues to deepen. This that keeps Middlesex, now in its 115th understanding will influence all of us, moving year, young. forward, as we strive to make the school Middlesex Spring 2016 While the poem’s speaker nostalgically experience for all of our students one that looks back upon the days of his youth as makes them happy and makes them wise. Head of School Kathleen Carroll Giles idyllic, for most teenagers, these days are This spring, we celebrate a substantial Director of Development more complicated than that. Any time of changing of the guard, as two of our much- Heather Parker Director of Advancement immense growth offers ample opportunity beloved colleagues, Alex Banay and Carmen George Noble for confusion, and as teenagers do the work Beaton, bring their marvelous careers at Editor Maria Lindberg of separating from parents, differentiating Middlesex to a close. I know that I speak Design and defining their identities, building new for a generation of students, families, and NonprofitDesign.com relationships and seeking peer groups and colleagues in expressing our enormous Photography Joel Haskell approval, and testing their sense of invinci- gratitude, admiration, and affection for their Robert D. Perachio bility against warnings and boundaries—in work with us these many years as teachers, Tony Rinaldo Whit Whales addition to learning their lessons and playing advisors, mentors, and deans. Their wisdom Letters to the Editor Letters to the their games—experiences result that can be has strengthened the fabric of the School and editor are welcome and may be edited for clarity and space. Please send your great, good, mixed, and bad. In mid-March, has given us all inspiration for continuing letters to Editor, Middlesex Bulletin, against the backdrop of allegations of student the work we do here together every day. 1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742, or e-mail [email protected]. abuse at some schools known to us all, I sent Alumni News We welcome news from a letter to our alumni and our current parents alumni, parents, and friends of Middle- sex School. Please send your news and inviting conversation about the range of labeled photographs to Alumni News, Middlesex School, 1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742, or e-mail alumni@ mxschool.edu. Address Corrections Please notify us of your change of address. Write to Middlesex School, 1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742 or e-mail [email protected]. Parents of Alumni If this magazine is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please advise us of his or her new address. Thank you! Contents Mission Statement Features Middlesex School is an independent, 16 A Landmark in Coeducation: non-denominational, residential, 40 Years of Alumnae college-preparatory school that, for Over the course of the past four decades, over 100 years, has been committed Middlesex diplomas have been earned by to excellence in the intellectual, remarkable young women. Meet six of them ethical, creative, and physical devel- who, in the opinion of their fellow alumni, opment of young people. We honor are “living their promise” every day. the ideal, articulated by our founding Head Master, of “finding the promise” in every student, and we work 24 In the Home Stretch together in an atmosphere of mutual Heading into the last six months of Mx2: trust and shared responsibility to The Campaign for Middlesex, the School has help students bring their talents to attained another goal with the successful fruition as knowledgeable, capable, conclusion of the Bass Family Challenge responsible, and moral citizens to Benefit the Arts. of the world. As a community, we respect the individual interests, strengths, and needs of each stu- dent. We also value the rich diversity of belief and experience each of us brings to the School. Departments We expect that each student will bring his or her best efforts to the 2 Life 360 shared endeavor of learning and STEM Standouts Become ExPRTs; Promoting that the School, through its faculty, Peace; A London Theatre Tour; The Matchmaker; will engage and encourage each Diversity Symposium on Gender and Race; student’s growth, happiness, A Puzzle in Pompeii; Photographing the and well-being. We aspire for all Fearless; Spectrum Dialogues; Trump Talk Middlesex students to develop personal integrity, intellectual 10 Middlesex People vitality and discipline, and respect Bigelow Lecturer Patricia Melton ’77; for themselves and for others. Kate Erickson ’07 Rows the Boat Race We expect each student to engage energetically and cooperatively in the life of the School, and we seek 12 Team Highlights to inspire in all students the desire Fall Season Capped with Three Tournament to seek understanding of them- Runs and a New England Championship; selves and the larger world, both New Heights for Alpine Skiing and Wrestling now and in their futures. 30 Upcoming Middlesex Events On the Cover Middlesex School’s 31 Alumni Notes and News newest alumnae, Class Notes; In Memoriam the young women in the class of 2016, 48 Back Story photographed by Connections Joel Haskell. MIDDLESEX SPRING 2016 1 360° Life on the Circle A Considered Response “About five years ago, Computer Science Department Head Ashok Pillai recalls, “STEM had become enough of a buzzword that we had to ask ourselves: What is Middle- sex’s take on STEM?” After a comprehensive survey of the School’s courses in math, science, and com- puter science, department heads were pleased to find that the curriculum was thorough and served students well. “But we recognized a shared willingness to collaborate more,” Ashok says, “to synthesize our ideas and p e d a g o g y.” With the support of Head of School Kathy Giles and the Middlesex Board, a STEM Committee was formed that deliberated and agreed upon a set of core competencies that students should attain. The list of skills was succinct; students should be capable of prob- lem solving out of context, be technologically With inventive projects and literate, and be able to communicate in writ- presentations, Middlesex’s A Panel of ExPRTs ten and oral form about STEM. Additionally, first ExPRT recipients Middlesex’s New STEM Certificate the committee integrated a progression of demonstrated their facility problem solving into the core curriculum with STEM disciplines. Their inventions are creative, practical, and and worked on devising ways to encourage sometimes downright ingenious: a device students to pursue more innovative and that monitors cargo containers worldwide; independent work, whether through newly a key fob that uses print technology to keep developed, advanced Middlesex courses or intoxicated drivers off the road; a combination through extracurricular endeavors. As a database/blog for artists to share and discuss reward for such initiative, the ExPRT their work; a pillow that regulates a preferred Certificate was established. temperature and shape during sleep. To earn ExPRT status, students must sub- For having conceived such ideas—and, mit a proposal for a project or experience that in some cases, built prototypes—five current will satisfy five criteria: it must involve group students became the first recipients of a new work and collaboration; focus on an open- honor at Middlesex: the ExPRT Certificate, ended problem; take several days of effort; and recognizing their Experience with Problem culminate with two presentations, one written Solving, Reasoning, and Technology. and one oral. “Just as we highlight our top The credential developed from lengthy students and athletes, we want to acknowledge faculty discussions about STEM, the now- those kids who are doing extraordinary work familiar acronym for science, technology, in STEM fields,” says Ashok. engineering, and mathematics. In the years since it was first coined, the term has become Intelligent Designs associated with the idea of integrating curri- The first ExPRT recipients had completed cula in these disciplines, in hopes that more appropriate work last year. For Kelly Finke ’17, students will pursue advanced degrees and the database/blog for student artists that careers in science and technology. she built was the final project for her Web 2 MIDDLESEX SPRING 2016 Applications class—an exam- ple of how the certificate can be A Pledge for Peace earned though an advanced Middlesex course.