PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL JOURNAL Spring 1995 \ | * B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s Marilyn W. Grounds Chairm an PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL Peter G. Gerry Vice Chairman JOURNAL Daniel J. Graziano Vice Chairman L. Thomas Welsh, Jr. Treasurer Vol. 31, No. 2 Spring 1995 Mary R. Ham ill Secretary/Parliamentarian Archer Harman, Jr. H eadm aster Contents Robert E. Dougherty '43 Marlene G. Doyle Shawn W. Ellsworth '75 From the Headmaster...................................................................................................... 1 Tina Greenberg John L. Griffith, Jr. Alumni Exhibit Designs................................................................................................. 1 Randall A. Hack Barbara Mills Henagan '77 Charlene Elmore Completes Cure at P D S ............................................................ 2 Stephen F. Jusick John T. McLoughlin Barbara M. Ostfeld Examining Gender Issues in Coeducation, Ja cq u ie A splutidh.................... 3 John A. Pinto Robert M. Revelle Focus on Science................................................................................................................. 4 Joyce S. Robinson James C. Rodgers '70 School Seeks Expertise from Area Scientists....................................................... 6 Llewellyn G. Ross Edward W. Scudder III Barbara E. Sierocki In Memoriam......................................................................................................................... 7 Jane Aresty Silverman '63 Ann B. Vehslage Swiss Semester Stimulates New Outlook, Mandy Rabittowitz '9 7 ......... 8 J. Thomas Welsh, Jr. Anne A. Williams '74 David Bogle Remembered.............................................................................................9 Trustee Emeriti Elizabeth C. Dilworth Class Notes............................................................................................................................10 Samuel W. Lambert III A l u m n i C o u n c i l Contributing photographers: Jacquie Asplundh, Andrew Hamlin, Eileen Hohmuth-Lemonick, Bonnie Hunter, Florence Lam '95, Wendy Varga, Nancy Anne A. Williams '74 P resident Young. Christina Bachelder Dufresne '77 Vice President On the cover: Aaron Schomburg, lower school science teacher, keeps fourth Nellie Oliphant Duncan '51 graders Shelby Scudder (center) and Emily Hamlin spellbound as he demon­ Secretary/Treasurer strates the growth in their terrariums during a unit on animal and plant life. Laura Farina '79 Thomas R. Gates '78 Princeton Day School complies with all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination in its admissions, employment and administrative policies. Marjorie Wallace Gibson '84 Molly Sword McDonough '75 Kirk W. Moore '72 Howard F. Powers, Jr. '80 Carl S. Taggart '82 Hilleary T. Thomas '84 Attention Alumni! Susan Barclay Walcott '57 We're going to try a new system of gathering Laura Merrick Winegar '72 information for the class notes. Please read the inside back cover to learn how to send your news to your class secretary. Thanks! Editor: Linda Maxwell Stefanelli '62 Composition & Printing by Con tempo Press Inc. FROM THE HEADMASTER by Archer Harman, Jr. homes. The most recent meeting of the the skating rink. Parents Association was devoted to Two barometers of interest and sup­ gender issues, and several faculty port are applications for admission members reported on steps being and annual giving. At PDS this year taken at PDS to recognize the differ­ both are setting new records, running ences in how boys and girls develop appreciably ahead of previous years. and learn. This year the Parents Asso­ Awards have been won by both fac­ ciation and the faculty at PDS have ulty and students. Two teachers have enjoyed a particularly close and pro­ been granted National Endowment ductive relationship. for the Humanities grants for summer Science has received special atten­ study, and a third will be a tion. The Harriman grant made it pos­ Klingenstein Scholar at Columbia next sible for us to move ahead with plans year. Girls soccer, boys and girls bas­ to renovate the upper school science ketball and the fencing team have all facilities. A Science Advisory Com­ won league championships. The mittee made up of prominent people Spokesman, our school newspaper, from business and education in the gained first place in the Temple Uni­ I find it hard to believe, but the Princeton area is giving us solid ad­ versity competition, and our math school year will be almost over when vice on directions in which we should team came in first in a state meet. Col­ you are reading these words. The be moving. An architect has been lege acceptances for our seniors con­ months since our arrival in Princeton hired, and by the opening of school in tinue the outstanding record of recent in late August have certainly sped by- 1996 we hope to have new laborato­ years. Much has happened during this time; ries in place. Looking ahead I believe that PDS let me give you some of the high­ A plant audit completed last fall did has just the right person in Lila Lohr. lights. not surprise us when it revealed that Since her appointment she has been The Parents Association, under the much work was needed to bring our visiting the school regularly, and she leadership of Barbara Sierocki, has buildings up to first class condition. and I are on the telephone together addressed a number of issues. Con­ To this end a substantial sum has been often. Transition will be smooth, as cern about drugs, especially alcohol, budgeted for the next school year, the we seem to be of the same mind about led to widespread commitment for first step in what must be a continuing everything we discuss. In a short time "Safe Homes," as more than 40% of attack on maintenance and capital im­ Lila has generated a remarkable de­ our upper school parents pledged to provement. Special projects receiving gree of enthusiasm; PDS in the years supervise social gatherings in their attention are Pretty Brook Farm and ahead will be in excellent hands. ALUMNI EXHIBIT DESIGNS The Robert C. Whitlock Alumni Ar­ chitecture and Design Exhibit show­ cased work by more than 20 alumni. Exhibits ranged from architectural models to graphic design to wood sculpture. In addition, many alumni wrote of the lasting effect Bob Whitlock had on their lives, both as an industrial arts teacher for 42 years and as a man of high ideals. Their letters were compiled in a book presented to Bob's wife, Harriet, and his sons, Rob '78 and David '80. At Commencement the first Robert C. Whitlock Award for Distinguished Teaching will be presented to a fac­ ulty member who exhibits the quali­ ties of patience, inspiration and dedi­ cation for which Mr. Whitlock was known. The award is funded alumni, faculty and friends and includes a sti- Organizers Bob Hillier '52, Harriet Whitlock and Robin Murray '70 at February 11 exhibit opening. pend for professional development. 1 CHARLENE ELMORE COMPLETES CURE AT PDS "I've been driving to PDS every school day for the last 27 years," said School Nurse Charlene Elmore. "Ever since my oldest daughter, Kirsten '81, started kindergarten with Madeline Weigel in 1968, I've been getting in my car to come to school; first as a parent and then as part of the staff. That's going to be a hard habit to break." Mrs. Elmore plans to retire after 16 years of treating everything from heart attacks to cut fingers to concerns over prom dates. There are many hab­ its she will find hard to break. "Most of all, I’m going to miss the kids," she says. "I thought I would leave when my youngest daughter graduated in '86, but when that time came, I couldn't imagine not seeing my first kindergarten class graduate, and that happened in June '92. What I hadn't anticipated was how much I had be­ come attached to every kindergarten class, and the thrill each year of re­ turning to PDS to see them and hear about their summer - and meet a new Students know they can always find help and comfort in the nurse's office. Here, Mrs. Elmore class of junior kindergartners and kin- ministers to Christina Koerte '02 in a picture taken about tioo years ago. dergartners." Students will also have to do some lieve stress, have become more com­ again. Coincidentally, all three of the readjusting next year. They regard petitive, with performance affecting Elmores daughters are now living in Mrs. Elmore as a very special friend, college acceptance in some cases. It is North Carolina which will make the confidant and counselor. Whether a not surprising, therefore, that stu­ move much less painful. Kirsten and child has a mystery ailment or a seri­ dents visit the nurse's office for social her husband, Neil, are in Wilmington, ous complaint, they all receive a sym­ as well as medical reasons. Tonya '85 and her husband, Scott, are pathetic ear and a cure of some kind. In the 16 years she has worked at in Chapel Hill, and Lesley '86 is work­ It might be "Nurse Char's Magic Wa­ PDS, Mrs. Elmore has seen many ing as a paramedic in Asheville. ter," a placebo dispensed from the of­ changes. The most encouraging is a Although she will miss Princeton, fice water cooler, or simply a wave of decline in drug and alcohol abuse Mrs. Elmore's natural enthusiasm her magic wand for a young child's since the 80s. She cites the middle bubbles to the surface as she discusses stomach ache, but everyone leaves her school drug education program and her plans for the future. She would office feeling better. stricter punishments for drunk driv­ like to continue to work with young When asked what qualities they ing for helping to change attitudes. children, perhaps at a local school. thought important in Mrs. Elmore's On the other hand, she has observed She wants to learn golf, play more ten­ successor, students immediately an­ an increase in smoking among upper nis and become acquainted with the swered, "Someone nice who will let us school girls in the last five years. The unique Low Country birds which in­ hang out in the office like Mrs.