Westonian Magazine
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WINTER 2020 IN THIS ISSUE BEHIND THE NUMBERS: The Annual Report for 2018–2019 Westonian Magazine COMPETITION, CHARACTER, AND COMMUNITY Athletics at Westtown 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]. CONNECT Head of School Victoria H. Jueds facebook.com/westtownschool Board of Trustees twitter.com/westtownschool Davis Henderson ’62, vimeo.com/westtownschool Clerk instagram.com/westtownschool Michelle Caughey ’71, Associate Clerk Amy Taylor Brooks ’88 Martha Bryans ’68 Beah Burger-Lenehan ’02 Editor Luis Castillo ’80 Lynette Assarsson, Jake Dresden ‘62 Director of Diana Evans ’95 Publications Susan Fahey Nneka Nwosu Faison ’01 Contributors Gary Holloway, Jr. Karl Vela ’03, Ann Hutton Director of Alumni Sanjay Jain Engagement Jess Lord ’90 Rob McLear Mary Brooks, Elizabeth Gilbert Archivist Osterman ’73 Brenda Perkins ’75 Anne Burns, Dean of Jim Perkins ’56 Communications Keith Reeves ’84 Anne Roche Design Kevin Roose ’05 Aldeia Daryl Shore ’99 www.aldeia.design Mike Sicoli ’88 Danielle Toaltoan ’03 Principal Charlotte Triefus Photography Kristen Waterfield Ed Cunicelli Max Yeh ’87 Additional Emeritus Photography David Barclay ’52 Tom Gilbert ’76 Tim Barnard Bart Harrison ’47 Arthur Larrabee ’60 Kate McLean ’57 WINTER 2020 The Westonian Magazine FEATURES Competition, Character, 18 and Community Athletics at Westtown Behind the Numbers 31 Westtown’s 2018–2019 Annual Report DEPARTMENTS 02 DEAR FRIENDS 14 FACULTY PROFILE Letter from Head of Ernie Schoch School Tori Jueds 16 COMMUNITY 03 NEWS FROM WAA board news AROUND ’TOWN What’s happening 50 ALL IN THE FAMILY on campus? The tradition continues 10 ARTS GALLERY 52 ALUMNI PROFILE Center for the Living Arts Elizabeth Patterson ’04 11 FIELDS & COURTS 54 CLASS NOTES Captain’s legacy Alumni news 12 PAST IS PROLOGUE 65 FROM THE ARCHIVES The more things change… Girls golf DEAR FRIENDS: LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL TORI JUEDS Competition & Kindness In some places and in some schools, there may be tension— Quaker values as they are oriented towards a rapidly- if not outright contradiction—between competition and changing future, provide daily reminders to strive for kindness. Not so at Westtown School. excellence with compassion, and to exercise respect Anyone even casually acquainted with Westtown doesn’t while pursuing victory. Examples abound, but none need to be reminded that kindness is remarkably prevalent more striking than an interaction during a recent at our school. Kindness permeated the conversation at my Westtown cross-country invitational. The day after house recently when I had dinner with a small group of that race, our Co-Directors of Athletics, Mich Canuso- seniors, talented young leaders who Bedesem and Paul Lehmann ’99, brought to the table a panoply of received a letter from the parent diverse identities and a wide variety of a student from another school. of interests. This January, as we The parent recounted how his son engaged in exercises to build on was struggling during the race. But the legacy of Dr. King, discussions then, “a Westtown athlete came up among Middle Schoolers about how from behind and gave him the moti- to respond to cyber-bullying were all vation and strength to complete the about kindness. And kindness ruled course. It was a Westtown athlete the day this fall when a young friend who encouraged my son to finish, in Primary Circle decided to share his saying ‘we will do it together.’” collection of small, vividly-colored To race for Westtown School dinosaurs with another student. means to race with purpose and Maybe there was a bit of an internal determination. But it also means struggle at first (admittedly, they were to race with generosity of spirit, very cool dinosaurs)—but eventually with a sense of perspective about kindness prevailed. what is really important, always At the same time, during their years honoring that of God in one’s oppo- here, Westonians develop the kind of nents. A few days ago, at our winter effective competitive skills that they Pep Rally, the captains of our Boys will need to deepen their confidence Varsity Cross-Country team un- and resilience, to hone their unique furled our latest PAISAA banner in gifts, and to thrive in their chosen pur- Coach Downey Court, commemorat- suits. The results are impressive, as ing their 2019 championship season, when our Metal Moose team brought to thunderous applause. It was a home the coveted Chairman’s Award proud moment. But no prouder from the FIRST Robotics Competition than the moment when a Westtown in 2019, when Girls Varsity Soccer earned their third con- runner helped a struggling athlete from another team. secutive Friends Schools League championship last fall, The parent who wrote about that interaction told us: “At when eight of our students were recognized by the National the finish line, my son was truly overcome, not just by the Merit Scholarship Corporation this past October, and when gesture of your athlete but my son felt there was a divine a Westtown student musician was recently selected to the effort, through your Westtown student, to help him finish Pennsylvania All-State Orchestra. And even when there are the race. He was moved. I am moved. I know my son will no awards at stake, students at Westtown challenge them- never forget this act of compassion and sportsmanship selves in every venue to take risks, to deepen skills or develop for the rest of his life.” new ones, in friendly competition with self and others. That was a great day to be a Moose. But then again, it’s But never at the expense of kindness. Westtown’s academic, always a great day to be a Moose. Friends, enjoy this issue co-curricular, and residential programs, as deeply rooted in of The Westonian, and GO ’TOWN! 02 The Westonian Magazine News from Around ’Town WINTER 2020 03 NEWS FROM AROUND ’TOWN Making A Difference Claire and Rob McLear saw an opportunity to augment Westtown’s arts program, an area of passion for them. After years of planning, the McLear Artist-in-Residence Program was created in January 2019 to support a year- long artist’s residency in the Upper School visual arts department. Artists- in-residence are chosen by the Upper School arts faculty, and preference is given to artists working in the visual arts, particularly those exploring the intersections between art and science. A Big Win The new program is off to a great start! The first McLear Artist-in-Residence, Rebecca Kamen, gave an inspiring lecture in September about curiosity and MIDDLE SCHOOL the creative process. Rebecca’s work focuses on awakening scientific discovery ROBOTICS AWARD through art. Drawing inspiration from astronomy, neuroscience, philosophy, and physics, she reflects on the scientific and artistic pro- Congratulations to Middle School cesses as unique but complementary catalysts for making Robotics for winning the Robot the invisible visible. Design Award at the Southeast Westtown’s Chair of Visual and Performing Arts, Will Regional Qualifier Event at the Addis, says, “The McLear Artist-in Residence Program is Franklin Institute. Well done! a cornerstone of our new approach to teaching the arts at On Saturday, December 7, the Westtown. By giving our students a year-long exposure to Middle School robotics team, a single professional artist, we are encouraging authentic competed in the First Lego League engagement in understanding that artist’s creative pro- Robotics regional qualifier. The team cess. By focusing on the overlap of art and science, we are spent three months engineering their modeling for our students how art can ask questions, spark curiosity, and serve robot, programming missions, and as a lens for the larger world. We are very grateful for Rob and Claire’s generosi- completing an in-depth research ty in helping us reimagine arts education for the 21st century.” project. Teams presented their Claire and Rob were inspired to create this exciting new program by their projects and robots to multiple experiences with University of Pennsylvania’s Network Visualization sum- panels of judges that score the team mer program and the Center for Curiosity. Tori Jueds’ encouragement to the on a variety of criteria. The team Westtown community to “find your passion” resonates with them. They feel a earned a first-place award for their gift that supports student programming and curriculum has a lasting impact, robot design. It is the first time that and they encourage others to support areas they are personally passionate a Middle School robotics team has about. Westtown is fortunate to have the generous, kind, and thoughtful sup- earned this prestigious award. The port of the McLear family, and we are deeply grateful for all that they do. judges were impressed by the team’s “superior use of sensors” and for “being resourceful and using spare parts to make necessary adjustments on the fly.” The team finished in 4th BRILLIANT! We are thrilled to place overall. share that The Westonian Magazine has won two Brilliance Awards! The Winter 2018 issue earned GOLD in the Printed Magazine category, and the Summer 2018 issue won SILVER in the same category! Congratulations to our fabulous production team and thanks to our community for inspir- ing their stories! 04 The Westonian Magazine NEWS FROM AROUND ’TOWN #AroundTown SNAPS FROM INSTAGRAM Three 5th grade heritage Spanish speakers organized a Lower School coat drive before break, and they delivered donations to La Comunidad Hispana in Kennett Square! Thank you for your generous participation in the drive! #givingback Identity & Activism MULTICULTURAL CONFERENCE & COLLEGE FAIR About 100 college representatives and 700 students and family members from schools as far away as Brooklyn Friends and Friends Seminary in New York City attended our eighth biennial Independent School Multicultural College Conference and Fair on October 19, 2019.