Lower School Opens New Playground Where, and Then Return for Class Or by Everett Rosenfeld ‘09 After-School Commitments
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POSTSCRIPT The Park School Brooklandville, MD September 13, 2004 Volume LXV Issue No. 1 Faculty limits senior class privileges by Susan G. Weintraub, US Faculty Upper School faculty have awarded limited senior privileges to the Class of 2005. Seniors may arrive by their first obligation in the morning, and leave after their last obligation ends. They will retain what Principal Mike McGill terms their current “snooze priv- photo by T. Lansburgh ‘66 ilege.” Extended Day director Bart Cook cuts the ribbon to the newly-completed Lower School playground. Breaking with tradition, faculty concluded that seniors may not sign out during the day to go to lunch or else- Lower School opens new playground where, and then return for class or by Everett Rosenfeld ‘09 after-school commitments. Once at Park inaugurated its new Low- cluding the maintenance staff and Kins- reminiscent of a river with rocks along school, they must remain throughout the er School playground at a ribbon cutting ley Construction, he led students in a the edges, allows several groups of chil- day. ceremony on the first day of school. chant of “Boom Chik-a-Boom” that was dren to play at once. Senior classes through the years Lower School Principal Betsy meant to bring the spirit and energy of a During construction, as costs had always enjoyed the freedom to leave Leighton began the ceremony with a his- true playground out of the dormant earth. climbed above the projected half-million midday. Last year, when rumors of wide- tory of the new playground’s beginnings. Jackson then introduced “Mr. dollar mark, the school was forced to cut spread use of alcohol and marijuana by Demonstrating a “very good example of Playground himself… Bart Cook”, who back the project. Among the missing el- both juniors and seniors persisted and Park problem solving,” a committee of cut the ribbon, officially opening the new ements, according to Jim Howard, many were found to be true, the Admin- teachers, students, and members of the playground. Director of Academic Support Servic- istration revoked all privileges. design firm Human and Rohde planned Completed just a few weeks be- es, are a painted fence and a water In light of abuses, faculty raised the new facility. Leighton also noted that fore school began, the playground fountain. The final price tag still topped concerns about continuing the practice the playground was built for creative play, includes a misting tent with three sprin- $650,000. of awarding full privileges. Class of 2005 meaning that there is a lot of space for klers for children to cool off in on hot Faculty members approve of the advisors Jon Acheson and Tina Forbush students to make up their own games and days, a blacktop with a basketball hoop, new playground. “It’s really wonderful,” met with their grade numerous times last activities. four square courts, and hopscotch. There said second grade teacher Debbie Silver- spring to talk about ongoing faculty res- After Head of School Dr. David is also a “sand river”, an idea of Jack- man. “It adds an architectural flair,” ervations. It was clear that the ability to Jackson thanked numerous people, in- son’s. The long sandbox, which is explained Howard. arrive late and leave early would remain in place, but that midday breaks off cam- pus might be in jeopardy. After Wednesday’s faculty deci- On-going renovations displace classrooms sion, McGill met with the senior class by Laura Gordon ‘05 during Thursday X-Block to present the School has begun, but fifth grade room are also outcome of the discussion, stating that renovations to a number of fa- incomplete. MS classes “in the end, the vote was fairly conclu- cilities are incomplete, forcing are now meeting in oth- sive not to extend that portion of some classrooms and services er spaces, including one privileges.” He noted that a combination into temporary locations. House in the Middle of a wide number of opinions that were Construction got off to School Girls locker expressed pushed the vote against mid- a slow start because, according room, and Halpert day privileges. to Director of Academic Sup- shares the LS Science “For some, safety overrides any port Services Jim Howard, “the room with Rob Piper. benefit to leaving,” McGill explained. money was not authorized to be Gymnasium I, “For some, a senior presence is impor- spent until June 1. Work should constructed in 1959, is tant. For others, there was no really be complete by the end of Sep- undergoing a total reno- compelling case to be made for just let- tember.” vation, with a new floor, ting seniors be away.” Several facilities are bleachers, impact resis- On the other hand, McGill said, slated for relocation. The school tant walls, and air “there were very good reasons to pre- stores, Maintenance, and conditioning. The Kin- serve privileges. Seniors are older, have Transportation offices will be dergarten playground more obligations, and benefit from hav- photo by S. Weintraub moving to the former art room Renovations to Gym I include a new floor and bleachers. received a new blacktop ing this type of freedom in terms of adjacent to the cafeteria annex. surface and additional transition to college. But many didn’t Until construction workers finish, the to hold private conversations with stu- blacktop around the back of the building. think these reasons were compelling giv- school and book stores now occupy the dents and parents, and a new The Extended Day center now has a en that students are free to arrive later Library’s Audio-Visual room and office, handicapped-accessible bathroom. For bathroom with child-sized fixtures. and leave early.” and Maintenance is in the Pearlstone the month of September, health services Of special note for Upper “In the end,” he continued, “for Wing. Remaining in its original location, are in the Lower School Conference School students are the removal of a those who had reservations about privi- the health suite is expanding into the Room. stairway in the foreign language hallway, leges, concerns about safety and former school store. The new health Renovations to several Middle and revamping of access to the US Com- preserving community were most impor- suite will include an office for the nurse School classrooms and Linda Halpert’s mons deck. tant. September 13,P 2004 OSTSCRIPTNEW FACULTY Page 2 New faculty bring a wealth of experience, education to Park Each year the school attracts highly qualified applicants. Ac- Upper School Math Menette San-Lee, cording to Head of School David Jackson, this year “we have a very interesting group of new faculty: they’re very diverse, young and old, Cathrine Lucarelli Mimi Cukier Admissions they come from private schools and public schools…all eager to come... Catherine Lucarelli has Miriam Cukier is a ma- Mennette San-Lee pre- teach at Park. We read close to 11 hundred résumés, brought over 50 recently completed her Ph.D. in gna cum laude graduate of viously served as the Founding people to the school for full-day interviews, and hired 16.” These Mathematics at the University of Carleton College, where she ma- Director of Admissions and Fi- brief biographies of new faculty, administrators and interns include jored in Mathematics and nancial Aid at the Sage Hill information supplied by Associate Head of School Louise Mehta, who Chicago. She graduated Welles- ley College summa cum laude as Philosophy. After collge, she School in California where she directs faculty hiring each year. Photos by T. Lansburgh, M. Levy, S. Weintraub a math major in 1999. While pursured her built an enrollment of 400 stu- Karen Weeks and Elliott Huntsman, Science at Chicago, she served as a lec- dual inter- dents. Prior to Sage Hill, turer for ests, San-Lee was for six years As- Elliott Huntsman has various spending one sistant Director of Financial Aid been working for the past two under- year as a and Admission Officer for The years as a chemist for Merck, graduate Math Intern M. Cukier Taft School in Connecticut, researching novel chemical syn- courses, in a program in Dobbs Ferry, where took on numerous roles. thetic strategies to and in NY, and a year and a half study- She developed and taught a C. Lucarelli produce pharmaceutical prod- 2003 re- ing in the Philosophy Ph.D. course called “Race, Class and ucts. He graduated from Yale ceived the Lawrence and program at MIT. A year ago she Gender,” K. Weeks and E. Huntsman with a B.S. degree in Chemistry Josephine Graves Award for decided to focus on high school and taught in 2002. As an undergraduate, Excellence in Undergraduate math, and taught at the Rashi courses in Karen Weeks teaches Huntsman did research for the Teaching. Lucarelli has also School in Cambridge, Mass. Psycholo- Science 9 part-time. She has Williams Groups at Indiana Uni- worked with younger students, During her undergraduate years, gy. A taught at several independent versity and for Pfizer, Inc. His focusing on enhancing mathe- she participated in a summer graduate of schools and served as Coordina- transcript from Yale reflects a matics instruction. As a program for women in mathe- Brown Uni- tor of Residence Life for the breadth of courses: Dante, graduate of a women’s college matics, tutored math, and M. San-Lee versity, North Carolina School for the French Literature, and Miles who then entered a university participated in a mathematical San-Lee Arts.SheDavis as well as chemistry and department with no full-time fe- research project sponsored by also completed an Urban Fel- graduated from Wake Forest other sciences.