Media-Providence Friends School

FALL 2014

Teaching Innovation: A Lifelong Skill A recent study conducted by The models of creative, critical thinkers for to communicate without speech to Association of American Colleges and our students. The word innovation build tools with K’Nex to serve their Universities (AAC&U) reported that does not just apply to our curriculum; community. 4th graders test boundaries employers were most interested in it is valued and taught as a life skill. and their ability to create with last hiring graduates who demonstrated At MPFS, being an innovative year’s integrated theme on inventions innovation and critical thinking skills. thinker – a critical and creative thinker to protect the planet. 5th graders learn While the workplace might seem like a – is a skill that is demonstrated across to make their own connections about world away for your student, building grade levels. In our kindergarten language and anatomy across science, an innovative thinker begins in the classroom Teacher Erica models good history, and art classes with last year’s early stages of brain development. practices for independent learners. study of Africa and the Turkana Boy. By adolescence, children’s brains are If T. Erica’s students call out “I’m Lower school and middle school beginning to develop skills in critical done!” after finishing an assignment, students who completed the Peer thinking and problem solving: the she reminds them, “But you’ve only Facilitators workshop learn critical basis for innovation. At MPFS innova- just begun.” This signals that though listening and problem solving skills tion starts with our teachers who are they may have finished the task at with real world applications. Each hand, they have the ability as creative of these experiences have students thinkers to go deeper or switch gears working together across subjects, to work on another assignment. in the classroom and out, to make 2nd graders started the year connections, identify problems, and learning about early brainstorm solutions. civilizations and More and more, the importance of are challenged a student’s ability to think, rather just to know, is what’s required for success. “What is increasingly needed and This special rewarded is the ability to analyze, issue includes synthesize, apply and commu- our 2013-14 Annual Report nicate knowledge in creative, of Giving often collaborative ways,” writes William Taylor in Independent School magazine. At MPFS, we are proud to help our students become independent learners who seek out knowledge to invent, create, and build. Nurturing connections across subjects and encouraging outside-the-box problem solving skills not only gives our students confidence in the classroom but sets them on a path to becoming the kind of innovative thinkers that are in high demand in today’s competitive world. Returning to This Friendly Place:

Meet the Editor n 7th grade, I filled up a composition book with a draft of a novel and shared it with my humanities teacher at MPFS, I T. Nancy. Though it was not a school assignment, T. Nancy encouraged me to share it with my peers, making time at the end of each week for me to read it to the class for feedback. “If you’re going to write, you’re going to have to get used to other people reading your work,” she said. That simple exercise gave me the confidence to begin seeing myself as a writer and opened my eyes to possible career paths. I have been thinking a lot about my time as a student here and what I would want parents to know about the impact an MPFS education can have on children for the rest of their lives. For me that confidence, plus the ability to communicate with people of all ages and from all walks of life, is one that has en- abled me to thrive academically and professionally. That is a skill that was nurtured from preschool through 8th grade and one that was vitally important to me. As a shy kid, I would not have been seen, heard, and known in school were it not for the caring and attentive faculty at MPFS. I am so pleased to be back on campus as the new Director of Marketing & Communications (and Editor of Dragon Tales!) Since graduating from MPFS, I’ve gotten my BA in Journalism from Temple University and my MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast Program. I worked as a journalist for eight years covering music and food for publications including, Philadelphia magazine and Philadelphia Weekly and have published fiction in literary magazines, including Narrative. I started my career in marketing as a freelance copy- writer for small, boutique agencies and then moved to Yellowbook’s digital marketing. I’m so pleased to be here at MPFS where I can combine my love of writing and my passion for this wonderful little school. Thank you for welcoming me back with such warmth. I’m looking forward to making many more MPFS memories in my new role.

Cristina Perachio (Class of 2001) Director of Marketing & Communications

2 l DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 Letter from The Head of School Dear Friends of MPFS, This special issue of Dragon Tales which features our Annual Report of generous donors is also our “innovation” issue; exploring how our teachers model innovation as a life skill, as well as spotlighting special programs and a curriculum consistently ahead of the curve in education. This got me thinking that it’s not just our students and teachers that provide the school with innovation; our donors, who stand behind our mission, are also innovators. Without their support, we would not be able to provide such an impactful education for so many students. It is my hope that our donors stay connected to the school as much as possible – through social media, our website and newsletters – so that they are able to see all the good that their support provides on a daily basis; though, nothing compares to being on campus amidst the energy, enthusiasm and purposeful activity. As an example of how this technology can keep us connected, I was recently alerted via our MPFS Facebook page of a new review that had been posted by an alumnus, which I wanted to share here: My time at MPFS was definitely needed and appreciated, especially coming from the inner city. It gives children a different perspective than they would normally get from a traditional public school. (It also) presents to them the avenues that lead (them to) becoming the person they really feel comfortable being and connects them to all walks of life on an everyday basis. MPFS introduces children to an array of subjects that turn into possible careers, all while having a great time. When I have children, they will more than likely be going to MPFS. (Karington Corbin, ’01) It is testimonials like this, from a successful MPFS graduate, that give real insight into what a transformative experience our school provides. The values and lessons taught here will be remembered and practiced for a lifetime. We thank you for your support so that students like Karington can become stewards of the values they learned right here at Media-Providence Friends School in their own communities.

In Friendship,

W. Earl Sissell Head of School

DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 l 3 Annual Fund: Participation, 2014 Annual Fund By the Numbers Priorities, and Potato Salad Total: $86,897.45 On July 3, Zack Brown launched an appeal on Kickstarter, Donors: 336 a crowdfunding platform for creative projects. While some endeavors (such as the Micro 3D printer and Reading Participation: Rainbow’s app accessibility) are ambitious, innovative, Trustees = 100% and uplifting, Brown’s was an admittedly underwhelming Teachers = 97% undertaking. Parents = 74% “Basically, I’m just making potato salad,” he explained. Alumni = 10% “I haven’t decided what kind yet.” His fundraising goal was $10. Help us achieve 100% participation Yet, Brown’s appeal went viral faster than bacterial all ‘round in 2015! growth in rancid potato salad. By July 6, he had raised $3,000. July 7: $10,000+. July 8: $35,000+. Total funding Income after his 30-day campaign was $55,492 – for giving the Tuition 75% Internet a giggle. Auxiliary Programs When this story broke, we had just wrapped up our 2014 (camp, gym rental) 5% Annual Fund campaign, after appealing all year via mail- ings, e-mails, phone calls, visits, Dragon Tales, eNews, and Fundraising 15% social media to raise money for MPFS. We never thought Interest Income 0.7% to try potato salad. Other 4.3% At the very end, we exceeded our $84,000 goal, raising nearly $87,000. 100% of Trustees contributed. Parent par- ticipation was a record-high 74%, up from 63% in 2013 and 48% in 2012. Former parents, alumni, grandparents, Expenses Meeting members, friends, and corporate donors gave. student Instruction & Financial Aid 74% We’re tremendously grateful to our 336 donors in 2014. Facilities 6% We point to the potato salad saga in juxtaposition with our current 2015 Annual Fund campaign: Auxiliary Programs 4% • Early gifts can start a rolling snowball of support. This Administrative 16% potato salad had 6,911 backers with an average donation of $8. Every contribution mattered, just as every Annual Fund gift counts. • Our donor pool is a miniscule subset of the social media masses. We need a large percentage of our community and friends to be active and sustained supporters. • Donors had no reason to expect a quality product from Brown, who warned, “It might not be that good.” They gave to fuel a joke. With 137 years of experience educat- ing children, we’re confident in our recipe and our outcomes. You know who we are, what we do, how we make a difference in children’s lives, and how MPFS students make a difference in the world. No joke. Note: A bowled-over Brown decided to make his campaign count. On September 28, Brown hosted “PotatoStock 2014”, the proceeds of which went to non-profits to fight hunger in Central Ohio. What he did began half-baked, but ended with some a-peel!

Homework on the playground during Extended Day

4 l DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 Profiles in Philanthropy: William D. Ravdin A Pro-Bono Life and Legacy William D. “Bill” Ravdin personified pro-bono service; he worked and acted “for the good” throughout his life. A Quaker and a Friends’ Central School and Swarthmore College alumnus who became a successful businessman and banker, Bill spent much of his time and considerable talents providing primarily pro-bono consulting services to Friends schools, notably MPFS. Bill also leaves behind a legacy that lives on for the considerable good of MPFS. After his much-mourned death on March 30, 2014, we learned of Bill’s remarkable gift to us: a $150,000 bequest to our school’s Mary Herndon Ravdin Fund for the Endowment of Teacher Salaries and Professional Development. “This was a cause – and a school – very close to his heart,” attests Bill’s son, Glenn Ravdin. “Bill Ravdin was among the most generous people I have known,” declares MPFS Head of School Earl Sissell. “His only interest was in improving the educational opportunities for all students attending Friends schools and ensuring that MPFS and other Friends schools would continue to serve students for years to come.” Bill and his wife Mary, an educator with a Master’s in Library Science and a former MPFS Trustee, established a fund to endow faculty compensation at MPFS. “My parents appreciated and supported the best elements of progressive education, such as the individualized learning and community involvement, and they thought that supporting teacher salaries was one way to sustain faculty consistency at Friends schools from year to year,” Glenn explains. When Mary died in 2005, Bill named the fund for her. “To say that my father loved my mother doesn’t even approach what she meant to him,” Glenn emphasizes. “He revered her and respected what she did. The fund was a tribute to her as well as to MPFS.” It was family first to Bill, also father to Anne and Susan. With the $150,000 bequest, the balance of the Mary Herndon Ravdin Fund will be more than $240,000. In addition, the gift raises our total Endowment to $1 million for the first time, a milestone in MPFS history, a cornerstone for our future, and a touchstone of the Ravdins’ advocacy and support. That $1 million figure is a good start: Continued, considerable Endowment growth is critical for the long-term sustainability of our school. “Quakers frequently use the phrase ‘let your life speak’ when referring to what we should aspire to while being in the world,” said T. Earl. “Bill let his life speak in his actions and his words every day and his life continues to speak, even in his absence.” We asked Glenn to imagine Bill reunited with Mary now and her reaction to his tremendous work and the funds he donated and raised in her name. “Dad was sure that they would meet up again,” Glenn said. “Mother had no ego and was a very modest person, so she would probably be a bit chagrined that he put the fund in her name! But she would have been flattered, of course, that he wanted her to live on in the hearts of others, as well as in ours.”

[MPFS also profiled Bill and Mary in the Fall 2009 edition of Dragon Tales. To access that article, download the PDF of the newsletter from the Alumni News page on our website.]

DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 l 5 ANNUAL GIVING REPORT While every effort was made to include all donors, if we have omitted your name, please We thank the following donors for their contributions – unrestricted, restricted and gifts- contact us so that we can make in-kind – received during the last academic year, between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. corrections in the next issue.

Alumni/ae Corporations/Foundations J. Garrett Forsythe III Charles and Carol Coffman Alumni/ae Alliance Business Systems In Honor Of George Forsythe’s Pam and Rob Davidson Thomas S. and Patricia P. Ambler Anonymous 80th Birthday Joe and Lynne Elliott Anonymous Aqua Pennsylvania Walter R. and Jayne Garrison Karen and William Evans # Winthrop Beardsley# Boeing Gift Matching Program Dr. Paul Glickman In Honor Of Emma Ombam Rebecca Chamberlain ‘87 Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation In Honor Of Rebecca and Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Fichandler Jennifer Payne Conway ‘86 # Bryn Mawr Trust Company Molly Marcus Al Gaboriault Rachel Goldstein Dalinka ‘85 Cameron Memorial Fund Shelley Grant-Farrell and Judy and William Gallagher # Blythe Danner # Children’s Scholarship Fund Charles Farrell In Honor Of Will Beardsley Randolph R.’77 and Philadelphia In Memory Of William D. Ravdin Russ and Kathy Geibel Nancy L. Dole ‘81 Delaware County Community Carole Haas Gravagno In Honor Of Conrad Kocak Nancy Fitts Donaldson ‘37 Foundation In Memory Of William D. Ravdin Eloise and Ernest Giddiens Lucretia Wood Evans ‘33 DNB First Dr. M. Jean Greenlaw Rose Grelis Bethleigh Flanagan ‘78 Elizabeth Taylor Fund Olga Greto Donald and Carol Guthrie Garrett ‘40 and Susan Forsythe Friends Council On Education Rosamond J. Hannum # Bob and Ann Hays In Honor Of George Forsythe’s GE Foundation Emily Harmar Sandy and Sue Heath 80th Birthday General Mills In Memory Of William D. Ravdin Elbert Hines James T. Forsythe ‘41 # Giant A+ School Rewards Marianne McKinney Nancy and Neil Hoffmann George S. Forsythe ‘45 # Hawkins Technologies LLC Paul Ness Ingrid Hudak Leslie Duff Goldsmith Manley Mincer DDS and Elizabeth O’Brien John Jaeger Donn Guthrie # Hope Berman DMD Carlos and Loretta Orpilla # Dan and Linda Jones Cyril H. Harvey II ‘37 Friends Fiduciary Corporation Aidan Peterson Herb and LaVerne* Kirkwood Thomas Haviland ‘72 Phelan Hallinan, LLP William D.. Ravdin* Susannah Henderson # Philadelphia Insurance Companies Regina Richards and Katrina Wehring Donald Hoffman ‘37 Philip Rosenau Co. Inc. In Memory Of William D. Ravdin Dr. Susan Holak ‘69 Republic Bank Martha Russell Frederick R. Hood III ‘59 Target Stores In Memory Of Jared W. Darlington Chris Hoover ‘67 # Ten Thousand Villages Carol Sabersky Mark Hoover ‘66 # The Hub, LLC F. Raymond and Patricia Salemme Hershel D. Horn ‘83 The MCS Group Inc. In Honor Of George Forsythe’s Jennifer Hunt Horton ‘67 The Media Rotary Foundation 80th Birthday Timothy Hunt ‘70 The Nina Abrams Fund Michelle and Paul Scheibe ‘96 Bruce Everett Hunt # United Way of Delaware Dorothy Sharrocks Eleanor Houghton Hurd ‘46 Utica National Insurance Group In Honor Of George Forsythe’s Joplin James ‘78 Verizon Foundation 80th Birthday John R. James, Jr. ‘47 # Wyatt Wistar Brown Fund Elsie and Sy Simonds Caroline Little Keeler ‘81 In Memory Of William D. Ravdin In Memory Of Marian Newlin Little Friends of the School Robert P. and Patricia Forsythe Squires Joan Baker Krehnbrink ‘68 Margaret P. Allen In Honor Of George Forsythe’s Catherine Lathwell ‘83 In Memory Of William D. Ravdin 80th Birthday Gwyneth Elkinton Loud Anonymous Donald and Catherine Swicker George Kocak Dana Mancini # Anonymous In Memory Of Althea Whyte Bernard and Barbara Lehrman Suzanne Egli Maughan ‘53 In Honor Of George Forsythe’s Robert T. Swicker In Honor Of Madelyn and Anita Covert McNamara ‘80 80th Birthday In Memory Of Althea Whyte Ian Lehrman Ellen Fitts Millick ‘39 Ellen Attanasio Sally Tallmadge Christine and Mike Llewellyn Lexi Mincer ‘01 In Memory Of Althea Whyte Anonymous 25 In Honor Of Ben and Matthew Oakley ‘83 Pamie and Earl Ball James V. Verno Maddie Llewellyn Jillian Oberfield ‘93 # In Memory Of William D. Ravdin Victoria Viglione # Ursula McLean In Honor Of Lynn Oberfield Marty Breslin Jacqueline Montras and Bob Vitalo Carolyn and Jim Merrigan # Lisa Richardson ‘78 Ann Bridges # Rada and Vukan Vuchic JoAnne and Russel Miller # Emily Richardson # Elizabeth and James Bullard Rada Vuchic Mr. and Mrs. George Nofer Katrina Rogachevsky ‘99 In Honor Of George Forsythe’s William and Mary Windsor In Honor Of Liam Sinclair Paul Scheibe ‘96 80th Birthday Joe O’Neill and Gloria Pantaleo Toby Snedecor ‘94 Rosalind Campbell Grandparents Josephine Parham Peter C. Sontag ‘84 In Memory Of Althea Whyte Sandra Alley In Honor Of Cole Parham Roger A. Sternfeld ‘66 Loretha Collins Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Ardary III In Memory Of Woodrow Parham Ruth Whitson Stokes ‘39 # Mayland Crosson In Honor Of Olivia Bowen Albert and Sharon Riess Elliot Strathmann In Memory Of Jared W. Darlington Richard and Patricia Bence # In Honor Of Parker Riess Kate Strathmann Richard and Arlene De Cosmo In Honor Of Abby and Rev. William Sissell Luke Strathmann In Honor Of George Forsythe’s Maddie Sjoblom Amy Solipaca Will Strathmann 80th Birthday Barry Blum and Katie Loos Stewart and Sidney Spahr # Matthew Sullivan Nino DeProphetis Jean Boardman Sandy and Joe Stagliano Jocelyn Whitaker ‘77 Geraldine Donovan Denise Bowman Miriam Stamm and Stan Rosner David A. Windsor ‘74 Alvin and Dick Foerster Fran and Carol Bradley In Honor Of Elena and Keith Witherspoon ‘73 # In Memory Of Althea Whyte Aeolus Brooks Margot Sissell Andrew and Nancy Forbes Sam and Barbara Rose Caldwell In Memory Of Martin Stamm In Honor Of George Forsythe’s In Memory Of William D. Ravdin 80th Birthday Carol Cheney

6 l DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 Meeting Members Brian and Deborah Knox Stefanie and Brad Ernst Leo and Ellen Sinclair Donna Noonan Allen # Will Scull and Becky Martin-Scull Randall and Stephanie Gaboriault # Earl Sissell and Sonia Stamm # Thomas S. and Patricia P. Ambler Ellen Fitts Millick ‘39 Sharon Galt # Liza Stagliano and Michael Shelkin Bill and Eileen Belanger Ann Murray # Jennifer and Alfred Garfall Stephanie Walkup and Paul and Billie Brink Mr. and Mrs. George Nofer Greg Gephart and Michal Hall Matthew Sullivan Sam and Barbara Rose Caldwell Jillian Oberfield ‘93 # Aura Gersenson Zakiyyah Suluki David and Margaret Camp # In Memory Of Althea Whyte Dawn Greenlaw and Shawn Scully # Christine and Ben Suplick In Honor Of T. Nancy Allison Lynn and William Oberfield # Colleen and Joseph Grelis Connie and William Thomas Michael JJ Campbell and Ken and Donna Park Donn and Holly Guthrie # Patricia and Robert Torr Susan Garrison # William D.. Ravdin* James and Philitsa Hanson Matthew and Molly Wallace # Ginny Christensen In Memory Of Mary Cheryl Harner and Tony and Meagan Watkins Patricia Coiner # Herndon Ravdin Dr. Malcolm McHarg # Julia and Greg Welc # Jane Cosinuke Dorothy Reichardt Randy and Lisa Hawkins # Lisa and Paul Welch Lisa Dainton # John and Jane Shaw Susannah Henderson and Marcia White and Mary Kelley Nancy D. Darlington # Parker Snowe and Leslie Friedman Ryan Dunne # Audra and Derrick Wimbush In Memory Of Jared W. Darlington Roger A. Sternfeld ‘66 and Holly and Richard Hoffmann # Ansa and Kelly Yiadom # Anjali and Paul DelPrato # Kathy Daly Andrew and Pamela Holt Randolph R.’77 and Ruth Whitson Stokes ‘39 # Greta Hudak and Wayne Peischl Past Parents Nancy L. Dole ‘81 Ken and Laura Taylor # Betty Jacob and Shaji Koshy # Carmen Khan and Jack Armstrong Nancy Fitts Donaldson ‘37 Rhoda Weisz # Alison Jaeger Betty and Michael J. Becker John and Merril Dutton # In Memory Of Mrs. Shirley Tuttle Eugene F. and Tracey Jarrell # Joseph and Patricia Becker Joe and Lynne Elliott Douglas Whyte* # Kathryn Jones and Julie Millward # Letitia C. Biddle # Susan Elliott-Johnson # Dave Thomas and Debra Will # Stacey Joseph-Fitzgibbons In Honor Of Phyllis Mincer Lucretia Wood Evans ‘33 Glenn and Claire Wilson # Sage Kelsey # Kurt and Carol Brunner In Memory Of G. Theodore Wood William and Ann Windsor Brian and Deborah Knox Michael JJ Campbell and Bethleigh Flanagan ‘78 Marisa and Craig Kocak # Susan Garrison # Dorothy Flanagan Parents Abhinav and Savitha Krishna Peter and Mimi Chamberlain # In Memory Of William D. Ravdin Angelique and Hanif Ahmad Allyson and Jeffrey Lehrman # Ginny Christensen Garrett ‘40 and Susan Forsythe Justin Blum and Cynthia Alley Michael Kostal and Ina Li # Beth and Alan Collins

James T. Forsythe ‘41# Anonymous Robert and Michelle Lindenmuth # Dennis and Regis Cronin In Honor Of George Forsythe’s Anonymous Michael and Jana Llewellyn Randolph R.’77 and 80th Birthday Amy and Meade Baker Michele and Paul Marcolongo Nancy L. Dole ‘81 George S. Forsythe ‘45 # Winthrop and Karen Beardsley # Kathy and James Marsh John and Deborah Ehleiter In Honor Of Andrew and Shelly and Howard Bell Renita Martin Pamela Haines and Charles Esser Nancy Forbes & Kendra Bence and Kurt Sjoblom # Mark and Laura Matika In Honor Of Jacob Timothy James and Susie Forsythe Doug and Lisa Bigelow Kathleen McCullough and Esser-Haines ‘97 Gray and Janney Goodman # Charlene Bolling Christopher Shuster June Evans Bruce and Prudence Haines # Brittany and Timothy Bowen Cynthia and Brian McGoff # In Memory Of Wayne R. Evans Nancy and Brian R. Harris # In Honor Of Olivia Bowen Philip and Hoa McLean # Janet Roeser Nordberg Cyril H. Harvey II ‘37 Michael and Alissa Boyle Vincent McLoughlin Anne Garrison and Thomas Haviland ‘72 Kelly Bradley-Dodds Theresa and Andrew Michio Michael Magoolaghan # Dorothy Haviland # Heather Chamberlain # Katie and Russ Miller # Anne Raunio M.D. and Scott Gilbert In Memory Of Althea Whyte Tameka and Thomas Claiborne Lisa and Kevin Mullarkey Sidney W. and Patricia R. Gilford Susannah Henderson and Ryan Samantha and Michael Clarke Kia E. Newman Gopal Subramanian and Dunne # Cheryl and Patrick Clarkin Charles and Kathryn Ombam Raelyn Harman # David L. Hewitt Marianne and Brian Coffman Richard Weber and Noreen O’Neill Nancy and Brian R. Harris # Peter and Peggy Hewitt Brian and Katherine Crowner Anthony and Lisa Palmieri # David L. Hewitt In Memory Of Coke Hewitt Lisa and Steve Dainton # Karen Peterson Rima and Andrew Himelstein Donald Hoffman ‘37 Kent and Shannon Davidson # Janice and Phil Peterson # Christine and Bruce Howells Donna Hope and Gregory Gleichman Julie and Bill Decker Susan D. and Michael R. Rhile Sandy Howze Jennifer Hunt Horton ‘67 Anjali and Paul DelPrato # Evelyn and Darryl Ridgeway # Connie Hughes Sandy Howze Angela DiMaria and Matt Lane # Deborah and Albert Riess Patricia D. Hunt Greta Hudak and Wayne Peischl John and Joan DiPrimio Maribel and Jason Rodriguez Margot Hunt* Patricia D. Hunt Kurt Dodds and In Honor Of Gabriel Rodriguez In Honor Of Bruce Hunt Eleanor Houghton Hurd ‘46 Meredith Otten Dodds Enjoli Ruley-Long Eleanor Houghton Hurd ‘46 Joplin James ‘78 Ashley Dutton and Kevin Watts Maria Villanueva and Oscar Santos # Dawn Kleinman John R. James, Jr. ‘47 # Susan Elliott-Johnson # Brian and Christina Schmidt Alex Kendrick # Sunka Simon and Michael Hayse # Continued on page 11

DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 l 7 Alumni News

Class of 2010: What’s Next? writing; Isabella Botak, Misericordia University, nursing (public health or pediatrics); Kate Bozentka, Southern Methodist University, undeclared (semester abroad in Switzerland); Scott Collins, University of Pittsburgh – Honors College, engineering and theater; Noah Gilford, University of Alabama, engineering; Jordan Harris, Villanova University, engineering; Billy Haviland, Washington College, environmental studies; Molly Marcus, Brandeis University, undeclared; Galen Martin, Lynn University, fashion merchandis- ing; Blake Miller, Susquehanna University, liberal arts; Alex Mull-Dreyer, Davidson Now that our 2010 alumni are also high-school grads, they’re rising College, undeclared; Caroline Shreckengast, to higher education at colleges and universities up and down the East University of Pittsburgh, psychology; Harry Coast – from Massachusetts down through New York, Pennsylvania, Smythe, Bard College, undeclared; and Peter Maryland and North Carolina to Florida – and a bit westward to Subramanian, Temple University, architecture. Alabama and Texas. Their choices of schools and majors/minors: Good luck to our young alum. They continue Lianabel Aguilar, Eastern University, political science and history; to make us proud! Isabel Barrett, Hampshire College, Spanish, German and creative

Alumni Spotlight: Kenya to coordinate an HIV services delivery Ally Adams-Alwine program partnership. (Class of 1999) Ally enjoys being in the middle of the action. “It’s very motivating and exciting to be able to MPFS teaches conflict resolution and peer mediation see the results of your work,” she said. with the intention that students will practice those skills She travels for business and pleasure, for a lifetime toward a more tolerant, compassionate, just, fitting in a personal layover in the mountains and peaceful world. In the case of Class of ’99 alumna Ally Adams- of France after Geneva and taking vacation Alwine, the lessons were most definitely learned. Ally is a master of time in Cambodia last summer. Her love of those skills – literally! She earned her M.A. in Conflict Resolution travel stems from one of her fondest memories from Georgetown after majoring in Political Science as an undergrad at of MPFS: the 8th Grade trip to Costa Rica. Vanderbilt. “What I learned at MPFS really helped me later,” Ally said. “I didn’t know of anyone else who did that “That education served as a solid grounding and foundation for my at that age. Katrina and I even went back studies in college and grad school and along my career path.” later and stayed with the girls from the same Ally has spent her career thus far working in government agencies family.” An MPFS student from Kindergarten and the non-profit sector in and around Washington, DC, with a through 8th Grade, she has kept in close particular interest in human rights and international development. contact with former classmate Katrina “That perspective automatically takes you to public service,” she said. Rogachevksy, as well as Adrian Arnett ’98. Following four years as a Business Development Manager/Specialist “The relationships I formed with my classmates at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), in June really made the school standout,” she said. 2013, Ally moved to her current position as New Business Development Ally holds her experiences at MPFS close Officer for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF). to her and appreciates the opportunity to At the international non-profit—the mission of which is to end grow and learn in such a tight knit com- pediatric HIV/AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and munity. “I always had a good foundation at treatment programs—Ally manages proposals to help larger global home,” Ally adds, “but MPFS was there to teams develop new projects and secure funding. When we caught up to foster that.” Ally, she had just returned to DC from Geneva and was heading off to

8 l DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 MPFS 1990s Alumni Reunion: April 17 & 18 Here’s to a time of Tomagotchis, Grunge, Doc Martens, Discman players, and Beanie Babies! If you graduated from MPFS between 1990 and 1999, reconnect with old friends to reminisce about good times – and bad trends – during our 1990s Alumni Reunion Weekend April 17 & 18, 2015. Save the dates now and stay updated by submitting your contact info via our Alumni page at mpfs.org and by joining the Media-Providence Friends School Classes 1990-1999 group on Facebook.

Division Focus: Making Connections in Middle School

Preparing our students for the world beyond MPFS is part focused her art class around the design process. She noticed of our mission and it is our goal to send our graduating 8th that her students were always eager to jump right into an graders onto high school with the ability to think creatively, art project without the proper planning. Students start by problem solve and become leaders and innovators in an ever identifying a problem or a design idea then work on brain- changing world. storming solutions. After choosing the best solution, the Technology has certainly advanced our middle school in students begin working on a preliminary model or prototype ways we could not have imagined a decade ago. to test it, improve upon it, and finally start With our iPad 1:1 program, all students have creating or building. This process, along with access to their own tablet device which the information gathering that goes into they use to read texts, do research and the Passion Project, helps to solidify the connect with their community. benefits of being a critical, innovative “Technology as a tool is a means thinker. to innovation,” T. Nancy says. So, To get middle school students even though our middle school thinking about making their own students have grown up with this connections across subjects and technology, we place an impor- outside of the classroom, faculty tance on developing the skill set have created an integrated learn- and best practices for utilizing ing project that poses a single, these tools. open ended question for students A new project T. Nancy has to consider throughout the year. started this year is the Middle This year’s question is: How do School Passion Project which allows environments influence life and culture? students one period a week to research Each student has a chart broken down by the topic of their choice. In March, each subject to log their thoughts and connections. student will present a “TED Talk” on their chosen There is also a space to note any personal connec- topics as “experts.” The project is meant to emphasize tions. “We’re trying to get that broad stroke, that bigger research, information gathering, and making connections perspective,” says T. Daryl, which she notes can be a independently. Along with books and internet searches, challenge for middle school students. The goal, however, is students are also required to reach out to a real life expert to organically make those connections independent of their on their topic by phone, email, or social media. The project teachers by routinely writing their observations. also focuses on synthesizing information from varying With so much information available at their fingertips, it sources. She hopes the project will spark an interest in her is vital for students to have the skills needed to reflect, plan, students that they might not have otherwise discovered, and finally connect. While being a tech-savvy learner is as well as giving them a jumpstart on research papers in certainly necessary, our middle school faculty focusses on high school and beyond, that require information gathering building a strong foundation in critical, reflective thinking and reporting skills for success. across subjects. “It’s the information – not the technology – In the same vein, for the past several years, T. Karen has that you have to manipulate to be innovative,” says T. Nancy.

DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 l 9 SPOTLIGHT

Meet Teacher David Camp, 7th & 8th Grade Quakerism

eacher David has been a Friend of MPFS since he took his first teaching job out of college T in 1970. T. David is a Swarthmore College graduate who grew up Quaker and attended Friends schools. What David remembers about his own Quaker education is also what he loves about working at MPFS: great teachers who truly care about the welfare of each student. “The way (teachers) care for each student… combined with the freedom they give kids to develop their own styles of learning and behavior within guide- lines. I think that’s great!” His first year teaching at Media Friends, David taught shop and was also an aid in 5th grade before they created the middle school, in which David also taught. He spent five years at MPFS before leaving to teach and get his masters from Penn. He returned to MPFS after sixteen years as our bus driver. “I’ve always liked driving things. Cars, motorcycles, bullock carts in India, buses, trucks. When I was driving full time I got to go see a lot of places that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen.” After that, he was asked to teach 8th grade Quakerism, which he has been doing for almost fourteen years! T. David believes developing good study habits is cru- cial and uses the readings, homework and discussions in his Quakerism class to teach this skill to his 7th and 8th graders. “Paying attention and being an active thinker about what you are learning about are all skills that are essential, I think, to later student life,” David says. He is also passionate about service learning and tries to instill that love of helping others in his students, much like his teachers did when he was in school. David vol- unteers on the grounds crew three days a week at Pendle Hill, a Quaker retreat in Wallingford, where our 6th grade green thumbs also help out. He enjoys working outside and the community of people he gets to meet and work with at Pendle Hill. T. David also sings in the Pendle Hill Chorus and enjoys many other hobbies including bird watching, collecting coins and stamps (“I just like old things,” he says.), and kayaking!

10 l DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 ANNUAL GIVING REPORT Donors l Continued from page 7 Suzanne Levy Moorestown Monthly Meeting Laura Taylor # Jessica and Gifford Eldredge Jairo Lora and Margaret Wheatley # Old Haverford Friends Meeting Claire Wilson # Susan Elliott Robert and Phyllis Manley Providence Friends Meeting Randall and Stephanie Gaboriault Michael and Judith Marcus # Trustees Susan Garrison and Robert P. and Joy C. Marshall Teacher/Staff Donna Noonan Allen # Michael Campbell Edward L. and Amy J. Miller Nancy Allison Michael JJ Campbell # Dawn Greenlaw and Shawn Scully Phyllis and Manley Mincer Daryl Ballough # Jennifer Payne Conway ‘86 # Donn and Holly Guthrie Donald and Theresa Much David Camp # Shannon Davidson # Susannah Henderson and Ryan Dune Kandance Weems Norris and Karen Carbutt # Susan Elliott-Johnson # Holly and Rich Hoffmann Ronald Norris Heather Chamberlain # George S. Forsythe ‘45 # Alison Jaeger Joy and Richard Oakey # Patricia Coiner # Donn Guthrie # Eugene F. and Tracey Jarrell Lynn and William Oberfield # Lisa Dainton # Bruce Haines # Stacey Joseph-Fitzgibbons and Allen and Alice Pease Angela DiMaria # Brian R. Harris # James Aviles Stan Pelli and Tina Duhaime Merril Dutton # Susannah Henderson # Caroline Little Keeler ‘81 Jorge Rogachevsky Stefanie Ernst John R. James, Jr. ‘47 # Sage Kelsey Richard and Lynne Scheibe Harry Gambrill # Eugene F. Jarrell # Deborah and Brian Knox Kenneth Scott # Aura Gersenson Alex Kendrick # Michael Kostal and Ina Li John and Jane Shaw Dawn Greenlaw # Ina Li # Jeffrey and Allyson Lehrman Scott and Karen Sandlin Silverman James L. Hardy Jr. # Dana Mancini # Paul and Michele Marcolongo Chris and Lisa Slager Holly Hoffmann # Katie Miller # Mark and Laura Matika Lisanna Stotts Shannon Hohl Ann Murray # Malcolm McHarg and Cheryl Harner Marsha and Jonathan Swezey # C. Frederick Keffer # Evelyn Ridgeway # Phil and Hoa Le McLean Doris Tirado and Marna Barrett # Grace F. King # Parker Snowe # Colette Mull and Mike Dreyer Anne and Richard Umbrecht Christa Krumbhaar Debra Will # Anthony and Lisa Palmieri Arthur Weisfeld and Lindsay Massimo # Ken and Donna Park Virginia Brabender Cynthia McGoff # Big Bus Donors Betty and Frank Peditto Rhoda Weisz # Jean Menaldino # Donna Allen Janice and Phil Peterson In Memory Of Mrs. Eleanor Erica L. Mitchell # Marna Barrett and Doris Tirado Kenneth Scott McComas Lisa Morales # Karen and Winn Beardsley Susan and Harry Shreckengast Pat Whitaker # Van Nguyen # Howard and Shelly Bell Chris Shuster and Kathy McCullough William and Ann Windsor Deb Oller # Kendra Bence and Kurt Sjoblom Earl Sissell and Sonia Stamm Drs. Pratap and Rekha Yagnik # Joe Payne # Edward and Amber Brown Parker Snowe and Leslie Friedman Charles and Diane Zack # Betty Peditto # Margaret and David Camp Francy Strathmann Janice Peterson # Carol Cheney Alix Timko Quaker Meetings and Emily Richardson # Cheryl and Patrick Clarkin Meagan and Tony Watkins Organizations Calperta Scott # Jennifer and Brian Conway Chester Monthly Meeting of Friends Earl Sissell # Gerry Corbitt # A nnual Fund Donor in 2013-14 Haverford Friends Meeting Michael Spellman # Kat and Brian Crowner and 2014-15 Haverford Quarterly Meeting Roger A. Sternfeld ‘66 Shannon and Kent Davidson * deceased Media Friends Meeting Francy Strathmann # Angela DiMaria and Matt Lane

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Tracking “adopted trees” for Science in Glen Providence Park

DRAGON Tales l Fall 2014 l 11 Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Media, PA Permit No. 842

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Dates: Important Winterfest, February 6 Parent-Teacher-Alumni vs. Students Basketball Game, February 27 April 17 Spring Auction,