Community Mourns Tragic Loss of Beloved Teacher Patricia Rosoff
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THURSDAY,Thursday, April Oct. 17, 20 2014 Vol. 3840 No. 27 Community mourns tragic loss of beloved teacher Patricia Rosoff by Jen Shook ‘15 moment of silence in honor of He said they were hoping to raise the teacher, advisor, author, and money for the scholarship and On Tuesday, March 25, artist who, over the course of the creative arts department as a Kingswood Oxford School her 39-year tenure at KO, had whole by selling key chains with suffered the loss of one of its become one of the school’s images of some of Mrs. Rosoff’s most beloved teachers in an most beloved faculty members. distinctive artwork on them. unpredictable and tragic accident. Remembrances of Mrs. The March 27 field trip to In an impromptu 3 p.m. Rosoff’s life and work flooded the Metropolitan and Whitney assembly that day, Assistant through the community. One Museums in New York City, Head of School for Student Life conducted by the creative Carolyn McKee announced to a arts department and the clas- silent Upper School audience that “Her cackle was sics department, also turned Academic Dean of Humanities recognizable to into a unique experience to Patricia Rosoff had passed away in honor Mrs. Rosoff’s memory. a car accident earlier that morning. all of us.” Photography teacher Greg After acknowledging the Scranton released balloons outside momentous impact Mrs. Rosoff – Dr. Pierce of the Met as a send off after he had on the KO community, Ms. and the students had a moment of McKee urged the grief-stricken silence for Mrs. Rosoff. “I thought crowd to “do whatever’s right” effort included a memorial Mrs. it was a really poetic gesture to for themselves, including Rosoff’s advisee group orga- honor her,” Mr. Scranton said. He missing sports or other after- nized. Over 20 students added said that Mrs. Rosoff had orga- school commitments in order flowers and posted poetry outside nized the Met field trip for years to come to terms with the loss. of Mrs. Rosoff’s office. The and had always loved the trip, She informed students that memorial was then moved to the taking particular pleasure in the guidance counselors would be art gallery in Roberts for a more bus ride down where she would Beloved Academic Dean of Humanities Patricia Rosoff passed away in a car available in order to help them intimate feel, according to one of always put on Sister Wendy accident on Tuesday, March 25. Photo courtesy of Meg Kasprak. through such a difficult event and her advisees, junior Matt Guerrera. DVDs for the students. “It was advised them to be respectful of Matt said he and others were her thing,” he said. “She loved it.” museums and going to dinners Mrs. Rosoff’s classes have Mrs. Rosoff’s family and memory. also planning to honor Mrs. Rosoff An April 1 assembly with Mrs. Rosoff. “She always also suffered the loss of their “KO has lost one of through her arts scholarship, became another opportunity for took the time to paint pieces inimitable teacher. Mrs. Rosoff’s its giants,” she concluded. which allows a selected student the KO community to reflect of individual lives,” she said. AP Art History classes have been She then led the shocked to pursue the study of a visual art on Mrs. Rosoff’s extraordinary Mr. Kyff read an excerpt taken over by her former student and tearful audience in a in a location of his or her choice. influence on the school. Spanish from Mrs. Rosoff’s book “Inno- Mariah Risner, while creative teacher Brenda Semmelrock, cent Eye,” which recounted arts teacher Scott McDonald history teacher Rob Kyff, and arts her childhood, swimming now teaches her painting class. teacher Wayne Pierce all eulo- in irrigation ditches in her A memorial to honor gized their colleague and friend. home in central California. Mrs. Rosoff is scheduled for Dr. Pierce described Mrs. Most students appreci- Sunday, May 4. Anyone who Rosoff’s “passion and joy.” “She ated the speakers’ speeches. would like to attend can RSVP had passion for arts, creativity, “All three of them had speeches on the school website. “It’s the for students, for colleagues for that were really sentimental and community’s opportunity to come the school, for her own art…and caring,” said junior Katie Smith, together and celebrate her and the joy we saw every day, sitting another of Mrs. Rosoff’s advisees. remember her,” said Ms. McKee. right there,” he said with a gesture Math teacher Joshua Feder Meanwhile, students and to the crowd, “laughing at things and Director of Admissions Joan teachers are coming to terms that didn’t deserve to be laughed Edwards have taken over her with the loss of a teacher and at but, nonetheless, her cackle advisee group for the remainder mentor, who left her distinct, was recognizable to all of us.” of the year, rather than splitting indelible mark on the community Mrs. Semmelrock presented the group among the rest of the she gave so much of herself to. Students assembled this memorial for Mrs. Rosoff in the Roberts Art Gallery. her reflection as “just one more” Form Five advisee groups. Katie “It’s still pretty surreal,” Photo by Claire Halloran ‘15. conversation with her longtime said the arrangement was what Matt said, a sentiment echoed friend. She remembered visiting Mrs. Rosoff would have wanted. by the entire KO community. What’s Inside this Issue: NEWS OPINIONS ARTS FEATURES SPORTS Sophomores Senior’s final Photos of Mrs. Students, teach- Girls tennis compete in farewell to KO Rosoff’s work ers reflect on serves up Speakers’ Forum page 4 page 9 Mrs. Rosoff’s life great start page 6 page 11 page 20 THURSDAY THURSDAY 2 April 17, 2014 News Editorials April 17, 2014 3 With NYC skyline as backdrop, juniors take stroll in Central Park by Sophia Harrison ‘15 chicken, rice, and spring rolls. “It’s not really what I On Saturday evening, expected at a prom, and I guess March 29, the junior girls rushed I was a little disappointed,” into the cafeteria in fear of wet said junior Dylan Borruso. hair and running makeup from Julia agreed and said, “It was the torrential downpour outside. a weird combination of food. They They discovered that the didn’t really go well together.” prom committee of parents had The DJ started off as the decorated the cafeteria to resemble latest songs on the radio that a walk in Manhattan’s Central Park. everyone knew and could dance The big windows were to such as “Timber” by Kesha and covered with the New York “Counting Stars” by One Republic. skyline. Benches and plants were The DJ was also taking scattered around the cafeteria and people’s requests. “By the end of twinkly lights were hung overhead. the night he played a lot of rap and A caricature artist and Juniors dance the night away at the prom in the cafeteria on Saturday, March 29. Photo by XXXXXXXX old songs that were really hard to balloon animal vendor, added to the The center of the cafeteria “I thought the decorations really said junior Corinne Florian. dance to,” said junior Mary Mort. city feel. Students waited in line to was cleared for the dance floor, and resembled New York,” she said. To also provide a city feel, Mary said her plan all along get themselves drawn and to have curtains were hung to hide half of A surprise to students was popcorn and pretzel machines were was to go to prom. “But I told their favorite animal recreated. the cafeteria where the food is made. the horse and carriage waiting set up before dinner to imitate the everyone I wasn’t going to surprise “No one understands how “The committee did a outside to give them a ride around vendors on the streets of New my best friend Manda,” she said. excited I was to get a camel made,” really good job in decorating the circle, but, because of the rain, York. An ice cream bar was also Mary said she kind of said junior Julia McGowan. the entire cafeteria to make the only a few studentstook the ride. supplied throughout the night. had fun and not going with Tables were set up in students feel like they were “The horse and buggy was For dinner there was a date really wasn’t that bad. the back of the cafeteria with somewhere other than at,” a really good idea but unfortu- an array of Chinese food to “People were nice and white tablecloths. White said junior Jack Beckerman. nately it was raining and no one replicate China Town and hot really inclusive and commented tulips and candles were situ- Junior Addie Waskowitz said wanted to go outside and get wet dogs to again mimic the street on having respect for me ated in the center of the table. the decorations seemed authentic. in their dresses and tuxedos,” vendors. They had General Tso’s for going alone,” said Mary. Robotics competes in regional finals by Dylan Borruso ‘15 This year’s strategy for tant roles by helping to build the robotics team was a little or program the robot and The KO robotics team different than in previous years. offering technical support has always been strong, and this Science teacher Sarah Lamb, during competitions, she said. year was no exception. During the coach of the team, explained The members of the robotics March break, they advanced that there are two ways to team agreed that the sport is a past the state competition and advance during a competition.