SADDLE RIVER DAY SCHOOL Bulletin FALL 2020 and Annual Report We are Ready for whatever comes next Message from Distinguished Alum SRDS Responds Visual Arts the Head of School Allen Popowitz to COVID-19 Goes Virtual Page 2 Page 8 Page 24 Page 26 TABLE OF CONTENTS OUR MISSION 2020-2021 BOARD OF TRUSTEES We inspire each child to achieve Executive Committee 2 Message from the Head of School 4 personal and academic excellence Mr. John Haller – President and to become a caring and ethical Mr. Rosario Ruffino – Vice President & Treasurer contributor to society. Mr. Dale Smith – Secretary SNAPSHOTS OF EXCELLENCE Mr. Jalaj Desai – Head of School 4 Class of 2020 Commencement OUR CORE VALUES Trustees 6 Class of 2020 College Destinations Mr. Scott Braen Everyone Counts: 7 Class of 2020 NCAA Athletes Mr. Frank Coyne All talents and contributions are Mr. Zak Gaibi 8 prized. Mr. Abraham Han PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE Mrs. Lisa Kelly 8 Distinguished Alum Allen Popowitz ’88 Love of Learning: Mrs. Kim Lawrie Mr. Wes Powell 10 A Celebration of the Arts The school engenders a life-long love Mr. Robert Regular 13 2014 Rebel Athletic Hall of Fame Honorees 20 of learning. Mr. Stephen Savas Emeriti EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Intellectual Risk Taking: Mr. William Cassidy III 14 Caring and Ethical Citizens Ms. Jackie Finestone ’80 Inspired by a nurturing, intimate 16 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mr. Lawrence C. Raia environment that ensures physical Dr. Mary Clark Romney ’67 18 Innovative Student Experiences @SRDS and emotional security. Mr. Lawrence Salameno (deceased) 20 Faculty Spotlight Mr. Robert Sivori Mr. Stuart Steckler 22 New Academic Gateway Diplomas Program 10 Mr. Edward Tafaro 23 New Pre-K 3’s Program Founders Mr. John (deceased) & Mrs. Diane Alford ON & OFF CAMPUS 24 SRDS Responds to COVID-19 26 Visual Arts Goes Virtual SRDS BOARD OF TRUSTEES 28 The Curtain Rises on the Performing Arts 28 The Trustees of Saddle River Day School provide commitment 30 Rebels the BEST in NJ State? and leadership for the advancement of the School’s mission, 32 Undefeated 16-0 Season & League Champs! vision, and growth, as well as the preservation of the School’s rich legacy. 33 The Legacy of Lee Wilson 34 Brick House & Alumni Events In partnership with the Head of School, the Board of Trustees 23 oversees and ensures all legal obligations are met and works to build a strong endowment by supporting annual fundraising and FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY capital campaigns. The Board plays a vital role in guiding Saddle 36 Thank You for Supporting SRDS River Day School forward and ensuring that the institution is run 34 with the utmost professionalism, while remaining at the forefront 37 SRDS Annual Giving Report of educational and technological development. 41 Remembering Larry Salameno The Board is comprised of parents, alumni, and community members with a deep affection, affiliation, and commitment to the school. They are highly skilled in their outside professions and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that allows them to work together toward the best interests of the school. 30 CREDITS: Editor-In-Chief: Gretchen Lee Kuhlman Design: Farrell Design Photographers: Chris Carroll, Keri Eisenberg, Richard Formicola, Grant Gibson, Gretchen Lee Kuhlman Saddle River Day School Fall 2020 Bulletin and Annual Report | 1 EMPHASIS ON ACADEMICS We are Ready for Whatever Comes Next Jalaj Desai, Head of School What a year this has been! Beginning with the significant changes to the SRDS Administrative Team — including my appointment as the permanent Head of School amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic — to the challenges of reopening our school on time in a safe and secure manner, we have experienced more in the last nine months than others have in a lifetime. And yet, we remain resilient and optimistic. Saddle River Day School pivoted to remote learning on March 24th, the first day “back” from spring break. With the decision being made on March 17th, the administration and faculty had literally one week to prepare and train for this transition. For the faculty of a school — an institution integral to normalcy for many families in our community and As we forge on into country — to manage the safety and health the fall, we will most of their own households during a crisis definitely face new while still teaching online with care and obstacles, navigating empathy each day is a feat that shouldn’t be understated. Students look to their a year that may be but if done the right way, we hope to not We will continue to be adaptable and teachers as role models and a genuine just as unpredictable only endure, but enjoy and learn from resilient in handling education through litmus test for an eventual return to as the last. the “new way.” It is our creativity and the most turbulent time in recent normalcy. At a time when home life could talent as educators that will set us apart be the most chaotic, it was more important as an institution. We have embodied our American history for we truly are “ready than ever to show true empathy and As we move through the next phases mission: the deep “love of learning” runs for whatever comes next.” compassion. Children often perceive and toward recovery, it is important to know through our blood and when combined digest the emotional and behavioral state that our time is now as the nation needs with a culture that promotes “intellectual greatly commend your efforts in handling of their surroundings, and school is such a educators who will reinforce a young risk taking,” we can provide our students a spring semester that forced us to quickly large part of their world. Therefore, it is all population with knowledge, critical on into the fall, we will most definitely an experience surpassing other institutions adapt and keep our classrooms operating the more critical to reflect on our duties as thinking, and citizenry to prevent the face new obstacles, navigating a year that in creativity, safety, and outcome. As smoothly. We will continue to be adaptable positive role models. I am grateful for each worst going forward. The part we will now may be just as unpredictable as the last. overstated or cliche as it may be, we, and resilient in handling education and every one who went (and continues play — whether in person or remote — However, what makes this time different like many others, are doing our best to through the most turbulent time in recent to go) so far above and beyond during this will serve us well in the long run to keep is the very simple fact that we are now veer our ship away from the countless American history for we truly are “ready unprecedented time. our community happy, safe, and informed. well prepared. Going forward will not be obstacles, so it genuinely means something for whatever comes next.” Although we have proven our adaptability easy. Dealing with the new campus format, when it is said that “everyone counts.” We to novel circumstances, we hope that it pivoting back and forth from virtual to are educators for a reason, and to all our need not be tested again. As we forge in-person learning is a daunting prospect, faculty, staff and families, I want to 2 | Fall 2020 Bulletin and Annual Report Saddle River Day School Saddle River Day School Fall 2020 Bulletin and Annual Report | 3 SNAPSHOTS OF EXCELLENCE SNAPSHOTS OF EXCELLENCE A Unique and Special Celebration: The following awards were given to the SRDS Graduates the Class of 2020 Our Tribute to the Class of 2020 members of the Senior Class during the Senior Awards Ceremony: On Thursday, July 23rd, Charter Field was the site of the in-person Graduation events Lifers for the Saddle River Day School Class of 2020. Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, these celebrations looked very different than in past years, but remained as festive as ever. Administrators, Emma Kim Victoria Miller faculty, and staff were committed to making 2020 Departmental Academic Awards an in-person celebration for students and their families happen as allowed by the English Award of Excellence Jordan Janowski State of New Jersey. The day began with graduation rehearsal and was followed by a Mathematics Award of Excellence Stephen Savas celebration of student accomplishments at the Senior Awards Ceremony. Science Award of Excellence Emma Kim and Danielle Rizzuto In the evening, seniors and their families World Language Award of Excellence Sophia McMahon attended a ceremony where graduating students sat with a limited number of History and Social Sciences Award of Excellence Victoria Miller family members in the audience instead of on the dais. They listened to speeches Visual Arts Award of Excellence Vanessa Viglucci and Shiyao Sheila Wu given by Head of the Upper School Tony Performing Arts Award of Excellence Maccarella, classmates Jordan Janowski and Danielle Rizzuto Stephen Savas, and Head of School Jalaj Desai, all with the theme of “resiliency” SRDS Scholar Award and enjoyed time all together on campus Stephen Savas as a class. While attendees wore masks Head of School Award and maintained physical distance from Dylan Strober one another, it was wonderful to be able to Upper School Citizenship Cup spend time together and officially close the Jordan Janowski year for our students. SRDS Humanitarian Award Stephen Savas Congratulations to the Class of 2020! Jeremy L Glick Freedom Award Dylan Besserer Outstanding Improvement Sophia McMahon Male & Female Athletes Dylan Besserer and Sophia McMahon Head of School’s Honor Roll Julia Haber, Jordan Hungreder, Ethan Kahn, Leo Kong, Sara Martos, Danielle Rizzuto, Stephen Savas, Kassidy Todisco, Maggie Woods, Shiyao Sheila Wu 4 | Fall 2020 Bulletin and Annual Report Saddle River Day School Saddle River Day School Fall 2020 Bulletin and Annual Report | 5 SNAPSHOTS OF EXCELLENCE SNAPSHOTS OF EXCELLENCE Class of 2020 BELIEVE.