fall–winter 2016-2017 MAGAZINE ANNUAL GIVING REPORT PHOTO SAFARI: ICELAND CONTRIBUTING NEW IDEAS WITH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES fall-winter 2016-2017 MAGAZINE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP Gerald Boarman, Ed.D., Head of School Michael Reidy, Ed.D., Associate Head of School Tim Simpson, Assistant Head, Director of Admission and Financial Aid Margaret Andreadis, Lower School Principal Jamie Dickie, Exec. Director of Technology Tracy Harris, Chief Financial Officer Darlene Haught, Exec. Director of Extended Programs and Emerging Technologies Kathleen Lloyd, Director of Girls Athletics Marilyn Moreno, Middle School Principal Andres Parra ’99, Director of Boys Athletics Robert Pollicino, Upper School Principal Joanne Szadkowski, Exec. Director of Institutional Advancement Lisa Vardi, Director of Cross Divisional Curriculum BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS Andrew Blair ’86, P’11, ’12, ’17, ’20, Chair Adam Greenberg, P’14, ’16, ’19, Vice Chair Lesley Lavalleye, P’06, ’08, ’10, Secretary George Mavrikes, P’14, ’17, Treasurer MEMBERS Gerald Boarman, Ed.D., ex-officio, Head of School Hillary Baltimore, P’17, ’20 Patrick Caulfield, P’14, ’20 Patricia Cohen, P’12, ’14 David Fink, P ’10, ’14, ’19 Dr. Gary Friedlander ’79, P’11, ’14, ’19 Jonathan Halle ’88, P’15, ’17 Kathryn Hanley, P’03, ’05 Claudia Helmig ’88, P’17, ’20, ’22 Richard Kay, P’12, ’14, ’18 Tammy McKnight, P’15, ’18 Alan Meltzer, P’98 Chris Nordeen, P’12, ’13 Shannon Priddy, P’14, ’16, ’21 Berry Trimble, P’10, ’13, ’17 David Trone, P’12, ’14 Cyndi Bullis Vasco ’83, P’20, ’21 Dell Warren, P’10, ’13 Mark Weinberger, P’14, ’16, ’18 Paula Widerlite, P’11, ’14 Kerry Wisnosky, P’17, ’19, ’24 Natasha Nazareth-Phelps, General Counsel MAGAZINE EDITORIAL TEAM Sherri A. Watkins, Publications Manager Susan King, Communications Coordinator Susie Zimmermann, Director of Team Bullis raised $1,400 and sent 19 members to The National Capital Walk to End Alzheimer’s in October, the nation’s Communications largest event to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s research. ON THE COVER: Members of the 2nd grade, excited to welcome primary school students, grades K-1st. For more, visit www.bullis.org/grow FEATURES 1 4 | Contributing New Ideas: The Work of Bullis’ Professional Learning Communities 1 8 | Photo Safari: Iceland 12 | Founders Day: The Start of a New Tradition 15 | In Memoriam: Bullis Staff PERSPECTIVES 2 | Head of School 40 | Advancement DEPARTMENTS 3 | Newsbites 11 | Arts 13 | Athletics ALUMNI 18 | News & Events 24 | Alumni Spotlight 29 | Mystery Alumni Photos 30 | Class Notes ANNUAL GIVING 39 | 2015-2016 Annual Report PERSPECTIVES: HEAD OF SCHOOL | Dr. Gerald L. Boarman NEW BEGINNINGS AND TRANSITIONS As we turn the calendar to a new year, we look ahead to the promise our 2017-2018 school year plans so we can enjoy it from the first day of what’s to come and the resolutions we make. The change we of school next fall. aspire to make in ourselves (and who doesn’t think there’s something we can each improve?) is indicative of the hopefulness of growth and We also recently proudly announced the addition of kindergarten st the promise of better things to come. and 1 grade, news that was met with great enthusiasm by current families and local alumni. Our tiniest new Bulldogs will start next Here at Bullis we are anticipating some changes in 2017 with fall and we are already talking with interested families and receiving great enthusiasm. Construction on the new Discovery Center is applications for each of the new classes. As one of the very few Aon schedule and each day brings the building closer and closer to schools in the area that have grades K-12 all on one campus, we are completion. You can read an update on it on page 3, and keep an pleased to offer a seamless experience for students and their parents. eye on daily progress via our website (www.bullis.org/discovery). Alleviating the stress of changing schools from elementary to middle Converting dreams and plans to steel beam and concrete is school or middle to upper school, and offering a complete program exhilarating, but it’s also important to plan for an efficient and within our caring community is indeed a benefit that we think will be smooth transition. As such, our own Transition Team of staff is hard in great demand. at work already setting a course for absorbing this new facility into May your own transition to 2017 be one that is positive and fulfilling. 2 BULLIS | Fall-Winter 2016-2017 NEWS BITES Members of the DISCOVERY CENTER: new Lower School Community CONSTRUCTION UPDATE Service Club raised funds and gathered materials in support of Comfort Cases, a local organization which provides essential COMFORT and comfort items for children in CASES foster care. The warm and dry fall weather has allowed construction on the new Gerald L. Boarman Discovery Center to progress on schedule. After months of preparatory and underground work that was largely invisible to passers-by, the building seems to have sprung up in the last six months. By the start of 2017 it will be completely For the 21st year, the Bullis “wrapped,” or sealed from the outside, with much of the exterior brickwork also community banded together nearing completion. to make a happy Thanksgiving That’s what you can see as you drive or walk by (or check out the live cam at www. 21 Years for needy Montgomery County bullis.org/discovery). Here’s what you can’t see: residents—assembling and donating 106 baskets of food, - Interior walls are complete along with baking 185 apple pies. - Electrical wiring has been roughed in - One set of stairs is complete and the others are nearing completion, and To read more about these stories and other - Drywall is going up. news, check out our Newsroom at bullis.org! In addition, the bio-retention ponds are being installed now to collect rainwater and manage run-off from the roof. This will filter out pollutants before the water goes back into the soil and will also prevent erosion and flooding in the area. Save the Date The building is on schedule for completion by this summer. You can follow the continuing progress at www.bullis.org/discovery, where you’ll find video and still Friday, March 17, 2017 images showing various spaces in the building under construction—and on their way to the reality depicted in renderings and plans. Check the page for regular updates. The Creating a Legacy of Leadership campaign is raising funds for the Discovery Center as well as for the new turf field that opened this fall to soccer and field hockey games and football practices. The field will be put to good use in the spring, as well, with a full schedule of lacrosse games. These significant campus projects are made possible through the generous support of many members of our extended Bullis community—parents, alumni, www.Bullis.org/Gala grandparents, staff, friends and many more. Contributions are welcome and are crucial to the completion of the Discovery Center: www.bullis.org/discovery. [email protected] BULLIS | www.bullis.org 3 CONTRIBUTING NEW IDEAS: The Work of Bullis’ Professional Learning Communities “PLCs are member-centered groups bringing new ideas, concepts and activities to the classroom and the community.” –Nate Gordon Supporting the professional initiative is producing tangible results. Recognizing the valuable work being done, development of staff is as school administrators allotted more time essential to school growth as in this year’s calendar for PLCs to meet, meeting the many needs of including late-delay mornings and a full professional development day. Some PLC students. groups also meet independently to further ongoing projects. Bullis has long provided opportunities for staff—both instructional and operational— “At first we thought the PLCs would change to further skills and knowledge through often, but many are still going strong,” workshops, conferences and guest speakers says Lower School Technology and Math and in meetings to exchange ideas and Coordinator Nate Gordon, who oversees expertise. The continued improvement the program. “They are furthering our that is a constant Bullis priority brings understanding of certain topics, and some far-reaching benefits to classrooms as well of their suggestions have already been as offices, helping to maintain our forward implemented.” edge in education and as a community. Notable contributions from Bullis PLCs In August 2013, Head of School Dr. Gerald include the new bottle filling stations— Boarman asked staff members to create filtered water fountains—installed in several several Professional Learning Communities locations on campus beginning last year. The (PLCs) for colleagues to come together suggestion came from the Sustainable Bullis to explore and discuss topics of mutual PLC headed by Middle School Technology interest. Several groups in a wide range of Coordinator Rita Gerharz and Upper subjects were created, including: Young School English Teacher Brad Kosegarten, Adult Book Club; Sustainable Bullis; which focused on new ways for Bullis to be Technology Helping Hands; Writing; environmentally responsible. The Young Young Women Leaders; Reading Initiative; Women Leaders PLC, in seeking strong Community Service@Bullis; When 24/7 Is female guest speakers, inspired a new Bullis Not Enough; Quiet; Building Grit; Twice- tradition of a convocation speaker to address Exceptional (2E) Learners; Digital Portfolios; the students on the first day of school; the Diversity and Equity; Cross-Curricular first speaker, in 2014, was alumna Nicole Connections; and new this year, Productivity Cutts ’88, followed by Josh Basile ’03 in Hacks. From top, Convocation speakers inspired by the 2015 and Moise Fokou ’04 this year. The Young Women Leaders PLC include Nicole Cutts Twice-Exceptional (2E) PLC, led by Learning Now in its fourth year, the Bullis PLC ’88, Josh Basile ‘03 in 2015 and Moise Fokou ’04 .