ShadySideAcademywww.shadysideacademy.org MAGAZINE SPRING 2007 Connect the Dots PROGRESS ON PRE-KINDERGARTEN 4 Shady Side Academy Readies to Welcome the Class of 2021 President’s Message joy of the successes surrounding “This, Our ovated Rowe Hall classroom building and Golden Opportunity”; it’s time for us to once student reactions to “living and learning” in Dear Shady again focus not only upon the culmination of this new environmentally conscious and sus- Side Academy the current year, but create new strategies tainable space. Community: (more “opportunities”) and plans which will Learn more about our new Senior School sustain and enhance the experiences between Head, Mr. Jeremy LaCasse, and his family an you believe our students, both current and future, and as they prepare to make their transition to Canother school those of the Academy well into the 21st cen- the Academy from the Fountain Valley year, the Academy’s tury. To this end, you will be reading much in School of Colorado, Colorado Springs, 123rd, is winding the upcoming issues of the Magazine about Colorado. Read about the accomplishment itself so rapidly to the Academy’s strategic response and vision of some of our alumni and their lives and yet another suc- regarding our programmatic, global, environ- careers in the Arts. Take a peek at our new cessful conclusion? mental, demographic and financially “sustain- Pre-K Building and read more about the With so much able” futures. Each is inextricably interrelated genesis of this new program at Shady Side excitement and with the other. Academy. Enjoy! accomplishment behind us since we opened In this issue of the Magazine you will learn In upcoming issues, I so look forward to the 2006-2007 academic year celebrating the more about our LEED certified, “green” ren- sharing with you the many new, meaningful 2 Shady Side Academy Magazine In this issue… 2 President’s Message 8 A Conversation with Jeremy LaCasse New Head of the Senior School 10 Rowe Reflections 8 12 Senior School Events 14 Founders Society Event 16 Middle School Events 18 Discovery Summer Programs 20 Junior School Events 22 Sports Briefs 18 24 From Antarctica to Broadway 26 Alumni/ae Events 30 Class News 40 In Memoriam 43 Important Dates to Remember 24 and exciting “futures” on the horizon at Shady Side Academy. What an exciting time for all of us to be a part of shaping and par- ticipating in the ongoing mission, journey On our front cover: Construction progress on the new Pre-K building on the Junior School Campus and architect Paul Shea’s and future of such a vital school and learn- ’79 model of the new Pre-Kindergarten building. Cover Design by: Peggy Warnock ing community. Editorial Assistance and Contributors: Jamie Brush ’98, Gene Deal, Karen Fedusa, Bob Grandizio, Sr., Bob Grandizio, Jr., Jeremy LaCasse, David Liebmann, Cheryl Little, Tron McConnell ’71, Carolyn Mericle, Katie Mihm ’83, Melinda Miller, Rick Munroe ’84, Sandy Renaldi, Tom Southard, Denny Thimons, Karyn Vella. Sincerely, Photography: Jamie Brush ’98, Maggie Dauer, Tron McConnell ’71, Melinda Miller, Rick Munroe ’84, Dudley Parr, Jennifer Riscili, Chuck Scott, Jack Wolf. Thank you especially to our faculty who contributes regularly to our photo archive. Many of their pho- tos are included in the magazine. Class News photos are submitted by alumni/ae and Class Correspondents. Design Consultant: Peggy Warnock Printed by: Knepper Press Shady Side Academy Magazine is published by Shady Side Academy for its alumni/ae, parents and friends of the school. Letters and suggestions are welcomed and should be sent to Melinda Miller, Shady Side Academy, 423 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. Address corrections should be sent to The Alumni Office, Shady Side Academy, 423 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. Junior School, 400 S. Braddock Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, 412-473-4400 Thomas N. Southard, President Middle School, 500 Squaw Run Rd. East, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, 412-968-3100 Shady Side Academy Senior School, 423 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, 412-968-3000 www.shadysideacademy.org Shady Side Academy Readies to Welcome the Class of 2021 INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE AND MUCH OF THE WRITING WAS PROVIDED BY CAROLYN MERICLE, JUNIOR SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER, AND CHERYL LITTLE, HEAD OF THE JUNIOR SCHOOL. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE FACULTY AND STAFF OF THE SHADY SIDE ACADEMY JUNIOR SCHOOL. and helping facilitate a seamless transition genesis of the program,” explained Mrs. ith a brand new building under into the fabric of the Junior School, is Little. “And, because she served as an inter- Wconstruction and a new program Carolyn Mericle. Mrs. Mericle joined the im Kindergarten teacher, she really knows developed especially for four-year-olds, faculty of the Shady Side Academy Junior what will be expected of children entering Shady Side Academy will welcome the School in the Fall of 2006 as an interim Shady Side Academy’s Kindergarten.” members of the Class of 2021 into our new replacement for a Kindergarten teacher. In addition to Mrs. Mericle, our Pre-K Pre-K program on opening day in August Carolyn is certified in both early childhood will be staffed by another teacher certified 2007. and elementary education. She has twenty in early childhood education and a student “Even just saying the class of 2021 can years of experience in independent schools intern from a local graduate program. seem daunting,” said Academy President working with children in preschool through While planning where the Pre-K would Tom Southard, “but as administrators and sixth grade. be, it was decided that a new building on teachers in the year 2007 — now is the time the grounds of the Junior School would best to lay the best possible educational founda- “Part of what research shows serve the programmatic and space require- tion for these future alumni. Part of what us is that early childhood ments of students this age. The new build- research shows us is that early childhood ing will incorporate spaces designed specif- education, such as the program we have education, such as the ically for four-year-olds (many windows are developed, will help children develop criti- program we have developed, installed at a height appropriate for four- cal social skills and further strengthen the will help children develop year-olds, for example) while still providing necessary foundation for lifelong learning.” access to the Junior School library, gym, Indeed, the Pre-Kindergarten year encom- critical social skills and further computer lab and other facilities. “Chris passes a critical period of learning and strengthen the necessary Holt, our art teacher, has also been helpful development in a child’s life. Numerous foundation for lifelong to the planning process by lending her eye research studies have demonstrated that for design, her creative touch and her stimulating experiences in a nurturing, learning.” knowledge of children,” added Cheryl high-quality program have enduring bene- Little. fits for the student’s school career. PRESIDENT TOM SOUTHARD What guided the faculty and administra- Parents are recognizing these benefits and tion as we developed our program, more and more choose to enroll their chil- “Carolyn has been integral in developing designed our spaces and chose our materi- dren in a Pre-Kindergarten program. our overarching Pre-Kindergarten plan into als? It was the developmental characteristics “Trends are definitely moving toward an a program that will provide meaningful and of four-year-olds as documented by rep- early childhood education that begins with appropriate learning experiences for our utable research. For example, children that Pre-K,” said Cheryl Little, head of the incoming Pre-K students. She also helped by age are: highly physically active, curious, Junior School. “In fact, a 2003 census attending our Pre-K Open Houses and concrete thinkers, interested in word play report indicates that nearly 60% of all eligi- screening days; she has even helped select and big vocabulary, and socially ready to ble children were enrolled in a Pre-K pro- furniture, flooring materials, color schemes develop reciprocal friendships. Our under- gram. More importantly, however, is that and supplies for the Pre-K program. It has standing of children and their needs is based appropriate early childhood education has been wonderful to have her here this year! on the work of many theorists including, benefits that can last a lifetime.” She’s been wearing two hats: 1) kindergarten but not limited to Jean Piaget, Lev Assisting in the development of Shady teacher; and 2) next year’s Pre-K teacher. It’s Vygotsky, Stanley Greenspan, Constance Side Academy’s Pre-Kindergarten program, also great for her to be involved from the Kamii, Mel Levine and many more. Spring 2007 5 “…We are enhancing our programming based on the latest research and trends in early childhood education. Nothing less is acceptable when providing an exceptional, leading and significant education.” PRESIDENT TOM SOUTHARD The program is also guided by profession- The American Academy of Pediatrics through teacher lessons, but also through al associations, policy groups and groups recently released a report about the value of play as students learn to resolve conflicts which provide school accreditations. For play. This report is the latest in a long line of and share ideas together. example, the National Association for the overwhelming evidence that play provides Mrs. Mericle explained, “We want our stu- Education of Young Children or NAEYC is irreplaceable opportunities to develop so dents to leave Pre-K with strong communi- instrumental in defining developmentally many foundational skills for future health cation skills, solid phonemic awareness and appropriate practice. Another influential and academic success. When children play, alphabetic knowledge, an appreciation for organization is the Northeast Foundation they have their whole brain stimulated, not many types of books and poetry and a solid for Children which advocates what is called just specific areas related to formal academ- grasp of concepts of print.