Tatnall Today Magazine - Summer 2021 by The Tatnall School

SUMMER 2021

MORE THAN A MASK

:: TATNALL TODAY :: SUMMER 2021

Table of Contents DEPARTMENTS The Tatnall School 1501 Barley Mill Road | Wilmington, DE 19807 (302) 998-2292 | www.tatnall.org Tatnall Today is published by the Marketing & Communications Office of The Tatnall School. Copyright by The Tatnall School. Alumni and faculty articles encouraged.

4 Message From Head of School 5 Around Campus 8 Meet The Board 10 New Faculty 11 Diversity, Equity, and Community

E D I TO R Cabin Communications | (267) 884-6328

18 Sports Accolades 20 Congratulations 2021 26 28 32

Graduates Community Impacts Alumni Profiles Class Notes

The School admits students regardless of race, color, creed, ethnic, national origin or disability who possess the motivation, ability, and character which would enable them to succeed in our School community to the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School and the School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnic, national origin or disability in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

F E AT U R E S 14 More Than A Mask: A Successful Year at Tatnall

Despite COVID Restrictions As the COVID-19 pandemic continued throughout the 2020-2021 school year, the challenges of mask requirements, social distancing and safety precautions proved no match for The Tatnall School.

22 The Start of Something Special Arianna Montgomery knows Usain Bolt’s world-record time in the 200 meters without any help from Google (19.19 seconds). She’s memorized it because she looks up to him, along with four-time Olympian Allyson Felix, but also because she seems to be using it as motivation.

24 Tatnall Students Give Back Through

“Pandemic of Love” Recognizing the challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, six friends took the opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade— working together to help community members in need. SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

A Message From The Head of School Do you remember March 2020 when we casually said “see you in two weeks” to our friends, family members, and co-workers? Few could have imagined then that COVID-19 would still be affecting our day-to-day lives a year and a half later. While many organizations hunkered down and treaded water during the pandemic, I’m proud that Tatnall persevered, innovated, and evolved in ways we never imagined when all of this began. Our cover story in this issue of Tatnall Today – “More than a Mask” (page 14) – shares the story of how we were able to hold in-person classes more than 90% of the time during the 2020-21 school year. This was an amazing accomplishment. Imagination and creativity thrived as we transformed our wonderful campus into outdoor classrooms and natural playgrounds for our Early Childhood and Lower School students. On the Middle and Upper School levels, we adjusted our classroom schedule and implemented other measures to ensure the safety of our students while still allowing them to have as normal a year as possible. Much credit goes to our students, staff, and parents who worked together to create a learning environment that was both unique and effective. As always, this issue of the magazine is filled with inspiring stories about our students and our wonderfully talented alumni. Whether they are setting new athletic records (page 22), helping community members in need (page 24), or using their creative talents to inspire others (pages 28 – 31), the spirit of our students past and present shines through. As I enter my second year as Head of School, I thank you for your unwavering support and partnership. If my first year taught me anything, it’s that Tatnall is not only a place of excellence, but of joy, purpose, resilience, innovation, and possibility. I am very excited about the year to come and determined to help our community embrace the student experience and form strong bonds with each other and the world around us. Go Hornets!

Andrew D. Martire, Ed.D. Head of School 4

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AroundCampus E A R LY C H I L D H O O D | L O W E R S C H O O L | M I D D L E S C H O O L | U P P E R S C H O O L

New Senior Tradtitions The Class of 2021 has left its mark on campus as they started a new tradition with their mural on the wall of the art room courtyard. Above the daisies and into the clouds, the seniors left a handprint and their name. The seniors spent their last three days at Tatnall participating in service projects around campus. Four projects ran concurrently: improvements to the outdoor classrooms, painting a mural for the EC, ridding the Bookman trail of invasive plants, and creating a video of Tatnall memories. Together, the senior class worked hard, bonded, and left their mark on the Tatnall community.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This question was a topic of conversation among the kindergarten children, and like time, has still gone unanswered. For the second year, the Early Childhood science classes have partnered with the University of Delaware Animal Sciences department, and incubated and hatched chicks. The children practice the star value of patience as they wait 21 long days. During this time, they learn about candling and daily egg development. Ask any kindergarten student and they could probably tell you what happens in a chicken egg on day 14! During the process, we add a webcam to watch as the chicks hatch from their eggs, and then we watch them grow in the brooder box. While they are only with us in science class for a few weeks, the biggest highlight is of course holding and petting them, and laughing as they run around the classroom.

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AroundCampus

New Music Initiative

Market Day Our third and fourth grade entrepreneurs wrote business plans, conducted market research, created hand-made products, and built online stores in this year’s COVID-safe mini-society! This integrated STEM project combines reading, writing, mathematics, financial literacy, website-building, and tons of collaboration, as students learn to persevere through the challenges of owning their own business. LS STEM Coordinator Heather Brooks, loves how the real-life application of economic concepts, such as supply and demand, advertising analysis, and monetary systems, can be rolled into such a fun and relevant experience. Students spent their profits bidding on books at our annual book auction.

Battle of the Books This year’s fourth and fifth graders brought their A-game to win this year’s Tri-Cup Battle of the Books! Competing against students from nearby schools, our Tatnall readers answered rapid-fire questions about books they read above and beyond their class reads. Students enjoy the camaraderie of reading books together in a mega book club, while also racing to beat the clock against their own goals, their team’s expectations, and their competitors’ skills. Congratulations to our Hornets for a great Battle season! 6

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Step aside COVID, our musicians want to play! Instrumental music has been an integral part of Tatnall’s music curricula for many decades, but this year’s protocols restricted our typical means. So, when an opportunity arose to get ukuleles for fourth and fifth graders, we jumped on it! The Music and Advancement Teams partnered to apply for a World Music Initiative grant from the Anthony Penna Charitable Fund. Thanks to the fund and Tatnall’s Home & School Association, we were able to secure funding to purchase ukuleles for every fourth and fifth grade student. This 1:1 program provided students an opportunity to explore instrumental music while still maintaining health and safety directives. Students enjoyed both the independence of individual playing time as well as the chance to make music together within their homerooms. The culmination of the year was having the fifth graders play along to Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” at their Lower School Moving Up Day. We look forward to jamming out for many years to come.

AroundCampus Presenting “Peter and the Wolf” Part of our Tatnall Kindergarten curriculum includes an acting and musical performance. Due to COVID protocols and procedures, we had to abandon our usual collaboration between the orange and yellow room to maintain cohorts. This led us to do something different to provide the children with their acting and musical experience while maintaining safety. By sticking with the music curriculum for each class, taught by Linda Champagne, and adding simple costumes and props, we were able to produce two amazing shows that were filmed and shared with all families. The characters were chosen by the children and they acted out the parts by feeling the music. There were no lines to remember, just listening to the narrator, knowing their positions, taking cues, and the music took them away!

Playbill: The Show Will Go On! Tatnall students once again proved that the show must go on in 2021. In preparation for the May production, the Playbill performers selected a song of their choice and on May 1, and participated in Master Class where they received coaching from Broadway stars, directors and composer/lyricists, including Tatnall’s own Tim Huang ’93. The Broadway professionals were blown away by what they saw, and you will be too. The Tantall Production team videotaped each performer and compiled the videos into one spectacular performance, which was streamed to the community on May 21. Miss the premier? Get your popcorn and click on the QR code to enjoy the show today!

Inaugural Tatnall School Excellence in Service Award Nurse Mary Garrett, whose indefatigable work ethic, professionalism, and expertise were integral to our health and safety this year, was presented with the inaugural Tatnall School Excellence in Service Award by Dr. Andy Martire at this year’s Commencement. The Award will be given annually to a member of the faculty and staff for outstanding performance and exemplary teamwork during the course of that academic year.

Readers’ Theater This year’s Readers Theater production represents a pared down and simplified version of our traditional sixth grade play, allowing us to give the students a shared theatrical experience while still adhering to Tatnall’s health and safety regulations. This year, students worked in their small groups on timing, clarity, expression, and humor. They also collaborated to find ways to personalize their scenes and learned to support each other and think on their feet in front of the camera. Please use this QR code to enjoy the sixth graders’ production of “Fractured Fairytales!”

Third Grade Computer Science Researchers Our third grade technology teams learned to program using MIT’s Scratch interface. Combining programming and reading, students created programs revealing the clues they found in their mystery book clubs. These lessons, written by LS STEM Coordinator Heather Brooks as part of the CS4DE research program at the University of Delaware, are part of a National Science Foundation research study on the integration of computational thinking in disciplinary coursework. Our third graders not only learned how to code, their ideas— shared in surveys and focus groups with University of Delaware professors and doctoral students—will also guide professional development in computer science for the State of Delaware.

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Meet the Board Tatnall’s Board of Trustees is a diverse group of professionals who embody the Mission of our school and are devoted to driving our growth and maximizing our impact. Each trustee has their own reason for dedicating their time to Tatnall, and each reason speaks to a deep respect and appreciation for our unique culture. Get to know the men and women who support our school.

Steve Marvin ’88

Keith Morton ’74

As president of the board since 2017, what from your tenure are you proudest of ?

What’s compelled you to remain involved in Tatnall for the better part of the last five decades?

Appointing the Head of School is one of the most important responsibilities of the Tatnall School Board of Trustees, so I’m proudest of bringing Dr. Andrew D. Martire here. I very much believe that he’s a great fit for Tatnall. In his short time here, it’s already easy to see how much he cares about all the people within our close-knit community, from the students and their parents through the faculty and alumni. He’s really embracing our Mission and unique culture. That’s been very encouraging for me to see, because compassion is such an important component of who we are and what we’re about. It’s what I loved most about the school when I was a student, and I particularly appreciate it now as a parent of Tatnall students. It’s also what continues to draw me back to Tatnall to support the school in whatever ways I can.

Tatnall opened up a whole new world to me, and that continued even after I graduated. So much of what I’ve achieved, I can trace back to my time at Tatnall. It was, and continues to be, everything I could ask of a learning institution. Secondly, Tatnall has become our family’s school. My nieces, both Wooden Spoon Award winners, graduated in 2009 and 2011. And they’ve described experiences that were similar to mine. So Tatnall has been a consistently positive presence in mine and my family’s lives.

We’re coming off one of the most turbulent periods in recent history. What fills you with optimism about Tatnall’s immediate future? This school year has actually been a great example of Dr. Martire’s positive influence. He came in at such a difficult time and brought everyone together. I’m genuinely excited to see him operate in a normal environment, without the weight of the world always bearing down on his plans. But even under such trying circumstances, there’s plenty to feel encouraged about, including the ways he’s helping to shape our outdoor classrooms and environmental studies program.

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Reflecting on your long association with Tatnall, what resonates most with you? When I was a student in the seventies, it was very much like it is now. There was a lot of political upheaval and activism around the Vietnam war and civil rights movement. Tatnall became my refuge from much of that. While I did experience some racism, the vast majority of people embraced me as family. Because of that, I always felt like the school was actively trying to live up to its values. And as a result of that experience, and because of all the ways the school has supported me, I’ve wanted to be involved in enabling Tatnall to continue to aspire to be its best self. I believe it’s especially important at this critical time for the school to listen to different perspectives from its history. That will bring clarity to the future and help Tatnall evolve its mission accordingly.

The relevancy of our curriculum balances creativity and critical thinking. The education a student receives at Tatnall is by no means narrowly focused, which I believe is so important in today’s world. — Caroline Brown Lintner ’83

Caroline Brown Lintner ’83

Frank McKelvey

You’ve been a trustee since 2005, and you were President of the Board from 2013 to 2017. Why take such an active role in shaping Tatnall’s present and future?

You’ve been a trustee for the last 12 years, but that’s really just scratching the surface of what is a deep involvement in Tatnall.

Well, I’m a graduate of The Tatnall School, as were my sisters. I believe deeply in its Mission and motto, “All Things Done in Love.” I’d like to believe that for everyone in the Tatnall community those are more than words. Everything here is done with a lot of heart. The most shining example of that is our teachers. They adopt each student as an individual. And that’s been the case since I was student. Looking back on your time as board president, what do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments? Maintaining focus on the school’s Mission. My term coincided with a generational shift at Tatnall. Dr. Eric G. Ruoss retired after 17 years. He was the longest-serving Head of School since school founder Frances Dorr Swift Tatnall. At the same time, we also embarked on a significant, multi-year strategic planning process. So there was a lot of upheaval. But both the board and our faculty remained stable because, I think, they believed in our Mission. And that went a long way toward protecting our unique culture here. What fills you with optimism about Tatnall’s immediate future? The relevancy of our curriculum, which balances creativity and critical thinking. The education a student receives at Tatnall is by no means narrowly focused, which I believe is so important in today’s world.

My wife, Patti, and I started off simply enough, reading to our daughters’ classes while they were in Early Childhood. It was a great way for us to get a glimpse into that part of their lives. And then Patti was a homeroom parent through their Lower School years. I’ve done some calling for the annual fund, and I was asked to join a marketing committee before eventually serving on the board. As our daughters got older, we found ourselves manning the concession stand at football games and the Hungry Hornet at various sporting events. We’ve met a lot of people along the way we might not otherwise have gotten to know very well and become close friends. We think about it this way: The teachers do so much. Volunteering is one way we can support them. Your two daughters are in college now. Your son is about to enter eighth grade at Tatnall. How has your perspective as a Tatnall volunteer evolved? I now see us having a long-term relationship with Tatnall. When we were picking a school for our daughters, we were strictly focused on finding the best place for them. All these years later, we’ve come to appreciate that the school serves many children. And we’ve benefitted from the generosity of people we’ve never met who invested their time and money in Tatnall well before our daughters and son were enrolled here. That’s got us thinking more and more these days about how we can help the students at Tatnall 20 years from now.

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Faculty Profile

Ushering in a Bold New Future

This summer, Ensign Simmons ’02 will arrive at The Tatnall School campus, his thoughts ricocheting between fond memories and possibilities for a bold new future. Simmons was appointed as Tatnall’s Innovation Coordinator, a new position that will include the librarian’s responsibilities. But his greater undertaking will be to expand the school’s use of technology both in systemic ways and granular adjustments to curriculums. “This new challenge is, if I’m being honest, a little daunting, but it’s also exciting,” says Simmons, who began his tenure at the school on August 1. “I’ve been working through some ideas, and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running. I appreciate that there may be some reluctance about the humanities going full-technology, but I’m confident I can generate some excitement about ways we can further incorporate it.” Simmons was a teacher for the last 14 years, most recently at Sanford School, a private school in Hockessin. He taught the full spectrum of high school mathematics, from algebra I to advanced placement calculus. He also taught physics and developed his own STEM electives for electronics and robotics, among others. Technology has been both a core feature of his curriculums and a means by which he could enhance his lesson plans. While he gets excited thinking about the hands-on nature of his STEM classes, Simmons came to understand over the last year that technology’s greatest value in education is in deepening the connection between teacher and student and, in turn, increasing understanding. “Meaningful education can still take place in a remote setting,” he says. 10 :: TATNALL TODAY :: SUMMER 2021

Come the start of the new school year, the most visible sign of Simmons’s presence, he says, will be the “reimagining” of the library. “We’ll be consolidating the book collection and bringing in new technology, which will make the space feel new,” Simmons says. “But I’m going to make sure that it retains the homey vibe that I remember from my days as a student.” That’s the other part of his story: Simmons graduated from The Tatnall School in 2002.

It was really a place where I could explore my curiosity freely, whether in the classroom, on the playing field, or even backstage. As a student, I was grateful for that. Now, with my new role, I’m hoping to help today’s students expand their imaginations. — Ensign Simmons ’02 Tatnall’s Innovation Coordinator

As an alumnus, he says he’s feeling “a little extra incentive” to make the most of the opportunity. Simmons remembers Tatnall as the place where he began to come into his own. He enrolled at the school for his ninth-grade year after attending The Independence School, in Newark. “It was really a place where I could explore my curiosity freely, whether in the classroom, on the playing field, or even backstage,” he says. “As a student, I was grateful for that. Now, with my new role, I’m hoping to help today’s students expand their imaginations.”

Faculty Profile

‘ We’re All Willing to Give Each Other More Grace’ At the end of last summer, everyone – students, parents, teachers, and administrators alike – had a lot on their minds. Protests over racial injustice continued to smolder. A presidential election that had become especially divisive was on the horizon. And the surrealness of the COVID-19 pandemic compounded all of it. Anticipating widespread emotional fragility as students and teachers returned to school, Marc Scott, Director of Equity and Community at The Tatnall School and a history instructor in the Upper School, and Rebecca Whitesell, MA, NCC, LPC, a newly-hired counselor at Tatnall, contacted the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They were looking for guidance in developing resources to enable the Tatnall community to engage in open, honest, and productive conversations about mental health. “We felt like we had to talk about it more, but we knew we would need additional resources to better address mental health concerns,” Scott says. “We also didn’t want to wait for things to happen and react to them. We wanted to be as proactive as we could,” Whitesell adds. Their initiatives took a variety of forms. The faculty dress code was relaxed. Additional mental health providers were invited to Tatnall to talk about the importance of self-care. Whitesell and Scott also regularly checked in with students and teachers through email surveys. “We tried to use that data to inform big-picture ideas about how to reduce stress overall,” Scott says. “For the most part, we acted as mediators.” Every student survey included the question “Do you need to speak with a school counselor?” Whitesell says “multiple students” who had never experienced anxiety or depression before contacted her, believing they were experiencing symptoms of one of the conditions or both of them.

We tried to use that data to inform big-picture ideas about how to reduce stress overall. For the most part, we acted as mediators. — Marc Scott Director of Equity and Community

potentially hostile event, like the presidential election or the announcement of a verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. In those instances, Whitesell and Scott brought everyone together to offer reassurance that no one was alone in what they were feeling. But also to remind them to be respectful of those who felt differently. They organized two gatherings after the capitol insurrection in January. And following the Chauvin verdict in April, they hosted a special breakout group on Zoom. “Because it was a smaller session, more people were willing to let their guard down and be vulnerable,” Whitesell says. As the school year ended, Scott says he sensed fatigue, but also optimism among the students. He also picked up on a deeper empathy than he’d previously experienced at the school.

She encouraged others who came to her feeling overwhelmed to talk with their teachers.

“I think the best way to summarize it is, we’re all willing to give each other more grace,” he says. “This year, people have been more willing to say, ‘I’m not OK.’ And it’s made us more mindful of each other. The worry now is that when the pandemic ends, life will return to the way it was, with people acting like everything’s fine.”

If they felt enough people were struggling, they’d talk with administrators about scheduling a virtual day. Often, concern peaked in anticipation of a

For those reasons, Whitesell and Scott say plans are already underway to renew the focus on mental health during the coming school year.

“What we wanted to help our students do is develop an awareness of what they might be feeling and put a name to it,” Whitesell says.

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Balance is very important to me. We needed to find a school with strong academics where our boys would learn to be well-mannered, diligent students, but also a place that would let kids be kids. We were looking for a partner to help guide and shape our boys’ future. When we toured Tatnall, it 100% stood out in that respect. — Kate Handling

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The Handlings Will ’30, Huck ’33, and Jett ’35

Why

Tatnall?

In the US, children attend school about 180 days a year for an average of 6.8 hours each day. From the time they begin Kindergarten until they graduate from high school, this amounts to approximately 12,240 school hours. Choosing how, and where, their children will spend these school hours is one of the biggest decisions many parents will make. A recent conversation with Tom Handling (‘97), a Tatnall alumni and physical therapist who owns a practice in the area, and his wife Kate, a freelance graphic artist and website designer, reveals why Tatnall was the right choice for their family. “Our oldest son Will started at Tatnall in Kindergarten,” says Kate. “Huck and Jett followed, starting in PK3 Early Childhood. Tom is a Tatnall alum, but I’m from Pennsylvania. Delaware is very interesting and offers a lot of different choices. I wanted to explore all the (school) options before making a decision.” For Tom, the answer was clear. “I always wanted our boys to go to Tatnall,” he says. “But I supported Kate in wanting to look at a variety of schools both public and private.” “Tom and I met at the University of Delaware, and I always admired his studying habits and drive to succeed,” says Kate. “He credited Tatnall with instilling a strong work ethic in him from a very young age. “Balance is very important to me,” she adds. “We needed to find a school with strong academics where our boys would learn to be well-mannered, diligent students, but also a place that would let kids be kids. We were looking for a partner to help guide and shape our boys’ future. When we toured Tatnall, it 100% stood out in that respect.”

That tour proved to be a happy walk down memory lane for Tom. “I can still remember the first tour we took with Will,” he shares. “It brought back so many memories for me and it was great to see the changes around campus as well. They’ve done an amazing job on the outdoor space, it’s nice to see them expand on the natural environment that is so integral to the Tatnall experience.” The outdoor space was a selling point for Kate too. “The incredible outdoor campus is like nothing we saw at other schools,” she explains. “Tatnall was definitely the best decision for our family. The teachers have embraced each of our boys’ individual personalities and encourage them to learn every day through exploration and play. “I felt especially lucky to have the boys at Tatnall this past year during COVID,” Kate continues. “The school really stepped up. They were well organized, and the teachers went above and beyond. Our boys didn’t notice a difference from a normal year. They spent so much of their time outside. Every day when I would pick them up they would get in the car and say, ‘Today was a great day!’” “The school’s safety protocols were great and communication to parents was wonderful,” adds Tom. “And the new Head of School, Andy Martire, has been an excellent addition. His door has always been open to me via email and phone calls. “I have zero regrets about the decision,” Tom continues. “My mom went to Tatnall and was an educator there for 23 years. My brother, cousins and other relatives also went there. I wanted our boys to head in that direction and I’m very happy that Kate felt the same way.”

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MORE THAN A MASK

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

AT TATNALL

Despite COVID Restrictions

s the COVID-19 pandemic continued throughout the 2020-2021 school year, the challenges of mask requirements, social distancing and safety precautions proved no match for The Tatnall School. Thanks to some out-of-thebox thinking, a tremendous amount of planning, and the dedication of the administration, faculty, staff, parents and students, Tatnall was able to provide an exceptional year of learning under extraordinary circumstances. The 110-acre Tatnall campus and surrounding habitats became both classroom and lunchroom for students throughout the year. Early Childhood took advantage of its newly awarded Outdoor Classroom certification to offer developmentally appropriate, safe outside learning opportunities for its students. The reimagined “I Love to Read Month” curriculum brought new experiences for Lower School students who also found creative new ways to play. And a varied schedule allowed Tatnall to provide a full-year of in-person learning for Middle and Upper School students. Early Childhood Receives 1st Outdoor Classroom Certification in New Castle County Outdoor learning and play are integral parts of Early Childhood at The Tatnall School. In 2003 the Early Childhood Habitat was certified by the National Wildlife Federation and in April 2021, Tatnall’s Early Childhood Outdoor Classroom received certification from the Nature Explore program – the first of its kind to be certified in New Castle County and only the second in the state! PK4 students examine a tadpole at the pond in the EC Certified Wildlife Habitat.

“EC Science Teacher Amanda Peltz attended the Nature Explore professional development in the summer of 2019. We started the certification process shortly thereafter, in

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hopes of meeting the requirements by the following spring. Then COVID hit and our plans were halted,” says Aimee Neff, Head of Early Childhood. “Once we returned to campus, we took up where we left off and were thrilled to receive certification this year.” Outdoor classrooms offer interactive spaces where children can use their creativity, imagination and problem-solving skills in an unconstrained environment, helping them develop skills across a broad spectrum of areas. Various equipment, materials and signage criteria must be met to be recognized as a Certified Nature Explore Classroom. “Our outdoor space was outstanding to begin with, so we started by identifying areas of our existing space that could be modified to meet requirements for certification,” shares Neff. “Extending our classrooms to these outdoor spaces is simply amazing. Children benefit immensely from spending extended periods of time outside. They’re not only learning about nature, but also learning math, writing, science, and art through natural pieces of the world. They build gross and fine motor skills, and it encourages critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration.” Tatnall’s outdoor classrooms include an art studio, melody meadow, climbing area and mud kitchen. While Early Childhood students have always spent a good part of their day outside, the outdoor classrooms were a silver-lining during COVID. “Our kids were outside at least three times every day in almost every weather condition,” continues Neff. “They actually spent more hours outside than inside this past year.” “Early on in the year, when COVID regulations were the most restrictive, our students weren’t allowed to play on the

climbing apparatus outside or share common outdoor toys,” Neff continues. “What we saw was children using creativity and collaboration to create magical, imaginative structures from natural elements like sticks and leaves. Every child had a role to play, and it was amazing to see them improvising this way. Students were also able to enjoy mask breaks during their time outside.” Providing a safe, successful, in-person year of learning for Early Childhood students was a priority for Neff and her team. Their goal was to have kids in-person, rather than on Zoom. “It was challenging and more stressful, but I was bound and determined to figure out how to make the year a success for our families and faculty,” says Neff. After months of planning, communication with the department of public health and input from Tatnall administration, Neff and her dedicated staff were able to create safety protocols and processes that met state guidelines and gave students an exceptional learning environment. There were a number of layers to the process including student cohorts assigned different outdoor areas at different times and frequent cleaning of toys. “We were lucky to have so much of the outdoor classroom planning already done,” says Neff. “It wasn’t a big change for us to teach outside, we just upped the ante a bit. We’re also lucky to have support from our parents and school administration. Thanks to all the planning and support, everybody stayed healthy, and our students had an amazing year.” As COVID restrictions were loosened, Early Childhood students were able to access more of the outdoor classroom resources. Neff says it’s going to be even better

next year when more students can interact in the space. “We hope to have all three grade levels outside at the same time this fall,” explains Neff. “When that happens, the collaboration, interaction, sharing… it’s really going to grow.”

Tatnall Lower School Creativity Shines Outside Recess looked a bit different for Tatnall’s Lower School this year. Students spent more time outside with limited use of equipment due to COVID guidelines, but that didn’t stop students from making the most of the opportunity. 3 “We found students exploring differently this year,” says Head of Lower School Michele Ciconte. “Kids were collaborating, building forts and obstacles, looking for frogs and birdwatching… it was very organic. The kids came up with these ideas, problem-solved and worked in unison. It was inspiring to watch.”

Groups of Lower School students were assigned different outdoor areas to use each week. The rotating schedule allowed each group to use each space at varying times throughout the year. Continued on next page

1. From Left to Right: Steve Marvin ‘88, Aimee Neff, Amanda Peltz, and Andy Martire cut the ribbon on the certified EC Outdoor Classrooms. 2. Fourth graders celebrate around a student designed and built Frisbee golf hole. 3. Third graders created art from nature with found objects in the style of artist and environmentalist Andy Goldsworthy.

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Continued from previous page

“Students changed activities depending on the outdoor area they were assigned,” explains Heather Brooks, Lower School Librarian/Technology Teacher/STEM Coordinator. “They played hide-and-seek in the area with a lot of large bushes, they played stick tag and explored the creek in the woods, and older students used sticks and the side of a brick building for whittling. Students also played a lot of games that they made up. They were happy in a very joyful way.” “We know the benefits for physical and social development as well as overall well-being that comes from children spending time outdoors,” adds Ciconte. “Outdoor activities this year were driven by students’ interests and curiosity. One group

Few students had ever heard of disc golf, so the first step was teaching them the game. Next, each class was tasked with designing an obstacle for the course. Students presented their ideas and voted to determine which ones would be used. Once designs were selected, classes built their obstacles which were placed around the campus the day of the event. “Building obstacles became a woodworking event for many of the classes,” says Brooks. “They used power saws, sanders, hammers, nails, and paint to bring their designs to life. They also used STEM skills like math, measurement, and engineering.” “No two classes had the same theme, and all students were involved in building the designs,” she continues. “One class had a coronavirus-themed obstacle with the disc passing through the middle like a vaccine, another class created an open-mouthed shark for their beach theme, and yet another used the Tatnall ‘T’ on a piece of paper and players had to knock the homework out for summer.” Students prepared for the event by practicing during gym class. “We purchased individual Frisbees for each student,” says Ciconte. “Having them practice outside with their own Frisbees worked well from a safety perspective.”

We know the benefits for physical and social development as well as overall well-being that comes from children spending time outdoors. Outdoor activities this year were driven by students’ interests and curiosity. — Michele Ciconte, Head of Lower School

loved building forts and hideaways; another group spent time checking up on the frogs every day. This year, time outside also allowed for mask breaks and outdoor lunch sessions when it wasn’t raining.” COVID restrictions also shaped the Lower School “I Love to Read Month” program. Brooks chose a superhero theme and designed eight reading challenges culminating in a disc golf event if all classes completed their tasks. “There were independent, partner and group challenges,” says Brooks. “Some were as simple as reading with a partner for 15 minutes, others included physical activities like running around the house three times or creating something out of household objects. All classes completed the challenges in February, so we set out to involve them in creating the disc golf event in May.” 16 :: TATNALL TODAY :: SUMMER 2021

Capes and eye masks, worn by the kids during the event, helped add to the superhero theme. “We’re very proud of the students for completing the reading challenges,” says Brooks. “And the disc golf event was a wonderful way to reward their hard work.” “The students took the challenge and made it their own,” says Ciconte. “It had a life of its own and they took it further than we imagined.” Brooks shares that in the future, she’s hoping to get a permanent course on campus, create a disc golf club and even have alumni return to play. Schedule Changes Allow In-Person Learning for Middle and Upper School Students Creating and maintaining safe COVID protocols for Middle and Upper School students presented a unique challenge for Tatnall staff. “There is a lot more mixing of students in grades 6-12,” says Bill Schluter, Head of Upper School. “Students in each grade can’t be kept together all day because they’re in different levels for math and take different world languages. Not to mention all Upper School students normally eat lunch at the same time, while all Middle School students come together for a separate lunch period.”

To mitigate exposure and reduce hallway interaction among its older students, Tatnall administration devised a multifaceted plan. “We wanted to reduce the number of times students were mixing throughout the day, especially when travelling the hallways to change classes,” says Mathematics Teacher and Scheduling Coordinator Scott Marshall. “We started by splitting students into two groups based on our mascots, the Daisies and the Hornets,” adds Schluter. “Many of our hallways were designated one-way. We allowed more time to pass between classes and had a five-minute interval between dismissal of each group.” In addition to minimizing contact in hallways, class periods were lengthened. “Our normal schedule is eight, 50-minute classes each day,” says Schluter. “This year we extended class time to 70 minutes and worked with a two-day alternating schedule where students had four periods one day and the other four periods the next.” “Keeping classes together for a longer period of time helped minimize interactions and made it easier for contact tracing,” says Marshall. “We knew exactly where the kids were and who they were with at all times.”

students, faculty and parents were all very flexible which helped.” “The kids were wonderful, they really rolled with the punches,” adds Marshall. “Whenever we made adjustments, they went right along and made it work.”

“We will probably keep the same basic schedule structure,” says Marshall. “Longer periods allowed for deeper learning across subjects.” “We’re not sure exactly how long classes will be or how much passing time there will be between classes,” adds Schluter. “And lunch is a huge variable. We’re hoping to get back to our old lunch routines in the cafeteria. That would be great for all of us socially and mentally.” And while Zoom offers some benefits, especially efficiency for faculty meetings, Schluter recognizes it’s not the optimal way to teach. “While we may offer a virtual component, we will strongly encourage students to be on campus for in-person learning,” says Schluter. “We look forward to having students here not only for academics, but also sports, theater, and clubs. Those activities really drive a school year, and we can’t wait to have the Tatnall community together again.”

1. Sam Salazar leading a class outside for Upper School Art. 2. Tijen Pyle teaches chemistry class to both in person and virtual students. 3. Upper School student completing classwork. 4. Middle School students practiced their instruments outdoors. 5. Upper School students take a mask break outside in Mac’s Garden.

“With longer class times, teachers had to be creative with lessons and break things up, so students weren’t forced to be on-task for 70 minutes straight,” explains Schluter. “The science department loved the longer class periods,” adds Marshall. “It allowed for a lot more lab time.” Lunch posed another challenge. “We began the year with students having lunch in their advisory groups,” says Schluter. “We stuck to this system during the fall, but as the year progressed, we became more confident in our practices and were able to adjust by having larger groups together for lunch outside.” “Kids were also asking for more interaction by that time,” Schluter adds. “Friends didn’t always have the same advisory groups or classes, so we had to get creative with ways to bring different groups of kids together during lunch.”

Though Middle and Upper School began the year using a hybrid schedule, Tatnall was able to offer full-time in-person learning (with a virtual option) to all of its students in grades 6-12 by fall 2020. “When it started in September, we weren’t even sure we were going to make it a week,” says Schluter. “Looking back, we’re proud to say we completed a very successful school year. The

SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

Tatnall Athletics

Spring Sport Accolades Golf Finished state runner-up All State - Top 10 Finish Overall Jeff Homer ’23 Matt Homer ’23 -Tied Low-Score Male for the Tournament First Team All State: Katrina Cattermole ’22 (Attack) Lydia Colasante ’23 (Middie) Olivia Carpenter ’22 (Defense)

Girls Soccer – All Conference Holly Brennan ’21, 2nd Team Josephine Catalano ’24, 2nd Team

Boys Lacrosse – All Conference Charlie Simpers ’22, 1st Team Nasir Obey ’22, 1st Team Jack Wilkinson ’21, 2nd Team Pierce Talley ’22, 2nd Team

Girls Lacrosse All Conference: Olivia Carpenter ’22, 1st Team Kali Clayton ’23, 1st Team Lydia Colasante ’23, 1st Team Teryn Singer ’22, 1st Team Katrina Cattermole ’22, 1st Team Ellie Hiller ’21, 2nd Team Kate McConnel ’23, 2nd Team Carlie McKenry ’21, 2nd Team Sophia Mitchell ’21, 2nd Team Ivy Qualls ‘24, 2nd Team Mia Conkey ’22, Honorable Mention

Second Team All State: Teryn Singer ’22 Kali Clayton ’23 All American: Lydia Colasante ’23 Coach of the Year: Ruth Hiller

Baseball – All Conference

1600 Meter Declan McDonnell ’21, 1st Nicolas Pizarro ’22, 2nd Brett Balthis ’21, 7th 3200 Meter Declan McDonnell ’21, 1st Nicolas Pizzaro ’21, 2nd Andre Latina ’22, 4th 300-Meter Hurdles Pierce Smith ’21

Tre Marcoz ’24, 1st Team, Outfield Luke Kain ’25, 2nd Team at 2nd Base Brady Fox ’24, Honorable Mention at 1st Base

Relays 4x200 8th 4x400 1st 4x800 2nd

Track and Field

Triple Jump Cameron Wright ’22, 12th

DIAA State meet results Division II Boys Division II State Runner-up

Disc Josh Boothe ’24, 13th

BOYS

Shot Put Josh Boothe ’24, 15th

200 Meter Pierce Smith ’21, 4th 400 Meter Micah Earnest ’23, 4th Manvir Syan ’22, 11th Brett Balthis ’21, 16th

18 :: TATNALL TODAY :: SUMMER 2021

800 Meter Nicolas Pizarro ’22, 1st Declan McDonnell ’21, 2nd Andre Latina ’22, 7th

GIRLS DIAA State meet results Division II Girls Division II State 3rd place 100 Meter Vanessa Howard ’21, 2nd 200 Meter Vanessa Howard ’21, 2nd Ariana Hernandez ’25, 10th 400 Meter Niyah Kellman ’23, 10th 800 Meter Mikayla Romeo ’23, 6th Delaney Campanelli ’22, 14th 1600 Meter Carlita Kaliher ’24, 11th 3200 Meter Carlita Kaliher ’24, 9th 100-Meter Hurdles Alexis Tarlue ’24, 1st Yasmina Gall ’24, 3rd 300-Meter Hurdles Alexis Tarlue ’24, 8th Triple Jump Yasmina Gall ’24, 3rd Camille Johnson ’25, 5th High Jump Niyah Kellman ’23, 2nd Ariana Hernandez ’25, 5th

Long Jump Alexis Tarlue ’24, 1st Vanessa Howard ’21, 5th Ariana Hernandez ’25, 6th Relays 4x800 2nd 4x400 3rd All County Meet Results Top 10 Finishes BOYS 200 Meter Pierce Smith ’21, 7th 800 Meter Andre Latina ’22, 5th Micah Earnest ’23, 8th 1600 Meter Declan McDonnell ’21, 1st Nicolas Pizarro ’22, 3rd 3200 Meter Sebastian Pizarro ’22, 4th Brett Balthis ’21, 5th 300-Meter Hurdles Pierce Smith ’21, 2nd 4x400 3rd

GIRLS All County Meet Results Top 10 Finishes 200 Meter Vanessa Howard ’21, 4th 400 Meter Camille Johnson ’25, 8th 800 Meter Mikayla Romeo ’23, 10th 100-Meter Hurdles Alexis Tarlue ’24, 4th Relays 4x200 1st 4x400 8th 4x800 3rd High Jump Ariana Hernandez ’25, 10th Long Jump Vanessa Howard ’21, 2nd Alexis Tarlue ’24, 3rd Triple Jump Camille Johnson ’25, 9th Meet of Champions Declan McDonnell ’21, 2 mile all-state Pierce Smith ’21, 300-meter hurdles all-state

Sprint Medley Relay 2nd 4x800 1st

SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

Commencement

JUNE 5, 2021 | CLASS OF 2021

4 1. Head of School, Dr. Andy Martire, presents graduates with their diplomas. 2. Triangle Pin winner Martha Holler. 3. Graduation speaker, the Honorable Michael S. Purzycki Mayor, City of Wilmington 4. Cum Laude speaker Amanda Janusz

:: SUMMER 2021 Tatnall Today :: Spring/Summer 2019 TODAY 20 :: TATNALL

CLASS OF 2021 Commencement Frank Ettore Acierno, III University of Tampa Brett Andrew Balthis University of Delaware Omari Zaire Banks Post-Graduate Year— The Phelps School Mckenna Victoria Barry Quinnipiac University Devyn Emmanuel Benson Vassar College Holly Alexandra Brennan James Madison University Za’an Tyaire Burrell Princeton University Giovanni Maddox Campanelli University of Virginia Jinyang Cheng / University of California, San Diego Anne Coant Skidmore College Jasper Wyatt Curro Franklin Pierce University Gregory Anthony Datto University of Pennsylvania Colby Hunter Davis New York University Yuheng Deng Boston University

Gabriel Alexandre Wojciech Dobrzelewski West Chester University Breionna Sadiya Dodson Delaware State University Emma Mcleen Donovan Saint Joseph’s University Elene Isabel Garcia Essick University of San Francisco Mia Rose Farina Villanova University Julie Laura Mansfield Griswold Brown University

Luciana Marie Kehr Syracuse University

Bryce Andrew Scott Fairleigh Dickinson University

Nailah Reniya Kellman Middlebury College

Wenpei Shao University of Wisconsin

Bridget Knitowski Delaware Technical Community College

Pierce Edward Smith University of Delaware

Larsen Olivia Korengel College of Charleston

Mia Isabella Stryker American University Clara Noelle Bloomer Tessier Wellesley College

Naval Singh Lappalainen Hamilton College

John Louis Tigani East Carolina University

Áine Amelia Halligan Princeton University

Catherine Peachey Manning-Greene University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Ellie Ann Hiller University of Colorado, Boulder

Nitin Sivadas Marath Franklin and Marshall College

Bijan Ivan Torres University of Glasgow

Daniel Joseph Holland Georgia Southern University

Ashley Brianne Marvel West Chester University

Michael Joseph Walter-Dillon Monmouth University

Martha Virginia Holler College of William & Mary

Taylor Brelsford McCoy Widener University

Jack Pettinaro Wilkinson Gap Year—Costa Rica/Internships

Vanessa Jade Howard University of New Haven

Declan McDonnell Monmouth University

Cory Bertrando Williams West Chester University

Misha Kai Toomey-Brown University of Arizona

Michael Jeffrey Wolfe Furman University

Micah Gyorgy Keleman Jacobson Carlie Bowden McKenry Centre College Brandeis University Amanda Grace Janusz Georgia Institute of Technology

Luca Massimo Micolucci College of Charleston

Nelson Christopher Wood Delaware Valley University

Isaiah Warren Jarrett University of Pittsburgh

Sophia Marie Mitchell University of Tennessee

Ruotian Zhang Tulane University

Daniel Thomas Johnson Pennsylvania State University

Rachael Ann Pala University of Delaware

Nathaniel Locke Jones University of Delaware

Rebekah Colleen Pavesi University of Delaware

Dr. Andy Martire presents the inaugural Tatnall School Excellence in Service Award to Mary Garrett.

Jane Parker Caswell Penn University of Florida Courtney K. Prescott Salisbury University Katherine Elizabeth Diaz Pupek Columbia University Gage Ponder Purzycki Marine Mechanic School Ariana Pia Scalia Lynn University

Wooden Spoon winners Mia Farina and Jack Wilkinson

SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

Student Profile

THE START

of Something Special I’m practicing harder than I ever have. When I was younger, I didn’t really want to push myself. I didn’t really want to practice. And when I did, I didn’t want to go all that hard, and I complained a lot. But now I enjoy it. — Arianna Montgomery

rianna Montgomery knows Usain Bolt’s worldrecord time in the 200 meters without any help from Google (19.19 seconds). She’s memorized it because she looks up to him, along with fourtime Olympian Allyson Felix, but also because she seems to be using it as motivation. In February, Montgomery, who’s entering eighth grade at Tatnall, put in a series of impressive performances at the prestigious Adidas Indoor Nationals meet at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. She finished 10th in her age group in the 200 meters, seventh in the 60 meters, and first in the long jump. In all three events, she recorded personal bests. A couple weeks later, Montgomery, who turned 13 in June, won the long jump for her age group at the 2021 AAU Track and Field Indoor National Championship with a new meet record of 17 feet and five inches. She’s been competing in track and field since she was six-yearsold, but it’s only recently that she’s begun to test the limits of her natural ability.

FEBRUARY 2021

Adidas Indoor Nationals Virginia Beach Sports Center

10th 7th 200 METERS

22 :: TATNALL TODAY :: SUMMER 2021

60 METERS

In all three evenetrss,onal bests. she recorded p

“I’m practicing harder than I ever have,” Montgomery says. “When I was younger, I didn’t really want to push myself. I didn’t really want to practice. And when I did, I didn’t want to go all that hard, and I complained a lot. But now I enjoy it.” Outside of competing with Tatnall’s Middle School track and field team, Montgomery also represented a track club in Delaware. But that changed with the pandemic. New restrictions didn’t allow athletes to travel to meets with teams. So Montgomery’s father, Derrell Montgomery, a former collegiate football player, started coaching her. They go to an outdoor track near their home, where he has her run intervals and do strength and agility exercises, like sled pulls and box jumps. Montgomery also has a coach who trains her specifically for the long jump. They’ve worked together for a number of years, she says. Before she began competing in track and field, Montgomery did gymnastics and played basketball and soccer. There aren’t stars at such a young age. Rather, some kids are just a little further along the learning curve than others. But it was hard not to notice how Montgomery was constantly outrunning everyone else on the soccer field. Her parents eventually asked her if she wanted to try track and field. She took to it immediately. Montgomery continues to play soccer. She’s also on the Middle School girls’ volleyball team. But track and field occupies the majority of her attention. After competing for

several years, she’s become friends with a lot of the other athletes she competes against at the regional and national meets, which helps with the nerves. She says she may feel a tinge of nervousness before a final heat at one of the bigger meets, but otherwise, her nerves usually remain in check.

Arianna on the medal podium at the Adidas National Championship

At the track, Montgomery is her most confident self. Away from it, she’s a modest, softly-spoken girl who’s been deeply into math since she was introduced to her first equation. She enrolled at Tatnall for her sixth-grade year. She likes being challenged by the academics, but she appreciates the people who populate her school days most. From new friends to her teachers, “everyone,” she says, “has been very welcoming.” Montgomery’s competed all over the country: Virginia, Texas, Michigan, and New York, among other spots. Because meets of this caliber tend to attract the most promising runners in the country, they’re where many first come to the attention of college coaches. While Montgomery is a few years away from fielding scholarship offers, she’s already thinking about competing in college. Actually, her ambitions are much bigger than that; she sees herself someday running professionally. For the time being, though, she’s focused on the coming school year because, as an eighth grader, she’ll be eligible to compete with the Upper School track and field team. Before her time at Tatnall is over, Montgomery envisions herself breaking all the state sprint and long jump records.

MARCH 2021

2021 AAU Track and Field Indoor National Championship

1st

LONG JUMP

NEW MEET RECORD OF

17 feet

mp ju g n o l e h t n o W of r her age group

AND FIVE INCHES SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

TATNALL STUDENTS GIVE BACK THROUGH

“Pandemic of Love”

1. Jack, Matt, and Jeff deliver wrapped donations. 2. Conrad ’23, Heather, and Evan ’22 Cox 3. Conrad Cox delivers donations to Howard High School.

ecognizing the challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, six friends took the opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade— working together to help community members in need.

students Max Moen and Kendall Massey, through weekly Zoom meetings to start the Delaware Chapter of POL, a mutual-aid organization that matches recipients in need with donors who want to help.

According to Tatnall student Hannah Morgan ’23, the effort was inspired by a news report that Heather Cox, mother of fellow classmates Evan Cox ’22 and Conrad Cox ’23, had seen.

With guidance from their parents, the six teens created the chapter from the ground up. In the process, they learned about non-profit organizations, setting meeting agendas, building a website, creating social media accounts, doing marketing, branding, and networking, and managing the projects they created. All the while, keeping their focus on giving back to their community.

“When Ms. Cox saw an interview with the founder of Pandemic of Love (POL), she thought it would be a good idea to start a local chapter,” says Hannah, who was part of the POL Delaware organizational and development team. “She presented the idea to us, and we liked it. Several of us had family and friends directly affected by COVID. We weren’t able to volunteer outside our homes at the time due to restrictions, so this was a good way to get involved.” First launched in Florida, POL is a grassroots, volunteer-led organization that helps people affected by income loss during the pandemic. As time went on, POL’s mission expanded as chapters were formed and different needs were identified within communities around the country. In October 2020, Hannah, Evan, and Conrad came together with classmate Graham Nourie ’23 and Tatnall-affiliated Evan Cox ’22 24 :: TATNALL TODAY :: SUMMER 2021

“I found it very fulfilling to be involved,” says Graham, who created the website and Instagram account for POL DE. “It was a great way to help others while working together with my friends and their families. We also got good experience running an organization, which is something we can use as we get older.” “It was good to see friends I hadn’t seen in a while and do something to help our community,” says Conrad, who helped organize and match donors and recipients. “Now I have a better idea what it’s like to start something from nothing.” Since its inception, POL DE has provided relief to those in need in a variety of ways, such as providing financial relief to

We helped around 30 kids through the holiday drive. It was my job to match donors, most of whom were Tatnall families and friends, with recipients. 4

a single mom and her two children so they could pay their rent, remain in their apartment, and purchase clothing. They also connected a young woman with legal and educational resources so she could buy a car, find a job, and graduate from high school.

— Conrad Cox ’23

the response of the Tatnall community was awesome. We had so many donors we had to reach out to other high schools to find more kids to help!”

“My mom and I went clothes shopping for someone evicted from their home,” shares Graham.

As the pandemic winds down, the students involved with POL DE are finding more of their time focused on regular high school activities, but they contend that the chapter will continue in some capacity.

“There was a group of kids we helped in the foster care system,” adds Hannah. “They were so appreciative and sent us thank you notes afterward. It was heartwarming.”

“We are a smaller chapter anyway,” says Hannah. “I think it will continue but not to the same extent. We plan to continue our relationship with other schools and helping students in need.”

The group also did a large holiday project where the teens reached out to area high schools and matched donors with children in need to fulfill their holiday wish lists.

“Yes, the holiday project worked really well,” says Conrad. “It wasn’t complicated, and we were able to get a lot done quickly. I imagine we’ll continue with projects like that.”

“We helped around 30 kids through the holiday drive,” says Conrad. “It was my job to match donors, most of whom were Tatnall families and friends, with recipients.”

“The kids have also been brainstorming about reaching out to schools where food insecurity is an issue and possibly providing Friday backpacks of food to students,” adds Heather. “Another idea is to help with school supplies for those in need come September.”

“I’m really proud of the kids,” says Heather. “Creating the chapter and managing the projects was a big undertaking and they really rose to the challenge. It was also eye-opening for them to see that a gift card to a fast-food restaurant was considered a luxury item by some of the kids in need. And

1. Kate Winchell ’29 shops for donations 2. Kaylie Fox ’31 shopping with her mother. 3. Charlotte Jones ’22 and Sophie Kirby ’22 shopping for donations 4. Conrad Cox ’23 helps load up all the donations.

To learn more or get involved with POL DE visit www.pandemicoflovedelaware.com.

SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

Community Impact THE FUND FOR TATNALL

Fast Facts – Spring 2021 Edition For the first time, Tatnall participated in Do More 24 Delaware. This 24-hour Giving Day took place from March 4 at 6 p.m. - March 5 at 6 p.m. Thanks to the generosity of the Tatnall community, the day was a huge success:

$31,798

2 0 2 2 S AV E T H E D AT E : MARCH 3 AT 6 P.M. – MARCH 4 AT 6 P.M.

TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED as a gift from The Tatnall School Alumni Council

134

TOTAL GIFTS RECEIVED

Special thanks to the Ernest E. Stempel Foundation for providing $10,000 in matching funds!

TAT N A L L

Golf Classic

Awards won: Greater Giving Opening Prize, Golden Ticket Prize, and the Philanthropic Photo Prize. Tatnall ranked 6 out of 211 Large Nonprofits, securing us a spot on the Leaderboard!

On Monday, May 10, Tatnall held our 31st Annual Tatnall Golf Classic at Bidermann Golf Course. The weather was beautiful, and all participants enjoyed a day of play and an evening of entertainment – all in support of Tatnall.

TAT N A L L

Golf Classic $64,180

TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED as a gift from The Tatnall School Alumni Council.

BIDERMANN GOLF COURSE

2 0 2 2 S AV E T H E D AT E :

Total dollars raised: $64,180 as a gift from The Tatnall School Alumni Council. Low Net Winners: Casey Chipman, Andrea Ciconte Szerba, Kimberly Ciconte, and Michele Ciconte Low Gross Winners: Trippe Wayman, Jeff Ciconte, Tim Porter, and Joseph R. Fragomele

MONDAY, MAY 23

Helicopter Ball Drop Winner: Kimberly Ciconte

TAT N A L L

Golf Classic Bidermann Golf Course

TAT N A L L

Golf Classic

This past June, Team Swords and Team Shields battled it out during the 2020-2021 Giving Challenge Championship! After a month of competition, the race has ended, and the final results are in:

$74,411

TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED

57 HIGHEST DONOR PARTICIPATION WINNER TAT N ALL

TAT N A L L

Golf Classic

BID

ER M

AN N GO L F C OU

Golf

TOTAL GIFTS RECEIVED

$47,911 MOST DOLLARS RAISED WINNER

Special thanks to the Ernest E. Stempel Foundation for providing Classic $15,000 in matching funds! R SE

26 :: TATNALL TODAY :: SUMMER 2021

BIDERMANN GOLF COURSE

Why I Give? “ I give because I believe in Tatnall and our Mission. I believe that in order for us to prosper, we as teachers need to go that extra mile to help our school in EVERY way possible. Giving to Tatnall is my way of helping Tatnall reach our goals. I also believe you should be invested 100% in your job. Working at Tatnall should be your passion, not just a job. Doing whatever the school asks to help us prosper is a way to give back and shines a positive light on our school.” — Fred Palfrey

“ We give to Tatnall’s Annual Fund because we appreciate the experience and opportunities that our two children have had over the last 13 years. We value the loving spirit of the community, the attention given to each student as an individual, and the exceptional academic and extracurricular programs. Through our gift, we hope to support Tatnall’s future and welcome new community members.” — Jeff ’95 and Michele Ciconte

“ I give to Tatnall as a way to give back to a school that gave me so much growing up. I give to help ensure the next generation of students are provided with the best possible resources to excel in and out of the classroom.” — David Huffman ’12

“ I give because it supports the foundation that will best prepare students for college/ further education after their Tatnall graduation. I am proud that I could follow in my mother’s footsteps (Anne Landon Allen, class of ‘42) to graduate from Tatnall. Our time at Tatnall was very rewarding! “ — Patti Salmonson ’65

“ Moving internationally, our priority was to find the right school to embrace our children and establish our family’s sense of community. We toured The Tatnall School because of the academic record and impressive campus resources. We chose Tatnall because, from the moment we made contact, our welcome was warm and placed genuine focus on the success of our children. We give to Tatnall because we want to support the legacy of the founder and families before us while ensuring the continued growth of Tatnall for our children’s future.” — Dr. Jason Howard and Ms. Rhonda Normore, current parents

“ I choose to donate to The Tatnall School because Tatnall is committed to educating, encouraging, and nurturing all its student body to become the best they can be. The campus provides an environment where each student – through all grade levels - under the caring direction of its faculty receives the love and guidance to become good citizens of their community. Charting our students’ learning during the pandemic was an enormous undertaking, and our teachers, staff, and students rose to the occasion and met the challenges by living the school motto, “All things done in love.” — Barbara Riley, past parent and current grandparent “ It’s so important to give back to the institutions that helped to shape who you are. Tatnall has played such a significant role for my family and me, and I want to help give that to others.” — Steve Marvin ’88

SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

In Alumni the Classroom Spotlight

Lessons Learned as a Tatnall “Theater Kid”

Lauren Lovet ’89

Lauren Lovett’s favorite time of day on the Tatnall campus was actually night, when the world was tucked in all quiet and still.

a couple, but they made a great couple. They had a team approach and a shared vision; you never saw them argue. It was a great model for us as kids.”

“Like every kid, there were times during the day when I didn’t feel in harmony with the school, but there was room for me there at night,” recalls the 1989 grad. “I remember it feeling so safe and magical.”

“This wasn’t a high school hobby for them, they had talent and they nurtured the talent of their actors and crew,” Lovett says. “It was clear they knew more than you, but they always treated you like an artist and like someone who had something to give and something to say. I was a professional actor for years, and I can tell you that’s really unique.”

Lovett got to experience that magic because she was a self-described “theatre kid” who spent countless hours rehearsing in the old theater building after school. She came to Tatnall in fifth grade with an already-established passion for acting. “I visited other schools but at Tatnall there was a stronger sense of humanity… it felt like a community to me,” she says. “And even though Tatnall leaned conservative like a lot of private schools, it also fostered and encouraged my creative side, especially when I got to high school.” Beginning in ninth grade, Lovett began landing lead roles in Tatnall’s spring musicals and fall plays. The plays were part of the school’s advanced theater class called Showcase (“With a capital S,” Lovett says with a laugh). “The Matchmaker”, “The Good Doctor”, “The Miracle Worker”, and the female version of “The Odd Couple” are ingrained in her memory. Dr. Bruce Chipman, then Head of English and Director of Showcase, and Assistant Director Rosemary Crawford left an indelible impression on Lovett. “Dr. Chipman was both exacting and loving, a big personality and a powerful presence…he was like your theater uncle,” she says. “Rosemary, who passed away in 2013, was gentle and would pull you aside to make suggestions. They weren’t

28 :: TATNALL TODAY :: SUMMER 2021

They were also very good directors.

After graduation, Lovett would go on to earn a BFA at the Juilliard School and then spend the next two decades working as an actor in regional theater around the country. Life eventually carried her to Los Angeles and today she owns Speak Well, a thriving consultancy that has her helping actors and business professionals refine and revitalize their overall presence, including the way they speak, what they’re saying, and their intended outcome. In 2019, Lovett was one of nine former students invited to return to Tatnall to honor Dr. Chipman upon his retirement from Showcase Director after 47-years (he maintains his position as Emeritus Head of English). While she has never tried to follow his lead as a director, the lessons Lovett learned as a “theatre kid” at Tatnall still echo in her head. “My experience in Showcase wasn’t just, ‘You’re going to do what I say.’ It was more like, ‘How are we going to tell this story together,’” she explains. “That’s the philosophy I have with all of my clients. I know what I’m doing and I’m going to help you, but you are a very important partner in I visited other schools this relationship. The trust and respect but at Tatnall there was Dr. Chipman and a stronger sense of Rosemary had in humanity… it felt like a us as students and artists is the same community to me. approach I use when I teach today.”

Alumni Spotlight

Designer Still Drawing on Tatnall Experiences Years Later

Jackie Ivy ’88

My teachers at Tatnall weren’t just superior educators, they were superior human beings.

Jackie Ivy has worked as a designer for some of the nation’s most iconic brands, including Urban Outfitters, Rag & Bone, and Nike. At every stop, she’s helped shape the look and feel of their stores and influenced how they sell products. She says the seeds of her career were planted at Tatnall.

Today, Jackie and her daughters live in Portland, Oregon. She is currently one year into a two-year fellowship at the Garrison Institute, which is based in upstate New York. In that role, she is developing collaborative transformative justice practices, using her skill as an experiential designer and her extensive knowledge of mindfulness and meditation. Her aim is to help people develop ways of seeing events, points of view, and behaviors that are widely hidden within today’s contemporary culture. These practices give everyone the ability to develop a greater awareness of anti-oppressive – and oppressive – behaviors.

“ I took art history in tenth grade and loved it,” she says. “It was the coolest thing I could have imagined. In my senior year, Mrs. Mason let me do an advanced independent art study with her in lieu of physics. She was – and still is – one of my idols.”

“I have worked for many brands and companies during my career, and would become acutely aware of the incongruent cultural elements,” she says. “Sometimes a company would publicly espouse certain values yet contradict them when it came time to make leadership decisions or to keep Wall Street happy. It was not always malicious or intentional—simply easily overlooked or by-passed when inconvenient. What if there are ways to address these issues in a more transparent, mindful manner? I have been studying cultural trends for my entire career—probably my entire life. They come from a combination of ‘Bottom Up/Top Down’ decisions. There is never a straight line, or a simple answer to big questions.”

Although Jackie started at Tatnall in fifth grade, the school had long been a part of her life. Her mother, Alice Mearns Ivy, taught there alongside Mrs. Tatnall in the early 1950s. Mrs. Ivy left and started a family but returned in 1978 to work at Tatnall’s preschool. Jackie’s brother, Herb (class of ’81), started at Tatnall during this time, and a few years later Jackie and her sister Carroll (class of ’84) attended as well. After graduating in 1988, Jackie was off to the University of Virginia where she took an Intro to Architecture/Intro to Design class and fell in love with how it blended the intellectual with the artistic. She would graduate with a degree in Architecture and American Studies and proceed to build a successful career—starting at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice, Italy, and working her way up to Senior Director of Global Retail Design for Nike. Along the way she earned a master’s degree in Environmental and Exhibition Design from Yale’s School of Architecture.

More than 30 years after graduating from Tatnall, the names of Jackie’s teachers and mentors still roll easily off her tongue. “I loved Gail Flynn, she was an epic Middle School English teacher. Mr. White was an iconic social studies teacher— everyone dreaded that darn sixth grade salmon migration film. Rosemary Crawford was especially influential…she took a group of us to Richmond one spring break to experience a completely different perspective of life—volunteering at a homeless shelter. “My teachers at Tatnall weren’t just superior educators,” she concludes, “they were superior human beings.”

SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

In Alumni the Classroom Spotlight

Tatnall Alum Reflects Upon the Art of Pursuing Your Passion Calida Rawles’ advice to today’s students is drawn from her own experience, “Enjoy the process, don’t be hard on yourself. Everything happens in steps.” Rawles is a writer and acclaimed artist whose largeformat ethereal paintings of black men and women floating calmly in water have appeared in galleries around the world. But well before she landed on the global stage, Rawles was a student at Tatnall.

Enjoy the process, don’t be hard on yourself. Everything happens in steps.

“I loved my Bible Myth and Epic class,” she remembers. “And of course Ms. Baylin, Dr. Chipman, and Ms. Ripley. English literature and art were my passions and Tatnall gave me the chance to expand upon those.” It wasn’t until she was a student at Spelman College, however, that she developed her fondness for painting. “It was what I really loved to do, and I could do it for hours,” she shares. “Though I didn’t believe it could be a career at the time. It wasn’t until much later, after being in the art world, that I saw this was possible.” From Spelman, Rawles traveled north for graduate school at New York University. The experience, while beneficial, left her questioning her future as an artist. “I wasn’t sure I should be painting and so I stopped for a bit,” she says. The next several years were spent working as a graphic artist, getting married and raising her children. Rawles also

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expanded her creative portfolio to include writing and in 2011 she published a children’s book, “Same Difference.” She never fully abandoned her palette and brushes, however. “I finally came to a point in 2015 where I needed to decide where I wanted to focus my energies—painting or writing,” she explains. “In the end, I realized that I really just want to paint.” With her mind made up, Rawles set to work creating a strong body of work and selling paintings out of her 700-square-foot space in Inglewood California’s Beacon Arts Building. She also began hosting studio visits with collectors and galleries, talking about her work. Her first solo exhibit, at Various Small Fires in Los Angeles, sold out before its opening night. Rawles now has representation at the global gallery Lehmann Maupin with locations in New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, and London. English and American literature strongly influence Rawles, and she draws upon many of the themes discussed in her classes at Tatnall — and later at Spelman College — in her paintings. “Tatnall didn’t make me an artist, but it definitely gave me many of the tools I needed to become the artist I am today,” she says. “It was like a second home to me.” In September, Rawles will have her first-ever solo exhibition in New York at Lehmann Maupin. This will coincide with the debut of a permanent installation at the new Hollywood Park/SoFi Stadium campus in Inglewood. To learn more about Rawles and her work visit calidagarciarawles.com.

Alumni Spotlight

The Many Loves of a Tatnall Grad Heather Robb had many loves at Tattnall. The daughter of Upper School science teacher Karen Barker (who retired in 2018), Robb entered Tatnall at age three and stayed until her graduation in 2001.

Heather Robb ‘01 with her mother, former Tatnall teacher Karen Barker

Tatnall taught me to have an appetite for new challenges and empowered me with the raw materials I needed.

The school was a natural fit for Robb and played to her creative nature—affording her with limitless opportunities to pursue her adoration of the arts. “Theater was my first love and I participated in this both at Tatnall and in the community,” she explains. “I took part in school plays in elementary school, but it was my first big theater production in eighth grade that truly sparked my passion. I remember the sense of community and collaboration around a creative pursuit and the feeling that I really, really love this.” Showcase—the school’s advanced theater class for students in the Upper and High School—its Director Dr. Bruce Chipman, Assistant Director Rosemary Crawford, and Technical Director Rick Neidig further fanned the flame for Robb. The regular stream of successful Tatnall alumni who visited the school helped too. “Hearing someone who once walked in your shoes say you can have a successful career in the arts really makes an impact,” she shares. “They never presented it as easy, but it was nonetheless a path and a valid one at that. That was a big deal for me.” But theater wasn’t Robb’s only love at Tatnall. She also had a deep affection for music and writing. Fortunately, she didn’t have to pick just one to pursue and today she has built a life that includes them all.

and friend James Cleare (’01) and Kennett Square native James Smith to launch the folk/rock trio, The Spring Standards (thespringstandards.net). The group, which draws its influences from bands such as Fleetwood Mac, toured full time from 2008 through 2015 and produced four albums and a feature-length concert film. It has also performed on Conan O’Brien and at the South by Southwest music festival among others. Exhausted from being on-the-go, Robb took a break from performing and moved to Los Angeles to accept her first staffing as a TV writer for CBS. Her knack for story telling — honed largely through writing music — made it a natural move for Robb and she flourished in the creative environment. Though the transition was far from easy. “I got a lot of Hollywood ‘baptism by fire’ early on,” Robb admits. “Fortunately, I had a good community and came into this with humility and determination. I had plenty to learn, but threw myself into it, joining the Writer’s Guild Union, taking classes, and doing my fair share of odd jobs and freelancing.” Her second staffing came in 2019 with NBC. Then, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began, she was asked to be the writer-on-set for an original Freeform show called Cruel Summer, which was filming in Dallas. With the first season now under her belt, Robb is focused on her next challenge, a film with Rocket Pictures and Jersey Pictures based on the life of AIDS activist Ryan White. She is also developing the script for a stop-motion feature with Sean Pecknold and the music of Fleet Foxes. “I’ve learned that you have to be prepared to take risks, more so when you’re doing something that is outside the box,” Robb shares. “Tatnall taught me to have an appetite for new challenges and empowered me with the raw materials I needed. Now it’s my job to refine and sharpen them.” Learn more about Heather Robb’s work by visiting HeatherRobb.com.

Following graduation from Syracuse University where she majored in drama, Robb connected with fellow Tatnall alum

SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

Class Notes ’58

’62

’69

Caroline Tatnall Ketcham Like most of us, all over, Rob and I have been obliged to stay close to home over the last 15 months; gradually we are emerging, unscathed. I am still actively engaged at Tatnall (by Zoom of course) and am so very proud of the wonderful job done by the admin, faculty, and staff to keep the school open and functional. Our new head of school, Andy Martire, has, in his first year, become an inspirational and dedicated leader and I am thrilled that he sits in the Head of School’s office. Mrs. Myers would definitely approve! Can it be that we graduated 63 years ago??!!

Daphne Thurlow Stevens Life Journey

Tom Stat After spending more than a decade as a member of IDEO leadership (a global innovation consultancy), Tom continues to find new ways to integrate his eclectic educational background (aerospace engineering, social psychology, fine arts, architecture and business) acting as an internal consultant and director at Design Labs, a future-forward group within Gensler, the world’s largest design firm. He also maintains a robust independent consultancy (11 Consulting) that provides design and innovation strategy advisory services to a wide range of clients. Still in the Chicago area with two daughters — Taylor, a Vice President, Management Director at FCB (advertising) and Madison, a recent Boston University graduate, now a Research Coordinator at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern University. His wife (Terri) maintains a robust freelance writing business and also provides college essay coaching. Tom remains in touch with many classmates from his class of 1969 and is ever thankful for the educational foundation and friendships provided by Tatnall.

Carolyn “Lyn” H. Vernon 2020 was an eventful year. I turned 80 and was forced to learn how to retire. Now that I am fully vaccinated, I am starting to leave my home more often, lunching with girlfriends, and finally attending a ballroom dance party at the Stardust Ballroom in Bellmawr, New Jersey. I have kept up with my personal trainer (when allowed) so I am hopeful I will have enough stamina to follow my partner. Fortunately, my yard man didn’t miss a beat during the pandemic, so the place looks nice when I look out the window. I have plans for a couple of cruises over New Year’s and a World Cruise on the Queen Mary 2 in 2023.

As a 40-year climate activist, I am devastated by the plight of the planet. I continue to fight on, inspired by my love of all nature having spent my childhood in rural Delaware and the beautiful Tatnall campus. I am glad to see that tradition continuing with the nature classrooms. I am also an activist for an end to racism, for peace, and gender equality. My wonderful husband of 53 years, Michael Stevens, and I share a love of art (he is an artist), nature, gardening, and reading. I love the Tatnall Today magazine especially reading about your amazing students who will bring so much to the world.

Tom Stat ’69

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’71

’74

Faith Tomases Child milestone

Patrick Singer I am approaching 66! I have recovered from my major surgery in December 2020 for my leaky heart valve and have a new daily medication regimen. I would love to have my 30-year-old body back. I also have eight legs and two tails as additional medicine, and my “boys” take loving care of me.

I kept my parents’ house in Surrey Park as a country home after their passing. The timing was right and I was able to use it as a safety refuge from New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. After spending more than a year living in Wilmington full-time, I will be splitting my time between the house and my apartment in Manhattan. My daughter Julia graduated high school virtually in June. She started Syracuse University in August and, despite all the limitations and restrictions due to COVID, is enjoying it. No football games or tailgate parties. I can’t imagine taking college level Chemistry remotely, online. Anne Turley This goes in the old geezer section. I successfully had a hip transplant this year. People I know are dying, but I’m still here, for some reason. Swimming and yoga keep me sane. Cheers!

’72 Edward Cook I retired in February of 2020. Mabel and I will continue to live in Charlotte (near Ellie Gillespie Elmore ’73). Our three sons live in Scottsdale, Denver, and Charlotte with three grandchildren in Denver. We resumed traveling to Sanibel this year where we were first introduced by my classmate Jill Johnson in about 1970 and have lots more traveling planned post-COVID.

’75 A. White-Collins I took early retirement from my PNP job in Pheonix in 2018 to lend a hand with some family stuff “back east.” Who knew how easily we would transition into the snowbird role? We are loving the summer family time in Delaware, and spending time with friends in Arizona in the winters. I keep connected professionally through two part time RN jobs, and Ed’s a volunteer firefighter in Old New Castle. I must say, you can’t beat being able to hike/bike/golf year round. Life is good, and we are truly blessed! Philip Mackey It has been an eventful start to 2021 for us here in San Antonio, Texas. First, that “once-in-a-hundred-year” snowstorm in February and its associated power outages. Fortunately, being veterans of big snowstorms while growing up in the Northeast, we were prepared and came through it without major problems.

Then, a record hailstorm in late April with stones up to 6” in diameter fell west of us. Again, luck was with us and we only got pea-sized hail, so we had no damage. Hopefully, the rest of 2021 will be less record breaking!

’79 Stacey Whiteman Freeman Stacey and her husband David have now entered the stage of grandparenthood as both their daughter and son had children within nine weeks of each other. Harley Bloom Freeman was born on July 1, 2020 to Jeff and Lexi (Stacey and David’s son and daughter-in-law). Arlo James Zucker was born on September 3, 2020 to Stephanie and Dustin (Stacey and David’s daughter and son-in-law) “Cece and Grandpa” love their new titles!

’84 Lance Fargo After a four-year absence from the USAT National Championship stage due to a foot surgery, an injury, and we all know what happened last year, I competed in the USA Triathlon Nationals Duathlon Championship in Tuscaloosa, AL on May 22. After several previous trips to USAT Triathlon Nationals, this was my first time competing at the USAT Duathlon Nationals. I took division wins in both the Standard Distance Duathlon National Championship (10k Run, 40k Bike, 5.4k Run) and the Non-Drafting Sprint Distance National Championship (5k Run, 20k Bike, 2.8k run) for my 6th and 7th USAT National Championship wins and my first since 2017. Next up is the USAT Triathlon National Championship in Chattanooga, TN.

Lance Fargo ’84 SUMMER 2021 :: TATNALL.ORG ::

Class Notes

’86 Stacy Pennock I was married in Lewes Beach on May 15 to Jeff Specter. Fellow Tatnall alum, Julie Williamson was in attendance.

’88 Krista Pilot Greetings from Geneva, Switzerland! After five years of expat life in Dubai and Geneva, my family and I are moving back to the US. We will be finding a place to live in the New York City area, and finding schools for Jasper (age 9) and Willa (age 8). I am taking on a global role with PepsiCo, heading up External Communications and Strategy. Looking forward to reconnecting with friends and family this fall. Chapin Spencer I’m still in Burlington, VT 26 years later. We call it the West Coast of New England as we see the sun set beyond Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. I’ve been the Public Works Director here for eight years. While I love Vermont, I miss seeing you all but once every five years at reunions – so come visit!

’94 Scott Beale President Biden appointed Scott Beale (‘94) to be the Associate Director of Global Operations at the Peace Corps. Scott completed 15-years of running the nonprofit he started, Atlas Corps, which is known as the reverse Peace Corps because it brings people to volunteer in the U.S. PLEASE SEND US YOUR CLASS NOTES FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE OF TANALL TODAY.

Online: www.tatnall.org Email: communications@tatnall.org Mail to: Alumni Office, The Tatnall School 1501 Barley Mill Road | Wilmington, DE 19807 34 :: TATNALL TODAY :: SUMMER 2021

Renee Taylor Garnick Renee earned her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice in June 2020 and accepted a position as Director of Development for Tech Impact, a national nonprofit whose mission is to use technology to better serve our world.

’98 Alex McCausland I have been living with my wife, Jenny, and my son Alexander (8 years old) in the small resort ski town of Ketchum, Idaho for the past six years. Our family moved back to the Wilmington, Delaware region in August.

from our 200-person guest list). We are expecting a baby boy on Dan’s birthday – September 3, 2021.

’09 Matthew & Rachael (Polnerow) Nabhan My wife, Rachael, and I (both Class of ‘09) welcomed the birth of our son, Everett, in November 2020. We’re living in Kennett Square. Matt works in Greenville, and we’re eager to reconnect with old friends/classmates on the heels of last year’s social distancing! Devon Taylor Devon’s eleventh coauthored peerreviewed manuscript—and first which she is included as second author—titled, “Development and validation of a predictive model algorithm to identify anaphylaxis in adults with type 2 diabetes in U.S. administrative claims data,” was released in Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety on April 26, 2021.

’12 Lauren Psimaris ’98

Lauren Psimaris Lauren just joined the Wagner Team at Compass as a Real Estate Salesperson licensed in Pennsylvania. She would love to help anyone buying or selling in PA!

’05 Carly Jornlin It was a big year! Last year I moved out of New York City to Bucks County, PA after accepting a job as a Nurse Practitioner at The Lawrenceville School near Princeton. Here, I’m responsible for the medical care of 800+ boarding students. I married Dan Blaemire at an intimate ceremony on August 29, 2020 at Greenville Country Club with a total of 13 guests in attendance (down

Tajma Brown Tajma was recently hired by tech company Satisfi Labs, and has relocated back to Delaware for the first time since graduating.

’16 Benjamin von Duyke Benjamin was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, and has completed Special Warfare training to earn a black beret and serve as a TACP officer.

In Memorium Elizabeth Sisson Dolphin ‘77 Kay Sierer Hill ’67 Drew D. Yeager, Former Faculty Member

Begin with the end

in mind. Julie Griswold ’21

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALIST SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL DELAWARE REGIONAL SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARD, BOTH GOLD & SILVER KEYS BROWN UNIVERSITY ’25

Za’an Burrell ’21

DIAA ALL ACADEMIC CROWN TROPHY AWARDEE FRANCES D.S. TATNALL SCHOLAR DUKE UNIVERSITY LEADING FOR LIFE CHALLENGE-1ST PLACE SENIOR CLASS OFFICER PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ’25

It is time for Tatnall

Schedule your tour or register for an open house! For more information visit www. tatnall.org/visit (302) 892-4296

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Tatnall is excited to welcome all our alumni back to campus for Homecoming 2021. Classes whose graduation years end in “0”, “1”, “5”, and “6” will be celebrating milestone reunions. We cannot wait to see you here! Stay tuned for more detailed information to arrive soon from your reunion organizers and the Tatnall Alumni Office. INTERESTED IN HELPING? We need your help with reunion planning, the awards reception, the kickoff party, alumni gatherings, and more! Please contact Sara Wilson at sarawilson@tatnall.org or (302) 892-4386.

Tatnall Today Magazine - Summer 2021

Articles inside

Class Notes

Alumni Profiles

Congratulations 2021 Graduates

Community Impacts

Tatnall Students Give Back Through “Pandemic of Love”

New Faculty

Meet The Board

More Than A Mask: A Successful Year at Tatnall Despite COVID Restrictions

Around Campus

Diversity, Equity, and Community

Message From Head of School