Bulletin Board | Spring/Summer 2007

bulletin boardbulletin boardSpring/Summer 2007

For Alumni, Families, and Friends of Elmwood Franklin School www.elmwoodfranklin.org

As classmates look on, sixth grader Emily Glick(right) learns what it takes to create electrictyby pedaling a bike, one of the many hands-onactivities at the Niagara Power Project PowerVista.

FEATURES4 from the head of school

Tony Featherston reflects on his first year as Head of School and the involvement of our alumni.

6 from the board presidentA message from Board President Alice Jacobs

8 efs graduatesThe Class of 2007

12 graduation speakerDonna Fernandez of the Buffalo Zoo speaks to our youngest alums as they prepare to move on.

16 alumni profileNewell Nussbaumer ’82 is not afraid to change his life –or his city. Find out what’s next.

20 faculty profileAs library media specialist, Joan Good is more than just the woman who checks out the books.

24 learning alongIt is electrifying to think that one of the nation’s greatest hydropower facilities is located right here in WNY. Come along and learn with the EFS sixth graders on their trip to the Niagara Power Project Power Vista.

35 alumni relationsPresident of the Alumni Council Steve Kellogg and Director of Development Julie Raynsford speak about the lasting impact of our alumni.

DEPARTMENTS14 getting involved28 news of note30 names in the news31 just for fun32 day to day40 alumni update46 class notes

board of trustees2007-2008

Alice Jacobs, PresidentPhilipp L. Rimmler, Vice President

James Gately, TreasurerGrace Walsh Munschauer ’70, Secretary

George BellowsMatthew Enstice

Annette FitchRobert GlenningArthur Glick ’71Michael Hogan

Alison KeaneGeorge Kermis

Seymour Knox IV ’69Madeline Ambrus Lillie ’64

Eric LipkeElizabeth Duryea Maloney ’70

Gail MitchellTrini Ross

Michele Trolli

alumni council2007-2008

Stephen Kellogg, Jr. ’77, President

Amy Decillis Bard ’86Gitti Barrell ’71

Tricia Barrett ’92Kristin Schoellkopf Borowiak ’82

Rob Drake ’96Kary Fronk ’91

Charles Hahn ’68Susie Lenahan Kimberly ’64Madeline Ambrus Lillie ’64

Kim Rich Lupkin ’80Elizabeth Duryea Maloney ’70

Howard Saperston III ’85Mary Franklin Saperston ’60

Eric Saldanha ’85

The Bulletin Board is published twice a year by theDevelopment Office for alumni, families, andfriends of Elmwood Franklin School.

Julie Raynsford, Director of Development

Editor/WriterSally Jarzab, Communications Coordinator

Design and LayoutRebecca Murak, Development Associate

Cover ArtSelf-portraits by the Class of 2007

Elmwood Franklin School is Western New York’soldest pre-primary through eighth gradeindependent school, emphasizing high academicachievement, good study skills, and positivecharacter development. Elmwood Franklin acceptsqualified students without regard to race, color,religion, or national origin.

[ TABLE OF CONTENTS ]

4

[ FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ]

ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL BULLETINBOARD|

“Whether gathering in New York or Denver, as I

did with alums this past year, or back home in

Buffalo, members of the EFS family love to

reminisce, hear and tell stories about friends, get

updates on their favorite teachers, or relive old

Blue-Gray competitions. It’s that shared

experience that bonds our family together.”

a message fromT H E H E A D O F S C H O O L

[ FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ]

5ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL BULLETINBOARD|

JUST PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR I

treated the eighth graders to lunch – myway of ensuring that they will give me a fewminutes of their attention. It was actually thefourth such lunch of the year. We hadcovered all the typical topics in our earliermeetings: the benefits and responsibilities ofleadership, the high school search process,eighth grade “senioritis”, etc. On thisparticular day in May, I wanted to talk tothem about what it means to be analumna/us. For the majority of the Class of2007, Elmwood Franklin will be the school atwhich they spend more years than any othersingle school, and it will be the first fromwhich they graduate. In those precious fewminutes between when teenagers are happilysated by pizza and Pepsi and when you’velost their attention because they’re alreadythinking about the next meal, class, orSabres’ game, we discussed why EFS isinterested in their continued connection tothe school and what they can expect fromus in return.

Throughout the past year, my first as headof Elmwood Franklin, I’ve enjoyed meetingmany of our graduates, recent and not sorecent. What has struck me most is thedepth of connection that people have withthe school. It seems to go much deeper thanthe typical bond to one’s alma mater. Thereis a sense of history, of belonging, of family.The American poet Ogden Nash observed,“A family unit is composed not only ofchildren but of men, women, an occasionalanimal, and the common cold.” Certainly, bythat measure, EFS qualifies. And like most

modern families, ours is far-flung andincreasingly connected through technology.Whether gathering in New York or Denver,as I did with alums this past year, or backhome in Buffalo, members of the EFS familylove to reminisce, hear and tell stories aboutfriends, get updates on their favoriteteachers, or relive old Blue-Graycompetitions. It’s that shared experiencethat bonds our family together.

Of course, the EFS bond extends beyond the“genetic” attachment of family and of sharedexperiences. Our graduates are alsoconnected by a common educationalfoundation. It is during those early schoolyears at Elmwood Franklin that a love oflearning is developed and fostered, whetherfor reading or science, writing or history,French or the arts, athletics or technology.Although high schools, colleges, andgraduate schools often get the credit, it isthe elementary and middle school that firstintroduce the joys of academic discovery andcultivate the discipline required to besuccessful in school and in life.

So, what was the message to our newestalums? Our expectations are simple. Stay intouch. Tell us where you are and what you’redoing. This is easier than ever through thenew alumni directory on our website, but weare equipped to handle the traditional letter,card, or phone call as well. Visit EFS whenyou’re in Buffalo. Teachers love it when theirstudents drop them a note or stop in for anupdate and a quick hello. Stay involved as amember of our Alumni Council or by

supporting our current students byparticipating in the Annual Fund. Although itmay be a while, someday we hope they’llconsider returning to school to talk with ourstudents as part of our Alumni SpeakerSeries. Attend our alumni events in Buffaloand in other cities. Like Buffalo Old HomeWeek, a celebration of all things Buffalo thatwas resurrected last year after a 99-yearhiatus, we’ve reinstituted an alumni reunionwhich we plan to make an annual tradition.Simply put, we’ve asked the same of theClass of 2007 that we ask of all our alums.

The Class of 2007 has big shoes to fill, butwhatever path their journey takes,individually or collectively, in Buffalo orelsewhere, I have no doubt they will make usall proud. In return for staying in touch,Elmwood Franklin School promises to alwaysbe a touchstone for them and for everymember of our school community, our family.Even as the faces change and the campus isupdated, all of our former students (andparents) have a home here. The legacy ofElmwood Franklin School is the legacy of ourstudents – current, past, and future. Welook forward to reaching out, connecting,and reconnecting with as many of you aspossible.

Sincerely,

Tony Featherston

6

[ FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT ]


“My first year as Board Chair has

been a tremendous honor and

pleasure. I thank all of you for the

opportunity to serve in this role.”

a message fromT H E B O A R D P R E S I D E N T

[ FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT ]


FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, the 2006/2007 school year has been atremendous success. Thanks to Tony, ourstudents, faculty, staff, parents and entirecommunity, we feel our year of transition to a newHead of School left little to be improved upon.We are pleased that Tony and his family areenjoying Elmwood Franklin and the greater Buffalocommunity and are certain that Tony’s sportsallegiances will begin to change.

The Board and Tony have begun the work ofidentifying and beginning to address key areas forimprovement that will continue to place ElmwoodFranklin among the top K through 8 schools inthe country. In the 2008/2009 school year, wewill be applying for our accreditation renewal withthe New York State Association of IndependentSchools. The initial step, a self-study of allaspects of the school’s operations, will begin thissummer. Many members of our community will beinvolved in various aspects of this process. Whileserving as an evaluation for accreditation, theself-study will also serve as a critical tool for theBoard’s ongoing strategic planning process as itwill compare Elmwood Franklin’s programs andoperations with national benchmarks.

Some of the areas which need to be addressedhave been identified by the Board over the lastfew years. Thanks to the work of the Buildingand Grounds committee, we know that the LowerSchool facilities, dining facilities and athletic fieldneed to be renovated and expanded in the nearfuture to better accommodate our program. Weare hoping to jumpstart this construction effortwith the expansion of the cafeteria seating areathis summer, creating a roomier, more inviting

space for the students. Assuming permits andother planning issues proceed satisfactorily, wehope to complete this project by the end of thefirst semester. Additionally, over the next year wewill be working on refining plans for renovatingthe Lower School, creating a design that will meetthe needs of a 21st century elementaryeducational program while retaining the cozy,nurturing atmosphere that permeates our currentLower School. Your input on these plans will beinvited during the school year.

Finally our Board has been engaged in reviewingour governance policies and processes, ensuringthat they are up-to-date with current laws andguidelines and that the Board’s operationsprovide a solid framework to guide ElmwoodFranklin into the future.

I would like to thank two outgoing Trustees, SteveBiltekoff and Andrea Kuettel, for their Boardservice and dedication to Elmwood Franklin. Wewelcome Michele Trolli, parent of three EFSstudents, as a new Trustee in the fall. My firstyear as Board Chair has been a tremendoushonor and pleasure. I thank all of you for theopportunity to serve in this role. I wish you anenjoyable summer.

Sincerely,

Alice Jacobs

8

[ EFS GRADUATES ]


the class of 2007F R O M L E F T T O R I G H T

Seated: Elizabeth Bassett, Sandra LoFaro, Gabrielle Reed, Annalee Burkley, Sara Wlodarczyk,

Alison Johnston, Sarah Miller, Sara Zywiczynski, Alexandra Mathews

Row 1: Riley Featherston, Rachel Catipovic, Natalie Gerich Brabson, Alyssa Henry,

Sarah Collins, Lindsay Mathias, Karson Humiston, Grace Liptak, Nicole Trubish,

Patricia Haddad

Row 2: Matthew Dearing, Geoffrey Fatin, Scott Zachau, Evan Brannen, Daniel Healy,

Colin Campbell, William Downing

Row 3: James Dryden, Kevin Acker, Michael DiMichele, Andrew Slawson, Nicholas Cappuccino,

Garrett Burgwardt, Jack Knox, William Tiftickjian

[ EFS GRADUATES ]


EFS CLASS OF 2007 HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS

Kevin Acker Williamsville SouthElizabeth Bassett Buffalo SeminaryNatalie Gerich Brabson Park SchoolEvan Brannen Nichols SchoolGarrett Burgwardt Park SchoolAnnalee Burkley Buffalo SeminaryColin Cambell Canisius High SchoolNicholas Cappuccino Nichols SchoolRachel Catipovic Nichols SchoolSarah Collins Buffalo SeminaryMatthew Dearing Canisius High SchoolMichael DiMichele Canisius High SchoolWilliam Downing Canisius High SchoolJames Dryden Canisius High SchoolGeoffrey Fatin Canisius High SchoolRiley Featherston Buffalo SeminaryPatricia Haddad Buffalo SeminaryDaniel Healy City HonorsAlyssa Henry Nichols SchoolKarson Humiston Buffalo SeminaryAlison Johnston Taft SchoolJack Knox Nichols SchoolGrace Liptak Nardin Academy High SchoolSandra LoFaro Nichols SchoolAlexandra Mathews Nichols SchoolLindsay Mathias Buffalo SeminarySarah Miller Buffalo SeminaryGabrielle Reed Nichols SchoolAndrew Slawson Canisius High SchoolWilliam Tiftickjian Nichols SchoolNicole Trubish Williamsville EastSara Wlodarczyk Nardin Academy High SchoolScott Zachau Canisius High SchoolSara Zywiczynski Nardin Academy High School

[ EFS GRADUATES ]

familyP O R T R A I T

COMPOSED COLLABORATIVELY BY

the Class of 2007

arranged by Margot Vincent

Sitting on my steps,Wondering what happened to my childhood, I snap my fingers.Years have become dusty photographs.A flash of the past.

Puzzle pieces scatter on the ground,Gradually pulling together to make a whole picture,Forever imprinted on the back of my hand.A candle flickers, and I creep down a hallway.My footsteps echo as I enter the library of my memory Where thousands of books line the shelves,A flash of the past.

Footprints, once firm in the sand, are washed away By time and space in the dawn of a new day.My body leads me down the hallowed hallsThat have sheltered me all my life.Waves crash down, the tide comes in, The fire starts to smolder.My hands grope a familiar shelf Where only one album now rests.Its spine is cracked and ripped, the pages tattered. The words on the cover glow with crystal clarity: Elmwood Franklin SchoolA flash of the past.

I settle into a comfortable chair to read the story of my pastHow I wish I knew back then what I know nowWalking across the stage on graduation day– It seemed like a marathon.I was lightheaded– Thinking, wondering, looking back.My mind exploding as I accepted my diploma; My permission slip to memories,A flash of the past.

The 8:15 bell of Prep I rings, and I am safe, On my journey down a long, windy roadIn a place that is a shelter from the crazy world’s buzzing.This school is my lifeboat, Keeping me afloat on a raging river.I cling to the raft of my memories:Barbies, hide-and-seek and the tire swing reign supreme.

Our footprints grow larger, along with our shadowsAs we continue to reach for the stars.I turn the page in the worn album,A chill runs down my spine.Friends stick their tongues through missing front teethWhile the music of contagious laughter plays softly.I walk on, through the trail in the forest of my life.

I pass roses and thorns of memories,Walking into Blue Bears, a tiny tike all tidy,Walking out convinced I would be able to fly.I grasp these memories in my hand, holding them gently,Like a child with a worn blanket Woven by tears and laughter.

How small I was when it all began–40 to 65 inches in a blink of an eye.

My brain grows in zips and zaps– Colors, reading, geometry, Shakespeare,Throwing snowballs,A rock stuck in my ear,Basketball games with two seconds left,Sweating, swooshing, scoring, winning–A flash of the past.

Another new face,Another new name,Onyasha’s lake reflecting stars and our moon in spaceQuebec’s rain pitter-pattering, Pathfinder’s water, an icy finger on my backNon-dress code Fridays,Extra cookies and chocolate milk, The melody of the hum-drum fading into the background,The final bell of the year. The final bell of my EFS career.

I am a shard of ice made from droplets of knowledge.EFS was my life as I knew it. From 4 to 14, my home, my family.Stepping out onto the field on the brink of summerThere is a hole in my heart.I knew the day would come eventually.I never knew it would come so soon.

The separation from past and future–A million light years away.The bridge over the icy waters of transition magically melted,More quickly than I had planned.I remember standing there, Wondering who would be waiting for me on the other side.Who would wrap me in a warm towelWhen I emerged from the icy water?

Even though we fought, We argued, We complained,We ignored,We quickly realized,Writing long letters in the yearbooks of our lives, Our memories are as fragile as a camera lens.

No, you can’t stop timeBut you can carefully save the photosEven after you have packed up all your other belongings.We conquered our fears together.We learned to be independent together.We were a family with strength in our number– lucky 34.I peer at the faded family portraitHeld in the album of my heart.A flash of the past.

Gently, I shut the book’s cover.Good-bye, EFS, and thank you.I will never forget.I will never regret.Adiós.Au Revoir.See you soon.

[ EFS GRADUATES ]

12

[ GRADUATION SPEAKER ]


“…As a child, I wanted to become a mathematician. It started when Iwas four years old. My brother used to come home every day afterschool and teach me what he had learned in math class. By the timeI entered first grade, I could add, subtract, multiply and divide. Ofcourse, I couldn’t read. He hadn’t bothered to teach me that.

My fondness for numbers persisted through high school. So incollege, I took lots of courses in mathematics, applied mathematicsand computer science. But I also took a variety of courses inpsychology and biology since I had always been fascinated by animalbehavior. … While in college, I worked with lab rats, pigeons andmonkeys in a lab setting and with dragonflies and other insects inthe field. I decided I liked field work more than being stuck inside allday wearing a white lab coat, so I pursued a PhD in behavioralecology rather than cognitive psychology.

After graduate school, I began looking for a job as a collegeprofessor. I really didn’t know what else to do with a PhD inbehavioral ecology. One day, my mother called to say that she hadseen an ad for a job fair for people interested in careers in ecologyand the environment. Even though I had every intention of gettingan academic job, I decided to go. One of the panelists was from azoo in Boston looking for someone to run their research department.

The job was really fascinating. Most of the time, I focused on gettingsome of the more rare and endangered animals to breed. Workingwith the gorillas was incredible. They were so intelligent. But theycould be crafty as well. They knew that the one thing they could doto really annoy me was to throw their poop. This one female used torepeatedly pelt me when I was in the off-exhibit holding area tocollect behavioral data. Eventually I started bringing a squirt gun and

every time she threw poop at me, I would squirt her in the face withwater. She learned pretty quickly. As soon as she’d pick up a piece,I’d reach for the gun and say ‘Go ahead, make my day.’

One day, I saw an ad from an exhibit design firm in Boston. Theywere looking for a zoologist to research and design habitats for zoosand aquariums around the world. The pay was much higher than mycurrent position and I thought the job would be exciting. Within thefirst two weeks, I realized I had made a terrible mistake. None of thepeople I worked with were animal people. They were designers,architects, and graphic artists. And I was stuck inside eight hours aday, researching and writing at my computer. I really missed workingin the park-like setting of a zoo, but I decided to stick it out for ayear to learn as much as I could about zoo architecture and thedesign process. One of the people I met while working at the designfirm was head of the Bronx Zoo. He offered me a position as Curatorof Animals at the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn, another one of thezoos they manage. It was wonderful being back with animals.

The lesson here is that even if you make a mistake in one of yourchoices, try to learn as much as you can from it. … Someone saidthat ‘The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannotread and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.’Above all else, you must remain flexible.

So to all of you here today, I say congratulations on this importantmilestone in your life. May this be the beginning of a lifetime oflearning.”

Dr. Donna M. Fernandes was the speaker for Elmwood Franklin’s 2007commencement ceremony on June 13.

D O N N A F E R N A N D E Z

B u f f a l o Z o o P r e s i d e n t addresses the Class of 2007

Go ahead,M A K E M Y D A Y .

Go ahead,M A K E M Y D A Y .

This clever collection trayused for the Pennies forPeanuts spare change drivewas created by Neo Inc. onAllen Street and donatedby EFS grandmotherDonna Irwin.

[ GETTING INVOLVED ]


THIRD GRADE STUDENTS RALLIED THE SUPPORT OF FELLOW STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF TO

benefit a most worthy cause—Buki, Jothi and Surapa. Pennies for Peanuts, a spare

change drive, gave students the chance to support the Buffalo Zoo’s Elephant House

Renovation project by donating their own spare change—and a few dollars too. Third

grade students drew posters and placed collection jars throughout the school. The

event, which ran from April 23 – May 8, ended with a dress down day, on which

donations to wear jeans were given to the Pennies for Peanuts drive. In the end, the

students raised $1,700 for their friends at the zoo.

passionate about P A C H Y D E R M S

[ ALUMNI PROFILE ]


NEWELL NUSSBAUMER ’82 is not afraid to change his life—or his city.

Want to know what’s next?

what’sN E X T

FOR MANY YEARS, NEWELL NUSSBAUMER WAS A RETAIL STORE OWNER,running the cool gift shop Thunder Bay on Elmwood Avenue.That was before he turned into a community activist. That wasbefore he was a magazine publisher. And that was before heturned into a hyperlocal media entrepreneur. The thing is, beforeall of this, he didn’t plan on any of it while living in San Franciscoafter graduating from college.

“I’ve changed my life so many times,” Newell declares. “For me, itwas always, What’s next? What does Buffalo need? What can I do tochange Buffalo so people will want to live, contribute, and raise theirfamilies here? That’s my message to the kids: don’t be afraid tochange what you do. If there’s something that’s not there thatshould be, do it yourself. Find a way.”


NEWELL VISITED ELMWOOD FRANKLIN IN APRIL AS PART OF THE NEW

Upper School Career Speaker Series, which brings local alumniback to the school to talk about their lives and career paths. ForNewell, that path has been a circuitous one, and its latest turnhas taken him into the world of hyperlocal media—a term usedto describe news coverage of community-level events usuallyoverlooked by mainstream media outlets. In fact, HyperLocalMedia LLC is the name of the company founded by Newell andGeorge Johnson. The venture came about almost by accident—but the two friends saw the possibilities of this new type ofmedia, and are quickly becoming the next big thing.

As a local business owner in the 1990’s, Newell had a front seatfor the positive changes that were taking place in the city,especially in the Elmwood area. “Businesses were moving intoempty storefronts. The neighborhood was being strengthened;people were building a community,” he says. “There was arenaissance starting to occur, but nobody was reporting on thereal positive things happening in Buffalo. Nobody was telling thestories of the individual people trying to make a difference.”

So Newell decided it would be his next role to tell those storieshimself. He closed the store and started an upbeat publicationcalled “Explore the Elmwood/Allentown District” that was partnewspaper, part promotional piece, and highlighted the rebirthhe saw happening in the Elmwood Village. Later re-dubbedBuffalo Rising, the publication began to expand its content andgain a solid readership, and the idea came to take it to the Web.

“We just thought, we should put this online. But before we gotthe website together, we put up what was supposed to be atemporary blog. Once it started, it took off so quickly, werealized we couldn’t stop it,” said Newell. It was the start ofBuffalo Rising Online, now the third largest website in WesternNew York and a wildly popular source of current city-focusednews, commentary, discourse, trends and events—forBuffalonians and beyond.

“We cover the city, not because we don’t like the suburbs, butbecause we feel the city has been neglected for so long. Thecity is the region’s inner core, and that’s our whole focus,”Newell said. “People need to know about what’s happening inBuffalo, and not just people around here, but in other cities.”And it’s working. Buffalo Rising has an audience from all over the world, portraying the vibrant, hip, smart side of Buffalo that a lot of people don’t know about.

“We’re really cutting edge for what we’re doing,” commentedNewell. “We’re running a media company, and we’re doing it with not a lot of money and not a lot of man power.” The model is working so well that it’s now being peddled for othercities, with similar sites being tested for Brooklyn and Toronto.Expansion could give Buffalo Rising a stable revenue stream,allowing it to continue to serve Buffalo to the best of itsabilities.

For now, for Newell, it’s what’s next.


Thunder BayNewell operated this cool gift shop, ahallmark of the resurrection of the Elmwoodshopping district, for 12 years. The storefeatured loads of Buffalo-specific productsand a variety of fun and funky items for thehome. Newell closed the popular shop in2003 to focus more exclusively on BuffaloRising.

Buffalo Rising magazineWhat started out as a quarterly flierpromoting the Elmwood/Allentown businessand culture is now a stylish monthlymagazine full of current events, trends, ideasand insights, with a circulation of 75,000.Newell serves as publisher. Pick one up at allkinds of places around the city.

Buffalo Rising onlineThis Buffalo-dedicated online hub has beencalled “the model for blogs for the creativeclass,” but it’s much more than a blog. If it’sBuffalo, and it’s positive, and it’scool/creative/fun/current, you can learnabout it and talk about it on Buffalo Rising.Check it out at www.buffalorising.com

Hyperlocal Media LLCThe company behind the Buffalo Risingbrand, Hyperlocal Media creates and runs“media properties” that focus on broad orspecific communities through local relevanceand connectivity. Newell is co-president andco-founder.

Buffalo Old Home WeekA weeklong celebration of Buffalo’s historyand local treasures that was re-founded byNewell and a group of others nearly 100years since its inception. Tours, seminars,exhibtions, and parties fill the schedule fromJuly 1 through 8.

Elmwood Avenue Festival of the ArtsCo-founded by Newell in 1991 to give localartists, arts organizations and communitygroups a family-oriented venue in which topresent their work, this festival has becomea neighborhood favorite. This year’s festivaltakes place August 25 and 26.

Remembered as “the kid who

put a traffic light in the pilgrim

village” for a school project in

his elementary days, Newell had

his affinity for community

improvement even in his early

years at Elmwood Franklin

(above). Check out some of the

things he’s done since.

what’s N E W E L L:

20

[ FACULTY PROFILE ]


THERE ARE ALWAYS BOOKS WAITING. THAT’S THE INEVITABLE REALITY

of being a librarian. There are always books waiting to bechecked out, to be read, to be returned, to be shelved, tobe reviewed, to be bought, to be talked about, to beshared.

“There just aren’t enough hours in the day,” says JoanGood, the person at the helm of Elmwood Franklin’s stand-out library. But she doesn’t seem to let that bother hertoo much, because it means that the hours she does haveare busy ones, filled with all the things she loves to do—reading stories, doing research, using technology,teaching lessons, helping children, and most of all, beingaround books.

JOAN GOOD

sees her role as part teacher, part techie, part actor, part writer, part security guard and part detective.

Oh, and also as the woman who checks out the books.

a day in the lifeO F T H E L I B R A R Y M E D I A S P E C I A L I S T

22

[ FACULTY PROFILE ]


“THE BEST PART OF MY JOB IS SEEING THE KIDS’ FACES WHEN

they’re just so happy they found a good book to read,”says Joan, because she knows that kind of happiness isn’tfleeting. “The ability to select a book is a skill, one thatkids will use throughout high school, college, andadulthood. It’s something they need to learn to do. Thereare those kids who are born book lovers, but I don’tbelieve there is any kid who truly doesn’t like reading. Theyjust haven’t found the right books yet. It’s all about makinggood selections.”

At Elmwood Franklin, this learning process starts right inPrep, where children have weekly library class. They startwith a read-aloud story and group discussion, and thenhave time to choose their own books, with assistance fromMrs. Good. There’s also “book talk,” in which kids share amini-review of the titles they’ve enjoyed. In the primarygrades, students begin the transition to independent bookselection, becoming more familiar with types of books,authors, and reading levels. They also begin to use thelibrary’s research resources, finding facts and informationthat relate to classroom work. “Lower School students usethe computers a lot for research, for things like their smallbusiness projects, the poetry slam, and the authorstudies,” says Joan.

By fifth grade, the students are ready for the demands ofUpper School, proficient in using websites, databases, thedigital card catalog, and other information sources. Andwhile Upper School students don’t have formal libraryclasses, their use of, and their instruction in, library mediacontinues. They’re in the library every day, checking outbooks for their own enjoyment or for specific classassignments, or doing research for big projects.

“Information literacy is an important part of what I do,”says Joan. Accessing information is only the first step—

kids need to know how to process that information, how toevaluate it, and how to use it. So Joan is always there tohelp and guide, and to keep a watchful eye. “Thechallenging thing is that sometimes I get pulled in a fewdifferent directions, but I try to accommodate everyone’sneeds,” Joan says.

The enthusiasm that EFS students have for reading makesher job easier—and sometimes harder. Joan remembers theexcitement that took over when the A Series of UnfortunateEvents stories came out. Students would re-shelve thebooks in the non-fiction section so others wouldn’t borrowthem first. “This is the only school I’ve ever worked atwhere kids would actually hide books because they want toread them first,” Joan says. Maybe not the best behaviorfor book lovers, but it does point to an undeniable truthabout Elmwood Franklin students: they love to read.

“They are so excited about books,” says Joan. “They’llcome to me and request titles they want; they’ll tell meabout books they’ve read; they’ll ask me if we have acertain book they’ve heard about.” And with more than15,000 volumes in the EFS library, the students haveplenty to delve into. The collection is truly impressive, andJoan is always adding to it, updating it with recent award-winning titles, popular series, and other gems. She’sespecially interested in expanding the collection’s multi-cultural offerings.

With more books comes more work, of course, but Joandoesn’t mind. She gets a hand from parent volunteers, whoassist with check-out, check-in and reshelving, and shealways welcomes more help (no experience necessary—training provided!). It’s an inspiring place to be—amongbooks and children, questions and answers. Joan can’t thinkof a better way to spend the day.

[ FACULTY PROFILE ]


Joan Good is at the forefront of several literacy-relatedprograms and events—such as the popular PoetrySlam—and has new ideas for the future, including adebate competition. This past April, Joan tried outanother new school-wide initiative: National TV-TurnoffWeek. TV-Turnoff Week is a nation-wide effort in whichchildren and adults pledge to turn off TV sets and other“screen media” for seven days to experience life withouttelevision. Studies suggest that too much screen timeundermines kids’ education, and it certainly can affecttheir reading habits.

With the week coinciding with Sabres playoffs,enthusiasm lagged a bit— voluntary participation cameto about 33 percent of the student body—but overallthe endeavor was revealing for everyone, worthwhile formost, and even enjoyable for some. And the stories Joanheard from students about their experiences were moreentertaining than TV anyway. One student, experiencinga bit of withdrawal after a day or two of being TV-free,proclaimed to Joan that she was not going to be able tofinish out the week. She did, however, explainingunhappily, “my mother made me.” Another studentguiltily confessed she had watched television theprevious night, but only because, she said, “thebabysitter said I had to!” And another student, weeksafter TV-Turnoff Week had passed, asked if it was stillgoing on. Let’s hope he wasn’t missing out on hisfavorite program all that time.

Tentative dates for next year’s TV-Turnoff Week areApril 21-27, 2008.

TV Turn-off Week:Students give up TV for a week and live to tellabout it!

“ G O O D ” T O K N O W !

Place of birth: Canada

Education: B.A. in English, St. Jerome's College; B.A., insociology, Boston College; M.S.,in education, Canisius College;M.L.A., in library media, SUNYBuffalo

First job: “My first job was in a deli behind the cold cutscounter. I was fifteen. I bought agraphing calculator and a pair ofJordache jeans with my firstcheck!” Other jobs includeselling Bingo cards on rollerskates and her work as a socialworker/counselor in apsychiatric outpatient clinic.

Years at EFS: 9

If she couldn’t be a librarian, she’d probably be:a children's mystery writer orfull-time poetry slammer. “Mydream job is to own my owncombination book shop and tearoom. Hopefully this will happenwhen I retire,” says Joan. Shealso fantasizes of being a privatedetective, a rare book curator, oran archivist at the NationalArchives in Washington D.C.(She obviously has a book-lover’s imagination!)

Favorite authors: J.D. Salinger, P.D. James, J.K. Rowling

Last book read: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Favorite children’s book:anything by Jan Brett, RoaldDahl, or Judy Blume

A book she’s always meant toread but never has: the Bible,from cover to cover

Cultural heroes: Activist RosaParks, athlete Wilma Rudolph,and Thomas Jefferson. “Hefounded the Jefferson ReadingRoom at the Library ofCongress—one of my favoriteplaces.”

Hobbies: Joan is an avidcollector, collecting antiquechildren’s books from the 1930’sand 40’s, as well as blue willowporcelain. And her collection ofantique perfume bottlesnumbers over a hundred.

Three things you may notknow about Joan: Growing up,Joan attended boarding school inCork, Ireland, and she also livedfor many years in Canada. Shewas a professional ice skater,performing with the Ice Folliesfor two years. And she saves justabout everything, includingdecades-old files, directories,calendars, and miscellaneousscraps of paper.

24

[ LEARNING BEYOND ]


IT’S ELECTRIFYING TO THINK THAT ONE OF THE NATION’S

greatest hydropower facilities is located right here in

Western New York. The Niagara Power Project is the

biggest electricity producer in New York State,

generating 2.4 million kilowatts—enough power to

light 24 million 100 watt bulbs all at once. EFS sixth

graders got a charge out of their visit to the Power

Vista, where they learned how the energy of the

mighty Niagara is harnessed and why electricity is such

a powerful part of our lives.

Comealong andlearn

with the EFS sixthgraders on their

trip to the NiagaraPower ProjectPower Vista

Sixth graders pass by a 17-and-a-

half foot, 92-ton stainless steel

hydraulic turbine, identical to

those that spin underwater at the

Robert Moses Niagara Power

Plant to produce hydroelectricity.

Beyond being sculptural, the

turbine is a functional back-up in

case one of the 13 working

turbines breaks or malfunctions.

[ LEARNING BEYOND ]


WHAT IT IS:The Niagara Power Project is New York’s largest electric

generating facility and one of the largest in the United

States. Located almost five miles downstream from Niagara

Falls, the Niagara project transforms the energy of the

Niagara River into usable electricity. Built in 1961, the

project underwent a $300-million upgrade last year,

replacing all 13 turbines at the Robert Moses Niagara Power

Plant and making other improvements to the generating

equipment in the power dam.

HOW IT WORKS:The Niagara Power Project consists of two main facilities: the

Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant, with 13 turbines, and the

Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant, with 12 pump-turbines. In

between the two plants is a forebay capable of holding

about 740 million gallons of water; behind the Lewiston

plant, a 1,900-acre reservoir holds additional supplies.

Water is diverted from the Niagara River—up to 375,000

gallons a second—and conveyed through two large

underwater conduits under the city of Niagara Falls to

Lewiston. From there, water flowing through the Robert

Moses plant spins turbines that power generators,

converting this mechanical energy into electrical energy.

(Luckily, as the students learned, the vast majority of fish

that wind up taking this wild ride survive it, and the rest—

only about 10 percent—become sushi for the seagulls that

swoop around the facility.) At night, when electricity demand

is low, the Lewiston units operate as pumps, transporting

water from the forebay up to the plant's reservoir. During the

daytime, when electricity use peaks, the Lewiston pumps are

reversed and become generators, allowing the water to be

used for electricity production twice.

HOW IT BEGAN:Some 12,000 years ago, the ice that blanketed NorthAmerica began to thaw, melting into water that formed theGreat Lakes and carving out the Niagara Gorge and the 350-foot drop now known as Niagara Falls. The first hydroelectricgenerating station on the Niagara River was built in 1881. An86-foot cascade of water generated electricity thatsuccessfully ran the machinery of local mills and lit up someof the village streets. By 1896, the first long-distancetransmission of electricity began flowing from Niagara Falls toBuffalo, more than 25 miles away. Additional hydropowergenerating stations were soon built along the Niagara River.But disaster struck in 1956 when the region's largesthydropower station was partially destroyed in a landslide.Four years later, on the exact day predicted by RobertMoses, the "master builder" and then chairman of the PowerAuthority, the Niagara Power Project produced power.

WHAT’S TO SEE AND DO:The kids had plenty to experience at the Power Vista. Theobservation deck, perched nearly 400 feet above theNiagara River Gorge, provided a bird’s-eye view of thechurning waters that carved the Niagara Falls. The VisitorCenter features more than 50 hands-on interactive exhibits,touching on topics such as energy efficiency, solar power,fuel cells, and more. A Van de Graff generator madestudents’ hair stand on end, quite literally, and kids pedaledaway on a bike that demonstrated how the mechanicalenergy of the spinning wheel could be transformed intoenough electrical energy to run a washing machine or arefrigerator—a lot more work than just plugging it into awall socket! A comprehensive electric lab explained thebasics of electricity with an working model of a hydropowerturbine, and a replica of a Victorian house with periodarchitecture provided contemporary information on energyefficiency and electrical safety—a shocking, but important,lesson for everyone.

Writers at WorkFourth graders welcomed two parent-writers to theclassroom in May: former headmaster Keith Frome (top left)provided insight into writing personal essays andcomposing song lyrics and filmmaker Peter McGennis ’85(top right) spoke to the class about writing movie scripts .

Professional Development DayEFS faculty joined those of the other Western New Yorkindependent schools in March for a day long lecture byMel Levine, M.D. (bottom left), hosted by The ParkSchool of Buffalo. Dr. Levine, well known for his booksThe Myth of Laziness and All Kinds of Minds amongothers, lectured on his focused study of the eightneuro-developmental constructs that affect learning and

output in school and how teachers can use thesefindings to improve student achievement. Dr. Levine’ssuggestions were further discussed in follow-up facultymeetings.

Sing a SongThe Colgate 13 (bottom right), a men's a-cappella group,sang for students in February. A 60-year tradition ofColgate University, the group gives its own distinctiveflair to a variety of standards and popular favorites. Theperformance was made possible by the Prince FamilyPerforming Arts Fund. Here fourth grader RyanBronstein, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. WarrenPrince, Jr., poses with the group.


[ NEWS OF NOTE ]

N E W S o f N O T E

[ NEWS OF NOTE ]

The Spirit of ServiceSister Patricia Brady (top left, at right), director of CanisiusCollege’s Service Learning Office, spoke to EFS parents inMarch on the important and beneficial role thatcommunity service can play in the life of the child and thefamily. Also pictured are Nina Cascio and Laura Mangan,chairs of the Parent Council Speaker Series.

Hockey with the HeadA group of EFS students (top right)took to the ice inMarch with Mr. Featherston at HSBC Arena, where theylooked (and felt) like real Sabres.

The Winning NumbersThe seventh grade math team (bottom left) consisting of

Sarah Miller, Nick Osinski, Erica Dalton, Kaitlyn Henry, JohnLoree and Minnie Ringland took first place in the largeschool non-public division of the St. Joseph's CollegiateInstitute Math Contest. Individual trophies were presentedto Sarah Miller (highest scorer for EFS), Sarah Abell, EricaDalton, Kaitlyn Henry, John Loree and Minnie Ringland forexemplary individual scores in the contest.

Go FigureSixth grade math team members (bottom right) ThomasWestbrook (highest scorer for EFS), Sarah Duncan, AlecLong, Kayla Brannen and Noel Andersen took fourthplace in the region at the New York Math Leaguecompetition, facing teams from Erie, Niagara, Monroe,Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.


N E W S o f N O T E

30

[ NAMES IN THE NEWS ]


Student NewsBlue-Gray: co-captains for the secondsemester were Grace Clauss and Matt Stefura, Blue; Melissa Jacobs andJames Blackwell, Gray. The winning teamsfor 2006-2007 were girls’ Gray and boys’ Blue.

Eighth graders James Dryden and PatriciaHaddad took first place spots in WesternNew York, and fourth place nationally, inthe Level I National French Contest.Alexandra Mathews took second placelocally and fifth place nationally, and WillDowning came in third place locally andsixth place nationally. Scoring in the topten locally were Rachel Catipovic (seventhplace nationally), Alison Johnston (eighthplace nationally), and Alyssa Henry. In theseparate sixth grade competition, SarahDuncan ranked ninth nationally.

Eighth graders Matt Dearing and KevinAcker received gold medals in the 2007National Spanish Exam, competing againstmainly high school students. Silver medalswere awarded to Drew Slawson and DanHealy, and bronze medals to Evan Brannenand Sarah Collins. Garrett Burgwardt,Annalee Burkley and Gabrielle Reedreceived honorable mentions.

Eighth grader Drew Slawson served asHead for a Day in April, assisting Mr.Featherston with his busy day by handlingsuch pressing matters as deciding thedress code and choosing the lunch menu.

National Junior Honor Societyinductions in January included 26 newmembers: eighth graders RileyFeatherston and Sarah Miller, andseventh graders Sarah Abell, James

Blackwell, Amanda Chinn, Grace Clauss,Sukie Cleary, Erica Dalton, HannahElsinghorst, Paul Fix, Kaitlyn Henry,Louis Jacobs, Melissa Jacobs, Eliza Kaye,Hijab Khan, Julia Liguori, John Loree,Aaron Markel, Sarah Miller, NickolausOsinski, Minerva Ringland, MadeleineSchlehr, Christine Stephan, CatherineWilliams, Susan Winkelstein, and WilliamZacher.

Pushing Up the Sky Awards werepresented in February to fifth gradersMacKenzie Hamill and Joshua Osinski,sixth graders Michelle Moreland andThomas Westbrook, seventh gradersJames Blackwell, Erica Dalton, TaylorGillespie, and Aaron Markel, and eighthgraders Geoffrey Fatin, Lindsay Mathias,and Drew Slawson. In May, awards weregiven to fifth graders Helen Boisaubin,Amber Chinn, and Jack Vance, sixthgraders Alexis Bruzgul, Alex Bucknall,Kyle Cramer, and Maxcy Gayles, theentire seventh grade class, and eighthgraders Kevin Acker, Will Downing,James Dryden, Riley Featherston, AlisonJohnston, and Nicole Trubish.

Participants in All-County Music Festivalwere Sam Hausmann (elementary band);Noah Horan (elementary orchestra);Alexandra Mathews and Natalie Gerich(junior band); Susan Winkelstein (juniororchestra); Brendan Watkins, SarahDuncan and Kayla Brannen (elementarychorus); Brianna Simmons, Kylie Jones,Amanda Chinn, Nicole Trubish, DrewSlawson, and John Loree (junior chorus).The All-County elementary festival washeld at Kleinhan’s Music Hall and thejunior high festival at Amherst MiddleSchool.

Three EFS students placed in the 2007SPCA poster contest: Intisara Brittan-Karshud, Michelle Moreland, andMatilda Powell. Lucy Featherston wonthird place in the essay portion of thecontest.

Faculty and Staff NewsMath teacher Claire Barry welcomeddaughter Mara Katherine on June 4, 2007.

Nurse Patricia Cody was recognized withan honorable mention for the Mariel C.Furlong Award for Making a Difference,sponsored by the Food Allergy andAnaphylaxis Network. Nurse Cody wasnominated by the Alsheimer family.

The photography of history teacher JudyGerich was on display in the AndersonLobby of the Johnston Theatrethroughout the spring of 2007.

Science teacher Steve Rao welcomed sonGriffen John on April 19, 2007.

Sandra M. Roland has joined the ForeignLanguage team and will be teachingSpanish starting this fall.

Parent NewsThe 2007/2008 Annual FundCommittee will be chaired by JenniferPrince Bronstein ’74, Shashi Davae, andLiz Duryea Maloney ’70.

Chairs for Auction 2008 are Jane Cramer,Mindy Shine, and Mary Jane Zurowski.The event will have a Broadway theme.

Joining the Elmwood Franklin SchoolBoard of Trustees this coming fall isMichele Trolli.

N A M E S i n t h e N E W S bookM A T C H

[ JUST FOR FUN ]


WHILE EFS LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST JOAN GOOD IS QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT A GOOD BOOK

is one that a reader enjoys, not necessarily one that won a medal, award-winningtitles are a valuable part of any collection.

The Newbery Medal was named for 18th century British bookseller John Newbery. Itis awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division ofthe American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguishedcontribution to American literature for children. See if you can match the sevenNewbery Award books below with the year of their publication.

1. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson a. 2001 1. __________

2. Holes by Louis Sachar b. 1999 2. __________

3. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle c. 1987 3. __________

4. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg d. 1978 4. __________

5. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck e. 1968 5. __________

6. The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman f. 1963 6. __________

7. Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes g. 1952 7. __________

Title/AuthorYear ofPublication Your Answer

Answers:1. d 2. g3. f4. e 5. a 6. c 7. b

bookM A T C H

Donuts for DadSince Father’s Day takes place whileschool is out of session, Prep kidshonor their favorite big guys fivemonths prior, in January.

Elephant artistsAfter viewing some elephant-madeartwork, Prep I Stars tried their“trunks” at the same style, holdingpaint brushes in the crooks of theirarms the way elephants are taughtto hold them in their trunks.

Field DayUpper School students burn offsome extra energy before examsstart in June.

Masked maraudersFourth grade students show off thepaper mache masks they created inart class.

Cheese and Prep-peroniParents Carla and Sammy Pantanoof the legendary La Nova Pizzeriagive Prep students a lesson in thefine art of pizza making.

Path findingEighth grade students make theirway across the snow as they trekthrough Algonquin Park in Ontario,Canada during a trip to CampPathfinder in February.


D A Y T O D A Y

[ DAY TO DAY ]

[ DAY TO DAY ]


What’s a wiki?Students learned about wikis,computer applications that enablemultiple users to load and updatedigital content. A collaborative wikiproject between second gradersand seventh graders allowed thetwo classes to create, share, andedit book reviews online.

Kids on the BlockThe Kids on the Block puppet showperformed in May for the secondand third grades. An internationallyacclaimed disability awarenessprogram that uses a Japanese styleof puppetry called bunraku,performances encourage children tosee people with disabilities as otherchildren with strengths andweaknesses, just like themselves.

Sabres feverFirst, second and third gradestudents won a visit from a realSabre—#38 Nathan Paetsch—and Sabretooth in February as partof Perry’s Ice Cream’s Shoot-Score-Read More contest. Paetsch readthe book Z is for Zamboni to thekids, answered their questions, andsigned autographs.

Not for the squeamishEighth graders learn about squishysquids inside and out duringclassroom dissections, part of aunit on oceanography.

A piece of piMarch 14 was Pi Day at ElmwoodFranklin, with pi-related puzzles, pi-based contests, and even pi-shapedcookies for pi-minded students.

Lacrosse crossingThe girls’ lacrosse team headed toPennsylvania for a match againstSewickley Academy in May.

D A Y T O D A Y

[ ALUMNI RELATIONS ]


lastingimpact

ALUMNI RELATIONS AT ELMWOOD FRANKLIN

ALUMNI RELATIONS IS A TERM MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED

with colleges and universities, or even highschools, but generally not elementary schools.But at Elmwood Franklin, our graduates are toospecial to just let go and never hear from again.And our former students agree—thefriendships and foundations that they build intheir days at EFS often have lasting meaningthroughout their lives.

Whether we think of them as “alumni” or thinkof them as “sandbox friends,” the importantthing is that we do think of them, and that theycontinue to think of EFS as a part of their lives.After a busy and productive year for theElmwood Franklin Alumni Council, the BulletinBoard sat with Steve Kellogg ’77, president ofthe EFS Alumni Council, and Julie Raynsford,Director of Development, to talk about thestate of alumni affairs at Elmwood Franklin.

Julie RaynsfordDirector of

Development

Steve Kellogg ’77President of

Alumni Council

36



Tell me about the Alumni Council. What are itsgoals? Who serves on it?

Julie: The Alumni Council really works tomaintain a relationship of mutual benefitbetween the school and its alumni. Itsobjectives are to maintain communicationwith alumni, keep them informed andinvolved in the school, solicit their socialand financial support, and to share theirnews and accomplishments with the EFScommunity. There are 15 councilmembers—all local alumni currently, due tothe location of the meetings here at school.Our nominations committee is responsiblefor thinking of and reaching out to alumnito join the council. In the future, we wouldlike to grow the council to have arepresentative for every four-yeargraduation class increment, something like aclass agent structure.

What's new for the AC?

Julie: Well, for starters, we have two newcouncil members this year: Tricia Barrett’92, and Eric Saldanha ’85. Theorganizational structure, with councilmembers serving on sub-committees, is alsonew this year, and from that, we have hadtwo alumni speakers for our Upper Schoolstudents, and we hosted a two-day all-alumni open house in June, which was a newevent for this council. The council, alongwith Board president Alice Jacobs andtrustee Alison Keane, has also helpedorganize a regional event that took placeMay 16 in Manhattan.

Steve: Yes, we’ve really made reaching outto our alumni living outside the WesternNew York area a priority of recent. As Juliementioned, Tony Featherston hosted whatwas a well received reception at the ColonyClub in New York City. We’re lookingforward to expanding these regional alumni

receptions to other metropolitan areas inthe near future.

Speaking of alumni living outside of WNY, thenew online directory should make it a lot easierfor those people to stay connected.

Steve: Yes, and that’s really importantbecause we have a significant amount ofour alumni community living outside thearea. And I will tell you from manyconversations I’ve had as president of theAlumni Council that passion for the schooldoes not in any way decrease with distance.Of course, the Bulletin Board has been aconstant for alums for many years now. Ithink most alums are like me—one of thefirst things you do is flip toward the backand find the class notes section to see whofrom my class has been up to what. So I amreally excited about the new onlinedirectory, because it’s going to allow alumnito find each other, communicate, andgenerally stay in touch to whatever degreethey prefer.

Julie: And that reminds me—does anyonewant to serve as a class agent? The AlumniCouncil is looking for graduates in all classyears to gather class notes and informationfrom classmates surrounding theirgraduation years. A class agent is arepresentative that we expect to be quitefamiliar with all things Elmwood Franklin, sothat they can share what’s going on withother graduates. Of course, the class agentwould get help from the DevelopmentOffice.

Do you find that some people identify morewith the more “prominent” alumni affiliationsthey have with their high schools, colleges, anduniversities?

Steve: Prominence is, of course, perspective.Elmwood Franklin is where we learned who

we are, how to learn, how to play withothers, how to follow rules, when to pushthem, about the world outside, teamwork,independence, and so much more. For me,this was the foundation that allowed me toengage high school and college withconfidence in who I am and vision for whereI was headed. In my perspective, ElmwoodFranklin is the definition of prominence. Noother institution has made such a profoundimpact upon my life.

Julie: And we don’t mind sharing our alumniwith other institutions! We just don't wantour alumni to fade away—going off to highschool, college, and onward with their lives,without staying in contact with ElmwoodFranklin and sharing some of their bigchanges with us. Those “higher” schoolsknow the importance of a strong alumnibase and put a lot of effort and money intomaintaining that. We may be a pre-K tograde 8 school, but we have the same needfor active and engaged alumni to supportour school.

So does EFS still matter to its alumni?

Steve: Absolutely it does! And that justmakes sense. This is the place where wegrew up. This is the place we made real andpure friendships. I know I’m in the majoritywhen I say that when I look at the peoplewho I call my best friends today, most ofthem I’ve known since my early days atElmwood Franklin.

Julie: Just like Steve is saying, more oftenthan not we hear that Elmwood Franklinprovided some of the most positive years ofour alumni's lives. Ideally, we hope that ouralumni will consider the impact of their EFSeducation and how their experiences in theclassroom, on the playing field, in the band,and all the rest of it laid the foundation forhigh school, college and beyond. The



majority of our students spend nine or tenyears here, so I like to think—and trulybelieve—that our faculty and staff have alasting impact on every one of ourstudents.

What do alumni stand to gain by stayingconnected with EFS?

Steve: Both socially and professionally, itgoes without saying that networking isfundamental to success. It’s not necessarilythe reason for getting involved with such agratifying activity, but it certainly is abenefit.

Julie: Yes, we want to do our best to bringour alumni together and to allow them toconnect with former classmates.

Steve: And in addition to the memories, the nostalgia, participating in events or get-togethers, it’s nice to be able to havesome touch with such a valuable institutionthat so critically touches our nextgeneration. Because of our perspectivehaving learned to learn here at EFSourselves, we as alums are best to offerperspective, opinions or support withrespect to the direction of the school.Administration looks to us with a very openmind for our thoughts or guidance. It’squite rewarding.

What can the “average alum” contribute?

Julie: They can keep us updated on theirwhereabouts so that we don’t lose touch—it’s really easy with the new online directory.Or they can simply come back and visit. Wewant alumni to visit whether they’re in theClass of 2006 or the Class of 1936. I reallythink alumni contribute the most by notforgetting the years they spent here andhow those years shaped who and wherethey are today.

Steve: Yes, and by their doing that, it meansthe school is keeping wonderful history andtraditions alive, as well as using thatperspective to pave the future for the nextgenerations.

So just by staying connected, they’recontributing something?

Julie: Absolutely. The real truth is that ourentire faculty and staff cares about everystudent who comes and goes through ourdoors. We have a vested interest in theirsuccess, not in terms of getting into theperfect college or landing the perfect job,but rather in their growth as human beingsand their happiness in life. So it really isimportant to maintain communication withour alumni so that they are aware of thingshappening here and so that we are aware ofthings happening in their lives.

Of course, we can always use the “classcheerleader,” so to speak, to help maintaincommunication among his or her classmatesand the school. Let's look at this currentschool year: Tony Featherston joined us lastJuly. Do all of our alumni know we have anew Head of School? I'm not sure. Everyoneis busy, and if you live in California and havethree kids under the age of five, thenmaybe you missed our Bulletin Board profileof Tony, or maybe you didn't fully read themost recent alumni newsletter thatintroduced our new website and onlinealumni directory. Yet maybe you are stillclose to classmate Joe, who called you uprecently to chat about the old days, and hewas the one who made you realize some ofthe changes and activities going on. So wecan always use help spreading the wordabout upcoming events and projects. Andthey can also help with admissions byspreading the word about what a greatschool Elmwood Franklin is to their friendsand acquaintances with children.

Are there are other ways for alumni to getinvolved?

Julie: Well, we can’t forget the Annual Fund!

Why should alumni give to the Annual Fund?

Julie: So that our current students areprovided the same great education that ouralumni received when they were here andother donors were contributing for them.And a strong participation rate to theAnnual Fund among alumni speaks well forwhen we seek foundation aupport.

Do a lot of alumni make gifts?

Julie: We do have a relatively highpercentage of alumni participation, butthere is always room to improve. Truthfully,we focus more on participation than onactual dollars. We want our younger classesto give back with a gift that says “I may notbe able to build a new Lower School, but Ican give five dollars,” and then collectively,our young alumni make a big impact. Wefind that one of the most effective things iswhen alumni themselves do the asking. Weregularly hold phone-a-thons here at theschool, but, really, alumni of any class yearand any geographical location can call fiveto ten classmates and ask them tocontribute to the Annual Fund. Sure, peoplemay not like asking for money, but whatyou're really asking your classmate toconsider is giving their support to a schoolthat will always have a commitment tofinancial aid and that will always want toadd programming to the already enrichedcurriculum. It was true when they were hereas students, and it is true today.

Steve: These are the things about ElmwoodFranklin that never change.

38



W A Y S T O S T A YconnectedSome new and improved activities that allow EFS alumni to come back to where it all started.

O N L I N E A L U M N I D I R E C TO RYKey to keeping alumni connected is the functionality of anonline directory, on which they can look up old friends, findother alumni in their area, and stay in touch with the school.Launched this year, the password-protected directory featuresalumni from all class years.

Haven’t checked it out yet? Log on to update your currentaddress, phone and e-mail information. Visitwww.elmwoodfranklin.org and select “alumni directory”from the Alumni dropdown menu. Use your last name asyour user name and your four-digit class year as password.

A L U M N I O P E N H O U S EWhile not a formal reunion, the new EFS Alumni Open House,

which took place on June 8 and 9, is a way of inviting alumniback into the school to catch up with former classmates, sayhello to some former teachers, meet the new head of school,tour the renovated campus, and relive old memories of theirsandbox days.

A L U M N I R E G I O N A L GAT H E R I N G SA large portion of EFS alumni live outside Western New York.To keep them connected, with us and with each other, theAlumni Council has started to sponsor alumni gatherings inmetropolitan areas around the country. This year’s first, held inMay, took place at the Colony Club in Manhattan and drewalumni with class years that spanned from 1949 to 1997. ABoston reception is being planned for December 2007. Watchfor announcements online at www.elmwoodfranklin.org.

Left: Alumni can now keep in touch with each other online with the EFS Alumni Directory. Center: Alumni came back towhere it all started on June 8 and 9 for the first annual All-Alumni Open House. Here, young alums Dale Hodge ’97 and Rob Drake ’96 greet Head of School Tony Featherston after touring the school. Right: Alumni gathered at the Colony Club inNew York City May 16 to reconnect with EFS and fellow alums.



A L U M N I C A R E E R S P E A K E R S E R I E SA new project for the Alumni Council is the Alumni CareerSpeaker Series, which brings EFS alumni back into the schoolto talk to current Upper School students about their lives andcareer paths.

This program kicked off this year with speaker Doug Swift ’70, an architect, real estate developer, andhistoric preservationist. Doug visited EFS the morning of April17 and told students about life in the real estate business inBuffalo. Trained as an architect, Doug spoke about hisinvolvement in investment and development. He runs CityViewProperties (along with former EFS parent Howard Zemsky andtwo other partners), renowned for its rehabilitation of theLarkin at Exchange building, a historic terminal warehouse thatwas originally part of John D. Larkin's Larkin Company andLarkin Factories. Built in 1912, this ten-story, 600,000 squarefoot building is now a landmark address for a wide variety ofClass A office tenants. Doug strongly believes in preservingthe rich architecture of Buffalo, and his commitment is well

demonstrated in his volunteer involvement the RoycroftCampus Corp., the Graycliff Conservancy, the Darwin MartinHouse Restoration Corp., and the Buffalo Olmsted ParksConservancy.

Doug’s message to the kids was how much he—and manymembers of his family—enjoyed their time at ElmwoodFranklin, which truly offers something, if not many things, toeveryone. (In fact, he is a bit jealous of all Upper School boyswho now get to stay through eighth grade.) In addition tobeing a former board member and current corporationmember at Elmwood Franklin, Doug is a former EFS parent.Sons Brendan and Daniel graduated in 2001 and 2003respectively.

The second speaker in the series was Newell Nussbaumer’82, who’s profiled on page 16. If you’re an EFS alum whowould like to be a speaker in the series for next year, contactJulie Raynsford at (716) 877-5035 or [email protected].

The Alumni Career Speaker Series kicked off this year with Doug Swift ’70 (above left) and Newell Nussbaumer ’82 (aboveright). The Speaker Series is a project of the Alumni Council, which brings EFS alumni back into the school to talk to curentstudents about their lives and career paths.

40

[ ALUMNI UPDATE ]


graduate brunchE F S C LA S S O F 2 0 0 3 H E AD S TO CO LLEG E

Members of the EFS Class of 2003gathered for a brunch at the home ofTony Featherston and Helen Roy in June.With high school behind them and newadventures before them, these youngadults took the opportunity to visit withtheir EFS friends and share theirmemories and plans for the future.

Emily Bollier Rochester Institute of TechnologyGrace Brown Boston UniversityBrian Brunsing University of ColoradoPaul Brunsing Mercyhurst CollegeWilliam Chason University of VermontEthan Collins Wake Forest UniversityMichael DeRose Fordham UniversityMarisa DiSarno Drexel UniversityJennifer Dref Buffalo State CollegeKatharine Dryden Yale UniversityAachen Elsinghorst SUNY GeneseoEliza Friedman Trinity CollegeMeryl Gellman Crane School of Music • SUNY PotsdamMargaret Healy Barnard College

Caroline Hettrick Lake Forest CollegeJulia Ivins Boston UniversityAmelia Kermis Cornell UniversityRyan McQueeney University of Puget SoundChristopher Moy Colgate UniversityMatthew Parker Ohio State UniversityFrederick Pierce Connecticut CollegeAndrew Piscitello Art Institute of TorontoBrett Roell University of New HampshireJoan Sullivan University of TorontoDaniel Swift University of Colorado at BoulderDavid Tiftickjian University of Western OntarioBenjamin Walsh Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)Harry Zemsky University of Vermont

THERE IS A SIZABLE GROUP OF ALUMNI AND STUDENTS WHO

are making a family tradition out of an ElmwoodFranklin education. This group makes up a valuableresource for Elmwood Franklin’s future. Not only aretheir families shaped by the school, but the school isinevitably shaped by their families. What’s more, somefamilies, like the Mathias and Johnston families, havebeen a part of Elmwood Franklin School for more than60 years.

Five graduates in the EFS Class of 2007 have a parentand/or grandparent who is an alumnus/a of ElmwoodFranklin School.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:• Elizabeth Bassett and Kingman Bassett, Jr. ’73;• Neil Fatin ’71 and Geoffrey Fatin;• Susie Surdam Johnston ’55, Edwin M. Johnston,

Jr. ’47, Alison Johnston, Tim Johnston ’74, andJennifer Johnston ’71;

• Sandra Mathias ’56, Wendy Sheets Mathias ’77,Lindsay Mathias, and Jane Forman Sheets ’43;

• Seymour H. Knox IV ’69 and Jack Knox.

F A M I L Y T I E S

[ ALUMNI UPDATE ]


[ ALUMNI UPDATE ]


If you missed the All-

Alumni Open House

in June, here is a

glimpse of who was

there and what went

on. At right, Celesta

Kowlaski Serio ’37

poses in the EFS

Library Media Center.

She brought along

with her books and

momentos from her

early days at the

Franklin School

(pictured left)

Whowasthere

44

[ ALUMNI UPDATE ]


Clockwise: Head of Upper School Rosemarie Beres (left) and Head of LowerSchool Susie Green (right) greet Corporation Member and FormerTrustee Fritz Spitzmiller.

Head of School Tony Featherston and Sybil McGennis stop to catchup with Sue Rockwell ’42 (right).

Young alums (from left to right) Devin Friedlander ’06, Dillon Joseph’06, Kilby Bronstein ’06 and Trey Toy ’06 enjoy catching up aftertheir first year away from EFS.

Emily Schabacker ’62 (left) chats with Tony Featherston while SteveKellogg ’77 (right) mingles with fellow alums.

A L L - A L U M N I O P E N H O U S E J U N E 8 A N D J U N E 9

[ ALUMNI UPDATE ]


Clockwise: Liz Duryea Maloney ’70 (center) and son J.P. Maloney ’99 chat withMary Franklin Saperston ’60 (left).

Pamela Bradley Swales ’83 (left) and Elizabeth Schultz ’83 (right)stop to check out their graduation photo while touring the school.

Patricia Hughes ’88 (right) and husband Colin S. Brady (left) catchup with Eric Saldanha ’95.

Barbara Strebel Conners ’38 (left) and Mary Doolittle Taylor ’36(right) gather to remember their years at Elmwood Franklin.

A L L - A L U M N I O P E N H O U S E J U N E 8 A N D J U N E 9

46

[ CLASS NOTES ]


1958Diana Appleton McKnight writes, "Ithought that after almost 50 years itwas time to reconnect! I've been living inBoulder, Colorado for 40 years and havetwo sons, Ian (35) and Chris (34). I'vebeen working for Boulder Valley PublicSchools since 1980 but will retire inJune. Give me a call and come visit!"

1961Trudy Adam Mollenberg was honoredthis April as a 2007 Athena Awardnominee. She has volunteer affiliationswith the United Way, the King UrbanLife Center, King Center Charter School,and the Western New York Foundation.She is also a member of the EFSCorporation.

1965Sonie Urban Hunn is happily living inTroy, New York. She writes in, "Myoldest son David works for HSBC inAlbany, and my youngest son Henryworks for Ayco in Saratoga Springs."

1971Allison Prince, Brenda Lentz Russell,Erica Cohn and Jane Hopkins Careycelebrated their 50th birthdays with asleepover party in NYC in May!

1972Laura J. Yerkovich writes, "From time totime I remember with appreciation my7th grade teacher, Mrs. Adams, who, inmy first year at EFS, brought me up tospeed in so many things, but especiallygrammar and punctuation. She servedme well!!!"

1982Newell Nussbaumer was the recipientof two Artvoice Best of Buffalo awardsfor "Loudest Cheerleader" and "BestLocal Web Site"(buffalorising.com). Awards wereannounced April 30 at the AV Best ofBuffalo Bash. Newell was also nominatedfor "Best Blogger."

1989Adrian Benjamin Burke writes, "Myshort film, 'A Soldier's Choice' has beennominated for a ‘Tinny’ the official awardof the Swansea Bay International FilmFestival in Swansea, Wales, U.K. (May-June 2007). I will attend the premiereshowing and introduce the film at theDylan Thomas Centre. In addition, thefilm will make its African premiere at theEverglades International Film Festival inDargle, South Africa this comingSeptember 2007."

1992Molly Gasbarrini has recently written achapter on Couple Therapy that hasbeen accepted for publication in theAmerican Psychiatric Association'sTextbook on PsychotheraputicInterventions. After living in Chicago forfive years and working as a researcher atNorthwestern University, Molly will bemoving to Texas to begin a Ph.D.program in clinical psychology at TexasA&M University in the fall.

John Mitchell, writer and co-producerof a short film entitled “Super Powers”,recently received top honors in thecategory of Best Short Film Narrative atthe Tribeca Film Festival in New YorkCity.

Jay Suresh attended the EFS alumnireception in Manhattan in May. He livesin New York City with his wife, PoojaMakhijani, who recently published achildren's book entitled Mama's Saris. Acopy was donated to the EFS library.

1993Laura Santilli writes, "I will marry fellowmusic teacher Paul Biddle on July 27, 2007at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery."

1994Duncan Sisson and three other bicyclistshave formed the nonprofit organizationBiking for a Better World, Inc. to benefitcommunities along the Pan-AmericanHighway. Their first goal is to raise$18,000 to finance the construction of aschool in Nicaragua. To do so they willbike from Alaska to Argentina, a 16,000mile trip, over the course of nine monthsbeginning June 15. To learn more visitwww.bikingforabetterworld.org.

1996Emily Santilli is living north ofPittsburgh and works at Burt HillArchitectural Firm in Butler, PA. She alsotravels the Northeast swing dancing.

1998Dionne Fabiatos currently works full-time for GEICO Insurance Company.This fall, she will be attending New YorkLaw School on scholarship.

1999Matthew Edson continues to worktoward his degree in aviation science,recently completing his certification as acommercial pilot.

class N O T E S

[ CLASS NOTES ]


Alexis Lockwood is working in New YorkCity as an account executive for AvenueA Razorfish, a digital marketing servicesand technology firm.

2000Samantha Friedman wed Andrew Olsenon May 26. Eliza '03, Julia '04, andMadeline '06, and Molly DeRose '00were among the bridesmaids. Samanthais completing a degree in communicationwith a concentration in advertising andmarketing at Canisius College. Afterhoneymooning in Florida, the couple willbe at home in Snyder.

2001Adam Goldfarb attends Colby Collegewhere he is a classical civilization majorand philosphy minor. He is also amember of the varsity squash team.

2002M. Nicholas Edson completed his firstyear at the University at Buffalo. Heplayed both hockey and lacrosse forU.B. and earned a Collegiate Scholar-Athlete Award.

2003Ethan Collins and Amelia Kermis werenamed to the 2007 All-Western NewYork Scholar-Athlete spring sports team.To be nominated, students must havecarried a 90-plus average for theprevious six semesters and been astarter or significant player in theirsport. Ethan was a lacrosse player atCanisius High School. Amelia played golf

for Nichols.Kathryn Dryden and Amelia Kermiswere both awarded the 2007 EmedcoAcademic Excellence Awardrecognizing local high school seniors foroutstanding all-aroundachievement. Katie will be attending Yalein the fall and congratulates her brotherJames on graduating EFS this year.

Joan Sullivan spent the past year livingand working in Equador where sheassisted at a local hospital. She will beattending the University of Toronto thisfall studying international medicine.

2004Sylvia Blackwell was honored for herathletic achievements in April with a Rayof Light award given by the YWCA. Theawards are presented to outstandingyoung women in Western New York whodemonstrate sustained excellence andmake significant contributions in theirschools and communities.

Fritz Clauss was recently spotlighted onBuffalo Rising for his stop-motion film.This film won 3rd prize in a field of 17entries comprised mainly of collegestudents at Canisius College's DigitalMedia Festival. He also won the RisingStar Award, given to the entrant whoshows the most promise for the future.

Javier Buscaglia Pesquera, MichaelHong, and David Szymkowiak, allAmherst Central High School juniors forthe past year, were inducted into theNational Honor Society in May inrecognition of their scholasticachievements, leadership, character and

service. 2005Ted Clauss completed his sophomoreyear at St. Joe's Collegiate Institutewhere he lettered in two varsity sports,ice hockey and lacrosse, both as agoalie. He was selected to play goaliefor the AAA Midget hockey team for theTown of Amherst. The team is acontender for the USA HockeyNationals, to be held locally at theAmherst Pepsi Center in 2008.

Erin C. Edson is a sophomore atAmherst High School. She is playingvarsity lacrosse for her second season, isan active member of student council andband, has played field hockey, and hasbeen Team Manager of the boys' varsityhockey team.

2006Kilby Bronstein writes, “Sem is truly agreat place! Playing sports is still myfavorite thing. My summer plans are tobe a Junior Counselor at Cradle Beachwith Devin (Friedlander) and to travelto Costa Rica in August.”

Ari Goldfarb finished his freshman year atNichols High School where he played onthe football, wrestling and lacrosse teams.He also enjoyed participating in the CostaRica Exchange Program this year.

Peter Loree has completed his freshmanyear at Nichols, where he played JV boyslacrosse. He also played hockey with theBuffalo Shamrocks. This summer, Peter willjoin former EFS art teacher Jon Carlson ona hiking expedition through Arizona, Utahand canyon country, a trip he also

"... I attended EFS from pre-kindergarten all the way through eighth grade and graduated in 1992. My schooling at EFS has

shaped my entire life experience, both scholastically and personally. As an 11-year-old performing as ‘Annie’ on the EFS stage, I

dreamed of performing onstage on Broadway and around the world, and that dream was realized throughout my twenties! I am

starting a new chapter of life now as I pursue my Ph.D. in clinical pyschology at Texas A&M University. I was recently

published academically for the first time. I credit EFS with so many of my successes, and some of the teachers I had there

remain the most important mentors I have encountered to date."

Molly Gasbarrini '92class N O T E S

EFS REMEMBERS THE CLASS OF 2003

104 New Amsterdam AvenueBuffalo, New York 14216-3399

phone 716.877.5035fax 716.877.9680

www.elmwoodfranklin.org

Non Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAID

Permit No. 1818Buffalo, NY

TO PARENTS OF ALUMNI:If this magazine is addressed to your sonor daughter who no longer maintains apermanent address at your home, pleasenotify the Development Office by phone716-877-5035 or by [email protected] withthe correct mailing address.Thank you.

Do you know the place? As eighth graders in 2003, these students are enjoying one of the many outdoor optionsoffered at EFS. Email us at [email protected] with the name of the location and we’ll send you an EFS memento!

Documents

Bulletin Board | Spring/Summer 2007