C&C Alumni Newsletter Spring 2011

8/6/2019 C&C Alumni Newsletter Spring 2011

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Jeife Sage, ama (’70), C&C Bad

Tstee, ad achitect (Sage ad Cmbe

Achitects) f City ad Cty’s eva-

tis t ew ad eistig bidigs, ca

fte be see btsivey bsevig,

measig, ad takig tes i the spaces

f C&C. He thghtf wk sds s

i the pesevati f the C&C aesthetic—cmftabe, spae, yet beatif ms, has

ad eteis. Whie Jeife’s impact the

Sch is ceay visibe, may i cm-

mity have’t had a chace t hea fm

e f mst devted cmmity mem-

bes. She ecety asweed sme qes-

tis abt he epeieces at C&C ve the

yeas ad shaed sme phts

f the wk she’s de.

I ight f a that y d f C&C asa adt, it mst have had a impact

y as a stdet: What makesC&C a imptat pat f y ife?

City and Country gave me the condence

to handle authority gures in a public

high school class of 500 (LaGuardia).

Unlike my classmates who had grown up

resenting and/or fearing their teachers, I

was able to develop strong relationships

Jeife Sage:udestadig oPast Whie Pesevigo Fte

with them even in a large public school format and afterwards

in college and graduate school. After C&C, grades seemed like

a welcome change and amusement.

D y thik y wk with bcks ad hads- eaig gided y twad y caee iachitecte?

Looking back, I can certainly trace signs of my architectural

future to my education at C&C. I have very fond memories of

the blocks, the cubies, the baby dolls and the train people, but

I don’t think that the blocks themselves had a direct impact

on my future career choice, which developed over a long and

somewhat irregular academic route.

Hw has wkig with the Schve the past yeas deepeed

y destadig f the Schad appach t pgessive

edcati?

While I am a big supporter of expanding the

size of the community with double groups

in the Middle and Upper School, there

are essentials about C&C that I treasure

and that have held true through the years

and through the growth.

newsette f Ami,Paets ad Fieds

Spring 2011

(continues on page 2)

Renovated entrance to13th Street Building

Jennifer Sage inRhythms, photoby Sylvia Miller



Gettig Away fm It A: F a Geat Case

2

The theme of City and Country’s 2011 Spring Benet was

Great Escapes and, as promised, the C&C community was

able to peruse and bid on fabulous trips to Jamaica, Mexico,

and Europe (among many others)…all without leaving New

York City! On Thursday evening, March 10, 2011 C&C

parents, friends and staff gathered on the sixth oor at

Skylight West, the setting generously underwritten by C&C

parent Bentley Meeker (XIs). Holly Greenwald (IVs, Vs) and

her Matthew Robbins Design team made wonderful use of the

room, lling the space with votive candles, ickering lanterns,

a multitude of oral arrangements in sweet, spring hues, and

bedecked tables. Guests mixed and mingled (not to mention

bid!) in a lovely environment.

This year’s Auction Chairs were David Aronson (VIIs, Xs),

Nicole Luterman (IIs, Vs), Caroline Moses (IIIs, Vs) and Louise

Sa (IIs, Vs). They, along with much help from Pat Bates (Art),

Sarah O’Neill (Art and the From our Community Silent Auction),Jenny McAllister-Nevins (delicious candy bar!) and many other

parent volunteers helped plan and execute an evening of

mingling and merrymaking for the greater C&C community that

never lost sight of the purpose: to support City and Country.

Ultimately, the evening was a huge success lled with food,

drink, and exciting auction items highlighting the many

talents of our C&C staff and families. Thanks to everyone

who planned, donated, attended and bid. The 2011 Spring

Benet—Great Escapes served as a fantastic display of our

community’s boundless generosity.

Children trust and interact with adults

and with children of the opposite sex

in a uid and respectful way. They are

fearless in their approach to problem

solving—unafraid to be wrong or

discouraged to revisit a problem in a

different way. This is something that I

have heard described at other schools

but rarely seen except at C&C.

I y wk as the achitect

f C&C’s ecet evatis,what gidig picipes d

y se s the desigs embdythe spiit ad gas f

the Sch?For reasons of both budget and

philosophy, we have tried to work

with a simple palette of materials

and to consider the architectural

work as a reinforcing backdrop to

the activities of the School.

What ae sme f y favitechages the Sch has made

thgh the pchase f thebidig ad evatis?

The potential for double groups, the

expansion of the Yards’ footprint and

thanks to the C&C community and team,

the preservation of the original Library.

(continued from page 1)

F me C&C ami pes ad

iteviews,ad ews abt pcm-

ig evets, be se t check t

www.cityadcty.g/ami.Top: Block Yard and facade of renovated andexpanded 12th St. Building. Bottom: Renovat-ed Science Lab in expanded 12th St.Building

What was y favite Jbat C&C?

In typical C&C fashion, I think I

remember looking forward to each

next year’s Job...

Jeife Sage was b ad

aised i Geewich Viagead atteded City ad Cty

Sch with he siste ad vecsis, gadatig i 1970.Afte eaig degees fm

the High Sch f Msic adAt, Havad Cege ad the

Yae Sch f Achitecte,she psed he achitecta

caee, wkig iitiay withwd-ewed I.M. Pei. I 1994,she peed Sage ad Cmbe

Achitects with pate (ad C&Cpaet) Pete Cmbe. As chai

f the Bad’s Faciities cmmit-

tee, Jeife has advaced aaspects f the Sch’s physicapat impvemets, camps e-pasi ad gig evati.

See me phts f the Spig Beet facebk at the City ad Cty Sch Ami Page.



Spptig The Day T Day Wk Ad PayAnnuAl FunD

Did you know that tuition alone does not cover the day-to-day

cost of C&C’s programs? It is hard to believe but—as with all

independent schools—it is true.

S hw ca y hep? By contributing to the Annual Fund youcan assist in providing the necessary income the School needs

to bridge this gap.

Hw wi y dati be sed? Below are a few examples

of what your contribution supports:

• Academic program enhancements

• Financial Aid

• Technology

• Teacher Salaries

• Professional Development

• Facility maintenance

Gifts made to the Annual Fund are a wonderful (tax

deductible!) way to show your support for the unique and thoughtful progressive education the C&C community

has cultivated for almost a century.

Hee’s hw y ca sppt this histic istitti:

Check: Payable to City and Country School. Mail or drop-off

ATTN: Development Ofce.

Cedit Cad: Visit http://cityandcountry.org/support online

to make your credit card donation.

Secities: For stock transfer instructions, please

contact Jennifer Cherney in the Development Ofce at

212-506-5945.

If Y Bid It…CAPITAl AnD EnDoWMEnT GIVInG

The City and Country Board of Trustees—with the support

of the administration and faculty—identied facility and

Sppt City ad Cty

Name ______________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________

___________________________________________________

• Caroline Pratt Society ($50,000+)

• Pacesetting Gift ($25,000 - $49,999)

• Leadership Gift ($10,000 - $24,999)

• Block Building ($5,000 - $9,999)

• Sustaining Gift ($2,500 - $4,999)

• Benefactor ($1,000 - $2,499)

• Patron ($500 - $999)

• Sponsor ($250 - $499)

• Donor ($10 - $249)

My gift of __________________________________ is enclosed

I pledge _____________________________________________

(Pledges are payable before June 30, 2011)

• I would prefer my gift to be anonymous

• I have remembered City and Country in my will.

Your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Please check one:

• Current Parent

• Alumnus/a

• Past Staff

• Grandparent

• Past Parent

• Friend

space needs and set forth to create and renovate our buildings to

complement our academic program and preserve and

enhance the School community. Due to the early and generous

support of leadership donors we have been able to make

signicant improvements for the immediate use and benet of

C&C students. We continue to seek voluntary support for capital

and endowment purposes to ensure the long-term programmaticstrength of the School. Please contact the Development Ofce to

learn more about capital and endowment giving.

Gig, Gig, Ge!SPrInG BEnEFIT

Parent chairs in conjunction with the Development Ofce lead this

festive auction to benet the operating budget. The Spring Benet

offers countless opportunities for your involvement. Each year, we

ask the community to help secure underwriting, assist in obtaining

auction items and volunteering to help raise awareness about the

event. Please contact the Development Ofce to get involved.

Defeed GiftsPlAnnED GIVInG

Increasingly, alumni and parents are using planned gifts as a

means to augment their outright giving to the School. Planned,

or deferred gifts, such as bequests, gift annuities, and charitable

remainder trusts provide income to C&C for many years into

the future and may often involve tax benets for donors. Contact

the Development Ofce to learn more.

FiayPlease consider helping us build a tradition of philanthropy at City

and Country School. Let’s do our part to ensure that generations

to come will benet from this special school that carefully puts

into practice the educational philosophy of Caroline Pratt and thecombined wisdom of nearly 100 years of progressive educators.

THAnK You#



4

On Thursday, February 17th a record number of parents,

faculty and current students lled the Rhythms Room to listen

to recent C&C alumni answer questions and reect on their

time spent at C&C for the School’s annual Meet the Grads

event. Scott Moran moderated, posing questions from parents

and current XIIs and XIIIs. While providing current students

and parents a glimpse into what life after C&C can look like,

the evening was also an opportunity for the C&C community

to celebrate the many accomplishments of some of its most

recent graduates.

This year’s participants were Keshia Mora (’02), a graduate

of Fieldston and Yale (with a degree in Biomedicine), Henry

Rabinowitz (’07), a senior at Bard High School Early College,

Claire Rogers (’09), a sophomore at Packer, Anna Weiss

(’09), also a sophomore at Packer, Greta Jenkins (’08),

a Junior at Brearley, and Dashiell Finley (’04) a graduate

of Fieldston and now Junior at NYU currently studying

lmmaking. The panelists tackled questions relating to the

transition to high school and college and expressed how their

foundational experiences at C&C have shaped the men and

women they are becoming and continue to impact their lives

and choices on a daily basis.

A touchstone of a C&C education alluded to throughout the

evening and at every year’s Meet the Grads event was how

deeply City and Country develops what Claire Rogers ’09

calls “a strong sense of self…[and the knowledge that] there

is something more than just a grade behind everything.” Greta

Jenkins ‘08 reiterated this, pointing to the “emphasis on learning

for learning’s sake” she encountered during her time at C&C.

Another common thread woven into many responses from

alumni was the dedication of the faculty and the positive

Jamie Dageish ’09I am a sophomore now, class of 2013 at

Dwight Englewood. I picked up lacrosse

last spring—a sport I hardly knew inthe city. I also earned the Coach’s

Award in soccer. I earned a medal for

my work in English Honors and set

personal records in Winter Track. I now

have an internship with the Director of

Communications for my school (Dwight-

Englewood). This includes writing

articles for the school website and

Meet the Gads!

relationships between students and teachers that were

fostered at City and Country. When asked what sets C&C

apart from other schools, Dashiell Finley ’04, had this to

say: “The teachers in general set City and Country apart…I went through four years of high school and I’m now three

years deep in college and I have never had a teacher that

came close to many of the ones that I had at my time at

City and Country in terms of just how invested they were in

their students. It went beyond just a job.”

Perhaps, Greta Jenkins summed up the alumni’s

sentiments about the unique qualities of a C&C

education best, saying “I think that at City and Country

there’s a real sense of possibility. You feel like your

voice is being heard.”

Meet the Grads panelists (l-r): Keshia Mora, Anna Weiss,Dashiell Finley, Claire Rogers, Greta Jenkins, Henry Rabinowitz

seasonal magazine! C&C prepared me

well for history—I started in Honors as

a freshman and plan on applying for AP

next year. Dwight-Englewood is takinga Touring Orchestra to London in June

to perform. I’m so excited for it, I started

taking Cello lessons in the Xs at C&C.

Che Sctt ’06Chloe was just offered a place at

Pembroke College, Cambridge, to study

Natural Sciences. Chloe’s eight years

at C&C undoubtedly contributed to her

success, and her parents, Liz Hammick

and Mark Scott (as well as the C&Ccommunity) are very proud of her!

Cynthia Warner ’98

After teaching as an English teacherin Newark, NJ through the Teach ForAmerica program, I joined the educationnonprot PENCIL, where I manageda network of partnerships between

volunteer business leaders and public

school principals. Currently I work in the

New York City Department of Education’s

Innovation Zone, supporting educators

AluMnI nEWS



who are reorganizing schooling around

the needs and motivations of individual

students. I also continue to teach by

leading a weekly adult literacy class.

Although it has been almost 17 years

since I was a C&C student (!), my interest

in teaching, listening, and learning thatwas nurtured at City and Country still

informs most of what I do—and In the

Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson is

still one of my favorite books.

Jh Syde ’78, who came to

C&C as a III in 1968 and left as a XII

in 1977: I recently moved to Western

Massachusetts with my wife Kim, and

now three-year-old daughter, Maggie. I

am the Medical Director of the teaching

clinic at Baystate Children’s Hospital in

Springeld, MA.

Beatiz Geei rwe ’74I am married and have been living in

Connecticut for 20 years. I have two

daughters, Natalie who is 17 and a

senior in high school and Audrey who

is 14 and is a freshman. After being a

stay at home mother for 15 years I went

back to school to study clinical massage

therapy and have a private practice.

Ca Messe lebea ’37(pictured)

I was in the same class as Dorothy

Wicker, Craig Rowan, Sally Willcox,

Ruth Gannett, Zander French, and

Marjorie Frank, among others. I kept in

touch with Dorothy until she died a few

years ago. Craig and I still keep in touch.

I am 86 and work full time in a career

I enjoy tremendously. I travel around

New England as one of the few active

professional silhouette artists. There are

maybe 25 in the whole United States

who do free-hand portraits with scissorsand black paper. Besides working at

Arts & Crafts Fairs there is a demand for

silhouette artists at fund-raising events

for libraries, schools and museums. It is

still a very popular art form. I can also

report that my brother, Arnold Messner,

is doing great. He has been a language

teacher in Greatneck N.Y. and is a world

traveler. He was in the class of 1935 and

has attended many of the alumni get-

togethers over the years.

Carol Lebeaux

Carol Messner Lebeaux (’37) shared an unpublished true story she wrote

about an adventure in activism with her classmate Judy Churchill Skinner,

acting as intrepid ten-year-olds who took it upon themselves to monitor the

health and safety of local NYC work-horses in 1934. Judy’s husband, Andy

Skinner says of the story: “That’s my Judy, I kept thinking. Always rushing

headlong into great causes. She had tremendous determination to make the

world a better place.” Their story is a great testament to the C&C education

that gave them the condence, sense of justice and can-do spirit that set the

foundation for their venture in animal advocacy.

An ExCErPT FroM THE STorY, our YEAr oF THE HorSE:Havig decided a pa f acti we fd a secet hidig pace t

g t dig ecess time. It was a isated acve, ce a dmb-waite,

i the d bwste bidig that was sch.

“Dea Pesidet rsevet,” I wte the age ied pad. Jdy ad

I gied at each the i ecitemet. “We ae tw te yea d gis

vey wied abt–“

“Deepy cceed,” itejected Jdy with he sa sphisticati.

“oH, that’s GooD” I said, easig ad ctiig; “deepy cceed

abt the hses i new Yk City.”

“Wait,” said Jdy. “We shd be specic, ‘abt the cditi f the

wk-hses i the city.’”

Afte a, we wee we awae f the Mted Pice thei

magicet steeds i ctast t the d ags pig wags. We

ctied with amet abt the vewked ad misteated hses

haig ads a ve the city i the mid-1930s. Wakig tgethe

afte sch, we fte fed appes ad petted the vaiat ceates wh

mbeed ag the steets pig mik wags, jk wags, pdce,

ice, ca, ad gcey wags. Jdy Chchi was my best fied.I had tasfeed t the sch the yea befe at age ie, qicky

discveig mta ve aimas, especiay cats ad hses. We

shaed bks abt cwbys, dew pictes f hses ad wte

pems tgethe.

For the rest of this colorful and quintessentially C&C story and to read a full

prole of Carol’s experiences at C&C, visit www.cityandcountry.org/alumni/

alumni-proles/carol-messner-lebeaux-37. If you’d like to be in touch with

Carol, you can reach her at: [email protected].



146 West 13th Street

New York, NY 10011

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAIDPROVIDENCE, RIPERMIT NO. 1899

Please join us in your much beloved

and newly renovated and expanded

Library for an evening of fun, food,

and fellowship!

Fiday, May 13th

6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

City ad Cty Sch

146 West 13th Steet

If you cannot make it and would still

like to support C&C, please visit

www.cityandcountry.org/support

Please RSVP to katiek@cityandcountry.

org or 212-506-5950

2011 Amirei

SHHH!

THE 2011AluMnI rEunIon

IS MAY 13th! I CAn’T WAIT To SEETHE nEW lIBrArY!

I loVEC&C!

Documents

C&C Alumni Newsletter Spring 2011