December 20, 2021 

A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
A few weeks ago, Interim Head of School Chris Benbow ’90 and the Board of Trustees sent a letter to the community with the results of the Institutional Equity Audit, performed by the Glasgow Group. It includes important discoveries we have made in this process and steps we are taking in response to what we have learned. If you have not read this communication, we encourage you to do so. You may find the letter in full here which contains a link to the audit.

DEDICATION FOR PAT SEAGERS
Pat Seagers, former Health Center Head Nurse, retired in 1996 after caring for Westtown students for more than 20 years. Pat was honored on October 23, when friends and family joined her on campus for a plaque dedication. The plaque was installed in the waiting room of the Health Center, which used to be Pat’s office. This plaque honors Pat’s devotion and dedication to the health and well being of generations of Westonians. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you, Pat!

SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE BACK IN ACTION
One of the pillars of our Strategic Vision is Environment Illuminated. To continue our crucial work in the area, Westtown has engaged with Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants to review our sustainability goals and vision. One of their recommendations was to reassemble the Sustainability Committee. This committee — comprising administrators, faculty, staff, and students — has been reconvened and meets monthly. At their kickoff meeting in October, they discerned their charge: 

The Sustainability Committee shall advise the school on matters related to campus-wide sustainability and environmental issues and work with faculty, staff, administration, and students to develop policies and practices that promote an equitable reduction of resource usage and create a culture of sustainability practices on campus. The Sustainability Committee shall additionally advise the school on creating educational events and addressing other issues on the campus that relate to sustainability.

The Committee’s first steps are to collect data/conduct an audit, develop an action plan, review the sustainability mission statement, and monitor progress and results. Their broad goals are to reduce the campus carbon footprint; increase awareness of environmental issues, and to enact institutional and behavioral change toward these goals. Stay tuned for updates in this and other Westtown publications. If you have any questions about the Sustainability Committee, please don’t hesitate to contact Mary Ann Boyer of Boyer Sudduth Consultants, or Carolyn Hapeman, Dean of Finance and Operations.

FROM THE ARCHIVES 

For those who want to learn more about Westtown alumnus Samuel L. Allen who attended Westtown in the 1850s and is the inventor of the Flexible Flyer sled, check out this article currently featured on the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office. It contains several references to Westtown School and includes photographs from the Archives.

SPECIAL THANKS
Although photos featured in eCollections and other school publications come from a variety of sources, we’d like to give special thanks to Nan Yiljep ’11, Sports Information Coordinator, Shannon Moriarty, Upper School Photography teacher, and students Coco Chen ’25, Wilson Kuang ’24, and Eric Li ’24, whose work you will find featured here and in many of our school galleries.

DAY OF SERVICE
On October 13, while seniors were working on college applications and juniors were sitting for the PSAT and SATs, 10th graders engaged in a day of service. Organized largely by Lara Freeman, Service Network Director and Religious Studies teacher, and 10th Grade Dean Jennifer Dorfman, service activities took place on and off campus and students could select their projects from a host of options. One group of students worked on a house with Habitat for Humanity. A large group of students took to the campus land farmed by Chester County Food Bank to help in harvesting produce. Other projects included: delivering food donations to City Team in Chester; volunteering at the Coatesville Pro-Bono Counseling Center; cleaning up the tunnel on the farm; letter writing to local, state, and national representatives about areas of passion and concern; helping the Kitchen Staff prepare lunches; hosting a Staff Thank-You Party; writing letter to children at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital; and, finally, writing KOBs to fellow 10th graders. At the end of the day, there was a Meeting for Sharing in the Meeting House during which students reflected upon and shared responses to their service experiences. You can see more photos from the service day here, and the gallery includes photos of how 9th graders spent the day — doing team building exercises and enjoying the ropes course!

ABAR/DEI UPDATE

Faculty/Staff
Activities and events centered around our anti-bias, anti-racist (ABAR) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work continue. Most recently, all faculty and staff engaged in professional development during our in-service day with Dr. Liza Talusan, who is serving as our DEI consultant this year. Dr. Talusan is an educator, strategic change partner, leader, writer, leadership coach and parent. With over 25 years of experience in PreK-20 education, strategic leadership, and organizational change, Liza is an engaging facilitator in conversations about diversity, anti-racism, bias, privilege, and power, and creates environments that allow for people to build skills for difficult conversations. The in-service day included the first of three workshops that Dr. Talusan will offer faculty and staff. Part one of this series, entitled Engaging in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Organizational Change, introduced tools for the “Identity-Conscious Educator.” These tools included how to get conversations started, how to use Singleton’s Courageous Conversation Protocol, and establishing clear definitions of diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice. The workshop led to productive small-group conversations. Additionally, the in-service day began with an all-employee workshop led by the Quaker Life Committee which provided ongoing education about Quakerism, and concluded with divisional workshops focused on student learning and wellbeing.

Lower/Middle School
Kelly Yiadom, Lower and Middle School Equity and Inclusion Coordinator, has provided a variety of learning opportunities for students, teachers, and parents to deepen engagement in this work. Throughout the fall, Kelly has focused on strengthening students’ knowledge of other cultures and identities, and offered opportunities and affinity groups for students to explore their own. Kelly has also met with parents to discuss her role and to encourage both alignment with Westtown’s ABAR/DEI vision and goals, and to explore how parents can support moving toward these goals. As she shared in her most recent newsletter, “I had the pleasure of speaking with parents at October’s Lower and Middle School Parents’ Council meetings. During my time with parents, I shared that an integral part of my role is supporting the Westtown Village: parents/guardians, faculty/staff, and students. I also noted how important it is to have parents aligned with our anti-racist and anti-bias (ABAR) vision and DEI focus in order for this work to be meaningful and holistically impactful. Parents posed questions and engaged in a call to action, ‘What is one goal to which you can commit that will further support ABAR/DEI work at Westtown?’ We ended our sessions with an affirmation as a reminder to take this work forward.”  You can learn more details about Kelly’s work in her most recent newsletters here and here.

Upper School
In the Upper School, activities, initiatives, affinity groups, and conversations abound. New this year was the addition of a special orientation session for 9th graders who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. At the beginning of the year, Westtown hosted the first-ever 9th Grade BIPOC Summer Camp for both 9th graders new to Westtown and those rising from our Middle School. Conceived of and designed by Dean of Access and Equity Jay Farrow, Equity and Inclusion Specialist Marissa Colston, and Upper School Diversity Coordinator Celeste Payne, this summer camp experience took place prior to the opening of school and other new student orientation activities over the course of four days and three nights. The camp comprised 20 interactive sessions that covered topics like academics, residential life, co-curriculars, and community. Older BIPOC students served as mentors and helped facilitate the sessions. Farrow says, “The purpose of camp was to present ninth grade BIPOC students with opportunities to develop a genuine sense of belonging and to build strong relationships with each other, as a cohort, and with key staff and faculty before the official start of school. We sought to introduce them to multiple areas of the Westtown School program, its intentional community, this gorgeous campus, and resources and activities in the surrounding area…There was emphasis on them finding, sharing, and sharpening their voices and them taking ownership of their Westtown experience.”

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL EQUITY & ACCESS CONFERENCE AND COLLEGE FAIR
Since 2005, Westtown has hosted the biennial access, equity, and inclusion program called the Independent School Multicultural Conference and College Fair on its campus. Westtown took the best of its in-person program to create a virtual program, and changed its name to reflect the mission of the event. The 2021 Westtown Independent School Equity & Access Conference and College Fair partnered with StriveScan to host a variety of panel presentations, student-led discussions, and a virtual college fair on Saturday, November 13, 2021. There was no charge for high school students, parents, guardians, or high school/community-based-organizations (CBOs).

The morning started with the keynote address by Dr. T. J. Snowden, Director of Admissions at Recruitment at Morehouse College, and a lively conversation facilitated by Veda Robinson, Westtown’s Upper School Principal. There were 671 participants from around the world who attended this virtual program. Some of the independent schools in attendance were the African Leadership Academy in South Africa; Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, California;  Church Farm School in Exton, Pennsylvania; United World College — Dover in Singapore; and Catlin Gabel School in Portland, Oregon. To listen to the 2021 program recordings, please click here.  

The program also featured panels led by Westtown alums and students. Special thanks to the young alums who hosted the “Beyond Westtown: What’s College Really Like?” session: Kavi Gandhi ’21, Anna Li ’20, Mia Melendez-Ruiz ’21, Mustafa Shabazz ’17, Lindsey Turner ’21, Enoch Wang ’20, and Jaydn Williams ’21.

The next conference is planned for the fall of 2023. We hope the 2023 Independent School Equity & Access Conference and College Fair will be in person on our campus. Please contact Dr. Marje Ireland, Clerk of the Independent School Equity & Access Conference and College Fair if you have any questions.

CLUB FAIR
An integral part of the Upper School student experience is participating in clubs and affinity groups. It’s so important in student life that club periods are built into the academic schedule. There are a host of student clubs to join and, if there’s not a club that suits as student’s particular interest, they can start their own.  This year’s Club Fair,  the opportunity for students get to learn what clubs are available to them, was held outside on a beautiful day.  There are a whopping 40 clubs this year that represent student interest in everything from visual and literary arts to politics and social activism to sports and hobbies to service and philanthropy — and myriad topics in between. These groups offer shared social time, an opportunity to develop a passion or focus on a favorite topic, and leadership opportunities for students. 

LOWER SCHOOL MASK PARADE
Masks have been created and worn as expressions of art throughout history and across cultures, from Kabuki dancers in Japan to Taino Vejigante masks at Carnival. Different cultures have different reasons and occasions for creating and wearing masks. The Chinese Dragon Dance brings good luck at New Years, the Mexican Day of the Dead festival connects ancestors on All Souls Day, while the Yoruba Masquerade in Nigeria might be worn to ensure an abundance at harvest.

In Lower School during art classes, students have been designing, creating, and animating masks for over forty years! Teacher Jeff Waring inherited the Halloween Mask Parade upon his arrival in 1991, and has worked with several visiting artists to develop themes and forms. When the school expanded in 2002, Teacher Jeanne Watson-Smith, now retired, came aboard and added her mark on the evolving art show on sneakers, and now Teacher Kelly Nicholson has  joined in the creative fun. While our parade coincides with Halloween, it is more than just a spooky surprise. Our parade presents creative interpretations from a spectrum of inspiration, from tiny bugs to imaginary aliens. It is an occasion to celebrate the diversity of our planet and the creativity within each of us.  Marvel at all the students’ creativity here!

MID-AUTUMN CELEBRATION
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in many Asian countries and, as students leaders in our International Student Organization (ISO) reminded us, “It is an occasion for family reunions and community unity.  There was a special dinner in the Dining Room to celebrate and the menu included mooncakes, which are an important part of the celebration in many cultures. The ISO made a video about the ways they celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival.  Check it out! 

Middle School students in Kaiyao Ni’s Chinese class made mooncakes in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, shown below.

DIWALI — CELEBRATING THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Third grader teacher Vicki Shelter writes, “Shrinidhi Venkatakrishnan and Geet Sandhu taught second and third graders about Diwali and what the holiday means to them. Shrinidhi is Hindu and Geet is a Sikh, and they explained that Diwali means light over darkness. They shared their religious stories and how they celebrate Diwali. They set up tables in the Lower School lobby filled with artifacts such as clothing, food, diyas, spices, bracelets and more, and arranged tables so that they could each teach a lesson to their classmates. At one table, students colored in a premade rangoli that Shrinidhi and Geet designed. At the other table, the lesson was how to create a rangoli with different colored sands which were in shakers. After the activities were over, Geet and Shrinidhi gave each student a diya, which is a candle that symbolizes goodness, purity, and light, and a bindi for them to wear on their forehead. The girls did a fabulous job teaching and the second and third graders loved their lessons!”

In the Upper School, a Diwali Community Dinner was hosted by the South Asian Affinity (SAA) Group with a special menu of delicious Indian foods. After the meal, students retired to the East End Student Lounge where the SAA offered engaging community sharing about the Festival of Lights and an outside celebration with sparklers! Enjoy the full gallery here. 

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DINNER
Just before the fall break, Upper School students enjoyed a special Community Dinner, an Indigenous Peoples/Thanksgiving Dinner “In celebration and Thanksgiving for the Land of the Original Peoples.” This was the first sit-down, family-style dinner in the Dining Room since February of 2020, and it was wonderful to break bread and give thanks together once again. Kyren Lazore ’22, his mother, and his aunt joined our kitchen team to prepare delicious traditional Indigenous recipes like haudenosaunee corn soup, frybread, roasted chestnuts, among others. You can enjoy the entire gallery of photos here!

HOW CAN WE BUILD GREENER CITIES?
In teacher Natalie Cheung’s sixth-grade science class, students
took on the role of urban planners that specialize in renewable energies. They explored the question: How can we build greener cities? In the culminating project, students applied their knowledge by designing renewable energy plans for different cities based on their climate data, location, and population. In addition to communicating their plans in writing, students also designed ad campaigns intended to convince residents of the city to invest in and support the switch to their renewable energy plan. These kinds of real-world, hands-on projects are hallmarks of Westtown’s inquiry-driven science program.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL RETURNS
The annual International Festival was back in full swing this year! A celebration of the countries and cultures that make up our school community, the festival offered delicious food, memorabilia, cultural activities, and conversations about cultural heritage. New this year were “cultural stations” that were set up in Main Hall classrooms where students and adults could stop in to learn more and sample foods. Thanks to the International Student Organization student leaders, Assistant International Student Coordinator Bei Zhang, and the many students, families, and community members who participated in creating this rich and fun event! Enjoy the full gallery of photos here.

KUDOS TIMES TWO!
Double congratulations are in order for Jake Richards ’22!  Last year, Jake was named one of the top clarinetists in the state of Pennsylvania as part of the All State Music Festival. This gave him the opportunity to, alongside all of the All State clarinetists in each of the other states, to audition for the All Nationals Ensembles. Jake auditioned this fall and was accepted into the All-National Concert Band making him one of the top high school clarinet players in the country. In addition to performing with Westtown School’s Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Band, Jake plays with the prestigious Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. In addition, earlier this year Jake was named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. Congratulations, Jake!

WINTER INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT
The first in-person performance since November 2019 took place in the newly renovated theater on Sunday, December 12.  The performance featured Symphonic Band, String Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble. Students were eager to share their music with a live audience once again. The concert was also recorded, so if you’d like to see the concert, visit LocalLive.  Enjoy the photo gallery, too! 

ANOTHER TRADITION RETURNS
The annual Holiday Community Dinner for students resumed this year! Faculty and staff replace students on the set, serve, and wash work jobs so that students can fully enjoy their celebration. Hats off to our fabulous kitchen staff as well who provided a delicious meal! Check it out! 

SPORTS ROUNDUP
The fall season saw the return of in-person interscholastic competition for most of our athletic teams. Our players brought energy, excitement, and enthusiasm that started in the preseason and lasted throughout the fall season. A number of our fall student-athletes were named to the FSL All-League First Team, and others received Honorable Mentions. 

Recently, seven seniors signed their National Letters of Intent to play their sports at the college level. Join us in congratulating these student-athletes!

Left to right: Zack Ouassil – Hampton University – Lacrosse; Jameel Brown – Pennsylvania State University – Basketball; Will Nagy – Amherst College – Cross Country; Carol Ulichney – Lafayette College – Volleyball; Helena Lasic – University of Pennsylvania  – Basketball; Dereck Lively II – Duke University – Basketball; Diesel Schraufnagel – Wagner College – Lacrosse 

Girls Cross Country Team
The team worked hard throughout the season, ultimately earning 3rd place in league competition (edging out George School for a coveted Patterson Cup point!) and 4th place in the FSL championship race (where George edged out our varsity team despite a valiant race and multiple PRs). In addition, the JV team won our first JV Friends School League championship title in history. In the PAISAA State Championship race at Belmont, injuries held back multiple runners on both our varsity and JV, which led to a 13th place varsity finish. The team worked incredibly hard through all kinds of weather, dedicating themselves to supporting each other and improving their fitness. Their grit and determination were inspiring to their coaches, and we are proud of their work this season.
All-League: Ella Cook ’24

Boys Cross Country Team
This team showed great strength in the Friends School League, coming in second in league competition before being edged out by Abington to place third in the league championships. In the PAISAA State Championship race at Belmont, the varsity finished in 9th on a tougher day for our team against strong competition. Many members of the team dedicated themselves to hundreds of miles of summer running, inspiring their teammates by arriving at preseason at a high level of fitness and ready to jump into speed work and perform at the top of their ability. From school record contenders to aspiring new runners and so many talented and dedicated runners in between, the team put in hours of hard work and supported each other like family throughout the season. 
All-League: Will Nagy ’22

Girls Varsity Soccer 
Following a 2020 season turned upside down by COVID, the 2021 team rostered one senior, welcomed a new coaching staff, asked an 8th-grade goalkeeper to not only play but start every game, and faced a litany of injuries. This is a very concise list of the obstacles this team faced that, frankly, would give any player a valid excuse to quit or give up. But not this team! This team showed up every day with joy and enthusiasm that was contagious. Though not reflected on the scoreboard, this team won more than they lost. No matter the obstacle they refused to surrender their joy and fighting spirit.
All-League: Lucy Smith ’26

Boys Varsity Soccer 
The team had a tremendous season! Despite a number of injuries, a challenging early schedule, and a team that hadn’t truly played together in two years, they rose  to the challenge. Going into our early Friends League games, our goal was to compete and make a run to get into the 5th seed spot. After a win at Moorestown Friends, we felt like we were in a great spot. A few wins and losses later, we found ourselves in a home game against Shipley. In one of the greatest victories in recent memory, we pulled out a 1-0 victory. The incredible journey continued with a loss in overtime to George School, but a hard-earned 3rd seed. Back to George, we went for another incredible win. The Friends League season ended with a loss in the finals. The season was an incredible journey and we are all so proud of the work that everyone put in this season.
All-League: Ryan Stewart ’22, Josiah Moore ’23, Tee Johnson ’23
Honorable Mention: Leo Salvucci ’24

Girls Varsity Field Hockey
It was a pleasure to coach our young group this fall. While it was a challenging season, it was full of tremendous growth, learning opportunities, and provided valuable experience for seasons ahead. Our team held strong to some tough competitors in our league and the Inter-Ac, while also tallying ten goals in two games versus Friends’ Central School. We are very excited for the rare opportunity of returning our entire squad next season, in which we hope to be a contender in the Friends’ School League playoffs. I commend all of our players for their resilient effort, coachability, and for never giving up.
All-League: Grace Rhile ’23

Girls Tennis
This was the best season yet for the fast-improving Westtown tennis program. For the first time in years, the team made the playoffs and lost 3-2 to the eventual winner GFS. More importantly this season, we saw incredible energy from all participants whether it be varsity, JV, development as well as the boys who joined in for the practices. We congratulate all the players for their growth, efforts, and success throughout the season. It’s been a truly gratifying year!
All-League: Alifa Teke ’24
Honorable Mention: Kapom Vettayawaikoon ’23

ALUMS/COMMUNITY BASKETBALL GAME
Thanks to all the alums and community members who came out to play (and watch!) the Alums/Community basketball game! It was especially wonderful to welcome alums back to campus for this annual tradition. 

BUILDING COMMUNITY ON CAMPUS
We have been thrilled to step back into the waters of offering a few community events on campus this fall: Friday Night Lights, Nature Walk, and Campus Dog Walk! Special thanks to Director of Event Operations Megan Schlickmann, who works tirelessly to bring events life!

Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights —a now-tradition that began in 2016 — was a wonderful opportunity for the community to cheer on our field hockey and soccer teams, to enjoy a variety of food trucks, and to simply be together. Enjoy the full Friday Night Lights gallery here!

Nature Walk 
On November 6, Westtown hosted a nature walk for current families and community members. The walk was led and curated by Westtown’s very own Chris Costa, Director of Outdoor Education, and Marta Willgoose Salo, Middle School faculty member and naturalist, who shared the wonders of our vast and beautiful campus. You can find more photos here! 

Dog Walk
The Campus Dog Walk was so “pup”ular last year that we brought it back again! Families and their four-legged friends strolled the campus paths that were replete with doggie cafes and treat stations. Enjoy the pups and their families here! 

BRING THE ARCHIVES HOME
Westtown School has proudly partnered with the Lodestone Collective to offer a special collection of textile products. Inspiration for these products came from items in Westtown School’s Archives, which holds an impressive collection of manuscripts, photographs, rare books, maps and plans, artwork and furniture, and important artifacts —  including textiles — from its earliest days. See these samples below, and visit their website to order! A portion of the proceeds of the sale of these items support Westtown School’s programs.

COPE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER RECEIVES LIVING BUILDING CERTIFICATION
Congratulations are in order for the Cope family, generations of whom are Westonians. Founded by James B. ’39 and Helen Cope in 1992, the Cope Environmental Center’s Environmental Education building has received Living Building certification from the International Living Future Institute. The Institute describes living buildings as “regenerative buildings that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community; self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site; and, create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them.” Learn more about the criteria here. Located in Centerville, Indiana, the Cope Environmental Center building is just the 29th building in the world to be granted this special and rare certification. The Cope Environmental Center and it’s Living Building Certification are the legacy of a couple who devoted their lives to environmentalism. As daughter Marianne Cope ’67 says in this piece in Richmond, Indiana’s Palladium Item, “It just brings tears to my eyes, and my parents would be just astounded and pleased.”

All of Jim’s and Helen’s children were involved in this project from the beginning: June Cope Chidester ’65, Ed Cope ’66, Trish Cope ’73, Marianne Cope ’67, and Marie Cope Nicholson ’72. Marie shares, “We are so excited about the whole project and want to spread the news!” She adds that another Westtown alum is familiar with Living Buildings as well ― Peter Doo ’71, a LEED architect who won a Living Futures Hero Award in 2016. “We spoke with Peter Doo at the very beginning [of this project] when we first learned of Living Buildings.” Once again, we share our congratulations with the Cope family on this incredible and important achievement.

CALLING ALL ALUMS!
Want to share what’s new with you? Submit a class note! You can tell us if you have moved; or, maybe, you have a new job or are enjoying your retirement. Perhaps you’ve earned a new academic degree, taken up a new hobby, gotten married, or marked a new milestone in your life. Whatever your news, we want to hear about it. And, we know your classmates would love it, too. Class Notes help keep Westonians around the world connected. Submit your note today!

ALUMS WEEKEND 2022
Each day, Alums Weekend draws closer, and we are more excited than ever! Our team has been working hard to ensure that this will be the biggest celebration of Westtown alums since the 1999 Bicentennial. While we are still working on all the details, we are eager to share our first-ever Alums Weekend Website with you:

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2021!

On June 12, 2021, the Class of 2021 received their diplomas in the Greenwood and joined our vast, global network of alums. You can see videos of the Commencement ceremony and student speakers, photo galleries, and learn about their college destinations on this page of our website. Take a moment to check it out! Watch the full ceremony below.

8th Grade Graduation

On June 9, 2021, the 8th graders were celebrated in their graduation ceremony. In a unique and meaningful update to the ceremony, as each student received their certificate, a recording of their own voice describing what they learned in Middle School accompanied them across the stage. You can watch the ceremony above and enjoy the photo gallery here. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

5th Grade Graduation

On June 10, the 5th graders celebrated their rite of passage with a traditional Meeting for Worship. In order to maintain physical distancing, the service was held in the Athletic Center.  Each student shared a statement about their experience in Lower School, and family, friends, and faculty were invited to share in worship as well.

Congratulations to all our students who are moving on to new phases of their lives!

Still Looking for Hosts: Be Part of the Host Family Program! 
Join other local Westtown families who host boarding students from afar! We will be connecting our new international students and domestic students who live at a distance with local host families and hope you will consider this exciting opportunity!  Host families offer some home-cooked meals, enjoy cross-cultural conversations, and often develop relationships that live on well after a student’s first year at Westtown. Host families are not responsible for boarding over breaks or transporting students. You can learn more about the Host Family Program on our website. If you have questions, please contact International Student Coordinators Bei Zhang and Rose Koenig.

You know the end of the school year is nigh when College Shirt Day arrives, Lower and Middle School students spill onto the fields for Spirit Days, and students appear on the South Lawn in all their finery for Dinner Dance. After this year, these celebrations seemed sweeter, infused with the joy of togetherness and the gratitude to be on this campus. We hope you enjoy these galleries of some of our year-end traditions!

College Shirt Day
In order to adhere to our COVID mitigation practices, the College Shirt Day photoshoot was held outside —and who can argue with the Greenwood field as a backdrop?! College Shirt Day is our annual celebration of the seniors’ college choices. Check out the full gallery of photos here! (Pictured below are two of our 2020-21 Student Body Presidents: Alexis Rogers and Kavi Gandhi.)

Senior Car Parade
We continued to celebrate college choices at the Senior Car Parade. Last year’s car parade — created so that there was a celebrate seniors in person during the height of the pandemic — was so much fun, we decided to do it again! See photos of the event here  and watch the parade below!

Lower School Spirit Days
This year, in order to maintain student cohorts, there were two Spirit Days for Lower School. Spirit Days are Westtown’s version of field days, full of friendly competitions that end, of course, with ice cream! Check out the Spirit Day galleries! Pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade gallery here; second and third grade gallery here, and fourth and fifth grade gallery here.

Middle School Spirit Day
Middle Schoolers divided into teams by grade for their friendly competitions which included old favorites such as the balloon toss and tug of peace. See the teams in action here!

Dinner Dance
Dinner Dance was back on the docket for seniors this year! This time, in another health and safety pivot, the event was held on campus. Megan Schlickmann, Director of Event Operations, the Senior Class Deans, and the Upper School Parents’ Council planned a splendid event for the students, and did a tremendous job of transforming one of the tents into a perfect venue for dinner and dancing! As has become tradition, students gathered on the South Lawn for photos before the event got underway. At the end of the evening, seniors walked down to the lake for sundaes at the Lake House.

Update from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
By Marissa Colston, Dean of Diversity and Inclusion

Our ABAR work continues to be front and center at Westtown. Here are just a few examples that represent the kind of work students have been involved in this spring and throughout the school year.

Lower School students spent the year engaging in DEI/SEL (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Social Emotional Learning) lessons that focused on the themes of identity, empathy, community building, social justice, and anti-racism. In Pre-K students explored their own identity and learned about the human body. They learned about skin color, melanin, and the beautiful variations in skin tone and colors. In the second grade, students talked about bias and stereotypes and spent time discussing how to stop using stereotypes that are often formed around gender identity. In the fourth grade, when students study and learn about American history, they asked questions like Who’s telling the story? Whose voice is not being heard? These questions led them to learn more about the perspectives and stories of the Lenni Lenape, African, and European experiences.

In Middle School, a group of 6th and 7th graders represented Westtown at the Haverford Middle School Diversity Conference, sharing what they learned with classmates. 8th grade leaders spent the end of the year leading workshops for their peers. Students designed their own version of a diversity conference and delivered a series of workshops and activities over a few weeks addressing important themes like naming and addressing bias, identity, and social justice. They were supported by the Middle School Equity and Inclusion coordinator, Alejandra Navarro-Benbow, who helped them design these workshops and supported their presentation skills.

In the Upper School, the spring is a time of much activity. Student activists facilitated conversations connected to community and social justice. Prompted by students, there were campus-wide discussions around consent and sexual violence. After the conversations started on the Opinion Board and online, courageous conversations across many experiences were hosted so that students could share, listen, and learn from each other. These conversations were designed and led by trusted faculty with support from the DEI Office. Students engaged in this dialogue and left with new understandings. They also shared ideas about how to continue the dialogue as well as suggestions for changes in programming that will support more education about sexual violence and consent across the student body community.

Finally, as you may know already, earlier in the school year we launched our new ABAR website which includes an ABAR Community Blog. Every few weeks a new blog entry is posted and each post is related to a wide range of ABAR community topics, and are a sampling of the diverse community that Westtown encompasses. Check it out for yourself!

Paddle On!
A great Middle School tradition resumed this year: canoe trips! Although days trips supplanted the overnight experiences and additional protocols were in place because of our COVID mitigation practices, students and teachers alike were elated to be back on the water. Chris Costa, Director of Outdoor Education, Tom Berrian, Middle School Outdoor Education Coordinator, and a host of Middle School faculty did double duty in the canoes this year. Each grade was divided into two groups in order to maintain cohorts, so they ran two trips for each grade. Seventh and eighth graders paddled the Upper Schuylkill River and sixth graders enjoyed a day on Westtown’s lake.

With the exception of added safety measures, this constant in our education program looked much like it always has. The pre-trip training conducted by Costa and Berrian consisted of: meetings with the groups; “ground school” in which basic water and boat safety, the basics of boat movement, and paddle strokes are taught; lake sessions, which included practice maneuvering and navigating the boat on the water, and opportunities to reinforce safety protocols; and, safety sessions in which groups review outdoor education protocols and cover things like river communication, hydration, lightning drill, etc. Costa says, “For over 30 years, Middle School students have participated in an outdoor experience with a canoeing component. These trips are so valued by students and faculty that their design and delivery have been woven into the fabric of their Middle School experience for decades. Among their many benefits, these trips allow students to step out of their comfort zones, connect with themselves and their peers, and to realize the collective power of the whole. Now, more than ever, these trips are needed.”

African Dance
The annual third grade African Dance performance was outside this year, but no less amazing! Third graders have a comprehensive unit on Africa studying its countries, their cultures, economies, wildlife, art, and more. That study includes a six-week on-campus residency with Jeannine Osayande Dunya Performing Arts Company in which kids learn not only many dances but also about storytelling in the music and movements. Well done, third grade, and a special thank you to the Jeannine Osayande and Dunya Performing Arts Company, who have been partnering with Westtown for 19 years! Enjoy the gallery of photos here.

Martin Ma ’22 Wins Chester County Science Fair Award
Congratulations to Yangyue Martin Ma ’22 who won the Chester County Science Research Fair in the Computer Science Category for the cane he designed for the blind! The cane uses sensors integrated to a computational device running AI recognition software to both alert for objects and identify said objects to the user.

“The preciseness of the detection of objects on streets is extremely important for blind people, since no other references can be made for them,” says Ma describing his project. “In order to help them get familiar with the surrounding environment, I created a blind crutch that not only will alert users about obstacles, but also can identify objects with clear labels using the convolutional neural network (CNN), a neural network especially designed for image identification, to train the classifications needed…To make up for the insufficiency of the GPS module of detecting exact locations, I also created a function of detecting guideposts on streets that broadcasts the current location. After testing, the blind crutch can precisely classify objects and complete the broadcast function under different environments caused by different weather. The project took me approximately two years.”

After the Chester County win, Ma moved into the next level of competition at the Delaware Valley Science Fair, a three-state competition. At this level, he won the Computer Science Division and was awarded the Yale Science and Engineering Association Special Award, which,”recognizes the most outstanding 11th grade projects in Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics.”

Design Engineering teacher and robotics team coach Steve Compton, says, “Although he did not advance to the national competition, he plans to continue the work on this project, iterate, and improve both the hardware and the computational artificial intelligence and training of the algorithms in order to compete again next year. Martin is doing extraordinary work and I’m thrilled he has been recognized in these competitions.”

Third Grade Poetry Slam Celebrates the Harlem Renaissance
A poetry slam in third grade? Absolutely! Upon the completion of third graders’ study of the Harlem Renaissance, teachers Vicki Shelter and Kristin Hayman organized a poetry slam in which students performed the poems they wrote that celebrate what they learned. Shelter explains: “After an in-depth study of the European Renaissance, the third graders were introduced to the Great Migration in the United States and the Harlem Renaissance that followed that migration. They connected that the word renaissance means ‘rebirth’ and it celebrates a very important time in history. After understanding why the Great Migration began and its importance to the African American people, we focused on learning about its impact on American History. The students learned about different artists such as Jacob Lawrence and Aaron Douglass. They also studied the poetry of Langston Hughes, which encouraged them to have in-depth conversations about his life and the racial tensions that were occurring during his time period. The students resonated with his poems and were inspired by his writing. Lastly, we listened to and learned about some of the jazz greats that performed during this time period. The students learned that jazz is an American art form and it is special because of the solos that occur in each song or performance. They heard Cab Calloway scat and saw the Nicholas Brothers tap-dance their hearts out. They danced in the classroom as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong sang. They learned about Dizzy Gillespie’s hard childhood and how playing the trumpet inspired him. The kids also learned that Duke Ellington, as a child, wanted to play baseball, but as he got older he learned to love the piano and leading his orchestra was his favorite thing. They watched videos of the Harlem Globetrotters entertaining and showing off their basketball skills. Their poems celebrate this time period and their love for what they learned.

“During our poetry slam, the entire third grade [formerly in separate cohorts as part of Westtown’s mitigation strategy] gathered into a tent to share their poems. They got dressed up depending on what their poem was about. We snapped our fingers after each poem was read. It was a great way to gather together our entire third-grade community. It was fun for all of us!” You can enjoy a gallery of photos from the Poetry Slam here!

Sharing Their Professional Stories: Alums Visit Chemistry Class
Teacher Rose Koenig invited alums to speak to her Chemical Bonding (Advanced) class so that students had an opportunity to learn about how and why they pursued their various careers in the sciences. Koenig welcomed:

Dr. Nahara Saballos, Class of 2011, Family Medicine Resident Physician
Katie Metzker, Class of 2010, Assistant Director for Education and Outreach Programs in Galapagos at Intercultural Outreach Initiative
Dr. Caitlin Hepps-Keeney, Class of 2010, Zoological Medicine Resident at N.C. State University
Dr. Beverly Aiyanyor, Class of 2009, Resident Physician at Boston Children’s Hospital & Resident Physician at Boston Medical Center

At the conclusion of their presentations, students had an opportunity to ask questions. You can enjoy all of their presentations below (click on the upper left side of the image to see a drop-down selection). If you’re an alum who’d like to be engaged with students in this way, contact Domi Waldron, Director of Alumni/ae/x Engagement.

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Looking Ahead to 2021-22

It was recently announced that Head of School Tori Jueds will step down at the close of the 2020-2021 school year. Tori will be moving on to serve as the Director of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, a nursery through grade 12 day school. We wish her well as she moves on to her next adventure! In the event that you have not seen the announcement about her departure, please see excerpts of the email to all constituents from Martha B. Bryans ’68, Clerk of the Board of Trustees, and Tori Jueds below, and you may read the entirety of this communication here. 

Martha B. Bryans writes: 

As the Clerk of the Board of Trustees, I write to announce that Tori Jueds will step down as Head of School at the close of the 2020-21 school year. Tori has accepted the opportunity to lead the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, a Nursery through Grade 12 day school founded by progressive educator John Dewey. I would like to convey our deep gratitude for Tori’s passion for Westtown’s mission, strategic thinking, and deep commitment to respect, equity, and inclusion. We wish her the very best in this exciting new endeavor.

  Tori Jueds writes: 

Since 2017, it has been my honor and joy to serve as Westtown’s Head of School. It is bittersweet to share the news that on June 30, 2021, I will lay down my work at our wonderful school to prepare for a new career adventure… It has been an extraordinary privilege and pleasure to serve as Head of School. From the bottom of my heart, friends, thank you for the kindness and support you have given me in this role. I am proud and glad to be a Westonian.

The Board of Trustees has begun the discernment process for the timetable and search for the next Head of School, and they have invited Associate Head of School Chris Benbow ’90 to serve as Interim Head of School beginning on July 1, 2021. Chris has had a long relationship with Westtown and has served in myriad leadership roles including Upper School Principal and Dean of Students, in addition to his teaching and leadership experience at other institutions. We are fortunate that Chris, with his deep understanding of our culture, Quaker values, and mission, has agreed to serve in this capacity. “I’m sincerely grateful to be able to serve Westtown as Interim Head as we seek and transition to our community’s next long-term Head of School. I’ve been a part of the Westtown community—and this community has been a part of me—since I enrolled as a sixth grader in 1983,” reflects Chris. “I care deeply about this community, believe strongly in its aspirations, and am committed to doing my part to help us come as close as we possibly can to realizing our individual and collective potential together.”

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TURN TO THE LIGHT

“This winter, during the darkest days of the year, our wish for all Westonians is encapsulated in our motto, “Turn to the Light.” Let us first of all be heartened by glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel we have been traveling through the pandemic. More importantly, we hope that the Light in each of us shines brightly, and that near or far, we may all find ways to reflect that Light back to each other, sharing in the radiance of this loving and caring community. In that spirit, please enjoy the uplifting message shared by our Upper School Student Body Presidents in this Westtown holiday video. We wish you all a safe and joyful holiday season, and a peaceful, healthy new year!”

~Tori Jueds, Head of School

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI/AE/X ENGAGEMENT APPOINTED

We are thrilled to announce that Dominique “Domi” Waldron has been named Westtown’s new Director of Alumni/ae/x Engagement!

Domi has more than 10 years of experience in education, including in student affairs, alumni engagement, communications, diversity and inclusion education, major gift fundraising, and more. Most recently, Domi was the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of Delaware. She began her career at her high school alma mater, the Purnell School, where she worked in alumnae engagement, communications, and residential life. After Purnell, Domi continued her career in student affairs at Vassar College and then at Bard College. She is currently a reunion and admissions volunteer at Smith College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in economics. Domi also holds an MS in Higher Education Administration from Drexel.

Domi’s vision and enthusiasm for alumni/ae/x engagement is thoughtful, strategic, entrepreneurial, and compelling, and will help move our program forward. Domi shares, “As a boarding school alumna, I chose Westtown because I want to be a part of an immersive, thriving community. I look forward to the opportunity to eventually attend Westtown events with all of you. For now, I will experience all of what Westtown has to offer virtually, learn more about Quakerism, and what it means to be a part of this community. I am very excited to begin my journey at Westtown as Director of Alumni/ae/x Engagement and welcome the change and growth it will bring!”

Please join us in extending Domi a warm Westtown welcome! You may reach Domi by email or by phone at 610-399-7913.

THE WESTONIAN AND ANNUAL REPORT

We hope you have received your copy of the last Westonian, the Summer/Fall issue. If you have not seen it yet, you can also read it here. Because of the constraints the pandemic has imposed upon us, we will not publish a Winter Westonian this year. The next issue will be published in the summer of 2021. In the meantime, stay tuned to these seasonal eCollections in which we will continue to share news and glimpses of school life as we make our way through these challenging circumstances.

In years past, we have included the Annual Report in our Winter Westonian. This year the Annual Report will be published as a stand-alone piece. In alignment with our sustainability mission, we will produce and email digital copies. We will print a small run of hard copies. We look forward to thanking our thousands of generous donors who made gifts during our last fiscal year in the FY ’20 Annual Report! Look for the Annual Report in March 2021.

CONGRATULATIONS, OUTSTANDING VISUAL ARTS COMMUNITY!
Our Visual and Performing Arts Department has received an Outstanding Visual Arts Community endorsement from the Pennsylvania Art Education Association! This endorsement is given to schools that demonstrated the importance of their visual arts programs during the 2019-2020 school year. Westtown School is one of only 26 schools selected across Pennsylvania to receive the 2020 OVAC endorsement. The PAEA notes that the criteria for this recognition were:

• Rigorous and inclusive programs that demonstrated rigor using standards-based curriculum taught at every level by highly qualified and certified art educators;
• Highly accessible programs that were offered to all students at every level of education with a sustainable budget for the visual arts; and
• Highly visible programs that identified their programmatic accomplishments, curriculum for all levels, art staff, mission statements, and arts events using their school websites and social media.

Chris Wills, Co-Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department and Artist in Residence Coordinator, shares, “The department is especially excited about this designation because it recognizes the work we have been doing over the years to update the program to reflect the school in this particular moment. Our program across all divisions is incredibly student-centered. We empower our students to think and work like artists. Choice-making and risk-taking are at the center of our approach and allow our students to explore their interests, identities, and passions in authentic and meaningful ways.

“Even in the midst of the pandemic, our visual arts teachers have sought to rethink our pedagogical approach to ensure that those skills are at the heart of our classes. We’ve used this as an opportunity to gauge the strengths of our program and identify new scaffolds and supports to allow our students to engage in the creative process. We’ve been able to slow down our practice, and really emphasize experimentation, research, and iteration that are essential to the development of strong final pieces and works. For example, in Upper School ceramics courses, Joyce Nagata switched the materials of the class from clay to paper. We knew that having students work with clay in Westtown Distance Learning would be a challenge and produce unsuccessful results. In response, Joyce decided to keep the focus of the class on material investigation and the form and function of vessels. Over the past few months, students have been working with all types of paper, builder’s paper, toilet paper, newspaper, papier mache, and more, to create vessels that respond to this moment and speak to student’s lived experiences. The forms and work that students have designed represent the core of our 3D program despite a change in the materials. In Westtown’s visual art program, students come to understand that materials and processes are interchangeable and that artists must adapt to circumstances in order to make choices that best reflect their ideas and intent.” Thanks and congratulations to our arts teachers who continue to offer vibrant, engaging, and meaningful programming to our students!

NO SMALL ACT
Middle School students Jamila ’27 and Sofia ’25 Burgos are active in their Quaker Meeting, Providence Monthly Meeting, which has been part of the immigrants’ rights movement in Pennsylvania. After learning about detention centers and the treatment of undocumented immigrants, Jamila and Sofia wanted to take action. They teamed up with fellow Middle School students William Bradley ’25 and Auden Vosburgh ’25, members of West Chester Monthly Meeting, and presented to the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting about their desire to organize a march to protest detention centers and to advocate for undocumented immigrants’ rights.

Participating in the march were members of Providence Monthly Meeting and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in support of MILPA (Movement of Immigrant Leaders in Pennsylvania), an organization that, among other initiatives, is working to help pass House Bill 2835 that allows undocumented workers to obtain driver’s licences.

In late October, a group comprising MILPA members, AFSC representatives, members of Providence Meeting, and some Westtown students and families gathered on the steps of the Delaware County Courthouse. Students carried posters made by Westtown’s student MOOSE group (Many Optimistic Open-minded Supporters of Equity), and Jamila and Sofia took to the microphone to speak to the crowd about the needs of immigrants and conditions in the detention centers. Speaking in both Spanish and English, the sisters were in powerful company, sharing the microphone with MILPA and AFSC leaders as well as political leaders such as State Senator Tim Kearney, U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, and Delaware County Council President Brian Zidek also spoke. From the courthouse, the crowd marched to the Providence Monthly Meeting in Media.

When asked why they are passionate about immigrants’ rights, Jamila says, “I’m interested in immigrant rights because I am part of a family of immigrants.” Sofia adds, “You hear stories about people separated from their families and getting put in conditions that we wouldn’t live in ourselves and that makes me really angry. This is my way of doing something.” Reflecting on the experience, each sister agrees that although they were nervous to speak in front of a crowd, it was rewarding to take action. “I felt like we’d been moving slowly because we kept saying we were going to march and it would get pushed,” says Sofia. “It felt good to finally do it.” Jamila says that, “it was a great feeling to be standing there after working toward this for so long.”

One of the most important aspects for both girls was seeing immigrant families and children at the march, which cemented their feelings that they were doing the right thing. “I was speaking to someone from the MILPA community at the march and they were so happy that this group of kids was trying to do something, to stand up for them, says Sofia. “I learned that even if you’re doing something very small, it’s still going to make an impact on someone. Whether it actually changes policy or not, they were happy that we were there.” Jamila adds that she was happy to learn that people do fight for causes that are important to them and agrees, “even small actions can make a difference.”

Spanish teacher and Middle School Equity and Inclusion Coordinator Alejandra Navarro-Benbow, who was present at the march, pushes back against the notion that the students’ actions were small. “What they pulled off is significant! They were speaking alongside local and government officials, and their voices carried weight. If anything, as young activists their voices stood out more than the politicians’. What they worked hard to do was not small at all!” Jamila and Sofia say that they will continue to advocate for immigrants’ rights and will do more to bring the issues to light among their classmates.

CAN’T STOP THE MASK MAKING!
Mask making has a long tradition in Lower School, and usually students’ creations are celebrated at the Halloween Parade in the gym with our families as well as faculty and staff from other divisions (who also look forward to this annual fun) in the audience. This year, we were unable to gather together as usual, but we were still able to parade and celebrate virtually. Students on campus created their masks in their cohorted classrooms while wearing protective masks; remote students followed their art teachers’ video instructions to create their own from home. Sarah Sullivan, Director of Theater Design and Production and Theater Manager, visited Teacher Jeanne Watson-Smith and grades 2-5 over the course of four weeks to capture their process and products on video, while Teacher Jeff Waring captured the Primary Wing’s creativity. Sullivan edited all footage into seven grade-specific short videos and one extended Lower School compilation, which we share here. Many thanks to our art teachers, to the parents who support their children creating at home, and to Teacher Sarah for her editing skills. Enjoy the creativity of our smallest Westonians!

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
While it may have been the oddest opening of the school year ever, our students were still able to create a series of activities and events to offer a warm welcome for new students during New Student Orientation. The Student Body Presidents — seniors Kavi Gandhi, Sam Hu, and Alexis Rogers —along with enthusiastic student leaders and video editor Jhan Setthachayanon ’22 also created videos to introduce leaders and give a tour of the school. They were so warm and welcoming, we thought you’d like to see them, too! View the student leader introduction here, and the campus tour video here. New Student Orientation is just one example of how students maintained connection with one another and continued to foster community. Throughout the fall semester, clubs and affinity groups met, and traditions like Joint Collection, Class Collection, and Meeting for Worship continued via Zoom. 

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SEMI-FINALISTS
Please join us in congratulating these seniors, all National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists!
Top, from left: Allen Gift, Sam Hu, Kavi Gandhi, Cindy Jiang,
Bottom: Emily Zhang, Max Penders, Charles Shen, Lindsey Turner.

Please also congratulate the National Merit Scholarship Commended students Deion Hammond ’21 and Nelson Zhang ’21!

NAIS STUDENT DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Six students participated in the recent NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), which is part of the National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference. Jalynn Brooks-Perkins ’22, Camden Chin ’22, Avery Elliott ’24, Penny Han ’22, Sajel Surati ’21, and Meliah Van-Otoo ’22 represented Westtown at this year’s SDLC. The conference theme was Keeping It Real in Independent Schools: Bringing Our Real Selves. Connecting in Real Time. Making Real Change.

SDLC is one of the most well known diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conferences for independent school students. There are highly competitive processes for schools to apply to send students and for Westtown students to apply to attend. This year’s Westtown contingent represents current and emerging student leaders in affinity groups, athletics, grade level initiatives, residential life, and other areas of student life. We look forward to them sharing what they learned with the school and with their peers along with their various contributions, including the school’s ongoing ABAR initiatives.

Because this year’s conference was entirely virtual, our students participated from campus as well as from their homes. You can read more about the conference here.

WHEN SPANISH CLASS MEETS SERVICE
The Lower School continued its partnership with La Comunidad Hispana in Kennett Square, Jennersville, and Oxford, Pennsylvania, supporting their annual Warm Wishes Coat Drive. After the coats were collected, the fifth grade spanish classes, led by teacher Renée Burgos ’96, sorted and made an inventory of the donations in Spanish. The coat drive was a success! Spanish teacher Amy Liermann says, “Westtown families have been VERY generous in their donations this year! Last year I had the pleasure of serving at the distribution and helping kids at La Comunidad Hispana pick out coats. The donations make a big impact on families in our county.” Thank you to all the Lower School families who participated!

MIDDLE SCHOOL MAP PROJECT

Westtown’s history and campus are rife with learning opportunities, and Middle School history teacher Angie Cook used them as the basis for her sixth-grade geography unit by creating the Westtown Map Project. Archivist Mary Brooks provided students with a map of campus c. 1795, before it was Westtown School. This map depicts a section of campus that includes what is now the Farmhouse (once known as the “Mansion House”), the Spring House (now faculty housing), and the surrounding fields. On a lovely fall day, Teacher Angie and her students went to the fields behind the Science Center. Students took spots on the hill where they could see the Farmhouse and the Spring House. They were instructed to study the 1795 map, observe their surroundings, then create their own map with those houses as reference points. She asked students to note everything they could see.

Back in the classroom, students worked on drafts of their maps adding details, such as the tents serving as classrooms, trees, athletic fields, and compass roses and keys. They then compared their maps with the 1795 map noting differences, and wrote journal entries to chronicle happenings in their lives in the moment and detail what life is like in 2020. Together they discussed and considered the life and times of the cartographer who created the 1795 map. Although the project wasn’t initially created to be about recording the pandemic, the maps and journal entries of the sixth graders will be kept in the Archives and will serve as records of Westtown during the pandemic of 2020 for future students.

This project is bookended by a larger consideration of maps, map-making, and historical records and context. This geography unit began with students exploring a variety of map projections: Mercator, Mollweide, Peterson, and Robinson. The students analyzed these projections, exploring how each represents a different viewpoint or mindset and a different distortion of the world —and why Euro-centric distortions are more familiar to us than others. The importance of understanding these distortions is in the power it has to bring attention to unfair biases, to the marginalization which results from these biases, and to restore a view of the world that is more equity based and accurate. The next project will build on this map-making project. “We will relate this map project back to the first project by considering the perspective that each student had when they created their individual maps,” says Teacher Angie. “For example, one student might have included the tents in the Lower School and another student might have emphasized the trees more or the soccer fields more. I’ll make this connection as a way of reminding students that every map brings with it a particular bias; that map makers get to decide what is important and worth including, and what is less important. We are going to then talk with [Archivist] Mary Brooks to trace Westtown’s campus back through all of the people who have owned the land—including William Penn—so that we eventually discover and learn more about the Lenape who were here originally. This will help us as we begin our Native American Unit.”

On the left: a student’s campus map; on the right: map from 1795 used in the project.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…TheaterTHING

If you didn’t see this gem on our social media channels, check out the work of students in Teacher Alex Ates’ theater co-curricular. They explored the question of How do you make theater for the Zoom brain? which resulted in TheaterTHING, a 20-minute, wildly original performance that consisted of two acts: “Names. Locations, Moments” and “Experiments to the Moon.”

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Co-Curriculars at Westtown School looked a little different this fall given the challenges that Covid-19 has presented. Although we were unable to host interscholastic competitions and the Friends Schools League canceled formal league-wide play, our coaches and student-athletes came together for six weeks of practice and training on campus, which provided a great opportunity to be physically active, connect in person with peers and teammates, and get back on campus to enjoy our beautiful grounds and facilities. For our students who could not participate in person, each co-curricular offered a virtual option as well. It is important to note that all coaches and students who participated in the co-curricular program did a fantastic job of upholding our COVID-19 safety protocols to help keep our community safe while engaging in these wonderful activities.

Some highlights from our fall programs include:

• Soccer, tennis, cross country, and field hockey teams practiced three times per week during the fall season, ensuring that student-athletes and varsity programs continue to build and practice skills even without competition. Each varsity team held a culminating event at the end of the season, providing the opportunity to celebrate our senior student-athletes and their contributions to their teams and school. Thank you, seniors!
• Our co-curricular activities were a beacon of light for our community this fall, offering classes such as Yoga, Strength & Conditioning, Dance, Theater, Scenic Art Design, Farming, and Outdoor Leadership.
• The boys and girls cross country teams competed in a “Virtual Pi K (3.1415 K) Race” against some of our peer schools in the FSL. Even though the competition wasn’t in person, it was great to see our students compete against other schools in a virtual capacity.
• Our Westtown E-Sports Team launched their inaugural season and competed in two interscholastic leagues this fall. Westtown has joined PlayerVs, which is the preeminent high school E-Sports organization and sponsored by the National Federation of State High School Association. Westtown students from around the globe came together online to form our varsity and JV Rocket League and League of Legends Teams! Our League of Legends team is ranked 26th out of 170 teams. Our JV Rocket league is 26th out of 441. Our Varsity Rocket League team is currently ranked 11th out of 441 teams! You can watch live streams of their games by following our Twitch Account.
• We are thrilled to celebrate the following students who signed their NLI and made commitments to their future universities! We look forward to sharing more good news from our seniors as we move through the school year.
• Lexi Brooks – Women’s Basketball – University of Massachusetts
• Emily Ellis – Women’s Crew – Drexel University
• Charlie Herlocher – Men’s Lacrosse – Rhodes College
• Hakim Hicks – Men’s Lacrosse – Johns Hopkins University
• Oneniotekowa Maracle – Men’s Lacrosse – Lafayette
• Lauren Stewart – Women’s Soccer – Lafayette College
• Mike Tayloe – Men’s Lacrosse – Long Island University
• Whitney Tracy – Women’s Soccer – Virginia Military Institute
• Jalen Warley – Men’s Basketball – Florida State University

OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD

Congratulations to Susan Waterhouse who is a recipient of the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award! Susan, a math teacher, was nominated by former student Tianxin Wang ’20 who wrote, “To my favorite teacher at Westtown: thank you for all you have done! You understood my needs, my feelings, and my worries about life. You turned an easily intimidating subject into a comprehensible and exciting topic. Thank you for always being open to student suggestions, respectful of our opinions, and willing to offer us help. You made the challenging math classes at Westtown enjoyable for me, and I am grateful to have been your student.” James Nondorf, Dean of Admissions at the University of Chicago, explains that, “Contributions to the academic and personal development of young people are most deserving of recognition. For over thirty years, the University of Chicago has asked incoming students to recommend their outstanding educators–individuals who challenged them intellectually for the first time, opened new vistas of discovery, or channeled their interests into paths for intellectual growth.” Once again, congratulations to Susan Waterhouse on this wonderful recognition!

CATCH UP ON OUR BLOG!

Our faculty and staff are regular contributors to our Well-Lit Path blog. Consider subscribing to read pieces by our experts!

PARENT SPEAKER SERIES

This fall our Parent Speaker Series featured a three-part video series with our school counselors in which they focused on various aspects social-emotional health of students and families during the pandemic and the holiday season. You can watch the first episode in the series below. Watch episode two here; watch the third episode here. Thank you to members of our Student Support Team — Maria Alonso, Clinical Psychologist, Elizabeth Reilly, School Counselor, and Jessica Morley, School Psychologist — and to Ellen Songle, Director of Outreach Initiatives and moderator of this series.

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2021

You might be wondering about how we are planning to celebrate with Alumni/ae/x this spring. While uncertainties remain that make it difficult to predict exactly how and when we will celebrate in the spring of 2021, we suspect we will need to be virtual, and we will send you more information and dates in January. We know this is not ideal, but we will gather in community one way or another.

Programming will include our Annual Meeting, Meeting for Worship, webinars, lectures, and presentations and opportunities to interact with faculty, staff, and students. Other events will be designed for individual class years, including Zoom-based class get-togethers. Even if we are online, we look forward to bringing you “back” to Westtown School! Stay tuned for more!

KITCHEN VIGNETTES

Daniel Mays ’02 and his work were recently featured in this “Kitchen Vignettes for PBS” piece, which also features his book The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm. We encourage you to also check out the video that accompanies this piece!

ALUM VISITS HIROSHIMA TO 9/11 CLASS

Current parent and alum Chris Saenger ’97 visited history teacher Dan Burger-Lenehan’s Hiroshima to 9/11 class in November. Saenger is the program director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Colombia. “Since the class is generally about the United States’ role in the world,” says Burger-Lenehan, “I thought it would be a good opportunity for the students to hear from someone who works in the foreign service and has real-world experience in executing U.S. foreign policy.” Here’s a glimpse at Saenger’s presentation to the students.

Would you like to connect with students? Do you have news to share? Would you like to submit a Class Note for The Westonian? Please contact the Alumni/ae/x Engagement Office!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020!

Saturday, June 6, 2020 was an historic occasion: the first-ever virtual Commencement ceremony. Through not together in person, we were together in spirit as we celebrated the Class of 2020 from our homes. Please visit our Meet the Class of 2020 page for more!

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