Children of the 80’s or 90’s may recall the line above from Echo and the Bunnymen. The band was singing of buffalo and bison of course, whereas I’m writing, with some sentimentality (which according to paragraph 3 of the school philosophy is one of the excesses that is permitted), of the noblest creature of all: the Bruin.
The 2008-2009 Annual Fund Campaign has ended. In this economically challenging time, the new measure of success is “Did you match what you did last year?” Well, not us. We exceeded last year’s total by 5% and raised a total of $1,557,329. This is a many-layered statement about Park School.
Foremost, we are fortunate to have a corps of volunteers who work tirelessly on the Annual Fund. They spend many dark nights in the fall and winter phoning alumni, parents, and grandparents. They work cards from home throughout the year, and they always ask, “Is there anything else I can do to help?” Oh yes, they also make their own generous gifts.
Then there’s the team of Len Weinberg ‘76 and Tom Wetzler ‘84. These two provide the leadership for the Annual Fund effort. They’re present and working at all of our events, and they do all of the out-of- sight work that makes it possible for Park to hit its goals. They are indefatigable, good-natured, and provide an incalculable service to the cause.
Ultimately, there’s each contributor to the Annual Fund. You are the ones who made this year a success. Thank you. Achieving these results in this difficult year makes a powerful statement about how much Park’s students and faculty matter to all of us.
This year’s campaign worked because young alumni made first time gifts of $10, because parents who could increase their support did, because grandparents understood the need to support the school, because parents of alumni have remembered how significant the school was in their family’s life, and because faculty in overwhelming numbers--more than 90%--chose to support this effort.
A few highlights from 2008-2009:
An all-time high of 68 college-aged alums supported the campaign.
A Trustee, who had already made a sizeable donation in the winter, stepped up to make another significant contribution towards the Meyerhoff Challenge, and I had to stop him from giving more.
Speaking of the challenge, the family of Lyn P. Meyerhoff has been extraordinarily supportive of all things Park for many years. In the spring, the Lyn P. Meyerhoff Foundation committed to matching 50% of new and increased gifts to provide financial assistance dollars for families who developed new needs this year. Yes, our community met the challenge and $50,000 was raised. We are all grateful for the Meyerhoffs’ vision and inspiration and generosity.
So if you’re still wondering why this edition began with thunder---that’s how it felt around here as the campaign came to a close. The community rallied to make this year far better than what the rest of the world is using as a measure of success. The Bruin Nation rose to the occasion in a thunderous roar of approval for the ole Park School. Thank you to everyone who took part in this success. It would not have happened without you.
That’s the Way the Thunder Rumbles in Brooklandville.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Can't Get No
A benefit of working in the Development Office is that you get to spend a great deal of time catching up with alumni. Last month, we held an alumni reception in Boston. We had a group that ranged in years of graduation from 1950-2005. What was most striking about them was their high level of job satisfaction. There were bio-tech scientists, social workers, public relations specialists, and programmers to name just a few of the professions represented, and in each case they spoke of their work with both pride and joy.
The group gathered to meet Dan Paradis and fellow alumni in the area. As they asked Dan questions about school and shared bits of their time at Park, it was clear that they had received more than just an exceptional education on Old Court Road or in the park. They had gained the wisdom that personal satisfaction with work is important.
My guess is that Park subtly passes that lesson along during a student’s time here. Sure there are parts of the school experience that are not pleasurable—just ask any of my former Spanish teachers—but if the school nurtures individual’s interests and allows passions to be pursued, that’s a lifelong lesson being taught---delving into the mind’s and heart’s desire is worthwhile. The results of this practice are a plethora of students excelling in their areas of keen interest.
During alumni weekend, spending time with a much larger group of graduates, the theme of job satisfaction continued to play out. The list of professions pursued grew exponentially and the high level of joyous engagement was a constant.
Does Park deserve all the credit for this phenomenon? Maybe not, but by now you must now that I’m biased. Are there some alumni who don’t enjoy their work? I would imagine that there are. If you’re a graduate reading this, please share your thoughts on the link between your time at Park and your job satisfaction.
In the meantime, we’ve just sent another a group of Park graduates out into the world to seek, to inquire, to conquer, and to heal.
Sadly, we cannot count Mick Jagger as a Park alum, but if we could, he might very well have sung a different tune.
The group gathered to meet Dan Paradis and fellow alumni in the area. As they asked Dan questions about school and shared bits of their time at Park, it was clear that they had received more than just an exceptional education on Old Court Road or in the park. They had gained the wisdom that personal satisfaction with work is important.
My guess is that Park subtly passes that lesson along during a student’s time here. Sure there are parts of the school experience that are not pleasurable—just ask any of my former Spanish teachers—but if the school nurtures individual’s interests and allows passions to be pursued, that’s a lifelong lesson being taught---delving into the mind’s and heart’s desire is worthwhile. The results of this practice are a plethora of students excelling in their areas of keen interest.
During alumni weekend, spending time with a much larger group of graduates, the theme of job satisfaction continued to play out. The list of professions pursued grew exponentially and the high level of joyous engagement was a constant.
Does Park deserve all the credit for this phenomenon? Maybe not, but by now you must now that I’m biased. Are there some alumni who don’t enjoy their work? I would imagine that there are. If you’re a graduate reading this, please share your thoughts on the link between your time at Park and your job satisfaction.
In the meantime, we’ve just sent another a group of Park graduates out into the world to seek, to inquire, to conquer, and to heal.
Sadly, we cannot count Mick Jagger as a Park alum, but if we could, he might very well have sung a different tune.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Ful-FILLY-ing Weekend
By Roger Seidenman
What a weekend for Park athletics. By the time Rachel Alexandra had crossed the finish line at Old Hilltop, our softball team had won its conference championship. The Bruins defeated Bryn Mawr 8-6. It has been a terrific ride for them all season, and I’d like to add more details, but I was not able to attend the game. You can find more information about the championship at http://www.digitalsports.com/team/id/695334.aspx.
On Sunday morning, the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team played Friends for the B Conference title. The teams had met twice prior to this game. Friends won both contests by just one goal. I had the pleasure of sitting next to my pal Len for the game. His daughter is on the team, but more about her later. Early on, the teams traded goals, and I turned to Len and said, “Is this one going to be decided in the last two minutes?” Not wanting to be distracted, his response was something along the lines of, “Probably.”
The half ended with the Bruins trailing 6-5. Both teams had enjoyed the lead, and it seemed as if the second half would be one of numerous lead changes and constant shifts in momentum. As the second half began, Friends started pulling way. They built an 11-7 lead, and as Park called a time out after the 11th goal, it felt like it might be an insurmountable lead. Heading into the time out, as our team name suggests, we looked as if we were still feeling the effects of hibernation. Then it became a different game.
It took a few minutes before the Bruins started to chip away at the lead, but chip they did. Lucie ’10, the aforementioned Len’s daughter, scored three and assisted on the other of the four goals that eliminated the gap. Then with the final minute ticking away, after not converting on two scoring opportunities, Julia Meyerhoff ’10 drove to the goal and scored the winner with nineteen seconds remaining. After the draw, Friends had control of the ball, but then it came loose, Adrienne Tarver ’10 secured it and ran out the remaining the time. Championship won, 12-11 Park.
If you weren’t there, you missed a great game. It took an extraordinary team effort to rally from the four-goal deficit. Every girl on the team and every coach should feel great pride in rising to that challenge. It was a daunting situation to be trailing by four so late in the game, but the Bruins displayed great poise and courage to come back and win.
The game was well attended by the usual suspects— parents, grandparents, faculty, and administrators. One of the great things about Park though, is that the game was also well attended by students and in particular male athletes whose teams did not enjoy the same success this spring as the girls. Park is a community and on a weekend belonging to fillies it was never more so. You won’t see us tossing around monikers such as “Lady Bruins.” We’re all Bruins, especially, “As we’re marching onto vict’ry ‘neath the Brown and White.
What a weekend for Park athletics. By the time Rachel Alexandra had crossed the finish line at Old Hilltop, our softball team had won its conference championship. The Bruins defeated Bryn Mawr 8-6. It has been a terrific ride for them all season, and I’d like to add more details, but I was not able to attend the game. You can find more information about the championship at http://www.digitalsports.com/team/id/695334.aspx.
On Sunday morning, the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team played Friends for the B Conference title. The teams had met twice prior to this game. Friends won both contests by just one goal. I had the pleasure of sitting next to my pal Len for the game. His daughter is on the team, but more about her later. Early on, the teams traded goals, and I turned to Len and said, “Is this one going to be decided in the last two minutes?” Not wanting to be distracted, his response was something along the lines of, “Probably.”
The half ended with the Bruins trailing 6-5. Both teams had enjoyed the lead, and it seemed as if the second half would be one of numerous lead changes and constant shifts in momentum. As the second half began, Friends started pulling way. They built an 11-7 lead, and as Park called a time out after the 11th goal, it felt like it might be an insurmountable lead. Heading into the time out, as our team name suggests, we looked as if we were still feeling the effects of hibernation. Then it became a different game.
It took a few minutes before the Bruins started to chip away at the lead, but chip they did. Lucie ’10, the aforementioned Len’s daughter, scored three and assisted on the other of the four goals that eliminated the gap. Then with the final minute ticking away, after not converting on two scoring opportunities, Julia Meyerhoff ’10 drove to the goal and scored the winner with nineteen seconds remaining. After the draw, Friends had control of the ball, but then it came loose, Adrienne Tarver ’10 secured it and ran out the remaining the time. Championship won, 12-11 Park.
If you weren’t there, you missed a great game. It took an extraordinary team effort to rally from the four-goal deficit. Every girl on the team and every coach should feel great pride in rising to that challenge. It was a daunting situation to be trailing by four so late in the game, but the Bruins displayed great poise and courage to come back and win.
The game was well attended by the usual suspects— parents, grandparents, faculty, and administrators. One of the great things about Park though, is that the game was also well attended by students and in particular male athletes whose teams did not enjoy the same success this spring as the girls. Park is a community and on a weekend belonging to fillies it was never more so. You won’t see us tossing around monikers such as “Lady Bruins.” We’re all Bruins, especially, “As we’re marching onto vict’ry ‘neath the Brown and White.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
FACALICIOUS
On Sunday April 19, Park celebrated the 20th anniversary of the F. Parvin Sharpless Faculty and Curricular Advancement program. It was truly a great evening for those who attended, whether they were faculty presenting work from previous summers, newcomers learning of the program for the first time, or those who just wanted a deeper look into this extraordinary program. Despite the far-reaching ripples FACA has had into the Park educational experience, there are still many in our community who aren’t exactly sure what it is.
FACA is a an endowed program that provides grants for Park faculty to collaboratively study, learn, write, and examine areas of scholarly interest during the summer. The results of these projects include new courses, new textbooks, and refined methods of evaluating students’ work, to name just a few.
So we honored the 20th Anniversary of this program. As a school that doesn’t spend a great deal of time looking for opportunities to praise itself, you may be wondering why. If you were there, then you would know.
The messages of keynote speakers, Dr. Parvin Sharpless, former Head of School, and Lee Hendler ’70, former President of the Board of Trustees, although separate were fused, and answered the why question perfectly. The program was created to respond to teachers’ desire to sharpen their craft, to allow them to maximize their full talent, and to energize their classrooms and their students. It also was an important statement of Park’s commitment to founder Hans Froehlicer’s concept of “the highest type of teacher.”
That concept resonated with the Park community who gave generously to establish an endowment that has continued to support FACA. With a larger faculty now and greater demand for these opportunities, this endowment must grow and it will.
To truly appreciate FACA though, you must hear the faculty share their experiences. I had the privilege of listening to Lower School teacher Ellen Hoitsma and Upper School English faculty members Patti Porcarelli and Greg Brandt describe a summer spent working on portfolios of their work as teachers. During the process, they dared to teach lessons to each other. It was clear that they were rewarded for their introspection and bravery. What was most compelling was the passion in their voices as they described how this FACA experience helped them to refine their approach to teaching. To someone who teaches just a little bit, the fifty-minute session was filled with thoughtful reflection that would help anyone who has ever attempted to lead a class.
I would be remiss to write about the virtues of FACA and not thank Louise Mehta. Louise has been the engine that turned this vision into the powerhouse it has become. Her attention to all things FACA is meticulous. She is both a tenacious advocate and a nurturing caretaker of a program that has enriched the careers of many faculty and consequently many more students.
Park proponents often struggle to describe succinctly what makes Park the extraordinary institution that we all know it to be. Well, FACA is one of the big reasons that we can enjoy a dedicated, brilliant, and engaged faculty. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate that?
FACA is a an endowed program that provides grants for Park faculty to collaboratively study, learn, write, and examine areas of scholarly interest during the summer. The results of these projects include new courses, new textbooks, and refined methods of evaluating students’ work, to name just a few.
So we honored the 20th Anniversary of this program. As a school that doesn’t spend a great deal of time looking for opportunities to praise itself, you may be wondering why. If you were there, then you would know.
The messages of keynote speakers, Dr. Parvin Sharpless, former Head of School, and Lee Hendler ’70, former President of the Board of Trustees, although separate were fused, and answered the why question perfectly. The program was created to respond to teachers’ desire to sharpen their craft, to allow them to maximize their full talent, and to energize their classrooms and their students. It also was an important statement of Park’s commitment to founder Hans Froehlicer’s concept of “the highest type of teacher.”
That concept resonated with the Park community who gave generously to establish an endowment that has continued to support FACA. With a larger faculty now and greater demand for these opportunities, this endowment must grow and it will.
To truly appreciate FACA though, you must hear the faculty share their experiences. I had the privilege of listening to Lower School teacher Ellen Hoitsma and Upper School English faculty members Patti Porcarelli and Greg Brandt describe a summer spent working on portfolios of their work as teachers. During the process, they dared to teach lessons to each other. It was clear that they were rewarded for their introspection and bravery. What was most compelling was the passion in their voices as they described how this FACA experience helped them to refine their approach to teaching. To someone who teaches just a little bit, the fifty-minute session was filled with thoughtful reflection that would help anyone who has ever attempted to lead a class.
I would be remiss to write about the virtues of FACA and not thank Louise Mehta. Louise has been the engine that turned this vision into the powerhouse it has become. Her attention to all things FACA is meticulous. She is both a tenacious advocate and a nurturing caretaker of a program that has enriched the careers of many faculty and consequently many more students.
Park proponents often struggle to describe succinctly what makes Park the extraordinary institution that we all know it to be. Well, FACA is one of the big reasons that we can enjoy a dedicated, brilliant, and engaged faculty. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate that?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Shout It Out Loud
Last month, I had the distinct pleasure of lunching with three fantastic Park alumnae, Amanda, Michelle, and Sharna, in New York. We spent a great deal of our time discussing ways to make the Park community, and in particular, the alumni, more closely connected. Cross Currents, which contains alumni notes, is now a yearly publication, and generating more printed publications is not the answer to this question.
It was clear during our conversation that we all know of noteworthy alumni accomplishments and they are spread by word of mouth or keyboard. In some instances, the school publishes these news items, but in many other cases, we in Brooklandville are completely unaware of the story.
We also are the product of a community that, for the most part, has a sense of shyness around self-promotion, but the counter-balance to that is that we also take great pride in the achievements of Park graduates. In a time when news is an instant commodity, we are planning on sending out more messages about Park alumni from a host of applications that I can barely name, let alone understand, including Facebook, Twitter, and www.parkschool.net.
The catch, if you want to call it that, is that we now need you to share your news with us. We’ll be expanding our means of collecting news, but you’ll still be the first to know, so please include us on your list of friends with whom you share your news. The best way to send us your news is to direct it to our Alumni Coordinator Pailin Gaither at pgaither@parkschool.net or at 410-339-4114. This new world of openly showing pride in alumni accomplishments will help us stay in closer contact with each other, and it will have a very real benefit to Park. Prospective families often inquire about ‘outcomes’ of Park students. Well, our outcomes are pretty terrific so why not share a little more than we have in the past? As Dizzy Dean might have once said, “It ain’t bragging if you can do it.”
It was clear during our conversation that we all know of noteworthy alumni accomplishments and they are spread by word of mouth or keyboard. In some instances, the school publishes these news items, but in many other cases, we in Brooklandville are completely unaware of the story.
We also are the product of a community that, for the most part, has a sense of shyness around self-promotion, but the counter-balance to that is that we also take great pride in the achievements of Park graduates. In a time when news is an instant commodity, we are planning on sending out more messages about Park alumni from a host of applications that I can barely name, let alone understand, including Facebook, Twitter, and www.parkschool.net.
The catch, if you want to call it that, is that we now need you to share your news with us. We’ll be expanding our means of collecting news, but you’ll still be the first to know, so please include us on your list of friends with whom you share your news. The best way to send us your news is to direct it to our Alumni Coordinator Pailin Gaither at pgaither@parkschool.net or at 410-339-4114. This new world of openly showing pride in alumni accomplishments will help us stay in closer contact with each other, and it will have a very real benefit to Park. Prospective families often inquire about ‘outcomes’ of Park students. Well, our outcomes are pretty terrific so why not share a little more than we have in the past? As Dizzy Dean might have once said, “It ain’t bragging if you can do it.”
Friday, March 13, 2009
A Bargain
By Roger Seidenman
So Thursday night a week ago we had our Alumni Annual Fund Phoning Night. It always provides a glimpse into fundraising at Park, alumni sentiment toward Park, and very broadly the core of Park. This particular phoning session usually features some of our most enthusiastic callers. We spanned five decades of graduates; it would have been six decades, but a few of our stalwarts from the 50’s had pressing engagements.
If you asked me what our greatest challenge was I would reply without hesitation that it’s people don’t answer their phones anymore. Truth be told, I don’t answer the phone much either. Despite all of that, this is not a lament but rather more a hosanna to our phoners, to our alumni, and to our school.
The evening started a bit slowly. But once we got rolling, gifts came in at a good clip. I’m reluctant to single people out, because of course it’s Park after all, but please indulge me. The two youngest phoners in the room, Matt Rogers’ 04 and Jason Trout ’03, were terrific. Being of the “What’s a landline?” generation helped them to reach their classmates, and when they did, they got gifts. Their experience was the lesson. When alumni speak to other alumni about their time at Park, people give generously. Answering the why they give probably has as many dimensions as there are graduates.
Since it’s my blog, I guess I get to share a few of my own answers to that question and I imagine they will resonate with many of you. My reasons include some very special faculty. As a result of taking numerous classes taught by Kenny Greif, I’m a far better reader and thinker than I would have been without that experience. Perhaps I drive him crazy with my exhaustive interpretations of the symbolism behind characters’ names— I’ll go down swinging on the argument that Olive in Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day is not named that by accident—but he taught a level of literary interpretation that is unparalleled. By the way, I’ve found those same analytical skills can pay off when dealing with real people. Brooks Lakin, of course, embodied the notion that what may satisfy many isn’t good enough if there’s more to be done. Lucky Mallonee ’62, who picked on me a good bit my junior year, taught me a great life lesson that has translated on and off the field; we all face challenges and the true winners are those who confront obstacles with all the resources they can muster and who give their best effort without being deterred by the fear of failure.
Aside from those lessons, and there are so many more from other mentors, there are my Park School friends. I’m still in contact with many of them and I consider them family. They embody the things that make life so fulfilling: wisdom, laughter, compassion, beauty, determination, and a whole host of other remarkable qualities.
That’s what Park provides---lifelong learning and a community to share and enjoy it with. With apologies to Pete Townshend, “I call that a bargain. The best I ever had.”
Friday, February 27, 2009
Park beats McDonogh---Again
By Roger Seidenman
It was truly a great game between two evenly matched teams to decide the Fresh-Soph B-Conference Basketball Championship. As you can tell from the title, yes, the Bruins prevailed. This was a special game for many reasons. For me, Fresh-Soph is a team I had coached for eight seasons, and I have a soft spot in my heart for their challenging schedule. Their conference also includes Gilman, St. Paul’s, Boys’ Latin, and Archbishop Curley, just to name a few. The assistant coach is my Park classmate and good friend, Michael Stiller.
The game was the culmination of an extraordinary season for these boys. Both teams had identical records and each suffered one defeat at the hands of the other. A coin was flipped to determine the number one seed, and Park won the toss. Clearly, this was our year.
Park and McDonogh advanced through their respective semi-final games to the championship. Most Fresh-Soph games draw a crowd of the players’ parents, but on Thursday, February 19, 2009, there were many more folks than usual in the stands at the Brooks Lakin Court. There were a good number of players’ grandparents in attendance, and Bart Cook, our extended-day director extraordinaire, led in a troop of our youngest students. By the third quarter, the seats were almost completely filled, and whether people were there to watch the next contest or were just drawn in by the noise, they were compelled to stay-- the game was that good. The two teams battled back and forth relentlessly. Every time Park opened a small lead, McDonogh, just as quickly, rallied to close it. McDonogh closed regulation with a furious rush hitting a three pointer as time expired to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, McDonogh enjoyed their first lead in quite some time, and after unbelievably clutch free- throw shooting from both teams, the game went into double overtime. It was then that Park’s withering attack proved too much, and the Bruins won the championship by a final score of 69-64.
Fresh-Soph titles don’t get much ink, and that’s ok. Part of what made this game so great was its obscurity. These two evenly matched teams left everything they had on the court. From a Bruin’s perspective, when McDonogh sent the game into overtime it was such a disappointment that the Park squad could have faded. Obviously, the team did not. It was a glorious afternoon-- the Park boys rose to the occasion and defeated an exemplary opponent, and the place was filled with Bruins’ fans of all ages. Go Bruins!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Nature of Truth and Beauty
By Roger Seidenman
The nature of truth and beauty---that does set the mind racing. We were discussing that in class last week after the book we’ve been reading made a reference to John Keats’ Ode on a Grecian Urn. The poem didn’t really have anything to do with the course work, other than anytime you dissect literature, truth and beauty have some place in the conversation. We batted the concepts around for a good forty-five minutes and perhaps our greatest epiphany was that these long-time pinnacles of the human state are very temporal in nature. Whether as a group we were right or wrong is open for anyone to judge-- just like the aforementioned qualities-- but our work to reach a conclusion was energizing.
It is one of the greatest gifts in my life that Park allows me to teach an Upper School English course in addition to fulfilling my responsibilities as Director of Development. The students, and my fellow faculty members, serve as a constant source of inspiration for Park fundraising efforts. Sometimes alumni lament that the school has changed since their day. As a graduate from ’85, I know that the physical plant may be unrecognizable to some. Perhaps you didn’t even graduate at the Brooklandville campus. But Park School has never been about those things. It has and remains to be about minds figuring things out, making meaning out of something, and following a path of intellectual energy.
So, after a good ninety minutes spent discussing literature with these remarkably able students, who wouldn’t want to help the institution thrive? Will this blog help? Beats me. I’m not going to ask you to give on this blog. Of course, I hope that you will, and if one of the purposes of this blog is to serve as a forum for questions about fundraising, I’ll be glad to respond. Ultimately, I just want to communicate about today’s Park School. I’ll be asking other faculty members to provide posts here and share their insights about the school, the curriculum, and students. I do hope you will continue to check in here to read some personal observations about Park.
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