Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 30 Apr 2013

The Chestnut Hill School community warmly invites you to join us for an evening of good friends and good fun at our annual alumni/family picnic.

This year, we will also unveil the commemorative benches that honor the service of Wendy Borosavage and Joann Greenwood. Join the community in celebrating them!

When: Tuesday, May 28, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
 
Where:
CHS Campus
428 Hammond Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
 
Wear a t-shirt of your current school, college or alma mater. Participate in an activity with Mrs. Greenwood and check out your time capsule. Alumni barbeque dinner included.
 
Cannot join us? You can also be part of the celebration by:
 
• Making a gift in Mrs. Borosavage’s or Mrs. Greenwood’s honor to the 2012/2013 Annual Fund recognizing their impact on CHS students and alumni. Gifts of every size are welcome and appreciated. The ladies will be provided a list of donors (excluding gift amount) who make gifts in their honor.
 
• Submitting a written memory to Mrs. Borosavage and/or Mrs. Greenwood at alumni@tchs.org
Do you remember a funny or poignant story about your time in class? Would you like to write a message of congratulations? Click the link above to send your message or photo. Messages and photos will be presented to Mrs. Borosavage and Mrs. Greenwood.

Contact Jeri Goetz (jgoetz@tchs.org) in the Development Office for more information about the celebration.

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 29 Apr 2013

The Alumni Leadership Council of The Chestnut Hill School will present the Distinguished Alumni Award this June. The award winning alumni recipient, their nominator, and guests will be in a place of honor on June 7, 2013 to receive this distinction. Award nominations deadline has been extended to May 6, 2013.

CHS Distinguished Alumnus/a Award
Given to an alumnus/a whose exemplary service and remarkable accomplishments have contributed tremendously to his/her field. This is currently the only award that the Board gives out on a yearly basis.

The criteria on which the nominee is chosen is as follows:

1. Any person having attended The Chestnut Hill School is eligible. Having graduated from The Chestnut Hill School is not a requirement.
2. The nominee shall have shown remarkable success and achievement in his/her chosen career/field;
3. The nominee shall have shown extraordinary courage, persistence or imagination in overcoming challenges;
4. The nominee shall have made a significant contribution to community on a local, state, national or international level or to the CHS community;
5. The honoree should be a role model that current students and future generations of CHS alumni can emulate;
6. Individuals running for or holding public office are not eligible;

The nominee must meet one or more of the criteria.

Nominations may be made by submitting a nominating letter with supporting material (such as a resume) to the Alumni Leadership Council, in care of Jeri Goetz, director of development, The Chestnut Hill School, 428 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 or alumni@tchs.org.

Nominations are accepted annually due May 1 - extended to May 6, 2013. Nominations will be kept on file for consideration for three years following the submission date.

The distinguished alumni award is given annually at graduation in June.

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 15 Apr 2013

Students, alumni and families are invited to attend the Class of 2007 and 2013 mini-reunion and Secondary School Transition Night on Thursday, April 25!

Casual Attire

6:30 – Dinner Reception
7:15 – Panel Discussions
Classes of 2007 and 2013 in the CMR
Parents of Classes of 2007 and 2013 in the Library
8:15 – Networking over dessert

Reading Partners are asked to bring a book to share with their partner that has become special to them.

Your reply is requested
by Friday, April 19 to Tramaine Weekes
at tweekes@tchs.org or 617-566-4394 ext. 651

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 18 Jan 2013

College Week, a new alumni tradition begins with a feature of Gus Polstein '04

Gus Polstein '04 returned to CHS to share about his studies in Critical Theory and Social Justice by participating in a discussion with the School's Equity and Social Justice Group. Gus is currently a junior at Occidental College in Los Angeles, by way of Beaver Country Day School where his brother, Harry '07, is a senior. 

A new diversity initiative from the Office of Community and Diversity, the Students of Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) is group for students in Grades 4 through 6 and "focuses on empowerment and co-cownership of the community in strategically building on and sustaining diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusivity." (Christine Savini)

Facilitated by 5th Grade faculty members Lauren (Shropshire) Giordano and Michael Coppola (@MichaelRCoppola), students have already analyzed the School's mission in terms of equity, looked at messages of gender and racial stereotypes to learn what they can do about them, and met with guest speaker, David Anderson, about looking critically at what messages media is sending. Gus exclaimed, "This is great! My classmates and I wish that we were having these types of discussions when we were your age."

View the photo gallery

Gus talked about his journey and his studies of social justice at Occidental with the ESJ group. Students asked questions like "What made you interested in this topic?" and "Has it ever been difficult to do this work?" Gus shared that he became interested when he joined a similar group at Beaver and shared with them that the work can be tough, but it is worth it. He reminded them "We are working together. No one is an island." When students inquired about how Gus was going to use his studies in his career, he shared that his work will apply to every industry. He will have some unique insights and perspectives to share with his future employers. 

Realizing that he had not had these kinds of discussions until he was in high school, Gus left the group with words of encouragement for foundational work the group was doing. "It will make a big difference in your future."

Following the meeting, Gus toured the School, caught up with faculty and staff members, and checked out his time capsule. This semester, Gus will be studying abroad in Chile. We hope to hear about his travels, hopefully in a follow-up article.

Thanks Gus!
¡Buen viaje!

You can share too!

The doors at CHS are always open to alumni
to share with current students, the "alumni of tomorrow."
Do you have a passion? A gift or talent? An invention?
A published work? A point of view?
Alumni are encouraged to bring what excites them
to the greater CHS community.
Contact us at alumni@tchs.org or 617-566-4394 x651
to learn about alumni speaking opportunities.

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 30 Nov 2012

Changing the Visage of America, One Face at A Time

Some contact with Juliana Mayfield ‘97 uncovered a well-spoken and thoughtful young businesswoman who is making her mark in the Atlanta area.

Juliana is currently a Nationwide Makeup Artist/Educator and distributes makeup services for all sorts of media (photography, television, bridal, special events, entertainment). She shared “I travel all over the country teaching thousands of people how to apply cosmetics. Plus, I get to share America's Best Selling Brand, Mary Kay with hundreds of women I meet. I am absolutely living my dream!”

CHS was Juliana’s second home for three years (Grades 3, 4, and 5) until she transferred to a Boston Public School in 1996, before her family relocated to Maryland. “It wasn't until then that I realized how advanced I was as a former student at CHS.” The Mayfields settled in Ellicott City, Maryland were Juliana attended Wilde Lake High School in Howard County before heading to Spelman College in Atlanta to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

Now living in Atlanta, Juliana is just over a thousand miles away from her childhood home on Comm Ave. in Newton. She and her brother (Chauncey Mayfield ‘98) enjoyed their time at CHS.

“My favorite teacher was Ms. Karen Garrison, the Science Teacher. She was so very passionate and it was evident in her teaching style. Therefore, it made it very fun to be in her class. She was also very intentional about every student learning the subject.

CHS was very active in broadening our awareness of current events within our Social Studies class. Considering my age and grade when I attended CHS, there was only but so many current events that I remember now.  However, I do remember, in 1993, the World Wide Web was created during this time and receiving email via AOL was HUGE! Also, in 1994 Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first Black President. There were some unfortunate events that happened including the Oklahoma City bombing, the Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan’s assault, and the O.J. Simpson case. But, during those times, I appreciate now how the teacher's did not disregard the events but were careful to consider our opinions and thoughts on the matter.

While these events were prevalent, we were still children.  So we were honestly most concerned about recess soccer games, who had the best "Beanie Babies" collection, and Lisa Frank stickers.

My most memorable moment as a student was when I won a brand new bike at the CHS Fall Festival. I won it in a raffle drawing. I strategized how I would win that bike. I went back and forth between my parents (to get $1 for the raffle ticket) and the raffle table numerous times with small breaks in between. I figured if I entered as many tickets as possible in the raffle close to the time of the drawing, I would have the most tickets and I was sure to win. I WON!! The crazy part is I didn't even need a new bike but it felt really good to win!!

When asked to share her funniest moment at CHS, Juliana recalled, “I remember being in a play in the 4th Grade in which I played the princess. I was so dedicated to being the best princess ever in the play that when they told me my part, I immediately began studying my character by watching endless princess movies and cartoons so I could nail the part (beginning stages of method acting, I suppose, LOL!) I only had 3 lines, but I wanted to make sure all of my movements were convincing and I looked like a princess. Well, on the day of the dress rehearsal, they told us that we were not supposed to face the other characters when delivering our lines, we could only face the audience. This method totally trumped all of my supplemental training. So here we are the day of the show and when it was time to deliver my lines and show my skills, I completely draw a blank in my mind and could not remember my lines AT ALL. They had to be given to me line-by-line by my teacher sitting on the floor in front of the stage. Sooooo funny.... 3 lines!!”

Although her favorite class at CHS was Art could not imagine her current career when she was a student at CHS, Juliana feels that she “gained so much confidence from attending CHS. I believe [CHS] also taught me how to think big. But not so that I can benefit myself, but so I can impact our community in a big way.”

Juliana shared that she is very grateful for Facebook “because that is a way that my old CHS friends and I keep in touch. My family moved to Maryland when I was in 7th Grade so I did not go to high school with anybody from CHS and we were not able to connect again until college when we connected on Facebook.”

Today, Juliana describes the CHS community as “Committed Followers of Excellence” and recollected that “my lasting impression of CHS was and always has been a safe environment that produces confident, academic and socially advanced children.”

You can learn more about Juliana’s entrepreneurship on the following social media platforms:

Website: http://www.hookedlook.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JulianaMayfieldFF
Twitter: @facedfwd
YouTube: Facedfwd

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 31 Oct 2012

A CHS Alumna and Chestnut Hill Native Brings Apple to the World

In the coming weeks, we will see the launch of the latest iPhone from Apple. It seems like just yesterday, the company lost its front man Steve Jobs on October 5, 2011, but since that day, the Cupertino, CA company has continued to remain newsworthy: the introduction of iBooks textbooks and iBook author and the launch of the iPad3. Apple is a household name in America and certainly a way of life at CHS.

How excited we were to learn that Cable Daniel-Dreyfus ’87, a Chestnut Hill native, is working for Apple as its cross-functional producer for Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. Cable’s job centers around marketing for the company and “executes the new product launches for over 60 countries, and also manages launches and campaigns, as well as regional marketing strategies.” Her specialty is in launching new products and understanding the competitive landscape that her products face.

When asked if she ever imagined being in her current job while she was at CHS, Cable joked “I didn’t really know what a computer was when I was at CHS! But fundamentally, CHS gave me the confidence to seek out new opportunities and not be afraid to try.” Cable fondly remembers really enjoying her time here on the Hill, including her summers at CHSCASP. She describes her experience as happy, encouraging and nurturing and spent her days making fantastic friends, playing sports, singing, and acting in the plays. To this day, she is still in touch with Rebecca Reed ’87 and Kellie Morton ’87 from kindergarten and the first grade.

Cable’s favorite teacher was Mrs. Ursula McLaughlin, who taught her in the first grade. She described McLaughlin as “caring and nurturing, yet tough!” She remembered that in the first grade, she and her classmates were mostly “concerned with trying to learn to read and when Mrs. McLaughlin was going to let us out for recess!”

After a few years at CHS, Cable attended the Heath School in Brookline and Brookline High School and graduated from Smith College.  From Smith, she went to San Francisco to take part in the dot.com boom.  From there, Cable attended graduate school in film-making and producing at The Australian Film Television Radio School and worked in film and TV.  Her next stop was business school at the University of Melbourne. She took all of her schooling and experiences and combined her love of creativity with marketing and went into branding.  Cable is a gifted writer and has contributed articles about luxury brands using their sales to benefit charity and how savvy companies can attract Gen Y consumers. Finally, her road led her to her current position at Apple UK.

Cable has been in London for several years and shared that “the Olympics were amazing!” When asked about her current position, she replied “It’s busy, but great fun.”
She commented, “As an adult, I often think back to my time at CHS and feel that they were some of the happiest years of my life. I very much hold the same principles insofar that I think children do well to be simultaneously nurtured and celebrated yet pushed to achieve… When I was old enough, I was a Junior Counselor and tried to give back to the school that gave me so much. [And] If I lived in Boston, I would definitely send my children to CHS, as well as to the Creative Arts and Sports Program.

Read some of Cable’s published articles:

Beauty in Virtue:
http://hubmagazine.com/archives/the_hub/2010/jan_feb/the_hub34_landor.pdf

Wooing Generation Y: a practical guide
http://www.landor.com/pdfs/k9/CDanDrey_GenY_US_13Nov07.pdf

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 31 Jul 2012

Read the acceptance address of CHS's first Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Lorna Lowe ’84

At its annual graduation ceremony on June 8, 2012, The Chestnut Hill School presented its first Distinguished Alumni Award to Boston native, Lorna Lowe. The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to an alumnus/a whose exemplary service and remarkable accomplishments have contributed notably to his/her field. It is of the utmost importance that the chosen recipient be a person who has continued to uphold the CHS mission of academic excellence, diversity, and community while also serving as a role model for current and future generations of CHS students and alumni.

"What a lovely honor. It is so nice to come back to a place that I have had very warm feelings for so long. I grew up 20 miles down the road in Framingham. My brother Arthur and I rode into school with my mother who was a Boston Public School Teacher – she would drop us off early in the morning on her way to teach second grade in the city. While many moons have passed since I was a student here, Chestnut Hill has made an indelible, positive, emotional imprint. I remember feeling very happy here; my classroom was warmly decorated by my favorite teacher, Ms. Ursula. We were encouraged to play, to create and even wander. We were made to feel welcome, bright, unique, funny and at home. It is unique and wonderful to be in a place that recognizes and values the power in and of children.

Today you graduates may be tempted to look to us adults for guidance. And because we love you, we will try our best to guide you but that is nowhere near how well you can guide yourselves. We are looking at you to remember what we forgot. I feel lucky that I am reminded by the children I represent, by my brilliant 7 year old daughter, and I’m reminded by being asked to come here today, to this special place and to look at your bright and brilliant faces, of the sheer wisdom in making play a top priority. To ask questions. To wonder. To see things with interest. To see things upside down. To not take things so seriously and when I do how worth it is to recover. To change my mind. To think a better thought. To get up and go back to playing. You are right. Life is supposed to be fun.

You know what feels good to you & what doesn’t. The people you want to be around. The friends that make you laugh the hardest. The music that makes you sing. The places you want to go back to. The movies you want to watch again and again. Now you don’t have wait until you are 40 to remember what you already know now. You are powerful, genius thinkers and creators. What is ahead of you is only more exploration. More fun. But you knew that already. You are already so far ahead.

Thank you for this beautiful gift. Congratulations class of 2012 ☺"

 

You can read Ms. Lowe's full biography here.
 

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 06 Jul 2012

CHS is pleased to share that two of its alumni were named in this year's Boston Globe All-Scholastics Athletes: Isabel Goldfine '09 (tennis) and Jarred Jones '06 (track). Content provided by The Boston Globe.

Isabel Goldfine
BB&N, FRESHMAN
As a freshman, Goldfine shined in the No. 1 singles and doubles slot for BB&N, finishing the season undefeated. She also runs cross-country, is a black belt in Taekwondo, and volunteers her time at the Special Olympics. She also enjoys reading and cooking. Isabel is a member of the BB&N Class of 2015.

Jarrod Jones
ROXBURY LATIN, SENIOR
The ISL long jump champion, holds the Roxbury Latin school record in the high jump, and ran in the relay team that now holds the 4x100 school record. Jones, who plans to run at Trinity College next year, also plays varsity football and basketball.

The CHS Alumni Newsroom is always open! Send alumni news and updates that you come across to alumni@tchs.org or leave a class note. We don't want to leave anyone out!

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 02 Jul 2012

This year, the Development Office and the Alumni Leadership Council are pleased to award the first Distinguished Alumni Award. The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to an alumnus/a whose exemplary service and remarkable accomplishments have contributed tremendously to his/her field. The award may be bestowed upon any member of the alumni body of CHS and should be a role model that current students and future generations of CHS alumni can emulate. The nominee shall meet any or all of the following criteria: - remarkable success and achievement in his/her chosen career/field; - extraordinary courage, persistence or imagination in overcoming challenges; - a significant contribution to community on a local, state, national or international level or to the CHS community; It is also of the utmost importance that the chosen recipient be a person who has continued to uphold the CHS mission of academic excellence, diversity, and community.

This year’s recipient, Lorna Lowe, is a member of the Class of 1984 of The Chestnut Hill School, and continued her education at Noble and Greenough, where she was the first African-American female president of the student body. Upon completing a dual program in political science and Cantonese at the Chinese University of Hong Kong,  she graduated from Howard University in 1994.
Currently, Lorna is a documentary producer and lawyer based in Boston.

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY

In the early 1990’s, Lorna began a career first in television at MTV Networks and E! Entertainment Television, then in film and special effects at Sony Pictures and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Lorna left Sony to enter law school at the University of Southern California. While at USC, she became a judicial extern for District Court Judge Consuelo Marshall, represented adults in long term correctional facilities through the Post Conviction Justice Project and completed an International Law Programme at the Sorbonne in Paris. During an internship as a law clerk for the Alliance for Children’s Rights in Los Angeles, Lorna represented American children seeking guardianship and emancipation, and Immigrant minors seeking asylum in the United States. Herself having been in the foster care system for nearly a year before being adopted through Boston Children’s Services in the early 1970’s, the rights of children became a particular interest and eventually [her] professional focus.

While at the Alliance, Lorna formed Lowe Road, a production company focused on social issue documentaries and produced Shelter, a personal documentary on the after-effects of her search and reunion with her biological family as an adult. Shelter, premiered at the Boston International Festival for Women’s Cinema, was named Best Discovery by the Boston Society of Film Critics and was released theatrically.

Upon graduating from law school, Lorna returned to Boston to join Thoughtbridge, a extension of the Harvard Negotiation Project, as a consultant. A year later, while still producing through Lowe Road, Lorna began a private law practice specializing in the representation of children and parents in the child welfare system, assisting many of her child clients in securing permanency through adoption as well as negotiating open and closed adoption agreements for parents.

While producing her second film, Romeo, a film about a man dedicated to rehabilitating batterers, Lorna became a Filmmaker-in-Residence at WGBH Boston and became the first recipient of the Accelerating the Creative production grant from Women in Film and General Motors. In the fall of 2011, Lorna was elected to the board of trustees of The Flaherty, a non-profit media arts institution dedicated to the support and exhibition of documentary and independent film. A member of the Massachusetts and New York Bar Associations, Lorna’s private legal practice spans child welfare and intellectual property.

In the fall of 2011, Ms. Lowe was elected to the Board of Trustees of The Flaherty, a non-profit media arts institution dedicated to the support and exhibition of documentary and independent film. A member of the Massachusetts and New York Bar Associations, Ms. Lowe maintains a private legal practice specializing in child welfare and sits on the Board of Directors of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute.

Like so many of our graduates, Lorna’s accomplishments and contributions as an adult reflect the kinds of skills and attitudes first nurtured at CHS. The Chestnut Hill School Alumni and community are pleased to honor Ms. Lorna Lowe ’84 with the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award.

 

You can read Ms. Lowe's remarks to the Class of 2012 here.

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 21 Mar 2012

Join the CHS community as we honor Charlie and his years of service.

After 17 years at The Chestnut Hill School, beloved woodshop teacher Charlie Folco plans to retire in June and move to California. Years of sanding, joining, and varnishing will transition to years of golfing, relaxing, and watching baseball.

Join the CHS community as we honor Charlie and his years of service. You can be part of the celebration by:

• Making a gift in Charlie’s honor to the 2011/2012 Annual Fund recognizing Charlie Folco’s impact on CHS students and alumni. Gifts of every size are welcome and appreciated. Charlie will be provided a list of donors (excluding gift amount) who make gifts in his honor.

• Submitting a written memory to be included in a recognition book (closed). Do you remember a funny or poignant story about your time in woodshop? Would you like to write a message of farewell? Fill in this online form with your message or photo. Messages and photos will be presented to Charlie in book form.

• Attending the Alumni and Family BBQ on Tuesday, May 29 at 5:30 p.m.

• Bringing a napkin holder, paper towel stand, lamp, or other treasure you’ve made in woodshop for a group photo on May 29. Have you kept a treasure made in woodshop? Bring a small size woodshop item. Alumni and their items will pose for a photo with Charlie. Electronic copies of the photo will be distributed to attendees.

Additional events are being prepared and more information will follow for how you can be a part of this celebration and farewell of our beloved friend, Charlie Folco.

Contact Jeri Goetz or Tramaine Weekes in the Development Office for more information about the celebration.

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 29 Feb 2012

Enjoy this edition of the Alumni Hawkeye!

Read the Alumni Hawkeye Here!

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 29 Feb 2012

CHS and CHS alumni can be found right where you are!

Visit the School online - www.tchs.org and www.tchs.org/alumni

Friend us on Facebook - Chestnut Hill Alums

Follow us on Twitter - tchsdotorg

Network on LinkedIn - The CHS Community Network

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 29 Feb 2012

Thank you to all who contacted us this year. We received a great deal of feedback and have located over 200 alumni who were considered missing. It is our goal to reconnect with everyone we can with CHS and their classmates. Make sure we are up to date - get connected and update your contact information here.

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 29 Feb 2012

The Alumni Leadership Council of The Chestnut Hill School will present the Distinguished Alumni Award this June. The award winning alumni recipient, their nominator, and guests will be in a place of honor on June 8, 2012 to receive this distinction. Award nominations must be received by May 1, 2012.

CHS Distinguished Alumnus/a Award
Given to an alumnus/a whose exemplary service and remarkable accomplishments have contributed tremendously to his/her field. This is currently the only award that the Board gives out on a yearly basis. 

The criteria on which the nominee is chosen is as follows:

1. Any person having attended The Chestnut Hill School is eligible. Having graduated from The Chestnut Hill School is not a requirement.
2. The nominee shall have shown remarkable success and achievement in his/her chosen career/field;
3. The nominee shall have shown extraordinary courage, persistence or imagination in overcoming challenges;
4. The nominee shall have made a significant contribution to community on a local, state, national or international level or to the CHS community;
5. The honoree should be a role model that current students and future generations of CHS alumni can emulate;
6. Individuals running for or holding public office are not eligible;

The nominee must meet one or more of the criteria.

Nominations may be made by submitting a nominating letter with supporting material (such as a resume) to the Alumni Leadership Council, in care of Tramaine Weekes, Assistant Director of Development, The Chestnut Hill School, 428 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 or alumni@tchs.org.

Nominations are accepted annually due May 1. Nominations will be kept on file for consideration for three years following the submission date.

The distinguished alumni award is given annually at graduation in June.

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 21 Sep 2011

See the full list here - details to follow shortly.

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 21 Sep 2011

Hello everyone,

While our office is in contact with many of our alumni, I realize that there are a few of you who did not receive my letter in the Spring because your contact information has changed. I wanted to post my greetings for everyone so that each of you know that my role is to support your alumni experience. Please feel free to contact me at any time about anything. I am open to your suggestions about how our office can better serve you.

And if you are reading this for the first time, take a moment and update your contact information here. We will be rolling out many new and exciting programs in the near future and we want YOU to be a part of them.

All my best, Tramaine

 

 

April 1, 2011

Hello CHS Alumni,

As the newest member of The Chestnut Hill School alumni and development office, I would like to introduce myself as the new assistant director of development.  With primary responsibility for alumni relations and communications, I am excited to join the community and to be able to work with you and all your fellow alumni.

I am a graduate of the Woodward School for Girls and Colby College, where I am an active alumna of both communities, and am currently finishing my master’s degree in non-profit leadership at Northeastern University.  In my “spare time,” I enjoy traveling, pretty much any form of creative expression (music, cooking, design, performance art, you name it), and I am working my way through the AFI’s 100 Best American Movies list.

My professional experience includes teaching science and math at Woodward, where I had my first experiences in the field of development. My passion quickly became reconnecting alumni with their alma mater and I had the opportunity to do so as the associate director of alumni relations at Wentworth Institute of Technology.  While at Wentworth, my colleagues and I created young alumni programming, enhanced affinity programming, and developed the e-communications for the alumni office.

As a graduate of and a former teacher at an independent school, I recognize the unique connections that independent school alumni have with their alma mater and my goal is to help enhance the quality of your relationship with CHS. My initial goals are to provide more effective communication, to strengthen bonds between alumni and the school, and to identify opportunities for alumni to impact and support the current students at CHS.

I look forward to meeting you at an upcoming alumni event. The annual barbeque for young alumni in the classes of 2001-2011 is on June 16. If you would like to be involved in the planning of this or any of our other upcoming events, please feel free to contact me. Events are always more successful if you encourage your friends to join you and we can help you make that happen.

If you have thoughts or ideas about alumni activities, events, or ways to reconnect, I encourage you to share them with me at tweekes@tchs.org or through Facebook (Chestnut Hill Alums), Twitter (tchsdotorg), or by sharing a class note for the Hill Happenings magazine.   I look forward to working with you to advance alumni relations at CHS.

All my best,

Tramaine Weekes

Assistant Director of Development

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 29 Jun 2011

An interview with Will Van Dyke '96 by Jenna O'Donnell - featured in the Summer 2011 edition of Hill Happenings

Will Van Dyke ’96 was raised in Georgia, but his father’s job moved him to Rochester, New York and, eventually, West Roxbury, Massachusetts. He attended The Chestnut Hill School for the 6th grade and remembers after-school drama with Candy Gold as one of his best experiences.

While drama became a primary focus, piano was a genuine passion that started when he was five years old. Serious about his music, Will received private instruction at the Rivers School of Music. After CHS and Beaver Country Day School, Will attended The Tisch School of Performing Arts at New York University where he concentrated in musical theater performance. While at Tisch, Van Dkye met his mentor, Andrew Lippa, the Grammy nominated musician, lyricist and musical director. Lippa helped change the direction of Will’s career from acting to music and he hasn’t looked back.

Will recently released his album, Chasing the Day and is pianist for the The Addams Family on Broadway.  Will and I chatted over the phone to discuss music, Broadway, and life in New York City.

 

JLO: What life lessons has your career in music taught you?

WVD: Always treat people as you would like to be treated. I feel so fortunate for all that I have experienced so far in my career. I have met some really wonderful people who have been incredible in helping me get where I am today. I have also met some pretty horrible people in the business and it just reminds you that you have a choice. When someone reaches out to me for insight or advice, I make sure I get back to them and try to be as helpful as I can.

JLO: Is your ultimate goal to continue the Broadway part of your career or to concentrate more on albums and performances?

WVD: Writing a musical that is someday opened and produced is my ultimate goal. It wouldn’t matter to me if it is off-Broadway, just to have that happen would be a dream.  If my album went triple platinum, that would be great too!!

JLO: How long have you been working on your album? What was the inspiration for the music and how did you come to the title, Chasing The Day?

WVD: Dominick Amendum, the co-producer, and I came up with the idea of recording this album a year and a half ago, so I guess since then. Chasing The Day refers to a lyric on the second track of the album entitled, "Come Home." I'm a huge Alanis Morissette fan, and all her albums refer to a lyric, and with the images that we captured, and the stories that we are trying to tell that really captured the essence. In the liner notes of the collaborator, Josh Halloway describes the album as "songs that were written on the road. Aboard planes. Across time zones. Between sets. In hotel lobbies. At 24 hour coffee shops. Miles apart. When the thought of home is your only companion. Chasing the Day is about the places life takes us and the people who bring us back."
 

JLO: What has been your proudest moment?

WVD: That would definitely be playing keyboards for the first preview of The Addams Family, when my entire family came to the show. I remember as the overture began with the theme music of  The Addams Family, the crowd went absolutely nuts. The sound of everyone’s excitement was just unreal. I will never forget that feeling.
 

JLO: Greatest disappointment? Lesson learned with it?

WVD: When I had just graduated from NYU, I auditioned to be the Musical Director of Rent. I absolutely nailed the audition and had a really good feeling about it. Two days later, I received the call that I did not get the job. I was so upset and the reason I was given had nothing to do with my ability.  I was told simply, I was too young.   Andrew Lippa, my mentor, said, “Will, this is fine. You will come with me to Los Angeles. That turned out to be an incredible opportunity. I played the piano for one of my greatest musical inspirations, Alanis Morrisette. Soon after, I was touring nationally for Wicked playing keyboard in the orchestra.

JLO: What musicians inspire you?

WVD: Anyone who plays piano rock: Alanis Morissette, Billy Joel, and Elton John to name a few.

JLO: What do you love most about playing on Broadway?

WVD: It’s just a lot of fun. It is wonderful to be a part of something where everybody genuinely loves what they are doing. It is wonderful to play a role in making a particular piece of art.

JLO: Greatest class ever taken at Tisch and why?

WVD: Vocal performance with Alix Korey, Broadway actress and recording artist. She was so brutally honest about how you tell a story. I remember a particular moment when someone performed and when they finished she asked how they felt. The person responded that they didn’t feel very good about their performance. She said, “Well, it’s not about you. It’s about how you make the audience feel.” That has really stuck with me.
 

JLO: If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

WVD: Leonard Bernstein. I can’t say exactly why, just that I think he is so perfect.

JLO: What about your surroundings inspires your music?

WVD: The energy of NYC is what inspires everyone who comes here. For me though, what inspires me most are the moments when the city stops. They are rare, but there are moments when something beautiful will happen and collectively the city will sigh, and for a moment the hustle and bustle is gone and there is silence.

JLO: If you weren't a musician, what would you choose to do?

WVD: I don't want to be anything else but a musician. I think that's a really important thing to know about yourself when you choose to go into this career. It's the number one question in every book about choosing a life in the arts, 'would you be happy doing something else?' If you answer yes to that question, do something else.

Will’s Resume of Work includes:

• Wicked (1st National/Broadway)
• Kathleen Marshall's revival of Grease (associate music director), and Present Laughter
• pianist/conductor for productions of Reefer Madness, The Goddess Wheel, Songs For A New World, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, Smile, Snoopy, The Full Monty, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show
• weekly role of co-host at Broadway Sessions with Ben D
• lent his musical abilities to Andrew Lippa's Little Princess (associate music director), ,The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Avenue Q, 9 to 5, Book Of Mormon, The Kid, The Big Time, and Behind The Limelight.

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 09 Jun 2011

Update on Memorial Arrangements for Christina “Brooke” Genco ’00

 

On Sunday, June 12 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., there will be visitation at:
Magni Funeral Home
365 Watertown Street
Newton, MA 02458

On Monday, June 13 at 10:30 a.m., the funeral mass will be celebrated at:
Our Lady Help of Christians Parish
573 Washington Street
Newton, MA 02458

With burial immediately following the mass at:
Newton Cemetery
791 Walnut Street
Newton MA 02495

Friends are invited to join us for a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. at:
Chestnut Hill School
428 Hammond Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

In lieu of flowers we ask that donations be made in Christina’s honor.  Details will follow in the upcoming days on how to donate to either of the following:
The Christina Clarke Genco (Brooke) Revolution Lacrosse Scholarship Fund - http://www.revolutionlacrosse.com/
The Christina Clarke Genco Safe Biking Fund - http://bikeandbuild.org/cms/

If you would like to send notes to the family, the addresses are as follows:

Caroline Genco
54 Lakewood Road
Newton, MA  02461

Robert Genco
33 Vermont Street
West Roxbury, MA  02132

Posted by Tramaine Weekes on 07 Jun 2011

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Christina Genco '00 was involved in a bicycle accident yesterday that claimed her life. In her interactions with current students and families, she always spoke fondly about her years at CHS. Christina's amazing story of pursuing her passtion for cycling was featured in the Spring 2010 edition of Hill Happenings.

Christina has recently taken a three-month leave from her position at Revolution Lacrosse, where she taught skills and technique to aspiring lacrosse players, so that she could return to Bike & Build as a team leader on a trip from South Carolina to Santa Cruz, California.

"Genco was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding in Alabama. Christina was an active member of the Bike & Build community, having previously participated in the Boston to Santa Barbara route in 2009, as well as several of the CWM (Chris Webber Memorial) alumni rides from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale. Christina's zest for life and passion for the cause made her a beloved member of the Bike & Build family and her passing has left a permanent hole in our lives." - Bike & Build

We are all stunned by this unfortunate news, and this will be a difficult time for everyone in our community.

CHS is awaiting news from the Genco family about plans for memorial services. We will be sure to pass along any news to the community as soon as details are finalized, including contact information for members of the community to send notes or flowers.

Please feel free to contact the development office (alumni@tchs.org) if you have any questions in the meantime.

Posted by Administrator on 25 Oct 2010

Some people prefer team sports to share the efforts and accomplishments with teammates. Others choose an individual sport as they enjoy relying on themselves for success. Though Elisee Browchuk ’08 shares her passion for horses and riding with thousands of competitors, her success can only be attributed to her own dedication, hard work, and perseverance. Elisee is a nationally ranked rider in the United States Equestrian Federation.

Elisee attended The Chestnut Hill School from Kindergarten through 5th grade when her family moved to Connecticut.  Though she was sad to leave a place she knew so well, she is currently attending boarding school near her home.

While at CHS, Elisee enjoyed her time playing team sports, particularly soccer. She recalls Athletics Director Eric Edwards’s words of encouragement regarding women and playing sports competitively. She says, “I remember him telling us that there was always a place for a woman in sports. He is a great coach and I always felt that he pushed me to work hard and do my best.”

At seven years old, Elisee joined The Dana Hall School Equine Program. Riding became her priority and after just one year in this program, her family was pulled aside by an instructor who acknowledged Elisee’s talent.

For Elisee, riding and her years spent at CHS have provided very similar and important life lessons. “CHS was such a small environment and looking back, I can appreciate the discipline and structure that the School provided. I think I am outgoing and enjoy a similar structure today. Both CHS and riding have given me the self-confidence I need to make important and sometimes challenging decisions.”

Posted by Administrator on 22 Sep 2010

Sunday, October 17, 2010 12:30-3:00

Enjoy Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, and More! Pizza, dessert, and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP for this event by October 12 at: http://tinyurl.com/carnivalreunion2010. Or contact Jenna O’Donnell, jodonnell@tchs.org.

Posted by Administrator on 07 Sep 2010

Jared Salvatore ’95 attended The Chestnut Hill School for first through third grades before his family moved. Exposed to a broad range of music at CHS, Jared began keyboard lessons at just five years old. It wasn’t until eighth grade that Jared began to take his talent seriously and chose to pursue his passion of music.

At twelve years old, Jared sang at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.  He has opened for popular bands including Lansdowne, Saving Abel, and OK GO!. One of the bands Jared helped start as a teen remains one of his musical projects today, The Zero Four.

Jared has played at some of Boston’s best music venues, including The House of Blues, The Middle East, The Hard Rock Café, Bill’s Bar, Precinct, and The Paradise Lounge.

Look for more on Jared Salvatore in the next issue of Hill Happenings in 2011. To hear some of Jared’s music, visit his websites:

www.myspace.com/jaredsalvatore

www.myspace.com/zerofour

Or catch his next show, September 10^th at The Hard Rock Café in Boston.

Photography by Elizabeth Schultz.

Posted by Administrator on 26 Aug 2010

Brothers and CHS alums Jake, Bear, and Sam Duker (classes of ’99, ’00, and ’03) have gone on to distinguish themselves in many ways in their secondary schools and colleges, but perhaps the one for which they are best known is their shared talent and passion for playing soccer.

With many impressive honors and scoring records to their credit, all three served as captains of the soccer team in their respective schools this fall – Jake, as a senior at Amherst College, Bear, as a junior at Tufts University, and Sam, as a senior at Belmont Hill School. The Duker brothers were highlighted in a Boston Globe article this summer where Jake articulated what leading his team means to him: "It's a great honor to be a captain…and also a great responsibility." Bear has at least one early memory of the game from his days at CHS: “I remember playing soccer at CHS. We played nearly every recess. One of my fondest soccer memories was, as a sixth grader, when we played the teachers in a soccer game on Field Day. I’m pretty sure we won the game, but it was great to be out on the field with the friends and the teachers I had been around for nine years.” Bear will soon be accompanied on the field by a familiar face again, as Sam has been accepted early decision to Tufts and will join his brother there.