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Washington Waldorf School
Quarterly Alum Newsletter
JUNE 2024
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WWS sends out periodic communications to our alums with opportunities to connect, class notes, and school highlights. To unsubscribe use the link at the bottom of this email. | |
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Summer is upon us! We wish you an easy season filled with the right mix of adventure and restorative rest. All of us at WWS will be taking some breaks over the summer, but we hope we can see you at fall events if your schedule aligns.
In this issue of our Quarterly Newsletter:
Please stay in touch. We'd love to know what you are up to!
Stephanie Hanson
Director of Development and Alum Relations
shanson@washingtonwaldorf.org
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First Alum Reunion - June 1, 2024 | |
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On Saturday, June 1, we were so pleased to be able to host our School's first official Alum Reunion. We welcomed graduates from the 8th grade class of 1983 (the year we moved to Sangamore Road, dreaming of a high school) all the way through the Class of 2018.
Thank you to Tom Mansour ('04), for initiating the event, and Happy 20th Reunion to the Class of 2004! We also extend our thanks to all Faculty and former Faculty who attended. Special thanks to Barb Bancroft (High School Art Teacher) for organizing an art activity for attendees, Mitch Fanning and the Irish Inn Mates for the music, and Chef Eron and Sarah Heirman ('97) with Foxhall Catering for providing the food. We really enjoyed hosting the alums, and send our thanks to all those who attended.
If you would like to make sure that you receive news and updates about other Alum events, please make sure your contact information is updated with the School
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Parent of '06 and '08 Alums Camilla Lake spoke at the June 1 reunion, and we announced that, with the Lake Family, Washington Waldorf School is re-invigorating the Alanna Marie Lake Fund. This Fund has three objectives: 1) to honor and celebrate the life of Alanna Marie Lake (Class of 2008); 2) to provide funds to support one or more guest teachers to speak at WWS; 3) left over funds will support the OneFund/Financial Aid in Alanna's name.
We invite you to consider giving to this fund in a way that feels meaningful and aligned for you.
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Join the Head, Heart, and Hands Circle | |
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The Head, Heart, and Hands Leadership Giving Circle honors and recognizes young alums whose generosity cements their status as emerging philanthropic leaders in the Washington Waldorf School community.
$50+ (Classes of 2018 - 2024)
$250+ (Classes of 2012 - 2017)
$500+ (Classes of 2006 - 2011)
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On Sunday, June 9, we bid farewell to our departing faculty members, Shelly Hackman (Delegating School Nurse), Mike Hadjipateras (Visiting HS Humanities Teacher), Lilli Kuth (Early Childhood Educational Support Teacher), Bailey More (HS Math Teacher), Lisa Pitillo (Seedlings Lead Teacher), CJ (Leonard) Stumbo (Front Office Manager), Amina Trotter-Lockett(MS Art Teacher & Nursery Assistant), Lelia True (Faculty Chair/Head of School), and Vanessa Vargas (Administrative Support). We will miss these Faculty and all that they brought to our School and community, wish them well on their next adventures, and hope they will come back to visit in the future! | |
Congratulations to the Class of 2024! | |
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Our sincere congratulations to the Class of 2024 as they prepare to venture forth on the next steps of their journeys. Best wishes for your future!
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Brayden ~ Catholic University of America
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Dushyanta ~ University of Maryland
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Gillian ~ Haverford College
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JoJo ~ Elon University
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Julian ~ Virginia Tech
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Malin ~ Haverford College
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Mateen ~ Gap Year
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Micah ~ Shenandoah University
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Nilofar ~ Washington College
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Peter ~ The New School
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Sofia P-G ~ Virginia Tech
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Sophia-Alessandra ~ University of Maryland Baltimore County
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Tyler ~ William & Mary
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Below is an updated list of all admittances for the Class of 2024.
American University ◆ Bard College (2) ◆ Bucknell University ◆ Catholic University of America ◆ Dickinson College ◆ Elon University ◆ Franklin & Marshall College ◆ Furman University ◆ George Mason University ◆ Goshen College ◆ Goucher College ◆ Haverford College (2) ◆ Kenyon College ◆ Lafayette College ◆ Leeds Beckett University (UK) ◆ Mt Holyoke College ◆ Ohio State University ◆ Paris Saint-Germain Academy (Miami) ◆ Rochester Institute of Technology ◆ Salve Regina ◆ Shenandoah University ◆ Skidmore College ◆ St. John’s College (Annapolis) ◆ St. Mary's College of Maryland ◆ St. Olaf College ◆ Syracuse University ◆ The New School ◆ Union College ◆ University of Colorado (Boulder) ◆ University of Delaware ◆ University of Maryland (2 admitted - 1 attending) ◆ University of Maryland Baltimore Co. ◆ University of Oregon ◆ University of Virginia (Wise) ◆ Virginia Tech (2) ◆ Washington College ◆ Wilkes University ◆ William & Mary (2 admitted - 1 attending)
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This past weekend was the graduation for the Class of 2024. We were pleased to welcome Alum Tom Mansour ('04) as our graduation speaker this year.
Tom works at Meta as a Product Integrity Program Manager after having served in the Coast Guard for 10 years and as a Coast Guard Congressional Fellow for 2 years. Tom is expecting his first child (congratulations!) and this has brought him new insight about - and appreciation for - the education he received at WWS.
Read Tom's speech.
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High School Baseball
Red-Tailed Hawks PVAC Champions
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From Taisto Saloma, Alum '93 , Athletic Director & High School History Teacher
The WWS High School Baseball team defeated the Field School by a score of 4-1 this past Monday at Wheaton Regional. This victory brought the Hawks their first ever PVAC High School Baseball Tournament Championship. Jojo Liebreich held Field scoreless through six innings, and when he encountered some turbulence in the top of the seventh inning, Diarmund Gardiner came on in relief and shut the door on Field. The Hawks scored two runs in the bottom of the third and Adam Haddock delivered a clutch two out, two run single in the bottom of the 6th to drive in two huge runs and expand the Hawks lead to 4-0. The Hawks played strong defense and made the plays behind their pitching.
Congratulations to the whole team and thanks to our seniors - Jojo Liebreich, Mateen Bennie, Tyler Jackson, Micah Hackman, Dushyanta Meier, and Brayden Castro for all of their hard work and support of our team and school. It was truly special to have their last WWS athletic experience be a tournament championship. Way to go out on top!
Congratulations to Coach Gardiner! Thank you for your guidance, instruction, and support of the team and players.
A HUGE THANK YOU to our community and everyone who came out to Wheaton Regional to support the team. It was awesome to have so many students, parents, faculty, and staff at the game. It seemed like every time the Field fans started cheering, our fans responded with great energy and enthusiasm. We look forward to next year and the opportunity to have more days like this one!
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Many thanks to Rodolfo Castro for the great photos! | |
Washington Waldorf School Gear | |
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SquadLocker Online Stores
When you purchase items through SquadLocker, your order will be shipped directly to your delivery address of choice.
Is there a particular type of item you are looking for that isn't available in our stores? Let us know and we'll see what we can do!
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Grade 11 Bookmaking Presentation | |
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Association of Waldorf Schools of North America
Events and Resources for Alums
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LinkedIn, Instagram, and Waldorf Alum Connect | | |
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AWSNA Alums on Instagram
WaldorfAlums has launched on Instagram! This is the "official" Waldorf Alum profile celebrating the achievements, actions, and undertakings of Waldorf Alums across the continent and beyond. Follow them, and when sharing your stories, use the hashtags #WaldorfAlums and #WaldorfAlum.
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Have an update to share or new contact information? We'd love to hear from you. Please send us your news of awards or honors, new family members, scholarships, travels and adventures, jobs or milestones. In order to be included in the next Quarterly Newsletter, you may submit your update by August 1, 2024.
Join the conversation with our Alum Relations account on LinkedIn to see more updates from your classmates and share your own. Use #waldorfalum to tag your posts.
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Charlie Mayer ('94/8th Grade '90) lives in Takoma, DC with his wife, Rachel, and teenage daughters, Anna and Lucy. | |
Zephyr Mays ('97) retired from the U.S. Coast Guard on May 31, 2024. | |
Glenda Goodman ('99) lives in Philadelphia with her husband Mitch and children Teddy and Pearl, and works at the University of Pennsylvania. | |
Sophie Toolanen ('00) is a licensed professional counselor in private practice in Portland, OR. | |
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An update from James McLaughlin Ward ('02): I was diagnosed with incurable Stage IV NETs cancer in 2017 after 5+ years of deteriorating health and mystery symptoms and several jobs lost due to my inability to continue working. At the time I was given less than a year to live. I was diagnosed with a debilitating side condition, severe Carcinoid Syndrome and I became disabled. However I was lucky enough to be referred to the National Institute of Health and started treatment there. I became a NETs cancer research patient. I have undergone over 10 surgeries and too many tests and scans to count.
But in between all of that, I took up art as a therapeutic tool, painting and drawing mostly. I went back to school and graduated Summa Cum Laude with an Arts and Visual Technology degree, I met and married the love of my life Becki. I am now relatively stable with a prognosis of 5 years at a time as i continue to undergo treatment. One thing that kept me going was seeing kids with cancer at NIH and realizing how lucky I was to have a childhood without such a trial. Live every day the best you can, find enjoyment in being creative, support cancer research, give thanks to nurses, and F**k Cancer.
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Tasha Blank ('04) is an international DJ and embodiment teacher. Currently in her third year running global training program Powerhouse DJ School (PhDJ), she’s prepping to launch several new music and embodiment related educational programs, as well as a new dance party The Drop. She lives in Nevada City, California with her partner Andrew, and travels frequently to make dance floors go boom. | |
Laura Lawler ('04) recently returned to the DC area and is finishing up a dissertation on Climate Smart Agriculture for my PhD in Geography from University of Wisconsin-Madison. | |
Isobel Modica ('10) received her MBA in Sustainability from Bard College in 2023, and is continuing in her role as Design Director at Welspun, in which she guides product sustainability, trend, and design for customers and brands including Martha Stewart, Macy's, HomeGoods, Costco, Target, and Charisma. Products she has designed have been featured in WGSN trend reports, as well as articles in Good Housekeeping, Refinery29, Home Textiles Today, and Apartment Therapy. She lives in Brooklyn. | |
Have an update to share with fellow WWS alums? | |
Published by the Washington Waldorf School
Copyright © 2023 All rights reserved
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Washington Waldorf School
4800 Sangamore Road,
Bethesda, MD 20816
301-229-6107
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Washington Small Schools Association
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