The Lantern Spring/Summer 2014

Beyond our WallsL A N D M A R K ’ S R E AC H A N D I N F L U E N C E A RO U N D T H E W O R L D

LanternTHE

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

THE MAGAZINE OF LANDMARK SCHOOL

LANDMARK SCHOOL

Our MissionLandmark School’s mission is to enable and empower students with language-based learning disabilities (LBLD) to reach their educational and social potential through an exemplary school program complemented by outreach and training, assessment, and research.

Michelle Authelet ‘14Self Portrait with ElephantGOLD MEDAL

Landmark students garnered an impressive 37 awards in the 2014 Boston Globe Scholastic

Art & Writing Awards. See all the winning artwork on

pages 28-33}

The Lantern 1SPRING/SUMMER 2014

Lantern Editorial Committee and Contributors

Bob Broudo P’11

Deborah Chandler

Ryan DeJoy

Scott Harlan

Carl Gasowksi

Rob Kahn

Carolyn Orsini Nelson

Christine Ozahowski

Lisa Robinson

Joe Rose

Susan Tomases

Tristan Whitehouse

Catherine Steinhoff

Designer

Melanie deForest-Malloy

Photographers

Dee Fair-Barrett

Erin Curran

Anna DiPerna

Carl Gasowksi

Whitney Grace

Andrew Gruden

Jason Hainsworth

Scott Harlan

Craig S. Mellish and PBS

Jake Pike ’05

Catherine Steinhoff

Tom Underwood

Steven Webster P’17

Zachary Webster ’17

Contributors

Bill Couzens P’14

Rachel Esham ’16

Jeff Fauci

Adam Hickey

Dede Grace

Bella Jackson

Ryan Kenney ’18

Jeremy Melvin

Katie Mullen

Brook Sumner

Angela Timpone

LanternTHE

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

The Lantern is published twice yearly by the Marketing and Communications Department at

Landmark School, P.O. Box 227, Prides Crossing, MA 01965-0227

The Lantern is available online at landmarkschool.org/lantern

Contact us at [email protected]

2 The Lantern SPRING/SUMMER 2014

*TABLE OFCONTENTS

COVER STORY

5 Beyond Our Walls LANDMARK’S REACH AND INFLUENCE AROUND THE WORLD

6 Making a Difference Through Documentary Filmmaking

7 Making a Difference in Manila

8 Making a Difference for College Students

9 Making a Difference for Children and Families

10 Making a Difference in Haiti

FEATURES

11 The Silver Bullet Award, A Tradition

12 Slam Jam A Tradition of Service, Fun, and Campus Pride

14 The Gettysburg Address Challenge

16 Congratulations to Landmark’s Class of 2014

25 Reading, a Matter of Health

26 Landmark Outreach, Reaching Students Far and Wide

28 Globe Art Awards

34 Landmark Matters

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DEPARTMENTS

◗ HEADLIGHT

4 Spreading Ripples

◗ LIMELIGHT

36 Laughter and Love

◗ SPOTLIGHT

38 Alumni: Jack DeJesus ’07, Continually Setting Goals

40 Faculty: Boston Strong

42 Parents: AngelaTimpone P’23, Robert Gowans P’23, All In

44 Student: Julia Ventura ’19, One Step at a Time

46 Donors: Joanne and John Sheridan P’16, Circle of Giving

◗ PENLIGHT

50 Ryan Kenney ’18, Opportunities Matter

52 Rachel Esham ’16, Expanding My World

◗ STARLIGHT

54 Michela Galli ’14, Good Sport

56 It’s Showtime

◗ FLOODLIGHT

24 College Event

48 Board News

49 Homecoming/Reunion

58 Event Wrap Up

60 Alumni Notes

◗ IN MEMORIAM

64 With Grace

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Landmark’s universe has indeed expanded. Wherever and whenever I travel, I find a Land-mark “connection.” Prospective families travel to our Admission office from throughout the United States and around the world. Landmark’s Outreach Program trains 1,000-1,500 teachers in public and private schools each year. Landmark personnel attend and present at most major con-ferences focused on learning disabilities. Land-mark is respected as a research school constantly seeking to link theory and practice. Finally, Land-mark’s online presence and list of hands-on books and materials is growing exponentially.

While we feel fortunate to be able to serve the students who attend our school, we are aware that a paucity of remedial programs exists around the world for students with language-based learning disabilities, with the result that families must explore options far from home, such as Landmark, for their sons and daughters. Reaching beyond our physical walls to create public awareness, train teachers, and influence educational programs and

policy is engrained in Landmark’s mission and culture. We cherish the long tenure of so many at Landmark, but it is also satisfying to reflect on the spreading ripples of Landmark training and culture whenever Outreach attendees return to their home practices or faculty depart to teach elsewhere. Most importantly, we hope our grad-uates take their hard-earned self-advocacy skills with them to new venues, and by doing so extend Landmark’s reach even more.

For the students who do attend Landmark, their creativity and potential is unlimited. When matched with appropriate skills, they succeed at a very high level at Landmark and beyond. ALL students with a language-based learning disabil-ity, regardless of where they are located, should be provided the opportunity to reach this same level of success. Instead of being dis-enabled, they should be enabled to realize their potential, find their voices, and fully engage in the world. To this end, Landmark will always explore avenues to reach beyond our own walls.

Since its creation, Landmark’s primary focus and core activities have been, unquestionably, its mission driven on-site school-based programs, which are successful, well known, and influential throughout the broader educational community. Landmark’s “brand” was established through these programs and they set the stage for all that Landmark does. Indeed, these programs are the nucleus from which Landmark’s reach and influence have grown to extend well beyond the walls of our campuses.

Spreading RipplesLANDMARK’S REACH AND INFLUENCE AROUND THE WORLD

by Bob Broudo P’11by Michela Galli

*HEADLIGHTa message from the headmaster

“ It is satisfying to reflect on the spreading ripples of Landmark training and culture whenever Outreach attendees return to their home practices or faculty depart to teach elsewhere.”

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BEYONDOURWALLS

One of the more fascinating concepts common to genetics, evolutionary studies, biology, history, sociology, anthropology, folklore, and language is that of the common ancestor. Scientists tend to agree that – while immense diversity exists – if traced back far enough, a common source is apparent. The Lantern feature “Beyond Our Walls” stems from a discussion about the many folks who have left Landmark and entered diverse pursuits, but who retain, and in many cases are inspired by, lessons learned in our community. In this issue, the Lantern looks at several Landmark faculty, alumni, parents, and students who remain connected to us through practice, heart, and philosophy.

PUTNEY, VERMONT; SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS; VILLANOVA, PENNSYLVANIA; THE PHILIPPINES; HAITI


when you ask pam tubridy baucom about her time at Landmark, you can’t help feel the excitement and love she has for the school. Now a producer at Ken Burns’s film company, Florentine Films, Pam started her career teaching at Land-mark. Asked to interview on a whim, Pam became one of the first teachers at Landmark in the early 70s. While she worked at Landmark for only four years, she says her time at Landmark gave her innumerable lessons, lifelong friends, and even her husband Jim – a fellow staff member and now a Landmark College professor.

When she started in June 1974, Pam had never been a teacher and was immediately taken aback by the amount of energy her lively students had. “My head was swimming.” Under the guidance of Rob Kahn and others, Pam became a wonder-ful teacher, live-in staff member, and eventually a supervisor at Landmark’s Elementary•Middle School. Each summer she “couldn’t wait to get back.”

In her present role at Florentine Films, Pam has to be both “a mom and a teacher” as she juggles the day to day work of film-making as well as preparing her subject to best be presented on screen. Her current project, The Roosevelts has been six years in the making and chronicles the public and private lives of Theodore, Eleanor, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. “Everyday, I find the les-sons I learned at Landmark come out in the most unlikely places,” says Tubridy Baucom.

When asked what the most valuable lesson

she learned from Landmark was, her answer was simple: “When you’re a teacher at Landmark, the focus is on the other; the ego is completely over-shadowed by the need to help the group succeed.” This helps her keep her current work in perspec-tive: “When the credits roll is when you get your spotlight. Every other part of your ego is second-ary to the desire to make great films that educate and enliven our national story.”

Like any teacher, Pam can’t help but always bring the conversation back to the students she once had. “Gifts come in all kinds of packages. Every student brings some kind of magic to the table and they absolutely made me a better person.”

BEYONDOURWALLS

MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH DOCUMENTARYFILMMAKINGPAM TUBRIDY BAUCOM, PRODUCER, FLORENTINE FILMS, PUTNEY, VERMONT BY TRISTAN WHITEHOUSE

“ When you’re a teacher at Landmark, the focus is on the other.”

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a quick internet search will reveal that International School Manila (ISM) in Taguig City, Philippines is approximately 8,500 miles from Prides Crossing, Massachusetts. But for Court-ney and Derek Pierce, that distance is bridged by years of experience and a still deep connection to Landmark School, a place they called home for more than ten years.

Both in the classroom (Derek as a teacher in the Prep Program) and in the Residential Program (Courtney as a beloved house parent) and in a plethora of other ways, the Pierces’ contributions to the Land-mark community were both abundant and significant in the decade they spent on the North Shore.

In 2011, the couple made the decision to

accept positions at ISM and relocate, along with their daughters, Etta and Cora, to Southeast Asia. The family made the move that August and three years later, Courtney and Derek maintain the pas-sion and dedication that made them so successful and beloved in their time at Landmark.

Since his arrival in Manila, Derek has spent the last three years as a high school case manager in ISM’s Learning Support Program. He also teaches two sections of a “Strategy Instruction” class (similar to Landmark’s Study Skills) and “pushes-in” to three other academic classes to co-teach content.

“What I most value and miss from my time at Landmark is the true nature of collaboration and the exchange of teaching approaches between colleagues,” Derek reflected. “I think the creativity, autonomy, and the encouragement to use anything and everything in the way of curriculum to move a student forward in their learning is a bold and brave mindset that I am glad I was able to experience. I realized that while at Landmark, my simple focus became one of role-modeling to the students a sense of consistency, challenge, and care. Those efforts, more than anything, got their trust over the years and kept my mind on their growth and success.”

Courtney is currently the Program Leader for the Learning Support Program at ISM’s Middle School, which services students that have diag-nosed language-based learning disabilities as well as those who are struggling to meet the demands of ISM’s rigorous curriculum. She also teaches several reading tutorial classes.

“What I miss the most about Landmark is the strong connection made with students as well as the feeling of really making a difference - seeing the gains in skills that Landmark students make over time in their reading and writing abilities,” said Courtney. “I think most of my Landmark training and experience has been shared through educating my colleagues on learning differences and how they can be embraced by the whole com-munity for a positive outcome.”

MAKING ADIFFERENCE INMANILACOURTNEY AND DEREK PIERCE, TEACHER, CASE MANAGER, PROGRAM LEADER, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MANILA BY JOE ROSE

“ I think most of my Landmark training and experience has been shared through educating my colleagues on learning differences and how they can be embraced by the whole community for a positive outcome.”


BEYONDOURWALLS

when nicole subik started teaching lan-guage Arts Tutorials and Theater at Landmark School as a recent Dickinson College graduate, she never imagined that she would end up as the Assistant Director of Learning Support Services at Villanova University one day.

Her years at Landmark School provided a challenging and supportive work environment, students with whom she was able to foster meaningful relationships, and the foundation for

a career in higher education made possible, in part, through the unique and powerful set of skills learned here.

“My years at Landmark from 2003 – 2007 were formative for me. Teaching there is like being a high level athlete. You always have a group of experienced and encouraging coaches around you to help make you a better educator. There’s a continuous loop of feedback along the way so you never feel alone and are always improving your craft,” says Subik.

She continues, “I developed strong bonds with my Landmark students. When young alumni would return to campus to visit, they would often talk about how they were yearning for more support in college. This is what drew me to higher education. The language and laws in the college setting are very different and I knew I wanted to help students be successful there.

When I started at Villanova, I was asked to offer students strategies and tactics that were al-ready in my wheelhouse, developed from my time at Landmark: time management, active reading, effective notetaking, prioritizing work, establishing routines, self-monitoring, and more.”

In recent years the Learning Support Services department at Villanova has grown exponentially. In addition to working closely with students that arrive on campus with special needs accommoda-tions, about 50% of students they see are tradi-tional learners coming to the office for one-to-one, weekly academic coaching sessions.

Subik confesses that one of the things that makes her job so rewarding is the surprised response she gets from professors when they are working with top performing students once they realize that they have a learning disability. She adds, “It changes people’s minds in such a power-ful way. You can see all the preconceived notions start to melt away. My work is really about equal-izing the playing field and giving students oppor-tunities for success at the highest level. I love that.”

MAKING ADIFFERENCE FORCOLLEGE STUDENTSNICOLE SUBIK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY BY SUSAN TOMASES

“ When young alumni would return to cam-pus to visit, they would often talk about how they were yearning for more support in college.”

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ken schulman’s landmark experience had “a profound effect on my professional life and my subsequent work at the Cohen-Hillel Academy, my private counseling practice, and my college teaching.” Before Landmark, Ken recalls teasing a co-worker about his horrendous spelling. “I didn’t know any better about how a learning disability could impact a person.”

Ironically, this same co-worker led Ken to Landmark in 1998 as a Substance Abuse Preven-tion Counselor. He immersed himself in the daily life of the school and was eventually named Head of the Counseling Department. As the depart-ment’s workload increased, he developed resources, created new programs, and often shared insights about adolescent development during faculty milk break meetings.

“Landmark saves lives,” Ken observes. “It’s a learning environment where students feel re-spected as they acquire skills. Their confidence grows, they recognize themselves as competent, and that transforms lives.” In his office, he pulls out Landmark’s Teaching Principles and a stack of Landmark curriculum guides. “When I meet parents trying to understand their child’s struggles, I use these. At Landmark I gained the ability to identify learning problems, explain the challenges and resources, and prepare families for the road ahead.”

In 2003, Ken moved on to Cohen Hillel Acad-emy as Upper School Principal, and soon after, Headmaster. He says what parents most appreci-

ated about his approach was how I ‘got’ their kid. “I owe that to my experience at Landmark.” At Cohen Hillel, Ken supported the Learning Center staff and their programs. He encouraged individ-ualized instruction, respect for learning styles, and sought to create “a safe haven” for students with learning difficulties.

Today, retired from Cohen Hillel, Ken con-tinues his private counseling practice and teaches “Counseling in Schools” and “Developmental Issues of School-Age Children” at Merrimack College. “It’s hard to describe what it’s like for a student to struggle with a learning disability. You have to see it. At Landmark, I saw how learning disabilities shaped every aspect of life for a student and the hubbub it created for everyone who came into contact with that student.”

Ken begins each new semester knowing that he is a changed person; he has become that treasured guide - compassionate, patient, and understanding – who helps children and families find their way.

MAKING ADIFFERENCE FORCHILDREN AND FAMILIESKEN SCHULMAN, EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT AND PSYCHOTHERAPIST BY SCOTT HARLAN

“ At Landmark I gained the ability to identify learning prob-lems, explain the challeng-es and resources, and prepare families for the road ahead.”

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BEYONDOURWALLS

when i ask erica lee, landmark high school Visual Arts Teacher, about her service work in Haiti she apologizes for taking a moment to gath-er her thoughts. She gazes out of a nearby window and begins to speak. You can see a faraway look in her eye and you know she’s there – in a small town located along the west coast of the country about

20 miles north of Port-au-Prince. She’s traveled there seven times since 2009 through Mission of Hope, a non-profit organization working to improve healthcare, sanitation, education, job training, and much more in the tiny, impoverished Caribbean country.

Having never traveled outside of the United States before her first trip to Haiti, she describes her first impressions. “No amount of photos or stories could prepare you for what it’s like. Imagine stepping into a living, breathing National Geo-graphic magazine photograph. These are people with nothing. All they have are their relationships and their sense of honor – if they give you their word, they will never let you down.”

“My work there takes me to a small town called Titanyen which translates to ‘Little Noth-ing’ in Haitian Creole. This says it all,” she remarks. Through the years her work has remained focused on the most pressing needs from serving the local communities through building projects and working in orphanages to providing medical care in mobile health clinics.

When I ask her how her work in Haiti and Landmark intersect she explains, “What you see in Haiti is evidence of generations of poverty and hopelessness. We are trying to empower the Haitian people with tools, training, and other resources so they can change their conditions and quality of life. I feel like my work is helping to give hope to the hopeless and worth to the worthless.” The emotions are hard to contain and her eyes fill with tears as she continues. “Many of our students arrive here feeling defeated and demoralized from their prior school experiences. As Landmark teachers, one of the many things we do is to help our students see their potential and feel a greater sense of worth. Although the settings couldn’t be more different, what’s behind the work is essen-tially the same.”

As this magazine is arriving in your mailbox, Erica is making her eighth trip to Haiti.

MAKING ADIFFERENCEIN HAITIERICA LEE, TITANYEN, HAITI, LANDMARK SCHOOL, PRIDES CROSSING, MASSACHUSETTSBY SUSAN TOMASES

“ I feel like my work is helping to give hope to the hopeless and worth to the worthless.”


in 1988, a landmark student found a large silver bullet on Hale Street in front of the High School Campus. The bullet eventually found its way to me, then Head of the campus. It evoked memories of a boyhood favorite, The Lone Ranger, who always left behind a silver bullet as his calling card. This memory inspired the idea of a “Silver Bullet Award” to be presented weekly to a faculty or staff member who, in the estimation of the previous week’s recipient, deserved to be recognized for making a difference within the Landmark community. The bullet itself would pass hands weekly as the “calling card” of the award.

I announced the new Silver Bullet Award and presented it at a Friday Milk Break meeting to H. Charles (Harry) Dudley for the myriad ways that he made Landmark a better place each day while seeking no fanfare. At the end of my state-ment, I handed Harry the actual silver bullet to the applause of the faculty. I hoped Harry would bask in the glow of the award for the ensuing week while also assuming responsibility for identifying the next recipient and presenting the award the following Friday.

Thus it began, or so everyone thought.Harry approached me later that day stating,

“Broud-e, Broud-e, this is a live bullet; we can’t pass this around!” The local fire department con-firmed Harry’s pronouncement and took charge of the bullet, rendering the Silver Bullet Award “bullet-less.” Enter Jim Kent, Counselor, who, appalled by this turn of events, went into Lone Ranger mode and shot off a different bullet in his basement, painted the empty shell silver, mounted it on a small wooden block, and returned this new silver bullet to circulation.

It was this replacement bullet that Harry presented the next week and thus, the Silver Bullet tradition was established at the high school. Over time, the bullet morphed into a significantly more substantial missile-like trophy constructed by a talented student, and later beautified by Andy Knox, Performing Arts Technical Director. So too, the presentations have evolved from an exchange of platitudes to power point presentations, videos, music and more, as recipient/presenters creatively celebrate and honor colleagues each week.

Stories and history are either forgotten or embellished over time. However, the spirit, sup-port, feelings of giving and receiving, ever-present heroes, and the power of community infused throughout Landmark’s culture are alive and well as represented by this tradition of 26 years – the weekly Silver Bullet award. Hi Yo Silver, Away!

The Silver Bullet Award: A Traditionby Bob Broudo P’11

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The spirit, support, feelings of giving and receiving, ever-present heroes, and the power of community infused throughout Landmark’s culture are alive and well as represented by this tradition of 26 years – the weekly Silver Bullet award.

High School faculty member Ed Storey awards the Silver Bullet to a deserving colleague


SLAMJAM

A Tradition ofService, Fun, and Campus Prideby Deborah Chandler

On the deserted EMS campus April 18th, only faint sounds of cheering could be heard in the distance. Puzzled visitors could follow muffled sounds of stomping and cheering to the gym where, stepping through the door, the noise became deafening and all attention was focused on two teams battling it out for the Slam Jam Championship! Super Fans dressed in matching yellow shirts overflowed the bleachers. The Ankle Breakers and the Dream Team, 3-on-3 teams consisting of two students and one teacher, played their hardest in the culmination of heated preliminary skirmishes and knockout, foul shot tournaments, all to collect funds to support Carlos, a young boy living in a Honduras orphanage. ✱ Slam Jam has grown from a Kids Around The Globe initiative to support victims of the tsunami in Japan. In its present form, it supports our adopted child Carlos, other charities, and provides a spirited weeklong activity for students and staff during the long wet spring.


SLAMJAM

Organizers are motivated by sharing the feeling one gets when the whole school is involved in an athletic event, from creating posters, wearing a tee shirt, donating money, or playing basketball in a friendly competition with staff and students. Slam Jam allows the whole school to come together and demonstrates how giving back can be rewarding and fun. It develops that feeling of pride in one’s school, building our culture in addition to our unique focus on academics. Slam Jam has now created a tradition and to quote one of the main organizers: “It’s just fun!”

Each year the event grows. This year’s event included the elementary knockout tournament as well as the middle school 3-on-3 basketball com-petition, both of which began over several recesses, whittling the competition down to the final few. Staff and students were able to show their support by purchasing a Super Fan tee shirt; students set up and manned spotlights, worked on sound, shot video, took pictures, and of course played basket-ball. There was a red carpet photo shoot, a massive new speaker system blasting music and the tradi-tional halftime faculty knockout competition.

This is the 4th year Slam Jam has raised enough funds to support Carlos for an entire year and it is easy to see what motivates the community to start planning now to do it all over again next year.

Slam Jam allows the whole school to come together and demonstrates how giving back can be rewarding and fun.

Landmark faculty member Anna DiPerna visits Carlos in Hondoras

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THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS CHALLENGEby Michela Galli ➻

Landmark students (left to right) Tatum

Galuski ’20, Simon English ’14, and

Derek DiVirgilio ’18


FOR STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE with written or spoken language, memo-rizing and reciting a speech is one of the most intimidating and paralyzing tasks imaginable. To most people, reciting

the Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln’s storied speech delivered at the dedication to Union sol-diers killed at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, seems nearly impossible. The words are moving and powerful – but even the most experienced orator will tell you they are challenging to memorize and even more challenging to deliver.

On Wednesday, April 2, 2014, Greenwood School in Putney, Vermont hosted the inaugu-ral national Gettysburg Address Competition. They invited 12 other schools, all of whom serve students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD, to send representatives to compete at a live event where they would publicly recite the Gettysburg Address.

Greenwood’s national competition was an outgrowth of an annual tradition where all the students in the small, private boys’ school are chal-lenged to learn and recite the Address. A neighbor and supporter of the school, renowned documen-tarian Ken Burns, has judged the local event for the past 10 years. In fact, he was so moved by the school’s program that he recently produced a 90-minute documentary to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the speech, the school’s pro-gram, and the enduring message of the Address.

Landmark Senior Simon English, eighth grader Derek DiVirgilio, and sixth grader Tatum Galuski represented Landmark School on April 2nd and recited the Address with competence, confidence, and intention. Simon English won the high school division.

Robb Genetelli, Dean of Students at Land-mark School, said, “It was such a privilege to

be there. You could feel the physicality of the audience being drawn into Simon’s words. There was so much meaning in the way he delivered the address. Everyone can connect to something in that speech and we all felt like he was speaking di-rectly to us. His delivery transported the audience to that moment in time when Lincoln delivered the address himself.”

English added, “I’m really proud of how I per-formed. It’s almost impossible to believe that four years ago when I arrived at Landmark School as a freshman, I couldn’t read. This was definitely one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had.”

Derek, Simon, and Tatum faced this obstacle with grit and determination and enjoyed great success for their courage and perseverance. Every single one of them will tell you it was worth it.

THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS CHALLENGEby Michela Galli

“FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO OUR FATHERS BROUGHT FORTH ON THIS CONTINENT, A NEW NATION, CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY, AND DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSI-TION THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL”

-Abraham Lincoln

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by Susan Tomases


CONGRATULATIONS TO LANDMARK’S

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CONGRATULATIONS TO LANDMARK’S

CLASS OF 2014 Poribus nis

doluptas sintur? Denis senisciatem et il et iniamenet volupta nonseque doluptatis min con cone nem

Aliyha Aiya AlleyneColby-Sawyer CollegeNew London, New Hampshire

Massimiliano AmatoUniversity of ArizonaTucson, Arizona

Andrew Forbes ArcadipaneSalve Regina UniversityNewport, Rhode Island

Jonathan Matthew BarrettJohnson & Wales UniversityProvidence, Rhode Island

Jamie J. BerginWinthrop UniversityRock Hill, South Carolina

Aaron Joseph BernardDean CollegeFranklin, Massachusetts

*Angela Marie BertolinoUniversity of Massachusetts LowellLowell, Massachusetts

Nigel O. BlasiSt. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas

Michael Timothy CarriganThe Peterson SchoolWoburn, Massachusetts

Victoria Elizabeth ClarkUniversity of New HampshireDurham, New Hampshire

Joseph Thomas CostiganDean CollegeFranklin, Massachusetts

Maximilien Andre CournoyerBridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, Massachusetts

*Ian William Ulrich CouzensCollege of CharlestonCharleston, South Carolina

John Patrick CroninDean CollegeFranklin, Massachusetts

Samantha M. CussonMassachusetts College of Art and DesignBoston, Massachusetts

Adel M. DiPersioRoger Williams UniversityBristol, Rhode Island

Kyle Walter DolsonUniversity of Northwestern Ohio, Lima, Ohio

Meghan E. DoolanWestfield State UniversityWestfield, Massachusetts

CLASSOF 2014

* Landmark Prep Program

Left to right: Jocelyn Fumo, Motoria Usovicz, Taylor Norris, and Cameron Mueck are awarded the Landmark Parents Association award for outstanding accomplishment.


Nathaniel M. DouglassMaine Maritime AcademyCastine, Maine

Joseph John DubinskiWentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, Massachusetts

Lucas James DuffyUniversity of DenverDenver, Colorado

Stuart Cape EcholsSt. Edward’s UniversityAustin, Texas

Lindsey Rose EllisLasell CollegeNewton, Massachusetts

Simon Eagan EnglishEugene Lang CollegeThe New School for Liberal ArtsNew York, New York

Tyler V. EramoNorth Shore Community CollegeDanvers, Massachusetts

Michael Patrick FlemingFitchburg State UniversityFitchburg, Massachusetts

Michael Alfred FloodPace UniversityNew York, New York

Jocelyn Anne FumoDean CollegeFranklin, Massachusetts

Michela GalliIstituto Europeo di DesignMilano, Italy

Luke Thomas GassAmerican UniversityWashington, District of Columbia

Lia Danielle GiberLesley UniversityCambridge, Massachusetts

David M. GiovannacciMessiah CollegeMechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Alexander Charles GordonCurry CollegeMilton, Massachusetts

Samuel A. GuttentagRoger Williams UniversityBristol, Rhode Island

Emily Rose HermoLynn UniversityBoca Raton, Florida

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*Thomas Jackson KaziRoger Williams UniversityBristol, Rhode Island

*Corey Oleg KramerSchool of the Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, Illinois

Maynard Elizabeth LobackiUniversity of ArizonaTucson, Arizona

Nicole Jamie MagliozziWinthrop UniversityRock Hill, South Carolina

*Alexander David ManningUniversity of MassachusettsAmherst, Massachusetts

*Patrick Gerard McCarthyProvidence CollegeProvidence, Rhode Island

Benjamin Robert McGrathUnited States Marine Corps

Noah Stone MeltzerChamplain CollegeBurlington, Vermont

*Emilee Jane MillerEmerson CollegeBoston, Massachusetts

*Zachary Andrew MoyseUniversity of VermontBurlington, Vermont

Cameron MueckWentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, Massachusetts

*Ernest R. NigroEckerd CollegeSt. Petersburg, Florida

Taylor Jaison NorrisUniversity of ArizonaTucson, Arizona

Peter NortonUniversity of Massachusetts DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, Massachusetts

James R. PerkinsMassasoit Community CollegeBrockton, Massachusetts

Kyle Thomas PetranWentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, Massachusetts

Charles John Phelan IIIUniversity of Massachusetts LowellLowell, Massachusetts

Kylie M. PhillipsHigh Point UniversityHigh Point, North Carolina


Graduate Michael Santana receives the

Citizenship Award.


Cady S. PodgurNichols CollegeDudley, Massachusetts

Fotini G. ReganDean CollegeFranklin, Massachusetts

Michael James RosatoUniversity of New HampshireDurham, New Hampshire

Matthew Finbarr RussellWentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, Massachusetts

Kaylee Marie Katz SandersonMinuteman Technical InstituteLexington, Massachusetts

Michael Phillip SantanaUniversity of New HampshireDurham, New Hampshire

Joseph Maxon SevelitteWestfield State UniversityWestfield, Massachusetts

John Francis ShafterSpring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama

Cody Zane ShawGap Year

*Erin Miranda Ashley SpinellaUniversity of New HampshireDurham, New Hampshire

Anthony Duncan SullivanRoger Williams UniversityBristol, Rhode Island

*George S. SullivanRoger Williams UniversityBristol, Rhode Island

Sarah Frances TowerDean CollegeFranklin, Massachusetts

Rachel UrbonasBridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, Massachusetts

Maureen Victoria UsoviczRhode Island School of DesignProvidence, Rhode Island

Leonard Brown Wallace VMassachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesBoston, Massachusetts

Jarron A. WalterMitchell CollegeNew London, Connecticut


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Cole Abdinoor (grade 6)SO. HAMILTON, MAGlen Urquhart School, Beverly, MA

Benjamin Ames (grade 8)BEVERLY, MABeverly High School, Beverly, MA

Jack Anastopoulos (grade 8)CHESTNUT HILL , MALandmark High School

Jack Cannon (grade 8)NORWOOD, MALandmark High School

Jake Cooper (grade 8)BEVERLY, MALandmark High School

Daniel Cowhig (grade 8)BOXFORD, MA Landmark High School

Benjamin Daume (grade 8)HAMILTON, MALandmark High School

Derek DiVirgilio (grade 8)DUXBURY, MADuxbury High School, Duxbury, MA

Cole DuBois (grade 8)HUDSON, MALandmark High School

Elizabeth Eames (grade 8)ANDOVER, MALandmark High School

Cameron Fairweather (grade 8)PEPPERELL , MALandmark High School

Michael Fitzemeyer (grade 8)LYNNFIELD, MALandmark High School

Kaitlin Fraga (grade 8)ESSEX, MALandmark High School

Konrad “Max” Gesner (grade 6)WEST NEWTON, MAThayer Academy, Braintree, MA

MIDDLESCHOOLTRANSITION


Tyler Gonzalez (grade 8)NORTH READING, MALandmark High School

Charles Herriman (grade 5)NEWBURY, MAThe Clark School, Danvers, MA

Benjamin Hutchinson (grade 7)MARBLEHEAD, MAGlen Urquhart School, Beverly, MA

Kirill Keeler (grade 8)CARLISLE, MAWillow Hill School, Sudbury, MA

Bryan Kelly (grade 8)GROTON, MALandmark High School

Ryan Kenney (grade 8)HINGHAM, MALandmark High School

Chloe Knowles (grade 7)WENHAM, MALandmark High School

Elizabeth MacMannis (grade 8)BOXFORD, MALandmark High School

Emily MacMannis (grade 8)BOXFORD, MALandmark High School

Maura McDonald (grade 8)BEVERLY, MABrewster Academy, Wolfeboro, NH William Morganelli (grade 8)HANOVER, MALandmark High School

Jeffrey Nichols (grade 8)BEVERLY, MABeverly High School, Beverly, MA

Victoria Osbon (grade 8)BEVERLY, MABeverly High School, Beverly, MA

Christopher Parece (grade 8)WESTFORD, MALandmark High School

Nikhil Patel (grade 8)GEORGETOWN, MASt. John’s Preparatory School, Danvers, MA

Avery Patrican (grade 4)NEWBURY, MABrookwood School, Manchester by the Sea, MA Justin Pierro (grade 8)HAMPTON FALLS, NHLandmark High School

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Peter Razzaboni (grade 6)LYNNFIELD, MALynnfield Public Schools

Peter Reidy (grade 8)DANVERS, MALandmark High School

Shelby Romansik (grade 7)ANDOVER, MASt. Augustine’s School, Andover, MA

Michael Roy (grade 8)BEVERLY, MALandmark High School

David Savage (grade 8)BURLINGTON, MALandmark High School

Max Schraut (grade 8)ABINGTON, MALandmark High School

Minor Sinclair-Thompson (grade 8)JAMAICA PLAIN, MALandmark High School

Cameron Stewart (grade 8)GEORGETOWN, MALandmark High School

Cynthia Sullivan (grade 7)READING, MAAustin Prep, Reading, MA

Samuel Szwartz (grade 5)SALEM, MABrookwood School, Manchester by the Sea, MA

Philip Tsoukalas (grade 8)WINDHAM, NHLandmark High School


Special guests include Admissions Counselors and Learning Services Specialists from:

• American University

• Colby Sawyer College

• University of Massachu-setts Lowell

• University of Denver

• University of Arizona

The Landmark community and the public are welcome to join us on Monday, October 6 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. 167 Bridge Street, Manchester, MA for a college planning event and panel discussion.

Registration will start at 6:00. Light refreshments will be served.

This evening event will address college admission, services for students seeking support, ways to evaluate college support and disability programs, and much more. Please join us for an evening that will help demystify the process and introduce you to these hand selected colleges and universities.

Learn more and register: landmarkschool.org/events or call us at 978-236-3408.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

COLLEGE PLANNING EVENTSponsored by the Landmark Parents Association

➻


i am interested in illiteracy and learning disabilities, as they have not only touched my life and the lives of those in my family, but also as the founder of Less Cancer, I understand reading to be one of the most important prevention tools. I know firsthand how limiting a lack of literacy can be, affecting one’s world from not only living but surviving. If you cannot read directions, it is virtually impossible to have a job or make healthy choices. Reading is not only critical for getting food on the table, but also for understanding what food makes a difference in impacting health. With increases in preventable health issues, we must consider literacy as playing a role. According to a study conducted in April 2013 by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults in the United States cannot read.

Often, lighthouses are symbols of enlightenment and clarity. Lighthouses represent safety; they are firmly anchored on the rocks in rough seas. Anyone who knows the journey of dyslexia knows of the potential for some rough seas, and the lighthouse is a most appropriate symbol used as a beacon of hope by the Landmark School in Prides Crossing, Massachusetts. I believe the staff at Landmark School to be leading experts in educating children with dyslexia, guiding children to address and self-advocate for their learning disability but not be defined by it.

Five years ago, when I learned about Landmark School, I had little under-standing of the ins and outs of dyslexia. Often, those who face dyslexia will hear themselves described as unmotivated, lazy, or having a poor attitude - no surprise when you understand that those new to Landmark as rising high school students may be at the first-to third-grade reading level.

Recently, I had the opportunity to be at Landmark’s graduation, an emotional and moving ceremony not only celebrating the accomplishments of its graduates, but also their wide breadth of acceptances to colleges and universities across the country. These were kids who, just four years ago, essentially could not read and had little or no tools for unlocking codes for learning.

Robb Genetelli, Dean of Students, spoke at the senior dinner before grad-uation, recalling a Muhammad Ali quote:

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

Robb expanded on that, reminding students that collectively, they had learned to read, write, memorize lines, sheet music and dance routines, and work together on the playing field despite others telling them they couldn’t.

So what makes Landmark work? Joe Rose, Director of the Prep Program, says

“Landmark works first and foremost because of com-munity. Close-knit and devoted to our mission and to each other, everyone shares a passion and dedica-tion that is the foundation of everything we do.”

Scott Jamieson, Assistant Dean of Students at Landmark High School, says, “Our activities complement the academic program by providing a relaxed, safe environment for students to discover a hidden talent or master a developing one.”

The Friday and Saturday prior to the grad-uation, I heard students described as beloved by classmates, heard them speak eloquently and learned that this year, several had been advocates who had spoken at schools and universities, in-cluding Harvard.

I am in awe of the Landmark transformation. The graduation ceremony seemed to exemplify the school’s ability to tap into students’ gifts. I felt as if I was in the presence of pioneers -- amazing, smart, enterprising young people carving out a new frontier for themselves. These Landmark graduates were accepted into several universities and colleges across the country. It was easy to get caught up in the graduation moment; the love, ex-citement; the out-loud cheering of families, friends and neighbors who knew these young graduates’ early challenges.

For parents who may be overwhelmed by thinking about the next steps for their child who may have a tough time navigating rough seas at school, there are experts out there -- there are those lighthouses. While Landmark School is not available for everyone, it provides the knowledge and hope that there are strategies available by those in need of a different approach to learning. I am hopeful we can mainstream more of these strategies for a more literate America.

Reading – A Matter of HealthBy Bill Couzens P’14, Huffington Post, June 5, 2014

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Bill Couzens P ’14 (right) with his son Ian (center) graduate of Landmark School, with wife Marion and daughter Maeve


landmark school outreach program has a long history of extending Landmark School’s influence beyond the campuses of Manchester and Prides Crossing. Through its mission Outreach aims to empower children and adoles-cents with language-based learning disabilities (LBLD) by offering their teachers an exemplary program of applied research and professional development. Out-reach’s master teachers help educators broaden their thinking about how students learn by providing the bridge that links teachers with the evidence-based practices that improve student outcomes.

Today, Outreach offers consulting, graduate courses and seminars, online learning opportunities, and publications for educators around the globe to enhance their instruction of students with LBLD. We don’t deliver pre-pack-aged programs - we challenge teachers to understand the nature of lan-guage-based learning difficulties, think about their students, and find ways to make evidence-based practices work in their own classrooms. Educators who work with us report significant increases in not only knowledge about LBLD but also confidence in implementing language-based instruction.

In the context of the school consult model, creating a change in instruc-tional practice works best from a bottom-up approach. We have found that partnering with teachers who are supported by an admin-istrative team creates a foundation upon which remodeling can occur. We respect the culture of each school we work with and honor their challenges while offering instructional approaches grounded in both theory and forty-plus years of Landmark School’s expe-rience and expertise.

Schools we have worked with recently report success in terms of:◗ Progress that students with LBLD have made over the course of the year

◗ How teachers actively apply concepts presented in professional development workshops into their daily practice

◗ How teachers work collaboratively and flexibly

◗ How teachers have adopted a common language

◗ An increase in teachers’ ability to communicate the needs of students with LBLD effectively and clearly to the general education setting and parents

◗ How both teachers and students with LBLD carry over the skills directly taught to the gener-al education setting where these skills are then practiced

◗ Witnessing students with LBLD lead the instruction of language skills to their non-LBLD peers

◗ How teachers have made a “commitment to try” new strategies in their classrooms

◗ How teachers perceive the positive value of strat-egy-based instruction for all students as opposed to only for students with LBLD

◗ How students have begun to select and imple-ment strategies independently as a result of the explicit instruction provided

Landmark School Outreach Program remains committed to its mission of empowering students with LBLD through its work with teachers and schools.

Learn more, landmarkoutreach.org

Reaching Students Far and Wide Through Their TeachersLandmark School Outreach Program By Adam Hickey

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Two New Books From Landmark Outreach

Executive Function: Foundations for Learning and TeachingPatricia W. Newhall$25Many students struggle to stay organized, manage time, materials and assignments, stay focused, prioritize work, and be more efficient. This new book from Landmark Outreach is filled with student profiles, templates, graphic organizers, and much more. Executive Function: Foundations for Learning and Teaching provides:• Concise information about executive function and its relation to academic proficiency• Explanations of the roles of attention, memory, emotion, motivation, and effort in

learning• Practical teaching strategies• Student profiles and comments on learning experiences• Suggestions for further reading

Multiplication and Division Facts for the Whole-to-Part, Visual LearnerChristopher L. Woodin$40Christopher Woodin’s students will tell you that learning multiplication and division facts is interactive, engaging, and fun. This multi-modal approach empowers teachers to engage students in and excite them about the process of learning multiplication and division facts. The method is rooted in reaching students using visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile strategies to learn math facts. This 380 page book is crammed with templates, activities, and exercises that will bring meaning and reason to multiplication and division facts.

Learn about and purchase these two new teaching guides, along with all of our other publications at landmarkoutreach.org/publications.

Landmark SchooL outreach Programp r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t f o r e d u c a t o r s


Each year we eagerly await the announcement of the Boston Globe Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This year 9,700 pieces were submitted from students in grades 7 - 12 in Massachusetts with Gold and Silver Key Awardees advancing to the national competition.

This year Landmark students received over 37 awards overall, 10 Gold Keys, four Silver Keys, and 23 were recognized with an Honorable Mentions, one of which was a piece of writing.

Headmaster Bob Broudo said, “These awards are validation of our students’ motivation, vision, and most importantly talent. 41% of the pieces submitted received an award. We couldn’t be more proud of our students. The recognition is enormously rewarding.”

2014BOSTON GLOBE SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS

Kaitlin Goldberg ’15GOLD KEY


GOLDKEYWINNERS

Zachary Webster ’17

Doug Woodin ’17

Samantha Cusson ’14

Rachel Venuti ’17

Jocelyn Fumo ’17

Rachael Esham ’16


GOLD KEY WINNERS

SILVER KEY WINNERS

Hannah Robillard ’16

Motoria Usovicz ’14

Max Amato ’14

Michelle Authelet ’16

Motoria Usovicz ’14 Kenneth Deluze ’16

Ali Ansara (above) ’15Michelle Authelet (left) ’16


Zachary Webster ’17John Shannon ’15

Emilee Miller ’14

Dylan Shrier ’15

Matthew Russell ’14

Garrett Enos (above) ’16Matthew Russell (below) ’14

Sam Guttentag (above) ’14Max Amato (left) ’14Katie Stanislawzyk (below) ’16

HONORABLE MENTION


Falling Through Fear, by Eliza Wildes ’16

The flurries turn into a snowstorm, and the storm turns into a blizzard. The wind rips

through my jacket. I can feel where every thread crosses another, and how they make

small needle-like holes that love to pierce my body. My ability to feel my face, or for

that matter feet or hands, stopped a while ago. It no longer stings, and appendages are

barely even there. Is this what hypothermia feels like? I was told it’s painful, terrifying,

but this is wonderful compared to the sheer agony of a million frozen needles in my

back. I no longer know hope or pain, happiness or sadness. Everything is simple; what

parts of my body hurt and what parts don’t. This wind is the sharpest and the loudest

that I have ever known. Everything is white as well. The ground, the sky, the mountains.

Everything. I will never love winter again. I will never love again. How can I love if I can

not feel my own feet, or my own heart? I keep marching through the snow. Left leg.

Sink a foot into the snow. Right leg. Sink half a foot. Left. Sink. Right. Sink. Over and

over until I know nothing, because I have to keep moving. Moving over the mountain,

to hope, to life, to light, to warmth. All things I have forgotten. Before this I thought

winter only took summer away. Long days, warm nights, lightning bugs, and the ever

welcoming sound of crickets. Winter does not take summer. It takes happiness, love,

hope, and inner warmth. A warmth that cannot be relit by a match or even a bonfire.

I look up for the first time in what feels like hours. Light. Human-made light. A hope is

sparked within me, and I run. Lifting my legs high above the snow, higher than I ever

have before. They smack the ground hard every time I place a foot. Crunch, crunch,

crunch, crunch. CRACK. The ground shatters underneath, breaking out from under me.

It spans the entire distance I can see, in every direction. I fall with the shards. Plunging

into the endless darkness. I spread my limbs, but I can’t feel anything. I begin somer-

saulting through the air. I glimpse the bottom. Sharp tall needle-like icicles, all pointed

at me. Other than that there is nothing. There are no sides, and nothing above me. Only

deep nothingness and needles. I’m falling into blackness, knowing no one will know

where I am, I’m falling into nothing, but fear. I scream.

Bolting up in my hospital bed; my heart monitor is pulsing faster than it ever should.

I want to rip off my sheets, and run. Run forever, never stopping, always moving. I can’t

though. I’m stopped by a needle because it moves ever so slightly in my wrist. It leads to

an I.V. drip, and another tube leads to a blood transfusion. My body is covered in sweat,

and my head is swimming. I clutch my sheets until my knuckles turn white and blotchy.

I’m waiting for an alarm to go off, but there are no alarms going off, no nurses running

in to save the day. I should call the nurse, but I want to handle this. I listen to the beep-

ing of my heart monitor, and try to slow the noise. Slow my heart. The beeping begins

to quiet, and my breathing slows simultaneously. I lay back down, and stare at the once

white ceiling. Over the course of five years, I have spent 962 days, 14 hours, and 22

minutes in this hospital. I have had 834 nightmares. Never once have I been able to

calm myself completely on my own. Tonight was a good night.

HONORABLE MENTION – FLASH ACTION (SHORT STORY)

Adel Dipersio ’14

Samantha Cusson ’14

Benjamin Batista ’15


HONORABLE MENTION

Kaitlin Goldberg ’15

Sam Guttentag ’14

Mike Rosato (above) ’14Samantha Foilb (below) ’16

Michelle Authelet (above) ’16Adel Dipersio (right) ’14

Corey Kramer ’14

Erin Spinella ’14

HONORABLE MENTION I FILM

Simon English


Let’s Break Ground!By Carolyn Orsini Nelson, Director of Institutional Advancement

Twelve years ago, Landmark’s Elementary• Middle School enrolled 136 students, and 286 students attended our High School.

That was in 2002, my first year here at Landmark. Over the years, our population has grown at both campuses, but our facilities have failed to keep pace. Overcrowded classrooms and outdated equipment are pressing needs for our middle school students. Our high school lacks adequate facilities for science instruction and exploration. But that is about to change. We are excited to invite you to join the Landmark Matters Campaign, a fundraising effort to build a High School Science Center and a dedicated Middle School Classroom Building.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM BUILDINGMiddle school students need movement, hands-on learning activities, and interesting materials to touch and investigate. The fourteen classrooms and science labs in this new building will provide all of this plus state-of-the-art equipment, room to exper-iment and be challenged in, and inspiring spaces filled with natural light – in short - optimal learning environments. The new Middle School Classroom Building will provide dedicated space that will facil-itate active learning and collaboration and accom-modate the use of cutting edge technology. Anna DiPerna, middle school math teacher, is excited by the possibilities. “Bigger, brighter classrooms will facilitate modeling and guided instruction. They will help us bring a concept to life.”

HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE CENTERSimilar challenges confront our high school sci-ence faculty. Laboratory space and technology are limited, as are opportunities for experimentation and observation. This new building will change the culture of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) instruction and learning on our Prides Crossing campus. Enhanced and modern facilities and equipment will foster a passion for creativity and innovation. “I want my classroom to be safe, warm, and inviting - a place that will spark curiosity and a love of science,” says Jen Kuhns, high school science teacher. This building will impact every high school student every day, and will ensure that our students leave Landmark with competitive skills that will help them contribute to today’s economy.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPENOver the past twelve years, I have seen Landmark grow and our students flourish. Since 2002 our enrollment has increased nearly 10%. Our facilities must keep pace to support our students. These classrooms, laboratories, meeting areas, and teacher workspaces are not just improvements over what we already have; these spaces currently do not exist. They are sorely needed. Please help make them a reality.

“ I WANT MY CLASSROOM TO BE SAFE, WARM, AND INVITING - A PLACE THAT WILL SPARK CURIOSITY AND A LOVE OF SCIENCE.”

—JEN KUHNS, HIGH SCHOOL

SCIENCE TEACHER

LET’S BREAK GROUND TOGETHER!www.landmarkmatters.org


HS Science BuildingEntrance Perspective

LANDMARK SCHOOLEntrance Perspective

Schematic DesignLANDMARK SCHOOLBeverly, MA February 10, 2014

Schematic Design

MS Classroom BuildingCourtyard Perspective

LANDMARK SCHOOLCourtyard Perspective

Schematic DesignLANDMARK SCHOOLBeverly, MA February 10, 2014

Schematic Design

HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE CENTER

MIDDLE SCHOOLCLASSROOM BUILDING


Christine arrived at Landmark in the summer of 1990 to teach at the Elementary•Middle School, but quite unexpectedly, she was recruited to teach math at the High School. Accustomed to younger children, Christine was overwhelmed at first by her adolescent students, including the 6’2” boy whom she was to tutor. She soon found that she loved teaching high school students, however, and she grew as a person and as a professional. What first drew her to Bill was his ease around students and the fact that he was “a bit mysterious and pretty cute.”

Bill left a lucrative job in sales to come to Landmark in 1989 because he appreciated the mission of the school and wanted work that was more important. Although his degree was in Political Science, he began his career at Landmark teaching Physical Education and quickly came to love the students and the community. He also began to notice a very professional and talented young teacher who was “really fun and attractive and well… not at all like the math teachers I remember having!”

After four years, Christine felt they’d dated long enough, but Bill thought it would be funny to suggest they couldn’t possibly get engaged until Christine, a novice at fishing, had caught a 36” striped bass, also known as a “keeper.” Undaunted, Christine went well beyond the challenge and

landed a 42” fish. Bill proposed a few months later with a beautiful ring that was set with his grandfa-ther’s diamond.

Their wedding reception at Christine’s parents’ home on Lake Michigan found them surrounded by 250 well-wishing family and friends. Bill and Christine have been married for 18 years and yet, Bill says, he remembers being stunned by his beautiful bride “as if it were yesterday.”

Christine and Bill have been blessed with three sons and they now share a very busy family life. Christine loves that Bill is a strong role model for their sons and Bill credits Christine with ground-ing their life at home while he coaches his sons’ sports. Underlying it all is that never-ending sense of fun with which Christine and Bill approach life.

Christine and Bill Barrett enjoy a unique relationship, grounded in admiration for one another as well as their deeply shared capacities for loyalty, respect, and trust. Most importantly, Christine says, “We don’t take ourselves too seriously and we laugh all the time.”

Laughter and Loveby Christine Ozahowskiby Michela Galli

HAPPY COUPLE

Christine and Bill Barrett

YEAR THEY MET AT LANDMARK

1990

MARRIED FOR...

18 years

A KEEPER

Bill issued Christine a challenge before they could get engaged - to catch a 36” striped bass.

♥LIMELIGHT

a lovestory

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With wonderful family and friends supporting him, Jack enrolled at Landmark in 2001. After a few short weeks, Jack’s life began to change. He started to “get it” and Jack felt optimistic about learning again.

After Jack’s freshman year in the Landmark Prep program, he was ready to fly. Jack success-fully transitioned to Pingree to complete his high school career and then to Suffolk University where he studied criminal justice.

While school was not always easy, after years of hard work and dedication, Jack fulfilled his dream of becoming a member of the New Hampshire State Police.

Recently, Jack had an opportunity to speak at Landmark’s 2014 senior class dinner.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the

entire Landmark community. The effort that the teachers,

administrators, and coaches put forth is something special

and unique to Landmark. I know that without Land-

mark I would not be standing in front of you today.

I was diagnosed with dyslexia in the 4th grade.

The summer before 6th grade my parents coerced me to

spend six weeks at Landmark’s summer program. My

father promised that if I agreed to go, a Walt Disney

vacation would soon be planned. It has been almost

15 years since that promise and I have yet to see the

Magic Kingdom. However, that fall I was accepted as

a fulltime Landmark student.

Coming to Landmark I was confused, socially in-

ept, and had no self-confidence. My academic struggles

had become such an issue that they affected every part

of my life. I felt as though I was lost in a big ocean, but

Landmark was the “lighthouse” that led me home.

It was small victories at Landmark that helped

me develop my self-confidence. Whether it was finally

understanding fractions or writing more complex

paragraphs, I became a successful student. Soon, I took

that newly acquired confidence outside the classroom

and applied it socially as well as on the athletic field.

Landmark transformed me into a leader. I led by

example and my classmates followed.

Smart, witty, athletic, and determined are a few words that describe alumnus Jack DeJesus ’07. However, when Jack walked onto Landmark’s EMS campus as a 7th grader, those positive character traits were hidden behind a mountain of self-doubt and confusion. Jack had lost his way in school and he wasn’t sure where to turn.

Jack DeJesus ’07 Continually Setting Goalsby Ryan DeJoy

NAME

Jack DeJesus

HOMETOWN

Marblehead, MA

CLASS OF

2007

FAVORITE PASTIME

Following the New England Patriots

LIVING HIS DREAM

New Hampshire state police officer

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Freddi Pare, a teacher and track coach at Land-mark’s Elementary•Middle School, ran the final leg of One Run for Boston, a 3,300 mile relay race that started in California, crossed 14 states, and ended at the Marathon finish line one week before the Marathon took place. Pare also raised money for the One Fund by knitting and selling Boston Strong hats. During the Marathon, Courtney Eu-stace, Colby Bartro, Michael Gaeta and Candace Thompson ran, while Ryan Coffey volunteered at mile 22 in the Red Cross tent.

Eustace, an Academic Advisor at Landmark High School, raised money for Amirah Boston, a nonprofit that supports victims of human traffick-ing. During her training, Eustace was motivated by her fundraising efforts, her role as a member of the Landmark community and the notion of being part of a 118-year old tradition. “I think both roles, as a runner and advisor/teacher, require a lot of consisten-cy,” Eustace stated, “I had to run every day, and even on days when I didn’t feel like running, I got up and did it. At Landmark, we need to be consistent role models and leaders for our students, even if we feel under the weather or stressed.”

Colby Bartro, a high school study skills and science teacher, ran for Medicines for Hu-manity. “After seeing the city affected by the bombings, I knew that 2014 was the year to run again for all the right reasons.” For her, the training wasn’t always easy, but it was worth the reward. “The most gratifying part was being able to meet a personal goal while supporting such a wonderful charity.”

Ryan Coffey had an opportunity to volunteer as an EMT and thought it would be a great learning experience. “We were busy nonstop the entire day,” he noted, “and it is an experience I highly recommend to others.”

Houseparent Michael Gaeta and his wife Candace ran as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team. “This was a challenge on multiple levels:” Gaeta said, “brutal winter, rigorous training regimen, entire days set aside running hours on end, and sometimes being so sore even the normal routine was a hassle. However, as houseparents at Landmark School and proud members of the Landmark com-munity, we were constantly reminded that each and everyone of us faces challenges on a daily basis.”

This year over 98% of runners crossed the Boston Marathon finish line, an astounding number that embodied “Boston Strong,” the slogan that surfaced in the wake of the tragic events of April 15, 2013. Among those involved were six members of the Landmark community who ran, volunteered their services, and raised over $22,000.

Landmark Faculty Boston Strong!by Carl Gasowski

by Michela Galli

In addition to running the final leg of the 3,300 mile One Run for Boston relay race, Freddi Pare, Landmark EMS teacher and track coach, raised money for the One Fund by knitting and selling Boston Strong hats.

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Courtney Eustace, Colby Bartro, Ryan Coffey, Freddi Pare, Michael

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On July 3rd 2013 Landmark accepted Dylan and our journey began—with-in six weeks, we packed half our plates and silverware, half our furniture and family photos, and I resigned from my lobbying job. Half of our family, Dylan, Liam, and I, moved from Montpelier, VT to Beverly Farms. Robert - a 35 year veteran of the Montpelier Fire Department and also Fire Chief - stayed in Montpelier. Tristan, being of middle school years, decided to stay with his longtime friends and live with his dad, Peter. We make the sepa-ration work with frequent phone calls, Facetime, and every weekend visits either in VT or Beverly Farms.

Robert and I are grateful for the successes and opportunities Landmark has granted Dylan. As a former City Council Member and staffer to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, and in Robert’s case as Montpelier Fire Chief, we understand the importance of every single person contributing in an orga-nization. As the next Landmark Parents Association co-presidents we need your help, large or small to fulfill our goal of strengthening the Landmark community. Please join us to build a better school for all students.

When we first walked onto Landmark’s Elementary• Middle School campus, I knew we would be a part of this community. One year ago, Dylan, our middle son, struggled through second grade barely reading or writing his name. We knew a change needed to happen; we just did not know what. Living in Montpelier, Vermont we had exhausted all the statewide language-based experts with little success. By chance, I stumbled across Landmark and Emily Kahn answered my call and invited me to the new parent campus tour the very next day. The rest is history or a blur— the testing, the application, and the final evaluation.

All Inby Angela Timpone P’23

*SPOTLIGHTparent profile

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Left-right, Dylan Timpone ’23, Angela Timpone P’23,

Robert Gowans P’23 and Liam Timpone, Tristan Timpone

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The true heart of Landmark though, lies within the daily steps of courage that are the under-pinning of every student’s experience here. Julia Ventura ’19 is an example of someone who shows gentle but prodigious courage each day in her journey here at Landmark.

Julia has been at Landmark EMS for two years. She is quiet with an impish grin that reveals her well-developed sense of humor. In her own words, Julia came to Landmark because “she needed help with reading.” Her previous school experiences were difficult. Arriving at Landmark to find a welcoming community, with similar stu-dents, was an encouraging step. Learning how to break down unfamiliar words has been one of the most useful tools she has acquired, Julia reports. She feels more capable of tackling the big words now, and is “getting there” with chapter books.

As Julia’s Oral Expression/Literature teacher, it has been pure joy to witness her transformation from someone who was perhaps wary of books, to someone who truly loves literature. Speaking in front of the class was uncomfortable at the begin-ning of the year. The weekend speech on Mondays was clearly not her first choice of activities. But

Julia carried on, one step at a time no matter how difficult the task.

Julia is not a stranger to challenge: outside of Landmark she has performed in community theater and is a committed student of karate. One would never guess that she has broken her first board!

That drive and commitment is now clearly emerging in her literary pursuits. Our class has dabbled in poetry this year and in her understated way, Julia mentioned that she had memorized a poem her grandfather had written years ago. With encouragement from her classmates, she recited and even shared a recent poem she had writ-ten with her family about their dog, Trixie. Her classmates erupted in applause when Julia finished! She had moved way past doing what was required to share something personal and creative - risky terrain for your average middle school student.

Julia’s mother reports that she has begun recommending book titles to family members and friends, even instituting a family read-aloud of books she has discovered at school. Julia has opened a door for herself that will bring new ideas, new discoveries, and possibly new opportunities as well. Carry on Julia. Well done!

In the season of graduations and awards, it is easy to focus on large and sweeping accomplishments. We take the time as a community to recognize noteworthy actions and achievements, an important tradition that reaffirms our values, and encourages students to strive for their highest potential.

“Getting There” One Step at a Timeby Bella Jackson

NAME

Julia Ventura

HOMETOWN

Melrose, MA

CLASS OF

2019

FAVORITE SUBJECT

Language Arts

FEELING PROUD

wrote and shared poem about her family dog, Trixie

*SPOTLIGHTstudent profile

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The years went on and Jake was living the life that most 5th graders do. Like many other Landmark students, Jake began to have a difficult time in school and the Sheridans made the tough decision to homeschool their son. Advised by long-time Landmark supporters and parents, the Ansara family, the Sheridans decided to hire two Land-mark tutors, and eventually enrolled Jake in the school. “It was like night and day,” John said as he fought back tears. “They spoke his language and now Jake is thriving. He has always been a survivor and we now know he will be more than just fine, he will succeed.”

John wanted to give back to Landmark and decided to contribute a hand-built timber frame building to the school’s annual auction.

Owner of Integrity Restoration in Essex, Mas-sachusetts, John got involved in traditional timber framing more than 20 years ago, and through learning the trade, he found joy in restoring older homes and barns.

Eager to share the beauty of the structure with auction attendees, John and his crew constructed the 12’x16’ timber frame on the front lawn of the Alice Ansara Athletic Center along with the help of Landmark’s woodworking faculty and students.

On the night of April 17 as the bidding began, excitement grew, and... SOLD! to two of Land-

mark’s trustees; Cynthia and Jim Duffy P’14 and Carolyn and Jeff Carney P’16.

With a plan already in place, the Duffys and the Carneys knew what they were going to do after successfully bidding on the timber frame. Much to the school’s surprise, they gifted it back to Landmark to use as the school pleased.

Landmark woodworking students will finish the job and the twice-donated ancillary building will have a permanent home on Alumni Field. John says, “We are forever grateful to Landmark and the trustees who generously donated the building back to the school. I’m excited that the kids can continue to work on the building. They will be able to see the result of their hard work for years and generations to come.”

When Landmark parents Joanne and John Sheridan welcomed son Jake ’16 into the world they were not prepared for all of the hurdles they were about to encounter. They endured years of serious medical issues, traveling all over the country seeing countless doctors in order to help Jake overcome what many said he wouldn’t survive. When Jake was 2 ½ years old, John saw his son smile for the very first time and at that moment he knew Jake was going to be fine.

Circle of Givingby Katie Mullen

by Michela Galli

PARENTS

Joanne & John Sheridan

STUDENT

Jake Sheridan

CLASS OF

2016

OUR GIFT

A hand-built timber frame building for Landmark’s annual auction.

THE ULTIMATE RE-GIFT

The Duffy and Carney families won the bid and gave the building to Landmark!

*SPOTLIGHTdonors

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Students and John Sheridan work on the 12’ x 16’ timber frame building


◗ Bill Gersh ’06 –Alumni Representative to the Board of Trustees

I started Landmark as a struggling student and during my time there, Landmark gave me the tools and skills to take on any challenge. I graduated in 2006 with a strong work ethic and self-confi-dence that I never before experienced. I then attended Emerson College and graduated early. For the last four years I have worked on live television productions in various technical and production positions and recently started working at my family’s talent agency. I was very excited when Land-mark asked me to be the Alumni Representative to the Board of Trustees because I feel it will give me the opportunity to connect to many alumni and inform the Board of alumni values.

◗ Carolyn Orsini Nelson -

Director of Institutional Advancement

In April, Carolyn transitioned from Landmark’s Director of Admission, where she served since 2002, to take on the role of Director of Institutional Advancement. Before coming to Landmark, Carolyn was a teacher of both general and special education and was also a special education administrator. She worked in school systems in the northeast as a consultant and teacher train-er. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Northeastern University. Carolyn serves on the board of Small Boarding Schools Association. She is an outdoor enthusiast and spends much of her free time camping, hiking, kayaking, and gardening.

◗ Libby Parker – Director of Admission

A seasoned Admission professional, and lifelong resident of the North Shore, Libby Parker joined Landmark after serving as Director of Admission and Assistant Director of Secondary School Placement at Tower School in Marblehead, MA. Prior to that she was Director of Admission at The Carroll School in Lincoln, MA. A graduate of Skidmore College, Libby is trained in Or-ton-Gillingham, and has a son who graduated from Landmark in 2007. She has served on the Board of Pingree School. Libby resides in Marblehead with her husband and two labs. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, hiking, reading, and cooking.

◗ Promotions

Tara Joly-Lowdermilk from Assistant to the Director to Assistant Dean of Students at the Elementary•Middle School

Board, Faculty, and Staff News from Landmark School

*BOARD NEWS

Libby Parker

Carolyn Orsini Nelson

Bill Gersh


Athletic ActivitiesStart the day at the Alice Ansara Athletic Center for our 5th Annu-al 5K Road Race. After the race head up the hill to Alumni Field for a barbeque and to cheer on the Boy’s Varsity Soccer team as they challenge Waring School for victo-ry! Then stay with us through the evening for a reunion celebration.

Evening ReunionCelebrationsYou’re all invited. The success of your reunion is up to you!5 year • Class of 200910 year • Class of 200415 year • Class of 199920 year • Class of 1994Sign up for the reunion celebration today!landmarkschool.org/alumni

Walk or RunBeverly FarmsStart and finish at the Alice Ansara Athletic Center, 447 Hale Street, Prides Crossing. We hope to see you there! For more details and to register: landmarkschool.org/alumni

Watch for more details in the coming weeks!

home-coming

Saturday, October 18, 2014LANDMARKSCHOOL


My first day at Landmark was nerve-racking, but that is how most people feel their first day at a new school. By the time I arrived at school, I had already driven almost two hours. I was very nervous to meet the new faculty and students, but the community at Landmark is not like a public school. The teachers are the nicest and they all have great spirit and energy. Everyone gets along with each other well.

My interests outside of academics have always been a big part of my life. Even though I have a long commute to school, I still have time to play the sports I love outside of school like lacrosse, skiing, golf, and tennis. Playing lacrosse keeps me in touch with my friends from my town. Practice during the week and games on the weekends are something I really enjoy doing because it keeps me social and active. I also ski race on the week-ends at Burke Mountain. I race and train with my ski friends and I see my brother who attends the

academy there. Last winter I played basketball at Landmark for the first time so I could be involved with my friends from school. I also have time to take my guitar lessons or just jam on my own. I am going to take the opportunity to continue sports and guitar/music at Landmark High School.

When I first arrived at Landmark, I was not confident in my reading and writing abilities. Re-ceiving more attention from the teacher in a small-er class really helped me become more comfortable talking during class discussions. Tutorial is a class I wish everyone in every school had the opportu-nity to have because it works on your individual needs to be a better student. Today I am a fluent reader and I can write essays about difficult topics efficiently because of the strategies I have learned here. I feel lucky and grateful for my experience at Landmark and look forward to the lacrosse season and meeting new students next year.

Throughout my life I have been given many opportunities and it is important for me to make the most out of them. Landmark is definitely one of those opportunities I will cherish for the rest of my life. My experience here has changed my life and words cannot describe how much that means to my family and me. I have been very fortunate to have the privilege to attend Landmark for four years and to continue on to the high school next year.

Opportunities Matterby Ryan Kenney ’18

NAME

Ryan Kenney

HOMETOWN

Hingham, MA

CLASS OF

2018

FAVORITE SUBJECTS

Math and Music

FAVORITE ACTIVITY

Sports - Lacrosse, skiing, golf, tennis

*PENLIGHTin his own words

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I came to Landmark from a very small town in Maryland. Landmark attracts students from all over the world. For me, the exposure to such diver-sity was nothing I had ever experienced. Without Landmark I would have never met students from India, Italy, Austria, and many other countries as well as from all around the Untied States. Because of Landmark I now have a greater perspective on other cultures of the world.

My experience through school was a challenge. I struggled with my dyslexia in all my subjects, and this instilled in me a lack of confidence. Before Land-mark, I could not do work independently, my grades were terrible, and I never understood anything I was learning. After coming to Landmark, within a few short months I began to feel more secure with my schoolwork, my grades improved tremendously, and I

actually understood the material taught. This confidence changed my outlook on

the future. Before, I believed that I could not achieve anything academically because I felt I was not capable of succeeding. I had goals to go to college and law school, but I never saw it as possible. After two short years, I am now confi-dent that by applying the skills I have obtained at Landmark, I will go on to thrive in college and anything I decide to do in the future.

Landmark changed me in many ways: expand-ed my view on the world, restored my confidence, and gave me hope in my future. My decision to leave home and come to Landmark was a diffi-cult one, but it was the best decision I have ever made. Before Landmark I did not see my future as bright; now, I am sure it will be.

At a younger age, I journeyed from school to school trying to find one that would correctly accommodate my dyslexia; there were none. Eventually I lacked confidence in my academics and was frustrated with my schoolwork; so frustrated I stopped striving to succeed. This was before Landmark. Landmark changed me in several ways. Through Landmark, I have gained a broader sense of the world, confidence in my academics, and a strong and hopeful future.

Expanding My Worldby Rachel Esham ’16

NAME

Rachel Esham

HOMETOWN

Ocean City, MD

CLASS OF

2016

APPRECIATES

Landmark’s diversity

NEXT STOP

Landmark Prep Program

*PENLIGHTin her own words

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Her fall sport was her favorite – volleyball, where Michela quickly established herself as a leader on Landmark’s varsity girls’ team. Having played at a high level at her former school in Milan, she distinguished herself as one of the better players in the league. At the conclusion of a successful 8-5 season, Michela was selected the team’s Co-Most Valuable Player. While her play on the floor was tremendous, it was her sportsmanship and leader-ship that stood out. She helped the team come to-gether, enhancing the experience for everyone who played. Success with volleyball helped Michela get off on the right foot at Landmark.

Now she was left to decide what to do each afternoon during the long New England winter. Though she had never played before, basketball was her choice. “Basketball was a great experi-ence; I’m so happy I played.” Michela received messages from friends in Italy who saw her playing basketball on Facebook. “I just loved the passion of the coaches – it made me want to

play,” she added. Michela won the Most Improved Player award.

Knowing she needed to continue with an athletic outlet, Michela went looking for a spring sport. Landmark’s coaches were quick to recog-nize her potential for track and field. She com-peted in the Long Jump, 100m, 200m and the girls 4x100m, relay. Once again, team spirit and camaraderie provided Michela with an invaluable athletic experience.

Playing volleyball, basketball, and track and field provided the daily activity, exercise, and re-lease Michela needed. She also made friends, met new faculty coaches, saw other schools, and had more opportunities to practice English! Michela was the recipient of the Scholastic Female Athlete of the Year Award, demonstrating the highest level of commitment to Landmark athletics while also maintaining the highest standards of academic achievement. She plans to attend the European Institute of Design in Milan next fall.

When Michela Galli arrived at Landmark from Milan, Italy for the summer program in 2013, the language barrier was her first challenge. With her primary languages Italian and French, English sounded foreign, fast, and at times incomprehensible. Michela wondered if remediation for her language-based learning disability (LBLD) would be successful. Ten months later, a week before graduation, with a beaming smile, Michela reports “My life changed this year...I learned that I’m ready for college!” Michela credits getting involved in every facet of the Landmark community as the route to her success. This included her devotion to interscholastic sports, a necessary part of her daily routine. “I knew I needed after-school sports to help keep me focused and to help me relax.”

Good Sportby Brook Sumner

NAME

Michela Galli

HOMETOWN

Milan, Italy

CLASS OF

2014

FAVORITE SPORT

Volleyball

NEXT STOP

European Institute of Design, Milan

*STARLIGHTathletics

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*STARLIGHTperforming arts


The show’s main character, called simply “Man in Chair” (Simon English ’14), narrates to the audience the story of his favorite musical, which comes to life in his apartment. The story follows Broadway star Janet (Sabrina Clark ’15), who doesn’t know if she should give up her career to marry fiancé Robert ( Joseph Ferri ’15). They do get married in the end, of course, and so do several other people: her producer (Nathan Hammond ’15) to a ditzy chorus girl (Rachel Urbonas ’14), Janet’s chaperone (Maddie Wnorowski ’15) and Adolpho the buffoonish Latin lover (Liam Cassilly ’15), and old Lady Tottendale (Eliza Wildes ’16) to her faithful butler, Underling (Philip Popken ’17). Meanwhile, two gangsters disguised as pastry chefs (Haley Bounds ’17 and Becky Jacobs ’15) make terrible and not very threatening dessert puns, a maid (Cole Bascome-Duong ’17) pops out of the refrigerator, an aviatrix (Ailey Rivkin ’15) crash lands in the middle of the living room, and every-thing is interrupted by the building superintendent ( Jackie Mahoney ’16) when the power goes out in the middle of the last note of the show. Some of the most dramatic moments involved the dancers from Ms. Nave’s 8th period class ( Jamie Bergin ’14; Cathryn Garrett ’15; Caroline Frantz ’15; Rhea Malafeew ’15; and Rachel Bussone ’16).

Technically, the show’s complexities involved people entering and exiting from a Murphy bed in the apartment wall, a bi-plane that dropped down from the ceiling, a bird that had to be shot out of the air on cue, and a dance which was choreographed blindfolded on roller skates. Our technical crew was headed up by the very capable Kianna (Alaska) Bagdon ’16, the lights were run by Cal Robbins ’16, and the sound by Joel Tower ’15.

As the Man in Chair says, “I know it’s not a perfect show; the spit take scene is lame and the monkey motif is labored. But none of that matters. It does what a musical is supposed to do: it takes you to another world.” And that is exactly what this past May’s production did: it took us to another, funnier world for a few hours!

This year’s musical was the popular production “The Drowsy Chaperone”, a hilarious “musical within a play” which provided a showcase for multiple performing arts talent in song, dance, acting, and technical know-how, all wrapped in a parody of a classic 1920s musical comedy.

It’sShowtimeby Jeremy Melvin

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Spring Events at Landmark

*EVENT WRAP-UP

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Lance and Moira (Board Chair) James P’11 get glammed up for Landmark Live!

Event Co-Chairs Bonnie Strasnick P’16, Susan Muzio Blake P’13, and Carolyn Nickas P’16 , Cindy Stowell P ’22 not pictured

Nancy and Neal Shrier P’15

Samanta Ettore P’15 of wine•sense in Andover

with Kiss 108 and NESN’s Billy Costa

◗ Landmark Live! - Landmark

Spring Celebration and Auction

The Alice Ansara Athletic center was transformed into the perfect venue for live music, fine fare, and active bidding. A special video presentation accompanied the announcement of The Landmark Matters Capital Campaign to over 300 attendees. Landmark Live! raised nearly $90,000 thanks to our fabulous families, faculty, and friends!


◗ Alumni and Friends Casino Night

The 9th Annual Alumni Casino Night was a great opportunity for alumni, faculty, parents, and friends to connect and have fun while supporting Landmark. This event raised over $11,000 in support of The Landmark Fund. Thank you to our sponsors for making the evening so memorable.

Spring Events at Landmark

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Current student Davis Kline ‘17

UPCOMING 2014 AND 2015 EVENTS

◗ Homecoming and Reunions: Saturday, October 18, 2014

◗ Viking Athletics Hall of Fame Induc-tion Ceremony: Fri-day, January 9, 2015

◗ 10th Annual Alum-ni and Friends Casino Night: Saturday, February 7, 2015

◗ Landmark Spring Celebration and Auction: April 2015 (date TBD)

◗ 23rd Annual Golf Benefit: Monday, June 1, 2015

left to right: Will Duffy, Alex Davis, Peter Harrison, and Trustee Jim Duffy P’14

◗ 22nd Annual Golf Benefit

Thank you to all 132 golfers and 88 sponsors who once again made this event such a powerful component of The Landmark Fund. The 22nd Annual Golf Benefit was a tremendous success and raised just over $220,000! The warm weather and Ipswich Country Club’s pristine course made for a great day. We hope to see everyone again next year on Monday, June 1st!

Tara Joly - Lowdermilk (right) congratulates a surprised poker winner, Meghan Sebens


Fred Seidel ’80Fred was a student at Landmark in 1973 for two years. “Dr. Drake was a great teacher and Headmaster,” Fred says, “Thank you Landmark for all you do!”

Mark Graham ’83Following Landmark, Mark attended Villanova University and is now working as a pediatric nurse at Children’s Hospital. Mark lives in Philadelphia, PA.

Stefanie Sacks ’85Stefanie has been living on her own for about three years with some help from her dog that she loves! Stefanie is an artist and does guest speaking to parent groups.

Amy Auerbach ’86Amy attended Landmark from 1983-1986. She lives near Reno, NV. Currently, she runs a business called Northern Nevada Disability Access. www.nnvdaccess.com

She is in contact with many alumni friends, mostly on Facebook. Her favorite memory was being nominated for class secretary, getting laryngitis on the day she was to give her speech, and losing her seat to another candidate. That was a day she will never forget.

Peder Regan ’88Peter is married with two boys and lives in the Tribeca section of New York City and East Hampton, NY. For the past several years, he has been involved with the Clinton Global Initiatives and an ambassador for the Clinton Foundation.

His company is HJR Holdings, a group of several software companies including SciMedMedia, ILT, Painted Code, Grant Central, and Blue Print.

Mark O’Maley ’88Mark attended South Campus in 1987-1988. School continued to be tricky through college, but he got his BA from UMass Amherst in 2007 after taking 12 years off between junior and se-nior years. Mark went on to receive his MFA from Goddard College last year.

He has been an assistant professor of theater and dance at Franklin Pierce University the past two years, and was just recently appointed to the faculty at University of Colorado, Boulder where he will start teaching lighting and video design this fall in their dance department.

Mark says, “Though it seems forever ago, I owe a lot to Landmark. I feel its influence everyday I am working with students.”

Jonathan Rouffe ’90Jonathan did not “graduate” from Landmark, but he feels it was an enormous part of his life. Jonathan at-tended the middle school for several years and then transitioned to the high school for his freshman and sophomore years before transferring back to public school. Although he regrets that decision to this day, everything turned out well in the long run.

Currently, Jonathan lives in Boca Raton, FL with his wife Heather, five-year-old daughter Ella, and one-year-old son Harrison. Presently, Jonathan owns and operates several chiropractic clinics. Jonathan’s perseverance paid off and he never gave up on chasing his dreams.

Alumni Notes

“ Though it seems forever ago, I owe a lot to Landmark. I feel its influence everyday I am working with students.”

—Mark O’Maley, ’88

Stay in touch! Please email us and let us know what you’ve been up to. Send updates and pictures to [email protected]

facebook.com/landmarkschool landmarkschool The Landmark School Alumni@landmarkschool


Jonathan says, “I want to thank all the teachers that helped me achieve my goals. I don’t think I have one memory that stands out above all oth-ers. I definitely loved mechanics class. That was great for a mama’s boy from Newton. My parents stood up and made sure that I was getting the help I needed. So to my mom and dad, who have unfortunately passed away, I say THANK YOU so much. I would not be the person I am today without them and without Landmark.”

Adam Gauthier ’95Adam received an undergraduate degree from Salem State University in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and an MBA from Endicott College in Operations. He is a Sergeant in the United States Army and currently deployed to the Middle East. Adam never gives up on his goals and reminds himself constantly about past educators who doubted him.

“I had to embrace my dyslexia and it took a long time to do that. There was a time that I told myself that I did not have dyslexia and tried to hide it. But, just like a skeleton, my dyslexia was exposed. I was embarrassed and ashamed of it, but after my personal and professional successes I realized my dyslexia was very much a part of my success. I developed a strong work ethic and a fierce drive. I want to give hope to the young dyslexic students who might feel frustrated and hopeless. I want to show them through my ex-perience that YES, you can adapt and overcome and be successful with dyslexia. Dyslexia is not a curse.”

Chuck Martinsen ’96Chuck is working as an Environmental Police Officer on Cape Cod. He received a B.S. from Westfield State and a M.A. from Suffolk University. When Chuck is not at work, he enjoys boating and fishing, most recently in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dave Roberts ’98Dave is currently living in Wichita, KS and work-ing with a commercial production company called Cinema 1 Film & FX. He is also working as a film instructor at Bethany College’s Digital Art School. Dave is married to his beautiful wife, Kristina, who is a Lieutenant in the Kansas Air National Guard.

Katie Pitasi-Clark ’02Katie is working as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Amesbury, MA. She is a graduate of Lesley University majoring in Health Services with a graduate degree in Expressive Therapies Mental Health.

Jake Pike ’05Jake is working as a Juvenile Justice Coordinator with the District Attorney’s Office in Salem, MA. Jake has also been doing residential coverage at Landmark’s high school on the weekends and presented at the career day in April. He is thrilled to still be able to stay involved at Landmark, a school that meant so much to Jake. He is current-ly looking into Master’s programs as well as the MTEL for a possible administrative position.

Jeff Gladney ’06Jeff is currently working as a Computer Scientist for Expeditionary Energy and Sustainment Systems in Natick, MA. He is looking at ways to reduce the Army’s carbon footprint by 30% or more.

Jeff says, “When I was at Landmark one of my favorite subjects was science. Two teachers that made a real impact were Jen Kuhns and Matt Schu. They taught me that science and math could be fun and opened my mind to resource conservation. Every day they always came to class excited to teach new things. Their passion made learning enjoyable. I also credit Landmark because I believe if I did not go there I probably would not be where I am today.”

Charles Altuzarra ’06Charles is currently living in Singapore and ac-quiring a PhD at Nanyang Technological Universi-ty (NTU) and running experiments as a research-er in CINTRA, a joint research unit comprised of the International NTU Thales Research Alliance and Center for Disruptive Photonic Technologies where he is in the quantum plasmonics labora-tory. CNRS is a French research institution and Thales a defense company. CDPT is a lab run by a professor from University of Southampton in the UK. Charles does research that deals with correlated light particles, called photons. One of his favorite Landmark memories is being snowed in and going crazy outside in the snow!

Katie Pitasi-Clark, ’02

Jake Pike, ’05

Adam Gauthier, ’95

Jeff Gladney, ’06

Chuck Martinsen, ’96


Jason Hill ’06Jason graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology. He is presently working for Walsh Brothers construction company in Boston, MA as an Assistant Project Manager.

Michael Cronin ’07Mike is working at a residential school for trou-bled youth in West Roxbury, MA.

Taylor Patton ’07Taylor is working for Pingree School as a Capital Campaign Assistant. She was the Institutional Advancement Assistant at Landmark from 2011-2013. Taylor is a member of the Alumni Council at both Landmark School and Endicott College.

Sarah Clinkscales ’08Sarah graduated from Baylor University this past spring with a BFA in graphic design. She just accepted a graphic design position with a stationery company in Houston called Ann Page. Please check out her website at sarahclinkscales.com! Sarah is so incredibly happy and loved her entire college experience over these last four years. She says she owes so much of her success to Landmark and will always have a huge spot in her heart for the entire faculty.

Steve Darby ’09In May of 2013, Steve graduated from Syracuse University with a B.F.A. in Film. In August he moved out to Los Angeles to work in the entertainment industry. He has been very fortunate to have found work in commercial production, working on ads for Dell, Macy’s, J.C. Penney, Priceline, Omaze (Arnold Schwarzenegger Video), Yves Saint Laurent, and Samsung. Most of his work has aired on television and the J.C. Penney ads played during this year’s Oscars. This summer Steve has been working in reality television and traveling the country working on a new show for the Travel Channel about resorts in need of guidance. In his free time Steve has been producing his own work. Currently, he is focused on film photography which he displays on his website steve-darby.com. Steve is planning on being back this fall to attend his reunion and hopes to see everyone there!

Bryan W. Levesque ’09Bryan and Sarah (Pelletier) have been together for seven years (anniversary April 16). On October 12, 2013 on a beautiful fall day, Bryan drove Sarah to the top of their favorite mountain in Dedham, ME. While at the top of the mountain admiring the vibrant fall colors Bryan asked Sarah to marry him. She said YES! Bryan’s parents (Philip and Cheryle Levesque), Sarah’s mother (Sandra O’Brien), their siblings, and immediate family celebrated with a surprise engagement dinner at a local restaurant in Hampden, ME that evening. Bryan and Sarah have not set a date yet for their wedding. Bryan is working as an accomplished mechanic at Racliffe’s Service Center in Hampden, ME and Sarah is completing graduate school in Occupational Therapy at Husson University in Bangor, ME.

John Begley ’10 In May, John graduated from Syracuse University with a double major in Finance and Real Estate. At Syracuse John was actively involved with his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon and this past year he served as the Formal chair. In college John started a vending machine business to provide drinks 24/7 throughout the fraternities. Just before John graduated, he sold them back to the fraternity chefs for a profit. In June he started a job at a real estate and investment firm in Manhattan. Needless to say, John is very excited. Last year, John was fortunate enough to visit Vietnam where he taught English for a month. It was an incredible experience and he says, “I learned that you have to immerse yourself in another culture to gain acceptance.”

Kidd Campbell ’10Kidd Campbell received his baccalaureate degree from Eckerd College in Theatre, with a minor in Film, earning a 3.49 GPA in May of 2014. Kidd will be backpacking through Europe this summer with friends before entering the job market.

Kevin Coombs ’10Kevin attended Landmark from 1st through 12th grade. This spring Kevin and 7,000 graduates walked across the stage at the University of Arizona where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Communications. Landmark was a huge part of Kevin’s life and he is very grateful.

“ I learned that you have to immerse yourself in another culture to gain acceptance.”

—John Begley, ’10(below)

Kevin Coombs, ’10

Alumni Notes


Hana Porter ’10Hana was a member of Landmark’s class of 2010. Recently, she graduated with a BS in Studio Art from Skidmore College with departmental hon-ors. She will be living and working in New York City.

Bobby Dickey ’11Bobby Dickey made Dean’s list! He is a rising senior at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts majoring in Biology and Chemistry. He is working hard to gain entrance to medical school upon graduating from Stonehill in 2015.

Dan DiStefano ’11Dan is attending Westfield State University pursuing a Political Science major and History minor. This summer Dan is working at The Greater Lawrence Community Boating Program as the Community Waterfront Director. He is planning on attending law school following graduation in 2015.

Brittany Dzugas-Smith ’12 Brittany will perform in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Highland Park Bowl in Rochester, New York. She will remain at theRochester Institute of Technology this summer to work on a McNair Scholars Program research project.

Alyona Ueda ’12Alyona just graduated from The Elizabeth Grady School and will be working as an esthetician. She is presently living in Brookline.

Nathan Seckler ’12Nathan attends Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah and is majoring in architecture, cabinetmaking, and woodworking. He is still very active in sports and enjoys rock climbing, racquetball and snow boarding. Nathan has fond memories of working for the Special Olympics while attending Landmark and hopes to participate in more community service in the near future. Nathan has completed two years of carpentry and cabinet making at Utah Valley University, a school of over 35,000 students. He will get his Associates degree this fall. Nathan has made several lovely furniture pieces including tables, cabinets, and chairs.

Samuel Micah Seckler ’12Samuel Micah Seckler graduated with an associates degree in Automotive Technology from Utah Valley University. He is continuing on in Technology Management for a bachelor’s degree. Presently he is in summer school at UVU taking Statistics and Ceramics. Samuel had to drop yoga after two skiing accidents at nearby Sundance Resort. He will be taking a number of robotics courses and continuing with his Mandarin Chinese studies.

Spencer Baldwin ’12Spencer returned to campus for a visit in January to catch up with teachers and friends and reports that he just helped his uncle restore a 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 that was once owned by Alice Cooper.

Matthew Thornton Fries ’12Matthew returned to campus with classmates Spencer Baldwin and Marc Pugliese in January. He reports that he’s looking forward to renting an RV and taking a cross-country road trip with fellow class of 2012 graduates Baldwin, Pugliese, Ryne Steinborn, and Eric Gottlieb. He is studying photography and marketing in the hope that one day he’ll be employed by National Geographic.

Marc Pugliese ’12Marc was part of the trio of alumni that visited campus in January. Currently, he is studying in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) field and saw a great documentary on monkeys recently.

Dan DiStefano, ’10

Alyona Ueda, ’12

Spencer Baldwin ’12, Mark Pugliese ’12, and Matthew Thornton Fries ’12


Dede Grace served as Landmark’s Manager of Design Services for 17 years. She was a talented designer and a trusted and beloved member of the Landmark community. Dede inspired us with her creativity, passion, style, and grace and will always be in our hearts.

i am a graphic designer and sometimes editor, with a pretty big fear of failure. This fear is actually a catalyst that is both intimidating and inspiring and it has led me to some very satisfying outcomes. I work at an in-dependent school creating and designing print collateral and have been there for 17 years. The creative process both challenges and energizes me. Artists are perfectionists and while the quest for perfection can create all sorts of roadblocks along the way, it can also fuel one’s engines to the finish.

I have no great “life plan.” I live simply with simple hopes and dreams. Each day is a gift. I take each day as a new one that could either present a previously unheard-of opportunity, idea, or creative inspiration…or the day can be a total disappointment.

But the start of every day is a positive one regardless of how it ends. The six things I could never do without: My children, music, forgiveness,

love, humor, hope.I spend a lot of time thinking about life – having it and losing it. I still

grapple with the concept of death but living with cancer has neither deep-ened nor lightened that struggle. I just think about it more. And differently.

I really do believe that gifts come dressed as dragons. Cancer has been my dragon, but equally, if not more so, my gift. Trust me on

this: I am much stronger, braver, more confident, and ironically happier NOW than before I began my dance with “The Beast.” And I’m even funnier – I think.

I have come to understand viscerally that life is not at all about the nature of the cards we are dealt. From the very beginning, some of us are dealt the new cards - a complete, shiny deck that fits perfectly in the palm of a hand. Stuck together in their newness, unspoiled and unsoiled. But some of us get dealt the cracked, exposed decks, the ones with peeling edges and faded colors. Torn. The ones with a history, the ones with character. And there are usually a few missing.

But what defines you is what you do with the deck you are dealt. That determines your successes and failures, your happiness and sadness; your light, your dark; your hope and despair; the direction you travel.

I do know this: the older, more broken-in cards make better houses.

And I think I have an outrageously freeing, energizing sense of humor and creativity about my cards. Certainly life with cancer presents its own unique deck of cards requiring herculean strength and imagination in deciding how to play them.

This chapter of my life has shown me that you can always build a house of cards and figure out ingenious ways to keep it standing in the midst of competing forces wanting to tear it down.

That takes the strength one finds only when presented with the challenge.

This is my finest hour. –Dede Grace

With Graceby Michela Galli

NOVEMBER 5, 1950 - MARCH 11, 2014

*IN MEMORIAM

WH

ITN

EY

GR

AC

E

Moira McNamara James P’10CHAIR

Marblehead, MassachusettsLandmark Past Parent and Volunteer

*Nicholas A. Lopardo P’92, GP’22, ’23, ’24

CHAIRMAN EMERITUSNewburyport, Massachusetts

Founder and PresidentSusquehanna Capital Management Co.

Robert J. Broudo P’11PRESIDENT AND HEADMASTER

Beverly, MassachusettsLandmark School, Inc.

Martin P. Slark P’01VICE CHAIR

Burr Ridge, IllinoisPresident and CEO

Molex, Inc.

Mark R. BrislinVICE PRESIDENT

Hamilton, MassachusettsLandmark School, Inc.

Gia F. MeicherCLERK

Beverly, MassachusettsLandmark School, Inc.

Charles P. HarrisCLERK EMERITUS

Winchester, MassachusettsLandmark School, Inc.

Harvey L. Alter ’82Glenview, IllinoisVice PresidentThe Alter Group

Jeffrey Carney P’16, ’18Wellesley, MassachusettsPresident & CEOMackenzie Investments

Lynne Darling ’98Hampden, MaineRental Director and Finance Manager Darling’s Automotive Group

James Duffy P’14Auburndale, MassachusettsPresident Ravago Holdings America, Inc.

Amy O. Fitzpatrick P’16Swampscott, MassachusettsLandmark Past Parent and Volunteer

William A. Goldthwait ’86Brookline, MassachusettsManaging Director RBS Global Banking & Markets

Sandra L. Jesse P’13Manchester, MassachusettsVice President & Chief Legal Officer Haemonetics Corporation

John J. McDonoughAndover, MassachusettsExecutive Vice President & CFOAmerican Renal Associates

Robert S. Merowitz P’06Sudbury, MassachusettsPresidentUniversal Realty Corporation

Joseph H. Morgart P’12Weston, MassachusettsSenior Vice President Pyramis Global Advisors

William T. Patten P’07Hamilton, MassachusettsLandmark Past Parent

Edward W. Probert Jr. P’15Newburyport, MassachusettsDirector of Alumni Affairs and DevelopmentPhillips Exeter Academy

George W. Ratermann ’79Livermore, CaliforniaFounder and Owner Ratermann Manufacturing, Inc.

Catherine Slark P’01Burr Ridge, IllinoisLandmark Past Parent and Volunteer

Michael D. Tancreti P’09, ’11Nashua, New HampshireChief Executive Officer Ashwood Development Company

David A. Tessier P’10Beverly, MassachusettsPresidentHospitality and Gaming Advisors

*Robert J. Campbell P’04Rockport, MaineInvestment CounselorBeck, Mack, & Oliver

*David G. Peterson P’08Bedford, MassachusettsSales Management Consultant

*Suzanne H. Sears P’02Hamilton, MassachusettsLandmark Past Parent and Volunteer

* Trustee Emeritus

LANDMARK SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

FOUNDED 1971

Post Office Box 227Prides Crossing, Massachusetts 01965-0227CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

NON PROFIT ORGU.S. Postage

PAIDRickford, IL

Permit No. 579

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L A N D M A R K S C H O O L

The Lantern Spring/Summer 2014

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