The Pride welcomed rival Kent School to Tirrell Rink on Saturday, February 15 for a charity night game. Trinity-Pawling turned in their blue and gold uniforms for special edition green sweaters that all donned Coach Ferraris’ name. The stands were filled with a similar lime green – the color for Lymphoma research – as the community set out to honor their beloved coach.
The last time these teams faced-off, the game needed overtime to determine a winner. This game would prove just as exciting. Sophomore Tyler Fogu got in on the forecheck and caused a turnover that he would bury for the Pride to take an early 1-0 lead. Both teams settled in, and Kent tallied the next two for a 2-1 lead. The Pride quickly found an answer as Jared Mangan ’22 struck the back of the net off passes from Dean Rocco ’21 and Fogu. It was all Trinity-Pawling for the remaining 9 minutes. The Pride added goals from Spencer Ryall ’20, John Gelatt ’20, and Sam Nichols ’21. After the first period, Trinity-Pawling led 5-2.
During the second stanza, the capacity crowd saw less scoring but a similar back-and-forth pace. Kent scored 3 minutes into the period off of a low-angle shot that caught Cam Carroll ’21 off guard. The Pride responded when Gelatt added two more goals, including a shorthanded beauty. A chess-like atmosphere for the first six minutes of the third period finally resulted in a Kent goal. Four minutes later, Kent connected on a tough bounce off of a Trinity-Pawling defender. As the score got tighter, the Pride continued to play a hard game, and it wasn’t until a minute left when Gelatt blocked a shot and beat the Kent defender to the puck to bury his fourth goal of the game. Gelatt had 4 goals, Frank Djurasevic ’20 added 3 assists, and Caroll stopped 32 of 37 shots.
With a silent auction, a snack shack, and the support of shirt purchases, the fundraiser netted over $5,000 that will go towards cancer research and to support the Ferraris family. Overall, it was a winning night for the Pride.
ROLL PRIDE!
by Chris Gillman ’05 and Cyrus Rothwell-Ferraris
Early in the new year, I traveled to China to visit with some of our parents and alumni. I was there before the Coronavirus reached its epidemic stage (and was not in the Hubei Province). This was my fourth trip to China, and I am always struck by the magnitude of everything that I see. The cities are large; the airports are large; the train stations are large, and the amount of food at dinner is usually large!
What is also abundantly large in China is the generosity and graciousness of the people with whom we meet, particularly the parents of our current and former students. From the moment we arrive until the time that we leave, we are treated with kindness and care from everyone we meet. I am always humbled and honored to meet with our current parents in the cities of China. I am grateful to be able to tell them that, on behalf of the faculty at Trinity-Pawling, we are honored by the faith that they have given to the School. In many cases, their son is their only child. They are proud their son attends Trinity-Pawling and, like all parents, have dreams and aspirations for his future. As is the case with all parents, I honor the faith and trust that is bestowed upon the School and never take it lightly.
When the Coronavirus began to spread throughout China and, later, in other parts of Asia and the world, our international students were understandably shaken. Even before travel restrictions began to be imposed, particularly to and from China, many of our Chinese students had begun to confront the reality that they would not be traveling home in March. They were beginning to comprehend that they would not be returning to their homes and many of them would not see their parents until the summer.
As the depth of this health crisis began to manifest itself in China, the School began exploring options for our Asian students who would be unable to travel home in March. We have provided families with contact information of organizations that offer multiple excursions during the three-week vacation. Other families have also offered to host boys for part of the vacation.
Furthermore, the School has made the commitment to remain open for the vacation for boys who are unable to return home due to this health crisis in China. The School will provide a supervised environment and a host of appealing social and culinary options for those who decide to stay on campus. Currently, I anticipate we will have at least 20 boys on campus during this vacation.
The School is committed to making this unplanned time on campus to be as positive as possible for the boys who will be here. While these students will certainly be disappointed about not being able to return home, it is our goal that they will experience the largesse of this community’s kindness and generosity during a time of need.
by William W. Taylor
When Headmaster Bill Taylor set out to strike a better balance between tradition and innovation on campus, he formed a Scheduling Committee to create an augmented academic schedule. The aim was to reduce student stress and create time for project-based learning and co-curricular activities without taking time away from classes, athletics, or student clubs. In pursuing these needed changes, it was important to create something that alumni would recognize as a progression of the schedule they remembered — meeting the needs of present students while keeping traditions of the School alive.
With a more flexible academic schedule, which maintains a commitment to the same amount of classroom teaching time, and the implementation of dynamic Saturday Programming, now in its second year at Trinity-Pawling, students are able to experience learning in an exciting and creative way. Each Saturday brings something new — a focus on study skills and team building for underclassman, time for seniors who are pursuing a Diploma with Distinction to develop their Senior Independent Projects, Health & Wellness programs for all students, time devoted to Winter Projects, and getting students into nature. These are among the many ways boys now spend their Saturday mornings before their athletic commitments begin in the afternoon.
Faculty members use this opportunity to create a day of learning that is out of the ordinary, giving the boys many ways to try something new, expand their comfort zones, and further develop their self-awareness. Saturday Programming includes new experiential learning initiatives that underscore creativity, health and wellness, leadership, and time for fun.
Most importantly, Saturdays are intentionally designed to be engaging and hands-on. The Scheduling Committee that spearheaded the schedule change two years ago still exists in a supervisory role, suggesting adjustments to fine-tune the schedule for the benefit of the boys and keep the program fresh and dynamic.
What does it take to bring 40+ guys back together, from all corners of the globe, reunion after reunion? Is there a secret formula? Are there special tactics? If you ask any member of the class of 1984, they would give you one answer: Chris Gaylord! The figurative glue of ՚84, Chris has been rallying classmates back to campus for 30 years and he’s just getting started.
“I’ll never forget (and my friends don’t let me!) that I missed my 5th reunion at T-P for a girl I was chasing. After that, I vowed that I’d never miss another one and I would try to get as many guys back as possible each time,” Gaylord says.
Indeed, for their tenth reunion, longtime friends and roommates Rynard Gundrum, Tim Rooney, and Gaylord went big and rented a yacht in Greenwich. Classmate Micah Chase sent out swanky invitations and Gaylord worked the phone. Their class spent Friday on the boat and then headed to Pawling on Saturday and had a blast! “That was my first big success and then it just became a thing. We love coming back to campus to see how it has changed, but also to reminisce and catch up. Our class picks up right where we left off, each and every time,” Gaylord comments.
Gaylord didn’t originally intend to enroll at Trinity-Pawling. He was looking at Tabor Academy, but the headmaster at Pine Cobble School (where Gaylord attended 8th and 9th grades) and his parents had a different plan. “They tricked me into coming to T-P for an overnight. It was the best-worst decision ever. I met then-freshmen Micah Chase, Curtis Flynn, Drew Hall, and Kirk Vartan and they made me feel welcome right away. We laughed and laughed and I knew I was going to love it there,” Gaylord reminisces.
It was this immediate bond that Gaylord credits as the spark for his nearly 40-year affinity for Trinity-Pawling and his brothers. “I didn’t grow up with a brother, so instantly having 300 of them at T-P was amazing. There is nothing like the bond that we have. We’ve gone through life changes, jobs, kids, and ups and downs, and we’re always here for each other. If you stay connected to your class, the lessons never stop,” he remarks thoughtfully.
Asked about how he does it, Gaylord is honest: “It’s work — you bang out phone calls and leave messages, call back, and call again. I bug people but it’s for a good cause and they know it. You have to be passionate about getting everyone back or it won’t happen.”
Chris Gaylord’s passion is a gift to his class and to the School, and he won’t be content until that attendee number is at least 50, “hopefully for our 50th … or before!” Gaylord says with a twinkle in his eye. The challenge is on, Class of ՚84!
by Kate Vengrove
Three distinct projects show the talent and passion of Trinity-Pawling seniors Jack Kucharski, Henry Whitlow, and Tyler Manning as the final Senior Independent Project presentations loom at the end of the month.
As a two-year tour guide for Key Club, Kucharski took on a unique creative project by developing a virtual tour of the Trinity-Pawling campus. On the first round of presentations, Kucharski used a video of empty spaces to highlight facilities but decided to do a second take that included the vivacity of these spaces when students are present. With help from Video Production teacher Connie Rafferty, Kucharski’s final project will leave the Admissions Department with a working tool to show off an intimate view of a day in the life of a Trinity-Pawling student.
Whitlow took a more tactile approach to his independent project. After doing research on materials, tools, and building plans for a homemade longboard, he constructed a deck out of plywood at his house over the summer. He then pasted grip tape to the top and mounted a truck and wheels to the base after some balance testing. His finished work shows the success of a completely self-directed project!
Manning used a website to share his message in the most personal take of the three. His website outlines early trauma as the son of a 9/11 survivor and subsequent PTSD diagnosis as a teenager. The organization – S.O.S. Teen PTSD – aims to educate and orient teens with PTSD towards help for their commonly undiagnosed symptoms. Those who don’t know much about the disorder can also find valuable information and a succinct compendium of research on Manning’s website: sosteenptsd.org
by Cyrus Rothwell-Ferraris
Photo by Andrew Zhang ’20 (Left, Henry Whitlow, right, Tyler Manning, Jack Kucharski was not available for the photo)
In the 1969 Trinnitanus yearbook, Paul Sturz ’69 is dubbed “the powerhouse of the senior class.” The title seems fitting, as Sturz was a hard-working student, a captain of the varsity football team, and a member of the illustrious 1969 lacrosse team. He went on to study business and finance at Lehigh University, where he continued to excel while playing football, hockey, and co-captaining the varsity lacrosse team. Shortly after college, Sturz brought his expertise to the family business: the delicious Linden Cookies, Inc.
“My father bought Linden Cookies from the Lindens in 1960. They were close family friends. In the early seventies, my brother and I saw an opportunity to improve our efficiency with automated, industrial-sized ovens. It not only increased our profitability, but also widened our distribution,” Sturz explained.
Throughout these major changes, however, the cookie recipe remained the same — featuring the company’s hallmark chocolate and butter crunch candy combination.
As the family business continues to thrive (now in its 60th year!), Sturz credits Trinity-Pawling with giving him the foundation and work ethic he needed to find success. “My time at T-P helped me build better working habits. The School taught me discipline and focus, in both academics and athletics.” Sturz also notes that the weekend privileges at Trinity-Pawling in the sixties were quite different from those of today. “We only had one 24-hour leave every 10 weeks! And we had to earn it. You better believe we put in every ounce of effort to reach that privilege.”
In October 2019, Sturz returned to campus to celebrate his 50th Reunion. While the Class of 1969 has remained close over the years, after Reunion Weekend, Sturz gained an extra appreciation for his classmates, their collective successes, and the experiences that shaped each of them.
“We didn’t know it at the time, but we matriculated with future leaders, professionals, and even celebrities, like Steve Hannock! In 1969, we were not fully aware of our potential and what we would achieve,” Sturz concluded. “T-P gave us all the chance to have a success story. And for that, I am so grateful.”
by Emma Christiantelli
Appropriate for all ages! “This show is a must pee!” “Urine for a great time!”
On March 4, 5, and 6, Trinity-Pawling Theater Department will present Urinetown, winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critic’s Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, and two Obie Awards. Urinetown is an earnest tale of love, greed, and revolution. The show is set in a town plagued by a 20-year drought, where water has become so scarce that private toilets have become unthinkable. At the mercy of a single dominating corporation (Urine Good Company) who maintains a monopoly on the town’s public amenities, the destitute citizens must pay towering taxes and fines to carry out their most private and basic of needs. Out of the mass of the pitiable, a hero rises to lead his fellow citizens against the tyrannical regime. Drawing from West Side Story, Chicago, and Les Misérables among others, the show irreverently pays witty homage to the great American musical theatre tradition. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective of one of America’s greatest art forms.
Don’t miss it!
In Kathe Blydenburgh’s French classroom, each lesson centers on joy – the joy of learning a new language, discovering a new culture, and gaining a new perspective on the world.
Blydenburgh joined Trinity-Pawling’s Modern Languages Department as a French teacher in 2018. She arrived on campus after graduating from Hamilton College, where she studied political science, international relations, and French. However, it was the year that she studied abroad in Paris that truly solidified her love for the French language. “I had the incredible chance to live in the language! I think it’s an experience that everyone should have. I was totally immersed and it taught me so much about the art of communication.”
Blydenburgh’s experiences in France also helped to shape her teaching style and day-to-day classroom activities. In all of her French classes (which range from beginner to advanced), she says joy is essential. “The art of enjoying life is an important part of French culture,” she explained. “I try to emulate that in my classroom. I want to make sure my students are enjoying the language and feel at ease while learning. We celebrate mistakes and successes – because when learning a language, both are equally important.”
In addition to teaching six different French classes, Blydenburgh also serves as a dorm parent and student advisor. As a skilled yoga instructor, she also leads occasional yoga sessions for different athletic teams each season. Now in her second year at Trinity-Pawling, Blydenburgh continues to appreciate the genuine sense of community on campus. “It feels like a big family,” she concluded. “The support and mentorship amongst the faculty is amazing, and I continue to be impressed every day by the character of my students. Living and working here is truly a joy.”
by Emma Christiantelli
“With a thoroughness born of reawakened enthusiasm, and aided by the seven men who had pledged themselves to stand by him in his enterprise, Dr. Gamage, in the early months of 1907, set about the founding of his new school.” — Pawling School 1907-1922 by Rutger Coles
In the pioneering spirit of our Founder Dr. Frederick Luther Gamage, we inaugurate the first-ever Founder’s Day giving challenge, to be held this spring on April 7, 2020. Join us in celebrating the remarkable vision of Dr. Gamage by honoring and supporting the extraordinary School he created.
Stay tuned to social media and email for details and fun, and get a jump on the excitement by making your gift today. Thank you for your support.
Ways to give:
Venmo @TrinityPawlingSchool
Call 845-855-4830
Trinity-Pawling wrestling leads the pack this winter. At Western New England’s earlier this month, Lucas Hughes ’20 and Liam Dietrich ’21 took first place on the podium, while Robbie Accomando ’22 placed second and Kyle Hammel ’20, David Bancroft ’20, Kyle Lee ’22, Jeff Miller ’21, and Austin Anderson ’20 all placed third in their weight classes. Givanni Flaccavento ’21 and Jake Edwards ’20 placed fifth, and the team was awarded the Sportsmanship Award!
At New England’s this past weekend, Liam Dietrich ’21 became the New England Champion, while Lucas Hughes ’20 took second place in his class. Jeff Miller ’22 followed in third, Accomando ’22 in fourth, Hammel ’20 and Lee ’22 in fifth, and Bancroft ’20 rounded it out with a sixth-place finish.
The final meet at Prep Nationals will be held on February 22, 2020, at Lehigh University, where Liam Dietrich ’21 will look to take the top spot in the country.
The Trinity-Pawling basketball team went 2-3 in February, beating Choate and Berkshire to push their season record to 9-9. Justin Archer ’20 has continued to lead the way for the Pride, scoring an impressive 22.8 points per game this month. The final four-game stretch will dictate postseason play as the Pride sits on the brink of Class A playoff contention.
Varsity hockey also went 2-3 in February, with wins against Choate and Kent. Taylor Ewing ’20 and John Gelatt ’20 continue to lead the Pride in scoring, leading the way in an 8-goal showing against the visiting Lions on Saturday night’s charity game. The team has 5 more contests to close out the season.
Varsity squash got their second victory of the year last week against Canterbury, and after a tough January, will look to even up their February mark in the final match of the season against Millbrook on February 26, 2020.
Roll Pride!
by Cyrus Rothwell-Ferraris
Mark your calendars — we would love to see you at our upcoming receptions!
Florida Reception
Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at 5:30 PM
Home of Andy and Paul Miller ’63, P’92
Delray Beach, Florida
Make a day of it! Paul has graciously invited all golfers for lunch and 18 holes at the Seagate Country Club before the reception. Lunch begins at 11:30 AM, followed by a 12:30 PM tee time.
Washington, D.C. Reception
Thursday, April 2, 2020, at 6:00 PM
University Club, Washington, D.C.
Hosted by Chris Ambrose ’80 and Laurie Fenton Ambrose and Kathy and Erik Olstein ’86, P’11,’14,’17
For more information or to register for any of these events, please contact Janet Hubbard P’07 at 845-855-4830 or email rsvp@trinitypawling.org