Blue School Annual Report 2012-2013

Annual Report2012-2013

www.blueschool.org

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PURPOSE Reimagining education for a changing world.

VISION Communities of creative, joyful, compassionate learners use courageous and innovative thinking to build a harmonious and sustainable world.

MISSION To develop and share an inquiry-based approach to education that fosters creativity, promotes academic excellence, nurtures human relationships, and inspires a lifelong passion for learning.

“ Keep to your dreams, whether the journey is easy or rough.” – James, 5th grade

Featured ArtworkFront Cover: Anais Irizarry Back Cover: Jasper Stein

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Table of ContentsLetter From the 3 Head of School

Letter From the 5 Board Chair

Letter From the 7 Executive Director of Business Development

2013 Revenue 8 and Expenses

A Community 9 Rebuilds

Book Fair 10

Advisory Board 11 Speakers

Annual Fund Giving 13

Benefit Event 16

Annual Events and 17 Committees

Letters To 19 Our Children

Blue School Staff 20

Blue School Values 21

Current LeadershipBOARD OF DIRECTORS Renee Rolleri, Co-Founder & ChairMatt Goldman, Co-Founder & Vice-ChairMichael Parks, TreasurerEric Huang, SecretaryDavid BealLisa KayeDavid Rock, PhDJennifer Stanton, Co-FounderPhil Stanton, Founding BoardChris Wink, Founding BoardJen Wink, Co-Founder

ADVISORY BOARD Sam ChaltainLarry Cohen, PhDAustin HearstIan KernerSujin KimLawrence LevienJohn MaedaJennifer McCreaSir Ken Robinson, PhDDavid RockwellDan Siegel, MDJeffrey Walker

ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP

Allison Gaines Pell, Head of School

Jeni Aridizzone-West Executive Director of Business Development

Blakely Braniff Director of Development

Freda Gimpel Director of Finance & Operations

Ashley Hughes Program & Operations Manager

David Kelly Director of Studies for Lower Grades

Patricia Lynch Director of Studies for Upper Grades

Dawn Williams Director of Admissions

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Dear Blue School Community,

When I speak about our work as educators and parents, I am in the habit of saying that a school is nothing more or less than a community of people who come together to realize collective hopes for children and for the world.

Last year, when I was honored to take the role of Head of Blue School, I posed this question: how does a community create change? This provocation seeded our classroom studies for the year and our teachers and students pursued this question with vigor. Each classroom responded with unique explorations and projects, but nothing was more powerful than our collective response to Superstorm Sandy in the days following the storm. Just hours after the storm passed New York City, our staff and families descended upon the school and began working together, side by side, to clear away the debris, take stock of the damage, and rebuild our first floor. Through the first six days following the storm, as we worked to reopen school, and in the next six months, as we made repairs and replaced all that we could that was lost, each member of our mighty community embodied the values that we hold dear at Blue School: community,collaboration, resilience, creativity, ingenuity. In other important ways, it was a powerful reminder that as educators and parents, we are doing this work with children in service of a better, healthier, more sustainable tomorrow.

As we returned to life as usual, we came back better and stronger than ever. Bolstered by this shared response, our projects came to life and flourished on

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our classroom walls, through the hallways of our building, and out into our community. Kindergarten children became guerilla artists to revitalize our neighborhood streets and second graders practiced community activism by sharing their views on development and historic preservation in the South Street Seaport. Four year olds transformed their classroom into a forest to study ecosystems and beauty in the natural world. Other students built planes, created shadow plays and experimented with light and sound in explorations of birds, the Brooklyn Bridge and ancient literature. We are so proud of our (and your) inventors, doers, creators, and thinkers, even more so now that our first graduating class is receiving wonderful feedback from the schools they are visiting as they look towards next year. These other schools tell us that our graduates are “unique, open, engaged, curious, intellectual, and vibrant.” At Blue School, we are privileged to give children the chance to become even more fully themselves.

In closing, and in preparing you to review the pages that follow, I am reminded of the quote that I shared with you last fall: “Walker, there is no road. We make the road by walking.” I am so proud to be making this road with you, building a cycle of thankfulness and giving, and launching lifetimes of creativity, connec-tion, intellectual engagement, and imagination with you and your children.

Thank you for making this incredible journey with us.

Allison Gaines PellHead of School

“I like Blue School because you basically have your opinion and you’re not told what to think.” – Rhyus, 4th Grade

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Dear Blue School Friends,It was a privilege to work alongside the Board and in partnership with Allison Gaines Pell, our Head of School and Jeni Ardizzone West, our Executive Director over the 2012-13 school year. The completion of our Strategic Plan and the stability of strong leadership within Blue School’s incredible lab school have provided the students, staff and parents with a new level of clarity and commitment. In the midst of this steadiness, the Board focused on our goals to support the Strategic Plan initiatives.

I’m proud to report our teams have already achieved new heights on so manylevels toward realizing our strategic goals:

• Allison, the Blue School administration, faculty and Families Association are solidifying the lab school and making our approach more transparent and accessible to internal and external constituents everyday.

• Blue School’s leadership and administration teams developed and improved upon our systems and practices that will help to better achieve our mission, vision and values.

• Jeni and Allison partnered with the Board to investigate and conduct due diligence for expanding Blue School into middle school and to determine how we will continue to grow and develop to fulfill our mission and vision.

• Members of our Advisory Board convened to discuss why they believe in and support Blue School’s mission and vision, which was featured in Morgan Stanley’s Chronicles of Philanthropy.

• The Board and leadership staff are engaged in cultivating strategic partnerships and expanding our fundraising-base to further realize our efforts.

• The vital partnership and support from our parent and external community has made Blue School thrive at the next level organizationally.

• Above all, the new level of organizational cohesion has provided Blue School’s extraordinary faculty and students with a robust atmosphere to focus deeply on studies, pursue big questions and use creative, social and emotional intelligence to fuel the vigorous academic learning that takes place at our lab school every day!

• The Blue School community accomplished amazing feats last year in the face of Super Storm Sandy (opening one week after the storm!).

Next year, 2013-14, will mark Blue School’s first graduating class of Fifth Graders! From this foundation, Blue School will make important decisions for its next phase of growth and development. We are motivated and committed to grow Blue School in a way that best supports its mission, vision, but most importantly, our community. We have profound gratitude for your partnership, and commitment to join us in the movement to reimagine education for a changing world.

Renee Rolleri Board Chair and Co-Founder

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“ My kids are becoming better human beings because of the love and attention they get from all they interact with at school.” – Asma, Parent of Khizer & Zaynah

Dear Blue School Supporters,

When the founders approached me in 2006 to help them start a creativity center, I never would have guessed that we would develop a school dedicated to reimaging education for a changing world, serving families across New York City, and poised to have a much larger national and ultimately global impact. Parent support coupled with thought leaders in the education, science, and business sectors, have championed us and joined us to transform our dreams and ideas into an inspiring reality.

Our origins are particularly relevant as I reflect on 2012-2013, where for the first time since the school’s inception, our leadership was able to step back from the tasks associated with building a new school to plan for our next phase of development. In December 2011, we formed a taskforce that partnered with the board to create Blue School’s 3-year Strategic Plan. This plan includes the goals and initiatives necessary to ensure our lab school programs thrive and remain sustainable, as well as the development required to expand our work beyond the walls of 241 Water Street to have a broader impact on education.

Building a strategic plan with a large group is not easy. It requires the very skills that we strive to foster in the children every day. It involves passion, collaboration, leadership, and grit. I want to thank the entire staff for their input, the parents who agreed to be interviewed, our strategic taskforce made up of volunteer staff members, and our Board of Trustees for volunteering their time and providing the necessary guidance and decision making to enable us to determine the critical next steps needed to move closer to fulfilling our mission and vision.

2012-2013 was a transformative year in our journey and represents a real stepping stone for us as we continue to grow and develop, reflect on how far we have come, and express gratitude to all of those who have helped get us to where we are today. Thank you for the extraordinary ways in which you have supported the school.

With gratitude,

Jennifer Ardizzone-West Executive Director of Business Development

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Blue School Revenue 2013 Tuition $4,427,394

Contributions $359,813

Special Event Revenue$185,864 (net)

Government Grant Revenue $184,288

Gifts-in-Kind $23,525

Other $47,386

Blue School Expenses 2013Program Services $4,728,227 (76%)

Management & General $1,141,529 (18%)

Fundraising $362,410 (6%)

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84.7%

6.9%

3.5%

0.9%0.5% 3.5%

Blue School was one of the many buildings in the South Street Seaport that suffered severe damage from Hurricane Sandy. Having taken in over four feet of water on our first floor, we lost our newly built 3s classrooms, gymnasium, “wonder room”, administrative offices and many of our mechanical and elevator systems. Thanks to an extremely loyal crew of parents, staff and contractors, our team responded immediately afterwards to remove the debris and begin the process of remediation.

Within seven days, we were able to rebuild our lobby and seal off the remainder of the first floor, allowing entry into the building while safely containing the construction crews that worked tirelessly to rebuild. We enthusiastically welcomed our students back on November 5, and experienced a reinvigoration of our community’s commitment and resolve to keep Blue School strong.

Looking back, the storm created powerful opportunities to connect with our neighbors and deepen our studies of this historic district. We emerged as a stronger, more resilient community and are proud to be part of our neighborhood’s evolution.

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A Community Rebuilds

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Advisory Board PartnersBlue School is tremendously proud of our incredible Advisory Board Members who are an integral piece of our program. Their support manifests in speaking events for our parents and community partners, providing professional development workshops for our faculty, authoring publications that feature our school’s impact and advising on strategic growth. In the 2012 - 2013 school year, we were proud to have hosted Dr. Larry Cohen for his invigorating parenting workshops, as well as Sir Ken Robinson, at his one and only New York City book signing.

Sir Ken Robinson speaks to our community and holds his New York book signing at Blue School. Book Fair

In December of 2012, Blue School’s Book Fair Committee created its own bookstore in our just recovered ground floor gymnasium. For three days, parents and students spent time before, during and after school in an environment celebrating books and literacy. The titles were entirely curated by our parent committee. Books reflected our values and interests, and throughout the selections were small signs connecting the books to specific Blue School values and lenses. The event raised $4,000 for Blue School’s library! Thanks to Anne Hardingham, the authors, the crew of volunteers and our partner, McNally Jackson Books.

Samantha BakerBrandi BeckChristine Jones

Caedlighe PaolucciJulie PapadopoulosAnnah Pelin

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BOOK FAIR COMMITTEE

Mo Paolini, Co-chairKira Wizner, Co-chair

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2012–2013 Annual FundThe 2012 - 2013 school year was remarkable in many ways, including the tremendous support for Blue School’s Annual Fund. Our ability to attract and retain a talented and dedicated staff while expanding and strengthening our dynamic program was made possible by our entire community partnering together on a shared goal. When faced with a challenge, our parents, faculty, administrators and friends pulled together to achieve great results while simultaneously building strong community bonds. We are proud of the rise in participation, which reached an incredible 76% from parents and 98% from our staff. These gifts are essential to providing a joyful, creative and vigorous program for our children.

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERSZoe AdlersbergLora and JJ AppletonJeni Ardizzone-WestBruce ArnoldMalene AustinJoanna and Thomas BaileyPatricia Sanguedo and Eric BakerThomas Birer and Markus BannertElizabeth Rogers and Julian BarrowcliffeSian and David BealBrandi BeckMarlon BernardMary Farrell and Stuart BloombergAnne Sophie BoesenCynthia BogdanovichBlakely BraniffWilliam BreenAndrea Lerner and Sebastiaan Bremer Mariana Vera and Christopher BrenJasanna and John BrittonAngela Badamo and Andrew BurdessAmanda Leff and Michael BursteinMelissa Hammel and Michael BurtonRuth Root and Nicholas ButterworthSuzanne Brown and Chris CalabiaDawn CalabiaIan CandyJamie and David CaroLinda ChangSarah Teale and Gordon Chaplin

Elsie Hsieh and Joong ChoiMichele McElfresh-Chou and Herbert ChouCorey Pak and Matthias ClamerCandice and Jascha ClarkAnne CohenJill and Serge CohenEmma and Sean CulbertAnanda and Kai CutterMolly DegeseroLaura Bailyn and Nicholas DiamandOskar Saville and Feargal DoyleCarin Van der Donk and Vincent D’OnforioMarina Brolin and Gary D’Urso Vallens DuvalDean EisenShanon and Nael FarsakhKarla and Fernandes-VogelGretchen Dean and Eric FishDawn Williams and Marty Fluger Kate Farrell and Jonathan Fraser Violaine Harris and David Fuhrer Allison Gaines PellAmanda and Nicholas GelberClaudia Duarte and Alan GellerLuciana and Henrique GendreFreda GimpelSeth GodinRenee Rolleri and Matt GoldmanPaola Weintraub and Nick Gomez Wendy Cole and Damon GortonDon GraceMichelle and Mark Graham

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Carla Passos and Robert GreenawaltJennifer HallidayNatalie Lindsey and Bruce Hamann Joleen HanlundAnne HardinghamAustin HearstCiara HeddermanSophie Gudmundson and Jan Henrik Elizabeth Yow and Steven Hicks Kari Thorstensen and Joel HinmanTara HolmesKate HortonTanja Norwood and Eric Huang Ashley and Nathan HughesMichelle Cheuvront and Pablo IberoMichael and Erin IsakovNele Husmann and Thomas JahnRich JenkinsNgina JohnsonAlexandra Starr and Erez Kalir Lisa KayeThomas and Sara KearneyDavid KellyValerie KillenCatharine Chang and Hooni KimErika and Benson KutriebJenny Golden and Steven LaMorteAnne Hugard and Patrice Lataillade Donna LennardKaren LevenbergMeredith and Josh LevineSivan LewinKeren LiluHera Huang and Johan Lindgren Anna Padgett and Michael LittletonSuzanne and Rene LopezMichele Barker and Suleman Lunat Patricia LynchAshley LyonColeen and Paul MaguireFrances Mak and Climerio de Souza Gomez NetoLeona Naess and John Marino Sara Weinstein and Emil Martone Jennifer and Peter MastersonJennifer Nugent and Paul MattesonLaura Stein and David MattsonJennifer McConnellJennifer McCreaAndrea Kerzner and David McNamara

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Robin TostKathryn TraynorJanaina TschapeAlison Uklanska and Piotr UklanskiTanya Van SantMichelle VanassaVictoria and Benjamin VergnionSarah and John VincentJacqueline VittiniBridget Murphy and Kay Vorderwuelbecke Karen Zippler and Anthony Ward Harvey Ware Jr.Elizabeth Thompson and Tim WhiteJen and Chris WinkKira and Jake WiznerMelissa Michalak and Jeremy WolffLisa WolmanIlaria and Adam WoodwardAna YounghusbandRebecca Kim and Dwight Yoo Kathleen Johnson and James Yu Ellen Zerkin

CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION SUPPORTERSAustin Hearst FoundationDancing Tides FoundationGoldman, Sachs & Co. Matching GIft ProgramGoogle Matching Gift ProgramJohn Silberman & AssociatesMichael & Susan Dell Foundation Matching ProgramMorgan Stanley Matching GIft ProgramNY International Children’s Film FestivalReel Link FilmsRazorfish Matching GIft ProgramSerco Supply Corp.The Spray Foundation

SPECIAL THANKS FOR IN-KIND SERVICESAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP.

We appreciate everyone who supported the Annual Fund. If we have inadvertently left out a name, please accept our sincerest apologies, and contact our office at [email protected].

Shino and Albert MoffittLauren MonacoJillian and Pete MullerPaul MurilloShira NewmarkAlexandra Levinsohn and Stian Nilsen Emily Hartzell and Leslie Nuchow Jen Insardi and James OlivieroAnna Saviski and Riyad OmarAnne and William PalmerMo and Steven PaoliniChristophor and Caedlighe PaolucciSamir and Cristina PatelAnnah PelinAnne Kenan and David PerrinDrew PetersenDot PortellaDiana and Dan ProjanskyJennifer and Boris RapoportGaia Schermerhorn and Blake RayneNyla and Alan ReedRandi ReinholdHarriet RichardsChristine Jones and Dallas Roberts Steven RosandichSarah Parker and Charlie RosseSarah Michelson and Colin RuschSovina Doan and Erez SabagAsma Malik and Kevin SalmonKimberly Pittman and Robert SaxnerBlake Rayne and Gaia SchermerhornRobert SchererStacy Fischer and David SchoenbergerSolin Cho and Aart Pieter SchoutenChristina Old and Christian SchragaChloe Scott-GiryAnjali Kumar and Atul Sharma Nancy SimkoAlison Yi and Unggul Soemardjo Susanne and Vernon StewardAnthony and I-Hsing SunSabrina Little and Bill SwartzMaki Kawasaki and Jason Tang Martine Capalbo and Josh TaylorYen Ha and Richard TeslerGladys Fung and Adrian ThongLee Ann Brown and Anthony Torn

2012–2013 Annual Fund Cont’d

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BENEFIT COMMITTEEErin Isakov, Event Co-ChairSian Edwards-Beal, Event Co-ChairSusanne Steward, Auction ChairNathan Hughes, Technical DirectorAshley Hughes, Production Stage ManagerKathleen Johnson, Production Stage ManagerDon Grace, VP External RelationsBlakely Braniff, Director of Development

The 2013 Spring Fling: Art Noir was held at the McKittrick Hotel on April 17, where guests participated in the acclaimed interactive theatrical production of “Sleep No More.” After the show, our live auction was hosted by CK Swett, which resulted in raising over $68,000! Additional entertainment was provided by DJ Kai, DJ $mall Change, jazz musicians Stella Sinclair & the Manderley House Band. The event also featured a video of our students’ journey of studying Shakespeare, tying in the theme of the Macbeth-inspired performace. Net proceeds from the event, including live, silent and online auctions was $185,864!

Alice Hunt, Assistant Director of DevelopmentMarina Brolin-D’Urso, Graphic DesignTricia Williams /Food Matters NYC, CateringBridget Murphy, Silent Auction/Kids Art PartyPiglet Evans, Online Ticket SystemSian Edwards-Beal & Sarah Teale, Film ProducersJJ Appleton, Film ScoreKathleen Johnson, Film Co-Producer

Spring Fling:Art Noir

ART NOIR SUPPORTERSZoe Adlersberg Apple Seeds Kathryn Appleby and Peter Johnson Lora and JJ Appleton Jeni Ardizzone-WestBruce ArnoldArk Seafood Inc.Acqua RestaurantBacaro Patricia Sanguedo and Eric Baker Elizabeth Rogers and Julian Barrowcliffe Sian Edwards and David Beal Markus Bannert and Thomas BirerBlue Man GroupChef David BouleyBowne & Co. StationersAndrea Lerner and Sebastian Bremer Mariana Vera and Christopher BrenJasanna and John Britton Amanda Leff and Michael Burstein Melissa Hammel and Michael BurtonRuth Root and Nicholas But-terworth c’est beau photoSuzanne Brown and Chris Calabia Anne Sophie Boesen Piglet Evans and Matthew CavallettoHunter ChancellorSarah Teale and Gordon ChaplinchashamaMarci Cheary Kenneth Chen Photography Lydia CheukChildrens’ Museum of the Arts CitiBabesElsie Hsieh and Joong ChoiMichele McElfresh and Herbert Chou Church Street School of

Music and Art City Treehouse Corey Pak and Matthias ClamerCandice and Jascha ClarkJill and Serge CohenCommon GoodCompetitive Advantage Consider It Done! Joan CooneyCorby AssociatesMari Pilar and Pele Cortizo-BurgessJennifer Costello Cowgirl Seahorse Excellence in Dermatology Cozy CutsAshleigh Arrell and Andrew Creighton Cross Fire Security Co. Inc. Emma and Sean Culbert Ananda and Kai Cutter Marina Brolin and Gary D’Urso Stephanie Bruni and Diego Da Silva DiageoLaura Bailyn and Nicholas DiamandDurst OrganizationOskar Saville and Feargal DoyleClairvoyant Beauty Downtown Dance Factory Lloyd Edelman Mary FarrellShanon and Nael Farsakh The Fashion Class Fat Radish Fat Sick & Nearly DeadKarla and Matthew Fernandes-Vogel Jessamyn Hatcher and Michael Fields Gretchen Dean and Eric FishMya and Lev FishmanFlatbush FarmFlyWheel SportsDawn Williams and Marty Fluger For Eyes

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Darryl Fowler Violaine Harris and David Fuhrer Izabela and Kevin Frank Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PCKate Farrell and Jonathan Fraser Fred Astaire Dance Studio Fresh Salt Front StudioFulton MarketAllison Gaines-PellAmanda and Nicholas Gelber Claudia Duarte and Alan Geller GK FramingRenee Rolleri and Matt GoldmanPaola Weintraub Gomez and Nick Gomez Megan Kinney and Martin GoodingWendy Cole and Damon Gorton Don GraceMichele and Mark GrahamGraystone Consulting The Greenwich HotelDr. Bradley GrossmanSophie Gudmundson and Jan HenrikJoanne Heyman Elizabeth Yow and Steven HicksKari Thorstensen and Joel Hinman The Howard Hughes CorporationTanja Norwood and Eric Huang Ashley and Nathan Hughes Hunter Service Group, Inc.I Beam Construction, LLCMichelle Cheuvront and Pablo IberoIce Theatre of New York il Buco Imagine Swimming Erin and Michael Isakov Janus Films J & R TelecomAlexandra Starr and Erez Kalir Anita Durst and Rick Kariolic Karma Kids Lisa KayeSara and Thomas Kearney H. Sujin Kim Ann Kingston Kathi Castro and Michael KudlerKula Yoga Erika and Benson Kutrieb

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Jenny Golden and Steven LaMorteIra Lee Simone Leigh Lemon SkyMeredith and Josh LevineSivan LewinLittle Airplanes Studio Anna Padgett and Michael LittletonLivewell Personal Training Suzanne and Rene LopezHenriette Scherer and Marc LoPrestiMichele Barker and Suleman Lunat Mabo Kids Made Fresh Daily Coleen and Paul Maguire Manhattan Theatre Club Leona Naess and John Marino Mark Joseph Steakhouse Sarah Weinstein and Emil Martone Jennifer and Peter Masterson Laura Stein and David Mattson Erin McCarthyAndrea Kurzman and David McNamara Brian Scott Mednick MGM Mirage Entertainment Miles Fischer, Fire & Building Code Services, INC. Aaron and Ross Millhiser Elizabeth MitchellMobyShino and Albert Moffitt Lauren MonacoJanaina Tschape and Vik MunizMusic For Aardvarks Music For Manhattan Donna LennardNanno Space NETworks Presentations LLC New Victory TheatreAlexandra Levinsohn and Stian NilsenMoira North

Leslie Hartzell and Emily NuchowJulianne Tolleson and Matthew Nycz Leigh Anne O’ConnorTia and William OberingJen Insardi and James Oliviero Anne and William PalmerMo and Steven PaoliniJulie and Nick PapadopoulosCaedlighe and Christopher PaolucciPasanella & SonsCarla PassosCristina and Samir PatelMara PaukerPeridanceAnne Kenan and David PerrinJill Platner Play On! StudiosPolly Soloman and Aerial Silk Classes Jennifer and Boris RapoportClaudia Bernheim and Leo RaphaelyNyla and Alan ReedTricia Williams and Peder Regan David ReimerRickshaw Dumplings Rinaldi PilatesChristine Jones and Dallas RobertsSir Ken and Lady RobinsonRoboFunLisa and David RockBrandi Beck and Andy RosenSarah Parker and Charlie Rosse Katherine and Kenneth Ruck Sarah Michelson and Colin Rusch Sovina Doan and Erez SabagSacred YogaThe Salty PawKimberly Pittman and Robert Saxner Pamela Scherr Stacey Fischer and David Schoenberger Solin Cho and Pieter SchoutenBeth Levison and Henry Sidel SmartSitting

Alison Yi and Unggul SoemardjoSoul Arts Academy Speak Out New YorkJennifer and Phil Stanton Susanne and Vernon StewardSTREBI-Hsing and Anthony SunSuper Why Sabrina Little and Bill SwartzTaste BudsMartine Capalbo and Joshua TaylorYen Ha and Peter TeslerThree TartsTone AcademyToni L. Tallerico & AT Mechanical LLC Lee Ann Brown and Anthony TornAndrew Marcus and Ethan TraskMarta Guitart and Joseph TuanaRebecca Wood and Josh Tyrangiel Alison and Piotr Uklanska Universal Orlando UX Bureau Michelle VanassaIlham Zoughi and Sriram VenkataramanVictoria and Benjamin VergnionSarah and John VincentBridget and Kay VorderwuelbeckeKaren Zippler and Anthony WardThe Weinstein CompanyWillie Mae Rock Camp for Ladies Jen and Chris WinkKira and Jake WiznerMelissa Michalak and Jeremy WolffLisa WolmanIlaria and Adam WoodwardKathleen Johnson and James YuEllen Zerkin

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Our end-of-year parent celebration was focused on giving thanks for the incredible generosity and support given by our community throughout the year. Parents and staff gathered for a cocktail party on the terrace and were invited to write a letter to their child, illuminating why it is so important to them to have been able to give their child and their family the experience of a Blue School education. Letters were hung on a paper tree mural in the Commons, and were on display for all to enjoy for days afterwards.

Letters to Our Children

“ The work, creative thinking and collaboration I have seen at Blue School is awe-inspiring. I feel incredibly lucky as a parent to have found this magical place for my children.”

– Erin, Parent of Sophia, Katarina & Eli

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BLUE SCHOOL FACULTY

Cynthia Bogdanovich, 3rd GradeJason Borges, 3rd GradeLinda Chang, 2nd Grade BAnne Cohen, Music SpecialistMolly DeGesero, Kindergarten BVal DuVal, Physical ArtsJennifer Halliday, 1st Grade BDina Hamaoui, 2s A/B/C/DJoleen Hanlund,1st Grade BAnne Hardingham, 1st Grade ACiara Hedderman, 3s A/CTara Holmes, 2s A/B/C/DRich Jenkins, Kindergarten BNgina Johnson, 1st Grade AValerie Killen, 3s BErica Lee, 3s A/CKaren Levenberg, 4s B full dayKeren Lilu, 2nd Grade AAshley Lyon, 4s ALauren Monaco, Studio TeacherShira Newmark, FloaterAnna Padgett, 4s B full dayMonica Palma, Spanish TeacherMara Pauker, Kindergarten ADrew Petersen, Drama SpecialistDot Portella, 2nd Grade ARandi Reinhold, 2nd Grade BNancy Simko, Kindergarten AKatie Traynor, 3s BAna Younghusband, 4th GradeEllen Zerkin, 4s A

ADMINISTRATORS

Jeni Ardizzone-West, Executive Director/Business Development

Bruce Arnold, Consulting School Psychologist

Marlon Bernard, Controller

Blakely Braniff, Director of Development

Bill Breen, Facilities Manager

Amelia Clune, Literacy and Learning Specialist

Allison Gaines Pell, Head of School

Freda Gimpel, Director of Finance & Operations

Don Grace, VP of External Relations

Kate Horton, Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Ashley Hughes, Program & Operations Manager

David Kelly, Director of Studies for Lower Grades

Patricia Lynch, Director of Studies for Upper Grades

Paul Murillo, Security

Ian Candy, IT Specialist

Harriet Richards, Child Development Specialist

Lindsey Russo, Curriculum Specialist

Chloe Scott-Giry, Assistant Director of Admissions

Nicole Smoot, Administative Assistant/Receptionist

Michelle Vanassa, Office Manager

Harvey Ware, Building & Security Supervisor

Dawn Williams, Director of Admissions

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Each of our values relates in some way to the idea of connection, whether it be connection to a community, to one’s own self-awareness, to one’s artistic voice, to one’s body, to the world, to one’s own interests and learning style, or to one’s sense of joy and wonder.

Our Values

PLAYFULNESS, EXUBERANCE & FUN We believe children construct some of their most important learning through play.

SELF-AWARENESS & WELL-BEING We help children become aware of how their bodies and thought processes connect to a sense of health, efficacy, and resilience.

GLOBAL & ENVIRONMENTAL EXPLORATION We help children become aware of and respect the world in which they live.

FAMILY & COMMUNITY CONNECTION We believe that children flourish when deep human connections permeate all aspects of their lives.

MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES & DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING STYLES We carefully observe and assess each child’s individual interests and needs and then use this information to guide our teaching.

CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION We believe that creative expression is a basic human need.

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www.blueschool.org