Dear Oldfields Alumnae and Friends,
The first Oldfields girl I ever met was Daisy Biddle Eiman '45. Daisy is the mother of one of my best friends, so you can imagine the conversations we had when I announced I was headed to Oldfields in the fall of 1968. Daisy told me how much of a home Oldfields had been to her. She told me about her Baltimore adventures and shared wonderful stories about Miss Herky as a 20-something gym teacher!
Fast forward 50 years, and I am proud to say Oldfields still feels like home, and my love of meeting Oldfields girls only grows stronger with time! Don't know if this happens at all schools, but to me there is an immediate connection and friendliness between us Oldfields sisters both on campus and out in the real world. In January, a small group of us gathered with former Head of School Taylor Smith for an informal lunch in Philadelphia. Even though many of us were meeting for the first time, the atmosphere was electric! It was just as much fun later in the year when Jill Romanowicz Unruh '87 and Jill Smith Donald '92 hosted our wonderful Philadelphia gathering that included alumnae ranging in class years from 1954 to 2011!
Bottom line, you never know where or when you will meet a former or even future Oldfields girl, but if the opportunity presents itself, take it! Consider hosting an Oldfields event, or if there is an Oldfields gathering near you, go for it, even if you don't know a soul on the guest list. You will find your fellow Oldfields alumnae will welcome you with open arms. You will also have the opportunity to meet our wonderful Head of School David Perfield, new members of our Admissions Office, Pam Susi, our new Director of Development, along with other Oldfields family and friends. It is time well spent, and the connections you will make will last a lifetime. Meeting other Oldfields alumnae is one of the things I so love about my work with the School. So stay tuned, there could be an Oldfields gathering coming soon to a city near you!!
One last thought, I would like to give a big "THANK YOU!" to fellow alumna Liza Easton '80 for her response to the last Green and White Gazette! Liza, thank you so much for your offer to be more involved with Oldfields and for your generous support! As Franz Kafka once said "Anything that has real and lasting value is always a gift from within." We can't thank you enough!
Many thanks for all you do, and please stay in touch!
Lulu Laubenstein '72
Alumnae Spotlight Lucy Kemper Pieh '59 Shows Her Largeness of Heart From a very young age, Lucy Kemper Pieh '59 was drawn to those who were facing challenges. Possibly her compassion arose from having a sister with cerebral palsy, or the fact that Lucy herself had dyslexia (undiagnosed in those days). She remembers Oldfields field trips that left lasting impressions—visits to local hospitals with Mrs. Hewitt and an assembly in which a blind speaker shared his experience. Her summers spent at a camp for disabled children solidified her desire to help others. Whatever the events that influenced Lucy, they ran deep, as she has spent her entire life nurturing, caring for, and loving those in need.
Lucy struggled academically at Oldfields and at college due to her undiagnosed dyslexia, but that did not stop her from finding a way to help children in need. As the spouse of Milton School's headmaster, she became a refuge for the students who struggled in any way. She had a way of reading people and an empathy which made her ideal for this special role as a surrogate mother to so many. In addition to raising two biological children, she also adopted two special needs children. Eventually, she decided in her 40s to take advantage of her natural caretaking ability and enrolled at Lesley College where she obtained her bachelor's degree in human services and her master's in counseling and psychology.
Lucy found her true heart's calling in hospice care. For over 30 years she has been a full-time volunteer at a hospice care nonprofit. Her area of expertise is in helping children go through the grieving process. Lucy shares, "In times of transitions, such as when people are grieving, you see their true soul—all pretense is stripped away." Lucy has positively impacted countless lives through her personal and professional life. Oldfields is proud to call her an alumna. We are so glad that Lucy never gave up, and continued to follow her heart. The world is a much better place because of it.
Celebrating Founder's Day Joe Hordubay Honored with The McCulloch Family Award Another cherished tradition, celebrating Oldfields' founder, Anna Austen McCulloch took place on September 4, 2019. The community participated in a simple but beautiful ceremony to honor our founder. Following a morning assembly, the community walked to her gravesite at Immanuel Church where we laid a wreath and sang "Sheep on the Hill."
Special guests included treasured former faculty members Joe and Dotty Hordubay. At the earlier assembly, Joe, a popular 40-year chemistry, astronomy, and physical science teacher, was fittingly presented The McCulloch Family Award for his devoted service to Oldfields. Congratulations, Joe! Dotty and Joe Hordubay
Mind, Body, and School Spirit Strong Start to the New School Year We thought you would enjoy some highlights from our amazing Opening Days programming. Orientation was designed to provide the girls with activities to help new and returning students build and strengthen friendships! Click here to view highlights!
Barrett Pitcher '15 Visits Campus! We are always happy to see our alumnae back on campus! Barrett Pitcher '15 came to visit her former advisor and Chair of the Performing Arts Department Carrie Hammond. She was able to see friends, former teachers, and the newly installed dance floor during her visit!
Green and White Night Now and Then It was around 1910 when the School divided into two teams that competed in tennis and basketball. The rivalry sometimes became contentious. During one of the more noisy disputes, an onlooker referred to the first simple rule in the student handbook—"Gentleness and courtesy are expected of all." With delightful irony, the teams were named Gentleness, whose banner was white with green letters, and Courtesy, whose banner was green with white letters. Eventually the teams evolved into the much-loved Greens and Whites we know today. (McPherson, Feeling of Family. p.42-43)
The Green and White Cup for which Oldfields' teams still compete today was first awarded in 1924, although Green and White Night was not officially begun until 1931. (McPherson, Feeling of Family. p. 67) Then, like now, new girls are excited to be given their color, knowing the association will last a lifetime! Unlike in earlier years, the Green and White competition has evolved to include more than just athletic events. Students now earn points for their team based on academic achievements, attendance, athletic events during Spirit Games, school spirit, community service, and of course, finding the Thing-a-ma-bob!
Although the actual ceremony has changed over the years, today's Oldfields girls feel the same excitement when joining their forever team! Click here to see some moments from this year's Green and White Night.
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