Dear Oldfields Alumnae,
I must admit I have lost count as to how many weeks I have been at home, and even though we are far apart, I am thankful that Oldfields continues to bring us together!
Zoom should get some of the credit, that's for sure, but it is the spirit behind the Zoom classes, meetings, and even reunions that I so admire! In light of all of this, I would like to use this letter to remind all of us of just how lucky we are, through the words, thoughts, and actions of our Oldfields family.
Claire's words were echoed by three freshmen who were part of our recent Zoom Board Meeting. It was so uplifting to connect with Mia '23, Jasmine '23, and Merritt '23 and to hear their thoughts about our remote learning program. All three agreed remote learning is not the same as being at Oldfields and that they miss the face-to-face interactions, but they also felt it was good keeping up with their school work and that continuing with Morning Meeting and Advisory helped to keep them connected to the Oldfields community they have grown to love. I especially enjoyed hearing that, thanks to Director of Riding Amy Phillips, Jasmine got to FaceTime with her horse at the barn! Only at Oldfields!!!
And speaking of Zoom, how about the Class of 1990 and 1995 not letting a pandemic get in the way of their reunion? Classmates and faculty connected online for almost five hours of laughter and love, for a 30th and 25th reunion they are sure to remember! Not to be outdone, our seniors are kickin' it when it comes to college! All the girls were accepted to an impressive list of colleges, with one student opting for a gap year. Equally noteworthy, twenty members of the class have been offered more than $700,000 dollars in merit scholarships! Talk about being Senior Strong!!
Then there is Oldfields alumna Eileen Rockefeller Growald '70. Eileen was All-School President my sophomore year, and it is clear there isn't much she can't do! Eileen is a published author and has been writing some beautiful poetry about the situation in which we find ourselves today. My favorite is called "What's Possible," and the first stanza is a good reminder to take the earbuds out. "When you hear the wild geese flying north overhead stop whatever you're doing and look up. They are immune to the Coronavirus, but not immune to Spring, which is the point after all, to wake us to what's possible." You will find the entire work below, but the first lines of Eileen's poem are so hopeful and positive, I felt they bore repeating!
As always, we here at Oldfields have great respect for our alumnae and parents on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle. We could not continue to do what we do without YOU. May you and our Oldfields family continue to shine brightly.
Take care, be kind, and wash your hands! Lulu Laubenstein '72
What's Possible By Eileen Rockefeller Growald '70 What's Possible
When you hear the wild geese flying north overhead stop whatever you're doing and look up. They are immune to the Coronavirus, but not immune to Spring which is the point after all, to wake us to what's possible.
Do not despair in the isolation of this time. Do not fear being next in line for the mounting numbers called to bed. If you have heard the geese, you are part of the great wings of life. . Sing with them, like the Italians. For every death there is a birth, an aria heralding the call to change our ways for this and all the rest of our days.
Feel the support and heed of climate and Nature along with you and me and all our neighbors, not just for our sameness, like tastes in movies or food but for uncomfortable differences, and preferences like sand in our shoes, reminding us that each grain was once part of a whole block of rock.
Do not cling to sameness but look each season in the eye as an example of the necessity and beauty of difference and change. Drink the sweet sap from sugar maples, branching to geese overhead. Gawk at the stalk figure of a praying mantis on a stem of grass. Dance with the red and orange leaves gyrating to earth, and marvel how each flake of snow that covers them is unique among all others that ever fell or will meet your eyes. Just like you.
March 15, 2020
SILVER ANNIVERSARY CHALLENGE For the Class of 1995 Silver symbolizes brilliance, radiance, and lasting value—what better way to describe the Class of 1995! 2020 is a significant year in so many ways, both good and bad. This is a silver opportunity for the Class of 1995 to tip the scales toward "good" by showing our support for new generations of Oldfields girls who will love our school 25 years from now as much as we do!
A '95 classmate has put forth a giving challenge in honor of our Silver 25th Reunion! Although she wishes to remain anonymous, she will make her gift based on the number of gifts received from other members of the Class of 1995. For each gift received, she will increase her personal gift by $25!
This is such an important time to show your love for Oldfields and continued support for the incredible experience Oldfields provides young women. A gift of any size will count towards this challenge. If you have not already done so, show your appreciation for Oldfields School by making a gift to The Oldfields Fund today.
SHARE YOUR SILVER!
Virtual Tour of the Oldfields Campus If, like many of us, you are suffering from cabin fever, brighten your day with a tour of Oldfields. Take a virtual tour of the campus and reminisce about your favorite spots or see what is new on campus since you were last here. Click here or on the image above to take the tour!
Oldfields' Own Heroes Director of Health Services Ashleigh Pfleegor '00 easily has one of the most demanding roles on campus even during "normal" times. In her first year working at Oldfields, Ashleigh not only took excellent care of our girls while they were on campus, but led the way in keeping our community informed, proactive, and safe as the COVID-19 situation rapidly evolved. Her previous experience as an ICU nurse contributed to her ability to remain calm in a storm. She is truly our own personal healthcare hero. As you can see from this short video, we are lucky to have this alumna back on campus! Director of Information Technology Tiffany Harrison often remains behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly, from our phone system to the internet servers. However, she is front and center whenever there is a job that requires sewing abilities. Tiffany and her mother have delivered over 500 masks to Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore where her mother, now retired, worked for 44 years, and where her sister currently works in the Transitional Care Unit. They plan to keep on sewing as long as there is a need.
Head of School David Perfield was recently was contacted by another head of school who was putting out an urgent call for 3D printers. Oldfields answered the call, and our 3D printers are now part of a grassroots organization that has made and delivered hundreds of masks and respirators to local hospitals. Read more >
We know that many of you are on the front lines and supporting your communities in numerous ways, and we would love to hear your stories. Please reach out and share with us by emailing Alumnae@OldfieldsSchool.org or by calling Director of Alumnae Affairs Joan Carter '81 P'15 at 443-662-1018.
Look Who's Coming to Advisory! Advisor Ann Thal regularly takes advisory to an entirely new level, like last week when she invited a guest speaker. In celebration of Earth Day, zookeeper Claire Hickman, a former riding student of Miss Ann's, joined the Zoom meeting with some special friends. Claire is also a teacher and artist, but now works full time caring for the creatures she loves at Gatorama and Crocodile Adventures in order to educate the public about the need for conservation. Claire introduced the girls to snakes, tortoises, bobcats, and of course, Grandpa Gator! Please, don't try this at home!
Advisory remains one of the favorite highlights of the week. From themed activities like "Mindfulness Mondays," during which the Perfield girls shared relaxation breathing techniques to "Share your Hidden Talent Tuesdays" when all kinds of surprises occur, you really never know what might happen during those precious 30 minutes.
Oldfields Riding Program Goes Virtual Associate Director of Riding Ann Thal uses her many connections in the equestrian world to invite guest speakers for the virtual riding lessons that occur weekly. A recent guest was Jose Alejos, who travels all over the world starting young horses and working with problem horses. Friday's speaker was Olympic show-jumping gold medalist, Melanie Smith Taylor. Everyone is welcome to join! You can take our girls out of the barn, but you can't take the barn out of the girls! Email Ann Thal at ThalA@OldfieldsSchool.org, if you would like to participate in any of the upcoming speakers!
Ready for Some New Zoom Backgrounds? Feel free to borrow one of Oldfields' favorite campus spots for your next Zoom call...click here for a slideshow of more background options. What was your favorite spot on campus? We will take a picture of it for you!
Legacy Students Accepted to Oldfields for Fall 2020 We love the enthusiasm of our new legacy students, Casey '25 and Parker '25, daughters of Meredith Goldstein Marx '97, who will be joining the Oldfields community this fall! Click here to see the video.
©2016 Oldfields School |