fasny connections - French-American School of New York

JUNE 2012
VOLUME I ISSUE I
FASNY CONNECTIONS
CONNECTING, NETWORKING, REMAINING IN TOUCH
FASNY Celebrates Fourth Graduating Class
Pulitzer Prize Winning Columnist and NY Times Washington
Bureau Chief David Leonhardt Delivers Commencement Speech
The French-American School of New York paid tribute to its fourth class of
graduating seniors on Sunday, June 17th, in what was described as a “beautiful and
elegant ceremony” at the historic Wainwright House in Rye, New York. With a
sparkling Long Island Sound as backdrop, 36 seniors listened attentively as their
journey and many accomplishments were celebrated by classmates, faculty,
parents and their commencement speaker - Pulitzer Prize winning columnist
David Leonhardt, New York Times Washington Bureau Chief and son of
departing Head of School, Robert Leonhardt. David Leonhardt’s advice to the
seniors was to always follow their hearts when choosing a career path.
Above: David Leonhardt delivers
commencement speech; and Joël Peinado and
Mark Rosenblum look on as Bob Leonhardt
awards diplomas to graduating seniors
Below: The grounds of the historic Wainwright
home in Rye, New York served as a lovely setting
for commencement, with grassy lawn, stately
trees and remarkable views of the Sound.
FRENCH-AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK
525 Fenimore Road
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
914.250.0410 office • 914.250.2216 fax
www.fasny.org
JUNE 2012
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
FASNY CONNECTIONS
College Acceptances for
Class of 2012 *
FASNY’s Class of 2012 Proudly Accepts
Fine Selection of Global Universities
In what has been described by many experts as the most difficult year
yet to date for college-bound seniors to be accepted, FASNY’s Class of
2012 – the fourth to graduate from the School - have been accepted into
an impressive array of colleges and universities around the world.
The FASNY college placement office processed 292 applications from
FASNY Seniors, including schools in the United States, Britain,
Canada, Belgium and Switzerland. Of those applications, 150 were met
with a coveted acceptance letter, for an excellent yield of over 51%.
Applications to French universities are handled separately in the
FASNY college placement office with nine students submitting a total
of 59 applications to French colleges and universities.
A sampling of schools the Class of 2012 will attend includes: McGill,
University of Michigan, University of Montreal, Hunter College, Bates
College, Syracuse University, New York University, Middlebury
College, Georgetown University, Columbia University, University of
Pennsylvania, Tufts University, Cornell University, Institut Bocuse,
Lyon, Université Louvain la Neuve, HEC Montreal, Purchase College,
St. Andrews, University College of London, ISEN Lille, CPGE Ginette
Versailles, and Université de Paris I La Sorbonne.
*
Excludes French Univerisites
80% of Graduating Seniors Will Matriculate to a U.S. or Canadian University; 20% to a
European University
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
FASNY CONNECTIONS
THE BACCALAURÉAT
97% OF GRADUATING SENIORS PASS LE BAC WITH HONORS
The baccalauréat , or colloquially
“le bac,” is an academic
qualification which French and
international students take at the
end of the secondary education. It
was introduced by Napoleon I in
1808 and is the main diploma
required to pursue university
studies.
We are delighted to announce the outstanding results the FASNY
Class of 2012 achieved on the French baccalauréat examination.
In the four years that FASNY has
graduated a graduating class, 105students have been seated for le
bac, 100% percent have passed,
and 95% have passed with honors –
thus placing FASNY at the top of
“établissements homologués in the
United States
Of the 35 students who took le bac, 34 passed with honors: 9 with
Mention Assez Bien, 12 with Mention Bien, and 13 with Mention
Très Bien.
This performance once again places FASNY at the top of
“établissements homologués” in the United States with 97% of all
students seated for le bac passing with honors.
Congratulations to our wonderful Class of 2012, their parents, and the
entire faculty and staff who guided our students to these impressive
results yet another year!
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
FASNY CONNECTIONS
Class Agents Catherine Hampton.
Fanny Charriaud and Louis Mason
(not pictured) prepare to cut the Class
of 2012 Graduation Cake
CLASS AGENTS ELECTED
Class of 2012 Agents - Fanny
Charriaud, Catherine Hampton and
Louis Mason - will work with the
FASNY Alumni Affairs Office to
keep the lines of communication
open between the graduating seniors
as begin university life, using a
variety of platforms, including
traditional Class Notes, submitted
through the website at
www.fasny.org; Facebook,
LinkedIn, and Twitter. Class Agents
will also suggest and assist in
planning reunion and alumni
events. Finally, Class Agents will
provide a vital link between the
Development Office and Alumni for
fundraising initiatives critical to the
School’s continued growth.
SENIOR PICNIC CAPS FINAL WEEK OF CLASSES
Finishing the final classes of their FASNY career, graduating seniors and
selected faculty and staff boarded buses on a picture-perfect spring day
and traveled to White Plains for a traditional picnic in the former
Ridgeway clubhouse and soon-to-be site of the new campus, followed by
a walking tour of the new campus grounds.
Students dined on fried chicken, cole slaw, potato salad, and watermelon,
as they sat and chatted on the deck overlooking the 100-acre campus. And
later strolled the grounds of the campus. Capping the meal was the
announcement of their new Class Agents – elected the prior week in a
class-wide vote. Class Agents Fanny Charriaud, Catherine Hampton and
Louis Mason received FASNY-embroidered Vineyard Vines key chains,
then cut a massive chocolate/strawberry sheet cake made especially for
the Class of 2012!
MAJORITY OF GRADUATING SENIORS CITE FACEBOOK, THEN FACE-TO-FACE EVENTS AS
PREFERRED METHODS OF STAYING IN TOUCH, ACCORDING TO GRADUATION SURVEY
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
FASNY CONNECTIONS
“PIONEERING” FASNY GRANDPARENTS
ATTEND FIRST GRANDPARENTS’ BREAKFAST
The First Annual Grandparents’ Breakfast on May 22, 2012 was a great
success with more than 30 grandparents (and a few parents) arriving
promptly at 8:30 for breakfast with Bob Leonhardt, Joël Peinado and the
staff of the Development Office. Photos of grandchildren were spooling on
a large screen throughout the morning, delighting guests with close-up shots
of their grandchildren at work and play. Head of School Bob Leonhardt
explained how FASNY was different from other independent schools and
why the new campus was so important to the School’s future. Next year’s
Grandparents’ Breakfast will include time in the classroom with the
grandchildren!
GROWING GRANDPARENTS!
FASNY has “located” more than
70 grandparents of current and
former FASNY students, living
both in the United States and
abroad. We believe that, by
expanding our reach to FASNY
grandparents and providing
opportunities to be involved in
events on campus and overseas,
we strengthen the feeling of
community that makes FASNY
unique. Grandparents can also
play a vital role as volunteers for
FASNY, in development,
communications and event’
planning.
To be more involved as a
grandparent, we encourage you to
let us know of your interests and
contact details. Click Here for
Grandparents’ Form.
FACULTY GRANDPARENTS KEEPING IT “ALL IN THE FAMILY”
A delightful trend can be seen at FASNY in recent years – namely, an
increasing number of FASNY faculty members – who are in some cases also
Alumni Parents - entrusting their grandchildren to the halls of FASNY. Indeed,
faculty members with families that span THREE FASNY generations include:
 Tania Silverman – a member of the FASNY faculty and administration
for nearly 30 years, whose son Misha is a Kindergarten Assistant and
whose two grandchildren, Tony and Lily, are entering Nursery and 1 st
Grade;
 Lesia Massat, Grades 4-5 ESL and Intermediate English teacher for 18
years, whose daughter Laura Hersch (next year’s Scarsdale FASNYPAT
rep), as well as son Andrew, both attended FASNY in the 1980’s and
1990’s. Laura’s son Maxim Hersh has just completed his Nursery year at
FASNY; and
 Mie-Janie Pipher, Grades 6-7 History/Geography Teacher, who son
James attended FASNY in the 1990’s and who now has grandson Kenneth
entering 1st Grade. Mie-Janie even taught Lesia’s daughter Laura, for two
years!
Tania Silverman, son Misha and grandson Tony
… and with grand-daughter Lily
34% OF CLASS OF 2012 PLANS A CAREER IN THE SCIENCES, FOLLOWED BY 23% IN AN
INTERNATIONAL PROFESSION, ACCORDING TO GRADUATION SURVEY
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
FASNY CONNECTIONS
KERMESSE …
Kermesse is a term of Dutch
origin now widely used to
describe a funfair or festival.
The word derives from “kerk”
(church) and “mis” (mass) and
was coined centuries ago to
describe the celebration of the
anniversary of the founding of
a church in honor of its patron
– especially in the Low
Countries and Northern
France.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND GOOD TIMES ABOUND AT FASNY’S
KERMESSE
A picture-perfect late Spring day in Larchmont provided the backdrop for
FASNY’s annual Kermesse. The hard work of a dedicated team of parent,
faculty and student volunteers guaranteed a fun-filled day for the hundreds
of celebrants.
Among the many popular Kermesse attractions were pony rides, facepainting stands, henna tattoo booths and cupcake-decorating . As families
strolled among the varied attractions and sampled foods from around the
world, they were serenaded by FASNY student and faculty singers and
musicians, who were provided with their own stage to showcase their
talents.
Flemish Kermess by David Teniers
the Younger (1652). Oil on canvas,
157 x 221 cm, Royal Museums of Fine
Arts, Brussels.
12TH GRADE PHILOSOPHY CITED AS CLASS OF 2012’S FAVORITE THIS YEAR, FOLLOWED BY
HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY, ACCORDING TO GRADUATION SURVEY
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
JUNE 2012
FASNY CONNECTIONS
ANNUAL GIVING
“REACHING FOR THE STARS” AT FASNY’S 2012 GALA
The 2011 – 2012 Fiscal Year marked
a first for FASNY in the Fundraising
arena. For the first time ever, FASNY
has – like most independent schools –
separated the Annual Fund from
events-driven fundraising, such as the
Gala.
A RECORD TURNOUT TRANSLATES TO NEARLY $500,000 FOR FASNY PROGRAM
ENRICHMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP
This year’s Gala was held on March 16th at the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle.
The hard work of FASNY’s Gala Committee and enthusiastic participation of 540 guests
and countless patrons and corporate supporters, all ensured that “Reaching for the Stars”
was a smash! Next year’s Gala will be held on Saturday, March 23rd at the Rye Town
Hilton. Mark your calendars now, as -- beginning this coming September -- the Development
Although FASNY still recognizes the Office is standing by to assist Alumni and Alumni Parents in reserving and organizing Gala tables.
Click to reach Anne-Catherine Morange in Development: acmorange@fasny.org
generosity of all its supporters –
whether financial or “sweat-equity”
and whether Annual Fund or eventsoriented, the importance of a strong
Annual Fund has been underscored by
the establishment of multiple new
giving categories that recognize the
generosity of donors, exclusive of
events and other forms of giving.
Why? Because Annual Funds exist at
every independent school in the
United States. They take the pressure
off tuition by providing amenities that
tuition alone could not cover – at
least not without large tuition
increases. The Annual Fund at
FASNY has paid for state-of-the-art
equipment in science labs, smartboards in classrooms, playground
equipment, audio systems in the
theaters for performing arts programs,
athletic equipment and gas for buses
to athletic events and field trips,
financial aid for more than 60
families needing scholarships each
year, and much more!
Click to Learn More About
FASNY’s Annual Fund and How
You Can Make a Difference at a
Level That Makes Sense for You!
FASNY’S ANNUAL FUND FINISHES A RECORD YEAR
ACHIEVING RECORD PARTICIPATION RATES AS WELL AS DOLLARS RAISED
This year proved that, at FASNY, everybody gives! FASNY’s Annual Fund reached record
levels– despite having been formally “separated” from Gala giving. Indeed, in its first year
“standing alone,” this year’s campaign reached record levels of participation and total
dollars raised! Some preliminary highlights, as our fiscal year comes to a close, include:
over $600,000 raised, with 100% Trustee Participation; 91% Parent Participation;
Employee Participation at a new record; and unprecedented support from Alumni Parents;
Grandparents; Corporations and Foundations. Thank you for your support, which demonstrates
your faith in the mission and future of FASNY. Your loyalty supports the investment you have made
in the FASNY education and ensures we will continue to earn your respect for future generations.
We are here to help you address any special requests. Click to reach Claire LaBrunerie in
Development: clabrunerie@fasny.org
DID YOU KNOW? FASNY’S FACEBOOK PAGE “FRENCH-AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW
YORK” HAS 600 “LIKES?” – “LIKE” US TODAY AND FOLLOW IMPORTANT FASNY
MILESTONES ALONGSIDE US!
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
JUNE 2012
FASNY CONNECTIONS
FASNY HEADMASTER RETIRES
SCHOOL SAYS FAREWELL TO MR. ROBERT LEONHARDT
BY JULIAN SALZ AND OLIVIER WEISS
Above: This drawing of Robert Leonhardt is
printed with the permission of FASNY student
and artist Emanuel Wickenburg, rising 10th
grader. Originally published in The Messenger,
June 2012.
Click Here to Read the Latest Issue of The
Messenger.
Above: For years Bob Leonhardt was not content
to simply head the School he loved, rather he
chose to lead in the classrooms, as well, teaching
the popular _____ class each year.
Click Here to Read the Latest Issue of The
Messenger.
When Mr. Robert Leonhardt took the school by storm as Head of the School in
2002, he sought to take FASNY to the next level. Though already extremely
successful all told, we barely had a high school, the French and American
curricula were not as closely integrated as they are today, and the concept of a
Ridgeway campus would have seemed somewhat inappropriate and grandiose.
Now, under his leadership, four 12th grade classes have graduated and a large,
integrated campus should soon become a reality. FASNY has grown from a
“Mom and Pop” establishment into a community that is professional and thriving,
yet warm and tight-knit.
We at The Messenger have sought to paint a picture of the man, his time and
fantastic record at FASNY, and what’s next for the school by speaking to the
Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr. Mischa Zabotin, Mr. Leonhardt himself,
his successor Mr. Joël Peinado, and his assistant Ms. Debbie Kozlowski, who,
sadly, will be leaving the Mamaroneck office and moving to the Fenimore office
to assist Mr. Peinado.
As tough as being Headmaster must have been, the man with the familiar bowtie
and bearded smile made it clear that he was prepared: “I knew what I was getting
into,” he assured us. He explained that he had been armed with a vision for the
school that led him through his first few years: “the academic administration had
to be professionalized in order to permit growth.”
His assistant Ms. Kozlowski—Debbie, to most of us—agreed. When asked what
Mr. Leonhardt’s crowning achievement at FASNY was, Debbie responded that it
was much more of the “little, behind-the-scenes things that not many got to see”
that was the most seminal aspect of his tenure, noting that he “professionalized the
school and brought it up to standards.”
When asked what his biggest obstacles or toughest decisions were, Mr. Leonhardt
said that no decision was impossible, but rather that there were many important
ones. Some of the most memorable, he said, were launching the Ridgeway
project, taking on the lease for the Scarsdale campus, and opening the 11th and
12th grades, which he said was especially difficult given time constraints, the
need to convince 10th grade students to stay at FASNY, and the process of
gaining accreditation from the French government.
CONTINUED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE …
DID YOU KNOW? FASNY’S FACEBOOK ALUMNI HOMEBASE “FASNY CONNECT” HAS 452
“FRIENDS?” – “FRIEND” US TODAY AND SHARE YOUR PHOTOS AND NEWS!
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
JUNE 2012
FASNY CONNECTIONS
TEAMWORK A CENTRAL THEME OF MR. LEONHARDT’S TENURE
… CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
When asked about his leadership style, everyone pointed to the same word: “teamwork.” Mr. Leonhardt put it humbly, describing
himself as “too lazy to be a micromanager; I’m more of a teamwork guy.” Mr. Peinado said that Mr. Leonhardt “believes in his
people, delegates choices, and always works in committees.” He added that the atmosphere Mr. Leonhardt created was “nonhierarchical,” in which it was not about power, but about everyone working together.
Mr. Leonhardt will certainly be missed. “He’s almost like a father figure to me,” said Debbie. “He’s not just a boss, he’s a friend
and a role model.”
She fondly recalled how, when telling a story, Mr. Leonhardt always “takes on every accent that the people in the story have,
because it could be Brooklyn, or German, or French, and you’re so engaged in it because he’s so hilarious, and he remembers
everything word for word.”
Mr. Zabotin described his relationship with Mr. Leonhardt as being “based on open and honest communication, on mutual
availability and on trust. Those are also the hallmarks of a good friendship, which our relationship has become.” And when asked
to describe Mr. Leonhardt in a few words, Mr. Peinado said: “articulate, funny, intelligent, team-builder, and visionary.”
Asked about his vision for FASNY, Mr. Leonhardt’s said it “starts with the new campus. We’d like to expand to 1200 students in
the near future.”
The tuition will have to stay at the same rate, the curriculum will expand to include more non-native French speakers, and a new
academic track will be created. Mr. Peinado added that the courses might be more diversified through means of having more than
just the French curriculum, which will, in turn, reinforce the international aspect of the school. Some students, in fact, might not
even need to speak French. He qualified¬ this, though, by saying that the French baccalaureate still needs to be a focal point.
On the transition from Mr. Leonhardt to Mr. Peinado, the former said he believes that there will be very little to no change. Mr.
Peinado said that he is “not looking to go in a different direction,” stating that the transition will have a “positive and serene”
essence to it and that he will make sure to keep the school “true to its mission.”
Mr. Zabotin, in a letter he wrote for the Gala, said that Mr. Leonhardt made sure that FASNY did “not let academic excellence
come at the expense of well-rounded, respectful, and unassuming students,” and, in his interview, he said that Mr. Peinado
compliments this view of the school with his “holistic approach to pedagogy,” concluding that he was the obvious choice for the
position of Head of the School.
Mr. Leonhardt, for his part, doesn’t plan on retiring and sitting on Florida’s sunny beaches just yet; he is waiting for what the
future may have in stock.
Asked to reflect on his plans, what he’s learned at FASNY, and what he will miss most, he said that, after his health scare in
2009, he feels not only much healthier, but also “much better,” and that his lying in a hospital bed provided for a lot of
perspective and insight for the graduation speech he delivered to FASNY’s trailblazing class of 2009. When it comes to life
lessons, he believes that he has “developed a deeper understanding of the importance of listening carefully; I have learned to be
very patient.” He says that he will certainly miss, above all, “the people, and the opportunity to work in a bilingual environment.”
It seems clear that Mr. Leonhardt’s leadership for the past ten years has not just changed an entire school for the better, but also
instilled in FASNY his own values of professionalism with warmth, trust with responsibility, and growth with stability. It’ll be
different without his famous bowtie or, as Mr. Zabotin puts it, his uncanny ability to quote La Fontaine for any given situation,
but his legacy remains, and so does his sparkling personality. As he led the school through its largest expansions, so he leads a
new chapter in his life, and we wish him the best.
-
THIS ARTICLE WAS PRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF FASNY STUDENTS AND AUTHORS JULIAN SALZ AND OLIVIER WEISS, RISING 12TH AND 11TH
GRADERS, RESPECTIVELY. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MESSENGER, JUNE 2012. CLICK HERE TO READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE MESSENGER.
DID YOU KNOW? LINKEDIN HAS A FASNY GROUP “THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF
NEW YORK” WITH 18 MEMBERS AND COUNTING? – “JOIN” US TODAY AND BEGIN MAKING
GREAT CONNECTIONS!
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
JUNE 2012
FASNY CONNECTIONS
RIDGEWAY / WHITE PLAINS CAMPUS UPDATE
SCHOOL LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR CONSTRUCTION:
PLANS EXPANSIVE NATURE CONSERVANCY “GREEN CAMPUS”
On January 20, 2011 FASNY purchased the 130-acre, former Ridgeway Country
Club in White Plains for $11MM and has been planning the sustainable and
clustered development of a new unified state-of-the-art campus on approximately
46 acres of this property. As for the remainder of the land, FASNY created a
“Greens to Green Conservancy Task Force” with the objective of identifying
the best use of the 84 acres of permanent open space as an extension of the
FASNY Campus and educational program.
The primary goal of the Greens to Green Conservancy is to provide a natural
setting that would create educational opportunities to complement the FASNY
curriculum and enhance FASNY’s educational mission. Outdoor learning spaces
would be created in suitable locations throughout the site. The Conservancy
would also provide local residents a unique educational resource and access to
passive open space. Interpretive signage would provide additional opportunities
for appreciation of ecological functions, geology, and local history.
Under the current plan, FASNY projects total costs for the new campus in the
$60MM range, including academic buildings, athletic fields, parking lots and the
Conservancy areas. The facilities are expected to house 1,200 students in Nursery
through Grade 12, as well as 250 staff members. Although the plan is opposed by
a select group of local residents in the Gedney Neighborhood Association,
FASNY believes the project will create more than 500 construction jobs and bring
more than $14MM a year into the local economy, as well as create open space for
public use. Moreover, the plan confor’s with the City of White Plains’
comprehensive plan, provides safe and adequate traffic flow and preserves the
character of the local community.
Please stay tuned for much more news on this exciting new chapter of growth at
FASNY!
Click Here to Read More About the White Plains Campus Project.
DID YOU KNOW? MORE THAN 20 STUDIES EXAMINING THE “PROXIMATE PRINCIPLE”
HAVE UPHELD THE FINDINGS THAT PROPERTIES ABUTTING PARKLANDS HAVE A MARKET
VALUE 20% – 30% ABOVE COMPARABLE HOMES LOCATED FURTHER FROM PARKLANDS?
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
VOLUME I ISSUE 1
JUNE 2012
FASNY CONNECTIONS
Dear FASNY Alumni, Alumni Parents, Grandparents and Friends,
With the prospect of one campus for all our children, FASNY stands at the threshold of an
exciting new period of advancement, as the world-class education received by FASNY
students for the past 32 years is soon to be offered on a world-class campus.
The support of our extended FASNY community around the world, many of whom who
share the vision of what FASNY can still become, will be more crucial than ever as we
move forward.
Please help us to continue to process of strengthening the community of FASNY with your
suggestions, volunteer hours and, of course, your financial support.
We cannot do it without you!
Sincerely,
Claire LaBrunerie
Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs
clabrunerie@fasny.org
Alumni Affairs at FASNY
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French-American School of New York
525 Fenimore Road
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”