Palmer Trinity School

Aerie | Editor's Notes | After a lengthy presidential election process in which community building and grassroots initiatives were given much coverage among the candidates, the idea of "change" has taken on a new meaning in this country. Here at Palmer Trinity School, our already engaged student body, staff, and alumni are looking for even more ways to contribute to meaningful change. Editor Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja Creative Director Joe Sanchez Copy Editors Lois Chumbley Amy Duarte Ben Hoke Katrina Murphy Bruce Musgrave Peg Musgrave Palmer Trinity School Administration Sean Murphy Bruce Musgrave Ashley Chapman Laurette Cestare The Rev. Julian Lentz Danny Reynolds Rob Lundgren Ben Hoke Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja Monica Sanchez Susanna Cetta Sarah Kemeness Jake Von Scherrer Vivian Cerione Susie Loiacono Head of School Assistant Head of School for Academics Head of Upper School Head of Middle School Chaplain Director of Admission, College Counseling & Financial Aid Director of Finance and Operations Director of Development Director of Communications Director of Alumni Relations Director of Major Gifts Upper School Dean of Students Director of Athletics Registrar Executive Assistant to the Head of School PALMER TRINITY SCHOOL Board of Trustees 2008 – 2009 William Morrison, Chairman Paula Brockway, Vice-Chair Susan Ludovici, Vice-Chair Dan Forman, Secretary Jim Davidson, Treasurer Michael Baiamonte Jon Batchelor Susan Benenati Margaret Brisbane Thomas R. Capo The Rev. Frank J. Corbishley (Bishop's Designate) Joseph R. Coulter, III Diane De Olazarra Swanee DiMare Robert Dunlap Rt. Rev. Leo Frade Eloise Gonzalez-Geller Nancy Hector Anne Jackaway Joseph Kalbac, Jr. Mitchell Kaplan Charles Klenk Larry Marbert Vicki O'Meara Rev. Jennie Lou Reid Darryl Robinson Bronwen Rutter Charles Scurr Jo-Ann Titley Michelle Torbert Luis Villanueva The Palmer Trinity School Aerie is published by Original Impressions. The Aerie exists to report on matters relating to the School and to provide a forum for Alumni comment. The importance of service is woven into the very fabric of our school's prayer: "Let there be light in this place: Light to the mind, light to the heart, and the light to the will; that we may grow in knowledge, love and service of you and each other, now and forever." Our commitment to service attracts many families to PTS, and to those already volunteering their time and resources to make our world a better place. Darlene Bell-Alexander, mother to Johnathan, a PTS senior, founded Ms. Permello's Reading Room in December 2007. Bell-Alexander said that Palmer Trinity's support of the Reading Room has been invaluable, with the donation of several hundred books from the school community. PTS alumna, Lauren Benenati, as well, volunteered every Saturday last summer to help prepare kindergarteners for the first grade. This issue of the Aerie also profiles another reading enthusiast, Mitchell Kaplan, owner and founder of Books & Books and a parent at PTS. Mr. Kaplan has a long history of donating his time to literacy-based causes, to great success. At Palmer Trinity, we celebrate the success of our students, but also of their families. These individuals embody the spirit of service integral to our community. This literary and service themed issue of the Aerie wouldn't be complete without an article on Palmer Trinity Interact Club's latest international project, the African Library Project. You will read about the extraordinary efforts of this student-formed group to combat international illiteracy through communitybased projects. As Laura Portuondo, Palmer Trinity Interact Club president, says: "Through our combined efforts planning, fundraising, and packing the quite literally thousands of collected books, our Interact Club emerged from the project with a sense of renewed purpose and enthusiasm for continuing to serve our local and international community." As we embark on this energized time of service, let us celebrate our accomplishments and continue to inquire about new and creative ways to support the community and make a difference. Front Cover: Martha Renteria with Nicaraguan child. Photo by Brad Showalter. Opposite Page: Zach Tassler and Christian Pfeiffer. Above: Dean Kemeness with students in courtyard. Back Cover: Whitcomb Johnson, Catriona Luxford, Rebecca Merritt, Andrea Ortiz, Halina Rachelson, Christina Santilli, Max Stritzinger, Zach Tassler, Gina Tomasetti, Vanessa Zaballa Suzanne Gottlieb Calleja Director of Communications

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