Bulletin Fall ’25

Bulletin

When Faculty Take the Stage

It started, as it often does, with a history lesson. At a March assembly, Head of School Sarah Pelmas stepped to the podium and began to share a bit about Winsor athletics, highlighting statistics about championships, players, and the school’s proud tradition of competition. She announced that students would be treated to a demonstration of the “rock star moves” of Winsor athletes from the past. And then, the beat of “Seven Nation Army” reverberated through the auditorium. Students quickly realized this was no ordinary assembly. The biennial faculty and staff variety show—always a surprise—had begun. By the end, the audience was on its feet, applauding the talent, humor, and camaraderie of their teachers and mentors. What began as a history talk had transformed into a showcase of creativity, reminding the Winsor community that joy and surprise are as much a part of school life as academics and athletics. The biennial faculty and staff variety show may be a surprise, but one thing is certain: its spirit of fun and connection lingers long after the final bow.

The Rock Band

The curtain-raiser was a full-on rock performance of The White Stripes’ anthem. Associate Head of School Kate Caspar drove the rhythm on drums, while Science Faculty Jojo Kendale powered the bass line. Pre-Professional Librarian Lauren Parker and English Faculty Lisa Stringfellow added depth on the keys, World Languages Faculty Laura Bravo brought otherworldly flair on the theremin, and Visual Arts Faculty Mia Tinkjian energized the beat on the congas. Guitars were in the hands of History Faculty Amy Lieberman, Ms. Pelmas herself, and History Faculty Michael Mirelman (pictured above), while vocals soared from Visual Arts Faculty Emily Valenza, Assistant Director of the Virginia Wing Library Danielle Smogard, and Mathematics Faculty Kate Allen. The audience cheered and sang along as faculty revealed unexpected rock-star personas.

The Tortured Poets Dept.

English Department Head Courtney Jackson took the stage next, framing a “poetry reading” in the spirit of the annual Brooks Poetry Competition. But this version had a twist: Performing Arts Faculty and Theater Director Jeremy Johnson delivered the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It that Way” with Shakespearean gravitas, English Faculty Ned Henningson treated Charlie XCX’s “Apple” as if it were Keats, English Faculty and Class VII Dean David Griffin (pictured above) lent Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic” a solemn weight, and History Faculty Michael Mirelman turned Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” into high literature. Students roared with laughter, delighting in the parody—half performance art, half poetry slam.

The Dance Crew

If the poets had students laughing, the dancers had them on their feet. With secret training from the Upper School dance team, Mathematics Faculty and Class II Coordinator Jodi Kerble, English Faculty Samantha Simpson, World Languages Faculty and Class V Dean Dana Martin, Upper School Head and Science Faculty Kim Ramos, and Science Department Head and Faculty Theresa Evenson delivered a high-energy medley featuring Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and Chappell Roan. Their coordinated moves, full of attitude and confidence, proved that Winsor teachers can bring as much rhythm to the stage as they do wisdom to the classroom.

The History Skit

Next, the History Department staged a skit featuring History Department Head and Alice C. Jenckes Chair in History Ann-Marie Holland, History Faculty Ivana Brown, and History Faculty Amy Lieberman as they searched for a sabbatical replacement for History Faculty Annie Huntoon. On stage, Ms. Huntoon sat calmly with her cats and a backpack full of snacks and activities while “candidates” History Faculty Ezer Vierba (“Easy-E”), History Faculty Erin Cantos (“Dr. Caren Antos”), and History Faculty and Class IV Coordinator Josh Constant (“The Rizzler”) were ushered in one by one by History Faculty and Bezan Chair for Community and Inclusion Julian Braxton. History Faculty Michael Mirelman guided the proceedings, and the crowd was invited to vote by applause. “The Rizzler” won the role. Before leaving the stage, the historians surprised the audience with an impromptu chorus of “Happy Birthday” for Mr. Mirelman, who discovered a cupcake hidden behind the podium just in time for the final note.

The Ode to Science

The finale belonged to the Science Department, who closed the show with a musical parody titled “I Test So,” their own spin on Sabrina Carpenter’s hit “Espresso.” Backed by Science Faculty, STEM Integration Coordinator, and Innovation Lab Manager Chris Player on bass, Science Faculty and Essential Chair in Science Ken Schopf on drums, and Science Faculty Jojo Kendale once more on bass, the group filled the stage with vocals from Science Faculty Mark Brooks Hedstrom, Upper School Head and Science Faculty Kim Ramos, Institutional Researcher and Science Faculty Denise Labieniec, Science Faculty Julie Callanan, Science Faculty Jenny Albright, Science Faculty Anna Ausubel, and Science Department Head and Faculty Theresa Evenson, with Science Faculty Eve Elizondo ’17 punctuating the beat on cowbell and Science Faculty Kathryn Segner on the keys. As they played and sang, the screen lit up with their reimagined lyrics alongside images of women and girls in science—a joyful tribute to both the discipline and the community.

Winsor’s Board of Trustees: Welcoming Fresh Perspectives

At the annual meeting of the Winsor Corporation on March 31, 2025, Winsor welcomed new trustees Casey O’Donnell Buckley ’07, Folashade Solomon P’26, and Meghan Weeks ’04 and said goodbye to outgoing trustees Wendy Cromwell P’21 and Mary Beth Gordon P’23, ’26.

Casey O’Donnell Buckley ’07 is the daughter of Joe and Katherine O’Donnell, and she and her older sister Kate ’05 both attended Winsor. Casey studied history at Harvard and held multiple positions at fashion corporations before serving as merchandising coordinator at M.Gemi, a startup luxury brand specializing in custom-made Italian shoes. Casey is an active leader for the Joey Fund, established by her father in honor of her late brother, Joey O’Donnell. The foundation partners with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to fund research for a cure and support families affected by cystic fibrosis. Casey has served as alumnae volunteer for the Winsor Young Alumnae Council and Reunion Committee and is also a member of the Winsor School Corporation. Casey resides in Chestnut Hill with her husband, Mike Buckley, and two children, Blair and J.D.

Folashade Solomon P’26 is the professor of education at Framingham State University and assistant director of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship, and Service (CELTSS). She received her Ed.D. in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. At Winsor, Folashade has served as a Winsor Fund parent volunteer and served on the Interview Committee for the Head of Upper School in 2022. She has previously served on the board of the Park School. Folashade lives in Boston with her husband, Jesse Solomon, and their two children, including Yael Solomon, Winsor Class of 2026.

Meghan Weeks ’04 is an artist residing in Boston, specializing in the natural landscape. After graduating from Winsor in 2004, she studied architecture at Yale University before earning her M.A. from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. Meg has studied at the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art in London; Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland; the International School of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture in Umbria, Italy; and Thomas R. Dunlay Teaching Studios in Norwood, MA. Meg currently serves as the president of the Alumnae Board. She lives in Boston with her husband, Callum Dickson.

New Science Club Places Sixth in Massachusetts

Science Olympiad—affectionately called SciOly at Winsor—emerged as a new club for the 2024–25 school year. In a remarkable feat of preparation and determination, the team took sixth place at the 2025 Massachusetts State Science Olympiad Tournament.

Winsor students are encouraged to pursue their interests in STEM fields in a variety of ways. During the 2023–24 school year, a group of interested students decided to pair up for individual Science Olympiad events at the state tournament. Jemma Kuriyel ’25 and Anaya Raikar ’25 placed ninth in the Chemistry Lab event, while amber lan’25 and Michelle Wang ’25 placed third in Anatomy and Physiology. “This was Winsor’s first time at the state tournament, so this is super impressive for a new team,” said former Science Faculty Madeline Holtz in an email to the community.

Following their success at the 2024 state tournament, Michelle and Amber proposed a Science Olympiad Club to Collect, and were approved for the 2024–25 school year. At the annual Club Fair that September, they were blown away by the level of interest. “It was a lot more than we expected,” said Amber of the more than 40 people who signed up.

A Science Olympiad team is made up of 15 people plus 5 alternates who compete in upwards of 20 events. The club ultimately fielded two full teams that they brought to two different invitationals. Students dedicated two hours a week—and sometimes closer to five as competition neared—preparing for both study-based and physical events.

For example, in the event Micro Mission, two partners take a test together for which they have spent months preparing. Amber’s study regimen included research on cellular biology, evolution, ecology, and different types of antibiotics. “There is a list of microbes they give you, and you need to study what diseases they cause, what organisms can transmit them, and fun facts about those,” she said. A physical event might be something like Bungee Drop where each team has to design or procure a bungee cord of some sort. “Our bungee was an elastic cord with a draw string,” explained Amber. “To prepare, you need to do a lot of calibration of your cord and do some calculations so that you have everything ready for competition day.” The goal of the event is to drop a mass attached to the bungee cord as close to the ground as possible without it actually touching the ground. The plot twist is that students don’t know the height of the drop or the mass of the object until the day of the competition.

“Even though we had a team last year, this year was actually our first year as an established club, which was definitely different,” said Amber, who credits the change with additional time and resources. Being a club unto themselves also changed their mindset. “Everyone was thinking about how to best function as a team,” said Michelle, “and what it means to work on this project together.”

At the 2025 state tournament, Winsor students scored top 15 in 17 of the 22 events, with 5 events earning ribbon distinction. Out of more than 70 schools, Winsor was the only girls’ school at the tournament, and the only independent school to place in the top 10.

“This success is the result of tremendous amounts of time, passion, and effort,” said Science Faculty and Science Olympiad Coach Jojo Kendale, who worked with students while also managing the logistics of the team. She credits their success to the entire Science Olympiad team, including those who competed in previous tournaments, and all the teachers in the Science and STEM Departments who supported students through the training process.

Going forward, the club has a foundation of success and experience on which to build. They not only prepare for competition but also enjoy camaraderie around shared interests, blending academics and community in the best way possible.

International Night: Pack Your Passport

In April, more than 250 faculty and staff, students, siblings, parents, and even grandparents came to campus for International Night. From trying Colombian-style empanadas and Austrian pretzels, to exploring the many colors of India’s Holi Festival and perusing racks of clothing styles, the fun-filled event created a dialogue where the Winsor community could showcase myriad cultures and educate curious attendees.

As part of the planning committee comprising the Student Equity Board, the Parents’ Association, and the Advancement Office, “I was super proud to see our hard work pay off,” said Student Equity Board secretary Julia Oh ’26.

Tables featured games, crafts, food, and fashion from 20 countries around the world. Attendees received a Winsor School passport and could get a stamp—in the shape of a wildcat paw print—for each table they visited.

“The entire school community got to participate in something,” explained Julia. “It was amazing to see everyone proudly representing their own culture and celebrating and learning about each other’s cultures as well.”

A few families hosted tables together, which created inroads for new Winsor community connections. Two families shared the culture of Greece, and their tables—draped in flags and platters of food—educated attendees about art and cuisine. Rainbow scratch art in the shape of Greek vases allowed visitors to try their hand at the ancient art form while jars of hand-mixed spices were pressed into the hands of visitors so they could try recipes at home.

Julia ran a table with Gracie Zhou ’26 focused on mahjong, a Chinese tile game of luck and strategy for four players. “I grew up playing it with my grandma,” explained Julia. Laminated one-pagers detailed the rules and interest was so high that two games were going all evening long, where seasoned players helped novices decide which tiles to throw and which to keep. Two members of Winsor’s Facilities Team—Kevin Lynch and Chuck Applin—sat down to learn the rules. “Now, when I see Mr. Lynch and Mr. Applin in the cafeteria or directing traffic at pickup, we always share a smile and a wave,” said Julia.

In collaboration with Winsor’s South Asian Student Alliance (SASA), a highlight of the event was a performance and workshop by New England Bhangra Club—an all-female college dance team. Bhangra is an energetic, folk dance and music form that originated in Punjab, India. Nearly 50 people streamed out onto the floor to learn choreography.

“Events like this do so much to build connection across Winsor—not just in the moment, but in the fabric of community life going forward,” said Aretha Delight Davis P’28, ’31, who appreciated the opportunity to meet other Winsor families. Ms. Davis and her husband Angelo Volandes P’28, ’31 “were especially moved to see different students beam with pride when we approached their respective tables and they shared stories, flavors, and traditions from their cultural backgrounds.” Ms. Davis explained, “That kind of joy and confidence stays with them.”

International Night will return, that much is clear. “I would love to participate again, because it was such a blessing to be able to create lasting connections within the school community,” said Julia.