Developed four years ago, the project culminates in an outdoor (weather permitting) test launch where students take turns hurling pumpkins into mid-air and cheering one another on. “We developed Punkin’ Chunkin’ as a way to incorporate more Science, Technology,...
One of the most significant changes in schools in the past ten years has been an increased awareness of student mental health and wellness needs. Harley has long endeavored to promote student wellness, and in the past several years, we have worked to have a more...
by Beth Bailey An interview with Lower School counselor, Shelli Reetz There are several types of empathy: emotional empathy, when you feel an emotional pull; cognitive empathy, when you think about how someone might feel; and applied empathy, acting in a compassionate...
by Beth Bailey and Meredith Cavallaro, Primary faculty One of our Primary classes started a new unit, sink and float, this fall. This particular exploration involved the scientific skills of prediction, observation, and investigation (to name just a few). Things...
February 13, 2019 “I’ll Go First” “What difference did it make that you went to Harley?” That was the question posed by a member of the class of ’82 to a member of the class of ’17, now a sophomore at Tufts, during a recent alumni dinner in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
Motor Skill Development in Action By Meredith Cavallaro, Primary faculty Note: Our Primary classes combine Kindergarten and Grade 1 to offer students continuity during a time when they are rapidly developing. It also gives faculty the opportunity to pair...
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Mr. Becker was a truly incredible teacher with a passion for his subject, and he shared his passion for chemistry with his students during each and every class. He pushed students to do their best and he worked hard to make sure they succeeded in his class. Whether it was re-working a homework problem, explaining labs, or helping students outside of class, Mr. Becker was always there to lend a hand.
His enthusiasm for chemistry was infectious, and it energized the class. He was also constantly innovating. During one lab, we produced an unknown gas, and he lit a match and stuck it in the test tube so that we could determine what it was. It was this kind of experience that made his class engaging. Mr. Becker had a love of learning, teaching, and his subject that made him an incredible teacher. I am so lucky to have been in his AP Chem class this year, and I wish him luck as he moves on to new and exciting opportunities.
Len Wilcox retired after 47 years of service at The Harley School. He held various roles including Upper School math teacher and computer science teacher. As head of the computer program, he helped Harley become one of the first schools in the area to introduce computers to the classroom.
Len said he will miss working with students, as well as the camaraderie he shared with his colleagues.
Larry Frye: “With the retirement of Len Wilcox, [we are] losing an invaluable member of our faculty who has truly made a difference in the lives of so many Harley students. On behalf of the entire school community, we wish Len all the best in his retirement. While we will miss his presence in our school, the impact he made during his time as an educator will continue on through every student he taught.”
Click here to see a piece written by Alex DeSantis
Kristin Sheradin: Bill Schara is a rock star in the Upper School who mastered how to make learning both meaningful and fun. Students idolized him because of his “magic” in the classroom, and here are two of the reasons why:
Being Passionate! Bill cared deeply about what he taught, and this made the students care, too. Through questioning, students actually felt the importance of what he was teaching — whether it was the injustices of capitalism or the Cold War.
Being Provocative! Using a technique, I fondly named “The Schara Hook,” Bill would open a lesson, such as one on Marxism, with a provocative question like, “How many of you know how to properly skin a squirrel?” (It involves starting from the back end, by the way.)
He loved throwing out a line (to keep the fishing metaphor going) and seeking the angle that would capture teens’ minds. He’d lure students into pretty much any topic — and they’d become “hooked” and want to know more.
His passion in the classroom was always inspiring, and his impact on so many students will be carried with them no matter what their futures hold.
Kim McDowell: “A lifelong teacher, Bill has taught first grade all the way through college. He began at Harley in Middle School in 1997 before migrating to Upper School. Bill insists that "He couldn't have asked for a better job," citing his appreciation for Harley's academic freedom and its people. Although he has taught history and social studies courses, ranging from World Revolutions to Food & Society, US Government to Philosophy & Ethics, Bill's favorite course has been "whatever kids are engaged in."
He’s looking forward to a retirement that feels as if "every day is Saturday” and plans to spend plenty of time fishing, camping, hiking, traveling, and visiting his grandchildren. As Bill transitions from inspiring teacher to student of nature, I wish him plenty of dry campsites, memorable vistas, and hungry fish.
He’s looking forward to a retirement that feels as if "every day is Saturday” and plans to spend plenty of time fishing, camping, hiking, traveling, and visiting his grandchildren. As Bill transitions from inspiring teacher to student of nature, I wish him plenty of dry campsites, memorable vistas, and hungry fish.”
Victor Ortiz joined the Maintenance Staff in 1982. As an evening maintenance crew member over 28 years, Victor left his mark with his quiet and friendly manner. He found humor in those every day, little things and always had a kind word to share with others.
Victor brought his lunch with him, usually leftovers that this mother made or chicken wings from the local convenience store, but on days when the dining hall cooked up some of his favorites, he would show his appreciation by eating both. We will miss his kind words, his friendly greetings, and his chuckle.
Mike Buck: “Victor was always a team player and would help out anyone and everyone who needed it.”
In December, Nita Goronkin retired after 23 years at The Harley School. Nita was in charge of human resources as the administrator and also accounts receivable. Her compassion and thoughtfulness for others was evident every day in her work. She listened to the concerns of faculty, staff, and Harley families, and spent the time to really get to know them on an individual level.
As an integral part of the finance team, Nita would constantly debate the right way to develop and administer policy with CFO, Ken Motsenbocker. Their discussions and attention to detail while developing employee policy were always respectful to the individuals while maintaining the integrity of the school.
Nita tirelessly advocated for her peers and made sure their voices were heard and that everyone was treated equally. She is greatly missed, but we are so happy for her as she takes this next step in her journey.
In 2008, Ken Motsenbocker joined Harley as Chief Financial Officer — just as the country went into the recession. His work helped create the strong and solid financial footing we have today. His work reviewing and negotiating contracts and paying off the school’s debt have made a lasting difference.
Ken helped manage many capital projects, such as: The Commons, an overhaul of our HVAC system, and everything from permits to contractors for the Peckham Wellness Center. He helped renegotiate our Industrial Development Agency Bonds and refinance them with a new bank at a more favorable rate, saving us a great deal every year.
What we will miss most about Ken is his dry wit, lavender-scented treats from his farm, and his banjo playing. In retirement, he looks forward to spending more time with his wife Connie, their 11 grandchildren, and his goats.
Larry Frye: “It is rare to find a CFO who so fully embraces the mission of a school, but that is Ken. From crunching numbers with the business folk on the Board Finance Committee to overseeing — and enthusiastically participating in — Lower School recess, Ken has truly done it all at Harley. He is a happy, curious, and playful person; and all the while he has helped oversee great educational and financial success for Harley.”
Tony Cinquino taught at Harley since 1979, and before that worked at the Rochester Psychiatric Center (1973 to 1978) with children from ages 4–16. He helped children and parents by developing behavior modification programs.
Tony began teaching in the Primary (then for K, 1st, and 2nd graders) and has been solidly planted in Grade 2 for a good long while. In 1981, he was awarded the Richard Wilson Teaching Endowment for a course in Children's Literature. In the 80s and 90s, he created and ran a summer computer camp, as well as an adult computer workshop.
He has served as coordinator for Grades 2 to 4 numerous times, and has served on many committees. He is also the mastermind behind the Second Grade Overnight, Creek Walk, and the Twoville Post Office.
Pam Kimmet (past head of LS): “You are the model of a master teacher,” and “Tony Cinquino is a self-renewing, dedicated teacher. His tremendous good humor and thoughtful ways enhance the affective climate in our division.”
Terry Smith: “One can't imagine a Harley where Tony isn't demonstrating how to catch elusive crayfish, hosting the Halloween Parade after party with jokes and puns, dressing up as a pirate, or promoting the Estimation Jar and math packets. But, we also can't imagine Tony not fully embracing his retirement and new role as Grandpa! We wish Tony the best in his grand adventures ahead! His influence can be seen in all aspects of the Lower School, and his spirit and attitude permeate the entire school. We will miss him deeply as a colleague, but we all know that he will still be involved in the school as a friend from his position of freedom.”
Dr. Deborah A. Abowitz '77 Jeffrey Alexis and Christine Hay Mr. Laurent Alpert and Ms. Johanna Fend Alpert '64 James '74 and Cecilia Alsina Mr. and Mrs. Chad Anderson Ms. Emily Andrews '10 Ms. Sarah Andrews '12 Anonymous (7) Ms. Beth Bailey and Ms. Melissa McHenry Ms. Christine Baker Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund Jim and Carol Barclay Mr. Chris Becker Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Beer Dr. Eric L. Bell Charlene Berry Dr. and Mrs. Heath Boice-Pardee Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Bowley Mr. Christopher Brand Ms. Whitney Brice Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Briggs Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Briggs Ms. Valerie R. Bronte '99 Mr. Ryan Brush and Mrs. Melissa Fujimoto-Brooks Paul J. Burgo '97 Ms. Susan Bush and Dr. Marianne Taylor Ms. Patricia Butler Mr. Seth Button '97 Martha Cameron '81 Ms. Sarah E. Chambers Drs. Mitchell A. Chess and Patricia R. Chess Kerry C. Cho '88 Mr. James Chung '89 Mr. John Clark and Dr. Nancy Shafer-Clark Patricia Corcoran Mr. Samuel Crabb and Dr. Glynis Scott Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Dagen '51 Mr and Mrs. William Dalton John D'Amanda '75 and Kathy Durfee D'Amanda '76 Ms. MaryLynn Dandrea and Mr. Stephen Kupferschmid Stewart D. Davis The DeNatale Family Sarah Dengler '75 Beth DeWeese '75 Mr. and Mrs. Trevor DiMarco Mr. Michael Discenza and Dr. Jacque Trama-Discenza Dr. Gregory Dobson Dr. Zhiyao Duan and Ms. Yunping Shao Mr. Nathaniel G. Duckles '04
Robert and Lisa Duerr Mr. Rashid Duroseau '05 Jo Eaton and Richard Babin Ms. Christine Edge Dr. Charles D. Fallon '60 Mr. Thomas E. Feldman '76 and Ms. Andrea J. Michie Marilyn Fain Fenster Mr. George Ferguson and Ms. Pia Cseri-Briones Drs. Paulo Fernandes and Lucelene Lopes Mr. David Fetterman and Ms. Adrienne McHargue Ms. Selena Fleming Mr. Andrew Flinders '89 Ms. Arline Fonda Dr. Rich Fonda Scott Frame '73 and Katherine Kearns Frame '73 Drs. Jonathan Friedberg and Laura Calvi Mr. Lawrence Damrad Frye and Ms. Robin Damrad Frye James and Marjorie Fulmer Christopher Gabel '92 Brian and Julie Gambill John '70 and Karen Gardner Mr. Hugh Germanetti Mr. Ward J. Ghory and Ms. Anne Ghory-Goodman Richard and Joyce Gilbert John L. Goldman '52 Mr. and Mrs. Lee Goldman '86 Miss Taixi Gong Mr. Robert Gray '92 and Ms. Alison Carling Anthony L. and Earlene C. Gugino Gregory and Priscilla Gumina Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Haldeman Haldeman Family Foundation Cynthia Hallenbeck '75 Ned Hallick '68 Mr. Gregory Halpern and Ms. Ahndraya Parlato Mr. and Mrs. Henry NG Hanson '60 Mr. and Mrs. Chris Hartman Barbara Hays '47 Betsy Hecker '73 Mr. and Mrs. Shaun Heckman Dr. and Mrs. Wade C. Hedegard Mr. William Hosley Chris and Kristy Houston Drs. Fred M. Howard and Cynthia R. Howard Mr. Steven R. Jackson '06
Mr. Jeremy Jamieson and Ms. Karsten Solberg Dr. Roy Jones Mr. and Mrs. Robert Joslyn Ms. Elizabeth Kabes Ms. Anna Kennedy '13 Dr. and Mrs. Paul Kennedy Ms. Anna J. Kieburtz '06 Paul Kingsley and Kathleen McGrath Ms. Naomi Kinsler Robert Kopfman and Sharon Humiston Dr. Harlan Kosson Ms. Sonja B. Kreckel Mrs. Susan Weil Kunz '52 Ms. Marcia Layton Turner Dr. Hochang Lee and Mrs. Christine Chung Ms. Cynthia Lees Ms. Hillary M. Levitt '04 Mr. Mark Goldstein and Dr. Dena Levy Dr. Kenneth Lindahl and Mrs. Kathy Lindahl Dr. and Mrs. Stuart Loeb Ms. Victoria A. Lomaglio '06 Dr. Alan Lorenz and Ms. Nancy Sands Dr. Frederick S. Cohn and Ms. Janice Loss Staffan '66 and Lee Craig Lundback '66 Maple Ave Dental Mr. and Mrs. Robert Marcus Mr. and Mrs. Madhava Marri Mrs. Kenneth Maxwell Mr. and Mrs. Matthew McAlpin Kurt and Lisa McConnell Mr. and Mrs. David McCoy Lee S. McDermott (Lee Sherwood Allen '64) Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. McGraw, III Robert McLear '88 and Claire McLear '87 Jon and Susan Parkes McNally Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mendolia Dr. Mary Gail Mercurio Mike '78 and Betsy Merin Jeannette C. Mitchell Drs. Scott Mooney and Chin-Lin Ching John '81 and Erinne Morse Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Mortellaro Mr. Roderick Mortimer Mr. and Mrs. Gary Muisus Mr. Marvin Muller, III and Mrs. Jennifer Schwartzott Mr. Jeffrey Neable and Ms. Laural Hartman Mr. and Mrs. Steve Neumaier
Drs. Patricia Newcomb and Janet Gillespie Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Nice Carl Nielsen and Patricia Corcoran Robert and Milena Novy-Marx Mr. John Nugent and Ms. Dawn Thomson Mr. and Mrs. Peter Obourn The Oese-Siegel's Ms. Mirel Oese-Siegel '08 Ms. Jean M. Oswald Drs. Ryan-Jon Palmitesso and Alisa Kim Mrs. Julie Walker Parker '79 Walter Parkes Ms. Sandra E. Patla Mrs. Julia Messenger Pearsall '80 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pinch Terry Platt and Dianne Edgar Mr. and Mrs. Steven Plonsky Mr. Douglas Pratt Mr. and Mrs. David Publow Mr. Paul Raca and Ms. Nancy Raca Mr. Gabriel Racz '90 and Ms. Melanie Walker Drs. Amit Ray and Jessica Lieberman James and Nancy Rinehart Mr. Tim Robinson and Mrs. Page Durant Robinson '01 Rochester Area Community Foundation Neal Roden Mr. and Mrs. Todd Rogers Mr. and Mrs. David Rutberg Jane Liesveld and Deepak Sahasrabudhe Ms. Karen Saludo and Mr. Dennis Drew Miss Izabella Sander Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Sander Sarphatie Educaton Drs. Edward Sassaman and Michelle Shayne Alicia Morgenberger Schober '85 Dave and Nancy Schraver Dr. and Mrs. Steven Schulz Schwab Charitable Fund Ms. Samantha R. Scott '15 Mr. Russell Scott and Dr. Christine Scott Mr. Amos Scully and Ms. Stephanie Ashenfelder Chip and Marit Sheffield Laurie Sherwood '69 Mr. Shashi Sinha and Dr. Corinna Schlombs The Sisson Family Mrs. Margaret Smerbeck Jackie Smith
Dr. Regina Smolyak Mr. Niko Smrekar and Ms. Cara Cardinale Alan and Helen Soanes Drs. Alexander Solky and Valerie Lang Dr. Hannah Solky Mr. Paul Sparacino '72 Mrs. Suzy Spencer Dr. Eric Spitzer Ms. Virginia Smythe Spofford '74 Dr. Douglas Stockman and Ms. Marietta Cutrone Charles Stuard '82 Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Sullivan Brenda Fuhrman Swain '77 Deb and Mike Szuromi Rustam Tahir and Vivian Lewis Andrea Taylor Tim Tindall and Erica Harper Michael R. Todd '64 Ms. Connez Todd '65 Ted '98 and Jennifer Townsend Jim '61 and Anne Townsend Ms. Sarah Townsend '01 Susan Turiano Marguerite Urban and Linda Spillane United Way of Greater Rochester Mrs. Mary Ellen T. Urzetta Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Drs. Anthony Villani and Zsuzsanna Marchl Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Walker Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Wallace Mr. Andrew Washburn and Dr. Elizabeth Santos Drs. Joseph Wedekind and Clara Kielkopf Mr. and Mrs. William T. West Mr. Peter V. Whitbeck '71 Dr. Julie L. Whitbeck '81 Bill '58 and Bobbi Whiting Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wilcox Miss Winifred S. Wilcox-Fox Helen Wiley and Marian Payson Mr. Alan Winchester and Dr. Larissa Temple Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Winslow Karen Yeoman '98 Mr. Daniel P. Yeoman '00 and Ms. Beth Bafford Ms. Margot Townsend Young '64 Dr. Xulong Zhang and Mrs. Xiaobei Qiu Ms. Jianping Zhu Fati Ziai '82 Jane Hopfinger and Robert Zogas
