State of the School from the Head

Dear Ethel Walker Family and Friends,

CENTENNIAL

The fall of 2011 has been nothing short of extraordinary. On October 1, over 1200

alumnae, parents and friends gathered under the tent for our Centennial Chapel. The

program included Sigourney Weaver ’67 with a keynote address, our students’

account of the School through the decades, and a wonderful intergenerational choir.

That evening the tent was transformed for our SunDial Celebration Dinner enjoyed

by 700 guests. Look for details and photos of Centennial weekend in our

commemorative issue of the SunDial magazine and the Centennial section of our

website. Centennial was truly a watershed moment for The Ethel Walker School. I

have enclosed a Centennial keepsake with several remarkable speeches.

OCTOBER STORM

Three short weeks later, Simsbury endured a record-breaking storm with 14 inches of snow and high winds on leaf-

laden trees resulting in 10 days without power. Luckily the campus did not sustain any structural damage; however,

Beaver Brook was the only campus facility with a generator, and became a haven to faculty families and students who

were unable to get home. The National Guard was deployed for several days, service crews arrived from around the

country, and the clean up will take months. I have never been more proud of my team; they worked tirelessly to ensure

the safety and operation of the School.

2011-12 INSTITUTIONAL GOALS

As we continue to manage to our Strategic Plan, we have committed to the following 2011-12 institutional goals:

• We will continue to pursue academic and ethical excellence through innovation and collaboration

• We will empower our students to explore peace initiatives and global awareness, with a focus on China, by

participating in opportunities that foster global understanding

• We will celebrate our past and ensure our future by enlisting the talents and support of our constituencies to

launch a Centennial Campaign.

ACADEMICS

Admission to and success at competitive colleges continues to be at the forefront of our mission. Our seniors are busy

applying to colleges, the culmination of a proactive college counseling program that begins well before senior year. 66%

of the senior class (of 41 students) has submitted an early decision or early action college application. We offer 19 AP

and 22 honors courses, as part of an innovative curriculum that focuses on 21st century skills. Electives include

Anatomy & Physiology, Astronomy, AP Economics, Caribbean Studies, Equine Science, English 12: “Love, Power, and

Revenge,” Mandarin Chinese, Middle East and Beyond, and Social and Political Philosophy, to name just a few. At the

core of our academic excellence is the passion and talent of our faculty. Our artistic and athletic strengths continue to

promote our school in many positive ways; tournament champions and regional finalist are among our fall

accomplishments. In addition to existing exchange programs in Scotland, New Zealand, and Australia, we are exploring

additional opportunities in South Africa and China.

Continued on next page

CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Walker’s is fast becoming a leader among schools with our commitment to environmental stewardship. We hosted a

national Environmental Symposium last June entitled Food for Thought, with speakers Frances Beinecke Elston ’67 and

Bill McKibben, a climate change activist. We continue our commitment to public purpose as we partner with worthy

local organizations, including Grace Academy, an all-girls school in Hartford. Walker’s is exploring an affiliation with

Middlebury College's Center for Social Entrepreneurship; our role will focus on the role of girls and women in social

entrepreneurship, specifically around peace initiatives.

WALKER’S FISCAL HEALTH

With the teamwork of a strong Finance Committee and disciplined fiscal management internally, Walker’s achieved a

surplus budget for FY 2011. We are committed to the goal of fiscal prudence ensuring a sustainable model and a

promising future for The School. We exceeded our Annual Fund goal of $1.5 million last year, thanks to the terrific

loyalty of alumnae, parents, trustees, and friends. Walker’s long-term financial strength has never looked more

promising.

ADMISSIONS AND ENROLLMENT

Walker’s has 238 students with a 66% boarding population, representing 18 countries and 18 states plus Puerto Rico.

We have put into place an Enrollment Management Task Force to revolutionize admissions that will feature a robust

social media presence. We have targeted our travel to include more full pay markets, including recent travel to Bermuda

and Saudi Arabia, and events at feeder schools throughout the country.

CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN

Our Centennial Campaign, Chaired by Sarah Gates Colley ’75, with co-chairs Margot Campbell Bogert ’60, Debby

Williams MacKenzie ’55 and Lisa Pagliaro Selz ’69, is being planned with several transformational components,

ensuring Walker’s success for the next century. We are delighted that over $17 million has been raised towards the

$50 million goal. You will be hearing more about important components of the campaign to ensure Walker’s continues

to attract a competitive and dynamic student body for years to come.

A VISION FOR WALKER’S NEXT CENTURY — IT IS TIME TO BELIEVE

Now is the time for Walker’s. People are watching us closely at this extraordinary Centennial moment and it is within

this window that we, together, have the power to transform the destiny of the School, once and for all. This will require

all of us to believe strongly in Walker’s today. Our mission of educating the minds and hearts of young women is among

the most noble of missions, and critical to the world.

It continues to be a privilege to be Head of The Ethel Walker School in this auspicious moment; we have a talented and

passionate Board of Trustees, a loyal and committed team of faculty and administrators, and a Strategic Plan that continues to

stretch us to be our best. I welcome your questions and ideas and thank you for the commitment of your resources and gift of

your time. I ask you to continue to stretch, to believe, and I promise…you will see that Walker’s stands tall at this

transformational Centennial moment!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth C. Speers

Good morning everyone! How wonderful it is to beback at our beautiful School even on this soggy fall day.Girls, you did a lovely job. It’s amazing to think thatWalker’s was founded before women had the vote! MissWalker was ahead of her time.

It’s great to see such a big turn out, including somany husbands and partners. After all those awful dancesthings really did work out. Go Suns and Dials, butespecially Suns!

It’s amazing to me to think the school is only 100years old. It feels like it has been here much much longer,like Stonehenge. But what an incredible feat Walker’s hasaccomplished over the last decades —maintaining its commitment to single sexwomen’s education in the face of so muchpressure, and not only weathering theselast years but transforming and survivingand thriving. I think the tide is finallyturning in Walker’s direction as more andmore young women are choosing to studyand lead within their own communities.

In any case, I want to salute BessieSpeers for her dynamic leadership of EWS,to acknowledge all the teachers here fortheir invaluable contribution to women’seducation, and to greet with great affection all of my dearalumnae sisters. I meet women all the time that went toWalker’s and no matter when we were here, it is such ajoyous and enduring bond for all of us. We were so damnlucky, weren’t we?

But it’s you girls I really want to say hey to. Youare carrying inside you something so rare, so powerful.It’s an EWS education.

But I was so fortunate…there was a teacher herenamed Florence Hunt who was the head of the Englishdepartment. Miss Hunt — in our dear Academic DeanCaroline Walker’s words — was “a splendid teacher,admirable in every respect — who taught us literature, acommand of language, excellent abilities in writing.” MissHunt first drilled us in grammar, and after that weluxuriated in Thomas Hardy, Paradise Lost, Shakespeare,and “poitry” as Miss Hunt called it. As another alumnawrote, “ you were proud to be in her class”.

Miss Hunt saw something in me that no one elsethought was there, least of all me. She saw and tendedthis little glimmer, this ember of the confident, capable

creative woman I might become. Miss Hunt taught meEnglish for three years. We worked hard for her, as hard asI’ve ever worked in my life. I ended up as one of her twoAP English students with Jessica Ferguson. Such an honor.She encouraged my particular weird take on things, mysense of story, style, character, my love of all of it.

I went on to Stanford and then was accepted at theYale Drama School. I was so excited and proud andimmediately wrote Miss Hunt and asked if we could havetea. I wanted to thank her. I was too late. Miss Hunt hadpassed away, much too young.

So girls…what I suggest to you today is — findyour Miss Hunt and be open to her or himfinding you. Because this is where it allstarts, right here at this School. Thegreatest gift you will ever have is an EWSeducation. It is such a powerful thing for awoman to have a great education in thisworld, for a woman to be able to read andwrite and communicate with confidenceand joy and power. You will beunstoppable. All of my success inHollywood is really because I know howto analyze a script and make a story work.I know which movies are going to work.

All those days and months and years on grammar andstructure and Thomas Hardy are still paying off for me.

I promise you, no matter where you go in life andwhatever you do — your education will allow you tosoar, to contribute in a profound and lasting way, and tohave fun with your work. But you have to work hard.You have to engage in your education, to make the mostof every day here. Be here and drink it up. Education is amagic elixir that will nourish you every day for the rest ofyour life, and it is this woman’s not so secret weapon. Iwas never just a pretty face.

So I want to thank my dear friend and teacherFlorence Hunt for all she gave me and all she gave all thestudents at this school. I want to thank you, Bessie, andthe teachers here now. Nothing is more important thanwhat you are doing. And girls — ladies — sisters, studyhard and then go out and take this world by storm. Weneed your passion and your weirdness and yourleadership — every single one of you.

Thank you.

E XC E R P T S F R O M

C E N T E N N I A L C H A P E L K E Y N O T E S P E A K E R

Sigourney Weaver ’67

Kayla Monroe ’12“During the first decade of the school’shistory, the world witnessed:World War I • the devastating flu epidemic •the sinking of the Titanic • and the women’ssuffrage movement

The Ethel Walker School opened its doors in

the fall of 1911 with seven teachers and ten

students. These girls were among the first in

their generation to attend a boarding school

whose focus was college preparation.

Today we have 42 teachers and 238

students from 18 countries and 18 states!”

Jess Chang ’13“The roaring 20s saw: Women get the vote • Prohibition • theCharleston • Model Ts • Radio broadcasting •Lucky Lindbergh • and the stockmarket crash

Walker’s had three strong women as Heads

of School who guided their students with very

strict rules. Girls were rarely allowed to leave

campus under their watch.

The tradition of strong visionary heads has

continued through the decades. Now we

encourage our girls to go out in the community

— indeed, to be citizens of the world through

Junior/Senior projects, service learning, and

international exchange programs.”

Lila Reynolds ’15“The 1930s was dominated by:The Depression • FDR and fireside chats • TheNew Deal • The Dust Bowl • Big Band Music •Shirley Temple, Gone With the Wind, TheWizard of Oz, and Disney

On April 11, 1933, life changed dramatically

when Beaver Brook burned to the ground. Two

days later, the School’s Four Corners dormitory

also caught fire. One hundred sixty-five girls

moved to the Fishers Island Club house to

finish the school year. Because of the

Depression, there were many workers available

to rebuild Beaver Brook so the next school year

commenced back in Simsbury

Since then, the campus has been continually

improved with new buildings. We are always

striving to enhance our facilities while

preserving the beauty of our campus.”

Chelsea Regan ’13“The 1940s witnessed:WW II • Pearl Harbor • Rosie the Riveter • theatom bomb • the GI Bill • penicillin • andJackie Robinson broke the color line in MajorLeague Baseball.

Restrictions on the girls were relaxed during

the ’40s. Students were allowed to go into

town or to Hartford to see a play, and even to

receive boys for Sunday afternoon tea. The girls

were also expected to volunteer for the Red

Cross. With the onset of World War II came

rationing. Students had to make do with less,

were given household chores, and were

required to work in the garden.

Walker’s gradually became more culturally

diverse. Weekly meetings in Beaver Brook

commenced, and the advisor system was

instituted. The School’s Alumnae Association

was also formed.

Today, a diverse student body is considered

critical to a student’s experience at Walker’s.

Morning meetings are a vibrant part of life at

the school and each student’s relationship with

her advisor is one of the most important

aspects of her daily life in our community.”

Nellie Speers ’16“The 1950s evoke memories of:The Korean War • McCarthyism & the Cold War• Brown v. Board of Education • Rosa Parks •Television • Elvis, Chuck Berry, and rock ’n roll •Sputnik and the Space Race • and The Catcherin the Rye was banned around the country.

Smith dormitory (originally designed for

faculty housing) and the chapel were completed.

The Caroline Walker Honor Society was formed.

The Catcher in the Rye is now requiredreading in the 9th grade! The Caroline Walker

Honor Society remains one of the most

prestigious character prizes to this day.”

Sajia Darwish ’14“The 1960s was:The high tide of the Civil Rights Movement •Beatlemania • Motown • Woodstock • TheVietnam War • The Cuban Missile Crisis • TheAssassination of American leaders • and NeilArmstrong walked on the moon.

To honor the 50th anniversary of the School,

the Board of Trustees began a capital

campaign to fund new science labs and a

language lab. A new gymnasium was named

for Natalie Galbraith Mitchell and the Muriel

Alvord Memorial Library was completed. The

new Cluett dormitory was also opened, and the

Ferguson Performing Arts Center was dedicated.

In 1968, the first African American students

were enrolled at Walker’s.

Today, our student body reflects the world

we live in. Students learn that content of

character matters.”

Lauren Nicholson ’14“The 1970s saw:The Oil Embargo • War protests and Kent State• Watergate • the resignation of PresidentNixon • Roe v. Wade • Title IX • Disco • Jaws• and Microwave Ovens

Bucking the trend toward co-education,

Walker’s remained true to its mission of an

all-girls’ education. During the decade, more

faculty began to move onto campus.

Today, families continue to choose Walker’s

because of the advantages of an all girls’

education. Students are encouraged to take on

leadership roles here at school and in the world

at large.”

Faith Ferber ’13“The 1980s is remembered for:The U.S. Hockey Team’s “Miracle on Ice” •mullets, shoulder pads, and leg warmers • JohnLennon’s murder • Madonna • MichaelJackson • MTV and music videos •Reaganomics • computers • American

hostages in Iran • the Challenger disaster • thetearing down of the Berlin Wall.

Three faculty houses were moved by truck

onto campus. The Natalie Galbraith Chair in the

Humanities was endowed. The Constance

Lavino Bell Library was dedicated. Abra

Prentice Wilkin donated the funds for an

updated kitchen and dining area. In 1986 and

again in 1988 the Ethel Walker softball team

won the Founder’s League Championship.

Riding and dance have been part of the

athletic experience for 100 years. Today,

students excel in a wide variety of sports.

Walker’s continues to compete in the

prestigious Founder’s League.”

Isabel Beeman ’16“The 1990s brought us:An explosion in technology • the World WideWeb • the Gulf War • Oklahoma City bombing• The first woman secretary of state • Y2Kpanic • and the Women’s World Cup in soccer

In 1990 The Ethel Walker Middle School

opened with thirteen 7th and 8th grade

students. The first all-girls’ team built and raced

a solar car. Beaver Brook Academic Center and

Symington Science Center opened to rave

reviews. New science labs, classrooms and art

studios replaced dorm rooms.

The Anastasia Payne Rooke Chair in Science,

Math and Technology was endowed. Reflecting

the growth in the day student population, Head

of Day Students was added to the student

leadership positions, making the group The Big

Seven.

From its humble beginnings on the third

floor of the annex, the Middle School now has a

dedicated wing in Ferguson. We proudly offer

19 Advanced Placement courses, supported by

our state of the art classrooms and

technology.”

Ellie Bell ’12“The beginning of the 21st century isknown for:Sept 11th • the War on Terror • wars in Iraq andAfghanistan • the First African Americanpresident • economic depression • iPods •Google • texting! • Facebook • wikipedia •and reality TV shows

The Margaret Huling Bonz Women of

Distinction Speaker fund was established. The

Simsbury Land Trust and the national Trust for

Public Land reached an agreement with the

School to buy 424 acres of the School’s land.

Now open to town residents, Walker’s Woods is

still used for riding, learning, and hiking by

students and faculty. A new LEED certified

Head’s house was built. A commitment to

service learning and environmental stewardship

was incorporated into the School’s mission.

Today, our curriculum embraces academic

excellence, and ethical and global issues.

Walker’s graduates are fully prepared to follow

in the footsteps of our alumnae to enter the

world with courage, confidence, conviction and

integrity.

S E L E C T E D S T U D E N T R E M A R K S O NT E N D E C A D E S O F WA L K E R ’ S H I S T O R Y