FOCUS--June 2010 Edition

F

CUS

Friends’ Central School

Volume XXXV Issue 7

1101 City Avenue Wynnewood Pennsylvania 19096

June 2010 Edition

FOCUS dedicates this issue to “The Divine” Ms. DeVan

By Sami Resnik ‘12

Ms. DeVan has been an important part of the FCS community for 28 years. She is not merely the Upper School secretary—she is a friend and confidant to many teachers and students. Ms. DeVan will be retiring this year, and everyone will definitely feel her absence. As Doc Harnett says, “I am going to miss her so much! We've been best friends for 28 years—that’s almost half my life!” Doc is not the only one who will miss Ms. DeVan. When one student found out that she was leaving, he was shocked, saying, “Seriously!? Ms.DeVan is my favorite person!” As Ms.Devan herself says, “The community at Friends’ Central has been kind and will remain a part of my life forever.” Read on to hear about “The Divine Ms.DeVan”. Sami: What will you miss the most about Friends’ Central? DeVan: I’ll miss the interactions with the students and with my friends. For 28 years I’ve had this routine of coming into the office and

greeting everyone. So I’m going to miss those special times. S: What won’t you miss? D: I can’t say anything negative! There’s nothing I have to do here that’s so horrible. But it won't bother me when I don't get a phone call at 7:00 am from a teacher saying, «I won't be in!.» S: How has working here changed your life? D: Before I came here, I worked for the government for 10 years. It was an entirely different environment when I came to Friends’ Central--not as structured as I was used to. Friends’ quickly became a nice place to work for me. S: What do you plan to do when you leave? D: The first thing I plan to do is purchase a standard poodle

puppy, and he will be named Winston. Next, my family told me that my retirement gift is a trip to Egypt!

the Wood building (Ewen, Patterson, Novo, Schumacher and you too, Mr. Russo!). And last but not least, I have been blessed with a

S: When looking back, what people have affected you the most? D: My instant friendship with Doc Harnett has sustained me for 28 years Also [I have been friends with] Mr. Davis, Senora Gowen-Tolcott, Judy Bradley, Mr.C, Mr.V, Mr. Buck, Mr. Gruber, Mrs. Cecchine, Mr. Morris, Mrs. Plunkett, Mr. Darling and Dottie Mazullo. I will miss my colleagues from the second floor of

relationship with Ms.Beth and Mr. Kennedy that has been awesome. S: Everyone loves your style; where did you get the inspiration to dress like you do? D: From the time I was a little girl, my mother would change my clothes when I came home for lunch, so when I went back to school I would be wearing a different outfit. So fashion has always

been a part of my life and looking nice is important to me. S: You have been to a lot of proms! What do you like about the prom? D: I’ve been privileged that Ms.Haimm has extended an invitation to me to go to the prom. It’s an occasion I’ve attended for 26 years. I love to see the kids dressed up nicely - to see the girls dressed in their formals and looking elegant and the boys handsomely dressed in tuxedos rather than sneakers and baggy pants. S: What is something you would like to say to the FCS community? D: The community at Friends’ Central has been kind and will remain a part of my life forever. It has been my pleasure to watch many students grow from high school into successful adults, and I will miss seeing them when they return to campus. My wish is that the Lord will continue to bless and keep this community happy, safe and loving for many years to come!

Mr. Kennedy & Ms. Novo Switching Roles By Benjamin Yahalomi ‘11

Mr. Kennedy Ms. Novo Our beloved Co-Principal/Dean of Faculty, Mr. Many FCS graduates remember the enthusiasm and Bill Kennedy, is stepping down this year, to be replaced dedication Ms. Laura Novo has brought to teaching. For by Ms. Novo from the English Dept. I had the chance to so many of them, literature with her was the highlight of sit down with him for an interview, to get a sense of his their high school curriculum, a transformative experience plans for next year and his reflection on being principal which taught them new styles of writing and deeper ways for more than ten years. of thinking. Mr. Kennedy describes himself as “a teacher first,” After 17 years of full-time teaching at Friends’ and so he is happy he will have students and advisees Central, Ms.Novo will become Co-Principal/Dean he will see every day. From the beginning, he always of Faculty, replacing Mr. Kennedy. In addition to her thought he would be principal only temporarily, that he'd responsibilities as principal, she will teach one section eventually return to a teaching position in the literature of Writers’ Workshop next year. That is no small feat - as department. Next year, Mr. Kennedy will be teaching 3 Co-Principal, she will be responsible for overseeing the blocks of literature, giving him the opportunity to spend school curriculum and among other things, overseeing more time with students. He will also be the 10th grade dean. faculty concerns. Mr. Kennedy described his favorite aspects of being high school Dean Ms. Novo says she is “stimulated” when thinking about the job, of Faculty vividly to me: “My favorite parts of this job have been working especially because she “likes process and working with others.” In addition, with teachers and staff, namely Ms. Beth, Ms. Schwartz, Ms. DeVan, and other she appreciates the positive response from faculty and students about her colleagues. I also enjoyed observing teachers and students in action.” He learned appointment, which has “been touching.” She will help to develop the school’s see Kennedy on page 2

see Novo on page 2