NOVEMBER 2009

November 30, 2009



Dear T-D Family:

Black Friday was somewhat different as the Uncas invited me to join the tribe at Mohegan Sun. A complimentary teepee was available as a birthday special. I went there to go shopping – for one thing and one thing only – Money. I kept rolling and rolling, but produced too many odd numbers. I’ll return next year just to get even with those odd balls. Someone should give us our money or else.

December awaits us and there are two major events in store to the T-D family. The International Night Dinner, held once again at the Larchmont Avenue Church, should be a day of obligation for the T-D family. No matter if you are one of the most gluttonous gastronomes, our ethnic dishes from around the world should easily please your palette. Make sure you’ll be at the service on Sunday, December 6th from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. The enclosed flyer is a good appetizer. The International Night Dinner is one to salivate for before your salvation. Color this day in red.

The second really big show is the Holiday Luncheon. This one, also held in Larchmont at the Yacht Club, is a great place to drop your anchor. The food will please you and all your mates. The entertainment will be as spirited as any great performance you’ll see over the holidays. Bring all the family – extended or otherwise. It’s worth the green and gives voice to your heart. It’s going Rouge, the Moulin Rouge and a RED-LETTERED DAY for family and friends. Revelers can come to the Cabaret for $30.00 per person. Make sure grandpa Phil DeRaffele is there too!

T-D’s Loyalty Fund is underway. A good sized kiln has already been ordered and renovating unused space is already being hammered into another life. “You gotta have heart!” “You gotta have art!”

Olena Vasendin has grades 5 – 9 registered in the on-line math league competing against the best numerologists across the country. Thanks Olena for signing and the cosine activity. Let’s show the world that T-D has some brilliant math scholars sprinkled throughout these grades. It all figures.

Invictus is set to open shortly. If it does prior to December 23rd, the entire school may see it together. Invictus stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon and it was shot in South Africa. It would be a fine flic to see, enjoy, and study together. By the way, less than 15 seats are left for our April 22nd departure to the Rainbow Nation.

I look forward to seeing you as T-D lights up and gets redder and redder.

As always for me, I’m all in!



Wishing you a stimulating holiday without any clunkers,

Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

February 2, 2009

Dear T-D Family:

All it took was the newly discovered photo of Lincoln, his favorite as he said, and the cover of the color section of the “Journal News” which featured Lincoln, to see how on top of our own game of games T-D is! A number of Thornton-Donovan upper classmen still remember standing on the steps of the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Anyone can do it, and you should, but T-D was there as honored guests on opening day in 2005. Wow! Who could have known just a few years later that Springfield, Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, and Lincoln himself would be so alive today. Lincoln’s birthday, his 200th, on February 12th will be celebrated like none before and I don’t believe he could have ever had a future African-American President in his dreams.
Thornton-Donovan’s Lincoln Monumental lives on like none other.

It’s not just the cold weather, ice, sleet and snow that are making me think of Brazil – now, less than three months before departure. I believe that Brazil offers more future memories than any prior travel study trek in my twenty years of globe trotting. Just think of the investment T-D has made in Brazil. Hundreds and hundreds of new texts from K-12 just about one destination, Brazil speaks volumes. Daily sights and sounds of Brazil are seen, felt or heard in every building and every classroom within our Little Red Schoolhouse. Just think of the investment made by T-D’s faculty to prepare our students for an awesome travel-study trek. Remember there are 25 new courses from grades 6-12 on line, never taught before and never to be taught again, thanks to T-D’s marvelous mentors. The investment of the T-D faculty in Brazil is reason enough for the T-D family to catch a jungle fever. Just think of the investment your children are making as they pursue courses about gemstones and minerals, the bassa nova and the samba, cityscapes and skylines, the Amazon, the rainforest, Jorge Amado, infectious diseases, Latin American history and literature, soccer, plant life, botany, flowers, fish, amphibians, anthropology, global economics, food and nutrition, the great outdoors, Latin American film, Portuguese, Amazonian graphics and design, dogs, coffee, sugar, corn, architecture, global elections, energy, green, the African history, global economics, the jungle and favelas.

Am I selling you or are you sold? Thornton-Donovan’s tentative itinerary is on line. It is one that I am very proud of and one that won’t be the same or as good as it could be should your child not be there. On paper, I rate this travel-study adventure (safari) - as a perfect 10.

While I say and believe that each year’s expedition is better than the year prior, I see Brazil as Thornton-Donovan’s crescendo.

With each day getting lighter and lighter and with more and more sun coming our way, I’m hoping for a cold cash melt down and that you and your family make an investment in our future by Monday, February 9. A $1,000 deposit (check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover) will guarantee your seat and the $3,998 total figure. After February 9th the trip increases to $4,298 per person.

A few parents have made donations to the school for children and families unable to afford the Brazilian adventure. Anyone wanting to do likewise would almost instantly create a few smiley faces around here. It would make for a life-time dividend guaranteed.

This week grades 9-12 will be celebrating Glory Days in churches, mosques and temples from New York City to Valley Cottage, New York. I hope some T-D families can join us along the way.

Your February calendar will be sent to you on Thursday.

Don’t stop dancing,



Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

April 2nd, 2009

Dear T-D Family:

Thornton-Donovan’s seven cosmonauts returned home to the Red, White and Blue through Moscow from Nizhny. Of all the destinations T-D students have considered home, none seems more fascinating to me than Russia. What a great in-flight dream as our scintillating seven led by school parent Anna Rudnitsky enjoyed their in- flight dream on Lufthansa Airlines. Alex Rudnitsky, Sage Mullings, Zubair Kahn, Alessandro Gazzola, Chris Gonzalez and Lindsey Holroyd left from home at 4:25 am Tuesday morning. Each now has a lifetime of memories.

It was my intention to link up with our student ambassadors in Moscow, but our schedules didn’t allow for a diplomatic collision. I did get to Moscow myself and attended a conference at the Ritz Carlton. It attracted participants representing high schools from over 25 different countries, all quite close to Russia.

All those going to Brazil (43) are in the process of securing their visas. It requires lots of parental homework with postal money orders, 2” x 2” photos, etc.

“Building with Books” is bloomin’. Both Miriam Javitch and Cheri Coffin are very proud of the progress with the project. Please read a copy of the e-mail sent to me by Miriam Javitch. It is quite an undertaking, but the challenge is being met.

“Thornton-Donovan’s buildOn team is 20+ students strong in its first year. Ms. Coffin is our faculty sponsor and we thank the PTP for their ongoing support. The group meets every other Thursday of the month to learn about social, economic, health and educational issues around the world. They are making great progress in the fund raising efforts to build a school in Nicaragua in 2010. Their first event was a Heart-o-Gram sale which raised $250.00 for the cause. Thank you TDers for your support. In April, there will be a Passover/Easter Egg hunt with prize baskets!! Look out for the flyers specifying date and time and location—coming up soon in early April. We hope to have you join us for a walkOn walkathon for buildOn and the team is also putting together an international cookbook from families across the school to support their cause. The team is also doing some great community service – including an upcoming building effort with Habitat for Humanity, collecting arts and crafts supplies and participating in an arts and crafts day with children at an after school program in Connecticut as part of the regional buildOn service efforts. In June, the team will celebrate their great accomplishments in this first year with a BBQ at the Javitch’s home and an opportunity to connect personally with the CEO and COO of buildOn.”

As an aside David Kudlowitz’05, a pre-med student at Tufts, is running in the Boston Marathon on Patriot Day. His goal is to raise $1,000 for nutritional science.

Very truly yours,



Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

May 18, 2009



Dear T-D Families:

T-D’s trip to Brazil was a journey unlike any other. Over 40 of us flew well over 10,000 miles in exploring Brazil’s four foremost cities over a 14-day study-tour period. Rio, Salvadore, Manaus, and Sao Paulo were T-D’s main ports of call and Brazil’s ties to Portugal and Japan became increasingly obvious to each of us. The whole country pulsated and whether one was in a teaming metropolis like Sao Paulo or a colonial town like Petropolis, Brazil’s water, light, color, architecture, and stone took on a celestial air.

While each T-D travel trek has been called T-D’s finest, not one could rival this spiritual sanctuary called Brazil. The entire junket was a perfect ten (10) and should be marbleized, grouted, and sealed with a kiss.

A few days after returning to the U.S. I accepted an invitation to be one of 12 guests nationwide to speak at a conference sponsored by Globus Tours. Globus is attempting to expand its brands by adding thematic educational travel to its customized tour department. The conference was held in Vail, Colorado and lasted through Wednesday of last week. Fortunately I was able to consult with a few of the company’s tour experts about South Africa in 2010 and our dates as well as our itinerary are soon to be placed in your hands. Check our April 2010 calendar for a primer.

For ’09-’10 T-D wants to improve upon its lunch service and lunch program. To do so a new service food provider will be here to discuss a new menu with any and all T-D family members. The meeting is set for this Thursday, May 21st and will be held in the Berns Memorial Library at 7:00 PM. Of course there will be some food tasting, so get your taste buds ready.

While thinking, talking, and writing about next year is clearly on my mind, the ’08-’09 completion is upon us. Our Spring Gala is on line and set to sail at the Larchmont Yacht Club on Saturday, May 30th. I hope to see many of you there and cannot thank Aly Fanelli and her committee enough to give proper respect and gratitude.

On the first Friday in June T-D’s Arts House Café presents a night of music, song, dance, and also a fashion show and art exhibition. Every T-D parent and student should be at the New Rochelle Public Library at 7:00 PM. It is clearly a must and I want to thank all those who participate as well as Mr. Baum for the music and Mrs. Bubesi for the fashionable art. Let’s make a memory!

T-D’s Gaucho Festival is on the same day as the Arts House Café, Friday, June 5th. A copy of Lynne Tirrell’s program is attached. Let’s give our K-5 boys and girls the attention they deserve by being here to applaud another successful year of hard work, effort, and production. I hope T-D can corral everyone.

Final exams kick in one week later on Friday, June 12th. All students from grades 6-12 will be engaged in mind games until Wednesday, June 17th.

On Friday, June 19th T-D’s Commencement Exercises will cap off the year with another town and gown celebration for 8th and 12th graders. Dr. Mary Pressman is the principal speaker and John Ventresca of T-D’s Board of Trustees will be presented with the School’s Service Award for shepherding the T-D “Field of Dreams” project and moving it to completion just a few days ago. Ken de Regt, whose son Scott just graduated, will join with John as a School Service Award recipient. Ken was instrumental in raising funds for the field.

More letters will follow and more news shed as the days ahead pass by us. I hope you and yours are well and that every ounce of energy is being put into successfully completing the Brazilian bash and the ’08-’09 school year.



Enthusiastically,

Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

N.B. Re-registration for 2009-2010 is due ASAP.

June Part 2

June 8, 2009



Dear T-D Families:

Well, maybe you saw the Tony Awards Sunday night and the Great White Way and Broadway looked absolutely spectacular. For me my night on Library Lane this past Friday in a Tony Town nicknamed “New Ro” the show was even more marvelous. “The Sounds and Colors of Brazil” will never be upstaged by any future T-D production. Any performance that can spotlight and integrate music, dance, songs, art, fashion, technology, photography, and graphics so brilliantly all in one says it all. It just wasn’t a concert, nor was it an art exhibit or a fashion show. It was a multi-media “Mas Que Nada” night and it gave new meaning to T-D’s thematic approach to education. In the history of the Library Theatre there will never be more words uttered in Portuguese than in T-D’s one night dance with Brazil.

The art work so meticulously exhibited in the lobby of the Lumen Martin Winter gallery could have easily been mistaken as part of the New Rochelle Arts Association display. It was just that good! Maybe T-D’s was better.

T-D’s snail-mail Feather in Your Cap awards are announced as so written. All recipients can be future Tony trophy awardees.

Best Musical Performance is given to T-D’s Gold & White Peacock – Sam Javitch, pianist, Mas Que Nada

Best Vocal Performance by an upper schooler – Hayley Johnson – Aqua de Beber –
Four Betsy Johnson Feathers

T-D’s Best Musical Ensemble – A Voz do Morro – Grades 4 & 5 – Four Feathers each

T-D’s Most Creative Fashion Designer – Emily Collins – Five Givenchy Feathers

T-D’s Best Catwalk Strutter – Ruby Pressman – TenUnruffled Feathers from Tommy Hilfiger

T-D’s Vogue Pose Model – Claire Collins – Five Feathers from Donatella Versace

T-D’s Student Art and Design Curator – So Young Chang – Four Feathers from Andre Kim

T-D’s Slippery Slide Show Technician for Water & Architecture – Austin Baehr – Four Wet Feathers from Frank Gehry

T-D’s Best Feet Performance as an Ethiopian-American Eagle singing in Portuguese – Emmanuel Ngung – 1,000 Feathers from Sara Abera

Thanks to Liam Baum, a T-D “Rock of Ages”, and Almira Bubesi, T-D’s East Side Story, for giving the school a “Momma Mia” night. No one had to open his or her wallet to enter, but the “Sounds of Brazil” bash opened every heart in the house.

Like “Billy Eliott”, the believe in yourself musical, T-D’s student body did likewise as Mr. Baum and Mrs. Bubesi showcased one and all.

Thanks to everyone who came. It did something to me that I couldn’t believe could happen. It raised my “Hair.” What a revival!



Sincerely yours,

Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster



June 1, 2009



Dear T-D Families:

Oh! What a night! The Spring Gala out did itself again. While it was the sixth in a row, everyone is a new one and everything old becomes new again. Aly Fanelli and T-D’s finest family members along with one-half of the T-D faculty put on quite a show, perfectly pitched, perfectly placed, and perfectly performed. With Long Island Sound as its backdrop and on an evening the world waits for T-D basked in a sunset that gave new meaning to the word sublime. Great food, great fun, and a festive crowd consisting of T-D’s most ardent patrons made for real enthusiasm as everyone there bid for kids. It was just the right touch at the right time for all those wanting to do right for T-D. Thanks to all of you who found their way to the Larchmont Yacht Club. Let’s meet again for a lucky seven under the Big Tent in May 2010.

If you enjoy parental and student activity that is entertaining, illuminating, and evocative, then June should be your bug-out month. Please focus on the dates below as the year of Brazil and Mas Que Nada reaches a crescendo:

WED. JUNE 3RD Lower School Dog Safety Program – Grades K – 2

THURS. JUNE 4TH Lower School Dog Safety Program – Grades 3, 4, 5

FRI. JUNE 5TH T-D’s Gaucho Festival for the Lower School – 11:30
AM – 2:30 PM – On the courts, on the green, at the
White House, and at T-D. The Lower School embraces
Mas Que Nada

FRI. JUNE 5TH The Arts House Café salutes Brazil with music, song,
dance, art, and fashion. The entire school family takes
over the New Rochelle Public Library from 7:00 PM on.
Make this a “MUST SEE” night for you and your
family. A $5.00 donation for adults and a $3.00 dona-
tion for students is required. It will be the best feel-
good evening of the year.

SUN. JUNE 7TH BuildOn congratulates all of T-D’s hard working sup-
porters at the Javitch home with a Brazilian-like barbe-
que at 3:00 PM. Cheri Coffin and her 25 student com-
mittee members will all be recognized.

THURS. JUNE 11TH The Parent-Teacher Partnership meets at 7:00 PM and
and discusses plans for ’09-’10 and South Africa


FRI. JUNE 12TH New Rochelle’s American Legion puts on a Flag Day
Program at 9:30 AM for the Lower School

FRI. JUNE 12TH Final Exams begin for grades 6-12

WED. JUNE 17TH Lower School Awards Day

WED. JUNE 17TH Graduation Rehearsal for grades 8 & 12 –
12:30 SHARP!

WED. JUNE 17TH T-D’s Senior Prom – Riverview 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
$55.00 per person

FRI. JUNE 19TH T-D’s Annual Commencement Exercises – 4:00 PM

MON. JUNE 29TH Summer Challenge Day Camp begins

MON. JULY 13TH T-D Summer School opens

I hope to see all of you soon!



Sincerely yours,

Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

N.B. Check out all the art in T-D’s lobby and first floor placed on exhibit by Joan Mino.

SEPTEMBER 2009


August 31, 2009



Dear T-D Family:

Today is the 31st day of different colors for Baskin Robbins and the next day is Neil Diamond’s September morn. Summer is slipping away as school bells are being tuned for another year of good vibrations. The song “Unbabaraumu” performed so enthusiastically by Emmanuel Ngung and the beat of “Mama Africa” recently heard at graduation this past June have never left me. My feet are still happy. Emmanuel, by the way, worked here throughout the summer and also left for Portland, Oregon. On the last day of camp everyone treated Manny like a real celebrity. He clearly was my favorite son and his sunny smile said all there was to know. Rock on Manny!

On Thursday, September 10th T-D’s rainbow children begin their first day on campus. The opener will feature and reflect the school’s new theme. It will be a regular irregular school day. Moms or dads need not worry about lunch the first day of school. It will be provided free of charge just like last year. Everyone will enjoy a South African meal catered for the entire school family. Thanks to the Parent-Teacher Partnership for allowing us to taste South African food and delicacies.

Two days prior, on Tuesday, September 8th, all of T-D’s newest family members, moms, dads, students, and extended family are invited to the welcome warmer to be held in the Berns Memorial Library from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM. Please understand that this social is for new parents only.

On Wednesday, September 9th orientation for grades K-5 begins at 10:00 A.M. and Lynne Tirrell and her entire returning cast will help to comfort all our new little folks. Every new lower school student should attend and plan to be here about one hour.

Schedules for all new 6-12 students will be secured on Wednesday with individual appointments arranged throughout the day by Annemarie.

T-D’s senior and junior classes are invited to campus on Labor Day, Monday, September 7th, to program their classes. Seniors are coming in the morning and juniors in the afternoon.

There are two school days in September that should be red-lettered. The first is 9/11, which is the Friday after school begins. Once again Benoit Van Lesberghe will offer his words of reflection for T-D’s 6-12 student population. The tribute will take place on the green (the new basketball court) at 10:00 A.M.

The second day is Monday, September 21st, the United Nations Peace Day, and it will be celebrated world-wide. It will be a K-12 event held behind T-D’s White House at 2:00 P.M.

During the month of September T-D will be hosting students from Italy and school administrators from Hiroshima, Japan. Early in October I’ll be chaperoning a number of T-D’s faithful to Chicago and Notre Dame, Indiana for our annual visit. T-D has a direct link to the admissions office at Notre Dame for anyone wanting to go green.

One week before T-D departs for the land of the leprechauns there will be an outdoor barbecue at the White House. Burgers, dogs, and green beer for the big boys will be on hand. Specifics on this rally will be forwarded later.

With the help of Lynne Tirrell a copy of most Lower School activities for 2009-10 is enclosed. It looks like a great year to talk to the animals. I know Liam Baum found South Africa to be much more than his preconceived ideas about the Rainbow land. Some of Liam’s thoughts have been printed with this mailing. It really adds flavor to all T-D does to make it happen. A copy of Liam’s commentary is included in this mailing.

Please remember T-D’s dates of April 22nd – May 6th. Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg await you. All flights originate in New York’s JFK airport.

Once again T-D is offering numerous courses taught only once and all of which have South Africa as the theme. About 20 courses are on line designated with the letter “T” for theme to identify them. Listed below are courses that are designed to reflect the South African theme and induce the learner to travel there with T-D in April 2010.

Blue skies, game parks, wilderness areas, and always the promise of a sun-drenched holiday are what make South Africa so seductive. All these courses should only add to the allure:

South African Adventure
History of Life
Sounds of South Africa
The New King Solomon Mines
Cityscapes & Skylines
Empires of the Sea
South African Literature & Writers
African & Asian Kingdoms worth their Salt
South African History
Infectious Diseases
Human Origins
Water Wonder
Amphitheatre Architecture
Salt of the Earth
History of Africa on Film
Art Beyond the Rainbow
Silt to Salt
The Big Five
Empires of Steam
A number of parents are looking for bus transportation to T-D. Parents can phone L.T. Transportation at 914-663-2568 and speak with Eddie. Parents interested in carpooling can also contact T-D and it can get posted or included in one of our next mailings.

Any parents wanting to take advantage of our new lunch program this year should submit their order and payment ASAP. If you need an additional menu and order form, please call Annemarie immediately and she will mail it to you. The lunch service will begin on Friday, September 11th but only to those who have placed their order in advance. If you are not using our lunch program your child will have to bring their lunch from home. There will not be lunch available for your child unless it is pre-ordered quarterly this year.

Many of you undoubtedly heard of the passing of Mary Licini, Annemarie’s mom. She left an indelible mark in more hearts than most and was known for her quick and unassuming presence. The Licini family is holding a short memorial service on Saturday, September 19th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM. In this way those thus far unable to express their sympathy and pay their respects may do so. Everyone will meet at T-D and gather outside Annemarie’s office on the front lawn. Words will be offered, prayers said, and the Licinis memorialized. Annemarie’s parents were loyal T-D supporters for close to 40 years. Attendance is voluntary and open to all those who want to express their feelings.


Sincerely yours,

Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

September 30, 2009



Dear T-D Family:

The calendar for October has a good number of treats and a few tricks for you. Just as you receive this I’ll be in Chicago-land ready to go gaming. The highlight of the weekend experience will be in South Bend as the Irish and Washington will tangle.

On Friday night October 2nd the PTP is sponsoring its Friday social for all T-D families to consider. It’s at Turtle Cove near City Island and it’s burgers, dogs, fries, and miniature golf. You can drive for show, but it is better to putt for dough.

On Wednesday, October 7th I’ll be traveling to Bridgeport with a few aspiring Ivy Leaguers. A couple of T-D seniors will be motoring with me and I hope this college fair helps with their decision-making process. Columbia is high on this year’s student applications list.

T-D’s Parent-Teacher Partnership is holding its second meeting in the Berns Memorial Library on Thursday, October 17th at 7:00 PM. Please circle Wednesday, October 14th for “Muffins with Mom” and Wednesday, October 21st for “Donuts with Dad”. Both of them will start at 8:00 AM in Freedom Hall and will end promptly at 8:55 AM. In order for students to attend, they must be accompanied by moms on the 14th and by dads on the 21st.

T-D’s PSAT exams will be given on Saturday, October 17th, beginning promptly at 9:00 A.M. Sophomores should consider this mandatory, juniors even more compelling, and seniors as optional only if the exam was taken earlier. A $40.00 fee, paid in advance, is necessary to sit for the experience.

T-D’s SAT Prep Class begins on Tuesday, October 20th. Once again Craig Aronson will be here to steer us, guide us, and surf the SATs. Better results are almost automatic so this is a good investment. Any upper schooler (grades 9-12) can ride the A train with Aronson on seven Tuesday nights in a row. A flyer is enclosed with this mailing with all the details.

Activities in the Lower School include an African drum performance as well as a ballet on Friday, October 7th. It will be on the green at 1:00 PM and all T-D parents are invited as guests. Special thanks to the PTP for the funding.

By the way the Lower School (grades K-5) is holding a Parent-Teacher Conference Night on Monday, October 19th from 7:00 PM onward. Every mom and dad should find a way to be at T-D.

Grades 9-12 will be traveling to the Big Apple on Wednesday, October 14th to the New York Historical Society. Two docent-led tours are on tap and the subject matter has slavery in New York as its main focus. More specifics will follow this tidbit.

As a follow-up to the field trip, T-D will be hosting “Meet the Author” morning on Tuesday, October 20th. Noted American writer Ron Soodalter will be discussing his latest book “The Slave Next Door.” T-D’s parent body can join grades 9-12 as they hear about modern day slaves and traffickers in the land of the free. Copies will be here to acquire and the author will happily sign a few for those who purchase them. More on the speaker can be secured through http://www.ronsoodalter.com. Thanks to T-D senior Zubair Khan for making this happen.

Sports kick in for grades 6-12 on two Fridays, October 16th and 23rd. The following Friday T-D’s Annual Halloween Costume Contest and Parade will be held. It begins at 2:00 PM. Students in grades K-5 can prepare earlier by attending a “Ghoul of a School Halloween Gig” sponsored by Annemarie Licini-Paris and Janet Fleming. It’s an annual treat. A flyer with the details is included in this mailing. Check it out!

T-D’s Peace Day Program was a special K-12 offering. Several T-D students, including the entire Lower School, performed, read poetry, did some acting, and sang for all those who gathered on the green at the White House. Two T-D senior doves did themselves proud as Samantha Feola and Hayley Johnson hit the high notes. Justin Pizzo, a graduating junior, gave a peace reflection and rendering. It was well presented, crafted, and very heartfelt. Highlights of International Peace Day will shortly be on YouTube. Invited to the Peace Program were two grad students from Italy. Both enjoyed hearing Nick Curanaj and Matt Wickline’s skit. Other international visitors coming to T-D were Vivian Lechter from Germany, K. Sogo from Sera, Japan, and the Kem family from Cameroon.

T-D has purchased air space from News Channel 12 and a number of current students will be seen periodically as three different 30-second spots will air from October to June. Without the help of T-D parent and trustee Erin Saluti, this campaign could never have been launched.

A number of flyers are included with this missive. Each requires a good review or separate posting. Also included are the words said on behalf of Annemarie’s deceased parents and the tree planting as a memorial tribute to both of them. The tree, a magnolia, has a headstone and engraving right outside Sam’s office and can be easily seen from Annemarie’s vantage point.

I hope your October is as opulent as T-D’s will be. The burning bushes are ready to bleed. Better red than dead. Sorry, it’s Halloween.




Very truly yours,

Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

October 26, 2009


Dear T-D Family:

So where were you this past weekend? Were you one of those who went leaf peeking? There’s nothing like true colors, but if you enjoy crimson, or blood, red and, deep, check out the burning bushes bordering Thornton-Donovan’s Lincoln Terrace. Test your optic nerve. You’ll definitely shutter!

Maybe you opted for an old fashioned hayride right on California Road in Eastchester. It was uncommonly good for all those in need of a special treat. But how about sliding down a ramp from the top of the Empire State Building right into King Kong’s belly? Now that is a real trick and a treat at the same time. So where was this made possible? Right here on the T-D campus yesterday. Annemarie Licini-Paris and my daughter, Janet hosted the eighth annual school-ghoul misadventure. There’s nothin’ quite like it. Both Janet and Anne are graduates of the Gothic Charm School.

There were more things movin’ and grovin’, screaming and shouting, shrinking and expanding in the Berns Memorial Library than on the wackiest school day. Everything there was skillfully placed and amped to drawn attention and create fear. It all was spooktacular!

Somehow in the middle of all this fright our resident slumcat millionaire dared to drop into 100 Overlook Circle. Regretfully she entered T-D’s most sacred room and a nano second later she bolted from the Berns Memorial Library to the unknown outdoors. You know it’s a scary place when a black cat evacuates. If a picture were worth a thousand words than being here Sunday had to be worth more than 1,000 pictures.

Talking about pictures just imagine Thornton-Donovan in SOUTH AFRICA, one month before World Cup action? We’ll be there to give the world a sneak preview. We already know a red carpet awaits us. Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg are our ports of call. First class hotels, all with pools, beautiful weather and cityscapes and skylines like no other await us. Then, there are all those animals.

Your non-refundable deposit guarantees you a super-saver rate of $4,298.00. Just by paying $1,500 per person by November 15 can create a safari like dream for you and your family.

Just for the record, final balances of $2,798 for the super-saver rate of our sojourn safari are not due until late March, 2010. So, if you’re going, let your green show by November 15. Thornton-Donovan no longer has the 42 seats it initially booked, and, of course, a sellout is anticipated once again. Reserve today and save later.



Lastly “Art After School” is on line for all of Thornton-Donovan’s best and brightest, ages 10-17. Ten sessions, beginning next Monday, are available for aspiring artists and crafty folk.

It’s Monday and the Horror House of Usher that was T-D has returned as the little red school house used to be. On Friday of this week, once again, T-D will turn dark, gothic and ghoulish. Check your fear factor before you watch the costume contest at 2:00 pm on Friday, October 30th.

I dare you to visit that day and make no bones about it.

Very truly yours,



Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

N.B. The school has a second website courtesy of Thornton-Donovan’s Erin Saluti.
You can check it out about one week from now at http://www.thorntondonovan.com.

May 22, 2010






Dear T-D Families:

During tonight’s Spring Gala a number of announcements will be made and I’d like to share them with one and all. Actually if you are a T-D family member, there are two things you must do. One is to pack early for the annual travel-study trek and the other is get your wardrobe ready for next year’s Spring Gala. While not traveling with the school is forgivable; not going to the Gala is not. No one works harder and volunteers more than our own Aly Fanelli. If you go the Gala for just one reason, go to say thank you to Aly and all those who make the Gala the premier event of the year. If you do go to the Gala, you already know how vital this celebration is to the school, its present student body and the future.

As you are reading this, I’m off to Anchorage, Alaska and will not return until this coming weekend. I’ve been invited by Globus Family Brands to be one of five nationwide to speak on behalf of thematic education. While much of my time will be spent speaking about travel-study, I’ll get to see the Wildlife Conservation Center and take the 26 Glaciers Cruise, as well as the Denali Jet Boat Safari. Lastly I’ll be a passenger on the Alaska Railroad train traveling in the Gold Star Demo Car. All this should present a dramatic contrast to South Africa in terms of weather, wildlife, and wardrobe.

As soon as June begins to decorate the campus, T-D’s middle and upper school faculty will be available for conferences from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM on June 1st, which is Tuesday. On Thursday, June 3rd T-D’s Iowa tests will be administered to grades K – 11. T-D’s 12th graders can enjoy senior day as a holiday.

Remember I wrote there are two things T-D parents must do to be T-D parents – well let’s throw in a bonus – go to the Arts Café on Friday, June 4th and see the rebirth of South Africa through its music, art, fashion, performance, and an appearance by Nelson Mandela himself! It will be at the New Rochelle Public Library on Lawton Street and with a $5.00 bill adults can enter another world and look for a good seat. Latecomers may have to stand in the back of the 180-seat theatre or miss it entirely.

Final exams begin on Friday, June 11th. Summer School begins on Monday, July 12th, 2010 should a course need to be retaken or brush-up work pursued. Lynne Tirrell directs the T-D Summer School. To reach her call 914-557-1829.

On June 14th there will be a Flag Day ceremony and on Thursday, June 17th T-D’s prom for the Classes of 2010 and their classmates will be held.

T-D’s annual commencement exercises for seniors and 8th graders will be held on Friday, June 18th at 4:00 PM. Tim Sullivan is the principal speaker. He is the head of Family Media, a nationwide publication for Parent-Teacher Organizations. Being honored are Constance Levi for her scout work, Patrick Shannon, our MSG cableman, and Frank Friscia, the voice of the Summer Challenge for 38 years.

Two days after graduation 12 of us are off to Hiroshima, Japan.

I hope you and your family are “bustin’ out all over”.



Up in the Air,


Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

April 4, 2010

Dear T-D Family:

Rain, rain, go away and don’t come back till the end of May. Right now the sunlight is pouring in and the campus is flooded with light. The daffodils are dancing and the tulips effortlessly making their way to show their true colors to an unknown world.

While April 1st is known to most of the adult world as a day to fool or be fooled, for students who are about to graduate, it is d-day. D-day is the date when love letters are sent from America’s foremost colleges letting seniors know if they are worthy or just in the also-ran category. Imagine April 1st as the date that is chosen by those academic citadels. Quite sophomoric I would add. It’s far from true that one’s DNA determines one’s destiny. The daffy deans of admission do.

Several highly thought of colleges found T-D’s college applicants to be pretty cool. A good number of them spread throughout America gave a thumbs-up to T-D’s 2010 Class. A few of those that come to mind as I scribe this missive include NYU, Georgetown, William and Mary, UCLA, Vassar, McGill (Montreal), and Trinity. Imagine all these acceptances without the I-Pad.

Other colleges come as close to an admission letter as one can receive, so knocking harder and louder on the door becomes part of the wait-list scene. Included here are Williams, Dartmouth, Columbia, Emory, Skidmore, Swarthmore, Colgate, and George Washington. I think the class as a whole has some very talented, gifted, and hard working seniors, and know that they will shine wherever they do their collegiate work.

T-D’s trip to South Africa is getting closer and closer to departure. The dates are from April 22nd until May 6th. School reopens on Monday, May 10th. A total of 44 T-D family members are ready for the Rainbow Nation and a Brave New World.

T-D’s guests from Hiroshima returned home safely. The help, housing, and hosting so graciously given by the Javitch, Telesco, Pizzo, Livingstone, and Ryzyk families made the bridge between the world’s peace capital and New Rochelle lots stronger. Thank God that T-D has several American idol families.

On Monday, June 21st eight T-D upper schoolers will be “Up in the Air” heading to Hiroshima on a peace mission. The two-week travel trek ends in early July. T-D’s diplomatic delegate team includes Peter Soares, Justin Pizzo, Lindsey Holroyd, Emily Collins, Sam Javitch, Dom Telesco, Peter Ryzyk, and Jade Tu.

In early October 2010 T-D will be hosting several high schoolers from Sicily and I’ll be asking for some reciprocity and generosity. I hope to get to St. John the Devine for the feast day of St. Francis and the Animal Blessing along with the last Met home game of the year. Now that’s a double header! Of course, there will be another Fifth Avenue walk with the Columbus Day Parade.

Later in October there are plans for T-D’s build-On team to go to Nicaragua. I expect many of you will attend the informational session to be held in May. It should answer everyone’s questions.

I cannot close without saluting T-D’s performers and their performances at the last Arts House Café. Quite frankly I was disappointed that so few T-D families found their way to the New Rochelle Public Library. Our kids deserve, merit, and require, if you will, personal presence. From Kindergarten through grade 12 Liam Baum directed another masterpiece. A couple of wee folk stole the hearts of T-D’s adult audience. Dr. Michael Sessa at the keyboard and Grace Kretzmer with her happy feet brought lots of applause. And who would have thought that Alexis Prendergast would be the one to rock the house. Her Kelly Clarkson song brought out the best in her classmates and you could see Alexis light up as the applause grew. It was great to see her dad Walter light up with pride too.

On Thursday, April 8th the next PTP meeting will be held and there is an attachment with this letter and April calendar.

Going to see a movie like “The Prophet” and paying $12.00 per ticket to see a “waste of money” movie reminds me how much value there is when one is asked for a $5.00 donation at the Arts House. Our next Arts House is the first Friday in June. It will be at the New Rochelle Public Library, which we rent for the evening. Please, no more grunting!

I’ll be in touch again shortly. Just read that college list once again.


Sincerely yours,

Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

N.B. T-D’s Open House for your best friends and families is set for Sunday, April 18th from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.



























Dear T-D Family:

Before I left Filippo Brancatos’s house in Sciacca I punked him. All the furniture in the five-room apartment given to me was rearranged. As soon as I returned to T-D this morning at 7:00 AM my office was punked. Sicilians really know how to get even. I had a good laugh and promise revenge, but alas ………

Sciacca for me was just one word – WOW! Before leaving I tried to prepare for our academic attack and looked for prime sources at three Barnes and Nobles. Italy reference pieces are everywhere. Rome is eternally in print. Venice is never watered down and Florence is everyone’s favorite flower. Try finding a tourist text on Sicily. No wonder the Godfather hung out there. At the Barnes and Noble in Co-op City I saw a book on Sicily. It was 300 pages and it called me. I bought it as if it were an offer I couldn’t refuse. On the plane I planned to read it and did. No where in the opening index could I find Sciacca. Flipping through 300 pages I couldn’t discover my new home-away-from-home. Then I went to the index in the back, did my ABC’s, and came to the letter “S”. By now you guessed the dilemma.
Fromer’s travel guides have led me to so many places around the world, but this time Fromer failed.

Sciacca was like a secret, like a good restaurant that your best friends won’t tell you about or share with you. Once discovered it could only get spoiled. Keep it on the hush!

In an era when we can be anywhere with our Apples and Blackberries, getting to Sciacca is a planes, trains, automobiles, and motor coach experience. The long and winding road to get to Sciacca was difficult. The one that led me to my door at T-D this morning was even more so, a 15-hour train ride, 2-hour motor coach trip, and nine hour flight from Italia to America.

“Together in the Future” was our peace conference name. Can you imagine two Russian schools, an American school, and an Italian school breaking bread together, passing pasta, and doing lots of people-pleasing at the same time? Our American delegation was dove-like and it presented ideas and thoughts that should fly around the world and stop at every port for a global review.

Justin Pizzo, the “Chairman of the Board”, addressed about 100 students and faculty. He spoke in Russian, Italian, and English and ended his speech with a few Latin proverbs. A few minutes later Samantha Feola offered a few words, beautifully written, articulated, and woven. I was very taken by what she wrote. Almost everyone else was more moved by her Puccini opera piece as it overshadowed the words that I’m including in this mailing. Peter Soares, Peter Ryzyk, and Lindsey Holroyd all did their fair share of ambassadorial articulation. Each of the three spoke with eloquence and grace and then Alessandro Gazzola translated the English they spoke into Italian. Bear in mind that all T-D students who dressed the stage and addressed the citizens of tomorrow did it with television cameras right in their face.

Some say the Italians didn’t win many wars – maybe they were just too busy eating. In the first 36 hours I ate five dinners. Just imagine each and every one of T-D’s diplomats (18) never knew where they were staying, who they would be with, and what was to happen each day. Just imagine Americans allowing free access to everything in the house, serving three meals per day, being chauffeured countless times to meetings close and far away and always smiling as each day evolves.

The generosity and good will of the Italian hosts could not be matched. It was almost kindness to a fault. T-D had a few good moments too. Sage Mullings, known as Obama to Mr. Brancato, the Italian school principal, was more popular in this tiny hamlet than our American president. I’ve never seen someone hugged so many times. Hugs from Italians I expected; hugs from Russians were not. Kisses from ladies flowed like olive oil on a salad. Kisses from guys to guys added some more flavor. Not only did Sage cut across blood lines but he also didn’t discriminate based on age. More pictures were taken of him with Italian moms and dads then one could flash in a full day. Sage would hold a door open, lift luggage on a train, and offer his own food to any traveler and he would do all of it with a smile.

All T-D travelers were victims of altruism. Not all meals were eaten at home. Many were eaten in restaurants of five-star quality and price. Our last restaurant experience attracted over 150, that’s right 150 guests; all of whom were there to honor us. For our 15-hour train ride from Palermo to Rome, the Italian host families packed a lunch, dinner, and breakfast for the next day after sleeping overnight on the train. I mean who said “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”. The Italians went further than that. You could add breakfast and dinner to the free meal plan.

With one phone call on Friday night, Mr. Filippo Brancato spoke to the Sciacca Lions Club President and booked dinner for Saturday night for me and the 30 other Lions who came with one day’s notice to exchange good will.

Each day was tiring with lots of walking, local tours, and full-day excursions to Palermo (1 ½ hours away) and Agrigento (1 hour). There were lots of sore feet, but never once was any student a sore sport.

Special thanks to Olena Vasendin (Russian) and Almira Bubesi (Italian) for their constant cultivation. Without them nothing like this could or would have happened. I wish both ladies could have gone.

Before leaving I wanted to write a letter to Fromer about including Sciacca in his travel manuals. Now I believe it is ill advised. I want to keep Sciacca like a good restaurant and not tell anyone so it stays unspoiled.

The next time you are near the ocean, blow a kiss into the Southwest wind to Sciacca’s shoreline. With enough kisses maybe Hershey will wrap Sciacca up and no one every able to spoil it.



Insieue Noi Possiamo,


Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster

Dear Internet Friend:

As Headmaster, I would like to welcome you to Thornton-Donovan School’s website. As a Worldwide Web user, I’d like you to know a little bit about our school.

T-D is Westchester’s only “Little Red Schoolhouse.” Founded in 1901, T-D celebrated its centennial in the 2000-2001 school year. The School has about 170 academically talented students who come from homes around the corner and homes around the world.

As an independent co-ed K-12 school, T-D specializes in international education, It offers several languages in classes with 10 – 12 pupils; French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek, German, and Russian are taught daily. In addition, T-D has dozens of “Sister Schools” around the world. Students can go to school in Pusan, Korea; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dublin, Ireland; Shanghai, China; La Rochelle, France; Nottingham, England; Rome, Italy; Mexico City, Guatemala City, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Tirana, Albania and so on. During the course of the school year, T-D and T-D families often host visiting students from these very same destinations.

For 2009-10 T-D’s school family will be saluting South Africa as a newly discovered land. South Africa is one of the world’s most inviting countries. Brazil was an ideal prelude to it as T-D traveled from Rio to Sao Paulo in May 2009. We are ready to be explorers once again.

As is the case with each and every yearly theme, 19 new courses are introduced to reflect it and students from grades 6-12 are invited to select a few from them. All of T-D’s thematic courses are taught for only one year. They are integrated within T-D’s regular curriculum which can best be described as classical and Western.

Some of the classes now on line, as part of the “Rainbow Nation” South African theme are listed below for readers to better understand the thrust and extent of each year’s academic salute. Selecting any of these South African entrees is based on ability, achievement, and interest; not grade level.

South African Adventure
History of Life
Sounds of South Africa
New King Solomon’s Mines
Cityscapes & Skylines
Empires of the Sea
South African Lit. & Writers
African & Asian Kingdoms
Infectious Diseases
South African History
Human Origins
Water Wonder
Amphitheatre Architecture
Salt of the Earth – Food
Empires of Steam
History of Africa on Film
Silt to Salt Archaeology
Art Beyond the Rainbow
The Big Five

T-D’s regular upper school curriculum offers four years of English, social science, math, and science. Students can go to the highest level in seven foreign languages. Most T-D classes in the upper school are honors classes.

Each year’s academic theme customarily culminates in travel-study to a specific destination. In May 2010 T-D will begin a two-week sojourn in South Africa itself with Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg as its main focus.

T-D’s last academic adventure was in Brazil and close to 50 family members visited, toured, and studied in the country that is special to the entire world.

Should you want to go global, check out T-D, your portal to a world class education.

Thornton-Donovan is for young people who want to go places. There is no place like T-D. There is no place like here.

Cordially,

Douglas E. Fleming, Jr.
Headmaster