Parkside Annual Report 2021-2022

Contents

Message from the Co-Heads of School

from the Board of Directors

Are Parkside

Anniversary Gala

Parkside Parents Association

of the Class of 2022

Fund

Gifts

Giving

Giving & Volunteers

Leadership

The donors listed in this Annual Report have supported The Parkside School with contributions received between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Every effort has been made to include each person or organization who contributed to Parkside during this period. If your name has been omitted or listed incorrectly, please accept our apology and notify the Advancement Office at 212-721-8888 x153.

Message from the Co-Heads of School

There were many lessons learned, both large and small, during the course of the 2021-2022 school year. The ability of our students, teachers and therapists to be flexible and adapt continue to inspire us. And as we conclude The Parkside School’s 35th year, we take comfort in knowing that it is the people – our community of parents, alumni and friends – that propel our school forward.

From children filling the halls with excited chatter, to teachers, therapists and staff pushing tirelessly forward in collaboration with parents to meet the social, emotional and academic needs of their students, we all have a role to play in advancing Parkside’s mission.

This year, the Parents Association once again imagined and created new and innovative ways for families to connect and gather. From playdates in the park, to Parkside’s first-ever Ice Skating Party and exciting in-person Book Fair, we are so grateful for the sense of community fostered by the PA.

We continue to be impressed by our alumni community and the love they have for their Parkside teachers and therapists. To see so many alumni and friends as we celebrated at Parkside’s 35th Anniversary “Gatsby Gala” – our first in-person gala since 2019 – was heartwarming and inspiring.

And of course, we owe a debt of gratitude to the teachers, therapists and staff who give so generously of their time in support of our students. None of this would be possible without you.

This Annual Report includes a number of profiles of members of our community. A tiny snapshot of the impact Parkside has on the real people who make up our tight knit community, we hope it inspires your continued support of our school as we head into a new year filled with possibilities.

Thank you for all you do for Parkside.

Message from the Board of Directors

The 2021-2022 school year marked Parkside’s 35th year of innovation, collaboration, partnership and perseverance in providing a learning atmosphere for students with distinct language-based learning challenges. From the beginning, Co-Heads Albina Miller and Leslie Thorne saw a need in our community for some thing different, and surrounded themselves with people who could help achieve their vision of a school that focused on each individual child’s needs instead of adhering to traditional classroom and learning structures.

Today, that vision continues, and it simply would not be possible without the ongoing support and involvement of parents, alumni and friends who give so generously to the Annual Fund, our Spring Benefit, and the Parents Association while tirelessly advocating for their children – and for Parkside, itself – in so many ways. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend my sincere thanks to everyone who made a financial contribution to our school this year. We closed our fiscal year on June 30 having raised more than $915,000 in private donations through the Annual Fund, our 35th Anniversary Gala, and other fundrais ing efforts.

As the board continues its work to ensure Parkside’s long-term success, we are inspired by the diverse community of individuals that make this school so special. It is for each of you that we continue to push for fair and equal funding from the State Education Department in

order to remain a funded school and that we continue doing everything in our power to strengthen Parkside’s position in the New York City special education community.

You may recall that during our annual State of the School meeting this past January the Board updated parents on our efforts to secure a tuition increase from the State Education Department. We are pleased to let you know that we anticipate receiving a tuition increase which would allow us to remain a funded school for the immediate future. While there is still some uncertainty and always a possibility that we do not receive the increase, we are now more hopeful based on our recent conversations with State officials. It is also important to mention that this anticipated increase will be insufficient to cover all of our operating costs and consequently, we will continue to rely on your financial support.

With your continued involvement and support, our goal is that Parkside will continue to be a beacon of hope for families.

The Board is honored to have you by our side as we plan for Parkside’s continued success.

With much gratitude,

We Are Parkside

At Parkside, it is our community that makes us strong. The resilience of our students, and the trust of their parents and grandparents. The tireless dedication of our teachers, therapists and staff. The confidence of our alumni, who have gone on to do countless impressive things with their education, careers and hobbies. And the ongoing gratitude and support from alumni parents, who will forever have a special bond with our school.

In the following pages, we’ve tried to give you a tiny glimpse into just a few of the people who make up our community, and the impact Parkside has had on them and their families.

AN INTERVIEW WITH RAGHAV CHARI & ISHA GARY Current Parents

Ishaan’s parents remember being inundated with a lot of information very quickly after the head of Montclare Children’s School suggested they get him tested before he turned 3 years old. Ishaan was clearly a smart child, able to process some information very quickly, like numbers and sounds. Raghav Chari and Isha Gary were concerned, though, that their son was not yet speaking or making eye contact, and quickly realized that finding the right school — the right environment for him to learn — was going to be critical to his early development. At the recommendation of an administrator at the Department of Education, they enrolled Ishaan at the Central Park Early Learning Center. The small class sizes, personalized attention, therapies, and individualized support were exactly what Ishaan needed, but an uneasiness about finding the right elementary school set inRavi, Raghav, Isha, Ishaan and Jayanth

as Raghav and Isha began the challenging, emotional process of finding the right school for their child, who was struggling with communication.

It was through another parent at Central Park Early Learning Center that the Charis learned about Parkside. Melissa Gelade’s son, Will, had started at Parkside a couple of years ahead of Ishaan and suggested they check it out. She helped them navigate their school-search process, during which they remember hearing: “Everybody wants to go to Parkside, but no one gets in.” Isha described the feeling she got when they first toured Parkside, saying, “That’s the magic. Walking into a school and seeing other children like yours.” But that realization paled in comparison with the impact Parkside’s program had on Ishaan and his family.

From September to May, during Ishaan’s first year at Parkside, Isha remembers witnessing a massive transformation. “He went from a kid who wasn’t talking to not being able to shut him up! Having two other boys in mainstream schools, we immediately saw the difference in the level of connection the Parkside teachers and therapists have with their students. The degree of connectivity with the entire school environment is orders of magnitude different than that of even the most elite private schools in Manhattan,” according to Raghav.

One of the biggest impacts of the integration of Parkside’s “whole child” approach for Ishaan was the expansion of his social network. Prior to Parkside, his social interactions were based

entirely around his two older brothers. Ishaan didn’t enjoy playdates or birthday parties; in fact, the latter were a source of great anxiety for him. At 5 years old, he was invited to a gymnastics-themed birthday party. Isha was prepared for the worst: “I could see his anxiety, the wheels turning in his head that we were about to be out of there.” But then a Parkside friend, Eva, spotted Ishaan from a distance, stood up, and walked over to him. She said, “Ishaan, come on, it’s time for us to play.” And he didn’t look back. He went on to play and have the time of his life, because he had formed new social connections and learned to face his fears at Parkside. Years later, Ishaan loves parties and is learning magic tricks, which he plans to perform for his guests at his next birthday.

In his father’s words, “I think that through the development of him as a friend to other people, and as someone who can interact with other people, we’ve been able to really expand our understanding of where he is, what his challenges are, and how he might grow over time through the lens of how he interacts with his friends from Parkside.”

For the Chari family, the way teachers and therapists at Parkside personalize their time to make each child feel special is the secret sauce. “Because of the way that Parkside nurtured and educated our son, he was able to become the best version of himself.” they said.

JAMES LONSDALE

Art Teacher

My name is James Lonsdale. I’m the Co-Head of the Specialty Department, and Art and Design Teacher at Parkside. I have been a teacher for more than 14 years, and originally dedicated my practice to high school students in Manchester, United Kingdom where I am originally from. Since moving to New York eight years ago, and since joining Parkside almost two years ago, I have been thrilled and excited at how my joy for teaching art has evolved, and how my approach has developed for elementary level education.

Teaching the children at Parkside has awoken my own imagination, and deepened my own love of learning about the beginnings of visual art. Parkside has provided me with a studio that would be fit for the most advanced artists, while serving as a comfortable base from which I get to introduce the youngest of students to the beauty of art. In the studio, we draw, paint, print, collage, sculpt, invent and continue to explore and express ourselves throughout our journey together with the support of amazing teachers, therapists and support staff. I strive to create the safest and most inspiring environment I can and will introduce our children to movements, materials and influential artists many don’t encounter until college. It’s been a thrill to become part of the Parkside family and I look forward to working alongside each and every student I meet.

“The best thing about Parkside are the specialty classes like gym, drama, art and yoga.”

- Julian, Class 4-4

From very early on, Jeremy and Elena Shahom knew they wanted their son to attend Parkside. Joshua was born premature and received a range of early-intervention services from the time he was 1 month old. With the guidance of a paid advocate, Joshua attended preschool at the Children’s Advocacy Center, where the teachers used a similar approach to Parkside in addressing the social-emotional needs of children.

Joshua had major pragmatic language issues. He picked up vocabulary easily but was unable to use those words in conversation. Elena recalls being so nervous when Parkside admissions director Rachel Vannucci observed Joshua at his preschool, because he didn’t say anything during the session. When Elena received the call offering Joshua at spot at Parkside, she was overjoyed and has saved the voicemail from Rachel to this day.

Recalling their first year at Parkside, Elena remembers one of the biggest shifts they saw in Joshua’s development. “When Joshua first came to Parkside, he would only speak to adults and only speak to other children through adults. By the end of his first year, he had friends, we were planning playdates, and he was learning how to express interest in other children. It was something we never thought would happen. As time went on, he began referring to his classmates as ‘the friends,’ and that eventually morphed into ‘my friends’ as he learned to have conversations

and build relationships. He started to blossom.”

Parent-teacher conference and team meetings are an integral way that parents learn about their child’s progress, as well as tools and strategies that can be used at home to reinforce patterns and encourage continued growth. Elena recalls being blown away by the level of open communication and genuine caring from Joshua’s large team of teachers and therapists.

As time passed, Elena found herself spending more time at Parkside, volun teering in the library and spearheading the Parents Association’s annual Book Fair. “Parkside is like a family, and being part of such a caring community just made me happier.”

Joshua graduated from Parkside with his friends in the class of 2022 this June and is proud to be attending middle school this year at The Summit School. He is an avid artist, loves history and reading, and has even begun learning about video editing, which has become a new passion of his. As any parent would be, Jeremy and Elena are nervously optimistic about what comes next, but they no longer worry that their son will not have a full life, complete with relationships, passions, and independence. “Because of Parkside, Joshua has a sense of what it means to be in the world — and it’s beautiful.”

“Because of Parkside, Joshua has a sense of what it means to be in the world. And it’s beautiful.”

A Q&A WITH DINA AND STU BERRIN

Current Parents

Tell us a little about your family! We live on the Upper West Side. Our family likes to ski, travel, do adventure/high ropes courses, and are major dog lovers. Rocky, age 2, joined our family in 2020 during the pandemic. Our eldest is a sophomore at Penn State, younger daughter is a Senior at Eleanor Roosevelt HS and Michael (Parkside Class of 2022) is starting middle school at Summit in September.

What factors were most important to you when searching for an elementary school for Michael?

Michael had speech and language delays and it was very hard to communicate with him, and for him to communicate with us and others. So our first priority was to find a school that could accommodate his needs. But we also wanted a warm and nurturing environment, a hands-on approach, and strong communication with his teachers and therapists. Michael is also super active, and needed a gym program that had variety, which we feel we found at Parkside.

Tell us what it has been like working with Parkside’s Speech, Occupational Therapy, and Social Work departments. All 3 have been hugely impactful for Michael. Michael worked with both Ms. Roberta Favant and Ms. Sarah Goldenberg in speech. He loved both. Each brought a sense of playfulness and built their sessions around his needs. He always looked forward to going. Ms. Yen has been a solid source of support and positive reinforcement. She taught Michael to tie his shoes and improve his writing and typing. She worked closely with

us so we could support Michael at home. Rick Alston has been a massive source of emotional and social support. Rick created a strong bond with Michael and continues to be one of the most trusted and reliable figures in Michael’s life. Michael feels very understood and accepted by Rick and this has led to many positive changes with how Michael sees himself in the world and also conducts himself within his peer group. Rick has also been a huge support to us as parents, giving us guidance, advice, support and feedback.

Of Parkside’s Specialty Classes, are there any that are most impactful for Michael? Michael is a super active kid. He loves gym and sports, and has gained confidence from the Parkside gym program. While he did not love yoga at first (it was too slow for him) he did find the patience for it as time went by. Michael really enjoyed drama – he loved dressing up, acting and learning what it takes to put a show together. Arts and movement were also great times for Michael to bond with his friends and laugh.

Today, what are your child’s biggest passions and aspirations?

Michael loves all animals, and is especially connected to dogs, and even plans to start a dog walking business this fall. He remembers the baby chicks from his time at Parkside, and has them at summer camp now where he takes them out and holds them like a pro. He loves sports - ice hockey, ice skating, soccer, basketball. Michael has found confidence in math, and looks forward doing math problems.

As parents, what have you learned from your experience at Parkside?

Our biggest challenges were during the pandemic when Michael was in zoom school. He missed his peers and was pushing back on all things school related. Through the excellent guidance of Rick Alston and Rebecca Frank we learned how and when to approach Michael and what tack to take (when he didn’t want to be in online school). The compassion, unending patience and willingness to work through Michael’s feelings required a big learning curve. We learned to listen and respond to Michael in a new way. We still use these strategies today.

As your child grows in their educational journey, what are your hopes and dreams for them?

That he continues to progress and remains curious about learning, improving his skills and bettering himself. I hope that he remains

true to who he is - a smart, athletic, adventurous, animal loving, funny, empathetic and social kid/young man. I wish for him to make his challenges strengths and for him to share his journey with others who would benefit from his experience. I wish for him to love middle school and continue to expand the number of things he is passionate about in this world. I wish for him to go to college and to live an independent life. I wish for him to use his intelligence and creativity and mix it with all of the things that light him up in this world and find his best and most authentic path forward. We will be cheering him on.

What advice would you give to a prospective family just beginning the challenging process of finding the right school for their child?

Finding the right school is likely one of the most important things you will do for your child. Especially in these early years. Take the time to do the research, visit the schools, meet the faculty, learn about the school’s approach and philosophy. The school you choose will be your village and the parents and classmates will become your community. Get involved. Be a part of each step of the journey.

Parkside has masterfully guided and supported us through some of our darkest days. We have felt supported and connected within this community in addition to feeling very heard, seen and loved on a personal level. Michael has learned how to be a friend and he has found excellent friendships here at Parkside. Parkside has prepared Michael for what’s next and he’s excited for it. We are so grateful for this amazing journey and are forever grateful for the wonderful gift that was the past 6 years at Parkside.

ADAORA ACHUFUSI

Social Worker

I first came to Parkside in 2015 as a social work intern. I was getting my master’s degrees in both social work and child development at the time, and I was thrilled to find a school where every child was offered the opportunity to express themselves and work through their developmental challenges in play therapy. I was also struck by the unique sense of home that Parkside created, with its inviting red doors, its incredibly kind and welcoming staff, and its beloved rituals like weekly assemblies and family picnics.

Parkside set the bar high for what a school can offer its children and community, which is why I eagerly returned when the socialwork department was hiring in 2020. It’s a joy to come to work each day and bear witness to the powerful feelings the children have to share through their play, art, actions, and words. It’s also a pleasure to be surrounded by fellow staff who understand that social-emotional development lays the foundation for learning and who are interested in and deeply respect the “whole child” within each of our students.

I’m proud to be part of a social-work department that sees every Parkside adult as a whole human as well, creating space for us to bring multiple parts of ourselves to work, whether we are processing the range of emotions that our work brings up for us, coming together to celebrate birthdays and life milestones, or supporting one another through successful as well as difficult times. There’s no place I’d rather be!

“I like that we can learn stuff. I like being with my teachers and friends. I like making new friends.”

- Gigi, Class 3-3

learn new my like

JESSE SPEARS ’03

Floating Teacher and Parkside Alumnus

I was a student at Parkside from 2000-2003. From what I have been told, I had difficulty verbalizing my thoughts. I was able to surmount this complication with the support of the Parkside staff, who were so successful in doing so that I was able to return to mainstream school, which is why I left.

I would not return to Parkside until December 2016 for an unpaid, two-month-long internship. Frankly, I viewed my return more as a chance to reconnect with staff members than interact with students. However, it took only a few weeks for me to realize that I enjoyed working with children, so much so that I wanted to be involved with Parkside long-term. I would go on to extend my internship, transfer undergraduate programs, become a substitute teacher while continuing to volunteer, graduate, and be hired as a full-time floating teacher beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.

I am currently navigating graduate school, pursuing a dual degree in special education and early childhood education at Manhattan College, and am looking forward to completing my degree and the end of this calendar year.

My return to Parkside has provided me with both purpose and fulfillment, and I am perpetually grateful that Leslie and Albina afforded me the opportunity to discover my passion for special education and develop my interpersonal skills over the past five and a half years.

“Parkside is special to me because everyone cares about each other.”

- Sona, Class 4-2

JESSICA SCOVEL

Speech Language Pathologist

I returned to Parkside in March 2020 after a 10-year absence and career meanderings that had carried me too far from my work with children and families.

Although I resumed my familiar role as a speech language pathologist, the new world of COVID and teletherapy was anything but familiar! I’ll always remember those therapy sessions. Students learning alongside parents, siblings, and pets; sessions held at kitchen tables, campsites, and in bedroom forts; Zoom meeting codes linking us together for months.

Amid a landscape that continues to shift, there is one feeling that keeps me grounded: a sense of coming home. Coming home to Parkside’s mission. Coming home to a staff of old friends and like-minded colleagues. Coming home to a community united in our commitment to children’s development, education, and well-being.

On my first day in 5-2, a student asked why I ever left Parkside. Caught off guard and without time to prepare, my immediate response explained it best: “Sometimes we need to try different things to know what we love.”

“The best thing about Parkside are my appointments with my speech therapist.”

- Violet, Class 4-4

JOAN SNYDER AND MAGGIE CAMMER Grandparents

As grandparents, we don’t get filled in on Elijah’s progress the same way a parent does, but we know that Elijah, finishing his second year at Parkside, is thriving. We felt lucky to have had two conversations with his teacher at the end of the school year. She spoke of her excitement at Elijah’s enormous progress and said how very proud she was of him. Music to his grandma’s ears!

Parkside is a unique special school in so many ways and we realize how absolutely lucky we are that Elijah is there, getting so many benefits that he just couldn’t get in public school.

A Q&A WITH MASAYO AND NICK DOUGLAS

Current Parents

Tell us a little about your family!

Our family consists of mom and dad, James (12), and Julian (9). James attends LearningSpring school and Julian has attended Parkside for the last five years. We live in Brooklyn.

Before Parkside, Julian attended a main stream program as a part time student and then Gramercy School during his CPSE. After he graduated, it was challenging to find an appropriate school with support for his developmental/language delays that also could provide the nurturing environment in which to grow and learn at his own pace.

What factors were most important when you were searching for a school?

Funding was a significant factor for us, but ultimately it was the quality, understanding, and care of the staff that led us to choose Parkside.

What were some of the first changes you recognized in Julian after beginning at Parkside?

After his first year at Parkside, we noticed Julian becoming more confident and assertive, which was a welcome development. We attribute this to his entire team of teachers and therapists who encouraged him to express and be comfortable with himself.

The language-based educational and social and emotional support was amazing.

How would you describe Parkside’s classroom teachers and their approach? We have been extremely pleased with Julian’s academic progress at Parkside. He is able to retain strategies and complete his homework with minimal assistance. There seems to be a very good balance in place between challenges and reinforcement of learned concepts.

How have Parkside’s therapeutic and specialty programs affected your child’s growth?

All the therapy sessions have been great, but we have been most impressed with Julian’s speech therapy program. He has made great strides in this area compared to his ability prior to Parkside.

Julian’s home environment is filled with art — literature, drawing, photography and music in particular. He enjoys yoga to help him exercise and express himself.

Did Julian participate in Parkside’s summer camp?

Julian enjoyed the break from academics to be able to focus more on play and creativi ty. Yet he still got to have his appointments during the summer. He especially enjoyed weekly field trips to the American Museum of Natural History. Tie-dye t-shirt making and sprinkler time were his favorite summer activity at Parkside’s summer camp.

Today, what are Julian’s biggest passions?

Julian gets the most enjoyment these days out of socializing with his friends. He seems to be able to make friends easily and has been described as a leader in his classroom.

As parents, what have you learned from your experience at Parkside?

Teaching Julian using social stories has helped us. Whenever he has a hard time understanding something, if we explain it to him with visual support or social story, he understands better.

We are hopeful that Julian not only makes strides to eliminate the delays in his devel opment and achieves academic success, but also that he learns to respect others and is able to view situations and challenges from disparate perspectives.

“Parkside is special to me because I get to meet new friends. My favorite thing about Parkside is playing in the sprinklers. My teachers help me a lot.”

- Manny, Class 4-1 Masayo, Julian, Nick and James

“A one-of-a-kind island in our crazy world.”

Shir joining Parkside was a transformative event not just for her but for our entire family. Before she entered Parkside, our family was at an all-time low. Our beloved daughter was struggling in all possible domains: to put her words together, to find her place in a group of peers, to keep up with her schoolwork, and more. The Parkside team was both observant and confident enough in their skills to not be intimidated by the behavioral meltdowns listed in her reports but rather to see the soft core of our Shir. They heard her call for help and knew exactly what to do to save our little girl.

Parkside is a one-of-a-kind island in our crazy world. It is a place that combines professional excellence with endless love and compassion. In the middle of the competitive and some times aggressive city, Parkside cherishes a group of kids that in other times or places would have been left out. We can see the Parkside magic transforming our daughter into a successful student, a good friend, and

a confident and happy child. Shir now says that reading and writing are easy, she enjoys her friends in school and beyond, and knows she is smart, creative, kind, and loved. Shir is proud of being a different learner, as we are all different in many ways.

Parkside’s impact did not stop at Shir; the magic has affected our whole family. We all learned that we are different learners in our own way. For example, at the age of 42, I finally realized I have dyslexia and with the guidance of Shir’s speech therapist started receiving services to support it. Thanks to the modeling of the teachers at Parkside, I have learned how to better communicate with my daughters and with everyone else. Even Shir’s younger sister, now four years old, talks about her feelings and emotional needs with clarity and confidence as if she had received therapy. This is a lot thanks to our many Parksidedriven discussions at home about feelings. Today, we feel included in Parkside’s community of amazing parents, who share the feeling that if there is love, there is hope.

I once met a potential incoming parent, and as I was encouraging him to join Parkside, he seemed a bit concerned. “It sounds like a cult,” he said. “Everyone just says great things about the school. What’s the catch?” As a scientist who has been professionally trained in critical thinking and in finding the flaws in all approaches, and after having my daughter attending Parkside for three years now, I only have one criticism, that Parkside does not serve lunch. That’s the catch.

THE LIU FAMILY Alumni Family

For Marlena’s mom, Julia, she remembers being on tenterhooks for the first year of school assemblies at Parkside because she didn’t know if her daughter would refuse to participate or burst into tears on stage.

Marlena had global developmental delays, which included limited speech and significant difficulties with articulation. She was a student in Brooklyn before coming to Parkside, and her parents were very concerned abut finding a school that would be nurturing and supportive for all of Marlena’s needs. Once they decided that Parkside was the right fit, they began to see vast improvements. “At Parkside, Marlena really found her voice and grew more confident,” Julia recalls, noting what a joy it was to see her gradually become more confident speaking and presenting.

“So much of Marlena’s ability to learn, focus, and follow directions is tied to her mood, and all her teachers and therapists at Parkside worked hard with her on emotional regulation. When the school introduced the Zones of Regulation program, it was really helpful for her to be able recognize and have the words to express her own emotional state and have strategies to move across zones. We used that vocabulary for a long time and occasionally still use it today.”

Julia equates Marlena’s admission to Parkside to winning the lottery, “because the odds are low, but it’s a dream when you do.” She and her husband, Tongwei, continue to support Parkside financially to show their continued gratitude and so that other children will have the same opportunities Marlena did to thrive.

In June, Marlena graduated from Cooke’s Upper School and is now attending Cooke

Transitions, a vocational program designed for 18- to 21-year-old students to round out their academic, social, and life skills as they transition from high school to adulthood. She is looking forward to participating in more internships and becoming more independent.

RACHEL SOSLAND Social Worker

Parkside will always be a precious place for me. So much learning, playing and growing happens in that place. Recently I was sitting with a number of staff and reminiscing about the last years – reminiscing about the children, so many of whom have now grown into adults. We shared the news we knew about each child/adult and I felt like we were proud parents sharing the news, recounting successes, challenges, and growth. We couldn’t be happier cheering on our kids as they grow through life.

Parkside is, indeed, a precious place. The core values of teaching to each child’s ability and continuing to lead and follow the child towards growth and development, learning and self-esteem are deeply rooted in the school.

As a professional, I grew and learned so much too. I began working as a clinical social worker there in 1998 and only recently, after 24 years, decided that due to personal/ family reasons, I was going to leave. Parkside’s commitment to the emotional wellbeing and growth of each child is backed by their commitment to keeping a strong and vibrant clinical social work department. Our work in play therapy and developmental play may be unique to any school or certainly is a rarity. We have trained tens of future clinical social workers in our internship program, too. There is much to be proud of and much to hold on to.

My hope is that Parkside remains the beacon of light that it is in every way for current and future children and families. In our world, wouldn’t it be amazing if every child received the love and support that he/she/they need to thrive in their elementary years? Someday in the future we can recount that child’s adventures and achievements, cheering them on, as they navigate the world, knowing that they were loved, valued, and raised up by their school. It has an impact, never underestimate it.

THE PAVLOWSKY FAMILY

Current Family

Parkside has been nothing short of a miracle for our family. Listening to one of the many stories Eva loves to tell today, you wouldn’t know that she could not put three words together when she first came to Parkside, only a few years ago.

It was during our first meeting with Eva’s teachers, specialty teachers, and school directors that we realized how fortunate we were. They understood Eva, her challenges, and her strengths. They knew what to do and were passionate about it. In short, they were as committed as we were to Eva’s suc cess. Taking care of each child individually is not a slogan at Parkside; it is a mission!

We are grateful for Parkside and Parkside’s community: the incredible support from the teachers and the staff, the beautiful friendships Eva has developed, and the close connection to other parents.

Eva is a ray of sunshine, and her laugh is contagious, as one of her teachers put it. Our biggest hope for her is to remain happy and to progress academically, at her own pace. As we watch Eva write a letter to her speech therapist during summer vacation to tell her that she misses her, and that she’s looking forward to meeting our new baby, we know that we made the right choice!

A CONVERSATION WITH SUSAN MILLER Grandparent

Hailing from Wisconsin, Susan Miller makes it a point to visit her grandson, Kavi, in Brooklyn at least once a month if not more often. She recalls a boy not dissimilar to her own two sons, active and full of energy, when Kavi was younger. But through conversations with his parents, Maury and Vanita, she knew that Kavi had some challenges.

“It’s hard for me to even encompass how much improvement I’ve seen with my grandson Kavi since coming to Parkside,” Susan says. She noticed a difference in his behavior the very first week of school. She describes the impact of Parkside’s program as providing structure, a set of tools and expectations that frame everything that happens for Kavi at school and at home, and recognizes that when Kavi doesn’t have that structure things can change quickly. Parkside has given Maury, Vanita and Kavi the tools and skills to continue what he’s learning in school at home. Kavi has become more communicative about his emotions, and better able to manage his feelings.

For Susan, it was a pivotal moment during one visit when Kavi looked up at her and said, “Grandma Kitty, do you know what jealousy is? That’s when you want something that someone else has.” And Kavi’s ability to communicate has continued to grow in the three years he’s been a student at Parkside. He talks regularly to his grandmother about school. “His conversational skills have become outstanding,” she says. “He asks questions: ‘How is your day going?’ ‘What do you plan on doing this afternoon?’ ‘Grandma Kitty, do you know about the arctic animals?’”

Susan applauds the level of access her son and daughter-in-law have to the teachers, therapists, and resources at Parkside. “It’s not just that there is a school that is so specific in addressing Kavi’s needs, but it’s now seeing the tremendous effect that it has had on him. In multiple, multiple ways, it is addressing his needs and permitting him to not just receive an outstanding education, but giving him the tools to express himself and to integrate himself into a community.”

In her words, “The whole thing is just marvelous, marvelous.”

When she is not spending time with Kavi and her family during their monthly visits, Susan is a competitive ballroom dancer. She developed a passion for dancing after reluctantly taking dance lessons with her husband. Now she competes with two separate partners, dancing American rhythm with one and international Latin with the other, traveling quite often for competitions. “Kavi loves the samba,” she says, and she looks forward to the next time he can accompany her to the Manhattan Dance Corps Championships, where he loves to watch her dance in the big ballroom and meet the other dancers.

“Parkside helps me learn more, and no other school is like this one.”

- Kavi, Class 3-3

35th Anniversary “Gatsby Gala” and

April 6 marked our return to in-person gatherings as we celebrated our school’s 35th anniversary and honored Parkside’s amazing faculty at our “Gatsby Gala” at Sony Hall in midtown. It was – as expected –the bee’s knees, indeed. From the swingin’ tunes from Good Shot Judy, to the lively gaming tables, it was a night we will all remember for some time to come. Co-head of school, Leslie Thorne, said “For those of us who attended Parkside’s 35th Anniversary Gatsby Gala, the glow of the evening continues to live on in our hearts and minds. It was clear from the start that everyone attending was there with a singular vibrant purpose: to raise money to support our extraordinary staff, teachers and therapists, and to have a complete blast doing so!”

Good Shot Judy quickly got party goers up on the dance floor and kept them there throughout the evening. Attendees were able to dance away calories from the delicious passed appetizers and buffet dinner. Our very own drama teacher,

Melissa Ferraro, was our Master of Ceremonies extraordinaire, adding her vivacious style to the program portion of the evening. A moving speech by alumnus Fabio Botarelli ’97 reminded us of our unwavering mission; to educate each and every one of our students, while celebrating their individuality and strengthening them in all ways possible.

This occasion, coupled with the joy of an all too rare in-person evening of fun after two extraordinarily challenging years for us all, coalesced into an evening that ranks up there with the best of them! We are eternally grateful to everyone who played a part in the success of the evening; we met our goal and raised $150,955 for our school.

We must extend our heartfelt thanks to James Lonsdale for his amazing work with the children on the beautiful artwork that was auctioned, and to the many volunteers who helped out during the evening –Megan Arazi, Maria Barbone, Brad and

and Spring Auction

Ashley Carlin, Paula Cavanaugh, Mary DiPerna, Masayo Douglas, Nareg and Marlene Kalaydjian, Sia Sotirakis, Tricia Tabora, Holly Varsalona, Patrick and Suzannah Weir, everyone who solicited and donated items for the auction and raffle, our amazing sponsors, and anyone else we may have missed – thank you!

Finally, a round of applause is owed to Jillian Mayonove and Rachel Vannucci for seamlessly stepping in at the last minute to oversee the entire production.

To our parent and alumni community, and of course our unmatched team of teachers, therapists and staff, you are the reason Parkside has improved the lives of more than 500 children in our 35 year history, and your continued support and encouragement will ensure Parkside’s success for many more years to come.

Happy 35th Birthday, Parkside!

The Parents Association

With the goal of creating an engaged, active and social parent community, this year’s PA facilitated a wide range of events that brought our community together. From Parkside’s first in-school book fair in many years, to a virtual wine tasting, and of course the Spring Benefit, the efforts of the PA bolstered our school’s fundraising efforts and fostered relationships between parents and children alike.

We thank Tricia Tabora, Patrick Weir, Holly Varsalona and Paula Cavanaugh for their leadership, and the many parent volunteers who gave tirelessly of their time to organize play dates in the park, a movie night, Parkside’s first-ever ice skating party, teacher and therapist appreciation activities, the end-of-year picnic, a day at the Mets game, and so much more!

To the CLASS OF 2022...

You’ve proven this year that you have what it takes to move on to middle school and to achieve great things as compassionate, caring individuals. We can’t wait to welcome you back through our red doors on 74th Street as alumni.

Ongoing schools: Lowell, Summit, Eagle Hill, IDEAL, York Prep, and public schools.

Maude Lehmann ‘15 Gives Moving Commencement Address to the Class of 2022

Hi, my name is Maude Lehmann, I was at Parkside from 2010 to 2015. I was then at Summit from 2015 to 2018. And now I’m at the High School of Art & Design in the major of cartooning, I’ll be graduating from there next week and then in August I’ll be starting at Vassar College. I’m so honored to be speaking to you all today on the day of your graduation, Parkside is a really special school.

I have many wonderful memories from my time at Parkside–of fun and excitement and triumph. In 5th grade, my class held many mancala championships, a game where the point was to have the most amount of colorful rocks in your reservoir. I became the first champion and was one of the best Mancala players in 5-2.

In 4th grade the play I performed in was Les Miz, the story of a french peasant being chased by a relentless cop. I played Cosette, the adopted daughter of the french peasant. But I sang another character’s song, “On My Own.” It was the only solo song I ever sang at Parkside, and I remember the feelings of pride and happiness I had in the couple of minutes of singing it.

On June 16, Parkside alumna Maude Lehmann ‘15 delivered the graduation address to the Class of 2022 during our graduation ceremony. Here is the full transcript of her speech.

I also have memories of playing in imaginary worlds, created by my friends like Irene or Benjamin. There were endless possibilities in these worlds, whether we were in a horror-esque school, or just creating a new civilization where pennies were worth the most of any form of currency. Either way, the worlds were fun and exciting.

Last time I was here I was graduating from 5th grade. I was really nervous, I would be leaving many of my friends for a brand new middle school where I only knew a select few people. I was worried how I would be received by all the people at Summit. Would they like me? Was I too weird to make any friends? All these thoughts floated around my brain from graduation all the way to the first day of 6th grade. But as soon as I got there, my fears vanished.

I’m sure many of the graduates here today are nervous about what to expect and have a lot of questions. But just like Parskide helped me prepare for 6th grade and beyond, I’m positive that Parkside has prepared all of you as well, not only for 6th grade but for everything after that. It was a long and challenging journey but I’m here to share it with you all.

When I first started middle school, one thing that helped me make friends and find a place at the school was art. Art was something I was good at and loved to do, so I was able to meet fellow artists who not only helped me on my artistic journey but also became some of my close friends in the process. Without Parkside’s encourage ment though, I would not be the artist I am today.

My art teacher, Ms. Behar, constantly encouraged me throughout my time here at Parkside, and being able to be in Studio Art really helped motivate me to draw all the time and be proud of my work, even if it was not my greatest. Without this encour agement not only would I have not made many of my friends. I also wouldn’t have dreamed of going to the High School of Art and Design, a large public high school.

A lot of the things I was passionate about my teachers helped nurture, specifically the librarian Mr. Vargas. I remember talking to him and about books that I was reading and constantly going down to the library when I could to check books out. He even lent me a kindle to read on, which I did use. He had put all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, and everything Dianna Wynne Jones ever wrote. If you liked Harry Potter, you will love Dianna Wynne Jones.

I read everything on that Kindle, and as time has passed I’ve become more and more invested in reading and my love for it has increased. I even wrote my college essay about Paradise Lost, an epic poem published in 1667 by John Milton, about the battle between God and Satan. My ability to read and my love for reading began in and was nurtured by Parkside. I would have never have read as much or have become as invested in reading without the teachers and the librarians at Parkside.

Your journey at Parkside and beyond will be different from mine. But no matter what your personal journey ends up being, we have something in common. Parkside gave us tools and strategies that we can always remember.

Parkside’s strategies for self regulation, like big deal little deal, glass man, and others, continue to help me. A couple years ago I remember getting upset over the fact that my family were all using a soap my grand mother had gotten me for Christmas. While I was pretty upset initially, after looking over the situation and how little of an issue this was, I was able to calm down and establish some rules. And while I still often confuse small deals as big deals, I always use big deal little deal in those situations even though I’m rarely aware of it. I know I’ll face different challenges at Vassar, but I’ll rely on the strategies I learned at Parkside

Parkside has done a lot for me, and will do a lot for all of you in the upcoming years. Everything you’ve all learned and kept with you will help you in the future, even if you don’t realize it now. All of the things that may seem scary to you all right now, 6th grade, making friends, and even the uncertainty of the future, will all be answered in time and not so scary at the end of it.

I’m so proud to be here today, and I wouldn’t be here today without Parkside. Congratulations to all the graduates!

CONTRIBUTIONS

FUND

GIVING

ANNUAL FUND

Consecutive Year Giving

+ 5 or more years ++ 10 or more years +++ 15 or more years

Leadership Donors

LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $30,000+

Robert and Eleanor Cayre + Susan Miller

TUITION GAP PARTNERS $22,000+

John and Kathy Lee Bickham Michael and Corinne Bilerman + Peter Gilligan and Sohini Chowdhury Anna Jennings Brian Metzger and Stacey Thomas Michael and Diana Nahmias Fabien and Oksana Pavlowsky

RED DOOR SOCIETY $15,000+

Vipul Adlakha and Ruchy Gupta Mary Elizabeth Alexander +++ Kristi Caruso

Ethan and Jenna Dabbs + John and Erin Dalton + Jonathan and Jamie Holland Frederick Johnson and Seran Lee-Johnson Ryan and Tracey Nash +

Supporters

Norberto Abbate and Corinne Gallo

Para Ahilan and Nirilla Anthonimuthu Gina Aiosa

Danit Almog

Jeremy Alster Richard and Carol Alston ++ Jacqueline Ament and Nelson Berberena +++

Johan and Megan Andersen + Ziv and Megan Arazi Donna Assumma Remy Aubrun ‘07

Vincent Aubrun and Patricia Godoy ++

Adebayo and Amelia Ogunlesi

Rob Tannenbaum and Gabriela Shelley + Marilyn and James Simons Charitable Fund + David and Elizabeth Varga

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS $5,000+

Tansel and Sila Alan Charles and Melanie Bensoussan Joan Snyder and Maggie Cammer Tim and Paula Cavanaugh

Raghav Chari and Isha Gary David Chitayat and Xhingyu Chen

Sam Weisman and Nancy Crown ++

Drew Newton and Sarah Finegold Jonathan and Jamie Holland Nareg and Marlene Kalaydjian + Alison Lankenau +++

Tongwei Liu and Julia Tung ++ Veli Topkara and Fardina Malik Eugene and Laura Mazzaro + Maury Miller and Vanita Shastry Harvey Poniachek Charles and Hilary Reyl Hyacinth Ruiter Sia Sotirakis

Jon and Jenny Steingart Loretta Stratton ++ Jed Wasserman Jie Yu and Xina Ren

CLASSROOM PATRONS $2,500+

Stuart and Dina Berrin

Natan and Noemi Bitterman Cindy Cardinal and Daniel Tamkin Brook and C. Zoe Cuddy +++ Nicolas and Masayo Douglas Milton and Heidi Klein + Loretta Kloda + Jeffrey and Rachel Levine Christopher and Deborah Milite + Lief Nielsen and Uma Parikh-Nielsen Arcady Lapiro and Shelley Poniachek Jimmy and Rhonda Quan Lane Schaffer and Karen Rabinowicz Evan Kestenberg and Alexandra Sagalovich Jeremy and Nicole Warren

Robert and Anne Baca Peter and Laurie Bachmann

Jay Kim and SoJin Bae Lewis and Lauri Barbanel

Gary Biale and Susan Cohen Jorden Bickham

William and Rachel Bornander + James and Kathleen Bowers Beth Brenzel

Todd Bressi and Amy Lempert G. David Brinton and Janet Mattick +++ Peter Velasquez and Nancy Broadway

Spencer Brown ‘10 Patrick Brune and Fred Greenblatt ++

Richard Buckholz and Heidi Bush Michael Burguieres and Michelle Landauer

Brad and Ashley Carlin + Leslie Thorne and Tom Casey

Freddie Chambers and Paula Steele ++ David and Linda Chew +++

Subrata and Elisabeth Chowdhury Kevin Collins and Leonor Lorenzi Paul and Janet Cord

Jim Moy and Sandra Corro-Moy Alice Cunningham Duane Pinder and Brenda Davis

Joan Delaney + Thomas Delaney and Patrick Mullin +

Lucy Diamond

Mary DiPerna Christopher and Sarah Dolan Jonathan Givony and Rebecca Dorfman Nick and Karen Dragani John and Gail Duncan Donald and Lindsay Dye Simon Glick and Leah Edmunds Lowell and Susan Edmunds Ron and Debbie Eisenberg Robert and Margaret Eisenstadt Coretta Essilfie + Albina Miller and Preston Faro Steven and Shelley Faro Deirdre Featherstone David and Ashley Feldman Victoria Feltman

Robert and Anna Franch Adam Francique

William Brodsky and Minna Fyer ++ Ted and Christine Gerstein Patrick and Jessica Gibbons

Thomas and Mary Jane Gilligan Mark and Leslie Godridge Daniel and Sara Golden Daniel and Beverly Green + Heidi Green + Rashod Monroe and Serene Gregg Thomas and Mary Jane Haher + Peter and Margarita Halloran ++ Mary Herms

Thomas Hicks David and Alexis Hill Brett Hine and Sue Rosenthal Keith Haller and Randi Hirschberg Sam and Katie Holliday Peter and Lisa Holsberg Jasmine Hopkins Rebecca Hornstein + John and Rosalie Hughes Tsuyoshi and Kaori Inoue + Joel and Alissa Isaacson Arthur and Vivian Isakson

Erez Geron and Orna Issler

Tricia Tabora and Evan Jehle Howard Pyle and Kirsten Johnson Nelson Johnson

Helene Jorgensen + Marco and Mayra Kalisch Anthony Kapp + Jim Kunen and Lisa Karlin

Robyn Karp

Michael Katz and Irene Moy Stuart and Beth Katz

Susan Kerschbaumer + Rob Muhlrad and Shelly Kessler + Robert Khanlian Janice Koch

Vijay Kumra and Tanja Kumra Thomas Sunshine and Nadia Kuprian

Andrew Lambert + David and Meredith Lee Ben and Wendy Lehmann Carl Lennartson and Susan Arthur + Christopher and Esther Leon-Wales

Amy Levine

Andrew and Laurie Levine

Jeffrey and Rachel Levine Sara Levine Susannah Levine

Andrea Levinger-Phelan and Peter Phelan Jane and Richard Liescheidt +++ Joseph and Kay Lindenfield

Bob Maclay and Karen Lundry John MacArthur and Renee Khatami Jon and Sharmee Mah + Paul Chew and Bindia Malhotra George Marinos and Josephine Belli-Marinos

Angelo and Julia Marketos + Stu Markowitz

Claudia Marks + Anthony and Mary Lou Marotta Boaz Mourad and Stacey Matthias Richard and Amy McDaid Andor Skotnes and Teresa Meade +++ Gary Mellen +++ Joshua and Beth Mermelstein

Nicholas Mesce David and Inez Metzger

Albina Miller and Preston Faro +++ Vita Miller

Akiko Miyake

Earl and Marita Monroe

Maya Monroe

Federico Lozano and Lucrecia Montemayor Dorothea Moore ++

Paul Devlin and Gretchen Morgenson David and Barbara Morris

Ozier Muhammad and Lisa Redd Paul and Linda Mulhauser Conor Mullin-Delaney ‘21 Christine Munnelly Mary Murphy

Irungu and Evadne Naantaanbuu Corey Nascenzi

Cindy Nathanson + Kevin and Doreen Odell

Kerry O’Donnell

Robert Silverstein and Wanda Olson Max Olynyk and Valerie Bruno-Olynyk Glenn Cox and Alisha Ostacher Cox Nischal and Aline Pai ++ Michael Lattis and Michelle Pakula Carol Parikh Sarah Park Alan and Leslie Pearson +++ Kyle Pearson Stephen Pearson Jeffrey and Nancie Perlowitz William and Stephanie Perry Catherine Petrello Julie Pifer Anabel Pina Michael and Adina Pitt Michael Plevener

German Guerrero and Kimerly Polak-Guerrero Cary and Elyse Pollock +++ Roman Klimenko and Natalia Potapova Ron and Liat Raz Marie Rice + Katheryn Rodriguez Sean Roh and Jiea An Neal Rosenberg

Andrew Rosenbloom +++ Jason and Heidi Rosenfarb Jeffrey Rothman and Nancy Sacks + Fredric and Vivienne Rottman + Nicholas Stern and Barbara Samuels

Julie Sazant + Neil Sazant and Jennifer Taplin Sazant

Mark and Minna Schneider +++

Adam and Lauren Schwartz Jessica Scovel and Tony Low Simon and Elana Shafir Jeremy and Elena Shahom + Athena Shapiro + Chakrakodi and Mangala Shastry Davida Sherwood

Nathan Rosen and Priva Simon Michael and Elizabeth Singer

Gerald Karikari and Barbara Smith Hayward and Barbara Smith Molly Snyder-Fink Rachel Sosland

Alumni Family Donors

Para Ahilan and Nirilla Anthonimuthu Mary Elizabeth Alexander Johan and Megan Andersen Remy Aubrun ‘07

Vincent Aubrun and Patricia Godoy Peter and Laurie Bachmann Jay Kim and SoJin Bae Lewis and Lauri Barbanel James and Kathleen Bowers

Todd Bressi and Amy Lempert G. David Brinton and Janet Mattick Peter Velasquez and Nancy Broadway Spencer Brown ‘10

Richard Buckholz and Heidi Bush

Freddie Chambers and Paula Steele David and Linda Chew Kevin Collins and Leonor Lorenzi Paul and Janet Cord

Jim Moy and Sandra Corro-Moy Sam Weisman and Nancy Crown Alice Cunningham

Duane Pinder and Brenda Davis

Thomas Delaney and Patrick Mullin Lucy Diamond Mary DiPerna Robert and Margaret Eisenstadt

Coretta Essilfie

William Brodsky and Minna Fyer Ted and Christine Gerstein Patrick and Jessica Gibbons Mark and Leslie Godridge Heidi Green Thomas and Mary Jane Haher Thomas Hicks David and Alexis Hill

Jeff and Audrey Spiegel

Jo Staffin and Charles Dorfman Barry Strongin and Laura Whitman + Andrew and Suzanne Taub Andrew and Leslie Thayer

Susan Thomas and Steven Hutchinson Leslie Thorne and Tom Casey +++ Jennifer Toh Katie Tuss

Rachel Vannucci and Mick Bonde + Libby Varghese + Peter and Holly Varsalona Joseph and Ivy Venafro Brad and Marla Warren

Patrick and Suzannah Weir Matthew and Joanna Weiss Lynn Wilderman

Frank Chaney and Rhonda Wist Howard Jacobson and Kathryn Wolfson Zygfryd and Helene Wolloch Bernard McClain and Helaine Worrell Eric and Caroline Yoon Corbin and Andria Younger Diane Zeitlin Antoine and Michelle Zemor Zachary and Arna Zohlman +

Brett Hine and Sue Rosenthal Sam and Katie Holliday Peter and Lisa Holsberg Rebecca Hornstein

John and Rosalie Hughes Joel and Alissa Isaacson Marco and Mayra Kalisch Michael Katz and Irene Moy Susan Kerschbaumer

Vijay Kumra and Tanja Kumra Andrew Lambert Ben and Wendy Lehmann Carl Lennartson and Susan Arthur Susannah Levine

Joseph and Kay Lindenfield Tongwei Liu and Julia Tung Bob Maclay and Karen Lundry Jon and Sharmee Mah

Paul Chew and Bindia Malhotra George Marinos and Josephine Belli-Marinos Angelo and Julia Marketos

Claudia Marks

Boaz Mourad and Stacey Matthias Eugene and Laura Mazzaro Richard and Amy McDaid

Andor Skotnes and Teresa Meade Gary Mellen Christopher and Deborah Milite Akiko Miyake

Paul Devlin and Gretchen Morgenson

Ozier Muhammad and Lisa Redd Paul and Linda Mulhauser

Conor Mullin-Delaney ‘21

Kevin and Doreen Odell Kerry O’Donnell Robert Silverstein and Wanda Olson Glenn Cox and Alisha Ostacher Cox Jeffrey and Nancie Perlowitz Anabel Pina Michael and Adina Pitt German Guerrero and Kimerly Polak-Guerrero Cary and Elyse Pollock Lane Schaffer and Karen Rabinowicz Ron and Liat Raz Andrew Rosenbloom Jason and Heidi Rosenfarb Fredric and Vivienne Rottman Evan Kestenberg and Alexandra Sagalovich Nicholas Stern and Barbara Samuels Julie Sazant Mark and Minna Schneider Nathan Rosen and Priva Simon Michael and Elizabeth Singer

Gerald Karikari and Barbara Smith Hayward and Barbara Smith Jon and Jenny Steingart Barry Strongin and Laura Whitman Andrew and Suzanne Taub Matthew and Joanna Weiss Frank Chaney and Rhonda Wist Howard Jacobson and Kathryn Wolfson Bernard McClain and Helaine Worrell Eric and Caroline Yoon Corbin and Andria Younger Antoine and Michelle Zemor

Current and Former Staff Donors

Richard and Carol Alston Jacqueline Ament and Nelson Berberena William and Rachel Bornander Beth Brenzel

Patrick Brune and Fred Greenblatt Anthony Kapp Jim Kunen and Lisa Karlin Alison Lankenau

Andrea Levinger-Phelan and Peter Phelan

Jane and Richard Liescheidt Albina Miller and Preston Faro David and Barbara Morris Corey Nascenzi Michael Plevener Marie Rice

Corporation and Foundation Donors

Arnhold Foundation, Inc.

Bank Leumi

Charities Aid Foundation of America

Cyborg Asylum Music, Inc.

Down the Road Education

Edelman Financial Engines

Employee Benefit Plan Administration, Inc.

Facebook Law Offices of Regina Skyer Marilyn and James Simons Charitable Fund

Nathan Tannenbaum Foundation, Inc.

Ogunlesi Foundation

Omaha Community Foundation Penguin Random House Select Equity Group Foundation Stratton Charitable Foundation

The Blackbaud Giving Fund

The Hilda Mullen Foundation

Adam and Lauren Schwartz Jessica Scovel and Tony Low Rachel Sosland

Andrew and Leslie Thayer Susan Thomas and Steven Hutchinson Leslie Thorne and Tom Casey Rachel Vannucci and Mick Bonde Diane Zeitlin

COMMEMORATIVE GIFTS

Memorial Gifts

In Memory of Elizabeth Brenzel

Beth Brenzel

In Memory of Caroline Cagnini

Albina Miller and Preston Faro

In Memory of Marquita Francique

Adam Francique

In Memory of Paulina Hansen

Gerald Karikari and Barbara Smith

In Memory of Andreas Marinos Spencer Brown ‘10

In Memory of Molly Meyers

Tricia Tabora and Evan Jehle

Honorary Gifts

In Honor of Reeva Alster Rob Muhlrad and Shelly Kessler

In Honor of Johan Andersen ’21

Johan and Megan Andersen

In Honor of Jorden Bickham Deirdre Featherstone

In Honor of Corinne Bilerman Victoria Feltman

In Honor of Patrick Bowers ’15

James and Kathleen Bowers

In Honor of Thomas Casey

Christopher and Deborah Milite

In Honor of William Fleming Toh Bonner

Jennifer Toh

In Honor of Sylvia Guerrero ’11 German Guerrero and Kimerly Polak-Guerrero

In Memory of Ronnie Isenberg

Jerry and Amy Bruggeman Evelyn Harmon Marjorie Isenberg

Paul and Robin Isenberg Lawrence and Julia Labarbera Albina Miller and Preston Faro

Jeffrey Rothman and Nancy Sacks

Leslie Thorne and Tom Casey

KAR Nursing Services, Inc.

McLeod Blue Sky Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Physicians’ Private Nursing Service, Inc.

The Hilda Mullen Foundation

The Lunder Foundation

In Honor of Joshua Jacobson ’07

Howard Jacobson and Kathryn Wolfson

In Honor of Emily Kotkin Zygfryd and Helene Wolloch

In Honor of Austin Lambert ’17 Stu Markowitz

Neil Sazant and Jennifer Taplin Sazant

In Honor of Max Lennartson ’15 Carl Lennartson and Susan Arthur

In Honor of Jeffrey Levine

Andrew and Laurie Levine

In Honor of Arshad Malik

Veli Topkara and Fardina Malik

In Honor of Albina Miller

Christopher and Deborah Milite

In Honor of Tyler Monroe

Rashod Monroe and Serene Gregg

In Honor of Iris Reyl Mary Herms

In Honor of Elijah Snyder-Richards Joan Snyder and Maggie Cammer

In Honor of Preston Tabora Zachary and Arna Zohlman

In Honor of Leslie Thorne Christopher and Deborah Milite

In Honor of Ethan Weiss ’21 Matthew and Joanna Weiss

In Honor of Parkside’s Speech Language Therapy Team

Patrick Brune and Fred Greenblatt

In Honor of The Wonderful Teachers at Parkside

Janice Koch Brad and Marla Warren

OTHER GIVING

Facebook Fundraising

We extend a very special thank you to to the members of our community, and their friends and supporters, who launched campaigns on behalf of Parkside through Facebook.

Patty Adams Martinez Birthday Fundraiser

Kathy Campbell

Sila Alan

Giving Tuesday Fundraiser

Sila Alan Jaylon Brigham Mariya Letdin

Gizem Russell

Gretchen Schnee

Noemi Bitterman

Birthday Fundraiser

Noemi Bitterman

Toti Di Stefano

Abigail Kaufmann Winiarsky Family

Joseph Federici

Giving Tuesday Fundraiser

Joseph Federici Bella Giambusso

Steph Metichecchia

Jamie Holland

Birthday Fundraiser

Michal Adler

Angela Christensen

Jamie Holland

Jennifer Klein Baldinger

Deborah Malkoff-Cohen

Alise Nagasawa Soper Lynn Wilderman

Esther Leon-Wales

Giving Tuesday Fundraiser

Evelyn Castillo Rosado

Terri Fernandez

Esther Leon-Wales

Esther Leon-Wales

Martha Melendez-Reyes

Christine Rickoff Tirado

Emilia Wales

Rachel Levine

Birthday Fundraiser

Jody Heher Shira Hudson Tali Katz

Rachel Levine Allison Weinger

Izzy Singer

Birthday Fundraiser

Annie Laundon-Dean

Joyce Rosenberg

Elizabeth Singer

Sia Sotirakis

Birthday Fundraiser

Courtney Gatewood Geoffrey Levine

Barbara Lobel John Parsons Paul Rehm Marc Skeist Sia Sotirakis

Rob Tannenbaum

Birthday Fundraiser

Tom Beaujour

Carol Cashion

David Clement

Erin Clermont Mike Crowley David Fagin

Tammy Faye Guy Finley

Elizabeth Fox Bobbie Gale Patti Galluzzi

Susie Galvin

Sarah Haberman

Sharon Harkey Claudia Heyman

Richard Hsu

Orna Issler

Stephanie Jones Jeff Joseph

Marlene Kalaydjian

Sara Kaplan

Gigi Kulick

Anne Leighton Brett Leveridge

Kayte Miller

Jessie Murphy

Brendan O’Neill

Catherine Rademacher Stephen Randall David Rensin

Julie Robichaux

Jennifer Ryan Jones

Maximiliano Santinelli

David Schultz

Missy Tanenbaum Rob Tannenbaum

Janet Tingey Jim Weinberg

Suzannah Weir

Giving Tuesday Fundraiser

Rusty Donner Carolyn Ebner Scott Ebner Suzannah Weir

General Donations

Amazon Smile

Autism Spectrum Champions, LLC

Jerry and Amy Bruggeman

Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation

Evelyn Harmon Marjorie Isenberg Paul and Robin Isenberg KAR Nursing Services, Inc.

Lawrence and Julia Labarbera Mabel’s Labels, Inc.

Restricted Gifts

Social Work Department

The Anna Freud Foundation

Yearbook

Parkside Parents Association

McLeod Blue Sky Charitable Foundation, Inc. Albina Miller and Preston Faro Minted, LLC

Pampered Chef

Paypal Charitable Giving Fund Physicians’ Private Nursing Service, Inc. Jeffrey Rothman and Nancy Sacks

The Hilda Mullen Foundation

The Lunder Foundation

Leslie Thorne and Tom Casey

Gifts In Kind

Marie Rice

Robert Louis Stevenson School

Patrick and Suzannah Weir

PARENTS ASSOCIATION GIVING & VOLUNTEERS

35th Anniversary “Gatsby Gala” and Spring Auction

SPECIAL THANKS

Chef Bao Bao

Chef Wilson Costa Chef Anita Lo

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Ziv and Megan Arazi Michael Burguieres and Michelle Landauer Brad and Ashley Carlin Bob and Elenor Cayre David Chitayat and Xhingyu Chen Patricia Tabora Maury Miller and Vanita Shastry Patrick and Suzannah Weir

SPECIAL THANKS

Melissa Ferraro James Lonsdale

Carnegie Framing Good Shot Judy 21 Nights Entertainment Sony Hall

GOLD SPONSOR

Select Equity

SILVER SPONSORS

Mary Elizabeth Alexander Law Offices of Regina Skyer

BRONZE SPONSORS

Full Circle Alison Lankenau Michael and Diana Nahmias

DONORS AND PATRONS

Vipul Adlakha and Ruchy Gupta Tansel and Sila Alan Danit Almog Jeremy Alster Marc and Elaine Altholz Ziv and Megan Arazi Donna Assumma Austin & Company, Inc. Keri Bannon Lewis and Lauri Barbanel Stuart and Dina Berrin

Jorden Bickham

Michael and Corinne Bilerman

Natan and Noemi Bitterman Fabio Botarelli ‘97

Scheherezade Bryant

Joan Snyder and Maggie Cammer Cindy Cardinal and Daniel Tamkin Brad and Ashley Carlin Kristi Caruso Carrie Catapano

Tim and Paula Cavanaugh Robert and Eleanor Cayre David Chitayat and Xhingyu Chen Tal Chitayat

Subrata and Elisabeth Chowdhury

Peter Gilligan and Sohini Chowdhury Frances Clayton Rebecca Colwell Paul and Janet Cord Brook and C. Zoe Cuddy Alice Cunningham John and Erin Dalton Christopher and Sarah Dolan

Jonathan Givony and Rebecca Dorfman Nicolas and Masayo Douglas Jay Dubiner and Sarah Elliot

Simon Glick and Leah Edmunds Ron and Debbie Eisenberg Jay Dubiner and Sarah Elliott Leonard and Nicky Ellis Emily Faro Lisa Faro Albina Miller and Preston Faro Kaitlin Feiler Victoria Feltman Jack and Marianne Ferraro Drew Newton and Sarah Finegold Ryan Camareno and Judy Frangie-Camareno

William Brodsky and Minna Fyer Elyse Giaimo

Adin and Rachelle Goldberg Daniel and Sara Golden Thomas and Mary Jane Haher

Peter and Margarita Halloran

Keith Haller and Randi Hirschberg

Jonathan and Jamie Holland

Jasmine Hopkins

Rebecca Hornstein

Ira M. Resnick Foundation

Erez Geron and Orna Issler

Howard Jacobson and Kathryn Wolfson Tricia Tabora and Evan Jehle

Anna Jennings

Howard Pyle and Kirsten Johnson Nelson Johnson

Helene Jorgensen Gary and Judith Kadi Judith Kadi Nareg and Marlene Kalaydjian Avtar and Salinee Kang

Anthony Kapp Robyn Karp

Alison Kim Sarah Klein

Janice Koch Lesley Koeppel

Emily Kotkin

Thomas Sunshine and Nadia Kuprian Andrew Lambert

Michael Burguieres and Michelle Landauer

Frederick Johnson and Seran Lee-Johnson Ben and Wendy Lehmann

Christopher and Esther Leon-Wales Jeffrey and Rachel Levine Jane and Richard Liescheidt James Lonsdale and Andy McKewan Federico Lozano and Lucrecia Montemayor Paul Chew and Bindia Malhotra James Margolin and Nancy Friedman Marcia McCabe

Peter Andolfatto and Ladan Mehranvar Brian Metzger and Stacey Thomas Annique Milite ‘01 Maury Miller and Vanita Shastry Earl and Marita Monroe

Maya Monroe

Paul and Linda Mulhauser Nischal and Aline Pai

Michael Lattis and Michelle Pakula Fabien and Oksana Pavlowsky

Alan and Leslie Pearson

Kyle Pearson Jason and Andrea Pelhank William and Stephanie Perry

Lane Schaffer and Karen Rabinowicz

Rand Engineering & Architecture, DPC

Ira and Paula Resnick

Charles and Hilary Reyl

Shaun and Blair Rose

Neal Rosenberg

Fredric and Vivienne Rottman

Hyacinth Ruiter

Joshua Sapan and Ann Foley

Julie Sazant

Jessica Scovel and Tony Low Jeremy and Elena Shahom

Athena Shapiro

Joel Shapiro and Sally Ackerman

Davida Sherwood

Aaron Siev

Joel Siev

Molly Snyder-Fink

Sia Sotirakis

Jo Staffin and Charles Dorfman

Jon and Jenny Steingart

Rob Tannenbaum and Gabriela Shelley

Jaymie Tannor

Leslie Thorne and Tom Casey

Peter Ticali

Joe Truglio

Katie Tuss

Craig and Robin Unterberg David and Elizabeth Varga Peter and Holly Varsalona Joseph and Ivy Venafro

Troy Wagner

Jed Wasserman

Chris and Cathy Weeks Patrick and Suzannah Weir Matthew and Joanna Weiss

Zvika Weisstuch

Joseph Wightman

Lynn Wilderman

Jie Yu and Xina Ren Zachary and Arna Zohlman

IN-KIND DONORS

Amanda Arbeter Art

American Museum of Natural HIstory

Angaar

Ballet Academy East Bradford Renaissance Portraits

BRONCA

Byredo at Nordstrom

Camel Video

CAMP - A Family Experience Company

Camp Cody Classic Kids Photogrpahy

Collina Strada

Corks on Columbus Courtney Takahashi

Da Claudio NYC Ristorante

Dearest

Devon Review

Eastside Westside Music Together

Eddie Jr.’s Hair Salon

Elaine Altholz

Emily Acquista

Emily Kotkin

Empowered Sports and Fitness, LLC

Full Circle Home Fun and Function

Gibson Gives / Gibson Foundation

Guerlain at Saks Fifth Avenue

Hadestown on Broadway Hannah Kearney

Imagine Swimming

InHouse Test Prep

Ivy and Joe Venafro

Jackie Ament

James Lonsdale

Jaymie Tannor

Jean-Pierre Shahom

Joan Snyder and Maggie Cammer Joel Shapiro

Jonathan Groff

Jorden Bickham

Julian Douglas Kaili Le

Katherine Pinedo Keith Haller and Randi Hirschberg Kelly Holmes Kerry O’Donnell Kiku Collins

Kristen Guerriero

La Grande Boucherie

Larry Fink Leah Edmunds and Simon Glick

Lief Nielsen Living Room Laughs

Local Roots NYC Marie Rice

Marissa Krauser

Marlene and Nareg Kalaydjian

Masayo and Nick Douglas

Mediterraneo Restaurant

Megan and Ziv Arazi

Melissa Moy

Milk Bar

Miriam Restaurant

Modern Martial Arts

Music To Your Home

Natalia Potapova, MD

NBC Universal Nella Williams

New York Dermatology Group

New York Mets

New York Transit Museum

Nick and Karen Dragani Nina Azzolina

NY Kids Dentistry and Orthodontics NY Loves Yoga

NY Metro CPR

NY Tennis at Central Park NYC Elite Gymnastics III

Oksana and Fabien Pavlowsky

Pampered Chef

Patricia Tabora and Evan Jehle Pizza School NYC Poor Richard’s Landing

Premier Chess

Rachel Sosland

Rebecca Colwell

Rebecca Frank Richard Bradley Riverdale Dentistry Rob Tannenbaum

Roberto Falck Photography Ryan Breen

Sara Golden Sarah Elliott and Jay Dubiner

Sia Sotirakis

Sohini Chowdhury and Peter Gilligan

Supermud Pottery

Tell Me Another

The Culinistas

The Jewish Museum

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Metropolitan Opera

The Parkside OT Department

The Parkside Speech Department

The Pearson Family

Timothy and Paula Cavanaugh

Trader Joe’s TriBeCa Language

Vanita Shastry and Maury Miller

Additional PA Volunteers

CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

Room 3-1

Ivy Venafro Room 3-2

Sarah Elliott Room 3-3

Sohini Chowdhury Room 3-4

Lucrecia Montemayor

Room 4-1 Stacey Thomas Room 4-2 Oksana Pavlowsky

Room 4-3

Stephanie Perry Room 4-4 Ashley Carlin Room 5-2 Libby Varghese Room 5-4

Erin Dalton

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM COORDINATOR

Vanita Shastry

BOOK FAIR CO-CHAIRS

Hilary Reyl

Elena Shahom

ICE SKATING / HOLIDAY PARTY

Erin Dalton

Jamie Holland

Lucrecia Montemayor Ivy Venafro

MOM’S SPA DAY

Stephanie Perry DAY AT THE METS

Jamie Holland

END OF THE YEAR PICNIC

Rachel Levine Stacey Thomas

STAFF SNACKS AND TEACHER APPRECIATION

Corinne Bilerman

Noemi Bitterman

Xhingyu Chen

Sohini Chowdhury Sara Golden Jamie Holland Sia Sotirakis Ivy Venafro

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP