Horace Mann - Spring 2017 - 3

Greetings from
Melissa Parento '90,
Director of Development

visit to Horace Mann School's Bronx campus one Saturday
in February reflected the nearly 24-7 vibrancy of HM life.
Classrooms in Rose Hall hosted 65 HM Upper Division students
working with about 75 elementary and middle schoolers from neighboring Bronx schools as part of the ongoing Saturday Morning Tutoring
program that HM students launched 56 years ago. Next door, in Fisher
Hall, a group of seven HM students tutored 12 area-school students in
piano, percussion, and violin in HM's student-founded and coordinated
Saturday Morning Music Program. At the same time, Tillinghast Hall
hosted over 125 students from New York City area schools participating in a conference examining LGBTQ issues that was organized by HM
students. Across Alumni Field, at the Prettyman Gymnasium pool, HM
swimmers competed in a meet. And, across 246th Street, at our Lower
Division, HM fourth and fifth grade girls explored science and technology in our Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, while
Summer on the Hill students pursued their classes. Later that night,
about 600 students, teachers and HM family members would gather in
Gross Theater for the final performance of an all-school production of
"A Midsummer Night's Dream."
At around noon of this busy Saturday some 30 HM alumni walked
past a snow-covered Alumni Field toward Prettyman Gymnasium. Their
focus was not on the glistening souvenir of the winter storm that had
brought HM a snow day just two days before, but on an activity they'd
engaged in as students. Each alum was once a member of HM's Lions
swim and water polo teams. Our Office of Alumni and Development had
invited these "swim alums" from the last 20 years back to campus for
a chance to connect with one another, and to learn about HM's plans
to restore our 93-year-old Prettyman Gym and replace its antiquated
swimming pool. These initiatives are part of our HM in Motion capital
campaign that Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly mentions in his letter in this
issue of Horace Mann Magazine, and that you can learn more about in
the following pages, and at www.hminmotion.org.
For these alumni who returned to HM for this event there were
memories to share with former teammates, and stories to hear from
alums of earlier and subsequent varsity team years. A group of alumni
even ventured into the pool one last time. Those who came with their
families enjoyed taking a dip with their children. It was clear to all
that refurbishing Prettyman and its pool was an idea whose time had
long since arrived. The former Lions' team members were enthusiastic about HM's plans to construct a regulation-sized pool suited to
competition, but they equally appreciated the fact that the new pool will
be constructed to accommodate one of HM in Motion's overall goals
of promoting "wellness" by conveying to our youngest-through-oldest
HMers the benefits of swimming as a lifelong, life-enhancing skill.
Strengthening Athletics and Promoting Wellness are two aspects
of HM in Motion's goals. Inspiring Science and Encouraging Community
share equal importance. We invite you-our alumni and our HM families-to be part of HM in Motion's vision for enhancing Horace Mann

School. We also invite you back to HM to observe and participate in the
vibrancy of our school throughout the year. I look forward to hearing
from you.
Sincerely,

Melissa Murphy Parento '90
Director of Development

Horace Mann Magazine Spring 2017

http://www.hminmotion.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Horace Mann - Spring 2017