Wheeler Alumni

We are excited to share that composer Sara Barone ’13 has been nominated for an Emmy Award for her work on the television program, “The Beast in Me”!

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by our peers in the Television Academy,” Sara says of her nomination for Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special. “It’s especially meaningful to see ‘The Beast in Me’ recognized across so many different categories.”

When we last posted about Sara’s career, we highlighted her score for “Planet Earth III,” which scored Sara her first Emmy nod in 2024. While that was a documentary, “the emotional core of the process is often quite similar [when composing for a fictional series like ‘The Beast in Me.’],” Sara says. “With a fictional project, I’m usually thinking very closely about character psychology, subtext, and what the music can reveal that may not be expressed on screen.

“With a project like ‘Planet Earth III,’ the storytelling comes from real behavior and real environments, so the music has to remain sensitive to that authenticity. But on a show like ‘Planet Earth III,’ the sequences are incredibly cinematic and have their own dramatic arcs, so I still approached them as stories, with tension, wonder, intimacy, and emotional weight. In both cases, the goal is ultimately the same: to deepen the audience’s connection to the story being told.”

When it comes to her own story arc, Sara says, “My time at Wheeler played an important role in shaping me as a young musician and composer. From being introduced to musical traditions from around the world through the Music Department, to studying music theory and composition through Aerie, to performing with the 18 Wheelers, I could not have imagined a more enriching foundation.”

From that foundation at Wheeler to the Sept. 14 Emmy Awards ceremony, Sara adds that she’s looking forward “to celebrating with the team, seeing friends and colleagues, and enjoying the rare opportunity for composers to emerge from our studios and socialize in formalwear.”

Please join us in congratulating Sara on her Emmy nomination!

📷 credit: Anna Azarov

There were many meaningful hugs at last Friday’s Commencement. One of them, between graduate Philip Spradlin ‘26 and Dining Services team member Deon Lucas just after the ceremony ended, caught the attention of photographer Justin Holland. He took a photo and was so moved by it that he decided to post it on social media. Since then, it’s caught the attention of lots of other people, including a reporter from TODAY.

“For many who saw the image…it was Lucas’s expression that lingered,” writes reporter Rachel Paula Abrahamson in a story on TODAY's website. “Her face is a study in pride, joy and heartbreak, the complicated emotions that accompany watching kids grow up and move on.

“The picture offered a reminder that the adults who shape a school community are not only the ones in classrooms. They are also the people students see every day in hallways, offices and cafeterias, whose presence becomes part of a child’s experience.

“‘I’m there from seven in the morning till 4 o’clock and I hear my name all day long: “Miss Deon! Miss Deon!’’ Lucas tells TODAY.com, with a laugh. ‘These are my kids.’

“For Spradlin, the graduating senior, the moment resonated because it reflected a relationship built over years of small daily interactions. A Wheeler student since sixth grade, Spradlin says Lucas — known to students as “Miss Deon” — was one of several dining hall employees who became a familiar part of campus life, where small gestures such as hugs, high-fives and fist bumps became part of the daily routine.

“‘It’s nice to have adults on campus who aren’t grading you,’ says Spradlin, who will attend Yale University in the fall. ‘They’re just genuinely looking out for you. They want to know how you’re doing.’

“The hug, he says, felt like a goodbye not just to a school, but to the people who helped shape his time at Wheeler.”

Thank you to Philip and Miss Deon for sharing this story of their hug – and of our community – with TODAY. And thank you as well to photographer Justin Holland for capturing a Commencement moment that has now captured national attention.

In a Viral Graduation Photo, The Woman Crying Isn’t a Parent or Teacher One school employee’s tearful goodbye captured the powerful relationships that exist beyond the classroom.

Purple or Gold—who will prevail?

It’s the age-old question of a Wheeler Field Day. This Monday, students will give it their all in pursuit of spirit-color glory and the chance to fly their flag high at Wheeler Farm for the year ahead.

Alumni are invited to join the community cookout and Field Day celebration. Relive the traditions you remember, cheer on your spirit team, reconnect with past teachers, and join your fellow alums to lead the March of the Purple & Golds onto Phelan Field.

📍 Monday, June 8 | Wheeler Farm, Seekonk
💜 12:00 p.m. Community Cookout
💛 12:45 p.m. March of the Purple & Golds, followed by the Apache Race and student competitions

Stay to cheer on your spirit team—and don’t forget to wear your Purple or Gold!

Just drop in, or tell us you are coming here on the Wheel! https://alumni.wheelerschool.org/events/view/fieldday2026

We welcomed a very full circle of alumni back to Wheeler Farm on Friday for the Purple and Gold Circle’s annual luncheon.

This special honorary group celebrates those classes that graduated from Wheeler 50 years ago or more. The day was a beautiful blend of fond memories, reunion-like celebrating, and exciting new beginnings! 🎉

The group started their visit with a campus tour, as they returned to some familiar sites from their student days and also got to see some of the more recent additions. They talked with students and faculty in the 6th-Grade Farm Program hosted in the Eliza Mauran Blackwell ‘78 Pavilion, then got a sneak peek of the soon-to-open Swim Center. The new ADA accessible boardwalk that leads from Walker Street to Wheeler Pond was a huge hit. The grand finale of the tour was a visit to the Nest to learn about our nature-based early childhood program, where they were serenaded by our youngest students. A true ‘full circle’ moment for sure! 🎶

After their tour, nearly 40 alumni from the classes of 1953 to 1976 enjoyed a delicious lunch together on the Columbine Hill House deck overlooking the sunlit fields they remembered fondly. In addition to walks down memory lane—both literal and figurative—they heard from Wheeler senior Anna C. ’26, who spoke about some of her own special Wheeler experiences as she prepares to join their alumni family next week. Head of School Mark Anderson also reflected on and answered many great questions about his first year at the helm of their alma mater. With a glass raised, we made special toasts for the alumni celebrating their 50th, 60th, and 70th(!) graduation anniversaries! 🥂✨

It all made for a powerful and picturesque day for our Purple and Gold Circle community members who are true representatives of our school motto, “the spirit giveth life.” 💜💛

Thank you, Boston alumni, for a wonderful evening at Porto! ✨

Last week, Wheeler alumni spanning the classes of 1966 through 2024 gathered with Head of School Mark Anderson P’27 for an evening of connection, conversation, and community as part of our Wheeler on the Road series.🛣️

We are especially grateful to alumni board member Andrew Jacober ’04 for hosting the event and to Chef Jody Adams ’75 for welcoming us to her elegant and acclaimed Back Bay restaurant, Porto. Andrew and Jody shared reflections on the importance of staying connected to the Wheeler community and how the friendships they formed with classmates and teachers have remained a meaningful part of their lives for decades. 💜💛

As the final stop on this year’s Wheeler on the Road tour, the gathering was a fitting way to cap off Mark’s first year as head of school — celebrating the relationships and connections that make Wheeler special. We continue to be inspired by our alumni and what they are doing out in the world, but also by the strength of their connections to Wheeler and to one another!

Boston alumni, it’s your night to shine! 💜🌟💛

Join Head of School Mark Anderson P’27 for an exclusive evening at Porto in the Back Bay, graciously hosted by alumni board member Andrew Jacober ’04 at the restaurant of Chef Jody Adams ’75 — two-time James Beard Award winner and co-owner of Boston legendary culinary destinations Porto, Trade, and Saloniki.

After stops in DC, Florida, Los Angeles, and New York, Wheeler on the Road is coming to Boston for an evening of connection, conversation, and school updates with fellow alumni.

Reconnect with old friends, meet alumni in the area, and strengthen your Wheeler ties 💞. This one is coming up soon — be sure to register today and spread the word! 📣

Event Details:
Porto, Back Bay (at the Prudential Center)
Tuesday, May 26
5:30–7:00pm

RSVP by May 19
https://alumni.wheelerschool.org/events/view/wotrboston-2026

Wheeler on the Road: Boston Join us on May 26 for Wheeler on the Road: Boston, hosted by alumni board member Andrew Jacober ’04 at Porto, the Back Bay restaurant founded by James Beard Award–winning Chef Jody Adams ’75. Connect with fellow alumni, enjoy light bites and drinks, and meet new Head of School Mark Anderson,...

Purple and Gold Circle alumnae—do you remember celebrating May Day? Were you a boarder or a day student? What are your favorite Wheeler memories?

Share your stories with us and with each other at this year’s Purple and Gold Circle lunch, an annual tradition for classes that graduated 50 years ago or more.

This year we are dining al fresco at the Farm!

Friday, May 29, 2026
💜10:30 Farm Tour
💛12 pm Lunch

Take a morning stroll down memory lane with a tour of the Pageant Grounds and the Pond, plus get a sneak peek at our brand-new Aquatics Center. Along the way, experience Wheeler’s nature-based learning in action—from our youngest students in the Nest to the 6th-grade Farm Program. Lunch is served on the deck of Columbine Hill House, where you can meet new Head of School Mark Anderson and connect with old classmates and new friends.

Kindly RSVP by May 20:
https://alumni.wheelerschool.org/events/view/p-g2026

We can’t wait to welcome you to the Farm this Spring!

Purple & Gold Circle Annual Alumni Lunch 2026 The Purple & Gold Circle honors all members of Wheeler classes from 50 years ago and beyond (1976 and earlier). The annual luncheon, hosted by Wheeler’s Head of School and the Alumni Association, is a special time to celebrate the lasting bonds between you, your classmates, and the impact your...

Wheeler hit the West Coast last week with a blockbuster of a meet up!

A huge thank you to our event host, Paul Corrigan ’90, for welcoming seven decades of alumni into his home for an unforgettable night of connection, nostalgia, and school pride. 💜💛

There were alumnae who haven’t seen each other in nearly sixty years and happily learned they are neighbors in LA, there were our more recent grads who are pursuing their passions in nearby universities — plus dozens of alumni thriving in impressive careers, from TV and music, to book publishing and poetry, to social work, investments, engineering, and venture capital.

As Paul and Head of School Mark Anderson P’27 shared in their remarks, Wheeler has played a foundational role for every person who gathered together as “One Wheeler” in Santa Monica. Staying connected to one another and supporting Wheeler through events like this ensures our strong school continues to thrive. Thank you to all the alumni who gathered for this long awaited west coast reunion!

Next week, Mark takes Wheeler on the Road again to NYC! If you are in the area on April 17, please join us and the 18 Wheelers a ca****la group at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for an evening of 🎨 art, 🎶music, and alumni community 💖!

➡️RSVP today:
https://alumni.wheelerschool.org/events/view/wotr-nyc

A book can take you to some incredible places. For Wilson Kimball ’86, that saying rings (and reads) true, as one book in particular took her to the last continent on Earth she had yet to visit.

“I really love travel, but I didn’t set out to go to all seven continents,” Wilson says. “It was about 2019 when my husband, Jim, started talking about how he wanted to go to Antarctica after he'd read ‘Endurance,’ about the explorer Shackleton.”

While their trip promised to be a bit easier than Shackleton’s epic story of survival, it still came with a few challenges, such as the pandemic, that delayed their departure by several years.

Last December, Wilson and Jim finally fulfilled their mission. Wilson made sure to bring along a Wheeler School pennant to take a school-inspired photo. It was there in the striking polar landscape that she realized she had made it to her seventh continent. “I just thought it was an amazing milestone,” she says.

As she thinks back on Wheeler – a place where she had many other amazing experiences – Wilson recalls “being obsessed with history in 5th grade. Our textbook was about Mesopotamia and the first known civilization established by the Sumerians. There are just so many formative memories from history with Mr. Smith and Mr. Kasanow. I also remember reading ‘Little House on the Prairie’ books in Mrs. Greenawalt’s class. And I remember building solar collectors on the roof so that we could cook burgers. That was in a science class.”

“The thing about Wheeler that makes it so special is that it has a lot of unique experiences that you don't get elsewhere,” she adds. “Everybody was family. The depth of both the education and the connections was so important.”

That exposure to experiential learning has served Wilson well in her professional life, as the president and CEO for the Municipal Housing Authority of Yonkers, NY.

“Every day is different,” she says. “It is kind of like Wheeler in that sense. Wheeler wasn't a school where you went in every day and sat in the same classroom and talked out of a book. You lived it as well as learned it. And that is what I love about my job.”

You can read more of Wilson's story on our website: https://buff.ly/aJQ6hjj