Passionate about their work, and eager to encourage students in their audience to pursue their own passions, four speakers at Horace Mann School's 20th annual Women's Issues Club (WIC) dinner described how they had transformed language and cultural barriers into meaningful connections in their work in the international arena. Three of the speakers were HM alumnae: Deborah Friedman '96; Allison Kraus '96; and Lara Setrakian 2000. The fourth, internationally-honored attorney Dorchen Leidholdt, has a strong connection with Horace Mann School through her work with Sanctuary for Families, an organization for victims of domestic violence that HM students and alumni have supported for about 25 years.

The New York spring 2013 art season moved uptown on March 11, 2013, with the opening of the Horace Mann School Lower Division's annual Arts Fest. The city's art aficionados were abuzz in March with such major openings as the International Armory Show downtown there was no less excitement among guests to the spectacular gallery installed for the week in the Lower Division gym on Horace Mann School's Bronx Campus. Parents, grandparents, and older and younger siblings wound their way through the brilliantly-colored displays of over 1,000 works of art in every media, as their particular HM student clasped their hands, and guided them proudly to a painting or sculpture. And, while orchestras, jazz clubs, and choral stages around town debuted new performers to audiences during the nascent spring arts scene, music lovers who traveled uptown to Horace Mann had the chance to hear artists-in-the-making perform each night of the festival.

For a film producer, it can't get much better than an Academy Award nomination. First there's the announcement, followed by new focus on the film you've produced, and, finally, the walk down the fabled "red carpet" on Oscar night. For Horace Mann School alumna Regina Kulik Scully '81, executive producer of "The Invisible War: Breaking Silence about Sexual Assault in the Military" having her film nominated for an Academy Award in the documentary feature category was an honor indeed. But Oscar night, February 28, 2013, brought Regina an unexpected bonus for her work on the film. Strolling down the red carpet she ran into a close friend from her days at Horace Mann – Marco Della Cava '80, who was there covering the happening for USA Today.

A job doing something you love, that includes the chance to make great new friends, travel to new countries, learn a lot, and do some good while you're at it: It doesn't get much better than that. Call it the "Luck of the Irish" – with a lot of hard work. Together, they've landed Horace Mann School alumnus Brendan Barile '06 in a dream job this year—coaching and playing basketball in Ireland. And, while being far from home may add the drawback of missing family, Brendan is five for five this St. Patrick's Day week: His mother and siblings are in Ireland to visit, and to add some American accents to his cheering section for a few games, of course. Not to worry. Brendan's dad, veteran Horace Mann School coach Ray Barile, made it to Ireland for a short visit late last fall, between HM's fall and winter sports seasons.

Back when he was a student at Horace Mann School Dr. Glenn Fleisig '80 had three passions: sports, science, and math. An avid Little Leaguer growing up, he hoped to make HM's varsity baseball team, but the Lions failed to call him up. That left science and math. Fleisig excelled in these subjects, earning him acceptance to MIT. A mechanical engineering major there, he discovered he could pursue his love of sports from an academic standpoint, studying the mechanics of motion in athletes. The HM alumnus shared some of the insights he has gained through his research over the years, while teaching the physics involved, in a lively, humorous and informative lecture at Horace Mann on Thursday, March 7, 2013. About 200 HM physics, Advanced Placement physics, AP biology students, and other interested students, along with their teachers and several administrators, including HM Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly, attended his presentation.

"If every school was doing what Horace Mann is the rate of child sexual abuse would drop significantly," Dr. Mary Pulido, Executive Director of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) told HM parents at a meeting at the school on February 28, 2013. "With all the steps Horace Mann has undertaken regarding training for its students, faculty and staff, and in reviewing and revising its policies and procedures concerning abuse, the school has become the model in the area of prevention," Dr. Pulido said.

Horace Mann School's Middle Division students strode from their homerooms to their morning classes with smiles on their faces and some extra spring in their step. The day was February 14 – Valentine's Day – and it wasn't just the iconic reds of the sweaters and slacks many students had selected to wear that brightened the Division's hallways. It was a warm feeling inside that each student reflected outwardly, that gave a special sense to the day. The Middle Division had turned this day into "Peer Appreciation Day" – an opportunity for the students to reflect on what they value about one another, and to learn the qualities others value in them.