1990s Decade Reunion: Rooted in Connection

The inaugural 90s Decade Reunion on Saturday, Feb. 21, was everything we hoped it would be: joyful, meaningful, and deeply rooted in connection.

Led by a dedicated team of volunteers—Carrie (McClure) Lee ’91, Zena Carmel-Jessup ’91, JP Cameron ’93, Jhanna Levin ’91, Carrie Fletcher '94, Erica Fletcher '92, Jessica (Staehle) Snyder ’90, and Kelly Guo ’12—in close partnership with Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement Ciara Huey-Burns, the day brought together classmates and friends from across the 1990s for a full day of community, reflection, and celebration.

The morning began with yoga in the PAC studio, offering a grounding start and a chance to reconnect in a space that holds so many memories. From there, alumni gathered in the Pen y Bryn Upper School Atrium for coffee, conversation, and a thoughtful discussion with Head of School Dr. Sean Hamer, who shared reflections on the School’s journey and vision for the future.

Campus tours followed, led by members of our admissions team and our Upper School student admissions ambassadors. Alumni had the opportunity to see familiar spaces through fresh eyes and to witness firsthand the confidence and thoughtfulness of today’s students. Throughout the day, writing prompts invited alumni to leave notes for current students, offering encouragement, advice, and reflections on what their SSFS experience meant to them. The messages are heartfelt reminders of the enduring impact of a Sandy Spring education.

The celebration continued that evening at Waredaca, generously hosted by Jessica (Staehle) Snyder ’91. More than 65 alumni and guests gathered, primarily from the 90s classes, but with friends from other decades joining as well, creating a lively, intergenerational celebration. Alumni traveled from near and far, including New York, the Carolinas, and even Djibouti, to be part of the day.

The success of this inaugural reunion is a testament to the dedication and creativity of the planning committee. Their hard work made the event possible, and their spirit of collaboration set the tone for a day that felt both nostalgic and forward-looking.

SSFS looks forward to building on this momentum and hopes to replicate this success with future reunions. If you are interested in helping plan your decade reunion, please reach out to Ciara Huey-Burns at hueybci@ssfs.org, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement. She would love to partner with you to bring your class community back together!