Purnell Alumnae
Truthfulness in All Relations
Consideration of Others
The Use of Common Sense
If your heart resonates with those Three Guidelines, chances are you attended, taught at, or were a part of the wonderful place in the Pottersville valley known as Purnell School, a place of rich traditions and important memories, which existed from 1965 to 2021. A girls' boarding school founded by Lytt and Sis Gould and other educational visionaries in 1963 on a former dairy farm, each year it graduated a group of caring young women who went on to make places for themselves in the world, forever affected by the friends and teachers they had lived with during their formative teenage years.
We know that the shuttering of the School was a very sad loss for all, and for those unaware of the steadily diminishing enrollment and financial losses, a surprise. The campus was purchased by Pingry School (sale finalized December 2021), which they use for faculty housing, special programs, and soccer camps, etc. Learn more here.
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Do we have your email address?
The FINAL Purnell Alumnae Newsletter will be emailed in April 2026.
If you would like your business or non-profit to appear in the final edition in April, send information (50 words or so), links, and a photo or logo, to purnellsite@gmail.com.
FOLLOW PURNELL ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM & YOUTUBE!
IF you are on Facebook, there is a private group
with more than 600 Purnell alum!
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VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR THE LINK:
SUPPORTING PURNELL'S EDUCATIONAL LEGACY
THROUGH UNIVERSAL PROMISE:
After two Steering Committee meetings attended by additional alumnae, we embraced the idea of extending Purnell's legacy through Universal Promise, founded by former Purnell faculty member Martha Cummings. We are supporting a UNIFORM DRIVE for students at Sandisulwazi High School and Addo Primary School, two of UP's partner schools in South Africa. Uniforms are necessary and an important source of pride.
Learn how Purnell has made a difference - and see how two alumnae volunteers got directly involved!
One of the proud and happy learners at Sandisulwazi HS, wearing a proper new uniform funded by a Purnell constituent.
Since the dissolution of Purnell School in 2021, this domain was purchased and website created to provide an online connection point that alumnae could find. It will remain as long as funds support it.
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In 2021, the Purnell Alumnae Association was formed, with a Steering Committee, with three goals:
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Initiate ways to keep Purnell people connected, across the graduating years/decades, both virtually and in-person
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Plan the annual Purnell Alumnae Visitior's Day
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Extend the Purnell legacy of supporting girls' education
UPDATE FROM GAIL:
We held several Happy Hour Zooms and four Visitor's Days in Pottersville, but participation has dwindled. I think our efforts have provided a "soft landing" from the grief we were all feeling in 2021.
I know that many Purnell friendships endure and that groups of you do get together, which is fantastic. Many have expressed how the spirit of Purnell shows up in the way they raise their families, teach or do business, and just generally LIVE!
I have been thanked many times, and I blame no one. I attended my own 50th college reunion in June, and even though there was a very active reunion committee of alum, without the onsite paid staff in the Alumni office, it would have been impossible. It's hard to create an Alumnae Association "out of the ethers"! Many thanks to those faculty and alumnae who have supported the effort with their time and effort and funds.
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- Gail Mardfin
Faculty 1978-2000
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Why is it the last?
Read Oct 2025 newsletter:
