Fall 2010/WINTER 2011 VOLUME XXI NUMBER 1
shamrock Published for parents, alumni and friends of Chandler School
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mission The mission of Chandler School is to provide each student with the highest quality and most academically challenging education in a nurturing, balanced and diverse environment. We strive to have our students gain a love of learning, a means of thinking independently and an ability to work collaboratively. A Chandler education seeks to develop good character, self‑reliance and a commitment to community in students as a foundation for academic and personal success.
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Chandler Celebrates 60 Years Construction Milestones First Families Recognized
Alumni News
Alumni Go ‘Back to School’ to Wed
goals To uphold the Chandler tradition of academic excellence and intellectual discipline in a program that develops the mind, body and spirit.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Chandler Follows the Yellow Book Road
To promote respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship, which are the core values of our school community. To foster an educational environment that values and communicates respect for racial, religious, cultural and economic differences. To serve the greater community, in recognition that as much is given to us, much is expected from us.
Cover Picture: Co-founder of Chandler School Katie Chandler celebrates with students during the 60th Anniversary Family Picnic.
The Shamrock is printed on recycled paper (50% content with 15% post consumer) using soy inks and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Chandler School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation.
Message from the Head of School A Chandler parent wrote recently, “Class could be held on a field or in a trailer for our son’s entire experience at Chandler, and with the faculty currently in place we know it would still be outstanding. Our son hasn’t had a teacher yet whom we do not respect and consider ourselves fortunate to know. Their enthusiasm and preparedness for all subjects is developing a true love of learning in our son.” The tools of the teaching profession have undergone a radical transformation since Tom and Katie Chandler founded Chandler, but the nature of teaching remains the same. We have progressed from chalk and blackboards to laptops and ceiling mounted video projectors. Filmstrips and the soft purr of the 35mm projector have been replaced by YouTube clips and DVDs. The 21st century teacher must be a multimedia specialist. Yet the heart of effective teaching at the K-8 level is not about manipulating digital media as much as it is about building relationships with students and parents, being part of a community and in a classic definition of education, ‘initiating young people into worthwhile activities.’ The strength of these relationships sustains Chandler. We are seeing more alumni returning to the school as parents. Our graduates want their children to receive the same traditional commitment to a strong foundation as a preparation for high school and college that they received. Ten percent of the current student body are children of alumni. This year eight of our board members are alumni and for the first time in Chandler’s history our board president is an alumnus. Nostalgia for the early Boojum trips and reminiscences about Mrs. Rose’s grammar classes, Mr. Brown’s lacrosse coaching and Mr. Morrison’s history lectures are reasons they stay engaged with Chandler. The strength of our current faculty motivates our alumni to enroll their children today. Legendary Chandler teachers of the past years built a legacy of educational excellence that is as important to Chandler today as the steel foundation that anchors the new classroom building. The teachers we have at Chandler in 2011 are the worthiest of successors. As they build relationships with their students and develop a love of learning within each child, they are building a legacy for the next 60 years.
Most sincerely,
John Finch Head of School
Legendary Chandler teachers of the past years built a legacy of educational excellence that is as important to Chandler today as the steel foundation that anchors the new classroom building.
Chandler School Celebrates Years of
Commitment to
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Chandler 60th Anniversary Beam Raising ‘Tops Off’ Founders’ Day Chandler School is in the midst of a yearlong celebration of its 60-year anniversary with events big and small to mark the occasion. Students wear special commemorative t-shirts on the 6th of each month, new school banners and flags proclaim the milestone, and a new anniversary logo was created for the school to use throughout the year. The anniversary officially kicked off with an inaugural Founders’ Day breakfast and celebration on Oct. 1, 2010, with students, faculty, many parents and a few special guests in attendance. The highlight of the ceremony was the raising of a steel beam, signed by each of Chandler’s 419 students and 70 faculty members, who watched with delight as it was lowered into place as part of the structure of the new Middle School facility under construction. “Chandler School is an institution that strengthens the city of Pasadena because people want to live here and send their children to school here,” said Pasadena Mayor Bogaard in his remarks to the crowd during the Founders’ Day ceremony. The School’s co-founder, Catherine Chandler, also was on hand for the big event. “This is exciting,” said Mrs. Chandler, who explained that she was thankful the school had continued to thrive for the last 60 years and is excited to see the new South Campus as the next chapter in the school’s history. “Everything is going to be wonderful,” she said. Head of School John Finch gave the crowd a brief history lesson describing significant steps in the school’s journey to its standing of excellence in the greater Pasadena community and hinted of even greater things to come. “Sixty years ago, Chandler Day School was founded by
Tom and Katie Chandler in a house on Mariposa Street in Altadena,” Finch told the assembled crowd. “As you can tell by her presence here today, Mrs. Chandler is still very active in the school community. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler wanted a school that would provide students with a challenging academic program, but at the same time, emphasize good character development. Under their leadership and that of a caring, dedicated faculty, Chandler School thrived right from the start.” “Today, with approximately 419 enrolled students, Chandler School is widely considered to be one of the best – I think it is the very best – K-8 independent schools in the San Gabriel Valley. The new South Campus is a very fitting 60th birthday present for the Chandler School community,” Finch concluded.
Anniversary Family Picnic Ends With A Bang! Following closely on the heels of Founders’ Day was a special picnic for current Chandler families and faculty to celebrate the 60th anniversary. Not even the day’s slight rainfall could dampen the spirits of the picnic-goers who came out for the Family Picnic at Caltech’s Tournament Park on October 17, 2010. There was plenty of good food, including IN-N-OUT burgers and commemorative cupcakes for the crowd. Students and siblings played games of catch and frisbee and lined up for face painting and shamrock tattoos. In the background, ’50s-themed music and radio ads, all voiced by Chandler Trustee Matt Wright ’74 CHS ’78, paid tribute to the school’s founding date of 1950. At the conclusion of the event, Finch and Board of Trustees President Christopher Rising ’83 led the entire group in a chorus of “Happy Birthday to Chandler School.” Just as the song concluded, a giant balloon at the top of the 60th Anniversary balloon pillar popped open with a bang, showering attendees, including Mrs. Chandler, with confetti and smaller balloons, creating a dramatic finish to a fun-filled day.
Anniversary Celebrations to Continue with All-Decades Reunion and Gala The yearlong celebration continues with an All-Decades Alumni & Past Parent Reunion inside the Rose Bowl from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2011. Special tents marking the six decades will be scattered around the field making it easy for alumni and their families to reconnect with each other and enjoy memorabilia from their days at Chandler. A special barbecue lunch will be
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served and special historical tours of the Rose Bowl will be available. There also will be activities for all ages, including games reminiscent of Field Day with Chandler’s Paul Korn as referee. To keep the little ones busy, Pasadena Party Patrol, led by Chandler’s Alycia Brown, will be on hand to entertain children ages 4-12. The Alumni Council is helping plan the day’s activities and will be sending more details in the mail to alumni and their parents. The culminating event of the year, the 60th Anniversary Gala, will be held at the Caltech Athenaeum on Saturday, May 14, 2011, and promises to be the School’s most glamorous and exciting event to date! The Chandler community will be invited for cocktails, fine food, and dancing to celebrate the school’s 60 years of excellence. There are many more details but the organizers want to keep them as surprises,
so plan on attending to find out firsthand. Watch for your invitations. Co-chairs for the event are past parent and former director of development Joyce Greif, current parent Jennifer Johnson and trustee and past parent Shelley Allen. The 60th Anniversary Committee (mostly pictured here) is a special group of volunteers who, under the poised direction of Greif, helped plan and execute the year’s special events. In addition to the Gala co-chairs, the 60th Anniversary Committee includes: Yuen Fang, Marisu Jimenez, Kate Kaneko, Lucia Logan, Gretchen McNally, Candy Renick, Marianne Wright, and Kelly Rouse, former Chandler Alumni Relations & Special Events Coordinator Lauren Tapp, Lower School Director Jan Gotha, current Alumni Relations & Special Events Coordinator Celia Heath, and Director of Development Laura Dicovitsky. Chandler School is grateful for all their hard work this year.
In Their Words: What Will Chandler Be Like in 60 Years? Chandler students from all grades spend a part of every Wednesday intermixed in small group activities. On one particular Wednesday, we asked the groups to imagine what a day in the life of a Chandler student would be like 60 years from now, in 2070. Here is what they said: “Chandler School will be floating 4,000 feet above the earth. We will have better computers; they will read our minds and respond before we know what we want, and we’ ll be able to visit places we study, such as Mars.” “Chandler will have a school at the beach and no uniforms. Students can wear bathing suits or sun clothes more often.”
“In 2070 Chandler will be one big building with glass elevators, levitating floors and a candy factory. The Point will have a pool.” “There will be ‘mind plugs’ for learning quickly, more highly evolved brains will lead to shorter school days and there will be schools on different planets.”
“Chandler students will wear shiny, stylish uniforms, robots will serve hot lunch, and students will be talking about us in history class. Chandler will have its own aquarium, and students will swim with dolphins during P.E., and there will be an escalator up the tower.” “Justin Beiber will be the Head of School.”
“Everything will be recyclable, and any containers that hold food will be edible.”
Most of the groups also predicted there would be solar-powered flying cars, chairs and desks and that most students would be sporting personal jet packs on campus!
As part of Chandler’s 60th Anniversary celebration, students were asked to come up with 60 words to describe Chandler. This word cloud illustrates what they came up with; the more often a word was mentioned, the larger it appears in the cloud.
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Chandler 60th Anniversary
Up Close with New Board of Trustees President Christopher Rising ’83 As Chandler School celebrates its 60-year milestone, its history of strong family commitment never has been more evident. Christopher Rising ’83 became Chandler’s Board of Trustees president this year. Rising’s mother, Sharon, served on the Board herself when Rising’s younger brother, Matthew ’99, was a student at Chandler. Their sister Corrine ’85 also attended Chandler. In addition to being an alumnus of the school, Rising and his wife Anna-Christine have two kindergarteners, Arianne and Annelise, enrolled at Chandler. There currently are 28 alumni who have their children enrolled at Chandler – an all-time high and a number that is expected to increase as Chandler continues to the next decade. According to Rising, Chandler has a way of keeping families connected to the school. “Chandler gets parents involved through the Board and the CFA… It’s not just the child’s experience; it’s the family’s experience,” he said. Rising and his family began their history with Chandler in 1978. Sharon researched independent schools from the San Gabriel Valley to the Westside and finally selected Chandler. “I think what drew her to the school was that it was small and focused on academics, and she loved the campus,” said Rising.
“As a student, the thing I liked the most was the sports program,” added Rising, who fondly recalls his interactions with Chandler coaches Clyde E. MacQuoid, Mike Cotton and Paul Korn. “We had a really athletic class and won a lot of championships in every sport.” Despite Chandler’s robust athletics programs, reminiscing always comes back to the core of the school: academics. “By far the biggest impact that anyone had on my life was my seventh-grade history teacher (and current trustee) Steve Morrison. To this day I credit him with igniting a passion in me for history and learning. I think that’s what led me to major in history and political science at Duke,” he said. After graduating from Chandler, Rising attended Loyola High School and then Duke University on a football scholarship; he was a starting linebacker on their 1989 ACC championship team. After college Rising taught U.S. history and Western civilization at Loyola High School for two years and then went to Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he earned his law degree. He practiced real estate law for several years before starting his own real estate investment firm. In
2008, the same year he was asked to join the Chandler Board of Trustees, he joined his father at Maguire Properties, but left in August 2010 to form Rising Realty Partners. He also serves on the Loyola High School Board of Regents, the Duke Athletic Advisory Board, the Rose Bowl Legacy Committee, the Finance Council of St. Andrew Parish and the Children’s Hospital Men’s Guild.
Rising continually extols the benefits of alumni remaining involved in the Chandler community. “You spend more time at your K-8 then you do any other school, and it’s the most formative years, so the relationships you develop are real… Our class [1983] became particularly close. All of us stayed in touch. And now, many of our kids are sharing their own Chandler experiences together. I have great confidence in the longevity of the School and its mission and the willingness of alumni and parents to stay involved,” said Rising. As for his daughters, he says, “They are thriving. They don’t like weekends because they miss school.”
“I think it’s a dream come true for my mom to now be on campus for Grandparents’ Day. I think it was something she envisioned and hoped for back when I was a student here,” said Board of Trustees President Christopher Rising ’83 Shamrock FALL 2010/Winter 2011
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Commitment to Excellence: Camp Construction Milestones Chandler School’s new South Campus appears closer to completion as construction continues to move ahead at a rapid pace. By the end of February, framing of the interior and exterior walls was well underway, making it easier to
imagine the spacious classrooms and labs that soon will be filled with students. To make room for the new structure, Hill Hall and the Middle School buildings were demolished last summer, and by the time classes got underway for the
2010-2011 school year in September, a new foundation was set, concrete blocks lined the basement walls, and steel beams were readied to form the structure. The photos on these pages chronicle the new complex’s speedy rise.
1 3 1 The summer of 2010 saw the first big changes. The old South Campus buildings were demolished, and the materials were sorted and recycled. 3
Excavation for the new Middle School complex was completed, and 15,000 pounds of steel reinforcement bars were installed in the footing trenches. Fifty truckloads of concrete were poured into the trenches that form the foundation of the building. The project took a full day of almost nonstop pouring to complete.
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In late September, a 60-ton crane was carefully maneuvered onto campus where it drilled 17 holes to a depth of 20 feet. These holes, which now stabilize the hillside for the new building, were filled with steel rebar and concrete.
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2 School Founder Thomas Chandler helped build the original buildings with his own two hands. Current Head of School John Finch thought he should follow in Mr. Chandler’s footsteps and jumped in to help. 6
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Temporary learning bungalows were brought onto campus for Middle School classes and music and art classes for all students.
6 Next, masons built walls for the new basement, and the placement of the steel for the foundation was completed.
Commitment to Excellence
paign for the New South Campus 7 7 In October, crews assembled 225 tons of steel beams on the site of the South Campus Project, giving more definition to the emerging building. Assisting the seven workers with the task was a 90-ton crane that extended up to 180 feet.
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9 In December, crews were busy installing metal sheets and rebar which now stabilize the finished concrete floors of the new South Campus complex.
10 10 In January, work continued at a swift pace, despite heavy rains. Plumbers, electricians and other crew members hurried to install air ducts and fire sprinklers before the framers began laying out the classroom walls. Meanwhile, in the gym, workers completed the athletic renovations.
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8 On Nov. 15, the amazing Chandler South Campus crew “topped off” the “bones” of the new Middle School complex, which meant that the last beam was in place, and the giant crane was no longer needed. The crew enjoyed a barbecue lunch celebration to mark the milestone.
11 What’s next? The new Chandler South Campus is scheduled to be ready for the 2011-2012 school year. The new facilities will offer more than twice the teaching and learning space for middle school students, with approximately 31,500 square feet. The new complex includes a designated classroom for each teacher and Craftsman architecture to match the existing Lower School and neighborhood. In addition, the new facilities will include: a new library and media center, three clustered science labs, a new multipurpose auditorium, athletic facility improvements and enhanced courtyards. A final chapter to the master plan, slated for completion in several years, will bring to the campus new music and art studios and a new welcoming entrance on Seco Street with increased parking.
To learn more about the South Campus and the Master Development Plan and get up-to-date construction announcements and photos, please visit www.chandlerschool.org Shamrock FALL 2010/Winter 2011
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Chandler Recognizes First Families Donors to the South Campus Campaign
Making It a
From time to time, great schools are called upon to act boldly to advance their mission, and they must depend upon their families for leadership and support. This is such a time for Chandler School. The new South Campus will provide an optimal learning environment for teachers and students, and will advance Chandler’s academic reputation and distinction for generations to come. However, the new campus comes at a price – $15 million for the current two phases under construction. At the start of the Commitment to Excellence: Chandler South Campus Campaign, a request was made for 100 families to step forward with leadership gifts of $50,000 or more to help make this project a reality. To date, the campaign has raised more than $9 million in gifts and pledges, and 58 families – current and past parents and alumni – already have answered the call as Chandler’s First Families. Together the First Families have contributed $7,897,500 or about 86% of the total raised to date. Chandler School gratefully recognizes the following First Families: Chandler Circle ($1,000,000 and above)
Tower Circle ($50,000 to $99,999)
S. Allan Johnson ’51 and Marguerite L. Johnson 1950 Circle ($500,000 to $999,999)
Anonymous Mr. Ashwin Adarkar and Dr. Sushma Adarkar Mr. Joseph Balthazar and Ms. Joyce Mitamura ’80 Drs. Dale Daniel and Sharon Yee Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Dickerson Chris and Sarah Dusseault Douglas and Melanie Frey Dr. Gabriel Gamboa and Yasmin Gamboa Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Scott E. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Teiji Ryan Kawana The Kuwada Family Stanley Liu and Yuen Fang Lucia and Ben Logan Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Longwell Dr. Michael Luu and Janel Kyung Luu Mr. and Mrs. William E. Myers Jr. ’75 Tom and Ali O’Brien Dr. and Mrs. Carlos A. Rico Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Rising ’83 David and Masami Robson Mr. and Mrs. David B. Rogers Kristin and Tim Smith Karin ’85 and Sean Stellar Dr. and Mrs. George Sun Steve and Joyce Tsai The Tyson Family Chris ’81 and Lena Waldheim Mr. and Mrs. Matthew G. Wright ’74 CHS ’78 Raymond and Mary Yen Mr. and Mrs. Tony Yuba
R. Christian B. Evensen Gregory D. and Jennifer W. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. James F. Rothenberg The Terrile Family Armada Circle ($250,000 to $499,999) Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Zhen Fa Han Mr. and Mrs. Peter D. Kaufman Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Neithart Point Circle ($100,000 to $249,999) Lauren ’85 and Michael Albrecht and Family The Arrobio Family ’83 Baghdasarian Family Mr. William Bauman ’79 Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chang Class of 2018 Family Mark H. Kim and Jeehyun Lee Bob Kohorst and Shelley Allen, Kevin ’99 and Matthew ’03 Kohorst The LaBarge Family Mr. and Mrs. Philip Leong Ken and Laura Liang Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tzu Hsu Lin Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Mitchell Sharon and Nelson Rising Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Rivas/Pro-Image Daniel and Sarah Rothenberg Mr. and Mrs. John L. Rouse Mr. and Mrs. Theodore R. Samuels II
Bold names indicate gifts at or above naming level.
In addition to leadership gifts by First Families, Chandler School is grateful for the many generous donations by members of the Chandler community. 8
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The legacy of generosity and stewardship among past Chandler families and friends is evident throughout our beautiful and carefully maintained campus. Now you are invited to leave your own legacy of commitment to the school. The South Campus offers a new opportunity to place your name or the name of a loved one on a courtyard, classroom or other space as a lasting tribute to honor
Commitment to Excellence
Commitment to Excellence: Contributor Spotlight A Visit to Remember
Family Affair Last spring, Lauren (Craig ’85) and Michael Albrecht sat with other current parents and listened attentively to Head of School John Finch describe the next chapter in the school’s history, the new South Campus. The message of history and stewardship toward the school struck an immediate chord with them. Lauren had attended Chandler School herself and is a member of the Alumni Council; Michael is the product of independent schools, and his mother is a retired educator. Now Alexander, class of 2018, had begun his own journey through Chandler School. “That night I began pondering on how we could help and be a part of completing this project,” Michael said. “My first thought was that we do not have the resources to write a six-figure check. But then I recalled learning that many charitable gifts are structured over a period of time rather than all at once. It was then that we realized that we could make a significant contribution.” Lauren and Michael knew that a combined gift from their extended family would help them reach their goal. To that end, they distributed a proposed payment schedule and campaign video to their respective parents with a request to join them in making the gift. Even though Michael’s parents, Robert and Sharron Albrecht, had never seen the campus, they quickly agreed. “My wife and I always put education as the top priority in our children’s lives,” said Robert. The same was true for Lauren’s parents, John and Pamela Craig, who, of course, had been Chandler parents themselves. With all three families pooling their resources, the Lauren ’85 and Michael Albrecht Family Gift became a reality and at a level that qualified all of them as First Family members and donors in the Point Circle. In October, Lauren, Michael and both sets of grandparents visited Chandler together and presented their first pledge payments. “This gift brought together the right ingredients – the memories, involving both sets of grandparents,” said Pamela. “It was a wonderful way to bring the whole family concept together.”
When Gordon Sun ’05 accompanied his family to Grandparents and Special Friends Day in November 2010, he had no idea that he would be so moved to make his own contribution to the Commitment to Excellence: Chandler South Campus Campaign. He had come along that day, partially out of nostalgia and curiosity to see the campus again and to serve as an extra guest for his sister Kara ’16 and his brother Jordan ’19. As he walked around the campus, the excitement of what was to come was all around him – the temporary classroom bungalows, the Chandler banner hoisted above the enormous steel structure rising in the background, and a model of the new South Campus building on display in Johnson Courtyard. It all seemed very familiar. His own years at Chandler spanned the construction of the new Lower School, and he recalled how the end result yielded a vastly improved learning environment for him and his classmates. Before the morning’s events were over, he decided he wanted to help and became one of the youngest donors to the campaign. “I knew that other alumni had contributed to build the Lower School when I was there, and now it was my turn to help the next generation,” he said. “Chandler made a big impact on my life. It helped make me who I am now, and I wanted to give back.”
South Campus Naming Opportunities family, to commemorate a milestone event and to serve as an inspiration to future generations. Family members can combine resources to create such a gift. The following is a listing of naming opportunities and gift thresholds for the new South Campus.
$5 million Middle School Building
$500,000 Small Courtyard by Auditorium Outdoor Basketball Court Conference Room Six Pillars
$2.5 million Field Gymnasium
$1 million Center Courtyard Library/Media Center Multipurpose Auditorium
$250,000 Earth Science (6th) Lab Life/Biology Science (7th) Lab Physical/Chemistry Science (8th) Lab Music Room Athletic Locker Facilities Lower School Art Room (former computer lab)
reserved $150,000 Middle School Office Green Room Classrooms (12)
For more information, please contact Director of Development Laura Dicovitsky, ldicovitsky@chandlerschool.org or 626-795-9990. Shamrock FALL 2010/Winter 2011
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Alumni News Alumna Reflects on Impact of Chandler Years Chandler helped nurture my passion for nature
By Allison Kleine ’01
While at the alumni wine tasting event in November, Head of School John Finch took a group of us on a tour of Chandler’s latest construction site. As I walked over the remains of what used to be the old science building, I realized that even though I have come a long way since my Chandler years, without Chandler’s help I would not have had such a strong foundation from which to grow. I stood on the newly laid foundations and recalled those days in the science lab, learning of the wonders of our natural surroundings. I then realized that whether in the classroom or out on field trips, such as my outing to the tide pools with Mr. McCarty’s first grade class, Chandler helped nurture my passion for nature.
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After trading in my lovely green jumper for plaid skirts, I left my Chandler days behind and attended Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (FSHA); I instituted a campus paper-recycling program and volunteered at the Los Angeles Zoo – earning the nickname “tree hugger.” I followed in the footsteps of my hero John Muir to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While there, I worked for the “UW Renewable Energy Campaign.” 10
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In 2007, I spent a semester at the University of Queensland studying Australia’s terrestrial and marine environments. It was a life changing experience; I was able to see much of the country’s breathtakingly unique landscapes and wildlife. I was lucky enough to get some field experience and volunteered with Conservation Volunteers Australia to restore a section of rainforest. Thanks to my adventures down under, I will forever have the travel bug.
Koala Sanctu
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After a stint writing environmental impact reports at a Pasadena environmental
consulting firm and a six month stay in London, I returned to the University of Wisconsin to complete my bachelor’s degree in Geography: People/Environment Interaction. I now work as a freelance environmental writer in sunny southern California, where I just completed my first article, Healing naturally: how zoopharmacognosy can benefit human and animal health and conserve biodiversity, on which I worked with a Londonbased pharmacist and animal selfmedication researcher. I also am co-authoring a new endangered species book that will feature leading conservationists, public figures, and activists – each sharing an experience with a specific endangered species. Our aim with the book is to raise awareness and funds for the different wildlife conservation efforts highlighted. Although I wouldn’t call myself the next John Muir, I am happy to be doing my part in trying to make the world a better place. Chandler played a critical role in my success, and while it wasn’t always easy, I attribute a great deal of my achievements to the lessons I learned there. I will always be thankful for the friendships, enthusiastic teachers, and the strong educational foundation I received from Chandler. When Allison is not writing, Allison and Alistair she volunteers at the Wildlife Waystation and nurtures her loves of learning and travel with Sierra Club wilderness travel courses. She is also planning a summer 2012 wedding to Irishman Alistair Hegan in his home country.
Alumni News
Young Alumni Holiday Mixer
Adam Stout ’02, Casey Zuber ’00, Stephanie (Cobb) Masek ’00, Kasandra Sideropolous ’00
Young Chandler alumni from the classes of 1994 to 2003 got a chance to reconnect at a mixer held at Villa SORRISO in Old Town Pasadena on December 22. Cold temperatures and rainy conditions didn’t stop a good number from showing up to mingle with one another while enjoying a tasty spread of hors d’oeuvres and a special toast to Chandler. Head of School John Finch also dropped by.
Alumni and Past Parent Wine Tasting More than 50 Chandler alumni and past parents gathered for the school’s third annual Alumni Wine Tasting event in November. Bonnie Glassco ’86 and Doug Rausenberger Christine Sarafian ’99 provided a generous selection of wine donated by her close family friend’s winery, Marietta Cellar. Wine also was graciously donated by Stephanie and John Thorne from their family vineyard. The Thornes are parents of Bennett ’19 and Graner ’02.
Mark Hitchcock ’81, Niki Hitchcock, Brandt Manchee ’81, Heather Bohr Unterseher ’81
Cristy Armel ’99, Christine Sarafian ’99, Evan Otero ’96, Brendan Joy ’96
chandler school
COLLEGE
CONNECTION Chandler Kicks Off New College Connection Program Parents of Chandler alumni in college gathered in the Head’s Library in March to help launch Chandler’s new College Connection program. The program is designed to encourage young alumni to stay connected with Chandler and each other, and will include special care packages and mailings at least twice a year. At the inaugural event, parents sipped wine, tasted pies (in honor of Chandler’s Pi Day!) and helped fill care packages to send to their sons and daughters. There were Chandler logo items, Pi Day buttons and other special treats. For more information, please contact Celia Heath at cheath@chandlerschool.org or 626-795-9314 x111
All-Decades Alumni & Past Parent Reunion Inside the Rose Bowl
Sunday, April 17, 2011 Noon to 4 p.m.
Peter Stavropoulos ’82, Theodora Coulis, Joyce Wang Sakonju ’87, Jan Sakonju
Catch up with former classmates, past parents and faculty at the Rose Bowl for an afternoon of family fun, picnic and games! There will be activities for children ages 4-12, so bring your family along with a picnic blanket. For more information and registration, visit www.chandlerschool.org. Shamrock FALL 2010/Winter 2011
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Chandler Alumni Go ‘Back to School’ to Wed Who could have imagined when Amy Hathaway ’88 and Naveen Jeereddi ’88 first met at Chandler School in fourth grade, they would end up planning to spend their lives together? This past October the couple married in a ceremony in Napa, accompanied by several of their Chandler chums. In fact, Chandler was mentioned several times during the elementary school-themed reception that was a nod to the couple’s early beginnings. “Naveen and I both really loved Chandler, and it’s a special connection for us,” says Amy. The couple was not a couple while at Chandler and did not reconnect again until two years ago on Facebook. “He was living in SoHo, and I was living in L.A., and we went on a date at the Château Marmont [in Hollywood], and we just hit it off,” recalls Amy. “It’s great when you meet someone in the fourth grade because they just really are who they are… We met when we were really innocent, and then we reconnected at just the right time, and it was really special.” Eight months after that first date, Naveen relocated to the West Coast and took Amy on a special trip to a private winery in Napa where he proposed. “We went for a hike after lunch, and we went to the top of this hill, and there were two Adirondack chairs and a chest, and the chest was full of champagne, so after he proposed we sat in the chairs, drank champagne and looked out at Napa Valley,” she recalls. The couple returned to Napa for their wedding and chose an elementary school theme a la Chandler to symbolize how they first met. “For the name tags we had pencils, for the cake we did a bake sale, and for our guestbook, we made it look like notes you would pass in the classroom.” Amy says. Even the guest “photo booth” backdrop was made to look like a classroom back at Chandler. Fittingly, their bridal party included several of their former Chandler classmates: Chiara Vilgiate-Rivas ’88 (who is now a school teacher), Sanjay Daluvoy ’88 and Hillary Hathaway-Biehl ’86 (who is also a school teacher in Orange County). The couple now resides in the Hollywood Hills. Naveen has an MBA from Harvard Business School and runs a successful hedge fund. Amy continues to pursue an acting career and recently finished filming the feature film Gemini Rising. Not surprisingly, when the couple celebrates their one-year anniversary, they are planning another nod to their Chandler roots – small shamrock tattoos on their wrists. Imagine what Tom Chandler would say to that!
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Alumni Structure at Chandler Current Whitney Chandler ’66 Lisa Curry Austin ’74 Melina Eversole Montoya ’75 Heather Bohr Unterseher ’81 Peter Stavropoulos ’82 Geoff Arrobio ’83 Andrew Wang ’84 Maureen Madsen Short ’84 Garrett Calhoun ’85 Lauren Craig Albrecht ’85 Michelle Nobel Barnett ’86 Joyce Wang Sakonju ’87 Jody Trimble Sandberg ’87 Panney Wei ’88 John Berger ’88 Elizabeth Seitz ’90 David Abdo ’91 Tom Rose ’92 Cary Harder Hueser ’93 Chris Walker ’93 Susan Dutra ’94 Stephanie Luh ’95 Jay Harder ’96 Eszter Lengyel ’96
The 2010-2011 Alumni Council: Top Row Chris Waldheim ’81, Laura Dicovitsky, (Director of Development), Garrett Calhoun ’85, John Berger ’88 (Alumni Council President), Peter Stavropoulos ’82, Max Ortiz ’01, Celia Heath, (Alumni Relations & Special Events Coordinator) Sitting Row Lisa Curry Austin ’74 CHS ’78, Lauren Craig Albrecht ’85, Christine Sarafian ’99, Joyce Wang Sakonju ’87 (not pictured) Chris Walker ’93
Alumni News
Message from Alumni Council President John Berger ’88
Members of the CSAA (Chandler School Alumni Association) include all former Chandler students who departed from the school in good standing, regardless of the length of their enrollment. Within the ranks of CSAA members, there are class representatives who serve as liaisons to the Alumni Council and the alumni relations coordinator.
list of Class Representatives Erica Yen ’97 Christy Armel ’99 Sarah Axeen ’99 Christine Sarafian ’99 Casey Zuber ’00 Jordan Aiken ’01 Elise Morgan ’03 Jacqueline Swaidan ’04 Eli Chau ’05 Miranda Gonzalez-Brown ’06 Rebecca LeShay ’06 Erin Fong ’07 Samantha Jacobs ’08 Sanjana Kucheria ’08 Katherine Rouse ’08
Sahil Shah ’08 Michael Anastasia ’09 Michael Chen ’09 Olivia Gaines ’09 Maxwell Liaw ’09 Puru Pandey ’09 Megan Pantiskas ’09 Kate Russell ’09 Jade Cohen ’10 Eric Fung ’10 Sarah Gilman ’10 Lauren Jacobs ’10 Karina Kawana ’10 India Zietsman ’10
If you are interested in joining the Alumni Council or becoming a class representative, please contact Alumni Relations & Special Events Coordinator Celia Heath at cheath@chandlerschool.org or 626-795-9314 x111. Further information can be found in the Alumni section of the Chandler School website.
Alumni Council Leads The WAY
As we all know, this year marks the 60th anniversary of Chandler School. My experience at Chandler began as I walked through the front gate 30 years ago to attend my first day of first grade. Although the School has and continues to change its footprint on the campus, the mission has remained constant throughout the past six decades: to provide each student with the highest quality and most academically challenging education in a nurturing, balanced and diverse environment. Chandler’s mission also seeks to develop good character, self-reliance and a commitment to community in its students as a foundation for academic and personal success. It is that sense of community that the Alumni Council tries to maintain by keeping all Chandler alumni connected to each other and the School for the rest of our lives. As my tenure as Alumni Association president comes to a close at the end of this school year, I have been reflecting on the past accomplishments of our Council and the exciting future of which I am proud to be a part. This year, alumni attended in record numbers both the wine tasting event in November and the young alumni mixer in December. These events and others coming up later this year give all of us the opportunity to visit and reconnect with old friends and classmates. I look forward to seeing many of you and your families later this year at the All-Decades Reunion inside the Rose Bowl on April 17. All alumni and past parents of Chandler are invited to come out for a BBQ picnic, tug-of-war and field goal kicking contest, as well as plenty of fun games to keep the kids busy. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage each of you to become involved with the Chandler School Alumni Council. I also would like to thank the dedicated volunteers who make up the current Council and the many class representatives for all of their hard work in helping to ensure the continued success of the Alumni Association. You each are a wonderful example of the kind of person Chandler strives to help develop. I look forward to serving with you and any new members for many years to come.
The Chandler School Alumni Council provides leadership as well as defines strategies and direction for the CSAA through Chandler’s traditions, mission, and goals. Specifically, Council members help plan social events for the CSAA, serve as resources for the school and its students as speakers and mentors, and assist in fundraising efforts, especially in annual giving directed to financial aid for current students. It is the goal of the Council that through these practices, a strong and positive relationship will be fostered within the CSAA as well as throughout the extensive Chandler community.
Warm Regards,
John Berger, Class of 1988 Alumni Association President
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Alumni Class Notes 1960s Douglas C. Gregg, Jr. ’62 sends best wishes to the Class of 1962 for 2011! Patrick E. Dougherty ’62 writes that after 48 years he still remembers the undefeated 1961 season that he played with Doug Gregg ’62, Michael Taylor ’62, Sandy Haskell ’64 and Peter Forsch ’62 – especially the last game against Poly.
1970s Phil Odell ’74 CHS ’78 and his family; Emily, Maggie, Max and Malcolm, celebrated Thanksgiving
Stay Connected “Like” us on Facebook! The Chandler School Alumni Association (CSAA) now has its own Facebook fan page. Connect with fellow Chandler alumni, check out upcoming events and view photos. For further information on how you can become more involved with the CSAA, or to share class notes please contact Celia Heath, alumni relations & special events coordinator at alumni@chandlerschool. org or 626-795-9314 x111. You may also mail in any information to the address listed on the back of the Shamrock. 14
2010 with classmate Lisa Curry Austin ’74 CHS ’78 and her family; husband John and daughters Jessica ’06 and Kim ’13 and Woodsey. Phil moved from the Pasadena area to Denver, CO., five years ago and reconnected with Lisa who was on assignment at Lockheed Martin in Littleton, CO. At Thanksgiving, the two families enjoyed an evening of fantastic food, good conversation, new friendships and lots of stories from the past. The Austins report they felt right at home with the Odell family pets – a cat, parrot, lizard, hamster, two finches, three dogs, and fish. Friends of the Odells were amazed to witness this 40-year friendship and bond created by Chandler School.
1980s Anna C. Pehoushek ’80 continues to live in Old Towne Orange with her family and works for the City of Orange as a city planner. Elise Proulx ’82 earned her master’s degree in library information science and is currently working for the University of California system in the digital library section. Julie Ann (Winnaman) Ulcickas ’83 resides in Orange County with her husband Jim, owner of Bluewater Grill restaurants; her children, six-year-old Frank and four-year-old Ella; and two beagles, two goats and 30 chickens.
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in Nepal. She now works for the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford.
The Ulcickas Family
Jennifer Jackson Berger ’85 was named the director of development for the Pasadena Playhouse in January. Previously she served as the director of development at the Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation.
Sanjay Daluvoy ’88 is currently finishing his chief year in general surgery at George Washington University with plans to graduate in 2011. Next year, Sanjay will be heading to Duke University to specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Naveen Jeereddi ’88 and Amy Hathaway ’88 were married October 10, 2010 in a beautiful Napa ceremony. (See story on page 12)
Stephen Prolux ’85 is a tenured professor in the Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Department at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Michael Robitaille ’85 is changing careers after 10 years working as a stock broker. He is in the beginning stages of creating an equipment company for working and companion dogs. Michael and his wife have two German shepherds, a Pomeranian and a parrot. Christine Madsen ’87 recently completed her doctorate at the University of Oxford. For the last three years she has been living in Oxford with her husband, Matthew, and studying the impact of digitization on the practice of humanities scholars and libraries around the world. Her fieldwork took her everywhere from libraries in Virginia to monasteries
Naveen Jeereddi ’88 and Amy Hathaway ’88
1990s Jeanette Park ’93 received her graduate degree in journalism from Northwestern University and works in New York as a freelance fashion writer for online lifestyle magazines. Chelsea Pegram ’93 graduated cum laude from the University of San Francisco and currently is finishing her MFA at Mills College in Oakland, where she won the Faculty Award for “Most Promising.” At
Alumni News Mills College, Chelsea is a teaching assistant and has had several successful art shows in San Francisco and Oakland’s Jack London Square. Chelsea had the pleasure of spending time with Brooke Myers Derrick ’94 while in the Bay Area and attended Brooke’s wedding this past year.
specializes in serving organic ramen noodles. It took six months of exciting development before the culmination of the food truck itself. Ray is very proud of the food and accomplishments of the truck.
Patrick Dillon Curry ’03 plans to graduate from Carnegie Mellon’s Drama School with a BFA in acting/musical theater in 2011.
Erin Kaneko Young ’96 is completing her Ph.D. at Waseda University in Tokyo. She is married to Travis Young ’96. Tony Harrison ’97 is the new football coach at Flintridge Prep. Kevin Kaneko ’98 works for Apple and lives in Honolulu, HI. Ray Ting ’99 recently opened a gourmet food truck, Rokyo, which
Design in May 2010 and is currently working as a freelance interior designer, Kelly Lo Design. Kelly also serves as the design consultant for the Golden Resorts Group, a well known gaming and hotel business in Hong Kong.
2000s Kelly Lo ’02 graduated from the Parsons School of
Derek Standing ’03 is serving on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Idaho Pocatello Mission. A few of Derek’s service projects include clearing fields, planting trees, logging and helping on farms. Derek adds, “I am grateful for this
Derek Standing ’03
opportunity as I am ever grateful for the foundation that my family and the Chandler community gave me.” Meaghan Allen ’08 is a junior at La Salle High School and writes a column in Sierra Madre’s community newspaper, The Mountain View News. The column can be found in the Youth/Education section of the paper and is titled “Hall Pass: Looking Into the Life of a Teenager.”
In Memoriam Jan Russell Stine, who taught fifth and sixth grades for seven years at Chandler School in the 1970s, passed away on November 13, 2010. He is survived by his wife Beverly and his children; Cyndie Stine ’77, Sherry Stanfill ’78, Jay Stine, Nancy Adams, Grant Stine, Gary Stine and Mark Stine. “He kept in touch with many of his students, and they just loved him,” said his daughter Sherry ’78. His son Gary added, “He always spoke fondly of his days at Chandler. He was very excited to attend the Classes of the 1970s reunion in 2010.” Cyndie, Sherry and Jay enjoyed having their father as their fifth-grade teacher. In addition to his career in teaching, he also worked as a TV and motion picture actor and convalescent hospital administrator.
Desmond Saunders-Newton, a past parent at Chandler School, passed away on November 24, 2010 after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Clarissa, son Mounir ’14, and daughter Ayiana. Dr. SaundersNewton, who was a visiting scholar at the University of Southern California among other professional roles, once described his specialty as “envisioning and development of advanced technological solutions for global security challenges and social dilemmas.”
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Student Life Christian Ryan ’12
Lucie Renick ’18
Shaya Naimi ’15
DEAR Program at Chandler “Drop Everything and Read”
One of the goals at Chandler this year is to encourage personal reading for pleasure. To accomplish this goal, at least twice a month all students are allotted school time to Drop Everything and Read (DEAR). Students wholeheartedly have embraced the DEAR program. “It is a good break from the intense academic work,” said seventh-grader Cameron Wheeler. Seventh-grader Emily Wright says she looks forward to DEAR days because it gives her a chance to follow her imagination into the pages of her favorite book. “Though technology is important in our lives, reading the words of a story are irreplaceable,” said Middle School English teacher Ashley Laird, who implemented the DEAR program at Chandler.
William Pai ’12, Carter Alvarez ’12 and Erin Lin ’12
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Students and teachers also have the opportunity to recommend their favorite books by writing reviews on the Chandler Wiki, a collaborative, online space. According to the reviews, books by authors Rick Riordan and Pseudonymous Bosch have proved popular with both boys and girls, while the bestselling Twilight series is particularly captivating to middle school girls.
for young readers and best selling series like Captain Underpants and the Fairy books may not be classics, they still draw students into reading at an early age and can help jump start a healthy reading habit.
Donnan Laudeman ’15
Chandler faculty also are happy to make recommendations for even the most reluctant of readers. For example, Laird recommended the 39 Clues books for reluctant middle school readers, because of the tie-ins with websites and video games. Kerrigan Riley ’18 and Joy Ho ’18
Librarian Cathy Perry attributes an upsurge in lower school recreational reading to well-written, age-appropriate series for younger readers such as Lauren Miracle’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen Plus, and Annie Burrows’ Ivy and Bean. Star Wars books also are extremely popular with younger boys. Cathy said that while graphic novels
“There is no question that our children have many electronic distractions available to them,” says Head of School John Finch. “Reading a novel during down time is not the default position for our kids that it may have been for us. Nevertheless, it is up to us as parents to do what we can to make sure recreational reading takes place at home. Thanks to our faculty, the reading ‘industry’ at Chandler is subject to a sustained stimulus.”
Student Life
Author Gets Students Excited About Reading Poetry and More As part of Chandler School’s efforts to instill in its students a lifelong love of reading and learning, celebrated children’s book author David Greenberg visited the campus and made separate presentations to Lower and Middle School students this fall. He started off his busy day getting students in grades kindergarten through second excited about poetry. “I’m a public relations spokesperson for poetry,” said Greenberg. “I hope they learn that poetry is wonderful, and they will want to read some and write some.” During the presentation he delighted students with exuberant recitations of many of the poems from his famously fun books, including: Enchanted Lion, Slugs, Bugs, Snakes, and Crocs. “When I was young my dad read me poetry, and that strongly influenced me,” Greenberg said. “It just goes to show you what reading to a child can do.” For students in grades three through eight, Greenberg focused on civil rights, especially his book, A Tugging String: A Novel About Growing Up During the Civil Rights Era. The book details Greenberg’s experiences as a young boy whose father, Jack, was a civil rights lawyer and worked closely with Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School students read the book for summer reading so they already were familiar with the topic of racism against blacks, Jews and other minorities. Nevertheless, the firsthand account left many shocked. “I didn’t know how many people the KKK hated. It’s scary,” said seventh-grader Jessica Wirthlin.
Seventh-grader Brennan Kandalaft said he was surprised to learn that so many people got hurt during the fight for civil rights in the 1960s, but added that he doesn’t think anything like that could happen today. After each presentation, Greenberg signed the students’ books and answered questions. “I thought it was really inspiring,” said sixth-grader Tess Stewart. In closing, Greenberg told the students, “You will encounter injustices in your life. When you do, there is a temptation to be silent. Don’t be.”
Seeing Double Nine Times! This year, there are more than the usual number of twins on campus. Nowhere is that more evident than in sixth grade where there are four sets of twins. It all makes for a little confusion and a lot of fun. TOP: Wedeen, Alex and Ben (6th); Hu, Emilie and Jordan (6th); Durairaj, Kami and Ravi (6th); Salinas, Alejandro and Nicholas (6th) BOTTOM: Rising, Annelise and Arianne (K); Whitford, Eloise and Henry (3rd); Ryan, Paloma and Preston (4th); Samudrala, Kamran and Nikila (1st); Singla, Asher and Mia (K)
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In Their Words
Learning Beyond Lower School Catalina Trip Offers
This fall, sixth-, seventh- and eighthgraders participated in outdoor trips organized by the Boojum Institute for Experiential Education. Here is an accounting from one sixth-grade student.
Boojum
In the book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv says that children in America suffer from what he calls “Nature Deficit Disorder” because they lack opportunities to explore nature. That is not true at Chandler School. Chandler has one of the best science labs of any Lower School science program in the area, but not all learning takes place in the classroom. While the physical sciences are meant to be studied in the lab, life and earth sciences are about observing and collecting data outside the lab and then returning to the lab for analysis, according to Lower School Science Teacher John McCarty.
by Julia Nowak, Class of 2013
At Boojum we had so much fun There was something for everyone We rode a bus to Joshua Tree And when we got there, we could see
We scrambled up a big rock pile We ate burritos, desert style
Miles and miles of empty land Covered in the desert sand
We learned of animals and plants We saw some stinkbugs and some ants
We pitched our tents and had some food And climbed up to a high altitude
We saw a hundred Joshua Trees The food was satisfactory
We stopped and took a short snack break And saw a giant rattlesnake
We had a giant relay race We met someone whose name was Chase
We ate s’mores around a fire Singing to our heart’s desire
We hiked at night without a light The night sky there was such a sight
For warmth we stood in a small crowd We were yelled at for being loud
We chopped up fruit with spoons and knives We all had the time of our lives
And to this day, we still do rave About this darkened, frightening cave
And now we are back in LA But we’d go back there any day
We crawled inside, we couldn’t breathe Some of us were glad to leave
“It is important for students to learn about science out in the field or observe animals by visiting a zoo, aquarium, or during special in-class visits,” explains McCarty as he ticks off just a sampling of the kind of opportunities he provides his students. “Kindergarteners take a walk to distinguish what is alive and what isn’t alive. First graders have three live animal presentations and collect leaf samples from various places in the Arroyo to be studied and classified back in the lab. Second graders raise beetles from mealworms and then release them into nature. Third-graders go to the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Los Angeles Zoo to find animals that have different kinds of adaptations. Fourth-graders go to Brookside Park to see firsthand what makes up an ecosystem and then collect rock and seed samples to be studied and classified back in the lab.”
Fifth-Grade students
An Ocean Orientation Snorkel The activity introduced the students to snorkeling techniques and safety as well as the kelp bed ecosystem.
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Night Snorkel The students used underwater flashlights to look for nocturnal creatures, and for phosphorescence with the flashlights off.
Kayak Adventure After learning basic kayaking skills, the students viewed both the kelp forest and terrestrial ecosystem from on top of the water.
Night Sky Viewing the clear, dark Catalina sky, the students learned about astronomy
Student Life
the Classroom Cure for “Nature Deficit Disorder” Last fall Chandler’s fifth-grade students spent three days and two nights on Catalina Island learning about the environment and themselves through the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program. Objectives of the trip and program were: • To provide an outdoor education experience similar to the ones the Middle School grades experience during annual Boojum trips. • To provide a bonding experience for Lower School students early in the academic year. • To study marine ecology and develop an appreciation for the diversity of marine life and the role our students can play in preserving it. • To encourage students to try new activities and go beyond their comfort levels while in a safe environment. “The trip provided students the opportunity to learn and experience new things outside the family and school setting while developing new skills,” said McCarty. It was great to see students admitting their fears of snorkeling at night, yet by being supported by a group of peers and group leaders, they were able to overcome their fears to experience the wonders of bioluminescence. The trip also gave teachers and students opportunities to get to know each other better and in ways they could never have done in the classroom,” he said.
Middle School Delights with Oliver! Chandler’s seventh- and eighth-grade students performed the musical Oliver! in November at the First United Methodist Church in Pasadena. Their entertaining performance followed the orphan Oliver! through his adventures in a funeral home and with Fagin and the PickPockets. The singing, dancing and acting was a real crowd-pleaser during all three shows. The performance was directed by Chandler faculty members Sue Sharp and Will Salmon.
explore Catalina
and the stories related to the constellations.
Ecology Hike The students hiked along the cliffs of Catalina, discussed the impact of humans and took time to enjoy great views of the island and ocean.
Shoreline Investigation: Tide Pooling The students examined organisms found in the intertidal zone and the adaptations that help them survive.
Sustainable Living By observing how the camp composts, recycles and gardens, the students learned to live more sustainably and how they can make a difference.
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Chandler Students Provide Service to the Community Chandler students find many ways to volunteer their time and talents during the school year. As members of the Chandler Community Service Corps (CCSC), interested students in the Lower School can participate in a variety of service opportunities. “In an effort to instill values of caring and giving back to the community, service projects have focused on providing real hands-on activities for our younger students,” explained Lower School Director Jan Gotha, who coordinates the CCSC. The first event this year was a visit to the Fair Oaks Retirement Center on Halloween. “Our ghosts, goblins and superheroes entertained
John Politis ’14 and Grant Stanley ’14
Riley Frey ’14, Mlanie Frey, Natalie Akins ’14 and Cameron Smith ’14
Andrew Choi ’17 and Lauren Chretien ’17
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the residents with poems and music. Then, with great delight the children passed out trickor-treat goodies to the seniors. All generations present enjoyed the exchange,” said Gotha.
Annual Head Start Holiday Party on the Point in 1985
The CCSC also assisted Lower School Spanish teacher Katie Villanueva with her annual tamale sale to support an orphanage in Mexico. Every Lower School student made tamales as part of their Spanish class activity in December. The CCSC then helped package the 850 tamales in festive hand-decorated bags and prepared the orders for distribution. “It was delightful to watch the children putting our mission into action,” said Gotha. Meanwhile, Middle School students, with the assistance of faculty member Paul Korn, hosted their annual parties for Head Start children at two nearby facilities. Head Start is a federal education program that provides comprehensive child development services. Chandler School has been hosting Head Start holiday parties for over 30 years. Middle School students brought the children toys and art and reading supplies, sang songs, read stories, shared holiday treats and played games together. “Our children were so excited to receive all the attention and the extremely generous gifts. As I’m sure you are aware, for many of these children, this was the only Christmas they will have,” wrote Head Start teacher Pam Youngblood in a thank you note back to Chandler. “It was so heartwarming to not only see the joy on their faces, but the thoughtful expressions on the faces of your altruistic students. They are kind, polite, caring and considerate. You should be very proud of them.
DeeDee Logan ’11
Connor Greenwood ’11
Thank you, and please thank your students, parents and faculty for giving our Head Start kids a day they will not soon forget.”
Student Life
Scouts Participate in Club 21 Walk-A-Thon
The annual Club 21 Walk-a-thon held each November in Pasadena helps raise funds to support children with Down syndrome and their families. Club 21 was founded by Chandler parents Audrey and Eric Gray. At this year’s event,
a carnival was held after the walk, where Chandler’s fifthgrade Girl Scout troop manned a temporary tattoo booth and helped coordinate a cake walk.
Wolf Cubs Pay Tribute to American Heroes The second-grade Chandler Wolf Cubs visited with some of Pasadena’s local heroes at the Linda Vista Fire Station. They also collected items and wrote letters that were delivered to Operation Gratitude in Van Nuys, a nonprofit organization that sends care packages to American service members deployed in hostile and remote regions of the world.
Scouts Beautify Chandler Stairs with Mural Chandler’s sixth-grade Girl Scout Cadet troop painted a mural on the stairs leading up from Seco Street as part of a beautification project required for them to earn the Silver Award.
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Chandler Community
Will Salmon, Chad Parker, Eliana Longoria-Valenzuela ’19, Isabella Longoria-Valenzuela ’14 and Gabriela Rico ’14
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Chandler Community
Chandler “Follows the Yellow Book Road” Book Fair Chair Sandi Potter and Assistant Chair Claire Glidden did amazing jobs helping the Chandler community “Follow the Yellow Book Road” this year. The annual Book Fair was held off campus for the first time in revent memory – and with great success! A faux yellow brick path leading out of Johnson Courtyard reminded the school community to head to Vroman’s bookstore in Pasadena for the weeklong Wizard of Oz themed fair. In addition to being a great community builder, the Book Fair raised more than $2,500 for Chandler’s libraries. “The enthusiasm for supporting the School and spreading the excitement of reading was inspiring. We could not have pulled it off without the help of our volunteers and contributors… and we would like to extend a tremendous ‘Thank You’ to all of them,” said Potter. The weeklong festivities kicked-off with a reception in Vroman’s courtyard featuring teachers dressed as Oz characters, amazing decorations courtesy of Chandler parent Scott Johnson’s
Balloon Emporium, musical performances by the Clover Chorus and Impact Barbershop Quartet, balloon creations by the Ballusionist Brian Potvin, popcorn, ice cream donated by Chandler parents John and Jill Fosselman, a comedy performance by sixth-grader Sohni Kaur (along with her coach Sheila Dolan), prizes, and of course, lots of books! Several nights later, a wine and cheese reception at Vroman’s brought parents back to the store to hear Chandler parent Lian Dolan was author of Pasadena’s bestselling Helen of Pasadena, and her publisher Colleen Dunn Bates, author of EAT LA and Hometown Pasadena talk about their works. Dolan, a former book fair chair herself. “The future is bright for former book fair chairs!,” she joked. Throughout the week, Lower School Director Jan Gotha hosted story time and snack after school for each of the lower grade classes. Students
not only enjoyed sitting and listening to a great book, they also had the opportunity to enter prize drawings and choose from the extensive selection of books at the store. “Book Fair week gave the Chandler community an opportunity to celebrate books and reading. As challenging as it can be to instill recreational reading habits in our children, bookstores like Vroman’s and schools like Chandler are here to help,” said Head of School John Finch.
Claire Glidden and Sandi Pot ter
Heather Thomasian ’17
Lisa Gallaway and Gail Calhoun
Jon, M at t ’17 Headley
and Wende
Madeleine ’15, Mary, Fred and Jacqueline ’18 Pe arce
First CFA President Honored at Annual Holiday Luncheon The annual Holiday Luncheon sponsored by the Chandler Family Associates (CFA) was held in December at the Caltech Athenaeum and provided Chandler moms with an opportunity to raise funds for the School with some boutique shopping, along with the chance to share a delicious lunch with friends. Also in attendance were Katie Chandler, co-founder of the School; Joyce Greif, former director of development; Head of School John Finch, and Assistant Head of School Dan
Greenwood. As a special nod to the 60th anniversary year, Chandler’s first CFA President, Elaine Reeves and her daughter, Leslie Lindholm ’83, also attended. “It was enlightening talking with Elaine and comparing CFA then with CFA now,” commented current CFA President Trevessa Terrile. “Obviously, many things have changed, but Elaine commented that the feeling of the Chandler family felt the same.”
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Faculty & Staff: Farewells & Welcomes Dean Holbrook left his position as a Lower School teaching assistant to take on a full-time teaching position at Hollywood School House. “Dean made an individual commitment to our School’s mission, to our group effort, and served our community,” said Head of School John Finch. Caroline Birnie has returned to Chandler as the new Lower School teaching assistant. Caroline is Caroline Birnie a graduate of DePauw University in Indiana, where she majored in elementary education. Caroline was a substitute teacher for Chandler in 2007 and had been teaching at Colonial House in South Pasadena before assuming her new duties at Chandler. Kindergarten Teaching Assistant Robin Andersen left Chandler in January to return to her family in New Mexico. “Robin has done a superb job for Chandler. We will miss Robin: a trusted and valued colleague, and a gifted artist, dancer, and teacher,” said Finch. Kerrie Barbato was hired as Chandler’s new kindergarten assistant. Kerrie has 15 years of teaching experience. She has a B.A. degree Kerrie Barbato in philosophy
from SUNY. New Paltz and an M.A. in teaching from Long Island University. Ann Rho, who held several key positions as part of Chandler’s development team for five years, joined the Advancement Office at Caltech in November. Ann was instrumental in the beginning stages of the Commitment to Excellence: Chandler South Campus Campaign. Mary Hastings joined the Chandler development team as the annual fund coordinator in November 2010. She comes to Chandler after spending two years as an advancement associate at Loyola School in New York City. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of San Diego and is a candidate for a master’s in Early Childhood Mary Hastings Education. Former Alumni Relations and Special Events Coordinator Lauren Tapp left her position of three years to become the special events and volunteer coordinator for the Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship granting organization for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender students of merit. Lauren continues to serve as a volunteer for the 60th Anniversary Committee. Celia Buchanan Heath was hired as Chandler’s new alumni relations and special events coordinator in October 2010. She earned a bachelor’s degree in
government from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York and has four years of Development Buchanan Office experience, Celia Heath including three years at McDonogh School in Baltimore and one at Pacific Hills School in West Hollywood. Communications Director Michelle Unrot relocated with her family to Ventura County. During the three years that Michelle was part of the development team, she relaunched Chandler’s website and coordinated all of the school publications, including the 60th Anniversary Commemorative Annual Report, which chronicles Chandler’s rich history. Martin Voss was hired as Chandler’s new communications coordinator in February. He comes to Martin Voss Chandler from Polytechnic School’s Communications Office, where he had worked since 2009 helping to coordinate and produce print, web, and internal content, among a variety of other responsibilities. Martin earned his bachelor’s degree in music from Whittier College and maintains an active schedule of teaching and performing in his spare time.
Save the Date: Tuesday, May 24 Reception for Retiring Teachers John Jourdane and Martha Owen Watch your mailbox for more details about the reception for Mr. Jourdane and Mrs. Owen.
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From the Development Office
Give to the Annual Fund Whether you are a current or past student, parent or friend of Chandler School, you have a stake in its future. And that future is determined by loyal supporters who, year after year, provide the financial basis for a quality educational experience. Every single donor, no matter the size of their gift, helps determine Chandler School’s consistent presence as the pre-eminent K-8 independent school in the Pasadena area. If you already have made your gift to the Annual Fund this year, we thank you for helping to make such achievements possible. If you have not yet supported the 2010-2011 Annual Fund, there is still plenty of time. The 2010-2011 Fund will continue through July 31, 2011. You can send in your check or credit card information in the postage pre-paid envelope included with this Shamrock or give online by visiting our website, www.chandlerschool.org and click on “Giving.” For more information on the many forms of giving, such as donations of securities, please contact Mary Hastings in the Development Office in advance at 626-795-9314 ext. 149, or mhastings@chandlerschool.org.
Tax-Free Gifts to Chandler The IRA Charitable Rollover Act was extended recently, which mean that you can make up to $100,000 in free gifts to Chandler School in 2011. On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed into law an extension of the popular act allowing taxpayers 70 ½ and older to make direct transfers from their IRAs to qualified charities without paying income taxes on the distribution. The extension is good through December 31, 2011. This is a great opportunity for some members of the Chandler School community to support the Annual Fund or Capital Campaign in ways they might otherwise not be able to afford. Here are some important points to consider: • The Rollover extension applies only to gifts that are transferred directly to a qualified charity such as Chandler School • As in previous years, no charitable income tax deduction is permitted for gifts made with these IRA rollover funds. If you think you may qualify for this opportunity, we encourage you to first review this information and any gift plan with your tax and financial advisors. For more information, please contact Laura Dicovitsky, Director of Development, at 626-795-9990 or ldicovitsky@chandlerschool.org.
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Earn Points with Online Donations Giving to Chandler School has never been easier! Visit www. chandlerschool.org/onlinedonations and then select “Annual Fund” or “South Campus Campaign” to make your gift or pledge payment any time, day or night. You can use your American Express, VISA, MasterCard or Discover and earn points for yourself at the same time you are helping the School. In less than a minute you can change the life of a student.
Double or Triple your Gift! Matching gifts from employers are an easy way to double or even triple the value of your gifts to Chandler School. In addition, you can use matching gifts to qualify for higher threshold giving societies. For example, if you give $1,000 to the Annual Fund and your employer matches that amount in a gift to Chandler, you would be credited as having provided a gift of $2,000 to the Fund and enrolled as a member of the Founder’s Circle. Chandler School already receives about $50,000 each year in matched gifts, but we know there are more opportunities that are not being tapped. Check to see if your employer offers a matching gift program and sign up today!
Corrections for Annual Report We sincerely regret the following errors in the Chandler School 60th Anniversary edition of the Annual Report for 2009-2010: »» Jay V. Berger’s name mistakenly was omitted from the list of Parents of Alumni Donors to the Annual Fund. Jay Berger is the father of Karin Stellar and John V.S. Berger ’78. »» The names of Stephen Ascher ’07, Connor Ascher ’08 and Jenny Ascher ’10 mistakenly were omitted from the list of Alumni Donors to the Annual Fund. »» Eric and Audrey Gray should have been listed as members of the Annual Fund’s Head of School Circle. »» Lasley and Jack A. Biven should have been correctly listed as the parents of Jenifer Biven Aldridge ’76 and John Biven ’78. »» The class year for William E. Myers Jr., was incorrect in several listings for both South Campus Campaign and Annual Fund donors. He is a member of the Class of 1975. »» The class year for Alexander Albrecht was incorrect on the list of donors to the South Campus Campaign. He is a member of the Class of 2018.
Shamrock FALL 2010/Winter 2011
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PARENTS OF ALUMNI
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6 0 th Anniversary Save the Date:
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Saturday May 14, 2011 6 p.m. Athenaeum, Caltech
The Shamrock is published for parents, alumni and friends of Chandler School. In compiling this publication, every effort has been made to ensure that it is accurate. If there are misspellings or other errors, please accept our apologies. Our gratitude is extended to everyone who has contributed to this publication.
Laura Dicovitsky Director of Development Mary Hastings Annual Fund Coordinator Celia Heath Alumni Relations/ Special Events Coordinator Jihyun Oh Graphic Designer Maureen Short Assistant to the Director of Development/Data Management Martin Voss Communications Coordinator Michelle Unrot Editor
How to contact us
626-795-9314 626-795-6508 (fax) www.chandlerschool.org alumni@chandlerschool.org info@chandlerschool.org
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