Academic Year 2014/15 • Volume One
OnCAMPUS CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
A Newsletter for Parents, Grandparents, Friends, and Alumni
Inside Visual Arts Leading the Way Meet the New Staffulty Meet the New Board Advancement Country Fair Professional Development Lower School Alumni News 6th Grade Trip Week 7th Grade Trip Week 8th Grade Trip Week Sports Theater Arts Back Cover
2 3 4-5 6 7 8 9-11 12-13 14-21 22 23 24-25 26 27 28
RTS VISUAL ARTS VISUAL ARTS VISUAL ARTS VISUAL ARTS VISUAL ARTS upper school As part of the all-school art theme this year, Heart and Soul, design students in the Seventh Grade created these graphic icons. Emphasis was placed on creating a variety of font styles, using multiple line weights, and creating a shape without an outline.
lower school These Soul/Sole People were traced from the feet of fourth graders — toes, treads, and all. Color and personality completed the characters, with one hundred eight in total on the walls of the Lower School art room.
Leading the Way CCEE Director Patti Smart stands between interns (left) Annie Fierberg and (right) Emma Rando.
a mess, but the removal of dozens of pittosporum trees and an inoperative pool revealed a surprisingly beautiful piece of land. This combination of lucky stars further motivated Crane’s educational program to quickly become a reality. Conversations with many East Coast schools that had well-established intern programs helped us get up to speed quickly. The focus of our program would be Crane’s core characteristic, experiential learning; thus, the program was named “Crane’s Center for Experiential Education.” We felt this would serve the broader educational community since experiential learning is a powerful technique to share with new teachers. At the same time, it also helps us at Crane. We know experiential learning is complicated and time consuming, so the addition of another
Crane’s Center for Experiential Education
teacher in some of our classrooms would allow our teachers to take on new projects. Patti Smart was intrigued by this project, so she signed on as the director of this program, still retaining her long-
SOME BIG PROJECTS take forever to unfold and some just drop
standing job as a co-teacher in Crane’s First Grade. After
into place. The latter happened with our new intern program. A
much brainstorming, we decided to offer a two-year program,
few years ago Crane’s board and administration began thinking
providing one year in Crane’s Lower School and one year in
about the next collection of strategic objectives for the school.
Crane’s Upper School. In terms of overall size, the new house
One compelling goal that emerged was a desire to implement an
will easily accommodate four interns, but we decided to start
assistant teacher program. This would serve multiple purposes
the program with two.
— supporting young adults going into the teaching profession and, at the same time, supporting Crane’s own program.
As you probably know, right now we have two energetic teaching interns.
Emma Rando studied science at the
This exciting venture might have just sat untouched for a
University of Delaware and then moved to California to work
long time, but last spring I received a surprise call from a Crane
as an outdoor education instructor at the Pali Institute. Emma
alumnus. Growing up next door to the campus, both he and his
is currently working with Pat Bixler. Annie Fierberg did her
sister attended Crane, but as adults neither sibling ended up
undergraduate work at Connecticut College and then worked
living in the family house, and so the house shifted to being a
as an apprentice teacher at the New Canaan Country School.
rental property. Last year the family decided to sell the home
She is currently a part of the Fourth Grade team with Stephanie
and, luckily for Crane, they called me before putting it on the
Bagish and Malana Willis.
market. That was lucky star number one.
We look forward to hiring two more interns next summer.
Lucky star number two took the form of a very generous
At the end of the 2015-2016 school year, our original two interns
Crane trustee. Understanding the rarity of a neighboring
will “graduate” and move on. We have had a great start and I
property becoming available, this trustee acted quickly and
expect this program to bear fruit for many years to come.
purchased the house with the goal of helping Crane. The structure was a bit run down after many years of being a rental property. But, as they say in the business, it had good bones, and
Joel Weiss
Head of School
so a full renovation was initiated. The 1.5-acre property was also
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Meet the New Staffulty (l-r) Hayward Kwit, Jamie Moore, Elizabeth Keadle, Mary Lee Wren, Jennifer Strube, Kjessie Essue
I am excited to join Crane’s vibrant community of staffulty, students, and families. I have the privilege of providing administrative support to the Headmaster, but I also look forward to being involved with reading programs and other school activities.
Hayward Kwit Service Learning Coordinator When I look back on my own education, I
NEW STAFF AND FACULTY Kjessie Essue Lower School Science Teacher/ Garden Coordinator Growing up in a small town where the Cascades end and Sierras begin was the perfect environment for developing a love for the outdoors and a curiosity about life. My life adventure expanded into a BS in Biology at Westmont College, where I took
fondly remember a few teachers who truly enthusiasm and support of the Crane community.
Teaching Lower School
science and adding a scientific classroom component has given me the most exciting and fun job I could ever dream of. I look forward to daily discoveries with inquisitive minds.
believed in me and pushed me toward my potential. I went into education to be one of those teachers, and I am grateful to be at Crane where I am surrounded by a community of people whose purpose is to help each student thrive. After taking the last six years off of formal teaching to raise my two wonderful sons, I am thrilled to join Crane’s staffulty.
time to study abroad and connect the realms
Elizabeth Keadle Assistant to the Head of School
of science and sustainable agriculture while
As a young child my favorite playtime
the board of a local nonprofit and held
working on a banana plantation in New
activity was to line up my stuffed animals
various committee positions for other
Zealand.
and “play school.” I would stand at the foot of
organizations. I’m originally from Ventura,
My sense of wonder and connection
my bed reading stories and teaching lessons
but I moved to Santa Barbara eleven years
grew while obtaining my MA in Crop and
to a very attentive (and quiet!) audience.
ago when I met my husband. I love the
Soil Science through a partnership with
From a very young age I have been drawn to
beach, and since living here, I’ve grown to
Colorado State University and the Peace
both education and literature. I am thrilled
love the foothills, too.
Corps in Lesotho. For two years in the Peace
to join the Crane community and return to
Corps I taught environmental education
the roots of my educational journey.
During my time at home, I worked on
I received my BA in American Studies from UC Davis, and after taking some time
and agro-ecology at a permaculture-based
I grew up in Northern Virginia and
after college to live in Italy and Ecuador,
technical school in a rural mountainous
spent many days exploring Smithsonian
I earned my Master of Education from
village where my love of hands-on teaching
museums and Civil War battlefields,
UCSB, with an emphasis on constructivist
was fully realized.
as well as fly-fishing alongside my dad
learning. There is no better way to construct
Upon returning to Santa Barbara, I
in the Shenandoah River. I relocated to
one’s
began managing and teaching in elementary
Morgantown, West Virginia for six years to
through service learning, and I am excited
school gardens, and started developing
attend West Virginia University and earned
to facilitate this process at Crane.
curriculum and recipes to engage curious
a BA in English, a BA in History, and a MA
minds! This is my third year at Crane
in English. For the past four years, I lived
managing the (expanding) gardens and
in Lafayette, Louisiana to pursue my PhD
I am so wonderfully overwhelmed by the
in English at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.
meaning
of
philanthropy
than
New Staffulty Jamie Moore Development Officer
enrolled in the NYC Teaching Fellows,
education. I have already worked for the school in many capacities over the years —
I lived in Ventura and Oxnard for about
entered a Master in Education program (CUNY), and launched my career.
from room parent, to PFC Vice President,
ten years with my husband and daughter, but when we divorced in 2009, I decided to move back to my native Ojai. Within a few years of returning, I ran into a childhood friend who I have known since the third grade. Caneen and I are now married and have a combined family of his two children, Beau (7) and McKenzie (9), and my daughter Genevieve (9). In 2010 I graduated with my associate degree in Communications from the University of Phoenix and am currently pursuing my bachelor degree in Criminal Justice from American Public University. I have no idea what I plan to do with a bachelor degree in Criminal Justice, but I love the law and figure that I can use this knowledge anywhere. After spending a few years in the corporate financial industry, I decided that I needed to go back into a smaller family-
The last twelve years have been an exciting educational journey for me. From
Technology is the new tool for so many
teaching special education and English in
things, and communication seems to be
Spanish Harlem to curriculum crafting
on the forefront. I have an Information
in international schools in Honduras
Systems and Computer Science degree
and China, I delight in the art of life-long
from Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute
learning and gifting this to my students.
(RPI). I have worked in many technology
Beckoned by the warmer weather, I
arenas, from publishing at Simon and
relocated to California in 2009, shifting my
Schuster, to office automation at Computer
pedagogical focus into a more therapeutic
Sciences Corporation, to email systems at
lens and completing a master's in Clinical
Santa Barbara’s Software.com. Working
Psychology (TCSPP). I began working as
in an educational environment has always
an educational therapist, and it was during
been my dream. How could I say "no" when
this time when Crane and I also met by
Joel Weiss asked if I would continue to help
accident. Strolling onto Crane’s campus
Crane after my youngest son graduated?
for the first time, I immediately knew this
balance
changing power of holistic and experiential
technology skills to build a successful
education.
Communications Department at Crane.
like environment. When Debbie Williams called and offered me the position, I had no
I am very excited to be filling a new
idea that I was going to become part of such
role at Crane in communications. As a
a genuine and caring community. I have
Crane parent for eleven years, I had the
enjoyed my short few months here and look
opportunity to see beyond my children’s
forward to the many years ahead.
classrooms and experience the amazing components that make up a Crane
Jennifer Strube Upper School Learning Specialist anthropology major at Wheaton College, I was determined to spend my days traipsing the globe, writing novels with my right hand while eradicating poverty with my left. I just wasn’t sure how to do it. While volunteering abroad, my eyes saw the unique power of education to transform lives and communities. Upon return, I
I am looking forward to using my
was a special place that believed in the life-
Mary Lee Wren Communication Systems Coordinator
Education and I met by accident. As an
to Technology Committee consultant.
Kjessie working in the Crane garden with the first graders.
of
parent
experience
and
Meet the New Board Currently, Gavin is serving as chair of
(l-r) Robin Kopeikin, Nancy Sheldon, Gavin Moores
Crane’s Buildings and Grounds Committee. He is also on the Board of Coastal Housing Partnership,
Santa
Barbara
Business
Club Committee, and Governing Board of Providence Landing Park. Gavin has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Construction
Management
from
the
London College of Technology (now London
NEW BOARD MEMBERS Robin Kopeikin Robin moved to Santa Barbara in 1980 to attend UCSB and feels fortunate to have called this paradise her home ever since. After graduating with a degree in Business Economics, Robin has spent thirty years in the investment management business as a portfolio manager and securities analyst for Argus Investment Management, Starbuck, Tisdale & Associates, and currently First Republic Investment Management. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Investment Counselor (CIC), and has pursued additional study in the fields of technical analysis and behavioral finance. Robin currently serves as treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Santa Barbara Zoo and is a former board member of the Santa Barbara Breast Cancer Institute. Robin and her husband Brian have two daughters that currently attend Crane: Ryan is an eighth grader and Kendall is a fourth grader. Robin has been an active parent volunteer. She has chaired class booths for the Country Fair, served as an Annual Fund representative, and continues to be active in both of her daughters’ classes. When not working or on mom duty, Robin enjoys hiking, running, scuba diving, and travel.
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Metropolitan University) and is married to
Gavin Moores After
graduating
from
college,
Gavin
worked as a Project Engineer for Matthew Hall Mechanical & Electrical Engineering developing high-rise commercial offices in London and military bases for the Royal Navy in England. Gavin emigrated to the U.S. in 1988 and owned his own construction company for eleven years prior to joining Capital Pacific Homes (CPH) in 1999. As President of the Central California Division, Gavin managed the acquisition, design, development, and sale of over seven hundred homes in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. These projects consisted of single and multi-family homes, along with inclusionary housing projects in Santa Barbara County. Coming from a commercial and custom building philosophy to a niche, infill developer gave Gavin the opportunity to be exposed to a culture of production home building with strict fiscal management practices and performance-based schedules. Gavin was instrumental in the formation of company best practices and management policies. In 2009 Gavin became CEO of Capital Pacific Development Group (CPDG) and continues to build under the CPH brand name. CPDG is a real estate entitlement and development company located in Santa Barbara with both residential and commercial projects in development.
Christine. Their daughter, Amanda, is in the Eighth Grade.
Nancy Sheldon This is Nancy's third year in the Crane community and her first as a trustee. Nancy grew up in the merciless, chilly Midwest city of Milwaukee before branching out to the even colder city of Boston where she received an MBA from Harvard. She spent thirteen years in investment banking with UBS in Chicago and New York before relocating to civilized Santa Barbara with her husband Mike in 2001. They have four children: Max a sixth grader, Kate a fifth grader, and Charlie a third grader. Eve, at four, is still making her way through preschool. Nancy has spent the past twelve years in the non-profit world.
She served as
the Preschool Trustee on the Board of Congregation B'nai B'rith, was head of the Beit Ha Yeladim Parent Association, and also served on the Board of Postpartum Education for Parents (PEP).
She is
currently chairing the Capital Campaign for the Children's Museum of Santa Barbara. When she's not running from music to art to soccer to basketball to tennis to drama to drumming, Nancy is sleeping.
Advancement ADVANCEMENT 2014-2015 dozens of individual meetings. One of our tasks was to meet with every Crane family so we could explain the campaign, gather feedback, and explain the difference between this capital campaign and the Annual Fund. We hope to complete these meetings and in the process, raise the remaining funds by the end of the school year. Development Chair, Ricardo Calderon, and CoChairs Jim Copus ’92, John Markham, and Dan Meisel have led much of this effort. All those individual CRANE'S CAMPAIGN CRANE: little school BIG
parent meetings were made possible due to the help
PLANS continues to make progress. Led by co-chairs
of the Development Representatives from each grade
Patty MacFarlane and Scott Brittingham, the silent
level. These individuals are:
phase of the campaign generated extraordinary results and by summer 2014 we had accumulated an impressive $7.8M, getting us close to our $9.0M goal.
Kindergarten: Neil Levinson & Sarah O’Brien
These funds will support four major areas:
1st Grade: Jim Copus ’92 2nd Grade: Mary Knezevic
• endowment
3rd Grade: Nancy Sheldon
• technology
4th Grade: Robin Kopeikin & Amy Wendel
• the parking lot and other campus infrastructure
5th Grade: Dinah Calderon ’86 & Julia Rodgers
• the Oak Tree Quad – the next project that is still in the
6th Grade: Sharon Hughes
planning stages
7th Grade: John McGovern & Ann Pieramici 8th Grade: John Markham & Betsey Moller
At this year’s State-of-the-School presentation the capital campaign was introduced to the entire parent
Thank you one and all for your tremendous support!
community. This fall has been filled with dozens and
Thanksgiving Feast 2014
Debbie Williams
Director of Development
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Country Fair
8
Professional Development Vive la France!
Patti Smart - First Grade Co-Teacher
chairs. It is the scene of our sunset meditations. At the bottom edge of the lawn, a low stone wall gracefully and gently curves to encircle the property on which
LAST SUMMER I traveled to France to attend a
the two-storied farmhouse sits. Ivies and
weeklong writing retreat. The retreat was held at La
shrubs drape or sprout out from the old
Ferme Villafavard in the Limousin region of France.
wall, until a white picket fence interrupts
This was a dream come true for
their ramblings and offers entrance to the
me as it was a Natalie Goldberg
fields and lake beyond. I have no idea of the
writing retreat, and she has
names of all these old trees behind me or in
been one of my writing heroes
front of me, surrounding the lake. I can only
for many years now. For over
identify the pines, very old and very tall.
thirty years, Natalie Goldberg
The lake water gently ripples across
has explored the relationship
reflections of sky and pines in patches of
between Zen and writing,
sun and shade. Crackly yellow and green
studying the mind and the way it moves in meditation
leaves appear here and there on the lawn,
and on the page. She has published thirteen books, held
and small butterflies, some orangey-brown,
thousands of workshops and retreats, and been featured
some yellow, flap vigorously about. The air
in hundreds of interviews on radio, and in newspapers
smells of sun and earth and meadows and
and magazines. Natalie has inspired me in my own
moss. And I remember…
writing practice and in my teaching of writing practice to children for almost twenty years now.
For seven days, thirty students attended talks, studied authors, wrote, read, meditated, and
It was also a dream come true to study with Natalie
dined together. Much of our time, aside from meetings,
in France, as I believe it is my “second country.” The
was spent in silence. Many of the students (ranging in
idea that people have “a second country” is a shared
age from twenties to eighties) had attended Natalie’s
theme in two of the books we studied at the retreat,
retreats before, but this was my first time.
Departures by Paul Zweig and Paris France by Gertrude
format Natalie has refined over the years, the depth
Stein. Gertrude Stein wrote, “Writers have to have two
and meaning of the practices she teaches, along with
countries, the one in which they belong (that you need
the profound beauty and peace of the countryside,
to be free in) and the one in which they live really.”
provided a most powerful experience for me. Not only
The following entry written at the retreat reflects why
did I embrace the magic, ah-ha’s, and risk-taking that
France feels this way to me.
all go along with being the experiential learner, I also
In front of me lies the French countryside as I first knew it at eighteen years of age. I was away from my
The
witnessed the modeling of fine teaching practices which apply across all ages.
family and friends for the summer, staying with la
Now, a couple months into this
Famille Grot in Paris and in the south of France. This
school year, the inspiration from
is not quite the same part of the country I visited then,
my experience lives on inside of
yet still so familiar after all these years. I sit on a lawn
me, enriching my professional and
overlooking a small iron-rich lake. It is a dark brownish-
personal life everyday. I am so very
green color for all the iron it holds. Beyond the lake are
grateful for the funding I received
rolling hills densely covered in trees amid wood and
from Crane that made this dream
wired fenced pastures. Atop the lawn sits an assortment
become a reality, the Dorothy Waugh
of seating – a white wooden bench, weathered-wood with
Professional
canvas swoop chairs in faded red, aged teak patio dining
and Crane’s Professional Development Fund.
Development
Grant
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Professional Development Oxford University Traci Cope - Librarian
Seven delicious days of learning at Oxford University were the highlight of my summer. I studied with school librarians from around the world in libraries that were built hundreds of years before the Santa Barbara Mission. I breathed on Shakespeare’s first folio, Gutenberg’s Bible, and many other precious antiquities. I was astounded
I OFTEN devour books because they can transport me to another time and place. This summer, however, I found myself wandering through another time and place in actuality. I applied for and received a fellowship through Oxford University’s Teacher Seminar: The Library and the Academy. Various professional development grants through Crane School supplemented the fellowship
learning to operate an antique
that made this dream a reality. One of the
printing press, to behind the scenes
principles of Crane is experiential learning,
tours of the Bodleian library and
and one way Crane fosters that in our staff
other meccas of learning.
is the belief in and support of professional
One of my goals as a librarian is to
regularly
inspire the lifelong love of learning,
attend conferences and workshops to further
and this summer I had a personal
my knowledge and stay current in my field,
dose of inspiration to keep furthering
but traveling to Oxford University was life
my own growth and knowledge. I am
changing. I feel so blessed to teach in a
inspired!
development
opportunities.
I
school that values the professional growth of its faculty.
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by my daily experiences in miraculous spaces—from
Professional Development Sabbatical
of drawing and recording thoughts in journals. While our
Joy Elizondo - Upper School Spanish
children were attending the only local Costa Rican school in town, my husband and I relished time together and time on
IN THE SPRING of 2014, my husband and I were both
our own.
honored to receive sabbaticals from Crane and CSU
Savor the multiple perspectives speaking another
Channel Islands respectively, and so began a five-month
language offers. We witnessed presidential elections in Costa
long unforgettable family adventure that would transport
Rica and Panama, where folks know and understand the
us to rural Costa Rican rainforests, Carnaval and the
importance and value of free elections, because they have not
Canal in Panama, colonial cityscapes and volcanic lakes
always been so. We witnessed history unfolding en español.
in Nicaragua, seaside fortresses
Take a risk to learn something new
and underwater marine parks in
throughout your life. I’ll never forget
the Dominican Republic, floating
seeing an octopus eye as big as my fist
markets
Dutch
peering out at me from under a haven
and Papiamento and otherworldly
of boulders, the brilliant colors of coral
underwater worlds in Curaçao and
gardens, cruising sharks, languorous sea
Bonaire, piragua vendors and a
turtles and tropical fish swimming past
spectacular children’s museum in
my mask. I was afraid at times of being
Puerto Rico, and finally a whirlwind
underwater for so long, but learning to
tour of NYC.
dive to eighty feet deep gave me a new
sprinkled
with
Here is what we gleaned from so much time off and so much time together: See nature anew through your child’s eyes. Growing
perspective on what it means to be a student for life! Cultivate patience, for our way is not the only way, nor the best way in another part of the world. When you
up, we were always drawn to the
find yourself with no water, no electricity, no computers,
outdoors. I spent many a summer
no library, the smallness of first-world
camping in Baja. As a kid, my husband
problems becomes immediately apparent.
tooled around the Smoky Mountains,
Empathy and compassion for a shared
but there is nothing like spotting
humanity bubble to the surface.
seven juvenile fer-de-lance snakes
Delight in the joy of simple pleasures.
at river’s edge, watching mama and
Where some perceive a lack of worldly
baby humpbacks swim next to your
goods,
boat, coming within feet of a tapir
experiences impossible to replicate back
munching palm leaves, observing
home: pineapple, coconut, and cantaloupe
capuchin monkeys biting the heads
like you’ve never tasted, batidos de
others
see
rich
flavors
and
off enormous grasshoppers in your backyard, or spying
guanábana (soursop smoothies), the rhythm of daily rural
an anteater family scurrying up to the forest canopy. The
life, macaws on the way to school, incomparable coffee,
wonder of your children inspires your own in fantastic new
deafening rainstorms, homemade cheese and freshly-
ways.
caught dorado from the produce man, toucans calling to
Learn what is important and spend more time doing it. We read and wrote more than we ever had. We hiked
each other at dawn and dusk, a conversation with Marcela, bakery owner and mother of Esteban, a local frog guide.
and swam to our hearts’ content. We spent time inventing
Most people don’t get to take months off to experience
games, marveling at nature, practicing Spanish, laughing
another part of the world with their families. We are closer, more
and playing. There was a spattering of math work and lots
resilient, and exceptionally grateful for such an opportunity!
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Fifth Grade
Lower School
Wandering, Noticing, and Writing, Through the Observer’s Eye THIS YEAR in Fifth Grade students were introduced to a new area of study. Drawing from the work of John Muir and Ansel Adams, students explored the world of nature as artists, writers, and biologists. During the first week of school, they became naturalists in their own backyard of Crane. With journals in hand, students walked around campus, gaining familiarity with plants and trees that had heretofore not piqued their curiosity on a conscious level. Students observed targeted trees, listened to the sounds of nature in that area, then sketched what they saw and heard. They recorded their observations both poetically and scientifically. Finally, they took iPads into the nooks and crannies of the Crane campus on several exploratory outings to take photos, capturing common views from a new perspective and creating artistic photographic compositions unique to their vision. It was startling to see the students’ growth in composing more nuanced photographic renderings with each new attempt. After gaining an appreciation for the beauty of what we have right here on campus, we then took students on two field trips to better understand how and why certain areas of our community are designated for preservation while others are used as landfill.
Students
learned a great deal about the amount of waste
that we human beings produce on a daily basis and the impact it has on the environment. Seeing the Tajiguas Landfill in stark contrast to the beauty of the Arroyo Hondo Preserve, the next logical exploration led students to question what we as a society have done to preserve and protect the land that represents who we are as a nation through the national parks system. Working in groups of three, students selected one of the fifty-nine national parks on which to do research. The collaborative effort had students doing research, producing a tri-fold brochure featuring their national park in their computer class, and creating an interactive display board to enrich the oral presentations about their parks.
Students
presented their research to their families and fellow students as a culmination of this unit. Our own early childhood experiences in nature planted seeds in us that grew and transformed us into committed, lifelong lovers of the natural world. We are hoping to do our own planting of seeds in our eager, young learners so that they too, like the Lorax, will one day speak for the trees.
Carrie Althoff and Chris Caretto Fifth Grade Teachers
Fifth Grade
Lower School
The Dawn Redwood
Coyote Alone
by Xander Haddock
by Dorothy Yaqub
The Dawn Redwood
The coyote stands by the creek,
Old but alive
Hungry,
Reaching
Having found no prey today.
Watching
The coyote thinks,
Its leafy branches
Meandering through a grove of willows,
Springing with happiness
Until she reaches the place
Protecting nature
Where wood rats build their nests.
Sheltering animals
She walks past a path that curves
Tall and forever changing
Through the oaks And into the hills.
A Place for Them
Driven by a moaning stomach
by Rockwood Foster
That craves food, She climbs the dry slopes,
It is a place for
Avoiding the thorny bushes
Those who are
That attempt to ensnare her.
not couch dwellers
The coyote’s ears twitch.
Or game players
She whirls around,
But for the plants and animals
Pounces, Snares a rabbit passing by.
For the ones that
It will make a fine meal
Dwell in the damp
And fill her young ones well.
Ground or streams
Before she goes,
Like fish or newts
She inhales,
Or a lonely sycamore
Breathing in the scent of her home, A place known as Arroyo Hondo.
And for the ones
If coyotes could smile,
That prefer the
She would be doing so now.
Endless shade oaks
The coyote, standing alone.
Like coyotes or birds And even a bear
The Eucalyptus Tree And at last the ones
by Alesandra Powell
That love the hot high areas With tangled shrubs
Her life is confined
And thorny bushes
To a fenced land
Like lizards or bobcats
Yet her mind is strong
And birds that live in cactus
While her branches grow crooked and old Roots of wisdom
Arroyo Hondo is a
Creep into her soul
Place for them
Her soul soars and stretches Her careful eyes scan her surroundings As she falls asleep In peaceful eternity
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alumni news spent her entire childhood at
his wife Laurel were thrilled to finally return to Santa Barbara
Crane School filled with magical memories and strong
this past summer. Scott looks forward to introducing their
tools she will never forget. She is
22-month old daughter, Katrine, to all that the city has to offer,
the daughter of the local Danish
while he continues in his New York based role as the head of
family business of Andersen's
Investment Banking Technology Strategy for Credit Suisse.
Charlotte Andersen ’88
Danish Bakery & Restaurant that has flourished for almost 40 years on State Street. She continued
Charlotte Andersen ’88 (right) is joined by former classmate Erin Gray ’88 Guerra (left) and former First Grade teacher Debbie Williams (center).
Sarah Bycel ’90 Wachs
went to Santa Barbara High School
and then to UC Berkeley where she graduated with a degree
her education at Laguna Blanca,
in Political Science. She now lives in Oakland, CA with her
SBHS, and SBCC. When her
husband Keely and two sons, Eli (8) and Charlie (4). She is the
father passed away, Charlotte
Director of Advancement for a K-8 independent school and
swiftly took the role of running
loves working in an environment that reminds her of her time
the bakery & restaurant at a very
at Crane. She and her family spend their time at the beach and
young age. Charlotte has always
on the soccer field.
had the integrity to look for new ways to expand the business, and with her mom as business partner, they have taken Andersen’s into new areas of industry . The recent expansion was a dream come true for Charlotte and now has the family business taking three spaces with an updated kitchen, an event space, and the bakery. She has now taken on the role of event manager as well as owner. In her free time, Charlotte loves to restore classic cars and is currently putting the finishing touches on her ’66 GTO Bobcat.
Anna Lowenthal ’90 Walsh
went on to Santa Barbara High and
then to UC Berkeley where she graduated with a degree in Anthropology. She now lives in Minneapolis, MN where she is a freelance designer. She and her husband Andy have three children,
Isaac
(12), Poppy (8), and Ezra (4). In her free time she is found skating with her kids on
Christian Powell ’88 lives in Santa Barbara
their
backyard
with his wife Nahrin and their children
ice rink, training
Mara (7) and Sam (5). Christian is a
for
board-certified
marathons,
biking
the
joined Sansum Clinic in 2011. He enjoys
lakes,
exploring
spending time outdoors with his family
the natural beauty
when not at work. He keeps in touch and
of the Upper Midwest, or jumping in a frozen lake. She fondly
still sees old classmates including John
remembers her years at Crane, especially the friendships
McCaskey, Justin Clay, and Scott Willey
made there and the close relationships with the teachers.
who also recently moved back to Santa
The trips to Catalina, Death Valley, Baja, and backpacking in
Barbara.
Santa Ynez made a lasting impression.
Sam Shapiro ’88
rheumatologist
and
will become the Head of School at
Marin Montessori School as of July 1, 2015. For more information, see the Spring/Summer 2014 edition of the On Campus http://www.craneschool.org/ community/publications
Scott Willey ’88
Robert Abbott ’91
decades-long sampling of the major U.S. coastal cites (Seattle, San Francisco, New York, D.C., etc.), Scott and
went on to Cate where his love of books and
writing, which had first been fostered by "Mizz" Rose, was furthered by their great English Department. Next was UCSB's College of Creative Studies where he pursued American, Japanese, and Russian Literatures,
After a
city
and
also book arts and painting. After a brief stint in the publishing world, and a briefer one in the tech sector, Robert moved back to
alumni news the family farm in 2006 to get his hands dirty, plant some heirloom flowers, and raise a family. He and his wife Tessa currently sell their organic produce at three farmers’ markets a week. They are very excited to have Edie, their oldest, back in the Crane fold in the kindergarten class. Bea, at a very wise three, is trying to keep up with everything her big sister brings home. Their youngest daughter was born in October and is named Zinnia Dallas Abbott.
Clay Murdy ’93
attended Bishop High School and then
ventured east to North Carolina for college where he played football for Wake Forest University. After graduating in 2001,
Claire
Taugher
’98
McCluskey
(SBHS ’02, UC Berkeley ’06, UCLA - Master of Public Policy
’10) and her husband Jeff, welcomed daughter Gretchen Nora McCluskey on June 14, 2014. Claire is an Associate Registrar at UCLA and her husband is a media archivist with the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles. The family is living in West Hollywood, CA.
Clay moved to New York where he began his career in finance. A few years later, he found his way back to Santa Barbara, continued his work as a financial planner and opened up Pivot Independent Financial in 2005. Clay and his wife Rebecca were married in 2007. They have a son Levi, age three, and a daughter Loma, age five, who just started kindergarten in Crane’s Class of 2023.
Kristen MacMurray ’96
Patrick Minehan ’98
opened up a state-of-the-art Crossfit
gym in San Diego – Eastgate Crossfit at University Town Center.
Vanessa Bagdasarian ’00 and Matt Chambers ’00 were engaged on the Crane campus in 2013 and were married in July 2014. Most of
just moved back to Santa
the people in their wedding party
Barbara
were friends from Crane:
after
living
in Chile for the past
Hayley
welcomed their daughter,
Bridges ’00 was maid of honor, and Natalie Noone ’00, Emily Cheetham ’00 and Murphy Stack ’01 were
Mahana Tea Peralta, on
all bridesmaids. Many of Matt's
September 30, 2014.
groomsmen were Crane alumni
eight years. She and her husband Carlos Peralta
Bjorn Snider ’96
graduated from
UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Molecular Biology. After a year-long stint working on a yacht, he subsequently started working for the stock brokerage firm JonesTrading and moved to New York. It was in New York
Garland Reiter ’00, Kerry Wheeler ’00, Houston Harte ’00, Baron Birkhofer ’00, Andrew Hernandez ’00 and Alex Zemeckis ’00. With only 100 as well:
people at the small wedding, onethird of them were Crane families, which, as Vanessa said, “is pretty incredible and just shows how instrumental Crane is to building lifelong bonds!”
that he met his wife Barbara. They have two children, Benson (4) and Bea (1), with a third on the way. They recently moved back
to
Westlake
Village
where he continues to work for JonesTrading.
Bjorn
enjoys
spending time with his family and being outdoors; he is an avid cyclist. Over the summer he completed a 3-day, 300-mile bike ride from London to Paris.
Michael Jimenez ’00
married
Heather Carreno on May 20, 2013. They welcomed a baby boy, Ethan, in August 2014 and are enjoying parenthood. Michael has been working as an Operating Engineer for Schwan Brothers Construction for the past five years.
alumni news
alumni news Sam Lindberg ’04
married Ashley Grayson this
past summer. Sam is in the Army and graduated from the Defense Language Institute in August. Ashley is in her second year of Teach for America and earning her Master of Education degree.
Holly Fetter ’05
graduated from Stanford in June
2014 with her bachelor's degree in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and her master's degree in Sociology. Through a fellowship from Stanford’s Haas Center for Public Service, she now lives in New York City and works for the
Katie Cohen ’01
is the staff photographer in the
Ford Foundation, supporting the program area
Marketing and Communications Department at
that funds community organizing
Boston Children's Hospital. Her work has been
infrastructure
published in the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine and
States. She is also involved with
on CNN and ABC News. To celebrate the US News and
an organization called Resource
World Report ranking of Boston Children's as the #1
Generation,
pediatric hospital in the country, the hospital installed
young people with access to wealth
a 22-foot long wall sign featuring one of her photos.
to use their resources to support
in
the
which
United
mobilizes
movements for social justice.
Thomas Minehan ’01
is
studying in the graduate
Alexandra
program at Columbia
graduated from UC Berkeley last
University in New York
year, found a job in Berkeley, and
in social work and just
has remained in the Bay area
got engaged.
contemplating graduate school.
Holly Fetter ’05 and Jay Brooks ’05 accidentally meet at People's Climate March in NYC.
Tyler Worley ’05
l-r: Julia ’06 & Hadley ’04 Creighton
CalPoly
Sizemore-Smale
with
a
’05
graduated from BS
in
Business
Administration with a concentration
Ashley Sizemore-Smale ’02
graduated from UCLA, spent
two years with Teach for America teaching elementary grades in Detroit, Michigan, then entered law school. She just started her third year at the University of
in Entrepreneurship and a minor in biology in 2014. He has his sights set on medical school and just took the MCAT in September.
Michigan School of Law with an emphasis in education law reform and public policy.
Julia Creighton ’06 graduated from Santa Barbara High and the University of
Hadley Creighton ’04
attended Foxcroft School after
Crane, followed by the University of Colorado, Boulder where she majored in Economics. She was lucky to be joined by her sister Julia for her last two years. After graduation she moved to San Francisco, where she now works for Merrill Lynch on the Corporate Benefits and Advisory Services team.
Colorado at Boulder where she received a double major in economics and Chinese. She is actively exploring international and national job opportunities, which feature research, finance, and Mandarin components. Hadley and Julia are enjoying being roommates in San Francisco.
Paige Gribb ’06
is living in Marseilles for the year
to teach junior high and high school English in the French public school system. She graduated Magna
16
Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with her double major (all thanks to Crane)!
alumni news Mark Koenig ’09 Lauren interned
and
McCall Koenig ’09
Gurley
’07
may be attending rival schools — USC
this
past
and UCLA respectively — but still stay
summer at the Press
close siblings.
Office of the Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel.
Toby Minehan ’09
She is a senior majoring
semester at SBCC and works at Backyard
in comparative literature
Bowls at La Cumbre Plaza.
at
the
University
is in his second
of
Chicago.
Ryan Worley ’09 completed his freshman year at the US Air Force Academy
Melanie Thomas ’07
attended Idyllwild Arts Academy and
will graduate from Sarah Lawrence College in 2015. Most recently, she spent her junior year abroad studying theater at the British American Drama Academy in London. There she finished
taking survival training and parachute training this past summer. He has completed five solo jumps thus far. His
l-r: Mark ’09 & McCall ’09 Koenig
major is undeclared at this time.
writing
the story, music, and
lyrics,
and
l-r: Ryan ’09 & Tyler ’05 Worley
directed her third workshop of The Cave. The Cave is a new story told entirely
through
original folk music, set in an opium den in the 1890s, and inspired by classic myths and fairy tales. The first workshop of The Cave was at SLC and the second was last summer at Vassar College's Powerhouse Theater Program in New York. Melanie's project was also recently funded on Kickstarter; check out her short video at: http:// bit.ly/TheCaveKickstarter. The Cave won the Imagined Truth Award for Best First Play and the plaque states: "For extraordinary achievement in your debut as a full-length storyteller at the Hollywood Fringe Festival given on this day June 29, 2014 by the Gangbusters Theatre Company."
Kate Pincus-Whitney ’08 attended the summer wedding of her brother Sam Whitney ’98. Kate is currently a junior at Sarah Lawrence College studying creative and performing arts. In addition to set designing for school productions, Kate just debuted her set designs for a new play currently running in New York City. Sam Whitney
is
currently
enjoying
Brendan Lokre ’11
was one of seven
high school sophomores chosen to participate in UCSB’s six-week summer Institute for Regenerative Medicine Program which included active stem cell research.
Eliza Foster ’12 and Annie Gabler ’17 qualified as two of the top 500 riders for the National Pony
Finals
by
winning
a
championship ribbon at any horse show during the past year. Annie, with
her
horse
Strawberry, came in 27th place. l-r: Annie ’17 & Eliza ’12
married life with new wife Gayle along with running his own design firm, Giclee La in Santa Monica, California.
l-r: Kate ’Pincus-Whitney ’08, Sam ’98 & Gayle Whitney
17
alumni news Bridget Mitchell ’12 attended the De Marcos Fashion Academy in Santa Barbara this summer. Three of her designs were displayed in the academy’s window, and she had her own runway show. One of her designs was modeled by fellow Crane alumna
McGovern ’11.
Olivia
To see more of Bridget’s designs visit http://www.
demarcosfashion.com/content/fashion-shows
Hannah Barr ’12, Poppy Brittingham ’13, Delaney Mayfield ’13, Peyton Shelburne ’12 — all good friends and former Crane pals — met face-to-face when rivals Cate and Thacher took to the volleyball court this past fall.
UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS: Class of 2004: 10-Year Reunion on December 26 from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Blue Agave Restaurant and Bar
Class of 2005: Be on the lookout for an announcement about your l-r: Peyton Shelburne ’12, Hannah Barr ’12, Poppy Brittingham ’13, and Delaney Mayfield ’13
10-Year Reunion in 2015*
Class of 2000: Be on the lookout for an announcement about your 15-Year Reunion in summer 2015*
Class of 1990: Be on the lookout for an announcement about your 25-Year Reunion in 2015* * if you have new contact information - mailing address and/or email address - please be sure to notify Debbie Williams at dwilliams@ craneschool.org in order to receive reunion announcements/invitations
ALUMNI and PAST PARENTS: Please email us at alumni@craneschool.org to share any updates and photos. Come visit us on campus anytime. We would love to see you! COMING FULL CIRCLE
Fifteen years ago Debbie Williams began making her famous chocolate chip cookies with the third graders to send to Crane graduates in their freshman year of college. The combination of homebaked cookies with a handwritten note by a third grader was a huge hit and a new tradition was born. This fall, the tradition came full circle — this year's recipients (Class of 2010) were the original third graders who started this tradition fifteen years ago!
18
Visit with Crane faculty and see what is new on campus at the ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE & ART SHOW January 25, 2015 2-4 pm For more information, contact Julia Davis (805) 969-7732 x127
alumni news
All-Alumni Reunion
19
In Loving Memory
Arthur Eikenberry
February 19, 1940 – September 15, 1986
LEFT l-r: Arthur Eikenberry, Brendan Hahn ’85, Noel Karzen ’85, and Elizabeth Andrews ’85
ABOVE: Mr. Eikenberry's Garden 2014
ARTHUR Eikenberry was a marvelous and dedicated math
under the vigorous leadership of Kjessie Essue. In addition,
teacher at Crane School (1980 – 1985), and he made an
there are plans to grow the garden to include Crane Country
indelible mark on the school despite the six short years he
Farms — the tower gardens flourishing over near the intern
taught here.
house and hopefully a soon-to-be-planted orchard.
In order to honor him and memorialize his unfortunate
Arthur believed that if humans worked harder in the
early death, Crane, under Selden Edwards’s leadership, held
soil they would have less time for conflict. He was a leading
the funeral for this honorable man on the Crane campus in
member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and today we
the fall of 1986. A lifelong gardener and genuine farmer, we
would consider him an early peace activist and a prophet for
also dedicated a sunny area at the front of the school as the
an organic “green” earth.
Eikenberry Memorial Garden. After construction of our new
At his funeral service, a local sculptress, Susie Bartz,
parking lot, it was decided to relocate Arthur's garden down
appeared with five clay sculptures which today grace the
on the far southwestern side of campus behind the yurt.
relocated Eikenberry Garden. These wonderful works of art
Arthur was a very clean-living, serious, and thoughtful man
each bear a word in Esperanto, another of Arthur’s passions:
of considerable educational attainments and with a passion
espero (hope), skivolemo (inquiry), bonkoreco (kindness),
for mathematics, Esperanto (an early universal language),
dedico (commitment), and rideco (laughter) — and indeed,
and organic gardening.
these qualities summarize this splendid man and teacher, and
When I was hired at Crane in 1980, my triad included Cathy Rose and Arthur Eikenberry. Arthur immediately claimed
he gave of them to Crane in full. The new Eikenberry Garden could not have happened
the area on the north side of the Head of School’s office as an
without the love of his former student Whitney Abbott ‘86.
ideal area for a wonderful garden – and one of his first acts was
When you have a chance, stroll down past the yurt and take a
cutting down the massive acacia tree there so that sun would
few mindful moments while you sit on Arthur’s bench in his
reach his sacred tomatoes and other vegetables. Arthur’s
calm, beautiful, peaceful garden.
passion for gardening continues to this very day at Crane, now
Dan McCaslin
Upper School History 20
Students in Japan We learned that accusing each other didn’t help us achieve our goal. We gave it a fresh start and determined that clear communication helped us work efficiently and quickly. The thing that I most remember from my time at ISAK is that I have a choice to see each challenge in front of me. Life can be filled with problems, but I have the power to see those problems as opportunities. My outlook, my progress, and my future all grow from my power to see life as my choice. My experience in Japan was absolutely life changing. I learned how to accept others and accept myself. Most importantly, I have learned that leadership is a practice. We do it everyday, when we THIS SUMMER, I attended the International School of Asia,
make choices on how we live our life and how we treat others. The
Karuizawa (ISAK). I learned about the program from Mrs. Smith,
things I learned at ISAK are things I will carry with me my entire life.
the Head of Upper School. I was immediately intrigued. The unique
Maddy Moore Eighth Grade
opportunity to travel to Japan and connect with students from all over the globe and learn about leadership captivated me. I leapt at the chance to visit a new country and explore other cultures firsthand. Now, I have to admit, I was absolutely terrified and homesick when we arrived. A million questions were racing through my mind. I certainly didn’t want to offend anyone, yet I didn’t want to hide away from taking advantage of the moment. As the week progressed, I slowly realized that other people were just as scared as I was. I vividly remember walking down the hall and hearing music coming from a room. There, in the corner of the room, sat a girl on a laptop listening to R.E.M., one of my alltime favorite bands. I approached her and learned that her name was Desel. Through music, we were able to connect and become best friends. ISAK set the stage, but music bridged the gap. With a new confidence, Desel and I decided to embrace the challenge and meet new people. Over the course of the remaining week, Desel and I met kids from all over including: Sierra Lione, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Chile, Slovakia, and more! Not only did ISAK expand my understanding of other people and their cultures, but it also helped me become a better team player. In a team building activity, we stood in a circle, holding a hula-hoop that balanced on each person’s index finger and the object was to bring the hoop to the floor. When the instructor said, “Go,” there was a sudden outburst of yelling and arguing over what was the “correct” way to accomplish this task.
I REMEMBER getting off the bus on that first day of summer school. The friendliness of the community at ISAK and the atmosphere of that beautiful mountainside of Japan made me feel so excited for the next two weeks. Maddy Moore and I could hardly wait for school to begin. I can recall everything that happened on the first day: from meeting people whom I would soon call my closest friends, to getting to know my roommate who, coincidentally, was named Anna (my twin sister’s name). ISAK was an experience that I will cherish forever. Here are some memorable highlights from my experience. One highlight was the people I met. Who knew I’d be meeting people from Slovakia, Chile, Sierra Leone, and Burma right in the same summer camp? Everybody had an interesting story to tell. One of the most compelling stories I heard was from a girl named Kunchok who was from Nepal. It took her three days to travel to the nearest airport. She rode by both mule and bus to get to her destination. All of the students I met have formed such a bond with each other that on the last night of ISAK it was so hard to say goodbye. We were all in tears. Another highlight of mine was the designthinking class. This class was about putting your everyday problems to good use by inventing a solution and making a product out of it. I also learned the second step into design thinking: prototyping. We learned in class how to make a prototype. We even made prototypes of our own products and met real people who make a profit from design thinking. This school is truly inspirational, and I want to do ISAK all over again.
Leah Martin ’14
Sixth Grade
Upper School Trip Week
Catalina Island
On the Boat Ride...
WE LEFT the parking lot at Crane School at 6:30 on a Monday morning
the captain called, “All aboard the Catalina Express!”
without knowing what adventures the future had in store for us. While
the waves were splashing against the windows of the boat.
several students, and dare I say chaperones, were nervous to depart, by
I felt the cold ocean breeze on my face.
the end of the week I saw nothing but smiles. During our stay on Catalina Island we had the opportunity to learn about underwater populations first-hand by snorkeling in the crystal clear water, how to strengthen the Crane community by completing team-building challenges, how to climb a rock wall belayed by our very own students, and how we can make Crane a more sustainable, environmentally friendly school by getting
Sting rays... are majestic, beautiful creatures. come out of nowhere, and not just one, but a hundred! glide along with their tail slowly following.
At the climbing wall...
our hands dirty in the garden and compost facilities. The trip was truly
I needed a lot of coordination.
transformative for students and teachers alike — taking the kids out of
cheering on my friends was fun.
their normal classroom environment helped to reveal their true, strong,
I felt so happy and proud of myself!
compassionate natures. Please enjoy the following thoughts of their Catalina experience.
Emma Rando Intern
Shovel-nose guitarfish... are wide near their head and thin by their tail. burrow into the sea floor as they search for food. are so fast that they are a blur before your eyes.
At the ropes course... we walked on high, thin wires, the fear growing with each step. I was given a sense of accomplishment. I suddenly was flying.
Bioluminescence... is bright, beautiful light surrounding me as I swim in the dark ocean. danced in the water as we moved. is like fireworks in the deep blue ocean.
During the night snorkel... we stepped into the dark water. we didn’t know what was under us. we saw all the creatures with the light from our flashlights.
Leopard Sharks... circle round and round, eating fish then dashing off. are camouflaged against the sand. swim around slowly, stalking their prey.
On the night hike... I liked making the Life Savers spark. we had to walk for two minutes quietly by ourselves. we practiced our night vision and hearing.
At the campfire... we played some games and did a few performances. all my friends were singing and dancing. our whole trip came together.
Seventh Grade
Upper School Trip Week Pali Institute
A WEEK at the Pali Institute proved to be an adventurous time for our seventh graders as they maximized Pali's experiential outdoor science curriculum. From traversing an open ravine on the nighttime zip line, to braving a 40-foot “leap of faith” jump from a Ponderosa pine tree, our students used the woods as their classroom, while learning important leadership skills and team-building strategies. Together, we constructed outdoor survival huts, navigated the forest with compass navigation skills, and created triboluminescence lightening with lifesavers. At night, we examined the evening sky through high-powered telescopes, highlighted our performance talents with jubilant karaoke, and created hand-designed skits for the variety show. In all of these activities we practiced our interpersonal skills, developing more advanced communication techniques and problem-solving strategies. All in all, it was a week of full outdoor engagement in the fall air of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains. See below for the students' reflections.
Jennifer Strube
Upper School Learning Specialist/Trip Chaperone I witnessed a student taking chances
I experienced the terrifying thrill of the
and conquering her fears, friendships
high ropes course, a life in high elevation
being made, a red-tailed hawk catching
where the air is different, the comfortable,
a squirrel, the beautiful sight of the
luxurious cargo net that led up to the
marvelous mountains and enormous
zipline, making a shelter using only the
trees, a deer hiking quietly among the sun-
materials the woods provided us, how it
soaked leaves, kids laughing and enjoying
feels to fly.
every moment they could spend together, many of my peers overcoming their fear of heights with the help of their friends,
I discovered how to read stars using astronomy, how to make fires, build
people having an incredibly fantastic time.
shelters, and survive in the wilderness,
with the beauty of the ditch,
that if you try and try again, you get better,
with its abundance of dead trees
that persistence is key, ziplining isn’t as
that a second ago
scary as I thought it would be, there can
didn’t seem to matter.
be a tea made from pine needles, that I
Maybe it’s not so meaningless.
can do things I am afraid of, that hiking is
Now, it does matter.
really fun, what it was like to see the world – running down the zipline I was taller than
I appreciate the environment more now that I’ve been to Pali, how supportive my friends were, teacher time, which was one of the highlights of my trip, learning
the trees and faster than the birds.
I’ll never forget accomplishing something with the help of my friends, singing until
outdoor skills like building a fire, my
our throats were sore, bonding over late-
spent on that amazing trip, the support
we did next to the blazing fire, going down
counselor because she was nice and silly, all night card games, the night zipline and the the hard work the teachers and counselors wind in my face, all the funny acts and skits friends gave me while on the ropes course, the altruism and camaraderie that fell over our class while bonding there, Pali for teaching us how to trust each other and how to work as a team.
the quad zip at full speed, the leadership activities because they taught us how to be better team leaders and team players.
Eighth Grade
Upper School Trip Week
Costa Rica WHEN THE eighth graders pack up and head out for Chilamate, Costa Rica each September, they look forward to an adventure. They ask excited questions about zip lining and river rafting, and these thrilling activities are indeed some of the best parts of the trip. Often, though, the most significant memories come unexpectedly, at less glamorous moments. Phrases like “ethnobotany” and “jungle night hike” and “teaching English” set off alarm bells for the students, but these parts of the trip often turn out to be the ones that stick. This year we have chosen to share some of the surprising highlights the kids wrote about. We call our favorite experiences Orchids; tough or uncomfortable moments are Onions.
Elizabeth Teare
Upper School English Jack Deardorff
Ava Morouse
The Amazing Race scavenger hunt
Going on the night hike was one of my
was my Orchid in Costa Rica because I
highlights because it was a once-in-a-
liked running around with my friends,
lifetime experience. Seeing all of the
bonding with my classmates through
exotic animals, like the tree frogs and
fun activities, and interacting with
the spiders, really showed me a whole
Costa Ricans. During the Amazing Race,
new side of Costa Rica. My favorite
one of my favorite activities was when
part was when Jaime asked us to turn
we got to go to a Costa Rican family’s
off our flashlights so it was pitch black.
house and make tortillas and press
Then we just listened. It was honestly
sugar cane. Since Hector was in my
one of the most beautiful things I’d
group, it made communicating with the
ever heard. A whole new universe
family very easy. I liked being able to
was living inside the rainforest that I
interact with someone like this because,
hadn’t even known existed before, and
unlike the rest of the trip, with people
to be able to step into that world was a
telling me what people were saying,
truly surreal experience.
I was actually listening myself and understanding the exact words that he was saying.
Eighth Grade
Upper School Trip Week Rovenna Armi
Charlie MacNeil
Clare Bilek
Nat Schulhof
Interacting with the kids at the
The meals were my Orchid in
Milking a cow was my Orchid
My Orchid in Costa Rica
Cristo Rey School was one of my
Costa Rica because of the wide
in Costa Rica because it was fun
was the food because it was
variety. Every meal represented
and different. My group and I
so much better than I could
different parts of Hispanic
raced to the wooden barn for
have imagined. All of the
cuisine, from gallo pinto to
our first activity in the Amazing
food was so fresh and made
empanadas. Every day I ate
Race of Chilamate. There in the
by people who you could tell
Orchids in Costa Rica because they were just normal kids our age who happened to speak a different language. While we
something that I had never
middle of the barn stood a lone,
liked it as much as we did. All
were there, some of the kids
heard of, and every new food
tan cow waiting for us to milk
of the fruit and juices were
teased each other about a lot of
that I ate was pretty amazing.
it. Looking at the cow, I deemed
outstanding. One day I saw
things, like if they maybe thought
Not only was the food great, but
it very unsanitary, possibly
one of the chefs lugging a
every day they had a new freshly
carrying diseases that could
wheelbarrow of fruit all the
squeezed juice. My personal
slowly and painfully kill me. I
way to the kitchen. Another
favorite juice was the orange
knew that these possibilities
reason that the food was so
papaya. The sweet taste lingered
were highly unlikely but not
enjoyable was that the meat
one of the Crane students was attractive. One of these times was when Maddy Moore and I were in one of their English classes. We
on your taste buds for hours until impossible. I also knew I had to push these thoughts away and you had the next juice. These
was local. We knew where all
were done with the assignment, and everyone around the table
juices are definitely better than
ignore them for the remainder
and it tasted AMAZING. The
was drawing and showing their
the boring American juices.
of this activity. I had to milk the
pork chops were so tender
doodles to their friends. I drew
Tyler Dahneke
cow or else my team would lose.
they fell apart in your mouth.
a picture of a girl, and one of the
The river was my Orchid because
“Any volunteers?” asked Digna,
The chicken empanadas were
boys said it looked a little bit like
it felt amazing after a humid day.
the owner of the cow. I gulped
so rich you would be stuffed
There is nothing better than a
after two. The food in general
me. He asked if he could cut it
and slowly raised my hand. I walked over and grabbed the
blew my mind, and I don’t
udder and pulled. A stream of
think I could ever find food
white liquid hit the glass. I did it!
like that in the States.
out. Maddy laughed and asked if he thought I was pretty. The boy, whose name was Henry, laughed too and told his friend Jordio that
cold swim during a hot, humid day of activities. After an Onion of a walk to the school and back, we jumped in the river, and all of the sweat from our bodies was
he was blushing. Jordio shook
carried all the way to Nicaragua.
his head, and our whole table was
Although the river was cluttered
laughing for a while. The whole
with natural debris, we didn’t
class had a lot of fun, and it was really funny for Maddy and me because it was just like something a Crane student would do.
mind. I enjoyed every moment in the river and was thankful for every drop of water running through it.
the meat was coming from,
BOYS SOCCER • GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Sports IN THE FALL I had a lot of fun playing JV soccer for
THIS YEAR Crane had two JV volleyball teams – JV
the great school that Crane is. Sports are about having fun
Green and JV White. We were coached by Bob Ingersoll,
and encouraging others to have fun as well. Our team was
Deia Kidd, and Suzanne Rossi. Each team had seven or
extremely enthusiastic. When I was on the other side of the
eight players, and we all got to play a lot. We focused on
field, I could hear my teammates encouraging me to do my
serving, setting, passing, and some hitting. Our serves,
best. When I was on the bench, I had a great time watching
especially, improved a lot. We traveled to other schools
my best friends try their hardest. When we were in the
around Santa Barbara. With the help of our great coaches,
playoffs, I saw how much we had improved from the start
we were able to bump, set, spike, and serve the other teams
of the year. From the players who had never played soccer
off the courts. We ended the season with a round-robin
before, to the ones who had played it nearly every day, we
tournament, facing each opponent in a speedy fifteen-
all improved. This year, winning was not all that mattered.
minute game. Congratulations to JV White for making it
And that was the fun part of it all. Thanks to our coaches,
to the championship match! We are all looking forward to
Dave Ross and Annie Fierberg, for an awesome season!
playing volleyball for the Lady Coyotes again next year.
William Deardorff, Sixth Grade
Kimberly Rogers, Seventh Grade
WHEN YOU sign up for Varsity soccer with Mr. Bixler,
WE ARE PROUD to say that we were part of Crane’s
you never know what you are getting yourself into. During
Varsity volleyball team. We jumped right into school on
the season we had only one loss to Laguna. Fortunately, we
the eighth of September. Because of this later-than-usual
got the chance to play them again in the finals. In the first
start, we had no practices before our newly formed team
two minutes they scored, which didn’t help our confidence.
was thrust into its first game. We were overjoyed to find
Then they scored again. It definitely felt like we were going
that we worked exceedingly well with one another. During
to lose. But, the guardian angel of our team, Ian Cope, scored
the season, with the help of our PE teacher and fantastic
two goals. We were tied! The game went into overtime and
coach, Terri Willis, we honed in on our volleyball skills
penalty kicks. After the teams exchanged a few shots, our
as well as team-building exercises. Together we truly
goalie, Sebastian Richardson, dove and smacked the ball
understood the meaning of the well-known expression:
away. Then Alfie Russell stepped up, rocketing the ball into
“It matters not whether you win or lose, but how you play
the right corner to score. Our uproar of happiness could be
the game.” A special thanks to all the volleyball parents
heard all across Santa Barbara. We had worked for this all
for driving and providing snacks! Stella Haffner and Amanda Moores,
season. Charlie MacNeil, Eighth Grade
Eighth Grade
The Wicked Witch of Oz
presented by Fourth Grade
Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Santa Barbara, CA Permit No. 430
CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 1795 San Leandro Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93108 www.craneschool.org
Academic Year 2014/15 • Volume One
OnCAMPUS CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
A Newsletter for Parents, Grandparents, Friends, and Alumni
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Tom Kenny President Jill Levinson Vice President Michael Walker Treasurer Patricia MacFarlane Secretary Anthony Browne Ricardo Calderon Tom Deardorff Kristen Klingbeil-Weis Robin Kopeikin Winifred Lender Hector Lujan Michael McCarthy John E. McGovern Arthur J. Merovick Gavin Moores Ann Pieramici Linda Ryu Nancy Sheldon Christine Smigel Carrie Towbes Honorary Lifetime Trustee Scott C. Brittingham EDITOR Debbie Williams DESIGN & PRODUCTION Lorie Bacon SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHER Teresa Pietsch PRINTER Boone Printing