Inside
Cover: A Force for Good
Visual Arts
Cronshaw Alumni Award Meet the New Trustees
Meet the New Staffulty Beginning of Year in Photos
Fall Event Sip ’N Social Professional Development Alumni News
Alumni Living Abroad
Lower School Culminations Upper School Electives
Upper School Sports
Fourth Grade Play
Back Cover: Outreach
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Every now and again, you encounter someone who speaks to your soul — someone who inspires you with their passion, enthralls you with their stories, and encourages you to both chase your individual dreams and make the world a better place. In October, our students had the opportunity to meet such an individual.
With the inception of the Cronshaw Family Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019, this year’s recipient is just the second to have won. The award criteria states that the winner has “accomplished something significant in their field of endeavor.” We are happy to announce that Henrietta Holsman ’63 Fore has accepted this honor.
Ms. Fore is currently UNICEF’s Executive Director, overseeing work in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, protect their rights, and help them to fulfill their potential. As she shared her journey with us, it was easy to connect the dots back to her early days at Crane. She shared that her favorite classes were mathematics and science, where she learned life skills such as analysis and problem solving, key components to success in business and development.
She greatly enjoyed playing Crane sports, saying “I think remembering to always love sports is something important in life. You learn a lot about teamwork you really use it in offices
lower school | upper school Like many art traditions, quilting has radically transformed over time. This year, artists are learning how this traditional art form developed as culture changed to reflect the voices of the times. To kick off this exciting exploration, students created mini paper quilt squares inspired by Traditional, Hawaiian and Gee’s Bend quilts. Together, their designs crea te one stunning quilt that celebrates this fascinating art form as well as our diverse community.
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later in life. If you can learn to be a good team member and to know when to throw the ball to somebody, when to assist, it makes all the difference in an office and all the difference in life.” She fondly
Currently she has found her passion working with UNICEF. Since there are so many areas of need in our world, this is a complicated job that requires intelligence, compassion, and the ability to use imagination to envision a better life for all — necessitating both a sense of realism and idealism.
When describing her work with UNICEF, Henrietta shared this quote from Chinese philosopher Lao Tsu, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” Her work in bringing sustainability and life to
remembers her participation in plays, public speaking, and the importance of representing the voice of others, skills that she uses daily in her life and work.
It is quite clear that Henrietta had a deep love of the people she encountered at Crane and experienced strong relationships with her teachers and classmates. Her kindergarten teacher wrote in her report card that she was “a lively and interesting little girl who brings with her an intelligent mind.” Henrietta shared that she was a curious child, and the faculty nurtured this curiosity.
Henrietta became the first woman to serve as the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance, and was honored with a Distinguished Service Award in 2009. Later, she was the director of the U.S. Mint, which she deemed one of her favorite jobs. Her eyes lit up as she described the coins clinking from the machines, and one could imagine walking through this Wonka-like factory seeing the shiny new coins appear, then disappear down conveyor belts bound for the United States and beyond.
communities with the most need showed an incredibly powerful connection and glimpse into the real world for our students.
Before leaving, students asked about her favorite food given all her travels. Henrietta didn’t hesitate and shared that just as it was during her student days, her favorite treat is a hot fudge sundae — a playful response for students to hear that we can bring both academics and youthful pleasures with us into an adulthood of important work.
Joel J. Weiss Head of SchoolPeter and Margery Cronshaw were a memorable teaching force during the 1950s and 1960s. They were both extraordinary teachers who exemplified Crane’s belief in experiential and project-based education.
In memory of Peter and Margery Cronshaw, this award acknowledges the distinguished efforts of a Crane alumnus or alumna.
A Crane alumnus or alumna who has accomplished something significant in the field of their endeavor to include career, interest, community leadership, or volunteer service.
The nomination form: www.craneschool.org/nomination
The slate of alumni nominees will be considered by the descendants of Peter and Margery Cronshaw.
The award will be presented by family members of Peter and Margery Cronshaw.
A plaque will be presented to the recipient, which will remain at Crane in perpetuity. The recipient will also receive a keepsake from the school.
The deadline for nominations is March 4, 2022
Todd has been thankful to call Santa Barbara home his entire life. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School, he received his B.A. in Economics from UCLA where he also played as a member of the National Championship UCLA volleyball team. He returned home to work as a maintenance technician for a local contractor, and then began a career in residential real estate sales. Todd became involved with his family’s real estate development and management business as a fourth generation realtor and licensed contractor. He now oversees the management, accounting, maintenance, and development of all types of properties.
As a member of the Crane Buildings and Grounds Committee, Todd has been involved with his mother, Cyndee Howard, a Crane Board member (2015-2021), in multiple campus renovations, most notably the Crane kitchen. Todd’s wife Marcy is also active at Crane where they have three students: Luke ’22, Jack ’22, and Charlotte ’25, as well as two nephews and a niece who are Crane graduates.
Todd enjoys the best of Santa Barbara in his free time playing golf, hiking, and biking and spending quality time with family at the beach.
Chris was born in Lancaster, but considers himself a lifelong Carpinterian, having moved there in 1994 where he attended Carpinteria Middle School and High School. Chris and his high school sweetheart, Mandy, married in 2007.
After graduating CHS in 2001, Chris attended Cal Poly SLO on a football scholarship where he studied general engineering with a concentration in biomedical engineering.
In 2006, he was selected to play with the
Philadelphia Eagles until he was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2010. There, Chris started as an inside linebacker, eventually becoming the on-field defensive signal caller, but his career was cut short by an injury in his seventh season.
Chris has since been involved in several growth-stage private investments, real estate development, and sustainable energy production projects. He remains active with several charitable organizations including Santa Barbara Hospice, and frequently gives inspirational talks to local schools and youth organizations.
Chris enjoys creating art through various mediums when inspired, and currently he has work showing in a Santa Barbara gallery.
His daughters Layla ’27 and Gia ’30 are his constant inspiration. He believes his daughters’ generation will need the most innovative thinkers to face current global issues, and it is our responsibility to foster bold thinking.
As the daughter of a USAF pilot, Annie grew up in several different cities across the country, including Spokane during her high school years. Annie received her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from MIT, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
After graduating from MIT, Annie had a 20+ year career in investment banking and management, working for firms such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. In her most recent finance position, Annie was the portfolio manager for alternative investments within a large corporate pension fund. Lately, Annie has returned to her science background. She is the co-founder of an early-stage medical device company and enjoys dabbling in investments in tech start-ups with genderdiverse founding teams. Annie’s past volunteer experience includes chairing the board of an undergraduate housing entity for MIT, and as a teaching assistant at Columbia Business School.
Annie and her husband, Andy, relocated from New York to Santa Barbara last year in time for their daughter, Whitney ’29, to begin kindergarten at Crane. They also have three grown children. Annie is a lifelong endurance athlete and an Ironman
triathlete. She loves hiking, scuba diving, surfing, and is attempting to learn tennis.
Susan has two daughters, Caroline ’21 and Lauren ’25. She has volunteered for the teacher conference luncheons, was cochair of the Crane Country Fair, and most recently completed her tenure as President of PFC. She is looking forward to continuing her active role at Crane as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Susan spent almost two decades in New York City working in the investment banking divisions of large financial institutions including Credit Suisse and Citi Group/ Smith Barney. She also taught math to students in an inner-city New York public high school and worked for the United States Senate in Washington D.C. She earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master in Math Education from Columbia University.
Susan is a founding member and current Secretary of the Board of MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation. She also serves as vice president of the Hope Ranch Homeowners Association and is a past board member of Angels Foster Care and Jumpstart of Southern California.
In her spare time, Susan and her daughters enjoy swimming, playing tennis, adventure travel, and spending time with their beloved golden retriever Bentley.
Originally from San Diego, Sarah received a B.A. in Anthropology and Geography from U.C. Berkeley and a J.D. from Berkeley School of Law. After graduating from law school, she moved to Anchorage and clerked for both the Superior and Appellate Courts and practiced criminal defense for seven years. In 2013, Sarah, her husband, and her two boys, Ian ’22 and Andrew ’23 moved first to Ojai, and then to Santa Barbara.
Among other formal and informal roles at Crane, Sarah has served as a room parent for four years, Hot Lunch Chair and CoChair of the Green Committee for three years. She also co-chaired the 2021 Crane Spring Benefit, which, unfortunately, did
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not rollout as planned because of the pandemic.
Currently, Sarah consults with local nonprofits about meeting facilitation and program evaluation, and performs contract legal work. She also codirects the Mountain Film on Tour Festival a fundraising and membership recruitment event for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC).
Sarah also sits on the board of the OVLC and has previously served on the boards of the Oak Grove School and Secure Beginnings. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her family, attend community events, and hike with friends.
Courtney and her husband Graham Duncan have three students at Crane: Maisie ’23, Angus ’26, and Maude ’28.
Prior to children, Courtney worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Co. and Katzenbach Partners, advising nonprofits and media companies, and then joined Condé Nast and later a private real estate venture to work in a similar capacity.
Courtney was a member the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of New York City from 2006 to 2019, serving in a variety of leadership roles and on the executive committee. She also served as a member of the Board of Trustees at City & Country School in New York City from 2017 to 2021 and now consults to nonprofit organizations on strategic, governance, and leadership-related issues. Courtney earned a J.D. from Yale Law School, a Master in Public Health from New York University, and a B.S. in Mathematical Economics from Wake Forest University.
Courtney and her family relocated from New York City to Santa Barbara in 2019, equally drawn by the opportunity to hike in the mountains with friends, play tennis, and beach-walk at sunset, and by the opportunity to be part of the Crane community.
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I am so excited to join the Crane community. I have worked in the area of independent schools’ admissions for 10 years and feel so fortunate to have found a profession that allows me to connect meaningfully with families as they get to know a school. I grew up in San Diego and attended the University of Pennsylvania. I then spent a semester in Sydney and fell in love with the Australian way of life. I even loved vegemite! After graduating college, I returned to Sydney where I lived for the next six years. Ten years ago I moved to Los Angeles and found Santa Barbara, a magical weekend destination. I am so happy to now call this special city my new home! In my free time I love to explore bookstores, enjoy community spaces, and discover the best cappuccino in town.
I was raised in Groveland, a small mountain town near Yosemite National Park. My hobbies include snow skiing, water skiing, hiking, and reading. I’ve lived in Ventura for the last 20 years raising my daughter Sailor, a junior at Gonzaga University. As a child, I would tell people that I was going to be a doctor. Being raised by a single mother made it difficult to plan for college, so I joined the workforce right out of high school. I wore many hats over the years and returned to school at 45 to receive my BSN, RN licensing in 2013. For the last 8 years I have been employed by Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura working in acute care and medical oncology. I have volunteered as an RN at Canyon Creek summer camps, was fortunate to travel to Peru with Crane eighth graders for two years, and now happy to be at Crane full
time.
I hail from the great state of New Jersey, but I moved around the country a lot while growing up. After attending UCSB from high school in New York, I decided to make Santa Barbara my home. I’ve always been a gardener, growing as much as I could in any spare space I could find. After volunteering at my children’s elementary school garden for a few years, I was given the opportunity to take the helm in 2009 and I have been tilling the soil with students ever since. I love sharing the joy and wonder of the natural world with children. My goal is to facilitate a connection to local plants and animals, and knowledge as to how to grow food that will stay with them forever. And, when I am not in a garden, I enjoy knitting, baking, and playing beach volleyball.
As an alumna of Crane, I am thrilled to be rejoining the community! I grew up in Santa Barbara and always imagined that I would someday return to this special place. I spent the last ten years in Los Angeles and moved back in June.
In my prior position as Director of Annual Giving at Harvard-Westlake School, I was able to see firsthand the lasting impact of community coming together. I am honored and excited that my passion for education, relationship building, and development has found a home at Crane. I love being a part of the school environment — the excitement of the students, the devotion of the Staffulty, and the unwavering support of the parents is energizing.
When not on campus, my husband, our 15-month-old son, and our golden retriever,
can be found walking the beaches, hiking in the Santa Ynez Mountains, or enjoying one of the wonderful places to eat in Santa Barbara.
I grew up in Houston, Texas and attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergrad where I majored in history, Middle Eastern studies, and Plan II. After graduating, I moved to North Africa, where I taught English to high school students and adults in Tunis, Tunisia. I returned to the States and received my Master’s in Language Education from Indiana University in Bloomington. I then moved to Istanbul, Turkey where I taught middle school English in a Turkish International Baccalaureate school for three years. From Istanbul, I moved to Santa Barbara and have been teaching middle school for the past decade. I love the community that comes with working at an independent school, and I am so grateful to be a part of the Crane family. Outside of school, you can find me lost in a book, in the kitchen baking, or traveling the globe.
My interest in teaching begins with my curiosity about people, and how we learn and grow from our experiences in the world and from each other. As a camp counselor during my summers from Connecticut College where I majored in history and American studies, I led backpacking and hiking trips where I guided and mentored campers through significant challenges and adventures. That’s when I realized my passion for working with young people as they set out to explore the world around them. Crane’s commitment to experiential learning is what excited me most about the fellowship. As a new teacher, I am eager to learn ways to put this philosophy into practice. This fall we have introduced several experiential opportunities to learn together outside the classroom walls. Crane has quickly come to feel like home to me, and I look forward to all the growing and learning I will experience with my students this year.
After stumbling into an Introduction to Education course in my first semester at Bowdoin College, I couldn’t imagine my self doing anything else, so I spent three years working as a student teacher in the Maine public school system with stu dents of all ages – from K to 8. In 2021, I graduated with dual degrees in govern ment & legal studies and education.
I discovered my love for learning in Santa Barbara’s public schools and I look forward to returning as a professional to contribute my own warmth and passion to the local community. Crane’s empha sis on learning through reflection and doing fits my philosophy of teaching. I believe that a teacher’s role is to create an environment in which students learn as much about themselves and the world around them as they do about the cur riculum content.
I am excited to help each one of the second graders discover their own bril liance and am incredibly grateful to be a member of the Crane community!
Thanks to receiving a Dorothy Waugh Grant, I was able to complete my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate. I wanted to complete this course in order to compare teaching English to teaching Spanish, to learn new teaching techniques, and develop a deeper understanding of English grammar to empower English language learners so that they can create more opportunities for themselves. Having never learned Spanish or English as a second language, this experience helped me understand why certain Spanish and English concepts, such as the many Spanish verb conjugations within one tense, or the twelve vowel sounds in English as opposed to the five in Spanish, are a challenge for second language learners.
After completing my course, I volunteered to teach English at Garden School Victoria, a bilingual K-8 school in Brisas del Valle, a town outside of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. This was my first time in Honduras where I was able to see what daily life was like, and the beauty of the country first hand. In many ways I felt at home re-entering this rural atmosphere, similar to southern Mexico where I grew up. In other ways, it was very different with its own distinct culture, style of spoken Spanish, infrastructure, history and traditions.
I taught in-person remedial English to 1st-8th graders and worked with students who had been unable to participate in online school during the pandemic which continues to rage in Honduras. At first, I was daunted to enter a classroom so different from Crane, however, once the students entered my class, I kicked into gear and knew just what to do. We were soon writing skits and paragraphs, singing songs, reviewing vocabulary and grammar, and having English conversations. Though my time was brief, I am grateful for this growing experience and am comforted by knowing that though the worlds of Crane and Garden School Victoria are vastly different, students share their need for love, attention, accountability, support, and an undetermined future that is full of possibility.
Dorothy C. Waugh Grant Tray London – Lower School Art Teacher
The pandemic took its toll on each and every one of us. Coping mechanisms became crucial to manage the worry we had for ourselves and our loved ones, the constantly changing circumstances, and the lack of routine and social interaction. Spending time in nature and painting are always my go-to lifelines. I am thrilled to share that these activities not only offered reprieve from all things Covid, but also led me on a really great adventure!
One night, last February, I happened upon arttoolkit.com. It stood out as a beacon of bright light on a dark night. Maria CoryellMartin is an expeditionary artist (not a kind of artist I was familiar with) who designed a beautiful kit for watercolorists to carry with them on outdoor adventures. I am an avid backpacker and was thrilled to find an efficient and relatively light way to pack painting supplies and take with me on the trail. I usually paint in acrylics, which are way too heavy to carry on backpacking trips. I poured through Maria’s website which led to other websites and finally to making a personal commitment to tackle the ephemeral media of watercolor. I have loads of experience dabbling with watercolor, but never in a serious way. Inspired by Maria’s work and the possibility of being able to paint on the trail, I applied for the Dorothy C. Waugh grant to help cover the cost of quality supplies, two longterm painting classes, two workshops, and a trip into nature to practice my new craft. I was overjoyed to receive this incredible opportunity, and I have been having the time of my life learning to paint in an entirely new way.
I am lucky to share a passion for painting with my mom and two sisters, all of whom utilize in watercolor and live far away. This summer, we started painting together every Sunday over Zoom. That one Internet search has led to great personal joy and discovery, and the grant played a huge role in making this journey possible. I am excited to share all I have learned with my students for years to come.
“Life is what we make of it. Travel is the traveler. What we see isn’t what we see, but what we are.”
~ Fernando Pessoa (June 1888 – November 1935) Portuguese poet and philosopher “…for the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.”
~ Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
It is only now, as I examine the notion of experiential learning for this article, that I am able to begin to fully express what the chance for exploratory travel through Portugal meant to me at this stage in my personal and professional life. And the tremendous impact the trip had for me now as I re-approach the Crane classroom on my return and the realization of the importance of “learning by doing.”
The Eldon Boyd provides Crane teachers with the opportunity to pursue educational experiences. What I had not expected, however, is that the trip would bring into focus for me that when a lesson taught as an experience driven by students, learning becomes an adventure that the student owns — thus empowering them with an attitude that “life is what you make it.” This, above all, is the outcome we seek to cultivate as educators of young minds and for each other as members of a learning community.
One of the many experiences that stands out was my trip to Sao Miguel Island in the Azores. My daughter and I share a love of ocean life, so we were especially excited for the chance to motorboat out into the deep Atlantic and jump in with wild dolphins. It was early
and the fog was still resting on top of the choppy ocean surface. The anticipation and even a little fear set in as we found a safe spot to jump. Hearts pounding, we finally did just that and what we found underneath the surface was another world! Our snorkeling gear allowed us to swim away from the boat and just float there, still, observing the pod of common dolphins who seemed to be observing us right back. We saw mother and baby dolphins cuddling and what seemed to be adolescents swimming around playfully. With our ears under the surface we could hear them speaking; it felt like magic.
What seemed like an hour was probably more like 5 minutes, but that was all it took for me to understand dolphins in a whole new way, a way that only having this experience could teach. Now, as we embark upon our oceans theme this spring, I know exactly what I want to bring to my kindergarteners. I am still in the beginning planning stages, but I am picturing students wearing goggles and snorkeling gear as we simulate taking turns being dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean, communicating with sonar and using echolocation to find each other as well as our food.
Across the world, thousands of miles from Crane, I was reenergized. It was an experiential lesson gained, one in which I was the student, and “travel,” the teacher. This is at the heart of what we strive to impart for our students’ learning on Crane’s campus. My adventures in Portugal are now an experience I own; one that helps drive the learning environment I create for my students each and every day.
Throughout our trip to the Pacific Northwest we heard comments such as “Mama, I’m so happy!” from Maggie, our daughter, age 4. There are few places in this world that immediately make me feel nostalgic and completely content other than the greater Seattle area, and to introduce my children to a place I love so much gave our trip a whole new purpose that I wasn’t expecting. I started our journey craving some solitude, reflection, and renewal, that I was able to achieve, but more than anything, I was able to witness the same joy and contentment I feel for the Pacific Northwest in my own children.
As a family of four, this was our first big trip by air and our young daughters rocked it — masks and all! Being a recipient of an Eldon Boyd grant was the reason we were able to take this trip. From the two seals who greeted us during our paddle boat ride on the Hood Canal to watching the sun go down behind the Olympic Mountains with a longtime friend, this trip was a huge success!
Our children swam their hearts out, and nature walks with scenic mountain views were enjoyed by all, at least until a little one reminded us during a tour of Pike Place Market that her legs, “were all out of breath!”
This was a time that we will remember for the rest of our lives. And, I began this year with a renewed sense of energy and feeling such gratitude that these opportunities are available to the Staffulty.
Every year a lucky faculty member or two is awarded the Eldon Boyd, a substantial grant awarded to a member of the Crane School faculty who has generated interest and excitement in the classroom and an ability to inspire and motivate students.
Last summer I was fortunate enough to be one of those people. The grant landed me on the beautiful island of Kauai for a little rest and relaxation after a long year of pandemic teaching, truly one of the most challenging of my career. What a gift!
Anyone who traveled during this time can attest to the fact that it was no small feat. After taking Covid tests prior to the trip in the appropriate time frame, waiting in pre-boarding Covid test checkpoints, and masking up for the six-hour flight, we finally made it. Covid wasn’t winning this match!
Waimea Canyon, our first stop, drew us into her steep sandy walls reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. We spent the day hiking through lush underbrush, scrambling across rocks, splashing in the pools of small waterfalls, all while admiring the amazing vistas around every turn.
Hanalei Bay, Anini Beach, and Poipu were other day destinations that included glorious snorkeling amongst tropical fish in the aqua blue Pacific we all wish we had here in Santa Barbara. Sorry, Mr. Garibaldi.
What I most enjoyed was being on island time with my family. Dining on ahi poke (my daughter would say shaved ice), beachcombing at sunset, or visiting a quaint artist town also made our trip special. Taking time to piece together a puzzle or read a book was just what our souls needed after a long, stressful year. I appreciate that Crane helped make this wonderful excursion happen for us at a time that was most necessary.
In June of 2020, my family and I were looking forward to celebrating several milestone events including a high school graduation, an 18th birthday, and our 30th wedding anniversary when Covid interrupted our agenda. It wasn’t until a year later, after receiving the Eldon Boyd grant that we were finally able to reconstruct our plans and our celebration trip became a reality! We set off on a coast-to-coast adventure and lifelong dream to see the last sunset of the day in Hawaii, and the first sunrise in Bar Harbor, Maine.
We had a wonderful time in Oahu snorkeling, seeing giant sea turtles, walking on sandy beaches, swimming under waterfalls, zip lining in the rainforest, and exploring historic Pearl Harbor. The whole week was incredibly restorative, but the best part of the trip was watching the Hawaiian sunset. Each night I could feel the stress of the last school year melt away as the evening sky was transformed by nature’s paintbrush and it inspired me to start the 2021 school year off with that “aloha spirit” in mind.
Later in the summer we headed to Acadia National Park. We fell in love with the Northeastern coastline with its quaint towns, historic harbors, fresh lobster rolls, and of course, the beautiful view of the sun sparkling off the pristine Maine waters. I surprised myself and impressed my family by making it to the top of the infamous Beehive Trail.
A highlight of the trip was the day we woke up at 4:30 a.m. to view the first sunrise in the country from the top of Cadillac Mountain. It began a foggy morning, but when the sun finally peeked over the horizon, it warmed up the mountaintop and I was filled with awe. I was reminded that even when we are faced with challenges eventually the sun does shine, and that we can strive to be the light in our own communities and classrooms. I feel so grateful that Crane School provides opportunities for learning, growing, and restoration; thank you!
The opportunities afforded by the Dorothy C. Waugh summer grant were an inspiring channel for me to further develop my skills as Learning Specialist at Crane. This past summer, I was able to virtually attend three fantastic trainings to support student growth in reading and spelling, written expression, and vocabulary development.
The first was a 3-day virtual training in the Wilson Reading Program to support reading and spelling development for dyslexic students. It is always inspiring to be in the company of other educators with the same passion and drive to support students. With 40 others, I was able to immerse myself in the latest program changes and refine my skills.
The second with The Writing Revolution was attended by fellow teachers representing 25 states and 5 countries. Our trainers demonstrated how to use systems and tools to assist writing development from the earliest ages all the way through high school. They demonstrated how to integrate writing lessons throughout curriculum units to create competent and creative writers.
My final training was with the Keys to Literacy group. In this one, I learned routines to facilitate vocabulary development in all students. These resources helped me reflect on the importance of vocabulary and background knowledge as well as their impact on student learning and engagement.
I have been overwhelmed by the access to professional development opportunities at Crane. These opportunities encourage and sustain a love for teaching and remind me of the positive impact we can have when we continue to learn and grow along with our students.
Todd Sandell ’96 ; San Marcos High ’00 and Sandy Darway welcomed Bodie Brooks Sandell on October 18, 2021, weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces. Bodie shares his middle name with his aunt Brooke Sandell ’91 -Villa. Todd is the owner of Todd Sandell Construction, designing and building fine cabinetry. Sandy is the owner of Sandilicious, a bakery featuring cakes and pastries in Atascadero. The family resides in Paso Robles. Bodie is also the grandson of Crane faculty member Gayle Sandell.
Sarah Bixler ’97 Pierce attended Santa Barbara High and completed her undergraduate studies at Willamette University in Salem, OR. Sarah’s career in marketing has spanned over 15 years, and has taken her across the globe where she has held roles as account director, producer, and most recently as vice president of growth & marketing for an open-source ideation platform. Sarah is continuing her professional journey and studying for her Master’s in Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. She and husband Brandon moved from Brooklyn to Venice, CA in the fall of ’19 where they reside with their two dogs, Winston & Dodger, and this past June the couple welcomed their daughter, Naomi.
Kellie Cuttrell ’01 ; SBHS ’05; UCSB ’09 and her husband, Donny Stevens welcomed their son, Parker Stevens on December 21, 2020, which seems like yesterday, but they recently celebrated his first birthday in Santa Barbara with family and friends. They currently live in Carlsbad where Kellie works at Sun Bum as their brand manager and Donny at Vuori Clothing as their lead brand designer.
Brendan Cronshaw ’04 ; SBHS ’08; UC Berkeley ’12 and his wife, Maureen Wynne, welcomed their first child, Matilda Claire Cronshaw, on October 28, 2021. Brendan and Maureen were living in Highland Park in Los Angeles for the last two years before moving to Philadelphia this fall where Brendan is pursuing his MBA at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. They met in their junior year of college at Berkeley and have been together ever since. Maureen is part of the brand partnerships team at Instacart and prior to Wharton, Brendan worked as a real estate private equity associate in Los Angeles. The family of three, and their mini-poodle, Birken, are enjoying the changing seasons in Philadelphia, but are excited to hopefully return to California after Brendan’s graduation in 2023.
Matt DeGroot ’04 attended high school at Cate, and then received his BA in Psychology from the University of Southern California ’12. Matt spent the early part of his career working for tech startups, but ultimately followed his passion for reading and writing into a career in education. Matt returned to USC to receive his Master’s in Teaching ’21 and he now works as an eighth grade English teacher in San Francisco, where he lives with his fiancé Jenny.
Shelby DeGroot ’05 returned to Santa Barbara during Covid while continuing to work in operations for Instacart. She was excited to have an excuse to come home and spend more time with her family and close Crane friends Evelyn Weis ’05 and Casey Griffin ’05
(l-r) Annie Weis ,08, Shelby DeGroot ,05, Erin Griffin ,08, Casey Griffin ,05, Evelyn Weis ,05, Julia Weis ,04, Charlotte Weis ,18
Lauren Blair ’05 Klarskov and her husband Morten welcomed their daughter Eva on October 19, 2021. Lauren and Morten met at the University of Southern California in 2012 swimming for the Trojans. The two moved from Los Angeles to Morten’s native country of Denmark in 2017 and have been living in Copenhagen for the past 4 years. Lauren has been working as a marketing and brand manager for technology startups and Morten works in management consulting for Deloitte. The two are excited to raise Eva with both Danish and American influences and hope she enjoys the water as much as her parents!
Sawyer Piwetz ’06 is now happily married in Portland, Oregon and has moved into his favorite hobby job. He is now a software test engineer working on testing video games for Amazon with his wife, Erika, who works in the same industry. After graduating from Linfield College in 2015, he had a brief stint as a barista before transitioning into the tech industry. “If you have played New World, there’s a farm named after my wife - Olcott Farms. We hope to see you there.”
Tessa Kaplan ’08 ; Santa Barbara High School ’12; University of Southern California ’16; UC Davis School of Law ’20 is now back in Santa Barbara and practicing estate planning at Allen and Kimbell, LLP. While 2020 was a challenging year, it was a year filled with celebratory worthy events for Tessa. That year, Tessa graduated from law school, took and passed the CA Bar Exam, moved back to Santa Barbara with her now fiancé and miniature Australian shepherd to start her legal career, and became engaged. She is thrilled to be back in Santa Barbara near her parents and hopes to continue to see familiar faces in the community.
Rae Wynn-Grant , current parent of Zuri in first grade, and a wildlife ecologist, was the “Innovator” interview in National Geographicʼs September 2021 issue. She will be our April guest for our Virtual Visit series.
Joel Jamison , member of Crane’s Maintenance Department since 1995 and his band, King Bee, celebrated 20 years together by performing at SOhO on November 20. Four of the five band members have been together since 2001.
Jana McIntyre ’06 performed the lead role in Opera Santa Barbara’s Semele, its first main stage baroque opera, by George Frideric Handel on January 14 and 16.
Kate Pincus-Whitney ’08 was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2022 in the area of Arts & Style. What an amazing accomplishment – congratulations Kate!
Just a few months ago , my husband and I packed up all our belongings, sold our cars, rented our Washington D.C. condo, and carted suitcases and our 18-month old son onto an airplane to begin a new chapter in our lives. We moved to Amman, Jordan.
As a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department, Andre’s career is dedicated to working across cultures to promote peace, inform and implement U.S. policies abroad. The diplomatic lifestyle is unique, with families moving posts in different countries every few years. It is a remarkable privilege to be immersed in a new culture for a period of time. There are plenty of comforts and security measures put into place - including language training, housing assignments, tuition assistance and a host of embassy-organized activities and outings. Our son attends an Arabic-speaking Montessori preschool replete with ducks and chickens, and our modest backyard is bordered by olive, fig and apricot trees.
When I moved, I knew very little about what to expect and had previously spent no time in the Middle East. Even without speaking any Arabic, it has been an easy transition. English is spoken widely and amenities are readily available. In fact, Jordan is quietly becoming a premier tourist destination and is a regional hub for international aid organizations, thereby creating demand for luxury hotels and trendy restaurants with international cuisine. The biggest challenge so far might be learning to drive through hectic lane-less traffic!
As the crossroads of the Middle East, the lands of Jordan and Palestine have been home to some of humankind's earliest settlements and villages; harboring hidden
relics from the world's great civilizations. Jordan is ruled by a constitutional monarchy and has a rich and complex history, which once captivated ancient travelers and continues to enthrall subsequent generations with an eclectic mix of modernity and tradition.
In the short three months since we arrived, we have wasted no time exploring. I climbed Mount Nebo, where it is said Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land before his death, floated in the Dead Sea a salt lake bordered by Jordan and the West Bank marks the lowest point on Earth (430 meters below sea level), and scaled the steep steps of a Roman amphitheater that seated 6,000. We picked and pickled olives, ate hummus in the ‘souk’, and caught a glimpse of Bedouin nomadic desert cave culture.
Perhaps the most well-known landmark in Jordan is the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, carved from rock over a thousand years ago. Our family visited over Thanksgiving weekend and the experience did not disappoint. As we weaved through the narrow rock passageway, the ‘siq’, we were transported to a different century with images of camel caravans and altars etched into the steep walls.
The country is not without its challenges. Drought and climate change plague the region and are felt daily by the Jordanian people. Jordan is the world’s second most water-poor country and water scarcity results in shut-offs for whole neighborhoods in Amman, sometimes for days at a time. More than 1 million people live below the poverty line and nearly 700,000 Syrian refugees are registered in Jordan, most of whom live in camps.
As a kid, the world seemed big. When I was studying 6th grade geography with Mr. von Phul or world history with Mr. McCaslin, I never once imagined actually living and experiencing such a unique place as Jordan. Yes, the world is vast, there is beauty in every corner, I feel lucky to have learned about it at such a young age and to continue to learn firsthand today.
Nolan Cope ’12 (San Marcos High School ’16, Cal Poly SLO ’19) and his partner Jessica Patton met in San Luis Obispo in 2018 while working for the Cal Poly Orientation program. After they each received their teaching credentials in 2020, they accepted teaching positions in Myanmar starting in August of 2020. Like most plans that year, things worked out slightly differently. The Covid situation made it unsafe to travel to Myanmar, and in February of 2021 the country underwent a violent military coup d'etat that is still resulting in unrest today. Faced with these challenges, Nolan still wanted to reach the students and give them the best education possible, staying up through the night in order to provide remote teaching for students half a world away. For ease and efficiency, Nolan and Jessica chose to move to Thailand because of its proximity to Myanmar and, therefore, less dramatic time zone differences. They have continued their remote teaching due to the ongoing unrest in Myanmar, Nolan teaching middle school social studies and Jessica teaching kindergarten.
After initially moving to Bangkok, Nolan and Jessica are currently living on the island of Phuket, Thailand. It was here in July they became engaged. In their free time, they enjoy the paradisiacal beaches, playing disc golf, and reading for fun. While travel has not been the
easiest while Southeast Asia recovers from the pandemic, they have still been able to fill their lives with adventure. Their many exploits have taken them across Thailand, including playing with elephants at an ethical refuge, taking a river cruise through the ancient ruins of Ayutthaya, and going on tours of islands in the Andaman Sea by boat. They visited the floating island of Koh Panyee, practiced their motorbike skills around Phuket, and have made friends from all over the world. Nolan also enjoys organizing tabletop games for friends and members of the community.
Nolan and Jessica truly treasure the international teaching experience for what they have learned in return and all it allows them to do. The Spanish classes at Crane sparked a real desire in Nolan to experience more of the world, leading him to pursue a minor in Spanish in college in order to become more of a global citizen and active member of the Southern California community. During their 9 months and counting in Southeast Asia, they have been able to experience a different culture through traditions, food, and way of life which can only be accomplished by living in that place. Challenging their comfort level has allowed them to enjoy the differences between living in the U.S. and living elsewhere. Working with students from Myanmar has been very motivating, and the teaching duo are able to absorb alternative experiences and ways of thinking in a very enriching way, especially since children are some of the most refreshingly (and oftentimes bluntly) honest people. Nolan and Jessica plan on traveling and living internationally as educators for many years to come. They just received positions in Quito, Ecuador beginning next year, finally getting back to in-person teaching! They are excited to continue their journey of what the world has to offer.
In Kindergarten, our first unit of study is Wonderful Books. This unit explores various children’s classics such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?, as well as newer picture books like It’s Okay to Be Different and All Are Welcome. Learning goals for this unit include: nurturing an innate love for stories and reading, fostering classroom community, and understanding that the similarities and differences within our classroom family are to be recognized and celebrated. It is a core belief in this classroom that representation matters, and we strive for students to see themselves reflected back in the curriculum while at the same time experience and appreciate differences as well.
This year’s Wonderful Books culmination was a joyous occasion for so many reasons. For starters, this was the first time since the initial stay-at-home order was announced that parents were permitted to come onto campus as a whole group during school hours. This made our special occasion all the better. It gave our kindergarten families a chance to experience some of their child’s learning at school all while being together, exchanging smiles, and appreciating each other perhaps in an entirely new way. Our short but sweet gathering opened with our first poetry recitation of the year. Adorned with teddy bear headbands, kindergarteners presented the poem “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear” as a whole class. Next, each kindergartner individually shared a re-telling of the classic story Goldilocks and the Three Bears with picture books they created. Finally, we closed out our morning with a serenade as students belted out “Make New Friends But Keep The Old” and “You Are My Sunshine.” We’re looking forward to our next culmination and opportunity to share our learning as a classroom community.
Did you know that there are many budding ornithologists on the Crane campus? First graders kicked off the school year by learning, investigating, and discovering local Santa Barbara birds. During our bird walks, we show our young birders how to use binoculars and how to find some of the greatest on campus places to spot black phoebes, goldfinches, Downy woodpeckers, Anna’s hummingbirds, house sparrows, and red-tailed hawks. The excitement continues to build as students learn to identify our local birds.
One of our favorite theme-study projects is when students investigate and discuss different bird behaviors, including nest building. They apply their knowledge as they write poems entitled “If I were a Bird.” These structured poems allow students to complete each line with their own original ideas, such as: If I were a bird, I would build my nest in a plum tree so that I could see pretty butterflies and flowers. Briana
This unit culminates in a research project where each first grader becomes an expert on a particular Santa Barbara shore or backyard bird. They research interesting facts, diet, and characteristics. After all their information is collected, the children put together clues about their bird. These clues are used in a game called, “Who Am I?” where they ask for friends or parents to guess which bird they studied. This game, along with a bird poem recitation, and a bird walk culminated the end of our unit in the sweetest way.
After our culmination, we asked the children to express their feelings about their presentation in writing, as this was the first time their parents were invited to campus to celebrate their accomplishments. Even though some students felt nervous at first, by the end, they felt both proud and confident.
Second graders began the year with an in-depth study of beloved award-winning children’s author Kevin Henkes. During our unit, we read the novel The Year of Billy Miller, the story of a student beginning his own journey in the second grade, as well as many of his 50+ picture books. We spent time discussing his loveable mouse characters, his writing style, and the way that he uses his illustrations to help tell the story. After reading several of our favorite stories like Sheila Rae the Brave, Wemberly Worried, and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, students shared the personal connections that they were able to make with the stories. The second graders completed a variety of reading responses, including writing summaries, describing character attributes, and analyzing vocabulary.
One of our most memorable activities during our unit was Snuggly Day! After reading Owen, a story about a character that has a special blanket, our students were invited to bring their special snuggly to school where they engaged in writing, reading, and measuring with their snugglies by their side.
For our final writing assignment, students were asked to craft an original narrative about a Kevin Henkes character of their choice. We were amazed at the variety of ideas that the second graders generated and the way that they were able to use character dialog to enhance their stories and bring their ideas to life.
To wrap up our author study, we invited their families to join us for a special culmination event. We loved seeing our students engaged, confident, and proud as they shared about our unit and read their own stories to their families. It was a magical experience and we are incredibly grateful that we had the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and showcase all of their hard work!
How can you capture the interest and creativity of students of history? Put them in charge of creating a museum exhibit to teach their classmates about the culture and heritage of a Native American tribe.
Fifth grade students spent four weeks this fall researching six separate Native American tribes from across the United States. The tribes featured were the Haida, Navajo, Shoshone, Cherokee, Mohawk, and Sioux, which represented six different regions of the country. Working in groups of five or six, students were tasked with researching different aspects of a tribe’s culture including: the geography of the area; what village life looked like based on their environment; the social structure of the tribe; and the art and culture of the people. Their individual research was then shared during the oral presentation of the museum displays.
All the research was coordinated into an artistic interpretation of a museum exhibit featuring a mural of the landscape of the tribe’s region and a display of artifacts handmade by the students. Each artifact was accompanied by a gallery card describing the item and the role it played in the culture or daily life of the people. The displays captured many aspects of the tribe’s unique characteristics as well as the talents of the students. From totem poles and button blankets to wickiups, tipis, and longhouses, students crafted artifacts from a variety of materials. In addition to the artifacts, some students researched specific foods of a tribe and made recipes to be shared with classmates.
Students were also challenged to make decisions in cooperative groups to bring their project to completion. Group reflections after each session helped guide them in their efforts the following day with their collaboration and support playing an integral role in the project’s success. Learning to work together as a team on these assignments helped students develop interpersonal skills, which will benefit them when completing projects in the future.
If you walk through campus and look into an Upper School classroom on any given day, you will get a glimpse of Crane’s extraordinary academic program. If you happen to be out and about on a Friday afternoon, you will experience additional excitement, for that is when our elective program takes place. There are nine offerings for the fall term – some with an emphasis on exploration or creativity, others with an opportunity for friendly competition or self care, all with a focus on fostering community and having fun. Here’s what students have to say about their experiences.
I enjoy this elective because I get to exercise with my friends. It is a fun activity to do after classes because you’re outside and active. Ultimate Frisbee requires control and focus but also good sportsmanship and teamwork.
Rosita Power, 8th GradeIn this elective we play a competitive game of Ultimate all afternoon on Fridays. It is a much better way to end the week rather than being in a classroom and waiting for the weekend to start. My elective gets to be outside, running around with people I do and don’t know.
I really like this elective because I meet a lot of people from other grades that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
Lila Foster, 8th GradeI chose this elective because I love Frisbee, and in Lower School I would look out the window and see Upper School students having so much fun playing Ultimate.
Marlow Rogers, 7th GradeIn this elective we get to watch Anime, with every week being a classic film that is school appropriate. While watching, we get to draw whatever we want, often trying to re-create the style we see on the screen. This can be a very nice break from regular school life, with a chance to explore what we are passionate about and learn about a different culture.
I like this elective because it’s nice to relax, watch a movie, and draw after a week of hard work and classes.
I chose this elective because I wanted to find more people who enjoyed anime like me! I’ve found three great new friends who also share the same humor and taste in anime as me. This is the greatest elective out there.
Dani DeLucia, 7th Grade
I like this elective because it is fun and we get to play all types of cool card games like Texas Hold ʼEm and Five Card Draw.
Archer Wallace, 6th Grade
Playing Dungeons and Dragons has been super fun, and I really appreciate how accommodating the teachers have been. It’s a great outlet for creativity.
Z Kuria, 8th Grade
I love this elective because we learn different games almost every week. We might even get to design our own card decks.
I love to make and eat good food. I have done many baking projects at home before, but none have turned out as well as the cinnamon rolls from this elective.
I chose this elective because baking was never something I liked to do and was never good at. I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone, and this is a good start. In this class they teach us how to bake but also how to keep the kitchen space clean.
The baking elective isn’t just educational. We also have fun, and we aren’t afraid to make mistakes. We experiment with different ingredients.
Sindy Zavala, 8th
This elective includes fun bike rides, hikes, and swimming activities. Our teachers make sure we feel good about what we are doing, too. It gives me a chance to exercise and get a workout in, while still being with friends.
Stella Daugherty, 7th GradeIn this elective we go to the beach. This week we are going kayaking, and last week we went hiking. It is very hands-on and probably the best elective. We basically get to have a mini beach day right after school. It is really fun.
Sebastian Lazar, 7th GradeI like this elective a lot because what’s better than leaving campus with a bunch of friends. After each activity I feel accomplished. It is definitely the high point of my Fridays. It reminds me that school is over and the weekend is coming.
Outdoor Adventures is my favorite part of the whole week! The experiences we get to have are truly unforgettable. From hiking to kayaking, we never fail to have fun. I am new to Crane this year, and this elective has really helped me get to know my classmates more.
Ciel McGonigal, 7th Grade
This elective is very relaxing, and we are always doing something different. We have done forest bathing, mindful eating, yoga, and meditation. Soon we will be doing pet therapy.
I like having this elective because we do a lot of art and fun activities. We do a lot of mindful stuff, too.
In this class we do things all involving mason jars! Last week we made sugar scrubs, and a couple weeks before that we planted tiny succulents in the mason jars. It is a very fun and creative elective.
Marlin Taylor, 6th Grade
I like this elective because we make new stuff every week, like one time we made lemonade – so yummy.
Eliott Brun,6th
GradeMy experience in this elective has been great. I love being with my friends and learning from the eighth graders. Even though it can get a bit heated, we always work past it. It’s a great way to get active, play with friends, and eat ICEEs! I LOVE flag football!
I enjoy playing flag football because I am with my friends, exercising, learning, and training. I would recommend this elective to anyone. Warning: Before playing, never eat a Butterfinger. It will cause you to drop the ball.
In this elective we help people or communities by making a donation box for UNICEF, making cards for people who are sick, and baking treats for first responders. It feels nice to give back to people in need.
Jordan Caratachea, 7th Grade
We have made placemats for Meals on Wheels, a non-profit that brings food to people who are less fortunate than we are. We have also made cards for Make a Wish, a foundation for making cancer patients’ wishes come true. We are also
taking care of the Montecito trails by cleaning them up, and recently we decorated a Halloween gingerbread house to deliver to the old folks home. This elective is all about helping and giving to the community.
I chose this elective because I wanted to help people out. I like being able to brighten someone’s day and wanted to help the community out a bit. I also knew I would like the people in this elective.
Luc
In this elective we scrimmage with the sixth graders. We also get snacks. It is really fun teaching, learning, and playing with the younger kids.
Jack Eliassen, 8th Grade
The pandemic wiped out after-school athletics last year. Fortunately, this fall the Crane Coyotes saw the return of interscholastic sports, happily competing in the Coastal Athletic League. Our Upper School fielded three teams in girls’ volleyball and two squads in boys’ soccer, with strong participation from all three grades. Our Lower School was delighted to compete in 5th grade co-ed soccer. Please enjoy a summary of their magical season below.
I am proud to say that our 5th grade co-ed soccer team was undefeated! Our season was amazing, and so was our team. We worked together and always passed. In total, our whole team made 41 goals in the season!
We could not have done it without our personal cheerleaders. I would like to give a shout out for Meagan Shiebler, Addie Root, Teddy Cronin, and Marin Laffont. They cheered us on whenever we were playing.
We also could not have done it without Ashton Knecht and Mikah Narva, our goalies. They blocked almost every ball from going into the goal. Levi Murdy and Huxley Barrell were unstoppable. They made every shot they went for. Lauren Kenny, Grace Koepp, and Henry Genuardi were great forwards. They kicked the ball when someone was open far across the field.
Our defense was made up of West Collins, Fiona Guerra, Samuel Hilton-Webster, Emma Brand, and Kate Duncan; they always saved us when we were in trouble. I was midfielder, along with Charlotte Eliassen, Indigo Caleel, Julian Gellert, and Elliott AuBuchon.
The most important thing about our team was that we all had a part and a position, and that’s why we were undefeated!
Fourth Grade presents
