OnCAMPUS Academic Year 2012/13 • Volume Two
CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
A Newsletter for Parents, Grandparents, Friends, and Alumni
Inside Visual Arts 2 Leading the Way 3 Advancement 4 Spring Event 5 Fifth Grade in Boston 6-7 Class of 2009 8-9 Service Learning 10 Alumni News 11-20 Garden News 21 Spring Study Week 24 Lower School Track Meet 25 Upper School Athletics 26 Theater Arts 27 Sienna at QED night explaining her project while working with local ophthalmologist and Crane parent, Dr. Dante Pieramici.
Oliver and Cosi with their Second Grade invention Aw Zoom, which helps a child safely bring toys to the top bunk bed.
Special Features Graduation 2013
center
For Lower and Upper School students at Crane, experiential learning plays a key role. Depending on the grade and the subject, experiential learning will take many different sizes and shapes — simulating immigration to America through Ellis Island, building wonderful creations for the Invention Convention, actually panning for precious metals during a Gold Rush simulation, or building trebuchets to start a science unit on potential energy. Our teachers work hard to create highly active learning environments that are both thrilling and filled with powerful learning. Rigor and joy – our teachers devise powerful academic experiences that are also fun and fantastic. This unique combination sets Crane apart from other schools and helps our students retain academic information for a longer period of time. Experiential education is a key ingredient in the Crane kitchen!
Experiential Learning:
A Key Ingredient in the Crane Recipe
Zane worked with mentor Phil von Phul to create this large musical instrument which he has graciously given to Crane. Olivia worked with Logan's Candies in Ontario, one of the last American candy makers and in business for over 79 years. Olivia also learned what it takes to be a small business owner.
upper school
Exploring this year's art theme Big/Little, 6th graders created mixed media giants while 7th and 8th graders worked in teams to explore Georgia O'Keefe's art, creating large-scale pastel flowers, skies and landscapes.
Featured artwork from Kindergarten and Third Grade
lower school
Our Crane hens, sketched on site and painted using egg tempera that the Third Grade students made themselves using dry pigment mixed with the yolk from the very same hens! • Kindergarteners viewed the ceramic owls of Picasso, and then used clay slabs and texture to create these feathered faces.
VISUAL ARTS
Leading the Way Giving Students Voice and Choice
Summer Reading – A number of years ago, we made a similar shift in the way we organize summer reading. The traditional
“The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.” - John Dewey
At the heart of the Crane School philosophy of teaching is the concept of experiential education, creating highly active and engaging lessons. Classic examples include trips, such as the Fifth Grade trip to Boston, and building objects, such as the Seventh Grade trebuchet project. But another powerful dimension of experiential education is encouraging students to emotionally engage with their schoolwork. This engagement is aided by giving students both voice and choice. Educators love creating worlds for their students to explore, but truth be told, teachers can be a controlling lot!
Unchecked, they can create wonderful and complex
opportunities for students to learn, but over time, these lessons can get more and more structured and fine-tuned. Great teachers have learned a secret: introduce as much choice as possible into your lessons, and magic will happen. Service Learning – Probably the finest example at Crane of using the power of choice is our service learning program. Our concept is very unlike the program one traditionally finds at most schools. Most often students at a specific grade level are simply hooked up with a particular organization. For example, second graders help take care of the dogs at an animal shelter, or fifth graders serve lunch at a food bank. Those activities are nice, but because they are preprogrammed, they can lack depth and engagement, and don’t have any real power for the students. Janey Cohen leads Crane’s service learning efforts and her work with students takes a very different trajectory. Early in the school year, Janey meets with her students and explains that they will be doing a service learning project this year, but that the choice of what they will do and for whom, rests squarely with them. This is not abdicating teacherly power, but just the opposite! Janey subtly shifts the decision-making and the ownership of this work, right onto the students themselves. Typically what follows is a period of research and brain storming, yielding a series of classroom presentations about the options available. Eventually the students make a choice about what they want to accomplish – and then they are off and running! But that initial stage of allowing the children to own it is a game changer.
approach is to generate a specified reading list for each grade level and then require the students to read a certain number of those books over the summer months. As teachers, the effort went into the selection of those books, but despite our brilliant selections, this activity often felt obligatory and was seen by children as an intrusion into their summer. Instead, we have now given choice back to the students, and it has literally transformed this area of the school. Now students are given a dare: to take the Summer Reading Challenge. The Challenge is to read a certain number of pages over the summer. The amount varies for different age groups, but typically it is one thousand pages! Crane students can accomplish this in a number of ways, but the choice of reading material is entirely up to them. Once again, this subtle shift in initial staging results in a not-sosubtle shift in outcome! Crane students are reading much more than ever before.
A surprising number of students even shoot
for the next level of acknowledgment, reading over 10,000 pages. This list of areas at Crane where choice is an essential ingredient could go on and on, but it would include time-tested Crane traditions such as the choice of the poem read aloud by the students for kindergarten graduation, the Seventh Grade QED project, and the topic for the Eighth Grade current event presentation. In all of these cases, Crane students play a vital role in helping to implement our curriculum, they help formulate the questions that are being asked, and the students are the ones to actively seek out the answers. Now, this might sound easy, but I assure you it is very difficult. First of all, it requires teachers who are comfortable with a high degree of uncertainty. They have to have a willingness to give up some of the control of the classroom experience to let the students take some of that ownership. Secondly, it requires a belief in a very different paradigm. This is a “working with” model of teaching rather than a “doing to” model of instruction. It can be taught, but in my experience, it is rare, since it requires a combination of guts as well as talent. And ultimately this is one reason that parents pick a school like Crane.
By giving these children voice and choice, we
dramatically affect a child’s interest in learning. That is how a school moves from being just a good school to a place that is transformative.
Joel Weiss Head of School
3
Advancement Outreach One of the most exciting parts of my role as Director of Development is reaching out to the wider Crane community. I have made it my goal to connect with as many alumni, past parents, former trustees, and grandparents as possible. Our office accomplishes this in a variety of ways:
•
Crane classes send greetings. From invitations and birthday cards to
Joanie Saint Denis, Beth and Dodd Geiger, Amy Mayfield, Linda Ryu
graduation cheers and freshly baked cookies, our current students reach out to alumni. In turn, alumni often reply with their favorite memories of Crane.
•
Since last year, we have held a series of Past Parent gatherings. Our most recent event at the Cabrillo Recreation Center brought together parents from the Class of 2012 with those from as far back as the Class of 1983.
•
Former and current Crane leaders are also reconnecting. In May, approximately 75 board members who have served during Joel Weiss’s
Susan Iwanaga with Dave and Cathy Quenzer
tenure enjoyed conversation and catching up at Carr Winery.
•
And of course, our All-Alumni Reunion, held the last Saturday of each October, is becoming a fast favorite for alumni and friends to visit campus and re-connect with each other on an annual basis.
It’s exciting for me to see how close the Crane community is even after graduation. My hope is for these traditions to continue to grow!
Debbie Williams Director of Development Debbie Williams, Marcy Mullen, Jennifer Miller
Carla Stellwagen and Pat Aoyama
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Brier and Kent Allebrand with Ron Brooks
Nora Taugher and Ellen Bonning
Rob and Robbie Ogle
Daryl Stegall, Laura Johnston and Elizabeth McGovern
Tricia Koenig and Gary Saint Denis Suzanne Fries and Anne Perkins
Spring Event Greek-Themed Gala Celebrates Thirty-Year Veteran Science Teachers
Co-chairs JC Gordon with wife Jamie and Geoff Friedman with wife Ali
Pat Bixler and Phil von Phul each celebrate their 30 years of teaching at Crane
Crane honored two of its veteran science teachers, Pat Bixler and Phil von Phul, for their thirty years of service, at the school’s Togas & Tiaras annual fundraising gala, held at the Coral Casino on Saturday, May 4. “What’s special about tonight is that we are acknowledging the extremely impressive tenure of two of Crane’s most beloved teachers,” remarked Headmaster Joel Weiss as he welcomed the crowd of 250 Crane supporters. Bixler (Bix) teaches middle school math as well as Kindergarten and Eighth Grade science; von Phul (VP) teaches Sixth Grade geography and Seventh Grade science. In addition, Bix is famous for coaching Upper School sports and for having led the Eighth Grade Baja trip for 25 years, while VP is legendary for his calm demeanor and for riding his bike to school nearly every day for the last three decades. “It’s a truly remarkable undertaking to work at one institution for 30 years, and this level of dedication commands respect,” noted Weiss. Parents agreed, showing respect with a roaring, standing ovation and an impressive paddle raise to benefit the school’s science endowment. Two other men were singled out and honored for their herculean efforts planning the event - Crane dads Geoff Friedman and JC Gordon - marking the second time in Crane’s history that dads co-chaired the gala. Generous advance sponsorships covered expenses, enabling all money raised at the party, via live and silent auctions, as well as a raffle to go directly to the school. Of course, there were many overly capable women involved as well, including key committee members Erin Gavasse, Kisa Heyer, Max Hirshfield,Tracy Kanowsky, Amanda Masters Klentner, Amy Mayfield, Erika Petote, Rachael Stein, Susan Thompson, Cheryl Trosky and Crane’s incredibly supportive development office.
Ann Pieramici & Julia Rodgers PFC Publicity Chairs
Trip Week
Fifth Grade Honoring Walden Pond Every spring, the fifth graders journey to Boston to visit historical sites that are studied throughout the year in our classroom. For this edition of the On Campus, we have decided to highlight Walden Pond.
Walden was made
famous by the transcendentalist and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau, who spent two years of his life admiring the beauty of this area. His reflections were recorded in the novel, Walden; or Life in the Woods. The poems below are a compilation of inspiring lines from the fifth graders’ nature poems written during our visit to Walden Pond.
Carrie Althoff and Chris Caretto Fifth Grade Teachers
Trip Week
Fifth Grade Below are some students’ Walden Pond reflections:
The Mysterious and Elusive Life of Walden Pond
The Depths of Shimmering Blue
I sit on a rock
The soft, cool breeze creates waves on top of the water The little waves look like shiny crystals already polished Like a glitter blanket, diamond twinkles Shades of blue, green, turquoise I can see for miles
The rock looks at me Plainly I throw a pebble in the water A song Three squirrels fight over an acorn That eventually ends up falling
Bright, brilliant, blinding reflections on the surface
Right next to me
Shimmering in the infinite sun
A carpenter bee lands on my knee
But what is at the depths of the pond?
And buzzes away loudly
We may never know
I watch a delicate ant crawl beneath a leaf
And I don’t think I want to
And emerge on the other side I see the webs that the spider weaves
Song of the Wings I can overhear a city of birds chirping As if they are in a musical The soothing sound makes me feel at home I can almost make out What they are saying What are they saying?
Through the majestic forest that it sees I see people—fairies Who ride around on pine needle trees Some riding on transparent dragonflies Walden Pond It pitters It patters It takes a breath and begins again
Fluttering through the trees Then all falls silent
The Shadowy Giants Covered by a deformed circle of trees
Reflections As the hue of the golden sun finally fades I stare at the rippling pond With tangible peace
Twisting together Their leaves like big emeralds Swaying to the dance of their mothers Protecting the world within And their prickly twigs trying to poke my hand
I can’t believe that this was once snow and ice
To get my attention
Bereft of the poison of our kind
Time passes but I don’t hear a clock
It is
Only the whistle of the wind
Pure
As trees whisper my name
Untouched
The sun retreats
Innocent
After losing the battle with darkness If only I could stay Just like Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Alumni News Congratulations to the Class of 2009 on all your high school accomplishments. Crane wishes you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Come back and visit us!
Class of 2009
Alyssa Alvarez
Colin Fristoe
Attended: Petaluma High School* Attending: University of California Berkeley President's Gold Academic Award Sonoma County Scholarship UC Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship Harry Kimball Memorial Scholarship Rotary Club of Petaluma Scholarship
Attended: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: Dartmouth College 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA National Merit Scholarship Finalist AP Scholar with Distinction CSF Seal Bearer Jay and Sally Smith Honors Scholarship CIF in Swimming and Water Polo
Jemma Armi Attended: Cate School Attending: Columbia University High Honors Outdoor Award
Tom Childers Attended: Dos Pueblos High School Attending: Santa Barbara City College
Quinlan Dougherty Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: University of Oregon Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation
Jessie Dusebout Attended: Laguna Blanca School Attending: University of California Berkeley Senior Project Award: working with Child Hope in Haiti
Lily Eakin Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: Berklee College of Music 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA SBHS Community Service Star Award Lead Singer for Fools and Sages
Peter Ghersen Attended: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA Leon and Judy Bartholomew Scholarship CSF Seal Bearer/National Honor Society CIF Achievement award for Baseball
Parker Gribb Attended: Cate School Attending: Santa Clara University Varsity Sports Senior Captains Awards: Boys' Tennis
Alexandra Keller Attended: Idyllwild Arts Academy Attending: New England Conservatory Seahawk Jazz Award–Outstanding Performance in Jazz New England Conservatory Merit Scholarship Presidental Distinction Award
Zoe Kerris Attended: Bishop Diego School Attending: Emmanuel College
Mark Koenig
Attended: Walnut Hill School for the Arts Attending: Rhode Island School of Design Cum Laude Bigelow Society at Walnut Hill Visual Arts Department Prize
Attended: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: University of Southern California Roski School of Art 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA AP Scholar/CSF Seal Bearer/National Honor Society Rick and Regina Roney Art Scholarship SBHS Community Service Star Award
Nikki Florimbi
Bowen Fredericks
McCall Koenig
UNABLE TO LOCATE William Bermant Emma Dene Cayla Lambert Monica Watson
Attending: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: University of California Davis 3.5 and above overall GPA/National Honor Society AP Scholar with Distinction Barbara and Paul Oldman '23 Scholarship Thistle and Rose Foundation Scholarship Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation Grant
Attended: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: University of California Los Angeles 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA National Merit Commended Scholar AP Scholar with Distinction Tuohy Foundation Endowed Scholarship Regents Scholarship from UCLA
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*partial awards list
Alumni News
Class of 2009 Mitchell Kuhn
Kris Mirkin
Bryana Schantz
Attended: Santa Barbara High School
SBHS Community Service Star Award
Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: Florida State University at Tallahassee 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA SBHS Community Service Star Award
Attended: Laguna Blanca High School Attending: University of Virginia Cum Laude Service to the School Award Class President Junior and Senior Year
Tanner Lewbel
Jamie Morton
Attending: Chapman University 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA
Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: Santa Barbara City College SBHS Community Service Star Award
Frankie Lewis Attended: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: University of Michigan 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA CSF Seal Bearer/National Honor Society Gary K. Hart Scholarship SBHS Community Service Star Award
Monica Lodato Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: University of Arizona 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA
Aaron Lunt Attended: Dos Pueblos High School Attending: University of California Irvine CSF Seal Bearer/AP Scholar/National Honor Society President's Education Award Community Service Award Best Vocalist
Emily Lunt Attended: Dos Pueblos High School* Attending: University of California Berkeley CSF Seal Bearer/AP Scholar/National Honor Society President's Education Award Community Service Award
Kyle Mayfield Attended: Cate School Attending: University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Most Inspirational Athlete Award 11 Varsity Letters Senior Captain Awards: Lacrosse & Football
Toby Minehan Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA CSF Seal Bearer National Honors Society
Attended: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: University of Southern California Marshall School of Business 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA AP Scholar with Distinction Sam Cathcart Outstanding Performance - Golf
Julia Pilkington Attended: Bishop Diego High School* Attending: St. Olaf College Cardinal of the Year Drama Award/AP English Award LA Christian Service Award National Honor Society/CA Scholarship Federation
Wes Powell Attended: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: University of California Santa Barbara 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA/CSF Seal Bearer J & J Family Foundation Scholarship Golden State Seal Merit Diploma SBHS Community Service Star Award
Emma Redick Attended: Dos Pueblos High School Attending: University of California Davis National Honors Society/CSF Seal Bearer County/League Champion Track and Field Most Valuable Athlete Girls' Track and Field
Quincy Rhodes Gap year to be spent studying Permaculture in Garner Valley
Eva Saint Denis Second Year at Maharishi University of Management Merit Scholarships in English
Sarah Scarminach Attended: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: University of California Santa Barbara 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA CSF Seal Bearer/National Honor Society Golden State Seal Merit Diploma SBHS Community Service Star Award
Madison Severy Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: University of California Santa Barbara 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA AP Scholar CSF Seal Bearer/National Honor Society SBHS Community Service Star Award
Maria Solis Attended: Dos Pueblos High School* Attending: Westmont College Santa Barbara Scholarship The Independent Order of Oddfellows Community Service Award National Honors Society/CA Scholarship Federation Seal of Biliteracy
Caroline Stoll Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: University of California Santa Barbara
Penn Stussy Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: New York University 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA CSF Seal Bearer National Honor Society SBHS Community Service Star Award
Rachel Watson Attended: El Camino High School Attending: Sonoma State Summa cum Laude
Wyley Welch Attended: Santa Barbara High School Attending: Santa Barbara City College
Ryan Worley Attended: Santa Barbara High School* Attending: US Airforce Academy 3.5 GPA and above overall GPA AP Scholar with Honors CSF Seal Bearer/National Honor Society Maryann Schall Endowed Scholarship
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Service Learning
Second Semester 2012-2013 Eighth graders spent time singing and dancing with the elderly at the Friendship Centers in Goleta and Santa Barbara.
Crane formed the first annual Walk 4 Water team and raised over $6,000 for water systems in developing countries.
Students worked at Bici Centro, a non-profit promoting bicycle safety and advocacy.
The sixth graders made Valentines and other tray favors for Meals on Wheels recipients all year long.
The Mallet Masters added community service to their line up this year by taking their show on the road to local non-profits.
At the CARE Fair, seventh graders raised hundreds of dollars to benefit local non-profits. Eighth graders held a fundraising dance for Hurricane Sandy Relief and donated $800 to the Surf City New Jersey Volunteer Fire Department. The children at the Head Start Preschool in Carpinteria love it when Crane students come to play with them.
Eighth graders enjoy lending a hand at local preschools.
CONNECTIONS
Crane Alumni Spotlight Here are some thoughts prompted by my visit:
•
Crane’s buildings and facilities are just amazing. Existing buildings have been remodeled, and new buildings with fine science and computer labs have been built. However, the school still has the same comfortable feel that it did when I was a
Jean Roy ‘67
student. There is a great overall harmony to the campus.
•
Crane didn’t have the resources for extensive arts or music
In January, Jean Roy ’67 and his partner, Martha, visited the Crane
programs when I was a student. Things are much better now,
campus for the first time since his graduation. As they were leaving,
and I can see that Crane’s students can develop their artistic
I asked if he might be interested in writing an On Campus article
abilities like never before.
based on his observations and memories. Little did I know that he
•
We visited a science class and the computer lab. It’s good to see
would respond with a 6,000 word essay! As a solution, the first
Crane keeping up to date in the skills it’s teaching. There were
installment of his essay will appear in this issue, with subsequent
no personal computers, video games, or cell phones in those
installments to follow.
days. Most homes had only one wired phone, and our parents Debbie Williams, editor
I
attended Crane School from Third Grade in the fall of 1960
didn’t let us spend much time on it.
•
and confident. They weren’t very surprised and not at all
through Ninth Grade in the spring of 1967 (there was a Ninth
disrupted by us walking into classrooms. We spoke to a couple
Grade in those years). The school had a rigorous curriculum that
of students, including one who picked up and showed us one
gave me an excellent academic preparation for high school and
of the chickens. There’s a flock of chickens on campus? That
college. My teachers encouraged all of us to excel. I developed confidence in my abilities and went on to succeed in college, armed with the skills that they taught me. I ended up at AT&T Bell Labs in New Jersey in 1986 and have been in New Jersey ever since. I might have received a similar level of academic preparation at another school, but I believe that there was something special
The students whom we came across on campus were friendly
seems both strange and wonderful.
•
We attended an assembly where a student discussed a topic and took questions from other students. It was a supportive audience and seems like a great idea to build confidence in public speaking and in building school spirit.
about Crane beyond the academics that helped prepare the students to become responsible and successful citizens. The caring faculty taught us that we, and the society that we live in, are at our best and happiest when we excel personally and also help each other to succeed. I was taught to value everyone regardless of his or her differences (racial, religious, economic). That attitude was not shared as widely then as it is today. It aligned precisely with my family’s values and reinforced what I was learning at home. I attended Crane
I conclude that Crane is doing better than ever to bring out the best in its students artistically, academically, and even in sports (I saw lots of surfing trophies. Who knew that surfing is a competitive sport between schools?). I heard about the “Crane families” and it was like a family when I was a student also. I can remember many caring members of the Crane faculty when I was a student – and we benefited both academically and in other ways.
on a scholarship and despite the economic gap between my family and that of many of my Crane friends, never felt out of place. I credit
To be continued in the next fall/winter issue.
that both to Crane and to the other parents who were on board with the program of mutual respect.
11
Alumni News Faha Banks ’85 was inducted into Santa Barbara Athletic Round
Claire Taugher ’98 McCluskey was married on November 6,
Table’s Hall of Fame on May 20. She had been point guard for Santa
2010. Claire is currently a Research and Business Intelligence Analyst
Barbara High School’s girls’ basketball team and led them to CIF Div
at the UCLA Graduate Division. Her husband, Jeff McCluskey, is
4A semifinals. Faha has worked at Los Prietos Boys Camp since 1996
completing his masters in Moving Image Archive Studies at UCLA in
and is currently the Institutions Officer. She is the mother of Mason
June 2013. They are living in West Hollywood, CA.
(8) and Dallas (13).
Karrie Crane ’99
Nathan Clay ’90,
is the new editor/publisher for Edible San Luis
his
Obispo. She lives in Santa Barbara with her husband Eric, her
wife Georgia, and son Leo
daughter Olive, and continues her love for food, farming, and
were at Aliso School this
a sustainable lifestyle.
year when Crane’s Vibes! and
Jessica "JJ" Ryu ’99 graduated from Princeton in 2007,
Georgia run a tutoring
Tulane Medical School in 2012, and is currently an orthopedic
program
surgeon in-training at Stanford.
performed.
Nathan and
home
schooling program for local Santa Barbara students.
Matt Chambers ’00 joined Crane in the Sixth Grade, where he met Vanessa Bagdasarian ’00, a Crane Lifer. The
Damon Taugher ’94 and his wife, Sarah Wilkinson, welcomed
two were recently engaged on the Crane campus. "It is such a special
a son, Alden Phelan Taugher, on November 30, 2012. Damon is the
place to us because it's where we met over 15 years ago and began our
Director of Direct Relief USA, having worked with the organization
friendship." Matt works as
since graduating from UCLA
a project manager at a local
and developing its domestic
real
programs which serve over
company
1,000 community clinics and
is working in the family
nonprofits in all 50 states.His
Chipmunk business where
wife, Sarah, is a graphic designer
she has been writing the
and partner in Tabletop Made,
scripts,
a letterpress stationery design
voices, and helping create
studio in Santa Barbara.
Grace Jackson ’97 married her business partner, Josh Soskin, who is also a film director and photographer.
estate
development and
Vanessa
recording
the
the look for their new TV show. "This is a very exciting time for Matt and me and we owe so much of that to Crane!"
Fellow alumnus
Bennett Barbakow ’96 was a groomsman. Grace and Josh co-founded
Brian Franz ’02
Houseblend Media. They have produced over 20 short documentary
Studies in 2010 and receiving his masters degree in 2012, Brian landed
films across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
a job in Santa Barbara as a staff geologist with Geosyntec Consultant
Timothy Morton-Smith ’97 is one of two founding partners
After graduating from UCSD in Environmental
— a specialized consulting and engineering firm that works with the private and public sector to address complex problems involving
of Pacific Pointe Advisors, which is an independent Registered
the environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. On a
Investment Advisory firm that focuses on building customized
daily basis Brian provides project support including data analysis,
investment solutions. PPA has a
coordination of groundwater sampling, and contractor oversight for
strategic partnership with a group
groundwater remediation projects in Southern California.
in Newport Beach, Beacon Pointe, and together manage over $6 billion
Alison Ryu ’02 graduated from Harvard University in 2010 and
in client assets. He credits Doug
recently completed two years at JPMorgan in NYC. She now works at
McKenzie for his love of numbers.
a private equity firm in San Francisco.
Tim
recently
married
Kamren
Gudgeon, also a native of Santa
Elliott Crowe ’03
Barbara.
International Business. He lives in Los Angeles and is the CFO for
graduated from USC ’11 with a degree in
Alumni News UV3 Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of water polo swimsuits and for Cameron Productions, an independent film producer and book publisher since January 2012 where he is responsible for social media, funds development and financial management.
Future Crane Coyote: Ella Bragdon, daughter of Josiah and Sugey Gama '96 Bragdon
Maiesha Jackson ’03 just received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Boston University’s Sargent College — the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Addison Iwanaga ’04
graduated from UC Davis in 2012 in
genetics.
Claire Taugher '98
Samantha Ryu ’04 graduated from Brown University in 2012 (a four year Varsity athlete and captain of the women's water polo team), and is working for corporate GAP in San Francisco.
Carter Crowe ’05
has just completed his junior year at UC
Berkeley where he just won the William Stout Prize for Composition in the History of Architecture. He is also a member of the top NCAA ranked varsity crew and received the award for the highest GPA on the CAL crew team. Carter was chosen to participate in US Rowing's national U23 Sweep camp at Brown University with hopes of being
Karrie Crane '99 with husband Eric and daughter Olive
selected for the 8 man U23 team to represent the United States at the World U23 Championships in Linz, Austria, July 24-29th.
Corinne Dorais ’05
graduated from Janiata College with a
bachelor of science degree in Environmental Science.
Forrest Hausz ’05
is an honors student at the University of
Washington where he is specializing in Middle Eastern languages –
(left-right) Jessica Ryu '99, Samantha Ryu '04, Alison Ryu '02
Arabic and Farsi.
Samantha Crane ’05
graduated from the University of Rhode
Island with a BA in marine affairs and a minor in political science. Sammie's Seventh Grade QED project was working at the Marine Mammal Center which helped spur her interest in marine biology.
Melanie Thomas ’07 recently wrote and directed a folk opera entitled The Cave at Sarah Lawrence College. This summer Melanie will be participating in Vassar’s Powerhouse Theater program as well as the Manhattan Repertory Theatre Festival. Her junior year will be spent abroad at BADA (British Academy of Dramatic Arts).
Alden Crowe ’08 completed his first year as an engineering student at University of San Diego. During winter break, Alden worked as a skiing instructor at Mammoth and is beginning his third summer as a US Sailing level 2 certified sailing instructor and Assistant Director of the sailing program at the Ephraim Yacht Club in Ephraim, WI.
(left-right) Elliott Crowe '03, Carter Crowe '05, Alden Crowe '08
CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
Class of 2013
FRONT ROW
MIDDLE ROW
BACK ROW
Sylvia Gilbar Zac Towbes Grace MacNeil* Elijah Weiss* Olivia Siemens Slater Lewbel Lily Witherell Aaron Geser Liana Tacconelli* Lauren Lokre* Nathan Martin Lillian Perlmutter Nico Fairbanks
Miles Centrella Lily Dallow Kai Fisher* Lauren Hagen Harrison Kerdman Natasha Heyer* Eric Franklin Kate Smith* Thomas Dawson-Karpf Summer Smith Jake Klentner Amber Zangrillo Cameron Morris
Eva Herman Christian Herman Gina Moore* Sebastian Hallig Cassidy Drury-Pullen Sawyer Rhodes Emmett Rupert Poppy Brittingham* Danica Burgner* Mason Mackall* Delaney Mayfield Colin Browne Soleil Hallig
* K-8 Crane "Lifer" All names in order from left to right
Class of 2013
We are very proud of the accomplishments of the Eighth Grade class of 2013. The Crane faculty and staff would like to wish the graduating class the best of luck in their high school adventures. Bishop Diego
Dunn
Santa Barbara
Lily Dallow Thomas Dawson-Karpf Jake Klentner
Eric Franklin
Cate
Natasha Heyer Harrison Kerdman Grace MacNeil Amber Zangrillo
Danica Burgner Nico Fairbanks Aaron Geser Sylvia Gilbar Lauren Hagen Slater Lewbel Gina Moore Sawyer Rhodes Summer Smith Liana Tacconelli Lily Witherell
Colin Browne Christian Herman Eva Herman Lauren Lokre Mason Mackall Delaney Mayfield Lillian Perlmutter Olivia Siemens Kate Smith Zac Towbes Elijah Weiss
Dos Pueblos Miles Centrella Emmett Rupert
Laguna Blanca
Munich International Sebastian Hallig Soleil Hallig
San Marcos Cassidy Drury-Pullen Kai Fisher Cameron Morris
Thacher Poppy Brittingham
Undecided Nathan Martin
Awards Day
Class of 2013
Headmaster’s Prize
History Cup
description Awarded to the student who through leadership,
description Awarded for outstanding effort, achievement,
participation, and consideration of others has served best as an example for us all
curiosity, and consistent participation in the study and discussion of history
Colin Browne
recipient Kate Smith Academic Achievement Awards
Instrumental Music Cup
description Given to the Eighth Graders with the highest GPA
description Awarded for diligent study and accomplishment in
recipient
Art Cup
recipient
the realm of instrumental music
Poppy Brittingham Miles Centrella Cassidy Drury-Pullen Lauren Lokre Olivia Siemens Kate Smith Liana Tacconelli Elijah Weiss
Olivia Siemens Zac Towbes
recipient
Julia Brown English Cup description Given in honor of Miss Brown, to the student
who has demonstrated the highest achievement and greatest love of learning English
recipient
Kate Smith
Katharine Faletti Performing Arts Cup
description Given for excellence in application and
description Given in memory of Katherine Faletti for
creativity in art
outstanding contribution in the performing arts
Lauren Lokre Lily Witherell
recipient
recipient
Lejeune Teaching Fellowship
Amiability Award
description An annual award for an inspirational teacher
description Awarded to that student who showed the greatest
cooperation with congeniality toward all
Colin Browne
recipient
Kate Smith
recipient
Traci Cope
Lejeune Language Award (Spanish Cup)
Best All Around Boy Athlete
description Given in memory of founding Head of School
description Awarded for outstanding performance and
Arnold Lejeune, for outstanding achievement, effort, and enthusiasm in the study of the Spanish language and culture
participation in athletics recipient
recipient
Colin Browne
Best All Around Girl Athlete description Awarded for outstanding performance and
Nagle Memorial Award who showed outstanding enthusiasm in community service
Delaney Mayfield
recipient
David Echols Math Cup description Given in honor of former Crane teacher David
Echols, to the student with outstanding performance in mathematics recipient
Liana Tacconelli
description Given in honor of Dean Smith to the student who
has had no tardies or absences during his/her three Upper School years at Crane
Kai Fisher Lillian Perlmutter
Rose Bowl
recipient
Miles Centrella
Science Cup description Awarded to the student who most closely embodies,
description Awarded for outstanding participation and
recipient
Soleil Hallig Sawyer Rhodes
through outstanding effort and achievement, the popular sentiment at Crane that “science is everywhere”
recipient Kate Smith Drama Cup
description Given in honor of former Crane teacher Cathy Rose, to an unmistakably unconventional Eighth Grader
Dean Smith Perfect Attendance Award
memorable performance on the stage
Poppy Brittingham Liana Tacconelli
description Awarded in memory of Frank Nagle, to that student
participation in athletics recipient
librarian
recipient
Cassidy Drury-Pullen
Congratulations Gra
Awards Day
Class of 2013
Award Recipients (alphabetically left to right) Poppy Brittingham Academic Achievement Award Lejeune Language Award Colin Browne Amiability Award Best All Around Boy Athlete History Cup Miles Centrella Academic Achievement Award Rose Bowl Cassidy Drury-Pullen Academic Achievement Award Science Cup Kai Fisher Drama Cup Soleil Hallig Nagle Memorial Award Natasha Heyer Tower Improvement Award Lauren Lokre Academic Achievement Award Art Cup Talia S. Klein Award Mason Mackall Sheila Davidson Cup Grace MacNeil Sheila Davidson Cup Delaney Mayfield Best All Around Girl Athlete Lillian Perlmutter Drama Cup Sawyer Rhodes Nagle Memorial Award Olivia Siemens Academic Achievement Award Instrumental Music Cup
Sheila Davidson Cup
Talia S. Klein Award
description Given in honor of former Crane coach Sheila Davidson, to the athlete who best exemplifies commitment, teamwork, passion and sportsmanship
description Given to the student who, in the
recipient
Mason Mackall Grace MacNeil
aduates
opinion of the faculty, has been an unassuming force for good recipient
Lauren Lokre
Tower Improvement Award description Awarded to that student or students
who showed greatest academic improvement through effort and application
&
recipient
Natasha Heyer
Kate Smith Academic Achievement Award Dean Smith Perfect Attendance Award Headmaster’s Prize Julia Brown English Cup Katherine Faletti Performing Arts Cup Liana Tacconelli Academic Achievement Award David Echols Math Cup Lejeune Language Award Zac Towbes Instrumental Music Cup Elijah Weiss Academic Achievement Award Lily Witherell Art Cup Traci Cope Lejeune Teaching Fellowship
Award Recipients!
CONNECTIONS
Crane Alumni Spotlight
Emma Redick ’09
This speech was delivered
families gather together during the different seasons to make cards and
on
spend time together, which is the pure magic of community, as age bar-
Grandparents’
Day
by Crane alumna, Emma Redick ’09:
riers are broken by arts and crafts and duck-duck-goose. However, beyond the academia, beyond the unity of Crane, I found something that I believe many may not find in their lifetimes, the magic
Good afternoon students, grandparents and faculty. My name is
of self-worth. Through the plays every year, I found myself adorned in
Emma Redick and I graduated from Crane Country Day School in
bright fabrics and surrounded by live music performed by Mr. Jamison
June of 2009 and here I am today, almost four years later, standing
and Ms. Mackie. I found the importance in confidence, delivering my
before you all.
lines and knowing that none of the plays could carry on without every
Currently, I am a senior at Dos Pueblos High School. Second
single one of my fellow classmates onstage beside me. I found that recess
semester has just begun and like clockwork, the senioritis has set
in Second Grade wasn’t the same without every single one of the girls
in. So as Thursday rolled by, my friends started asking me what my
in the class frolicking through the fairy forest outside the science room.
weekend plans entailed. “Just speaking at a function at my elementary
I found that the Eighth Grade trip to Baja was only as amazing as it
and junior high school,” I’d respond casually and that response
was because every single person in the Class of 2009 made it that way,
was usually met with a look of confusion and terror. “Why?” they
including myself.
would ask. “Why would you want to go back to junior high? Why
There have been many classes before me and I know there have been
would you want to speak in front of a crowd? Let’s just hit the beach
and still will be many classes to follow me, but all thanks to the magic of
instead!”
this school, I have found that somewhere, somehow I have left my mark
“Why?” I would answer. “Because Crane is magical. And I mean
here, just as past classes have done and future classes will continue to do.
magical in every single sense of the word,” and you can imagine the
Thanks to Crane Country Day School, I know that I am a part of the
confusion that followed that.
larger community that we all are, and we all are crucial to that community.
“Magical?” they’d ask. “So you’re saying the teachers can do
First semester of senior year was a hectic one. College applications
magic tricks? And there are magical creatures? Like out of a fantasy
were stressful as all students are striving to make themselves appear
or fairytale?” they’d ask.
perfect on paper. Counting extra curricular activities and community
And after a moment’s thought, I’d answer, “Yes.”
service hours became a weekend ritual for my household. And I’d say,
And I wasn’t lying. Of course, there are no unicorns roaming
one of the most stressful parts of the application process was deciding
around the field or dragons in Cate Hall, but at Crane one can find
on a major. I milled for hours and led countless sleepless nights over
the magic of education, community and self-worth.
what I was going to study in college to then pursue a profession for the
From Señora Calderon’s Spanish flashcards in kindergarten, to Ms. Sandell’s make-shift cotton ball warm fuzzies, to Mr. McCaslin’s current events, in every nook and cranny of Crane, there’s the opportunity for education incomparable to any other school. I entered my freshman year of high school in Spanish 3-4, tutoring the seniors as
rest of my life. Finally I decided. For every school, I went in undeclared. I simply couldn’t choose and I thank Crane for that. The magic of this school broadened my horizons and pushed me beyond my comfort zone, which is where life truly begins.
the Spanish classes at Crane left me well ahead of the rest of my class.
So to my peers at Dos Pueblos, yes Crane Country Day School is
Public speaking was never a fear of mine as no English class at Dos
magical. The teacher’s best magic tricks are teaching us without the stu-
Pueblos can compare to the hundreds of eyes in Cate Hall watching
dents even realizing. The magical creatures live in the school plays and
as I gave my current event presentation in Eighth Grade. And even
only out of a fairy tale can you find a headmaster who brings the whole
my Advanced Placement art class can’t compare to the cotton balls
pre-first class into his office for story time with Oreo cookies and milk.
we would glue onto paper to make warm fuzzies with Mrs. Sandell.
This is a magical place and the magic is all around you. From the
Crane families and assemblies are some of the things I miss the
parking lot to the library, from the coyote statue outside the office to the
most about Crane Country Day. It must take all the magic tricks in
tree planted in loving memory of my first friend at Crane, Talia Stella
the book to gather every single person in the school into one room,
Klein, that faces the field, magic is around every corner.
but somehow Crane does it and all it takes is one bell. The Crane
Alumni News Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2013 Three Crane alumni and a Crane parent had the good fortune of
Jack, based on the true story of Jack English, was Grace’s
showcasing their films at the 2013 Santa Barbara International Film
SBIFF entry. It is the story of a 93-year old man who lives in a
Festival — congratulations!
cabin deep in the Ventana Wilderness. His life is quite the contrast
Brothers Bennett ’96 and Max ’03 Barbakow and good friend Grace Jackson ’97 all contributed to Byron's Theme, Bennett’s short,
to today’s society that is moving away from nature as technological advancements and materialism become more and more prevalent.
existential comedy about an aimless man and his handsome golden
Parent Leslie Zemeckis has three Crane students — Zane (4th),
retriever, Byron. Byron's Theme was written, directed, scored,
Rhys (3rd), and Zsa Zsa (K). Her documentary Bound by Flesh has
and edited by Bennett. He collaborated with Max and Grace who
won numerous awards and continues to be shown throughout the
produced the film. They all spent days in the desert of Palmdale and
country. The subjects of the film are beautiful Siamese twins Daisy
El Mirage, getting lost and making movies. Continuing to work and
and Violet Hilton who were born in 1908 in Brighton. They shared a
play together is quite a treat for Grace and Bennett, who met in the
“Dickensian” childhood under the suppressive rule of a legal guardian
lower school at Crane.
who exploited and kept them virtual prisoners when they weren’t
Max had his own SBIFF entry – a feature-length documentary,
performing in sideshows on the carnival circuit. Though they could
Mommy, I'm a Bastard! which chronicles the bizarre and heartfelt
not escape the flesh that bound them together – and they did not want
story of Max's adoption. Less a story of Max’s life than an attempt
to – they did eventually obtain their freedom (after a sensational trial
at emulating the authentic aesthetic of his family’s vibrant home
in San Antonio) and rose to the heights of stardom on the vaudeville
videos, the film strives to capture both the irreverence and sincerity
circuit, where they literally were making “bags of money,” none of
in the bond between Max's respective families while Max works
which they saw. They were superstars in their era of the 20s and 30s
toward a more complete understanding of his adoption.
all because of a “band of flesh.” Leslie found their story to be very American — rags to riches, riches to rags. www.boundbyflesh.com
1
2
1 Brothers Bennett ’96 and Max ’03 Barbakow and Grace Jackson ’97
3
2 Max Barbakow ’03 3 Grace Jackson ’97 4 Grace and Bennett 5 Grace with Jack English 6 Leslie Zemeckis
4
5
6 19
Alumni News Documentary Twenty Feet from Stardom Previewed at Crane After opening the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, the documentary
seal the deal.
Twenty Feet from Stardom previewed on a slightly smaller screen -
The movie, which documents the true stories of background
the one in Cate Hall – thanks to a connection that the director and
singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of our time,
producer share with Crane Country Day School.
resonated with Friesen and Neville, because, as Neville explained,
The film is the brainchild of late entertainment executive and
“We saw something of our own lives in these backup artists.”
Crane dad, Gil Friesen, and was directed by Crane Country Day
president of A&M records for more than a decade, Friesen spent his
School alum Morgan Neville (Crane ’81).
life in the backdrop, making artists shine, while Neville devoted his
“It was a trip to be back at Crane in the same auditorium where I
career to telling other peoples’ stories.
screened my Super 8 movies,” laughed Neville who says he was always
The documentary, which took nearly two years to make, profiles
a movie and music fanatic. After graduating from Crane, Neville
Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill, Claudie Lennear, Darlene
attended Thacher and UCLA. He’s certainly progressed from the
Love and Tata Vega, the voices behind such musical masters as
homemade zombie movies of his teens to polished profiles of producers
Bruce Springstein, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger and Sting. Neville
and songwriters who helped shape 20th century music. His company,
says he interviewed at least 60 male and female singers and selected
Tremolo Productions, is widely regarded as a top producer of cultural
these six for the balance they provided. “They are great characters
documentary films. Neville chose Crane to preview his film because of
with amazing voices who intersect with pop music history in some
the significance the school holds for both him and the movie’s producer,
way and whose stories build upon the others,” explained Neville.
Gil Friesen. Friesen’s son Theo attends Second Grade (younger sister
Thanks to the extraordinary relationships that Friesen built over his
Uma is just 3-years-old). Friesen passed away this past December at
career, the two men were able to access archival footage, original
the age of 75 from complications of leukemia. His wife, Janet, says the
music, and intimate interviews with recording legends.
screening was a way to welcome the family back to the community
Friesen finished the final credits from his hospital room, but passed away before the movie opened. “Gil knew the odds of
after taking off the year to care for her husband. Friesen and Neville realized their Montecito connection when
getting selected to open Sundance were extremely rare,” notes his
Friesen, former president of A& M records, contacted the award-
widow, Janet. “He knew that it would be big and that made him
winning documentary filmmaker about his movie.
very happy.”
Neville says he
Ann Pieramici Crane Parent and PFC Publicity
only knew Friesen by reputation, but when they started talking and made the Crane connection, it was an instant bond that likely helped
20
As
(left-right) Crane alumnus Morgan Neville ’81 shines a light on singer Merry Clayton in his documentary, Twenty Feet from Stardom. Clayton has been a backup singer to such musical masters as Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Joe Cocker, but she is best-known as the diva who duets with Mick Jagger in the Rolling Stones' legendary single Gimme Shelter. / Gil Friesen with Merry Clayton and friends, back in the day when Friesen was chairman of A&M records. / Second grader Theo Friesen inherited his dad’s love of music, pictured here with Sting and Jo Lawry before the two performed at the Santa Barbara Bowl.
Garden Program DELIGHT in 2012-2013 The first time a Kindergarten student finds a red-wriggler worm in the garden bed there is usually a squeal — of delight. In fact, the theme of the garden program this year is delight. Delight from students exploring and discovering, delight from Crane students and staffulty reveling in the garden contributions to the salad bar, and delight in the process of growing together. Thanks to funding from the Kirby-Jones Foundation, the physical garden site and garden program have expanded over the last three years. This year, Crane’s garden has regularly contributed lettuce and veggies to the hot lunch salad bar, as well as occasional collaborations where students have made and shared kale salad or broccoli soup with the whole school. The garden program has not only been a source of culinary enrichment, but also continues to be a great opportunity for integrated experiential learning. There have been many delightful garden moments this year. The Kindergarten students read The Little Red Hen and then helped sow some heirloom Sonoran wheat with the hopes of returning for harvest time to grind the seeds into flour and eventually make bread. The first graders were the great hypothesizers when estimating the differences in garden temperature and noting the changing patterns of the weather. The Second Grade students have done most of the heavy lifting —amending beds with compost, planting a potato patch as well as flowers and herbs. They’ve also proven their culinary savvy, making radish leaf pesto and delicious Crane avocado guacamole! The fourth graders have spent some garden time in the winter months writing Vegetable Tall Tales, making carrot pickles, and learning about food preservation. As we continue to expand our garden program and bring more food from garden to fork, we invite you to come check out what we’re growing or even volunteer some time to pick greens for hot lunch. I’m sure you’ll experience what Crane students have in the garden this year — Delight!
Kjessie Rubke Garden Educator
21
Upper School Music • Vibes! A volunteer from the audience grips the mallet, swings it like a baseball bat, and strikes the huge gong! The air is fractured by crashes of brass, players bound onto the stage, and it’s Vibes! Inside, outside, gym or theater, for the next forty-five minutes the music of Vibes! rocks the place and has the audience tapping their toes and clapping their hands. Our high-energy program combines the rhythms and layers of African style marimba music with instrumental classics, classical music, and, of course, in Santa Barbara, surf tunes!
Joel Jamison, Vibes! drummer for six years
In March, Crane’s Vibes! school tour hit the road for the eighth time. Since our first off-campus performance at Santa Barbara’s Christmas Unity 2005 Telethon, we have performed over one hundred tour shows for more than eighty schools and community events in Southern California. Following each performance, this extraordinary team of musicians as well as ambassadors for Crane line up at the exits to greet and say goodbye to the audience. How did this come about? Well, it took a village (the Crane Community made up of scores of students, parents and staff) in the right place, at the right time, and being prepared. Twenty-nine years ago, I stepped on to the Crane campus for the first time, and thought, “This is where I want to be — for a long time. “ Crane
Alumni at the December 2012 Vibes! Reunion
had just completed construction of a music room attached to the back of the stage, and my assignment was to design a Lower School music program “for our students to love music”. Wow! A brand new music room, faculty and staff of creative, caring people who love life, learning, and kids? I’m in! I had my music degrees from Northwestern, a teaching credential and post-graduate studies in education at UCSB, over three decades of experience in theater and music performance, and more than ten years experience teaching music. I strapped my guitar over one shoulder, a keyboard Eric Haessler
over the other, and came to
Vibes! members with alumni at the December 2012 Reunion
Crane with hundreds of songs and ideas in my head. We
based
our
Lower
School music curriculum on Orff-Schulwerk (schoolwork). Carl Orff (German, 18951982 best known for Carmina Burana) spent his later years observing children, focusing on music, movement and speech. Ojai Storytelling Festival 2010
Upper School Music • Vibes! His developmental approach to music education is a way of looking at music that deeply involves students in its creation with speech, movement, singing, and playing xylophones and small percussion. By 1989 we were well on our way to building Crane’s excellent collection of Orff xylophones. Xylophones,
drums
and
recorders were a hit with the lower school. Then, for Toni Mackie
the Music Hour in 2002, all eleven Fifth Grade boys decided to form a band and play a rock and roll xylophone number. Pipeline knocked the socks off the Music Hour audience.
The motion and
rigor of their playing were as exciting as the sounds of xylophones and a drum set playing a surf classic. Loading up the U-Haul 2013
The
Mallet Masters were born.
Magic Mountain 2009
This group of good friends and excellent musicians stayed together until they graduated in 2005. By the fall of 2003 more Upper School boys and girls were eager to participate in drum and xylophone ensembles. It made sense to start another group with a different style - African-style marimba music. From the first performance, this music grabbed the audience as well as the kids and became the core of our Vibes! tour repertoire. Crane hosted our first Vibes Reunion this year. About forty of our over one hundred alums joined the current Vibes! for a beautiful afternoon of music and memories. It took our village to bring this all about. We are so grateful to
Mallet Masters 2003
our parents, staff and faculty members for their help, support and belief that we had the Vibes!
EVENTS Earth Day Big Dog Parade I Madonnari Magic Mountain Santa Barbara Breakers game Ojai Storytelling Festival Mallet Masters shirt design by Paul Turpin Vibes! logo and shirt design by Lorie Bacon African shirts designed and made by Katie Williams Vibes! 2007
Toni Mackie Music Director
23
Lower School Spring Study Week LATITUDE ZERO: FOLLOWING THE EQUATOR Latitude Zero, this year’s theme for Lower School Spring Study Week, immersed students in a study of people, countries and cultures at Latitude Zero. This study offered students the opportunity to explore the foods, geography, music, weather and animal life associated with the thirteen countries that lie along the equator. Our culminating activity had students participating in children’s games from around the world before sampling foods from several of the countries studied. Excitement was high when Zoo to You presented animals from the rain forest to the students. From gigantic hissing cockroaches to wide-eyed kinkajoos and giant pythons, students were in awe of the amazing creatures they saw. Cooking foods from Ecuador and Indonesia, students ground, grated and rolled ingredients for tasty treats. There are many rituals associated with crossing the Equator, but Crane put its own spin on it with funny tests and fancy dance moves. Students learned about longitude and latitude, created tunics representing the three continents associated with the equator, designed “trash” fish from the ocean, learned about the tilt of the Earth, and so much more during this exciting week.
Gayle Sandell Head of Lower School
Lower School Sports TRACK AND FIELD EVENT Our annual Lower School Track Meet was glorious! I was skeptical of having to reschedule this event due to rainy weather. I was concerned that our visiting schools, (Marymount, Laguna, Montessori, and Howard), would not be able to change their schedules in order to accommodate the new date. Luckily, everyone was able to attend, including our fifth graders who had just returned from Boston. The day was perfect. The temperature on the field was comfortable, and the track was set. It always amazes me when I see students arriving from other schools with an abundant amount of joy and excitement. Participants took to the field and embraced each of the events: Jump Rope for Speed, Running Long Jump, 100 Yard Dash, Hurdles, and the High Jump. After a quick break and snack, the students were called to the field to run the co-ed 4X100 relays. For many of the athletes this is their first experience with this event. Everyone walked off the field with lots of ribbons, new experiences, and tired legs. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this event run smoothly and efficiently. Without the tremendous support of the visiting schools and coaches, this event would not be possible.
Suzanne Rossi Lower School Physical Education
Upper School Athletics WE'VE GOT SPIRIT! This year Crane athletes rocked the house with spirit, dedication, and grit on both the fields and the courts! At the ring of the bell, our athletes jumped into action, filling the courts with eager chatter and lining the field with ready feet. Week after week they devoted their afternoons to developing their skills and demonstrating their athletic prowess. Our boys’ varsity basketball team was a solid group of young men ready to take the ball to the hoop, rebound with hops, and dribble with agility. With a 50/50 record in league play they were seeded 3rd in the silver division of play offs. Their “never give up” attitude won them a spot in the championship game. These boys were determined to give the opponents a run for their money and they did, with a first place victory in the silver division. Our girls’ soccer team charged the season with intensity, determination and good spirit. They came in third in league play, gaining strength with each game played. They knew they would be a contender to be reckoned with in tournament play. With a strong performance, they made it to the championship match against Santa Barbara Middle School. It was a very competitive game in the rain, but SBMS was one player too strong. Keeping their Coyote spirit, they gave their all. The boys’ volleyball team was full of athletic promise despite a lack of experience in the world of volleyball. With lots of practice, they turned into a strong, spirited team that other teams stopped to notice. This group of fun-loving boys was in fine form come tournament time. They were moving as a team, executing transition plays, blocking balls, and digging spikes. They had become volleyball players. With a third place finish in the tournament, they made us proud. Our girls’ basketball team was full of promise. It was one of the tallest teams we’ve had in a long time. With a tall, quick line-up, these girls played a physical game. Their height resulted in numerous rebounds and shot opportunities leading to a first place finish in league play. They jumped into the tournament raring to go. Fighting their way to the championship game, they were taken down by a close margin by Laguna Blanca, but these girls never gave up! Crane’s surf team set a mark no other team in our league has ever met. We have taken 1st place in 9 out 10 years and this year demonstrated our Coyote spirit in fine form. With a small and young team, we set our standards high at every contest with many of our surfers needing to enter in multiple events. Our girls were our strong suit, making the winning difference at multiple competitions. Crane’s team is known for our hard working athletes who strive to compete to their full potential, and they consistently demonstrate their abilities in the water. Grades 7 and 8 flag football season jumped into full swing right after Spring Break. With a strong group of girls and boys ready to learn plays and pull flags, they executed many amazing catches for touchdowns, intercepted passes, and scored with our strong girl participation. This team brought their Coyote spirit to every game, and as a result, it was a season to be remembered with a third place finish in tournament play. This year will go in the books as a year of successes, due to the active participation, determination, and fun loving spirit of all our athletes. Go Coyotes!
Terri Willis Upper School Athletic Director
2013 Upper School Musical
CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 1795 San Leandro Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93108 www.craneschool.org
Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Santa Barbara, CA Permit No. 430
Academic Year 2012/13 • Volume Two
OnCAMPUS
EDITOR Debbie Williams
CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Lorie Bacon SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHER Teresa Pietsch
A Newsletter for Parents, Grandparents, Friends, and Alumni
PRINTER Wilson Printing
In May, we celebrated Anne Perkins for her 20th year as a Crane employee. However, Anne’s time at Crane began in 1980 when her son Elliott began Pre-First. Followed by Kacey and Sarah, Anne’s time as a parent was hugely influential with all of these traditions still going strong: she began Parents for Crane (PFC), the hot lunch program, Grandparent’s Day, and of course, many of the Upper School trips. Phil von Phul and Pat Bixler have both graced our campus and our Crane science department for 30 years each. They were honored at our annual Crane spring event where a video was shown and a paddle was held to raise money for Crane’s science endowment. As parent Corby Fisher so aptly stated, "Bix and VP — if I had to sum them up in one word, it would be passion. They’re passionate about science, they’re passionate about teaching, and they’re passionate about the students. They go above and beyond to make science come alive.”