Academic Year 2013/14 • Volume Two
OnCAMPUS CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
A Newsletter for Parents, Grandparents, Friends, and Alumni
Inside
2 Visual Arts 3 Leading the Way 4 Advancement 5 Spring Benefit 6-7 Past Parents Events 8-9 Class of 2010 10 Cover Article / QED 11-19 Alumni News 20 Service Learning 21 Memorial: Norman Sprague 22-23 Spring Study Week 24-25 Fifth Grade in Boston 26 Athletics 27 Theater Arts
Special Features when we think of art, we tend to think of art objects. As an artist and art teacher, I like to look at it a little differently, the way educational philosopher John Dewey saw it — Dewey believed that a work of art is “a refined and intensified form of experience.” According to Dewey, “The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.” These ideas inspired me to create the Eighth Grade art unit called the i@pp.
(above)Brynkly with her art installation honoring the victims of Malaysia Flight 370.
Graduation 2014
(right) Clay is seen painting the gameboard for the role playing game he invented. (bottom) Orlando learned to sew on a Singer sewing machine. (bottom right) Anna chose ceramics as her area of focus.
In education, student choice is important. Recent educational literature is filled with academic articles and scientific studies confirming what every good teacher knows from experience — given some choice in what and how to learn, a student will work harder, delve deeper, and retain more knowledge. I first explored this idea in 2002 when I began to develop the “Art Buffet” in Lower School. (continued on Page 10)
i@pp | student driven inquiry and choice base learning
center
lower school Fourth Grade students considered the anatomy and nature of the horse in these graphite drawings. Light and dark contrast was emphasized, as well as mid tones of gray to create movement and energy. Featured artwork from Fifth and Seventh Grade Impressionist Landscapes • Gouache and chalk on paper
upper school
After looking at the landscapes by Claude Monet from afar, students used magnifying glasses to see the expressive marks and splashes of raw color that transformed the realistic images to abstractions. They then learned about overlap and contrast to create space and dimension to their own landscapes.
visual arts
Leading the Way A Powerful Tool - Experiential Learning “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
many people know
that Crane’s curriculum carefully
education.
One of those experts is Second Grade teacher,
Karen Ohrn. For the first time, she introduced her students to mysteries. After reading a few novels and seeing the high levels of student excitement about mysteries, she met with me, and we concocted a fun and somewhat elaborate mystery of our own!
balances intellectual study with creative expression. And
One day, I sent a note to Karen asking her to come by my
clearly lots of folks in Santa Barbara know of Crane’s beautiful
office with her students. Within the hour, the entire Second
campus. Both brand new visitors and current students are
Grade class was sitting around the coffee table in my office,
keenly aware of our school’s focus on building community. But
eager to find out why they had been summoned. I took out a
more than anything else, Crane is recognized as a school that
letter, theoretically from one of Crane’s former headmasters,
celebrates the power of experiential learning.
and shared with them a mysterious story: many years ago, this
Whenever I walk by our beautiful mulberry tree, I smile
head had hosted a contest for his students. The prize was a
and remember that experiential education is in our school’s
wooden box filled with goodies, but unfortunately the box was
DNA.
stolen and despite a thorough search, the culprit was never
Innovative today, this technique of experiential
learning was even bolder when Crane was first founded in
discovered, and the box remained missing.
1928. A vast majority of schools at that time simply relied on
Clearly this whole story was fabricated, but saying that
rote learning and memorization. Experiential learning was
these students were enthusiastic to solve our mystery was a vast
new and extremely rare.
understatement. As I read aloud the letter from this imagined headmaster, the children were absolutely silent, and their eyes bulged until I showed them the first clue that the headmaster had sent. The squeals of excitement began as they instantly recognized the code in the first clue. With letter in hand, they ran back to the classroom to begin the complex task of solving the puzzle. For the next two days, these students roamed the campus, solving brainteasers, looking for clues, and eventually discovering the long-lost box. At one level, you might say that this was just a fun lesson, but like any strong lesson, so much happened. I’d bet many of those students came away with an increased appetite for reading, especially the savoring of mysteries. I’d also suspect
Even in Crane’s initial year, instead of just lecturing, early
that some children were encouraged to write, to try their own
science teachers chose to use actual silkworms to teach about
hand at the creation of a mystery. The puzzle challenges were
the life cycle, though one of the most challenging logistics of
mathematical and analytical, and I’m sure some kids walked
that educational lesson is that silkworms need one particular
away with an increased craving for demanding problems. The
item to eat, mulberry tree leaves. That first year of Crane’s
list of outcomes goes on and on, since they collaborated and
existence, that science teacher had to regularly drive into
worked effectively as a team, got to better know Crane’s current
Santa Barbara to harvest mulberry leaves from a friend’s tree.
headmaster, and were encouraged to explore some new nooks
At the end of that first school year, that forward-thinking
and crannies of the campus. A powerful collection of outcomes
science teacher planted a mulberry sapling so he would have
from just one lesson!
his own easy supply of leaves. Of course, that tiny seedling became our majestic mulberry tree. Fast-forward to today and Crane continues to employ expert teachers doing amazing things with experiential
So yes, we believe in experiential education at Crane School. It takes the bland and makes it spicy. It takes the dull and makes it shiny. It takes the normal and makes it extraordinary.
Joel Weiss Head of School
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Advancement Campaign Crane: little school, BIG PLANS after receiving a new Conditional Use Permit in 2011, which
“I’ve been overwhelmed with the community’s generosity and
secured land use and development rights articulated in Crane’s
the enthusiasm,” says Patty, who describes the Master Plan as
Master Plan, a big focus at Crane Country Day School in 2013-14 has
a ‘generational plan’ because it provides a carefully-considered
been Campaign Crane: little school, BIG PLANS. This fundraising
pathway to ensuring that Crane meets its needs for several
effort supports the school’s long-term vision and secures funding
decades. “Crane has a special place in their hearts, and they want
for Master Plan projects prioritized in the recently-adopted five-
to support it for the future.”
year Strategic Plan.
True to Crane form, the plans and priorities established in the
The key components of this campaign are:
CUP, the Master Plan, and the Strategic Plan were developed over
several years with exhaustive input from Crane stakeholders.
• construction of an environmentally- and neighborhood• construction of an environmentally- and friendly parking lot, which includes essential infrastructure for neighborhood-friendly parking lot, which includes future projects essential infrastructure for future projects • construction of the Oak Tree Quad classrooms, including • construction of the Oak Tree Quad classrooms, Upper School academic spaces, a woodshop, and a robotics lab including Upper School academic spaces, a offering hands-on learning for Upper and Lower School students woodshop, and a robotics lab offering hands-on • growing the endowment to support tuition assistance, learning for Upper and Lower School students faculty development, service learning, and academic and arts • growing the endowment to support tuition programs assistance, faculty development, service learning, • funding technology programs, including the laptop/iPad and academic and arts programs programs and robotics lab
“A lot of thought and wisdom went into the Master Plan, and we solicited a tremendous amount of input from teachers, families— the entire Crane community—to create a sense of ownership and buy-in,” says Patty. “The enthusiastic response to Campaign Crane reflects that.” With $7.8 million raised, the goal is within reach, but there is still a lot to do. “We’re hoping that every family can commit to a stretch gift,” Scott explains. “We’re trying to get 100 percent participation.” “We hope that parents will donate in a way that reflects their interest in their child's happiness at Crane,” Patty adds. “Part of
• funding technology programs, including the
what makes this campaign so special is the sense of community
laptop/iPad programs and robotics lab
and the opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ to future generations of
Campaign Crane is unique for Crane in that it is the first fundraising effort to address multiple needs at a time, explains Head of School Joel Weiss. “It’s raising money for buildings, the endowment, and programs, so there is something to stimulate the interest of every potential donor.” The campaign is being run by the immensely capable co-chairs and Crane trustees Patty MacFarlane and Scott Brittingham.
Crane students, teachers, and families, to further enhance the world-class experiential learning that takes place at Crane.” “Right now, Crane has some nice momentum,” Joel says. “The economy has improved, we've been working hard and have a strong team, and the projects were well-conceived and articulated. The success so far tells us the timing was right. Now we need to finish strong so that we can transform our dreams into reality.”
“While Crane families generously support programs through their Annual Fund and Spring Benefit contributions, Campaign Crane provides them with an opportunity to participate in improving Crane for current and future generations,” Scott says. “It’s occurring at a time when a vast majority of parents who have enjoyed the relatively new facilities and programs have never been asked to make an investment in school improvements.” The campaign generated a remarkable initial response, which led the Board to launch the campaign publicly with a goal of $9 million. As of June 2014, $7.8 million had been raised.
4
Scott Brittingham and Patty MacFarlane
Spring Benefit
Crane Rocks! the spring benefit
on May
3, Crane Rocks, literally rocked the campus with over two hundred people, two rock ‘n’ roll bands, a tribute to retiring teacher Janey Cohen for her 25 years of teaching, and much more. The musical evening began in honor of special guest Norman Gimbel, parent of Peter ’99 and Hannah ’01 and grandparent of current student Peyton ’22, who is a prolific popular songwriter. A ten-student Upper School chorus sang two of his songs and was capped with a rendition by Alexander Fell ’15 of Norman’s most famous song, The Girl from Ipanema. Jessie Bridges ’97, rounded out the evening with three songs: two original pieces followed by the Beatles song In My Life leading up to the service learning endowment paddle raise in honor of Janey Cohen. Thanks to co-chairs Kisa Heyer, Laura Shelburne and auctioneer and entertainer Palmer Jackson,
Crane Rocks was a fabulously rockin’ fun night and most
importantly, it surpassed our fundraising goal!
Top: Janey Cohen (second from right) surrounded by her colleagues, Traci Cope, Theresa Gorey, and Lori Moore. Below: Daughter Nellie with her songwriter father and current Crane grandparent, Norman Gimbel, as he was being honored by the Crane Upper School Chorus (bottom photo) who sang a couple of his songs.
Below: Jessie Bridges ’97 with retiring teacher Janey Cohen.
Past Parents Event
The Dreier Collection February 20, 2014
thanks to the hospitality
of new parents Doug and
Hanna Dreier and new grandparents Chad and Ginny Dreier, our
Gary Saint Denis, Scott Brittingham, Dodd Geiger
annual past parent event was held at the Dreier Collection, Santa Barbara’s hidden treasure that houses first edition books, historical documents, and an extensive display of gems and minerals.
Stephen & Maria Black, Chad Dreier, Valerie Froscher, Kirk Lewis
Amy Mayfield, Meghan Stoll, Tricia Price
John McIntyre, Bob Ingersoll, Ryan Bell
Joanie Saint Denis, Mina Welch, Molly Green
Terre Hartz, Joyce Enright, Marcy Mullan, Hanna Dreier Beth Geiger, Gayle Sandell, Barry and Nora Taugher
Mary Blair, Bobbie Kinnear, Victoria Harvey 6
Carrie Towbes, Jeff Barr
Elaine LeVasseur, Merrily Peebles
Julia Dawson, Doug Dreier, Bobbie Kinnear, Philip Coombs
Past Parents Event Digging in the Past
Crane Parents of the ’70s and ’80s thanks to the hard work and determination of Gail O’Brien (mother of Tom ’75, Page ’78, Sarah ’82, and Peter ’84, and grandmother of current Crane student Pierce Dowling ’21 and incoming kindergartener Ronan Dowling ’23), a past parent event was held on May 17, 2014 for those parents from the 1970s and 1980s. Gail enlisted the help of Lori Meshcler (mother to Claudia ’81 and Justin ’87 ) and Greg Putnam ’65 (father to Tina and Teri ’88, Gina ’85 and step-father to Erika Hollister ’96).
Ann Wilkinson, Gail O’Brien, Ewy Axelsson
It was fun having this group of parents return to campus as many of them had not been on Crane’s campus since their child(ren) had graduated!
Flora Ramirez
Anne Perkins and Jim Davidson
Gail and Sarah O’Brien
Sarah and Phillip Veddar
Dan McCaslin, Cathy Rose, Tricia and Craig Price, Sheila Davidson Jill Milton, Debbie Williams, Bob Ingersoll
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alumni news
Class of 2010 Myles Adams
Congratulations to the Class of 2010 on all your high school accomplishments. Crane wishes you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Come back and visit us!
Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: University of California at Irvine CSF Seal Bearer / Ntl Honor Society / AP Scholar with Honor National Merit Scholar - Commended Student Community Service Star Award
Jack Baker
Madeline Centrella
Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: University of Arizona SBART Athlete of the Year Award – Basketball Sal Padilla Award for Best Male Athlete – Basketball University of Arizona Excellence Award Scholarship
Holly Blair Attended: Northfield Mount Herman Prep School Attending: University of Southern California Deans List / Captain varsity volleyball team Sports columnist for school newspaper Founder and President of the Fitness and Nutrition Club
Jesse Brinkenhoff Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: Gap year
Chloe Brown Attended: Laguna Blanca Attending: University of Southern California Inducted into the Cum Laude Society in 2013 Recipient of Head of School pin Headmaster’s Award
Caneel Burgner Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: Furman University Furman Bell Tower Scholarship CSF Seal Bearer / Ntl Honor Society Warren and Mary Lynn Staley Scholarship
Katherine Burrows Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: American University of Paris / USC Platinum Award (3.8 GPA and above) National Honor Society CSF Seal Bearer
Olivia Caesar Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Platinum Award (3.8 GPA and above) CSF Seal Bearer / Ntl Honor Society Community Service Star Award
8
Theo Caretto
Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Platinum Award: (3.8 GPA and above) CSF Seal Bearer / Ntl Honor Society / AP Scholar Community Service Star Award
Attended: Marymount International School in Rome Attending: Lehigh University
Tessa Dewell Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: University of California at Berkeley Platinum Award (3.8 GPA and above) CSF Seal Bearer / Ntl Honor Society 2014 Distinguished Don / SBHS Alumni Scholarship
Connor Dougherty Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: University of California at Los Angeles Platinum Award (3.8 GPA and above) CSF Seal Bearer / Ntl Honor Society / AP Scholar with Honor UCLA Recognition Scholarship / SBSF Overall Scholarship
Channing Fisher Attended: Dos Pueblos High Attending: Principia College National Merit Scholar Finalist CIF Southern Section Scholar Athlete of the Year Congressional Award Silver Medal
Alexis Flores Attended: San Marcos High Attending: University of California at Berkeley Goleta Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year AP Scholar with Honor SB Teen Coalition 2014 Youth Leader
Brenna Geiger Attended: Cate Attending: Gap year / Colorado College 2015
Chanti González Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: Santa Barbara City College Gold Award (3.0 – 3.79 GPA) Community Service Star Award National Society of High School Scholars
Megan Grant Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: Columbia University Platinum Award (3.8 GPA and above) CSF Seal Bearer / Ntl Honor Society Community Service Star Award
alumni news
Class of 2010 Clara Madsen
Adrian Rodriguez
Attended: Dos Pueblos High Attending: University of California at Berkeley National Merit Scholar Finalist AP Scholar with Distinction College-level international hacking competition (CSAW CTF)
Attended: Laguna Blanca Attending: Claremont McKenna Inducted into the Cum Laude Society in 2013 Outstanding Female Athlete – 2013, 2014 John H. Adams Scholar Athlete Award
Sophie Russo
Ryan Green
Sarah Martin
Charlie Green
Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: Santa Barbara City College Gold Award (3.0 – 3.79 GPA)
Attended: Dos Pueblos High Attending: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Third place — Fencing Summer Nationals 2013 45th Place World Team CSAW CTW Hacking Team National Merit Scholar
Attended: Dos Pueblos High Attending: Sonoma State University Award of outstanding merit, student art fund Online photo contest, 2014 Top 100 in the AAPT photo contest, 2012
Attended: Cate Attending: Chapman University 6 Varsity Letters Class Agent
Wyatt Hagen
Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: Gap year to travel Platinum Award (3.8 GPA and above) National Honor Society
Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: Gap year working to receive his EMT / Maritime Academy fall 2015 Gold Award (3.0 – 3.79 GPA) / Community Service Star Award Coaches’ selection — All-Channel League waterpolo team
Daniel Moghtader
Sophia Soriano
Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: University of California at Berkeley Platinum Award (3.8 GPA and above) National Honor Society / AP Scholar with Honor Community Service Star Award
Andrew Horak Attended: Laguna Blanca Attending: University of Denver, Lamont School of Music Young Artist Award, Jacobs School of Music, University of Indiana Oberlin Conservatory
Luisa Ilvento Attended: Cate Attending: New York University Senior Varsity Captain – Girls’ Cross Country
Jonah Iwanaga Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: University of Oregon Platinum Award (3.8 GPA and above) Ntl Honor Society / AP Scholar Lito Garcia Leadership Award for Football
Austin Jackson Attended: Cate Attending: University of Denver
Caty Lafitte Attended: Laguna Blanca Attending: Santa Clara University 1st Place–Columbia Scholastic Press Assoc. Journalism Editor in Chief: Fourth Estate / Excellence Editing Award Senior Character Award
Michelle Linares Attended: San Marcos High Attending: School of Culinary Arts / SB City College
Skylar Matthews
Attended: Laguna Blanca Attending: Loyola Marymount University
Sarah O’Hara Attended: Dos Pueblos High Attending: Chapman University AP Scholar Community Service Award National Honor Society
Cydney Pierce Attended: Cate Attending: Endicott College 6 Varsity Letters Senior Varsity Captain – Girls’ Volleyball
Pam Quenzer Attended: Besant Hill School of Happy Valley Attending: American University of Paris / USC Academic Recognition – 5 Semesters Three-time Varsity Captain – Volleyball Sportsmanship Award
Isabelle Radis Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: University of California at Berkeley Platinum Award (3.8 GPA and above) National Honor Society
Chloe Richman Attended: Laguna Blanca Attending: The New School
Spencer Smith
Attended: Cate Attending: Connecticut College Connecticut College Grant SBSF Italian-American Foundation Memorial Scholarship Senior Varsity Captain–Girls’ Swimming/Sportsmanship Trophy
Ryan Stoll Attended: Santa Barbara High Attending: University of Montana CIF Individual Golf Championship Finalist CIF Team Golf Championship National Society of High School Scholars
Allie Towbes Attended: Laguna Blanca Attending: Northwestern University Cum Laude Society The English Award Theatre Arts Award 2013 & 2014
Robert Werthman Attended: Olive Grove Charter School Attending: Goal is to join the Marines
Hughes Williamson Attended: Laguna Blanca Attending: University of Colorado at Boulder
Kayla Zola Attended:Dos Pueblos High Attending: University of California at Davis AP Scholar / Ntl Honor Society Community Service Award 9
i@pp (continued)
QED 2014
Continued from Page 1
QED: Quests, Explorations, and Discoveries
Once a week, students could choose from a multitude of media and processes and in their own time frame. I quickly realized the benefits when I witnessed students teaching each other, experimenting and taking risks that sparked innovation and excitement! I started the i@pp unit by explaining the general guidelines — choose an area in the arts that you are interested in learning about. It will be your responsibility to research, propose a course, create a work of art, and record your experience and present to the class and to the public. We began as a group, brainstorming a name for our communal project. “i@pp” bubbled to the surface — Independent Art Project and Presentation.
This annual project is a chance for Seventh Grade students to explore an interest, pursue an idea, embark on a quest into a future career, or discover a new hobby outside of the regular school day. Ryan Kopeikin worked with Crane's Technical Theater Supervisor, Ashley Lemmex, to learn the art of theatre make-up.
I provided a log to be placed in sketchbooks, where students could record their goals, acquired vocabulary, and daily trials and tribulations. I monitored their progress, but I did not grade it. Students chose their own paths, so each journey was different. Sometimes students would celebrate serendipity; other times they would bemoan a perceived dead-end. Students used the time between art classes to reflect, and often those dead-ends suddenly looked like open roads.
Jack Porter Stein worked with his mentor, Elizabeth Gabler, learning how to write a novel.
Some students began with one idea but through the process arrived at another. Consider Brynkly’s stellar art installation that was featured in a recent (5-2-14) Noozhawk article entitled, Crane Student Uses Paper Butterflies to Honor Families and Victims of Missing Malaysian Jetliner. She began wanting to make some kind of installation using kites. She wound up creating a meditative piece, displaying more than 2000 paper butterflies in the Oak Tree Quad. This spiraled into an all school numbers game and writing campaign to be sent to the families of Flight 370. Or what about the incredible juxtaposition of materials and practice of
Amanda Moores worked with her mentor to pursue her interest in broadcast news journalism.
forging a shield out of a trash can lid and then sewing a super hero costume, as did Orlando? Other offerings included: creating a ceramic plate set, a bronze cast dragon, a soft sculpture doll based on a horror film, an intricate fantasy roleplaying board game, or learning a new program and then creating an animated film which can be viewed at http://youtu.be/yPgs65jXIeo. Upon completion of their projects, students learned about critique and reviewed each other’s work. An essay describing their goals, process, and experience accompanied the project. After making and receiving
Nick Dallow worked with his mentor to further his knowledge of Frisbee Golf and built his own Frisbee Golf basket.
recommendations and observations, students were given the option of refining their project. Finally, all of these examples were displayed for the whole Crane community on June 10. Creating art, documenting the process, and critiquing the outcome has been enlightening and rewarding, yet incomplete without the public’s experience with the art. The exhibit proved to be a great display of a variety of talents, interests, and media and was reflective of the unique individuals that make up our Crane Eighth Grade class.
Gretel Huglin-Ridge Upper School Art 10
Maddie Walker worked with past Crane parent Lorie Bacon to learn graphic design.
alumni news
Class of 2010 Alumni Reunion
Class of 2010 gathers at the Blue Agave on May 16, 2014 Front row (l-r): Adrian Rodriguez, Hughes Williamson, Chloe Richman, Caty Lafitte, Myles Adams, Sarah O'Hara, Channing Fisher MIddle row (l-r): Cydney Pierce, Brenna Geiger, Sarah Martin, Alexis Flores, Sophie Russo, Charlie Green, Tessa Dewell Back row (l-r): Luisa Ilvento, Ryan Green, Caneel Burgner, Isabelle Radis, Sophia Soriano, Daniel Moghtader, Theo Caretto
Daniel Moghtader, Adrian Rodriguez, Theo Caretto
Tessa Dewell & Traci Cope
Yearbooks and Memory Lane: Sophia Soriano, Sarah O'Hara, Tessa Dewell, Isabelle Radis, Sophie Russo
Caneel Burgner, Chloe Richman, Luisa Ilvento, Caty Lafitte
Peggy Smith & Hughes Williamson
Janey Cohen, ChaCha Fisher, Joel Weiss, Sarah Martin
Charlie Green, Myles Adams, Hughes Williamson, Caty Lafitte, Cydney Pierce 11
alumni news Mwei Banks ’83
graduated from San
Sam Shapiro ’88 graduated from UC Santa Cruz and then spent a year
Diego State University and married
in Padang Sumatra working at a family planning clinic as a volunteer
Kasha Pope ’89. They reside in Oxnard
sponsored by Volunteers in Asia. His job was to counsel young adults
and have a 12-year old daughter, Maya
on the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. Upon his return
Nandi. Mwei teaches at La Cuesta
to the U.S., Sam earned his Master Degrees from the Schools of
High School and is coaching the
Education and Divinity at Harvard. He is now teaching and is the
school’s basketball team. Kasha works
freshman dean at the Athenian School in Danville. He is married to
for the County of Santa Barbara.
a Balinese woman, Ketut, whom he met during his travels through Indonesia. They are the parents of two boys.
Elizabeth Shapiro ’84 spent three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador after her graduation from Oberlin College. During that
Jason MacMurray ’91
time she published two Spanish language books — one on the trees
Rochelle King, welcomed their second
of El Salvador, the second about public health matters. After she left
daughter, Marea on August 31, 2013. He
the Peace Corps, she earned a Masters Degree at Yale and a Ph.D. at
is also the father of Belen (3) and lives
Berkeley. Liz is now on the faculty at Duke University where she is
with his family in Santa Cruz. Jason is
an assistant Professor of the Practice of Environmental Policy and
the Vice President of Sales and Service
Management at the Nicholas School of the Environment.
at Mindflash in Palo Alto.
John Kochendorfer ’86
and his wife,
Erin Harbaugh ’92
graduated
attended Crane’s Upper
from Thacher School and St. John’s
School where she was exposed to geography,
College in New Mexico after which he
history, other languages and cultures, as
took to traveling. He worked teaching
well as her first international travel — all
English in Guatemala, canoed on
of which planted the seeds of curiosity for
the Amazon, climbed in the Andes,
other countries and cultures. After graduating
sailed across the Pacific, and hiked
from Dos Pueblos in 1996 and UC Berkeley in
in New Zealand and western China.
2000 with a degree in Political Science, she
In 2008, he completed a Ph.D. in
studied peace and conflict resolution in the Netherlands. She is also
Micrometeorology at UC Davis. He now works as a scientist for the
a graduate of the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Oak Ridge,
is now celebrating her 10th year with the U.S. Department of State
Tennessee. He is married and has two children.
in Washington, DC where she works with students, press, citizen advocacy groups, academia and think tanks to promote an increased
graduated from the
understanding of global security. Erin has now travelled to over 45
University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He resides
countries; and owns a large historic brick home, which she shares with
in Las Vegas where he is an electrician and
an eclectic mix of short and long term visitors and housemates.
Simon Banks ’87
has two children: Amina Nicole (14) and Simon Syede (5).
Justin Meschler ’87
Sarah Shapiro ’92
is currently
working on a television series attended SBCC and
then transferred to UC Berkeley where he graduated with a degree in molecular and cell biology. He then went to medical school and received a Ph.D. at Saint Louis University where he met his wife Catherine. Catherine also graduated from medical school at Saint Louis University, and they both decided to study anesthesiology and did their residencies at Johns Hopkins. They have two girls, Clara, age 3 and Lillian, age 5. About three years ago Justin started racing bicycles; this summer his two girls want to enter their first triathlon — where swim
based on her award-winning short "Sequin Raze." Her path to screenwriting was a long and winding one.
She was
restaurant hostess, a cook on a tender boat in the Bering Sea, a theatrical agent, an assistant to a famous New York photographer, a producer on the reality show "The Bachelor," and a producer for an advertising firm. While doing all of this, she managed to graduate from Sarah Lawrence College. She now maintains two residences — one in Portland, Oregon and one in Los Angeles.
noodles and training wheels are allowed. above (l-r): Sarah, Sam and Elizabeth Shapiro
alumni news Kate Kochendorfer ’93 loved her nine
Taylor IV at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum on October 18,
years at Crane. She went on to graduate
2013. They now reside in Boston where she is the head of marketing
from Thacher School and then Barnard
for the company Joss and Main and he has started his own company
College. After several years working
REsurety, which improves the profitability of renewable energy.
both in private consulting and the U.S. Dept. of Justice, she began the study of law at the University of Virginia. After graduating in 2007, she began work as a lawyer at Debevoise and Plimpton in New York. She recently returned to the U.S. Dept. of Justice as a prosecutor. Kate is married to Adam Smith, has a two-year-
Sierra Witnov ’97 Cagley graduated with a BA from Whitman College in 2005, and then spent three years working in schools (one year as an AmeriCorps volunteer and two years at Crane) before attending a two-year graduate program at UNC-Chapel Hill to become
old son, Conrad, and lives in Lexington, Kentucky.
a Registered Dietitian and earn an MPH. Since
Michelle Koutnik ’93 went on to Santa Barbara High School and received
working for Santa Barbara County's Public Health
her undergraduate degree in Astrophysics from UCLA. While an
Department as a dietitian. She works in the WIC
undergrad, she got involved with a research group studying the ice caps
Program and in the Public Health Clinics. Sierra lives in downtown
on Mars, and through this experience became interested in ice on Earth.
Santa Barbara with Rich Cagley, whom she married in July of 2012.
graduating in August of 2010, Sierra has been
She spent a year in Calgary, Alberta on a Fulbright fellowship working with a research group studying a glacier in the Canadian Rockies. She became fascinated by glaciers and ice sheets and decided to switch her focus to be primarily in earth science for graduate school. In 2009, she received a PhD in Geophysics from the University of Washington in Seattle. After a postdoctoral research position in Copenhagen, Denmark for three years, Michelle returned to Seattle where she is currently an assistant research professor in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences. Crane’s seventh and eighth graders were lucky enough to hear Michelle speak when she visited campus.
Kristen MacMurray ’96
graduated from Cate in 2002 and Princeton
University in 2006. After a couple jobs in retail – one at the corporate headquarters of Abercrombie & Fitch and another as executive assistant to InStyle Magazine's Editor-in-Chief in New York City, Jennie graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2011. She began practicing law with the California-based law firm of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton in Washington, DC. Jennie met her husband, Kris, at Princeton, and
married Carlos
they were married at the Montecito Country Club
Peralta on March 25, 2013. The couple
in 2010. Their daughter, Ellery Rose, was born on March 17, 2013. They
said their vows on a beach on Easter
currently live in Chicago with their dog, Brewster, while Kris gets his JD-
Island, where they were living at the
MBA from Northwestern University. Jennie currently serves as in-house
time. After spending two years as part
counsel for Aetna.
of the Rapa Nui community, Kristen and her husband are currently living in Vina Del Mar, Chile. They are expecting their first child in October.
in 2007. She has been teaching Kindergarten at Crane married Tommy Flannery on July 6, 2013. Fellow alumna
at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum
Sofia Van Wingerden '99
was a bridesmaid,
and other guests included several Crane teachers and
Many Crane
alumna
friends and families were in attendance,
Hannah Harte ‘96 and Michelle Fuhrer ‘96. Olivia and Marc live in including
Karrie Crane '99.
Lindsay Lindberg ’02 is the Arts Education Program Coordinator and a lecturer in UCLA’s Visual and Performing Arts Education Program
Oakland where she teaches fourth grade
(VAPAE), on the dance faculty at Gabriella Charter School, a dance
in the Berkeley Public School District
educator for the Everybody Dance! Foundation, and a teaching artist
and Marc is a structural engineer.
Andrea Black ’97
Megan MacMurray ’99 Flannery graduated from the Peabody School of Education at Vanderbilt University Country Day School for the past five years. Megan
Olivia Sanders ’96 married Marc Steyer on November 9, 2013.
Jennie Eskin ’98 Ekdahl
at the Hollywood School House. A graduate of UCLA’s World Arts & graduated from
Thacher, USC, and then from the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth where she met her future husband. Andrea married Robert Edward Lee
Cultures Department and NYU’s Master of Arts in Dance Education, Lindsay currently helps develop and implement innovative K-12 projects and professional development programs in Los Angeles, is an advocate for the arts, and has been teaching dance curricula for years.
CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
Class of 2014
BOTTOM ROW
FIRST ROW
SECOND ROW
THIRD ROW
TOP ROW
Merith Velazquez Isabel González Sienna Gonzalez Clay Rodgers* Mia Lomeli* Anna Martin Laura Vences Ava Samuels* Chloe Schwartz Lizzie Spiller
Jonathan Lindsey Olivia Gordon Adam Hogue Shelagh Morphy* Camila Lemere Kaleigh Flores*
Isabel Tarafa Gordon Wren* Ryan Mikles Diarra Pouye Arin Pieramici* Leah Martin Gabby Campbell
Zoë Padilla Orlando Soriano Whit Shelburne* Sean Hoerl Zane Mazor-Brown
Charlie Corman* Ian MacFarlane* Soren Walker Grace Johnson Miles McGovern Brynkly Meyer
* K-8 Crane "Lifer" All names in order from left to right
Class of 2014
We are very proud of the accomplishments of the Eighth Grade class of 2014. The Crane faculty and staff would like to wish the graduating class the best of luck in their high school adventures. Bishop Diego
Dos Pueblos
San Marcos
Olivia Gordon Jonathan Lindsey Ryan Mikles
Gordon Wren Dunn
Kaleigh Flores Arin Pieramici Soren Walker
Brooks
Leah Martin
Santa Catalina
Sean Hoerl
Episcopal
Anna Martin
Whit Shelburne
Santa Barbara
Idyllwild
Isabel GonzĂĄlez Sienna Gonzalez Adam Hogue Grace Johnson Mia Lomeli Ava Samuels
Buena Gabby Campbell Orlando Soriano Cate Charlie Corman Ian MacFarlane Brynkly Meyer Shelagh Morphy Diarra Pouye Chloe Schwartz Isabel Tarafa Laura Vences
ZoĂŤ Padilla Laguna Blanca Camila Lemere Zane Mazor-Brown Miles McGovern Clay Rodgers Merith Velazquez Oak Grove Lizzie Spiller
Awards Day
Class of 2014
Headmaster’s Prize
History Cup
description Awarded to the student who through leadership, participation, and consideration of others has served best as an example for us all
description Awarded for outstanding effort, achievement, curiosity, and consistent participation in the study and discussion of history
recipient Ian MacFarlane
recipient
Clay Rodgers
Academic Achievement Awards
Instrumental Music Cup
description Given to Eighth Graders with the highest GPA
description Awarded for diligent study and accomplishment in the realm of instrumental music
recipient
Gabby Campbell Ian MacFarlane Merith Velazquez Laura Vences
Art Cup description Given for exellence in studio art or design that consistently highlights original thought and creativity recipient
ZoĂŤ Padilla
Amiability Award description Awarded to that student who showed the greatest cooperation with congeniality toward all recipient Laura Vences
recipient
Orlando Soriano
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
Ian MacFarlane
Katharine Faletti Performing Arts Cup description Given in memory of Katherine Faletti for outstanding contribution in the performing arts recipient
Camila Lemere
Lejeune Teaching Fellowship
Best All Around Boy Athlete
description An annual award for an inspirational teacher
description Awarded for outstanding performance and
participation in athletics
recipient
Miles McGovern
Best All Around Girl Athlete description Awarded for outstanding performance and participation in athletics
recipient
Sienna Gonzalez
David Echols Math Cup description Given in honor of former Crane teacher David Echols, to the student with outstanding performance in mathematics recipient
Ian MacFarlane
Dean Smith Perfect Attendance Award 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
recipient Diarra Pouye Drama Cup description Awarded for outstanding participation and memorable performance on the stage
recipient Anna Martin
recipient
Stephanie Bagish
fourth grade teacher
Lejeune Language Award (Spanish Cup) description Given in memory of founding Head of School Arnold Lejeune, for outstanding achievement, effort, and enthusiasm in the study of the Spanish language and culture recipient
Laura Vences
Library Award description Given to the student who shows a voracious appetite for books and reading, who uses the library resources well, and is an avid participant in the summer reading program
recipient
Merith Velazquez
Nagle Memorial Award description Awarded in memory of Frank Nagle, to that student who showed outstanding enthusiasm in community service recipient
Arin Pieramici Lizzie Spiller
Rose Bowl description Given in honor of former Crane teacher Cathy Rose, to an unmistakably unconventional Eighth Grader
recipient
Lizzie Spiller
Congratulations Graduate
es
Awards Day
Class of 2014
Award Recipients
(alphabetically left to right) Gabby Campbell Academic Achievement Award Charlie Corman Tech Award Sienna Gonzalez Best All Around Girl Athlete Camila Lemere Katharine Faletti Performing Arts Cup Ian MacFarlane Academic Achievement Award Headmaster’s Prize Julia Brown English Cup David Echols Math Cup Science Cup Anna Martin Drama Cup Miles McGovern Best All Around Boy Athlete Shelagh Morphy Talia S. Klein Award Zoë Padilla Art Cup Arin Pieramici Nagle Memorial Award Diarra Pouye Dean Smith Perfect Attendance Award Clay Rodgers History Cup Tower Improvement Award Orlando Soriano Instrumental Music Cup Lizzie Spiller Nagle Memorial Award Rose Bowl
Science Cup
Talia S. Klein Award
description Awarded to the student who most closely embodies, through outstanding effort and achievement, the popular sentiment at Crane that “science is everywhere”
description Given to the student who, in the opinion
recipient Ian MacFarlane
Sheila Davidson Cup description Given in honor of former Crane coach Sheila Davidson, to the athlete who best exemplifies commitment, teamwork, passion and sportsmanship recipient
Gordon Wren
of the faculty, has been an unassuming force for good
recipient
Shelagh Morphy
Merith Velazquez Academic Achievement Award Library Award Laura Vences Academic Achievement Award Amiability Award Lejeune Language Award
Tech Award
Gordon Wren Sheila Davidson Cup
description Given to the students who have excelled in the mastery of all electronic systems used in the theater
Stephanie Bagish Lejeune Teaching Fellowship
recipient
Charlie Corman
Tower Improvement Award description Awarded to that student or students who showed greatest academic improvement through effort and application recipient
Clay Rodgers
Award Recipients!
alumni news Maiesha Jackson ’03 graduated from Cate School and then from Boston University
with
a
Doctorate
in
Physical Therapy. She is currently living in North Hollywood and is working in a Kaiser Permanente Physical Therapy Residency Program at the Los Angeles Medical Center.
Jay Brooks ’05 studied briefly in Australia and Egypt while completing his degree in Global & International Studies at UCSB where he graduated with honors June 2013. He has been accepted to the Doctoral Program in Sociology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a full scholarship and research assistant position beginning August, 2014 where he will go on to cultivate his understanding of social movements and global capitalism. Along with his research interests, he continues to pursue his passions for music, art, environmental justice, and organic gardening.
Julia Johnson ’06 Beta and
Kappa,
Department
General William W. Crouch Distinguished Leadership Award for his performance during the 2013 fall semester. In April, he was also presented the Most Outstanding Award for his performance on the JV basketball team.
CONGRATULATIONS TO . . . Blake Hamilton ’99 who married Zoe Hartman on June 8, 2013. Corey Radis ’06 on her acceptance to grad school at Stanford in Civil Engineering for Fluid Mechanics.
Sophie Russo ’10 for being named a 2014 National Merit Scholar and to Channing Fisher ’10 and Charlie Green ’10, for being named 2014 National Merit Finalists.
Ethan Katnic ’11, Scott Johnston ’11, and Alison Towbes ’10 for being inducted into the Cum Laude Society at Laguna Blanca School. They join last year’s inductees Chloe Brown ’10 and Clara Madsen ’10.
were named winners in SBCC’s Great Books Curriculum Contest
Honors,
Honors
Raymond Ede Superior Academic Achievement Award, and the
Zoë Brock ’11 and Haley Powell ’11 were among 30 students who
graduated Phi
General
Jackson Sproul ’11, a junior at the Army and Navy Academy, was presented the Major Peterson Legion of Merit Award, the Dean
that was based on their interpretation of Antigone by Sophocles.
from
Vassar where she was a film major. The
Huffington
Post
featured
her documentary, "The Seer of Poughkeepsie." Julia plans to work in Los Angeles and eventually write and direct. She credits her amazing experience at Crane for helping her to become her true self.
William Bermant ’09 has been accepted into the honors program at Babson College. He is the CEO of his freshman entrepreneurship class which paves the way for him to be the mentor for the freshmen next year. He is playing club soccer, club lacrosse, squash, and skiing.
Peter Bermant ’11 is residing in Park City, Utah and is playing varsity soccer for Park City High School. He recently completed a brochure for the State of Utah’s Search and Rescue Division, competed in the
(l-r) Janet Friesen, Darlene Love, Morgan Neville ’81
state’s math competition, and has found a passion for biomedical engineering.
Violet Cheverez ’11 Stephen’s
And, the OSCAR winner is... is attending St.
International
School
in
20 feet from stardom . . . the documentary that was produced by late Crane parent Gil Friesen and directed
Rome where she is loving her boarding
by
experience, learning Italian and Roman
stories of background singers who stood behind some of
culture, and meeting students from all
the greatest musical legends of all time. Upon receiving
over the world. She is immersed in her
his Oscar, Neville commented, “It’s amazing to make a
favorite subject — art. She is looking
film about people who have so much talent but have been
forward to coming home to enjoy her senior year with her close friends,
overlooked . . . and all of this is the best reward we all
many of whom she met at Crane!
could have gotten.”
Morgan Neville ’81.
The movie documents the true
alumni news Crane Alumni Spotlight
Sightings Around Campus
Class of 2003 Ten-Year Reunion (December 2013)
Zoë Brock ’11 Interview by Maddy Moore, Crane 7th Grader
zoË brock, a 2011 alumna, has had many exciting adventures after her years at Crane. Recently, she has been involved in an innovative program called “Youth and Government” where
Pat Bixler and Michelle Koutnik ’93
high school students from Santa Barbara meet weekly to discuss politics and how to make a difference. She has been an active
Lindsay Lindberg ’02 surrounded by her Crane teachers
member of the International Affairs Commission (IAC) where a group of teens meet to analyze and ponder creative solutions for
Alumni at Spring Event
current world problems, including terrorism, drug trafficking,
left: Allie Towbes ’10 was Linda Ronstadt singing Desperado.
and climate change. Zoë’s group chose to address the issue of terrorism. The assignment was for each group to propose and present a solution, with the one receiving the most votes being presented to the Youth Governor. Zoë felt passionately that the key was education, specifically for girls. Her group pinpointed extremism and a struggling economy as causes of terrorism
1
and gathered research that supported their proposal that girls’ education would improve these conditions. This would give more opportunities for women to come forth and stand up for positive change. While the ideas for better education are hardly controversial, Zoë’s group still had a hard time convincing others to support their cause.
She did not give up.
above: Melanie Thomas ’07 impersonated Stevie Nicks singing Landslide. right: Zac Towbes ’13 was Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day playing American Idiot.
Zoë continued to present
her case to others and slowly began to win them over. She felt strongly that this course of action would have the most impact; her group knew their solution could make a change in the world, and they didn’t want to throw that away. As others joined her group, they added new ideas and shared their perspectives. After many long debates, Zoë’s group’s proposal received the most votes! Her perseverance paid off. “Realizing that you can make a difference is very empowering,” Zoë stated. “The process was frustrating and difficult, but worth the reward of feeling like you did something good.”
above: Olivia Cunningham ’15 poses with Lily Eakin ’09 who served as her mentor for her Seventh Grade QED project.
above: Raquel Sanchez ’08 and Ximena Santiago’08 stopped by during their holiday break.
19
Service Learning Reflecting on an Inspiring Semester of Service Learning My final semester of Service Learning at Crane School has come to an end, but my students have left me inspired to go out into the community and continue volunteering! With their great ideas and their endless enthusiasm, they have made service connections from Carpinteria to
Ava Morouse (7) helps beautify the Westside Boys and Girls Club on the spring Day of Service.
Goleta over the past four years, and this semester was no exception. These past five months, the eight graders chose to volunteer at: • Bici Centro
• Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network
• Head Start Preschool
• Casa Dorinda
• The Unity Shoppe
• Storyteller Preschool
For the spring Day of Service, the entire Upper School put on their work clothes and went into the community to do some good. Fruit was harvested for the Food Bank. The Westside Boys and Girls Club was
Zoe Wolf (K) explains why Sumatran Tigers are endangered during the animal fair on Earth Day.
beautified. Local beaches were cleaned. Vibes! performed for a local elementary school. For Earth Day, the Animal Rights Club offered a new event – the We Speak For Animals Fair! Students from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade enthusiastically taught others about their favorite animals and talked about ways to protect them. What a delight it was to have Claire Callagy spend the entire year as our Service Learning intern! In addition to developing new connections for our students at sites such as the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network and Casa Dorinda, Claire worked with students
Seventh graders added beach cleanups to their list of service projects this year.
to create our new blog (http://www.craneservicelearning.blogspot. com/), which served as a wonderful way for seventh and eighth graders to reflect on their learning each week after volunteering. We are very grateful for her hard work and all of the heart she put into her internship. Crane students have aslo incorporated the spirit of service into their hearts and souls, and I feel confident that they will carry this with them into the future. I look forward to seeing what comes next!
The Sixth Grade class collected over 400 pairs of socks for the Willbridge Homeless Outreach Center.
Janey Cohen Service Learning (left) Sienna Gonzalez (8) teaches preschool students at Head Start. (middle) Soren Walker (8) engages young children in an engineering activity at Head Start. (right) Bella Sanford and Paige Levinson (6) help rabbits become adoptable pets.
In Memory In Memory: Norman Sprague (1947–2014)
marked the time when a Sprague child became responsible for doing
Written by Joel Weiss to parents of the Crane Community
his or her own laundry. A family rich with traditions, these two rituals give insight to Norman and Marianne's high expectations
it is a natural human reaction to seek consistency in our lives.
for their children, as well as their understanding that privilege and
We have a tendency to see things and assume it has always been that
responsibility need to be carefully balanced.
way. If you have been at Crane for just a few years, you might assume
A few weeks ago, we received the tragic news that during a family
the school has always been like it is today. But schools are constantly
trip to Costa Rica, Norman Sprague passed away. Over spring break
changing and in particular, Crane has been growing and evolving
a memorial service was held in the chapel at Cate School. It was a
since the school's founding in 1928.
beautiful ceremony and hundreds of people were in attendance.
One thing about educational institutions, if a school is changing
There were two characteristics of this ceremony that made it unique.
for the better, it is usually due to the steady influence of several
First, there was much music making. All of his life, Norman
individuals. I want to tell you about someone from Crane's recent
loved music and he played guitar and sang with his friends and his
past who has dramatically influenced the Crane School we all love.
family. At the service his children and closest friends shared some
His name is Norman Sprague. If you don't know the Sprague family,
of the favorite songs they had enjoyed with Norm over the years. It
let me share a bit about their lives and their connection with Crane:
requires a certain amount of spunk to perform at a Crane School's
• Norman and his wife, Marianne, were both influential members
spotlight. But it requires a full measure of courage to perform at your
of Crane's Board of Trustees, and both Norman and Marianne were
father's memorial as you simultaneously attempt to pay tribute to
board presidents at Crane.
your dad while also managing your own heartache. These songs both
• Norman and Marianne have a big family; five of their six children went to Crane, and all six children went to Cate School. • Norman took the lead role envisioning and fundraising for
softened the ceremony and gave insight into the great love present in the Sprague family. Second, many of Norman's children spoke about their memories
Crane's Science and Technology Center, and you can see their
of and love for their dad.
Norman's death was sudden and
family's name on the eastern side of these buildings.
unexpected. I am certain all of his children were processing their own
• In addition to being on Crane's board, Norman was
grief. Nevertheless, as they addressed the audience, they contained
tremendously involved in many educational communities in
their tears, and then shared delightful stories about their father. It
southern California, including serving as a long-time trustee at Cate
was clear to me that they were so filled with love from their dad, that
School, Harvard-Westlake, and Harvey Mudd College.
despite their tremendous sorrow, they still had an uncanny ability to
• Norman was very successful and highly accomplished in many different areas. He was a surgeon, a pilot, a rock climber, a philanthropist, a fly fisherman, and a talented guitar player. • Marianne also started the traditions of the Crane Country Fair and the Spring Auction.
reflect upon their father and share his joy of life. Deeply saddened, I left that ceremony thinking of the adage that a life should not be judged by years alone. The program at the ceremony began with a poem written by Ralph Waldo Emerson about the same concept:
I first met the Spragues when Crane hired me in 1999. Norm was
“To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people
a member of my search committee, and Marianne was busy at that
and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest
time chairing an important Crane committee on faculty salaries
critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty,
and benefits. My son, Elijah, who currently is in his first year of high
to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by
school, was just a baby when I met Norman and Marianne, but they
a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To
were such fantastic parents that I noticed and remembered many of
know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This
their parenting techniques.
is to have succeeded.”
Being true Crane supporters, the transition from Lower School
Perhaps you were lucky enough to have known Norman as I did.
to Upper School was significant in the Sprague home. The summer
But even if you never met him, your children have benefited from
before 6th grade, Norman would take each of his children on a major
his generosity and his hard work. His life was so positive and his
climbing expedition in Wyoming, to the top of the Grand Teton.
influence so great that just being at Crane means that you've been
Parallel changes happened in their home, since that summer also
touched by his life.
21
Lower School Spring Study Week For the past several years
I’ve been admiring our
vaunted Lower School Spring Study Week (LSSSW) from the sidelines since I teach Sixth and Seventh Grade social studies. I’ve watched it take off during the week just prior to Crane’s spring break as excited bands of cross-age children roam through Crane’s corridors and scramble across our many quads to find their next workshop, and then jump into active learning. I was happily teaching in our new yurt classroom, when Lower School Head Gayle Sandell asked me if LSSSW could have a workshop in this exotic space. I said, “Sure but can I come with the round building?” I immediately asked Peggy Smith about deserting the Upper School for a bit, and in her always supportive
down the wooden boardwalk to the yurt, where we began the
way she was enthusiastic about the three-day switch, and thus
workshop by asking for general silence. The hour-long workshop
a partnership was born between Fourth Grade teacher Malana
began with a very slow “walking meditation” around the nascent
Willis and me. We met and discussed what we could offer to fit
Zen rock garden, and the watchword from Malana and me was: it’s
this year’s theme: Dynasties, Dragons, and Dim Sum (China and
the journey itself, the going, not the arriving, that really matters.
East Asia), and came up with a workshop we called Three Wise
Mindfully choose to slow down.
Teachings.
Then we all lined up our shoes symmetrically on the deck, and padded softly into the luminous round inner space of the rustic yurt. We need to be construct spaces, self-created oases, in our frantic world of constant partial attention where the individual can slow down and focus unruly thoughts. While Malana and I spoke about the three famous teachings, we also attempted to model them through quiet and low-key physical activities and measured breathing. An example: after some talk about Lao Tzu and Taoism, students received half of the well-known Taoist circle with a single term on it, on either a black or white background, and they then had to run around the yurt trying to find the opposite color with the opposing yin or yang term.
We agreed strongly about the value of our joint workshop
Our workshop was just one of eighteen (see page 23). I also
offering which presented the Chinese “wisdom traditions” of
had the luxury of having a couple of free periods where I roamed
Confucius, Buddhism (originally from India), and Taoism. As
around the campus and had the opportunity to peek into the other
an academic “subject area” teacher from our middle school
offerings, many of which were taking place outdoors. I witnessed
who began teaching at the university level in 1971, it was very
genuine student interest in the wild and unique offerings, all
challenging for me to adjust to team-teaching, and to Malana’s
of which combined cognitive and emotional stimulation, and
adroit management of hands-on child-centered activities which
featured an experiential emphasis on making sure students
thoughtfully enhanced her talking about our topics. Teaching
actively did things. I also saw my teaching colleagues working very
verbally while always involving students in hand and body
hard. It inspires an old dog to learn new pedagogical tricks and
movements is highly effective pedagogy.
regain Buddha’s “beginner’s mind” to work a few days in Lower
It stretches my mind whenever I get to encounter new groupings of kids: we had about 15 students from First Grade to Fifth Grade in each class, and they would come eagerly running
22
School, and to learn effective teaching techniques from Malana Willis and her colleagues.
Dan McCaslin Upper School History
Lower School Spring Study Week
Dynasties, Dragons, and Dim Sum
workshop offerings 2014 Tea Time Chinese Pinwheels Chinese Lantern Festival North, South, East, and West Be a Kung Fu Shaolin American Ninja Warrior Chinese Brush Painting and Chop Making Dragonology The Silk Road Great Wall of China Assembling an Ancient Abacus The Great Race (Chinese Zodiac) A Song Dynasty Treasure Three Wise Teachings Pentatonic Stomp Bridges Shumai Poetry and the Three Perfections Come to Tai Chi oh-so-S l o w l y
23
Trip Week
fifth grade
Boston on the Go every spring,
the fifth graders journey to
Boston to visit historical sites that are studied throughout the year in our classroom. The content featured on Page 25 describe favorite moments of our fifth graders during their trip. It was a wonderful experience leading our students through Boston.
Carrie Althoff and Chris Caretto Fifth Grade Teachers
Trip Week
fifth grade fifth grade reflections Old Sturbridge Village
Mayflower II
When we made the fabulous dinner at Sturbridge Village, we got
I liked The Mayflower II because all of the characters there
to act like adults. We were able to control the hot fire, and they
were speaking as though it were the 1600’s. – Bea
trusted us. – Nafisah
The captain we met aboard the ship wore a whistle and said
A long time ago, it was traditional to tuck your napkin into the
it was a sign of respect passed down from generation to
collar of your shirt and to eat off of your knife. – Gavin
generation. – St. John
MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Boston on the Go
When I went up to the museum’s second floor, I looked at
We boarded our bus before the sunrise, on Virgin America we
holograms, robots, gears and moving parts and decided the
flew high in the skies. – Kate
students at MIT weren’t just smart; they were geniuses! – Jack
The “T” darts by, and a second later stops at the very end of
One of my favorite displays was a picture of Albert Einstein, and
the track, pushing, shoving, yelling. – Max M.
when I walked away, he turned into Harry Potter, and when I
I hear the chaperones screaming, “Get on the T! Get on the T!”
walked up close, he became Albert Einstein again. – Zane
I didn’t know the T could be so crowded at five in the morning.
At the museum there was a hologram of Bob Marley. I tried to touch it, but my hand went straight through. - Noah There were a lot of robots and machines, too many to name. It was a very fun experience, and I hope I can go again. – Max S.
Fenway Park – Home of the Red Sox When David Ortiz comes onto the big screen, we go crazy. We scream with all our might, “Ortiz!, Ortiz! Ortiz!” – Annalise If there is a better place to watch a game of baseball than Fenway Park, then please show me! – William Fenway will always bring memories because it was my first MLB game, and I got to enjoy it with my friends. - Matthew
– Alec Boston streets are teeming with people and landmarks full of old legacies. – Brooke
Harvard Museum of Natural History In The Natural History Museum, there were gemstones bigger than I and some as small as a tennis ball. – Aisli
Walden Pond As I sat down, the waves quietly splashed on the rugged rocks a few feet from me. – Luca The water is blue as it creeps its way to shore. – Bella I wish I could tie a bond between me and this pond. - Caden
Museum of Science Ingenious inventions, science in the park, And to end it, a lightning show, surrounding us with sparks. – Phoebe
It smells like rough bark and crumbly sand, evergreens circling the water. – Elisabeth I hear the wind whisper its secrets to Nature. – Finnegan
They had Tesla coils that shot music out of electricity into the air. – Sam
25
Athletics LOWER AND UPPER SCHOOL SPORTS each spring, Crane hosts a track and field event. Third, fourth, and fifth graders from Crane, Howard, Laguna, Marymount, and Montessori Schools participated in the shot put, 100 yard dash, running long jump, standing long jump, and the all time favorite, high jump. With the track lined and the students ready to run, we were off and racing. There were ribbons galore and abundant smiles as the students experienced each activity. To the delight of the volleyball enthusiasts, the season finally arrived and we were able to field Fourth Grade and Fifth Grade teams. This opportunity allows students to get a first touch in preparation for Upper School. As evidenced by our ability to consistently field abundant teams, athletics continues to be a vibrant part of Crane School experiences.
Suzanne Rossi Lower School Physical Education
winter sports at Crane happened in a blink of the eye.
For boys’ basketball, we
had both a Varsity and JV squad. Our varsity team, coached by Anthony Prieto ’75, led the boys to a successful 50/50 season full of fundamentals, camaraderie, and good spirits. With sixth, seventh, and eighth graders on the team, it was a cornucopia of talents. Our JV team had many skilled players – shooters, dribblers, and some tall rebounders. It was a fantastic season full of learning opportunities. Our girls’ soccer teams were strong and fast. We had a fleet of girls ready to stick a foot on the ball and challenge any opponent with might. We ended our season in third place with a valiant effort and good spirits. Spring sports were boys’ volleyball and girls’ basketball. Our boys were a tall group just learning the game. We had players from all three grades on board and each contributed to our successful season - learning transition and skillfully controlling the ball. By the end of the season we were moving on the court like pros. Our girls were a quick team who ran the court with exuberance and purpose. They finished the season in third place with smiles on their faces and sweat on their brow. Surf Team is our longest season. It starts in September and culminates with our State Championship the first week in May. The time and dedication required are intense. We participate in the Scholastic Surf Series, which is a division of the WSA with 30 middle school teams from San Diego to Santa Cruz. We are in the Channel Division competing against 9 teams from Malibu to Santa Barbara. This year we took second place with Adam Hogue placing 3rd in longboard and 6th in shortboard and Whit Shelburne placing 2nd in bodyboard for the season. Under the guidance of coach Chris Keet, our surfers consistently do well. We will look forward to following these graduating surfers in years to come.
Terri Willis Upper School Athletic Director
2014 Upper School Musical
Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Santa Barbara, CA Permit No. 430
CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 1795 San Leandro Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93108 www.craneschool.org
Academic Year 2013/14 • Volume Two
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
A Newsletter for Parents, Grandparents, Friends, and Alumni
Carrie Towbes, Ph.D. President Thomas Kenny Vice President Michael Walker Treasurer Jill Levinson Secretary
OnCAMPUS CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
Anthony Browne Ricardo Calderon Kimberly Crane Tom Deardorff II Kristen Klingbeil-Weis Winifred Lender Hector Lujan Patricia MacFarlane Michael McCarthy John E. McGovern Arthur J. Merovick Ann Pieramici Linda Ryu Mark Schwartz Christine Smigel Honorary Lifetime Trustee Scott C. Brittingham EDITOR Debbie Williams DESIGN & PRODUCTION Lorie Bacon I Madonnari 2014 photo by Natasha Weiss
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHER Teresa Pietsch PRINTER Boone Printing