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3443 PACIFIC VIEW DRIVE, CORONA DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA 92625 | HARBORDAY.ORG | SUMMER 2019
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IN THIS ISSUE
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A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL . . . . PAGE 03 —————————————————————————————————————
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HEAD OF SCHOOL Angi Knapp Evans ’75 RETIREMENT TEA CELEBRATION . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 04 ————————————————————————————————————— COMMENCEMENT 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 10
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Noelle Becker
STUDENTS WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON CAMPUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 14
ALUMNI RELATIONS Deb Devine Lee ’81
MATRICULATION LIST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 16 —————————————————————————————————————
WRITERS Noelle Becker Stacy Bierlein Moujan Walkow EDITORS Noelle Becker Forrest Valdiviez Moujan Walkow
EIGHTH GRADE MUSICAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 18
DESIGN ENDesign
BLUE-GOLD TRACK MEET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 20 SEAHAWKS NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 21 GRANDPARENTS’ DAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 22
PRINTING Orange County Printing Company
WELCOME NEW TRUSTEES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 24
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MAKER FAIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 26
©2019 HARBOR DAY SCHOOL (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ) no part of this publication may be reproduced without permission from harbor day school.
CLASS NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 27
MISSION Harbor Day School provides an academically challenging, well-balanced education in a nurturing, family-centered environment. Our traditional, yet innovative, curriculum develops eager, confident learners who think creatively and work collaboratively. Developing self-reliance, building strong moral character, and encouraging social responsibility are hallmarks of a Harbor Day education.
NON-DISCRIMINATION Harbor Day School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or other programs administered by the School.
FRONT COVER: THE CLASS OF 2019 PERFORMING IN SHREK THE MUSICAL, JR.
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A Message from the Head of School
“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
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— JEAN-BAPTISTE ALPHONSE KARR
hange happens at Harbor Day School and to those in our community constantly. Students grow and change repeatedly until they graduate and change schools. Alumni change schools, careers, marital statuses, etc. Faculty and staff change similarly. The status quo at a school is change.
he faculty at Harbor Day makes sure that the curriculum changes and improves regularly by staying current on best practices in education. Reading periodicals, engaging with educational leaders on Twitter, and attending conferences bring pathways for growth and change to our teachers. Over the summer, teachers enrich their practice and revise their curriculum for the next year. This August, teachers returned to school eager to share new techniques and tools with their colleagues. We learned about tools for adding augmented reality features into the classroom and about integrating social-emotional learning into the school day.
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This issue of The Beacon shares many of the changes that we saw in the 2018-2019 school year. The Eighth Grade Musical,
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Shrek The Musical, Jr., wowed us all and included a first-ever behind-the-scenes documentary, produced by LUKAS HAUGE .Beloved members of our team retired: Joan Coleman, Marilou McCarty, Marie-France Smith, and Lynette Vieira. Our eighth grade class became our newest alumni at our graduation ceremony. We look forward to watching them grow through high school and on to college. Speaking of our graduates, the Harbor Day School Class of 2015 shared with us the colleges where they are now studying. The top 10 colleges of our graduates from the last four years are, in order: University of Southern California; Southern Methodist University; University of California, Berkeley; University of Colorado, Boulder; Chapman University; Stanford University; Texas Christian University; University of California,
Los Angeles; University of Michigan; and Cal Poly, San Louis Obispo. One change we all love at HDS is when our alumni become CAPs—Current Alumni Parents.We have 47 CAPs who bring enthusiasm and an appreciation of the role that Harbor Day plays in their lives beyond their days as students. Our motto, Gradatim ad Summum, “step-by-step to the top,” acknowledges that education doesn’t happen without change. Proudly, we promise that our students, teachers, alumni, and staff are always changing and always working our way to the top! Gradatim ad Summum, Angi Evans
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RETIREMENT TEA CELEBRATION HONORS FOUR LEADERS IN THE HARBOR DAY COMMUNITY ———————————————————————— BY STACY BIERLEIN —————————————————————————
On June 11, 2019, students, alumni, parents, and faculty members past and present gathered in the library to celebrate the careers of four women who had an immeasurable impact at Harbor Day School. A table at the entrance held four memory books where students wrote notes of thanks and congratulations to JOAN COLEMAN, MARILOU MCCARTY, MARIE-FRANCE SMITH, and LYNETTE VIEIRA. Although the accomplishments and journeys of each woman could easily fill a magazine, we hope to honor them with brief tributes here.
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——— RETIREMENT TEA CELEBRATION HONORS FOUR LEADERS IN THE HARBOR DAY COMMUNITY ———
JOAN COLEMAN
valued member of the Harbor Day community for 40 years, Mrs. Coleman is an HDS parent, grandparent, and in varying capacities, has worked for 26 years as The School's business manager. Her wide range of responsibilities included overseeing the school budget and financial reporting; tuition management; approving outside service providers; and supervising many day-to-day operations. A calming presence at morning carpool, Mrs. Coleman was also the strength behind the scenes. Although much of Mrs. Coleman’s notable work took place in a quiet office adjacent to the library, her daring and adventurous spirit are well known to every student at Harbor Day. An avid hiker and outdoorswoman, she often dreamed of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2005 she had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania, where she elected to stay in a cottage at Mbahe Farm in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. She could not yet imagine the significance of this choice. Mbahe Farm was the ancestral home of Simon Mtuy, a kind of local celebrity in the Marangu Valley. Mr. Mtuy thought Mrs. Coleman would enjoy visiting Mbahe
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Primary School and meeting students there. At first, Mrs. Coleman was struck by how much the school reminded her of Harbor Day—the students wore uniforms, they respected their teachers, and they were creative, eager learners. She noted differences, too. At Mbahe Primary, there could be as many as 70 children in one classroom with a lack of supplies. A proper library had yet to be built. Mrs. Coleman understood that things HDS students might take for granted, like the availability of picture books and sporting equipment, would be welcomed at Mbahe Primary. This initial visit became the foundation of a long-term friendship. After her trip, Mrs. Coleman arranged for Mbahe Primary and Harbor Day to become sister schools. Mrs. Coleman’s excitement spread across the Harbor Day campus. Students were inspired by her photographs from Tanzania and stories of their peers on the other side of the world. Kindergarteners made coloring books for children in Mbahe; students asked for school supply donations in lieu of birthday party gifts. Upper School students hosted bake sales and toy exchanges to benefit their sister school. Mrs. Coleman revisited Tanzania
13 times—often accompanied by teachers and alumni—to deliver school supplies to Mbahe Primary and to participate in the classrooms by leading math games and art projects. In turn, Mr. Mtuy has visited Harbor Day and fascinated students with stories of his life and his homeland. The Harbor Day community was inspired by Mrs. Coleman’s vision. By 2017, the Harbor Day community had supported their sister school by providing funding for a library and filling it with 2,000 books; purchased more than 1,000 school uniforms; provided soccer balls, baseball bats, and jump ropes; provided scholarships for secondary schools; and delivered more than 3,500 pounds of school supplies. The trip that year was especially meaningful to Mrs. Coleman because she was accompanied by her daughter, KRISTIN HATFIELD . Mrs. Hatfield was awed by the culture of Mbahe and Tanzania and hopes to carry on her mother’s work there. It is an exciting time for the Coleman family at home in California as well. Mrs. Coleman and her husband Mark recently elebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Ojai with their children and grandchildren. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 6)
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——— RETIREMENT TEA CELEBRATION HONORS FOUR LEADERS IN THE HARBOR DAY COMMUNITY ———
MARILOU MCCARTY
n recalling their time in Mrs. McCarty’s classroom, the word that students and parents use again and again is “enthusiasm.” Her love of teaching and her creative energy are evident the first time one meets her. Fourth grade—a pivotal year for children as they become more independent in thinking and planning—was her perfect match. Mrs. McCarty prepared for a career in education as she graduated from Whittier College and earned a California Teaching Credential from California State University, Long Beach. She started teaching fourth grade at Harbor Day in 1998. “I don’t think there is a more rewarding career,” Mrs. McCarty said. “You get a new beginning each year, an end, and constant feedback regarding the success or failure of goals.” In a 2016 Teacher Spotlight, Mrs. McCarty said, “each new class is a giant puzzle to be solved. No matter how many years I have taught, each group has its own personality, dynamics, and challenges.” This sense of wonder and trust in the process were among her greatest gifts to her students. Sixth grader Ry O Hill said one of his favorite memories of fourth grade was wearing funny hats while reading chapter
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books aloud, a classroom tradition. He recalled that he remembered his hat on a day his friends had forgotten theirs and was rewarded with Starburst candy. Mrs. McCarty started the school year by reading The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards. In this tale, characters have to wear funny hats to enter the magical world of Whangdoodleland. Mrs. McCarty asked each student to bring a crazy hat to wear as she read to them. The hats remained at school and each day at story time, students wore their crazy hats to signal their entry into a magical world. Her excitement about books never wanes. In the early 2000’s, she coached Harbor Day students in an interschool competition called Battle of the Books. One of her favorite memories of working with retired Lower School Director Kris Rowe and retired Librarian Molly Mailloux finds them running through a Scholastic warehouse armed with shopping lists, pushing large carts, and finding books they wanted for Reading Workshop. “For three book nerds,” she said, “it was like unleashing kids in a candy shop.”
Some students fondly remember the poetry unit, when they memorized and recited poems aided by props and costumes. Poems by Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein were among the favorites. Most students can immediately recall their Fourth Grade State Fair. (“Our state fair is a great state fair!”) The fair is attended by parents—the cumulation of various geography projects in which each student is assigned a different state— and marks the end of the school year. While not part of an actual lesson plan, Mrs. McCarty, a loyal Dodgers fan, often inspired students to attend baseball games. There were always good discussions about teamwork. Fourth grade is, above all, a year of academic growth and team effort. Likewise, she shared with students her love of travel. The proud mother of two adult boys, she is always pleased to visit her sons in whichever cities their careers take them. It is difficult for many to imagine a state fair—or fourth grade year—without Mrs. McCarty there cheering on her students. To say she will be missed is an understatement. “It is such a joy and honor,” she said, “to have been part of this step in a student’s life.” BEACON SPRING/SUMMER 2019
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——— RETIREMENT TEA CELEBRATION HONORS FOUR LEADERS IN THE HARBOR DAY COMMUNITY ———
MARIE-FRANCE SMITH
adame Smith joined the HDS faculty in 2004 to teach French to Upper School students. She became a strong voice for the World Languages department and an Upper School advisor. (Some of her advisory groups famously posed for yearbook photos in berets!) Madame Smith developed a one-of-a-kind French curriculum that prepared students for advanced French studies in high school and college. She inspired students with her love for travel; on several occasions she accompanied Harbor Day students in travel study programs to Paris and the Loire Valley. French students recall the ways she encouraged their curiosity about culture as well as language. Sixth graders learned of French traditions in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. Seventh and eighth graders gave presentations on topics like the Paris Opera Ballet, the newspaper Le Monde, and the French Football Federation. In class, they
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discussed artists, music and popular culture, and of course, French cuisine. “The obvious things to remember about Madame Smith’s classroom are the bonbons she so frequently gave out—oh those delicious bonbons. But what really stuck with me was the patience she exhibited on a daily basis,” said KEVIN THOMSEN . “No matter the struggle of a class of fifth graders learning a new vocabulary and new way of pronunciation in a completely new language, Madame Smith was always happy to instruct, to build us from level zero to becoming competent, even good French speakers.” She worked to integrate her teaching with the coursework in other departments, discussing French mathematicians Blaise Pascal and René Descartes in conjunction with Mrs. Stockstill’s syllabus, or examining various engineering feats by Gustave Eiffel and Ferdinand de Lesseps while students were also working with Dr. Rowe.
Parents often marveled at the beautiful handwritten worksheets she created so carefully, tailored to the needs of each class. Weekly translations came home as episodes of a longer story. It made helping with homework more fun, several parents said. Like their students, they looked forward to reading what happened next for Pauvre Anne or La Famille Marais. “I remember the gratitude I felt the first day of high school French class,” Thomsen said. “My vocabulary, my syntax, my pronunciation—it was miles ahead of my peers from other schools. Surely that was due to the care Madame Smith showed each day in her instruction.” A small note left in the corner of Madame Smith’s whiteboard after final exams in June said farewell perfectly. The unknown author wished beaux jours a venir, beautiful days ahead. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 8)
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——— RETIREMENT TEA CELEBRATION HONORS FOUR LEADERS IN THE HARBOR DAY COMMUNITY ———
LYNETTE VIEIRA
hen young HDS students meet alumni, the first two questions they hear are often the same. Do you like Harbor Day? Did you have Mrs. Vieira? It is usually the third question that varies and inspires storytelling. Does she still have a crush on George Washington? Does she still keep turtles outside the classroom? How many of your classmates are in the crabbypants notebook? Mrs. Vieira was a first grade teacher at Harbor Day for 33 years and served as Lower School Language Arts Department Chair. This past year she worked as Learning Specialist and served as an Upper School advisor. Prior to joining the Harbor Day faculty, she was a public school teacher in Northern California and subsequently a founding board member for the acclaimed Shalimar Learning Center in Costa Mesa, an academic support and tutoring center where educators created programs that have been replicated in hundreds of schools across California. Mrs. Vieira holds degrees from California State University, Stanislaus but it is her dedication to continuing education that makes her peers take note. An enthusiastic participant in
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professional development endeavors, Mrs. Vieira has attended programs at Chapman University; the University of California, Irvine; and Columbia University. It makes perfect sense that Mrs.Vieira’s students have such vivid memories of their first grade year. Mrs. Vieira’s classroom is a vibrant learning environment, and first grade is one of the most exciting periods of transition in elementary education. It is the time when play merges into essential academic skills, when exploring and experimenting is emphasized, when children begin to write with structure, and when they become more aware of the larger world around them. It is Mrs.Vieira’s discussion of that larger world—and the necessity of nurturing it and protecting it—that students recall so easily. Her classes often observe a webcam that is located at a watering hole in Botswana. She has encouraged naturalists from programs like Inside the Outdoors to make presentations to her students. In 2016, for example, scientist Haley Quirk arrived on campus with five birds of prey, two species of hawks, and three species of owls for students to admire and observe. Mrs.Vieira has traveled to Belize, Kenya,
and Rwanda to observe animals in their natural habitats. In 2013, she took part in an Earthwatch Institute expedition for educators to Great Otway National Park in Victoria, Australia, to study the koala population and habitat. As part of the expedition, she Skyped with Harbor Day students and kept a blog where they could follow her progress. Mrs.Vieira shares her inspirations for travel with her husband, their three daughters, and six grandchildren. In 2016, her granddaughter, BELLA PALAZZO , accompanied Mrs. Vieira and Mrs. Coleman on a visit to the Mbahe Primary School in Tanzania. Mrs. Vieira is also known to Harbor Day students for her love of cuisine and cooking. In their second semester, her students were asked to write restaurant reviews and the results were stunning. It is not so unusual in Newport Beach to overhear a first grader asking to speak to the chef! It is easy to imagine a vibrant retirement for Mrs.Vieira filled with good (non-crabbypants) books and new travel adventures. Her exemplary leadership and her classroom activities have become—and will remain— Harbor Day tradition. ■ BEACON SPRING/SUMMER 2019
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——— RETIREMENT TEA CELEBRATION HONORS FOUR LEADERS IN THE HARBOR DAY COMMUNITY ———
A FOND FAREWELL
ERIN STEPHENS
THIRD GRADE ASSOCIATE TEACHER
rs. Stephens joined the Harbor Day School faculty in 2011. She began working as an associate teacher in kindergarten and soon after moved to the third grade associate position. Her love and passion for teaching is evident in her work. Mrs. Stephens could always be found working with students individually or in small groups, preparing students for their Walk Through California project, or organizing the Third Grade Gold Rush day. We wish Mrs. Stephens all the best at her new school in Austin, Texas. We will miss her contagious smile and selflessness!
M ERIN STEPHENS
Having shared a workspace with Mrs. Stephens for three years while I was the Second Grade Associate, “ I came to know her as a dedicated, hardworking, and deeply caring teacher and individual. She is patient and nurturing, always finding the right way to reach each student. She is constantly honing her craft and creating new methods to improve her students’ understanding. Her genuine kindness and empathy often made me stop and think about the way I relate to students and colleagues. When I saw her empty desk this summer, I got a lump in my throat. Mrs. Stephen’s new school in Austin is incredibly fortunate to have gained such a wonderful human being, but our little corner of Harbor Day School just won’t be the same without her. ETHNEA PORTER | SECOND GRADE TEACHER
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Erin Stephens is a teacher who has a true passion for educating the whole child. She is an extremely intuitive and caring person. Erin always had a gift for creating an environment that fostered academic growth, while also building the self-esteem and empathy of each student. As a teacher, Mrs. Stephens consistently connected with the students in the classroom, out on duty, or tutoring after school. Her loving demeanor made each child feel special. Erin Stephens not only impacted her students, but also her colleagues. As the third grade associate, Erin was always there to provide support in the classroom and continually was a team player for the entire lower school. JACKIE GRAHAM | THIRD GRADE TEACHER
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GRADUATION 2019
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At Harbor Day, whether it was through the Eighth Grade Play or in your English classes, you have been cultivating skills that you may not even be aware of. I urge every one of you, first of all, find those skills. Once you have found them, harness them. Finally, apply them as often as possible…as you move on to bigger and better, I implore you to stay confident, shoot your best shot, and always try to have fun.
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— GRADUATION SPEECH EXCERPTS GIVEN BY ALUMNUS SOLOMON SONENSHINE '15
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CARSON MCNEILL | CLASS PRESIDENT 2019
We’re always climbing to reach higher peaks, but there are some people here who couldn’t do it without the teachers. Every day they bring new lessons to teach with them to school and I cannot thank them enough. They dedicate their hearts and souls into each topic they teach. Their passion for their subjects is unrivaled, and they are the reason we are able to climb to such great peaks. They go out of their way to help us: dedicated times to review, endless resources to study or learn further, ways to get extra credit, and special clubs. They also run our sports. They coach us outside of school out of the good of their heart. I cannot thank them enough for all they do, but I’ll try. Thank you... But here, there’s someone more important than the teachers, or the parents—each other. We all suffer together through the lows and triumph in the highs. We understand each other, trust each other, help each other, and soon will be missing each other. Alone, we would have all failed, but together we haven’t. We challenge each other to rise higher and achieve new goals. Challenge each other to do our best. But, we don’t only challenge. We inspire. I’ve learned from my classmates more than I have from my teachers. Our teachers teach us about History, Literature, Math, but we teach each other about emotions, care, empathy, and that’s the true beauty of school. We don’t only learn from the teachers. We learn from the environment we are in, from the people around us. Thank you for being great, awesome, wonderful classmates. I wish I had more time to learn from you. — GRADUATION SPEECH EXCERPTS GIVEN BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CLASS OF 2019 CARSON MCNEILL
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1. AVA WALKOW (CENTER) RECEIVES THE ART AWARD FROM MRS. YAGAR AND MRS. HAMMOND. 2. JADEN KESSLER RECEIVES THE ENGLISH AWARD FROM MR. KERR. 3. ALUMNI CORBIN VAICEK, BELLA MCKINNEY, AND TESSA MONTGOMERY ANNOUNCE THE SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS: JACK JOHNSTON, TARA MOHTASHAMI, SHAAN SAKRANEY, JACK RESSLER, AND HUTTON LEDGER. 4. HEAD OF SCHOOL AWARD RECIPIENT ELLE O HILL WITH ANGI EVANS. 5. SHAAN SAKRANEY ACCEPTS THE MATHEMATICS AWARD FROM MRS. STOCKSTILL. 6. TARA MOHTASHAMI RECEIVES THE SPANISH AWARD FROM SEÑORA CAMBRA.
2019 GRADUATION AWARDS Head of School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elle O Hill Mathematics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shaan Sakraney
Physical Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellie Rosing Oliver Ayala
Literature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elle O Hill
Computer Science. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carson McNeill
English. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jaden Kessler
Performing Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brodie Santry Katy Niccol
History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elliott Connolly Spanish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tara Mohtashami Science. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elle O Hill French. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellie Rosing Latin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jaden Kessler Art. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ava Walkow Ceramics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noelani Lee
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Service Award. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carson McNeill Gage Talleur Jaden Kessler Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hutton Ledger Jack Ressler Shaan Sakraney Jack Johnston Tara Mohtashami
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GRADUATION 2019
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THIS YEAR, 10 ALUMNI PARENTS SAW THEIR CHILDREN GRADUATE AMONG THE CLASS OF 2019.
FRONT ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: BRIGGS PORTER ’85, SARAH PORTER, NICOLE DONAHOO, NATALIE STAMIRES ’83 DONAHOO, BROOKE JOHNSON, SUSAN IHRKE ’88 JOHNSON. SECOND ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: KIM JOHNSON ’83 GENC, FINN GENC, TARA SIMPSON ’86 D’AMBROSIA, KENDALL D’AMBROSIA, JACK STEELBERG, RYAN STEELBERG ’88, ELLIE ROSING. BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: SHAAN SAKRANEY, CYNTHIA SCHWARTZ ’75 SAKRANEY, BRADY HATFIELD, KRISTEN COLEMAN ’88 HATFIELD, HENRY BARTZ, SALLY PECKENPAUGH ’87 BARTZ, JIM ROSING ’89.
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1. SPIRIT AWARD PRESENTERS FROM THE CLASS OF 2015, BELLA MCKINNEY, CORBIN VAICEK AND TESSA MONTGOMERY. | 2. CHRIS, CHASE ’14, WILLIAM ’19, MATT ’13 AND JESSICA DUMA. 3. 2017 GRADUATES KAYLANA LEE, JACQUELINE MCNEILL AND SHALA LIN | 4. ELLE ’19, BREN ’13, TATE, AND SHEA O HILL ’09. | 5. KEATON ’21, JADEN ’19, AND JORDAN ’12 KESSLER. 6. SEAN, SAMIRA, AYLA ’26, TARA ’19, AND LILY ’16 MOHTASHAMI. | 7. SHELLEY PORTER ’78 CAREY, SARAH PORTER ’19, BRIGGS PORTER ’85, CHRISSIE PORTER ’80 EMMEL, TESS EMMEL ’18.
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STUDENTS WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON CAMPUS! ELLE O HILL lle O Hill was in her seventh grade science class when she decided that she had to make a difference. The class had been watching The Cove, a documentary that uncovered the annual slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. After watching in shock and horror, Elle decided that she wanted to do something about it. Feeling empowered, she organized a school bake sale to raise funds to donate to The Cove photographer and activist Ric O’Barry’s charity. She raised over $1,000 with the bake sale and helped educate her classmates about the issue. ■
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“CHANGE” FOR ELEPHANTS
group of fifth and sixth grade students—along with Learning Specialist Mrs. Vieira—started The Endangered Animal Club. They took part in the “Change for Elephants” campaign and encouraged all grade levels to participate. The club raised a grand total of $2,223.20! Fourth Grade led the way by raising $689. First Grade came in second with a total of $496 raised. The club donated the money to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The club worked hard to collect gallon milk jugs, clean the jugs out, scrape off the labels, and create “elephant banks,” but they felt their work was well worth it! The club hopes that through the Trust, they can adopt an elephant for Harbor Day School. According to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s website, the “Change for Elephants” program is an interactive fundraising program for kids. Through the program, students can spend the school year collecting spare change to help support orphaned elephants. ■
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JADEN KESSLER
LEFT: JADEN (ON THE LEFT) WITH SISTER, KEATON, WHO WILL BE TAKING OVER THE CLUB AFTER JADEN GRADUATES ABOVE MIDDLE: THE KINDNESS CLUB ABOVE RIGHT: KINDNESS CLUB POSTERS DECORATE THE WALLS AROUND UPPER SCHOOL.
We try to have fun art projects and group activities each meeting. “ Mrs. McDonald and I wanted to create a safe, relaxing environment for struggling students, and we thought that having projects was a good way to do that. ” 1. Why did you start the Kindness Club? started the Kindness Club because I noticed how many of my peers—along with myself—were struggling with the social aspect of school. A lot of people in my grade and in other grades were sitting alone at lunch and did not have anyone to hang out with. I really wanted to help them in whatever way I could, so I decided to make a place where those kids could come and hang out at lunch or recesses.
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2. How many students are involved and when do you meet?
4. Have you seen a positive change in kindness since the launch of the club? If so, explain. have seen positive changes. Throughout the school year, Kindness Club’s main “assignment” for our members was to leave kind notes on people’s binders or note books. It was so cool to see each person’s reaction, especially those kids who struggle at school. It really made a difference in each one of their days and you could tell from each of their smiles that the notes made their days.
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5. What will happen to the club after you graduate? y younger sister, Keaton, will be taking over the Kindness Club. She is so excited, especially since she has helped me come up with many ideas this year. I hope that it will continue to make a difference in our school environment.
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here are about 10 students on average who come to the meetings. The Kindness Club meets once a month at lunch and continues to grow. It’s really cool to see how more kids continue to come to each meeting.
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3. What activities are involved in your club?
6. Any other comments?
o far, in our club, we have made posters describing how one could be “kind,” given out Post-it Notes to each student to put kind messages on and give to peers later, and made Teacher Appreciation cards. We try to have fun art projects and group activities each meeting. Mrs. McDonald and I wanted to create a safe, relaxing environment for struggling students, and we thought that having projects was a good way to do that.
am so glad that HDS has given me this opportunity. I have learned so much from this experience and have had so much fun working with Mrs. McDonald. ■
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EIGHTH GRADE HIGH SCHOOL MATRICULATION LIST Ella Anvaripour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Oliver Ayala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Henry Bartz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Adeline Beador. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Stella Beador. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Neale Bowyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Lily Britt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Elisha Choi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sage Hill School Emily Cloherty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Sienna Cuneo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Kendall D’Ambrosia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Isabelle Dastgheib. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Philips Academy, Andover Reade Decker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mater Dei High School Nicole Donahoo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Margaret’s Episcopal School William Duma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Arya Emadi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choate Rosemary Hall Finn Genc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Brady Hatfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Lukas Hauge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Brooke Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Jack Johnston. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sage Hill School Ryan Katkin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sage Hill School Jaden Kessler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mater Dei High School Olivia Krotts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mater Dei High School Hutton Ledger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laguna Beach High School Noelani Lee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sage Hill School Richard Lin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Philips Academy, Andover Micayla Lynch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Darian Mahdi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Carson McNeill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sage Hill School Tara Mohtashami. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mater Dei High School Isabelle Montgomery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Katy Niccol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mater Dei High School Elle O Hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Thacher School Sarah Porter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Jack Ressler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Undecided Ellie Rosing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Shaan Sakraney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sage Hill School Brodie Santry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sage Hill School Tara Shakoori. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Jack Steelberg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Blake Stern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Gage Talleur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sage Hill School Alexander Tamura. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Lucy Tipton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corona del Mar High School Allison Todd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newport Harbor High School Ava Walkow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Orange County School of the Arts Alexander Wu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sage Hill School
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CLASS OF 2015 MATRICULATION LIST Ella Abbott. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Michigan William Akerblom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Univeristy Alex Bishop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Iowa Carter Britt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Michigan Lexi Brooks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Southern California Wills Cook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgetown University Jessica Crump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Texas Christian University Paige Czepiel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Texas Christian University Alexis Davin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Oregon Lauren Ewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southern Methodist University Wyatt Genc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of California, Santa Barbara Emily Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of California, Santa Barbara Zackery Karro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston University Jennifer King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tulane University John King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pomona College Nolan Klein. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southern Methodist University George Knapp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Southern California Logan Ledger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southern Methodist University Morgan Mann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Babson College James McConnaughey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Washington Isabella McKinney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pennsylvania State University Nate Montgomery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Southern California Tessa Montgomery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Colorado, Boulder Drake Mossman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Jacob Muchnick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Pennsylvania Luke Nataupsky. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of California, Los Angeles Eamon Niknafs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston University Audrey Nourse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Southern California Nicole Nourse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Southern California Grant Person. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of California, Berkeley Michaela Phan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stanford University Aidan Rodriguez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Southern California Erica Roque. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Southern California Clarissa Sargeant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Texas Christian University Sydney Schell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of California, San Diego Peter Shea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Notre Dame University Lindsay Shean. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston College Reese Simkins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Colorado, Boulder Malia Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapman University Solomon Sonenshine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Maryland Anna Steelberg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pepperdine University William Stomber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georgetown University Matthew Ueberroth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of California, Berkeley Corbin Vaicek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . University of Utah Nicholas Walkow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ohio State University Sumner Warden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American University Peyton Webb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southern Methodist University Kate Wirta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southern Methodist University
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hrek The Musical, Jr. ——————— BY MOUJAN WALKOW ————————
hen Ms. Yunga Webb was considering an appropriate musical for the class of 2019, she couldn’t help but heed the many signs that pointed to Shrek the Musical, Jr.— her students had pleaded for it since they were in the fifth grade! While lounging around last summer, Ms. Webb’s daughter suggested that they watch Shrek the Musical, Jr. Upon seeing it again, Ms. Webb was convinced it was the right choice! Sure enough, it turned out to be the perfect fit for this year’s eighth graders, who came together and gave their all to make this year’s musical arguably the best in Harbor Day history. While the costumes, makeup, and stage design alone met professional standards, it was the collaboration of the students with their many talents that made it so much fun to watch. The audience was entranced by the fairy tale characters, who connected with them and made the story come to life with humor and emotion. After watching Shrek the Musical, Jr., we were all “believers!” ■
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BLUE GOLD TRACK MEET RESULTS 2019
SCORE PRIOR TO TRACK MEET: TRACK MEET POINTS:
BLUE BLUE
FINAL SCORE FOR THE YEAR:
BLUE 2,052 GOLD 1,916
NEW GRADE LEVEL RECORDS: 5TH GRADE GIRLS: SHOT PUT – ALLISON COHEN (B) 26' 2" The previous record of 25' 8" was held by Emily Johnson (G) 2012
6TH GRADE GIRLS: 55M HURDLES – KEATON KESSLER (B) 9.5 seconds Keaton tied the previous record of 9.5 set by Elyse Johnson (G) 2016
511 1,541
GOLD GOLD
480 1,436
THE TOP FIVE FINISHERS IN THE PENTATHLON EVENT (Hurdles, 800m, Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Put – total possible points – 50) were: 1ST - DILLON LANE – 7th Grade Gold (39 pts.) 2ND - DASH D’AMBROSIA – 6th Grade Gold (36 pts.) 3RD - MARY KATE ANGELOFF – 5th Grade Blue CHLOE WAINWRIGHT – 5th Grade Gold (29 pts.) 5TH - TAYLOR FRANCOIS – 5th Grade Gold (32 pts.)
8TH GRADE GIRLS AND THE ALL-SCHOOL RECORD: DISCUS – ALLISON TODD (B) 71' 2" The previous record of 70' 10" was held by Natasha Sakraney (B) 2008 20
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SEAHAWKS NEWS
HDS
HDS
SPRING SEASON
CHAMPIONS!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 6TH GRADE BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL TEAM!
2019 HDS TRACK TEAM RESULTS 5'4" GIRLS’ DIVISION Eva Alexander, Ragan Angeloff, Alex Boserup, Yasmin Cavner, Cindy Lin, Nicole Thorp, Peyton Vovan, Erika Wein —————————————————————————
8TH GRADE GIRLS’ DIVISION Allison Todd —————————————————————————
7TH GRADE BOYS’ DIVISION
John Elliott, Tate Natland —————————————————————————
5'4" BOYS’ DIVISION
Jack Cudzil, Cameron Danz, Caden Isola, Dillon Lane, Chris O’Neil, Jake Pirnazar, Mark Rosing, Ethan White
The girls in the 5' 4" division won the league championship over the other six schools in our league. Harbor Day scored 84 points and the next closest competitor was Dwyer with 51 points. This is the third 5' 4" title for HDS and the first since 2010.
CONGRATULATIONS!
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GRANDPARENTS’DAY
2019
or this year’s GRANDPARENTS’ DAY, Harbor Day threw it back to the 1980s with a totally rad “old school” celebration! Adorning the walls were photographs of grandparents wearing shoulder pads and track suits, and students’ awesome mixed-media 3-D boom boxes. With the help of righteous volunteers, co-chairs Alison Ledger and Leslie Stern created a totally tubular atmosphere with paint splatters and neon colors. Harbor Day grandparents were amped to visit with their grandchildren after a rockin’ performance that included some of the most excellent beats from the 80’s, thanks to music teachers Joel Maki and Yunga Webb. It was a day to remember! ■
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New Board of Trustees 2019 Jenny Gross enny Gross is a North Carolina native. She attended Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina and graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in Communications. After graduating from college, she held various event planning and sales positions at different companies. In her most recent position, Mrs. Gross worked as an Account Manager with Covidien, a surgical device company, where she managed a $9 million dollar sales territory in Los Angeles. She was a multiyear President’s Club winner with Covidien. In 2008, Mrs. Gross moved to Palos Verdes Estates, California from Charlotte, North Carolina. She married her husband, Jeff, in 2010. The couple has two children—Caroline, 7, and Lila, 3. Her family moved to Newport Beach in 2015. Mrs. Gross serves on the Board of Directors for CASA of Orange County and is co-founder of her family foundation, InFocus.
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Karla Kraft arla is a shareholder at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, where her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation matters and employment disputes. Her particular areas of emphasis include defending class actions, including a wide variety of consumer and employment wage and hour class action complaints; commercial real estate disputes; corporate, shareholder and partner disputes; breaches of corporate merger agreements and other business-to-business contractual disputes; trade secret and
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unfair competition matters; and single plaintiff employment disputes. For multiple years, she has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and one of the Best Lawyers in America. Mrs. Kraft grew up in Spokane, Washington. She came to California for college, attending the University of Southern California and graduating magna cum laude with bachelor degrees in journalism and international relations. She obtained her J.D. from USC’s Gould School of Law, serving as the Managing Editor for the Review of Law and Women’s Studies and being named the Outstanding Woman Law Graduate. She enjoys being involved in the Orange County community and currently serves as the President of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers Orange County chapter. She is also a member of the board of directors of the Public Law Center, on the executive committee of the Sonenshine Pro Bono Opportunities Reception, and is active at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. She and her husband, Anderee, are the proud parents of HDS fourth grader Aleah and kindergartener Ava.
Liz Williams iz Williams is the President of Taco Bell International, a subsidiary of YUM! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM). Mrs. Williams is responsible for the brand strategy, growth, and performance of the international business. Prior to her promotion to President, Mrs. Williams was the Taco Bell Chief Financial Officer, leading Finance, Information Technology, and eCommerce. Before joining Yum!, Mrs. Williams spent six years with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where she was a Principal in the Consumer and Retail practices in U.S. and Asian markets. Prior to BCG, she spent seven years at Dell Computer in various finance, brand marketing, and corporate sales positions. Mrs. Williams earned her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She received a bachelor’s degree, with a major in marketing, from the University of Texas Business Honors Program. She currently serves as a board member of Stitch Fix (NASDAQ: SFIX), the leading online personal styling service, and was previously on the board of CASA of Orange County (Court Appointed Special Advocate), a nonprofit organization that serves
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Rick Taketa abused and neglected children. Mrs. Williams also serves on the Kellogg Women’s Leadership Advisory council. She and her husband, Spencer, reside in Newport Beach and have two children—Hudson, a second grader at Harbor Day, and daughter Sofia. When she is not spending time with her family, she enjoys traveling, exercising, snow skiing, and all things retail.
Laura Vanderhook aura Vanderhook, a Southern California native, grew up in Claremont, California. Laura received her bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton in 2003 and is a certified yoga and Pilates instructor. After earning her degree, Laura pursued her passions around entrepreneurship and creativity. She established a fashion line that specialized in the design, development, and manufacturing of women’s shoes and handbags. The line was distributed in 150 retail stores in the U.S. Mrs. Vanderhook also founded a local dessert catering company that handled corporate and personal events in the Orange County community. Mrs. Vanderhook is passionate about helping others and donates her time to many philanthropic efforts. She has volunteered by mentoring for Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization in Costa Mesa. She is a Harvester for the Second Harvest Food Bank, where she has co-chaired the Fund-A-Meal campaign for the last two years. In addition, she serves on the board of the Newport Chapter of the National Charity League, Jrs., through which she volunteers with her daughter Stella, a third grader at Harbor Day, supporting organizations and programs such as the High Hopes Head Injury Program, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, and the Harry and Grace Steele Children’s Center. With two of her four children attending Harbor Day, Mrs. Vanderhook devotes much time volunteering at the School. She was the Decorations Chair for Grandparents’ Day in 2019 and has been a room parent, lunch volunteer, and a member of both the Fall Benefit Committee and the Annual Fund Committee. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family and spending time with friends and her children.
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ichard H. (Rick) Taketa is the President of Taketa Capital, a small family office, where he partners with public and private highgrowth companies and serves in a variety of capacities, including board director, investor, advisor, and coach. Immediately prior to founding Taketa Capital, Mr. Taketa served as President and CEO of York Risk Services, Inc., one of the nation’s largest third-party administrators to the insurance industry. In this role, he had overall responsibility for capital, strategic, financial, operational, governance, sales, and client activities. With approximately $800 million in revenue and 5,500 employees, York grew under Mr. Taketa’s leadership from a regional player to a leading provider of tech-enabled, integrated services to the insurance market. Prior to York, Mr. Taketa was a co-founder and managing director of a small private equity vehicle named Eventide Capital and a venture-focused corporate securities lawyer in Silicon Valley with Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich. Before going to law school, he spent four years in Washington, D.C., working with nongovernmental organizations focused on environmental and public health issues. Mr. Taketa currently serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Directors for Palomar Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLMR); Veritone, Inc. (NASDAQ: VERI); and Alphaeon Corporation, a diversified holder of health care assets including public company Evolus, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOLS), as well as other private equity backed companies. Rick also currently serves on the Board of the Hoag Hospital Foundation. In 2017, Mr. Taketa was named an Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the State of New Jersey, where he and his family resided prior to returning to California. He has been a recurring guest lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and is a member of the California Bar Association (inactive status). Mr. Taketa earned his B.A. from Colgate University and J.D. from Stanford Law School. He resides in Newport Beach with his wife, Alexandra, and HDS students Skylar (fifth grade) and Sierra (second grade).
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Maker Faire 2019
n April 27, 2019, Harbor Day School hosted its annual Maker Space Faire. Hundreds of participants from Harbor Day and the local community gathered in The Blass Gymnasium to tinker, imagine, inquire, design, create, and collaborate. Attendees designed LED foam light cars, assembled bottle rockets, created gumdrop structures, built circuits, and printed personalized designs on the 3-D printer. Through maker spaces—spaces designated for student-driven, creative endeavors that include elements of artistry, design, circuitry, and craftsmanship—Harbor Day implements its well-established STEAM program, an integrated curriculum of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. ■
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CLASS NOTES 1970
1980
1983
NATALIE STAMIRES DONAHOO CELEBRATED HER DAUGHTER, NICOLE’S, GRADUATION FROM HARBOR DAY IN JUNE. MRS. DONAHOO'S SON, JACK, IS IN SEVENTH GRADE AT HDS.
PHIL ASHEY is the appointed Special Counsel to the Archbishop and Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America. He published a book on the global Anglican Communion entitled Anglican Conciliarism: How the Church Decides Together. Mr. Ashey has traveled to Singapore, Cairo, Nairobi, Kampala, Recife, Sydney, and Bangkok this year to work with the church’s leadership. He and his wife, Julie, are about to enjoy their 38th wedding anniversary. Their children are busy as well: one is currently on a choral tour in Austria, another is doing an art therapy internship in South Africa, and another is playing piano on the Holland Line Cruises. Mr. Ashey currently lives in Lilburn, Georgia.
1988
CHRISSIE PORTER EMMEL AND DAUGHTER TESS EMMEL '18 ATTENDED HDS GRADUATION IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR NIECE/COUSIN, SARAH PORTER '19.
1982 KRISTEN CELEBRATED HER SON BRADY’S HDS GRADUATION.
1975 CYNTHIA SCHWARTZ SAKRANEY and her children NATASHA '08 and KAVI '10 celebrated the HDS graduation of the youngest member of their family, SHAAN '19. Shaan’s graduation ends Cynthia’s 20-plus year tenure as an HDS parent. We hope she will still come to campus to visit! BEACON SPRING/SUMMER 2019
CONGRATULATIONS TO AUTHOR MEGAN GRISWOLD ON THE RELEASE OF HER BOOK, THE BOOK OF HELP: A MEMOIR IN REMEDIES.
After traveling to Africa and working with children in an orphanage and primary school in Tanzania, KRISTEN COLEMAN HATFIELD co-founded Sojourn Foundation. The mission statement of the organization is: “To connect people through soulful journeys that focus on working with children in developing countries while sharing personal growth experiences and opportunities for adventure in unique, global settings.” [https://www.sojourn-foundation.com/about-us]
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CLASS NOTES 1992
BRIAN COLEMAN, AND HIS WIFE, MAUREEN, POSE WITH NEPHEW, HATFIELD '19, ON HIS GRADUATION FROM HDS.
1993 SHELLEY RICH MANNING is enjoying practicing family law in Orange County and spending time with husband, Patrick, daughter Stella (2), and son Brooks (1).
2001
MICHELLE QUEYREL LINOVITZ and her husband, Tom, just welcomed their first child, Lucas Collins Linovitz, on February 11, 2019. Mrs. Linovitz works as a residential realtor for Villa Real Estate and specializes in the luxury markets of Corona del Mar and Newport Beach.
2003
1999
2004
LESLIE MCDONALD married Oliver Budd Evans on May 4, 2019 at the Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles. Classmates JENNIFER MASSEY and EMILY HILLGREN were members of the wedding party, and several other HDS classmates were in attendance as well. Mrs. McDonald currently works in Partnership Marketing and Strategy for the World Surf League in Santa Monica.
2008
Lieutenant Commander JACK SKAHEN, his wife, Jenny, and children, J.J. and Molly, are stationed JACK "J.J." in San Diego while SKAHEN AND BABY he is serving on SISTER, MOLLY an admiral’s staff in the Third Fleet. Lieutenant Commander Skahen returned from deployment in 2018 by bringing his dad along as a dependent on a Tiger Cruise aboard the U.S.S. America between Honolulu and San Diego. Jack served on the commodore’s staff of an amphibious readiness group in the Pacific.
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JAMES C.F. SKAHEN graduated with a Doctorate in Dental Surgery from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in May and began a residency in pedodontics at the University of Southern California. While in dental school, James married Sara, and their baby girl, June, was born on March 31, 2019. Mr. Skahen and family are living in Culver City.
HUTTON MCKENNA attended University California, Santa Barbara and is currently busy working in the family business at McKenna Automotive, where he is an expert in building cars for those who love more than the traditional look of an automobile. He continues to fulfill his passion of racing a Porsche GT3 Cup Car in a series that takes him all over the United States.
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CLASS NOTES 2011
HALLAND MCKENNA graduated from Stanford University in June. During her studies at Stanford, she interned for Dr. Condoleezza Rice for three years. She will continue her studies at the University of Southern California this fall in the Masters of Law Program. Ms. McKenna continues her passion for show jumping with her horses and plays volleyball whenever a game comes her way.
OLIVIA SEVER, GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN MAY WITH A MAJOR IN COMMUNICATIONS AND A MINOR IN SPORTS MEDIA INDUSTRIES.
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VINSON CHIU has taken some time off from his studies at the University of California, Berkeley to train for the 2020 BEACON SPRING/SUMMER 2019
VINSON CHIU (TOP LEFT) WITH THE NATIONAL BADMINTON TEAM.
Tokyo Olympics as part of the USA Badminton team. His goal is to become the first American to win an Olympic medal in badminton. He says, “I will be training 25 hours per week in Malaysia for most of 2019 and 2020 when I am not playing international tournaments. In addition to becoming the best version of myself that I know I can be, another goal of mine is to be a good ambassador for the sport. I know many younger players love watching and learning from professional badminton players, so I want to embody what it means to be an admirable player on court and an exemplary man off court. Usually people believe that one must choose an academic career or an athletic one. However, I want to show young kids that if you work hard enough, you can excel in school and sports simultaneously. Though I am taking a break from school to train, I will return to UC Berkeley in 2020 to complete my degree in computer science.” If you want to know how you can support Vinson and keep track of the team’s progress, contact Mrs. Debra Lee. T.J. MORTON is a music major and arts entrepreneurship minor at Bucknell University. He worked for Super78 Studios in Los Angeles over the summer on a 360º audio project.
CARSON SHEA AND BELLA PALAZZO ATTENDED THE RETIREMENT CELEBRATION FOR BELLA’S GRANDMOTHER AND LONGTIME HDS TEACHER, LYNETTE VIEIRA.
LILY WALKOW is a film major at Emerson College and spent the summer in Southern California working at Omni Media, helping to create gaming video content. In June, she was on campus for her sister Ava’s graduation.
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CLASS NOTES 2015
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2015 ON GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL! THE COLLEGE MATRICULATION LIST FOR THE CLASS OF 2015 CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 17.
Congratulations to all of them!
PHOTO: COURTESY FIVB WORLD BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOUR
MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2015 ATTENDING CORONA DEL MAR HIGH SCHOOL GATHERED FOR A PHOTO AT “COLLEGE T-SHIRT DAY.” ELLA ABBOTT, BELLA MCKINNEY, Corondel Mar High School gatheredfor a SOLOMON SONENSHINE, TESSA MONTGOMERY, photo at “College T-Shirt Day.”UEBERROTH, WYATT GENC, KATE WIRTA, MATTHEW CARTER BRITT, AND NATE MONTGOMERY.
AUDREY and NICOLE NOURSE are playing volleyball for the University of Southern California. They represented the United States on the World Beach Volleyball Tour in the spring. AUDREY AND NICOLE IN BATTAMBANG, CAMBODIA.
YOUNG ALUMNI— INCLUDING GRANT PERSON, WILLS COOK, DRAKE MOSSMAN, AND NICK WALKOW (NOT PICTURED) — GAVE TRIBUTE TO THEIR MOTHERS AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF YOUNG MEN MOTHER-SON DINNER AFTER FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE ORGANIZATION.
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MICHAELA PHAN was chosen as a United States Presidential Scholar and in June received her Presidential Scholar Medallion at a ceremony held at the White House. An HDS former Latinist, she is also on the National Junior Classical League student board. AIDAN RODRIGUEZ was accepted to the popular music program at University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. He is focusing on music production and songwriting. BEACON SPRING/SUMMER 2019
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CLASS NOTES 2015
2016
CLARISSA SARGEANT’S graduation party was attended by many HDS alumni, including PRESTON EWING '17, EMILY JOHNSON '15, LAUREN EWING '15, OLIVIA SEVER '11, NICK SARGEANT '10, CLARISSA SARGEANT '15, REESE SIMKINS '15, AIDAN STEINKE '14, RORY SEVER '14, RYAN STEINKE '16, and TESSA MONTGOMERY '15.
After placing third overall at the Pacific Coast Championships in San Diego, MARBELLA MARLO skippered for the Corona del Mar Sailing Team at the High School Nationals this past May in Seattle. For the second consecutive year, she sailed Corona del Mar High School into fifth place.
KARINA GROVER, ANIKA NIELSEN, ALANA KARRO, AND DANIEL TOWERS ATTENDED SAGE HILL PROM TOGETHER.
CLASSMATES AND NEIGHBORHOOD PALS REUNITED FOR THIS FUN PHOTO. HUDSON VAICEK, AVA ELLIOTT, KATHERINE VON DER AHE, TESS EMMEL, MAGGIE DIETRICK, TOMMY RICHARDSON, AND CHLOE ELLIOTT.
SAN FRANCISCO ALUMNI RECEPTION ON MARCH 14, 2019, HDS ALUMNI IN THE BAY AREA GATHERED AT THE OLYMPIC CLUB IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO. AMONG THE ATTENDEES WERE FORMER FACULTY MEMBERS HAL HENSLER AND LESLIE BROCKMAN, WHO WERE REUNITED AFTER ALMOST 30 YEARS. GUESTS ENJOYED LIBATIONS AND HORS D'OEUVRES WHILE SHARING THEIR FAVORITE HARBOR DAY MEMORIES AND THEIR LIFE EVENTS POST-HDS.
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1. DEBRA DEVINE '81 LEE, BROOKE NELSON '06, KRISTEN NELSON '01, KELSEY HUMPHREYS '09, MASON CASE '08, CHARLOTTE BELLING '08, JAMIE SEARLES '09, BLAIR ELLIOTT '83 PAIGE, HAL HENSLER, and LESLIE BROCKMAN 2. BRIAN COLEMAN '92, MASON CASE '08, and KELSEY HUMPHREYS '09 3. HAL HENSLER and LESLIE BROCKMAN 4
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4. BLAIR ELLIOTT '83 PAIGE, and JENNIFER GLUECK '88 BEZOZA 31
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A L U M N I A T T H E B L U E – G O L D T R A C K M E E T 2019 ALUMNI CONTINUE TO RETURN TO CAMPUS IN DROVES ON TRACK MEET DAY TO REUNITE, VISIT THEIR FAVORITE FACULTY MEMBERS, AND CHEER FOR THE BLUE AND GOLD. WE LOVE HAVING OUR ALUMNI ON CAMPUS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THIS INFORMAL ANNUAL ALUMNI REUNION YEAR AFTER YEAR!
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BLUE - GOLD ALUMNI BOWL 2019 ON THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 26, THE ALUMNI ADVISORY COUNCIL HOSTED ITS FIRST ON-CAMPUS EVENT FOR ALL ALUMNI AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE SOCIAL AND SPORTING EVENT WAS HELD ON THE BLACK TOP, AND INCLUDED CORNHOLE, PING-PONG, AND VOLLEYBALL GAMES. DECKED OUT IN HARBOR DAY P.E. UNIFORM SHIRTS IN BLUE AND GOLD, ALUMNI ENJOYED STREET TACOS AND FRIENDLY COMPETITION. IN THE END, GOLD WON THE DAY BUT FUN WAS HAD BY ALL! THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR ORGANIZING THIS FUN, FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT!
GO BLUE! TARYN TARNUTZER ’01 PILCO, KIRBY BURNHAM ‘06 KURZEKA , BLAIR TARNUTZER ’03 TROY AND HADLEY BURNHAM ’01 MONEY.
ALUMNI VISIT AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
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arbor Day alumni attending University of California, Berkeley spent an afternoon in March visiting with Mrs. Debra Lee. The group talked about their experiences at Cal, shared how well Harbor Day School had prepared them for their educations, and exchanged ideas on how to navigate college. They made plans to reunite again and enjoyed spending time with fellow HDS alumni. LEFT: CHRISTINA DAVENPORT '14, NATALIE MOSHAYEDI '12, KYLE GIFFIN '13, AND BRANDON GETTER '14.
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S T A Y C O N N E C T E D ...
GET SOCIAL
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➮ TWITTER https://twitter.com/harborday ➮ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/harborday/
CONGRATS!
➮ LINKEDIN Find Harbor Day School Alumni ➮ FACEBOOK Find HDS Alumni Facebook group
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3443 Pacific View Drive Corona del Mar , CA 92625 tel: 949.640.1410 | fax: 949.640.0908 www.harborday.org
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2019 FRONT ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Shaan Sakraney, Isabella Montgomery, Tara Shakoori, William Duma, Tara Mohtashami, Brodie Santry, Neale Bowyer, Jaden Kessler, Alexander Tamura, Richard Lin, Ellie Rosing, Ava Walkow, Arya Emadi.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SECOND ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Henry Bartz, Finn Genc, Emily Cloherty, Lucy Tipton, Oliver Ayala, Noelani Lee,
Sienna Cuneo, Reade Decker, Elle O Hill, Elliott Connolly, Kendall D’Ambrosia, Brady Hatfield. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— THIRD ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Katy Niccol, Micayla Lynch, Nicole Donahoo, Ella Anvaripour, Ryan Katkin, Sarah Porter,
Darian Mahdi, Elisha Choi, Brooke Johnson, Blake Stern, Alexander Wu, Isabelle Dastgheib. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Adeline Beador, Jack Ressler, Allison Todd, Lily Britt, Carson McNeill, Jack Steelberg,
Olivia Krotts, Stella Beador, Hutton Ledger, Lukas Hauge, Gage Talleur, Jack Johnston.