M AG A Z I N E
SPR ING 2016
H EA D- ROYCE SCHOOL MAGAZIN E
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2 LIFE
PHOTOGRAPHY Chad Bellani Zach Bernard Sam Deaner Claudia Miranda Richard Wheeler
@ HRS
9 LETTER
FROM THE HEAD
10 H A P P E N I N G S 16 5 T H
29 EDITORS Susan Anderson Cass Caulfield Julie Kim-Beal Stacy Rollo Nicole Radlow
SPRING 2016
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Chen Design Associates PRINTER Solstice Press
VISIT US O N L I N E ! Discover more about us, our mission and activities at www.headroyce.org Visit us on Facebook at facebook/headroyceschool
G R A D E R S S A Y “ N A M A S T E ” T O P E N PA L S
A student-led video pen pal program allows students to communicate with 5th graders at a school in New Delhi, India. 18 P R E S E R V I N G
HISTORY
Middle School students help a Holocaust survivor share his amazing story as a 7 year-old during the 1939 Kindertransport rescue mission for Jewish children.
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“At our heart,
W E A RE A COMMU NITY O F PAS SIO NAT E E D U CATO RS, all sharing a deep commitment to creating lifelong learners who will be prepared to lead with joy and compassion.” — Crystal Land, Interim Head of School
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MAKING REAL CHANGE
Upper School students in the Global Issues class are taking citizenship and community to a new level by turning passion into purpose to solve real-world problems. 22 T H E
LOWER SCHOOL LIBRARY
24 T H E
READ LIBRARY
26 S U M M E R
PROGRAM
29 F R O M
HEADS UP GRADS TO HARD WORKING COUNSELORS
Heads Up graduates get a leg-up on job experience by taking on roles as summer counselors for the Head-Royce Summer Program.
31 R E F L E C T I O N S
ON THE HEADS UP PROGRAM AT 30
32 B I G G E R
NIGHT OUT
34 B I R T H D A Y S
AND BRAVERY
After a brave battle with rare nerve and bone cancer, Pierre Schreyer’s ’15 legacy lives on through the “Pierre Birthday Fund” which helps hospitalized kids. 36 A L U M N I
EVENTS
39 A L U M N I
NOTES
43 I N
MEMORIAM
47 W H E R E
ARE THEY NOW?
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LIFE @ HRS
STAY I N G A F LOAT 10th graders compete in homemade vessels, made of only three materials, as a part of the annual Boat Races in the HRS pool.
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HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
FA L L I N A N D H A N G ON Sixth graders stay steady on the ropes courses during the annual Fallout trip to Occidental.
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LIFE @ HRS
S HOW AND T E L L In March, we hosted Grandparents and Special Friends Day on campus. Our visitors got the chance to be students for a day while our students showed them all the magic that happens here.
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ARTISTS IN TH E MAK IN G Middle schoolers are perfecting their craft while attentively watching a demonstration on acrylic painting.
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LIFE @ HRS
PE RF ECT I O N O N T HE PI TC H Men’s Varsity Soccer powered through their opponents, culminating with a first place finish in the BCL-East league.
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FLYIN G H I G H FADE (Fine Arts Dance Ensemble), a student-run dance group, performs an acrobatic feat in their annual show.
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LIFE @ HRS
MOVI N G ON Upper schoolers stream past second graders on campus, one of the many unique interactions that our K–12 environment offers.
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HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES: NEAR AND FAR
Dear Head-Royce Families and Friends, Head-Royce School is a vibrant community rooted in our dedicated mission of scholarship, diversity and global citizenship. With this mission at the center of everything we do, we strive to integrate our strong academic program with real-world learning and a willingness to learn from many perspectives. Our faculty, parents and students care about each other and the broader world in which we live. Why does this matter? Creating a sense of unity benefits not just students, teachers and families, but also the broader community. When we do this well, parents join us as partners and are more likely to take an active role in their child’s education. Teachers see their work as both inside and outside of the classroom. Those in our community outside the school value Head-Royce as a contributing member of a larger system. And research shows that children attending schools with a strong community are more likely to be academically motivated. Overall, we believe we have a significant role to play in helping to make our community a better place by forging connections with our local, national and global community.
and purpose; students were tasked to identify a problem, conduct research and problem-solve in the real world. Ideas included creation of gender-sensitive gaming communities to combat sexism in video games and a customer loyalty and fundraising program for hair salons to supply wigs to people undergoing medical treatment. In “Preserving History,” Middle School students are helping a Holocaust survivor share his story with other students around the world. And, a unique video pen pal program currently underway in the Lower School is connecting fifth graders to students in New Delhi. These types of programs go far in educating the whole child while fostering a lifetime of constructive and responsible global citizenship. From our school community – to our local neighborhood – to the greater Oakland community and far beyond, we remain committed to making meaningful, postive change in small, everyday ways, and through larger scale social impact projects. I hope you will dive in and savor these stories of community, citizenship and connection.
Our Spring Magazine is centered around this idea of community and the many forms in which it takes shape, both on and off campus. In “Students Making Real Change,” Upper School seniors in the Global Issues class are challenged to develop a final project with both passion
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OU R M I S S I ON The mission of Head-Royce School is to inspire in our students a lifelong love of learning and pursuit of academic excellence, to promote understanding of and respect for the diversity that makes our society strong, and to encourage constructive and responsible global citizenship. The school nurtures the development of the whole child through a program that seeks: • to develop intellectual abilities such as scholarship and disciplined, critical thinking; • to foster in each student integrity, ethical behavior, compassion, and a sense of humor; • to promote responsibility and leadership, an appreciation of individual and cultural differences, and a respect for the opinions of others; • to nurture aesthetic abilities such as creativity, imagination, musical and visual talent; and
Crystal Land Interim 2015–2017 Head of School
• to encourage joyful, healthy living, a love of nature, and physical fitness.
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HAPPENINGS 2
1 MAKI NG MUSI C One of many talented musicians performs for a packed crowd at our annual Holiday Program.
3 SPOOKY TREATS
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The athletics faculty serve up autumnal fare at our annual school fair in October.
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2 WATER SPORTS Middle schoolers cool down with a competitive game of water polo in the Head-Royce pool.
4 A HOLI DAY
HANDS UP Our Lower schoolers enjoy performing for the crowd at our annual Holiday Program.
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HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
HAPPENINGS
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5 FO R TH E LOV E
6 S P I RI T I N
7 COMMU N ITY +
O F C H O CO LAT E
N UM B E RS
CU LTU RE
Lower School Head, Lea Van Ness and Director of Equity and Inclusion, Rachel Nagler pass out sweet treats to students as they depart on Valentine’s Day.
Upper School students bond and show their spirit during Convocation, our school year opening ceremony.
The Asian Parents Network sponsored a trip to the San Francisco Asian Art museum where over 50 Head-Royce students, parents and teachers learned how Japanese culture inspired many Western artists.
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6 8 FRIE N DS WIT H
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9 CA RN IVA L
S P IRIT
C REAT IVITY
Lower School students can barely contain their excitement on Green and Gold Day.
Head-Royce and Heads Up students collaborate on a mural project at our Community Picnic to kick-off the school year.
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10 1 0 S P IK E A N D S CORE Our Women’s Varsity Volleyball team goes big against an opponent during a home game. The team had a successful season, making it to the North Coast Section finals.
1 1 WE LCOM E L AX Women’s Lacrosse debuted as a new sport this year and their inaugural season was not only fun but quite successful, remaining competitive with many seasoned school teams.
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1 2 SCHOOL AND
THESPI ANS
Lower School Teacher Zach Bernard, showcasing his spirit two ways, for his school and his favorite team on Green and Gold Day.
The cast of “Distracted,” the Drama Department’s fall production takes a break from rehearsals for a group picture.
1 4 I N HARMONY Upper School students in Colla Voce perform a 16th century opera with poise and perfection.
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1 3 FOCUSED
FAN SPI RI T
1 5 TRUMPETS I N
UNI SON Members of the Caravan Jazz ensemble perform for a packed crowd at Yoshi’s in Oakland’s Jack London Square.
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HAPPENINGS
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1 6 PA INTING FO R
GOOD A Lower School student creates a colorful bowl to be auctioned off to support the Alameda County Food Bank “Empty Bowls” fundraiser.
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1 7 K N I GHTS AN D
SU PE RH E RO ES Members of our professional community stand guard with smiles during the Halloween festivities.
1 8 ROL L IN ’ OUT OF B E D Lower School students are happy to be casual and comfy on Pajama Day.
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1 9 S C E N IC S H OT Eighth graders take a break on their hike during their annual, three-day trip to Santa Barbara.
2 0 S E RVIC E WIT H
2 1 FARM TO TABLE
A SM IL E
EDUCATI ON
A day of school equals a day of service for Middle schoolers during their service learning day at a local food bank.
Sixth graders learn about sustainability and farming during their service learning day at Sunol Farm.
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2 2 SPI RI TED DRAMA Middle schoolers play to the crowd at the 7th/8th grade drama class performance.
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25 2 3 L I G H T B R IG H T Freshmen create paper circuitry during their advising groups.
2 5 POWERFUL
PASTA With just some spaghetti and a little tape, students work to build the tallest tower, with enough reinforcements to hold a marshmallow at the top.
2 7 SWEET DIG S Students work to design and build the best gingerbread house during our annual competition. Seniors once again were victorious.
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2 4 FU L L O F PRI D E The Head-Royce community walking and showing support during the City of Oakland’s Pride Parade.
2 6 T H E RI GHT AN G L E Geometry students collaborating during a group project.
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HAPPENINGS
5th Graders Say “Namaste” to Pen Pals 7,673 miles away Building community has gone global in the Head-Royce Lower School! This year, led by the 5th grade leadership team, students launched a video pen pal program with fellow students at Yog Bharti Public School in New Delhi, India. The program is 100% student-led, giving students full responsibility to assign roles of engagement with their overseas friends, including creating, collaborating, speaking, and editing the videos that travel over the miles each month.
Vibrant videos show Head-Royce students singing, dancing and playing instruments — including the ukulele. And students in India have reciprocated with videos about their culture, classrooms and holidays. The video program also offers subtitles to help the students translate messages when necessary. Head-Royce student Audrey said, “The kids from India used English words in ways we never would in our country. Even though they talked fast and we didn’t always understand them, we learned a lot about each other.” 16
Says Buck, “The kids in India showed us what their school looked like and how many kids they have in each class, which is much bigger than ours.” Fellow classmate Chelsey agreed and added, “they also were amazed at how diverse our school was and that we weren’t all Caucasian.” Teacher Lindsay Zika is pleased by how much they all enjoy learning about the differences and the similarities in the two cultures. “We chose a classroom in India because this culture is not covered in great depth in our curriculum, so it’s a fantastic
HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
LOWER SCHOOL
“ T H E V I D EOS way for the kids to learn firsthand about India and its people.” The kids agree. “One of the videos we watched from India was a re-creation of the story of Diwali (an important Hindu festival), with lots of candles and decorations,” said Will. “Then we sent them a video of our Thanksgiving celebration. It’s cool to see how we all celebrate holidays.” For this program, Head-Royce partnered with LumenEd, a non-profit organization that connects teachers and students across the world. The 5th grade class raised money at the school’s annual All-School Fair and used the proceeds to purchase LumenEd’s video projector for the classroom in India. This “Bright
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P ROV I D E GREAT I N S I GH T I N TO W H AT 5 T H GRA D E LO O KS L I K E F ROM DI F F E RE N T PA RTS O F T H E GLO B E .”
Orange Box” projector is unique in that it’s a battery-powered video device that allows the Indian classroom not only to make and send videos, but also to use for everyday learning and instruction.
LumenEd helps facilitate the connections through online tools, a shared planning calendar, and an outline of topics and prompts. “The teachers met first via Skype and made decisions on the curriculum and structure of the program,” said teacher Ben Ladue.
The teachers hope to get the Head-Royce and Indian kids to become email pen pals to broaden their specific personal relationships. But for now, the videos provide great insight into what 5th grade looks like from different parts of the globe. h r s
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Preserving History Middle School Students Help a Holocaust Survivor Tell His Story In the months between November 1938 and the start of World War II, nearly 10,000 children were sent, without their parents, out of Nazi Germany, Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia to safety in Great Britain. One of those 10,000 children was 7-yearold Ralph Samuel. In 1939 as part of the Kindertransport rescue mission for Jewish children, Ralph said good-bye to his mother and was sent to England to live with a foster family. That same year, Ralph’s father was sent to Buchenwald concentration
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camp and was subsequently deported to Auschwitz where he died at the age of 49. So begins an extraordinary story that gripped the attention of nearly 250 Middle School students when Mr. Samuel came to Head-Royce to share his story in January. “I’m not here to teach history,” explained Mr. Samuel. “I’m here to tell my story.” He described his childhood in beautiful Dresden, Germany where he considered
himself “German first and being Jewish second.” But reality hit as anti-Semitism in pre-war Germany descended on occupied areas of Europe, forcing his mother to make the difficult decision to send Ralph away on Kindertransport in January 1939. “Along with my mother, thousands of Jewish parents gave up their children knowing their own fates were sealed and they probably would never see their children again,” said Mr. Samuel. The children were placed in British foster homes, farms and hostels.
HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL Mr. Samuel’s story continued with his evacuation to the British countryside to escape the expected bombing when war broke out in 1939, his Bar Mitzvah was held in a cow shed in a small market town called Guildford! Here he was gratefully reunited with his mother, thanks to his foster family and eventually they immigrated to the U.S. “Ralph’s story is a poignant reminder of how historical events shape and mold our experiences,” said Assistant Middle School Head Brian Barish. “It’s crucial for our students to connect with the outside community to affect change.” Mr. Samuel’s story inspired several students who, with the help of Mr. Barish and MS English and History teacher Hilary Bond, formed the “Holocaust Preservation Project” in response to Ralph’s request for ideas to improve his presentation. Since then, they’ve met monthly at Head-Royce to hear stories, browse his personal photo book, review citizenship documents and collaborate on changes to the slide presentation for Mr. Samuel to use at future speaking engagements. “The students are really enjoying going through Ralph’s documents with him and feel honored to be a part of the project.” said Ms. Bond. “There was a reverential hush as he shared a black and white
photo of his childhood friends, of whom only two survived.” Ralph Samuel lives in Oakland and has two daughters and two granddaughters, and continues to travel in the U.S. and overseas to speak about his experience. When asked why he dedicates so much time to sharing his story, Ralph said, “I do this to honor the memory of Mr. Epstein (his foster father) and more importantly, the memory of the one-and-a-half million children who were murdered by the Nazis.” h r s
Students participating in the Holocaust Preservation Project: Eva, 7th grade Sam, 6th grade Audrey, 6th grade Lisa, 7th grade Emanuel, 7th grade Bess, 6th grade Phoebe, 6th grade
When asked why they volunteered, the students had similar responses:
“I really like history and it’s really important that more people know about the Holocaust.” – Audrey A.
“I loved doing this activity because I have heard my grandparents talk about these events and I thought it was a once in a lifetime chance to do this and really cool to help him out.” – Bess B.
“I was at his (Ralph’s) presentation before and it was really good — but I think it can be even better. Getting to work with him is a great opportunity.” – Phoebe F.
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Students Making Real Change Global citizenship is a tenet of our Head-Royce mission and this year students in the Upper School Global Issues class were tasked with finding a passion and a purpose. The history elective is designed to create learning experiences for students that move beyond simply acquiring content knowledge. This year the class included final projects requiring students to identify a problem, conduct research and problem-solve in the real world. In other words, students found their passion and took purposeful action. Teacher Saya McKenna has seen the class curriculum evolve over the years and wanted to move beyond traditional teacher-driven modes of scholarship so students could, “develop skill sets necessary for global competence: a sense of personal agency, an inquiry-based approach to learning, communication and problem-solving skills, collaboration, and action-orientation.�
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In partnership with Youth SEED, an Oakland non-profit supporting community-led social enterprises, students identified an issue of concern, conducted background research, implemented first-hand field research, and finally constructed an action plan to address the issue. Each week, Youth SEED taught students how to build a social enterprise business plan and each student was
paired with a mentor who provided support throughout the project. Guest speakers were invited to class to share their real world experiences. Speakers covered topics such as social entrepreneurship, fair trade and ethical companies committed to social change. Students also received professional coaching on public speaking and presentation skills.
HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
UPPER SCHOOL After their projects were complete, they presented to a panel of judges and selected projects which became eligible for funding for up to $1,000 so they could put their plans to work. Some of the Passion and Purpose plans included:
“ WE ARE V ERY MU CH CAPAB L E AN D IN SIG HTFUL AT OUR AG E AND CAN MAK E A REAL CHA N G E.” – Ridha Kapoor
• Reading campaign for Head-Royce and nearby Sequoia Elementary to familiarize students with authors of color.
• Developing a database of internship opportunities for Head-Royce students so the community can support realworld learning.
• Customer loyalty program for hair salons that raises money to supply wigs to people who are undergoing medical treatment.
• Promoting programs that foster music and physical education in Oakland public schools.
• Collecting a series of oral testimonials for independent school students of color to share their narratives and give support.
• Supporting women’s health initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa through sale of HRS spirit items.
• Helping people become more prepared in an emergency by selling disaster preparedness kits and a corresponding curriculum through schools.
• Creating gender-sensitive gaming communities to combat sexism in video games.
• Building awareness of mental health issues with the Middle and Upper School students.
• Combating recidivism by using rideshare programs to help family members visit prisoners. • Vetting and providing responsible e-waste collection services to local businesses.
Choosing a cause that was close to her heart was important for senior Emma Scanlan who chose to work with an existing agency, The Wig Exchange, a New York agency which provides wigs for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Scanlan’s mother, a breast cancer survivor, and her close friend worked to launch the The Wig Exchange in the Bay Area. Scanlan’s project will provide working capital to the agency through a loyalty program partnering with local hair salons. Scanlan was surprised at “the many expenses and also how much work needs to be done. In class, we delved deep into what it was actually like to run a small enterprise and even if it seems so simple, there is always something that needs work.” Senior Ridha Kapoor dedicated her project to mental illness awareness and promotion in the Middle and Upper Schools. She is working actively with school counselors to address student stress and promoting mindfulness. Ridha is surveying students and preparing a paper on creating a climate of care at Head-Royce. Although she was nervous to present her final project to the panel, she was glad the students “got to show some adults that we are very much capable and insightful at our age and can make a real change.” h r s
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C O M M U N I T Y S PA C E S :
THE LOWER SCHOOL LIBRARY 5 6
One of our brightest spaces on campus is our Lower School Library, which all lower school students visit each week. Filled with books, computers and inspiring visuals, it is a space shared by all and is open during lunch, recess and is also utilized by the after-school and summer programs.
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C O M M U N I T Y S PA C E S
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What is your favorite thing about visiting the Lower School library? 1 “I like Q UIET
R EADING .” – Thomas M.
2 “I like reading books because THAT
IS WHAT A
LIBRARY IS FO R .” – Summer S. 3 “I like being able to check out R EALLY
CO O L
BO O KS.” – Kaden C. 4 “I like LISTENING
TO THE LIBRAR IANS R EAD BO O KS out loud.” – Elliott L.
5 “I like LO O KING
for books.” – Eva M.
6 “I like the BIO G RAPHY
SECTIO N because I like to learn about people.” – Dylan B.
7 “I like to come in here, F IND
A G O O D BO O K AND F LO P DO WN.” – Katelyn R.
8 “I like coming in here because IT
LIBRARY FUN FACTS: The Lower School library has been in its current location since
10,254 books
Currently in circulation
1997
379 books checked out each week, on average
Hills Library,
The library’s official name is the honoring Marilyn Mattke Hills ’52, an alumna who left a generous bequest to Head-Royce.
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IS SO Q UIET and a good place to read a book.” – Baran W.
9 “My favorite part about the library is R EADING
RANDO M BO O KS.” – Evan B. 10
“I like that I get to CHECK OUT BOOKS.” – Miles P.
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“I like looking for books by the initials of THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THEM.” – Riley C.
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“I like that if you don’t want to read you can do a LIBRARY ACTIVITY .” – Saira B. 23
C O M M U N I T Y S PA C E S : C O M M U N I T Y S PA C E S :
THE READ LIBRARY
The Read Library sits prominently in the center of the Upper School patio serving as a pivotal space for learning, exploration and community building. Students from the Middle and Upper Schools convene here to utilize technology, study, conduct research, receive assistance from the writing center and even just take a breather from a busy day.
There are three distinct spaces allowing for multiple uses from across the Head-Royce community. On any given day, the library might host department meetings, tutoring sessions, book clubs, group projects and students finishing up last minute homework assignments. Students also interact with the space, providing suggestions for their favorite read in the Awesome Box or flexing their inner Robert Frost on the magnetic poetry wall. 24
LIBRARY FUN FACTS: The Read Library has been in its current location since
11 computers
2008
12,100 books in circulation
Most popular books checked out this year:
Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Americanah
HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
C O M M U N I T Y S PA C E S
“Students use every part of the space, the chairs, the floors, the walls — everyone seems to find a favorite spot to study, gather and socialize. It is a true community space here on campus.” – Librarian Mary Goglio The Read Library was dedicated in 2008, honoring the generosity of Steven and Mary Read. An active member of the Board of Trustees for fifteen years, Mr. Read was instrumental in leading the two successful fundraising campaigns which helped transform the Lower School and Upper School buildings into the state-of-the art buildings that students enjoy today.
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SUMMER PROGRAM OPENING OUR CAMPUS – HRS SUMMER PROGRAM
When school ends in June our campus is quiet only for a short time until it is filled with hundreds of kids from the community who attend or work in our Summer Program. Campers spend a full day at Head-Royce participating in a variety of programs including academic enrichment classes, science and tech projects, swim lessons, art, music, sports and daily camp meetings. Our summer community is a vibrant and energetic place as shown in these photos from the 2015 Summer Program.
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HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
SUMMER PROGRAM
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SUMMER PROGRAM FUN FACTS • Over 600 students participate in the Head-Royce Summer Program. • Each year, we hire more than 100 local youth to serve as counselors. • In 2015, the Summer Program employed 74 local teachers. • 70% of the teachers came from outside the HRS community. • We donate enrollment in our Summer Program to local non-profits, schools, and events worth over $12,000 each year.
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HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
HEADS UP
From Heads Up Grads to Hard Working Counselors For graduates of the Heads Up program, the answer can be found right on the Head-Royce campus. Through the school’s partnership with the Oakland Unified School District, Heads Up provides underserved Oakland middle schoolers with a challenging academic program that also fosters an appreciation for their community. Up until six years ago, the formal programming ended upon completion of the summer after students’ ninth grade academic year. In an effort to provide additional leadership opportunities and remain connected with students, the programs team extended priority hiring to
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Heads Up alums to work in our Summer Program as counselors. Head-Royce School’s Director of Programs Mikki Frazier had the idea to continue our connection with Heads Up students and offer formal job training support. Frazier and her team implemented the Heads Up Workforce Development Program, offering students support and training and — in many cases — their first paying job. Summer Program counselors work in teams allowing Heads Up, Head-Royce and other student counselors to work side by side for the entire six week
First jobs can be tricky. How can you gain experience when you can’t get hired due to a lack of experience?
program. The exchange is very powerful and beneficial for everyone. Summer counselors are resident superheroes to campers. Head-Royce students are masters of self-advocacy and Heads Up alums are incredibly resourceful and resilient. “Through our Workforce Development Program, we are able to truly level the field for the HRS and Heads Up communities who quite often have vastly different life experiences. We are careful to create complementary matches in the assignment process to ensure maximum growth in the partnership,” says Frazier.
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In an effort to set counselors up for a successful work experience, the Head-Royce programs team developed a thoughtful interview process complete with an evaluation rubric to prepare them for the experience. Once hired, each counselor completes mandatory training focused on childhood development, facilitation and behavior. Once the session is underway, each of the one hundred counselors meet with a program supervisor daily for mentoring and support. Staff check-in topics range from how to read a check stub to managing a difficult conversation with a co-worker. Most importantly, the various problem-solving and communication interactions
required when working with young campers provides a very rich learning environment. Just ask the very busy 17-year-old Oakland Tech student Erin Walker. She came to Heads Up in 6th grade and became a counselor in 10th grade. “Head Royce is my second home, where I learned to be a productive and responsible teenager instead of just sitting around all summer.” Juan Curiel, another 17-year-old Oakland Tech student says, “I get so much invaluable work experience as a counselor, and it’s made me a more mature person knowing I have to keep our kids safe.”
• In 2015, 45 Summer Program counselors were Heads Up Alumni. • Since 2012, approximately 115 Heads Up Alumni have worked in the Summer Program. • The average Heads Up alum working as a counselor returns to work through the remainder of their high school summers.
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HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
HEADS UP
Reflections on the Heads Up Program at 30
Paul Chapman, Head of School Emeritus March 8, 2016
What was the impetus for founding Heads Up? The genesis of the program goes back to the school’s search for a new head in 1983. The position description said that Head-Royce was looking for someone who could “help diversify a relatively homogeneous student body.” I was interested in that call, so I applied, and to be honest, was surprised and excited when I got the job! In the fall of 1984, we decided to create a Minority Affairs Task Force of board members, faculty and administration. The five recommendations made by the group were broad and established the vision for shaping key elements of the school today, including: •
increase students of color, then about 10%, now over 50%;
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expand the financial aid program, then about $125,000, now over $4 million;
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•
hire a more diverse faculty/administration, then consisting of two teachers, now over 30% employees of color;
• develop a multicultural curriculum, then mainly Western humanities, now more reflective of our country’s rich cultural heritage; and •
strengthen the school’s outreach to the Oakland community.
What was the campus like at that time? The mid-1980s were a time of significant change in K–12 education with a spotlight on pre-collegiate education. The independent school community in the Bay Area was growing rapidly and Head-Royce had only recently become a fully coeducational school. Then, as now, there were great expectations that our graduates would go on to outstanding colleges and universities across the country. And we were beginning to
recognize we could offer an education that was excellent and diverse.
What was the vision for Heads Up at the early planning meetings? The fifth recommendation from the Minority Affairs Task Force led to the creation of Heads Up. After a year of planning and a pilot project enrolling 6 students in 1986, we received a $100,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation to help us launch a summer enrichment program for motivated and financially disadvantaged students of color in Oakland middle schools. Heads Up’s success created the confidence that helped us to diversify our student body and employees. We then revised the School’s mission in 1990 to include the commitment to “to promote understanding of and respect for the diversity that makes our society strong.”
Did you foresee Heads Up growing into the program that it is today? Initially, we were focused on learning how to run a summer enrichment program that fulfilled its mission and on establishing a vibrant partnership with the Oakland Unified School District. Over the years, we extended the reach of the program, adding the ninth grade and the Saturday leadership academies.
What are some of your favorite Heads Up student success stories? The annual Heads Up graduation night is wonderful, with student and faculty speeches filled with gratitude and affection, and strong support from the students’ families. It’s gratifying to know that our Heads Up students have great success in high school and beyond. h r s
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BIGGER NIGHT OUT On the evening of March 3rd the Head-Royce community went big during our annual Heads Up benefit event — appropriately named Big(ger) Night Out.
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HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
BIGGER NIGHT OUT
More than 150 supporters gathered at the historic Lake Merritt Hotel to raise funds and salute the Heads Up program co-founder and Head of School Emeritus, Paul Chapman. The night was filled with inspiring stories about the program and its positive impact from current and former students, faculty and administrators. Surprises abounded at the event including a proclamation honoring Paul Chapman given in person by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. But probably the best surprise of all was the money raised during the “Paddles Up� portion of the event. We nearly doubled previous fundraising records with donations totalling over $101,000! Thank you to everyone who attended and continues to support Heads Up.
Birthdays and Bravery When Pierre Schreyer ’15 was a student at Head-Royce, he was known for his sense of humor, his sense of style and his sense of all things French. He had an uncanny ability to make people feel comfortable and never missed an opportunity to make a friend, teacher or an entire assembly laugh out loud. He was also a problem solver who, with a smile on his face, could calm nervous theater directors with his technical mastery and ease at which he tackled behind-thescene issues, ensuring the show always went on. He was highly desired anytime there was an assembly or presentation, with organizers breathing a sigh of relief when he was in the house. Pierre was known as the fun loving guy who always made people feel welcome and supported. He loved the camera and in a video made by his friends called “9 Things about Pierre” one thing is constant — he is dancing in almost every frame. He also noticed when there was something that could brighten someone’s day or connect the community just a little bit more. As a proud
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French speaker, he revitalized the HeadRoyce French club and he was admired by many for the fearless way he dove into any social situation. Pierre tapped into that fearlessness in November 2013 when he was diagnosed with stage 4, high-risk, neuroblastoma and began a two year battle with a very rare nerve and bone cancer, requiring treatments and surgeries at three different Bay Area hospitals. During his many hospital stays, Pierre noticed some simple things that could make a patient’s hospital stay a little brighter. Always a problem solver, he came up with ways to raise money. With initial funding from a local foundation, Pierre began his work. While Bingo nights were always popular at the hospital, the older kids didn’t like to
participate as much because they gave out kiddy prizes, such as stuffed animals and stickers. Instead, Pierre made sure iTunes and Amazon gift cards were in the mix so all kids got in the game. He also noticed that the one rolling video game cart allowing patients to game in their rooms was always checked out. Through his fundraising, Pierre purchased three more consoles, including one reserved for immunocompromised patients, a unit that requires more time for sanitizing and cleaning before use. And since Pierre’s enigmatic personality meant there were always visitors in his room, he often had trouble finding chairs for everyone to sit. He not only helped fund new chairs in his unit but Pierre selected the hippest chairs in the Team Pierre colors of orange and blue. After spending his 17th birthday at UCSF/ Oakland, he noticed many other kids were also there during their birthdays. This is where the idea for Pierre’s Birthday Fund was born. His vision was to provide each child with a special personalized gift valued at $50 to celebrate their special day. As Pierre continued to receive treatments at different hospitals, he discovered where his special fund could also fill in some gaps in services. For example, UCSF/Mission Bay
HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
PIERRE SCHREYER
had a massage therapy program, which was very popular with young patients for pain management. With funding from Pierre’s Birthday Fund, the program will continue at UCSF and the program will soon begin at UCSF/Oakland as well. Similarly, he loved the Bead of Courage program at the Oakland hospital, a program that provides a glass bead for every procedure a patient goes through. Many patients eventually had a very long string of beads as a visible reminder of their bravery and resilience. For Pierre, his beadmaking became a way to make gifts for those he cared about, and instead of holding on to his own very long strand, he provided bracelets and gave them to those he cared about. Pierre’s Birthday Fund is working to start the Beads of Courage program at UCSF/Mission Bay. Pierre’s legacy will also adorn the walls at UCSF/Mission Bay soon as his family has donated five of his art pieces for display in different areas of the hospital where Pierre stayed or received treatments. Pierre became quite the artist while participating in the hospital’s art therapy program. “Pierre never had done any art before. I think it took his mind off what he was going through,” said Pierre’s mother, Jennifer
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Schreyer. Pierre’s Birthday Fund has also provided funding to secure art supplies appropriate for older patients so everyone can discover their “inner artist.” His sense of wonder and curiosity went into understanding his disease. Pierre wanted to know what was happening inside his body and he wanted others to understand it as well. He bravely decided to do his senior project on neuroblastoma — instead of turning in a paper, he produced a video documentary highlighting his journey. In the words of his mother, “Pierre was very cutting-edge about everything.” The video documentary was a honest, raw glimpse into his life with his serious illness. He even worked in the research lab at UCSF for his project, testing drugs on neuroblastoma tumors, similar to his own. Pierre passed away on October 13, 2015 and, as his family and community still feel
D U RI N G H I S MA N Y H OS P I TA L STAYS, P I E RR E N OT I C E D SOME SIMPLE THINGS THAT COULD MAKE A PAT I E NT’S H OS P I TA L STAY A L I T T L E B RI GH TE R .
the pain of his absence, his legacy is strong and growing. Pierre’s Birthday Fund has been incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization and will have its first official gala on July 17, 2016, fittingly on Pierre’s birthday. The fund will continue the mission started by Pierre: working to to build a support
system that makes childrens’ lives more enjoyable while in the hospital. When Pierre was very ill last Fall, a fellow student wrote to him saying “people seemed to just smile more and laugh harder in your company.” On Pierre’s Instagram feed, he began to post daily pictures of simple things that made him happy, such as food, friends, family — all tagged with #100happydays. Thank you, Pierre. Because of you, there are some kids in hospitals right now who are smiling more, laughing harder and enjoying happier days. More information about Pierre’s Birthday Fund can be found at pierresbirthdayfund.org. h r s
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ALUMNI EVENTS A LUMNI H O L I DAY PARTY DECEMBER 3, 2015
PA RE N TS OF A LUM N I — DIN N E R WIT H T H E HEAD OF SCHOOL DECEMBER 10, 2015
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HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
ALUMNI EVENTS HOL IDAY P R O G RAM P RE- RECE PT I O N
BAC K FROM COL L EG E LU N C H
DECEMBER 18, 2015
JANUARY 8, 2016
T H E 3 8 T H AN N UA L ALUM N I VS. VA RS I TY BAS K ET BA L L G AM E
A LUM N I COUNCI L STRATEGI C PLANNI NG THI NK TANK JANUARY 26, 2016
DECEMBER 19, 2015
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NEW YO R K CI TY A LUM N I RECE P T I O N FEBRUARY 2, 2016
LOS A NG E L ES A LUM N I REC E P T ION MARCH 30, 2016
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LOOK FOR PHOTOS AND A FULL RECAP OF ALUMNI WEEKEND 2016 IN OUR SUMMER MAGAZINE.
ALUMNI NOTES 1948
1950
SUE A HL F has recently started a lunch program for the 2016 US Olympic Synchronized Swim team, who are only provided a minimal stipend for room and board from the US Olympic Committee. She is collecting donations for US Syncro, the non-profit organization governing synchronized swimming in the US.
N A N CY G.W. WA RD B I L L ETER
1949 JOA N B LA NC HA R D LI N E BA R G E R writes that she has recently moved to a retirement residence. With three meals a day, it reminds her of eating at the Head’s boarding tables with Mr. or Mrs. Hyde. She has great memories, especially of music, fairs, dances, art, folk dancing, playing Josephine in HMS Pinafore, friends Helen GR O SS DI ER KES ’ 4 9 & MA RY HEI B RO N K I N G ’ 50 — who is now living in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and who she visited a few years ago.
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writes: “I just want to thank you all at Head-Royce for giving our 1950 class such a warm welcome for our 65th reunion. We were truly treated like royalty! Both luncheons were so nice, and we loved all the tours to see the classes, etc. I can’t believe how big you have grown. A few of us went over to our old Anna Head’s school on Channing Way. What memories. The big auditorium where we had chapel every morning and all our dances and plays. I was a student there from 3rd grade until my graduation and played every sport that was offered.
1956 What fun we all had and I still correspond to many of my classmates on the computer. We are a close group. More so than my sorority sisters from Northwestern where I graduated in 1954. Many of us have come back to Head-Royce every 5 years since 1950! We’ll hold our breath for our 70th in 2020 when we will be 87! A GREAT time was had by all!”
MAR CIA MANNING J ANUSZ reports: “Our unusual record snowfall last month kept everyone house-bound for at least a week. This gave my husband and me time to plan our California visit for this month. We will be catching up with our son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren — four year old Becca and two year old Ryan, in San Francisco. We’ll be headed for Lake Tahoe to do some skiing. Hopefully the grandchildren (and their parents) will come with us so we can witness the development of the next generation of skiers in the family. I am looking forward to returning to California in April to help celebrate our 60th anniversary of graduation from Heads. It will be a treat to visit with old friends. I hope that we have a great turn-out!”
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1966 JOYCE C A M ER O N CO LE S K E N N E Y writes: “Hard to believe 50 years have passed! My memories of the 7 years spent at “Heads” are still vivid and cherished. Christmas pageants; trips to the SF opera; ski trips; making ice cream in chemistry; tennis lessons with Dennis Van de Meer at the Claremont Hotel; French classes with Madame Hull; attempts to overtake the Senior’s patio; spit ball landing on 6th grade teacher’s desk; class suspended for drinking in locker room and then smoking; classmate being scolded for having hair in the stylish “rat’s nest” and then restyling her hair into a bun mimicking Mrs. Dewey; & the list goes on. Oh, the 1966 class was full of mischief!
active duty so I took available jobs. More challenging and exciting jobs included working for a large law firm as the Legal Nurse handling all the Medical Malpractice cases; working for the US Government Managed Healthcare Contractor, TriWest, as a Liaison Nurse handling a variety of military healthcare recipient’s problems and issues; and working for the Utah US Army Guard Headquarters as a Medical Case Manager for the deploying and returning soldiers to and from Afghanistan & Iraq. Other jobs were School Nurse, Occupational Health RN, Hospital nursing, Manager of a busy Urgent Care Clinic, Camp Nurse, and volunteering for Red Cross and military projects.
A short synopsis of my last 50 years includes: obtaining a BSN from ASU; marrying shortly thereafter; living and working in Guam for 2 years during the fall of Saigon and volunteering with the thousands of refugees; birth of 2 daughters; both husband and I joining the Air Force; living in 7 states and Japan; and traveling to Hong Kong, Korea, Philippines, New Zealand, Fiji and multiple smaller Pacific islands.
Now retired and divorced, I travel half the year in my RV and spend the fall and winter months at a cottage on my daughter’s property in Boerne, TX, located northwest of San Antonio. Future plans include traveling to Europe for pleasure and genealogy, house-sitting, and enjoying my family with six grandchildren. Must see and do before resigning myself to watching TV!
Professionally, I resigned my Air Force commission when having been selected for the rank of Major to be home with daughter struggling with ADD. My husband remained
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Hope to see other classmates at the 50th reunion!”
1982
1987
RENATA B . H ESSE was recently appointed by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch to assume leadership of the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice. Renata is the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DoJ.
BR O CK R O BERTS has been selected by the International Beam Instrumentation Conference 2016 Scientific Committee as the 2016 Faraday Cup award winner. Brock will receive the award at the 2016 IBIC held in Barcelona, Spain this coming September.
Before her appointment, Hesse served as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal and Civil Operations in the antitrust division for almost four years. During this time, she also served as the division’s Acting Assistant Attorney General. Hesse was a career trial attorney in the division between 1997 and 2006, in the last four years of which she served as the Chief of the Networks and Technology Section.
1988 wrote: “We started off the New Year with a visit from DAMO N ELG IE ’88 and his family who came down from Vancouver, B.C. We’d heard from fellow classmate and current HRS athletic director BR ENDAN BLAKELEY ’88 that vintage Head-Royce athletic uniforms were coming back into style so we took the opportunity to show off some collectors items. Happy New Year!” ANDR EW BER O S
HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
ALUMNI NOTES
1989 ELIDA ZELAYA TR EANO R I just made 5 years working for First 5 Contra Costa in the Early Childhood Education Initiative which funds professional development for licensed Childcare Providers. My husband and I are celebrating making it through the first year or so of juggling (1) his being a lawyer, (2) my father having walked on, and most significantly (3) our having a 3 year old!
Leo Kremer ’98, Oliver Kremer ’04, Tyler Lohman ’04, Marcus Byrd ’11 In 2009 brothers L E O ’ 98 and O LI V E R K R E M E R ’ 04 discovered an inexplicable lack of great burritos in NYC that left west coast transplants and local foodies with a void in their stomachs. Despite having no experience in the restaurant business, they opened Dos Toros Taqueria and crossed their fingers. Luckily, it worked out — they opened their 10th location this January. The Kremer brothers have become a fixture in the burrito landscape of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Recently they earned the high praise of Business Insider, and were ranked the 10th best burrito in America by The Daily Meal. Dos Toros’ Head-Royce influence doesn’t stop at the Kremers — the company culture boasts a distinctly Northern California feel. Co-founder and 3rd Toro, TY L E R LOH M A N ’ 0 4 , is the director of new store development, and recently the Kremers have added MA R CUS BYRD ’11 to head up the marketing efforts. Dos Toros is currently raising funding for further growth, and has its eyes set on Chicago and Philadelphia as potential expansion cities. They also have plans to open 2 more Taquerias in the Midtown area this summer. Check them out next time you visit the Big Apple!
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2000 PETER CH A PM A N ’ 00 & Emily Weedon Chapman happily announce the birth of their first child, Corbett Reid Chapman, born on December 7, 2015 in Washington, D.C. Corbett’s proud grandfather also happens to be Head of School Emeritus, Paul Chapman. Congratulations!
2003 A L L I SON ‘A L L I E’ FREY ’03 and Jacob Studenroth have welcomed their first baby. Henry Rose Frey Studenroth was born on August 18, 2015 and has been keeping them on their toes ever since!!
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Professional Community Alumni Updates
2004
In March, nine former Head-Royce professional community members had a wonderful time touring the historic Pardee Home in Oakland and enjoyed afternoon tea and conversation.
RAJIV S M I T H-M A HA BI R is currently living in Colombia, South America. Much has happened since he was last on campus, receiving the 2014 Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year Award. Honored for his work on the documentary “Romeo is Bleeding”, which focuses on the persistent gang violence in Richmond, CA at that time, he and the crew and cast were just about to embark on a whirlwind global film festival tour. Since then, they have screened the documentary at over 20 film festivals and won 17 awards, including the San Francisco International Film Festival’s prestigious Audience Award, where it first premiered.
Back row (left to right): Nancy Knop, Vera Kerekes, Luzanne Engh, Cathy Epstein, Holly Below, Jo Howard Front row (left to right): Judy Kennedy, Jane Vander Veer, Sylvia Helmgren
2004
2005
2009
2010
MATT FA HEY married Jenn Gregory at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach, CA on December 31, 2015 for a New Year’s Eve wedding. Head-Royce family, faculty and friends in attendance included Walter & Mary Fahey, Zeke Durantini, S A RA H FAH EY DU RA N T I N I ’98, A N N I E DURAN T I N I ’ 2 8 & Francesca Durantini, DR. JACKI E FA HEY ’ 0 0 , BOBBY FAH EY ’ 0 8 , P ET ER S H E N K I N ’ 0 2 , STE P HEN F LY N N ’ 0 2 , Mike and Lori Talps, and Rick and Leslie Powell.
H A N N A H SUGA RM A N writes: “I am excited to say that I have moved back to the Bay Area after six great years in Tucson, AZ. I am now living in Pleasant Hill and teaching physics at Bentley Upper School.”
M OL LY GORDON is currently at Columbia University completing a dual graduate degree: Masters of International Affairs (SIPA) and Masters of Business Administration (CBS).
G EO F F R EY G O DDAR D is now attending an MA program at the University of London studying the history of political thought and intellectual history.
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2011 BENJ AMIN TWICHELL graduated from University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2015. He currently lives in Paris & is about to start work as Marketing Manager for a multinational tech company, mention.com.
HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
IN MEMORIAM 1931 V I R G I NI A PH EL PS M EUX Virginia Phelps Meux was born at home in Berkeley, California on September 2, 1913. She died peacefully on October 16, 2015 in El Cerrito. In between she lived a full, loving, and rewarding life of 102 years. Virginia remained vibrant throughout her life as evidenced in the accompanying photo taken last year on her 101st birthday. While her family felt blessed to have her back in the San Francisco Bay Area during the past three years, Virginia spent 72 years in Fresno, where she resided with her husband William Meux and raised 4 children. She and Bill, college sweethearts, married in November 1940 after he attended Hastings School of Law and she worked for the Pacific Bell phone company in San Francisco. Their home on Huntington Boulevard was a focal point for family gatherings, holiday parties and warm welcomes anytime of the year. Virginia attended Anna Head School in Berkeley, as did her own mother. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in the Class of 1935 with a major in political science. She always felt that she might have chosen a better major, such as geology or architecture, two life-long interests, because the world was so changed after WWII. She loved living in Fresno and was fully engaged in the community. She was a member of the Monday Study Club, SPRING 2016 MAGAZINE
the Fresno Garden Club and two bridge clubs, which each met monthly for over 60 years. She volunteered in schools from elementary to Fresno City College, served as a polling booth inspector during Fresno County elections, and supported the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at Fresno State. Virginia loved making new friends through her activities. She was an early member of the Service League of Fresno, later to become the Junior League of Fresno. She became the president of the Junior League and enthusiastically supported and preformed in its Follies. While in her late 80s, Virginia continued to share her love for reading by volunteering in Ellen Kunz’s third grade class at Jackson Elementary School where for many years she read to and listened to children read to her, as part of the reading program. Neighborhood children, going to and from school, knew that a friendly Block Parent lived on the corner of Seventh and Huntington. Often you would hear “Hello, Mrs. Meux” as they walked by. Her lifelong volunteer passion was the Valley Children’s Hospital. She was a founding member of the Holiday Guild, first selling Christmas cards door-to-door then serving as President and working for over 5 years as Manager of the guild’s Holiday Boutique Gift Shop. Virginia was a natural at public relations and gift merchandising and here she honed her marketing and supervisory skills. She served on the Coordinating Council of the hospital’s guilds. Virginia took her last
full-time paying job at the age of 75 when she became Manager of the Valley Children’s Hospital Gift Shop on Millbrook Avenue. Here she took a small card shop and built it into an impressive fundraising stream for the hospital, which annually raised tens of thousands of dollars. She remained in this job for 10 years. Virginia, as well as her family, took great pride in the transformation she accomplished as Manager and the growth of support for the hospital. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband William, her son Peter Cooper Meux, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth. Her brother, Ralph Larose Phelps, Jr. of Berkeley, and sisters Leslie Phelps Henderson of San Francisco and Carmel, and Shirley Phelps Price of Piedmont also predeceased her. Virginia is survived by her children Richard Phelps Meux (Kate McCormick) of Mill Valley and Jennifer Meux White (Marshall) and Harriet Hopkins Meux of Kensington. She also is survived by grandchildren Brian (Betsy), Stephanie, Rebecca and Katie (Eric Thaut), and great- grandchildren Melissa, Jason and Eli Peter, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their children. 41 family members gathered in September to celebrate her 102nd birthday. At her request, there will be no memorial service. Those wishing to make a donation in her honor are asked to give to the Guilds of Valley Children’s Hospital, 9300 Valley Children’s Place, Madera, CA 93636-8762.
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1940 J E A N N E T TE H OWA RD
JEAN N ETTE H OWA R D
A lifelong resident of Berkeley and Orinda, Jeannette passed away at her recent home near her son in Nevada City, CA on October 3, 2014.
1945 MA RY G E A L ES GI LCH RI ST ERNST Mary’s daugther, Jan Houck wrote to inform us that her mother, Mary Geales Gilchrist Ernst ’45, passed away on February 22, 2016. “She loved your school and really enjoyed the reunions she attended. She told the most fun stories and had the fondest of memories.
MARY GEA L ES GILCHRIST ER N ST
She died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 88. She was in her beloved San Miguel de Allende, GTO, Mexico, doing what she wanted to do with the people she wanted to be with in a city she loved. We are all blessed that she lived well and happy.”
1949 BE V E R LY B OURNE SONTH EI M ER Beverly Sontheimer of Berkeley passed away on June 28, 2014 after a brave battle with lung cancer. She also struggled with a chronic, progressive vestibular disorder for 15 years.
Bev was born on February 1, 1932 in Shanghai, China, the younger of two daughters, to George Bourne and Maurine Day Bourne. Her family lived in the French Concession and she attended Shanghai American School while her father worked for the Ford Motor Company. As World War II progressed, her family moved back to the United States, finally settling in Berkeley. Bev attended Anna Head School for Girls in Berkeley and Stanford University. After graduating from Stanford, she worked in banking and insurance in between lengthy travel adventures. She married Walter Sontheimer, a Stanford classmate, in 1961, raised their two children in San Francisco and later moved to Berkeley. Growing up, Bev loved going to camp at Brown Ledge in Vermont and playing tennis at the Berkeley Tennis Club. Later, she relished spending summers at her family’s cabin at Fallen Leaf Lake, scouring antique stores and flea markets, exploring Mexico with her husband, and learning about investing and following the financial markets. She was fun, optimistic, kind, creative, generous, and a devoted mother. Bev is greatly missed by her two children, Sarah and George; granddaughter, Elisabeth; sister, Maurine Miner; brotherin-law, David Sontheimer; seven nieces and nephews; close, longtime friends;
and beloved grand-dog, Hannah. She was pre-deceased by her parents and husband. At her request, no services will be held. Donations in her memory may be made to any animal welfare organization, such as the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society.
1953 MAR I BLUMENAU LYO NS Nick Lyons, Mari’s husband of 58 years wrote: “I’m sorry to report the death of my wife, Mari (Blumenau) Lyons, class of 1953 at Anna Head. She spoke often of Anna Head and her devotion to several teachers: Mrs. DeFremery and Mrs. Backus and editing the Wanton Wiles with her friend, Phoebe Cramer Savacool. I miss her dreadfully.” Mari, a painter, died peacefully on April 3, 2016 from cancer. She was 80 years old. Her passing is a profound loss to her beloved, devoted husband of 58 years, Nick, and their four children: Paul (and Monica Ghosh), Charles, Jennifer (and Steve Brennan), and Tony (and Helena Hjalmarsson); and their grandchildren, Lara, Finn, Lina, and Elsa. Mari attended the Anna Head School, Bard College, Yale Norfolk, the Grand Chaumiere, Atelier l7, and the Cranbrook Academy of Art (MFA). She studied at Mills College with Fletcher Martin and Max Beckmann. She was a fiercely committed painter all of her life, who painted with sheer joy, in all genres,
BEVE RLY BOUR N E S O N THE I MER
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HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
IN MEMORIAM
MARI B LUMEN AU LYON S
and loved the works of the great painters. Mari exhibited regularly with First Street Gallery in New York. More about her life and art is available at www.marilyonsstudio.com.
Hospital where she stayed for thirty-five years. She spoke lovingly of her time at St. Joseph’s and of her colleagues whom she felt so lucky to have worked with.
1960
Marylou had a lifelong love of alpine skiing. She was fortunate to have had a wonderful husband and group of friends that traveled extensively skiing many of the world’s greatest mountains. She truly enjoyed the “ski group,” as well as her annual trip with the GGJs. She was an avid gardener (she had quite the green thumb), traveler, food and wine enthusiast, water skier and hiker. She loved the Napa Valley and was fortunate to spend her last days living in the place she adored so much. She also enjoyed following in her mother’s footsteps by spending her time volunteering at the Sharpsteen Museum in Calistoga.
BE C KY M OSH ER WA RD Becky’s sister, GEORGIANNE MOSHER ’64, informed us that her sister passed away on November 22, 2015 after an extended battle with Parkinson’s. She is survived by her husband, John S. Ward, and son Steven Ward. Her daughter, Stacey Ward Galati predeceased her mother after her own battle with Parkinson’s.
1966 MA RYLOU K I L B URN SCH I NGL ER BECKY MOS H ER WA R D
Marylou Kilburn Schingler passed away peacefully with her family by her side on March 24, 2014 in St. Helena, California. Marylou was born on September 19, 1948 to Channing and Betsy Kilburn. She was raised in Orinda, California attending high school at Anna Heads School in Oakland. She moved to Stockton to attend the University of the Pacific where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduation, Marylou started her career as a laboratory technologist at Dameron Hospital. After five years at Dameron, she moved to St. Joseph’s
MARY LO U KI L BUR N S CH I N G L ER
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Marylou was an extremely gifted artist. Her love of pleine aire painting can be seen in the many art works that she created in her tenure as an artist. Her gift as an artist will live on through her pieces of art that adorn so many of the walls of her family and friends’ homes. She was a member of the Stockton Art League and the Calistoga Art Center. Most importantly, Marylou will be truly missed by her family and friends who were so blessed to have known her. She was a wonderful wife, companion, and partner to her husband, Richard, a loving step-mom,
and a true friend. She touched so many people in her time here in such a profound way. She will be dearly, dearly missed. Marylou is survived by her husband, Richard; her step-children, Jason (Kristan) and Abbey (Shannon); her grandson, Alex; her sister, Betsy Beck; her mother in law, Carolyn; her nephew, Mark Beck (Kelly); her brother and sisters in law, Bob, Mary and Judy; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
1975 CAR O L CHR ISTIE PETERSO N Carol Christie Peterson was born December 26, 1957, in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, California. She passed away March 17, 2016, in her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after a long battle with breast cancer. Carol attended Heads in her junior high years as part of the Class of 1975, while her mother worked as a director of development. Carol was a graduate of The Colorado College, Class of 1979, where she earned a degree in Political Science. A member of the Delta Gamma Fraternity, she was also one of two female disc jockeys at the college radio station (KRCC). Carol earned a Law degree at Hastings College of the Law, University of California, in 1982.
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She practiced securities law in Denver, Colorado and the San Francisco Bay Area during her twenties.
PIE RRE S CH R EY ER
In 1989, Carol returned to Colorado Springs, CO and The Colorado College, where she spent a personally and professionally fulfilling decade as an Admission Director. For the next decade of her life, Carol focused on supporting her then husband, David Hennekens, with various business ventures. Carol met her beloved significant other, John Cobb, in 2011, and they celebrated her last years of life together. After learning how to knit in third grade, Carol had a project (or ten) in her hands for the rest of her life. Over the years, knitting brought many dear friends into Carol’s life. Her other passions included skiing, the Unitarian Universalist church, reading, and following the news and politics. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Alden (Pete) and Shirley Peterson, and one nephew, Colton Peterson. She is survived by her sister, A NN A L DEN Z EI SE ’65 and husband Fred, in Milpitas, CA, her brother, Frank Pollard Peterson and wife Sue, in Florence, MT, and her life partner, John Cobb, in Santa Fe, NM. Other close family members include three nephews, Scott Zeise, Travis and Dustin Peterson, one niece, Sara Ellsworth and her son Gavin, and her uncle’s family, Bill and Barbara Peterson of San Rafael, CA.
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2015 PI ERRE SCH REYER Pierre Schreyer ’15 passed away on October 13, 2015 after a two y ear battle with cancer. Pierre was born in Paris, France before moving to Oakland and attended Head-Royce for high school. Pierre was an amazing fighter and surprised everyone with his tenacity and strength. Pierre’s strength during this hard time moved us all. Pierre was loved by so many around him and all admired his warmth, generosity, humor, and ability to laugh at himself. Pierre touched many lives while he was a student here, evident by the visitors and messages sent to Pierre from students and faculty during his treatments. Among the messages of love and support, many were infused with humor and nods to Pierre’s unique ability to put smiles on the faces of those around him. Pierre’s strength throughout a long illness moved us all. During his many hospital stays, Pierre noticed many sick children spent birthdays in hospital rooms. True to his selfless personality, he started Pierre’s Birthday Fund as a way to deliver gifts to sick children on their birthdays and improve child life in hospitals. His family is continuing Pierre’s legacy and would appreciate in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations be made to help Pierre accomplish everything he had hoped. www.pierresbirthdayfund.com.
Past Faculty J EAN LEMMO N PEGGY LEMMON KLINE ’72 wrote : “Our mother, Jean Lemmon, passed away on July 9, 2015, two days after her 91st birthday. She was an amazing woman and we are thankful for all of the years we had with her. She had significant dementia for the last 10–15 years, but her long term memory remained fairly good. We waited to have her memorial until Cal football season, when we hosted a Memorial Celebration with our family and friends followed by a wine and cheese reception at the Cal Boathouse. The following day, the Friends of Cal Crew hosted their annual tailgate before the football game. What a great way to have a final send off to Jean as we attend the game and yell ‘Go Bears!’”
HEAD-ROYCE SCHOOL
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
A C O N T I N U I N G H E A D - R O Y C E F I E L D T R I P, CHRIS LADDISH ’61 By Dr. Nancy Knop
If you were a student in Chris Laddish’s fourth grade class you will remember field trips well. Maybe it was going to Arrowhead Marsh on a joint venture with Dr. Knop’s biology class to learn about the ecology of the mud flats, or camping in gold country to learn California history. Or perhaps it was going to Dr. Brakeman’s neurobiology class to look at sheep brains and a human brain to learn more about your own brain. Chris thought field trips brought the class together and appealed to all different types of learners. Certainly some of the best moments were outside the classroom. Chris retired from teaching at Head-Royce in 2003 to live outside the classroom. She and her husband Tim moved from Berkeley to the little town of Sheep Ranch, in Calaveras County. Some of you may remember camping in Sheep Ranch, swimming in the creek, and panning for gold. Chris has history there — her grandfather was the managing partner of the Sheep
SPRING 2016 MAGAZINE
Ranch gold mine and her mother attended the one-room Sheep Ranch School. Chris and Tim live on the family homestead. Alongside the trees her grandfather planted at the turn of the 20th century, Chris established a lavender farm and a vegetable garden. Every year she puts big buckets of lavender flowers out by the road for neighbors to share — it’s very neighborly in Sheep Ranch. Passers-by wave when you walk along the winding country roads. But it’s not all great — it’s dangerous here, too. It’s fire country. In 1992 the Old Gulch Fire burned the woods next to the house, and Chris and Tim became tree farmers, planting 8000 trees. Now those trees are tall enough to be thinned, following good forestry practice. Yes, there are sheep in Sheep Ranch. It’s the last open-range town in California. Chris manages one small flock of sheep — black, white, tan and spotted. Lambs are born in the winter. Visiting
children name the new lambs: Nicholas Midnight, Stormy, Gas Station… Chris is a great admirer of the “nursery school,” as she calls the gamboling group of lambs that runs to the woodpile, climbs on, and jumps off again and again. Often the flock grazes around their house. She lets them out in the morning and puts them back in the barn at night. She searches for a lost ewe and her lamb, walking around town with a bucket of alfalfa pellets to entice them. She mucks out the barn and spreads alfalfa to keep them well fed. These sheep know Chris and respond to her voice. They gather around when she calls them. They do have wonderful brains, but not quite as good as those fourth-graders’! In the spring, she hires a shearer to shear the sheep. It’s quite a production, and pretty interesting to be there to see the wool come off. Chris took some of the wool to be made into batting for the quilts she makes.
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The severe drought has a big impact on towns in Calaveras County. Water was rationed; the lavender farm languished, and grass for the sheep dried up. Although Chris keeps the flock small by selling off lambs every year, these sheep needed extra food. Last year in September, the Butte Fire threatened the little town of Sheep Ranch (pop. 32). This fire started in Amador County miles away, but burned rapidly through the parched foothill woodland into Calaveras County. Sheep Ranch has a volunteer fire station that Tim Laddish maintains. He worked night
and day during the fire driving the water truck to local hot spots. It has been pretty exciting for the Laddish family to have Tim named Firefighter of the Year by the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue District. Meanwhile, because the town of Sheep Ranch was evacuated during the Butte Fire, Chris had to hitch a ride for her 13 sheep to the Calaveras County fairgrounds where livestock were held until the fire was out. Although it burned almost 71,000 acres and over 800 homes and buildings, most of the homes in Sheep Ranch were spared. The fire burned around the town, but firefighters and slightly cooler weather stopped it in early October. Now the rains have finally come and it’s green again in Sheep Ranch. But hillsides all around are burned, filled with charred pine, oak and manzanita. Caravans of dump trucks and logging trucks carry debris and felled trees away. The welcome rain replenishes the soil moisture and fills the dry creek beds, but it also erodes away the newly exposed soil. The Laddishes have spent many days working with groups of volunteers spreading straw on the hillsides to keep erosion at a minimum. Even though new grasses and weeds are already growing on burned meadows, it will take
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years for the shrubs and trees of the forest to return. Fire recovery is difficult work for the people who live here and for the natural world, too. But just as Chris taught her fourth graders, new habitats will develop where old ones were destroyed, and new creatures from insects to mountain lions will come back to the forests. The connections will re-establish. Chris will come back to her roots, too. She has many connections to Head-Royce school. If you graduated around 1961, you know Chris as an Anna Head classmate. This year is an Anna-Head reunion year for Chris, time to celebrate and re-establish those connections. If you graduated around 1989, you know Chris as the mom of your classmates Kate and Greg. If you were part of the faculty between 1986 and 2003, you know Chris as a colleague. She left the classroom to live the dream she taught – that we are part of nature, connected in ways that are essential, connected by our actions. Chris says, “I miss the laughter of the classroom, but I find a richness in having time to be outdoors as much as I want to be.” h r s
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