Mayfield Crier September 2015
The
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M ay f i e l d S e n i o r S c h o o l S t u d e n t N e w s pa p e r Back to School Issue
New Year, New Head of School By: Cami Arboles With the opening of the 2015-2016 school year comes a multitude of exciting changes. So with open arms, smiling faces, and eager spirits, the Mayfield community welcomes our new Head of School, Mrs. Kate Morin. Coming to Mayfield from Washington, D.C., Morin began her summer by driving through the beautiful United States terrain with her husband. “It was such a fun learning experience,” said Morin. “We went to Memphis and saw the Civil Rights Museum, which was truly moving. We saw Cambria. We saw Hearst Castle!” After her cross-country drive, Morin settled down in her new home: Mayfield Senior School. Since Morin’s own “first day of school” on July 1st (her first official day as Head of School), she has dedicated herself to learning about the members of the Mayfield community. “I want to learn as much as I can. I’m trying to do it in a systematic way. For example, I’ve asked parents and students to fill out a survey,” said Morin. “I’ve also been sitting down individually with every faculty member so I get to know each of them.” Morin excitedly speaks about the immediate joy and support she has observed in the Mayfield community. “People love this place. They absolutely love it,” said Morin. “Everyone is so generous. And I’ve heard this over and over
again. It’s this community of loving support above all else.” But what really makes Morin thrilled is the students here at Mayfield. “I can’t wait until the students come back ,” said Morin. “I love Ms. Kate Morin, Mayfield Senior School’s New Head of School, greets students before the start of the first day. their energy and I almost feel depleted when they’re not in high school – it gives you confidence to around. I want to go to events. Go to sport- achieve more!” ing events, conservatory presentations, In addition to nurturing the leadanything and everything. I am excited ership potential in Mayfield’s students, about all these things.” Morin also reflects on the Holy Child spirit Morin recognizes the meaningful role of divine joy – a sense of being that is so she plays in cultivating leadership skills vital to engender within the Mayfield comin current students. It follows that one of munity. Morin’s major goals is to encourage and “I feel that it is so important to help inspire strong and confident female lead- girls rejoice in the divine presence – the ers at Mayfield. idea that there’s the divine all around us “What I’m most passionate about is in the everyday, and that divine joy is funhelping girls become leaders and watch- damental to our actions, how we relate ing them practice their leadership skills. I to what we learn in school, and how we think that’s what I’ve really been called to commit to make a difference in the world,” do,” said Morin. “We absolutely must have said Morin. “We must protect this mission women leaders. It brings me the most joy and all that it means in what we do and when girls take on leadership roles, run how we act.” with them, and make a difference. And it’s And with that sense of joy and reversuch a leg up if you can learn these skills ence, we welcome our new Head of School!
September 2015
Did You Know? By: Mikayla O’ReggiO Film crews have long been enamored with the architecture of Mayfield Senior School’s Strub Hall and beautiful grounds. “Devil in a Blue Dress”, “The Nutty Professor” , “Lost World: Jurassic Park”, “The Cutting Edge”, and “Switched at Birth” all contain scenes filmed at Mayfield. Mayfield has had multiple students selected to be on the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, serving both as Queen and on the Court. There have been three Rose Court Queens and three Princesses. The heart of the campus, Strub Hall, was built between 1914 and 1919. It was purchased by Dr. Charles and Vera Strub in 1950 for the Society of the Holy Child Jesus The Strubs’ daughter, Elizabeth Strub ‘47, served as a Prefect of the school from 1962 to 1966, after becoming a nun with the order.
Thinkspace: Think About It! By: Kristen Mascarenhas We all make the trek down to the ground floor of Strub at some point in our day. However, this year you will notice a new room in the usually dark hallway. The first classroom to the left (Room 109) immediately grabs your attention-- not only does it smell like new paint, but its all-white features also give the room a striking futuristic look. This new “Thinkspace” features three Smartboards, Walltalkers (paint-on white boards), and an Apple TV. All of these intriguing devices are open to both students and teachers. When asked about the role she wished the Thinkspace would have in daily Mayfield life, the mastermind behind the project, Ms. Lisa Brunolli responded, “This is going to be a space that is very experiential, a lot of hands on learning. The student will be able to discover material herself.” Brunolli has been working on developing the Thinkspace all summer. She first got the idea for Mayfield’s Thinkspace when she visited technology offices in Northern California, such as Apple, Google, and LinkedIn. These nontraditional work environments represent a growing trend in offices, as
Let it Shine By: sarah holguin
What does the word faith mean to students at Mayfield Senior School? Although every religion has its own interpretation of faith, many students at Mayfield would describe faith as “believing without seeing.” Even though faith is an extremely
Brunolli modeled the Thinkspace after these new types of offices because these are ultimately the types of offices our generation will work in in the future. So what will the Thinkspace bring to Mayfield? “Number one, we need to create classrooms that look like the work place in the future. Number two, it’s going to foster creativity and independence, critical thinking, and the great academic program we have,” said Brunolli. The Thinkspace is reserved for different blocks during the day, and teachers will incorporate the technology into the curriculum of their classes. Learning will be interactive and fun, as a new level of technology will advance our educational system. The Thinkspace fits in line with Mayfield’s philosophy of innovation and meeting the needs of the age. “Nothing Photo: Bella Gaspar makes me happier than seeing Cornelia Connelly’s vision come alive at Mayfield,” said Brunolli. they offer highly interactive surroundings and accessible The Thinkspace will introduce us to the technology of the technology. future. It is a collaborative and hands-on environment that “What I really noticed was that [the technology office] will enhance our learning and further student participation workspace was really not a traditional workroom or in class. classroom anymore. It is highly interactive and utilizes high technology and has big and ample space,” said Brunolli.
complex idea, faith means trusting in someone or something with confidence. Faith cannot be measured or seen. However, it is the driving force that motivates students to achieve greatness. In Hebrews 11:1-2, faith is described as, “being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see.” In the words of Foundress Cornelia Connelly, “Actions Not Words,” students at
Mayfield Senior aspire to deepen their faith in God through community service. On September 24th 2015, Mayfield will host their annual service fair which allows students to get involved with non-profit organizations that serve the greater Los Angeles Area. Through being of service, students at Mayfield will not only understand the true meaning of faith, but they will also follow Cornelia Connelly’s vision to serve others in need.
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Mayfield Crier September 2015
Arts Happenings
Note from the
Editors-in-Chief Cami Arboles and Kristen Mascarenhas
There’s a bounty of “NEW” in our school this year. When have there ever been so many new faculty members? So many new faces in the freshman class? So many new spaces to work, people to welcome, lockers to decorate, notebooks to fill, and forces to be with us? What’s new with our Newspaper this year is a revival -- a harkening back to the wonderful world of print journalism. We’re branching out from our solely-online presence to give you an ink-and-paper account of what’s “new” at Mayfield. In this issue, we even feature an article with our new Head of School, Mrs. Kate Morin, who has graciously shared with us her insights for the school year and educational philosophies. How CAN we embrace the bounty of new at our fingertips? How can we build upon the newness? As author James Joyce said, “I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day.” We should take this advice into the new school year, and remember that with the newness of our scholastic year, we carry into tomorrow the vitality of today. In our context, the vitality of today might just mean the “divine presence,” Mrs. Morin recounts in her interview. We must recognize God in the everyday. Find the joy in the minutiae of daily living. Enjoy the odyssey up the hill every morning, treasure the complexity of integrals in your calculus lesson, and cherish the moments you spend in this environment. It goes by all too fast! May the force be with you.
Arts Abound at Mayfield: Come out and support! By: Bree Barnes •
October 17: All Arts Night from 4 to 7 in Hayden
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November 19-22: Mayfield’s Fall Theatre Production in Pike Auditorium
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December 3: Mayfield’s Fall Art Exhibit in the Turner Center
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December 12: A Nutcracker Knight from 4pm to 6pm in Pike Auditorium
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December 13: Women’s Ensemble Christmas Concert
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December 17: Carol Night and Music Conservatory Concert
Mayfield Crier Editorial Staff Co-Editors-in-Chief: Cami Arboles and Kristen Mascarenhas Op Ed Editor: Bree Barnes Athletics Editor: Bella Gaspar Faculty Advisor: Kimberly Gomez Reporters: Brooke Brody Charmaine Dalisay Caitlin Lee Vienna Murillo Elizabeth Nail Julia Nail Mikayla O’Reggio Emily Pearson Photographers: Christine Geng Kerri Low Amanda McGloin
The Mayfield Crier is a forum for student expression, written by students for the benefit of the Mayfield Senior School community. Our goal is to report relevant issues to the best of our ability. Mayfield Senior School of the Holy Child Jesus 500 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, California
OpEd The Call of the Cub
Learning your ABZzzz: Later Starts=More Sleep By: Bree Barnes
Last year, the Mayfield Senior School administration made a major change to the schedule which included starting classes at 7:50 a.m. According to a study done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, this change is a step back in providing a better education. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDCP] suggests that starting school “at 8:30 a.m. or later allows students the opportunity to get the recommended amount of sleep on school nights, about 8.5-9.5 hours.” Currently, fewer than one fifth of high schools and middle schools start school at this suggested time. As a result, says the CDCP, less than one third of high school students sleep at least eight hours on school nights. The CDCP’s study concluded that insufficient sleep, common among young adults, can lead to unhealthy weight, alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse as well as poor academic performance. Mira Conyers ‘16, feels sleep deprived because of the current schedule, and believes she would benefit from a later school start-time.
The Varsity Volleyball at the Queen of the Court Tournament in August.
Cubs Sports Off to a Great Start By: Bree Barnes and Elizabeth Nail
We also welcome two new coaches into the
fold: Dora Perez will be assisting Eric Sun on cross
Fall sports are back in a big way this country, and Brennan Amirkhizi will be helping
year- 116 students are participating in tennis, volleyball, golf, and cross country. Volleyball is showing a lot of potential for an awesome upcoming season! The Varsity team played in the prestigious Queen of the Court Tournament over the weekend of August 22nd, only days after coming together as a team! They finished 9th out of the 55 competing teams- an excellent start to the season. The prospects of our tennis, golf, and cross country teams are just as thrilling.
Lawrence Mark on the golf team. Both coaches bring a wealth of expertise to the table. Go Cubs! • September 5: Varsity Cross Country competes in the Riverside Invitational • September 8: Volleyball plays Monrovia High School at home and Golf plays La Salle High school away • September 11: Varsity Cross Country competes in the Rosemead Invite • September 24: There is a FREE BBQ for ALL Mayfield students, faculty, and staff on the senior parking lot 3:30pm to 6:30pm
When asked how starting school at a later time would affect her sleep patterns, she said, “I think it would help my sleeping habits, because I go to sleep at a similar time every night. The time I wake up determines the amount of sleep I get.” Conyers is definitely not the only high school student who feels this way. While an early start to school days do affect sleeping schedules of high school students, it cannot be ignored that hormones and other environmental factors may influence teenagers’ body clocks. Mayfield Senior School’s schedule was originally changed to accommodate those participating in sports and Conservatory. According to Ms. Lisa Brunolli, Assistant Head of School for Academics, it was a community decision made by faculty, staff, and administration. Although studies on the effects of late starts and sleep on teenagers were considered, other needs were seen as equally important. To be fair, it works for some people. Madison Forest ’16, sees an advantage in starting class earlier in order to end earlier. “Yeah, because you could have practice earlier, there’s more time for team bonding and you can go home earlier,” she said.
Although starting class earlier is somewhat beneficial for people who participate in extracurricular activities after school, it is inconsistent with the times during which an adolescent body is meant to rest. The majority of schools continue to start classes around 8 am despite low energy being evident in early classes due to lack of sleep. “For me, I usually average about five hours of sleep a night,” said Monica Dezern ‘18. “By the time I get home and finish my homework, I go to bed around 1am. I end up waking up at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning in order to finish the homework I did not finish the night before and get ready for school. So no, it is not possible for me to get nine hours of sleep a night.” Short naps in the Student Commons, library cubicles, and hallways, cannot make up for the sleep lost while struggling to arrive at school ten minutes before 8:00 a.m. every morning. Based on informal research and personal observations, Mayfield needs to start school at a later time in order for students to get an adequate amount of sleep. Starting school at 8:30 a.m. would leave Mayfield students more energized, alert, and prepared for their classes throughout the day.
Faculty Faces+Fun Facts Mayfield’s Teachers Bring Experiences from Far and Wide By: Elizabeth Nail Shandy Carlson comes to Mayfield from Portland, Oregon. She will be teaching the 12th grade English classes, including AP English Literature. Besides dancing and reading, Mrs. Carlson loves spending time outdoors with her two children, Sam and Stella. Kathleen Costello has arrived to instruct the classes of Spanish 2 and 3. She is originally from Minnesota, and has a passion for cooking, live music, and sports (especially tennis and basketball). ¡Bienvenidos! Tylene De Vine hails from Silver Lake, although she bears a well-stamped passport (she’s been abroad eight times)! She is excited to teach the English 2 and AP English Language and Composition classes. Among her vast range of interests are road tripping, camping, doing yoga, enjoying nature, eating feng shui, and reading romantic historical fiction and Victorian literature. Porter Hodgkiss will be valiantly stepping in for long-time Biology teacher Ms. Peters while she enjoys her sabbatical in Africa. Hodgkiss will teach Biology and AP Biology. Though he is from San Marino, he more recently lived in Durango, Colorado. In his spare time, Mr. Hodgkiss delights in hiking, cooking, and reading. Denise Leitner is our new Dance Conser vator y Director. She lives in Los Angeles with her dog Max and her cat Penelope. She counts photography and a love of nature among her hobbies. Ariane McKiernan is Mayfield’s new Physics teacher- she will be teaching the Physics and Honors Physics classes, as well as leading the STEAM Inquiry Lab. Though she grew up near Chicago, she most recently lived in San Diego. Dr. McKiernan is interested in astronomy and appreciates being outdoors, hiking, and snow skiing. In addition, she enjoys music and singing. Bertha Sevilla, a Los Angeles native, will be instructing all the French classes as well as Spanish 2. In her free time, she enjoys gardening. Phil Velasco comes to us from La Salle High School and will be teaching Theatre Tech. He is enthusiastic about hiking, mountain biking, and classic cars.