MP&MS Footsteps 2023 by Marin Primary & Middle School

FALL 2023

Meet G.R.R.R.Rover: Our New Robot International Cultural Exchange Program Teacher Spotlights: Jessica Beckham & Claire Charbonneau

EDITOR

Charlotte Butti Communications and Donor Relations Manager

DESIGN

Maura Feingold Wednesday Seven

OUR MISSION

We inspire joyful learning, honor each child, and build connections to empower all students to make a difference.

“I'm thrilled to represent our school fully and open our doors widely to new families.”

from the Head of School When I was a high school English teacher, I always needed to teach a work of literature three times before I felt fully confident about the book. I remember staying ahead of the students by just a day the first time. The second time was a little easier, and when I reached the third time, I finally felt secure. I’m having similar feelings as I start my third year at MP&MS. After teaching and working in high schools for 26 years, I’ve made a complete transition to a preschool through 8th grade school. MP&MS welcomed me with open arms, and I’m thrilled to represent our school fully and open our doors widely to new families. This year is an exciting one. With our new mission statement leading the way, we are embarking on an ambitious strategic plan. A task force of trustees and teachers has been hard at work since the last school year to help chart our course into the future. The work has been intellectually and emotionally stimulating. I’m eager to share the plan later this school year.

Of course, all that we do well as a school wouldn’t be possible without the culture of philanthropy that our families have created and sustained over the years. Educational excellence in a place like Marin County is expensive. Your generosity funds salaries, benefits, tuition assistance, and so much more. Our graduates go confidently into the world because of benefactors often unknown to them. Please know that my colleagues and I know and see you. You inspire us to work hard so that our students can dream big. Thank you. Sincerely,

Phil Gutierrez

FALL 2023 FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE

A A M N C A L A S TO R Y Cultural Explorations in Projects Lab by Ferenc Dobronyi, Projects Lab Teacher

Flush with the thrill of completing their box guitars, the second graders were eager to apply all their newfound skills and jump into another project in the MP&MS Projects Lab. Projects Lab is a unique space where students of all ages learn to use the tools and materials of woodworking and develop applicable skills. Any project undertaken is given careful consideration; as the box guitar touches on so many subjects — music, art, math, physics – the next project should be as fully integrated with as many aspects of the MP&MS curriculum as possible. Every spring, our collective thoughts turn to International Day, and last year the second graders chose to explore the varied cultures of Southeast Asia. Their studies were diverse and included a drama performance about Ganesha, and in language arts, each student chose a country to research and present. In art, they created a 10-foot tall rainforest, interspersed with their research and animal facts, that connected to their International Day presentation about the products that come from the rainforest and why it’s so important to preserve it. An obvious way to make a connection with the people of Southeast Asia is to learn their games, and the teachers introduced congklak, better known here as mancala. Students learned that the origin of mancala is not known, but spread rapidly along the trade routes that connect the islands of Indonesia. Congklak remains a popular game with Indonesians, both young and old, as it’s simple enough for a child to learn, but can turn competitive and loud.

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The second grade classroom did not have a mancala board, and there weren’t enough at the school for everyone to play at once. The students were enthusiastic to build their own, and it was a natural object to make in Projects Lab. The students began by observing a variety of mancala boards, noting their distinctive characteristics, counting the holes, and thinking about what kind of tools would be needed. After a layout was decided upon, students measured where the holes would be drilled using rulers and try-squares. Making the large holes would require a tool new to the students, a hole saw, and also gave them the opportunity to use a contractor-grade drill, and learn about and feel the physical effects of torque. For the duration of the build, students worked in random, dedicated partnerships, solving problems together through compromise and deciding who would do what.

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After the holes were drilled, patience was required for all of the finishing needed. Students used the round file and several grades of sandpaper to smooth the edges of the holes. A rasp was used on the sides and back. After the play board was splinter free, a thin piece of lauan plywood was glued on to the backside, so the beads wouldn't fall out. The students decorated the backsides, and since this was a collective project, they all signed every board. The final step of the build was to apply a thin coat of Danish oil to protect it and bring out the beauty of the wood grain.

Students learned that the origin of mancala is not known, but spread rapidly along the trade routes that connect the islands of Indonesia.

The very same day the mancala boards were completed also happened to be the premiere of their Ganesha and the Moon play. The second graders took the opportunity to show off their work to visiting parents and teach them how to play. The building of the mancala boards provided one final lesson. Of course, the students wondered who would get to take the boards home, as there were 11 students and only six boards. What if the boards were donated to the school and gifted to various classrooms for other students to play? This opportunity for selflessness and spreading cheer was warmly received. The benefit that they could play mancala next year in third grade or five years from now in eighth, or that a younger sibling could play in kindergarten, was deeply felt and yet another source of pride for their success.

FALL 2023 FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE

diversity equity inclusion belonging BY JOEY HIGUERA DEIB Coordinator & Spanish Teacher

Diversity and inclusion work takes time, careful planning and an investment in people and resources. At Marin Primary & Middle School, we believe in deep-connections as we strive to honor each child.

Last year, our community gained momentum and took action to reflect our intention to work to become a more inclusive environment for the safety and success of all students, faculty, and staff. I am proud to be Marin Primary & Middle School's DEIB Coordinator, and look forward to another year of supporting our team, students, and school's mission. I’d like to share some of the work our whole school team has been focused on in the past year. Each summer, our faculty and staff read a book that highlights material relevant to the coming year’s work. Last year, we read Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond, as part of our preliminary DEIB work. This valuable resource is a brain-based teaching approach to culturally responsive instruction that helps teachers to create rich and inclusive learning environments. We used Zaretta’s book to guide our professional development around microaggressions and implicit biases. Part of this work incorporated accountability partners within our community. Accountability partners commit to holding each other accountable for

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Reflections on the Past Year Reflections on

actions and behaviors, promoting DEIB awareness within our school. These partners were given time to connect throughout the year to help foster our culture of inclusion and equity by encouraging ongoing dialogue, sharing best practices, and keeping DEIB a priority. During the first month of school, our Leadership team participated in a 21-Day Equity Challenge, a great initiative to raise awareness and promote ongoing dialogue about equity and social justice. The 21-Day Equity Challenge is a commitment to devote 10-15 minutes a day to learn about the foundations of racism and other DEIB topics. As a commitment to the partnership we share with our families, our Head of School, Phil Gutierrez, hosted a parent DEIB education session to develop community engagement, demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity and belonging, and empower our parents and guardians with awareness and understanding of these issues. As the year progressed, we created an Educators of Color affinity group that met once a month throughout the school year. Facilitated by preschool teacher Mikayla Paule and myself, we helped guide our group in celebrating identities, sharing successes and challenges, and engaging freely in a safe and supportive space. Our mission is to provide a space for affirming, validating, and nurturing discussions related to race/ ethnic identity and to envision together strategies for greater racial and ethnic diversity. Another faculty and staff affinity group, SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity), is facilitated by eighth grade humanities teacher, Jodi Freedman, and librarian and advisor, Margot Holtzman. SEED builds community through interactive exercises and conversations that are often sparked by personal reflection, videos, and readings.

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It is a learning environment that includes input from all voices and uses methods of intentionally structured group conversations that have been developed over more than 30 years. The emphasis is wholeness, wellness, and relationships for everyone involved and has been an ongoing collective for many years at MP&MS. Furthermore, at the end of November, five colleagues traveled to San Antonio, Texas to participate in NAIS’s People of Color Conference. The NAIS POC Conference is the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools’ commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning, and organizational development. The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership, professional development, and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. This conference offers seminars, master classes, and more than 100 workshops on diverse topics relevant to people of color in independent schools. POCC equips educators at every level, from teachers to trustees, with new skills to bring back to their communities. Throughout the school year we partnered with Next Generation Scholars, an organization that guides and empowers first generation, under-resourced Marin County middle and high school students to succeed in college and beyond through socially-conscious leadership development. A group of MP&MS faculty and staff hosted bi-lingual, informative admission sessions to help our NGS partners through the application process for MP&MS. This year we welcomed two students from this program. We will continue our partnership in the years to come, and are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this relationship.

While there is always more work to be done, from our ageappropriate microaggression lessons in middle school, to Pollyanna Racial Literacy Curriculum, to our visibility board outside the Library, MP&MS is steadily weaving DEIB into the fabric of our school's existence. We are dedicated to this work and hope to provide more opportunities for education and engagement for our broader community going forward. BE CONNECTED. BE CURIOUS. BE COURAGEOUS. MP&MS's new Educators of Color affinity group

FALL 2023 FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE

Our First Student Exchange Trip with Colegio Williams Cuernavaca by Sara Wolfe, Spanish Teacher

FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE FALL 2023

feature Student Exchange Trip

“It was fun getting to stay with a different family and to learn about different customs. You would experience their normal day going to school and bonding with your buddy.” —ISLA BREWSTER

t Marin Primary & Middle School, we are always looking for ways to build connections and provide opportunities for our students to expand their understanding of the world around them. For the last 15 years, MP&MS has fostered a teacher exchange and student pen pal program with Colegio Williams in Cuernavaca, Mexico (CWC). This ongoing exchange allows for deeper cultural understanding, Spanish language development, and growing relationships between both students and staff of MP&MS and CWC. Each spring, we welcome a teaching team from CWC who spend a week with our community teaching students, learning with faculty, and experiencing our school. Last February was the first time our students participated in the exchange program! A group of 16 seventh graders, accompanied by four MP&MS faculty, had

the chance to travel to Mexico and be truly immersed in the culture and history of the region. In order to provide a more authentic experience, each student was matched with a host family with a student their age from Colegio Williams. Students spent the week with their host families, accompanying them on day trips and spendings evenings being included in dinners, practices, and events in Cuernavaca. During school days, students went on various adventures, including visiting colonial towns called “Pueblos Mágicos,” exploring the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, seeing Aztec ruins and spending a day in a natural spring with waterfalls and rope swings called Las Estacas. Highlights included Tepoztlan, a magical town sheltered by the mountain of Tepozteco rich with artisan crafts and

indigenous markets, and Xochicalco, a Mayan pyramid complex founded in 650 AD. Our students experienced the rich history and vibrant culture of Mexico first hand. On our last day of the program, our students and their host families all came together for a closing ceremony at an adventure park that included a huge feast, zip lining, and a very competitive soccer game between the U.S. and Mexican students. It was the perfect ending to a great trip with promises to always keep in touch and visit each other again. The trip to Cuernavaca was a magical and transformative experience that broadened our students' understanding of Mexican culture, language, traditions, and natural beauty. We are pleased to continue this program this school year and look forward to taking more 7th graders to Mexico, as well as hosting their counterparts, in 2024!

“Seeing new and old parts of Mexico with my friends opened my eyes to just how big the world really is. I had fun making new friends in new places.” —TRUDIE GORDON

FALL 2023 FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE

robot to encourage others to collect trash and help maintain our beautiful campus. The envisioned robot would be a mobile trash bin, operated by students, that could travel anywhere on campus and collect waste. The kids worked on designs, built prototypes, and created a requirements document for the project.

by Jesse Swagerty, Exploration Lab Teacher

tudents have the opportunity to discover and learn through hands-on tech and robotics projects, regularly of their own design, in the MP&MS Exploration Lab. Primary students visit this maker space as part of their weekly schedule, and our middle school students have the chance to get involved through the electives program. Electives allow students to pursue activities of interest and apply material they’ve learned in core classes in new ways. This year, in the middle school robotics elective, students had the privilege to learn directly from MP&MS parent and robotics expert, Andrew Crawford. In partnership with Exploration Lab teacher, Jesse Swagerty, students studied functions, requirements, systems, control theory, and more as they built their project together. In the process of brainstorming for their project, students were inspired by our community’s longstanding passion and support for the environment. The students decided to create a fun, remote-controlled

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With a solid plan in hand, it was time to build! Andrew researched and found robotic components to make the robot mobile and control its lid. He taught students about inputs, outputs, sensors, and actuators. When robotics materials arrived, boxes and bags were opened, items spread out all over the tables, and immediate dismantling and taking apart of all the components and wheels began! After a couple minutes of chaos, Andrew and Jesse slowed everyone down and pointed to a set of instructions. “Oh, this goes there,” they all realized simultaneously.

Robotics involves a lot of potential frustration, like attaching tiny screws into tight places with odd tools, but also involves a lot of joy and happiness when said screws go in correctly and tightly on the ninth or so attempt. Much celebration erupted in the room whenever any step of the project was finished or something the students tried worked. Interest in the robot spread through the community. At the start of many Exploration Lab classes, students would ask for an update on the elective robot and ask

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Introducing G.R.R.R.Rover to try it out. It got much unscheduled beta testing at recess as curious kids clamored for a chance to take the robot for a lap around campus. Among other things, we learned that, though the robot is capable, it was probably best to keep it out of the sand box. As the robot was nearing completion it needed a name. After much deliberation, the class settled on G.R.R.R.Rover: Garbage Reduce/Reuse/Recycle Rover. Students finished mounting the linear actuator and added a button to control the lid. Grrrrover worked! But Grrrrover kept breaking! After much excitement, smoke, blown fuses, iteration, and spare parts replaced, Grrrrover was ready to be unveiled at an assembly for the whole school community to see. The kids introduced Grrrrover and demonstrated navigation and operation of the robot with great success! Grrrrover lives on in the Exploration Lab and comes out when needed to inspire and help our community clean up. But more importantly, Grrrrrover also inspires other robotic ideas! Many students have already been heard discussing and dreaming up ideas and plans for the robots they will build when they are old enough to participate in the middle school robotics elective. When Andrew and Jesse started the class, they set out with the purpose of students building a real robot with a function of helping the MP&MS community. At first we thought the help would be litter collection, but it turns out the biggest help Grrrrover provides may be to inspire others.

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What advice would you give to people considering a career in Early Childhood Education? Spend time with kids! Observing but also getting involved. Playing. Getting a good education. You have to know you like it before you get the education. A lot of people get that backward.

Teacher Spotlights

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Watching the growth of a child over a school year. We had some children who arrived not talking, and now we’re having full conversations. The SEL growth is amazing. At first, kids have trouble coping with conflict. Now, they can almost work out conflicts by themselves. They develop so much over just one year.

Have you kept tabs on any of your former students? I talk to Jeannie Heath and Kristy Heath. I think a lot about people. I’ll run into a family with kids in high school and beyond, and it’s great to catch up.

CLAIRE CHARBONNEAU Preschool Teacher - Meadow 45 years at MP&MS

We had four Meadow kids graduate this year. It’s pretty amazing. The Meadow kids are buddies with the 8th graders, and I see them in the Meadow. It’s pretty incredible to watch them come into the room and remember them when they were young. Josh Taylor, Anna Cross, Rosalie Martin, and Parker Hall all started in the Meadow.

What inspired you to be a preschool teacher? I started loving kids when I was a kid. When Roberta Heath started the school, I was here, working with the children. Being with kids inspired me. My other huge inspiration was David Heath, our founding Head. The wisdom he shared with me over the years continues to inspire my teaching.

You’ve been at MP&MS for 45 years. What are some changes that you’ve seen over that time? What has stayed the same is treasuring childhood. Roberta didn’t use those specific words, but that’s what she meant. Her heart and soul are still here. I can’t think of anything core that has changed. People have come and gone; we’ve had new heads, the campus has had improvements, but the heart and soul are still alive. Our size has changed. We started with four kids and a bunch of adults. I can still name the kids - Jeannie Heath, Stephanie Shaw, Gabe Rogin, and Stieita Eisen.

Outside of teaching, what do you like to do for fun?

What advice would you give to parents whose children are of preschool age?

If you had one wish for MP&MS, what would it be?

To do their best to let their kids be kids for as long as they can, and that’s true up through 8th grade. To allow them to take risks and make mistakes, because that builds resilience.

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I love the local sports teams and am pretty passionate about sports. I like to hike, read, and spend time with my family.

To go forever! It’s just such a magical, special place. The kids are fortunate to be here. We started as a preschool. I hope that we always have faculty and staff that are attached to the mission. Being with two-year olds is my passion in life. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

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JESSICA BECKHAM 6th Grade Math & Science Teacher 2 years at MP&MS

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher? From 3rd grade, I have a distinct memory of my teacher going through a math lesson and thinking, “I would do that differently.” At that moment, I thought I could be a teacher. My teacher, Ms. Kleinschmidt, made a huge impact on me. We had the same birthday. She made me realize that teaching was my calling. Later, my love of math and science came from Ms. Voss in AP Biology. I felt that science and math could explain everything. That was a pivotal moment for me.

What is an early highlight in your teaching career? I remember leading my first Outdoor Education trip. Early in my first year of teaching, I met the 6th grade teacher, who said that I would be in charge of Outdoor Ed. I’m always the person who says “yes” to Outdoor Ed, because getting kids out into nature is magical for them. I love how Outdoor Ed puts kids outside and stretches them outside of their comfort zone. Kids light up with joy in nature.

What do you hope your students gain at the end of a school year? I always want my students to understand the fundamental skills underneath the modern tools. Before they go to a phone app or calculator, I want them to be able to read a map or do a calculation by hand before using a piece of technology. How they learn is just as important as what they learn. I want my students to be adaptable and flexible. There are so many different pathways for them in high school. I want my students to have the skills to be strong scientists and mathematicians no matter which path they take.

What are your thoughts on Artificial Intelligence and its impacts on teaching and learning? I’m cautiously optimistic, but that goes back to kids seeing AI as a tool and not a crutch. I want kids to understand how AI works so they can use it for good and not evil. We need to slow down. When technology is new, people can tend to abuse it. Once we get over the initial fear, we need to teach kids how to use AI correctly as a learning tool.

How do you incorporate DEIB in your work at MP&MS? This fall, we did a cool project in science: “What Does a Scientist or Mathematician Look Like?” We wanted to re-frame that question and the answers to that question. It’s important to know biographies of women and people of color in science and math. I wanted to create mirrors for our students. One of my top priorities is to keep girls at this age engaged with math and science. I loved seeing them engaged with the project. It was a powerful way to start the year. Next year, I’m planning on launching a park study. We’ll explore public spaces and parks and explore whom they serve. Why do the crowds at national parks tend to be so white? Also, there are ableism issues at national parks for people who aren’t as mobile. If you invite people who aren’t ambulatory to a park and they have to climb a bunch of stairs, you’re limiting access. We want to talk about equity in public spaces.

Outside of teaching, what do you like to do for fun? I’m doing a lot of camping and hiking this summer. I’m going to Glacier National Park this summer for the first time. I bought a National Parks’ pass, and I’ll see how many places I can visit in twelve months. Being outdoors is a huge passion of mine.

What’s something that your students would be surprised to know about you? I was in competitive marching band all through high school. I marched in the Rose Parade twice. I played the trombone and clarinet.

FALL 2023 FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE

in the limelight Scooby-Doo

In the fall, the third through fifth grade Panther Drama Club produced two Scooby-Doo monster mysteries: Scooby-Doo and the Beach Boardwalk Sea Slimer and Scooby-Doo and the Tahoe Slopes Snow Monster. This production was absolutely an MP&MS labor of love. Tech Club elective students designed and created digital backdrops and props, eighth graders volunteered to help lead rehearsals, sixth grade volunteers took on the videography, and parent volunteers coordinated costuming and audience details. It was truly MP&MS at its most joyful!

Ganesha and the Moon

As part of the International Day celebration and their rainforest science unit, the second grade drama class produced a performance based on one of the many folk-tales from South East Asia and the surrounding geographic regions. Students contributed work on the dialogue, illustrations in the play program, and set design including constructing the backdrop out of sanded bamboo (harvested from our school grounds), wooden beaded twine vines, and tufts of long grasses made from recycled scrap paper and cardboard boxes. The last two years we have performed Ganesh and the Moon, an entertaining narrative about very human emotions and reactions that gives students a chance to creatively explore self expression.

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Alice in Wonderland (and other 8th grade highlights)

During the first trimester, eighth grade students worked together to produce a play. As an ensemble, they selected, adapted, designed, and produced a chosen play or piece of literature with a specific audience in mind. This year, the eighth grade ensembles chose Alice in Wonderland and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Throughout the production process, they explored adaptation, stagecraft (theatrical design), and acting technique. The project culminated in a performance for their chosen audience and the MP&MS community.

Into the Woods

Last spring, 27 middle school students performed Into the Woods Jr! With the support of teachers and families, students worked together for weeks to prepare their characters, costumes, sets, lines, and choreography. Students had mixed theater backgrounds with a wide variety of experience levels within the cast. Some students took leadership roles to help their peers learn songs and dances. The show even featured an MP&MS faculty and student pair: Helen and Jude Pogrel!

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off-campus adventures 1st and 2nd Grade

Las Gallinas Wildlife Pond

First and second grade students enjoyed a gorgeous morning at the Las Gallinas pond, guided by 2nd grade parent, wildlife photographer, avid birder, and 2023 Family Association President, Elyse Omernick. While one group of students bird watched, the other group did some watercolor paintings and drawings of nature and animals nearby, and challenged themselves with a measurement scavenger hunt. The groups then switched so every child would have a chance to participate in all the activities. While bird watching, first graders were able to spot some amazing animals, including a red tailed hawk, a swan nesting on its eggs, turns, wrens, ducks, geese, a jackrabbit, and a hawk enjoying a hearty meal of . . . a mouse! The wonder in the students eyes was magnificent to behold as they walked the trail around the pond!

3rd Grade

Mission Science Workshop

The third grade class visited the Mission Science Workshop to participate in a one hour hands-on investigation and spent 30 minutes of free exploration time discovering the exhibits. Mission Science workshop operates three bilingual community science centers that provide hands-on science enrichment activities to underserved youth and families. Through experiments, tinkering and construction projects, the program engages students’ sense of curiosity and wonder to create authentic learning experiences. The theme for this field trip was Environments and Survival. The class participated in a discussion on plant life cycles followed by the creation of a terrarium. The science instructor guided the students in the construction of each layer while detailing its significance to maintain a natural habitat. Each student picked a plant to monitor for growth and the highlight for many, was the insertion of an earthworm. This field trip aligned with the classroom study of the Circle of Life, the exploration of the growth and development of organisms.

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4th Grade

Angel Island Immigration Tour

Arriving by ferry, the fourth grade class spent a day on Angel Island as part of their study of the state of California. Their experience was driven by curiousity about the ways that people have interacted with the landform. Students read informational texts and learned about the role of the island for the Coast Miwok people, the Spanish and Mexican ranchers, and Chinese immigrants. They studied the poetry written on the walls of the Immigration Station to better understand the perspectives of the people detained there. Some were able to identify some of the specific Mandarin characters they had learned with MP&MS librarian, Margot Holtzman. Later in the semester, when students studied the Gold Rush, they connected back to Angel Island and Chinatown as important places for Chinese immigration and history.

5th Grade

Marin Sanitary Service

As part of their sustainability unit, fifth graders visited the local Marin Sanitary Service to understand what happens with all of the recycling and waste from our community. At MP&MS, we do our best to support and protect the environment, and this field trip allowed for a real life look into how our different types of trash and recycling are handled and sorted. This field trip ties into a well-known fifth grade project, “Trashion Show.” In cooperation with Projects Lab, students gather disposed items from their households to design, build, and model outfits of their own design using nothing but recycled materials. Armed with their experience from the Marin Sanitary Service field trip and their knowledge from classroom lessons, each student presents research and facts about trash, recycling, and the environment and walks across the stage to show off their trash fashion in the Trashion Show!

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“I look forward to working with our dedicated group of trustees to advance the mission of our school.”

from the Board Chair Welcome to another exciting school year at Marin Primary & Middle School. It is an honor for me to step into the role of Board Chair. I look forward to working with our dedicated group of trustees to further advance the mission and vision of our school.

the institutional health and wellbeing of the school, both today and into the future. Our trustees bring a range of skill-sets and expertise to the board and are elected based on the priorities of the school.

More specifically, our work this year will include adopting and implementing a new strategic plan. This work is the culmination of a careful and robust process that was conducted over the last nine months and facilitated by a leading expert and strategist in education.

Please join me in thanking the outstanding contributions of our trustees who completed their terms in June 2023. They are: Sam Cross, Nick Heldfond, Hilary King, Don Pillsbury, and Geoff Scheumann. The many ways in which these individuals served our school over the years is greatly appreciated.

The strategic plan is a distinctive and intentional tool that will be implemented by Head of School, Phil Gutierrez. It will be used as a road-map to guide the school over the next 3 - 5 years. Additionally, the board will dedicate time to support trustee education and development throughout the year; further its commitment to DEIB; and, as always, ensure its focus on fiduciary responsibility remains at the forefront of discussion and decisionmaking.

Lastly, thank you to Phil Gutierrez for his strong and devoted leadership. Our community benefits daily from his unwavering commitment to the education and growth of our students, and his natural ability to bring joy to everything he does.

The board of trustees is made up of current parents, alumni, alumni parents, and outside educators. Collectively, the group is tasked with supporting MP&MS with mission-based leadership to ensure

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Appreciatively,

Eileen Sheldon

fond farewells

Former Board Chair, Mead Blum, reflects on departing Trustee contributions to MP&MS. We would like to thank the following trustees for their service to MP&MS and their ongoing support of our community.

Sam Cross P'15, '19, '23 When I think of Sam’s involvement with MP&MS, existential comes to mind. Existential is defined as logically affirming the existence of a thing. Sam’s actions, decisions, advocacy, commitment, and sacrifice affirm the existence of MP&MS. Sam’s leadership literally kept our school running during the most challenging days of 2020. I could spend hours listing the myriad of jobs, some seen and many unseen, that Sam has undertaken during her years as a parent and 12 years as a trustee. In every position, from serving as an HRP, to president of the PA, to producing the middle school play, to her six year tenure as Board Chair, Sam focuses her efforts on the mission of MP&MS. Sam looks at how each decision will affect the collective school. Sam has been a valuable contributor, collaborator and deciding factor on initiatives that affect our community every day. Sam always asks how each decision supports our mission and never asked “how will this affect my kid”. MP&MS is getting stronger each day thanks to Sam’s tireless efforts.

Nick Heldfond P'22, '25 I gave Nick and Simone a tour of MP&MS in 2018. Soon after, I saw Nick at Rustic Bakery in early September after Caroline and Henry started school. Nick loudly exclaimed how great MP&MS was in front of a huge crowd. Nick has been a vocal supporter of MP&MS since his kids stepped through the front door. Great trustees bring experience from many realms and elevate the efforts of our school. Nick joined the annual fund committee and immediately made an impact on fundraising. Nick is often a voice of calm and unexpected forethought in board discussions. Each board needs trustees like Nick who dig in on committee work and staunchly support the school publicly. Nick is an advocate for MP&MS who shares his enthusiasm for our school with everyone he meets.

Hilary King P'19 My kids are not the only ones who thought Hilary lived at MP&MS. During her tenure on the PA culminating as PA President and her nine years on the board, Hilary has left an indelible mark on MP&MS. Hilary’s recommendations are based on years of experience both in a quasilegal role, rewriting the Parents Association and then the board bylaws, and serving on the Governance committee. Hilary is rarely short of opinions as she embodies the core tenant of supporting the board and the school with one voice. Hilary publicly supports the decisions of the board and the future of the school in all her conversations and guides fellow trustees towards agreement.

Don Pillsbury P'21 I recently asked a Head of School what every parent in her community could do to make her more effective. She replied that she wished every parent knew “It’s all going to work out.” Don brings confidence that “everything is going to work out” to all he does. Every board needs a futurist, someone who orients today’s decisions toward the horizon. We have Don Pillsbury. In addition to an excellent sense of humor, Don brings a focus towards the long term vision of MP&MS. Don was an invaluable member of the Head of School search team. Not only did Don lighten the mood, he understood the needs of the community and focused the committee's efforts on the heart of MP&MS – relationships.

Geoff Scheumann

P’27 I'm grateful for Geoff's thoughtful partnership on the board. Geoff is committed to the long-term sustainability of independent schools. A graduate of independent schools, Geoff understands the rarity of longevity in independent education. As a member of the Governance committee, Geoff shared with prospective trustees the importance of building a strong school for future generations to enjoy. Geoff pointed strategic conversations and decisions to the benefit of tomorrow’s graduates and their families.

FALL 2023 FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE

warm welcomes We are pleased to welcome the following members to the 2023-2024 MP&MS Board of Trustees.

Kasi Campbell P'28, '30 Kasi, an Oregon native, holds a double B.S. in Communications and Political Science from Emerson College, with a minor in Journalism. Growing up on her parent’s horse farm sparked Kasi’s interest in food systems and sustainable agriculture. She worked on research to influence public policy and the US Farm Bills and enjoyed writing and teaching a Middle School Farm to Farmstand class at Children’s Day School in San Francisco. Since Kasi and her family joined the MP&MS community in 2015, she has been involved in a variety of ways. Most recently, she served as PA President and Co-Chair of the MP&MS Annual Spring Fundraiser, as well as on the Annual Fund committee, as an admissions tour guide, and as the Harvest Festival Chair.

Sam Ditter P’32,’34 Sam is a Managing Director of Sixth Street Partners, a private investment firm based in San Francisco. He leads the firm’s public investing efforts across debt and equity. Prior to joining Sixth Street Partners in 2012, he worked for Moelis & Company in their investment banking practice. Sam graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Engineering and a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting. Sam and his family live in Ross and have been thankful to be part of the MP&MS community ever since moving to Marin a few years ago.

Brett Habermann

P’28, ’28 Brett and his family live in Kentfield and have been part of MP&MS since kindergarten. Brett has been active in the school community as a volunteer, homeroom parent, and current member & Chair of the Annual Fund committee. A native Californian from Santa Barbara, Brett made his way to the Bay Area nearly three decades ago. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. Brett has enjoyed a dedicated career in various sales and management roles, beginning with American Express and later venturing into the world of entrepreneurship. As a founding member of two software companies, he successfully executed sales and marketing strategies that ultimately led to both companies being acquired. Most recently, he repurchased his software company (LeadLander, Corp) from its original acquirer, taking the company private again to further its innovation in the web analytics space. Brett also serves on the board of the Museum of Friends, a contemporary art museum located in Southern Colorado.

Kimberly Hansen P’27 Kimberly Airey Hansen is a native of Annapolis, Maryland. After studying in business and engineering, she started her career in land acquisitions, sales, and community planning. She has 26 years of experience as a real estate agent and broker in five states, and still serves as a principal broker and consultant with real estate professionals on commercial and residential projects as a member of SFAR and MAR, and CAR associations. With past experience, serving on the Belvedere Hawthorne Preschool Board then as multi-year Fundraising Chair, Kimberly served on the fundraising and Parent Board at Reed School in Tiburon. When her two children, Cole and Brooke, joined MP&MS in 2020, Kimberly became passionately involved in the MP&MS community. Kimberly has co-chaired the MP&MS Annual Spring Fundraiser for the last three years, has been a member of the Development committee, and has served as a homeroom parent for 1st and 2nd grades. In Marin and San Francisco, Kimberly serves as a volunteer in multiple education based organizations and children’s foster care in San Francisco and Seattle.

FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE FALL 2023

Crystal Land Crystal has spent her career as a leader in independent schools and as a facilitator with schools and teams. Crystal served as Head of School at The Head-Royce School in Oakland until 2022 when she retired. While at Head-Royce, Crystal also served in a variety of roles from Assistant Head of School and Admissions Director to English teacher over her 30+ year career. She currently works as a Senior Associate for Leadership+Design where she works with schools nationwide on strategic planning, developing capacity in leadership teams, and school governance. She writes articles and thought pieces for various publications and has presented locally and nationally on effective school leadership. She also works as a facilitator with the California Teacher Development Collaborative (CATDC) and co-facilitates the Leadership Fellows program. Crystal holds a M.A. in English from Middlebury College, a M.A. in Education from Stanford University and a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley in English and Political Science. She and her husband Will Miller (and goldendoodle) live in Oakland, CA.

Anna Nordberg P’27 Anna is a freelance journalist who writes about parenting, education, and culture. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Slate, and The San Francisco Chronicle. She cares deeply about childcare and education and served from 2019-2023 as Board Chair of Children’s Council, which helps families ﬁnd and aﬀord quality childcare in San Francisco, and is a current trustee of the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Since 2021, Anna has also served as a trustee for the Crescent Porter Hale Foundation, which supports educational scholarships and middle school success in the Bay Area. Anna received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Yale University and lives in San Francisco with her husband Brant and their two children, William and Olivia Rose. She is thrilled to be deepening her connection to the wonderful MP&MS community.

Marissa Patton

P’31, ’33 Marissa is in her fifth year as a parent at Marin Primary & Middle School. Two of her three children, Dempsey and Marlowe, are currently in the preschool and primary divisions. Marissa graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Children and Families in Urban Communities. Marissa has spent the past seventeen years of her career focused on providing equitable access to hiring opportunities for college students. She worked at the national educational non-profit Teach For America as the Director of District & School Partnerships in Los Angeles. Her current role is at Google as an Early Career Recruitment Lead for Tech roles across a subset of Google Product Areas. Marissa is in her first year as a Trustee and will serve on the DEIB Committee.

Elyse Omernick P’26, ’29 Family Association President

Elyse and her family started their MP&MS journey nine years ago in the Seashore classroom. She has supported the community in many roles over the years including being a HRP, managing community service efforts with the Green Team, supporting the school’s photography needs, co-producing the school’s annual fundraiser paddle raise videos, co-chairing the Annual Spring Fundraiser, and serving as vice president of the Parents Association (now the Family Association). Elyse is honored to serve as the new Family Association President this year. Elyse received her BA in Illustration and Animation at San Jose State University. She built her career at Lucasfilm as a production manager working on multiple Star Wars productions at Lucasfilm Animation and LucasArts. Elyse has extensive experience managing large teams across multiple disciplines, both in-house and with overseas studios, as well as building and managing production schedules, pipelines, and budgets. Elyse also serves on the board of directors for the Marin Audubon Society, chairing the Northern Spotted Owl conservation and outreach efforts throughout Marin County. As a professional photographer, Elyse combines her artistic background and her love of nature through her work. Her photography has been featured in Marin Living and Marin Magazine, and she enjoys sharing the beauty of Marin with her local community and beyond.

FALL 2023 FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE

the year in numbers

Please scan to see our list of donors for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Long-term financial sustainability is our highest goal and we continue to make great progress on improving the balance sheet and building reserves.

1.2M

65%

Supports campus rental and facility improvements

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!

Operating budget for salaries, benefits and professional development to ensure retention of experienced educators

13.4%

12M+

Tuition revenue is allocated to tuition assistance to improve and promote educational equities

Total net assets

22-23FY Revenue

Expenses

Gross Tuition and Fees

$11,736,954

Salaries and Benefits

$9,035,966

Fundraising: Restricted and Unrestricted

$986,608

Facilities and Plant

$1,727,877

Government Grant

$1,375,757

Operating $2,018,612

Auxiliary Program and FA

$739,370

Tuition Assistance

Other $486,271

$1,570,636

TOTAL EXPENSES $14,353,091

TOTAL REVENUE $15,324,960

THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING Annual Fund gifts and other FA contributions, auction proceeds, and ancillary program revenue are key to covering our expenses and building our balance sheet.

Your generous gifts to these campaigns help MP&MS meet our mission and goals for improving our program.

FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE FALL 2023

As we look ahead to the future of MP&MS, it is certain that the generous support of our community will continue to play a vital role in our success.

Gifts from our charitable donors are essential to our dynamic program and the specific work we do with each student at MP&MS.

The contributions made today will have an immeasurable and enduring impact on MP&MS for years to come.

celebrating

Students of the Class of 2023 who started in preschool at MP&MS.

In June 2023, we celebrated the end of another successful year with our traditional Stepping Up Ceremony and the Graduation Ceremony of Class of 2023. As is our tradition, the youngest and oldest students of the school rang the gong, each class performed a dance and sang a song of celebration, and everyone gave thanks for a year of joyful learning and progress. This year, MP&MS students were accepted to a range of outstanding independent high schools, and also chose a variety of California Distinguished Schools including: The Bay School Branson Convent High School Drew International High School Marin Academy Marin Catholic

Redwood High School San Domenico High School Sonoma Academy Stuart Hall High School Tamalpais High School University High School of San Francisco The Urban School of San Francisco

FALL 2023 FOOSTEPS MAGAZINE

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save the date

MP&MS Annual Spring Fundraiser

MAY 4, 2024 Marin Countr y Club

N O VAT O , C A L I F O R N I A

PAID SAN FRANCISCO, CA PERMIT NO. 11751