Priorities #9: Spring 1999 by Woodside Priory School

PRI RITIES A Magazine of Woodside Priory School

March 1999

MOVE

20th Century Limited, Page 10 Health, Page 6 Alumni, Page 13

A Learning Community for the New Century

Benedictine Letter

The year was 1962. Woodside Priory’s soccer team was undefeated. What the boys didn’t know is that Coach Waters had never coached soccer before.

On the Cover: The historic locomotive teams up with students Alex Moore, Amanda Davison and Caitlin McCarthy to set the scene for this year’s auction and ball. The photo is from The Twentieth Century Limited by Richard J. Cook, Sr.

ne of the pleasures of becoming Director of Alumni Affairs is the opportunity to get in touch with people from the school’s past. I particularly enjoyed a letter from John Lanzone, Class of ‘62, recalling his experiences playing on the Priory’s league champion soccer team, which achieved an undefeated season that year. Since Priorities features health and sports in this issue, I would like to share with you some of John’s memories of that glory year. His entire colorful and entertaining letter, and a team photo, is on the school web site alumni page, www.woodsidepriory.com. Not many high schools had soccer teams in those days but there were enough for a league. The PHSL League then included Menlo, San Carlos, Sequoia, Serra,and South San Francisco Highs- both public and private schools. Coach Philip Waters, in his first year at the Priory, started his boys out in the autumn with flag football practice, then moved to serious soccer drills, tough calesthenics and pre-season games in the spring, mostly against local college freshman teams, John says. The boys knew Coach worked them hard and pulled them together as a team. What they didn’t know is that he’d never coached soccer before. “Our first scrimmage was against Stanford’s Freshmen... They were very good, consisting mostly of European students who were waiting around for their sophomore year when their varsity eligibility would kick in. (These freshmen) easily beat Stanford’s Varsity and Junior Varsity teams in practice games. We lost to them something like 18-0. They ran us ragged and it was almost fun to watch their footwork and teamwork... That game taught us that we were not at all in shape,” John said. John’s clearest recollections are of the last two games, against Sequoia and South SF. “Sequoia had a center forward who was born in Europe and who was a highly skilled soccer player. He was a much, much better center forward than I was and Coach recognized that I could not possibly

guard him effectively. So he had Darryl (Laye), who was a fullback, guard him; Darryl was to stick with him all game long no matter where he went. Louie Brown (‘64) our center halfback was to drop back and take Darryl’s spot at fullback. This strategy was new to us, but it worked perfectly and neutralized the league’s best offensive player...” Daryl became the League MVP that season. John thinks Larry David, Louie Brown and Bob Dougherty were also on the all-star team; he remembers for sure than he made second string all-star center forward, right behind that Sequoia guy. The last game was against South SF. Some of the Priory players dropped in on a game to scout the talent. “Rick West moved over behind (the South SF) bench to get a better view. Next, he moved in front of their bench. Then, he started talking to their coach and asking him what they were doing, etc. as the game progressed... When Rick came back to our little group, he had a big grin on his face...” John says he doesn’t know to this day what part, if any, that conversation played in their final game but they won it. Much to the players’ disappointment, Coach Waters left at the end of that year to take a position in Placerville, CA. John helped him move. During the move he found out about the coach’s background and asked how he’d managed to achieve such a successful season. ‘I got this book on soccer coaching, read it through and coached it, one chapter at a time!’ the coach said. That’s not so different from the advice we give students facing new challenges today. You set your goal and you give it your best effort, a step at a time.

Maritn Mager, OSB

From the Headmaster Dear Parents and Guardians,

recently attended the Winter Formal that our high school students held at the Portola Valley Town Hall. I enjoyed the usual bright lights, formal pictures, boys in tuxes, girls in dresses and music that, at times, was earsplitting. But I was struck also by the students’ choices of music from an earlier era- 60’s, 70’s and, most surprising, swing music from the post World War II years. When the swing music started, students did not retreat to the sidelines but jumped right in and brought the swing dance alive in their own 90’s style. We are perhaps emulating those students in our current approach to academics. Each year we re-evaluate our academic curriculum in light of the present era’s demands. This year, our analysis resulted in a decision to bring back some timehonored concepts as well as to launch new ones. The Academic Affairs Committee and Academic Dean Holly Thompson, decided to recapture the English curriculum as a distinct department rather than a part of the Division of Language Arts. The Priory has always offered a particularly strong curriculum in English skills, especially writing. We want to give English a high visibility, to be sure we maintain that emphasis. We are excited about the new Environmental Science “thread” that now weaves through the Middle School and High School curriculum. It will culminate in AP Environmental Science, which we will offer next year. Jane Goodall’s visit to our campus is in part a response to this commitment. A few years ago we “ungraded” our math curriculum (a new concept) and committed ourselves to creating more advanced math course sections as fast as students were ready for them. It’s a scheduling

headache but it has resulted in surprisingly rapid advancement for a group of our students (an old and time-honored concept!) Now, our Middle School students are getting an individualized reading program with a somewhat different organizational twist. See Marianne Stoner’s article on page 12. Our students continue to challenge us with their ability to take on more Advanced Placement course work. We added AP classes in Spanish and Statistics this year and reintroduced AP European history. Student demand for fine and performing arts opportunities is amazing. Music, drama and fine arts courses are in high demand. There is so much opportunity for so many kinds of growth in these experiences-it is constantly rewarding to see what the teachers and students together can create. Two new faculty members, John Provost, Theology Chair, and Lydia Maier, Campus Minister, have been working diligently with their students to bring alive Benedictine spirituality in our weekly student chapels and monthly liturgical services. The education of the whole person continues to be a high priority for us. One advantage of a small, private school is our ability to make quick changes to suit our students. Faculty talent and the summer grants, which allow teachers to retool themselves and their courses, make it possible. As you read this issue of Priorities I hope you become more aware of the many ways in which we try to find and foster that special something within each student. I hope to see many of you at the auction on May 1 at the Hotel Sofitel where we can celebrate the past, present and future of California’s only Benedictine high school. Sincerely,

Tim Molak Headmaster

One advantage of a small, private school is our ability to make quick changes to suit our students.

FALL ‘98 AT A GLANCE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER Back-to-school parties and socials • National flags display at first Chapel (24 this year) • Appreciation Dinner honors supporters of the Annual Fund • More than 30 co-curricular choices offered at signups • ASB all-school Field Day with free t-shirts in class colors • Mass of the Holy Spirit • Boys soccer, girls volleyball, flag football, cross country seasons begin • Family picnic; National Honor Society car wash raises more than $800 for charity • First Middle School Fun Night of the year • David Wilson’s entry wins a savings bond and certificate in the Respect Life Essay and Poetry Contest sponsored by the San Francisco Archdiocese • . OCTOBER Blessing of the Pets • Guitar classes begin • Class Retreats begin • Middle School Outdoor Education camp • Malibu Fun Night • Second Annual Priory Golf Classic • St. Benedict Medals presented to Dr. Peter Kasenchak and Mrs. Suzanne Eyre • First Inter-School Dance • Interact Club’s first project (St. Anthony’s soup kitchen) •First of the visiting Martin Luthur King’s life inspired reflections from students at every grade level, many of them shared at a chapel program celebrating the civil rights leader’s message.

College Reps comes to the campus • First FacultyStudent Advisory Group and first club day (they meet every 7th day) • Priory cheerleading team organizes • Canoe-building project begins • Science Department’s stargazing party • Community Service Halloween party at children’s shelter • Halloween costume contest NOVEMBER First place winners of the Science Egg Drop Contest are Sarah Trask and Scott Kimball • Bishop Garcia visits the campus • Spirit Week begins • Monte Carlo Night earns money for charity • The Truth Is That American Fish Are Blind, Priory Players’ Fall production, presents five shows to full houses • Stock market contest begins • Canned food drive for Second Harvest begins • Outdoor Club’s first project (beach clean-up) • Mid-Peninsula presidents of school parent associations meet at Priory for round-table discussion • Magazine sale for charity • Thanksgiving Chapel celebrates the breads of different cultures, then donates breads to charity • Diego Avalos is elected President of Palo Alto Teen Advisory Board • Patrick Sullivan is Palo Alto Weekly’s Athlete of the Week DECEMBER Parent Association retreats organized by Campus Ministry begin • Chic Streetman music concert • Middle School Secret Santas, gifts to family shelter and handmade blankets for newborns • Winter Concert • Darren Zulberti wins second place in DAR Good Citizens Program • Ford Walker, seventh grader, wins Middle School Spelling Bee after a protracted competition against first runnerup Daniel Wenger • Parent Association designs, produces and sells Benedictine Monk ornaments for Christmas trees • Student body collects more than 24,000 cans for Second Harvest food drive; Seventh Grade wins the class competition

Dr. Peter Kasenchak and Mrs. Suzanne Eyre both received St. Benedict Medals at a banquet commemorating their extraordinary service to Woodside Priory School.

Students earning National Merit recognition this year are (left to right) Kevin Yost, Jeanette Maldonado, Carlos Gonzales, Teresa Falaschi, Mike Mastman and Julie Kimball. Teresa was accepted early decision at Stanford; college plans for the others aren’t yet final.

JANUARY Mother-Student Brunch • Model United Nations is chosen to represent Philippines and Pakistan • First SAT prep course held on campus • Susan Falaschi, assistant librarian, takes a prize in the Green River Writers Competition • Student webmasters appointed • Priory’s College Planning Night for Juniors • Winter Formal • Michael Schapps joins Junior Dormitory staff • Freddie deSibert places third in dramatic interpretation at the Mercy High School speech Contest • Alexandra Cowell and Carolyn Hayes play at CMEA honor orchestra • WPS string quartet participates in Northern California chamber music competition • Seventh grade science classes raise more than $750 for Jane Goodall Institute • Emily Cohen wins Miss Redwood City title • Jon Morgan wins Japanese class New Years postcard design competition for the Year of the Rabbit •

Faculty member Dave Hafleigh uses the property surrounding the Priory to teach architecture. After surveying the property, students use three-dimensional computer-aided software to design homes for imaginary clients. Finally, they build models which go on display in Founder’s Hall.

The senior class studied a visiting show, “Picasso: The War Years,” as well as the standing collection at the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.

The whole Arnold family Henry, Class of ‘68, Chuck (Dr. Charles T.), Class of ‘64, David, Class of 84 and his wife, Donna joined in the Second Annual Golf Tournament at the Half Moon Bay Ocean View course. Steve Young (right) joined Priory alumni, parents and friends for the event, which benefits the scholarship fund.

A Conversation With

Kim MASON Small changes in daily routine can be just as effective as an exercise program in the gym. The effects on blood pressure and cholesterol-related measures are long-lasting, studies show. Woodside Priory’s Kim Mason believes anybody can makle these changes and she sees more benefits to a healthy lifestyle than just the positive numbers on the cardiovascular tests. Her philosophy, in short, is that life’s a positive-feedback loop: feel better physically, feel happier mentally, feel better physically... and on and on and on. Kim is her own best advertisement for her philosophy of living. To see her is to want her diet. To talk with her is to want her attitude. Apparently, Kim lived her philosophy even before she knew it was one. She grew up on a huge poultry farm in the Canadian wilderness, pursuing winter and water sports and playing outdoors. Then, in high school, team sports added new dimensions to her social life and sense of accomplishment. She admired the personal guidance her PE coach and her teaching relatives were able to offer through their professional lives. Kim lives on the Priory campus, where she heads the Department of Physical Education, coaches several sports and occasionally offers personal fitness training. In this “Conversation With...” she talks about the role of fitness in a typical “too-busy-for-it” life. C. Dobervich

Life’s a positivefeedback loop: feel better physically, feel happier mentally, feel better physically... and anybody can do it. 6

We are bombarded with news about the importance of physical fitness but research shows that most of us aren’t doing what we should. Why don’t we? People think they have to make big changes. They don’t! Anything that gets you moving will start a chemical process that releases anxiety and makes you feel happier and healthier. You can start with just 10 minutes a day and any activity will do it, from washing the car to walking more to doing your own housework. It sounds odd to be talking in cliches about how exercise can help you lead a fuller life. But physiologically it’s true.

 So the message is “just get up and move?” That’s it. When you come home from a hard day at work and you feel like all you want to do is throw some fast food into the microwave and watch TV...well, it sounds good but after that you feel horrible! If you made it your goal to just cut loose for 15 minutes - put on some great, fast music and do some work that involves moving your body, you’re going to feel so much better! Does it seem to you that we get into a negative feedback loop? We want a successful job so we can get more money. So we work harder, work longer hours. Eventually, we need a housekeeper, a gardener and a sitter so we will have time to get to the “Y” to work out on the treadmill. It seems like a lot of financial stress for no net gain, at least in relaxation and exercise.

That lifestyle doesn’t make sense. I think it’s a very important point to discuss, because a lot of people don’t make the connection. Society tells us “this is what to strive for” and we lose track of what makes our life better. As a fitness coach, I work on both the physical and the mental aspects of a balanced, healthy life. We talk about meditation, reflection, breathing, and the concepts of stress management. I try to help people step outside themselves and become a sort of spectator of themselves mentally.  Not too long ago, only serious athletes hired personal trainers. Now many so-called ordinary people are doing it. Why? And does anybody ever “graduate” once they start with a trainer? Absolutely, yes, you do graduate and move on because fitness becomes your lifestyle and you have the mindset to continue. I think people decide to get personal help because they are busy and maybe they don’t believe they can do it. I don’t think there is anyone who can’t succeed if they give themselves a chance. People who are already fairly knowledgeable sometimes want help in expanding their activities, working in more variety. In either case, the personal trainer will help that person find a system that works and will be that positive voice leading them through the steps and keeping them on track.  Without a personal trainer, how does a person start making changes in lifelong habits? What do you advise people to do first? Most important is being aware of what you are putting into your body. It’s so easy to eat before you think! If you love feeling good, you have to put into yourself the raw materials to produce that feeling. Most foods aren’t absolutely bad for you, so you can still have that piece of chocolate cake or whatever it is you love. It’s a matter of keeping things in proportion. I hate the word “diet.” It makes people feel uptight and tense and stressed-out and it makes them always think about food. I hate hearing people say, “Oh, I ate horribly yesterday so I’m not eating until supper tomorrow.” It’s okay to make a mistake. You don’t need to punish yourself; you need to protect yourself by going back to eating healthily. The general guidelines aren’t complicated emphasize vegetables, grains and fruits, only a small amount of sugars, oils and fats. Drink a lot of plain water; you can’t substitute other beverages. You can keep this in mind and be on the right track.

 How do you feel about the current emphasis on vitamin pills and supplements?

We can succeed in

I like some of the supplement packages that are available because no matter how careful you are, there are some things you might not get every day. Calcium, for example, if you are watching fatty cheeses and milks. Antioxidants, which are important for the immune system. We’re trying to eat in moderation, take smaller portions. Science gives us a way to be sure we’re still getting that balance of nutrients - why not take advantage of it!

changing our lifestyle if we give ourselves a chance.

 What’s next, after taking care of nutritional needs? Give yourself air and water. We need oxygen. Deep, relaxing breaths help bring the body’s chemistry into balance. We feel less stressed. Water has oxygen and it’s also necessary to break down fats. I believe in carrying that water bottle around with you.  Many people prefer something with fizzle or flavoring. A lot of the juices and sodas, and coffee and tea, are actually dehydrating. Also, when you choose several glasses of juice instead of water, you are adding significant numbers of calories on top of your meals. When you look at the whole picture they aren’t substitutes for water.  How much exercise does a person need? It’s great to start small and it’s important to work up to three or four days a week, 1/2 hour each time...This is the place where people have to guard against dropping off because they are getting bored. I like to suggest a sort of cross-training approach. Vary your routine —choose biking, hiking, car-washing, jogging, rollerblading, ice skating, jumprope, aerobics, weights, swimming, go up and down the stairs at a sports stadium - or use the stairs on our campus. Some people get into sports teams, dance, beach volleyball, golf, bowling... If you’re having a good time, your mental attitude is getting healthier, too... It helps to have a group that you have a commitment to meet. It helps to have a plan. Pencil in on your calendar what you plan to do - and it’s okay if you have to change it!

 Do you work in the same way with students, or are time and motivation more an adult problem? Students hopefully will leave school with different basic assumptions. They are growing up with the idea that they will pursue a wide variety of activities. Priory students learn the basics for all the typical sports that are part of social life in college and in the suburbs. They learn the basics about health and fitness and stress management in PE. When my students looked in their PE text, they said “Hey, wait a minute, this isn’t PE, it’s biology and chemistry.” Well, in fact, biology and chemistry are the basis for health.  I see college students organizing within their dorms for hiking, camping, running, pick-up sports... The activities help people build relationships, and for young people relationships are everything. I think the relaxed, outdoor recreation is great for shy kids. They can lose that feeling that everyone is focusing on them. I see it at our class retreats (up in the Marin Headlands)... Some kids that never speak at school, when we get them outdoors, never stop! I love to do the Priory dorm trips. I get to see the boys in a totally different environment and they’re different people outdoors. So excited and energized and a lot of fun to be around!

 Informal, recreational sports - and, increasingly, neighborhood and corporate teams - are a mainstay to some people’s health programs. Is there anything you can do to get students started with a positive attitude? I do several things. First, I try to emphasize that everyone is competent. I try to avoid situations where they compete with each other and emphasize individual improvement instead. When I do fitness testing, I may do something unusual, like a “wall sit” or “wall jumps” instead of the calisthenics that the elite athletes train at all the time. I try to avoid choices that would be demeaning to anyone - like pull-ups, which girls just don’t shine at because they don’t have that upper-body strength...When I grade, I look at effort and attitude, enthusiasm and interest and coachability. Skills and knowledge are just one part. I emphasize the same thing in the health component. For example, we have new equipment that measures cardiovascular health and body fat to muscle ratio. I want all of the students to understand that health isn’t just a “good number” or a “bad number.” We look at individual context - lifestyle, family background, the difference between “weight” and “body fat ratio,” other health factors that might be important in understanding the numbers. We discuss choices they can make...and how much better, more energized they can feel! In the activities, I think it’s important for students to know the difference between a competitive team situation and a recreational situation. Recreationally, it’s fine to change the rules so it’s more fun for the group. Students learn what’s appropriate to competitive athletics in the after-school program.  How about the place of competitive athletics at the Priory? At this school we are wrestling with the issue of time commitment. In a small school a student who joins a team is also a part of several other activities. It’s great that they are so talented. We want students to have these opportunities. But the students’ time commitment affects the extent to which each area can develop.

The Girls Varsity Basketball and Volleyball teams both made Central Coast Sectional (CCS) playoffs for the first time. Here, the basketball team and Coach Mason hit the road for a end-of-season game.

Kim’s Recommended Reading 8 Weeks to Optimum Health by Andrew Weil. http://www.olen.com/food/ http://library.advanced.org/12153/fit.html.

thletic Director Mark Stogner knows small schools well, and he sees competitive advantages at Woodside Priory. One key is the headmaster’s commitment to building a coaching staff of on-campus, experienced athletes, he said. These coaches are an integral part of the school and they give an extraordinary amount of their time to the program, he commented. “Looking at the schools we compete against, we have more on-campus coaches and more who have been part of college programs and professional athletics. They know what it’s all about. Someone who just walks on a campus to coach one sport can’t match that,” he said. Mark coaches six sports, Middle School Athletics Director Doug Sargent coaches three; Kim Mason, Physical Education Division Head, coaches four. Jim Durgin, Brian Ogden and Todd Turner, all dormitory resident supervisors, coach six. “Coachin’ Joe” Montero, long the Priory soccer coach, is now also a member of the math faculty. Two outstanding Priory coaches who aren’t on the faculty, tennis coach Celso Onofre and volleyball coach Delna Lancaster, bring collegiate and professional level experience and have developed a special place in the Priory community as a result of many seasons of coaching here. A focus on training younger athletes is an advantage that will pay off in the long run, Coach Stogner believes. “Formerly, this school wasn’t able to do much teaching (of sports skills). Now we are teaching through the coaching staff and also the PE program. I am banking that these younger students will stay and that’s how we will build our team strength,” he said. The newly created position of Middle School Athletics Director assures that someone will pay serious attention to these students’ training. The record shows that students value competitive sports experience. Looking at the fall-winter teams, more than 90 percent of the middle school students and about 50 percent of the high school students (whose time is more limited) are participating this year. Two persistent problems inherent to Woodside Priory haven’t changed. First, WPS is the smallest school in its league (the Private Schools Athletics

League). Second, school philosophy encourages all students - even athletes — to participate in a broad range of school activities. Like a judo master who turns the strength of the enemy to his advantage, Coach Stogner puts a slightly different twist on the situation. A small team gives each player more focus, more personal attention and more opportunity to play. Strong athletes at the Priory make the local paper and senior athletes get their share of calls from college recruiters, he pointed out. Students’ limited time and attention for an individual activity is an issue at all small schools, he added. Priory faculty and coaches support the school’s commitment to a broad range of experiences for students. The adults involved try to work with the inevitable conflicts as best they can, he said. That need to balance commitments has led Priory coaches to limit students to one sport each season, even if it means some sports are dropped for lack of players. “We want good athletes and we can offer excellent support...but if a student only cares about sports, nothing else, then I’m not sure this would be the place for him or her. We offer a complete package at this school...” he stressed. Mark lives on the campus with his wife, Natasha, and two-year-old son, Christian (soon to be joined by a baby sister). He has worked with both Marin Academy and Menlo School athletics and was recognized last year by the American Baseball Coaches Association for his 100th win in his sixth year as varsity coach. This year, he teaches PE and coaches Boys Varsity Basketball, High School Girls Softball, Cross Country, Eighth Grade Boys Basketball, and Middle School soccer and flag football teams. Also, he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Private School Administration at University of San Francisco. On those rare occasions when he has free time, Mark likes to run, bike, golf, and play basketball and softball - easily accessible activities from his Priory residence. He replaces Coach Bill August, who had wanted to find a more rural, small-town environment for his family and an opportunity to return to a first love, coaching football. Last fall he had the opportunity to realize both dreams by relocating in Oregon.

New Athletic Director

Coaching and Commitment Are Priory’s Strengths

All Aboard the

for the WPS

Auction and Ball! 10

ear that train whistle blowin’? It’s the last call for the 20th century and the Woodside Priory community will hold its last big party of the 1900s aboard the 20th CENTURY LIMITED, grandest of a grand and powerful locomotive fleet. For much of this century, this blue and silver train was a sleek symbol of human potential and success. It inspired glamorous photos in newspapers and magazines and was a featured player in stage shows and movies. Running from New York to Chicago, with links to high-speed trains that went on to the Pacific Coast, the 20th CENTURY LIMITED was for many years the ultimate symbol of fast, modern, luxurious travel. That sophistication and elegance of that travel experience will set the tone for this year’s fund-raising auction and ball, set for the evening of May 1 at the Hotel Sofitel. From their first step in the door, auction guests will be enveloped in the sights and sounds of New York’s Grand Central Station circa 1938, the LIMITED’s inaugural year. An authentic red carpet leads guests to the ticket office. The “train car” rooms beyond are decorated to feel like a ride through mid-century America. “The feeling will be spacious. We have five rooms filled with wonderful live and silent auction items. Hors d-oeuvres and beverages are in an open area at the end of the displays and there should be plenty of space for people to move among the rooms and enjoy the auction,” said Cindy Davison. Cindy and Wayne Davison co-chair the event. Little “vignettes,” scenes of delectable auction treats, will draw the eye to the display tables. Uniformed “tour guides” in each room will point out the special sites - the highlight items, the special buys, the one-of-akind finds on the auction tables - as guests pass through. “It’s going to be a wonderful evening and it supports an important cause, which is our students’ education”, said Tim Molak. Like other private schools, WPS cannot support its programs with tuition alone. The annual auction and ball is the school’s only social fund-raiser and its proceeds help maintain the quality of education that parents, students and faculty expect, he explained. For the first time ever, an advance look at the program is available on-line. The display of specially selected auction items and helpful information is regularly updated with new materials — just look for the 20th CENTURY LIMITED bar on the school web site, http://www. woodsidepriory.com. Items are rolling in to tantalize every budget and every taste. Would you like great buys in premium wines, or a winery tour with tasting?

Vacation in Cabo San Lucas or Sun Valley? Perhaps reserved seats at a Giants game and an exclusive Merton Hanks shirt would delight you, or someone you love. This is a great time to pick up gifts as well as purchases you will have to make anyway - such as driving lessons for a teen. The Priory will again offer a raffle winner the choice of free tuition next year or $10,000 in cash. The second prize winner will head for a $500 shopping spree at Stanford Shopping Center. Computers and high-tech gear; tickets to everything; sports equipment and lessons; certificates to restaurants and clubs and spas; baskets of goodies from books to foods to travel supplies; consulting services for all kinds of needs; gifts of time ranging from window washing to hosting a party — check the Auction page and be surprised! “In the dining room, I think people will enjoy the tables for ten, the take-home treats at each setting — and the food and wines are delicious. I’ve tasted them,” Cindy said. The live auction is a great time to laugh as well as spend. Last year, people couldn’t wait to out-bid each other for the right to remove a speed bump from the Priory driveway. It was so popular that Mr. Molak is going to sacrifice another speed bump this year, she added. For seventeen years, people from the Priory community have come together to celebrate at the auction - parents, alumni, their parents, faculty, monks and chapel friends all come. Every year, when people collect their “winnings” and are ready to leave, they also take away a warm feeling of being part of a school worth supporting. This is a terrific community and this year’s auction will be the 18th terrifically good time, Mr. Molak said. C.D.

The spacious Hotel Sofitel will be the setting for the 20th CENTURY LIMITED spectacular.

A hand crafted cradle will be a family heirloom for generations, especially when the craftsman is also the Superior of the Benedictine community.

Headmaster Tim Molak and Jocelyn Liu try out the side-by-side bicycle built for two donated by the Liu

Schedule for the Evening 6:00-7:30 pm Cocktails, Hors-D’oevres and Silent Auction 7:45-9 pm Dinner, music and dancing 9-10 pm Dessert, coffee and Live Auction 10 pm until closing Dancing and conversation with new and old friends Dress is Black Tie - Optional Guests are invited to wear a costume from their favorite 20th-century decade. RSVP to Pat Reed (650) 851-8221

Auction Items Online at http://www.woodsidepriory.com. Click on “20th CENTURY LTD.”

Academics

T Accelerating Reading

Marianne Stoner Director of the Middle School

Even accomplished readers need practice in managing large quantities of difficult material.

he more a student reads, the more he or she WILL read. It’s not hard to see why. As with any skill, improvement comes with practice. Vocabulary grows, ability to concentrate and remember improves, speed increases and reading becomes more enjoyable. Students even improve in ability to fit more reading time into each day, using odd moments and keeping a current book within easy reach. It’s true at any age. For middle school students, though, this upward spiral is essential. It builds skills they will need in virtually every high school and college course. Even students who are accomplished and willing readers - and that describes most of our middle school students - need practice in managing large quantities of difficult material. Two years ago, we augmented our English curriculum with a directed, personal program called Accelerated Reading. Kim Heffernan, who teaches a Sixth Grade Core class and Eighth Grade English, administers the Accelerated Reading program and is most familiar with its impact. So far, it’s a huge success. We see many more students choosing to read for recreation, turning on to an author’s work, discussing their favorite books with friends, and coming back for more. Accelerated Reading is computer based. It starts by providing a database of more than 1,000 books ranked by skill level through grade 13. We have more than 500 of the books available at school. Each book has a computer-based follow-up test of 10-20 questions. Students’ book choices and tests are recorded and saved in a teacher report. Students can choose any book they want but if they don’t pass the test they don’t earn reading points and they have to try again. “Points” translate into goodies from the “reading store.” In fact, the goodies aren’t as important to the students as the knowledge that they’ve taken on a high-points book and won! In class, students read and use the computer every week. But they can’t complete the minimum requirements of 150 pages per quarter in sixth grade, 200 in seventh and 250 in eighth without using out-

of-class time as well. Herein lies the time management training. Accelerated Reading results are tabulated quarterly - a time span long enough for students to get a feel for time management but short enough that they usually are not completely overwhelmed if they procrastinated. It isn’t a disaster when they fall short but it is a good wake-up call. Students who have never done so before begin to focus on their reading pace. From that knowledge comes more successful time planning. From a young teen’s point of view, thought and attention to detail are required to get all the variables organized. The whole middle school faculty helps. For example, students know they should keep their book with them because, periodically, any teacher might spontaneously provide accelerated reading time. Students who forget their books can’t take advantage of these “found” opportunities. Students like to be in charge of their own lives. This program gives them independence and control, coupled with warnings and feedback for course correction. The Middle School teachers think they see a measurable difference in reading and organizational skill. We will be able to measure this progress with tests we began administering this past fall. They are standardized reading skills tests with some differences from the state-mandated program. The questions automatically adjust to each student’s ability level, starting with questions that encourage a feeling of success and stopping when the questions obviously are becoming too hard. The tests are short but given up to five times a year. The same test can be given over several years, making it possible to see patterns and measure progress over time. These test results will be far more accurate and useful in measuring real abilities or shortfalls and real progress. We already see the other kind of progress evidence that they have caught the reading bug. We see students snatching every spare minute to read a wonderful story they can’t put down.

Alumni Profile

elationships among nations - especially threats of conflict - are more than a personal interest to Andy Kuchins. He has made the field of international peace his life’s work. As Associate Director of the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) at Stanford University, Andy works daily with activities aimed at preventing armed conflict and creating the conditions for global peace. Some of his work involves developing his own expertise in Russian and Asian affairs. He is researching the contemporary Russian Federation and Russia’s struggle to emerge as an Asian power. Part of this study involves looking at the ways in which various possible Russian-Chinese relationships could affect the United States. Part of this research is intended for publication in a book looking at Russian foreign policy since 1991, his second book publication. Andy joined students for lunch in the Priory dining hall recently and senior Julie Kimball asked a question that touched on his personal experience. “What’s happening with all the Russian scientists since the collapse of the Soviet Union? Is anybody making any effort to be sure they aren’t forced over to rogue nations?” she asked. Andy has been working for several years on a project to support scientific research and development in Russia. The problem with Russian science is not only to prevent their expertise from falling into the wrong hands but also to preserve the expertise that can benefit the world scientific community, Andy said. Soviet scientists were on the cutting edge in many fields, especially in physics and math, but the new Russian system is not continuing to fund their research adequately. The World Bank, MacArthur Foundation, the Soros foundations, and several other organizations are providing support to keep scientists in Russia at work, he said. Many scientists left Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. “Nearly every major university now has one or two on their faculty,” he added.

Andrew Kuchins, Class of 1977

Lives in Menlo Park, Calif. Wife: Karen Children: William (3 1/2) and Julia Coralia (born in January 1999) Professional field: International relations, Center for International Security and Cooperation Read about CISAC on-line at http://www. stanford.edu/group/CISAC/

Andy’s ties to the Priory go back to his brother, Harry, who is a graduate of the Class of 1965, and his parents, who are among the original founders of the school. Rigorous academics and an almost unstoppable soccer team were hallmarks of the school in Andy’s years, he said. He described for the students his experiences in Father Christopher’s philosophy class and Father Egon’s History of Western Civilization class-both turning points in his thinking, he said. In return, students told him about their similar experiences with rigorous classes and opportunities to build close friendships with classmates whose strengths and interests are very different. Now, Andy is following his parents’ example and giving something back to the Priory by offering his service in building the Alumni Fund this spring.

Andy works daily with activities aimed at preventing armed conflict and creating the conditions for global peace.

Alumni News & Notes

atch your mail for the Goldenrod Flyer! It contains your Reunion 1999 program and RSVP form. Everyone is invited and five-year classmates are especially invited. Class chairs are Simon Wong and D.C. McEachern, Class of 1994; Chris Snideman and Guy Haskin, Class of 1989; Tim Griffin, Class of 1984; Greg Roush, Class of 1979; Jim Lee, Class of 1969. Classes of ‘64 and ‘74 are not forgotten but chairs are not confirmed as of press time.

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Who’s coming to Reunion ‘99? Check the Priory website beginning in May for the guest list.

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George Huertas, Class of 1985, a rock ‘n roller in his youth, reports that a CD he recorded last spring with some business friends has enjoyed brisk sales and even captured some invitations to “play a couple of live performances in sleazy San Francisco bars...” Proceeds are donated to Battered Women’s Alternative. The group is “Whole in the Soul” and the CD is “Plugging the Hole” (reflecting the absence of artistic expression in businesspeople’s lives, George says). When he isn’t playing gigs, George is at home with wife and three children in Alamo, CA, or at work; he is a director at CIBS, where he manages investment portfolios and travels frequently to “Europe, New Zealand, and San Jose, CA...”

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Andy Kuchins, Class of 1977, and wife, Karen, have a new baby daughter, Julia Corelia, born Jan 11. She joins brother William, age 3 1/2. See the interview with Andy on page 13.

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Ray Lau, Class of 1996, is at Boston University finishing up a double major in Economics and Computer Science, with a minor in Business Administration and Management.

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Eric Hansen, Class of 1988, is enjoying the challenge of starting a recruiting business in Information Technology. He is at Lake Tahoe whenever possible, skiing in the winter and just relaxing in the summer. He and wife, Bonnie, live in Mountain View.

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Nathalie Alsop and Anne Mecham, Class of 1998, will meet in London and wear out their Eurailpasses traveling to 17 countries this summer. Anne will be graduating with an International Baccalaureate degree from United World Colleges in Wales this June. The ladies plan on two months of travel, liberally sprinkled with stops at the homes of friends from UWC.

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John Lanzone, Class of 1962, and wife, Annie, have relocated from the New York suburbs to Amelia, Ohio where Annie is working in marketing research and John is writing and pursuing music. He has written lyrics (and some music) for more than 60 songs since last summer - some serious, some comedic, some religious/ gospel, in bluegrass, gospel, country and pop styles, he says. He also helps to book Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, a bluegrass band. Annie, also a musician, had a recording date in February for her first gospel piano CD.

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Gladys Martin, Class of 1966, returned from a semester in France with a bottle of young red wine for Father Martin, who said he is saving it to share with her when she completes her education. Gladys is in her junior year at Stanford and hopes to pursue a medical career.

REUNION! June 5 at the Priory Especially for Classes of

1964 • 1969 • 1974 • 1979 • 1984 • 1988 • 1994

What we have planned: Noon: Lunch by the pool. 2-5 pm: Campus tour led by Headmaster Tim Molak. Time to talk with old friends, swim, play tennis or hike in the hills. Child care with special activities will be planned to keep youngsters happy. 5 pm Mass celebrated by Father Martin in the Chapel. 6 pm Wine and hors d’oeuvres in the Father Christopher Room, Founders Hall.

7 pm Elegant dinner in the dining hall. The last few reunion dinners have been warm and exciting, filled with surprises, and so much fun that people didn’t want to leave. Don’t miss it!

Watch for the Goldenrod Flyer - your invitation and registration form.

Athletics PSAL All-League Athletes

Fall and Winter Sports Cross Country Steve Trudelle and Ross Anderson Girls Volleyball Francesca Centofanti Girls Tennis* Jenny Upjohn

Joe Montero, Class of 1976, (black jersey) is Woodside Priory’s soccer coach and also a member of the Math faculty. He joins other teachers and students (guys and girls) on most Fridays after school for a pick-up game, even on misty days such as the one pictured here Doug Sargent, who holds the newly created job of Middle School Athletics Director, is focusing on skills instruction for this age group. Here, he works with the Eighth Grade Flag Football team, which finished fourth in the 10-school SSIL league.

Girls Basketball Jenny Upjohn Boys Soccer* Pierre Corval and Patrick Sullivan, First Team Sun Kim and Bryce Larsen, Second Team Paul Lewis, Honorable Mention *Boys Tennis is a spring sport; Girls Soccer All-League Choices were not yet announced at Priorities’publication date.

Season Highlights:  Steve Trudelle places 41st out of 158 runners at the

Western Regional track competition and competes in the CIF state championships.

 Girls Volleyball and Girls Basketball qualify for the first

time for the Central Coast Sectional (CCS) Championship. Jenny Upjohn and Kathy Alsop are leaders on both teams.

 Boys Basketball - a rebuilding year. Bright spots include

sophomores Bobby Christian and David Lando, junior Steve Trudelle and senior Brendan Kelly.

 Celso Onofre launches a successful and promising

Priory Girls Tennis team.

The CSS Championship game was a terrific team effort; Senior Jenny Upjohn was a key player.

You Are Invited to Meet the Incomparable

Jane Goodall Dr. Goodall began her pioneering study of wild chimpanzees at Gombe National Park in Tanzania in 1960. Goodall’s experiences as a young woman and scientist are an inspiration. Today, she combines the continuing research in Africa with worldwide lectures to spread her message of conservation, empowering people of all ages to make a difference in their world. A book-signing, refreshments and conversation will follow Dr. Goodall’s lecture and slide presentation. The Jane Goodall Institute is co-sponsoring this event, our sixth annual Community Forum.

Wednesday, April 28, 1999 7:00 p.m. in the WPS Assembly Hall No charge but reservations required Call Pat Reed, (650) 851-8221 Priorities Editor: Carolyn Dobervich Design: Ennis Kirkland Design Photos: Jim Kirkland, Fr. Martin Mager, Carolyn Dobervich, Jane Goodall Foundation, Hotel Sofitel Priorities Magazine is published in September and March by Woodside Priory School for its alumni, parents, students, neighbors and friends.

Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 851-8221 fax (650) 851-2839

Return Service Requested

Alumni, Add Yourself To The On-Line Directory, Please 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Go to http://www.woodsidepriory.com Click “Alumni” (under the school seal) Fill out Name, Class and e-mail for the on-line directory Fill out the rest for Priory records, if you wish Click “submit.” Thanks - you’re done! Our alumni pool is too small to interest the firms that research and publish alumni directories. With your help, we can build our own. You are a diverse and interesting group-you deserve to be in touch with each other!

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