A Magazine of the Priory · Issue #52
· March/April 2012
Masquerade Priory
Ball
TOC TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Woodside Priory School Celebrating 54 Years of Benedictine Education In This Issue Winter at a Glance. Pages 5-8 Auction: Masquerade Ball. Pages 9-16 Alumni News & Notes. Pages 18-20 Music Matters. Page 21
Tom Ducharme ‘86, former America’s Cup Sailor. Pages 22-23 Interview with Scott Parker. Pages 24-25 Sustainable Sustenance: The Priory Kitchen. Pages 26-27 Peter Agoston Photographs. Pages 28-29 The Green Page. Pages 30-31
Board of Directors Abbott Matthew Leavy, OSB Father Mark Cooper, OSB Brother Edward Englund, OSB Father Martin Mager, OSB Father William Sullivan, OSB
Board of Trustees Father Timothy Backous, OSB Janet Brownstone Lisa Carlos Jennie Chiu Sherri Coats Monica Corman Eileen DiGiorgio Kathy Feldman Mark Gainey Chris Galli ‘84 Hilary Giles George Hohnsbeen Peter Kasenchak Bob Latta Rick Magnuson Bruce McAuley Bud McElroy ‘83 Tim Molak Cecilia Montalvo Jami Nachtsheim Father Maurus Nemeth, OSB Dale Pfau Ray Rothrock Maureen Sansbury Ken Tehaney ‘66 Paul Titterton ‘82 Keith Van Sickle Lisa Wan
Priorities magazine is published in March/April, June/July, and December/January by Woodside Priory School for its alumni, parents, students, neighbors and friends. Contact the Communications Office at 650-851-6193 or the school at 650-851-8221. Editor: Sean Mclain Brown Contributing Writers: Jim Kirkland, Hovey Clark, Sean Mclain Brown, Ryan Young ‘12 Design/Production: Jim Kirkland, Copperline Multimedia Photos: Sean Mclain Brown, Jim Kirkland, Kelly Sargent, Tim Molak, Al Zappelli Printing: Communications on the Mark, Mark W. Allen
Chapel Services
Masses at 7:15 a.m. Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sunday Hungarian service 8 p.m. third Friday (Taize) ecumenical service All are welcome.
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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Priory Community,
We are in the midst of our WASC visit as I write this letter, and Father Martin just walked in to tell me his committee meeting this morning had gone very well. He sits on the Philosophy and Purpose chapter and helped prepare our response to the questions. Like Father, we hope all the meetings and visits go well, and that when the team leaves they will take a part of the Priory with them – in a new idea, a new way of doing things or the importance of “listening… with the ear of their heart.” We feel fortunate to have six very accomplished professional educators from Southern California and the Bay Area on our visiting team and look forward to their report and recommendations to the community. As I reflect on what has happened since my last Priorities letter, I would like to share some of the highlights: Father John Fortin, OSB former Headmaster of the Priory returned as our speaker for our annual faculty/staff retreat at Vallombrosa in mid-February. Father John had not been on the campus in 30 years and was pleasantly surprised by the new facilities and the upgrading of others. One of his first jobs at the Priory was replacing Father Maurus in the boys’ dorm, a position that taught him all he needed to know about boys age 12-18. Father now teaches Philosophy at Saint Anselm College and has written a number of books, most recently on reflection during the season of Lent. Our musical – Beauty and the Beast – played to full houses and to rave reviews. When our new performing arts complex was finished in the fall of 2007, we knew it would provide better opportunities for our students wishing to further their talents in drama and choir. This production merged those into what many are saying was the best Priory performance/production of all time. One of the telling signs was the number of younger audience members who stayed glued to their seats for the entire two-and-ahalf hours. Kudos to our drama and tech faculty in fostering a true love of the arts among our students. We have hired the architect firm MK Think from San Francisco to assist us in the next phase of our master plan. This phase will focus on the building and renovation of academic classroom space. Our consultants, Campbell and Company, conducted a feasibility study last spring and we are currently planning the steps to begin fundraising for these projects. – always we begin again! The Priory continues to spread its hospitality and values around the country. At the recent NAIS meeting in Seattle, I had the pleasure of catching up with former staff members. They were valued members of our community when here and left to follow dreams in other parts of the country. One is Head of a distinguished Quaker school in Washington DC, and another has been at a very progressive high school in Los Angeles for 10 years, another is Associate Head of a well respected elementary school in the Bay area and another is Dean of Faculty at one of the larger boarding schools in southern California. We appreciated the talents and gifts of each of these people while at the Priory and believe that a little bit of our magic finds its way into their new schools. continued page 4
Our musical – Beauty and the Beast – played to full houses and to rave reviews. When our new performing arts complex was finished in the fall of 2007, we knew it would provide better opportunities for our students wishing to further their talents in drama and choir
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In June, the Priory and Saint Anselm will be hosting our first Priory Benedictine Life and Spirituality Seminar for lay faculty and staff. The Monks at Saint Anselm will welcome ten Priory staff to spend 4 days living and learning the life of a Monastic. Abbot Matthew will lead the program and share his wisdom about the Benedictines way of living and the foundations/values of their communal life. This is the culmination of a couple of years of planning and dreaming. Thanks to faculty member Nancy Newman for bringing it to fruition. The most important highlight of this issue is our focus on the annual GALA (Fashion show and auction) on April 28 at the Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto. This year’s theme is Masquerade Ball and promises to be an afternoon and evening full of mystery, daring designs and multitude of ways to support the Priory. A huge thanks to Regina Saliba and Annalisa King for their leadership as co-chairs and to the many volunteers whose time and talent will transport us to a world of intriguing fantasy. Please attend or support the event in any way you can - http://prioryca.org/support/gala/! You and your family are always in the thoughts and prayers of the Monks, and all that we do is because of your willingness to share your time, talent and treasure with us. From all of us at the Priory – Happy Easter! Sincerely,
Tim Molak Head of School
The Priory hosted the visiting Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) for our accreditation. Above L-R: Sister Celeste Marie Botello (Flintridge Sacred Heart Schools), Jennifer Garrison Ross (Marlborough School), Janet Peddy (The Webb Schools), Mark Goyette (Junipero Serra School), Annette Brown, from Archdiocese SF (not pictured: Eric Niles, Athenian School).
Faculty and staff are flocking parent’s lawns with pink plastic flamingos to raise money for Lenten talents. When a home is “flocked” the homeowner must pay to have them removed. This year, the money is going to help fund our Rebuilding Together renovation house in East Palo Alto.
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WINTER 6th Grade Outdoor Ed this year was spent learning about sustainability and food production in the Priory garden and on a hike to identify local flora and fauna.
Abigail Faisal ‘12, wins volunteer scholarship Priory senior Abigail Faisal received a Sequoia Awards $5,000 scholarship for her community service. The Sequoia Awards is a non-profit organization that gives an annual scholarship to students who live in Redwood City and demonstrate dedicated volunteerism. Abigail has given hundreds of hours to Girl Scouts. She planned, executed and provided follow-up for a community service project to educate young girls about fitness that was deemed on a national level to have “a lasting impact on our community.” Abigail is now focusing her efforts on bringing senior citizens up to date with technology in order to facilitate and encourage family connectivity and inclusion. She is shown here with her award sponsors: Kirk McGowan and a representative from the Stanford Medicine Outpatient Center.
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AT A Above left and center: The year’s Winter concert played to a full-house with contemporary and classic musical selections.
Left: Reed Cornish as The Beast in Priory’s musical, Beauty and the Beast.
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GLANCE Left: The Beijing Wushu team wowed the Priory with their Kung Fu. The team was on a national tour to promote awareness of Wushu.
Right: Krysten Pfau as Bell. Beauty and the Beast played to a sold-out audience. Adults and children alike were riveted by the performance.
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Left: 2012 girl’s soccer, seniors pose with their parents.
Ryan Alejandro and Daniel Hoffman with Maureen Caroll of Lime Design. Students learn the fundamentals of design thinking.
Above: The Priory also donated boys uniforms for Great Commission United boys school in Africa. Above left: Priory donated athletic uniforms for the girls at the Daraja Academy in Africa. Far left L-R: Panther Pals Max Farion and Max Barnes. Left L-R: Panther Pals Charis Chiu and Blake Dou. Panther Pals was initiated to give Priory Seniors an opportunity to mentor MS students and help bridge both MS and Upper School programs.
Masquerade Ball Priory Gala 2012 April 28th, 2012
Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
Afternoon Tea 1:30 p.m. Champagne Reception
Evening Gala 5:30 pm Tea v Fashion Show
Cocktails v Silent Auction
Dinner v Live Auction v Fashion Show
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his year’s Priory Gala will have a backdrop of mystique and old-world glamour with a Masquerade Ball theme. Whether you dust off your tuxedo and ball gown, or settle on more understated cocktail attire, don’t forget the Masquerade’s essential accessory—the mask! Once again the fashion show and auction will merge to create two outstanding events; an afternoon tea and fashion show, and an evening dinner, auction, and fashion show. Last year, combining the fashion show and auction drew a crowd of 400 enthusiastic students, parents, faculty, and friends to the afternoon tea and another 375 for the evening festivities. Come to one, or come to both, but do not miss this opportunity to experience the community, hospitality, individuality, and mystique of Masquerade Ball, Priory Gala 2012!
Fashion model Alwyn Lansing
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The Priory Gala 2012’s Masquerade Ball is an exciting theme, allowing the fashion club to create a breath-taking show. We are so fortunate that Ms. Francesca Sterlacci Purvin has taken the time to work with our fashion club once again. Art teacher, Teri Scott, fashion show co-chair Wai Mo, and nine talented young designers; Charlotte Beriker, Courtney Cheung, Kaylen Chung, Gabrielle Filloux, Zoey Lin, Cullen Mo, Liz Oliphant, Stephanie Swan, and Catherine Sze, have been creating in a dedicated design space.
Uncorked Masquerade Ball—Priory Gala 2012 was kicked off on February 11th with “Uncorked” headlining the P’Daddy band, featuring Priory dads Jeff “El Jefe” Purvin, Lloyd “The Voice” Willhite, Marvin “Marvy” Wenger, “Eddie O” Oates, “Doc” Blumenkranz, and Peter “Sticks” Thielen. Wine for the gathering was provided by Priory parents Bob and Corrine Larson’s winery, Twin Palms. Admission to the event was a bottle of wine to be auctioned at the Priory Gala. Over 200 bottles of wine were collected this evening, so come to the Gala prepared to stock your cellar. The PAC was unrecognizable after having been transformed into a nightclub, the P’Daddy’s rocked, and the people danced. If you missed this great event, make sure to watch for it next year. Thank you to Kim Guthrie and Lisa Hammond for getting the Priory Gala 2012 off to such a great start.
11 Catherine Sze drapes fabric for fitting.
In this design space, students learn to sketch, make patterns for their models, drape fabrics, sew, and style their collections. You will be impressed by these young designers’ creativity and talent when their designs are revealed at the fashion show. Every year, we are overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of our models. The word is out that this is a great event to be a part of. Many of our models started out as shy 10th graders, hesitant to take to the runway. Now,
we can’t keep them off of it—and we don’t want to! Co-chair Chris Willhite has worked with the models over the past five years to teach them poise and self-confidence. Chris inspires our models to have a positive selfimage. This is not about looking like the stereotypical model, but about feeling confident about who they are. With Chris’ guidance, our models may be shy at first, but they will strut the runway with style and confidence. This year we have over 75 models, accompanied by seven of our faculty’s children; and of course, we are the only fashion show to feature monks. The fashionable Fr. Martin, Fr. Maurus, and Br. Edward will join our show this year. Their scene is not to be missed—it will have you standing on your seats! Fashion show co-chairs Sharon Fotre and Chris Willhite, along with scene curator Ida Skikos, have secured the support of many stores, including Cache, Nike, Macy’s Men’s Store, The Children’s Shoppe, Selix, Group USA, and will be featuring the works of designer Camilia Skikos, whose designs were featured at San Francisco Fashion Week 2011. At the Priory it is our fashion to come together to appreciate the students and each other. This event is about community just as much as it is about fundraising. The fashion show has the largest student participation of any activity on campus with almost a third of the kids having some involvement, whether onstage or backstage. Join us on April 28th to celebrate and support our wonderful community!
Charlotte Beriker and Kaylen Chung sew.
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! E V I L Masquerade at the
Ball
The Live Auction is more enticing than ever at this year’s Masquerade Ball! The live auction, the grand finale, provides truly unique, exciting and extraordinary items. Tim Molak will be master of ceremonies. Here is a sneak preview of our fabulous items:
Priory Spirit Lives On! We are happy to report that your most cherished items and long-time favorites will be back this year! Get your consortiums together, make a plan and come prepared to bid on: v v v v v v
Father Martin’s Pizza Party Father Maurus’ Hungarian Duck Dinner Brother Edward and Father Martin’s Down Shore Lobster Dinner Head Council’s Dinner Father Martin’s Tall Clock Senior Graduation Package: Seating & Parking
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14 Boff’s Custom Wood Surfboard This one-of-a-kind hollow wood surfboard design is made almost entirely from sustainably harvested California Redwood and Alaskan Yellow Cedar. The wood was hand-milled with the help of Fr. Martin and built by Rick Riebhoff with the aid of his wife and three daughters. At 9’2” and 19 pounds, it features a mild rocker, 60-40 rails, and a concave in the nose section that transitions to a slight vee in the tail. Perfect for knee to head-high surf on a lazy summer day. This board is an all-around performer that will look as good in the pocket of a wave as it does hanging on your wall in between sessions. Let Them Eat Cake! We’ll get things started with the Live Cake Auction! Priory Faculty & Staff are baking cakes and confections that will be auctioned off at both the matinee and dinner shows. As a lucky winner, you can have your cake and eat it too, right then and there, or take it home to share with your family. Consider enlisting your table to bid together on a cake, or host the cake for your table to share. Any way you slice it, we want you to eat cake! Antarctica Abercrombie & Kent Cruise! Take the trip of a lifetime this holiday season! Venture to the ends of the earth on this Abercrombie & Kent Antarctica Cruise! A&K has operated over 150 Antarctica expeditions in more than 20 years. On this cruise, A&K employs only the most experienced crew and naturalist tour guides, who infuse your expedition with expert knowledge. You’ll spend 16 nights on the ship, MV ‘Le Boreal,’ where you can expect the utmost in style and luxury. A&K limits the cruiser’s complement to 199 guests in order to provide you with more personalized attention. In addition, the cruise exceeds the strictest environmental protocols and focuses on education and providing travelers the opportunity to participate in conservation efforts. The Young Explorers Program, led by dedicated children’s/teen’s activity coordinators introduces your children to the magnificent wonders of the Seventh Continent with specially planned activities. This is an ALL Inclusive trip for four people that includes a double balcony suite, open bar, all gratuities, meals, shore excursions, landings, and lectures. Economy airfare from San Francisco to the departing city, Santiago, Chile, has been generously donated by Priory parents Chuck and Sue Leiter. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime trip! For more details contact Sue Leiter or visit the website at www.abercrombiekent.com/ traveldestinations/antarctica-cruise/
15 49er Luxury Suite Listen up 49er fans! Love the 49ers but can’t ever get tickets to the game? Given their spectacular 2011 winning season, tickets will be harder than ever to come by for the 2012 Season. Well, not for the lucky winner of this auction item! Enjoy a 49er’s game from the comfort of a luxury suite. This package includes 6 suite tickets plus food and beverage service, up to 2 parking passes, sideline passes for 4, and a Jim Harbaugh signed football. Pretty cool ,since he’s the NFL Coach of Year! Game to be mutually agreed upon once the 2012 Season is announced. Donated by Bill and Lydia Facteau who is close friends with Jim and Sarah Harbaugh. Who knows who might show up to fill the other 10 seats, but it might just be football royalty! Vegas Baby! Yeah Baby, that’s right, we’re going to Vegas in style! Six winners will board a private Pilatus plane and head to Vegas for the weekend. Limos will greet you and whisk you away to your weekend adventure. Take in dinners, shows, gamble a little, who knows what can happen in Vegas! More details will be revealed at the Priory Gala. The mystery is all part of the fun. Just remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! Thank you Schilling family for generously donating the air transportation. Boot Scootin’ Benedictine Buckaroo Bonanza! Calling all Cowboys and Cowgirls! Join us for the ALL PRIORY Benedictine Buckaroo Bonanza and Barbeque! We’ll be hunkered down at the Putney’s Ranch out in the land of the desperado. The grill will be going, the keg tapped and the line caller waiting. We have experienced ranch hands, Tim Molak and Brian Schlaak, among others to serve up your favorite drinks. There might even be a bull! You do not want to miss this party. Saddle up those horses, spit shine those boots, grab your hats, and sign up for this party at the LIVE Auction. Every bidder is a winner. Buy two slots: one for you and one for your mate. Yeehaw! Your Host Posse: The Putney, Calbert, Carusi, Cornish and Phelps families. “The Napa Valley Reserve” Getaway This is a spectacular opportunity for three lucky couples to sneak away for a relaxing weekend in Napa complete with a catered, private dinner at The Napa Valley Reserve, an experience only available to ‘Reserve Members’ and their guests! Located in the heart of Napa Valley, The Reserve’s eighty-acre property is framed on all sides by natural boundaries. Beautiful interior spaces from the barns to the caves, are perfectly designed to comfortably support the winemaking craft and the skill that goes into pairing wines artfully with
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food. Celebrations at The Reserve are created with the idea that every gathering held on the estate should deliver memories that will last a lifetime. The Harlan Estate viticulture team, talented artisans who have a mastery of the art of hand-crafting wines using time-honored traditions in balance with new practices and techniques, oversees The Reserve vineyards. The dinner will be catered by the Michelin three-star Meadowood Resort and served in a lovely and intimate private dining room at The Reserve. Liquidity, a Reserve wine, will be served with your meal, and member winemaker, Tom Weldon, along with his co-hosts, Priory parents Neil and Beckie Robertson, will be on hand to answer your food and fine wine questions. Movies, Moguls and “Masquerading”—5 night stay in Deer Valley, Utah Here is your opportunity to pursue your love of film and winter sport at the same time! Make your way to Deer Valley and Park City, Utah for a five-night stay (January 22 through 27, 2013) during the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Dodge the paparazzi in a private 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath home that includes 3 fireplaces; gourmet kitchen; an outdoor hot tub; pool table; sauna; and a large game room with ping-pong, air hockey and video games. If you need a break from the slopes, shop and dine on Park City’s historic Main Street. The home is located in Deer Valley (ranked #1 ski resort in North America by Ski Magazine) and is 1.5 miles from the Snow Park Lodge. Park City and The Canyons ski resorts are nearby and easily accessible. There are many thrilling stunts you can attempt yourself, including downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, sleigh-rides, and bobsledding at Olympic Park. The home comfortably sleeps 4 couples and 6-8 kids, so grab your favorite co-stars and party on the set of the Sundance Film Festival! Thanks Bob & Elisha Finney for opening your home once again this year. Fashion models: Eric Turnquist, Max Barnes, Emily Moreton, Ilana Skikos
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Dear Friends of the Priory, As we near the end of another successful fundraising year, it’s time again to say thank you to all of you in this community who have made it successful. I would love to thank everyone individually, but there are so many of you that it would be darn near impossible to do so. Sure, it would be simple enough to catch everyone here on campus to offer a quick thanks from the monastic community and faculty and staff (100% of whom support the annual fund). And I do get to see quite a few Priory leaders, members of the Board of Trustees (another group at 100% giving), as they come in for various committee meetings, so I could also thank them personally. At this time of year the school is literally buzzing, on a daily basis, with the activities of so many Priory parents who are Gala and theater volunteers that it’s difficult to count them all. I guess it would be possible to stop and thank each and every one of them, but then, they are so busy I don’t feel I should interrupt. I mean, I get dizzy watching this frenzied activity, all on behalf of the Priory. But it’s from here on that this process of thanking everyone individually enters the realm of the impossible. The Priory Community and the number of folks who support it on an annual basis are rather extensive. Locally, the number of parents, grandparents, alumni parents, alumni, and friends is huge. And that doesn’t even begin to include the enormous numbers of Priory community members who live outside the Bay Area, nationally and internationally. So let’s forget the impossible, embrace the reality, and leave it at this: I’ll try to thank as many people with whom I come in contact personally, but for all the others, please accept the overwhelming gratitude of all of here at Priory for your generous support again this year. Sincerely,
John Baldwin Director of Development
The Priory Community and the number of folks who support it on an annual basis are rather extensive. Locally, the number of parents, grandparents, alumni parents, alumni, and friends is huge.
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CLASS
ALUMNI
Note: Class Agents’ names appear at the beginning of each Reunion class year. If your year is not represented, or if you would like to become a Class Agent, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@prioryca.org or (650) 851-6137. And don’t forget to check out Woodside Priory Alumni Association on Facebook for additional photos and updates! REUNION YEARS: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007
1962
50th Reunion Year
1967
45th Reunion Year
1972
40th Reunion Year Class Agent: Philip Gregory
1977
35th Reunion Year
1981
Bill Szocska, sound engineer for Jimmy Buffett. Szocska and Dan Hart caught up before a concert in Little Rock, Arkansas in March. Here they are on stage before the Buffett concert.
1982
30th Reunion Year Class Agent: Noel Kidd
1987
25th Reunion Year Class Agent: Marty Sullivan
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NOTES 1992
20th Reunion Year
1994
Simon Wong visited Priory in January. Pictured here with Mr. Molak and Mr. Zappelli.
1995
Kathryn (Calvacje) Chacon Lives in the Colorado Springs area with her husband and two daughters, Elizabeth and Adrian. Kathryn is a supervisor with the Colorado Department of Human Services. She is completing her Colorado State License in Clinical Social Work.
1997
15th Reunion Year
1999
Tom Alexander CEO of PK4 Media started his company approximately two years ago. Since then, PK4 has grown rather quickly; buying out their first company JSFour, in December 2011. The acquisition hit the press in January, and Tom was featured in Forbes magazine in February.
2002
10th Reunion Year William Huang visited the Priory in December with his family from Taiwan.
2003
Michael Yost, LTJG, USN MH-60S Second Pilot presented Priory with the flag flown on behalf of Woodside Priory School, in a combat zone by a search and rescue crew of the 2515th Navel Air Ambulance Detachment deployed to contingency operating base Basra, Iraq, flown on January 4th, 2011.
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2007
5th Reunion Year Reggie Willhite was featured in February’s Yale News for his stand-out performance on the basketball court and his leadership as the Bulldogs team captain. Willhite is currently a senior, majoring in political science, but is looking to pursue a professional basketball career. Willhite had a big Priory crowd at the Harvard-Yale game in February. Pictured here are former teacher Mr. Bookin, former teacher Mr. Olcott, Alec Schilling ‘08, Markus Willhite ‘09, and Nate Feldman ‘09. They watched Reggie take on the Crimson. Nick Coombs visited Priory this January. Pictured here with Father Martin and Cynthia Sleight ‘05. Will Farino graduated from Chapman University in May 2011, with a B.S. in Business Administration and minor in Economics. He is currently working for Plug and Play Tech Center, a leading startup accelerator, in Sunnyvale, CA.
2008
Robert Croll visited Priory during the Holidays. Robert will be graduating from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, in June. He will be taking a position in San Francisco with Credit Suisse as an Investment Analyst. Pictured here with Mrs. Benz.
2010
Tristan Herrera visited Priory during the Holidays. Pictured here with Mrs.Yost and Ms. Mauss.
Class of 2008-2011 Home For the Holidays Party – December 27, 2011
In Memoriam John M. Wagstaffe ’68, passed away Aug. 2, 2011 Bela Csikesz ’71, passed away Nov. 5, 2011 Nancy Woodward, Chapel friend, passed away Feb. 4, 2012
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Music Matters by Ryan Young and Sean Mclain Brown, Director of Communications
Music programs in schools are a threatened species, but Ryan Young, Priory senior, is looking to help music make a difference in the lives of students in the Bay Area. Ryan, for his senior project, recently partnered with Music in Schools Today (MUST), which provides musical instruments to youth in need. Ryan was inspired based on his recent experience teaching guitar at the Bridge summer program for underprivileged middle-school students. “Many of the students had never played a musical instrument and attended local schools that didn’t have enough money to fund music classes or buy instruments,” said Ryan. “I was so inspired by the students’ enthusiasm and dedication that I wanted to enable more students the opportunity to learn to play music. Working with MUST to get instruments into the hands of these children will allow me to do that.” Music in Schools Today has served public school grades K-12 in the Bay Area for more than 25 years by funding and facilitating music-in-education programs and distributing donated musical instruments to schools and community centers in need. “Learning to play an instrument has lifelong attributes including strong self-esteem, discipline, creativity and focus,” said MUST’s Executive Director Meg Madden. “Additionally, these skills can enhance a child’s capacity to learn other academics like math and science, therefore making a positive influence in a child’s life.” The March timing of the drive coincides with the national “Music In Our Schools Month” designated by the National Association for Music Education. The primary goal of this month is to bring attention to the importance of music education in children’s lives, and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. “Lots of families have used musical instruments that their children have outgrown or simply no longer use, and they are just taking up space. Many would be happy to put these instruments to good use but don’t know where to donate them,”” added Ryan. “Now they can give another child the joy of music and themselves a taxdeduction. It’s a win-win”. If you want to learn more about the Priory Bridge program, you can contact Gulliver LaValle, Site Director, glavalle@prioryca.org
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Sail On, Sailor Tom Ducharme ‘86, former America’s Cup Sailor, Entrepreneur and Contractor, speaks candidly about his experiences at the Priory as a boarding student and as a teenage sailor on Tom Blackaller’s renowned America’s Cup team. Tom Ducharme was only 17 when he was asked to sail for Tom Blackaller’s America’s Cup Team. This was quite an honor for anyone, even more so for a teenager, but certainly a tribute to Tom’s nautical skills. “During my junior year at the Priory, I was asked to sail in the American Australian Challenge held in Newport, Australia in 6 meters,” said Tom.
“This was my introduction to the international arena and we won this event. I fit into this group of sailors and was asked to consider a position as a bowman on an America’s Cup Yacht. Ok, I’m 17 and I’m asked to sail in the America’s Cup. This was a dream of mine since 3rd grade.” Tom often sat in his elementary school classes in San Francisco and could hear “the Maxi Boats sailing up the City Front with their wire sheets banging against the Aluminum masts” and from that moment, he was hooked. Tom blames his brother, five years his senior, and a bit of a “troublemaker,” for getting him involved with sailing. “Friends of my parents suggested sailing. This was a great distraction [from getting into trouble] and an opportunity to control something propelled by a natural resource without harming anything,” said Tom. “The science, beauty and power of the big boat really got my juices flowing.” Sailing, like any professional sport, requires a great deal of practice and training. But what does it really take to win? Tom says that the most challenging aspect “is staying focused, keeping the distraction in check.” He adds, “It is almost comical going to a Pro regatta and having a fan base. You are asked to sign hats and tee shirt and other items and out on the water you go and you need to flip the switch to game face.”
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by Sean Mclain Brown, Director of Communications Tom’s sailing career reads like a laundry list of accomplishments. Some of the highlights of his career include: Winning the American Australian Challenge in 1985, the Grundig Match Race in France 1986 and 1988, and winning The Fasnet Race England 1989 as a member of the US Team. As a member of the St. Francis Yacht Club’s America’s Cup program, he sailed all over the world and competed in match racing events. In 1992, he sailed with Dennis Conner in the Defender Series against America’ 3-8 Million vs. 120 Million. They lost, but only by a hair. Recent Priory graduate Claire Dennis ’09 is currently sailing for Yale University, and like Tom, is also a member of the prestigious St. Francis Yacht Club. According to the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA), Clair was awarded 2011 ICSA Women’s All-American Skipper, 2011 First team All-NEISA Women’s team, 2011 Finalist for NEISA Women’s sailor of the year, and the 2010 US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year shortlisted nominee, among others. Tom’s advice for budding athletes is simple: “You will do better in school if you are competing in something. It will help with scheduling and maintaining an even balance in the whole body. Find an activity that you can do for life.” He recommends any student wanting to explore sailing as a sport, to join a junior sailing team and get out on the water as much as possible.
As a boarding student, Tom says he learned the skills of independence, decision-making, time management, and persistence. He says these skills still serve him well and that it helps him “keep all of [his] tools sharp in the shed.” Of his memories as a boarding student, Tom recalls that his trip to Ashland’s Shakespeare festival was “one of my favorites.” He also speaks fondly of serving as Father Martin’s sous chef when he helped him prepare his legendary pizzas. Currently, Tom Ducharme and his wife Julie, are general contractors (Maison Du Charme) where they live with their family in Walnut Creek, California. They specialize in custom home renovations. Tom says that the lessons he learned from the monks, as well as lay faculty, stay with him today and that they have helped him live his life wanting to “give when he can and lend a hand.”
Top L-R: Tom Ducharme and his wife Julie with Fr. Martin at the 2011 Reunion. Bottom: Tom preparing for a race.
Above: Tom Ducharme (pictured third from the left) with Blackaller’s America’s Cup team.
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SCOTT PARKER, Dean of Students, is a passionate administrator and while he wears many hats, students know his door is always open.
Interview by Sean Mclain Brown, Director of Communications
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SMB: What do you love about the Priory? SP: In the larger world, I greatly prefer kids to adults. But this place is an amazing collection of good people, smart people, funny people. I love that the Priory so clearly knows who and what it is. Our current moment, however, is the most exciting and generative that I have experienced in my 12 years at the school. Stanford psychologist, Carol Dweck, describes the value of a “growth mindset” for student learning. For many reasons, schools become stuck in a “fixed” mindset, and teachers are often the ones who reinforce
not to explore. Priory’s Academic Dean sent the campus minister (who was a practicing Quaker – this I loved) to interview me at Harvard. Priory flew me out supposedly to “seal the deal,” but I was told the morning I got here that the person I was supposed to replace decided to stay another year. I was so annoyed, I took the car the school rented me and drove down the coast and had an expensive lunch in Santa Cruz. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and I was heartbroken. I returned to Boston and took a job at a very traditional all boys school. The next year, the same Aca-
offers each of us. I would say that we have really only scraped the surface of what is possible here. We are challenged now to find ways to introduce these kinds of processes much earlier than senior year. Design thinking is a tool, just one in our belts, but a very versatile tool. SMB: What do you believe is the most serious issue facing the human race today? SP: Speaking primarily as an educator, I am most concerned that the greatest challenge we are facing is a lack of real and actionable hope. We want our kids to leave the
We want our kids to leave the school feeling charged and excited about the unknowns, with a sense of what they can honestly contribute and change. such thinking. I have constant contact with peers in schools all over the Bay Area, and around the country. When I tell them about the faculty culture here, about what is commonplace in the way that our teachers are trying out new ideas and approaches to teaching and learning, they are shocked. In many schools, there may be pockets of innovation, or splashy technology schemes, but what we have is unique. I believe we are engaged in a very optimistic discussion about how kids learn best, as well as an honest evaluation of the road ahead. The adjustments that will have to be made so that all kids are growing in parallel to the complexity of the world around them is humbling. The flexibility necessary for our kids is forcing us to look at everything we are doing. It’s an absolute blast! Head of Upper School Brian Schlaak says that this is a thrilling time to be in this line of work, and I could not agree more. SMB: From Boston to Silicon Valley, how did that happen? SP: Like so many of us, I got wait-listed on the first try. I mailed one application to the Bay Area. I learned that there was a semirural monastic school just South of San Fransisco. That was just too weird and wonderful
demic Dean called me back and promised no more funny business. I begged my girlfriend Alicia to move to California with me. Thank God, she said yes. One application to the Bay Area Mystery Monk school changed my life. SMB: You’ve been a strong proponent of design thinking, can you tell us how that has shaped the curricula and student life at the Priory? SP: We found out that what we were already doing with the Senior Project had a name: Design Thinking. We also realized that our student-run robotics program has been doing this all along. We already had students working collaboratively on open-ended problems. What we did not have was a succinct group of steps to understand how to most efficiently help young people identify and define what we call the NPO (Need, Problem, or Opportunity). What we love about the Design Thinking process is that it validates mistakes and encourages multiple passes at a problem in order to create the most appropriate solution. It is a disruptive and frustrating process too, especially for an educational culture that has become right-answer addicted. This has been a great challenge for us all. We worked as a faculty with a group called limedesign for an entire year to see what Design Thinking
school feeling charged and excited about the unknowns, with a sense of what they can honestly contribute and change. We need to do more to help young people not feel overwhelmed by the number of choices they will have to make, or the lack of certainty that accompanies every choice they will have to make. How do you help kids feel confident in themselves when so many events and people around them inspire the opposite feeling? How can we inspire them to be hopeful instead of cynical? SMB: What are some of your personal goals in life? SP: 1.) To be the kind of Dad my kids deserve. 2.) To trick myself into loving exercise. 3.) To worry less. 4.) To do less, but do it better SMB: Outside of your work at the Priory, what do you enjoy doing? SP: There is an outside of Priory? SMB: Do you have a favorite quote? SP: “The days run away like wild horses over the hills” – Charles Bukowski SMB: Who has been the biggest influence in your life and why? SP: My wife Alicia. It takes a very special person to love me for so many days in a row.
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Sustainable Sustenance:
Enter the Priory Kitchen
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Top: Peter Ling helps brighten everyone’s day. Bottom L-R: Maria Garcia-Trejjo and Ruben Zambrano prepare organic locally sourced broccoli.
by Jim Kirkland
Long before anyone ever heard of “Pink Slime” meat filler, Priory’s Head Chef, Peter Agoston, proposed that the food served in the cafeteria could not only be more nutritious but cost effective—by assuring ingredients were organic and purchased from local farms. In addition, all meals, from cold cuts and pasta to salad dressings and soups, would be made in-house which gives Peter complete control over the amounts of sodium, fats and other chemicals introduced daily in the diet of students and staff. This innovative program has been an evolving process that folds into the sustainability goals of Priory’s Sustainability Coordinator, Hovey Clark. All organic wastes from the kitchen are brought to the garden center and deposited into a compost bin Hovey and his students have built. The intent is to use those waste products to fertilize food grown on the expanding gardens found on the hill above the Middle School area. The compost helps nourish not only the environment, but also the people that study, work and live here. Agoston believes that in the very near future all of the Priory’s organic vegetables and fruits will be produced on campus. Agoston has also introduced more international foods to his menu. “I am trying to expand the kids’ culinary pallets, to give them an education in food as well as their other studies,” he says. So far, the results have been quite positive—save the middle school population. “They would prefer to eat chicken nuggets, pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs 24-7… but they’ll get there. It’s kind of an experiment for them, too.” Agoston concludes, philosophically. Lately his personal favorite recipes involve Indian cuisine, due to its amazing complexity in the variety of spices and herbs utilized. Agoston sums up his culinary passion with, “What I love about food is that it is a constantly expanding, evolving science that keeps you open to different cultures.” That’s a pretty tasty science and social studies course.
Top L_R: Kitchen staff Jason Toy and Nate Spears joke around. The kitchen staff are always smiling! Below: Juliana Szekely serves up great food for everyone.
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Meet Peter Agoston, Priory’s Head Chef Born in Long Beach, California, Peter Agoston moved to Budapest, Hungary with his native Hungarian mother and younger sister at the age of 13. It was there that he discovered the joy of cooking. He found a cookbook of his mothers and, with her help, began to learn the diversity of international cuisine. Peter found such pleasure in cooking that, after finishing high school, he applied to and was accepted to the Culinary Academy in Budapest. Upon graduating he interned two years with the renowned Gellert Hotel in Budapest before returning to the United States. Once back in the USA, he enlisted in the military and served six years in the Marine Corps as a Head Cook. After being discharged from the Marine Corps, Peter started looking for a job. He heard of an opening for a chef at a small school in Portola Valley, California. At the time, he had no idea Hungarian Monks had founded this institution. The irony was just too much both parties, and he was hired on the spot. That was 21 years ago and ever since Peter Agoston has been running the Priory kitchen, applying his passion for cooking to feed thousands of students, faculty and staff. Students, staff and faculty feast on delectable choices like sustainable organic grass fed beef and ham, a variety of leafy green salads, soups and more!
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Gourmet Food to Gourmet Art When not preparing gourmet meals at the Priory, Peter Agoston is deep in the backcountry of the Sierra Nevada fullfilling his other passion; fine art photography. He takes all provisions on his back—camera equipment, camping gear and food to last 5-10 days at a time. Trekking into the wilderness with his camera is where he says, “My artistic passion comes to life, and where the canvas in my mind starts to envision the scenery that I wish to capture.” Peter’s pursuit to record nature in its rawest form has him spending days in heavy storms, climbing 3000 ft. ridges, traversing glaciers, and crossing major rivers — sometimes all in the same trip. Seen here are a few of pieces of Peter’s art. More of his beautiful work can be viewed and purchased on his website at: www.wildernessapertures.com
Right: “Mono Panorama”- Morning sunrise after a stormy evening with the Rabbitbrush in full bloom in the foreground. Below: “1000 Island Lake”- The raw power of lightening over Banner Peak with it’s reflection mirrored in the waters of 1000 Island Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness.
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Top:”Ice Glow”- Golden alpenglow in icy waters of an unnamed lake in Pioneer Basin deep in the Mono Divide. Left: ”Orchid Lake”- Evening storm at sunset casting its dark red glow onto Seven Gables Peak with a surprise lightening strike caught in the reflections of Orchid Lake deep in the Mono Divide.
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The Green Page A letter from the Priory Sustainability Coordinator
Dear Priory Community – I spent some time in early February filling out an application, trying to garner a “Green Ribbon Schools” award on the school’s behalf. Green Ribbon School is a program developed and sponsored by the Department of Education that works to recognize schools whose operations are environmentally healthy and sustainable. Green Ribbon Schools program highlights the future opportunities for implementation of sustainable practices, technologies, and lesson plans at the Priory. The ‘Environmental Health’ pillar, for instance, presents options and opportunities for making the campus a healthier place for all members of the community. Additionally, the “Outdoor Activities” pillar of the award helps to rationalize the school’s emphasis on the middle school outdoor education program, while simultaneously suggesting that the school do more to cultivate meaningful connections between Priory students and their local natural environment. In other news, you may have noticed the new menu options that are trumpeted daily in the school bulletin. Cuban Pork, Curried Chicken, Butterleaf lettuce salad with bleu cheese, walnuts and pears. These are some of the new offerings concocted by the school’s chef, Peter Agoston. And while the menu descriptions advertise the menu offerings on the basis of their taste, there is more to the story, and a bigger benefit to the school community is at work here. Working together, a Priory parent, Valerie Wookey, Peter Agoston, and I looked critically at the sustainability of the school food service. Valerie Wookey took cues from food service programs at other schools to develop a line-item mission statement that could be used to sustainably source ingredients for meal preparation. On the basis of three main categories – effects on student health, the environment, and ethics – we developed a set of policies for the school’s kitchen to try to abide by: purchase and serve eggs from farms that only raise cage-free chickens (an ethical choice), use cooking oils free of trans fats (a student health choice); purchase organic fruits, when in season, from local growers (environmental choice). Peter’s cooking turns these ingredients
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into scrumptious offerings that bring more kids back into the food service line to ask for seconds. If you are in doubt about the taste, diversity, or healthfulness of the new menu, Peter invites you to come to school and enjoy a meal in the cafeteria with your son, daughter, or alumni cadre. And finally: Earth Week is fast approaching. This year, the school will pilot a new activity that is unlike anything we have ever done before. On April 27, the entire Priory Middle School will be hiking up Windy Hill. The goal is for students to get an authentic sense of place. It is easy – for students, teachers, and parents -- to lose sight of the school’s idyllic and bucolic setting. Caught up as we might be in the crush of exams, accreditation visits, lesson planning, homework, lost sleep, sports and drama practice, and freeway commutes through tech-studded Silicon Valley – it is easy to forget that we occupy a very special location on the SF peninsula. The school’s Earth Day celebration will be a pilot effort in what we hope will be an ongoing and more inclusive tradition -- to get kids into the local environment during the Earthweek celebrations. The reward for this effort will be the view from Windy Hill – a view that shows our special campus as it is nestled among the redwoods and industrial development of the Bay Area. Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy Spring, Sincerely,
Hovey Clark Sustainability Coordinator
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Celebrating Our 54th Year
Mark Your Calendar! Woodside Priory School Alumni Reunion Weekend September 8-10th, 2012 Join your classmates and former teachers for a weekend of activities: Class receptions, Alumni Parent coffee, campus tours, dinner, Sunday mass, brunch and more! Alumni Reunion Classes 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007