A Magazine of the Priory · Issue #54
· December 2012/January 2013
The Performing Arts:
A Whole New World
TOC TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Woodside Priory School Celebrating 55 Years of Benedictine Education In This Issue Fall at a Glance. Pages 4-7 Athletics. Pages 8-9 A Whole New World: Performing Arts. Page 10-13 An Interview with Reed Sullivan. Page 14 Development News. Page 15 Alumni Profiles: Dance, Dance, Dance. Pages 16-17 Alumni Class Notes. Page 18-20 Reunion Weekend. Pages 22-23 Monastery News. Page 24 Author, Equestrian, Academic: Junior Camille Nohra. Page 25 The Green Page. Pages 26-27
Board of Directors Abbot Mark Cooper, OSB Brother Edward Englund, OSB Abbot Matthew Leavy, OSB Father Martin Mager, OSB Father William Sullivan, OSB
Board of Trustees Brian Axe Father Timothy Backous, OSB John Brew Lisa Carlos Jennie Chiu Sherri Coats Monica Corman Laura Cornish Eileen DiGiorgio Kathy Feldman Mark Gainey Hilary Giles Dr. Sally Harris George Hohnsbeen Peter Kasenchak Andy Koontz Steve Krausz Bob Latta Rick Magnuson Bruce McAuley Bud McElroy ‘83 Tim Molak Cecilia Montalvo Jami Nachtsheim Father Maurus Nemeth, OSB Guy Nohra Peg Phelps Ray Rothrock Maureen Sansbury Bill Souders 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: Sean Mclain Brown, Karen Macklin, Matthew Nelson, Al Zappelli Design/Production: Jim Kirkland, Copperline Multimedia Photos: Sean Mclain Brown, Jim Kirkland, Fr. Martin 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 All are welcome.
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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Priory Community,
We are in the midst of our 55th Anniversary year, and it has started with all the fanfare and hoopla associated with a celebration of this magnitude. Our school wide theme is – Stairways to Heaven – so appropriate for our hilly campus and the daily trek up and down to classes and offices. This fall has included an undefeated football team, a girls Volleyball CCS championship and one win away from State, boys cross country competed at State, a top notch performance of The Three Musketeers, overflowing Open Houses, an expanded community/school garden, and plans for a 400 meter track and synthetic turf field for our Kovacs field. We are in the beginning phases of a three year campaign to renovate all of our current academic offices and classrooms and provide a totally transformed campus for our current and future students. From our humble beginnings and founding in 1956 the Priory has, decade by decade, continued to think strategically and to position itself as one of the top college prep schools in the area. Our faculty and staff are committed to providing for our students a safe haven to explore talents and opportunities, a caring atmosphere which creates a true sense of community, and a quality academic program which includes character and value development in “our community where everyone is known and loved”. Today, education is in the midst of a revolution of how information shifts from the classroom to 24/7 availability on any of the mobile devices you own. The Priory is plugged into this new digital world of learning and how it will affect the classroom of the future. Last week, we held our annual Thanksgiving Chapel, our time as a school to stop and reflect on gratitude for others. As part of the service, three groups showcased their gifts: one is an accomplished yoyo performer, another is a blues guitarist, and our last were twin boys in the Middle School who sang “We Are the World”. The final message of the Chapel was be aware of your gifts and blessings, share them as often as you can, and be good stewards in a world so in need. On January 11, we will host a 55th Anniversary Celebration in Rothrock Performance Hall. We will introduce Abbot Mark as the 5th Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey, Father Pius 60-years ordained, Father Martin 50-years ordained, Father Maurus 50-years in religious life, and Brother Edward 50-years professed. The evening will include music, food, drink, a slide show, awards, and a great sense of accomplishment over the past 55 years. We have evolved from one building to over 20 buildings, from 16 acres to over 50 acres, from an all boys school to a coeducational institution, from 9 boys to 350 boys and girls, from a small lay staff to one with over 80 today, from no on-campus staff housing to 17 homes and 53 residents, and from a school located way out there in Portola Valley to being in the hub of Silicon Valley’s wheeling and dealing. If only the Founding Fathers could see what they created with that ranch purchase in 1956. The Christmas season is here, carols are on the radio and from the crowds of people in San Francisco’s Union Square last weekend, all seem to be in an optimistic mood about the coming months. Our Monastic and school community wish you the best this holiday season and appreciates all you have sacrificed to make this a better school and Monastery. Yours in the Holiday Spirit,
From our humble beginnings and founding in 1956 the Priory has, decade by decade, continued to think strategically and to position itself as one of the top college prep schools in the area.
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Above right L-R: Scott Parker, Dean of Students, in a stare contest with Robert Screven during Spirit Week.
Above L-R: Hannah Lazarus, Jane Robertson, Chris Brugger, and David Quezada strike a pose for Middle School Spirit Week. Above Center: Charlie Brandon enjoys the slide on Field Day . Right: Victor Wan takes photos of Spirit Week festivities . Above L-R: Seniors Mike Schembri, MattSchwab, Andy Dolezalek, and Shi Hao Hong dressed as Greek/Alantians for Spirit Week.
Above L-R: Lukas Sarnow, Catie Ross and friends celebrate after winning the Field Day Tug-of-War. Above: Mitch Calbert plays the violin during the annual Fall Concert. Right L-R: Jag Perez and son Chris Perez, along with guest bassist, Stephanie Spaid play to a packed theater.
GLANCE Left L-R: Arisa Herman as Ravanche and Brian Digiorgio as D’Artagnan
Above Left: Cast and Crew of The Three Musketeers celebrate a successful opening! Above Right L-R: Lukas Sarnow as Aramis, Darbus Oldham as Athos, Brian Digiorgio as D’Artagnan, Gabrielle Filoux as Sabine, and Molly Schreiner as Porthos. Above L-R: Zoe Weiss as Jaqueline, Eva El Fishaway as Adele, and Molly Schreiner as Porthos.
Left: John Sugden, Chair of the Theater Dept. leads his students in the theatrical use of swords for his class, “Swords, Words, and Mayhem”.
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AT A GLANCE
FALL
Right: Father Martin gives an enlightening Chapel talk.
Right L-R: Austin Risley, Brother Edward, and Scott Harris during Freshman Orientation.
Right L-R: Jenna Tonoga, Charis Chiu, and Katia Queener during Halloween dress-up day.
Below L-R: Dean of Middle School Caitha Ambler as a Pirate and Amelia Hoffman dressed as Caitha Ambler (when she’s not dressed as a Pirate).
Above L-R: Middle School Faculty, Todd Turner, Lisa Wood, and Andrew Daniel for Halloween dress up day.
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Left: Father Pius poses with Faculty and Staff children at the annual Faculty/Staff BBQ.
Below L-R: Charis Chiu, Frannie Mejia, Reed Sullivan, Visual Arts Dept Chair, Sammie Sargent, Hannah Lazarus learn to throw pottery.
Above L-R: Paul Trudelle, Chair of the Science Dept, instructs freshman Claire Buocchi and Franny Lin on a physics experiment.
Right L-R: Kinesiology class learned how to perform emergency care for sports related injuries from local Portola Valley firemen.
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ATHLETICS Fall 2012 Sees a Banner Season in Football, Volleyball and Cross Country Left: The boys cross country came in 2nd place in the Division V Central Coast Section, finishing just four points behind the champion. Undaunted, they went to the state championships in Fresno. The boys had an awesome race on the 5km course from start to finish — everyone averaged sub-six minute miles the entire race.
Right: Wet and wild waterpolo: Kyle Walden winds up to take a shot at the goal. Dustin Moore, coach of the 2000 State Champion team, returned to lead the 2012 Priory Volleyball team to the Division V CCS championship with a record of 23-9. Team Panther battled 3-time state champion, Branson, for the CCS title, but unfortunately, Branson won the day.
Above: Michaela Koval sets the ball for a teammate.
Left: Stephanie Swan, demonstrates the spirit that took Priory to the finals of the CCS tournament.
9 Left: Coach Jeff Wise and Senior Matt Schwab go over a play. Right: Will Latta makes a cut and advances the ball.
Four years ago, Priory added football to it’s athletic list. It took that time to build a strong team and champion the Mission Trails Athletic League. The team accomplished an undefeated season of 7-0.
21 Priory athletes were recognized as All League this fall.
Left: Will Bartlet throws a pass to a teammate in a heated flag football game.
Left: Gracie Hamren swings away and makes contact. Below: Audrey Shenk makes a play to first base.
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A Whole Matt Roth Technical Director
Tina Paulson Choral Diector John Sugden Performing Arts Chair Amanda McFadden Director of Instrumental Music
Not pictured: Dance Instructor Stacy Morell
NewWorld
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by Karen Macklin
“Now the performing arts department is on par with everyoday, Woodside Priory School is home to a world-class Performing Arts Centhing else in the school,” says Father Martin, who is not only one ter with a main stage of 1100 square of the resident Benedictine Monks at Priory, but also a visual artist, feet, state of the art sound and lighting a photography teacher at the school, and a lifelong proponent of design, 400-seat capacity, an official creative expression. “We have a lot of kids with a lot of talent, and backstage that includes makeup and now they have a space where their talents can be respected and costume rooms, a professional set shop, viewed by other people.” an additional black box theater for student-generated productions, Sugden, who has worked for esteemed theatrical institutions and a separate music building that houses professional-quality such as American Conservatory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, and practice spaces for orchestra and choir. Aurora Theater, especially loves the professional feel of the new But it wasn’t always like this. PAC. “Our new spaces are just incredibly, profoundly tricked Once upon a time, theater productions at Priory out,” he says. “And the technical systems we have were held in a 30 by 48 foot unstructured room that “We have a lot of kids with now are comparable if not better than a liberal arts included the audience and the stage, with no raked college professional theater. It’s fantastic.” seating (unless you built it for each show), a rough a lot of talent and now they Breaking New Ground lighting grid that maxed at 24 lights, no backstage Although the school faculty agreed that an updatarea, and a capacity of 125 seats for audience mem- have a space where their bers. “It was just a giant fishbowl,” says Performing talents can be respected and ed PAC was essential, the new center did not hapArts Chair John Sugden. “You would have to handpen overnight. The initial idea for the basic design assemble audience risers, walls of the sets, and a viewed by other people.” of the new PAC was drafted in 2004 by Carter, who backstage for each show.” also served as the artistic consultant on the entire “Every time we did a show, we built a mini theater—the construction project. From this rough draft, a more specific renderhouse and the stage—and we took it down after every show,” ing was completed by Al Ebneter, a former trustee and Friend of adds former Performing Arts Chair Tom Carter. “It was a heck of the Monks. Then MK Think, an innovative design and developa lot of work.” ment company, was hired to flesh out the plans, and implement And there were other inconveniences, which the faculty now them. The new space opened in 2007. likes to laugh about together. For instance, there was only a thin, The old theater and music spaces, which were located at the non-soundproof wall between the music and the drama rooms, top of the hill at Church Square, were converted into what is now which meant the different departments could hear—and interthe Lorry Lokey Library. The new PAC was built on what was rupt—each other’s rehearsals all day long. There was no proper once the parking lot in front of Founder’s Hall and is housed on storage for costumes and props, so things just got shuffled from what is now Father Egon Plaza. corner to corner depending on the needs of the spaces in that mo The construction process required a lot of research into laws ment. And the choir and orchestra events outgrew the assembly and building codes, compromise between faculty members, and hall at school, and had to be moved to a local Presbyterian church. patience on all fronts. Carter says that it was a challenging jour Now, theater rehearsals are in a different building altogether ney, but completely worth it. “Every time I go to the school to visit than the music rehearsals, there’s a set construction shop that’s folks, it never fails to impress and amaze me,” he says. “It has a spacious enough for students to construct two- and three-story wonderful, friendly accessible feeling of progressive architecture, set pieces, and all of the concerts and theatrical shows happen on which somehow also ties into the design of the older buildings at Priory’s new main stage. the school. It’s magical.”
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One of the largest gifts of the new Performing Arts Center is the school in the 6th grade. Gregory also helps run tech for the other that its very existence spurred the expansion of the department’s events that occur in the space. faculty and offerings. Before the birth of the new PAC, there were “I came in and I had no idea how to hang a light,” says Gregoonly instructors in orchestra, choir, and theater. Afterward, an es- ry, who recently won The Stage’s 2012 award for outstanding stusential technical director was hired, new dance offerings were cre- dent achievement in technical theater. “I learned everything about ated, and all of the existing departments expanded. technical theater here. Working here is like a dream.” “The program changes we were able to make because of the new facilities speak for themselves in numbers,” says Tina Paul- A Reflection of Priory’s Values son, Choral Director. “We have consistently had almost half of the The new Performing Arts Center is not just another beautiful buildstudent body involved in the performing arts every year since we ing. It’s a testament to the values that make Priory the school that moved into the new buildings. The high school it is today, which include the Benedictine values Concert Choir went from an inconsistent 25-30 “You have to have integrity of spirituality, hospitality, integrity, individuality, students to a solid 45-50 students. I’ve been able and community. to expand my program to offer a Musical Theater and do your part. And the “I think theater is the Benedictine values of the Performance class, a Chamber Singers class, a school made manifest,” says Sugden. “It completespirituality—that comes in ly honors you as an individual, but you are also Solo Voice class, and so much more.” Since its opening, the new theater has already those wondrous moments profoundly a member of the community. You can’t been home to more than a dozen choir and orchesdo theater without a profound sense of hospitality. tra performances, not to mention dozens of inno- where you don’t do the work You have to have integrity and do your part. And vative theatrical productions on the main stage the spirituality—that comes in those wondrous but the work does you.” and in the black box theater spaces, including a moments where you don’t do the work but the Midsummer Night’s Dream, Urinetown, Beauty and work does you.” the Beast, and the new, student-generated 48-Hour Play Festival Amanda McFadden, director of Instrumental Music, agrees. (developed by students Chris Gregory and Mara McLean). The “Music is a great way to incorporate the values that we stand by at Laramie Project—a play about a famous hate crime that happened the Priory,” she says. “Music is spiritual in that it is the expression in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998—is on the docket for March 2013. of things bigger than us. And students can express their individuThe theater has also become a destination for outside performers ality through music, but each person brings an integral part to the to appear, like Taiko drummers and the San Francisco Shakespeare whole.” company. Jazz pianist and Priory alum Taylor Eigesti even played The arts, of all kinds, are considered to be tremendously important in the Benedictine Church because Saint Benedict underat the grand opening of the PAC to christen the new stage. Because it has retractable seating, the theater can also be con- stood the way in which human nature could be seen and reflected verted into a banquet hall or general gathering place for commu- in artistic expression. The Benedictines, in fact, says Father Martin, nity events. It now serves as the home for a wide range of events are responsible for many of the paintings found in monasteries all from the Senior Graduation Dinner to the Alumni Reunion din- around the world. Art and creativity, he adds, are essential to one’s ner and meetings for the Hungarian Catholic Mission. Weddings spiritual development. and memorial services for faculty have also taken place in these Matt Roth, the Technical Director, is a particular fan of the buildings. Benedictine saying Listen with the ear of your heart, and he believes Of course, the students benefit the most from the changes. The it completely relates to theater. “It’s just about the best theatrical new facilities mean that those who are serious about theater or mu- advice I can imagine,” he says. “It’s not only a fantastic acting tip, sic as an art now receive valuable professional training that will but it applies just as well to being a designer or a stagehand. You serve them for years to come. Priory junior, Chris Gregory, is the have to pay attention and focus and be ready to jump in and help student technical director at Priory and has been involved on the at any given moment.” Roth oversees aspects of the theater like technical team for every theater production since he first came to lighting, sound, and design, and teaches Priory students how to be young wizards of technical theater and stagecraft.
13 Priory’s Renovation Master Plan As a teacher, Roth certainly exemplifies the value of integrity. According to Gregory, Roth is at the school from the early hours of the morning until the wee hours of the evening, building sets and supporting students in their endless pursuit of knowledge. Gregory, 16, says one of the wonderful things about going to Priory is that the faculty is always available and eager to answer your questions, on anything, at any time. Benedictine values, says Gregory, are easy to see in every aspect of theater-making. What he particularly loves is that the school offers both a deep sense of community as well as place where individuality is honored and respected. “Priory really embraces everyone’s willingness to put themselves out on the line,” he says. Another Benedictine value that helped give birth to this beautiful new space: Educate the whole person. At Priory, students are encouraged to develop all aspects of themselves, which builds confidence and makes for a well-rounded education. It’s not unusual for students in theater or music performances to also play sports, be on the robotics team, or participate in the model UN. “The arts are important for human growth,” says Tim Molak, the Head of School. “While math and science teach about the quantitative side of life, the performing arts offer an outlet for expression. They help a young person grow into an adult who is more empathetic and understanding of life’s situations.” “Priory honors the uniqueness of every human being and develops the unique talents of every human being,” adds Carter. “Theater is the same. It honors the entire human race. It’s like a temple to humanity.”
Priory junior, Chris Gregory, has been involved on the PAC technical team since arriving at school in the 6th grade.
The new Performing Arts Center was part of a Master Plan to renovate all of Woodside Priory. It was part of Phase One, which also included a renovation of the chapel, a new library, a student center, and additional housing for faculty. Phase Two, for which construction has not yet begun, will focus on updating old academic buildings, and Phase Three will focus on adding to and improving the athletic facilities.
The PAC at a Glance The new Performing Arts Center is a sight to behold. The sprawling 12,700-square-foot complex includes: • A 400-seat capacity theater with state-of-the-art lighting and sound design • A modern tech control room • A backstage that includes makeup and costume rooms • Professional set shop • An additional black box theater for student-generated productions • An additional, soundproofed music building that houses orchestra and choir • An MIDI lab that allows students to compose music and hear it played back instantly • A lobby area that doubles as an art gallery, hosting shows by students, staff, and renowned local artists. • Retractable seating that allows the room to be used for banquets and other school events • Audio recording devices for all music rehearsals and performances to allow students to reflect and share their performances on social media.
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Reed Easley Sullivan
Goldsmith
Teacher, Artist, and
SMB: When did you first know you wanted to be a teacher and what do you love most about teaching? RES: I first knew I wanted to teach when I was an undergrad in art school and started working the night shift in the metal’s shop as a lab technician. I loved helping my peers engineer and fabricate their projects. SMB: Why Art? RES: It runs in my family. My maternal grandparents met during WWII when they were in the Navy—they both worked in the art dept. My parents met while attending the Kansas City Art Institute, my dad was a sculpture major and my mom a painting major. My sister is head of the Fibers department at the Savannah College of Art and Design. SMB: What is it about Art that gets you really excited? RES: Envisioning something and then having the ability to turn it into a tangible object, especially if it is something that is hard to wrap my brain around. I love staying up at night figuring out how to fabricate objects SMB: Who are some of your favorite artists in history and why? RES: I love artists who are masters of technique (I’m a goldsmith so I am most impressed by technical ability). But they also need to have a “voice” or make the viewer question what they did or do. In light of that, I love the super realists of the 1970’s like Duane Hansen, the old master Dutch still life painters, Trompe l’oeil painters, The Futurists (although I don’t agree with most of what they wrote in their main manifesto) , The Pre-Raphaelites, and contemporary artists like Urs Fischer, Liza Lou, and Matthew Barney.
extraordinaire SMB: Who inspired you most in your life and why? RES: My father. He is a master painter and sculptor. He does art restoration and conservation for a living. He knows so much about materials, techniques, and seems to be able “channel” the artist who originally made the artifact he is working on.
SMB: What do you believe is most challenging issue we face as a species? RES: Drastic climate change that will lead to drought, hunger, etc. (I’ve been watching a lot of Ken Burns’ Dust Bowl). SMB: What is your hope for your past and present students? RES: Past students: that they will love what they do for a living, be challenged and grow intellectually within their chosen fields, and measure success in terms of happiness and how they touch the lives of others. Present students: that they also find a passion and are able to pursuit to the fullest extent possible. (Priory is a good place for that).
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Dear Friends of the Priory, As we enter the holiday season we in the Development Office are grateful for our many blessings, especially the generosity of our community. After many years in the Development Office, Gail Kimball, George Mears and John Baldwin are no longer a part of our Development Team. We graciously thank them for the contributions they made to Priory in the many years they were here. We now have a two new faces. Meghan Heath comes to us with 12 years of Development experience, including 10 years in Development at Charles Armstrong School. She is heading our Annual Fund and bringing fresh ideas to this effort. She is joined by Erin Irber who brings with her a strong business background. Casey Wynn, our Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations is as busy as ever. Please do stop in and say hello when you have a chance. Last year was another great year for annual giving. Our total gift support was over $2.3M. Our annual giving could not be possible without the tireless work of our many committed volunteers. For their time and talents, we continue to be very grateful. As always, we strive to reach 100% participation from our entire faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, and families, and we could not be successful without their dedication. To our many volunteers, THANK YOU! As we look back, we are proud of our success with our Annual Giving but are also continuously reminded of the successful impact of our last capital campaign. In 2007, we opened our Performing Arts Center. Since its opening, student creativity and expression have blossomed in ways we had only dreamed. In November our students put on an amazing performance of The Three Musketeers, an ambitious production that showcased the many features of not only our PAC but also our entire Performing Arts Program. From multi-level sets, to intricate light and sound design, to over 12 professionally choreographed sword fights, we created a professional theatrical experience for the students and audience combined. We know from experience that new spaces create new opportunities. But the PAC was only the first phase of Priory’s 25 year campus master plan. Our capital campaign goal for this next phase, named Honor, Inspire, Lead: The Campaign For Priory, is to create new classrooms throughout the entire campus that will catalyze academic opportunities for students in the same way the PAC energized the performing arts program. Our vision is to honor our timeless Benedictine values so we can inspire our students to develop their gifts and become thoughtful leaders in a global world. The new larger classrooms and Science Center will feature flexible space along with integrated state-of-the-art technology that will be included in all new construction and renovations. To support these transformational improvements and additions to our campus, a Campaign Leadership Team has been formed and is in the early stages of the campaign. The Team is chaired by Mike Calbert and co-chaired by Michelle Galloway and Mike Carusi. It is an honor and a pleasure to work with these amazing and dedicated leaders along with the rest of our Campaign Team. If you haven’t had a chance to make your Annual Fund gift to the school, please consider doing so before heading out for the holidays. Our Annual Fund goal is to get 100% parent participation by December 31st. We wish you a most blessed holiday season. Sincerely,
Siobhan Lawlor
Our vision is to honor our timeless Benedictine values so we can inspire our students to develop their gifts and become thoughtful leaders in a global world.
Top L-R: Development Department team: Development Assoc. Erin Irber, Assoc. Dir. of Development Meghan Heath (top), and Assoc. Dir. of Development Casey Wynn.
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Alumni Profiles: Priory alums Nika Clark ‘07 and Sammy Hiller ‘10 like to
DANCE, DAN by Karen Macklin
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Nika Clark ‘07 has danced on many stages throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles—but she never expected to be dancing on prime time television. That is, until her hip hop troupe Academy of Villians was invited to compete on America’s Got Talent this past August. Nika, who graduated from Priory with honors in 2007, was a ballet dancer when she attended. The school didn’t have a dance department at the time (in fact, the new Performing Arts Center was not yet completed), so Nika trained with Western Ballet in Mountain View after school. Still, she says, Priory was instrumental in her growth as a dancer. “Priory was really supportive of me,” she recalls. “There was a requirement to do an after school sport, but Priory let me do dance instead. Priory is such a great place for students to grow and focus on their creativity. It’s not just about book smarts, but growing as a person all around.” During high school, Nika danced in classic ballet productions like Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker with Western Ballet. Though she did her dance training outside of Priory, she took other performing arts classes at Priory that strongly influenced her as an artist. For instance, she’d never sung or acted before, but at Priory she delved into both of those fields. “The singing and acting classes I took helped me realize how all of the performing arts coincide. A lot of the techniques we used in acting, I was able to apply to dance as well.” After she graduated, she went on to study ballet at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, where she eventually got turned on to hip hop as a dance form. Soon after, she was
invited to join Academy of Villians (AOV), a new Bay Area hip hop competition dance team. “It was a different experience for me, and I loved it,” she says. She competed with AOV for three years before bravely moving to LA alone to try to make it as a dancer down there. But a few months ago, AOV asked her to come back home: The team had been asked to be on America’s Got Talent, and they wanted Nika to be with them when they competed. Nika flew back to the Bay Area and spent several nights practicing with her dance troupe from dusk till dawn until they were flown out to New Jersey to be on the show. They were put on the show immediately, and made it to the semi-finals before they were cut.
So, who won? It was a dog act, Nika says with a good-natured laugh. She doesn’t seem at all perturbed by the fact that AOV didn’t make it to the finals; she just feels grateful that she was able to be a part of the show at all. “Dance is still trying to make its way,” she says, noting that dance companies are rarely asked to compete in nationally televised variety and reality shows like America’s Got Talent. “So it was cool for our company to be recognized and to have the chance to represent dance nationally.” Nika’s easygoing attitude and optimism shines through in all of her dance endeavors. She spends little time worrying about perceived failures and instead focuses on her next challenge with enthusiasm. She simply does not take things personally. This makes her a very unusual—and mature—23-year-old dancer. “I got into dance because I loved it,” she says, “and I have to remember how blessed I am that I am able to do this. If I have this opportunity, why not take it?” She adds that the supportive environment at Priory helped her have the confidence to take risks as an artist, and to be grateful for the opportunities that come her way. Nika also says Priory was the place where she learned one of the most important tools to build a career in a challenging, cutthroat industry: work ethic. “In the dance world, you don’t necessarily get the job if you’re the best,” she says. “That’s just how it is. But I can’t change the way I look, or how tall I am. I just have to be the best dancer I can be. Priory taught me to have this work ethic. And it’s helped me not only in dance, but in life.”
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When Sammy Hiller ‘10 arrived in Salt Lake City, in the dead of winter in February 2011, there were more than 800 people vying for a spot on the TV hit show So You Think You Can Dance. She was one of them. Sammy, who graduated from Priory in 2010, has been dancing since she was 11 years old. But she’d never quite had an experience like this. “It was wild,” she says. “They pull you out in lines of 20 and you each get 15 seconds to improv. While I was waiting, I was trying to come up with dance moves in my head. But when it was my turn, I just started doing what I needed to do. You have only a few seconds to show them what you have and make them remember you.” Sammy made it past three off-camera preliminary rounds and an off-camera interview with a producer. Then, she was invited to make her debut on television. After an on-camera interview, she competed in the nationally televised solo round (only 100 or so out of the original 800 made it that far). She was accepted to the next round, and was cut after that. But it didn’t matter to her. Despite the intensity of the process, she says, the experience was amazing. Going through an audition like this would be an incredible test of courage for any young dancer, but for Sammy, it was an even more impressive feat. After Priory, Sammy went on to study dance at Chapman University, but in her first year there, she developed an illness that left her exhausted, depleted, and with some frightening memory loss. Eventually, she got
so sick that she had to unexpectedly return home from school to recover. (The illness was later determined to be mononucleosis, and the memory loss luckily turned out to be temporary). It was during that recovery period in 2011, with the encouragement of her family, that she decided to go to Utah for the audition. “I had nothing to lose,” she says with a laugh. Sammy, now 20, says that her ability to rise out of a difficult circumstance, and make the best of it, was cultivated at Priory, where she was strongly influenced by the Benedictine saying: Always we begin again. “Life will throw curve balls at you,” she says. “Priory taught me that you just take it as it comes and move on.” Sammy also credits the supportive staff at Priory for her ability to conquer stage fright; she says she learned this skill in John Sugden’s acting class and in her AP art class,
where she had to present her artwork in front of the room. “Owning the room is definitely something I learned from Priory,” she says. And though she never took dance classes at Priory, the teachers there knew she was a dancer and invited her to perform in the dance show at the end of the year—a gesture that she has always appreciated. After So You Think You Can Dance, Sammy has been continuing to recover at home, and making up some of the coursework that she missed at the local junior college. She still loves dance, but her interests have extended to other avenues, like communications and graphic design—and dance has become less of a career path and more of a hobby. She talks about her decision to switch gears without the slightest hint of regret or hesitation. “Priory taught me that once you have one passion in your life, you’re fully capable of finding another,” she says. “If you have the experience of having dedication and a desire for a goal, it’s possible to transfer that to something else. Different experiences are a part of life and make people who they are. That’s definitely something I learned at Priory.”
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CLASS
ALUMNI Note: Note: We are now looking for Class Agents for the 2013 Reunion Weekend in September. Please contact contact Casey Wynn at alumni@prioryca.org or (650) 851-6137, if you are interested in helping organize your reunion. And don’t forget to check out Woodside Priory Alumni Association on Facebook for additional photos and updates!
REUNION YEARS: 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008
1963
50th Reunion Year
1968
45th Reunion Year
1973
40th Reunion Year
1976
John Kirch helped Priory Admissions Director, Mr. Zappelli, at the Boarding Schools Fair in Tokyo last month.
1978
35th Reunion Year Raymond Oen ’78 and Steven Toong ’82 met up with Father Martin this past summer for a visit.
1983
30th Reunion Year
1988
25th Reunion Year
1993
20th Reunion Year
1996 Pedro Miqueo stopped to visit while on patrol. After a successful tour with the Marine Corps (1996-2000), and with the Air National Guard for a tour in Iraq (2000-2006), Pedro joined the San Mateo County Sheriff’s office and is now serving as a Deputy Sheriff.
NOTES
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1998
15th Reunion Year
2001 Elena Basegio in front of her family bakery, Fillmore Bakery, in San Francisco during Halloween with former classmate Kate Molak.
2002 William Huang and Al Zappelli ran into each other in November while they were boarding the same flight home to SFO from LAX. William is Product Marketing Manager for KLA-Tencor.
2003
10th Reunion Year
2004 Travis Maahs graduated for the University of Southern California in May 2012 with a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree. Prior to this, he graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder with a B.S. degree in 2008.
2005 Susan Lyon moved back to San Francisco this year and is now working at the financial literacy startup Nerdwallet.com. They specialize in personal finance issues that, in her opinion, young people don’t get taught enough about in college.
2008
5th Reunion Year Alyssa Cheung graduated from Yale University in May 2012 with a degree in Environmental Studies, and then interned in Bhutan for the School for Field Studies for six weeks. She is now teaching English to Buddhist nuns and monks on Putuoshan island in southeast China. Greg Somogyi played for the 2012 Lakers’ Summer League team where he averaged 1.2 points, 1.6 rebounds in 7.2 minutes.
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2010 Melissa Perna is a junior at Boston College in the nursing program and is planning a semester in South America working in the health care field.
2011 Kyle Montgomery is on the cover of Bucknell University magazine Fall 2012.
2012 Kaitlyn Bonfiglio and Doug MacEwan, who are both attending University of Michigan, had dinner with Mr. LaValle the weekend before Thanksgiving. Doug MacEwan is in the Aeronautical Engineering program, currently building an actual BLIMP (no joke)! He is also part of the rowing team. Kaitlyn Bonfiglio is double majoring in Creative Writing and English. She is actively involved in many campus events, including intramural soccer. Both are loving Ann Arbor and all that U of M has to offer.
In Memoriam Al Kirkland, who once worked in the Development office, was a good friend to the Priory. He was also Grandparent of Doug Kirkland ’98 and Emily (Kirkland) Mangini ’01, died Aug. 30, 2012.
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2013 REUNION
LOST ALUMNI We are trying to track down the Alumni who are missing from the classes that will be celebrating their 5 year reunions in 2013. If you know how to contact them, please email the Alumni Office at alumni@prioryca.org.
2003
Zayra Diaz Chi-Chun Lee Won-Ki Sul Fu-Kai Tsao Devon Vaught
1998
Melanie Hancock Laura Handy Lizza Tung Li Luz Lopez Tait Waterman
1993
Jay Archibald
Eric Chen Jared Deneen Donald Dy Stellios Metaxas Akito Nozawa Marek Szurek Takaya Yamaguchi
1988
John Briggs Sean Buckley Albert Chang Christopher Darza Mark Feduska Roberto Herrera Joseph Kirch Rene Kirchhoefer Terrence Lafleur Ricardo Papa Walter Renner Miguel Ruiz Stephen Sanders Jimmy Shia Stephen Woo
1983
Kevin Conlin Mishaal Fahim David Fleck
1978
Tadashi Akimoto Mahyar Ardarkanian John De Leo Matthew Dickinson Saied Djavadi Martin Drummond Michael Fong Peter Huh Wong Ling Simon Miles Raymond Oen Shabahram Pooladzandi Kevin Smith Peter Tong
1973
David Brown Frederick Bustamente Federico Delgado Kevin Gosch James Griffin Shawn O’Grady John Storm
1968
Michael Jordan Richard Mellerup Paul Miller
1963
Guy Henley Thomas Wade
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REUNITE
Reunion Weekend
Classmates from 1962, 1977, 1982, 1987, 2002 & 2007
Left: Alumni gathering in Father Egon Plaza Saturday night before dinner. Right: Reuniting for their 5th year reunion, the class of 2007 with the monks and Mr. Trudelle. Below: Class of 1977 with the monks at their 35th reunion.
Above L-R: Paul Judge ’87, Mark Mintz ’87 and Martin Sullivan ’87. Above: Celebrating their 50th reunion: Joe Hilbe ’62, Rick West ’62 and Jeff Congdon ’62, with Father Pius and Father Maurus.
Above L-R: Christian Parks ’82, Bill McGlashan ’82, and Noel Kidd ’82 (sporting his old letterman jacket). Above: Big turnout for their 10 year reunion, Class of 2002. Left: Esme Barriga ’02 and friend take a look how different things were 10 years ago in the 2002 yearbook.
Left L-R: Father Pius catches up with Ed Sun ’87 and Paul Chang ’87.
23 Above right L-R: Chase Norlin ’87, Jacqueline Sun, Ed Sun ’87 and Richard Lun ‘87 pose for the camera.
Above: Class of 1987 shows up in large numbers to celebrate their 25th reunion Saturday night! Left L-R: Father Maurus, Angela Sibal ’02 and Alvin Lam ’02. Below: Class of 1977 with Father Martin.
Above center L-R: Gabor Meszaros ’02 and Pablo Avalos ’02 reconnect with Mr. Parker at their 10 year reunion.
Above: Class of 1982 around the panther mascot statue, their 30th reunion gift to the school, now located by entrance to dining hall. Left: Thomas Lockwood ’07 checks out the memorabilia at his 5 year reunion.
Left: Class of 2007 Friday in Father Egon Plaza.
Left: Class of 1982 Friday with Father Pius. Right: Christine Ahlstrom ’07, Ms. VanWagenen and Lauren Duncan ‘07 catch up at the reunion Friday.
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Monastery News: Reflection on the
Benedictine Educators
Colloquium
Matthew Nelson, Theology Dept. Chair In the sweltering summer sweat of New England in late June, the contour and character of my Benedictine identity would be forever changed at the National Educators Colloquium at Saint Anselm College. Standing in a line of illustrious ministers in this 1500 year tradition, I was possessed of an idea that God might actually be calling me – as he called the prophet Samuel in the Hebrew Bible – to be among those who carry the mantle of Benedictine education into the twenty-first century. There, in New Hampshire, was the first time when I thought that I might be more than a teacher at a Benedictine school, but that I would bear the responsibility of being used by God to live the Rule and actively work toward keeping the spirit of Benedictism flourishing at Priory. But more than me, that you and each and every member of our community – students, all faculty and staff, parents, trustees, and friends of our community – have the privilege as well as the responsibility of continuing a Christian wisdom tradition that maintains the contemplative vision that the “universe is a graced and sacramental place,” as one of the Anselmian monks put it. Moreover, that education in this tradition isn’t about the mastery of content and skillsets alone, but that it is the context and means for creating a truly meaningful life. To that end, we set our shoulders to the plow, and work in the Lord’s fields at the Woodside Priory School – a Benedictine community for the twenty-first century. Al Zappelli, Director of Admissions Thirty-Four educators from thirteen Benedictine secondary schools in the United States met at Saint Anselm College this June to discuss leadership and future governance models. The theme, “Picking Up the Torch: Leadership in Benedictine Schools”, examined topics as to how the Rule of Saint Benedict speaks to leadership in Monastic schools, the hallmarks of Monastic schools and transitions in leadership from Benedictines to lay leaders. Keynote speakers included Abbott John Klassen of Saint Johns Abbey, Abbott Matthew Leavey of Saint Anselm Abbey and Father Gregory Mohrman of Saint Louis Abbey. The Colloquium produced a list of ten hallmarks of Benedictine Secondary schools and established a Steering Committee to continue dialogue among the schools. Attending the Collquium from the Priory were Brother Edward Englund, Ben Owens, Brian Schlaak, Teri Dillon, Paul Trudelle, Matthew Nelson and Al Zappelli.
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Author, Equestrian, Academic
C
Camille Nohra by Sean Mclain Brown
Camille Nohra, is known for her writing prowess around the Priory campus but she’s cultivated another talent that not many Priorians know. Camille has been competing in the equestrian show circuit for 8 years. Recently, all that hard work was rewarded when she won the prestigious West Coast Pony Hunter Final Overall Champion and Large Pony Champion against 50 other competitors with her horse “Mapleside Magic Dancer”. “This is really very special to me to win the whole West Coast,” Camille noted. “I actually had a large pony before Dancer named Halcyon Let’s Luau. We never made it to the finals together (as Luau passed away last summer) so I’m dedicating this win to her.” The pair impressed the judges with their smooth, relaxed rounds and scored a two-
round average of 82. Camille didn’t feel much pressure heading into the second round. As she explained, “Going into this whole class, my attitude was honestly just to enjoy the experience. The last thing my trainer said to me before I went in for my second round was, ‘Just go out there and have fun”’ Camille followed her trainer’s instructions and was all smiles as she enjoyed her victory gallop. “This is my first time at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, and I was impressed with the show grounds. I primarily compete up north, but would like to return because it’s been such a good experience.” Camille’s next equestrian goal is to conquer a Derby, with its combination of stadium jumps and cross-country obstacles, on her larger horse, “Winter”. In addition to her equestrian accomplishments, Camille just finished her first novel and hopes to publish in the near future.
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The Green Page A letter from the Priory Sustainability Coordinator, Hovey Clark
In my quarterly reports to the Priory community, I have generally spoken of the ways in which the school has undertaken operational changes in order to abide by more sustainable principles. This is because much of my work for the school has involved the observation of patterns in campus operations and facilities management, followed by suggestions for more sustainable operations, which in turn are followed by implementation of technical solutions. To date, for example, these changes have resulted in the diversion of more than 50 cubic yards of food waste from landfill into the school’s compost pile. Additionally, the school currently saves $1500 a month in waste hauling fees, compared to the same time last year. A lighting retrofit completed in 2010 resulted in a 40% reduction in electrical energy used by campus classrooms and offices. Clearly, technical solutions have realized widespread benefits and cost savings for the Priory. And while these kinds of improvements to the sustainable operation of the Priory are beneficial to the school and our environment for so many reasons, I have spent the first quarter of this school year considering ways to integrate sustainable thinking into students’ lives. So, the technical changes to campus operations will continue. But, this year the school’s sustainability program is focused on providing students with opportunities to demonstrate their own understanding of, and commitment to, sustainable living on campus and at home. The school’s daily bulletin has provided some small opportunities to reach the broad audience of students, teachers, and parents, with reminders about the importance of energy efficiency, material conservation, and a few notes on campus wildlife. These daily announcements have been a forum for championing the cost savings of recycling and energy reduction, for example. Moreover, they have provided opportunities for me to inform the community against its will: Did you know that the methane gas which is off-gassed from improperly disposed of food is a 22 times more potent greenhouse gas than the CO2 that is emitted from a car’s tailpipe? Were you aware that the school utilizes a ‘single-stream waste management system’? That means that all of our recyclable materials are separated and reprocessed in a facility referred to as the ‘Dirty Murph’. Did you know that? MRF, btw, stands for Material Reclamation Facility. It’s true….. I am sure that some of members of the community find this fascinating. And, regrettably, some don’t. So, how to cultivate more interest in this area? I grew up as a city kid in San Francisco. My parents attempted to nurture a love of the outdoors in my brother and me. This worked to some degree, but the real enjoyment of outdoor experience came from my long-time involvement with the Boy Scouts. It was on weekend hikes and camping trips that I came to love experiences that challenged my self-reliance, even as they improved my self-confidence. In the Boy Scouts, I learned those skills that Charlie Brown used to wax rhapsodic about in the ‘70s public service announcements: hiking, biking, knots, lashings, and, of course, tool sharpening and fire building. It turns out that kids who learn these skills in short order want to utilize them. For that, outdoor excursions present themselves as great ways to get away from home, and to actually use a knife at the same time.
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Learners and Stewards Integrating Sustainable Thinking into Students’ Lives and Experiences My experience in the Boy Scouts, and the ‘can-do confidence’ I gleaned from it, were the inspiration for this year’s new sustainability offerings for students. This year, I have developed and rolled out a ‘Green Honor Roll’ program for Priory kids. The Green Honor Roll is based on the premise that youthful appreciation for the environment begins with opportunities to explore outdoor spaces while demonstrating self-reliance (as in ‘self-sustainability’) and confidence. Equipped with the right attitudes and skills, students who spend time outdoors will feel a greater connection to local ecology, and will be more committed in their efforts at stewardship at home, on campus, in local open spaces, and at the global level. The Green Honor Roll is structured around four “Pillars of Sustainability”: Outdoor Awareness and Experience, Healthy Habitats for Humans and Wildlife, Resource Conservation, and Actions, Connections and Community. Each of the pillars offers opportunities for students to demonstrate important skills and commitments to stewardship of spaces and resources. For example, for the Outdoor Awareness and Experience pillar, students will join a group hike in the local area, plan a camping trip for friends, and spend a night outdoors with other members of the Green Honor Roll program. For the Resource Conservation pillar, students might elect to conduct energy audits at home followed by the implementation of energy-saving technologies or behaviors. When working on Healthy Habitats, students might try to rid their homes of toxic waste, or to contribute suggestions and product recommendations to a Priory-sponsored “Green Products Guide”. When demonstrating their commitment to Actions, Connections, and Community, students will write letters to local elected authorities or business owners. I am pleased to announce that there has been a huge interest in the Green Honor Roll program. Some of this might be buoyed by student interest in earning yet-more recognition for their high school transcripts and college recommendation letters. However, I am also convinced that a lot of this interest comes from students who are genuinely interested in demonstrating their commitment to the dual goals of learning and stewardship, which we champion in the school mission statement. Whatever their motives, I am pleased to see students joining the school’s efforts at more sustainable living. And while the pursuit of changes to campus operations witnesses results that we can quantify in dollars, cubic yards, and pounds of carbon dioxide, I am quite certain that – while intangible – our efforts at shaping student attitudes and skill sets will yield even greater rewards to our campus, our local community, and the planet as a whole. Thanks for your interest. Sincerely,
NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 851-8221 fax (650) 851-2839
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Celebrating Our 55th Year
Hey Daddy - o!
Mark your calendar for the 2013 Priory Gala
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Matinee Tea & Fashion Show • Evening Auction, Dinner & Fashion Show Want to help? 2013gala@priorypanther.com
