Priorities #64: Spring 2016 by Woodside Priory School

A Magazine of the Priory · Issue #64

Jumping into the

· Spring 2016

STREAM

Abbot Mark Cooper, OSB Father John Fortin, OSB Father Martin Mager, OSB Father Maurus Nemeth, OSB Father Benet Phillips, OSB

Dear Priory Community, We are Priory! This is the theme that our students selected for this year and inspired all of us in one way or another. This issue of Priorities shines a light on many of the ways our community manifests that theme.

Board of Trustees Brian Axe Catherine Boyle Dave Brett Mike Calbert Jennie Chiu Laura Cornish Craig Dauchy Eileen DiGiorgio Mark Gainey Cathy Gawne Karen Gregory Sally Harris Eric Harrison Sandy Herz Bob Larson Bob Latta Father Jonathan Licari, OSB Susan Light Bud McElroy Guy Nohra Stan Pierson Stewart Putney Ray Rothrock Maureen Sansbury Keith Van Sickle Pamela Weiss Phil Young

Priorities magazine is published in the Winter, Spring and Summer by Woodside Priory School for its alumni, parents, students, neighbors, and friends. Contact the Communications Office at 650-851-6131 or the school at 650-851-8221.

On the Cover

Father Maurus and the STREAM Team faculty members stand at the site where the new STREAM building will be constructed. Pictured are Father Maurus Nemeth, OSB, Paul Trudelle, Lisa Wood, Christine Hemiup, Shawn Matson, Richard Paige, Bob Bessin, Yvonne Faisal, and Reed Sullivan.

Editor: Kelly Sargent Contributing Writers: Maddy Birnbaum, Molly Buccola, Hovey Clark, Suzanne Couch, Kathy Gonzalez, Emily (Kirkland) Mangini, Kelly Sargent, Kailen Whang Design/Production: Jim Kirkland, Copperline Multimedia Photos: Jennifer Hammer, Jim Kirkland, Father Martin Mager, Peter Reiss, Kelly Sargent, Geoff Westerfield Printing: Colorprint, Mark W. Allen

• The Drowsy Chaperone showcased the talents of our drama cast and crew. • The upper school girls and boys basketball teams triumphed in the CCS playoffs. • Our AP Government class spent 10 days on the campus of Saint Anselm College while participating in the New Hampshire Primary and visiting with the Abbot and monks of Saint Anselm. • In the first part of January, our upper school spent a week “serving a world in need of their gifts” at local agencies and on campus with a Special Olympics day in the gym. • Our “green minded” students created a living wall on the entry stairway to the dining hall. • Our campus ministry office offered a number of parent retreats focused on the Rule of Saint Benedict. • The Priory Gala–Emerald Ball 2016–was once again an event worth attending. Over 320 parents and friends gathered to raise a glass and a bid paddle in support of our programs and tuition assistance. • Facility improvements begin this spring and summer. A new track and field begin in mid-May and will be completed in late fall 2016, and our new STREAM building begins in July with a fall 2017 completion date. • Graduation for both the middle school and the upper school is in late May and will be the culmination for all things pertaining to–We are Priory! A Priory group went to the International Commission on Benedictine Education (ICBE) in Rome where 175 educators from around the world gathered to celebrate our special and unique ministry based on the Rule of Saint Benedict. There were men and women, old and young, lay and religious from all regions of the world convening to listen to the variety of ways our schools help our students live “meaningful lives.” The Benedictines have always had a strong passion for education and the major role it plays in creating religious and lay communities that have a holistic perspective. We are fortunate to live in the presence of monks who model that for all of us every day. Finally from the Rule of Saint Benedict–“Do not aspire to be called holy before you really are, but first be holy that you may more truly be called so.” It seems Benedict knew “that the secret of a holy life was not so much a holy reputation as it was a holy attitude toward all of creation: reverence for God, reverence for the body, reverence for the other who is younger and unimportant, or older or useless or in opposition to us and an irritant now–we must guard against a notion of superiority.” May we all approach life with the proper amount of humility. As we come to the end of the Lenten season and the beginning of Easter, we are reminded of the sacrifices made by one man for the greater glory of so many more. Enjoy the spring season,

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.

Tim Molak Head of School

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Board of Directors

Spring at a Glance Athletics Performing Arts Visual Arts Student Spotlight Service Trip Parent Retreats Did You Know Service Week

32-33 34-37 38-39 42-43 44-47 48-51 52-53 54

David Brett STREAM Building Track and Field Gala Annual Fund Class News & Notes Sustainability Monastery News

Woodside Priory School Celebrating 58 Years of Benedictine Education

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

6-10 11-13 14-15 16-17 18-21 22-25 26 27 28-31

with ASB members after he gave a fascinating presentation on his space exploration.

2. Dr. Drew Feustel took some time to meet with the Robotics team.

3. All School Dodgeball Champs: (bottom l-r) Sergio Lopez ‘16, Hana Marsheck ‘16, (top l-r) Myles Somerville, Mike Loftis, Adrian LaValle ‘18, John Lee ‘16, and Keyshawn Ashford ‘18. 4. The Senior boys got All-American and teamed up with faculty member Amanda Bolsinger for the All School Dodgeball tournament. 2 5. Freshmen students team up and do their best to dodge, duck and dive!

9 7. Students are thoroughly entertained to see English teacher Chris Georgules kiss a pony at the “Kiss a Goat” fundraiser for the Daraja Club.

6. Samson Axe ‘20 puts on his war face at the MS Dodgeball tournament.

8. Brian Schlaak goes in for the kiss at the “Kiss a Goat” fundraiser!

9. Father Bernard Disco, OSB, visited the Priory to speak at the Faculty/Staff Retreat and took time to meet with some classes. 8 4

10. Oliver Conn ‘22 braces himself at the MS Dodgeball tournament. 11. Annabelle North ‘20 and Eli Roybal ‘20 have no fear at the MS Dodgeball tournament!

SPRING AT A GLANCE

SPRING AT A GLANCE 6

1 1. NASA astronaut Dr. Drew Feustel

SPRING AT A GLANCE

1. Christian Kruep ‘16 is a brave volunteer at the self defense class for seniors.

2. Colby Cheung ‘19 finds the most unique Priory fan wear for the NorCal basketball game! 3. A massively loud, stomping, chanting and supportive Priory Pack at the CCS Championship basketball game!

9 4. Seniors and faculty create a tunnel for the Special Olympics participants held at the Priory. 5. John Sheng ‘16 makes a new friend at the Special Olympics event.

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13 6. John Lee ‘16 escorts his Special Olympics buddy around the gym. 7. Scotty Harris ‘16 awards each participant with a special ribbon. 8. Sixth grade girls, Claire Becker ‘22, Michaela Maroney ‘22, Vivienne Gilbert ‘22, and Neve Wilcox ‘22 have some fashion fun on “Would You Still Be My Friend” day.

11. The sophomore class hits the ice at their ice skating party. 12. Morgan Serughetti ‘18, Joseph Calderon ‘18, and Rebecca Suta ‘18 are fashionably challenged during “Would You Still Be My Friend” day.

13. Zach Weiss ‘17 with an incredible under the leg dunk during the Winter Sports Rally.

17 16. The Winter Sports Rally was filled with athletic talent like soccer stud Brenda Uribe ‘17.

9. Sergio Calderon ‘18 can’t contain his laughter with Derek Abarca ‘18 during the “Whisper Challenge.”

14. Graham Hughes ‘16 sets the ball during the Sr./Fr. vs Jr./Soph.

10. Eighth grade girls, Kate Mawhinney ‘20, Jackie Lim ‘20, Justine

boys volleyball game.

back like Katy Oseguera ‘17, Daniela Vivanco ‘17, Lauren Isackson ‘16, and Ryan Calbert ‘17.

15. David Casente ‘16 and John Sheng ‘16 serve complimentary hot

18. Max Stephan ‘17 preps food in the Tenderloin during

Biscay ‘20, and Ada Fathers ‘20 get preppy on “Preppy Day.”

dogs with all the fixings at the NorCal basketball game.

17. The Junior Retreat gave a time for students to give

the Junior Retreat.

1. Students yell out the answers during the Lunar New Year quiz. 2. Charis Chiu ‘18 speaks during the Lunar New Year assembly that was filled with entertaining class video creations and traditions.

1. The girls Varsity B2 basketball team is all smiles after a big win.

3. Beautiful mural artwork is in progress in the PAC by father and son artists Peter and Paul Mester. Peter Mester is pictured here looking over his work.

2. Maya Blevins ‘20 takes the

4. The electives fair is a fun time for students to “shop

MS ATHLETICS

SPRING AT A GLANCE

Winter was a season of championships for the Panthers. The middle school girls and boys Varsity A soccer teams won the Silver Division Championships for the WBAL. The Varsity A boys basketball team went undefeated, while winning the Silver Division Championship. The Varsity A girls basketball team contended for the Gold Division Championship, losing to Sacred Heart in the finals.

ball down the court for the Varsity A girls basketball team.

around” for their classes.

3. Ethan Veghte ‘21 controls the ball for the Varsity A boys soccer team.

4. Ashton Axe ‘22 boots the ball at a Varsity B boys soccer game.

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5 5. Katie Walsh ‘20 drives to the hoop for the Varsity B1 girls basketball team.

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6. Shooting for the JV boys basketball team is Oliver Conn ‘22.

7. Ally Sinclair ‘20 dribbles the ball at a Varsity A girls game.

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8. Samantha Staudinger ‘22 has fun at the Varsity B girls soccer game against GMS.

9. The boys Varsity B teams played one another in a Priory vs. Priory game!

5. John Max Byrnes ‘22 enjoys a nice lunch with his grandparents during Grandparents Day.

6. The world just got a little safer with the entire sophomore class now CPR certified in Health class!

10. Matthew Covington ‘20 drives to the hoop for the Varsity A team.

7. Luke Souter ‘20 spends some quality time with his grandparents at Grandparents Day.

US ATHLETICS

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9 4. Matthew Barber ‘19 slides in for the steal. 5. A day of senior soccer celebration for (l-r) Annie Kroo

‘16, Hana Marsheck ‘16, and Lauren Isackson ‘16.

6. A little rain doesn’t slow down David Casente ‘16. 7. Winter All-League winners for basketball and soccer. 8. Erik Larson ‘18 puts up tough defense. 9. Sam Putney ‘18 easily gets past the screen. 10. Nicholas Barber ‘18 takes the shot.

1. Goalie Joseph Calderon ‘18 keeps his eye on the ball.

2. The Priory Pack sends good vibes to the free throw shooter.

CHAMPIONS!

3. Sergio Calderon ‘18 stays in control of the ball.

This was a historic season for the boys and girls basketball teams. The girls team won the Skyline Division championship, played for the CCS championship, and ended up one game away from the NorCal championship game–all firsts for the girls basketball program. This young team will be back and will be exciting to watch for years to come. Surrounded by a large chanting fan base, the Varsity boys basketball team won the CCS championship for the second year in a row. The boys team would go on to the second round of NorCal’s but would ultimately fall to St. Joseph’s Notre Dame, who in turn would go on to win the state title. 1

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1. The CCS Div. V Champs! 2. Scotty Harris ‘16 celebrates the win with his teammates.

3. Zach Weiss ‘17 puts in an easy layup.

6 4. Freshman standout Ila Lane ‘19 drives past her defender. 5. Tatiana Reese ‘18 was the WBAL MVP for the season. 6. The girls celebrate their second place win in CCS.

Pops Concert 1

PERFORMING ARTS

PERFORMING ARTS 14

When I was picking this year’s season, I cast my eyes back on the shows we had done over a number of years, and they were marked by an incredible array of very meaty, very strong performances and scripts, none of which I ever wish to change, but…all of which were quite heavy and dramatic. So the challenge became to find the smartest, wittiest, best comedy I could, and I was overjoyed when The Drowsy Chaperone came across my radar screen. In addition to fantastic characters for the actors to dive into with great songs and choreography, it has a score that is infectious and inventive for our musicians to grab hold of, while the need for many locations (and one set piece in particular) were creatively challenging for our techies. The actors have spent countless hours connecting to characters, to circumstances and bringing this work to life, our techies have given this work shape and substance with lights, sets and sound, and our musicians have given this play its beautiful, driving heartbeat throughout their playing.

15 4

John Sugden Theater Teacher/Director 4 3

5. Annie Kroo ‘16 as “Kitty!”

6. Sam Pollack ‘16 with gangsters Maria Naclerio ‘16 and Valerie Filloux ‘17.

1. String Ensemble playing a

7. Maddy Birnbaum

medley of Game of Thrones, Alice in

‘16 embodied the drowsy

Wonderland, and Skyfall.

chaperone character.

2. Thank You For Being A Friend

featuring the MS Choir.

3. Concert Choir choreographed a wonderful High School Musical medley.

7 8 4. Rock and Roll by Zoe Weiss ‘18, Miranda Prince Figuereo ‘18, Sophia Lipp ‘17,

Gracie Hamren ‘17, and Mark Erasmus ‘18.

5. A well deserved bow by the Concert Choir. 6. Think of Me featuring Grant Whitman ‘20 on the piano and Gianna Morales ‘17. 7. Wind Symphony (and a few lobsters) playing Video Games Live and featured a

1. Sam Pollack ‘16 as “Man in Chair.” 2. The cast and crew of The Drowsy Chaperone. 3. Amanda McFadden, Grant Whitman ‘20, Candy Yin ‘16, and Yoonho Choi ‘17 in the orchestra pit.

4. Christian Kruep ‘16, Konstantin Larin ‘17, Max Habeck ‘18, John Gregory ‘16, and Matt Galloway ‘16 can sing, dance and act!

movie compiled by Michael Fitzgerald ‘16.

8. Brothers Sergio and Joseph Calderon ‘18 had fun with a Pitch Perfect mash up. 7

VISUAL ARTS

Lent Photo-A-Day During the season of lent, students were challenged with a Lent Photo-A-Day. Here are a few of the stunning images that Shawn Matson’s photography class captured as they reflected upon the word of the day.

Photo by Emily Kuo ‘18

Photo by Katie Hammond ‘19

Photo by Shawn Matson

Photo by Addie Vogt ‘17

Photo by Emily Kuo ‘18

Photo by Claire Ryland ‘18

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

New Hampshire Primary

by Maddy Birnbaum

Maddy Birnbaum ’16 visited New Hampshire during the primary with 12 of her AP Government and Politics classmates and faculty members Damian Cohen and Alex Thayer. The debate was held at Saint Anselm College, and Maddy shares with us her adventures with both the debate and the monks of Saint Anselm.

1 1. AP Government class at the New Hampshire State House. 2. Hillary Clinton rally at a New Hampshire community college. 3. Annie Kroo ‘16 with Secretary Clinton.

On February 6th, as seven Republican presidential candidates prepared to mount the debate stage at Saint Anselm College, prominent New Hampshire political figures mingled with debate-goers in the audience and a group of Priory students sat near the press box of the auditorium, twenty feet from where a makeup assistant powdered George Stephanopoulos’ nose. The venue was small, a converted gym, and basketball hoops were visible to the right and left, not quite hidden by the thick red and blue hangings that draped the walls. The babble of conversation was soon halted by a voice resounding from the loud speakers: “One minute to air; please return to your seats.” The day before, on our first morning in New Hampshire, we awoke to snow. Thirteen students in the Priory AP Government and Politics class struggled out of bed, pulled back the lace curtains of the Joseph House retreat center, and saw the rooftops and lawns of the quiet Manchester neighborhood coated a foot deep in white. Our group had the quaint New England retreat center to ourselves, and we took advantage of having the run of the place; no one benefited from much sleep on the trip, as we chatted and laughed past midnight most nights in a long, wood paneled room filled with mismatched armchairs and sofas. Each morning we gathered to hear the day’s itinerary from Mr. Cohen and Ms. Thayer; day one included a trip to the New Hampshire State House, a meeting with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, some time at Saint Anselm, and a Democratic rally. Gleefully kicking our way through the snow, we boarded a tour bus and set off for Concord, New Hampshire’s capital. The capitol building itself was relatively small and ornamented with marble, pillars, and oil portraits of stern politicians. Bill Gardner, the longest serving state Secretary of State in the country, gave our group a somewhat long-winded overview of topics ranging from the reason why New Hampshire holds the first primary in the country (a New

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Hampshire representative named Stephen Bullocks wrote a bill in 1916 that created one of the nation’s first primary elections) to the struggles of Franklin Pierce’s presidency (his son died in a train wreck, and after that his presidency was a train wreck, as Mr. Cohen would say). That evening, back on the bus on our way to the Democratic rally, everyone leaned into the center aisle, shouting to one another in a class-wide conversation. We joked about candidates and articles in The Onion, such as “Plows Working Around Clock To Keep New Hampshire Roads Clear Of Campaign Signs,” while Simon and Garfunkel’s “America” played in the background: “I’ve come to look for America / Laughing on the bus, playing games with the faces.” Throughout the trip, some of the best moments were spent like this, the thirteen of us talking together, cozy and insulated against the snow outside, nerding out about politics. Typical Californians, everyone in the class was deadset on having a snowball fight at some point during the trip, and the opportunity presented itself the next morning at Saint Anselm. As acclimatized northeastern college students trudged to their classes around the border of the blindingly sunlit icy quad, we staged a thirteen versus one attack on Mr. Cohen, and declared victory only after most of us had been decked and received a face-full of snow. Afterwards, we were fortunate enough to be given a lecture by the quick-witted and sarcastic Father Jerome, a Saint Anselm English and communications professor, about the role of rhetoric and media in campaigning. Putting words to the intimate political culture we had been witnessing, Father Jerome quipped that in New Hampshire, no one will cast a vote for a candidate unless they have met personally for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at least four times. And this seemed to be not far from the truth: Dr. DiSalvo, Saint Anselm’s president, shared with us that Hillary Clinton had divulged to him that she watches House of Cards, and Father Benet, our

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 20

2 point-person for the trip, had met Marco Rubio the day he picked us up from the airport. New Hampshire is so compact, and the stakes of the primary so high, that it would almost be a feat not to run into candidates around Manchester and Concord. Saint Anselm’s students, when not actively participating, get front-row seats to the political scene. The debate arrived that evening, the crowning event of the trip, and our class stepped into the auditorium, faces upturned to the stage where seven podiums stood waiting. As the clock ticked down to on-air, we picked our way around the debate floor, introducing ourselves to New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte, getting into minor spats with impassioned Cruz supporters. Soon, the debate began, kicked off by the everyone-missing-their-entrances debacle. As discussion between the candidates grew heated and the crowd registered its approval and objection in cheers and boos, we could also hear the low voices and clattering keystrokes of fact-checkers on their computers behind us. Commercial breaks presented an opportunity to frantically spring out of our folding chairs and jostle our way to the edge of the stage where the candidates were milling around, shaking hands and taking pictures. As a class, we managed to get blurry, awkwardly angled selfies with every candidate as they leaned down from the stage. Ted Cruz gave us details on his machine-gun-bacon campaign commercial (“it was overcooked; disgusting!”) and John Kasich attempted to play the wise mentor, telling a few of us, “You see me up on this stage? One day it could be you.” Following the debate, we walked up onto the stage after Father Benet had a few words with the security guard and posed behind the podiums, looking into the empty auditorium, spines straight, feeling powerful. We found pages of notes the candidates had left behind–Rubio’s had a web of geometric doodles–and a few students stole candidates’ pens and used water bottles.

Back at Joseph House we compared articles on highlights of the debate, photos of ourselves with the candidates, and projections for the upcoming primary before leaving the surreal evening behind and throwing ourselves, minds still racing, into bed. The next morning brought the last two political events our class attended: a Hillary Clinton rally and a Ted Cruz rally. In the bright, cramped community college gym of the Clinton rally, we were interviewed by reporters from CNN, The Guardian, Telemundo, and more; at the Cruz rally we met Vermin Supreme, internet-famous performance artist and presidential candidate who campaigns wearing a boot on his head and promises to give all Americans a pony. On our final night in New Hampshire we returned to Saint Anselm and trooped through the snow to Brother Edward’s grave, which lay quietly among the headstones of other monks, circled above by a stand of pines; the class gathered around the grave and shared memories of Brother Edward’s humor and kindness. Afterwards, we attended mass, where the monks at Saint Anselm prayed for the Priory community, just as we pray for them during our own masses. Though we often hear the name Saint Anselm at Priory, during the trip we found ourselves wishing our connection could be stronger as we witnessed the hospitality and political insight of members of its community, from monks to students. During our six days in New Hampshire, the AP Government class became very close. Though there was no structured group reflection, no candle ceremony, we were constantly sharing our opinions and philosophies with one another, or, on the other hand, singing ’80s rock loudly on the bus. I am so grateful for the community we built, and am confident that on the presidential Election Day in November we will be messaging one another from different corners of the country as we sit in our college dorms, sending polls and comparing ridiculous political satire.

4 1. Students at Saint Anselm College near the debate venue. 2. Posing in front of Ted Cruz’s bus after attending his rally. 3. Class photo in front of the Saint Anselm Republican Presidential Debate stage.

4. Dinner with the monks of Saint Anselm.

Service Trip

SERVICE TRIP

Dominican Republic by Kailen Whang

Over the February ski week vacation, a group of 12 students and 2 chaperones went to the Dominican Republic on a community service trip. Our students learned about so much more than just the country; they also learned how to be caring, humble, and responsible people. They have created memories to last their whole lives and within those memories, the local people we met will be one of the best parts of the trip. All of our students, who at the beginning of the week were unsure of what to expect, were completely committed and grateful by the end. Our schedule was very full during the eight days that we were there. After over 12 hours of traveling, we arrived very late at night and practically fell into our hotel beds. The next few days involved more travel to our volunteer site and seas of sugar cane fields greeted us. Students were given the opportunity to cut sugar cane with machetes and tried fresh caĂąo right from the fields. We were exposed to more and more of the history, politics, and corruption that envelop the bateyes communities we were there to serve. Continued on page 24

SERVICE TRIP

SERVICE TRIP 24

We visited two bateyes, La Jagua and Monte Coca. Both had limited access to running water, electricity, sufficient food, and education. Bathrooms were simple latrines and houses did not have sealed walls or proper roofs. They were made of metal sheets, wood branches, clay, and cement. The batey people had clothing that was not clean and didn’t fit well; shoes were lacking. We were tasked with mixing and pouring cement to create floors for a few houses in La Jagua. We worked together with the community, who were just as committed and involved in these projects. Adults and children alike were excited to see us and were very hospitable. Working in the Monte Coca community was a larger project–it was a larger community in general and we built a latrine as well as helped to build a cinder block house. After tough work, experiencing a different culture, and being exposed to the harrowing circumstances that these people were subjected to, everyone felt grateful for this eye-opening learning experience and not to take what we have for granted. This is what it was all about: being resilient, finishing and accomplishing our projects, and being in the company of each other and new friends in the community. We closed the trip with an expedition to the beautiful island of Saona and some exploring in the colonial zone of the capital city, Santo Domingo. There is so much history and beauty that the Dominican Republic offers, but still a lot of progress that needs to be made for equality and justice for all.

5. JR Brandin ‘18 figured out how to work and play at the same time! 6. Derek Abarca ‘18 helps to clear a field of sugar cane. 7. Anna Barton ‘19 and Cate Tomlinson ‘19 spend some time with the children at the bateyes.

8. Hard working students and chaperones take a moment for a group photo in the Domincan Republic.

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1. A freshly laid cement floor in a home. 2. Students and locals work together on building the foundation of a home.

3. Anna Barton ‘19 and Cate Tomlinson ‘19 with just a few of the many children in the town.

4. Annie Boyle ‘19 and Maisy McWright ‘19 enjoy a day in Bayahibe.

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Priory’s Adult Spirituality Retreats by Molly Buccola

“The parent retreats at Priory are a unique way for parents to connect with the monastery spirit that our children experience daily. They welcome people of all faiths. Every year, I look forward to the parent retreats and afterward, I feel so energized and grateful. All Priory parents should experience an adult spirituality retreat at least once.” - Christine Dinh-Tan “Trust the inner voice that is nudging you to sign up. Quiet the nagging voice that is telling you that you don’t have the time or need a friend to sign up with you. The time spent in retreat will rejuvenate and replenish you in ways you never imagined and it all happens in a friendly, supportive community. You’ll be amazed at the new friends you make as well as the peace you feel.” - Peg Phelps “The retreats offer a few hours to be peaceful and reflective about ways in which you would like your own life to be going. You get to meet other parents whose Priory paths you might not cross otherwise. I have felt nourished by the conversations, sharing, and exercises each of the retreats I have attended. The retreats have also helped me feel closer to the school and to the parent community." - Suzanne Price “The retreats are a warm and wonderful way to connect with the Priory community, which is supportive and welcoming. A nice way to slow down and reflect in this fast paced society. As an added bonus, they are convenient (you don’t have to travel for hours to a retreat center) and free!” - Lisa Putnam

“The last thing a conscientious parent needs is one more thing to do. Instead, each of us craves a way of living that brings everything we are doing together, meaningfully. We want to enjoy our families and be effective professionals, to feel healthy… and to know that we are making a difference.” (Sam Rahberg, St. Paul’s Monastery) Rahberg’s thought is particularly true in our fast-paced, high-performing, Silicon Valley culture. The Benedictine tradition offers ways to find stillness and meaning in our chaotic lives. It encourages a balance of work and prayer (Ora et Labora). For fifteen hundred years monks throughout the world have diligently worked running businesses (schools, farms, distilleries, printing presses, etc.) that serve their communities and pay their living expenses. Amidst their labor, they stop to pray together at set times. They drop their tools and head to the chapel for short prayer sessions. In worship and stillness, they reframe mindsets, remember work’s purpose, seek strength, build community, and give thanks. St. Benedict’s Rule calls monks to find a life of balance, meaning and peace. Throughout the past three years, Priory has extended its retreat program to welcome the adult community. Parents, alumni, faculty, and staff grasp opportunities to explore Benedictine tradition in a safe and welcoming environment. Retreats are complete with talks on ways St. Benedict’s Rule is applicable to personal, professional, and familial lives in Silicon Valley today. They always spark fruitful sharing and discussion amongst the participants as the environment is welcoming and intimate. There is always time for journaling, small group discussion, and artistic reflection as well. The retreats are a special time to pause, reflect, and possibly redirect. 2015-16 Parent Retreats: • Stewards of Creation: Benedictine Environmentalism and Stewardship (October) • Monastic Vows: Stability, Obedience, and Conversion of Life (November) • Advent: Connecting with Self, Community, and God (December) • Yoga Renewal Retreat (January) • Living Ordinary Life Extraordinarily Well (February) • Benedictine Daily Routine (May)

Priory’s faculty and staff are full of interesting facts. Here are just a few of the latest “Did You Know?”

ADMISSIONS AT A GLANCE

Did you know… …that Kitchen Manager Peter Agoston organized a search effort for a hiker who went missing in 2013? For the past two years, Peter has lead a group of volunteer searchers to the Mammoth Lakes area to search for any signs of a missing hiker named Matt Greene. Peter did not know Greene personally, but because of his involvement with several other search and rescue missions, including a search for Larry Conn, a fellow hiker and friend, he felt compelled to get involved. Peter also started Reconn.org which is a forum that allows hikers and climbers to post travel itineraries, equipment, maps, and photos so that loved ones can have vital information if they go missing. …that Math teacher extraordinaire Todd Turner was a standout baseball player at Spokane Falls Community College? He was recently inducted into the Spokane Falls Athletic Hall of Fame!

The 2015-16 school year was a very busy season for Admissions!

How many students shadowed? 404 MS- 166 US- 238

How many applications for day? 446 MS- 204 US- 242

How many applications for boarding? 148 How many different countries did students apply from? 11 (China, Saudi Arabia, Cay-

…that English teacher and Academic Counselor Kathy Gonzalez published two new books in the past year? A Beautiful Woman in Venice recounts the biographies of over 35 remarkable Venetian women spanning six centuries, from writers to artists, courtesans to boat racers, nuns to lace makers. In January, Kathy published a short book on Sarra Copia Sulam, a Jewish writer and salonniere. Both books are published in Venice, while Kathy independently published A Beautiful Woman here in the States. She and music teacher Tina Paulson will be presenting a recital/lecture on these women in May in San Jose. …that English teacher Chris Georgules was a twotime All-American in the 3,000m indoor track for Boston College? He was also the National Catholic Champion for cross-country and led Boston College to the team title. It is not surprising that Chris was recently inducted into the Boston College Athletic Hall of Fame!

DID YOU KNOW

PARENT RETREATS

Finding Sanctuary:

man Islands, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France, Hungary, Japan and Switzerland)

What country had the highest number of applicants? China (114 applicants!)

How many people attended the Open Houses? 606 MS- 263 US- 343

How many interviews were done? 342 MS- 167 US- 175 (Day)

In mid January, the freshmen and sophomore classes took part in a full week of service. Community Engagement Director Gulliver LaValle explained, “Our focus is on experience and not hours.” The freshmen class rotated to four different locations over the week. This allowed them to experience different types of service from working with the elderly, sustainability, helping families in need, and tutoring. The freshman groups provided assistance at the following places: • The Sequoias: An elderly care facility in Portola Valley in which students visited different living areas such as the Memory Loss section or the Independent Living section. Students were able to talk, play games, have meals, read, and sometimes just sit and listen with the residents. • Acterra: Students worked at various outdoor locations such as the Arastradero Preserve, Foothills Park, and Hawthorns in Portola Valley. A variety of work was performed from maintaining trails, restoring habitats, and removing invasive plant species. • Ecumenical Hunger Program: Students organized food and donated items for distribution to families in need. • 49ers Academy: Located in East Palo Alto, Priory students provided tutoring services to middle school aged students. The sophomore class was able to select which organization they wanted to volunteer at. The idea was that they would use their experience from their Freshman Service Week to find an area where they were passionate about. Sophomores spent the week at one location, so they were able to build close connections with others. The locations that the sophomores worked at were: • PlayWorks at Cesar Chavez Elementary School: Students created PE curriculum planning and execution with kids in grades K-8. • St. Francis Center: Sorted and distributed food and clothing for Redwood City families in need. Students also provided tutoring for 4th and 8th graders. • St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Hall: Prepped and served food to the homeless or disadvantaged. • Abilities United: Had both a PreSchool program and an Adult Program for preschoolers and adults with disabilities. • YMCA Camp Jones Gulch in Pescadero: Trail building and maintenance, pulling weeds, maintaining and diverting creeks. • Catholic Charities Adult Day Services: Worked with elderly who required additional support and needs. The goal for Service Week was best summed up by Gulliver LaValle who said, “We hope that this week gives them a connection to finding the type of service that they would feel passionate about and want to continue to do into their adulthood without having to feel like they were checking a box for service, but getting into the work for the sake of giving. This ties into the Benedictine balance of finding your individuality within the service while connecting with a larger community.”

SERVICE WEEK

SERVICE WEEK 28

Service with a Passion

1. Katie Hammond ‘19 spends quality time with a resident at the Sequoias. 2. Stuart Feng ‘19 helps to clear some brush at Hawthorns. 3. Samantha Allison ‘18, Gloria Schnuderl ‘18, Charis Chiu ‘18, Maria Garcia-Lozano ‘18, and Rebecca Suta ‘18 prepare to do some muddy work at Camp Jones.

“My Hannah had a great experience. She loved especially working with the very old and the very young. Thanks for pouring all that effort into creating a great experience for the kids. She now feels like she is okay working with kids and is looking forward to doing more of it on a church service trip to Mexicali during winter break!” —Kathleen O’Rourke (Freshman parent) 6

4. Even on a cold and rainy day, the sophomore students cleared a creek at Camp Jones. 5. Freshmen students help to clear invasive plants from the Arastradero Preserve area. 6. Alondra Manriquez ‘18 helps to serve a meal at the San Carlos Adult Day center.

“It was an interesting and new experience for me. It was difficult at first and harder to establish connections, but I realized after a while that being there to show care is important. I wish we had more stuff planned out to see what we can do to help out.” —Miya Herman ‘18

San Carlos Adult Day center.

9. Joseph Calderon ‘18, Derek Abarca ‘18, Claire Ryland ‘18, and Olivia Flynn ‘18 give an enthusiastic thumbs up at the St. Francis Center. 10. Freshman students help to organize the pantry at the Ecumenical Hunger Program.

SERVICE WEEK

“Overall, it was a meaningful experience. It was nice to interact with different generations.” —Max Habeck ‘18

6. Sophomores at Cesar Chavez Elementary School. 7. Freshman group eager to get started at the Sequoias. 8. Sergio Calderon ‘18 gives an impromptu concert at the

2 6

7 8

1. Keyshawn Ashford ‘18 and JR Brandin ‘18 interact with members of Abilities United. 2. Sammie Sargent ‘18 and Lena Bhagat ‘18 play with young children in the Abilities United preschool area. 3. Freshman students at the Sequoias. 4. Max Fairon ‘18 and Mikhail Saliba ‘18 clean a playroom at Abilities United preschool.

5. Chris Gao ‘18, Mick Jeon ‘18, and Jack Smith ‘18 prep lunch at St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Hall.

“The experience made me think about how fragile we are. It gave me more perspective about myself and my family at home. I want to spend more time with elderly people.”

4 5

—Jasmine Tang ‘18 10

The Man With the Plan

PROFILE

David Brett

David Brett is an alumni parent (Michael ‘13 and Anna ‘15) and a veteran of the commercial construction and real estate industries. For the past three years, he has been the Head of the Board of Trustees Buildings and Grounds Committee. It’s been a busy three years. Here he shares his thoughts on budgets, his alliance with Father Maurus, and breaking ground on Priory’s newest projects: the STREAM Building and the track and field. Interview by Emily (Kirkland) Mangini

How did you get involved with the Board of Trustees Buildings and Grounds Committee? One of my dear friends, Jami Nachtsheim, recruited me. She is a former president of the Board of Trustees and said that they needed someone with construction experience. She asked if would I mind sitting in on a few meetings. I thought, how much work can it be? Little did I know what I was getting into –it has turned into quite the labor of love! As the head of the Building and Grounds Committee, my job is to take building projects that the school wants to move forward with and make them happen. I am there every step of the way, from conceptual design, to budgeting, all the way to the finished building. My job is to make sure that the school gets what it wants, on time, and within budget.

Budgets seems to come up a lot–is it all a numbers game? My mission is to show the donors that their money is used wisely. But then, donors also want the bells and whistles. They want to back something that they can be proud of, but they want it done responsibly. I treat each project as if it is being built with my own money. I want to make sure that the finished product is functional, beautiful, and achieved without spending what I call “stupid money.”

Why were you interested in getting involved on the Building and Grounds Committee? I first came to Priory seven years ago when my son was a freshman. It took me a couple of years to get immersed in the culture of the school and understand what makes it tick. The more I was around, the more I grew to appreciate the community. I am really drawn to the Priory’s philosophy of acceptance–it resonated with me.

How have you found the experience on the Board of Trustees? It’s been incredible. Construction and real estate can be tough and gritty. At Priory, I am in a room with very gentle, spiritual, and thoughtful individuals. That has tempered some of my intensity, and it makes for a very enjoyable experience.

What was your involvement with the Benedictine Building construction? It was actually already designed when I joined the committee. In fact, it was over-designed and over budget. We had to change paths, and start over from scratch. We hired a new architect and made the building what it should have been all along–natural, authentic, and sustainable. We built it for $2.5 million less than the original plan. How have you been involved with the STREAM Building? We started with a clean sheet of paper. We took the faculty wish lists to the architect, and when the plans came in over budget, we went back to the drawing board and made cuts to the classroom and lab size. This was not popular at first, but we made the square footage loss fairly minimal–reducing the classrooms and labs by six percent. That saved us $400,000 and got us back on track with the budget. We minimized the impact on the users, but maximized the savings.

How has it been working with Father Maurus? Father Maurus is a great voice of wisdom and pragmatism. He is as frugal as it gets, and he’s usually on my side of the argument when I think something is too extravagant. He is a great voice of restraint.

What are some of the future projects on the Building and Grounds agenda? The very first project I was brought on to seven years ago was the new track and field. We are finally getting ready to break ground, and I am really excited. Every student will use the track and field, even if just to take a walk or sit on the grass. I believe it is one of the most important projects to come to the table since I’ve been here. The body, mind and soul are all one organism, and we can’t treat them separately. We have to find a balance, and I think that’s what Priory is about–finding balance. Was there anything else that drew you to be in service to the school and the monks? (Laughing) No, I don’t think so. But actually, I have to run–I am late for a Priory budget meeting.

by Kathy Gonzalez

Father Maurus declares that the new STREAM building “will serve our young people for the next half century.” He taught science at the Priory for 43 years and has been instrumental in developing plans for the new building, as he did previously for the PAC and the Benedictine classrooms. “As a science lover, I can see how welcome it will be for my fellow science teachers to do what they love to do,” he says. Rather than the PAC’s stage showcasing Priory’s actors, singers, dancers, and musicians, the STREAM building will provide a stage for artists, designers, engineers, makers, and scientists. This opportunity will morph into reality when teachers and students move into the new STREAM building in the 2017 school year. STREAM

First Floor

incorporates Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Art, and Math. The two story, 12,000 square foot space will house three science labs, four art and computer science classes, a dedicated robotics workshop, and a covered, outdoor flex space that can be utilized for testing robots, glass blowing, metal casting, and modeling designs. A tall ceiling in the robotics room and large windows plus a sliding wall will bring in light and enhance ventilation. “There’s a very different dynamic when you’re working side by side and can see the design process,” Yvonne Faisal, Engineering and Math teacher, believes. The new space will potentially change the way students think, create, and design.

Learning Approved by the Portola Valley Planning Commission this March, the project will break ground in August, after the present art building is demolished. Father Maurus remembers when the Priory purchased the current building from the Palo Alto Veterans Association for one dollar. It served as a barbershop, a library, a history building, a student center, and finally as art classrooms. Priory parent Eric Harrison is spearheading the Building Ingenuity Campaign, and fundraising is well underway. David Brett, who helped bring the Benedictine classrooms to fruition, continues as the Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee. As the building details take shape, teachers and staff continue to be closely involved in the design process, solving problems and dreaming of new spaces.

Reed Sullivan, Shawn Matson, and Father Martin have been teaching drawing and painting, metals, clay, glass, and film plus digital photography in the present space. Improved facilities should allow for more opportunities to try new types of glass work, more storage for student works-in-progress, and collaboration by both students and teachers. “The new tool shop will be sweet,” adds Matson. “It will unify the programs of engineering, robotics, and the arts.” Computer Science teacher Christine Hemiup looks forward to increased opportunities for this type of cross-disciplinary work. She and Reed Sullivan have been teaching a CAD and Product Design for 3-D Printing course for the last three years and are excited to expand the curriculum and implement the use of the 3-D printers and laser cutting into all

FEATURE

Setting a New Stage for

“because it’s bringing them onto the campus.” The teachers have had to make do with barn space and workshops spread amongst various buildings. They will now have a dedicated workshop and a covered space where they can test their robots. Richard Paige looks forward to this improved work space for more practical reasons. “With proper electrical power and a much larger work space,” he says, “we’ll be able to have more students using power tools simultaneously. And we won’t have to transport the robot to Church Square or the PAC every time we want to take a test run.” “Hopefully the new space will bring in robotics as a normal, daily class,” adds Christine Hemiup, who also hopes that more young

women will join the program because it will become easier to fit it into their schedules. Bob Bessin and Paul Trudelle will enjoy new lab space as their physics classes move into the new STREAM building. “Physics is a very handson endeavor,” states Bessin. “The new space allows what we do in the lab to be more easily seen and developed because we can move from thinking to doing and back again.” Paul Trudelle, Priory’s longest-tenured teacher, is excited for the larger rooms because he can set up labs for multiple projects at the same time. “Working near the flex/ engineering space and tool room should provide a place for students to work on their physics projects,”

he adds. Picture a room full of popsicle sticks as all those bridges take shape! Priory’s new STREAM building is not just a set of classrooms—it’s a stage. Yvonne Faisal points out that critical thinking happens when we watch others figure something out, when we hear others’ conversations, when we collaborate on a solution. “Students will put together a plan, implement it, and sometimes it will fail,” she explains. “Students will see this failure so it becomes a norm, not a setback.” Resilience and improved designs will blossom from this process. Faisal notes, “The new STREAM building will be a stage for watching it happen.”

FEATURE

FEATURE 36

STREAM classes. “The new building will increase collaboration between departments,” she says, “and it will become easier to increase offerings and interdisciplinary classes.” With the push to increase cross-disciplinary projects across the curriculum, this new space should offer new opportunities for teachers to design creatively together. Head of Upper School Brian Schlaak points out, “Each teacher could do it on their own, but when they do it together, it’s better.” Hemiup, who also works with Richard Paige to guide the Priory Barn 2 Robotics team, anticipates the robotics move to the new space. “It’s huge for robotics,” says Head of School Tim Molak,

Second Floor

FEATURE

FEATURE 38

Back on Track For years the cross-country and track and field teams have learned to train on a dirt track with sharp turns at every corner. Well, things are about to change. A new track and field is finally coming to the Priory. What will this new track and field bring to the athletic program? Mark Stogner, Athletic Director, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our upper school cross country and track and field teams have the largest amount of participants out of all of our programs. This will allow for our program to grow and will give our athletes the best training opportunity. Our new facility will also give our athletes competitive equality with the other teams in our league and section.â&#x20AC;? The new 6 lane, 400 meter regulation size track and field will be large enough to host even an international soccer game. Construction is scheduled to begin in May and completed by the fall of 2016.

Track and Field Features 6 lane, 400 meter track Shotput Pad Discus Pad Long Jump/Triple Jump 2 Storage Sheds

Our recent gala, The Emerald Ball, was a huge success, thanks to the leadership of Carolyn Putney and the many staff and volunteers who put in countless hours of hard work, creativity and dedication. We earned a record breaking $700K, with the largest donations going toward Financial Aid. Thank you! The transformation of our campus has created an amazing learning environment for our students. With the January approval from our Board of Directors, closely followed by the unanimous approval from the Town Council ASCC of our building plans, we are on track to begin construction in the coming months on our STREAM Center (Science Technology Robotics Engineering Art Math). The new 12K square foot center will include 3 new science labs, a robotics/flex space, 4 art classrooms, a digital lab, a tool shop, and a covered outdoor flex space. Thankfully, we continue to have Priory alum parent and trustee David Brett as the chair of our Buildings and Grounds Committee. David brings his 30+ years of construction management skills to the table and closely oversees all details surrounding construction to make sure all donations are prudently invested. Largely because of David’s supervision, the construction costs have come in on time and $1M under budget. With the Abbot’s approval to begin construction of the STREAM Center, and because construction costs came in under the projections, the Directors also agreed to expand the scope of the campaign to include the construction of the Track and Field project. Our permit to build the Track and Field would have expired in December 2015 unless we planned to start construction on this project immediately. Priory parent David Schinski has volunteered to be the point person on this project based on his experience with the athletic department at Stanford University. Construction of the six lane 400 meter track and regulation size grass infield will (finally!) begin once the rain ends and be completed by late fall 2016. Thank you for your dedicated commitment to these improvements to provide a balanced educational environment for all of our students. Our efforts are now focused on finishing this campaign and raising the final funds before our 60th Anniversary in the fall of 2017. Wishing you a most blessed spring,

Siobhán Lawlor Director of Development

DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT 40

Dear Priory Community, Our Benedictine value of balance creates an interesting juxtaposition here in Silicon Valley–a place where our ancient ideals intersect with the most innovative and cutting edge place on the planet. Balance is still as relevant and important today as it was a thousand years ago. Balance of prayer and work, of artistic and athletic, of academic and leisure. As we celebrate spring and our many accomplishments, we also strive to balance the many ways Priory serves our students and invites them to explore the various opportunities and programs we offer, which are described below. Our recent high school performance of the hysterical Tony Award winning musical comedy, ”The Drowsy Chaperone,” was well received. Included in the production was the use of our orchestra pit containing 15 of our student musicians. Balancing artistic with athletic, our basketball programs are reaching new heights. Our girls basketball program made Priory history by winning the Skyline Division championship (lower division in the WBAL). They advanced to the Central Coast Section DV championship, again a first, losing to powerhouse Eastside Prep. The boys repeated as the CCS DV champions, our second section championship in school history. The boys advanced to the NorCal semi-finals, losing to the eventual champion St. Joseph Notre Dame.

As we celebrate spring and our many accomplishments, we also strive to balance the many ways Priory serves our students and invites them to explore the various opportunities and programs we offer.

GALA

The Emerald Ball … a gem of a tradition An Extraordinary Night for the Priory Community!

The greens came in every shade, as Priory’s Emerald Ball returned to Sharon Heights Country Club after a 50 year hiatus. Beginning in 1963 The Emerald Ball was THE major social and fundraising event of the year and continued, every year, until the 1980’s. Symbolic of the continuity and traditional spirit of the school, Gala Chair Carolyn Putney chose to honor Priory’s legacy by reinstituting The Emerald Ball as the theme for Priory’s 2016 annual auction. A dedicated team of committed parent volunteers worked tirelessly with Carolyn to make her vision a reality. Sandra Fairon and her team decorated the ballroom in understated elegance with walls awash in green lights and bowls full of roses a top shimmering satin linens. And every guest was gifted with an emerald ring at their place setting! An exceptional array of wines, expertly curated once again by Judi Jaeger, kept guests hovering over their bids. Extraordinary items dazzled the silent auction tables including creations by Reed Sullivan and her metalsmithing students, Shawn Matson and his glass students and skateboards designed and built by Rick Riebhoff and his students. The live auction was a rousing competition for phenomenal experiences like dinner with renowned race car driver Mario Andretti, VIP tickets to see the Jimmy Fallon Show in New York City and an Irish vacation of a lifetime with stays in a 600 year old castle and a 300 year old Dublin mansion!

43 8 3

4 1. Caitha Ambler delivers the MS Cake to Kathy Hurley. 2. Tim Molak with Gala Chair, Carolyn Putney, get the party rolling!

3. Student volunteers assisted guests with mobile bidding: (l-r)

John Gregory ‘16, Mark Theis ‘18, Claudia Tamer ‘17, Valerie Filloux ‘17, Arisa Herman ‘16, Cris Yuan ‘16, and Max Fairon ‘18.

4. For the third year in a row, Jerome Simon wins the Hungarian Duck dinner prepared by Father Maurus.

5. Scott Weiss–laser focused on his bidding progress. 6. The Gala Committee: Mary Rose Theis, Kathy Fitzgerald, Judi Jaeger, Peg Phelps, Kari Rust, Karolina Lewer, Carolyn Putney, Donna Chandra, Susan Nell, Karen Gunn, Barbara Calbert, Kaleo Serughetti-Waxman, Christy Occhipinti, Jean Girarusso, Sue Leiter, and Karen Gregory.

7. Sharon Fotre is the Queen of Green! 8. Father Martin congratulates Patti Lee-Hoffmann and Steven Hoffmann, winners of his 32nd Tall Clock!

9. Former Gala Chair, Annalisa King with current Gala Chair, Carolyn Putney. 10. Peg Phelps revels in her Father Martin Pizza Party win! 11. Winners of the Dean’s Cake...Olivia and Brian Gaynor-Long. 12. Gala Reservation Chairs: Karen Gregory and Kathy Fitzgerald have taken RSVP’s and seated guests since 2011.

ANNUAL FUND

ANNUAL FUND 44

Faculty and Staff kicked-off this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Fund with an enthusiastic 100% participation.

The significant advantages classroom and beyond, have through generous gifts

of a PRIORY education, in the been enhanced year after year to the Priory Annual Fund.

ANNUAL FUND

Our community is small by design, providing the opportunity for every student to be known and loved by name. Our giving community is small, too. So, every gift is important, every gift counts, every gift makes a difference. Thank you to our outstanding team of Annual Fund parent volunteers whose hard work, tireless effort and heartfelt belief in Priory’s mission helped secure 91% participation in this year’s Annual Fund. We are proud of this accomplishment and for the generosity of our entire community.

Priory’s dedicated parent volunteers strive for 100% participation by all the families in their class. 15-16 Percent Participation by Class The Class of 2022 was the first to achieve 100% school-wide.

47 Annual Fund Parent Volunteers The Class of 2019 was the first to achieve 100% participation for the upper school.

Founders Club Ambassadors M.J. Castelo Jennie Chiu-Schaepe Paula Hughes Meredith Pasquesi

15-16 Class Chairs Class of 2022 Class of 2021 Class of 2020 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2017 Class of 2016

Cynthia Becker Martha Deevy & Judy Zafran M.J. Castelo & Bryan Sinclair Donna Chandra, Mary Duling & Patti Lee-Hoffmann Laura Cornish & Kaleo Serughetti-Waxman Sharon Fotre & Kari Rust Maria Johnson & Lisa Royals

Annual Fund volunteers: Kari Rust, Sharon Fotre, Donna Chandra, Mary Gaston-Duling, Patti Lee-Hoffmann, M.J. Castelo, Jennie Chiu, Judy Zafran, Martha Deevy, Meredith Pasquesi, Laura Cornish and Suzanne Couch.

Your Annual Fund Dollars at Work The impact of Annual Fund gifts resonate throughout the campus all year long. Tangibly and intangibly. Gifts to the Annual Fund are accompanied by the gift of trust. Trust that school administration will use the funds where they are most needed to perpetuate the mission of the school. Some of the tangible evidence of the Annual Fund at work is listed below. The intangible evidence comes to life through our students as they grow into lifelong learners and stewards who will productively serve a world in need of their gifts. This year’s assemblies enlightened, inspired and informed students on the value of sleep with Dr. Rafael Pelayo, online responsibility and safety with CBS News’ Larry Magid, on marijuana with Kaiser Permanente’s Dr. Dean Blumberg, on the life of an astronaut with Dr. Andrew Feustel and, Priory girls heard from Brie Mathers, the founder of “Love the Skin You’re In.” The girls volleyball, soccer and basketball teams all received snazzy new uniforms. The faculty lounge, student center and the music department all have state-of-the art digital signage systems. Security cameras were installed in Fr. Egon Plaza and Schilling Square. 24 state-of-the art laptops were configured to create a new mobile computer lab. The student body was economically diversified with 68 financial aid students. Twilight Events like the Ice Cream Social on the pool deck and the Jurassic Park movie night brought Middle Schoolers together to socialize and build community. Productions, like the recent Drowsy Chaperone and Treasure Island are evidence of incredible talent as well as the funding to bring it to life. Then there’s the iconic Priory cookie, 17,760 of them, evidence of a robust hospitality and a sweet reminder of the gratitude that prevails in a place where all are welcome!

CLASS NEWS & NOTES

CLASS NEWS & NOTES 48

Note: If you would like to become a Reunion Class Agent, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@prioryca. org or (650) 851-6138. And remember to check out Woodside Priory Alumni Association on Facebook for additional photos and updates!

Congratulations to all our Priory alumni who graduated college this year! Best of luck in all your future endeavors. Always we begin again.

1963

Tom Wade (right) and 1964 Richard McCoy (left) met up with Tim Molak and Brian Schlaak in New York City.

1984

Nels Paine is the Vice President and Executive Board Member of Oregon Wildlife, a non-profit aimed at conserving fish, wildlife, and the natural habitat throughout Oregon. Nels graduated from SMU in 1988 and is an avid outdoorsman and cyclist living in Portland with his wife and six children.

1963

David Arnold is the principal and founder of a boutique executive search firm focused on CFO and Board search for both public and private companies. He has placed over 100 CFO’s into a wide variety of industries up and down the West Coast. Dave has spent the last 20 years in executive search after beginning his career in finance at Sun Microsystems and Apple Computer. Dave holds a BA from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

1988

1- Jean Henri Lhuillier (far left) with the Philippine Davis Cup Team. From left to right: Karl Santamaria, Ruben Gonzales, Francis Casey Alcantara, Patrick John Tierro, Treat Huey, and Roland Kraut. 2- Jean Henri Lhuillier with the Philippine Mavericks at the Manila leg of IPTL 2015. From left to right: (back) Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Treat Huey, Jarmila Gajdošová, (front) Richard Gasquet, Mark Philippoussis, Sabine Lisicki, Serena Williams, Jean Henri Lhuillier, and Milos Raonic. Philippine tennis has been experiencing a renaissance in the last couple of years, thanks to the untiring efforts of Philippine sports patron Jean Henri Lhuillier and his company Cebuana Lhuillier. In 2015, Lhuillier funded the ITF Men’s Futures tournament in Manila and was also a co-owner and team manager of the Philippine Mavericks, one of the teams in the International Premiere Tennis League (IPTL). It was also through these events, which Lhuillier supported, that international players such as Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal were able to play for the Philippine audience. This 2016, Lhuillier recently helped mount another notable tennis event, the ATP Challenger tournament, which is the first to be held in the Philippines in 22 years. The spectacle paraded world-class players such as former world number 8 Mikhail Youzhny who captured the singles title as well as 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion Frederik Nielsen who won the doubles title with partner Johan Brunstrom of Sweden. It is through dedicated supporters like Lhuillier that athletes in the Philippines are given the opportunities to get the training and exposure that they need to pursue their passion and further their careers. Philippine tennis is indeed in the upswing.

1988-1

1994

Carl Ward graduated 8th grade at Woodside Priory. Since Woodside Priory, he played soccer for Serra High in San Mateo and then graduated to go to University of Arizona in Tucson. He played soccer there for two years and decided to change majors. He came back home to SF and started to attend art schools to find his niche. USF and CCAC had a program that introduced him to Professional Photography and the rest is history. He got into Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, graduated in the top of his class and won several awards for his work. After school, he interned for a high profile celebrity photographer in LA, and after that he moved back home to SF to start his own business. He has been now running his own Professional Photography Studio for over 10 years. Carl has the privilege to work for several magazines, as well as large corporate businesses all over the country.

1988-2

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50th Reunion 45th Reunion 40th Reunion 35th Reunion 30th Reunion 25th Reunion 20th Reunion 15th Reunion 10th Reunion 5th Reunion

2000

Jeffrey Lin announced that he and his wife Sherry, now living in Redmond, Washington, had a baby boy, Elliot, on January 5, 2015. Jeffrey now works for Microsoft.

2004

Alexis Smith has left Facebook after 6 years and is now a Product Manager at SalesforceIQ.

2006

Molly Magnuson met with Mirthia Prince ’15 for a Stanford interview!

2007

2009

Emma Henkens (front row center) is currently working on a MSc degree at Oxford University in Environmental Change Management, a program in the department of Geography. Oxford University students are all part of a college as well, and she is at Keble College, where she is shown here with other grad students preparing to go to an event in the required formal attire of the university. They wear a variant of this attire for meals when they dine “in college” as well. They are, obviously, hamming it up a little! She loves Oxford–city and university–and is really learning a lot in her degree, where she is focusing on aquifer depletion and other water issues, especially the policy surrounding those issues.

2009

Marcus Willhite and Kim Szabo dropped by the campus to check out the new buildings. They ran into Father Martin who gave them a tour and they gave the new facilities a resounding thumbs up.

2013

Emily Ting was back from her study abroad in Japan.

2014

Tom Latta was Don Juan in the Dartmouth play “Don Juan Comes Back from the War.” Tom was the only male character in the play.

2014 2013

Kate Laubscher competed on Jeopardy! College Championship in early February. Kate is a sophomore at Northeastern University and is majoring in political science and communications. (photo courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)

2015

1 - Sam Ogunleye, Ameyalli Rocha, and Nariko Ruiz visited the Priory and said hello to Mr. Zappelli. 2 - Neil Ragavan and Vick Xu came by the Priory during their spring break.

2015-1

CLASS NEWS & NOTES

CLASS NEWS & NOTES 50

2007

2015-2

SUSTAINABILITY

Greetings Earth People! The 2015-2016 school year has seen continued progress and new high-points in the Priory’s ‘Path to Sustainability.’ We have deepened our commitment to sustainable schooling, at the same time as we have had the chance to work with a broader base of constituents. Here are a few of this year’s highlights: • For the second year in a row, the Priory earned Gold Medal Recognition in the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Education’s joint project, the Green Ribbon School Award Program. The award honors the school on the basis of energy and water conservation, habitat protection, and waste reduction, as well as the school’s educational and health-and-wellness programs.

• An upper school elective, Ecological Design and Sustainability, was first offered during the 2014-2015 school year. In that initial course offering, students and Mr. Clark built a 900-gallon aquaponics system, featuring 120 kale plants and 100 bass and catfish in a closed-loop water system. The aquaponics system continues to flourish this year, with our three-inch baby bass having grown into true ‘lunkers’, nearly twelve inches in length! Meanwhile, this year’s Eco Design class decided to try something different. After seeking costly bids from high-end professional installers, the small group of students and Mr. Clark designed a 360-square foot ‘living wall’ for the entrance to the student center and cafeteria. Installation of the living wall entailed demolition of existing features, new construction, the temporary implementation of a thirty-foot tall scaffolding, and the hanging of several dozen ‘wooly pocket’ panels with integrated irrigation. The final project is now thriving and features more than five hundred ferns, bromeliads, and other broadleaf tropical plants, as well as an integrated irrigation system that delivers nutrient-rich fertilizer water from the aquaponics system. It is a beautiful new addition to the Priory campus, and a point of pride for students as they enter the cafeteria.

In the school’s Franklin Garden, new groups have emerged to help keep the garden verdant and productive. Parent volunteers lead by Jill Wernicke and Lisa Putnam come to the garden on Monday and Friday mornings to help with seeding, planting, and harvests. Sometimes, the parent group can include as many as twelve volunteers. They keep busy working in the garden, but seem to be merry enjoying themselves as they compete to make the tastiest smoothies, salads, and pickling recipes. Some of their recipes have been adopted by the kitchen, and are served in the salad bar. Additionally, Kindra Briggs is teaching a new English elective this year, the Discourse of Dining. Students in this class read stories, essays, and reviews of and about food. Then, every other week or so, they venture into the garden to work, cook, and eat on site. The continued expansion of the garden and its community outreach efforts has been a high point in broadening the scope of the school’s overall sustainability efforts and consciousness. Another new project on campus this year has been spearheaded by Megan Love ’17. On a sophomore class service learning retreat, Megan learned about the ways in which non-native star-thistle is wreaking ecological havoc in the Peninsula’s plant communities. Megan brought the problem to Mr. Clark’s attention, and together they developed a multi-year plan to eradicate the weed from the Priory’s grassy hillside. With the help of student volunteers and Sustainability club members, Megan has overseen the removal of several hundred pounds of the prickly shrub. Not only will the removal of this plant help to make sure that other native plants have a high-quality habitat, this effort also helps to ensure that the hillside will remain a pleasant place to walk, play, and explore. Cheers to Megan for serving as a role model of leadership, stewardship, and lifelong learning. Please join me in celebrating these awesome efforts and achievements. And, if you are in the area, please visit the school to see the many ways that we are using the school campus as a way of demonstrating for our students the importance, ease, and satisfaction of sustainable operations.

Best Wishes and Many Thanks for your Support!

1. The new living wall that was designed and installed by the Eco Design class.

Sincerely,

2. Proud Eco Design students after the initial ‘dry’ installation of plants on the living wall. 3. Parent volunteers with summer harvest. 4. John Gregory makes sure that a post is level, in the

Hovey Clark Priory Sustainability Coordinator

construction of the garden’s new composting area.

5. Students are interviewed after the Benedictine Building won a Green Ribbon Award from the Sustainable San Mateo County.

MONASTERY NEWS

Stay Connected Friend us on our Facebook page where you can keep up to date with the latest Priory events. www.facebook.com/woodside.priory.5 See photos on Flickr of past and current events. www.flickr.com/photos/paxpanther/ Follow us on Instagram @woodsidepriorypanthers. People love our Throwback Thursday photos from the archives- you never know, you might be in one!

View past performances, slideshows and other various videos on our YouTube Channel. www.youtube.com/user/paxpanther ALUMNI!

During their visit to Saint Anselm for the New Hampshire Primary, Priory students took a special trip to pay their respects at the final resting place of Brother Edward Englund.

Let us know what you are up to. We love learning about the interesting things you are doing! Send an email with any address updates or news to alumni@ prioryca.org Like and Friend us on our Alumni Facebook page â&#x20AC;&#x153;Woodside Priory Alumni Associationâ&#x20AC;? www.facebook. com/groups/22629168008 Connect and network on the Priory Alumni Association LinkedIn page.

Thanks to all who shared photos with us on Instagram! We got nostalgic with this photo by @ izynatty_meraki. Tag your Priory related Instagram photos with #priorypanthers and you may see your photo here as one of our favorites!

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

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Beyond the Brick

An investment in Prioryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future. It is a Priory tradition to create and install a commemorative brick for every senior whose family makes a donation of $500.00 or more to the Annual Fund. A symbol of the building blocks Priory has provided to launch our graduates into a world in need of their gifts. Each brick is inscribed with the graduateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name and class year - tangible evidence of the mark each student has made on the school and the students who will follow in their footsteps. Since 2012, a portion of senior parent gifts to the Annual Fund have been used to establish a Class Legacy Fund Endowment. These endowed funds are invested and remain intact until sufficient assets have been accumulated. The Class Legacy Fund Endowment will provide the opportunity for a new generation of Panthers to reach beyond their grasp while at the same time, ensuring the long term strength and viability of the Priory.

A gift to the Class Legacy Fund Endowment will last for generations to come. A CLASS LEG CY FUND