A Magazine of the Priory · Issue #68 · Summer 2017
Board of Directors Abbot Mark Cooper, OSB Father John Fortin, OSB Father Benet Phillips, OSB Father Martin Mager, OSB Father Maurus Nemeth, OSB
Board of Trustees
Brian Axe Catherine Boyle Dave Brett Mike Calbert Mike Carusi Laura Cornish Craig Dauchy Eileen DiGiorgio Kathryn Fitzgerald Mark Gainey Cathy Gawne Phil Golden ‘76 Karen Gregory Sally Harris Eric Harrison Kathryn Henkens Sandy Herz Bob Larson Father Jonathan Licari, OSB Nancy Newman Guy Nohra Stan Pierson Stewart Putney Ray Rothrock Kari Rust Maureen Sansbury Dave Schinski Sally Screven Edward Sun ‘87 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. Editor: Kelly Sargent Contributing Writers: Melissa Barrow, Wei Kelly, Andrew Lee, Jose Arnaldo Mejia Torres, Tina Paulson, Ben Owens, Kelly Sargent Design/Production: Jim Kirkland, J. Ennis Kirkland Creative Services Photos: Molly Buccola, Gardner Grout, Jennifer Hammer, Wei Kelly, Jim Kirkland, Father Martin Mager, Shawn Matson, Jose Arnaldo Mejia Torres, Derek Samaha, Kelly Sargent, Mark Theis Printing: Colorprint, Mark W. Allen Proofreaders: Matt Lai
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.
Each graduation at the Priory is special and unique in it’s own way. This year was no different with the Class of 2017 taking center stage. The colorfully decorated graduates with their blue and white ribbon leis and vibrant purple orchid leis marched down the long road to the graduation tent on the new Trudelle Family Track and Father Christopher Field. They later emerged as the 57th graduating class and new members of the Priory alumni community. This issue of Priorities includes graduation pictures and information about both the middle school and the upper school graduations and academic awards. Once again we were blessed with students who live out our mission every day in “creating meaningful and balanced lives” and “developing as lifelong learners and stewards.” We are proud of each and every one of them. The coming year is a special one for us–our 60th anniversary! We are planning a number of special events to celebrate. You will read about them in this issue along with an update about the Building Ingenuity Campaign and the status of projects currently underway or completed. Mike Calbert, alum parent, will begin his 2 year term as Chair of the Board of Trustees as Eileen DiGiorgio finishes hers but remains on the board. We appreciate Eileen’s leadership during her term and Mike’s willingness to assume a new and vital role. Father Jonathan Licari, OSB from Saint John’s College Prep in Minnesota will continue as our outside Benedictine representative. The Monastic community wants to thank the following trustees who have finished their terms–Mark Gainey, Sally Harris, Guy Nohra, Ray Rothrock, and Maureen Sansbury, and welcome new members Dom Filloux, Tom Halbach, Greg Hughes, Jennifer Nash, Steve Nachtsheim, Beckie Robertson and Anne Senti-Willis. On the center table of the Founders Hall lobby you can usually find a copy of Being Benedictine–50 years of the Woodside Priory School, which was published in 2007 and is filled with pictures, descriptions, testimonials, and stories that chronicle the birth of a Benedictine community in California and the establishment of a school ”in the Lord’s service.” The Forward of the book is written by Richard P. Cooley of Seattle who attended Portsmouth Abbey, a Benedictine school in Rhode Island, and one of the earliest benefactors to the Priory. He relates his meeting with Father Egon in San Francisco and the feeling he had after: As we walked out, I thought to myself that this meeting would go on for another fifteen years; little did I know that fifty years later we would see what we have today. From the start with Emmet Cashin’s introduction to the Gilson ranch, to the 50th celebration that took place this year; so many of us have been carried across the landscape of years. What an amazing gift the Good Lord gave to all of us; one that led each of us to make our own small contribution to the creation of the Woodside Priory and School. It happened out of love, intelligence and faith in the Monks led by Father Egon’s old-world warmth and goodness. It was a happy, sometimes anxious journey that included scores and scores of incredibly faithful and dedicated souls. I’m grateful to have been one of them. The Priory today is a credit to the many people upon whose shoulders we stand to celebrate a vibrant and thriving educational institution. We are excited to pause this year and reflect on what we have been given and what we give to those who are part of our school and extended communities. Soon the campus will come alive with the arrival of the 2017-18 school year. The new 6th and 9th graders will explore their new school with their eyes wide open and a hunger to absorb all the Priory has to offer. New friendships will be made, familiar faces will see each other once again, and the new school year will officially be in the record books. Happy 60th Birthday Priory as Always We Begin Again! Head of School
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Priory Community,
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
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End of Year at a Glance
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MS Athletics
12-13
US Athletics
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Performing Arts
16-17
Visual Arts
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Travel: China Trip
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Travel: Germany and Poland Trip
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Travel: Paris Trip
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Travel: Spain Trip
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US Graduation
40-41
2016-17 Awards
42-45
MS Graduation
48-49
Alumni Spotlight: Terrence Gargiulo ‘86
50-52
Class News
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Monastery News
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Woodside Priory School Celebrating 60 Years of Benedictine Education
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END OF YEAR AT A GLANCE
1. Wako Morimoto ‘17 created a mural as part of her Senior Project called “Breathing Panther.” 2. Alicia Talancon ‘17 wore a traditional ballet folklorico costume as she presented her Senior Project. 3. Standing proudly in front of their newly restored 1990 Dodge Ram Charger were Konnor von Emster ‘17 and Nico Arslaner ‘17 who teamed up with CT Haesmeyer ‘17 to restore the car for their Senior Project.
4. Betty Chen ‘18 and Samantha Gao ‘18 helped to distribute the Priory yearbook. 5. The 2017 yearbook was dedicated to Damian Cohen.
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6 7 6. Yearbook editors Sara Chang ‘17 and Katy Oseguera ‘17 presented the yearbook. 7. Nadia Faisal ‘17 displayed beautiful handmade class rings that she created for every classmate for her Senior Project.
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8-9. Students enjoyed looking through the new yearbook.
10. The Sports Medicine class and school earned the designation of a Safe Sports school.
11-12. Boarding students and faculty enjoyed their
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annual rafting and camping trip.
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END OF YEAR AT A GLANCE
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3 1. Yuri Morales ‘17 lights the class candle for the last time at the senior chapel.
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2. Delara Fotovatja ‘17 spoke to her classmates in chapel.
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3-5. The Senior class bonded and made lifetime memories at their senior retreat.
6. The Seniors got silly for their senior panoramic with lots of silly string! 7. Sara Chang ‘17, Nadia Faisal ‘17 and Katy Oseguera ‘17 took aim. 5
8. A colorful and silly string covered Senior class.
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9. Gracie Hamren ‘17 was blanketed in string.
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END OF YEAR AT A GLANCE
1-2. Hard working Juniors and Seniors joined Mr. Molak for the annual Rebuilding Together project.
3. (l-r) Kylie Walsh ‘21, Bella Deevy ‘21, Isa Kowalski ‘21, and Grace Bhagat ‘21 were excited to watch their marble challenge project. 4. (l-r) Michaela Maroney ‘22, Vivienne Gilbert ‘22, and Claire Becker ‘22 happily displayed their marble time. 5. Over the summer, Isaac Roybal ‘18 worked with Peninsula Bridge students at the Priory campus. 6. Freshmen and Sophomore boys teamed up for the annual boys volleyball scrimmage. 7. Daniel Klein ‘19 hustled on the volleyball court for the ball. 8. The French 1A class created a mural on their classroom wall with the guidance of Madame Ghazal. 1
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END OF YEAR AT A GLANCE
1. Middle school students signed the walls inside the STREAM building.
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2. Fr. Martin adds his famous signature inside the future Robotics lab.
3. Seniors were the final class to sign outside the STREAM building.
4-5. The 8th grade breakfast was filled with memorable speeches and delicious food.
6. Faculty and Staff dined in style at the appreciation luncheon.
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7. The magic behind the appreciation luncheon happened with these lovely parent volunteers! 8. David Rafoni, Rolando Crisostomo, and Wei Kelly get framed at the luncheon. 9. Pax the Panther cheered and entertained the crowd
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at the Athletics Celebration night.
10. The entire coaching staff on stage at the Athletics Celebration night.
11. Mikhail Saliba ‘18 ran with a student at a special
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track meet held for the California School for the Blind at the Priory.
12. Jaeden Barker ‘19 made a friend from the California School for the Blind.
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MS ATHLETICS
MS Water Polo
The MS water polo team practiced offsite due to the pool construction. The team did very well in each of the three tournaments that they competed in.
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MS Baseball
The season was ďŹ lled with high speed, big hits, and lots of energy.
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MS Girls Volleyball
The Varsity A, Varsity B, and JV teams all had very successful seasons. The Varsity A team went 8-0 and won league in the Silver division!
MS Tennis
Led by coaches Celso Onofre and Buck Matthews, the MS Tennis team ďŹ nished stronger and more experienced.
US ATHLETICS
US Boys Tennis
1. The 2017 boys tennis team. 2. Eugene Miller ‘17 with his wicked backhand. 3. Mark Theis ‘17 laughs at an unexpected
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volley point.
4. Luke Adams ‘19 keeps his eye on the prize.
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US Baseball
1. It’s a close play for third baseman Sam Putney ‘18.
2. Max Leiter ‘18 prepares for a big play behind the plate.
3. Ben Veghte ‘19 at shortstop. 4. At the mound is pitcher Kevin Liu ‘17. 5. Ready to swing is Ben Veghte ‘19. 3
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US ATHLETICS
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US Track and Field
1. (l-r) Alex Oberman ‘17, Ayo Aderoboye ‘18, Lucas Harris ‘18, and Keyshawn Ashford ‘18 won the 4x100 boys relay at the WBAL finals.
2. (l-r) Brianna Maroney ‘19, Amaya Gray ‘20, Anysa Gray ‘20, and Shannon Fitzgerald ‘19 won the WBAL finals 4x100 relay for the girls.
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US Girls Lacrosse
1. The first ever Senior game celebrating seniors Sam McCabe, Sara Chang, Rheya Jain, Yuri Morales, and Gracie Hamren.
2. Jasmine Tang ‘18 takes the ball through defenders. 3. The team gets pumped up before the match. 4. Anna Barton ‘19 is a force on the field. 5. Rain doesn’t slow down Maya Blevins ‘20.
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SoftSoap Middle School Show Thirty characters portrayed by twenty-five middle school actors lit up the stage with the comical play SoftSoap. The hilarious spoof soap opera about the hit show “Yesterday’s Tomorrow,” had unsuspecting plot twists, captivating characters, and amusing scenes all around. Bravo for the cast and crew of SoftSoap!
PERFORMING ARTS
Spring Concert and Shedding Light on Cancer Benefit The Performing Arts collaborated with science teacher Christine Muir Parker to bring an emotionally packed concert of performances intermixed with a cancer benefit to support cancer research.
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VISUAL ARTS
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1. A self portrait from the Drawing and Painting class. 2. Glass bowl by Noah Willis ‘18. 3. Beautiful glass platter by Noah Willis ‘18. 4. Glass plate by Lucas Harris ‘18. 5. Stained glass by Delara Fotovatja ‘17. 6. Portrait painting from Drawing and Painting class. 7. From the “Hands” project in Drawing and Painting. 8. Masterfully crafted glass table made by the Glass class for the Gala.
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CrOuChInG PaNdA, HiDdEn DrAgOn
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Priory’s 2017 China Trip By Wei Kelly and Andrew Lee
Given its vast array of topographical wonders and time-honored traditions, China is always ready to offer new learning opportunities for students at the Priory. In 2015, a group of Priory students experienced the northern part of China by visiting Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. This time around, students had the opportunity to experience the very different southern part of China by visiting Chengdu, Lijiang, and Hong Kong.
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ifteen curious, dynamic, and adventurous Priory high school students, led by Mandarin teacher Wei Kelly and Math teacher Andrew Lee, engaged in a carefully crafted and eventful expedition to southern China to explore what it means to be a globally-aware citizen. By personally immersing themselves into the Chinese culture, history, and modern development, students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding, empathy, and respect for cultures and people that may be different from their own experiences. Throughout each of the three cities, our group had a knowledgeable tour guide that shared relevant information about the specific city they were in, as well as showed us many natural and cultural heritage sites. In Chengdu, we climbed up many stairs to one of the oldest and most famous Taoist Temples in China located at the peak of Qingcheng (“Azure Castle”) Mountain, and visited one of Chengdu’s historical and cultural reserves, Kuan Zhai Xiang Zi (“Wide and Narrow Alleys”), where old lodges, ancient teahouses, and the courtyard culture of Chengdu were refurbished and preserved. In Lijiang (“Beautiful Lake”), everyone took in breathtaking landscapes such as the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which includes one of the southernmost glaciers in the world, and the Lashi Lake Wetland Reserve. We toured and stayed in Ancient Town Lijiang famous for its scientific architectural layout crisscrossed by crystal-clear rivers and meandering cobbled streets. The Yuhu (“Jade Lake”) village near Lijiang was one of the villages where the Naxi ethnic group has been living for over a thousand years. There, we learned about their pictographic way of written communication. The pictographs were also seen on walls leading up to the 14th century Baisha (“White Sand”) Murals located at the Baisha village, which was the ancient capital of the Naxi Kingdom. The murals showcased different religious cultures such as Buddhism, Lamaism, Taoism and the local Naxi Dongba religion all in harmony with each other. We empathized with this longing for a united society since wanting world peace is a universal goal that goes beyond cultures and ages. In Hong Kong at the Huang Daxian Temple, we saw lots of locals praying for their dreams of wanting to stay healthy,
gain prosperity, and find love. Like the locals, we all rubbed the many statues representing different deities and the animals of the Chinese zodiac for good luck and irresistibly immersed ourselves in the peaceful and beautiful flower gardens, mature trees, koi ponds, waterfall, and pavilions. Given the modern urban landscape of Hong Kong, the temple was a breath of fresh air that showcased the natural and traditional beauty of China in the middle of the busy and crowded city. After learning about Hong Kong’s rich history in the History Museum, we explored the Golden Bauhinia Square, where the giant golden Bauhinia statue is located. This statue is made of real gold, a gift from China in 1997, and became the symbol of Hong Kong returning to China after 99 years of British rule. To get better views, we took a cable tram up to Victoria Peak to view the magnificent skyline of Hong Kong and took a night cruise tour on Victoria Bay to view the colorful lights on the skyscrapers. We could not be more impressed by how incredible Hong Kong transformed from a simple fishing village to the financial center of Asia within just a few decades. Besides being observers of China’s way of life, students also had active opportunities to participate, offer, and exchange ideas with Chinese school students that were of similar age to them through collaboration with two different schools in Chengdu and Lijiang. Mandarin students utilized their language knowledge to chat with their Chinese school partners while other Priory students helped their partners speak English. For breaks, Chinese students in Chengdu had music that was played throughout the school while in Lijiang students danced in large circles with traditional Naxi music, which Priory students happily took part in. In interacting with the Chinese students, teachers, and administrators, Priory students learned about the different educational systems. The pressure on students to academically do well in school in China seemed to be much more than in the United States. This could be seen in many ways. These students had considerably longer class days ranging from 12 to 16 hours a day. In the classrooms, they had so many books piled on and in their desks that the student stayed at the same desk the en-
No international trip would be complete without experiencing the food. Students definitely stepped out of their comfort zone and tried a variety of authentic Asian cuisine that each city had to offer. In the mornings, students tried items typical of a Chinese breakfast such as porridge, noodle soups, condensed milk, and pastries. In Chengdu, students enjoyed the hot and spicy hot pots. Students also explored the famous Jinli Food Street that offered various regional foods and snacks. A couple of students also tried the snack made for pandas at the Panda Base and commented that it tasted like bran muffins. In Lijiang, students tried local Naxi lotus root pockets and blood sticky rice sausage. In Hong Kong, students bravely tasted roasted quails and ducks, which even included the heads and brains! They were open-minded about the Chinese philosophy of honoring the sacrifice of the death of an animal by eating every possible part of it instead of throwing anything away. During the entire trip, students kept a daily journal outlining their activities and reflections. They definitely brought the amazing community spirit of Priory to China, and highly demonstrated what it meant to be a global citizen. They knew the importance of trying to make a connection to the community they were involved with, whether it was by trying to communicate the language or by understanding and respecting the cultural differences. Students were intentional about keeping an open mind and fully immersing themselves into the Chinese culture and history. Upon return to school, Rachel Goines ‘17and Kieran Pandey ‘18 gave insightful and personal reflections about the trip at the all-school chapel gathering. They shared that they were able to go beyond preconceived notions of the Chinese culture and experience the beautiful truths for themselves. At the school visits, instead of feeling separated due to language and cultural differences, they bonded with their Chinese school partners over their mutual desires to learn, love, and explore. With these respectful mentalities and insights, all of the students were able to go beyond cultural differences and find that they had similar dreams and aspirations with all the communities they interacted with, that they were indeed part of a common humanity.
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tire day while the teacher moved from class to class. They must take the National College Entry Exam at the end of their high school career that dictated which college they were to go to. Near the senior dormitories, there were signs that publicly indicated which students earned high scores on tests. It was no surprise then that the Chinese students were in awe when Kevin Liu ‘17 gave a thoughtful presentation in Mandarin of his daily school experience at Priory as a boarding student, where the focus was on small class sizes, teacher-student relationships, and the balance between academic and recreational activities. Outside of the school setting, the group was able to experience communal activities that further encouraged them to interact with locals. In Chengdu, they had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to volunteer at the Dujiangyan Panda Base, one of the few giant panda care, disease prevention, and control institutes in the world. Students worked as “Panda Keepers” by cleaning the panda cages, maintaining the panda enclosures, and feeding the pandas. We also enjoyed the famous “Sichuan Opera” show where face and costume changing was a highlighted talent. The opera venue also had other forms of entertainment and activities that students took part in. Some students tried playing with shadow puppets and learning how to move them, while more adventurous students tried the traditional ear cleaning. In Lijiang, we enjoyed kayaking on the lake, fishing with the locals, and participating in local traditions, such as releasing lotus lanterns down one of the many rivers in the Ancient Town with personal wishes. We toured an embroidery school in Lijiang, where traditional and heritage skills and art were taught and supported. We were able to purchase beautiful embroideries and have our names translated and written in Naxi pictographs by a Dongba priest. In Hong Kong, students were able to let their inner child out at the marine-themed Ocean Park. With an area of 170 acres, it is the largest ocean park in Asia. Given the commercial atmosphere of Hong Kong, there were also many shopping opportunities at local outlet parks that gave students further practice in communicating with others, which even included Caleb Pollack ‘19 negotiating prices in Mandarin.
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Germany
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and POLAND by Ben Owens
What a pleasure and a privilege! I’ve used those two words before in thinking about our recent Priory travels to Germany and Poland over the Spring Break. Traveling with our nine students—I dubbed them the “Mighty Fine Nine”—I got to experience how our Benedictine values and our Learning Competencies really shone forth in the thoughts and actions of our band of travelers.
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We were a community on the road. Courtesy, give-and-take, good humor, insightful conversations, and sharing characterized our day-to-day interactions. Creativity’s domain emerged in an amazing, evolving collection of photography capturing people and places where we celebrated and memorialized. Our visit to Auschwitz, I believe, embodied the dimension of a reverent spirituality as we walked the paths of those whose steps and lives were so cruelly cut short in the Holocaust. The people and the places in both solemn and celebratory spaces became part of us on the journey. As a community we became more a part of one another. Everyone’s individuality had opportunities to shine. Our band was a model of resilience too; there were the occasional inconveniences and needs for adjustments in plans. Our travel guru Derek Samaha and our Czech driver Milan were a vital part of our community; they helped make each day special with their energy and skills which were always at our disposal. For my part, I couldn’t have hoped for a better community on the road to make the trip. I had been to Poland for Holocaust-related education in 2015 thanks to a Taube Foundation grant. I wanted to return ever since then, and this semester it happened with a wonderful group that I’d be glad to travel with anywhere!
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1. Daniel Goe ‘17 and Andy Wang ‘17 showcase their heritage at Berlin’s East Side Gallery.
2. Cecilia Cho ‘17 reflects on Itzhak Stern’s contributions in his office at the Oscar Schindler Museum in Krakow.
3. Strolling past Pope John Paul II’s former home in Krakow. 4. Dinner at El Popo–Mexican food in Warsaw! 5. Kathy Gonzalez reliving history at the remains of the Berlin Wall, now the East Side Gallery.
6. How do you make Polish pierogi? Ask Matthew Carusi ‘17, Daniel Goe ‘17, Ben Owens, Cecilia Cho ‘17, or Andy Wang ‘17.
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8. Berlin’s Konzerthaus is a great meet up spot in the evening.
9. Hanging out at Krakow’s Wawel Castle with Devin Schinski ‘18 and Matthew Carusi ‘17.
10. We gather at Warsaw’s Jewish Ghetto Memorial after learning more about WWII history at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
11. During our walking tour, we file past remains of Warsaw’s old city wall.
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Paris Madrid Toledo By Profesor Mejia Torres
For years, parents have asked if I would organize a trip for our language students. I always responded that I would do it with pleasure. When I was the Chair of the World Language Department, I thought it was the perfect time for me to organize a trip to France and Spain, to benefit both Spanish and French language students. And so, we did! It took a year and a half of preparation and communication with parents, students and ACIS. It was finally set for the 2017 Easter Break.
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While in three amazing cities of Europe, our Priory students had vivid language and cultural connections through which they were engaged to appreciate the new cultures, and put in practice their language skills in both Spanish and French. In Toledo, students witnessed one of the most impressive synagogues, a symbol of tolerance and respect for all three religions practiced in the city. Toledo is a medieval city with very interesting architecture, a majestic Cathedral and the House of El Greco. Our Spanish students analyzed his paintings. In Madrid, the students saw impressive Easter processions, interacted with Spaniards during lunch times, had a Flamenco lesson, and attended a professional Flamenco event in the evening. In addition they visited the main sights such as Prado, Plaza Mayor, La Puerta del Sol, and the Reina Sofía Museum where Picasso’s paintings are exhibited. Of course, we had to include a visit to the Real Madrid stadium. Our students could not hide their emotions to be there. In France, the students learned how to play Petanque in Luxembourg Garden, and after, they went through the Chateaux of Versailles, the Louvre, and all the monuments in Paris. They also toured the grounds on a bike ride. Students loved this, as it gave them a completely different perspective of Versailles. In Paris, during our free time, we took the metro and got off in places such as Avenue of Champs Élysées, La Concorde and Champs de Mars.
We came to the Luxembourg Gardens and learned how to play “La Petanque.” We were all very competitive and it was very fun. And then we came to Versailles where we toured the gardens and were biking, and taking pictures. “It was the most amazing day!” We got appreciation of Versailles and its magnificent gardens. This was not a tourist experience. It was a different type of journey since we were interacting with the locals, ordering food for ourselves, and living experiences that locals would on a regular basis. - Konnor Von Emster ‘17
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Our Priory students had a blast in Europe. To say that they enjoyed one city more than the others is almost impossible. Everything seemed to amaze them in France and in Spain. They were definitely happy to have this discovery and learning experience. The hotels were conveniently located in Paris and in Madrid, the food was excellent, and the program was a meaningful journey–a language and culture exchange. - Profesora Aguilera Ruvalcaba, Chaperone
As parents and avid travelers ourselves, we have always encouraged Christian to be a “man of the world.” Learning about other cultures and experiencing their way of life, food and traditions. To read about it is not enough. The opportunity to travel on the trips provided by the Priory has been invaluable to expanding his world view. From Argentina to Costa Rica, and recently his trip to Paris and Madrid with Profesor Mejía Torres and Profesora Aguilera Ruvalcaba, have opened his eyes to so many other cultures. The trips through school have been unbelievably educational and rich in experiences that he probably would not have had on a family trip. We would not have the energy to keep up the pace they do. Our thanks go out to the teachers who plan the trips, accompany the students and make the magic happen! - Sharon and Terry Fotré, Priory Parents
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Spain International Priory Performances
This past summer 27 Priory Chamber Singer and Concert Choir students embarked on an international trip to perform in a variety of locations across Spain. Students, chaperones, and a few brave parents enjoyed the sights and cultures as they made their way from venue to venue. Choral Director, Tina Paulson recapped the incredible trip, which started in the Priory Chapel and ended in Barcelona.
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June 4 Send-off concert in Priory Chapel. Students performed all of their tour repwhich consisted of 22 songs spanning sacred Renaissance motets to modern American Spirituals. Over 90 minutes of music, learned over the course of the school year, and rehearsed outside of school in April and May. June 5/6 Meet at SFO, fly to Madrid, by way of Frankfurt, meet our bus and drive to Cuenca.
Touring the “old town” in Cuenca.
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Visiting the “Basilica de la Sagrada Familia” in Barcelona.
June 6 Arrive in Cuenca, Spain. After checking in, we ate dinner, and went straight into a rehearsal with the cathedral choir from the Iglesia de la Virgen de la Luz, with whom we were sharing a concert the next night. Chamber Singers sang two pieces with the choir from Cuenca- Jacob Handl’s “Ave Maria” and Maurice Durufle’s “Ubi Caritas.” June 7 Students took a walking tour of the historic town of Cuenca- built over 1100 years ago, and founded by the Moors. The town sits on top of limestone cliffs, and is surrounded by two rivers. Cuenca is most famous for its historic oldtown (medieval), narrow and steep streets, and the “hanging houses” which are built right on the cliff’s edges. That evening, Priory students rehearsed in the beautiful Baroque church– Iglesia de la Virgen de la Luz, and prepared for their first performance. Unique to this tour (no other Priory tours have done this before) students provided music for the actual mass service before the concert. It involved a considerable amount of flexibility, attention, and professionalism–and the students all rose to the occasion! After mass, there was a formal joint concert with the cathedral choir, featuring all the sacred music programed for the tour. The concert was well-received, and was standing-room only! June 8 We left Cuenca mid-morning for Valencia, a beautiful city right on the Balearic Sea (Mediterranean). Upon arrival, we had lunch at the City of Arts and Sciences, did a bus tour of the new town, and a walking tour of the Old City–including a stop for “real” horchata, made with tiger-nut instead of rice. A great treat on a HOT day. With some free time in the evening after dinner, students (and chaperones) were free to explore the Old City a bit, including the Instalaciones Jardin de Turia; a long park and garden with bike paths, open air markets, and more on the dried river bed that winds through the city. June 9 Best. Day. Ever. According to the students. Beach day! We spent the majority of the day at the beach near Marina Real at La Malva-Rosa. After swimming, sunning, playing soccer, climbing play structures, and eating paella, we were well rested for our rehearsal and second formal concert at Iglesia de San Nicolas. This 13th century church was finally completed around 1690, giving the Gothic structure a Baroque flair. Students gave an outstanding 80 minute performance to a paying audience. Ticket sales went to fund the church’s outreach to homeless children in Valencia–providing them with meals and transportation to school.
Modernist “Basilica de la Sagrada Familia” by Antoni Gaudi
June 11 A bit of time to sleep in, a late breakfast–then we were at it again. Our day started with a bus tour of the city, on our way to see the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia–the massive church by Gaudi, set to be finished in 2026. We saw several other Gaudi and modernist architecture sites, then we were dropped off for the duration of our morning. Our walking tour consisted of the Gothic Quarter, and several sights of the Old City of Barcelona. After lunch, we grabbed our concert things, then traveled to the Iglesia de Santa Anna de Barcelona, where we rehearsed and performed our final formal concert of the tour. The medieval basilica, beautiful acoustic, and dramatic lighting helped the students give their finest performance to a very appreciative audience. All of the donations collected from the large audience at the concert went to help support the church’s mission to feed, clothe, and provide services for the homeless of Barcelona. After the incredible performance, we went to dinner at a restaurant located on the top floor of a shopping center housed in a historic bull-fighting arena, where we could watch the “Magic Fountain” show in front of the National Art Museum of Catalonia. June 12 Last full day of the tour! We took our bus up the narrow and winding road to Santa Maria de Montserrat, just outside of Barcelona, 4,000 feet above the valley floor. We were the special guests of Fr. Sergi, who arranged for Tanner, a teacher at the Escolonia to give us a tour of the dorms, classrooms, and rehearsal spaces of the fifty 7 to 14 year old boys who attend school there, specifically to sing and play music. Montserrat hosts one of the oldest and longest-running boys’ choirs in Europe, and we had the fortune to hear their youngest group perform at the noon service in the basilica. Prior to the service, we were preparing to sing our “informal performance”–which we were told would be short (15 minutes) and would probably consist of a few tourists wandering around the church while we sang. What we faced was a different story–the entire basilica was packed with over 600 people from all over the world, visiting Montserrat as part of a large conference. The students stepped up, adjusted to the changes, and without rehearsal (or a warm up!) gave an outstanding performance that represented the best of Priory, and the US. I could not have been more proud of them! Back in Barcelona, we had a lovely farewell dinner at the Marina, gave some toasts, and went back to the hotel to pack our bags. June 13 We said a fond goodbye to Pilar and Oscar, our driver, and boarded our plane for Munich, then SFO–after nearly 20 hours of travel, students greeted their parents, and headed off to enjoy their summer!
TRAVEL
June 10 On to Barcelona! Our first stop in Barcelona was a tour of the Palau de la Musica Catalana–a Modernist concert hall built in the early 1900’s specifically for Barcelona’s premier professional choir, Orfeo Catala. After the tour, and checking into the hotel, students had some time to explore Barcelona, and the option to attend mass at the Barcelona Cathedral, and get a sense of the Gothic Quarter of the old city.
In the Iglesia de Santa Anna de Barcelona.
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Atop the bullfighting arena/shopping center- Barcelona.
Final formal performance of the tour, Barcelona.
US GRADUATION 34
Commencement
2017
US GRADUATION
T
The Class of 2017 gathered for one last time on June 3rd to celebrate the 57th commencement ceremony of Woodside Priory School. The 58 graduates were accepted to over 100 colleges around the world and were offered more than $4 million in scholarships towards their college educations. Friends and family surrounded the graduates on the new track and field, which gave the ceremony a new look and feel. Even with a new location, some traditions remained as the graduates took their final walk down the hillside behind the Scottish bagpipers. A beaming Wako Morimoto addressed her fellow classmates with humility and grace. Originally from Japan, Wako was surprised at how little she knew about the world. “…moving to the U.S. and coming to Woodside Priory, especially, were the first times I learned that I didn’t know much about the world.” she said. But through class retreats, community service opportunities, and classes, Wako was thankful that Priory pushed her forward to find joy out of the comfort zone. Wako is a true testament to the school mission to develop lifelong learners as she stated, “I stand here today, with my greatest wish to live as a lifelong learner and prove that we are not wearing this fancy gown and grad cap just to celebrate our graduation from high school, but also to celebrate the new chapter of our life.” Tim Ritchie, President and CEO of The Tech Museum of Innovation gave a powerful message to the graduates as the commencement speaker. He gave them a single challenge, “Make your life count for goodness,” he said. Ritchie explained, “I can’t tell you how much that phrase has shaped me and challenged me.” Ritchie also echoed that “…the world really is calling you.” He had several examples, “It is calling you to become good at what you do…to be your best self…to be a giver, a loyal friend, a generous spouse and devoted parent…to listen to your life…and finally calling you to be brave.” Students listened intently as Ritchie closed his speech with words that will hopefully stay with them forever. “You will understand that life is brief and your chance to do good in this world is NOW. Woodside Priory Class of 2017: The world will hear from YOU soon. Make your lives count for goodness.”
“The world will hear from YOU soon. Make your lives count for goodness.”
Commencement speaker Tim Ritchie
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US GRADUATION
The Class of 2017
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Student speaker Wako Morimoto
Nicholas Murat Arslaner
Samantha Vavricka McCabe
Liam Patrick Considine Bannon
Eugene Joseph Miller
Matthew William Boyle
Gianna Rose Morales
Ryan Milam Calbert *
Yuritzy Nequiz Morales
Matthew Dominic Carusi
Wako Morimoto **
Sara Chang
Benjamin Morss
Seunghee Cecilia Cho *
Alexander Matthew Oberman *
Yoonho Choi
Katy Diana Oseguera
Emma Rose Erickson **
Grant Kilmer Phelps
Nadia Faisal
Jacey Mae Reed
Valerie Marie Filloux *
Ryan Peter Reiss
Delara Fotovatjah
Elise Lora Rust **
Christian Vincent Thomas FotrĂŠ
Manuel Salas, Jr.
Alexandre Daniel Gao
Tarik Nicholas Shihadeh
Frederick Cameron Giarrusso **
Maximilian Stephan
Daniel S. Goe
Alicia Talancon
Rachel Leslie Goines
Claudia Maria Tamer *
Christian Todd Haesemeyer
Nicolas Zu-Yi Tan
Grace Elizabeth Hamren
Nicholas Sloss Treynor *
Margaret Elizabeth Heron **
Brenda N. Uribe
Greer Georgia Hoffmann *
Daniela Elsa Vivanco
Rheya Menon Jain
Addison Quinn Vogt
Michael Dylan Joyce
Konnor Hans von Emster **
Konstantin Larin **
Hans B. Walker
Tony Yingchong Li *
Dongsheng Wang *
Sophia Nicole Lipp *
Xuelei Wang
Wenkai Liu **
Zachary Scott Weiss
Megan Kylie Love *
Henry Ward Wise
Søren Johannes Madsen *
John Raymond Youstra **
ACADEMIC HONORS AT COMMENCEMENT Academic honors at commencement are awarded to graduates who have earned the following cumulative grade point average by the end of the first semester of the senior year: ** Benedictine Honors - GPA of 4.0 plus * Head of School Honors - GPA of 3.81 to 3.99
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US GRADUATION
US GRADUATION 38
2017-2018 College and University Acceptances Schools noted in bold are where Priory graduates of the Class of 2017 will be attending in the fall. Amherst College Boston University University of British Columbia California Polytechnic State Universit, Pomona California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Merced University of California, Riverside University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz Carleton College Case Western Reserve University Chapman University Clemson University Colby-Sawyer College Colgate University University of Colorado at Boulder Colorado State University Columbia College Chicago Concordia University Portland Connecticut College Dartmouth College Davidson College University of Denver DePaul University Dickinson College Emerson College Florida State University Foothill College Fordham University George Washington University Gonzaga University Hamilton College New York Haverford College University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Indiana University at Bloomington University of Iowa Keio University Lafayette College Lawrence University Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Linfield College Loyola Marymount University Manhattanville College Marist College Marquette University University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst Merrimack College Miami University
Oxford University of Miami University of Michigan New York University University of North Carolina Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences Oberlin Conservatory of Music Occidental College University of Oregon Pepperdine University University of Pittsburgh Portland State University University of Portland University of Puget Sound Purdue University University of Redlands Reed College Regis University Saint Anselm College Saint Mary’s College of California San Diego State University University of San Diego Savannah College of Art and Design Scripps College Seattle University Seton Hall University Sewanee: The University of the South Skidmore College Sonoma State University University of South Carolina University of Southern California Southern Methodist University Southern Oregon University St. Edward’s University Syracuse University University of Texas, Austin University of Toronto Trinity College Tulane University Union College New York University of Utah Vassar College Villanova University Washington State University University of Washington Western Washington University Wheaton College MA Whitman College Whittier College Willamette University Wittenberg University
Valedictorians Emma Erickson Cameron Giarrusso Margaret Heron Konstantin Larin Wenkai Liu Wako Morimoto Elise Rust Konnor von Emster John Youstra Dean of Students Award Wako Morimoto Rev. Benignus F. Barat, OSB Citizenship Award Ryan Calbert Academic Dean Award John Youstra St. Elizabeth Service Award Megan Love Head of School Award Valerie Filloux St. Benedict Award Elise Rust Residential Life Award Yuri Morales
Seven Year Club Nicholas Arslaner Matthew Boyle Ryan Calbert Matthew Carusi Sara Chang Nadia Faisal Valerie Filloux Delara Fotovatjah Christian FotrĂŠ Grace Hamren Eugene Miller Grant Phelps Jacey Reed Maximilian Stephan Alicia Talancon Nicholas Treynor Addison Vogt Hans Walker Zachary Weiss Residential Life Four Year Award Seunghee Cho Yoonho Choi Konstantin Larin Tony Yingchong Li Wenkai Liu Yuri Morales Xuelei Wang Dongsheng Wang National Merit Scholars Liam Bannon Emma Erickson Nicholas Treynor John Youstra Zachary Weiss
US GRADUATION
Upper School Commencement Awards
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2016-17 AWARDS
Middle and Upper
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Mark Theis
MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS
UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS
The St. Ambrose Award for the Humanities Nina Pasquesi ‘23 Luke Turk ‘22 Leah Strickland ‘21
St. Elizabeth Service Award Mark Theis ‘18
The St. Albert Award for Sciences and Math Miles Dobrenski ‘23 Samantha Staudinger ‘22 Cole Gilbert ‘21 The St. Catherine Award for Fine Arts and Performing Arts Viresh Pati ‘23 Jessica Fathers ‘22 Emma Solomon ‘21
Jack Nash
Scholar Athlete Award Kaela Marsheck ‘21 Zachary Zafran ‘21 Athlete of the Year Emily Stanger ‘21 Owen Tidmarsh ‘21 The St. Benedict Award Ryan Carlsmith ‘23 Emily Wood ‘22
Francesca Cohen
Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award Jack Nash ‘18 The George Eastman Young Leaders Award Jack Smith ‘18 University of Rochester “Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences” Henry Herz ‘18 University of Rochester “Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology” Emily Kuo ‘18 The Rensselaer Medal Max Fairon ‘18 The Williams College Book Award Francesca Cohn ‘18 The Wellesley College Book Award Anika Khakoo ‘18
2016-17 AWARDS
School Awards
41
The St. Anselm Book Award Tatiana Reese ‘18 The Harvard Book Award Elizabeth Duncan ‘18 The St. Benedict Award Carmen Akamine-Alvarez ‘20 Milan Pandey ‘19 Devin Schinski ‘18
UPPER SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AWARDS Computer Science Viansa Schmulbach ‘20 Kenneth Akers ‘19 Michael Gunn ‘18 English Viansa Schmulbach ‘20 Joseph Sausville ‘19 Eva El Fishawy ‘18 Mathematics Angela Wang ‘20 Andrew Sirenko ‘19 Mick Jeon ‘18
Performing Arts Matthew Gutow ‘20 Daniel Klein ‘19 Maxwell Habeck ‘18 Science Grant Whitman ‘20 Caleb Pollack ‘19 Devin Schinski ‘18 Social Sciences Bill Liu ‘20 Tara Kariat ‘19 Elizabeth Duncan ‘18
Anika Khakoo
Ryan Carlsmith
Tatiana Reese
Milan Pandey
Elizabeth Duncan
Carmen Akamine-Alvarez
Theology Marie Sirenko ‘20 Joseph Casente ‘19 Jasmine Tang ‘18 Visual Arts Marie Sirenko ‘20 Genevieve Chiu-Schaepe ‘19 Derek Abarca ‘18 World Languages Robert Schoenthaler ‘20 Elliot Dauber ‘19 Joseph Calderon ‘18
MS GRADUATION
Congratulations
Class of 2021
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MS GRADUATION
On June 1st, forty 8th grade students proceeded to the Rothrock Performance Hall with big smiles and even bigger dreams as they graduated from the Priory middle school. The ambitious class walked in while the middle school choir aptly sang, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” The packed hall listened intently to the first student speaker Greta Patterson. Greta expressed how the class has grown together. “The first day of sixth grade was life changing for many of us. I like to think of that day as planting a seed,” she said. “It grew and grew, until we first saw a sprout. Our Priory tree sprouted and I like to think that was right around outdoor ed.” She described the seventh grade as another growing experience, “Then our tree added another ring.” Finally the eighth grade year brought the class together stronger than ever. “Our tree stands strong thank to our caring teachers, dear friends, our own hard work, and the passing of time,” she said. In closing Greta left the crowd with a strong message, “As I look around at our amazing class, I don’t just see friends, classmates, peers or team mates. I see a family. A family where when you fall, there will be 40 pairs of hands to lift you up, 40 voices telling you can do it, 40 smiles making you believe it will be ok.” The final student speaker was Emily Stanger. Emily had a wonderful analogy for their middle school days. “This journey through middle school has kind of been like a race,” she said. She started with “6th grade was the beginning. We were all trying to find our place in the pack.” Then continued with, “7th grade to me was like the middle of the race. We had found our places, and were able to happily jog, but there were still difficult obstacles along the way.” And finally, “8th grade was the final stretch of the race; the part where you can see the end, but you aren’t quite there yet.” Emily closed her speech and the middle school race with a victorious and honest ending. “Now, today, we are crossing the finish line. We are ecstatic to reach our destination, but also exhausted from working so hard. Congrats! This race is over.” The students selected Myles Somerville, a beloved teacher and coach to be the commencement speaker. The quick witted Somerville did not disappoint with his humorous yet speaking from the heart address. Somerville bravely shared some of his own middle school blunders, “In sixth grade I got my first girlfriend…I knew she was the one. Until I realized she had a serious addiction to Cool Ranch Doritos…we broke up right there. She cried. I probably cried.” The lesson being, “Never be too critical of others, or you may miss something.” Somerville also told a relatable story of having to bring a stick of deodorant to his 8th grade gym class. His father was out of town so, “my mom shoved a half used bar of her Organic Lady Speed Stick in my bag.” To Somerville’s demise, “All the boys laid into me hard on that one. I let it get to me and I went home and was furious with her. She stayed calm and cool and simply said, “own it and they can’t laugh at you.” The next day Somerville walked into the locker room and “stood up on the bench and very publically sprayed some of my moms pink perfume under my armpits. The boys laughed with me this time, and never gave me gruff about my lady speed stick again.” What had Somerville learned? “The ability to laugh at yourself is a valuable tool.” Somerville’s overall message to the students was that the “awkward but meaningful” lessons never stop. And to start learning from your mistakes because life happens fast!
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Middle School commencement speaker Myles Somerville.
MS GRADUATION 44
The Class of 2021 Paul Connor Barton Grace Caroline Bhagat Kiana Cablayan Eloise Mia Chang Christina Jiu Tian Cheng Miles Tyler Cheng Justin Matthew Corley Isabella Macrae Jianshuo Deevy Anna Maria-Louisa Dyckerhoff Will Sani El Fishawy Donya Fotovatjah Cole Scott Gilbert Thurston Dumont Goldsberry Conrad Jackson Herz Evan Alice Hughes Calvin Louis Katz Charles Timothy King Isabella Lauren Kowalski Alexander Ross Leblang Aaron Marshall Lipp Kaela Marsheck Linnea Martinez Saul Mora Caroline Elizabeth Nell Theodore Paul Pasquesi Margaret Ruth Patterson Thomas Stephen Screven Makena Kamalulani Ka’kaleo Serughetti Emma Paige Solomon Emily Joanne Stanger Henry Clark Stanger Leah Elizabeth Strickland Zachary Emerson Thibault Nicholas Churchill Tidmarsh Owen Parker Tidmarsh Ethan Fairbanks Veghte Kylie Ann Walsh Alexander Grant Yonehiro Zachary Zafran Brandon Zelaya
MS GRADUATION
Middle School Commencement Awards 8th Valedictorian Christina Cheng Emily Stanger Kylie Walsh 8th Salutatorian Zachary Zafran Christina Cheng
Leadership Award
45 Zachary Zafran
Emily Stanger Middle School Head’s Award Eloise Chang St. Benedict Award Linnea Martinez
Kylie Walsh
Emily Stanger
Linnea Martinez
Eloise Chang
DEVELOPMENT 46
As the summer months have quickly come and gone and we look forward to welcoming students old and new, it is time to reflect back on another outstanding year for the Priory community. The best schools are progressive—they evolve, experiment, and offer opportunities to best prepare their students for an ever-changing world. Priory has always strived to be this type of forward-facing institution and I believe now more than ever, we are offering a most transformative experience for each and every student that sets foot on our campus. As Tim mentioned in his opening letter, we are celebrating our 60th anniversary this school year. Priory has come a long way since the day Father Egon first looked out over the barren 18-acre Gilson property off Portola Road. That same land is now the heart of our 50-acre dynamic campus. This is a true testament to the generosity of all those that have come before us, and a reminder to continue laying the groundwork to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for all those in the years to come. Your philanthropic support allows us to undertake the most important work of helping our students learn just who they are—and who they can become. Gifts, of any size, help us create an environment that allows students to develop intellectual integrity, physical stamina, emotional resilience, and spiritual wisdom. Along with our Benedictine values, this is the backbone of a Priory education, and would not be possible without the generous, ongoing, support of our parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends.
Always we begin again,
DEVELOPMENT
In the spirit of beginning again, we have added three new members to our Development team, joining our database manager, Vera Zelichenok and myself, to ensure we take Priory into the next phase of ingenuity and sustainability. I’m pleased to welcome Melissa Barrow, Associate Director of Development, Annual Giving; Diana Chamorro, Associate Director of Development, Marketing and Alumni Engagement; and Mara Vejby, Development Associate, to Priory! They each bring a unique set of skills along with proven advancement experience. Melissa will be leading the Annual Fund campaign, working with parents to secure another record-breaking year for our school. Diana will be focusing her efforts on building a robust Alumni program and enhancing our marketing strategy. Mara’s role will span all aspects of our Development operations, assisting with campaign priorities and event logistics for alumni relations. Year after year, we strive for continued support from as many of our parents, alumni, faculty, staff, grandparents, and friends as possible. The common bond formed through the financial support of the programs and talent that make Priory unique gives us each a stake in the success of our students and graduates. Thank you for your generosity and belief in our mission. Without you, the Priory of today would look very different.
47 Your philanthropic support allows us to undertake the most important work of helping our students learn just who they are—and who they can become.
Suzanne Couch Director of Development
Melissa Barrow Annual Giving
Diana Chamorro Marketing & Alumni Engagement
Mara Vejby Development Associate
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
From
Student to
Storyteller By Kelly Sargent
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When Father Maurus read Terrence Gargiulo’s ’86 first two books, he said to him, “Terrence what you have managed to do in these books is make the values of our Christian faith for business people real and practical without evangelizing.” Terrence considers Father Maurus’ observation to be the greatest testament his work will ever receive. It’s at the heart of his mission today. “It’s why I get up in the morning and why I am at Accenture, a company of 400,000 plus people that touches the largest organizations in the world,” he expressed. Terrence is not only a published author of eight books with titles like, The Strategic Use of Stories in Organizational Communication and Learning and In the Land of Difficult People: 24 Timeless Tales Reveal How to Tame Beasts at Work, he also holds the unique job title of Chief Storyteller at Accenture. What does a Chief Storyteller do exactly? “I’ll let you know when I figure it out!” he jokes. Terrence explains that as the nature of work is changing, the world of “Big Data” and with Artificial Intelligence, augmented realities, and robotic automation, we are being challenged to move from transactional modes of work to more personal interactions. According to Terrence, “Stories are fundamental to how we communicate, learn and think. Stories are the most efficient way of storing, retrieving, and conveying information.” Through his research and consulting, he has learned how to use stories as powerful vehicles to tap into people’s experiences and in the process help people to hear each other and themselves in deeper ways to promote reflection and learning in organizations. Terrence’s talents do not end with being an author and Chief Storyteller, he is also an accomplished fencer. Fencing is one of the reasons that brought him to Priory. In 1982 Terrence came to Priory due to the close proximity to San Jose State where he trained with an Olympic fencing coach. He is thankful for the support that Priory provided him as he pursued his dreams of being an Olympic fencer. “Without the Priory’s unbelievable support, I would have never progressed as a fencer,” he said. “Oh, and the monks even tolerated my disturbance to their early morning prayers as my classmate William Schneider (class of 1986) and I egged each other on with loud yells of encouragement during our frequent 6:00am sprint workouts on the field.” Hard work and dedication paid off for Terrence as he was selected as an alternate for the 1996 Olympics fencing team. Terrence was humble in the selection,
1. Terrence with his father Theodore, mother Gloria and Father Maurus before a trip to Hungary to compete in a fencing World Cup. 2. Receiving the 2009 HR Leadership Award from the Asia Pacific Congress for his ground breaking work on story-based communication skills. 3. Recent presentation to the Toronto Board of Trade. 4. Meeting with conference attendees.
“Being an alternate to the 1996 Olympics was nothing compared to the journey… it’s cliché but I encourage everyone to relish the journey they are on and not the goal, no matter what they are pursuing.” Terrence felt that his time at Priory was transformative for both himself and the school. “The school was going through a lot of transitions,” he said. “There was a “Jacob wrestling an angel,” sort of duel between the transition of the founders and the school’s natural evolution,” he added. Looking back, Terrence was impressed with the Benedictine Community upholding the faith and traditions, while also being open to new ideas. Terrence connected with several of the monks when he was a student and is grateful to this day for the impact that they made on his life. “Father Maurus planted the seed of Christ deep in my heart,” said Terrence. He added, “I saw him perspire with the strength of his sharp mind, tireless labor, fiery passion to serve and his strong will to uphold what was good and true.” Father Martin also came to mind with his “electric smiles” and “infectious energy” that would help Terrence to re-center himself in darker moments. “I am forever grateful for the youthfulness of Father Martin’s spirit. His musical and artistic expressions instilled in me the desire to seek creative outlets to manifest my faith in concrete ways to give glory to God,” Terrence explained. The Trudelle family also played a role in Terrence’s days at Priory. Terrence considered them his parents away from home and used to babysit their oldest son Stephen. “Babysitting Stephen was an honor,” said Terrence. “I was treated like an older brother. Mrs. Trudelle’s kindness and sense of humor lifted my spirits on countless occasions and Mr. Trudelle was equally ready to guide me as a parent and teacher as he was to play with me.” As a storyteller, Terrence has many powerful stories that offer a wealth of opportunities for inciting insights in others. But when asked what his favorite story was, his answer was even more powerful. “The story I am listening to at any given moment, especially when it is being shared from the life of another person. I am drawn to the stories that stir in my heart as I reflect on other people’s stories, the great stories of our faith and the stories that become wisdom that guide my actions in the present.” Thank you Terrence for sharing your story.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
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CLASS NEWS & NOTES
Note: If you would like to become a Reunion Class Agent, please contact Diana Chamorro in the the Alumni Office at (650) 851-6176 or alumni@prioryca.org. Don’t forget to “Like” the Woodside Priory Alumni Association on Facebook for updates and additional photos!
Congratulations to all our Priory alumni who graduated from college this year! Be sure to let us know your change of address. Best of luck in all your future endeavors. Always we begin again.
1961
James Rufo and his wife Patty saw Tim Molak at an event this past summer. Jim is currently the oldest alumnus from Priory!
1967 50
Al Zappelli met with John Buehler at his winery in Saint Helena.
1982/87
Jim Dugoni ’82 and Marty Sullivan ’87 convened with Al Zappelli over the summer.
2001
A – Sarah Lange and Ed Barta became the proud parents of Mabel Marie Barta on July 17, 2016. B – Emily (Kirkland) Mangini and husband Nick welcomed new daughter, Valentina Julie, on June 24.
2006
A – Scott Bader left his job at Apple after 6 years to start Tailspin Jerky. “America is suffering from a delicious jerky shortage,” says Scott, “I had to do something.” B –Julia Meredith Lange graduated from Washington University Medical School in May 2017. She is now completing her residency in Emergency Medicine at Washington University Hospital (Barnes Jewish) in St. Louis, Missouri. C – Kathy (Heewon) Lim visited Priory with her husband and had brunch with Father Martin. Kathy currently lives in Seoul, Korea.
2010
Keaton Carano and David Moseley took a selfie together in their familiar stomping ground–the Priory gym.
2016
Jack Herrera dropped by Founders Hall on Mrs. Mauss’ last day before her retirement to say hello. Jack is home from Boston and will be interning this summer with the firm, MI Group in Hayward.
2017
Several members of the class of 2017 reunited in Shanghai China this past summer. (l-r) Tommy Wang, Andy Wang, Alex Oberman, Daniel Goe and Kevin Liu.
CLASS NEWS & NOTES
1967
1961
1982/87
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2001 A
2006 B
2017
2006 A
2001 B
2010
2006 C
2016
CLASS NEWS & NOTES 52
Alumni Social Event at Paragon Restaurant and Bar, San Francisco Priory alumni joined Tim Molak and faculty member and new Alumni Liasion, Todd Turner for an evening of cocktails and conversation. Alumni in attendance ranged from the classes of 1981 to 2009. We hope you’ll join us at future alumni social events and the Reunion Weekend coming up on September 15-17th!
60TH ANNIVERSARY
60th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Calendar of Events August 7-September 29, 2017 CELEBRATING 60 YEARS AT PRIORY On display in the Kriewall Haehl Gallery August 17, 2017 PORTOLA VALLEY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Hosted by Woodside Priory School 6pm, Town Center September 15-16, 2017 ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND & HOMECOMING October 18, 2017 LISA MILLER, PhD. BOOK REVIEW “The Spiritual Child” November 12, 2017 FOUNDERS DAY MASS 9:30am Mass in Priory Chapel December 12, 2017 EBOO PATEL SPEAKER January 19, 2018 60TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EVENT January 31, 2018 FR. GREG BOYLE, S.J. PRESENTATION Homeboy Industries gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program. June 2, 2018 60TH ANNIVERSARY CLOSING MASS & RECEPTION All events listed are open to the entire Priory community to attend. We hope you will join us as we celebrate 60 years!
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MONASTERY NEWS 54
Benedictine Youth Congress There are twenty-three Benedictine high schools across the United States. This summer, eighty representatives from the schools met in Atchison, Kansas for the Benedictine Youth Congress. ASB members and Retreat Teams from the schools celebrated their common tradition, shared ways in which their communities live by St. Benedict’s Rule, and developed leadership skills. The congress was arranged around the daily monastic schedule; balancing study, prayer, and play. Students spent time with monks at Benedictine College and even concluded the evenings with ultimate frisbee tournaments. The BYC theme was “Listen with the Ear of the Heart” which is the basis of Benedictine life and leadership. Participants focused on chapter two of Saint Benedict’s Rule. Our very own Director of Campus Ministry, Molly Buccola organized the conference and ten Benedictine schools facilitated workshops and/or prayer services. Woodside Priory’s representatives for the Benedictine Youth Congress were Nicole Shihadeh ‘20 and Nonso Elelleh ‘19.
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
View past performances, slideshows and other various videos on our YouTube Channel. www.youtube.com/user/paxpanther ALUMNI!
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 Diana Chamorro at alumni@prioryca.org Like us on our Alumni Facebook page “Woodside Priory Alumni Association” www.facebook.com/woodsideprioryalumni/ Connect and network on the Priory Alumni Association LinkedIn page.
Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 851-8221 fax (650) 851-2839
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REUNION CLASSES HONORED: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012
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