A Magazine of the Priory · Issue #72 · Summer 2019
Hats off to the
Class of 2019
Board of Directors Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. Father John Fortin, O.S.B. Father Benet Phillips, O.S.B. Father Martin Mager, O.S.B. Father Maurus Nemeth, O.S.B
Board of Trustees. Catherine Boyle Dave Brett Mike Calbert Mike Carusi Craig Dauchy Eileen DiGiorgio Dominique Filloux Kathryn Fitzgerald Cathy Gawne Phil Golden ‘76 Karen Gregory Tom Halbach Sandy Herz Greg Hughes Bob Larson Father Jonathan Licari, O.S.B. Pam Martinson Stephen Nachtsheim Jennifer Nash Nancy Newman Kristi Patterson Carolyn Putney Stewart Putney Beckie Robertson Dave Schinski Sally Screven Edward Sun ‘87 Jennifer Warner Anne Senti-Willis Phil Young Contact the Communications Office at 650-851-6131 or the school at 650-851-8221 Editor: Kelly Sargent Contributing Writers: Diana A. Chamorro, Hovey Clark, Liz Kendall, Father Matthew Leavy, Saint Anselm Abbey, Adam Siler Design/Production: Jim Kirkland, J. Ennis Kirkland Creative Services Photos: Diana A. Chamorro, Hovey Clark, Jennifer Hammer, Kathleen Gonzalez, Wei Kelly, Liz Kendall, Jim Kirkland, Father Martin Mager, Amy Payne, Tim Molak, Peter Reiss, Abel Sanchez, GoldenImages.com Printing: Colorprint, Mark W. Allen
With graduation festivities still barely behind us, we are elated to see the Class of 2019, one of our largest graduating classes, enter the next stage of their lives with a Priory diploma in hand. We are very proud of what they have accomplished; the friends they have made while here; their living out our Benedictine values and its influence on their daily lives; their true affection for the teachers, who have guided and served them in their educational journey; and their love for our Monks, who touch their hearts and souls each day. It was a warm homecoming for commencement speaker Mark Lukach– former Priory teacher, coach, and now a bestselling author to address our graduates. Mark’s address was an inspiring reflection of his years at the Priory, colleagues who influenced him, and words of Benedictine wisdom for our Seniors and their families. The Priory made a huge impact on Mark as a young teacher and father. This year, several faculty and staff members were recognized for their years of service at our annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon that was wonderfully hosted by our parent volunteers. Lauren Donovan, Wei Kelly, Father Matthew Leavy, O.S.B., Korinn Myers, Adam Siler, and Ali Shah were all recognized for 10 years; Bob Bessin, Yvonne Faisal, and Maria Garcia were recognized for 15 years and received the prestigious Saint Benedict Medal; Reed Sullivan was honored for an amazing 20 years; and Al Zappelli was toasted as he leaves the Priory after 29 years. We truly thank each of them for their continued commitment and dedication to the Priory and making it a place like no other. In early June, we were saddened to hear of the passing of Father William Sullivan, O.S.B. He was a pivotal member of the Priory community as he served in several roles over the years as the Prior, President, Headmaster, and teacher from 1985-1998. Father William will always be remembered for his sense of humor, a keen knack for storytelling and his infamous yearly Lobster Dinners auctioned off at the Gala. Additional information is available in the memoriam section of this issue. May he rest in peace. Our exciting campus facility upgrades continue with the renovation and transformation of our dining hall and kitchen. Work began in early June and when completed in October, we will have a whole new look inside, and a new outdoor dining patio in the back. What will remain the same is the stunning view of Windy Hill. Our next phase of campus housing–six units–for faculty and staff, is in the permitting process and we hope to begin this fall and finish in summer 2020. It has been a busy five years for on-campus construction, but with each completed project we are able to better serve our students and faculty with attractive, adaptable spaces for all learning modalities that compliment our Benedictine values. The theme for this year was Something Old, Something New, and at graduation, I mentioned that our history is something old, but our vision is something new, our five Benedictine values are something old with a twist of something new, our high school graduates years are now something old, but college is something new. Our Monks are NEVER something old, they are always something new and priceless. The Monks and I extend our grateful appreciation to Mike Calbert who steps down as Board chair. Mike provided the Priory the leadership and guidance needed during our Monastic and Governance transitions over the past two years. I also took some words of wisdom from the yearbook, each senior has a page and on some of the pages are pictures and a quote–I think you will enjoy these: • Life is a lot like jazz, it is best when you improvise • A ship in harbor is safe but that is not what ships are built for • Who is Lulu and why are we bringing her lemons? • Shorter people are more down to earth • Noah’s ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic by professionals–never sell yourself short! I hope your summer is filled with family and friends and provides some time away from your work life. We look forward to welcoming all our new students and families in August, as, Always We Begin Again. Pax,
Tim Molak Head of School
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Priory Community,
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
Woodside Priory School Celebrating 61 Years of Benedictine Education
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At a Glance
34-35
Global Education Trips 36-37
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Priory Grazing Project
14-19
US Graduation
20-21
MS Athletics
22-23
US Athletics
24-27
MS Graduation
28-29
2018-19 Awards
30-31
Residential Life
32-33
Performing Arts
38-39 40
Visual Arts Gala Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast Last Volunteers Standing
42-49
Alumni Reunion
50-52
Class News & Notes
53
Campus News
54
Monastery News
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In Memoriam
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6-10
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YEAR AT A GLANCE
1. Students stood with NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, who held the Priory logo that he took to the International Space Station with him. 2. During a college tour at San Jose State University, students visited the Olympic Black Power Statue. 3. Tim Molak proudly presented Al Zappelli with an engraved rocking chair to commemorate his 29 years of service. 4. Luke Adams ‘19 performed a magic show at the Faculty and Staff Appreciation luncheon.
5. Jack Barton ‘25 is ready to play some dodgeball! 6. Zsofia Horvath ‘24, Catherine Carlton-Ridenour ‘24,
JJ Lehman ‘24, Harry McAdam ‘23, Ross Muchnick ‘23, Walker Rust ‘23, and enthusiastic referee Todd Turner were this years’ MS Dodgeball champs.
7. A spirited group of sixth grade students were all smiles during their first MS Dodgeball game.
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8. Sixth grade students during their annual “Day of the Gods” day.
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9. AnaMalia Veamatahau ‘19 danced at the festive annual Heritage Day event.
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and Illiana Garcia ‘22, proudly wave the Mexican flag.
YEAR AT A GLANCE
10. Carmen Akamine-Alvarez ‘20, Sonia Kulasooriya ‘22,
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11. Cristy Rosario-Perez ‘19 led a group Puerto Rican dance as part of her senior project.
12. Students from the Latinos de Unidos club sold homemade tamales during break.
13. Students have fun participating in “Chicken Bingo” as part of a lenten talents fundraiser.
14. A panda clad group at the Lunar New Year festivities. 15. March Madness Week was filled with fun break activities like this “Birdbox Challenge”.
16. The themed dress of “Tourist Day” was a big hit with
Amaria Horton ‘22, Sydney Donovan ‘22, Jocelyn Galvan ‘21, and Aniyah Augmon ‘21.
17. Anna Barton ‘19 and Cami Shelton ‘20 practice their putting on the green during the themed “Prep Day.”
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YEAR AT A GLANCE
1. Model United Nations proudly show their certificates and gavels after a successful delegation.
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2. Robotics Team 751 competed at the Silicon Valley Regional in March. 3. Several Priory members volunteered at the 27th annual Rebuilding
Together event to work on a home in East Palo Alto.
4. Junior students and chaperone Damian Cohen, volunteered at a warehouse in San Francisco during the Junior Retreat.
5. During Service Week, Luis Wright ‘22, Catherine Frank ‘22, Campbell Raney ‘22, and Andrew Rosenthal ‘22 worked together to pull a stubborn plant. 6. Seniors were very active as they volunteered at the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI) program for Service week. 7. Aidan Chandra ‘19, Billy Youstra ‘19, and Shannon Fitzgerald ‘19 were surrounded by pristine snow conditions in Lake Tahoe during the Snow Science trip.
8. Aspen Kopley-Smith ‘21 and Bella Deevy ‘21 worked on constructing a rock climbing wall during Service Week.
9. On a boat for Service Week, sophomore and junior students enjoyed a day in San Francisco with SFOA.
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YEAR AT A GLANCE
10. Faculty members Damian Cohen, Myles Somerville, Gabe Tang, and Bob Bessin were great participants for a Tri-M pie toss fundraiser.
11. Gabby Sanchez ‘20 made sure she wasn’t going to miss Myles Somerville with a plate full of whipped cream.
12. Junior girls enjoy the pre-prom gathering held at the school. 13. Senior boys took one last photo at the pre-prom event before loading the bus.
14. Ryan Schackel ‘19, Charlie Brandin ‘19, Claire Kim ‘19, and Ila Lane ‘19 have some heart-shaped fun.
15. Anna Barton ‘19, Livie Carusi ‘19, and Kelly Walsh ‘19 enjoyed
spending precious moments together during the Senior Retreat.
16. The Senior Retreat provided time
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for the Seniors to reflect upon their time together over the past four years.
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YEAR AT A GLANCE
1. Juliet Drost ‘24 enjoyed playing under a parachute with Special Olympic participants during the 7th grade retreat.
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2. During the Special Olympics event, William Day ‘24 gave a
participant the best ride of his life!
3. It took a village to move the very large Stations of the Cross artwork from the monastery to the side of the Chapel. 4. Yearbook editors Sarah Park ‘20 and Leyan Zhai ‘19 stood with Alvin Li ‘21 as they distributed the 2019 yearbook. 5. Faculty members had a little fun as they mimicked a humorous entrance from “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.”
6. Students enjoyed looking through the yearbook and exchanging autographs. 7. Kenny Akers ‘19 was amazingly calm as he jumped over an oncoming dodgeball. 8. 2019 Dodgeball Champs, “The Lions.”
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GLOBAL TRIPS
Cambodia
Guatemala
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Priory Travels
around the world for global education Students traveled to four different international locations this year in February and April. During the trips, students not only volunteered, but also enjoyed some of the local sights and experiences.
Costa Rica
China
SUSTAINABILITY
10 Things You Need to Know About the
PRIORY GRAZING PROJECT 1 The Priory Grazing project has been initiated as part of the school’s sustainability program. The project is intended to support the school’s efforts at “Healthy Habitats”–for wildlife and people.
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2019 marks the second year of the grazing project. In 2018, the school hosted 240 goats and cleared two acres of land. This year, we had 800 sheep grazing 12 acres in total.
3 Sheep are grazers; goats are browsers. While goats will eat just about anything that they can
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reach or climb to–from grass and shrubs, to bark, leaves, and overhead branches–sheep prefer to feast on grass forage. The school’s grassy hillside is a perfect pasture for sheep. The sheep the Priory hosted are called ‘white dorpers’.
4 Humans, grazing animals, and the plants they eat are part of an ancient interdependent ecological relationship. Throughout our evolutionary history, nomadic humans have followed large herds of hooved animals on their annual migrations. These animals, in turn, would follow moving belts of rain–and the plants that grew in their wake. Some humans hunted the animals; others worked to domesticate them.
5 Grazing animals live together in herds–which is good for the landscape. The social aspect of clumping provides these animals protection from predators in wide-open spaces. The high population densities of herding animals cause them to urinate, defecate, and walk on the plants that they eat. These activities promote the proper decomposition processes in the upper layers of soils and help with nutrient recycling.
6 Humans have changed the population sizes and migratory routes of grazing animals. Our modern farms, cities, and roads have all impacted the numbers of hooved grazers on the landscape, as well as the extent of the predators that might hunt these animals. As a result, the ecology and nutrient cycling of modern grasslands is fundamentally different than it has been throughout evolutionary time.
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Plants can use photosynthetic energy in three different ways: for biomass growth, for reproduction, and for pest protection. Usually, plants are effective at two of these strategies. Grasses don’t grow tall or store lots of carbon as wood, but they do produce large numbers of seeds after a short growing season, and each blade’s serrated edges makes it nearly impossible to digest for most herbivores.
8 We can see adaptations among animals like sheep, goats, cows, and other hoofed grazers that are evolutionary responses to the grass’ reproduction and pest-defense strategies. Chunky molars, leathery tongues, stomachs with multiple cavities, and non-stop chomping show what is needed to make grass work as a food resource. And, in the same way that sheep have evolved to eat blades of grass, they are also able to tolerate sharp and spiny thistle, which grows as an annoying invasive species on the hill.
encourages the animals to graze pretty hard in the areas in which they are enclosed. They will eat the grass– and thistle– to within 2-4 inches of the soil. Meanwhile, the animals will be trampling the areas that they have eaten and leaving dung and urine behind. These simple activities create contact between vegetative litter and the soil surface. This promotes soil bacteria decomposition processes–to a far greater extent than had the grass grown and died, full-stature, as it would have done had the sheep not been here. As a result, the soils should retain more carbon and more water than if the area was ungrazed. This means they will stay greener longer into the summer, and we should see less thistle (Bull thistle, Italian thistle, and Yellow Star thistle). Additionally, this will improve pest-control opportunities for local predators (hawks, herons, owls).
10 We hope that the Priory Grazing Project demonstrates that some solutions can be integrated and interconnected. The project is principally organized to improve soil health and control invasive species. But wait, there’s more. Just as the grassland soils should retain more carbon and water, and stay greener longer, this should also provide some measure of fire-prevention. And to the extent that we can avoid mowing the grasses, we are reducing the impact of heavy machinery on the hillside. Additionally, the carbon that is trapped by the soils is carbon that is not released to the atmosphere as CO2. For this reason, ‘silvopasture’ (a selective, intensive grazing project like this, but on a global scale) is seen as one of the top 10 things humans can do to draw-down atmospheric CO2 levels for climate impact.
SUSTAINABILITY
9 The grazing project aims to replicate natural systems. The tight clumping of the 800 sheep
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US GRADUATION 14
“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”
The Class of
2019 Bids Adieu
Congratulations, Class of 2019!
US GRADUATION
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On June 1, Priory graduated 72 students at the 59th commencement ceremony. Head of School Tim Molak welcomed the excited crowd with a few memorable Senior quotes from the recent yearbook. “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them,” and “My brain is like Google Chrome, 32 tabs are open, eight are not responding and there is music playing somewhere,” Mr. Molak read with a smile. Student speaker, Vivian Chuang ’19, delivered a heartfelt personal message on how a single question changed her life and lead her to Priory. That single question, “Vivian, what do you want to do with your life?” was asked when she was 11 by her English teacher. Her quick answer of, “to be successful,” made her look deeper into what her definition of success was. Three years later, she was living 10,000 kilometers away from home, “kind of in the middle of nowhere, where food is overpriced, speaking primarily English, and attending a religious private boarding school, my second home, Priory,” Vivian remarked. Little did Vivian know but during her four years at Priory, it would become her most lifechanging experience. “What the Priory community taught me the most, is to redefine my idea of success,” Vivian explained. “At Priory, we learned to live. To live a life that is so much more than academic achievements. We learned that our identity should be more than an A on a test, a 4.0 GPA, or a college acceptance letter. We learned that we can be athletes, musicians, artists, engineers, actors, or all of them. We learned to appreciate our similarities and celebrate our differences. We found our identity and helped others find theirs. We met friends, mentors, or family that have guided us to become the best version of ourselves.” The commencement speaker was Mark Lukach, an internationally bestselling author and ninth grade dean and history teacher at Athenian School, but more importantly a former beloved teacher at Priory from 2006-2010. Mark reflected on his time at Priory with what he referred to as “only at the Priory moments.” Moments including his first encounter with Brother Edward, who found Mark working late one night. To his surprise, Brother Edward told him to go home and be with his newlywed wife. “Here I thought I was going to impress him and how hard I was working, and instead I was being told to go home, to remember that life needs balance,” he explained. In closing, Mark shared a realization he had about life and plants. He explained that a century plant takes decades to grow approximately six-feet-tall, but then unexpectedly a stalk shoots out of the middle of the plant at a rate of an inch an hour and can grow up to 25 feet tall. The plants “sit there, humbly and quietly for so many years, asking for so little except an occasional rain shower, and then fearlessly, together, they rose up at a breathtaking pace, like it was their destiny, their whole life encapsulated in this remarkable moment of growth and beauty,” he said. He compared the century plant to a rose, which blooms over and over, but needs so much care and attention of pruning, fertilizing, and watering. Mark found a century plant and it made him wonder about his own life, “What was I doing with my time? Was I a rose, or a century plant?” After realizing he was a century plant, he expressed to the graduates, “It’s OK to be a century plant. It’s ok to do one great thing. Not all of us can be roses. You don’t have to be excellent every time. Instead, when the moment is right, you will burst onto the scene to do that thing you’ve always been called to do, and it will be the greatest thing you ever do.”
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Commencement speaker Mark Lukach
US GRADUATION
The Class of 2019
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Student speaker Vivian Chuang ‘19
Lucas Chan Adams * Kenneth William Akers ** Matthew Brown Barber Anna Pauline Barton Olivia James Beriker Brennan Stephen Birn * Anne Catherine Boyle * Charlotte McNeill Brandin Andres Eduardo Cacho * Olivia Marie Carusi ** Joseph Aurelio Casente ** Daniel J. Cassel * Aidan Jai Chandra ** Mian Cheng Genevieve Celina Chiu-Schaepe ** Yung-Ting Vivian Chuang * Matthew Alan Cirimele * Cameron Williams Cronwall ** Zoe Emily Daniel Elliot Kenneth Dauber ** Paul Gaston Duling Chinonso Adanna Elelleh Hannah Mabel Feldmeier * Stuart Feng ** Shannon Kathryn Fitzgerald Joshua Greer Galloway ** Francesca Jeanne Geoly Matthew Robert George Sophia Miranda Giarrusso ** Ksenia Alice Gonikberg Katherine Vianne Hammond Ryan Scott Harrison Amelia Lee Hoffmann Aohua Sebastian Hou Emma Louise Jaeger ** Tara Lakshmi Kariat **
Min Chea Kim * Daniel Edward Klein * Jacob M. Kowalski * Tatsuo Kumamoto * Chloe Faye Lahham Ila Capri Lane Justin K. Manrao * Brianna Brooke Maroney * Maisy Lee McWright Rachael E. Miller ** Milan Dorrell Pandey ** Grace Elizabeth Peek Joseph Conner Petersdorf * Caleb Hudson Pollack ** Kensy Marlene Ponterio Lily Jasmine Price ** Kara Emerald Reiss Addison Reynolds * Cristina Angelica Rosario Perez ** Gabrial Lena Rose Marie Ruiz Christopher Russell ** Stephanie Sanchez Joseph Bach Sausville ** Ryan Frank Schackel * Henry Paul Sengelmann ** Hannah Camille Sheridan ** Ethan Raney Sheynblat Andrew Yuri Sirenko ** Delphine Zu-Yan Tan Olivia Katherine Treynor ** AnaMalia Siu Veamatahau Benjamin Lewis Veghte Kelly Ann Walsh * Mackae Cormac Wilcox William Anthony Youstra Leyan Zhai **
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
SENIOR PROJECTS The Boro Booth Genevieve ChiuSchaepe ‘19 built a portable glassblowing workshop.
Time To Go Karting
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Ryan Schackel ‘19 designed and built a go-kart.
Combustion Efficiency Cameron Cronwall ‘19 turbocharged a diesel engine to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
Kolapso Sebastian Hou ‘19 and Andrew Cheng ‘19 wrote and directed a 20 minute short film called “Kolapso.” The filming was done in China with professional actors and crew.
US GRADUATION
Highlights of a few
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2018-2019 College and University Acceptances Schools noted in bold are where Priory graduates of the Class of 2019 will be attending in the fall. American University Arizona State University Bard College Barnard College Boise State University Boston College Boston University Brandeis University Brown University Bucknell University Butler University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo California State Polytechnic University, Pomona California State University, Chico California State University, East Bay California State University, Stanislaus Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Colgate University College of San Mateo Colorado College Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University Dickinson College Drew University Drexel University Eckerd College Emerson College Emory University Florida International University Foothill College Franklin & Marshall College George Washington University Georgia Institute of Technology Gettysburg College Gonzaga University Haverford College Indiana University, Bloomington Ithaca College Johns Hopkins University Lafayette College Lake Forest College Lawrence University Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University New Orleans
Macalester College Marymount Manhattan College McGill University Miami University, Oxford Middlebury College New York University Northeastern University Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences Occidental College Oregon State University Pace University Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Portland State University Purdue University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rice University Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Saint Anselm College Saint Mary’s College of California San Diego State University San Francisco State University San Jose State University Santa Clara University Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art and Design Scripps College Seattle University Seton Hall University Shasta College Sierra College Skidmore College Smith College Sonoma State University Southern Methodist University Southern Oregon University St. Edward’s University St. John’s University Stanford University Stony Brook University Texas Christian University Trinity College Trinity University Tufts University Tulane University University of Arizona University of British Columbia 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 University of Colorado, Boulder University of Colorado, Colorado Springs University of Denver University of Hawaii, Manoa University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill University of Northern Colorado University of Oregon University of Portland University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of Rochester University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of Tampa University of Texas, Austin University of the Pacific University of Toronto University of Utah University of Vermont University of Washington University of Waterloo University of Wisconsin, Madison Vassar College Villanova University Washington State University Washington University in St. Louis Wesleyan University Wheaton College Whitman College Whittier College Willamette University Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Valedictorian Emma Jaeger
St. Benedict Award Ryan Schackel
Livie Carusi Aidan Chandra Genevieve Chiu-Schaepe Cameron Cronwall Zoe Daniel Elliot Dauber Shannon Fitzgerald Josh Galloway Tessa Geoly Amelia Hoffmann Emma Jaeger Tara Kariat Daniel Klein Justin Manrao Brianna Maroney Rachael Miller Grace Peek Chris Russell Olivia Treynor Ben Veghte Mackae Wilcox
Seven Year Club Kenny Akers Anna Barton Annie Boyle Charlie Brandin
Residential Life Four Year Award Andrew Cheng Vivian Chuang Nonso Elelleh Xenia Gonikberg
Salutatorian Andrew Sirenko Dean of Students Award Tatsuo Kumamoto Rev. Benignus F. Barat, O.S.B. Citizenship Award Stuart Feng Academic Dean Award Hannah Sheridan St. Elizabeth Service Award Annie Boyle Head of School Award Ila Lane Milan Pandey
Sebastian Hou Tatsuo Kumamoto Claire Kim Addison Reynolds Stephanie Sanchez National Merit Scholars Kenny Akers Aidan Chandra Elliot Dauber Stuart Feng Sophia Giarrusso Tara Kariat Addison Reynolds Ryan Schackel Andrew Sirenko Billy Youstra
Computer Science Claire Kim Science Rachael Miller English Brianna Maroney Performing Arts Daniel Klein Visual Arts Genevieve Chiu-Schaepe World Languages Cameron Cronwall Social Studies Daniel Cassel
National Merit Semi-Finalist Caleb Pollack
Residential Life Award Tatsuo Kumamoto
National Merit Finalist Chris Russell
Joe Montero Senior Athlete Award Anna Barton Ben Veghte
DEPARTMENT AWARDS Theology Cristina Rosario Perez Mathematics Joseph Casente
US GRADUATION
Upper School Commencement Awards
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MS ATHLETICS
MS ATHLETICS 4
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MS ATHLETICS SPRING 2019 1. TRACK
Stella Axe ’24- 800M League Champion
2. BASEBALL 4-2 overall record
3. WATERPOLO 1-5 overall record
4. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL WHITE 2-6 overall record
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5. JV GIRLS VOLLEYBALL 5-1 overall record
6. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL BLUE 3-5 overall record
7. TENNIS
3-4 overall record
US ATHLETICS 22
WINTER 2019 GIRLS BASKETBALL CCS Champions WBAL Foothill Division All League 1st Team: Ila Lane ‘19 2nd Team: Aniya Augmon ‘22 BOYS BASKETBALL WBAL All League 2nd Team: Zach Zafran ‘22 HM: David Ajanaku-Makun ‘22 GIRLS SOCCER 3rd Place in CCS WBAL All League Forward of the Year: Amaya Gray ‘20 1st Team: Anysa Gray ’20, Vivian Wang ‘22 2nd Team: Kate Hooper ’22, Kaela Marsheck ’21 HM: Maya Blevins ‘20, Hannah Feldmeier ’19
BOYS SOCCER WBAL All League Forward of the Year: Brandon Zelaya ‘21 1st Team: Ben Veghte ‘19 2nd Team: Caleb Pollack ‘19 HM: Matthew Barber ’19, Marco Brougher ‘22
SPRING 2019 GIRLS LACROSSE WBAL Skyline Division All League 1st Team: Anna Barton ‘19 2nd Team: Maya Blevins ‘20 HM: Vivian Chuang ’19, Cami Shelton ’20 BOYS LACROSSE Boys’ lacrosse successfully launched the program for the third time in school history. Coaches Brian Silcott and Myles Somerville are building towards a competitive future.
BOYS TENNIS Boys’ tennis did not have enough players to field a varsity team so it competed at the JV level. SWIM WBAL All League 2nd Team: Brad Schoenthaler ‘20 HM: Cristina Rosario-Perez ‘19 BASEBALL Boys’ baseball has a bright future with several players returning. TRACK & FIELD WBAL All League HM: Shannon Fitzgerald ’19, Jason Sadler ‘20
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ILA LANE NAMED D3 STATE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Girls basketball standout Ila Lane ’19 was named the Cal-Hi Sports State Player of the Year for Division 3. Lane is only the fourth person in the CCS to have this honor since 1974. Coach Buck Matthews said, “I am most proud and impressed with her high character, maturity and humility. She is by far the most humble basketball player that I have ever coached. She is a remarkable young lady on and off the court and will be very successful in life.” Lane also received the school Athlete of the Year award as well as the Head of School award at graduation. Lane will play at UC Santa Barbara next year and we wish her a successful career as a Gaucho!
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Class of 2023 38 students
from the Class of 2023 gathered in the Rothrock Performance Hall on May 30 to attend their final middle school event– their graduation. The Middle School choir opened the special occasion with a harmonious “Thank You for Being a Friend.” The program included two student speakers: Summer Shapero ’23, who focused on what the true definition of a good teacher is. “When you have a teacher that you can create a special bond with, who cares about your learning, and your wellbeing, it can completely change school, and your outlook and dedication to learning.” Summer continued, “These qualities, that really have life changing potential, are present in so many teachers here at the Priory. I can say that the whole class of 2023 has been impacted by our teachers.” The second student speaker, Rhea Behl ’23 touched on the many relationships and connections she made during her time at Priory. “It takes a lot to be able to form a community as close and as open as ours,” Rhea explained. “This community made up of my friends, peers, and teachers have taught me so much…not only academically, but also on how to be a good person and how to be my own person.” The eighth grade class selected theology teacher Mary Carroll to present the graduation address. Carroll had a powerful message for the class about self-acceptance and the pressures of today’s technologies that drive people to become competitive in showcasing through social media how great their lives are. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” she emphasized. “Someone else’s success should not affect your happiness,” said Carroll. In closing, Carroll said, “Embrace what sets you apart. Feed your interests, nurture friendships in real life. Stop comparing and start supporting!” Onward Class of 2023!
MS GRADUATION
Looking Ahead with the
25 “Comparison is the thief of joy. Someone else’s success should not affect your happiness.”
The graduation address was delivered by theology teacher Mary Carroll
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The Class of 2023 Freya Allen Ava Ammari Elizabeth Barton Heather Baszucki Rhea Behl Cole Blevins Finn Bourke Ryan Carlsmith Kai Cassel Neve Cetinok Adam Collins Isaiah Dean Miles Dobrenski Clara Feng James Heron Maya Hsu Chloe Huffman Lauren Hurley Roxy Johnson Martin Kacin Alex Kawaja Alexis Levin Sofia Lucas Harrison McAdam Ross Muchnick Leah Nelson Ronin Park Nina Pasquesi Viresh Pati Walker Rust Summer Shapero Clint Smith William Strickland Caroline Tamer Jenna Thomas William Tomlinson Maximos Yonehiro Daniel Youstra
MS GRADUATION
Middle School Commencement Awards 8th Grade Valedictorians Miles Dobrenski Alex Kawaja Will Strickland
Sofia Lucas
Miles Dobrenski
Leah Nelson Ronin Park
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Nina Pasquesi Summer Shapero Leadership Award Will Strickland
Kai Cassel
Middle School Head’s Award Kai Cassel
Alex Kawaja
St. Benedict Award Nina Pasquesi
Ronin Park
Sofia Lucas
Leah Nelson
Summer Shapero
Nina Pasquesi
2018-19 AWARDS
Middle and Upper
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MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS St. Ambrose Award for Humanities 6th grade: Marina Xanthopoulos 7th grade: Cadence Liu 8th grade: Jenna Thomas
Joseph Arroyo ‘25
St. Albert Award for Science and Mathematics 6th grade: Gabriel Oliveri 7th grade: Nathan Chen 8th grade: Miles Dobrenski St. Catherine of Bologna Award for Fine Arts and Performing Arts 6th grade: Naomi Aalfs 7th grade: Zsofia Horvath 8th grade: Freya Allen
Matthew Covington ‘20
6th Grade Outstanding Athlete Award Jack Barton Ryder Bush Morgan Dobrenski Maddie Kacin 7th Grade Outstanding Athlete Award Stella Axe Everett Miller Scholar Athlete Award Miles Dobrenski ‘23 Clara Feng ‘23
Sahana Singh ‘21
Athlete of the Year Leah Nelson ‘23 Walker Rust ‘23 The St. Benedict Award 6th grade: Joseph Arroyo 7th grade: Kayla Matsuoka
UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS St. Elizabeth Service Award 10th grade: Sahana Singh 11th grade: Angela Wang University of Rochester “Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award” Grant Whitman ‘20 University of Rochester “George Eastman Young Leaders Award” Matt Gutow ‘20 University of Rochester “Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities” Carmen Akamine-Alvarez ‘20 University of Rochester “Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology” Katie Walsh ‘20 St. Anselm Book Award Mate Tringer ‘20 Rensselaer Medal Certificate Viansa Schmulbach ‘20
2018-19 AWARDS
FEATURE
School Awards
2
Williams College Book Award Matthew Covington ‘20 Wellesley College Book Award Annabelle North ‘20 Harvard College Book Award Marie Sirenko ‘20 Athlete of the Year Ila Lane ‘19 The St. Benedict Award 9th grade: Remy Fu 10th grade: Julianne Lempert 11th grade: Maya Blevins
UPPER SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AWARDS
Performing Arts 9th grade: Abigail Milne 10th grade: Aaron Lipp 11th grade: Carmen Akamine-Alvarez Science 9th grade: Manisha Khakoo 10th grade: Sage Thomas 11th grade: Angela Wang Social Sciences 9th grade: Kevin Murphy 10th grade: Leah Strickland 11th grade: Zach Brousseau
Bush ‘25, and Jack Barton ‘25
Theology 9th grade: Megan Mawhinney 10th grade: Simon Nixdorf 11th grade: Maggie Pollard
Computer Science 9th grade: Matthew Yue 10th grade: Christina Cheng 11th grade: Akash Ganesan
Visual Arts 9th grade: Adam Zwaanstra 10th grade: Eszter Horvath 11th grade: Marie Sirenko
English 9th grade: Jane Chen 10th grade: Aniyah Augmon 11th grade: Ada Fathers
World Languages 9th grade: Remy Fu 10th grade: Cole Gilbert 11th grade: Genaro Flores
Mathematics 9th grade: Sammie Staudinger 10th grade: Jaden Kim 11th grade: Grant Whitman
Morgan Dobrenski ‘25, Maddie Kacin ‘25, Ryder
Ila Lane ‘19 with Athletic Director Mark Stogner
RESIDENTIAL LIFE 30
Meaningful Mentorship For the past 61 years, the Priory has offered students from around the world the opportunity to live on campus as part of the school’s boarding program. Much has changed about the dorms over the past half century: the addition of female dormers, the hiring of a full-time Residential Faculty, and 24/7 internet access to the President’s tweets. But the hallmark of the residential community today is the same as it was in 1957–to assist boarding students in living healthy, balanced, and meaningful lives. While national demand for high-school residency programs is down, the Priory’s boarding program is experiencing something of a “Golden Age” in the moment. The reason? The people. The Residential Faculty–or RFs as they are known on campus–are some of the most talented, energetic, and innovative educators at the school. Each RF is a unique blend of teacher, coach, mentor, parent, therapist, nurse, tutor, cheerleader, and cop. Their hours are long. Their role is often unclear. Their curriculum is ever-changing. But the presence of an RF in the life of a Priory dormer is invaluable. Over the past few years, the Residential Life Program has embarked on a campaign of positive propaganda. Not surprising, the RFs are at the center of this project. Last summer, the RFs decorated the foyers of both dorms with uplifting slogans. The hallways sport oversized canvases with suggestions for healthy living. Fifty inch computer monitors now broadcast the recent accomplishments of dormers with photographs, personalized messages, and hashtags. These may seem like small additions but as philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said, “words create worlds.” The Residential Life Program’s campaign of positive propaganda extends beyond the physical space. Another critical piece of this project has been the evolving relationship between RF and dormer. As one might suspect, RFs are tasked with enforcing rules, policing boundaries, and disciplining dormers every shift. Being bad cop comes
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
with the territory. But what is neither natural nor intuitive is the need to deliberately dwell on the positive. Leveraging data-driven strategies from the exciting new field of positive psychology, RFs go out of their way to “hunt the good stuff.” They “shout out” good behavior every shift. They “strength spot” on purpose. These efforts culminate each month when the RFs send the parents of each of their advisees an email fondly named, “Catching Your Kid Being Good.” These missives notice, name, and callout what is positive in the life of each dormer. Next year, the role of the RF will expand. RFs will assist dormers that are enrolled in the brand-new Dorm Honors Program to more deeply live out the Priory’s commitment to balance. Using Fitbit Inspire HRs, dormers will be able to monitor their REM sleep and measure the quality of their cardiovascular exercise each day. For the first time, dormers will be able to accurately track their physical and psychological health over the course of the busy school year. These dormers will receive mentorship from the RFs, Dean of Residential Life, and the Counseling Department during weekly “Wellbeing Collaborations” during which they will have the chance to debrief their individual results. A pilot program was ventured last year with extremely positive results for the students involved. Not surprisingly, RFs leapt at the opportunity to highlight dormer successes: “Suuley got more than eight hours of sleep last night!”, “Gabby got her 10,000 steps yesterday!” Last year, dormers were asked to reflect on the policies and people associated with the Residential Life Program. One-hundred percent of them felt the “RFs were helpful in building community.” Eighty-five percent felt the “RFs supported [their] individual, cultural, academic, social, and emotional needs.” These results are not accidents. They speak to each RF’s capacity to make kids feel known and loved. They highlight what positivity makes possible. They suggest that life has never been better in the dorms.
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PERFORMING ARTS 32
The Government Inspector US Play
In 1836 Nikolai Gagol published the play, “The Government Inspector,” as a farcical satire of life in the Russian Empire. You may find that, 183 years later, it has lost none of its bite nor any of its relevance. In our current climate, there are few things the corrupt and powerful fear as much as being laughed at can attest. Those that practice hypocrisy, corruption, arrogance, narcissism, cronyism, threats, bribery, bullying and governance through fear, lose their power when their shallowness is revealed through an actor’s depiction and an audience’s laughter. And frankly, we could all use more laughter in our lives. It is the cheapest, most immediate and often the best medicine for what ails us on a daily basis. John Sugden, Director (Excerpts from the play program)
PERFORMING ARTS
ert c n o C s Pop USIC” HT M
e NIG “A littl
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe MS Play
Through the wardrobe, and off we go! C.S. Lewis gifted us with a fantastic world peopled with talking animals, beasts that are only make-believe in our world, and a wonderful–in every sense of the word–story. How many of us had tried to get to Narnia? Now we are given that chance to make that journey along with Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter. Stefan Fisher, Guest Director (Excerpts from play program)
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VISUAL ARTS
“Ink on Skin” AP Studio Art by Cami Shelton ‘20
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“Full Concentration” AP Studio Art by Kayla Martinez ‘20
“Van Goghs Blossom” Drawing and Painting by Jane Chen ‘22
AP Studio Art by Marie Sirenko ‘20
VISUAL ARTS
“Portal” AP Studio Art by Nonso Elelleh ‘19
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“Glass Plate Set” Glass by Abigail Milne ‘22 “Self Portrait” MS Drawing and Painting by Isaiah Dean ‘23
GALA 36
A Roaring Good Time Radiating with the glamour and glitz of a Jay Gatsby party, Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club transformed for Priory’s 38th annual gala, Roaring Twenties. Donning their best sequins and pearls or tuxedos and top hats, guests fox trotted and toasted through the evening, while supporting the Priory community. Gala Co-Chairs Lisa Putnam and Nicole Chambers, along with dozens of dedicated volunteers, were the bee’s knees in putting together an unforgettable night. As the flappers and dapper dandies arrived at the party, they were greeted by a decadently dressed hostess wearing a rolling champagne skirt—a sight to see! With a glass of champagne in tow, guests entered the cocktail reception and feasted their eyes on a room radiating with shimmering hues of gold, silver and black with delicate pearl and feather accents. New this year was signage for each silent auction category, allowing for more space through the reception for mixing and mingling, and a photo booth station with the accouterments to replicate a proper speakeasy. The evening continued into the glamorous ballroom adorned with eye-catching centerpieces pluming with white feathers, setting the mood for the equal parts entertaining and exciting live auction. Among the highlights were hilarious skits by gangster John Sugden, and Kristi and Tom Patterson and Jennifer and Bill Youstra’s ingenious Game of Thrones-themed performance, as well as phenomenal experiences such as the Warriors owner’s suite, a VIP experience at Hearst Castle and vacation of a lifetime in the City of Light!
Father Maurus leads Father Matthew and Father Martin to deliver the infamous Monks Cake.
Glamorous volunteers whose work helped create a spectacular evening!
GALA The notorious gangster Tommy Two Toes, aka Priory Theatre Director John Sugden.
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The Pattersons and Youstras surprised guests with a Game of Thrones-themed skit to introduce the Murder Mystery Dinner Party during the live show. Fr. Martin’s 35th Tall Clock.
Gala Co-Chairs, Lisa Putnam (left) and Nicole Chambers, welcome all to the Roaring Twenties.
VOLUNTEERS
Celebrating Parents
at the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
38
Tia Miller and Kelli Tomlinson
with Gala Co-Chairs Lisa Putnam and Nicole Chambers who felt her
experience as the Roaring Twenties Co-Chair was one of the best experiences of her life.
It was a true celebration of gratefulness on April 26 at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast. Priory honored the many extraordinary volunteers who have influenced the school in large and small ways this year and gave their time, energy, and talent. As all parent volunteers are celebrated, alumni parents are invited back to serve and participate in the celebration of the senior parents who are welcomed into the Alumni Parent Association. Tim Molak thanked the Class of 2019 parents for setting the example of volunteerism for all parents and each senior parent was presented with a special Priory panther key ring. Tim thanked and recognized the parent volunteer leaders who created and produced the school’s largest social event of the year. Gala Co-Chairs Nicole Chambers and Lisa Putnam then thanked the dozens of volunteers who brought the Roaring Twenties gala to life, expressing how thrilled they were with the outcome and sharing how it was an extraordinary coming together of the Priory community. After receiving Tim’s expression of gratitude, Priory Parent Association CoPresidents Carolyn Putney and Kristi Patterson in turn thanked PPA volunteers and shared the joy they experience by leading so many dedicated parents who come together to support the school in ways big and small. As a final thank you, Carolyn enthusiastically read a touching poem titled “Wherever We Are.” An excerpt reads, “So wherever We are, there’s always You, There’s always You and We. “A great big thank you,” said We.” Caitha Ambler, Micah Morris, and Adam Siler were among the faculty and staff leaders who took a moment to express their gratitude for parent support of their specific programs. Liz Kendall thanked parents who served as annual fund leaders for the joy and strength they brought to encouraging participation and generosity toward a vital annual fund. The event culminated in the annual tradition of identifying and honoring the volunteers who have served the longest. Tim invited attendees to remain standing based on the number of years they’ve served the school. Three parents claimed the title this year with a collective 30 years of Priory volunteerism! Catherine Boyle, Judi Jaeger, and Kathy Fitzgerald were all honored for their remarkable 10 years of service to the school. We are extraordinarily grateful to all Priory parents who give of themselves to enhance our school. Priory would be a different place without the dedicated partnership of our parent volunteers.
VOLUNTEERS
Father Martin expresses gratitude for the incredible level of volunteerism that shaped the school year.
Enthusiastic volunteers, Lilian
39
Oliveri, Dee Dee Dickey, Emily Conn, and Stephanie Day.
Alumni Parent Volunteers Ann Miller, Ingrid Lai, Bill Shu
and Karen Gregory served and welcomed senior parents into
the Alumni Association with
Fathers Matthew and Martin.
Long-time volunteers
Stephanie Weiss, Martha Deevy and Cindy Chung
celebrate their good works
with PPA Co-Chairs Carolyn Putney and Kristi Patterson.
PROFILE
Three Volunteers Recognized For Ten Years of Service!
40
From bottom right, Last
Volunteers Standing Judi, Kathy,
and Catherine show off their Senior parent Priory key rings with Anne Harrison, Christine
Dinh-Tan, Mary Gaston-Duling, Meg Barton, and Mark Peek.
It’s been a busy ten years for Catherine Boyle, Kathy Fitzgerald and Judi Jaeger. All three were the Last Volunteers Standing at the 2019 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast and were celebrated for their tremendous contributions to the life of the school. Together, they gave their time and energy to nearly every service opportunity available at Priory since their children entered in the fall of 2009. For their top volunteer assignments, Judi devoted her time to boosting wine sales at the gala, and helping plan grad night, Catherine committed to being a guardian for international dorm students and inviting parents to join the Founder’s Club, and Kathy served as Priory Parent Association Co-Chair and on the search committee for the next Head of School. All three provided great reflections and recommendations on how volunteering enriched their experience as a Priory parent. For Judi, she remembers wanting to give back to her children’s schools. She began by supporting the faculty and staff breakfasts when her older child was new to the school. “It was a way to show our appreciation,” she shares. As she grew into a major volunteer role with the gala and managing the wine portion of the event, she was motivated to encourage greater giving to Priory through engagement and fundraising. “My goal was to increase the quality and quantity of the gala, the wine was a big job,” she shares. Being involved gave her the chance to meet other parents, demonstrate the importance of volunteering for her children, and get to know their friends. For Catherine, she says that wherever she goes, she sees volunteering as a good way to get to know people and that saying “yes” is in her family’s philosophy. When her older daughter transferred to the Priory in the 7th grade, Catherine recalls that “volunteering would be a good way to integrate myself into the class and the new school.” Through volunteering with the gala, she was at Priory regularly. She recalls that being on campus frequently gave her a sense of what school was like on a day-to-day basis for her three kids and integrated her into the community in a way that wasn’t disruptive to them. “Just say yes,” she recommends for parents considering volunteering. For Kathy, she recalls both of her children blossomed at Priory and so was eager to become involved. While volunteering for the gala, she remembers the complex non-digital system of tracking RSVPs and many late nights in Founder’s Hall working on seating chart boards for the big event. She reflected on how her Priory Parent Association Co-Chair position allowed her to get to know many more parents and begin learning about the board’s role in governing the school. She described it as “a gift” to travel to Saint Anselm Abbey and observe the monks there, their values, and how they support the Priory. With a wide array of volunteer experience, Kathy described flexibility as a key attribute for volunteers to have, “You get into roles and you just figure it out using your imagination and creativity.” Her recommendation to parents thinking about becoming involved? “Don’t be afraid, just dive in. It just enriches your life, truly.” Thank you, Judi, Catherine, and Kathy for the countless hours you gave to the Priory!
DEVELOPMENT
Greetings Priory Community, Priory’s 59th commencement exercises, on this magnificent campus, were an extraordinary coming together of the entire Priory community. Father Martin told me he thought it was one of the best ever! As our graduating seniors took their final walk onto the Trudelle Family Track as Priory students, they began an almost seamless transition to their start as Priory’s newest alumni. This transition was initiated on May 30th with the first Priory Alumni Association Induction Ceremony. The Class of 2019 gathered in the Al Zappelli Alumni Courtyard for a very warm welcome by Associate Director of Development- Alumni Engagement, Diana Chamorro, and a special blessing from Father Matthew, before the alumni panel, inscribed with the names of each graduate, was unveiled. Father Martin, Father Maurus, Father Matthew, Tim Molak, Al Zappelli, Todd Turner, Diana, and I presented each senior with an Alumni Association pin and a coffee mug printed with the names of all Class of 2019 graduates. As the Class of 2019 take their Priory education out into a world in need of their gifts, Diana asked them to stay in touch and invited them to come home to campus on December 19th for their first college-aged Priory Alumni event.
Tim Molak with Todd Turner, Diana
Chamorro, Fathers Matthew, Maurus, Martin, Al Zappelli, and I, ready to
present the Alumni Association pin to the Class of 2019.
Celebrating the Legacy of
Tim Molak
This Alumni Courtyard, dedicated to Al on the occasion of his retirement, is paved with the senior bricks parents have acquired over the years as part of their annual fund support. As we say farewell to Al in June, we begin preparations to celebrate the legacy of our longest serving Head of School, Tim Molak who retires after 30 years of dedicated service. For this unprecedented occasion a special Celebration Committee has been formed, chaired by former Chair of the Board of Trustees, Ray Rothrock, former Dean of Faculty and current Trustee, Nancy Newman, and current parent Susan Karnstedt. As we congratulate our newest alumni and extended our gratitude for the many ways they have contributed to the life of the school, we look forward to welcoming with open hearts our incoming students and their families. Always we begin again,
Suzanne Couch Director of Development
While the Celebration Committee finalizes preparations to honor the legacy of Tim Molak, you are invited to share a memory of him, an anecdote, or a tribute. These will be printed out and presented to Tim in a custom designed memory box created by Father Martin. The box will be presented at a community wide celebration Friday, May 8th, 2020 in Schilling Square where, as a community, we will thank Tim for all he has done for the school, the community and every single student who has entered the campus in the last 30 years! PLEASE SAVE THE DATE: Friday, May 8, 2020 and join us for this historic Priory celebration. Share your memories of Tim at www.prioryca.org/CelebrateTim
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ALUMNI 42
Welcome Home: The biggest alumni celebration of the year was just that! Priory graduates and their guests, spanning the Classes of 1964-2014, enjoyed returning home to reconnect with old friends, teachers, and the monks on April 13 for the 2019 Alumni Reunion. The day began with Mass, featuring an alumni choir, readers, and gift bearers, followed by the dedication and blessing of the new Al Zappelli Alumni Courtyard, where Al reflected on his 29 years at Priory. The more than 100 guests continued the festivities and, for many, explored the LaureL STREAM Center for the first time, while enjoying
Father Martin’s pizzas, Father Matthew’s pretzels, and a generously supplied craft beer bar sponsored by alumnus Matthew Patzer ‘16 and Gordon Biersch. Adding to the celebration were numerous current and former faculty and staff members, including Ruth Benz, David Moseley, Adam Siler, Reed Sullivan, Todd Turner, Paul Trudelle and Betty Van Wagenen. Capping off the evening were remarks by Alumni Director Diana Chamorro, Tim Molak, and Father Maurus, who led the ceremony honoring the Class of 1969’s 50th milestone reunion year.
ALUMNI
Reunion brings home generations of alumni
43
ALUMNI
Class Captain, András Csaplar ‘64, reads the first reading at the Alumni Mass.
44
Margaret Bussmann ‘09 leads the procession into Mass.
The alumni choir of 2014’s Sarah Reid and Chris Gregory, harmonized beautifully with Chapel Music Director Mary Carroll.
(l to r) D.C McEachern ‘94, Mallory Cadwell ‘09 and Tyson Trish ‘94 bring up the gifts.
Maxwell Barnes ‘12 receives a blessing from Father Martin during communion.
ALUMNI Head of School Tim Molak welcomes alums to the new Al Zappelli Alumni Courtyard.
45
Al Zappelli reflects on his 29 years at Priory, including 25 as admissions director. Father Matthew leads the dedication of the alumni courtyard with a blessing of the space and all in attendance.
Jim Gogan ‘81 and his wife Nancy, find his name on the new alumni panel, listing the names of every Priory graduate over the last 61 years.
46 ALUMNI
47
ALUMNI
ALUMNI
Class of 1964
48
Class of 1969
Class of 1994
Class of 1999
Class of Their Own
ALUMNI
Class of 1979
49
Class of 2009
Class of 2014
CLASS NEWS & NOTES
Class News & Notes
50 After 42 years, Father Matthew and former student, Ed Chen ‘79, reconnected at the Alumni Reunion in April. Chen shared that Father Matthew was so impactful during his time at Priory that he named his son after him.
David Gamburd ’07 recently moved to Portland, OR after living in Quito, Ecuador for two years to work on the small business he co-founded, Alta Andina. The company crafts handmade accessories from natural and recycled materials in the Andes, and sources all its materials and exports all finished products directly from the region. Through Alta Andina’s business model, it minimizes its carbon footprint, while promoting responsibly sourced and manufactured sustainable products. Recently he connected with fellow alum, Christine Ahlstrom West ‘07, who covered Alta Andina in her Eco-Friendly Father’s Day Gift Guide on her blog, The Style Update Blog.
Julie (left) and her partner Megan Pohlman
Julie Henderson ‘04 graduated from the University of San Francisco for the second time in December of 2018, this time earning her Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing. Before graduating, she was awarded a teaching fellowship and returned to USF to teach the fundamentals of creative writing to undergraduates this past spring semester. This coming fall she will teach Expedition USF to first-year undergrads.
Erik Lyon ’08 and Hovey Clark met up in Conneticut. Erik just finished a grad program in climate change communications at Yale.
CLASS NEWS & NOTES Former admissions associate, Carol Mauss, reunited with Kate Finlay ‘10 while visiting Paris.
51
Alumna Francesca Cohn ‘18 joined Christine Muir Parker’s Science Friday speaker series to present on research she conducted over the last year in a marine lab on a NOAAsponsored harmful algal bloom monitoring program.
Maia Thielen ’10 finished her Master’s degree in Voice Performance at the University of Washington, and is moving to Bozeman, MT with her partner Ed (pictured) for a bit of respite before they look towards doctorates.
Several alumni worked with Hovey Clark at the Sustainable Future Outdoor Academy (SFOA) this summer including Noah Willis ‘18, Devin Schinski ‘18, Kieran Pandey ‘18, and John Trudelle ‘14.
While attending the Benedictine Leadership Institute in St. Paul, MN, Tim Molak, teacher Andrew Lee, teacher David Rafoni and Al Zappelli reunited with alums Alejandra Sanchez ’16 and Ted Tseng ’11.
CLASS NEWS & NOTES 52
Did you get your Priory sunglasses this year? Thanks to all the alumni who came from near and far to visit campus this past year! Next time you’re in the area, be sure to stop by Priory, catch up with the Monks and former teachers, explore the new buildings on campus, and see the Alumni Office for your Priory sunglasses! If you know you’re going to be visiting campus and would like to arrange a tour or shadow a class, please email alumni@prioryca.org.
Construction on the dining hall began in mid-May, which meant that the kitchen staff had to figure out a way to continue providing meals and a place for everyone to enjoy the illustrious spreads. Two mobile kitchens were first brought in and placed in the side area of Church Square. Then three large tents were set-up in Church Square and the surrounding area to provide a shaded outdoor eating area and serving line. The dining hall renovation will not only provide physical improvements but from a design perspective, the character of the space will feel far more open as the seating area will wrap completely around the kitchen and serving area. Renovations include: • Centralized food and salad serving area with dual serving lines • Outdoor dining patio • Expanded kitchen prep area • Relocated monastic dining room • Tempered insulated windows • New cafeteria style tables • New lighting • New flooring • New PA system • Additional TV • Expanded restroom facilities • Safety enhancements including fire sprinklers and improved seismic performance The architectural design was done by Goring and Straja Architecture, who also designed the Benedictine Buildings and the LaureL STREAM Center. Construction is being done by McNeily Construction, and Dave Brett, former board chair is our owners rep. The dining hall renovation is expected to be completed near the end of October.
The dining hall exterior (viewed from the STREAM building) and outdoor eating area.
A rendering of the new dining hall interior.
One of the temporary dining halls located at Church Square.
A look inside the mobile kitchen.
CAMPUS NEWS
The Moveable Feast
53
MONASTERY NEWS 54
Monastic Updates “Something Old; Something New” was this year’s Priory theme which played itself out campus-wide in various forms. It played itself out at the monastery as well. Last June our Father Pius was called home to the Lord. He was the oldest member of the monastic community and I was sent as the newest member. Somebody old, somebody new. This Priory theme was also played out in the monastery building itself. Originally built in 1969-1970, there have been a few renovations and repairs done over the years. During this past year, the three M’s, Martin, Maurus and Matthew decided it was time for some further improvements, in part due to the four month temporary closure of the campus dining hall, but perhaps more so because we wanted to improve our capacity for Benedictine hospitality on the campus. With the help of our outstanding maintenance staff, Home Depot, and the Friends of the Chapel, we now enjoy a renovated Chapel, complete kitchen, new dining room, and new monastic library. The entrance area, along with our community room, have also been redesigned. We have already hosted various campus groups for a tour of the monastery and for some homemade refreshments and look forward to doing more of the same throughout the coming year. All are welcome. Priory’s Hungarian Catholic Mission community recently experienced “Something New” as well. On June 2, for the first time, the Sacrament of Confirmation was celebrated at Priory. I conferred the Sacrament on two members of the Priory school community, Ryanne DeGood, teacher of theology, and Zsófia Horváth, a rising eighth grader. Eight members of the Hungarian Catholic Mission’s Scout program were also confirmed. During the same Mass, nine received First Communion. The festal Mass was followed by a reception for all.
Newly confirmed Ryanne DeGood.
Zsófia Horváth ‘24 receives a confirmation blessing.
By Father Matthew Leavy, O.S.B. First Communion recipients.
The renovated Chapel in the monastery. A new dining room for the monastery.
The Rev. William Joseph Sullivan Jr., O.S.B., 74, a longtime educator and administrator at Saint Anselm College, leader within Saint Anselm Abbey, and former prior of Woodside Priory School, died early Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at Mount Carmel Nursing Home, Manchester, NH. He suffered a serious stroke in 2014 and had been a resident at Mount Carmel for several years. “From the moment of his debilitating stroke, Father William was greatly missed by his community,” said Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. “He was always present at prayer, the Eucharist, and community meals and recreation. His faithfulness and constant good humor, as well as his wisdom, had a very formative impact on our monastery which has been sorely missed by all his confreres. He was a model of fidelity to our vowed life and always an uplifting presence within our daily life together.” The son of the late Dorothy (Griffin) and William J. Sullivan, he was born Nov. 11, 1944, in Holyoke, MA. Following his graduation from the former Sacred Heart High School, Holyoke, in 1962, Father William attended Saint Anselm College and two years later entered the Benedictine monastic community at Saint Anselm Abbey. He pronounced simple vows in 1965 and solemn vows on July 2, 1968, before the late Abbot Gerald F. McCarthy, O.S.B. Father William earned his A.B. degree magna cum laude in philosophy from Saint Anselm College in 1967, pursued theological studies at Saint Anselm Abbey Seminary, later studied history at Boston College, and earned a M.Div. degree from Drew University in 1970. In August of that year, he was ordained a deacon. After completing course requirements, research and a doctoral dissertation, Father William earned his Ph.D. degree in history in 1977 from The Catholic University of America (CUA), Washington, D.C. Father William was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the Order of Saint Benedict by the Most Rev. Ernest J. Primeau, S.T.D., late bishop of Manchester, on March 20, 1971, at Saint Anselm Abbey Church. Father William gave dedicated service to Saint Anselm Abbey and Saint Anselm College over many years. In 1982, the Most Rev. Joseph J. Gerry, O.S.B., retired bishop of Portland, ME, at the time abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey, named Father William prior, second only to the abbot in authority and leadership. He was prior until 1985, when he was assigned to Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, CA, where he served as prior of the King Saint Stephen Priory until 1998, the Benedictine monastery at Priory. He also served as President, Headmaster, and as a history teacher in the school. After his return from Woodside Priory in 1998, Father William returned to the office of prior of Saint Anselm and continued to teach in the Department of History at Saint Anselm College. He served as Prior until 2005. He retired from teaching in 2014 following a stroke. In addition to his brothers in the Benedictine monastic communities at Saint Anselm and Woodside Priory, he leaves his brother, Michael and his wife Anne-Marie, of Hopkinton, MA; his sister, Mary (Sullivan) Sullivan and her husband, Neil, of Holyoke, MA; five nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and nephews. Father William was laid to rest in Saint Leander’s Cemetery, the monastic cemetery on the grounds of the abbey.
IN MEMORIAM
Father William Sullivan, O.S.B. 1944-2019
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Stay Connected Follow us on our Facebook page where you can keep up to date with the latest Priory events. www.facebook.com/woodsideprioryschool and www.facebook.com/woodsideprioryalumni See photos on Flickr of past and current events. www.ickr.com/photos/paxpanther/
Follow us on Instagram @woodsidepriorypanthers or @prioryalumni
View past performances, slideshows and other various videos on our YouTube Channel. www.youtube.com/user/paxpanther Follow alumni news on Twitter @priory_alumni
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
“Mr Zappelli, on behalf of the students I represent this year and for all those alums who you ushered through our doors so they could experience the Priory Way–I want to thank you and let you know how grateful I am for the opportunity to attend the Priory. I speak for all the students who you admitted to the Priory since 1991–there is no doubt that coming here changed their lives and allowed them to experience our Benedictine values and create lasting friendships with classmates, staff, and faculty. The Priory is a special place because of you and your commitment and dedication to the students who you saw as being a perfect fit.” —Read by ASB President Daniel Klein ’19 at the Upper School commencement.
Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 851-8221 fax (650) 851-2839 Address Service Requested
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