A Magazine of the Priory · Issue #75 · Winter 2021
Always We Begin Again
Board of Directors Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. Father John Fortin, O.S.B. Father Martin Mager, O.S.B. Father Iain MacLellan, O.S.B. Father Maurus Nemeth, O.S.B.
Board of Trustees Norma Alvarez Mike Calbert Mike Carusi Dominique Filloux Kathryn Fitzgerald Cathy Gawne Phil Golden ‘76 Karen Gregory David Karnstedt Pam Martinson Tim McAdam Emma Morton-Bours Stephen Nachtsheim Jennifer Nash Nancy Newman Kristi Patterson Cassie Perret ‘02 Carolyn Putney Beckie Robertson Dave Schinski Sally Screven Edward Sun ‘87 Jennifer Warner Anne Senti-Willis Phil Young Jennifer Youstra
Contact the Communications Office at 650-851-6131 or the school at 650-851-8221 Editor: Kelly Sargent Contributing Writers: Stephanie Kruse, Father Matthew Leavy, O.S.B. Design/Production: Jim Kirkland J. Ennis Kirkland Creative Services LLC
Father Matthew holds a pizza making enrichment class in the Sloss Family Maker Court of the LaureL STREAM Center.
Photos: Suzanne Couch, Jill Elfishawy, Millie Gong, Jim Kirkland, David Lazo, Father Matthew Leavy, O.S.B., Father Martin Mager, O.S.B., Buck Matthews, Shawn Matson, Korinn Myers, Doug Sargent, Myles Somerville, Charles Stauss, Geoff Westerfield Printing: Colorprint, Mark W. Allen
For nearly a year, we have lived through a pandemic, witnessed racial inequalities, and watched political tensions play out. This has been a very challenging period marked by loss, disagreement, and difference. However, it has also been a time of extraordinary graces and blessings, a time of generosity and of hope–for each other and our world. That hope comes from our Catholic and Benedictine heritage. Authentic and creative responses to these challenges are rooted in our values as they serve as our guide as we navigate these waters. February is Black History Month. At this time every year we recognize the tremendous contributions Black women and men have given to the world. February was chosen for Black History Month because it is the birth month of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two men who were instrumental in the abolition of slavery, so it is appropriate to honor them and the richness of Black history. These two individuals saw what could be, not what was, and responded with magnanimity. Last month we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and we reflected on his life of service and faith and how impacted generations understand the needs and importance of equality and diversity. Dr. King used his experiences of family, faith, and education to lead in a profound and transformative way. At Priory, faith, family, and education are also the areas in which we use to bring our values to life. A Benedictine education offers our students an opportunity to integrate inquiry, scholarship, creative imagination, and reflective engagement as they engage with the larger society beyond Portola Valley and in the service of others. Our students understand and appreciate a broad range of people and cultures as they become effective leaders and who discern, articulate, and promote justice for all. The development of interpersonal and intercultural skills takes on added significance as our society grows increasingly diverse. Therefore, we strive for a community enriched by the full range and depth of all people, where diverse voices and viewpoints are represented and embraced. Inspired by these convictions, Priory will continue to develop a diverse community and seek answers to these very challenging questions of our day. It is our work to imagine anew how we can better care for one another; how we can build our communities, so they are more inclusive and more just; and, how together, we can better address the challenges that confront us–from poverty to the pandemic and from injustice to inequity. Our Benedictine mission calls us to embrace tolerance, equality, and humility. We are proud that these ideals remain key principles in our education, and we look forward to bringing them to life through the work of our students and our graduates as they go out and serve our world with their many gifts. Results are produced by a culture and a curriculum designed not just to fill the mind but to fill and change the heart and the soul. There is always room for improvement. Just as we challenge our students this year, we need to challenge ourselves to grow and learn too. As we begin to look beyond this year, reflect on the countless graces we experienced through this challenging year. Your generosity, whether through gifts of time, talent, and treasure, have sustained and continue to transform our community. I am grateful for all the ways you make this an amazing place. Always We Begin Again.
Patrick Ruff, Head of School
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Priory Community,
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
Priory visual arts instructor, Shawn Matson captured Jessica Senn in her classroom on the infamous “red sky” September 9, 2020 day and revealed just how dark the skies were due to wildfires.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 5
At a Glance
24-25
Supper Club
12-13
Visual Arts
26-31
Teacher Spotlight
14-15
Performing Arts
36-37
Alumni Events
16-21
Pandemic Response
38-39
Class News & Notes
22-23
Community Service
40-41
Monastery News
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Woodside Priory School Celebrating 63 Years of Benedictine Education SPIRITUALITY · HOSPITALITY · INTEGRITY · INDIVIDUALITY · COMMUNITY
FALL AT A GLANCE
1. Rowan Prindiville ‘26 wore the perfect hat (got rowan?) to go with his new got monks? t-shirt. 2. Christel Parmentier distributes a full ready-made pasta meal to faculty and staff as part of a special treat from the Board of Trustees.
3. Cars lined the roadway during a kit pickup drive through at the beginning of the
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school year.
4. 6th grade students played charades during their 6th grade social. 5. Middle school enjoyed some fresh air and time together with a fun game of
Simon Says.
6. Henry Parr ‘26 flies over the obstacle course at the 7th grade social.
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FALL AT A GLANCE
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7. Nolan Murphy ‘24 proudly stands next to the scarecrow that he
helped to build at the 9th grade retreat.
8. At the 7th grade social, Nava Ammari ‘26 crafted a beautiful tissue paper flower to decorate the campus.
9. Middle school H-Block class in the STREAM Center courtyard. 10. Students write their names on clay tablets during a fun H-Block.
11. An H-Block class in front of the Learning Commons works on a creative writing assignment.
12. Kyle Utsumi got creative with his H-Block class location and chose the sport court.
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14 13. A creative “Among Us” costume by middle school students.
14. Students paraded around the field 15
during the Halloween party.
15. Middle school students enjoyed
partaking in the eyeball spoon race at the Halloween celebration.
FALL AT A GLANCE
1. Coach Dave Jefferson runs a baseball session at the Middle School sports camp.
2. The tennis session was a popular choice at the sports camp. 3. Coach Tulin Mendoza ran soccer drills at the camp that
were both lively and instructional for the players.
4. The majority of middle school students showed up to enjoy an outdoor movie night on the field.
5. Devin Baler gave an overview of Priory technology to new students.
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6. Water balloons were a welcome activity during the unseasonably warm orientation day.
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5 6 7. Father Matthew stood in the Father William O’Sullivan Meditation Garden to give students an introduction to the chapel program. 8. The Sustainability Club took an opportune moment to take a socially distant group photo on a hillside they had just cleared.
9. Ruben Zambrano and Father Matthew served their famous handmade oven baked pizzas at the Senior Campout.
10. A group of Senior boys enjoyed some quality time around their makeshift Senior Campout campfire (LED lights).
11. The Senior class gathered on Kovacs field for a special Senior
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Sunset Chapel.
12. Gabe Tang used dry ice for an experiment during his “Fun with Chemistry” enrichment class.
FALL AT A GLANCE
13. Evan Hughes ‘21 meticulously painted her design at the Dot Painting enrichment.
14. Marina Xanthopoulos ‘25 holds up her bridge structure for the STEM engineering challenge.
15. Kyle Howe ‘21 and Diya Vasudevan ‘24 clear out
the garden harvest alongside Father Maurus.
16. Bob Bessin holds the first of a three part rocket building enrichment class.
17. Zach Zafran ‘21 helps to haul the lush harvest of squash from the Franklin Garden.
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FALL AT A GLANCE
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1. William Strickland ‘23, William Day ‘24, Clint Smith
‘23, Rhea Behl ‘23, Jenna Thomas ‘23, and Evan Vagelos ‘23 met at Emerald Hills golf course for the first Priory Golf Club meeting.
2. Patrick Ruff discussed his golf strategy with Karen and Lukas Urbanek ‘26.
3. The Outdoor Adventures group enjoyed a day out on the water during a kayak exploration. 4. Students learned how to catch a wave during an Outdoor Adventures surf trip.
5. Halinda Yu ‘21 was all smiles (under her mask) and ready for picture day!
6. Jimena Fajardo-Sepulveda ‘21 cuddles with Toot, one of the Priory’s ducks, during a garden enrichment. 7. Father Maurus talks pigeon with pigeon enthusiast William Jojarth ‘27 at the annual Blessing of the Pets.
8. Hanna Yu ‘26 brought her tiny pet turtle for a blessing at the Blessing of the Pets.
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FALL AT A GLANCE
9. Aniyah Augmon ‘21 and Brandon Zelaya ‘21 signed their NCAA National Letter of Intent at a signing ceremony in November. Aniyah has committed to play basketball at the University of New Mexico and Brandon has committed to play soccer at UCLA. 10. Coach Con O’Leary works with the boys water polo team during the preseason as the entire athletic program eagerly awaits to get their seasons started.
11. The girls volleyball team holds practice on the grass in order to get some playing time in however they can!
12. The boys basketball team keeps the outdoor courts alive and well used during their workouts.
9 13. A view of how visual arts
teacher Shawn Matson holds his Glass class through Zoom.
14. Cross country coach Sean Weeks takes Nate Chen’s temperature before a practice.
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VISUAL ARTS
“Medal of Resilience” by Kyle Howe ‘21 Metals “This object, a replica of a medal he should have received for a second place win in a competition but didn’t due to COVID, is absolutely one of my favorite pieces of all time! It is literally a bright and shiny symbol of resilience during a difficult time. In my opinion, that handmade tin award is so much more meaningful than the “real” one he would have been given. I hope he keeps it forever in a place of honor among his many other symbols of success.” -Reed Sullivan, Metalsmith Instructor
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“The Flowers” by Jane Chen ‘22 AP Studio Art
VISUAL ARTS “Hat Lady” by Gwen Spencer ‘22 AP Studio Art
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“Dragon” (hand sawed aluminum) by Cole Gilbert ‘21 Metals
PERFORMING ARTS 14
Pieces of Our World Alone, Together All School Play How do you make Theater, an art form that relies so strongly on connection and community, when we are living at home and seeing each other often trapped in tiny video boxes, as if the world were French Mimes given voice (except when the Mute button is annoyingly engaged!). In June and July, as the Pandemic raged, Black Lives Matter and other calls for racial justice took to the streets; killer hornets flooded the news and we were unsure how school might open and we might make theater happen, the thought occurred that documenting those crazed months, through the creative lens of our students, might be the way to go forward. The idea was to create an original piece that would capture the voices of our community in this time: how we’ve changed over the last 10 months and how we’ve found hope, grieved, confronted challenges, found humor and what dreams we have for the future. And perhaps that these hopes, thoughts and aspirations would resonate with others in the world beyond our small region. Be well, stay safe, and when things seem overwhelming, Listen with the Ear of your Heart, to those around you. We will all get through this together. John Sugden, Director (excerpt from play program)
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The Winter Concert was a virtual event this year with all of the performances available on Vimeo. Visit vimeo.com/showcase/2020priorywinterconcert to watch the Winter Concert!
PANDEMIC 16
Response A Benedictine
This school year has been filled with constant changes in Covid-19 guidelines, tiers, and outbreaks due to the ongoing pandemic. Priory has responded to the pandemic by turning to what has worked for the Benedictines for almost 1500 years; the Benedictine values.
Spirituality is a strong value at Priory. Weekly chapel, diverse theology classes, and the blessed presence of our monastic community are just a few examples. Campus Minister Molly Buccola has continued the chapel experience through weekly Zoom webinars. While Molly knows there is no replacement for the experience of being together in the chapel, the Benedictine spirit remains strong, even virtually. At a time when we all needed a sense of spirituality and coming together, the idea of a sunset chapel was brought up. The sunset chapel services provided a time for individual grade levels to gather on Kovacs field for a special chapel service just for them. Students brought large beach towels and blankets and enjoyed readings, prayers, and music by fellow classmates as the sun slowly began to disappear behind Windy Hill. Josh Oh ‘21 reflected upon the sunset chapel, “I thought it was super special for all of the Seniors to get together. It’s been a pretty up and down year, but the Sunset Chapel got us all back together and helped me reconnect with Senior Sunset Chapel classmates I haven’t been able to see during the several months of quarantine.”
HOSPITALITY runs deep One thing Priory has always had an abundance of is hospitality. From delicious meals in the dining hall to warm welcomes on visitor days, Priory hospitality runs deep. During the pandemic the hospitality hasn’t stopped, just shifted to areas where the need was most apparent. One unexpected need was a place for school-aged children of faculty and staff members to be supervised while their parents taught classes via Zoom on campus. Therefore an outdoor “Learning Village” was setup and coordinated by Dean of Residential Life Adam Siler. With the help of the residential faculty, the faculty children were able to attend their own Zoom classes or work on school assignments. This gave the Priory faculty members peace of mind knowing that their children were in a safe and stable location while they were at work. Another need that surfaced was an on campus location for a small group of students who had challenges attending distance learning classes from their homes. Many times the challenge was an unsteady internet connection, which can be frustrating for online classes. The identified students were setup in a location on campus and have been very happy with the blazing wifi connection and the opportunity to be on campus.
INTEGRITY: Giving back Priory students stepped up in a variety of ways to give back during a time when so many people needed help. Service projects were organized by Priory faculty, parents and students themselves. Many of the projects included building gift bags, cooking meals, and providing holiday gifts for young children. A special emphasis was on essential workers and wildlife firefighters as well and students created thank you cards to thank them for their tireless service to keep our community safe. See the Community Service section on page 22 to see all of the community service projects!
Freshman community service project.
PANDEMIC
SPIRITUALITY remains strong
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PANDEMIC 18
INDIVIDUALITY: Recognizing it Recognizing the individual needs of the Priory community is so important. With so much of the community in so many different situations, the class schedule was closely reviewed to ensure that it was the best learning opportunity to fit for everyone. The daily schedule was modified a few times throughout the school year, but key components remained that included a later start time, Advisory and Flex periods on Wednesdays, and no academic classes on Wednesdays to allow students a break. As an international community, it was imperative to create a schedule that accommodated our international students. We crafted a distinctive weekly night schedule to support our international students unable to attend class during normal school hours due to time differences. Many faculty members were teaching class during the day and then an evening class once a week. As the return to in-person learning comes closer to a reality, not all families are comfortable with returning to the classroom just yet. In order for a smooth transition between students in the classroom and students still attending through distance learning, the school has found an answer through the Owl. Owl cameras are high-tech devices that feature a 360 degree camera and shift to focus on the active speaker whether it be the teacher or a student. Students who are attending a class via Zoom will be able to view and interact with other classmates on Zoom, as well as the teacher and classmates that are in the classroom. Providing a learning environment that works for all students is a top priority during these uncertain times.
COMMUNITY: Living it Coming together as a Priory community has been one of the most important and sought after values during the pandemic. Priory is well known for community events such as weekly chapel, Spirit Week, and even the mixing of faculty and staff with students in the dining hall. So when all of these events were suddenly stripped away due to the pandemic, Priory shifted gears and created all new events to allow the community to come together in a different way. The first community building event took place before the 2020-21 school year even began. Under the direction of new Head of School Patrick Ruff, Dean of Residential Life Adam Siler and Assistant Dean of Students Wes Bennicas rolled out the Summer Enrichment seminars. The week-long, virtual classes were offered free of charge and faculty members offered creative classes that were meant to be fun, creative, and engaging. Seminars included: • Acting/Improv • Astronomy • Astrophysics • Cooking Basics • Fabulous Fibonacci • Film and Literature • Flexibility/Injury Prevention • Girls Circle
• Happiness 10 • Hip Hop 101 • Linguistics • Martial Arts • Mindfulness • Newspaper • Nonfiction Storytelling • Pastry Cooking
• Plaster Casting • Redefining Beauty • Running Club • Science of Personality • Science of Cinema • Spanish Language • Sports Journalism • Strength Training • Writing Group
The Owl
Some of the Dorm Seminar classes offered: • Creating the Perfect Dorm Playlist • Quarantine Care • The Most Influential Photos in History • Sunday Grill Retreat • Martial Arts • The Pepper Project • Cooking for Fun
Sunday Grill Retreat
PANDEMIC
Once the school year began, Middle School Head Caitha Ambler jumped right into action, “Community and being together is such an important piece of the fabric of our middle school experience,” she said. Which is why she began gathering the middle school classes in whatever creative way she could. Ambler began hosting class socials, movie nights, and a Halloween parade that all took place on Kovacs field. “It was important to me to offer opportunities for our middle schoolers to be face-to-face (safely) and play games, be creative, and simply chat in the grass,” Ambler continued. Students were thrilled at the opportunities to come together with at least 80% of each class happily participating. Ambler reflected upon the events and remarked, “Even behind the masks, you could see the smiles and hear the laughter and chatter of friends getting reacquainted and new friends being made. Being together in community is just as important as our academic endeavors, it helps us with balance and soothes our heart and soul.” On a different note, once it became clear that the dorms would not reopen at the start of the school year, Dean of Residential Life Adam Siler and the Residential Faculty knew that they needed to create what they described as “a convenient, stress-free, engaging forum, for dormers to nurture old bonds and create new ones.” The answer was with Dorm Seminars hosted by the talented Residential Faculty. The creative seminars were on compelling topics from cooking and exercising to vocal training and plant-based wisdom but according to Siler, “the content is secondary. Our primary task is to engage and connect kids to one another during these decidedly disengaging and disconnected times.” Siler expressed, “Simply put, the dormers have responded to the pandemic with patience and grace. They have shown a willingness to take time out of their busy schedules to participate in hour-long Dorm Seminars once a week. In doing so, they reveal and renew the positive, promotive, inclusive core of the boarding community.”
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PANDEMIC 20
Meanwhile in the athletics world, while the upper school athletic teams were able to practice on a regular basis for the most part, Athletic Directors Mark Stogner and Doug Sargent had to build a completely new middle school sports program. With Covid-19 restrictions in mind, they developed a Sports Camp in which students could sign up for sports that they would practice for two week sessions on campus in cohorts. Students gained a greater appreciation for the many opportunities to partake in athletics and it showed with almost 85% of middle school students participating in the sports camps. Sargent was surprised at the high turnout, “It was great to see a whole new appreciation for athletics and its value to mental wellness and not just an athletic outlet,” he said. Organizing all of the different sports Thank You Coaches! took a lot of teamwork, especially with securing the many coaches. Sargent was very appreciative, “I’d like to thank all Andrew Downey- Basketball, Lacrosse of our coaches who went out of their way in order to make CJ Gomez- Track and Field this happen for the Priory students.” Dave Jefferson- Baseball, Basketball Tulin Mendoza- Soccer David Moseley- Basketball, Tennis Con O’Leary- Swimming, Water Polo Celso Onofre- Tennis Robin Rosales- Volleyball Myles Somerville- Lacrosse Sean Weeks- Track and Field Michael Zhao ’16- Traffic Management, Administration
Middle School Sports Camp
Eighth Grade Social
• Practical Portuguese • Zumba • STEM Engineering Challenge
Exploration Toys & Microscope Lab enrichment with Paul Trudelle.
Coloring and Conversations Enrichment
PANDEMIC
With opportunities to come on campus still a hot commodity, the idea of Enrichment classes was implemented and managed by new Dean of Students Kate Johansen. Enrichment classes gave students the opportunity to partake in non-academic classes that were optional, similar to a club or extra-curricular. Students had a lot of hands on activities like painting, cooking, gardening, and even rocket and bridge building. The activities helped to fill students creative minds and souls. The weekly Enrichment classes proved to be hugely popular, “we averaged between 60 to 70 kids each week and most sessions were at or near capacity,” said Johansen. “Students LOVED it.” The offerings changed from week to week and students met in a variety of locations on campus from outdoor tents, the garden, and even small groups met in classrooms. Looking back at the sign up sheets, Johansen Just a small sample of some of the remarked, “Pizza Making with Father Matthew was, by Enrichment classes offered by the far, the most popular. It would be full within minutes of accomplished faculty: me sending out the sign out form.” • Dot Painting As the state of the pandemic fluctuates, Priory has had • Garden Work to adapt and sometimes completely rebuild traditions • Coloring and Conversation that have been in place since the school opened. We are • Pizza Making thankful for the Benedictine values which have served as • Exploratorium Toys & Microscope Lab our guide for over sixty years and will continue to do so • Intro to Music Production for years to come.
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COMMUNITY SERVICE
Caring for the Community Priory students have been busy providing community service to several organizations. From prepping meals to beach cleanup, these students have jumped into action to lend a helping hand. We are thankful that Priory students are able to follow the school mission of productively serving a world in need of their gifts.
22 Sixth grade students built care packages for There With Care Bay Area, an organization that helps families who are caring for a child with a critical illnesses.
Sahana Singh ‘21 (far right) organized volunteers to help prepare and distribute meals at the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula. The Surfrider Club hosted a beach cleanup day at Lindamar Beach in Pacifica. The club picked up 24 lbs. of trash!
COMMUNITY SERVICE
The Cooking & Baking Club organized a meal donation to the Georgia Travis homeless shelter in San Jose. They made pasta, salad, and vegetables to feed 50 people.
23 The ninth grade class volunteered with Parents Helping Parents (PHP) and helped to wrap gifts, make holiday cards, and pack snack bags.
Middle School Service Commissioner Sophie Chen ‘25 organized a service project over the holidays to appreciate the local essential workers. Students wrote handwritten notes and gift cards were delivered to local Stanford hospital workers.
Seniors have been preparing meals for the Maple Street Homeless Shelter and the meals are then delivered to the Maple Street clients. The meal prep has been a weekly community service project for the Senior class since November and is still ongoing. ASB Community Involvement Commissioner Paloma Oliveri ‘22 (not pictured) organized a card making event for wildfire responders.
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Connecting Through Cuisine With so many people stuck at home, one hobby that many have picked up is cooking. Jill Elfishawy saw the potential interest for students to partake in a virtual cooking club after she offered a basic cooking class over the summer. She teamed up with parent Jen Upson (Leo ’26) and piloted a cooking club originally called Jen and Jill’s Supper Club. “The idea was for students to cook dinner for their families while learning the essentials,” said Elfishawy. The club meets once a week and Elfishawy explained some of the benefits about cooking on Zoom, “I think experiential learning on Zoom works best. The “doing” while learning helps with Zoom fatigue.” While the club has since been renamed to, Supper Club, the endless delicious meals and fun conversations have not changed. Faculty guest chefs have also paid a visit to Supper Club to share some of their favorite recipes. Theology teacher Mary Carroll made her tasty Butternut Squash Risotto and Roasted Brussel Sprouts and theology teacher Boyoung Kim shared how to make a traditional Korean dish called bulgogi. The learning factor is more than just making a meal, “Students learn to know and navigate their kitchen space. They become self-directed and independent in the kitchen,” explained Elfishawy. “We encourage them to experiment and by all meals fail. I think the kitchen is a good place to fail and try...try again.” Supper Club is something positive that students find they can talk to their parents about. And parents not only get to enjoy a delicious meal and an engaging conversation, but they are also comforted in knowing that their kids are learning an important life skill of cooking!
MINESTRONE SOUP Ingredients 2 small leaks (or 1 large) 2 carrots peeled and chopped small 2 small onions peeled and chopped small 2 medium celery stalks trimmed and chopped small 1 medium potato peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1 medium zucchini trimmed and chopped 3 cups spinach 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes drained and chopped 8 cups water or veggie stock or chicken stock 1 parmesan rind salt 1 can cannellini beans drained and rinsed ¼ cup classic pesto 2 ounces pancetta (optional) Directions: Bring the vegetables, tomatoes, water or stock, cheese rind and salt to a boil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer uncovered stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender but still hold their shape about 45 minutes. Remove and discard the cheese rind. Add the beans and cook just until heated through. Stir in the pesto and the salt. Variations Minestrone with Pancetta Mince 2 ounces of thinly sliced pancetta. Saute with extra virgin olive oil for 3 or 4 minutes. Proceed with the recipe for minestrone adding the vegetables and tomatoes in water but omitting the cheese rind. Serve with a crunchy country loaf
By Boyoung Kim
SUPPER CLUB
BO’S BEEF BULGOGI Bulgogi- Korean marinated beef translates to Bul (Fire) and gogi (meat). This versatile marinade can be used for chicken and pork as well. Our family eats bulgogi for special occasions and it is always a crowd pleaser. I hope you enjoy it! Ingredients 2 pounds thinly-sliced beef (rib eye or top sirloin) 3 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces 1 small onion, thinly sliced 1 small carrot, thinly sliced - optional Marinade 6 tablespoons soy sauce 3 tablespoons water 4 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons rice wine or mirin 2 tablespoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons sesame oil 2 teaspoons sesame seeds 4 tablespoons grated Korean/Asian pear 1/8 teaspoon pepper Serve with: Lettuce of your choice (red lettuce or romaine are good choices) Mushrooms to grill Ssamjang (fermented soy-bean paste) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but you can also use sriracha sauce or omit sauce all together) Rice Directions: 1. If your meat is frozen, defrost and remove excess blood using paper towels 2. Mix all marinade ingredients into a bowl 3. Mix the meat and vegetables (scallions, onions, and carrots) in a large bowl and pour marinade over. Marinade for 1 hour or overnight in the refrigerator. 4. Grilling- Grill meat in a pan until lightly browned (A good rule of thumb is that there is less water in the pan and the meat becomes slightly charred). A nonstick pan works well, but also cast iron or a grill pan works well too. To Serve: Traditionally, bulgogi is eaten in a lettuce wrap. However, you can just eat with rice and kimchi or with noodles. Serves 4
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TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
Excel Putting a Spotlight on
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KYLE UTSUMI 8th grade humanities teacher Kyle Utsumi took his class to Washington D.C. for the week, well virtually that is. With the traditional D.C. trip unlikely to happen due to the coronavirus, Kyle had to get creative and use his experience and D.C. knowledge to create a virtual experience for the class. Students were assigned to be the tour guides for the week, this kept them engaged and also prompted them to research the place they were going to visit. Tour stops included the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, the National World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument and several museums just to name a few. One key aspect of the trip that Kyle wanted to include was the bonding time that normally happened during the bus rides and meals. He put the class into breakout rooms any time that they would have normally traveled to another tour spot. He explained, “so they could spend some time just hanging out with each other–we called this being “on the bus.” During the week the class also cooked red skin onion potatoes from the cookbook of Hickory Bridge Farm which is where the grade would normally had dinner after touring the Gettysburg Battlefield. Kyle even brought in special guests to make the trip even more authentic. A speaker from the Newseum in D.C. joined via Zoom and did a lesson on “Fighting Fake News: How to Outsmart Trolls and Troublemakers”. Visual arts teacher Reed Sullivan joined to do a presentation on street art in D.C. and longtime Washington D.C. chaperon Todd Turner made a surprise visit to run the annual trivia contest that occurred on the final bus ride to the airport. “I wanted the students to feel that they were getting to take part in an 8th grade tradition, even in this virtual way.”
A look at some of the Priory faculty and administrators and what they have done “out-of-the-box” this year to ensure that the student experience is nothing less than exceptional. MOLLY BUCCOLA When Molly Buccola left Priory to move closer to her family in Oregon, she had no idea that with the school currently in distance learning, an opportunity would present itself to allow Molly to continue as the Campus Minister. She was able to use her knowledge and creativity to coordinate the chapel services and class retreats both virtually and in person. With weekly chapel services now done through a Zoom webinar, Molly has attempted to keep the (virtual) space sacred and follows the traditional chapel schedule with a few technology-based substitutions. Through teamwork with theology teacher Mary Carroll and choir director Albee Mabeza, she is able to play recorded music for the opening song and reflection music. The recordings don’t come easy as Molly describes, “Mary Carroll and Albee Mabeza put in countless hours collecting recordings from the Campus Music Ministry team and mixing all of the tracks together for an unbelievable performance for the entire Priory community to enjoy each week at Chapel. I don’t know what we would do without them.” At the beginning of the school year, Molly hosted the first retreat of the year through Zoom and ended the retreat feeling disappointed. “I could tell that they just weren’t into it,” she said. After that retreat, she vowed to have an option for in-person participation, if the county allowed. She successfully hosted in person retreats for the sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth grade classes to the delight of the students. Early in the year, a parent presented the idea of outdoor chapel services to Patrick Ruff. He quickly rallied Molly and Korinn Myers, the Senior Class Moderator, to set the wheels in motion. The next week, Priory hosted it’s first outdoor chapel service since the pandemic began. For many, it was the first time students had seen each other in person in six months. Molly said, “the feeling of community, love, and gratitude was overwhelming.” The reflection songs performed by the students were her favorite part of the services. “Since the chapel was on the field, the performers voices reverberated throughout the campus, and with the sun setting in the background, it gave me chills–it was so awesome.” Molly felt that the Sunset Chapels held significant moments that allowed classes the rare occasions of coming together in person and the opportunity to start new traditions.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
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TEACHER SPOTLIGHT 28
ANDREW LEE Mathematics teacher Andrew Lee used the time during distance learning to reflect on his own teaching and used it as an opportunity to change things up that he usually took for granted. He also took time to make himself knowledgeable about screen time and Zoom fatigue and this affected how he interacted with students. In order to allow students time without having to focus on the screen, Andrew decided to switch to a flip teaching model. Students would watch a video prior to the class meeting and then they would use the class meeting time to discuss, clarify, and further practice concepts. Andrew explained, “Instead of talking at the students, I would be talking WITH the students during class.” The 15 minute video lessons also allowed students to pause and replay the lesson as often as they wanted. Andrew also turned to technology to assist in his teaching. Products like Desmos that allow him to create math activities, Notability to work through math problems like a whiteboard on Zoom, and a document camera to show more complex things like manipulatives, the graphing calculator or compass/straightedge constructions. Desmos also allows students to type, write or upload photos in real time so Andrew is able to see their process on problems. In addition, Andrew enjoys using a computational layer within Desmos that provides automated feedback for students and allows students to self-check themselves when he is not available. “For example, I would program and automate multiple choice answers that give personal feedback if they chose the incorrect answer… providing possible hints if students need it,” he explained. In addition to his daily classes, Andrew also teaches an evening class to international students two nights a week. He treats the evening class as a “new class” because even though he is teaching the same content as his daily classes, the content is condensed into one class period in what is normally taught in a week. The evening classes are able to get the same content, just at a different pace. Andrew also expressed how impressed he has been with his students. “I am just amazed with the student community at Priory,” he said. “After class is over, students still say thank you before they sign off.” He appreciates that students continue to be empathetic even during this trying year, and recognizes that students are resilient and continue to show up every day. Andrew said even he enjoys seeing the students’ faces on Zoom, “it’s definitely something I look forward to as it provides a connection in a very isolating time.”
In her first year as the Academic Dean, Crystal Matsuoka was already facing a year of transitioning into the administration side of the school, but had no idea that it was going to be so unpredictable. Crystal’s first priority this year was to launch the distance learning program. “Last March, we transitioned abruptly into a state of emergency remote teaching; this fall, we aimed to offer online instruction that engaged and advanced deep, meaningful learning,” she explained. With experience and lessons from the spring, new strategies and tools allowed school administrators to take a proactive (vs. reactive) approach in crafting the educational experience. In collaboration with Instructional Technologist Michele Riebhoff, Crystal planned summer workshops, inservice training and ongoing distance learning share-outs for the faculty. The approach emphasized on five priorities: essentializing curriculum (boiling down what’s MOST important); adapting discipline-specific learning experiences into the online format; reimagining assessment by asking students to SHOWCASE learning; reimagining instruction with a flipped teaching model and leveraging student-centered activities; and essential community building for students to feel connected to the teacher and one another. Another huge undertaking Crystal took on was completely redesigning the daily schedule to fit the needs of students and faculty in a distance learning environment. The schedule redesign took a collaborative effort and with the help of Lisa Wood, Andrew Lee, and Michele Riebhoff, they crafted a schedule that kept a priority on quality instructional time, physical and social-emotional safety, adaptiveness for both in-person learning and distance learning scenarios, consistency and continuity, and balance. There were several other factors that they had to consider if school switched to in-person learning such as lunch logistics and the fact that not all students would be returning to in-person learning. But the end result was a schedule that worked for the Priory community and according to survey results, students said that they liked the schedule, specifically with the amount of class time and the non-academic Wednesday schedule that allowed students time to catch up on class work.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
CRYSTAL MATSUOKA
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TEACHER SPOTLIGHT 30
DAMIAN COHEN Social sciences teacher Damian Cohen took his passion for history to a new level when he traveled to Washington D.C. to experience history in the making with the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett and to experience the election results in person. From a hotel across the street from the White House, Damian would connect to his US History, Conspiracy Theory, and AP Government classes via Zoom and share his observations and incorporate parts of his trip into his lessons. His experiences included some surprising aspects, “the entire downtown area was boarded up and there were few people on the streets,” he said. “In fact, I took a metro one day midweek and I was one of the only people on the metro.” Damian believed the D.C. area was unusually quiet as people awaited the election results. He was there when the results developed and said “the city awakened, everyone came out into the streets. It was incredible to be there for that part.” In addition to the D.C. trip, Damian has made changes to his overall teachings after a discussion with fellow social science teacher Omar Brown. During distance learning, they were worried about time, so they made the decision to go backwards in US History and cover the most recent material first. This ensured that they got to the topics that might interest the students the most. Keeping the students engaged is a common challenge with distance learning. Creative projects he incorporated included switching to a podcast instead of the normal trials and adding a postcard assignment that students could do from home. One comfort that he does have is that as a social science teacher, “my field is storytelling–and stories can be told in person or on Zoom,” he remarked.
SHANNON VANDERPOL As the new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Shannon Vanderpol has had a unique start of being at a new school and on top of that, during a pandemic. “So much of this work is based on trust, which can be tough to build in a brand-new community, especially with the loss of the humanizing that comes with living and breathing in the presence of one another day-by-day,” she expressed. The pandemic and distance learning has created some DEI opportunities to become more prevalent such as modifying the admissions interview to a virtual platform and streaming Coco for a student Dia De Los Muertos celebration. “This moment in education has required creativity and flexibility from all of us in order to meet our students where they need us most.”
JOHN SUGDEN Drama instructor John Sugden provided a unique creative outlet that allowed the Priory community to process the many challenges many of us are facing right now. From the pandemic to social injustices, John realized that students could create their own theater pieces around Priory and the Benedictine Community using all the Arts as a lens. The All School Play “Pieces of Our World” and “Alone, Together” became a collection of original scenes and monologues scripted, filmed and streamed to the audience in their homes. “Pieces of Our World” contained a variety of art mediums such as dance, monologues, scenes, music, and artwork, and all were written and created by Priory students and faculty. “Students were able to put out into the world their personal stories or create fictional characters and scenarios that really captured where we were as a school and country,” John said. The challenge of producing an original play during a pandemic took teamwork and careful planning for both timing and safety. John held online Zoom writing workshops for a month while Matt Roth took on the incredible challenge of developing safety protocols for filming in the theater and learning how to edit the footage. Students worked with choreographer Lisa Claybaugh on an original dance, instrumental instructors Jason McChristian and Clark Brown worked with students on composing, and choral director Albee Mabeza coached students for vocal performances. After three weeks of rehearsals on Zoom with students both local and internationally based, the students filmed in the theater for five days under exceptional safety rules with an amazing student Tech team. After four days of editing by student editors, the outcome was an uplifting piece filled with hope, personal reflections, and a connection that so many people have been looking for.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
Shannon’s role touches on every office and department in the school and seeks to partner with each dimension of the school to increase structural equity. With a relational personality, Shannon is constantly thinking of new ways to connect with the Priory community without physically being in the presence of one another. Shannon explained, “My nature is to be open, authentic, and approachable. So I try to extend those qualities in myself with students, colleagues, and families.” Shannon’s DEI work doesn’t just include working with students and parents, but also expands to the Priory faculty and staff to ensure they are culturally responsive to themselves and the Priory community. She has been humbled by the positive support and desire for growth. Shannon commented, “This work is a marathon, not a sprint, and I most certainly believe that the Priory community is committed to making a lasting change for all of our students.”
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ADVANCEMENT 32
Silver linings in the in-between. Dear Priory Community, I’ve walked the hills surrounding our glorious Priory campus every weekend for over twenty years. Although I can’t always see the Priory campus, the landscape is shared. Rolling, golden hills in the summer, and lush green hills in winter. It’s the perfect place to rise up above the day-to-day and get some perspective and clarity. On sunny days San Francisco sparkles in the distance. Today the landscape is in-between as we wait for the recent rain to do its job. The hills are neither golden nor green. We have experienced the in-between all school year. Planning and preparing to open then pausing due to increased cases in the county or restrictions from the state. Developing protocols, practicing testing, researching and implementing new technologies, and sanitizing techniques. All the while, thanks to our 50 acre campus, accentuating our offerings to provide the very best education possible during a global pandemic. It started with summer enrichment classes, followed by the distribution of inventive class kits, then on-campus retreats, mini-class socials, after-school sports, and more enrichment classes. All to fill the in-between; to enhance distance learning. The challenges of advancing the mission of the school when we are distance learning, when our incredible campus is not alive with the energy and interaction of students, teachers, and staff have been overcome with imagination, creativity, resilience, and repetition. The PPA has done an extraordinary job of expanding its offerings; connecting families and students safely and with distance, creating opportunities and experiences to introduce and integrate new families, and socializing and celebrating our students as well as the greater community. We are blessed their love of Priory has helped to fill the in-between with resourceful resilience. When the County prohibited large on-campus gatherings our annual Alumni Reunion was canceled and reimagined to fill the in-between virtually. Charles Stauss and Todd Turner hosted eight individual virtual reunions over the course of a month, bringing alumni together with our beloved monks, our new Head of School and each other from Paris, Spain, Bangkok, Tokyo, Taiwan, Mexico, and the farthest regions of the continental U.S.
ADVANCEMENT
Response to this year’s Annual Fund filled the in-between with dedicated generosity and valiant volunteerism. Even without all the lights on, the unplanned for costs associated with addressing the pandemic made this year’s campaign more essential than ever. We are exceptionally grateful for the substantial support by the community this year. Your stretch gifts helped fill the in-between with hope and promise. This year’s Class Chairs engaged and encouraged class participation with inspired enthusiasm and we are most grateful! As we wait for the county to allow us to open for in-person learning, a few members of the community have received vaccines. I imagine a month from now we will be in a new and different position. The hills that surround our Portola Valley campus will likely be lush green and once again enlivened with the promising presence of our students. Together, with everything we have learned and all we’ve endured together, we will step out of the COVID shadow and into the light PriorySTRONG. Always we begin again,
Suzanne Couch Director of Advancement
Building on the Future Nestled near a grove of trees, just off Gambetta Lane, looking out on the glorious landscape that is Portola Valley, six units of new campus housing are taking shape. Undaunted by the pandemic and unimpeded by any campus activity during distance learning, construction continues without interruption on four-3 bedroom and two-2 bedroom units. With 32 acres of quintessential California landscape, Priory is uniquely positioned among independent schools to be able to offer affordable housing to faculty and staff. These new units, slated for completion this summer, will expand our ability to offer affordable housing to faculty and staff while also enhancing the vitality of campus life. According to Dave Schinski, current and alumni parent and Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee, “The incredible level of planning and preparation has enabled the project to move forward without an obstacle. Couple that with near perfect weather and the ability to work in the open air during the pandemic we are very pleased with progress to date. Framing is nearly complete and the walls are going up.“ The new housing is on schedule to be completed by this summer.
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BENEFIT 34
Are you TRUE Blue?
Join your Priory people to support Priory’s largest fundraiser. Together, We Are PrioryStrong Saturday March 20th 5:30 pm Virtual Show • Live Auction • Performances • Fund a Future Live Offerings • Fr. Martin’s Lobster Dinner • Fr. Maurus’ Duck Dinner • Fr. Martin’s Pizza Dinner • Private Dinner with Head of School • One week stay on the Big Island Silent Auction Opens Monday March 15th • Purchase Count Me In tickets for socially distant spring events or in-person smaller gatherings for a post vaccinated fall • Check out our Fr. Martin’s Hand-made items * Photographs * Cutting boards * 2021 classical guitar * This year’s Chess Set- Fr. Martin made the board and teamed up with Reed Sullivan’s yellow bronze chess pieces. Wine Raffle — $100 per ticket • Every ticket gets an automatic invitation to wine tasting in the fall • Five winners • Each winner to choose from five especially procured Wine Lots Our Priory Spirit remains steadfast and together we will take on 2021 – PrioryStrong
BENEFIT
Priory Spirit Remains Steadfast Over the past year, the Priory community has shown incredible strength and flexibility during this most unprecedented time. We have found new and creative ways to gather, teach, volunteer, and support one another. While we would have preferred to have gathered inperson for our annual gala, we have pivoted to an online auction and virtual benefit. We look forward to having our community of generous, inclusive, and caring constituents come together to support our 2021 Benefit, PrioryStrong on March 20, 2021. Malvika Behl, parent of Rhea ‘23, is leading the charge of our first ever virtual benefit. She is joined by a host committee of past gala chairs whose collective experience and community spirit are sure to make this Meet Malvika Behl, benefit meaningful and successful: Cynthia Mahood Levin (2020, 2018), PrioryStrong Benefit Chair Lisa Putnam (2019) Carolyn Putney (2016), and Jennifer Youstra (2018 & 2017). In addition to the host committee, she is also joined by a wonderful group of Priory parent volunteers from every grade who are working hard to produce our PrioryStrong Benefit. We look forward to having each of you join us on March 20th with your bid paddle ready to support PrioryStrong. The funds raised will ensure our school remains diverse and robust. • Look for an invitation for your virtual bid paddle in early March • Sign up for parties, purchase auction items, vacation homes, and wine • Support Fund A Future • Invite grandparents and alumni to join the fun and bid Together, We are PrioryStrong.
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ALUMNI EVENTS
“Out to Lunch” In 2020, we encouraged alumni to maintain connections with their classmates through “burrito parties.” If three or more alumni gather together for good food and great conversation, we reimbursed them in exchange for a photo and a copy of the receipt. We saw a lot of smiling faces, and hope to see many more in the coming year.
Julia Teymourian ‘15, Avery Minor ‘13, and Jane Ross ‘15 met over the summer for pizza at the Alpine Inn.
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Gabrielle Filloux (‘15), Valerie Filloux (‘17), Christian Filloux (‘15), and Veronique Filloux (‘11) have a burrito party at home.
Veronica Lempert ‘16, Maria Naclerio ‘16, and Sarah Halabe ‘16 met at the Alpine Inn for Burgers and Fries.
Below: Robert Screven ‘16, David Casente ‘16, Gigi de Fort-Menares ‘16, and Kylie Harrison ‘16 enjoy Mexican food at the park.
Ryan Schackel ‘19, Sonya Walker ‘19 and Henry Hertz ‘18 take advantage of a Sunday at Timber & Salt.
Jaulie Goe ‘16, Arisa Herman ‘16, and Rachel Wolff ‘16 met for drinks at Amigo’s over the summer.
Jack Smith ‘18, Anika Khakoo ‘18, and Miya Herman ‘18 enjoy Thai on a cloudy day.
Nearly 100 alumni made Priory history in October by attending Priory’s first-ever Zoom reunions throughout October. Classes spanning 1965-2015 logged in from across the world to reconnect and share their stories. John Kirch ‘76 deserves credit for being the first alum to suggest virtual reunions back in April. Alumni logged in from Paris, Spain, Bangkok, Tokyo, Taiwan, Mexico, and across the U.S. We were able to include classmates who would have been otherwise unable to attend due to distance or circumstance and hear their stories. Father Martin, Patrick Ruff, and Paul Trudelle made these reunions a little more special with their presence. Lastly, we were able to engage with our community in a totally new way, and we’ve received nothing but positive feedback. We’ll be sure to include more virtual gatherings in the coming year.
ALUMNI EVENTS
Virtual Reunions
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CLASS NEWS & NOTES 38
Norton Batkin ‘65 lives in New York teaching Philosophy of Aesthetics at Bard University. Norton has been a philosophy professor at Bard for thirty years. Enrique Mereles’70 lives in San Diego and enjoys racing on the water with his 33-foot sloop. Daniel Riveong ‘00 became a father in September.
Tania Valetsky ‘05 lives in Benicia as an independent artist. Mariana Shtukina ‘07 currently works as an actress, producer, and voiceover talent in Atlanta. She recently started a small mask accessories brand called Little Shtuchki and plans to move to New York soon.
Katelin Rowland ‘00 lives in Kentucky with her husband and two children. In her free time, Katelin can be seen wakeboarding at a local lake.
Maia Thielen ‘10 just joined Priory as one of our Residential Faculty. Before coming to Priory, Maia was the Events & Community Engagement Manager at the Bozeman Symphony in Bozeman, Montana.
Jonathan Morgan ‘00 and his wife Dana welcomed their daughter Cassandra into the world in September.
Eleanor Oates ‘10 completed her doctorate in 2020 and began a career in Genentech later in the year.
Andras Hlacs ‘00 is currently living in Paris with his wife and daughter Abigail, who speaks perfect French at three years old.
Monica Granucci ‘10 works on clinical trials at Stanford’s Neurosurgery department. She married her husband Eric Granucci and has a 1 year old son, Milo.
Taylor Eigsti ‘02 received a Hewlett Commission grant to do a project called “Imagine Our Future” involving submitted artwork, music, and poetry from young students in the Bay Area. He is using bits and pieces of these submissions to create a long form large ensemble performance piece.
Rick Dolezalek ‘10 proposed to his fiance in September and currently lives in Oceanside, CA.
Francys Scott ‘05 gave birth to little Elizabeth on October 20, just two days before her 15 year reunion. Leila Hoch ‘05 also gave birth to a little baby boy in October, just before her reunion the following week. Cynthia Sleight ‘05 recently started a new job as an 8th and 9th grade health teacher at Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences. Though living in Washington, Cynthia remains a strong part of our alumni community. Nate Coombs ‘05 passed the Jeopardy online test and auditioned via Zoom in August.
Veronique Filloux ‘11 moved to Pittsburgh in August to begin work with the Pittsburgh Opera. Kat Gregory ‘12 took advantage of remote work over the summer by staying in Colorado and hiking after work. Chris Gregory ‘14 works as a primary EMT instructor, and has certified over 180 students. He still works in ambulances though and plans to attend medical school in the fall. After graduating from Priory, James Phelps ‘15 graduated from University at Redlands with a B.A. in Public Policy. He now lives in San Diego with his girlfriend of five years. John Gregory ‘16 graduated from Colorado State University and proposed to his girlfriend, Michelle. She will be joining the family in August 2021.
A look back at some beautiful pieces of artwork that was done by alumni during their time at Priory!
CLASS NEWS & NOTES
Alumni Artwork
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“Red Orange Drip” by Lena Bhagat ‘18
“Breadth Portrait” by Yuju Shin ‘15
“Lent” by Addie Vogt ‘17
Alumni Reunion is Coming in May 2021! This year we’re celebrating the milestone classes of 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016! Details for an on-campus event are still in the works, but we will certainly include Zoom gatherings as a key component of this year’s reunion. Whether you’re in the Bay Area, living across the country (or perhaps the world), or if life prevents you from returning to campus, we will find a way to bring you home. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months!
MONASTERY NEWS 40
Innovative Hospitality
By Father Matthew Leavy, O.S.B. Adaptability has forever been a feature of Benedictine culture–hence the continued existence of a 6th century way of life which is alive and well in 21st century Covidtime in Silicon Valley. Hospitality is a core concept in the Rule of Saint Benedict and one of the five Benedictine values which undergird curriculum and culture here at Priory. Ordinarily, that is, in non-Covid times, Priory hospitality is practiced in a somewhat “passive” way. People come to Priory for a variety of reasons: students, faculty, staff, administrators, guests, beggars, worshipers, and we strive to welcome them as we would welcome Christ himself, following the teaching of St. Benedict. But 2021 is no “ordinary” time in our world. As a consequence of Covid and the necessary restrictions to safeguard all concerned, hardly anyone is able to come to campus. And so, the question–how do we then exercise Benedictine hospitality? It would be both a shame and a scandal to let this valuable and powerful expression of Benedictine identity lie dormant. And so, we monks have shifted our focus to more innovative ways of extending hospitality by “reversing the direction” of our efforts. Instead of waiting for people to come to us, we have decided to “go out to them” in a variety of new venues. Thanks to Zoom and other technological tools, we have been able to share spiritual hospitality via our online Liturgical celebrations, both on a weekly basis with Sunday Masses in both English and Hungarian, as well as festive occasions such as our traditional Advent Vespers Service.
We have also participated in various student retreats, weekly Chapel services, Benedictine conversation sessions for parents, and, most recently, in a well-attended Zoom session for those members of the extended Priory family who have experienced loss in its many forms and who are experiencing grief. Similar sessions are currently being scheduled to provide pastoral support in a group setting to those who grieve. The monks and counseling staff also make themselves available for personal pastoral care. The meal sharing program chronicled in the last issue of Priorities continues to serve our fellow campus dwellers and their families, but has been extended beyond to include those in our area suffering food insecurity and homelessness. New opportunities to assist the needy are in process for this semester as well. This past semester we have placed special emphasis on serving the needs of the kids who live on campus with events which combine food and faith. Following upon a safe and successful Halloween event, we have hosted outdoor suppers and bonfire celebrations for St. Martin’s Day, St. Nicholas Day, and quite memorably on Christmas Eve itself. On that night, the campus kids were all shepherds, who, armed with staff and flashlight, had to find the child Jesus up in our fields. Eventually they found him and brought him back to the monastery bonfire where they placed him in a new manger made by Father Martin. Then each rang the big bell to tell the whole neighborhood that they had found the baby Jesus. They received a short sermon on Jesus and the Grinch whose heart was “two sizes too small”, whereas the heart of Jesus is the biggest ever. I thought maybe that my message was
MONASTERY NEWS 41
getting through when a young girl raised her hand and said, “Father Matt, I have a question.” I was getting ready to answer a theological question to a 9 year old, until she stated her concern. “Is the hot chocolate going to be really hot?” So much for homilies! We all sang Silent Night, the kids grabbed their hot chocolate “to go”, and hurried home in the dark for supper and Santa. I think the adults enjoyed it as much as the kids, I know I did. In his teaching on hospitality, St. Benedict arranged that a special kitchen be equipped for the needs of the guests. And so at Priory, food related activities have been part of the monastery’s innovative hospitality thrust. Father Martin conducted a scone making class on Zoom for members of the senior class. Father Maurus and his crew produced several hundred pounds of homemade Hungarian sausage and almost as much traditional Hungarian holiday pastry to be sold in support of orphanages, shelters for battered women and children, and other charitable causes in the poorer areas of Hungary.
As part of the Priory student enrichment programs on Wednesday afternoons, when limited in-person activities were permitted by the County, I instructed groups of ten students each week in the history of Pizza and the actual making and baking of their individual pizzas. Students then ate their creations for lunch and before departing, were given pizza throwing and spinning lessons. And lest we think that Benedictine hospitality is extended only to the human species, Father Maurus celebrated the traditional blessing of pets in honor of St. Francis’ feast in October. And finally, during the fall break from classes, the three of us monks set out on a 1,500 mile road trip to visit Grand Canyon, Bryce National Park, Sion National Park and Death Valley. Father Maurus had already been to these places and served as an excellent guide to Martin and myself. Nature itself in its magnificent and breathtaking beauty showed us outstanding hospitality, replenishing and strengthening us for the unpredictable challenges ahead. “Always we begin again.”
MONASTERY NEWS 42
Stay Connected Follow us on our Facebook page where you can keep up to date with the latest Priory events. www.facebook.com/woodsideprioryschool Woodside Priory School Alumni Association- @woodsideprioryalumni Follow us on Instagram @woodsidepriorypanthers or @prioryalumni
View past performances, slideshows and other various videos on our Vimeo Channel. vimeo.com/woodsideprioryschool ALUMNI!
Connect on the Woodside Priory LinkedIn group at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13514369/ Let us know what you are up to. We love learning about the interesting things you are doing! Send an email with any address updates or news to alumni@prioryca.org.
Middle school creative writing H-Block class with the best view on campus!
Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 851-8221
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