The Sage december2014

a joy shared is a joy doubled.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Traditions 1 THE SAGE December 2014

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front cover: holiday cheer snowflakes made by srs middle school students back cover: painting by sage ridge upper school school student Wenying Jiang 2515 crossbow court, reno nevada 89511 775.852.6222 www.sageridge.org facebook: www.facebook.com/sageridge twitter: @sageridgeschool for submissions, please email robin monteith at rmonteith@sageridge.org co-editors robin monteith & jill strawder-bubala

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Table of Contents December 2014

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6

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A monthly note from Headmaster Norm Colb

Meet Ms. Weems

A monthly column by Celeste Barnaby reflecting on life as a college freshman

Thinking Out Loud

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Learning Through Mentoring

8th graders learn valuable lessons while they mentor their first grade buddies

The Scientist and the Artist

Notes from the Front

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32

Alumni spotlight story featuring David Hoffman ‘05 and his life in the music world

A collection of moments from this year’s Annual Sage Ridge Thanksgiving Feast

The Next Big Sound

Thanksgiving Feast

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THINKING OUT LOUD

Hot dogs, Brooklyn Dodgers & The Importance of Traditions Dear Friends, Before there was a Los Angeles, there was a Brooklyn, and before there was a team called the L.A. Dodgers, there was a team – more like a cult – called the Brooklyn Dodgers.

One of the traditions that enriched my childhood was going with my father to the first Brooklyn Dodgers home game of the season. There we would sit, freezing or roasting, downing Nathan’s hotdogs while this collection of amazing athletes did what they could to bring honor to their fans. What a tradition!

Even more than the official start of spring, the game marked a major turning point on the calendar: regardless of the weather, spring had finally arrived and when the team abandoned us (for money!) I had my first glimpse of the power of traditions.

As far as I could tell, everyone in Brooklyn was devastated.

As a child, my year was filled with traditions. In addition to the Dodgers’ opening game, I looked forward to the once-a-year fishing trip, 4 THE SAGE December 2014

the annual visit from my maternal grandparents, and even the shopping trip for fresh school supplies.

All of these and more were important at the time and have become ever more so as the years have clicked by.

Every family has its own traditions, of course. I have no doubt that you have stocked your children’s years with traditions, whether they

“...our traditions knit us together as a community and help us all understand what it means to be part of something larger than ourselves.” are religious or secular, or whther you have handed them down from previous generations or invented them on your own. When your children share with me glimpses of their family lives, I am often struck by how much you do to give your children memories they are sure to treasure decades from now.

Traditions play a major role at Sage Ridge, too. You will have a sense of their power by imagining the reactions that would greet changing even one detail about Outdoor Education or shaving even a day from mini-session. From goofy dress up days to the soul-warming Thanksgiving Feast, our calendar is filled with traditions that mark the year.

All of our traditions are important, although I am particularly struck by these that support students and families who face economic hardship. It is impossible to be unmoved when our collection barrels overflow with school supplies, clothing and food for organizations such as Children in Transition.

As is true for your family, the school’s traditions play a number of roles beyond simply marking the passage of time. The holiday season is particularly rich with traditions, and this is true at school, too. But the Sage Ridge calendar has traditions that run from the first day of school through graduation. They make the experience of going to Sage Ridge rewarding and remarkable for students, and for faculty and staff as well.

Sage Ridge traditions create a sense of identity, strengthen every member’s sense of belonging, and impart and then reinforce our core values. Courses and extra-curricular opportunities obviously are at the center of the Sage Ridge experience, but it is our traditions that knit us together as a community and help us all understand what it means to be part of something larger than ourselves.

As I have thought about the role traditions play both in your family and the school, their power to impart a sense of stability strikes me as vital and and never more so than in an era of great change – an era such as we find ourselves living through. Shifts in the economy, in geo-politics, in family structures – all of these and many more can be deeply destabilizing, and one of the best antidotes may be the traditions that join us together and give us a sense of continuity.

The two-week Winter Break is upon us. Yes, this is time away from school and for sleeping in and enjoying a more relaxed pace. But more than just a change in routine, I wish you and your family two weeks that overflow with warmth and the markings of future memories.

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Jess Weems, like many little girls, was going to be a writer or an artist when she grew up. As a child she won an art poster contest and thought she was destined to become an artist, yet she still spent endless hours writing, always writing. As all little girls do, Ms. Weems started to grow up and have new ideas. By high school, she discovered a love of science and social justice.

She wanted to save the world; she also wanted to study science, and possibly math. It was not until she was a 17-yearold college student that Ms. Weems realized saving the world for her meant spending time in the classroom with students, helping them discover the joys of science and realize their true potential.

school care worker she felt like her interaction with the teens was like a band-aid and she wanted more. She also remembers hearing the students talk to her about how poor their teachers were and feeling badly about it. She wanted to do more and be more involved with the students.

Ms. Weems, who teaches Grades 5 and 6 science and Middle School Coding, says that science is the best thing to teach because it is so hands-on and it has such real world application. It allows the students to be engaged at all times. “The kids love it and want to do things and see how things work,” she says. She can even remember that distinct moment when she knew she wanted to work with kids.

Her first teaching job was at a public middle school in West Springfield, MA, where she worked for five years. This middle school background along with her experience and background in science was a key factor in selecting Ms. Weems as a candidate for the Grade 5 and 6 science job, said Ms. A.J. Long, the middle school director. Additionally, when Ms. Weems was a guest teacher in the spring, Ms. Laurie Bissonette, SRS science department chair, appreciated Ms. Weems’ command of the classroom and her strong personality. “(Ms. Weems) has a solid background in science and in teaching. She is also an artist and is quite creative, and she is friendly and en-

As a 17-year-old University of Massachusetts Amherst college student, Ms. Weems worked with teens in an after school program. “The kids would come and talk about their school day and I realized that I was drawn into what they were saying and that I wanted to be a part of their school day,” she said. As an after 6 THE SAGE December 2014

After graduating from UMASS with a major in agricultural resource economics and a minor in plant and soil science, Ms. Weems, who entered college at 16, began work on her master’s degree in education. It was an intensive UMASS one year program where she taught in an impoverished mill town in Turners Falls, MA, during the day and went to classes at night.

New Teacher Spotlight

Me

eet Jess Weems

Scientist and Artist

thusiastic with the students.

(She) is open to new ideas, and brings good ideas to the table, and she is strong and independent. I love the way she pushes students just past their comfort zone to help them

understand that they can do amazing things if they try, and I love the projects students do in her class,” Ms. Bissonette says.

That artist who is creative is a side of the scientist that reemerged from childhood in 2006 when Ms. Weems’ mom reignited her daughter’s passion.

Carole Soules, Ms. Weems mother and the associate director of civic engagement at UMASS Amherst, started reading art blogs before the days of Pinterest and just one year after the founding of Etsy. She shared what she was finding with Ms. Weems and it opened a new world for her. “She introduced me to a world where art became possible for me. A world where you don’t have to go to art school and you can network and meet other artists,” Ms. Weems says.

Although she had always been what she calls ‘crafty,’ 7 THE SAGE December 2014

it wasn’t until she discovered the online art world that Ms. Weems realized she wanted to make things – nice things, art, with her hands.

When Ms. Weems decided to start her own blog, she decided to write about art instead of science and teaching. Online, she created a community of art bloggers who were mostly self-taught ETSY artists that she refers to as a mixed media art community.

At this time, Ms. Weems began altering old books and blogging about what she created.

Eventually, she took a class in encaustics, painting with hot wax on a prepared surface that can include the application of other objects pressed into the wax.

In 2011, Ms. Weems made a bold move to take a hiatus from teaching and pursue her love of encaustics with an artist residency in Spain. Upon returning from Europe, Ms. Weems, a self-taught techie, started an online database for artist retreats and taught art to adults and technology to artists.

In 2012, Ms. Weems continued pursuing art by taking it on the road. For three months she visited with artists she had met online and offered encaustic classes in their communities. She hosted 39 events in 39 cities and traveled 15,000 8 THE SAGE December 2014

miles in the United Stated and Canada. It was an incredible adventure, she says, especially for someone who, although she had traveled extensively, had always lived close to her home in Massachusetts.

In fact, when Ms. Weems moved to Reno in August, it was the beginning of a new life away from her native Massachusetts, a place where she grew up, went to college, and started her teaching and art careers. She was able to make the dramatic move to Reno largely in part due to the feel-

ing of welcome she felt when she visited last spring.

“There was a sense of community and it seemed like people were excited about their jobs and what they were doing,” Ms. Weems says. The mix of the “urban and “wild” side of Reno also attracted Ms. Weems, who enjoys living so close to Lake Tahoe because of the amazing hiking and outdoor space. As an avid traveler, she is looking forward to taking advantage of her new proximity to West coast cities and state and national parks.

Her first year at SRS is Ms. Weems’ seventh year teaching and she is eager to tap into her students’ independent motivation and help them discover who they are and what they want to learn and how.

Her experience with homeschooling, she says, motivates her to personalize education as much as possible.

Ms. Weems, who was homeschooled from the time she was in Grade 3 until she entered college at 16, says that every child is unique and that one of teachers’ jobs is to meet the needs of all students. Ms. Weems has fond memories of attending homeschooling conventions and being able to select her own textbooks. She felt empowered, much like she wants to empower her students to have ownership in their learning, growth, and work.

Her classroom is a lively place of learning where students are learning to think like scientists

and ask questions. Teaching coding, much like teaching science, engages the students.

And according to Ms. Weems, it is much like teaching math.

It’s about problem solving and finding solutions to your questions.

Ms. Weems appreciates that at Sage Ridge teachers have the flexibility to teach students problem solving in a variety of ways. She especially enjoys the feeling she gets just being at Sage Ridge. “I’m happy to be here and walk through the halls. People wave. I love the community. I enjoy looking across the Great Space during the Town Meetings and seeing the people I work with and the sense of community here.

I have never had that before.

And the kids want to be here and are happy to come in the morning. ”

Ms. Weems, now a Nevadan for four months, is doing what she imagined she would do when she was young. She is an artist, an avid writer of personal journals, and a science teacher, saving the world one student at a time. When she is not playing one of these roles, you will find her enjoying the shopping and restaurants in her Midtown neighborhood or possibly at home concocting some delicious dish for friends and neighbors.

“We are so fortunate that Ms. Weems is a part of SRS. Ms. Weems’ passion for science is evident through the fact that she makes science come alive for the kids. Our daughter absolutely loves science and has enjoyed all the different projects that she has worked on, from writing and performing skits to walking around the school and cross-country trails to collect different variety of plants for analysis. Our daughter has learned so much in science and has enjoyed every minute of it.”

-Nathalie Huynh, Grade 5 Parent “We are thrilled to have Ms. Weems working with our boys. She does a fantastic job of communicating with the kids at their level. They love her goofy sense of humor, but are quick to point out how strict she is in the classroom.

From a parent’s perspective, we appreciate that she takes the long view on academics, helping them manage their stress and put emphasis on the learning process instead of just the grades. Put another way, they can’t wait to go to Science class every day!”

-Kristen Macleod, Grade 6 Parent

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Sage Ridge 2014-15 Annual Fund The 2014-15 Sage Ridge School Annual Fund is well under way, thanks to the generosity of our terrific community! At present, we are just shy of 50% of our direct contribution goal for the year.

Goal: $200K

Each year, Sage Ridge, like most independent schools, invests more to educate each child than annual tuition covers. The gap between the cost of an SRS education and tuition collected is about $2000 per student. The Annual Fund covers this gap and makes it possible for Sage Ridge to continue offering the rich variety of academic, arts and athletics programs that distinguish the Sage Ridge student experience.

As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, all donations to the SRS Annual Fund are tax deductible contributions. There are a few days left to receive credit for a tax deductible donation for 2014! If you would like to receive credit for 2014, please send your check, with “Annual Fund� in the memo line, to the school at 2515 Crossbow Court, Reno, NV 89511 by December 31st.

12/19 $96K

The Annual Fund is supported by direct contributions as well as two events each year: the Annual SRS Poker Night, scheduled for March 14, 2015 and the biggest SRS event of the year, the Annual Gala, which will take place on May 2, 2015 in downtown Reno. Please save the dates for these two fun and important events as we come together as a team and a community to support our students and our school!

Direct Contributions Year to Date

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Q: Parenting 411

I find that my child has a hard time starting projects and assignments.

Procrastination leads to stress and frustration for all of us! How can I help and are there any strategies to help my child work through this?

A:

The first step in helping children avoid procrastination is to determine the cause of the procrastination. Then, parents can begin to help their children with strategies for avoiding it. Interestingly though, the children are not always the root of the problem.

1. Parenting Style- Research shows that children reared in an authoritarian environment might begin to procrastinate out of fear of criticism and punishment. Parents who are authoritarian may have strict rules and guidelines they expect their children to follow but do

not explain reasons for their choices or listen well to their children.

They tend to be punitive when their children make mistakes. Children reared this way will sometimes even avoid tasks all together, creating more procrastination issues.

On the other hand, authoritative parenting, a parenting style wherein parents have high and clear expectations but are more democratic and responsive with their children, leads to children feeling safe and confident in completing tasks, jobs, or projects. Children reared this way are less likely to procrastinate.

2. Gifted- Gifted students are defined as those who have above normal levels of intelligence in an intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity. Also, extreme knowledge or talent in a specific field can qualify a student as gifted, according to federal education standards. Some gifted children do, however, suffer from procrastination if they are not being challenged academically. For example, if a child is given a month to do an assignment that is not challenging, they may unintentionally decide to wait until the night or weekend before the assignment is due to complete it. For a gifted child, this might make the assignment more challenging to complete. Speaking with the child’s teacher to ensure work is appropriately challenging for your child may help eliminate the procrastination.

ly is most often self-imposed by the child. Helping these children assess themselves based on effort over outcome has been shown to help with perfectionism. These students will benefit from looking at and evaluating the efforts they are putting into their work and the accomplishments they are making rather than focusing on the end result or product. Also, perfectionists can benefit from monitoring their progress on an assignment, especially large projects, on a day to day or step by step process.

Monica Joyner is a Reno therapist specializing in services related to the educational needs of the community. She loves working with the gifted and talented community and helping parents and students with their unique challenges. Ms. Joyner has new support groups for parents of gifted children starting in January. She can be reached at MJoyner@joynercounseling.

3. Perfectionism- When a perfectionist views an assignment as overwhelming because it cannot be done perfectly, the child may procrastinate or avoid doing the assignment all together. The expectation to do the assignment perfect11 THE SAGE December 2014

NOTES FROM THE FRONT... life as a college freshman

by Celeste Barnaby

Wait, No One’s Going to Tell Me What to Do? I spent a lot of time trying to get prepared for college. I read articles telling me what to expect, I scoured Wesleyan’s website, and I talked to current college student about their experiences. I really thought I would be prepared for anything college had in store for me. Once I arrived here, what surprised me most was something nobody had informed me of: most of the time, you can just do whatever you want.

Let me explain what I mean by walking you through an average week in college. This may seem obvious to you, but finding out what a typical college schedule is like came as a shock to me. First off, a vast majority of classes meet every other day. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, for instance, I only have two classes, spanning from 11 to 2. My two Tuesday, Thursday classes are each a bit longer because they only meet twice a week; the first begins at 9:30 and the second ends at 4:15, with a two hour break in the middle.

I also have a few once-a-week club meetings, office hours, and TA sessions that flesh out my schedule a bit more. But compared to high school, it’s paltry.

When I was at Sage Ridge, I woke up at 7:15 every morning, which was later than average and resulted in me being late a lot (oops). After school ended at 3:15, I usually had an extracurricular until around 5:30, then

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a half hour commute home. There, I still had homework and chores to attend to, not to mention, like, eating and showering and stuff.

Looking at that schedule now, I have absolutely no idea how I did that every day. That looks insane.

Sometimes it’s a major struggle for me to wake up at 9 in order to make it to my 9:30 class. If you’re reading this as a current high school student, give yourself a pat on the back just for going to school every day. It’s not so crazy in college, trust me.

Still, there was an upside to having such a rigorous schedule: it forced me to manage my time wisely. Even when I took a couple hours to relax, it was out of necessity (as in, my brain would explode if I kept working). I never felt like I was wasting my time, because that wasn’t an option.

Here, it’s a totally different story.

After class is over, I’m just free.

There’s no one telling me what to do or when to do it. This experience certainly is not reflective of every student’s, especially those who are athletes or do work study. But for me, a first-semester freshman with minimal responsibilities, college has offered a bounty of free time. And at first, I just didn’t know what to do with it. I’d finish my homework in the early afternoon, go back to my dorm, and only realize once it was too late that I’d spent six consecutive hours doing nothing. I’ve wasted whole Saturday’s in my pajamas

watching Youtube videos. And even though there were no tangible consequences to my lethargy, it left me feeling sort of gross and guilty.

While doing nothing felt good in the short run, I was craving something more. Some sense of fulfillment, of dedication. So I decided to seek that out myself.

More than anything, college has taught me to be self-motivated. It’s taught me to pursue opportunities and follow through with them on my own. All the students on this campus have their own goals and projects that they’re working on; no one is going to hold our hands and lead us to success. Since coming to this realization, my approach to college has changed. I diligently attend club meetings every week and make sure to actively participate in them. I applied for on-campus jobs that interest me. I’m currently writing for four different publications in addition to independent creative writing. I take on new responsibilities wherever I can. This approach to college is, as you might imagine, harder than my old method of doing only what was required of me. But the sense of accomplishment when I finish a piece of writing feels better than any Netflix binge. Even if they’ve just added a new season of Portlandia.

Peace out, Celeste Barnaby, Wesleyan University Class of 2018

Issues in Education You know what makes our son happy at school? Buying a 23-ounce can of Arizona Ice Tea Arnold Palmer at the snack bar.

Should he be able to?

A number of entities have weighed in the sale of junk food and drinks at schools. One side looks at the rates of childhood obesity. Schools stand in loco parentis, Latin for “in the place of a parent,” and should make the choice best for its students. The other side points to individual freedoms. We don’t live in a nanny state, and parenting is the role of parents.

The debate recently percolated through the New York courts. The case arose from New York City’s attempt to combat obesity by banning the retail sale of individual sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces. The New York trial court struck down the city’s ban almost as soon as it was adopted in 2012. The case went through two appeals until this summer, when the New York Court of Appeals agreed the ban was improperly enacted.

been widely adopted by courts to evaluate regulations. The balancing of the societal costs and benefits ensures the regulation is reasonable. But if the benefits do not justify the costs, then it is irrational and should be rejected.

Food for Thought

Although the ban did not target schools, the court case provided a framework to evaluate similar situations at schools. The court engaged in an economic cost-benefit analysis. The concepts are utilized in everyday life to make business decisions. The analysis is not the only way to evaluate the wisdom of government policies, but it has

on the economic analysis of the snack bar The city engaged in this analysis. It sought to reduce consumption of sugary drinks by limiting container size and making it less convenient to exceed the recommended limit. The board had to consider public health, the economic consequences associated with restricting profits of vendors, and the personal autonomy of its residents.

The court recognized that the city’s role embodied a compromise that attempted to promote a healthy diet without significantly affecting the beverage industry. This required a relative valuing of health consid-

erations and economic ends. That valuation had to occur in order to decide whether to adopt the size limitation or alternative proposals such as an educational campaign or a complete ban.

Ultimately, the court did not decide whether the city properly balanced the competing interests. Instead, it held that the balancing is reserved for a legislative body. The New York City Council and the New York legislature had considered but not enacted any laws about sugary drinks. The legislative bodies had not given a directive for the board of health to act upon, so its ban exceeded the board’s executive authority.

So should my son be able to buy an Arnold Palmer at the snack bar? I’m not answering that question. The New York case, though, does raise two issues to be considered. First, is the party that decided to sell the drinks authorized to make that decision? And second, what does the cost benefit analysis tell us about selling the drink at the snack bar?

Lou Bubala, an attorney with Kaempfer Crowell, writes this column to highlight developing educational issues in the courts. Disclaimer: The views expressed are not necessarily his views or those of Sage Ridge School.

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Scorpion

Spotl

By Claire Adams

Ethan Hardacre Student Athlete of the Month November 2014 Fall is officially Cross Country season for student runners across the Reno/Tahoe area. High school students sacrifice their free time to run trails and train for the upcoming meets. This training requires dedication and discipline. One runner on the Sage Ridge Cross Country team consistently displays not only his dedication to the sport but his excellence as well. This student is Ethan Hardacre, a junior at Sage Ridge School and the runner-up in this year’s Division 4 Nevada State Cross Country Championship. Hardacre, the captain of the cross country team, is November’s student athlete of the month.

While cross country running is mainly an individual sport focused upon natural terrain running in an open-air environment, the team aspect remains important to success.

Hardacre considers cooperation of the team a deciding factor to the team’s success.

“As captain of both the boys and girls cross country teams I do 14 THE SAGE December 2014

consider myself a leader, but I also believe that everyone on the cross country team holds a leadership position and helps the team’s morale,” Hardacre said.

Since beginning at SRS in his sophomore year, Hardacre has been an active participant in school sports. He especially excels in cross country, setting multiple personal and meet records. Hardacre credits his success to the excitement of the activity. “The most rewarding part of Cross Country is crossing the finish line after months of work and knowing I (earned) a new record.” He ran State in an impressive 17:55.

Hardacre hopes to continue running into his college career: “I plan on running in college either competitively or just for fun.” It’s Hardacre’s dedication to the sport and genuine love of running that pushes him to be the best athlete possible.

Many student athletes consider their sport a large part of their everyday life. Cross country has

inspired Hardacre to become more athletic in his everyday life, too.

“Cross Country has influenced my athletic life by letting me enjoy staying active. I can’t go three days without going for a run.” Not only is Hardacre a talented athlete, he also inspires his teammates through his success and love of the sport.

n Sports

light

Petra Gelu Student Athlete of the Month December 2014 Soccer, a worldwide sport known for its fast pace and excitement, allows its participants to experience teamwork and cooperation firsthand. These challenges and exhilaration of the sport draw in students among several small high schools in the greater Nevada area to play.

One of these participants is Sage Ridge sophomore Petra Gelu, the athlete of the month for December.

Gelu joined the Sage Ridge School community this year as a sophomore. The change was one of significance, coming from McQueen high school, but Gelu excitedly took on the role of an active member in the school’s extracurricular activities. She immediately joined the coed varsity soccer team. She, unlike the majority of the team, had no prior experience with the sport, she states, “Not only was I transitioning into a new sport, but everyone around me was new, so that was difficult because I was trying something new, but I was also around people who were making

their first impressions of me.”

Needless to say, she was nervous in this new environment. As a new student, Gelu was able to take on the academic challenges of Sage Ridge while also participating in the community life. Apart from the soccer team, Gelu is a member of the all-girls a cappella group, “The Acabellas.” Gelu attributes some of her new friendships to her participation in these activities.

Soccer allowed her to meet new people and experience the support among the student body: “I realized that first impressions at this school don’t really matter since we all spend so much time together and after everyone warmed up to me, they were overall very supportive.”

Gelu’s participation on the soccer team allowed her to establish relationships with her peers in a cooperative, fun environment.

Not only was Gelu able to bond continued on page 28

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Every September Sage Ridge School Grade 8 students exit a bus and sit in anticipation at Teglia’s Paradise Park in Sparks. They are eager, excited, and probably a little bit nervous about what is to come. They have big smiles on their faces as they are about to meet their Little Buddies from Bernice Mathews Elementary School with whom they will embark on a 10 month journey and relationship. As a community service project each year, the Grade 8 students mentor Mathews first graders by spending time with them both at Sage Ridge and away from school.

Bernice Mathews is one of about 80 elementary schools in Washoe County. The school has a population of about 780 students, 90 percent of whom are eligible for subsidized lunches and live at or below the poverty level.

One of the first things the Sage Ridge students do for their buddies is give them a book. Many of the little bud-

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dies live in homes without books and having even just one in the house can make a huge impact. “Research shows that children who own at least one book at home are more likely to succeed academically,” said Jennifer Kuehn, the SRS Grade 8 team leader and buddy program coordinator.

Mrs. Kuehn plans about 10 activities a year for the Grade 8 students and their buddies.

Just this week, the students and their buddies

8th Grade Buddies & Bern

Learning T

nice Matthews Elementary:

Through Mentoring attended a performance of the Peanut Cracker at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. The buddy program has grown throughout the years as new traditions have developed such as the Little Buddies Thanksgiving Feast where the first graders visit Sage Ridge and enjoy a home-cooked holiday meal with their mentors. The meal is prepared by the Grade 8 parents and is a highlight for the students, says Mrs. Kuehn.

able,” Mrs. Kuehn says.

What is invaluable for the little buddies is attention they receive and having someone who is totally focused on them. They are getting attention from someone who they can look up to. “It’s a big kid. It makes an impression on the little buddy when they hear that the big buddy did something special for them,” says Kuehn.

Part of the Grade 8 training for the buddy program includes Mrs. Kuehn teaching

Mrs. Kuehn is very pasthe students how to speak to sionate about the buddy their buddies by saying things program and takes pride in watching both the big and the such as ‘I went out and bought little buddies grow throughout this book especially for you.’

She teaches the students how the year. to be responsive to their little

She notices how the buddies and how to make them Grade 8 students transform the feel like they are important moment their buddies come and valued. into the room. “They are no “(The eighth graders) longer the child or the kid who are so kind and gentle with the is being told what to do. Sudkids,” Mrs. Kuehn says, “like denly, they are taking on roles during a recent buddy visit to that you might never see them SRS when she saw Ethan Detake on otherwise.” The tables are turned on the students. They mers sitting with this buddy have to figure out strategies to Charlie who was not physically able to participate in a game. deal with their buddies, who might be shy, outgoing, or even He was so sweet with him and created drawing games for rascally. them to play together. He was

“The eighth graders have so thoughtful, so kind.” to talk to their teachers about During the second sehow to help guide the children, mester, the Grade 8 students their buddies, and that is invalu17 THE SAGE December 2014

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will continue their relationships with their first grade buddies until June when they will end the year much like they began it. They will give their little buddies a book, a big smile, most likely a hug, and maybe even a tear as they both move one, the first graders to second grade and the eighth graders to high school.

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The Road Beyond. ...life after Sage R Do you ever dream of inventing the next big thing and starting your own company? Who wouldn’t want to be the next Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, or Elon Musk? Our own David Hoffman, class of 2005, may just be this generation’s entrepreneurial giant of the music analytics industry with his company called Next Big Sound. According to CBS News, “if Justin Bieber and PSY have taught us anything it’s that fame can be found online. But who will be next? And how do you weed through the clutter? That’s where the Next Big Sound comes in.”

David, along with two Northwestern University classmates, launched Next Big Sound in 2009 right after graduating from college.

The company is “the leading provider of analytics and insights for the music industry (and beyond).”

They “merge tens of billions of data points from social media for hundreds of thousands of artists…” and “…cover over 7o percent of the global recorded music industry, and use our data to forecast the next big selling artist.” They also “partner with Billboard to create the Social 50 and Next Big Sound Chart,” which ranks popular artist across all music genres and the fastest rising music stars through data acquired through social media.

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Next Big Sound was born in an entrepreneurship course during David’s junior year at Northwestern.

After trying several not so feasible ideas, “we hit on building an entertainment analytics company.” With support from TechStars, a company that provides start-up money and mentoring support, they moved to Boulder, Colorado, and started

Next Big Sound.

David makes it sound so easy -- think of an idea, get a little seed money, move to a hip city, and boom, you are an instant success.

Of course, as Sage Ridge students and alumni know, success requires daily preparation, self-discipline, and a long-term commitment to a

....

Ridge goal. David exemplifies these qualities every day.

As he explains, “I’ve never worked anywhere besides Next Big Sound, and have been doing this for nearly six years. Nobody tells me what to do, so it’s up to me to decide where I spend my time. I have to hold myself accountable, and

constantly be learning how I can improve.” David admits that their greatest challenge in starting the company was their “naivety,” but he sees a silver lining. “We didn’t know what we didn’t know. On the flip-side, this gave us the optimism and persistent attitude needed to overcome challenges like raising

David Hoffman Sage Ridge class of 2005

by Rob van cleve

our money from investors, hiring our first employee, and signing our first client.”

David has been steadily working on his career goal since his time at Sage Ridge. While he may be a natural born entrepreneur, Sage Ridge nurtured his self-starter spirit. He was one of the founding editors The Ridge and the president of the Robotics club. He credits both activities for helping put him on his current career path. David is thrilled to hear that The Ridge is still a voice for students and that Robotics has been upgraded to a full-fledged elective course. David thinks that these activities develop crucial technical and writing skills, both of which he uses daily.

“I spend a ton of time in meetings and email, both with our internal team, our clients, and potential clients. I write over 1,000 words daily. I also carve out as much time as I can to sneak away and work with our design team on new products and features.” As with most start-up companies, David wears many hats. “Over the years I’ve been transitioning from doing all of the design work and a little code to being in a management role. In my role as Head of Product I’m responsible for what we build and why we’re building it.”

Like most alumni, David has “incredibly fond memories of Sage Ridge” and he remembers Outdoor Education trips as a major highlight, but the most memorable part of Sage Ridge was “spending time with many people that are still some of my closest friends,” such as fellow classmates Kristan Brown, Mat Trachok, and Tyler McClain, and having “teachers that really, really cared.” Working with excellent people is still the highlight of his day. “My favorite part of my daily work at Next Big Sound is the people. We’ve got a killer team of people that are a joy to work with.”

David urges young aspiring entrepreneurs to “be persistent, have a bias towards action, and learn how to make things.” Fortunately, Sage Ridge students have opportunities to take such action by writing for The Ridge, building robots, and learning coding, which is required for Grades 5 and 6 and an elective for Grades 7 and 8 this year. https://www.nextbigsound.com Author’s note I taught David history in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. During our conversation for this article, it was clear to me that he is the same diligent, creative, and positive young man that I remember as a student.

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COLLEGE COUNSELING These days there are several options for students in terms of when and how to apply to college.

NACAC (the National Association for College Admission Counseling) offers these concise “Definitions of Admission Options in Higher Education” in a convenient one-page flier here. The days of mere rolling admission or even a single application deadline for many of the most selective colleges and universities are long gone. So, what are these newer options and what is the best one for your son or daughter?

Let me put the first in the form of a “College Knowledge” Jeopardy prompt: This college admission option allows students to apply early with a binding commitment if they are accepted. You are correct if you answered “What is Early Decision?” Early Decision (ED) is not for the faint of heart. It’s what I call an “all chips in” option with a major string attached, i.e., a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college. As noted in an article referenced below, “The Common Application and some colleges’ application forms require the student applying under early decision, as well as the parent and counselor, to sign an ED agreement form spelling out the plan’s conditions.”

Approximately 450 colleges have Early Decision or the other early admission option, Early Action (EA), which, thankfully, 24 THE SAGE December 2014

DECISIONS, D COLLEGE ADMISS FOR THE 21S

is non-binding: you don’t have to commit to going if you get in early. Some colleges have both ED and EA, and some “offer a nonbinding option called single-choice early action, under which applicants may not apply ED or EA to any other college.” Harvard and Stanford, for example, are among the few schools that offer the single-choice early action option, also called Restrictive Early Action (REA).

ed. One of the best articles to read about this topic is on the College Board website. To weigh their options, students and parents can use the College Board’s “Pros and Cons of Applying to College Early” which can be found in a handout called “DecidAs the names suggest, ED and EA options require students to sub- ing About Early Decision and Early Action” mit their applications by an earlier deadline, typically November 1st or linked in the article.

November 15th of their senior year.

In a nutshell, I This, in turn, means that colleges encourage students will notify an applicant by mid to to do their homework late December of an admission about specific coldecision, which is based on that leges they like before student’s academic record through they become seniors. their junior year in high school. In The more research light of these earlier deadlines and they have done and notifications, some argue that the system amps up academic pressure the more colleges they have visited by on high school students too much senior year, the more and robs them of their senior year.

“Has Junior Year Become the New informed they will be about where, when Senior Year?” was the title of a and how to apply. As well-attended educational session at NACAC’s 65th National Confer- stated in the article, “Applying to an ED or ence in Baltimore, MD, in 2009.

EA plan is not appropriate for a student who... has not The benefits and drawbacks of thoroughly researched colleges; is applying early are well document-

The m researc have do the m college have vis senior y more in they will where, w how to

DECISIONS: SIONS OPTIONS ST CENTURY applying early just to avoid stress and paperwork; is not fully committed to attending the college; is applying early only because friends are; [and/or] needs a strong senior fall semester to bring grades up.”

competitive applicants. So, while getting in to highly-selective schools may seem a bit easier, it may be no less challenging with regards to “the stronger profiles among candidates choosing ED.” The answer to this dilemma, therefore, is to have a balanced list of colleges to which to apply, reflecting “likely” (foundational) schools as well as “possible” ones and “reaches,” which may include ED or EA options for those students who truly are prepared to submit earlier applications.

Perhaps the main advantage to applying early (either ED or EA) is a statistical one: your chances of being admitted may be greater if you apply early.

This is true to a point.

Applying early can sometimes increase your chances of admission in terms of slightly higher ED/EA acceptance rates at many colleges and universities compared to their acceptance rates for Regular Decision (RD) applicants, meeting deadlines that typically land between December 15th and February 1st. The ED/EA applicant pools, however, typically include the most

Generally, I am in favor of ED and EA applications if students weigh the pros and cons and can avoid tilting their focus away from their academics. After all, colleges will review senior year transcripts very carefully, even and especially for those admitted in the ED/ EA rounds. In other words, grades count to the very end, no matter where, when or how you get into college. One of the drawbacks to applying early can be the negative repercussions of “senioritis.” “Applicants who learn early that they have been accepted into a college may feel that, their goal accomplished, they have no reason to work hard for the rest of the year.

Early-applying students should know that colleges may rescind offers of admission should their senior-year grades drop.”

more ch they one and more es they sited by year, the nformed be about when and o apply.

Because of such risks, I am keen to meet with students early and often to provide guidance through their application process. An “Early Decision and Early Action Calendar” is also available in the College Board article above, which students and parents should use to follow all required steps for applying early, including standardized admission testing (SAT/ACT) no later than October of their senior year. If you would like to know more about ED and EA options, please don’t hesitate to contact me to arrange a meeting when we can discuss things in greater depth and customize a college application plan to meet your needs.

Rob Lamb, Director of College Counseling, can be reached via email at RLamb@sageridge.org or by phone at 775-852-6222, extension 510.

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Favorite books From Te

Keeping the Learn the holidays w Sage Ridge students are embarking on a two week hiatus from regular classes. When they return to school on January 5, 2015, the students will participate in two weeks of mini-session. In all, they have one month to relax a bit and possibly enjoy some independent reading. Below are some old favorites of the Middle School English Teachers…

branches,” said the boy.

“My trunk is gone,” said the tree.

“You cannot climb-” “I am too tired to climb,” said the boy.

“I am sorry,” sighed the tree.

“I wish that I could give you something... but I have nothing left. I am an old stump. I am sorry...”

“I don’t need very much now,” said the boy, “just a quiet Meghan Ward pleace to sit and rest. I am very My favorite book when I was tired.” in middle school was Number “Well,” said the tree, straightthe Stars by Lois Lowry. Set in ening herself up as much as 1943 Nazi occupied Denmark, she could, the story is one of bravery and “well, an old stump is a good friendship between friends and for sitting and resting. Come, families. I remember reading it Boy, sit down. Sit down and with Mrs. Parker in 6th grade, rest.” then reading every book I And the boy did. could about those who helped And the tree was happy.” the Jews escape the Nazi reShel Silverstein, The Giving gime. I love that I now get to Tree share it with my class.

Hands down, The Giving Tree Ann Bollesen by Shel Silverstein is the book “And after a long time the boy from her childhood that brings came back again. back the best memories.

“I am sorry, Boy,” said the tree, “but I have nothing left to give Jennifer Kuehn youSweet Valley Twins Series for My apples are gone.”

Grades 5 and 6 “My teeth are too weak for ap- Sweet Valley High Series for ples,” said the boy.

Grades 7 and 8 “My branches are gone,” said Jessica and Elizabeth Wakethe tree. field grow up in a small Cal“You cannot swing on them-” ifornia beach town. They are “I am too old to swing on very different from each other 26 THE SAGE December 2014

in everything but appearance.

This series is light and fun and perfect for the holidays.

It really doesn’t matter which book you begin with, as each is its own little moment in the girls’ lives.

Babysitters’ Club Series for Middle School This is my favorite series of all time! I babysat every afternoon and most evenings when I was in middle school and high school, and my friends and I actually made our own version of the Babysitters’ Club. You can start the series anywhere. The girls even all go on a vacation together to ….. Disney World! Of course, I was hooked!

Jill Strawder-Bubala As a young girl and early teen, my favorite books were Judy Blume stories. She was like a goddess to me. Her stories are about young people and how they grow up. For a girl from Indiana, her frequent settings on the East Coast seemed exotic and mysterious to me. I wanted to live in the characters’ houses, attend their schools, and know their friends. The boys and girls in her books are so real; they seemed to understand exactly how I felt. They were going through the same things I was

eachers and Library staff:

ning Alive through with a good read going through in my middle school. I can remember thinking that Blume must be some sort of child-whisperer who possessed a magical insight to the world of adolescents. She did not seem like any adult I knew; she was so cool and hip, so modern. Reading Blume’s books was a great comfort to me and a source of great joy.

Two of my favorites by her include the following: Middle School - Blubber – “Based on an incident in my daughter Randy’s fifth grade classroom that never could have happened if the teacher had been tuned in to the kids in her class. Her lack of awareness made it easy for the class leader to use her power in an evil way, victimizing one student and turning classmate against classmate.

When I began this book I was determined to write the truth about the school-bus culture in the language of that culture.

Blubber is funny to a point, then wham! Some adults are bothered by the language and the cruelty, but the kids get it. They live it. In some places the book is used in teacher training classes to help future teachers understand classroom dynamics,” Blume writes on her website.

High School - Tiger Eyes – “Al-

though there’s a violent crime at the center of the story, Tiger Eyes isn’t about violence. It’s about the sudden, tragic loss of someone you love. I lost my beloved father suddenly, when I was 21. He died, not as the result of a violent crime, but of a heart attack at home. I was with him. I still can’t write this without choking up, remembering. Davey’s feelings about her father’s sudden death were based on mine, though I’m not sure I was aware of it while I was writing the book. I lived in Los Alamos, New Mexico, the setting of the book, for two years. My teenaged children went to school there.

It wasn’t a happy experience but it helped me write what George (my husband) and Larry (my grown son) think is my best book,” Blume writes.

Books to Travel With You… Also, below are some great reads from our SRS Library Team. These are books available in the library. Remember, parents are always welcome to check out books, too. Stop in anytime throughout the year and the Library Team will help you find a great read.

Grade 5 and Up… Cosmic by Frank Cotrell Boyce

The London Eye Book by Siobhan Dowd Peak by Roland Smith Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach Operation Red Jericho by Joshua Mowl Changing Tides: A Gates Family Mystery by Catherine Hapka Double Crossing by Carolyn Keene Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy

by L.A. Meyer Grade 7 and Up… The Merchant of Death by D. J. MacHale 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson Airborn by Kenneth Oppel Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt Murder on the Orient Express

by Agatha Christie Spain or Shine by Michelle Jellen Let it Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson Geek Abroad by Piper Banks Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard High School…

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson continued on page 28

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Good Read continued Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber Paper Towns by John Green Sea by Heidi R. Kling White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean Going Bovine by Libba Bray Older Teen to Adult…

The Martian by Andy Weir Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Sports Highlight continued with her classmates through soccer, she also learned the value of taking on new experiences and the importance of team support: “I learned that if you want to do something new, a big part of whether or not you’re going to like it is if you have the support of the people around you. Luckily enough for me, I did.”

Her optimistic attitude and outgoing personality are the attributes that have designated Gelu athlete of the month. By stepping outside of her comfort zone, she was able to find an enjoyable activity and bond with others.

Gelu’s enthusiastic participation in the school community makes her a valuable member of Sage Ridge School. And as for next year? Gelu plans on continuing this passionate involvement in her school life: “And yeah, I’m definitely going to play next year.”

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Each Year, Sage Ridge School Adopts Families From Traner Middle School:

Making Holiday Memories I’m always impressed by the truly wonderful students and parents in our community at Sage Ridge! Yesterday 7 children from the 6th grade class hand delivered 3 truckloads of gifts and gift cards to our adopted Traner Families. And parents from other classes did the same. In total 19 Traner Families were adopted by members of the SRS community.

Our first stop the Espinosa Family. This gracious family welcomed us in with open arms and even offered refreshments as the kids went to work filling their living room with gifts. This beautiful family was very, very appreciative of all of the gifts that were delivered.

Next stop the Family Shelter downtown. The kids received a wonderful tour of the facility and unloaded bag after bag of groceries into the shared kitchen. The rest of the gifts were dropped off with our tour guide, Sandy who will deliver them to the Chambers Family.

While we didn’t get to meet the Chambers Family, they will certainly be blessed on Christmas morning to know they are thought of by others.

A Huge Thanks to everyone for helping out those who truly have need. So many pulled together to plan, purchase, wrap, and deliver a mountain of gifts.

by Carmel Briggs (6th grade Mom)

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of note Young Grads Return event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 6th, 2015. Recent grads will impart insights about college life to our upper school students.

Recent grads -- if you’re interested in participating in the event, please email Mr. Lamb at RLamb@sageridge.org

Big Congrats go out to Davis Onesian! Last month Davis competed in the Grand Competition at the Autumn Grand ATA in Tucson and in a field of over 400 competitors from around the world, took The Champion in the handicap long distance trap shooting event! He also won the junior singles championship event and was juniors doubles runner up. Congrats Davis!

Sage Ridge Annual Poker Night Mark your calendars now for the Annual Sage Ridge Poker Night, taking place on Saturday, March 14th. Professional dealers will lead players through a fun and feisty tournament. Details to follow but save the date so you don’t miss this great event. All proceeds to benefit the SRS Annual Fund.

After School Study Hall is held daily from 3:30 - 6pm in the SRS Library. Cost is $15 per day and is available to all students on a drop-in basis.

Parents of Gifted Kids Support Groups, led by Monica Joyner, MA, MFT-I, NCC, are starting in January. Share with other parents of gifted children in an open communication setting. For more information, please contact Ms. Joyner at 775-525-1363 or via email at mjoyner@joynercounseling.

30 THE SAGE December 2014

Alumni parents who would like to be notified of alumni parent get-togethers should email Cary Ingbar at CIngbar@gmail. com to be put on the email list.

Check it Out! The Ridge, SRS’s student newspaper, is available on line. You can find it here: http://theridge.sageridge.org/

Attention Parents Are you interested in helping with the SRS 2015 Prom? This year’s prom will be held on Saturday, May 9th at the McKinley Arts Building in downtown Reno. Parents will provide the set up, refreshments and clean up. We’ll set up the venue for the kids, then head out for dinner and a movie and be back in time to help the kids put away the tables and chairs. If you’re interested in helping to make this a great night for our students, and want to have some fun time with other parents, please email Robin at RMonteith@sageridge.org

Cyrus Moassessi continues his good work! Cyrus and his friend, Kienan Herman, held their 11th Annual Treat Stand in early December, with proceeds benefitting the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. The story received coverage in both the RGJ and TV news. Cyrus was also published in the winter issue of Allergic Living Magazine.

Congratulations, Cyrus and keep up the good work!

Save the Date! This year’s Sage Ridge School Annual Gala is slated for Saturday, May 2nd at the California Building at Idlewild Park.

Featuring silent and live auctions, great food and entertainment, the Gala is SRS’s biggest bash and benefits the Annual Fund.

Congratulations to Nathan Hayes who received a letter of commendation from the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Commended students place among the top 5% of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2015 competition.

Grandparents’ Day May 1st All Grandparents -- please plan to attend this fun event at the school on May 1st. Highlights of this special day include student tours, pictures, and lunch.

Make it a weekend visit and attend the Gala the next day!

Details to come.

of note 31 THE SAGE December 2014

Thanksgivi Feast 2014

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ing Photos by Joy Benna

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Thanksgiving Fe

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east 2014

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Thanksgiving Feast 2014

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Thanksgiving Feast 2014 38 THE SAGE December 2014

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Thanksgiving Feast 2014 40 THE SAGE December 2014

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Thanksgiving Feast 2014

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Mark these dates on your

Calendar 12/20

Holiday Break Begins

1/5

Return to school: Minisession begins

1/19

Martin Luther King Jr. Day No School

1/20

Normal classes resume

1/31

Winterfest

2/16

February Break Begins (2/16-2/20)

2/27

Nevada JCL state Convention (2/27-2/28)

3/14

SRS Poker Night

3/20

In-service day no school

4/6

spring Break (4/6 - 4/10)

4/17

Spring Musical (4/17-4/18)

5/1

Grandparents Day

44 THE SAGE December 2014

Parent Association News

Big Thanks to our amazing parent volunteers for their holiday efforts!

An amazing group of parents banded together to create gift platters of homemade cookies and a generous $50 gift card for each and every SRS faculty and staffer! They also hosted a fabulous appreciation luncheon! Thank you to this outstanding group for their generosity of time and spirit!

Thank You to Roundabout A big thank you to Roundabout Catering for the terrific job they are doing with the SRS Lunch Program (and big thanks to all our Lunch volunteers!).

Please remember that Roundabout is available for party and special event catering.

Soupapalooza This terrific event was held last month and was a great success! Thanks to all our hard working volunteers who coordinated to make this special evening happen! The proceeds from this event enabled the PA to donate $250 to the Middle School Student Government and $250 to the Upper School Student Government. This show of financial support will enable student goverment to fund future student events.

Volunteer opportunities Looking for a way to get involved and support the school at the same time? The PA has lots of volunteer opportunities and it’s easy to sign up. Start here for a list of events and activities that need volunteers.

Thank you for your time, energy and efforts!

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Moments: snapshots of daily life at Sage Ridge

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RECYCLE & REWARD

I LOVE MY TEACHERS

I LOVE MY TEACHERS

I LOVE MY TEACHERS

I LOVE MY TEACHERS

I Love My Teachers! Recycle and Reward Program

The Sage Ridge School is looking to expand their already wonderful faculty and staff appreciation program, but we need your help! We have so many generous families who are philanthropic with both their time and money. The SRS Development Office, in response to parent requests, is spearheading a rewards program for faculty and staff.

The idea is that families who have “extra anything” can pass it along to our amazing faculty and staff. “Extra anything” really can be anything! Meaning, spare or unused sporting event tickets, concert tickets, meals out, ski/snowboard tickets, condominium weekends/rentals, vacation homes, and so on. These are merely some examples, so you are invited to think outside the box too. Did you just remodel your house and are getting rid of that old couch, chair, or dining room set? We have many faculty and staff who are new to the area that could use such items. Cleaning out the garage? That old bike, snow-blower, or grill could find a great new home within our SRS community and family.

This is absolutely a “no-pressure” request. We all really appreciate your consideration and generosity.

-Please contact Blake Zahn for more information and or donations at bzahn@sageridge. org (These are tax deductible donations.)

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