The sage june2015

Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.

- Greek Proverb

Learning Outside the Classroom

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back cover: art by sage ridge middle school student jenna slikkerveer 2515 crossbow court, reno nevada 89511 775.852.6222 www.sageridge.org facebook: www.facebook.com/sageridge twitter: @sageridgeschool for submissions, please email jill strawder bubala at jstrawder-bubala@sageridge.org co-editors robin monteith & jill strawder-bubala special thanks to tyler becker

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Table of Contents June 2015

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A monthly note from Headmaster Norm Colb

Meet Jacqueline Grant

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

Thinking Out Loud

The Educator and The Author-

Notes from the Front

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Read about Maddy Welch’s work as a part of this important program

Alumni spotlight story

by Laura Hayes (‘12) about her recent internship and adventure in Chile

A collection of memories from this year’s bike trip with Mr. Cook

Nevada Youth Legislature

An Adventure Explored

Minisession Bike Trip

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THINKING OUT LOUD

What Matters Most Dear Sage Ridge Community, If you were to write down all that goes on in a school, you would find yourself filling page after page listing courses, athletics, wellness, clubs, student government, theater, music, art, technology, field trips, college counseling, transportation, dances, parent association meetings, newsletters, email, and on and on.

I’m sure you get the idea: A school contains almost too many elements to count.

And they all matter. If even one is missing or not up to standard, the whole edifice is weakened – something like a tower of Jenga blocks.

But if I asked you what matters most, you would almost certainly place the instructional program right at the top. After all, before anything else, we want the school to help our students acquire the skills and knowledge they will need to be successful, self-sufficient adults.

Having agreed that the instructional program is at the heart of the school, what else is there to say about it? Well, the program obviously should have high standards that encourage students to stretch themselves. Going further, the program we most want should also encourage students to experience the joy of learning; 4 THE SAGE June 2015

it should stimulate students to keep learning beyond their formal course work and beyond the school building.

I once heard Dr. Deborah

“...too many schools throughout the nation are being pressed to produce students who simply score well on standardized tests.”

Stipek, the Dean of Education at Stanford and an exceptional educator, electrify several hundred heads of independent schools by relating how her daughter celebrated having completed her French AP test. “There,” the daughter said. “I’ll never, ever have to speak French again!” Dr. Stipek asked whether we were satisfied with her daughter’s response, and if not, what we were prepared to do

about it.

From where I sit, too many schools throughout the nation are being pressed to produce students who simply score well on standardized tests. But when improving test scores becomes the program’s overriding goal, it seems to me that something essential can too easily be lost.

Test scores clearly matter for a host of reasons (and I assure you that Sage Ridge students do exceptionally well on such measures). In the long run, however, what matters at least as much is that students take pleasure in using their minds well, and that they enjoy exploring interesting ideas and expanding their horizons.

I mention this because the past month has overflowed with opportunities to see not only how much our students have learned, but also the satisfaction and pride they take from their school experience.

To give you an example of the work our students produced this year, please take a moment to scan the titles of the major research papers this year’s seniors wrote: - U.S. Imperialism and the Systematic Degradation of Latin America in the 20th Century - Java: A General Solution to Issues Arising from the Continuously Increasing

Need for Software to Run Across Platforms - Color Blind Admissions and Ending Affirmative Action in College - Chinese as a Foreign Language Option for Public Schools in Nevada - Harnessing Neuroplasticity and Connecting it with Computer Programming to Create Virtual Reality that is Effective in Pain Treatment During Procedures - Benefits of personalized Medicine for Breast Cancer Patients - The Necessity of Annual Mental Health Screenings for High School Students - Che Guevara: Hero or Demon?

- Sabermetric Integration: The Development of Defensive In-Game - The Defects of SocietallyInduced Colorblindness and the Continuation of Institutionalized Racism - The Effects of Rising Health Care Costs on Income Inequality - The Dramatic Arts are a Core Curriculum: The Current Approach to Arts Education Funding in U.S. Public School is Fundamentally Flawed and must be Replaced by a Data-Driven, OutcomeOriented Approach to Arts Funding - Small is Significant: The Need for Nanoscience in the Fight Against Cancer

- “Love is Merely a Madness” A Shakespearian and Neuro-Scientific Analysis of Romantic Love Forgive me for boasting about Sage Ridge, but I want to note that these topics are far, far beyond what most students in most of the nation’s high schools ever have the opportunity to explore. To produce such papers, our seniors had to think deeply about their topics and do a great deal of research, largely on their own. They ended high school feeling justifiably proud

of all they had accomplished; and their teachers saw in these papers reason to be optimistic about their students’ prospects in college and beyond.

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New Teacher Spotlight

Mee

She’s a former air force officer and published author who, much to her students’ amusement, reads history books for fun. Dr. Jacqueline Grant hails from Jamaica and grew up in Florida before finding her way to Reno and Sage Ridge School. She joined the faculty last August and serves as the History Department Head and Upper School teacher for Grades 11 and 12. Although she describes herself as a ‘late bloomer,’ Dr. Grant has been preparing for this job all of her life.

Dr. Grant loves to teach history because “I am able to share or explore these stories with students for whom this is all new. It is also a chance to experience these histories through fresh eyes.”

As a child, Dr. Grant attended Catholic boarding schools from the age of six to 14. She describes this experience as being raised in a protective bubble. She went to 6 THE SAGE June 2015

Educ

day school for the first time when she was 14 and was the kid who always had her nose in a book. When she wasn’t reading or studying, she danced with the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica of which her Aunt is a founding member. She also swam for her school team, The Blue Marlins, and for the Jamaican team, The Flying Fish, and competed with her backstroke.

After moving to Miami with her parents and before becoming a history buff,

Dr. Grant studied business at the University of Miami where she earned a bachelor’s degree. She then served for five years in the United States Air Force. In her five years of service, Dr. Grant held three different jobs. At Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan, she was a as a Personnel Officer. During Desert Storm, she deployed to Cairo,

et Jacqueline Grant

cator and Published Author

University of Nevada, Reno, to earn her master’s degree and become a writer. While she was earning her degree, she sent a query Oliver Press asking if they would be interested in an idea she had for a book.

She went on to write Women in Medicine, a book for readers age nine and older that profiles the lives of eight American pioneers in medicine.

“The well-organized, lively text covers the subjects’ early lives, their efforts to be admitted to medical school and practice medicine, and their achievements.

Readers will learn that such advances as the Apgar score to assess a newborn’s vital signs, early heart bypasses, and reconstructive plastic surgery techniques were developed organized person but that the military “toughened” her up. “I by women,” writes the School had never really had to do any- Library Journal about Women thing for myself before I joined in Medicine. the military and I learned During her graduate studquickly that my commanders ies, Dr. Grant also wrote for simply wanted me to get the Comstock Business Magazine job done with no whining.” and took care of her children,

Air Force base in North Carolina. My job here was in Social Actions, which was monitoring the Air Force diversity program and the substance abuse program,” says Dr. Grant.

Her time in the military taught Dr. Grant how to “compartmentalize things and get things accomplished.” The five years she was in the Air Force have “colored everything I have done since then.” Dr. Grant says she has always been an

West in Egypt, as a Personnel Office - Personnel Support for Contingency Operations (PERSCO). Back stateside after Desert Strom, Dr. Grant was sent on a one year remote assignment to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea. There, she held the position of Protocol Officer and handled the commander’s protocol-related events. “My final assignment was to Pope

With the assistance of the GI Bill, Dr. Grant entered the

continued on page 8 7 THE SAGE June 2015

continued from page 7 Johnathan, a junior, and Dominic, a senior, who both attend McQueen High School. Dr. Grant can remember getting up at 4 a.m. to drive to UNR to study and work and staying up late into the night working on her thesis while holding her son Dominic in a baby sling.

Exhibits committee and we planned the year’s exhibits and coordinated mounting them and planning the opening night events. Finally, I worked with the Archivists from Special Collections to write grant proposals for various things they needed in conjunction with processing their collections,” Dr. Grant says.

it to see their knowledge,” Dr. Grant says.

Teaching, she says, consumes the majority of her time, so her writing is relegated to limited periods of time now.

Even with the time it takes to prepare for daily lessons, Dr.

“I am so grateful to be able to teach and cannot think of anything else I would like to be doing.”

In 2004, Dr. Grant found herself back in Miami to care for her parents.

During the five years she spent back ‘home’ in Florida, she studied 19th century Cuban and Spanish history at the University of Miami to earn her doctoral degree.

Back in Reno, Dr. Grant worked at the UNR Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center where she was the Events and Exhibits Coordinator as well as the Grant Writer for the University Libraries. There, she wore a number of hats doing the following: planning and coordinating all the internal library events such as Dean Holiday parties and external higher-level events such as President Johnson’s faculty “chats.” She was also responsible for art exhibits throughout the building and in the gallery outside the Wells Fargo Auditorium. “I chaired the Arts and 8 THE SAGE June 2015

As a high school teacher, Dr. Grant says she has realized how much goes into teaching before the teacher ever sets foot in the classroom. In the classroom, teaching history is a natural extension of all of her passions. “I love learning about how things used to be and I get absorbed in trying to imagine the real internal experiences of people whose entire existence emerged in circumstances so different from mine,” Dr. Grant says.

“I am so grateful to be able to teach and cannot think of anything else I would like to be doing. When I am standing in a class and I see the look on the students’ faces’ it is worth

Grant values writing to keep sharp her own skills. She created Gongapeas Book, her own publishing company and self-publishes through it and Kindle. She creates the artwork herself and also writes for Appleseed, a magazine for children about the arts, science, and history that recently became ASK magazine, and Faces, another Cricket publication for children ages nine to 14.

It is difficult to imagine balancing all of her jobs, but Dr. Grant credits her military experience with teaching

Titles by Jacqueline Grant

her “to focus on surmounting challenges without having to have my hand held. I learned I am capable of much more than I ever thought I could do, and I have developed the habit of never contemplating failure,” she says. “If something is within my power to do, it will get done.”

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

by Celeste Barnaby

As I am writing this, I have just completed my last final. My freshman year of college is officially over. While this year on whole was great, it had its ups and downs, and I learned a lot.

I figured I should share some of the lessons I’ve picked up using one of the most salient media formats of our generation: the listicle. Without further ado, here are 30 things I learned my freshman year of college.

Friends & Relationships 1. The people you meet during orientation are probably not going to be your best friends 2. If you don’t nail down a roommate contract early in the year, you may end up exiled at 1 a.m. during midterms.

3. I’ve found that friend groups can get kind of insular and cliquey. Attending club meets is a great way to expand your social circle.

4. Hook up culture exists and it is weird.

5. You will likely lose touch with some of your high school friends. It’s a bummer, but people do grow apart from one another.

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6. Conversely, other friendships may stay constant or even strengthen with distance. Plus,

If you’re feeling lonely call your parents or someone from home who you can talk to.

It will help -- trust me. with Skype and Snapchat, it’s easier than ever to stay in contact with people.

7. It is totally possible to have fun without drugs or alcohol.

8. If you’re feeling lonely, call your parents or someone from home who you can talk to. It will help—trust me.

Academics 1. Find a cool study spot as early as you can. It’ll make it way easier to grind through those problem sets.

2. 9 a.m. in college feels like 6 a.m. outside of college.

3. Taking a three-hour seminar that meets at 9 a.m. on Friday is unequivocally a bad idea.

4. READ. THE. SYLLABUS. It actually has a lot of pertinent information and will save you time and confusion!

5. Pulling an all-nighter is doable but it will make you feel like setting yourself on fire.

6. Though (hopefully) your professors want you to learn, they are not as personally invested in your education as your high school teachers were. It’s up to you to seek out extra help, whether that be through office hours, TA sessions, tutoring,

or another resource.

Extracurriculars 1. Before you write your email on a club’s mailing list, know that you are committing to receiving periodic emails from them for the rest of the year— maybe the rest of your life.

2. The best way to work your way towards a leadership position in a club/extracurricular is very simple: just show up and participate consistently. It shows that you are trustworthy and committed.

3. Start looking for summer opportunities early! (Like, start of the year early.)

Life 1. The following are dorm life essentials: mattress pad, shower flip-flops, dry shampoo, and Febreze.

2. Wearing a lanyard will instantly peg you as a clueless freshman.

3. Everyone has a different adjustment period when starting college, and it can range anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple semesters.

4. Sometimes you spend 4 years trying to get rid of your hormonal acne and then it just goes away on its own.

5. No one cares if you eat alone

in the dining hall.

6. College is a good time to experiment with ugly haircuts and weird fashion choices.

7. Layering is crucial to surviving New England winters.

8. People at college come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences than you, and you have to be conscious of that when engag-

Your SAT scores do not matter one iota once you graduate high school. ing in discussions or even just casual conversations.

9. My college is considered small (approximately 3,000 undergraduates), but I feel like I see new people everyday.

Size is relative.

course selection, study abroad, or some other registration process. You just have to roll with it.

11. Your SAT scores do not matter one iota once you graduate high school.

12. Many students experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health obstacles. There is no shame in reaching out for help.

13. There is no universal college experience. Some people find their groove right away; others have difficult adjustment periods. Some can take on tons of clubs and leadership positions and opportunities right away; others might only want to focus on their academics for a while.

Some have the best time of their life at college; others discover that a traditional university is not for them at all. This is your life, and whatever you come to find about yourself, you gotta do you.

Peace Out, Celeste Barnaby, Wesleyan University Class of 2018

10. At some point, everyone gets screwed over by housing,

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Scorpion

Spotl

By Claire Adams

Chris Miller Student Athlete of the Month April 2014 In April, Sage Ridge High School officially began preparation for the spring sports’ season. Winter was finally coming to a close, ushering in sports such as golf and track & field. Spring sports present opportunities for students looking to get out and compete outdoors as the cold weather fades away. One of the more popular sports at Sage Ridge is the swim team, attracting many to compete in the high-intensity sport.

Christopher Miller, a junior and swimmer, was chosen as the April Student Athlete of the month. Not only does Miller compete for the Sage Ridge swim team, he is also heavily immersed in the larger scale teams outside of the school.

Miller participates in the Lakeridge swim team which is within the Pacific Swimming Organization of the United States.

Miller’s devotion to the sport began early, beginning to swim at the mere age of six and starting a 12 THE SAGE June 2015

competitive career at eight. His love of the sport has proven to be extremely beneficial.

In 2014 he earned the State Title for the 500 freestyle event at the Nevada State Championship. Miller comments on his other awards as well, “For club, I set a Far Western record in the 1650. Also at 2014 Club State Championships I won the 400 IM.” One of his most prevalent awards is the Scholastic All-American Award given

by USA Swimming, an award given for academic and athletic excellence. Miller believes this award will benefit him both in terms of college education: “It will really help in the recruiting process. Now colleges know that I have good grades and can maintain them, which helps when recruiting

an athlete.”

Miller’s devotion can prove to be stressful, “Swimming takes up a lot of my life. I swim 9 times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and continued on page 14

n Sports

light

Courtney Leonard Student Athlete of the Month May 2015 While this winter season proved to have particularly low levels of snow, it didn’t stop the high school ski season in the

Reno/Tahoe area. Although many races were canceled, dry-land training and the overall dedication to the sport continued without

fail. Sage Ridge School completed their ski season with success, showcasing the talented athletes of the school. However, one student in particular proved her success in both the sport and all aspects of her academic and extracurricular life.

This student is Courtney Leonard, a senior and the May student athlete of the month.

Leonard qualified for the State Championship competition for her skiing achievements. She credits her coach and the support of her team for her accomplishments: “TJ Lyons is a fantastic coach who really helps us with our technique, skill level, and fitness while also making our trips to the mountain really fun.

The support I get from my teammates always makes me feel confident and accomplished regardless of the race and results”. The team’s unconditional support is a constant in driving Leonard to love the sport, “Everyone really celebrates continued on page 14 13 THE SAGE June 2015

Chris Miller continued from page 12

Courtney Leonard continued from page 13

Friday I swim both before and after school. With this intense training I have to make sure that I use my time wisely. I cannot leave homework for the next day when the next day I have to wake up at 4 AM. Also I give a lot of my weekends to swim meets. My swim meets sometimes mean that I miss school so I have to try and be on top of all of my school work or I get really behind.” The hours are demanding but Miller still maintains high grades and excellence in school as a devoted student.

everyone else’s accomplishments whether it’s placing higher than one has before or simply feeling really good about the way the race went.”

Beyond his high school swimming career, Miller has big plans for his future: “Olympic Trials are the summer after I graduate high school so I’m training to get a cut and go to those. Also I have my eyes set on the 500 free state record this coming High School State Championships.” Miller’s focus on school and extracurricular activities make him a dynamic member of Sage Ridge School and the swimming community nationwide. We at Sage Ridge wish him luck and success in his future endeavors.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Leonard participates vigorously in school and outside activities. She is the Co-Chair of the Honor Council, a committee dedicated to emphasizing respect and honor in the community. She also is the assistant editor of the school newspaper and a member of the student-led prefecture. As well as being involved in school leadership positions, Leonard is president of the buildOn club where students raise money to build schools in third world countries and sometimes even travel there to help build them. Along with school sports, she is a talented dancer involved in multiple companies located in Reno. Leonard is also an active member of the school theater productions, working as prop manager and often taking lead roles on stage. Along with all of these activities, she is able to find time to work as a nanny as well.

Although Leonard is an extremely busy student, her schedule is one she is truly passionate about.

As most high school students do, however, she finds stress in her intense amounts of activity. Yet, although stress is present she has discovered a way to find multiple activities she loves and invest time in them: “Over time I have definitely learned how to pick and choose what to do so that I can excel in the things I decide to do. Therefore, in order to manage

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everything, I only do things that I am very passionate about and love doing; this makes the work and time that I put into each thing fun and enjoyable for me and participating in these activities makes me feel happy and accomplished.”

Leonard will attend Willamette University in Oregon this fall.

Courtney Leonard’s accomplishments in skiing have earned her the recognition as a great athlete and vital participant in the community.

However, it is her dedication to her academics and multiple outside activities that have earned her the title of “Student Athlete of the Month.”

Sports stories written

by Claire Adams

Issues in Education

The “Right” to a Public Education: Limitations on Students and Schools Public or private education?

Sage Ridge has the privilege of educating more than 200 students each year. But the reality is that private school isn’t an option for most families. About 90 percent of students nationally attend public school, taking advantage of a long history of public education in the United States.

Notwithstanding its “public” nature, a recent court case in Nevada highlighted an important limitation on the scope of public education.

First, there is no absolute right to public education. Second, the public school, as a government body, cannot indiscriminately terminate student rights to public education.

Both points prevent rash actions by students and administrators.

A brief history lesson puts the issue in context. There is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that guarantees a public education.

Education has been and remains largely a construct of local and state government. As a result, state law provides the outline for publicly funded education. The Nevada Constitution, for example, requires the state legislature to provide a “uniform system of common schools.”

But once a state provides such educational opportunities, students have a property interest in the publicly funded education. The U.S. Supreme Court has held the state cannot take away this interest based

on misconduct without providing students the minimal requirements of due process.

The issue came to head in a recent case before the Nevada Supreme Court, In re L.A.W., a Minor. The case involved a student with a history of behavioral problems given a last chance at school. To enroll in high school, he and his parents had to sign a “behavior contract, including consent to random searches by the school administration. When the school eventually conducted a random search, it found marijuana.

The student sought to exclude the marijuana from evidence in delinquency proceedings. He claimed the school had violated his Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. The trial court disagreed because the student and his parents consented to the search by signing the behavior contract.

On appeal, the Nevada Supreme Court recognized that schools fulfill a certain parental role. But that was offset by the fact that students do not surrender their Constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate, a point long recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court also considered the scope of the student’s request. The student merely sought access to a public education, and there was no evidence of any alternatives. The Court also noted that this was not

a case involving extracurricular activities, where random searches have been approved.

Taking all this into account, the Nevada Supreme Court held that the behavior contract was unenforceable. The Court found it was a contract of adhesion--either waive Constitutional rights in order to enroll, or be denied enrollment.

As a result, the Court found the waiver was not effective under the Constitutional requirements that the student both intelligently and voluntarily waive his rights. And without an effective waiver, the random search violates the student’s Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures.

The case ultimately voided a juvenile delinquency proceeding.

But it emphasizes that while there is no absolute right to a public education, schools must recognize the Constitutional rights of their students in providing them with a public education.

Lou Bubala, an attorney with Kaempfer Crowell, writes this column to highlight developing educational issues in the courts. The column is drawn from the work of his friend, Kevin McDowell, who writes for the National Council of State Education Attorneys. Disclaimer: The views expressed are not those of Sage Ridge School, Lou, Kevin or his employer, the State of Indiana.

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Maddy Welch Completes Term

Sage Ridge Senior Works To Pass Legislation Impacting Nevada Senior Maddy Welch recently completed her two-year term as a Nevada Youth Legislature, a term during which she was an integral part of creating new law for the Silver State.

Nevada is one of only two states that has a youth legislative delegation where 21 young people – one from each district – serve two year terms.

Each year, the youth lobby for causes and as a group select one bill with which to move forward.

attend a community college or a Nevada state college; the amount of the grants will vary based on students’ ability to pay.

As a group, the youth legislators selected Senate Bill 464, Brady’s Bill, as the youth bill for this year’s session; it was signed into law on May 11. Welch said Welch drafted legislation the Nevada Youth proposing that Millennium Legislature ultimateScholarship Fund monies be ly decided to work diverted to a new fund and be on this bill because distributed to students in need. the student legislaWhereas the merit-based tors believe it will Millennium Scholarship cursave lives. rently provides eligible Nevada students $10,000 for 12 SB 464 grants imhours of college coursework, munity for an underher bill proposed covering the age drinker in need entire tuition for the neediest of medical attention students. Although her bill was and the person who not selected by the Youth Leggets help for the ineislator as this year’s youth bill, briated person. The the legislation was picked up goal of the bill is to

by Welch’s appointing senator, keep minors safe.

Sen. Ben Kieckhefer-R. Senate “(SB 464) was selectBill 227 created the Silver State ed (from all the Youth Opportunity Grant Program.

Legislative bills) because as youth we are acutely aware of The grant program is septhe role drinking has in lives. arate from the Millennium This is a bill that will affect a Scholarship and will provide majority of youth and has the $10 million over two years for potential to save lives. The bill students who have no other allows people to help their means of financial aid. The friends and have the lobby on monies will aid students who their side, Welch said. “Other 16 THE SAGE June 2015

bills did not have a universal effect on young people.”

SB 464 was drafted by Bishop Gorman High School Senior Rose Asaf in memory of Brady Caipa, whose friends left him to sleep off his drinking after he became ill; in the morn-

m with Nevada Youth Legislature

a Youth, Sets Sights on D.C.

the meeting in an unfamiliar place where she did not know the students. The purpose of the town meetings is to discuss issues affecting youth within their community. Welch’s council had more members than any other district with five students, including Sage Ridge Senior Cyrus Moassessi.

Although her experience in the legislature was invaluable, fulfilling her commitment was time-consuming and required a delicate balance between her legislative duties and her school commitments. Welch said on some days she worked up to eight hours on legislative work in addition to her other responsibilities. Welch is the Sage Ridge School Student Body Vice President and Debate Club Vice President.

In addition, she sings with the female a cappella group, Aca Bellas, and plays club and SRS volleyball.

ing, he was dead. Caipa was a senior at Gorman in Las Vegas when he died in 2011.

Nevada is one of twenty-nine states to adopt such amnesty legislation for underage drinkers and those who help them when they are sick

and in need of medical attention.

As a member of the youth delegation, Welch also formed a Youth District Advisory Council and held a town meeting at Incline High School. Welch said she felt it was important to hold

The rigor of the legislative process has not dulled Welch’s desire to be involved with politics; she heads to Washington, D.C. in early July to serve for one month as a page for Sen. Minority Leader Harry Reid. Youth Legislature Chair and former Reid speech writer Sen. Valerie Weiner-D, wrote Welch a recommendation for the page position. Welch said her selection was also based

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Maddy Welch continued from page 17 on her academic transcript and application.

As a page for the political icon, Welch said she will be doing what she calls “low-level work� such as carry papers, making deliveries, and getting water, but that the value is in being around and in the environment. Welch is eager for an inside look at national politics working for one of the country’s most recognized political names. Although he is nearing retirement, Reid continues to work for his party and many consider he will be a key player in the events leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

As she approaches her senior year and the college application process, Welch said she is weighing her interests in soft sciences such as law and business, or maybe political science.

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Congratulations to the Sage Ridge Class of 2015!

We are so very proud of you and wish you all the very best as you embark on your collegiate adventures!

Elena Mendez-Leal (University of San Diego) l Courtney Leonard (Willamette) l Jack Hester (Emory) l Anja Phillips (UCSB) l David Newman (Haverford) l Persiana Saffari (Stanford) l Sergio Lopez (University of Redlands) l Lauren Becker (USC) l Ben Stevenson (NYU) l Morgan Johnston (UNR) l Nathan Hayes (Boston College) l Tyler Becker (UNR) l Marilyn Morales (UNR) l Chengcheng He (UMass Amherst) 19 THE SAGE June 2015

The Road Beyond. ...life after Sage R “Quite hard going” the guidebook had read. I shook my head as I panted up Cerro La Campana, thinking that that was the quite the understatement. My trusty guidebook had also noted that this hike climbed 1455m in only 7km. I had read that sitting at my kitchen table, at a time when kilometers and meters did not have quite the same significance for me. Now, looking up at the sheer mountain climbing mercilessly before me, I realized just how steep 200 meters a kilometer is (about 1,000 feet per mile). I pushed on, remembering just how far I had already gone.

Getting to the trailhead in La Campana National Park was an adventure in itself, for it was several cities away from where I was living in Viña Del Mar. The guidebook had given me a general idea of how to get there, but left a lot of details up in the air. That morning, I had taken the metro train an hour to its completion inland in a city called Limache, and then found a small bus that would drive me another 30 minutes to Olmué. Then, I tracked down a taxi to drive me up the hill to the National Park entrance. Not only did I have to figure this all out as I was going along, I was doing it in a foreign language and by myself. This was a huge step out of my comfort zone, as I am a person 20 THE SAGE June 2015

Please check out Laura’s beautiful photos from her Chile 2015 album on the following pages.

who prefers to have everything planned to the smallest of details. However, slight but constant unease from living out of my comfort zone has become a way of life for me here in Chile.

The past two and a half months, I have been living and working in Chile. Chile is the small, narrow country on the western side of South America, seemingly almost squeezed off the continent by the great masses of Argentina and Brazil. Though a bit off the beaten path of destinations for international study, the Chilean people, their way of life, and their

incredible country have irrevocably changed me.

Since enrolling at Dartmouth College, I knew I wanted to study abroad at some point, as over 55 percent of students do so during their undergraduate career. However, instead of applying for an exchange program through my school, I knew what I most wanted

....

Ridge was experience, not credits, from my time abroad. I managed to find a two month medical internship in Viña del Mar, Chile, which entailed three weeks of intensive Spanish classes followed by a five week internship at a local physical therapy rehabilitation clinic.

At my internship, I assist with patient exercises, ultrasound therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, but more than anything, I listen.

Everything I do or hear is in the quick, slang-like Chilean Spanish, which requires me to devote my entire mental process to decipher.

I am learning about medical terms and bodily functions in Spanish even before ever learning about them in English. By the end of each day, my brain feels stretched to its limits in ways that an American university class could never accomplish. Relying on my foreign language capabilities not only to work, but also to survive day-to-day, has pushed me more than I ever thought possible.

The vast majority of Chileans don’t speak any English, so I have had no choice but to communicate in this

Laura Hayes Sage Ridge class of 2012

by Laura Hayes

uncomfortable language. However, I have made the uncomfortable my comfortable.

Many students would not find traveling or living in a foreign country alone very appealing, nor would they choose to go hiking solo in a region they can barely pronounce. I have embraced doing things by myself, because I must either do these activities alone, or not do them at all. Being alone can be scary and overwhelming, but I have found that it is also the best way to learn about oneself. There is a saying that you should “do one thing every day that scares you;” in Chile, I do a multitude of things every day that are daunting because I have never done them before.

In this way, I have discovered my limitations, and have found that I always have the capability and resourcefulness to surpass them.

By traveling alone, I have reached new levels of open-mindedness and self-confidence. I have learned to trust and rely on myself to find solutions. Also, my instincts have never been stronger!

I am not afraid to admit that I have come to love traveling alone, because it means I am in control of my own journey. I know who I am when no one is watching and that the person I want to be is really up to only me. My ten weeks here

have given me the chance to learn more about both myself and other cultures in the world. Though not everyone lives like I do, I realize how much we are all brought together by our shared humanity. Unfortunately, modern globalization has served to depersonalize human connections in recent years, subsequently increasing the gap between peoples of the world. Travel and cultural immersion bring us back together and make us better citizens and stewards of the world. Because of my time here, I feel a heightened awareness, open-mindedness, and affinity for Latin American culture that I will never lose.

I am so very lucky to have had these experiences, and absolutely would suggest all college students make time to study abroad. From Outdoor Ed to Senior Internships, Sage Ridge always taught me that there is so much to learn outside the classroom walls. My Chilean work experience has opened my eyes to the world beyond the United States and shown me how much independence and a dose of courage can change my perspective. Take the chance to go to another country, to speak that other language, to hike that mountain.

Life is full of possibilities that lay beyond your comfort zone.

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COLLEGE COUNSELING Seniors are breathing a sigh of relief. They have received their college acceptances and have decided the schools to which they will matriculate in the fall. College and universities made those admissions decisions after reviewing thousands of applications. Many, if not most, of those applications were the Common Application, a standardized form accepted by over 500 colleges.

Institutions of higher education typically download applications from online systems designed for credential issuers and receivers to process application information with ease and efficiency. Today, few colleges offer paper applications, since forms and instructions are on college admission and third-party websites. The Common Application itself is now being used by 517 colleges in 47 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Most of these institutions are private, but the number of public universities using it is growing.

In essence, the Common Application (informally known as the Common App) is an undergraduate college admission application allowing students to complete one form online and submit it to a maximum of 20 colleges and universities in the membership.

Many member colleges require 24 THE SAGE June 2015

The Common A A Double-Edged S Admiss

additional forms or “supplements” (i.e., short essays or responses) which are included in the Common App as well. Students should go to individual college websites and/or use the chart in the Common App to check requirements for these supplements, application deadlines, SAT/ACT tests used, and other vital information. Many colleges now exclusively use the Common App, and there is no disadvantage to using it rather than the college’s own application (if that even remains an option). Colleges within the Common App membership sign an agreement to give full and equal consideration to students using it.

The Common App has been in use since 1975. It was then a small confederation of private colleges with enrollment around or under 5000 students. These institutions conducted “holistic” reviews of applicants, in which admission officials looked at more than an applicant’s test scores and GPA/ grades. Recently, however, given the Common App’s growing popularity and membership, a group of elite colleges (some of the most selective) has proposed starting a new common application version, a kind of return to a small institutional membership. Furthermore,

in Breakaway Group Seeks ‘Retro Common App’, a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, columnist Eric Hoover notes that the Common App will be removing the holistic review requirement for the 2015-16 admission cycle, and this change “greatly expands the roster of potential members, since many colleges and universities do not require additional materials such as essays or short-answer responses.”

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

In one sense, the increasing convenience of the Common Application comes with a cost, what some would call “application glut.”

That is, students may try to game the system with more applications, often to the most selective schools. Yet, while they think they will increase their chanc-

Application: Sword in College sions es of acceptance at these schools by applying to a large cluster of them, the opposite result is the case. Acceptance rates continue to drop, especially at elite schools, as the competition for admission to them grows. More aggressive marketing to high school students by admissions offices has contributed to the same dilemma.

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

These trends reinforce the need for students to find the best “fit” in a college.

Students should have a balanced list of five to eight schools, with a foundation of two that are most likely to offer admission. The Common App member schools have stipulated that no applicant may add more than 20 schools to their “My Colleges” list. This number cannot be expanded for any applicant. You

can only create one First Year account since the system will not allow duplicate accounts. In the UK, the computerized application system (UCAS) only permits a maximum of five applications, and, if a student wants to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, she can only select one of them, not both. Many schools, like the University of Nevada at Reno and all of the University of California and California State University institutions, for example, do not use the Common App, and students must use the institution’s online systems to apply for admission.

As the Seniors begin their college search, they should take an organized, systematic approach to the application process:

applications requires diligence, persistence, and some soul searching, especially given the nature of college essay questions.

Sage Ridge students are equipped with the tools and support they need to face this challenge and submit their applications with confidence and excitement for the next chapter in their lives. To that end, please contact me if you have questions about the college search and application process, as I would be happy to meet with you to elaborate on things and customize the process for you.

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

• Read all instructions carefully.

• Work well ahead of deadlines.

• Draft and review application essays and supplements before submitting.

Much of my work in the fall involves advising Seniors on how to take a focused approach to find the ‘right fit’ school as they complete their college applications.

Creating a final, balanced list of colleges can be challenging and, as I tell students, crafting effective 25 THE SAGE June 2015

Mini Session “The first week of the mini semester we did pre-trip training. I thought it was really important because we learned how to repair our bike, about first aid, how to take great pictures, and we did a lot of biking practice, especially up and down hill. The first day of the first week was the most important day I thought. We went to the Great Space in the morning and learned how to change the flat inner tube from Mike, the owner of Sierra Cycling. Some people might think this is not really important because they think they will not get a flat, but there are really thousands of reasons to get flats, and most everyone got flats during the trip at some point, so it is really im-

portant for us to learn how to repair our bikes. After the lesson from Mike, we got a chance to try to change the inner tubes by ourselves. I followed the steps Mike taught us and I finished it pretty quickly; however, I made a mistake. I pinched the inner tube when I put the outer tube on. So, my inner tube exploded, and the explosion was really loud! In the afternoon, we did a long ride, and it was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. It was the first time I rode uphill for a really long distance, and I was extremely tired after the ride. Also, about five people had flats that day. We rode every day that week after that and the distances were getting longer and longer, but I got less and less tired every day.�

Tommy Yang Class of 2017

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n Bike Trip

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Heading “After a short weekend of rest, we were ready to finally head to California. We met at the ungodly hour of six in the morning on Sunday, when it was still dark and freezing cold. Luckily, everyone was bundled up and the vans were pretty warm, especially when 15+ teenagers were packed into them. The van ride mostly consisted of napping and waking up when the van stopped so that we could get Starbucks and snacks. Luckily, it was early enough that we could

West...

sleep away the super long trip so that it felt much less tedious.

We got to Monterey a little bit after lunch, which we ate at a tiny but delicious restaurant.

Once we had checked into our rooms, we headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where we saw all kinds of weird and cool aquatic creatures. We petted bat rays, stood under wave simulators, and watched otters play together. Then, of course, we had to stop at the gift shop.

I didn’t buy anything there but it’s always fun to look at the

huge number of things for sale.

After the aquarium, we got to wander around the tourist section of Monterey, going into a candy shop and a place that had a mirror maze, where a large group of us ran into countless walls, and a laser maze challenge, where Jeremy and I tested our superspy skills by maneuvering around lasers. Once we had explored most of the shops, we went to Bubba Gump’s for dinner, a big Forrest Gump-themed sea food restaurant where we answered Forrest Gump trivia and ate lots of shrimp. We then headed back to our hotels and went in the hot tub for a little while before going to bed.”

Audrey Thompson Class of 2016

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Today We Ride. “And the next morning our biking escapades began. We rode through Monterey, which was so beautiful. If I had tipped over to my right, I basically would have hit the sand. Then, we rode through the town, with all of the people walking their dogs and riding their beach cruisers, and the whole thing was very pleasant. Then, we had thirty more miles to go on Highway 1. First, we were driven over this huge hill, which I was thankful for.

The landscape was beautiful.

The further we got away from Monterey, the quieter the road got. There were some rolling hills to the left and the ocean to the right. We also started to gain some elevation, which led to more dramatic mountainside landscapes with crashing waves below.

There were also some bridges that

we passed over, which were huge, steep valleys with jagged, wet rocks below. There were a variety of trees and grasses, and even some wildflowers every once in a while.

Also, on the hillsides leading down to the ocean, there were some cow fields, and lots of mooing as I passed by. I could only think about how this breathtaking seaside property was monopolized by presumably unappreciative bovines.

I fell in between the groups, which made me a tad nervous.

It turned out I was 15 minutes behind the group in front of me and 30 minutes in front of the group behind me. I went into the little shop and purchased a quarter gal-

lon of milk, which I downed in about five minutes. The thing I remember most about Big Sur was how bright the stars were.

I thought the stars were bright in Reno, but they were radiant in Big Sur. I suppose there is not light pollution anywhere.�

Maddy Welch Class of 2016

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The Longest Ride...

“The next day was the longest ride of the entire trip. Seventy miles, when you start thinking about it, is an extremely long distance to complete on a bike, so I didn’t even think about the distance. The only things I was thinking about were the directions, not getting lost, having fun, and the absolutely gorgeous view that I was seeing in front of me. When we started the 70 miles, for about the first 20 I was riding with the so called “fast group”, and it was fun, but after a while I felt as though I should slow down and take the surroundings in and experience what was around me (plus I was pretty tired).

Before I actually slowed down, my chain came off and lost complete control of the pedals, so I had to stop anyways and I lost a lot of ground. Once I got the chain back on, I started again and I continued through the rest of the 20 or so miles 30 THE SAGE June 2015

pretty comfortably. When we finally arrived at a little gas station, I met up with the rest of the people. However, I decided to slow down a little and take in my surroundings again. Little did we know that the hardest part of the entire week was coming up. The next 5 or 10 mile uphill climb was excruciatingly difficult, in addition to the extreme heat, the shift in altitude was causing me to have sudden minor attacks of asthma; however, these only delayed Tommy and me a little as we kept trekking on. When we finally reached the “impossible” hill, sure it looked like a challenge, but at the end it turned out to be much more than just that. The hill, which everyone who had gone on previous bike trips had warned me about, finally stood before my eyes. I had no option but to conquer it as I

had all other hills previously.

As I climbed it, my legs felt like they were tearing apart, but when I accomplished the climb, I had a feeling of success that few ever feel in their lifetime. This climb, although it was challenging, motivated me to continue the journey and finish strong. The rest of the 70 miles seemed like a breeze compared to that part. When I finally reached the hotel in town I quickly grabbed my keys and just fell on the bed and didn’t move for about 20 minutes.”

Sahajpreet Singh Class of 2016

Castle By The Coast. “The next morning we ate a vending machine breakfast at the hotel and headed to Hearst Castle. We watched a movie in the IMAX theater about the history of the castle then took a bus up and toured the main building. The castle was very impressive and the view from the top of the mountain was even better. We unfortunately never got to see the zebras though. After Hearst Castle we went back to the hotel and geared up for our bike ride to Pismo Beach. The ride was flat and leisurely which made it very enjoyable. I stuck in the back mostly with Petra and even though we were going

slowly, we had fun. We picked flowers, took selfies in cemeteries, and saved frogs from being run over by trucks. The hotel at Pismo Beach was beautiful and we watched the gorgeous sunset on the water. We went in the hot tub and played life size chess as well. Finally, we went to a great BBQ restaurant for dinner.�

Kendall Chaffin Class of 2016

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The Final Push... “Friday, the final day, was from Lompoc to Santa Barbara and it was a fun one. After a 20 mile climb at a 1% grade (man that wears on you!) we got onto the highway that ran along the ocean for about 15 miles. We had lunch on the beach and rode along the beach into Santa Barbara. We biked along the beautiful highways and roads until we got to the main street in Santa Barbara near the pier.

We biked on the beach for a mile before pulling into our hotel. We had finished this 257 mile journey and could now celebrate! I walked down to the main street with other kids

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and got to visit my record store and overall just kick back and talk about how much fun the trip was. We then got to sleep nice and well and head home after our legs (finally) refused to walk anymore.�

Matt Grimm Class of 2016

Leaving The Coast.

“Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Santa Barbara the next day. By this time we were all super tired and so crashed on the ride home although some of us woke up and started singing again. This trip taught us the importance of safety, staying together, and to stop and enjoy life for once. We as group also became so close to each other and enjoyed being around each other and it was a nice break from school. This bike trip gave me a sense of accomplishment that I didn’t have before. We accomplished this big ride together and cheered each other on every step of the way. I gained so many more friends that I probably wouldn’t have if it weren’t for the bike trip. We all grew

closer and created bonds over something as simple as biking. Before this trip some of us didn’t even know how to ride a bike and now look at what we’ve accomplished. Some of us are now biking as a hobby or sport thanks to this trip. We will always remember this bike trip and have these bonds because of this trip.”

Morgan Johnston Class of 2015

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Lesso ns From Outside “The 2015 bike trip had a great and positive impact on me.

I learned little things, like how to put a new tube on a tire, but also more important things, like having confidence in myself.

After the Big Sur ride, we could all look back and think, “Hey, I just rode 70 miles in a day.” It’s a great feeling. I had never road biked before this trip, and now it’s something that I love doing and want to continue. I met new friends and was able to become even better friends with people I already knew. As cliché as it may sound, it truly was a bonding experience that I will not forget anytime soon. I would highly recommend it. I would give a fair warning that it is physically strenuous, so it may not be the right trip for everyone. It’s truly a great experience, and one of the things that stands Sage Ridge apart from other schools.

What school gets the chance to take 20 kids to ride 250 miles down the coast of California? Sage Ridge does. What kind of kids get the chance to bike 250 miles down the coast of California? We did.”

Louis Bubala Class Of 2017

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The Classroom.

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of note SRS Facebook Page Please like and follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on news, happenings and events. You’ll find us at www.facebook.com/ sageridge

Alumni Parents Group Are you interested in keeping in touch with other Sage Ridge parents?

The SRS Alumni Parents get together the first Friday of each month at La Posada Real (5270 Longley Lane). Contact Cary Ingbar at CIngbar@gmail.com for summer schedule and more information.

Don’t Forget to Order Your Books This Summer You can contact MBS Direct to order your student’s school books this summer. The first day of school is August 17 so allow some time for shipping. http://bookstore. mbsdirect.net/sageridge.htm

SRS Alumni Facebook Page Come join us on the SRS Alumni Facebook page to keep up to date on alumni news and interesting information https://www.facebook.com/ groups/sageridgealumni/

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.

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

Big Congratulations to SRS Alum Alex Carpenter (SRS ‘10) who was awarded his PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego in May. He will begin work with the Organometallic Research Group which is part of Exxon Global Research in July. Congrats Alex, and Go Scorpions!

Congratulations to Maddy Welch (SRS Class of 2016). She won this year’s Harvard Prize Book, regionally awarded to select students for their academic and extra-curricular achievements and high character. Go Maddy and go Scorpions!

Save the Date! Next year’s Sage Ridge School Annual Gala is slated for Saturday, May 7th, 2016.

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

Congratulations to Sarah DeLappe (SRS Class of 2008) on the presentation of her new play at the Great Plains Theatre Conference last month! Hooray!

Here is a salient quote from the article describing the presentation: “Yale graduate Sarah DeLappe’s ‘The Wolves,’ a 162-page teenage girl chat fest about a high school soccer team, was among this year’s standouts. Zipping through in an impressive 90 ­minutes with a frenetic energy and overlapping colloquial language, the show stole its audience’s attention as quick as one could say, ‘As if.’”

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Mark these dates on your

Calendar 8/14

New Family welcome book drop off/ pa info

9/149/18

Outdoor education week

8/17

first day of school

10/16

no school

8/23

back to school BBQ

10/23

Conferences early release

9/1

Back to school night

10/29

Conferences early release

9/7

Labor Day no school

10/30

Nevada day no school

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Parents Association News Be a PA Board Member!

It’s that time of year - time to pass the torch and bring new energy into the Parents Association. We are looking for a 2015-2016 PA president. Additionally, we need people to step forward to coordinate Back to School Night, Promotion, Graduation, Back to School BBQ, Thanksgiving Feast, and the End of School Carnival and Picnic.

If you are interested in a PA Board position, please email current president Lisa Cady at joncady@sbcglobal.net.

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.

Raley’s extra credit program Sign-Up Today!

The Sage Ridge Parents Association is enrolled in the Raley’s Extra Credit Program.

This is an electronic scrip program. It is free and no card is needed.

Parents, relatives, and friends of SRS can sign up online per the instructions below and use their reward account at checkout. A portion of each purchase will be donated to the SRS PA. To sign up for Raley’s Extra Credit: Extra Credit is a part of the Something Extra rewards program. If you’re not already a member, you can quickly enroll at https://www. raleys.com/www/enroll Once enrolled, follow these steps: 1. Visit: http://www.raleys.com/www/scrip_home 2. Click on the green “Get Started” button 3. Select your organization(s) from the menu (either put in Sage Ridge School or 89511 -it t will pop up) 4. Designate the percentage of scrip to donate to the organizations selected!

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Parents Association News Donate your used books and uniforms It’s time to get rid of those old textbooks and too short or tight uniforms. Students and parents may drop off old textbooks in the labeled boxes inside the Webster and Crossbow doors. The Parents’ Association will sell the donated books in used book sales much like the used uniform sales. The Parents Association is NOT accepting novels or Middle School science books. Students, please make sure you do not donate a book that you will use again during the 2015-16 school year. Drop off your clean uniforms in the main office.

Please do not donate uniforms if they have holes or stains.

Check back on the HAPPENINGS page on the school website later this month for the date and time of the first Used Book Sale.

Questions about the book donations? Email Sabina Ballard at sabina.ballard@gmail.com.

Questions about uniform donations? Email Fiona Miller at fionamiller1@gmail.com.

report your volunteer hours now The end of the fiscal year is quickly approaching and if you have not already done so, it is time to report your volunteer hours. Each family is required to volunteer for 10 hours or donate $200 to the Parents’ Association.

To report hours see our Volunteer Hours Reporting Form. If you have not completed your volunteer hours, please write a $200 check made out to the Sage Ridge Parents’ Association and attach it to the 2014-15 Volunteer Hours Reporting Form. Forms are available online or in the main office, where you can also turn in forms and checks.

Questions? Email Lisa Cady at joncady@sbcglobal.net.

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Moments: snapshots of daily life at Sage Ridge

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