The Cardinal - Fall 2013 by St. John's Episcopal School

VOL. 1 • FALL 2013

the

CARDINAL Off the Charts!

Full STEAM Ahead

by Dr. Michael Pratt, Head of School

am grateful that so many of you took the time to fill out the Program Enhancement Survey, a testament to your interest in ensuring that the school offers the strongest possible program to our students. 192 parents responded to the survey and shared views that will guide program development. These are the primary findings.

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56% of respondents with elementary students and 85% of respondents with middle school students indicated that they would like the school to consider implementing a STEAM approach to teaching and learning. STEAM integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.

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Parents indicated a very strong interest in more robust co-curricular and after-school programs. The most desirable options are guided homework, yoga, karate, computer programming, and journalism.

• There is a strong interest in the performing arts, especially instrumental music. 67% of parents of elementary school students and 73% of parents of middle school students indicated a strong or very strong interest in instrumental music.

These views will inform program as well as the design of the new building. To the fullest extent possible, we will begin offering some of the afterschool options this school year. Next year we will begin implementing those curricular changes that are feasible in our current facilities. The new building will provide spaces that will enable us to implement fully the program enhancements that will provide your students the strongest possible education. Again, I thank you for sharing your views. I look forward to keeping you informed about the program and the design of the new building. n

ow do we know that St. John’s students are doing well? One measure is through ongoing standardized assessments. One such test is the Fountas and Pinnell Reading Benchmark Assessment System. Our Spring 2013 testing demonstrates some amazing results: • On average, 1st through 5th grade students are reading at least a year beyond grade level. • Kindergarten students scored two levels above the norm.

• 1st graders experienced six levels of growth, doubling the average.

• 27% of 4th graders and nearly 82% of 5th grade students are reading at an 7++ grade level or above. •

Based upon their advanced scores, 23 Upper Elementary students took the SRI assessment, which tracks reading progress through the 12th grade level. 16 students scored at or above the 90th percentile. 8 students scored at the 99th percentile!

We attribute these results to an enhanced, differentiated approach to learning; our state of the art learning tools; cutting edge methods and strategies of instruction; informed, leveled and guided groupings of students; and certainly most important, the best teachers possible! n

BAPTISM OFFERED AT ALL-SCHOOL EUCHARIST

t. John’s Church is pleased to offer the Sacrament of Holy Baptism to St. John’s School students or family members at our All-School Holy Eucharist service on Tuesday, November 19. According to The Book Of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church, “Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ’s body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.”

If you are, or your child is, interested in being baptized, please contact Cindy Drennan at ca@stjohns-es.org. If you have questions about the significance and theology of the rite of baptism, please don’t hesitate to write to Fr. John at revjht@msn.com or Mrs. Patti at ppeebles@stjohns-es.org. Those being baptized and their parents and godparents will be invited to a one-hour training in the church on Monday, November 18 at 3:30 p.m. n

ACADEMICS/PROGRAM MIDDLE SCHOOL Skills for Success!

ncoming seventh grade students were introduced to a new addition to their curriculum schedule. The newly developed Skills for Success course was designed to help middle school students prepare for the “high-stakes” standardized tests ahead of them. The course

taught by Mr. Bryan Winn, Mrs. Michelle Nishimi and Mrs. Ann Peterson looks to introduce best practices to propel students forward. Students will spend one trimester covering verbal components and strategies to tackle comprehension exercises, practice critical think-

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ing skills and expand vocabulary. Another trimester will focus on key math concepts, practice problem solving and strengthen mathematical reasoning. The final trimester will put all lessons into practice with sample test taking. Skills for success indeed! n

Say What’s Wrong and Make It Right!

efore students arrived on campus this fall, St. John’s Elementary staff received an enjoyable and productive training to assist students with conflict management. We are committed to using this program to help increase our students’ feelings of self-empowerment while encouraging assertive communication and problem-solving skills.

Say What’s Wrong and Make It Right is a program that was developed by Karen Taylor-Bleiker, M.A., a former classroom teacher, during 30 years of field testing with thousands of children. The program is a hands-on approach to conflict resolution which encourages the development of responsibility, assertive communication, and problem solving

skills and therefore leads to greater understanding and increased self-esteem. The program outlines five easy steps to conflict resolution: 1. Tell the other person you don’t like what they are doing. 2. Ask them to STOP. 3. Tell them your feelings about the situation AND listen to their feelings. 4. Tell them what you want them to do. 5. Thank them, accept their apology or compromise.

Since implementing the program earlier this year, St. John’s has seen improve-

ments in conflict resolution between students on the playground and in the classroom. The program is designed to empower children to use their voice to resolve issues for themselves. Even our youngest students are working toward talking through problems rather than looking for an adult to solve them. Adults serve as neutral active listeners in the process rather than referees, helping children to speak with each other authentically and express feelings. School is not the only place that conflicts can occur. Ask your child about the program and try practicing at home; you will likely be pleasantly surprised by the results! n

ST. JOHN’S STUDENTS HIT THE ROAD

t. John’s students embark on learning adventures outside of the classroom through varied field study programs, and already this school year our students have traveled far and wide. Sixth graders spent three exciting nights in the mountains at Outdoor Science School and seventh graders stayed two nights on Catalina Island at the Fox Landing Catalina Island Marine Institute. Students delved into wilderness and marine science, mountain and island ecology and participated in labs and field activities that directly connect back to unit study back at St. John’s.

Students in eighth grade enjoyed an experience of a lifetime on their eight-day trip to Williamsburg and Washington D.C. Narrowly missing the government shutdown, students were able to enjoy all the sights, culture and history of our nation’s capital, bringing history and government to life!

First grade students stayed closer to home, venturing to Carlsbad to visit the Sea Life Aquarium at Legoland. The trip served as the culmination of students’ unit on tide pools, and all had a great time exploring the ocean’s animals and plants that they have been learning and writing about.

To view more photos from these amazing educational experiences beyond the classroom, visit www.stjohns-es.org/beyond. n

NEW ON CAMPUS

ECC: Junior Kindergarten Combo

Sapphire at School

t. John’s is excited to welcome a new class configuration. The Junior Kindergarten Combo Class (JKC) embraces a curriculum which bridges Preschool early foundations and the academic expectations of St. John’s Kindergarten. JKC students participate weekly in 5 enrichment classes with subject area specialists in music, PE, library, science and information technology. The new classroom is in Room 12 to facilitate regular collaboration between JKC, Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten faculty. Mrs. Christian, Principal of the Elementary School, and Mrs. Meena, Director of the ECC, are working together to oversee curriculum and staff. The new class is an excellent example of St. John’s responsiveness in providing all students with the appropriate amount of academic challenge. n

utritious and delicious food is prepared fresh and offered daily with the Sapphire at School lunch program and now with the newly introduced Sapphire snack program students can select tasty snack options as well. How great is that?! Monthly menus with everything from salads and sandwiches to pastas, enchiladas and pork sliders offer families the option of preordering lunch on a daily, weekly or monthly plan. The Sapphire approach relies on whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and natural and hormone free dairy products and eggs. There is truly something for everyone, and we continue to aim to nourish and educate young people for a lifetime of well-being. n

Campus Improvements

hile students and families relished the lazy days of summer, the St. John’s campus was abuzz with a wide range of campus improvements. Much work was done to refresh and improve all corners of our already beautiful campus and facilities. All classrooms on campus received fresh paint and new ceiling tiles. Wood chips, which provide a necessary safety barrier, were replaced on the ECC playground with plans for the same coming to the Elementary yard. Work is in progress to refresh all painted trim on the school buildings with subtle changes to the color palette to compliment the style of our buildings and our school colors. St. John’s is working with the Miller family and CA Signs to bring updated directional, parking and facilities signage to our school along with a new mural planned for our courtyard.

St. John’s is currently putting together a landscape plan to replace all existing plantings at the front of the school with drought tolerant plant choices native to our climate that will not only compliment the architecture of our campus, but will support the water conservation efforts of the School. Trees have been removed to prevent root damage to existing facilities and the athletic field. Future plans include sprinkler system updates, athletic field repair, and the construction of additional courtyard seating for the enjoyment of students and families.

The newly opened and beautifully renovated Student Store, gym foyer and gym bathrooms were made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Mayer family. The renovation has maximized the use of the existing store and modernized the entire space providing a welcoming entry to our gym and luxurious facilities for students, families and visitors to St. John’s. If you haven’t already stopped in for a “Chat with a Pratt” you are encouraged to do so, and not just for the quality conversation, but to appreciate the wonderful re-design of our Headmaster’s office graciously gifted by the Clemons family. n

25TH ANNIVERSARY 25th Anniversary Celebration

t. John’s hosted an anniversary celebration to remember on Thursday, September 19, 2013, twenty-five years to the day that the school first opened its doors to students in 1988.

The program continued inside the gym with inspirational messages to our students from St. John’s Vicar, the Rev. Canon John H. Taylor; School Committee Chair Patty Cyr; Head of School Dr. Michael Pratt; and the Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Jim Lusby was welcomed to the podium with a standing ovation for his service as Headmaster over the past 17 years. Mr. Lusby announced the launch of the St. John’s 25 Acts of Gratitude Campaign. This unique service campaign is a way for St. John’s to show appreciation and give back to our local community for supporting the school throughout its 25 year history. Connections within the community have always been central to our mission to educate and build character in every student.

Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Tony Beall and Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates kicked off the celebration by presenting proclamations on behalf of the local community. Student Council President Jack Barrera and Bishop Glasspool cut the ribbon in front of the entire student body and the parents gathered to officially open the next 25 years of the school’s history!

The program was highlighted by comments from Bishop Glasspool, whose entertaining analogy between the Blue Angels and Episcopal education, complete with hand signals, captivated the young audience. The morning concluded with a moving vocal performance by St. John’s alumni Alex Granito (’10) and Madyson Boyd (’00).

Grade students arrived for their first day of school. A motorhome parked on the curb housed a temporary school office, while classes were held in modular classrooms powered by a gas generator. From these modest beginnings, St. John’s has grown to more than 550 students and gained a reputation for producing students who “do good and do well.” St. John’s is proud of the many accomplishments of the more than 2,000 alumni that have gone on to pursue incredible accomplishments. n

St. John’s was founded by The Rev. Canon Ernest D. Sillers, affectionately known by all as Fr. Ern. When the doors opened on September 19, 1988, 270 Preschool through Eighth

25 ACTS OF GRATITUDE

n celebration of St. John’s 25th anniversary, students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni are working together to complete 25 Acts of Gratitude. This unique service campaign is a way for St. John’s to show appreciation and give back to the local community for supporting the school throughout its 25 year history. Connections within our community are central to our mission to educate and build character in our students. We invite every St. John’s family to join their children in at least one Act of Gratitude and feel the difference you can make. n

ST. JOHN’S GETS AN UPDATE

e’re excited to unveil a new school emblem and bring a fresh look to the next chapter of St. John’s! This marks only the third time in school history that the emblem has undergone a facelift. As we retire our previous emblem, we acknowledge its significance to our community. It represents the amazing memories built during the school’s tradition-rich history, while our new emblem reflects who we are as the St. John’s community of the future. Curious what it all means? Take a look at the graphic to discover the special meaning behind each part of the emblem.

1988-1998

1998-2013

2013

w Jerusalem Cross – Affirming our Episcopal heritage w Torch – Embracing enlightenment and learning

w Peak – Symbolizing our unique community at the base of

the Santa Ana Mountains

w Cardinal – Commemorating our pride as a school devoted to excellence n

Fall Acts of Gratitude

he Acts of Gratitude are off to a great start with several projects already completed during September and October! The Canyon Clean Up project drew over 100 volunteers, many of which were from St. John’s Church and

School, to remove trash from the Live Oak area of the Trabuco Creek wash. The St. John’s Red Cross Blood Drive helped to collect 28 units of life-saving blood. Each unit can help to save up to three lives, which means St. John’s Episcopal Church and School helped to save up to 84 lives!! Students and alumni teamed up to Dress Down for Meso, purchasing wristbands in support of National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. We raised $609.45 to donate to the SMCHS Breath of Hope Club which will benefit the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. In October, sixth grade students took on O’Neill Park Restoration and ECC students and families and Sunday School children decorated placemats and cards for Meals on Wheels. November and December are busy months with so much joy to spread around the holidays. St. John’s will be working with partners Habitat for Humanity, PurpleStride, RSM Food Bank, Second Harvest, Park Terrace and Operation Christmas Spirit. To learn more about these upcoming Acts of Gratitude and to get involved, visit www.stjohns-es.org/25aog. n

25 Years of Making a Difference

maginations ran wild when second grade teacher Mrs. Freese honored our School’s anniversary by asking her young students to reflect back on the vast history of St. John’s and write in their own words how their school might have looked, felt and operated 25 years ago. As you can imagine, the essays and drawings are at once fascinating, hilarious, poignant and endearing. A selection of winning compositions will be displayed in the Elementary School Office. As we honor our milestone anniversary, let’s take a page out of Mrs. Freese’s book, add a twist and look ahead. What do you imagine the St. John’s campus, classrooms, students, school experience to be in the next 25 years? Write down your ideas, include a drawing, and submit your entries to any School office by November 29. n

ST. JOHN’S COMMUNITY

Red Ribbon Week

or a week in October the St. John’s campus was adorned in red ribbons to honor the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation. Parent volunteers dressed the campus, handed out red bracelets, and gathered student signatures on banners to encourage students to take a stand against drugs and commit to a lifetime of healthy habits. The School’s Virtue of the Week and Commonsense Media classroom lessons supported the message of Red Ribbon Week and invited continued conversation between parents and students with helpful tips and resources. n

SAVE THE DATE

2013 w Parent Coffee

November 6 8:00 a.m. - Multipurpose Room Join us for an informative presentation on internet safety by FBI Special Agent Cynthia Kayle from the Crimes Against Children task force. w Grandparents Day

November 20 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. We welcome grandparents and special friends (no parents, please) to join students for a special day on campus. Visit stjohns-es.org/grandparents to RSVP or invite a guest! w St. John’s Community

Golf Tournament December 6 Tijeras Creek Golf Club Early bird registration available until November 15. Register and purchase balls for the Helicopter Ball Drop at www.stjohns-es.org/golf.

2014

Family Festival

vent chairs Sybille McNamee’s and Yvette Miller’s vision and months of hard work and dedication resulted in the most spectacular St. John’s Family Festival to date. Hundreds of students, parents, faculty, administrators and community patrons gathered on our campus to celebrate the start of another great school year at St. John’s. The playground and athletic field were thrillingly transformed offering exciting rides, carnival games, over-the-top prizes, great food, music, live entertainment and tremendous fellowship. The support of many spirited volunteers and generous sponsors helped to make this event so successful and kicked-off the school year with great Cardinal Pride. n

We’ve Got Spirit!

heck out St. John’s new online Spirit Store! Visit www.stjohns-es.org/spirit to purchase spirit wear and enjoy FREE SHIPPING through November 15. n

w School Play - Peter Pan

Performances March 6-9 w 25th Anniversary Gala/Cardinella

April 5, 2014 St. John’s on the Silver Screen Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa

Let’s Get Social!

t. John’s is excited to introduce St. John’s Socials! St. John’s families are hosting great events designed to raise money for our school, while St. John’s families connect and have fun with one another throughout the school year. For more information, visit www.stjohns-es.org/socials. n

Fall Sports Wrap Up

he girls’ volleyball teams all enjoyed great seasons this year. The girls worked incredibly hard and competed against high quality teams in the Parochial Athletic League. The girls had a strong bond and the season was fun and exciting. Thank you to our coaches Whitney Costanzo and Becky Hesson. The “A” Mountain volleyball team had the perfect season. They went 10-0 and won the league for the first time since 2006! The girls are competing in the PAL volleyball championship, and will play in the semi-finals on Monday, November 4, at 4:30 p.m., at St. Mary’s.

The boys’ flag football teams played in a very competitive league this year, and played every game with character and sportsmanship. What a great effort from this group of boys. SJES has a bright future in flag football! Thanks to our coaches Bryan Winn, Randall Lanham, David Morales, Derek Oberholtzer, and John Poblete. n

Show Your Support for St. John’s

t. John’s is committed to raising the bar and advancing the academic program at the school. As you may know, tuition does not cover the total cost of educating a St. John’s student. We depend on funds raised through the Annual Fund to continually enhance the superior education experience our students enjoy. This additional support provides the school its margin of excellence, enabling us to do things that would otherwise not be possible. Our children deserve every advantage in education as they move forward in this increasingly competitive world.

Consider planning your giving for the entire year with a 25th Anniversary Sponsorship. All sponsorships include support for Annual Fund, Golf Tournament, and the Anniversary Gala. Visit www.stjohns-es.org/giving for more information or to make your gift online. n

Thank you to our 25th Anniversary Sponsors! Silver Sponsor The Mayer Family Anniversary Sponsor The Clemons Family The Cyr Family

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS Art Awards

he St. John’s community applauds the achievements of budding student artists. Current St. John’s first grader Mackenzie Busch’s work was recently chosen as the winner of the Junior Art Show at the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts. In early August, art authorities selected Mackenzie’s art piece among hundreds of entries. Her work along with fellow St. John’s student exhibitors Jessica Simrell and Emma Scharf will have their work displayed at the Orange County Department of Education through December. Fifth grader Kaylin Kim is an accomplished young artist who enjoys the creative process and giving back. This past September, she graciously donated a painting (right) to the silent auction of student art benefitting the Diocese of Los Angeles to raise funds for seminary scholarships. Congratulations to St. John’s junior artists! n

Celebration Sponsor Anonymous The Chiate Family The Doyle Family The Flynn Family The Rydell Family The Scharf Family

My St. John’s Story

by Patty Cyr — Parent of Christopher, Mark & Katie

e know that St. John’s strikes the important balance between high academic standards, the education of the whole child and the preservation of childhood. But how do we best explain the “value” of a St. John’s education? I realized that the answer is different for every student in every family, which is exactly why St. John’s is such a unique and special school. The story of my child’s recent experiences provides one example. As current parents are aware, every student at St. John’s undergoes a semiannual reading assessment. Because St. John’s takes the time to conduct one-on-one evaluations by a teacher, rather than a computer, teachers are able to gauge where students are both

in reading fluency and reading comprehension, and can take an exceptionally close look at all aspects of a child’s

reading skills. Last fall, our son’s firstgrade teacher noted that, though he was scoring two grade levels ahead on the testing, the manner in which he approached reading raised a red flag – a flag that only could have been raised by a dedicated teacher who was given the time to conduct such a thorough one-on-one evaluation. She recommended further testing, which revealed that our son has dyslexia. However, because his teacher caught it so early, and because St. John’s has the resources and willingness to work with him, this reading disorder will not have a negative impact on his school performance, he continues to love school, and spent the rest of his first-grade year gaining confidence with his new reading skills.

I share this story because this is the value of a St. John’s education. Every parent I talk to has a similar story about a teacher who, with the full support of the school, went above and beyond to make a difference. The School’s approach to paying close, personal attention to each child enables teachers to recognize each child as a unique learner, while moving the whole class forward towards the high academic standards that consistently make our children among the most prepared for their respective high schools. At the same time, the school supports our efforts at home to raise good children that prepare them for the non-academic challenges and opportunities ahead. n

WHAT IS YOUR ST. JOHN’S STORY?

Do you have a unique experience that your child or family would like to share in the next newsletter? Send your story to announcements@stjohns-es.org.

FEATURE YOUR BUSINESS HERE! CONTACT THE ADVANCEMENT OFFICE AT (949) 858-5144 OR ADVANCEMENT@STJOHNS-ES.ORG FOR DETAILS.