St. Mary's Spring 2019 Magazine by St. Mary's School

S P R I N G

2 0 1 9

M A G A Z I N E

WORLD-SIZED HEARTS. WORLD-CLASS MINDS. Lo

GIVING LIGHT TO OTHERS NANCY QUSHAIR

CAN THE ARTS BRING HOPE TO HUMANITY?

WHAT’S INSIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS

HEAD OF SCHOOL LETTER

Dear St. Mary’s Community, As the school year 2018-2019 comes to a close, I look around our campus and find myself filled with hope. Hope for the future of our world and the future of St. Mary’s School. Our newly reimagined spaces have allowed us to create an environment where our students can be thoughtful, discerning and intentional. Every day, we challenge our students to be responsible for themselves, each other and the world around

them. The world is ours and that is both a gift and a responsibility. When we allow students to equally engage their hearts and minds, we are able to inspire and empower them to make a difference and take action. In the article, “Giving Light to Others” we see how a lesson in geometry allows us to give the gift of light to teachers and students across the world. By creating a “Peace Pole,” Junior Kindergarten students find that

HEAD OF SCHOOL LETTER

GROWING WORLD-SIZED HEARTS ONE TEACHABLE MOMENT AT A TIME

GIVING LIGHT TO OTHERS NANCY QUSHAIR

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH THE PEACE POLE PROJECT

CAN THE ARTS BRING HOPE TO HUMANITY?

AN ATHLETIC MINDSET

TEACHING BY DESIGN

WORLD-CLASS MINDS IN ACTION

2019 RECIPIENT LEGACY AWARD KATRINA LATTIN

WHAT DOES OUR MISSION MEAN TO STUDENTS?

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNOUNCES THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS

FALCONS SOARING ST. MARY’S ALUMNI ROUND UP

2019 GALAPALOOZA MOST SUCCESSFUL GALA IN SCHOOL HISTORY!

MANAGING EDITOR Heather Wilkins CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Carmen Anderson Christine Downie Maren Galarpe Shelly Harmon Dustin Mittelsteadt Heather Wilkins Carrie Zulanas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rick Davitt Jennifer Engleman

ST. MARY’S MAGAZINE is published for families, friends, alumni and supporters of St. Mary’s School. WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK. Please address questions and comments to Heather Wilkins at Heather. Wilkins@smaa.org.

peace is achievable and can be heard and felt in all languages and all corners of the earth. Our Lower School students, along with their teachers, are finding kids who are “caught being kind” and learning that small acts of kindness can bring about big change. Our community is extraordinary. We regularly see parents, students and faculty helping each other and volunteers making a difference on campus. This is what makes St. Mary’s so special. I hope that you enjoy our spring magazine, as it shines the light on hope and possibility. As we celebrate 25 years of learning at St. Mary’s, I can only imagine what the next 25 years will bring! Sincerely,

SHARON TAYLOR Head of School

ALUMNI: We enjoy hearing from you. Please send us your latest news and notes: alum@ smaa.org. Join St. Mary’s community online on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. ST. MARY’S SCHOOL 7 Pursuit, Aliso Viejo, California 92656 USA www.smaa.org 949.448.9027

GROWING WORLD-SIZED HEARTS ONE TEACHABLE MOMENT AT A TIME BY DR. CARMEN ANDERSON World-Sized Hearts. World-Class Minds. Day in and day out, those attributes are what St. Mary’s faculty and staff aspire to develop in our students. The question on your mind may be what exactly do you do to develop worldsized hearts? We have our Cast of Character program, which includes community and character education lessons in Lower School, and advisory in Lower School Middle School Chapel across all divisions. Teachers also address kindness and social emotional literacy in their own creative ways on a daily basis. It’s important to recognize that a “kind” environment does not mean there won’t be conflict. That’s unrealistic. However, the ways in which caring adults respond to and guide children through tough moments, direct them

Kids won’t get it right every time. Mistakes create opportunities for learning, and we model compassion throughout the learning process.

as they engage in conflict resolution and reward pro-social behavior are what ultimately lead to a kind community. Here’s a glimpse into a day in the life of social emotional learning at St. Mary’s.

KINDNESS LETTERS

Mr. Patterson and Dr. Anderson reach out to Lower School teachers regularly to inquire about “kids caught being kind.” Kindness letters, specifying what the student is being recognized for, are mailed home to the student. One parent reported that the kindness letter sits on her daughter’s nightstand. It was the emotional boost this student needed and is an ongoing reminder of her positive act.

CALM COMMUNICATION

Mrs. Burchill’s Grade 3 students come in from recess. She suggests they take a mindful minute before beginning their next lesson. By doing this, students have the opportunity to calm their bodies and minds and take a few deep breaths. Once they’re calm and ready to learn, she gives them their next set of instructions.

SWAG

Teachers on the Grade 6 team regularly nominate students for SWAG (Students Working to Achieve Greatness) awards. Students can be nominated for cleaning up without being asked, helping injured peers get from class to class, demonstrating a positive attitude and offering others praise, exhibiting polite

In Mrs. Higgins’ Early Preschool class, two year olds are working on developing communication skills. For example, a friend takes a toy from another friend may result in yelling from the child losing the toy and crying from the child who is yelled at. Mrs. Higgins can tell the boy who yelled to take a deep breath and communicate more calmly that he’d like his toy back. She reminds the boy that he’s friends with the other child. They boy who yelled realizes he scared his friend and gives his friend a hug.

PEACE CHAINS

Junior Kindergarten students are working on their Peace Unit. They can earn a peace chain every time they are caught being peaceful. Teachers reward students for engaging in thoughtful behaviors like helping someone clean up toys even though the student may not have played with them or comforting a friend who is sad.

“I” STATEMENTS

Mrs. Smith’s Kindergarten students have differing perspectives about a topic, which sometimes leads to conflict. She sits down with these students and teaches them active listening skills and how to communicate using “I” statements.

BUDDY MENTORS

Buddies in Mrs. McDaniel’s Grade 3 class and Ms. Nguyen’s Kindergarten class meet once a week. We believe having a peer mentor gives our younger students confidence and imparts a sense of responsibility on the older students to care for others. Oftentimes their meetings begin with special handshakes or dances they’ve created as buddies.

MINDFUL MINUTE

S P R I N G

2 0 1 9

M A G A Z I N E

and respectful behavior in interactions with adults and even showing improvement academically. The goal of the SWAG awards is for students to understand that our community values thoughtfulness and St. Mary’s recognizes kindheartedness. While these examples are isolated snapshots of what you may see if you walk into a classroom at a given moment. There are countless ways that social emotional learning is informally integrated into the curriculum and life of this community. In spite of these examples, kids won’t get it right every time. St. Mary’s is intentional about treating students with grace when they make poor choices. Mistakes create opportunities for learning, and we are committed to teaching our learners to reflect on their actions so they make better choices in the future. We model compassion throughout every step of the learning process. The ultimate goal of a St. Mary’s education is to produce students who embody our Portrait of a Graduate. Our hope is to send forth into the world people who understand the unique worth and beauty of all human beings because they have recognized their own worth and beauty during their time on our campus. 5

GIVING LIGHT TO OTHERS NANCY QUSHAIR BY CARRIE ZULANAS

Two years ago, Nancy Qushair, Mathematics Department Chair and Middle School math teacher, introduced The Lantern Project to her Algebra 1A students. This project, which connects mathematics, language, literature and service learning, allows students to apply their knowledge of mathematical concepts by creating working polyhedron lamps. The lamps are sold, and the proceeds are donated to student-selected global initiatives. This final aspect of the project, along with many other service-learning experiences found in the EEP through Grade 8 continuum, allows us to fulfill our promise: St. Mary’s graduates understand that service and action are the outward expressions of inward convictions. Service does not stop with our students. In the Characteristics of Professional Excellence, a document written and lived by our faculty, states,” I model service as action, and cultivate a desire in my students to serve within their communities and beyond.” This year, Nancy had an opportunity to serve a larger community as she was selected to lead a session related to The Lantern Project at the MidSchoolMath National Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The conference was dedicated to exploring instruction that encourages deep mathematical thinking and conceptual understanding. This is exactly the type of teaching and learning we believe in at St. Mary’s, and what Nancy models on a daily basis. “In all areas of her work, Nancy is the quintessential I.B. World School educator,” shared Walt Linaweaver, Head of Middle School. “She is passionate, student-centered and deeply committed to continuous refinement of

BY SHELLY HARMON

her skills and knowledge. Never one to leave a rock unturned, Nancy is a model of the growth mindset in action.” During the session, Nancy skillfully guided the participants through the project, providing student work, assessments and videos of the process. Each teacher who attended also had an opportunity to create a lamp, an experience that both delighted and challenged them. This type of experiential learning is not a part of every school’s program, and the participants were excited to try this project with their students. “Presenting at the MidSchoolMath Conference gave me an opportunity to inspire educators with a handson, real-life math project,” explained Nancy. “One that involves more than just numbers and shapes, but a project that deepens students’ empathy and allows them to act on a local and global stage.”

At St. Mary’s we believe everyone in our community has light to give. We recognize we are part of something larger than our school, and we have a responsibility, through our actions and words, to help others. For the teachers at the MidSchoolMath Conference, Nancy did just that. 6

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH – THE PEACE POLE PROJECT

S P R I N G

2 0 1 9

M A G A Z I N E

In the Early Education Program, one of the first units of inquiry is “Sharing the Planet.” The central idea is when students make peaceful choices, conflict can be resolved. Throughout this unit of inquiry, our students learn to define conflict, discover peaceful and non-peaceful choices and learn how our choices affect others. The Junior Kindergarten teachers believe this unit is so important it is now a yearlong unit of inquiry. One aspect of the unit is the Peace Crane Project, which is a way for children to spread peace to others through art work. Our Junior Kindergarten classes have created and exchanged art with many schools around the world, including India, Pakistan, Dubai, Australia and Rwanda. To further expand upon this project, we introduced the Peace Pole to our students. The Peace Pole Project began in 1955 with Masahisa Goi. It was introduced in the U.S. with the opening of The World Peace Prayer Society offices in San Francisco and New York in 1986, “The International Year of Peace.” Today, there are more than 200,000 Peace Poles in over 190 countries. A Peace Pole is a monument to remind us each time we pass it to think, speak and act in the spirit of peace. It symbolizes the oneness of humanity and our common wish for world peace. In late 2018, St. Mary’s received its own Peace Pole, which includes a “Peace Prayer” in eight different languages, including Spanish, French, Chinese, Farsi, Swahili, American Sign Language, Braille and English. The prayer is: May Peace Prevail on Earth. Because St. Mary’s strives for its students to have “World-sized hearts. World-class minds,” the wording “May Peace Be in Our Hearts” is also etched into our pole. We plan to host an annual Peace Pole dedication and add languages each year that represent our St. Mary’s community. 7

CAN THE ARTS BRING HOPE TO HUMANITY? BY MAREN GALARPE

Audrey Masson, Grade 8 “No, was my first thought. But, I found that the answer is actually yes. Art can be used to show happiness, sadness, despair, and for that, art can also be used to show hope and strength. During the Holocaust, when everything was going wrong, they still believed in life, in the future.” Trent Chiasson, Grade 8 “I believe that art can bring hope to humanity because I think that you can express emotion and heart through painting.”

Through theatre, dance, music and visual arts, St. Mary’s Grade 8 students beautifully paid homage to young people who perished in the Holocaust during World War II. The entire arts department collaborated with students to make history in the new Black Box Theatre with its first performance and art exhibit. The multi-arts approach brought several learning experiences together including: • Theatre unit: The Actor as a Student of Humanity through Character Analysis & Holocaust Awareness • Studio and Visual Art units: I Have a Story to Tell and The Mathematics of the Artistic Process in conjunction with the Chapman University 20th Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest • Student-initiated performances in Dance and Instrumental Music • The Grade 8 Washington, D.C. Field Study monuments and memorials, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum • The Butterfly Project: global memorials and the film NOT the Last Butterfly Students worked within a variety of global contexts in their I.B. Arts units consisting of: identities and relationships, personal and cultural expression and fairness and development. Through research and engagement with Holocaust survivor testimonies, students learned how they, as artists, can use and communicate history, find purpose and feel empowered to take action. During the Washington, D.C. Field Study, students visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where they met Holocaust survivor Agnes Laszlo and heard her story. Our students also viewed a permanent exhibit of children’s drawings and artifacts (1942-1944) from the concentration ghetto Terezin, just outside of Prague. The artist, Bauhaus and teacher Freidl DickerBrandeis, saw that the Terezin children needed a form of expression as a way to moderate the daily chaos of their lives. As a result, Dicker-Brandeis secretly provided art tools and lessons. Of the 15,000 children imprisoned, fewer than 100 survived; however, they left a remarkable legacy in their artwork and poetry. Upon returning from the field study, students participated in Chapman University’s 20th Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. The theme was Purposeful Telling: Through Memory into Action. Students had to express a Holocaust survivor’s

S P R I N G

2 0 1 9

M A G A Z I N E

memory by choosing an art form that inspires their own purposeful action. More than 8,000 students from 14 different countries participated in the contest. Three St. Mary’s students were recognized as finalists: Haley Kirchhoff (film), Cate McMackin (art) and Arman Mobayen (art). McMackin made history as the first finalist from St. Mary’s to win the Middle School Art Division. The unit culminated with a special screening of the award-winning documentary film NOT the Last Butterfly. The Butterfly Project’s executive director, Cheryl Rattner-Price, also spent the day at St. Mary’s, working with our students and learning about their multi-arts Holocaust Remembrance presentations. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day performance opened with a contemporary piece – “Where Have All the Children Gone?” – choreographed by Grade 8 dancers. As actors took their places, instrumentalists Darius Mahjoob and Gabriel Tsai performed Hine Ma Tov. The play I Never Saw Another Butterfly concluded with Gabriel Tsai’s moving violin solo “Schindler’s List.” Grade 8 studio and visual art pieces were also displayed in an exhibit in the Black Box Theatre for the duration of the unit. “I am so proud of our students’ commitment during this unit,” said Maren Galarpe, Director of the Arts. “Our students took risks, faced emotional challenges and created beautiful pieces through the arts that communicated memory while provoking a call to action. Moving forward, they have an opportunity to be ‘upstanders’ rather than bystanders ... to make the world a better place.” 9

TEACHING BY DESIGN

AN ATHLETIC MINDSET BY DUSTIN MITTELSTEADT

“NOTHING IS A MISTAKE. THERE’S NO WIN AND NO FAIL, THERE’S ONLY MAKE.” – JOHN CAGE BY CARRIE ZULANAS

LIFELONG SKILLS

Over the past few years at St. Mary’s, Falcon pride has soared. More students than ever before are participating in 11 different sports. In fact, this winter season alone, more than 120 student athletes represented Falcon pride. Our athletic mindset at St. Mary’s is to work hard, develop leadership skills, be competitive and have fun. John Wooden once said, “Sports do not build character, they reveal it.” We couldn’t agree more. Our athletic program is not defined by wins and championship titles. Our goal is to develop lifelong student athletes who demonstrate – on and off the field – sportsmanship, character and humility. We strive for our athletes to win with grace and lose with dignity, knowing every time they step on the court they put forth their best effort and leave it all out there.

Athletics teaches many lifelong skills. To prepare athletes to become courageous, caring leaders of tomorrow, students need to be exposed to these key skillsets now. Working in a team, supporting each other, resolving conflict, showing humility, leading by example and performing are just a few of the many attributes athletics instills in our St. Mary’s Falcons.

COMPETITIVE Yes, winning is amazing. But it’s not everything. Working hard within yourself, giving 100% effort and creating success are our main priorities. Wins and league championships come and go, but the process of getting there is oftentimes more important than the outcome.

FUN If you are not enjoying a sport, then why do it? Athletes put more effort into something they have fun with and love. Our goal is to always keep athletics fun for our students.

WORK HARD NBA legend Larry Bird once said, “I’ve got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.” Our teachers and coaches work with students to understand what it means to work hard as an individual and to be dedicated to their team. Perseverance and attitude are critical in both games and practices. Our athletes must put the work in to achieve their goals. 10

At St. Mary’s we believe in giving students opportunities. Chances to dream, to discover, to make. From designing the school musical set to constructing podcasts that share the stories of immigrants, our students spend their days developing new answers for challenges, big and small. How do they accomplish these tasks? Design Thinking. The Design Cycle is a central component of the I.B. Programme. Starting in the Early Years Program, our students are taught to inquire and analyze, to develop ideas, to create solutions and to evaluate the effectiveness of their projects and proposals. By applying Design Thinking to challenges, students begin to understand needs and constraints, learn to brainstorm innovative solutions and seek and incorporate feedback about ideas in order to continually make them better. This was evident in Grade 4 as the students once again inquired into how entrepreneurs use innovative thinking and design processes to create business solutions to everyday problems. Grade 4 students were confronted with a challenge. What does it mean to be an entrepreneur? What does a design process look like? How do we market and sell a product once it’s created? Students first identified a need and then collaborated with teams to create a product designed to tackle the issue. They created a business plan, met with focus groups to elicit feedback, designed prototypes and marketed and sold their concepts through student-created websites. “The students were invested in the process and their products because they understood there was an audience for their work,” explained Kellie Jelic, Grade 4 lead teacher. “They wanted to make a profit, and the students recognized all of their contributions were vital to the success of their product.”

S P R I N G

2 0 1 9

M A G A Z I N E

bring about positive change in the world. During the unit, students will utilize the scientific approach to analyze recent studies on climate change and its implications on ecosystems, societies and economies. Leila Volkman, Science Department Chair and MYP Year 2 science teacher, recognizes the importance of helping students understand they have a responsibility to better the world. “Educators can plant the seed of eco-awareness by sharing scientific evidence that we can slow down climate change, the risk of extinction of species, the destruction of tropical rain forests through sustainable management and policies. The potential reduction of our carbon footprint through environmental education is a sparkling ray of light in our dark situation.”

Working with actual entrepreneurs throughout the process also enhanced their understanding. “Our product (The Everything Bookmark) didn’t look good at first, and we were frustrated. Our mentor motivated us by helping us recognize we didn’t need to start over. We could just change a few things to make it look better. It was helpful to have a mentor because they have a lot of experience,” shared Grade 4 student Logan McGann. The mentors enjoyed the process, too. St. Mary’s parent Erin Kaplan explained, “I walked away from the experience hopeful for their generation’s continuation of the entrepreneurial spirit, drive and inability to settle for the status quo and instead operating in a space of limitless ideas.” Our students’ ideas have continued to thrive and, taking the lessons they learned in the classroom, a group of Grade 4 students girls have started their own company, Kyra Kards. Kyra Nguyen, the founder of the group, recognized her love for art could be used to develop personalized cards featuring motivational and inspirational quotes. The girls see their young age as an asset to the company. “Since we are kids, we know what other kids want,” Kyra explained. The understanding that our students do not have to wait to make a difference in the world continues into the Middle School. A new interdisciplinary unit linking science and studio arts will ask the Grade 7 students to explore how innovative products can

Sharing knowledge with our students is the first step in helping them develop a deep understanding of the world around them. The second step is showing students how knowledge can be applied to the real world. This year we have partnered with ARCAS BEAR, a footwear company dedicated to creating eco-conscious products. Cynthia Arcas-Borgogna, St. Mary’s parent and founder of ARCAS BEAR, is passionate about sustainability and sharing her commitment to the environment with children. “We want to inspire humans to evolve and develop an eco-conscious mindset for a positive impact on our planet earth. While we produce sustainable sneakers, we reduce the waste pollution and teach children stories through science and creative solutions.” Working with Ms Arcas-Borgogna, the students in studio arts will learn about these creative solutions while helping to design shoes for ARCAS BEAR. To prepare for this task, the students will further develop their understanding of how to communicate their thoughts and ideas in an artistic manner and explore the principles of pattern making. One studentcreated design will be brought to production and sold by the company. By giving our students opportunities to find solutions to real-world problems through Design Thinking, we are preparing them to be a part of a creative and innovative future. They see themselves as leaders and change makers. On one of the Kyra Kards created by our Grade 4 students it states, “You can change the world.” At St. Mary’s, our students already are. S P R I N G

2 0 1 9

M A G A Z I N E

WORLD-CLASS MINDS IN ACTION BY CARRIE ZULANAS

Results clearly demonstrate that St. Mary’s students (Grades 3-8) are performing at or above their peer group in reading literacy, mathematical literacy and narrative and expository writing. In the 2016 Strategic Plan, we were asked to evaluate the current status of St. Mary’s I.B. curriculum relative to other I.B. schools throughout the world. There was much qualitative data to suggest our students were effective communicators, strong thinkers and globally minded individuals, but we did not have a standardized assessment that compared our program to other I.B. schools. Last year, St. Mary’s moved to the International Schools Assessment (ISA). In addition to measuring what we value, critical and creative thinking, the ISA provides us with the data we had been missing. Since 75% of the students who take the ISA attend I.B. schools, we were, for the first time, able to see how our program compares to International Baccalaureate programs around the world. The results clearly demonstrate that St. Mary’s students (Grades 3-8) are performing at or above their peer group in reading literacy, mathematical literacy and narrative and expository writing. The ISA also provides a broader comparison by allowing us to analyze the performance of our Grade 8 students to the 15 year olds who take the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The PISA measures the academic competency of 15 year olds in three core areas: reading, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy. Data is collected every three years; students in 73 countries participated in 2015. Although they have had two fewer years of education, St. Mary’s students scored

between Singapore and Japan, the two highest ranking countries on the assessment. At. St. Mary’s we are committed to academic excellence. It is not enough for our students to simply be knowledgeable. They must have opportunities to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways. To participate in learning experiences that promote flexible and persistent problem solvers. To cultivate critical and creative thinking skills. The qualities necessary to pursue lives that transcend the ordinary and achieve world-class minds.

Although they have had two fewer years of education, St. Mary’s students scored between Singapore and Japan, the two highest ranking countries on the assessment. 13

KATRINA LATTIN

2019 RECIPIENT OF FATHER ERNEST D. SILLERS LEGACY AWARD

“St. Mary’s has been my home for the past 11 years. In my time here, I’ve learned so much from amazing leaders that have inspired me and become my role models. I feel very fortunate that St. Mary’s has provided me with numerous opportunities to develop my leadership skills and grow as a person.” On Friday, March 29, at the St. Mary’s Leadership Assembly, Katrina Lattin was named the 2019 recipient of the Father Ernest D. Sillers Legacy Leadership Award. Katrina is an extraordinary student leader, volunteer and visible member of her community. She currently is the ASB Student Chaplain and has been involved in a myriad of St. Mary’s activities ranging from yearbook editor-in-chief to the mock trial team. Katrina has also been recognized for her academic accomplishments during her tenure at St. Mary’s including: Student Exemplar, Head of School Honors, Head of Middle School Honors, Subject Honors, SWAG awards and many others. Katrina is an awardwinning dancer and is active in the Laguna Beach National Charity League Chapter, where she has been recognized with the Presidential Service Award and Yellow Rosebud Award.

Every year, St. Mary’s School presents the Legacy Leadership Award to honor a Grade 8 student that demonstrates superior leadership skill, evidence of service and civic responsibility. This is the culmination of the St. Mary’s Leadership Program. The competition focuses on four main principles called the Four A.C.E.S. of Leadership which form the cornerstones of a strong community: Attitude, Commitment, Engagement and Service. Each applicant writes two timed essays, then a judging committee narrows the semi-finalists to 12 finalists. The finalists undergo an individual interview conducted by a panel of judges representing our local community and business leaders. This year’s incredible group of 12 finalists include: Nick Augustini, Laguna Hills Hailey Ellingson, Laguna Beach Eleni Engelbrecht, Aliso Viejo Shawn Jahangiri, San Juan Capistrano Haley Kirchhoff, Mission Viejo Matthew Krugh, Laguna Niguel 14

2 0 1 9

2019 LEGACY AWARD JUDGES

Bill Phillips – Legacy Chair Bill is a founding member of the Aliso Viejo City Council and has spent the past 15 years building the community into the vibrant city it is today. As a threetime mayor, he has been instrumental in maintaining the excellent quality of life in Aliso Viejo. Kristen Chadwell Kristen is a former eight-year Legacy Board member at St. Mary’s, finishing her last term as Chairperson. As well as serving on the St. Mary’s Board of Directors, she helped to implement and create the Father Ernest D. Sillers Legacy Award Program. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Boy Scouts of America Rowing Committee.

Katrina Lattin, Laguna Niguel Keyon Namdar, Irvine Ryan Namdar, Irvine Gabriel Tsai, Irvine Gianna Van den Bosch, Aliso Viejo Navin Yogaratnam, Laguna Niguel

S P R I N G

Katrina will attend Santa Margarita High School in the fall, where she was accepted with honors and earned an academic merit scholarship based on her High School entrance exam test score. She hopes to join the High School Song team and expand her leadership role into high school ASB.

M A G A Z I N E

James Littlejohn James is currently the Executive Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley and has served many different roles with his group for the past 18 years. He also volunteers and is a board member for several Orange County organizations. Rich Paddock Rich is a retired 34-year veteran with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He spent the last eight years of his career as the Chief of Police Services for the City of Aliso Viejo. Rich was a recipient of the Community Legacy Award in 2007. He has been involved with the Boy Scouts organization for the past 25 years.. Michelle Pellizzon Michelle is a St. Mary’s alumna and Legacy Award Recipient in 2003. She is the Founder & CEO of Holisticism. 15

WHAT DOES OUR MISSION MEAN TO STUDENTS?

WORLD-SIZED HEARTS. WORLD-CLASS MINDS. As a result of the tremendously successful Imagine More campaign, our campus underwent an extensive renovation to enhance our learning spaces. We now have a beautiful, flexible and innovative environment that reflects our student-based learning approach.

NAVIN YOGARATNAM, GRADE 8 The mission statement means that St. Mary’s includes everyone here and everyone in the world. We don’t judge anyone on gender, race, skin or eye color. Everyone is different and not the same. We are all unique and special in our own ways. World-class minds means to think outside yourself, your community and think about the world. We have different cultures and religions and need to be respectful of others and their differences. The world-sized hearts is about being kind to everyone, animals and the environment.

In conjunction with the rejuvenation of St. Mary’s spaces, the Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and a committee of parents and teachers collectively revisited how we talk about St. Mary’s within and outside of our community. After many months of brainstorming, drafting and collaborating, the team developed a new mission statement that concisely and truly reflects what our faculty strives for our students every day. St. Mary’s students have: World-sized hearts. World-class minds. This mission directly speaks to every aspect of our approach to learning and curriculum. Our goal is to have students ask “why” and “what” while understanding they’re an essential part of the answer to “how.”

KATIE GUINOSSO, GRADE 5 We all have great hearts and great minds at St. Mary’s. While we may not all be at our best every day, we all come through with big hearts. I see our world-sized hearts when we help each other – if we have an issue we work together to resolve the problem. I definitely see our great minds at work in the classroom, especially in math. We partner up to help each other.

Now that our new mission and school logo have been introduced to the greater community, it felt appropriate to ask our Middle and Lower School students how they feel about our mission, how it speaks to them and translates to their experiences at St. Mary’s. Here is what we learned.

THOMAS BORGOGNA, GRADE 3 I like world-class minds. It sounds smart and means our minds are focused in class. It also means that we think about everything around us – we pay attention to each other. When my family goes to Italy or Brazil I always share what I have learned at school, especially in math. We have big hearts because we have compassion and empathy for each other.

AIYANA TUTEJA, GRADE 6 We are an I.B. school so it makes sense that the word “world” is in our mission. The heart statement means we are caring, nice and flexible. We have differences but we come together. We’d give up anything to help each other because it’s about being respectful and making a better world. The mind means a world-class education. Our units in Lower and Middle School cover all parts of the world in almost all of our classes.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNOUNCES THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS

GEORGE MOHAMMED, GRADE 7 I like our new mission. It’s short, clear, gets to the point and doesn’t just talk about I.B. Our teachers help us have world-sized hearts. Our world-class minds are our strong academics. Our school does really well in the Geography Bee, Mock Trials, Math Quest, Battle of the Books and more. I really like the globe in our logo and the mix of colors. In Middle School we are designing our house shirts and a lot of us are using the globe – which isn’t easy to draw!

St. Mary’s Board of Trustees welcomes three new members for the 2019-2020 school year: Tommy Beadel, Michael Lawhead and Francisco Morales.

KOURTNEY PEDIGO, GRADE 1 World-sized hearts means being kind and nice to each other. In Chapel, we learn about heart. Jesus told us to be kind and not fight with others. Our world-class minds are because we have good teachers to help us learn. It’s important that we continue to learn more so when we are older and get a job, we are prepared. The world also means it’s better for all of us to be smarter, not just one or two people.

TOMMY BEADEL is the founder and CEO of Thomas James Homes, a home builder headquartered in Aliso Viejo. He and his wife, Brandy, reside in Monarch Beach and have two children, Caleb (Grade 5) and Aidan (Grade 2). Tommy has been highly supportive of many of the school’s important initiatives. This past year, he and Brandy began to establish their vision of creating a scholarship fund for potential students to attend St. Mary’s who would otherwise not have had the opportunity. In addition, the Beadel family has been a major supporter of the Mount Hermon Christian Retreat Center and the revitalization of its accommodations, which has afforded many families the opportunity to get away for a week each summer in a nurturing environment. MICHAEL LAWHEAD is a Corporate and Securities Partner with Baker & Hostetler and specializes in counseling companies, venture capital firms and private equity firms in a broad range of corporate transactions. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Washington and Lee University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles. Michael is married to Patty Lawhead and they have two children, Summer (Grade 3) and Everett (EEP). FRANCISCO J. MORALES is the CEO and co-founder of 5.11 Tactical. 5.11 is the leading global supplier of purposebuilt apparel, footwear and gear for first responders and military personnel. Morales earned an Executive Master of Business Administration at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, where he graduated with honors. He earned his Bachelor of Science in fashion apparel management from Jefferson University, where he graduated cum laude. Francisco has a passion for business, is involved in various business ventures and has been a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization since 2004.

DREW WILKINS, GRADE K We – the students and teachers at our school – have a lot of love and we’re smart. We have big hearts and we treat each other the way we want to be treated. The heart part means we care about each other and Jesus loves us. The mind part means we can help teach others what they don’t know and make the world a better place.

Francisco is originally from Venezuela and moved to the U.S. to attend college, where he met his wife Jessica. Living in Newport Beach, they have two children, Sidney (Grade 7) and Alden (Grade 5). The entire Morales family enjoys everything that Orange County has to offer. 18

S P R I N G

2 0 1 9

M A G A Z I N E

FALCONS SOARING ST. MARY’S ALUMNI ROUND UP CLASS OF 1997

CLASS OF 2007

JENNIFER CAPATA MCGINNIS ’97 graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2001 and from California State University, Long Beach in 2005 with a major in liberal studies and a teaching credential. She worked at St. Mary’s daycare and summer camp from 2002-2007. In 2010, Jennifer married and moved to Ohio, where she currently teaches Grade 5 Language Arts at Johnstown Elementary School. She has three daughters: Lily (age 5), Scarlett (age 3) and Jade (5 months). Jennifer enjoys traveling, especially going home to visit family and friends.

LEIGH EDWARDS ’07 graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2011 and from Texas A&M University in 2015 with a major in political science. As a four-year member of the women’s varsity soccer program, Leigh was a member of the first team in school history to reach the NCAA College Cup (the Final Four) and to win four South Eastern Conference (SEC) titles. During that time, she was a two-time Second Team All-SEC defender and placed on the NSCAA University Division Women’s Scholar All-South Region Second Team. Leigh will graduate from the University of North Carolina School of Law with a juris doctor degree in 2019. While at Carolina Law, she participated in the Consumer Financial Transactions Clinic (CFT). As a legal intern certified to practice in North Carolina under the supervision of Kate Elengold, she represented clients in student debt-related matters. She logged more than 100 hours for the CFT. After graduation, Leigh plans to work at King & Spalding LLP as a corporate, finance and investment associate in their New York office. Leigh’s hobbies include running, playing soccer, watching the Food Network and Seinfeld, going to Trader Joe’s and spending time with family and friends.

CLASS OF 2006 HALEY THAYER ’06 graduated from JSerra Catholic High School in 2010 and from Southern Methodist University in 2014 with a major in broadcast journalism. Haley worked in the news industry for WBIR in Knoxville and for KING5 in Seattle. While at KING5, Haley won an Emmy for her work in the Promotions and Marketing Department. She is currently working as a mortgage broker and marketing director for Residential First Capital in Seattle. She loves to read, hike, travel and cook. Haley volunteers at Reading Partners, an organization that helps struggling children become confident readers.

CLASS OF 2008 RAYCHEL SULLIVAN ’08 graduated from Laguna Hills High School in 2012 and from San Francisco State University in 2017 with a major in zoology. She currently attends graduate school at West Liberty University, majoring in biology/zoo sciences. During college, Raychel volunteered at a local animal shelter. Her interest in traveling and photography took her to Thailand to volunteer at a wildlife rescue; to South Africa for a big cat research project; and then to Namibia to assist at research sites that collect information about spotted hyenas, leopards and cheetahs. Raychel interned at the California Wildlife Center and assisted in the rehabilitation and re-release of California wildlife. In between her graduate studies, she is on the floor staff at the Discovery Science Center. S P R I N G

2 0 1 9

M A G A Z I N E

CLASS OF 2009

CLASS OF 2012

LIVIYA JAMES ’09 was the St. Mary’s Legacy Leadership Award winner in 2008. She graduated from Mater Dei Catholic High School in 2013 and from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2017 with a major in political science and a minor in environmental studies. While at UCLA, Liviya was president of the Gamma Xi Chapter of Kappa Gamma. She is currently senior associate at Waxman Strategies, a public affairs firm in Washington, D.C., where she works in communications, media relations and project management for their environmental team. Her hobbies include reading, travel, live music and hiking.

JACOB FISH ’12 graduated from Sage Hill School in 2016 and currently attends Berklee College of Music, majoring in music production and engineering.

CLASS OF 2010 MADDIE BURCHILL ’10 graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2014 and from the University of Arizona in 2018 with a major in communications. Maddie is currently the social media coordinator at Ayzenberg in Pasadena. KRISTEN FLANAGAN ’10 graduated from JSerra Catholic High School in 2014 and from Iowa State University in 2018 with a major in elementary education. Kristen also received specializations in language arts, reading and social studies. While at Iowa State, Kristen tutored children in reading, volunteered at a low-income housing center participating in their no-fee, after-school program and helped teachers incorporate technology into their classrooms. Kristen spent her college summers working as Director of Arts and Crafts and a counselor at Emerald Cove Day Camp and as kitchen staff at Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp. Kristen is currently teaching Grade 1 in Iowa.

CLASS OF 2011 EMILIE MARCINKOWSKI ’11 graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2015 and will graduate from Georgetown University this spring with a major in English. While at Georgetown, Emilie volunteered at DC Reads, an organization that promotes literacy in wards 7 and 8 elementary schools in the D.C. area. Emilie studied abroad in Florence, Italy, where she volunteered at Misericordia, the oldest charitable organization in the world. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and participated at philanthropy events for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Emilie was able to see Pope Francis and to hear Bradley Cooper speak while at Georgetown. Emilie recently led a Georgetown campus tour to the current St. Mary’s Class of 2019 during their Washington, D.C. field study. Emilie has future plans to attend physician’s assistant school.

CLASS OF 2014 BLAKE ENGLEMAN ’14 graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2018 and currently attends the University of Oregon, majoring in environmental science. He studied at the University of London, England, last summer, taking three classes taught by instructors who work for the BBC. Blake was recognized by Boeing and OC STEM for his achievements in high school and his STEM major in environmental science. NIKKI HERRINGTON ‘14 graduated with honors from Arnold O. Beckman High School in 2018 with the State Seal of Bi-Literacy in Chinese and had the honor of singing at her graduation ceremony. Highlights at Beckman include playing the lead role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz as a sophomore, singing at Carnegie Hall with the Advanced Women’s Choir and being the Advanced Theatre President and Thespian of the Year as a senior. Upon graduating, she was selected Woman of the Month by the Tustin Unified School District. This past summer, she won the Top Model award for the National American Miss State Pageant and in November represented California as Top Model for the National American Miss Pageant. Nikki is currently a first-year student at San Diego State University, majoring in acting/ musical theatre with an emphasis on performance, and minoring in Mandarin. Nikki appeared in two shows during the spring semester and has been invited to join the Weber Honors College of SDSU and the Civil Core Society. She would love to thank all of the teachers, faculty and fellow colleagues who not only taught her how to be a risk-taker but to always strive for success in everything she does. BRYCE KAESE ’14 graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2018 and currently attends the University of Colorado at Boulder, majoring in mechanical engineering. Bryce’s hobbies include reading, running, hiking and ultimate frisbee. SAVANNAH LARKIN ’14 is currently serving in the U.S. Army and enjoys hiking, camping and traveling to explore new areas. Savannah is engaged to be married.

MACKENNA STROHMEIER ’14 graduated from Sage Hill High School in 2018 and currently attends Belmont University in Nashville, majoring in commercial voice. Mackenna loves southern hospitality, and believes the music scene in Nashville to be unbeatable! In her sophomore year she plans to change her major to songwriting, and join a sorority and Belmont’s famous a cappella group, Prismatics. In February, Mackenna opened for Kelly Clarkson at the CHOC Children’s Hospital Gala at the Disneyland Hotel. Mackenna will release a five-song EP available on her YouTube channel at Mackenna Swann.

CLASS OF 2015 CHRISTIAN CAVES ’15 graduated from Dana Hills High School in 2018. Christian’s hobbies include photography and art, which he sells on Etsy, in retail stores and through referrals from private clients. He also enjoys traveling, hiking and paddle boarding. He is planning to attend Portland State University, majoring in health science. ISABELLA FIORENTINO ’15 will graduate summa cum laude from Santa Margarita Catholic School in May. Isabella is a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year varsity starter for the Eagle Softball Team. She earned the E.A.G.L.E. values award as a sophomore, becoming the youngest recipient of this award. Isabella serves as a school ambassador and Kairos leader. Isabella plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall to study physics and play softball for the Division 1 Quakers. She is grateful for the foundation St. Mary’s provided her.

AVERY GRAY ’15 graduated from Tesoro High School in June and will attend Auburn University in the fall, majoring in secondary education with an emphasis in physics. EMILY HO ’15 will graduate from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in May and plans to attend Boston University, majoring in business. She is committed to being a coxswain for the nationally ranked Boston University women’s lightweight rowing team. SKYLAR STRICKLAND ’15 will graduate from JSerra Catholic High School in June and plans to attend Seattle University, majoring in photography, psychology or liberal studies.

CLASS OF 2016 COLE ENGLEMAN ’16 is currently a junior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where he is a member of the water polo, swim and steel drums teams and National Honor Society. Cole received his Eagle Scout Award on May 6, 2018. He designed and built a reflection garden at Corpus Christi Catholic Church including a statue of Mary, a pathway, a bench and lighting. Cole continues his service learning by volunteering at the Orange County Food Bank, at community events through Boy Scouts and at The Teen Project for homeless Orange County teens through Table for 10.

CLASS OF 2018 MASON BOWLES ’18 attends Mater Dei, where he plays football and runs track. He participates in service projects with St. Mary’s alumni through Santa Margarita Catholic High School Lion’s Heart. MAGGIE COX ’18 attends Laguna Hills High School, is Freshman Class President and plays on the Junior Varsity Soccer Team. KAIDEN MARTINEZ ’18 attends JSerra Catholic High School and volunteers for beach clean-up, Serra’s Pantry and Fish Kitchen. Kaiden’s hobbies include sailing and video games.

S P R I N G

2 0 1 9

M A G A Z I N E

2019 GALAPALOOZA MOST SUCCESSFUL GALA IN SCHOOL HISTORY! On March 29 more than 270 parents and supporters gathered together at Hotel Irvine to celebrate our school and students at the 2019 Galapalooza. It was a magical evening filled with color, comradery and fun! The night culminated with a recordbreaking fundraise. The 2019 Fund-a-Need – Outdoor Spaces: Shade, Play and Hang Out! – raised nearly $300,000. This fall families will return to school with enhanced outdoor spaces on our campus. Thank you to Marni Grass and Greg McCollum, Gala co-chairs, for passionately championing such an important event for St. Mary’s. Thank you to the entire Gala committee, including Auction Leads Jennifer Kite and Jennifer Whitehead; Décor Leads Natalie Fanticola and Kirsten Rabe; Michaela Bradley, Kathy Brandenberger, Nancy Hermansen, Amanda Manahan, Pokey Thompson, Debbie Vali, Madeleine Vlok and Jaynine Warner.

GALA HIGHLIGHTS

• • • •

The band Sound 404 (featuring St. Mary’s alum) opened the cocktail reception with fantastic vocals. Dinner began with a beautiful song by students in the school musical “Wizard of Oz,” followed by an outstanding performance by our Middle School dancers. The Gala raised $492,000; $297,400 for Fund-a-Need – Outdoor Spaces: Shade, Play and Hang Out! A total of 270 tickets sold! For the first time ever, every teacher and faculty member in attendance was underwritten through donations. Congratulations to the Capalbo family for winning the opportunity drawing: a St. Mary’s parking space for the 2019-2020 school year!

Thank you to the 2019 Galapalooza’s presenting sponsor SeneGence International. This event wouldn’t be possible without the generous support and contributions from all of our sponsors.

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Laguna Niguel, CA Permit No. 1091

7 Pursuit Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 www.smaa.org

ST.MARY’S SUMMER RESORT 2019 JUNE 17 — AUGUST 23

SUMMER RESO RT 2019

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, PLEASE VISIT

smaa.org/summerresort

St. Mary’s Summer Resort offers an amazing experience for every student, as young as age two to Grade 8! Through inquiry-based explorations children are able to participate in: Academic Prep Programs, Specialty Camps, Athletic Camps and St. Mary’s Day Camp. Camps Open to Children Age 2 – Grade 8

Lunch is included in all full-day and afternoon camps!